Hong Kong: CS elaborates on Qianhai plan

Chief Secretary Chan Kwok-ki, together with officials from the central authorities and the governments of Guangdong, Macau and Shenzhen, attended a press conference in Beijing today, where they introduced the latest developments of the Greater Bay Area (GBA), which covered the Overall Development Plan for the Qianhai Shenzhen-Hong Kong Modern Service Industry Co-operation Zone, with a view to taking forward the high-quality development of the bay area.

The Qianhai Overall Development Plan, promulgated by the central government this month, provides a comprehensive view of the strategic positioning, development objectives, spatial layout, industry planning, business environment, urban planning, quality living environment and governance model of the Qianhai Co-operation Zone.

Mr Chan said: The Hong Kong Special Administrative Region Government is grateful for the central governments latest promulgation of the Qianhai Overall Development Plan.

The development of the Qianhai Co-operation Zone is an important initiative for supporting Hong Kongs social and economic development; fostering a higher level of co-operation among Guangdong, Hong Kong and Macau; and establishing a new development paradigm in pursuing opening up.

Leveraging the institutional advantages of one country, two systems and a business environment that is highly market-oriented, internationalised and underpinned by the rule of law, Hong Kong will deepen co-operation with Shenzhen on the implementation of the Qianhai Overall Development Plan.

Hong Kong will continue to capitalise on its own advantages serving as an international financial, maritime and trading centre as well as an international aviation hub, to assist Qianhai in expediting its alignment of rules, harmonisation of mechanisms and development of a modern services industry.

On financial services, Mr Chan said Hong Kong supports the policy initiatives in the Qianhai plan that will enhance the citys status as an international financial centre and an intermediary for two-way flow of capital, which will in turn provide support for the further opening up of the Mainland markets.

These policy initiatives include taking forward the establishment of insurance after-sales service centres in the bay area; supporting Qianhai enterprises to make use of Hong Kong as a platform for fundraising, establishing overseas operations and issuing green bonds; and fostering collaboration in fintech.

In Qianhai, Hong Kong-invested enterprises are allowed to choose Hong Kong law as the applicable law and choose Hong Kong as the seat for arbitration. Mr Chan said Hong Kong will continue to develop itself into a centre for international legal and dispute resolution services in the Asia-Pacific region.

To dovetail with the Qianhai Overall Development Plan, we will promote the interface of cross-boundary rules between Hong Kong and Shenzhen as well as support Hong Kong legal practitioners who have obtained the Lawyers License (GBA) to practise as legal consultants in law firms in Qianhai.

As regards professional services, the Chief Secretary told reporters that Hong Kong supports Qianhai in seeking more policy breakthroughs on a pilot basis under the Qianhai Plan.

For instance, Qianhai will provide facilitation for Hong Kong enterprises and professionals of the construction and related engineering sectors that have acquired corresponding qualifications by way of registration to provide services at planning and designing stages.

Also, Qianhai will support local accounting firms to launch non-audit services with Hong Kong accountants.

Additionally, Mr Chan pointed out that riding on the development of the Northern Metropolis, Hong Kong will co-operate with Qianhai in developing the modern services industry to promote economic co-operation in areas such as finance, logistics, and professional services.

More Qianhai enterprises will be encouraged to make good use of Hong Kong to expand their overseas businesses.

This story has been published on: 2023-12-28. To contact the author, please use the contact details within the article.
11,000 prefab houses built to shelter relocated residents in China's quake-hit region

Xinhua) 09:03, December 28, 2023

JISHISHAN, Gansu Province, Dec. 27 (Xinhua) -- A total of 11,000 prefabricated houses have been built as of Tuesday to provide shelter for residents relocated in the quake-hit areas of northwest China's Gansu Province, according to the local quake rescue headquarters.

The province plans to build 15,000 such houses to shelter residents whose dwellings were destroyed or damaged in the 6.2-magnitude earthquake that occurred over a week ago, resulting in hundreds of casualties.

The affected residents are currently moving into prefab houses with better facilities.

Ma Fengying's prefab house in Meipo village in Jishishan county is equipped with a stove and two beds, adorned with electric blankets. Beneath the beds, a supply of earthquake relief materials, including instant noodles and Mahua, or fried dough twist, is neatly stored.

"I had a bad cold some days ago and could not get out of bed. Now the new prefab house is clean and warm and I have fully recovered," Ma said.

On the night of the earthquake, the family hurriedly evacuated their home, enduring a night in the cold winds. Later, they built a makeshift tent using plastic sheeting and, a few days later, moved into a better windproof tent.

Besides the prefab houses, a line of blue tents serves as fire and health stations, as well as spaces for psychological counseling and handling other issues. China Telecom is offering free WiFi services in the area.

The county fire brigade has set up eight micro fire stations in Meipo village equipped with about 200 fire extinguishers, with firefighters patrolling five times a day to prevent any fire risks.

"Now, with basic necessities assured, we hope that our new home will be built quickly and we can move in as soon as possible," Ma said.

Wang Xudong, who works as a nurse in a hospital in Lanzhou, capital of Gansu, returned home after the earthquake.

Wang's family home in the village collapsed in the quake, which came as a big blow to his parents. "After spending a few days in the prefab house, life is becoming a little more stable and my parents are now in better spirits," Wang said.

(Web editor: Zhang Kaiwei, Zhong Wenxing)
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A federal judge in Georgia on Thursday approved the states Republican-drawn congressional maps that both add a majority-Black district and deal a major win to the states GOP as it looks to keep its majority.

U.S. District Judge Steve C. Jones issued a 15-page order Thursday that accepted the newly drawn maps, stating the Georgia General Assembly fully complied with his October order to create a majority-Black congressional district in the western part of metro Atlanta.

The new maps divide Rep. Lucy McBaths (D-Ga.) district in northeast Atlanta between neighboring representatives and move it to a more rural area, likely to fall to a Republican. As a result, the maps are widely expected to maintain Republicans 9-5 majority among House members.

The maps also create a new western Atlanta district including parts of Fulton, Douglas and Cobb counties that is majority Black, according to court documents.

Rep. Lucy McBath, D-Ga., speaks in support of Democratic gun control measures, called the Protecting Our Kids Act at the Capitol in Washington, Thursday, June 2, 2022. (AP Photo/J. Scott Applewhite)

The maps were drawn up in response to Joness October ruling that struck down Georgias congressional and state legislative maps. Jones ruled the maps violated the Voting Rights Act by diluting the power of Black voters in the Peach State and gave the state Legislature until Dec. 8 to draw new lines.

Democrats and voting rights groups argued the new maps, approved by Georgias House on Dec. 7 in a special legislative session, did not follow Joness order to create the new Black-majority district by eliminating minority opportunity districts elsewhere in the plans.

In his order Thursday, Jones said he does not hold the constitutional power to make legislative choices regarding policy, even when such a choice appears unwise.

More Courts: Trump, Hunter Biden share unlikely gambit: Both say theyre unfairly targeted

Congressional maps have recently been challenged and redrawn in various states, including New York, Wisconsin and Alabama, where battles over election maps could play a large role in the 2024 election.

Earlier in October, a panel of federal judges approved a new congressional map for Alabama after versions drawn by the states Republican-controlled Legislature were struck down for diluting the power of Black voters. The new map keeps Alabamas one existing majority-Black district and nearly adds a second one, upping Democrats chances of flipping a seat in the Senate.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill.
A federal judge in Idaho temporarily blocked a state ban on gender-affirming care for transgender minors this week, just days before the law was set to take effect in the New Year.

The law would have placed medical professionals who provide such care for transgender people under the age of 18 at risk of fines up to $5,000 and a felony conviction, resulting in up to 10 years in prison.

Major medical associations  including the American Medical Association, the American Psychiatric Association, the American Academy of Pediatrics and the American Academy of Child & Adolescent Psychiatry  agree that gender-affirming care is evidence-based and medically necessary for many children and adults.

Transgender children should receive equal treatment under the law. Parents should have the right to make the most fundamental decisions about how to care for their children, District Court Judge B. Lynn Winmill wrote in his decision.

Winmill argued the ban violates the equal protection and due process clauses of the 14th Amendment, which he wrote serves to protect disfavored minorities and preserve our fundamental rights from legislative overreach.

That was true for newly freed slaves following the civil war. It was true in the 20th Century for women, people of color, inter-racial couples, and individuals seeking access to contraception. And it is no less true for transgender children and their parents in the 21st Century, he wrote.

Republican Idaho Gov. Brad Little signed the Vulnerable Child Protection Act into law in April. The law, initially set to take effect on January 1, 2024, would make it illegal for doctors and practitioners to provide gender-affirming care, including puberty blocking medications as well as surgeries, to minors.

In signing this bill, I recognize our society plays a role in protecting minors from surgeries or treatments that can irreversibly damage their healthy bodies, Little wrote in a letter to Idaho lawmakers in April. However, as policymakers we should take great caution whenever we consider allowing the government to interfere with loving parents and their decisions about what is best for their children.

The legislation faced immediate backlash. The families of two transgender teenagers in Idaho filed the lawsuit challenging the ban.

Trans people like myself deserve the same chance at safety and liberty as everyone else, but this law specifically targets us and our health care for no good reason, one plaintiff, referred to as Jane Doe, said in a statement in May. Im 16  I should be hanging out with my friends and planning my future instead of fighting my State for the health care I need.

What is gender-affirming care?

Gender-affirming care uses a multidisciplinary approach to help a person transition from the gender they were assigned at birth to the gender by which they want to be known.

This umbrella of care can include mental health therapy, puberty blockers, hormone therapy and surgeries. The timing and amount of care that a minor needs is determined on a case-by-case basis, with the input of doctors and parents.

Early gender-affirming care is crucial to the health and wellbeing of transgender youth, according to the US Health and Human Services Department Office of Population Affairs.

The office cites research showing transgender youth face an increased risk for mental health issues, including suicidal thoughts  and gender-affirming care can help.

The American Academy of Pediatrics has backed the approach for transgender youth.

Challenging gender-affirming care bans across the US

Winmills ruling in the case this week provided hope to LGBTQ+ advocates working to challenge similar bans in other states.

The American Civil Liberties Union of Idaho, which helped file the lawsuit on behalf of the families, called the decision a victory for the families of transgender youth and their medical providers.

This judicial decision is a much-needed ray of hope for trans people amid a years-long onslaught against their rights to access health care and ability to navigate the world around them, Leo Morales, Executive Director of the ACLU of Idaho, said Wednesday in a statement.

About 20 states have banned gender-affirming care for youth, according to the Human Rights Campaign. The LGBTQ+ advocacy group estimates that three in 10 trans youth ages 13 to 17 were living in states with legislative bans on gender affirming care as of November.

The ACLU has filed a dozen legal challenges against bans on care for transgender youth in the US, according to the organization.

CNNs Jen Christensen contributed to this report.

For more CNN news and newsletters create an account at CNN.com
A federal judge preliminarily blocked an Idaho ban on gender-affirming health care for minors from going into effect.

The ruling came down days before HB 71, the law prohibiting minors from receiving puberty blockers, hormones and other treatments, would have gone into effect on 1 January 2024.

Under the law, clinicians could face up to 10 years in prison if they provide such treatment to those under 18.

The decision marked a victory for two Idaho teenagers and their parents who brought the suit, claiming that the ban violates protections laid out in the US Constitution. They were represented by several law firms and the ACLU.

Leo Morales, Executive Director of the ACLU of Idaho, said in a statement, This judicial decision is a much-needed ray of hope for trans people amid a years-long onslaught against their rights to access health care and ability to navigate the world around them. Everyone should be free to live and thrive in their authentic identity, which means transgender people should not be shut out of accessing medically sound health care.

Li Nowlin-Sohl, Senior Staff Attorney for the ACLUs LGBTQ & HIV Project, also said: These dangerous efforts to control our bodies and our families threaten the well-being of trans youth, the strength of our communities, and the ability of every family to determine whats best for their child.

HB 71 was signed by the states governor Brad Little in April, adding Idaho to a grouping of more than 20 states that have passed such bans. Many of these states face lawsuits challenging the harsh laws.

The temporary injunction in Idaho doesnt stand alone. In Arkansas, a federal judge found the ban unconstitutional and issued a permanent injunction on the law. Meanwhile, in Alabama and Indiana, the bans are temporarily blocked.

Earlier this month, Wisconsins Democratic Gov Tony Evers vetoed a bill that sought to prohibit gender-affirming care for minors.

However, in Kentucky and Tennessee, minors cannot obtain gender-affirming care as the bans went into effect.

According to the ACLU, in 2023 alone, 510 bills anti-LGBTQ+ measures were introduced across the US; 137 of these bills attempted to limit healthcare for trans individuals.
PORTLAND, Ore. (KOIN)  A federal task force has made recent strides in tracking down suspected drug dealers allegedly tied to the bulk distribution of fentanyl in the Portland area, court papers show.

First reported by Willamette Week, an affidavit filed by Sherwood Police Department Detective Alexander Salisbury, who is also assigned to the DEAs D-51 task force in Portland, states that D-51 task force officers received a search warrant to track the cellphone location of suspected drug dealer Yosel Josue Rodriguez Paz in October. That same month, the task force allegedly purchased 276 grams of fentanyl from Rodriguez and subsequently searched his Milwaukie home on Nov. 7.

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The search resulted in the seizure of 446.2 grams of powdered fentanyl, 97.4 grams of blue fentanyl pills, and 121.5 grams of heroin and $6,160 in cash, according to court documents.

Evidence seized from Rodriguezs apartment. (U.S. District Court for the District of Oregon)

The bust was the result of an ongoing investigation into drug trafficking organizations allegedly using Honduran nationals to distribute fentanyl in the Western U.S. cities, including Portland and Seattle.

Investigators have been investigating a trend of drug trafficking organizations using Honduran nationals to distribute bulk amounts of fentanyl to retail drug customers in several metropolitan areas in the western United States to include Portland, Oregon; Seattle, Washington; Oakland, California; Denver, Colorado; and Salt Lake City, Utah, the affidavit reads.

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Salisburys affidavit was filed in December in support of a criminal complaint and an arrest warrant brought against Rodriguez in November. Based on the affidavit, Salisbury recommends that federal prosecutors charge Rodriguez with drug possession and distribution charges that could result in a maximum sentencing of 5 to 40 years in and a fine of up to $5 million.

The D-51 task force filed similar warrants against Beaverton resident Luciano Gabriel Rodriguez-Ortiz in October. A search of Ortizs Beaverton apartment and his GMC Yukon resulted in the seizure of $1,050 in cash, 980 grams of cocaine and a Palmetto State Armory 9-millimeter handgun.

Evidence photos of Ortiz apartment. (U.S. District Court for the District of Oregon)

The bust was the result of an investigation into a drug trafficking organization that allegedly brings fentanyl, heroin, and methamphetamine into the U.S. from Mexico, an affidavit filed in support of a criminal complaint filed against Ortiz in U.S. District Court for the District of Oregon states.

This [drug trafficking organization] is suspected of importing controlled substances, including fentanyl pills, heroin, and methamphetamine from Mexico into the United States and conspiring to distribute those drugs in Oregon and Washington, the affidavit reads. To date, Investigators have seized [more than] 989.3 grams of blue pills containing fentanyl, 1,035.9 grams of methamphetamine, 42.1 grams of heroin and received approximately $75,000 in U.S. currency believed to be drug proceeds from the [organization].

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KOIN.com.
Shannon Bush helps her daughter as she tries skating for the first time at ice skating rink during the 2022 Tree Lighting Celebration in downtown Cuyahoga Falls.

Feeling a bit toasty so far this winter?

You are not imaging things.

It has been an unseasonably warm December in Akron and Canton.

And with just a few days left before we ring in the New Year and a new month, the region is on pace to have one of its Top 10 warmest Decembers on record.

More: Ohio may experience a so-called 'super' El Nino this winter, with warm temperatures likely

Doug Kahn, a meteorologist with the National Weather Service in Cleveland, said the average temperature in Greater Akron for the month as of Thursday is 39.6 degrees.

That's much warmer than the average temperature of 33.4 degrees for the month.

But this year's average is well shy of the all-time record average temperature of 44 degrees set back in 2015.

"We are still warm but not on track to break a record," Kahn said.

Although temperatures are expected get cooler toward New Year's, he said, it looks pretty certain that this December will come in as the fifth-coldest on record.

Weather records for Akron and Canton date back to 1867.

What's the forecast for New Years?

Confetti will not be the only thing flying in the air on New Year's Eve in Akron and Canton.

Kahn said it is very likely that some raindrops and even snowflakes will be in the air too.

But the rain and snow should not be enough to cause any travel problems.

"There's no big storms on the horizon," Kahn said.

Highs will be in the 30s and lower 40s with lows in the 20s as the region ushers in a new year.

Why is it so warm?

The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration says El Nino has arrived in Ohio for the winter.

This means winter will be anything but typical for the Buckeye State this year.

And it's shaping up to be what is considered a "super" event, with a higher likelihood of a mild Ohio winter.

There have been 12 previous moderate to strong El Nino events between 1950 and 2022.

What is an El Nino?

The weather phenomenon known as an El Nino is created when water temperatures are warmer than usual in the Pacific Ocean.

This impacts the jet stream across the country. For the Great Lakes and Ohio, this typically pushes the colder air farther north and means a warmer and drier winter.

Another impact of El Nino in Ohio is a likelihood for below-normal precipitation.

Craig Webb, who resolves to write more weather stories in 2024, can be reached at cwebb@thebeaconjournal.com.

This article originally appeared on Akron Beacon Journal: December in Akron and Canton to be one of the warmest on record
Fire personnel investigate after Tuesday evenings two-alarm fire in an unoccupied home in Orem on Wednesday, Dec. 27, 2023. No cause has been determined, officials say. | Laura Seitz, Deseret News

Fire officials say they are still investigating the source of a blaze that destroyed a 27,000-square-foot home on Tuesday.

The home at 479 E. 1450 North was unoccupied at the time of the fire, which firefighters responded to at 5:58 p.m. on Tuesday, according to a press release from the Orem Fire Department on Wednesday. Firefighters from Orem were assisted by units from Provo and Pleasant Grove.

When firefighters arrived, they found the large home "with significant fire involvement quickly moving through the structure. Crews were unable to make entry due to the level of fire involvement and took a defensive strategy to protect the neighboring homes," fire officials said.

The blaze was contained by 8 p.m., but firefighters remained there throughout the night to contain hot spots and protect the scene. A total of 30 firefighters were at the scene, and there were no injuries.

Officials estimate the home to be valued at several million dollars.

"The cause and nature of the fire are currently under investigation," the news release stated.

Fire personnel investigate after Tuesday evenings two-alarm fire in an unoccupied home in Orem on Wednesday, Dec. 27, 2023. | Laura Seitz, Deseret News

Fire personnel investigate after Tuesday evenings two-alarm fire in an unoccupied home in Orem on Wednesday, Dec. 27, 2023. | Laura Seitz, Deseret News

Fire personnel investigate after Tuesday evenings two-alarm fire in an unoccupied home in Orem on Wednesday, Dec. 27, 2023. | Laura Seitz, Deseret News

Fire personnel investigate after Tuesday evenings two-alarm fire in an unoccupied home in Orem on Wednesday, Dec. 27, 2023. | Laura Seitz, Deseret News
The fish can grow to four metres in length and weigh 200kg or more

Guillermo Otta Parum has been fishing in the Bolivian Amazon his whole life, for more than 50 years.

At first, Guillermo was catching native fish, such as the various kinds of catfish which inhabit the river.

But then a giant freshwater fish arrived, known locally as paiche or Arapaima gigas, to give it its scientific name.

"I thought this creature was a water snake, that it would attack everything, that eating it would be bad for you, that it might be poisonous," he recalls.

In fact, it is one of the biggest freshwater fishes in the world, growing up to 4m in length and weighing 200kg (440lb) or more.

Guillermo Otta Parum has been a fisherman for 50 years

It is estimated that every year, the paiche spreads another 40km deeper into the rivers of the Amazon basin.

Federico Moreno, director of the Beni Autonomous University's Centre for Aquatic Resources Research, says its size and appetite make it a serious threat to native fish stocks.

"It is a territorial fish, it takes over a body of water and scares off the native species. [That] is one of the serious problems. The other species flee from the predator and enter other bodies of water much further away, more remote and difficult to access."

No one really knows the exact year that the paiche first appeared in Bolivia.

It is generally believed its arrival was the result of a breach of a paiche fish farm in Peru, where the fish are native. From there, they spread into Bolivia's rivers.

Biologist Fernando Carvajal has spent years studying the Paiche

Fernando Carvajal is a biologist and expert on the paiche. He says they are a ravenous species.

"During the first years of life, the paiche grows at the rate of 10kg a year. That means the paiche is eating a lot of fish."

Unlike other predatory fish like piranha, it only has small, not particularly sharp teeth.

But its lack of impressive teeth does not stop it from eating piranha and a host of other fish, along with plants, molluscs and birds, all of which it hoovers up like a giant vacuum cleaner.

It also frightens off any fish which tries to eat the paiche's young.

Fernando Carvajal says there is no firm data about the impact of the paiche, but he says that anecdotally, fishermen are reporting that the numbers of some native species are dwindling.

"In the next one or two decades, the paiche is going to spread to all the potential areas where this species can live," he warns.

"We know that around the world, most invasive cases are bad for nature. Invasive species are considered the second-biggest reason for the loss of biodiversity after habitat destruction."

However, for local fishermen, the arrival of the paiche has been a boon. Having been initially afraid of it, it did not take long for fishermen to realize its potential, says Guillermo Otta Parum.

Paiche fishing boat on the Yata River in the Bolivian Amazon

"When I brought the first fish, I would give the customers small pieces as a gift for them to try so they would get a taste for it."

Some fishermen even pretended it was a type of catfish to overcome people's suspicions about eating such a huge specimen.

Now paiche are eaten across Bolivia.

Edson Suzano runs a paiche-processing plant in Riberalta, a town in north-east Bolivia close to the Brazilian border.

Edson Suzano (left) says the paiche is affordable

"We sell it everywhere - supermarkets, markets. There are different cuts, so it is affordable. We buy and process around 30,000kg per month," he says.

The challenge for the fishermen is trying to find the paiche in the huge expanse of the Amazon.

The fish has a lung-like organ and has to come up for air regularly to breathe and so likes calmer water. It prefers to live in lakes and lagoons, but migrates when it feels it is in danger.

The paiche migrates when it feels it is in danger

Most of the fish Edson Silvano processes used to arrive by boat.

Now the fishermen travel to ever more remote areas to catch the paiche and have to transfer from boats to canoes, on journeys of up to two weeks. This is putting them in conflict with indigenous communities.

These communities have been given land titles to many of the remote lagoons where paiche are now to be found and have themselves started fishing for and selling the fish.

Paiche being prepared for sale at Riberalta's fish market

Now commercial fishermen have to obtain special licences to work in these areas. But fishermen like Guillermo Otta Parum say that even when they have the correct paperwork, they are often turned away.

The indigenous communities argue that they are only trying to protect the resources which the Bolivian government has recognised they have a right to control.

Juan Carlos Ortiz Chavez is a paiche fisherman who belongs to the Alto Ivon Tco Chacobo indigenous community:

Juan Carlos Ortiz Chavez belongs to the Alto Ivon Tco Chacobo indigenous community.

He says that in the past, indigenous people were scared of commercial fishermen. "But this new generation of young people has changed, because we have made our rules so that people can't come and take from us any more," he explains.

Scientists such as Federico Moreno hope that fishing generally, whoever is doing it, will keep paiche numbers in check.

"Keep hunting them, keep fishing for them all the time and that could keep a balance between the different species."

To hear more about the paiche, listen to Assignment on the BBC World Service
A driver trapped in his vehicle under a bridge for six days after a crash in Indiana was found by two fishermen scouting for fishing holes.

Mario Garcia and son-in-law Nivardo De La Torre had been killing time while waiting for their wives, police say.

They ended up finding Matthew Reum, 27, of Mishawaka, whose truck had crashed off Interstate 94 on 20 December.

In hospital, Mr Reum had one of his legs amputated and is now in intensive care, his union says.

Mr Garcia said he had seen the wrecked truck and was moving an airbag out of the way when Mr Reum "woke up".

The driver told the men he had been trapped and pinned in his seat under the bridge near Portage, he recalled at a news conference held by the state police.

"He tried yelling and screaming, but nobody would hear him," Mr Garcia recalled the man telling him.

"It was just quiet - just the sound of the water."

Mr Reum, a union welder, had had no food but survived by drinking rain water.

The truck was found under a bridge

The rescued driver was taken to Memorial Hospital in South Bend, CBS reports, quoting Indiana State Police Sgt Glen Fifield.

Police added: "Had it not been for the two individuals that were walking the creek this afternoon, this incident more than likely would have had a different outcome.

"There had not been any prior reports of a crash in this area prior to the fishermen finding the vehicle."

The fishermen said they were very glad to come across the man when they did.

"It's cold tonight and I don't believe he would've made it through the night tonight," said Sgt Fifield. "That's my personal opinion."

Mr Garcia added: "He said to me that he's been there for a long time; that he had almost lost all hope - because nobody was there."

Mr Reum's union, Boilermakers Local 374, said his left leg had been amputated on Wednesday morning from around his mid-shin down, NBC reports.
Sparing criminals jail sentences will not stop reoffending without fixing the dire criminal justice system, Lord Blunkett has warned Rishi Sunak.

The Prime Ministers plans to punish low-level criminals such as burglars, thieves and drunk drivers with community sentences rather than putting them in overcrowded jails would fail unless there was a rethink to strengthen alternatives to prison, said Lord Blunkett, speaking on behalf of a committee of peers.

Writing for The Telegraph, the former Labour home secretary said the Lords justice and home affairs committee had found community sentences were currently falling way short of their potential for rehabilitating criminals.

He said that at present such punishments fail to tackle the causes of offending such as drugs, alcohol or mental ill health, while probation officers with unmanageable caseloads struggle to supervise offenders in the community.

Judges and magistrates felt they could not trust such ineffective punishments and had little option but to send offenders to prisons which were at breaking point and fuelled criminality rather than curing it before they were released, the report found.

As a result, courts issued 69,941 community sentences in 2022, half as many as the 158,586 recorded in 2012.

Jails are 99 per cent full and this summer the prison service came close to running out of space, forcing the Government to announce a series of measures to reduce the numbers, including a new policy against sending offenders to jail for less than 12 months.

Time for a rethink

Given the dire state of the criminal justice system more broadly, it is clearly time for a rethink, said Lord Blunkett, who was home secretary from 2001 to 2004.

Lord Blunkett is understood to have discussed the proposals with Shabana Mahmood, the shadow justice secretary and a close ally of Sir Keir Starmer. She and the Labour leader are drawing up plans on how the party will tackle the prison overcrowding crisis.

Labour sources said the party was likely to adopt the Governments short sentencing plans, adding that there was little to disagree with in Lord Blunketts and the committees proposals.

[Community] sentences currently fall way short of their potential. But with the right investment, they have the capacity to succeed where short sentences fail, said Lord Blunkett. Custody is sometimes necessary but sentences in the community can be demanding, contrary to public perception.

Lord Blunkett said the Government needed to address the problems quickly so that judges and magistrates had viable options other than jail - Paul Melling/Alamy

The Lords committees eight-month investigation found that reoffending rates could be slashed to a quarter of the current 23 per cent rate if criminals were given effective community sentences  where the root of their personal problems was treated  instead of being sent to jail.

However, official figures showed 38 per cent of offenders on probation  91,000 people  had mental health problems but only 1,302, less than 1.5 per cent, received appropriate treatment.

Drug rehabilitation orders for offenders on probation had also halved from 9,290 in 2012 to 3,601 in 2022, representing fewer than four per cent of the requirements for offenders on community sentences.

Lord Blunkett warned that the probation service had been left fragmented by its flawed privatisation which the Government had abandoned as a failure. Caseloads are unmanageable and turnover has dislocated any ongoing relationship with offenders, he said.

It had also resulted in courts failing to get the pre-sentence reports they needed, a problem highlighted by a series of scandals where violent offenders, such as the killer of teacher Zara Aleena, were wrongly released and without the proper supervision.

The killer of teacher Zara Aleena had been released from prison just nine days before her murder. He failed to attend any meetings with probation staff - PA

The committee recommended adopting a Ministry of Justice (MoJ) model for female offenders, whereby centres offering wrap-around treatment, advice and support reduced reoffending to just five per cent, compared with a national average of 23 per cent.

The prison population is projected to rise from 89,000 to 106,300 by March 2027 but plans to build 20,000 new places are behind schedule with two proposed new mega-jails currently blocked by planning objections.

Lord Blunkett said the Government needed to address the problems quickly so that judges and magistrates had viable options other than jail. They often require some punitive element and treatment requirements for alcohol and drug use and for mental ill-health, he said.

Get a grip

Meanwhile, writing for the Telegraph, Lord Frost, the Tory peer, urged ministers to get a grip on the failing prison system. Whether you think their job is incarceration or rehabilitation, they are doing it badly, he wrote. They dont incarcerate effectively because they are full.

We dont have a strategy to deal with it, he added. Instead, we choose to live with that crime and disorder, to allow people to commit many many repeat offences with virtually no consequences, and then, when an individual finally passes a threshold, to dump them in squalor behind bars with no expectation the cycle will be broken.

An MoJ spokesman said: We know robust community punishment is an effective alternative to short prison terms and have already announced reforms to increase the use of suspended sentences to stop the merry-go-round of reoffending.

We are doubling the number of [electronic] tags available to courts, investing in services to get offenders off drugs and giving the Probation Service a 155 million a year boost that has already helped us recruit thousands more trainee probation officers to keep the public safe.

Broaden your horizons with award-winning British journalism. Try The Telegraph free for 1 month, then enjoy 1 year for just $9 with our US-exclusive offer.
Gov. Tony Evers ordered that flags will fly at half-staff across Wisconsin to honor the life of former Bucks owner, U.S. senator from Wisconsin and lifetime Milwaukeean Herb Kohl.

The executive order states that flags should be flown at half-staff from Dec. 28 through the date of interment for Kohl.

Kohl's death was announced Wednesday by the Herb Kohl Foundation. He was 88.

A Milwaukeean and Wisconsinite through and through, U.S. Sen. Herb Kohl dedicated his life to serving our kids, our communities, our state, and our country," Evers said in a statement Wednesday after Kohl's death was announced. Sen. Kohl was, without a doubt, nobodys senator but ours. Kathy and I are devastated by the news of his passing."

Many friends, colleagues and Wisconsinites have remembered and shared stories of Kohl's storied life.

Sen. Kohl was deeply committed to community, kindness, and service to others. Wisconsins seniors, students, teachers, and schools, and farmers and rural areas, among so many others, are better off because of his life and legacy, the impacts of which will last for generations," Evers continued in his statement.

Kathy and I join the people of Wisconsin, friends and colleagues of Sen. Kohl, and the many people whose lives he impacted  both near and far  in offering our sincerest condolences to the Kohl family and the Herb Kohl Foundation in mourning the loss of this Wisconsin giant.

Drew Dawson can be reached at ddawson@jrn.com or 262-289-1324.

This article originally appeared on Milwaukee Journal Sentinel: Flags will fly at half-staff in Wisconsin to honor life of Herb Kohl
When storm damage caused by Hurricane Ian cut off access to Sanibel Island on Florida's Gulf Coast in fall 2022, the Florida Department of Transportation (FDOT) had to act quickly. It set out to repair the bridge and hoped to have the entire project completed by October 31an ambitious goal. Yet thanks to a suspension of bureaucracy and red tape, not only did it meet the deadline, it beat it: The bridge reopened to trucks on October 11 and to the public on October 19.

The hurricane made landfall as a Category 4 storm on September 28, destroying portions of the Sanibel Causeway, a three-mile bridge system connecting Sanibel Island to the mainland and cutting off any of the island's 6,300 residents who hadn't evacuated.

The Sanibel Causeway used three bridges separated by two causeways, roads built along man-made islands created by piling up compacted dirt, sand, or rocks on the ocean floor. Hurricane Ian's severe wind and rain washed away much of that underlying sediment, destroying the roadways on top, and damaged several of the bridges' approach ramps, rendering the bridge system impassable.

By October 2, FDOT had enlisted two Florida contractors to help with repairs. In the November/December 2022 issue of Transportation Builder, a periodical published by the American Road & Transportation Builders Association, John Schneidawind called the repair project a "confluence of resources and autonomy." FDOT and the contractors worked 24-hour shifts both moving in thousands of tons of building materials and rebuilding the structures. "It was a very coordinated effort, but it got us directly here with limited interruption," FDOT engineer Kati Sherrard told Transportation Builder. "At one point we were dumping one load of material every minute and a half."

A similar situation occurred in June 2023 after a crashed tanker truck destroyed an overpass on Interstate 95 in Philadelphia, as state officials stepped back and allowed the private sector to work. Democratic Pennsylvania Gov. Josh Shapiro signed an emergency declaration that allowed state officials to circumvent normal bidding rules and personally expedited environmental permits that would otherwise take months.

The Sanibel Causeway repairs were only temporary; after completion, crews started on a permanent fix, rebuilding it to be stronger and better equipped to withstand severe weather. But as in Philadelphia, there is a lesson to be learned: Bureaucratic red tape makes the construction process less efficient, which in extreme cases can be a matter of life and death.

The post How Florida Cut Red Tape To Fast-Track Hurricane Repairs appeared first on Reason.com.
TAMPA, Fla. - Florida is on the front line of a healthcare crisis. As more people relocate to Florida, a shortage of doctors and nurses is becoming more pronounced  and state lawmakers are looking for solutions.

Floridas population is projected to grow by nearly 300,000 residents for each of the next five years. A third of our full-time doctors are over the age of 60, and as they retire, the research warns well have a shortfall of 18,000 doctors, and more than 37,000 nurses by 2035.

"We are at a crisis proportion of a shortage and the intensity of that is the nurses we lost due to COVID, due to being burned out, and not enough nurses to care for and the large volume of patients," said Dr. Beverly Malone, the president and CEO of National League for Nursing.

RELATED: Florida lawmakers propose 'Live Healthy' package to revive healthcare industry

Reloading with a new generation of doctors and nurses wont be easy.

Were still feeling the effects of educational disruptions from the pandemic as fewer nurses are passing the licensing exam. And, its harder to train medical staff across the board when you have a growing shortage of trainers.

"If you're already short-staffed, having a new trainee or apprentice, or interns, is not easy," said Arthur Wheaton, the director of labor studies at Cornell University. "It takes a lot more effort and work and finding enough instructors to increase your availability for nursing is also tough."

In the coming legislative session, lawmakers said increasing access to doctors and nurses would be their top priority.

READ: USF programs prepares students, keeps nurses in Florida

Senate President Kathleen Passidomo wrote a memo, calling on her fellow lawmakers to chime in with ideas. She said Florida should focus on offering more access to telemedicine, more maternity wards and more doctors to care for senior citizens, which wont be easy.

Hospital managers have shared their concerns with Florida lawmakers for years, and it has driven calls to relax regulations and reduce the amount of time nurses spend on paperwork, so they could have more time caring for patients.

Hospital administrators also want more state support for training nurses in state schools.

Lawmakers will consider these solutions, and others, when the regular session begins January 9.
Daytona Beach Shores City Commissioners Mel Lindauer (second from left) and Richard Bryan (farthest right) have resigned, citing Florida's new law requiring elected city officials to complete a more detailed financial-disclosure form, which asks for information on net worth and assets.

Two Daytona Beach Shores city commissioners have resigned as the latest in a wave of local elected officials leaving before Jan. 1, when they face more stringent financial disclosure requirements.

Mel Lindauer, a Shores commissioner since 2016, told The News-Journal on Wednesday the new requirement  submitting what's known as Form 6  is "totally invasive" and serves no purpose.

Commissioner Richard Bryan, who has also served since 2016, said in his Dec. 21 resignation letter that he had another priority but added the Form 6 issue "affected the timing" of his decision.

Both of the resignations are effective Thursday.

Mayor Nancy Miller said the commission, down to three members, will discuss how to go about filling the vacancies during a workshop on January 9. She declined to address the Form 6 controversy.

Mayors, others resign ahead of new year

The new financial disclosure requirement has been cited by local elected officials who've quit in Naples, Fort Myers Beach, Jacksonville Beach, Belleair, North Palm Beach, Dunnellon, St. Pete Beach, Cedar Key and Williston, among other cities.

Many state officials already file a Form 6, including the governor and Cabinet, legislators, county council members and sheriffs. The forms require disclosure of the filer's net worth and holdings valued at more than $1,000, including bank accounts, stocks, retirement accounts, salary and dividends.

Sen. Jason Brodeur, R-Sanford, sponsored the legislation in the Florida Senate. Rep. Spencer Roach, R-North Fort Myers, sponsored the House version of the bill and said it brings "parity" among elected officials.

What happens now? Will DeSantis replace dozens of local officials who resigned ahead of a new disclosure law?

Ethics head: Disclosure increases public trust

The expansion has been a legislative priority of the Florida Commission on Ethics for several years.

Enhanced financial disclosure will increase public trust. The reason why (the) financial disclosure (form) is filled out is to provide transparency, increase public confidence in government and help identify potential conflicts of interest of public officials," Kerrie Stillman, the commission's executive director, told the Senate Rules Committee on March 30.

She called Florida "a leader of transparency," and said political corruption has been seen at all levels of government.

These elected officials are asking for citizens' votes. Theyre asking to hold the public trust," she said, "and as part of the exercise of disclosing financial interests, and providing information on what might cause a potential conflict of interest, that actually helps the public official, as well.

Lindauer: Net worth, assets 'totally irrelevant'

Lindauer, one of two Shores commissioners who resigned, contends the new law is driving good people away from public service.

He said the previous disclosure, Form 1, required of city elected officials shows the public the sources of income, which is purposeful, as it might point to possible conflicts of interest.

"Form 6 is totally invasive. The first question is what is your total net worth," he said, adding that every account he holds, every piece of jewelry over $1,000 and more invites more than public scrutiny. He sees it as an invitation for criminals looking for a score.

"What difference does it make if one elected official is worth $100,000 and the other is worth $10 million?" he asked. "That's totally irrelevant."

Lindauer said he lives a modest lifestyle after a successful 30-year career and building an investment portfolio, while also finding a niche as an author of articles and books on investment. If forced to reveal his net worth and holdings, he feared it would change the way people viewed him.

"People like me, who live a middle-class life and don't flaunt wealth at all, now people see you in a different light and treat you different," he said. "All I want to know is: Am I doing a good job or not?"

Bryan wrote in his resignation letter that he doesn't feel his voice is needed, as many of the Shores City Commission votes are 5-0, and that he is also working on another project examining public health.

He said the Form 6 issue affected the timing of his resignation and also complained about Florida's Sunshine Law requiring elected city officials to discuss city business only during an open meeting.

"The Sunshine Law prevents effective oversight on issues that are complex and/or involve wrongdoing," he wrote.

Lindauer said he's hopeful there will be pushback on the Legislature with the local elected officials' resignations.

"I really enjoyed my work," he said. "I thought I was making a difference."

Note: This story has been corrected to reflect the date of the Daytona Beach Shores City Commission workshop.

Development in Shores: Clearwater developers plan oceanfront condo tower in Daytona Beach Shores

This article originally appeared on The Daytona Beach News-Journal: Shores commissioners quit before Jan. 1 financial-disclosure deadline
TAMPA, Fla. (WFLA)  A Florida pilot flew in a Christmas tree pattern on Christmas Eve.

A flight map from FlightAware shows the pilot take off from Punta Gorda Airport at 12:27 p.m. and head east before beginning to trace out a Christmas tree, complete with a star on top.

Courtesy: FlightAware

The pilot then headed back to Punta Gorda Airport and landed at 2:08 p.m., according to FlightAware.

The tree took nearly two hours and the pilot flew more than 200 miles in their Piper Dakota plane to complete it, according to FlightAware.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WFLA.
While his cause of death remains unknown, Rivers sister, Betsy Rivers, confirmed Wednesday that Bobby passed away last night and is no longer in any pain.

Celebrities are mourning the death of actor, radio personality and Food Network star Bobby Rivers, who died at age 70.

According to People, Milwaukees WISN 12 news station  where Rivers became the citys first Black film critic on television in 1979  initially reported news of his death.

Rivers also hosted Food Networks Top 5 and VH1s celebrity talk show, Watch Bobby Rivers.

Bobby Rivers, an actor, radio personality and Food Network star, died this week at age 70. (Photo: Screenshot/YouTube.com/Bobby Rivers)

While his cause of death remains unknown, Rivers sister, Betsy Rivers, confirmed his death in a Facebook post on Wednesday, writing: Bobby passed away last night and is no longer in any pain.

Gino Salomone, a Fox 6 reporter and Milwaukee native, shared a heartfelt tribute to his late peer.

Sorry to hear of the passing of #BobbyRivers, Salomone posted on X. His razor sharp wit and ability to come up with questions that celebrities had never heard before set him apart. One of the first African Americans to have his own show, Watch Bobby Rivers on VH1. He will be missed.

The Wisconsin LGBTQ History Project, which interviewed Rivers this year, also shared a message on X thanking him for his contributions, posting, We raise a martini to a pioneer who unapologetically broke all the rules  so that he (and we) could ALL #BeSeen.

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Industry colleagues  including Sex and the City actor Mario Cantone and fellow television show hosts Katie Couric and Whoopi Goldberg  also shared tributes in Rivers honor. On Instagram, Goldberg shared a picture of the two smiling, stating that Rivers brought SO much to the table, People reported.

Turner Classic Movies remembered Rivers impact, referring to him as a trailblazing television personality.

An enthusiastic and knowledgeable film fan at heart, the movie-oriented pay-TV network noted, we will miss him sharing his love of the classics with the #TCMParty community and his thoughtful essays on his blog.

Never miss a beat: Get our daily stories straight to your inbox with theGrios newsletter.

The post Food Network star Bobby Rivers dies at 70 appeared first on TheGrio.
The Maryland Bar Counsel has filed a petition to suspend former Baltimore City State's Attorney Marilyn Mosby's law license, following alleged misuse of her finances during the COVID-19 pandemic.

A new petition, filed Tuesday, asked the Maryland Supreme Court to immediately suspend Mosby because she was found guilty of a "serious crime" as defined under state ethics rules for lawyers.

The petition requests Mosby to "be suspended immediately from the practice of law pending the imposition of sentence and entry of a judgment of conviction."

Mosby, who gained a national profile for prosecuting Baltimore police officers after Freddie Gray, a Black man, died in police custody, faced perjury charges after she lied about her finances during the COVID-19 pandemic.

FORMER BALTIMORE PROSECUTOR MARILYN MOSBY FACES PERJURY TRIAL FOR ALLEGED MISUSE OF RETIREMENT

Mosby was indicted in 2022 and charged with two counts of perjury and two counts of making false statements on a loan application. She was found guilty of the two perjury counts last month.

READ ON THE FOX NEWS APP

The former top prosecutor allegedly withdrew $90,000 from Baltimore city's deferred compensation plan in 2020.

FORMER TOP BALTIMORE PROSECUTOR MARILYN MOSBY'S REQUEST FOR VENUE CHANGE IN PERJURY TRIAL DENIED

Mosby then used the $90,000 as down payments to buy a home in Kissimmee, Florida, and a condominium in Long Boat Key, Florida.

Mosby also falsely claimed that she had suffered financial hardships from the pandemic, despite receiving her full salary of $250,000.

Defense lawyer A. Scott Bolden, right, proclaims his client Marilyn Mosby, middle, is innocent after leaving federal court with her and her husband, Nick Mosby, on Sept. 14, 2022, in Baltimore.

Prosecutors said the money in the retirement account was held in a trust and belongs to the city until a planned participant is eligible to make a withdrawal.

BALTIMORE'S FORMER TOP PROSECUTOR MARILYN MOSBY HAS TRIAL DELAYED AFTER ENTIRE DEFENSE TEAM QUITS

They argued that Mosby wasn't entitled under federal law to access the funds in 2020 because her business, Mahogany Elite Enterprises, did not suffer any "adverse financial consequences" from the pandemic.

Marilyn Mosby, pictured last year, faced two counts each of perjury and mortgage fraud.

Delaney said Mosby's business had no clients or revenue.

Jury selection for that trial will begin on January 18, 2024.

A judge ruled that Mosby would not be sentenced until the completion of her second federal trial.

Mosby's lawyer in her criminal case, Federal Public Defender James Wyda, did not immediately respond to Fox News Digital's request for comment.





Original article source: Former Baltimore prosecutor Marilyn Mosby faces possible disbarment amid ongoing legal battles
OSHKOSH  UW Oshkoshs former director of affirmative action, Dr. Brian Xiong, maintains his retaliation case against the University of Wisconsin System was about giving a voice to the entire Oshkosh community and not a cash grab.

Xiong made the claim after reaching a $200,000 settlement with the UW Systems Board of Regents, whom he sued for discrimination and retaliation under Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964.

Its about the integrity and not money because I know I would not be able to sleep at night if I didnt stand up and speak the truth, Xiong said.

You have to get your voice out there, and I needed to let the Oshkosh community know that no one should ever retaliate against you for speaking out.

I saw what happened and I know I had to speak the truth so these things dont continue to happen, he added.

Omro wheel tax: Omro City Council decides against wheel tax  for now

Xiong alleges the UW System discriminated against him based on race.

Xiong, a 40-year-old Hmong/Asian-American, alleged the UW System discriminated against him on the basis of race and terminated his employment because he spoke out against the universitys racial bias in its hiring practices.

The U.S. District Court for the Western District of Wisconsin ruled in favor of the Board of Regents, contending Xiong failed to provide evidence supporting his contention that his Hmong ethnicity drove his termination and connecting his complaints about the hiring process to the universitys decision to fire him.

But the court of appeals for the Seventh Circuit remanded Xiongs case for a jury trial after reversing the district courts summary judgment on his retaliation claims.

UW Systems Board of Regents opted for the settlement to dismiss the suit.

This decision is in the best interest of UW Oshkosh and it brings the matter to a close, said UW Oshkosh spokesperson Alex Hummel when the university was pressed for comment.

According to Xiongs statements in court documents, the universitys Human Resources department pushed backed against him attempting to hire a Latina as his new training and compliance officer despite her qualifications and experience.

He was subsequently fired less than a week after expressing those concerns and demanding a new supervisor in a meeting with UW Oshkosh Vice Chancellor for Administrative Services James Fletcher.

The UW System has been no stranger to recent litigation, nor six-figure payouts, having reached a $325,000 settlement with a former UW Oshkosh student in 2019. She sued the university while claiming her Title IX rights were violated when UW Oshkosh acted with "deliberate indifference" to the sexual harassment she claimed she faced from one of her professors, Michael Beitz.

Earlier this month, Rochelle Hoffman, a UW-Eau Claire employee, also filed a federal lawsuit against the university, alleging she was forced to resign from her position in a campus diversity office because she is white.

Missing kayaker: Search for missing kayaker on Lake Butte des Morts in Winnebago County continues nearly a month later

UW System has faced several issues with diversity, equity and inclusion offices.

Its just the latest turmoil surrounding the UW System and diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) offices.

The Board of Regents recently approved a deal that will see the UW campuses restructure 43 diversity positions and free up $800 million for employee pay raises and building projects.

The deal was brokered between UW System President Jay Rothman and Republican Assembly Speaker Robin Vos, who has demanded cuts to DEI programming.

This comes just months after the UW System said it would no longer ask job applicants to sign statements about their commitment to diversity, equity and inclusion efforts in an apparent attempt to depoliticize its hiring process.

While the move has not sat well with a lot of the student bodies, Vos praised it as a small step toward addressing the blatant discrimination and indoctrination that has become systemic on UW campuses.

Have a story tip or public interest concern? Contact Justin Marville at jmarville@gannett.com.

This article originally appeared on Oshkosh Northwestern: Former affirmative action director, UW Oshkosh reach settlement
A former New Hampshire firefighter was arrested Wednesday for allegedly setting several fires in two New Hampshire towns from 2022 to 2023.

Nathan Nichols, 19, of Weare, New Hampshire, is charged with five counts of felony-level arson.

The State Fire Marshals Office says Nichols is responsible for multiple outside fires and two building fires between May 2022 and September 2023 in the towns of Bradford and Warner.

According to officials, Nichols used to work for the Bradford Fire Department, although its unclear when he was last employed there.

Bradford Fire Chief Bryan Nowell declined to comment citing the ongoing nature of the investigation.

Nichols was released on personal recognizance and will be arraigned in February at Merrimack County Superior Court.

The investigation is being conducted by members of the State Fire Marshals Office, the Bradford Police Department, and the Bradford Fire Department.

Anyone with information about these or other incidents is encouraged to contact the NH State Fire Marshals Office at (603) 223-4289.

This is a developing story. Check back for updates as more information becomes available.

Download the FREE Boston 25 News app for breaking news alerts.

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Secretary of Agriculture Tom Vilsack will make an appearance next month at the 18th annual Iowa Renewable Fuels Summit, the Midwests largest biofuels policy conference and the second largest biofuel trade show in the country.

The summit, which is free and open to the public, is schedule for Jan. 11, 2024, at the Prairie Meadows Events Center in Altoona. It will include keynote speakers from the biofuels industry, panel discussions with global experts and a trade show with nearly 50 exhibitors.

Vilsack, a former Iowa governor, will address the summit and receive an award from the Iowa Renewable Fuels Association.

U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Tom Vilsack will receive an award at the upcoming Iowa Renewable Fuels Summit. The event will also feature panel discussions and a trade show.

The IRFA Board is very excited that Secretary Vilsack can join the Summit, Lisa Coffelt, marketing director at the Iowa Renewable Fuels Association, said in a news release. As a state legislator, governor and now USDA secretary, Tom Vilsack has been an outstanding voice for farmers and the importance of biofuels to rural America. We are looking forward to hearing his vision for the future and for the chance to honor his many years of support.

Details of the award have not been announced but will be laid out at the summit on Jan. 11, according to IRFA communications manager Emma Koehler.

This year's Iowa Renewable Fuels Summit program:

Keynote speaker: Emily Skor, CEO of Growth Energy

Keynote speaker: Max Abrams, world-leading expert on terrorism and national security.

Panel: Soybeans: Crushing It. Moderators: Alan Weber, founding partner, MARC-IV; Ryan Ruikka, biofuels energy analyst, The ProExporter Network; Kevin Clausen, principal, John Stewart & Associates Inc.; Erik Lightner, CEO, Platinum Crush LLC; and Scott Tilton, food animal nutritionist and technical sales adviser, The Andersons Inc.

Panel: Gaining Altitude with Sustainable Aviation Fuel. Moderators: Kent Hartwig, director of state government affairs, Gevo Inc.; Jeff Davidman, vice president of government affairs, Delta Air Lines; Mike McCurdy, managing director, Energy Advisory, ICF; David Miller, chief economist, Decision Innovation Solutions; and Corey Lavinsky, executive director, Downstream Americas Consulting, S&P Global.

Panel: The Brazilian Wave. Moderators: Isabelle Ausdal, global ethanol policy and economics manager, U.S. Grains Council: Greg Hibner, vice president of business development, J.D. Heiskell & Co.; Hagan Rose, director of sales and marketing, International, EcoEnergy; and Paul Smolen, principal, AgriNetwork.

More on the 2024 Iowa Renewable Fuels Summit can be found on the IFRA website.

What is the IRFA?

The Iowa Renewable Fuels Association is an organization formed in 2002 to represent the state's renewable fuel industry, which includes ethanol and biodiesel.

According to the IFRA website, the organization "brings together Iowa ethanol and biodiesel producers to foster the development and growth of the states biofuels industry through education, promotion and infrastructure development."

The website also says Iowa is the top producer of biofuels in the nation with 42 ethanol plants with the capability of producing 4.5 billion gallons of ethanol annually, along with 34 million gallons of annual cellulosic ethanol production capacity.

Additionally, Iowa has 11 biodiesel plants that can produce up to 410 million gallons of biodiesel annually.

Its website also says it's committed to maintaining Iowas leadership in renewable fuels and value-added co-products production.

Kyle Werner is a reporter for the Register. Reach him at kwerner@dmreg.com.

This article originally appeared on Des Moines Register: Ex-Iowa Gov. Tom Vilsack to receive award at renewable fuels summit
A former Louisville, Kentucky, police officer with ties to the Breonna Taylor case is linked to a scandal regarding a unit of officers driving around town and throwing drinks at civilians.

Kelly Hanna Goodlett was among the officers who were under investigation in connection to a series of pranks dating back to five years ago where cops tossed beverages at random people, local station WAVE reported.

In 2022, Goodlett pleaded guilty to conspiring to falsify an affidavit to secure a warrant to search the home of Breonna Taylor, a 26-year-old essential worker who was fatally shot in March 2020 by officers from the Louisville Metro Police Department during a botched raid at her apartment. Goodlett also acknowledged that she tried to cover it up by lying to investigators afterward.

Kelly Goodlett, who was charged in connection to the Breonna Taylor case, is also linked to the drink-throwing scandal at the department. (WHAS11/Youtube/Screenshot)

Last week, it was revealed that Goodletts supervisor, Sgt. Kevin Casper, was aware of the drink-throwing assaults from August 2018 to September 2019 and was included in a group where videos of the incidents were shared, according to the report. However, he didnt report the unethical behavior.

Per the outlet, Casper argued that he believed the clips were TikTok videos and not cops from the department. He faced disciplinary action, a 30-day suspension with no pay, and a demotion earlier this year.

As USA Today reported, the police chief said that Goodlett, who was also in text message threads, would have been fired over the drink-throwing assaults if she had not resigned after being charged by the Department of Justice for her involvement in the Taylor case.

Other officers of the Ninth Mobile Unit  which comprises the group of officers who perpetrated the attacks  also faced suspension, but former detectives Bryan Wilson and Curtis Flynn received the worst consequences.

Wilson and former officer Curtis Flynn were sentenced to months behind bars after pleading guilty to federal civil rights charges, WDRB reported. The duo was accused of committing the acts dozens of times while in their uniforms and unmarked patrol cars. The footage was made public last week and condemned by local officials.

Videos obtained by WAVE show cops laughing as they splashed the drinks at people: How about a drink? one of the officers could be heard saying.

The incidents, which happened in 2018 and 2019, were completely unacceptable and Im thankful each of the officers caught throwing drinks at people have been prosecuted by the Department of Justice, Mayor Craig Greenberg told WDRB in a statement. There has also been a complete turnover in LMPD command staff since this happened, and the new chief has punished other officers who knew about the incidents and did not report them.
A former NASA employee and her husband are accused of running a mortgage loan scheme that involved fraudulent financing and refinancing. Noreen Khan-Mayberry,50, and Christopher Mayberry,51, surrendered to federal authorities and are set to appear before U.S. Magistrate Judge Yvonne Ho.

Dr. Noreen Khan-Mayberry has been a contributor to Fox 26 Houston, providing insight on toxicology such as cooking with plastic, how different alcoholic beverages affect your liver, and protecting your home from black mold.

FOX 26 Houston is now on the FOX LOCAL app available through Apple TV, Amazon FireTV, Roku and Google Android TV!

The indictment, issued on December 12, charges them with conspiring to make false statements to mortgage loan businesses.

The alleged scheme started in 2016 when the Missouri City couple, who were employed by NASA at the time, took out substantial personal loans to buy their luxury home. However, they quickly defaulted on those loans. The charges claim that they tried to get rid of debts by portraying themselves as identity theft victims. Khan reportedly filed a false police report and submitted a bogus report to the Federal Trade Commission. She also sent letters to credit bureaus to remove the loans from her credit history.

SUGGESTED: Precinct 4 deputies make 12 DUI arrests during Christmas initiative

As part of the scam, the couple supposedly signed three separate loan agreements with mortgage lenders between 2017 and 2021. During the loan application process, they provided false employment information and fabricated documents, including fake pay stubs, tax forms, and account statements, to the lenders.

CLICK HERE TO DOWNLOAD THE FOX 26 NEWS APP

If convicted, they could face up to five years in federal prison, a potential maximum fine of $250,000, and the possible forfeiture of their luxury home.

The investigation was conducted by NASAs Office of Inspector General-Office of Investigations, and Assistant U.S. Attorney Heather Winter prosecuted the case.

It's imperative to note that an indictment is an accusation, not evidence. A defendant is presumed innocent unless proven guilty through due process of law.
Former Oklahoma City Police Chief Sam Gonzales led the department during the Murrah Building bombing aftermath.

Former Oklahoma City Police Chief Sam Gonzales, who led the department in the aftermath of the bombing of the Alfred P. Murrah Federal Building in 1995, died Monday from undisclosed causes at Baylor University Medical Center in Dallas. He was 82.

Gonzales was a police recruit in Dallas when President John F. Kennedy was assassinated.

He told The Oklahoman in 1996, I thought then that was the biggest thing I'd ever be involved in.

Gonzales spent 27 years in Dallas, which included overseeing detectives working in such divisions as crimes, property, youth and family crimes, intelligence and narcotics.

He resigned as the police department's assistant police chief when he was appointed Oklahoma City chief on Aug. 24, 1991. He was the first chief to be promoted to the top job from outside the Oklahoma City Police Department.

On the day of the Oklahoma City bombing, Gonzales was at an allergy clinic when the building shook. He recalled thinking an elevator had fallen in the building. When he called communications, he was informed there had been an explosion downtown.

"I walked up in the front of the building on 5th Street and all of a sudden there's a crater that's probably 30 feet round and 15 feet deep, (and) the realization comes to you, if you're in law enforcement, it's a bomb, he told The Oklahoman. It's the sickest feeling that I've ever had, knowing that this wasn't just an accident."

Alongside department personnel, Gonzales worked up to 14 hours a day at the bomb site.

Former Police Chief Bill Citty told The Oklahoman this week Gonzales ability to build relationships was a key part of the departments response to the bombing.

He was the kind of police chief who liked to put qualified people in place and let them do their jobs, Citty said.

In 1998, he retired from the department. Gonzales said he wanted to be remembered as a person of honesty and integrity who kept his word and always was thinking of what's best for the department."

That same year he was tapped to serve as the special assistant to the chief of the FBI Domestic Terrorism/Counterterrorism Planning Section, working out of the FBI's field office in Dallas.

The domestic terrorism branch of the FBI's National Security Division was formed shortly after the Murrah Building bombing.

"Chief Gonzales' outstanding leadership in the law enforcement response to the bombing of the Alfred P. Murrah Federal Building in Oklahoma City makes him uniquely qualified to assist in the development of a coordinated and effective interagency response to WMD (weapons of mass destruction) incidents," then-FBI Director Louis Freeh said.

Police Chief Wade Gourley said the department was saddened to hear about Gonzales death.

Chief Gonzales steered this department through the dark days in the aftermath of the bombing of the Alfred P. Murrah Building, where his professionalism and leadership were second to none, Gourley said in a statement. Our deepest condolences go out to his family and those who loved him. He will be sorely missed.

This article originally appeared on Oklahoman: OKC Police Chief Sam Gonzales in charge during bombing response dies
Email moralmoney@telegraph.co.uk or comment below with your own moral money conundrum and it could be answered in a future column. All our letters are genuine but writers are anonymous.

Dear Sam,

I dont want to appear uncharitable, but I feel miffed about this so I thought I would ask for your input.

I was out walking my terrier and came across a purse on the ground. It was a well-used footpath across the fields, but there are no buildings or houses close by. When I looked inside there was 350 in notes, but nothing else  no cards, documents or photographs that would identify the owner.

I took it to the local police station where they informed me the owner had 28 days to recover their property, or I could claim it as my own. The purse was quite tasteful and I thought to myself: I could make use of that. As for the money, I thought I could donate it to Riding for the Disabled Association as its a favourite charity of mine, for which I raise funds when I can.

I subsequently received a letter correcting this information and telling me that current police policy permitted the finder to claim only 100 of any cash amount handed in, with the balance going into the Police Property Fund. Apparently this fund does not, as the title would suggest, transfer ownership to the police, but is instead a fund that charities can apply to.

Well, I felt put out! I have never heard of the Police Property Fund, and neither have any of the charities I regularly support. It makes you wonder how the beneficiaries are selected? How would any charity even know this fund existed and they were entitled to apply for some money?

I think finders of unclaimed money should have the right to influence who benefits if it is to go to charity. The 28 days are now up and the owner has not come forward. Should I accept the return of the purse plus 100 of the lost cash, or should I be more insistent and curious about this Police Property Fund and put up a challenge?

Kate

Dear Kate,

Thanks for letting us know about your dilemma and providing a copy of the letter from the police. I can see why your suspicions have been aroused here, because when I tried to research the Police Property Fund I found that many police forces operate their own Police Property Fund or Police Property Act Fund specific to their areas  it is not just one large fund. I found one thats specific to your area, which is referenced on its website under a slightly different name, and I am guessing this is the fund referred to in the letter  but it would have been helpful for them to use its correct name.

Apparently, awards from the PPF would only be made to local charities that have an influence in reducing crime or helping the victims of crime. This may explain why your preferred charity, Riding for the Disabled Association (RDA), has never applied for funds as it falls outside the criteria to qualify as a beneficiary, being a national charity with no obvious connections to crime prevention or victim support  although its work is valued and useful to a different segment of society.

The RDA has a clearly defined purpose as a registered charity with transparency of accounts and constitution offered via the Charity Commission website under registration number 244108-2.

Its unclear from the local police website exactly how its fund is constituted. If you applied directly to them for information, they may well tell you how much money they have and how they plan to distribute it. I must say you have got me curious, too, and a greater degree of transparency would be appropriate given the nature of the funds creation and discretion being exercised by a chosen few on its use.

I dont think it fair, or that you would make any progress, asking your local police station to go against wider police policy and let you have more than the typical 100 returned to finders. It seems the RDA is lucky to have your ongoing support, but its part of this windfall is going to be restricted to the amount you get to exercise discretion over, and we need to hope the other 250 is put to good use in crime prevention or support for victims of crime.

I wonder if we should spare a thought for the person who lost their purse and cash. I wonder what they had planned for the money?

I hope you are at least able to make good use of the purse, Kate, and I think a healthy dose of curiosity about the charity fund is acceptable, and would not even be necessary if they were more transparent about the fund.

What do you think? Let us know in the comments below and well publish the best responses. Email us  in confidence  with your own Moral Money questions: moralmoney@telegraph.co.uk

Broaden your horizons with award-winning British journalism. Try The Telegraph free for 1 month, then enjoy 1 year for just $9 with our US-exclusive offer.
French fossil hunters reportedly damaged a protected beach with angle grinders in search of ammonites, as geologists demand that visitors should be more responsible when hunting for ancient specimens.

Doniford Beach in Somerset has been designated a site of special scientific interest and is protected by law, with its marine fossils estimated to be about 197 million years old.

However, fossil collectors have been caught using angle grinders and rock saws to excavate large ammonites from the bedrock, which is not permitted on the section of coastline.

In November, a Somerset council employee alerted police to two men reportedly trying to use an angle grinder to remove fossils from the rocks.

When officers attended they found two French nationals, who admitted they were fossil hunters but said that they were unaware of the prohibition and hadnt seen any signage.

Visitors searching for ancient ammonites are welcome to explore the site and take anything loose from the shore but hammering into the bedrock at Doniford Beach is illegal and constitutes criminal damage.

Dr Andy King, a geologist with the ecological consultant company Geckoella, said that some of the damage caused to the area by the use of power tools was shocking.

He said: Its fine to take anything loose from the beach. If you didnt it would just get washed up, eroded away and broken up in any case.

A rock shattered by an angle grinder - Wessex News Agency

But the magnitude of this, you can see where they have taken out a very large portion of a bedding plane and the material still left here is showing deep saw marks.

It is quite shocking in my experience to see this kind of damage done.

Avon and Somerset Police said that the French holidaymakers stopped immediately and apologised and were sent on their way without any fossils after being given strong words of advice.

The UK Fossils Network said that people should always check before hunting because it is prohibited in some areas.

Dr King said: What we have learned from this is that what we desperately need along this coast is much more promotion about how to collect fossils responsibly and sustainably.

He added that local authorities need to better inform visitors on the responsible fossil-collecting code so that they dont destroy the environment or put their lives at risk.

Dr King warned that inexperienced fossil hunters could get caught out by the high tidal range at Doniford Bay, as well as the risk of irresponsible chiselling causing cliff erosion and rock falls.

The message really, is bring your camera not a hammer, he said.

In September, fossil hunters were warned away from stretches of the Jurassic Coast in Dorset after cliff falls.

Wardens patrol beaches

During the tourist season, fossil wardens patrol the beaches at Charmouth, near Lyme Regis, to warn visitors against the riskiest behaviour and steer them towards easier pickings near the shoreline.

The coast between Lyme Regis and Burton Bradstock, primarily owned by the National Trust and Charmouth Parish Council, is covered by a fossil-collecting code of conduct that aims to keep people safe and ensure finds are correctly recorded.

The code urges people to only search on a falling tide, avoid the base of cliffs, wear appropriate clothing and to tell someone of their whereabouts and expected return time.

In 2010, a fossil hunter was banned from collecting fossils along the Jurassic Coast after repeatedly digging into rock faces in search of new specimens.

The National Trust, Natural England and Charmouth parish council jointly applied for an injunction against the man after he was accused of putting lives at risk by loosening rocks.

Natural England can select an area of land as a site of special scientific interest (SSSI) if it is believed to have special features related to wildlife, geology or landform that needs to be protected.

There are 128 areas in Somerset alone that are covered by SSSIs, including Exmoor Coastal Heaths and Watersmeet.

Broaden your horizons with award-winning British journalism. Try The Telegraph free for 1 month, then enjoy 1 year for just $9 with our US-exclusive offer.
Health authorities in southwestern France have temporarily banned the sale of oysters from the famous Bay of Arcachon after several people suffered food poisoning.

Several cases of acute gastroenteritis have been reported in recent days, so far none of them life-threatening.

Initial investigations on locally farmed oysters confirmed the presence of norovirus, the most common cause of gastroenteritis.

Regional health authorities on Wednesday said fishing, harvesting and sales of all shellfish from Arcachon, a scenic bay on the Atlantic famed for its seafood, should stop temporarily.

"Batches of shellfish harvested or fished in these areas must be withdrawn from sale," said the Gironde prefecture in a statement.

"Anyone in possession of shellfish from these areas is asked not to eat them and to return them to the point of sale."

Peak period

The ban will hit oyster farmers who plan for increased business at the end of the year, with the delicacy a traditional feature of gatherings on 31 December and 1 January.

"For those who work with supermarkets, the festive period represents up to half of their volumes, with two-thirds of that figure sold at Christmas and one-third for New Year's Eve," Thierry Lafon, a local producer based in the town of Gujan-Mestras, told the French news agency AFP.

"We have a very decent sewerage system, which is often held up as an example," said Lafon.



Read more on RFI English



Read also:

French oyster farmer deters poachers with ingenious anti-theft scheme

French farmer battles to market 'natural' foie gras made without force-feeding

Sheep farmers break the mould as French lose their taste for Roquefort cheese
The Federal Trade Commission said Wednesday it is suing the online Grand Canyon University and its CEO Brian Mueller for alleged deceptive marketing and violations of the Telemarketing Act. Photo courtesy of GCU press release

Dec. 28 (UPI) -- The Federal Trade Commission said Wednesday it's suing Grand Canyon University and its CEO Brian Mueller for alleged deceptive advertising and illegal telemarketing.

It comes two months after GCU was fined $37.7 million by the Department of Education's Federal Student Aid Office for allegedly lying to students about doctoral programs.

"Grand Canyon deceived students by holding itself out as a non-profit institution and misrepresenting the costs and number of courses required to earn doctoral degrees," said the FTC's Samuel Levine in a statement.

The FTC lawsuit said the online company is operated for profit, but "Defendants have deceptively advertised Grand Canyon University as a nonprofit to prospective students. Defendants' marketing activities have also resulted in millions of abusive telemarketing calls to consumers who have specifically requested that Defendants not solicit them, and to individuals on the National Do Not Call Registry."

The FTC's suit quotes a 2018 interview in which Grand Canyon University CEO Mueller said marketing the business as a non-profit "is a tremendous advantage. ... We can recruit in high schools that would not let us in the past. ... We're just 90 days into this, but we're experiencing, we believe, a tailwind already just because of how many students didn't pick up the phone because we were for profit."

GCU is the largest private Christian university in the United States.

The FTC lawsuit comes two months after the Department of Education's Federal Student Aid Office fined GCU $37.7 million for allegedly lying to students about the true costs of doctoral programs.

GCU is appealing that fine.

GCU CEO Brian Mueller said in a November statement announcing the appeal that, "We need to fight this tyranny from federal government agencies not only to stand up for ourselves but to ensure this type of ideological government overreach and weaponization of federal agencies does not happen to others."

The FTC suit alleges that Grand Canyon University marketed so-called accelerated doctoral programs requiring just 20 courses with 60 credits when in fact it requires almost all doctoral students to take many more "continuation courses" costing thousands of dollars.

The FTC lawsuit alleges most of the students enrolled in GCU doctoral programs never get the degree for which they enrolled.

According to the suit, the Department of Education determined that GCU does not qualify for non-profit status. The GCU is challenging that Nov. 6, 2019, decision.

GCU has roughly 118,000 students, with more than 90,000 of them enrolled online, according to the FTC.

The lawsuit against GCU cites two counts in violation of the section of the FTC Act that prohibits "unfair or deceptive acts or practices in or affecting commerce."

Count one is deceptive representation of being a non-profit institution. Count two is deceptive representation of doctoral programs.

Three other counts in the FTC lawsuit allege violations of the Telemarketing Act.

The suit seeks a permanent injunction to prevent further violations of the FTC and Telemarketing Acts plus monetary damages and "any additional relief the court determines to be just and proper."
The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) filed a lawsuit Wednesday against Grand Canyon University (GCU) and its chief executive, alleging the nations largest Christian university engaged in deceptive advertising and illegal telemarketing.

The complaint, filed in federal court in Arizona, names as defendants Grand Canyon Education (GCE) Inc., GCU and Brian Mueller, who is the chief executive officer of GCE and president of GCU, which is already appealing a record-setting $37.7 million fine from the Department of Education over alleged deceptive practices.

The FTC accuses the defendants of deceiving prospective doctoral students about the cost and course requirements of its doctoral programs and about being a nonprofit, while also engaging in deceptive and abusive telemarketing practices.

The FTC claimed the defendants violated the FTC Act and the Telemarketing Sales Rule and asked the court to provide redress to consumers and prohibit the institution from further violations of the law.

Grand Canyon deceived students by holding itself out as a non-profit institution and misrepresenting the costs and number of courses required to earn doctoral degrees, Samuel Levine, director of the FTCs Bureau of Consumer Protection, said in a press release.

We will continue to aggressively pursue those who seek to take advantage of students, he added.

In the complaint, the FTC claimed that less than 2 percent of doctoral program graduates at GCU completed their studies within the cost that GCU advertises for the program, citing the Department of Education.

While GCU says the total cost of the accelerated doctoral programs was equal to the cost of 20 courses, or 60 credits, in reality, according to the FTC, students were required to take additional continuation courses, adding thousands of dollars to the total cost. The FTC said nearly 78 percent of the students take five or more of these continuation courses.

The complaint comes after the Department of Education last month fined the school over allegations it lied to students about the cost of the programs.

Mueller at the time called the fine ridiculous and questioned whether the school was being targeted on the basis of its faith. The school said it was appealing the fine and pledged to file a federal lawsuit if the appeal fails.

In the recent complaint, the FTC also claimed the school was deceptively marketed as a nonprofit, even though GCE and its investors profited off the school.

According to the FTC, the school pays 60 percent of its revenue to GCE as part of an agreement designating GCE as the exclusive provider of services related to the university. It also claims Mueller profits off the school, benefiting as CEO and stockholder of GCE and receiving bonuses tied to GCEs performance.

To boost enrollment, according to the FTC, the defendants also urged prospective students to submit their information on digital forms and then used that information to contact them, even when the prospective students asked not to be called. The FTC alleged the defendants contacted people on the National Do Not Call Registry.

In a lengthy statement responding to the lawsuit, a media representative for GCU said the school categorically denies these unsubstantiated allegations and will take all measures necessary to refute them.

The statement echoed the sentiment in Muellers remarks last month and highlighted the schools Christian affiliation.

Given the major problems that exist in higher education  it is baffling that the federal government has chosen to target a Christian university that is addressing those issues in very positive ways, the university said in the statement. No other institution in higher education is facing this level of government scrutiny, which speaks volumes about these agencies motivations and agenda.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill.
The Federal Trade Commission is suing Grand Canyon University and its president over what it says were deceptive advertising practices.

In the lawsuit filed Wednesday, the FTC accused Grand Canyon University of misleading potential doctoral students about the cost and course requirements. In addition, the commission contends the school misrepresented itself as a nonprofit organization and misused telemarketing calls to increase enrollment.

Marketing activities have also resulted in millions of abusive telemarketing calls to consumers who have specifically requested that Defendants not solicit them, and to individuals on the National Do Not Call Registry, the lawsuit reads.

In addition to the university, the lawsuit names Grand Canyon Education Inc. and GCU President Brian Mueller as defendants. GCE is a for-profit company and the exclusive provider of marketing services for GCU, according to the lawsuit.

Grand Canyon Education owned GCU until 2018. Mueller also serves as CEO of Grand Canyon Education.

'Government overreach': GCU to appeal fine from feds over marketing of doctoral degrees

The move comes after rising tensions between the university and the U.S. Department of Education. In October, the department levied a $37.7 million fine over similar claims of misleading advertising of the doctoral program. The university plans to appeal the fine.

Mueller has previously disputed the fine, describing the dispute as government overreach," and said the school, the largest private Christian university in the country, was being targeted. This stance was maintained in a university statement Wednesday saying the claims were "unsubstantiated," and that the university denies all of the FTC's allegations.

Read the full statement: GCU's response, specic to the FTCs four allegations

"This is unfortunately yet another example of the Biden Administration weaponizing federal government agencies in a coordinated effort to target institutions to which they are ideologically opposed," the statement said.

Grand Canyon University's statement disputed the FTC's accusations that the university is operating for the profit and benefit of Grand Canyon Education and that it has deceptively marketed itself as a nonprofit. The Internal Revenue Service has given the GCU nonprofit status, but the Department of Education classifies the institution as a for-profit for purposes of federal funding, which has been a sore spot for years.

The FTC, in a news release on Wednesday, cited the Department of Educations investigation leading to the fine. It concluded that fewer than 2% of graduates from the doctoral program finished their program within the costs advertised.

"Grand Canyon deceived students by holding itself out as a non-profit institution and misrepresenting the costs and number of courses required to earn doctoral degrees," said Samuel Levine, director of the FTCs Bureau of Consumer Protection, in the news release. "We will continue to aggressively pursue those who seek to take advantage of students."

Fighting back: Grand Canyon University, to combat advertising investigation, appeals to staff

Helen Rummel covers higher education for The Arizona Republic. Reach her at hrummel@azcentral.com. Follow her on X, formerly Twitter: @helenrummel.

This article originally appeared on Arizona Republic: Federal Trade Commission sues Grand Canyon University over advertising
Kids may say the darndest things, but parentstweet about them in the funniest ways. To that end, every week, we round up the most hilarious quips from parents on Twitter to spread the joy.

Scroll down to read the latest batch, and follow @HuffPostParents on Twitter for more!

How to portion control your snacks:



Eat them in the presence of a 3 year old. Youll be lucky to get two bites.  Some Mummy that You Used to Know (@PritikaRyan) August 29, 2022

My son just asked me how I know his name Im not in the mood today  Finest  (@BigNeyogems) August 30, 2022

"I'll see you later today" I whisper, as I pack a sandwich in my kid's lunchbox.  My Life As Dad (@milifeasdad) August 29, 2022

My 2yo literally told me what he wanted for dinner (hot dogs, tomatoes, grapes) went w me to the store to get it, scanned it at self check out BY HIMSELF, cut up the grapes, tomatoes and hot dog with his toddler knife, put it all on his own plate and thenrefused to eat dinner.  Lucy Huber (@clhubes) August 30, 2022

When a kid says "daddy, I want mommy" that's the kid version of "I'd like to speak to your supervisor"  LIFEISAJOURKNEE (@LIFEISJOURKNEE) August 31, 2022

Me: Of course you can sleep in my bed. I want you to feel comforted and safe.



Toddler: Cool. Heres a foot to the face.  Jessie (@mommajessiec) August 31, 2022

7YO: When did I get inside mommy's tummy?



Me: June 9 2012 right after I made tea and for the first time, mommy saw me put the jar of sugar back in the cabinet  Vinod Chhaproo (@Chhapiness) August 31, 2022

Asked my son if he could go anywhere in the world, where would he go? He said, McDonalds. I said no, like a country. He said, OHHHH okayMcDonalds in Japan.  DonutHawk (@StruggleDisplay) August 31, 2022

"Why aren't Millenials having children?" Maybe because those of us who did were nice enough to explain to our friends you have to wake up at 5:52am and watch Thomas while holding a toy of Thomas and making him say "Wow, look, I'm on TV" before your coffee is even ready.  Lucy Huber (@clhubes) August 27, 2022

My kid is literally eating dirt in the backyard but yea Ill go ahead and triple-wash these grapes.  Daddy Go Fish (@daddygofish) August 31, 2022

6: Mommy, imagine you had to buy your baby instead of growing it out of your penis or your belly. It would cost like ten dollars.



So much to unpack here  redyellowgreendance  (@RYGdance) August 31, 2022

6: mom whats that



me: butter, it makes everything taste better



6: you mean it tastes *giggles*



me: my sweet summer child im so very proud   That Mom Tho (@mom_tho) August 28, 2022

10 y/o daughter likes to occasionally write us notes when she wants to make a point. After we suggested she could advance in math with some help, she wrote us that shes doing fine in school and said, I dont need a Tooter.  NicholasG (@Dad_At_Law) August 31, 2022

My biggest disappointment giving birth was that the nurse didnt raise my baby into the air and sing the Circle of Life as she handed her to me  Real Life Mommy (@reallifemommy3) September 1, 2022

My son told me that at recess he runs races. I sat there trying to picture my son being a competitive runner because he's not a runner. After a long pause, "you're probably thinking that I'm running but I'm the one starting the races. I yell go!" What a story.  Marcy G (@BunAndLeggings) August 27, 2022

On the 1st day of school, my 6-year-old told me about his art teacher, Mr. McClay. This week, I found out his name is actually Mr. Mitchell.



Turns out my kid has been calling him McClay because he thinks that's a better name for an art teacher.  A Bearer Of Dad News (@HomeWithPeanut) August 31, 2022

Me: Can you go tell your brother that dinner is ready?



Son: *standing one inch from my ear* DINNER IS READY!  Sarcastic Mommy (@sarcasticmommy4) August 31, 2022

mommy, someone just lost their kitty! is my 3yos adorable way of telling me she stole someones toy  Science Mom  (@EmSlyce) August 30, 2022

Parenting books have been a lifesaver, without them Id have rings all over my coffee table  One Awkward Mom (@oneawkwardmom) August 30, 2022

*first day of school*



4yo: and there's a kid called Hunter



6yo: *muttering* I bet he doesn't even hunt  meghan (@deloisivete) August 29, 2022

Im not saying Im nailing this parent thing, but my teen daughter did say good morning to me today.  McDad (@mcdadstuff) August 30, 2022

I'm not saying our children are trying to give us a heart attack but if you've been startled awake in the middle of the night because your kid was an inch away from your face staring at you, the thought has crossed your mind.  Jacana Mommy (@jacanamommy) August 31, 2022

It's pronounced Strawbabies. And if anyone tells my 3yo any different I will cut you.  The REAL Messy Mom (@TheREALMessyMom) August 30, 2022

One minute you're excited that the kids are back in school and then 7 hours later you're reading about a field trip that costs $140  KJ (@IDontSpeakWhine) August 30, 2022

My kids, in a hot tub: So nice



My kids, in a lukewarm bath: TOO HOT  Tori (@ToriTheMom) August 29, 2022

Related...
Georgia Secretary of State Brad Raffensperger has renewed his call for the General Assembly to end general election runoffs in the Peach State.

In a statement released last week, Raffensperger said getting rid of runoffs following the November elections would give Georgians a holiday-season pause from politics.

Next year, there will be a contentious presidential election  and families across Georgia will be settling down for the holidays shortly after, he said. Lets give them a break and take another costly and unnecessary election off the Thanksgiving table. Im calling on the General Assembly to visit this topic next session and eliminate this outdated distraction.

Raffensperger raised the issue of runoffs last December after incumbent U.S. Sen. Raphael Warnock, D-Ga., defeated Republican challenger Herschel Walker in a runoff. However, it didnt gain any traction during this years legislative session.

While some second-place finishers in general elections have gone on to turn the tables and win runoffs, Warnock finished first in both the 2022 general election and runoff, lending credence to the argument that general election runoffs are an unnecessary waste of tax dollars.

Georgia lawmakers have made changes to the vote threshold general election candidates must meet to avoid runoffs since 1968, when voters approved a constitutional amendment requiring the governors race to go to a runoff if none of the candidates received a majority of votes in the general election.

After Democratic incumbent Sen. Wyche Fowler lost to Republican challenger Paul Coverdell in a 1992 runoff, the General Assemblys then-Democratic majority reduced the 50%-plus-one vote requirement to avoid a runoff to 45%. That worked out for the Democrats four years later when the late Max Cleland won the seat of retiring Sen. Sam Nunn with more than 45% of the vote but less than 50%.

Republicans responded to that 1996 loss when the GOP won control of the legislature in 2004. During their first legislative session in power, Republicans changed the requirement back to the 50%-plus-one threshold.

Georgia and Louisiana are the only two states that feature general election runoffs. A handful of other states  mostly in the South  limit runoffs to primary elections in which no candidate receives a majority of the vote.
The North Carolina Rural Infrastructure Authority announced recently that it awarded ten utility account grants, totaling more than $2 million to rural communities across the state.

Two of those grants were designated for Gaston County Businesses, according to a press release from the RIA.

The RIA, a board of the North Carolina Department of Commerce, is in charge of distributing rural grants, community development block grants and utility account grants.

Utility account grants help municipalities develop commercially and economically with the building reuse program and the industrial development fund.

As part of their building reuse program, the RIA awarded $350,000 toward the renovation of a nearly 300,000-square-foot building in Mount Holly that is currently occupied by Boxman Studios, a company that creates and installs temporary or permanent buildings for clients.

An additional $230,000 was allotted to Gaston County for the expansion of a 32,000-square-foot building in Bessemer City, currently occupied by Connor Brothers Machine, a business that makes custom parts for manufacturing equipment.

The specific goal of the funding is to create new jobs in rural communities and generate more private investments into the communitys local economy, according to the release.

Boxman Studios plans to create 68 jobs while investing $324,929, the release said, adding that Connors Brothers Machine is expected to add 31 new jobs with an investment of $4,000,000 in this project.

The North Carolina Department of Commerce website describes the program as a way to bring life back to old buildings and make them useful again.

This article originally appeared on The Gaston Gazette: Gaston businesses awarded thousands by Rural Infrastructure Authority
Gaston Glock, the Austrian engineer who went from making curtain rods to manufacturing some of the world's most popular handguns, died Wednesday at the age of 94.

Glock Inc., announced the death of the company's founder on its website. No cause of death was given. Glock "not only revolutionized the world of small arms in the 1980s, but also succeeded in establishing the Glock brand as the global leader in the handgun industry, the company said.

The Glock pistol became not only a favorite of law enforcement, but has appeared in blockbuster movies such as "Die Hard 2" and U.S. Marshals," and is referenced in many rap songs including Wu Tang Clan's "Da Glock."

Born in Vienna, Austria in 1929, Glock's company expanded to providing knives and bayonets to the Austrian Army in the 1970s. Then, he learned of the army's need of a new handgun in 1980, wrote Paul Barrett in the book "Glock: The Rise of America's Gun," published in 2012.

Gaston Glock, the Austrian engineer who designed the Glock pistol, shown here on Sept. 4, 2003, died at the age of 94 on December 27, 2023, according to the company.

Despite not even owning a handgun himself, Glock convened experts to help him create the "pistol of the future." During the project, Glock trained on handguns and fired the prototypes with his left hand in case there was an accident, so he could continue his design work with his right hand, Barrett wrote.

The result was the Glock 17, a lightweight semi-automatic handgun made of industrial plastic, or polymer, that held 17 rounds in its magazine and another in its chamber.

Good girl!: Virginia police dog helps track down missing kid on Christmas morning

The Austrian Army chose the Glock as its new service pistol in 1983 and the next year it was chosen by the Norwegian Army as their standard sidearm, the company says. Glock, which opened its U.S. headquarters in Smyrna, Georgia in 1985, says more than 65% of U.S. federal, state and local agencies have been issued Glock pistols.

Gun-maker and business-owner Tony Hook of RTD Arms & Sport in Goffstown, New Hampshire holds a customized Glock pistol at his shop on June 2, 2022.

Gun-making founder of Glock: "A reclusive billionaire"

As Glock's success grew, Gaston Glock became "a reclusive billionaire who owned his company and lived on a lakefront estate in Austria shielded by guards, lawyers, financiers and servants," The New York Times reported Wednesday.

Glock did make the news in 1999 when, at the age of 70, he survived an attempt on his life: his investment broker hired a former wrestler to attack him with a rubber hammer, Reuters reported. Glock took blows to the head but fended off the attack; the broker and attacker were found guilty of attempted murder.

His 2011 divorce from Helga Glock, his wife of 49 years, also attracted publicity and resulted in a lengthy alimony battle, Reuters reported. Glock is survived by his second wife, Kathrin, who he married soon after the divorce, a daughter and two sons, according to Reuters.

Forbes listed Gaston Glock and his family's worth as $1.1 billion in 2021, however, counsel for Glock strongly objected to his inclusion in the list and disputed the valuation, according to Forbes. Glock dropped off the list in 2022.

How did the Glock become popular with police?

When Glock began courting U.S. law enforcement, officers were finding themselves outgunned by criminals, Barrett wrote in the book. The handgun was more reliable and cheaper than the competition. Still, Glock also offered discounts to police departments, Barrett told NPR during a 2012 interview.

"Police departments were amazed when they took their officers out to the range and found out not only could they learn to use the Glock pretty quickly, but the Glock also made them more accurate as marksmen," Barrett told NPR. "And that's in part because it has a very light, very steady trigger pull. ... Critics of the guns say the trigger pull is so light that it makes accidental discharges so likely. But the Glock always has had that dual nature to it  the advantages can be reframed as disadvantages."

Dover (N.J.) Township Police Sgt. Richie Ross observes Lt. Mitch Little (foreground) as he fires the newly-issued Glock .40 caliber semi-automatic pistol at the local police range on August 7, 2003.

Glocks used in many shootings across the US

Glock handguns became popular purchases for consumers, especially during the COVID-19 pandemic, which led to an increase in gun sales.

Several high-profile and mass-casualty shootings have been committed with Glock pistols including the December 2020 Rockford, Illinois shooting at the Don Carter Lanes complex, which left three dead and three wounded; the November 2018 Thousand Oaks shooting at the Borderline Bar and Grill, which left 13 people dead, including the gunman, and the 2007 Virginia Tech shooting, which resulted in 33 deaths (the shooter included), according to the Violence Policy Center.

The name "Glock" has also been in the news because of the prevalence of "Glock switches," when can be attached to a handgun to make it fire more rounds faster. Glock does not make these devices, which are often 3D printed. The conversion devices have become more common, with the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms saying there was more than 5,000 recovered from 2017 to 2021, up 570% from the amount recovered 2012 to 2016.

A Glock pistol with an illegal conversion device, sometimes referred to as a "Glock switch." The small piece, which is illegal and not manufactured by Glock, can convert a semi-automatic pistol into a fully automatic one.

Contributing: The Associated Press

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This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Gaston Glock, who developed the Glock pistol, dies at age 94
Dec. 28 (UPI) -- Gaston Glock, the inventor of the firearm that bears his last name, has died at the age of 94, according to his company.

The Glock company announced on its website that its founder died Wednesday .

"Gaston Glock charted the strategic direction of the GLOCK Group throughout his life and prepared it for the future," it said. "His life's work will continue in his spirit."

Glock, an Austrian engineer, founded his company in Deutsch-Wagram near Vienna in 1963 to make consumer goods out of wood, polymers and metal, according to its website.

Then during the 1970s, it started to build products for the Austrian military, such as field knives and training grenades, before inventing the semi-automatic Glock pistol it would become known for in the early 1980s.

In 1985, the company opened its U.S. headquarters in Smyrna, Ga. The firearm is now used by more than 65% of federal, state and local agencies in the United States, according to the company's website.

The weapon has also become a staple of American culture, being included in rap songs by the Wu-Tang Clan, Tupac and others, and seen in films and television shows wielded by actors such as Arnold Schwarzenegger.

It has also been present in the United States gun crisis, being used in mass shootings, with the Violence Policy Center stating in a 2022 report that the weapon has been in the arsenals of "some of the most infamous mass shooters in the United States."

Cho Seung-hui was armed with a Glock when he killed 32 people and injured more than a dozen others when he went on a shooting spree at Virginia Tech in 2007. Jared Lee Loughner used a Glock to shoot 18 people, six fatally, in 2011 as he attempted to assassinate Rep. Gabby Giffords. And Dylann Roof used a Glock in his fatal shooting of nine people at the Emanuel African Methodist Episcopal Church in Charleston, S.C., in 2015.
Gaston Glock, the Austrian engineer who invented the Glock handgun, has died aged 94.

The Glock company said in a statement that its founder's life's work would "continue in his spirit".

The weapon has been used by armed forces, security personnel, gun owners and criminals around the world.

Its rise was cemented by American pop culture and appearances in Hollywood blockbusters including science-fiction action film The Matrix Reloaded.

Despite the popularity of his creation, Glock has been described as a reclusive billionaire who spent most of his time at a lakefront estate in Austria.

He was rarely in the news, only making headlines when a book about his business was published in 2012, after a divorce from his first wife in 2011 and when a business associate tried to have him killed in the late 1990s.

In the latter incident, the hired attacker, a professional wrestler, beat him seven times on the head with a rubber mallet but Glock, then 70, fought back and managed to knock out his assailant.

"Gaston Glock charted the strategic direction of the Glock Group throughout his life and prepared it for the future," the company said.

It added that its leader had "revolutionised the world of small arms" and "succeeded in establishing the Glock brand as the global leader in the handgun industry".

A Glock pistol

Glock, who was born in 1929, studied mechanical engineering at a college in Vienna. He later founded a consumer goods business in a town outside the Austrian capital.

In the early 1980s, the business branched into military supplies and answered a call from the Austrian army that was looking to update its pistols.

Glock designed and patented a lightweight 9-millimetre semiautomatic handgun, which could fire 18 rounds and be easily reloaded.

The gun gained a loyal following among military and police personnel worldwide.

Paul Barrett, the author of Glock: The Rise of America's Gun, wrote that the weapon had become "the Google of modern civilian handguns: the pioneer brand that defines its product category".

Forbes estimated Glock's personal fortune at $1.1bn (863m) in 2021.

The Glock also found a place in US pop culture. "Get yourself a Glock and lose that nickel-plated sissy pistol," actor Tommy Lee Jones said in the 1998 movie US Marshals.

American rappers Snoop Dogg and Wu-Tang Clan also worked the gun into their rhymes.

The weapon was also featured in Hollywood blockbusters including action films Terminator 3: Rise of the Machines and The Matrix Reloaded.

Over the years, gun-control advocates have criticised Glock for popularising a weapon which was easy to conceal, all while holding more ammunition than similar guns.

It has received its share of controversy. The Iraqi dictator Saddam Hussein was found by US soldiers hiding with a Glock in a hole in the ground in 2003.

In 2018, a US Marine Corps veteran with suspected mental health issues killed 12 people in a busy bar in California, including a policeman.

Ian David Long legally owned a Glock semi-automatic handgun, which had an extended magazine that is illegal in the state of California.

Meanwhile, a US gun company faced backlash for producing a customised Glock pistol that looked like a children's toy made of Lego.

Glock rarely responded to criticism from gun control campaigners. He also refused to join other weapon manufacturers who signed a voluntary gun control deal with the US government in 2000.

He is survived by his wife, a daughter and two sons.
Palestinians killed in Israeli strikes and fire are buried in a mass grave in Rafah

Palestinians killed in Israeli strikes and fire are buried in a mass grave in Rafah

By Samia Nakhoul

(Reuters) -The war aims of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Gaza's Hamas leader Yahya Sinwar look unattainable in 2024, and their fight may consign the Palestinian territory to yet more devastation and an open-ended Israeli occupation.

Netanyahu seeks to obliterate Hamas for its attack on Oct. 7, Israel's bloodiest day ever, seemingly willing to raze much of Gaza to the ground and risk reimposing a military occupation in the enclave Israel left in 2005.

Sinwar hopes to trade remaining hostages from the 240 that Hamas and allied groups seized on Oct. 7 for thousands of Palestinian prisoners, end the Israeli-Egyptian blockade of Gaza and put Palestinian statehood back in play.

WHY IT MATTERS

Palestinians initially felt pride that Hamas fighters had shattered Israel's image of invincibility but soon realised the attack would draw a terrifying response.

Weeks of bombardment have left much of the Hamas-ruled strip in ruins, killing more than 21,000 people and wounding 55,000, according to Palestinian health authorities and displacing 1.9 million, according to relief agencies and Gaza health officials.

Hamas and its thousands of fighters are dug deep into the territory's dense cities and refugee camps and there is little sign they are close to defeat, with battles continuing across the enclave and their leaders still at large.

The Israeli military has expressed regret for civilian deaths but blames Hamas for operating in densely populated areas or using civilians as human shields, a charge the group denies.

WHAT IT MEANS FOR 2024

Israel's army chief predicts the war will last for months.

Even if the war ends early in the year, Israel will likely maintain a military occupation, drawing frowns from allies as Palestinians suffer in tent cities squeezed against the enclave's border with Egypt.

Netanyahu has yet to articulate a plan for post-war Gaza, but his government has told several Arab states it wants to carve out a buffer zone to prevent a repeat of the Oct. 7 attack in which Israel says Hamas killed 1,200 people.

No Palestinian authority acceptable to Israel appears able to take over soon. Nor will Hamas readily cede control. Most Arab states are unwilling to get involved. That leaves Israeli occupation, an ongoing siege and no real reconstruction.

Netanyahu and Israel face risks with troops deployed in a dangerous urban war zone and world opinion turning against them, but the risks for Sinwar may be greater still.

If Sinwar survives the onslaught, he will be left with an enclave in ruins, a battered or weakened military base and a local population enduring hunger and homelessness.

"I don't think there is much appetite for anyone to be standing in and occupying Gaza instead of the Israelis. So the realistic way forward, which, I'm not advocating at all, is Israeli reoccupation," said Joost R. Hiltermann, Middle East and North Africa Program Director of the International Crisis Group.

"It's very difficult to see how Israel could withdraw from Gaza," he said.

LONG-TERM OCCUPATION

The Israeli vision for post-war Gaza so far, most politicians and analysts say, is to emulate the occupied West Bank model by having some designated authority running civic affairs while Israel maintains security control.

The West Bank-based Palestinian Authority (PA), which Hamas ousted from Gaza in 2007 when it took over control, is unacceptable to Israel despite the insistence of its U.S. ally.

Israel would instead prefer a multinational authority, including Arab allies, incorporating a Palestinian council and technocrats, two regional politicians told Reuters.

"No one (Arab states) wants to take control of Gaza. Israel will deal with Gaza like the West Bank after the war. Israeli forces will go in and out as they wish," said Marwan Al-Muasher, Jordan's former foreign minister, now Vice President for Studies at the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace in Washington.

This could mean the United Nations and humanitarian agencies providing services inside Gaza until Washington persuades Israel to accept a revitalised PA to govern the territory or to agree to some other arrangement.

"I don't believe Israel would militarily leave Gaza. It would retain the security responsibility that will allow its forces to enter, attack, raid and arrest when they want and as they want," said Ghassan Al Khatib, a Palestinian analyst.

"They don't want to leave militarily from Gaza because Hamas will regroup. It will be a matter of time, one year, two or three and things will go back to where they were," he added.

Netanyahu has said Israel will keep some form of security control of all Gaza indefinitely, though he insists that this would not amount to reoccupying the strip.

Calling the war an existential test for Israel, he has repeatedly said the war will end only once Hamas' leaders and its military capabilities were eradicated.

A senior Israeli official said in a briefing this month that Israel would not want for Hamas or the PA to control Gaza after the fighting is over. Nor would it want to run the lives of 2.2 million Palestinians in Gaza itself.

"On the contrary, we want to see local administration, headed by Palestinians, leadership that is able to work for the future and horizon of the Palestinian people with the help of moderate Arab countries and the whole world," the official said.

"It might take time," he said.

MESSY CAMPAIGN

Analysts say that eradicating Hamas will likely result in thousands more civilian deaths, the decimation of what remains of Gaza, further displacement of hundreds of thousands of Gazans and perhaps a mass exodus to Egypt despite Cairo's objections.

Israel's insistence on eliminating Hamas may be undergoing a reassessment or shift in strategy. Longer term, two regional sources say, Israel could attempt more focused raids on Hamas leaders or fighters.

But eliminating leading commanders would not be enough for Israel to claim it had destroyed the group, declare victory and end the war. Most Hamas leaders already are successors to ones previously assassinated by Israel.

"Killing the leadership doesn't affect a movement that has a full organizational hierarchy and grassroots. If they kill one, another will take over as we have seen before," Khatib said.

Most analysts argue it will be nearly impossible to eradicate the Hamas ideology, with recent polls showing a rise in its popularity.

REGIONAL CONTAGION

The war has brought a wider deployment of U.S. military forces in the region, including the presence of aircraft carriers. The longer it lasts and the more the destruction, the greater the risk of regional escalation.

Fears of spillover are high, even if Iran and its militia proxies in Lebanon, Iraq and Yemen have largely kept their support for Hamas to waging low intensity attacks against Israel and its U.S. ally.

Iranian-aligned Houthi forces have attacked ships in the Red Sea, disrupting global trade routes. The group has vowed to strike U.S. warships if its forces are hit by Washington, which has set up a coalition force to counter Houthi attacks.

The most dangerous flashpoint is the Israel-Lebanon border, where Iran-backed Hezbollah and Israel have exchanged missile fire and attacks since Oct. 7.

Although Israel has focused on the war in Gaza, it is also determined to push Hezbollah from its northern border and get tens of thousands of Israelis back to homes evacuated because of the Lebanese group's rocket fire, the two regional sources said.

NO HORIZON

There is no sign now the war will usher in a revival of stalled peace moves and bring about a two-state solution as Washington hopes.

The Oct. 7 attack, along with accounts of Hamas atrocities, rapes and executions, has left Israel shaken to the core, deeply affecting any hope for peace or coexistence even among moderates.

In the West Bank, a rising number of Israeli army raids, renewed settler violence, confiscation of Palestinian land and detention of activists and fighters are closing the window for any settlement, the regional sources and analysts say.

They say the idea, promoted by the West, that eliminating Hamas will eventually allow the PA's return to Gaza and a new push for a Palestinian state is an illusion.

"I believe this war will have an extreme reaction and impact on the Israeli society. Israel as a society and as a political elite will become more radical," said Khatib, a professor of politics at Birzeit University in the West Bank.

"There is no political horizon, whatever was left has evaporated, Khatib added.

(Additional reporting by James Mackenzie; Writing by Samia Nakhoul; Editing by Angus McDowall and Howard Goller)
Omid Nouripour, Federal Chairman of Alliance 90/The Greens, looks into the camera of the photographer during an interview with the dpa. "I don't believe that compulsory military service is needed," Nouripour told dpa in Berlin. "I wouldn't rule anything out now, because it will never do any good. Times are too fluid for that," he said in response to a corresponding question. "But I don't see that happening at all." Kay Nietfeld/dpa

Omid Nouripour, the leader of Germany's Greens, does not believe in the reintroduction of compulsory military service in the country.

"I don't believe that compulsory military service is needed," Nouripour told dpa in Berlin. "I wouldn't rule anything out now, because it will never do any good. Times are too fluid for that," he said in response to a corresponding question. "But I don't see that happening at all."

Defence Minister Boris Pistorius, from the Social Democrats, had said in an interview with the newspaper Welt am Sonntag that he was examining models of compulsory service in view of the shortage of personnel in the Bundeswehr, citing the Swedish model.

"There, all young men and women are conscripted and only a select number of them end up doing their basic military service. Whether something like this would also be conceivable here is part of these considerations," said Pistorius.

Compulsory military service was suspended in Germany in 2011 after 55 years.

"It is true that we have a very tense security situation, unfortunately also on this continent. And it is right that we should think about all possible options," Nouripour conceded.

However, Nouripour noted that the centre-left Social Democrats themselves were in disagreement on the issue.
In a comment for the German Press Agency, Omid Nouripour, a co-leader of Germany's Green Party, has emphasized the central role the U.S. is playing in Western support for Ukraine, adding that Germany and the European Union, in general, won't be able to compensate for a potential loss of the U.S. aid to Ukraine.

Nouripour's statement comes amid divisions in the U.S. Congress over approving the White House's request for $61 billion in additional budget support for Ukraine.

The U.S. announced on Dec. 27 a $250 million military assistance package for Ukraine, exhausting the last remaining funds the U.S. will provide until Congress passes the White House's funding package.

"It is hardly possible to simply compensate for what the Americans have achieved so far, neither in terms of materials nor in terms of money," Nouripour said, as cited by German TV channel n-tv.

"But of course, in this case, we Europeans will have to step up our support for Ukraine."

Read also: US domestic political turmoil threatens to undermine support for Ukraine

German Defense Minister Boris Pistorius told die Welt am Sonntag in a Dec. 16 interview that Europe needed to step up its defense production to protect itself and Ukraine as the U.S. will likely decrease its involvement on the continent in the near future.

German Chancellor Olaf Scholz issued an echoing statement earlier, saying that Germany should be prepared to increase its support for Ukraine "when others are faltering," apparently referring to the uncertainty over the U.S.'s further aid to Ukraine.

Support over the White House's aid package has turned into a political battle in the U.S. as some Republican lawmakers refuse to back additional funding for Ukraine, tying opposition to the bill with demands to strengthen migration border policy at the U.S. border with Mexico.

Senate leaders attempted to come to an agreement on the aid funding ahead of their year-end holiday recess - even delaying their scheduled break - but have yet to come to terms on a deal. The Senate is expected to hold a vote on additional aid funding in early 2024.

It is unclear if any deal reached by the Senate will be supported by the Republican-controlled House, where some lawmakers oppose additional funding to Ukraine.

Weve been working hard to bring you independent, locally-sourced news from Ukraine. Consider supporting the Kyiv Independent.
The waters of the Weisse Elster river have risen sharply. The flood situation is not expected to ease until the next few days. (Photo taken with a drone) Bodo Schackow/dpa

Five suspected supporters of the Islamic State are facing charges in Germany after they raised more than 250,000 ($278,000) in donations for the terrorist group, federal prosecutors said.

Prosecutors brought the three women and two men before the Dusseldorf Higher Regional Court on charges of supporting a foreign terrorist organization and violating the Foreign Trade and Payments Act. All but one of the suspects are German nationals.

The court has yet to decide if the case will go to trial.

The Office of the Federal Prosecutor in Karlsruhe, the country's highest prosecution authority, on Thursday accused the suspects of collecting money on behalf of two Islamic State members living in Syria from 2020 to 2022. The funds were transferred through intermediaries.

Appeals for donations were made via Telegram. The proceeds were to be used to secure the release of Islamic State members imprisoned in the Al-Hol and Roj camps in northern Syria. The camps primarily house the wives and other adult female relatives of male fighters.

The prosecutors said the money was intended to help detainees escape or be smuggled out of the camps.

A regional train runs on a rail embankment that is completely surrounded by water. Andreas Arnold/dpa

A slide stands in the high water of the Elbe. The flood situation in Saxony remains tense, especially on the Elbe. Sebastian Kahnert/dpa

A cyclist stands on a flooded road after the flood of the Elbe River. The flood situation in Saxony remains tense, especially along the Elbe. Sebastian Kahnert/dpa

The Lahn near Wetzlar - the flood situation in Hesse is currently easing as a result of the decreasing rainfall. The heavy rainfall of the past few days has caused the Lahn to overflow its banks, closed roads have now been reopened, but rain is expected again in the next few days. Helmut Fricke/dpa

The Elbe floods against the backdrop of the old town at sunrise. The flood situation in Saxony remains tense, especially on the Elbe. Sebastian Kahnert/dpa

Volunteer firefighters are driven over a flooded road with a wheel loader not far from the Aller. The flood situation remains tense in many regions of Lower Saxony. Philipp Schulze/dpa

Emergency services from the THW and fire department stand at a pump. The flood situation remains tense in many regions of Lower Saxony. Philipp Schulze/dpa
RABAT, Dec. 28 (Xinhua) -- Morocco will receive a 100-million-euro (about 110 million U.S. dollars) loan from the European Investment Bank (EIB) to help implement its strategy for boosting water and forestry sector resilience, the Moroccan news agency MAP reported Thursday.

The loan agreement was signed in the kingdom's capital Rabat by Fouzi Lekjaa, the Moroccan minister delegate in charge of the budget, and the director of Operations at the EIB, Lionel Rapaille, MAP said.

The funds will be used to modernize and enhance the competitiveness of the water and forestry sector in Morocco, with a focus on climate change adaptation and biodiversity promotion, it said.

The EIB announced on Oct. 11 that it will grant Morocco 1 billion euros in loans over the next three years. 
Migrants trying to reach the Italian island of Lampedusa from the northern coast of Africa are apparently adrift in the Mediterranean Sea with engine trouble. Sea rescuers from German aid organizations have taken more than 200 migrants on board their ships in the central Mediterranean in the past few days, the groups said. Oliver Weiken/dpa

Sea rescuers from German aid organizations have taken more than 200 migrants on board their ships in the central Mediterranean in the past few days, the groups said.

The crew of the rescue ship Sea-Watch 5 saved 119 people in distress at sea in two separate operations, the group said, adding that the migrants arrived at the port of Marina di Carrara in Tuscany on Thursday.

Among those rescued are 32 unaccompanied minors. The youngest person is 3 years old.

The organization criticized the Italian authorities who assigned the ship to a port around 1,150 kilometres away from the operation site.

There is no silent night when people have to try to flee across the sea in search of safety," said Anne Dekker, head of operations on board the Sea-Watch 5, according to a statement.

Meanwhile, volunteers from the aid organization Sea-Eye rescued a total of 106 people on Tuesday and made their way to the port of the southern Italian city of Brindisi, the group, based in Regensburg, Germany said.

On December 26, the crew of the Sea-Eye 4 became aware of two unseaworthy boats in international waters south of the Italian island of Lampedusa and took the people on board. Among them were dozens of minors. The volunteers expect them to arrive in Brindisi on Friday.
EUR 4.1 billion worth of Russian assets were blocked in Germany as of early December.

Source: Nodjinan Niminde-Dundadengar, representative of the press service of the German Federal Ministry of Finance, as quoted by Ukrinform

The report notes that as of early December, assets worth about EUR 4.1 billion were sanctioned in Germany due to Russia's war against Ukraine.

According to the press service representative of the German Federal Ministry of Finance, this is "frozen money, economic resources of individuals, blocked money of the Russian central bank".

Christian Wagner, the spokesperson of the German Foreign Ministry, in turn reiterated that it is important to remember that sanctions are very diverse, many of them have indirect effects, so they should not be underestimated. He also noted that the 12th sanctions package against Russia had recently been approved and assured that "there will be further packages, that the system will be expanded and developed, and that the shortcomings and opportunities for circumventing sanctions will be identified and blocked".

The German Foreign Ministry also recalled the decision of the G7, when its members agreed to "make efforts to ensure that Russia pays for the reconstruction of Ukraine in the long term", for which they decided to freeze Russian state assets in accordance with the legal systems of the member states.

Previously: The German government has allocated another 88.5 million to the Energy Support Fund for Ukraine under the Energy Community.

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A container ship crosses the Gulf of Suez towards the Red Sea before entering the Suez Canal, in Al-'Ain al-Sokhna

BERLIN (Reuters) - Germany and its European Union partners are examining whether they could mount a new maritime mission to protect commercial vessels under threat of attack in the Red Sea, a foreign ministry spokesperson said on Thursday.

"We as the German government are ready for this. It is important that we as the EU are able to act as quickly as possible in view of the ongoing attacks," the spokesperson said, adding that a decision on the matter had not yet been taken.

The Iran-backed Houthis have attacked or seized a dozen ships with missiles and drones since Nov. 19, trying to inflict an international cost for Israel's war against Hamas in Gaza, which followed the militants' deadly Oct. 7 rampage in the south of the country.

The United States has been spearheading a new maritime force, known as Operation Prosperity Guardian, to respond to the attacks by Yemen's Houthis, but some allies have been reluctant.

Germany is continuing to examine the question of possible participation in the U.S.-led mission, added the spokesperson.

There have also been talks in Brussels about extending an existing EU anti-piracy mission, Atalanta, to protect Red Sea shipping, but no decision has been made, said the spokesperson.

Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez had said on Wednesday that he was willing to consider the creation of a different mission to tackle the problem, after Spain said it opposes expanding Atalanta and would not join the U.S.-led maritime force.

(Reporting by Miranda Murray, Editing by Rachel More, Alexandra Hudson)
The Gilbert Police Department has reopened four criminal investigations involving teens, including attacks by members of the "Gilbert Goons."

Gilbert police officials would not say why they have reopened the cases and provided scant information about them because, the department said, they are open.

In mid-December, The Arizona Republic published an investigation that found the Gilbert Goons, a gang of mostly affluent teenagers, had engaged in a string of blitz-style attacks on other teens in the southeast Valley for more than a year, according to interviews, court and police records, and social media posts.

Brass knuckles, beatings, fear: Random attacks on teens loom over Preston Lord murder case

Two of the reopened Gilbert cases were attacks documented by The Republic. The other two were labeled as "threats" by the department.

Gilbert, which in early December publicized its ranking as the second-safest big city in the U.S., was a hub for Goons attacks, according to reports by victims and their families. But Gilbert police never connected the assaults, even those in the same location, to the Goons or any other group.

The department initially told The Republic it had no cases where victims referred to the Goons by name. In recent updates online, however, the department states victims have since referred to their attackers as being associated with the group.

In addition to reopening four cases, Gilbert police officials said the department is reviewing cases involving teenagers from the past two years.

"We continue to actively review our assault cases involving youths to see if there is any additional information or correlation between these incidents that can assist us with our past investigations," an unidentified department spokesperson said in an email on Tuesday.

At the crime scene: 'Gilbert Goon' girlfriend recounts deadly Halloween party

Southeast Valley parents and students, as well as community organizers, said members of the Goons were involved in the Oct. 28 fatal beating of 16-year-old Preston Lord in Queen Creek. None of the Goons has been arrested or named as suspects by police in Lord's case, which remains unsolved nearly two months later.

2 known 'Goon' beatings, 2 cases of threats

The four reopened cases date back to mid-December 2022, according to Gilbert police. The most recent incident took place just over a month ago, after Lord's attack.

Police have reopened the investigation into the Aug. 18 beating of Richard Kuehner's 16-year-old son. He was attacked at the Gilbert In-N-Out Burger near San Tan Village Parkway and East Williams Field Road. The Republic documented at least four attacks at the In-N-Out in the past year through interviews and records.

The investigation into the attack on Kuehner's son was listed by Gilbert police as "inactive pending additional investigative leads." But the day after The Republic's report on the Goons, Kuehner said police assigned a detective.

"Well, in fact, since media's helped, they have now assigned a detective to my case," Kuehner said. "Go figure."

Investigation shift: Gilbert police dodge questions on teen attacks, reopen 'Goon' case after Republic report

Kuehner previously told The Republic that his son's shoes were stolen during the beating and described perpetrators "kicking and stomping" his son. After the beating, he said his son came home bleeding and visibly shaken. He had to take him to the emergency room, where Kuehner racked up a $14,000 bill.

Before a detective was assigned to his son's attack, Kuehner said, his last update from police was that a video of his son's attack was sent to officers at East Valley high schools to see if they could recognize any of the kids pictured.

Case developments: New 'Gilbert Goons' beating video, chilling account of Preston Lord's attack emerge

On Friday, Gilbert police took to Facebook and asked anyone with information about the attack, which they labeled an "aggravated robbery," to come forward. The post included multiple images from the attack  one showed several individuals kicking the victim. Police said they were trying to identify the people involved.

"This investigation is thoroughly being reviewed and, depending on the outcome, multiple charges could be applicable," said Gilbert police spokesperson Brenda Carrasco on Friday.

Another reopened case is the beating of Lori Nitzen's 16-year-old son at a Dec. 17, 2022, party in Gilbert. Brass knuckles were used in the assault.

One Goon who attacked Nitzen's son was involved in another attack less than two weeks later outside the Gilbert In-N-Out. He was charged with aggravated robbery and aggravated assault for the two cases. He was detained for more than three months before being placed on probation.

A report filed in April in Maricopa County Superior Court noted the teenager acknowledged "multiple instances of leaving the home with the plan to assault people for no reason."

Though an arrest was made in the attack on Nitzen's son, Gilbert police officials said Tuesday that a follow-up investigation was needed.

The two other reopened cases were related to alleged threats on Aug. 14 and on Nov. 24. Police said a follow-up investigation was needed for both incidents, but no additional information was released about them to The Republic.

Republic reporter Robert Anglen contributed to this article.

Elena Santa Cruz is a criminal justice reporter for The Republic. Reach her at elena.santacruz@gannett.com or 480-466-2265. Follow her on X at @ecsantacruz3.

This article originally appeared on Arizona Republic: Republic links 'Goon' attacks; Gilbert police reopen investigations
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Original article source: GOP asks SCOTUS to reject Trump ruling, lawyer's warning about Idaho murder case jury and more top headlines
The United Kingdom government has reportedly put its weight behind a plan that could save homeowners major money in the future.

The Guardians Jillian Ambrose reported Dec. 13 that the proposed regulations would outlaw gas- and hydrogen-ready boilers in newly constructed houses, setting the stage for the standard installation of heat pumps beginning in 2025.

Allowing fossil fuel or hydrogen heating in new homes would have locked in high bills and high carbon emissions for a generation, MCS Foundation director David Cowdrey said, noting it was a huge relief that the government acknowledged the benefits of heat pumps.

The driving factor behind the overheating of our planet is the burning of dirty energy sources  such as gas, oil, and coal  leading to concerns about the spread of mosquito-borne diseases and the inability of our oceans and seas to produce enough food, among others.

According to the International Energy Agency, the heating of buildings produces 4.4 billion tons of carbon pollution every year, accounting for 10% of global carbon dioxide pollution.

Because heat pumps are more energy efficient than gas boilers, however, switching to one can reduce the amount of heat-trapping gases released into our atmosphere by at least 20%, per the IEA.

While there have been some concerns about the ability of heat pumps to keep dwellings at safe temperatures in colder climates, the IEA pointed out that more than half of the buildings in Norway already utilize the devices, and Sweden and Finland arent far behind.

Installing a heat pump can be a considerable investment, as detailed by the IEA. Like the United States, however, the U.K. already has some incentives in place to switch to the energy-saving warmers.

Juliet Phillips, a senior policy adviser for climate think tank E3G, noted the latest proposal would prevent the need for costly retrofits in the future, per The Guardian.

Making heat pumps the default heating source for all new homes and banning gas and hydrogen boilers is absolutely the right step for the climate and for households energy bills, Cowdrey said.

Join our free newsletter for cool news and actionable info that makes it easy to help yourself while helping the planet.
Good local journalism always informs and sometimes entertains. It keeps communities up-to-date on the good and awful to help us better understand where we live. Day after day after day.

Among our highest callings is publishing fair, accurate and timely investigative and accountability reporting. That journalism holds powerful people and institutions to account for their actions and inaction  challenging work long embraced by The News & Observer.

Sometimes the reporting develops into multi-story packages exploring complex problems. Hopes Foreclosed, a recent investigation by McClatchy NC I-team members David Raynor and Ames Alexander, exposed the toll taken by NC HOAs, which can seize and sell homes for any amount of unpaid dues, no matter how small.

Other reporting is propelled by recent news, such as Teddy Rosenbluths discovery that some obstetricians, a group already in short supply in rural parts of this state, are fleeing North Carolina due to new abortion restrictions. Even some who did not put abortion at the core of their work or studies.

Throughout 2023, N&O reporters across beats delivered public service journalism, always deepened by collaborations with N&O visual journalists Robert Willett, Ethan Hyman, Travis Long, Kaitlin McKeown and Kevin Keister.

Below are more examples, focused on issues relevant across North Carolina. On Dec. 29, look for samples of N&O accountability reporting focused on the Triangle and nearby communities.

Senate President Pro Tempore Phil Berger, and House Speaker Tim Moore announce they have reached a deal on the state budget during a press briefing on Tuesday, September 19. 2023 in Raleigh, N.C. The compromised budget will not include casino legislation but will include Medicaid expansion. Robert Willett/rwillett@newsobserver.com

POLITICAL POWER & INFLUENCE

Dawn Baumgartner Vaughan, Luciana Perez Uribe Guinassi and Alexander, a Charlotte Observer reporter, explored the lobbying power of prosecutors, showing how a powerful group wields its influence.

A powerful state lawmaker was unusually candid with NC McClatchy congressional correspondent Danielle Battaglia about how state money is steered to the districts of those with influence.

On another topic, Battaglia documented how common it was for power players to get around rules meant to keep federal pandemic relief money from going to lobbyists and political consultants.

North Carolina Insurance Commissioner Mike Causey speaks about the importance of keeping kids and pets safe during an event held to demonstrate the danger of hot cars on Thursday, July 27, 2023, at Pullen Park in Raleigh, N.C. Kaitlin McKeown/kmckeown@newsobserver.com

Dan Kane revealed how Republican Insurance Commissioner Mike Causey hired political allies and friends and organized parts of his agency to accommodate them.

Kyle Ingram and Kane brought sunshine to a new decision by state lawmakers to keep their own records secret. Kane also fact-checked a leaders reason cited for dramatic move.

Vaughan and Perez Uribe explored how the state budget added new powers for legislative leaders.

Mount Pleasant Community Church received the most money ($1.5 million) of any individual church that received funds from the state budget. Sen. Paul Newton, who represents the churchs district, said the money will be used for mold and asbestos remediation in what used to be a middle school building that is now part of the churchs campus. Melissa Melvin-Rodriguez/mrodriguez@charlotteobserver.com

Ingram and Rosenbluth gave a full accounting of how the budget steered public money to churches and faith-based groups.

Vaughan revealed a provision in the budget that was a surprise to some lawmakers, and led to lawmakers removing it.

Avi Bajpai examined what was happening behind the scenes in a secretive effort to legalize casinos.

Kevin Spruill holds up his release paperwork that he keeps with him in case he is stopped and detained by authorities on a arrest warrant that should have been recalled. Spruill is one of several plaintiffs who signed onto a potential class action lawsuit filed in federal courts alleging that the rollout of the states eCourt system violated their civil rights. Photographed August 24, 2023. Ethan Hyman/ehyman@newsobserver.com

GOVERNMENT STUMBLES

Tyler Dukes investigated the rollout of a new digital records system in state courts, showing it was linked to multiple problems  mistaken arrests included, lawyers say. District attorneys asked for an independent review but none came.

Virginia Bridges revealed that the state continues to lock kids up in small rooms, an isolating practice long deemed risky, due to administrative problems such as staff shortages and detention center overcrowding.

Kane detailed a spike in deaths of people locked up in county jails. In all cases, state investigators concluded that detention officers werent checking inmates as frequently as state rules require.

Valerie Smith-Ragland holds a photo of herself and her son, Makari Jamel Smith. Makari was shot to death by sheriffs deputies in Feb. 2022 while he was suffering a schizophrenic crisis. It took more than a year for the autopsy report to be completed, and that held up insurance payments. It has put me in massive financial strain, Smith-Ragland said. Ethan Hyman/ehyman@newsobserver.com

In their Burdened After Death series, Alexander and Raynor revealed big delays by state officials on completing state-mandated death investigations. In nearly 1,400 cases since 2020, they took more than a year, burdening families financially and emotionally.

HEALTH & ENVIRONMENT

Dukes, Rosenbluth and Charlotte Observer editor and reporter Lisa Vernon Sparks detailed the toll of the NC maternal death rate being higher than the country overall. Dukes discovered that the one state group tasked with understanding why is years behind other states in studies.

Van Barbour his daughters, Maddie, 12, and Oakleigh, 2, visit the grave of his wife and their mother who died from pregnancy-related complications in 2021. Ethan Hyman/ehyman@newsobserver.com

Rosenbluth showed how for a brief few weeks, NC State Health Plan members had a rare window into the secretive world of drug pricing. But documents were removed due to pressure from a company.

Battaglia followed up on a law that aimed to secure long-delayed justice for families and explained why delays were continuing despite the rules.

DeAnna Brandons, 45, of Salisbury looks through some of her medical bills and documents. Brandon was recently diagnosed with multiple myeloma, a rare blood cancer. Brandon does not have insurance and charity care, through which hospitals provide free or discounted services to eligible low-income patients, wont cover the cost of up to $200,000 to harvest and transplant her own stem cells. Travis Long/tlong@newsobserver.com

Perez Uribe, Alexander and Rosenbluth found on-the-ground examples of how important Medicaid expansion could be. For some, it was potentially the difference between life and death.

UNC & HIGHER EDUCATION

After the daytime killing of a faculty member at UNC-Chapel Hill, Korie Dean uncovered gaps in the campus active shooter training, and how the university had missed a chance to fill those gaps.

People console one another after being released from a lock down area on South Road after a report of an armed and dangerous person on the University of North Carolina campus on Monday, August 28. 2023 in Chapel Hill, N.C. Robert Willett/rwillett@newsobserver.com

In her coverage of changing rules governing the public UNC System, Dean also revealed what was happening to diversity efforts despite assurances that a new policy did not target them.

Public figures in hot water

Vaughan questioned state House Speaker Tim Moore about an alienation of affection lawsuit filed against him.

North Carolina State Auditor Beth Wood makes an appearance in Wake County court on Thursday, March 23, 2023 in Raleigh, N.C. Woods pleaded guilty to misdemeanor hit-and-run. She was charged after striking a parked car on Salisbury Street in December 2022 and leaving the scene of the accident. Robert Willett/rwillett@newsobserver.com

Bajpai used public records to deepen his reporting on evolving details linked to former State Auditor Beth Woods car crash.

Politics and government editor Jordan Schrader contributed to this report.
Russian forces struck Vovchansk in Kharkiv Oblast on the morning of Dec. 28, killing a 66-year-old woman and wounding another resident, reported Oleh Syniehubov, the regional governor.

The second victim, a 63-year-old woman, is being treated on the scene, he said on Telegram.

As a result of the attack, possibly carried out with multiple-launch rocket systems, a car caught fire, according to Syniehubov.

The town of Vovchansk, with a pre-war population of around 17,500 people, lies some 60 kilometers northeast of Kharkiv and less than 10 kilometers from the border with Russia.

Located near the front line and the Russian border, cities, towns, and villages such as Vovchansk suffer from near-daily attacks by Russian forces.

Read also: We pushed and they collapsed: How Ukraine liberated Kharkiv Oblast

Weve been working hard to bring you independent, locally-sourced news from Ukraine. Consider supporting the Kyiv Independent.
Metro Manila (CNN Philippines)  While posting outstanding financial performance in 2023, Metropolitan Bank & Trust Co.s (Metrobank) has been getting recognition left and right from leading financial publications, industry peers, and the government  cementing its leadership in the industry.

Keeping Filipinos in good hands

- Best Bank of the Year for the 2nd consecutive year, The Banker

- Strongest Bank in the Philippines for the 3rd consecutive year, The Asian Banker

- Best Domestic Bank, Asiamoney

Metrobank caught the eye of the Oscars of the financial sector, from The Banker, The Asian Banker to Asiamoney. These back-to-back awards serve as a testament that Metrobank is staying true to its brand promise of keeping Filipinos in good hands.

The major awards validate Metrobanks exceptional financial performance, success in growing its market share, and ability to effectively serve its markets - demonstrating strength and reliability for its clients.

Numbers can attest to this. Metrobank booked a 35.6% year-on-year growth to 31.8 billion in its net income for the nine months ended September 2023, driven by its asset expansion, improving margins, and healthy non-interest income growth as asset quality continued to improve. This translated to a return on equity of 12.8%, higher than the 10.0% recorded in the same period last year.

Helping businesses thrive

- Best Service for Trade Finance services, Asiamoney

- Best Cash Management Service (Financial Facilities Category), Euromoney

- Best Cash Management Service (Domestic Bank Category), Asiamoney

There are enough reasons why many businesses choose Metrobank as their growth partner. Financial publications Euromoney and Asiamoney lauded the bank for helping businesses thrive this year, particularly for its outstanding trade and cash management services for its corporate clients.

Metrobank received these recognitions based on the publications surveys with trade and cash management clients all over the world  further reflecting the confidence of the Banks partner businesses to the solutions it provides.

While these awards are concrete proof that Metrobank is a growth enabler, the bank is laser-focused on its goal of supporting businesses to succeed and scale, eventually helping more Filipinos be employed.

Managing and growing clients wealth

- One of the 2023 Best Fixed Income Houses, Fund Managers Association of the Philippines

- Top Investment House in the Philippines (Bank Category), The Asset

- Cesar E.A. Virata Award (Bank Category) for the ninth year, 2023 Philippine Dealing System

- Best Bank from the Ultra-High Net Worth, Asiamoney

- Best Domestic Private Bank, Asiamoney

Keeping its clients hard-earned wealth in good hands is a top priority of the bank. This is why Metrobank aims to continue delivering top-notch investment and wealth management services to its clients, while navigating different market challenges.

Both The Asset and Fund Managers Association of the Philippines (FMAP) praised Metrobank and its team of experts, for its leadership, innovation, and strong performance in the investment space.

The Bank was also recognized by the Philippine Dealing System for its significant contribution to the growth of Philippine financial markets. Metrobank brought home six accolades including the prestigious Cesar E.A. Virata award (Bank Category), for the 9th consecutive year.

Meanwhile, Metrobank has strengthened its position as the preferred partner for the Ultra-High Net Worth clients, upon being named by Asiamoney as Best Domestic Private Bank in the Philippines award for the second straight year, and the Best Bank for the Ultra-High Net Worth clients.

Aiding in nation-building

- Top Market Maker for Government Securities Eligible Dealers (GSED) for 2024, Bureau of the Treasury

As the Bank continues to empower its clients, it also strives to fulfil its commitment to serving its community.

Recently, Metrobank was awarded by the Bureau of the Treasury as the Top Market Maker for Government Securities Eligible Dealers (GSED) for 2024, for the third consecutive year. This is in recognition of the Banks efforts in helping the national government to meet its financing requirements, and for supporting initiatives of the National Treasury in enhancing the access of Filipinos to investment opportunities.

These awards underscore Metrobank's commitment to strength, innovation, and service excellence. These show that the banks Youre In Good Hands promise goes beyond just its clients. It transcends to every Filipino impacted by its efforts to aid in economic growth and nation-building.

To know more about Metrobank, visit www.metrobank.com.ph.
Chief Constable Stephen Watson pledged to investigate every crime however 'minor' and attend every burglary when he took the helm at Greater Manchester Police in 2021 - James Speakman/PA

A back-to-basics approach has helped Greater Manchester Police become the only force to improve its performance ratings for investigating crime this year.

In the space of two-and-a-half years, Chief Constable Stephen Watson has taken the failing force that he inherited out of special measures and dramatically improved its ratings in two key metrics: investigating crime and responding to the public.

In 2021-22, Greater Manchester was ranked bottom overall and judged inadequate  the lowest of five ratings  on both criteria, as assessed by Her Majestys Inspectorate of Constabulary.

When Mr Watson took over in summer 2021, he pledged to investigate every crime however minor, banned the practice of screening out weak cases, insisted officers attended every burglary scene and restored neighbourhood policing, or more colloquially, bobbies on the beat.

As a result, the number of offences resulting in a charge has jumped by 44 per cent, reversing a slump in solving cases that has fallen nationally to just one in 18, or 5.7 per cent.

Emergency 999 answer times have been reduced from 82 seconds to seven seconds, putting the force among the best of the 43 in England and Wales for the percentage answered within 10 seconds.

Manchester is the only one of nine forces so far to have improved its official ratings for investigating crime and responding to the public in the latest round of inspections for the period 2023-25.

Where before it was rated inadequate, it has jumped two grades to adequate in both categories. By contrast, five forces  Thames Valley, West Midlands, Surrey, Merseyside and Durham  have declined when it comes to investigating crime.

Six  West Midlands, Surrey, Merseyside, Durham, Dyfed-Powys and Suffolk  have been ranked worse on interaction with the public.

Back to basics

Indeed, Manchester is cited by ministers as an exemplar of the back to basics approach that they want to reverse the slump in charging rates.

With a record number of police officers after the 20,000-strong recruitment uplift and millions extra invested, they are clear the number of crimes solved must be significantly increased.

A Home Office source said: To help do this, we secured agreement from policing in September to always follow up every line of inquiry for all crimes  without exception. This approach recently led to a 44 per cent increase in charges in Greater Manchester.

The new approach has been reinforced by data from force inspections which showed that more than half were failing to investigate crimes properly.

For the inspectorate, it is down to a combination of problems which have been particularly acute in high-volume crimes such as burglary and theft, where there are some of the lowest detection rates.

According to inspectors, it starts from the point of a victims 999 call where they found call handlers failed to give advice on how to preserve evidence, meaning vital forensic material could be lost. Delays in getting to the scene within the so-called golden hour when evidence is fresh meant further leads could be lost.

Chronic shortages of detectives put newly recruited officers in the front line with no experience in making arrests, building case files or attending court, according to inspectors. It was compounded by a lack of effective supervision by more experienced detectives.

Repeat offenders

In his annual report, Andy Cooke, chief inspector of constabulary, was concerned at the failure to tackle repeat offenders. Too often, people offend with apparent impunity, and the police arent targeting them consistently, he said. Some forces target repeat offenders better than others, but the vast majority need to make serious improvements in this respect.

The National Police Chiefs Council has responded with a pledge to visit the scene of every domestic burglary, and aims to do it within an hour of a victim reporting as well as pursue every reasonable lead on all crimes.

New guidance has set out what investigations should include such as forensic tests, searches, interviewing neighbours and obtaining CCTV from doorbells or security cameras.

A two-year trial of this new approach to burglary has seen GMP raise the proportion resulting in charges from three per cent to almost eight per cent.

How far the new focus on raising investigative standards succeeds in restoring public trust will be determined by HM inspectors of police. In 2024 they will be conducting a thematic inspection to assess its impact.

Broaden your horizons with award-winning British journalism. Try The Telegraph free for 1 month, then enjoy 1 year for just $9 with our US-exclusive offer.
The row about the rightful owners of the sculptures has become one of Europes longest-running cultural disputes - Matthew Fearn/PA

Greece is prepared to lend the British Museum some of its most important antiquities to fill the void if the Elgin Marbles were returned, the countrys culture minister has said.

Lina Mendoni has revealed how Greece is considering ways to compensate the museum to ensure that its galleries would not be left empty in the event the sculptures were sent back to Athens.

In a move suggested as a way to boost the numbers of international visitors, the minister said that rotating exhibitions at the museum featuring some of Greeces most celebrated antiquities could help resolve one of Europes longest-running cultural disputes.

In an interview with The Guardian, Ms Mendoni  a classical archaeologist by training  said: Our position is clear. Should the sculptures be reunited in Athens, Greece is prepared to organise rotating exhibitions of important antiquities that would fill the void.

However, she said talks over a possible deal had not yet included identifying specific artefacts.

She added that any potential exchange would  maintain, and constantly renew, international visitor interest in the Greek galleries of the British Museum, adding that any agreement and all its particulars, would have to be in accordance with Greek law on cultural heritage.

Last month, George Osborne, the chairman of the British Museum, pledged to continue working on an exchange deal to allow the Elgin Marbles to be displayed in Greece, despite a diplomatic fallout caused by Rishi Sunak.

The Prime Minister ditched a planned meeting with his Greek counterpart, Kyriakos Mitsotakis, the centre-right prime minister, after accusing him of grandstanding about the return of the ancient sculptures.

Compromise could be reached one day

Greece has long demanded the return of the Elgin Marbles, also known as the Parthenon Sculptures, which were removed by Lord Elgin from occupied Athens in the early 19th century when he was the British ambassador to the Ottoman Empire. They were purchased by Parliament from Lord Elgin in 1816.

Part of the friezes that adorned the 2,500-year-old Parthenon temple on the Acropolis have been displayed at the British Museum in London for more than 200 years. Most of the remaining sculptures are in a purpose-built museum in Athens.

The possibility of such a cultural exchange has raised the prospect that Agamemnons Mask  the gold funerary mask once described as the Mona Lisa of prehistory and which is currently displayed in the National Archaeological Museum of Athens  could visit the British Museum.

Mr Osborne hinted to MPs on the culture, media and sport committee in October that a compromise settlement regarding the sculptures, created in the 5th Century BC by the sculptor Pheidias, could one day be reached.

We want to create a proper partnership, he said, [One] that would mean objects from Greece coming here, objects that have potentially never left Greece before and certainly never been seen before, and objects from the Parthenon collection potentially travelling to Greece.

However, Ms Mendoni told The Guardian there had been no discussion about establishing a branch of the British Museum at Greeces Acropolis Museum.

She added that her government planned to make full use of the possibilities offered by dialogue and cultural diplomacy to reach a settlement.

Broaden your horizons with award-winning British journalism. Try The Telegraph free for 1 month, then enjoy 1 year for just $9 with our US-exclusive offer.
TAMPA, Fla. (WFLA)  A New Hampshire man dressed in a Grinch costume crashed into the mailbox of an Exeter business on Christmas, the Exeter Police Department said in a social media post.

The department shared photos of the man, dressed head to toe in a full Grinch costume, as he waited by his car for police to arrive on scene.

Christmas is over what do I do with my tree?

Photo courtesy The Word Barn/Exeter NH Police Dept./LOCAL NEWS X /TMX

According to police, 31-year-old Jon Williamson became distracted near a curve in the road and his silver Honda CRV left the road and hit the mailbox, the sign for The Wood Barn, and several lights along the path of the yard before coming to rest.

Fire and rescue personal responded to the scene at about 5:50 p.m. Christmas night and discovered the damaged vehicle, with Williamson sitting in the front seat with the driver door open and his feet on the ground.

Photo courtesy The Word Barn/Exeter NH Police Dept./LOCAL NEWS X /TMX

This was certainly a unique situation. Officers never expected to arrive at the scene to find that an operator was wearing a Grinch suit behind the wheel, but it was Christmas night so not entirely outside the realm of possibility. Fortunately, no one was seriously hurt, Police Chief Stephan Poulin said.

Williamson denied any injuries but was evaluated and transported to Exeter Hospital. The crash is under investigation.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WFLA.
A man dressed as the Grinch was distracted and accidently drove his car through an Exeter, New Hampshire business' mailbox and road sign on Christmas night.

The Grinch is up to his old antics again this time driving while distracted and hitting a New Hampshire business sign and mailbox.

Police in Exeter, New Hampshire were enjoying their Christmas night when they responded to a strange call about a car accident at a local performance hall.

When police, fire and rescue personnel arrived at The Word Barn on New Fields Road at 5:50 p.m. they discovered a silver Honda CRV on the front lawn.

"The drivers door was open and the operator was observed wearing a full Grinch costume with his feet out of the vehicle on the ground," police said in Facebook post.

Employees at The Word Barn were also surprised by the accident.

In a Facebook post, the business said this isn't the first time their road sign was destroyed but they were surprised to see the culprit of the destruction this time was none other than the Grinch.

"Can't make this stuff up," the business wrote.

Funny: Georgia museum hosts awkward family photos exhibit as JCPennys Portraits trend takes off

Grinch was a distracted driver, police say

A man dressed as the Grinch was distracted and accidently drove his car through an Exeter, New Hampshire business' mailbox and road sign on Christmas night.

Police said the driver was driving south down the road when he became distracted near a curve and his car went off the roadway, hitting the mailbox, sign and several lights in the businesses front yard. His car was also significantly damaged, including having a smashed windshield, and broken a window.

"This was certainly a unique situation. Officers never expected to arrive at the scene to find that an operator was wearing a Grinch suit behind the wheel, but it was Christmas night so not entirely outside the realm of possibility. Fortunately, no one was seriously hurt," Police Chief Stephan Poulin said.

The Grinch's off route accident is still under investigation.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Grinch crashes car into a New Hampshire business on Christmas: Police
If you've ever followed - or faced - a criminal case, you know firsthand they can run for years.

But from guilty verdicts to ousted lawyers, several of San Joaquin County's most newsworthy cases held major developments in 2023.

And 2024 may have more twists and turns in store. Here's what to watch in the county's biggest crime cases next year.

Ex-nonprofit leader found guilty of sex crimes

Fathers & Families of San Joaquin founder Samuel Nunez may face a 41-year prison term after a jury found him guilty in June of sexually abusing two young people in his family.

It was the culmination of a two-year case striking for the rift it created between Nunez' prior image as a social justice organizer whose nonprofit sought to bring hope to Stocktons communities, especially to its most marginalized groups, and his actions behind closed doors.

But Nunez appears to be searching for ways to change his fate: in July, he successfully requested to delay his sentencing moments before its announcement. He then asked the court if he could fire his attorney for purportedly failing to provide effective counsel.

That process is still under way, and it's possible Nunez could get a new trial. His case returns to court Jan. 29.

Ex-Lodi councilmember pleads not guilty to gambling, election crimes

For more than two years, former Lodi city Councilman Shakir Khan has been in court for allegedly operating illegal gambling venues.

But Khan's court battle returned to the news in February when he was charged with election fraud on top of existing charges of illegal gambling, money laundering, tax evasion and unemployment fraud.

In an unusual move, Lodi mayor Mikey Hothi visited Khan in jail and asked for his resignation from the District 4 seat. Body camera footage the San Joaquin County Sheriff's Office released of the meeting shows Khan signing a resignation letter hastily written by Hothi.

"(It) was illegal and improper for the mayor to contact him in conjunction with law enforcement," Khan's attorney, Allen Sawyer, said at the time. He added he planned to request a federal judge to bar the city from removing Khan from his seat.

Khan pleaded not guilty to all counts in November.

A preliminary hearing in the gambling case was held this year. An initial hearing in the elections case hasn't yet occurred.

Former police officer charged with assault won't return to jail

A year after former Stockton police Sgt. Nicholas Bloed was put on house arrest during his sexual assault case, prosecutors claimed this month he's traveled to various locations in Stockton and Sacramento.

That may be the case, Allen Sawyer  who also represents the former officer, in addition to Khan  stated in court filings this month.

But Bloed made most of the trips while returning from allowed travel, and had informed his probation officer, Sawyer said.

Judge Michael Coughlan on Dec. 7 rejected prosecutors' request to return Bloed to San Joaquin County Jail without bail.

Bloed's case returns to court Jan. 16, when Sawyer is set to ask to dismiss the case.

High-profile homicide cases lull

Meanwhile, action in two of Stockton's highest-profile homicide cases of the past few years has stalled.

The year kicked off with four new murder charges and an attempted murder charge filed against Wesley Brownlee, who already faced three murder counts for allegedly carrying out a string of killings in Stockton and Oakland throughout 2021 and 2022.

But the case has slowed to a trickle of further arraignments and other hearings as attorneys slog through the discovery process. A preliminary hearing may not happen until summer 2024 or later.

"I personally don't feel like our team is going to be ready by June" due to "significant discovery issues," Brownlee's public defender, Allison Nobert, said in October.

A case against a man accused of stabbing a Stockton student to death in 2021 has also slowed as he receives mental health treatment, court records show.

Anthony Gray, accused of killing 15-year-old Alycia Reynaga at Stagg High School in April 2021, is being treated at Napa State Hospital after a judge determined in January he was not competent to continue his case.

A judge is set to review Gray's status early next year.

This article originally appeared on The Record: Nunez, Khan, Bloed: SJ County court cases to watch in 2024
Gulz Dhanoya (right) started putting out music during the pandemic

Being an NHS junior doctor means long shifts, anti-social hours and challenging work. Now imagine being in an up-and-coming band at the same time.

That's a reality for Gulz Dhanoya.

"It was a lot easier when I was at uni," he says. "I had a lot more time."

He's the lead vocalist of Gulz - an indie-rock four-piece named after the 25-year-old.

Maybe appropriately for a band with four doctors as members, the project started in Gulz's rare downtime during the Covid-19 pandemic.

"I decided to release some stuff I'd been working on," he says. "I was really nervous and I put it out on socials, then deleted it all off my phone for a week.

"I was worried my mates were going to give me stick for it.

"Luckily, it went pretty well."

He's right. Some of his tracks got picked up by local radio stations and music press, and Gulz started getting gig offers.

So he recruited three pals from University College London (UCL), and they've since sold out shows all over London, and have a tour planned for next year.

And they've recently released their debut EP Age of Youth with Fierce Panda Records - a label that's put out music from some of the UK's biggest bands including Coldplay, Oasis and Keane.

As you might imagine, working it around the day job can be tricky.

"We understand that the hospital patients always come first and the need to be a bit flexible with our rehearsals," he says.

"Like one week, I'll be on the night shift and then the next week someone else will.

"We can support each other a bit with that. And on days off, we just focus on the music."

Newest member Eliza says being in the band has been a surprising booster for her mental health

Focusing on music is what attracted the band's newest member, 26-year-old bassist and fellow foundation year doctor Eliza Lassman.

She says music has always been a big part of her life, but she was "a bit on the fence about joining" because she wasn't sure if she'd last more than a month.

"But just having a play through with Gulz made me realise that it's something I had to do," she says.

Since becoming part of the group, Eliza feels it's actually helped her to manage her work and her mental health.

"Medicine is a really, really stressful job," she says.

"Sometimes you come home from a shift and you can end up sitting around and thinking about stuff that you've done, especially if you've seen something that's a bit traumatic.

"So it's really important to have things outside of it that help you kind of switch off, give you something to focus on outside the hospital.

"People think that doctors have to be made of steel and can go through anything without having a wobble, but we're all human. It happens.

"Being able to practise and just be in that flow state is really good for your mental wellbeing. I'm really grateful to have music in my life."

Gulz says the buzz he gets from performing inspires him to keep going

When Asian Network speaks to Gulz, he brings up the ongoing junior doctors' strikes in England and says the band "fully supports" them.

He agrees with medics' union the British Medical Association (BMA) that doctors "don't get paid enough for the work we do".

They've been unable to agree a pay deal with the government that would end the strikes.

Another key complaint from junior doctors is about their working conditions.

Gulz admits he asks himself a lot why he chooses to balance the demands of a musical and a medical career in the current climate.

"It is stressful," he says.

"It can feel like a nightmare to be honest, a continuous nightmare.

"Managing rotas and gig offers can be consuming. Neither industry is amazing for pay, either.

"But every time I play a gig - and it sounds really cliched - I absolutely love it and it reminds me why I do it. There's this buzz I get.

"We sacrifice a lot to do this, but it's worth it."

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Listen to Ankur Desai's show on BBC Asian Network live from 15:00-18:00 Monday to Thursday - or listen back here.
An open letter to Sen. Josh Hawley:

Thank you for your written response to my message concerning gun safety in Missouri. I wanted to follow up with a few points in the hopes you can see my perspective and perhaps look at this life-and-death subject in a different way.

First, I am an alumni of the University of Missouri Law School (your former employer), where I received a first-class education in constitutional law. In your letter to me, you state that you oppose an assault weapons ban because it would infringe on the Second Amendment rights of people in the United States. With respect to your own distinguished legal background, I think you misunderstand the difference between infringement and regulation.

As a citizen, I am guaranteed numerous rights by the Constitution, including the right to keep and bear arms. The Supreme Court has determined that such a right exists, and I accept it as the law of the land. However, I think you would also agree with me that none of our rights  even those enshrined in the Constitution  is absolute. The government has an interest in regulating every single constitutional right. I must register to vote. I cannot defame my fellow citizens. You see my point. Every right has limits, especially in our case where more than 40,000 Americans have died this year from gun violence, including thousands of children.

In your letter, you also emphasize the need to increase penalties for gun crime and to fully fund police departments. Two points here: First, the overwhelming body of research shows that increased criminal penalties do not deter crime. Second, you have only to look at Kansas City to see that more money does not mean less crime. KC is one of the Top 10 most dangerous cities in America (and our Democratic mayor has virtually no control over our police department, as you know)  and it is required to spend 25% of its general revenue on police, and some estimates put that figure much higher. Moreover, I have often heard that the police forces job isnt to prevent crimes, but to solve them. Unfortunately, this does not help to accomplish our goal of saving lives.

I am a co-founder of a group called Lives on the Line Kansas City. We are a group of mothers in the Kansas City area who are desperately trying to keep our children and our community safe. Our goal is to advocate for commonsense gun reform to reduce the amount of gun crime in our area. Things such as safe gun storage laws. Universal background checks. Bans on ghost guns and extended magazines.

Because if guns dont kill people  people kill people, then lets empower law enforcement to identify the wrong people and stop them from obtaining deadly weapons. And prevent small children from getting access to guns and dying from accidental shootings. And stop suicidal teenagers from killing themselves with their parents guns. And dont let radicalized or mentally ill school shooters purchase AR-15s. And keep perpetrators of domestic violence from hoarding guns and killing their partners.

We can do this. Please help us. Our children are dying.

Thank you.

Jessie Bustamante is an attorney in Kansas City. She is co-founder of Lives on the Line, a grassroots nonprofit organization of mothers from Missouri and Kansas dedicated to finding radically bipartisan solutions to gun violence. Lives on the Line does not lobby.
A Queens teen took his French bulldog for a walk on Christmas morning  only to see the pooch snatched away from him at gunpoint by a heartless 16-year-old crook, police said Thursday.

The dogs 15-year-old owner was outside the Queensbridge Houses on 10th St. near 41st Ave. in Long Island City when the older teen stormed up and whipped out a gun around 9 a.m. Monday, cops said.

You have 5 seconds to run, the crook said as he held the pistol to the boys chest, according to court papers.

The victim dropped his dogs leash and ran off.

The mugger then grabbed the leash and walked off with the imperiled pup, named Six, cops said.

The startled victim managed to call police. NYPD Housing Unit cops soon spotted the brazen bandit with Six a few blocks away, near 38th Ave. and 10th St.

When the mugger saw officers approaching, he tossed his loaded 9-mm. pistol over a fence into a parking lot, according to prosecutors.

Cops recovered the weapon and took the teen into custody.

Investigators charged the suspect with menacing, petty larceny and weapon possession. The Daily News is not printing his name because he is a juvenile.

The teen was ordered held on $20,000 bail after a brief arraignment in Queens Criminal Court Tuesday.

Pulling a gun in broad daylight to steal a dog and then casually taking the animal for a stroll is a kind of dangerous brazenness we will not tolerate under any circumstance, Queens District Attorney Melinda Katz said in a statement.

Six was happily reunited with its owner.

The criminal was caught, a firearm was recovered, and the owner and pooch will not be having a RUFF day, the NYPD tweeted.

Purebred French bulldogs can fetch $30,000 or more and make ideal apartment pets due to their small size and quiet demeanor.

Over the last few years, theyve been the target of robbers, most notably in the case of pop singer Lady Gaga. Her two pups, Gustav and Koji, were stolen in February 2021 when her dog walker was shot in Los Angeles.

Gaga, who grew up on the Upper West Side, offered a $500,000 reward for the safe return of the pooches.

Her employee, Ryan Fischer, survived the terrifying armed robbery. Gustav and Koji were returned to the Los Angeles Police Department days later by a woman uninvolved in the robbery.

Closer to home, in June 2022, a crook followed a woman through a revolving glass door at a Broadway building near Rector St. in the Financial District and bent down to pet her French bulldog. Once he was close enough to the black-and-white pooch, he grabbed hold of the leash, but its quick-thinking 29-year-old owner tugged back, refusing to give up her dog.

As she fought with the would-be thief over the leash, he slammed the dog owners head against the glass revolving door before he took off empty-handed.

The pets owner was taken to an area hospital with minor injuries, and the dog was unharmed.
Gypsy Rose Blanchard, the woman sentenced to a decade in prison for the murder of her abusive mother, was released from prison Thursday after serving eight years behind bars.

Blanchard, 32, was granted parole in September and cleared for an early release from Missouris Chillicothe Correctional Center, the states Department of Corrections confirmed.

Nobody will ever hear me say Im glad shes dead or Im proud of what I did, Blanchard told People a day ahead of her release. I regret it every single day.

She was released from prison around 3:30 a.m. local time Thursday, the Department of Corrections confirmed to HuffPost.

In a 2015 plea deal, Blanchard was found guilty of the second-degree murder of her mother, Clauddine Dee Dee Blanchard, who had foisted numerous fake illnesses upon her daughter, including leukemia, muscular dystrophy, brain damage and an unspecified chromosomal disorder.

Blanchards mother reinforced the charade by forcing her daughter to use a wheelchair, shaving her head to mimic the side effects of chemotherapy, giving her unnecessary medicine that caused severe tooth decay and convincing a doctor to install a feeding tube in her. Blanchard says her mother maintained control over her through isolation from the outside world and physical abuse.

Gypsy Blanchard takes the stand during the trial of her ex-boyfriend Nicholas Godejohn in 2018.

Gypsy Blanchard takes the stand during the trial of her ex-boyfriend Nicholas Godejohn in 2018.

Her story was portrayed in the 2019 scripted Hulu series The Act and recounted in the 2017 HBO documentary Mommy Dead and Dearest.

In her People interview, Blanchard said shed spent her years behind bars trying to understand her mothers situation, including her suspected case of undiagnosed Munchausen syndrome by proxy.

Its a journey. Im still really trying to come to a place of forgiveness for her, for myself and the situation, Blanchard said. I still love my mom. And Im starting to understand that it was something that was maybe out of her control, like an addict with an impulse. That helps me with coping and accepting what happened.

After her mother was found stabbed to death in her Springfield, Missouri, house in 2015, Blanchard admitted to conspiring with her boyfriend, Nicholas Godejohn, to kill her mother, arranging for him to carry out the act while she hid elsewhere in the house.

Godejohn was found guilty of first-degree murder and sentenced to life imprisonment without the possibility of parole.

Blanchard married Ryan Anderson, a 37-year-old Louisiana teacher, while in prison last year, she told People.

Blanchards commentary will also be featured in the upcoming Lifetime series The Prison Confessions of Gypsy Rose Blanchard, which is scheduled to air on Jan. 5.

Related...
At 3:30 a.m. local time on Thursday, Gypsy Rose Blanchard left Missouri's Chillicothe Correctional Center after serving 85% of her 10-year sentence for her role in the fatal stabbing of her mother, Clauddine Dee Dee Blanchard in 2015.

Sentenced in 2016 after admitting to convincing her boyfriend at the time, Nick Godejohn, to travel from Wisconsin to the home she shared with her mother in Missouri to commit the murder with a knife she provided him while she hid in the bathroom, Blanchard's early release was confirmed back in September and, in a recent interview with People, she says she's ready for freedom.

Speaking to People about the crime she committed, which was an ill-conceived attempt to free herself from a lifetime of Munchausen by proxy syndrome abuse  a rare form of abuse in which a guardian exaggerates or induces illness in a child for attention and sympathy, she says, "No one will ever hear me say I'm proud of what I did or I'm glad that she's dead . . . I'm not proud of what I did. I regret it every single day." She now refers to her mom as "a sick woman" who didn't deserve to die, but should have also done prison time for her own criminal behavior.

In what the internet is pointing out as being a grim twist, Blanchard was picked up from prison by her husband, Ryan Scott Anderson, in a car featuring a 'Hitman' Hart license plate. The wrestling-themed plate would be innocent enough under any other circumstances, but in this situation it's led to some hot takes.

Bret Hart didn't ask for this....



Gypsy Rose Blanchard Picked up After Prison Release by New Husband, a Wrestling Fan with 'Hitman' Hart License Plate pic.twitter.com/in2wiBZF7X  ultrapurwater (@ultrapurwater) December 28, 2023

"I know the home that I'm going home to is with my husband, and I'm going to have a really supportive family dynamic," Blanchard told People. "And I think that that's what I've been missing this whole time."

Anderson developed a relationship with Blanchard in 2020 after writing her a letter in prison and currently works as a special education teacher in Louisiana.

Missouri Department of Corrections declined to issue a statement on Blanchard's release when Salon reached out.
Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, December 28)  A transport group on Thursday said a fare hike should be implemented to help drivers and operators pay for the cost of a modern jeepney unit that is worth as much as 4 million.

Kailangan talaga hindi bababa sa 25 o 30 ang minimum na pamasahe sa apat na kilometro lamang at may succeeding pa ito na kailangan 2 per kilometer, Manibela chairperson Mar Valbuena told CNN Philippines The Source.

[Translation: The minimum fare should not go below 25 or 30 in the first four kilometers alone and then there will be a succeeding fee of 2 per kilometer.]

This range is higher by as much as 130% than the current minimum fare of 13 for traditional jeepneys.

While the government provides a subsidy of 200,000, Valbeuna said this is still not enough to cover the expenses they will have when they modernize. From around 1.2 million in 2018, a modern jeepney now costs at least 2.6 million, he noted.

Jeepney drivers and operators only have a few days left until the consolidation requirement under the public utility vehicle (PUV) modernization program ends by January 2024.

Valbuena said they do not have a problem when it comes to submitting the requirements. Their only issue is the government forcing them to consolidate, which means giving up their franchise.

Sa kooperatiba po kasi mahirap. Marami na po ang nalugi at dalawang beses na-phaseout yung kanilang unit. Galing sa traditional, nag-modernize, and then yung modern nawala rin sa kanila dahil nga po di na nakabayad sa sobrang mahal, he pointed out.

[Translation: It is more challenging in a cooperative. Many already incurred losses and lost their unit two times. From traditional, they modernized and then they also lost their modern unit because they were unable to pay since it was so expensive.]

Valbuena said around 40,000 drivers and operators in the National Capital Region alone have yet to comply with the requirement. Many have yet to also consolidate in the regions of Cagayan Valley, Central Luzon, Calabarzon, and Bicol.

He said this issue will likely lead to a transportation crisis if the government continues to insist on consolidating.

The government, specifically President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. has been firm that the consolidation deadline will not be extended.

The Department of Transportation said special permits will be issued to consolidated jeepneys to fill the gap in certain routes after the deadline. Meanwhile, franchises of those who did not comply with the requirement will be revoked.

Valbuena said they would be willing to apply for the special permits if authorities will allow them to do so.
Gypsy Rose Blanchard, the Missouri woman who plotted to kill her mother after she was forced to fake serious illnesses for years, was released from prison early Thursday.

Blanchard was released from the Chillicothe Correctional Center at 3:30 a.m., a spokesperson from the Missouri Department of Corrections told The Hill.

The now-32-year-old was sentenced to 10 years in prison in July 2016 after pleading guilty to the second-degree murder of her mother, Clauddine Dee Dee Blanchard. She was granted parole after serving 85 percent of her original sentence, a Missouri Department of Corrections spokesperson said, according to The Associated Press.

Blanchard originally faced a potential life sentence on a first-degree murder charge, but prosecutors cut her a deal because of the abuse she endured. Blanchard was a victim of her mothers Munchausen syndrome by proxy, a disorder in which a parent or caretakers creates fake symptoms to make it look like their child is sick to receive sympathy, her trial attorney Michael Stanfield said, according to the AP. Throughout her childhood, he recounted, Blanchard was forced to use a wheelchair and undergo unnecessary medical procedures.

Blanchard also testified that her mother beat her and chained her to the bed. Eventually, she said, she realized she wasnt as sick as her mother said she was.

In 2015, Nicholas Godejohn, Blanchards now ex-boyfriend whom she met on a Christian dating site, stabbed her mother 17 times with a knife Blanchard provided while she hid in the bathroom, according to prosecutors, the AP reported. The couple fled to Godejohns home in Wisconsin and were arrested days later.

Godejohn is serving a life sentence for the killing.

The story has inspired a documentary, several TV series and novels. No in-person media coverage was permitted of Blanchards high-profile release in the interest of protecting her safety, security and privacy, a Missouri Department of Corrections spokesperson told the AP.

The Associated Press contributed.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill.
Gypsy Rose Blanchard takes the stand during the trial of her ex-boyfriend Nicholas Godejohn on Nov. 15, 2018, in Springfield, Mo. Blanchard, who admitted to convincing her online boyfriend to kill her abusive mother, was released on Thursday, Thursday, Dec. 28, 2023. | Nathan Papes, Associated Press

Gypsy Rose Blanchard was released from prison Thursday morning after serving 85% of the 10-year sentence she received for her role in her mothers murder, per The Associated Press.

Blanchard, now 32, made headlines in 2015 when she convinced her then-boyfriend, Nicholas Godejohn, to kill her mother, Clauddine Dee Dee Blanchard. Court proceedings revealed Dee Dee had fabricated a number of her daughters apparent maladies, forcing her to use a feeding tube and wheelchair and undergo painful, unnecessary treatments.

Gypsys legal team argued that Dee Dee had factitious disorder imposed on another, formerly known as Munchausen syndrome by proxy.

Related

Blanchard spoke to People shortly before her release and said she regretted killing her mother despite the abuse she suffered at her hands.

Im still really trying to come to a place of forgiveness for her, for myself and the situation. I still love my mom, Blanchard said. And Im starting to understand that it was something that was maybe out of her control, like an addict with an impulse. That helps me with coping and accepting what happened.

Did Gypsy Rose have any diseases?

Blanchard does not have any official diagnoses, but grew up being told she had a myriad of illnesses including leukemia and muscular dystrophy. Blanchard told People she suffered both mental and physical abuse for years and was desperate to get out of that situation, which led her to plan her mothers murder.

Her trial attorney, Michael Stanfield, told The Associated Press that Blanchard was malnourished and weak when they first met but that she has made a remarkable recovery while behind bars.

I can honestly say Ive rarely had a client who looks exceedingly better after doing a fairly long prison sentence. Prison is generally not a place where you become happy and healthy, Stanfield said. To me, thats kind of the evidence to the rest of the world as to just how bad what Gypsy was going through really was.

Blanchard told People that despite the abuse, therapy and self-reflection has helped her recognize that her mother didnt deserve her fate.

I want to make sure that people in abusive relationships do not resort to murder, she says. It may seem like every avenue is closed off but there is always another way. Do anything, but dont take this course of action.

Where is Gypsy Rose Blanchard now?

Blanchard was released from the Chillicothe Correctional Center in Missouri on Thursday.

Im ready for freedom, Blanchard told People prior to her release. Im ready to expand and I think that goes for every facet of my life.

In her interview with People, Blanchard spoke of her husband, Ryan Anderson, a Louisiana teacher whom she married last year. She expressed her desire to spend time with him and other family and to share her story.

While behind bars, Blanchard collaborated with authors Melissa Moore and Michele Matrisciani to write Released: Conversations on the Eve of Freedom, which will be released on Jan. 9, 2024.

Blanchards case will also be the subject of a new lifetime documentary, The Prison Confessions of Gypsy Rose Blanchard, which will air on Jan. 5 and will be available for streaming on the Lifetime app.

I will share my story the way that it should be shared, Blanchard says in the documentarys preview.
Gypsy Rose Blanchard, the woman who persuaded a former boyfriend to kill her mother after she had forced her to pretend for years that she was suffering from leukemia, muscular dystrophy and other serious illnesses, was released Thursday from prison on parole.

Blanchard was released early in the day from the Chillicothe Correctional Center, said Karen Pojmann, a spokesperson for the Missouri Department of Corrections. Blanchard was granted parole after serving 85% of her original sentence, Pojmann said.

Blanchard's case sparked national tabloid interest after reports emerged that her mother, Clauddine "Dee Dee" Blanchard, who was slain in 2015, had essentially kept her daughter prisoner, forcing her to use a wheelchair and feeding tube.

It turned out that Gypsy Blanchard was perfectly healthy, not developmentally delayed, as her friends had always believed. Her mother had Munchausen syndrome by proxy, a psychological disorder in which parents or caregivers seek sympathy through the exaggerated or made-up illnesses of their children, said her trial attorney, Michael Stanfield.

FILE - Gypsy Rose Blanchard takes the stand during the trial of her ex-boyfriend Nicholas Godejohn, Nov. 15, 2018, in Springfield, Mo. Blanchard, the Missouri woman who admitted to convincing her online boyfriend to kill her abusive mother after being forced to pretend for years she was suffering from leukemia, muscular dystrophy and other serious illnesses, is set to be paroled Thursday, Dec. 28, 2023. (Nathan Papes/The Springfield News-Leader via AP, File)

How long was Gypsy Rose Blanchard in prison?

After serving 85% of her 10-year sentence from 2016, Gypsy was officially granted parole in September 2023. Her release date was set as Dec. 28, 2023.

When did Gypsy Rose go to jail?

Gypsy Blanchard agreed to plead guilty to second-degree murder as part of a plea agreement on July 5, 2016.

Why was Gypsy Rose in prison?

Gypsy Rose Blanchard persuaded her former boyfriend, Nicholas Godejohn of Big Bend, Wisconsin, who is serving a life sentence in the killing, to kill her abusive mother.

Gypsy testified at the 2018 trial of her former boyfriend. She went on to add: "I talked him into it."

When she took the stand at his trial, prosecutors already had cut her a deal because of the abuse she had endured. In exchange for pleading guilty in 2016 to second-degree murder, she was sentenced to 10 years in prison. The first-degree murder charge she initially faced would have meant a life term.

FILE - Gypsy Rose Blanchard speaks with her attorney's Mike Stanfield, right, and Clate Baker before her court appearance, July 5, 2016, in Springfield, Mo. Blanchard, the Missouri woman who admitted to convincing her online boyfriend to kill her abusive mother after being forced to pretend for years she was suffering from leukemia, muscular dystrophy and other serious illnesses, is set to be paroled Thursday, Dec. 28, 2023. (Andrew Jansen/The Springfield News-Leader via AP, File)

How old is Gypsy Rose now?

32 years old.

Gypsy Rose boyfriend release date

Her former boyfriend, Nicholas Godejohn, is serving a life sentence for the killing of Gypsy's mother.

Gypsy Rose Blanchard was released from the Chillicothe Correctional Center early morning on Thursday, Dec. 28, 2023.

When did Gypsy kill her mom?

Gypsy Rose Blanchard persuaded her boyfriend to kill her mother in 2015.

Where to watch The Act

The fictional show based on Blanchard's life streams on Hulu.

When did Gypsy Rose get arrested?

Police tracked the couple to Godejohn's home, which they raided on June 15, 2015.

Godejohn surrendered and was taken into custody, and Gypsy was found unharmed and later placed under arrest as well. She initially denied involvement but later confessed after Godejohn told police they had planned the crime together. They were extradited to Missouri, where friends were initially happy to hear Gypsy was alive and unharmed.

Nicholas Godejohn and Gypsy Blancharde

Associated Press and USA Today contributed to this report.

This article originally appeared on El Paso Times: Gypsy Rose released: Details to know about age, how long in prison
A cyclist in east London knocked the hats off a number of Jewish people and then assaulted a child the Met Police has said.

Officers are appealing for information into the incident at about 14:00 GMT on 21 December on Cazenove Road, Hackney.

Officers have spoken to an informant and have identified one victim.

Det Ch Supt James Conway, who leads policing in Hackney and Tower Hamlets, said his team is trying to locate the suspect and other victims.

"Since the beginning of the conflict in Israel and Gaza, we have increased reassurance patrols across Stamford Hill and the wider area," he said.

"We have been clear that hate has no place in London, and any allegation of antisemitism reported to police will be investigated robustly."

Listen to the best of BBC Radio London on Sounds and follow BBC London on Facebook, X and Instagram. Send your story ideas to hello.bbclondon@bbc.co.uk
Nikki Haley on Thursday sought to clarify her comments about the Civil War one day after a voter in New Hampshire called her out for not mentioning slavery as a cause of the war.

I mean, of course the Civil War was about slavery, Haley told radio host Jack Heath Thursday morning.

But whats the lesson in all of that? she continued. That we need to make sure that every person has freedom of speech, freedom of religion, freedom to do and be anything they want to be without anyone or government getting in the way. That was the goal of what that was at. Yes, I know it was about slavery. Im from the South, of course I know its about slavery.

Her comments come amid intense backlash inside and outside the GOP after Haley told a New Hampshire town hall crowd that the Civil War was about government interfering in peoples freedoms.

I mean, I think the cause of the Civil War was basically how government was going to run. The freedoms and what people could and couldnt do, Haley had said Wednesday in a visit to Berlin  the first of five events in the Granite State as she attempts to close the gap with Republican front-runner Donald Trump ahead of next months primary.

The former South Carolina governor then asked the voter who had asked her about the Civil War what he thought the cause was, to which the voter responded, Im not running for president.

I think it always comes down to the role of government and what the rights of the people are, Haley added. I will always stand by the fact that I think government was intended to secure the rights and freedoms of the people. It was never meant to be all things to all people, she added.

The voter criticized her for not mentioning slavery in her answer. In the year 2023, its astonishing to me that you answer that question without mentioning the word slavery, the voter said.

What do you want me to say about slavery? Haley asked.

You answered my question, he responded.

Next question, Haley said as attendees applauded.

Speaking to reporters after the town hall Wednesday evening, the voter, who only identified himself as Patrick, called his question pretty fundamental and frankly pretty easy.

He said a video of Haley being asked essentially the same question when she was running for governor of South Carolina had prompted him to ask it again now that shes running for president.

The answer that she gave was very similar to the answer that she gave tonight, he said, adding I was just curious if she would answer it any different.

Democrats and President Joe Bidens campaign quickly seized on the moment on social media. Biden posted on X, It was about slavery, along with a video of the exchange shared by one of his campaign accounts.

And criticism didnt just fall along party lines. A spokesman for Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis presidential campaign called Haleys attempts to clarify her remarks embarrassing.

If she cant handle a question as basic as the cause of the Civil War, what does she think is going to happen to her in a general election, DeSantis spokesman Andrew Romeo wrote on X Thursday. The Democrats would eat her lunch.

Speaking at a New Hampshire town hall Thursday evening, former New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie criticized Haley for not mentioning slavery in her initial answer. She did it because shes unwilling to offend anyone by telling the truth, the Republican presidential candidate said, repeating criticism of her previous answers on abortion and Trump.

As the former governor of South Carolina  the first state to secede during the Civil War  Haley has had a complicated public posture toward the confederacy. As CNNs KFile has reported, she once defended states rights to secede from the United States, South Carolinas Confederate History Month and the Confederate flag in a 2010 interview with a local activist group when she was running for governor.

Haley also described the Civil War as two sides fighting for different values, one for tradition and one for change.

The 2015 shooting at a historically Black church in Charleston, South Carolina, spurred Haley, as governor, to call for the removal of the Confederate battle flag from the statehouse grounds where it had been since being removed from the states Capitol dome in 2000.

This story has been updated with additional information.

For more CNN news and newsletters create an account at CNN.com
For two Republican presidential candidates facing a desperate moment in their attempts to overcome former President Donald Trump's frontrunner status in the GOP primary field, this week has already provided a stark contrast.

Former South Carolina Gov. Nikki Haley sparked stinging pushback after she avoided talking about slavery on Wednesday in Berlin, New Hampshire, when a voter asked what she thought caused the Civil War. The flub went viral and gained more attention.

Around that same time, a sparse ad from Chris Christie's campaign was publicly rolled out in which the former New Jersey governor honed his verbal attacks on Trump.

"He caused a riot on Capitol Hill," Christie said in the direct to camera ad. "He'll burn America to the ground to help himself. Every Republican leader says that in private. I'm the only one saying it in public. What kind of president do we want, a liar or someone who's got the guts to tell the truth? New Hampshire. It's up to you."

Haley and Christie are on a collision course in New Hampshire's Republican presidential primary as both candidates seek to benefit from the state's quirky electorate where undeclared voters, who make up a major portion of the state's voters, can decide to cast ballots in the GOP primary on Jan. 23.

Republican presidential candidates, former New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie, left, talking with former U.N. Ambassador Nikki Haley, right, during a commercial break at a Republican presidential primary debate on Wednesday, Dec. 6, 2023. / Credit: Gerald Herbert / AP

"Telling the truth isn't hard  particularly when you believe in what you are saying," a source close to Christie replied." The simplicity of Christie's ad and message conveys that when you believe in what you are saying, telling the truth is easy."

New Hampshire is likely the best chance for any Trump challenger to dent his standing early on, and Haley has seen a clear momentum according to a recent CBS News poll that had her in second behind the former president.

In a campaign whose main focus is litigating Trump's faults and failures, Christie has staked his primary ambitions on a strong showing in New Hampshire. He hasn't shied away from his past support for the former president, but has made emphatic warnings about what Trump being the GOP nominee could mean for the party moving forward.

That tactic has earned him support in the first-in-the-nation primary state. Haley has relied on a more delicate approach to taking on Trump, who appointed her as U.S. ambassador to the United Nations during his presidency.

In recent months, Christie has ramped up criticism of Haley over her reluctance to tell the "truth" on various issues including Trump's fitness to serve as president again and her position on abortion.

At a town hall event Thursday night in Epping, N.H., Christie knocked Haley over her comments on the cause of the Civil War.

"She's smart and she knows better. And she didn't say it because she's a racist because she's not. I know her well and I don't believe Nikki has a racist bone in her body," Christie said. "The reason she did it is just as bad, if not worse, and should make everybody concerned about her candidacy. She did it because she's unwilling to offend anyone by telling the truth."

Even one of Haley's rivals from the right in the presidential primary, Vivek Ramaswamy, posted on social media that "the shocking part isn't that Nikki failed to mention slavery."

"It's that she failed to mention the 10th Amendment," Ramaswamy's post said. "When you try to be everything to everyone, you're nothing to anyone."

Haley spent time on Thursday morning trying to clarify her answer.

"Of course the Civil War was about slavery. We know that, that's unquestioned. always the case, we know the Civil War was about slavery. But it was also more than that," Haley said during a campaign stop in New Hampshire. "It was about the freedoms of every individual. It was about the role of government."

Anxiety within the part of the GOP ready to move on from Trump has also led to Christie facing calls to drop out in hopes of helping Haley. In 2016, Trump's GOP challengers failed to consolidate behind a single alternative candidate in time to deny him the nomination, and there is fear that the same fate could play out again.

As Haley faced quick pushback this week, the challenge of consolidating more Trump critics behind her came into sharper focus.

"The calls for Christie to drop out really are predicated on the idea that there's a lane for Nikki Haley, and that Nikki Haley could win, not only in New Hampshire, but then could go on to win the primary," said Lucy Caldwell, who was the campaign manager for former congressman Joe Walsh's longshot 2020 GOP presidential primary challenge to Trump.

Haley's comment in Berlin, Caldwell said, helps "show that maybe there is a continued role for someone like Chris Christie to keep the flame alive for pro-democracy, non-lying, non-pandering to extremist, Republicans."

Nidia Cavazos, Jacob Rosen and Annie Bryson contributed to this report.

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Nikki Haley's Civil War comments spark reactions from GOP candidates
Former South Carolina Gov. Nikki Haley (R) on Thursday sought to clean up controversial remarks in which she failed to mention slavery as the cause of the Civil War.

Of course the Civil War was about slavery, Haley said in a New Hampshire radio interview. We know that. Thats the easy part of it. What I was saying was what does it mean to us today? What it means to us today is about freedom. Thats what that was all about.

She later accused the voter who asked her about the cause of the Civil War of being a Democrat plant, the New Hampshire Journal reported.

Haley, a former governor of South Carolina and United Nations ambassador, came under fire Wednesday night after a video of her exchange with a voter in New Hampshire circulated on social media.

Republican presidential candidate Nikki Haley speaks during a town hall, Friday, Dec. 8, 2023, in Sioux City, Iowa. (AP Photo/Charlie Neibergall)

Pressed by the Granite State voter over the cause of the Civil War during the town hall in Berlin, N.H., Haley said, Well, dont come with an easy question, right? I mean, I think the cause of the Civil War was basically how government was going to run, the freedoms and what people could and couldnt do.

Haley said it always comes down to the role of government, telling the crowd, We need to have capitalism, we need to have economic freedom.

More Election 2024 coverage from The Hill

The voter responded it was astonishing that she did not mention slavery while discussing the Civil War.

What do you want me to say about slavery? she asked.

You answered my question. Thank you, the voter responded.

The speed with which Haley moved to correct her remarks indicated their danger to her campaign. Haley has been closing in on former President Trump in polls of New Hampshire, and criticism of her earlier remarks was leading cable newscasts and making headlines.

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The Decision Desk HQ/The Hills polling index shows Trump with a 17-percentage-point lead over Haley in New Hampshire, but the size of the gap has fallen markedly in the last month. On Dec. 6, Haley trailed Trump by 27 percentage points.

Republicans and Democrats had slammed Haleys initial Civil War comments, with Rep. Byron Donalds (R-Fla.), a supporter of Trump, writing on X, formerly Twitter, that the answer was slavery, period. Donalds said Haleys comments wouldnt ultimately matter because Trump would be the GOP presidential nominee.

Fellow White House hopeful, Florida Gov. Ron DeSantiss campaign, posted the video of Haley online with the word, Yikes.

President Biden reposted a video of the exchange, writing, It was about slavery.

Democratic Rep. Ro Khanna (Calif.) on Thursday called Haleys remarks a sad betrayal of her own story.

Nikki Haleys father, like mine, came to the US in the late 1960s because of the civil rights movement and the 1965 Immigration Act. Haleys refusal to talk honestly about slavery or race in America is a sad betrayal of her own story. To what end? Khanna wrote on X.

Rep. Ro Khanna (D-Calif.)

Rep. Ro Khanna (D-Calif.) addresses reporters during a press conference on Thursday, December 14, 2023 with union members calling for a ceasefire in the Israel-Gaza conflict.

Haley on Thursday in seeking to address the matter said the lesson is that freedom matters and individual rights and liberties matter for all people, her campaign told The Hill.

Thats the blessing of America. That was a stain on America when we had slavery, she continued. But what we want is never relive it. Never let anyone take those freedoms away again.

Haley and DeSantis are neck-and-neck for second place behind Trump when it comes to national polling. As of Thursday, Trump leads the national polls with 63.1 percent of the support, followed by Haley with 10.8 percent and DeSantis close behind with 10.6 percent, according to Decision Desk HQ and The Hills polling index.

This story was last updated at 11:40 a.m.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill.
Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, December 28)  Foreign Affairs Secretary Enrique Manalo and US Secretary of State Antony Blinken, in a phone call on Thursday reaffirmed the "robust" bilateral relations between Manila and Washington, just a week after the Filipino diplomat shared a frank and candid exchange with his Chinese counterpart.

Manalo reiterated to Blinken the Philippines interest in protecting its sovereignty and jurisdiction while maintaining peace and security and upholding the rules-based international order.

He also emphasized the importance of open lines of communication and dialogue with other parties.

Meanwhile, a statement from US State Department Spokesperson Matthew Miller said Blinken and Manalo discussed the reinforcement of Philippine-US cooperation in 2024.

Blinken likewise underscored Washingtons ironclad commitments to Manila under their Mutual Defense Treaty, which requires both countries to come to the others aid in the event of an armed attack by a foreign power.

This dialogue comes just a week after Manalo and Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi had their own phone call following Chinas string of incursions and harassments in the West Philippine Sea this past month.

These include the repeated use of water cannons on Filipino vessels, hazardous maneuvers which endangered the lives of local crewmen, and even the use of a long-range acoustic device or sound cannon.

READ: PH, China foreign affairs execs agree on need for 'dialogue' to address issues

The two diplomats agreed on the importance of dialogue in addressing the issues of the two countries, but Wang warned the Philippines to act with caution, saying bilateral ties are now at a crossroads due to a shift in Manila's policy and position.
LAS VEGAS (KLAS)  Low-altitude helicopter flights over the Las Vegas Strip are usually forbidden, but on Friday and Sunday, its part of this years prep work for New Years Eve.

The public should not be alarmed by a helicopter flying a grid pattern as low as 150 feet off the ground, according to a National Nuclear Security Administration (NNSA) news release.

The NNSA helicopter flies over the Las Vegas Strip on a previous mission. (Photo: National Nuclear Security Administration)

NNSA will be in the air to conduct radiation surveys to measure background radiation levels. That data will help security operations detect any spikes as New Years Eve celebrations take place on the Strip. The surveys are conducted each year leading up to the Las Vegas event.

Las Vegas Countdown to 2024: How to watch the New Years Eve extravaganza

A twin-engine Bell 412 helicopter will conduct the flyovers during daylight hours on Friday, Dec. 29, and Sunday, Dec. 31. The flights will take about two hours to complete per area, according to the NNSAs news release. The helicopter will be flying at about 80 mph.

These surveys are a normal part of security and emergency preparedness activities. NNSA is making the public aware of the upcoming flights so citizens who see the low-flying aircraft are not alarmed, according to NNSA, which is part of the U.S. Department of Energy.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KLAS.
Coming up in the Black and largely Protestant City of Detroit, it felt like a revolutionary act to abandon the church and organized religion as I did as a teenager in the mid-1990s. But I had little recourse: As soon as I developed some adult-adjacent sense, I looked around and realized that the milk was sour throughout the institution.

I watched with disdain as Black pastors and church leaders fomented hatred toward the LGBTQ community while also rolling around in chromed-out Benzes on the precious dimes of their poor congregants. But folks werent trying to hear my gripesthe chosen ones of Christ wore armor that my opinions could never hope to penetrate.

Read more

Butthen he went on to address it. We didnt have to log off after all.



Powered by the amens and the yes lawds of his congregation, Jakes insisted that he knows who I am and is not here to convince nobody. He even turned on a cracked, teary voice to let his parishioners know just how upset this whole affair has made him and as several Tiktokers pointed out ...used fear tactic language to suggest that he was standing in place to protect all of them from this foolishness.

Part of his response included, If everything was true, all I got to do is repent sincerely from my heart...but I aint got to repent about this.

Although I have no idea what is true, but of course, thats the chestnut that every true believer leverages to get away with foul behavior; if we could sell it, the sin-and-repent cycle would have the highest IPO the market has ever seen. (Jakes has yet to respond to a request for comment from The Root.)

This is in part why western religion has been trending downward for some time: the younger generation is less willing to be saddled with oppressive dogma and the utilization of Jesus as a Get Out of Jail Free card. Even Black folks are in on the shift, with more of us eschewing the rules for simple spirituality.

The list of white evangelical pastors and far-right politicians whove preached against homosexuality only to get caught up in some (often illegal or unethical) homosexual behavior is longer than a CVS receipt. Perhaps the most prominent Black pastor to make that Summer Jam screen is the late Bishop Eddie Long.

A married man with four kids and several grandkids, Long spent a good amount of energy in his Atlanta megachurch denouncing same-sex marriage. His legacy, however, will be forever tainted by a lawsuit involving his alleged coaxing of young Black men into sexual relationships under the guise of being their spiritual advisor.

Long would allegedly fly out, wine and dine; and engage in sex acts with the young men using church dough. (He weathered a previous scandal involving the use of charity money to buy a Bentley and expensive crib.)

Bishop Eddie Long, young Black men victims  give their account of him grooming and sexually abusing them pic.twitter.com/FcqMD0mGuh  HarrietEve9 (@HarrietEve9) December 26, 2023

Like Diddy in a chimere, Long settled out of court and denied the allegations to the grave. Maybe what bothers Black Folk is just as Jakes did on Christmas Eve, they remember Long responded to the allegations on the pulpit by suggesting he was under attack and making biblical references to reference the fight ahead. His audience ate it up like cured ham.

For all the good the Black church has done for us since we were dragged across oceans and forced to adopt Christianity, its condemnation of the LGBTQ community has made it a millstone around the necks of many young Black people who grow up alone, scared and uncertain where to turn because of it. I believe damn near everything wrong in our country traces back to white supremacy, and the Black churchs myopia is no different.

The churchs culture of homophobia runs deeper than just making people feel unwelcome  it creates an environment for children to be abused while ostensibly under the aegis of people expected to protect them. Listen to Prophet Manasseh Jordan (a former mentee of Jakes) speak about grooming:



Prophet Manasseh Jordan, former mentee of Bishop TD Jakes  warns about grooming pic.twitter.com/PSwEv8WW16  HarrietEve9 (@HarrietEve9) December 25, 2023

Its possible that so many Black people are coming for Jakes neck this week because they believe that the 66-year-old represents the church of yesteryear  an anachronism that doesnt have a place in modern sensibilities, even if Jakes himself has presented a softer stance toward the LGBTQ issue in recent years.

I have no idea if Jakes is being authentic in his denial of the Diddy party allegations. It shouldnt really matter if hes not preaching lies or hypocrisy to his congregation. But all these Christians creating videos attacking or condemning him should probably shine that spotlight on the church itself. And then maybe shine it inward  things are better, but the Black church still has work to do.









































































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High surf pounded the San Luis Obispo Coast on Thursday morning, causing multiple water rescues, flooding and closures.

A pickup truck overturned in Arroyo Grande Creek, and RVs were washed into the surf line at the Oceano Dunes State Vehicular Recreation Area.

In Cayucos, higher surf crashed over the deck of the pier and onto Front Street, and in San Simeon, the high tide inundated beaches where elephant seals birth their pups.

High tide at Port San Luis near Avila Beach even reached 6.5 feet at 9:48 a.m., according to the National Oceanic Atmospheric Administration.

The high surf could continue into the weekend, bringing with it a risk of flooding in low-lying coastal areas, according to the National Weather Service.

Large waves hammer the Avila Beach Pier on Thursday, Dec. 29, 2023.

San Luis Obispo County Office of Emergency Services director Scott Jalbert advised people in coastal areas to stay away from the waterline and avoid walking or driving on the beach.

He also warned of rogue waves which are larger than normal waves and catch you off guard, he said.

Last winter, a rogue wave struck a Cambria home and shattered its windows.

Jalbert urged people on the coast to have situational awareness and be prepared for rogue waves to strike again.

Spectators are kept at a distance during a water rescue after a pickup truck was caught in the waters of Arroyo Grande Creek and flipped upside down on Thursday, Dec. 28, 2023. Five occupants were rescued and taken to a local hospital.

Water rescue, high surf reported at Oceano Dunes

Hazardous conditions were reported at the Oceano Dunes State Vehicular Recreation Area on Thursday morning, where the tide swept away at least four vacant RVs.

While high surf pummeled the beach at about 8 a.m., Oceano resident Ed Collins watched emergency responders rescue a family from the waves.

A pickup truck driving north on the beach got stuck in the tide at the mouth of the Arroyo Grande Creek, he said.

The spot was located near 1872 Strand Way in Oceano, according to the emergency response app, PulsePoint

The waves and high tide were just overwhelming the beach, Collins said.

High surf left foam around the Pier Avenue kiosk at the Oceano Dunes State Vehicular Recreation Area on Dec. 28, 2023.

A family of about four or five people, including a toddler, were trapped in the truck. A lifeguard and State Parks officer swam out to the truck to rescue the family, he said.

The waves started tossing the car around, and clearly the car was about to tip over, Collins said. They were in danger of getting sucked out, so they clamped onto the back of the pickup.

The truck flipped upside down in the surf line soon after the family was safe on the shore.

At about 9:18 a.m., about six or seven recreational vehicles were stuck in the tide line and of concern to emergency responders. By 10:45 a.m., four empty RVs and a State Parks Vehicle had been swept into the water, according to emergency scanner traffic. The occupants had already evacuated.

High surf pushes up the beach at Oceano Dunes State Vehicular Recreation Area on Thursday, Dec. 28, 2023.

At about 9:45 a.m., emergency responders asked 200 people in the Oceano Dunes State Vehicular Recreation Area to move to higher ground, according to Jalbert.

Longtime Arroyo Grande resident Janel Mitchell said shes never seen such high surf at the Oceano Dunes before.

This is the first time Ive seen it up into past the parking lot and into the road, she said. I fear for the people that are not smart enough to stay out of the water when its like this  because here in Oceano there are a lot of rip tides.

A man who was trapped off the side of a cliff at Pirates Cove on Dec. 28, 2023, was rescued by Cal Fire and multiple emergency responders. The man could be seen with a bandaged head as he was escorted away from the rescue area.

Cliff rescue at Pirates Cove

A hiker had to be rescued from Pirates Cove after falling off a cliff and into the water on Thursday morning.

Cal Fire Battalion Chief Louis Ermigarat said a call came in around 11:30 a.m. for a man who had fallen into the water while hiking with another person.

As of 11:40 a.m., the subject could be seen just over the side of the cliff and was secure on a rock, according to emergency scanner traffic.

Cal Fire, Port San Luis Harbor Patrol, San Luis Ambulance and a California Highway Patrol helicopter all responded to the incident, and a local construction company doing work at Cave Landing Road also assisted in the rescue, Ermigarat said.

Emergency crews responded to calls for a cliff rescue at Pirates Cove on Dec. 28, 2023, as high surf slammed the Central Coast.

Additional engines were initially also requested due to the potential complexity with the waves, according to scanner traffic.

The man was rescued from the cliff and evaluated by EMS personnel around noon.

Ermigarat said he sustained minor injuries in the incident; the man could be seen with a bandaged head as rescue personnel escorted him from the cliff area soon after the rescue.

A man who was trapped off the side of a cliff at Pirates Cove on Dec. 28, 2023, was rescued by Cal Fire and multiple emergency responders. The man could be seen with a bandaged head as he was escorted away from the rescue area.

Cliff Rescue at Cave Landing. Person that was trapped on the cliff has been rescued and is being evaluated by EMS personnel.#CaveIC pic.twitter.com/kEiuNM3dxl  CAL FIRE SLO (@CALFIRE_SLO) December 28, 2023

Cayucos, Pismo Beach piers closed

The Cayucos Pier closed on Thursday morning as heavy surf pounded the pilings and waves crashed up onto the deck, according to a Facebook post from resident Danna Dykstra-Coy.

Dykstra-Coys video showed ocean water spilling onto Front Street and Cayucos Drive an hour before high tide.

The Pismo Beach Pier was also closed Thursday due to the high tides, the Pismo Beach Police Department announced in an Instagram post on Thursday afternoon.

It has been forecasted that high tides and storm surge will combine for hazardous coastal conditions over the next couple of days and were already seeing the evidence of it, the department wrote in the post. Due to this report, the city has decided to close the Pier.

The Pismo Beach Pier has been closed due to the unusually high surf that slammed San Luis Obispo County on Dec. 28, 2023.

The Police Department also said it will be providing extra patrols on the Pier and beach.

City Manager Jorge Garcia said the closure was expected to last only through Thursday, as the major portion of the swells will start to dissipate.

Garcia added that the city is currently monitoring the storm for damage.

It may be a few days before we have a total assessment of the damage, he wrote in an email to The Tribune.

High surf runs over Moonstone Beach meeting Santa Rosa Creek in Cambria on Dec. 28, 2023.

North Coast pounded by high surf, elephant seal beaches washed out

In San Simeon, the surf inundated beaches where elephant seals birth their pups, according to Friends of the Elephant Seal member Christine Heinrichs.

Some pups seem to have survived, but the south beach maternity ward was largely washed out and the north beach was mostly under water, Heinrichs said.

In Cambria, heavy surf pounded Moonstone Beach, where Mike and Cathy Cowles of Diamond Bar watched the waves crash into the Leffingwell Landing bridge.

Dozens of others watched the spectacle through the haze created by the surf.

Biggest waves weve ever seen here, and we visit here many times, Cathy Cowles said. Its impressive.

At the Santa Rosa Creek overlook vista point on Moonstone Beach in Cambria, Jim Keally of Arizona captures images of big waves Thursday, Dec. 28, 2023, as the pounding ocean, carrying lots of driftwood, meets flowing creek water.

Nearby, at the Santa Rosa Creek Overlook vista point on Moonstone Beach, Jim Keally of Arizona took a photo of big waves as the ocean carried driftwood up into the flowing creek water.

People are saying they havent seen anything like this in 15 years, Keally said.

Earlier, hed watched the high tide waves come in from the Leffingwell Landing boat launch parking lot and got caught by a rogue wave.

A wave broke over my head, soaked me to the skin, he said. I had to go home to my brothers house to change clothes.

A bit farther north at Hearst State Beach, Andrew Crosby of Cambria, his son, Fin, and dog, Pfeiffer, watched high-tide waves pummel the already damaged San Simeon Pier, which has been closed for some time.

Fin Crosby called the waves cool and big!

Its incredible out there, Andrew Crosby said.

Mike and Cathy Cowles of Diamond Bar watch as waves crashed into the Leffingwell Landing bridge in Cambria at high tide Thursday, Dev. 28, 2023.

Meanwhile, in Morro Bay, the tide splashed against Morro Rock and sprayed the nearby parking lot.

The Morro Bay Police Department closed the parking lot next to Morro Rock and the North Pit parking lot, the agency announced on Facebook.

The parking lots will remain closed out of an abundance of caution until debris can be cleared and the structural integrity of the area can be assessed, the Facebook post said.

Police also closed the street on the 1700 block of Embarcadero Road past the Morro Dunes RV Park.

Those staying in the RV park will have access to and from the RV park, however, further southbound, traffic is prohibited through Sunday, the Facebook post said.

Embarcadero Road was closed to vehicles from the 1200 block of the street to the Morro Rock parking lot, police said. Pedestrians were still permitted to walk on this stretch of the road.

State parks closed parking lots along coast

The heavy surf led California State Parks to close multiple parking lots along the North Coast from Montana de Oro to San Simeon.

Weve closed two parking lots in Morro Bay, the lower lot at the San Simeon Pier, 24th Street, Studio Drive in Cayucos and Spooners Cove, said Eric Hjelstrom, chief ranger for State Parks San Luis Coast District.

He said the lots would remain closed while these conditions are in place, which likely will include Friday and maybe part of Saturday.

Once conditions are back to normal, well get our guys out with the tractors to clean up all the driftwood and other debris carried in by the waves, he said.

High surf runs all the way up Avila Beach to the sidewalk as visitors take in the sight on Thursday, Dec. 28 2023.

High surf struck seawall in Avila Beach

At the peak of high tide in Avila Beach, the surf ran all the way up the sand into the seawall at Front Street, inundating the swing set and even spilling onto the sidewalk near the park at the north end.

Visitors watched in awe along the sidewalk as sets of waves ran up the beach and shook the closed pier nearby.

David Broggie, of Santa Maria, stopped by to check out the surf while his car was getting repaired in San Luis Obispo. He said he used to surf in the area and would see conditions like this a couple times a year.

I used to surf here in the 90s, 2000s, he said. I used to go out on giant days like this, crazy waves.

High surf pounds the Avila Beach Pier on Thursday, Dec. 28 2023.

Kenneth Lombard, who lives in the Five Cities area, was out riding on the Bob Jones Trail with his kids and hoped to spend some time on the beach.

He said hes never seen the water this high in Avila Beach before.

Not even close, he said. We were hoping to go on the beach and play a little bit, but yeah, not gonna happen, clearly.

He added: The waves will get big occasionally, but they break way further out, and the water definitely doesnt make it this far up. There were a couple big waves. They made their way up, and it was splashing over the side here.

Caution tape marks off the swing set at Avila Beach as high surf pounds the pier and coast on Thursday, Dec. 28 2023.

Coastal flooding likely through weekend, National Weather Service warns

The Weather Service issued a high surf advisory for the coast of San Luis Obispo and Santa Barbara counties until 4 am. Thursday, but that has since become a high surf warning that will be in effect for the area through 10 a.m. Saturday.

The high surf warning was issued in response to large breaking waves of 15 to 20 feet and local sets up to 25 feet, according to the Weather Service.

The National Weather Service reported significant wave heights off the coast of San Luis Obispo on Thursday morning, with a buoy outside of Morro Bay recording wave heights of 23 feet at 17 seconds, the agency said.

Powerful cyclones in the Pacific Ocean caused the high swells, which created extremely dangerous conditions on the beaches, according to the Weather Service.

The Weather Service predicted the swells would subside on Thursday afternoon but increase again over the weekend  causing more high surf and the potential for coastal flooding through Saturday.

The Weather Service also issued a coastal flood warning for many Central Coast beaches, warning of the potential for significant flooding from Thursday to Saturday  especially in low-lying coastal areas around the morning high tides.

In its daily forecast, the Weather Service said astronomical tides are running a few to several tenths of a foot above normal.

That, coupled with the tides being at the peak of their monthly maximum, increased the risk of coastal flooding, the agency said.

Overall, this has the potential to be an exceptional high surf and coastal flooding event that has not occurred in many years, the forecast read. Now is the time to prepare for potentially dangerous conditions materializing along the Southern California beaches.

Coastal roadways and structures could potentially be damaged, the weather service reported.

The agency also predicted a light-to-moderate rain will start on Friday afternoon, and could extend into Saturday.
The remains of SpaceX's first Falcon booster to fly astronauts into orbit are seen atop the droneship "Just Read the Instructions" after a mishap following the stage's record 19th launch.

The first U.S. commercial rocket to launch astronauts into orbit has met its end after being destroyed during its latest post-flight recovery.



Referred to by SpaceX by its serial number, B1058, the Falcon 9 first stage was being transported back to shore after its record-setting 19th flight when "the booster tipped over "due to high winds and waves," the company reported on X, the social network previously known as Twitter, on Sunday (Dec. 25).

Two days earlier, the stage had helped launch 23 of SpaceX's Starlink broadband satellites before successfully touching down on the company's droneship "Just Read the Instructions," which was stationed in the Atlantic Ocean, off the coast of Florida.



Photos shared online of the returning ship revealed that only the lower segment of B1058 remained, with three of its four landing legs still deployed and all nine of its Merlin engines still intact.



"We are planning to salvage the engines and do life leader inspections on the remaining hardware. There is still quite a bit of value in this booster. We will not let it go to waste," wrote Jon Edwards, SpaceX's vice president of Falcon launch vehicles, on X on Tuesday (Dec. 26).

Related: SpaceX: Facts about Elon Musk's private spaceflight company

a booster sitting on top of a drone ship

Seen after landing from its first flight in 2020, B1058 was the only Falcon 9 first stage to be adorned with the NASA "worm." (Image credit: SpaceX)

Lost with the upper segment of B1058 was a unique, tell-tale marking that it had been used to launch the first astronauts for NASA. The booster was the only stage in SpaceX's fleet to be adorned with the space agency's "worm" logotype.



On May 30, 2020, B1058 lifted off for the first time on SpaceX's Demo-2 (DM-2) mission carrying NASA astronauts Bob Behnken and Doug Hurley aboard the company's Crew Dragon capsule "Endeavour." The two-month long mission to the International Space Station was the first to launch American astronauts from the United States since the end of NASA's space shuttle program in 2011.



Since that flight, B1058 was used in the launch of SpaceX's 21st cargo delivery to the space station (CRS-21), a dedicated satellite launch for South Korea (ANASIS-II), two shared ride satellite launches (Transporter-1 and Transporter-3) and 14 Starlink missions. The stage, like the other "Block 5" boosters in SpaceX's fleet, had been certified for 20 launches.



"This one reusable rocket booster alone launched to orbit two astronauts and more than 860 satellites, totaling 260+ metric tons, in about 3.5 years," SpaceX posted on X.

SpaceX's Falcon 9 first stage B1058 is seen launching (at left) and landing on Dec. 23, 2023, completing its 19th re-flight.

SpaceX's Falcon 9 first stage B1058 is seen launching (at left) and landing on Dec. 23, 2023, completing its 19th re-flight. (Image credit: SpaceX)

Other Falcon 9 first stages might have survived the rough sea conditions given improvements made to their landing legs.



"We came up with self leveling legs that immediately equalize leg loads on landing after experiencing a severe tippy booster two years ago on Christmas," wrote Kiko Dontchev, SpaceX's vice president of launch, on X. "The fleet is mostly outfitted, but 1058, given its age, was not. It met its fate when it hit intense wind and waves resulting in failure of a partially secured OG ["octograbber" hold-down clamp] less than 100 miles [160 kilometers] from home."



"One thing is for sure we will make lemonade out of lemons and learn as much as possible from historic 1058 on our path to aircraft like operations," he wrote.



With the loss of 1058, SpaceX is believed to have 16 flight-proven, active Falcon 9 first stages still remaining and three pending their first use.

SpaceX plans to salvage the nine Merlin engines from what remains of its first Falcon 9 booster to fly 19 times, including the company's first flight with astronauts aboard. Seen here, the wreckage atop the droneship

Fans of the company reacted to the news of 1058's destruction with regrets that it had not made it into the Smithsonian or another museum to be preserved.



To date, SpaceX has retired four of its earlier-flown Falcon 9 stages for public display. B1019, the first to return to its launch site for a successful landing, today stands outside the company's headquarters in Hawthorne, California. B1035, which launched two Dragon cargo missions to the International Space Station, is now exhibited on its side at Space Center Houston in Texas.



B1023, which helped launch Elon Musk's Tesla Roadster into space as a side booster on the first Falcon Heavy rocket launch, is now a part of "Gateway: The Deep Space Launch Complex" attraction at the Kennedy Space Center Visitor Complex in Florida. And B1021, the first booster to be re-flown and the first to land on a droneship, was just recently installed outside Dish Network's headquarters in Littleton, Colorado.

Follow collectSPACE.com on Facebook and on Twitter at @collectSPACE. Copyright 2023 collectSPACE.com. All rights reserved.
Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, December 28)  One person was killed while six others were injured after a Toyota Fortuner crashed into a Banco De Oro (BDO) branch in Quezon City late afternoon Thursday, police said.

The SUV barreled straight past the entrance of the BDO Novaliches-Lagro branch along Quirino Highway in Barangay Pasong Putik at around 5:30 p.m.

Police identified the vehicle's driver as Edwin Balisong, 57.

According to a police report, the suspect was reversing the Fortuner outside the bank when he bumped into a parked vehicle behind him.

He then tried to stop and move forward. But instead of stepping on the brake pedal, he pressed his foot on the accelerator, suddenly propelling the Fortuner straight into the bank.

The vehicle ran over seven victims inside, knocking over chairs and furniture. It also destroyed the tellers booths at the back of the establishment, before finally crashing into the banks rear walls.

Two female bank tellers, one security guard, and four customers were hit and were all brought to the nearest hospital, authorities said.

One of the female bank customers died in the hospital at midnight on Dec. 29, police said in a report obtained by CNN Philippines on Friday afternoon.

Four of the victims have already been discharged from the hospital, while two of them remain under medical care.

In a statement on Friday, BDO said it is closely coordinating with authorities regarding the incident and assured the victims of aid.

The bank has provided medical attention to injured individuals and is committed to assisting them throughout their recovery journey, it wrote.

The safety of customers and bank personnel are of utmost priority, the bank added.
By Donna Bryson

(Reuters) - Photographs can say a lot without words. After a school shooting in Tennessee, they recorded the frustrations of parents and state legislators whose cries for gun control were silenced.

In one photo, its almost possible to hear Representative Justin Pearsons measured tones as he stands in prayer with one hand raised at the Capitol following a legislative session that failed to change any gun laws.

In March, a former student at the Covenant School in Nashville killed three 9-year-old children and three staff members. Pearson and his fellow Representative Justin Jones, both of whom are Black Democrats, were briefly expelled for leading a protest for gun control on the House of Representatives floor. A third Democrat representative, Gloria Johnson, who is white, was not expelled for her role in the protest, leading to accusations of racism. Republicans who overwhelmingly control the chamber deny they are racist and oppose anything seen as a retreat from the U.S. Constitution's Second Amendment right to "keep and bear arms."

Cameron Sexton, the Republican who is speaker of the Tennessee House of Representatives, did not see racism as a problem to be addressed in the chamber.

"Sometimes people use that word (racism) as a drop the mic moment to try to stop people from having conversations," he said.

Pearson represents Memphis, a city with a Black majority that has struggled to contain gun violence. Pearson has lost friends and relatives to gun violence.

When we went to the well of the House floor, it wasnt just the Covenant kids that I was thinking about, Pearson told Reuters. I was thinking about the people in Memphis who are mourning every day.

Months after the protest, a special legislative session called by Tennessees Republican governor ended with no progress on gun safety laws. During the special session, Republican leaders banned members of the public from holding signs during proceedings and limited their access to the Capitol building. State troopers, whose presence was increased during the session, at one point ejected members of the public, including Covenant parents, from a hearing after a lawmaker said the crowd was unruly.

Mary Joyce, a real estate broker whose daughter was in the Covenant classroom where three of her classmates were killed, spoke to lawmakers during the special session and took part in protests for gun control at the Capitol.

"It feels like we were just screaming under water," Joyce told Reuters. "No one could hear us."

WEIGHT OF HISTORY

Johnson said gun control advocates will continue to push for change in the next legislative session, which opens in January.

I always have hope. I wouldnt be in this business if I didnt hope that people would listen, said Johnson, who also is running for the U.S. Senate. And we know that 80% of Tennesseans want to see gun sense legislation, 70% want red flag laws, 80% want safe storage laws. At some point the super majority has to start listening to the people. Because it will affect their elections.

Jack Johnson, a Republican leader in the state Senate, said his constituents do not support such gun control measures as red flag laws to temporarily remove guns from individuals who might harm themselves or others.

"Dispossessing law-abiding citizens of constitutional rights is not an answer to our violence problem in Tennessee, Johnson said.

Tennessee has laws to keep guns out of the hands of people involved in domestic violence cases. Democrats and even the Republican governor have called for broader red flag measures.

Looking at the photographs, it's almost possible to hear chants for change that echo the soundtrack of civil rights era demonstrations. In the 1960s, John Lewis, then a student at the American Baptist Theological Seminary -- one of four historically Black colleges and universities in Nashville -- was a leader in the sit-in movement that ended racist discrimination at Nashville businesses such as a Woolworths lunch counter. It was the start of a career of challenging segregation for Lewis, who went on to represent Georgia in the U.S. Congress and have a Nashville street named for him.

Lewiss faith inspired him and infused his political rhetoric. Pearson and Jones have tapped into that tradition. And deeper. Jones read from the Bible's Book of Jeremiah  whose remonstrations fueled the abolitionist orations of Frederick Douglass  during the campaign for more gun control.

"Until we act, there will be no peace for the thousands of children who came here demanding we act, who are afraid that if theyre in school they will be gunned down because you have passed laws that make it easier to get gun than it is to get health care in this state, Jones said on the House floor. He also walked the state house hallways carrying a child's coffin, drawing attention to the many young people affected by gun violence.

A state office building located on Representative John Lewis Way offers another glimpse of history. When Sarah Shoop Neumann, a nurse whose son is a Covenant student, entered the building to testify for gun control, she was struck at the portraits of lawmakers on the walls.

Its all white men, she said. Even in the recent years, its still not that different.

Melissa Alexander, a commercial real estate broker whose son is a Covenant student, said, The make-up of the legislature also needs to be more diverse to represent the issues and constituencies, what the constituents want in the state of Tennessee.

Alexander along with Neumann and Joyce have organized to push for gun control.

Slavery, segregation and violence have had an enduring impact on race relations, not just in the South, but across the United States.

Pearson acknowledged the weight of the past. But he sees hope for a better future.

Not so much that we are able to see that future become a reality even though I pray for that, but that a hundred years from now the next kid thats protesting thats marching thats fighting, theyre fighting for something different, theyre fighting for something new, he said. They hope and pray that the fight is worth it because there is somebody, they do not know who they were, do not know their names, who fought for them today. And thats us."

(Reporting by Donna Bryson; Photography by Cheney Orr, Kevin Wurm and Seth Herald; Editing by Kat Stafford and Lisa Shumaker)
A hit-and-run collision killed a 64-year-old woman as she tried dislodging a traffic cone stuck in her car, North Carolina officials said.

Now, the N.C. State Highway Patrol is looking for the semi-truck driver accused of leaving the scene of the deadly Christmas Day crash.

The crash was reported at about 12:30 a.m. on Interstate 26 in Henderson County, state troopers said in a news release. Thats roughly 25 miles south of Asheville.

A witness told troopers the woman ran over a traffic cone and tried to stop so she could remove it. The woman fell from her car as the witness started helping her move toward the shoulder.

But before the woman could get to safety, a semi-truck hit her and drove away, troopers said.

The woman was identified as 64-year-old Pamela Alexander of Whitmire, South Carolina. First responders found wrapped gifts in her car, leading them to believe she was traveling to visit family members for the holiday season, WLOS reported.

Troopers told WYFF the driver should have known they hit something on the interstate. Anyone who sees the truck, which may have front-end damage, is asked to call highway patrol at 828-405-6003 or *47.

Husband and wife die in crash on Christmas when another car runs red light, NC cops say

Car runs over and kills 84-year-old who tripped in grocery store parking lot, cops say
MOSCOW, Idaho (AP)  Demolition began Thursday on the house where four University of Idaho students were killed last year, marking an emotional step for the victims families and a close-knit community that was shocked and devastated by the brutal stabbings.

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The sounds of construction equipment pierced the early morning air as an excavator started tearing down the front part of the house. The former walls formed a large pile of crushed and smashed wood on the ground as debris was picked up and loaded into a dump truck.

The owner of the rental home near the university campus in Moscow, Idaho, donated it to the university earlier this year. It has since been boarded up and blocked off by a security fence. Students Ethan Chapin, Xana Kernodle, Madison Mogen and Kaylee Goncalves were fatally stabbed there in November 2022.

Heavy equipment is used to demolish the house where four University of Idaho students were killed in 2022 on Thursday, Dec. 28, 2023, in Moscow, Idaho. Students Ethan Chapin, Xana Kernodle, Madison Mogen and Kaylee Goncalves were fatally stabbed there in November 2022. (AP Photo/Ted S. Warren)

FILE  Bare spots are seen on Nov. 29, 2022, in the snowy parking lot in front of the home where four University of Idaho students were found dead on Nov. 13, in Moscow, Idaho. The home where University of Idaho students Ethan Chapin, Xana Kernodle, Madison Mogen and Kaylee Goncalves were killed is slated to be demolished starting Thursday, Dec. 28, 2023. (AP Photo/Ted S. Warren, File)

Heavy equipment is used to demolish the house where four University of Idaho students were killed in 2022 on Thursday, Dec. 28, 2023, in Moscow, Idaho. Students Ethan Chapin, Xana Kernodle, Madison Mogen and Kaylee Goncalves were fatally stabbed there in November 2022. (AP Photo/Ted S. Warren)

Heavy equipment is used to demolish the house where four University of Idaho students were killed in 2022 on Thursday, Dec. 28, 2023, in Moscow, Idaho. Students Ethan Chapin, Xana Kernodle, Madison Mogen and Kaylee Goncalves were fatally stabbed there in November 2022. (AP Photo/Ted S. Warren)

School officials, who in February announced plans to raze the house, view the demolition as a key step toward finding closure, university spokesperson Jodi Walker said.

That is an area that is dense with students, and many students have to look at it and live with it every day and have expressed to us how much it will help with the healing process to have that house removed, she said.

Contractors estimated that it would take a few hours for the house to be razed and several more after that to clear the site of debris, Walker said, adding that weather also will be a factor.

The site will be planted with grass at some point after the demolition, Walker said. She said there are no other plans for it as of now but the university may revisit that in the future.

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Some of the victims families have opposed the demolition, calling for the house to be preserved until after the man accused of the slayings has been tried.

Bryan Kohberger, a former criminology graduate student at Washington State University in neighboring Pullman, Washington, has been charged with four counts of murder. A judge entered a not-guilty plea on Kohbergers behalf earlier this year.

The concerns from victims families previously prompted the university to push back its timeline for demolition. After initially announcing the plan in February, the school in July said it would pause the process and revisit it in October.

On the one hand, some people want it taken down. It is a constant reminder of the heinous acts that went on inside it. It is also a place that continues to draw unwanted attention from media, YouTubers and others, university president Scott Green wrote in a July memo. On the other hand, it elicits deep emotional responses from those who are working through grief and who fear that its destruction could impact the court case. We hear all these arguments, take them seriously and weigh them against the greater good for our university.

Prosecutors, who hope to try Kohberger next summer, told university officials in an email that they dont anticipate needing the house any further, as they were already able to gather measurements necessary for creating illustrative exhibits for a jury. They added that a jury visit to the site wouldnt be authorized given that the current condition of the house is so substantially different than at the time of the killings.

The Latah County prosecuting attorneys office declined to comment, citing a gag order from an Idaho judge that restricts what lawyers in the case can say to the news media.

Kohbergers defense team was given access to the home earlier this month to gather photos, measurements and other documentation. And in October, the FBI gathered at the house to collect data that could be used to create visual aids for jurors at the upcoming trial.

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Kernodle, Mogen and Goncalves lived together in the rental home just across the street from campus. Chapin  Kernodles boyfriend  was there visiting on the night of the attack. All of them were friends and members of the universitys Greek system. The killings left many of their classmates and residents of Moscow reeling with grief and fear.

Moscow is a rural farming and college town of about 26,000 nestled in the rolling hills of north-central Idaho, about 80 miles (130 kilometers) southeast of Spokane, Washington.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to Fox 8 Cleveland WJW.
Three home-invasion suspects yelled LAPD as they broke into a San Fernando Valley home while the residents were sleeping Wednesday evening, police said.

The incident occurred shortly before 11 p.m. in the 7300 block of Forbes Avenue in Lake Balboa, a Los Angeles Police Department spokesperson confirmed.

Police suspect the thieves had been casing the home for some time before striking while watching the owners cars leave the residence.

Believing no one was inside, the suspects broke into the home through a back door window. To their surprise, however, there were residents still sleeping at the home at the time of the break-in.

My dogs started barking and I saw what I thought were flashlights, the homeowner, who did not wish to be identified, told KTLA.

They rummaged through closets for several minutes before bursting through the victims bedroom door, yelling, LAPD! LAPD! the victim said.

Three suspects wanted for a home-invasion robbery in Lake Balboa on Dec. 27, 2023. (KTLA)

Police investigate a home-invasion robbery in Lake Balboa on Dec. 27, 2023. (KTLA)

Police investigate a home-invasion robbery in Lake Balboa on Dec. 27, 2023. (KTLA)

Police investigate a home-invasion robbery in Lake Balboa on Dec. 27, 2023. (KeyNews.TV)

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Reacting instantly, the victim yelled at them which scared them away immediately.

Im hanging my hat on the fact they didnt have weapons and that wasnt their interest, she said. At my voice, they took off, so clearly they didnt have violence on their minds.

The suspects fled on foot with a purse and several other miscellaneous items.

They had found some money in the entry hallway in one of the drawers, the homeowner said. It was just a bunch of coins in a bag. They had pulled the bag out, but didnt take them. All they took was my purse which was hanging on a doorknob. It only had my cell phone, 75 bucks and a couple of debit cards.

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Police later found the womans cell phone discarded at a construction site a block away.

Its unclear whether the thieves have tried to use the stolen debit cards. Authorities are investigating whether the burglary crew may be responsible for other thefts.

The suspects, who remain at large, were all described as males wearing black hoodies and dark clothing.

Anyone with information is asked to call the LAPD at 1-877-275-5273.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KTLA.
NASHVILLE, Tenn. (WKRN)  The weather this holiday season has been hot and cold. Trying to save on your electric bill could be giving you the wintertime blues.

Chris Jones, the CEO of Middle Tennessee Electric, said taking a step back and evaluating how energy efficient your home is can help.

Where it will cost most to heat your home this winter

Caulking your windows, getting your duct work checked, and changing the air filters are just a few easy steps to make your home greener and more energy efficient.

Another thing to factor into your bill is just how much each degree of change costs on your electric bill. Jones said one degree is a 3% change in your bill.

Report: Tennessee could see more blackouts this winter

For example, if you move your thermostat from 68 degrees to 72 degrees, that is a 12% difference on energy consumption and a 12% increase on your bill.

Jones said if you have some extra Christmas money to spend, getting a programmable thermostat and updated appliances will save the most energy. That means you will save more money on each monthly bill.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WKRN News 2.
MOSCOW, Idaho (WFLA)  The home where four University of Idaho students were killed in November 2022 is being demolished on Thursday morning.

Crews will begin to demolish the home at 7 a.m. Pacific Time, according to KXLY in Spokane, Washington.

The University of Idaho said earlier this month that the house would be demolished. Prosecutors and the defense team had access to the house to take any photos or measurements of the house for the trial.

Demolition of the home could take several days, the university said in a statement. The home was turned over to the university in early 2023 with the intentions of it being demolished.

It is the grim reminder of the heinous act that took place there, President Scott Green said in a statement. While we appreciate the emotional connection some family members of the victims may have to this house, it is time for its removal and to allow the collective healing of our community to continue.

The families of two victims are asking for the demolition to be stopped and are frustrated that there still has not been a trial, according to NewsNations Brian Entin.

Bryan Kohberger is charged with four counts of murder in connection with the stabbing deaths of Ethan Chapin, Xana Kernodle, Madison Mogen and Kaylee Goncalves at the rental home near the university campus. Prosecutors say they will seek the death penalty if Kohberger is convicted.

Kohberger was a graduate student studying criminology at Washington State University, which is a short drive from the scene of the killings across the state border. He was arrested at his parents home in Pennsylvania, and the unusual details of the case have drawn widespread interest. Investigators pieced together DNA evidence, cellphone data and surveillance video that they say links Kohberger to the slayings.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WFLA.
FILE - Confiscated evidence is displayed during a news conference as nine people were arrested over the alleged plot to plant bombs around Hong Kong, at the police headquarters in Hong Kong on July 6, 2021. A Hong Kong man was sentenced Thursday, Dec. 28, 2023 to six years in prison after pleading guilty to a terrorism charge under a Beijing-imposed national security law for his involvement in a foiled plot to bomb court buildings. (AP Photo/Kin Cheung, File)

HONG KONG (AP)  A Hong Kong man was sentenced Thursday to six years in prison after pleading guilty to a terrorism charge under a Beijing-imposed national security law for his involvement in a foiled plot to bomb court buildings.

Prosecutors said Ho Yu-wang, 19, was the plot mastermind who planned to manufacture explosives and target court buildings in 2021. The plot, involving mostly secondary students back then, was foiled due to a police investigation, while no bombs were made and no casualties occurred, the prosecution earlier said.

Police said they raided a guesthouse room in 2021 and seized equipment believed to be used for making explosives. They also alleged Ho had written notes saying that his goal was to destabilize Hong Kong, promote conflicts between the central government and others, and build up a resistance group.

Two other defendants received a jail term of up to six years for an alternative charge.

Ho is a lesser-known activist in the semi-autonomous citys pro-democracy movement, but his case has drawn attention because most of those arrested for the plot were students when the prosecution began about two years ago.

In May, Ho pleaded guilty to conspiracy to organize, plan or commit terrorist activities under the security law imposed on the former British colony following the 2019 protests.

The security law enacted in 2020 criminalizes acts of succession, subversion, terrorism and collusion with foreign forces, leading to the prosecution of many leading activists in the city. Beijing and Hong Kong authorities hailed it for bringing back stability to the financial hub.

Judge Alex Lee said if the plot had been carried out it would have changed the social conditions in Hong Kong from bad to worse, and Ho had disregarded the rule of law and the risks of his fellow gangsters."

He reduced his term from a starting point of 10 years, based on grounds that Ho made a timely plea and provided practical assistance to the police later.

In his mitigation, Lee heard that Ho was grateful he had been arrested, barring his plan from materializing in the end, and that he has changed his mindset and resumed his studies, particularly of Chinese history.

Two other defendants  Kwok Man-hei, 21, and Cheung Ho-yeung, 23  were sentenced to two-and-a-half years and six years in jail respectively. They pleaded guilty to conspiring to cause explosions that were likely to endanger life and property, an alternative to the terrorism charge that falls under a separate law.

In May, four people involved in the plot were already sentenced to jail or rehabilitation-focused training centers following their guilty plea of the alternative charge.
Hong Kong is using its national security law to arrest and prosecute critics residing in the United States. The Hong Kong police recently announced cash bounties of HK$1 million ($128,000) for information leading to the arrest of five young activists.

The targetsFrances Hui, Joey Siu, Simon Cheng, Johnny Fok, and Tony Choihave all lawfully left Hong Kong and reside in countries that celebrate and guarantee their right to speak freely. There are now 13 overseas activists wanted by the region's police.

They are all accused of violating Hong Kong's national security law, which was enacted in 2020 and has since been used to clamp down on political dissent. According to Amnesty International, the law has been "abused from day one" to curb legitimate and peaceful expression. The maximum sentence is life in prison.

The bounty list underscores the importance of safeguarding freedom of thought and expression in the face of long-arm authoritarianism which, if left unchecked, can have a limitless reach.

"The entirety of the charge was based on my advocacy activities taking place out of Hong Kong," explains Hui, one of the targets on the bounty list and the first Hong Kong activist to receive political asylum in the U.S. following the enactment of the national security law. "Among the 13 overseas activists who currently have bounties placed on them by the Hong Kong authorities, three of them are citizens of the U.S., Canada, and Australia, all for their activities abroad."

The two rounds of bounties from this month and July "reflect the extraterritorial nature of the national security law," Hui continues. "It doesn't matter who you are, where you are, what you are doing. As long as you are considered a threat to the government, you are a threat to national security."

According to Hui, her personal safety is at risk, given the Chinese government's "outposts and overseas agents spread all around the world to spy [on] and harass activists abroad. She adds that "family members of wanted individuals are expected to be questioned, and some were threatened to make public statements slamming their loved ones remotely."

Now is the time for Americans to stand alongside those facing political persecution and push back on this foreign attempt at globalized censorship.

Hong Kong is emblematic of the fragility of democracy. The region was introduced to democratic and free market ideals through British rule. For over two decades, the Heritage Foundation, a conservative think tank, ranked it the world's freest economy. But this prosperity reached a swift end. "The loss of political freedom and autonomy" has had dire consequences, wrote former Heritage President Edwin J. Feulner, especially as ties to "English common law, freedom of speech, and democracy" have been severed entirely.

As Hong Kong changes, the West cannot follow suit. It should ensure that when people fleeing authoritarianism seek refuge within a liberal democracy, they enjoy the protections that come with it.

If Hong Kong police arrest the activists, the penalties could be severe, if not life-threateningas seen in the case of Jimmy Lai. Uncoincidentally, the December bounty list was released at the same time that Lai, a 76-year-old British citizen, began to stand trial for his pro-democracy advocacy and publishing. He has been an outspoken critic of the Chinese government's human rights abuses, a "crime" that has landed him in solitary confinement for the past three years. According to his son, Lai is being subjected to a fixed-outcome "show" trial with three government-appointed judges and no jury.

Lai's ongoing trial and the bounty list highlight the need for Western countries to safeguard free speech. These are foreign attempts to chill dissent regardless of where an activist is from or where he resides. If the Hong Kong police succeed in that mission, they may well go after all criticism, targeting major news outlets covering Lai's trial and social media users who reshare posts that say #FreeHongKong.

Our protections for free speech cannot be so shallow that they yield to foreign governments that try to criminalize conduct on our soil. The U.S. and other Western countries must protect these activists against long-arm authoritarianism and secure their ability to live and speak freely without fear for their safety.

The post Hong Kong Police Targeting Overseas Activists and Speech appeared first on Reason.com.
PORTLAND, Ore. (KOIN)  The Hoodoo Ski Area outside Sisters has canceled its annual New Years Eve celebration due to an inadequate amount of snow, the resort announced Thursday.

In November, an early season snowpack was building up in the Cascades. However, the snowpack was decimated by a Pineapple Express that washed over the region in early December, bringing warmer temperatures and high-elevation rain that ruined ski conditions across the state.

Hoodoos management is hopeful that weather patterns will change soon, allowing Central Oregons oldest ski area to finally open for the 2023-24 ski season, the ski resort said in a statement.

4 feet below: Mt. Hood sees worst ski season start in 34 years

KOIN 6 Meteorologist Kelley Bayern reports that the region is expected to see an increase in mountain snowfall by February, at the latest.

4 feet below: Mt. Hood sees worst ski season start in 34 years

We are still awaiting large, and much colder, storms to drop significant snowfall over the Cascades this winter, Bayern said. Hopefully, well see these storms in January. Well likely start to see an uptick in mountain snowfall and an improvement in our snow depth by February.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KOIN.com.
The receipts are in.

The Salvation Army Hornell Corps smashed its $28,000 goal for the annual Red Kettle Campaign, raising $28,456.22 to help residents in need around the holidays and throughout the year.

The infusion of support arrived just in time as the Salvation Army plans its services in Hornell for 2024.

Without this we didnt know if we were going to be operational by this time next year, said the Rev. Scott Button, leader of the Hornell Corps.

Meeting this goal was a huge endeavor. We havent hit it in close to five years. Because of the generosity of this community and its surrounding communities, were going to be able to be operational into the next year.

Maple City Savings Bank of Hornell participated in the 2023 Salvation Army Red Kettle Drive, bringing out the bells and some bigger instruments to catch the attention of passerby on Main Street.

The Hornell Salvation Army wasnt the only site to see a dip in donations the last several years since the COVID-19 pandemic. According to a Washington Post report, the 2022 Red Kettle campaign received $102 million, a 19% drop from the $126 million earned in 2019. USA TODAY reported many Salvation Army chapters across the country were experiencing a decline in donations in 2023, as well.

Hornell bucked that trend this year and beat the Salvation Armys goal by nearly $500. The Red Kettle Campaign is the Salvation Armys primary fundraiser in Hornell, save for a few kettles at Christmas in July during a Hornell Steamers game and the Battle of the Badges.

Were constantly trying to figure out new ways to bring more income in so we can offer more things for the community, said Button. I want to try to get us back up and running in such a way that when theres emergency needs in the community wed be able to help fill and supply those needs.

How will Red Kettle donations be used in Hornell?

Button said the Hornell Salvation Army conducts two food ministries that are offered weekly and monthly for area residents in need of support.

The money we raised during kettle season helps fund the day to day operations so we can continue to feed families that are coming to get a little bit of help as the current prices of everything keep going steadily up, he said. This helps support that and allows us to keep moving forward for next year.

Rev. Scott Button

Button, who arrived in Hornell in 2021, is also aiming to build up Salvation Army services in the Maple City. The Red Cross Mobile Unit now sits in the Salvation Army parking lot as Button looks to outfit the Salvation Army with the capacity to quickly support local families struck by fires, flooding or other challenging circumstances.

We keep some of the toys on reserve for special things like that, he said. "If theres birthdays and you cant afford a toy for your child, you can come in here. We call it a birthday blessing. Were in the process of trying to get our ministry back up and running.

Now that everything is starting to calm down I can actually start to rebuild that plan to try to get the church side back up and running.

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How Hornell community supported Red Kettle Drive

Surpassing the Red Kettle goal was a community effort. Boy Scouts, businesses and community members donated their time to ring the bell at places like Walmart, Maple City Savings Bank, Santas Cottage, and Shurfine in Arkport and Canisteo.

Maple City Savings Bank of Hornell participated in the 2023 Salvation Army Red Kettle Drive, which raised well over the $28,000 goal this month.

This end of the year was a great blessing to see people helping others and coming forward, said Button. A big thank you to this community for stepping up.

The Hornell Salvation Army also accepts donations at 95 Seneca St., mailed to PO Box 398, or online.

This article originally appeared on The Evening Tribune: Hornell beats Salvation Army Red Kettle goal. See the numbers
Egyptian tour guide says BRI makes his life splendid

10:15, December 28, 2023 By Huang Peizhao, Wang Jiake ( People's Daily

Abbas El-Said explains the 12 Chinese zodiac animals to local students at the China Cultural Center in Cairo, Egypt. This photo appeared on page 19 of the June 8, 2012 edition of People's Daily. (People's Daily/Wen Hongyan)

On the center of page 18 of the People's Daily newspaper issued on Dec. 25, 2023, there is a photo in which an Egyptian tour guide is passionately explaining something to Chinese tourists.

This tour guide is Abbas El-Said. It is the second time for him to be reported by People's Daily, and the first time came 11 years ago when a journalist from People's Daily, captured a moment of Abbas, who was 28 and served as an assistant to the director of the China Cultural Center in Cairo, telling stories about the 12 Chinese zodiac animals to local students at the Center. This photo appeared on page 19 of the June 8, 2012 edition of People's Daily.

"I always have the photo of this precious report in my phone, and I often show it to my friends, colleagues, family, and Chinese tourists. It is my great honor and pride that my photo appeared on People's Daily, China's largest newspaper!" Speaking of the 2012 interview by People's Daily, Abbas was still excited.

Though Abbas had no elders in his family well versed in Chinese culture, he still developed a keen interest in China from a young age - a children's book about the East sparked his longing for China.

After entering elementary school, his curiosity in and fascination with China further deepened as he learned the stories of the ancient Silk Road, the faraway and beautiful country of ancient China, and the wisdom-filled Confucius and Confucianism.

Later, Abbas was admitted to the Chinese language department of Ain Shams University. In order to excel in Chinese, he practiced thinking in Chinese, and his progress was indeed remarkable.

The Egyptian man said that he had three dreams of his life - learning Chinese, being a tour guide, and serving as an envoy of cultural exchange between Egypt and China. And he has always been progressing steadily on this path he has planned.

In 2006, Abbas completed his studies at the age of 22 and went on to further his education at Sinai College of Tourism. After graduating in 2009, he officially became a professional Chinese-language tour guide.

As a matter of fact, Abbas started receiving Chinese tourists as a sophomore. "By working as a tour guide, I was able to earn an income while practicing my Chinese. Most importantly, being a tour guide allowed me to make friends with more and more Chinese people," he noted.

Abbas El-Said introduces an Egyptian attraction to Chinese tourists. The photo was published on page 18 of the People's Daily newspaper issued on Dec. 25, 2023. (People's Daily/Huang Peizhao)

It was also during this year that Abbas started attending various activities at the China Cultural Center in Cairo. "The China Cultural Center is like a window that opens up to Chinese culture, allowing a ray of sunshine to shine into my heart."

In 2010, Abbas became an assistant to the director of the China Cultural Center in Cairo and served for a period of three years.

"This job gave me the opportunity to share my love for Chinese culture with more people. Through organizing lectures, exhibitions, and events like the Chinese New Year temple fair, more and more Egyptians started to embrace Chinese culture and became fond of it. Being able to contribute to the bridge of friendship between Egypt and China made me feel incredibly happy," Abbas told People's Daily.

Recently, Abbas has been studying a Chinese word "lianjie" (), which means connectivity. "As ancient civilizations, Egypt and China had friendly exchanges over 2,000 years ago, which marked 'lianjie' in history. The China-proposed Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) is 'lianjie' in contemporary times that revitalizes the ancient Silk Road," Abbas explained.

He said China actively cooperates with countries around the world for mutual benefit and win-win outcomes, and he believes that in today's turbulent international environment, people will better understand the value and significance of the BRI.

Currently, "lianjie" is more reflected in the synergy between the BRI and Egypt's Vision 2030.

"The BRI is helping me fulfill my dreams and also benefiting my country. China has helped us build the Central Business District in our new administrative capital, where the Iconic Tower is known as the 'tallest building in Africa,' which makes us very proud," Abbas noted.

He also took the 10th of Ramadan Light Rail Transit program as an example, saying the program, as the first electrified railway in Egypt, adopts Chinese technologies and equipment.

"Many Egyptians, including myself, are personally experiencing the tangible benefits and conveniences brought about by the BRI," he said.

Abbas El-Said reads a Chinese book. (Photo provided by the interviewee)

Abbas said his life would not be the same if he had not studied Chinese or if the BRI had not come to Egypt.

"My life is splendid because of the BRI," Abbas noted.

Currently, Abbas is preparing to establish a company that promotes Chinese culture and fosters cultural and economic exchanges between China and Egypt.

"I am willing to do my part to strengthen the connection between Egypt and China, bring the two countries closer and build closer ties between the two peoples!"

As tourism exchanges between Egypt and China continue to flourish, Abbas has become increasingly busy. Since the beginning of this year, he has been receiving an average of two to three Chinese tour groups every month, with each group staying in Egypt for a minimum of one week and a maximum of 20 days.

His busy schedule reflects the accelerated development of bilateral relations between China and Egypt, and highlights the successful implementation of the BRI in Egypt.

In today's Egypt, the pragmatic cooperation between China and Egypt has brought about plenty of employment opportunities, leading to a high demand for Chinese-speaking talents. Learning Chinese has become a popular trend there.

In September 2022, a pilot project for Chinese language education in Egyptian secondary schools was launched, marking the inclusion of Chinese language into Egypt's national education system.

The growing enthusiasm for the Chinese language and Chinese culture in Egypt demonstrates that the mutual understanding between China and Egypt is built on mutual learning between the two civilizations, and the strongest potential of China-Egypt cooperation lies in people-to-people bond.

Abbas El-Said teaches his niece Chinese, who is admitted to the Chinese Department of Cairo University this year. (People's Daily/Huang Peizhao)

(Web editor: Chang Sha, Du Mingming)
Washington (CNN)  The Michigan Supreme Court has rejected an attempt to remove former US President Donald Trump from the 2024 primary ballot based on the US Constitutions insurrectionist ban.

The outcome, which was generally expected, is a victory for the former US president, though an effort to remove him could be renewed for the general election. Wednesdays decision contrasts with the recent ruling from the Colorado Supreme Court, which kicked Trump off its primary ballot because of his role in the January 6 Capitol riot. That decision has been paused pending an appeal.

With these dueling decisions, the expected appeals to the US Supreme Court become even more critical, especially as the nation races toward the start of the 2024 primaries. Unlike in Colorado, the Michigan lawsuit never reached a trial and was dismissed early on in the process. An intermediate appeals court upheld the decision to toss the case on procedural grounds.

The Michigan Court of Claims judge who first got the case said state law doesnt give election officials any leeway to police the eligibility of presidential primary candidates. He also said the case raised a political question that shouldnt be decided in the courts.

His decision was upheld by the Michigan Court of Appeals, which said: At the moment, the only event about to occur is the presidential primary election. But as explained, whether Trump is disqualified is irrelevant to his placement on that particular ballot.

The order from the Michigan Supreme Court was unsigned, and the court did not release a vote count.

Unlike in Colorado, the Michigan courts rejected the case wholly on procedural grounds. They never reached the questions of whether January 6 was an insurrection and whether Trump engaged in it.

One of the Michigan justices on Wednesday wrote why Michigan is different from Colorado.

The anti-Trump challengers have identified no analogous provision in the Michigan Election Law that requires someone seeking the office of President of the United States to attest to their legal qualification to hold the office, Justice Elizabeth Welch wrote, comparing Michigan law to Colorados election code.

The lower-court rulings in Michigan kept the door open to future 14th Amendment challenges if Trump wins the Republican nomination. Welch specifically noted this dynamic in the separate opinion she wrote Wednesday.

I would affirm the Court of Appeals ruling on this issue, which still allows appellants to renew their legal efforts as to the Michigan general election later in 2024 should Trump become the Republican nominee for President of the United States or seek such office as an independent candidate, Welch wrote.

The Minnesota Supreme Court reached a similar conclusion last month, finding that an insurrectionist ban case involving Trump should be dismissed with regards to the GOP primary, but that the challengers could try again if he wins the nomination.

On Truth Social, Trump denounced what he said was a pathetic gambit to keep him off the ballot and repeated his unfounded warnings that the 2024 was at risk of being rigged and stolen.

Ron Fein, the legal director of Free Speech For People, which filed the Michigan case, said the decision was disappointing but noted that it isnt binding on any court outside Michigan. Another attorney for the challengers, Mark Brewer, said they would continue the efforts in Michigan.

The Courts decision is disappointing but we will continue, at a later stage, to seek to uphold this critical constitutional provision designed to protect our republic, Brewer said in the statement.

Ratified after the Civil War, the 14th Amendment says officials who take an oath to support the Constitution are banned from future office if they engaged in insurrection. The provision was used to disqualify thousands of ex-Confederates. But it has only been applied twice since 1919, and the vague wording doesnt mention the presidency.

The Michigan lawsuit was filed in September by Free Speech For People on behalf of a group of voters. It also pursued an unsuccessful 14th Amendment challenge against Trump in Minnesota, and recently filed a new case in Oregon. The Colorado lawsuit was initiated by a separate liberal-leaning group.

Also on Wednesday, Trumps lawyers asked Maines secretary of state to recuse herself from deciding whether he should be removed from the 2024 ballot because of the insurrectionist ban. Maine is different from other states: ballot challenges are first heard by the secretary of state, not in the courts.

Maine Secretary of State Shenna Bellows, an elected Democrat, presided over an administrative hearing earlier this month about Trumps eligibility for office. Her ruling is expected this week, and her decision can be appealed in Maine state courts.

The secretarys office declined to comment on the Wednesday request, but its unlikely that shell agree to recuse. Trump made a similar request with the trial judge in the Colorado case, but the judge there rejected his motion.

This story was first published on CNN.com, "Michigan Supreme Court rejects insurrectionist ban case and keeps Trump on 2024 primary ballot"
As COVID-19 and other respiratory infections rise across the country, some major health systems are bringing back mask requirements to stop the spread of infections.

This week, Mass General Brigham, the largest health system in Massachusetts, said it will require masking for health care staff who interact directly with patients in clinical care locations starting Jan. 2.

Patients and visitors will be strongly encouraged to wear a facility-issued mask. Masks will not be required for staff in hallways and common areas.

The health system in a statement said its policy is based on the percentage of patients presenting to emergency departments or outpatient clinics with symptoms of respiratory illness.

Once this figure exceeded 2.85 percent for two consecutive weeks, the masking requirement took effect. It will end once the level falls below 2.85 percent for a week.

Most hospitals eased or eliminated their masking requirements last spring, after the federal government ended the COVID-19 public health emergency.

Another major Boston hospital, the Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, began requiring masks for patients and staff on Dec. 18. The hospital said the policy would be in place for the foreseeable future.

The hospital said there is no single data point leaders use to gauge when the requirement will end.

We check a number of different data points, including rates of influenza-like illness, staff absenteeism, and emergency room visits and hospitalizations caused by respiratory viruses. We will lift the mask requirement when these data points remain consistently lower, the hospital said on its website.

Meanwhile, in D.C., the regions largest rehabilitation hospital is requiring masks for all staff and patients who are admitted, but not for visitors or outpatient areas.

In a message to staff, Medstar National Rehabilitation Hospital said the move was meant to protect staff because theres been an increase in positive COVID tests on admission. As a result, theres been an increase in exposure from patients to staff members.

And in Wisconsin, UW Health recently returned to requiring masks in medical clinics, outpatient care and waiting rooms.

The new requirements come as the JN.1 variant has become the most common strain of the virus spreading across the United States.

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the variant accounted for 44 percent of COVID-19 infections nationwide by mid-December, up from about 7 percent in late November.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill.
The House Ethics Committee is investigating Rep. Sheila Cherfilus-McCormick, D-Fla., for alleged campaign finance violations tied to her 2022 elections.

Cherfilus-McCormick, a former health care CEO, won a special election in January 2022 to fill the seat of the late Rep. Alcee Hastings, D-Fla., in Floridas heavily Democrat 20th Congressional District. She went on to win the regular election that November.

The committee said Wednesday that it had voted unanimously to establish an investigative subcommittee to determine whether Cherfilus-McCormick violated campaign finance laws during either of her 2022 elections.

The House Ethics Committee is investigating Rep. Sheila Cherfilus-McCormick, D-Fla., for alleged campaign finance violations tied to her 2022 elections.

The subcommittee will also probe allegations that the congresswoman "failed to properly disclose required information on statements required to be filed with the House; and/or accepted voluntary services for official work from an individual not employed in her congressional office."

Rep. Andrew Garbarino, R-N.Y., will chair the subcommittee, and Rep. Chrissy Houlahan, D-Pa., will serve as the ranking member.

Sheila Cherfilus-McCormick

Cliff Bentz, R-Ore., and Troy Carter, D-La., will also serve on the subcommittee.

READ ON THE FOX NEWS APP

"The Committee has determined to take this action following receipt of a referral from the Office of Congressional Ethics regarding this matter," the committee said. "The Committee notes that the mere fact of establishing an Investigative Subcommittee does not itself indicate that any violation has occurred."

Rep. Ilhan Omar, left, first lady Jill Biden and Rep. Sheila Cherfilus-McCormick attend the Women of Impact celebration, April 28, 2023, in Washington, D.C.

Cherfilus-McCormick's office told Fox News Digital that the congresswoman is taking the investigation seriously.

"As the Ethics Committee said in its statement, the mere fact of establishing an investigative subcommittee does not itself indicate that any violation occurred," her office said in a statement. "Regardless, the Congresswoman takes these matters seriously and is working to resolve them."





Original article source: House Democrat hit with ethics probe over alleged campaign finance violations
WASHINGTON  Republican investigators are requesting a former business associate of James Biden, President Joe Bidens brother, answer lawmakers' questions as the House GOP continues its impeachment inquiry into the president.

House Oversight Committee Chair James Comer, R-Ky., and House Judiciary Committee Chair Jim Jordan, R-Ohio, in a letter obtained by USA TODAY, requested that Michael Lewitt, one of James Bidens former business partners, speak to the committees regarding his dealings with the presidents brother and Americore, a now-bankrupt health care startup.

The Committees seek information you possess regarding your business dealings with both Americore and James Biden, including, but not limited to, the 'loans' that James Biden received from the financially struggling company, the letter, sent Thursday afternoon, reads.

The letter is the latest development in House Republicans impeachment investigation into Joe Biden. They have long alleged the president personally benefited from his familys foreign business dealings. While investigators have shown his family made millions, the probe has yet to directly implicate the president in those overseas ventures.

House Judiciary Committee Chairman Jim Jordan, R-Ohio, (L) and House Oversight and Accountability Committee Chairman James Comer, R-Ky., speaks to the media in the Rayburn House Office Building on December 13, 2023 in Washington, DC.

Comer and Jordan have been investigating Americore and James Biden allegedly misleading the company into giving him a $600,000 loan. The committees interviewed Carol Fox, a bankruptcy trustee of the company, earlier this month, and Fox testified that James Biden promised he could leverage his last name to secure funding from the Middle East.

In return, the company gave James Biden a $600,000 loan, but the funding from the Middle East never came. Fox told the committee part of the loan  $200,000  either came from predatory loans or money fraudulently invested by James Bidens business partner, Michael Lewitt.

Joe Costello, a spokesperson for House Oversight Democrats, derided the request in a statement and said that "Republicans are on a desperate goose chase to find some justification for their baseless impeachment inquiry."

GOP investigators have zeroed in on that $200,000 and a subsequent check marked as a loan repayment James Biden made out to the president the same day he obtained the loan on March 1, 2018. Bank records previously reviewed by USA TODAY suggest that the check was indeed a repayment for a loan the president provided to his brother.

But Comer and Jordan have scoffed at the notion the $200,000 could be a loan repayment, and Comer has demanded the president provide additional documentation showing he gave his brother the money. Regardless, the chairs are investigating the origins of the funding and asking Lewitt to speak about his dealings with James Biden and Americore.

The Security and Exchange Commission sued Lewitt in September for misleading investors through his fund, Third Friday Management.

The complaint alleges Lewitt deceived investors, many of whom were elderly, that his fund would invest in reliable options on Wall Street. It instead invested in a company that in turn put money into struggling health care companies, including Americore. That complaint does not name James Biden or accuse him of wrongdoing.

But as a result of the SEC complaint and Foxs testimony, the letter sent Thursday reads, the Committees are interested in your involvement with Americore and your relationship with James Biden.

Beyond the impeachment investigation targeting the president, the letter also said the committees are looking to craft legislative solutions aimed at deficiencies  regarding ethics laws and the disclosure of financial interests related to the immediate family members of Vice Presidents and Presidents.

Those deficiencies, the chairs argue, could place American national security and interests at risk and provide opportunities for domestic corruption.

The committees ask Lewitt to schedule the interview by January 11.

Opinion from the House Speaker: Evidence against Biden can't be ignored. We're pursuing impeachment inquiry.

US President Joe Biden steps off Air Force One upon arrival at Henry E. Rohlsen Airport in Christiansted, Saint Croix, on the US Virgin Islands, on December 27, 2023.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Impeachment inquiry: GOP asks James Biden business partner to testify
The house where four University of Idaho students were murdered in November 2022 has been demolished by the school, despite objections from some of the victims families.

According to The Associated Press, demolition began Thursday morning in Moscow, Idaho, and ended a few hours later.

Ethan Chapin, 20, Xana Kernodle, 20, Madison Mogen, 21, and Kaylee Goncalves, 21, were the students fatally stabbed at the house. Kernodle, Mogen and Goncalves lived in the home. Chapin, Kernodles boyfriend, was visiting on the night of the attack.

The previous owner of the home donated it to the university earlier this year.

Heavy equipment is used to demolish the house where Ethan Chapin, Xana Kernodle, Madison Mogen and Kaylee Goncalves were fatally stabbed.

Heavy equipment is used to demolish the house where Ethan Chapin, Xana Kernodle, Madison Mogen and Kaylee Goncalves were fatally stabbed.

In a statement from the university released earlier this month, the school said it planned to start the demolition process during winter break to decrease further impact on the students who live in that area.

University President Scott Green also spoke on the demolition, saying in the statement: While we appreciate the emotional connection some family members of the victims may have to this house, it is time for its removal and to allow the collective healing of our community to continue.

According to NBC News, family members of Goncalves and Kernodle have publicly opposed the houses demolition, arguing the building could be relevant during the murder trial. Prosecuting attorneys, investigators, defense lawyers and the FBI all accessed the home to collect evidence prior to the demolition.

A worker rakes debris during a pause in the use of heavy equipment to demolish the house where four University of Idaho students were killed in 2022.

A worker rakes debris during a pause in the use of heavy equipment to demolish the house where four University of Idaho students were killed in 2022.

Bryan Kohberger, 28, is accused of killing the four students. Kohberger, a former graduate student at Washington State University in Pullman, Washington, was arrested in December 2022 and later indicted on four counts of first-degree murder and felony burglary. A trial date has not been scheduled.

Prosecutors have said they will seek the death penalty for Kohberger, according to a report from CBS News.

Related...
Demolition of the off-campus home where four University of Idaho students were killed last year began Thursday morning over continued protests from at least half of the victims families.

Work to bring down the unique property got underway before dawn. The noise from the heavy machinery pierced the nearby campus as a local construction firm used an excavator to rip away portions of the facade, starting at the front door.

By the scheduled start time of 7 a.m. Pacific, as dozens of members of the media arrived to encircle the boarded-up property and train their cameras toward the wreckage, half of the King Road home was on the ground. About an hour later, the former residence was almost entirely gone.

The house, a six-bedroom, three-bathroom rental located less than 600 feet from the universitys new Greek row, was the site of the November 2022 quadruple homicide  one of the most talked about crimes in state history. The victims were U of I seniors Kaylee Goncalves and Madison Mogen, both 21, and junior Xana Kernodle and freshman Ethan Chapin, both 20.

The three women were tenants of the home with two female housemates who were not physically harmed in the fatal stabbings. Chapin was Kernodles boyfriend and stayed over for the night.

Bryan Kohberger, a graduate student at Washington State University in neighboring Pullman, Washington, at the time, was arrested and charged with the crime in late December 2022. He stood silent when asked to enter a plea, which led to a not guilty plea on his behalf.

Kohberger, 29, a Pennsylvania native, could face the death penalty if convicted. A trial date has yet to be set.

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In the spring, the private owner of the house at 1122 King Road donated the property to the university, and the school made plans for its destruction. After the home was left standing for more than a year, U of I committed to knocking it down and announced earlier this month a Thursday demolition date.

Frankly, many of our students live in that area, U of I President Scott Green told the Idaho Statesman in an interview Thursday. For us, just bringing it down was an important part of healing for our community.  We have to live in this community, so from our standpoint it was the right decision for our community.

The off-campus home on King Road where four University of Idaho students were killed in November 2022 was demolished early Thursday morning.

Debate over U of Is decision

The universitys decision  a contentious one ahead of a trial date  has drawn widespread scrutiny. In social media groups and threads dedicated to the case, discussion over how the U of I should handle what became the primary symbol of the high-profile incident grew into a flash point.

At least some of that debate was driven by three of the four victims families voicing concerns in recent months about the university razing the scene of the crime before jurors have the chance to decide if visiting may be helpful. An online petition against the homes destruction amassed more than 9,000 signatures. One petition supporter identified herself as Cara Kernodle, Xana Kernodles mother.

My daughter was murdered in that house and there is no way they should be destroying any evidence, the post read.

The King Road home in Moscow, Idaho, where four University of Idaho students were stabbed to death in November 2022 was scheduled for demolition on Thursday.

The Goncalves and Kernodle families issued a lengthy statement through an attorney the night before the home was scheduled to be torn down. It was titled: PLEASE STOP THE DEMOLITION OF THE KING ROAD HOME!

We feel that the University of Idaho and the court has put us in a horrible position to have to voice our opinions, the statement read in part. We all along have just wanted the King Road home to not be demolished until after the trial and for us to have a trial date so that we can look forward to justice being served. Is that really too much to ask?

Also, Shanon Gray, the Goncalveses attorney, provided a statement in June that opposed the homes destruction and cited members of the Mogen and Kernodle families. A member of the Chapin family did not respond to a Statesman request for comment. Benjamin Mogen, Madison Mogens father, declined to comment.

In response to the pushback, U of I spokesperson Jodi Walker told the Statesman in a statement Wednesday that the school understands the gravity of the decision and its unique effect on the four victims families. However, efforts to knock down the King Road home would continue as planned.

We certainly appreciate that there is a lot of emotion around the demolition of the house, Walker said. No one feels that more than the families. But, we feel confident this is the right time for our community to take the next step in healing and for the house to come down.

The university has heard from several students in the area of the home who requested it be razed, she said.

Demolition of the Moscow home where four University of Idaho students were killed in November began in earnest early Thursday morning. Some of the victims families opposed its destruction ahead of a trial for murder suspect Bryan Kohberger.

The court released the property, and neither the defense nor prosecution in the case objected to leveling the home, the university has previously noted. After this months demolition announcement, each side visited the crime scene once more  the prosecution most recently.

Latah County Prosecutor Bill Thompson, lead on the Kohberger case, thanked the university for its assistance accessing the crime scene last week in an email provided by Walker to the Statesman. The prosecution expected no need of the property going forward, Thompson wrote.

Based on our review of Idaho case law, the current condition of the premises is so substantially different than at the time of the homicides that a jury view would not be authorized, Thompson said. We appreciate the UIs help in facilitating the investigators gathering the necessary measurements, etc., to enable creation of illustrative exhibits that should be admissible and helpful to the jury.

There are no current plans for the former residential site, Walker said. Removing the home was the first step before the land is graded and seeded with grass, and left vacant for the foreseeable future, she said.

Kohberger is charged with four counts of first-degree murder and one count of felony burglary. He remains in custody at the Latah County Jail awaiting trial.
The number of huge wind turbines proposed for the hills south of the Tri-Cities could be cut by half or more under a proposal being considered by a Washington state siting council.

Many of the turbines that may be eliminated from the project are those most visible from the Tri-Cities.

Scout Clean Energy is proposing up to 244 wind turbines that would be 500 feet tall or an alternate plan with fewer, but taller turbines. Then there would be 150 turbines with blades extending about 670 feet high, which is taller than the Seattle Space Needle.

The Horse Heaven Clean Energy Center would cover 112 square miles stretching from south of Finley to south of Benton City, although the developed area of the project would cover only about 10 square miles.

The Washington state Energy Facility Site Evaluation Council, or EFSEC, will meet in January and could finalize its recommendation to Washington state Gov. Jay Inslee to meet a Jan. 31 deadline for a council decision. Public comment is expected to be accepted before the meeting.

Inslee will have 60 days to approve the application with changes recommended by EFSEC, reject it or send the application back to the council for more work, according to EFSEC.

As proposed by Scout Clean Energy, turbines would line the Horse Heaven ridgeline from south of Kennewick for 24 miles to south of Benton City and would be seen from many areas of Richland, Kennewick and Pasco, according to Tri-Cities CARES.

Between the proposed Horse Heaven wind farm as proposed and the nearby and smaller Nine Canyon wind farm, just over 100,000 residents of Benton County would live within six miles of a turbine, according to Tri-Cities CARES, a group opposing the wind farm as too close to the Tri-Cities.

Thats five times more than the estimated 20,000 people who live within six miles of a wind farm across the rest of Washington state, according to the group.

A Washington state council is considering recommending that wind turbines shown by red dots not be allowed in the Horse Heaven Clean Energy Center. They are rated as having the highest negative impacts.

But EFSEC is expected to consider next month eliminating the planned turbines that would have the highest negative impacts, including on cultural resources and the ferrugenous hawk, an endangered species in Washington state with nests in the Horse Heaven Hills.

Impacts also could include visual and aerial firefighting impacts to nearby residents.

Changes discussed by the council include no or very limited exceptions to a ban within two miles of ferrugenous hawk nests for not just wind turbines, but other infrastructure including solar arrays, battery storage, transmission lines and roads.

Testimony from the Yakama Nation on cultural resources was not made public.

But a map highlighting the turbines of highest impact shows them to be those most visible from the Tri-Cities.

Scout Clean Energy plans a 61,600-acre wind farm on Benton County farm land south of the Tri-Cities along the Horse Heaven Hills ridgeline south of Badger Road.

At a council meeting Dec. 20, the council also discussed the possibility of eliminating all turbines proposed east of Straub Canyon, which is south of Richland, to protect tribal cultural resources. That would eliminate wind turbines on the eastern half of the project.

The council also wants more information about aerial firefighting needs and restrictions on firefighting airplanes and helicopters near turbines by its next meeting.

Benton City Mayor Linda Lehman wrote in an op-ed published in the Tri-City Herald, arguing that turbines on the ridgeline of Horse Heaven Hills would threaten the safety of residents in Benton City, Kiona and Badger Canyon.

She called for the proposed turbines to be moved south of the ridge so that firefighting aircraft can safely operate to protect residents.

EFSEC staff have been instructed to prepare a revised draft Application for Site Certification for the council to consider at its January meeting. Meetings are typically the third Wednesday of each month.
Heavy equipment is used to demolish the house where four University of Idaho students were killed in 2022 on Thursday, Dec. 28, 2023, in Moscow, Idaho. Students Ethan Chapin, Xana Kernodle, Madison Mogen and Kaylee Goncalves were fatally stabbed there in November 2022. | Ted S. Warren, Associated Press

Demolition has started on the Moscow, Idaho, home where four University of Idaho students were killed.

Ethan Chapin, Kaylee Goncalves, Xana Kernodle and Madison Mogen were found dead in the King Road home on Nov. 13, 2022. After over six weeks of investigation, the police arrested Bryan Kohberger, and charged him with four counts of first-degree murder. He also faces one count of felony burglary. He entered a not guilty plea and his trial date has not yet been announced.

The homes previous owner donated the property to the University of Idaho, which made a plan to demolish the property. On July 12, 2023, the university released a statement saying that the house has already been released by the court, and both the prosecution and defense attorneys have said they do not oppose destruction.

It is the grim reminder of the heinous act that took place there, University of Idaho President Scott Green said. While we appreciate the emotional connection some family members of the victims may have to this house, it is time for its removal and to allow the collective healing of our community to continue.

A university statement indicated that the home was being destroyed to avoid further impacting the students who are living in the area. Jodi Walker, spokesperson for the University of Idaho, said via email that the property will sit vacant for now in response to an inquiry about what the university intended to do with the area.

Kohberger originally had a trial date scheduled for October, but it was delayed after he waived his right to a speedy trial. The trial has not yet been rescheduled. Latah Countys senior deputy prosecuting attorney Ashley Jennings filed a motion to schedule a six week trial for summer 2024.

After delaying the trial, both the prosecution and defense have gone to the King Road home, according to a university statement. Neither has asked for the house to be retained, the statement said. The FBI had previously gone into the home to gather information and scanning to create visual aids that may be used during the trial.

The Goncalves and Kernodle families released a joint statement objecting to the demolition of the home from attorney Shanon Gray, which was obtained by the Deseret News.

The families said they were speaking out against the houses destruction on the grounds that the home could provide evidence. Naming the entry and exit points of the home as well as the surviving roommates vantage points as examples, the families expressed concern that not having the home stand could create issues at trial. If the home is demolished, will all of these questions be able to be answered later on with diagrams/models/technology, etc., the joint statement said.

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In addition to opposing the destruction of the King Road home, the Goncalves family expressed frustration over there not being a trial scheduled a year after the killings.

We all along have just wanted the King Rd. Home to not be demolished until after the trial and for us to have a trial date so that we can look forward to justice being served, the joint statement said.

The Chapin family provided a statement to ABC News, saying, Were supportive of the decision to take down the King Street House  for the good of the University, its students (including our own kids), and the community of Moscow.

When Kohberger waived his right to a speedy trial, the trial was delayed. The prosecution has motioned to schedule the trial in summer 2024 because school would not be in session.

As the Ccourt is aware, Moscow High School is directly adjacent to the courthouse premises and already the significantly increased amount of media and other vehicles related to this case has strained available parking as well as safety and convenience for pedestrians, including the students, Jennings motion stated.

When the trial does occur, the Latah County Prosecutors Office has filed a notice indicating that it will seek capital punishment.

The state gives this notice based on the fact that it has not identified or been provided with any mitigating circumstances sufficient to prohibit the triers of fact from considering all penalties authorized by the Idaho legislature including the possibility of a capital sentence, the notice said. Consequently, considering all evidence currently known to the state, the state is compelled to file this notice of intent to seek the death penalty.

The case attracted national and international attention as the Moscow police and FBI worked for over six weeks to arrest a suspect. Kohberger was arrested on Dec. 30, 2022. At the time, he had just completed his first semester at Washington State University. There, he was pursuing a doctorate in the Department of Criminal Justice and Criminology.

I will 100% stand behind the way that we handled this investigation. And this all started from day one with our patrol officers, arriving on scene, locking down the scene, us calling in the Idaho State Police, us calling in the FBI and keeping information that was pertinent to this case very, very tight, Moscow Police Department Chief James Fry said during a press conference held the day Kohberger was arrested. We want to have a situation where when this goes to trial, theres not doubt weve done everything right.

Throughout the investigation, Moscow police said they received over 19,000 tips.

The probable cause warrant indicated that the police arrested Kohberger based on the account of a roommate who woke up at around 4 a.m. and said she soon saw a man walking to the back sliding door, DNA evidence from a tan leather knife sheath, cellphone records and video footage of a white Hyundai Elantra.

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At the time when investigators believe the murders occurred, Kohbergers attorney said he was out driving. In response to the prosecutors attempt to get an alibi that indicated exactly where Kohberger was, the defense filed an objection.

Mr. Kohberger is not claiming to be at a specific location at a specific time; at this time there is not a specific witness to say precisely where Mr. Kohberger was at each moment of the hours between late night November 12, 2022 and early morning November 13, 2022. He was out, driving during the late night and early morning hours, a court document said.

Kohbergers attorneys argued that because the state chose a secret grand jury rather than the planned preliminary, Kohberber could not be more specific about the possible witnesses and exactly what they will say.

In the Dec. 21 filing from the prosecution, the attorneys requested that Kohberger not be given additional time to provide notice of alibi.

The state submits that the defendant has already been afforded this opportunity and the court heard argument on the motions relating to such, the filing said. The state submits the opportunity for the defendant to disclose an alibi and notify the state of the same has passed and asks that the court not reopen this issue.
The man accused of the murder of an Illinois Department of Children and Family Services worker in Thayer, Illinois, in early 2022 has opted for a bench trial.

Benjamin Howard Reed, 34, was before Sangamon County Chief Circuit Court Judge John Madonia on Wednesday.

Sitting at the defense table with his attorney, Mark Wykoff, Reed answered a series of questions posed by Madonia about the desire for a bench trial instead of a jury trial.

Reed is accused of stabbing and bludgeoning to death Deidre (Graham) Silas, a child protection specialist with DCFS, who lived in Springfield.

Judge sentences Springfield man to life in prison for killing his roommate and a friend

Deidre (Graham) Silas

Silas, a 36-year-old mother of two, was called to investigate a report of a child in danger at the home where Reed lived in the 300 block of Elm Street.

Silas made the visit to the home, about 35 minutes southwest of Springfield, alone. Six children, ages 1 to 7, were present at the time with a number of other adults, Sangamon County Sheriff Jack Campbell told The State Journal-Register at the time of the homicide.

Silas was alone in the residence when police had to forcibly enter.

A filing from Tuesday notified the State that Reed "may assert the affirmative defense of insanity."

The defense will rely on the testimony of Dr. Terry Killian, a Springfield expert in psychology. According to a Dec. 18 witness disclosure, Killian is anticipated to testify to Reed's "substantial disorder of thought, mood or behavior which afflicted him at the time of the commission of the offense and which impaired his judgment, but not to the extent that he was unable to appreciate the wrongfulness of his behavior."

Killian conducted a forensic psychiatric evaluation of Reed in October, the filing stated.

More: A windy May morning becomes 'Like the Walking Dead,' a look back on the I-55 dust storm

Reed faces the possibility of a life sentence if the judge finds the murder was accompanied by "exceptionally brutal or heinous behavior indicative of wanton cruelty," according to state statute.

Absent that, Reed could be looking at 20 to 100 years in prison. The sentence is enhanced because Silas was a state employee in the course of her duty.

Derek Dion, the former first assistant in the Sangamon County State's Attorney's office, is trying the case with Kendra Hansel. Dion, who is now with the Office of the State's Attorneys Appellate Prosecutor, was in court Wednesday.

Reed is due back in court Jan. 5 before the trial is scheduled to begin Jan. 8.

Contact Steven Spearie: 217-622-1788; sspearie@sj-r.com; X, twitter.com/@StevenSpearie.

This article originally appeared on State Journal-Register: Trial of man accused of murder of DCFS worker set to begin January 8
A new image has been published by Israeli media purportedly showing the first glimpse in 30 years of Mohammed Deif -- the shadowy commander of Hamas military wing who has survived repeated assassination attempts.

The photo, first published by Channel 12 on Wednesday, reportedly was obtained by Israeli forces fighting Hamas in the Gaza Strip, according to The Times of Israel.

Ynetnews reports that the image dates back to 2018 and was likely captured at a social event, the Times of Israel adds.

"I won't address the publication about Mohammed Deif. We need to locate him and eliminate him as soon as possible," IDF spokesperson Daniel Hagari told Ynetnews. "It's a task that must be carried out. During operational activity in Gaza, we located a lot of intelligence material, mainly in underground tunnels."

LIVE UPDATES: ISRAEL AT WAR WITH HAMAS

An undated photo of Mohammad Deif, the mastermind of Hamas suicide bombings. A new image purportedly of Deif has been published by Israeli media in recent days.

The purported image of Deif is the first new one to surface of him in 30 years, according to i24 News. The photo shows a man in a wooded area with one eye closed. Fox News has not verified its authenticity.

READ ON THE FOX NEWS APP

It is believed that Deif has been confined to a wheelchair since an Israeli attack in 2006 during which he also lost an eye and an arm.

As the top commander of Hamas military wing, the Izzedine al-Qassam Brigades, Deif, 58, is thought to have been involved in planning the brutal Oct. 7 attacks that launched the Israel-Hamas war.

ISRAELS MOST WANTED: BUTCHER OF KHAN YOUNIS, OTHER HAMAS TERRORISTS NOW IN IDFS SIGHTS

A master bombmaker, Deif played an instrumental role in developing Hamas military capabilities, Israeli military and intelligence officials have said, including building up its rocket arsenal and attack strategy, as well as helping to design the subterranean tunnel system, which snakes for miles below the coastal enclave and which Israel is now trying to eradicate.

Deif has long eluded the Israelis, even surviving several assassination attempts.

In mid-December, Israel dropped leaflets over Gaza offering cash rewards amounting to $1 million for information leading to the capture of Hamas' top leadership.

Yahya Sinwar, Hamas' Gaza leader and another top target of Israel, attends a meeting in Gaza City on April 30, 2022.

Atop the list is Hamas leader Yahya Sinwar, who's award is $400,000, followed by his brother, Muhammed at $300,000. Muhammed commands Hamas forces in southern Gaza. The leaflets also offer $200,000 for Rafaa Salameh, who commands the Khan Yunis Battalion, and $100,000 for Deif, according to the Tazpit Press Service.

Fox News Ruth Marks Eglash and Chris Pandolfo contributed to this report.





Original article source: New image of Mohammed Deif, Hamas shadowy military commander, surfaces during war: report
As we survey the remnants of festive indulgence, how much of the food we have consumed is home-grown? The staples of Christmas like the turkey or goose, sprouts and parsnips are traditional precisely because they can be produced at home at this time of the year.

Nowadays a lunch in the dark days of January has probably been imported from the likes of Peru, Egypt and Mexico. Any sense of seasonal availability has gone. Retailers can source food from wherever it is cheapest around the globe at any time of year, including produce that can be grown here.

But this comes at a price to the environment. Our food is transported by air and sea making it a major contributor to greenhouse emissions. Ironically, land here that could be used for cultivation is being rewilded in the name of the environment.

The point was well made in this newspaper yesterday by the Countess of Carnarvon, who said it is not sensible to be almost solely reliant on imports to feed your population. She added: Rewilding is part of the countryside story but we cannot eat the trees that politicians propose we plant.

We are nowhere near self-sufficient in food and, for a crowded country of nearly 70 million people, imports are always going to be necessary. If we had to rely entirely on home-grown supplies the country would surely run out of food before the end of the year. However, over-reliance on domestically produced food can leave the country vulnerable to plant or animal disease.

Nonetheless, a robust supply chain requires a higher level of domestic production than we see now, with farmers still trying to adapt to the loss of direct EU support.

Food resilience is something the Government needs to take far more seriously.

Broaden your horizons with award-winning British journalism. Try The Telegraph free for 1 month, then enjoy 1 year for just $9 with our US-exclusive offer.
The Defense Department on Thursday officially rolled out a new policy for specialized and independent military lawyers to prosecute major crimes  including murder and sexual assault cases  across the armed services, shifting away from unit commanders who previously oversaw those efforts.

Four new special trial counsel offices staffed with independent lawyers have opened in the Navy, Army, Air Force and Marine Corps.

Those offices, which report directly to the secretaries of each military department, are assuming the responsibility for prosecuting crimes that previously fell under the purview of military commanders. Keeping cases within the chain of command attracted criticism from military justice advocates and lawmakers.

The 13 crimes the new special counsel offices will prosecute include murder, domestic violence, manslaughter, kidnapping, stalking and child pornography.

They will also cover most cases of sexual assault or sexual misconduct, but their handling of sexual harassment will not take effect until 2025. Sexual assault cases will only be investigated if filed under an unrestricted report, while those filing restricted, or confidential reports, will not be formally investigated but can still connect to any resources for assistance.

Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin called the new reforms a landmark change to the U.S. military justice system that will significantly strengthen the independent prosecution of sexual assault and other serious criminal offenses.

It is the most important reform to our military justice system since the creation of the Uniform Code of Military Justice in 1950, Austin said in a statement. This reform aims to help strengthen accountability and increase all of our service members trust in the fairness and integrity of the military justice system.

Congress passed a requirement in 2022 for the Pentagon to establish independent prosecutions in the annual defense bill. The concerns from lawmakers and advocates primarily were over sexual assaults in the military and the ability for a commander to decide whether to pursue a case.

Sexual assaults remain a persistent problem across the military. The Pentagon reported a slight rise in sexual assault complaints earlier this year.

A senior defense official said the new reforms rolled out Thursday are just one line of effort that we are undertaking to combat the problem.

We are also taking major steps in the areas of prevention, climate and culture, and victim care and support, the official said in a briefing with reporters last week. These reforms are one piece  a major piece  but one piece in a broader effort that also includes preventing these crimes and ensuring we provide exceptional care and support to victims.

The Pentagon is also establishing a prevention workforce to work on issues like sexual assault, with more than 2,000 employees expected to be deployed at every U.S. military base across the world.

Because the U.S. military is spread across the globe, there will be special counsel offices representing different sections of the world where troops are stationed.

The Navys main special counsel office is divided into two main locations, in Norfolk, Va., and San Diego, with 47 independent lawyers representing the military branch.

The Marine Corps main office is in Arlington, Va., at Joint Base MyerHenderson Hall, with 33 lawyers, while the Air Force is spread across six different global locations with 40 lawyers, including in Japan and Germany.

The Army has 65 lawyers, and its main headquarters is in Virginias Fort Belvoir.

A senior Army official, in describing the new reforms, said the goal is to seek justice in every case.

A key feature of how we will do business is our victim engagement plan which will give every victim the opportunity to have face to face interaction with our prosecutors and provide their input in every important stage of the case, the official said.

In addition to promoting justice, we believe the use of our independent authority will ultimately help to restore trust in the military justice system. That includes the trust of victims, as well as those accused of crimes.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill.
The Indian government privately pressed Apple officials to soften their warnings to Indian journalists and opposition politicians that state-sponsored attackers could be targeting their phones, according to The Washington Post.

Senior officials in Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modis administration reportedly called Apple Indias managing director, Virat Bhatia, after reports emerged about the notifications in late October and asked the tech giant to withdraw the warnings.

Soon after, Apple India sent out emails saying the notifications are based on threat intelligence signals that are often imperfect and incomplete and began privately asking Indian tech journalists to note the warnings could be false alarms and had been issued to users in 150 countries, the Post reported.

A memo from the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) similarly noted users in other countries received notifications and that Apples systems contained vulnerabilities, according to the Post.

Government officials also told Indian news outlets they suspected the warnings were the result of an algorithmic malfunction, and the deputy minister of electronics and information technology announced a probe into the notifications.

In November, an Apple security official from outside India reportedly flew to New Delhi to meet with government officials and defended the companys work, according to the Post.

Many of the people who received Apples warnings in late October had been critical of Modi or Indian energy and infrastructure tycoon Gautam Adani and his relationship with the Indian prime minister, the Post noted.

Journalist Anand Mangnale reached out to Adani for comment in late August on a story alleging his associates secretly traded in the Adani Groups public stock in potential violation of Indian securities law.

Mangnale had Pegasus spyware planted on his phone within 24 hours of the inquiry, according to a forensic analysis of his phone conducted by Amnesty International and reported by the Post.

Mahua Moitra, a former member of Parliament who criticized Modis relationship with Adani, also received a warning from Apple in late October. An examination of her phone by the security firm iVerify also indicated it had been hacked, according to the Post.

Moitra was expelled from Parliament in December over allegations that she was receiving bribes from a business rival of Adanis to ask questions about his relationship with the prime minister. She has denied the accusations.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill.
Children play act with cutouts at Carmel Clay Edu-Care, Thursday, May 18, 2023 at Clay Middle School. The district offers childcare for its employees.

Gov. Eric Holcomb announced Thursday $18.1 million in grants to 64 employers to create or expand childcare offerings for their employees.

This effort harnesses the combined efforts of businesses, community groups, and schools that want to support working Hoosiers careers and our youngest learners across the state, Holcomb said in a statement.

The lack of affordable childcare is a major barrier for Hoosier families when considering jobs. That has become a problem for employers, from businesses to nonprofits and schools, struggling to retain and attract employees. Nearly half of employers said hiring and retention is their top challenge, according to a recent Indiana Chamber of Commerce survey.

Thirty-three employers plan to provide on-site child care for employees, 13 will offer some money for employees to pay for childcare and the rest will offer other programs to ease the challenge of finding childcare.

Birth to age 5 are the most critical in a persons life, and now more of our next generation will receive early education that is crucial to their brain and social development, said Courtney Penn, director of FSSA's Office of Early Childhood and Out-of-School Learning, in a statement.

Here are the Marion County employers who received this grant:

Northeast Indianapolis Community Service Corp.

SFI Risk Services

Jackson Oil & Solvents, Inc.

Victory College Prep

ATATJ Personal Care Services LLC

United Way of Central Indiana

Indiana Association for Home & Hospice Care

Franklin Township Community School Corporation

For a full statewide list, see here.

This article originally appeared on Indianapolis Star: Indiana awards 64 employers $18.1M to assist employees with childcare
Semafor Signals

Insights from South China Morning Post, The Jakarta Post, and Al Jazeera





NEWS

Around 200 university students in Indonesias Aceh province protested Wednesday against the increasing arrivals of Rohingya refugees and called on the government to turn them away, reflecting growing discontent in the country and across Southeast Asia about sheltering the stateless Rohingya.

Nearly one million members of the persecuted Muslim minority group in Myanmar have fled to camps in Bangladesh, but increasing violence, crowded conditions, and a lack of pathway to citizenship have forced many families to make a perilous trek to neighboring Indonesia, Malaysia, and Thailand. More than 1,500 Rohingya have arrived in Aceh since November, but locals have accused them of wreaking socio-economic havoc, and the influx of refugees has raised concerns about human trafficking.

SIGNALS

Semafor Signals: Global insights on today's biggest stories.

Acehs drastic shift from a place once praised for hospitality to Rohingya

Sources: The Conversation, Deutsche Welle, Al Jazeera, United Nations

Although Aceh has been historically known to welcome refugees, local authorities are likely tired of the strain on resources and the lack of support from the national government, Phil Robertson of Human Rights Watch told DW News last month. Aceh has one of the highest poverty levels in the region and local residents have complained about redirecting much-needed resources to refugees: We are poor people. Why dont you use the money to help us? one woman told Al Jazeera. The populations growing hostility against Rohingya has prompted Jakarta to urge the international community to shoulder more responsibility in addressing the refugee crisis. But a lack of funding to the UN forced it to cut food aid for Rohingya refugees in Bangladesh, with daily food rations in June down to $8 per person per month.

Fake UN accounts spread hate and misinformation against Rohingya

Sources: South China Morning Post

Organized hate and misinformation campaigns against the refugees and UN agencies are fueling anti-Rohingya sentiment in Indonesia, the South Morning China Post reported. Activists were concerned that people fell for fake UN accounts intended to disrupt efforts to find shelters and provide help to the refugees. The UNHCR said it was targeted by an orchestrated hate campaign on TikTok and Instagram, where a barrage of comments collectively called for the dissolution of the aid agency. One social media user flagged by the UN reportedly sent messages saying the Rohingya should be kicked out because Indonesia will turn into the next Palestine following their arrival, a UN report said.

Indonesia not legally obligated to help Rohingya

Sources: The Jakarta Post, Al Jazeera

If our legal obligations are unclear, our moral ones are not, The Jakarta Posts editorial board wrote, slamming Indonesian government officials for saying that the country was not obligated to help Rohingya because it wasnt a signatory of the 1951 Refugee Convention. While acknowledging that refugees have caused headaches for governments, the board wrote, We cannot just leave them stranded or send them out to perish at sea. The Post argued that as a signatory to the UN Convention on the Law of the Sea, Indonesia was obliged to rescue people in distress at sea, including Rohingya. The Indonesian navy has been escorting refugee boats back to sea, which human rights NGO KontraS said demonstrates a lack of empathy and commitment to upholding human rights.
An Instagram influencer was fatally shot near a Hawaii mall by her husband on Friday, two days after a judge granted her a restraining order against the man, according to authorities and court documents. He later was found dead in an apparent suicide.

The shooting unfolded in a parking lot near Pearlridge Center in Waimalu, near Honolulu.

Honolulu police responded to a suspicious circumstance in the parking lot just after 10 a.m. Friday and found a 33-year-old woman, later identified as Theresa Cachuela, with gunshot wounds, Lt. Deena Thoemmes told reporters.

A child was present during the shooting, police said.

Theresa Cachuela, who was known as Bunny Bontiti to her 20,000 Instagram followers, was pronounced dead at the scene. No one else was found injured in the area, Thoemmes said.

The suspect, identified as Jason Cachuela, 44, had fled the scene and was later found dead in an area behind a Waipahu residence, a town located about five miles away from the mall, Thoemmes said. Police said a gun was recovered at that scene.

The case is classified as first-degree murder and the investigation is ongoing.

Thoemmes said the shooting was not a random act as the victim and the suspect were married.

A judge had granted the woman a temporary restraining order against her husband, online court documents show. They had been together for nearly 11 years, according to court filings.

According to her petition for the temporary restraining order, filed Dec. 8., Jason Cachuela had allegedly threatened to kill himself in front of his wife and her children on Dec. 6.

He allegedly took her somewhere alone and held a knife to his throat, leaving her traumatized and scared, she wrote in the petition. The next morning, Theresa Cachuela said her husband showed up to her house to apologize, but continued with the suicidal threats.

The evening of Dec. 7, Jason Cachuela allegedly returned to his wifes home and tried to break into her garage, according to the petition. Theresa Cachuela said in the petition that he threatened to kill himself in her garage when she refused to approach him, causing her to call 911. Police subsequently conducted a wellness check.

While letting her son in the garage around 6 a.m. on Dec. 8, Theresa Cachuela said she found Jason Cachuela hiding under her car. Once again, she called 911 to report the incident, according to the petition, which noted that he owned guns.

Jason Cachuela was served with the notice on Dec. 19 and the temporary restraining order was official on Dec. 20.

Both appeared in court that day and agreed to a one-year order, set to expire on Dec. 20, 2024. Under the agreement, Jason Cachuela was prohibited from contacting Theresa Cachuela unless it was regarding a minor child, and he was ordered to give up any firearms.

It was not immediately clear how he was in possession of a gun in Fridays shooting.

NBC News has reached out to an attorney who represented Jason Cachuela in the case.

Lucita Ani-Nihoa, Theresa Cachuelas mother, told NBC affiliate KHNL of Honolulu that she was meeting her daughter at Pearlridge Center when she learned she had been shot.

She said that Theresa Cachuelas 8-year-old daughter was the child who witnessed the shooting.

Her youngest daughter is the one that tragically saw everything, Ani-Nihoa told the station. Shes traumatized. She has so much faith, this little girl. She just started praying.

Theresa Cachuela, a mother of three, had told her relatives that she was abused by her husband and was getting help from agencies that support victims of domestic violence, according to Ani-Nihoa.

She wanted to leave him but he wasnt accepting it. He tried to control with, with everything  where she would go, what she would do, her mother said.

The family has created an online fundraiser to cover funeral costs and to support her children.

If you or someone you know is in crisis, call or text 988 to reach the Suicide and Crisis Lifeline or chat live at 988lifeline.org. You can also visit SpeakingOfSuicide.com/resources for additional support.

This article was originally published on TODAY.com
As Marquise Tillman led deputies on a high-speed chase through rural Mississippi in March 2019, Sheriff Todd Kemp issued a blunt order over the radio: Shut him down and beat his ass.

When the Clarke County deputies caught Mr. Tillman, they did just that, he later alleged in a lawsuit. He said they pummeled and stomped on him while he was handcuffed, leaving him with a fractured eye socket and broken bones in his face and chest.

The sheriff denied giving the order. But it was captured on tape and described under oath by four of his deputies.

Such an explosive revelation might have roiled a community elsewhere in the country and led state or federal officials to investigate. But in Mississippi, it was largely ignored, even after the county paid Mr. Tillman an undisclosed amount to settle his claim.

There was no news coverage and no state investigation. In an interview, Sheriff Kemp said he had turned the case over to the states police agency. But the agency could find no record of having pursued it.

That is not unusual in Mississippi, where allegations like those leveled against Sheriff Kemp often go nowhere, an investigation by The New York Times and the Mississippi Center for Investigative Reporting at Mississippi Today has found.

A photo of Clarke County Sheriff Todd Kemp, right, at the county courthouse in Quitman.

State authorities are responsible for investigating shootings and in-custody deaths involving sheriffs and deputies. But they are not obligated to investigate other potential wrongdoing by sheriffs offices, and may not even know about it: The sheriffs offices are also not obligated to report incidents to them.

The Times and Mississippi Today examined dozens of publicly available federal lawsuits that described severe brutality and other abuses of power, reviewing thousands of pages of court records and interviewing people involved in cases across the state.

At least 27 claims do not appear to have led to a state investigation, including accusations of rape, brutal assault and retaliation against sheriffs enemies.

Many of the lawsuits depicted incidents that had eyewitnesses or significant physical evidence. Some included transcripts of deputies admitting under oath to troubling conduct. All but five of the cases were settled, according to court files that do not disclose the financial terms.

A man in Simpson County said in a lawsuit that the sheriff in 2012, Kenneth Lewis, choked him and slammed his head against a cell wall until he passed out.

Mississippi has a long history of powerful rural sheriffs breaking the law with little consequence. This year, The Times and Mississippi Today revealed how sheriffs and deputies dodged accountability after allegations that they had sexually abused women in their custody, tortured people for information or misused subpoena power to spy on others.

The lawsuits underscored how many similar allegations have been leveled in the state over the past decade, especially in small-town jails. A man in Itawamba County said that in 2020 his jailers tied him to a chair, choked him and squeezed his genitals until he vomited. A woman in Bolivar County said that in 2016 a deputy held her arms behind her back and raped her in her cell. A man in Simpson County said that the sheriff in 2012, Kenneth Lewis, choked him and slammed his head against a cell wall until he passed out.

All of their lawsuits were settled. Attempts to reach former Sheriff Lewis for comment were unsuccessful.

Officials with the Mississippi Bureau of Investigation and Attorney General Lynn Fitchs office said they could find no records indicating that either office had investigated any of the 27 allegations. Jim Hood, who was attorney general during most of these cases, did not respond to requests for comment.

Reporters also reached people familiar with 12 of the claims, including plaintiffs, their family members and their lawyers. All said they were not aware of state investigators asking about the cases.

The Simpson County Jail, behind a cemetery in Mendenhall.

In a statement responding to The Times and Mississippi Todays findings, the states public safety commissioner, Sean Tindell, said he was working toward more oversight. He said he would ask the legislature to empower Mississippis law enforcement licensing board, which he oversees along with the bureau of investigation, to investigate abuse allegations and consider revoking law enforcement officers licenses, an approach some states use aggressively.

Sheriffs are elected and not required to hold licenses, however. And it would not change how cases are investigated criminally.

The lack of investigations troubled experts who reviewed some of the cases.

James Tierney, a former Maine attorney general who now lectures at Harvard Law School, said the lawsuits described corrupt and criminal behavior that should have been investigated by the attorney general.

This wasnt one renegade cop or a renegade D.A. There is a systemic problem here, he said.

In Mr. Tillmans case, the accused deputies all denied beating him. They do not appear to have faced any consequences. I dont think there was any wrongdoing, Sheriff Kemp said in an interview.

Everybody kept their job, recalled Mr. Tillmans aunt, Kristy Tillman.

Mr. Tillman is serving 12 years in prison for crashing into deputies during the high-speed chase. Sheriff Kemp is retiring at the end of this month after 24 years in office. His elected successor, Anthony Chancelor, is one of the deputies accused in the beating.

The Itawamba County Courthouse in the town center of Fulton.

Trails of Evidence

Across Mississippis 82 counties, candidates for sheriff are not required to have law enforcement experience or police training. Once in office, sheriffs can launch investigations, direct the use of force and put people in jail, where they control virtually every aspect of an inmates life.

There is no transparency for what happens inside these local jails, and we know that abuse thrives in dark places, said Michele Deitch, the director of a center at the University of Texas at Austin that studies jail oversight and operations. She said the allegations of brutality described in the lawsuits were a window into a world that sheriffs have been allowed to conceal.

Many of the lawsuits examined by The Times and Mississippi Today included trails of evidence  video footage, medical records, eyewitness accounts  ready for an investigator to follow.

In 2020, deputies at the Itawamba County jail beat Christopher Evan Easter relentlessly, he said in court filings and an interview.

He said one jailer put him in a chokehold until he passed out; he awoke to deputies doing chest compressions on him. They tied him to a chair, squeezed his genitals and punched his head until he lost consciousness again, he said. When I come to, my ears are ringing. Im covered in puke and blood, he recalled.

Mr. Easter was taken to a hospital, he said, but when he returned to jail, he was stripped naked and thrown in a dark, maggot-infested room the deputies called the hole, where the plumbing did not work and the toilet was full of feces.

Mr. Easters father, Christopher Lewis Easter, said the jails administrator told him that his son had fallen and hit his head on a filing cabinet. The family filed a lawsuit, detailing the violence inflicted on Mr. Easter, which the county settled for $15,000, he said.

Some claims revealed patterns of similar allegations. In a three-year span, two men held in the jail used by Humphreys County filed lawsuits saying deputies had taken them to the chapel before beating them out of view of security cameras. The lawsuits said that members of each family had confronted then-Sheriff J.D. Roseman, who acknowledged one of the assaults happened. Both cases were settled. Sheriff Roseman remained in office until his death in 2020.

In other cases, deputies testimony supported some of the plaintiffs claims.

Photos of former sheriffs remain in the lobby entrance of the Tunica County Justice Complex in Tunica.

The county administrator of Tunica County, population 10,000, accused Sheriff Calvin Hamp of conspiring to have him arrested in 2014 in retaliation for trying to cut the departments budget.

Two days after the men argued over a purchase order, a captain in the department pulled over an S.U.V. carrying the administrator, Michael Thompson. The captain instructed Mr. Thompson to get behind the wheel and watched him drive away, then pulled him over and charged him with driving with a suspended license. The sheriffs office issued a press release announcing the arrest.

In a sworn deposition, the captain conceded that he had known Mr. Thompsons license was suspended  because of an unpaid traffic ticket in another county  when he told him to drive.

Sheriff Hamp did not respond to questions from The Times and Mississippi Today. Mr. Thompson declined to comment.

On appeal, a judge dismissed the charge against Mr. Thompson, and a jury later awarded him $50,000 in damages.

The Clarke County Jail and Sheriffs office in Quitman.

Deflecting Responsibility

In 2022, state lawmakers formally gave the attorney general and the Mississippi Bureau of Investigation responsibility for investigating police shootings and prosecuting those that involve criminal misconduct.

When a sheriff or a deputy is accused of other types of crimes, however, it remains less clear what is supposed to happen.

The F.B.I. and the Justice Department handle some law enforcement cases, but generally look into only the most serious allegations.

District attorneys can investigate and bring charges. But those local prosecutors can have politically incestuous relationships with sheriffs, creating pressure to overlook allegations, said Chris Toth, the former executive director of the National Association of Attorneys General.

To avoid conflicts of interest, sheriffs or local prosecutors can ask the attorney general or the Mississippi Bureau of Investigation to step in. But the system only works if local officials contact the state for help, and that often does not happen, The Times and Mississippi Today found.

Mississippis Board on Law Enforcement Officer Standards and Training also conducts background checks and decides whether law enforcement officers who have been fired for cause or charged with a crime should be allowed to serve in other counties. But it does not perform its own investigations into officers conduct. Mr. Tindell, the public safety commissioner, argues that it should.

Some states, including Florida and Arizona, have long taken an approach like the one Mr. Tindell is proposing, with powerful licensing boards that require police agencies to report misconduct and then can hold hearings and potentially revoke officers certification.

More recently, other states have given their attorneys general additional authority. New Yorks can now investigate any officer or deputy, and Illinoiss and Colorados can conduct wide-ranging civil investigations into patterns of illegal conduct.

In Mississippi, the lack of process has allowed some sheriffs and district attorneys to disregard reports of abuse within their jurisdictions.

In Clarke County, accounts that Sheriff Kemp had gotten on the radio and ordered his deputies to beat a fleeing man were widely known.

District Attorney Kassie Coleman said in a statement that she had heard about the accusation and that it was general knowledge that both the Mississippi Bureau of Investigation and the F.B.I. had been contacted about the case.

I was not provided an investigative case regarding any potential criminal acts that resulted from the investigation into the allegations, Ms. Coleman wrote, nor was I provided a copy of the federal lawsuit.

But the state bureau of investigation said it had no file on the case, Mr. Tillmans family said he was never contacted by the F.B.I. or anyone else, and the lawsuit is available in an online courts database.

People who have complained directly to Mississippi sheriffs offices have often found themselves speaking to someone close to the sheriff.

A man accused deputies in Forrest County of shackling him in a holding cell, beating him unconscious and breaking his ribs in 2016. He noted in his lawsuit that he filed complaints with the F.B.I. and Nick Calico, a chief investigator for then-Sheriff Billy McGee, giving him medical records and photos that could have served as evidence.

In an interview, Mr. Calico said he had investigated the allegations and found that nothing improper happened. After the lawsuit was filed, he said, he was contacted by the F.B.I., sent them a copy of his investigative file and never heard about it again.

Seven months after the alleged beating, he would marry Sheriff McGees daughter.

This article was co-reported by The New York Times and the Mississippi Center for Investigative Reporting at Mississippi Today.

Joel Engelhardt contributed reporting. Kitty Bennett contributed research.

This article first appeared on Mississippi Today and is republished here under a Creative Commons license.
As Marquise Tillman led deputies on a high-speed chase through rural Mississippi in March 2019, Sheriff Todd Kemp issued a blunt order over the radio: Shut him down and beat his ass.

When the Clarke County deputies caught Tillman, they did just that, he later alleged in a lawsuit. He said they pummeled and stomped on him while he was handcuffed, leaving him with a fractured eye socket and broken bones in his face and chest.

The sheriff denied giving the order. But it was captured on tape and described under oath by four of his deputies.

Sign up for The Morning newsletter from the New York Times

Such an explosive revelation might have roiled a community elsewhere in the country and led state or federal officials to investigate. But in Mississippi, it was largely ignored, even after the county paid Tillman an undisclosed amount to settle his claim.

There was no news coverage and no state investigation. In an interview, Kemp said he had turned the case over to the states police agency. But the agency could find no record of having pursued it.

That is not unusual in Mississippi, where allegations like those leveled against Kemp often go nowhere, an investigation by The New York Times and the Mississippi Center for Investigative Reporting at Mississippi Today has found.

State authorities are responsible for investigating shootings and in-custody deaths involving sheriffs and deputies. But they are not obligated to investigate other potential wrongdoing by sheriffs offices, and may not even know about it: The sheriffs offices are also not obligated to report incidents to them.

The Times and Mississippi Today examined dozens of publicly available federal lawsuits that described severe brutality and other abuses of power, reviewing thousands of pages of court records and interviewing people involved in cases across the state.

At least 27 claims do not appear to have led to a state investigation, including accusations of rape, brutal assault and retaliation against sheriffs enemies.

Many of the lawsuits depicted incidents that had eyewitnesses or significant physical evidence. Some included transcripts of deputies admitting under oath to troubling conduct. All but five of the cases were settled, according to court files that do not disclose the financial terms.

Mississippi has a long history of powerful rural sheriffs breaking the law with little consequence. This year, the Times and Mississippi Today revealed how sheriffs and deputies dodged accountability after allegations that they had sexually abused women in their custody, tortured people for information or misused subpoena power to spy on others.

The lawsuits underscored how many similar allegations have been leveled in the state over the past decade, especially in small-town jails. A man in Itawamba County said that in 2020 his jailers tied him to a chair, choked him and squeezed his genitals until he vomited. A woman in Bolivar County said that in 2016 a deputy held her arms behind her back and raped her in her cell. A man in Simpson County said that the sheriff in 2012, Kenneth Lewis, choked him and slammed his head against a cell wall until he passed out.

All of their lawsuits were settled. Attempts to reach former Lewis for comment were unsuccessful.

Officials with the Mississippi Bureau of Investigation and Attorney General Lynn Fitchs office said they could find no records indicating that either office had investigated any of the 27 allegations. Jim Hood, who was attorney general during most of these cases, did not respond to requests for comment.

Reporters also reached people familiar with 12 of the claims, including plaintiffs, their family members and their lawyers. All said they were not aware of state investigators asking about the cases.

In a statement responding to the Times and Mississippi Todays findings, the states public safety commissioner, Sean Tindell, said he was working toward more oversight. He said he would ask the legislature to empower Mississippis law enforcement licensing board, which he oversees along with the bureau of investigation, to investigate abuse allegations and consider revoking law enforcement officers licenses, an approach some states use aggressively.

Sheriffs are elected and not required to hold licenses, however. And it would not change how cases are investigated criminally.

The lack of investigations troubled experts who reviewed some of the cases.

James Tierney, a former Maine attorney general who now lectures at Harvard Law School, said the lawsuits described corrupt and criminal behavior that should have been investigated by the attorney general.

This wasnt one renegade cop or a renegade DA. There is a systemic problem here, he said.

In Tillmans case, the accused deputies all denied beating him. They do not appear to have faced any consequences. I dont think there was any wrongdoing, Kemp said in an interview.

Everybody kept their job, recalled Tillmans aunt, Kristy Tillman.

Tillman is serving 12 years in prison for crashing into deputies during the high-speed chase. Kemp is retiring at the end of this month after 24 years in office. His elected successor, Anthony Chancelor, is one of the deputies accused in the beating.

Trails of Evidence

Across Mississippis 82 counties, candidates for sheriff are not required to have law enforcement experience or police training. Once in office, sheriffs can launch investigations, direct the use of force and put people in jail, where they control virtually every aspect of an inmates life.

There is no transparency for what happens inside these local jails, and we know that abuse thrives in dark places, said Michele Deitch, the director of a center at the University of Texas at Austin that studies jail oversight and operations. She said the allegations of brutality described in the lawsuits were a window into a world that sheriffs have been allowed to conceal.

Many of the lawsuits examined by the Times and Mississippi Today included trails of evidence  video footage, medical records, eyewitness accounts  ready for an investigator to follow.

In 2020, deputies at the Itawamba County jail beat Christopher Evan Easter relentlessly, he said in court filings and an interview.

He said one jailer put him in a chokehold until he passed out; he awoke to deputies doing chest compressions on him. They tied him to a chair, squeezed his genitals and punched his head until he lost consciousness again, he said. When I come to, my ears are ringing. Im covered in puke and blood, he recalled.

Easter was taken to a hospital, he said, but when he returned to jail, he was stripped naked and thrown in a dark, maggot-infested room the deputies called the hole, where the plumbing did not work and the toilet was full of feces.

Easters father, Christopher Lewis Easter, said the jails administrator told him that his son had fallen and hit his head on a filing cabinet. The family filed a lawsuit, detailing the violence inflicted on Easter, which the county settled for $15,000, he said.

Some claims revealed patterns of similar allegations. In a three-year span, two men held in the jail used by Humphreys County filed lawsuits saying deputies had taken them to the chapel before beating them out of view of security cameras. The lawsuits said that members of each family had confronted then-Sheriff J.D. Roseman, who acknowledged one of the assaults happened. Both cases were settled. Roseman remained in office until his death in 2020.

In other cases, deputies testimony supported some of the plaintiffs claims.

The county administrator of Tunica County, population 10,000, accused Sheriff Calvin Hamp of conspiring to have him arrested in 2014 in retaliation for trying to cut the departments budget.

Two days after the men argued over a purchase order, a captain in the department pulled over an SUV carrying the administrator, Michael Thompson. The captain instructed Thompson to get behind the wheel and watched him drive away, then pulled him over and charged him with driving with a suspended license. The sheriffs office issued a press release announcing the arrest.

In a sworn deposition, the captain conceded that he had known Thompsons license was suspended  because of an unpaid traffic ticket in another county  when he told him to drive.

Hamp did not respond to questions from the Times and Mississippi Today. Thompson declined to comment.

On appeal, a judge dismissed the charge against Thompson, and a jury later awarded him $50,000 in damages.

Deflecting Responsibility

In 2022, state lawmakers formally gave the attorney general and the Mississippi Bureau of Investigation responsibility for investigating police shootings and prosecuting those that involve criminal misconduct.

When a sheriff or a deputy is accused of other types of crimes, however, it remains less clear what is supposed to happen.

The FBI and the Justice Department handle some law enforcement cases, but generally look into only the most serious allegations.

District attorneys can investigate and bring charges. But those local prosecutors can have politically incestuous relationships with sheriffs, creating pressure to overlook allegations, said Chris Toth, the former executive director of the National Association of Attorneys General.

To avoid conflicts of interest, sheriffs or local prosecutors can ask the attorney general or the Mississippi Bureau of Investigation to step in. But the system only works if local officials contact the state for help, and that often does not happen, the Times and Mississippi Today found.

Mississippis Board on Law Enforcement Officer Standards and Training also conducts background checks and decides whether law enforcement officers who have been fired for cause or charged with a crime should be allowed to serve in other counties. But it does not perform its own investigations into officers conduct. Tindell, the public safety commissioner, argues that it should.

Some states, including Florida and Arizona, have long taken an approach like the one Tindell is proposing, with powerful licensing boards that require police agencies to report misconduct and then can hold hearings and potentially revoke officers certification.

More recently, other states have given their attorneys general additional authority. New Yorks can now investigate any officer or deputy, and Illinois and Colorados can conduct wide-ranging civil investigations into patterns of illegal conduct.

In Mississippi, the lack of process has allowed some sheriffs and district attorneys to disregard reports of abuse within their jurisdictions.

In Clarke County, accounts that Kemp had gotten on the radio and ordered his deputies to beat a fleeing man were widely known.

District Attorney Kassie Coleman said in a statement that she had heard about the accusation and that it was general knowledge that both the Mississippi Bureau of Investigation and the FBI had been contacted about the case.

I was not provided an investigative case regarding any potential criminal acts that resulted from the investigation into the allegations, Coleman wrote, nor was I provided a copy of the federal lawsuit.

But the state bureau of investigation said it had no file on the case, Tillmans family said he was never contacted by the FBI or anyone else, and the lawsuit is available in an online courts database.

People who have complained directly to Mississippi sheriffs offices have often found themselves speaking to someone close to the sheriff.

A man accused deputies in Forrest County of shackling him in a holding cell, beating him unconscious and breaking his ribs in 2016. He noted in his lawsuit that he filed complaints with the FBI and Nick Calico, a chief investigator for then-Sheriff Billy McGee, giving him medical records and photos that could have served as evidence.

In an interview, Calico said he had investigated the allegations and found that nothing improper happened. After the lawsuit was filed, he said, he was contacted by the FBI, sent them a copy of his investigative file and never heard about it again.

Seven months after the alleged beating, he would marry McGees daughter.

______

This article was co-reported by The New York Times and the Mississippi Center for Investigative Reporting at Mississippi Today.

c.2023 The New York Times Company
An Iranian mourner holds up a poster of Seyed Razi Mousavi, a high ranking Iranian general of the paramilitary Revolutionary Guard, who was killed in an alleged Israeli airstrike in Syria on Monday, during his funeral ceremony in Tehran, Iran, Thursday, Dec. 28, 2023. (AP Photo/Vahid Salemi)

TEHRAN, Iran (AP)  Iran held a funeral Thursday for a high-ranking general of the paramilitary Revolutionary Guard who was killed by an alleged Israeli airstrike in Syria.

Hundreds of mourners accompanied the flag-draped casket of Gen. Razi Mousavi from a central square of Tehran to a shrine in the north of the city where he was buried.

The head of the Guard, Gen. Hossein Salami, praised Mousavi and vowed his death would be avenged.

We will never keep silent in the face of martyrdom of the sons of this nation," Salami said. "Our revenge will be tough as always, but a revenge that could compensate for the martyrdom of Seyed Razi is nothing but the removal of Israel from the face of existence.

Iran does not recognize Israel and occasionally calls for destruction of the Jewish state.

Salami described Mousavi as a close companion of Gen. Qassim Soleimani, the head of Irans elite Quds Force, who was killed by a U.S. drone strike in Iraq in January 2020. He said Iran also would avenge Soleimani's death and that Hamas' Oct. 7 attacks in southern Israel that triggered the war in Gaza were an unrelated and independent action.

I officially announce that the Al-Aqsa Storm was and is fully Palestinian. Palestine is capable on its own, the general said.

The crowd chanted, No compromise! No surrender! Battle with America!

Israel views Iran as its greatest threat because of Tehrans disputed nuclear program and its support for regional militant groups like Hamas, Lebanon's Hezbollah and the Houthi rebels in Yemen who have targeted international shipping in what they portray as a blockade of Israel.

Iran insists its regional allies act independently.

Earlier Thursday, Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei prayed before Mousavi's casket, state TV footage showed. Khamenei offered condolences to family of the general and a group of ranking officials who were present in the prayer.

The killing of the general, a longtime adviser of the Guard in Syria, comes amid ongoing fears of the Israel-Hamas war broadening into a regional conflict. Iran-backed groups in Yemen, Lebanon, Syria and Iraq have launched attacks on Israel and its allies in support of Hamas.

In recent years, Israel has carried out hundreds of strikes on targets inside government-controlled parts of Syria. It occasionally says its targeting Iran-backed groups that have backed President Bashar Assad's government. Iran said an Israeli strike earlier this month killed two of its generals.
People wave yellow flags imprinted with the message 'I am your opponent'  a reference to Israel  at Razi Moussavi's funeral - ATTA KENARE/AFP

Thousands gathered in the Iranian capital on Thursday for the funeral of senior Revolutionary Guards commander Razi Moussavi, three days after he was killed in what Tehran says was an Israeli strike.

The crowd in Tehrans central Imam Hossein square chanted death to Israel and death to America.

Many waved yellow flags imprinted with the message I am your opponent  a reference to Israel  in both Persian and Hebrew.

Israel has long fought a shadow war of assassinations and sabotage against arch foe Iran and its allies, but Moussavis killing in Syria came at a time of sharply heightened regional tensions over the Israel-Hamas conflict since early October.

Some of the mourners in Tehran carried pictures of Moussavi together with the revered Qasem Soleimani, a former commander of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corpss (IRGC) foreign operations arm who was killed in a 2020 US drone strike in Baghdad.

Hossein Salami, the head of the Guards, delivers a speech during the funeral - ATTA KENARE/AFP

Next, week Iran will mark the fourth anniversary of the death of Soleimani, who had run the IRGCs Quds Force for more than a decade.

Iranian state media says an Israeli missile strike on Monday near the Syrian capital of Damascus killed Moussavi, a Quds Force general and the most senior Guards commander killed since Soleimani.

The Israeli army, which has launched hundreds of strikes on Iran-linked targets in war-torn Syria in recent years, said only that it does not comment on foreign media reports.

On Thursday, Syria said Moussavis martyrdom on its territory was part of Israels aggressive policies, the official news agency SANA reported.

Iran's Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei meets with relatives of Razi Moussavi - AFP

In letters sent by the Syrian foreign ministry, Damascus called on the United Nations to act against Israeli actions which might ignite the region, SANA said.

Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, Irans Supreme Leader, earlier on Thursday met with Moussavis family and led a prayer over the slain generals body before it was taken to the central square.

The head of the Guards, Hossein Salami, hailed Moussavi as one of the most experienced and effective IRGC commanders in the Axis of Resistance  Tehran-aligned armed groups in the Middle East.

Ramezan Sharif, the IRGC spokesman, warned on Wednesday that our response to Moussavis assassination will be a combination of direct action as well as [from] others led by the Axis of Resistance.

Crowds chanted 'death to Israel' - ATTA KENARE/AFP

Sharif charged that Israels killing of the general was likely due to its failures when Hamas militants launched a surprise attack on Oct 7.

The attack resulted in the deaths of around 1,140 people in Israel, most of them civilians, according to an AFP tally based on the latest official Israeli figures, and saw around 250 people taken hostage.

Israel has retaliated with a relentless bombardment, siege and ground invasion of Gaza that has killed at least 21,110 people, according to the health ministry in the Hamas-run Palestinian territory.

Iran, which supports Hamas financially and militarily, has hailed the deadly attacks as a success but denied any direct involvement.

Al-Aqsa Flood was a completely Palestinian operation, Salami said, using Hamass name for the Oct 7 attack, a day after remarks by spokesman Sharif seemed to suggest it was in part motivated by revenge for Soleimanis killing.

I say that the revenge for Hajj Qasem is a separate operation, the Guards chief said.

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Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei stands before the coffin of senior Iranian commander Seyed Razi Mousavi, who Tehran says was killed in an Israeli airstrike in Syria. -/Iranian Supreme Leader's Office/dpa

Thousands of government supporters on Thursday flocked to the memorial service for senior Iranian commander Seyed Razi Mousavi, who Tehran says was killed in an Israeli airstrike in Syria.

Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei was among the many high-ranking politicians and officers attending the service at a Shiite shrine in Tehran, according to Iranian state media.

Mousavi, from Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC), was killed on Monday in a suspected Israeli airstrike on a suburb of the Syrian capital Damascus.

The leadership in Tehran has vowed to avenge his death.

According to the New York Times, Mousavi is said to have helped monitor weapons deliveries to Lebanon's Hezbollah militia, which is backed by Iran and has repeatedly launched attacks on northern Israel in support of Hamas since the beginning of the Gaza war.

Israel frequently attacks locations in war-torn Syria to prevent Iran from further expanding its military influence in the region via local militias.

Mousavi was a confidant of the powerful IRGC General Qasem Soleimani, who was killed by the US in a drone attack in Iraq in 2020.

Mousavi had decades of military experience in Syria and Lebanon. Although little was previously known about the general, he was considered one of the most influential officers of the Revolutionary Guard abroad.

Iran, alongside Russia, is the most important ally of Syrian ruler Bashar al-Assad. Tehran considers Syria to be part of the so-called "axis of resistance" in its fight against Israel, alongside Lebanese militant group Hezbollah.

According to Tehran, however, Iranian military personnel are not directly involved in the Syrian civil war and act only as advisers.
Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei stands before the coffin of senior Iranian commander Seyed Razi Mousavi, who Tehran says was killed in an Israeli airstrike in Syria. -/Iranian Supreme Leader's Office/dpa

Thousands of government supporters on Thursday flocked to the memorial service for senior Iranian commander Seyed Razi Mousavi, who Tehran says was killed in an Israeli airstrike in Syria.

Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei was among the many high-ranking politicians and officers attending the burial service at a Shiite shrine in Tehran, according to Iranian state media.

Mousavi, from Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC), was killed on Monday in a suspected Israeli airstrike on a suburb of the Syrian capital Damascus.

The leadership in Tehran has vowed to avenge his death.

IRGC commander-in-chief Hossein Salami repeated old threats against Israel during a speech at the service.

"Our revenge is always bitter. But a revenge equivalent to the martyrdom of Seyed Razi is nothing less than erasing this Zionist regime from the pages of history," the IRNA news agency quoted the Salami as saying.

Iran's leadership has repeatedly threatened to destroy Israel, its declared arch-enemy since the Islamic Revolution of 1979.

According to the New York Times, Mousavi is said to have helped monitor weapons deliveries to Lebanon's Hezbollah militia, which is backed by Iran and has repeatedly launched attacks on northern Israel in support of Hamas since the beginning of the Gaza war.

Israel frequently attacks locations in war-torn Syria to prevent Iran from further expanding its military influence in the region via local militias.

Mousavi was a confidant of the powerful IRGC General Qasem Soleimani, who was killed by the US in a drone attack in Iraq in 2020.

Mousavi had decades of military experience in Syria and Lebanon. Although little was previously known about the general, he was considered one of the most influential officers of the Revolutionary Guard abroad.

Iran, alongside Russia, is the most important ally of Syrian ruler Bashar al-Assad. Tehran considers Syria to be part of the so-called "axis of resistance" in its fight against Israel, alongside Lebanese militant group Hezbollah.

According to Tehran, however, Iranian military personnel are not directly involved in the Syrian civil war and act only as advisers.
(Reuters) -Iran's Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei led prayers on Thursday at the funeral of Sayyed Razi Mousavi, a senior Revolutionary Guards (IRGC) adviser killed in what Iran said was an Israeli air strike in Syria.

State television said Khamenei paid tribute "to this martyr's tireless struggle and called for his companionship with the guardians of God."

Mousavi was one of the most experienced and effective commanders of the resistance front, said Major General Hossein Salami, chief commander of the Revolutionary Guards Corps (IRGC).

"Our revenge for the martyrdom of Sayyed Razi will be nothing less than the removal of the Zionist regime," Salami said in a televised funeral speech, adding that he had defended the Muslim nation for almost 33 years.

"I am hopeful that soon, God permitting, the great and honorable Palestinian fighters will wipe out the geographical and political name of this evil and fake regime."

Mourners chanted "Death to America, Death to Israel.

Musavis body was flown from Syria to the holy Shi'ite city of Najaf in Iraq on Wednesday before being taken for burial in Tehran.

An Israeli military spokesperson declined specific comment about Mousavi's death on Monday, but said it took whatever action was necessary to defend the country.

Since the eruption of war between Israel and the Palestinian group Hamas on Oct. 7, Iran-backed groups have mounted operations against Israel, while others, including militias in Iraq, have threatened U.S. interests.

For years, Israel has carried out attacks against what it describes as Iran-linked targets in Syria, where Tehran's influence has grown since it backed President Bashar al-Assad in the civil war that erupted in 2011.

(Editing by Raju Gopalakrishnan and Clarence Fernandez)
Mourners attend the funeral of Razi Moussavi, a senior commander of Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, who was killed in a missile strike in Syria this week (ATTA KENARE)

Israeli forces heavily bombed the besieged Gaza Strip on Thursday as the centre of fierce combat moves steadily south where hundreds of thousands of displaced Palestinians are sheltering.

The war, which started with Hamas's October 7 attack on Israel, has devastated much of northern Gaza, and the bombardment and fighting has intensified especially in the southern city of Khan Yunis.

The Israeli army said it had deployed an additional brigade to Khan Yunis, hometown of Hamas's Gaza leader Yahya Sinwar, where AFP correspondents reported heavy and sustained air and artillery strikes.

The Palestinian Red Crescent society reported that shelling killed at least 10 people near the city's Al-Amal hospital, an area where it said about 14,000 people are sheltering.

Israel has vowed to destroy Hamas in retaliation for the October 7 attack, which left about 1,140 people dead, mostly civilians, according to an AFP tally based on Israeli figures.

Israel's relentless aerial bombardment and ground invasion have killed at least 21,320 people, mostly women and children, according to Hamas-run Gaza's health ministry.

UN World Health Organization chief Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus called for "urgent steps to alleviate the grave peril" facing Gaza's people, including "terrible injuries, acute hunger and... severe risk of disease".

The Israeli army says 167 of its soldiers have been killed inside Gaza in its fight against Hamas which Israel, the United States and European Union consider a "terrorist" group.

Ashraf al-Qudra, spokesman for the Hamas-run health ministry, on Thursday reported an additional 200 deaths, "including entire families", over the past 24 hours in strikes.

Hamas on October 7 also took 250 hostages, more than half of whom remain in captivity -- a source of intense anxiety for their families who protested in Jerusalem with the demand to "bring them home".

The woman thought to have been the oldest female hostage, US-Israeli Judith Weinstein Haggai, 70, was confirmed to have died in the initial attack, her kibbutz community Nir Oz said Thursday.

Nir Oz said Haggai was "murdered in the massacre", and that her body remains in Gaza.

More than 80 percent of the territory's 2.4 million people have been driven from their homes, the UN says, and many now live in cramped shelters or makeshift tents in the far south, around the city of Rafah near Egypt.

In the central al-Maghazi refugee camp, which was targeted on Sunday by a strike that killed at least 70 people, resident Waleed Mohammed Aeid voiced his pain and frustration.

"They told us to go to Rafah, but we don't want to," he said. "Why? To go live in the streets there?

"All the neighbourhood here was evacuated. They bombed the school, but we didn't leave because we don't have anywhere else to go."

- Quadruplets born in war -

An Israeli siege imposed after October 7, following years of crippling blockade, has deprived Gazans of food, water, fuel and medicine.

The severe shortages have been only sporadically eased by humanitarian aid convoys entering primarily via Egypt.

"We are tired of everything," said Ekhlas Shnenou who fled her Gaza City home. "Enough with the war, enough with the pain, enough with the hunger."

Israel said Thursday it had given preliminary approval to the Mediterranean island nation of Cyprus for a "maritime lifeline" to ship aid to Gaza, a plan in the works for more than a month.

"There's a basic authorisation to use this route, but there are still some logistical problems that are waiting to be solved," said Israeli foreign ministry spokesman Lior Haiat.

One of the many people displaced, 28-year-old Iman al-Masry, recently gave birth to quadruplets in a hospital in southern Gaza after fleeing her home in the devastated north.

The arduous journey "affected my pregnancy", she said, recounting that she gave birth by C-section on December 18 to two girls and two boys, one of whom was too fragile to leave hospital.

"They are very slim," she said, speaking in a schoolroom turned shelter in Deir al-Balah. "It's cold and windy and there's no bathtub... I just use wipes."

Violence has also flared across the Israel-occupied West Bank, with at least 314 Palestinians killed by Israeli forces or settlers since October 7, according to the territory's health ministry.

Israeli forces overnight raided money exchange shops across the West Bank which the military said had provided funds for armed groups.

In Ramallah, seat of the Palestinian Authority, one man was killed by the troops, according to the health ministry. An AFP journalist saw Palestinians hurl Molotov cocktails at the soldiers.

A UN report Thursday said the human rights situation in the West Bank was rapidly deteriorating and urged Israel to "end unlawful killings" against the Palestinian population.

UN rights chief Volker Turk decried especially "the use of military tactics and weapons" in law enforcement and "the use of unnecessary or disproportionate force".

- Mideast tensions flare -

The bloodiest ever Gaza war has sharply heightened tensions between Israel and its long-time arch foe Iran, which supports armed groups across the Middle East.

Iran blamed Israel for a missile strike in Syria on Monday that killed the senior Iranian military commander Razi Moussavi, whose mass funeral took place in Tehran on Thursday.

The crowd chanted "Death to Israel" and "Death to America" after supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei led a prayer over the body of Moussavi, a top commander of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps' foreign operations arms the Quds Force.

Tehran has vowed to avenge the death of the most senior Guards general killed since the US assassination of Quds Force chief Qasem Soleimani in 2020.

Israel has traded heavy cross-border fire with Iran-backed Hezbollah in Lebanon since the Gaza war erupted and warned it will step up military action unless Hezbollah militants withdraw further from the border.

Another Iran ally, Yemen's Huthi rebel group, has launched repeated drone and missile attacks at Israel, which have been intercepted. It has also targeted ships in the Red Sea, disrupting international trade.

bur-jd/fz/srm
Jewish men of the Ger Hasidic dynasty and part of the first-response tactical team of their community stand guard during a wedding event in Jerusalem - GETTY IMAGES

Israeli tanks have advanced into central Gaza after days of relentless bombardment that forced tens of thousands of already displaced Palestinian families to flee in a new exodus.

IDF forces were photographed near a mosque in a built-up area of Bureij, a refugee camp located in the central Gaza Strip.

The eastern part of Bureij saw heavy fighting on Thursday morning, with Israeli tanks pushing in from the north and east, residents said.

Meanwhile, Palestinians already driven out of the enclaves north took flight en masse again as Israeli forces mounted their advance and pounded the area.

Israel has escalated its ground war in Gaza sharply since just before Christmas despite public pleas from its closest ally the United States to scale the campaign down in the closing weeks of the year.

Follow the latest updates below

04:00 PM GMT

Today's life coverage has ended

Todays live coverage has ended. Here is a roundup of the days main events:

Israeli tanks have been pictured near a mosque in a built-up area of Bureij after apparently advancing from the towns eastern outskirts.

Israel shot down an unmanned aerial vehicle that had crossed into its territory from Lebanon, the military said.

Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah was informed of Hamas plans to attack on October 7 before the assault began, according to reports.

Fifty Palestinians were killed by Israeli strikes in Gazas Beit Lahia, Khan Younis and Maghazi areas, the Gaza health ministry said.

03:52 PM GMT

Body of US-Israeli woman held in Gaza

A US-Israeli woman seized in the October 7 Hamas attack was killed on the same day and her body remains in the Gaza Strip, her kibbutz community said on Thursday.

Judith Weinstein Haggai, 70, had been thought to be the oldest woman among the hostages still held in Gaza.

Her community of Nir Oz said that Haggai was murdered in the massacre, and that her body remains in the Palestinian territory.

Thursdays announcement by the kibbutz follows confirmation on December 23 that her husband, Gad Haggai, was also killed on October 7.

The bodies of both are still in the custody of Hamas, the community said, without elaborating.

The couple were among some 250 people taken hostage from Israeli border communities and military posts.

03:36 PM GMT

David Cameron meets with Lebanese prime minister

David Cameron met with the Lebanese prime minister on Thursday, warning against any escalation of the conflict in Gaza.

The Foreign Secretary held talks with Najib Mikati on Thursday as tensions increased between Israel and Lebanon amid the ground operation in Gaza.

Clashes along the Lebanon-Israel border between Hezbollah and Israel have continued to intensify, with daily exchanges of missiles, air strikes and shelling across the frontier.

They have fuelled concerns about the danger of the conflict sparking a wider conflict in the Middle East.

Lord Cameron, in a post on social media, said: An escalation of the conflict in Gaza to Lebanon, the Red Sea or across the wider region, would add to the extremely high level of danger and insecurity in the world.

The former prime minister has been engaged in extensive diplomacy in recent weeks since taking on the post.

Lord Cameron said he was grateful to the Lebanese prime minister for discussing these crucial issues with me today and for Lebanons efforts to prevent such escalation.

03:22 PM GMT

Israel gives preliminary approval to Cyprus for aid to Gaza by sea

Israel has given preliminary approval to Cyprus for a maritime humanitarian corridor to ship aid to the Gaza Strip, the Israeli foreign ministry said on Thursday.

The proposal has been in the works for more than a month and aims to deliver large quantities of aid to Palestinians in Gaza.

Foreign ministry spokesman Lior Haiat said that Israel had tentatively approved a system to allow international aid to be checked with Israeli supervision in Cyprus before being delivered direct to Gaza.

Theres a basic authorisation to use this route, but there are still some logistical problems that are waiting to be solved, Mr Haiat added.

03:02 PM GMT

501 Israeli soldiers have been killed in war against Hamas, IDF says

More than 500 Israeli soldiers have been killed fighting Hamas since October 7, including 167 since the ground offensive in Gaza began.

The Israel Defence Forces (IDF) said the number includes those killed during Hamass October 7 attacks, when 274 soldiers and 38 local security officers were killed in southern Israel.

Nine soldiers were killed on the border with Lebanon in attacks claimed by Hezbollah and Palestinian Islamic Jihad.

02:46 PM GMT

500,000 captured documents help Israel locate Hamas infrastructure, IDF says

The Israel Defence Forces says it has recovered more than 65 million digital files and half a million physical documents from the Gaza Strip, which have aided Israeli troops fighting Hamas.

Among the documents was a map, found in the home of an aide to the commander of Hamass Shejaiya battalion, with the location of a tunnel.

The location was mapped out by Israeli intelligence and soldiers quickly went there to destroy the shaft, the IDF said.

Another document detailed the location of a cache of explosives in the Beit Hanoun area, which were later destroyed by the Israeli military.

02:43 PM GMT

Israeli tanks advance deep into central Gaza town

Israeli tanks have been pictured near a mosque in a built-up area of Bureij after apparently advancing from the towns eastern outskirts.

The development comes after days of relentless bombardment that forced tens of thousands of already displaced Palestinian families to flee.

Israel said earlier this week that it would expand its ground offensive into central Gaza, and typically launches waves of airstrikes and shelling before troops and tanks move in.

Residents said that Israeli warplanes and artillery had pounded the Bureij and Nuseirat refugee camps, levelling buildings.

02:00 PM GMT

IDF regrets 'unintended harm' to civilians in air strike

The Israel Defense Forces has said that unintended harm to civilians occurred after air strikes in central Gaza on December 24.

Al-Maghazi refugee camp was targeted, with around 70 people killed, according to the Hamas-controlled Health Ministry.

During operations in the Gaza Strip against Hamas terrorist targets, IAF fighter jets struck two targets adjacent to which Hamas operatives were located on December 24, 2023, the IDF told CNN.

Before the strikes were carried out, steps were taken by the IDF to mitigate harm to uninvolved civilians in the area.

A preliminary investigation revealed that additional buildings located near the targets were also hit during the strikes, which likely caused unintended harm to additional uninvolved civilians.

The IDF added that the strikes would be investigated and that they regretted the harm caused to civilians.

01:47 PM GMT

Gaza death toll reached 21,320

The death toll inside of Gaza has reached 21,320 people, the Hamas-run Ministry of Health in Gaza.

A further 55,603 people have been wounded, according to spokesperson Ashraf al-Qudra.

He claimed that Israeli forces had targeted 104 ambulances and 142 health institutions inside of Gaza.

01:29 PM GMT

Egypt 'awaiting responses' on plan to end bloodshed in Gaza

Egypt confirmed on Thursday that it had put forward a framework proposal to end the bloodshed in Gaza including a three-stage plan for a ceasefire, the head of its state media body said.

Egypt is yet to get responses on the proposal from the parties involved, and will give details about the plan once those responses are received, said Diaa Rashwan, head of Egypts State Information Service.

12:54 PM GMT

Immigration to Israel falls

Immigration to Israel has almost halved since the October 7 attacks.

In October, just 1,163 people moved to Israel compared to 2,364 people in September, the Central Bureau of Statistics reports.

The total increased in November, rising to 1,534, but still remained much lower than earlier in the year.

Last year, October saw an increase in immigration, with 6,091 moving compared to 4,368 in October.

12:38 PM GMT

Israel intercepts drone from Lebanon, military says

Israel shot down an unmanned aerial vehicle that had crossed into its territory from Lebanon on Thursday, the military said. Air raid sirens had sounded in northern Israel and there were no immediate reports of casualties.

12:04 PM GMT

The Israel Defence Forces are 'the most moral army in the world', Netanyahu says

The Israel Defence Forces are the most moral army in the world, while Turkey is committing genocide, Benjamin Netanyahu said in an angry spat with Turkish President Tayyip Erdogan.

Mr Netanyahu accused Mr Erdogan of crimes against the Kurds and locking up a record number of journalists after the Turkish president said he was no different to Adolf Hitler.

Mr Netanyahu said Mr Erdogan was the last person who can preach morality to us.

He said: The IDF, which is the most moral army in the world, is fighting to eliminate the most abhorrent and brutal terrorist organization in the world, Hamas-ISIS, which has committed crimes against humanity, and which Erdogan has praised and whose leaders he hosts.

11:51 AM GMT

Gaza grappling with 'catastrophic hunger', UN says

The United Nations agency for Palestine has said that Gaza is grappling with catastrophic hunger.

Every day is a struggle for survival, finding food and finding water, Thomas White, director of UNRWA affairs in Gaza, wrote on X

"Every day is a struggle for survival, finding food and finding water" @TomWhiteGaza



#Gaza is grappling with catastrophic hunger. 40% of the population are now at risk of famine.



The reality is, we need more aid. The only remaining hope is a humanitarian #ceasefire https://t.co/8a5a4AjBt3  UNRWA (@UNRWA) December 28, 2023

UNRWA added that 40 percent of the population are now at risk of famine.

The reality is, we need more aid. The only remaining hope is a humanitarian ceasefire.

11:35 AM GMT

More than 3,000 Israeli service personnel injured

The number of Israeli service personnel injured since October 7 has reached around 3,000.

The toll includes more than 900 soldiers wounded since Israel launched its ground offensive in Gaza towards the end of October.

A further 160 soldiers have been killed since then.

11:20 AM GMT

Maersk to send almost all ships via Suez

Denmarks Maersk will sail almost all container vessels travelling between Asia and Europe through the Suez Canal from now on while diverting only a handful around Africa, a Reuters breakdown of the groups schedule showed on Thursday.

Major shipping companies, including container giants Maersk and Hapag-Lloyd, stopped using Red Sea routes and the Suez Canal earlier this month after Yemens Houthi militant group began targeting vessels, disrupting global trade.

Instead, they rerouted ships around Africa via the Cape of Good Hope to avoid attacks, charging customers extra fees and adding days or weeks to the time it takes to transport goods from Asia to Europe and to the east coast of North America.

But Maersk on Dec. 24 said it was preparing a return to the Red Sea, citing the deployment of a U.S.-led military operation to protect vessels, and on Wednesday released schedules showing ships were headed for Suez in the coming weeks.

11:03 AM GMT

Pictured: Israel continues offensive in Gaza

Troops have been photographed on the ground in the Gaza Strip amid continuing battles.

Israeli tanks rolling on the Gaza Strip - Israeli Army/AFP via Getty Images

Troops on the ground in the Gaza Strip - Israeli Army/AFP via Getty Images

10:45 AM GMT

UN force in Lebanon urges probe after peacekeeper wounded

The United Nations peacekeeping mission in Lebanon has called upon authorities to investigate an attack in the countrys south that had left one of the forces members wounded.

A peacekeeper was hurt after a patrol was attacked by a group of young men in Taybeh near the Israeli border late Wednesday, UNIFIL said in a statement, adding that a vehicle was also damaged.

We call on the Lebanese authorities to undertake a full and swift investigation, and for all perpetrators to be brought to justice, it said.

The UN force said such attacks... are not only condemnable, but they are violations of (UN Security Council) Resolution 1701 and Lebanese law.

10:28 AM GMT

Hezbollah 'notified' planned Hamas assault before October 7 attack

Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah was informed of Hamas plans to attack on October 7 before the assault began, according to reports.

Nasrallah allegedly knew that the terror organisation was due to invade Israel half an hour before its militants crossed the border, French newspaper Le Figaro has claimed.

According to Le Figaro, senior Hamas leader Saleh al-Arouri, who resides in Lebanon, was called by Hamas in the morning and informed of an imminent attack.

Hezbollah is a firm ally of Hamas.

10:14 AM GMT

Three more Israeli soldiers killed

Three more Israeli soldiers have been killed in the Gaza strip, bringing the death toll of those killed in the territory since October 7 to 167.

They were named as: Maj Dvir David Fima, 32, from Kfar Yonah; Capt (res) Neriya Zisk, 24, from Masuot Itzhak; and Sgt first class (res) Asaf Pinhas Tubul, 22, from Kiryat Motzkin.

09:57 AM GMT

Hamas funds seized from West Bank

Photographs of money allegedly used to finance Hamas have been shared by Israels national security minister.

Itamar Ben-Gvir said that the items were confiscated by Israel in overnight raids in the occupied West Bank.

         , , ,                    433, ", " ",  -  21   , ', ,  ,  pic.twitter.com/FQnxwF3AhK     (@itamarbengvir) December 28, 2023

Mr Ben-Gvir claimed that tens of millions of shekels, safes, documents, recording systems and telephones that were intended to finance Hamas terrorism were confiscated.

He added that 21 suspects, residents of Ramallah, Jenin, Hebron, Tulkarem, Atil and Albira were arrested.

09:45 AM GMT

UN report deplores 'rapid deterioration' of rights in West Bank

A United Nations report published on Thursday deplored what it said was a rapid deterioration of human rights in the Israeli-occupied West Bank and urged Israeli authorities to end violence against the Palestinian population there.

The report, published by the Office of the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR), said 300 Palestinians had been killed in the West Bank since October 7.

Most of the killings occurred during operations by Israeli security forces or confrontations with them.

The use of military tactics means and weapons in law enforcement contexts, the use of unnecessary or disproportionate force, and the enforcement of broad, arbitrary and discriminatory movement restrictions that affect Palestinians are extremely troubling, UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Volker Turk said.

I call on Israel to take immediate, clear and effective steps to put an end to settler violence against the Palestinian population, to investigate all incidents of violence by settlers and Israeli Security Forces, to ensure effective protection of Palestinian communities.

09:28 AM GMT

Israeli strikes kill 50 Palestinians in Gaza

Fifty Palestinians were killed by Israeli strikes in Gazas Beit Lahia, Khan Younis and Maghazi areas on Thursday, the Gaza health ministry said.

09:11 AM GMT

Dozens arrested in pro-Palestinian protests at two major US airports

Pro-Palestinian protesters blocked morning traffic on Wednesday around Los Angeles International Airport and New Yorks John F. Kennedy International Airport in coast-to-coast demonstrations that ended with dozens of arrests.

Thirty-six people were taken into custody at LAX, where demonstrators became unruly, the Los Angeles Police Department said.

Protesters threw a police officer to the ground, used construction debris, road signs, tree branches and blocks of concrete to obstruct a road leading into the airport while attacking uninvolved passersby in their vehicles, police said in a statement.

Most of those detained were booked on rioting charges and at least one was arrested for battery on a police officer, according to the statement.

Across the country, the Port Authority Police Department of New York said 26 people were arrested for disorderly conduct and impeding vehicular traffic during a protest along the Van Wyck Expressway inside JFK Airport in Queens.

08:59 AM GMT

Israel-Palestine in pictures

Here are the latest photos from the conflict.

An Israeli soldier plays his guitar in southern Israel on the border with the Gaza Strip - JACK GUEZ/AFP via Getty Images

Firefighters intervene fire broke out following Israeli attack on the house of the Al-Tavil family as Israeli attacks continue - Ashraf Amra/Anadolu via Getty Images

During raids by fighters from the 14th Brigade Combat Team, terrorists fired at our forces - Twitter

08:47 AM GMT

Australia checks Hezbollah claim of citizen killed in Israeli strike

Australia on Thursday confirmed two of its citizens were killed in an Israeli air strike in south Lebanon and said it was looking at Hezbollahs claims that one of the Australian citizens killed had links to the militant group.

We will continue to make inquiries about this particular person, with whom Hezbollah has claimed links, Acting Foreign Minister Mark Dreyfus said during a media briefing.

Hezbollah has claimed this Australian as one of its fighters. Our inquiries are continuing.

A Lebanese-Australian man, his wife, and his brother, who was a member of Hezbollah, were killed in the Israeli attack, Lebanese security and local sources told Reuters on Wednesday.

The strike late on Tuesday, part of a flare-up of border area hostilities between Israel and Hezbollah, hit a home in the town of Bint Jbeil where the militants enjoy widespread support.

08:38 AM GMT

Drone crashes in Israel-annexed Golan Heights

A drone crashed near a village in the Israel-annexed Golan Heights, Israels army said Thursday, after an Iraqi armed group with links to Hamas militants claimed responsibility for an attack in the area.

Israeli media reported that a drone probably carrying explosives launched from Syria was shot down late Wednesday evening south of the settlement of Eliad, causing no injuries but some material damage.

The Israeli army told AFP that the drone had crashed near Eliad, but gave no further details.

The Islamic Resistance in Iraq, a loose formation of pro-Iran armed groups, said in a statement it had hit a vital target south of Eliad with appropriate weaponry.

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Israeli forces pressed on with intensified attacks in the Gaza Strip's biggest southern city and a central refugee camp, after the territory's Hamas-run health ministry reported more than 21,000 people had been killed in 11 weeks of war.

The continued air strikes and the expansion of operations in the south came as the WHO warned on Wednesday that Gaza's population was in "grave peril", with France's president calling for a long-term ceasefire.

Israeli army spokesman Daniel Hagari said on Wednesday that strikes on a central refugee camp in Gaza had entered a third day, and that an additional brigade had been deployed to the southern city of Khan Yunis, the recent focus of heavy urban combat.

He also hinted at a possible "expansion of fighting in the north" along the Lebanese border, which has seen repeated exchanges of fire between Israeli troops and Hezbollah militants since the war in Gaza broke out.

Following a visit to the border earlier in the day, army chief Herzi Halevi said the military had "approved plans for a variety of contingencies, and we need to be prepared to strike if required".

Israel has repeatedly vowed to keep up its campaign to destroy Hamas in retaliation for its bloody October 7 attack, which left about 1,140 people dead, most of them civilians, according to an AFP tally based on Israeli figures.

Palestinian militants also took around 250 hostages, 129 of whom remain in captivity, Israel says.

Israel's relentless bombardment and ground invasion have killed at least 21,110 people, mostly women and children, according to the latest toll from Gaza's Hamas-run health ministry.

The army announced the deaths of three more soldiers on Thursday morning, bring the total killed in Gaza to 167.

- 'Lasting ceasefire' -

Calls for an end to the hostilities continued to mount on Wednesday, with French President Emmanuel Macron emphasising in a call with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu "the need to work towards a lasting ceasefire".

He also expressed his "deepest concern at the very heavy civilian toll" in Gaza, his office said in a statement, adding that France would be working with Jordan to carry out humanitarian operations in the territory "in the coming days".

Since Israel imposed a siege at the outset of the war, Gazans have faced severe shortages of food, water, fuel and medicine.

WHO chief Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus echoed calls for a ceasefire on Wednesday.

He pressed the international community to take "urgent steps to alleviate the grave peril facing the population of Gaza and jeopardising the ability of humanitarian workers to help people with terrible injuries, acute hunger, and at severe risk of disease".

In the same statement, the WHO said its staff had reported that "hungry people again stopped our convoys today in the hope of finding food".

- 'No safe zones' -

An estimated 1.9 million Gazans have been displaced, the UN says.

One of them, Iman al-Masry, recently gave birth to quadruplets in a hospital in southern Gaza after fleeing her familys home in the territory's devastated north early in the war.

The journey "affected my pregnancy", the 28-year-old said on Wednesday, and she gave birth by C-section on December 18 to two girls and two boys.

She was quickly asked to leave the hospital to make room for other patients, but had to leave behind one son who was too fragile to go with them.

"They are very slim," she said of the infants from a cramped schoolroom turned shelter in Deir al-Balah.

"Because of the lack of... baby formula, I try to breastfeed them, but there's no nutritious food I can eat to breastfeed the three babies," she added.

Not far away, at the Al-Maghazi refugee camp, a UN-run school doubling as a shelter was hit by shelling in the night.

"They tell you there are green zones and other zones with other colours. All those are rumours, there are no safe zones in Gaza," one man told AFP on Wednesday, without giving his name.

- 'Direct action' -

The war has raised fears of a broader regional conflict, with the deadly cross-border exchanges between Israel and Hezbollah, as well as recent attacks on shipping by Huthi rebels in Yemen acting in solidarity with Hamas. All three militant groups are backed by Iran.

Israel wants Hezbollah  which says it is acting in support of Hamas  to withdraw further away from the border, and has threatened to achieve that goal by overwhelming force, if necessary.

Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps warned Israel on Wednesday that it or its allies would take "direct action" to avenge the killing of senior commander Razi Moussavi, who died Monday in a missile strike in Syria blamed on Israel, the local Mehr news agency reported.

Meanwhile, a drone crashed near a village in the Israel-annexed Golan Heights, the Israeli army said Thursday, with an Iraqi faction close to Hamas claiming responsibility for an attack in the area.

Violence has also flared across the occupied West Bank, with more than 310 Palestinians killed by Israeli troops or settlers since October 7, the health ministry there said.

An Israeli operation in a refugee camp in the northern West Bank killed six people Wednesday, the ministry said. The army said it had struck the Nur Shams camp from the air.

The army's operations continued overnight into Thursday, notably in Jenin and Ramallah, according to the official news agency Wafa.

bur-gl-smw/kma
A new highway aimed at easing congestion on Interstate 35 is now open in Hays County. Hays County

The final section of a loop aimed at easing traffic congestion on Interstate 35 in San Marcos is now open.

FM 110 North, a 6.5-mile stretch of highway stretching from U.S. 80 to I-35 at Yarrington Road, made its debut last week, Hays County officials said.

The $39.14 million project is the third piece of an 11.25-mile east-side bypass circumventing San Marcos and the logjam of I-35. The bypass starts at McCarty Lane, near the San Marcos outlet malls, and ends at Yarrington Road, near the city limits of Kyle.

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The route includes 10-foot shoulders, an interchange at Texas 21 and an overpass over the Union Pacific Railroad tracks that run through the heart of San Marcos.

It provides a safe alternative for drivers who are passing through San Marcos on their way to Texas 130, Interstate 10, or local destinations such as the outlet malls and San Marcos Municipal Airport, according to Binkley & Barfield, Inc. the Houston-based engineering firm that worked on the projects construction.

The Hays County website says the new stretch of FM 110 North, which is currently one lane in each direction, is likely to be expanded in the coming years.

As traffic increases over time, two additional travel lanes and additional interchanges would be constructed, according to the website.
A Palestinian family sits on the pavement with children, seeking refuge from Israeli attacks on Gaza, establish makeshift tents in vacant areas to ensure their safety in Rafah. Photo by Ismael Mohamad/UPI

Dec. 28 (UPI) -- The Palestinian Ministry of Health said Thursday that hundreds more people have been killed amid Israel's war with Hamas as Israeli officials warned of the possibility of expanding the fight against Hezbollah in Lebanon.

In its latest update, the Palestinian Health Ministry said that 210 people had been killed in the past 24 hours bringing the total death toll 21,320 since the start of the war following an Oct. 7 attack against Israel.

It added that 360 people were also injured in the past day, bringing the total of people hurt in the war to 55,603.

The Ministry of Health in Gaza also urged the United Nations to "take effective and urgent steps to ensure the protection of the Nasser Medical Complex and hospitals in southern Gaza, protecting medical staff, the wounded, the sick, and thousands of displaced people."

"The humanitarian and health conditions of the displaced have reached catastrophic levels beyond description, and more than 1.9 million displaced people lack water, food and medicine," the ministry said.

Palestinian families living in some neighborhoods in Khan Younis move to the southern city of Rafah. Photo by Ismael Mohamad/UPI

UNICEF also called on Thursday for all parties in the war to abide by international human rights law to protect children and declared the killing and maiming of children to be unacceptable.

"83 children have been killed in the past 12 weeks -- more than double the number of children killed in all of 2022, amid increased military and law enforcement operations," UNICEF said Thursday in a statement. "More than 576 have been injured and others have reportedly been detained."

An installation of the baby Jesus laying in ruins, symbolizing children killed in Gaza, is seen in the Evangelical Lutheran Christmas Church in the biblical town of Bethlehem, West Bank, on Monday. UNICEF said Thursday that 83 children, a record number, have been killed in West Bank violence this year as it called on all parties in the war to abide by international human rights law to protect children. Photo by Debbie Hill/ UPI

UNICEF said the number of children killed in the West Bank, including East Jerusalem, is reaching unprecedented levels, marking the deadliest year on record.

Children in the West Bank, UNICEF said, have been experiencing "grinding violence" for many years, yet the violence has dramatically increased there "since the horrific attacks of Oct. 7."

As the Palestinian Health Ministry in Gaza reported Thursday the war death toll has reached 21,320, senior Israeli war cabinet member Benny Gantz threatened military action to take out Hezbollah in southern Lebanon unless the Lebanese government and the international community take action to stop the militant group launching attacks into northern Israel. File photo by IDF/UPI

"Grave violations against children, in particular killing and maiming, are unacceptable. UNICEF urges all parties to abide by their obligations under international human rights law and to protect children from conflict-related violence and protect their most basic right simply to be alive," UNICEF said.

Meanwhile, a senior member of Israel's war cabinet threatened military action to take out Hezbollah in southern Lebanon unless the Lebanese government and the international community take action to stop the militant group launching attacks into northern Israel.

Lebanon's Hezbollah and Israel exchanged fire days after Israel began its war with Hamas and Benny Gantz said Thursday that "the situation on Israel's northern border demands change." File Photo by IDF/ UPI

The prospect of an escalation of Israel's war on Hamas with the opening up of a second front against the Iran-backed militants was raised by Benny Gantz at a news conference Wednesday.

The deteriorating security situation on Israel's northern border after months of rocket fire by Hezbollah units meant the opportunity for a peaceful way out was fast evaporating, said Gantz.

"The situation on Israel's northern border demands change," the former Israel Defense Forces chief of staff and former defense minister said.

"The stopwatch for a diplomatic solution is running out. If the world and the Lebanese government don't act in order to prevent the firing on Israel's northern residents and to distance Hezbollah from the border, the IDF will do it."

Gantz elaborated by saying that the coming phases of the war would be "deep, forceful, and surprising" with the military campaign continuing to widen to "more foci or fronts" as necessary.

As the Gaza war intensifies, the IDF is signaling it is also poised to act against Hezbollah when the order comes with its most senior commander saying on a visit to northern command headquarters in Safed on Wednesday that forces there were "at a very high level of readiness."

"Today we approved a variety of plans for the future, and we need to be ready for an offensive, if necessary," said Chief of Staff Lt. Gen. Herzi Halevi, speaking about the situation on Israel's northern border with Lebanon.

However, he stressed that safely returning the tens of thousands of residents of communities near the border with Lebanon who have been evacuated since Oct. 7 took priority, an objective that would take time.

"So far, the campaign here has been managed correctly and meticulously, and this is how it should continue. We will not return the residents without security and a sense of security," Halevi said.

Regional tensions, which have been steadily on the rise as the Israel-Hamas war has drawn in Hezbollah and Houthi rebels in Yemen, also Iran-backed, were further heightened by a Christmas Day Israeli airstrike on Damascus that killed Sardar Seyed Razi Mousavi, a high-ranking member of Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps.
Israeli government minister Benny Gantz, one of three men who make up the country's emergency war cabinet, is threatening to intensify Israeli military action at the Israel-Lebanon border, where Hezbollah militants have been firing at northern Israel.

"I want to say to the world: The situation on the northern border requires a change," Gantz said at a press conference late Wednesday, adding that residents of border communities who have been evacuated due to the fighting there need to be returned to their homes.

"The hourglass for a political settlement is running out. If the world and Lebanon's government will not work to stop the shooting at Israel and to distance Hezbollah from the border, the IDF (Israel Defense Forces) will do so," Gantz said.

IDF spokesperson Daniel Hagari said Israeli forces had "high readiness" for an expansion of fighting in the north but that "the first task is to return the residents home with a sense of security, and this will take time."

This photo taken from a position along the border in northern Israel on Dec. 27, 2023 shows smoke billowing in the southern Lebanese village of Marwahin following Israeli bombardment amid ongoing cross-border tensions. / Credit: JALAA MAREY/AFP via Getty Images

Israel's foreign minister, Eli Cohen, toured Israel's northern border on Wednesday and said Hezbollah must respect the 2006 cease-fire that calls on the group to withdraw from the border area or Hezbollah's leader Hassan Nasrallah "must understand that he's next," The Associated Press reports.

"We will operate to make the most of the diplomatic option," Cohen said. "If it doesn't work, all options are on the table."

The Iran-backed militant group Hezbollah has been firing rockets and artillery and sending drones over the Lebanese border with Israel in support of Hamas on a regular basis since the war began on October 7.

Israel has also been firing into Lebanon, killing over 150 people there, mainly Hezbollah militants, according to the AFP news agency. At least 20 deaths have been civilians, and three of them have been journalists, AFP reports.

On the Israeli side of the Lebanon border, at least nine soldiers and four civilians have been killed in hostilities, according to AFP.

Meanwhile, Israeli forces bombed locations across Gaza overnight, killing dozens of people. Over 21,000 people have been killed so far in the hostilities there, according to the Hamas-run authority there, and 85% of the population has been displaced.

Palestinians fleeing the expanded Israeli operations in central Gaza have filled up shelters near the border with Egypt, and the United Nations humanitarian office says the intense fighting in the enclave is impeding its ability to deliver aid.

The U.N. says the World Food Program managed to reach about a half million people with food parcels between December 23 and 26, but UNRWA, the agency that operates within the Gaza Strip, said Thursday that 40% of the people there are now at risk of famine.

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Semafor Signals

Insights from LOrient-Le Jour, Foreign Affairs, and Al Jazeera

NEWS

Israel will attack more targets in Lebanon if the Lebanese government does not stop Hezbollah militants from launching rockets, an Israeli minister said on Wednesday. There have been constant exchanges of fire between Israeli forces and Hezbollah across the Israel-Lebanon border since Hamas Oct. 7 attack.

Benny Gantz, a war cabinet member and Israels former defense minister, told reporters that the stopwatch for a diplomatic solution is running out, and that Israeli forces were prepared to intervene in Lebanon to remove Hezbollah from the border. Gantzs warning came after what was reportedly the single biggest day of Hezbollah rocket launches since Oct. 7.

SIGNALS

Semafor Signals: Global insights on today's biggest stories.

Tit-for-tat escalation reaches boiling point

Sources: The Wall Street Journal, The New York Times

While most experts believe neither Israel nor Hezbollah wants an all-out conflict, daily strikes have killed more than 100 Hezbollah fighters and nine Israeli soldiers and ratcheted up tensions. U.S. officials fear that both sides attempts to take advantage of the others perceived reluctance to go to war could spark a wider conflict, the New York Times reported. We are a mistake away from escalation, an Israeli military official told the Wall Street Journal.

Hezbollah is more dangerous than Hamas

Sources: Foreign Policy, LOrient-Le Jour, Al Jazeera

Hezbollah is a far more formidable foe for Israel than Hamas, counterterrorism expert Daniel Byman wrote in Foreign Policy. Potentially the worlds most skilled militant group, Hezbollah possesses a missile arsenal that far outstrips Hamas stockpiles. The group has the ability to penetrate Israels Iron Dome air defenses, and is well-versed in urban warfare after years of fighting in Syria. While Hezbollah could inflict a terrible cost on Israel, it is still outmatched by the Israeli military, Randa Slimat of the Middle East Institute told Al Jazeera.

Hezbollahs delicate balancing act in Gaza

Sources: The Jamestown Foundations Terrorism Monitor, Foreign Affairs, Chatham House

Hezbollahs response to the war in Gaza has been one of relative restraint so far, firing missiles at the Golan Heights in a show of solidarity but seeking to avoid the larger conflict its supporters would have desired, an analyst wrote. The Oct. 7 attack came at a precarious time for the militant group, as Lebanon is in the midst of a dire economic crisis and the political establishment has grown resentful of Hezbollah, a counterterrorism expert wrote in Foreign Affairs. But the closer Israel gets to destroying Hamas, the more likely it becomes that Hezbollah will want to escalate the conflict in a bid to save its ally, Chatham Houses Bilal Y. Saab warned.
RAMALLAH (Reuters) - Israeli forces raided foreign exchange and money transfer agencies in Ramallah and other cities in the occupied West Bank on Thursday, seizing millions of dollars suspected of being intended to fund the Islamist group Hamas, the military said.

At least one person was killed and 14 others were wounded in a clash between Israeli troops and Palestinians in the centre of Ramallah, the main city in the West Bank and the seat of the Palestinian Authority, the Palestinian health ministry said.

An Israeli military statement said police, army and Shin Bet security personnel carried out the raids across the West Bank, making 21 arrests in Ramallah as well as Tulkarm and Jenin, in the northern West Bank and Hebron in the south.

"During the operation, terrorist funds were found and tens of millions of shekels, safes, documents, recording systems and telephones were confiscated," it said.

As well as financial service providers, the operation also targeted cryptographic currencies, with a special cyber crimes unit taking part in the investigation, the military said.

Clashes also broke out in several other locations. The Israeli military said its soldiers opened fire after explosives, petrol bombs and rocks were thrown at them.

In Jenin, an Israeli aircraft fired on militants who had attacked troops, it said.

Israeli security forces have stepped up raids across the West Bank since the Oct. 7 attack by Hamas in southern Israel and the subsequent Israeli offensive now raging in the Gaza Strip.

Hamas, which seized power in the Gaza Strip in 2007, and other militant groups such as Islamic Jihad have steadily increased their reach in the West Bank, where they have growing popular support and millions of dollars in funding from Iran, according to Israeli officials.

Prior to Oct. 7, Hamas militants had carried out a series of attacks on Israelis around West Bank settlements and Israeli forces had been carrying out raids on an almost daily basis but the level of intensity has picked up sharply in recent weeks.

Attacks by Jewish settlers on Palestinians have also increased, drawing concern from the United States and other Western countries.

According to the United Nations office for Human Rights (OHCHR) at least 4,785 Palestinians have been arrested since Oct. 7, with at least 291 killed in clashes with Israeli forces in the West Bank and East Jerusalem.

An OHCHR report published on Thursday said there had been a "rapid deterioration" of human rights in West Bank. Most of the killings occurred during operations by Israeli security forces or confrontations with them, it said.

OHCHR said it had also recorded mass arbitrary detentions, unlawful detentions, and cases of reported torture and other forms of ill-treatment of Palestinian detainees.

A spokesperson for the Israeli Prime Minister's Office dismissed the report as "ridiculous" and "outrageous". She said Israel faced a major security threat in the West Bank and it would continue to arrest people to protect itself.

The West Bank had already been experiencing the highest levels of unrest in decades during the 18 months preceding the Oct. 7 attack on Israel by Hamas.

U.S.-brokered peace talks aimed at establishing a Palestinian state in the West Bank, the Gaza Strip and East Jerusalem broke down almost a decade ago. Prospects of their revival had already been dim before the war in Gaza.

(Reporting by Ali Sawafta and Maayan Lubell in Jerusalem; writing by James Mackenzie; Editing by Angus MacSwan)
The border between Lebanon and Israel has seen escalating exchanges of fire mainly between Israeli forces and Hezbollah since the Israel-Hamas war began on October 7 (jalaa marey)

An Israeli strike in south Lebanon killed a Hezbollah fighter, the group said Wednesday, as state media reported two of his relatives were also killed and the Iran-backed movement launched rockets in retaliation.

The border between Lebanon and Israel has seen escalating exchanges of fire, mainly between the Israeli army and Hamas ally Hezbollah, since the Israel-Hamas war began on October 7, raising fears of a broader conflagration.

"Enemy warplanes raided, before midnight (2200 GMT), a house... in the centre of the town of Bint Jbeil," around two kilometres (a little over a mile) from the border, killing a man, his brother and his wife, Lebanon's National News Agency (NNA) said.

The NNA identified the dead as Ali Bazzi, his brother Ibrahim and his wife Shourouk Hammoud, and said another family member was wounded.

Hezbollah later announced that Ali Bazzi was one of its fighters.

A relative told AFP that Ibrahim Bazzi was an Australian citizen who had flown in for a visit about a week earlier.

The Australian government said two Australian citizens had been killed in the airstrike, without identifying them by name.

Australia's attorney general, Mark Dreyfus, urged Australians to leave Lebanon while commercial flights were still operating.

At the funeral procession in Bint Jbeil on Wednesday, an AFP photographer saw three coffins draped in Hezbollah flags.

Hassan Fadlallah, a lawmaker from the Iran-backed group, told the ceremony that "no crime against civilians will pass without the enemy paying the price".

Hezbollah later Wednesday said it launched a barrage of 30 Katyusha rockets towards Kiryat Shmona in northern Israel "in response to the enemy's repeated crimes and its targeting of civilian houses in Bint Jbeil".

Since the cross-border hostilities began, more than 150 people have been killed on the Lebanese side, most of them Hezbollah combatants but also more than 20 civilians, three of them journalists, according to an AFP tally.

On the Israeli side, at least four civilians and nine soldiers have been killed, according to figures from the military.

- 'Suicide drones' -

Exchanges of fire have been largely confined to the border area, although Israel has conducted limited strikes deeper into Lebanese territory.

Hezbollah said Wednesday it carried out a series of other attacks on Israeli troops and positions, including one on the contested Shebaa Farms involving "suicide drones", missiles and artillery.

The Israeli military said in a statement that "a number of launches were identified crossing from Lebanon toward various areas in northern Israel", adding that the army struck the sources of fire and "additional areas in Lebanon".

It also said "fighter jets" struck "terrorist infrastructure, as well as Hezbollah military sites".

Lebanon's NNA reported Israeli strikes in various areas along the southern border.

On Tuesday, Israel's military said an anti-tank missile fired by the Shiite Muslim group wounded nine soldiers as they went to assist a civilian wounded in an earlier strike.

Israel has been pushing for Hezbollah to withdraw north of the Litani River, which lies about 30 kilometres (20 miles) north of the border.

UN Security Council Resolution 1701, which ended a 2006 war between Israel and Hezbollah, called for the removal of armed personnel south of the Litani, except for UN peacekeepers and the Lebanese army and state security forces.

Prime Minister Najib Mikati said last week that Lebanon was ready to implement international resolutions that would help end Hezbollah's cross-border attacks if Israel also complies and withdraws from disputed territory.

burs/lg/djw/sft/mca
By Nidal al-Mughrabi and Arafat Barbakh

CAIRO/GAZA (Reuters) - Tens of thousands of fleeing Palestinians sought shelter on Friday as Israeli tanks pushed through the central Gaza Strip, with more than 180 people reported killed in 24 hours of airstrikes and artillery barrages on the shattered enclave.

Israeli warplanes attacking the south of Gaza flattened homes and buried families as they slept, residents said.

The assaults in central and southern Gaza propelled a new exodus of people already driven from other areas in what Israeli Defence Minister Yoav Gallant called an essential stage of Israel's mission to destroy its foe Hamas.

Twelve weeks after Hamas militants stormed Israeli towns, killing 1,200 people and seizing 240 hostages, Israeli forces have laid much of the Gaza Strip to waste.

Nearly all of its 2.3 million people have fled their homes at least once and many are now on the move again, often reduced to taking shelter in makeshift tents or huddled under tarpaulins and plastic sheets on open ground.

Gaza health authorities said 187 more Palestinians were confirmed killed in Israeli strikes in the last 24 hours, raising the toll to 21,507 - about 1% of Gaza's population. Thousands more bodies are feared to be buried in the ruins of obliterated neighbourhoods.

In Rafah in the south, Reuters journalists at the scene of one airstrike that destroyed a building saw the head of a buried toddler sticking out of the rubble.

The child screamed as a rescue worker shielded his head with a hand, while another swung a sledgehammer at a chisel, trying to break up a slab of concrete to free him.

Neighbour Sanad Abu Tabet said the two-storey house had been crowded with displaced people. After morning broke, relatives went to collect the dead wrapped up in white shrouds. A man peeled away the cloth to stroke the face of a dead child.

Tens of thousands of Gazans are fleeing the crowded central districts of Bureij, Maghazi and Nusseirat, ordered out by Israeli forces whose tanks advanced from the north and east.

Most have made their way south or west to the already overwhelmed city of Deir al-Balah.

"We suffered a lot. We had the whole night without shelter, under rain and it was cold, we were with our kids and elderly women," said Um Hamdi, a woman cooking porridge over an open woodfire surrounded by children.

Nearby, Abdel Nasser Awadallah stood inside a wooden frame set up to be wrapped in plastic to make a tent, and spoke of the family he had lost.

"I buried my children - a child 16 years old, another one aged 18. Something I really can't believe, I buried my children at 6 a.m. while their bodies were still warm. Also my nephew, he was 2 years old, I buried him. I buried my wife," he said.

"I never thought in my life that I will bury my children, I thought they would bury me."

NO SIGN OF SCALING DOWN ISRAELI ASSAULT

Israel says it is doing what it can to avoid civilian casualties, but the high death toll has caused concern even amongst its staunchest allies.

The U.S. has called for it to scale down the war in coming weeks and move to targeted operations against Hamas leaders. So far Israel shows no sign of doing so.

Footage filmed by a Palestinian Red Crescent volunteer in Maghazi showed dead and wounded being carried from ruined buildings.

In the south, Israeli forces have been pounding Khan Younis in preparation for an anticipated further advance into the main southern city, swathes of which they captured in early December.

Defence Minister Gallant said troops were reaching Hamas command centres and arms depots.

"Our operations are essential to achieving the goals of the war," he said.

The Israeli military also said it had destroyed a tunnel complex in the basement of one of the houses of the Hamas leader for Gaza, Yahya Sinwar, in Gaza City.

The shaft led to a network designed for lengthy stays and combat command and was fitted with electricity, an elevator, prayer rooms, bathrooms and air conditioning, it said. It made no mention of Sinwar's possible whereabouts.

AID TRICKLE

Gaza is almost entirely reliant on food, fuel and medical supplies from the outside, and Israel has shut off all access apart from at the southern edge.

International bodies say supplies being let in through Israeli inspections are a small fraction of the enclave's vast needs.

Last week Israel bowed to international pressure to open a second crossing it said would double the number of supply trucks daily to 200, but just 76 were able to enter on Thursday, according to the United Nations, compared to 500 in peacetime.

An Israeli government spokesman said on Friday it does not limit humanitarian aid and the problem was with its distribution inside Gaza.

The United Nations Relief and Works Agency (UNRWA), which distributes aid, rejected allegations it was responsible for hold-ups in deliveries and said the operation was riddled with logistical hurdles.

Bombardments and ground fighting had hampered distribution as well as hold-ups at Israeli checkpoints, it said. A breakdown of law and order also made it hard to secure the convoys, while people were helping themselves to supplies at warehouses.

Separately, UNRWA said Israeli soldiers fired at an aid convoy as it returned from northern Gaza along a route designated by the Israeli army. No one was injured, it said.

(Reporting by Nidal al-Mughrabi in Cairo, Arafat Barbakh in Gaza; Writing by Peter Graff and Angus MacSwan; Editing by Jan Harvey and Howard Goller)
Savanah Soto, 18, was expecting her first child when she disappeared shortly before Christmas. Courtesy Gloria Cordova Savanah Soto, 18, with her boyfriend, Matthew Guerra, 22. Courtesy

This story was updated with new information on Friday afternoon, Dec. 29, 2023.

San Antonio police have listed the killings of Savanah Soto and Matthew Guerra as a capital murder case.

Soto, 18, was expecting her first child when she disappeared last Friday. On Christmas Day, police issued a statewide missing-persons alert. On Tuesday, Soto and Guerra, 22, were found in his car, parked at an apartment complex on San Antonios Northwest Side. Both had been shot dead.

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Here is how capital murder is defined in Texas and how it might apply to this case.

What is capital murder?

Its the most serious crime on the books in Texas and the only one punishable by death.

Under Title 5, Chapter 19, of the Texas Penal Code, its murder to intentionally or knowingly cause the death of another person.

It becomes capital murder  punishable by execution or life imprisonment without parole  if certain aggravating factors are present. The list is lengthy.

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Killing an on-duty police officer or firefighter is capital murder.

If a prisoner kills a prison guard, thats capital murder.

TIMELINE: What we know about the disappearance and deaths of Savanah Soto and Matthew Guerra

Killing someone in the course of committing or attempting to commit a felony, including kidnapping, burglary, robbery or aggravated assault, is capital murder.

Killing someone for pay  also known as a contract killing or murder for hire  qualifies as capital murder, for both the murderer and the person who paid to make it happen.

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A murder committed while escaping or trying to escape from prison is capital murder.

So is killing a judge, if its a retaliatory act.

The bodies of Soto and Guerra were discovered Tuesday afternoon outside an apartment complex on San Antonio's Northwest Side. Jacob Beltran

How does this apply to the Soto-Guerra case?

Police have not identified a motive or a suspect in the killings. Nor have they released any but the barest details about their investigation. So it remains to be seen who killed Soto and Guerra, why and in what circumstances.

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That said, two aggravating factors could come into play if a suspect (or suspects) are ever arrested and charged.

The penal codes definition of capital murder includes murder of more than one person.

Its also a capital offense to murder a child under age 10. Thats significant because Soto was pregnant at the time of her death, and police have listed the unborn child as one of three victims, the other two being Soto and Guerra.

What determines whether a murderer gets the death penalty?

Even if a defendant is "death penalty-eligible" because the crime fits the legal definition of capital murder, the person won't necessarily face the ultimate punishment.

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It's up to prosecutors to decide whether to pursue the death penalty at trial. In the Bexar County District Attorney's Office, a capital crimes committee of senior prosecutors weighs the circumstances of capital murder cases. The wishes of the victims family are considered. Then the committee votes. DA Joe Gonzales, who established the committee after taking office in 2019, has the final say.

The DAs office has prosecuted more than 100 death penalty-eligible defendants during Gonzales' tenure and has formally pursued the death penalty only twice. In one of those cases, the defendant ended up pleading guilty in return for life in prison without parole. In the other, a jury sentenced the defendant to death, and the sentence is on appeal, a process that takes years.

Gonzales said in an interview that he believes the death penalty is justified only in the worst of the worst cases. As an example, he cited the May 2022 school shooting in Uvalde in which 19 children and two teachers were killed. The 18-year-old gunman was shot dead by members of a Border Patrol tactical unit.

Gonzales noted that under changes in Texas law over the past decade, defendants over age 18 who are convicted of capital murder must serve life in prison without parole if they are not sentenced to death. Theyll take their last breath in prison, he said. That gives the victims family a sense of closure and spares them having to endure years of appeals if the defendant is sentenced to death, the DA said.

Another consideration: In Texas and across the country, juries have grown more reluctant to put someone to death as opposed to sending them to life in prison, Gonzales said.

What goes into a jury's decision on the death penalty?

If a jury convicts a defendant of capital murder in a case where the prosecution is seeking the death penalty, jurors then must decide two special issues  whether the defendant represents a continuing threat to society and whether there are mitigating circumstances that warrant a life prison term instead.

A person can be sentenced to death only if the jury answers yes to the first question and no to the second.
By Emily Rose

JERUSALEM (Reuters) - Israeli troops killed three Israeli hostages in Gaza on Dec. 15 when it mistook their cries for help as a ruse by Hamas militants to draw them into an ambush, the military said on Thursday, concluding that the soldiers acted rightly to the best of their understanding.

On Dec. 15, the military immediately took responsibility for killing the three hostages, who were abducted by militants during Hamas' Oct. 7 attack on towns in southern Israel. They were among 240 people taken hostage by the Palestinian group.

The Israel military published its findings on Thursday and concluded "that there was no malice in the event, and the soldiers carried out the right action to the best of their understanding of the event at that moment."

The statement said that army chief General Herzi Halevi had "emphasized the utmost importance of adhering to standard operating procedures."

"In a situation where there is no immediate threat and the identification is not a clear enemy, there is a need for a moment of examination before firing, given the opportunity," he said.

The killing of the three hostages when they approached Israeli troops in the Shejaiya area of Gaza City, shook Israelis.

The investigation found that, during intense days of fighting, there was no intelligence indicating the hostages were being held in buildings where troops encountered heavy fire.

The military said footage showed the hostages had removed their shirts and that one of them was waving a white flag but they were only identified as hostages after their bodies had been examined.

The hostages' cries for help were also misinterpreted as deception by militants attempting to draw troops into an ambush.

"The IDF failed in its mission to rescue the hostages in this event," Halevi said. "The entire chain of command feels responsible for this difficult event, regrets this outcome, and shares in the grief of the families of the three hostages."

Pressure has been mounting on the Israeli government to broker a deal to release the more than 100 hostages who remain in Gaza following the release of 110 others during a week-long truce in November.

During the truce, Hamas released more than 100 women, children and foreigners it was holding in Gaza in exchange for the release of Palestinian women and teenagers being held in Israeli jails.

(Reporting by Emily Rose; editing by Grant McCool and Howard Goller)
Ukrainian drone footage revealed another Russian execution of Ukrainian prisoners of war (POWs) near Robotyne in western Zaporizhzhia Oblast, the Institute for the Study of War reported in their daily assessment on Dec. 27.

The video, published on Dec. 27, reportedly shows Russian soldiers shooting three Ukrainian servicemen whom Russian forces captured east of Robotyne. Later in the footage, one Russian soldier shoots an already dead Ukrainian serviceman again at close range. Ukraine's Prosecutor Generals Office stated this incident occurred on an unspecified date in December 2023. The Office has launched an investigation into the killings.

This is not the first time Ukrainian officials have come across evidence of Russian servicemen torturing or executing Ukrainian POWs in violation of the Geneva Conventions.

The ISW also reported that Russian forces have advanced in western Zaporizhzhia and retaken positions that Ukraine captured during the summer 2023 counteroffensive, likely after Ukrainian forces withdrew to more defensible positions for the winter near Robotyne,

Geolocated footage suggests that Russian forces recently advanced east of Robotyne. Additionally, a Ukrainian military official stated in an interview with BBC published on Dec. 27, that Russia wants to retake Avdiivka but intends to capture all of Donetsk and Luhansk oblasts and recapture parts of Zaporizhia Oblast lost during the Ukrainian counteroffensive.

The ISW assessed that that the current positional war in Ukraine is "not a stable stalemate because the current balance can be tipped in either direction by decisions made in the West or Russia, and limited Russian gains could become significant especially if the West cuts off military aid to Ukraine."

Finally, the report emphasizes that Russia is not interested in good faith negotiations with Ukraine despite reports that Western officials are becoming more receptive to the idea of a negotiated end to the war.

An unnamed White House official and a European diplomat told Politico on Dec. 27 that the Biden administration and European officials are beginning to shift focus from supporting total victory over Russia to improving Ukraines position in eventual negotiations with Russia to end the war. These negotiations could force Ukraine to cede territory to Russia.

Read also: Ombudsman confirms Russia used Ukrainian POWs as human shields

Weve been working hard to bring you independent, locally-sourced news from Ukraine. Consider supporting the Kyiv Independent.
I've gone on six trips to Iceland and have found some tried-and-true stops and some I'd skip.

Definitely stop for food and drinks in downtown Reykjavik and explore the Katla ice cave.

I wouldn't hike to the plane wreck in Solheimasandur again.

Iceland is a wonderful place to visit with its glaciers, endless outdoor adventures, natural hot springs, and otherworldly scenery.

I love the Land of Fire and Ice so much that I've traveled there six times and plan to return again and again.

Like most destinations, though, Iceland has spots that are overrated and overrun by tourists, making them not really worth the time and effort.

With countless road trips all over Iceland under my belt, these are the top spots that are always worth checking out, and a few that, in my experience, are better off left out of your itinerary.

Definitely eat and drink your way through downtown Reykjavik.

Iceland's capital city might be small, but it has a big food and beverage scene. Lauren Breedlove

I love how walkable the downtown Reykjavik area is, making it a fun place to bar hop or do a culinary tour  especially with the food halls that have opened up.

Hlemmur Matholl is my favorite food hall right in the city center. It has an energetic vibe and options like Neapolitan wood-fired pizzas, banh mi, tacos, and Icelandic lamb, to name a few.

I also enjoy heading to the up-and-coming Grandi neighborhood to visit Grandi Matholl , which has a wide array of international dishes.

Kvernufoss is one of my favorite waterfalls in Iceland.

There are many waterfalls in the area, but Kvernufoss just has something extra enchanting about it. Lauren Breedlove

Many people head to the spectacular Skogafoss waterfall while in Iceland. But it's super close to Kvernufoss, a beautiful waterfall with fewer crowds.

Kvernufoss is tucked in a lush nook, accessed by a quick and easy hike that should only take a few minutes.

I've found Kvernufoss tends to be far less crowded than Skogafoss. During some visits, I've had Kvernufoss all to myself.

I recommend checking out the Katla ice cave.

I'm not sure why it took until my sixth trip to Iceland to explore an ice cave, but now I'm hooked. Lauren Breedlove

The first time I explored an ice cave, I boarded a Super Jeep with Southcoast Adventure for a bumpy ride into The Highlands.

After arriving at the edge of the Kotlujokull glacier, an offshoot of the larger Myrdalsjokull glacier, we began our short trek equipped with crampons (traction devices used during ice climbing) and helmets.

The ice cave was beautiful, with caverns, waterfalls, and tunnels. We accessed it from the edge of a giant glacial crater with a circular formation ideal for photos.

The entire Westfjords region is worth exploring.

Many of the hot springs in Iceland have incredible views. Lauren Breedlove

When I picture the Westfjords region of Iceland, I think of winding through remote fjords, soaking in oceanside hot springs, wandering empty beaches, and eating some of the best fish and chips I've ever had.

I loved stopping at Hellulaug, a seaside natural hot spring right off the highway. The Krosslaug hot spring also has stunning mountain and ocean views.

I also recommend grabbing fish and chips at Vegamot Bildudal , a family-run grocery store with a restaurant in the back.

If you're limited on time, just explore the southern portion of the region, which takes you along Route 60 and 62.

The whale watching in Husavik is unreal.

I can confirm that Husavik is a fantastic spot for whale watching. Lauren Breedlove

The northern town of Husavik is known as the whale-watching capital of Iceland.

On my first trip there, I went out on a Gentle Giants Whale Watching rib boat, which allowed me to get closer to the water.

It was a thrilling adventure. I saw tons of whales and even witnessed a whale soar dramatically out of the water.

It's worth visiting the Highlands Hot Spring in Landmannalaugar, even if it's crowded.

I've always been able to find somewhere private in Highlands Hot Spring. Lauren Breedlove

I've visited the hot springs of Landmannalaugar in the Fjallabak Nature Reserve twice.

I enjoyed soaking in the natural geothermal waters surrounded by Iceland's ruggedly beautiful interior. The property is large enough that I could always find my own space, even as more people arrived.

It's not always easy to drive there, so I recommend taking a Super Jeep tour to the area.

Definitely check out the Hrunalaug hot spring.

Hrunalaug hot spring is surrounded by beautiful views. Lauren Breedlove

Hrunalaug Hot Spring has been getting popular, but it's still one of my favorite spots.

The family-run hot spring is located on a farm in southwest Iceland and has soaking pools in an absolutely idyllic setting.

I suggest going there when the weather is unpleasant if you're seeking solitude.

On the other hand, the plane wreck on Solheimasandur Beach isn't worth trekking to.

We watched a lot of people pose with the plane wreck. Lauren Breedlove

The Solheimasandur Beach plane wreck has gotten social-media hype, but hiking about 5 miles through sand to see an aircraft that went down in 1973 wasn't worth it for me.

When I visited the famous attraction at sunset, it was a circus filled with tourists conducting elaborate photo shoots, getting in the way of anyone else wanting to snap a few pictures.

People were climbing on top of the plane, and there was even a woman in a bridal gown posing for a photographer for over an hour.

It was disappointing, and then we still had to hike about 5 miles in the sand to leave.

Skip Diamond Beach and Jokulsarlon Glacial Lagoon unless you go at specific times to avoid crowds.

Jokulsarlon Glacial Lagoon got pretty crowded when I went. Lauren Breedlove

South Iceland's Jokulsarlon Glacial Lagoon and Diamond Beach are among the most famous natural attractions in Iceland.

I've been twice and these spots have been almost unbearably crowded, with people taking selfies almost everywhere.

To try to avoid crowds, try to go at sunrise or the midnight sun's "sunset" hours.

But if you go midday, grab fish and chips at Nailed It Fish & Chips in the main parking lot  the highlight of my overcrowded visit.

Reynisfjara Beach near Vik gets super crowded, too.

Reynisfjara Beach has some epic rock formations. Lauren Breedlove

The rock formations and iconic basalt columns on South Iceland's Reynisfjara Beach draw quite the crowd.

The black-sand beach is stunning, but unless you visit during off hours, you'll be dealing with another very busy spot.

A good alternative is to drive up to the top of the Dyrholaey Peninsula, just 15 minutes from the beach.

You get sprawling, 360-degree views of Reynisfjara Beach and its rock formations  plus a historic lighthouse  with fewer crowds.

Read the original article on Business Insider
Ivorian chef Charlie Koffi (C) shops for ingredients for his gouagouassou sauce (Sia KAMBOU)

In the kitchen of his Abidjan restaurant, Ivory Coast chef Charlie Koffi prepares his country's staggering tropical bounty with the techniques of fine French cuisine. And he's far from alone.

A growing number of his fellow chefs in the West African nation are retouching local specialities with cooking skills picked up elsewhere.

One of Koffi's signature dishes is an adaptation of gouagouassou sauce, a local specialty.

In his version, a rabbit is stewed with African eggplants, spicy oil, powdered akpi seeds and local fefe pepper.

"It is one of the dishes I really loved as a child," Koffi told AFP. "As a chef, it was almost an obligation to come back to it."

Koffi was trained in France before opening his Abidjan restaurant, Villa Alfira, in 2017 to showcase his country's cuisine.

In the well-lit main dining room overlooking a pond where fish on the menu swim, Eric Guei tucked into a gouagouassou casserole.

"I find taste and audacity in this dish," the happy customer said. "It mixes Western know-how with local flavours."

Guei enjoyed the copious but beautifully presented meal with his friend Yasmine Doumbia. "Gouagouassou is a very traditional Ivory Coast dish, and to see it in a restaurant like this is a real pleasure," she said.

Villa Alfira is a change from the "maquis", typical animated local eateries where braised chickens and fish are eaten by hand, along with traditional sauces, manioc polenta, and fried plantains.

- Grilled okra and cassava chips -

A few kilometres away, a chef at the upscale restaurant La Maison Palmier is working on her new creation: a taster dish inspired by placali, a typical Ivorian dish made with sticky gumbo sauce, bits of meat and dried fish, accompanied by fermented manioc paste.

Hermence Kadio, who trained locally, has her own much lighter take on the classic. She grilled the gumbo (okra), while the cassava is puffed up and turned into chips.

Every week the restaurant's French head chef Matthieu Gasnier offers amuse-bouche -- small bite-sized appetisers -- like these to "re-awaken the memories of people who grew up with these dishes".

About half his clientele is Ivorian, he said.

"Even if our restaurant's cuisine is intended to be international since we are in a five-star hotel, I think it would be wrong not to take advantage of all these beautiful products that surround us," he said.

Grains such as fonio and sorghum grow in the Ivory Coast's hot dry northern savannas, said Koffi, while the forested south produces local varieties of spinach and typical tropical products such as bananas and yams.

- Healthier and tastier -

N'Cho Yapi, who founded the group Chefs: Creators of Emotions, said Ivorian cooks began going back to their culinary roots just after the turn of the century.

Before that, chefs at fancy restaurants "had the habit of offering Western dishes with imported products," he said. "But the cost of living kept going up," so they turned to less-expensive products "they had just under their noses".

And local specialties are appearing more and more on the menus of the luxury restaurants that have mushroomed across Abidjan in recent years, Yapi added.

Valerie Rollainth, an Ivorian chef trained in France at the famous Institut Paul Bocuse, insisted that typically hearty Ivorian cuisine is no longer suited to the capital's increasingly sedentary lifestyle.

"There are too few vegetables, a shocking quantity of oil, and the dishes are cooked too long" and lose their nutrients, she said.

At the nutritional workshops she organises she urges people to eat local products in new ways, such as raw okra, which "is very good against diabetes".

"Some diseases are linked to eating habits," she said. "In the Ivory Coast, not everyone has access to health care, but everyone has access to healthy food."

bam/pid/gv/fg/ach
The removal of the Tribute to the Women of the Southern Confederacy monument Wednesday marked the end of Jacksonvilles last major public-facing monument to the Confederacy.

>>> STREAM ACTION NEWS JAX LIVE <<<

But other monuments and memorials still remain around the city.

[DOWNLOAD: Free Action News Jax app for alerts as news breaks]

The surprise removal of the Confederate monument in Springfield Immediately spurred some to question what monuments may be next on the list.

The Duval GOP highlighted social media posts calling for the removal of the Andrew Jackson statue downtown on Thursday.

The radical left wont stop until they tear down every historic marker in Jacksonville, read the post.

Mayor Donna Deegan dismissed the idea the latest removal would lead to those types of drastic changes during our interview with her Wednesday.

Related Story: This was the big one: Mayor removes Jacksonvilles last prominent Confederate monument

People will always press something to the point of the ridiculous I think to make a point, said Deegan.

However, there are some actual Confederate monuments still remaining in Jacksonville.

Some of the most notable include the Camp Finegan Memorial, which was erected at the Thomas Jefferson Civic Club in 2015.

The private property is suspected to be on the former grounds of the camp.

Then theres the Yellow Bluff Fort monument.

Built in 1950, the plaque dedicates the memorial to the Confederate soldiers who fought for Florida in the Civil War.

That monument is on state property however.

Related Story: Jacksonville, Florida, mayor has Confederate monument removed after years of controversy

The only monument we could find that is technically on city property is the Confederate Grave Memorial Grandstand in the Old City Cemetery, but even city leaders who were staunch supporters of removing the monument in Springfield Park like Councilmember Matt Carlucci (R-Group 4 At-Large) said they arent interested in touching that one.

Ive always taken the view just keeping my hands off that. You know, I dont want to mess around in a cemetery amongst the dead, said Carlucci.

There are other nods to the Confederacy around town including things like street names.

Deegan said she doesnt have any formal plans to go beyond Wednesdays removal, but is open to hearing from the community on those issues.

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I think this is the one weve been vastly focused on. If council or the community wants to look at other things Im happy to do that, but this is really where our full focus has been, said Deegan.

Click here to download the free Action News Jax news and weather apps, click here to download the Action News Jax Now app for your smart TV and click here to stream Action News Jax live.
Assistant District Attorney Oscar Salinas, left, speaks with Michael Gross, attorney for Daniel Garcia, before a hearing Wednesday. Garcia is charged with murder and Nickolle Aguilar is charged with injury to a child by omission. Authorities say they transported the body of Aguilar's 5-year-old son and dumped it in Colorado. Salgu Wissmath/San Antonio Express-News

A judge has postponed the trial of San Antonio woman accused with her boyfriend of transporting the lifeless body of her 5-year-old son and abandoning it in a ravine in Colorado.

Nickolle Cristina Aguilar and Daniel Garcia are facing separate charges in connection with the death of Domenic Patrick Aguilar, whose body was found near Rocky Mountain National Park after the pair allegedly fled to Costa Rica.

Garcia, who has been charged with murder, is scheduled for trial on May 3. Aguilar is facing a charge of injury to a child by omission and her trial was scheduled to start Feb. 16.

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But during a pre-trial hearing to discuss evidence, state District Judge Velia Meza rescheduled Aguilars trial for March 22.

Only Garcia was in court for the hearing, though Aguilar was in a holding cell next to the courtroom.

One of the prosecutors, Assistant District Attorney Oscar Salinas, handed defense lawyers lists of police reports and other evidence that will be available for the attorneys to look over. Garcias lawyers, Michael Gross and Brigitte Garza, didnt raise many issues with the list. Aguilars attorney, Charles Bunk, said he thought it should be longer.

For the evidence (we think) they have, theyre only listing 40 documents. We know thered be more than 40 documents, Bunk told the judge.

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State District Judge Velia J. Meza, center, speaks with (from left) defense lawyers Michael Gross, Charles Bunk, and Brigitte Garza and prosecutor Oscar Salinas during a pre-trial hearing Wednesday for Daniel Garcia, charged with murder, and Nickolle Aguilar, charged with injury to a child by omission. Authorities say they transported the body of Aguilar's 5-year-old son and dumped it in Colorado. Salgu Wissmath/San Antonio Express-News

Meza noted that the FBI has its own evidence management system, and Salinas told her that San Antonio police and his office are working with the federal agents to obtain that portion of the evidence.

Salinas also told the judge that the prosecution expects to call expert witnesses, and the defense lawyers, Bunk in particular, expressed concern about the sufficiency of time before a Feb. 16 trial to know more about those witnesses and to challenge their qualifications.

After some back and forth, Meza rescheduled Aguilars trial.

Law officers began investigating the case after the childs grandmother, Sirle Maria Acevedo Cevallos, called the FBI and San Antonio police in 2021 to report she believed the child had died at a northeast San Antonio hotel around July 25, 2021.

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According to court documents, Acevedo, in an interview with FBI agents in Costa Rica, said that she tracked her daughter down in the Central American country and was told by Aguilar that Domenic had suffered an unexplainable death.

Instead of reporting the boys death to authorities in San Antonio, Aguilar and Garcia drove to Colorado the next morning to a campground, hid Domenics body nearby and continued on to Mexico and eventually to Costa Rica, according to an arrest warrant affidavit.

Aguilar confirmed her mothers story and said she and Garcia did not seek medical help for her child after he became ill, according to the affidavit.

Investigators obtained surveillance video from an extended stay hotel on Interstate 35 North in San Antonio, that showed Garcia carrying what appeared to be a childs body out of a room and down a stairway, the affidavit stated.

Garcia and Aguilar were arrested in Florida in August 2021.
Editor's note: The Asbury Park Press is celebrating 31 days of kindness this month, highlighting New Jersey people and organizations that have inspired us throughout 2023.

AnnaMae Eells has been living with cerebral palsy for seven years.

And as she's grown up, her family has adapted to her needs, but lifting her in and out of a car has grown more challenging.

"Carrying her is getting harder and harder, said dad Ed Eels.

On Christmas Eve, a South Jersey car dealership and the nonprofit Wigs & Wishes drove a new handicap-accessible van to the Eells' home in Gloucester City. It was a gift the family wasn't expecting.

"It is so life changing," mom Mary Ann Eells told CBS News Philadelphia.

AnnaMae is an Elvis fan and even dresses up like him sometimes. An Elvis impersonator showed up for the van surprise as well. It was that kind of day.

We always try to help everybody else, and this is just overwhelming for me," said dad Ed Eeells.

More kindness: Do you know about Lasagna Love? Here's how kindness has spread around the globe:

This article originally appeared on Asbury Park Press: Wigs and Wishes and car dealer provided handicap accessible van in NJ
Tens of thousands of US Jews live in West Bank settlements.

The October 7 Hamas terrorist attacks on Israel have sparked backlash in the West Bank.

Settler violence has been dubbed an "American problem."

"I'm living the American dream in Israel," Judith Segaloff told Business Insider.

Segaloff is a US-born settler living in the West Bank, a territory that Israel occupied after the Six-Day War in 1967. She was born into a Jewish family in New Jersey. She was brought up with Zionist values but did not visit Israel until she was in her 40s.

She said she finally felt she'd come home when she stepped off the plane on her first trip to Israel.

"This is where my protoplasm belongs," she said. "It's where I come from."

She and her family now live in Karnei Shomron, an Israeli West Bank settlement established in 1977. An Israeli flag is draped over the entryway of their house.

"We're in the suburbs," Segaloff said, "and it feels like a bedroom community."

She said her neighborhood was reminiscent of Westchester, New York, which she once called home.

"Like Westchester, we have a big house much bigger than we would have anywhere else in the country," she said. "We have a lot of land, a big backyard, and there's people that speak English all over."

A new life in the West Bank does not mean Segaloff has shed her roots.

"I embrace my American background," she said. "I embrace my Americanism. But at the same time, I'm Israeli all the way."

Israeli settlers hold a protest march from Tapuach Junction to the Israeli settler outpost of Evyatar, in the Israeli-occupied West Bank, April 10, 2023. NIR ELIAS/Reuters

US-born settlers are "overrepresented" in the West Bank, Sara Yael Hirschhorn, a historian and a political analyst working as a visiting professor at Israel's University of Haifa, said.

She told BI there's a higher proportion of residents with American roots in the West Bank settlements than in Israel proper  about 15% versus 1%.

While Segaloff presents the life of an American-born Jewish settler as idyllic, beyond the perimeter of Karnei Shomron  "a beautiful town in Western Samaria," the town's public-relations blurb says  a nightmare has been unfolding for some Palestinian residents of the West Bank.

The October 7 Hamas terrorist attacks on southern Israel have sparked a backlash in the West Bank. Violence against Palestinian communities by extremist Jewish settlers has surged, who committed more than 343 violent attacks and killed eight Palestinian civilians, prompting a rare international reaction.

Recently, Antony Blinken, the US secretary of state, announced that the Biden administration would impose visa bans on extremist Jewish settlers complicit in violence against Palestinians in the West Bank. The UK government has followed with a similar measure.

Settler violence has been dubbed an "American problem," considering the significant number of US-born people living in Israeli settlements.

The totemic moment of the "American problem" was the Cave of the Patriarchs massacre that killed 29 Palestinians in 1994 in the West Bank city of Hebron, perpetrated by Baruch Goldstein, a Jewish doctor and settler extremist from Brooklyn, New York.

In an op-ed for The New York Times decrying "Israeli terrorists, born in the USA," Hirschhorn noted that in the aftermath of the Hebron massacre former Israeli President Chaim Herzog called the US "a breeding ground" for Jewish terror.

Accusations of settler violence are met with counterclaims of frequent attacks by Palestinians on Jews living beyond the Green Line (the pre-1967 Israeli border), including rocks thrown regularly at cars, ramming attacks, and drive-by shootings.

'Manifest destiny'

According to 2015 research by Hirschhorn for Oxford University, an estimated 60,000 American Jews lived in West Bank settlements.

Hirschhorn said that these figures didn't count suburban neighborhoods of Jerusalem over the Green Line and the number could be much higher.

An aerial view shows the Jewish settlement of Maale Adumim in the Israeli-occupied West Bank, June 25, 2023. REUTERS/Ilan Rosenberg

The attraction to the West Bank is partly associational, Hirschhorn told BI. Once Americans have relatives, friends, or former coworkers who have made aliyah to the West Bank, it seems a logical place for them to settle, too.

Segaloff's decision to move to Karnei Shomron was not just due to the quality of life the settlement could offer her but also because she wanted to live near her cousins who were already established there.

Hirschhorn, who wrote "City on a Hilltop: American Jews and the Israeli Settler Movement," said that US settlers brought ideas of pioneering and building utopian communities to the West Bank, in line with the "manifest destiny" ideology.

Manifest destiny was the 19th-century belief that the US was destined to take over the world and was used to justify the near-eradication of Native American society.

Segaloff said she and her husband described their fellow settlers as "plucky," akin to the American settlers who were "pushing out to Oregon and the West when Native Americans were attacking them."

The Jewish settlements are evocative of American expansionism, Hirschhorn said, with "Americanized" characteristics: The West Bank communities have familiar bagel shops, huge supermarkets, and all the amenities you would hope to find in an American suburb.

"They have all the kinds of creature comforts that you can imagine people might want, in America as much as in Israel," Hirschhorn said.

"You could get a lot for your money out here," Segaloff said. "It's like raising your kids in a small town, and it's a wonderful feeling."

Living in a bubble

Dror Sadot, a spokesperson for B'Tselem, a Jerusalem nonprofit addressing human-rights violations in the Israeli-occupied Palestinian territories, told BI that all settlements in the territories were illegal under international law but that Israeli law distinguished between legal and illegal settlements.

Sadot said settlers were exploiting Israel's war against Hamas in Gaza to complete their goal of dominating the West Bank, which the Jewish settlers refer to as Judea and Samaria, biblical descriptions.

Abdelazim Wadi holds up a poster commemorating his brother, Ibrahim Wadi, and his nephew, Ahmed Wadi, who were killed by Israeli settlers during a funeral procession on Oct. 12, in the rural Palestinian village of Qusra, West Bank. AP/Mahmoud Illean

Since Hamas attacked Israel on October 7, settler violence against Palestinians in the West Bank has soared, according to B'Tselem. Israeli forces and settlers have also been forcing Palestinians out of their West Bank homes, reported the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs.

Segaloff said that despite the increased violence in the West Bank, her family's suburbanlike utopia was intact.

"We haven't had any sirens here, thank God," she said. "We're living in, like, a bubble."

Naomi Kahn, a Jewish woman and the director of the International Division at Regavim  a pro-settler think tank and lobbying group  works on the legality of the settlements under Israeli jurisdiction.

Kahn was born, raised, and educated in the US. She studied at New York University and moved to Israel in 1984. She said she made aliyah because "this is where we belong, as the only place we've ever belonged and the only place that's belonged to us.

"So that's why I'm here," she added. "I want to be part of Jewish history and not a bystander watching it misreported in American media."

Kahn told BI that Regavim had "dialogue with anyone who will have dialogue with us." She added: "In general, the Palestinians in the region, in Area C, do not have dialogue with us. They have their own agenda, which is anathema to Israel's national interest."

Area C covers 60% of the West Bank and comprises 125 settlements, with about 325,500 settlers, according to B'Tselem. The area has about 180,000 to 300,000 Palestinian inhabitants.

Kahn disagreed with the term "settlements," saying: "There were never preexisting Arab settlements or communities of any kind on the land on which any of the Jewish communities of Judea and Samaria are built."

Nearly 1,000 Palestinians have been displaced from their homes in the West Bank amid intensified settler violence and increased movement restrictions since October 7, a November assessment from the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs said.

D'vora Brand, originally from Brooklyn, is a real-estate agent in the West Bank. She told BI that she had never sold a house that was forcibly taken from Palestinians.

Segaloff said of her home: "No Palestinian has ever lived in this house."

'This is the biblical heartland of Israel'

Sharon Rosenbluth, whose father was a Holocaust survivor, was born in a small Illinois town before relocating to Maryland.

"From the time I can remember, Israel was always the forefront," she said. Her parents were "extremely Zionistic," she added.

During her childhood, she and her family spent a year in Israel while her father taught at a university. They lived there during the 1973 Yom Kippur War, in which an Arab coalition led by Egypt and Syria attacked Israel.

"I was 5 years old," she said. "I remember going to school being escorted by soldiers."

Rosenbluth is a fellow resident of Segaloff's in Karnei Shomron. The community's website says the settlement includes "a 'North American' neighborhood, Neve Aliza," one of the largest concentrations of North American immigrants in Israel.

"We're not settlers because it's not possible," Rosenbluth said. "It's our own land. So we call ourselves citizens of the State of Israel because we firmly believe that this is the biblical heartland of Israel and that it belongs to us."

'Trump got us'

Women wave American and Israeli flags from a car window as they join a convoy to the U.S. Embassy in Jerusalem to show support for U.S. President Donald Trump, ahead of the upcoming U.S. election, in Jerusalem October 27, 2020. REUTERS/Ammar Awad

Hirschhorn said the West Bank settlements were "often considered to be a right-wing project" and recalled how the Trump campaign set up an ad hoc office in Karnei Shomron before the 2016 election.

President Donald Trump recognized Jerusalem as Israel's capital and ordered the US Embassy to relocate there, in a move that validated American Israelis in the region.

"Trump got us," Segaloff told BI's Joshua Zitser last year. "He understood us in a way that no other president ever did. He understands the Middle East mentality, the trading mentality, the negotiating mentality."

The settlers reject the idea that land can be traded for peace with the Palestinians.

"This is not an occupation," Kahn said. "And what we're up against is not something that can be solved by territorial compromise."

"I'll stay here no matter what," Segaloff said. "Pushing for a two-state solution is ridiculous because we can't live with people who want us dead."

Read the original article on Business Insider
Touro University, one of the largest private Jewish universities in the U.S., recently opened a free, walk-in mental health clinic on its Times Square campus in New York City.

One of the clinic's goals is to assist students who may have anxiety about growing antisemitism in the city, according to the university.

Dr. Jeffrey Lichtman, the clinic's head, as well as a current student, told Fox News Digital about the importance of protecting students mental health  particularly during times of conflict and persecution.

FAR-LEFT HATRED OF JEWS TODAY ECHOES THE SOCIALISM AND ANTISEMITISM OF HITLER IN THE 1930S

With over 20,000 students across many different campuses, Touro has always prioritized mental health services, Lichtman said during a Zoom interview.

"Research has shown that since the pandemic, the levels of reported anxiety and depression have not gone down  they have either remained the same or even increased," said Lichtman, the director of student mental health services at the university.

READ ON THE FOX NEWS APP

Touro University students are pictured at a pro-Israel protest on campus. "There is lots of anxiety, general feelings of unease and a sort of pervasive sadness," said the head of the mental health clinic.

In many cases, students will seek help for anxiety related to academics, relationships, illness or career uncertainty. Yet in recent months, there have been heightened concerns surrounding the waves of antisemitism that have been reported throughout the city.

CHILDREN HELD HOSTAGE BY TERROR GROUP: BRING THEM HOME NOW SAYS IT WON'T REST UNTIL ALL ARE SAFELY RETURNED

While the university hasnt experienced blatant acts of antisemitism, Lichtman said there have been "minor, low-level incidents."

"There is lots of anxiety, general feelings of unease and a sort of pervasive sadness," he said.

"You put on the news and there's very little other than who was killed today, or what violence is going on in different parts of the world or in your own city," he went on.

Touro University, one of the largest private Jewish universities in the U.S., recently opened a free, walk-in mental health clinic on its Times Square campus in New York City. "There is lots of anxiety, general feelings of unease and a sort of pervasive sadness," said a university official.

"But people's individual lives go on, with a kind of heaviness. And so we try to provide some perspective and balance to help them."

The bulk of the universitys mental health service offerings have been individualized counseling, but some students prefer the "relative anonymity" of a group session or may crave the feeling of belonging.

"You know, it's a lonely world out there, in the age of social media," Lichtman pointed out. "You can have 1,000 friends and still have no meaningful friendships or relationships. And so being part of a group can begin to address that in some small way."

The clinic also offers workshops on managing anxiety and practicing mindfulness.

The goal of the new drop-in center is to provide one more option for students who need impromptu support without having to make an appointment.

"Maybe theyre on campus and they had a tough day, and they just want to peek in and see whos there," said Lichtman. "Were trying to support students in ways that will speak to them."

Dr. Jeffrey Lichtman is the head of the new mental health drop-in clinic. "Were trying to support students in ways that will speak to them," he said.

For some students, the drop-in center has served as a stepping stone to getting longer-term care .

"Its a first step  we get them in the door and then many want to continue with individual counseling," said Lichtman. "The primary goal is to get them to engage in a more ongoing and committed sort of way."

WOMAN VANDALIZES ISRAELI HOSTAGE POSTERS RIGHT IN FRONT OF CAPTIVES' FAMILY MEMBERS IN NEW YORK CITY

Yakira Colish, a political science honors student at Touros Lander College for Women, told Fox News Digital that she appreciates the extra mental health services the university offers  especially in the wake of the Oct. 7 attacks on Israel.

"Its been more difficult in our college, especially the one that I'm in, which is entirely Jewish and orthodox, with really strong ties to Israel," she said.

Two students at Touro University are shown in a classroom. "Its been more difficult in our college, especially the one that I'm in, which is entirely Jewish and orthodox, with really strong ties to Israel," a student told Fox News Digital.

"Weve all been following the news, and that has contributed to heightened levels of anxiety, checking in to make sure your relatives are alive, which is a real concern."

She added, "There is a general feeling among a lot of Jewish students  not just in Touro  that America may be just as dangerous as Israel ."

The mental health resources are especially vital in New York City, Colish noted, which she described as having "a bit of antisemitic undertones."

DEPRESSION AND ANXIETY RATES HIGHER AMONG COLLEGE STUDENTS THAN THEIR PEERS, NEW STUDY SUGGESTS

"There have been threats to Jewish schools and synagogues ," she said. "And when I walk around my dorm, there are posters of kidnapped children ripped down. I feel like anything can happen at any moment."

While the students at Touro have been relatively "sheltered" from antisemitism, according to Colish, she is concerned about what will happen when they move on to graduate schools or law schools.

The bulk of the universitys mental health services has been individualized counseling, but some students prefer group sessions.

"I think a lot of us are keeping up with the news of what's been going on at top universities  and we can't escape the fact that there's antisemitism," she said.

Colish, who is pursuing a career in diplomacy, recently applied to Harvard Divinity for a masters in theology.

"In my circles, theres a lot more hesitancy now when people hear I'm going," she said. "There's a real fear for my safety."

On the other hand, Colish said she doesnt believe avoiding those places is the answer.

"I don't believe the solution is to like vacate spaces of pro-Israel voices," she told Fox News Digital. "I think that could be more dangerous. But I think there's a very weird irony to the world right now."

Yakira Colish, a political science honors student at Touros Lander College for Women in New York City, told Fox News Digital that she appreciates the extra mental health services the university offers  especially after the Oct. 7 attacks on Israel.

Some of the students have also experienced feelings of guilt, Lichtman and Colish agreed.

"These are 20-year-olds who are applying to grad school, trying to move on with their lives or just having a good time with their friends, while they have family in Israel," said Lichtman.

"Some of them have disclosed to us feelings of guilt, saying, How can I hang out with my friends when my cousin or my brother is in the Israeli army?"

Not all anxiety is necessarily bad, Lichtman pointed out.

"A low amount of anxiety is actually very normal and even healthy  but when it becomes so intense and pervasive that it gets in the way of day-to-day functioning, thats when it becomes problematic," he said.

AMERICAN COLLEGES ROCKED BY NUMEROUS ANTISEMITIC INCIDENTS IN 2023: 'THE FACE OF VIOLENCE AND HATE'

Its important for students to recognize when they need help, the doctor said.

"We live in a culture of rugged individualism, where the message is that we should be able to handle it ourselves, but thats not true  everybody needs help," he said.

Talking about the anxiety is a simple yet highly effective strategy, said Lichtman  something he calls "naming the monster."

Yakira Colish, a student at Touro, told Fox News Digital that she has seen posters of kidnapped Israelis ripped down near her dorm.

"Talking about the source of anxiety literally helps to bring it down," he said. "For one, it might be food, for another it might be religion . Naming the monster helps to tame the monster."

Acknowledging and expressing gratitude is an important tool for combating anxiety , Lichtman said.

"For all the challenges that we may have, we also have blessings," he said. "Sometimes it's family, sometimes it's friends, sometimes other things."

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For many of Touros students, they may be the first in their families to go to college, for example, or the first to live in the United States.

"With all of the challenges that may exist in the U.S., it is still an amazing, wonderful country ," Lichtman pointed out.

"I think it's important to reflect on those blessings, as they give us perspective and balance that helps us better manage the anxiety."

Students are pictured working in a lab at Touro University. More than 20,000 students are enrolled across the university's campuses.

From a students standpoint, Colish recommended that young people keep up with the news, but in moderation.

In terms of managing anxiety, exercise is one of her most effective tools.

"Whenever I'm having a lot of big feelings, I like to go on a run or go rock-climbing," she said. "Movement is incredibly helpful."

"I also find it oddly comforting that this is sort of a wave of history that has happened before," Colish added. "Jewish history is like this, with ups and downs."

"As a nation, we've been through it before and we'll go through it again."

For more Health articles, visit www.foxnews.com/health .





Original article source: Jewish students struggling with antisemitism at college now have use of walk-in mental health clinic
Jodi Hildebrandt, the business partner of former family vlogger Ruby Franke, pleaded guilty Wednesday to four felony counts of second-degree aggravated child abuse.

She was charged in Utah alongside Franke in September with six counts of felony child abuse, after the pair was arrested in August. Police had found one of Frankes children with open wounds after escaping from Hildebrandts home, as well as another one of her children in similar malnourished condition inside her home.

Judge John Walton accepted Hildebrandts plea deal  which described the infliction of physical torture and severe emotional harm to the children found by police  in a Utah court and dismissed the remaining two counts. Her sentencing, like Frankes, is scheduled for Feb. 20.

Hildebrandt and Franke often collaborated on parenting and relationship advice videos for Hildebrandts life coaching service ConneXions, which has been criticized for its extreme teachings.

Ruby Franke, right, and business partner, Jodi Hildebrandt, speaks during an Instagram video posted to their @moms_of_truth account. (@moms_of_truth via Instagram)

Franke, who also pleaded guilty to four counts of child abuse earlier this month, had agreed in her own plea deal to testify against Hildebrandt. The mom of six was known for her now-removed YouTube channel 8 Passengers, in which she showcased family life and shared parenting advice to nearly 2.3 million subscribers.

In a statement released before her hearing, Frankes legal representatives said Hildebrandt had systematically isolated Franke from her family and made her vulnerable to a distorted sense of morality under Hildebrandts influence.

Franke initially thought Hildebrandt "had the insight to offer a path to continual improvement," according to the statement. Hildebrandt "took advantage of this quest and twisted it into something heinous," the statement continued.

Lawyers for Hildebrandt and Franke did not respond to requests for comment.

Established in 2007, according to Hildebrandts LinkedIn page, ConneXions offered courses on relationships and parenting. Some former clients said its teachings are rooted in the principles of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, also known as LDS or the Mormon church.

These former clients told NBC News that the program separated spouses, pathologized patients behaviors as evidence of various addictions and encouraged people to cut off those who didnt live in accordance with its teachings.

Franke, who was listed as a certified mental fitness trainer on the ConneXions website, often appeared with Hildebrandt in ConneXions videos. In now-deleted YouTube videos viewed by NBC News, the two preached that those who were not living in truth, including children, should be cut off from the rest of their families.

Prior to her arrest this year, Franke had also been under fire for some of her now-deleted parenting vlogs. Viewers had accused Franke and her husband of being abusive for years.

Local child protective services were reportedly called in June 2020 after a Change.org petition called for the family to be investigated, citing an example from now-deleted video footage of her teenage son sharing that hed slept on a beanbag for seven months as a punishment for behavioral issues.

This article was originally published on NBCNews.com
The business partner of once popular parental advice YouTuber Ruby Franke has pleaded guilty to four charges of child abuse.

Jodi Hildebrandt, 54, was accused of helping starve and abuse Franke's children after her son escaped from the family's Utah home.

Hildebrandt's attorney said she "takes responsibility" and wanted to spare the children from testifying.

Franke pleaded guilty to aggravated child abuse charges earlier this month.

The 8 Passengers YouTube channel, launched in 2015 by mother-of-six Franke, 41, with Hildebrandt amassed more than two million subscribers before it was deactivated earlier this year.

The pair - who worked together at a consulting firm run by Hildebrandt - used the platform to give parental advice and to portray themselves as role models to other families. Franke appeared in videos posted by Hildebrandt on her site, ConneXions Classroom.

In August, their success came crashing down when Franke's 12-year-old son climbed out of a window and ran to a neighbour's house to plead for food and water.

The Santa-Clara Ivins Public Safety Department later described the boy as "emaciated and malnourished", with open wounds and "deep lacerations from being tied up with rope".

Police investigating the incident also found a second child - Franke's daughter - malnourished and took her to hospital. All four of Franke's minor children were eventually taken into the state's custody.

The two women were arrested at Hildebrandt's home on 30 August.

On 18 December, Franke pleaded guilty to four counts of aggravated child abuse.

In a statement at the time, Franke's attorneys sought to lay the blame on Hildebrandt for leading her "astray". They accused Hildebrandt of isolating her from friends and family and subjecting her to "a distorted sense of morality".

The BBC has reached out to Hildebrandt's lawyer for comment.

As part of her plea agreement, Hildebrandt admitted abusing Franke's children, including by forcing her daughter to jump into a cactus repeatedly and run for long periods on dirt roads. Both Franke's son and daughter were forced to do strenuous physical labour in the hot sun with little, if any, food and water.

In their respective plea agreements, both women also admitted telling the two children that they were "possessed" and needed to be punished for their alleged disobedience.

Both women are due to be sentenced on 20 February.

Each charge carries a prison sentence of up to 15 years, which the women may ultimately serve consecutively.
President Joe Biden had a simple response to a question that Nikki Haley seemed to have trouble answering.

At a Wednesday town hall event in Berlin, New Hampshire, a voter asked the Republican presidential candidate to state the cause of the American Civil War. In a reply that went viral, Haley said the war was about the role of government and the freedoms of what people could and couldnt do.

It was about slavery, Biden offered in a post on X, formerly Twitter, sharing a clip of Haleys exchange.

It was about slavery. https://t.co/q9bTDvtPne  Joe Biden (@JoeBiden) December 28, 2023

Haley, the former governor of South Carolina, was widely criticized for failing to mention slavery in her response. The questioner at the town hall said: In the year 2023, its astonishing to me that you answer that question without mentioning the word slavery.

What do you want me to say about slavery? Haley countered. Next question.

South Carolina was the first state to secede from the Union. In its 1860 declaration stating its reasons for doing so, the states government cited increasing hostility on the part of the non-slaveholding States to the institution of slavery.

By Thursday morning, Haley seemed interested in pivoting a little from her original answer.

Of course the Civil War was about slavery. We know that, she said in a radio interview with The Pulse of NH.Thats the easy part of it. What I was saying was, what does it mean to us today? What it means to us today is about freedom. Thats what that was all about.

Related...
The issue of death notifications  or lack thereof  by the Jackson Police Department has made national headlines in recent months after multiple families said the department never reached out to them about the deaths of their loved ones.

In early November, Chief Joseph Wade announced the creation of a new death notification policy for the JPD. At the time, he did not give any details of the new policy, only that the department has never had an official death notification policy before.

The Clarion Ledger submitted a Freedom of Information Act and retrieved the documents outlining the new policy.

Jackson Police Department Chief of Police Joseph Wade, seen here in this Oct. 26, 2023 file photo, announced the creation of new death notification policy weeks after the news of Dexter Wade made national headlines.

Policy was created weeks after the case of Dexter Wade

The new policy was announced weeks after JPD made national headlines in the case of Dexter Wade, who was struck and killed by an off-duty JPD officer on March 5. His mother, Bettersten Wade, filed a missing-persons report days after Dexter was killed, but she wasn't notified that he had been killed until October. He had been buried in an unmarked grave at a Hinds County penal farm after his body went unclaimed.

Since then, two more families also discovered their loved one was buried in the penal farm without ever being notified by JPD or the Hinds County Coroner's office. Civil Rights Attorney Ben Crump has taken on the case and called for the U.S. Department of Justice to conduct an investigation. He recently said more families with loved ones missing may be joining the case once the identities of all those buried at the farm have been verified.

Death notification failures: Attorney Ben Crump representing families of 3 men buried in a pauper's grave. What they said

"It is certainly suspicious  that they (JPD) did not contact her. We don't know what happened in the accident, but it would have been better to know on March 5," Crump previously said. "We would have a little more trust, you would have a little more credibility than six months later."

Attorney Ben Crump held a press conference with the families of three men who were buried in the Hinds County Pauper's Field without their families' knowledge in Jackson, seen on Wednesday, Dec. 20.

JPD Public Information Officer Sam Brown said the Dexter Wade case, "brought to light that there wasn't a death notification policy in place."

Wade did not respond to multiple requests for comment for this story. The Hinds County Coroner's Office also could not be reached.

Before, Brown said death notifications were "common practice."

"It was a normal practice in the event of a death, but as far as I know it was not a policy," Brown said. "A lot of things are practiced, but he (Joseph Wade) just solidified the policy so there is something written down on paper, a procedure as to how it goes."

Brown also said that once a body has been turned over to the Hinds County Coroner's Office, it is the coroner's office's responsibility to notify the families. JPD and the coroner's office try to coordinate with each other about notifications. Brown said, "I'm sure it has" when asked if JPD's new death notification policy has been shared with the coroner's office.

"We share the responsibility of notifying next of kin  We kind of work lock-and-step with the coroner's office," he said.

Lumumba speaks on Dexter Wade: Mayor's State of the City speech shifts focus to Jackson man killed by off-duty JPD officer

In mid-December, three homicides occurred in 24-hours in Jackson. Brown said each one of those families have been notified.

The new policy

23-1974 Death Notice Policy JPD by USA TODAY Network on Scribd

This embedded content is not available in your region.

According to the documents, the purpose of the policy is to "ensure prompt notification" to the adult next of kin and/or a significant other in all cases JPD handles.

All 261 officers, as well as new incoming officers, at JPD have been trained on the policy, he said.

Officers will identify a next-of-kin priority list when making a notification. Once an individual has been identified as the person standing highest in order of priority, no one else should be contacted. Officers should not move on "to the next individual in terms of priority" until "every effort to locate the prior individual" has been made.

Once the officer established the next of kin, notifications should be made as soon as possible. Notifications should be made in person if possible, not by telephone or written correspondence.

If the next of kin or significant other does not reside within JPD's jurisdiction, a request for the appropriate law enforcement agency must be made. The officer should provide the outside agency with all details available, request the notification be made as quickly as possible and also request immediate verification once it has been completed.

JPD dispatcher shortages: Jackson's 911 call volume is higher than other places in MS. See details

Each unit within JPD shall be in charge of making notifications, whether it be the "Crimes Against Persons Unit" or "Accident Investigations Unit."

Officers should deliver the notification "in a slow, calm manner and proceed" and "exercise extreme tact and a direct approach." Details regarding the cause of death, particularly in violent cases, accidents or murder should not be discussed at the time of notification, this should be left to a physician or medical examiner to discuss later.

"Officers should display a demeanor of understanding and sympathy and express a desire to assist," the document states.

More procedures for a death notification:

Efforts to locate and notify the next of kin or significant other will be made as soon as possible. Officers will gather and verify essential details surrounding the deceased, including their full name, age, gender, home address, location, nature and time of death and the location of the body. It's recommended that officers do not perform the death notification alone, but instead have an accompanying officer or member of the coroner's office assisting them. If the notification is made alone, the officer should offer to assist the next of kin in contacting a relative or a close friend. Officers should ask to be permitted inside the person's home to make the notification because of the "very personal and private" nature of the information, as well as to assist in any medical or psychological problems the next of kin or significant other may have. Officers will document the notification in their police report to include the date, time, location and the name of the person who was notified. The relation of the person to the deceased should also be included in the report.

This article originally appeared on Mississippi Clarion Ledger: JPD starts death notification policy. Clarion Ledger has details
Provisions of a state gun law, written in response to mass shootings, wont go into affect next week in Stanislaus and other counties in California, because of a U.S. District Court decision.

Senate Bill 2, which was signed into law by Gov. Gavin Newsom and caught the attention of gun right advocates, expanded the list of public places where permitted gun holders could not carry a concealed weapon.

The bill by Democratic Sen. Anthony Portantino of Southern California called for banning concealed guns at public gatherings and events, on public transportation and in amusement parks, stadiums, casinos, parks, churches, parking lots, bars and medical facilities.

U.S. District Judge Cormac Carney ruled the restrictions in SB 2 were unconstitutional because they removed a persons right to self-protection.

State elected officials in the Stanislaus region favored the Dec. 20 court decision. Sen. Marie Alvarado-Gil, a Democrat whose District 4 includes Stanislaus and 12 other counties, noted the state law was criticized by constituents and gun rights advocates within her district.

I am pleased with Judge Carneys decision to protect the constitutional rights of our law-abiding citizens in California who have been granted a concealed weapons permit, Alvarado-Gil said in a recent news release. The Second Amendment is a cornerstone of our nations history, and while we recognize the importance of public safety, it is imperative that we strike a balance that respects the rights of responsible gun owners.

Her news release went on to cite a need for thoughtful and comprehensive legislation to address public safety concerns while maintaining the rights of citizens.

Assemblyman Juan Alanis, R-Modesto, cast one of the 21 Assembly votes against the senate bill, tweeting in September that it was an unconstitutional attack on legal gun owners & concealed carry holders.

And in a Facebook post Dec. 21, Stanislaus County Sheriff Jeff Dirkse said of the judges decision, Good news!

Senate Bill 2 was in response to a U.S. Supreme Court ruling last year that weakened gun control laws across the nation. Supporters of the bill also said it would help prevent mass shootings in California.

The Supreme Courts conservative majority, in ruling on a New York case, said many restrictions on where permitted gun holders could carry a firearm were unconstitutional. But the nations highest court continued to recognize laws banning guns in a small number of sensitive places, such as legislative meetings, schools and courtrooms.

The California law attempted to expand the sensitive public settings where firearms could be outlawed. But critics said the bill went too far.

Newsom reacted to the district court decision in a Dec. 22 tweet: A judge has decided that guns should be allowed at our playgrounds, places of worship, hospitals or libraries. That should serve as a wake up call for everyone.

He added that right wing judges are going to continue to do the bidding of the National Rifle Association  no matter what state you live in. Carney was appointed in 2003 by President George W. Bush.

State Attorney General Rob Bonta promised to appeal the district court decision on SB 2.

The district court ruling does not affect laws prohibiting guns in state and local government buildings, airports, school zones and legislative offices. Those remain in effect.

Other parts of SB 2 will go into effect Jan. 1, including enhanced licensing measures, a minimum age of 21 to obtain a concealed weapon permit, and additional training requirements on proper handling, loading, unloading and firearms storage.
LANSING  A lawsuit alleging an unconstitutional level of violence at a state prison in Macomb County can proceed, a judge has ruled.

Two families who lost loved ones, plus a prisoner who survived a knifing, sued the Michigan Department of Corrections in July over a bloody 30-day stretch at the Macomb Correctional Facility in Lenox Township. The suit alleges cruel and unusual punishment, violation of the prisoners' rights to bodily integrity and wrongful death.

In a Dec. 20 ruling, Michigan Court of Claims Judge Brock Swartzle rejected calls from state attorneys to throw out the suit.

The state had argued it has governmental immunity, among other defenses.

Crystal Neely, 43, left, and her husband, Robert Neely, 37, hold a photo of Robert's younger brother Christopher Neely at Marko Law Firm in downtown Detroit on Friday, July 21, 2023. Christopher Neely is one of multiple prisoners who were murdered in separate incidents at Macomb Correctional Facility.

But Swartzle said it's premature to decide the case until more evidence is brought forward on certain issues, such as whether prison officials were grossly negligent in connection with the prisoner-on-prisoner attacks. If they were, then governmental immunity might not apply.

The attacks cited in the suit include:

A Sept. 18, 2022, knife attack by two other inmates in a prison common area that killed Christopher Neely, 34, who had served 13 years of a 30-year sentence for second-degree murder.

The Oct. 17, 2022, stabbing and asphyxiation of Ruben Martinez, 28, who was serving time for armed robbery, attempted assault of a prison employee and malicious destruction of property. He was found dead in his cell, tied up under his bunk.

The Oct. 18, 2022, stabbing near the prison chow hall of Daniel Mastaw, now 40, who is eligible for release next year after serving time for unarmed robbery, domestic violence and possession of a weapon by a prisoner. Mastaw wasn't killed but suffered a chipped spine, a fractured bone near his eye, and major cuts to his face that caused deformities, according to the complaint. He suffers from chronic pain and mental trauma, the suit says.

Crystal Neely, of Flint, who is married to Christopher Neely's brother, Robert, told the Free Press in July she doesn't want similar violence to affect another family.

Kyle Kaminski, a spokesman for the MDOC, said the department does not comment on pending litigation.

Jonathan Marko, the Detroit attorney representing the plaintiffs, said Wednesday he will be taking sworn testimony from prison officials and believes he can show "a pattern and practice of systemic and rampant problems" leading to prison deaths.

Contact Paul Egan: 517-372-8660 or pegan@freepress.com. Follow him on X, formerly known as Twitter, @paulegan4.

This article originally appeared on Detroit Free Press: Judge gives green light to suit prompted by stabbings at Macomb prison
A federal judge on Thursday upheld the Republican-drawn Georgia congressional map that safeguards the state GOPs dominance.

The Court finds that the General Assembly fully complied with this Courts order requiring the creation of Black-majority district in the regions of the State where vote dilution was found. Hence, the Court overrules Plaintiffs objections, the ruling from US District Judge Steve Jones said.

The judge in October had ordered the Georgia General Assembly to draw new congressional and state legislative maps following the 2020 census, ruling that state legislators improperly diluted the political power of Black voters.

In response, the Republican-controlled legislature approved a newly drawn congressional map in a special session that complied with Jones order to establish an additional Black-majority district but preserved the GOPs 9-5 edge in its US House delegation.

The map targets Democratic Rep. Lucy McBaths Atlanta-area district by moving it farther into Republican territory. It leaves in place nine majority-White districts, which likely would preserve the current number of Republican seats, given voting patterns in the state.

Critics of the map argued that the vote dilution area was virtually untouched, according to objections by the plaintiffs in the order.

But the court rejected the foundational assumption of Plaintiffs arguments, saying federal judges have no license to reallocate political power between the two major political parties, given the lack of constitutional authority and the absence of legal standards to direct such actions, according to Thursdays order.

Politicians in Washington have been closely monitoring redistricting moves in Georgia and several other states around the country because these maps could determine which party controls the US House of Representatives after next years elections. Republicans currently hold a slender majority in the chamber.

CNNs Fredreka Schouten contributed to this report.

For more CNN news and newsletters create an account at CNN.com
Nathan Charles Derouen was arrested Wednesday on allegations of injury to the elderly. Bexar County Sheriff's Office

A 74-year-old woman escaped from a violent assailant after a brave witness  her pet cat  stepped in to save the day.

The felines act of heroism occurred on Christmas. Days later, San Antonio police arrested Nathaniel Charles Derouen on a charge of causing injury to the elderly.

The victim told police she had agreed to let Derouen, 60, stay at her house after his home was damaged by fire. The two had reportedly dated several years ago, according to a police affidavit.

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But on Christmas Day, the woman said, Derouen became enraged after she refused to lend him her car. She told police he pushed her onto her bed and began strangling her, applying pressure to her neck with one hand and covering her mouth and nose with another, the arrest warrant states.

As she struggled for air, her cat jumped on top of Derouen and stopped the attack. The woman told police the man had a fear of cats, and that the disruption allowed her to flee the house and drive to the nearest police station, where she reported the crime.

Investigators reviewed photos of her injuries and observed signs of apparent strangulation, according to the affidavit.

Police obtained a warrant for Derouens arrest and took him into custody on Wednesday. According to the warrant, Derouen has a pair of prior convictions for domestic violence.

His bond has been set at $35,000, and a hearing has been scheduled for Jan. 24.
The trial of a 76-year-old Alabama man accused of the 1988 killing of an 11-year-old girl in Massachusetts ended Wednesday with a judge declaring a mistrial due to a deadlocked jury.

Marvin C. McClendon Jr. had pleaded not guilty to a murder charge in connection with the death of Melissa Ann Tremblay.

McClendon was arrested last year, decades after Tremblay disappeared. Investigators credit new technology in tying the suspect to the 34-year-old murder. They say evidence recovered from Melissa Tremblays body was instrumental in solving the case.

McClendons lawyer Henry Fasoldt said his client appreciated the jury being deliberate and thoughtful and looks forward to trying the case again.

Mr. McClendon maintains his innocence and I believe hes innocent, Fasoldt said.

A spokesperson for the Essex County District Attorneys office said they plan to retry McClendon.

Suspect in 1988 stabbing death of 11-year-old Lawrence girl appears in court

No new trial date has been set.

Tremblay, of Salem, New Hampshire, was found in a Lawrence trainyard on Sept. 12, 1988, the day after she was reported missing.

Back in September of 1988, Melissa Tremblays mother and boyfriend went to the Social Club in Lawrence. While they stayed inside, Melissa played outside in the nearby neighborhoods. But by that evening, Melissa went missing. She was last seen by a railroad employee and pizza delivery driver. Sadly, her body was discovered in the railway yard. Investigators revealed she had been stabbed to death.

Lawrence and Salem, N.H. are just a few miles apart.

McClendon, a former employee of the Massachusetts prisons department, lived near Lawrence in Chelmsford and was doing carpentry work at the time of the killing, authorities said. He worked and attended church in Lawrence.

Over the years, countless interviews have been done and investigators specializing in cold cases worked diligently on this case since 2014.

This is a developing story. Check back for updates as more information becomes available.

Download the FREE Boston 25 News app for breaking news alerts.

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PORTLAND, Ore. (KOIN)  A juvenile driver was hospitalized after crashing a car while fleeing from police in Vancouver on Wednesday morning, according to authorities.

Just before 4 a.m., a Vancouver police officer saw a silver Nissan without headlights turned on drive though a red light and pulled the vehicle over on Main Street and East Mill Plain Boulevard.

During the traffic stop, the officer noticed the driver showed signs of impairment, and saw there were three other juveniles in the car. Officials said the driver got out of the car at one point and was told to return to the drivers seat.

Portland among largest U.S. cities paying highest utility bills: Report

While the officer waited for back up, the driver fled the scene  driving eastbound on Mill Plain Boulevard before losing control of the car and spinning sideways into a light pole just before the Interstate 5 onramp, authorities said.

A juvenile driver was hospitalized and faces a DUI charge after crashing a car on the East Mill Plain I-5 on-ramp in Vancouver while trying to elude an officer around 4 a.m. Dec. 27 (Vancouver Police Department.)

A juvenile driver was hospitalized and faces a DUI charge after crashing a car on the East Mill Plain I-5 on-ramp in Vancouver while trying to elude an officer around 4 a.m. Dec. 27 (Vancouver Police Department.)

A juvenile driver was hospitalized and faces a DUI charge after crashing a car on the East Mill Plain I-5 on-ramp in Vancouver while trying to elude an officer around 4 a.m. Dec. 27 (Vancouver Police Department.)

Vancouver Fire Department cut off both drivers side doors of the Nissan to extricate the driver, who was taken to a local hospital for injuries.

The driver, who has not been identified, faces a DUI charge.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KOIN.com.
A Kansas City was charged last week with assault after she allegedly shot the DoorDash driver who was delivering her McDonalds order.

Marissa Lynn Leonard, born in 1996, was charged with second-degree assault and armed criminal action after she allegedly shot and injured the male driver, according to court documents.

Kansas City police responded to the shooting around 5:36 p.m. last Wednesday and found the male victim, whose age was not specified, with a gunshot wound to the back of his right calf, according to the probable cause statement.

The victim told officers he was delivering food to a residence for DoorDash. Residents met him at the door, where there was a short verbal altercation, he told police. When he walked away, he heard a gunshot and felt pain in his lower right leg, according to the probable cause statement.

Police surrounded the home and ordered the occupants to exit, believing the suspect was inside. Leonard was one of the people inside the home and allegedly told officers, without prompting, that she shot at the ground because she believed the victim was trying to force his way into the home, according to the probable cause statement.

Detectives later contacted the victim at the hospital, where he was being treated for injuries from the shooting that were not life-threatening. He told detectives that he handed the order to a woman in her 40s who was standing on the porch.

The victim said he told the woman he would need to take a photo of the food to prove it was delivered, but the woman accused him of being drunk and walked into the home, according to the probable cause statement.

After he was shot, the victim said he saw a younger woman who police identified as Leonard standing in the doorway, court records say. He told detectives she was the only person outside when he was shot.

A witness at the home told police she was in the basement when her daughter Leonard brought their DoorDash order in and claimed the delivery driver had been drunk and wouldnt leave. Soon after, she realized police were outside the home.

Leonards mother told detectives she didnt hear a gunshot or know that her daughter was armed.

Police executed a search warrant and found a Smith & Wesson M&P Shield 9mm handgun in the basement, along with an ammo can that contained live rounds and an empty magazine.

When detectives interviewed Leonard last Thursday, she allegedly told them that she received a notification that her McDonalds order from DoorDash was close, and she went outside to find a drunk and belligerent black male parked next door, asking for the person who ordered the food, according to the probable cause statement.

Leonard told the driver she ordered the food and went back in the home for her mother to pick up the order. She allegedly heard the driver saying he needed to take a picture, while her mother said he didnt need a photo and told him to leave the property as she closed the door, according to the probable cause statement.

The driver allegedly pushed against the door, making Leonard think he was trying to get into the home, she told detectives. He took a few steps back but stayed on the porch, when Leonard told him to get off the property and warned they were armed, according to the probable cause statement.

Leonard told detectives she went to her bedroom, grabbed her gun and shot a warning shot that she believed went into the ground to the right of the driver. She was about 10 or 15 feet away from the driver when she shot at him, Leonard told police.

She went inside and started eating when police arrived and ordered everyone to exit the home, according to the probable cause statement. Leonard told police she called her lawyer, who advised her to go outside with her hands up, which she did.

Leonard allegedly told police she was scared for her life and the lives of her son and mother because she had been raped by Black men and been in abusive relationships and didnt know what the drivers intentions were. She said she had the right to defend her home, according to the probable cause statement.

Leonard described the gun she fired to police and said she put it in a clothes basket or box in the basement and covered it with clothing, according to the probable cause statement. Police told her about the firearm they found, which Leonard said was her mothers gun and not hers.

Detectives later learned from detention center staff that Leonard allegedly called her mother and asked her to move the gun she had used in the incident.

Leonard is being held on $50,000 bond.
KANSAS CITY, Mo.  Nearly 1 in 5 Americans earn money from jobs like ridesharing and food delivery. More than a third of those workers have felt unsafe doing those jobs.

That fear becoming a reality for one DoorDash driver in Kansas City just days before Christmas.

Gypsy Rose Blanchard, convicted in moms murder, released from prison

Now, a Kansas City woman is facing charges, accused of shooting a DoorDash driver after she ordered McDonalds for delivery.

Marissa Leonard has been charged with second-degree assault and armed criminal action in Jackson County.

Marissa Leonard mugshot via Jackson County jail

Police were called for a reported shooting around 5:30 p.m. Dec. 20. When they arrived, they found a man suffering from a gunshot wound to the leg. First responders took him the hospital with non-life threatening injuries.

The victim told police he was delivering for DoorDash. Court records say when he arrived at the home, he met the residents, delivered the food and asked to take a photo.

KCPD detain two after $27,000 in used cooking oil reported stolen

Later at the hospital, the man said Leonard told him he was drunk and walked inside. As he walked off the porch, he heard a gunshot and felt pain to his lower leg, court records say. He said Leonard was the only person outside when he was shot.

Leonard told police she attempted to shoot into the ground because she was afraid the man was trying to force his way into her home.

Its scary because Ive had these thoughts  she needs to go to jail. Thats the way I feel about it, KC resident Patrica Rushing said.

Rushing not only lives in the area, she and her son are also DoorDash drivers. She said this exact thing is why every time she walks to a door, shes as cautious as possible.

In another interview, Leonard told detectives the driver had initially parked outside acting drunk and belligerent. When he asked for a photo, another resident told him to get off their property, court records say.

Woman charged, but still on the run, after body found in Excelsior Springs

Leonard alleges they tried to shut the door, but the driver pushed against it, stopping them, charging documents say. She told him to get off their property again, letting him know they were armed.

The other resident said Leonard brought the McDonalds inside and told her the DoorDash driver wouldnt leave, court records say. Then later heard police outside the house.

Leonard told police the DoorDash driver took a few steps back but was still on the porch, so she went to get her gun, court documents say. She then went outside and allegedly fired a warning shot.

Leonard said she was on the porch, 10-15 feet away from the delivery driver who was now on the sidewalk at this point.

The Kansas City woman argued she was scared for her life and felt it was her right to defend her home.

She needs to pay the consequences, Rushing said. Thats not fair. That man could have died just because he was doing his job, and you knew they were coming.

FOX4 reached out to DoorDash via email Thursday, but we have not heard back so far.

Download the FOX4 News app on iPhone and Android

Police executed a search warrant at Leonards home and located a firearm in the basement, along with ammo and an empty magazine.

Leonard later told detectives that was her mothers gun, not the one she allegedly used, court records say. She wouldnt give police consent to go find the firearm.

Jackson County jail staff later informed detectives that Leonard made a call, asking her mother to move her gun, charging documents say.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to FOX 4 Kansas City WDAF-TV | News, Weather, Sports.
A woman has been charged with first-degree-murder for the killing of a man whose body was found at Rocky Hollow Park in Clay County on Dec. 22.

Elena Delcarmen Flores, 48, is charged with first-degree murder, armed criminal action and abandonment of a corpse, according to Sarah Boyd, spokesperson for the Clay County Sheriffs Office.

On Friday around 8:15 a.m., a Clay County Parks and Recreation employee found a mans body near a roadway at Rocky Hollow Park, located at 14812 Old Quarry Road, Excelsior Springs, Boyd said in a statement.

The man is described as a white or Hispanic man between the ages of 35 and 45 years old, and has a tattoo of a bull on his upper left arm, the sheriffs office said.

The victim has been identified, and his name will be released once the sheriffs office finds a relative, authorities said.

The suspect is not yet in custody. The sheriffs office is seeking the publics help in finding Flores, who lives in Gardner, officials said.

She is described as being 5-feet-5-inches tall and weighing 200 pounds. She may use the names Elena Torres, Elena Flores Garcia or Elena Stores, Boyd said.

If located, officials are asking the public to call investigators at 816-407-3723 or the TIPS Hotline at 816-474-TIPS (8477).
Kansas City police are asking for help locating a missing 16-year-old girl.

Ashanti Abraham was last seen on Dec. 27 in the 5700 block of Walrond Ave., police said.

According to police Ashanti was last seen wearing gray jogging pants with a black jacket and black Jordan gym shoes.

She is described as being 5-feet-7-inches tall, weighing 160 pounds, with brown hair and brown eyes, according to police.

If located, police are asking the public to notify the KCPD Missing Persons Unit at 816-234-5043.
Now that charges have been dropped against Shanya Boyd and Jermelle English, the mistaken identity arrest at a Kenosha Applebee's is likely headed for a lawsuit, but first the attorney for the Illinois man and woman would like to extend an offer to the mayor of Kenosha.

Kevin O'Connor, the attorney representing Boyd and English, said the Kenosha Police Department violated his clients' constitutional rights and Mayor John Antaramian has an obligation to address the policies, procedures and actions of the department.

O'Connor said the department's handling of footage release in November shows that Police Chief Patrick Patton was "doubling down" on the belief that KPD conducted itself in an appropriate and lawful manner.

Patton acted as a narrator during KPD's footage release in which the department provided bodycam footage from the officers involved in the incident and other details about the arrests of English and Boyd.

The Zion, Illinois, residents and their 1-year-old son went to the Kenosha Applebee's off Highway 50 on July 20 when they were mistakenly identified as suspects in a nearby hit-and-run crash. The people believed to be the actual suspects were in a bathroom of the restaurant.

The evening was captured on surveillance and cellphone footage by restaurant employees and soon a viral clip showing English being forcefully arrested while holding his baby led to reaction from lawyers, advocates and a police department in a city that is no stranger to strife.

Despite having nothing to do with the crash, prosecutors charged Boyd with resisting an officer, disorderly conduct and possession of marijuana. English was charged with resisting an officer and disorderly conduct.

Soon, rapper Jay-Z announced that he was hiring acclaimed attorney Alex Spiro for English and prosecutors filed a motion to drop the charges last week, which a judge approved.

"Any reasonable person that has a legal mindset knows that in most jurisdictions you can't charge someone with resisting arrest unless you charge them with an underlying crime," O'Connor said.

"I think the DA looked at this and said clearly the police acted inappropriately, clearly they acted excessively, and these charges should not even been brought against them."

Kenosha County District Attorney Michael Graveley and Kenosha police did not immediately respond to questions on Wednesday.

KPD did suspend two officers as a result of their actions that evening. Michael Vences, who was seen in the video striking English, was suspended for four days. Luke Courtier was suspended for 10 days after he did not decontaminate Boyd after she was pepper sprayed. Both officers failed to properly fill out police reports as well.

This was racial profiling, attorney says

O'Connor said Kenosha police "have a poor reputation with dealing with Black and Brown people" and this incident is another example. Activists and advocates have long noted strife between police and people of color.

Kenosha, in particular, is where the police shooting of Jacob Blake occurred. The shooting touched off days of violent protests in Kenosha, during which Kyle Rittenhouse killed Joseph Rosenbaum, 36, and Anthony Huber, 26, and wounded Gaige Grosskreutz, 28.

A jury later acquitted Rittenhouse of all charges in the case after determining he acted in self-defense.

O'Connor believes that Boyd and English were targeted by police because witnesses described Black people running away from the scene of the crash while holding a baby. More than two adults were found in the bathroom and no baby, but it was likely that one adult was carrying a disabled adult.

English and Boyd were targeted for being Black and having a baby, O'Connor said.

"Their crime was eating while Black in Kenosha after 10 o'clock," he said. "This is a family with a baby that got targeted and mistreated for no good reason other than the color of their skin. If this was a white family, I don't think this would have ever happened.

"If they would have just pulled the tapes instead of rushing to judgment because they're Black this would have never happened."

O'Connor says police chief should 'stop playing lawyer'

O'Connor said he is currently drafting a letter to Mayor Antaramian. O'Connor has represented clients across the U.S. and in some cases has received responses from officials, who he then works with to change policies and procedures instead of filing a lawsuit.

He isn't optimistic about Kenosha officials however. "It's been five months" and if they haven't reached out yet they probably won't, he said.

Chief Patton's handling of the video release is a sign that the department needs to change internally, O'Connor said.

"We have a police chief, Patton, who played lawyer if you will and said, look, I'm gonna give you a closing argument and here is why everything the officers did was correct. ... Which makes it sounds to the public that we did everything right and these charges are legitimate," O'Connor said.

"He needs to stop playing lawyer and start acting more like a police chief and take some action, make some changes within that department because if he's telling these officers and publicly saying you didn't do anything wrong, you acted appropriately, he's sanctioning their conduct, and it's gonna happen again, and instead of the next time somebody pulling out pepper spray, they're gonna kill somebody.

"This is what leads to people getting wrongfully killed in situations like this where they haven't even committed an underlying crime."

Accompanying the 11-minute footage release posted to YouTube was several hours of bodycam footage and a news release, which announced the officers' suspensions following an investigation by the West Allis Police Department.

O'Connor will file a federal lawsuit if mayor is unresponsive

O'Connor said it is Antaramian who "has the right to remove, or discipline, or do something to the police chief, or tell him to change his ways or you could be out of office."

"You really shouldn't have to go into court to make these changes," O'Connor said. "They are public servants. They should be doing what's right for the public. And if the mayor can recognize and see what the DA saw perhaps we can get some changes internally, voluntarily, with the department maybe along with the NAACP and the other groups that are involved."

If the mayor is not open to that, O'Connor said he has no choice but to file a lawsuit in federal court.

Antaramian did not immediately respond to questions Wednesday.

Boyd spoke out last week

O'Connor was accompanied by Boyd, her son, and her mother, at a news conference Friday outside the restaurant.

Boyd said it's been a rough few months with pending criminal charges hanging over her head but what she feared most was the safety of her child, during the incident and also whose custody her child would be in while she was unavailable.

"I have no explanation as to why this happened to me," she said. "I was just a mother protecting her child."

The charges being dropped were a relief but the whole experience was traumatizing for Boyd, who said she has never been arrested or booked at a jail. She said she and her son have trouble breathing and sleeping still.

Boyd questions where she'd be today had video not emerged.

"What would the charges be if they would have got away?" Boyd said. "Would I still be the hit-and-run person? Did I really do the crime if them people was not caught in the washroom? That's what I want to know. If they was not caught would I still be the person that supposedly did the hit-and-run, me and my family?"

Boyd said she wants to make sure this doesn't happen to anyone else. O'Connor is requesting an investigation by the Wisconsin Department of Justice.

This article originally appeared on Milwaukee Journal Sentinel: Kenosha Applebee's mistaken identity arrest may result in lawsuit
A Kentucky man has been accused of assaulting a missing North Carolina juvenile after the minor was found inside the mans home in a secret room, according to court documents.

Deputies with the Lincoln County Sheriffs Office were dispatched to 34-year-old Zackary Smiths residence in Lincoln County on Christmas day after receiving a report of a possible domestic altercation. Court documents say Smith told deputies his girlfriend was not at the home, but Smiths mother, the original caller who submitted the complaint, told deputies that was untrue and the girl was indeed home.

While officers were searching the home, they found the girl hidden behind a trap door underneath a rug in the bedroom, according to court documents. The victim was a 16-year-old girl who had been missing from North Carolina for just under three weeks.

The girl told deputies she had been assaulted and strangled by Smith and engaged in sexual relations with him, according to court documents. Smith admitted to driving to North Carolina to pickup the teenager and admitted to having sex with her repeatedly, but denied the assault and strangulation allegations. There were visible marks on her throat, according to court documents.

Smith lied about his age after initially contacting the girl, saying he was 19. Court documents say he threatened to kill her multiple times and demanded her to tell people that she was 18.

The night Smith picked up the minor, they were pulled over by a Lincoln County sheriffs deputy. Court documents say Smith planned to shoot the deputy if they asked him or the minor to step out of the vehicle.

Drug paraphernalia and residue was also found in Smiths home, according to court documents. He allegedly tried to destroy the evidence by disposing it in a wood stove.

Smith faces dozens of charges: 10 counts of third-degree rape, 10 counts of third-degree sodomy, two counts of first-degree unlawful transaction with a minor, first-degree strangulation, fourth-degree assault, first-degree unlawful imprisonment, electronically procuring or promoting the use of a minor, third-degree terroristic threatening, resisting arrest, buy/possess drug paraphernalia, possession of cocaine, and tampering with physical evidence, according to court documents.
Kevin Hart is suing the same YouTuber as Cardi B, alleging she wanted a six-figure 'ransom' to not release an interview with his former assistant

Kevin Hart and YouTuber Tasha K. Tasha K/YouTube, Steven Ferdman/Getty Images

Kevin Hart is suing YouTuber Tasha K, alleging extortion and invasion of privacy.

The star claims she demanded $250,000 to not publish an interview with his former assistant.

Tasha K lost a lawsuit brought by Cardi B, who sued her for defamation last year.

Comedian and actor Kevin Hart is suing a YouTuber for extortion and defamation, alleging she demanded a six-figure payout from him to not release an interview with his former assistant.

Tasha K, whose real name is Latasha Kebe, has over a million subscribers on her channel unWinewithTashaK, where she posts content about celebrity gossip and "bombshell" interviews.

The video with Miesha Shakes, who spoke to Kebe about working as Hart's personal assistant between 2017 and 2020, was one of them.

In the interview, which was posted in full to Kebe's website on December 22, Shakes alleged Hart was a serial cheater and had a gambling problem.

Hart's lawsuit, seen by Business Insider, was filed against both women at the Los Angeles Superior Court, citing extortion and invasion of privacy.

The suit alleges Kebe demanded $250,000 from Hart in exchange for not posting the interview, and that Kebe called Hart to say it would be published unless he paid the "ransom."

In the teaser clip posted on Kebe's YouTube channel on December 22, she says, "When you don't pay, we have to get money by any means necessary," which the suit alleges was a threat toward Hart.

The suit says Hart's team did not pay Kebe and sent her a cease-and-desist letter, but Kebe posted the interview that evening.

Shakes is accused of breach of contract and defamation, with the suit claiming she violated her non-disclosure agreement by taking part in the interview. The lawsuit also accuses Kebe of intentional interference with contractual relations.

The suit also mentions that Kebe "has an established history of posting defamatory and otherwise improper content regarding celebrities."

Kebe was sued by Cardi B in 2019 for defamation. The rapper claimed Kebe went on a "malicious campaign" against her and became "obsessed" with slandering her. The lawsuit claims Kebe made false statements about Cardi B in several videos, including that she had tested positive for herpes and abused drugs.

Cardi B won the case in January 2022, and Kebe was ordered to pay over $1 million in damages and attorney's fees. However, the loss didn't seem to deter Kebe, who has continued to make claims about big-name stars on her YouTube channel, including Will Smith and Hart.

Kebe filed for bankruptcy in June, claiming she only had $58,595 to her name  way less than the $3.9 million she owed Cardi B. However, a judge later ruled that she could not use the filing to dodge paying up, Billboard reported.

BI has reached out to representatives for Hart and Kebe for comment.

Read the original article on Business Insider
A 70-year-old Israeli-American woman who was taken captive by Hamas on Oct. 7 is dead and her body is still being held in Gaza, according to a Thursday statement by a spokesperson for the Kibbutz Nir Oz. Judith Weinstein and her husband Gadi Haggai, 72, were on their regular morning walk when they were killed in the initial attack that resulted in the deaths or kidnappings of more than half of the residents at the small farming community. Previous reports confirmed that Haggai had died on Oct. 7 but it was believed that Weinstein was taken alive. The news website said that it remains unknown how Kibbutz Nir Oz determined she died. According to ynetnews, Weinstein is survived by four children, seven grandchildren, and her 95-year-old mother. She taught English in the kibbutz and worked with children with special needs. She was a poet and an entrepreneur who loved to create and was dedicated to working for peace and friendship, the kibbutz said. More than 130 hostages are still in Gaza.

Read it at The Messenger

Read more at The Daily Beast.
Matthew Guerra, 22, was found dead at a Northwest Side apartment on Tuesday along with an 18-year-old woman believed to be his pregnant girlfriend, Savanah Soto, 18. Courtesy photo

The Bexar County Medical Examiners Office officially identified Savanah Soto and Matthew Guerra as the bodies found inside a vehicle at a Northwest Side apartment complex on Tuesday.

Guerras cause of death is listed as contact gunshot wound to the head, indicating that the muzzle of the firearm used to kill him was held directly against his head, while Sotos cause of death is listed simply as a gunshot wound to the head.

Soto, 18, and Guerra, 22, were last seen around 2 p.m. Friday at a Leon Valley apartment complex where they lived.

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Police Chief William McManus released few details at a Thursday conference, but he did confirm investigators believe Soto and Guerra were killed elsewhere and the car was dropped off afterward.

Gloria Cordova, Sotos mother, told KENS5 that Soto was found in the front seat with a car seat on top of her, and Guerra was laid out in the backseat.

I hope they pay for whatever they did to my daughter, she told the TV station, adding that she believes Guerra was involved with criminal activity.

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McManus described the case Tuesday as perplexing. At a news conference Thursday, he clarified that it wasn't clear at first whether there had been a murder-suicide or if both had been killed. Now, he said, it is unlikely it was a murder-suicide, but he didn't completely rule out the possibility.

The chief said detectives are going through days of surveillance video from several locations of where Guerra and Soto were known to be. He said detectives are hopeful that the footage will help them determine what events led up to their deaths.

A video was released by police showing two people of interest in connection with the shootings. It shows a dark-colored Chevy Silverado with a bed cover pulling up next to Guerra's silver Kia Optima. The drivers speak briefly before heading in different directions.

Detectives are also reviewing social media posts and cell phone records to determine when Guerra and Soto last communicated, McManus said.

READ MORE: SAPD says Savanah Soto and Matthew Guerra each had a gunshot wound

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Family members grew concerned after Soto did not show up for her appointment Saturday at Stone Oak Methodist Hospital, where she was scheduled to be induced.

The Texas Department of Public Safety issued a Coordinated Law Enforcement Adult Rescue (CLEAR) alert for Soto on Monday.

Tuesday afternoon, the bodies of a man and woman were found in Guerras car, a gray 2013 Kia Optima, outside an apartment complex in the 5900 block of Danny Kaye Drive on San Antonios Northwest Side, about three miles from where the couple were last seen.

San Antonio police said they both had a gunshot wound.

Police Chief William McManus described the case Tuesday as perplexing. At a news conference Thursday, he clarified that it wasn't clear at first whether there had been a murder-suicide or if both had been killed. Now, he said, it is unlikely it was a murder-suicide, but he didn't completely rule out the possibility.

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Sir Keir has described outgoing First Minister for Wales Mark Drakeford as a titan - PA/Joe Giddens

Labours record in Wales shows Sir Keir Starmer would wreck the British economy and be forced to hike taxes, the Welsh Secretary has warned.

David TC Davies blamed the reckless policies of the Left-wing administration in Cardiff for economic stagnation and a crumbling health system.

Writing for The Telegraph (see below), he said Welsh voters and businesses had to suffer higher taxes and worse public services than counterparts in England.

He warned that Sir Keir, who has described outgoing First Minister Mark Drakeford as a titan, would use Wales as a blueprint for the whole UK.

Tory strategists have identified Labours record in Wales as a major Achilles heel for Sir Keir and plan to attack it relentlessly in the run-up to the election.

They believe that zeroing in on Cardiffs incompetence will show voters that the Labour leader can not be trusted with the reins of power in London.

Mr Drakeford will leave a controversial legacy after five years in office, with the NHS in crisis and anger over the botched rollout of 20mph speed limits.

David TC Davies: If you want to know what UK Labour would do to the economy and health service  look no further than the damage their partners have carried out in Wales - Matthew Horwood/Getty

He was forced to admit this week that his administration made mistakes in launching the 20mph law, which polls have shown is hugely unpopular.

Despite Welsh Labours shocking legacy, Sir Keir Starmer seems to be on a different planet, choosing instead to describe the Welsh Governments actions as a blueprint for the rest of the UK, Mr Davies wrote.

I challenge Sir Keir Starmer to repeat this description to my constituents, who are all suffering every single day from cuts to health provision.

As a result of the implemented policies the Welsh economy is stagnating again, with wages and the employment rate lagging behind other parts of the UK, with Welsh businesses also paying the highest levels of business rates in the UK.

If you want to know what UK Labour would do to the economy and health service  look no further than the damage their partners have carried out in Wales.

The Welsh Government, whose finances are in chaos, has hiked business rates and cut levels of relief in a move that has dismayed hospitality firms.

Wales also recently recorded its worst-ever performance for reading, maths and science results, according to the international Pisa rankings.

In contrast, England is now among the best performers across all Western countries, having made huge improvements in recent years.

Failing the people of Wales

Mr Davies added: Theres no two ways about it. Labour is failing the people of Wales, despite receiving a record 18 billion a year  the largest block grant since devolution began over two decades ago  from the UK Government.

Does Labours track record sound like something to be proud of? It certainly doesnt. But, unfortunately, Labours policies will be felt  and remembered  for many years to come.

He warned that those jostling to replace the outgoing First Minister had chosen not to stand up to his reckless policies and would make things 100 times worse.

Mr Drakeford announced his long-anticipated resignation earlier this month, sparking a fierce competition within Welsh Labour to become his successor.

In a tribute, Sir Keir described him as a true titan of Welsh and Labour politics and said he had delivered for Wales with steely determination and quiet authority.

He also praised the outgoing First Minister last March, describing his record in power as a blueprint for what Labour can do across the UK.

Sir Keir is on a different planet if he thinks Wales is a blueprint for UK



Imagine a nation where more than half-a-million people are languishing on never-ending waiting lists.

Or where industrial fans are running every hour of the day to desperately dispel diesel fumes pumped out of stationary ambulances that cannot offload critically ill patients, due to a lack of hospital beds.

This nation will also never again have any new roads built and its education standards  English, maths and science  continue to wallow after way over a decade at the bottom of Pisas heap.

This isnt a place of fiction  welcome to Labour-run Wales.

Labour has been responsible for running Wales since 1999 and since then has been controlling health, council oversight, education, transport, environment, including water quality, and other areas.

Hundreds of millions of pounds have been wasted by multiple first ministers.

But perhaps the most notorious period was within the last five years.

Under Mark Drakefords watch, Wales has more than 500,000 patients  almost one in five people in Wales  languishing on a waiting list, as well as over 27,000 people awaiting treatment for more than two years.

Labour ministers scuppered all attempts to hold to account their actions in the pandemic, where Wales recorded the biggest loss of life, by blocking an independent Covid-19 inquiry.

In transport, Labour imposed  at a cost of 33 million  a blanket 20mph speed limit that will hit the Welsh economy by over 4 billion, as well as blocking new roads from being built ever again.

Labour also wanted to pay 1,600 every single month to some asylum seekers  before I blocked it.

And, to top off the list of insults, Labour wants to go on a lavish spending spree to the tune of 120 million of taxpayers money to create dozens of new politicians  despite ordering health boards to make over 60 million in drastic cuts.

Bluntly, if you have money to create politicians then you can help hospitals. Its all about priorities.

But despite Welsh Labours shocking legacy, Sir Keir Starmer seems to be on a different planet, choosing instead to describe the Welsh Governments actions as a blueprint for the rest of the UK.

Sir Keir went further this month, describing Mark Drakeford as a titan.

I challenge Sir Keir Starmer to repeat this description to my constituents, who are all suffering every single day from cuts to health provision.

If you want to know what UK Labour would do to the economy and health service  look no further than the damage their partners have carried out in Wales.

And if you thought life in Wales may now improve, you need to think again because things are about to become 100 times worse, not better.

All those who are set to replace the outgoing First Minister were joined to him at the hip and chose not to stand up to the reckless policies Ive outlined above.

As a result of the implemented policies the Welsh economy is stagnating again, with wages and the employment rate lagging behind other parts of the UK, with Welsh businesses also paying the highest levels of business rates in the UK.

On top of that, Wales has yet again finished bottom of all the UK nations in the 2022 Pisa rankings, while the number of teachers employed continues to fall.

Theres no two ways about it, Labour is failing the people of Wales, despite receiving a record 18 billion a year  the largest block grant since devolution began over two decades ago  from the UK.

Does Labours track record sound like something to be proud of? It certainly doesnt. But, unfortunately, Labours policies will be felt  and remembered  for many years to come.

David TC Davies is MP for Monmouth and Secretary of State for Wales

Broaden your horizons with award-winning British journalism. Try The Telegraph free for 1 month, then enjoy 1 year for just $9 with our US-exclusive offer.
A meeting for farmworkers. A plan for economic development. A crucial contamination report.

These are just a few opportunities for community engagement in Stanislaus County  opportunities accessible primarily in English.

Despite comprising half the population, the countys Latino community encounters obstacles in accessing information due to a shortage of translation services. This hampers participation in vital discussions about the countys economic future, especially since more than 36% of residents are Spanish speakers.

During a Dec. 19 meeting of the county Board of Supervisors, the Latino Community Roundtable submitted an appeal, urging inclusive communication and representation in shaping the 2023-2028 Comprehensive Economic Development Strategy (CEDS).

The CEDS outlines the countys economic trajectory and investment priorities. The appeal underscores the need for a Spanish translation of the document and a reassessment to accurately mirror the countys diverse demographics.

Although a Spanish translation is not mandated by federal law, given its local funding, community members argue that its absence excludes the Spanish-speaking community from meaningful participation in shaping the countys future.

By not providing a Spanish translation of the CEDS, we are effectively excluding a substantial portion of our population from participating in a process that directly impacts their lives, the Latino Community Roundtables letter reads.

At the Board of Supervisors meeting, approval of the CEDS was deferred because there is no imminent deadline. Supervisor Channce Condit proposed determining how many Spanish speakers there are to decide if there is a need for a translation.

We have looked at how the County provides services to people with language access barriers and the County is in full compliance with all Federal and State laws, Condit wrote in a statement to The Bee. Still, As mentioned at the Board of Supervisors meeting, staff has been exploring this topic and researching what other counties are doing to see if there is something we can learn to enhance the work underway in Stanislaus County.

A RESOURCE INTENSIVE SERVICE

While document translation by the county is generally available upon request, the process isnt always simple. And advocates for Spanish speakers know their struggle for translation goes beyond Stanislaus government.

The California Department of Toxic Substances Control (DTSC) pinpointed a toxic site near a school on California Avenue in Riverbank that predominantly serves a Latino community. The investigation discovered elevated levels of lead and a banned pesticide, Chlordane, still present in the soil.

The DTSCs report, which asked for community feedback, was exclusively presented in English and contained jargon, posing comprehension challenges even for those with some proficiency in the language.

Bianca Lopez, project director of Valley Improvements Project, sought the report in Spanish. While DTSC eventually provided the document in Spanish, Lopez said state staff said it would be a resource-intensive task that might cause delays in its process.

Maybe not enough people are paying attention to these things because weve been left out historically, Lopez said.

Johnny Garcia, president of the Stanislaus County Latino Chamber of Commerce, agrees that more could be done to provide accessibility to the Spanish-speaking community.

However, he acknowledges that the government moves slowly and should be given some grace. People in the government are really trying and do want to make a difference, but they have to jump through hoops as well, Garcia said.

UNPAID LABOR FROM COMMUNITY LEADERS

Often, the burden of translating and getting information to the community falls to nonprofits and grass-roots organizations.

At the Board of Supervisors meeting, Lopez noted that a PowerPoint presentation about housing in Stanislaus County, which came before the public comment, was exclusively in English.

Chief Executive Officer Jody Hayes said a Spanish version of the presentation is online and encouraged her to share the link.

You rely on community organizations to reach out to our community members, to the people we serve, to the people that you should be serving, Lopez said.

Due to their distrust in the government, Garcia said some communities prefer relying on neighborhood organizations for information and support.

There are many resources out there that people might not know about so he said community groups should continue their efforts to get the word out.

LEAVING OUT A COMMUNITY

Recently, the Central Valley Opportunity Center organized a Farmworker Roundtable meeting to outline the planned allocation of $1 million for both documented and undocumented farmworkers. Several attendees were Spanish speakers.

Although there was a Spanish interpreter present, the slides and documents were in English only, said John Mataka, a community advocate from Grayson.

There were plans to redo the roundtable as a Spanish-language event, but it has since been canceled and not rescheduled. Lopez said she keeps getting calls from the farmworkers who are left in limbo.

Mataka, 72, said hes observed that many community members are uninformed about what is going on in the county. More accessibility would make people more comfortable in participating in the decision-making process, he said.

People have the right to know about these big projects, where the money is going, how its going to affect them in the appropriate language so they can make a judgment in one way or the other, Mataka said.

A RIGHT TO ACCESSIBILITY

The absence of translation may lead to a lack of crucial information about the communitys future, potentially raising civil rights concerns.

In 2009, the nonprofit organization Greenaction discovered that the Salinas Valley Solid Waste Authority (SVSWA) was planning a waste-to-energy facility, using Plascos plasma arc technology, in Gonzales. The predominantly Latino community was not informed.

Greenaction intervened, revealing the potential environmental and health risks of the project, and organized protests, meetings and a civil rights complaint.

The complaint alleged that SVSWA failed to provide Spanish translations of key documents necessary to participate in the public comment process related to the Plasco proposal, as well as failing to make its website accessible to Spanish speakers.

After legislative challenges and community efforts, the project was abandoned in 2015.

Mataka believes the same can be applied to Stanislaus County if not enough effort is made to keep the Spanish-speaking community informed. Most of the time, the county will only do things that need to be done if you either sue them or you affect the money that they receive, he said. You hit them in the pocketbook or you take them to court.

SOLUTIONS

There are ways to encourage civic engagement among Spanish-speaking communities beyond increasing translation services.

Karlha Arias, president of the Latino Community Roundtable, said the county should invest in community outreach workers. She said that while nonprofit organizations play a valuable role in keeping the community informed, the responsibility for this task should rest with the county.

Mataka suggests holding meetings in various locations throughout the county. He said most Latinos dont frequent or feel comfortable going to downtown Modesto and would be more likely to participate in meetings that were in their neighborhoods.

Other counties, including those in the Bay Area, have been doing this for years, so it shouldnt be complicated, he said. Somethings going to have to change. They can do it the easy way or the hard way, Mataka said. Its up to them to come to that point.
There was a large police presence outside of an auto repair shop in Lynn late Wednesday night, not far from the scene of a triple shooting earlier this week.

Police officers sectioned off a portion of Camden Street with crime scene tape and could be seen placing evidence markers on the ground around 11:30 p.m.

Boston 25 News has reached out to the Lynn Police Department and the Essex County District Attorneys Office for more info.

Lynn police told us that the DAs office is now handling the investigation, but offered no additional details.

The heavy response marked the second large crime scene in Lynn in as many days.

Three people were seriously injured in a shooting near a Pizza Hut at a shopping plaza off Tremont Street in Lynn on Tuesday night.

Police said all three shooting victims were taken to area hospitals with serious injuries.

Wednesday nights shooting remains under investigation.

This is a developing story. Check back for updates as more information becomes available.

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County and local governments across South Jersey are hoping last year's mild winter left them with enough supplies, equipment, and money should winter 2023-2024 deliver some serious storms.

Last winter's light snowfall has left community with significant stores in place.

Cumberland County is standing by with 27 trucks, some with plows already fitted, and enough workers to send them all out.

Overtime is already budgeted and prepared to pay, if the snow comes, Cumberland County Administrator Harold Johnson said. And after 16 hours, there is money budgeted to hire private contractors to work for the eight hours while our crews rest. And then, the crews would go out again for another 16 hours after eight hours of rest until the snow emergency was cleared up as best as it could be cleared up.

More: Seniors apartments expanding at St. Stephen Church

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Cumberland County says its salt stocks and Public Works equipment are in place for winter storm cleanups in 2023 and 2024. PHOTO: Dec. 13, 2023.

How much road salt does my county have?

Burlington County is gearing up in force with contractors at the ready as well. Being the largest county brings the need to be ever vigilant.

"As the largest county in New Jersey with 500 miles of county highways, Burlington County road crews have a big job whenever a storm strikes," county spokesman David Levinsky said.

Equipped with 65 trucks that can plow and salt the roads  alongside two 1,200-gallon tank trucks for brine usage  are 72 employees on call for major storms. If needed, Burlington County has a contractor at the ready with five dump trucks with plowing and salting capabilities.

Only using 100 tons of salt last season, Burlington County did not have to buy any new inventory. The county currently has 4,600 tons of salt, 10,000 gallons of brine solution and 20,000 gallons of calcium chloride on hand.

With 13 crews at the ready, Camden County is gearing up for any sort of inclement weather moving forward. Camden County has also approved any needed overtime for their crews.

Our public works department is working hard to make sure Camden Countys roads stay open and safe, no matter what the winter season throws our way, said Commissioner Al Dyer, liaison to the Department of Public Works.

Camden County currently has over 15,000 tons of salt left over from last year. Camden County is also equipped with 80 trucks that are all operational.

This is not snow, but salt stored inside a City of Vineland salt barn for road clearing. PHOTO: Dec. 14, 2023.

Vineland, the largest city in New Jersey by area, has tons of salt left over from prior supplies.

City spokesman Mike Tofanelli said about 5,000 tons of salt is on hand in Vineland, including about 2,000 tons left over from last winter, when calls for it turned out to be light.

Vineland has 65 employees who would handle storm responses. Three crews would work, assigned to separate shifts, and $45,000 earmarked for overtime pay if needed.

The citys vehicle inventory includes six dump trucks with plows, augers, and spreaders for salt; four with plows and spreaders; four with plows only; nine pickup trucks with plows; and one 10-wheeler dump truck with a plow.

In Gloucester County, approximately 7,000 tons of salt is on hand left over from last year and earlier. The county spent $564,063 on salt and brine in 2022 and $189,049 in 2023, according to Deputy Director Heather Simmons' office.

Gloucester County has roughly 45 trucks with plows  about 38 assigned to regular snow routes and several smaller trucks that plow parking lots, ambulance stations and the maintenance yards.

Gloucester crews work from one of its two public works yards.

Have a tip? Reach out at jsmith@thedailyjournal.com. Support local journalism with a subscription.

Nick Butler is an Impact Reporter for the Courier Post. Follow on Twitter @NickbutlerNJ or email him at NButler@Gannett.com with tips.

This article originally appeared on Cherry Hill Courier-Post: South Jersey towns say salt supplies ready for snowy winter
There are still a lot of unknowns about how the race for North Carolina governor will shape up in the 2024 general elections, but multiple polls show which candidates voters favor in the primary elections.

Heres what recent polls among Democrats and Republicans tells us about voters and candidates, and what it means.

GOP primary poll

The largest group of Republican primary voters in a recent East Carolina University poll  almost half  still havent decided who they want to win.

The poll was conducted Nov. 29-Dec. 1, before the December candidate filing period. In second place after undecided is Lt. Gov. Mark Robinson with 34%, followed by lawyer and businessman Bill Graham with 8%, State Treasurer Dale Folwell with 7%, and 3% for former state Sen. Andy Wells, who has since left the race.

ECU said its sample of likely Republican primary voters had a credibility interval (CI) similar to a polls margin of error of plus or minus 5.4 percentage points.

Robinson is a MAGA Republican who went to former President Donald Trumps home at Mar-a-Lago in Palm Beach, Florida, this month for an event. He easily won his primary for lieutenant governor in 2020 among a large field of candidates, and appears to be popular with the party base.

Western Carolina University politics professor Chris Cooper said the ECU poll simply shows that people know who Robinson is more than they know who the other Republican gubernatorial candidates are in the primary.

The Republican presidential primary is crowded and competitive compared to the Democratic primary, and that could drive primary voters to the polls, he said.

Democratic primary poll

A new December poll from the left-leaning Public Policy Polling has Democrat Josh Stein in the lead for the Democratic primary. The two-term attorney general has been in the race since January and was solo for awhile, until retired N.C. Supreme Court Justice Mike Morgan entered the race in September. During December candidate filing, three more Democrats added their names to the ballot: Chrelle Booker, Marcus Williams and Gary Foxx.

Public Policy Polling reports that Stein has more than half of Democratic voters among the candidates, with 56%. Morgan trails with 5%, followed by Williams with 4%, Booker with 3% and Foxx with 1%.

Another 32% were not sure. PPP said the margin of error for the Dec. 15 and 16 survey of 556 likely Democratic voters is plus or minus 4.2 percentage points.

Retired North Carolina Supreme Court Justice Mike Morgan, left, and Attorney General Josh Stein are running in the Democratic primary for governor in 2024.

The general election

A potential Robinson-Stein matchup polled by ECU has Robinson leading with 44% of votes to Steins 40%, and 16% undecided.

The director of the ECU Center for Survey Research said its poll shows uncertainty in the governors race.

While Mark Robinson is certainly the favorite to be the Republican candidate, the fact that so many Republican primary voters are still undecided suggests that the nomination battle is not yet over, ECUs Peter Francia said in a statement when the poll was released. And, no matter who the Republican (presidential) is, the general election for governor should be an extremely competitive election.

Role of endorsements

The Public Policy Polling poll also asked if an endorsement from Democratic Gov. Roy Cooper, who has an 89% approval rating in the same poll, carries weight with Democratic primary voters. And 64% of them said it would. Cooper, who is beginning the final year of his two terms, has endorsed Stein. The governor told The N&O this week that he doesnt anticipate getting involved in any other primaries in this election, aside from Steins.

Robinson has received two endorsements lately from state party leaders.

Robinson, whose role as lieutenant governor means he is president of the Senate, has been endorsed by Senate leader Phil Berger and House Speaker Tim Moore, the Republican top duo who have controlled the General Assembly together for more than a decade. Moore is leaving at the end of his term and is running for Congress. He will continue to serve as speaker throughout the 2024 legislative session, he told reporters last week, and retains significant power.

North Carolina Lt. Governor Mark Robinson arrives for a rally where he announced his candidacy for governor of North Carolina on Saturday, April 22, 2023 at Ace Speedway in Elon, N.C.

U.S. Sen. Thom Tillis endorsed Graham over Robinson, The National Review reported.

Robinson is expected to get Trumps endorsement, though the former president stopped short of using that word when he complimented Robinson at the Florida event.

North Carolina Gov. Roy Cooper, left, and Attorney General Josh Stein share a moment backstage as Stein prepares to kick off his campaign for governor during a rally at C.C. Spaulding Gymnasium on the campus of Shaw University in downtown Raleigh on Tuesday, October 10, 2023.

What a national poll shows

Reuters/Ipsos released a new national poll in December about the presidential race. Assuming Trump is the nominee against incumbent President Joe Biden, polling shows them in a close race. North Carolina, as a state, has a history of close presidential races, too.

Voters in this state chose President Barack Obama as well as Trump in different elections.

Cooper, the politics professor, said that polls 11 months before the general election can give you some sense of the mood of voters. They are important, and can be meaningful, but theyre not predictive at this point, because most people aside from hardcore partisan voters arent paying attention.

Every time you get closer to the election its going to be more predictive, but I think what these polls can do ... is it helps winnow the field, he said.

So who do polls serve?

They can be a signal to candidates, legislators and policymakers, Cooper said. They can also show if a candidate is a fringe one or a contender. For Robinson, polls showing him in the lead prove hes a contender. Take him seriously, because he might win this election. I think thats really important, he said.

The North Carolina primary election is March 5.
Students at Washington Irving Dual Language Academy cheer for Principal Mayra Gutierrez-Ibarra on Dec. 14, thanking her for implementing a "pajamas day" for students. The school is part of San Antonio Independent School District, which is seeing increased demand for dual language programs that teach students core subjects like math and reading in both English and Spanish. Josie Norris/San Antonio Express-News Fourth-grade students work on an assignment at Washington Irving Dual Language Academy in San Antonio on Dec. 14. The school is part of the San Antonio Independent School District, which is seeing increased demand for dual language programs that teach students core subjects like math and reading in both English and Spanish. Josie Norris/San Antonio Express-News Fourth-grade students work on an assignment at Washington Irving Dual Language Academy in San Antonio on Dec. 14. The school is part of the San Antonio Independent School District, which is seeing increased demand for dual language programs that teach students core subjects like math and reading in both English and Spanish. Josie Norris/San Antonio Express-News Principal Mayra Gutierrez-Ibarra looks through writing exercises displayed in the hallway at Washington Irving Dual Language Academy in San Antonio on Dec. 14. Josie Norris/San Antonio Express-News Wearing matching pajamas, a pair of fourth-grade students work on an assignment at Washington Irving Dual Language Academy in San Antonio on Dec.14. Josie Norris/San Antonio Express-News Spanish language educational materials cover the walls in Imelda Cruzs kindergarten classroom at Washington Irving Dual Language Academy in San Antonio on Dec.14. Josie Norris/San Antonio Express-News Kindergarten teacher Imelda Cruz reads to her class at Washington Irving Dual Language Academy in San Antonio on Dec. 14. The school is part of the San Antonio Independent School District, which is seeing increased demand for dual language programs that teach students core subjects like math and reading in both English and Spanish. Josie Norris/San Antonio Express-News Kindergarten Teacher Imelda Cruz reads a book in Spanish to her class at Washington Irving Dual Language Academy in San Antonio on Dec. 14. The school is part of the San Antonio Independent School District, which is seeing increased demand for dual language programs that teach core subjects like math and reading in both English and Spanish. Josie Norris/San Antonio Express-News Kindergarten students practice their Spanish skills at Washington Irving Dual Language Academy in San Antonio on Dec. 14. Josie Norris/San Antonio Express-News Students head to their classroom at Washington Irving Dual Language Academy in San Antonio on Dec. 14. The school is part of the San Antonio Independent School District, which is seeing increased demand for dual language programs that teach core subjects like math and reading in both English and Spanish. Josie Norris/San Antonio Express-News Parishioners attend a Spanish-only Mass at San Fernando Cathedral in San Antonio on Dec. 17. The church offers two Spanish-only Masses each Sunday, and has bilingual and English Masses throughout the week. KAYLEE GREENLEE BEAL San Fernando Cathedral in San Antonio offers two Spanish-only Masses each Sunday, and has bilingual and English Masses throughout the week. The Rev. Carlos Berardo Velazquez, the churchs rector, says the Spanish-only Masses tend to attract older parishioners, but they are among the best-attended services each week. Kaylee Greenlee Beal Church members take part in a Spanish-only Mass at San Fernando Cathedral in San Antonio on Dec.17. The church offers two Spanish-only Masses each Sunday, and has bilingual and English Masses throughout the week. The Rev. Carlos Berardo Velazquez, the churchs rector, says the Spanish-only Masses tend to attract older parishioners and are among the best-attended services each week. KAYLEE GREENLEE BEAL An attendee looks through literature during a Spanish-only Mass at San Fernando Cathedral in San Antonio on Dec.17. The church offers two Spanish-only Masses each Sunday, and has bilingual and English Masses throughout the week. The Rev. Carlos Berardo Velazquez, the churchs rector, says the Spanish-only Masses tend to attract older parishioners and are among the best-attended services each week. KAYLEE GREENLEE BEAL Church members take part in a Spanish-only Mass at San Fernando Cathedral in San Antonio on Dec.17. The church offers two Spanish-only Masses each Sunday, and has bilingual and English Masses throughout the week. The Rev. Carlos Berardo Velazquez, the churchs rector, says the Spanish-only Masses tend to attract older parishioners and are among the best-attended services each week. KAYLEE GREENLEE BEAL Church members take part in a Spanish-only Mass at San Fernando Cathedral in San Antonio on Dec.17. The church offers two Spanish-only Masses each Sunday, and has bilingual and English Masses throughout the week. The Rev. Carlos Berardo Velazquez, the churchs rector, says the Spanish-only Masses tend to attract older parishioners and are among the best-attended services each week. KAYLEE GREENLEE BEAL Church members take part in a Spanish-only Mass at San Fernando Cathedral in San Antonio on Dec.17. The church offers two Spanish-only Masses each Sunday, and has bilingual and English Masses throughout the week. Kaylee Greenlee Beal Clergy members prepare for communion during a Spanish-only Mass at San Fernando Cathedral in San Antonio on Dec. 17. The church offers two Spanish-only Masses each Sunday, and has bilingual and English Masses throughout the week. The Rev. Carlos Berardo Velazquez, the churchs rector, says the Spanish-only Masses tend to attract older parishioners and are among the best-attended services each week. Kaylee Greenlee Beal Church members take part in a Spanish-only Mass at San Fernando Cathedral in San Antonio on Dec.17. The church offers two Spanish-only Masses each Sunday, and has bilingual and English Masses throughout the week. The Rev. Carlos Berardo Velazquez, the churchs rector, says the Spanish-only Masses tend to attract older parishioners and are among the best-attended services each week. Kaylee Greenlee Beal Parishioners receive communion during a Spanish-only Mass at San Fernando Cathedral in San Antonio on Dec.17. The church offers two Spanish-only Masses each Sunday, and has bilingual and English Masses throughout the week. The Rev. Carlos Berardo Velazquez, the churchs rector, says the Spanish-only Masses tend to attract older parishioners and are among the best-attended services each week. Kaylee Greenlee Beal A clergy member prays over parishioners after a Spanish-only Mass at San Fernando Cathedral in San Antonio on Dec.17. The church offers two Spanish-only Masses each Sunday, and has bilingual and English Masses throughout the week. KAYLEE GREENLEE BEAL A clergy member performs a blessing after a Spanish-only Mass at San Fernando Cathedral in San Antonio on Dec.17. The church offers two Spanish-only Masses each Sunday, and has bilingual and English Masses throughout the week. Kaylee Greenlee Beal A clergy member performs a blessing after a Spanish-only Mass at San Fernando Cathedral in San Antonio on Dec.17. The church offers two Spanish-only Masses each Sunday, and has bilingual and English Masses throughout the week. Kaylee Greenlee Beal Parishioners talk after a Spanish-only Mass at San Fernando Cathedral in San Antonio on Dec.17. The church offers two Spanish-only Masses each Sunday, and has bilingual and English Masses throughout the week. The Rev. Carlos Berardo Velazquez, the churchs rector, says the Spanish-only Masses tend to attract older parishioners and are among the best-attended services each week. KAYLEE GREENLEE BEAL

Like many bilingual children, Alicia Reyes-Barrientez lived in two worlds.

At church and at home, she spoke Spanish, her Mexican mothers native tongue. But the rest of her world in Texas demanded English.

I knew that I needed to talk like the white kids to be respected by my white teachers, said Reyes-Barrientez, who grew up in Laredo. Its not that I didnt want to be Mexican. I just wanted the privilege of being white, the privilege of being in the dominant group.

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But Reyes-Barrientez always felt pride in being bilingual, saying it was second nature to her and her two siblings. Now raising two kids of her own in San Antonio, she wants them to learn both languages, too.

One of the priorities in raising our children has been for them to also be fully bilingual and bicultural, she said.

But it hasnt been an easy journey for the political science professor and her husband, who speaks some Spanish but isnt as fluent. When she speaks to her 10-year-old daughter and 4-year-old son in Spanish, they can understand her, but they have more trouble speaking it themselves, she said.

I imagined that my children would be completely fluent by now, she said. Theyre not, which is disheartening.

Reyes-Barrientez wants to make sure her children arent part of a trend in the San Antonio area: A dip in the percentage of residents who speak Spanish.

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Data from the U.S. Census Bureau show that as the San Antonio metro area grows, the percentage of residents who speak Spanish is going down.

Its a troubling trend for many in San Antonio, a place where Spanish language and Hispanic culture run deep, tracing back to the citys roots as part of the Spanish empire, then part of Mexico, as well as its proximity to Latin America. Community leaders and academic experts say the shift raises questions about the regions culture and future, and also has the potential to be a drag on the regions economy.

Not teaching Spanish is always a loss, said Alfredo Avalos, coordinator for community and culture at the Universidad Nacional Autonoma de Mexicos San Antonio branch. Opportunities can be lost, along with culture.

MORE COVERAGE: Success of National Hispanic Heritage Month stirring debate

Across all age groups

According to data from the U.S. Census Bureau, the percentage of Spanish speakers in the San Antonio-New Braunfels metropolitan area is gradually falling, though it remains the highest among similar-sized cities.

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Between 2018 and 2022, 30.8% of people in the metro area over the age of 5 spoke Spanish at home. That was down from just over 33% between 2013 and 2017. Thats according to the American Community Survey, which is conducted by the Census Bureau in five-year intervals. The data show the continuation of a decline thats been observed for the past decade: in 2012, more than 35% of metro area residents spoke Spanish.

About 13% of people in the United States speak Spanish, while about 29% of Texans speak the language, according to the most recent Census Bureau data.

San Antonios 2.45 percentage point drop in the share of Spanish speakers was the largest among U.S. metro areas with 2.25 million to 2.85 million residents. The next-largest drop was Austin, which saw a 1.59 percentage point decline.

In the San Antonio area, the largest decline was among residents age 18 to 64, where the percentage of Spanish speakers fell from 35.6% in 2017 to 32.8% in 2022. Among children ages 5 to 17, the share that speaks Spanish fell from 23.3% in 2017 to 20.7% in 2022. In the 65 and older age group, the share of Spanish speakers fell by 1.2 percentage points.

Not everyone trusts the data: Graciela Sanchez, executive director of San Antonio nonprofit Esperanza Peace and Justice Center, questions the census numbers. Spanish speakers might not have wanted to respond or identify themselves, she said, and she said she thinks the coronavirus pandemic had an effect on responses. The Hispanic or Latino population was undercounted by 4.99%, according to the Census Bureau.

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Ive never spoken more Spanish in the community, Sanchez said, especially compared with 20 years ago, when it seemed like fewer people, and young people in particular, were speaking it. She said shes also seeing more people demand access to Spanish translators in places like San Antonio City Hall and hospitals, so they can communicate in the language theyre most comfortable in, she said.

The census data show the size of the decline has varied around the region. Within San Antonio city limits, the percentage of Spanish speakers fell by about 2.2 percentage points, and in New Braunfels, it declined by about 1.4 percentage points. In some parts of the metro area, however, the percentage increased: in Schertz, for example, the percentage of the population that speaks Spanish at home increased from about 11% in 2017 to more than 17% in 2022, and in Helotes, it increased from about 10% to about 14%.

Demographic changes

Experts say the shift reflects multiple external factors, ranging from demographic changes to generational losses.

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Lloyd Potter, the Texas state demographer, pointed to the regions rapid growth as one explanation. The overall number of Spanish speakers in the metro area increased by nearly 6,000, even though the percentage fell, which Potter attributed to the arrival of more new residents who dont speak Spanish.

He and Rogelio Saenz, a professor of sociology and demography at the University of Texas at San Antonio, said the decline also reflects changes in language use across generations.

In San Antonio, we have a high percentage of Latinos who were born in the U.S., Saenz said, and a lower percentage of Latinos born outside the country than in other Texas cities, such as Houston and Dallas. In Bexar County, 15% of the Hispanic or Latino population is foreign-born, according to the census data, compared with 40% in Dallas County, 39% in Harris County and 27% in Travis County.

In families that have been in the country for a longer time, theres often an increase in the use of English and a decline in Spanish, Saenz said. While parents and grandparents may have spoken Spanish, for example, their children and grandchildren might not have learned it, or lost the skills before passing them on.

Whitney Chappell, an associate professor of modern languages and literatures at UTSA, called it the three-generation shift, a trend in linguistics that could account for current and future declines in the percentage of Spanish speakers in an area. The third generation of immigrant families are mainly dominant English speakers, often speaking little to no Spanish, Chappell said. Some might be receptive bilinguals, people who understand a language but cant respond to it in the same language.

She said she sees this trend in her neighborhood in the near West Side of San Antonio  grandparents speak to their grandchildren in Spanish, but the younger generation can only respond in English.

Some of that stems from a legacy of punishment and stigmatization of the language, and policies that forced past generations to use only English, Chappell said. Some of those grandparents were part of the generations that were punished for speaking Spanish outside of the house.

They literally had the Spanish beat out of them, Chappell said. You dont see that happen anymore, thankfully. But we still see psychological violence and pressure to assimilate to English, which is why we have that three-generation shift.

Saenz taught at Texas A&M University for more than two decades, and said a number of Latino students there told him their parents were humiliated or punished for speaking Spanish at school. They wanted to protect their children from that by not teaching them the language, he said.

Language loss also occurs over time as younger generations spend time in environments where they hear and use Spanish less often  in school, in mass media, in their communities  which can accelerate the decline, Saenz said.

At San Fernando Cathedral in downtown San Antonio, the generational divide can be seen by who attends the churchs Spanish-language Masses each week. The crowds skew older for the two Sunday Masses in Spanish, while the crowds tend to be younger for the English and bilingual services, said the Rev. Carlos Berardo Velazquez, the churchs rector.

While the church provides more options for English and bilingual Mass  those are offered daily, compared to the two Spanish-only Masses each Sunday  the services in Spanish are by far the best attended, Velazquez said.

Even with the decline shown by the census data, Velazquez  who was raised in San Antonio and has spent more than 30 years in the citys archdiocese  said he thinks Spanish is alive and well in San Antonio.

I (dont) think thats as big of a fear as it would be as if we were talking French, or German, or Russian, he said. Because were not that close to France, to Germany and to Russia  but were very close to Mexico, and some other Spanish-speaking countries.

But other San Antonio residents say they are worried about the long-term cultural implications of a continuing decline in the percentage of people who speak Spanish.

Important aspect

Alicia Martinez, who is Reyes-Barrientezs mother, is one of the people who have experienced the generational loss of the language in their own families.

Her dream was for her three children to study in the United States, she said, but she taught them Spanish at home.

It was important for her to ensure her children kept her native language, as well as the customs, values and traditions. She said she wants that for her grandchildren, so she speaks Spanish with them.

The language and the cultural knowledge go hand-in-hand, Reyes Barrientez said. Its not everything that we are as a culture, but its an important aspect of our culture, she said.

Loss of Spanish can challenge relationships, Saenz said. When younger generations cant fully communicate with parents or grandparents, theres that loss of closeness that takes place.

I do hear a lot of young people lamenting that they never could communicate in a very intimate way with their grandparents, he said. That represents a very emotional loss that people face.

In a city like San Antonio, English and Spanish have to coexist, said Avalos, of the Universidad Nacional Autonoma de Mexicos San Antonio branch. Commonly known as UNAM, the school is the oldest and largest university in Mexico, and has operated a campus in San Antonio since 1944.

Preserving diverse cultures makes the United States stronger, Avalos said.

The U.S. isnt a monolingual country, as some would have you believe, Avalos said in Spanish. Its always been a nation of languages. Each wave of immigrants brings their language, their culture. The preservation of that culture  not just Hispanic culture, but all the cultures here in the U.S.  is important because it makes us a diverse nation. A strong nation. An interesting one.

Its also an economic issue, Saenz said. Speaking more than one language is increasingly seen as an asset in the business world and in consumer markets, he said, especially with San Antonios place in the South Texas Triangle, a region of more than 10 million people, encompassing northern Mexico.

The extent to which you have these declines in Spanish use and bilingualism represents not only a cultural and an ethnic loss, but also an economic loss for the state as well, he said.

An essential language

Despite the shift in the use of Spanish, Avalos said he believes Latino culture still thrives in San Antonio. He pointed to the crowds of people attending Muertos Fest in November for Dia de los Muertos, and said UNAM San Antonios Spanish courses arent struggling to fill classrooms.

Learning a second language is a privilege for native English speakers, Avalos said  something to be celebrated. To non-native speakers, its the bare minimum required to survive, let alone progress in American society, he said. For some UNAM students, learning the language now is a way to reclaim it, because they werent allowed to speak it growing up, he said.

Spanish is an essential language that hundreds of millions speak, Avalos said. Letting the opportunity pass by is wrong.

Changing the perception around speaking Spanish is part of UNAM San Antonios mission, Avalos said. Being bilingual is a superpower and needs to be encouraged for children, he said.

In the San Antonio Independent School District, the third-largest district in the city, the waiting lists to get into its 54 dual language programs show that plenty of parents want that superpower for their kids.

The district has seen increasing demand for those programs, which teach students core subjects like math and reading in both English and Spanish. Gala Friese, director of bilingual compliance for the district, said the demand has come from both English-speaking families and emergent bilingual students  those who come into the program speaking a language other than English at home. The district also offers English as a second language programs, which focus only on teaching English.

San Antonio ISD isnt seeing any declines in its Spanish-speaking population; in fact, that number has climbed recently, Friese said. Since the 2016-17 school year, the district has had about 10,000 emergent bilingual students each school year. More than 90% of those students are from Spanish-speaking families, she said. This year, the number climbed to just over 11,000, even as the district is planning to close 15 campuses due to overall enrollment declines.

The number of Spanish-speaking students hasnt grown evenly around the district, which can complicate enrollment in dual language programs. The model requires an even mix of English speakers and English learners, so they can learn English and Spanish from each other, without one overwhelming the other. At some campuses, the waiting lists for English-only students wanting to enter a dual language program are much longer than those for English learners, such as Rodriguez Montessori Elementary. The district cant expand that program without losing the balance of students, unless it can enroll more emerging bilingual students there, which would add more spots for English-speaking students.

But in other parts of the district, there have been significant increases in Spanish-speaking families seeking dual language programs, Friese said. The biggest increases have come at the secondary level, in middle and high school, she said, though this year there were also big surges in preschool, kindergarten and fourth grade.

Its just knowing that its the future, being able to communicate with people of different cultures, and really those cognitive benefits of being able to switch between both languages and build the communication skills, Friese said.

An eternal fight

Saenz said he sees a ray of hope in the individual efforts to learn Spanish, like the college students signing up for classes. But he said he expects the decline to continue without more expansive resources and opportunities for learning.

Altering the trajectory requires challenging the ingrained assumption that one language should dominate over another, Chappell said.

We can still see these problematic ideologies playing out on a broader scale that dont value Spanish to the same level that were valuing English, and we dont value Spanish equally across all groups of Spanish speakers, she said. Native Spanish speakers should be celebrated for their bilingualism the same way English-speakers who opt to learn Spanish are, she said.

Nobody thinks Spanish is in danger of disappearing, Chappell said, but having many cases of people losing the language early in life and later attempting to rediscover it points to something wrong in the educational system.

If these numbers continue to shift in that direction and if we continue to have an influx of English speakers who do not speak Spanish coming into San Antonio, that does pose an additional threat to the vitality of Spanish, she said.

For parents like Reyes-Barrientez, raising bilingual children continues to be an important mission  even if its not always an easy one.

Her daughter attends weekly Spanish classes, and shes hoping to enroll her son in a dual language program when he starts kindergarten. But they arent surrounded by the language in their community the way she was, and learning it doesnt feel as vital to them, she said.

Her daughter sometimes asks why she has to learn Spanish, and thats a really complicated question to answer, Reyes-Barrientez said. You dont want your children to have to be asking that question. You want your child to be in a community where its valued and prominent and respected.

Reyes-Barrientez said shes proud of the progress her children have made, and of herself for putting in the work to get them there.

On the one hand, yes, Im disappointed that theyre not completely fluent, but Im so proud that this is a gift Im giving to them, she said.

Thats a sentiment shared by her mother, Martinez, who said Latino parents must insist on passing down the language.

Tenemos que echarle ganas, Martinez said. Es una lucha eterna aqui.
As New Jersey braces for another round of rainfall following recent storms that dumped over 5 inches of rain in certain areas, the aftermath has left communities on high alert after Thursday's precipitation.

Pequannock police are anticipating a moderate flood event after the region received about 2.5 inches of rain. The community is urged to stay vigilant and take necessary precautions to mitigate potential risks associated with flooding.

In Denville Township, several road closures have been reported, adding to the complications faced by residents. Riverside Drive between Diamond Spring and Hinchman, Old Boonton Road between Rockaway River Country Club and Roleson Way, the Lower Bloomfield Ave lot at St. Clare's Hospital, and Palmer Road at the Randolph Township Border are all affected, as motorists are urged to plan alternative routes.

The impact of the storms has extended to Hasbrouck Heights, where flooding on Route 17 north has led to the closure of two lanes.

Here is the amount of rain most of the towns witnessed, according to Bob Ziff of the North Jersey Weather Observers:

NJ rain totals

Ramsey 2.35

Haworth 2.14

Bergenfield 1.55

Lyndhurst 1.70

North Haledon 1.96

Vernon 1.86

Wantage 1.96

High Point 2.05

Parsippany 2.80

New Brunswick 1.83

Stewartsville 2.53

Paramus 2.16"

This article originally appeared on NorthJersey.com: NJ flooding returns with latest rainstorm in region
At least 1,213 citizens of Russia who do not meet the requirements of a recent immigration law and failed to apply for a residence permit will be deported from Latvia, as announced by the Directorate for Citizenship and Migration Affairs of Latvia, and reported by the Latvia outlet Delfi.

The amended immigration law required them to apply for a residence permit in Latvia by the Nov 30 deadline, and there is no information that these people have already left the country.

Read also: Latvian president warns West about serious consequences if support for Ukraine falls

Of those citizens of the Russian Federation who had already delayed Nov 30th deadline, 1,344 still submitted documents for obtaining other (temporary, not permanent) residence permits.

Read also: Latvia gifts Ukraine $1 million in seized drunk-driving cars

"The information collected at this point indicates that another 904 people crossed the external border of Latvia and left the country," the article reads.

Read also: Latvia may expel over 3,000 Russian citizens

Earlier, it was reported that Latvia will ask six thousand Russian citizens to leave the country.

When Latvia regained independence from the Soviet Union in 1991, they did not recognize the decisions made by the Soviet government as valid. This left the countrys substantial population of Russians as legal residents, though many have since obtained citizenship.

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Read the original article on The New Voice of Ukraine
Districts of Chernihiv Oblast have received 32 diesel generators of various capacities for educational institutions from Latvia.

Source: Ukrinform news agency, with reference to Chernihiv Oblast Military Administration

Details: As noted, the generators will help ensure an uninterrupted power supply in educational institutions.

"We received an 18 kW generator for a kindergarten attended by 200 children. This is very important for us. Thanks to this help, we will be able to ensure the operation of the boiler room and kitchen. So the premises will be heated and the children will be well-fed even during a power outage," said Daryna Halushka, director of the Dzhereltse kindergarten in Varva.

Yurii Muzyka, Head of the Department of Education and Science at Chernihiv Oblast State Administration, said that Latvian partners are planning to provide computer equipment for educational institutions.

Background:

In early December, it was reported that Riga had handed over ten buses for public transport to Chernihiv, as well as humanitarian aid collected by the city's residents.

During his last visit to Ukraine, Latvian President Edgars Rinkevics also visited Chernihiv to see the installation of modular buildings funded by Latvia.

He said that Latvia had allocated 5 million for rebuilding Chernihiv Oblast and was planning to allocate the same amount for that purpose again.

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Representative Lauren Boebert has apparently come to the realization that she cant win reelection, so shes changing districts in an attempt to stay in Congress.

Boebert currently represents Colorados 3rd district, where she just barely eked out a reelection win in 2022. She announced Wednesday night that in 2024, she will abandon her home district to make a run in Colorados 4th district instead, a Republican stronghold currently represented by Ken Buckwho in recent years has often found himself at odds with his party.



I did not arrive at this decision easily, Boebert said in a video announcing the change. A lot of prayer, a lot of tough conversations, and a lot of perspective convinced me that this is the best way I can continue to fight for Colorado, for the conservative movement, and for my childrens future.



Republicans will hold the 3rd, and Ill proudly represent the 4th, and Republicans will be stronger for it.



Although Boebert is playing her decision off as a strategic move for the greater good of the party, she is really tacitly admitting that she doesnt think she stands a chance at winning reelection. She won by just 546 votes in 2022, after a tight election that nearly went to a recount.



Still, while state Democrats celebrated Boeberts decision, its unclear whether the Democratic candidate for the 3rd district, Adam Frisch, can win without Boebert as his foil. The last time the district elected a Democrat was in 2008; Frisch came close in 2022 largely because Boebert has stoked so much antipathy among voters.



When Frisch ran against Boebert last year, his campaign focused tightly on a message of rejecting hernot the Republican Party at large. There are already multiple Republican candidates who were vying to primary Boebert, and now that shes out, more GOP hopefuls may jump in.



But its not a given that Boebert will win in the 4th. She has been struggling with a public image that casts her as a political extremist, and she received a humiliating dose of national backlash after she and a date were caught on security cameras talking, using their phones, vaping, and groping each other while seeing a performance of Beetlejuice.



Whats more, she would be running to replace Buck. Despite being on the ideological far right of his partyBuck and Boebert are both members of the Freedom CaucusBuck has been one of the most outspoken opponents of the impeachment inquiry into President Joe Biden. He announced in November that he wont seek reelection, pointing to Republicans embrace of 2020 election denialism and their inability to accomplish anything.



There are already multiple candidates in the race to replace Buck, and more are expected to join in the coming days. One of those candidates, state Representative Richard Holtorf, has already slammed Boebert for carpetbagging.



Seat shopping isnt something the voters look kindly upon, he said in a statement. If you cant win in your home, you cant win here. In her attempt to stay in power, Boebert may just have signed her own walking papers.
U.S. Rep. Lauren Boebert will not seek reelection in Colorados 3rd Congressional District and will instead run for the states 4th Congressional District seat, the second-term congresswoman announced Wednesday.

Rather than mount a rematch campaign against Democratic challenger Adam Frisch in what likely wouldve been one of the most watched and tightly contested House races in the country, Boebert will now run for the seat being vacated by U.S. Rep. Ken Buck, who announced in November he would not seek a sixth term.

"I did not arrive at this decision easily, Boebert said in a news release announcing the decision. A lot of prayer, a lot of tough conversations, and a lot of perspective have convinced me this is the best way I can continue to fight for Colorado, for the conservative movement, for my kids future, and for the future of this great country.

Boeberts contest against Frisch drew national attention to Pueblo on Election Day 2022. She narrowly bested the Democrat from Aspen by just 546 votes in the strong Republican-leaning district that encompasses Pueblo and the Western Slope.

Frisch has also far outraised Boebert throughout his 2024 campaign.

The 3rd District holds a nine-point Republican advantage, which increased after redistricted maps were finalized in 2021, but Colorados 4th District is even redder with a 27-point Republican advantage, bolstering Boebert's election chances.

Congresswoman Lauren Boebert speaking at the Freedom Fest hosted by the Pueblo County Republican Party at the state fairgrounds on July 8, 2023.

House of Representatives members do not need to live in the district they represent.

Professionally, Colorados 4th District is hungry for an unapologetic defender of freedom with a proven track record of standing strong for conservative principles. I love Colorados 3rd District and I will continue working as hard as I can for the remainder of my term to be a great Representative for the district, Boebert said in the release.

"But I also spent years living on the Front Range and years representing Rural America. The 3rd and the 4th Congressional Districts comprise nearly 85% of Colorados footprint and have less than 20 people per square mile. Rural America deserves a strong voice that fights for their freedoms.

Congresswoman Lauren Boebert speaks Gary Amella during the Mt. Carmel Veterans Service Center Salute to Heroes event at Pueblo Community College on Thursday, Jan. 19, 2023.

In the release, Boebert stated that her move to the 4th District will help stop Hollywood elites and national progressive groups from buying the 3rd District.

They arent pouring millions into the 3rd District based on policy differences, they are pouring it in because they know what a threat I am to their liberal agenda, she said. I will not allow dark-money that is directed at destroying me to steal this seat. Its not fair to the 3rd District and the conservatives there who have fought so hard for our victories, of which Im incredibly grateful.

State Democratic Party chair calls Boebert's move 'cowardly'

In a news release Wednesday evening, Colorado Democratic Party Chair Shad Murib called Boebert's decision "cowardly."

"The good people of Western and Southern Colorado didnt wait for an election to beat Lauren Boebert  we scared her straight and chased her out of her own district. With this carpetbagging move, Lauren Boebert has shown herself to be everything she claims she isnt: a typical swampy politician looking for a reason to call Washington D.C. home. Shes a loser in CD3, and shell be a loser in CD4  Coloradans wont buy her bulls--- in 2024," Murib said in the statement.

Colorado Democrats launched The 546 Project, our unprecedented year-round campaign in Western and Southern Colorado, to make sure that rural Colorado is represented by someone committed to protecting our outdoor spaces, expanding health care, and treating people right  not hurting our farmers and ranchers with bad policies and foolish trade wars, or selling our public lands off to the highest bidders. We look forward to this fight.

Boebert will join a crowded field in the 4th District

Buck, the conservative Republican who represents much of Colorados eastern plains, announced Nov. 1 he would not seek a sixth term in Congress and cited those in his party who refuse to accept the results of the 2020 presidential election and to condemn the Jan. 6, 2021, attack on the Capitol, the Associated Press reported.

In running for Buck's soon-to-be-vacated seat, Boebert joins a crowded field that includes state Rep. Richard Holtorf of Akron, Conservative radio host Deborah Flora, former state Sen. Jerry Sonnenberg of Sterling, and former state Sen. Ted Harvey of Highlands Ranch, according to the Colorado Sun.

Chieftain Editor Zach Hillstrom can be reached at zhillstrom@gannett.com or on X, formerly Twitter, at @ZachHillstrom. Support local news, subscribe to the Pueblo Chieftain at subscribe.chieftain.com.

This article originally appeared on The Pueblo Chieftain: Why Lauren Boebert is switching congressional districts
In a video announcement posted to Facebook on Wednesday night, Rep. Lauren Boebert, R-Colo. reveals that she is switching from Colorado's 3rd Congressional District to run in Colorado's 4th Congressional District in the upcoming 2024 elections, which will place her in what CPR News calls "a safer Republican seat."

In her announcement, Boebert speaks of this bold change saying, Its the right move for me personally and its the right decision for those who support our conservative movement, adding, "A lot of prayer, a lot of tough conversations, and a lot of perspective have convinced me this is the best way I can continue to fight for Colorado.

As MTN points out, "Boebert has been facing an uphill battle for reelection in Colorado's 3rd, as the MAGA congresswoman has become better known for her scandals than her ability to actually govern." In terms of these scandals, they're referring to her being booted from a production of "Beetlejuice" the musical in Denver back in September after vaping in the auditorium and engaging in public groping with her date on that evening. This has not helped in her fundraising efforts, which have been lacking compared to those of her Democratic opponent, Adam Frisch.

Per The Colorado Sun, "The 3rd District leans 9 percentage points in Republicans favor while the 4th District leans 27 points toward the GOP, according to a nonpartisan analysis of election results from 2016 to 2020 by staffers for the Colorado legislature. Boebert doesnt have to live in the 4th District to represent it."

Watch her announcement here.
Republican lawmaker Lauren Boebert has announced she is switching Colorado districts in an attempt to stay in Congress.

Ms Boebert was facing a tough re-election campaign against Democrat Adam Frisch in the 3rd Congressional District and announced on Wednesday that she will now compete in the more GOP-friendly 4th.

The move comes a few months after she made national headlines when she and a male companion were kicked out of a performance of Beetlejuice in Denver.

Security footage appeared to show the pair groping each other in the theatre, and she was accused of vaping, talking loudly and using her phone.

I did not arrive at this decision easily, Boebert said in a Facebook video on Wednesday. A lot of prayer, a lot of tough conversations and a lot of perspective convinced me that this is the best way I can continue to fight for Colorado, for the conservative movement and for my childrens future.

Ms Boebert had lost the support of senior Republican figures in the western part of the state and struggled with fundraising, reported The Colorado Sun.

Personally, this announcement is a fresh start following a pretty difficult year for me and my family, she added, in the video.

Ms Boebert, a 37-year-old mother of four who is also a grandmother, currently lives hundreds of miles away from the district she is seeking to represent.

But she says that she will move to the district in 2024, although it is not required to run for office.

Ms Boebert won the 3rd District by just 546 votes in 2022. However a Republican victory there is more likely if she is not the candidate as the 3rd District has not elected a Democrat since 2008.

Republicans will hold the 3rd and Ill proudly represent the 4th and Republicans will be stronger for it, Ms Boebert said in her video.
President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelenskyi on Dec 28 signed a new law which would provide criminal liability for cross-border smuggling.

According to the website of the Verkhovna Rada, the signed law concerns the criminalization of smuggling of goods and excise goods and false declaration of goods.

Read also: Over 60 smuggling networks dismantled by Ukraine's security services since Feb 2022

The law provides for a gradient of severity dependity on the value of the goods being smuggled, but at the upper end, smuggling over 2.271 million hryvnias in goods ($59,638) would be punished with a 1.275 million hryvnias ($33,482) fine.

Read also: EU advises Ukraine to strengthen combating corruption and arms smuggling

People's deputy Yaroslav Zheleznyak from the political party Golos noted that the adoption of this draft law is a requirement from the EU for Ukraine to receive macro-financial assistance of 1.5 billion euros. He also noted that some of the requirements of the law were altered with input from the business community, including increasing the threshold for when criminal liability is introduced.

Read also: Entrepreneurs urge Ukraines Parliament to review bill on smuggling criminalization

On December 7, the Ukrainian business community appealed to the Verkhovna Rada with a request to send the draft law on the criminalization of smuggling for finalization before its adoption in the second reading.

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Read the original article on The New Voice of Ukraine
Las Palapas plans to release branded pajamas, according to its recent social media posts. Mike Sutter/Staff

A San Antonio brand popular for its Tex-Mex cuisine is expanding its menu, but not how you might expect.

Las Palapas has grown into an Alamo City standby since it opened its first location in 1981. But in a departure from tacos or signature margaritas, the restaurant plans to soon market something neither edible nor fit to drink.

Venturing into retail, the chain offered its 61,000 followers on Facebook a photo of a branded pajama set with the caption, Sneak peek: comfy Las Palapas PJs coming soon.

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The social media post shows a black long-sleeve T-shirt that reads in a large font, Wake up with someone hot! It is paired with black and white plaid pajama pants decorated with the restaurant logo and a graphic of its mascot Okie holding a cup of coffee and a taco.

Brad Peak, chief analytics officer of Las Palapas, said via email that the pajamas are part of a campaign to establish Las Palapas as your place to wake up with hot breakfast tacos and hot coffee.

Peak said the brand will test out the sale of the pajamas on its Facebook page and through its rewards and loyalty program in January.

The Dec. 23 Facebook post teasing the pajama line has attracted more than 50 likes and a handful of comments from excited customers.

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You should have one that says tacos and margaritas, one user wrote.

I must have them! They rock! said another.

Las Palapas menu includes a comprehensive breakfast lineup and a wide array of Mexican entree standards, desserts and specials for seniors and kids.
On Jan. 15, Ohios Social Media Parental Notification Act will go into effect, and big name companies will have until then to comply. Ohio Gov. Mike DeWine signed the states annual budget in July, which included the Social Media Parental Notification Act.

Starting in January a new state law will make it harder for children under 16 to access social media in Ohio.

On Jan. 15, Ohios Social Media Parental Notification Act will go into effect, and big name companies will have until then to comply. Ohio Gov. Mike DeWine signed the states annual budget in July, which included the Social Media Parental Notification Act.

Here's everything to know about Ohio's new law and how it works.

What is Ohio's new social media law?

The law requires companies to obtain parental consent to contractual terms of service from a parent or legal guardian before individuals younger than 16 can use the companies' platforms. This includes social media and online gaming or activity companies, such as Facebook, Instagram, YouTube, TikTok and Snapchat. It does not pertain to e-commerce platforms.

If a parent or legal guardian fails or refuses to consent to the terms of service, the company must deny the child access or use of the platform.

How do companies obtain consent?

Companies will have to follow certain steps in order to consent from a parent or legal guardian. The steps include creating a method to determine whether the user is a child under the age of 16 and obtaining verifiable parental or legal guardian consent

If the user indicates that they are under the age of 16, the following methods can be used for verification:

Sign a digital form consenting to the terms of service

Use a credit card, debit card, or other online payment system

Call a toll-free telephone number

Connect to trained personnel via video-conference

Check a form of government-issued identification

Companies then must send the written confirmation of the consent to the parent or legal guardian.

Why is this happening?

Lt. Gov. Jon Husted pushed for the new law. He believes social media is designed to be addictive and is harming the mental health of children. He said its time that parents have more say in the digital lives of their children.

"We hope that more parents will either prohibit or limit the amount of interaction their children are having, amount of time their children are spending on their devices, on these apps, and put filters on it to make sure that it is limiting the age-level content if they really want their children to be seeing," Husted said.

Some companies, like Meta, already have support features

Companies like Meta, which owns Facebook, Instagram and other platforms, already have features in place to support teenagers and their families when using their platforms. For example, Meta has age verification technology that helps users experience appropriate content and accounts for their age. Accounts are also automatically set to private for individuals under the age of 16.

Rachel Holland, a Meta spokesperson, said the company wants young people to have a safe and positive experience across the internet and thats why theyve built safety and privacy features into teen experiences.

Weve developed more than 30 tools to support families, including parental supervision tools that allow teens and parents to navigate social media safely together and tools to help ensure teens have age-appropriate experiences online, Holland said in a statement.

Meta's Director of Global Head of Safety Antigone Davis recently wrote a blog post calling for a solution to parental consent. "Parents should approve their teens app downloads, and we support federal legislation that requires app stores to get parents approval whenever their teens under 16 download apps," Davis wrote.

She believes the industry should come together with lawmakers to create simple, efficient ways for parents to oversee their teens' online experiences. Instagram is now supporting federal legislation.

Well continue evaluating proposed legislation and working with policymakers on developing simple, easy solutions for parents on these important industry wide issues, Holland said.

Will Ohio's new law stick?

Other states have passed laws pertaining to childrens privacy on social media platforms. However, judges have blocked those laws in some states, like in Arkansas following a lawsuit from NetChoice, a coalition of trade associations, e-commerce businesses and online consumers.

NetChoice submitted opponent testimony for Ohios new legislation.

Other states, like Utah, will be joining Ohio in having legislation take effect next year.

In other states, Husted said, social media and online gaming or activity companies have been cowardly in the actions theyve taken against the legislation. He said rather than stepping out in public, companies just file lawsuits to try and prevent the laws from going into effect.

I fully expect that that's being contemplated in Ohio, and I will give them fair warning that if they don't comply with this, what we simply have asked them to do, that we will be more aggressive in what we do in response, Husted said.

Companies, if they do not comply, will face civil penalties and fines, which are listed out in the laws revised code.

Kayla Bennett is a fellow in the E.W. Scripps School of Journalism's Statehouse News Bureau.

This article originally appeared on The Columbus Dispatch: New Ohio law calls for parental consent before using social media
Delays in Donald Trump's upcoming federal criminal trials could give Fulton District Attorney Fani Willis an opening to try the former president and his key alleged co-conspirators within weeks, legal experts say.

The Supreme Court's recent decision not to expedite the consideration of Trumps immunity claim regarding charges related to overturning the 2020 election was widely considered a win for the former president, whose legal tactic has been to delay the proceedings until Election Day. Trump is trying to stall his trials with the hope they will be delayed until after the election, David Schultz, professor of political science at Hamline University, told Salon. However, his delay tactics might push one or more trials into the general election season which could be detrimental to his candidacy.

Criminal trials during the general election could be the October surprises that hurt his campaign, especially with a late October conviction if it were to occur, Schultz said.

While the D.C. trial is set for March 4, preparations are on hold as Trump argues that the D.C. Circuit Court of Appeals should dismiss the federal election interference case because presidential immunity shields him from prosecution. Trump's documents trial in Florida, which is scheduled for May, is also widely expected to be delayed.

Yet another case is brewing before the Supreme Court, which has significant implications for the criminal prosecutions of the former president and could provide additional grounds for Trump to seek a delay. Earlier this month, the Supreme Court agreed to hear an appeal brought by a man charged with "obstruction of an official proceeding" relating to Jan. 6, 2021, who is seeking to have a criminal charge dismissed which claims that he obstructed an official proceeding. A favorable decision for the defense could undermine the two counts in Trump's indictment based on the same theory, legal experts told Salon.

Considering the apparent delays in the federal cases that may not proceed this spring, it opens up a window for Fulton County District Fani Willis to potentially pursue the Georgia 2020 election subversion case against Trump and his allies in February, suggested Clark Cunningham, a professor of law at Georgia State University.

There are a number of reasons why it makes sense for the Georgia trial to go first, Cunningham pointed out, explaining that Willis has four cooperating witnesses. A simplified trial including Trump and co-defendants like campaign lawyers Rudy Giuliani and John Eastman could take place before February to resolve the case before the election.

If Willis waits until August to begin, she risks facing pushback from Trump's legal team, which has already argued that the trial would fall during a general election campaign.

That would be the most effective election interference in the history of the United States, and I dont think anyone would want to be in that position, Trumps lawyer Steven Sadow said.

Even more important, if the trial isn't concluded by November and Trump is elected again, he's immediately going to file a motion in federal court to pause the ongoing case during his term in office. I think there's a pretty good chance that he would succeed in that effort, Cunningham said.

Last week, Trumps legal team asked a judge to toss Trumps Georgia 2020 election criminal racketeering case on First Amendment grounds, arguing that the indictment must be dismissed ahead of trial since the First Amendment not only embraces but encourages exactly the kind of behavior under attack in this Indictment.

Cunningham said he would find it surprising if Trumps lawyers in Georgia havent made a similar presidential immunity argument that's been made in the D.C. court, which the judge has not decided on yet.

Even though the Supreme Court rejecting the request by Smith to fast-track arguments on whether Trump has any immunity from federal prosecution for alleged crimes he committed while in office is a victory for Trump, its possible its also just the opposite, Cunningham suggested.

It's possible that the Supreme Court is not planning to review this issue and if they don't want to review the issue, this is the fastest way to get the case on track, he added. But that's speculation.

Want a daily wrap-up of all the news and commentary Salon has to offer? Subscribe to our morning newsletter, Crash Course.

Alternatively, if the judges review it and the Supreme Court subsequently accepts it, it's very hard to see how that case is going to go to trial in March or even much anytime in the spring, Cunningham said.

The Supreme Courts public credibility is at an all-time low, as it's increasingly viewed as a politicized institution, he explained, adding that now the court is also tasked with taking on another important case.

The Colorado Supreme Court decided last week to disqualify Trump from the states 2024 ballot for his role in the Jan. 6 insurrection. The case is likely to head to the U.S. Supreme Court in the weeks ahead.

The Colorado case will likely take priority over Smiths request since its more pressing and has broader implications across all 50 states, Schultz said.

Affirming Colorados decision would result in additional lawsuits in different states and likely lead to "more disqualifications." This has broader implications for Trumps candidacy as it removes him from the ballot, Schultz explained.

Taking on the Colorado case would also put the Supreme Court in the hot seat, convincing the chief justice to stay out of the presidential immunity issue, partly because they may feel that the former president presents a very, very weak case for immunity and therefore doesn't require Supreme Court view, Cunningham said.
What led to one of the most significant  but least surprising  deaths in Russia's war with Ukraine in 2023

People lay carnations on a memorial as they pay tribute to Yevgeny Prigozhin in Rostov-on-Don, Russia, on August 24. Vladimir Alexandrov/Anadolu Agency via Getty Images

Yevgeny Prigozhin, the leader of the Wagner Group, died in a plane crash outside Moscow in August.

It was one of the most significant deaths in Russia's year of fighting in Ukraine.

But the seeds of Prigozhin's demise were planted long before in the Ukrainian town of Soledar.

All eyes turned to Russia on August 23 as the world watched to see if Yevgeny Prigozhin, the bombastic leader of Russia's Wagner Group, was among the dead after a private Wagner plane crashed outside a Moscow airport.

Prigozhin's assassination  which Russian President Vladimir Putin's close friend, Nikolai Patrushev, reportedly orchestrated  was among the year's most significant moments in Russia's war in Ukraine.

Within days of the crash, investigators confirmed Prigozhin had been on the plane, cementing the shocking  yet entirely predictable  demise of the mercenary boss who briefly racked up a roster of short-lived military successes amid the Ukraine war before pushing his luck and piquing the ire of his onetime ally, Putin.

The crash itself reeked of retribution for the armed uprising Prigozhin had staged against Russia's defense brass just two months earlier  a short-lived, quickly quashed mutiny that resulted in Prigozhin's exile to Belarus.

Two months later, he was dead.

Business Insider looked back on Prigozhin's spectacular fall with a top war analyst to understand how the cinematic saga began at the Ukrainian salt town of Soledar, just 10 miles from Bakhmut, in January 2023.

"Soledar was a big turning point in the relationship between Putin and Prigozhin and why the Russian Ministry of Defence got the upper hand in that relationship," Kateryna Stepanenko, a Russia analyst and deputy team lead at the Institute for the Study of War, or ISW, told BI.

A Ukrainian artillery unit fires toward Russian positions on the outskirts of Bakhmut on December 30, 2022. SAMEER AL-DOUMY/AFP via Getty Images

Prigozhin strikes a bargain

When Russia invaded Ukraine in February 2022, Putin erroneously believed the conflict would be over in two short days.

But by mid-May 2022, Russia was running out of reserves, a dilemma that created an opportunity for Prigozhin, who could provide much-needed manpower with his Wagner Group troops.

By spring 2022, Wagner forces were in the throes of war in Ukraine, fighting in Popasna, about 25 kilometers from Bakhmut. The group eventually claimed the city as a small Russian victory.

Seeking political power on the heels of his win, Prigozhin determined his Wagner forces could also take nearby Bakhmut, which would fulfill a key Russian directive and allow the country to expand control of the besieged region, Stepanenko said.

The city itself offered little strategic advantage to Russia or Ukraine despite the resources both sides poured into the battle.

ISW assessed that in late spring or early summer, Prigozhin reportedly struck a deal with Putin, promising the capture of Bakhmut by New Year's, Stepanenko said, citing the cultural significance of the holiday in Russia.

But Soledar stood between Wagner and Bakhmut. The small city was home to about 15,000 people before the war broke out and is the site of the famous Soledar salt mines, which once supplied more than 90% of Ukraine's salt.

Even with his surplus of soldiers, Prigozhin would struggle to take Soledar by mid-January, let alone deliver the larger city of Bakhmut by the new year.

His grandiose efforts to mitigate his failures helped seal his fate.

A mural depicting mercenaries of Russia's Wagner Group that reads: "Wagner Group  Russian knights." AP Photo/Darko Vojinovic

A broiling feud

Prigozhin's increasing political prominence and loud-mouthed criticisms of the country's top defense brass, particularly Russian Minister of Defence Sergei Shoigu and Chief of the General Staff Valery Gerasimov, earned him little favor with his adversaries.

Putin had built a two-decade regime on allowing rival factions in his government to feud so long as they never turned their animosity toward him. But by fall 2022, it was clear even Putin was growing frustrated with his defense officials' slow progress in Ukraine.

The Russian president addressed the slow-going nature of the war by appointing Sergey Surovikin, a hardline Russian general  and Prigozhin's political ally  as commander in chief of the Russian Aerospace Forces in October 2022.

The move emboldened Prigozhin, who saw the command change as the fruit of his efforts to discredit the Ministry of Defence and its top leaders.

Wagner troops doubled down on their efforts to break through Soledar in October, Stepanenko said, employing vicious human-wave attacks and a litany of atrocities in the small town.

"It looked like Wagner was desperate to win it," Stepanenko said. "They didn't care about what would happen to Ukrainian forces. They didn't care what would happen to their own forces."

"Putin really needed a victory and Prigozhin knew that," she added.

Russian President Vladimir Putin with Russian Defence Minister Sergei Shoigu and Chief of General Staff Valery Gerasimov in 2021. Kremlin Press Office / Handout/Anadolu Agency via Getty Images

Prigozhin spins Soledar's significance

As fall turned to winter and the battle in Soledar raged on, it became clear that Prigozhin had little chance of delivering Bakhmut by January. But that didn't stop Wagner forces from employing barbaric tactics to try and win the city. Facing certain failure in Bakhmut, the ever-industrious mercenary boss went to work setting himself up for success in Soledar.

Prigozhin started to paint Soledar as a glistening beacon in of itself, with its miles of cavernous salt mines that he said could be used to store weapons and ammunition.

"He was trying to weaponize the information space to convince the Kremlin that this was a bigger deal than it was," Stepanenko said.

Prigozhin traveled to Soledar personally in the days before the city fell, documenting his time there in his signature Telegram videos and bringing Wagner-affiliated Russian military bloggers with him to witness Wagner's daily advances, ISW said. He even claimed victory in Soledar before the Russian Defence Ministry officially announced the city's capture.

After the city officially fell on January 12, Prigozhin staged a triumphant victory speech in what he said were the sparkling salt caves of Soledar.

But Soledar wasn't Bakhmut. And Putin wasn't pleased. The president replaced Surovikin with Gerasimov as top commander on January 11, appointing the longstanding Prigozhin enemy to the top position.

"Putin was preparing for the fact that Prigozhin would not be able to accomplish his goal. He was starting to prepare to switch sides," Stepanenko said.

Putin made a rare public-television appearance on January 15, announcing the fall of Soledar. During his speech, Putin didn't mention Wagner's role in securing the city at all, a public signal he had switched favor from Prigozhin and Wagner back to Shoigu, Gerasimov, and the defense ministry, Stepanenko said.

"The Kremlin snub against Wagner forces likely angered Prigozhin a lot," Stepanenko said. "I think that's when he realized he might not have the same relationship with the Kremlin that he once had."

It was a breaking point Prigozhin would never recover from. The following months would see the mercenary leader spiral even further into his vendetta against Shoigu and Gerasimov until he took up arms against them in a last-ditch effort to see his enemies replaced.

Yevgeny Prigozhin, the founder of the Wagner private-mercenary group. Press service of "Concord"/Handout via REUTERS

Final days

Russia quickly moved on from Soledar, refocusing its efforts on Bakhmut where the battle would rage for another four months until the city fell in May. Wagner fighters represented the vast majority of Russian forces fighting for the city that spring and suffered significant losses throughout the battle.

As the months dragged on, Prigozhin became increasingly incensed over what he believed to be a targeted effort by the Russian Ministry of Defence to withhold ammunition from his Wagner forces and curtail the group's recruiting practices amid the fight for Bakhmut.

The mercenary leader began posting manic Telegram videos in which he castigated Shoigu and Gerasimov in expletive-laden tirades, often using dead Wagner soldiers as set pieces. He even wielded his Wagner forces as blackmail, repeatedly threatening to pull his troops from the Bakhmut front lines.

When the city finally fell, Putin made sure to publicly congratulate the Wagner Group in the hopes of avoiding "a repetition of the backlash that followed their immediate failure to do so when Wagner captured Soledar," ISW wrote at the time.

But the damage had been done.

Prigozhin quickly pulled his troops from Bakhmut before establishing defensive positions in the city, leaving the Russian Defence Ministry in a perilous position, Stepanenko said. Russian defense forces were subsequently forced to adapt on the spot, which allowed Ukrainian troops to make some gains in the area in the aftermath of its fall.

Seven months later, fighting rages on near Bakhmut as Ukraine and Russia continue to engage in positional fighting in the region, Stepanenko said.

The final blow for Prigozhin came in June when the Russian defense ministry announced all "volunteer formations" or PMCs would be forced to sign contracts directly with the government, a move widely seen as a targeted effort to take control of Wagner and strip Prigozhin of his power.

Less than two weeks later, Prigozhin staged his fated mutiny, a final, misguided attempt to curry Putin's favor.

Prigozhin's efforts to repackage his failure in Bakhmut as a victory in Soledar set the mercenary leader down a brazen path in the final eight months of his life, ending in a fiery crash outside a Moscow airfield and an easy political win for Putin.

"Prigozhin overestimated the importance of his loyalty to Putin's regime," Stepanenko said.

Read the original article on Business Insider
Tim Evans, a high profile criminal defense lawyer, died Dec. 23 at the Ridglea Senior living community in Fort Worth. He was 80.

Evans made a career of defending everyone from a Tarrant County judge to a member of Wacos Branch Davidians, however, friends remembered him for his strong work ethic and his crusade to improve the legal profession.

He was born Nov. 26, 1943, in Fort Worth. His family traces its roots back six generations to the founding of Tarrant County.

He got his law degree from Texas Tech in 1969 before returning to Fort Worth in 1970 to work in the Tarrant County District Attorneys Office.

That experience in the district attorneys office helped Evans develop his passion for maintaining the balance of power between the rights of individual citizens and governmental authority.

I see how easy it can get out of whack, and the general public doesnt pay attention to this until its too late, he said in a 2013 interview with the Texas Criminal Defense Lawyers Association.

Evans was a legend Texas legal circles, said Mark Daniel, a Fort Worth attorney and longtime friend.

You have really good lawyers, you have great lawyers, and above that you have Tim Evans, Daniel said.

In the late 1980s and early 90s, Evans won 11 acquittals in a row on some of the most complex federal trials  a Herculean feat according to Daniel.

If I ever met a lawyer thats even run off five, Id kiss his shoelaces, I promise you. It just doesnt happen. Its unheard of, he said.

Evans was a soft spoken man who never boasted about his accomplishments, said District Judge George Gallagher, who had known Evans since 1982.

He had a charisma about him that allowed him to make friends and earn the respect of lawyers and judges throughout across the country, he said.

Gallagher recounted a story about the time Evans faced a stern judge who limited closing arguments to 10 minutes.

Evans told the jury he was going to talk fast due to the time limit, saying: So if Im arguing too fast, dont blame me. Blame the judge, Gallagher said.

Any other lawyer would have been held in contempt of court for making that kind of remark, but the way Evans made his arguments allowed him to get away with it, Gallagher said.

Evans took pains to eschew the defense lawyer stereotype of wearing an expensive suit and driving a fancy car. A 1988 Star-Telegram profile pointed out that Evans always drove his 1977 yellow and white Chevy Blazer to trials, so as not to make a negative impression on a jury.

Evans example taught others that hard work and painstaking preparation were the keys to success, according to Daniel.

Working in a time before the internet, Evans had to comb through thousands of pages of documents for his cases, but was always prepared, and always knew the case material inside and out, Daniel said.

One of Evans biggest legacies will be the trial college at Sam Houston University named in his honor. The one-week seminar course runs young lawyers through a series of training exercises to help them improve their skills in a courtroom.

Evans ran the program for 32 years always expecting excellence from not only the students, but the faculty as well.

You didnt get invited (to be faculty) because you bought somebody a beer. You got invited because you were a consummate lawyer, Daniel said. He estimated 2,000 lawyers got some kind of training through the program during Evans tenure.

He would take time with the young lawyers who came through the college to get to know them and offer them help with their careers. He wanted them to know who he was and that he was available to help, Daniel said.

Evans was inducted into the Texas Criminal Defense Lawyers Association Hall of Fame in 2007 and received the Tarrant County Bar Associations highest honor, the Blackstone Award, in 2012.

His real accomplishment was leaving the profession better than when he got there, Daniel said.

Before he was diagnosed with Alzheimers disease in 2013, Evans wanted to lead a crusade to reform lawyer advertising.

He thought it was deceptive, and he wanted to get the state bar more involved in screening ads, Daniel said, adding, If he hadnt gotten sick, hed have done it.

Evans is survived by his wife of 49 years, Rita; sons Lance, 61, and Chad, 58, and his granddaughters Sarah, 29, and Grace, 25.
North Carolina children between the ages of 7 and 16 are required to attend school, but data show a large portion of kids are missing class time.

According to data from MyFutureNC, a statewide nonprofit focused on educational attainment, North Carolinas chronic absenteeism rate is 31%, meaning nearly a third of K-12 students missed 10% or more of school days during the 2021-22 school year.

There are many reasons why kids could miss school.

Parents can keep their children home from school if they get sick, or if a family emergency arises, resulting in excused absences on their records.

Some parents may let their children skip school for no particular reason and accumulate unexcused absences. But is it legal? Heres what North Carolina law says.

Can NC parents legally let K-12 kids skip school?

According to state law, its illegal for parents of school-aged children to knowingly allow them to skip school.

Children are allowed to miss school if they are sick, or because of another unavoidable cause that does not constitute unlawful absence, according to the law.

Principals are required to authorize a minimum of two excused absences per year due to a religious observance, or if a parent has been called to military duty, the law says.

What is the penalty for letting kids skip school?

North Carolinas Compulsory Attendance Law requires schools to record excused and unexcused absences for all students. It also requires schools to notify parents after their child accumulates three unexcused absences.

After 10 unexcused absences in a school year, school officials are required to notify the district attorney and director of social services in the county where they reside, according to the law.

Parents found guilty of violating the law can be charged with a class 1 misdemeanor, punishable by up to 150 days in jail.
The U.S. Supreme Court's decision to deny special counsel Jack Smith's request to expedite a ruling on whether Donald Trump can claim presidential immunity over his alleged crimes following the 2020 election could come back to bite the former president, one legal expert says. In a column for MSNBC, Loyola Marymount University Law Professor Jessica Levinson argued that the high court choosing to wait for the D.C. Circuit to rule on the matter "might actually be bad news for Trump," especially if, "as many expect, the D.C. Circuit concludes that Trump is not immune from criminal prosecution."

The Supreme Court's rejection dealt a blow to Smith, while marking a victory for Trump in his apparent efforts to delay the federal case's proceedings. But should the D.C. Circuit rule in Smith's favor and Trump appeals, the Supreme Court "doesnt have to take the case," Levinson explains. "By declining to hear the case, the D.C. Circuit courts decision would stand. The Supreme Court also could simply affirm the D.C. Circuits ruling without a full briefing and oral arguments. The courts decision not to intervene now could actually indicate theres really no reason for their involvement because this is not a close call.

"The legal brief Trumps team filed before the D.C. Circuit this past weekend proves as much," Levinson added, referring to the 71-page Saturday filing that sees Trump requesting his Washington, D.C. election subversion case be thrown out and, again, cites presidential immunity. "The big problem Trump faces is arguing that his allegedly illegal acts to hold on to power should be viewed as a presidents official acts. In reality, these actions are the last gasps of a candidate desperately trying not to accept the clear outcome of an election."
Cooks prepare food at La Tour d'Argent restaurant in Paris, Wednesday, Dec. 13, 2023. The Tour d'Argent, which claims to be the oldest restaurant in the French capital, has a front-row view of the renaissance of Notre Dame Cathedral as artisans prepare the fire-ravaged monument for reopening next year. The high-end restaurant, which helped inspire the movie "Ratatouille,'' recently reopened after its own renovation that preserved traditions while adapting to the 21st century. It will also overlook the opening ceremony of the Paris Olympics on July 26, 2024. (AP Photo/Christophe Ena)

PARIS (AP)  The Tour dArgent already boasts a 320,000-bottle wine cellar, a world-famous duck recipe and a storied 441-year history. Now, the legendary Paris restaurant is about to serve up its "plat de resistance": a front-row view of two of the biggest events of 2024  the renaissance of Notre Dame Cathedral and the 2024 Summer Olympics.

A city landmark unto itself  and an inspiration for the restaurant in the movie Ratatouille  the Tour dArgent recently reopened after its own renovation, which preserved revered traditions while adapting to the 21st century.

Its very reassuring for many customers to see that such establishments are still present in our history, and in French gastronomic history, owner and CEO Andre Terrail told the Associated Press.

The restaurant claims to be the oldest in Paris, its 1582 opening date embossed on the doors. It says King Henri IV ate heron pate here; Sun King Louis XIV hosted a meal here involving an entire cow; and presidents, artists like Salvador Dali, and celebrities including Marilyn Monroe have graced its tables in the generations since.

Today the Michelin-starred restaurant remains one of the most exclusive places to dine in the French capital, out of reach for most. The simplest fixed-price lunch menu runs to 150 euros ($167), and the most affordable fixed-price dinner is 360 euros  and thats without even peeking at the 8-kilo (17-pound) book dubbed the bible of its wine cellar.

But the reborn Tour dArgent offers options for those who want to breathe in its rarefied atmosphere without investing in a full meal: A ground-floor lounge serving croissants in the morning, an adjacent bar serving fireside cocktails in the evening, and a rooftop bar open in the warmer months, where the restaurants breathtaking views are on full display.

Notre Dame Cathedral takes center stage in this Paris panorama, a construction site like no other. Artisans are mounting a new spire and roof on the monument, replacing those that collapsed in a 2019 fire that threatened to destroy the entire medieval cathedral.

Piece by piece, the scaffolding that enshrouds the site will come down over the course of 2024, in time for its planned Dec. 8 reopening to the public.

For its neighbors at the Tour dArgent, the restoration of Notre Dame is welcome news.

Notre Dame is a landmark and probably had lost a little bit of attention to the Eiffel Tower, Terrail said. After the fire, Notre Dame enjoyed an injection of funding, notably from the U.S. Lots of love coming from abroad, making sure that the cathedral was renovated,'' he said.

Terrail had been mulling a makeover for the Tour dArgent too, and finally made it happen after an 18-month closure prompted by the COVID-19 pandemic.

COVID in a sense accelerated things, and also the Olympic Games, which are kind of an accelerator for everything in Paris, he says.

We have a front-row seat on the opening ceremony of the Olympics. Its a great privilege. It starts just there, he says, pointing at the spot where the unprecedented opening-day extravaganza will unfold along the River Seine on July 26.

The restaurant reopened to generally positive reviews, after years in which it had been seen as resting on its laurels. Michelin says the cuisine and service were rejuvenated without taking away from its nature.

The Tour dArgent  which translates as Silver Tower -- has a redesigned dining room with an open kitchen, and a top-floor one-bedroom apartment that rents for nearly 9,000 euros a night.

Its signature dish remains pressed duck, cooked in its own blood and specially carved by servers in the air instead of on a board. Since 1890, the restaurant has been giving customers certificates with the number of each duck served. Theyre now well past the one-million mark.

The bustling kitchen staff use locally grown products and closely held recipes, like a seductive mystery egg starter in truffle sauce.

You have to cook the egg white, but not the yolk,'' explains executive chef Yannick Franques.

People, when they come to eat, are quite surprised when they dont know the mystery and often come to me asking how I manage to keep the yolk raw inside and the white part cooked. Unfortunately, I cant say, I just cant say,'' he says, smiling.

The secrets the secret. Voila.''

---

Angela Charlton and Alex Turnbull in Paris contributed.
Two Republican state senators say they would like another set of eyes on the South Shore Convention and Visitors Authoritys budget.

Senators Rick Niemeyer, R-Lowell, and Dan Dernulc, R-Highland, are co-sponsoring legislation in the coming legislative short session that would return final oversight of the SSCVA budget to the Lake County Council.

It is the same process currently used to provide additional oversight to the Lake County Parks Department, Lake Ridge Fire Department and Lake County Solid Waste Management District budgets, along with a couple others, which have appointed boards.

Niemeyer said the proposed legislation helps increase transparency. He said the legislation represents nothing negative against the tourism bureau or the members of its appointed board, but a desire to enact a second level of oversight.

I thought we need a second set of eyes on that budget, Niemeyer said. The process would be no different from that for the other entities like the parks department and LCSWMD and is not intended to allow the county council to nickel and dime the entity to death every budget cycle, he said.

Niemeyer said he does not see where members of the board would have a problem with the legislation or bringing their budget before the council.

Its still keeping local control. The local ones are approving the budget, Niemeyer said.

Both senators say the timing of the bill has nothing to do with the change in leadership pending at the tourism bureau after SSCVA President and CEO David Uran announced earlier this month he would be resigning at the end of his contract Dec. 31.

I respect whatever went on (at the tourism bureau). That stuffs totally out of my realm, he said.

State Rep. Hal Slager, R-Schererville, said Thursday via text message the legislation sounds like a good idea. The SSCVA has bonding authority and appropriation discretion of tax revenue with no direct reporting to any (elected) body, he wrote.

Andy Qunell, chairman of the South Shore Convention and Visitors Authority Board, did not respond to a request for comment Thursday by press time.

Dernulc said the reason for the legislation was simple and stems from his time serving on the county council, where he served just shy of 12 years on the body.

Ive always kind of wanted a little bit of oversight on this, he said.

Dernulc said he has been talking about the legislation with Niemeyer since early 2023. He wanted to introduce the legislation in his freshman session, but there was a learning curve as a new legislator.

All I want is elected people to make the decision yes or no as we do with other districts boards and committees, Dernulc said.

Long before talk of a county convention center, interim Lake County Council President Christine Cid, D-East Chicago, said she expressed a need for taxpayer dollars to receive oversight by elected officials, particularly the enacting body.

I recently communicated my concern with Sen. Dernulc and other legislators during their visit to Lake County. I requested oversight of the CVA budget by the Council. Thus, I fully support SB 37 and appreciate the senators addressing this concern, Cid said.

At this time, she said, the bill proposed by the senators has no direct impact on her position regarding a convention center.

It is my understanding per SEA 434 authorizing the council to increase the innkeepers tax by 5%, if imposed, shall be deposited into a reserve fund that would not funnel through the CVA, thus not giving the council oversight of the spending of additional funds, she said.

In short, the Councils part in this process is exclusively with the implementation of the additional Innkeepers Tax which the increase goes into the convention center reserve fund administered by the Convention Center Authority, Cid said.

Councilman Ted Bilski, D-Hobart, has said he would not support increasing the innkeepers tax without oversight over a convention center budget. Initially the SSCVA was included in the legislation as the authority that would run the center. Slager worked to amend the legislation to create a convention center authority, removing the budget from the SSCVA purview.

Bilski said until he sees how the proposed bill is written, it does not change the dynamics of his support for a convention center. If the legislation does not address the convention center funding and something does come before the council, the body will have to make a decision about its support at that time.

Niemeyer said he does not expect the change in leadership to have any impact on the agencys ability or desire to submit a proposal for the convention center project.

The legislation enabling the creation of the convention center was tweaked in such a way that proposals can be for any location in Lake County. While talk has centered around the Hard Rock Northern Indiana casino location, that has yet to be determined.

cnapoleon@chicagotribune.com
1 killed, 1 injured in blast at Indian Oil Corp's plant

Xinhua) 10:55, December 28, 2023

NEW DELHI, Dec. 27 (Xinhua) -- One person was killed and another injured Wednesday in a blast in a state-run Indian Oil Corporation Limited (IOCL) plant in the southern Indian state of Tamil Nadu, officials said.

The blast took place at IOCL's facility at Tondiarpet in Chennai, the capital city of Tamil Nadu.

"Today, a welder working inside IOCL terminal in Tondiarpet was killed and another worker injured after an ethanol tank burst with a loud bang," a police official said. "It is believed that during maintenance of the ethanol tanks, a small fire led to the blast."

The injured worker, who suffered severe burns, was removed to the Government Stanley Hospital.

Reports said immediately after the blast fire tenders were rushed to the spot.

"When we arrived, the fire had already been doused as the IOCL has in-house arrangements and fire safety mechanisms," a fire services official was quoted by a local television channel as having said.

Police have registered a case and ordered an investigation to ascertain the reasons that caused the blast.

(Web editor: Zhang Kaiwei, Zhong Wenxing)
Daniel Miller speaks about how and why Texas should leave the United States of America during the Rally Against Censorship at the Lone Star Convention & Expo Center, Thursday, Jan. 26, 2023, in Conroe. Jason Fochtman/Staff photographer

The Texas Nationalist Movement, which advocates for the Lone Star State to secede from the U.S., is planning to sue the state Republican Party after the GOP denied its efforts to put an advisory vote on the 2024 GOP primary ballot.

Earlier this month, the group  which supports the so-called 'TEXIT'  submitted nearly 140,000 signatures as part of a petition to ask Republican primary voters whether the State of Texas should reassert its status as an independent nation.

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State law requires about 97,000 signatures to place such a measure on the ballot, but on Wednesday evening the Texas Republican Party rejected the petition, saying it was not delivered in time and that the signatures were collected improperly.

The vast majority of the signatures were invalid, Chairman Matt Rinaldi said in an open letter. He said Texas law does not allow for electronic signatures, and only 8,300 of the submitted signatures were in the signer's handwriting. Some signatures were also missing personal information or had invalid names, Rinaldi said.

ITS OFFICIAL: American traitors will not get their initiative on the Republican primary ballot this March, state Rep. Jared Patterson, a Frisco Republican, said on social media after the decision was announced.

But the TEXIT group rebuffed Rinaldi's explanation in a response letter posted on X, the social media site formerly known as Twitter. The cited reasons for denying the petition stretch credibility, the letter states, and the group contends that it both met the submission deadline and is allowed to collect signatures electronically.

It is clear that the Republican Party of Texas is grasping for any tactic, no matter how ridiculous, to suppress the voices of Republican voters who merely want their voices heard on this fundamental issue of governance, the group wrote, adding later: We hereby reject the decision of the Republican Party of Texas and fully intend to litigate to secure the rights of the petition signers as guaranteed by the Texas Election Code.

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Legal action is now the only hope the Texas Nationalist Movement has to pose the question to GOP primary voters. At a meeting earlier this month, the state Republican Party's executive board declined to voluntarily add the question to the ballot.

Putting the question on the ballot would not actually dictate that the state should secede or make that an official position of the state party. It would serve instead as a poll of where Republican primary voters stand on the issue.

Still, the Texas GOP platform, which was approved at the partys convention last year, encourages the state Legislature to approve a general ballot referendum to determine whether or not the State of Texas should reassert its status as an independent nation. The platform also states that Texas retains the right to secede from the United States.

Daniel Miller, the president of the Texas Nationalist Movement, has claimed that an untested legal theory could authorize Texas to leave the country.

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Legal experts and historians have long said that secession is both an unpopular and unconstitutional idea. Politicians, and even some of the most conservative members of the Republican Party, have balked at the effort, characterizing it as a fringe movement that works against the goals of bettering Texas and the United States.

Other states have attempted to secede before: In the 1860s, 11 states seceded from the union and formed a new government known as the Confederate States of America. Their right to do so was disputed by then-President Abraham Lincoln, and the secessions precipitated the Civil War.
Palestinian mourners carry the body of Hazem Qatawi, 23, headband reads "al-Aqsa Martyrs brigades," during his funeral in the West Bank city of Beitunia, Thursday, Dec. 28, 2023. Palestinian health ministry said that Qatawi was killed during an Israeli army raid in Ramallah early morning. (AP Photo/Nasser Nasser)

A Hamas official said Thursday that a partial or temporary cessation of aggression wouldnt be enough to free the more than 100 hostages who Israel says remain in captivity in Gaza.

The Israeli-Hamas war has already driven around 85% of Gaza's 2.3 million people from their homes, leveling the northern part of the territory and heightening fears about a similar fate for the south as Israel's air and ground offensive widens.

Dozens were killed Thursday during Israel's bombardment of cities, towns and refugee camps across Gaza. More than 20,000 Palestinians, two-thirds of them women and children, have been killed since the start of the war, according to the Health Ministry in Hamas-run Gaza, which doesnt differentiate between civilians and combatants among the dead.

Hamas has put up steep resistance despite Israel's vow to dismantle the militant group.

About 1,200 people were killed after Hamas raided southern Israel on Oct. 7, with around 240 people taken hostage.

Israeli Defense Minister Yoav Gallant spoke Thursday with U.S. Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin about the next steps in the war, with Austin stressing the importance of protecting Gazas civilians and accelerating humanitarian assistance.

The talks came as a hard-hit Israeli kibbutz announced the death of an American-Canadian-Israeli woman who was believed to have been held hostage and whose husband was recently declared dead.

Currently:

 Israeli strikes across Gaza kill dozens of Palestinians, even in largely emptied north

 As Gaza war grinds on, tensions soar along Israels volatile northern border with Lebanon

 Number of wounded Israeli soldiers grows, representing a hidden cost of war

 On foot and by donkey cart, thousands flee widening Israeli assault in central Gaza

 Find more of AP's coverage at: https://apnews.com/hub/israel-hamas-war.

Here's what's happening in the war:

ISRAELI FORCES FATALLY SHOOT PALESTINIAN WHO STABBED 2 SECURITY WORKERS

JERUSALEM  Israeli security forces have shot and killed a Palestinian man who stabbed two people at a checkpoint between the West Bank and east Jerusalem.

Israeli police say the man got out of his car and stabbed two security workers before he was shot dead.

The Magen David Adom rescue service said the two security workers  a 20-year-old woman and a 25-year-old man  were in moderate condition.

The occupied West Bank has experienced a surge in violence since the Israel-Hamas war erupted on Oct. 7. More than 300 Palestinians have been killed in unrest and clashes with Israeli forces.

NO ACTION AGAINST ISRAELI SOLDIERS IN MISTAKEN KILLING OF 3 HOSTAGES

JERUSALEM  The Israeli military has completed its investigation into the mistaken killing of three Israeli hostages, saying the event should not have occurred and could have been prevented but taking no disciplinary action.

The three hostages , Yotam Haim, 28, Samer Al-Talalka, 25 and Alon Shamriz, were mistakenly shot by Israeli forces on Dec. 15 after exiting a building in a Gaza City neighborhood where intense battles had taken place.

Announcing the results of its investigation, the army on Thursday confirmed initial reports that the men had emerged from the building shirtless and waving a white flag, apparently trying to signal they posed no threat.

Two men were killed immediately, while the third ran back into the building screaming for help in Hebrew. The commander issued an order to cease-fire, but another burst of gunfire killed the third man.

The army said that complex battle conditions, limited visibility and noise from nearby tanks that prevented troops from hearing their commanders instructions contributed to the fatal event.

The fighting creates many complex and difficult situations, army spokesperson Rear Adm. Daniel Hagari told a news conference.

After entire days of encountering explosives, watching your friends die, having RPGs fired at you, encountering terrorists wearing civilian clothes without a weapon, pulling you toward all kinds of explosives in the streets  in that situation, a soldier stood at a window with limited visibility. He made a mistake, he said.

The armys chief, Lt. Gen. Herzi Halevi, said the soldiers had violated open-fire procedures because the hostages did not pose a threat. But he said there was no malice in the event and the soldiers acted to the best of their understanding.

US, ISRAELI DEFENSE CHIEFS SPEAK ABOUT NEXT STEPS IN MILITARY CAMPAIGN

WASHINGTON  U.S. Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin spoke with Israeli Defense Minister Yoav Gallant on Thursday to discuss Israels military campaign in Gaza and preparations for the stabilization phase that will follow major combat operations.

Air Force Maj. Gen. Pat Ryder, Pentagon press secretary, said Austin reiterated U.S. resolve to ensure Hamas can no longer threaten Israels security and he also underscored the importance of protecting Gazas civilians and accelerating humanitarian assistance.

Ryder said Austin and Gallant also discussed other threats to regional security, including Hezbollah's activities in southern Lebanon, Houthi attacks against ships in the Red Sea, and Iranian-backed militia attacks against American forces in Iraq and Syria.

HAMAS OFFICIAL SAYS END TO WAR MUST BE FINAL, NOT TEMPORARY

BEIRUT  A Hamas official said Thursday that the Palestinian militant group is open to any ideas or proposals for a complete and final cessation of aggression against our people in the Gaza Strip.

Osama Hamdan said the group is not interested in a partial or temporary cessation of aggression and reiterated the groups official position that the remaining hostages who have been held in Gaza since the group launched its deadly Oct. 7 incursion into Israel would only be released after a permanent ceasefire is implemented.

He was speaking at a press conference about the ongoing discussions regarding roadmap to end the Israel-Hamas war -- including a proposal Egypt recently suggested.

As for the enclaves post-war governance, Hamdan said it would be a decision of the Palestinian people alone and that Palestinians in Gaza would not accept a leadership that comes on the back of a Zionist or American tank or under the protection of this tank.

He reiterated the groups denial of a claim made by a spokesman for Irans Revolutionary Guard on Wednesday that the Oct. 7 attack was launched in retaliation for the 2020 killing of Gen. Qassem Soleimani, head of Irans elite Quds Force, in a U.S. drone strike in Iraq. Hamas.

Hamdan said the Oct. 7 attack was a Palestinian operation in planning, preparation, decision and implementation and was launched as the result of international collusion that tried to dispose of the Palestinian cause in response to Israeli aggression.

KIBBUTZ ANNOUNCES DEATH OF AMERICAN-CANADIAN-ISRAELI HOSTAGE

TEL AVIV, Israel  A hard-hit Israeli kibbutz has announced the death of an American-Canadian-Israeli woman who had been thought to be held hostage in Gaza.

The death of Judih Weinstein was announced days after her husband, Gad Haggai, was also declared dead. Weinstein, 70, and Haggai, 73, were taking an early morning walk in Kibbutz Nir Oz on the morning of Oct. 7 when Hamas militants burst across the border into Israel, killing about 1,200 people and kidnapping 240 others.

Weinstein and her husband had been thought to be among the hostages still in captivity in Gaza. But six days ago, the kibbutz announced that Haggai was killed on Oct. 7 and his body was taken to Gaza.

On Thursday, the kibbutz said it had learned that Weinstein had also been killed on Oct. 7 and her body was also being held in Gaza.

It was not immediately clear how Israeli authorities determined her death. The couple are survived by four children.

 Judy dedicated her life to serving others, spending years teaching English and using her passions for poetry, puppeteering, and mindfulness to empower children of all backgrounds, the family said in a statement. She will be remembered for her compassion, her peaceful nature, and the creative life she built with her husband."

U.S. President Joe Biden mourned Weinstein in a statement released Thursday and pledged to keep working to bring the remaining hostages home.

They have been living through hell for weeks, Biden said. No family should have to endure such an ordeal.

According to Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahus office, at least 23 of the approximately 129 hostages believed to be held in Gaza have either died or been killed in captivity.

Nir Oz was one of the hardest-hit Israeli communities on Oct. 7, with roughly one quarter of its residents killed or kidnapped.

The families of missing hostages have drawn widespread support in Israel as they press the government to reach a new cease-fire deal to bring home their loved-ones.

Netanyahu met Thursday in Tel Aviv with some of the families, where he told them there were ongoing behind-the-scene efforts to bring them home, according to a statement from his office.

I cant elaborate on the details, we are working to return everyone, he said.

UN PEACEKEEPER INJURED IN LEBANON

BEIRUT  A United Nations peacekeeper was injured when a group of young men attacked a patrol in south Lebanon, the peacekeeping force known as UNIFIL reported Thursday.

A vehicle was also damaged during the Wednesday night attack in the village of Taybeh, the force said.

Such attacks are not only condemnable, but they are violations of Resolution 1701 and Lebanese law, UNIFIL said on X, formerly known as Twitter, referring to a U.N. Security Council resolution that ended a monthlong 2006 war between Israel and the Lebanese militant group Hezbollah.

In a separate incident Thursday morning, residents blocked a group of peacekeepers that was traveling through the border village of Kfar Kila, UNIFIL spokeswoman Kandice Ardie said. The peacekeepers were able to move on 

Hezbollah supporters in Lebanon frequently accuse the U.N. mission of colluding with Israel, while Israel has accused the peacekeepers of turning a blind eye to Hezbollahs military activities in southern Lebanon.

Since the outbreak of the Israel-Hamas war on Oct. 7, Hezbollah and allied groups have clashed almost daily with Israeli forces on the Lebanon-Israel border, and shelling has struck UNIFIL facilities.

The peacekeeping force said gunfire from Israeli troops hit one of its patrols last month, causing no injuries but damaging a vehicle.

HEAD OF IRAN'S REVOLUTIONARY GUARD VOWS REVENGE FOR GENERAL'S DEATH

TEHRAN, Iran  Thousands of people attended a funeral in Iran for a high-ranking general killed in a suspected Israeli airstrike in Syria.

Mourners gathered in a central square in Tehran on Thursday before accompanying the casket of Gen. Seyed Razi Mousavi to a shrine where he was buried.

Mousavi was a high-ranking general in Irans paramilitary Revolutionary Guard who had served as a longtime military advisor to the Syrian government during that countrys ongoing civil war. He was killed in an airstrike in Damascus on Monday.

The head of the Guard, Gen. Hossein Salami, said our revenge will be tough, as always, but that the only fitting revenge would be the removal of Israel from the face of existence.

Salami described Mousavi as a close companion of Gen. Qassim Soleimani, the head of Irans elite Quds Force, who was killed in a U.S. drone strike in Iraq in January 2020.

Earlier Thursday, Irans supreme leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, prayed before Mousavis casket, state TV footage showed.

Iran and Israel have waged a long shadow war, with Israel regularly carrying out strikes on Iran-linked targets in Syria. Tensions have soared since Hamas Oct, 7 attack triggered the war in Gaza.

Israel views Iran as its greatest threat because of Tehrans disputed nuclear program and its support for regional militant groups like Hamas, Lebanons Hezbollah and the Houthi rebels in Yemen.
More than 120 people from across the Space Coast attended a community gathering on the first night of Kwanzaa, celebrating culture through ceremony, reflections, dance and music.

Tuesday's event, sponsored by the Nguzo Saba Collective, was held at JamRock Grill and Restaurant in Palm Bay.

"We had a great turnout and it keeps getting bigger each year," said co-organizer Earl Simmons of the 12th annual Kwanzaa gathering.

Attendees at the 12th Annual Kwanzaa Community Celebration in Palm Bay were treated to cultural dances and African drumming.

The free event featured dancing by Dallas Clark, Poetry by San Alexander, the MC, reflections from community leaders and others. Community advocate Marcus Smith delivered the keynote address, while dozens of youth were provided free books by the Little Black Book Drive.

Kwanzaa  Swahili for 'first fruits'  is a seven-day holiday created in 1966 by activist Maulana Karenga. It is designed to highlight seven universal principles in the African diaspora, including community, cooperative economics and creativity.

More: Space Coast Kwanzaa celebration casts light on history, culture

The holiday, which grew out of the civil rights movement of the mid-'60s, incorporated other elements found in ancient African cultures, including libation ceremonies, dancing and community discussions.

It is also one of several annual calendar observances tied to Black history or culture in the U.S., including Emancipation Day on Jan. 1, Black History Month in February and Juneteenth on June 19. Haitian Independence Day is also celebrated on Jan. 1.

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: Kwanzaa celebrations kick off with music and reflection in Palm Bay
Working under the radar for decades, one Granville couple got some recognition recently that somehow eluded them for a half century.

Carol and Ken Apacki, Granville residents for 55 years, are the latest recipients of the Dr. Allen Avery Service Above Self Award, given annually since 1963 by the Rotary Club of Granville to individuals who demonstrate "exemplary humanitarian service in any form and at any level, with an emphasis on personal volunteer efforts and active involvement in helping others."

Ken and Carol Apacki are presented the Granville Rotary Service Above Self Award by club president, Steve Hitchcock (right).

The honor was presented at the clubs Dec. 4 meeting at The Granville Inn.

In announcing the Apackis as winners of the award, Lee Beall, who nominated them for the honor, said the presentation program would first focus on Carols volunteerism, then Kens, then the both of them together.

"Any one of those lists, by themselves, is very impressive," Beall said. "It seems like the two of them are always doing something."

The couple arrived in Granville in 1968 when Ken, an engineer, accepted a position at the Owens Corning Fiberglass Center and, following a staff reduction there in 1987, worked for a small consulting firm. Carol, meanwhile, was a Senior Writer at Quest International, which developed social and emotional programs for students in grades K-12 for schools in the U.S. and internationally.

Carols volunteerism has often emerged as that of facilitator in addition to writing and editing. Rotarian Amanda Schneider related that 40 years ago Carol helped to found and continues to serve as newsletter editor for the Friends of the Shelter for New Beginnings Domestic Violence Shelter in Newark. The Friends group raise funds to support the shelter  a free, confidential emergency option for victims of domestic violence.

Many of the couples volunteer efforts involve the environment. For Carol, it is working with community groups to create and connect natural corridors for pollinators and other wildlife to survive and thrive. She also sends out a monthly newsletter, Nature Scoop, to educate community members about ways to support birds and pollinators in their own backyards.

She has also created an open-to-all morning, weekday walking group, the Forest Bathers, at the Denison Bio-Reserve, and brings people together in support of Healing Arts Mission to send out fundraising mailings.

Tracy Laing, founder and still director of Healing Art Missions, said Carol came to the rescue prompted by the organizations annual fund drive.

"Twice a year we put out a mailing. And Im always stewing about, 'Oh my gosh, Ive got 300 letters to write'," Laing said. "So Carol just said, 'Let me put together a Friends of Healing Art Missions'," which assists with the gargantuan task. "Ken is the researcher and Carol is the one who can bring people together and rally the troops. Theyre very busy people, but theyll always be there."

Besides his work on the environmental scene, Ken has worked to promote recreation in Granville and Licking County, said Rotarian Dave Rutledge.

In the environmental realm, he has volunteered as a stream monitor for Raccoon Creek and a volunteer for the River Round-up for that waterway; both through the Licking County Soil and Water Conservation District. Through the Granville Sustainability Committee, he was a Power a Clean Future citizen contributor and supporter and a National Solar Tour organizer for local families in Granville. He was also a contributor to the review and preparation of a Granville Solar Ordinance that outlined how area residents could install solar clean energy equipment.

In addition, he formed the Concerned Citizens for Health and Environment in Licking County in response to the introduction of horizontal drilling and fracking in Ohio by gathering and sharing articles and reports on oil and gas shale development. He presented findings to county and local officials on the hazards of brine from wells. And, at the Denison Bio-Reserve, he is a volunteer for invasive plant removal.

"Not only has he been doing all this stuff for years and years and years, hes still doing it, for the benefit of all of us," Rutledge said.

Ken and Carol were founding members of the Granville Land Conservancy, now known as the Licking Land Trust, and he served on the first Conservancy board. His involvements with that group included a Raccoon Creek study and promotion of conservation easements in the riparian zone with all landowners along the creek in Granville Township. He was also a supporter of Watershed Advocates of Licking County expressing concerns about how Kyber Run originates on the site of the new Intel computer chip factory west of Granville, which empties into Raccoon creek.

"The thing that I like about Ken is that hes got fire in the belly," said Jim Bidigare, current Land Trust board president. "The thing I like even more, is that hes an engineer, and is really disciplined."

Bidigare added, "Its both being involved at the grassroots level but also making things happen in an organizational way."

In the Licking County community, Ken has been a Licking Park District Volunteer conducting bike trail monitoring and maintenance two miles east and west of Granville, and he won the 2023 award for most volunteer hours. He also volunteers as a Precinct Election Official, and at the Granville Presbyterian Church he has been a volunteer for the Homeless Warming Center.

With the Licking County Bicycle Club he has been a longtime member and president for several terms and helps to support legacy members who can no longer ride.

Rotarian Sue Cherny discussed both Carols and Kens church involvement at First Presbyterian, where they have been members for over a half century.

"Carol and Ken have served as elders, helping to lead our church in this focus," she said. "Ken has also served as a confirmation leader for our youth. Carol in particular has helped lead the 1,500-trees environmental project and was recently invited to make a presentation about this by our Presbytery."

Again putting her writing and editing skills to work, Carol published a book on games and activities for youth that has been used by youth leaders in their work with youth, Cherney said.

"A number of years ago, Carol spearheaded a church wide mission initiative that involved 150 members of our church in meaningful service activities," she continued. "She worked tirelessly, not as a paid staff member, but as a volunteer dedicated to serving those in need, particularly children." Cherney quoted one church member who said, "Carol combines a vision of what could be with the motivation and sense of community that turns dreams into reality."

Ken used his carpentry skills, Cherney said, to build a blessing box stocked with items for basic needs each week by church members for neighbors in Newark with limited resources, with a Narcan box that helps individuals fighting addictions.

Again quoting another church member about his volunteerism: "Ken is very goal directed and has an engineers mind, but whatever he takes on is not for personal aggrandizement but is done to help others."

"Ken and Carol are the most principled, caring people I know," Cherney said. "They bring out the best in others and build community while they are at it."

The award recipients both remarked that work they do is in conjunction with the volunteerism of many others in the community.

"Being engaged in this community is a joyful thing to do, and I know all of you here are engaged," Carol said. "What has been wonderful about the various things weve taken on is that we have been inspired by so many wonderful people. My life has a positive view because Im surrounded by people who are doing wonderful things."

Said Ken, "I just feel this is undeserved, because Im just doing what I think is right and what is helpful, which is what all of you are doing, too."

Information submitted by Rotary Club of Granville.

This article originally appeared on Newark Advocate: Longtime Granville residents honored with Rotary Club award
P.G. Sittenfeld, former Cincinnati City Council member, walks out to a car after being sentenced for bribery and attempted extortion in October.

Former Cincinnati Councilman P.G. Sittenfeld was sentenced to 16 months in prison for bribery and attempted extortion. Sittenfeld's date to report to prison is Jan. 2, and he will be admitted to Federal Correction Institution Ashland, a federal prison in Ashland, Kentucky.

Here's what the Enquirer learned about the facility, after reviewing the Board of Prisons website, the prison's orientation manual and a report on conditions in the facility by the bureau published last January

When was FCI Ashland Built?

The prison first opened its doors in 1940. The Lexington Herald wrote in 1941 that Ashland was "one of a chain of prisons recommended by a congressional committee which investigated overcrowded federal penitentiaries several years ago." It cost $1.5 million to construct, which would be about $31.8 million today.

Who is housed there?

FCI Ashland holds only male inmates, who range in age from 20 to 81. Originally used to house 600 short-term male offenders, the number of inmates has grown to 1,303.

Those inmates are overseen by a staff of 279. The facility is made up of 36 buildings, 16 of which are used to house inmates.

What kind of inmates are housed there?

Ashland is a minimum-security prison, with a minimum-security camp connected to it. Many of the prisoners serve short-term sentences or are nearing the end of their sentences at regional prisons.

The camp, known as a Satellite Prison Camp, provides inmate labor for the main facility and funnels prisoners into off-site work programs.

What are the conditions like?

FCI Ashland was included on the Forbes Magazine list of "10 cushiest prisons," published in 2009. Its orientation handbook gives greater insight into daily life for inmates.

Inmates are expected to wake up at 6 a.m., make their own beds and sweep and mop their cell floors. All toothbrushes, toothpaste and soap are provided by the prison.

All inmates are expected to maintain a regular job assignment, which includes working in the cafeteria, maintenance shops or factories operated by Federal Prison Industries, a state-owned company that employs and trains prisoners.

What's the cell layout?

Ashland cell design includes two-person cells, two-person dorms and cubicles that can hold two to six people.

What clothes can inmates wear?

All inmates must wear the prison-issued khaki pants and shirt, which they are expected to keep in "clean and neat condition."

What actions are prohibited in FCI Ashland?

Acts prohibited for inmates range from rioting to creating hazardous tools to using narcotics, with punishments being as minimal as extra duty to forfeiting parole.

What recreational activities does FCI Ashland provide?

Inmates are also provided a variety of recreational activities, like arts and crafts programs, wellness programs, music programs and religious services. The facility also offers a barber shop and a library for law books.

Has FCI Ashland received any criticism?

The Daily Independent, a newspaper in Ashland, Kentucky, spoke to the families of FCI Ashland inmates in December 2020. Family members spoke about the spread of COVID-19 among inmates, food shortages and suppressing negative information before it could reach outsiders.

The Federal Bureau of Prisons conducted a review of the facility from November 2-4, 2021, interviewing 33 staff members and 44 inmates. Released in January 2022, the report found three cases of staff-on-inmate sexual misconduct, and four inmate-on-inmate instances.

What famous inmates have stayed in FCI Ashland?

In the 83 years of FCI Ashland's existence, it has housed several high-profile inmates. They include:

Doug Evans: Owner of Evans Landscaping, Evans was given a 21-month prison sentence for minority contracting fraud, using a shell company to win contracts from the state and city of Cincinnati. He was released in 2021.

Paul Miller: Known by his alias GypsyCrusader, Miller was a white supremacist who was convicted of three felony weapons offenses and sentenced to 41 months in prison. He was released earlier this year.

Mark Ciavarella: Formerly the president judge of the Luzerne County Court of Common Pleas in Wilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania. Ciavarella was sentenced in 2011 to 28 years for his role in the Kids for Cash scandal.

David Kernell: A hacker, Kernell was convicted of obstruction of justice and unauthorized access to a computer in 2010 for hacking into Sarah Palin's email account. He was sentenced to one year in prison and was released in 2011.

This article originally appeared on Cincinnati Enquirer: PG Sittenfeld sentenced to Federal Correction Institute Ashland
Former U.S. Rep. George Santos shared a profanity-laced video on X that demanded New York City Mayor Eric Adams resign. Santos was upset because his car was vandalized the day after Christmas.

The disgraced New York Republican politician was elected to Congress last year but disgraced after allegations surfaced that he fabricated much of his biography while campaigning. He was also accused of misappropriating campaign funds, indicted and later expelled. Now he wants Adams to resign.

Former Rep. George Santos (R-NY) (R) shared a video on X demanding New York City Mayor Eric Adams (L) resign. (Photo: Michael M. Santiago / Getty Image s/ CNN Screenshot / YouTube)

Santos captioned the X post, FK YOU! @NYCMayor You need to resign in disgrace you fking ahole! Im so done playing nice! Having your car broken into is a freaking terrible feeling I cant even describe it properly!

In the video, Santos ranted that the windows of his car were smashed the day after Christmas as he walked outside in the dark.

Hey yall. George Santos here, he began. Do you want to know what I got for Christmas? Ah, Mayor Adams, you are so good at running this city. The Christmas gift I got is  its a first for me  Ive never thought Id experience this in my life, but I guess were back to New York City in the 70s.

Santos panned the camera to show the smashed windows of his vehicle.

Look at this, freshly broken car glass, he continued. Yeah, look at that Mayor Adams. This is the city youre running. You were a cop, right? You piece of st. Is that what you do it? Is that how youre keeping the city safe? You fking animal.

Santos added that he had to deal with his car windows despite it being Dec. 26.

Aint this lovely, lovely, I say, he added before claiming with gusto that his car was brand new. Dont move to New York, people. Stay the fk away from here. This city only cares to fk over Americans and take our taxpayer dollars and shove it in the asses of these migrants while the city is dangerous.

The 35-year-old continued his rant by saying that he didnt live in that kind of neighborhood.

Im not in the ghetto, Im not in the hood, he continued, noting that his was one of six vandalized cars. What are you doing Mayor Adams? You should fking resign you piece of st. You were a cop. You should know better. You should know how to run the city but no, youre a fking inept ahole. fk you, Adams!

FUCK YOU! @NYCMayor



You need to resign in disgrace you fucking asshole!



Im so done playing nice!



Having your car broken into is a freaking terrible feeling I cant even describe it properly! pic.twitter.com/2y4yQs5mMU  George Santos (@MrSantosNY) December 27, 2023

People reacted to the video on X, and Fabien Levy  New Yorks deputy mayor for communications  pointed out that Santos car wasnt exactly brand new, as he claimed. Levy also noted that Santos probably broke into his own vehicle.

99% sure you broke into the car yourself, wrote Levy.

Update: confirmed with NYPD that the car is a 2018 vehicle and NOT new as you falsely claimed, @MrSantosNY. Also, decided to look up the car (with all the bells and whistles) on @KelleyBlueBook and you overvalued itbut thats no surprise.

Update: confirmed with NYPD that the car is a 2018 vehicle and NOT new as you falsely claimed, @MrSantosNY.



Also, decided to look up the car (with all the bells and whistles) on @KelleyBlueBook and you overvalued itbut that's no surprise. https://t.co/QJ2LtvojoW  Fabien Levy (@Fabien_Levy) December 27, 2023

Other X users also weighed in, with one replying, Oh sweetie, you probably broke your own window to file an insurance claim. One user replied, Breaking News: Robber doesnt like getting robbed. Another user wrote, So a thief got robbed? Hahaha, Karma.

In October, Santos pleaded not guilty to 23 federal felonies including charges of wire fraud, money laundering to steal public funds and making false statements to the House. He was expelled from the House on Dec. 1.
The mayor of Penns Grove, New Jersey, says she has been a victim of attacks from a local law firm employee who threatened her and called her racial slurs.

At a news conference on Dec. 11, Mayor LaDaena Thomas played audio of the February 2021 voicemail allegedly made by The Lento Law Groups office manager, John Groff, according to NJ.com.

Groff is accused of being the man threatening Thomas in the recording as well as calling her a b***h and the N-word.

Penns Grove Mayor LaDaena Thomas says a law firm employee targeted her after she wanted to end a contract with them in 2021. (Photo: CBS Philadelphia/YouTube screenshot)

Ill be damned if Im gonna have some black f***ing n****r b***h, OK, tell somebody thats its my f***ing fault that she dont know what the f**k shes doing. But Im gonna tell you right now  Im going to destroy her. Im going to f***ing destroy her, the New Jersey Globe reported the recording as saying.

Penns Grove is a borough located in Salem County. Thomas, a Black woman who won her first office bid in 2019, was recently re-elected as mayor in November. She is the first woman to hold the position.

During her campaign, ex-Mayor John Washington challenged Thomas decision to be listed as an independent, resulting in her being considered a write-in candidate in the race, according to NJ.com. The Lento Law Group represented Washington when he filed the motion. Additionally, the firm also backed a Republican candidate who is attempting to reverse her election win.

The voicemail and a string of other concerning calls were left for Richard Rivera, currently the towns police director. Rivera said he notified the state Attorney Generals office and the FBI following the incident more than two years ago; however, he didnt get a response from the AGs office until earlier this month.

The alleged calls came after Thomas cut ties with The Lento Law Group, which served as Penns Groves attorney, in 2021, citing Groffs criminal past as a determining factor in her decision. According to reports, the accused has multiple fraud convictions. Thomas said shes speaking out about the matter because she feels like shes being targeted.

After I made that decision, I was threatened by John Groff, the firms office manager, that if I did not provide the Lento Law Group with a contract that he would, indeed, destroy me, Thomas explained at the conference, per NJ.com. He made this threat to then police practices consultant Richard Rivera, who is now our police director. He also made those comments to others.

Groff remains an employee, but the law firm said they are looking into Thomas claims.

The Lento Law Group is currently investigating news reports of a purported voicemail that was made public despite it being confidential and covered by attorney-client privilege, the statement said, the outlet reported. Because these news reports concern both the firms work with previous and current clients and an employment matter, we cannot provide further public comment at this time.
I travel regularly with my two kids, which requires a lot of stuff.

Until this month, I always brought our own car seats and Pack 'n Play crib.

This time, I rented car seats and a crib. I paid $150 extra but the change made travel much easier.

My husband and I started traveling with my first daughter when she was only 6 months old. We began with local road trips and later flew cross-country to Hawaii and Mexico.

We would always haul our car seat and Pack 'n Play alongside numerous suitcases and carry-on bags. It was a lot, but I preferred having our own stuff.

But when my second daughter was born in 2023, it quickly became clear that this strategy no longer served us. We were massively outnumbered by bags to people.

So when it was time to take another family trip this past December, I ditched our car seats and Pack 'n Play. It was a game changer for us as parents.

Even though renting seats costs extra, I'll never bring these items again.

Most of the author's luggage while traveling with just one child. Emily Hochberg/Business Insider

Previously, I thought it would be easiest and safest to bring our own gear

As a nervous first-time parent, I initially shot down the idea of renting car seats.

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration says to replace a child's car seat anytime it is involved in a moderate to severe car crash. However, according to Safe Ride 4 Kids, there is no way to inspect a car seat after a crash to determine the severity of damage. The safest thing you can do is throw it away.

This made me anxious. What if someone rented a car with seats and got into a scuffle deemed minor, but damage occurred, I wondered.

My daughter in the car. Emily Hochberg/Business Insider

For this reason, we always brought our own  plus, car seats are always free to check in with airlines so it seemed like a waste of money to rent them.

We purchased a second, lighter 10-pound travel seat for travel for my toddler instead of her 30-pound Britax Boulevard seat that had already cost us $350.

I also thought it was more reliable to bring our own Pack 'n Play after encountering hotels with heavily-used models in rough shape, and one instance where they were all in use by other guests.

But then we had a second baby and took our first trip as a family of four. We flew from Palm Springs, California, to Denver, Colorado, when my baby was two months old.

Still in an infant seat, we brought her Uppababy Mesa with its required base, a collective 20 pounds. We also had my toddler's travel car seat, a Pack 'n Play, three full-size suitcases, two diaper bags, two carry-on bags, and a travel stroller.

I'm still not sure how we all made it from the curb to the check-in desk.

I do, however, have vivid memories of schlepping it all off a car rental shuttle bus at the airport  thank you, sympathetic strangers who helped us  then across two lanes of traffic, into an elevator, and across the terminal while wrangling a toddler and infant. Tears were involved, and not just from my children.

Knowing we had a family trip to Orlando six months later, we vowed to do things differently for our collective sanity.

The author started renting travel cribs on a trip to the Hotel Del Coronado instead of bringing her own. Emily Hochberg/Business Insider

Packing lighter removed so much stress

As our Orlando trip neared, I couldn't stop thinking about all the stuff we had to bring.

Perhaps more at ease as a second-time parent, I decided it was very unlikely a rental car agency would ever allow a crash to go undetected. I rebooked our rental to include one infant car seat and one toddler seat when we picked up the car for an extra $156.

We also left the Pack 'n Play behind. We'd previously been able to use Pack 'n Plays at hotels closer to home without an issue, on trips to Huntington Beach and Coronado, San Diego. And before we arrived in Orlando, I requested a Pack 'n Play at each of our two hotels ahead of time. Considering we were visiting the very family-friendly Walt Disney World area, I wasn't too worried about availability.

When we landed in Orlando, our car rental agency had two seats waiting for us wrapped in plastic. While they felt cheaper and less sturdy than ours at home, they did the job.

There was no problem at each of our hotels with the Pack 'n Play either, and we brought our own sheet to make it more familiar for our baby.

While we still had a lot to lug between suitcases, carry-ons, and a stroller, removing our heaviest, bulkiest baggage made a huge difference.

It was such a simple change, I can't believe we didn't do it sooner.

Read the original article on Business Insider
The Texas Department of Public Safety issued a CLEAR Alert on Christmas Day for Savanah Soto, 18. Soto, called "Vanah,"and her boyfriend, Matthew Guerra, 22, were found inside Soto's car in the 5900 block of Danny Kaye on the city's Northwest side. The couple was about three miles from where they went missing. Courtesy Gloria Cordova Police Chief William McManus spoke to the families of Savannah Soto and Matthew Guerra before addressing the media Tuesday evening. Guerra and Soto, whose baby was a week passed due, were found shot to death in Guerra's Kia. Jacob Beltran

A newborn should have been welcomed this Christmas season. Instead, the baby's pregnant mother and her boyfriend were killed.

In a statement Wednesday morning, San Antonio police said Savanah Soto, 18, and her boyfriend Matthew Guerra, 22, were found shot in their car on the city's Northwest side, the victims of capital murder.

Soto was last seen alive in the 6000 block of Grissom Road in Leon Valley on Friday. She was a week past her due date and looking forward to the birth of her baby.

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Sotos mother, Gloria Cordova, had begged friends, family and the community to help find Soto. "My daughter is missing. She was scheduled to be induced at 6:30 pm and never showed up," she posted to Facebook the night before Christmas Eve.

On Tuesday evening, when the bodies were found, San Antonio Police Chief William McManus said, "What we're looking at right now is a very, very perplexing crime scene."

Theres a reason McManus chose the word "perplexing"  police detectives have their work cut out for them.

Though the family seeks answers, no details or even justice in a court of law will ever offer complete solace.

Soto is the second child Cordova has lost to gun violence in less than two years; her son, Savannahs younger brother, Ethan Soto, 15, was killed last year.

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Our city has endured tragedy after tragedy, some of which, like this one, ended up in national headlines. Such violence cant become the norm.

This story, that crime scene, are beyond "perplexing." The deaths were tragic, devastating, heartbreaking.
Columbus police arrested and charged a man in connection to a homicide earlier this month on the city's Northeast Side.

The Columbus Division of Police arrested a man on Wednesday wanted in connection to a fatal shooting on the city's Northeast Side in early December.

Laroy Robinson, 49, of Columbus, surrendered to the Franklin County Jail on Wednesday without incident, according to a statement from Columbus police.

He faces a charge of murder in the death of Malik Islam, 46, of Milo-Grogan. A warrant was issued Dec. 20 for Robinson's arrest.

Columbus police responded to a call on Dec. 2 at 12:10 a.m., reporting that someone shot a man in the 2000 block of Cornell Avenue on the city's Northeast Side, according to an affidavit.

Responding officers found Islam lying in the street, suffering from a gunshot wound. Medics transported Islam to Ohio State East Hospital in critical condition, where he later died.

An affidavit submitted with court documents says that officers reviewed video footage from a residence on the 2000 block of Cornell Street. The resident provided the video footage to investigators, which had audio and video of the person who shot Islam sitting in the driver's seat of a dark, four-door sedan.

Through video evidence, phone records, and interviews with witnesses, police believe Robinson was at the scene and the person driving the vehicle they saw on camera.

smeighan@dispatch.com

This article originally appeared on The Columbus Dispatch: Man wanted in connection to Northeast Side murder arrested, charged
YORK COUNTY, S.C. (QUEEN CITY NEWS)  A man is facing multiple charges after leading authorities on a chase from Charlotte into York County, the York County Sheriffs Office confirms.

The pursuit occurred Wednesday, Dec. 27, and began in Charlotte and eventually entered into South Carolina where the York County Sheriffs Office was able to take the suspect into custody.

Jermaine Bey Leach, 33, of Charlotte, was booked into the York County Detention Center on the following charges:

Fugitive from justice

Possession of a stolen vehicle

Possession of cocaine, second offense

Possession of marijuana, second and subsequent offense

Man wanted for east Charlotte murder turns himself in, CMPD says

Leach is currently being held without bond. Queen City News has reached out to Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police for further information on this case.

This is a developing story ; check back for updates

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to Queen City News.
A man arrested earlier this month in connection with two recent machete attacks and the rape and killing of a woman in a Philadelphia park 20 years ago has been charged in three more rape cases, law enforcement officials said Wednesday.

Elias Diaz, 46, has now been charged with the rapes of two women and the attempted rape of another: He is accused of raping a jogger in April 2003, attempting to rape a jogger in October 2003 and raping another woman in August 2007, according to Philadelphia police and prosecutors.

The announcement Wednesday came over a week after Diaz was arrested in connection with the November machete attacks in Pennypack Park. Diaz refused to provide his name when he was arrested, officials said, but he was identified through his fingerprints.

Police also collected his DNA  evidence authorities said linked him to the 2003 killing of 30-year-old Rebecca Park, whose body was found in a wooded area of Fairmount Park. Diaz was charged with murder, rape, aggravated indecent assault and possession of an instrument of crime, among other charges, in Parks slaying, prosecutors said last week. He also faces charges of aggravated assault in the machete attacks.

In a statement, the Philadelphia District Attorneys Office said that further investigation including DNA evidence had connected Diaz to the three long-ago cases. All three attacks in 2003, including Parks killing, occurred in Fairmount Park, while the 2007 attack and the assaults last month took place in and around Pennypack Park.

CNN has reached out for comment from the Defender Association of Philadelphia, which is representing Diaz.

The Philadelphia District Attorneys Office is asking that Diaz be held without bail in the three new cases, though he was already being held without bail for the murder charge announced last week.

CNNs Celina Tebor contributed to this report.

For more CNN news and newsletters create an account at CNN.com
SALT LAKE CITY (ABC4)  A 64-year-old man was arrested in Murray on Tuesday after he allegedly assaulted a woman in her home with the intent to kill her and hide her body under the house.

Steven Wixom was arrested on suspicion of aggravated burglary, assault, threats of violence, and criminal mischief, according to a probable cause affidavit filed in 3rd District Court.

Man arrested after allegedly robbing 2 gas stations in Salt Lake City

According to investigators, Wixom broke into the womans home Tuesday night through the garage, breaking a cabinet and drywall to get by a deadbolt. He made for the womans bedroom, armed with a flashlight and duct tape. She was sleeping when he entered the room.

Per the court documents, the woman was someone with whom Wixom had a previous relationship.

He assaulted the woman and attempted to strangle her. He then restrained her to the bed, and proceeded to hurt her, causing several severe wounds, the court documents state.

After a time, Wixom stopped hurting her, and spoke with the woman for roughly two hours.

According to investigators, Wixom told the woman that he intended to kill her and dispose of her body under the floor of the home. Wixom had brought clear wrap and duct tape for that purpose, the court documents state.

Police booked Wixom into jail late Tuesday night. He is being held without bail.



Murray is a Wasatch Front community located roughly 8 miles south of Salt Lake City.

Support for victims and survivors of domestic violence is available 24/7: 1-800-897-LINK (5465). If you or someone else is in immediate danger, or in an emergency, please call 911 immediately.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to ABC4 Utah.
SALT LAKE CITY (ABC4)  Authorities say a man was found dead Wednesday night on a community college campus in Salt Lake City.

Sgt. Cameron Roden, with Utah Highway Patrol, said a mans body was found around 4:45 p.m. on the west steps of Salt Lake Community Colleges South City campus.

Man arrested in Murray after allegedly assaulting woman, intending to kill her

There was no sign of foul play, Roden said, adding that the incident is under investigation.



No information was given as to what might have caused the mans death. The mans identity also remains unknown.

The South City campus is located on 1575 State Street in Salt Lake City.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to ABC4 Utah.
NEW YORK (AP)  A New York City man has been charged with hate crimes following the Christmas Day stabbing of two teenage tourists from Paraguay at an eatery inside Grand Central Terminal, authorities said.

Witnesses said Esteban Esono-Asue, 36, also known as Steven Hutcherson, made derogatory comments about white people shortly before the unprovoked attack on the 14- and 16-year-old girls inside the Manhattan transit hub Monday morning, according to a criminal complaint. The girls were visiting

Gypsy Rose Blanchard to be released from prison on Thursday

He was being held without bail Wednesday after pleading not guilty Tuesday to attempted murder and assault as hate crimes, and child endangerment.

According to the complaint, Esono-Asue initially was asked to leave the Tartinery dining area by an employee, who said Esono-Asue responded by saying: Ill leave, I dont want the white man to get at you, or something similar.

A second employee said he made another anti-white comment after he approached her and asked for a table to place an order.

I dont want to sit with Black people. I want to sit with the crackers, he told the second employee, according to the complaint.

Shortly after he was seated and given water, Esono-Asue walked over to a table of individuals, who appeared to be white, pulled a knife from his pocket and stabbed one of the girls in the back, the second employee told authorities.

As the family scrambled to get away, the man stabbed the younger girl in the thigh, Metropolitan Transportation Authority officials said. Both girls were taken to a hospital with injuries that were not believed to be life-threatening.

Officers quickly arrested Esono-Asue without further incident, an MTA spokesperson said.

The Paraguayan consulate generals office in New York was assisting the family, who were visiting New York City from the South American country, consulate Luis Dominguez said Wednesday.

Sheriff: Man strangles priest in underwear; warns authorities his meth lab will explode

At his arraignment, Esono-Asue was ordered held without bail pending his next court appearance, scheduled for Friday. A Legal Aid Society attorney representing him declined to comment.

Earlier this month, Esono-Asue pleaded guilty to an assault charge and was given a conditional discharge after being arrested for threatening a man on Nov. 7, according to court records.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to Fox 8 Cleveland WJW.
A volunteer helps migrants navigate the asylum process at the Al Otro Lado facility in Tijuana. MUST CREDIT: Bloomberg photo by Sandy Huffaker Sandy Huffaker/Bloomberg Migrants stand in a detention area Tuesday, Dec. 19, 2023, in Eagle Pass as a surge of migrants push across the border. Jessica Phelps Migrants line up at the U.S. border wall after being detained by U.S. immigration authorities, seen from Ciudad Juarez, Mexico, Wednesday, Dec. 27, 2023. (AP Photo/Christian Chavez) Christian Chavez/Associated Press Migrants cross the Rio Grande river to reach the United States from Ciudad Juarez, Mexico, Wednesday, Dec. 27, 2023. (AP Photo/Christian Chavez) Christian Chavez/Associated Press Migrants walk to a U.S. Border Patrol processing area under International Bridge II in Eagle Pass, Texas, Thursday, Sept. 21, 2023. A surge of migrants crossing the Rio Grande into the U.S. continued Thursday. Jerry Lara/San Antonio Express-News A convoy of National Guard soldiers pass migrants walking north on the side of the highway in Villa Comaltitlan, Chiapas state, southern Mexico, Wednesday, Dec. 27, 2023. (AP Photo/Edgar H. Clemente) Edgar H. Clemente/Associated Press

WASHINGTON  The Department of Justice is warning Gov. Greg Abbott that it will sue if Texas moves forward with legislation empowering state officials to remove people from the U.S. who they suspect of being in the country illegally.

The new legislation, which Abbott signed into law earlier this month, is unconstitutional and will disrupt the federal governments immigration enforcement operations, Principal Deputy Assistant Attorney General Brian M. Boynton wrote in a letter to the governor obtained by Hearst Newspapers.

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The letter says that if Abbott does not confirm the state will forgo enforcement of the law by Wednesday, the United States will pursue all appropriate legal remedies to ensure that Texas does not interfere with the functions of the federal government.

The law, set to take effect in March, would allow any law enforcement officer in Texas to arrest migrants accused of unlawfully entering the state from Mexico and empower judges to order their removal.

It is a major escalation of Abbotts border security initiative, Operation Lone Star, and has been cast by the governor and other Texas Republicans as an invitation for the Supreme Court to revisit longstanding precedent leaving immigration enforcement solely to the federal government.

"Texas is prepared to take this fight all the way to the U.S. Supreme Court to protect Texans and Americans from President Bidens open border policies," said Renae Eze, Abbott's director of communications. "President Bidens deliberate and dangerous inaction at our southern border has left Texas to fend for itself. Gov. Abbott signed Senate Bill 4 into law last week to help stop the tidal wave of illegal entry into Texas as the President refuses to enforce federal immigration laws.

El Paso County and two immigrant rights groups earlier this month sued to stop what they called the patently illegal legislation. The American Civil Liberties Union is representing them in the case.

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The Mexican government, which would have to accept immigrants ordered removed by state officials, has also said it will not go along with the law and has threatened to take action to stop it, as well.

Abbott, a former Texas attorney general, has said he believes the law was crafted in a way that can and should be upheld in the courts on its own. He has said the law is necessary to stem the record number of border crossings under the Biden administration and has accused President Joe Biden of failing to secure the border.

The DOJ letter says the U.S. Constitution tasks the federal government with regulating immigration and controlling the international borders. The law therefore intrudes into a field that is occupied by the federal government and is preempted, the letter says.

The Justice Department points to a landmark Supreme Court ruling from 2012 that held that only the federal government has the power to enforce immigration laws. Abbott has cast the law as an opening for the high court to reconsider that ruling.

In that case, the high court struck down portions of an Arizona law that authorized police to arrest anyone suspected of being in the country illegally. Then-Justice Anthony Kennedy wrote that the federal government has broad discretion in setting immigration policy and that the state could not pursue policies that undermine federal law.

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The outside of the federal courthouse in Covington.

When Leon Sims began a romantic relationship with a woman in early 2020, she was homeless and he was kind to her and bought her nice things, prosecutors said. Then he forced her into prostitution to pay him back.

U.S. District Judge David Bunning on Tuesday sentenced 41-year-old Sims of Las Vegas to 37 months in prison.

In June, Sims pleaded guilty in federal court in Covington to knowingly transporting an individual for prostitution, court records show.

Prosecutors say Sims has had a "lifestyle and career of abusing women for profit."

How did authorities first learn of Sims?

The investigation into Sims began in December 2020 when deputies with the Boone County Sheriff's Office responded to an online advertisement for prostitution, prosecutors said in court filings.

A deputy arranged to meet with a woman at a Holiday Inn in Richwood and provided the woman with a hotel room number. The woman agreed to have sex in exchange for $150.

Deputies detained the woman after she entered the hotel room and she told them Sims drove her there. They confronted Sims as he was sitting in the driver's seat of a vehicle waiting for her to return.

The woman later told investigators she had engaged in prostitution daily for Sims over a several-month period in 2020, prosecutors said. He posted ads online, coordinated times, locations and prices, and drove her to meetings.

Prosecutors: Sims sold woman 'countless times'

Sims organized meetups with customers in Kentucky and Ohio from October 2020 to January 2021 and even arranged for her to fly to California for prostitution as well.

It all began after Sims demanded she pay back the money he spent on her when they first met, prosecutors said, adding that Sims expected the woman to earn him $1,000 each day or he would punish her.

"Specifically, (Sims) threatened to prevent her from sleeping or eating if she did not comply," prosecutors wrote in a presentence court filing.

Sims also showed the woman a gun when she protested traveling to California, used physical force against her and repeatedly made her have sex with him, prosecutors said.

"He exploited (the woman) when she was vulnerable and lured her in with romance and gifts, hallmarks of a genuine relationship," the document reads. "He then sold (her) for money countless times over a period of months, keeping the earnings for himself."

Prosecutors say the woman was not Sims' only victim.

Sims denies forcing woman into prostitution, lawyer says

Wesley Williams, Sims' lawyer, has yet to respond to a phone call and email from The Enquirer requesting comment.

In court filings, Williams said that Sims drove the woman across state lines for prostitution, but he did not force her to do anything against her will.

The lawyer said the woman bailed Sims out of jail after his arrest in December 2020.

"However, despite knowing Mr. Sims only a few months, she did not take the opportunity to inform law enforcement of any dangerous or unwanted situation she had found herself in, nor did she take advantage of an opportunity to 'escape' Mr. Sims while he was arrested and incarcerated and she was not," Williams wrote.

He said the woman made statements about Sims to authorities to receive favorable treatment in exchange for her cooperation.

How did authorities reapprehend Sims?

At the time of his initial arrest, Sims was living in California but returned to Greater Cincinnati to visit family leading up to the holidays, his lawyer said. He and the woman returned to California after his release from jail, though she came back to the Cincinnati area in January 2021.

Authorities in Northern Kentucky filed additional charges against Sims, including human trafficking, in February 2021 and a warrant was issued for his arrest.

Sims was living in Las Vegas in January 2022 when he was questioned by authorities and they learned he had an active warrant out of Boone County. He's been in custody ever since.

Court records show the Boone County charges were dismissed early this year after Sims was federally indicted.

As part of his plea agreement, prosecutors agreed to dismiss a second count of knowingly transporting an individual for prostitution. Sims will be under government supervision for three years following his release from prison.

This article originally appeared on Cincinnati Enquirer: Feds: Man gave woman gifts, forced her into prostitution to repay him
Officials at the Arizona State Prison Complex in Phoenix say inmate Joshua Fox killed himself.

A 23-year-old man incarcerated at the Arizona State Prison Complex in Phoenix died on Tuesday from an apparent act of self-harm, according to the Arizona Department of Corrections, Rehabilitation and Reentry.

Officials with the department identified the man as Joshua Fox. A news release issued on Wednesday stated he was serving a sentence for manslaughter in 2021. Fox fatally stabbed his father in a vehicle after an argument and fled the scene in Tempe, police said.

Prison staff found Fox unresponsive in his cell on Dec. 20 and "conducted life-saving measures until paramedics arrived onsite" before he was transported to Valleywise Health Medical Center, according to the news release. He was pronounced dead on Tuesday.

Fox had been sentenced for manslaughter on Dec. 15. He was placed in Department of Corrections custody on Dec. 19, just one day before his suicide attempt, prison records show.

Suicide deaths among Arizona's incarcerated population

At least 97 inmates have died by suicide since fiscal year 2010, according to the Arizona Department of Corrections, Rehabilitation and Reentry.

The number of suicide attempts in Arizona prisons for the 2022 fiscal year totaled 71, which was 19 more than the year before, according to data from the Arizona Department of Corrections, Rehabilitation and Reentry. The number of suicide deaths for the fiscal year among incarcerated people totaled 10, the data showed.

This article originally appeared on Arizona Republic: Man found unresponsive in Phoenix prison cell, dead by suicide
Police officers stand in front of the cathedral. Cologne Cathedral remains closed to visitors after the terror alert. Oliver Berg/dpa

The 30-year-old man being held by German authorities in connection with a planned terrorist attack on the iconic Cologne Cathedral has previously visited the church possibly to prepare the attack, security sources said on Thursday.

"We know that he was there," the sources said.

The Tajik man was detained on Sunday in the town of Wesel, some 100 kilometres north of Cologne after a police special unit searched a residence there, initially taking five men into custody.

Four were released, while the man was held to "avert danger," police said on Tuesday, citing information relating to public order.

The police increased security measures at Cologne Cathedral over the weekend owing to indications of a possible attack planned by an Islamist group for Christmas or on New Year's Eve on December 31.

The group in question may be connected to the Islamic State Khorasan Province terrorist group, an Islamic State offshoot in Afghanistan, dpa has learned.

Security was also increased at St Stephen's Cathedral in Vienna, which was also reported to be a potential target.

While religious services continue to take place, the cathedral has been closed to tourists until further notice.

Cologne's Cathedral, a major tourist draw located right next to the city's central train station, is usually visited by more than 100,000 people between Christmas and New Year.

The 30-year-old detained suspect had previously not been known to security authorities in the western German state of North Rhine Westphalia, where Cologne is located, according to the sources.

Police officers stand in front of the cathedral. Cologne Cathedral remains closed to visitors after the terror alert. Oliver Berg/dpa
A new sketch shows the man believed to have broken into someones home and held them at gunpoint while robbing them.

Police say that just before 1:30 p.m. on Dec. 13, someone broke into a home on Northwest Drive NW in Atlanta.

[DOWNLOAD: Free WSB-TV News app for alerts as news breaks]

Investigators learned a suspect had kicked in the door and pointed his gun at the victim.

The suspect was able to get away with an AR-15-style rifle before running away from the area.

Police have not been able to identify or track down the suspect.

TRENDING STORIES:

He is described as being between 17 and 20 years old with dreadlocks that stop at his cheekbone. He was last seen wearing a dark hoodie and dark jogging pants.

Anyone who recognizes him should contact Crime Stoppers of Greater Atlanta at 404-577-8477 for a reward of up to $2,000.

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IN OTHER NEWS:
WASHINGTON (DC News Now)  The Metropolitan Police Department (MPD) was looking to identify suspects who kidnapped a man at gunpoint in Northeast, D.C. on Tuesday.

At around 4:23 a.m., the suspects approached the victim and pulled out handguns. They demanded the victims car keys and ordered him into his own car. The suspects then drove the victim around while they took property from him, police said.

2 men arrested for targeting Fairfax County Target

The suspects let the man out and fled the scene.

The vehicle has since been recovered.

(Courtesy of the Metropolitan Police Department)

Anyone who can identify the suspects (pictured above) or has information about the incident is asked to call police at (202) 727-9099 or text the departments tip line at 50411. A $10,000 reward is offered to anyone with information leading to the arrest and conviction of those involved.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to DC News Now | Washington, DC.
The Brooklyn man killed in a moped crash early Christmas morning bought the same two-wheeler just days earlier, a purchase his devastated mother advised against.

Christmas is ruined for me, Saquan Smiths mother, Valerie Smith, told the Daily News on Wednesday. I lost my baby. Its never going to be the same again.

Saquan Smith, 30, was riding his brand new gas-powered moped on Linden Blvd. in Brownsville when he rode through a red light at Thomas S. Boyland St. around 2:05 a.m. Monday, cops said.

The 58-year-old driver of a BMW sedan struck Smith as he crossed through the intersection. Medics rushed Smith to Brookdale University Hospital, but he could not be saved.

Smiths mother woke just minutes before she received the call her son had been killed.

I knew something happened to my son because about 1:30 in the morning, I jumped out of my bed with uneasiness, recalled Valerie Smith, 57. I got up, got a glass of water. As soon as I was going to bed again, I got the call.

After years of wanting a moped, her son made the purchase and immediately started riding.

Since he was a child, he always wanted to get a bike, said Valerie Smith. He always told me that when hell grow up and hell start earning, hell get one and he did. He was crazy for them.

At the time of the incident, Saquan Smith was heading back to the apartment he shared with his best friend about 2 miles from the crash site.

I spoke to him that night around 12:15 a.m. and he told me that hes on his way home, said his roommate Tyiesha Boone, 40. But he never came. Hes gone now.

Smith would have turned 31 on Saturday, and his mother was busy preparing both Christmas dinner and a birthday celebration,

He would have been here with us on Christmas day if he was not killed, said the grieving mother. He always wanted me to make baked macaroni for him.

Smith leaves behind two sons, ages 5 and 9. His roommate, reeling from the loss, told The News he treated her son like his own.

I have an 11-year-old child, he misses him so much, said Boone.

Smith had chipped in for an e-bike Boone planned to give her son for Christmas.

Thats how he was, he always thought about other before him, she said. After what happened to him, my son is never getting on that bike.

The BMW driver remained on the scene and did not immediately face charges.

Everybody needs to learn to watch out for these riders, said Boone. New York needs to come up with some sort of law for car drivers who are hitting these bike riders, maybe create bike lanes or something.
The Russian army launched attacks and kamikaze drones on the villages of the Pokrov hromada in Dnipropetrovsk Oblast and the city of Nikopol, killing a 23-year-old man and injuring a 70-year-old woman on 28 December [A hromada is an administrative unit designating a village, several villages, or a town, and their adjacent territories - ed.].

Source: Serhii Lysak, Head of Dnipropetrovsk Oblast Military Administration; Prosecutor Generals of Ukraine

Details: In total, nine kamikaze drones and six artillery attacks were reported in Dnipropetrovsk Oblast.

Quote: "A young man has been killed and a 70-year-old woman has been injured in the city. She was taken to hospital in a moderate condition."

Photo: Serhii Lysaks Telegram channel

Details: In addition, 17 private houses and two residential buildings have been damaged in Nikopol. An outbuilding has been destroyed and five others have been damaged. 40 solar panels, vehicles, gas pipelines and power lines, as well as an administrative building, have been damaged.

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A man who miraculously survived on rainwater while trapped in his wrecked truck for six days over Christmas was rescued after being discovered by fishermen.

Matthew Reum, 27, had been pinned inside his crashed vehicle beneath a highway bridge in north-west Indiana since Dec 20, police said.

His ordeal ended when two men scouting for fishing spots on Tuesday afternoon noticed the badly damaged pickup truck, which had its white airbag deployed, and reached inside.

They touched the body, and the person turned their head and started talking to them. So, that got a little rise out of them, Sgt Glen Fifield, of Indiana State Police, told local media.

The truck went off Interstate 94 ahead of a bridge over Salt Creek, missing the guardrail, and was likely to have rolled several times before landing on the other side of the waterway, out of sight from the road above, Mr Fifield said.

Matthew Reum is in intensive care after his ordeal

Mr Reum, of Mishawaka, Indiana, was freed from the wreckage on Tuesday evening by first responders working under floodlights, and airlifted to a hospital in South Bend with life-threatening injuries, he added.

He made it through the night. He is alive, Mr Fifield told The Associated Press on Wednesday. Its a miracle that hes alive in this weather.

Temperatures in the area had plummeted to nearly -2C in recent days.

Mr Reum, a welder, had to have part of his leg amputated because of his injuries, and remains in intensive care. His friends are raising money for his medical expenses and recovery.

South Bend Memorial Hospital released a statement on his behalf, thanking people for their support and well wishes, including the good Samaritans who found him, the first responders and his caregivers.

No matter how tough things get, there is a light at the end of the tunnel, sometimes in the least expected way, Mr Reum said in the statement.

Rescue workers at the scene of the crash that trapped Matthew Reum - Indiana State Police

Mario Garcia, one of the fishermen who found the wreck, said Mr Reum was awake and very happy to see us after being exposed to the elements for nearly a week.

It almost killed me there, because it was so shocking to find him alive, Mr Garcia told reporters during a news conference in the nearby city of Portage on Tuesday.

He said Mr Reum recounted having screamed and yelled for help but only heard the quiet sound of water.

Mr Reum said his mobile phone had fallen out of reach, preventing him from calling for aid. He drank rainwater to survive.

Mr Fifield said Mr Reum had not been reported missing, adding: Had it not been for the two individuals that were walking the creek this afternoon, this incident more than likely would have had a different outcome.

He added that Mr Reums will to survive this crash was nothing short of extraordinary.

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A man who stabbed another man to death inside a Riverside home has learned his sentence.

Cornelius Davon Brogan was sentenced to 15 years to life for the murder of 28-year-old Scott Hannah, according to court records.

On Nov. 30, a jury found Brogan guilty of multiple counts of murder and felonious assault.

Prosecutors said that Brogan and Hannah dated for three years and broke up about 10 months before Hannahs murder on Nov. 27, 2022.

Neighborhood ring cameras showed Brogan going into Hannahs home on Sunday morning, then walking out and driving away six minutes later.

>> PREVIOUS COVERAGE: Well never get over that; Dad of man stabbed to death react after ex-boyfriends guilty verdict

Other friends of Hannah went to check on him when he didnt respond all day in their group text but found him dead in his living room.

Brogan was located and arrested in Logan County, Kentucky days after the murder. He was later transferred to Montgomery County.

Brogans defense, and Brogan himself, testified that the murder of Scott was in self-defense.

In the conclusion of his sentencing memorandum, prosecutors said, the jury swiftly and correctly rejected Brogans absurd version of events with its verdicts.

They added that Brogan showed no remorse and stabbed Hannah with the purpose of causing his death.

(Hannah) lived a meaningful life and at a young age, dedicated himself to an anti-bullying movement. He then survived cancer. It is truly a tragedy that such a meaningful life ended in such a meaningless way, the prosecution wrote.
ALEXANDRIA, Va. (DC News Now)  Police said that one man was shot at an Alexandria McDonalds on Wednesday evening.

In a post on the platform X shortly before 7:20 p.m., the Alexandria Police Department (APD) said that officers were at the McDonalds at 5311 Duke St.

APD said that two men who knew each other got into a fight that escalated into the shooting.

2 men arrested for targeting Fairfax County Target

The man who was shot was taken to the hospital with non-life-threatening injuries.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to DC News Now | Washington, DC.
United States President Joe Biden's administration unveiled its final package of the year for Ukraine in the form of a $250 million military assistance agreement.

On Wednesday, the State Department announced the newest aid package as American lawmakers continue negotiating a spending deal to sustain US support for Kyiv into the new year.

US Aid for Ukraine

Secretary of State Antony Blinken said the US will provide Ukraine with "up to $250 million of arms and equipment under previously directed drawdowns." The newest military aid package would include air defense munitions, air defense system components, ammunition for high mobility artillery rocket systems, and various ammunition.

The latest package, which will be the last one the US gives Ukraine as funds dry up, comes as Kyiv's progress in its war against Russia has stalled. As per Politico, winter conditions make continued fighting on the battlefield against Moscow's military troops even more challenging.

Additionally, European leaders are now growing increasingly pessimistic about Ukraine's capability of repelling Russia's continued aggression. They are also wary of Kyiv's ability to reclaim lost territory in the country's eastern provinces.

While President Biden and his administration have continued expressing their support for Kyiv, US aid to Ukraine has become a partisan issue. There have been an increasing number of Republican lawmakers who criticized ongoing military assistance to the European nation.

More than 100 GOP members tried to cut funding for Ukraine in September completely and many Republican presidential candidates have spoken out against the aid packages. These include the frontrunner, former United States President Donald Trump.

The Biden administration has already asked Congress for a supplemental package with more than $60 billion in aid for Ukraine. However, the legislation is currently stalled as negotiators are trying to find a compromise on border security and immigration policy, which are key demands Republicans want to include in any deal, according to CNN.

Read Also: Volodymyr Zelenskiy to Make Crucial US Visit, Aiming to End Senate's Assistance Funding Impasse for Ukraine

Military Aid Assistance for Kyiv

Furthermore, the president's administration has repeatedly warned that its ability to assist Ukraine is rapidly dwindling. This has forced the Pentagon to stretch what little money it had left into smaller military aid packages.

In a statement, Blinken said that Congress must act quickly and as soon as possible to advance our national security interests. This would be by helping Ukraine defend itself and secure its future.

Earlier this month, the US announced security packages amounting to $200 million and $175 million. These are considered relatively small compared to the much larger aid packages that the Biden administration has been able to send to Kyiv in the past.

In mid-December, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky made a surprise visit to Washington, saying he is confident in robust, bipartisan support for Ukraine. However, he added that he wants to see such support through lawmakers' actions.

During a press conference, Zelensky said he got the signal that American lawmakers were more than positive. But he said that they need to separate words and results, adding that they would want to count on particular results, said The Hill.

Related Article: Biden, Zelensky Urge Congress to Approve Ukraine Aid in Joint News Conference

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A man driving a stolen car was shot in the parking lot of a Chamblee Walgreens Thursday morning, according to the Georgia Bureau of Investigation.

Chamblee police told Channel 2 Action News that officers found a suspected suspected stolen vehicle in the parking lot of the pharmacy on Peachtree Boulevard Thursday morning.

When officers tried to contact the driver, later identified as 24-year-old Jeremiah Quincy Kinard, he tried to speed off in the SUV. A Chamblee Police Department officer shot at Kinard, hitting and injuring him.

Kinard was taken to the hospital, where he was listed as stable.

[DOWNLOAD: Free WSB-TV News app for alerts as news breaks]

Channel 2s Michael Seiden was at Walgreens, where he spoke with police about the shooting.

There was more than one shot fired. As far as the number of times the person was that has not been determined by any of here, Chamblee Police Chief Michael Dieppa said.

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Chamblee police told Channel 2 Action News that the police officer involved in the shooting is OK.

The Georgia Bureau of Investigation has taken over the case. This is the 103rd officer-involved shooting in Georgia this year.

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IN OTHER NEWS:
The last eight Marines graduated from the course that trains scout snipers  an elite role the Marine Corps has scrapped as part of broader changes to the force.

Eight Marines graduated from the last Scout Sniper Course at the School of Infantry-East at Camp Geiger, North Carolina, on Dec. 15.

The graduation marks the end of a long era that stretches back as far as World War I, when the Marine Corps first used scout snipers, according to retired Master Sgt. Tim Parkhurst, CEO of the USMC Scout Sniper Association.

The final graduates of the scout sniper course wont receive the scout sniper military occupational specialty, but they will play a vital role of ensuring infantry battalions retain scouting and precision marksmanship capabilities while the training and curriculum necessary to meet fleet requirements is finalized and approved, Marine Corps Training and Education Command spokesman Maj. Joshua Pena said in an email to Marine Corps Times on Wednesday.

Marines remove scout sniper platoons from infantry battalions

In February, the Marine Corps announced it was cutting infantry battalions scout sniper platoons and replacing them with scout platoons specifically focused on reconnaissance.

Previously, Marine infantry battalions had scout sniper platoons, made up of formally trained marksmen who also had reconnaissance skills, along with Marines who received on-the-job training.

The change from 18-Marine scout sniper platoons to 26-Marine scout platoons comes as the Marine Corps is restructuring the force in preparation for potential conflict with a powerful, high-tech adversary like the Chinese military. One of the services top priorities in this overhaul, called Force Design 2030, is to improve the Marines reconnaissance capabilities.

The shift to a Scout Platoon will allow those Marines to focus their training and evaluations on scouting, providing commanders the right tools to accomplish their mission, Marine spokesman Capt. Ryan Bruce told Marine Corps Times in February.

The decision kicked up controversy in the scout sniper community.

Weve been fairly widely recognized as one of the most cost-effective, force-multiplying assets on the battlefield for many, many decades, Parkhurst said.

But scout snipers have been met with a lack of top-down leadership and oversight for decades, according to Parkhurst, who noted he wasnt speaking for the USMC Scout Sniper Association. If scout snipers needed to get better at the scout aspect of their job, the Marine Corps should have provided more specific guidance to them along those lines, the veteran said.

There wasnt some team from Headquarters Marine Corps that went around to all the sniper platoons saying, Hey, guys, this is Force Design 2030, and this is your piece of it, and this is what it needs to look like, Parkhurst said.

The Marine Corps isnt getting rid of snipers altogether: The service still will train snipers through the Reconnaissance Training Center and the Marine Raider Training Center, Marine Corps Times previously reported.

These reconnaissance snipers will be distributed within reconnaissance battalions, rather than infantry battalions, Pena told Marine Corps Times in October.

And some infantrymen will be trained as precision marksmen, for infantry battalion commanders to make use of as needed, Pena told Marine Corps Times on Wednesday.

The Service is confident this realignment of capabilities will produce a more capable, adaptable, and lethal deployable force needed to compete and to win against a near peer adversary, Pena said.

Parkhurst said he believes infantry battalions have lost effectiveness by giving up scout snipers.

A scout is half of a scout sniper, he said.
North Carolina Lt. Gov. Mark Robinson came from nowhere to win his first race for public office on the strength of a gun rights speech that went viral.

Now, Bill Graham, a Salisbury personal injury attorney and businessman, thinks he can beat Robinson for the GOPs 2024 gubernatorial nomination by catching a similar wave of sudden attention.

Graham, 62, says hes willing to spend at least $5 million of his own resources on TV ads and other methods to get his name and message before Republican voters. He started rolling out TV ads in October, more than five months before next years March 5 primary.

Graham sought the Republican gubernatorial nomination in 2008, but received only 9 percent of the vote in the primary won by then-Charlotte Mayor Pat McCrory. This time around, Graham appears to be gaining traction. He has won the endorsement of U.S. Sen. Thom Tillis and has secured the services of Paul Shumaker, a prominent campaign consultant, who has guided winning Republican North Carolina campaigns for U.S. Senate and other offices.

A late November East Carolina University poll of registered Republican voters showed Robinson has a big lead (34%) over Graham (8%) and state Treasurer Dale Folwell (7%). But Chris Cooper, a political scientist at Western Carolina University who studies state politics, said Graham has the resources to make up ground quickly.

Graham is a quality candidate and there are still a large number of undecided voters in most polls that could make up for that margin, he said. Further, Graham entered the race with a bankroll that would make most candidates green with envy.

Billing himself as North Carolinas proven conservative champion, Graham is taking on Robinson from the right. Thats a surprising approach seeing as Robinson is already the darling of hard-right voters because of his stands for gun rights and against abortion, gay rights and supposedly liberal teaching in public schools.

If its going to be a contest between who can be the most radical right-winger, Graham, who worked for the late Sen. Jesse Helms on the Senate Agriculture Committee, is ready to race Robinson to the extremes.

Grahams early ads show that reality wont get in the way of his depicting himself as a conservative champion taking on the radical left in Raleigh to take back North Carolina.

The Democrat politicians have been running Raleigh for too long, he says in one ad. That is news to Democratic lawmakers, who have been in the minority in the General Assembly for 13 years, and Democratic Gov. Roy Cooper, who saw his vetoes overturned 19 times in 2023.

In his opening ad, Graham, a former prosecutor, pledged to go after violent criminals. As governor, he said, Ill put them in jail or in the ground. No matter that the governor has nothing to do with convicting people, let alone imposing the death penalty.

Grahams willingness to toss red meat to conservatives poses a problem for Robinson. The lieutenant governor would prefer to mute his extremism in anticipation of a general election that likely will be against state Attorney General Josh Stein, although former state Supreme Court Justice Mike Morgan is also seeking the Democratic nomination. Now Robinson may have to out-MAGA an opponent.

David McLennan, a Meredith College political science professor who directs the Meredith Poll, said that while Robinson leads the race for the GOP nomination, many voters are not locked in yet. In his analysis of a November poll, he said, There could be a competitive primary, but it looks unlikely unless one of Robinsons challengers catches fire.

Graham may not catch fire, but his challenge from the right certainly heats up things for Robinson. Who knows, maybe the extreme social conservative and the extreme fiscal conservative will cancel each other out and the GOP nominee will end up being a truly radical choice for the party  a moderate conservative., Dale Folwell.

Associate opinion editor Ned Barnett can be reached vat 919-404-7583, or nbarnett@ newsobserver.com

.
WASHINGTON - A Maryland man has been arrested for at least 10 sexual offenses that occurred in Northwest D.C., police say.

According to MPD, 46-year-old Daniel Adam Grob of ., has been charged with misdemeanor sexual abuse offenses in each case.

Police say in each instance, Grob engaged in unwanted sexual contact with the victim, then fled the scene on a bicycle.

The abuses occurred:

On Thursday, June 16, 2022, at approximately 7:40 pm in the 2100 block of K Street, Northwest.

On Monday, August 15, 2022, at approximately 9:55 am in the 1800 block of New Hampshire Avenue, Northwest.

On Monday, September 26, 2022, at approximately 9:30 am in the 1000 block of 17th Street, Northwest.

On Monday, September 26, 2022, at approximately 10:00 am in the 1100 block of New Hampshire Avenue, Northwest.

On Thursday, June 1, 2023, at approximately 7:30 pm in the 800 block of 19th Street, Northwest

On Thursday, June 29, 2023, at approximately 9:45 am in the 1300 block of L Street Northwest.

On Monday, July 10, 2023, at approximately 7:14 pm, in the 1000 block of 24th Street, Northwest.

On Thursday, September 14, 2023, at approximately 10:20 am in the 1800 block of I Street, Northwest.

On Thursday, September 14, 2023, at approximately 6:55 pm in the 1400 block of 12th Street, Northwest.

On Wednesday, November 8, 2023, at approximately 12:00 am in the 1100 block of 19th Street, Northwest.

Grob was taken into custody on Friday, Dec. 22.

Anyone with additional information on this suspect or the offenses should call (202) 727-9099 or text a tip to 50411.
Massachusetts police apologized for searching an eighth grade classroom this week for the often-banned book "Gender Queer" after an unidentified person complained it contained pornographic images.

Bodycam footage and police reports obtained and released Thursday by the Daily Beast showed a plainclothes officer coming to Great Barrington's W.E.B. Du Bois Regional Middle School after classroom hours and speaking with an English teacher, saying, "you can't present that kind of material to people under 18," referring to the book.

The officer then asked if other books contained similar images and if they knew of another specific teacher who might have the book, according to the Daily Beast.

The book is the illustrated coming-of-age memoir "Gender Queer," by Maia Kobabe, which has topped banned book lists in recent years because of its sexual imagery and LGBTQ+ themes. During the 2022-2023 school year, the book was banned in 26 school districts, according to PEN America.

"Over the years, our relationship with our schools has been positive and collaborative, so together we worked with the school to try to navigate this sensitive situation," said Great Barrington Police Department Police Chief Paul Storti in a statement shared on social media. "If our involvement caused distrust and alarm, that was not our intention. I promise you our actions were not meant to disenfranchise anyone or influence school curriculum."

According to the Berkshire Eagle, a local publication, Great Barrington police told school officials that they had to look at the book in the classroom. After the end of the school day, the principal of the school led the officer to the classroom, surprising the teacher. The search was recorded by the officer's body camera. The officer was unable to find the book on the classroom shelves.

Students and some school staff at a neighboring school responded to the search with a protest held on school grounds on Dec. 17, according to the Berkshire Eagle. More than 100 people, including students who identify as LGBTQ+, walked out of Monument Mountain Regional High School. A parents' petition has also been circulated, school officials said, and there have been numerous emails and letters from parents and community members responding to the controversy. On social media, many have commented on posts from the Great Barrington Police Department criticizing the search.

School officials said in a statement that "in hindsight, we would have approached that moment differently," adding that the district "does not support banning books" and is "committed to ensuring that all students feel safe as we support an inclusive environment at our schools."

School officials said that they will hold and schedule multiple meetings to "explain what happened, gather feedback and articulate shifts going forward." The first meeting will be held on Jan. 11.

"In this case, the content was not the issue. The process challenging it was. We want to ensure that students and staff feel safe and supported and that families' voices are heard," school officials said.

Massachusetts Gov. Maura Healey also responded to the controversy and supported the students who have protested the search.

"Book banning has no place in Massachusetts," said Healey. "Our administration stands with educators who are committed to ensuring that their students have inclusive, comprehensive resources. I'm proud to see these students stepping up to support their teacher, their peers and an inclusive learning environment."

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Israel has initiated the third stage of the ongoing conflict in Gaza, specifically targeting regions that are heavily populated with refugee camps.

A warning and alert have been issued by aid agencies, indicating that Palestinian civilians are facing a shortage of space.

Israel Launches Third Stage of Gaza War

Israeli military spokesperson Daniel Hagari said they had extended their operations in Central Gaza after months of fighting Hamas in the north and before moving into the central southern city of Khan Younis in November. He said that their forces were now active, surrounding the Strip.

On Wednesday morning, residents of the Bureij, Maghazi, and Nuseirat refugee camps, all located in Central Gaza, reported heavy bombing. Rami Abu Mosab, a resident of the Bureij camp, described the bombing as horrible and they had not seen such bombing since the start of the war.

Since last Friday, Israel has been ordering Palestinians to leave Central Gaza. However, according to the United Nations humanitarian office, the area was home to 90,000 people before the war on October 7 and was currently sheltering over 61,000 displaced individuals.

A video released by the Palestine Red Crescent Society showed medical personnel retrieving at least one body from the debris of the collapsed buildings in the Bureji camp on Wednesday.

According to the health ministry in Gaza, more than 21,100 Palestinians, mainly women and children, have been killed in nearly three months of fighting, including almost 200 people in the last 24 hours.

National Security Adviser Tzachi Hanegbi said that the first stage in the war contains the Hamas attack and clearing of the terrorists in southern Israel. The second stage targets all enemy systems through air, land, and sea quality intelligence.

Hanegbi noted that ground operations in the northern Gaza Strip would be the third and current stage.

Read Also: YouTuber Discovers Human Remains From 13 Years Ago in Submerged Vehicle in Private Pond

Aid Agencies Speak Out

Ahmed Bryan, a spokesperson for the Norwegian Refugee Council, a humanitarian group operating mainly in southern Gaza, said there was no space left for those fleeing.

He said that the area has overcrowded residential areas and refugee camps that house tens of thousands. He added, "This unlawful strategy of forcible transfers has repeated itself five or six times already in just under three months. There is no space to accommodate those fleeing to Deir Balah or southern Gaza."

Bryan further warned that medication, food, and water were becoming increasingly scarce while diseases became more prevalent.

US Secretary of State Antony Blinken is scheduled to make his fifth trip to Israel next week since October 7. The top US diplomat was expected to visit the West Bank, Jordan, United Arab Emirates, Saudi Arabia, and Qatar to discuss the following stages of the war.

Blinken met with the Israeli minister of strategic affairs, Ron Dermer, on Tuesday. The two discussed the preparations for a shift from intense combat in Gaza to a more localized approach targeting high-value Hamas targets.

Related Article: Israel Prepares for War on 7 Fronts, Sparks Escalating Conflict in Neighboring Countries





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Nearly two weeks after a federal grand jury indicted Sean Loloee in connection with his capital region grocery chain, Sacramento Mayor Darrell Steinberg has called on the embattled, and defiant, councilman to resign from his post.

Councilmember Loloee should put the city first, Steinberg said in a statement to reporters. We have too much important work to do on behalf of the people of Sacramento for more distraction and controversy.

Thursdays announcement came, Steinberg said, after urging the North Sacramento councilman to do the right thing behind closed doors about his next steps following his appearance Dec. 15 in Sacramento federal court. Steinberg and the rest of the city council have few avenues to remove Loloee from his elected post.

I have been engaged for several weeks in conversation with Councilmember Loloee regarding the federal indictment and its impact on his continued service as a city council member. I have asked him repeatedly to resign and have not made my request public to give him the space to do the right thing.

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This morning, he informed me he would not resign. Today, I am publicly calling on Councilmember Loloee to resign immediately.

On Dec. 15, a federal grand jury handed up a 25-count indictment against Loloee that included conspiracy to defraud the U.S. Department of Labor, possession of false immigration papers, obstruction of agency proceedings, falsifying records and wire fraud.

Loloee and Viva stores general manager, Karla Montoya, pleaded not guilty to the charges. The two are due back in court Feb. 12.

If convicted of the most serious charges, Loloee could face up to 20 years in prison.

Loloee: Misrepresentation of who I am

Loloee remained strident Thursday in responding to Steinbergs statement, saying he would not resign.

When I ran for office in 2019, I did so to help bring about positive change in my community, Loloee said. No one expected me to win, and no one expected me to defeat the incumbent. However, with the support of the residents throughout the district, I became the first Iranian American to be elected to the City Council.

Describing politics as a rough business that lends itself to unfair and savage attacks, Loloee cited many successes as reasons for him to stay in office, including advocating for his district to receive $10 million in redevelopment funds and attracting over $400 million in private investment for housing on Del Paso Boulevard, among others.

Unfortunately, those who opposed my campaign and disagreed with some of my views on how Sacramento can improve never stopped their attacks after the votes were tallied.

Instead, their harassment and attacks turned more vicious, directed not only at me, but my family, my friends, and even Viva store associates, he said. But the loss is not about me alone. Real people lose when the criminal justice system is wielded to meet political ends. Real people lose their vote and are disenfranchised when petty political grievances morph into false allegations and court cases follow.

The recent challenges that have played out in the media are a misrepresentation of who I am and how I run my business and I vehemently deny any charges. I look forward to my day in court, where the truth can be heard. The very essence of our democracy lies in the principles of due process and the presumption of innocence until proven guilty. We must protect these principles from undue influence by politics and media.

Loloee already has said he does not intend to run for re-election next year.

Steinberg: Where Loloee lives makes him unqualified

Steinberg noted that while Loloee has the right to due process in a court of law, the 25 counts of fraud and obstruction that were levied against the owner of Viva Supermarkets were incompatible with his continued service in public office.

That mirrored his previous statements this month when Steinberg called the charges very troubling. He has been working to persuade Loloee to leave since but couldnt make good on his forecast that the situation would be resolved within the next 24 hours.

Loloee has been under investigation by federal agents and was sued by the U.S. Department of Labor in April 2022 over allegations that he threatened to report workers at his Viva Supermarket chain over their immigration status.

He also has been accused in court documents of destroying evidence related to his businesses during the investigation. A civil case, filed by federal labor officials in 2022, remains in the mix.

The issue of Loloees residency, as detailed in a Sacramento Bee investigation last year, apparently weighed heavily on Steinbergs decision.

The U.S. Department of Justice earlier this month confirmed a Sacramento Bee June 2022 report that found Loloee does not live in the North Sacramento district he represents, but in his wifes $1.4 million Granite Bay house. The Bee determined Loloee was also virtually sworn into office at the Granite Bay house.

As part of the pending criminal action, U.S. Magistrate Judge Deborah Barnes issued an order to Councilmember Loloee on Dec. 15, 2023, directing that as a condition of his release from custody, he must reside at his Granite Bay residence, and may not be absent from that resident for more than 24 hours without prior approval from the court, Steinberg wrote.

The mayor cited Section 27 of the citys charter, which states that a council member must continue to reside in their council district as a qualification for holding office.

Given the court directive that he remain in Granite Bay, I have asked the City Attorney to immediately provide the city council with an opinion on whether Mr. Loloee remains legally qualified to hold office in the city of Sacramento.

This has been noted as the most likely avenue that the council could take to remove Loloee ahead of the end of his term in December 2024.

Steinberg to strip Loloee of roles

Mary Lynne Vellinga, a spokeswoman for Steinbergs office, said the mayor would be taking other action, including removing Loloee from all boards and commissions he sits on. Those include the Sacramento Regional Transit District Board and the councils Personnel and Public Employees Committee, among others.

Council members, most of whom have stayed quiet about the matter, joined Steinberg in the calls for Loloee to step down Thursday afternoon.

Im joining Mayor Steinberg in calling for the immediate resignation of (Loloee), Councilwoman Caity Maple, who represents Oak Park, said in a social media post minutes after the mayors statement. The charges levied against him are both well-founded and serious, and the people of District 2 deserve better. Our city deserves better.

Mai Vang, who represents Meadowview and other parts of south Sacramento, said the day he was charged that the 2nd District deserves better.

The indictment of (Loloee) on numerous serious charges goes against the ethical standards expected of public officials, Vang said on Dec. 15. These disappointing allegations, compromise his ability to effectively represent our city.

South Natomas councilwoman, Karina Talamantes, called the impasse a distraction and joined Steinberg and others in urging Loloee to quit.

Daniel Savala, executive director for the Del Paso Boulevard Partnership, on the day of Loloees indictment, said he should resign and called the allegations disturbing.

Last month, the Democratic Party of Sacramento County issued a call for Loloee to resign following raids on his grocery stores and homes in October. Fabrizio Sasso, executive director of the Central Labor Council also called for Loloee to resign at that time.

Loloee and his business dealings have been under scrutiny since 2009 over allegations involving violations of child labor and overtime laws.

He also is the subject of an investigation by the states Fair Political Practices Commission and has been dogged by questions about whether he lived in his Nogales Street home in the citys 2nd District or in Granite Bay.

A three-month investigation concluded in October 2022 that Loloee lives in his district home.

Loloee won his council seat in November 2020, defeating incumbent Allen Warren by a margin of about 55% to 44%.

Will stalemate play out in council meeting?

State law provides a way for city councils to remove a member in cases where the officeholder does not live in the district he or she is elected to represent, according to Fred Woocher, a Los Angeles-based election law attorney.

If Alcala Wood agrees with the assessment of Woocher and other legal experts that the council can remove Loloee over his residency, the mayor might place an item to do so on an upcoming council agenda.

The next city council meeting is Jan. 9, and Loloee indicated he would remain on the council by then.

I am optimistic about the continued growth and success of District 2 and the City of Sacramento and intend to be fully engaged as I continue to complete my term on the Sacramento City Council.

The Bees Sam Stanton and Ishani Desai contributed to this story.
WASHINGTON (NEXSTAR)  Officials estimate theyre now arresting as many as 10,000 migrants a day at the U.S. southern border. Members of the Biden administration traveled to Mexico Wednesday to try to work on a solution.

As thousands of migrants arrive at the U.S. southern border every day, Secretary of State Antony Blinken and Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas met with Mexicos president in his country Wednesday to try to slow the surge.

Mexico indicated its willing to help stop the influx but wants to see progress in U.S. relations with Cuba and Venezuela along with more development aid for the region.

New York City Mayor Eric Adams issued an executive order to restrict the flow of migrant charter buses sent by Texas Governor Greg Abbott.

We cannot allow buses with people needing our help to arrive without warning at any hour of day and night, he said.

Adams along with the mayors of Chicago and Denver are pressing the White House and Congress for more aid as their cities grapple with how to house, feed and educate tens of thousands of migrants.

We cannot do this alone. We need more support from the federal government., said Chicago mayor Brandon Johnson.

House Republicans are planning a large trip to the border next week before returning to Capitol Hill.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to DC News Now | Washington, DC.
Tributes are being paid to the South African playwright Mbongeni Ngema after he died in a car crash aged 68.

He rose to international prominence in the 1980s with plays that depicted the lives of black people under the racist system of apartheid.

His works "reflected the spirit of resistance" during white minority rule, his family said.

Ngema was best-known for his musical Sarafina!, which was later adapted into a film starring Whoopi Goldberg.

President Cyril Ramaphosa led tributes to the playwright, composer and theatrical director.

Ngema's "masterfully creative narration of our liberation struggle honoured the humanity of oppressed South Africans" and "exposed the inhumanity" of the apartheid regime, the South African leader said.

He died in a head-on collision on Wednesday evening while returning from a funeral in the town of Lusikisiki in the Eastern Cape province.

More than 700 people have been killed in car accidents in South Africa since the beginning of December.

Born in 1955, Ngema began his career as a backing guitarist before taking to the stage in local theatre productions in the 1970s,.

He went on to co-write the 1981 play Woza Albert! (meaning Rise Up Albert! in Zulu), which imagines the second coming of Jesus Christ during the apartheid era.

The satirical work became the benchmark of South African protest theatre at home and on the stages of London and New York.

He followed up with the musical Asinimali! (Zulu for We don't have money!), which showed off his exceptional technical abilities as a producer.

And then came his 1987 triumph Sarafina!, set during the Soweto Uprising and carrying to audiences worldwide the revolutionary ardour of South Africa's youth. It was adapted into a blockbuster movie in 1992.

South African actress Sophie Ndaba said that Ngema would be remembered for generations to come.

"Thank you for inspiring us with your creative work and music," she said in a her tribute posted on Instagram.

Some of Ngema's plays after apartheid, which ended in 1994, courted controversy.

He produced Sarafina 2 in 1995 to raise awareness about the scourge of HIV/Aids, which had largely been ignored during apartheid.

It was commissioned by the new government at a cost of 14m rand ($750,000; 590,000) - an amount seen as exorbitant and which triggered an investigation by South Africa's anti-corruption watchdog, the public protector.

The probe found that the health department's funding for the play was an "unauthorised expenditure" and its message about HIV/Aids was inadequate.

Ngema also found himself at the centre of controversy in 2002 with his song AmaNdiya (meaning Indians in Zulu), which accused South Africa's Indian community of racism and exploitation.

It was banned from the airwaves by the Broadcasting Complaints Commission of South Africa, which said that it incited hatred.

Anti-apartheid icon Nelson Mandela, who served as South Africa's first democratically elected president from 1994-1999, urged Ngema to apologise.

"I think he can do nothing better than to apologise if he has offended anyone with racist lyrics," Mr Mandela said at the time.

Ngema refused and decried the ban, telling the BBC that no authority should direct what an artist can write about.
Mbongeni Ngema, renowned South African creator of the musical Sarafina!, has died in a car crash aged 68.

News of his death was announced by his family in a statement to the Associated Press. It is understood that he was a passenger in the car.

Ngema was killed in a head-on car accident while returning from a funeral he was attending in Lusikisiki in the Eastern Cape this evening, the statement said.

More than 700 people have been killed in car accidents in South Africa since the beginning of December, the BBC reports.

Born in 1955, Ngema began his career in the arts as a backing guitarist, before appearing in a number of local stage productions during the Seventies.

He rose to fame in the Eighties with works that reflected the spirit of resistance under the racist system of apartheid.

His 1987 musical Sarafina!, which was later adapted into a film starring Whoopi Goldberg, was set during the Soweto Uprising and follows the title character as she inspires her student peers to rise up against racist oppression.

In the 1992 film adaptation, Sarafina was played by Leleti Khumalo, while her mother was played by legendary South African musician and activist Miriam Makeba. Goldberg starred as Sarafinas teacher, Mary Masombuka.

(Gallo Images/Getty Images)

Ngema caused controversy with some of his plays after apartheid, which ended in 1994. In 2003, his song AmaNdiya was banned from radio in South Africa after being accused of inciting racial hatred against South Africas Indian community.

Nelson Mandela urged Ngema to apologise, commenting: I think he can do nothing better than to apologise if he has offended anyone with racist lyrics.

However, Ngema refused, telling Zulu radio: It is my role as an artist... to mirror the society and highlight the plight of the people on the ground. The leadership relies on us artists to voice out issues where there is perceived oversight.

President Cyril Ramaphosa led tributes to Ngema in the wake of his death, commenting that his masterfully creative narration of our liberation struggle honoured the humanity of oppressed South Africans and exposed the inhumanity of the apartheid regime.

South African actor Sophie Ndaba said that Ngema would be remembered for generations to come.

What a loss to the creative arts industry, she wrote in a tribute shared to Instagram.

Mbongeni Ngema will be remembered for generations to come. Thank you for inspiring us with your creative work and music. Condolences to the Ngema family.

Sarafina! producer Anant Singh said in a statement to Deadline: We have lost a trailblazing creative talent who fearlessly brought awareness of South Africa under apartheid to a global audience using the theatre as a platform.

He has left an indelible mark on South African theatre and the creative industries as a whole. This is clearly demonstrated by the timelessness of Sarafina! the film.

Mbongeni was an inspiration and mentored many young artists who are now household names. His passing leaves a deep void but he leaves a rich legacy that will endure for posterity.
Russian leader Vladimir Putin allegedly told his Chinese counterpart Xi Jinping during a meeting in March that Russia planned to continue its war against Ukraine for "at least five years," Nikkei Asia reported on Dec. 28, citing its anonymous sources.

The article follows media reports suggesting that Putin may be ready for a ceasefire in case Russia keeps the territories it illegally occupies in Ukraine, while the West's strategy on supporting Ukraine is leaning towards preparing conditions for Kyiv-Moscow talks.

In its analytical piece, Nikkei Asia wrote that Putin's words to Xi were apparently his way of summarizing a situation on the battlefield that was at that time unfavorable for Russia and assuring the Chinese leader that Russia would eventually win the war.

Putin's statement likely meant to imply that a prolonged war would benefit Russia and warn Xi to not change his pro-Russian stance, the media outlet added.

Xi traveled to Moscow on March 20 at Putin's invitation for his first state visit to Russia since the beginning of its full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February last year.

Beijing has supported Russia diplomatically and economically amid the Western push to isolate it but appears to have steered clear of providing direct military assistance.

The New York Times reported on Dec. 23, citing its unnamed sources, that Putin has been signaling behind closed doors that Russia would be open to a ceasefire along the current front line.

Putin's sought ceasefire would mean Russia would keep the territories it illegally occupies in Ukraine, where the population is subject to abductions and summary executions.

Read also: Alexander Khrebet: Dont write off Ukrainians living under Russian occupation

However, according to Nikkei Asia's analysis, Putin's words to Xi, revealed by multiple sources familiar with diplomatic maneuvering between Moscow and Beijing, indicate that his supposed willingness to stop the hostilities should not be taken at face value.

"It could be that Putin wishes to merely create the illusion that he is moving toward a ceasefire or even peace ahead of Russia's presidential election in March, believing such an atmosphere would favor him at the polls," the outlet argued.

An unnamed White House official and a European diplomat told Politico on Dec. 27 that the Biden administration and European officials are beginning to shift focus from supporting total victory over Russia to improving Ukraine's position in eventual peace talks with Russia.

These negotiations could force Ukraine to cede territory to Russia, which is widely unpopular among the Ukrainian population.

Ukraine laid out its 10-point "peace formula" in November 2022. One of the key points as a precondition for starting peace talks is the full withdrawal of Russian troops from Ukrainian territory, including the regions illegally annexed by Russia in 2014.

Russian officials have previously reiterated that this would be considered a nonstarter for any negotiations.

Ukrainian and Western leaders have repeatedly said that they do not believe Russia is interested in good-faith peace negotiations.

Read also: Russia, China and North Korea have new dynamics. And its bad for Ukraine

Weve been working hard to bring you independent, locally-sourced news from Ukraine. Consider supporting the Kyiv Independent.
Medicines to combat anthrax, smallpox and botulism were stockpiled by the UK after the 9/11 terrorist atrocities amid fears of a nuclear, biological or chemical attack, newly released documents show.

The Department of Health was given 15 million to help treat victims of everything from nuclear radiation to the nerve agent sarin, as ministers scrambled to respond to the al-Qaeda attacks on New York and Washington.

Protective clothing, decontamination units, needles, syringes and other equipment would all need to be ordered in case of an attack on the civilian population, officials said.

Details of the response to the worst terrorist attack in history are contained in official papers released by the Public Records Office of Northern Ireland.

Clive Gowdy, permanent secretary of the Department of Health in Stormont, discussed the need for stockpiling in correspondence with Gerry Loughran, then head of the Northern Ireland Civil Service, in which the wider UK response was also referred to.

Mr Gowdy wrote: From our contacts with the Department of Health in London, the main risks identified here are anthrax, smallpox, botulism, and nerve gases such as sarin.

As before, the hospitals, ambulance service and fire service would be heavily involved and there would be a need for protective clothing and antibiotics and antidotes to whatever agents were used.

There would also be issues around the nature of the transmission procedures used for the agents in question. For example, a chemical or biological weapon released into the air in a crowded area would create different circumstances from a weapon of this type released into the water supply or released by airborne transmission over a wide area.

UK ministers scrambled to respond to the al-Qaeda attacks on New York and Washington - Heathcliff O'Malley

Mr Gowdy said there was a need to stockpile supplies of antibiotics and antidotes, needles and syringes and protective clothing etc.

He added: We will also need to ensure that we have sufficient decontamination capacity and that staff are properly trained to deal with the possible weapons and outcomes they might face.

Mr Gowdy estimated that Northern Ireland would need to spend 750,000 stockpiling supplies, based on the fact that the Department of Health in London had been given an extra 15 million for the stockpiling of supplies.

Mr Gowdy wrote to Mr Loughran on Sept 26, 2001, a fortnight after the attacks in the US.

He said local firefighters had been particularly affected and felt a sense of solidarity and bereavement with counterparts in New York.

Mr Gowdy said senior fire chiefs had been assessing whether there were any lessons for firefighting and rescue efforts if a similar attack happened in Northern Ireland.

They are already familiar with all major buildings in the province and have a good understanding of the structural characteristics etc so their level of preparedness is good, he said.

He listed the possible scenarios that could come from reprisal attacks if Britain went to war to dig out the roots of the 9/11 attacks, as it later went on to do by invading Iraq and Afghanistan.

He said that a conventional bombing, gun attack or suicide mission using aircraft or vehicles would stretch the capacity of hospitals and the blood transfusion service, while a nuclear attack either on the province itself or on England or Scotland would cause casualties from the effects of radiation.
Ahead of 2024, Megan Thee Stallion is reminding everyone to prioritize their physical and mental health through a new partnership.

As you recommit to your fitness goals this new year, Megan Thee Stallion wants to help, partnering with Planet Fitness to ensure you dont lose motivation on your journey. This week, the fitness company named the Grammy award-winning rapper Mother Fitness in its new campaign.

Im really excited to partner with Planet Fitness because working out is such an important part of my life, Megan Thee Stallion told People magazine. Fitness can have such a powerful and positive impact on your body, mind and soul, so its an authentic collaboration that truly connects to my personal and professional interests.

Over the years, Megan has become many womens body goals, and the star has not been shy about what it takes to maintain her admired physique. From posting her intense workouts on social media to following a healthy, balanced diet, the Houston Hottie explained that she works really hard to maintain [her] fitness routine and stay committed to getting the results [she] wants. While her workout routine helps maintain her physical health, the mental health advocate shared how maintaining an exercise regimen also helps her get through tough times.

I love how working out brings mental clarity and physical energy, so I trust the process and grind it out. There are always going to be tough days, but I remind myself that exercise is an investment into my long-term physical and mental health, she explained. Physical and mental health go hand-in-hand, and its a huge priority for me. For such a long time, our society had a negative stigma around mental health, so Im committed to doing my part to normalize the conversation and provide people with the right resources to get the necessary help.

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With a fierce, fitness goddess-like persona, Megan Thee Stallions character, Mother Fitness, encourages gymgoers to let go of high prices and intimidation in the new campaign. Encouraging mind and body wellness to take center stage in the new year, the gym chain is allowing new members to join for $0.24 down with no commitment from Dec. 30 to Jan. 12, 2024. New and old members of Planet Fitness will gain access to the partnerships unique augmented reality (AR) filter, along with free in-app Planet Fitness workouts inspired by Megan and her passion for fitness.

Additionally, the Body rapper and Planet Fitness have created a line of co-branded exclusive merchandise in honor of their collaboration. Available at the online Planet Fitness store, proceeds from Thee Judgement Free collection will go to the Pete & Thomas Foundation, a nonprofit the rapper founded focusing on education, elder care, mental health, and womens empowerment in her native Houston, Texas.

At the end of the day, said Megan. Both Planet Fitness and I want everyone to invest in their physical and mental health, feel empowered to enjoy exercising and reach their personal fitness goals.

To learn more about Megan Thee Stallions Planet Fitness collab, visit Motherishere.com.

Never miss a beat: Get our daily stories straight to your inbox with theGrios newsletter.

The post Megan Thee Stallion wants to help everyone reach their 2024 fitness goals appeared first on TheGrio.
Pundit Meghan McCain, a former co-host of ABCs The View, blasted her ex-colleagues after what she calls unfair comparisons made on the show about her and Hunter Biden, the presidents son.

I cant go like a week without something being said about me on the show, she said during an interview on Michael Malices podcast. The thing about The View that I didnt realize when I signed my contract is that this is forever  that I am going to be bullied and yelled at and abused and brought up years  I havent been on that show in years  and Im just trying to live my life.

McCain was referencing a recent segment on the popular daytime talk program during which host Ana Navarro defended Biden, the presidents son, saying, Look, did Hunter Biden influence-peddle on his last name? Yes, he did. So did half of Washington. People sitting at this table did it.

McCain in a social media post that day said she would explore a potential lawsuit against the show over the remark, writing she has never been accused of a crime in my life and am a patriotic American.

During the appearance on the podcast this week, she complained that she didnt know Id have to deal with like these crazy old people yelling about me all the time.

I go whole months without thinking about them, she said of her former co-hosts. And apparently, Im just on their minds every day. And its pathetic.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill.
Metro Nashville Public Schools ended the semester with 164 unfilled full-time teaching positions, down from 172 at the start of the 2023-24 academic year.

A recruiting event held Dec. 7 led to 10 recommendations, with follow-up interviews to come, according to MNPS spokesperson Sean Braisted. On Dec. 9, the district also hosted a recruitment fair for exceptional education and early childhood positions. The district is offering up to a $5,000 limited sign-on bonus for exceptional education pre-K teachers.

The district has hosted recruiting and hiring events throughout the year as teacher shortages persist in Tennessee and nationwide.

An additional 401 full-time support positions remain unfilled, most of which are classroom associate roles funded by the latest budget passed by the Metro Council. Classroom associates are assigned to a specific school and can help with everything from drop-off and pickup procedures to substitute teaching.

Survey: 86% of public schools struggle to hire teachers

As the current school year got underway, nearly nine in 10 public school districts said they struggled to hire teachers, according to a recent survey from the National Center for Education Statistics. Potential hires were deterred by low salaries, according to the survey. Areas like special education, science and foreign language topped the list of positions with the most teacher shortages.

2023 teacher shortages: What to know about vacancies in your region

Teacher pay has been a hot topic among Nashville leaders in recent years.

In 2021, the Metro Council passed a budget with a large boost for MNPS teacher pay after years of stagnant wages. It worked out to an average of $7,000 more per year for each teacher.

In 2022, the Metro Council used $5 million from the city's already slim emergency reserves to help offset a $22.6 million MNPS budget shortfall and fund bonuses for the district's support staff. The critical funding gap was created by a decrease in state dollars due to a new school funding formula. The 2022 budget also included raises, paid family leave and 4% cost-of-living increases for MNPS employees, among other measures.

In his final year in office, now-former Nashville Mayor John Cooper again pushed for higher pay for teachers and additional funding for schools. This spring, the Metro Council ultimately passed a $1.2 billion budget for MNPS in its 2024 fiscal year budget , including a 4% cost-of-living adjustment and 3% step raise for all MNPS employees, including support staff. The budget also included pay raises for principals and assistant principals.

This article originally appeared on Nashville Tennessean: Nashville schools end year with slow progress on filling teaching jobs
The former president of the European Commission and a founding father of the European Union's (EU) historic single currency project, Jacques Delors, has died at age 98.

Delors was a French socialist and an ardent advocate of post-war European integration. His family said that he died in his sleep at his Paris home on Wednesday. Delors served three terms as the European Commission president from January 1985 until the end of 1994, which is longer than any individual who has held the office.

Jacques Delors Dies at 98

During the official's decade as the European Commission chief, the EU was able to complete its integrated single market and agreed to introduce a single currency, the euro. It was also able to build a common foreign and security policy.

The then-12-nation bloc set the conditions for eventually admitting the former communist states of Central and Eastern Europe following the fall of the Berlin Wall in 1989. This was done under the watch of Delors, as per Aljazeera.

Delors also served as finance minister under former French President Francois Mitterand from 1981 to 1984. However, he refused to run for the presidency in 1995 despite being overwhelmingly ahead against other candidates in the polls. This was a decision because of "a desire for independence that was too great."

After his refusal, Delors said that he had no regrets but added that he was not saying that his decision was right. The current French President, Emmanuel Macron, paid tribute to the late official and called him an "inexhaustible architect of our Europe" and a fighter for human justice.

In a post on X, formerly known as Twitter, Macron said that Delors' commitment, ideals, and rectitude will always be an inspiration to them. He also called the former European Commission president a "statesman with a French destiny."

Delors repeatedly clashed with former British Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher. He also became the chief bogeyman for British Eurosceptics, leading the Sun to run its 1990 front-page headline: "Up yours Delors," which was a preview of the Brexit campaign 25 years later, according to The Guardian.

Read Also: Polish Government Refuses To Accept Defeat, Takes Public News Channel Off the Air

Former European Commission President's Legacy

Former Labour Leader Lord Kinnock recalled the exchanges that Delors had with Thatcher. He said that her consideration of the former European Commission president as a fanatical federalist was extremely misleading.

Kinnock also described Delors as a "very polite man" who was calm and highly intelligent. He said that the late official would never let his judgment of what was possible and practical be clouded by personal reservation or dislike.

Former British Prime Minister Boris Johnson also spoke about Delors, saying that the latter was the "pre-eminent architect" of the modern European Union. He added that whether or not people agreed with this or not, Delors' vision made him a towering political figure.

The current president of the European Commission, Ursula von der Leyen, said that Delors was a "visionary" who made the region stronger. Lord Clarke of Nottingham said that Delors and Thatcher were at odds because they disliked each other personally for both personal and political reasons, said BBC.



Related Article: Eiffel Tower Closed to Public on Founder's 100th Death Anniversary Due to Workers' Strike

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Mexican leaders will visit Washington next month to meet Biden Cabinet officials to continue discussions on curbing an influx of illegal migration into the US, according to the US National Security Council.

The visit will come after this weeks high-level delegation to Mexico City, which included Secretary of State Antony Blinken and Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas, yielded some progress on boosting enforcement on the Mexican side of the border.

Immigration has been a political vulnerability for President Joe Biden, who has faced fierce criticism from Republicans and even some members of his own party for the situation at the US-Mexico border.

The January meetings will assess progress and decide what more can be done, according to the NSC.

We continue to address the root causes and build on legal pathways that incentivize orderly migration and enforcement of our laws, said the official.

Border authorities continue to report thousands of encounters with migrants every day. Authorities apprehended around 7,000 migrants along the US-Mexico border on Wednesday, according to a Homeland Security official.

Wednesdays arrests are still lower than earlier this month, when daily apprehensions surpassed 10,000, and reflects some relief for border authorities. Senior administration officials said Wednesday that theres been a pretty significant reduction in in border crossings in recent days.

A spokesperson for the NSC called this weeks trip productive and said Mexican President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador has taken significant new enforcement actions when it comes to migration.

Mexicos Secretary of Foreign Affairs Alicia Barcena told reporters the discussions also covered the importance of the economic relationship between the two countries and the root causes of migration, such as poverty, inequality, violence and family reunification, according to a recording provided to CNN by Mexicos foreign ministry.

Still, US officials acknowledge there is more work both countries will need to do on migration moving forward.

Speaking after the two-and-a-half hour meeting, US officials said Mexico shared plans to crack down on migrant smugglers, which is contributing to the recent increase at the border.

Mexico has also taken a leadership role on conducting humane border management, including repatriations, a senior administration official said, and that more repatriations were conducted this year than ever before.

The US has historically leaned on Mexico to act as a buffer and stem the flow of migrants journeying to the US southern border. But Mexico, like the US, faces similar difficulties as the number of migrants crossing into its country overwhelms its limited resources.

Mexican officials are currently contending with thousands of migrants who left Tapachula, located in southern Mexico, on Sunday, making a long trek by foot toward the US.

Many of the migrants are from Central and South America as well as the Caribbean, Cuba and Haiti.

This story has been updated with additional information.

For more CNN news and newsletters create an account at CNN.com
Mexicos new army-run airline took to the skies this week with its first commercial flight.

With some delay due to bad weather, Mexicana's inaugural flight landed on Tuesday in the tourist resort of Tulum on Mexico's Yucatan peninsula, flying from Mexico City.

The airlines operations will include domestic flights between different Mexican cities. The company is not new: it is actually the heir to the former Compania Mexicana de Aviacion, founded in 1921, which ceased operations due to financial problems in 2010 after being privatised.

What is new is that the airline is now managed directly by the country's armed forces.

Why has Mexico launched an army-run airline?

Mexicana is the latest to join the growing list of services run by the Mexican military.

It is a decision by president Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador, who has entrusted the military with the management of numerous airports, hotels, trains, the countrys customs service and even tourist parks.

General Luis Cresencio Sandoval, Mexicos defence secretary, said that having all those diverse businesses run by the military was common in developed countries.

However, according to news agency AP, only a few countries such as Cuba, Sri Lanka, Argentina and Colombia have military-run airlines. They are mostly small carriers with a handful of prop planes that operate mainly on under-served or remote domestic routes.

Mexicana will offer affordable flights to tourist areas

That is not the case for Mexicana, which will compete with commercial airlines in domestic flights to popular destinations like Cancun, Puerto Vallarta, Los Cabos, Zihuatanejo, Acapulco and Mazatlan.

It also expects to fly to 16 small regional airports that currently have few or no flights.

Hemos recuperado y reactivado Mexicana, la aerolinea del pueblo, con vuelos a 14 destinos nacionales y posteriormente se agregaran otros cuatro.



Somos la empresa que tiene los precios mas bajos del mercado, comparado con otras aerolineas. pic.twitter.com/FIO8Ri1d7z  Gobierno de Mexico (@GobiernoMX) December 27, 2023

The airline hopes to compete mainly on price: the first 425 tickets sold cost about $92 (83) for the Mexico City to Tulum flight, which the government says is about one-third cheaper than other companies.

Flights will be scheduled every three or four days, mainly on weekends. The army, which has no experience running commercial flights, has created a subsidiary to be in charge of Mexicana.

The defence secretary said the airline began operations with three Boeing jets and two smaller leased Embraer planes, and hopes to lease or acquire five more jets in early 2024.

Mexicana continues militarisation of public services and tourism

Lopez Obrador called the take-off of Mexicana's first Boeing 737-800 jet a historic event and a new stage.

Since taking office in 2018, the Mexican president has harshly criticised the privatisations of state-owned companies carried out by previous governments.

The president is known for his nostalgia for the past, when the state ran major oil, energy, airline and telecommunications companies.

Many of these services were known to be inefficient and often corrupt, due to political control. Lopez Obrador has found the solution to this problem in the military. According to him, the armed forces are the most incorruptible and patriotic arm of government.

On the tourism side, Mexicana is expected to complement the services offered by the Maya Train, the controversial railway line being built on the Yucatan peninsula.

Once again, it is the military that is building part of the infrastructure. And they will manage it.
The Mexican government has announced that it has agreed to important, but so far unspecified, agreements with the US following discussions that American officials worked to focus on record-setting migration levels.

Secretary of State Antony Blinken met with his Mexican counterpart, Secretary of Foreign Affairs Alicia Barcena, who told the press that she had argued for the US to remove any remaining barriers on trade between the countries.

The Biden Administration is trying to get the support of the government of Mexican President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador to curb immigration ahead of the 2024 election, Reuters noted.

Mr Lopez Obrador, nicknamed AMLO from his initials, celebrated the important agreements on social media, previously saying he had asked for the meeting to discuss working together on migration, the economy, and security.

More than half a million migrants attempting to escape crime, poverty, and conflict went through the treacherous Darien Gap jungle between South and Central America this year  thats double the numbers compared to last year, which set a new record at the time.

The US closed two rail crossings for five days earlier this year and shut down other crossings to redirect resources to different areas to handle the rising numbers.

Ms Barcena said reopening those crossings was a Mexican priority.

We are talking about the economic part, as well as the structural causes of migration, she told the press, according to Reuters.

Mr Lopez Obrador said last week that he would work to lighten the load for US immigration enforcement. Also on Wednesday, he argued that US lawmakers to help the poor in Latin America as well as the Caribbean instead of putting up barriers, barbed wire fences in the river, or thinking about building walls.

Former President Donald Trump is continuing to campaign hard on taking strict measures to compat illegal immigration and to push for further restrictions on legal routes to enter the US as he attempts to return to the White House.

Mr Trump focused heavily on building a Mexico border wall during his first term, and while the Trump administration did build 450 miles (725 km) of barriers along the border, which measures around 2,000 miles (3,200 km) in total, large parts of what they built replaced already existing barriers.

A mother from Venezuela with four children attempting to reach the US border said, We dont need to go back to our country if we dont have anything there, according to Reuters.

I come from Venezuela, she added. And Venezuela is broken.

The US delegation also included Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas, who tweeted on Wednesday that we had a very productive meeting with President @lopezobrador_ and members of his Cabinet today in Mexico City. The regional challenge of migration requires regional solutions, and we appreciate Mexicos commitment to continue its efforts alongside us and with others.

Mr Blinken wrote: As we made clear in Mexico City today, we are committed to partnering with Mexico to address our shared challenges, including managing unprecedented irregular migration in the region, reopening key ports of entry, and combating illicit fentanyl and other synthetic drugs.
Mexico is heading into 2024 bracing for a divisive election that could determine how business is conducted with the United States for decades to come.

And there will be one in the U.S., too.

Ildefonso Guajardo, the top foreign policy adviser to the opposition alliances presidential candidate, Xochitl Galvez, told The Hill his camp wants to restore key elements of the bilateral relationship that have been degraded under President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador.

Today, unfortunately, basically the channels of communication have been concentrated directly in the executive and using as a channel of communication the U.S. ambassador in Mexico, said Guajardo.

Over the first five years of his term, Lopez Obrador has systematically concentrated political power in the presidency, weakening the judiciary and independent agencies through structural reforms and budget cuts.

That centralized vision of power has made it more difficult for individual agencies on either side of the border to manage bilateral affairs, according to Guajardo.

The work that has to be done in detail by every agency is displaced to a second place rather than be part of the everyday agenda that has to manage such a complex relationship. Therefore, nothing moves unless there is a commitment made by the executive and  it becomes a bottleneck, he said.

From the mid-1980s until former President Trump came to power in 2016, U.S.-Mexico affairs had moved toward a doctrine of compartmentalization, where each issue was siloed and dealt with at peer-to-peer levels between each governments agencies. So, for example, law enforcement issues would not bleed into trade disputes or talks on migration.

That paradigm was shattered in 2019 when, amid United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement (USMCA) negotiations, Trump threatened tariffs on Mexican goods until such time as illegal migrants coming through Mexico, and into our Country, STOP.

Lopez Obrador made a deal with Trump that allowed the implementation of policies such as the Migrant Protection Protocols, better known as the Remain in Mexico program, and summary expulsions of migrants under Title 42.

Those two programs prompted the growth of refugee camps in northern Mexican cities, where humanitarian conditions quickly deteriorated.

Guajardo, who was Mexicos lead USMCA negotiator and secretary of the economy under Lopez Obradors predecessor, former President Enrique Pena Nieto, said a Galvez government would return to compartmentalization, where a tariff threat would only elicit a reaction in the commercial space.

I do believe that we will not get into this game of threats, in which you are threatening in one area of the relationship  call it migration, or call it security  vis-a-vis an action in a different area of the relationship, said Guajardo.

If the threat is against Mexican exports, well, we will lead with a response of the same magnitude that is allowed by our agreement against U.S. imports. I mean, in that hypothetical scenario, we will try to restore what we call the compartmentalization method of managing such a complex bilateral relationship.

Although the U.S.-Mexico trade relationship is codified in the USMCA and compartmentalization has allowed cooperation in other areas over the past 40 years, its still a profoundly asymmetric relationship.

That asymmetry has been made apparent by GOP presidential candidates, including Trump, who have threatened unilateral police or military action in Mexico to fight drug cartels.

Guajardo said both countries have complaints against the other in the fight against cartels, using the illicit smuggling of fentanyl north and of weapons and ammunition south as examples.

He added theres a win-win scenario for collaboration against organized crime.

But if there is a threat of using U.S. forces  it will not be accepted, never in Mexico, to allow a presence of U.S. military conducting direct operations, thats impossible. But if that comes to that threat, well respond with the specific same tools in the sector that the threat is being established.

That scenario is unlikely, however, as it would crush the worlds largest country-to-country bilateral trade relationship, likely with deep repercussions in both economies.

Guajardo said a Galvez government will base its foreign policy on two compasses, one focused on allying Mexico with global democracies and prioritizing human rights and personal liberties, and another embracing Mexicos role as part of North America, politically and economically.

Mexico is a part of North America, the future and prosperity of Mexicans and the strength of their sovereignty is depending on our capacity to build trust, and to really make very clear who our allies are, said Guajardo.

Mexico will definitely keep working with the rest of the world, working with Europe, working with Asia to our best advantage, but there should not be anybody mistaken that we have to behave in terms of our best interest in North American integration.

That North American alliance could look very different depending on the results of federal elections in either country in 2024.

Mexico is on track to elect its first woman president  so far the only two candidates registered are Galvez and Claudia Sheinbaum, Lopez Obradors chosen successor.

Guajardo said a victory by Sheinbaum would lead Mexico away from its democratic allies.

Unfortunately, the government, the government coalition, the only message in the campaign is that there will be the continuation of the same government actions that we have today, he said.

Guajardo cited Lopez Obradors efforts to concentrate power in the presidency, weakening institutions like the independent electoral authority.

So that by itself [is a] sign that should be very worrisome for our neighbors, he said.

We dont have to imagine anything. The direction is government is taking is towards concentrating power in the presidency and destroying the building of institutions that it has taken us at least 30 years to build.

The Trump administration welcomed Lopez Obradors transactional, centralized approach, which allowed the implementation of controversial migratory policies.

The Biden administration has followed suit, drawing little attention to labor, energy and environmental concerns that could elicit USMCA consequences, while holding direct talks with Lopez Obrador on migration. In the lead-up to Christmas, Biden and Lopez Obrador discussed upping Mexicos immigration enforcement, and Lopez Obrador asked Biden to soften sanctions on Cuba in return.

Secretary of State Antony Blinken, Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas and White House homeland security adviser Liz Sherwood-Randall met with Lopez Obrador on Wednesday in Mexico City to continue talks on migration.

The Biden administration has largely stayed mum on the Mexican oppositions warnings of democratic backsliding, instead prioritizing a working relationship with Lopez Obrador.

Sheinbaum currently leads Galvez in most polls, and opposition leaders have decried what they say is undue and illegal interference by the government in the early stages of the campaign as the opposition faces a steep uphill battle to dethrone Lopez Obradors party.

Political pressures in both countries are rising as 2024 approaches. Mexicos election will take place in June, and Lopez Obrador, who is constitutionally barred from seeking reelection to a second six-year term, is due to hand over power to his successor in September.

Guajardo said this election could determine whether Mexico returns to a single-party system with deep government participation in the economy  a system set in place after the Mexican Revolution that lasted until 2000  or whether it will return to a democratic route.

Unfortunately, the elections of both countries are running on the same year, every 12 years that happens. And unfortunately, decision-making becomes very short-term decisions, looking at only the short term, said Guajardo.

But this time around, all the agents involved or everybody involved in this should be looking at the long-term effects. And therefore I do believe that this election is not business as usual. In this election, we are definitely making a very important decision to change the direction the country is taking today.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill.
Williamson County's Lotz House Museum was recently gifted with a rare Civil War-era artifact for public display.

The piece, donated by two Lotz House Foundation members, is a commemorative box that was presented to a Confederate soldier who fought and survived during the Battle of Franklin more than 159 years ago.

The Lotz House sits at the epicenter of where the Battle was fought, historians say.

The commemorative box was originally given to Sergeant James Richard Savage by his wife, Mary, upon his return home. On the outside are his initials, J-R-S, and on the inside, it reads, To My Hero Husband, over a wreath of flowers and a hand-sewn battle flag.

Memorial Gift Box

A memorial created by a loving wife like this is, in this condition, is incredibly and extraordinarily rare, Civil War expert Larry Hicklen said, noting that because the box had been tightly closed for more than 100 years, the colors on the flag remain vivid, with the piece still considered in mint condition.

Savage was born in 1838 in Davidson County and enlisted in the 11th Tennessee Infantry. He fought in the battles of Stones River, Chattanooga, Atlanta, Franklin, Nashville and surrendered as a sergeant in Greensboro, North Carolina in May of 1865.

His family's artifact is considered to be priceless since it is handmade and a one-of-a-kind collectable.

Savage died in Nashville in 1916 and the memorial box was passed down to his grandson, Charles Buford Gotto, who gave it to Lotz House Foundation Members Jean and Joe Ed Gaddes in the early 1980s before he died.

The artifact display is just one way the Lotz House Museum is honoring the past.

Memorial Gift Box Interior

Recently, the museum, in partnership with Illumination, celebrated the 159th anniversary of the Battle of Franklin with a candle lighting ceremony to honor the 10,000 lives lost there.

Lotz House Executive Director and Historian Thomas Y. Cartwright said the ceremony and commemorative box display are both important ways to preserve the history of the local community.

The Savage box, in particular, helps museum visitors learn more about life during this time period and the sacrifices many made, he said.

It is one of the most poignant objects given to a soldier returning home from his family I have ever seen. It shows a family respect, honor and love, Cartwright said.

The donation is currently on display for all visitors at the museum, 1111 Columbia Avenue in Franklin. The house is open for tours from 9 a.m.-5 p.m. Monday-Saturday and from 11 a.m.-4 p.m. on Sundays.

This article originally appeared on Nashville Tennessean: Franklin's Lotz House receives rare Civil War artifact, now on display
WASHINGTON (NEXSTAR)  Mayors across the country are begging the Biden administration to slow the flow of migrants illegally crossing the southern border, while up to 10,000 cross into the U.S daily, setting records.

After a short meeting in Mexico City, with no obvious results, Mexican officials will come to the U.S. next month to continue talks about slowing migration through Mexico to the U.S.

Big city mayors in New York, Chicago, and Denver say they are overwhelmed by the flood of migrants who are arriving from the southern border.

This is a national problem, said New York City Mayor Eric Adams.

Chicagos Mayor Brandon Johnson said, Without significant intervention from the federal government, this mission will not be sustained.

Meanwhile, Denvers Mayor Mike Johnston said, We need more federal support.

Adams blames Texas Governor Greg Abbott who has been sending thousands of migrants by bus out of Texas to northern U.S. cities.

This has only been exacerbated by Governor Abbotts cruel, inhumane politics, added Adams.

However, New York Republican Congressman Anthony DEsposito says Adams has no right to criticize the Texas governor.

Governor Abbott found the solution to the problem he was facing, and that solution was to send migrants to a place that considers themselves a sanctuary city.

Mexico says it detained more migrants leading up to Christmas than the United States did.

Many House republicans have called on the Senate to pass the border bill and they say an investment in the southern border, as well as more customs and border patrol agents, will help.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to DC News Now | Washington, DC.
Panama-flagged civilian cargo vessel hit a Russian mine in the Black Sea, leading to two sailors being injured, Ukraine's Southern Defense Forces reported on Dec. 28.

The news comes days after the Ukrainian military warned about an increased risk for civilians posed by drifting naval mines in the Black Sea due to lengthy storms.

Hundreds of mines have been spread throughout the Black Sea since the beginning of Russia's full-scale invasion in 2022. On several occasions, civilian ships or navy ships belonging to countries not party to the war struck sea mines.

The Panama-flagged ship hit the mine while heading to one of the Danube ports to get loaded with grain, the Southern Defense Forces said on Telegram.

"The ship lost speed and control, and a fire broke out on the upper deck. To avoid flooding, the captain anchored the ship aground."

Read also: Is Ukraines new Black Sea corridor working? Experts say it has potential

The wounded crew members have received medical attention, and the ship is being delivered to the port, according to the Ukrainian military.

"The defense forces continue to ensure the safety of civilian shipping in conditions of dense mining of the sea by the enemy. Stormy weather often increases mine hazards," the Southern Defense Forces added.

"That is why the issue of demining the sea with the support of international partnership remains relevant."

Reuters reported on Dec. 16 that Turkey, Romania, and Bulgaria planned to sign an agreement on the creation of a joint mine-clearing force.

For months, the three NATO countries have been leading talks on the issue of mines floating in the Black Sea as a result of Russia's aggression against Ukraine.

Weve been working hard to bring you independent, locally-sourced news from Ukraine. Consider supporting the Kyiv Independent.
With the establishment of a new Pentagon office for Arctic and global resilience and new service-level emphasis on training in cold regions, U.S. military operations in the snow and ice are decidedly in the spotlight.

But even as more troops participate in cold-weather training, injuries associated with the cold are on the way down.

A new survey published in the November version of the Medical Surveillance Monthly Report shows that cold-weather injuries across the services dropped more than 15% between winter 20212022 and the 20222023 cold season.

While that drop is especially notable, data shows that cold injuries such as frostbite and hypothermia have been decreasing since 2020 for the Army and the Marine Corps, the services with the highest numbers of cold-injury rates.

Will Alaska be the Marine Corps next unit training location?

The Marine Corps had the greatest year-over-year drop, with a 22% reduction in cold injury rates in 2022 compared to the prior winter. And while a ramp-up in cold-weather ops and a decrease in cold-weather injuries may seem paradoxical, experts say the two trends are likely related.

Dr. John Castellani, a research physiologist at the U.S. Army Research Institute of Environmental Medicine, said interest in preventing potentially deadly conditions like hypothermia has been central to his career since the start of his nearly three-decade career at the research institute. He arrived at the institute, he said, shortly after the February 1995 hypothermia deaths of four Army Rangers whod been training in chest-high swamp waters within the boundaries of Floridas Eglin Air Force Base.

Ive been here at USARIEM now for 28 years, and I can say that its only been in the last couple of years that weve tried to think about more resources towards cold-weather research and ways to improve function there, Castellani said.

Castellani attributes the decrease in cold injuries  from 534 across active and Reserve components in winter 20182019 to 376 in 2022  to growing awareness and training regarding the severity of cold-weather threats.

Frostbite incidents, which fluctuate year to year, were down to 125 in the 20222023 cold season from a 20212022 high of 189. Cases of hypothermia, when body temperature drops to an abnormally or dangerously low level, saw a five-year low in winter 20222023, with 31 compared with 38 the previous year.

Cases of immersion foot, also called trench foot, which occurs when feet are submerged in water for an extended period of time, were also below historical averages. The 76 cases in 20222023 were above the 67 for the previous winter but well below the five-year high of 106 seen in winter 20192020.

While its true that the past winter was historically mild  the fifth-warmest meteorological winter on record for the Northern Hemisphere  Castellani stressed that cold-weather injuries do not always correlate to the coldest locations, as the tragic Ranger deaths in Florida demonstrated. Rather, he said, they tend to affect troops who are unprepared or under-informed, even if theyre training in relatively temperate locations or conditions.

With [North] Carolina as an example, youre not going to get frostbite, but cold, wet exposure is real, Castellani said. And in fact thats probably more dangerous, at least from a perspective of, potentially, hypothermia.

The data seems to bear this out. While Fort Wainwright and Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson in Alaska do have the top two highest counts of cold-weather injuries over the past five years, Camp Lejeune, North Carolina, and Fort Moore, Georgia, also make the top-five list with nearly 100 recorded injuries apiece.

Other hot spots for cold injuries include Fort Carson, Colorado; Fort Drum, New York; and Fort Campbell, Kentucky.

In June 2022, the Army established the 11th Airborne Division at Fort Wainwright and Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson, Alaska. with a special focus on operating and fighting in extreme cold and at altitude, demonstrating the services commitment to competency in these conditions.

Maj. Gen. Brian Eifler, commander of the division, known as the Arctic Angels, told Defense One that the number of soldiers using the Armys Northern Warfare Training Center has doubled since it stood up.

And while cold weather indoctrination training is a requirement for all Alaska-based soldiers, more troops across the services are now training to fight in the cold, with the Marine conducting regular rotational deployments to Norway to train with local troops.

Castellani said the Army also is working to provide cold-weather training to troops from bases in the continental U.S. to demystify conditions they might encounter in future deployed operations.

Through this kind of training he said, unit leaders can learn that [the cold] doesnt have to be debilitating, and that they can thrive in that environment if they know how to dress correctly and look for certain signs and symptoms.

The Medical Surveillance Monthly Report also cited a new regulation from Army Training and Doctrine Command that recognizes sickle cell trait, which affects about one in ten troops of African descent, as a potential risk factor for cold injuries. Theres a clear racial component in the data the report published: Black service members were almost three times as likely to sustain a cold-related injury as their white counterparts.

Gender differences were less pronounced, but data shows female troops are slightly less likely to sustain cold injuries than males.

Castellani said that while the literature is not conclusive, sickle cell can affect blood flow to the extremities, which may increase risk for frostbite.

Ultimately, he said, efforts to collect data and clarify risk factors will serve to further enhance preventative efforts and effective preparation for operations in the cold.

Im a big believer in prevention, he said.
The melting of icebergs has meant a rising in geopolitical tensions in the Arctic region - EKATERINA ANISIMOVA/AFP via Getty Images

A ministerial group will be established to coordinate Britains Arctic policy at a time when Russia and China are pushing their own interests in the region, it has emerged.

The Government confirmed its plan in a response to the Commons Environmental Audit Committees report on the Arctic, which called for more ministerial focus on the area.

In the past two decades, Russia has reopened a series of Soviet-era bases in the Arctic and in 2022 had more ground-force stations there than the Nato military alliance.

Meanwhile, Beijing appears increasingly interested in the region, with melting ice opening shipping routes that could cut travel times between European and China by 11 to 14 days.

David Rutley, whose portfolio includes the Arctic region, speaks to former foreign secretary James Cleverly - Rory Arnold / No10 Downing Street

David Rutley, the Tory MP and parliamentary under secretary for the Americas, Caribbean and the Overseas Territories, officially has the polar regions in his ministerial brief.

He is supported by senior civil servants focusing on the topic including the head of the Polar Regions Department and a so-called senior arctic lead in the Foreign Office.

No structure

However, the committee raised concerns that other ministers briefs also covered aspects of Arctic policy and yet there was no structure for them to meet and coordinate.

A part of the Governments response to the committee read: The Government is looking to build on this by establishing a ministerial group, comprising ministers whose portfolios concern the Arctic, which would meet periodically to help further the coordination of government policy.

The new Whitehall body will, in theory, help improve joined-up thinking between different ministers when it comes to the UKs national interest in the Arctic region.

Though there is no guarantee that creating the new ministerial group alone will result in considerable more focus inside the Government being put on the issue.

Ministers rejected other recommendations, such as an additional government ship being sent to the Arctic region to help with research.

James Gray, the Tory chairman of the Environmental Audit Sub-Committee on Polar Research, said: The Committees report raised concern that Arctic matters were not being taken as seriously and urgently as they should in Whitehall.

We were surprised that despite Arctic policy spanning multiple departments, the responsible ministers had not met. Its therefore very welcome news that a ministerial group will now be formed following the Committees intervention.

It is unclear when exactly the new Arctic ministerial group will be established or how often it will meet.

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ST. PAUL, Minn. (FOX 9) - A new law governing the temperature of a rental unit will go into effect beginning on Jan. 1, 2024, for all Minnesotans.

In addition to several new laws taking effect throughout the state, beginning in the new year, a landlord will be required to heat a unit at a minimum temperature of 68 degrees from Oct. 1 through April 30.

In addition to the new mandate, a landlord is responsible for ensuring the rental unit is fit to live in; kept in reasonable repair; kept in compliance with state and local health and safety laws; and made reasonably energy efficient.

The Minnesota Legislature has also developed the Cold Weather Rule to protect a tenant or homeowners from having their heat source permanently disconnected during the same time frame if they have been unable to pay their utility bills.

While the rule does not explicitly prohibit shut-offs, it says a utility must remain reconnected for a customer whose household income is at or below 50% of the state median income  if the customer enters into and makes, "reasonably timely payments under a mutually acceptable payment agreement."

A tenant who experiences problems with a property owner who is not making necessary repairs or who is not providing a unit that is fit to live in can file a complaint with their local housing, health, energy or fire inspector to ask that the unit be inspected. If there is no city inspector for the community, they can write to their property owner, formally requesting repairs within 14 days.

If repairs are not made within that duration, a renter can place their full rent in escrow with a district court, and ask the court to order the property owner to make repairs. They can also sue under the Tenants Remedies Act.
Moldova's pro-European President Maia Sandu has called out Russian President Vladimir Putin's actions amid the escalating war and denounced Russia's invasion of Ukraine.

Sandu, whose country is situated between Romania and Ukraine, has long condemned Russia's invasion of her country and identified the Kremlin as the main threat. Russia accused her of destroying diplomatic relations and promoting Russophobia.

Molvoda President Slams Vladimir Putin

On Wednesday, Sandu said in an interview that Putin must be stopped in his war against Ukraine, or all of Europe will pay a much higher price. "You must understand that Putin will not stop unless he is stopped," she said.

Sandu noticed that Ukraine has been making the greatest sacrifice since Russia's invasion. She claimed that maintaining aid for Ukraine was in the interests of all parties, but she made no direct reference to procedural delays in funding from both the United States and the European Union.

Despite the ongoing dispute, her belief in the solidarity of world democracies has remained, hoping that Ukraine will continue to receive support. She also vowed to help train and support 80,000 Ukrainian nationals, the highest proportion of the local population in Europe, who had sought refuge in her country.

The EU decided to open membership discussions with Moldova and Ukraine this month, a lengthy process requiring applicants to update their legal frameworks and adhere to EU standards.

Sandu has pushed for Moldova, one of Europe's poorest nations, to join the European mainstream since defeating her pro-Russian predecessor in 2020.

This Monday, she declared that she would run for reelection the following year. She requested a referendum to endorse her policies in the parliament, controlled by her allies from the Party of Action and Solidarity.

Read Also: Israel Blocks Automatic Visas for UN Employees Amid Rising Tensions in Israel-Hamas War

Russia's Invasion of Ukraine

World leaders have strongly condemned Russia's massive invasion of Ukraine, which involved the entry of Russian forces into the former Soviet country from three fronts and the firing of missiles on multiple areas close to the capital, Kyiv.

In the morning, soldiers and armor from Belarus in the north and Russia-annexed Crimea in the south crossed into eastern Ukraine from the Russian border.

In Putin's speech, he reiterated a false accusation regarding the Donbas region of Ukraine, which Russian separatists supported. He decided to launch a special military operation to defend those who had endured eight years of mistreatment and extermination at the hands of the Kyiv dictatorship.

However, he said, "We are not going to impose anything on anyone by force." He warned people who would try to interfere and threaten the country.

He also informed the people that Russia would have an immediate response that could lead to consequences they have never experienced in their history.

Related Article: Russia Allegedly Forces Ukrainian POWs to Protest Against Ukraine-Using Them as Political Weapons





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Kirk Bragstad, the owner of Minocqua Brewing Company and a Democratic political activist, speaks after filing a petition to exclude former President Donald Trump from the presidential ballot in Wisconsin, on Thursday, Dec. 28, 2023.

MADISON  The Wisconsin Elections Commission on Thursday swiftly threw out a petition to bar former President Donald Trump from the state's 2024 presidential ballot because it was filed with the wrong state officials.

Kirk Bangstad, a Democratic activist and firebrand owner of the Minocqua Brewing Co., filed the petition Thursday afternoon with the state's election agency. Bangstad alleges that Trump violated a provision of the 14th Amendment that disqualifies certain officials who take part in an insurrection from holding office again, based on his actions surrounding violence at the U.S. Capitol on Jan. 6, 2021.

But the Wisconsin Elections Commission disposed of Bangstad's complaint without consideration, a move that likely shifts the issue to the courts.

In an email to commissioners, a staff attorney said because Bangstad filed the complaint against commissioners directly, the complaint would be disposed of without consideration.

"It is the position of the Commission and its staff that a complaint against the Commission, against Commissioners in their official capacities, or against Commission staff, warrants an ethical recusal by the body," the attorney wrote.

Not only is recusal the policy in this situation, the commission itself has no role in placing candidates on the presidential ballot.

That's done by a presidential preference selection committee, which state law requires to be composed of the state chairperson of a state party organization or the chairperson's designee, one national committeeman and one national committeewoman designated by the state chairperson, the speaker and the minority leader of the Assembly or their designees, and the president and the minority leader of the Senate or their designees.

The committee is required by state law to place the names "of all candidates whose candidacy is generally advocated or recognized in the national news media throughout the United States" on the ballot, and may include additional names.

"It seems pretty obvious that Mr. Bangstad is interested in getting to the court, because the commission cannot address a complaint against itself," WEC chairman Don Millis told the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel. "This is a policy; it's well known by anyone who pays attention. So, to me, this is perhaps a ploy to get into circuit court faster. But, more fundamentally, the commission has no role in placing any candidate on the presidential ballot. The statutes make it very clear that there's a presidential preference committee."

Bangstad acknowledged his hope that the issue will ultimately be settled by the state Supreme Court, which in August flipped to a liberal majority for the first time in years. Wisconsin's presidential primary is April 2 and the general election is Nov. 5.

"Why am I doing this? First of all, (U.S. Attorney General) Merrick Garland spent a year-and-a-half not doing anything to try to prosecute Donald Trump at the federal level, and our Attorney General Josh Kaul has yet to do anything to hold  politicians from Wisconsin accountable for being part of the conspiracy to overthrow our election," Bangstad told reporters after filing the complaint at the elections commission office in Madison. "I am simply a brewer from northern Wisconsin, but I care about my country, and I care about democracy."

Bangstad's complaint requests the members of the bipartisan commission find that Trump is disqualified from serving as president and refuse to allow him access to the 2024 Republican primary ballot. He said he expected the commission to reject his complaint, and said he plans to challenge the decision in Dane County Circuit Court, "where there are very smart judges."

"It's pivotal that somebody at least try in Wisconsin to do this, because I believe it is the law and it was intended to be the law after the Civil War," Bangstad said.

The move follows competing rulings on the same issue in Colorado and Michigan. Last week, the Colorado Supreme Court ruled that Trump was barred from another term  and therefore banned from the states primary ballot  by violating the 14th Amendment.

The Colorado Republican Party has asked the U.S. Supreme Court to review the decision.

On Wednesday, the Michigan Supreme Court rejected an appeal designed to keep Trump off the state's ballot, choosing not to overturn a lower court's decision that parties can place whichever candidates they choose on presidential primary ballots. Several other states have dismissed similar challenges.

The commission has twice voted unanimously to reject complaints against the 10 Republican electors who met in state Capitol on Dec. 14, 2020, to sign paperwork falsely claiming to be electors for Trump. Reports have indicated an attorney who helped design the fake electors scheme is cooperating with Wisconsin investigators, but Kaul has maintained that the state Department of Justice does not "confirm or deny the existence of investigations."

Bangstad is a former Democratic candidate for the U.S. House and state Assembly who has since created a political action committee using his brewery's namesake to raise money for Democratic causes. The brewery produces beer with politically themed names like "Fair Maps" and "Bernie Brew."

He has been active in the state's courts.

Earlier this month, the state Supreme Court declined to hear a lawsuit funded by Bangstad's super PAC seeking to eliminate funding for the state's four taxpayer-funded school voucher programs and independent charter schools. He plans to pursue the lawsuit through circuit court.

Bangstad was also ordered in October to pay $750,000 for defaming Lakeland Times publisher Gregg Walker in posts on the brewery's popular social media outlets. It was the state's largest defamation judgment.

The Minocqua Brewing Company super PAC also funded an unsuccessful lawsuit alleging U.S. Sen. Ron Johnson and U.S. Reps. Scott Fitzgerald and Tom Tiffany conspired before the Jan. 6, 2021 attack on the U.S. Capitol to keep Joe Biden from becoming president.

Jessie Opoien can be reached at jessie.opoien@jrn.com. Molly Beck of the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel and John Fritze of USA Today contributed.

This article originally appeared on Milwaukee Journal Sentinel: Minocqua Brewing owner petitions to bar Trump from Wisconsin ballot
Soon minors in Ohio will have to get their parents permission before using social media.

The Parental Notification by Social Media Operators Act takes effect on Jan. 15, 2024.

The act will require social media platforms to get parental consent before creating accounts for minors under 16 in Ohio.

>> PREVIOUS COVERAGE: Ohio proposal would require verified parental consent before kids can use social media

When parents give consent platforms must then send written confirmation of the account to the parent.

If consent is not given, platforms have to deny the child access.

More information can be found here.
The Liberal Democrats called for a serious strategy to tackle the problem - James Manning/PA

More than 100 sex crimes are being reported on British trains every month, figures show.

Ministers have been warned carriages are being turned into crime scenes as alarming statistics reveal sexual assault alerts on the rail network rose to 1,419 over the past year.

The figures, from the British Transport Police (BTP), were obtained by the Liberal Democrats, who called for a serious strategy to tackle the problem.

There were also nearly 4,000 violent assaults reported on trains in the 12 months to November, up 12 per cent on the previous year.

This total rose to 10,000 over three years, a figure the party described as staggering.

Meanwhile, there were 699 robberies reported, up 18 per cent year on year.

Sarah Olney MP said the Liberal Democrats are calling for a return to local community policing which will help keep us safe - DAVID WOOLFALL

Tories all bark and no bite

Sarah Olney, the Liberal Democrat MP for Richmond Park, said: People deserve to feel safe when on public transport, yet these alarming figures tell a different story.

Far too often our train carriages are being turned into crime scenes as violent criminals are allowed to terrorise other passengers with impunity.

This Conservative Government is all bark and no bite. Rather than yet more rhetoric, we need a serious strategy to tackle this rise in crime on our railways.

The public deserves better  which is why the Liberal Democrats are calling for a return to local community policing which will help keep us safe.

Tackling sexual offences are a police priority

Paul Furnell, head of crime and public protection at the BTP, said: Tackling crimes such as robbery and sexual offences are a force priority and we have dedicated task forces as a result.

We are committed to making the network a hostile place for those who seek to commit such offences.

We are aware the data might not represent a true increase, with travel numbers only recently returning to pre-Covid levels.

Additionally, we continue to campaign to encourage victims and witnesses to report to us as a priority  particularly for sexual offences which we know are under-reported  and with this we expect the number of reports to continue to increase.

A Home Office spokesman said: We are providing police forces with the tools they need to deliver for the public and since 2010, our communities are safer.

Neighbourhood crimes including burglary, robbery and theft are down 50 per cent and violent crime is down 52 per cent.

There are also now 149,500 police officers keeping the public safe in England and Wales  the highest number on record.

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When news broke that a top aide to Republican presidential candidate Vivek Ramaswamy was joining former President Donald Trumps campaign last month, Trump advisers were livid, believing the aide was promoting himself, without permission of the campaigns top brass.

Senior Trump campaign adviser Chris LaCivita called the newest team member, Brian Swenson, and ripped into him, according to two sources familiar with the conversation. The message was clear: If you want to keep your job, stop running your mouth, the source said. Swenson did not respond to CNNs request for comment.

The episode was indicative of how Trumps 2024 team has sought to focus the messaging and the media that surrounds the chaotic world of the front-runner for the GOP nomination. His team is viewed by both outside political operatives and current and former Trump officials as his most disciplined to date. Led by seasoned Republican strategists LaCivita and Susie Wiles, the team has sought to prevent the kinds of internal leaks that were ever-present during 2016 and throughout Trumps presidency from damaging the former president as he seeks to regain the White House.

They know they arent able to control him, he will always say and do what he wants, one source familiar with the teams dynamic told CNN, noting that Trump is known to ignore prepared remarks and solicit outside advice from a wide net of allies, often without the knowledge of his closest advisers. But they can try to control everyone around him.

The advisers who have spent the last year working to streamline his campaigns messaging, however, have recently found themselves fighting an uphill battle. Theyre attempting to navigate the wide span of Trump allies all itching to be a part of the action and leverage their ties to the former president in hopes of bolstering their influence in the months before the 2024 election.

As Trumps primary lead has grown, so has the interest in what a second Trump administration would look like  in both policy and personnel. A slew of recent media reports have speculated on potential vice presidential picks and Cabinet members, citing anonymous sources.

Nobody came out of the woodwork to say they wanted to be a Cabinet secretary 12 months ago when things were really dire and no one wanted to be associated with us, a senior Trump campaign adviser told CNN, adding that the recent shift in the narrative around the former president has brought with it a surge in outside parties interested in joining a potential administration.

Trumps senior advisers were recently surprised and annoyed when they learned Kash Patel, a former Trump administration official, was telling Trump allies he was part of the vetting effort for a potential vice presidential pick, according to three senior advisers who adamantly denied his involvement.

Patel, a Trump loyalist who climbed the ranks while Trump was in office, continues to hold sway with the former president and is widely viewed as someone who would likely serve in a national security capacity in a second administration.

I am not nor have I ever been involved with any vetting process. President Trump and the campaign are solely in charge, Patel said in a statement to CNN.

The frustration runs deep in the campaign.

When youre trying to be disciplined and run a sophisticated campaign, it gets annoying when people who arent working on the campaign are creating headaches for the team, a person close to Trump said. Theyre pissed people are running to reporters saying theyre in line for jobs that the Trump team hasnt even discussed.

However, some of those headaches come from Trump himself.

During a recent fundraiser, Trump began tossing names around for vice president, a source familiar with the conversations said.

Who do we like for VP? the former president asked donors and allies before batting around names with the crowd  a story that was eventually shared with reporters.

Trump 2025: Credit grabbing and calling out

Since Trump left office, former administration officials created several organizations in Washington to continue the work of the administration and prepare for a potential second term  including vetting future Trump administration officials, writing policy proposals and drafting executive orders with the intention of putting them in front of Trump to sign on the day he would enter office.

Additionally, Trump allies have also begun preparing for a possible Republican presidential transition through a collaboration of right-wing think tanks led by the Heritage Foundation  dubbed Project 2025.

The groups recently entered the spotlight through a series of media stories on Trumps agenda for a second term. Internal frustration over the coverage has grown within Trumps inner circle, which has stressed that any official policy or personnel decisions will come from the campaign directly. One group in particular  the America First Policy Institute led by Brooke Rollins, the acting director of the US Domestic Policy Council under Trump  has drawn the teams ire.

Members of Trumps campaign were furious when they learned the group had been touting their relationship with the former president and their efforts to build out his possible future administration, two sources familiar with the situation told CNN. Not only is the work not authorized by the campaign, these campaign team members argued, but they believe it is premature and did not appreciate AFPI quietly taking credit for something that was not in their purview.

One senior Trump adviser took particular issue with AFPIs personnel efforts.

Theyre vetting people for a future Trump administration? Who? We have no insight into these people, the campaign official said.

Senior members of Trumps campaign team made it clear to Rollins they did not appreciate the group exaggerating their ties to the campaign, three sources familiar with the exchange said.

Shortly afterward, Wiles and LaCivita issued a rare statement that read: reports about personnel and policies that are specific to a second Trump Administration are purely speculative and theoretical.

Any personnel lists, policy agendas, or government plans published anywhere are merely suggestions, the statement read, arguing that no outside groups have the authority to speak on behalf of Trump or his campaign.

One source disputed this statement was directed at AFPI, insisting their officials were assured by multiple campaign officials the statement was not about that group.

Marc Lotter, the chief communications officer for America First Policy Institute, pushed back on the existence of any friction between the former president and AFPI, calling it fake news. Lotter noted that Trump has headlined a half dozen events for AFPI including our Hispanic leadership conference in Miami, his first return trip to Washington, DC, the big tech lawsuit, and three fundraising events at Mar-a-Lago, as recently as last month.

A source close to the former president made clear that Trump is still in touch with several members of AFPIs team and routinely seeks their counsel. This includes Larry Kudlow, who served as his director of the National Economic Council, and retired Lt. Gen. Keith Kellogg, who serviced as a national security adviser to Mike Pence and whom Trump has recently consulted on foreign policy. Another source said Rollins herself still routinely talks to Trump.

The statement from Wiles and LaCivita did little to prevent other outside entities and allies from leaking potential administration positions.

A few weeks later, the pair fired off another warning shot: Despite our being crystal clear, some allies havent gotten the hint, they wrote in a second statement. Let us be even more specific, and blunt: People publicly discussing potential administration jobs for themselves or their friends are, in fact, hurting President Trump  and themselves. These are an unwelcomed distraction.

A senior Trump campaign adviser told CNN the second statement was in response to an Axios story published the previous day laying out the names of people who could serve in a potential Trump Cabinet.

It also followed an interview that Patel gave to Steve Bannon asserting that a future Trump administration would target journalists and attempt to prosecute them for crimes should Trump win the 2024 election.

Were actually going to use the Constitution to prosecute them for crimes, Patel said.

Idiotic comments like this have nothing to do with our campaign, a Trump campaign official told CNN after the Patel interview.

Campaign officials have also downplayed how many outside voices Trump listens to.

Earlier this month, Ric Grenell, Trumps former ambassador to Germany and acting director of national intelligence, met with Trump at Mar-a-Lago. A senior adviser to Trump attempted to discredit Grenells influence on the former president. However, a source familiar with the recent visit said that afterwards, Trump praised Grenell as someone he hoped would serve again in a future administration.

Campaign takes grievances to Trump

Trump himself has been irked with how some of his outside allies and aligned groups have been using his name, multiple sources said. Trump has long loathed when people are perceived to be profiting off him or using their ties to bolster their own careers.

Last year, he was angry after dining with a major donor at his Mar-a-Lago club, when he learned that they had given roughly $1 million to AFPI. The donor told Trump at the time that they believed they were donating directly to a super PAC associated with Trumps reelection campaign, according to two sources familiar with the meeting.

Following that dinner, Trump complained to several of his closest aides that the money shouldve gone to the campaign directly, and he remained annoyed about the encounter for several days, the sources said.

In an effort to keep a lid on some of the growing speculation that now surrounds a possible second administration, the campaign has taken some of their concerns directly to the former president.

The campaign, were briefing him on the people who are doing this stuff on the outside. So do they want to risk playing games and having their name tarnished internally? Or do they want to sort of play by the rules and not mess around and try to actually help win a election, a campaign adviser told CNN.

However, one complication the campaign is grappling with is Trumps innate preference to seek outside counsel from his friends and allies.

As president, Trump often called up Fox News hosts like Sean Hannity and Tucker Carlson to take their temperature on ideas he was eager to roll out. As a candidate, Trump continues to call allies and former administration officials on topics ranging from how the campaign is doing to what he wants a possible second term to look like.

The former president dines frequently with such allies  including those whose names have appeared in stories about serving in a future Trump Cabinet.

This story has been updated with additional details.

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CHICAGO - Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson, on Wednesday, held a virtual press conference with New York City Mayor Eric Adams and Denver Mayor Mike Johnston to address the growing migrant crisis. Johnson is calling for work permits to be issued more quickly and for a federally coordinated approach  similar to plans implemented in recent years for Ukrainian and Afghan refugees.

In mid-December, Johnson announced harsher penalties for bus companies that don't follow Chicago's guidelines when transporting migrants from the southern border. In response, some bus drivers have been dodging the city's landing zone, and instead are leaving passengers in the suburbs.

In the the last week, dozens of migrants have been tasked with finding their own way to the city.

After being dumped in the suburbs, many new arrivals board Metra trains and end their journey at Chicagos Ogilvie Transportation Center. Some are given pre-paid tickets by individuals described as liaisons from Texas, while others have been falsely told they are already in the city.

On Wednesday, FOX 32 observed two groups of migrants arriving at Ogilvie  one group around 4:45 p.m., and another group just before 8 p.m.

Experiencing frigid temperatures for the first time, children could be seen wearing oversized clothes from their parents, while others were wrapped in blankets as they exited the train station. Once outside, most of them boarded a bus sent by Chicagos Office of Emergency Management and Communications (OEMC). Others were picked up by relatives who live in the area.

One woman, originally from Ecuador, told FOX 32 Chicago she doesn't know the name of the suburb she was originally taken to.

Now the list of suburbs that have already approved or are exploring measures to prevent migrants from being dropped off is growing longer.

"The City of Chicago is ill-equipped to take care of them, theres no way we should be expecting small suburban communities to be able to do this," said New Lenox Mayor Tim Baldermann.

Baldermann says they've had police stationed at two Metra stations and have yet to receive any migrant buses; however, they did locate one migrant who was lost and walking along the highway.

"We did have one migrant the other day who was walking down Route 30, we were able to, with our fire department and police department, communicate with this migrant who had said theyd been walking for a day and a half. They were told they were in Chicago and of course they werent," said Baldermann. "Our fire department checked them to make sure they were healthy, make sure there was no pending medical issue, and then we were able to put them on a train and send them to the City of Chicago."

Baldermann signed an executive order last week prohibiting unscheduled buses. It remains in effect until the Board of Trustees meets on Monday, Jan. 8 to review and vote on the proposed ordinance.

Similarly, in Elburn, the village board approved an ordinance to restrict "unscheduled intercity buses" on Wednesday evening.

Last Thursday, a bus carrying 38 migrants made an unannounced stop in Elburn, taking the village by surprise. Village officials say an English-speaking liaison had traveled with them and distributed pre-paid Metra tickets to the new arrivals. Most of them boarded a train to Ogilvie, while a handful were picked up by relatives.

Village Administrator John Nevenhoven says they are concerned that buses could start arriving in the middle of the night, leaving migrants stranded with nowhere to go.

"The information that we've been getting, when they've left Texas, prior to getting on the bus, they've indicated where they want to go. So the buses showing up, whether it's in the suburbs or the city, those folks have indicated they want to go to Chicago," Nevenhoven said. "When they show up at our station, fine, let's get them on the train, let's get them downtown. Our concern is that they're going to show up when the trains aren't running, at 1, 2 in the morning. We don't have a place to shelter them, a way to feed them, a way to make sure they are taken care of."

McHenrys City Council has called a special meeting to vote on a similar ordinance this Friday.

Bus companies that break drop-off rules could rack up thousands of dollars in fines.

Meanwhile, the Kane County Office of Emergency Management, Health Department, and Sheriffs Office announced Wednesday they are in communication with municipalities and law enforcement agencies there to help facilitate the travel of out-of-state asylum seekers to Chicago.

According to the Office of Mayor Johnson, the city has cited at least 95 buses and impounded two buses for violating Chicagos bus safety ordinance.
Polish hauliers blocking the Dorohusk-Yahodyn checkpoint have started to let more vehicles pass, and the queue movement has accelerated over the past day.

Source: RMF24; European Pravda

A total of 1,050 lorries are waiting on the Polish side, with a queue length of 26 kilometres. Although the protesters had previously announced their intention to let only one lorry through every three hours, recently they have been letting five lorries through per hour.

Over the past 24 hours, 149 lorries have crossed the border toward Ukraine. Some more hauliers left the queue and went to look for another way. In total, the queue decreased by 350 lorries.

The estimated wait time for border crossing is now 135 hours, or 5-6 days, compared to 30 days on Tuesday.

But only one lorry passed through the Dorohusk-Yahodyn checkpoint to enter Poland.

Over the past day, 120 lorries have passed at the Hrebenne checkpoint toward Ukraine, and another 800 are waiting in line.

More than 700 hauliers are waiting at the Medyka checkpoint; the wait time is four days.

About 600 lorries are waiting at the Korczowa-Krakovets checkpoint.

Updated: At the same time, the State Border Guard Service of Ukraine (SBGS) notes that it is impossible to talk about a change in the dynamics of lorry traffic through the Dorohusk-Yahodyn checkpoint.

Quote from Andrii Demchenko, the spokesman of the SBGS: "Indeed, over the previous day, more than a hundred lorries crossed the border towards Ukraine (as opposed to the last few days, when less than two dozen lorries entered per day), but we can talk later about whether this dynamic will continue.

We cannot talk about an increased intensity of the dynamic, because even half of the checkpoint's capacity is not being used. Let me remind you that between 11 and 18 December, when the traffic was unblocked, 600 to 800 lorries could cross the border into Ukraine per day."

Background:

On Monday, 18 December, the hauliers resumed the blockade of the Dorohusk-Yahodyn checkpoint after it was temporarily halted due to a ban by local authorities.

The hauliers plan to protest until March. The blockade also continues at the Hrebenne and Korchova checkpoints.

Last week, representatives of the relevant ministries of Ukraine and Poland agreed on actions to unblock the border.

Newly-appointed Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk believes that the blockade of the Ukrainian border will stop soon.

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Colorado Republicans are calling on the United States Supreme Court to hear former President Donald Trump's ballot disqualification case in the state.

The state's Republican Party requested on Wednesday when it asked the high court to overturn a court ruling barring the Republican businessman from Colorado's ballot for the Republican primary. The decision was made over Trump's role leading up to the Capitol Hill siege on Jan. 6, 2021.

Donald Trump Ballot Disqualification Case

It was the first ruling where the state Supreme Court ruled that the former president was disqualified from the president's office under the Constitution's 14th Amendment. This provision bars people "engaged in insurrection" from holding office. The case also raises novel legal questions, including whether or not the language applies to the president's office.

In a Wednesday court filing, lawyers for the Colorado Republican Party said that the drastic effects of the state's Supreme Court ruling on the 2024 primary election necessitates the high court's immediate review, as per NBC News.

They added that if the state Supreme Court's ruling is not reversed, it would have an "irreparable effect on the election process." If the nation's high court chooses to take the case, it could hand a ruling in its current term, which ends in June.

Lawyers at the conservative American Center for Law and Justice, Jay Sekulow and his son Jordan, said in a blog post that the legal dispute is "the greatest election interference case" in the history of the United States. They noted that it also represents a grave attack on millions of Americans' fundamental right to vote.

The Supreme Court, which has a 6-3 conservative majority, is set to play a major role heading into the country's 2024 presidential race. The high court has already turned down a previous request from special counsel Jack Smith to weigh in on whether or not Trump is immune from prosecution.

Read Also: Michigan Rules Secretary of State Cannot Remove Trump from Ballot

Urging the Supreme Court To Take the Case

According to CNN, the state court ruling was set to expire on Jan. 4, but with the new appeal, it would be indefinitely extended until the Supreme Court announces whether or not it would take the case.

The lawyers representing the Colorado Republican Party argued that the state Supreme Court engaged in an unprecedented disregard for the First Amendment. This was over the right of political parties to select the candidates of their choice for the elections.

The state party also said that the Colorado Supreme Court rejected a long history of precedent by concluding that individual litigants, state courts, and secretaries of state have authority to enforce Section Three of the 14th Amendment.

When United States President Joe Biden was asked about the Colorado Supreme Court's ruling, he said it was up to the court to determine the application of Section 3. However, he said there was no question that his predecessor supported an insurrection.

It comes as lawsuits challenging Trump's candidacy have been filed in more than 25 states before next year's election. They come as national polls show the former president being the frontrunner in the field of candidates for the Republican primary, according to CBS News.

Related Article: DeSantis-Appointed Officials Face Disney Lawsuit Over Alleged Failure to Release Public Records

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HANOVER, Pa. (WHTM)  Police in York County say last weeks deadly stabbing has been ruled a murder-suicide.

Hanover Borough Police say Rogelio Arvizu fatally stabbed his 17-year-old son Dylan Arvizu-Morales and his wife Guadalupe Arvizu-Morales, 49, at a home on the 900 block of E. Walnut Street on December 28.

Rogelio Arvizu was also accused of stabbing his 27-year-old son in the neck in what police called an act of domestic violence.

Rogelio was later found with self-sustained wounds on the 900 block of Broadway. Officials say he was set to face homicide charges prior to his passing, however, those charges have since been dismissed.











The York County Coroners office says the incident appears to be domestic-related homicides.

Heather Sprenkle says shes lived in the area for three years and shes never seen anything like this before.

Theres never any action going around here like that, she added.

A brownie that was laced with something: Feds investigating worker overdoses at Harrisburg post office

The Hanover Borough Police Department was assisted on the scene by the York County Sheriffs Department, York County Forensics Team, York County Coroners Office, and Hanover Area Fire and Rescue EMS.

This is a developing story. Stay updated on the latest from abc27 News

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to ABC27.
MUNCIE, Ind.  Muncie police on Wednesday arrested two suspects in a Tuesday bank robbery.

Rodney Lewis Conatser, 51, of Muncie, was preliminarily charged with armed robbery, possession of cocaine or a narcotic drug and driving while suspended.

His wife, Amanda Nichole Conatser, 41, faces preliminary counts of conspiracy to commit armed robbery and possession of a narcotic drug.

According to Melissa Criswell, deputy chief with the Muncie Police Department, a bandit  described as a white male wearing "a face covering"  robbed employees of the First Merchants Bank at 101 S. Country Club Road shortly after 4 p.m. Tuesday.

Officers from the MPD and other local agencies searched the area for a vehicle that was believed to be linked to the holdup.

More: Muncie man arrested on robbery, battery charges

On Wednesday, that vehicle  registered to Amanda Conatser  was observed and a traffic stop was conducted, according to Criswell.

The Conatsers were both found in the vehicle and arrested.

They were being held Thursday in the Delaware County jail. Rodney Conatser's bond on the local charges was set at $37,500.

His spouse was being held under a $35,000 bond.

A warrant was issued Nov. 22 for Rodney Conatser's arrest in LaGrange Circuit Court, in northeastern Indiana, where he is accused of violating his probation in a case that saw him convicted of nonsupport of a dependent child in June 2020.

According to court documents, Rodney Conatser's record also includes convictions for robbery, dealing in meth, possession of meth and voyeurism. Amanda Conatser has been convicted of possession of meth.

Douglas Walker is a news reporter at The Star Press. Contact him at 765-213-5851 or at dwalker@muncie.gannett.com.

This article originally appeared on Muncie Star Press: Bank robbery investigation leads to arrests of Muncie couple
North Korean leader Kim Jong Un (L), seen watching a test launch of his country's largest ICBM, has urged his party to 'accelerate' war preparations (STR)

North Korean leader Kim Jong Un urged his party to "accelerate" war preparations including its nuclear programme, state media said Thursday.

The comments came just a week after Kim warned Pyongyang would not hesitate to launch a nuclear attack if "provoked" with nukes.

Kim made the comments at the North's ongoing year-end party meeting, where he is expected to unveil key policy decisions for 2024.

Kim asked the party to "further accelerate the war preparations" across sectors, including nuclear weapons and civil defense, Pyongyang's official Korean Central News Agency reported.

He also stressed that the "military situation" on the Korean peninsula had become "extreme" due to "unprecedented" anti-North confrontations with Washington.

Seoul, Tokyo and Washington have ramped up defence cooperation in the face of a record-breaking series of weapons tests by Pyongyang this year and recently activated a system to share real-time data on North Korean missile launches.

Earlier this month, a US nuclear-powered submarine arrived in the South Korean port city of Busan, and Washington flew its long-range bombers in drills with Seoul and Tokyo.

The North has previously described the participation of US strategic assets -- such as B-52 bombers -- in joint drills on the Korean peninsula as the "intentional nuclear war provocative moves of the US".

Pyongyang this year successfully launched a reconnaissance satellite, enshrined its status as a nuclear power in its constitution, and test-fired the most advanced intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM) in its arsenal.

Kim earlier this week defined 2023 as a "year of great turn and great change" in which Pyongyang saw "eye-opening victories".

Last week, the United Nations atomic agency said a second reactor at North Korea's Yongbyon nuclear facility appeared to be operational, calling it "deeply regrettable."

North Korea is likely to "deploy tactical nuclear weapons in areas near the inter-Korean border" and further advance its nuclear program in the new year, Ahn Chan-il, a defector-turned-researcher who runs the World Institute for North Korea Studies, told AFP.

Pyongyang would make such moves to exert "great pressure" on South Korea and the United States, while maintaining close ties with traditional allies Russia and China, he added.

- 'Nuclear confrontation' -

At last year's year-end party meeting, Kim called "for an exponential increase of the country's nuclear arsenal".

The United States and South Korea earlier this month held the second meeting of their Nuclear Consultative Group in Washington, where they discussed nuclear deterrence options in the event of conflict with the North.

They warned that any nuclear attack from Pyongyang on the United States or South Korea would result in the end of the Kim regime.

A spokesperson for North Korea's defence ministry then slammed the allies' plans to expand annual joint military exercises next year to include a nuclear operation drill, calling it "an open declaration on nuclear confrontation".

Pyongyang declared itself an "irreversible" nuclear power last year and has repeatedly said it will never give up its nukes programme, which the regime views as essential for its survival.

The United Nations Security Council has adopted many resolutions calling on North Korea to halt its nuclear and ballistic missile programmes since it first conducted a nuclear test in 2006.

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NASA is building a roadmap for robots that could visit ocean worlds through future space missions and crack the worlds' thick, icy shells to explore subsurface seas in search of life.

Recently, the space agency revealed results from a NASA-sponsored workshop held in Feb. 2023 at which scientists and engineers gathered to discuss possible "cryobot" mission concepts. The idea is to crack through the icy exteriors of solar system moons, like Jupiter 's moon Europa or Saturn's moon Enceladus, and drop a probe within that can explore the underlying liquid ocean.

The cryobot concept explored is an alternative to simply drilling into a world, and involves using a cylindrical device dispatched from a mother unit at the surface of an icy ocean world that can melt ice and therefore slip down as water flows around it and refreezes.

These probes, and this so-called "thermal drilling" technique, are currently commonly employed to investigate glaciers and ice caps on Earth, but the icy shells of worlds like Europa and Enceladus are colder and thicker. They also present behaviors that are far less predictable.

Parlaying current terrestrial thermal drilling operations into extraterrestrial environments via cryobots has been the focus of researchers supported by NASA's Scientific Exploration Subsurface Access Mechanism for Europa (SESAME) and Concepts for Ocean worlds Life Detection Technology (COLDTech) programs for several years.

Related: Icy Water Moons That Might Host Life (Infographic)

Over this time, however, humanity has learned much more about ice-capped ocean worlds, and thus, the workshop, held at the California Institute of Technology (Caltech), offered the chance for scientists involved in these projects to reconvene and ensure these developments are being factored into robot mission architecture.

To find life, follow the water

Life as we know it is dependent on many key compounds, molecules and elements, but arguably, none are as vital as water is.

A fundamental building of life here on Earth, it is easy to see why water has become the focus for scientists aiming to search for life elsewhere in the solar system . And, while we have discovered that water is abundant in our stellar backyard (and even beyond), no discovery has been more tantalizing to astrobiologists than the realization that icy moons in our own solar system harbor vast oceans of liquid water.

The discovery that the arid landscape of Mars once overflowed with water offers the inarguably exciting opportunity to discover remains of ancient life, but ocean moons like Europa and Enceladus offer the chance to discover worlds that are currently habitable and may even host actual living things in their waters right now. Those living things, though they'd likely be microbial, would be revolutionary to find.

According to NASA , the Caltech workshop led to the identification of four key aspects that should inform the roadmap for the development of an alien-water-world-exploring robot. Those aspects were power, thermal capability, mobility and communication.

A bot that can bring the heat under pressure

Of course, the miles-thick icy shells of our ocean world muses constitute considerable challenges to missions that seek to search for life. That means the heart of an ocean world exploring cryobot would need a nuclear power system that is capable of providing heat that can melt through those many miles of ice  a system that's estimated to need around 10 kiloWatts (kW) of energy. This system would also have to be integrated into a structure that can survive the immense pressure of these deep alien seas.

There is some precedence in developing such a system, however complex it may sound..

The Cassini spacecraft, which explored Saturn and its moons before plunging into the gas giant 's atmosphere in 2017, carried a thermal power system capable of generating 14 kW  more than the energy needed to melt through miles of ice. Also, during the 1960s and 1970s, Radioisotope Thermoelectric Generators (RTGs) that could probably survive the pressures of Europa's oceans were deployed to the bottom of oceans here on Earth.

But the futuristic cryobot wouldn't just need protection from its environment; it would also need to be protected from the heat it generates itself. This would require a thermal management system that can maintain a safe internal temperature for the bot by distributing heat to the environment.

One way of doing this, scientists say, is by using two independently pumped circuits of fluid. One would circulate an internal working fluid through channels embedded in the skin of the robot, and the other would circulate melted ice water between the cryobot and the surrounding environment.

An illustration shows icy plumes blasting out from Saturns moon Enceladus.

While systems like this have been produced already, much more development is needed to prepare them for the ice shells of Europa or Enceladus.

Those ice shells may also contain impurities such as rock and salt that a robot would need additional systems to penetrate. This could be done using mechanical cutting, by blasting those impurities with high-pressure jets of water, or even by using a combination of the two.

Of course, some obstacles, like large and solid rocks, salt blocks, pockets of water, or even vast voids in these icy shells could be irremovable by these methods  so, a cryobot would also need to be able to navigate its passage to subsurface oceans. This would entail integrating a downward-facing sensor to observe the obstacles as well as a steering system, both of which have been developed in the past but are yet to be fully integrated into any sort of working system here on Earth.

Scientists will also have to devise ways to better identify obstacles in ice shells prior to developing a mission embarking to an icy ocean moon, something the workshop identified as a high priority. The forthcoming Europa Clipper mission, set to launch in2024 and arrive at the icy Jovian moon of Europa in 2030, could be integral in this hazard-investigation work.

Breaking the ice but not communication

Last but not least, the other primary robot mission aspect discussed at the Caltech workshop was a communication system that would allow vital data to be ferried back from a deep-diving, sea-exploring probe to a mother hub unit sitting atop the ice of targeted ocean worlds.

On Earth, cryobots do this using fiber optic cables, but deploying these through ice on an alien world would require being certain that this ice doesn't break the cable. This is something that would be especially challenging in the active ice shell of Enceladus, which may shift and move as plumes of ocean material erupt through fissures, spraying into the moon's atmosphere .

Kate Craft of John Hopkins Applied Physics Laboratory (JPL) is investigating how ice shears on ocean moons could impact a system of communications tethers embedded in ice, while other teams are looking at non-physical methods of data transmission such as the use of radio frequencies, acoustics and even magnetic fields to transmit data from oceans through the alien ice to the surface.

Related Stories:

 Moonquakes could 'smooth out' the surfaces of Jupiter and Saturn's icy moons

 Evidence of alien life may exist in the fractures of icy moons around Jupiter and Saturn

 A giant moon collision may have given rise to Saturn's iconic rings, study suggests

While these were the four key elements of ocean world exploring cryobots discussed by the around 40 attendees of this workshop, other things were looked at, such as instruments that can sample and analyze collected liquids, ice anchoring systems to secure surface-based modules, and materials to coat the surface of the cryobot that wont corrode in alien environments.

The overall outcome of the mission planning exercise was that there is a great deal of work to be done, but a cryobot mission to icy solar system worlds is feasible.

This ultimately means that finding life on other worlds is more plausible than ever before.
A migrant caravan numbering thousands of people from Central and South America is making its way through southern Mexico this week en route to the U.S.

The caravan, which is estimated to include 8,000 migrants, comes as Secretary of State Antony Blinken and a senior U.S. delegation are meeting with Mexican officials, including Mexican President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador, to discuss the current migrant surge at the U.S.-Mexico border.

On the social media platform X, Blinken said both sides discussed ways to discuss the "irregular migration."

"The U.S.-Mexico partnership is crucial to prosperity and security in our countries and throughout the Americas," Blinken wrote. "Good to discuss these issues, and our shared efforts to reduce irregular migration, with [Lopez Obrador] today in Mexico City."

TEXAS HAS ARRESTED THOUSANDS AT THE US-MEXICO BORDER AS STATE EXPANDS POWERS TO ARREST MIGRANTS

Migrants take part in a caravan toward the U.S. border in Tapachula, Chiapas state, Mexico, on Sunday.

Blinkens description of "irregular migration" matches other language used by the State Department but appears to clash with the messaging from President Biden and the White House.

READ ON THE FOX NEWS APP

On Friday, the State Department first announced Blinken would be traveling to Mexico with Secretary of Homeland Security Alejandro Mayorkas and White House Homeland Security adviser Liz Sherwood-Randall to discuss "unprecedented irregular migration" as well as "identify ways Mexico and the United States will address border security challenges."

However, the White House has downplayed the record-high levels of immigration by describing current figures  as many as 10,000 migrants arrested daily at the southwest U.S. border this month  as a seasonal surge.

There were 242,418 migrant encounters at the southern border in November  the highest November on record and the third-highest month ever.

MIGRANT CRISIS INCREASING STRAIN ON BORDER OFFICIALS, IMMIGRATION COURTS WITH MASSIVE NUMBERS

When asked about the November figure, White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre said the increases in numbers are "not unusual."

"What were seeing here at the border, the increased migration flow, certainly, it ebbs and flows," Jean-Pierre said. "And were at a time of the year where were seeing more at the border. And its not unusual. This is an immigration system that has been broken for decades. And the president has taken this very seriously to try to do more. Thats why we have the comprehensive immigration policy legislation that the president put forth on day one."

During the four-day Christmas weekend, there were more than 35,000 migrant encounters at the U.S.-Mexico border, and since Dec. 1, there have been over 250,000 migrant encounters. December could break the monthly record for encounters set in September (269,735).

On Tuesday, the caravan passed by Mexicos main inland immigration inspection point outside the town of Huixtla, in southern Chiapas state, and was seen traveling north.

MEXICAN OFFICIALS USE BULLDOZERS TO CLEAR MIGRANT TENT CAMP AT US BORDER

The caravan started out on Christmas Eve from the city of Tapachula, near the border with Guatemala, with many migrants spending Christmas sleeping outside.

The group mostly included single adults but also had entire families, all eager to reach the U.S. border.

A migrant caravan formed in Mexico after crossing the Guatemalan border near Ciudad Hidalgo, Mexico, on Oct. 21, 2018.

In the past, Mexico has let migrants go through their southern border, trusting that they would tire themselves out walking along the highway.

This has historically been the case as, according to The Associated Press, no migrant caravan has walked the entire 1,000 miles to the U.S. border. However, in recent years, migrants have secured access via buses, trains and other transportation to get them to the border.

Fox News Adam Shaw and The Associated Press contributed to this report.





Original article source: Nearly 8,000-strong migrant caravan heads toward the US, Blinken urges Mexico help end 'irregular migration'
Just over two weeks ahead of Taiwan's upcoming election, President Xi Jinping made a resolute declaration on Tuesday. According to the official Xinhua news agency, President Xi vowed to firmly thwart any attempts to "split Taiwan from China in any way."

In a move that has sparked strong protests from the Taipei government, China continues to assert its claim over Taiwan, a democratically-governed territory. In an effort to bolster its sovereignty claims, China has escalated both political and military pressure on the island.

Xi Jinping Ensures China-Taiwan Reunification

Taiwan is set to hold its presidential and parliamentary elections on January 13. One of the key topics that will be discussed during the campaign trail is the management of the island's relations with China.

In a symposium commemorating the 130th anniversary of the birth of former Chinese leader Mao Zedong, President Xi confidently proclaimed that the unification of the motherland is an undeniable force gaining momentum. It is worth noting that Mao Zedong, who successfully toppled the Republic of China government in a civil war back in 1949, subsequently sought refuge in Taiwan.

In a statement, he emphasized the need for China to take decisive action in preventing any attempts to separate Taiwan from the mainland. He also stressed the importance of fostering peaceful relations between the two regions and promoting greater integration between them.

China has asserted that the election in Taiwan is an internal matter. However, they have warned that any attempt towards Taiwan independence could lead to a potential conflict. According to China, such a move would force the residents of the island to make a crucial decision between peace and the possibility of bloodshed.

In the past 18 months, China has engaged in two notable rounds of war games centered around Taiwan. Additionally, it has been observed that China frequently dispatches fighter aircraft and warships across the Taiwan Strait.

Lai Ching-te, the candidate for president of Taiwan from the Democratic Progressive Party (DPP), has faced accusations from the Chinese government, labeling him as a dangerous separatist. Additionally, the Chinese government has declined his appeals for negotiations.

The Kuomintang (KMT), Taiwan's leading opposition party, has expressed its stance on the island's future. Despite its longstanding support for close ties with China, the KMT maintains that it is not pro-Beijing. Instead, the party acknowledges that the destiny of Taiwan should be decided by its own people, First Post reported.

Read Also: Weibo Bloggers Now Urged to Avoid Badmouthing China's Economy; Will Non-Compliant Users Get Banned?

Mao Zedong Anniversary

Prior to delivering his speech, Xi Jinping, the leader of the Politburo Standing Committee, China's influential decision-making body, led a commemoration ceremony at Mao Zedong's mausoleum in Tiananmen Square, Beijing. The mausoleum houses Mao's preserved body, which is publicly displayed as a tribute to his accomplishments.

President Xi and his delegation paid tribute to the day by bowing three times in front of Mao's marble statue. In the midst of escalating competition with the United States and a sluggish economic recovery on the domestic front, President Xi Jinping paid homage to Mao Zedong, a significant figure in China's history.

In recent years, the strategic rivalry between Beijing and Washington has been a prominent focus for both parties. However, the meeting between Chinese President Xi Jinping and US President Joe Biden in San Francisco in November has brought some positive momentum to the relationship in the short term.

Xi urged cadres to brace themselves for what he referred to as the "worst-case and most extreme scenario." This comes as tensions between Beijing and Washington continue to escalate, with both sides grappling to effectively handle their disagreements on critical matters including Taiwan, the South China Sea, technology, and trade.

Related Article: Taiwan Announces How It'll Handle Chinese Spy Balloons-What Handling Based on Threat Level Means?

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Now out of prison, Gypsy Rose Blanchard is appearing on television for her first major interview in more than five years starting Friday night.

Blanchard shares her side of the apparent Munchausen syndrome by proxy case that drove her to plan her mothers murder in a new docuseries, The Prison Confessions of Gypsy Rose Blanchard. The three-part special contains six episodes total, with two airing each night Friday through Sunday at 8 p.m. ET on the Lifetime network. In a trailer, Blanchard promises to share my story and speak my truth.

This docuseries chronicles my quest to expose the hidden parts of my life that have never been revealed... until now, Gypsy Rose says in a voiceover.

Blanchard, now 32, was released from the Chillicothe Correctional Center in Missouri on parole December 28 after serving 85 percent of her 10-year sentence. She pleaded guilty to second-degree murder in the June 2015 stabbing death of her mother, Clauddine Dee Dee Blanchard. Gypsy Rose conspired with her then-boyfriend, Nicholas Godejohn, to kill her mother after suffering years of what she calls relentless child abuse in the new docuseries trailer.

Multiple experts have concluded that Dee Dee likely suffered from Munchausen syndrome by proxy, a mental disorder in which a caretaker makes someone sick or gives the illusion of being ill in order to garner attention. As early as Gypsy Roses infancy, Dee Dee led doctors to believe her daughter suffered from a series of fake illnesses such as asthma, leukemia, and muscular dystrophy, consequently subjecting her to unnecessary surgeries and treatments.



The case was previously highlighted in the 2017 HBO documentary Mommy Dead and Dearest and was the basis for the 2019 dramatized limited series The Act on Hulu. Gypsy Rose also sat for a televised interview with Dr. Phil McGraw in November 2017, appeared on 20/20 in January 2018, and participated in Investigation Discoverys Gypsy Revenge documentary in November 2018.

How to Watch The Prison Confessions of Gypsy Rose Blanchard

Cable and other live TV subscribers can watch each episode of The Prison Confessions of Gypsy Rose Blanchard exclusively on Lifetime. The first two episodes debut Friday with two more releasing Saturday before the finale pair on Sunday. Coverage begins at 8 p.m. ET all three nights.

Following Fridays premiere, you can stream the first two episodes for free on mylifetime.com through January 15. The remaining episodes will require a subscription to view on the site. After each broadcast, the episodes will also be available on demand with a cable subscription or for purchase on direct-to-own platforms such as Amazon and iTunes.

Gypsy Rose will talk about her incarceration and husband

In a press release, Lifetime said the six-hour project will feature unprecedented access to Blanchard, including on the eve of her parole hearing. It will delve into her time in prison and introduce viewers to her husband, Ryan Scott Anderson, a Louisiana teacher whom she married in June 2022. Were in love, she told People just prior to her release. When Im at home with my family, with my husbands arms around me and Im surrounded by my loved ones, that is when I will be happy.

According to Lifetime, Blanchard will also discuss her emotional journey of being forced to remain a child, held prisoner by her own mother, and the unfathomable choice she made in order to survive.

Blanchard spoke with filmmakers from prison. The trailer appears to feature both recorded and in-person interviews with her. Executive producer Melissa Moore has documented Blanchard in prison since 2017. I watched her transform into a woman who holds responsibility for her past and now has the courage to face an unknown new free world for the first time, Moore said in the release.

Gypsy Roses other plans for the future

In addition to the Lifetime series, Blanchard is also sharing her story through a new e-book, Released: Conversations on the Eve of Freedom, which releases on January 9. She has previously expressed her desire to write about her experiences in order to help other victims of child abuse.

Reportedly, she hopes to do the same with her voice. According to TMZ, sources close to Gypsy Rose said she plans to participate in speaking engagements and advocacy work after her release to raise awareness about Munchausen by proxy. The outlet said she has taken part in group therapy while in prison and will likely enter one-on-one trauma therapy.

Blanchard has said she completed multiple self-improvement courses during her incarceration and wishes to use those skills to help others. This will be my never-ending life goal, she said in 2021.



Gypsy Rose has shared via social media she is spending time reconnecting with members of her family following her release, including celebrating New Years Eve with her husband; her father, Rod Blanchard; and her stepmother, Kristy Blanchard.

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The oldest synagogue in Santiago was defaced last week with graffiti calling for the overthrow of Zionism. Earlier this month, a Jewish center in Buenos Aires that was the target of a deadly attack in 1994 received a new bomb threat vowing death to the Zionist Jews.

One of Perus largest newspapers ran a cartoon in November of Adolf Hitler giving a Nazi salute to Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. And in Brazil, a ring of individuals with suspected ties to Hezbollah were arrested for allegedly planning attacks on Jewish institutions across the country.

Those incidents are part of a growing pattern of antisemitic activity across Latin America that is alarming U.S. officials, who toured the region in early December to meet with local officials and members of the Jewish community to discuss a threat that has markedly increased since Hamas brutal attacks on Israelis on Oct. 7.

Antisemitism is on the rise in Latin America, Aaron Keyak, U.S. deputy special envoy to monitor and combat antisemitism, said in an interview with McClatchy. Antisemitism, unfortunately, was on the rise before Oct. 7. What weve seen since is a tsunami.

Keyak returned from the trip hopeful that regional governments are taking the phenomenon seriously. He found a clear consensus in his conversations with local leaders that the security threat to Latin American Jews was real and increasing.

That assessment tracks with a spike in antisemitic rhetoric from regional social media accounts and at antiwar protests monitored by local U.S. Embassy staff, the Latin American Jewish Congress, the Anti-Defamation League, and local Jewish organizations.

In Brazil, for example, the local Brazilian Israelite Confederation was tracking slightly more than one complaint of antisemitism per day in October 2022. By the end of this October, the total number of complaints received was an average of 15 complaints per day  an increase of nearly 1,000 percent, according to the organization.

We can say with confidence that the spike is real, and that were seeing things that we have not seen before, Fernando Lottenberg, commissioner to monitor and combat antisemitism for the Organization of American States, or OAS, said in a phone interview.

Its not that because Israel responds, antisemitism grows, Lottenberg said. Its that antisemitism is already there, and that an event like this makes them feel free to speak out.

Brazil, Chile, Argentina on U.S. visit

Keyaks tour through Brazil, Chile and Argentina was planned well before the Oct. 7 attacks. But the trip took on added urgency in the aftermath, when Israel launched a military response against Hamas by bombarding Gaza. The deputy special envoy met with local government officials, law enforcement, university students, Jewish leaders and U.S. Embassy staff during each stop.

Theres a renewed understanding that these local governments need to keep these communities safe, and I saw that across the region, Keyak said in his office at the State Department. The law enforcement officials I spoke with seem to be taking it seriously, whether its online incitement or threats to the local Jewish community.

The office of the U.S. special envoy to combat antisemitism, led by Ambassador Deborah Lipstadt, a renowned Holocaust historian, was first established by Congress in 2004 to advance U.S. policy against antisemitism, provide foreign governments with a point of contact in Washington and make clear that it is a priority of the U.S. government.

The office has emphasized to foreign governments that criticism of the Israeli government and its handling of the Gaza war is a legitimate exercise.

But regional embassy staff and the special envoys office have monitored a surge in rhetoric at protests against the war that Keyak said crosses the line into antisemitism.

What concerns us is justification for what Hamas did on Oct. 7, Keyak said. They sought out to kill Jewish civilians. So one of the things were on the look out for in these meetings, and all of our engagements internationally, is whether there are government and civil society leaders who are justifying what are simply antisemitic attacks and murders.

Assaulting a Jew walking down the street is not an act of protest. Its not standing up for Palestinian rights. Its antisemitism, he continued. To hold any Jew accountable for the actions of the Israeli government, or any government, is both ineffective and antisemitic. It would be like protesting outside a Chinese restaurant because you disagree with how the PRC is treating the Uyghurs. It doesnt even compute.

A study conducted by the Latin American Jewish Congress and Observatorio Web, an organization that monitors discrimination online throughout the region, found a 12 percent increase in antisemitic rhetoric on social media platforms after the Oct. 7 attack over 2022 levels, matching a similar pattern they observed after conflict previously erupted in the Gaza Strip in 2021 and 2014.

Jewish, Palestinian communities in Latin America

The Latin American Jewish community is relatively small, with various academic studies estimating a population between 300,000 and 500,000 across the region, over half of whom reside in Argentina.

The region also has a significant Palestinian population, with Chile home roughly to 500,000, the largest Palestinian community outside of the Middle East, according to a report by the U.N. Division of Rights of the Palestinians and the Palestinian Federation of Chile.

As you know, we face a very unique situation in our country given the presence of a large and influential Chilean Palestinian community that challenges us every day, Ariela Agosin, president of the Jewish Community of Chile, said at a regional summit on antisemitism in Santiago on Dec. 3 attended by U.S. officials.

Antisemitic incidents have increased sharply over the past decade across Europe and the United States  home to the largest Jewish communities in the world outside of Israel  leading law enforcement to tighten security at Jewish synagogues, cultural centers and other institutions. The United States and European governments have boosted security funding for Jewish institutions to post armed guards and install bulletproof doors at their facilities, among other security measures.

Latin American synagogues have increasingly adopted these security precautions, Keyak said.

Us coming in after a terrorist attack, after antisemites are killing Jews, is too late. The idea is to have these conversations beforehand, to make sure the security apparatus is taking those threats seriously, Keyak said. Some of the governments are quite harshly critical of Israel. But we see local law enforcement protecting local Jewish institutions.

The security concerns are focused both on local antisemitic threats as well as the specter of international terrorism.

Brazil, home to Latin Americas second-largest Jewish community, foiled an alleged plot last month against Jewish targets that included suspected local Hezbollah recruits as well as individuals flying into the country after meeting with Hezbollah leadership in Lebanon, according to Brazilian federal police and the Israeli prime ministers office, which said in a statement that Israels intelligence services assisted in the operation.

Hezbollah, a militant group backed by Iran and designated as a terrorist organization by the United States, has a longtime presence throughout Latin America. Keyak said that he and his Latin counterparts definitely talked about Hezbollah and the danger of terrorism throughout his trip.

Thats very much part of the conversation. Government to government, we talk about these international threats and share information, he said. Obviously, throughout Latin America, the security intelligence apparatus of our countries are intimately linked.

For the most part, the State Department has found willing and active partners in the fight against antisemitism across the region, Keyak said. But several countries have been forceful in their condemnations of Israel. Chile and Colombia recalled their ambassadors, and Bolivia severed diplomatic ties outright.

In Latin America, you have countries recalling ambassadors and excusing language accusing Israel of performing a genocide or massacres, and that goes on the shoulders on the local Jewish communities, Lottenberg of OAS said. Jews are being held collectively responsible for whats happening in the Middle East.

Argentina has its own office devoted to combating antisemitism, and has adopted a standard international definition of antisemitism from the International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance.

But Colombias president, Gustavo Petro, described Israels preparations for a military response as Nazism in a social media post just two days after the Oct. 7 attacks. The Biden administration expressed dismay at Petros message through multiple private channels before publicly condemning it, Keyak said.

The U.S. government has a wide range of tools  some are public, some are private  to push forward on these issues, he said. By the time you read about it, it just shows the other levers werent responded to in the right way.
CONCORD  New Hampshire House Speaker Sherman Packard said his office was unwilling to launch its own inquiry into where a former state representative was living on concerns it could have jeopardized an ongoing criminal review led by the state Attorney Generals Office.

Packards remarks came during an invitation-only press briefing Wednesday, where he largely reiterated what his office has maintained in official statements since September, when Troy Merner was arrested on allegations of voter fraud and for submitting false mileage reimbursements for travel to the State House. Merner, a Republican, allegedly moved from Lancaster to Twin Mountain in late 2022, but failed to resign his seat in the Legislature, casting votes in a narrowly divided House.

House Speaker Sherman Packard leads the Jan. 6 House session at the Center of NH Expo in Manchester. (Screenshot from House livestream)

In his first extended comments on the matter, Packard defended his offices handling of the situation, and said he aimed to put the matter behind him as the State House begins a new session next week.

I'm convinced that we didn't do anything wrong, said Packard, who was joined by Deputy Speaker Stephen Smith.

Democrats have criticized the speakers office for failing to take action or alert the House when it first learned of the criminal investigation into Merner in December 2022 in a phone call and subsequent email from the Attorney Generals Office. That email, sent by Deputy General Counsel Myles Matteson to Terry Pfaff, the Legislatures chief operating officer, outlined what it labeled facts concerning Merners inconsistent statements about his residency.

More than nine months later, the Department of Justice filed criminal charges against Merner, prompting his resignation from the House and the Lancaster Selectboard, where he continued to serve despite allegedly not living in the town.

Packard told reporters that after receiving the email from prosecutors, Aaron Goulette, his chief of staff, confronted Merner, who attested that he still lived in a rental unit in Lancaster.

We took the man at his word, Packard said. We had no reason not to.

Packard said he never broached the subject directly with Merner, and that he believed he needed to let the Attorney Generals Office continue to investigate.

I'm not going to act on accusations and rumors, he said. I'm going to act when we have proof. Once proof was given to us by the DOJ, we acted immediately.

Packard and Smith handed reporters a printout of a 1990 House Journal entry detailing a resolution regarding a state representative from Portsmouth who also faced questions regarding her domicile while in office. In that matter, a House subcommittee was assigned to investigate the situation after the local Board of Registrars rejected a challenge to Rep. Cynthia McGoverns eligibility to serve. On a 14-0 vote, that committee found there was no evidence conclusively contesting her seat and that the question of how long is too long for someone to not be physically present in their district before they lose their right to represent it in the Legislature remained unclear.

When asked by a reporter why Packard didnt follow a similar playbook and launch a House inquiry into Merner, he again pointed to the ongoing criminal investigation by the Attorney Generals Office.

Merner was scheduled to be arraigned Thursday in Coos County Superior Court, but waived the hearing. His next hearing, a dispositional conference, is set for March.

Voters in Lancaster will head to the polls on Jan. 23  the same day as the presidential primary  to select his replacement. Republicans currently hold a 198-195 advantage in the House, with three Independents. Four special elections in the coming weeks, including for Merners seat, will solidify the balance of power in the House this session, where lawmakers will take on a host of divisive topics, including bills related to abortion rights and gun legislation.

In an op-ed published last week in the Union Leader, Rep. Matt Wilhelm, the top Democrat in the House, accused Republican leadership of turning a blind eye to both Merner and Rep. Ben Bartlett, who was found to have violated the Hatch Act during his brief tenure in the Legislature.

These incidents show a willingness, both individually and collectively, of New Hampshire Republicans to take whatever liberties with the law they believe are necessary to obtain and retain power, Wilhelm said.

When asked by a reporter if Packard had concerns that his handling of the Merner investigation could cost him his position as Speaker, he noted that he has been in politics a long time.

I can't control what everybody thinks, he said.

He added that his office tried to put this to bed, and every time we try and put it to bed, somebody puts a report out or something of that nature and blows the whole thing up again.

After 45 minutes with reporters on Wednesday, Packard said, This is the last time we're going to be talking about it.

These articles are being shared by partners in The Granite State News Collaborative. For more information visit collaborativenh.org.

This article originally appeared on Portsmouth Herald: NH House Speaker defends handling of Merner investigation
COLUMBIA, S.C. (AP)  Republican presidential candidate Nikki Haley was asked at a New Hampshire town hall about the reason for the Civil War, and she didnt mention slavery in her response. She walked back her comments hours later.

Asked during Wednesday night's town hall in Berlin what she believed had caused the war  the first shots of which were fired in her home state of South Carolina  Haley talked about the role of government, replying that it involved the freedoms of what people could and couldnt do.

She then turned the question back to the man who had asked it. He replied that he was not the one running for president and wished instead to know her answer.

After Haley went into a lengthier explanation about the role of government, individual freedom and capitalism, the questioner seemed to admonish Haley, saying, In the year 2023, its astonishing to me that you answer that question without mentioning the word slavery.

What do you want me to say about slavery? Haley retorted before abruptly moving on to the next question.

Haley, the former United Nations ambassador and South Carolina governor, has been working to become the leading alternative to Donald Trump for the 2024 Republican presidential nomination. It's unclear whether her comments will have a long-term political impact, particularly among the independent voters who are crucial to her campaign.

She backpedaled on her Civil War comments 12 hours later, with her campaign disseminating a Thursday morning radio interview in which she said, Of course the Civil War was about slavery, something she called a stain on America. She went on to reiterate that freedom matters. And individual rights and liberties matter for all people.

Her GOP rivals quickly jumped on her original comments, even though most of them have been accused of downplaying the effects of slavery themselves.

Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis' campaign recirculated video of the original exchange on social media, adding the comment, Yikes. Campaigning in Iowa on Thursday, DeSantis said that Haley has had some problems with some basic American history and that it's not that difficult to identify and acknowledge the role slavery played in the Civil War.

DeSantis faced criticism over slavery earlier in the year when Florida enacted new education standards requiring teachers to instruct middle school students that slaves developed skills that could be applied for their personal benefit. U.S. Sen. Tim Scott of South Carolina, the only Black Republican in the Senate and DeSantis then-rival for the GOP presidential nomination, rejected that characterization, saying instead that slavery was about separating families, about mutilating humans and even raping their wives.

Make America Great Again Inc., a super PAC supporting Trumps campaign, sent out a release saying Haley's response shows she is clearly not ready for primetime. The group also included an X post from Florida Rep. Byron Donalds, a Black Republican who supports Trump, reading 1. Psst Nikki... the answer is slavery PERIOD. 2. This really doesnt matter because Trump is going to be the nominee. Trump 2024!

Trump did not mention the two centuries of slavery in America at a 2020 event marking the 223rd anniversary of the signing of the Constitution. He instead focused on Americas founding having set in motion the unstoppable chain of events that abolished slavery, secured civil rights, defeated communism and fascism and built the most fair, equal and prosperous nation in human history.

Issues surrounding the origins of the Civil War and its heritage are still much of the fabric of Haleys home state, and she has been pressed on the wars origins before. As she ran for governor in 2010, Haley, in an interview with a now-defunct activist group then known as The Palmetto Patriots, described the war as between two disparate sides fighting for tradition and change and said the Confederate flag was not something that is racist.

During that same campaign, she dismissed the need for the flag to come down from the Statehouse grounds, portraying her Democratic rivals push for its removal as a desperate political stunt.

Five years later, Haley urged lawmakers to remove the flag from its perch near a Confederate soldier monument following a mass shooting in Charleston, South Carolina, in which a white gunman killed nine Black church members who were attending Bible study. At the time, Haley said the flag had been hijacked by the shooter from those who saw the flag as symbolizing sacrifice and heritage.

South Carolinas Ordinance of Secession  the 1860 proclamation by the state government outlining its reasons for seceding from the Union  mentions slavery in its opening sentence and points to the increasing hostility on the part of the non-slaveholding States to the institution of slavery as a reason for the state removing itself from the Union.

On Wednesday night, Christale Spain  elected this year as the first Black woman to chair South Carolinas Democratic Party  said Haleys response was vile, but unsurprising.

The same person who refused to take down the Confederate Flag until the tragedy in Charleston, and tried to justify a Confederate History Month, Spain said in a post on X, of Haley. Shes just as MAGA as Trump, Spain added, referring to Trumps Make America Great Again slogan.

Jaime Harrison, current chairman of the Democratic National Committee and South Carolinas party chairman during part of Haleys tenure as governor, said her response was not stunning if you were a Black resident in SC when she was Governor.

Same person who said the confederate flag was about tradition & heritage and as a minority woman she was the right person to defend keeping it on state house grounds, Harrison posted Wednesday night on X. Some may have forgotten but I havent. Time to take off the rose colored Nikki Haley glasses folks.

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This story has been corrected to show nine people, not eight, were killed in the Charleston church massacre in 2015.

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Meg Kinnard can be reached at http://twitter.com/MegKinnardAP.

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Associated Press writer Hannah Fingerhut in Ankeny, Iowa, contributed to this report.
WASHINGTON  Former South Carolina Gov. Nikki Haley failed to mention slavery when asked what caused the Civil War in a town hall Wednesday, drawing backlash from both her Republican and Democratic rivals.

During the town hall in Berlin, New Hampshire, a voter asked Haley, What was the cause of the United States Civil War?

Well dont come with an easy question or anything," Haley responded. "I mean, I think the cause of the Civil War was basically how the government was going to run. The freedoms and what people could and couldnt do.

She then redirected the question to the voter, who said he wasnt the one running for president and wanted to hear her answer. Haley continued that Americans need economic freedom and other liberties without government interference.

Thank you, the voter said. In the year 2023, its astonishing to me that youd answer that question without mentioning the word slavery.

Haley then asked the voter, What do you want me to say about slavery? to which the voter replied, Youve answered my question. Thank you.

Republican presidential candidate Nikki Haley shakes hands with a supporter during a campaign stop at K & B Emporium on Saturday, Dec. 9, 2023, in Clear Lake, Ia.

President Joe Biden quickly seized on the moment, sharing a video on X, the platform formerly known as Twitter, of Haleys exchange with the voter and adding It was about slavery.

Haley, who has been gaining momentum in the Granite State behind former President Donald Trump, also faced criticism from her Republican rivals.

Businessman Vivek Ramaswamy shared on X, I think she mistook him for a Super PAC donor. And Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis campaign shared a clip of the exchange with the caption Yikes on X.

Asked about the exchange on Thursday, Haley said on The Pulse of NH, "Of course the Civil War was about slavery. We know that. That's the easy part."

In 2015, during Haley's tenure as governor of South Carolina, she signed a bill to remove a Confederate flag from the grounds of the statehouse following a shooting at the Emanuel African Methodist Episcopal Church in Charleston that left nine Black Americans dead.

However, in 2019, Haley defended the Confederate flag in an interview with conservative radio host Glenn Beck, saying that South Carolinans saw it as service, sacrifice and heritage before the 2015 shooter hijacked it.

What caused the Civil War?

The Civil War began 1861, sparked largely by debates over slavery in the U.S. It was also fueled by connected tensions over westward expansion and the individual rights of states.

While manufacturing and industry was booming in the northern part of the country at the time, the American South mainly depended on agriculture and farming. The industries relied on enslaved Black Americans growing crops such as cotton and tobacco.

However, there was a growing opposition in the North over the expansion of slavery into new western territories.

After Congress passed the Kansas-Nebraska Act in 1854, which enabled slavery in swaths of the country, pro and anti-slavery forces battled over the issue known as Bleeding Kansas.

After former President Abraham Lincoln was elected in 1860, seven states seceded and formed the Confederate States of America. Four additional southern states followed suit.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Nikki Haley failed to mention slavery when asked about the Civil War
Nikki Haley avoided mentioning slavery when asked by a voter in New Berlin, New Hampshire what caused the Civil War, prompting swift and widespread criticism, including from President Joe Biden.

What was the cause of the United States Civil War? the former South Carolina Governor and UN Ambassador was asked by a man at her town hall event on Wednesday night.

Ms Haley paused for a moment before joking, Well, dont come with an easy question.

I think the cause of the Civil War was basically how government was going to run, the freedoms, and what people could and couldnt do. What do you think the cause of the Civil War was? she asked.

The man, who subsequently told reporters his name was Patrick, replied he wasnt the one running for president.

I mean, I think it always comes down to the role of government, Ms Haley said. We need to have capitalism, we need to have economic freedom. We need to make sure that we do all things so that individuals have the liberties so that they can have freedom of speech, freedom of religion, freedom to do or be anything they want to be without government getting in the way.

In the year 2023, its astonishing to me that you can answer that question without mentioning the word slavery, the voter said.

What do you want me to say about slavery? Next question, Ms Haley said.

The criticism of her reply was swift, with President Joe Biden simply tweeting: It was about slavery.

It was about slavery. https://t.co/q9bTDvtPne  Joe Biden (@JoeBiden) December 28, 2023

Jaime Harrison, the chairman of the Democratic National Committee, told CBS in a statement: This isnt hard, condemning slavery is the baseline for anyone who wants to be President of the United States, but Nikki Haley and the rest of the MAGA GOP are choking on their words trying to rewrite history.

Journalist Aaron Rupar wrote on X, formerly Twitter: This is astounding. Nikki Haley thinks what caused the Civil War? is a gotcha because shes afraid to talk about slavery and alienate her own voters.

Rep Ro Kanna, a California Democrat, tweeted: Nikki Haleys father, like mine, came to the US in the late 1960s because of the civil rights movement and the 1965 Immigration Act. Haleys refusal to talk honestly about slavery or race in America is a sad betrayal of her own story. To what end?

The @RevDrBarber reacts to GOP presidential candidate Nikki Haleys response when pressed about whether slavery was a cause of the American Civil War.



It was about the oppression of Black men and women. It was about turning human beings into chattel. pic.twitter.com/wgmEmfr5Be  Abby D. Phillip (@abbydphillip) December 28, 2023

Qasim Rashid, a human rights lawyer and Democratic congressional candidate, wrote: Nikki Haley was Gov of South Carolina. In South Carolinas Articles of Secession, the VERY FIRST reason they give on why theyre going to war is, [A]n increasing hostility on the part of the non-slaveholding States to the institution of slavery... But yeah lets ban more books.

Anti-Trump GOP strategist Sarah Longwell added: Setting the moral implications of Haleys answer aside (which, big yikes), but even as a political matter it makes no sense. The people who dont want to acknowledge slavery already have their candidate in comfortable racist Donald Trump. Nikki needs the other people!

This was DeSantiss big strategic mistake. Trump has MAGAs locked up. So dont compete for them with dog whistles when Trump is using a bullhorn. Nikki needs to consolidate the part of the party thats still kinda normal. And normal people know slavery caused the civil war! Ms Longwell said.

The chair of the Democratic Party in Ms Haleys home state, Christale Spain, tweeted: This is vile, but unsurprising from Nikki Haley. The same person who refused to take down the Confederate Flag until the tragedy in Charleston, and tried to justify a Confederate History Month. Shes just as MAGA as Trump.

Ms Haleys viral moment comes amid a recent uptick in her polling in New Hampshire, where she was endorsed earlier this month by the states governor Chris Sununu.

Ms Haley, the former South Carolina governor, has often mentioned removing the Confederate flag from the grounds of the state house during her time in office. The flag removal took place after a shooting at the Mother Emanuel AME church in Charleston where a white supremacist killed nine Black people in 2015.

She often mentions the episode in her stump speech.

Fifty per cent of South Carolinians saw the Confederate flag as heritage and tradition, the other 50 per cent of South Carolinians saw it as slavery and hate, Ms Haley said in Spirit Lake, Iowa, earlier this month.

My job wasnt to judge either side, she added. My job was to get them to see the best of themselves and go forward.

In comments which could be seen as a criticism of former President Donald Trump, Ms Haley often says, The tone at the top matters.

We were able to bring that Confederate flag down, she said in Iowa. We didnt have riots, we had vigils. We didnt have protests, we had hugs. And South Carolinians showed the world what strength and grace look like. Thats how you do it.

Ms Haley was quick to walk back her comments on Thursday morning during an appearance on The Pulse of NH radio programme.

Of course, the Civil War was about slavery, thats the easy part. I know it was about slavery. I am from the South, she said.

But more than that, whats the lesson in all this? That freedom matters, she added. And individual rights and liberties matter for all people. Thats the blessing of America. That was a stain on America when we had slavery. But what we want is never relive it. Never let anyone take those freedoms away again.

She went on to claim on the programme that the Democrats are sending plants to her events, according to the NH Journal.

Why are they hitting me? See this for what it is ... They want to run against Trump. In town halls, I answer every question, and they are planting questions there, she claimed.

It was definitely a Democrat plant ... He didnt give reporters his name, she added about the questioner.
Republican presidential candidate former U.N. Ambassador Nikki Haley and Gov. Chris Sununu speak to reporters following a town hall campaign event, Tuesday, Dec. 12, 2023, in Manchester, N.H. Haley received the New Hampshire governor's endorsement.

Hey, Nikki Haley: S-L-A-V-E-R-Y.

Im, of course, writing this in response to your declining to mention slavery in a debate when you were asked about the Civil War, and to let you know that your attempt to reverse course on Thursday morning only reinforced how much you have to learn about earning the trust of moderate Black voters.

Every time the Civil War comes up, you have to say slavery; otherwise, youre playing right into the hands of Democrats.

Im telling you this from the perspective of a Black man who cant believe someone can run for president without being able to read a history book. (Although, there was that one guy  never mind.) So, this had to have been intentional, right?

What a fumble.

This hurts Republicans more than they know

The Civil War was about slavery. The economics of slavery. States rights to allow slavery. And the morality of slavery.

Id love to pretend it didnt happen, and sometimes, I do. But thats not serious. Thats a way to redirect a painful conversation when I dont feel like having it.

Its a way to use humor to point to the successes and contributions and skills and innovations and the flat-out humanity of people who share my ancestry.  And, most importantly, Im not running for president.

Why the Haley controversy: Is utter nonsense

This hurts more than establishment Republicans realize.

There are a lot of Black votes up for grabs in the upcoming national elections, according to polls that indicate waning African American support for President Joe Biden and his fellow Democrats.

Haley can't easily walk this back

Haley has been seen as a moderate Republican. (Although moderate Republican doesnt mean much in the age of Donald Trump.) So, if she cant acknowledge the history that shaped  and continues to shape  this nation, its a real problem.

The overwhelming majority of Black voters wont trust her or her party, and shell be handing the White House, and probably the Senate and House, to Democrats.

You cant get this one wrong and then try to walk it back the next morning with a see, what I had meant to say was excuse that only reinforces how much you dont get it.

Repeat after me, slowly if you have to: S-L-A-V-E-R-Y.

Reach Moore at gmoore@azcentral.com or 602-444-2236. Follow him on X, formerly Twitter, @SayingMoore.

This article originally appeared on Arizona Republic: Nikki Haley better learn to say 'slavery,' if she wants to win
Republican presidential candidate Nikki Haley on Wednesday declined to mention slavery as the cause of the Civil War when asked by a voter during a town hall in New Hampshire.

The contentious exchange began after the voter questioned the former South Carolina governor about the cause of the four-year war.

I think the cause of the Civil War was basically how government was gonna run  the freedoms and what people could and couldn't do," Haley answered before turning the question back to the voter. "What do you think the cause of the Civil War was?"

Nikki Haley was asked by a voter in New Hampshire tonight about the cause of the Civil War. I mean, I think the cause of the Civil War was basically how government was going to run. The freedoms and what people couldn't do, Haley answered. pic.twitter.com/g9jUDqpa2F  Kaitlan Collins (@kaitlancollins) December 28, 2023

The voter responded that they were not the person running for president and were interested in hearing her take on the question.

"I mean, I think it always comes down to the role of government," Haley replied. "We need to have capitalism, we need to have economic freedom. We need to make sure that we do all things so that individuals have the liberties so that they can have freedom of speech, freedom of religion, freedom to do or be anything they want to be without government getting in the way."

The voter appeared shocked, telling the presidential hopeful, "In the year 2023, it's astonishing to me that you can answer that question without mentioning the word 'slavery.'"

Haley then attempted to move on, asking "What do you want me to say about slavery?" before requesting the "next question."

The back-and-forth occurred around an hour and a half into the town hall event and comes just weeks ahead of the state's primary. Haley has steadily climbed in the polls in recent months in large part due to her debate performances, which have won her favor among billionaire donors and voters seeking to keep Donald Trump out of the White House, though the former president maintains a sizeable lead in the polls over his GOP primary opponents.

Haley responded to the backlash on Thursday by blaming a "Democratic plant."

It was definitely a Democrat plant, she said in a radio interview, according to Mediaite. When asked him, he didnt want to answer. He didnt give reporters his name.

Haley insisted that "of course, the Civil War was about slavery."

"We know that. Thats the easy part of it," she said in a recording aired by CNN. "What I was saying was what does it mean to us today? What it means to us today is about freedom. Thats what that was all about.

Nikki Haley today: Of course the Civil War was about slavery. We know that. Thats the easy part of it. What I was saying was what does it mean to us today? What it means to us today is about freedom. Thats what that was all about. pic.twitter.com/6qqP0ijCM9  Kaitlan Collins (@kaitlancollins) December 28, 2023

Haley's Civil War comments sparked harsh rebukes, including from President Joe Biden, who retweeted the video with the caption, "It was about slavery."

It was about slavery. https://t.co/q9bTDvtPne  Joe Biden (@JoeBiden) December 28, 2023

Democratic National Committee Chairman Jaime Harrison also admonished Haley in a statement, saying, "I am disgusted but I'm not surprised."

"This is what Black South Carolinians have come to expect from Nikki Haley, and now the rest of the country is getting to see her for who she is," he wrote. "This isn't hard: condemning slavery is the baseline for anyone who wants to be president of the United States, but Nikki Haley and the rest of the MAGA GOP are choking on their words trying to rewrite history."

Harrison went on to say that Haley's comments "were a slap in the face to Black voters, who she has turned her back on time and again - from championing the Confederate flag to trivializing Black History Month," adding they will "turn their backs on her at the polls."

"Some may have forgotten but I havent," Harrison added in a post to X, formerly Twitter. "Time to take off the rose colored Nikki Haley glasses folks."

Not stunning if you were a Black resident in SC when she was Governor. Same person who said the confederate flag was about tradition & heritage and as a minority woman she was the right person to defend keeping it on state house grounds.



Some may have forgotten but I havent. https://t.co/D0pFqngaeO  Jaime Harrison (@harrisonjaime) December 28, 2023

Experts and other politicians further criticized Haley, with some noting that her Wednesday night remarks would deal a massive blow to her presidential bid.

"[I]s candidate @NikkiHaley who would fail any elementary US history course on the Civil War qualified to hold the office of the Presidency?" Civil War historian Manisha Sinha asked.

Civil War historian here, is candidate @NikkiHaley who would fail any elementary US history course on the Civil War qualified to hold the office of the Presidency? https://t.co/hCNGVEXwA2  Manisha Sinha (@ProfMSinha) December 28, 2023

Haley's answer "is reflective of where the Republican base is right now, that you can't tell a simple truth for fear of losing voters in what has become such a radicalized Republican Party," said MSNBC host Jonathan Lemire.

"This could blunt some of her momentum," he later added. "Iowa's been hard for her, but going into New Hampshire, she did have the wind at her back  maybe this costs her."

Want a daily wrap-up of all the news and commentary Salon has to offer? Subscribe to our morning newsletter, Crash Course.

"It's breathtaking," MSNBC contributor Jennifer Palmieri responded. "I had read the transcript, but I had not actually seen it, and it's just breathtaking when she says, 'What do you want me to say about slavery?' That is her campaign in one question, right? It is, like, 'Who do you want me to be right now? Who do I need to morph into in order to never take Trump on, but be acceptable enough to sort of the MAGA majority?'"

In a post to X, New York Times Magazine reporter Nikole Hannah-Jones, who created the 1619 Project on the impact of slavery on U.S. history said that what Haley was asked was "not even a hard question."

"Its absurd that she felt she had to evade the question to avoid political liability," Hannah-Jones added.

Its not even a hard question. Its absurd that she felt she had to evade the question to avoid political liability. https://t.co/67kW5yOf0m  Ida Bae Wells (@nhannahjones) December 28, 2023

Ron Filipkowski, an attorney and editor-in-chief of MeidasTouch, echoed Palmieri's and Hannah-Jones' sentiments, tweeting that, "When the candidate for the so-called normal Republicans refuses to say that slavery was the reason for the Civil War, & instead repeats the talking points of Jefferson Davis, there is no more Republican Party.

"Its MAGA, and people registered as Republicans who dont know it yet," he concluded.

When the candidate for the so-called normal Republicans refuses to say that slavery was the reason for the Civil War, & instead repeats the talking points of Jefferson Davis, there is no more Republican Party. Its MAGA, and people registered as Republicans who dont know it yet.  Ron Filipkowski (@RonFilipkowski) December 28, 2023
Former South Carolina Gov. and 2024 Republican presidential candidate Nikki Haley is drawing scrutiny for failing to say slavery was the cause of the Civil War when asked by a voter on Wednesday. Shes trying to clean up the mess now, but Haleys latest comments reflect her longstanding political approach.

I think the cause of the Civil War was basically how government was going to run, said Haley, the former U.N. ambassador, at a New Hampshire town hall. The freedoms and what people could and couldnt do.

When the audience member who asked the question said he was astonished she didnt mention the word slavery, Haley responded: What do you want me to say about slavery?

Haley attempted to do damage control Thursday morning: I mean, of course the Civil War was about slavery, she told radio host Jack Heath before claiming that the voter who asked her about it was a Democrat plant.

In recent months, Haley has surged in GOP presidential primary polls and has emerged as the top challenger to former President Donald Trump. Haleys comments about the Civil War stand to threaten her image as reasonable and likable among the New Hampshire primary voters she will need to make the race competitive  though its also easy to imagine a world in which it helps her with Republicans MAGA base.

Haleys reluctance to blame the Civil War on slavery should not come as a surprise, though, as its consistent with her past efforts to avoid criticizing the confederacy and maintain appeal with far-right elements in her party.

Democratic National Committee chairman Jaime Harrison, who led the South Carolina Democratic Party when Haley was governor, posted on X (formerly Twitter) that Haleys comments were [n]ot stunning if you were a Black resident in SC when she was governor, adding: Time to take off the rose colored Nikki Haley glasses folks.

As governor of South Carolina, Haley represented the first state to secede from the Union. The first sentence in the states ordinance of secession mentions slavery, and the ordinance cites among its causes an increasing hostility on the part of the non-slaveholding states to the institution of slavery.

The Confederate flag was previously flown on the dome of South Carolinas state Capitol  and Haley supported it for some time.

You know, for those groups that come in and say they have issues with the Confederate flag, I will work to talk to them about it, Haley said in an interview during her 2010 campaign for governor. I will work and talk to them about the heritage and how this is not something that is racist. This is something that is a tradition that people feel proud of and let them know that we want their business in this state. And that the flag where it is, was a compromise of all people that everybody should accept as part of South Carolina.

As part of that interview, Haley said she believes that states have a constitutional right to secede. She also defended South Carolinas Confederate History Month, saying that its part of tradition.

Haley changed course on the Confederate flag in 2015, calling for its removal from the state capitol after White nationalist Dylann Roof murdered nine people in a mass shooting at a historically Black church in Charleston, South Carolina.

She said the Confederate flag at the capitol should have never been there, adding: These grounds are a place that everybody should feel a part of. What I realized now more than ever is people were driving by and felt hurt and pain. No one should feel pain.

Earlier this year, a campaign spokesperson touted the move, telling CNN: Nikki Haleys groundbreaking leadership on removing the Confederate flag from the South Carolina Capitol grounds is well known.

On Thursday, Haleys campaign sent an email to supporters touting her trip to New Hampshire for a series of town hall events.

Thanks to grassroots support, my New Hampshire swing is off to a strong start! the candidate wrote in the email, adding: Im ready to answer as many questions as I can, meet with voters across the state, and earn the confidence of every Granite Stater.

At one of her town halls Thursday, Haley said, Last night I was asked about the Civil War. And what I think of the Civil War, what was the cause of the Civil War. Of course, the Civil War was about slavery. We know that.

By the grace of God, we did the right thing and slavery is no more, she continued. We always want to remember the lesson of what it means to be a free individual and that everyone deserves to be a free individual.

She added: I say that as a Southern governor who removed the Confederate flag off the statehouse grounds. And I say that as a proud American of how far we have come.

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A lot of things happened. Here are some of the things. This is TPMs Morning Memo. Sign up for the email version.

Were Still Doing This In 2023?

Nikki Haley  a former governor of South Carolina, the first state to secede in 1860, who removed the Confederate flag from the state Capitol  couldnt bring herself to mention slavery when asked at a campaign event about the cause of the Civil War.

The remarks Wednesday evening while campaigning in New Hampshire, which did not secede from the union, were a tacit acknowledgment that the party of Lincoln has settled comfortably into its status as a revanchist minority-white rump Trumpist party.

When the audience member asked the question, Haley raised her eyebrows, spun around and retreated upstage before turning back around and facing the audience with a smile: Well dont come with an easy question. I think the cause of the Civil War was basically how government was going to run. The freedoms and what people could and couldnt do. What do you think the cause of the Civil War was?

After a bit of back and forth, Haley engaged in some additional nonsensical meandering that was non-responsive to the question.

When the questioner expressed surprise that she had not mentioned slavery, Haley asked: What do you want me to say about slavery?

No, youve answered my question, thank you, the questioner responded.

After the 2015 massacre of nine black churchgoers at Emanuel African Methodist Episcopal Church in Charleston, in whose harbor the first shots of the Civil War were fired, then- Gov. Haley responded to growing public pressure by reversing course and signing a bill to remove the Confederate flag from the state Capitol in Columbia, bringing an end to a long-running controversy over the placement of the flag.

Amusing  Or No?

News accounts of Nikki Haleys remarks awkwardly shoehorned in the basic fact-check that, yes, the Civil War was fought over slavery:

Politico: While there were a number of contributions to the outbreak of the Civil War, the conflict, which was the deadliest in U.S. history, was fought predominantly over the Souths desire to see the preservation of slavery.

WaPo: Haleys answer did not include any mention of slavery, which scholars agree was the main driver of the conflict.

ABC News: While several political and economic factors ultimately contributed to the start of the American Civil War, slavery was at the center of the nations tension.

The NYT provided admirable context for the remarks in its writeup, but perhaps inadvertently telegraphed how bedeviled by racism we remain, calling the question simple yet loaded.

Almost 160 years after the end of the Civil War, asking a presidential candidate to affirm its root cause remains a loaded question.

Biden Gets The Last Word

It was about slavery. https://t.co/q9bTDvtPne  Joe Biden (@JoeBiden) December 28, 2023

Lauren Boebert Flees Her Own District

Rep. Lauren Boebert (R-CO), facing long odds of reelection in her home district, announced Wednesday evening via Facebook video that she will instead run for the open seat being vacated by Rep. Ken Buck (R-CO).

Colorado GOP Brings Trump DQ Case To SCOTUS

The Colorado Republican Party was first out of the gate in bringing the Trump Disqualification Clause case to the Supreme Court. Trump, too, is expected to ask the Supreme Court soon to consider taking the case and overruling the Colorado Supreme Court decision declaring him ineligible for the presidency.

An important early indicator will be how the Supreme Court frames the issues if it accepts the case. Heres how the Colorado GOP wants the court to frame it:

Whether the President falls within the list of officials subject to the disqualification provision of Section Three of the Fourteenth Amendment? Whether Section Three of the Fourteenth Amendment is self-executing to the extent of allowing states to remove candidates from the ballot in the absence of any Congressional action authorizing such process? Whether the denial to a political party of its ability to choose the candidate of its choice in a presidential primary and general election violates that partys First Amendment Right of Association?

Jack Smith Is Probs Overdoing It Here

Special Counsel Jack Smiths investigations and prosecutions of Donald Trump have been mostly sober and stunt-free, except for this one little game hes playing in the Jan. 6 case in DC: continuing to file motions and act as if the case is still active even though its been stayed while Trump appeals his outlandish claims of presidential immunity. It does sound a discordant note even if the the signal hes trying to send about being ready for a March trial and the importance of keeping the case on track is itself legit.

Joyce Vance unpacks the latest motion from Smith.

Working The Refs Ahead Of The 2024 Election

TPMs Kate Riga on Republicans current two-pronged attack on the Voting Rights Act.

House Ethics Committee Opens New Probe

Not many details available but the House Ethics Committee has opened a probe into whether Rep. Sheila Cherfilus-McCormick (D-FL) has violated campaign finance laws.

Important Case

In what may end up being a landmark case on artificial intelligence and copyright laws, the New York Times has sued Microsoft and OpenAI in federal court in Manhattan claiming they are unlawfully using NYT stories to train chatbots.

Herb Kohl, 1935-2023

The former Democratic senator from Wisconsin who founded the eponymous department store chain and was the majority owner of the NBAs Milwaukee Bucks, has died at age 88.

RIP Tom Smothers

Tom, of Smothers Brothers fame, has died at age 86:

Do you like Morning Memo? Let us know!
The Indian government is launching an investigation into suspected human trafficking after a Nicaragua-bound flight was grounded while it carried a total of 303 passengers.

Most people on the plane were young men up to 40. The flight returned to Mumbai on Tuesday morning from Vatry airport, where it was held following an anonymous signal alleging "human trafficking."

India Investigates Potential Human Trafficking

Based on the details of the passengers shared by sources in the Punjab government, 211 passengers were in the 18 to 30 age bracket and 59 were in the 31 to 40 age group. There were only 15 passengers who were older than 40 years, and another 18 were minors under 18 years.

Sources from the Punjab Police added that roughly 70% of the passengers on the flight appeared to have been from Punjan, given their surnames and second names. The other large group of passengers were said to have been from Gujarat, as per the Indian Express.

While only 65 people were from the Gujarat state, sources said that the police have only identified 21 so far. They noted that some of the passengers from the state may have stayed back in France, seeking asylum.

The Punjab government is preparing a report to determine how many Punjabis were onboard the aircraft chartered from Bucharest-based carrier Legend Airlines. They will also investigate how the passengers were taken aboard the aircraft.

In a statement, Punjab's NRI Affairs minister Kuldeep Singh Dhaliwal said they would also be looking into whether the travel agent facilitating the passengers' travel was from Punjab. He added that they will investigate and take action against travel agents employing illegal means to send youths abroad.

Read Also: Iraq Condemns US Airstrike of Iran-Backed Militias that Killed Kataib Hezbollah Fighter, Injured 18 Others

France Grounds Nicaragua-Bound Flight

A senior Gujarat police official, Sanjay Kharat, said that authorities obtained the names and addresses of the 21 people identified from the state. According to Reuters, he added that they have already spoken with some of the passengers and/or their family members.

An official at India's home ministry spoke about the incident on the condition of remaining anonymous. He said that the registration of the chartered flight and the people who operated the entire nexus had been identified. However, he declined to elaborate as a ministry spokesperson did not respond to requests for comments.

French authorities also placed two passengers on the Nicaragua-bound flight on "assisted witness" status. This was done after they were investigated for suspected people smuggling as 25 others remained in the country to apply for asylum. The term "assisted witness" is an intermediate status between a witness and an indicted suspect.

The 25 passengers who were released after being suspected of human trafficking are not "free to do as they please" despite being in an irregular situation on French territory.

The judge handling the case ordered their release on formal grounds, considering that the head of the border police at the country's main Charles De Gaulle airport "had not referred the case to him," said the South China Morning Post.

Related Article: Xi Jinping Says China's Reunification With Taiwan Is 'Inevitable' in Huge Warning During Mao Zedong Anniversary

@ 2024 HNGN, All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission.
Republican presidential candidate Nikki Haley speaks during a town hall on Dec. 8, 2023, in Sioux City, Iowa. Haley on Thursday, Dec. 28, sought to clarify her comments about the Civil War a day after not mentioning slavery as a cause of the war. | Charlie Neibergall, Associated Press

Presidential candidate Nikki Haley faced backlash Thursday for her response to a question about the causes of the Civil War in a town hall meeting in New Hampshire.

At the event Wednesday, Haley said the Civil War was fought over how the government was going to run, after a questioner asked, What was the cause of the United States Civil War?

Haley paused and replied, Well, dont come with an easy question.

She continued, I think the cause of the Civil War was basically, how government was going to run  the freedoms and what people could and couldnt do. The former South Carolina governor then asked the questioner, What do you think the cause of the Civil War was?

He responded, Im not running for president. I wanted to see what you think is the cause of the Civil War.

I mean I think it always comes down to the role of government and what the rights of the people are, Haley added to her response. And I will always stand by the fact that I think government was intended to secure the rights and freedoms of the people. It was never meant to be all things to all people.

She continued, Government doesnt need to tell you how to live your life, they dont need to tell you what you can and cant do, they dont need to be a part of your life, they need to make sure that you have freedom. We need to have capitalism, we need to have economic freedom. We need to make sure that we do all things so that individuals have the liberties, so that they can have freedom of speech, freedom of religion, freedom to do or be anything they wanna be without government getting in the way.

The man who initially asked question responded, Thank you. And in the year 2023, its astonishing to me that you answer that question without mentioning the word, slavery.

What do you want me to say about slavery? Haley asked.

No comment, he replied. Youve answered my question, thank you.

Blowback

During a radio talk show with Jack Heath Thursday, she followed up her comments by saying, I mean, of course the Civil War was about slavery, per CNN. But whats the lesson in all of that? she asked.

She continued, That we need to make sure that every person has freedom of speech, freedom of religion, freedom to do and be anything they want to be without anyone or government getting in the way. That was the goal of what that was at. Yes, I know it was about slavery. Im from the South, of course I know its about slavery.

Rep. Byron Donalds, R-Fla., posted on X Thursday morning, 1. Psst Nikki... the answer is slavery PERIOD. 2. This really doesnt matter because Trump is going to be the nominee. Trump 2024!

President Joe Biden commented in an X post on Wednesday, It was about slavery.

It was about slavery. https://t.co/q9bTDvtPne  Joe Biden (@JoeBiden) December 28, 2023

While serving as governor of South Carolina in 2015, Haley approved legislation to remove the Confederate flag from the State House after the Charleston church shooting, when nine worshippers were fatally shot in a hate crime, according to ABC.
Nikki Haley committed a huge unforced error on Wednesday night when she failed to forthrightly say that slavery was the Civil Wars proximate cause. How she walks that back and tamps the controversy down over the next few days will play a large part in determining her campaigns future  if it has one at all.

Haleys misstep arose during a New Hampshire town hall when an attendee asked her what caused the Civil War. Most Americans would give some version of the same answer: slavery. Its simple historical fact that Northern and Southern politicians had sparred angrily for over a decade over the question of whether the new territories gained after the Mexican War would be open to slave owners. Southern documents declaring succession explicitly said this, and Confederate Vice President Alexander Stephens went so far as to say that slavery was the Confederacys cornerstone. Simply acknowledging these basic facts should be Politics 101 in 2023.

She instead launched on an apparent non-sequitur, saying the war was caused by government intervention and control over individual freedom. This could have been an artful way of handling the issue, if she had clearly identified that the government control that denied freedom was slavery. But she did not, which made her answer veer perilously close to the War of Northern Aggression argument that Southern apologists have long advanced.

The blowback has predictably been fierce. President Bidens campaign posted a simple response on X: It was about slavery. The media, faced with an otherwise slow news week between the Christmas and New Years holidays, are playing up her gaffe. Unfortunately for Team Haley, this is not going to simply fade away.

Her first attempt at a response this morning was patently inadequate. On a morning CNN show, she acknowledged the war was about slavery but immediately pivoted to her initial riff about freedom, saying What does it mean to us today? What it means to us today is about freedom. Thats what that was all about.

Thats unsatisfactory for a host of reasons. First, she doesnt outright say that slavery was wrong, and that the North was right to try to stamp it out. One suspects that even most voters in her native South Carolina  the first state to leave the Union after Abraham Lincolns election  would agree with that today. Her voters, who tend to be moderates and independents, are especially likely to think this. That she and her team still dont see this twelve hours after her initial mistake speaks volumes.

Its inadequate for a larger reason, too: her answer doesnt provide any guidance about what she thinks the lessons for us today are. The Democratic Party argues that the Civil War launched a century-march for freedom for black people that we are still engaged in today. They contend that the freedoms won then and in the Civil Right revolution of the 1960s were only necessary preconditions for a continued fight against racism, and the lasting effects of prior racism. Her platitudinous answer could have been given as easily by Barack Obama or Kamala Harris as by herself.

Neither Donald Trump nor Ron DeSantis have yet weighed in, and their decision whether and how to do so are also significant. It would be highly ironic for Trump to criticise Haley given his prior opposition to renaming US military bases named after Confederate generals and his opposition to removing monuments erected decades ago to commemorate Confederate heroes or soldiers. It would make national news, then, were he to directly state that the North was right to fight slaverys expansion and accept war to defend the Union. Even Donald Trump can state the obvious, media types will note. What does it say about Nikki Haley that she cant?

DeSantis floundering campaign should see this as a lifeline. Iowa was a staunchly Union state during the Civil War, losing over 13,000 men to battle and disease. He should immediately state that the party of Lincoln should nominate a clear, unambiguous supporter of Lincoln. Giving a speech on the meaning of Lincoln, the Civil War, and freedom for todays Republican near the site of the Keokuk National Cemetery, which houses the remains of many Union soldiers, would be a masterstroke.

Haley should respond as Barack Obama did when provocative anti-American statements from his pastor, Rev. Jeremiah Wright, emerged in 2008. He first downplayed them, but the furor of the man who married the Obamas saying God damn America would not die down. Obama finally gave a speech in Philadelphia on race in which he deplored his former friends views and gave his own thoughts on race and America.

Haley should immediately schedule a similar speech, ideally delivered either at a Civil War battlefield or an Historically Black College or University, that does what she should have done initially: deplore slavery, endorse Lincolns and the Unions views, and expound on what the Wars legacy means for us today.

No one becomes President in the modern era without adroitly navigating around mistakes and unplanned events. The last few hours have been awful for Haley. She will largely determine whether the days that follow will lead to her demise or her recovery.

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WASHINGTON (NEXSTAR)  Republican presidential candidate Nikki Haley is fighting back after critics hit her for comments about the Civil War.

It was at a town hall in New Hampshire on Wednesday night when Haleys surging presidential campaign hit a snag.

During the Q&A portion of the event a voter asked her, What was the cause of the United States civil War?

Well, dont come with an easy question, right? I mean, I think the cause of the Civil War was basically how government was going to run, the freedoms and what people could and couldnt do, Haley responded.

She continued her answer by speaking about government, individual freedom, and capitalism. The voter replied by telling Haley he was astonished she didnt mention slavery.

What do you want me to say about slavery? Haley asked.

You answered my question. Thank you, the voter said.

While Haley moved on to the next question, the exchange sparked backlash.

On social media platform X, President Joe Biden reposted the video with the caption It was about slavery.

In a statement DNC chair Jamie Harrison said I am disgusted but Im not surprised()Nikki Haleys comments tonight were a slap in the face to Black voters.

Even Republican rivals attacked her answer.

Nikki Haley has had some problems with some basic American history, DeSantis said.

Now Haley is scrambling to respond to the controversy her answer caused.

If it requires clarification of saying, yes, the Civil War was about slavery, Im happy to do that, Haley said later.

In a Thursday morning radio interview she accused the voter who asked the question of being a Democratic plant.

Later in the day at her next town hall she tried to clarify the comments.

We know the Civil War was about slavery. But it was also more than that, Haley said.

When asked why she didnt just say that initially, she told reporters To me it was a given.

From New Hampshire, Haley is scheduled to travel to Iowa, with less than a month to go until the first primary.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to DC News Now | Washington, DC.
Republican presidential candidate Nikki Haley is catching heat from both sides of the political aisle after she initially declined to mention slavery as the reason for sparking the U.S. Civil War.

A voter asked the former U.N. ambassador during a New Hampshire town hall on Wednesday what was "the cause" of the war, to which she joked, "Well, dont come with an easy question or anything."

"I think the cause of the Civil War was basically how government was going to run  the freedoms and what people could and couldnt do," she continued.

Nikki Haley speaks during a town hall event in Agency, Iowa, on Dec. 19.

TRUMP JR SAYS HE'D GO TO GREAT LENGTHS TO PREVENT THIS REPUBLICAN FROM JOINING DAD'S CAMPAIGN

"I mean, I think it all comes down to the role of government," she added. "We need to have capitalism. We need to have economic freedom. We need to make sure that we do all things so that individuals have the liberties so that they can have freedom of speech, freedom of religion, freedom to do or be anything they want to be without government getting in the way."

The voter responded that he was shocked she didnt mention the word "slavery."

READ ON THE FOX NEWS APP

"What do you want me to say about slavery?" Haley asked. "Next question."

Haleys response sparked backlash from the White House to the campaign trail.

"It was about slavery," President Biden posted on X with a clip of Haley's comments.

Bryan Griffin, the press secretary for Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis 2024 presidential campaign, wrote: "On today's scoreboard, Donald Trump complained about his treatment in the movie Home Alone 2, Nikki Haley stepped in a giant mess of her own making, and @RonDeSantis dismantled the far-left Miami Dade school union. Take your pick!"

"Not stunning if you were a Black resident in SC when she was Governor," wrote Democratic National Committee Chairman Jaime Harrison. "Same person who said the confederate flag was about tradition & heritage and as a minority woman she was the right person to defend keeping it on state house grounds. Some may have forgotten but I havent. Time to take off the rose colored Nikki Haley glasses folks."

Haley clarified her remarks in a New Hampshire radio interview Thursday morning.

"Yes, we know the Civil War was about slavery. But more than that, whats the lesson in all this? That freedom matters. And individual rights and liberties matter for all people. Thats the blessing of America. That was a stain on America when we had slavery. But what we want is never relive it. Never let anyone take those freedoms away again," she said.

Haley's campaign pointed to her most recent comments when reached by Fox News Digital.

Not everyone joined in the criticism of Haley, with some conservatives arguing it was a "gotcha" question.

"She couldnt have actually handled it better," Fox News host Griff Jenkins said on "Fox & Friends." "And in that moment, I think she handled it quite well, considering, and didnt give in to what would clearly, as you point out, a gotcha question."

"This is a governor, in the wake of a massacre of Black residents in AME Church in Charleston, out of that disaster and tragedy she then had the political courage to drop, in one of the most Southern of all states, the Confederate flag from the capitol grounds and took immense heat for it," he said. "To say that she isnt willing and doesnt have the moral fortitude and political courage to stand and condemn the evils of slavery is embarrassing on the face of it."





Original article source: Nikki Haley hit from all sides after omitting 'slavery' from Civil War response
Nikki Haley is so confused about what caused the Civil War that she had to ask a potential voter to help her out. During a New Hampshire campaign event on Wednesday, one of the voters on hand had a simple question for Haley: What was the proximate cause of the Civil War?

Thus began the former South Carolina Governors strained intellectual journey. I think the cause of the Civil War was basically how the government was gonna run, the freedoms of what people could and couldnt do, Haley said. What do you think the cause of the Civil War was?



When the voter, who has remained anonymous, politely reminded Haley that it was she, and not they, who was running for president, Haley dug deep and brought forward another few sentences of balderdash.



I think it always comes down to the role of government, she said. We need to have capitalism, we need to have economic freedom, we need to make sure that we do all things so that individuals have the liberties, so that they can have freedom of speech, freedom of religion, freedom to do or be anything they want to be without government getting in the way.



The questioner pushed back, saying, In the year 2023, its astonishing to me that you answer that question without mentioning the word slavery.



What do you want me to say about slavery? Haley snapped back.

Asked what caused the Civil War, Nikki Haley refuses to mention slavery: What do you want me to say about slavery? Next question. pic.twitter.com/cEMW3Cn9ku  Biden-Harris HQ (@BidenHQ) December 28, 2023

Haleys not wrong to assert that the Civil War was about certain freedoms and economic rights. Its just that the main division, as far as rights and freedoms are concerned, centered on whether the South could continue to have an economy based on owning other human beings as chattel.



Its not as if the states that provoked the conflict were trying to be secretive about their grievances. When South Carolina, Haleys home state, seceded from the Union in 1860, the secessionists explicitly stated that their decision was rooted in increasing hostility on the part of the nonslaveholding States to the institution of slavery.



This isnt the first time that Haley has tried to downplay the role of slavery and racism in the Civil War. When she ran for South Carolina governor in 2010, Haley said the war was between sides fighting for tradition versus change and insisted the Confederate flag was not something that is racist.



After she was elected, Haley continued to fly the Confederate flag on the statehouse grounds until 2015, when another uniquely American traditiona mass shooting perpetrated by a white supremacist gunman that resulted in the deaths of eight Black parishioners at the Emanuel African Methodist Episcopal Church in Charleston, South Carolinafinally forced her hand. But even as she ordered the flag removed, Haley said the shooter had hijacked the Confederate flag from people who saw it as a symbol of sacrifice and heritage.



While Haleys wilful blindness about the Civil War is upsetting, it shouldnt be a surprise. Her comments came just hours after her fellow South Carolinian Lindsay Graham insisted the conservatives are tolerant. The senator seemed to forget the hundreds of bills across the country restricting people from living their lives as they wanted (that is to say, differently from how Republicans want them).
Its not that Nikki Haley refused to say slavery was the primary cause of the Civil War (it was) this week in New Hampshire, where her poll numbers have been rising. Its that she felt compelled to deny the obvious, perhaps convinced her followers and potential supporters couldnt handle that simple truth. Her non-answer answer illustrated the intellectual and moral rot at the center of the 21st century version of the Republican Party, and why its problems are far deeper than an unhealthy allegiance to Donald Trump.

The most depressing part of our current political reality is that despite Haley once again revealing herself as a phony on the issue of race, she remains the countrys best hope among Republican candidates to save us from Trump. Haley has never shown courage on the issue, not even when she was being praised nationally for being the governor when that god-forsaken traitorous Confederate flag was removed from the Statehouse where it had flown for half a century. Before that, Haley had said little about the flag other than to suggest businesses considering the state didnt seem repelled by it so it was no biggie.

Haley, Sen. Tim Scott and other Republicans were shamed into asking for its removal after Dylann Roof massacred nine black people at Mother Emanuel A.M.E. Church in Charleston. During Haleys first campaign for governor, she played the role of Confederate apologist. It was because of the blood of Roofs victims  not Haleys leadership  I got to take my kids to Columbia to see that flag come down.

This week, she was stumped by a softball of a question because she feared answering honestly would hurt her standing among Republicans. Her fear isnt illogical. Republicans have spent the past few years establishing a Lost Cause 2.0, one in which honest and frank discussion about our racial history or present has been presented as an affront to precious white children. Theyve proposed and passed a bevy of laws making it more difficult to teach the truth about how this country came to be, in South Carolina, North Carolina, Florida and beyond. Theyve conjured boogeymen theyve labeled CRT or DEI  distorted versions of the real thing  to sell the false idea white people are under attack. Heck, Trump, lost no support when he dined with a well-known and outspoken white supremacist just months ago.

Haley grew up in the same South Carolina I did, and at the same time I did. She saw, like I saw, a Republican governor, David Beasley, lose re-election in red South Carolina after saying he had a God-inspired epiphany to oppose the Confederate flag. She saw, like I saw, maverick John McCain give into Confederate fears while campaigning in South Carolina as the GOP nominee in 2008. White fear among the Republican base has only grown since Barack Obama won the presidency that year, which put a black face on the very real demographic shift that may mean we might be a majority-minority nation within a couple of decades. When many in the Republican base say my country, they mean a country that is primarily white, particularly for positions of and power and culturally. For many in that base, the Confederacy represents bravery and steadfastness, no matter the odds, a red line that must not be crossed.

This is a place where white developers have told me they add the word plantation to the names of high-end communities because in focus groups their mostly white and rich clientele said it evokes the elegance of Gone with the Wind rather than the cries of the enslaved.

That Haley felt compelled to dodge a Civil War question, only to admit the truth a day later after receiving bad press, should surprise no one.

She isnt a brave leader. Haley is more calculating than courageous, which underscores the dark hole we are in.

Issac Bailey is a Carolinas opinion writer for McClatchy.
The whiggish conceit that history is one long march toward progress is tested sorely by the 189-year trajectory of the Republican Party. Founded in 1834 (by ex-Whigs, in fact) to oppose the spread of slavery, in 1860 the Grand Old Party gifted America with its greatest president. But the Republican Party peaked early. Todays GOP continues to pay lip service to Abraham Lincoln, but with baggage such as his second inaugural addresswhich urged the destruction of Southern capital (until all the wealth piled by the bondsmans two hundred and fifty years of unrequited toil shall be sunk) and violent revenge against Southern job-creators (until every drop of blood drawn with the lash shall be paid by another drawn with the sword)the Great Emancipator wouldnt stand a chance in the 2024 primaries.

Consider Nikki Haley, in whom the respectable wing of the GOP (such as it is) has invested all hope of preventing a second Trump presidency. On Wednesday, Haley got stumped when asked (in New Hampshire!) to explain what caused the Civil War. Youd think the candidate had been asked to elucidate Einsteins General Theory of Relativity. Please bear with me as I quote the exchange in full:

Q: What was the cause of the United States Civil War? Pause, as Haley blinks, turns around, smiles, exhales theatrically. A: Well, dont come with an easy question, right? I mean, I think the cause of the Civil War was basically how government was gonna run. The freedoms and what people could and couldnt do. What do you think the cause of the Civil War was? Q: [Inaudible] A: Im sorry? Q: Im not running for president. I wanted to see [what your view was] on the cause of the Civil War. A: I mean, I think it always comes down to the role of government. And what the rights of the people are. And we, I, will always stand by the fact that I think government was intended to secure the rights and freedoms of the people. It was never meant to be all things to all people. Government doesnt need to tell you how to live your life. They dont need to tell you what you can and cant do. They dont need to be a part of your life. They need to make sure that you have freedom. We need to have capitalism, we need to have economic freedom, we need to make sure that we do all things so that individuals have the liberties, so that they can have freedom of speech, freedom of religion, freedom to do or be anything they want to be without government getting in the way. Q: Thank you. And in the year 2023, its astonishing to me that you answered that question without mentioning the word, slavery. A: What do you want me to say about slavery? Q: No, youve answered my question, thank you.

Haleys reluctance to say out loud that the Civil War was fought over slavery subsequently became headline news, forcing Haley to issue a Thursday clarification:

Of course the Civil War was about slavery. We know that. Thats the easy part of it. What I was saying was, what does it mean to us today. What it means to us today is about freedom. Thats what that was all about. It was about individual freedom, it was about economic freedom, it was about individual rights. Our goal is to make sure, no, we never go back to slavery, but whats the lesson in all that?

But that just made it worse.

Haley stated correctly that slavery is the easy part of the answer to the question of what caused the Civil War. But if thats true, then why did Haley find it so difficult (dont come with an easy question, right?) to mention slavery on Wednesday? A YouGov poll from June 2023 sheds some light.

First the good news: a majority of self-identified Democrats and Republicans agreed that slavery was the primary cause of the Civil War. But where 62 percent of Democrats said slavery was the primary cause, only 53 percent of Republicans said the same. That nine-point gap widened to 18 points when you compared 2020 Biden voters who said slavery was the primary cause (68 percent) to 2020 Trump voters (50 percent).

Lets stay with that for a moment: There is no majority of Trump voters willing to say that slavery caused the Civil War. Half say it was slavery, and another 39 percent say it was states rights. (That is to say: the federal governments infringement of states rights in seeking to bar the spread of, well, slavery.)

Which side was more justified in fighting the Civil War? In other words: Who were the good guys? Fifty-three percent of Democrats (and 64 percent of Biden voters) said the North was more justified, compared to only 40 percent of Republicans. Surprisingly, Trump voters were, by one measure, a little more enlightened than Republicans generally on this point: 46 percent said the North was more justified. But by another measure Trump voters came up short. Thirty percent said both sides were equally justified (shades of Trumps very fine people on both sides), as compared to 28 percent of Republicans generally and only 16 percent of Democrats.

Well, you say, war is helldont go looking for saints on the battlefield. The salient question isnt who were the good guys, but which side would you join in the fight. Sadly, though, a large Democrat-Republican gap is found here as well. Sixty-one percent of Democrats would fight for the North, compared to 43 percent of Republicans. Fifty percent of Trump voters would fight for the North, which is a bit better, but that means half wouldnt.

There were some good guys, actuallygenuine heroesin the Civil War. One of them was Lincoln, who died for the Union. Im pleased to report that Lincoln still commands high favorables in the GOP (87 percent) and among Trump voters (86 percent). Thats higher even than Lincolns favorables among Democrats (82 percent) and about the same as Lincolns favorables among Biden voters (86 percent). I still contend, however, that once Lincolns 2024 Republican primary rivals reminded voters of the second inaugural, he wouldnt last much longer than Mike Pence.

Haley was previously known for her courageous stand as South Carolina governor when she removed the Confederate flag from in front of the state housealbeit a courage acquired only after a white supremacist perpetrated a horrific mass shooting at a historically Black church in Charleston. She is courageous no more. Haley said Wednesday that the Civil War was about capitalism and economic freedom and freedom to do or be anything they want to be without government getting in the way. That made her sound like she was talking about the freedom of Southern enslavers. After all, the enslaved didnt have any capital or economic freedom to defend, and their oppressor wasnt the federal government but private plantation owners.

Is that a fair interpretation? Haleys retraction Thursday confirmed that it is.

The tell was Haleys use of the word, but. Haley said we mustnt go back to slavery, but whats the lesson in all that? If Haley were talking about freedom for the enslaved and their descendants, she wouldnt have said but; shed have said and. Haley was talking about the freedoms of enslavers and their descendants.

The Civil War did not actually resolve favorably for this groupnot, anyway, until Reconstruction ended and Jim Crow took its placeso Haleys mangling the history a bit here. But Haley needed to signal to Republican primary voters, and especially Trump voters, that even though she got cornered by the lamestream media into acknowledging the evils of slavery, she wasnt going to make a big thing of it. Its sad and strange to watch a woman of color downplay Americas original sin and treat the Civil War as if it were (as some Southern diehards still call it) a War of Northern Aggression. But thats what Mr. Lincolns GOP now wants to hear. Time to put this ugly shrunken excuse for a political party out of its misery.
F-35 Lightning fighter jets have conducted their first night flying trials off the United Kingdoms largest warship, HMS Queen Elizabeth. The aircraft carrier, which first landed F-35 Lightning jets on board last week, is currently conducting flight testing off the east coast of the United States. Pictures show how the night time trials, which up until now have only been tested in simulators or on the ground, were carried out using state-of-the-art night-vision technology, with the pilots and aircraft handlers successfully guiding the supersonic fighter jets onto the flight deck. Some trials were also carried out without night vision technology to ensure the jets capability in any eventuality.

An F-35B stealth fighter conducting vertical or rolling vertical landings on a warships deck at night is a sight to behold. Perhaps the most dramatic aspect of this audio-visual spectacle is the vertical pillar of thrust upon which the jet perches as it makes its descent onto the deck. But while it looks very much like an afterburner plume, and many on social media think that's what it is, the F-35B doesnt actually engage this function when operating in vertical mode.

The effect, as seen in the photo at the top of this story  showing an F-35B on the U.K. Royal Navy carrier HMS Prince of Wales  is produced when a highly sensitive low-light camera picks up the very hot gas thats pumped out of the F-35Bs rear nozzle upon landing at night.

A quick aside on afterburners to get everyone up to speed. Many high-performance military aircraft, the F-35B included, feature them. They inject fuel into a combustor in the jet pipe behind the turbine, for a significant boost in thrust when required, albeit at the cost of drastically increased fuel consumption and infrared signature.

F-35B taking off conventionally in afterburner during a test sortie. Lockheed Martin

We know, of course, that the F-35Bs engine already produces a lot of heat. In the past, the deck coatings and some structural elements of ships have had to be modified to deal with it. Even without the afterburner, the Pratt & Whitney F135 engine generates a staggering amount of thrust for the short takeoff and vertical landing (STOVL) operations that are unique to the F-35B variant of the aircraft.

A video shows a U.S. Marine Corps test pilot performing the first night-time vertical landing by an F-35B aboard the USS Wasp on August 14, 2013:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AW72dBp5DBM

The War Zone spoke to one experienced former F-35B pilot, who prefers to remain anonymous, to get a better understanding of the technologies  and performance  involved in STOVL operations.

First off, the pilot gave us an idea of the sheer amount of thrust that we are dealing with in STOVL mode.

U.S. Marine Corps Maj. Michael Lippert and Peter Wilson, F-35 test pilots at the Patuxent River Integrated Test Force (ITF), conduct night field carrier landing practices at NAS Patuxent River, Maryland, in August 2018, in preparation for trials aboard HMS Queen Elizabeth. U.S. Navy photo by Dane Wiedmann

The variant of the F135 engine used in the F-35B, in dry thrust (without gas-guzzling afterburner engaged), develops around 18,500 pounds of thrust when in STOVL mode. Its this hot gas that can be seen in the above images and others like it. The vectoring exhaust in the F-35B version is known as the 3 Bearing Swivel Nozzle or 3BSN. While the pilot can select separate stages (zones) of afterburner for a major thrust gain in conventional flight mode, its much harder to modulate finely for the more delicate STOVL operations.

F-35B test aircraft BF-4 hovers in the darkness during a night test flight at NAS Patuxent River, Maryland, December 13, 2012. Lockheed Martin

At the same time, for STOVL operations, the F-35B is equipped with a Rolls-Royce Lift Fan , a 50-inch, two-stage counter-rotating fan driven via a shaft from the main engine. The Lift Fan produces a similar amount of thrust  so, roughly another 18,500 pounds.

https://twitter.com/samak_e_ayyar/status/1656037901258592257?s=20 https://twitter.com/thelanjampod/status/1257019029488914432?s=20

On top of this, add the two roll posts  which stream more hot exhaust gases from the main engine for additional stability  generating between 1,800 pounds and 2,000 pounds of thrust each.

All this makes for a little over 40,000 pounds of total thrust. Without afterburner.

A diagram showing, from left to right, the Lift Fan, two roll posts, and the 3 Bearing Swivel Nozzle or 3BSN in the F-35B. Rolls-Royce

Theres a reserve to allow the jet to automatically tune it up over the life of the engine to keep it at that level, the pilot explains. That said, there are issues with the predicted life/fatigue already. So a new engine update is inbound. You can read more about those plans here .

When hovering, the F-35Bs maximum weight is limited to 38,850 pounds to ensure theres some extra thrust to provide flexibility and cushion the landing.

An F-35B during night flying trials aboard HMS Queen Elizabeth, as part of flight testing off the east coast of the United States in 2018. U.S. Navy photo by Dane Wiedmann

Less obvious, perhaps, is the work of the flight control system to manage the jets transition into vertical mode and then help put it safely on the deck.

Decelerating into the hover, the aircraft is around 11 degrees nose-up, the pilot continues. As the aircraft goes into the jet-borne (JB) regime, the attitude changes progressively down to 1.8 degrees nose-up. So quite a change as you slow down  this is all controlled by the thrust split between the 3 Bearing Swivel Nozzle (3BSN) at the back and the Lift Fan. Then, as the pilot commands a descent from the hover down to the pad, the thrust split increases the attitude from 1.8 to 3.8 degrees nose-up to account for sloping pads or a pitching deck, ensuring the main wheels touch down before the nose wheel.

F-35Bs conduct night flying operations aboard HMS Queen Elizabeth. U.S. Navy photo by Dane Wiedmann

The opposite then happens when the pilot commands the F-35B to accelerate out of the hover and into the conventional flight mode. [The jet] starts at 1.8 degrees nose-up and as you go into semi-jet borne flight around 60 KCAS [Knots Calibrated Airspeed], the attitude raises to 11 degrees nose-up to make the wing take some of the lift load and lower the amount of engine thrust required by the Lift Fan and 3BSN combination in the vertical axis. Eventually, the Lift Fan thrust is reduced, and a speed is achieved that allows the aircraft to be converted out of STOVL mode and into CTOL [conventional takeoff and landing] mode as a conventional fixed-wing fighter.

Its astoundingly clever, the pilot enthuses.

Another view of F-35B night field carrier landing practices by the Patuxent River Integrated Test Force (ITF), at NAS Patuxent River, Maryland, in August 2018. U.S. Navy photo by Dane Wiedmann

Cleverer still is a variation of the vertical recovery thats seen in the photo at the top of this story  the Shipborne Rolling Vertical Landing (SRVL), a concept you can read more about here and here .

A standard F-35B recovery involves the jet being brought alongside the ship in a hover, translating sideways over the deck, before gently lowering to land. The advantage of this maneuver is increased safety, due to the low speeds involved, with no need to decelerate to a stop using the brakes.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=k8_TCkOIFqk

In contrast, the SRVL makes use of a combination of powered and wing-borne lift to make a rolling landing, with the F-35B then brought to a stop using its brakes. According to the Royal Navy, An SRVL uses a different approach, with the jet using a more conventional landing pattern, approaching the ship from the aft end, at speed, using the thrust from the nozzle and lift created by air over the wings to touch down and come to a stop as soon as possible.

A video from the Shipborne Rolling Vertical Landing simulator at the BAE Warton facility in the United Kingdom:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=02krA7oRK9Y

The main advantage of an SRVL is that the F-35B can return to the ship with a heavier load of fuel and/or weapons. Otherwise, expensive stores might have to be ejected into the sea if they are not expended. Its hoped that the SRVL maneuver will allow the F-35B to land back on the ship with a payload gain of 2,000 pounds , equivalent to four Paveway IV precision-guided bombs.

A fully loaded UK F-35B on the deck of HMS Queen Elizabeth. Stores on the underwing stations include four 500-pound Paveway IV precision-guided bombs. Crown Copyright

The SRVL concept was proven by test pilots aboard the aircraft carrier HMS Queen Elizabeth in 2018. The photo at the top of this story was taken during trials aboard sister carrier HMS Prince of Wales in October 2023 , which were aimed to introduce the SRVL capability to frontline pilots.

Achieving an SRVL requires close cooperation between the pilot and the ships landing signal officer (LSO) in the flying control office. The pilot also receives flightpath cues from their helmet-mounted display .

https://twitter.com/lfx160219/status/1165484122464063490

U.K. test pilot Peter Wilson conducts the first-ever SRVL by an F-35B, during trials aboard HMS Queen Elizabeth in 2018. Crown Copyright



Meanwhile, the Prince of Wales features a visual landing aid  known as the Bedford Array  specifically tailored to SRVLs. This comprises an array of lights in the flight deck tramlines, which indicates the glideslope to the pilot.

Currently, the United Kingdom is the only F-35B operator committed to introducing the SRVL to its concept of operations, although the U.S. Marine Corps has shown some interest in the past . Still, this is likely connected with operations from British aircraft carriers rather than U.S. Navy amphibious assault ships. Regardless, the U.S. Marine Corps continues to be involved in the trials with the Royal Navy, as part of the Integrated Test Force. SRVLs may well also be of relevance to Italy and Japan , both of which also operate their F-35Bs from ships, but just how safe it would be on those ships's smaller decks is unclear at this time.

An F-35B from the 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit performs a vertical landing on the flight deck of the USS America (LHA-6). F-35 Lightning II Joint Program Office

Whether by day or night, returning an F-35B to the deck of a ship showcases some extremely sophisticated technology, some of it more visible than others. While a nighttime recovery may suggest the use of afterburner, the truth is, if anything, more impressive, with the jet being brought back to the ship thanks to roughly 40,000 pounds of non-afterburning thrust.

Contact the author: thomas@thedrive.com
The claim: Pope Francis

A Dec. 26 Facebook post (direct link, archive link) shows a news article about the World Economic Forum and the head of the Catholic Church.

"Pope Francis Authorizes WEF to Rewrite 'Fact Checked' Holy Bible," reads the article's headline.

The screenshot also includes a picture of a post seemingly made by the pope on X, formerly Twitter, that reads, "Misinformation in The Holy Bible must be fact checked and erased."

The Facebook post was shared more than 160 times in two days.

More from the USA TODAY Fact-Check Team:

Our rating: False

There are no credible reports that the pope "authorized" the World Economic Forum to rewrite the Bible, as the post claims. A spokesperson said the World Economic Forum isn't involved in such an initiative. The claim originated on a website known to spread misinformation.

No Bible rewrite project at WEF

There are no credible news reports that Pope Francis, the 87-year-old leader of the Catholic Church, has released any statements about WEF rewriting the Bible.

Yann Zopf, a spokesperson for the World Economic Forum, said the organization is not involved in such an initiative.

"I can confirm that these claims are fake," Zopf said in an email.

The screenshot in the Facebook post is from a Dec. 24 story by The People's Voice, a website that routinely publishes misinformation. It uses an unnamed "WEF insider" to claim that the pope wants a "new 'fact-checked' version of the Bible to be far more political, with a central place for the primacy of nature, and far less about God."

But no verifiable evidence is presented to substantiate the claim. And neither the website for the World Economic Forum nor the Holy See  the government of the Roman Catholic Church  makes any mention of the World Economic Forum being granted authorization to rewrite or revise the Bible.

Fact check: Eating raw chicken is a fowl idea, and processed chicken isn't washed in bleach

Further, there is no evidence that Pope Francis made an X post saying misinformation in the Bible needs to be fact checked and erased. The post wasn't found in a search of the pope's X account, and there are no credible reports that he made such a post.

While the picture of the purported X post has similarities to the pope's actual X account  including his username and profile picture  it doesn't include a timestamp or virality data associated with authentic posts on the social media platform.

The picture of the X post also has a blue checkmark next to the pope's username. His actual X account carries a gray checkmark, which signifies the account is a verified government or multilateral organization or official.

USA TODAY has debunked numerous false claims involving the World Economic Forum, including that the organization called for an AI-written Bible and that it announced a "new one world religion."

USA TODAY also has debunked multiple false claims published by The People's Voice, formerly known as News Punch.

The Facebook user who made the post did not immediately respond to a request for comment. The Holy See Press Office and The People's Voice also did not respond to requests for comment.

Our fact-check sources:

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This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: False claim Pope Francis authorized WEF to rewrite Bible | Fact check
Chinese enterprises show greater enthusiasm for overseas exhibitions

Xinhua) 11:04, December 28, 2023

BEIJING, Dec. 27 (Xinhua) -- Companies across China are more enthusiastic about holding and attending trade exhibitions overseas, said the China Council for the Promotion of International Trade (CCPIT) on Wednesday.

Asia, Western Europe and North America remained the most important markets for Chinese enterprises in terms of exhibition participation this year, CCPIT spokesperson Zhang Xin told a press conference.

Comprehensive exhibitions and exhibitions featuring the textile and machinery sectors were again the major destinations for Chinese enterprises, while exhibitions related to medical and health care, transport and logistics, information and telecommunication became more popular, said Zhang.

Chinese enterprises were also keen to hold exhibitions overseas, with the range and impact of the exhibitions both improving, he said.

The CCPIT will provide support for Chinese enterprises wanting to participate in or hold overseas exhibitions, said Zhang.

(Web editor: Zhang Kaiwei, Zhong Wenxing)
Two of the largest airports in the United StatesNew York's John F. Kennedy International Airport (JFK) and Los Angeles International Airport (LAX)were the sites of pro-Palestinian and anti-Israel protests that resulted in scores of arrests on Wednesday morning, December 27.

Some passengers at JFK and LAX opted to walk around the blocked roads because of the demonstrations that occurred on the airport's perimeter. When the two rallies were over, police reported they had detained more than 60 individuals.

In New York

For around 20 minutes, traffic on the Van Wyck Expressway, which leads up to the airport in New York City, came to a halt as demonstrators carried placards and joined arms, calling for an end to the Israel-Hamas conflict and increased rights for Palestinians.

According to The Times of Israel, protesters against Israel yelled "from the river to the sea," a term that Jewish watchdogs have deemed antisemitic and widely seen as a demand for Israel's destruction.

Several people, some with bags, were seen exiting their cars and crossing the middle of the highway in a video that went viral on social media. Two buses were sent out by the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey to assist travelers stranded in the delay in reaching the airport.

According to agency spokesman Steve Burns, 26 protesters were detained for disorderly behavior and blocking vehicle traffic.

In Los Angeles

At the same time as the demonstration in New York, another group of pro-Palestinian protesters in Los Angeles blocked a key road that leads to the airport by dragging scooters, garbage cans, traffic cones, and debris into the lanes.

The Los Angeles Police Department (LAPD) issued a statement in which they claimed that protestors had assaulted "uninvolved passersby in their vehicles" and threw a police officer to the ground, although they did not elaborate on either charge, as reported by The Times of Israel.

Upon seeing police approaching, the demonstrators seemed to disperse. Nonetheless, police said that airport traffic was still affected for around two hours after the demonstration's illegal declaration.

One individual was charged with assault on a police officer, and 35 were detained for rioting, according to an LAPD official. It has been reported that no cops were hurt, as per the spokesperson.

Also Read: Israeli PM Netanyahu Refuses to Discuss Post-War Plans for Gaza

Since the October 7 Attack

US cities and colleges have witnessed anti-Israel and pro-Palestinian demonstrations since the Israel-Hamas conflict escalated on October 7. Thousands of Hamas militants invaded southern Israel, killing 1,200 people (mostly civilians) and kidnapping 240 hostages of various ages.

Israel has vowed to wipe out the terrorist organization Hamas from Gaza after declaring war on the militant group.

Gaza's health ministry, which is managed by Hamas, claims that over 20,000 people have been killed in the Strip throughout the conflict. About 8,000 Hamas operatives have allegedly been murdered by Israel.

Also Read: Non-Profit Humanitarian Org in Gaza Hit by Israeli Artillery Shelling as Israel-Hamas War Rages

@ 2024 HNGN, All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission.
North Korean leader Kim Jong Un has ordered his nation's industrial and military sectors to prepare for war with the United States, citing "unprecedented" confrontational activity by the U.S. and its allies.

Kim, speaking at a 2024 planning meeting Wednesday of his ruling Workers' Party, said an in-depth analysis indicated the "severe political and military situation" on the Korean peninsula had "reached its limit," the state-run news agency reported Thursday. The news agency said the military-industrial sector, nuclear weapons sector and civil defense sector were urged to "further accelerate the completion of preparations for this war."

Kim's statements continue a pattern of threatening rhetoric in recent months. They come less than two weeks after the White House "reaffirmed its unwavering commitment to provide extended deterrence" against Pyongyang and dismissed no military options  including nuclear.

"Any nuclear attack by North Korea against the United States or its allies is unacceptable and will result in the end of the Kim regime," the White House statement said, warning that any nuclear attack targeting South Korea would be "met with a swift, overwhelming, and decisive response."

Last month, North Korea put a military spy satellite into orbit after two previous failed attempts. The U.S. and its allies consider the satellite a breach of United Nations Security Council resolutions. On Wednesday, Kim pledged to expand cooperative relations with "independent, anti-imperialist countries in preparation for the rapidly changing international political landscape."

In this photo provided by the North Korean government, North Korean leader Kim Jong Un delivers a speech during a year-end meeting of the ruling Workers Party in Pyongyang on Wednesday.

South Korea bracing for more provocations

South Korea's spy agency said Thursday that Kim was likely to carry out military provocations ahead of major elections in South Korea and the United States in 2024. The National Intelligence Service cited North Korea's track record of staging provocations before general elections in South Korea. Kim also has recently reinstated key figures involved in high-profile provocations against Seoul, South Korea's Yonhap News Agency reported.

South Koreas President Yoon Suk Yeol on Thursday ordered troops not to wait for orders to retaliate in the event of an attack, saying the military "should smash the enemy's desire for provocations immediately," Yonhap reported.

Is North Korea preparing for war? It's a 'real possibility'

Harry Kazianis, senior director of National Security Affairs at the Center for the National Interest  a conservative, Washington-based public policy think tank  told USA TODAY he is concerned that war with North Korea could become a "real possibility."

Pyongyang has been working on tactical nuclear weapons for years, and just testing them could spark a crisis with Washington and Seoul, Kazianis said. He added that North Korea could test an intercontinental ballistic missile by sending it thousands of miles into the Pacific Ocean to ensure its missiles can indeed reach the U.S.

North Korea has bolstered ties with Russia

Kim has strengthened ties with Russia in recent months, and he met with Russian President Vladimir Putin at the Vostochny Cosmodrome, a Russian spaceport, in September. Putin has been scrambling to arm his war against Ukraine, and last month U.S. authorities said Pyongyang had shipped more than 1,000 containers of military equipment and munitions to Russia.

Kim knows US is tied up with 2024 elections

Kim believes he can make his provocations and "never pay a price" because China and Russia are fully in the North Korean camp due to tensions with Washington, Kazianis said.

"The Kim family also knows that in 2024 America will be looking inward toward its presidential election, giving them the room to cause chaos and feel no pain," he said.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: North Korea's Kim preparing for war with US, steps up nuclear sector
In this photo provided by the North Korean government, North Korean leader Kim Jong Un claps hands during a year-end plenary meeting of the ruling Workers' Party in Pyongyang, North Korea, Tuesday, Dec. 26, 2023. Kim praised what he called achievements and victories that strengthened national power and boosted the country's prestige this year, as he opened a key political meeting to set new policy goals for 2024, state media reported Wednesday. Independent journalists were not given access to cover the event depicted in this image distributed by the North Korean government. The content of this image is as provided and cannot be independently verified. Korean language watermark on image as provided by source reads: "KCNA" which is the abbreviation for Korean Central News Agency. (Korean Central News Agency/Korea News Service via AP)

SEOUL, South Korea (AP)  North Korean leader Kim Jong Un called for bolstered war readiness to repel what he said were unprecedented United States-led confrontational moves, state media reported Thursday, as rival South Korea vowed a stern retaliation against any provocations by the North.

Kims comments during the key political meeting tasked with setting state objectives for 2024 indicated North Korea will likely continue weapons tests to modernize its nuclear arsenal. Observers say Kim likely hopes to eventually use his boosted arsenal as leverage in potential diplomacy with Washington, possibly after the 2024 U.S. presidential election in November.

During Wednesdays second-day session of the ruling partys plenary meeting, Kim set forth unspecified tasks for the military and the munitions industry to further accelerate the war preparations in the face of anti-North Korea "confrontation moves by the U.S. and its vassal forces unprecedented in history, the official Korean Central News Agency said.

It said Kim also clarified the partys stance on expanding North Koreas strategic cooperation with anti-imperialist countries amid the worlds rapidly changing geopolitical situation.

KCNA said Kim spoke about the direction of the Norths dealings with South Korea as well, but didnt elaborate.

The Workers Party meeting is expected to last several days, and state media are expected to publicize details of its discussions after it ends, likely on Dec. 31. Experts say North Korea is expected to come up with pledges and steps to strengthen its nuclear attack capability and expand cooperation with Russia and China, which are also locked in separate confrontations with the U.S.

South Koreas spy agency said Thursday there is a high possibility that North Korea will launch military provocations and cyberattacks ahead of South Korean parliamentary elections in April and the U.S. presidential election in November. The National Intelligence Service said in a statement that senior North Korean military figures believed involved in past major deadly attacks and provocations have been given top posts in recent months. The NIS said North Korea has conducted nuclear and missile tests and flown a drone across the rivals border ahead of the Souths previous parliamentary elections.

During a visit to a frontline army unit Thursday, South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol called for a swift, stern retaliation against any provocations by North Korea.

If provoked, you should immediately respond and retaliate before reporting to (your higher-ups) later. Id like you to sternly and swiftly smash the enemys intentions to stage provocations on the spot, Yoon told troops.

Lee Sang-sook, a research professor at Seouls Institute of Foreign Affairs and National Security, said that limited clashes triggered by North Korean provocations along the Koreas' tense border could happen next year. She said North Korea will also likely test-launch an intermediate-range missile, a submarine-launched ballistic missile, and other weapons under its five-year military buildup plan launched in 2021.

Topics to be dealt with at the North Korean meeting could include its push to operate more spy satellites following its launch of its first military reconnaissance satellite on Nov. 21. After the November launch, North Korea said it would submit to the plenary meeting a plan to launch more satellites to improve its spaced-based surveillance capabilities on its rivals.

Since 2022, North Korea has performed a barrage of missile tests in breach of United Nations bans, including the Dec. 18 launch of the solid-fueled Hwasong-18 intercontinental ballistic missile  its most advanced weapon designed to attack the mainland U.S. The North has argued it has sovereign, legitimate rights to conduct such tests to deal with the expansion of U.S.-South Korean military exercises that it views as invasion rehearsals.

Kim has refused to return to diplomacy with the U.S. since his high-stakes diplomacy with then-President Donald Trump fell apart in 2019. A main sticking point in the collapsed Kim-Trump diplomacy was how much sanctions relief North Korea would be given in return for a partial surrender of its nuclear program.

Matthew Miller, a spokesperson for the State Department, maintained last week that the U.S. harbors no hostile intent toward North Korea and remains committed to a diplomatic approach. He said the U.S. commitment to the defense of South Korea and Japan remains ironclad.

___

Associated Press writer Jiwon Song contributed to this report.
New York Mayor Eric Adams has introduced new restrictions on buses carrying migrants into the city in an effort to better cope with a flood of asylum seekers sent by the Texas governor.

Adams announced an executive order this week that will regulate how and when buses carrying migrants who are likely to need shelter and other emergency services can enter the city and drop off passengers.

"This is not stopping people from coming, but about ensuring the safety of migrants and making sure they can arrive in a coordinated and orderly way," Adams said Wednesday at a virtual press briefing with the mayors of Chicago and Denver.

Dozens of charter buses carrying migrants have been entering the city every week, including at night and on weekends when limited staff is available to help coordinate services for them, Adams said in the executive order. The buses also drop passengers off in random places in the city, the order said.

"(A) great many passengers on such charter buses have sought emergency shelter and other immediate services from the City," the order issued Wednesday says.

Hundreds of migrants sleep in line early on Aug. 1, 2023, outside New York City's Roosevelt Hotel, which has been turned into a migrant reception center, to try to secure temporary housing.

Thousands of migrants have been bused to New York and beyond

Charter buses carrying migrants into New York City will be required to give notice to the city's commissioner of emergency management at least 32 hours before arriving and will be restricted on times of day they can enter, according to the order. Violators could face class B misdemeanor charges, and Adams warned the city could impound buses.

Bus operators must notify the city of the number of people on board who are likely to seek emergency services, the executive order says. They will only be allowed to drop passengers off on weekdays between 8:30 a.m. and noon.

Texas Gov. Greg Abbott promoted his migrant transportation program earlier this month, saying his state has bused more than 29,300 migrants to New York City since August 2022 and tens of thousands of others to Chicago, Denver, Philadelphia, Los Angeles and Washington, D.C.

TEXAS SENDS MIGRANTS TO CITIES: Gov. Abbott charters plane to Chicago for migrants after city impounded bus from Texas

A statement issued by Abbotts press office said Operation Lone Star, the state's border enforcement program, continues to fill the dangerous gaps created by the Biden Administrations refusal to secure the border.

Mayors say Abbott is playing politics with people's lives

Democratic mayors contending with the unannounced arrivals of thousands of migrants  many of whom are unprepared for the cold weather and have nowhere to stay  say Abbott is playing politics instead of working with them to resettle the newcomers.

"Gov. Abbott has made it clear he wants to destabilize cities, sending thousands of migrants and asylum seekers here to the city," Adams said. "I have to navigate the city out of it."

Adams has called the influx of migrants a "crisis" and accused Abbott of using them as "political pawns."

Chicago recently passed similar measures in an attempt to regulate buses of migrants entering the city, and suburbs then had to contend with buses dropping people off just outside the city, NBC Chicago reported.

New York City has had 7,200 migrants arrive in the city over the past two weeks, according to Deputy Mayor for Communications Fabien Levy. Last week, 14 "rogue" buses carrying migrants from Texas arrived in the city in one night, a record, Levy said.

Adams' administration has also been trying to transport migrants outside the city as the shelter system is strapped for space and resources. Earlier this year the city established a "reticketing center," offering free one-way tickets to arriving migrants anywhere in the world.

Adams has said the influx of migrants is anticipated to cost the city about $12 billion over the next three years.

The U.S.-Mexico border is seeing a historic wave of migrants, as tens of thousands of people migrate through the Western Hemisphere and people from diverse nations use Mexico to reach the United States.

U.S. Customs and Border Protection reported more than 240,000 encounters with migrants each in October and November, the first two months of fiscal 2024. Last year, CBP recorded more than 2.5 million migrant encounters at the Southwest border, a historical record.

MORE: Migrant child who died on Texas bus trip had fever before she boarded, coroner says

Contributing: The Associated Press

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Eric Adams executive order restricts migrant buses from entering NYC
New York City Mayor Eric Adams said this week he hasnt met with President Biden in 2023 over the citys ongoing migrant crisis, as he renewed his calls for more action from the federal government to help the "sanctuary" city with the numbers it is seeing.

Adams was asked at a press conference about his being unable to meet with Biden about the crisis.

"I met with the president several times on this issue in 21 I think early 2022, the dates get confused," he said.

TEXAS MIGRANT FLIGHT HEADING TO NEW YORK CITY DIVERTED TO PHILADELPHIA

New York City Mayor Eric Adams, a Democrat, has repeatedly criticized the Biden administration's handling of the migrant crisis.

"It baffles me. New York City is the economic engine of the state and of the country. And I don't have the answer."

Adams noted that a coalition of mayors from other cities hit by the crisis have joined together to put pressure on the federal government. Together they have called for $5 billion in assistance from the Biden administration, in addition to other actions, including expedited work permits and help with resettlement.

READ ON THE FOX NEWS APP

"I have to keep hammering away at this issue and I am really pleased we are now getting a chorus of other cities that are now joining us," Adams said.

NYC has had over 150,000 migrants enter its shelter system over the last year and while that is a small number compared to the millions encountered at the border, Adams has warned that the flow will "destroy" the city. The city recently slashed budgets, including for policing, education and sanitation, over the billions of dollars the crisis will cost.

The numbers have been exacerbated by buses sent by the state of Texas, which has been sending tens of thousands of migrants to "sanctuary" cities across the country, including Washington, D.C., and NYC. On Tuesday, Texas sent its first flight to NYC, but it was diverted to Philadelphia.

CHAOS AND FURY' IN NYC AS OFFICIALS LOSE FAITH IN MAYOR ERIC ADAMS OVER MIGRANT CRISIS: REPORT

Adams has criticized Texas Gov. Greg Abbott, but has also been searing in his criticism of the federal government, leading to tensions between the administration and Adams administration.

Adams has met with White House officials, including multiple meetings with top adviser Tom Perez on the issue. But there have so far been not sit-downs this year with the president himself.

The Biden administration has previously pointed to funding it has provided to cities like New York City, as well as teams to help with processing work permits and making recommendations for improvements. Meanwhile , it has called on Congress to provide additional funding as part of its budget supplemental.

That supplemental is currently being held up in Washington, D.C., as lawmakers debate additional restrictions on asylum. A resolution is not expected until early 2024. As they debate, Customs and Border Protection (CBP) said last week that November saw over 242,000 migrant encounters at the southern border  the highest November on record.





Original article source: NYC Mayor Adams says he hasnt met with Biden in 2023 over migrant crisis: It baffles me
People gather and mourn in front of 500 baby dolls wrapped in a shroud, in remembrance of children killed in the Gaza Strip, in New York on December 28, 2023. (Charly TRIBALLEAU)

Hundreds of pro-Palestinian protesters took to the streets of New York on Thursday, staging a mock funeral in a demonstration against Israel's continued heavy bombardement of the besieged Gaza strip.

Holding banners demanding an immediate ceasefire, the activists gathered in Manhattan's Bryant Park while some briefly stood in the middle of the busy Sixth Avenue in the heart of New York's Midtown district.

Several women shrouded in black held baby dolls swaddled in white cloths to represent the toll the fighting has taken on children in the coastal territory.

The mock funeral procession headed to New York's iconic Times Square where the protest continued with giant electronic advertisements as a backdrop.

"Today's action is to draw attention to the fact that, as of now, almost 10,000 children, just children alone, not counting everybody, not counting all Palestinians, have been killed... in Gaza," said archivist Grace Lile, 64.

The war, which started with Hamas's October 7 attack on Israel, has devastated much of northern Gaza, and the bombardment and fighting has intensified especially in the southern city of Khan Yunis.

Israel has vowed to destroy Hamas in retaliation for the October 7 attack, which left about 1,140 people dead, mostly civilians, according to an AFP tally based on Israeli figures.

Israel's relentless aerial bombardment and ground invasion have killed at least 21,320 people, mostly women and children, according to Hamas-run Gaza's health ministry.

New York City has seen dozens of protests since the October 7 attack and Israel's military response, with both pro-Palestinian and pro-Israel demonstrators taking to the streets.

abr-gw/mdl
(Photo : Flickr l UN Photo / Jean-Marc Ferre)



At a Berlin, New Hampshire town hall, a constituent asked the former South Carolina Governor about the primary cause behind the United States Civil War. USA Today reported Nikki Haley's response to the question, "Well don't come with an easy question or anything," Haley responded.

The aspiring candidate for the GOP nomination went on to say "I mean, I think the cause of the Civil War was basically how the government was going to run. The freedoms and what people could and couldn't do." Inciting a negative reaction from both her Republican and Democratic rivals, she then turned the question back to the voter who replied that he was not the one running for president and was more interested to hear her answer.

The Washington Post cited Haley's rationale for the response she provided, "I think it always comes down to the role of government and what the rights of the people are. And we will always stand by the fact that I think the government was intended to secure the rights and freedoms of the people," Haley said. "It was never meant to be all things to all people. Government doesn't need to tell you how to live your life. They don't need to tell you what you can and can't do. They don't need to be a part of your life. They need to make sure that you have freedom."

The voter went on to thank her before responding with, "In the year 2023, it's astonishing to me that you'd answer that question without mentioning the word slavery." Haley countered the comment by asking the voter, "What do you want me to say about slavery?" to which the voter replied, "You've answered my question. Thank you."

This also prompted President Joe Biden to comment on the exchange by answering the question himself, "It was about slavery."

What Caused The Civil War?

The American Civil War was sparked by deep-seated conflicts surrounding slavery, states' rights, and economic disparities between the North and South. This ultimately led to the succession of Southern States (the Confederacy) and Nothern States (the Union) following the escalating conflict.

As reported by Huffington Post, Christale Spain-- who was elected this year as the first Black woman to chair South Carolina's Democratic Party, said Haley's response was "vile, but unsurprising."

Huffington Post went on to say that the matters concerning the beginnings of the Civil War and its legacy remain heavily embedded within Haley's home state. She has previously faced scrutiny regarding the war's beginnings. During her campaign in 2010, Haley, in an interview with a formerly active group called The Palmetto Patriots, characterized the conflict as a struggle between two sides advocating for "tradition" and "change." Additionally, she expressed the view that the Confederate flag was "not inherently racist."

In 2015, Haley signed a bill to have a Confederate flag removed from statehouse grounds following a shooting at the Emanuel African Methodist Episcopal Church in Charleston that resulted in the deaths of nine Black Americans. But in 2019, Nikki Haley went on to defend the Confederate flag in an interview saying that South Carolinians saw the flag as "service, sacrifice, and heritage before the 2015 shooter "hijacked" it.

@ 2024 HNGN, All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission.
Every year, Ohio lawmakers consider hundreds of bills, and most of them go unnoticed.

Ohios legislature has been quieter this year than in previous years, which could be because of the August special election and the November election, where Ohioans passed Issue 1, the abortion rights amendment, and Issue 2, recreational marijuana.

However, there was still time for some unconventional, unexpected legislation to be introduced. Heres some legislation currently being considered:

Designate 'A Christmas Story' Family Day

The popular film A Christmas Story was released on Nov. 18, 1983, and because the movie was filmed in Cleveland, House Bill 297 seeks to commemorate Nov. 18 as A Christmas Story Family Day.

The legislation, introduced by Rep. Richard DellAquila, D-Seven Hills, has yet to have a hearing but is assigned to the House State and Local Government Committee.

Allow a rearview mirror instead of person to observe water skiers

On water, it is currently required that if you are riding on water skis, a surfboard or something of the sort and being pulled by a vessel, the person driving the vessel must have another person observing the person riding.

With House Bill 284, introduced by Reps. Brett Hillyer, R-Urichsville, and Bill Dean, R-Xenia, those taking part in fun on the water, can have another person observing the person riding or they can use a rearview mirror to keep an eye on the person being pulled by the vessel.

The bill was assigned to the House Transportation Committee.

Prohibit sun lamp tanning services for individuals under age 18

Legislation introduced by Sen. Terry Johnson, R-McDermott, aims to prohibit people under 18 to use tanning bed services at tanning facilities.

Current state law requires individuals who are at least 16 but younger than 18 to have written consent from a parent or legal guardian to use a facilitys sun lamp tanning services.

S.B. 59 has had four hearings in the Senate Health Committee.

Designate May as Umpire Recognition Month

H.B. 262 would make the month of May known as Umpire Recognition Month. The legislation was presented by Reps. Bill Roemer, R-Richfield, and Phil Plummer, R-Dayton.

Right now, there are no days or months dedicated to umpires, an official who watches a game or match closely to enforce the rules, in Ohio.

The bill is assigned to the House State and Local Government Committee.

Establish the day of each general election as a legal holiday

S.B. 87, introduced by Sen. Kent Smith, D-Euclid, would make the first Tuesday after the first Monday in November, Election Day, known as Democracy day.

Democracy Day would act as any other state holiday would. Government employees and full-time employees would receive paid leave. Boards of education also have the option to dismiss schools on this day.

S.B. 87 hasnt had a hearing in the Senate General Government Committee, yet.

This article originally appeared on The Columbus Dispatch: Ohio lawmakers considering some bills you may not know about
Oil sludge is seen on a beach near the El Palito oil refinery in Venezuela's Carabobo state on December 27, 2023 (Juan Carlos HERNANDEZ)

An oil spill is sloshing tarry ooze onto beaches in the state of Carabobo along Venezuela's western coastline, several environmental groups said on Wednesday.

The spill was first detected on Tuesday, Yohan Flores, a regional director of the Azul Ambientalistas NGO, told AFP.

"A large part of the beaches of Puerto Cabello are affected," he said, referring to the country's largest port 210 kilometers (130 miles) west of the capital Caracas.

State oil giant PDVSA has not addressed the spill even as NGOs such as the Caribe Sur Foundation say it originated at a waste lagoon near the El Palito refinery, one of the most important in Venezuela.

A brief report from the National System for Risk Management noted a "spill of hydrocarbons from the waste lagoon" without offering more details.

"A large part of the beaches of Puerto Cabello (in Carabobo state) are affected," said Flores, adding that marine fauna may also be affected.

Teams from PDVSA, volunteers and fishermen all were seen working on cleanup.

The National Organization for Rescue and Maritime Safety of Venezuela's Aquatic Spaces (ONSA) called for "environmental contingency" action.

The last oil spill recorded in the area was in July 2020, when waste from the refinery also flowed into the sea.

That accident contaminated the Morrocoy National Park, a tourist area with a score of islets with white sand beaches.

Fishermen near Puerto Cabello said that they will not be able to fish for the next two months.

Venezuela, which has one of the world's largest oil reserves, saw its production fall from 3 million barrels per day more than a decade ago to 850,000 barrels per day now, with production expected to surpass 1 million barrels later next year.

str-ba/cjc/tjj/bfm
The Oklahoma City Police Department has reported its third officer-involved shooting of the year.

Just after 2 a.m. on Dec. 23 in the 1100 block of SW 26, Lt. John Townsend saw a man on foot, firing a rifle into a residence, police said.

Townsend stopped his car and confronted the suspect holding the rifle, police said. During the confrontation, Townsend fired his weapon at the suspect, later identified as Vandell Stubbs, 26.

Police said Stubbs, along with a second suspect, Quintel Price, fled the scene on foot. With the aid of a police dog, Price, 28, was taken into custody a short time later.

Police said Stubbs was arrested hours later near the scene. Stubbs was transported to an area hospital where he was treated for a non-life-threatening gunshot wound and released from the hospital, police said.

Stubbs and Price were booked into the Oklahoma County jail on complaints related to the shooting.

Townsend, a 19-year veteran of the police force, has been placed on routine administrative leave pending the outcome of the investigation. There were no other injuries reported.

This article originally appeared on Oklahoman: OKC officer on paid administrative leave following shooting
Ukrainian Human Rights Ombudsman Dmytro Lubinets has confirmed the authenticity of a video in which a Russian soldier is seen using Ukrainian POWs as human shields, New Voice reported on Dec. 27.

"We managed to establish that the video is definitely not edited and it is real. We understand where it was recorded and by whom," Ombudsman Lubinets said in a TV interview. "In advance, we even have an idea as to which of the servicemen of the Russian Armed Forces committed this crime."

The video in question surfaced on Dec. 14, and was republished by RFE/RL, depicting what appeared to be unarmed Ukrainian POWs being forced to walk at gunpoint toward Ukrainian lines. Journalists from RFE/RL said they managed to pinpoint the time and place of the incident but did not share it at the request of the Ukrainian military.

Lubinets had previously said that the practice may be systematic among Russian troops. There have been previous reports that Russian troops forced POWs to walk into minefields, he said.

The use of human shields is prohibited under international law and constitutes a war crime under the Geneva Convention. The Prosecutor General's Office has also opened an investigation into Russia's alleged use of Ukrainian prisoners of war (POWs) as human shields, and Lubinets had already shared details of the alleged crime with the International Criminal Court based on the video evidence.

Russia's full-scale war against Ukraine has been accompanied by numerous war crimes and atrocities, with Ukrainian prosecutors recording more than 110,000 war crime cases to date.

Read also: Ukraine war latest: Military says Russia trying to bypass Avdiivka, avoid fighting within city

Weve been working hard to bring you independent, locally-sourced news from Ukraine. Consider supporting the Kyiv Independent.
The South Carolina Law Enforcement Division is investigating after a shooting involving Greenville County sheriffs deputies Wednesday evening left one man dead.

The Greenville County Sheriffs Office responded to a domestic disturbance involving a man and a woman deputies at 30 Pequot Dr. at 5:11 p.m. on Wednesday, according to an initial email from Lt. Ryan Flood. Deputies then encountered a man in possession of a firearm and after an unspecified time a shooting occurred, the email said.

The man, later identified by the Greenville County Coroner's Office as 81-year-old Walter Lester McDonald III, was pronounced dead on the scene. According to a release from the coroner's office Thursday evening, McDonald's cause of death was from multiple gunshot wounds.

According to preliminary reports from the sheriff's office, four deputies fired their weapons and each was placed on paid administrative leave as office protocol. None of the officers were injured in the incident.

SLED spokesperson, Renee Wunderlich, confirmed to the Greenville News Thursday morning that the agency is investigating the shooting.

According to a release from SLED Thursday, the incident marks the third officer-involved shooting for the GCSO in 2023 and 42nd in total for the state of South Carolina. The GCSO only had one officer-involved shooting in 2022.

As standard with Sheriffs Office policy, a Critical Incident Community Briefing providing a detailed summary of the incident will be released on February 11th at 8 a.m. on the Sheriffs Office YouTube page, Flood wrote Wednesday.

Terry Benjamin II covers public safety and breaking news for The Greenville News and can be reached at tbenjamin@gannett.com or on X @Terrybenji2.

This article originally appeared on Greenville News: Man ID'd following shooting involving Greenville County deputies
One of the main tasks for US special-operations troops is training and working with foreign forces.

Language skills are vital for that, but US special-ops units haven't been maintaining those skills.

The Pentagon should improve procedures, training, and accountability for those units, the GAO says.

What makes special forces "special" isn't just combat skills or superhuman endurance. For units such as the US Army's Special Forces, it's the ability to train and advise foreign forces.

But this requires to ability to speak the local language, or at least to understand enough to know if the interpreter is lying. Yet US special operations forces lack required proficiency in foreign languages, according to a recent report by General Accountability Office, a government watchdog agency.

Between 2018 and 2022, "most Army and Marine Corps Special Operations Forces (SOF) units did not meet foreign language proficiency goals," the report said. In fact, "less than half of SOF personnel completed any foreign language training."

US Army Special Operations Command and Marine Special Operations Command told GAO investigators "that they do not routinely assess if foreign languages assigned to SOF are relevant to the partner forces and local population they communicate with on deployments."

A Marine Raider talks to a role player during a language course at Camp Lejeune in North Carolina in August. US Marine Corps/Sgt. Evan Jones

Army SOF units are supposed to have 80% of their personnel qualify for at least minimum proficiency in a language. Yet between 2018 and 2022, only three of eight active-duty units under the Army's 1st Special Operations Command met this requirement.

This linguistic shortfall comes as the Pentagon seeks to improve the ability of US special operators to speak Chinese and other critical languages, and even Congress is demanding better linguistic skills.

"Language is absolutely critical," Brig. Gen. Jonathan Braga, head of US Army Special Operations Command, told lawmakers in 2022, adding that interoperability with local forces requires more than "just equipment," and speaking the local tongue "also shows that you care."

But it's less than diplomatic to send personnel who speak the wrong language. US Special Operations Command, as well as its subordinate Army and Marine organizations, don't monitor "the extent to which foreign languages assigned to SOF service members are relevant for the countries to which SOF deploy," the GAO report said.

Soldiers speak to role players during training at the US Army John F. Kennedy Special Warfare Center and School in 2021. US Army/K. Kassens

Languages are integral to many of the missions that US special-operations forces perform. For example, the US Army Special Forces  the Green Berets  have been training and advising foreign armies and guerrillas since the early 1960s. Language proficiency facilitates this cooperation in a way that conventional military units can't match.

Army and Marine special operators are assigned a language when they are selected, with initial language training comprising four months for Marines and four to six months for soldiers, depending on the difficulty of the language. (French, German, and Spanish are considered easier, and Arabic, Chinese, and Russian more challenging.) Navy Special Warfare Command eliminated its language requirement in 2021. Air Force Special Operations Command suspended its language requirements in 2022 while it reassessed them.

As language teachers like to remind students, practice makes perfect. Army and Marine personnel are supposed to maintain and improve their designated language skill throughout their career. They should take 80 to 120 hours of refresher training a year. Language proficiency qualifies for monthly bonuses of $100 to $500, and up to $1,000 for knowing multiple languages.

Conversely, personnel should be barred from deploying to a region unless they speak the appropriate tongue. However, "not meeting minimum proficiency levels has had limited consequences on service members," some Army and Marine special operators told the GAO. Personnel have not been barred from deployment despite not mastering a language.

A US Army Special Forces soldier briefs Guatemalan special operators before an exercise in March 2020. US Army/Spc. Aaron Schaeper

Nor did bonuses help. Special operators told the GAO that "the consequence of losing bonus pay for elementary or survival proficiency did not outweigh the necessary time spent in training or preparation to take an annual foreign language proficiency exam that could be used to focus on training other mission-critical skills."

One problem is that the US special-operations community doesn't know what languages it needs to learn. Theater Special Operations Commands, which oversee special-operations forces in different regions, are supposed to advise SOCOM on which languages should be taught. However, the theater commands were unable to explain or document to GAO how they arrived at their recommendations. One described the process as "more art than science."

Perhaps none of this should be a surprise. While many people around the world speak English, Americans (and the British) are notorious for their inability and unwillingness to speak other tongues. It is also true that learning a language doesn't have the same appeal as combat skills such as marksmanship or parachuting  for special-ops units, many of which have spent the past 20 years on the front lines, it's easy to see why the latter receive more attention than the former.

Still, if you can't talk to the locals and they can't talk to you, that's a recipe for miscommunication or worse, especially for the US military, which is increasing its focus on working with partners and allies to counter new threats. As many tourists learn the hard way, words can unintended consequences.

Michael Peck is a defense writer whose work has appeared in Forbes, Defense News, Foreign Policy magazine, and other publications. He holds a master's in political science. Follow him on Twitter and LinkedIn.

Read the original article on Business Insider
Hi OnPolitics readers! Former South Carolina Gov. Nikki Haley tried to walk back comments today after she faced criticism over a question about the Civil War.

What did Nikki Haley say? Haley was asked what caused the Civil War by an attendee at a Berlin, New Hampshire, town hall on Wednesday night. She failed to mention slavery as a cause.

"I mean, I think the cause of the Civil War was basically how the government was going to run. The freedoms and what people could and couldnt do," Haley answered at the event. She tried to turn the question back to the attendee, who said he would rather hear her answer, USA TODAYs Savannah Kuchar reports.

Of course the Civil War was about slavery: The former United Nations ambassador on Thursday said in a local radio interview that the Civil War was caused by slavery, adding What I was saying was, what does it mean to us today? What it means to us today is about freedom.

But Haley also pointed blame at the man behind the question, accusing him of working for the opposing major political party. The former governor alleged the man was a Democratic plant during the interview.

USA TODAY has not independently verified the questioner's identity.

Read more here: Nikki Haley alleged she was set up by Democratic 'plant' after being asked what caused the Civil War

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This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Nikki Haley tries to walk back comments on the Civil War
Beginning in the spring of 2023, the state of Texas has authorized local police to detain migrants who enter the state illegally, authorizing local judges to have them deported. The new law comes after the state launched a smaller version of the program two years prior.

That initiative was supposed to slow the tide of illegal border crossings, but there is no evidence that it was successful in doing so.

What Does This Mean?

The dearth of discernable impact has civil rights organizations ready to sue the state to prevent the new law, signed by Gov. Greg Abbott, from becoming law. The Republican governor Greg Abbott has signed three bills into law that will broaden border security initiatives and fund a more robust deterrent.

According to the Associated Press, Texas authorities have arrested almost 10,000 migrants on misdemeanor trespassing charges under Abbott. This law allows border landowners to detain and arrest migrants for trespassing.

These arrests have raised concerns of Constitutional and due process violations. Last month, Governor Abbott stated he may phase out the current legal precedent for the arrest as the state moves forward with illegal entry changes that are enforced throughout the state.

The governor reportedly predicted that the new laws would stop illegal border crossings in the state of Texas.

"When people start learning about this, they're going to stop coming across the Texas border," he told Fox News in July 2021.

At the time, annual illegal border crossings were predicted to be around to be around 1.2 million. That number has trended higher to 1.5 million in 2023.

@ 2024 HNGN, All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission.
Some 4.2 billion people, or more than half of humanity, live in the 76 countries that are scheduled to hold elections in the coming year. (Irfan Khan/Irfan Khan/Los Angeles Times)

2024 will be the biggest voting year in history. Some 4.2 billion people, or more than half of humanity, live in the 76 countries that are scheduled to hold elections.

Can democracy survive it?

That question may sound cynical. But, in the 21st century, romantic ideas of democracy are dying. The latest global reports show democracy contracting across every region of the world. Polling shows widespread disillusionment in democracy , especially among young people.

In this context, elections rarely serve to renew faith in democracy. Elections produce too little positive change, inspiring frustration. They are used by authoritarian rulers to consolidate power. They divide societies or inspire violence.

Read more: Opinion: Does Biden benefit if foreign policy dominates the 2024 campaign?

Elections can also make democracies vulnerable to outside attack. Thats perhaps most apparent in Taiwan, site of the second of the national elections planned for 2024, on Jan. 13.

When I visited Taiwan this month, Vincent Chao, an official of the ruling Democratic Progressive Party, told me that the election itself was a form of national security against China, which has pledged to return the island nation to its control, by force if necessary. Democracy is our best defense, Chao said.

But democracy also makes Taiwan vulnerable. The Chinese government and its proxies exploit the islands open politics to spread misinformation and raise doubts about democracy itself. Chinese influence operations reach every neighborhood; many of Taiwans borough wardens  essentially, elected neighborhood presidents  have received Chinese financial support, mostly via free trips to the mainland .

Read more: Opinion: One thing Joe Biden could learn about Latin America from Donald Trump and Ron DeSantis

Despite this, Taiwans election is freer and fairer than most. The first election of 2024, in Bangladesh on Jan. 7, will merely cement existing rule; the main opposition party, citing threats to its members, is refusing to contest the election . Pakistans Feb. 8 election is likely only to add to conflict involving the countrys most popular politician, former premier Imran Khan, and the powerful military.

On Feb. 14, Indonesia will host the worlds largest single-day election, with more than 250,000 candidates competing for 20,000 offices at all political levels. The countrys termed-out president, Joko Widodo, after weakening local democracy and a national anti-corruption commission , is using state power to back a successor, Prabowo Subianto, who has a record of human rights abuses .

On March 17, the world will see a demonstration of the vast difference between elections and actual democracy. That day Russia and Ukraine are both scheduled to hold elections. But its likely that only Russias unfree and unfair voting will go forward. Ukraines democratic election, meanwhile, may be postponed to protect its voters from being killed by Russian bombs on their way to the polls.

In the spring, some crucial elections could reveal whether oppositions can reverse democratic decline. In Iran, the ruling mullahs are disqualifying thousands of candidates in March 1 parliamentary elections.

Read more: Opinion: Why is Biden silent on Modi and India's slide toward autocracy?

South Africas general elections, which could take place as early as May, could allow the opposition alliance to take power from the party that has ruled the country since apartheid ended 30 years ago. But a change in power is full of risks. Would the opposition coalition improve democracy, end corruption and save faltering public services such as electricity or water? Or would the opposition itself govern in a more authoritarian way ?

Growing authoritarianism also provides the backdrop for the worlds largest election, Indias monthlong voting in April and May. Prime Minister Narendra Modi, a Hindu nationalist, is a heavy favorite to win a third five-year term. But his increasingly autocratic behavior includes limiting the power of regions , punishing critics and journalists , and a military and digital crackdown in Kashmir .

The worlds second biggest election will come in the European Union, where some 400 million voters across 27 countries will elect the European Parliament in June. But far-right, anti-migrant parties hostile to democracy will likely make significant gains.

Across many countries holding elections this year, there are serious questions about the administration of polling. Nowhere are such questions bigger than in Mexico, where Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador and his ruling party, Morena, stripped the independent national election institute, or INE, of much of the local staff and money necessary to ensure election integrity in the June 2 national vote.

The fall includes elections in two large countries where previous votes saw attacks on the seat of government. Brazil holds nationwide municipal elections in October, its first votes since President Jair Bolsonaros supporters sought to overturn his 2022 defeat.

Then theres the U.S. presidential election in November. Former President Trump still claims, falsely, to have won the 2020 election and says he will pardon many of those convicted of federal crimes in the 2021 insurrection. Nevertheless, he is leading in the polls, and pledging to prosecute opponents and bring dictatorship if he regains the worlds most powerful presidency.

By years end, earthlings may feel as though theyve lived through one long global election. After seeing all the ugliness of electoral democracy, they may start wondering if there is a better way.

If they do, they might look to the growing global movement to establish governing assemblies of everyday people , chosen by lottery, as alternatives to bodies of elected officials.

They might also start rethinking the nation-state itself. Nation-states seem simultaneously too small to address planetary challenges such as climate change, pandemics and war and too big to meet the needs of local communities.

With so many people, particularly the young, losing trust in government and elections, 2024 may inspire greater interest in new democratic tools that empower citizens to better govern local communities and tackle global challenges.

Joe Mathews is democracy editor and California columnist at Zocalo Public Square, and founder of the new global publication Democracy Local . This article was produced in partnership with Zocalo Public Square .

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This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times.
In William Faulkners novel, Sartoris, someone asks the title character, Colonel John Sartoris, why he had fought for the Confederacy so many decades before. Damned if I ever did know, replied the aging veteran, now a pillar of his community in fictional Yoknapatawpha County, Mississippi.

Of course, we know why Colonel Sartoris raised arms against the United States. So does anyone with a high school diploma  assuming they used up-to-date textbooks. And so did Alexander Stephens, the vice president of the Confederacy, who in 1861 famously asserted that the cornerstone of the new Southern nation rested upon the great truth that the negro is not equal to the white man; that slavery, subordination to the superior race, is his natural and normal condition. This, our new government, is the first, in the history of the world, based upon this great physical, philosophical, and moral truth.

All of which makes it disappointing, though not surprising, that at this late date  almost 160 years after the Civil War  Nikki Haley, a leading contender for the GOP presidential nomination, shares Colonel Sartoris selective amnesia on the topic. When asked a softball question this week about the causes of the Civil War, Haley, a former South Carolina governor, flubbed the answer, calling it a difficult question and mumbling on about basically how government was going to run  the freedoms and what people could and couldnt do.



This morning, Haley qualified the comment on a radio show called The Pulse of New Hampshire, and followed the clean-up job with a press release, stating: Of course the Civil War was about slavery. We know that. Thats unquestioned, always the case. We know the Civil War was about slavery. But it was also more than that. It was about the freedoms of every individual. It was about the role of government.

But as Haley must know  after all, as governor of South Carolina, she presided over the removal of Confederate flags from the Statehouse many Americans do question the fundamental fact that slavery precipitated the Civil War, and her equivocation played into a long-standing agenda to rewrite American history. Haley was effectively parroting the Lost Cause mythology, a revisionist school of thought born in the wars immediate aftermath, which whitewashed the Confederacys cornerstone interest in raising arms to preserve slavery. Instead, a generation of Lost Cause mythologists chalked the war up to a battle over political abstractions like states rights.

With red states doing battle with American history, seeking to erase the legacy of violence and inequality that counterbalance the great good also inherent in our national story, its worth revisiting the rise of the Lost Cause, not just to remember how damaging it was, but to confront just how damaging it still is.



In the immediate aftermath of the war, the work of interpreting the rebellion fell to a small group of unreconstructed rebels. The pioneers of Confederate revisionism included wealthy and influential veterans of the Confederacy like Jubal Early, B. T. Johnson, Fitz Lee and W. P. Johnson, who helped formulate the Lost Cause myth that would take hold by the 1880s.

The narrative strains were simple. They painted a picture of Southern chivalry  mint juleps, magnolias and moonlight  that stood in sharp contrast with the North, a region marked by avarice, grinding capitalism and poverty. The rebellion, by this rendering, had been a legal response to the Norths assault on states rights  not a violent insurrection to preserve chattel slavery. Even Confederate veterans like Hunter McGuire knew that to admit the war had been about slavery would hold us degraded rather than worthy of honor  our children, instead of revering their fathers will be secretly, if not openly, ashamed.

The myth gained steamed by the end of the century, largely because of the work of organizations like the United Confederate Veterans (UCV), the United Daughters of the Confederacy (UDC) and the Sons of Confederate Veterans (SCV), groups that offered a compelling story that people could wrap their minds around  including many Northerners, who were eager to put the war behind them. Because the Lost Cause emphasized heroism and honor over slavery, it venerated military figures like Robert E. Lee and swept politicians like Jefferson Davis under the rug. So it was that in May 1890 over 100,000 citizens gathered in Richmond for the dedication of a statue of Lee.

The decade saw hundreds of towns across the former Confederacy raise similar monuments to their heroes and war dead. These marble and steel memorials were often planted in town squares and by county courthouses to help sanitize not only Confederate memory but the new Jim Crow order. After all, if secession had been a noble thing, so was the separation of the races.

The signs of revisionism ranged from subtle to clear. During the war, for instance, Confederate soldiers had keenly embraced the term reb, but the new gatekeepers of Southern memory abandoned the term. Was your father a Rebel and a Traitor? asked a typical leaflet. Did he fight in the service of the Confederacy for the purpose of defeating the Union, or was he a Patriot, fighting for the liberties granted him under the Constitution, in defense of his native land, and for a cause he knew to be right? Equally important was figuring out what to even call the war. It couldnt be the Civil War, which sounded too revolutionary. It couldnt be the War of Rebellion which smacked of treason. In the late 1880s, the UCV and UDC approved resolutions designating the conflict that killed 750,000 Americans the War Between the States. The term stuck for generations to come.

It wasnt just Southerners who suffered willful memory loss in these years. Jaded by the experience of Reconstruction and in the thrall of rising scientific racism, many Northerners were equally eager to remember the war as a brothers quarrel over politics rather than a struggle over slavery and Black rights. The jurist Oliver Wendell Holmes Jr., who began the war as a committed abolitionist, later erased the roots of the conflict and celebrated the battlefield valor of both Union and Confederate troops. The faith is true and adorable which leads a soldier to throw away his life in obedience to a blindly accepted duty, he said, in a cause which he little understands, in a plan of campaign of which he has little notion, under tactics of which he does not see the use.

Of course, historians agree that most Union troops did know why they were fighting. So did Holmes. But years after the fact, he was willing to forget. As were tens of thousands of veterans who attended Blue and Gray reunions well into the 20th century, including a massive camp gathering of 25,000 people who gathered at Crawfish Springs, Georgia, in 1889, near the Chickamauga Battlefield, for a picnic and public speeches. These mass spectacles helped Yankees and Confederates rewrite the history of the 1850s and 1860s, ostensibly in the service of national reunion and regeneration, but also in a way that fundamentally reinforced the emerging culture and politics of Jim Crow.



The Lost Cause mythology was more than bad history. It provided the intellectual justification for Jim Crow  not just in the former Confederacy, but everywhere systemic racism denied Black citizens equal citizenship and economic rights. Its dismantling began only in the 1960s when historians inspired by the modern Civil Rights Movement revisited the era of the Civil War and Reconstruction, adopting the views of earlier Black scholars like W.E.B. DuBois and John Hope Franklin, who always knew what the war was about and had shined a spotlight on the agency of Black and white actors alike.

Thats why the recent retreat to Lost Cause mythos is troubling. One would think that a Republican candidate for the presidency might be proud of the partys roots as a firmly antislavery organization that dismantled the Peculiar Institution and fomented a critical constitutional revolution during Reconstruction  one that truly made the country more free.

With GOP presidential candidates waffling on the Civil War, rejecting history curricula in their states and launching political fusillades against woke culture, it remains for the rest of us to reaffirm the wisdom of Frederick Douglass, who in the last years of his life stated: Death has no power to change moral qualities. What was bad before the war, and during the war, has not been made good since the war.  Whatever else I may forget, I shall never forget the difference between those who fought for liberty and those who fought for slavery.
Palestinians take shelter in a U.N.-run school from the ongoing Israeli strikes on the Gaza Strip in Nuseirat refugee camp on Oct. 14. (Hatem Moussa / Associated Press)

For the past 11 weeks, we Palestinians have seen enough tragedies to fill several lifetimes.

More than 20,000 of us in the Gaza Strip have been killed by Israel. An analysis found thats proportionally higher than the average civilian death toll in conflicts from World War II till the 1990s. Two million Gazans are now displaced inside this narrow and impoverished piece of land  crammed into homes, schools or in tents on the rubble that once was our homes. The majority are on the verge of starvation .

Read more: Opinion: Gaza's techies were dreamers and builders. After Israel's bombs, their stories shatter my heart

The soaring numbers may no longer shock you. Your becoming inured to our suffering is part of the dehumanization that we Palestinians must endure.

But we are not merely horrific statistics. I am from Gaza and to me, these figures have faces, names and stories of and about people whom I love and know.

Read more: Opinion: What Biden's staunch support for Israel's war in Gaza will cost America

As a fellow Palestinian and friend here in the U.K. put it recently, banging the table: They killed Gazas intellectual and professional elite, destroyed libraries , ancient mosques and churches, and cultural centers throughout the strip. What have the libraries done to them?

The general impression among us Palestinians  whether at home or abroad  is that as Israeli tanks rolled into Gaza, what the soldiers saw contradicted their worldview of the inferior, subhuman Palestinian. They had to destroy all and re-create an image of Gaza that matched their imagined worldview. As if to say, dehumanize to facilitate and justify the culling.

Read more: Opinion: When libraries like Gaza's are destroyed, what's lost is far more than books

This realization is so upsetting that it overwhelms one with an uncontrollable urge to prove ones humanity. There is also an urge to communicate, to externalize that feeling.

To ask ourselves, and to ask you: What does it feel like to be dehumanized?

Read more: Opinion: Not far from Bethlehem, the plight of pregnant women in Gaza evokes a biblical story

We have been denied agency, as a people and as individuals. And, with the loss of agency, whatever aspirations for justice and self-determination we have  the basics you take for granted  became meaningless.

Some of you are finally starting to pay attention, although we remain outraged that this had to come at the expense of 20,000 lives. But you may still not know what it feels like to be dehumanized. So, please, allow me to take you into our Palestinian circle.

Perhaps the hardest part is processing the dehumanization, which triggers three negative emotions: a burning but incomprehensible sense of humiliation, guilt and rage. Each one of these emotions feeds into the other to create the perfect psychological storm within ones soul.

I feel guilty about feeling humiliated, but I am also shaking with a raging how-dare-you, you force me to justify my humanity? another friend, a university lecturer in the U.K., told me.

I see where she is coming from. On the receiving end of dehumanization, you are stripped of your moral worth. It feels like others have no obligation to grant you the moral standards that are generally reserved for those whom they consider fully human. That typically leads to distorted self-awareness and a sense of dissociation from reality.

My friends words raise the question: Why do so many of us, in Gaza and abroad, feel ragingly humiliated by the loss of our loved ones?

Is it helplessness? Or because we did not have the chance to say goodbye? Or because we have yet to process the loss and grief?

I think it may be the randomness and pointlessness of the deaths, the horrifyingly quick and undignified burials, or worse, the scenes of decomposed bodies on the streets. Is this what it comes down to?

After all, many of us feel we are being culled, usually a term reserved for animals. Israeli leaders have called us  human animals , treated us for decades as such, and now their bombs are eliminating evidence that contradicts their view of us.

Some people in Gaza spoke to me about apathy, numbness and desensitization, as if the lack of feeling is their coping mechanism to sever themselves from their natural emotionality, and to preserve what is left of their sense of self and dignity.

My mother did this by going out to visit my aunt who sheltered in a UNRWA school at the Nuseirat refugee camp, not caring for the potential Israeli snipers on top of the nearby buildings.

I did not care, I even walked in the middle of the street, she said, to my absolute horror.

She was seeking meaning in seeing her sister, and re-establishing her sense of free will and self-worth that often came out of her social life.

I wonder, to external eyes, are the dead and injured we see pulled from the rubble covered in blood viewed as victims, or does their roughed-up state lessen their humanity?

We Palestinians do not choose to be roughed up. How can we prove to you that we are worthy humans?

To tell you that Gaza  where people now line up for hours to get some water  has one of the worlds lowest illiteracy rates and highest rates of PhD holders per capita?

Or perhaps I can tell you about my cousins wife, Iman, the mathematical genius, who was killed with her kids last week.

Maybe you want to hear about my friend Jehad, the calligrapher, and the most generous, funniest man you could ever meet. They killed him and his family as they slept in his home in Shujaiya in eastern Gaza City.

How about Mahmoud, the doctor, who was killed by an Israeli sniper at Awda Hospital in northern Gaza?

It is painful to think of their former existence as irrelevant. It is even more painful to think of their death as meaningless.

Against all odds, they persevered and achieved highly. If anything, they were a special kind of human.

I wish you could have met them.

Emad Moussa is a Palestinian-British researcher and writer specializing in the political psychology of inter-group and conflict dynamics.

If its in the news right now, the L.A. Times Opinion section covers it. Sign up for our weekly opinion newsletter.

This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times.
Editor's note: Read our interview with Stanislav Haider here.

The Defense Ministry is one of Ukraines oldest bureaucratic structures. As such, it has long-established customs and procedures, some of which no longer meet the challenges of today. My mission as the deputy minister for institutional development is to help develop an institution that incorporates the best practices of an advanced democratic society.

If you compare the ministrys development to building a house, it started off as a singular room. As time went on, more rooms were attached to it, morphing to accommodate changing needs. The houses living room was split in two to make a kitchen, which was then expanded to accommodate a stove and again broken up to make room for a hallway, and so on. In essence, it has been a never-ending cycle of flux and half-baked solutions.

Ukraines Defense Ministry created the role of deputy minister for institutional development just over 100 days ago to initiate reforms that will help build the ministry of the future without disrupting critical day-to-day operations. This important mission is now my responsibility.

Read also: Ukraines Foreign Minister Kuleba: Europe doesnt know how to fight wars

Institutional changes from scratch

In our first 100 days, my team focused on developing a plan for the ministrys multi-stage transformation, identifying the key processes that need to be overhauled. We created a new system for setting objectives, as well as processed large amounts of data to gain greater awareness of the pace of our reforms and the ministrys performance. We also cooperated with experts and our partners to grow our institutional capacity.

The ministrys bureaucratic structure is riddled with superfluous processes, many of which are not working toward a common objective. Many of the ministrys units lack a coordinated focus and mutual integration.

To address this, I relied on the principles I applied to my work on transforming the city of Drohobych in western Ukraine and the National Agency on Corruption Prevention (NACP): institutions must act as a single entity, not separate units. Performance must thus be based not on each individual units achievements but on the results achieved by the system as a whole.

While streamlining the Defense Ministrys bureaucratic structure, we looked for guidance from NATO member states best practices for developing the military instrument of power  or leveraging all means necessary to safeguard national interests.

Read also: Ukraines 2023 in photos

Democratic oversight

Another important component of our work has been to increase democratic oversight over the implementation of the ministrys strategies, projects, and resources. We have worked alongside civil society, other branches of government, lawmakers, foreign defense advisors, and the military to develop legislative initiatives to grow this dynamic.

By increasing democratic oversight, we are ensuring that the ministry's policies reflect the will of society, respect the legal rights of military personnel, follow a forward-looking vision, and support military personnel and civilians. These efforts are also a prerequisite for Ukraine's NATO integration and membership.

Transforming key processes

Streamlining the process for receiving international military assistance was one of our key priorities in the first 100 days. We developed a new model, making the General Staff of Ukraines Armed Forces the only body that provides partner countries with a clear list of the militarys needs.

By receiving international military assistance through a single window, we adopt a systematic approach to determining priorities regarding international assistance, ensure transparency and control of the process, and mitigate risks by tracking all material resources from their delivery to their application.

We have also initiated a fast-track system for weapons and military equipment, allowing them to be delivered to Ukraines Armed Forces much quicker. We have additionally detailed a comprehensive list of the key problems that prevent the design, scaling, and implementation of new types of weapons and military equipment.

Another major area where we have identified numerous problems is the procurement of equipment for military personnel in the rear. Among the most pressing issues are preventing the duplication of functions and powers that lead to delays and unnecessary red tape, as well as establishing a coordinated system for monitoring and evaluating suppliers capabilities and performance.

As part of the transformation of key processes, we plan to form and launch several deregulation packages to simplify the processes of document circulation, use and transfer of military property, etc.

Establishing a supervisory board for the Defense Ministrys Institutional Advisory Council (IDC) is another ambitious goal for the first quarter of 2024. The goal is to get high-level subject matter experts from partner countries to engage on issues related to the Defense Ministrys institutional transformation. While this concept is not new, we have fine-tuned the previous model.

Read also: Opinion: How Russias succession problem makes its future uncertain

Situational awareness

The Defense Ministry has introduced a data management policy to increase the ministrys situational awareness, developing an understanding of its environment, its elements, and how they both change in response to various factors.

Steps were already taken during our first 100 days: The Defense Ministrys Situation Center is operating 24/7, working to provide more accurate crisis responses, rapid assessments, and actionable guidance for senior leadership.

There is, of course, much left to do. Our plans for the next quarter include:

Determining and implementing the ministrys new key objectives for 2024;

Cataloguing the ministrys processes to redesign and streamline its components;

Developing the ministrys human resources by ensuring the quality of personnel and streamlining automated personnel operations;

Establishing a full-fledged data strategy and situation center;

Launching the supervisory board for the Defense Ministrys Institutional Advisory Council (IDC), which will help us engage high-level experts from Ukraine's partner countries in matters related to institutional transformation;

Introducing several deregulation packages to simplify processes related to the use, circulation, and transfer of military property and document management.

Our goal is to build an effective institution that will help to defeat the enemy. Our long-term vision is to develop a new defense ministry  a capable institution that is better equipped to promptly anticipate threats and deter any potential enemy from daring to use force against Ukraine.

Editor's note: 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.

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SAN DIEGO (KSWB)  There has seemingly been dozens of orca sightings in the waters off the Southern California coast over the past few weeks.

Whale watching groups from San Diego to Los Angeles  and in at least one instance as far north as Oxnard  started spotting the creatures in early December, as they swim and hunt dolphins around their boats.

It has thrilled onlookers and whale watching operators alike who are witnessing a rare surge in activity for a species that had not been spotted in Southern California waters with this frequency for about two years.

So, why have they suddenly started spending so much time off the coast of Southern California? Whale experts say it is hard to know exactly.

52-foot whale washes up on Pacific Beach in San Diego

There are at least three different types of killer whales that are known to swim through Californias waters: transient, offshore and resident whales. Transients and residents tend to keep close to the coast, but only the transients are known to feed on marine mammal species.

All three types of killer whales are known to travel where the food takes them, with pods of transients considered to have larger home ranges  or distances of ocean where they roam  compared to the others in order to follow their larger prey.

Theyre unpredictable, Mary Black, director of the California Killer Whale Project, told FOX5SanDiego.com. Theyll go to a spot and catch a sea lion and then move on to a different spot. Sometimes they might hang around an area for a couple days.

The pod of whales, which consists of eight adults and two juveniles, at the center of all the sightings recently in Southern California are believed to be eastern tropical Pacific orcas, a subgroup of the transient ecotype with a home range that centers the warm waters off the coast of Central America. Ventura County is considered the northernmost edge of the types range.

As Black explained, the eastern tropical Pacific orcas that migrate through Southern California typically feed on dolphins that hang out in the area. Bigger pods of the mammals will draw out the killer whales relatively infrequently, occurring every year or two.

They seem to specialize on the larger schools of common dolphins, theyre hunting them, Black said. Then they eventually work their way back south again, down to Mexico.

What is unusual about this pod, however, is that it has hung around the area for several weeks now, swimming back and forth between San Diego and Los Angeles at least once.

The fact that the killer whales are here over the course of more than two weeks is very rare, said Jessica Rodriguez, education and communications manager at Newport Landing & Daveys Locker Whale Watching. I dont remember this happening at least (since) 2016  that it has been this consistent.

Humpback whale entangled in rope 10 miles offshore from Oceanside

They were first spotted by whale watching boats in the area of Palos Verdes on Dec. 11, before moving up to Oxnard on Dec. 15 and then down to San Diego around Dec. 18. A few days later, they were again spotted farther north on Dec. 22 before returning to San Diego on Dec. 25.

One of the juveniles was seen swimming alongside an adult in a video (below) of the Dec. 22 sighting in Orange County.

A video of the second sighting in San Diego on Dec. 25 can be viewed below. In the video, a dolphin the orcas were hunting can be seen jumping out of the water several times while a whale bites at it.

To date this year, Harbor Breeze, a Southern California whale watching operator, has counted 61 orca sightings. To put this in perspective, the more common whales seen on these trips  fin, humpback and blue  have tallies of 468, 356 and 210 for the year, respectively.

Before these appearances, it had been about two years since eastern tropical Pacific killer whales have been seen up in Southern California.

My suspicion is that with the warming waters that weve had this season going into El Nino is that these warm water killer whales have decided to push their range up a little bit more to expand the range of what theyre able to feed on, Rodriguez said.

In several of the recent sightings, the pod also made the incredible move of swimming right near the boats of whale watchers, actively hiding under the boats in the hunt or using them as a way to block themselves from their preys echolocation.

Obviously, its for feeding and theyre very successful at it the few times weve seen their hunts. Theyve killed several (dolphins) in one two-hour (whale watching) trip, Rodriguez said.

Its mind-blowing to see them hunt and communicate with one another to coordinate feeding attacks. Weve even watched them have the babies lead the hunt, she continued. Its something that you see on BBC and Animal Planet that you never think youre going to see out on the water, because of the rarity.

Beloved SeaWorld beluga whale, Ferdinand, dies at 53

It is unclear whether the pod will continue hanging around Southern California while the conditions continue to be ideal for them between successful hunts and warmer water. Rodriguez says they could stick around into the early months of the year as long as its productive for them to be here.

While its never guaranteed, she encourages those who want to try to see the majestic creatures in the wild to follow whale watching operators on social media to see where killer whales are spotted and then get out on the next available tour in that area.

These are rare life occurrences that are like once-in-a-lifetime sightings, Rodriguez said. We want to do our best to protect our oceans for future generations and some of the better ways to do this is by getting out and appreciating them in the wild  The urgency of their conservation efforts is really forefront of the things that we think about while were out there, observing them.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to FOX 5 San Diego.
Parker Evatt, a former state legislator and S.C. Department of Corrections chief known as a staunch foe of the death penalty and for his efforts to help prisoners, died earlier this month. He was 88.

Although Evatts views opposing capital punishment were well known when he was selected to lead the Corrections Department, the job required that he oversee legally mandated executions.

In that position, he was in the electric chair chamber in 1994 when the state executed notorious serial killer Donald Pee Wee Gaskins.

He always felt that since he was commissioner, he had to go down there and meet with them, face-to-face, Evatts daughter, Kathy Evatt, a federal public defender, recalled. It was very hard on him... He opposed the death penalty for religious reasons. He was a devout Methodist.

Evatt, who was state prison commissioner (the top job is now called director) from 1987 to 1995, urged creative sentencing alternatives for non-violent offenders and in-prison programs to fight illiteracy and drug use. He also urged the state to hire more probation officers to handle more inmates who would be placed on probation.

For him, the job was a continuation of his work as a state lawmaker from 1974 to 1987, where he had worked for legislation on childrens matters and criminal justice reform issues.

I dont mind that violent offenders are locked up, but we need alternatives for many others, Evatt told an annual S.C. Department of Parole meeting in 1987, according to a State newspaper article.

Evatt also led the Corrections Department at a historic moment: the 1994 closing of the 127-year-old Central Correctional Institution, the states first and oldest prison complex, which contained a five-tier granite structure called Cellblock One located in downtown Columbia. Built in 1867, Cellblock Ones dank insides resembled a huge medieval dungeon with prison cells the size of large doghouses. The building was notorious for its inhumane conditions and the violence of the prisoners who lived there..

The final inmates of this Bastille will be released, and this chapter will be ended, Evatt told a State newspaper reporter that day. Weve been asking for years to close this facility, and now its a reality.

In 1987, Parker had been a state representative for 13 years when, under then-Gov. Carroll Campbell, he became head of the state prison system, which at that time had more than 14,000 inmates, 4,400 employees and a $156 million budget. At the time, the prison system was under a mandate to alleviate overcrowding.

With the backing of Campbell and influential Democratic and Republican supporters, Evatt won a 3-2 vote of the then corrections board to become commissioner.

In 1974, he won a seat as a Republican from Richland County in the S.C. House of Representatives.

Improving public education and addressing crime were his two top issues in the House campaign, in which he defeated former Columbia police chief Bill Campbell.

Parker received numerous awards, including Legislator of the Year in 1983 from the American Civil Liberties Union of South Carolina for his work in the areas of incarceration and domestic violence.

In 1994, he was one of four people cited for the American Correctional Associations highest award, the E.R. Cass award, given to people for outstanding contributions in the corrections field.

A native of Greenville, he joined the U.S. Navy after high school. After the Navy, he went to the University of South Carolina, where he studied engineering, then joined the state highway department.

He left the highway department in in 1966 for work for, first as a volunteer and then director, a fledgling organization that is now the Alston Wilkes Society, a major private agency that annually helps thousands of former inmates re-enter society, intervenes in the lives of at-risk youth, and helps veterans and their families and the homeless. Its budget is more than $12 million, and it has offices across the state.

In 1987, he gave up his job with the Alston Wilkes Society to lead the state prison department.

Anne Walker, current president of the Alston Wilkes Society, knew Evatt for more than 50 years.

He was always the same person, no matter who he was with, no matter where he was. He always had a smile on his face, and he was always trying to figure out how to do some good in this world, Walker said.

A memorial service to celebrate Parkers life will be held on Friday, Dec. 30, at 2 p.m. at Virginia Wingard Memorial United Methodist Church, 1500 Broad River Road, Columbia, SC 29210, with a reception to follow at the church.
The Israeli kibbutz of Nir Oz has confirmed the death of 70-year-old Canadian-Israeli woman Judy Weinstein, whose fate has been unknown since the October 7 Hamas attack that also killed her 72-year-old husband, Gad Haggai.

"With great sorrow, Kibbutz Nir Oz announces the murder of Judy Weinstein," the community said in a press release.

The kibbutz described Weinstein as an "English teacher who specialized in teaching children with special needs." She also taught mindfulness to children and teenagers who suffered from anxiety caused by rocket fire from Gaza but also volunteered to help Palestinians in the strip.

"Judy was a poet, entrepreneur, and pursued many initiatives to advance peace in the region," the statement added. "May Judy's memory be a blessing."

Weinstein and Haggai were survived by their two daughters, two sons, and seven grandchildren.

Both their bodies remained with Hamas.

Read Also: Pro-Palestinian Demonstrators Disrupt 2 Major US Airports, Leading to Multiple Arrests

Who Was Judy Weinstein?

Weinstein was born in the United States but moved to Canada with her family when she was three years old.

In the mid-1990s, at the age of 20, she and Haggai moved to Israel and established their home in Kibbutz Nir Oz.

According to the couple's daughter, Iris Haggai, they were out on a walk when Hamas attacked southern Israel and fatally shot them both.

"We do know, from Judih's phone calls ... that both of them were shot," Weinstein's niece Ali also told the CBC in late November.

Despite the personal loss, Judy's brother Larry Weinstein said that the Hamas attack should never sow animosity between affected communities, specifically Jews and Muslims.

"We're inspired by my sister, who believed in peace and believed in harmony," he added.

Related Article: Israeli Airstrike in Lebanon Kills 3, Including Alleged Hezbollah Member

@ 2024 HNGN, All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission.
AUSTIN (KXAN)  The Texas Third Court of Appeals denied Attorney General Ken Paxtons request for an emergency stay of impending depositions in the whistleblower lawsuit that sparked his impeachment this year, according to a Wednesday court filing.

The whistleblower plaintiffs are seeking depositions of Paxton, First Assistant Attorney General Brent Webster, Chief of Staff Lesley French Henneke, and Senior Advisor to the Attorney General Michelle Smith, according to a writ.

The lawsuit began in 2020 after several former officials in Paxtons office became whistleblowers and reported Paxton to the FBI for alleged misconduct. The whistleblowers later sued for wrongful termination.

EXPLORE: The Ken Paxton impeachment trial

The case has had massive repercussions at the Capitol. Paxton and the whistleblowers previously reached a settlement agreement of $3.3 million to end the case. Paxton was also asked to apologize for calling the plaintiffs rogue employees, according to court records. When Paxton asked the Legislature to fund the settlement, a House committee initiated an investigation of the whistleblowers claims. That probe triggered Paxtons impeachment and temporary suspension from office over the summer.

In September, Paxton was acquitted in a Senate trial of all articles of impeachment. Following the acquittal, the Texas Supreme Court ruled that same month that the wrongful termination lawsuit could move forward. The plaintiffs in the case are Blake Brickman, David Maxwell, Mark Penley and Ryan Vassar.

On Dec. 20, Travis County District Judge Jan Soifer ordered Paxton to testify under oath in the lawsuit. Paxton quickly appealed Soifers decision to the Third Court of Appeals. On Dec. 22, Paxtons team filed two items: an emergency motion for temporary relief  which was denied on Wednesday  and a petition for writ of mandamus.

In the writ of mandamus, Paxton argues Soifer abused her discretion, and discovery involving depositions of high-level executive officials should not move forward because the case was resolved in a mediated settlement agreement.

Paxton asked the Third Court of Appeals to order the trial court to enforce the settlement agreement and quash the depositions or set reasonable limitations on the time, scope, and subject matter of the depositions, according to the writ.

TJ Turner, an attorney for one of the plaintiffs, said, This is just Ken Paxtons latest effort to manufacture delay and avoid testifying.

Paxtons office did not immediately respond to a request for comment from KXAN.

The Third Court of Appeals requested the whistleblower plaintiffs respond to Paxtons writ of mandamus by Jan. 4, 2024.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KXAN Austin.
A woman is in hospital with serious injuries after a Christmas Eve crash.

Police were called to the collision between a grey Vauxhall Corsa and a pedestrian on the B1149 Holt Road, in Horsford, Norfolk, at about 16:58 GMT.

The pedestrian, a woman, is in Addenbrooke's hospital in Cambridge with serious injuries.

Police are appealing for witnesses to the crash, which happened close to the junction with Mill Lane in the village, to get in touch.

Follow East of England news on Facebook, Instagram and X. Got a story? Email eastofenglandnews@bbc.co.uk or WhatsApp 0800 169 1830
In response to what he calls "unprecedented" aggressive behavior by the United States and its allies, North Korea's leader Kim Jong Un has issued an order for his country's military and industrial sectors to be ready for war.

During a 2024 planning conference of his governing Workers' Party on Wednesday, December 27, Kim reportedly said that the grave political and military situation on the Korean peninsula had come to its breaking point, according to state-run news agency Korean Central News Agency (KCNA).

Military-industrial, nuclear weapons, and civil defense sectors were allegedly pushed to complete war preparations even faster.

Preparation for war?

In a report by USA Today, Kim's threats have been consistent over the last several months, and his recent remarks are no exception. This follows the White House's recent reiteration of its steadfast intention to maintain prolonged deterrence against Pyongyang and its rejection of any military options, including nuclear, less than two weeks ago.

"Any nuclear attack by North Korea against the United States or its allies is unacceptable and will result in the end of the Kim regime," the White House statement said. Any nuclear strike on South Korea will be faced with an immediate, massive, and unwavering retaliation, it added.

North Korea finally succeeded last month after two unsuccessful efforts to launch a military surveillance satellite into space. The US and its allies see the satellite as a violation of resolutions passed by the United Nations Security Council. As the world's political climate is constantly shifting, Kim promised on Wednesday to deepen ties of cooperation with "independent, anti-imperialist countries."

Harry Kazianis, a senior director of Washington's National Security Affairs at the Center for the National Interest, expressed his worries to USA Today about the potential escalation of tensions with North Korea.

The testing of Pyongyang's tactical nuclear weapons, which have been in development for some time, might trigger a crisis with Washington and Seoul, according to Kazianis. He warned that North Korea might fire an intercontinental ballistic missile hundreds of kilometers into the Pacific Ocean to prove it can reach the US.

Also Read: North Korea Warns of Further Escalation Amid Rising Tensions with the US

Expected Aggression

On Thursday, December 28, South Korea's National Intelligence Service warned that Kim will likely stage military provocations in the months leading up to the 2024 US and South Korean presidential elections.

North Korea has a history of provoking South Korean elections, according to the agency. As reported by Yonhap News Agency of South Korea, Kim has also rehabilitated prominent officials who were engaged in high-profile provocations against Seoul.

On Wednesday, the South Korean military, police, and emergency personnel took part in defense drills designed to mimic an attack on Seoul by North Korea. To allay fears that Pyongyang's arms and covert assault plan are within striking distance of the city, these exercises were conducted.

Also Read: Korean Conflict: Seoul Conducts Drills in Preparation for Possible Surprise Attack by Pyongyang

@ 2024 HNGN, All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission.
Pierce Brosnan attends the premiere of Netlixs The Out-Laws in Los Angeles in June 2023 (Matt Winkelmeyer/Getty Images)

Former James Bond actor Pierce Brosnan has been given a police citation for straying off the path in Yellowstone National Park, records show.

A legal notice seen by The Independent, and first reported by CNN, chides the Mamma Mia! star for "foot travel in a thermal area" on 1 November 2023 in Wyoming.

It also alleges the petty offence of "violating closures and use limits", ordering the Irish actor to appear in court at the Yellowstone Justice Center at 11am on 23 January next year.

The "thermal areas" refer to Yellowstone's famous geysers, hot springs, gas vents, and other dangerous but fascinating phenomena borne of its location on top of a gigantic underground reserve of searing molten rock.

The park, which was the first ever established in the US, sits within a crater made by the massive Yellowstone Supervolcano around 600,000 years ago and includes roughly half of all known hydrothermal features in the world.

Yellowstones Grand Prismatic Geyser at Sunset (Getty Images/iStockphoto)

The National Park Service warns tourists to stay on boardwalks and trails lest they become one of the 20 people who have died from burns after taking a dip in or falling into one of Yellowstone's hot springs.

"Boardwalks and trails protect you and delicate thermal formations. Water in hot springs can cause severe or fatal burns, and scalding water underlies most of the thin, breakable crust around hot springs," the service says on its website.

Mr Brosnan, 70, was born in Drogheda in Ireland in 1953 and had his breakthrough as an actor with the British spy show Remington Steele in the 1980s, before being cast as James Bond beginning with 1995's Goldeneye.

The Independent has contacted Brosnans representatives for comment.
FILE - Pierce Brosnan, a cast member in "The Out-Laws," poses at a special screening of the film, Monday, June 26, 2023, at the Regal LA Live theaters in Los Angeles. Brosnan has been in hot water plenty of times as an actor playing the secret agent James Bond, though not in Yellowstone National Park. Now, for allegedly stepping out of bounds in a thermal area during a recent visit, Brosnan faces two citations and a court date in the world's oldest national park. (AP Photo/Chris Pizzello, File)

CHEYENNE, Wyo. (AP)  Pierce Brosnan, whose fictitious movie character James Bond has been in hot water plenty of times, is now facing heat in real life, charged with stepping out of bounds in a thermal area during a recent visit to Yellowstone National Park.

Brosnan walked in an off-limits area at Mammoth Terraces, in the northern part of Yellowstone near the Wyoming-Montana line, on Nov. 1, according to two federal citations issued Tuesday.

Brosnan, 70, is scheduled for a mandatory court appearance on Jan. 23 in the courtroom of the worlds oldest national park. The Associated Press sent a request for comment to his Instagram account Thursday, and email messages to his agent and attorney.

Yellowstone officials declined to comment. Brosnan was in the park on a personal visit and not for film work, the U.S. Attorney's Office for Wyoming said.

Mammoth Terraces is a scenic spot of mineral-encrusted hot springs bubbling from a hillside. They're just some of the park's hundreds of thermal features, which range from spouting geysers to gurgling mud pots, with water at or near the boiling point.

Going out-of-bounds in such areas can be dangerous: Some of the millions of people who visit Yellowstone each year get badly burned by ignoring warnings not to stray off the trail.

Getting caught can bring legal peril too, with jail time, hefty fines and bans from the park handed down to trespassers regularly.

In addition to his four James Bond films, Brosnan starred in the 1980s TV series Remington Steele and is known for starring roles in the films Mrs. Doubtfire and The Thomas Crown Affair.
ASHEVILLE  A Western North Carolina legal aid organization may soon make significant cuts to its domestic violence survivor programming after losing funding from several federal grants.

Pisgah Legal Services provides free civil legal aid to low income WNC residents. It consults with clients to fight evictions, arrange health insurance and find protection from domestic violence.

For the 2024 calendar year, Pisgah Legal faces a $1 million funding gap previously filled by the federal Crime Victims Fund, Violence Against Women Act and American Rescue Plan, Pisgah Legal Executive Director Jim Barrett told the Citizen Times Dec. 27.

A plurality of the funding from these programs flowed to the organizations domestic violence prevention services, Barrett said. To bridge this gap, Pisgah Legal and other organizations unsuccessfully lobbied Raleigh legislators. Now these organizations are turning to counties and donors for help, before turning to municipalities.

Jim Barrett, executive director of Pisgah Legal Services.

A relatively small donation can pay for a few hours of legal work and really change peoples lives, Barrett said. He said that ending domestic violence cycles can involve multiple steps including filing restraining orders, fighting custody battles and finding new housing.

There are a lot of challenges for people to get away from abuse. We dont want access to a lawyer to be one of those challenges.

Pisgah Legal has already made some difficult financial decisions, with more looming. The legal aid service, which brought in $10.3 million in revenue in 2022, has been on a hiring freeze since August, Barrett said. It has open positions for one lawyer and at least two support staff that it cannot pay to fill.

Barrett told the Citizen Times that Pisgah Legals board voted for a budget for next year that does not include staff raises, even for cost-of-living increases. The budget, he said, reduces 401k matching that staff receives.

Pisgah Legal will not implement those changes until the spring, Barrett said, giving the organization a few months to fill the funding gaps.

Congress passed the Victims of Crime Act in 1984, which established the Crime Victims Fund. This provides funding for programs that offer support services for those affected by violent crimes. It is financed by fines and penalties paid by people convicted in federal cases.

President Joe Biden signed a bipartisan bill in July 2021 to bolster the fund and allow states to waive requirements for victim cooperation with law enforcement to access funding.

This bill is going to allow us to make  make sure that all the fines and penalties that are from federal cases go into the victims  the Crime Victims Fund to rebuild this fund, because its badly needed, Biden said at the time.

After the president signed that bill, the amount of funds available for organizations like Pisgah Legal increased by 29% to $2.6 billion for the 2022 fiscal year, according to the Office for Victims of Crime, which helps administrate the program.

Thomas Lodwick, Public Benefits Program Director at Pisgah Legal Services, stands in front of its office.

Since then, the program has lost close to 54% of its available funding, leaving organizations like Pisgah Legal groveling for cash, and needing to make difficult cuts.

Pisgah Legal briefly used roughly $426,000 in ARPA funds to patch the shortfall. But that money, which became available July 2022, is now gone.

Barrett said that legal aid organizations in North Carolina collectively attempted to lobby Raleigh legislators, but additional state funding did not come. This funding request flows through the Justice and Safety Appropriations Committee, which shares the same name in each chamber.

Sen. Warren Daniel, who represents part of Buncombe, Burke and McDowell counties, and co-chairs that committee, did not respond to a Citizen Times Dec. 27 request for comment.

2023 County Manager Letter_Mitchell by Mitchell Black on Scribd

This embedded content is not available in your region.

Barrett sent letters to 11 county managers earlier this month, including Buncombes Avril Pinder, requesting the county contract Pisgah Legal for its services and appeal to state legislators to fund this work.

I am also asking each countys commissioners to ask their state legislators to fund this work going forward, as early as the (fiscal year 2025) budget, Barretts letter to Mitchell County Manager Allen Cook read.

More: 600,000 North Carolinians now have access to health insurance as expanded Medicaid begins

More: Conversation with Pulitzer Prize-winning author of 'Poverty, by America,' Matthew Desmond

More: Retired Asheville housing authority CEO to take over as interim director of Homeward Bound

The Citizen Times called Cooks office, but it was closed for the holidays.

Barrett said that he would meet with Pinder, who received a similar letter, in the New Year.

Buncombe County spokesperson Kassi Day told the Citizen Times in a Dec. 28 email that the county contracts with Pisgah Legal to provide a wide range of legal services, including domestic violence legal assistance. Pinder, who is on vacation, was not available to comment.

People can make donations to Pisgah Legal at pisgahlegal.org/give. Donations will be matched up to $70,000 through the end of the year.

Mitchell Black covers Buncombe County and health care for the Citizen Times. Email him at mblack@citizentimes.com or follow him on Twitter @MitchABlack. Please help support local journalism with a subscription to the Citizen Times.

This article originally appeared on Asheville Citizen Times: Federal funding loss leads Pisgah Legal to make significant cuts
A New Hampshire man is accused of sexually assaulting a child under the age of 16, and using Snapchat to lure his victim, state police said.

Eric Michael Castine, 27, of Keene, was arrested and charged with committing one act of felonious sexual assault, state police said. An investigation into Castines contact with children is ongoing and additional charges are anticipated.

State Police detectives from the New Hampshire Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force arrested Castine on Wednesday, state police said.

According to state police, Castine allegedly used the social media app Snapchat to facilitate more than one alleged sexual assault between himself and a person under 16 years of age. He also allegedly used Snapchat to communicate with and make in-person contact with other juveniles.

Castine is expected to be arraigned in Cheshire County Superior Court on Thursday. He is currently being held on preventative detention.

State Police are urging anyone with concerns that their child may have been victimized or anyone with information regarding this investigation to contact Detective Edward Horton at 603-931-0660 or Edward.J.Horton@dos.nh.gov.

This is a developing story. Check back for updates as more information becomes available.

Download the FREE Boston 25 News app for breaking news alerts.

Follow Boston 25 News on Facebook and Twitter. | Watch Boston 25 News NOW
PORTLAND, Ore. (KOIN)  Portland police have identified the man fatally stabbed on or near a MAX train station platform on Christmas Eve, officials say.

A medical examiner determined that Juan Francisco Orellana-Gavarrete, 23, died of homicide Sunday night after police say they found him wounded at the Goose Hollow train station and brought him to a local hospital.

VIDEO: Truck spins out, slams into Oregon State Police SUV, ambulance on HWY 20

According to investigators, Orellana-Gavarrete had gotten into a fight with Edel Cruz-Aragon, 22, on the Providence Park train platform and rode the train to Southwest Jefferson Street sometime before 6:30 p.m.

We share condolences with those who are dealing with this loss tonight and loved ones of the person who died, TriMet spokesperson Tia York said on Sunday.

Cruz-Aragon was arrested Tuesday after trying to walk away from officers near Southwest Ninth Avenue and Oak Street, officials say. He now faces charges of second-degree murder and unlawfully using a weapon.

Portland among largest U.S. cities paying highest utility bills: Report

My heart goes out to the victims family and friends, PPB Chief Bob Day said in a previously released statement. For someone to lose their life in a violent crime is unacceptable. For it to happen on Christmas Eve is exponentially worse.

An investigation is ongoing. Anyone with information about this case should contact Detective Jason Koenig at jason.koenig@police.portlandoregon.gov or Detective William Winters at william.winters@police.portlandoregon.gov. Reference case no. 23-331064.

State with KOIN 6 as this story develops.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KOIN.com.
PERKINS TOWNSHIP, Ohio (WJW)  Perkins Township police are investigating a break-in at a store early Wednesday morning.

The Perkins Twp. Police Department said on their Facebook page that two suspects, who they are still trying to identify, broke into Harneys Market on Columbus Avenue.

Gypsy Rose Blanchard to be released from prison on Thursday

A suspect vehicle has been identified as a 2021-2024 Buick Enclave, according to police.

Anyone who has information about the suspects is asked to message the police department on their Facebook page or call Detective Timothy Alexander Sr at 419-627-0824 Ext. 6006.

Watch: Gunshots at popular Cleveland marina lead to standoff

No further details have yet been provided.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to Fox 8 Cleveland WJW.
A mail carrier working in Randolph was robbed of their master key Wednesday.

The postal worker was at the Rosemont Square Apartment Complex around 12:30 p.m. when two masked men dressed in black physically assaulted him, injuring his ribs and sides, Randolph police say.

The workers mailbox master key or arrow key was stolen during the alleged assault. The key opens drop-off boxes and multi-mailbox panels at apartment complexes. When one is taken, it can lead to a spike in checks, credit cards, and gifts stolen from the mail.

This is the second time this year a mail carrier was robbed in Randolph. In March, a USPS letter carrier was delivering mail in the vicinity of Canton Street when they were approached from behind by a robber.

Earlier this year, 25 Investigates reported the postal service was investigating robberies of master keys.

Robbery of Boston letter carrier part of mail theft epidemic, according to Postal Police Union

At least six other postal workers have been robbed in Boston since 2022, according to data from police and the USPS.

The United States Postal Service provided the following tips residents can use to protect themselves and their mail:

Deposit outgoing mail into USPS Blue Collection Boxes before the last collection or inside the Post Office.

Do not send cash or coins through the mail. Use checks or money orders. Ask your bank for secure checks that are more difficult to alter.

If you see any suspicious behavior around mailboxes, or believe your mail has been stolen, please notify Postal Inspectors.

Customers can submit reports at www.uspis.gov or by calling the USPS at 877-867-2455.

This is a developing story. Check back for updates as more information becomes available.

Download the FREE Boston 25 News app for breaking news alerts.

Follow Boston 25 News on Facebook and Twitter. | Watch Boston 25 News NOW
UPDATE @ 4:10 P.M.

The OKCPD says they have confirmed both victims are dead.

UPDATE @ 3:50 P.M.

According to the OKCPD, conflicting reports said both victims were killed. However, officials now say both victims are in critical condition at this time.

UPDATE @ 3:12 P.M.

OKCPD says that both shooting victims are being transported to the hospital by EMSA. No other information on the condition of either victim is available at this time.

ORIGINAL STORY

YUKON, Okla. (KFOR)  Police are responding to a reported shooting near Reno Ave. and S Czech Hall Road on Thursday afternoon.

Shooting near Reno Ave. and S Czech Hall Road in Yukon. Photo courtesy KFOR.

Shooting near Reno Ave. and S Czech Hall Road in Yukon. Photo courtesy KFOR.

Authorities say two people have been injured at the scene near a gas station.

News 4 has a crew headed to the scene and will provide updates as more information becomes available.

This is a developing story.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KFOR.com Oklahoma City.
Dwight Silverman reviewed some smart plugs from Tapo, a division of networking gear company TP-Link, in March and liked them a lot  at first. Dwight Silverman Rewind.ai added some new features, but the built-in tools on my computer are good enough. Dwight Silverman screenshot Spark, by the Ukranian software company Readdle, is a free email client that makes it easy to manage multiple accounts across different devices. The app is once again Dwight Silverman's favorite email tool  for now.

When I write about a product or service, Ive usually been working with it for a few weeks at most. The column you read can only explore that experience, not what its like to own or use it over time.

In other words, the future is unwritten. But when the future arrives, you do have the benefit of hindsight.

At the end of the year, I like to look back and reconsider the things Ive reviewed. How have they held up  or not  over time? Lets find out.

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Smart home tech

The Matter protocol was touted as one smart-home technology to rule them all, uniting a very fractured landscape of devices and software. It would allow plugs, switches, light bulbs, door bells and other home automation gadgetry to interact with each other and with controllers or digital assistants like Apples Siri, Googles Assistant and Amazons Alexa.

But devices that use Matter arrived later than promised, with some lacking key features. It has been mostly a disappointment.

I reviewed some smart plugs from Tapo, a division of networking gear company TP-Link, in March and liked them a lot  at first. We are an Amazon Alexa household, with a smattering of devices for Apple HomeKit thrown in. When I first installed the plugs, they worked well with both. But a few months after my review, they disappeared from my Apple products Home app. I could not get them to reappear until I did a factory reset and started over.

But then, I couldnt use Alexa to turn them on via voice  but I could get them to turn off that way! Theres more troubleshooting I could do, but you know what? This is the very problem Matter was supposed to solve. I shouldnt have to jump through those hoops.

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Rewind.ai

I give credit to Dan Siroker, the CEO of Rewind.ai, for being honest about the reaction to his companys eponymous product, which records everything that happens on your Apple Silicon-based Mac so you can search for it later. He conceded in an interview that many people find Rewind.ai weird and creepy, but also emphasized that it can be incredibly useful.

Which is one reason why, after my review in April, I became a paying customer after the trial period ended. It seemed worth $29 a month ($19 a month if paid annually) to be able to search through captured audio, sift through documents and even rewatch teleconferencing meetings.

But as it turned out, I could do most of that just using the Macs built-in Spotlight search, and in my semi-retirement, there just arent all that many documents I collect or Zoom/Teams meetings I attend. I wound up dropping my subscription after a couple of months.

Since then, Rewind.ai has added some new features, including a personalized AI that can answer questions and summarize documents and meetings. I might revisit it down the road, but for now, the built-in tools on my computer are good enough.

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Mesh routers

In 2023 I decided to explore mesh routers, which combine multiple units to create a wireless network thats particularly useful in larger homes. Although I dont have a particularly expansive swankienda, it gave me a feel for how easy they were to set up and maintain. And I could wander down the hallways of our condo building to see just how far their signals extended.

I reviewed mesh systems from both TP-Link and Amazons eero, and I liked the latter so much that I decided to buy a pair when a good deal arrived. It turns out to have been a smart move.

Thats because I am getting much faster download speeds from Comcast than I was with my previous router, a TP-Link AX6000 model that never could give me the gigabit-plus service I was paying for. The eero Pr 6E uses WiFi 6E, which bolts a third, 6-GHz radio onto the WiFi 6 standard. And this new frequency is much faster, so with devices I have that support 6E, including my iPhone 15 Pro Max, I get well over 1-Gbps downloads.

Ive also been trialing eeros subscription service, which gives me detailed analytics about whats happening on my network, along with (if I ever needed it) quality parental controls. Im not sure Ill stick with it to the tune of $10 per month once the trial ends, but its nice to know whats happening with my WiFi.

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Spark 3 email

Ive fallen in and out of love with Spark, an email program initially for the Mac and now with a Windows version. Version 2, which was mostly free, was a revelation as I was looking for post-retirement email client to replace Microsoft Outlook. But version 3 was a poorly executed attempt to rethink the way people use email, and you know what they say about reinventing the wheel.  Plus, it was no longer mostly free.

Since then, Readdle, the Ukraine-based developer behind Spark, heard enough from its disgruntled fans that it restored nearly all the version 2 features that were stripped with version 3. After a brief fling with the new, free (and annoyingly ad-supported) version of Outlook for Mac, I returned to the Spark fold. Readdle later added ChatGPT AI integration that allows you to generate email drafts, but the results were so awkward as to be embarrassing.

This feature has since gotten a little better, but fortunately Sparks AI features can be turned off and ignored. The app is once again my favorite email tool  for now. I have my fingers crossed that Readdle wont make similar mistakes with version 4.
Police issued a Silver Alert for a 70-year-old man last seen Saturday in Kansas Citys Northland.

William M. Jensen was last seen around 8:30 a.m. in the area of Northwest Prairie View Drive and Northwest Transcon Drive, leaving his gold 2005 Toyota RAV4. The car has Missouri plates LC3-M9E.

He is 5 feet and 10 inches tall and weighs around 250 pounds. Jensen has medical conditions that require care.

Anyone who finds Jensen or knows of his whereabouts should call 911 or the missing persons unit at 816-234-5043.
ILLINOIS  Police sources have confirmed with FOX 2 that the body of Marquisha Williams, a St. Louis woman who was missing days before Christmas, was found in Illinois.

Williams was 29 years old and a mother of four. Police say she disappeared on Dec. 20. Law enforcement officers with the Illinois State Police say she was found deceased Thursday.

Prosecutors have charged Trenton Ivy, her ex-boyfriend, with murder amid the investigation. Ivy was arrested last Friday on unrelated charges.

After his arrest, he reportedly confessed to police in Racine, Wisconsin, that he killed Williams in St. Louis. He also admitted to a physical altercation and dumping her body at an undisclosed location.

Court documents released Wednesday revealed investigators discovered blood evidence in Williams vehicle on Dec. 22, along with some of her personal belongings.

Police conducted several searches for Williams over the last few days, including some in the St. Louis area.

Family members tell FOX 2 the whole situation has been heartbreaking, but Thursdays update brings some closure.

Im glad they found her and glad we have closure, said Norvette Chavis Williams. It would have driven me crazy if we had found her. I want to thank everyone that came out to help search for her. The community and everyone rallied together, and we all came came together as one. We needed help.

I love my baby, said Marquishas father, Marvin Williams. I now have to worry about the kids that she had.

We know its very hard for them, said volunteer Shelia Prince. We appreciate all the help and support that the family has had and that they found her to bring their precious baby home.

Illinois State Police and other agencies are assisting with the investigation. Ivy is being held without bond in Wisconsin until he can be transferred back to St. Louis.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to FOX 2.
Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk has announced that he is preparing to visit Kyiv, although he has not specified when the trip will take place.

Source: Tusk answering a question about the hauliers' protests on the Polish-Ukrainian border, as reported by European Pravda, citing TVN 24

Quote: "It's a bit unreasonable of me to mention this, as I know the situation that President Zelenskyy and the whole of Ukraine are in. Going to Kyiv and devoting the entire visit to Polish transport issues is wrong. But we will prepare this visit in such a way that during my meeting with the president, it will be clear what we want to achieve," Tusk said.

Details: The Polish official said he would ask hauliers not to block crossings "precisely because of the war". The prime minister added that the situation is dramatic, vowing to do everything possible to make life easier for Polish hauliers.

Tusk also noted that the Polish government is approaching the possibility of ending the hauliers' blockade of several border crossings with Ukraine.

Background:

The blockade by Polish hauliers has been going on since 6 November. On Monday, 18 December, the hauliers resumed the blockade of the Dorohusk-Yahodyn checkpoint after it was interrupted due to a ban by local authorities.

They demand, among other things, the introduction of commercial permits for Ukrainian companies to transport goods, with the exception of humanitarian aid and supplies for the Ukrainian military.

Separately, representatives of the Polish Ministry of Infrastructure and the Ukrainian Ministry of Communities, Territories and Infrastructure agreed on an action plan to unblock the border during a meeting in Kyiv on Friday, 22 December.

The Polish government had supposed that the border could be unblocked by Christmas.

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People using the popular corticosteroid inhalers Flovent HFA or Flovent Diskus to treat their asthma will need to switch to a new product in 2024.

Flovent manufacturer GlaxoSmithKline announced in June that it would be discontinuing its Flovent-branded products starting Jan. 1 and will instead produce an authorized generic version with an identical formula and device design, according to the Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America.

But doctors are raising concerns about hurdles patients will face in accessing medication if their insurance providers dont cover the new authorized generics.

This medication has been the most commonly used inhaled medication for the past 25 or 30 years, Dr. Robyn Cohen, a pediatric pulmonologist at Boston Medical Center, told CNN.

The fact that its being discontinued is going to be a huge shock to the system for patients, for families and for doctors, Cohen told the outlet.

For some patients, switching to an entirely new product isnt possible, doctors say.

Alternatives like Arnuity and Qvar, which are now the preferred treatments of some insurance carriers, are not appropriate for children due to the breath capacity needed to dispense the medication, Dr. Christopher Oermann said in a Dec. 8 news release from the American Academy of Pediatrics. Both Flovent and the authorized generic can be used by patients 4 years and older, GSK says.

There are lots of children that are hospitalized every day in the United States with asthma exacerbations, and there are kids that die every year in the United States as a result of severe asthma exacerbations, Oermann said. If those kids that are poorly controlled dont have access to preventive inhalers, some of those kids could die.

Why are the inhalers being discontinued?

A spokeswoman for GSK told the Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America that the company is making the change to provide U.S. patients with potentially lower cost alternatives.

GSKs switch to authorized generics aligns with the Jan. 1 scheduled removal of the cap on Medicaid drug rebates as established in the 2021 American Rescue Plan Act.

This cap protected manufacturers like GSK from ever paying more than the total cost of a drug back to Medicaid.

With the cap lifted, manufacturers are at risk of selling drugs that have undergone price hikes to Medicaid at a loss. The price of Flovent products has increased nearly 50% over the last decade, GoodRx data shows.

Andrew Baum, a Citi analyst, told CNN that GSK seeks to evade impact by, one: discontinuation; two: authorized generic.

The AAFA recommends talking with your doctor about appropriate alternatives, including the authorized generics, if you are a Flovent user, and checking with your insurance provider about which asthma medications it covers.

Is it long COVID or long flu? Both illnesses have lingering symptoms, study says

Essential medicines to be made in US using Defense Production Act. What does it do?

Preventable infant illness is on rise, CDC says. Southern states have the most cases
ANDERSON, Ind.  A Portland man has agreed to plead guilty to two counts of child molesting in Madison County court.

The charges  both Level 4 felonies carrying maximum 12-year prison terms  were filed against 24-year-old Dusty Ray Cox in June.

Cox is accused of repeatedly fondling a juvenile when he visited her family's home in May.

Interviewed by a Madison County sheriff's deputy, Cox reportedly acknowledged having slept in the same bed with his accuser, but maintained he did not recall molesting her "because he was asleep."

More: Man accused of raping Muncie child arrested while being confronted by angry citizens

Last week, a plea bargain in which the Portland man agreed to plead guilty was submitted in Madison Circuit Court 4. A hearing at which Cox would be sentenced if the agreement is accepted has been scheduled for Jan. 23.

He continues to be held in the Madison County jail under a $10,000 bond.

in other court news:

New Castle man accused of of sexual abuse

A New Castle man has been accused of sexually abusing the 11-year-old daughter of an acquaintance in Anderson.

The charge against 45-year-old Eusebio Xolio Chigo, a Level 4 felony, was filed in Madison Circuit Court 4 in May 2020, but he was only recently arrested.

A trial has not yet been scheduled. Chigo is also listed in court documents at the Anderson address where he apparently lived in 2020. He is being held in the Madison County jail under a $20,000 bond.

Douglas Walker is a news reporter at The Star Press. Contact him at 765-213-5851 or at dwalker@muncie.gannett.com.

This article originally appeared on Muncie Star Press: Molesting charges filed against local men in Madison County
PORTLAND, Ore. (KOIN)  The Portland Police Bureau is asking for the publics help in an ongoing homicide investigation related to the shooting death of 49-year-old Michael Hart earlier this month.

Hart, who was also known as Nomad, was camping in a tent when the incident occurred on Dec. 6 near Southeast Main Street and Water Avenue. Now, investigators want to speak with other people who were living in the area who may have more information about Hart or the homicide itself.

Authorities on scene of officer-involved shooting near Mall 205

Of particular interest is a trailer that was in the vicinity at the time. However, the structure was moved to an unknown location shortly after the homicide, police said. The people associated with the trailer are thought to be possible witnesses or have other information about the homicide.

When officers originally arrived at the scene on Dec. 6 at 1:48 p.m., they came upon bystanders performing CPR on Hart. However, even after medics came to engage in lifesaving measures, Hart died on the scene. The medical examiner later confirmed he died of homicide by gunshot wound.

Its a problem: Washington County Jail reports in-custody overdoses spiked in 2023

Those who have any information they can provide to investigators about the homicide should contact Detective Joseph Corona via his email or (503) 823-0508 or Detective Jennifer Hertzler at her email or (503) 823-1040. Reference case no. 23-315311.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KOIN.com.
Hundreds of postmasters were wrongly prosecuted for accounting errors caused by faulty computing software - Yui Mok/PA

Post Office chiefs should face a criminal investigation for covering up the Horizon scandal, lawyers representing the victims have told the inquiry into the affair.

Between 1999 and 2015, more than 700 postmasters were prosecuted after faulty accounting software made it look like money was missing from their sites.

Now, lawyers involved in the inquiry, one of the most widespread miscarriages of justice in British history, believe that enough evidence has emerged for police to investigate senior Post Office staff.

Postmasters have claimed that senior staff either wilfully covered up dozens of bugs or deliberately shut their eyes to the obvious.

Their barristers believe there is the possibility that staff members could face criminal investigations after the inquiry has concluded, for perverting the course of justice.

At least four postmasters took their own lives as a result of the scandal, while many more were sacked and bankrupted. A public inquiry was established in 2020.

Lawyers who represented the victims have told The Times that they want Sir Wyn Williams, the chairman of the inquiry, to pass files to the director of public prosecutions when it concludes next year.

Ed Henry KC said in written submissions to the inquiry: The evidence has begun to reveal a conspiracy to pervert the course of justice, which emerged between 2006 and 2010, and continued for many years.

He added that the Post Office had a toxic culture or secrecy and misinformation and it specialised in propaganda and policing its own people.

Paul Marshall, a barrister who has represented some of the postmasters, said: Based on recent weeks hearings there is more than enough evidence for the police to open criminal investigations into several senior Post Office staff.

Another unnamed barrister told The Times that the criminal standard of proof was always a high bar.

They added: The inquiry will have to have that in mind and wont recommend people for prosecution unless theres a reasonable prospect of conviction.

Janet Skinner, a postmistress who was wrongly jailed for nine months, said that drawing out evidence that could support a criminal investigation into senior Post Office staff was a focus for her legal team.

The Metropolitan Police is already investigating two former Horizon IT experts for perjury.

Were acutely aware of the human cost

A Post Office spokesman said: We fully share the aims of the current public inquiry, set up to independently establish what went wrong in the past and accountability.

Were acutely aware of the human cost of the scandal and were doing all we can to right the wrongs of the past as far as that is possible.

Both Post Office and Government are committed to providing full, fair and final compensation for victims.

The Met Police said that it is providing the inquiry with information and monitoring proceedings.

In September, the Government said that Post Office staff who have had wrongful convictions for theft and false accounting overturned would be offered 600,000 each in compensation.

But so far, only 93 convictions have been overturned, according to the Horizon Compensation Advisory Board, an independent group overseeing compensation related to the scandal.

Broaden your horizons with award-winning British journalism. Try The Telegraph free for 1 month, then enjoy 1 year for just $9 with our US-exclusive offer.
Prague university shooter David Kozak had confessed in a letter to killing a two-month-old baby girl and her 32-year-old father in a forest just days before the rampage on 21 December, police said.

The letter was found at Kozaks home in the central Czech town of Hostoun, according to reports.

Czech police spokesperson Jan Danek confirmed the existence of the letter but did not disclose its contents due to the ongoing investigation, the daily Denik N reported.

I can confirm that we secured a letter in Hostoun where the perpetrator wrote that he committed the attack on the 32-year-old father and his daughter, Mr Danek said.

The contents of the document cannot be made public at this time due to the ongoing investigation into the entire incident.

Earlier, authorities had identified Kozak as a suspect in the double murders of the father and infant, discovered in a national forest on 15 December.

Less than a week before Kozak carried out the mass shootings at the Charles University in central Prague, the bodies of the two victims  seemingly chosen at random  were found in the Klanovicky les National Forest on 15 December.

The mass shooting at Charles University left 14 people dead and 25 injured.

Kozak, armed with an AR-15, entered the university, claiming to have killed his father that morning. He opened fire on the fourth floor of Charles University in Jan Palach Square shortly after 3pm, with chilling images appearing of the shooter dressed in black, taking aim from a balcony with a large gun.

Police raced to the scene and evacuated students and tourists near the building in the city centre, with Kozaks body found a short while later with devastating injuries. Authorities have confirmed that the 24 year-old was a history student at the university and that he acted alone.

He is believed to have been inspired by a school shooting carried out by 14-year-old schoolgirl in Russia earlier this month, and wrote on Telegram: I want to do a school shooting and possibly suicide. Kozak later died by suicide.

The Czech government declared 23 December a national day of mourning in the wake of the countrys worst mass shooting.

Prime minister Petr Fiala expressed deep sorrow and disgust, emphasising the need to come together to show respect for the victims in the face of this senseless violence.

There is absolutely no explanation, no justification for this. Like many of you, I am feeling a deep sorrow and disgust over this incomprehensible and brutal violence, Fiala said.

At this dark hour, we should come together and respect each other, to show our respect for the victims.
Chuckwagon BBQ & Burgers Courtesy/Chuckwagon BBQ & Burgers Texas trinity of brisket, pork ribs and halal sausage with mac-n-cheese and butter potatoes at Chuckwagon BBQ & Burgers J.C. Reid/Contributor Michael & Waseem Hilal at Chuckwagon BBQ & Burgers J.C. Reid/Contributor Chuckwagon BBQ & Burgers in Katy Alison Cook/Staff

There's something oddly comforting about eating in a replica of a chuckwagon.

Also comforting: Its located in a suburban shopping mall in Katy rather than on a dusty prairie in West Texas. And instead of eating a questionable bean stew from a cast-iron pot, Im eating great barbecue cooked by owner and pitmaster Waseem Hilal of Chuckwagon BBQ & Burgers.

Hilal, 33, grew up in the barbecue business. His dad, Michael, came to Houston from Syria in the 1970s and established Charlies BBQ in Greenway Plaza in 1978. Growing up, Waseem helped out at the family business during summers, usually manning the cash register.

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After a lease dispute at Greenway, the family departed for the Northside and partnered with an existing barbecue joint on Airline Drive, Hungry Farmer Bar-B-Q, in 2008. Waseem worked at the restaurant with his dad, now cooking on the big Southern Pride rotisserie smokers that produced large volumes of smoked meats for the low-slung, rambling dining room filled with old-school, vinyl-covered booths.

Waseem worked there until 2016 while also attending Houston Community College, eventually earning a degree in culinary arts. He would branch out and leave the family business, working at popular establishments of the time, like Maxs Wine Dive and Hotel Granduca.

Chuckwagon BBQ & Burgers 4031 FM 1463, #50, Katy; chuckwagonbbqburgers.com Open lunch and dinner, Tuesday-Sunday.





In 2017, tragedy struck. The Airline location, since renamed Charlies BBQ, burned to the ground in a massive fire.

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We lived in the southwest, 30 miles away, and I got out of my house (after hearing about the fire) and could see the smoke, said Waseem.

Charlie's closed permanently. Waseem took time off from working in the restaurant business for a while, but eventually landed a chef position at Tobiuo Sushi in the Cinco Ranch area of Katy.

He had no experience making sushi, so they put him in charge of the yakitori grill to make grilled meats. Thats when the idea to resurrect the family business became a reality.

Every day I would light up natural lump charcoal and add a few chunks of wood to it, said Waseem. I just happened to buy hickory wood for it, and the smell would take me back to my childhood. My mind would replay memories of my barbecue past. Thats when my itch to return to the barbecue world started.

In 2019, he saw a Facebook ad for an existing barbecue joint that included an Ole Hickory rotisserie smoker and a wall lined with cozy, faux chuckwagon compartments. He was sold and took over in June of that year.

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Since then, Waseem, with his parents helping in the kitchen, has created one of the best and most unique barbecue joints in the Katy area. Theres an excellent Texas trinity of brisket, pork ribs and all-beef sausage. This is supplemented with comfort-food favorites such as a pico de gallo burger that received a rare A grade from Houston Chronicle restaurant critic Alison Cook.

Chuckwagon is the only barbecue joint in the area with a dedicated halal meat menu, which caters to the large Muslim community of southwest Houston. This includes meats like beef and chicken while excluding pork, which is available on the regular menu but prepared separately from the halal meats.
What separates New Years Eve and New Years Day from Christmas Eve and Christmas Day? A week and a business philosophy  most of those retail places that close early on Dec. 24 and close completely on Dec. 25 dont close as early on Dec. 31 and are open to accept your money on Jan. 1.

Banks and stock markets wont be open. And county offices, courts, schools and libraries in Miami-Dade and Broward will be closed.

Heres what to know:

Major supermarket chains

The Presidente Supermarket at 2199 NW 36th St. in Miami

Publix: All stores will close at 9 p.m. New Years Eve and will have adjusted hours on New Years Day.

Winn-Dixie/Fresco Y Mas: Closing 10 p.m. on New Years Eve. Open normal hours New Years Day.

Sedanos: Closing New Years Eve at 8 p.m. Open 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. New Years Day.

Presidente: Check your favorite location for exact hours, but theyll be open New Years Day.

Milams Market: Closing New Years Eve at 9 p.m. Opening at 9 a.m. New Years Day.

Price Choice Markets: Check your favorite location for exact hours, but stores will be open New Years Day.

Fresh Market: Closing at 8 p.m. New Years Eve, open 9 a.m. to 8 p.m. New Years Day.

Whole Foods Market: Stores closing at 9 p.m. New Years Eve, open 8 a.m. to 9 p.m. New Years Day.

Aldi: Stores close at 7 p.m. New Years Eve and will be closed New Years Day.

Trader Joes: Closing at 5 p.m. New Years Eve. All locations closed on New Years Day.

Walmart Neighborhood Market: Open regular hours New Years Eve and New Years Day.

Chain pharmacies

Walgreens: Stores will be open New Years Day, some with adjusted hours like 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., others for 24 hours. But, as with Christmas, take care of your pharmacy needs on New Years Eve  pharmacies wont be open New Years Day.

CVS/Navarro: Stores will be open New Years Day. Most pharmacies will be open New Years Day.

Big box stores

Walmart: Open regular hours New Years Eve and New Years Day.

Target: Open regular hours New Years Eve and New Years Day.

Costco: Closing 5 p.m. New Years Eve. Closed New Years Day.

BJs Warehouse Club: Most stores close at 7 p.m. on New Years Eve. All stores will be open 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. New Years Day.

Malls

Aventura Mall will close at 7 p.m. Christmas Eve. There will be no shopping on Christmas Day.

Aventura Mall: New Years Eve open 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. Open New Years Day 10 a.m. to 8 p.m.

Bal Harbour Shops: New Years Eve open 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. Open New Years Day 11 a.m. to 7 p.m.

Brickell City Centre: New Years Eve open 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. Open New Years Day 11 a.m. to 9 p.m.

Broward Mall: New Years Eve open 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. Open New Years Day noon to 6 p.m.

Coral Square Mall: New Years Eve open 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Open New Years Day 11 a.m to 7 p.m.

Dadeland Mall: New Years Eve open 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. Open New Years Day 11 a.m. to 9 p.m.

Dolphin Mall: New Years Eve open 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. Open New Years Day 10 a.m. to 7 p.m.

The Falls: New Years Eve open 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Open New Years Day 11 a.m. to 8 p.m.

Florida Keys Outlet Marketplace: New Years Eve open 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. Open New Years Day 11 a.m. to 8 p.m.

Galleria Fort Lauderdale: New Years Eve open noon to 6 p.m. Open New Years Day 10 a.m. to 8 p.m.

Miami International Mall: New Years Eve open 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. Open New Years Day 11 a.m. to 9 p.m.

Palms at Town & Country: Check individual stores at this open-air Kendall mall.

Pembroke Lakes Mall: New Years Eve open 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. Open New Years Day 11 a.m. to 8 p.m.

Sawgrass Mills: New Years Eve open 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. Open New Years Day 10 a.m. to 9 p.m.

Shops at Merrick Park: New Years Eve open 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. Open New Years Day 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.

Westland Mall: New Years Eve open noon to 6 p.m. Open New Years Day 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.

Mass transit

When will buses run on the holiday?

Miami-Dade: On New Years Eve and New Years Day, Miami-Dade Transit buses will run on a Sunday schedule. Metrorail and Metromover will run on a weekend schedule on New Years Day.

For New Years Eve, Metrorail and Metromover will run until 2 a.m. Thats also when the last northbound and southbound trains will leave Government Center. The Green and Orange Line Metrorail trains will run every 30 minutes. You can leave Metrorail stations after 2 a.m., but you cant come into the stations. Metrorail parking lots will be open until 3 a.m.

Special Transportation Services (STS) will run regular service and you can reserve or cancel trips at 305-871-1111.

Also, regular transit fees return on New Years Day.

Broward: Broward County Transit services will work on a Sunday schedule on New Years Day. There will be trip-planning for fixed and paratransit routes at 954-357-8400 from 8:30 a.m. to 4:45 p.m. and staff will be at the downtown Fort Lauderdale main terminal, the Lauderhill Transit Center and the Pompano Beach Northeast Transit Center from 8:45 a.m. to 4:45 p.m.

Tri-Rail: Tri-Rail trains will run on a weekend/holiday schedule.

Garbage

This will happen on Monday in Miami.

Miami: Regular garbage pickup.

Miami-Dade: Regular garbage pickup.

Fort Lauderdale: No service interruptions.

Broward: Regular collection on New Years Day.

Other municipalities, check with your local government.

U.S. Postal Service

No service or pickup on New Years Eve or New Years Day, aside from Priority Mail Express.

County offices, courts, schools, libraries

Miami-Dade: Closed on New Years Day.

Broward: Closed on New Years Day.
Rhondda is swapped in for 'Wanda' on this chip shop to play on the 1988 film starring John Cleese

If you're partial to a bag of chips, the chances are you've visited a chip shop with a pun-based name.

From London's relatively straight-forward The Codfather to the more elaborately-named A Fish Called Rhondda in Pentre, Rhondda Cynon Taf, chip shop owners can't resist a play on words.

Others in on the act include London barbers Barber Streisand, Sunderland wine shop Amy's Winehouse and pottery cafe Kilning Me Softly in Milton Keynes.

Florist Rachael Allen owns the flamboyantly-named Dark Side of the Bloom just outside Bangor in Gwynedd, north Wales.

She said naming her business after the Pink Floyd song Dark Side of the Moon turned out to be a shrewd business decision.

"It just took off, we get so many comments, it's unbelievable," she said.

Rachael Allen (right) wanted the name of her florist to reflect the alternative weddings they work on

"I wanted something that reflected a little bit of an alternative florist rather than just the run of the mill because we do a lot of alternative weddings.

"The dark side represented the black and the funeral work and the bloom was obviously flowers."

Although she would not consider herself to be a Pink Floyd fan, the name seems to attract people who are.

"I do get a lot of bikers and I've done a lot of bikers' funerals and weddings as well and I think [the name] has attracted them so its really good," she said.

Naming her shop Dark Side of the Bloom has been good for business, says Rachael

Rachel's business has been shortlisted for a competition aiming to find the shop name with the best - or worst, depending on your preference - use of a pun.

A list of what will be to some hilarious and to others groan-inducing names has been put together by language learning platform Babbel, which has analysed TikTok, Instagram, X (formerly known as Twitter), and Facebook to find the 120 most popular.

A public poll will decide an overall winner who will be named in the new year.

Also shortlisted is fellow north Wales business owner Kathryn Robson with her shop named Damsel In This Dress.

"The shop at the time was next door to the castle and the building that the shop was in used to be an armoury so we wanted it to be something to do with women and castles," she explained.

But she does not attribute the success of her shop in Harlech, Gwynedd, to the memorable name.

"It's fun to have a fun name... but I'm not sure it makes a difference to our business other than that the staff and locals find it fun," she said.

In fact, she has changed the name of the business' Facebook page to Wool & Gifts Harlech after finding people searching online were more likely to use the location of the shop than the name.

What is it about shopkeepers and puns?

"The pun undeniably holds a special place in British hearts," said Babbel's linguistic and cultural expert Noel Wolf.

"The beauty of a pun lies in its ability to exploit the versatile vocabulary and multiplicity of meanings of English - the prevalence of the pun in Britain is testament to the flexibility and richness of the English language."

Some other names that made the long list:

Puff Dad E (Vape shop, Essex)

Jean Claude Van Man (Removals, Southport)

Some Fin Fishy (Pet shop, Wirral)

Pest in Peace (Pest control, Wilmslow)

Thaitanic (Thai restaurant, Belfast)

Hairy Pop-Ins (Pet nannies, Shetland, Scotland)

William the Concreter (Concrete mixer van, Battle, East Sussex)

Jason Donervan (Kebab van, Bristol)

Taco Look At Me Now (Taco van, West Sussex)

Bonnie Tiler (Tilers, Llantwit Major, Vale of Glamorgan)

Love you a Latte (Cafe, Mumbles, Swansea)

Apocalypse Cow (BBQ restaurant, Birmingham)

Doner Summer (Kebab shop, Leeds)
Preliminary renderings of a new Backyard Brewery Co. restaurant and micro brewery to open by the end of 2024 in Dickinson. Backyard Brewery Co.

Backyard Brewery Co. is planning to occupy a new 4,900-square-foot building that will house a microbrewery and new restaurant by the end of 2024.

Currently located about 200 to 300 feet outside Dickinson city limits, the brewery at 1675 Dickinson Avenue is a little off the beaten path.

The new location would place the business across the street from city hall  the ideal spot for the kind of community watering hole vice president and head brewer Mike Starr has in mind.

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The idea is to move our brewing operations and the restaurant right near the heart of Dickinson, Starr said.

The 36-year-old said he hopes to recreate what has made the brewing company a staple for craft beer enthusiasts in the Dickinson community and beyond since it opened in 2019.

With its Astro turf flooring and bamboo fencing, the Backyard experience is what its name advertises.

We want it to feel like youre drinking beer in your backyard, Starr said. I want to keep that same vibe.

The bar and brewery will take up the first floor. The restaurant  which will include a terrace with 21-years-and-over seating  will be on the second floor, serving American-style comfort foods. An outdoor space will be open for family-friendly and dog-friendly fun, Starr said.

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Craft beer is nothing without community, said Starr, who was a manager at Bakfish Brewing Co. in Pearland before opening Backyard.

Im hoping it will be the local hangout spot, the local restaurant where people know its going to be a good experience, Starr said.

Starr also wants Backyard to become the kind of multigenerational tradition he experienced while visiting pubs in Germany.

Every town has their own pub, their own brewery and bar where their beer is served, he said. Thats the place where you grow up because your parents eat there and you look to the time when you can have a beer, and then you come back, have a beer and food and maybe bring your kids there, and it completes the story.

Starr hopes to break ground on the new location in spring 2024.
If youve got plans to head to the bars on New Years Eve or perhaps to check out the 10th annual Potato Drop outside of the Idaho Capitol Building, youre in luck.

Theres a more-likely-than-not chance that the skies above Boise will remain dry Sunday evening heading into Monday morning, and temperatures will even be slightly warmer than usual.

It looks like theres about a 30% to 40% chance of precipitation over the higher terrain, National Weather Service meteorologist Sophia Adams told the Idaho Statesman on Wednesday. And anywhere from a 10% to 20% chance of precipitation over the valleys and Boise metro area.

Any precipitation that does fall in the higher altitudes will be snow, Adams said, with a rain-snow mix possible for areas below 5,000 feet. Additionally, any precipitation that does fall will likely be in the early hours of Monday morning.

The Weather Service forecasts cloudy skies for most of the holiday weekend, with temperatures peaking at 44 degrees on Sunday in Boise and dropping to about 29 degrees at night.

Adams said the temperature in Boise at midnight, when 2023 ticks over into 2024, should be about 30 degrees.

While those temperatures are certainly chilly, its still warmer than most other New Years celebrations. The typical high for late December and early January is 37 degrees, while the typical low is 24 degrees.

Adams said the warmer weather is due to some long-lasting high-pressure ridges that a strong El Nino has likely influenced. Air in a high-pressure system compresses and warms as it descends toward the surface.

Those warmer sea surface temperatures in the Pacific region, Adams said, are helping develop those high-pressure systems in our region and keeping our temperatures warmer.
Statement: The great replacement theory is not some grand right-wing conspiracy theory, but a basic statement of the Democratic Party's platform.

Ramaswamy

At a Republican presidential primary debate in Alabama, entrepreneur Vivek Ramaswamy claimed he was the only candidate onstage who would "speak truth to power" and "speak the truth to you."

"Why am I the only person, on this stage at least, who can say  that the great replacement theory is not some grand right-wing conspiracy theory, but a basic statement of the Democratic Party's platform," Ramaswamy said Dec 6.

The "great replacement theory" is a debunked conspiracy theory claiming that white people of European descent are deliberately being replaced with nonwhite people. Perpetrators of several violent attacks around the world, including the shooter who killed 10 people at a Buffalo, N.Y., grocery store in 2022, have referred to the theory.

Immigration and political science experts said Ramaswamys claim is wrong and dangerous. And PolitiFacts review of the Democratic Partys campaign platforms from 1840 to 2020 show no reference to the "great replacement theory."

Democratic Partys pro-immigrant platform is not evidence of the great replacement theory'

There are different versions of the "great replacement theory." The most "explicitly racist" version claims that Jewish people are manipulating "high-fertility" immigrants to come to the U.S. and replace white people through demographic warfare, said Casey Kelly, a University of Nebraska expert in political extremism.

Ramaswamy is citing a more "sanitized version" repeated by right-wing politicians and pundits, claiming that Democrats pro-immigration policies are replacing white people in the U.S. and strengthening the partys voter base, Kelly said.

But there is no part of the Democratic Party platform that endorses or echoes the ideas of a replacement theory, said Eric Oliver, a political scientist at the University of Chicago.

"Ramaswamy is trying to interpret the partys historically liberal immigration policies as wanting to get rid of its predominantly white majority," Oliver said.

Alan Kraut, a historian and expert in immigration and ethnic history at American University, said of Ramswamys claim: "That's absolutely rubbish. It's an attempt to create a racist theory out of something that's simply not there. And I don't think it should be taken seriously by anyone."

Republican presidential candidate Vivek Ramaswamy meets with voters after an event Dec. 20 in Marshalltown, Iowa.

Ramaswamy incorrectly ties pathway to citizenship to conspiracy theory

Ramaswamys team said a 2013 Politico article supported his claim. The article was about a pending immigration proposal in Congress that would have provided a pathway to citizenship to millions of immigrants living in the U.S. illegally. Beneficiaries could eventually vote for Democrats, the article said, but it was uncertain "what their turnout percentages would be once they gain voting rights." The bill passed in the Senate with bipartisan support, but it did not get a House vote.

Experts say that providing a pathway to citizenship for immigrants doesnt prove Ramaswamys claim that the Democratic Partys platform includes the "great replacement theory."

Also, it was Republican President Ronald Reagan who signed into law the Immigration Reform and Control Act of 1986, the most recent law that paved the way for immigrants who were in the country illegally to become lawful permanent residents if they met certain requirements.

Ramaswamys campaign also shared a link to a Ramaswamy Dec. 7 X post with a 2021 clip of CNN political commentator Van Jones during a Drew University forum. During the forum on "the four crises facing the Western world," a university article said, Jones spoke about a "diversity challenge" as nonwhite communities grow and demand equality.

"No ethnic majority group in 10,000 years of human history that I could find ever went from being a majority to being a minority and liked it. And thats basically the request from the racial justice left," Jones said in the clip. "Is that we want the white majority to go from being a majority to being a minority and like it. Thats a tough request, and the reality is that change is hard."

Jones served in the Obama administration as an environmental adviser, but he is not a Democratic Party leader.

Demographics are changing worldwide as more people age and migrate. The U.S. population also is racially diversifying. But equating demographic shifts to a sinister "replacement" plan is part of a "paranoid style of conspiratorial thinking," Kelly said.

For centuries, people have migrated to the U.S. because of violence, political instability and poverty in their home countries. Others have come seeking better academic or employment opportunities.

Our ruling

Ramaswamy said that "the great replacement theory is not some grand right-wing conspiracy theory, but a basic statement of the Democratic Party's platform."

Although the Democratic Party generally is pro-immigrant, there is no evidence that it is the partys platform to systemically replace white Americans with nonwhite immigrants.

We rate this claim Pants on Fire!

This article originally appeared on Austin American-Statesman: Ramaswamy claim that Dems support great replacement theory is false
Travelers are reporting back from Royal Caribbeans 9-month cruise  with at least one Black passenger recounting micro-aggressions onboard.

The world of travel continually offers surprises, and the recent surge in popularity of global cruises is causing quite a stir on social media. Specifically, Royal Caribbeans Ultimate World Cruise, spanning 274 nights, embarked on its inaugural journey on Dec. 10, 2023, with an expected return on Sept. 10, 2024. Soon after its launch, the cruise gained traction on platforms like TikTok, with passengers likening the voyage to a real-life reality show  and like reality shows, there have been less favorable aspects, particularly for Black passengers.

Even on a voyage that promises bonding with like-minded explorers over global discoveries across all seven continents  and where every passenger has presumably made a considerable investment  issues such as racial profiling and micro-aggressions surfaced quickly and prominently, highlighting undeniably significant concerns that warrant attention.

When Royal Caribbean unveiled the Ultimate World Cruise aboard its Serenade of the Seas craft in late 2021 and began bookings in early 2022, travel enthusiasts viewed it as a dream opportunity. The prospect of exploring 11 world wonders while visiting over 60 countries across a nine-month voyage with all accommodations, meals, and beverages included seemed like an unparalleled adventure. However, before boarding even commenced, the pre-cruise gala signaled to one passenger, Brandee Lake, that it might not be an entirely smooth ride.

In a less-than-enthused video uploaded to her TikTok just seven days into the cruise, Lake shared an update:

If I get asked if I work on this ship one more time It started at the pre-cruise gala. It was assumed that I must be working, she expressed. After I said I was not working, then I was asked was I independently wealthy. Like, basically, How did you afford this?

Lake further remarked, Now, one of the crew members assumed that I was not a guest when getting back on the ship from an excursion. Its gonna be a long nine months, she added, nodding in apparent acknowledgment of the complexities she may or may not have anticipated as a Black woman on this adventure.

Since then, individuals have been captivated by the #ultimateworldcruise series, which initially began as an informative hashtag offering a comprehensive look into ship life, complete with insights into onboard drama and the genuine experience of a nine-month voyage  that includes several stops with a strong history in the transatlantic slave trade. However, due to insights like Lakes, some commenters are now leveraging the hashtag to monitor the safety, well-being, and mental and emotional health of the cruises Black passengers, raising concerns that Royal Caribbean may not have adequately anticipated or addressed their needs.

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While its understood that cruise operators cant control every interaction among passengers, including potential microaggressions or overtly racist behaviors toward Black travelers whove paid the same $53,999 to $117,599 fee per person  depending on the stateroom booked as their white counterparts, theres a reasonable expectation of awareness and sensitivity among the crew. Ideally, crew members should be educated and trained both before and during such voyages  and certain behaviors should be unequivocally unacceptable.

Even under normal circumstances, repeated experiences of racial bias can profoundly affect those targeted, leading to feelings of exclusion, invalidation, and other psychological distress. Given that this is a nine-month-long cruise, individuals might find it challenging, if not near impossible, to distance themselves from such situations, given limited spaces to escape onboard, rightly intensifying concerns about what should be a once-in-a-lifetime experience.

Obviously, the issues arent exclusive to ship life. [Along] with those interactions comes a new set of excuses that are already in Lakes comments but are also across multiple videos on this app, points out TikTok user @culturework. For the pictures, its just like, Oh, they were just admiring your beauty or loved your outfit. For the cruise, its like, Oh, its just day 3, wait until they get to know you, you have 9 months. No! How about that girl gets to enjoy her trip without having to build anti-racist defective strategies as part of it.

Is that too much to ask?

In our contemporary era, numerous diversity officers, departments, and organizations exist to guide companies in ensuring inclusivity and working against micro- and macro-aggressive tones and behaviors. For an endeavor as extensive as a nine-month cruise, its essential to have established protocols in place to ensure that all guests are treated with respect and equality, particularly by the crew members. (In fact, how about including a braider among the ships salon services?)

Since the incident, Lake  who previously posted that shed taken a break from corporate life to [prioritize] self-care and quality time with loved ones and is traveling with her sister Shannon Marie (also documenting her experience via TikTok) and their parents  has been contacted by a staff member.

I think (TikTok users who watched the post) were tagging Royal Caribbean like, You need to fix this,' Brandee Lake told Today.com. They did at least take the time to come to me and you know, ask how everythings going now.

As reported by NBC News, Lake has since praised the staff and passengers for being so friendly, so kind, [and having] so much energy. Royal Caribbean could not immediately be reached for comment, as their offices are closed during this holiday week, but along with TikTok, theGrio will anticipate additional updates regarding the overall #ultimateworldcruise experience.

Noel Cymone Walker is an NYC-based writer specializing in beauty, fashion, music, travel, and cultural anthropology. She has written and produced visuals for several notable publications such as The Recording Academy/The Grammys, The Fader, Billboard, OkayPlayer, Marie Claire, Glamour, Allure, Essence, Ebony, and more.

Never miss a beat: Get our daily stories straight to your inbox with theGrios newsletter.

The post The reality of traveling while Black on Royal Caribbeans 9-month Ultimate World Cruise appeared first on TheGrio.
A Friendswood Police Department SUV File Photo

A 17-year-old from Friendswood was charged with murder Monday after he allegedly shot two other teenagers in the head, killing one of them.

Connor Hilton was arrested on a charge of assault on the night of the shooting, released on bail and then arrested again after one of the shooting victims died, according to court records.

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Hilton is accused of fatally shooting Ethan Riley, 18, and critically wounding a 19-year-old.

According to charging documents released Wednesday, Hilton told officers that he had "thought about, and wanted, to commit a homicide for a long time" and that he used a handgun he had convinced his mother to buy him.

The shooting happened just before 9 p.m. Saturday at Hilton's home on La Salle Street in south Friendswood, according to police. Police were called to a house by a man who said he was hiding in a bathroom and that there had been two gunshots, according to charging documents.

When police arrived, they found Hilton sitting on the curb outside the home, according to the complaint. Police described him as "visibly distraught" and wrote that Hilton said he believed there were two teenagers dead inside the house.

Police went inside, located the man who called 911 and found the two shooting victims lying on the ground with gunshot wounds to their heads. Police also found a revolver in the house, according to the complaint.

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The 911 caller told police he heard Hilton crying and say "What have I done?" after the two gunshots.

About four hours after the shooting, Hilton told police detectives that he shot the other teenagers, according to the complaint.

Hilton later told police he had thought about killing people before, according to the complaint. He said there hadn't been a disturbance before the shooting and that he had been showing the others his gun shortly before opening fire, according to the complaint.

Riley died Sunday, according to police. The other teenager was in critical condition as of Tuesday, according to the Friendswood Police Department.

In a statement Thursday morning, Hilton's family said they were sending their "deepest condolences to the victims families who have been heavily on the Hiltons hearts and minds as they try to navigate this devastating situation."

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In a follow-up email, Hilton's defense attorney, Jennifer "J.L" Carpenter, disputed the police report's allegation that the handgun was bought for Hilton but declined to answer more questions about the case.

Hilton was also charged with two counts of aggravated assault causing serious bodily injury, according to court records.

Hilton's bail was denied and he was being held in custody at the Galveston County Jail as of Thursday morning. Carpenter said she will ask the court to set bail at a future hearing.
Rebel Moon Director And Cast Describe The Tale Of A Journey To Chosen Family In Netflix Sci-Fi Film | Photo: Axelle/Bauer-Griffin/FilmMagic

Our chosen family is just as important as the ones were born into. Rebel Moon explores a world where a group of misfits form a unique bond in an attempt to fight against their collective enemy known as the Motherworld.

Part of the reason why, in the casting of Kora (Sofia Boutella), I really wanted someone who I believed [in]. Because, in a lot of ways Sofia is kind in real life and incredible. Shes able to be vulnerable and a badass at the same time, which is tricky, writer-director Zach Snyder told Blavitys Shadow and Act.

He continued, Thats a tricky comboand I wanted to try and drive a little wedge, then bond again, and then wedge and bond because it feels like in the end, once youve learned the entire history of Kora in [Rebel Moon Part 2], youre so locked in with her. At that point, its almost like the struggle makes the bond harder rather than looser because you like her. In the end, you like her despite everything you know.

As everyone seeks what they deserve throughout the film, Boutella says her characters inspiration comes from the bonds shes formed with everyone around her.

It sounds like what everybodys seeking [they] deserve. You see that at the end of the film when Kora says, I have never had a place to call home. And all of a sudden you can feel with everyone around herthat there is like a strong bond happening there, Boutella said. You can feel that its like finding your family away from home and its inspiring. In a way, its so funny because it reminds me of us in real life as actors. We hop from project to project and you create bonds with people, even when I used to dance and go on tour, you create many families.

Ed Skrein, who plays opposite Boutella as Koras archnemesis, Admiral Noble, says despite their characters differences, they are both longing for the same thing  community.

Its a human thing to need community and tribe and if we dont have community and tribe, then we can also look for that in the wrong places and get caught up in the wrong things, said Skrein. But all of it is born out of a primal instinct to belong and to have a family.

Rebel Moon is now available for streaming on Netflix. Rebel Moon  Part Two: The Scargiver will be released in April 2024
CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla.  After nearly 20 launches, SpaceX said its most-flown Falcon 9 rocket booster won't be launching on another mission after it toppled upon landing on a boat in rough seas this week.

SpaceX launched 23 Starlink internet satellites on Dec. 23 from Space Launch Complex 40 in Florida. The mission marked the 19th flight for the first-stage Falcon 9 booster. About 8 minutes after overnight liftoff, the booster landed on a droneship in the Atlantic Ocean off the coast of Florida.

The company said Monday that the launch and landing were the last of the experienced booster, known as B1058.

SPACEX STARSHIP'S SECOND LAUNCH REACHES EDGE OF SPACE BEFORE PREMATURE EXPLOSION

"During transport back to Port early (Monday) morning, the booster tipped over on the droneship due to high winds and waves," SpaceX wrote on X. "Newer Falcon boosters have upgraded landing legs with the capability to self-level and mitigate this type of issue."

Wave heights off the east coast of Florida were between 6 and 9 feet Monday, around the time the booster was headed back to Port Canaveral. Buoys off the coast measured wind speeds up to 22 mph, according to the FOX Forecast Center.

The booster was beyond repair when it arrived at Port Canaveral on Tuesday.

Social media users on X were calling the loss of the rocket booster a "Christmas tragedy" and asking the company to put the booster on display at a museum. The first booster to return for landing stands outside the company's headquarters in Hawthorn, California.

Florida wave height on Dec. 25.

The company said the booster previously launched two NASA astronauts during the Crew Dragon Demo-2 flight, a cargo supply mission to the International Space Station, 14 Starlink missions and three other spacecraft missions.

STUNNING IMAGES, DISCOVERIES FROM JAMES WEBB SPACE TELESCOPE IN 2023

"The Falcon fleets life leading rocket completed its 19th and final launch and landing on December 23," SpaceX wrote on X. "This one reusable rocket booster alone launched to orbit 2 astronauts and more than 860 satellites  totaling 260+ metric tons  in ~3.5 years."

The May 2020 Demo-2 launch was historic because it resumed human spaceflight from the U.S. for the first time in nine years. Since that launch, SpaceX has carried astronauts for NASA and its international partners to space eight times and completed several private human spaceflights.

The Falcon 9 rocket has launched more than 280 times with 241 booster landings, and 216 launches have used refurbished boosters, according to SpaceX. In 2023, SpaceX was just shy of hitting 100 launches for the year.





Original article source: Record-breaking SpaceX rocket booster topples in rough seas after 19th landing
Red Sea strife: All you need to know about the crisis hampering world trade

The Houthis, a rebel movement in Yemen, have been attacking merchant ships in the Red Sea for over a month now.

In a televised announcement, they vowed to join the Hamas Israel war and protect Palestinians, targeting all vessels bound for Israel.

The attacks have practically opened another front for Israel to the south, as the country already faces shelling from its north border with Lebanon.

Houthi fighters attend a funeral in Sana'a, Yemen, 24 November 2021 - AP Photo

Who are the Houthis?

The Houthis are a majority-Shiite Islamist group based in Yemen. They are militarily supported by Iran, according to military experts.

Yemen's official government, Saudi Arabia, the UAE and Malaysia have deemed them a terrorist organisation.

The Houthis currently control much of western Yemen, including the capital Sana'a.

In 2015, a Saudi-led coalition declared war on them, triggering a bloody conflict that has claimed hundreds of thousands of lives.

Hostilities are still active, although a ceasefire has been agreed upon.

A Houthi commando plunges onto Israeli cargo ship Galaxy Leader, 19 November 2023 - Houthi Media centre via AP

What exactly is happening in the Red Sea?

The Houthis are launching missiles and naval drones from controlled territories in Yemen, including the port of Hudaydah.

More than two hundred ships have reported incidents, with some 180 vessels forced to change course, according to University of Bradford assistant professor in logistics and supply chain Gokcay Balci.

The most striking operation, so far, has been the seizing of an Israeli cargo ship, the Galaxy Yemen.

However, apart from some minor damages, no ships have been sunk or reported fatalities.

Most Houthi operations focus on a tiny 32-km sea stretch between Yemen and Djibouti, making it dangerous for ships to pass through.

What are the consequences?

As a result of the attacks, at least eight of the world's 10 largest ship owners - including MSC and Maersk - temporarily halted Red Sea operations, diverting their vessels towards the Cape of Good Hope, in South Africa.

It adds 9,000 kilometres to the journey, extending it by 6 to 14 days, depending on the vessel, says Guy Platten, secretary general of the International Chamber of Shipping.

Most experts agree the huge detours have not had a substantial impact on goods' prices.

However, insurance policies for merchant ships are going up, as well as fuel usage. Logistics exert Balci argues this means an increase of CO2 emissions for each ship by 20% to 35%

Some companies are also having to pay a surcharge for each cargo, ranging from $500 (449) to $1,000 (899).

Aircraft carrier USS Dwight D. Eisenhower in the Gulf, 26 November 2023 - US Navy via AP

How is the West reacting?

On 19 December, the US announced an operation to restore security in the area, called 'Prosperity Guardian'.

Several countries, like the UK, France, Italy, Spain, the Netherlands, Norway, Australia and the Seychelles have joined the effort.

The announcement was welcomed by Maersk, the world's second-largest ship owner, which said on Monday it would resume Red Sea shipping "as soon as possible".

What could happen now?

Should the Houthis not stop their attacks, the US and its coalition "could be very aggressive and decide to take out some of the rebel positions," says Chris Doyle, director of the Council for British-Arab Understanding.

He adds however that "it's very difficult to do this targeting in the hills of Yemen."

"The Houthis were able to send missiles into Saudi Arabia, to hit Saudi targets such as vital oil infrastructure, and also into the UAE. They have missiles that go well over 1,600 kilometres. It's very dangerous, it's a massive escalation but doing nothing could also be very problematic."

Houthi supporters hold Palestinian flag during a rally in Sana'a, Yemen, 17 May 2021 - AP/Hani Mohammed

The Houthis said they're going to continue these attacks as long as the Israeli military operations on Gaza continue.

Doyle says this is "tapping into the really deep anger caused by the massive amount of destruction and loss of civilian lives in Gaza, and by the nature of the Israeli bombardment."
Police said Reece Connor was stabbed in Wollaton Road, near the Crown Island

Two people have been charged with murdering a man who died after being stabbed in a Nottingham street on Christmas Day.

Reece Connor, 29, died in hospital after sustaining a single stab wound while he was in Wollaton Road.

Keaton Adlam-Morgan, 23, and a 17-year-old boy - who cannot be named - have been charged with his murder.

Three other men, aged 20, 26 and 32, have been released on bail as investigations continue.

Police said Mr Connor was stabbed near the Crown Island at about 20:15 GMT on Monday.

'Very significant trauma'

Mr Adlam-Morgan, of Southwold Drive, Wollaton, and the 17-year-old are due to appear at Nottingham Magistrates' Court later.

Det Ch Insp Matt Croome, of the East Midlands Special Operations Unit, said: "As we announce these charges my thoughts remain with Mr Connor's family, friends and all those who knew and loved him.

"They have experienced a very significant trauma and will continue to receive support from Nottinghamshire Police.

"As our investigation continues, I would also like to thank the team of detectives who have worked around the clock on this investigation to build up a clearer picture of what happened."

Follow BBC East Midlands on Facebook, on X, or on Instagram. Send your story ideas to eastmidsnews@bbc.co.uk.
It's no surprise that Pilates is and has been one of the most popular workouts for decades.

It offers a way to work your core through repeated movements, which are typically performed on a mat. While going through the Pilates exercises, you're encouraged to focus on your technique and breathing. The exercises help strengthen and tone your midsection, as well as your arms and legs. Pilates can also be especially beneficial for people with back problems.

A newer type of Pilates, called reformer Pilates, may offer even more benefits. Performed on a reformer machine rather than a mat, reformer Pilates can be particularly helpful for people who've recently had an injury or want to get more precise with their movements and isolate certain muscles even further. Classes typically cost between $25-35.

As a certified Pilates instructor, I usually recommend that newcomers to Pilates try a mat class first. Performing the exercises on a mat gives you space and time to get used to the movements without having to worry about using a machine too.

But for those who want to jump right in and try reformer Pilates, it can be a great way to learn what properly engaging your core really feels like.

Heres what you need to know about reformer pilates before getting started and how to master a few moves at home.

What is a Pilates reformer?

A Pilates reformer machine looks like a bed frame. But rather than a mattress, the reformer has a platform on wheels that rolls up and down as you perform the moves. The reformer also has long, stretchy cords that you'll attach to your feet or hands for certain exercises, and that you can elongate as you exercise.

The resistance the machine creates helps lengthen your muscles and builds strength, and the workout teaches you to focus on belly breathing, also called diaphragmatic breathing, and boosts postural control, Julie OConnell, physical therapist at Athletico Physical Therapy, tells TODAY.com. The machine was invented by Joseph Pilates and should be used with the help of a Pilates instructor.

Lets break down the parts of the Pilates reformer machine.

The platform part is also known as the carriage. It's connected to the end of the frame by springs, and the springs create your chosen level of resistance. You use your body weight and muscles to push and pull the carriage along the reformers frame. Blocks on the carriage that rest above your shoulders ensure you dont slide off the carriage as you work out.

The reformer also has a bar at one end, which is also adjustable. During some exercises, you'll place your hands on the bar. During other moves, you'll use your feet. Opposite the bar on top of the machine is a set of long straps with handles. You can loop your feet through the handles and use the straps as you extend your legs as part of certain moves.

Thanks to the springs, the reformer machine is completely adjustable, which means that you can modify your exercises and resistance according to your fitness level, familiarity with Pilates moves and the build of your body. A Pilates reformer can be just as useful for someone looking to intensely work their core as it is for someone recovering after a serious injury.

Is the Pilates reformer a good workout for you?

Who can benefit the most from using a Pilates reformer? Its best for people prioritizing core stability and who want good postural alignment, O'Connell says.

But really, the machine can provide a great workout for just about anyone, Tianna Strateman, vice president of training and experience for Club Pilates, tells TODAY.com. Thats because you can alter the reformer machines settings, as well as any of the Pilates moves, so you can use it simply to tone up, to get a low-impact, full-body workout or even to train for a certain sport.

That people of all fitness levels can get a safe but challenging workout with the Pilates reformer is one of its major benefits, Paula Lester, manager of the Pilates studio at Prive-Swiss Fitness, tells TODAY.com. This includes young people, older folks, competitive athletes and people who spend much of their days sitting. I even recommended my sister use a Pilates reformer while pregnant so she could work her core without having to get down on a mat.

Overall, a Pilates reformer workout is about strengthening your core and learning which muscles to engage when. All of this can make you a better athlete; help you recover from an injury; lose weight; improve your balance, bone density and posture; and reduce back pain, Lester says.

However, its important to keep in mind certain limitations of the Pilates reformer so you stay safe when using it. For example, you need to be able to lie down flat on your back without injuring yourself. And if youre pregnant and in your third trimester, its not the best workout since its not recommended to lie down for an extended timeframe at this stage, OConnell explains.

Also, if you have problems pertaining to your spine or neck, you should know the correct adjustments to make to certain moves, says OConnell, adding that you should inform your instructor if youre at all injured. And dont hesitate to tell your teacher if youre in pain from any of the movements and stop your workout. That way, they can help you adjust the resistance or find a better position.

O'Connell also advises consulting your health care provider before trying out a new workout regimen.

What results can you expect to see from a Pilates reformer?

The reformer accommodates a full range of motion, which is great for increasing flexibility while building strength. The pushing and pulling with the arms and legs against the resistance of the springs, carriage and body weight makes this a unique strength-building full-body workout thats different from the regular Pilates exercises performed on the mat. Specifically, when you hold the cables in your hands or put your feet in the cables, you allow your muscles to extend to the fullest position. And while mat Pilates does include some exercises that work the legs and arms, theyre usually done with no resistance unless youre using light dumbbells or a Pilates ring as an accessory. The reformer is able to target your arms and legs while still focusing on the core, providing a more comprehensive workout.

According to one study, Pilates reformer exercises performed once per week for 10 weeks resulted in reduced fall risk and significant improvements in static and dynamic balance and functional mobility in adults age 65 and older at risk for falling. Another study showed that after twelve sessions of Pilates with the reformer equipment, there were improvements in lower back and shoulder strength.

OConnell says that you can expect to see increases in flexibility, muscular strength and muscular endurance with an improved mind-body connection. Visually, you will see strong and lean muscles with improved posture. With the focus on core stability and total body strength, Pilates will help to facilitate muscle activation and development to support proper spinal alignment, she explains.

I have had a few clients who swear by Pilates reformer workouts. I recommend that they do 2-3 sessions a week to really work on leaning out the body. Its great for building the smaller core muscles, and also stretching out the longer muscles in the body. In fact, many of my clients see weight loss as a result of their reformer classes and feel that their posture has transformed because of it.

Common Pilates reformer exercises  and how to mimic them at home

Curious what exercises exactly youll be performing on the contraption? Here are a few popular Pilates reformer exercises, and ways that you can mimic these exercises on the mat in the comfort of your living room without a reformer machine.

Footwork

Footwork is most often the first exercise done on the reformer. It is done lying down with both feet on the footbar. This series encourages proper alignment of the hips, pelvis, knees and ankles, explains Lester. Since our feet take so much abuse daily just by walking, the footwork series is helpful as it strengthens the muscles of the feet and stabilizes the ankle joint. It can help with pain in the feet including plantar fasciitis, she adds.

pilates footwork on the mat

Footwork on the mat

In a mat class, or at home in your living room, you can also practice Pilates footwork. Simply lie down on your back and bend your knees. Pull your naval in toward your spine and bring your knees up to a table-top position. From here, point your toes and press the feet on a diagonal in front of you, and then bring them back to the starting position. Repeat 10 times.

Pilates footwork on the mat 2

This is a basic move in Pilates footwork, but you can also add on. Instead of doing the movement with pointed toes, you can do it with flexed feet. You can also open the knees as wide as the hips and keep the heels pressed together with the feet flexed. Do each of these variations for 10 repetitions at the beginning of your Pilates Mat routine.

Long stretch

Long stretch is essentially a moving plank done standing on the reformer holding the footbar and placing both feet on the headrest, says Lester. This total-body exercise recruits every muscle fiber in the body leading to a stronger core. It helps with joint stability and balance, and strengthens the abdominals, glutes and hamstrings. These support the spine and lengthen the hip flexors, which increase flexibility and improve posture.

pilates Long Stretch on the Mat

Long stretch on the mat

A close movement to the long stretch is the spine stretch forward on the mat. To do this, sit on your bottom on your mat. Open your legs the width of your shoulders. Pull your naval in toward the spine, and reach the arms out in front of you. Be sure to keep your shoulders back to maintain a straight spine. Then reach forward without moving your legs, and round your spine forward with your head coming in alignment with your outstretched arms. Repeat this 10 times. Breathe in as you come back to center, and breathe out as you reach forward into the spine stretch.

Chest expansion

This exercise works the back of the body while opening up the chest and shoulders and improving posture. This move is great for those who sit at a desk or drive often, says Strateman. Sitting on the long box on top of the reformer with the hands in the loops, place your feet on the headrest with knees bent and arms extended down by the sides of the body, explains Strateman. Press through the palms of the hands to extend the shoulders and arms behind the body. Return the arms forward and repeat.

pilates Chest Expansion on the Mat

Chest expansion on the mat

For this exercise, youll need a pair of light weights that are 2 or 3 lbs. Go onto your mat on your knees, opening them as wide as the hips. Hold the weights down at your sides, and turn the palms toward the back of the room. Pull your naval in toward your spine, and press the weights and arms toward the back of the room. Make sure your chin does not jut forward and that your shoulders do not round up. Exhale as you press back, and inhale as you come to the starting position. Repeat this 10 times.

Side overs

Side overs work the obliques, which are important for a well-rounded, strong core. It also challenges the body in the frontal plane which doesnt always get worked as often, says Strateman. To start, sit sideways on the short box on top of the reformer with all of the springs hooked on to keep the carriage stable. The foot closest to the footbar is in the strap with a flexed ankle, extended knee, and the leg and hip lifted in parallel to the ground keeping tension in the strap the entire time, instructs Strateman. The opposite leg is bent resting on the box. Hands are clasped behind the head creating one long diagonal line from head to toe. From there, laterally flex the spine lowering the torso towards the floor and returning to the start position on the diagonal.

pilates Side Overs on the Mat

Side overs on the mat

To recruit similar muscles, I recommend performing a side crunch on the mat. This movement will work the obliques and recruits both the upper body and lower body. Lying on your mat, knees bent and feet on the mat as wide as your hips, place your hands behind your head. Tilt your pelvis and engage your low abs as you bring your right knee up to a table-top position. Then curl your head and neck up and crunch your right elbow toward your right knee. Lie your head back down toward the ground as you extend the right leg, keeping your low back pressed into the ground. Repeat this 10 times, and then switch to the left side.

Leg circles

This exercise not only works the core, but the entire hip joint. Lying on your back on the reformer with both feet in the straps, start with the legs extended long on the diagonal at a 45-degree angle with legs straight and together, explains Strateman. Then, lift the legs towards the ceiling just as high as the legs can remain straight with the whole spine from head to tailbone stable on the reformer. Next, separate the legs and continue to complete the circle ending in the starting position. Repeat this 10 times and then reverse the circles in the other direction.

pilates Leg Circles on the Mat

Leg circles on the mat

Lying on your back, pull your naval in toward your spine. Reach the right leg up toward the ceiling. Lower the leg down to 45 degrees. Then open the leg as wide as your right shoulder to draw a circle open, around, and then back up to the starting position. Repeat this 10 times and then reverse the exercise. Then perform on the left leg. To make this more difficult, perform both legs at once. Start with the feet at the ceiling, and then open the legs as wide as the shoulders to make a circle down to the 45-degree angle. Then press the legs together as you draw them up toward the starting position with the legs together. Then reverse the circle.

Try these other Pilates exercises

This article was originally published on TODAY.com
BUFFALO, N.Y. (WIVB)  Close to 100 people gathered Wednesday night to remember the 40th anniversary of the North Division Street propane explosion. Family members, loved ones, friends, and Buffalo Firefighters, both active and retired, gathered to honor the lives of the heroes lost on the line of duty.

Its the most significant loss of life in the Buffalo Fire Department, there wasnt an incident like that before or since, said Fire Commissioner William Renaldo. Eleven firefighters were seriously injured over 100 civilians were injured, two civilians were killed that night so once again, one of the most traumatic incidents in the Buffalo Fire Department.

That day is one that those in attendance Wednesday, said has and always will be memorialized by the Buffalo Fire Department and etched into the Buffalo communitys memory forever.

Sometimes you cant say anything, said Paul Seil, BFD Chaplin. You have to be present and thats what were doing tonight always remembering the sadness of the past, but also recognizing that we live for today.

After 40 years the sadness of loss lingers for many individuals who had a connection, not only to the men of ladder five but also the two civilians that died. Wednesdays event served as a reminder that youre never alone.

This is living proof everybodys getting together for this occasion, it is a sad occasion, but we do have support, said Andre Arnold.

Despite the rain, the ceremony was filled with memories, stories and prayer, along with a dedication of a new ladder truck 5, etched with the names of the fallen firefighters reminding current fire fighters of sacrifices made by past ones.

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Dillon Morello is a reporter from Pittsburgh who has been part of the News 4 team since September of 2023. See more of his work here and follow him on Twitter.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to News 4 Buffalo.
SAN JOSE (Reuters) - Nicaraguan migrants sent relatives back home record remittances this year through November, data from the country's central bank showed on Wednesday, fueled by massive waves of migration leaving the Central American nation in recent years.

In a statement, the bank noted a record haul of about $4.24 billion in remittances for the 11-month period, 47% more than the amount sent home during the same period last year.

The money sent home by Nicaraguan migrants represent a key lifeline for the economy during the latest year of President Daniel Ortega's government, which has been marked by growing unemployment and poverty.

Propelled in large part by outflows of migrants seeking better economic prospects, primarily in the United States, as well as those who have fled since deadly anti-government protests broke out in 2018, Nicaragua has seen especially large displacements in recent years along with record remittances so far this year.

U.S.-bound Nicaraguan migration hit a record last year with 164,600 migrant encounters counted by the U.S. government, but during this year's fiscal year, which ended in September, migrant encounters dipped to about 139,000.

Last year, Nicaraguan migration to all countries surpassed 300,000, while overall 1.5 million Nicaraguans now live outside their home country, or about 22% of the country's population, according to U.N. data analyzed by Dialogo Interamericano researcher Manuel Orozco.

The 2023 remittances tallied by Nicaragua's central bank showed that nearly 60% came from the senders in the United States and almost 20% from neighboring Costa Rica.

(Reporting by Ismael Lopez; Editing by David Alire Garcia and Josie Kao)
Oakstead Mobile Home Park in West Pensacola is one of the only places 80-year-old Paul Buckney can afford to live. The retired chef and U.S. Marine Corps veteran is on a fixed income and owns his trailer.

Up until a couple of years ago he paid $350 a month in rent. Then the mobile home park was sold to a hedge fund and within two years Buckneys rent went up to $695 a month.

He simply couldnt afford it, so Buckney and some others kept paying the previous amount.

Then with the water and sewage, that would have been over $700, explained Buckney, which would have taken over three quarters of my income, which doesn't go up and fluctuate.

Buckney was one of several residents who received eviction notices and is now being represented by attorneys with Legal Services of North Florida.

These folks, they own their mobile homes, but they've had them on these lots for 10 years, said attorney Dan McLaughlin. To move them is prohibitively expensive, $10,000, $15,000, $20,000, and a lot of them just can't do it. The mobile homes have been there that long you try to move and they're going to fall apart. Chapter 723 of the Florida Statutes was created by the legislature because they recognized this exact situation where it's an unequal bargaining area.

Resident Paul Buckney talks about ongoing problems at the Oakstead Mobile Home Park at 901 Massachusetts Ave. in Pensacola on Thursday, Oct. 19, 2023.

McLaughlin said the hedge fund owner is affiliated with Homes of America LLC, a company that is buying mobile home parks across the country. In case after case, the company is hiking rents and some residents cant afford to pay or move.

In several cities across Florida, McLaughlins legal aid counterparts are in litigation with Homes of America, fighting to ensure the company follows Florida law when it comes to raising rent and if possible, helping residents stay in their homes.

Theyre supposed to give 90 days notice that you're going to increase the rent, McLaughlin said. And during those 90 days, the homeowners are allowed to form a committee of the majority of owners and say, Hey, we don't agree with this, we want to talk to you, the park owners, and the homeowners are supposed to have a meeting whereby the park owners bring all their numbers to show why they're raising the rent.

McLaughlin said the state legal process should also include data-based decisions by the property owner, an opportunity for mediation and, if that doesnt work, litigation. None of which Homes of America did, he said.

They just sent a notice theyre raising everybody's rent and then, when many of them kept paying the old rent, they just started evicting people. We had three evictions pending, McLaughlin said.

Housing is a basic need for tenants, but for many property owners housing is simply an investment. And when a property owner's main focus is earning a profit, many renters  particularly those with limited or fixed incomes  say they are the ones who end up paying the price.

Buckney said not only are skyrocketing rents a problem, but the condition of the property has gone downhill since he moved there in 2004, with more trash and crime at Oakstead Mobile Home Park, and fewer amenities like security and lighting.

More rent and no types of amenities at all, said Buckney. Its so dangerous out there. Last year, a 14-year-old boy killed a man right outside, just a few feet outside my place. Then about a month ago some other guy got killed out there and then before that, three women got shot out there. I tried desperately to move. As a matter of fact, I went to the bank with my certificate (GI loan), but they wouldnt loan me no money.

Complaints mount from tenants in affordable housing rentals

Out of area landlords can pose a challenge for tenants and local government when they want to address issues with rental properties.

The Haggard Law Firm recently represented families who lost loved ones to violence at two Pensacola apartment complexes, Forest Creek and Oakwood Terrace Apartments. The firm won two separate $5 million lawsuits for negligence against Texas-based Marquis Group, which owns both complexes.

Attorney Adam Finkel says better security and hands-on property managers could have prevented multiple murders. He said he also gets calls, sometimes daily, from residents who have trouble getting repairs made or safety issues addressed. He said the goal for out-of-state property owners is often to make money and in the case of HUD subsidized apartment complexes, landlords receive two income streams, from tenants and the U.S. government.

What they have realized, and it's clear from all the investigation we've done in these cases, is there is such an unfortunate, desperate need for housing in our community, especially in Pensacola, that if a person doesn't like the terrible treatment they're getting, they're free to move out because there's a line down the block of people that will take that apartment.

Kenneth Chaiken, an attorney for Marquis Group, said their properties are managed by a local management company that is responsive and because they are subsidized by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development they are also accountable to government housing and safety standards and must pass inspections.

Chaiken said Marquis Group has installed lighting and security cameras, as well as hired off-duty sheriffs deputies to patrol the property. He said they also host food and school supply drives, and provide other community services.

It takes some level of personal responsibility on the part of residents who invite people over, who cause problems once they're there, to either reach out for assistance from management or the police, Chaiken said. It's not possible for the owner and the management team to prevent situations, you can't be everywhere. These are large properties, and you can only do the best you can do, which is between the combinations of things that we do, having cameras on site, professional law enforcement, lighting and other management encouraging residents to step up and help.

Tenants turn to legal aid for help

Escambia County Code Enforcement administrators say officers spent much of their time this past year responding to complaints at several apartment complexes owned by people or companies who live out of the area or out of the state, like Johnson Lakes apartments, Twin Oaks Villas and The Pines at Warrington.

I'm spending a lot of time trying to even proactively go by the sites, make sure that they do actually have maintenance people working to keep the grounds up, to get the trash out and basic maintenance, said Tim Day, Escambia County senior natural resources manager. It's hard to believe that ownership cares when they're not here and isn't putting their eyes on their investment property at least once a month.

Legal advocates say property managers often come and go at these complexes, leaving tenants to track down the out-of-area owners for help, which is challenging, too.

Attorneys at Legal Services of North Florida represents tenants at both Johnson Lakes and The Pines, for different issues. They see similar problems at both complexes including property owners and managers not being responsive to tenants, as well as putting off repairs, which has led to more serious problems like mold and mildew.

Attorney Paul Flounlacker with LSNF says they are litigating to help five tenants stay in their homes after they were given two weeks' notice that their leases were being terminated. The Sarasota based owner, Pines at Warrington Limited Partnership, said the residents units were uninhabitable from damage by a tornado that hit the area in June.

The tenants say their apartments are habitable and were not damaged by the storm, but they do have maintenances issues due to neglect.

The defendant (Pines at Warrington) has requested relief from payment of a significant amount of fines for code enforcement violations, which proves the conditions at issue stem from defendants general neglect of the property rather than a force majeure event, the tenants attorneys wrote.

Attorneys for The Pines filed multiple motions to dismiss the complaint, but a hearing is set for February.

Resident Paul Buckney points out trash and one of several dilapidated structures at the Oakstead Mobile Home Park at 901 Massachusetts Ave. in Pensacola on Thursday, Oct. 19, 2023.

According to court records, The Pines owner has also evicted or attempted to evict several dozen tenants from the complex this year, mostly for not paying rent.

The owner of The Pines at Warrington is listed as Pines at Warrington Limited Partnership with a mailing address in Sarasota, Florida. The property manager is Cushman and Wakefield. A message to the management company was not returned.

The owner of Johnson Lakes, Johnson Lakes Escambia Limited Partnership, based in Winston-Salem, North Carolina, has been working with the county to clean up the lower-income, senior living complex. The county said the owner is making some progress, but residents say theyre still waiting for many of the major repairs to be fixed.

These are investments, Flounlacker said. These are properties that people make money off of and so the idea is to run it as cheaply as possible to maximize profits and that's what you see in any landlord tenant situation. It's not good or bad, it is what it is, but the bottom line is that when you have a big complex, you get a cascading effect. We call it deferred maintenance and that just means they're not doing what they're supposed to do.

Fighting for an affordable to place live

Thanks to legal efforts, owners of Oakstead Mobile Home Park dismissed Buckney and another residents eviction and agreed to follow the statutory process when it comes to raising rent. The process is just beginning and it remains to be seen what the final rent will be.

The tenants also recently met with the CEO of Homes Across America LLC to discuss ways to improve conditions at the mobile home park like cleaning up trash and crime at Oakstead. The company bought the property for nearly $1.8 million at the end of 2021, and residents want to see the grounds improved and dilapidated structures addressed.

Efforts to reach Homes Across America for comment were unsuccessful. Messages left for a company with an address in Englewood, New Jersey, associated with the mobile home parks listed owner of Oakstead MHP LLC were not returned.

Tenants like Paul Buckney hope the visit from the CEO is a good sign.

That's good news if they're going to negotiate in good faith, said Buckney. I'm to the point now, but I'm seriously thinking about moving back up to Ohio with my son, you know?

This article originally appeared on Pensacola News Journal: Rent goes up, safety goes down for Escambia County low-income tenants
Rep. Lucy McBath (D-Ga.) announced Thursday that she will pursue election in Georgias 6th District in 2024 after a federal judge approved a GOP-led redistricting plan, which changed her current 7th District seat to favor Republicans.

The Atlanta congresswoman promised to continue a legal fight against the new district maps but vowed to run in the 6th District if the current maps stand.

I refuse to allow an extremist few Republicans decide when my work in Congress is finished, she said in a statement. I hope that the judicial system will not allow the state legislature to suppress the will of Georgia voters.

However, if the maps passed by the state legislature stand for the 2024 election cycle, I will be running for re-election to Congress in GA-06 because too much is at stake to stand down, she added.

The new district maps were ordered after a judge ruled the current division discriminates against Black voters, specifically in west Atlanta. The new map creates a new majority-Black district in west Atlanta but also splits McBaths east Atlanta district among neighboring GOP-leaning seats.

Its the second time redistricting has affected McBath, a prominent gun control activist who was elected to the 6th District in 2018. Redistricting in 2021 made that district uncompetitively conservative, so McBath primaried and defeated an incumbent Democrat in the 7th District to stay in Congress.

Rep. Rich McCormick (R-Ga.) currently represents the 6th District, though he also is expected to change seats under the new map.

The new congressional map is not expected to change party control of the states seats, which stands at nine Republicans to five Democrats.

Judge Steve Jones also approved new maps for the state Legislature, which Democrats also claimed were gerrymandered. Democrats said the new congressional and state Legislature maps fix representation problems ordered by the courts, but create new ones in their place.

Unfortunately, it seems we are repeating the mistakes of our dark past under Republican control of the state of Georgia, State Rep. Sam Park (D) said on the Legislature floor when the maps were proposed.

Not only are these maps unlawful, they cling to power and maintain an unrepresentative majority that does not reflect our great state, he continued. To put it plainly, it seems Republicans are trying to remedy their racial discrimination with partisan gerrymandering.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill.
Kaysone Sky Blossom, left, and her attorney Mandy Miller, right, are shown during a hearing in the 230th District Court Wednesday, Dec. 27, 2023, in Houston. Blossom is accused in the death of 17-year-old Kayla Stevenson. Melissa Phillip/Staff Photographer Judge Chris Morton of the 230th District Court, left, and Houston Police Detective Logan Lange, right, are shown during a hearing for Kaysone Sky Blossom in the 230th District Court Wednesday, Dec. 27, 2023, in Houston. Blossom is accused in the death of 17-year-old Kayla Stevenson. Melissa Phillip/Staff Photographer Kylie Stevenson leaves from the 230th District Court after a hearing in the case of Kaysone Sky Blossom, who is accused in the death of Kayla Stevenson, her 17-year-old daughter, shown Wednesday, Dec. 27, 2023, in Houston. Melissa Phillip/Staff Photographer Kaysone Sky Blossom is directed to sit with her attorney Mandy Miller, right, during a hearing in the 230th District Court Wednesday, Dec. 27, 2023, in Houston. She is accused in the death of 17-year-old Kayla Stevenson. Melissa Phillip/Staff Photographer

An abandoned blue bicycle with blood-covered handlebars helped Houston detectives find a woman accused of killing a 17-year-old girl on her way to work at the Galleria mall, authorities said.

Police found the discarded bike about a half mile from where Kayla Stevenson, the mother of a 6-month-old baby, was fatally stabbed Dec. 9 in the 5100 block of Alabama Street. The bike, which still had the price tag on it, had been bought about five hours earlier from a nearby Walmart and investigators tracked the purchase to a bank account belonging to Kaysone Blossom, 37, charged with capital murder in Stevensons death.

Logan Lange, a Houston police detective, testified Wednesday during a bail hearing that witnesses saw Stevenson trying to fight off her attacker around 11 a.m. before the suspect fled on a bicycle. Witnesses flagged down a police officer working an off-duty security job at a nearby hotel for help.

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The officer found Stevenson with stab wounds and an employment badge for a business inside the mall next to her body, according to an affidavit for a search warrant.

After Lange surveyed the two crime scenes, including where the bicycle was found in the 3100 block of Post Oak Boulevard, authorities reached Stevensons mother and learned her daughters phone was at an apartment complex in the 10200 block of Beechnut Street about an hour after the stabbing.

Blossom, arrested days later, lived at the apartment complex, he testified.

Stevenson's mother, Kylie Stevenson, told authorities that her daughter's credit cards were used after the stabbing, according to the search warrant.

Police sought at least two search warrants after the stabbing to seek a sample of Blossom's DNA and to search her apartment. In the apartment, investigators seized clothing, including coveralls aimed at protecting oneself from chemicals, knives, electronic devices and items taken from Stevenson's wallet, records show.

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The testimony in the 230th District Court revealed how authorities tied Blossom to the killing in order for a prosecutor to argue that the defendant, who was free on bond following a 2021 arrest, presented a threat to community safety. The prosecutor asked the judge to reconsider Blossoms bail on the pending case involving aggravated assault of a family member.

Judge Chris Morton agreed and ordered that Blossoms bail on the older case be revoked and denied. Later proceedings could determine her bail on the capital case.

Stevenson's family watched the bail hearing but declined to comment afterward.

The case involving Stevenson's death happened amid a violent weekend that left another 17-year-old girl, Louise Wilson, dead in an apparent road rage shooting. Another driver shot and killed her as Wilson and her boyfriend drove to Galveston to see the sunrise.

No arrests have been made in Wilson's death.

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Unlike that case, surveillance footage was found to track down Stevenson's attacker. Logan testified that several videos from local businesses were analyzed to tie Blossom to the stabbing, including one that showed her buying the bicycle and riding it later.

One of Blossoms defense attorneys in the new case, Mandy Miller, did not bring witnesses to testify for the hearing.

Blossom had been out on bond since March 2021 following her arrest in another stabbing involving an ex-boyfriend, prosecutor Dana Nazarova said. Court records for that case alleged that Blossom had a switchblade, a stun gun, duct tape, handcuffs, gas mask and pellet gun with her at the time of her arrest.

The case neared trial several times earlier this year but was repeatedly postponed pending the results of a competency evaluation by a defense expert, according to court records. The results of the evaluation, which could have determined whether Blossom was competent to stand trial, was still pending when Blossom appeared in court two days before Stevensons death, records show.

A report on the evaluation has not been completed, Miller said after the hearing.
The Republican-led House Oversight and Judiciary committees on Wednesday are seeking any communications between the White House and lawyers for Hunter Biden about efforts to depose the president's son as part of their impeachment inquiry.

House Oversight Committee Chair James Comer, R-Ky., and Judiciary Committee Chair Jim Jordan, R-Ohio, made the request in a letter to Edward Siskel, assistant to the president and White House counsel, obtained by NBC News. The GOP chairmen said they're seeking to determine whether the president was involved in his sons decision not to comply with a congressional subpoena.

The letter asks for all documents and communications sent or received by employees of the Executive Office of the President regarding the deposition of Hunter Biden, as well as any records "sent or received by employees of the Executive Office of the President regarding President Bidens statement about his familys business associates on December 6, 2023.

The Republican lawmakers indicated they're not aware whether any such communications exist.

In light of an official statement from the White House that President Biden was aware in advance that his son, Hunter Biden, would knowingly defy two congressional subpoenas, we are compelled to examine as part of our impeachment inquiry whether the President engaged in a conspiracy to obstruct a proceeding of Congress, Comer and Jordan wrote.

"The fact that the President had advanced awareness that Mr. Biden would defy the Committees subpoenas raises a troubling new question that we must examine: whether the President corruptly sought to influence or obstruct the Committees proceeding by preventing, discouraging, or dissuading his son from complying with the Committees subpoenas. Such conduct could constitute an impeachable offense, they added.

President Joe Biden in Woodside, Calif., on Nov. 15, 2023. (Brendan Smialowski / AFP via Getty Images file)

The White House declined to comment. The offices of Abbe Lowell and Kevin Morris, attorneys for Hunter Biden, did not immediately respond to requests for comment.

Comer and Jordan referred specifically to a statement made during a White House press briefing Dec. 13 in response to a question about Hunter Bidens statement on the day he was due to appear for a closed-door deposition. Instead of participating in the deposition, as Republicans had requested, the presidents son spoke to reporters at a news conference outside the Capitol, repeating his offer to testify in a public hearing.

Im here today to make sure that the House committees illegitimate investigations of my family did not proceed on distortions, manipulated evidence, and lies. And Im here today to acknowledge that Ive made mistakes in my life, and wasted opportunities and privileges I was afforded, Hunter Biden said, reading a prepared statement. For that, Im responsible, for that Im accountable and for that, Im making amends.

During the Dec. 13 press briefing, a reporter asked White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre: Did [President Joe Biden] spend any time watching what his son had to say outside the Capitol?

Jean-Pierre noted that Hunter Biden is a private citizen and referred reporters to his representatives, adding that the president was certainly familiar with what his son was going to say.

And I think what you saw was from the heart from his son," she said. And youve heard  youve heard me say this; youve heard the president say this: When it comes to the president and the first lady, they are proud of him continuing to rebuild his life. They are proud of their son.

After Hunter Biden defied the request for a closed-door deposition, Comer and Jordan said Republicans would initiate contempt of Congress proceedings. The House is not expected to be back in session until the second week of January.

House Republicans last week released records showing that the president exchanged emails with his son's business associate 54 times while he was serving as vice president, with some of the messages sent around the time he was traveling to Ukraine while his son was working for a Ukrainian gas company. The records do not include the content of the emails. NBC News has not independently reviewed the messages.

Hunter Biden faces a series of legal woes. Federal prosecutors charged him with nine tax-related charges this month, including three felony counts. That came after he was indicted in September on federal charges of possessing a gun while using narcotics.

Comer has accused Hunter Biden and other Biden family members of engaging in shady business practices but has not yet provided concrete evidence of wrongdoing or influence-peddling by the president.

This article was originally published on NBCNews.com
Activities related to operas introduced to campus life in Baoding, N China

Xinhua) 11:10, December 28, 2023

Students prepare for an opera performance at a school in Baoding, north China's Hebei Province, Dec. 27, 2023. In recent years, activities related to operas were introduced to the campus life in Lianchi district of Baoding City, offering local students opportunities to feel and inherit the traditional culture. (Xinhua/Jin Liangkuai)

Provincial-level inheritor of traditional Baoding Laodiao opera Du Zhenzhong teaches students at a school in Baoding, north China's Hebei Province, Dec. 27, 2023. In recent years, activities related to operas were introduced to the campus life in Lianchi district of Baoding City, offering local students opportunities to feel and inherit the traditional culture. (Xinhua/Jin Liangkuai)

Students perform traditional Baoding Laodiao opera at a school in Baoding, north China's Hebei Province, Dec. 27, 2023. In recent years, activities related to operas were introduced to the campus life in Lianchi district of Baoding City, offering local students opportunities to feel and inherit the traditional culture. (Xinhua/Jin Liangkuai)

Provincial-level inheritor of traditional Baoding Laodiao opera Du Zhenzhong teaches students at a school in Baoding, north China's Hebei Province, Dec. 27, 2023. In recent years, activities related to operas were introduced to the campus life in Lianchi district of Baoding City, offering local students opportunities to feel and inherit the traditional culture. (Xinhua/Jin Liangkuai)

Provincial-level inheritor of traditional Baoding Laodiao opera Du Zhenzhong teaches students at a school in Baoding, north China's Hebei Province, Dec. 27, 2023. In recent years, activities related to operas were introduced to the campus life in Lianchi district of Baoding City, offering local students opportunities to feel and inherit the traditional culture. (Xinhua/Jin Liangkuai)

Provincial-level inheritor of traditional Baoding Laodiao opera Du Zhenzhong demonstrates at a school in Baoding, north China's Hebei Province, Dec. 27, 2023. In recent years, activities related to operas were introduced to the campus life in Lianchi district of Baoding City, offering local students opportunities to feel and inherit the traditional culture. (Xinhua/Jin Liangkuai)

Students take part in a training for operas at a school in Baoding, north China's Hebei Province, Dec. 27, 2023. In recent years, activities related to operas were introduced to the campus life in Lianchi district of Baoding City, offering local students opportunities to feel and inherit the traditional culture. (Xinhua/Jin Liangkuai)

A teacher (L) helps a student to prepare the make-up before an opera performance at a school in Baoding, north China's Hebei Province, Dec. 27, 2023. In recent years, activities related to operas were introduced to the campus life in Lianchi district of Baoding City, offering local students opportunities to feel and inherit the traditional culture. (Xinhua/Jin Liangkuai)

Students prepare for an opera performance at a school in Baoding, north China's Hebei Province, Dec. 27, 2023. In recent years, activities related to operas were introduced to the campus life in Lianchi district of Baoding City, offering local students opportunities to feel and inherit the traditional culture. (Xinhua/Jin Liangkuai)

(Web editor: Zhang Kaiwei, Zhong Wenxing)
When youre victimized by a high-speed police chase in Houston  when your relative dies in a crash, when a fleeing vehicle sideswipes your car, when you are maimed  justice will likely elude you.

The city fights you. Theyll refuse to pay.

The courts stifle you. Theyll dismiss your case.

The lawyers reject you. Theyll say its not worth it.

The system that should right wrongs will almost never help innocent bystanders.



The Houston Police Departments policies led to a 47% increase in high-speed pursuits between 2018 and 2022, peaking at more than 1,500 last year. One in three of those chases resulted in a crash, injuring or killing at least 240 innocent bystanders. A least 10 of them died.

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Meanwhile, untold numbers of people have suffered damage to their houses, sheds, cars, lawns, mailboxes and other personal property.

Yet almost none of them got any relief from the city to help cover their losses, a Chronicle investigation found.

Photo of Carl Wiley, on a memorial shelf in the home of his mother, Yvette Gallien on Sunday, Dec. 17, 2023 in Fresno. Galliens son, Carl Wiley, was killed by a driver being chased by police near Wilcrest Drive and Meadowglen Lane in Houston on February 2022. Elizabeth Conley/Staff Photographer

Instead, they were stymied by Texas laws that protect governments from civil suits and by the city of Houstons highly effective legal playbook: deter, delay, deny.

Over the past decade, the city has used the same tactics to avoid liability in more than 60 lawsuits alleging HPD vehicles maimed or killed bystanders, some in high-speed chases. Faced with tight deadlines and blasts of recrimination from city lawyers who blame them for their own injuries, most of the victims retreated to shoulder mounting legal and medical bills.

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Cities across America use similar tactics that shelter their police from accountability, said Jon Farris, founder of Pursuit for Change, a group that advocates for safer police chases.

Too often a cop makes an incredibly poor decision, often reckless in a way that would not be accepted in any other situation, Farris said. But without proof of gross negligence, theres virtually nothing an innocent victim or family can do.



Houstons cookie-cutter approach is crass and heartless, said Mike Doyle, a lawyer who represents victims in several ongoing cases against the city.

Its a deliberate denial of any accountability no matter what the facts, no matter what happened, in every case, without exception, he said. The attorney filed a claim on behalf of the family of a Sunnyside man hit and killed by an HPD officer in a high-speed pursuit in 2021. The city denied it on the grounds of immunity in a letter sent to Doyle.

The last line of the notice: We regret your clients inconvenience in this matter.

The dead mans injuries were pre-existing, the city later argued in court filings  language repeated word-for-word in dozens of previous suits.

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The citys legal department declined to comment.

And while council members supported recent changes to HPD chase policy  revisions that dramatically decreased the number of pursuits  the city has shown little desire to address collateral damage.

Northside Village resident Lourdes Ortega pleaded with the council in November 2022 to reimburse the $3,000 she paid to replace a fence destroyed in an HPD pursuit. They would not. The city attorney had already said no.

Why did I have to pay it out of my pocket when I was innocent of what that criminal was doing? Ortega asked. I dont understand why. I think this is very wrong.

At a Houston City Council meeting, Lourdes Ortega explains how a suspect fleeing police destroyed her fence, and how city officials denied her claim for money to repair it. Houston Chronicle

In light of the Chronicles ongoing investigation into deaths and injuries caused by chases, Council Member Carolyn Evans-Shabazz is now calling for change.

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Its essential that we explore every possible avenue, including the potential establishment of a crime victims fund, to ensure comprehensive protection and support for our residents, Evans-Shabazz said.

The Chronicle reached out to more than a dozen members of the City Council. They declined to comment or did not respond.

ABOUT THE SERIES Crash & Burn A Houston Chronicle Investigation This story is part of a Chronicle investigation into the toll of high-speed chases initiated by the Houston Police Department and other area law-enforcement agencies. In and around Houston, at least 240 bystanders were injured or killed over a five-year period as pursuits by HPD police rose 47 percent, defying national trends. Though records of high-speed chases by police nationwide are notorious for being incomplete, available data found that HPD initiated more pursuits than police in Dallas, San Antonio and Austin combined between Jan. 1, 2018, and Dec. 31, 2022. CLICK HERE TO READ THE FULL SERIES

The immunity playbook

The citys legal playbook starts with running out the clock.

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Houston deters lawsuits by giving victims 90 days to notify the city of a potential lawsuit. State law allows up to six months.

Then the city pleads immunity, a centuries-old defense passed down from English Common Law, which protects governments from liability.

Government immunities have been created and strengthened based on concerns that if it was too easy to sue, courts would be full of frivolous lawsuits and officers would go bankrupt and chaos would ensue, said Joanna Schwartz, a UCLA law professor and author of Shielded: How the Police Became Untouchable.

The immunity defense alone can dismiss or delay lawsuits for years. When a suspected drunken driver chased by police killed one teen and seriously injured another in 2016, the case dragged on for six years until the victims effectively abandoned the suit last June.

But the city never stops with delays. It goes on the offensive in court filings.

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They blame the victims or third parties or acts of God.

They brand injuries and deaths as inevitable or pre-existing.

They question whether the crashes happened at all.

Those are just a few of the reasons many lawyers wont take on such cases, Doyle said. Another reason: Texas law caps damages on these kinds of government lawsuits at $250,000 per person. For some attorneys, its not financially worth the time or effort.

Still, others are able to press on in court. In 2020, an HPD officer flew through a red light chasing a suspect on the Eastex Freeway service road and struck a woman driving through the intersection, according to the womans lawsuit. In that case, the city argued the woman was at fault for the crash that left her injured: She should have stopped instead of going through a green light.

Yvette Galliens son, Carl Wiley, was killed by a driver who was fleeing police on Feb. 7, 2022, court records show.

Wiley was driving home from a west Houston grocery store shortly after midnight. Police started chasing a white Cadillac over a parking violation and an open container of alcohol, court records state. The driver ran a red light and smashed into Wileys BMW, killing him.

Cameron Rogers, the driver being chased by police, was charged with murder. His case is ongoing.

The police seized Wileys car, Gallien said. She wanted to retrieve the belongings that Wiley, 35, left behind.

Police told her no, saying they were trying to determine if Wiley  who was nowhere near the fleeing car when the pursuit began  had been involved in illegal activity, she said. Gallien was furious, feeling like her eldest son was being cast as a criminal.

Wiley was a father and jokester. After years of watching his mother and grandmother cook gumbo and boudin from scratch, hed started his own cooking show on YouTube. He was The Handsome Chef, cooking shirtless in an apron, chefs hat and bow tie. Just before his death, hed filled out paperwork to open a food truck with a friend.

I havent breathed for a whole year, Gallien said. Im just like a zombie walking through my day  go to work, wake up, go to work, do this, come home, go to bed. Thats all I was doing.

Yvette Gallien stands in her home next to a memorial she made for those who have passed away the last few years, including her son, Carl Wiley, on Sunday, Dec. 17, 2023 in Fresno. Wiley, 35, was killed by a driver being chased by police near Wilcrest Drive and Meadowglen Lane in Houston on February 2022. Elizabeth Conley/Staff Photographer

A judge granted the city immunity on some claims in Wileys case because he was killed by the suspects car, not an HPD vehicle.

But Galliens case is ongoing. She asserts the Houston Police Department made her son a victim and violated federal civil rights law by routinely targeting Black neighborhoods and drivers. The driver the police chased was Black, and the pursuit occurred in a neighborhood predominantly occupied by people of color.

The judge is giving Gallien a chance to prove that is true.

The city is already fighting back. In their latest motion, city attorneys froze efforts to interview witnesses, view evidence and obtain police documents.

Theres no amount of money that can bring my child back, Gallien said. But at the same time, I want to see what legal rounds I could take. Because he left behind a daughter that needs to be taken care of because hes no longer here to do that for her.

Photo of Carl Wiley and his daughter, on a memorial shelf in the home of his mother, Yvette Gallien on Sunday, Dec. 17, 2023 in Fresno. Galliens son, Carl Wiley, was killed by a driver being chased by police near Wilcrest Drive and Meadowglen Lane in Houston on February 2022. Elizabeth Conley/Staff Photographer

Gallien talks to her son every night, sharing simple things about her day or his teenage daughter. She keeps his pictures close. She takes more photographs of her three other children, just in case.

The $5 million exception

Now and then, victims prevail in court.

In one 2010 case, several families sued the city, alleging that HPD and county officials herded drivers to form a roadblock on I-10 that they hoped would stop a fleeing suspect. The man-made death trap worked, the plaintiffs said. It stopped the suspect, who skidded and slammed into a car and then an 18-wheeler.

Though the city tried to deny that officers ever created the blockade, claimed immunity and repeatedly delayed the suit, it eventually settled four years later. The families of two men who suffered severe brain damage in the collision received a total of $5 million.

But the Chronicles review of a decade of civil lawsuits filed by or on behalf of bystanders who were injured or killed shows the vast majority of victims dont get any relief.

Though Houstons legal department has a claims process that should allow victims to get relief outside of court, those pleas often fall flat, too.

The average payout from city claims is $925. Most claimants get nothing.

Rodney Varnado, 35, filed his claim this summer shortly after he says his car was T-boned while HPD was chasing another vehicle. His lawyers say they have not yet received an answer from the city.

The crash injured Varnados elbow and broke his femur. Several days after surgery on his leg, medical staffers tried to help him stand. He passed out from the pain.

After two weeks in the hospital, he went home. Unable to walk, he lost his job at a security company. He moved in with his grandmother. Then he got lawyers.

The accident crippled him financially, he said. He needs to pay medical bills and buy a new car.

Rodney Varnado now uses a cane after his car was hit by a vehicle involved in a police chase, photographed on Monday, Nov. 20, 2023 in Houston. Elizabeth Conley/Staff Photographer

He needs money to get his own place once hes physically strong enough to live alone. Right now, he cant pay for cell service.

I want to get back to where I was, back on my feet, he said.

But thats not how the city will play it, said Sean Madera, one of his lawyers.
The Russian occupying administration has deliberately concealed the true number of casualties in the floods in Kherson Oblast caused by Russia's blowing up of the Kakhovka Hydroelectric Power Plant, with at least hundreds of people killed in the town of Oleshky (Kherson Oblast) alone.

Source: Associated Press (AP) citing medical workers, rescue volunteers, people who fled the occupied territory, informants who passed information from there to Ukrainian security services

Quote from AP: "An AP investigation has found Russian occupation authorities vastly and deliberately undercounted the dead

Russian authorities took control of the issuance of death certificates, immediately removing bodies not claimed by family, and preventing local health workers and volunteers from dealing with the dead, threatening them when they defied orders.

Russia  has said 59 people drowned in the territory it controls, roughly 408 square kilometres (160 square miles) of flooded areas. But in the Russian-occupied town of Oleshky alone  the number is at least in the hundreds."

Details: The agency spoke to three medical workers who kept records of the dead in Oleshky, one volunteer who buried the bodies, and two informants who passed intelligence from the area to the Ukrainian Security Service. They reported that the mass graves had been dug up and the unidentified bodies taken away and never seen again.

The journalists also interviewed about a dozen other residents, rescue volunteers and people who had recently fled the area.

The AP also took into account information from the closed Oleshky-related Telegram channel, where residents reported bodies lying on the streets, corpses collected by the police, and missing people.

Quote from AP: "Together, these accounts reveal a calculated attempt by Russian authorities to cover up the true cost of the dam collapse, which the AP has found was likely caused by Moscow. Residents of Oleshky fear their enduring traumas risk being forgotten as the war grinds on, and their beloved once idyllic home is gradually depopulated."

More details: Local residents said representatives of the occupying authorities were nowhere to be seen over the first three days of the flood, and they had apparently fled despite initially asking people not to worry.

Svitlana, the chief nurse of the Oleshky District Multidisciplinary Hospital, the city's primary healthcare centre, who coordinated the collection of death certificates, reported that the rotting of bodies had caused the corpses to bloat and "people were floating around the city like balloons".

AP reported that the Russian State Emergency Service arrived back in Oleshky on the afternoon of 9 June. Doctors were prohibited from issuing death certificates to flood casualties. However, they were still allowed to issue certificates for other causes of death. Svitlana and Olena, her nurse co-worker at the hospital, said they were informed of the new rule verbally.

They were told that flood victims would have to be sent for autopsies to medical facilities in other parts of Kherson Oblast (the settlements of Kalanchak, Skadovsk and Henichesk), where, after a forensic medical examination, certificates would be issued by doctors authorised by the occupying authorities to give them. Relatives could not bury their family members without this crucial document.

Svitlana explained that she approached the police requesting an "official order" confirming the change in the existing policy, which had been in place since March. She said they did not have it and responded to her request with threats.

"They said: You will suffer the consequences for doing this."

Every day, police officers would come to the hospital to make copies of the death certificates issued by doctors and make sure that the rules were being followed. "You need to understand under what circumstances we worked there  under the FSB, police, prosecutors," Svitlana noted.

The hospital sent just under 50 bodies to autopsy centres. However, as AP says, the Russians gave residents certain phone numbers to call the police, who sent people to pick up the bodies, bypassing the hospital. At the same time, family members were charged RUB 10,000 [roughly US$100] as a fee for the service.

Those who did not have that kind of money begged doctors to record a different cause of death, such as heart attack, so they could be buried quickly, the two nurses said. Bodies that were not searched for by relatives simply disappeared.

"Not just Russia, but even Ukraine doesnt realise the scale of this tragedy," Svitlana noted.

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The Russian Aircraft Corporation (RAC) MiG has begun work on a new jet trainer, the MiG-UTS. The program is being launched with some urgency, reusing components from a previous MiG trainer design from the 1990s, amid growing problems in Russias military pilot training pipeline.

It was announced today on the website of the Rostec state defense conglomerate that RAC MiG has begun the development of the MiG-UTS, with the aircraft described as the centerpiece of a new pilot training complex. However, no more details were provided of the other components of this system.

The announcement states that the MiG-UTS is intended to replace the Czechoslovakian-designed L-39 Albatros , which originally entered service with the Soviet military back in the 1970s and is now increasingly showing its age. Ironically, Aero of the Czech Republic continues to develop the basic Albartros design and now offers a thoroughly updated version, the L-39NG , which is very much in the same class as the projected MiG-UTS.

A Russian Aerospace Forces L-39C jet trainer. Igor Dvurekov/Wikimedia Commons

Referring to the L-39, Sergei Korotkov, the general designer and deputy general director of United Aircraft Corporation (UAC), of which RAC MiG is a part, said: We have great doubts about supporting the operation of the aircraft on which the main training of pilots is carried out today. Therefore, a new training tool is required that will allow us to effectively train flight and technical personnel.

Affordability also appears to be at the center of the MiG-UTS project, with the decision to develop a single-engine aircraft intended to make it more affordable and inexpensive to operate.

We are creating the cheapest, easiest to operate  both for the pilot and to maintain  single-engine aircraft that fully meets the requirements for the basic training stage, said Andrei Nedosekin, the director and chief designer at RAC MiG.

As well as low cost, the program also stresses a rapid development period. To help achieve this, RAC MiG will make maximum use of the previous MiG-AT trainer, two prototypes of which were built in the mid-1990s. Like the MiG-AT, the MiG-UTS has a straight wing, a tandem two-seat cockpit, and a conventional cruciform tail.

One of the original MiG-AT prototypes. Anna Zvereva/Wikimedia Commons

In particular, the MiG-UTS will feature a cockpit derived from that of the MiG-AT cockpit, although its unclear if this refers to the avionics, as well, which will be notably dated by now.

An artists concept for the new design bears striking similarities to the MiG-AT, although its worth noting that the earlier trainer utilized twin-engine propulsion.

The engine selected for the MiG-UTS is the AI-222-25 . Although designed in Ukraine, this engine is also manufactured in Russia, by the Salyut company, part of the United Engine Corporation.

A Russian-made AI-222-25 engine for a Yakovlev Yak-130 Mitten trainer. Vitaly V. Kuzmin/Wikimedia Commons

The original MiG-AT was also intended to replace the L-39 but was rejected in 2002 in favor of the Yak-130 Mitten , which is powered by two AI-222-25 engines, and offers a higher degree of performance.

A pair of Russian Aerospace Forces Yakovlev Yak-130 Mitten trainers. Dmitry Terekhov/Wikimedia Commons

The emergence of the MiG-UTS at this stage suggests that Russia wants to replace the aging L-39 with a cheaper and less complex trainer than the Yak-130. In this way, the MiG-UTS could fulfill the basic training syllabus, with combat pilots then moving on to the Yak-130 for advanced and combat training. Currently, the L-39 and Yak-130 appear to be used more or less interchangeably, depending on the unit and base in question.

Plans to introduce the piston-engined Yak-152 for primary training and flight screening have so far come to nothing, making the acquisition of a new trainer even more urgent.

A Yakovlev Yak-152 prototype piston-engine trainer. Anna Zvereva/Wikimedia Commons

Russia has, in the past, sought to extend the service life of its remaining L-39s, although this has now become much harder due to sanctions imposed after the Kremlins full-scale invasion of Ukraine.

Last year, the Russian-military-related Fighterbomber channel on Telegram reported on an apparent problem related to the L-39s ejection seats. In particular, the explosive cartridges for the seats were becoming time-expired, grounding at least some of the jets, with Russian industry unable to provide replacements.

The Czechs, of course, do not sell [the cartridges] to us, Fighterbomber wrote. Our Yak-130 aircraft are too few to train all available cadets on them and we will not have time to build new ones.

Fighterbomber subsequently reported that the decision was taken to fly the available L-39s with the ejection seats disabled  with the presumption that the instructor and student signed an appropriate consent form.

Whether related or not, it was reported in August 2023 that the commander of the Maykop training airbase was killed in an L-39 crash that also left the senior flight instructor from the Akhtubinsk flight test center injured.

https://twitter.com/clashreport/status/1691376898964647936

In theory, it takes around five years to train a Russian military pilot. The first two years are spent on theoretical studies, before practical flying starts in the third year, in the L-39 and/or Yak-130, initially alongside an instructor, before soloing.

In the fourth year, successful candidates are separated into fighter, tactical bomber and attack aircraft, transport, long-range bomber, and rotary-wing streams. The fifth year consists of advanced and combat training and pilots will start to fly their future operational aircraft or a type with similar qualities.

Its also possible that the development of a new jet trainer indicates that the Russian military may be less than happy with the Yak-130 thats currently in production for domestic and export orders. There have been suggestions that the Yak-130 is considered too expensive for Russia and the type also suffered from some high-profile accidents during its development, leading to delays and a redesign of its flight control system.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VrA5aIzYeUk

Provided the MiG-UTS is fitted with advanced avionics, it could potentially also be used for advanced and combat training, preparing pilots for frontline fourth-generation fighters, and upgraded versions thereof . This is something that Russias L-39s are not suitable for. On the other hand, the straight-wing MiG-UTS is never going to replicate a high-performance combat aircraft as well as the swept-wing, twin-engine Yak-130 can do.

Its noteworthy, perhaps, that the MiG-AT was at one time intended to have a reprogrammable flight control system that would be able to better simulate the handling of fighters, as well as less maneuverable bombers and transports. This could also be resurrected to make the MiG-UTS a more versatile training aid.

Meanwhile, it seems that Russia is increasingly facing a military pilot shortage, something that will only be exacerbated by the personnel losses sustained in the Ukraine war .

As long ago as 2016, Russian Minister of Defense Sergei Shoigu stated that there was a shortage of 1,300 military pilots, equivalent to 20-25 aviation regiments. At the time, Shoigu said that the problem would be addressed by 2018.

Russian Minister of Defense Sergei Shoigu visits the ARMY-2023 exhibition in August 2023 in Kubinka, Russia. Photo by Contributor/Getty Images

Clearly, that didnt happen. As of early 2019, reports in the Russian media were quoting a Telegram channel, The View of a Man in Stripes, run anonymously by former high-ranking military personnel.

That channel stated: If the Air Force does not declare a state of emergency and take emergency measures, then we will soon simply not have any military pilots left. The gap of 1,300 pilots, which Sergei Shoigu announced three years ago, not only is not decreasing but is also growing.

The same account described one elite regiment, the 8th Aviation Division of Special Purpose, at Chkalovsky , near Moscow, as having no available pilots at all.

An assortment of An-12 and Il-22 transport and special mission aircraft parked on the southside ramp at the airbase of Chkalovsky, home of the 8th Aviation Division of Special Purpose, in 2013. Alan Wilson/Wikimedia Commons

As well as routine retirements due to age or health reasons, or transfers to non-flying posts, many pilots and navigators have been leaving Russian military service for jobs with commercial airlines. The war in Ukraine  and the frequently poor showing of the Russian Aerospace Forces  will hardly have helped recruiting since then, not to mention the aircrew who have lost their lives in that conflict.

https://twitter.com/NOELreports/status/1738183969781276924

In 2019, the Russian newspaper Svobodnaya Pressa reported that [the Russian commercial airline] Aeroflot offers such fabulous conditions for switching to civilian life that it is very difficult for even a lieutenant, a major, or a colonel to resist. An Aeroflot salary at this time was up to 650,000 rubles (around $7,250) per month, compared to around 60,000 rubles (around $670) for a lieutenant, rising to 80,000 rubles (around $890) for a major.

There are also accounts, including from the Fighterbomber military blog on Telegram, of military pilots bribing doctors to have them decommissioned from service on medical grounds, allowing them to take up jobs in the civilian sector.

All in all, the Russian military pilot training enterprise is facing some serious issues right now. Time will tell whether the MiG-UTS will be the solution to any of those problems, or if its destined to be another paper project that fails to deliver.

Contact the author: thomas@thedrive.com
Texas Gov. Greg Abbott speaks during a VIP reception at the annual Houston Hispanic Chamber of Commerce Business Expo and Luncheon, Thursday, April 9, 2015, in Houston. Jon Shapley/Associated Press

Abbott versus immigrants

Regarding Abbott just signed two major border security bills. Theyll backfire. (Opinion), (Dec. 19): Gov. Greg Abbott continues to go after undocumented immigrants and their families from Mexico and South America, leaving the major industries in Texas that act as magnets alone. These industries and the proportionate number of undocumented immigrants they employ include agriculture (33%), construction (27%), grounds and maintenance (24%), according to an FWD.us analysis of U.S. Census Bureau data. These are the key employers in Texas who hire undocumented immigrants and pay them cheaper wages, thus increasing their profits. The governor does not go after these industries, in my opinion, because they have the resources to push back and could cost him his job. Thus, he targets the immigrant workers because they cannot vote.

Tatcho Mindiola, Houston

Regarding Two thousand years ago, a young family became refugees (Editorial), (Dec. 24): As I read my online edition of the Chronicle here in Lisbon on Christmas Eve, I am so proud of my native citys daily paper for the Sunday editorial on immigration. It rightly calls out Greg Abbotts cruel and farcical immigration policy and rightly bemoans the prospect of a restoration to power of the vulgar authoritarian, Donald Trump.

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My paternal grandfather, a Mexican with an Anglo surname, crossed the referenced bridge at Eagle Pass into the United States in the 1920s. I wonder what he would think about buoys in the river and razor wire on its banks and the claim that he was poisoning the blood of his beloved new country?

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I am writing from a nation that lived under dictatorship for nearly half a century. This coming April 25, Portugal will celebrate the 50th anniversary of the overthrow of that regime and the establishment of a thriving democracy. It makes me heartsick to see our own country moving in the opposite direction. In 2024, it will be up to Americans of all persuasions to protect  at the ballot box and in the streets, if necessary  the institutions that have made our society exceptional. The whole world indeed will be watching.

Stephen K. Davis, Porter

I think the Republicans would have welcomed the Holy Family at the border. They had gold. Republicans are always ready to help people with money. They also had frankincense and myrrh, which were valuable as well.

Without the money, they would be considered personae non grata and would be turned away. Many Republicans would want them shot dead. Republicans like to pretend to be patriotic and Christian but I dont see it.

What would Jesus do?: Do they ever actually ask themselves that question? Are they familiar with Him?

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Bruce Ellis, Houston

In the editorial, you wrote: Jesus parents were refugees in distress and deserved compassion, much like those set to be targeted by states new law on border crossings. Your correlation of Joseph and Mary to the current situation at the southern border, not just Texas and not just border states, shows there are no limits to which the Chronicles editorial board will not sink to propagate their rhetorical agenda.

According to a recent Fox News poll, 71% of bipartisan voters, and not just Texas voters, disagree with the Biden administrations border policies. Yet, the Chronicle stoops to a near blasphemous comparison to Joseph and Mary.

Hayden Black, Spring

The issues and problems related to immigration start with understanding our needs. Historically, the United States thrived by attracting immigrants from other countries. That is truer today, as our existing workforce is shrinking and getting older. The owners and leaders of our businesses can assess our needs and formulate policy to carry out goals for our national benefit. Supporters of both parties need to demand this new direction.

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Paul E. Anderson Jr., Houston

I would suggest that the Chronicle editorial board reread the Bible and tell the true story of the birth of the Messiah.

Joseph and Mary were to go to Bethlehem to participate in a census, ordered by Caesar Augustus, and to pay taxes. They lived in Nazareth, and Bethlehem was Josephs childhood home.

Their stay was short-lived, as King Herod was fearful of the promised power of Jesus. They fled to nearby Egypt. Egypt was a logical place to find refuge, as it was outside the dominions of King Herod, but both Egypt and Judea were part of the Roman Empire, linked by a coastal road known as the way of the sea, making travel between them easy and relatively safe.

So there was no illegal entry, and there was no government funding that practically encouraged illegal entry. That comes later, under King Biden, as he pillages the coffers of our country for his own gain.

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Patti Miller, Houston

The editorial section of the Chronicle never fails to amaze me. Today, you compared the plight of undocumented migrants to the same plight as Mary and Joseph. If I am not mistaken, Mary and Joseph were legal citizens on their way to Bethlehem to pay their taxes, and not people trying to unlawfully enter another country. When they arrived in Bethlehem, there was no room at the inn, so they were relegated to spending the night in a barn, where Mary gave birth to Jesus. You could have made many analogies, but comparing undocumented immigrants to Mary, Joseph and Jesus is comical and could be a sketch for Saturday Night Live.
As Ukrainian forces have destroyed the Novocherkassk Russian landing ship tank (LST) in occupied Crimea, the number of such vessels lost by Russia has reached three, with ten more remaining in the Black Sea.

Source: UK Defence Intelligence review dated 28 December on Twitter, as reported by European Pravda; Defense Express, a Ukrainian information and analytical company specialising in reviewing military equipment, weapons and the defence industry of Ukraine

Details: The UK MoD mentioned that Ukraines strike on 25 December utterly destroyed the Ropucha-class Novocherkassk, an LST of the Russian Navy, as it had been docked in the port of Feodosiia on the southern coast of Russia-occupied Crimea.

"Open source evidence suggests it is highly likely the vessel was carrying explosive cargo when it was hit, causing a large secondary explosion," the review stressed.

This incident has increased the number of LSTs lost by Russia since the beginning of the large-scale invasion to three: the Saratov sank on 24 March 2022, and the Minsk was functionally destroyed in a dry dock on 13 September 2023. Two other vessels were likely damaged.

UK analysts say Russia likely planned to utilise its LST force to mount major amphibious operations during the invasion and doubled the number of these ships in the Black Sea as it prepared for war.

"As the war has dragged on, the ships have been more commonly employed in providing logistical support. This is a significant role because it augments the vital and relatively fragile road and rail connection of the Crimea Bridge, which links Crimea to Russia," UK Defence Intelligence noted.

Meanwhile, the Ukrainian media outlet Defense Express reported that the Ukrainian Armed Forces had irreversibly destroyed three large Russian LSTs in the Black and Azov Seas, and with the destruction of the Project 775 Novocherkassk in the occupied town of Feodosiia, Russia's number of this kind of vessels in the Black Sea has dropped to ten.

In addition to the Novocherkassk, the Minsk (Project 775, assigned to the Baltic Fleet) was destroyed in a dry dock in Sevastopol on 13 September this year, along with the Rostov-on-Don submarine, and the Saratov (Project 1171) was sunk in the town of Berdiansk on 24 March 2022. The Olenegorsky Gornyak LST, hit by an uncrewed surface vessel in Russia's Novorossiysk on 4 August this year, remained afloat and was put into dry dock.

The Russians still have two LSTs of Project 1171 Tapir (Orsk and Nikolay Filchenkov), seven Project 775 LSTs (Tsesar Kunikov, Yamal, Azov, Kaliningrad, Georgy Pobedonosets, Korolev, and Olenegorskiy Gornyak from different Russian fleets), and one Project 11711 Ivan Gren (Pyotr Morgunov).

A total of 10 large amphibious assault ships are operating in the Black Sea.

Satellite imagery released by MT Anderson revealed that there were a total of four Project 775 LSTs in the occupied city of Sevastopol (Crimea) on 20 December, including two that were undergoing repairs.

Frigate pier and the repair bay to the south are fairly empty

2x Bora Class

2x Ropucha Class

1x Krivak Class

Grain Thief Matros Koshka is back again loading #stolenukrainiangrain pic.twitter.com/qT9spWfXaZ  MT Anderson (@MT_Anderson) December 23, 2023

Background:

Estonian intelligence believes that the strike on the Novocherkassk will further intensify pressure on Russia.

UK Defence Secretary Grant Shapps stated that the destruction of the Russian Novocherkassk LST in the port of Feodosiia refutes the claims of a supposed "deadlock" in the war in Ukraine.

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Mayor Pro-Tem Dave Martin stands at left as Mayor Sylvester Turner honors members of the Citgo 6, Citgo executives Jose Pereira, Jorge Toledo, Gustavo Cardenas, Jose Zambrano and Christina Vadell, right, daughter of a fifth member, Tomeu Vadell, Wednesday, Dec. 27, 2023, with a proclamation declaring Dec. 19 Citgo 6 Day. Kirk Sides/Staff photographer Mayor Sylvester Turner honors members of the Citgo 6, Citgo executives Jose Pereira, Jorge Toledo, Gustavo Cardenas, Jose Zambrano and their wives with Christina Vadell, daughter of a fifth member, Tomeu Vadell, Wednesday, Dec. 27, 2023, with a proclamation declaring Dec. 19 Citgo 6 Day. Kirk Sides/Staff photographer Mayor Sylvester Turner honors members of the Citgo 6, Citgo executives Jose Pereira, Jorge Toledo, Gustavo Cardenas, Jose Zambrano and Christina Vadell, right, daughter of a fifth member, Tomeu Vadell, Wednesday, Dec. 27, 2023, with a proclamation declaring Dec. 19 Citgo 6 Day. Kirk Sides/Staff photographer Mayor Sylvester Turner chats with Citgo executives, Jose Zambrano, Jorge Toledo, Gustavo Cardenas, and Jose Pereira, also known as the Citgo 6, with their wives and Christina Vadell, left, daughter of a fifth member, Tomeu Vadell, Wednesday, Dec. 27, 2023, prior to honoring them with a proclamation declaring Dec. 19 Citgo 6 Day. Kirk Sides/Staff photographer

Outgoing Mayor Sylvester Turner honored six Citgo executives who were held prisoner in Venezuela for over five years, issuing a proclamation Wednesday that recognized their resilience, determination and faith throughout their ordeal.

The Citgo 6 are made up of six executives from petroleum company Citgo, which is based in Houston. In 2017, the executives were told they were traveling to Venezuela for a budget meeting with PDVSA, a Venezuelan oil company that is the parent company of Citgo.

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The executives were met by masked men with rifles who detained them and accused them of selling $4 billion in Citgo bonds for personal gain.

The kidnappers released the first executive, Gustavo Cardenas, in March 2022 as tensions between the U.S. and Venezuela rose with the breakout of the war in Ukraine and a search began for new fuel supplies.

The captors released the last of the hostages  Tomeu Vadell, Jose Luis Zambrano, Alirio Zambrano, Jorge Toledo and Jose Pereira  in October 2022 following a prisoner swap. President Joe Biden's administration negotiated the release of the remaining five members, and in return Venezuela secured the freedom of two of President Nicolas Maduros family members, who were being held on drug smuggling charges.

The fact that you're here at City Hall today speaks volumes, Turner told the former hostages Wednesday.

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Only four of the six of the Citgo executives, Jose Luis Zambrano, Toledo, Pereira and Cardenas, and their family members were present for the proclamation reading Wednesday.

Cristina Vadell, Tomeu Vadells daughter, showed up to represent her parents.

Also in attendance was Sofia Adrogue, a lawyer who represented the executives as they fought for their release. She wrote in a message to a reporter that she was honored to advocate for the executives, and that their survival was a testament to their determination, conviction and faith.

Adrogue said the executives became political pawns who got caught in the morass of a geopolitical conspiracy. Members of Congress, the state department, the presidents envoy for hostage affairs and officials from the White House were all engaged with the campaign to help release them, she said.

The two prisons the hostages were held in, she said, are among the two worst in Venezuela.

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After Turner read the proclamation that declared Dec. 19 the Citgo 6 Day, a bleary eyed Pereira got one word out.

Wow, he said.

The proclamation was supposed to be done on the 19th, but was moved to Wednesday due to scheduling.

Toledo called the proclamation an honor. Both he and Jose Luis Zambrano were grateful to be able to say thank you to those who supported them through the ordeal.

Houstons business community is international, said Christopher Olson, the citys director for trade and international affairs. The proclamation for the Citgo 6, to him, was about honoring those who have represented the citys business community through hardship.

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Our companies in Houston work in hard places but should not be subjected to this kind of treatment when you're doing just the conduct of international business, Olson said.

As she held a copy of the proclamation outside Turners office Wednesday, Cristina Vadell called her father her hero.

He, every day, fought for his freedom, and every day he had faith, she said. And what kept us going was love.

She hoped that others who saw her father and his colleagues make their way out of the situation were able to find hope, and that decision makers were able to find solutions.

After his release, Toledo said he entered a new life. He didnt know if he was going to come back, he told the Chronicle.

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This is like living a dream, he said, adding that Wednesday was about fulfilling that dream.

His time in captivity changed his purpose. Toledo said hes dedicating more of his time to find solutions to hostage diplomacy, which he calls a crime committed with normal citizens.

Theyre playing with peoples lives, he said.
Russian occupiers shot dead three Ukrainian prisoners of war from the 82nd Separate Ais Assault Brigade of the Armed Forces of Ukraine

The Ukrainian Air Force has confirmed that Russian forces shot dead three Ukrainian prisoners of war from the 82nd Separate Air Assault Brigade near Robotyne, according to a press release on Dec. 28.

Unidentified Russian soldiers intentionally violated the laws and customs of war while positioned on the line of combat contact in one of the districts of Zaporizhzhya Oblast, the Air Force said.

Read also: Russian agents nabbed in Zaporizhzhya after directing missile attack on high-rise apartments

The Russian military violated Article 3 of the Geneva Convention on the Treatment of Prisoners of War, as well as other norms of international humanitarian law, by deliberately killing people who are protected in the event of an armed conflict.

The Russians crime has been entered into the register of pre-trial investigations and the case materials will be submitted to the International Criminal Court at the Hague.

Read also: Worse than in Bakhmut  Danilov on destruction of Maryinka

"Sooner or later, Russian war criminals will be held accountable for their atrocities before the International Criminal Tribunal, the Air Force said.

Truth is on our side. We will not be broken! We will avenge every Ukrainian, for every piece of land that terrorist Russia has brought grief to. The enemy will be punished."

The POWs were likely shot by the Russian 76th Air Assault Division based in Pskov, war crimes investigator Yurii Belousov reported on Dec. 28.

The 76th Air Assault Division, also known as the Pskov Landing Division, has participated in the war against Ukraine since 2014, and after the full-scale invasion in 2022, the unit took part in the occupation of Kyiv Oblast and committed numerous atrocities against civilians in Bucha.

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Read the original article on The New Voice of Ukraine
A brief car chase early Thursday ended in a crash in the Village Green neighborhood of North Sacramento, the Sacramento County Sheriffs Office said.

The chase began at 2:13 a.m. when a blue compact car failed to yield for a traffic stop in the area of Kenwood and Pendleton streets in the Hagginwood section of the city, according to police dispatch radio.

During the chase, the blue car ran a red light and eventually crashed into a house on Village Circle five minutes later. The suspect, described as wearing a gray shirt, then jumped out of the car and hopped over a fence, fleeing the scene.

Officers from the Sacramento Police Department and deputies set up a perimeter and took the suspect into custody.

No injuries were reported and no further information was released.
The New York Times sued Microsoft and OpenAI for copyright infringement, marking the first major American media company to pursue a legal battle against the creators of ChatGPT.

Read Also: News Outlets Call for Petition for AI Training Data Rules

Microsoft, OpenAI Allegedly Used Millions of Articles

The Times filed the lawsuit in the Federal District Court in Manhattan, citing that millions of articles in the publications were used to train chatbots. Due to the articles being used as training materials, the AI models are now able to compete with the news outlet by posing as a source of reliable information.

While the suit does not indicate an exact monetary demand for the damages, it was stated in the file that the defendants should be responsible for "billions of dollars in statutory and actual damages." Moreover, there was also an emphasis on the unlawful copying and use of the articles from the publication.

"Defendants seek to free-ride on The Times's massive investment in its journalism," the complaint states as the publication claims that OpenAI and Microsoft are using their content without any payment.

Microsoft, OpenAI Faces Copyright Issues

Last August, reports showed that both companies are under negotiation as The Times seeks a licensing deal that would require OpenAI to pay for any content that will be used to train their AI. Given the current situation, the companies have probably failed to settle their negotiation.

Meanwhile, OpenAI had already struck an agreement with the Associated Press that allowed the company to access some of the publication's archives. The AI giant now also has a three-year deal this December with Axel Springer SE, allowing them to use German media.

"If Microsoft and OpenAI want to use our work for commercial purposes, the law requires that they first obtain our permission," a New York Times spokesperson stated. However, both Microsoft and OpenAI have failed to do so.

Related Article: The New York Times Might Take Legal Action Against OpenAI
A Tesla robot has reportedly attacked and wounded one of the company's engineers in its Texas factory, the same place where the Cybertruck is being manufactured.

The incident, which occurred in 2021, was caused by a malfunctioning robot pinning and sinking its metal claws to the back and hand of the software engineer working on it, witnesses told The Information.

Reports indicate that the engineer was programming software that controls the robots designed for cutting aluminum car parts when one of the three malfunctioned after being left open.

The engineer suffered a "laceration, cut or open wound" on their left hand, according to an incident report Tesla submitted.

What's worrying, however, is this was not the first instance a similar incident occurred within the company's biggest car manufacturing facility.

Series of Incidents in Tesla Factory

Injury reports submitted to the US Occupational Safety and Health Administration claimed that one out of every 21 workers at Tesla's headquarters got hurt last year.

The numbers are higher in its Fremont factory in California where one in 12 workers was injured in the previous year.

Both numbers are higher than the one out of every 30 workers median injury rate for the automotive industry last year.

Current and former employees agree that the injuries were caused by the company cutting corners on the construction, maintenance, and operations of its car models.

Sources said that management demands speedy production at the cost of workers being injured or being exposed to toxic chemicals during work time.

Tesla and its CEO Elon Musk have yet to provide any comments regarding the accident allegations.

Also Read: Former Tesla Employee Draws Doubt on Autopilot Car's Safety

Work Incidents Increases Amid Cost-Cutting Strategies

Tesla is not the only company that recorded increasing workplace incidents amidst its chief executives advocating for artificial intelligence in its workforce due to production inefficacies.

Many Amazon employees in the e-commerce giant's retail warehouses have reported getting physical injuries and mental stress on the job.

Working conditions in the company have worsened with the heightened speed and surveillance of the company's workplace.

Several employees have already filed complaints against Amazon with some taking it to the streets to protest against the poor working conditions.

Related Article: Amazon's Speed and Surveillance Ambitions Lead to Higher Injuries, Study Says
NASA revealed a 2024 trailer detailing over 15 missions, experiments, and major events that are about to happen next year.

Read Also: NASA Astronauts Are Testing the Moon Elevators for the Artemis 3 Mission

NASA 2024: Onward and Upward

NASA announced the following missions that will take place next year as part of its continued efforts to "break barriers, shatter limits, and make the impossible possible." One of the major events for 2024 is that American companies are expected to land payloads on the moon for the first time.

The space administration is also preparing for Artemis II and Artemis III as it some of the development and behind-the-scenes footage were shown briefly in the trailer. Associate administrator for the Exploration Systems Development Mission Directorate at NASA Headquarters in Washington, Jim Free, shared how different Artemis is from other space missions before.

In addition, various missions that will help scientists measure the changes on Earth's surface are also slated for 2024. NASA emphasized the importance of analyzing the atmosphere and oceans to plan for a better future.

NASA Continues Space Revolution

Aside from payloads on the moon and Earth climate satellites, NASA also unveiled a new mission to Jupiter's moon, Europa. "We will show what is possible when we dare to reach distant cosmic shores," NASA administrator Bill Nelson shared.

Science enthusiasts and knowledge seekers can check the official 2024 calendar for launches and landings of the mission. The earlier launch schedule will be on January 8 for the Astrobotic's CLPS Flight (Peregrine Mission 1).

Meanwhile, SpaceX Crew-8 and Crew-9 are expected to launch around February and August, respectively. As for the Artemis II launch, it will be in November while the Artemis III is targeted to launch by 2025.

Related Article: NASA Produces US Pollution-Monitoring Instrument, Releases Its First Images
After 12 years of journey in deep space, NASA's Juno spacecraft is about to get the closest look into Jupiter's moon Io this Saturday, Dec. 30.

NASA announced that the orbiter will soon come within 1.5 kilometers from Io's surface, the closest flyby any spacecraft has made with the volcanic moon in over 20 years.

A second "ultra-close flyby" is scheduled for Feb. 3, Saturday, next year.

Scientists are excited for these rare opportunities to see Io's volcanic system up close. The Jovian moon is considered the most volcanically active body in the solar system, more than Venus.

Wedged between the gravitational force of Jupiter and its sister Galilean moons, the "tortured moon" is constantly stretched and squeezed to form hundreds of volcanoes and lakes of molten silicate lava on the surface.

What is the Mission of the Juno Spacecraft?

Ever since it was launched in August 2011, the Juno spacecraft has provided astronomers with important data on Jupiter's origin and evolution, as well as the 95 moons orbiting the gas giant.

The spacecraft has already performed close flybys to Jupiter's other Galilean moons Ganymede and Europa.

Ahead of its scheduled close encounter with Io, Juno has already captured an image of the moon last October and revealed closer details to its north and south polar regions.

Juno is set to explore Jupiter's other inner moons as part of its already three-year extended mission. It is expected to continue through September 2025.

The spacecraft was named after the Roman goddess Juno, the goddess of marriage and the wife of Jupiter. Her Greek counterpart is Hera, sister and wife of Zeus.

Also Read: Euclid Telescope Images Reveal Detailed Look into Far Galaxies

NASA Plans for Future Jupiter Missions

While the Juno spacecraft aims to accomplish its mission with its remaining operational life, NASA has already procured more plans to further understand Jupiter and its moons.

Europa lander is a proposed surface explorer that will look for signs of life on the icy moon. The mission is set to launch as early as 2024.

There is also the Jupiter Icy Moons Explorer (JUICE) by the European Space Agency set to explore Ganymede, Callisto, and Europa. Its main mission is to determine whether Ganymede has the potential for a suitable habitat.

Related Article: NASA James Webb Space Telescope Unveils 3D Visualization of 5,000 Galaxies
Apple Vision Pro is rumored to be released around late January to early February after analyst Ming-Chi Kuo reported that the device is currently in mass production and will begin shipments by the first week of January 2024.

Read Also: Apple Wants Lighter Design for Next Vision Pro After Neck Strain Complaints

Apple Vision Pro is Coming Soon

The Apple Vision Pro made its debut during the WWDC last June. Over the past months, reports showed some challenges in developing the device such as neck strain complaints on the weight of the device.

After the confirmation that the Vision Pro will be arriving sometime in early 2024, a company memo was sent to retail employees detailing the application for a product training event. Although it was not confirmed that it was for the Vision Pro, the device is currently the only Apple device that needs intensive product training to sell.

Bloomberg analyst Mark Gurman initially estimated that the device would be released in March. However, Kuo hinted that it is possible to have an official store launch by late January or early February. The prediction is based on the current mass shipment schedule.

Apple Preps for Vision Pro Launch

Last week, Gurman revealed that Apple is already ramping up the production of the mixed-reality headset and is preparing for a launch by February. If both are correct, Apple will be starting the year with a big reveal ahead of them.

In addition, Kuo also believed that around 500,000 units are about to be shipped next year. "If user feedback on Vision Pro is better than expected, it will help strengthen the market consensus that 'Vision Pro is the next star product in consumer electronics' and the related supply chain stock price," he added.

Currently, there are a couple of dates that are suspected to be the launch date such as January 26, February 2, February 9, or February 16.

Related Article: Employee Training for Apple Vision Pro Starts in Early 2024
(Photo : Unsplash/Mojahid Mottakin)

Microsoft and OpenAI, the creator of ChatGPT, face a lawsuit from the New York Times on copyright infringement and intellectual property misuse to train big language models without permission or payment.

Copyright Infringement Lawsuit

The copyright infringement lawsuit filed in a Manhattan federal court on Wednesday claims that Microsoft and OpenAI copied information from various sources to develop their systems. The lawsuit asserts that they prioritize New York Times content and aim to benefit from the newspaper's significant investment in journalism, creating substitute products without permission or payment.

The lawsuit emphasizes the crucial role of the Times's independent journalism in democracy, asserting its increasing rarity and value. This legal action by the publisher follows a series of similar cases, including one in September where over a dozen authors sued the company for using their writing without permission.

Language Learning Models Scrutiny

Misinformation

Language learning models, which gained immense popularity in the past year, are under growing scrutiny. There are concerns, especially from news outlets, that these tools might spread misinformation in their name and use content without encouraging users to check the source. Launched in November 2022, ChatGPT quickly gained 100 million users within two months. A year later, it had consistently reached over 100 million weekly users.

CEO Removal and Reinstatement

OpenAI, the parent company of ChatGPT and owned by Microsoft, experienced an internal conflict last month. The disagreement centered on whether to maintain the safety-first principles on which the company was founded or pursue a less-constrained strategy for growth. The conflict led to the removal of CEO Sam Altman, but employees rallied for his return, and he was successfully rehired. While the turmoil focused on leadership amid the company's expanding capabilities, it did not address the escalating battle between information providers for AI training and the technology operators.

READ ALSO: OpenAI CEO Sam Altman Returns: Can the Company Harmonize Amid Staff and Board Standoff?

Multiple Lawsuits from Fiction Writers

OpenAI has faced multiple lawsuits from fiction writers for using copyrighted materials, including an ongoing class-action lawsuit. In September, the Getty Photo Archive sued a different AI firm for using its images.

New York Times Negotiations and Demands

The Times stated that the lawsuit emerged following a breakdown in negotiations with the companies regarding using Times material. The newspaper had approached the tech firms to discuss an amicable resolution, exploring options like commercial agreements and establishing "guardrails" around AI products. However, the discussions reached an impasse.

The lawsuit addresses the problem of AI "hallucinations," which refers to incorrect information wrongly linked to a source, potentially harming the Times's reputation. The lawsuit points to Microsoft's Bing Chat instances where the material was allegedly misidentified as Times content, specifically in results for "the 15 most heart-healthy foods." According to the lawsuit, twelve foods were not mentioned in the Times story.

The Times lawsuit doesn't seek a specific amount of money. Still, it asserts that OpenAI, valued at $80 billion, and Microsoft, valued at $2.8 trillion, should be accountable for "billions of dollars in statutory and actual damages." The suit also demands that the companies eliminate chatbot models and training data containing copyrighted material from the Times.

OpenAI's Partnership with German Publishing Giant

Amid growing concerns about using published materials in training ChatGPT, OpenAI has addressed these worries through partnerships. One recent collaboration involves German publishing giant Axel Springer. OpenAI aims to enhance users' experiences with ChatGPT by incorporating current and authoritative content on various topics and values the publisher's role in contributing to OpenAI's products.

The collaboration provides ChatGPT users with summaries of global news content from Springer's media brands with proper attribution and links to full articles for transparency. Mathias Dopfner, Axel Springer's CEO, expressed interest in exploring the possibilities of AI-empowered journalism to elevate quality, societal relevance, and the business model of journalism. Representatives from OpenAI and Microsoft have not responded to requests for comment.

RELATED ARTICLE: Businesses and Tech Groups Warn EU Against Over-regulating AI Foundation Models

 2017 Jobs & Hire All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission.
Yearender: Building, connecting, empowering -- BRI's decade marked with transformative achievements

Xinhua) 11:16, December 28, 2023

HONG KONG, Dec. 27 (Xinhua) -- On the 10th year of the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI), the cooperation platform has become a popular international public good and added new growth drivers to the global economy at a time when the world is facing tremendous changes.

By building up railways, highways, power plants and dams, it helps local people in the Asia-Pacific region lead a better life. By enhancing cooperation and people-to-people exchanges, it popularizes the vision of a global community of a shared future.

Drawing the blueprint for the next decade in a recently released document titled "Vision and Actions for High-Quality Belt and Road Cooperation: Brighter Prospects for the Next Decade," China is committed to encouraging all parties to strive toward equal cooperation and mutual benefit, propelling Belt and Road cooperation into a new phase characterized by high-quality development.

FRUITFUL ACHIEVEMENTS

Data show that from 2013 to October 2023, total imports and exports between China and BRI participating countries surpassed 21 trillion U.S. dollars, and China's direct investment in BRI partner countries topped 270 billion dollars.

Being a miniature of the robust and unimpeded trade shown by the figure, the 1,035-km China-Laos Railway, which began operations in December 2021, has generated more benefits since it launched cross-border passenger service on the railway in April this year.

Linking the Lao capital Vientiane with Kunming, the capital of southwest China's Yunnan Province, the railway has quickly become the preferred option for a growing number of international travelers.

"The BRI has played a critical role in building connectivity within the ASEAN (the Association of Southeast Asian Nations) and between China and ASEAN," said Thong Mengdavid, a research supervisor at the Asian Vision Institute, a Phnom Penh-based independent think tank.

In Bangladesh, the first train of the Padma Bridge Rail Link Project departed from a new station on the outskirts of the capital Dhaka on Oct. 10, marking a dream come true "to cross the Padma river by train," the country's Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina said.

The entire 172-km project, which will eventually lead to Jashore in the southwestern region of Bangladesh, is scheduled for completion in 2024.

It will serve as a vital channel that connects Dhaka and more than 20 districts in the southern area of Bangladesh and will also be an important part of the trans-Asian railway network to promote regional connectivity and economic development of Bangladesh.

In Cambodia, the Chinese-invested Siem Reap Angkor International Airport in northwest Cambodia's Siem Reap province was officially inaugurated on Nov. 16, carrying the hope to link Cambodia to the world, according to Prime Minister Hun Manet, and will give a big boost to the tourism sector in Siem Reap with the local residents directly benefitting from it.

GLOBAL WELLBEING

"The Belt and Road cooperation has created more jobs and provided more vocational training and education opportunities for the people in partner countries, and thus improved their livelihoods in the process of development," said Anna Malindog-Uy, vice president of the Manila-based think tank Asian Century Philippines Strategic Studies Institute.

For Khairul Ikmal, a villager in Malangnengah, Purwakarta Regency of Indonesia, the Jakarta-Bandung High-speed Railway (HSR) under the BRI cooperation changed his life as an assembly line worker in a shoe factory. He was recruited in 2019 and learned to become a welder after five months of training.

In service for two months, the 142-km railway has handled over 1 million passenger trips, brought smoother and more efficient journeys, and provided many other villagers with employment as well as incomes. Ikmal fulfilled his long-held dream of owning a motorcycle thanks to his new job.

"Since the railway project is completed now, I plan to run a welding studio and use the technology I have learned over the past four years to make products such as guardrails and window guards," he said.

According to statistics provided by Kereta Cepat Indonesia China, a joint venture consortium between Indonesian and Chinese firms that constructs and runs the HSR, 45,000 Indonesian employees were trained on-site during the railway's construction. As the first overseas high-speed railway project that fully uses Chinese railway systems, technology, and industrial components, the project has created about 51,000 jobs in Indonesia.

Landmark projects like these in the region also covered a wide range of areas beyond transport. In the past decade, BRI cooperation featured green and high-quality development and has brought socio-economic benefits to regional countries, improving the lives of local people and infrastructure and offering opportunities for further growth in the green sector, experts believed.

Abid Qaiyum Suleri, executive director of the Sustainable Development Policy Institute, an Islamabad-based think tank, said China has not only helped Pakistan overcome the severe energy crisis but also assisted in promoting green development.

In northwest Pakistan, the construction of the Suki Kinari Hydropower project has been making significant progress. With a total installed capacity of 884 megawatts, it is expected to generate some 3.21 billion kilowatt-hours of clean electricity annually, replacing 1.28 million tons of coal and reducing 2.52 million tons of carbon dioxide emissions per year.

(Web editor: Zhang Kaiwei, Zhong Wenxing)
By Lee Gyu-lee

Actor Noh Sang-hyun, who shot to global stardom after landing a supporting role in Apple TV+ original Pachinko in 2022, has taken on his first lead role with Disney+s latest Korean original series Soundtrack #2.

I had a lot of fun working on this series. There were a lot of enjoyable moments where I would feel so light-hearted to dance or play around by myself (on screen), Noh said during a recent interview with The Korea Times at a cafe in Jongno District, central Seoul.

Thanks to the director who gave me (creative) freedoms like Do everything you want do, I was able to feel comfortable during the shoot, even though it was my first leading role."

The second season of the streaming platforms original romance series Soundtrack, which premiered on Dec. 6, follows a love story between two former lovers  Ji Su-ho (Noh) and Do Hyun-seo (Geum Sae-rok)  who have dated for six years.

Four years after their breakup, the two come across each other when Do takes a job teaching piano to Ji, now a successful CEO of a content agency. They get involved in a musical project with musician Kei (Sohn Jeong-hyuk) and find themselves entangled in a love triangle.

The six-part series is co-directed by the previous seasons director, Kim, known for the hit crime series Vincenzo (2021), and director Choi Jung-gyu, who previously led the crime series The Devil Judge (2021).

Noh shared that he saw Soundtrack #2 as a separate series from the previous season, which starred Park Hyung-sik and Han So-hee.

It would be a lie if I said there was no pressure. I just wanted to fulfill my responsibilities and role to the best of my ability. Although there was pressure, I rather tried to approach it with a positive and excited mindset, he said.

The storyline and characters are all different from Season 1. So I considered it as a new project. But since the director is the same person, I tried to follow her style in a positive direction."

The actor expressed that he resonated with a lot of the lines from the series, saying he felt it could draw a lot of people to relate to Ji and Dos love story.

The script was interesting and a lot of the lines felt candid. I thought this could be a series that many people can resonate with. It portrayed the conflicts of realistic couples, he said.

Noh's character is an aspiring YouTuber, who made his own success in the business after breaking up with Do. When he meets her again, he keeps finding himself drawn to her and hoping to rekindle their relationship.

The character was relatively humorous and cheesy. However, as a successful CEO, I tried to keep his serious side as well, he said adding that he found Jis lingering feelings toward his ex-girlfriend was difficult to understand at first.

The biggest difference (of me and the character) is I cannot reunite with my ex-partner, because we are more likely to break up again for the same reasons  When I first read the script, I couldn't quite grasp Jis unconditional love. So, I sought advice from a friend who has such an affectionate style of relationship."

Born in Korea, Noh grew up in the U.S. but returned to his homeland to undertake mandatory military service and start a modeling career in before he rose to prominence in 2022 with his role in "Pachinko." In the star-studded series, he portrayed Baek Isak, a Christian pastor from Pyongyang who becomes the husband of the protagonist Sunja. Reflecting on his career, Noh admitted that the show was a huge turning point in his career.

Thanks to Pachinko,' opportunities and more projects opened up for me. Before that, everything felt uncertain. I started my acting career then served in military right away, which was tough  A year after being discharged, I filmed Pachinko, which became a significant turning point, he said, vowing to expand his acting repertoire through Soundtrack #2" and beyond.
By Lee Yeon-woo

KB Kookmin Bank is actively preparing to establish a banking outlet and currency exchange services at Incheon International Airport, having secured the right to do so there for the first time in a decade. These facilities are scheduled to open next year.

Following KB's successful bid, Shinhan Bank is expected to relocate existing services to its branches outside the airport.

According to financial industry sources, Thursday, KB secured the largest concession, Business Area 1, in an auction held in October. It submitted the winning bid of 70.9 billion won ($54.9 million), significantly higher than the bids of 53.2 billion won from Woori Bank and 53.1 billion won from Shinhan Bank.

Spanning 721.33 square meters, Business Area 1 is highly sought after as it can accommodate 28 facilities in easily accessible locations.

Woori Bank obtained Business Area 2, while Hana Bank acquired Business Area 3.

"We are taking a step closer to our customers by entering Incheon International Airport, the representative gateway to Korea," a KB official said.

These three banks are authorized to operate branches and currency exchange offices at the airport for a maximum duration of 10 years, up to the end of 2033.

KB Kookmin Bank is planning to open its facilities at the airport by early next month. The bank is currently in the process of hiring 90 employees specialized in currency exchange services to work at the airport. Promotional events for customers are also being organized. Until Friday, the bank is offering vouchers on a first-come, first-served basis, which customers can use to benefit from favorable exchange rates.

Similarly, Woori Bank is recruiting additional staff for its currency exchange operations at the airport. As it already has experience in this area, Woori intends to hire approximately 15 people. These new recruits are expected to commence their duties Jan. 9.

At the same time, Shinhan Bank, which failed to obtain a concession in the recent bidding, is set to withdraw its ATMs and currency exchange booths from the airport by the end of this year. Starting from Sunday, the service for collecting exchanged foreign currency will be shifted from the airport to a nearby branch.

There are growing concerns that the policy of barring banks without established branches at the airport from installing basic financial service equipment, like ATMs, is causing inconvenience for airport visitors.
A Korean loan to Poland to finance arms deals does not actually exist, Poland's prime minister said on Wednesday, although the new government hopes to still continue with the purchases.

"There was a problem with the Korean purchases... a significant part of the Korean purchases was to be financed by a loan that Korea was to grant," Donald Tusk told a news conference.

"In the end it turned out that there was some misunderstanding... it turned out that there was no Korean loan."

Warsaw had signed arms deals from Korea as part of a drive to build up its military in response to Russia's invasion of Ukraine.

However, the Financial Times reported in November that Seoul was worried that a change of government combined with a lack of funds could jeopardise some deals.

Tusk said that Warsaw would review its defence contracts but intended to continue with them.

"I really hope there won't be anything there that would make us revise some of them," he said.

The Korean embassy in Warsaw declined to comment.

Poland's parliament speaker said earlier in December that the new government may invalidate contracts signed by the nationalist Law and Justice (PiS) party after it lost its majority in an Oct. 15 election.

However, Tusk has said previously Poland will honour arms contracts that have been signed.

A Korean foreign ministry official told Yonhap news agency on Tuesday that Seoul was consulting with Warsaw to make sure contracts were implemented.

"We have not heard of anything related to the defense contracts with Poland that has made any impact or influence," the official said. (Reuters)
Korea struck a free trade agreement (FTA) with a group of Arab countries Thursday, a move expected to strengthen Seoul's export competitiveness and boost energy security, the industry ministry here said.

Korea's Trade Minister Ahn Duk-geun and Secretary General of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) Jassim Muhammad Al-Budaiwi signed a joint declaration on the conclusion of the bilateral FTA in Seoul on the day, according to the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy.

The GCC consists of six countries  the United Arab Emirates, Bahrain, Saudi Arabia, Oman, Qatar and Kuwait.

The two sides began negotiations for a bilateral free trade deal in 2007, which were suspended in 2010. After a 13-year hiatus, they resumed talks in 2022 and have since held several rounds of negotiations.

It is Korea's 25th FTA.

Under the agreement, Korea will remove tariffs on 89.9 percent of all items, including liquefied natural gas, liquefied petroleum gas and other petroleum products.

The Gulf nations will lift tariffs on 76.4 percent of all products traded, along with tariffs of 4.1 percent of goods traded.

Of major items, Korea expects growth in exports of vehicles, auto parts, machinery and weaponry to the Arab nations through the agreement, the ministry said, adding that cheaper energy imports from the Arab nations will enhance competitiveness of Korean exporters.

The GCC is the fifth-largest trading partner for Korea, with trade volume between the two sides coming to $102.6 billion in 2022, according to the ministry.

"Korea was able to clinch the FTA with the GCC ahead of Japan, China and other major nations, and it is expected to serve as a chance for us to expand a Middle East business boom," a ministry official said.

Japan, China and the Britain have held negotiations with the GCC for a respective free trade deal. (Yonhap)
Village recognized by UNWTO mesmerizes tourists with natural landscape, traditional culture

By Dong Sun-hwa

YOGYAKARTA, Indonesia  Waking up to the thunderous crowing of roosters, most residents of the rural area of Nglanggeran in Yogyakarta, Indonesia, begin their day as early as 5 to 6 a.m. to perform the Muslim morning prayer. After having a healthy breakfast packed with cabbages, carrots, bean sprouts and eggs, they either head to work or equip themselves to welcome tourists before the temperature soars to as high as 30 degrees Celsius.

Nestled in the serene hills of Yogyakarta, more than 5,300 kilometers away from Seoul, Nglanggeran is a tiny yet picturesque village where some 700 people live in harmony. Most of them are farmers and ranchers, but beyond their agricultural life, these villagers share a collective mission: fostering community-based tourism.

"We have approximately 80 local homestays and many different community groups that work for tourists," Lilik Suharyanto, a treasurer of Nglanggeran's tourism working group, told The Korea Times during a recent interview at the village. "For instance, our cacao and durian community each have 80 people."

In Nglanggeran, cacao farmers grow cacao beans and send them to the village's chocolate factory, Griya Cokelat  meaning "House of Chocolate" in Indonesian  where local cacao beans transform into variety of items such as chocolate cookies and chocolate spa powder. This village isnt just about agriculture  its an experience where tourists learn about and partake in the journey from bean to bar. Visitors can also have spa time with the help of the village's spa community group, which consists of massage experts who can revive their body and spirit.

Durian farmers offers a similar authentic experience. After listening to how they grow this unique tropical fruit  notorious for its pungent smell  tourists can get a taste of it.

"We have had approximately 58,000 visitors this year," Suharyanto noted. "In 2022, the total number of tourists was 68,000 and about 3,000 of them were foreigners."

Best Tourism Village

Thanks to the unique experience it provides, Nglanggeran was named one of the Best Tourism Villages by the United Nations World Tourism Organization (UNWTO) in 2021, becoming the only Indonesian site to be recognized by the U.N. agency that year.

The UNWTO launched the list in 2021 to recognize the villages that foster rural areas and preserve landscapes. Once the villages across the globe make submissions to join the list, the UNWTO evaluate them based on nine criteria including: cultural and natural resources; economic sustainability; environmental sustainability; governance and prioritization of tourism; and health, safety and security.

According to the UNWTO, Nglanggeran's rise to prominence is the fruit of collective efforts made by various parties.

"The development of the Nglanggeran tourism village is an example of a bottom-up and top-down program approach, that is a strong desire from the community to further develop and progress and a solid support from the government and non-government parties to work together in the development process," the UNWTO said as it introduced the site, adding that it integrates tourism development in an independent strategy of economic sustainability.

"The village recognizes youth as a driving force for change in the community," it noted. "Involving young residents in tourism activities encourages positive change in their households and makes families more engaged and supportive of new initiatives."

Indonesia pits its local villages against one another before making a submission to the UNWTO. By having a national competition in advance, the Southeast Asian country can showcase its most eligible tourist site to the U.N. agency and boost its chance of winning.

Indonesia's approach has turned out to be a success, with Penglipuran, another traditional village in Bali Province, making it onto the much-coveted list in 2023. In the case of Korea, three tourist sites  the villages of Dongbaek and Sehwa on Jeju Island and Mosan in South Jeolla Province  were included in this year's roster.

"Indonesia holds its own national competition every year prior to applying for our list," a UNWTO spokesperson told The Korea Times. "This is not the case for most other countries like Korea and Japan."



Tourism, economy and environment

The crown jewel of Nglanggeran is Gunung Api Purba, an ancient volcano which was active about 60-70 million years ago. At 700 meters above sea level, the volcano, characterized by enormous chunks of rocks and mystic atmosphere, is also part of the UNESCO Global Geopark of Mount Sewu. It takes about an hour and a half to hike to its peak.

According to legend, the volcano was once a site of punishment for villagers who damaged the "wayang," or shadow puppets made by a puppeteer invited to the village to celebrate the harvest.

For the people of Nglanggeran, promoting their iconoic vocalno is one of their biggest missions. Over the past few years, they have been striving to give as much information as possible about its awe-inspiring natural landscape to attract more tourists, hoping that this can dissuade other residents from leaving their home to hunt for jobs in bigger cities.

Spurring tourism is not only crucial to the economy of the village, but also to the local people who need stable jobs to make ends meet. To help its people find a fair share of the economic benefits of tourism, the tour management group of Nglanggeran believes they should develop and promote their village on their own without resorting to involving "outsiders."

"If we let outsiders develop our village, they are likely to make profits for themselves," Mursidi, the head of Pokdarwis (tourism manager) of Nglanggeran, said. "But that's not what we pursue, so we want to stick to our unique concept and principles."

This is why Nglanggeran only offers local homestays, resisting the urge to build high-end accommodation.

"We have no plan to establish a hotel ... We want to remain as an individual village run by native villagers." Mursidi said, emphasizing the importance of keeping development within the community.

Furthermore, Nglanggeran people are strongly against the view that they should trade off economic growth and environmental sustainability. Believing that the two needs to coexist, the local people have drawn up a set of regulations for tourists, prohibiting them from throwing garbage anywhere and making graffiti in the area of nature tourism.

"Preservation of forest is a gift," reads a signboard at the entrance of Gunung Api Purba.

Since 2015, Nglanggeran has been adopting the e-ticketing system to reduce paper use as well.



Hub of Javanese culture

Nglanggeran in Yogyakarta is also a place where tourists can enjoy the Javanese culture to the fullest. Yogyakarta, the capital city of the Special Region of Yogyakarta in the south part of Java island, gives a flavor of the traditional culture of Javanese, the largest ethnic group in Indonesia with more than 100 million people.

By joining a traditional dinner party called, "kendurian," tourists can savor the culinary delights of Javanese cuisine while mingling with the villagers donning traditional clothes such as "batik." The meal includes chicken, rice, eggs and fresh vegetables, and is served on banana leaves. Tourists can ask for spoons if they want. But if they want to eat like local people, they can use their hands.

A cooking class is a solid option for those who are itching to take a deep dive into Yogyakarta's food culture. They can make three different types of traditional desserts made with cassava, a staple food in Indonesia, which can easily captivate the taste buds of those who try them.

Music is an inseparable part of Javanese culture too. In Nglanggeran, visitors can enjoy "karawitan," the traditional musical artform performed by local musicians, who play traditional instruments like metallophones and gongs. After appreciating their riveting performance, tourists are given the chance to play the instruments on their own. They can perform the song, "Ricik-Ricik" in collaboration with their family and friends.

Taking part in the "janur" leaf craft is another gem of the tour. Although it is not a walk in the park to make a grasshopper from coconut leaves, it becomes a unique memento once it is done.

Challenges ahead

Despite its local fame, Nglanggeran faces challenges in becoming a global name. One of the village's main goals is to raise its international profile, so that more people from abroad can explore this iconic spot marked by natural landscape. This is why Mursidi believes the villagers should have a good command of English and foster effective communication.

"Knowledge is a bridge to open a new door," Mursidi said. "Speaking English and communicating with foreigners are the key to nurturing our tourism industry, so we need to provide good education to our local people. In particular, we will support our teenagers to get into universities."

As he pointed out, although the villagers are friendly and approachable, it is not easy for non-Indonesians to talk to them or ask any questions if there is no interpreter. Most signboards in Nglanggeran are also written in Indonesian only, which means overseas tourists can have a tough time looking around the village or even get lost if they do not speak the local language.

Nonetheless, the future of this scenic village is bright. Knowing the significance of shattering language barriers, the villagers and the related parties plan to pour much time and effort into learning and mark a major turning point.

Indonesia is also enthusiastic about promoting the village. It is considering organizing more international events and bringing participants to the region to present its beauty.

"We hope Nglanggeran can share its knowledge and successful story behind its development to other villages," a government official said.
North Korean leader Kim Jong-un has called for stepped-up efforts to prepare for war, saying the United States is engaged in "unprecedented" acts of confrontation against the country, state media reported Thursday.

In the second-day session of the plenary meeting of the ruling Workers' Party on Wednesday, Kim also presented a goal of strengthening strategic cooperation with "anti-imperialist" countries, according to the Korean Central News Agency (KCNA).

"He set forth the militant tasks for the People's Army and the munitions industry, nuclear weapons and civil defense sectors to further accelerate the war preparations," the KCNA said in an English-language dispatch.

He said the security situation on the Korean Peninsula has become extremely dangerous due to what he claims are "unprecedented" U.S.-led confrontational moves against North Korea.

Kim also vowed to "expand and develop the relations of strategic cooperation with the anti-imperialist independent countries and dynamically wage the anti-imperialist joint action and struggle on an international scale," the KCNA said.

North Korea opened the year-end party meeting Tuesday to review state policies for this year and set those for 2024. Kim is expected to use the ongoing meeting as a venue to deliver his key speech to replace his annual New Year's Day address.

Experts said the North's leader is expected to issue a hostile message against the U.S. and South Korea and lay out a set of measures to bolster its military capabilities, including a plan to launch more military spy satellites.

North Korea put a military spy satellite into orbit in November amid suspected military cooperation with Russia following its two previous failed attempts in May and August, respectively.

The North's leader said the Dec. 18 launch of a solid-fuel intercontinental ballistic missile demonstrated the country's will not to hesitate to launch a nuclear attack in the event of nuclear provocations by its enemy. (Yonhap)
Strong opposition from rightwing groups forces gov't to step back

By Jung Min-ho

Faced with strong opposition from conservatives, the South Korean government decided to halt plans to lift a ban on public access to North Korean media content, sources said, Thursday.

According to two high-ranking officials familiar with the issue, the Ministry of Unification recently stopped taking steps to lift the ban after concluding that it failed to garner enough political and public support.

The policy was presented as a pivotal initiative in the ministry's annual work plan reported to President Yoon Suk Yeol for both 2022 and 2023, aimed at "reestablishing commonality" with the North.

When questioned about the inclusion of the media access project in the 2024 report, an official told The Korea Times that it is unlikely, emphasizing the need to "garner additional support" before determining the next course of action. Another official also said the ministry has clearly taken a step back.

The officials said conservative politicians and activists expressed worries about lifting the ban on what is nothing but a platform dedicated to promoting the regime in Pyongyang with propaganda and blatant lies.

Given that such criticism comes mostly from the right, the policy is not expected to gain traction even if the conservative ruling People Power Party regains a majority in the National Assembly. The liberal main opposition Democratic Party of Korea has long been more open to making changes to the National Security Act  a law that de facto bans individuals from gaining direct access to such content.

All this means North Korean media is expected to continue to be blocked in South Korea.

The policy was pursued under Kwon Young-se, the predecessor of Unification Minister Kim Yung-ho. But his efforts to gradually give the public access to North Korean newspapers, television programs and internet articles immediately faced objection from some lawmakers within his own party and vocal activists, who saw such content as a threat.

After struggling to make progress, ministry officials said early this year that they would focus their efforts on allowing more access to the North's state-run newspaper first  a task that seemed more attainable than authorizing South Koreans to view Pyongyang's TV or online content.

The plan was to designate more than a dozen institutes under the ministry as places where South Koreans could be allowed to read Rodong Sinmun, North Koreas official newspaper, and to expand the number of such places. But the plan has been virtually scrapped.

In a sign of shifting from that policy, the current unification minister said at a meeting with reporters on Sept. 14 that it is important for Pyongyang to respond reciprocally to Seouls initiatives.

Supporters of the policy believe the ban is obsolete and only benefits the dictatorial regime, which shuns  and fears  any type of transparency. They say it is North Korean leaders, not South Korean citizens, who should be afraid of increased openness.

Experts say there was a period in the past when North Korean propaganda was a significant threat to South Korea, which used to be economically poorer than the North. But South Korea today is incomparably more prosperous and influential than its totalitarian rival  a fact that raises questions over whether the country still needs such a ban.
South Korea's spy agency said Thursday there is a high possibility that North Korea could carry out military provocations early next year ahead of major elections in South Korea and the United States.

The National Intelligence Service (NIS) made the assessment, citing North Korea's track record of staging provocations before South Korea's general elections and Pyongyang's reinstatement of key figures involved in high-profile provocations against Seoul.

South Korea is scheduled to hold general elections in April next year, and the U.S. will hold the presidential election in November.

"There is a high possibility that North Korea could unexpectedly conduct military provocations or stage a cyberattack (on the South) in 2024, when fluid political situations are expected with the elections," the NIS said in a release.

In the months before South Korea's parliamentary elections in April 2016, North Korea carried out a series of provocations, including a fourth nuclear test in January and the launch of a long-range missile in February.

In 2020, North Korea fired short-range ballistic missiles on four occasions in March alone, just weeks before South Koreans went to the polls to elect lawmakers in April.

North Korean leader Kim Jong-un said last week his country will not hesitate to launch a nuclear attack in the event of nuclear provocations by its enemies. At a key party meeting Wednesday, he also called for the military to "accelerate" war preparations.

The NIS said it also took note of the return of three key North Korean officials believed to be behind Pyongyang's major provocations targeting the South.

In June, Kim Yong-chol, a former North Korean spy chief, was named as an adviser to the United Front Department in charge of inter-Korean affairs.

Kim is suspected of having masterminded the North's sinking of the South Korean warship Cheonan and the shelling of the western South Korean border island of Yeonpyeong in 2010. The torpedo attack killed 46 South Korean sailors, and the artillery shelling killed two Marines and two civilians.

A Seoul-led multinational investigation concluded that Pyongyang torpedoed the Cheonan warship, but the North has denied its involvement in the incident.

In August, the North's leader named Ri Yong-gil and Pak Jong-chon as the chief of the General Staff of the North Korean military and the head of the ruling party's military department, respectively. They are blamed for the explosion of three North Korean wooden-box land mines along the border in 2015. The blast seriously injured two South Korean soldiers.

North Korea has been restoring military measures it halted under a 2018 inter-Korean military accord in response to Seoul's partial suspension of the deal over the North's spy satellite launch in November. (Yonhap)
Cheaper energy imports to be available through economic ties with Gulf Cooperation Council

By Ko Dong-hwan

Korea signed a new free trade agreement (FTA) with six oil-rich Middle Eastern countries that form the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC), according to the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy, Thursday.

The deal has advanced Korea ahead of Japan and China in bolstering economic ties with the giant economic bloc, and the tariff removals are expected to spur further trade and investments between the two sides.

Trade Minister Ahn Duk-geun signed the bilateral deal with GCC Secretary-General Jassim Muhammad Al-Budaiwi at Korea International Trade Association's headquarters in Seoul. Both sides started discussions over the deal in 2008. But the GCC put the negotiations on hold in 2010.

The GCC is comprised of Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates (UAE), Kuwait, Qatar, Bahrain and Oman.

The new Korea-GCC FTA outlines a gradual elimination of tariffs, implemented in stages over the next 20 years. For the first 10 years, Korea will scrap tariffs on 10,581 items imported from the GCC countries before extending the list to 11,012. The GCC will scrap tarrifs on 3,621 imported items first before broadening the list to 6,024 items. After the 20-year period, the number of tariff-free items imported by Korea will account for 89.9 percent of total imports from the GCC, and the number of tariff-free items imported by the GCC account for 76.4 percent of the total shipments from Korea.

Korean products set to benefit from the FTA include automobiles, car parts, mechanical components (i.e. valves, steam turbines) and chemical products like synthetic resins and precision chemicals. The ministry said it will especially lower the prices of Korean cars being exported to the region. Scrapping the tariffs on key components for internal-combustion engines and electric vehicles will also attract offers from the Middle Eastern countries to build assembly plants for Korean carmakers on their own soil, the authority added.

Defense weaponry, medical devices, cosmetics and natural produce shipped by Korea to the region will no longer be levied a border-crossing fee under the deal, raising anticipation that markets in the region will grow.

The GCC, on the other hand, will see its major products like liquefied natural gas and petroleum products enter Korea without tariffs for the next two decades. Tariffs on naphtha will be lowered by 50 percent, which will reduce manufacturing costs for the country's petrochemical companies, while date palms, black tea leaves and other Middle Eastern produce will see tariffs removed.

"The latest FTA deal is a new start of our partnership with the Middle East," Ahn said. "The deal will take effect next year expanding bilateral trade and investments. We will try to continue the momentum by realizing other free trade pacts with the region's close neighbors, African nations."

The latest FTA deal designated 12 specific business sectors for special attention through "innovative and inclusive" partnerships. Notably, six of these sectors energy and resources, bioeconomy, cutting-edge industries, smart farms, public health, and visual aid services  mandate the establishment of dedicated bureaus. This strategic move aims to ensure these sectors play pivotal roles in fostering practical cooperation and facilitating supply deals in the future.

The other six include state visits by corporate representatives, ICT, science technology, farming-forestry-fishery, construction infrastructure and international flight service.

The GCC was formed in 1981 by the six Gulf nations as a regional economic solidarity that seeks new trade ties with countries based on tariff agreements. They altogether account for Korea's fifth-largest trading partner, with trade volume between the two sides coming to $102.6 billion in 2022, according to the ministry.

It is Korea's 25th free trade deal and the second one with a Middle Eastern party following a comprehensive economic partnership agreement (CEPA) deal with the UAE in October.

Korea clinched its deal quicker than China and Japan. The GCC's has had 10 rounds of negotiations with China from 2005 until 2022 and hasn't hit a deal yet. As for Japan, the group suspended negotiations after two meetings in the late 2000s. They met last July and agreed to resume negotiations.
Russia should step up efforts to "manage" bilateral ties with Korea, a foreign ministry official said Thursday, after Moscow warned it could retaliate against Seoul's export restrictions.

Earlier this week, Korea said it will tighten export controls against Russia, adding 682 more items, such as heavy construction equipment, rechargeable batteries, aircraft components, machinery and others, to the list of items that are banned from shipping to Russia and Belarus.

In response, Russia's foreign ministry on Wednesday warned of measures in response, saying they may not necessarily be symmetrical ones.

"We would like to remind (Russia) that managing Korea-Russia relations does not only require effort from our part but also from Russia," the Korean foreign ministry official told reporters.

He added that the Korean government had explained about the export restrictions to Russia before announcing the measures.

The new export regulation, expected to take effect in early 2024, will raise the total number of items on the list to 1,159 from the current 798 items.

The move came as chances are high for those items to be used for military purposes, though they are not classified as strategic items under Korea's export control scheme. (Yonhap)
Suspension of tariff concessions on Taiwan products justified, lawful: mainland spokesperson

Xinhua) 11:24, December 28, 2023

BEIJING, Dec. 27 (Xinhua) -- The decision to suspend tariff reductions on some products under a cross-Strait economic pact is justified, lawful, well-founded and restrained, said a Chinese mainland spokesperson on Wednesday, noting that this decision is a normal economic behavior.

Taiwan's Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) authorities desire the benefits brought by the Economic Cooperation Framework Agreement (ECFA) on the one hand but violate ECFA and WTO rules on the other, which has compelled mainland authorities to suspend tariff cuts on some products from Taiwan, said Chen Binhua, a spokesperson for the State Council Taiwan Affairs Office, at a press conference.

The DPP authorities' repeated double-dealing will only make people across the Taiwan Strait more aware of their selfishness, insincerity in improving cross-Strait relations, and their lack of intention or capability to address concerns involving the immediate interests of the people in Taiwan, the spokesperson said.

All issues concerning the ECFA can be properly resolved through negotiations on the basis of the 1992 Consensus, the spokesperson said.

The DPP authorities' stubborn adherence to "Taiwan independence," their rejection of the 1992 Consensus, and their attempts to undermine the political foundation of cross-Strait negotiations are the root causes why ECFA-related issues cannot be resolved, Chen said.

If the DPP authorities continue to stick to their "Taiwan independence" stance, "we support relevant departments to take further measures as per regulations," the spokesperson added.

In response to queries about the resumption of the import of groupers from Taiwan, the spokesperson said the decision was made after a comprehensive assessment of rectifications by Taiwan's grouper farmers and based on the conviction that people across the Strait all belong to the same family.

He added that as long as the 1992 Consensus is adhered to and "Taiwan independence" is opposed, the mainland is willing to work together with authorities on the island to continue providing assistance in resuming the import of Taiwan's agricultural and aquatic products into the mainland on the premise that the products comply with the relevant mainland quarantine regulations.

(Web editor: Zhang Kaiwei, Zhong Wenxing)
President Yoon Suk Yeol on Thursday ordered the military to immediately retaliate first and report it later in case of enemy attacks, as he paid a year-end visit to a front-line Army unit.

"In case of provocations, I ask you to immediately retaliate in response and report it later," Yoon said during the visit to the Fifth Army Infantry Division in the border county of Yeoncheon, 60 kilometers north of Seoul.

"We should smash the enemy's desire for provocations immediately on the ground," he said.

Yoon said North Korea is the only country in the world that explicitly specifies invasion and preemptive nuclear use in its constitution, adding that the North can undertake provocations at any time, depending on their political objectives.

During his visit, Yoon met with enlisted soldiers and officers, expressing gratitude for their dedication to service amid recent freezing temperatures.

He reiterated the government's support for the soldiers, assuring them that he will address their welfare concerns, including salary increases. (Yonhap)
Late actor Lee Sun-kyun, known for his role in the Oscar-winning film "Parasite," had requested that his last appearance for questioning not be open to the press, but police rejected the request, officials said Thursday.

The 48-year-old Lee was found dead in his car near Waryong Park in central Seoul the previous day in an apparent suicide, four days after he appeared before police for questioning for the third time over drug suspicions.

Lee was under suspicions of using marijuana and other illegal drugs at the home of a hostess working at a high-end bar in Seoul's Gangnam district on multiple occasions since early this year. But he claimed he was tricked by the hostess into taking the drugs and that he did not know what he was taking.

Ahead of the latest questioning Saturday, Lee had officially requested through his lawyer that his appearance not be open to the press, but police rejected the request, according to police officials and legal sources.

The press affairs guidelines of police prohibit the exposure of individuals under investigation to photographing or filming during both the investigative process and their appearance for questioning. But the rule has often been breached.

During all three rounds of Lee's police appearances, including the first on Oct. 28, Lee stood on the press photo line, drawing intense media coverage.

The day before Lee was found dead, his lawyer expressed hopes on Lee's behalf that any further appearance should be made behind closed doors, as the actor was feeling "burdened" by having his appearances before police open to the public.

The Incheon Metropolitan Police Agency, responsible for the investigation, acknowledged receiving the request but denied informing the press of the questioning schedule on its own.

"It's correct that bringing people behind closed doors conforms to the principles," an official at the police agency said. "There was never an incident in which police released the schedule of Lee's questioning first."

Kim Hui-jung, chief of the Incheon Metropolitan Police Agency, offered condolences over Lee's death but said the investigation of him was conducted according to lawful procedures based on specific tip-offs and evidence.

Kim said the first round of questioning did not go in earnest as Lee said he would speak in the next questioning. After the second round of questioning, police secured additional evidence and questioned him for the third time, he said.

During the third questioning, Lee's lawyer asked that questioning also take place over a separate blackmailing complaint that Lee filed against the hostess, and the session lasted longer than expected because police tried to fully hear him out.

Lee was last seen in public when he returned home early Sunday morning following 19 hours of questioning.

Meanwhile, Yoon Hee-keun, the commissioner general of the National Police Agency (NPA), also denied the claim that unreasonable police investigations led to Lee's death but said he would look into investigation practices and correct problems if any. (Yonhap)
A total of 438 Korean fugitives have been repatriated from overseas between January and November, more than half of them over fraud charges, the National Police Agency (NPA) said Thursday.

The number represents a 21.3 percent jump from the same period last year.

The repatriated fugitives were aged between 21 and 83, with their average age 44, and 90 percent of them, or 394 people, were men.

By crime type, 55.9 percent, or 245 people, were charged with fraud, followed by 14.8 percent, or 65 people, with cyber gambling, and seven percent, or 31 people, with violent crimes, including assault and robbery, according to police data.

The fugitives have been on the run for eight years and eight months on average.

One of the repatriated fugitives was the main suspect in the handing out of drug-spiked drinks to students in Seoul's Gangnam Ward in April. He was brought back home earlier this week, nearly eight months after he fled to China.

An NPA official said they have established a system to swiftly repatriate and round up major fugitives who fled overseas and vowed to keep up the active cooperation with foreign investigative forces to secure public safety and international public order. (Yonhap)
The Supreme Court on Thursday upheld two separate rulings in favor of Koreans forced into wartime labor under Japan's 1910-1945 colonial rule.

Several forced labor survivors, including a person surnamed Hong and families of late victims, filed two separate compensation suits in 2013 and 2015, respectively, against Mitsubishi Heavy Industries and Hitachi Zosen for the damages they suffered from forced labor.

According to records, Hong and others were taken to Mitsubishi's munitions factory in Hiroshima in September 1944 and toiled as forced laborers before returning home following the atomic bombing in the area in August of the following year. Throughout their lives since returning home, the victims had to endure social and economic difficulties, as well as health damage related to exposure to radiation.

In 2013, Hong, other surviving victims and families of late victims filed the compensation suit against Mitsubishi, with each demanding 100 million won in compensation ($77,561).

The other suit against Hitachi was filed in 2015 by a forced labor victim, surnamed Lee, who worked at the firm's shipyard, starting in September 1944.

The top court on Thursday finalized the appellate court's rulings that ordered Mitsubishi and Hitachi to pay between 50 million won to 150 million won per victim in compensation.

Thursday's ruling follows the Supreme Court's landmark decision in 2012, where the court determined that the 1965 treaty signed between Korea and Japan to settle colonial-era issues does not cancel out individuals' rights to claim damages. Japan claims all reparation issues were settled in the 1965 treaty that normalized the bilateral diplomatic ties.

The ruling led to a series of fresh compensation suits by forced labor victims against Japanese firms, including those by Hong, who died during the litigation process, and Lee.

In Thursday's ruling, the top court rejected the Japanese firms' claim that the statute of limitations for the cases expired, adhering to the reasoning behind similar court decisions that recognized the victims' rights to damages because they had been practically unable to execute their rights to compensation until 2018, when the 2012 ruling by the Supreme Court was finalized.

A week earlier, the Supreme Court also finalized rulings in favor of forced labor victims in two separate cases filed against Mitsubishi and Nippon Steel, respectively. (Yonhap)
Indiscriminate disclosures may have increased psychological pressure on suspect: experts

By Jung Da-hyun

Lee Sun-kyun's death has raised questions over how police investigations into his alleged drug use were publicized.

The renowned actor, celebrated for his role in the Oscar-winning film "Parasite," was found dead, Wednesday, in a car in a public parking lot in Seoul's Seongbuk District. Police at the scene reported signs of a suicide attempt.

Lee had been under police investigation on charges of using a number of drugs that are illegal in Korea. He had gone through three rounds of police questioning from October, stemming from a tip-off regarding the illicit circulation of drugs in "high-end bars" in Gangnam District in Seoul.

After previously denying the charges, Lee admitted to using drugs, on the third round of questioning. He claimed that he had been deceived and asserted that he was unaware of the nature of the substances he took, denying any intention to break the law.

He tested negative in both the brief reagent test during police interrogations and the lab-based drug test conducted by the National Forensic Service.

Experts are raising questions about the handling of information during the investigation, expressing concerns about the overexposure private details, which may have placed additional undue pressure on Lee.

Lee Soo-jung, a professor of forensic psychology at Kyonggi University, emphasized the impact of excessive media coverage on the investigation process.

"Even though the charge was drug use, further information such as private conversations between Lee and the hostess were reportedly exposed by the media to the public," she said.

Over the past three months, approximately 2,872 media reports have covered Lee's alleged drug use and related scandals, according to Representative Park Chan-dae, a member of the main opposition Democratic Party of Korea (DPK).

Kim Sang-gyun, a professor of the Division of Police Science at Baekseok University, also highlighted the detrimental effect of real-time and speculative reports during the police investigation on Lee's psychological well-being.

"Being a famous actor, the mere appearance in a police investigation can impose immense psychological pressure," he said.

During the three subpoenaed appearances, it was revealed that Lee had officially requested closed-door questioning upon receiving the third subpoena. Police declined the request.

While acknowledging the significance of uncovering the truth, Kim underscored the need to prioritize the protection of suspects' human rights, particularly in the case of high-profile individuals like Lee.

"There are possibilities of indiscriminate disclosure and encroachment on the privacy of public figures," he said.

Certain systems have been implemented, aiming to prevent suspects from experiencing complete isolation during investigations. These measures include banning late-night investigations and ensuring a substantial access to legal counsel throughout the inquiry.

However, lawyer Shin Min-young questioned their fundamental impact, expressing skepticism about the efficacy of these systems.

"Although there are some systems, I wonder if this can be a fundamental measure as the investigation process itself is very stressful for the person," he said.

Amid growing criticism of the overexposure, Kim Hee-jong, the chief of the Incheon Metropolitan Police Agency expressed his condolence, Thursday.

However, he emphasized that the investigation was conducted in accordance with proper procedures, based on specific evidence, despite criticisms of it being an excessive probe.

Meanwhile, concerns are emerging about the potential impact on drug investigations.

Shin emphasized that the incident should not result in a decrease in the scrutiny of drug-related crimes; instead, there should be an intensification of investigative efforts.

Professor Kim explained the significance of probing drug cases, highlighting that they often involve forms of organized crime rather than isolated incidents.

"It would be inappropriate for this incident to lead to a diminishing focus on drug investigations," Kim said.

"However, what we should learn from this incident is that improvement is needed in areas such as safeguarding the rights of suspects and addressing media indiscriminately disclosing information during police investigations," he added.
District focuses on nurturing various festivals and tourism spots

By Jung Da-hyun

Seodaemun District in western Seoul is seeking to transform itself into an international urban space for tourists and students.

During a recent interview with The Korea Times, Lee Sung-hun, the head of the Seodaemun District Office, highlighted the district's growing appeal to foreigners, including both international students and tourists.

"Recently, there has been a notable surge in the influx of tourists to a coffee shop near Hongje Stream," he said.

Cafe Pokpo, situated near Hongje Stream, opened in April this year, as part of the Seoul Metropolitan Government's waterfront revitalization initiative.

Initially frequented mainly by residents, the coffee shop's popularity among foreign tourists soared on social media, particularly TikTok.

"It's uncommon to spend time enjoying waterfalls in the city, and I believe that unique aspect attracts tourists," Lee said.

The coffee shop has seen an influx of tourists from various regions, including Southeast Asia, China, South America and Africa.

To facilitate communication with the diverse array of visitors, baristas working at the coffee shop are able to speak English and Chinese. An English version of a map showing the topography around Hongje Stream and English signs inside the coffee shop are also provided for the convenience of tourists.

To enhance the overall experience for tourists, plans are underway to construct a tourist booth adjacent to the coffee shop, aiming to provide comprehensive information about Seodaemun District and Seoul, sell souvenirs and offer a designated space for relaxation.

Lee also emphasized the district's commitment to fostering interactions among young people globally, citing the significant presence of university students from abroad.

Approximately 6,800 are international students among the 14,500 foreign residents of Seodaemun, according to the district office.

Commencing on Sept. 14 this year, the Sinchon World Youth Festival unfolded over four days, featuring vibrant parades, diverse food markets, international cooking contests and national-themed booths, along with displays from university clubs.

Over 20 ambassadors and diplomats representing 14 countries attended the opening ceremony, and 530,000 young individuals hailing from 30 universities across 40 nations participated in the event.

"I believe the region surrounding Sinchon and Ewha Womans University has laid the groundwork to evolve into global culture centers for young generations," Lee said, highlighting the impact of the festival.

He also revealed plans to cultivate available spaces in the Sinchon area, fostering diverse cultural and artistic experiences for the enjoyment of both students and residents. These spaces will also be used as incubators for entrepreneurial endeavors such as startups by college students.

Through a collaboration with Yonsei University, a notable initiative is underway involving 90 teams developing and operating their own businesses across various sectors within Sinchon's startup complex.

Near Ewha Womans University, six stores in BOXQUARE, a place where small markets are located, are operated by the school's students, supported by the involvement of Seodaemun District.

The district is also set to host its second New Year's Eve countdown concert in Sinchon tailored to the young generations concentrated around the university-centric region.

With over 1,300 attendees last year, the concert featured performances by Yonsei University's cheer squad and the punk band Crying Nut, ahead of the New Years countdown event.

This year, the district promises additional experiences and performance groups, including rock band Romantic Punch, and dance team AFROKOREA and DJs, elevating the celebration on New Year's Eve.

"Beyond Seoul's renowned tourist attractions, we aim to transform Seodaemun District into a hub for global exchange through a spectrum of events and programs tailored to the unique characteristics of the district, a locale that hosts a significant population of international students," Lee said.
Amherst County Public Schools Superintendent William Wells and Amherst County High School Principal Joey Crawford were recognized at this months county school board meeting as recipients of the Patriot Award through the Employer Support of the Guard and Reserve.

Amherst County School Board Chair Chris Terry said the award is in recognition of an employer going above and beyond to support National Guard and reserve members.

Employer Support of the Guard and Reserve (ESGR), a Department of Defense office, was established 53 years ago to promote cooperation between Reserve Component Service members and their civilian employers and to assist in the resolution of conflicts arising from an employees military commitment. ESGR is supported by a network of nearly 2,300 volunteers in 54 committees located across all 50 states.

Wells also during the meeting recognized Wanda Smith, supervisor of Math, Science, Gifted and Elected programs, for her leadership as Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Incorporated Gamma Iota Omega chapter president at The Legacy Museum of African American Historys 2023 Annual Banquet. The chapter implements many service initiatives in the Lynchburg area and surrounding counties, Wells said.

Smith is in her 16th year at ACPS and previously served as a teacher at Amherst Elementary, assistant principal at Madison Heights Elementary and principal at Central Elementary, Wells said.

She has been an integral part in the growth and development of many teachers, staff and students, Wells said.

Amherst County High School teacher Jon Collins also was honored. Collins received the Virginia Association of Science Teachers award for Outstanding Science Teaching and Contributions to Science Education for Physics.
Health ministry unveils results of inspections into increasing number of venues not open to children

By Lee Hae-rin

Korea will launch a campaign to reduce kid-free zones and foster a child-rearing-friendly culture in a bid to tackle the countrys plummeting fertility rate, the government announced, Thursday.

If society becomes more kid-friendly, fewer people will avoid having children and business operations will become more sustainable, the Ministry of Health and Welfares First Vice Minister Lee Ki-il said in a press release.

Dubbed kid-free zones, hundreds of coffee shops, restaurants and exhibition areas that refuse entry to potential customers with children in tow so as to provide disturbance-free service to prioritized customers not in the presence of children have sprung up here in recent years.

The growing trend has sparked controversy for being counterproductive to Koreas demographic crisis, in which the fertility rate dropped to a record-low of 0.7 children per woman in the third quarter this year from last years 0.78.

Through various online, YouTube and television campaigns, the health ministry will encourage parents to educate their children on how to behave in public and advise business owners to welcome customers accompanied by children.

Additionally, the campaign will encourage the public to be more generous with families accompanied by kids and to show patience when confronted with misbehaving children as they are learning about appropriate public manners.

In August, the National Human Rights Commission of Korea (NHRCK) decided that restricting children from entering lounge areas at a department store was an act of age discrimination and recommended that the company enhance its operation policy.

Also, the youth representatives at the annual Childrens Assembly this year adopted a resolution calling for a ban on kid-free zones and delivered it to the government earlier this month.

Against this backdrop, the ministry carried out a nationwide poll of 205 out of 340 business owners across the country who identified their establishments as no-kids zones online and currently restrict entry to children. The remaining 135 refused to respond to the survey.

By type of establishment, coffee shops and bakeries were the most common at 76.1 percent, followed by restaurants at 18 percent and animal cafes at 3.9 percent.

As for the reasons they operate child-restricted zones, 68 percent of respondents said it is due to the concern that business owners need to take full responsibility for accidents involving children in the establishment, when multiple answers were allowed. Some 35 percent also said they fear facing complaints from other customers because of misbehaving children.

In order to cease age-defined restrictions on entry, and thus welcome customers accompanied by children, 71.4 percent called for strengthening the responsibilities of parents for childrens misbehavior in public and raising public awareness in that regard.

Others suggested giving business owners support money for liability insurance and remodeling to redesign their establishments to be more kid-friendly.

The ministry also held a focus group interview with parents.

Many agreed that children might misbehave in public but viewed the no-kids zone policy as discriminatory. Some said they can understand business owners for taking steps to restrict children from entering their establishments, based on their customers and experiences of children misbehaving.
Because this section is free of charge, community events are subject to run based on available space. Email events to calendar@newsadvance.com.

Through Dec. 29

SML Photo Club 2023 Exhibition, during regular library hours in the MOarts Gallery at Smith Mountain Lake/Moneta Library, 13641 Moneta Road, Moneta. Enjoy photos of many different subjects in many different styles. Photos are taken by club members, who range from amateurs to professionals. Contrast, composition, color and texture are highlighted in many of the photographs on display. Subjects vary with many focused on nature, people and abstract, and so much more. There are some interesting macro photography art pieces shown as well. Come learn about photography and all its elements as you study this unique from of art. Call (540) 425-7004 for hours and directions.

Belle Thomas 2023 Exhibition, during regular library hours in the MOarts Gallery at Smith Mountain Lake/Moneta Library, 13641 Moneta Road, Moneta. Experience paintings in a whole new light. Belle Thomas has been creating needle felt paintings for many years. Her work has been featured in galleries and exhibitions around Virginia. Call (540) 425-7004 for hours and directions.

Through Dec. 30

Guided tours at Point of Honor, every weekend at 112 Cabell St, Lynchburg. The historic site is decorated with Christmas greenery reflective of the Federal period. These decorations are on both the interior and exterior of the house. Visit PointofHonor.org to purchase tickets or call (434) 455-6226 for more information. Other tours available by appointment.

Through Jan. 29

Christmas in Lynchburg exhibit, at Lynchburg Museum, 901 Court St. Lynchburg. The new exhibit showcases Christmas in the Hill City during the mid-20th century. Between 1945 and 1965, many Lynchburg families relied on shops and department stores along Main Street for their holiday shopping needs. They bought local from businesses such as S.O. Fisher, Leggetts and Miller & Rhoads. This exhibit also features the famous Leggetts Santa Claus that greeted downtown shoppers for decades. Admission is free. See LynchburgMuseum.org for open days and hours. The museum will be closed Christmas Eve, Christmas Day and New Years Day. For more information, call (434) 455-6226 or visit LynchburgMuseum.org, PointofHonor.org or LynchburgPhotos.org.

Dec. 28

Snow Stories, 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. at Rustburg Library. Drop in for snow stories, hot chocolate and crafts. For ages 5 and younger, and families.

Family Fun: Life-Size Candy Land Edition, 3 to 4 p.m. at Moneta/Smith Mountain Lake Library. Join us as we transform our meeting room into a life-sized version of the classic childrens board game Candy Land. Play along and try to make your way to King Kandys Castle.

Dec. 29

Friday Breakfast Book Club, 10 to 11:00 a.m. at Bedford Library. The Friday Breakfast Book Club meets on the last Friday of every month to discuss a different book. This months selection is "The Worst Hard Time" by Timothy Egan.

Dec. 30

Saturday Matinee Presents: "New Years Eve," 2:30 to 4:30 p.m. at Montea/Smith Mountain Lake Library. Join us for a monthly Saturday afternoon screening of a movie for adults and teens. This month, were happy to present "New Years Eve," starring Halle Berry, Robert De Niro, Hilary Swank, Abigail Breslin, Michelle Pfeiffer, Zac Efron and Jessica Biel, among others. A stellar ensemble cast celebrates love, hope, forgiveness, second chances, and fresh starts in intertwining stories told amidst the pulse and promise of New York City on the most dazzling night of the year.

New Years Story Time, 10:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. at Montvale Library. Prepare for the New Year with the library's first "Saturday Storytime." Well read books about celebrating New Years and create a cool countdown clock for children to use on New Years Eve.

Jan. 1

First Day Hikes, at Virginia State Park locations across Virginia, including Smith Mountain Lake State Park in Huddleston, where hikers can enjoy fishing and geocaching. "First Day Hikes" have become a tradition for many people and it is the perfect opportunity to get some exercise, explore outdoors and connect with nature all while enjoying the parks unique beauty this season. Parking is free at all park locations on Jan. 1 and visitors to each park will receive a celebratory "First Day Hike" sticker while supplies last. Other locations across the state to consider include Pocahontas State Park in Chesterfield, Caledon State Park in King George, Natural Tunnel State Park in Duffield, York River State Park in Williamsburg, Bear Creek Lake State Park in Cumberland and Staunton River State Park in Scottsburg. Check out the full list of First Day Hikes at www.virginiastateparks.gov/firstdayhikes.

Jan. 2 through Feb. 28

Akasha Traver 2024 Exhibition, during regular hours at the Moneta/Smith Mountain Lake MOarts Gallery, 13641 Moneta Road, Moneta. Walking through nature has been a favorite pastime of Akasha Traver since she was young. She is a self-taught artist who creates beauty through drawings, paintings and crafts that are inspired from nature. As you browse the gallery, you will be able to enjoy watercolors, acrylics and Gouache works of art. Call (540) 425-7004 for hours and directions.

Jan. 3 to Feb. 14

Winter Reading Program, at Bedford County library branches. Patrons are invited to participate in our winter reading program, "Smitten with Reading." Pick up a BINGO card from a Bedford County library branch and challenge yourself to read your way across the board. Complete any five challenges in a row/column, and youll be entered to win a prize. Earn an extra prize raffle ticket by completing the whole board. Be sure to log your completed challenges or bring your BINGO card back to one of the branches when youve finished (on or before Feb. 14) to be entered in the prize drawing. To sign up on our Beanstack website, visit: bplsonline.beanstack.org/reader365. The branches are: Bedford Library, Montvale Library, Forest Library, Moneta/Smith Mountain Lake Library, Big Island Library and Stewartsville Library.

Jan. 3

Colin Mochrie & Brad Sherwood: Asking for Trouble," 7:30 p.m. at the Academy Center of the Arts' Historic Academy Theatre, 524 Main St, Lynchburg. Colin Mochrie and Brad Sherwood are best known for their performances on the renowned improv show Whose Line Is It Anyway? Armed with their lightning-fast wits, Mochrie and Sherwood transform the audiences suggestions into an unpredictable evening of non-stop comedy gold. No script? No problem! Asking For Trouble is a wild rollercoaster ride of hilarity, where two improv legends prove they are still the best in the business. Tickets are $35 to $85. For more information or to purchase tickets, contact the ticket office at (434) 846-8499 or visit academycenter.org.

Jan. 4

Land & Table Book Club, 6:30 to 8 p.m. at Bedford Library. The Land & Table Book Club offers a way to engage with the core ideas and topics that are motivating a new generation to create more resilient food systems and vibrant local community life. Well read books about eating locally, self-reliant living, agrarian culture, growing food, culinary history, community resilience, going back to the land and more. Januarys discussion book will be "Taste, Memory: Forgotten Foods, Lost Flavors, and Why They Matter" by David Buchanan. Registration is encouraged, but not required.

Adult Book Club, 2 to 3 p.m. at Montvale Library. The Montvale Adult Book Club meets on the first Thursday of every month. This month well be discussing "What You Wish For" by Katherine Center. No registration is necessary. New members are welcome.

Computer 101 Class: Smartphone Basics, 1 to 2 p.m. at Moneta/Smith Mountain Lake Library. This months Computer 101 class is all about smartphones. Well learn common terminology, the basic functions of a smartphone and provide resources for further instruction. This class will cover both Android and Apple iOS phones.

Jan. 6

Saturday Matinee Presents: "Oppenheimer," 2:30 to 5:30 p.m. at Bedford Library. Join us at the Bedford Central Library for a monthly Saturday afternoon screening of a movie for adults and teens. This month, well be showing "Oppenheimer," starring Cillian Murphy, Emily Blunt, Robert Downey Jr., Alden Ehrenreich, Scott Grimes and others. J. Robert Oppenheimer played an integral role in developing the first atomic bomb, but he also struggled with justifying a creation that came to cause so much damage. Oppenheimer questions whether he owes it to scientific discovery to create something capable of so much power.

Blue Ridge Fiber Gathering, 10 a.m. to noon at Stewartsville Library. Blue Ridge Fiber Gathering meets on the first Saturday of every month. This event is for teens and adults. A morning for knitters, crocheters, spinners, weavers from beginners to pros. Come learn a new skill or come share your skills and talents with others, and have a good time. Bring the projects youre currently working on and enjoy the companionship and knowledge of other fiber enthusiasts.

Jan. 7

Smith Mountain Lake State Park 2024 Winter Lecture Series, 3 to 4 p.m. at Discovery Center, Smith Mountain Lake State Park, Huddleston. This month, the 19th annual lecture series will feature "Virginia Flying Squirrels" by Dr. Todd Fredericksen, of Ferrum College. Ticket prices are $10 (single ticket), $30 (single season ticket), $8 (single ticket, Friends of Smith Mountain Lake State Park members), $24 (single season ticket, Friends of Smith Mountain Lake State Park members). Prices include parking. All tickets paid for at the door. The lecture series is presented by the Friends of SMLSP and all proceeds benefit the park. For more information, call the park at (540) 297-6066.

Jan. 8

Friends of the Forest Library Book Club, 1 to 2 p.m. at Forest Library. The Friends of the Forest Library Book Club meets every second Monday of the month. In January, well be discussing "Lady Tans Circle of Women" by Lisa See.

A Crocheted Community, 5 to 7 p.m. at Forest Library. Setting a New Years resolution to learn a new skill? We got you! Join us for a cozy evening of crocheting, where local avid crocheter, Sue Ginter, will teach us some crochet basics. Yarn and needles will be provided, but youre welcome to bring your own. Already a crochet maven? Join us anyway! Show off your skills or help someone else learn the joys of crochet. Registration required. Program intended for ages 12 and older.

Jan. 8 to Feb. 7

Valentines for Vets, at Bedford County library branches. Each branch will be collecting valentines for local VA hospital as well as other local veteran centers. Each location will provide the supplies needed to make the cards. The collection will end on Feb. 8 to ensure that the valentines will be delivered to the veterans on Valentines Day. The branches are: Bedford Library, Montvale Library, Forest Library, Moneta/Smith Mountain Lake Library, Big Island Library and Stewartsville Library.

Jan. 9

Adult Book Club, 5:30 to 6:30 p.m. at Stewartsville Library. Join other readers on the second Tuesday of each month to discuss a different book and meet other members of your community. This months book selection is "A Redbird Christmas" by Fannie Flagg. Light refreshments will be provided.

Jan. 13

Barn Quilt Painting, 10:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. at Stewartsville Library. Participants will sketch and paint barn quilt paintings of their own design to hang in their homes or outside.

Jan. 16

Adult Book Club at Big Island, 10:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. at Big Island Library. Join us at to read the book of the month and share insights and reflections. Our Book Club is held on the third Tuesday of every month. Januarys selection is "The Glass Castle," a memoir by Jeannette Walls. Sponsored by the Friends of the Big Island Library.

Creative Expressions, 12:30 to 2 p.m. at Big Island Library. Calling all creative types! The Big Island Writers Group is evolving the club to include makers and crafters of all sorts to further inspire our friendly discussions. Do you knit? Crochet? If you enjoy coloring or drawing, we can provide markers, crayons, pens and colored pencils. Well still exchange writing advice, of course, and share work with one another for the sake of supportive feedback.

Jan. 18

A Crocheted Community, 5 to 7 p.m. at Forest Library. Set a New Years resolution to learn a new skill? We got you! Join us for a cozy evening of crocheting, where local avid crocheter Sue Ginter will teach us some crochet basics. Yarn and needles will be provided, but youre welcome to bring your own. Already a crochet maven? Join us anyway! Show off your skills or help someone else learn the joys of crochet. Registration required. Program intended for ages 12 and older.

Jan. 20

Heritage High School Pioneer Theatre's "The Trial of Ygor," 7:30 p.m. at the Academy Center of the Arts Historic Academy Theatre. The performance will take place after the 2024 Animation Festival, and will be a pay-what-you-can fundraiser for the Pioneer Theatre group. Pioneer Theatre is one of two high schools from the Virginia to be invited to the 2024 Southeastern Theatre Conference in Mobile, Alabama. It's competition piece, The Trial of Ygor, will compete for the title of best production in the Southeast. The trip to Alabama is beyond what the students and Pioneer Theatre can afford. To financially support these talented students on their trip, the Academy is hosting the one-night-only performance and all concessions sales for the night will be donated to the cause. For more information, contact the Academy's ticket office at (434) 846-8499 or visit academycenter.org.

Jan. 22

Creative Expressions, 12:30 to 2 p.m. at Big Island Library. Calling all creative types! The Big Island Writers Group is evolving our lovely club to include makers and crafters of all sorts to further inspire our friendly discussions. Do you knit? Crochet? If you enjoy coloring or drawing, we can provide markers, crayons, pens and colored pencils. Well still exchange writing advice, of course, and share work with one another for the sake of supportive feedback. Join in the magic of our mighty little artistic community here in Big Island.

Jan. 23

Ruben & Clay: Twenty, 7:30 p.m. at the Academy Center of the Arts' Historic Academy Theatre, 524 Main St., Lynchburg. Multi-platinum recording artists and "American Idol" favorites Ruben Studdard and Clay Aiken are hitting the road again for the second leg of their reunion tour. Called a "pitch perfect, awless show," the tour highlights the music that made Ruben and Clay "American Idol" favorites and household names. Tickets are $34 to $92. For more information or to purchase tickets, contact our ticket office at (434) 846-8499, or visit academycenter.org.

Jan. 26

Friday Breakfast Book Club, 10 to 11 a.m. at Bedford Library. The Friday Breakfast Book Club meets on the last Friday of every month to discuss a different book. Januarys selection is "The Japanese Lover" by Isabel Allende.

Jan. 27

Saturday Matinee Presents: "Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny," 2:30 to 5 p.m. Join us at the Moneta/SML Library for a monthly Saturday afternoon screening of a movie for adults and teens. This month, well be presenting "Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny," starring Harrison Ford, Karen Allen, Phoebe Waller-Bridge, Mads Mikkelsen, Boyd Holbrook and others. Daredevil archaeologist Indiana Jones races against time to retrieve a legendary dial that can change the course of history. Accompanied by his goddaughter, he soon finds himself squaring off against Jurgen Voller, a former Nazi who works for NASA.

Feb. 1

"Menopause The Musical 2: Cruising Through The Change," 7:30 p.m. at the Academy Center of the Arts in the Historic Academy Theatre, 524 Main St., Lynchburg. "Menopause The Musical 2: Cruising Through The Change" is the sequel to long-running, international hit show "Menopause The Musical," a groundbreaking celebration of women who are on the brink of, in the middle of, or have survived The Change. In its first year on tour, "Menopause The Musical 2" continues to empower women dealing with life adjustments after 40 by embracing each other and the road ahead. Tickets are $19 to $72. For more information or to purchase tickets, contact the ticket office at (434) 846-8499 or visit academycenter.org.

Ricky Skaggs in concert, 7:30 p.m. at the Academy Center of the Arts' Historic Academy Theatre. Fifteen-time Grammy Award-winner Ricky Skaggs career is easily among the most significant in recent country music history. If Skaggs burgeoning trophy case full of awards wasnt already enough evidence of that fact, consider that legendary guitarist Chet Atkins once credited Skaggs with single-handedly saving country music. His lifes path has taken him to various musical genres, from where it all began in bluegrass music, to striking out on new musical journeys, while still leaving his musical roots intact. Tickets are $24 to $88. For more information or to purchase tickets, contact the ticket office at (434) 846-8499 or visit academycenter.org.
The brother of Augusta County Sheriff Donald Smith was taken into custody Tuesday after allegedly stealing his brothers truck and leading police on a pursuit that ended with his arrest at Clymore Elementary School in Fort Defiance.

Ronald William Smith, 41, of Churchville, was taken to Augusta Health after he initially refused to exit the vehicle and had shouldered a hay spear like a long rifle.

Ronald William Smith is charged with seven offenses and is being held without bond in Middle River Regional Jail in Verona. He is charged with obstruction of justice, attempted aggravated murder, felony destruction of property, driving under the influence of drugs, misdemeanor destruction of property, felony eluding, and unauthorized use of a vehicle.

Sheriff Smith alluded to substance abuse problems his brother suffers from in a statement.

As your sheriff, I am not exempt from family issues and addiction problems, the sheriff said. Im extremely grateful that no one was seriously hurt by my brothers actions, and commend my deputies and the Virginia State Police for ending the situation safely.

Sheriff Smith called his office at 4 p.m. Tuesday to ask for assistance stopping a stolen vehicle. The stolen vehicle  a red, 2000 International, single-axle semi-tractor with a gooseneck trailer attached  was his vehicle.

Sheriff Smith said he unsuccessfully attempted to stop the vehicle on Churchville Avenue, near Eagle Rock Lane. Sheriffs deputies tried to stop the vehicle at Route 262 and Commerce Road. A pursuit ensued through the intersection and continued to Woodrow Wilson Parkway.

The vehicle turned onto Balsey Road, then made an abrupt U-turn in a driveway back onto Balsey Road. Deputies used tire deflation devices to stop the vehicle without success.

The pursuit continued through Verona to Fort Defiance Road and the parking lot of Stewart Middle School. The vehicle then drove into the parking lot of Clymore Elementary, where Smith intentionally rammed a deputys vehicle and attempted to pin a second deputys vehicle between the stolen truck and trailer.

Tire deflation devices were again used to disable the semi-truck in the parking lot. The Sheriffs K-9 dog attempted to take Ronald Smith into custody but could not. Deputies told Smith to exit the truck, but he did not.

Smith shouldered a hay spear like a long rifle. Deputies learned he was holding a piece of metal and not a firearm. Deputies then opened the driver-side door and ordered Smith out of the vehicle. He was taken into custody.

Ronald Smith was treated at Augusta Health for an arm injury before being taken to Middle River Regional Jail.
Amid the massive recall, the medical device maker raced to overcome troubling questions about its replacement machines as customers waited for help

Breaden scoured the internet for details, certain that Philips had a plan to quickly ship new, safe machines to the thousands of people under her care at the Portland, Oregon, clinic. Its a multibillion-dollar, multinational company, she recalled telling her staff.

Global device maker Philips Respironics was pulling its popular sleep apnea machines and ventilators off the shelves after discovering that an industrial foam built into the devices to reduce noise could release toxic particles and fumes into the masks worn by patients.

In more than a dozen years of helping people breathe through the night, she had never confronted an emergency that jeopardized nearly all of her patients at once.

The 52-year-old physician treated patients with heart conditions, cancer and neurological diseases. She cared for veterans with compromised lungs and a woman with Down syndrome.

On the morning of June 14, 2021, Dr. Radhika Breaden hurried to a computer in her hushed sleep disorders clinic and tried not to panic.

Dr. Radhika Breaden, a sleep medicine doctor in Portland, Oregon, said thousands of her patients were using Philips machines when the company announced a recall in 2021. The sleep medicine doctor said she needs more information from the company and the government. (Liz Moughon/ProPublica)

But as Philips publicly pledged to send out replacements, supervisors inside the companys headquarters near Pittsburgh were quietly racing to manage a new crisis that threatened the massive recall and posed risks to patients all over again.

Tests by independent laboratories retained by Philips had found that a different foam used by the company  material fitted inside the millions of replacement machines  was also emitting dangerous chemicals, including formaldehyde, a known carcinogen.

Though Philips has said the machines are safe, the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette and ProPublica obtained test results and other internal records that reveal for the first time how scientists working for the company grew increasingly alarmed and how infighting broke out as the new threat reached the highest levels of the Pittsburgh operation.

The findings also underscore an unchecked pattern of corporate secrecy that began long before Philips decided to use the new foam.

The company had previously failed to disclose complaints about the original foam in its profitable breathing machines, a polyester-based polyurethane material that was found to degrade in heat and humidity.

Former patients and others have described hundreds of deaths and thousands of cases of cancer in government reports.

After the introduction of the new foam in 2021, this one made of silicone, the company again held back details about the problem from the public even as it sent out replacement machines with the new material to customers around the world.

One of the devices was the DreamStation 2, a newly released continuous positive airway pressure, or CPAP, machine promoted as one of the companys primary replacements.

Federal regulators were alerted to the concern more than two years ago but said in a news release at the time that the company was carrying out additional tests on the foam and that patients should keep using their replacements until more details were available.

The Food and Drug Administration has not provided new information on the test results since then, and it is still unclear whether the material is safe.

That leaves millions of people in the United States alone caught in the middle, including those with sleep apnea, which causes breathing to stop and start through the night and can lead to heart attacks, strokes and sudden death.

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Philips let me down all this time and now theyre just doing it again, said 56-year-old retired nuclear engineer Richard Callender, who recently started using one of the replacement devices in his home near Pittsburgh.

Public health experts interviewed by the Post-Gazette and ProPublica said its critical that patients using the machines are told about the potential risks.

Its a question of providing the facts, said Dr. Robert Steinbrook, director of the health research group at the nonprofit Public Citizen and an adjunct professor at the Yale School of Medicine. The assumption is the new machines and the refitted ones are OK, that the foam issue has been 100% resolved. Thats not the case.

The new foam isnt the only problem: An internal investigation at Philips launched in the months after the recall found that water was condensing in the circuitry of the DreamStation 2, creating a new series of safety risks.

Loss of therapy, thermal events, and shock hazards, the investigation concluded.

The FDA issued an alert about overheating last month, warning that the devices could produce fire, smoke, burns, and other signs of overheating and advising patients to keep the machines away from carpet, fabric and other flammable materials.

Philips has said that customers could continue using the devices if they followed safety instructions.

In response to concerns about the silicone foam, the company said the material was tested against safety limits recognized by the FDA and the World Health Organization and did not emit chemicals at unsafe levels. Philips said formaldehyde, found in common household items, only becomes a risk at high exposure.

The repaired and new replacement devices with the silicone sound abatement foam are safe, and findings that conclude otherwise are inaccurate, the company said in a statement.

Philips said additional test results were submitted last year to the FDA, but the agency has not yet provided a response.

In a statement, the FDA said more tests are needed on the foam before determining if the devices pose risks to patients.

Experts who reviewed the test results for the news organizations said the findings revealed troubling markers, including the presence of formaldehyde at levels that exceed safety thresholds established by multiple organizations. Thresholds vary, they said, and those cited by Philips allow for far higher formaldehyde levels than others.

Safety thresholds also do not take into account patients who are already suffering from chronic illnesses and breathing from devices that emit fumes directly into the lungs.

The experts said that one of the most vexing concerns is that formaldehyde  linked to respiratory problems and certain cancers  showed up in multiple tests and at varying levels, at times low and at others higher.

Who knows what a patient could be exposed to? said an engineer familiar with the testing who still works in the industry and did not want to be identified for fear of reprisals. If you had grenades and youre not sure where theyre going to go off, thats a problem.

After questions from the Post-Gazette and ProPublica  and more than two years after the problem surfaced  the company put out a more detailed explanation about the issue late last week.

Documents related to the companys testing have been turned over to the Department of Justice, which launched an investigation of the recall last year, according to sources familiar with the probe.

Philips has said that it is cooperating with investigators and that the company initially did not believe that complaints dating back more than a decade about the recalled machines needed to be reported. The company said it took action as soon as it learned of the significance of the problem.

Dr. Breaden, the Portland physician, said she had no idea that new problems have emerged and now worries that doctors and patients have been left to fend for themselves.

Theres just a lot of things that were all being kept in the dark about, she said.
Over a dozen children at Children's Square U.S.A. had a memorable Christmas thanks to the generosity of one Council Bluffs family.

A donation from the Mathiasen Family Fund helped the organization rent a local theater for a special moving screening complete with popcorn, candy and other treats, according to a news release.

The children had a festive dinner and received stockings with goodies along with specially selected gifts such as books and board games.

"This will be an unforgettable holiday for the children on our campus over the holiday season," Phil Taylor, chief administrative officer of Childrens Square, said in the release. "The generous donation from the Mathiasen family will not only bring joy and fun to the kids but will also have a lasting positive impact on their lives."

The Mathiasen family, comprised of Cindy and Jerry along with their adult children and grandchildren, collaboratively decides on a charitable grant destination for the holiday season, and they selected Children's Square this year.

"Childrens Square is an important regional charity and a mainstay in our community," Jerry Mathiasen said in the release. "As a family, we wanted to play a role this year in helping meet the needs of its children over the holidays."

Other nonprofits supported by the Mathiasen Family Fund have included Family Inc., Micah House, Pottawattamie Conservation, the Historic Dodge House, CHI Health Mercy Hospital, Dream Playground and the Historic Bregant Home. The fund is administered by Community Foundation for Western Iowa.
Weather Alert

...WINTER STORM WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT FROM 3 PM THIS AFTERNOON TO 9 PM CST FRIDAY... ...WIND CHILL ADVISORY REMAINS IN EFFECT FROM MIDNIGHT TONIGHT TO NOON CST FRIDAY... ...WIND CHILL WARNING NOW IN EFFECT FROM 9 PM FRIDAY TO NOON CST TUESDAY... * WHAT...For the Winter Storm Warning, heavy snow expected. Total snow accumulations between 5 and 8 inches. Winds gusting as high as 35 mph. For the Wind Chill Advisory, very cold wind chills expected. Wind chills as low as 25 below zero. For the Wind Chill Warning, dangerously cold wind chills expected. Wind chills as low as 50 below zero. Coldest wind chills are expected Saturday night into Sunday morning. * WHERE...Portions of east central, northeast, and southeast Nebraska. * WHEN...For the Winter Storm Warning, from 3 PM this afternoon to 9 PM CST Friday. For the Wind Chill Advisory, from midnight tonight to noon CST Friday. For the Wind Chill Warning, from 9 PM Friday to noon CST Tuesday. * IMPACTS...Travel will be hazardous. Areas of blowing snow will reduce visibilities, even after snow has stopped falling. The hazardous conditions will impact the Thursday evening and Friday commutes. The dangerously cold wind chills could cause frostbite on exposed skin in as little as 10 minutes. PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS... Avoid outside activities if possible. When outside, make sure you wear appropriate clothing, a hat, and gloves. If you must travel, keep an extra flashlight, food, and water in your vehicle in case of an emergency. The latest road conditions for the state you are calling from can be obtained by calling 5 1 1. &&
86% of Chadians have voted in favor of a controversial new draft constitution, the government commission that organized it has announced, despite resistance from critics who say the referendum was merely designed to help cement the power of junta leader Mahamat Idriss Deby.

Chads military authorities have described the vote as a vital stepping-stone to long-promised democratic elections to be held next year that will pave the way for a return to civilian rule three years after they seized power in 2021 when former President Idriss Deby was killed by insurgents. Chads Supreme Court will on Thursday (28 December) declare definitive results of the countrys constitutional referendum. The new constitution will maintain a unitary state, despite the call by some of its opponents for the creation of a federal state, saying it would help spur development. Experts say the referendum committee comprised mostly Deby allies and offered the opposition no real chance of success or a compromise.

Several opposition groups called for a boycott of the vote, saying the junta had too much control over the referendum process. Many opposition leaders and civil society groups have described the referendum as a sham to enable the military government to perpetuate itself in power and pave the way for an eventual election of Deby, a 39-year-old military general. While originally promising an 18-month transition to elections after his fathers death, Debis government last year adopted resolutions that delayed elections until 2024 and allow him to run for president in the eventual vote. Debys long-term play  is to entrench himself at the top of an autocratic political system dominated by the military, says Chris Ogunmodede, a foreign affairs analyst.
As Kenya is moving closer to sealing an Economic Partnership Agreement (EPA) with the European Union, the East African economic powerhouse has also announced the possibility of a $1bn loan from China that could be used to help pay off a $2bn Eurobond repayment that is due in June next year.

Kenyas economic partnership deal with the EU will grant the East Asian countrys exports duty-free status and unlimited access to the 27-member market bloc. As the deal will now be presented to the parliaments of both sides for ratification before it subsequently enters into force, Kenya government on Monday (25 December) asked for the support of the East African Community (EAC). The EU is Kenyas second-largest trading partner and its most important export market. Experts also say that a safeguard contained in the EPA allowing a return to stiffer taxes in case of dumping threats is the sweetener in the EPA, whereby this anti-dumping policy may give the EU edge over China in East Africa.

In a related but separate development, the Governor of the Central Bank of Kenya (CBK) has recently suggested that the East African country could be about to conclude terms for a $1bn loan from China. This softening of President William Rutos line on China may have come as a surprise to many, as during his election campaign in 2022, Kenyas president railed against Chinese-financed loans used to fund a variety of infrastructure projects agreed by his predecessor, Raila Odinga. Ruto blamed these loans for contributing to Kenyas large and growing pile of debt that currently stands at more than $68bn, around two-thirds of its gross domestic product. While analysts believe Kenya needs the fresh $1bn loan to repay the maturing Eurobond and avoid defaulting, the move is likely to bring Chinas activities in Africa and its alleged so-called debt trap diplomacy into renewed focus.
Fresh allegation has resurfaced in Nigeria that Chinese firms operating in the West African country employ prisoners from China, but although the validity of the rumor is questionable, the presence of large numbers of Chinese workers laboring on infrastructure projects built by Chinese companies is one of the most controversial aspects of Chinas economic engagement with Africa and the wider world.

The rumor that Chinese companies in Nigeria import convicts from the Asian country has been making the rounds among Nigerians, fed by a number of senior Nigerian officials. I have on good authority that prisoners from foreign land are working in Nigeria as construction workers, Adams Oshiomhole, chairman of the Senate Committee on Interior, said earlier in December. I even believe and dare to say it that there are foreign prisoners who are working in Nigeria. They were shipped to our country to serve their prison terms. Caroline Wura-Ola Adepoju, the newly inaugurated comptroller general of immigration, has recently commented on the allegations, stressing that such practice would not be tolerated, adding that there is a new sheriff in town.

According to an analysis by two leading scholars in the field published in The Conversation (January 2023), with the launch of Beijings Go Global policy in 2000 and Belt and Road Initiative in 2013, the number of overseas contracts signed by Chinese companies more than doubled from just under 6,000 in 2004 to almost 12,000 in 2019. Titled Chinese Workers on Africas Infrastructure Projects: the Link with Host Political Regimes, the analysis points to strong empirical evidence that democracies host significantly fewer Chinese workers than autocracies, all other things being equal. Chinese workers laboring on infrastructure projects across Africa have been accused of taking job opportunities from locals and undercutting labour standards.

The study has also found that democratic governments were much more prone to limiting the number of Chinese workers in the infrastructure sector in the face of potential domestic opposition to those workers. The opposite was true in more authoritarian countries. This means that the long-term economic benefits that Chinese-built infrastructure brings are likely to be limited in authoritarian countries. The comparison between Ghana, a vibrant democracy, and Algeria, a hybrid regime that was ruled by a single man, Abdelaziz Bouteflika, from 1999 to 2019, is striking. While in Ghana, both the countrys main political parties faced pressure to ensure Chinese-built projects delivered local jobs, in Algeria, on the other hand, domestic discontent over Chinese workers was essentially ignored and Chinese labour has been used to quickly complete projects seen as politically expedient.
Morocco will offer incentives to attract foreign doctors and increase the number of graduates from medicine faculties to address a shortage due to brain drain, the health minister said.

Up to 1400 doctors trained in Moroccan universities leave the country, mostly to Europe, where many countries are vying to attract foreign medics, minister Khaled Ait Taleb said.

Morocco has adopted a law governing the hiring of foreign medical staff in the country, he said, adding that 453 foreign doctors are currently working in the country.

To meet increasing demand on health services and population growth, the government has adopted a 300-million-dollar strategy to increase the number of healthcare graduates to 90000 by 2025.

This should increase the number of medical staff per 10,000 people to 45 by 2030, from 17 currently, he said.
The ruling People Power Party (PPP) on Thursday appointed ten members to its emergency committee charged with leading the party into April's general elections.

The nominees will be confirmed at a national committee meeting Friday after which Han Dong-hoon, the committee chairman, will explain the reason behind his selections, the PPP's chief spokesperson, Rep. Park Jung-ha, said in a press conference.

The PPP decided to launch the emergency committee and bring in Han to head it amid a sense of urgency that without dramatic reform efforts, it is doomed to fail in the April 10 elections, as seen in its crushing defeat in October's local by-election.

Eight committee members were picked by Han, while the two others were ex officio members: the party's floor leader Rep. Yun Jae-ok and chief policymaker Rep. Yu Eui-dong.

Han's emergency committee has younger members and more women compared with the previous leadership.

Most of the members are in their 40s and 50s, with the youngest being Yoon Do-hyun, a 21-year-old university student who heads a nonprofit organization for orphans.

Three are women, while all are political novices, except for Rep. Kim Yae-ji, a disabled pianist who became a lawmaker as a proportional representative.

Their backgrounds range from licensed specialists, such as lawyers, accountants and doctors, to a child care platform startup CEO and the head of a political organization seeking change in the Honam region, a traditional stronghold of the liberal bloc. (Yonhap)
The US private military company Bancroft Global Development is reportedly in talks with the government of Central African Republic (CAR) over future activities, as the Russian mercenary group Wagner is in the process of reorganization following the death of its leader Yevgeny Prigozhin.

The death of Wagners leader has created a window of opportunity in the CAR for Western powers to offer an alternative. Russian authorities have sought to reorganize the mercenary group, established in the country in 2018, following the mutiny against the Kremlin led by Prigozhin in June and his subsequent death in a plane crash two months later. Bancrofts communications service has denied having deployed to Bangui but admitted contacts with the regime of President Faustin Archange Touadera, saying that starting in July, Bancroft agreed to a framework to discuss possible future activities with the government of the Central African Republic.

A spokesman for the CAR presidency admitted last week that his country was carrying out work to diversify its relations by calling partners including the Russian Federation, Angola, Morocco, Guinea () to help train soldiers. The United States is also offering the [CAR] to train its soldiers, both on Central African soil and on American soil, he added. As this battle for Influence rages in the heart of Wagners operations in Africa, experts point out that the CAR governments shifting policy priorities could see the Russian mercenary groups influence challenged in the conflict-riven country. French daily Le Monde has reported that Washington offered the CAR a security agreement in late 2022 in exchange for its government distancing itself from Wagner, but neither side has confirmed this. In any case, experts believe that rivalry between powers in the region was set to intensify in the coming year.
Mahamat Charfadine Margui, Chads Minister of Public Security, banned Wednesday a demonstration planned this Thursday December 28 by a political party in front of the French military base in the country.

The sit-in, called for by Le Front Populaire pour la Federation [Popular Front for the Federation], is illegal because it does not abide by provisions governing street demonstrations, Alwihda Info reports quoted Margui as saying.

The minister argued that the demonstration is likely to cause public disorder.

The media did not provide reasons behind the planned demonstration but it came following calls for the closure of the military base following incidents in September 2023 in which three Chadian were killed in the northern city of Faya-Largeau.

The Chadian army killed early September two people who were trying to infiltrate a French military base in the city amid protests against the death of a Chadian soldier at the hands of a French doctor.

Protests erupted September 5 in the city after Mahamat Dakou Hamid, a soldier in his thirties, transported to the military base for medical treatment was shot dead by a French military doctor in a brawl.

The Chadian army intervened to curtail the protest and clashed with hundreds of youths who were trying to storm the base. At least 15 people including women and children were also wounded in the clashes.

After the incident, most of the personnel at the French military base was evacuated by plane to the Chadian capital of NDjamena.

Following Dakous death, members of the Chadian Parliament reportedly demanded the withdrawal of French military forces from the country.
The Ivorian Government announced Wednesday December 27 the decision to send every month 50 million liters of fuel to Guinea, which is facing an acute shortage following the explosion this month of the countrys fuel terminal.

Cote dIvoire commits to deliver 50 million liters of fuel per month to Guinea, the State-run television RTI said in a communique.

The practical details of the contract and the securing of convoys will be signed on Thursday December 28, it added.

It is unclear how long the deal will last. The announcement came following the visit of Guineas minister of Finance and Economy Moussa Cisse who met with Cote dIvoires minister of Mines, Energy and Oil Mamadou Sangafowa Coulibaly.

Guinea reportedly is currently in need of 70 million liters of fuel per month to meet domestic demand. The shortage is caused by the explosion 10 days ago of the countrys main fuel depot in the capital Conakry.

The explosion which killed 24 people and injured 454 others has badly disrupted the distribution and sales of fuel across the country, affecting the economy.

Fuel distribution resumed last Saturday. The State instructed a rational distribution, 5 liters for two- or three-wheel vehicles and 25 liters for car daily and no filling station should sell more than 3,000 liters per day.
Before long, six cameras that record motorists license plate numbers will be mounted on digital overhead signs on Interstate 80 somewhere in Lancaster County, the latest crime-fighting tool of the Lancaster County Sheriffs Office.

The so-called automated license plate readers  an increasingly common tool used by law enforcement agencies to help find suspects  are controversial because of privacy concerns.

Although law enforcement officers say theyre a game-changer, the ACLU Nebraska has opposed them at the state level as well as locally.

The cameras capture a still image of all license plate numbers that pass near the device and are used by law enforcement officers, who flag vehicles connected to various crimes including Amber alerts, human trafficking and violent crimes.

Lancaster County has two cameras mounted on cruisers and one mounted on a Lincoln Police Department cruiser used by an officer on a criminal interdiction task force, which is overseen by the sheriffs office and the U.S. Department of Homeland Security.

LPD spokeswoman Erika Thomas said other than the officer on the interdiction task force, the department no longer uses such devices.

Douglas and Seward counties and the Bellevue Police Department are among Nebraska agencies that use them. But last year, the Douglas County Sheriffs Office pulled a proposed agreement with the City of Omaha to put the cameras on Omaha streets because there wasnt sufficient support from the council.

Lancaster County Board Chairman Christa Yoakum said she had concerns about the cameras, though the statutory limitations ultimately convinced the board, which unanimously approved extending a contract with Vigilant Solutions for another year that allowed the sheriffs office to buy the new cameras.

Since 2018, Nebraska has had a law that governs the use of such devices, including how long law enforcement can retain images captured by the plate readers. The law has caused confusion about what data can be used in court proceedings and a legislative bill introduced this year attempted to clarify that.

The bill, which didnt make it out of committee, also would have required documented reasons for the search to be recorded in a digital log and audited annually, made intentional violations of the act a felony and limited who can operate such cameras to law enforcement agencies.

Under the existing law, license plates are stored by a third-party contractor for six months, but police can flag images of specific plates as investigatory so they wont be erased.

ACLU Nebraska opposed changes to the original bill, which it helped draft.

This is mass surveillance operated by law enforcement with the tech companies, the ACLUs Spike Eickholt told a legislative committee.

Jane Seu, an attorney with ACLU Nebraska, said concerns about privacy and a lack of transparency remain.

Theres a question of where the information is being harvested and if its with a third party, what theyre doing with it, she said. Without transparency or safeguards, I think theres big risks.

Lancaster County Sheriffs Capt. Mike Peschong said the six cameras will be placed in two locations, with three cameras (one per lane) at each location.

The department just got the cameras but are still going through a permitting process with the state before they can install them.

The department is working with the State Patrol, which is working to get additional cameras to put along the interstate farther west, he said.

Peschong said the cameras have been very useful  helping catch six homicide suspects over the past four years. An advantage to having fixed cameras is that they arent dependent on the deputy with the camera on his cruiser being on duty to capture images.

He said there are guidelines in place to ensure agencies use the cameras appropriately, and law enforcement agencies can only flag vehicles connected to crimes.

Last year, the license plate readers helped locate a teenager from Houston who was charged with the death of his mother, who was found strangled to death in the trunk of his car when he was stopped by patrol officers near Grand Island, Peschong said.

I think were going to be able to rescue more children and human trafficking victims that we wouldnt normally know about, he said.
Alabama State Parks has invited the public to kick off the new year at Chewacla State Park as a part of its First Day Hike.

Residents of all ages can explore the outdoors from 2 to 3 p.m. for a New Years Day Scavenger Hunt and waterfall hike. Its one of 11 First Day Hikes that will be held at parks across the state, from the Gulf Coast to Guntersville Lake.

Our Alabama State Parks offer some of the very best hiking trails found anywhere in America, and theres no better way to start the new year than by immersing yourself in Alabamas beautiful scenery, Alabama State Parks Director Greg Lein said. We have so many parks participating in the First Day Hikes this year that Im confident anyone can find a hike that fits just what theyre looking for. Its the perfect way to start the new year.

Titled An Adventure to the Waterfall, Chewaclas hike will give residents a chance to sharpen your eyes with a New Years Day Scavenger Hunt. The hunt will start at the nature center at the parks second parking loop.

Participants will hike to the waterfall while looking for golden items and clues along the way. Anyone that finds all of the items will received a reward of a sweet treat.

The event is not ticketed, but anyone looking to participate will have to pay the gate fee to enter the park. There is a $4 fee for adults and children ages 12-61. it will cost $2 for adults ages 62 and older and children ages 4 through 11. Military and veterans can enter the park for free.

The national First Day Hike program was started in 1992 at the Blue Hills Reservation State Park in Massachusetts and it has grown to include over 1,000 hikes taking place across all 50 states on Jan. 1.

I am thrilled to see the continued growth and success of the First Day Hikes program, said Lewis Ledford, the executive director of the National Association of State Park Directors. This initiative has become a cherished tradition, providing individuals and families with the opportunity to embrace the outdoors and kick off the year with a commitment to health and well-being.

Alabamas First Day Hikes are led by State Parks personnel and volunteers and each hike is subject to change or cancellation due to inclement weather. Hikers are encouraged to dress for seasonal temperatures, wear close-toed shoes and pack water, snacks or a lunch.
Follow up to this previous post and this post about Shaun King starting a fashion line called A Real One, "a fully Black owned fashion brand that will change the entire supply chain."Shaun recently revealed the first pieces from this fashion line on his Facebook page.Prices:Signature Organic Tee (black or white) $49.99Organic PROTOTYPE Tee (black or white) $65.00Signature Organic Hoodie (black, white, or grey) $149.99Organic PROTOTYPE Hoodie (black, white, or grey) $165.00Signature Organic TeeThis is the very first product of mine from A REAL ONE that I want to introduce to you. Yes, its a plain Black t-shirt. But its the most important plain Black t-shirt ever crafted. Its made of 100% organic cotton from farms owned by Black people in Tanzania.That cotton was then pressed and woven together by Black people and shipped to us here in the United States where Black owned businesses then managed each step of what came next.The image you are looking at was taken by a Black photographer.The website you will shop from was built by a Black owned design firm.And when this shirt arrives in the mail, it will have been packaged and shipped to you by the only full-service Black woman owned fulfillment center in the United States. I built this company for social justice. We are not a fashion company that dabbles in confronting inequity. We are a freedom fighting company that does fashion. It took me nearly 2 years to figure out how to design, sell, package, and ship beautifully crafted clothing with Black owned providers from the seed to the shipping. Together, we can change the entire supply chain. Thats power.Right now, this shirt is available in sizes from small, medium, large, and extra large. Smaller and larger sizes are coming in the future. No, you dont have to be Black to purchase and wear this shirt. But by doing so, you are supporting the empowerment of Black people here in the United States and around the world. Love and appreciate you all for your support.Your friend and brother,ShaunOrganic PROTOTYPE TeeThis is our 100% organic Black on Black PROTOTYPE tee for A REAL ONE. Carefully notice the Black print on the front. Zoom in if you need to.This shirt is crafted by Black owned businesses in Tanzania, Brooklyn, Philadelphia, and Atlanta. Its made of 100% organic cotton from farms owned by Black people in Tanzania.That cotton was then pressed and woven together by Black people and shipped to us here in the United States where Black owned businesses then managed each step of what came next.The design is from a Black owned designed firm.The printing was done by a Black owned print shop.The image you are looking at was taken by a Black photographer.The website you will shop from was built by a Black owned design firm.And when this shirt arrives in the mail, it will have been packaged and shipped to you by the only full-service Black woman owned fulfillment center in the United States. I built this company for social justice. We are not a fashion company that dabbles in confronting inequity. We are a freedom fighting company that does fashion. It took me nearly 2 years to figure out how to design, sell, package, and ship beautifully crafted clothing with Black owned providers from the seed to the shipping. Together, we can change the entire supply chain. Thats power.Right now, this shirt is available in sizes from small, medium, large, and extra large. Smaller and larger sizes are coming in the future. No, you dont have to be Black to purchase and wear this shirt. But by doing so, you are supporting the empowerment of Black people here in the United States and around the world. Love and appreciate you all for your support.Your friend and brother,ShaunSignature Organic HoodieYes, this is a plain Black hoodie, but its the only one like it in the entire world produced by Black people from the seed to the shipping.Literally this morning I woke up at 3am to have a Skype with our partners in Tanzania as its being manufactured. Its the only fully Black owned hoodie being manufactured on the planet right now. Made by Black owned businesses in Tanzania, Kenya, Brooklyn, Philadelphia, and Atlanta. This is our 100% Organic Signature Black Hoodie for A REAL ONE.It is made of 100% organic cotton that is harvested by Black farmers then produced and manufactured in Africa.It is mid-weight French Terry and has a 260 GSM fiber composition.Has a double stitched kangaroo pouch pocket in the frontPlease notice the special "A Real One" neck label and wrist label.Our products are true to size. If in doubt, get one size larger than normal.The image you are looking at was taken by a Black photographer.The website you will shop from was built by a Black owned design firm.And when this hoodie arrives in the mail, it will have been packaged and shipped to you by the only full-service Black woman owned fulfillment center in the United States. I built this company for social justice. We are not a fashion company that dabbles in confronting inequity. We are a freedom fighting company that does fashion. It took me nearly 2 years to figure out how to design, sell, package, and ship beautifully crafted clothing with Black owned providers from the seed to the shipping. Together, we can change the entire supply chain. Thats power.We have small - XXL!No, you dont have to be Black to purchase and wear this. But by doing so, you are supporting the empowerment of Black people here in the United States and around the world. Love and appreciate you all for your support.Your friend and brother,Shaunadditional comments from Shaun regarding his fashion line:Let me answer 2 recurring questions.1. When we launched privately 6 weeks ago, we published the names of most of our partners. They were then harassed overwhelmed with hate and ugliness and asked us to remove them. It broke our hearts because telling their stories is a part of our original vision, but the hate against me is so fierce. We will find new ways to tell their stories in the future.2. This isn't a charity. We are a business with the central goal of disrupting the white supremacist supply chains of the fashion world. We are working with Black owned partners and suppliers from the seeds to the shipping and everything in between. This is called TRADE, not aid. We are a fair-trade company. We are an organics-only company - because it's what is healthiest for our farmers - who we love. Our goal is to give Black businesses more support than they've ever received.PS: One last thing. Every Black designer that has mentored me over the past 2 years on this told me that people, including Black folk, would tear up our business, and critique it, and demand things that they've never demanded of a single business in their lives, from the clothes and shoes they wear, to the groceries they buy, etc. And that they would also NEVER do this with other white owned companies in this space. And so, we were prepared for the foolishness. It's sad, but expected.Source:
Polite Societyyyyyy

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Same.



I loved it so much. So fun and sweet and ridiculous.

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Oppenheimer is the only movie on that list I have seen. I thought about Leave the World Behind, but hadn't gotten around to seeing it.

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No Barbie? Smh

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right? forget his lack of abortion focus, this tells me he really hates women!

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Did he pick his favorite genocide?

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Obama: why not all

Lol jk but maybe

Hihi not really just messing around



Or am I



Bad Barack bad

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Shut up! Take ur Netflix money and leave us be!

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his worst list yet, impressive!!

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I hope this leads to more people watching Polite Society. I saw a midday screening of that in an otherwise empty theatre back in April, and it rules.

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I did a Polite Society/We Are Lady Parts double feature earlier this year and it remains one of my favorite weekends.

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Obama and I are the same if we could still have Blackberries right now we would. Miss that keyboard every day tbh

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Didnt your fingers hurt from using it

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Nope lol

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No it was super comfortable!

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I aggressively hate touchscreens so I am with you. I hate them on phones, I find tablets to be one of the more irritating devices to use. I NEED MY BUTTONS TO BE PRESSABLE /old person rant

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i honestly dont remember watching any movie this year that truely memorable.



i have such high hope for the boy and the heron  and it was disappointing.



Edited at 2023-12-27 11:03 pm (UTC)

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Pardon my language but who gives a literal fuck? How about we stop worshipping genocide generals and giving them platforms and treating them like celebrities?

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Right? It's such shameless image laundering and it's pretty cynical imo. Every year since he left office, these lists feel more and more egregious. They are so cringey.



Also listing the 3 films you produced as the best, even though he admitted it, is so stupid.

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Not Oppenheimer being on that list nnn

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He found it INSPIRATIONAL hdu

I bet he was like mama if only I couldve thrown one those, mhm mhm mhm

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They dont make weapon of mass destruction movie like that anymore!

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As his company Higher Ground Productions is behind Leave the world behind im not surprised it made his top three, lol. Personally, i didnt like it, and would rather watch Melancholia again.

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Melancholia 

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I wholeheartedly agree with this comment. Should have left that movie behind. Just bad. And I love Mahershala Ali!

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Always relevant!

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Remember how she got dragged for that here

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Yes I do! This makes me think we really shouldn't make fun of people for ever speaking truth to power, even if the truth is not apparent to us at the time, and -unpopular opinion- EVEN if they include a :) at the end of it

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Idk why people thought his dumb song list noone asked for deserved a more nuanced response than the one it got. It's not like she dropped a :( in response to him saying something that mattered in the slightest

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The Obama of it all aside,



I really liked Blackberry! Glenn Howerton deserves more recognition for his performance. It was a solid film that doesn't feel like masterbatory film length ad.



Granted, I didn't see Air and BBs died out a long time ago but still.

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Yeah, I'm a Glenn fan, he's a really great actor, even if I do think he is A LOT like Dennis, whew.

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I can't imagine having the level of power and influence he does and being like, you know, after this presidency (and the harm I caused!), I'm going to come out here and just give you listicles of the media I consume. You were the leader of the free world and now you're Buzzfeed. Buzzfeed with war crimes.



Edited at 2023-12-27 11:11 pm (UTC)

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Argh, IAWTC so hard. Politics are bad, in part because people are using political office to be influencers! Like, shame these idiots into governing well instead of killing and harming people then turning around and being Instabaddies

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he still does stuff. he ended the nba strike!

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When he was President didn't he post avout getting to see GoT episodes early?

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i love intellectual property. cannot wait to see how this goes

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Ooh finish ha lol

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I'm glad someone with deep pockets is suing them. It was only a matter of time. Lmaooo

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Damn after the board replacement and Altmans firing and then rehiring, they are going through IT lol - good!

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Sue them into oblivion and save humanity (I know theres really no stopping it now, but one can dream)

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Good. Everyone needs to sue them for stealing intellectual property. Fucking evil.

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I keep thinking about how many of the tech startups started with grow hacking (bordering on illegal) shit. Airbnb was stealing Craigslists listings; Facebook was stealing pics of women to rate them. OpenAI stole the whole internet worth of writing with the goal to render the act of writing effectively obsolete. Its depressing that theyre being rewarded for that with millions of users but good that theyre being sued.



I am in a foul mood and I want these capitalist assholes to go kick rocks.

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A bunch of artists online are also suing Dalle, MidJourney, and other AI companies for using their work as well. I really think it's something that artists should be able to opt out of or compensated for if their work is used.

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The problem is that everyones work has already been used without their consent. Its too late to go down that path. The only way forward is to sue the living daylights out of these development houses, but thatll only work for those who can afford it. Itll probably take something like a class-action lawsuit for smaller artists to get any compensation.

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It is a class-action lawsuit and quite a few artists have signed on, including zemotion (the photographer whose work got plagiarized last year by that asshole who won a prize for it).

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I cant remember which AI program scraped ao3 but the fact AI knows about ABO and knotting is a fact that will forever haunt me.

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It's crazy what genres exist from Fanfiction. I've never seen a coffee au love story that isn't a direct reflection of some sort of FF activity

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I wonder how they can prove that it was done.

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The complaint cites several examples when a chatbot provided users with near-verbatim excerpts from Times articles that would otherwise require a paid subscription to view. It asserts that OpenAI and Microsoft placed particular emphasis on the use of Times journalism in training their A.I. programs because of the perceived reliability and accuracy of the material.



In one example of how A.I. systems use The Timess material, the suit showed that Browse With Bing, a Microsoft search feature powered by ChatGPT, reproduced almost verbatim results from Wirecutter, The Timess product review site. The text results from Bing, however, did not link to the Wirecutter article, and they stripped away the referral links in the text that Wirecutter uses to generate commissions from sales based on its recommendations.



The lawsuit also highlights the potential damage to The Timess brand through so-called A.I. hallucinations, a phenomenon in which chatbots insert false information that is then wrongly attributed to a source. The complaint cites several cases in which Microsofts Bing Chat provided incorrect information that was said to have come from The Times, including results for the 15 most heart-healthy foods, 12 of which were not mentioned in an article by the paper.

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Thank you

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i was going to make a post about this. good for them. was it illegally? i thought they weren't really any laws around this and it's unprecedented territory. it's pretty egregious in the article and they make a good case for themselves. like AI was churning out news and wirecutter reviews that were pretty much word-for-word what they took from nytimes. they need to figure out laws around this asap because it's only going to get worse



Edited at 2023-12-28 03:49 am (UTC)

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Yay!!! I need more people to come for AI.



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Im really happy about this. Their case is so strong and there are a lot of different ways that Microsoft and OpenAI screwed themselves. I cant help but feel that its too late, though. The damage is done.

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get his ass!

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I just blew some money I didn't have on books on the Google play store. Please donate to my gofundme. I still have an insurance payment to make at the end of the month .





These rich ass corporations are so damn cheap. All they had to do is ask and pay what was asked if there was an agreement.

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Tear them apart.

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About fucking time.

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Fuck New York Times in every other instance but for this I hope they take them down 

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Having two hosts was a dumb idea.

Im sure she got pushed off a glass cliff, and faced misogyny by people with too much time on their hands on the internet. That said, her opinions on a variety of subjects leave a lot to be desired, but Im sure she will find work and will continue to have an audience that likes her nonsense.

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I just have never felt warmth from her. I think the awkward/know-it-all character of Blossom worked, and it was probably good on the Big Bang Theory (didn't watch), but I don't think it's a fit for most things, including hosting Jeopardy.



Like, I've always felt that she wants to lecture me. And I don't want it.



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I'm open to having a lady as host, but



a) imo she was awful, all the time. she didn't get better at it



b) I think Ken has grown into the role and is great at it. plus for the actual Jeoparsy audience, he has a built in connection bc of his history as a contestant. The fans always had a warm spot for him.





Despite my dislike of her as a host, I was still a fan of hers bc I liked her on BBT.



I visited her FB page not too long ago. I was aghast at the blatant pro-israeli posts, the propaganda, the stealing of Palestinian cuisine, as well as the straight up misinformation she was deliberately spreading about Palestine. So that kind of has turned me off her for good.





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good

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Definitely misogyny but alsoooooo she is a shitty person so bye.



I still think Aisha Tyler would have been a great choice to host.

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Aisha would have crushed it



Also I miss her

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She would've been A+. Would've gotten me to watch for the first time since I was a teenager.

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Ugh I LOVE Aisha, she would've been great.

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YES Aisha wouldve been great.

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Aisha would have been amazing! wish she'd been one of the guest hosts

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I dont think we even get Jeopardy here but Aisha is such a goddess, she should host everything.

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I wanna say I hate this because misogyny (and didn't Ken cross picket lines? so that's bullshit too), but she is a truly terrible person, sooooooooo Elmo fire gif?

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No, he didnt cross. Daytime TV and game shows apparently are different under sag stuff. This explain why we got a lot of new game shows during the strike.

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And he doesn't even do tv outside of hosting right?

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He did cross WGA lines tho. They walked a fine line reusing questions/clues.

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Ken isn't an actor. He did nothing wrong.

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I have only seen the celebrity editions and the other specials that they run (mom love the show...she watches all!) I found her lacking? She did get better toward the end but idk....maybe. ...it was an energy level thing? I wasn't feeling it.



I also wonder how much the strike play in it as well.

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Yeah, I know a lot of people on the Jeopardy YouTube comments didnt like her style either, so I think that definitely played a part.

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She was not a great host at all, showed zero interest when talking to contestants at the start, took a long time to verify answers, etc. She had no passion for the job at all and I won't be sorry to see her go.

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The taking forever to verify answers is what bugged me more than anything else. You'd see the contestants start to question themselves, and it was just uncomfortable to watch.

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all of this, plus she came across all the time like she was trying really really hard





that's why I dismiss the misogyny claims / accusations in this case. she just really wasn't a good fit.

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Yeah, bad opinions aside, she was a much inferior host to Ken.

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if she got fired for not scabbing then that sucks but my care factor for bad things happening to Zionists is kinda bottomed out right now so...eh....

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zionists deserve to be fireddddd

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It does not seem to be a loss overall, but yeah, there's no chance in hell a male host would ever be criticized for being "too giggly".

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The best part is Ken is giggly himself

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James Corden is too giggly 

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Jimmy Fallon definitely has gotten a lot of critique for being too giggly but he is an extreme example

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I'm convinced we're gonna find out Jimmy Fallon is a serial killer someday

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Hes just Ken

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One host is more than Kenough

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But I guess he's hot for dudes in Jeopardy, 'cuz it's an ugly industry

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My sisters getting a PhD in ECE and I guess its right what she said  some of the dumbest people she met are the people she met during her PhD.



A PhD in neuroscience and anti vaccine dumb bitch

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Yeah I'm doing a PhD and let me tell you, book smart does not equate to common sense. Or intelligence.

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Yeah I think she thought itd be different because its engineering and its more applicable than her undergrad (physics) but she said its just the same. Some people are genuinely interested and super smart but most are people who did well in school and are now just getting the title for self confirmation I suppose

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This. I know a woman who's book smart and in engineering but she's a republican and is dumb.

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Im always baffled when I interact with people from technical/scientific areas bc so many of them cant carry an interesting conversation, a lot of times they cant even write properly. Not to get all artsy fartsy or anything but this to me is a clear example of why art is so important. It teaches us to see outside the box and not limit our knowledge to something tangible and (a lot of times) completely unimaginative.

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Certain types of brain are very good at knowing everything about their specific subject but hopeless about anything outside of that. Like my boss is incredibly knowledgeable about his field, has a masters and MBA, but I had to explain that the USA is behind the UK in time zones, and whos currently pope, and where the North Sea is (Well whats the one on the other side then? The Irish Sea? No, the big one Do you mean the North Atlantic?) and who the BFG is. If its not something he needs to know for work or football (UK version) it doesnt stick.

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I know a neuroscientist and it sounds like she's not well regarded in the community sooooooo

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i have a cousin with a PhD and I swear her brain has to glitch sometimes because this is what she told me once



me: "I know you shouldn't keep warm milk in a thermos, but is it ok if it is plant based milk?"

her: "why wouldn't you keep milk in a thermos?"



her PhD is in microbiology.

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Im PhD Biochem and I know other PhDs who believe in shit like crystals. So an academic education is. Definitely not everything.



Edited at 2023-12-28 03:23 pm (UTC)

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Lol, Yeah. I did a PhD in chemistry and I met so many dumb people.

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Sadly it applies to all types of degrees.

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Getting a PhD has more to do with class/privilege than intelligence.

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no field is immune from arrogance and dum-dums. well-rounded, thoughtful people are just hard to find.



Edited at 2023-12-28 10:16 pm (UTC)

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tbh sometimes I really think I got a PhD just so I can say with authority that just because someone has a PhD doesnt mean theyre not a dumbass (I, for example, am an idiot)

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Grew up in a university department. The number of PhD holders and professors needed to be spoon fed directions and have their hands held was very high. Also for a degree that really requires critical thinking skills its amazing how badly they failed out of their scope of studies.

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I noticed this in uni - most people who got good grades were mind-numbingly stupid and also shitty people

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Same. I'm in STEM and I have a doctorate, and some of the worst STEM takes I hear from people who have doctorate too and are internationally recognized for their research. Some of their opinions are so out of alignment with their actual specific field.



It scares me, because that degree means their shit takes are taken so seriously.

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Years & years ago my Paternal Grandmother said (about a relative of hers) something like; Some people are really smart about things, but they can't even make toast.

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My mother was on the show while Bialik was host and said she was terrible...like both on screen and behind the scenes, just bad at her job.

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Ooh, spill

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It was really just basic hosting stuff, like getting people's names right, remembering the anecdotes they had prepared, responding to the anecdotes in a normal, human way...she was bad at all of it. And my mother was really annoyed by Mayim's long pauses, because she thought she ran out the clock and drastically reduced the number of questions they could answer in a round.

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I saw a comment on the show's subreddit about a woman who'd been a contestant and her anecdote for the episode was about how she and her husband had used their honeymoon money for her to come on Jeopardy and that Mayim had responded with some catty comment wondering whether she was still married, which obviously didn't make it to air.

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She was sooo bad at contestant interactions, like the other hosts would at least ask a follow up question or two, but with her it was always like "GREAT. MOVING ON."

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Kudos to your mom for getting on! How'd she do?

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impressive mom!

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Team no one

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ken is no different than that producer. both were desperate for this job from the moment alex took his last breath. ken wasnt bound by the strike but he could have shown solidarity. instead he wanted to make sure he looked like a viable team player instead.



if mayim wasn't able to fully commit to the gig (because or her sitcom) then they should've looked for someone else. two hosts was a bad idea and when you give the public options and it's between a female and male host people will always go with the man. so to me this was always inevitable.

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Showing solidarity would have affected multiple contestants for no benefit. These are people who have spent lots of time and money to get on the show, probably took time off work, flown to LA on their own dime, got hotels, etc and Mayim with her BBT millions left them hanging.

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Ken has a reason to be the host. Literally everyone thought he was a shoe-in for the job. I'm certain there was only hosting drama because the producer guy wanted the job, and so did not hire anyone in the 2 years between Alex's cancer announcement and his death.

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The song and dance they put on to "find a host" was laughable in light of the producer (who filled in for Alex a few times towards the end) getting the job. Which was probably the plan all along.

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everyone thought he was a shoe-in because he was so desperate for it despite the public at the time wanting anyone else calling him smarmy and unlikable (you know the same guy who made a joke after a man died of cancer and defended his racist podcasting buddy the infamous bean dad) now hes all of sudden the "the only choice" once people saw Mayim

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"Ken is no different than that producer"....you mean the actual sex pest producer? I think he's VASTLY different.

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How do you have a phd in neuroscience but you're against vaccines

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I had a microbiology teacher who was anti vax.

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I feel like a portion of the people in academia are better at following rules and fitting in rigid social structures than the actual work itself. If youre not stupid, can handle the environment and know the right people you can experience some success in academia even when lacking critical thinking

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100% correct



Edited at 2023-12-28 12:31 pm (UTC)

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In my experience, old white dudes rule academia so anything that fits their agenda for the most part will get you where you want to be.



Until you reach the great big manspreading layer of them who are on tenure and youre stuck.

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You are 100% correct /academic

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By following the rules, it isn't even the explicitly written ones but the ones that are basically don't rock the boat and adhere to hierarchies. I see a lot of people violate policies, and they get away with it because they're too powerful or connected to someone too powerful.

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She hosted an event for a medical charity I'm a part of and you BET I complained

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Honestly Im constantly surprised by who is vaccine sceptical and how many people actually are. My in-laws hesitated around COVID vaccines (and refused to download the tracking app here in the U.K. ) and I got a puppy recently and the breeder was vaccinating HOMOEOPATHICALLY which is basically just dosing them with water, and pretty much everyone else who adopted a pup from the litter is continuing it.



Breeder also related that once theyd had a bad case of parvo that wiped out a litter, and it was so hard to not say well if youd vaccinated properly. 

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I meant to put this in the post; she makes a big show of saying she actually was never against vaccines now, but she told People magazine in 2009 that "we are a non-vaccinating family." Interestingly, the actual article is no longer available on People's website, but the internet never forgets: https://web.archive.org/web/20181104113128/https://people.com/parents/mayim-bialik-talks-attachment-parenting-with-cbb/

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Hell, there were a lot of nurses who were anti-vax.

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I had a Women's media study teacher in high school that defended Polanski.

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Who knows. I know a shit ton of nurses that were anti-COVID and vax. Including a relative with a doctorate in nursing. It's baffling.

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IIRC she was also very into this attachment parenting stuff and whatnot  and I'm almost willing to bet real money that when she got pregnant she fell into these mommy-blogger/wholesome-parenting/altern ative-madicine sorta groups. You know, like when you're becoming a parent and look up literally anything about pregnancy/giving birth/babies the internet algorithms will absolutely push you down that slippery slope if you're not careful. The way she talked about the issue back then was 1:1 the lingo you'd see in those places. (For context: I had a kid a couple years ago and was shocked how much of that shit is thrown at you, right down to it coming from medical personnel. Insane.)

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I'm a nurse (LVN), and you'd be surprised how many healthcare professionals there are that are either anti-vax in general or just anti-COVID Vax. I can think of at least 3 current or former lvn coworkers who have a lot of (negative) things to say about them - one of whom still talks about the benefits of hydrochloroquine.



I'd get a booster monthly if it was recommended tbh



Edited at 2023-12-29 07:10 am (UTC)

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I have family members who are doctors and are antivax

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Production really made a mess of finding a new host, making bad decision after bad decision. That being said, shes awful and can dry her tears with her Big Bang Theory residual checks.

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So true, I had forgotten about the first guy and what a mess that was.

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She is bitter about paying child support and spousal support to her ex. I know some articles said they sorted those things out in court without disclosing how, but she's griped about money and her kids before 

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I wanna see Spamalot for king Alex Brightman but ew Ethan Slater.



Anyways they're a nasty couple and I wish them the worst.

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nnnn alex brightman is no king

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???



Don't tell me he's problematic please.

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lmaoooo she has a whole different face in that tmz photo.

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that pap pic of them this week was shocking. she needs rehab for her eating disorder very very badly

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agreed she's been looking extremely unwell

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lol the fake concern. would you say this about a celeb who became obese? what happened to "not commenting on other peoples bodies"?

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grow a brain you bad faith numbnut

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I actually thought she looked healthy in that pap photo. It's her face that looks weird.

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I agree :/ A lot of people are saying its just the eyebrows and hair color but I dont think so. And I think its a valid concern but also people should be careful commenting on it. Its a hard balance to find when someone looks shockingly and unhealthily different than usual.

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Okay, bets on who she will cheat on him with?

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I'm going to do the equivalent of betting on every horse - someone ugly

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uglier than him or on par, would you say?

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What random symbol is she fixated on lately ? That'll be your answer.

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someone who looks like her dad instead of her brother?



someone single?



someone asian?

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Some musician/producer/dancer she'll work on her new album with. Or somebody she meets while promoting the album, like it was the case with Pete. Or maybe some Broadway friend of Ethan, that'd be nice karma.

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matt healy or paul mescal are on my wish list for her

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colin jost, ryan reynolds, tom hiddleston, rob mcelhenney, dax shepard

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In a perfect world, aaron taylor johnson. But hes prob too hot for her

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two or more members of BTS



or pete davidson, just to bring this mess full circle

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I want to say Pete but I don't want to wish that upon him



maybe someone much older

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when she finds the next dude she wants to base her personality on

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Since sandstorm said horse, let's go with something wild and say Trace Cyrus.

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someone ugly and much less famous than her

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ooohh.. I'm guessing a k-pop star

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when she chews him up and spits him out, and when she meets her opposite match - then and only then, will they truly be vibingggggggg~

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I'm genuinely surprised they're still together.

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I'm always confused by her need to be attached to someone. She's young, pretty, rich, and can literally do anything she wants. I'd be so content, but she always latches on to some fuggo. She should focus on herself and read some books, watch movies, anything to aid introspection for that.

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I wonder if she read Wicked.

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probably not tbh, just saw the play a million times.

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Maybe abandonment issues? I remember reading she had to get therapy as a kid when her parents divorced.



And as a cancer  she loves the idea of comfort and security in a partner (but if shes like me, we also get bored and want something new ).

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Its really sad how so many women are afraid of being single and center their identity around finding a partner

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Shes famous because she needs attention. She needs attention cause shes insecure

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I hope she cheats on him with someone extra hot this time around, just to give the sponge one last kick in the nuts

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She def has issues. Its not just that shes cant be alone, its always cheating!!

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I agree, im kind of envious of her for the potential independence she could have but chooses to waste on rando men :/

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she just makes the absolute worst decisions constantly

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As a single woman who was on dating apps



The word vibe makes me scream.



What are you looking for?

SoMeOnE 2 ViBe WiTh. Lets see if we ~vibe.



Gtfo!!!!!!!



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Yessss that and men who put "Don't Know Yet" in the "Looking For" field. We're not 20, at this age, you should know! Also, "open-minded" being anywhere. You KNOW that just means they'd ask for a threesome or an open relationship.

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Omg i thought I was the only one peeved by the "dont know yet" sir you are 35 tf you mean you don't know. And even if that means just fucking around, you know exactly why you want. And then you have the dickheads that say they're looking for a relationship but really just want to fuck around. Just say you want to fuck around!!! [Clearly dating is not for me.]

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Exactly. It's obvious that ~don't know yet means casual sex. If you're 35+ and don't know what you want then you're not worth my time.

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i once saw a guy who i knew to be in a relationship on bumble with "don't know yet" as his looking for, so i always assume the worst when i see that



unfortunately i didn't know his girlfriend personally so i couldn't screenshot and send it to her

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I just turned 36 and there are so many men on these dating apps who don't know if they want kids or what kind of relationships they want. Like hello we've had the time to figure that out by now.

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'vibe' is the non-business way of saying 'connect'

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Its the new chill and no drama 

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Language is getting lazier and lazier. Soon well be back to grunting at one another

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thank you! I thought I was being an old fart not remotely liking that new lingo...

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ihavetolaugh.gif



lol shes gonna get bored of you eventually Ethan yuh.





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I like how everyone doesn't give them even an ounce of luck. LOL

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So I finally got around to watching Miranda (loved it) and I instantly heard her mum when I saw your icon lol.

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Her mom is ICONIC. So happy that you loved it! I love it so much that I may or may not quote show from memory.

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Her people constantly reaching out to TMZ and PageSix to let everyone know how much they are ~thriving~ is getting a little pathetic.

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It's giving Brad Pitt's "WE'RE ENJOYING EACH OTHERS COMPANY AND I'VE NEVER BEEN HAPPIER" vibes.

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Omg did he say this about angie back in the day??

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Im wishing Ethans ex a very Merry Get Everything In The Divorce and a Happy New Hot Person To Date

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President says will veto inquiry into Kim Keon Hee

By Nam Hyun-woo

First Lady Kim Keon Hee finds herself at the epicenter of political turmoil in Korea, following the National Assembly's approval, Thursday, of a bill to launch a special counsel investigation into her alleged involvement in a stock manipulation scandal.

The presidential office immediately announced that President Yoon Suk Yeol will use his veto power "as soon as the bill arrives." However, the veto holds significant political weight, poised to become one of the most contentious issues leading up to the general elections in April. Rival parties are expected to engage in fierce exchanges over this controversial matter.

The bill authorizing the appointment of a special counsel to probe Kim's purported role in the stock manipulation of a licensed BMW dealership in Korea was approved during a plenary session at the Assembly, driven by the main opposition Democratic Party of Korea's (DPK) initiative.

Out of 298 enrolled lawmakers, 180 participated in the vote and all of them approved it.

The bill required the presence of half of all registered lawmakers and approval from half of those present. Despite a boycott by the ruling People Power Party (PPP), the DPK, which holds 167 out of 300 seats, met the requirement to ensure the bill to pass, and minor opposition parties supported it.

A special counsel probe refers to an investigation by an independent counsel  called a special prosecutor  to handle politically sensitive cases involving high-profile figures. To appoint the counsel, the Assembly either uses the existing Act on the Appointment of Independent Prosecutor or legislates a special bill for a respective case.

There have been several special counsel probes targeting incumbent or former presidents and their political aides and there were cases of presidents family members facing investigations by prosecutors. However, this marks Koreas first case of a special counsel investigation bill aimed at a sitting presidents spouse.



Proposed by the minor opposition Justice Party and endorsed by the DPK, the bill was put on the Assemblys fast-track system in April, which allows any proposal to be tabled at a plenary session automatically after an eight-month deliberation period.

Just minutes after the Assembly passed the bill, senior presidential secretary for public relations Lee Do-woon held a press briefing and said, "President Yoon will immediately veto it as soon as it arrives."

"In past cases of independent counsel probes, rival parties argued over which side gets to appoint the special prosecutor," an official at the presidential office said. "Even when the opposition appointed a special counsel, an agreement was reached to make that happen. This is the first time that (the DPK) unilaterally passed the bill blatantly ahead of the general elections."

The Yoon administration and the PPP have criticized the bill for allowing only the DPK and the Justice Party to recommend candidates for special prosecutor.

PPP interim leader Han Dong-hoon also said on Wednesday that the bill is a bad law aimed at the general elections and is intended to disclose the investigation process in real-time even on election day. It will only blind the people and infringe the public's right to choose.

Exercising his veto power is, however, a tough choice for Yoon. He has already vetoed several bills passed by the DPK, and rejecting another one will aggravate public sentiment and harm his neutrality as president. Furthermore, it will allow the DPK to increase its offensive against the ruling bloc.

Since the PPP has been accusing the DPK of attempting to protect its chairman, Rep. Lee Jae-myung, from prosecution through political means, Yoons efforts to protect his wife could be perceived in a similar light.

"The presidential office said Yoon will immediately veto the bill," DPK spokesperson Rep. Lim O-kyeong said in a commentary.

"Is he vetoing a national investigation to shield his spouse? This contradicts Yoon's commitment to unbiased investigations when he assumed the presidency. The public will pass judgment if the president rejects the special counsel probe," Lim added.

Public sentiment regarding the special counsel probe on Kim adds to the pressure.

According to a Gallup Korea poll, 70 percent of respondents said Yoon should not veto the special counsel bill on the first lady. The poll surveyed 1,033 respondents from Dec. 7 to 8 and was requested by the Kookmin Ilbo, a daily newspaper. Further details are available on the National Election Survey Deliberation Commissions website.

During Thursdays plenary session, a separate special counsel bill was passed to investigate six people accused of receiving at least 5 billion won in bribes in relation to a land development scandal in Seongnam, Gyeonggi Province, linked to the DPK chief. The PPP lawmakers also boycotted that vote.
Given the festive time of year, it is perhaps fitting that senior Iraqi politicians are again pushing for the full activation of the Iraq-China Framework Agreement, which is akin to turkeys voting for Christmas. The Agreement, signed in December 2021, will enable China to complete its long-term strategy of sequestrating all of Iraqs key oil, gas, and petrochemical assets to its own ends, as it sees fit. The similarly all-encompassing Iran-China 25-Year Comprehensive Cooperation Agreement did exactly that with neighbouring Iran, as first revealed anywhere in the world in my 3 September 2019 article on the subject and analysed in full in my new book on the new global oil market order. In the mawkish parlance of todays reality television programmes, Beijings journey to turn Iran and Iraq effectively into client states has been long, and it has learned a lot about itself in the process, but ultimately it has all been worth it.

In Iraqs case, it all truly began for China at the beginning of 2021, when Beijing used the same three-pronged strategy in the south of Iraq that Russia had used toward the end of 2017 to gain control over all the major oil and gas assets in Iraqs northern semi-autonomous region of Kurdistan, as also analysed in full in my new book. Following the political chaos that came after that regions massive vote in favour of full independence from Iraq, the Kremlins corporate oil proxy, Rosneft, firstly provided the government of Iraqi Kurdistan with US$1.5 billion in financing through a three-to-five-year prepayment oil supply deal. Second, it took an 80 percent working interest in five potentially major oil blocks in the Kurdistan region together with corollary investment and technical, technology, and equipment assistance. And third, it established 60 percent ownership of the vital Iraqi Kurdistan oil pipeline into southern Europes port of Ceyhan in Turkey by dint of a commitment to invest US$1.8 billion to increase its capacity to one million barrels per day. Related: Houthi Attacks Fail to Stop Middle Easts Pricing Problem

Using Russias playbook from Kurdistan, China at the beginning of 2021 firstly used state proxy, Zhenhua Oil, to agree a US$2 billion fiveyear prepayment oil supply deal between the Federal Government of Iraq (FGI) in Baghdad in the south of the country. Underlining once again that Chinas oil and gas activities are part its broader colonising plans (President Xi is a great admirer of Great Britains use of the East India Company in its own such plans), Zhenhua Oil is a subsidiary of Chinas massive defence contractor Norinco. Secondly, discussions began between China and Iraq on expanding the build-up of Beijings presence in the countrys oil and gas projects across the south of the country. The takeover by Chinese companies of multiple elements (exploration, development, maintenance, security, and so on) of oil and gas field licences in southern Iraq had been especially prevalent since the unilateral withdrawal of the U.S. from the nuclear deal with Iran in May 2018, as also analysed in depth in my new book. China had also formally known from July 2021 that the U.S. would also end its combat mission in Iraq by the end of December that year at the latest, as the Presidential Administration had announced it in advance. And thirdly, as a part of the earlier 25-year agreement with Iran  which holds enormous sway over Iraq, through its political, economic, and military proxies  China had already begun building major logistics links that involved Iraq.

These logistical links not only benefited China by helping to construct a cohesive whole across the vast oil and gas resources of Iran and Iraq but also gave it multiple footholds to establish a security presence on the ground across both countries. It is not widely known outside oil circles, but it is entirely legal for oil companies to deploy whatever security forces they think necessary to protect their valuable assets on the ground in whichever country they operate. In Chinas case, this has been tens of thousands of such personnel across its key oil and gas facilities in the Middle East, and tens of thousands more across multiple sites elsewhere in the world in which it has rolled out projects connected to its Belt and Road Initiative (BRI), as also fully detailed in my new book. Following the Zhenhua Oil deal in southern Iraq, Baghdad approved nearly IQD1 trillion (US$700 million) for infrastructure projects in the city of Al-Zubair in the southern Iraq oil hub of Basra. Judging from comments made by the citys Governor at the time, Abbas Al-Saadi, Chinas heavy involvement in Phase 2 of the projects was part of the broad-based Oil for Reconstruction and Investment agreement signed by Baghdad and Beijing in September 2019. This agreement allowed Chinese firms to invest in infrastructure projects in Iraq in exchange for oil and, in turn, its key concepts were rolled into the broader Iraq-China Framework Agreement of 2021.

The Al-Zubair announcement came around the same time as the awarding by Baghdad of another major contract to another Chinese company to build a civilian airport to replace the military base in the capital of the southern oil rich Dhi Qar governorate. The Dhi Qar region includes two of Iraqs potentially biggest oil fields  Gharraf and Nassiriyah  and China said that it intended to complete the airport by 2024. This airport project, it announced, would include the construction of multiple cargo buildings and roads linking the airport to the citys town centre and separately to other key oil areas in southern Iraq. In the later discussions involved in the 2021 Iraq-China Framework Agreement, it was decided unanimously by both sides that the airport could be expanded later to be a dual-use civilian and military airport. The military component would be usable by China without first having to consult with whatever Iraqi government was in power at the time, a senior source who works closely with Iraqs Oil Ministry exclusively told OilPrice.com at the time.

China will not stop its efforts to consolidate Iran and Iraq into effectively one vast client state, as it is the core of its expansion policy across the Middle East as a whole - as important to it as Saudi Arabia was for many decades to the U.S.s policy in the Middle East, as fully analysed in my new book on the new global oil market order. There are three main reasons why this is so. First, the Iran and Iraq together comprise the largest oil and gas resources in the world, with much of these still untapped. Second, it would move another region of the globe into the multipolar world that China has said it wants. In reality, it does not want this  instead, it wants a unipolar world with it at the top, as highlighted in December 2021/ January 2022 meetings in Beijing between senior Chinese government officials and foreign ministers from Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, Oman, Bahrain, plus the secretary-general of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC). At these meetings, the principal topics of conversation were to finally seal a China-GCC Free Trade Agreement and to forge a deeper strategic cooperation in a region where U.S. dominance is showing signs of retreat. And third, Iran and Iraq together constitute the heart of the Shia Crescent of Power, which also notably features Syria, Jordan, Lebanon, and Yemen. This allows China three key geopolitical advantages. One, it can be used to hold the U.S. in check in those areas. Two, it offers several direct transport routes into Europe that can be utilised overtly or covertly. And three, it has even more oil and gas reserves that can be accessed by China at knockdown prices via similar long-term deals to those it has already reached with Iran and Iraq.

By Simon Watkins for Oilprice.com

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U.S. crude oil production has overwhelmingly exceeded earlier forecasts and has grown at a much faster pace this year, offsetting much of the OPEC+ efforts to push up prices by coordinated supply reductions.

U.S. production growth is expected to continue into the new year, thanks to further gains in efficiency and higher spending and production plans by the U.S. supermajors that have just announced megamerger deals.

Some analysts predict that the U.S. oil output increase will slacken in 2024.

But others, including industry officials, see the estimates of production growth by the Energy Information Administration (EIA) as too conservative for 2024, and believe that U.S. shale production could top projections again.

The U.S. is now producing more than 13 million barrels per day (bpd) of crude oilmore than any country everand is headed to a continued increase in the short and medium term.

U.S. crude oil production hit a new monthly record of 13.236 million bpd in September, according to the latest available data from the EIA. Related: European Funds Face Forced Oil, Gas Divestment

"The growth has not just been a Permian story. We're seeing many shale basins that were flattish experiencing a revival," Francisco Blanch, Head of Global Commodities and Derivatives Research at BofA, said on a call to discuss the bank's energy outlook, as quoted by Reuters.

Soaring production is also leading to surging exports of U.S. crude oil and petroleum products.

This year, U.S. crude oil production is set to average 12.93 million bpd and rise further to average 13.11 million bpd next year, the EIA said in its Short-Term Energy Outlook (STEO) in December.

The some 200,000-bpd increase projected by the EIA is too conservative, according to Dan Eberhart, chief executive of Canary, a privately owned oilfield services company in the U.S.

Eberhart doesn't believe that U.S. oil output growth would be limited to just 250,000 bpd next year.

"It's more likely that America will keep marching toward an output of 15 million barrels a day before 2026, given the efficiency and productivity gains shale companies are delivering from assets in the flagship Permian Basin, along with smaller shale formations like the Bakken and Eagle Ford, as well as the offshore Gulf of Mexico," the executive wrote in Forbes this week.

OPEC itself acknowledged in its latest monthly report that U.S. oil production is soaring.

OPEC noted in its report that "US crude and condensate production as well as NGL output continue to reach new highs. Total US liquids output reached a record 21.6 mb/d in September due to persistent outperformance of onshore and offshore production."

OPEC expects U.S. liquids supply to grow by 1.3 million bpd in 2023.

Next year, U.S. shale basins are set to account for about 48% of expected non-OPEC liquids supply growth of 1.4 million bpd in 2024, according to the cartel's latest projections. U.S. liquids supply growth is expected at 610,000 bpd next yearhalf the projected 1.3-million-bpd growth in 2023.

But U.S. oil output could surprise to the upside in 2024, just as it did in 2023.

The U.S. shale patch is now looking to do more with less as it seeks capital and operational efficiency to prove to shareholders that it has turned the page from growth at all costs to measured growth accompanied by higher returns to investors.

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The primary goals of large exploration and production firms in Texas and southern New Mexico for 2024 are to "acquire assets" and "reduce debt," according to executives polled in the latest Dallas Fed Energy Survey. Among small firms, the most-selected response was "grow production" (41% of respondents) followed by "maintain production" (25% of respondents), the survey showed.

U.S. oil production growth will continue to upset OPEC's efforts to control oil prices, analysts say.

Shale output could upset the OPEC+ group's plans for 2024 again, Rebecca Babin, senior equity trader for CIBC Private Wealth, told CNBC last week.

"There's a lot of fear that no matter what OPEC does, no matter how much they cut, there are producers  non-OPEC producers  that are just going to fill the hole they keep digging."

By Tsvetana Paraskova for Oilprice.com

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A combination of soaring demand for travel and supply chain delays saw a record-breaking backlog of airplanes on order in November, according to new aviation industry figures.

The global aircraft order backlog reached nearly 15,000 last month, a 354 percent year-on-year increase and marking a fourth consecutive record high, according to the aerospace sectors UK trade body, the ADS Group. It estimates the total value of aircraft on order to be worth around 234bn.

Some 2,657 aircraft orders have been placed so far this year. Single-aisle aircraft accounted for more than 2,000 of the total, while 586 wide-body orders have been placed year-to-date.

It comes as one of the busiest years of travel demand on record draws to a close. Airlines raked in enormous profits in 2023, as pent-up demand following years of Covid-19 lockdowns drove consumers abroad in droves.

Monster deals include a multi-billion order for 300 Boeing 737 Max jets from Ryanair in May. At the Dubai Airshow last month, Airbus signed a provisional deal with Turkish Airlines for 350 planes.

But the aviation sector, including the worlds largest aircraft manufacturers Boeing and Airbus, has struggled to keep up with resurgent travel demand amid shortages in the delivery of components, equipment, semiconductors and labour.

Guillaume Faury, Airbuss chief executive, warned in May the crisis would last through to 2024 and many throughout the supply chain have pushed a full recovery back to 2025. European airline executives have said continued delivery delays will likely bump up fares for consumers.

Aimie Stone, chief economist at ADS, said: While we see record numbers of orders placed and a slight uptick in deliveries on 2022 figures, its clear that buoyancy in the aerospace sectors requires a continued ramp-up at all levels of the supply chain.

To secure the long-term advantage of our aerospace industry, worth more than 10.9bn in value add to the UK economy in 2022, it is important that challenges to our supply chain are recognized and addressed.

By City AM

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The year that is drawing to a close was a turbulent one, and not only for the oil industry. 2023 served up a reality check to the drivers of the energy transition, toowind, solar, and electric vehicles.

Next year will not be much different, it seems, judging by trends that we witnessed this year that are bound to accelerate in 2024. Among these are a balanced oil market, more gas supply, a slowdown in solar growth, and an increased focus on nuclear energy.

#1 A balanced oil market

It appears that many oil analysts expect the 2024 oil market to be well supplied because of ample non-OPEC production. Slowing demand will also contribute, notably in China, where post-pandemic economic recovery is, according to these analysts, beginning to lose steam.

This year, the growth in non-OPEC supply was led by the United States, but for next year, the Energy Information Administration is predicting a significant slowdown in growth. Not all agree, however: some expect the latest shale boom to continue, essentially forcing OPEC to keep its output cuts in place.

Because the above environment would mean lower prices for longer, some have predicted that Saudi Arabia may start a price war to regain market share and higher prices. The method: flooding the market with oil to tank prices and hurt higher-cost U.S. producers.

#2 Lower gas investments

The last two years saw a race to secure as much future LNG supply as possible as quickly as possible. Following this, it would only be natural that a slowdown in demand occurs, as noted by Wood Mackenzies head of gas and LNG consulting, Kristy Kramer.

Kramer pointed out that 2022 and 2023 saw commitments for over 65 million tons of LNG signed by end consumers and suppliers as evidence of both robust demand and an indication of a slowdown in investments.

Others see demand for gas continuing to grow globally and driving more favorable energy policies as a result. Gas is the obvious and most accessible alternative to coal, and this coal-to-gas transition will continue next year, although challenges will remain. These will be in the form of stricter emissions regulations and insufficient transport infrastructure, notably in the United States.

#3 A nuclear renaissance

Advocates of the energy transition are not big fans of nuclear power for the most part. They argue nuclear is non-renewable and dangerous, citing the only two major nuclear disasters in the history of the technology and the fact that nuclear waste is of the hazardous sort.

Nuclear experts have countered these arguments with the fact that nuclear power is emission-free and that the industry actually has a pretty impressive track record when it comes to accidents and handling waste, especially in modern times as the technology continues to improve.

The latest edition of the COP climate summit indicated that the tide is turning for nuclear as attendees admitted the transition would be much harderif possible at allwithout the baseload electricity supply that only nuclear can provide at an affordable cost among the emission-free generation sources. For wind and solar to be able to provide 24/7 supply, huge batteries would be necessary and battery costs are not in Affordableland yet.

#4 A solar slowdown

The solar slowdown already began this year in Europe and the United States. The reason for the decline in demand for new installations, in Europe specifically, appears to mostly have to do with market saturation, as observed by one of the biggest inverter suppliers to the EU.

Higher raw material costs are also a problem for the industry, which has had trouble fattening its profit margins for a while now as it lives up to its own slogan that solar power is cheap. High costs are perhaps the biggest problem for U.S. solar developers due to tariffs on Asia imports aimed at Chinese PV tech.

Globally, the slowdown, as forecast by Wood Mackenzies head of global solar, will be the result of natural trend developments, in this case an S curve. According to Michelle Davis, the annual average growth rate for the next four years in solar will be no growth at all: zero. Also, Davis has predicted a few years of declines in capacity additions.

#5 The transition vs security debate

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Last year demonstrated the importance of energy security and temporarily replaced the transition as the number-one priority for a substantial part of the developed world, namely the European Union.

Following this development, a sort of unofficial debate has emerged about the balance between transition and security, and how to strike a balance between them. Chances are the debate will continue next year as well, even though security appears to trump transition consideration where it matters.

The clearest demonstration of this came recently, when China and India refused to sign a COP28 pledge to triple renewable energy capacity by 2030, opting instead for energy security from hydrocarbons. There was also Germany, which, after closing its last nuclear power plants, had to boost its coal consumption to produce enough electricity.

In addition to all these trends, geopolitics will remain a strong factor in global energy, and not only oil and gas, as seen from the latest transport disruptions in the Red Sea that affected all sorts of goods moving from Asia to Europe, including, in all likelihood, solar power equipment. Geopolitics is losing its exclusive tie to oil and gas, and spreading as a critical supply security factor across transition technologies, too.

By Irina Slav for Oilprice.com

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Houthi missile attacks on tankers transiting the Red Sea and the Bab-el-Mandeb strait have lifted oil prices, allowing OPEC+ heavyweights such as Saudi Arabia or the United Arab Emirates to save face after the most recent meeting of the oil group actually prompted another sell-off rather than persuading the oil markets that Riyadh, Moscow and the others could manage the pitfalls of declining demand. However, even with Dubai moving back to the $80 per barrel mark, sentiment has been weak across the Asian market, aggravated by Chinas unsettling silence on new import quotas. The Dubai futures contract moved into contango this month, for the first time in three years, with spot-traded medium sour grades across the Middle East continuing their decline amidst increasing availability and slackening demand.

Chart 1. Saudi Aramcos Official Selling Prices for Asian Cargoes (vs Oman/Dubai average). Source: Saudi Aramco.

The flattening backwardation curve in the Dubai futures contract, with November dropping a hefty $1.11 per barrel compared to the October average, has set the Asian stage for a sizable formula price cut from the likes of Saudi Aramco. Despite some marginal improvements in Asian refinery margins, coming from a slight uptick in gasoline and HSFO cracks, Asias refinery majors widely expected Saudi Arabia to cut its OSPs into January 2024. The Saudi national oil company Saudi Aramco did so, albeit somewhat reluctantly, lowering Asia-bound prices by $0.30-0.60 per barrel, with Arab Medium seeing the largest m/m drop and Arab Heavy the lowest. This is much less than what the market expected, subsequently reflected in Chinese refiners nominating less into the upcoming month than they usually do. We will see if weaker Chinese demand is a reflection of seasonal maintenance or generally weaker margins when refining relatively expensive Saudi barrels, however, crude differentials of other medium sours in Asia have been falling much more steeply than Aramcos formula pricing. Related: Petrobras Returns to Africa with Shell Asset Acquisition

Chart 2. Formula prices of Saudi cargoes bound for the United States by selected grades (vs ASCI). Source: Saudi Aramco.

Asia remains the key export market for Saudi Aramco, especially on the heels of Red Sea shipping disruptions potentially weakening the viability of exports into Europe. For European customers, Saudi Aramco dropped its January OSPs by a whopping $2.00 per barrel across the board, bringing the heavy sour Arab Heavy to a discount to ICE Brent for the first time since June 2023. The Saudi benchmark grade Arab Light is now priced at a $2.40 and $2.90 per barrel premium to ICE Bwave into the Mediterranean and Northwest Europe, respectively, so for the first time in many months it actually feels as if its competitively priced. Saudi Aramco has also changed policy on US-bound cargoes, cutting all grades by a uniform $0.30 per barrel, marking the first time that the likes of Arab Medium or Arab Heavy were cut since October 2021. In the 26 months that followed Aramco always hiked or rolled over, whatever the circumstance. A more constructive pricing approach from Saudi Arabia might reflect improving export economics into the US as Motiva started taking in more Saudi barrels recently.

Chart 3. Kuwait Export Crude official selling prices into Asia, compared with Arab Medium and Iran Heavy (vs Oman/Dubai average). Source: KPC.

The emirate of Kuwait moved into a new phase after Sheikh Nawaf al-Sabah passed away on 16 December, replaced by the 83-year-old Crown Prince Mishal and triggering another full government resignation. Against the backdrop of this, Kuwaits national oil company KPC cut the formula price of its flagship Kuwait Export Blend crude by $0.75 per barrel, more than Saudi Aramco did with Arab Mediums 60-cent-per-barrel drop, bringing the OSP to a $2.10 per barrel premium against the Oman/Dubai average. This marks the widest spread between Kuwait Export grade and Arab Medium, ticking in at -$0.65 per barrel this January, in seven years, reflecting a gradually diverging path between KPC and Saudi Aramco in terms of their pricing strategies.

Meanwhile, the troubled 615,000 b/d Al Zour refinery that has experienced a string of disruptions and dysfunctions throughout this year has now officially reached completion, with the third and final unit of the refinery running full steam and seemingly nothing standing in Kuwaits way to fully exploit its expanding downstream capacity. The 454,000 b/d Mina Abdullah refinery caught fire in December, however, so the Asian market should expect more product exports from Kuwait only in 2024.

Chart 4. ADNOC Official Selling Prices for 2017-2024 (set outright, here vs Dubai). Source: ADNOC.

For the United Arab Emirates, the upcoming refinery maintenance programme at the 817,000 b/d Ruwais refinery will mark a new beginning. The countrys arguably main export grade Murban, the only ADNOC-marketed crude grade that has its own exchange-traded futures contract, will be gradually moved away from domestic refining and exported externally, whilst Ruwais would run more on medium sour grades such as Upper Zakum. Abu Dhabis state-owned oil company ADNOC has already modified its export plans; from now on Murban exports should be coming in above the 1.6 million b/d mark, however perhaps regrettably to the UAE, the markets have noticed these changes as well.

Murban has been trading at a premium to Dubai for a long time, however the November spread between the two futures contracts was only marginally above zero, the narrowest spread since the IFAD contract was launched. Setting the January price of Murban at $83.32 per barrel, down from $91.00 per barrel in December, ADNOC has simultaneously lifted the medium sour Upper Zakum by an entire dollar, so that in the first month of 2024 Upper Zakum will be sold at a $0.50 per barrel premium to Murban, for the first time since February 2021.

Chart 5. Iraqi Official Selling Prices for Asia-bound cargoes (vs Oman/Dubai). Source: SOMO.

Nine long months have passed since the Ceyhan-Kirkuk pipeline was halted and crude production from Iraqs semi-autonomous Kurdistan region was cut off from export markets, however, even as we move into 2024 there is still only vague hope things will turn for the better anytime soon. The Iraqi Prime Minister Mohammed Shia al-Sudani has shown some willingness to accommodate the concerns of upstream firms operating in Kurdistan, saying that Baghdad would need to tweak its federal budget law as fields in Iraq proper have a breakeven cost of $8 per barrel whilst ones in Kurdistan are almost triple that level, however there is still no guarantee this would actually happen. Moreover, the Kurdish authorities claim that the well-cost of producing is higher than that, around $30-35 per barrel, so Erbil and Baghdad most probably still need to iron out differences before a comprehensive deal can be reached.

Chart 6. Iraqi official selling prices in Europe (vs Dated Brent). Source: SOMO.

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When it comes to pricing, Iraqs state oil marketing company SOMO cut the Asian formula price of its medium sour grade Basrah Medium by $0.80 per barrel compared to December, lowering the overall premium against the Oman/Dubai average to $1.00 per barrel. This is more than any Saudi grade for the same months, widening the gap between Iraqi and Saudi pricing again, just as things have started to feel weaker on the physical side. Also, at that level Basrah Medium is a whopping $0.70 per barrel cheaper than Arab Heavy and $1.75 per barrel cheaper than Arab Medium, which should incentivize Indian refiners to maximize their Iraqi purchases into Q1. Similarly to all Middle Eastern exporters, SOMOs European pricing has witnessed another hefty cut with Basrah Medium and Basrah Heavy down by $2.20 and $2.40 per barrel, respectively. Given the roughly $3 per barrel freight cost of sending a tanker from Basrah to the Mediterranean, the -$4.35 per barrel discount of Basrah Medium vs Dated Brent seems like a big arbitrage opportunity opening up for European refiners, just as Johan Sverdrups been fully sold out and strengthened to Brent parity in recent weeks.

Chart 7. Iranian Official Selling Prices for Asia-bound cargoes (vs Oman/Dubai average). Source: NIOC.

Notoriously late to publish its official selling prices, Irans national oil company NIOC overdid itself this time around and only issued the January 2024 OSPs after Christmas. The formula prices are largely irrelevant as Chinese customers generally buy their cargoes much cheaper (currently it is rumoured that Iranian differentials have strengthened to -$6/-$7 per barrel to Dubai), however NIOC wished to externalize an image of strength by only cutting $0.40 per barrel from its Asian prices, putting Iran Light at a $3.60 per barrel premium over Oman/Dubai. Even though the spectre of more sanctions is haunting the longer-term export outlook of Iran, the countrys exports to China have seen a notable rebound in November (Kpler seems to suggest exports went up to 1.5 million b/d, the second highest pace of exports in the post-sanctions period).

Crude exports could get even higher as Tehran is apparently nearing in on an oil supply deal to Syrias 110,000 b/d Homs refinery that Irans state-owned refining company NIORDC is seeking to rebuild. As Iran already supplies oil to the coastal 130,000 b/d Baniyas refinery, a full-scale ramp-up in Syrian refining could lift Iranian exports to the Levant country to some 200,000 b/d, creating a new export outlet to ease Tehrans dependence on China.

By Gerald Jansen for Oilprice.com

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Data from the U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA) revealed an unexpected increase in U.S. crude, gasoline, and distillate stocks last week, surpassing analysts' expectations. This significant

Escalating tensions in the Middle East notably influenced the crude oil market this week. The strategic Red Sea shipping lanes encountered increased risks following attacks by Yemen's Iran-aligned Houthi militants. These incidents spurred a rise in oil prices, as traders braced for anticipated disruptions in maritime trade. Responding to these challenges, the U.S. government announced the formation of a task force to safeguard Red Sea commerce, underscoring efforts to protect this vital trade corridor. While these attacks have certainly raised the risk premium in the market, some analysts contend that, as of now, the actual impact on oil supply remains limited.

This week in the crude oil market, Thursday's session concluded with the U.S. benchmark February West Texas Intermediate (WTI) crude oil futures settling lower. Despite this downturn, the market managed to retain most of its gains for the week. The early part of the week was characterized by bullish trends, driven by several factors including Middle East tensions affecting supply routes and a weakening U.S. Dollar, which made dollar-denominated crude oil more attractive to foreign buyers.

Weekly Overview

This week in the crude oil market, Thursday's session concluded with the U.S. benchmark February West Texas Intermediate (WTI) crude oil futures settling lower. Despite this downturn, the market managed to retain most of its gains for the week. The early part of the week was characterized by bullish trends, driven by several factors including Middle East tensions affecting supply routes and a weakening U.S. Dollar, which made dollar-denominated crude oil more attractive to foreign buyers.

Middle East Tensions Elevate Market Uncertainty

Escalating tensions in the Middle East notably influenced the crude oil market this week. The strategic Red Sea shipping lanes encountered increased risks following attacks by Yemen's Iran-aligned Houthi militants. These incidents spurred a rise in oil prices, as traders braced for anticipated disruptions in maritime trade. Responding to these challenges, the U.S. government announced the formation of a task force to safeguard Red Sea commerce, underscoring efforts to protect this vital trade corridor. While these attacks have certainly raised the risk premium in the market, some analysts contend that, as of now, the actual impact on oil supply remains limited.

EIA's Insightful Data: Bearish Implications

Data from the U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA) revealed an unexpected increase in U.S. crude, gasoline, and distillate stocks last week, surpassing analysts' expectations. This significant rise in inventory levels suggests a shift towards a bearish scenario in the oil market. The higher-than-anticipated stockpile indicates a potential oversupply, which could exert downward pressure on oil prices. This data, reflecting a discrepancy between supply and demand, is likely to be a key factor for traders and market analysts in assessing future price movements.

Strategic Reserve Actions

In a significant move, the U.S. Energy Department announced the purchase of 2.1 million barrels of crude oil for the Strategic Petroleum Reserve (SPR), slated for delivery in February. This acquisition, aimed at replenishing the reserve, highlights a strategic approach to managing national energy resources and could have implications for market supply.

Angola's Departure from OPEC

The announcement of Angola's exit from OPEC marked a notable event in the week. While Angola's production capacity is relatively modest compared to the total output of OPEC, its decision to leave the organization raised questions about OPEC's future and its role in global oil markets. This development is generally viewed as a bearish signal, potentially impacting OPEC's ability to influence oil prices.

Weekly Technical Analysis

Weekly February WTI Crude Oil

Trend Indicator Analysis

The main trend is down according to the weekly swing chart. The main trend turned down the week-ending November 10th when sellers took out the last main bottom at $76.43.

One potential downside target is the main bottom at $64.24. Taking out this level will reaffirm the downtrend. The trend will change to up on a move through $88.21. A trade through $91.14 will reaffirm the uptrend.

Retracement Level Analysis

The contract range is $38.63 to $91.14. Its retracement zone at $64.89 to $58.69 is the major support zone. This area stopped the selling the week-ending March 24 at $64.24 and the week-ending May 5 at $65.24. This is a major long-term value zone.

The intermediate range is $41.44 to $91.14. Its retracement zone at $66.29 to $60.43 is additional support. A second intermediate range is $58.90 to $91.14. Its retracement zone support is $70.75 to $65.94.

Combining the two intermediate 50% levels creates a third support zone at $70.75 to $66.29. This area held as support the week-ending December 15 at $67.98.

The minor range is $88.21 to $67.98. Its retracement zone at $78.10 to $88.21 is the next potential upside target area.

Closing Price Reversal Bottom Chart Pattern

Following the prolonged move down in terms of price and time, February WTI crude oil posted a closing price reversal bottom on the weekly chart during the week-ending December 15.

Although the formation and subsequent confirmation of this chart pattern this week can produce enough upside momentum to fuel a 2 to 3 week rally, it should not be considered a change in trend.

Sometimes, it is just a relief rally that alleviates some of the downside pressure. Other times, its a short-covering rally that is used to set up the next selling opportunity. Nonetheless, it should be monitored carefully especially if you are short. The chart pattern has the potential to drive February WTI crude oil back to $78.10 to $80.48.

If $67.98 is taken out then the chart pattern failed, setting up the market for further downside action. The reversal pattern may repeat several times until a final bottom is reached because the market is testing a major support area and value zone. This makes it attractive to aggressive counter-trend buyers.

Weekly Technical Forecast

The direction of the February WTI crude oil market the week-ending December 29 is likely to be determined by trader reaction to the 50% level at $70.75.

Bullish Scenario

A sustained move over $70.75 will signal the presence of strong counter-trend buyers. If this creates enough near-term momentum then look for the counter-trend rally to continue with $78.10 to $80.48 a potential upside target.

Bearish Scenario

A sustained move under $70.75 will indicate the presence of strong sellers. This could create the downside momentum needed to challenge a support cluster at $66.29 to $64.89. This is followed by longer-term support at $64.89 to $58.69.

Short-term Weekly Forecast

In the short term, the crude oil market's direction seems poised to be influenced by a combination of recent developments. The week's initial bullish trend was spurred by escalating Middle East tensions and a depreciating U.S. Dollar, lending an upward impetus to prices. However, this ascent is tempered by the rise in U.S. crude inventories, indicating possible oversupply that could pressure prices downwards.

Offsetting this bearish signal, the U.S. government's decision to purchase oil for its strategic reserve may help by withdrawing some of this surplus from the market. Additionally, Angola's departure from OPEC introduces a measure of unpredictability into the global oil landscape.

Traders should brace for ongoing fluctuations and increased volatility, shaped by these geopolitical factors, fluctuating inventory levels, and policy decisions.

From a technical standpoint, the weekly chart presents a more optimistic scenario. It suggests that the major selling pressure might be subsiding, with the market showing signs of consolidation. The presence of a weekly closing price reversal bottom indicates a leaning towards upward movement in the coming weeks. Although a significant breakout rally isn't anticipated, there appears to be sufficient momentum for February WTI crude oil to potentially reach $78.10 in the next few weeks.

The market also finds robust long-term support in the $64.89 to $68.59 range, providing a strong buffer against any major downturns.
Brazils state oil company has bought three exploration blocks in the island nation of Sao Tome and Principe, which marks its return to Africa.

The assets were previously owned by Shell, Reuters reported. After the deal, Petrobras will hold 45% stakes in two of the blocks and a 25% stake in the third one.

In July, Petrobras chief financial officer Sergio Caetano Leite told Bloomberg the company was on the lookout for potential asset acquisitions after spending years selling off stakes in upstream and downstream businesses.

Petrobras had a divestment program, Leite told Bloomberg.

The company has now changed sides of the table.

Petrobras reported in May that its gross debt was $53.3 billion at the end of the first quarter of 2023, the lowest level since 2010.

Any additional investments in asset acquisitions will not put Petrobras into more debt, Leite told Bloomberg.

Then, in November, Petrobras announced it had budgeted $102 billion in capital spending for the next five years, with the bulk of the sum to be spent on a boost in oil and gas exploration.

The five-year investment plan is a 31% increase on Petrobrass budget for the previous five years and also an increase on earlier spending plans for the 2024-2028 period, which totaled $85 billion.

Of the latest total, some 72% will go towards boosting exploration and production, the company said. Plans are to increase the companys average daily output to 3.2 million barrels from 2.8 million barrels at the moment. To that end, the company earlier this week started drilling in an area called the Equatorial Margin potentially rich in oil and gas.

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Petrobras plans to spend $3.1 billion from its total 2024-28 budget on exploration in that region, beginning with a confirmation of a 2014 discovery and further exploration. Over the next five years the company plans to drill 16 wells in the Equatorial Margin.

By Charles Kennedy for Oilprice.com

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QatarEnergy has signed a deal with Shell under which the state firm of the tiny Gulf oil and gas producer will deliver up to 18 million barrels of crude annually to the supermajor, in the first-ever five-year crude sales agreement for the Qatari company.

QatarEnergy will start supplying Shell International Eastern Trading Company in Singapore with up to 18 million barrels per year of Qatar Land and Qatar Marine crudes, beginning in January 2024.

We are delighted to sign our first ever five-year crude sales agreement, said Saad Sherida Al-Kaabi, the Minister of State for Energy Affairs, the President and CEO of QatarEnergy.

This agreement further strengthens QatarEnergys relationship with Shell, which is not only a reliable crude oil off-taker, but also a major customer and a strategic partner of QatarEnergy.

The crude oil supply deal is the latest agreement between QatarEnergy and Shell, which have a long-standing strategic partnership through several shared investments in the energy industry, including in QatarEnergys huge LNG expansion projects in Qatar.

Two months ago, QatarEnergy and Shell signed two long-term LNG deals to supply LNG from Qatar to the Netherlands for 27 years starting in 2026 when Qatars first export expansion projects are expected to come online.

Under the sale and purchase agreements, Qatar and Shell will deliver up to 3.5 million tons per year of LNG to the Gate LNG terminal in the port of Rotterdam, the Qatari firm said in October.

Shell is a minority partner in some of Qatars huge expansion projects. The UK-based supermajor holds a 6.25% share in the North Field East (NFE) and a 9.375% share in the North Field South (NFS) expansion projects.

In October, Qatar broke ground for the worlds largest LNG project, the North Field expansion project, which will boost the tiny Gulf countrys export capacity by 48 million tons per annum (mmtpa) by 2027.

In July this year, Al-Kaabi said that 40% of all the new LNG that will come to the market by 2029, when all our projects are up and running, is going to be from QatarEnergy.

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By Charles Kennedy for Oilprice.com

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Chinas oil consumption is expected to peak at some point later this decade, between 2026 and 2030, due to an acceleration of EV adoption, the countrys largest refiner, China Petroleum & Chemical Corporation, or Sinopec, said in a long-term outlook on Thursday.

Oil consumption in China  the worlds largest importer of crude oil and the second-biggest oil consumer after the United States  is set to peak at around 16 million barrels per day (bpd) in the period 2026 through 2030, according to Sinopecs outlook to 2060 cited by Reuters.

This year, Chinas oil consumption is expected at around 15.2 million bpd.

In its outlook, Sinopec also predicts that Chinese natural gas demand will reach a plateau at some point around 2040 and account for 13% of the countrys energy use, compared to 9% of primary energy use expected in 2025.

Coal demand is set to peak much earlieraround 2025, according to Sinopec, which also expects non-fossil fuel supply to exceed 50% of primary energy use by 2045.

In the near term, however, Chinese and global coal use are on the rise.

Global coal demand is set to rise by 1.4% this year and surpass a record-high level of 8.5 billion tons for the first time, the International Energy Agency (IEA) said earlier this month.

While coal demand in the United States and the EU is set for a 20% record decline, coal use in emerging economies remains very strong, increasing by 8% in India and by 5% in China in 2023 due to rising demand for electricity and weak hydropower output, the IEA said in its Coal 2023 annual report.

Chinas coal demand is expected to drop next year and plateau through 2026, and global demand is set to decline to 2026, but China will have the last word, the IEA noted.

The outlook for coal in China will be significantly affected in the coming years by the pace of its clean energy deployment, weather conditions, and structural shifts in the Chinese economy, according to the agency.

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By Tsvetana Paraskova for Oilprice.com

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Via Metal Miner

Imports seem to be the biggest bugbear for the Indian steel industry. Cheap steel from China, Vietnam, and several other countries flooded the domestic market for months, putting Indian steel companies at a significant disadvantage. The problem is now so severe that representatives from the steel sector and the Indian Steel Ministry met earlier this month to discuss the issue. Meanwhile, the government is conducting some stocktaking following concerns about imported steel and unfair trade advantage.

In the December 13 meeting, steel makers apprised government officials of the continued imports of steel products from China and Vietnam despite similar quality available in India. Reports indicate that the Indian government wants to closely examine the entire situation before taking further steps.

As observed in the last few years, China tops the list of exporters of finished steel into India. During the April to October period, the country shipped 1.1 MT of the alloy, an increase of about 48% year-on-year. Common exports include cold-rolled coil or sheets, hot-rolled coil products, plates, and pipes. The second-biggest exporter of finished steel was South Korea, which also shipped 1.1 million MT during the same period.

Steel Industry Leaders Wait for Government Action

According to some reports quoting government sources, India is considering implementing safeguard measures for steel imports. Inspired by the European Unions quota system, the goal of the measures would be to curb the sudden influx of cheaper product from abroad. Additional considerations include investigating the potential imposition of import restrictions at various ports and eliminating the lesser duty rule.

That said, eliminating the lesser duty involves revising the imposed duties. For instance, in Indias anti-dumping investigations, the lesser duty rule has been the norm. This means organizations apply the duty up to the extent of the lower value between the dumping margin and injury margin. Meanwhile, the current calculation for the injury margin involves determining the difference between the non-injurious and landed prices.

For the April-November 2023 period, India was a net steel importer, and export orders were down significantly. In fact, finished steel imports totaled 4.3 million tonnes (MT), by-passing exports of 4.0MT. India is the second largest crude steel producer in the world, and for some years, it was a net exporter. However, this year, the tables turned.

Will the Indian Government Go in for the Tariff?

The government is also mulling an option typically considered the weapon of choice in such situations: tariff rate quotas. These act as an upper limit for imports into a country from exporting nations. If the exporting country adheres to the specified limit or quota when shipping goods to India, there will be minimal or zero duty imposed. However, should the exporting country exceed the designated limit, India will apply a safeguard duty or tariff.

This is similar to tariff rates imposed by the U.S., EU, and Canada, to name a few. The Indian government could also restrict steel shipments coming into select ports, though this would require additional oversight.

Are Good Times Coming for the Indian Steel Industry?

Regardless of the current situation, analysts and steel experts predict a significant upswing in steel demand in the new year. Much of it, they say, will be for TMT rebars, a major component in infrastructure development.

None other than the Vice President of Long Products at Tata Steel, Ashish Anupam, recently forecasted a continued uptick in TMT rebar demand across various sectors, including construction, housing, and infrastructure. The prediction hinges on the continued development of new highways, flyovers, and railway lines across the country.

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In todays dynamic global economy, Indian steel producers continue to adapt to various market conditions and changes. Its all part of the Indian steel industrys drive to jockey themselves into a position to push back competition in a demanding market.

By Sohrab Darabshaw

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By Lee Sun-ho

The 21st Korea-America Friendship Night ceremony was convened on Dec. 5 at Walker Hall in Grand Walkerhill Seoul, and was sponsored by the Korea-America Association (KAA), chaired by Dr. Choi Joong-kyung. The highlight of the annual dinner event was the 21st Korea-America Friendship Awards. The awardees were chosen as the late Major General (MG) Joseph Pringle Cleland of the U.S. Army and his wife, Florence Emily Cadotte Cleland.

MG Cleland (1902-75) was assigned to Korean War duty as commander of the 40th Infantry Division over Gapyeong, Gyeonggi Province, from June 1952 and led his division in several battles there until April 1953. He also contributed to the enhancement of Koreas high school education for a long period thereafter. During his tenure, Sergeant First Class (SFC) Kenneth Kaiser was killed in action at the age of 19. Florence Cleland (married in Manila in June 1931) fully supported her husbands endeavors, even for 30 more years after their separation until her demise in 2004, making the school a fountain of learning in Korea.

Commander Cleland was the very person who initiated what we call a "$2 miracle on the Korean War battlefield. Wartime school classrooms were constructed with $2 donations from each of the 15,000 division fighters. This raised about $30,000, an idea of the late commander.

With his nickname Jumping Joe, the schools first non-tent structure was designed by Captain Harold Ace, an architecture-major engineering officer belonging to the 40th division. The schools edifice structure was finally constructed by working with Gapyeong villagers on Oct. 18, 1952. The school has been expanded and enlarged remarkably into a top-class high school, by virtue of the continued fundraising and generous scholarship support of former frontline comrades-in-arms, including the Clelands.

The coed high school is now situated in the center of Gapyeong County. It keeps some facilities called the Cleland Dormitory, the Florence Hall and the Kaiser Gymnasium, further to the Historical Museum and the eagle-top Hope Tower in which the 40th division's insignia and two portraits of MG Cleland and SFC Kaiser are inscribed.

Thanks to their over-seven-decades-long continued devotion to the war-torn field school from its inception, Gapyeong (originally called Kaiser) High School today has become a miraculous educational model as a renowned cradle of teaching in Korea, which has produced 15,968 graduates up until Jan. 6, this year when the 68th graduation ceremony was held with 191 school leavers.

In adherence of the 71-year ties between Gapyeong High School and the 40th Division, now stationed in Los Alamitos, California, perhaps a world first of its kind, communications have continued to be exchanged between the school faculty and the division veterans. During the wartime period in particular, the school was visited by high-profile U.N. and U.S. military officials including Generals Matthew Bunker Ridgway and James Van Fleet.

This year marks the 70th anniversary of the historic ROK-U.S. alliance, and the ceremonial day on Dec. 5 was the diamond birthday of the KAA. Such double anniversaries truly made the 21st award event even more significant and rewarding. Here's wishing a peaceful rest for the Clelands! And here's wishing for the prosperity of Gapyeong High School, built on the invaluable $2 miracle for decades to come. Finally, Korea and the United States, we go together and stronger! "Kachi kapshida!"

The writer (wkexim@naver.com) is a freelance columnist living in Seoul.
A 17-year-old boy who collided with an ambulance while driving a pickup truck last week has died.

Seth Feyerherm of Omaha has succumbed to his injuries, the Douglas County Sheriffs Office said in a press release Wednesday. He was being treated for extremely critical head injuries in a hospital.

The crash occurred shortly before 10:16 a.m. on Dec. 21 at the intersection of 204th and Harrison Streets north of Gretna.

According to the Sheriffs Office, which is still investigating the incident, the crash occurred when Feyerherm attempted a turn left from southbound 204th Street onto eastbound Harrison Street at a traffic light in a Toyota Tundra.

As he attempted the turn, a Gretna Fire & Rescue ambulance, which had its lights and siren on, was driving north on 204th Street through the intersection when it collided with the pickup. The ambulance was taking Debra Brookhouser, a 72-year-old from Gretna, to a hospital.

Brookhouser was pronounced dead at the scene.

Three Gretna Volunteer Fire Department firefighters/medics in the ambulance were injured in the crash.

Two of them were treated and released from the hospital while the third responder sustained minor injuries and was not taken to a hospital.
KABUL, Afghanistan  Bahara Rustam, 13, took her last class at Bibi Razia School in Kabul on Dec. 11 knowing it was the end of her education. Under Taliban rule, she is unlikely to step foot in a classroom again.

In September 2021, a month after U.S. and NATO troops withdrew from Afghanistan following two decades of war, the Taliban announced that girls were barred from studying beyond sixth grade.

They extended this education ban to universities in December 2022. The Taliban have defied global condemnation and warnings that the restrictions will make it almost impossible for them to gain recognition as the countrys legitimate rulers.

U.N. special envoy Roza Otunbayeva recently expressed concern that a generation of Afghan girls is falling behind with each day that passes.

An official in the Education Ministry said Afghan girls of all ages are allowed to study in religious schools known as madrassas, which have traditionally been boys-only. But Otunbayeva said it was unclear if there was a standardized curriculum that allowed modern subjects.

Bahara is holding onto her education and pores over textbooks at home. Graduating (from sixth grade) means we are going to seventh grade, she said. But all of our classmates cried and we were very disappointed.

There was no graduation ceremony for the girls at Bibi Razia School.

In another part of Kabul, 13-year-old Setayesh Sahibzada wonders what the future holds for her. She is sad she cant go to school anymore to achieve her dreams.

I cant stand on my own two feet, she said. I wanted to be a teacher. But now I cant study, I cant go to school.

Analyst Muhammad Saleem Paigir warned that excluding women and girls from education will be disastrous for Afghanistan. We understand that illiterate people can never be free and prosperous, he said.

The Taliban have barred women from many public spaces and most jobs, all but confining women to their homes.

Photos: A new view of life under the Taliban emerges
DETROIT  Americas automakers have staked their futures on the notion that electric vehicles will dominate sales in the coming years, spurred by buyers determined to reduce carbon emissions and save on fuel.

But so far, while EV sales are growing, their pace is falling well short of the industrys ambitious timetable for transitioning away from combustion engines. Instead, buyers are increasingly embracing a quarter-century-old technology whose popularity has been surging: The gas-electric hybrid, which alternates from gas to battery power to maximize efficiency.

So far in 2023, Americans have bought a record 1 million-plus hybrids  up 76% from the same period last year, according to Edmunds.com. As recently as last year, purchases had fallen below 2021's total. This year's figures don't even include sales of 148,000 plug-in hybrids, which drive a short distance on battery power before a gas-electric system kicks in.

Though electric vehicle sales are nearing an annual record of over 1 million this year, their year-over-year growth rate has begun to stall. EVs still account for only about 7% of all U.S. auto sales.

The slowdown has raised concern among automakers that buyer interest in EVs is faltering. Some companies are cutting production and scaling down plans for new battery or assembly plants.

The reasons why hybrids have quickly become the preferred choice for many buyers vary. They range from the higher prices of comparable EVs to concern about the scarcity of charging stations to a recognition that hybrids provide many of the same advantages without the hassles of EVs.

Ford, the nation's No. 2 hybrid seller behind Toyota, expects to produce enough hybrids to quadruple sales within five years. General Motors, which abandoned most hybrids in the U.S. four years ago in favor of EVs, now says it's considering bringing them back.

In the meantime, surveys show that consumers remain uneasy about either the availability of charging stations or the sale prices of EVs  even factoring in tax credits that the federal government makes available for EV purchases in many cases.

Your standard hybrid makes the most sense to most people, said Ivan Drury, a director at the Edmunds.com auto website. I think you'll find that people don't want to deal with the hassle or the difficulties of charging.

Hybrids do emit some tailpipe pollution. But because they burn less fuel than autos equipped solely with gasoline engines, their emissions are less. What's more, purchase prices for hybrids are akin to those of gas vehicles and typically far less than for comparable EVs.

People are perfectly fine with a car that gets 45 or 50 miles per gallon, and you don't have to do anything different from current behavior, said Scott Adams, owner of a Toyota dealership in suburban Kansas City.

The proliferation of wildfires, heat waves and more intense storms has led more people to view climate change as a grave crisis, one they can help mitigate by burning less carbon-spewing fuel. Yet even among those people, some remain skeptical that an electric vehicle will allow them to travel long distances or tow trailers.

People want to participate in this  the idea of reducing carbon, said Jack Hollis, who heads North American sales and marketing for Toyota, which leads in hybrid sales and has moved only gradually toward EVs. I think the hybrid gives them what theyre most looking for.

EV prices have being dropping, mainly a consequence of federal tax credits and price cuts by Tesla, the market leader. Yet they're still pricier than hybrids or gas vehicles

After peaking at nearly $63,000 last year, the average EV sale price fell to just over $60,500 in November, not including tax credits or prices from Tesla, which doesn't release them. Fewer EVs, though, will likely qualify for the tax credits in 2024 because of rules that will limit buyers from claiming a full credit if they purchase cars with battery materials from China or other countries that are considered hostile to the United States.

The average price of a hybrid has stabilized at roughly $42,000. A typical hybrid costs somewhat more than its gasoline counterpart. A Toyota RAV4 hybrid with all-wheel-drive, for example, starts at $32,825, $1,600 more than a comparable gas version.

Like many hybrid buyers, Shalinder Singh, an Uber driver from Sunnyvale, California, said that for him, the gas savings helped tip the price equation in favor of a 2024 Honda CR-V hybrid over the corresponding gasoline model.

The Environmental Protection Agency says a front-wheel-drive CR-V Hybrid gets 40 mpg in city and highway driving, 10 mpg better than the gas version. The owner of a hybrid CR-V who drives 15,000 miles annually would save $450 a year on fuel over the gas model.

Angie Rodesky, who recently moved to Jefferson City, Missouri, said her children wanted her to buy a Tesla to replace her old vehicle. Though she did consider an EV to help reduce emissions, she settled on a RAV4 hybrid because she travels frequently to see children in Florida and Delaware.

Dealers say many hybrid buyers appear to have done research and know that cold weather reduces the range of an EV battery. In its auto reliability survey this year, Consumer Reports found that hybrids were the industry's most reliable type of power system. Electric vehicles were least reliable.

What's driving the gender gap in EV popularity? What's driving the gender gap in EV popularity? Men are more likely to consider an EV purchase than women  but women are more likely to consider a hybrid or plug-in hybrid vehicle Men are more enthusiastic about EVs than women Women who consider an EV for their next purchase cite more pragmatic reasons for doing so than men Men and women EV intenders see themselves and their buying motivations differently Lower-cost EVs will have better luck at attracting female buyers
Michigans Supreme Court kept former President Donald Trump on the states primary election ballot Wednesday.

The court said it will not hear an appeal of a lower courts ruling from groups seeking to keep Trump from appearing on the ballot.

It said in an order that the application by parties to appeal a Dec. 14 Michigan appeals court judgment was considered, but denied "because we are not persuaded that the questions presented should be reviewed by this court."

The ruling contrasts with a Dec. 19 decision by a divided Colorado Supreme Court that found Trump ineligible to be president because of his role in the Jan. 6, 2021, attack on the U.S. Capitol. That ruling was the first time in history that Section 3 of the 14th Amendment was successfully used to disqualify a presidential candidate.

The Michigan and Colorado cases are among dozens hoping to keep Trump's name off state ballots. They all point to the so-called insurrection clause that prevents anyone from holding office who "engaged in insurrection or rebellion" against the Constitution.

The Colorado case was the only one so far to succeed.

The Colorado Republican Party on Wednesday appealed that state's supreme court decision, the potential first step to a showdown at the nation's highest court over the meaning of a 155-year-old constitutional provision that bans from office those who engaged in insurrection.

The first impact of the appeal is to extend the stay of the 4-3 ruling from Colorado's highest court, which put its decision on pause until Jan. 4, the day before the state's primary ballots are due at the printer, or until an appeal to the U.S. Supreme Court is finished. Trump himself previously said he still plans to appeal the ruling to the nation's highest court as well.

The U.S. Supreme Court has never ruled on Section 3 of the 14th Amendment, which was added after the Civil War to prevent former Confederates from returning to government.

The plaintiffs in Michigan can technically try again to disqualify Trump under Section 3 of the 14th Amendment in the general election, though it's likely there will be a U.S. Supreme Court ruling on the issue by then.

The state's high court on Wednesday upheld an appeals court ruling that the Republican Party could place anyone it wants on the primary ballot, but the court was silent on whether Section 3 of the 14th Amendment would disqualify Trump in November if he becomes the GOP nominee.

"We are disappointed by the Michigan Supreme Court's decision," said Ron Fein, legal director of Free Speech for People, the liberal group that filed the suit to disqualify Trump in the state. "The ruling conflicts with longstanding US Supreme Court precedent that makes clear that when political parties use the election machinery of the state to select, via the primary process, their candidates for the general election, they must comply with all constitutional requirements in that process."

Trump hailed the order, calling the effort to keep him off the ballot in multiple states a "pathetic gambit."

Only one of the court's seven justices dissented. Justice Elizabeth M. Welch, a Democrat, wrote that she would have kept Trump on the primary ballot but the court should rule on the merits of the Section 3 challenge. The court has a 4-3 Democratic majority.

Trump pressured two election officials in Michigan's Wayne County not to certify 2020 vote totals, according to a recording of a post-election phone call disclosed in a Dec. 22 report by The Detroit News. The former president's 2024 campaign has neither confirmed nor denied the recording's legitimacy.

Attorneys for Free Speech for People, a liberal nonprofit group also involved in efforts to keep Trump's name off the primary ballot in Minnesota and Oregon, had asked Michigan's Supreme Court to render its decision by Christmas Day.

The group argued that time was "of the essence" due to "the pressing need to finalize and print the ballots for the presidential primary election."

This month, Michigan's high court refused to immediately hear an appeal, saying the case should remain before the appeals court.

Free Speech for People sued to force Michigan Secretary of State Jocelyn Benson to bar Trump from Michigan's ballot. A Michigan Court of Claims judge rejected that group's arguments, saying in November that it was the proper role of Congress to decide the question.

Looking ahead to the next 14th Amendment decision, Trump's lawyers on Wednesday asked Maine's Democratic Secretary of State to disqualify herself from deciding whether the former president can be on that state's primary ballot. Shenna Bellows held a public hearing this month on requests to bar Trump from the Maine ballot, and her ruling is expected this week.

Trump's attorneys asked Bellows to step aside, pointing to tweets that she posted after the Jan. 6, 2021, attack on the U.S. Capitol calling it an "insurrection" and bemoaning that Trump wasn't convicted by the U.S. Senate after being impeached by the House of Representatives.

States where the most Jan. 6 rioters were arrested States where the most Jan. 6 rioters were arrested #49. Mississippi #48. Nebraska #47. Hawaii #46. Rhode Island #45. Vermont #44. New Mexico #43. South Dakota #42. Alaska #41. Louisiana #40. Nevada #39. New Hampshire #38. Connecticut #37. Arkansas #36. Maine #35. Montana #34. Delaware #33. Oregon #32. Idaho #30. Iowa #29. Kansas #28. West Virginia #27. Wisconsin #26. Minnesota #25. Utah #23. Massachusetts #22. Maryland #21. South Carolina #20. Alabama #19. Indiana #18. Colorado #17. Kentucky #16. North Carolina #15. Georgia #14. Michigan #13. Washington #12. Missouri #11. New Jersey #10. Tennessee #9. Washington, D.C. #8. Illinois #7. Virginia #6. Ohio #5. California #4. New York #3. Pennsylvania #1. Florida
DEIR AL-BALAH, Gaza Strip  Thousands of Palestinian families fled Wednesday from the brunt of Israel's expanding ground offensive into Gaza's few remaining, overcrowded refuges, as the military launched heavy strikes across the center and south of the territory, killing dozens, Palestinian health officials said.

On foot or riding donkey carts loaded with belongings, a stream of people flowed into Deir al-Balah  a town that normally has a population of around 75,000. It has been overwhelmed by several hundred thousand people driven from northern Gaza as the region was pounded to rubble.

Because U.N. shelters are packed many times over capacity, the new arrivals set up tents on sidewalks for the cold winter night. Most crowded onto streets around the town's main hospital, Al-Aqsa Martyrs, hoping it would be safer from Israeli strikes.

Still, no place is safe in Gaza. Israeli offensives are crowding most of the population into Deir al-Balah and Rafah at the territory's southern edge as well as a tiny rural area by the southern coastline. Those areas continue to be hit by Israeli strikes that regularly crush homes full of people.

Israel says its campaign in Gaza is likely to last for months, vowing to dismantle Hamas across the territory and prevent a repeat of the militant group's Oct. 7 attack into southern Israel. Benny Gantz, a member of the country's three-man War Cabinet, said the fighting "will be expanded, according to need, to additional centers and additional fronts."

He and other Israeli officials also threatened greater military action against Lebanon's Hezbollah militants, hiking fears of an all-out war on that front.

Israel's offensive in Gaza has already been one of the most devastating military campaigns in recent history. More than 21,100 Palestinians, most of them women and children, have been killed, according to the Health Ministry in Hamas-ruled Gaza. The count doesn't differentiate between civilians and combatants.

Some 85% of Gaza's population of 2.3 million people have fled their homes. U.N. officials say a quarter of Gaza's population is starving under Israel's siege, which allows in only a trickle of food, water, fuel and other supplies.

The latest people to be displaced fled from several built-up refugee camps in central Gaza targeted in the latest phase of Israel's ground assault. One of the camps, Bureij, came under heavy bombardment throughout the night as Israeli troops moved in.

The Israeli military issued evacuation orders for Bureij and neighboring areas Tuesday. The area was home to nearly 90,000 people before the war and now shelters more than 61,000 displaced people, mostly from the north, according to the U.N.

Bureij camp, like others in Gaza, houses refugees from the 1948 war surrounding Israel's creation and their descendants and now resembles other densely populated neighborhoods.

This was the third move further south for Ibrahim al-Zatari, a daily laborer. First he, his wife and four children moved in with relatives in Gaza City after a strike flattened their home in northern Gaza. Later, they fled to Bureij to escape fighting in the city.

On Wednesday morning, they made an hourslong journey on foot to Deir al-Balah, where  like many others  they wandered the streets looking for an empty spot to lie down.

"There is no foothold here," he said. "Where should we go?"

With much of northern Gaza leveled, Palestinians fear a similar fate awaits other areas, including Khan Younis, where Israeli forces launched ground operations in early December.

Israeli shelling Wednesday struck a residential building in Khan Younis next to Al-Amal Hospital, according to the Palestinian Red Crescent, which runs the facility.

Health Ministry spokesman Ashraf al-Qidra said at least 20 people were killed and dozens more wounded. Footage from the scene showed several torn bodies lying in the street as rescue workers loaded a man whose legs were severed onto a stretcher.

Despite U.S. calls for Israel to shift to a more precise assault, the military so far appears to be following the same pattern used in earlier phases of the ground offensive in northern Gaza and Khan Younis.

Before troops move in, heavy bombardment targets what Israel claims is Hamas' tunnels and military infrastructure. Fierce urban fighting follows as troops move block to block, backed by airstrikes and shelling that the military says aim to force out pockets of militants. The resulting devastation has been massive.

Israel says Hamas militants broke through Israel's formidable defenses Oct. 7 and killed some 1,200 people  mostly civilians  and abducted about 240. An estimated 129 remain in captivity after dozens were freed.

Israel blames Hamas for the high civilian death toll in Gaza because the militants operate in residential areas. Late Wednesday, the army said it destroyed a network of tunnels that stretched for several miles in Gaza City and served as a command and control center. Part of it ran under a hospital and had an exit inside a neighboring school, it claimed.

The military says it has killed thousands of militants, without presenting evidence, and that 164 of its soldiers have been killed in the ground offensive.
Here are a few of the top-performing headlines for today, Dec. 27, according to CNN:

Tom Smothers

Comedian Tom Smothers, who with his brother performed as the singing comedy duo the Smothers Brothers, has died at 86.

Dick Smothers, Toms younger brother and professional partner, said his brother was at home at the time of his death related to cancer.

Tom was not only the loving older brother that everyone would want in their life, he was a one-of-a-kind creative partner, Dick Smothers said.

The folk singing brothers became pioneers with their biting satirical comedy that was at the forefront of their CBS variety show The Smothers Brothers Comedy Hour.

Read the rest here:

Parasite actor found dead

South Korean actor Lee Sun-kyun, known internationally for his role in the Academy Award-winning film Parasite, has died while being investigated for illegal drug use, police confirmed Wednesday. He was 48.

Police in the capital Seoul said in a statement they had received a missing person report from Lees manager on their hotline. Lee, who received acclaim for his role as Park Dong-ik, the father of the wealthy Park family in Parasite, was found in his car on Wednesday morning.

The cause of death is presumed to be suicide, police said.

Find out more here:

Gas prices to fall

Gas prices will fall in 2024 for the second year in a row, according to GasBuddy projections shared exclusively with CNN.

GasBuddy, which had a forecast for 2023 that proved to be eerily accurate, expects US gas prices will average $3.38 a gallon in the key election year of 2024.

That would represent a significant improvement from 2023s average of $3.51 a gallon and an even bigger drop from 2022s average of $3.95. Gas prices skyrocketed to record highs that year as Russias invasion of Ukraine set off global shockwaves.

Find out more here:

Apple Watch

Apple will immediately return to selling its most advanced Apple Watch models in stores, after a federal appeals court temporarily blocked a sweeping import ban on its latest smartwatches while a patent dispute winds its way through the legal system.

Apple will also once again offer the affected watches for sale on its website beginning Thursday at noon Pacific Time, the company said in a statement.

The announcement means Apple will be selling the full Apple Watch lineup to customers in time for the new year, the company added.

Get more info about it here:
An 18-year-old Sidney, Iowa woman has been charged for allegedly creating a hit list naming students and staff at the small towns high school.

The woman  a student at the high school  also allegedly had other community members in the southwest Iowa town of approximately 1,000 people, according to a press release from the Fremont County Sheriffs Office. She also allegedly threatened to commit arson against the people on the list.
Authorities have identified a woman who died in a two-vehicle collision Tuesday on Nebraska Highway 50 north of Tecumseh in southeast Nebraska.

Gracelynn Pellicotte, 18, of Junction City, Kansas, was found dead at the scene by the Johnson County Sheriffs Office. The crash occurred about 1:30 p.m.

Pellicotte was a passenger in one of the vehicles. The two drivers involved were taken by ambulance to the Johnson County Hospital in Tecumseh.

The Sheriffs Office and the Nebraska State Patrol are continuing to investigate the crash.
Here are 8 things you President Buharis late chief of staff, Abba Kyari.

1- Kyari worked for the law firm Fani-Kayode and Sowemimo for some time after his return to Nigeria.

2- From 1988 to 1990, he was Editor with the New Africa Holdings Limited Kaduna.

3- In 1990, he served as a Commissioner for Forestry and Animal Resources in Borno State.

4- From 1990 to 1995, Kyari was the secretary to the board of African International Bank Limited, a subsidiary of Bank of Credit and Commerce International.

5- Kyari was an executive director in charge of management services at the United Bank for Africa, and was later appointed the chief executive officer.

6- In 2002, he was appointed a board director of Unilever Nigeria, and later served on the board of Exxon Mobil Nigeria.

7- In August 2015, Kyari was appointed Chief of Staff to President Muhammadu Buhari

8  Kyari was married to the sister-in-law of Ibrahim Tahir, and has four children.

On March 24, 2020, it was made public that Kyari tested positive for COVID-19 on March 23, following an official trip to Germany nine days before.

It was also reported that Kyari has underlying medical conditions and was secretly flown out of the country. He later rejected these claims, and was moved from Abuja to Lagos.[10] .

He died on Friday 17th April, 2020 as a result of the virus.

The federal government announced that he will be buried almost immediately.

Post Views: 8
Jones Abiri, the publisher of Weekly Source Newspaper, has reportedly been arrested again by the Department of State Services (DSS), TheCable reports.

Abiri was reportedly picked up on Saturday at Ayabowei Plaza in Yenagoa, the Bayelsa state capital, while he was having a discussion with his colleagues.

The DSS first arrested Abiri in 2016 after he was accused of being the leader of the joint revolutionary council of the separatist group, Joint Niger Delta Liberation Force.

He was also accused of threatening oil companies and demanding money from them

He was granted bail in August 2018 when an Abuja magistrate court struck out a suit against him after being held in detention for two years.

When contacted to react to the report, Peter Afunanya, DSS spokesman, told TheCable that he is not in the know but would get back when he has information on the report.

I dont have this information, he said.
Pakistan, China enjoy unique friendship: president

Xinhua) 11:25, December 28, 2023

ISLAMABAD, Dec. 27 (Xinhua) -- Pakistani President Arif Alvi said on Wednesday that Pakistan and China enjoy a unique friendship as all-weather strategic cooperative partners.

"The bilateral ties between Pakistan and China are of special importance ... Both countries are close, trusted friends and iron brothers," the president said during a meeting here.

Under the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC), a flagship project of the China-proposed Belt and Road Initiative, bilateral relations between the two countries have touched new heights, he said.

"A network of roads has been laid across Pakistan under the CPEC, whereas infrastructure projects of strategic importance were also included in the mega project," Alvi said.

Also, China is the largest trading partner of Pakistan and is an important source of foreign direct investment in the country, he added.

Alvi said that the cultural and educational exchanges are important for the strong friendship between the two countries, adding that Pakistan and China are taking steps to deepen the bond between the people of the two countries.

Launched in 2013, the CPEC is a corridor linking the Gwadar port in southwestern Pakistan with Kashgar in northwest China's Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region, which highlights energy, transport and industrial cooperation.

(Web editor: Zhang Kaiwei, Zhong Wenxing)
Compete with visions and policies instead of mudslinging

The 22nd general election, which will reshape the parliamentary power landscape, will take place 100 days after New Years Day.

As election day approaches, a sense of crisis is gripping the presidential office and the ruling People Power Party (PPP). According to a survey, 35 percent of voters said they would vote for the governing party to support the Yoon Suk Yeol administration. However, 51 percent replied they would elect opposition candidates to keep the government in check.

If the opinion poll figures are reflected in the votes cast on April 10, Yoon will become a lame duck for the remainder of his term. Unable to turn his agenda into laws, he will have to resort to presidential decrees to govern while vetoing numerous opposition-led legislations  as he has been doing until now.

Reflecting the urgency of the situation the PPP faces, the party will launch an emergency committee today. Yoon virtually handpicked Han Dong-hoon, the former justice minister and his most trusted aide at the prosecutors' office, to head the committee.

But will Yoon's tactics work? The odds do not appear to be in his favor.

Han is the third interim leader of the PPP in the past 16 months. Why has the ruling party had to change its leader almost every five months? At the center of the turmoil is the presidents low approval rating. Yoon won the election with 48.6 percent of voter support, but saw it fall below 40 percent only two months after taking office. His approval rating has since remained in the low 30 percent range. That shows where the problem lies.

In the same survey, respondents cited five negative things about Yoon  economy, diplomacy, overall ineptitude, lack of communication and one-sided administration  and in that order. To be very generous, the first three could be due to inexperience and take some time to improve. But the last two are personal. They can and should have been changed quickly. Even the presidents core supporters point out similar things: they agree with the direction of Yoon's policies, but disagree with his governance style.

We have called for the president to cease acting like a top prosecutor and become a chief executive. Korean prosecutors live by command and discipline amid a strict hierarchy. They disallow dissenting opinions and move like a single organism. Yoon has tried to maintain his relationship with the governing party vertically. Even many PPP officials question whether theirs is truly a democratic organization.

Its symbolic that a young former PPP leader bolted the party to create a new one Wednesday, citing the presidents arbitrary governance style.

The ruling camp expects Han, its new young leader, to heighten its chances of winning votes in April. There is no guarantee Han will pull that off. Everything will depend on whether Han, often called the presidents avatar, can form a horizontal relationship between the party and the president and how frankly he communicates with the leader. However, many doubt that will happen.

Even if Han successfully performs his role and the PPP wins the polls, that may not be entirely good news for Yoon as a politician. It might repeat the past examples of unpopular incumbent presidents and popular interim party leaders becoming the next presidential candidate.

Ironically, Yoon's less popular opposition counterpart has also faced a tough time. Rep. Lee Jae-myung, who heads the Democratic Party of Korea (DPK), has been exposed to judicial risks for various charges and criticized for similar problems to the president  a lack of communication with rival factions and relying only on core supporters.

Whats missing in these leadership controversies are the policies that can change peoples lives. Policy differences between the right-wing PPP and the relatively left-leaning DPK must exist. However, voters do not know those differences because the parties do not discuss them. They are focused only on who will run in what precincts.

Leaders must communicate with party members and the public more openly and freely. They should discuss real issues, like the economy, climate, peace, and security, and compromise with opponents if needed.

Next year will mark another significant turning point. Korean leaders cannot afford to be engrossed in petty power games. They must make people lead better lives by upholding national security and supporting the economy through competition and cooperation instead of trying to destroy each other.
A coalition of opposition political parties has alleged a plot to use the courts to illegitimately impeach the governor of Rivers State, Siminalayi Fubara.

The parties, under the umbrella of the Coalition of United Political Parties (CUPP), claimed they have intelligence that a ruling had already been drafted by the Federal High Court set to be delivered on Monday, December 18, 2023, declaring that the seats of 25 former Rivers State legislators cannot be declared vacant.

Recall that the 25 lawmakers recently defected from the PDP to the APC and their seats were subsequently declared vacant by the Speaker of the House, Rt. Hon. Edison Ehie.

The coalition asserted that such a ruling would contradict a previous ruling by the High Court of Rivers State, which recognised Ehie as the authentic Speaker of the State House of Assembly.

At a press conference in Abuja on Sunday, national secretary of CUPP, Peter Ameh, said this would allow the pro-Wike faction of the House to take control of the State Assembly and subsequent to impeach Governor Fubara within 10 days.

They deacribed planned verdict on the suit filed overnight between Thursday and Friday, a kangaroo ruling undermining democracy.

He said, Gentlemen of the Press, members of the opposition political parties, chairmen of political parties who are here present, ladies and gentlemen.

It is because of the emergency and new development that we have decided to come together as a joint task force to save our democracy and constitutional governance in view of development that is happening in Rivers State.

We have intercepted credible intelligence and have seen a draft copy of Ruling, Nigerians please I need you to pay attention to what you are about to hear from us as lovers of Democracy.

The CUPP Spokesperson urged Nigerians to protest at the Federal High Court on Monday.

He warned of anarchy in Rivers State if the plot succeeded and called on President Bola Tinubu and heads of security agencies to protect state institutions.

Ameh claimed that the alleged plan could lead to a crisis in Rivers State, affecting oil production and causing economic instability.

He emphasised the importance of public scrutiny to ensure transparency and prevent what they termed as a judicial abracadabra.

We have also not unaware that the whole agenda is to ensure that Governor Fubara is removed from office within the next Ten days via a Kangaroo ruling made exparte.

And if he is dissatisfied let him go to court, a slogan which some state actors have adopted to back their nefarious illegality and oppression of the Rule of Law but we are saying that this will mark the end of Nigerias democracy if we cross that line because Nigerians are not fools. No one perpetrate illegality and thinks he can get away with it.

That we, the Coalition of United Political Parties (CUPP) are saying this clearly that we want the Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, his Excellency President Bola Ahmed Tinubu.

Let us pause for a while, for those who are with President Tinubu right now, if his Excellency is close to his Television Screen right now please tell him to tune his TV and listen to us in his best interest and in the overall interest of our Democracy.

Let the Federal High Court of Nigeria not do this, let the Federal High Court of Nigeria not finally bury itself.

If a draft of the Ruling is already circulating online, indeed, what a shame if by Monday or days thereafter this Ruling is delivered, confirming that the draft in circulation in WhatsApp forum is true.

We also demand that the heads of security agencies stay clear and ensure that the institutions of government, especially the Rivers State Government is protected.

We are lovers of democracy and we do no wish any negative happens to our rather nascent democracy and that is why we call on Nigerians and alert them of the plot to use the Federal High Court to secure an injunction, he said.

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By Izunna Okafor, Awka

The upcoming 3rd edition of the AMTY Awards will feature the Rector of Federal Polytechnic Oko, Engr. Dr. Francisca Unoma Nwafulugo, as the esteemed Keynote Speaker. The event is scheduled to take place on December 29, 2023.

In a press statement released on Monday in Awka, the Director of Media and Communications for AMTY Awards, Dr. Odogwu Emeka Odogwu, disclosed the theme for the 3rd edition as Gbakotanu Ka Anyi Dozie Obodo Dike (Come Together Lets Build the Land of the Great).

Dr. Odogwu highlighted Dr. Nwafulugos status as a respected academician with an unwavering belief in the progress of the state. The ceremony is set to be held at the Stanel Dome in Awka, promising to recognize Anambrarians who have excelled in various fields.

According to him, before assuming the role of Rector at Federal Polytechnic Oko in 2019, Engr. Dr. Nwafulugo served as a Chief Lecturer in the Chemical Engineering Department of Kaduna Polytechnic. Her academic journey includes obtaining a Higher National Diploma (HND) from the Institute of Management and Technology (IMT) Enugu, followed by a PGD, Masters, and PhD in Chemical Engineering.

He added that Engr. Nwafulugo was affiliated with several professional bodies and associations, including COREN, NSE, NSCHE, APWEN, WAMSON, and WITED. She holds fellowship status in eight professional bodies, including NSE, NSChE, and FIOGR.

Dr. Odogwu also emphasized that Dr. Nwafulugos appointment as the Rector of Federal Polytechnic Oko in 2019 marked a historic moment, as she became the first female Rector in over 40 years of the institutions existence.
The Rivers Elders and Leaders Forum (RELF) said that Governor Siminalayi Fubara does not possess the constitutional authority to execute the presidential peace resolution supported by President Bola Tinubu

Addressing journalists in Port Harcourt yesterday on behalf of the group, Chief Rufus Ada-George, former governor of Old Rivers State, said that the people of the state were not represented during the peace meeting in Abuja

Ada-George stated that Rivers elders have already written to Tinubu and Fubara, demanding adherence to the rule of law while seeking to establish political peace in the state.

He conveyed that the choice to write to the President and the Governor came after reviewing Fubaras Christmas Day broadcast, during which he pledged to implement the Presidents eight-point peace terms involving himself, the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, and the President.

The former governor, emphasizing their aim to ensure peace and stability in the state, queried whether the President has the authority to overturn the ruling of a court of competent jurisdiction through such intervention.

Ada-George said: We would like to commend Your Excellency, for heeding to our call; to help mediate in the political rift between Barr. Nyesom Wike, the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, and Sir Siminialayi Fubara, the governor of Rivers State. However, as a people, we are now at a loss as to whether your intervention has helped in quelling the crisis or escalated it.

For us, as custodians of the Rivers peoples conscience and morality, we find the directive resolution document lopsided and skewed in favor of the interest of your current Minister, Chief Barrister Nyesom Wike, to the detriment of the Governor, Sir Siminialayi Fubara, the governance of the state and the interest of the generality of the good people of Rivers State.

He expressed regret that stakeholders and interest groups from Rivers were not represented during the peace talks

Ada-George said: The composition and attendance showed lack of balance between the two warring factions. The faction recognized by a court of competent jurisdiction, the Elders of Rivers State, traditional rulers, women, and youth leadership, were not represented at the meeting.

Kanyi Daily recalls that Siminalayi Fubara and his predecessor, Nyesom Wike, have agreed to resolve the political turmoil in Rivers State
The Ijaw nationalist said he would not support the actions of the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory FCT ), Nyesom Wike, against the Rivers governor.

Asari Dokubo

Ex-Niger Delta militant leader, Mujahid Asari-Dokubo, has warned that anyone who wants to take the mandate given to Governor Siminalayi Fubara by Rivers state people would be dealt with.

Dokubo issued the warning during a recent Facebook Live.

The Ijaw nationalist said although he antagonised Fubara and the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) during the 2023 general elections, he would not support the actions of the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, against the Rivers governor.

Dokubo warned that anybody who wants to take the mandate from Governor Fubara would go down.

The 59-year-old also alleged that Fubara also connived with Wike to kill him during the election.

He said, I was not a supporter of Sim. Sim was even my enemy. He conspired with Wike to see that I am killed. Im not dead, Im still walking. But I told my friend, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu the truth. I said you want to make Ijaws enemy because of Wike, okay; my hand no dey o.

I am an Ijaw man. There are two things that I cannot compromise on the surface of this earth  my Ijaw heritage and my Islam. Anybody who wants to take that mandate from Sim would go down because I know my Ijaw people. You know our capacity very well. It is no mouth.
By Chunks Eke

Chief Rommy Ezeonwuka, the proprietor of Ranent Industries Company Limited located at Oba in Idemili South Local Government Area of Anambra state has sealed the premises of the company which he donated to the authorities of Tansian University, Umunya, Anambra State as a take-off campus of the university.

This followef a recent court judgment which authorized Ezeonwuka to seal the campus, sell the universitys moveable and immovable properties in order to recover about N60 million outstanding debt owed him by the university as honorarium or rent for donating the Ranent property to the university authorities as a take-off campus.

Ezeonwuka who stormed the university campus yesterday in company of court beliefs and management of Ranent Industries, drove away some security staff of the university and sealed off the campus entrance gate some trips of sand.

To authenticate the seal, the court bailiffs pasted copies of the court judgements all over the entrance gates, defaced the sign posts bearing some inscriptions Welcome to Tansian University Take-Off Campus, Oba. They also pasted some sign posts with some inscriptions: No Trespass.

Ezeonwuka and Renant Industries had successfully won a court case against Tansian University over million of naira accruing from several years of unpaid honorarium. The honorarium of N10 million per annum was agreed upon between Ezeonwuka and the founder of the university, the late Monsignor John Bosco Akam many years ago before Akam died about two years ago

The honorarium agreement was jointly signed by Ezeonwuka and Monsignor Akam with their witnesses before they both took the agreement to court and obtained a consent judgement that the university authorities should pay Ezeonwuka the sum of N10 million every year as rent for donating the Ranent property with structures to the university for use as take-off campus about 10 years ago.

The National Universities Commission, NUC had while giving an approval for the establishment of the university, directed that the annual payment being made to Ezeonwuka by the university authorities should not be called house rent or property rent but honorarium because a university cannot be cited in a rented apartment.

In a judgment delivered by His Lordship Hon Justice Arinze Akabua of High Court of Anambra State holden at Ogidi had granted leave of execution to confiscate movable and immovable properties of the University to recover Ezeonwukas outstanding indebtedness.

Justice Akabua also ordered that the judgment debtors/respondents (Tansian university authorities) vacate with immediate effect its temporary site or take-off campus located at Umuogali Village Oba from the premises of the property of judgment creditor/applicants (Ezeonwuka/Ranent Industries Limited).

Speaking to press shortly after recovering his property, Ezeonwuka, Chairman of the company expressed gratitude to the court for being the last hope of the common man, even as he regretted that the saga has cost him lots of fortunes.

He abhorred dilapidating state of the university campus and wondered how students cope studying in such a dirty environment.

This institution may not be synonymous with cleanliness  the two hostels are disgusting, the entire environment is stomach-churning, its filthy an uninhabitable, filth-ridden University filled with mountains of refuse and bad sewage system is so vile that it guarantees nightmares, said Ezeonwuka.

He disclosed that having recovered his property, he has concluded arrangements to bring in his Chinese partners to arrive Nigeria before end of first quarter of the year 2024 to revive the moribund Ranent Industries Company Ltd and offer employment to well over 5,000 Anambrarians.

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From Umar Ado Sokoto

Obviously disturbed by the death of infrastructure in the emirate that is gradually destroying the socioeconomic fortunes of the people, the Emir of Zuru Major-General Muhammadu Sani Sami Gomo ll, has conveyed an enlarged meeting of the council aimed at holistic identification, analysis and production of workable strategies for salvaging the unfortunate situation.

Statement issued by Abdullahi Idris Zuru (Jarman Dolekaina, Dan Masanin Rafin Zuru, Sadaukin Zuru) said the visibly determined Royal Father demonstrated his commitment to ensuring immediate liberation of his innocent subjects, subjected to untold hardship resulting from years of neglect and lack of cooperation among the elites in the emirate.

The meeting which was the first of its kind in the emirate in recent years, had in attendance the Senior Emirate Council members, the five Second Class Chiefs of Dabai, Sakaba, Wasagu, Fakai and Danko, over one hundred District heads.

Others include traditional title holders most of whom are senior retired members of the armed forces, renowned academicians, technocrats, successful business tycoons, politicians of different political affiliation and highly respected elder statements drawn from the four local government areas of Zuru, Danko/Wasagu, Fakai and Sakaba.

Among the major challenges identified to be responsible for the slow pace of socioeconomic development in the emirate includes inaccessibility to the emirate from the neighbouring states and within due to lack of motorable roads.

The dilapidated nature of the roads is equally believed to have promoted armed banditry, stoppage of farming activities which are major sources of livelihood of the people, inter township and villages business transactions and inter community social interactions.

Also worrisome to His Royal Highness is absence of sincere unity of purpose and patriotism among the political class which have regrettably made the emirate to remained relegated in the state political scene.

The inability of the political office holders and the business community to adequately support the youths, small and medium scale entrepreneurs with viable economic empowerment and loans facilities have equally contributed to increase in poverty level in the emirate.

At the end, it was unanimously agreed among the major stakeholders in Zuru Emirate development project that the challenges identified will be thoroughly analysed, holistically approached and vigorously pursued until the desired result is achieved in the overall interest of the people of Zuru emirate.

Evidence of the possibility of achieving the Emirs desired results for the emirate, is the calibre of personalities that responded to the Emirs invitation, their commitments and apparent resolutions to by all means and at all cost to bring positive impact and rapid transformation in the emirate.

The resolutions of the meeting is expected to be implemented by a high powered Committee appointed at the meeting under the Chairmanship of Senator Muhammadu Magoro, Galadiman Zuru.

Another meeting with the same agenda is being organised for elected and appointed political office holders at all levels from the emirate.

Among the prominent personalities in attendance includes Senator, Major-General Muhammadu Magoro Galadiman Zuru, Lt General Ishaya Bamaiyi Uban -Yakin Zuru, Prince Sadiq Sule Sami, Marafan Zuru, Mr. Benjamin Dikki Sarkin Yakin Zuru, Alhaji Zubairu Abdullahi Turaki.Turakin Zuru.

A Lagos based international businessman Alh. Yusuf Danladi Gwarzon Zuru, Alhaji Muhammad Senchi Madugun Zuru, Alhaji Jafar Muhammad, Gatan Zuru, Alhaji Abubakar Tanko Hassan Mallamawan Zuru, Alhaji Bello Hamidu Sarkin Samarin Zuru and Dr. Aisha Aminu Senchi a philanthropist and coordinator for a number of domestic and international development partners in Nigeria..

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The Afenifere on Tuesday demanded for true federalism to be enthroned in the country.

They made the demand during a visit to President Muhammadu Buhari at the Presidential Villa, Abuja.

The Afenifere group was led by Pa Ayo Fasanmi.

Other requests of the group included security, education, youth employment and power supply.

The five demands of the Afenifere leaders were read by Senator Olabiyi Durojaiye.

He said:  We seriously recommend clinging to the spirit and letters of our federal constitution. This is one sure way of achieving the desired goals of unity even in diversity, mutual respect, tolerance and giving true meaning to the opening phrase of our constitution that is,  we the people 

ALSO READ:Buhari meets States autonomy panel in Aso Rock

We will be a greater nation if we sincerely practice true federalism, think and act as Nigerians rather than as champions of the smaller units we were born into. Our big size is an asset worthy of preservation.

Good examples of big size, hard work and prudent spending are the USA, China and India. It is not with violence or hate speeches but with mutual trust, self-respect and tolerance that we will speedily achieve the lofty destiny of the great country, Nigeria,  he said.

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The gold toilet

Burglars have stolen a solid 18-carat gold toilet, worth 5 million (N2.2billion) from Blenheim Palace in Woodstock, Oxfordshire, England. The operation took place in the early hours of Saturday, September 14.

The toilet titled America which was created in 2016 by Italian artist Maurizio Cattelan only went on display two days ago during an exhibition.

Thames Valley Police have confirmed the toilet was stolen and a 66-year-old man has been arrested in connection with the theft and remains in police custody.

Dominic Hare, chief executive officer of Blenheim Palace, told the BBC the toilet is valued at about six million dollars and was a very precious piece.

He said the theft of the solid gold toilet was a huge shock.

Staff were instantly aware of what happened and police arrived very, very quickly indeed, he added.

When asked if the artist had been contacted, he said: There were some slightly nervous calls at 6am but we have spoken to the artist and Lord Edward at the art foundation, and many of the trustees, and they have been magnificent in their support.



Mr Hare added: We have a sophisticated security set-up here and we have had no loss of this kind in living memory, which probably reflects the quality of that operation.

The events of the last 24 hours mean we may have reason to reconsider some of our systems.

He was also asked whether a party, which took place at the palace on Friday night, could have created an opportunity for the theft.

In response, he said: We have been asked not to comment on the investigation. But there was a clear time separation between those things.

There is always a risk when you display valuable art to the public, but it is worth that risk, even now, it was still worth that risk.

Confirming that the palace would reopen on Sunday following repair works, Mr Hare explained: Weve now got a huge hole where there was once a golden toilet.

Detective Inspector Jess Milne said: The piece of art that has been stolen is a high value toilet made out of gold that was on display at the palace.

Inspector Richard Nicholls added: We are aware they left about 4.50am this morning. CCTV is one of the aspects we are looking on and that will come out in due course.

When asked if he believed a reception party held on the same night of the exhibitions launch could be connected, Insp Nicholls said: I am not aware of the reception party personally, but that would form part of our enquiries in order to ascertain events leading up to the item being stolen.

Thames Valley Police also disclosed that the offenders broke into the palace overnight and left the scene at about 4.50am.

Detective Inspector Jess Milne said: Due to the toilet being plumbed in to the building, this has caused significant damage and flooding.

Detective Inspector Milne added: We believe a group offenders used at least two vehicles during the offence.

The artwork has not been recovered at this time but we are conducting a thorough investigation to find it and bring those responsible to justice.

She continued: Residents will see an increased police presence in the area while officers and staff carry out enquiries.

I am appealing to anyone who saw or heard anything suspicious in the area to contact police. You can call us on 101, quoting URN 273 (14/9), visit our website or visit a police station.
BLOOMINGTON  A Georgia man has been arrested on murder charges in the 2022 shooting death of a Peoria teen.

Tomiyale M. Anderson, 20, of Hampton, Georgia, was indicted by a McLean County grand jury on Dec. 20 and taken into custody Wednesday by the U.S. Marshals Service in Chicago. He is charged with four counts of murder in the death of 17-year-old Kanye Stowers.

On April 8, 2022, Bloomington officers were dispatched to the 400 block of East Mill Street where officers heard shots fired in the area. Police found Stowers with a gunshot wound on the steps of a residence. About 12:25 a.m. April 9, he died of his injuries at the scene.

Anderson is also charged with attempted murder and aggravated discharge of a firearm.

A booking photo was not available Thursday.

In a statement, Chief Jamal Simington said, "The pain of the Stowers family, because of the loss of a loved one, has been felt throughout the police department. The tenacity shown to resolve this case is a testament to the hard work done by the men and women of the Bloomington Police Department. This takes us one step closer to finding justice for Mr. Stowers and his family."

Stower's mother, Tomeka Love, said she dropped to the floor and screamed out her thanks to God when authorities notified her of Anderson's arrest.

In a Thursday afternoon interview with The Pantagraph, she said the news of the arrest had been a "long time coming," but it came right on time, calling it the best Christmas present she could have asked for.

Love said the night before Anderson's arrest she couldn't sleep and knew something wasn't right. She said she thought Kayne was reaching out to her to say: "Mom, justice is coming."

On Thursday, Love told The Pantagraph: "My son is turning over right now because it's such a blessing."

With this arrest, Stower's mother said she can now breathe, adding that her prayers had been answered.

Love said she was happy and proud of BPD, Simington and the detectives who worked the case, but she's still waiting on answers to why and how her son was killed. Love said Stowers was a good kid who didn't deserve what had happened to him.

"I know it in my heart," Love said.

She said she plans to start a foundation to give back and help others who have shared her experience of loss. Her working name for the foundation is "Kanye's Acts of Kindness."

Anderson has not yet appeared in McLean County court. His next court date was not available Thursday.

Violent crime is up  and also down, according to new federal data Violent crime is up  and also down, according to new federal data Federal reports show similar long-term trends in violent crime, but diverge significantly on year-over-year changes Despite the long-term trends, the two reports differ more than ever before on the year-over-year change in violent crime. Property crime went up in 2022 One undeniable trend: Violent crimes against young people doubled Still, most crimes are not reported to the police
SPRINGFIELD  A Bloomington District 87 employee intends to appeal after a federal judge dismissed her age discrimination lawsuit against the district.

In a decision issued Dec. 11, the U.S. District Court Central Division of Illinois, based in Springfield, denied Tanya Blumenshines complaint that alleged she was subjected to a hostile work environment because of her age.

Blumenshine, 56, is currently listed as academic interventionist at Sheridan Elementary School on the districts website. According to court documents, she has notified the district of her intent to retire in 2024.

Blumenshine filed the lawsuit in August, alleging that she was recorded on video in a private meeting, moved to a less desirable position, refused proper support in her classroom, assigned the majority of at-risk students and those with severe behavioral issues and not given adequate support, including not providing her students with individual intervention.

Blumenshine sought a jury trial and compensation for lost income and benefits, an award of fees and costs and other monetary compensation.

On Nov. 6, U.S. District Judge James E. Shadid granted the districts motion for summary judgment and dismissed Blumenshines complaint, denying her a jury trial. Blumenshine filed a notice of appeal for this decision on Nov. 22.

Attorneys for both parties did not respond to a message seeking comment.

After the judgment was issued, Shadid ordered Blumenshine to pay a total of $5,953.62 in the case for costs related to transcription and video depositions, photocopying and a subpoena.

According to the summary judgment, the court interviewed the named individuals in Blumenshines complaint, including Jennifer McGowan, Sheridan principal during the time of the complaint.

Many of the issues raised in Blumenshines complaint involved McGowan and her office beginning in 2019 when Blumenshine started at Sheridan as a kindergarten teacher.

The complaint said Gowan and her office failed to provide her support for students with behavioral issues and created a hostile work environment by interrupting her courses as well as being set up to be charged with insubordination.

According to court documents, Blumenshine was asked during a deposition what basis McGowan might have to harass her.

Again, the only facts that I have  Ive never seen anything like this or experienced anything like that this. The only facts I have is the only difference is that Im older, Blumenshine said in her deposition.

The court disagreed with this assertion, saying the student population accounted for Blumenshines challenges in the classroom rather than discrimination by the District.

Blumenshine and McGowan both testified that together the kindergarten teachers created their own class rosters before the school year began.

The court said the district provided adequate support in the form of additional training and professional development meetings and group meetings in an effort to help.

(Blumenshine) was resistant to these attempts, viewing them as insulting, demeaning, and part and parcel of the hostile work environment, according to the judgment.

Before filing the complaint, Blumenshine requested an aide trained in crisis prevention because her physical restrictions prevented her from being able to perform crisis prevention training.

Shadid ruled, While (Blumenshine) believed this was necessary and should have been done promptly, school districts do not have limitless budgets or personnel, and for this reason, not age-related discrimination, there was a delay in assigning such aides to Blumenshines classroom.

The judge said Blumenshine failed to establish that the purported hostile work conditions were related to her age and even if a jury were to find a hostile work environment, it could not reasonably find that this was due to (Blumenshines) age.

According to the judgment, Blumenshine acknowledged that none of the District employees made reference to her age.

Shadid granted District 87s request to dismiss the charges and terminated the case.
Apple can for now resume sales of its flagship smartwatches, after a U.S. appeals court on Wednesday paused a government commission's import ban on the devices imposed in a patent dispute over its medical monitoring technology.

The tech giant had filed an emergency request asking the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit to halt an order from the U.S. International Trade Commission (ITC), which had ruled that Apple had infringed the patents of Irvine, California-based Masimo.

A final decision could cost either company millions of dollars and potentially force a settlement or some kind of technological workaround by Apple, analysts said. Ultimately, though, any financial hit for Apple is likely to be dwarfed by the bad publicity the lawsuit is generating, they said.

Masimo shares closed 4.6 percent lower at $115.11 following the decision on Wednesday, and Apple shares closed flat at $193.15.

"We are thrilled to return the full Apple Watch lineup to customers in time for the new year," Apple said in a statement. "Apple Watch Series 9 and Apple Watch Ultra 2, including the blood oxygen feature, will become available for purchase again in the United States at Apple Stores starting today and from apple.com tomorrow by 12 pm PT."

Masimo declined to comment on the court decision.

The ITC barred imports and sales of Apple Watches with technology for reading blood-oxygen levels. Starting with its Series 6 model in 2020, Apple included a pulse oximeter feature in its smartwatches.

Masimo has accused Apple of hiring away its employees, stealing its pulse oximetry technology and incorporating it into Apple Watches. Apple has countersued, calling Masimo's legal actions a "maneuver to clear a path" for its own competing smartwatch.

"Apple can easily develop their own blood monitoring software, it is just a matter of time ... The software development costs are not something that will be too concerning for a company as wealthy as Apple," said Stuart Cole, chief macro economist at Equiti Capital.

"The bigger issue is that this is not very good PR for Apple, suggesting as it does that Apple is stealing technology from competitors rather than developing its own. Apple is fighting this lawsuit more with an eye on what it means for their future health-wearable products rather than this specific blood oxygen monitoring piece of software," he said.

In a four-paragraph ruling on Wednesday, the appeals court said it would halt the ban while it considers Apple's motion for a longer-term pause during the appeals process. The court gave the ITC until Jan. 10 to respond to Apple's request.

U.S. President Joe Biden's administration declined to veto the ban on Tuesday, allowing it to take effect. Apple asked for a pause of the ban later that day.

Apple has said it is working on a range of legal and technical options.

On Tuesday, the company told the court that U.S. Customs and Border Protection is considering whether redesigned versions of its watches infringe Masimo's patents and can be imported. The customs agency has set a target date of Jan. 12 for its decision, Apple said.

Apple had paused sales of the affected devices from its website and retail locations last week in the United States due to the ITC decision. They remained available at retailers including Amazon, Best Buy, Costco and Walmart.

The ban did not affect the Apple Watch SE, a less-expensive model without a pulse oximeter. Previously sold watches also were not be affected by the ban.

A jury trial on Masimo's allegations against Apple in California federal court had ended with a mistrial in May.

Apple's wearables, home and accessory business, which includes the Apple Watch, AirPods earbuds and other products, brought in $8.28 billion in revenue during the third quarter of 2023, according to a company report. (Reuters)
SPRINGFIELD  2023 was an active year under the Illinois Capitol dome as legislative Democrats flexed their expanded supermajorities and Gov. J.B. Pritzker enjoyed a honeymoon period at the start of his second term.

More than 600 bills were signed into law between the lame duck session in early January and the regular spring and fall veto sessions that followed.

Among them were an assault weapons ban, up to 40 hours paid leave for nearly all Illinois workers, a ban on book bans and the addition of electronic cigarettes to the list of tobacco products banned indoors.

This frenetic flurry of legislating fit a pattern: Activity in the year following an election is usually heavier on policy. By contrast, election years typically experience a heavier dose of politics.

In 2024, expect this pattern to hold, perhaps even to a greater degree than seen in recent years. Many political observers think Illinois, after several years of consequential legislating, is due for a breather.

And legislative leaders appear to be signaling that on their calendars with lawmakers only scheduled to be in session for three days in January and six days in February.

The political side is appearing somewhat leaner than usual as well, with no governor's race or U.S. Senate contest at the top of the ticket and both presidential primaries looking non-competitive.

But, even in leaner years, there are still plenty of storylines to keep us busy.

Here are some things to look out for this coming year in Illinois state politics and government. These are based on my own observations and conversations with some folks in the know.

Abortion rights amendment

Unlike previous years, state lawmakers do not have clear big-ticket items that must be addressed heading into the legislative session.

It's far from a done deal, but one action that I think lawmakers may take is voting to place an amendment on the November ballot that would ask voters to enshrine abortion rights explicitly in the state's constitution.

Pritzker supports abortion rights and has made it one of his signature issues. He has poured millions of dollars into supporting the abortion rights side of ballot referenda campaigns in states like Ohio and Nevada.

And even before the overturning of Roe v. Wade, legislative Democrats were passing laws to codify abortion rights into state law.

This would take it a step further.

Much like Amendment 1, which made collective bargaining rights fundamental in Illinois after voters approved it in 2022, an amendment on abortion rights would not lead to a significant difference in existing state policy.

But it would make it harder for future governors and legislatures or the state courts to take action to reverse the policies currently in place.

At least that's the argument Democrats use. And it's a fair one.

But there's also a more practical and brazenly political play here: abortion rights is an issue that motivates voters, particularly female voters on whom Democrats have come to rely in swingy suburban legislative districts.

Much like Democrats used the union question to galvanize key blocs of their base in 2022, they could very well do the same with an abortion question next year.

The question will be whether advocates can agree on language as some also want to include protections for the LGBTQ community while others want to keep it abortion-specific.

A similar fight played out earlier this year when lawmakers passed and Pritzker signed a bill providing legal protections to Illinois abortion providers and out-of-state patients.

It was almost derailed by a disagreement over whether to include language defining gender-affirming care, which was eventually kept in the final bill.

Pritzker becomes bigger player

In a universe where President Joe Biden had forgone a run for reelection, we would probably be talking about presidential candidate J.B. Pritzker gearing up for the first Democratic primary contests just over five weeks away.

But Biden is running, rendering any presidential ambitions for Illinois' governor and the cadre of other Democrats in the candidate pipeline moot for now.

That does not mean Pritzker will be a political wallflower.

Expect him to continue to raise his national profile as a top surrogate for Biden and through Think Big America, the dark money group he launched in October to advocate for protecting and expanding access to abortion rights.

Pritzker will also play host when thousands of party activists and elected officials descend upon Chicago for the Democratic National Convention in August. The governor likes to portray Illinois to the nation as a model for enacting bold, progressive policies. Expect him to play that up.

Illinois in national limelight

Chicago will host the DNC for the first time since 1996.

This will elevate Illinois, at least for a week, back into the political spotlight that is usually absent thanks to its status as a reliably Democratic state.

Democrats will look to highlight their long list of legislative feats: the assault weapons ban; a clean energy law that aims to get the state to 100% renewable electric generation by 2050; the elimination of cash bail; and marijuana legalization, just to name a few.

But the attention could also become a double-edged sword.

Conservatives for years have made Chicago the poster child for urban crime.

The migrant crisis also presents an ongoing challenge. It would not be surprising to see Texas Gov. Greg Abbott increase the number of buses with migrants to Chicago during the week of the convention just to make a point.

And Israel's war in Gaza has proven to be a wedge issue for Democrats. If the war is still "hot" and civilian casualties still mounting, the city could be the site for some major anti-war protests.

How the city and state handle that week will be a major test.

Budgetary pressures to test Democrats

Governing is a lot easier when there's plenty of money to go around.

Such has been the case the past couple years for Pritzker and legislators, who have had large surpluses to work with when combining federal COVID-19 stimulus funds and sky-high post-pandemic tax revenues.

That appears to be coming to an end.

The Governor's Office of Management and Budget in a November report projected an $891 million deficit in the next fiscal year.

The state is expected to close out this budget year with a $1.4 billion surplus, though additional supplemental spending pressures, including funds to deal with the migrant crisis, could push it down to about $422 million.

Expect to see a supplemental budget to augment the spending plan that passed last year to emerge sometime during the spring session.

As for fiscal year 2025, which begins July 1, Pritzker and legislative leaders appear like they will have less room to maneuver than in past years.

Projections can change, but as of how, it appears the pie will not grow as it has in past years. And that strain could test legislators as they fight to fund their priorities.

More economic development

Pritzker said in early December that the state has "literally a dozen more electric vehicle plants that are in the pipeline.

I would expect several announcements, both large and small, in this realm in 2024 as the state continues to work with companies on tax incentive packages under the Reimagining Energy and Vehicles in Illinois (REV) Act.

State officials have stressed patience. These deals don't happen overnight. But now entering the third full year REV incentives have been available, expect more fruits of the state's labor to blossom in 2024.

Madigan on trial

Former House Speaker Michael Madigan is expected to stand trial on racketeering and bribery charges in April.

It will be about one year after two Commonwealth Edison executives and two lobbyists were convicted of conspiring to bribe Madigan in exchange for legislation favorable to the utility giant.

Madigan is hoping to have his trial delayed while the Supreme Court considers a separate case that could alter the federal bribery statute. We'll see.

Assuming the former speaker's trial goes on as scheduled, it will coincide with the final weeks of legislative session.

Bost, Bailey primary

Rep. Mike Bost, R-Murphysboro, will face one of the toughest races of his career in March when voters will decide between him and former gubernatorial candidate Darren Bailey.

Most political observers say Bost is the favorite, but Bailey's high name recognition ensures that it will be a race to watch to the bitter end.

The one thing that could upend the entire race: an endorsement from former President Donald Trump. But he's stayed very quiet to this point.

The primary is just under 12 weeks away.

17th a top race

Illinois' 17th Congressional District will be the state's most competitive once again.

Rep. Eric Sorensen, D-Moline, will look to defend his seat against either retired Judge Joe McGraw or farmer Scott Crowl, who are facing off in the Republican primary.

Sorensen won by four percentage points in 2022. Biden carried the district by eight points in 2020. If Republicans want to pick up a congressional seat in Illinois, this is the best place to do it.
I write these words to appeal for dialogue and understanding.

It is Christmas season and the divisions in this country seem to be worsening rather than peace-making. One side seems to be worsening the division because of their ideology convinced that the world is either/or good and evil: We are good. You are evil. They fear the triumph of evil.

They find a champion in the former president who, if reelected, will right all our moral failures. And make America fearless.

I do not share their fears. A follower of Jesus of Nazareth  but even if I were an atheist  I would ask how much reflection they have given to these fears. The very vagueness of terms like The Deep State, The Swamp, and The Replacement triggers the mind of a thoughtful person to pursue answers. Rather than thoughtful explanations, I hear evasions and attacks on the messenger in response.

Years pass, it seems to be all about force, strength, fighting back, controlling, controlling and victimization. Republicans find comfort in conformity to a narrow brand of modern  I can say ultra-modern  Christianity. They idolize scripture and religion and have demoted the spirit of God to a Republican functionary who conforms to their faith, not vice versa.

Whatever I have written is not to invite name-calling and evasion but thoughtful, even prayerful, dialogue. A Gospel man through and through, I ask why a merciless Christianity has so infected the Republican party? Why has it become the party of conformity?

Joris Heise, Bloomington
The Asanteman Council - the highest traditional authority in Asante - has announced the dates for the commemoration of the 150th anniversary of the 3rd Anglo-Asante war also known as the Sagrenti war, which led to the burning and looting of the palace of the Asantehene, Kofi Karikari.



Giving details, the Juabenhene, Nana Otuo Siriboe II told Graphic Online that the anniversary will be marked with a symposium on February 6, 2024, and a durbar on February 8, 2024.



The war was fought on 6th February. The plan we have on the table is that we will hold a symposium on the 6th of February, and on the 8th, we will hold a durbar, he said at the last meeting of the year of the Asanteman Council at the Manhyia Palace, reports Graphic Online's Kwame Asare Boadu.



The anniversary of the Sagrenti war will be one of the important events to be celebrated in Asanteman in 2024, a year which will above all, witness the Silver Jubilee of the coronation of the Asantehene, Otumfuo Osei Tutu II.



The Juabenhene further indicated that, a 700-page book on the history of the Asante Kingdom put together by the British in collaboration with traditional rulers of the Kingdom will be launched.



Sagrenti war



In 1874, the British army led by General Sir Garnet Wolseley charged on the Asante army which had earlier inflicted a crushing defeat on the British, and had also been attacking the coastal states of the Gold Coast.



Because the people of Gold Coast could not pronounce the name Sir Garnet Wolseley, the war was referred to as the Sagrenti War.



An article titled, the Sagrenti war and the sacking of Kumasi published by the Edward A. Ulzen Foundation, stated, The capital, Kumasi, was abandoned by the Ashanti when the British arrived on February 4. They demolished the royal palace with explosives, leaving Kumasi a heap of smouldering ruins."

Source: Graphiconline









Disclaimer : Opinions expressed here are those of the writers and do not reflect those of Peacefmonline.com. Peacefmonline.com accepts no responsibility legal or otherwise for their accuracy of content. Please report any inappropriate content to us, and we will evaluate it as a matter of priority.

Featured Video
Save Nations Foundation Donates To Chosen Children Center Orphanage Home



Save Nations Foundation Celebrates Xmas with Chosen Children Center Orphanage Home



In a remarkable display of philanthropy, the Save Nations Foundation (SNF), a non-governmental Organization exemplified compassion and kindness by donating some items to Chosen Childrens Center in Accra.



The items donated include bags of rice, Cooking oil, boxes of soft drinks, milk, packs of water, and some cooked rice.



Presenting the items to the management, Co-Executive Founder /Country Director of Save Nations Foundation Mr. Isaac Kofi Dzokpo stated that the visit was not merely a donation drive but also an opportunity for interaction and engagement, as SNF members spent quality time engaging with the children, fostering an atmosphere of warmth and encouragement.



The donation was being supported by three philanthropists in Canada and the UK; namely Christian Oduro, Andrews Agyekum, and Andy Darko Agyemang. They decided to partner with Save Nations Foundation to help put a smile on the faces of these lovely children as celebrate the birth of our Lord Jesus Christ, he explained.



Save Nations Foundation found it necessary to put a smile on the faces of deprived children in the manner Christ would have done. He added, We chose the Chosen Childrens Center to support the efforts of the Management and other existing NGOs who are committed to championing the cause.



Mr. Samuel Osei, Co-Executive Founder, reiterated the foundation's unwavering commitment to collaborating with governmental bodies and relevant stakeholders globally, aiming to address the challenges faced by children.



Save Nations Foundation's gesture echoes the essence of Christmas, resonating with the values of empathy and generosity, aiming to bring warmth and cheer to children in need," he stressed.



Receiving the items, on behalf of the Orphanage Home, Madam Felicity Ali, lauded Save Nations Foundations benevolence, acknowledging the significant impact such contributions have on the welfare and development of the children in their care.



This act of kindness stands as a testament to the ethos of the Save Nations Foundation, inspiring others to follow suit and contribute to the betterment of society.



However, she appealed to philanthropists, NGOs, and other corporate bodies to extend their support towards completing an ongoing building project that will serve as classrooms and dormitories for the children.



Save Nations Foundation is a non-governmental organization committed to creating positive and lasting change in impoverished communities around the world to make the world a better place for all and sundry. With a commitment to sustainable development, we strive to create lasting change that empowers those in need.

Source: Peacefmonline









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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Ace Journalist Kwesi Pratt Jnr has questioned why Vice President Dr Mahamudu Bawumia is not being allowed to freely choose his running mate.



Over 10 kingpins in the New Patriotic Party (NPP) are reportedly lobbying to become Bawumia's running mate. The same applies to regional groups like the NPP opinion leaders in the Greater Accra.



The Greater Accra supporters have called on their presidential candidate to choose a Ga as running mate.



However, Kwesi Pratt believes choosing a running mate should not be based on the person's tribe but on competence; describing such lobbying acts as "foolishness"



"Where from such tribalism? Whether the person is a Ga or Frafra what difference does it make? let's be serious!!! The main criteria should not be where the person is coming from but the capacity to think," he fumed.



To him, this unnecessary pressure on the Vice-President "will not help Bawumia...why are you doing this to this man; no presidential candidate since 1992 has been treated this way. It's as if Bawumia can't make decisions of his own. Now we've got to the level of dictation; stop that."



Mr Pratt revealed that "the same appears to apply to the NDC; this foolishness has gripped all the parties and it must stop"



Kwesi Pratt was contributing to a panel discussion on Peace FM's morning show 'Kokrokoo'





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 Member of Parliament for Adansi Asokwa, K.T. Hammond has reacted to public concerns that he slapped and fended off the Majority Chief Whip, Frank Annoh-Dompreh, during a parliamentary proceeding on December 22, 2023.



The incident has received mixed reactions following the sharing of the video of the incident online with some accusing Mr Hammond of reacting violently towards a colleague lawmaker.



Speaking to pressmen at his residence at Adansi Asokwa in the Ashanti Region, Mr Hammond, who is also the Minister of Trade and Industry said he has been taken out of context.



He wondered why his thoughts and comments are on many occasions misrepresented without looking out for the substance.



This, he said has led to a lot of criticisms from a cross-section of the public towards him.



Narrating what transpired on the floor of Parliament, Mr Kobina Tahir Hammond said he was called into the chamber by Annoh-Dompreh to take part in the discussions and subsequent voting on the appointment of judges by President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo.



He said due to his relationship with one of the Judges, who was apparently his mate at the University of Ghana, he wanted to take part in the discussions on the floor and while making his submission, the Majority chief whip attempted to draw his attention ostensibly to time constraints.



He said he wanted to make his point quickly enough amidst the interjections from the Nsawam-Adoagyiri MP.



"I only made some gesticulations towards him to allow me to make my point regardless of the time constraints. Parliament had spent the whole day discussing other issues so why was I distracted from making my point to wind up the business of the day "



He refuted claims that he is a violent person stressing that he has no history of violence and has not been involved in any violent situation.



Mr K.T. Hammond said Annoh-Dompreh is one of his close confidants in politics and in Parliament so he will never react violently towards him.



"I never slapped him. Why will I slap a colleague Member of Parliament. Have you seen me fighting anybody in Parliament as the others did during voting for the Speaker of Parliament and other violent scenes in the house? ", the Adansi Asokwa lawmaker quizzed.



Meanwhile, K.T. Hammond has re-entered the NPP Parliamentary primary contest in the Adansi-Asokwa constituency



Mr Hammond first entered Parliament in 2001 and currently serving his 6th term.



He is facing competition from three other aspirants who have already filed their nominations in his attempt to go for a 7th term.



Sounding optimistic, K.T. Hammond said he is responding to calls from his constituents to seek another term judging by his good works.



Anticipated vacuum in Parliament



Following the announcement by Joseph Osei Owusu, MP for Bekwai, Dan Botwe, MP for Okere, Samuel Atta Akyea, MP for Abuakwa South and Osei Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu, MP for Suame that they will not be returning to Parliament, Mr K.T. Hammond has said that will create a vacuum in Parliament and affect quality of work in the House.



This is one of the reasons he want to go back to Parliament with his experience as a legislator and make invaluable contributions to the House.



"Replacing these experienced MPs will be a daunting task for the party," he said.

Source: graphiconline









Disclaimer : Opinions expressed here are those of the writers and do not reflect those of Peacefmonline.com. Peacefmonline.com accepts no responsibility legal or otherwise for their accuracy of content. Please report any inappropriate content to us, and we will evaluate it as a matter of priority.

Featured Video
Eagle Plug and the Mix Design Hub curators of The Rapperholic Exhibition, a musical journey that captivated hearts and stirred souls, has been extended to January 2nd 2024.



According to the curators, the exhibition which was originally slated to conclude on December 16th, is extended by popular demand, to allow enthusiasts and fans more time to immerse themselves in the legacy of this Ghanaian rap icon, Sarkodie.



Rapperholic-The Rebirth, which initially promised a limited engagement for a week, has now become a cultural landmark, drawing enthusiasts and curious minds alike. From the rhythmic beats of Sarkodie's hits to the visual storytelling encapsulated in the exhibition, every aspect has contributed to its success and popularity.



As part of Sarkodies impact, the Ghanaian rap luminary is now embarking on a transformative venture, crafting an enduring legacy in Tema. This philanthropic initiative mirrors his unwavering commitment to community development, exemplified by the establishment of the Tema Creative Academy.



https://www.instagram.com/reel/C1ZGeN1sKdD/?igsh=MXZ5bTNoZWlucTU1MQ==



As Sarkodie embarks on this transformative journey, the curators are extending an open invitation, beckoning everyone to be an integral part of this movement. Your support has the power to tangibly shape the future of creativity and talent not just in Tema but far beyond.



The team revealed, There are a number of ways to be a part of this historic endeavour including monetary pledges. Make a financial commitment to contribute to the realization of the Tema Creative Academy as your pledge directly fuels the construction of a vibrant community centred around artistic excellence.



There is also an opportunity for people who want to become patrons of the arts where your financial support not only kickstarts the academy but also ensures its sustained operations, leaving a lasting impact on the creative landscape.







For more information, reach out to Eagle Plug via email at [email protected] and on 024 877 6387.

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 authorities regularly warn bathers of the shark threat.

A court in New Caledonia on Thursday ordered the authorities to stop hunting sharks, saying multiple culls were a "disproportionate" response to any danger to swimmers.

The French Pacific territory has been scrambling to protect its busy beaches from sharks after two attacks earlier this year, one of them causing the death of an Australian tourist.

For a while it banned sea bathing outright, and recently installed a controversial net to keep sharks out.

Since the start of the year, the capital Noumea has also declared open season on sharks, running several campaigns of "preventative" shark hunting in the hope of making beaches safe again.

A total of 127 sharks have been killed this year83 tiger sharks and 44 bulldog sharksaccording to the ocean-protection NGO Longitude 181.

Another NGO, "Ensemble pour la Planete" (United for the Planet) filed a legal challenge to the policy with the territory's administrative court which handles cases involving the government.

The court ruled that the systematic culling campaigns by the city of Noumea were "disproportionate" to the threat, especially as there had been no scientific study of the shark populations targeted, nor of "the impact on the environment".

It also ruled that the southern province of New Caledonia had been wrong to allow Noumea city hall to kill sharks in maritime reserves "where fishing is banned by definition".

"Limited" and "proportionate" exceptions were possible, but the shark culling program was neither, the court ruled.

"It's a lovely Christmas present for the planet," Didier Derand, president of an NGO calling "for a healthy environment" (Vagues), told AFP.

According to a study conducted by La Reunion university, there were no shark attacks in Noumea before 2010, but 13 since, out of a New Caledonian total of 32.

Nobody is sure what prompted the sharks to arrive in unusually high numbers in the bays around the capital Noumea, which lies about 1,200 kilometers (750 miles) east of Australia.

 2023 AFP
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The U.S. Patent and Trademark Office granted a patent to Theranos on Dec. 18, 2018, three months after the company was dissolved following a series of investigations and lawsuits that detailed its fraud. The patent has not been rescinded and contains no notice of the faulty nature of the information it contains. Credit: U.S. Patent and Trademark Office

In 2004, Hwang Woo-suk was celebrated for his breakthrough discovery creating cloned human embryos, and his work was published in the prestigious journal Science. But the discovery was too good to be true; Dr. Hwang had fabricated the data. Science publicly retracted the article and assembled a team to investigate what went wrong.

Retractions are frequently in the news. The high-profile discovery of a room-temperature superconductor was retracted on Nov. 7, 2023. A series of retractions toppled the president of Stanford University on July 19, 2023. Major early studies on COVID-19 were found to have serious data problems and retracted on June 4, 2020.

Retractions are generally framed as a negative: as science not working properly, as an embarrassment for the institutions involved, or as a flaw in the peer review process. They can be all those things. But they can also be part of a story of science working the right way: finding and correcting errors, and publicly acknowledging when information turns out to be incorrect.

A far more pernicious problem occurs when information is not, and cannot, be retracted. There are many apparently authoritative sources that contain flawed information. Sometimes the flawed information is deliberate, but sometimes it isn'tafter all, to err is human. Often, there is no correction or retraction mechanism, meaning that information known to be wrong remains on the books without any indication of its flaws.

As a patent and intellectual property legal scholar, I've found that this is a particularly harmful problem with government information, which is often considered a source of trustworthy data but is prone to error and often lacking any means to retract the information.

Patent fictions and fraud

Consider patents, documents that contain many technical details that can be useful to scientists. There is no way to retract a patent. And patents contain frequent errors: Although patents are reviewed by an expert examiner before being granted, examiners do not check whether the scientific data in the patent is correct.

In fact, the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office permits patentees to include fictional experiments and data in patents. This practice, called prophetic examples, is common; about 25% of life sciences patents contain fictional experiments. The patent office requires that prophetic examples be written in the present or future tense while real experiments can be written in the past tense. But this is confusing to nonspecialists, including scientists, who tend to assume that a phrase like "X and Y are mixed at 300 degrees to achieve a 95% yield rate" indicates a real experiment.

Almost a decade after Science retracted the journal article claiming cloned human cells, Dr. Hwang received a U.S patent on his retracted discovery. Unlike the journal article, this patent has not been retracted. The patent office did not investigate the accuracy of the dataindeed, it granted the patent long after the data's inaccuracy had been publicly acknowledgedand there is no indication on the face of the patent that it contains information that has been retracted elsewhere.

This is no anomaly. In a similar example, Elizabeth Holmes, the formernow imprisonedCEO of Theranos, holds patents on her thoroughly discredited claims for a small device that could rapidly run many tests on a small blood sample. Some of those patents were granted long after Theranos' fraud headlined major newspapers.

Long-lived bad information

This sort of under-the-radar wrong data can be deeply misleading to readers. The system of retractions in scientific journals is not without its critics, but it compares favorably to the alternative of no retractions. Without retractions, readers don't know when they are looking at incorrect information.

My colleague Soomi Kim and I conducted a study of patent-paper pairs. We looked at cases where the same information was published in a journal article and in a patent by the same scientists, and the journal paper had subsequently been retracted. We found that while citations to papers dropped steeply after the paper was retracted, there was no reduction in citations to patents with the very same incorrect information.

This probably happened because scientific journals paint a big red "retracted" notice on retracted articles online, informing the reader that the information is wrong. By contrast, patents have no retraction mechanism, so incorrect information continues to spread.

There are many other instances where authoritative-looking information is known to be wrong. The Environmental Protection Agency publishes emissions data supplied by companies but not reviewed by the agency. Similarly, the Food and Drug Administration disseminates official-looking information about drugs that is generated by drug manufacturers and posted without an evaluation by the FDA.

Consequences of nonretractions

There are also economic consequences when incorrect information can't be easily corrected. The Food and Drug Administration publishes a list of patents that cover brand-name drugs. The FDA won't approve a generic drug unless the generic manufacturer has shown that each patent that covers the drug in question is expired, not infringed or invalid.

The problem is that the list of patents is generated by the brand-name drug manufacturers, who have an incentive to list patents that don't actually cover their drugs. Doing so increases the burden on generic drug manufacturers. The list is not checked by the FDA or anyone else, and there are few mechanisms for anyone other than the brand-name manufacturer to tell the FDA to remove a patent from the list.

Even when retractions are possible, they are effective only when readers pay attention to them. Financial data is sometimes retracted and corrected, but the revisions are not timely. "Markets don't tend to react to revisions," Paul Donovan, chief economist of UBS Global Wealth Management, told the Wall Street Journal, referring to governments revising gross domestic product figures.

Misinformation is a growing problem. There are no easy answers to solve it. But there are steps that would almost certainly help. One relatively straightforward one is for trusted data sources like those from the government to follow the lead of scientific journals and create a mechanism to retract erroneous information.

This article is republished from The Conversation under a Creative Commons license. Read the original article.
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Oil sludge is seen on a beach near the El Palito oil refinery in Venezuela's Carabobo state on December 27, 2023.

An oil spill is sloshing tarry ooze onto beaches in the state of Carabobo along Venezuela's western coastline, several environmental groups said on Wednesday.

The spill was first detected on Tuesday, Yohan Flores, a regional director of the Azul Ambientalistas NGO, told AFP.

"A large part of the beaches of Puerto Cabello are affected," he said, referring to the country's largest port 210 kilometers (130 miles) west of the capital Caracas.

State oil giant PDVSA has not addressed the spill even as NGOs such as the Caribe Sur Foundation say it originated at a waste lagoon near the El Palito refinery, one of the most important in Venezuela.

A brief report from the National System for Risk Management noted a "spill of hydrocarbons from the waste lagoon" without offering more details.

"A large part of the beaches of Puerto Cabello (in Carabobo state) are affected," said Flores, adding that marine fauna may also be affected.

Teams from PDVSA, volunteers and fishermen all were seen working on cleanup.

The National Organization for Rescue and Maritime Safety of Venezuela's Aquatic Spaces (ONSA) called for "environmental contingency" action.

The last oil spill recorded in the area was in July 2020, when waste from the refinery also flowed into the sea.

That accident contaminated the Morrocoy National Park, a tourist area with a score of islets with white sand beaches.

Fishermen near Puerto Cabello said that they will not be able to fish for the next two months.

Venezuela, which has one of the world's largest oil reserves, saw its production fall from 3 million barrels per day more than a decade ago to 850,000 barrels per day now, with production expected to surpass 1 million barrels later next year.

 2023 AFP
HD Hyundai to pay handsome bonuses as reward for overachievement

By Park Jae-hyuk

Samsung Heavy Industries and Hanwha Ocean have failed to meet their annual targets for shipbuilding orders this year as of Thursday, despite favorable market conditions, according to industry officials.

Samsung Heavy said Tuesday an Oceanian shipowners order to build two very large ammonia carriers (VLACs) collectively worth around $240 million enabled it to achieve 72 percent of its goal of winning $9.5 billion worth of orders this year.

Hanwha Ocean reached 57 percent of its goal of winning $7 billion worth of orders this year, as it signed a main contract with the Defense Acquisition Program Administration last Friday, regarding the construction of a submarine worth 1 trillion won ($776 million).

Neither company is expected to achieve its goal by the year-end, considering the slow progress in their negotiations with QatarEnergy about the construction of additional liquefied natural gas (LNG) carriers for the Middle Eastern country.

Even if they both win orders for 10 LNG carriers from QatarEnergy, they will not be able to achieve their annual goals, considering an LNG carrier costs around $265 million on average.

In addition, declining global demand for vessels is expected to make it more difficult to win orders next year, although the two companies are forecast to see a growth in their earnings this year.

There will be no significant reason next year for global shipowners to place shipbuilding orders, said Yang Jong-seo, a researcher at the Overseas Economic Research Institute of the Export-Import Bank of Korea. The size of shipbuilding orders in Korea will decrease 16 percent to $28 billion in 2024.

Amid the skeptical outlook, a Samsung Heavy official said the company will continue to sort out lucrative orders next year because it has already won enough orders in recent years.

We do not need to rush to achieve our annual goal, as we have already won many orders, a Hanwha Ocean official said.

In contrast to the two shipbuilders running shipyards on Geoje Island, South Gyeongsang Province, HD Korea Shipbuilding & Offshore Engineering achieved its goal of winning $15.7 billion worth of orders this year, when it signed a contract with QatarEnergy in October regarding the construction of 17 LNG carriers worth $3.9 billion.

Since then, the HD Hyundai subsidiary that manages three shipyards in Korea has continued winning additional orders, achieving 142 percent of its annual order target. On Dec. 15, the company said it won a $500 million order from an Oceanian shipowner for the construction of three ethane carriers.

Based on the achievement, HD Hyundai will reportedly pay record-high performance-based salaries to employees working at its shipbuilding affiliates.

According to industry officials, HD Hyundai Heavy Industries will pay bonuses equivalent of up to 251 percent of each employees base monthly wage, while Hyundai Samho Heavy Industries will pay bonuses equivalent of up to 399 percent of each employees base monthly wage.
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Credit: CC0 Public Domain

The idea that we can comfortably manage all the different facets of lifework, family, other responsibilitiesis certainly appealing. But in reality, there is no one-size-fits-all solution to work-life balanceespecially for older workers.

Making up a third of the New Zealand workforce, older workers (aged 55 and older) are a growing cohort in the economy.

There is the temptation to treat everyone in this age bracket as the same. But our new research shows this is a mistake. In fact, the support older workers want in order to achieve better work-life balance can differ as they age.

Indeed, the lives of older workers can vary greatly when it comes to employment, family structure, financial resources, time and well-being.

As the number of older employees in the economy grows, it's important to understand what will help keep them satisfied in their work as they move towards and beyond retirement age.

Anxiety, depression and older workers

The goal of our research was to better understand the effects of work-life balance on anxiety and depression caused by job stress among older workers.

We asked two key questions: what effect does work-life balance have on older employees? And are there differences between groups of workers?

We surveyed 512 New Zealand employees in three age groups: 55-59 years, 60-64, and 65-plus. Respondents had been in their current jobs for an average of 12.6 years.

Some 58.2% were in the private sector, 31.6% were in the public/government sector, and 10.2% were in the not-for-profit sector.

In terms of age, 43.8% of respondents fell into the 5559 age group. Those close to retirement age (6064) made up 31.3% of respondents, and a further 25% were 65 and olderstill working despite being eligible for superannuation.

Work-life balance at different ages

The average levels of work-life balance among the older workers we studied were high, comparing well with similar studies looking at other age groups. Those reporting high levels of work-life balance said they were able to comfortably manage their work, family and other responsibilities.

Job stress (when the demands of work exceed the resources of the employee), job anxiety (when the job is mentally stimulating but not enjoyable), and job depression (when there is little mental stimulation or enjoyment), can all affect well-being at work.

The 5559 year-olds reported higher levels of job stress than older respondents. These younger older workers reported juggling stress that was fueled by high job demands. Workers in this group were also managing the needs of younger families, often including children in their teenage years.

But respondents reported they experienced less stress in their jobs when their work-life balance was high. They subsequently had lower levels of anxiety and depression.

The younger cohort (5559 years) reported the strongest benefits of having work-life balance. This effect reduced but remained significant as employees aged.

Respondents who were 65 and older reported a reduction in job stress, and at levels significantly higher than the younger cohort with greater work-life balance.

Our analysis also showed the "retirement" group (those aged 65 and older) had the highest work-life balance, perhaps highlighting the strength of being "retired" (and receiving government income) while also being in paid employment.

At low levels of work-life balance, there was a significant difference in levels of job stress. Those in the younger age group (5559 years) reported higher levels of job stress than respondents in the older age group.

When we compared this with respondents with high work-life balance, these differences were reversed, with respondents in the younger age group (5559 years) reporting significantly lower job stress than the older age group.

Overall we found ageand proximity to the traditional retirement ageare important factors in how workers respond to work-life balance. Workers in the 55-59 age group still have a relatively long career ahead. For them, balancing work and life is especially beneficial.

Employers need to think differently

Managers need to understand that older workers are not a uniform group. It is important to develop age-relevant approaches to support the work-life balance of older employees.

Employers also need to consider how to allocate resources to support employee work-life balance across their lifespan.

These measures could include discussing interventions for managing job stress, as well as well-being resources that position aging as positive. For example, using older managers as speakers in organizational wellness initiatives.

By encouraging work-life balance, companies can foster lower levels of anxiety and depression and help staff find lasting job satisfaction.

Older people are often invisible in conversations about mental health. However, having older workers who are mentally strong, healthy and productive is increasingly essential for businesses.

Older workers themselves should also seek to understand what drives and diminishes their own work-life balance. It is an important predictor of well-beingespecially as workers 55 and over could be an "older" worker for decades to come.

This article is republished from The Conversation under a Creative Commons license. Read the original article.
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Credit: Vlada Karpovich from Pexels

As native trees in the Pacific Northwest die off due to climate changes, the U.S. Forest Service, Portland, Oregon and citizen groups around Puget Sound are turning to a deceptively simple climate adaptation strategy called "assisted migration."

As the world's climate warms, tree growing ranges in the Northern Hemisphere are predicted to move farther north and higher in elevation.

Trees, of course, can't get up and walk to their new climatic homes. This is where assisted migration is supposed to lend a hand.

The idea is that humans can help trees keep up with climate change by moving them to more favorable ecosystems faster than the trees could migrate on their own.

Yet not everyone agrees on what type of assisted migration the region needsor that it's always a good thing.

In the Pacific Northwest, a divide has emerged between groups advocating for assisted migration that would help struggling native trees, and one that could instead see native species replaced on the landscape by trees from the south, including coast redwoods and giant sequoias.

"There is a huge difference between assisted population migration and assisted species migration," said Michael Case, forest ecologist at the Virginia-based Nature Conservancy.

Case currently runs an assisted population migration experiment at the Conservancy's Ellsworth Creek Preserve in western Washington.

Assisted population migration involves moving a native species' seeds, and by extension its genes, within its current growing range.

By contrast, assisted species migration involves moving a species well outside its existing range, such as introducing redwoods and sequoias to Washington.

A third form of assisted migration, called "range expansion," amounts to moving a species just beyond its current growing range.

Case's project involves testing whether breeds of native Douglas fir and western hemlock from drier parts of the Pacific Northwest can be used to help western Washington forests adapt to climate change. He says the Nature Conservancy is focusing on population migration because it has fewer ecological risks.

"Whenever you plant something in an area where it is not locally found you increase the risk of failure," Case said. "You increase the risk of disturbing potential ecosystem functions and processes."

Population migration is the only form of assisted migration currently practiced nationwide by the Forest Service, according to Dr. David Lytle, the agency's deputy chief for research and development.

"We are very, very cautious and do not engage in the long-distance movement and establishment of plant material outside and disjunct from the historic range of a species," said Lytle.

The Forest Service is pursing assisted population migration because it's likely to have few if any "negative consequences" to ecosystems, he said.

Douglas Tallamy, professor of entomology and wildlife ecology at the University of Delaware, said one potential negative consequence of species migration is the possibility that native caterpillars might not eat the leaves of migrated nonnative tree species. Because caterpillars feed birds and other animals, this could lead to disruptions to the food web.

This could happen if the City of Portland migrates oak species from places to the south, Tallamy noted. "Oaks are the most important plant for supporting wildlife that we have in North America," he said, "but when you move them out of range, the things that are adapted to eating them no longer have access to them."

The City of Portland's Urban Forestry program is currently experimenting with the assisted migration of 11 tree species, including three oak species to the south: California black oak, canyon live oak and interior live oak.

Asked via email about potential ecological disruptions Portland's City Forester & Urban Forestry Manager Jenn Cairo responded: "We use research from universities, state and federal sources, and local and regional field practitioner experience."

Another advocate for species migration is the Puget Sound-based, citizen-led PropagationNation. The organization has planted trees in several parks in the Seattle area and has the ambitious goal of "bringing a million coast redwoods and giant sequoias to the Northwest," according to its website.

The PropagationNation website also recommends planting redwoods in areas where native western red cedar, western hemlock, Sitka spruce and big leaf maple already grow.

Western red cedar, western hemlock and big leaf maple have all seen die-offs and growth declines in recent years tied to climate.

Philip Stielstra, PropagationNation's founder and president, and a retired Boeing employee, declined to comment for this story.

David Milarch, founder of the Michigan-based Archangel Ancient Tree Archive, which has supplied PropagationNation with redwoods and sequoias, says his trees aren't intended to replace Pacific Northwest native species.

"All we are doing is extending the range (of redwoods and sequoias) north in the hopes that they will still be here in 100 to 200 years and not join the list of trees that are going extinct," said Milarch.

Robert Slesak, research forester at the Pacific Northwest Research Station, runs the Forest Service's Experimental Network for Assisted Migration and Establishment Silviculture, or ENAMES project, which oversees population migration sites in Washington, Oregon and California.

Slesak called moving redwoods north a "risky proposition." He said he has serious concerns about both assisted species migration and assisted migration efforts that lack experimental rigor.

"Widespread assisted species migration without a lot of experimental results to guide it is risky," said Slesak. "Everyone knows we need to do some kind of action related to climate, but there's a real risk of making it worse."

Nevertheless, with the effects of climate change increasing, it's a risk increasingly being assumed by public and private groups around the Pacific Northwest.

 2023 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed without permission.
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Credit: Pixabay/CC0 Public Domain

According to media reports, in 2023 the UK experienced an unprecedented wave of shoplifting. The theory goes that the cost of living crisis and poor police responses are driving a crime wave.

Is that really true? Here, we assess six of the most popular assertions made about shoplifting in 2023. Are they myth or reality?

1. Is there really a shoplifting epidemic?

Shoplifting has increasedbut much of this reflects the fact that it declined 60% in the pandemic. So reports of year-on-year changes are misleading.

Many crime types remain below pre-pandemic levels because we now work from home more than we used to. But by 2023 we were out shopping as much as before. That provided camouflage for shoplifting, so it returned to, and now exceeds, pre-pandemic levels.

In the first six months of 2023, shoplifting reported to police averaged 7% above the pre-pandemic expected level. It then increased to 20% above the expected level in the summer months. While most shoplifting is not reported to police, the available data suggests that the increase is not as dramatic as some accounts suggest.

Myth or reality? Half-myth. To some extent it remains to be determined with better databut there is a problem.

2. Has the cost-of-living crisis driven people to theft?

It has become common to blame the cost-of-living crisis for rises in shoplifting. However, several facts do not fit with this theory. Shoplifting by dependent drug users, for example, is not due to the cost-of-living crisis.

Likewise, when department stores like John Lewis decry theft of their high-end products, this is not a cost-of-living issueit implies organized gangs are operating for profit. That explanation, put forward by the retailers themselves, contradicts the idea that increased shoplifting is due to cost-of-living issues.

Myth or reality? Myth and half-truth.

3. Are organized gangs to blame?

Another version of events is more plausiblethat organized gangs are the problem.

The pandemic boosted online shopping which made made e-fencing of stolen goods easier, which in turn drives shoplifting. E-fencing via online marketplaces is more efficient and less risky than face-to-face in the street or pub.

The result is that some gangs now steal to order. A recent estimate suggests stolen and counterfeit goods account for 10% of online marketplaces.

Meanwhile, as the retail sector expanded, tempting new products are becoming readily available in large and anonymous self-service shops. Increases in mini-supermarkets means valuable items are closer to the door with fewer staff between the thief and the exit.

In the long term, then, it is change in the retail sector that inadvertently encourages shoplifting. We need more evidence, but organized crime offers a plausible explanation for increased post-pandemic shoplifting.

Myth or reality? Likely reality.

4. Have the police stopped caring?

The truth is, police have not been required to attend low-value shoplifting offenses for many years. This reflects a long history of problem shops draining police resources with repeat calls without taking responsibility for preventing thefts.

After all, is it fair to expect taxpayers, who pay for police, to foot the bill? Or should retailers take responsibility for shoplifting just as other businesses are increasingly required to take responsibility for carbon emissions?

Like emitting pollution, creating shoplifting opportunities is effectively optional. Pointing the finger at the police deflects some of the blame but it doesn't address the real problem.

Myth or reality? Myth.

5. Are shops starting to lock up products because of theft increases?

In 2023 it was claimed that more items such as cheese, meat and coffee are being locked away or tagged. The truth is that these have been among the most stolen products for many years and tagging has been around for ages.

It is part of a decades-long process of incremental improvements to retail security. By 2010, research identified 30 measures used to help shops prevent theft, including locking cabinets and adding radio frequency tagging to goods, tethering items or using dummy goods such as packaging with nothing in it.

It takes time, but security measures can evolve to be elegant and unobstrusive. Examples already existthink of wide aisles with clear sight-lines and clever packaging designs that make items difficult to conceal.

When someone meets you and greets you at the door, it's not just to make shopping pleasant. It shows somebody cares and is watching. The development cycle of security means it sometimes begins as clunky and awkward before becoming something better.

Improved vehicle and household security reduced car crime and burglary by three-quarters since 1992, largely via non-punitive and unobtrusive measures. A suite of invisible car security is now triggered by a key fob, for example, and the best household security is built in as integrated locks on good quality doors.

These measures explain why there are fewer young people entering the criminal justice system. What's more, shoppers are generally respectful of measures to reduce crime and promote safety even when they incur a minor inconvenience, such as tag removal at checkout. Overall, the history of security suggests we should be optimistic.

Myth or reality? Myth.

6. Are social media provocateurs to blame?

Social media videos that glorify shoplifting and show how to do it may be part of the picture. Word of mouth took years to spread information that now spreads globally in seconds.

A spate of thefts of Kia's and Hyundai cars in the US is attributed to a viral TikTok explainer video and was stemmed only when the vehicle manufacturers issued a software update. Flash mobs have been coordinated on social media, as when hundreds of youths met to rob London's Oxford Street stores.

Social media platforms are best placed and have the technical know-how to develop measures to stop videos from spreading and to make them less attractive to make and watch. It is not easy but the evidence suggests that "offenders" will not just circumvent bans on illegal videos.

Myth or reality? Reality but we need information about its impact.

What is to be done?

We need better information about the shoplifting problem. But we know that, with concerted effort, it is possible to prevent shoplifting. Crime is always concentrated, so prevention efforts should be focused on the small proportion of shops that disproportionately experience shoplifting and the small number of hot products that are popular among thieves.

Online eCommerce platforms are best placed to prevent e-fencing, and social media platforms best placed to disrupt provocateurs. The appropriate role for government is to encourage these private sector agents into action through incentives (such as tax breaks for security) and disincentives (such as threat of regulation and fines).

This article is republished from The Conversation under a Creative Commons license. Read the original article.
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This aerial photo taken from a seaplane shows tourist boats sailing on the waters of Ha Long Bay on December 28.

Vietnam's Ha Long Bay is losing its famous turquoise hue as pollution and over-development threaten its wildlife and picture-perfect image.

The UNESCO site is one of Vietnam's most popular tourist destinations, with more than seven million people visiting its blue-green waters and rainforest-topped limestone islands last year.

But the bay's popularity, and the subsequent rapid growth of Ha Long Citynow home to a cable car, amusement park, luxury hotels and thousands of new homeshave severely damaged its ecosystem.

The surrounding town is already heavily developed, with docks and luxury apartments clogging the shoreline.

Last month pictures were published in state media of an enormous construction site running through the waters of a neighboring bay, sparking outrage among conservationists.

Conservationists estimate there were originally around 234 types of coral in the baynow the number is around half. There is also a huge problem with both human and plastic waste.

On Thursday tourists queued up for seats in a boat-plane to wing their way over the bay and see its more than 1,900 islands from the air.

"I was actually expecting for more blue waters in Vietnam," said Anete Cimbule from Latvia.

Ha Long Bay's popularity, and the subsequent rapid growth of Ha Long City have severely damaged its ecosystem.

"We would like to see cleaner waters."

After his third flight over the bay, captain Nguyen Ba Hai was more upbeat about the future.

"Over the past decade... the discharge of plastic trash onto the sea has greatly improved, that's very encouraging," he said.

But, he added, he would "love to see the water as blue as it used to be".

 2023 AFP
By Ko Dong-hwan

Nongshim, a Korean food multinational, has launched new health supplement capsules with krill oil to alleviate weakened joints, according to the major food company, Thursday.

According to the company's sub-brand, Lifill, the capsules contain three ingredients known to be particularly effective for worn-out joints  hyaluronic acid, astaxanthin and krill oil  in a new combination to maximize their effects.

Lifill used hyaluronic acid's unique function of perichondrium reformation, astaxanthin's antioxidation function that removes residue and soothes inflammation, as well as krill oil's function of mitigating joint pain.

Lifill has acquired an exclusive supply deal for krill oil with the United States' Valensa, a Florida-based health supplement developer. The main ingredient of the new capsules comes from FlexPro MD, a core ingredient Valensa offers only to strategic markets worldwide, according to the company.

"We confirmed FlexPro MD's superb quality in treating aged human joints and ventured to acquire it through an exclusive supply deal for health supplement purposes," said an official from Nongshim.

Another consumer-friendly feature of the new capsule is its smaller size compared to similar pills already on retail shelves. The company said most other pills are too big to swallow easily and require two per day. Lifill's new capsule has been made small enough for comfortable swallowing, only once per day.

Nongshim will unveil the new capsule at a homeshopping channel on GS Shop on Saturday.

"People say we are now living in an era where living to 100 years old is the new norm and more people are paying attention to symptoms that come with aging like discomforts in joints," the official said.
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From New York State Police: State police arrested a South Glens Falls woman for alleged attempted grand larceny.

Police said in a news release on Friday, Dec. 22 that Queensbury State Police arrested Aubree Bannister, 38, for felony second-degree possession of a forged instrument and attempted felony third-degree attempted grand larceny on Thursday, Dec. 14.

The release said that on Saturday, Aug. 12 at about 3:08 p.m., police received a complaint from a Queensbury business that a fraudulent check had been cashed from the businesss account.

The investigation determined Bannister, an employee of the business, possessed a forged check endorsed from the businesss account for $35,000.

On Friday, Aug. 11, Bannister reportedly deposited the forged check into her account at a financial institution in Queensbury, police said.

Police said Bannister was arrested in South Glens Falls and transported to the state police station in Queensbury for processing. She was transported to the Warren County Centralized Arraignment Part Court for arraignment, where she was released on her own recognizance.
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A Linwood man who ran a startup technology company in Philadelphia has pleaded guilty to fraud charges, court documents show.

Joseph Geromini, 54, accepted a guilty plea Dec. 19 to two counts of wire fraud related to the investors in his company, Group K Diagnostics, which specialized in the manufacturing of point-of-care diagnostic tools. The fraud occurred from about July 2018 to May 2019.

He was initially charged June 23, 2021, with 10 counts of wire fraud and two counts of securities fraud. Because he complied with the agreement, the court moved to dismiss the other 10 charges, but they will be taken into account for determining a sentence.

Gerominis guilty plea carries a maximum sentence of 20 years in prison and a maximum fine equal to $250,000 or twice the gross amount of any gain, whichever is greater. He also will pay full restitution in the amount of $98,083.

According to 2021 court documents:

Geromini, as chief operating officer of Group K Diagnostics, controlled his companys bank and debit card accounts, and was responsible for soliciting investments in the company through debt and equity fundraising.

From July 2018 through October 2018, the company raised about $2.25 million in investor funds. Geromini told investors he would invest their money to pursue the companys business plan, which included using the funds to further develop and commercialize its products and services, for lab expenses and to pay employee salaries.

Instead, Geromini diverted significant portions of their funds out of the companys bank account to pay himself hundreds of thousands of dollars through unauthorized wire transfers, ATM cash withdrawals and debit card transactions.

Geromini frequently misrepresented to the company that the unauthorized wire transfers were intended to compensate him for his employment. He told the companys CEO, who was unnamed in these documents, that Geromini had twice secured contracts on behalf of the company with third parties and was, pursuant to his employment agreement, entitled to separate bonus payments.
ATLANTIC CITY  After living without hot water for a month, and without heat for part of that time, Altman Terrace residents are seeking a rent adjustment from the Atlantic City Housing Authority.

We keep trying to find out whats going on with their rent credit, said Altman Terrace tenants group President Angela Torres at the authoritys Dec. 21 board meeting, which took place about a week after a visit from the federal Department of Housing and Urban Development.

We went an entire month with no hot water, and then one of those weekends ... we had no heat the entire weekend, Torres said.

Authority Executive Director Tom Sahlin said he and Management Director DeirDre Brock are looking into how much of a credit is possible under HUD rules.

We are researching right now to see if there are any limitations on what can be done, Sahlin said. Once we have that we will bring the number to the board. It cant happen unless the board votes.

At the meeting the board approved a plan negotiated with HUD to improve the operation of the authority, which is facing multiple lawsuits and has been designated by HUD as troubled for failing to submit a current audit.

Board President Stephanie Marshall said the issue will be addressed at the January meeting.

Marshall said any abatement would have to be voted on in the form of a resolution, and none had yet been prepared.

HUD officials slam Atlantic City Housing Authority, plan visit Officials from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development issued a scathing rebuke of the Atlantic City Housing Authority during a meeting with the local agencys residents, board members and former staff, who described poor conditions at the authority's communities.

Rent abatements were awarded early this year to Stanley Holmes Village residents after they went without heat and hot water for more than a month around the holidays.

A judge is due to decide soon what kind of further abatements Stanley Holmes residents who are part of a lawsuit against the authority will get because of continued problems with the heat and hot water system there.

Torres said she understands why so much attention goes to Stanley Holmes, where heat and hot water have not worked consistently for at least two years, but other properties also need attention.

We pray every day  at least I do  for Stanley Holmes, Torres said.

But she said Altman Terrace also has issues that need addressing, including the ladies room on the first floor being unusable because its ceiling was taken apart and never put back together in the aftermath of a leak.

When women residents gather to socialize, they have no bathroom to use, she said.

(Tenants) have to be running upstairs to go to the bathroom and run back down, Torres said, which is difficult especially for older and disabled women.

This is the first time Im hearing about the ceiling tiles. We are going to address that, Sahlin said.

Stanley Holmes tenants' lawyer asks for 3 years of rent abatements of 60% to 100% The attorney representing about 100 Stanley Holmes Village tenants in a lawsuit against the Atlantic City Housing Authority over conditions there asked a judge Friday for a 100% rent abatement for her clients for heating months over three years.

At a September board meeting, building manager Brian Norwood said the consultant who handles purchasing for the authority does not order needed parts and supplies in a timely manner for making needed repairs.

Jerry Volpe and his Governance & Fiscal Affairs LLC have been paid about $500,000 for a little over a year as qualified purchasing agent for the authority, according to public records.

The authority recently fired a staff purchasing agent, Robert Campbell, who was not allowed to act as QPA even though he held the qualifications to do the job.

Torres also asked that the security booth where she and some other residents work part time, be provided with adequate heat and cooling so older people can work there.

Were either suffocating in there because its summertime or in winter were freezing. It has to be taken care of, and the cameras have to be adjusted, Torres said.

Located in the Inlet, the roughly 190-unit Altman Terrace serves the elderly and disabled.

In January I will be back before the board, Torres said.
A bill that passed the Legislature this month, and is awaiting the governors signature, would help police deal with underage alcohol and cannabis possession and use, according to an Atlantic City police union leader.

This bill (A5610/S3954) revised the deprivation of civil rights penalty threat against officers, which was keeping cops from enforcing the underage drinking laws, local PBA President Jules Schwenger said Thursday.

It also reinstates a civil penalty for underage alcohol use of $50 per violation.

Current law, dating to the legalization of adult use marijuana, says if an officer even unintentionally detains or causes a minor to be searched when they spot illegal cannabis or alcohol, the officer can be prosecuted, Schwenger said.

Minors (those under age 18) are not legally able to give their consent to a search. Under current law, at the least police officers could face imprisonment of three to five years, a fine of up to $15,000, or both, for violating their civil rights with a search or in other ways.

This bill requires there be proof of the intention to violate the minors rights, Schwenger said. Its a simple but huge change for us. It will ultimately help juveniles in the long run.

If signed by the governor, the bill is expected to help police in shore towns control large groups of teens who have congregated, often under the influence of cannabis or alcohol and causing a public nuisance or safety hazard.

The bills sponsors in the Senate were state Sens. James Beach, D-Burlington, Camden; and Anthony Bucco, R-Morris, Somerset.

Wildwood votes to close to teens at midnight In a unanimous vote in an all-but-empty meeting room, the Wildwood Board of Commissioners joined the shore communities setting earlier curfews for those under 18.

Sen. Vince Polistina and Assembly members Don Guardian and Claire Swift, all R-Atlantic, introduced a bill (S3456/A4846) in January that also would have required police to take into temporary custody  without arrest  any person under the age of 18 who purchases or possesses alcohol or cannabis, and to notify that persons parent or guardian.

Both of these bills were aimed to accomplish the same goal but differed primarily in process, said Joe Berg, Polistinas chief of staff.

Berg said Polistinas bill focused more on parental involvement and early intervention for abuse issues.

Also, our bill clearly defined temporary juvenile custody and release to a parent/guardian to, again, increase parental involvement within their childs life, Berg said.

The Polistina, Guardian and Swift bill never got a hearing in any committee.

Any step forward to help law enforcement combat the ever-growing problem of underage alcohol and marijuana use is a step in the right direction, Polistina said Thursday about the bill that passed.

The bill that passed would also establish a $50 fine for the possession or consumption of any alcoholic beverage by a person younger than 21 in a school, public conveyance, public place or place of public assembly, or motor vehicle.

The underage person would be charged with a violation by a complaint-summons.

Cape Assist says it is ready to help towns with underage drinking, pot issues As shore communities deal with another summer of issues with juveniles, including the underage use of alcohol and cannabis, local organization Cape Assist says it is ready to help. That can include town hall meetings, staff training and awareness campaigns on underage drinking.

There would be no fine for underage cannabis possession or use, but warnings and educational materials would be provided.

If the person is under 18, a written notification concerning the violation would also be provided to the parent, guardian or other person having legal custody of the underage person.

Vince, Claire and I were proud to play a part in this effort to close some of the loopholes from the states marijuana legalization law, Guardian said Thursday.

Under current law, police issue a written warning for a first violation, a written warning with informational materials about accessing community or social services for a second violation, and a more formal write-up that includes a referral for accessing community and social services for a third violation.

For our local police, every summer since 2020 has brought out-of-control youth parties to our shore towns, Swift said. Although this law wont address every concern, kids have got to know theres no gray area when it comes to underage drinking and marijuana use.

She said the legislative team looks forward to working with the governor and Legislature further on this issue, and other ways to keep our beaches under control and family-friendly.
Quad-Cities philanthropist John Huntington "Hunt" Harris II has died. He was 74.

A memorial service has been planned for noon on Saturday, Jan. 13, 2024, at Trimble Funeral Home in Moline. A celebration of life will follow from 1-4 p.m., according to his obituary.

Harris was born June 13, 1949, and attended Moline schools, where he graduated in 1967 as co-valedictorian. He graduated Pomona College with a degree in economics and won the Pendleton Prize in Economics in 1971. In 1979 he earned a master's degree from Stanford University Graduate School of Business.

Harris married Diane Ferguson Wohlfeil on Dec. 21, 1974 and raised two children in Moline. The couple recently moved to Naperville to be closer to their son and his family.

After college Harris joined the family business and eventually worked his way up to becoming president of Star Forms, Inc. He eventually sold the company but continued working until his retirement in 1988. In 1995 he and two investors purchased Isabel Bloom, LLC.

Junior Achievement CEO Dougal Nelson worked for Harris at his various companies for 30 years, always following him to the next one. Nelson said Harris was a "guidepost" for understanding the importance of helping others and following your heart.

Once Harris sold Isabel Bloom to its current owners in 2011, Nelson started thinking about his next career move. He turned to Harris for advice.

"Hunt explained to me how important it was to follow your passion. In his eyes, he felt serving our community was where I belonged," Nelson recalled. "He suggested I look into nonprofit work, which I have followed since that day. I would not be the current CEO of Junior Achievement without the mentorship and guidance of Hunt."

Harris was known for collecting art, a passion that started with photography while he worked on the student newspaper at Moline High School, according to previous reporting. Later in his life Harris mixed his love of photography with his passion for travel.

With his wife Diane, the pair traveled to all seven continents and more than 60 countries. His work was published on his website, World Scenes, and previously featured in the Figge Art Museum in downtown Davenport.

Philanthropy was one of Harris' biggest passions and in 1986 the Hunt and Diane Harris Family Foundation was formed. Along with their children, they founded the John H. Harris III Memorial Foundation in honor of their son and brother who died that year.

Speaking to a reporter in 2014, Harris said giving back was his purpose.

"God has been so good to me," he said. "Think about where you could have been born. It could be in the middle of Africa to a mother with AIDS. I feel such an obligation. These are gifts that have come from God. We are taught and led to believe, to share these gifts."

Collectively, the foundations have donated more than $8 million to area non-profits, according to his obituary. Those foundations are now the Harris Family Foundation Fund at the Quad City Community Foundation.

Community Foundation CEO Sue Hafkemeyer said the team was saddened to hear of Harris' passing and called him a "tremendous supporter" of the foundation. He most recently served as a volunteer on the investment committee.

"Hunt and Diane have always been supportive of and active in the work of the nonprofit sector in the Quad-Cities," Hafkemeyer said in an email. "I had the pleasure of meeting with Hunt and Diane several times in the past year and their passion for the Quad-Cities was evident."

Anne Calder, vice president of development at the Community Foundation, called Harris "a model for us all." The two first connected when Calder was working at Augustana College in the late 2000s. They continued working together when she moved to her current role.

"Hunt was wise. He always asked good questions, in ways that lifted a conversation to better solutions," she said in an email. "Hunt was genuinely interested in the well-being of people around himhe invested in others through his generosity, his experience, and his caring style of leadership. The Quad-Cities has been changed in so many good ways thanks to Hunt and his familys approach to philanthropy."

Calder went on to say Harris was always interested in the welfare of children, a supporter of arts and culture and strengthening the region's nonprofit sector. He was a role model for investing time, talents and treasure in the community, she said.

Harris was known for his sense of humor, and laughing with him was a regular occurrence, Calder said. It's one of many memories she will take with her.

"I think Hunt knew that relationships are built over time, and keeping things in perspective through laughter helps build ties that bind," she said. "When I remember Hunt, I smile. He will be dearly missed, but through his generosity his spirit continues to bring light and life to the Quad-Cities."

That sense of humor will also be remembered by Kent Pilcher, CEO of Estes Construction and chairman of the board for the Community Foundation.

"At the beginning or end of every meeting there would be some form of pun or quip," he recalled. "It would be a range of reactions between laughing and groaning, but I think he just loved getting a rise out of people."

Harris' obituary notes he was known for his inappropriate jokes, which Nelson vouched for. He joked none were appropriate for print.

Pilcher said Harris was a serious man, but was never afraid to poke fun at himself. The Quad City Arts Festival of Trees formerly held a fundraiser where community members would dress up as a clown to raise money. Harris was always willing to fill the giant shoes.

"He was just one of those guys that never took himself too seriously, but he was a very serious person in terms of what he believed in," he said.

United Way was another passion project of Harris', serving on the board for more than 25 years and as chairman from 2007-2009. This past March he and his wife were awarded the United Ways Lifetime Achievement Award because of their significant engagement.

United Way CEO Rene Gellerman said Harris' "legacy of generosity has left an indelible mark on the United Way and our Quad-Cities community for over five decades.

"His unwavering commitment to service demonstrated through both his time and financial support, has not only transformed lives but has been a driving force behind positive, lasting change."

In 1986 Harris and his wife founded the local United Way Tocqueville Society. In recognition of their service, they were inducted into the United Way Worldwide Million Dollar Roundtable in 2008.

"Hunt, alongside Diane, has been a driving force in regionalism and philanthropic innovation, consistently pushing the boundaries of impact," Gellerman said. "Through their foundations, they've been leading investors at United Way Quad Cities and in numerous local causes, making them the cornerstone of nonprofit capacity building in the Quad Cities."

Now known as Unity Point Trinity, Harris was instrumental in the merging of hospitals. In 1989 he joined the Board of United Health System following the merger of Moline Public Hospital and Lutheran Hospital in Moline.

He chaired the board in 1990 and helped negotiate the merger with Franciscan Hospital in 1992 to form the Trinity Regional Health System. He served as the first board chair for two years and remained active until 1999.

Harris philanthropic work never seemed to end. He also served on the boards of the First Congregational Church of Moline, the Moline Public Schools Foundation, the Figge Art Museum and the Putnam Museum. Harris chaired the Moline High School Project Graduation in 1989 with his wife Diane and served on the Quad City Civic Center Authorities Board and was chair from 2007 to 2009.

He served on Illinois Governor Jim Edgars transition team in 1991 and on the Rock Island County Facilities Task Force in 2013-14. Harris also was chair and a founder of the Committee for Better City Government. He had served on the board of Quad City Bank and Trust for 24 years.

Teaching and mentoring was another big passion of Harris', who taught Project Business and Applied Economics through Junior Achievement (JA) in the 1980s. He went on to serve 10 years on the board and served as chair from 1988-89.

According to his obituary, he served on JAs International Task Force from 1992-94 and founded the Quad Cities Area Business Hall of Fame in 1990. He received the JA national organizations Gold Leadership Award in 1992 and was inducted into the Hall of Fame in 2001.

It was at the ceremony that current JA CEO Dougal Nelson was first introduced to the organization. Harris' example of working hard to remember each employee's name and show compassion for people first is what made Harris "one of the greatest influencers in my life," Nelson said. "I am the person I am today because of people like Hunt Harris.

"Hunt was honestly a heart-led leader. He cared about his employees deeply. While it was business first, he led (with) compassion and empathy. There was never a time when he didnt ask how was my wife doing. Or how my parents were. He truly cared."
Just For Fun

Grammy-nominated alternative-metal artists Sevendust will return to East Moline on Saturday with their 20th anniversary tour, which will feature songs from 14 studio albums, a live album and 36 singles.

The show will take place at 7 p.m. at The Rust Belt, 533 12th Ave., East Moline.

The Atlanta quintet consisting of Lajon Witherspoon, lead vocals; Clint Lowery, lead guitar and backing vocals; John Connolly, rhythm guitar and backing vocals; Vince Hornsby, bass; and Morgan Rose, drums, are known for their aggressive blend of bottom-heavy riffs and soulful, accessible melodies. The band continues to defy expectations with their 14th full-length record, "Truth Killer."

10 Years, Burden of the Sky and CORE will perform opening sets.

Admission is $44.75 plus fees and taxes and can be purchased at therustbeltqc.com/events/sevendust.

In Real Time

Smith Studio and Gallery is hosting a solo exhibit by Corrine Smith, a native of Rock Island.

Smith, an educator on the faculty at Augustana College, is a mixed media artist who works with the abstract in nature. She uses applied surface textures to create exciting compositions that explode with color.

The show will be on display through Jan. 31 at the gallery located at 124 S. State St. in Geneseo.

Admission is free. Gallery hours are 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Tuesdays-Saturdays.

For more information, visit smithstudiogeneseo.com.

With the Family

Wildcat Den State Park will once again host a First Day Hike from 10 a.m. to noon on Monday.

The hike will begin around 10:20 a.m. and feature a 1.3 mile moderate level hike through some of the park's famous rock features. Hikers will meet and start at the Upper Picnic Area and will follow the Punch Bowl Trail to view the Devil's Punch Bowl. Next participants will travel through the canyon and connect with the Lower Picnic Area Trail to travel past Sandstone Bluffs and Steamboat Rock. The hike will end where it started.

For up-to-date information regarding this event, such as cancellations, visit https://www.iowadnr.gov/Places-to-Go/State-Parks/Iowa-State-Parks/Wildcat-Den-State-Park or call the park office at 563-263-4337.

On A Date

The Rhythm Room at Rhythm City Casino Resort will welcome Final Mix to the stage on Thursday.

The band serves up the latest in R&B, jazz fusion, blues, hip hop, rock-n-roll and original material. Led by songwriter, Del "Saxman" Jones, known for playing the soprano, alto and tenor saxophones, the group will bring a high-energy performance to the Quad Cities.

The free show begins at 7:30 p.m. at the casino located at 7077 Elmore Ave. in Davenport.

For more information, visit www.rhythmcitycasino.com/event/2023/dec/finalmix.html.

Dine and Drink

The Quad City Botanical Center will celebrate the final Lights and Flights event of the holiday season from 6 to 8:30 p.m. on Thursday at the center.

Spend the evening viewing the Winter Lights display and sampling beer and pizza from two Rock Island businesses. Radicle Effect Brewerks will be serving up sample flights and Huckleberry's will dish out an artisanal sampler of Italian food. There will also be live music by Roger Carlson and friends.

Tickets cost $30 and include admission to the lights display, one flight of beer, one flight of food and access to the Lights and Flights area. Designated Driver tickets are also available for $20 and include one non-alcoholic drink, Huckleberry's flight, admission to the light display and access to the Lights and Flights room.

Participants must be 21 years or older and show a valid ID to enter the Lights and Flights room.

Advanced ticket purchase is highly recommended. For more information or to purchase tickets, visit https://www.simpletix.com/e/lights-flights-tickets-150370.
The city of Eldridge approved an agreement with its embattled police chief on Tuesday that allowed him to retire.

It was announced last week that Chief Joseph Sisler would be allowed to retire Jan. 2 rather than face possible termination over the city's allegations that he failed to investigate in a timely manner the sexual abuse of a teen by a former Eldridge officer.

Council members unanimously approved the agreement. Council member Daniel Collins was not present at the meeting.

There was an agreement reached on both sides, City Administrator Nevada Lemke said. It came out as good as it could for both sides. There will be healing in time, and we can all move on.

I think it went the best way it could, all things considered, she added.

Lemke did not discuss any of the terms of the separation agreement but said the city council plans to take a final vote on the matter at Tuesdays city council meeting. The city has not yet posted an agenda for the meeting on its website.

Sisler's attorney, Skylar Limkemann, said the final offer to Sisler came from the city and was approved by both Sisler's and the city's attorney. Limkemann said mayor Frank King approved the agreement.

The Eldridge City Council has held multiple meetings specifically on Sisler's employment, including a pre-termination hearing on Nov. 28 in which he and his attorney presented their case.

The city accused Sisler of failing to promptly investigate allegations that one of his officers was sexually abusing a 14-year-old girl.

Former Eldridge Police Officer Andrew DeNoyer pleaded guilty to three counts of third-degree sexual abuse on June 14, 2022, and was sentenced July 29 of that year to 10 years in prison on each count, to run concurrently.

On Aug. 9, 2023, the girls parents filed a lawsuit against the city of Eldridge and Sisler, claiming that the girl's father had made a statement to Sisler that DeNoyer was sexually abusing his underage daughter.

DeNoyer was hired under the previous police chief, but Sisler was leading the department when the statement was made.

Eldridge placed Sisler on administrative leave with pay on Oct. 16 for allegedly violating city guidelines for not activating his bodycam during an incident with the girl's parents, and for allegedly not investigating the claims that DeNoyer was sexually abusing their daughter.

During a special open council meeting held Nov. 28, Limkemann told city council members that the girl's father went to the police station on June 23, 2021, but never made a complaint, instead filing a written statement and saying he wanted DeNoyer kept away from his daughter. He also said he did not want DeNoyer to get in trouble.

On Sept. 23, 2021, DeNoyer and another officer were giving a presentation at the girls school and the girl had a medical incident. When the girls mother arrived, she was angry that DeNoyer had been near her daughter.

On a police officers body cam that day, Sisler can be seen arguing with the girls parents.

Throughout the video, Limkemann said, the girl's parents stated they did not want to make a complaint or start a criminal investigation.

Sisler then told the parents they should come by the office the next day, Sept. 24, 2021. The parents told Sisler they would think about it overnight. When they didnt show up, Sisler contacted the Iowa Division of Criminal Investigation. The girls parents, however, filled out a complaint with the Scott County Sheriffs Department, which also contacted the Iowa Division of Criminal Investigation.

When the Sheriff's Office contacted DCI, it was learned that Sisler had already contacted DCI about DeNoyer.

Limkemann said that until the argument with the girl's parents outside of the school, Sisler hadnt connected all the dots, but that's when he decided to contact the Division of Criminal Investigation.

According to the lawsuit, at least one of the incidents occurred after the June 2021 statement the girl's father filed with Sisler, after Sisler was to have told DeNoyer to not have any contact with the family.

In one area of the court documents, two of the offenses occurred on Aug. 19, 2020, while the third occurred May 1, 2021.

The trial information charges DeNoyer from Aug. 19, 2020, through the date of his arrest on Sept. 28, 2021.

Sisler said during the open meeting he wished he had read the initial statement. But, he said, with the father not wanting anything done, there was no reason to. Sisler said he never knew or suspected that DeNoyer had committed sexual abuse until the investigation by DCI was done, nor was he covering anything up.

On Sept. 27, 2021, agents with the Division of Criminal Investigation interviewed DeNoyer at 8 p.m. at his home. DeNoyer resigned that night.

This story has been updated with comment from Sisler's attorney.
Russia told Korea on Wednesday not to be surprised if Moscow retaliates against Seoul for expanding the list of goods which cannot be exported from the East Asian nation to Russia without special permission.

Seoul said this week it would add over 600 types of goods which could potentially be used for military purposes to its export control list for Russia.

The list includes heavy construction equipment, rechargeable batteries, aeronautical components, and some cars.

Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova told a news briefing on Wednesday:

"This is an unfriendly move taken at Washington's behest. It will damage South Korea's own economy and industry.

"We reserve the right to take measures in response, and not necessarily symmetrical ones. They (the South Koreans) should not be surprised (if and when we do)." (Reuters)
A Davenport man already facing a charge of sexual abuse for an incident that allegedly occurred in 2020 was arrested Wednesday on additional sex abuse charges that stem from incidents in 2006 and 2013.

Darrques Breon Rhoden, 39, is charged in Scott County District Court with one count of third-degree sexual abuse for an incident in Davenport in 2013. The charge is a Class C felony under Iowa law that carries a prison sentence of 10 years.

According to the affidavit filed by Davenport Police Detective Maureen Hammes, Rhoden engaged in a sex act with a person without their consent. The act took place on or about June 1, 2013, in the 600 block of Waverly Road.

Bettendorf police arrested Rhoden on the 2006 charge of assault with the intent to commit sexual abuse, an aggravated misdemeanor that carries a prison sentence of two years.

According to the arrest affidavit in that case filed by Bettendorf Police Officer Matt Broders, in 2006 Rhoden inappropriately touched an 8-year-old victim while the victim was sleeping in a Bettendorf home.

Rhoden was arrested Wednesday and booked into the Scott County Jail.

During a first appearance on the charges in Scott County District Court, Magistrate Eric Syverud scheduled a preliminary hearing in the cases for Jan. 5.

Rhoden was released from the Scott County Jail after posting 10% of bonds totaling $12,000 through a bonding company.

Rhoden was arrested May 2 on a charge of third-degree sexual abuse for allegedly committing a sex act on an incapacitated person while he was working at Genesis Medical Center West, Davenport. According to the arrest affidavit filed in the case by Hammes, the act occurred on July 31, 2020.
If youre hosting a celebration in 2024, the 47th annual Bridal Showcase is the one-stop wedding and party planning event you need.

Sally Samuelsen Wharton, coordinator of the Bridal Showcase, describes the event as the ultimate location where couples can meet vendors, sample food and wedding cake, and plan their wedding in one stop. The Bridal Showcase attracts couples from around the region and even from other states.

The showcase gives future brides and grooms the opportunity to meet professionals who can help them achieve their dream wedding. About 65 vendors will be at the Bridal Showcase including photographers, florists, DJs, hotel and reception facility coordinators, jewelry professionals, wedding planners and officiants, beauty and makeup experts and more.

The 2024 Bridal Showcase takes place from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday, Jan. 6 at Best Western Ramkota Hotel in Rapid City, with bridal fashion shows at noon and 3 p.m. Tickets at the door are $10 per person. Tickets in advance are $7.50 per person, or couples can choose a new, online only VIP package for $28 with two tickets for admission and two drink tickets.

Samuelsen Wharton anticipates about 800 people will attend this years Bridal Showcase.

Because so many vendors for special events participate in the Bridal Showcase, its an ideal opportunity for people who are planning family reunions, graduations, retirement parties or even business gatherings to meet vendors and plan their events, Samuelsen Wharton said.

I do try to remind people that although we specialize in the bridal industry, every business is represented that you need for any special event  photographers and caterers and venues and music, she said.

Researching businesses online doesnt provide the same experience as meeting vendors face to face to see their products and get a sense of their personalities.

You get the experience of who owns this, who will I be booking with, how do they tailor their business to something I might want for my wedding. You can only get that experience if you go to the Bridal Showcase or go to their business, Samuelsen Wharton said.

You can get everybody in one place so its much easier to (compare) vendors, she said. Theres nothing like being able to talk to people and ask them about their business. Its such a time-saver for people.

Vendors know brides and grooms are planning now for weddings that may be happening in 2024 or into 2025, Samuelsen Wharton said.

This year Ive had people reach out to me from as far as Gillette, Wyoming, and everywhere in between, venues that have been wanting to be in the show, she said. We work really hard at giving brides and grooms a variety of businesses (to meet).

They want to get in front of the curve and want to be able to reach out to their audience (brides and grooms), and this is the perfect opportunity for them to do that, she said.

The Bridal Showcase attracts couples locally, and from Wyoming, Nebraska and Minnesota. As destination weddings increase in popularity, the Black Hills appeals to couples who are interested in getting married in the region, Samuelsen Wharton said.

Now more than ever, couples have a variety of wedding venues to choose from throughout the Black Hills and into Wyoming.

After a bride gets engaged, about the next thing they think of is what kind of wedding do I want to have, which means the venue. The venue sets the stage for the entire theme of the wedding, Samuelsen Wharton said.

The number one call I had this year was from venues. I have had more venues reach out to me this year than in all the years Ive done the show, Samuelsen Wharton said.

Its wonderful for the brides. They will have a large variety of places they can consider.  These are business people who are putting a big investment into these very nice venues, she said. The advantage to a couple attending the Showcase is that they always hear about new things, new businesses that are getting ready to open or that recently opened and they premiere their business at the Bridal Showcase.

Theres a variety of prizes at the Bridal Showcase, too, that will appeal to brides and grooms. These include a $750 gift certificate from Riddle's Jewelry, overnight stays, dinner gift certificates, gift cards and gift baskets. In total, a little more than $10,000 in prizes will be given away, and one of the most unique prizes is a two-night stay with merchandise and a buffalo tour from Elkhorn Ridge in Spearfish, valued at $1,865. A prize always popular with the grooms is a 50-inch flatscreen LED 4K Smart Fire TV.

Men wont feel out of place, Samuelsen Wharton said. We do get more and more men that come. Theyre generally a little bit older and they want to be involved in the wedding. They want to help make decisions about the DJ, about the photographer.  Grooms are welcome.

Fashion shows

A highlight of the Bridal Showcase every year is the fashion shows at noon and 3 p.m. that preview the latest wedding wear.

Whether brides dream of a romantic, ethereal gown or a dress thats edgy and dramatic, theyll find it among the wedding fashions for 2024.

Black is still very much on trend. Were starting to see a lot more sparkle and pearl accents on gowns, a very sleek, sophisticated look, said Frankie Stone, owner of Audras Bridal Gallery in Rapid City.

Edgier fashions that have been a trend are making their way to South Dakota, including dresses with bodices that resemble corsets.

I always like to show edgy and different things to have brides think about it a little bit, Stone said. We try to cater to everybodys tastes and their likes. Well throw in trendy (styles) and a variety of things.

For brides who want two different looks from one dress, detachable sleeves are popular accessories. Brides who opt for whimsy may like wedding dresses adorned with colored embroidery resembling watercolor flowers, Stone said.

Audras carries an array of jean and leather jackets too, that brides can wear with their wedding dress, at their bridal shower or gift to a maid of honor or bridesmaids.

New this year, National Dance Clubs dancers will perform during the fashion show, Samuelsen Wharton said.

National Dance Clubs will be there as a sponsor and offering dance instruction as a prize, and also to help educate brides and grooms as to their level of services. That will be really fun, she said.

Samuelsen Wharton said some people attend the Bridal Showcase simply because its an enjoyable event.

Some people come to sample the food, watch the fashion show and pick up information on businesses theyve never heard of, she said. New Years is over, and for the price it is a fun thing to do on a cold winter day.
Birders and citizen scientists of the Bitterroot Valley are invited to dust off their binoculars and head out into the field for the 59th annual Stevensville Christmas Bird Count.

Bitterroot Audubon will host the Stevensville Christmas Bird Count on Dec. 30 starting at 7:30 a.m. Participants will meet in the basement meeting room of the Stevensville Ranger District, located at 88 Main St., in Stevensville, where organizers will form groups for carpools and count circles will be assigned. Beginning birders are encouraged to attend and will be paired with more experienced participants. Birders can count for just the morning or into the afternoon.

Well get people who maybe have not participated before or dont feel confident as birdwatchers, said Deborah Goslin, Christmas Bird Count Compiler. We can pair them up with people who are more experienced, and then, you know, it makes it makes it fun for everybody.

There will not be a meeting for lunch this year, so participants are advised to bring their own snacks or food. Goslin also recommends bringing a pair of binoculars if you have them, and to dress appropriately for the weather conditions.

This will be the National Audubon Societys 124th year of conducting Christmas Bird Counts, with counts taking place across the U.S., Canada, Mexico and Central America. Every year between Dec. 14 and Jan. 5, birders take to the field to count as many birds as possible within a 7.5 mile radius and report the results. Results from approximately 2,500 counts are compiled to give a moment-in-time measurement of bird populations across North and Central America.

Birders in the Stevensville area have tallied 12,674 birds during the count, identifying 77 avian species, with a cumulative total of 158 species over 58 years.

We have a bird count in Stevensville, Hamilton, the Big Hole, Missoula, and Big Fork  all across Montana, Goslin said. That that can give the people who analyze the data some insights into the population trends of the species that we see.

Bitterroot Audubon is also looking to enlist the help of feeder watchers. If you live within 15 miles of the Stevensville Ranger District and have a feeder in your yard, you can also participate by counting and identifying the species that visit on Dec. 30. Feeder watchers add around five species to the count annually in the Bitterroot Valley. To participate as a feeder watcher contact Deborah Goslin at 406-214-7879.

For more information go to https://www.bitterrootaudubon.org/ or email 1stevicbc@gmail.com.
Now that packages have been opened and ribbons are tucked away, we've all got soaps, hats and books waiting to see if we'll keep them or send them on to someone new. There are several philosophies about regifting, but I tend to think if it's still in tidy workable shape, it's fair game for passing on without guilt or disrespect to the original giver. Especially when it comes to books.

Now that our friends and family members can read or listen to books on their phone, it can be much more difficult to know each title your loved one is reading. I'm also guilty of giving the same title to a friend in consecutive years due to general muddy headedness and the true conviction that Leah really, really should read "ESCAPEs" by Daniel Tunnard.

Maybe it's my age (42) or the previously mentioned muddy brain, but puzzles are among my very favorite gifts to receive. They are simultaneously fun, solo activities that make me feel clever. Nothing else about being a parent or business owner does all that. The following titles all include puzzles of some kind.

"ESCAPEs" by Daniel Tunnard imagines a world in which Scrabble games are as riveting and lucrative as poker is in this reality. Tunnard writes cheekily as though he is interviewing actual players (a la William Goldman's "good parts" in "The Princess Bride"). The central characters, former world champions and lovers, Florence Satine and Buenaventura Escobar are playing their final game. Each chapter shows their board and holds the next word that will be placed.

All the words in their game are bi-lingual. The plot is hilarious in its seriousness. There is a mafia of grandmothers pulling the strings. "ESCAPEs" is probably enjoyable if the reader doesn't care about Scrabble, but it is gold for those of us who do care.

"Murder on the Christmas Express" and "The Christmas Jigsaw Murders" by Alexandra Benedict both center on puzzlers caught in the middle of a murder investigation.

In "Express," Roz Parker, retired detective, is on her way to meet her new granddaughter and a killer is on the same Christmas Eve train to Scotland. Then the snow traps everyone far from civilization. Roz suffers from trauma-related anxiety and has sworn to give her family the attention it deserves, but finds her own crime-solving brain won't stop trying to connect the dots. The weather is only going to get worse before it gets better. Can she solve it before the killer strikes again?

"Jigsaw" (only available as an audiobook) is told from multiple perspectives (including the killer's) and the detective finds his octogenarian 'Crossword Queen' aunt trying to solve the mystery before he can. Is she as clever as she believes? Should she leave it in the hands of the police? Benedict creates loveable curmudgeons and hides real puzzles throughout her stories.

My post-holiday read, "The Fellowship of Puzzlemakers" by Samuel Burr, opens with the ultimate mystery: who would leave a baby on the doorstep of a puzzle society? Now 26, Clayton Stumper is the ultimate "old man in a young man's body," but what do you expect from someone raised by an aging population of polymaths? Available in April 2024, this is a charming book to look forward to.
PETERSBURG  In their previous careers, the employees at Civica Inc. worked in banking, automobiles and for the state government. They lived in Hopewell, Hampton and as far away as Dallas.

Now theyve come to a plant in Petersburg to work in an industry that never existed here before  building medicine.

Although the facility wont start producing insulin until next year, Civicas existence here is already creating ripple effects. After it announced plans to sell generic insulin at 10% of the retail cost, the three biggest insulin manufacturing giants in the United States announced they would slash prices.

Civicas mission of making affordable drugs and eliminating medicine shortages is largely what drew them in. Many of them have relatives who could not afford the high cost of insulin or were forced to wait for a medicine that was on delay.

Civicas work speaks to a lot of people, said Benjamin Jarvela, who left a career as a state worker last year to become the plants communications and public affairs manager.

A nonprofit drug maker, Civica was founded in 2018 by hospitals and insurers tired of paying the high cost for drugs. In 2021, it announced it would build a $125 million facility in Petersburg to make what is essentially generic insulin and other in-demand medicines.

The Utah-based company chose Petersburg because of the conscientious and strategic drug making initiative recently started here. Virginia Commonwealth Universitys Medicines for All rebuilds drugs with cheaper ingredients, then gives away the formula for free. Phlow Corp., founded in 2020, received a $354 million federal contract to build a national stockpile of key medicines. The U.S. learned during the pandemic that many medicines Americans depend on are built in China or India and supply chain interruptions or political forces can delay their delivery. Ampac Fine Chemicals, also in Petersburg, builds the medicines ingredients.

In less than five years, greater Richmond has started a drug manufacturing industry. Now, Civica has hired 111 employees here as it prepares to package and sell insulin beginning next year.

The partnership, known as the Alliance for Building Better Medicine, has gotten a lot of money and attention. Last year, the federal government awarded it $53 million from the Build Back Better Regional Challenge. In the fall, the government deemed the alliance an official tech hub, which allows the partners to apply for more federal funding.

Diane Jordan first heard about Civica in 2021, when she read an article in the Richmond Times-Dispatch about the companys plans for the Petersburg facility. About six months later, she saw a job posting on Civicas website.

Though she had worked in the banking industry for 20 years, she applied for a job as a document control administrator. Now she manages Civicas vast library of forms and computer files dictating how Civicas systems comply with the Food and Drug Administration.

Tomeka Fortune was on vacation in San Diego when she received a LinkedIn message from a recruiter. She does not know how the recruiter found her, but the pitch was for a startup in Virginia. At the time, Fortune was living in Dallas and working for Nissans human resources department.

The timing was right. Nissan was about to move Fortunes job to Mississippi. She watched a video about Civica and its plan for eradicating medicine shortages. She decided shed rather go to Virginia  her adult son had moved out, and she had family in Charlottesville. She started at Civica in September.

Why not try something new? she said.

Civicas work reached Fortune on a personal level, too. Her mother, now in her early 70s, has diabetes and could not always get her medicine because of shortages. So she received smaller doses and went back to the pharmacy when more was available. Fortunes father has psoriasis and needed creams that cost upward of $1,000.

Erica Brown, a manufacturing technician, saw her aunts and uncles struggle to afford their medications. They might wait to pay the electric bill or go short on food for a few days, she said.

Before she joined Civica, Brown worked in pharmaceutical transportation at DHL. When it shut down its Henrico County warehouse, it gave employees a list of places that were hiring. Civica was on the list, and she was hired last year.

Asked about salaries, Jarvela said that while there are several reasons why people joined the nonprofit, its mission is the primary draw.

A person with diabetes might pay $500 a month for insulin. Civica said it will do something no U.S. company has ever done  make essentially generic insulin and charge $30 per vial and $55 for a box of five preloaded pens.

In March, Civicas work received serious recognition. Eli Lilly & Co., a large insulin builder, announced it would cut prices and cap a patients cost at $35 a month. It was a big, happy moment for Civicas employees.

Though the competitors have lowered their prices, Civica is not backing down from its plan. If Civica were to exit, Jarvela said, the other companies might raise their prices again. Civica has to stay in order to hold down the price floor.

Were going to be the conscience of the marketplace, Jarvela said.

Inside the plant, the employees continue to build and test the high-tech equipment. Much of the building is considered a clean room, and employees wear coveralls to protect the medicines from hair and dirt.

Workers have built two filling lines, one that can fill 400 vials a minute with medicine and then heat them to 600 degrees Fahrenheit, burning off any germs or particles. A second line fills 200 syringes a minute.

Still unfinished is a third line that will fill cartridges that can be inserted into a pen. Each line fills a different kind of container based on the medicine being produced. Civica will produce other medicines at the Petersburg facility, but it has not announced what they will be.

In the back of the building is a large space where workers will package and test the medicine. At a rapid speed, cameras inspect the vials for cracks or unwanted particles that may have contaminated the medicine. Once finished, the medicine will exit through an airlock and board a truck.

When the facility reaches capacity, it will have 250 employees. A research facility in Chesterfield County will hire an additional 50.

To educate the workforce, Brightpoint Community College in Chesterfield created a certificate program in pharmaceutical manufacturing, which began in the fall of 2022. It has drawn 64 students so far and takes two semesters to finish.

The Community College Workforce Alliance, a joint venture between Brightpoint and J. Sargeant Reynolds Community College, created a workforce credential last summer. That program, which takes four months, has attracted more than 30 students.

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The state organization in charge of Virginias opioid settlement money has begun its task in earnest.

In 2021, lawmakers created the Opioid Abatement Authority, a state agency to oversee the distribution of more than $500 million that the state expects to receive from companies like Walgreens, CVS, Purdue Pharma, and others involved in making or distributing opioid pills.

The authority, which has garnered acclaim for its work, has to date granted around $34 million in a multi-pronged strategy to combat opioid addiction, including funding clinics, Narcan, mobile outreach units, and medical treatment programs for the incarcerated, plus advertising campaigns to educate the public.

The breakdown of how the authority is dispersing the funds comes from its own records and also from interviews with agencies and departments throughout the state.

Virginia didnt ask to be at the epicenter of the opioid crisis, but we were, said state Sen. Todd Pillion, R-Washington County and chairman of the authoritys Board of Directors. Now we are committed to be a national leader in bringing the crisis to an end.

Around $23 million has gone directly to Virginia cities and counties. Locally, a mobile outreach project in Chesterfield won $1.6 million in funding from the agency. A group that embeds recovered addicts with first responders, Project Recover, won $214,000 to expand into Hanover County.

And a project in Henrico County was funded to the tune of $700,000. The initiative, an outpatient program for mothers, is expected to serve 30 women and their children in Henrico, Charles City and New Kent Counties.

You think about those kids. Its a preventative measure for the next generation, said Leslie Stephen, director of Henricos Division of Substance Abuse & Prevention Services in a county press release. What we want is to have people come into services and start or continue their recovery journey.

Another approximate $11 million was awarded to state agencies. Those include universities, the Department of Education, the Office of the Attorney General, the Department of Health, and the Department of Corrections.

The Attorney Generals office told the authority it will purchase advertising spots to educate Virginians about the dangers of opioids. The ads will run through March of 2024.

The Department of Corrections is using $1.2 million to begin rolling out medication for addicts in its prisons. The program, known as medication-assisted treatment, involves administering a monthly shot that helps manage opioid addiction. The program will treat 30 incarcerated individuals in its first year, according to the agencys application to the Authority.

Around $650,000 of that will go towards purchasing the injectable drug, Sublocade, from a Chesterfield-based pharmaceutical company, Indivior. Each injection costs $1,800, the application shows.

Indivior is also a defendant in the national opioid settlement. In its 2022 financial statement, the company said it set aside around $240 million to prepare for further legal settlements on claims it inappropriately marketed one of its products, Suboxone, which contains an opioid known as buprenorphine.

On Dec. 4, the authority approved another $470,00 to 10 Virginia cities and counties. Most of those funds will go towards planning grants, the agency said.

Tony McDowell, who has directed the allocations of funds, has said transparency around the money is critical. McDowell implemented a gold standard for applicants seeking funds. The optional standard adds transparency requirements that werent required by the national opioid settlement. It offers a 25% grant bonus for applicants who comply.

McDowell has been adamant in promoting the highest and strictest level of requirements to funds distributed by the authority.

The practice of instituting stringent guidelines has earned it praise. In October, the authority won an award from the Johns Hopkins School of Public Health. The award selection committee said it was particularly impressed with the Gold Standard incentive.

The City of Richmond is slated to receive around $5.2 million by the year 2039. Much of that money arrived this year. The city will receive $223,000 every year from the authority for the next 15 years, according to data from the Office of the Attorney General.

Richmonds Behavioral Health Authority, the citys community service board, is pitching the city on funding a women and childrens recovery house. The agencys director, Jim May, hopes City Council will bite on the idea, but says nothing is certain.

Were trying to influence a process that we dont control, said Jim May.

May believes a capital project like a recovery home makes sense for short-term funds like those vested with the Authority.

Wed like to see some projects taken on that will last beyond the life of the funds, said May, who added that his organization cant do intakes fast enough to handle the high need seen in the City of Richmond, which remains Virginias overdose capital.

The Richmond Behavioral Health Authority is competing for a slice of the pie, however, with other organizations who need to pitch the city, and then the Authority, for money. Independent groups cant apply directly for the funds.

Competitors include Richmonds many certified peer recovery houses. Peer recovery houses are organizations where addicts in recovery shepherd addicts in active addiction. The model is based on the principles of 12-step, made famous by Alcoholics Anonymous.

The Authority does not oversee all of the money that Virginia is expected to receive. It only controls 55% of those funds, with the remainder going directly to localities and the state.

For money outside the authoritys control, the amount a locality receives is determined by a formula developed by University of Virginia Professor Christopher Ruhm. The formula measures harm per capita related to the opioid epidemic. The number is high in Richmond City and rural areas in Southwest Virginia.

Across all those recipients, the final total expected to arrive in Virginia remains in flux. The states share, previously estimated at over $1 billion, has shrunk since one of the drug distributors, Mallinckrodt, declared a second bankruptcy, allowing it to renegotiate how much it owed victims of the opioid epidemic.

The move cut $1 billion from the nationwide settlement fund.

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Jim Ryan looked troubled.

The University of Virginia president was meeting with his schools governing body, and he wanted guidance.

Days before, Ryan and much of the nation had watched as his counterparts at Harvard University, the University of Pennsylvania and the Massachusetts Institute of Technology were called before Congress, where they were questioned for hours about the rise in antisemitism on their campuses.

Does calling for the genocide of Jews violate [your universitys] rules or code of conduct, yes or no? asked Republican Rep. Elise Stefanik of New York in the most memorable exchanges of the Dec. 5 hearing.

None of the three university presidents answered with a simple yea or nay.

Many found the carefully worded, academic responses of the university presidents unsatisfactory. Some called for their resignations. That weekend, facing mounting pressure from donors, Pennsylvania Gov. Josh Shapiro, students and alumni, Penn President Liz Magill resigned.

One down. Two to go, tweeted Stefanik, celebrating the news.

One down.

Two to go.



This is only the very beginning of addressing the pervasive rot of antisemitism that has destroyed the most prestigious higher education institutions in America.



This forced resignation of the President of @Penn is the bare minimum of what is required.  Rep. Elise Stefanik (@RepStefanik) December 9, 2023

The hearing put the world of higher education on notice and raised questions about free speech on college campuses. What language and demonstrations should and shouldnt universities allow from students on their campuses in response to current events? And what should a university president say in response to those events, if anything?

So when Ryan met with UVas Board of Visitors on Dec. 8, the latter question appearing to weigh heavily on his mind, he came prepared with a suggestion: UVa could organize a committee to devise a set of guidelines that would help him determine if and when to respond.

I think I would start first with a question of whether we should be saying anything, he told the board. If the answer is under certain circumstances then the question would be, logistically, what are the principles about when and how youre going to say something?

It is no surprise Ryan was affected by the congressional hearing or Magills resignation. Magill happens to be a UVa Law School alumna who served as provost of the university under Ryan and at Ryans request from 2019 to 2022.

But there was another reason the whole affair might have been weighing on Ryans mind.

Days after Hamas bloody Oct. 7 attack on Israel, Ryan had issued a seven-paragraph statement of his own. The response to Ryans statement was split. There were some such as Virginia House Speaker Todd Gilbert, a Shenandoah Republican, who praised it. But there were others, including students at rallies and vigils on Grounds in the days immediately after the attack, who said it came too late or wasnt enough, missed the mark or shouldnt have been written at all.

The board agreed with Ryan: A committee should be created to help Ryan and determine when and how UVa communicates about issues or events that happen outside of the university community.

It would be very helpful to have a policy in place and have a group of folks who would look at this very carefully and determine what that ought to be, board member and former Democratic congressman L.F. Payne, appointed under Gov. Ralph Northam, told Ryan. Otherwise its an ad hoc, and you go through it over and over and over again.

Rachel Sheridan, a board member appointed by Youngkin this past summer, was also supportive, saying that such a committee could help take some pressure off Ryan.

I think itll be harder to come up with a policy, but I think its worth the exercise because the practice now of ad hoc response based on whether or not were crossing the street in a crowd because everyone else is doing it, that doesnt seem like the most appropriate place for us to be as an institution, Sheridan said. Obviously it can be institutionally harmful, as were seeing play out this week, and whats happening with miscommunication or direct communication by presidents are harming reputations of universities, period.

It is not the first time an institute of higher education has grappled with this question.

In 1967, as students across the country were protesting the Vietnam War, the University of Chicago created a committee charged with preparing a statement on the Universitys role in political and social action.

In slightly more than two pages, the committees report effectively said, Shut up.

This is a document that was drafted to support those people who thought that institutions ought to be completely neutral with respect to public issues that werent the immediate concern of the university, Princeton University professor Stanley Katz, who teaches public and international affairs and previously taught at the University of Chicago Law School, told The Daily Progress. So the university can speak on issues that affect, for instance, labor relations at the university, because thats a university issue. These principles would say it should not express an opinion about abortion.

Ryan referenced the report, christened the Kalven Report after Chicago law professor Harry Kalven who chaired the committee that drafted it, during the Board of Visitors meeting, noting one line in particular: The university is the home and sponsor of critics; it is not itself the critic.

In other words, it is not the universitys place to weigh in on matters that do not directly affect it.

If youre asked how do you feel about the rights of Palestinians, the Kalven Report is quite clear. Dont touch it. Thats not a UVa issue, Katz said, adding that while there is nothing inherently conservative about the Kalven principles, it is often conservatives who appeal to them.

On our campus, when colleagues think that the university president is being too forthcoming about a public issue, they cite the Kalven Report and tell him he shouldnt be doing it, he said.

What Ryan has proposed is not much different from the Kalven committees mission.

Its job was to articulate principles  which sounds like what is going on in Charlottesville  to determine when and if a university should make what were then called political statements, professor Austin Sarat, chair of the political science department at Amherst College, told The Daily Progress. Being a college president is hard enough. When you add to it that the college and university then has to be willing to speak about events in the wider world that dont have a direct and immediate tie into its central education mission, then the question is when does the president speak.

For Stanley Fish, the answer is quite simple.

Never, the dean emeritus of the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences at the University of Illinois at Chicago told The Daily Progress.

Fish, who has taught at universities across the country and currently is a professor at the New College of Florida, said his stance on the matter is unwavering. University presidents, he said, should not be commenting on affairs that dont directly affect their institution, in part because they are not qualified to do so.

The fact that you have an advanced degree does no give you eternal wisdom. It just gives you something like wisdom in your field, the one youve been studying in and writing about for years, he said. But having an advanced degree doesnt mean you are then an authorized commentator in worldly affairs.

The UVa committee, he expects, will be saying a lot of things I would consider mistaken.

His advice for future committee members?

Go home and do something more useful, he said. But if you get a committee together, itll talk for hours because theres nothing we academics like more than the sounds of our own voices.

Pete Mackey has worked in communications for multiple universities. Today he runs a consulting firm, Mackey Strategies, that advises colleges and universities.

I think its entirely legitimate for UVa to do this, and it may end up being very useful to them as a guide point, not only for leadership of the university but for their community to understand their approach to these matters, Mackey told The Daily Progress. It seems to me a wise idea to come to an understanding of what would be the basis for making a statement or determining you shouldnt make one as a matter of principle and a matter of philosophy, rather than deciding each matter as a one-off decision.

Ryans proposal could be especially useful in the age of social media, in which a controversy on campus can explode into national headlines. Mackey said, in some ways, universities are laboratories for some of the most consequential matters of society, with a tension between younger students and older faculty and alumni.

Theres this generational interplay of ideas that makes it sort of inevitable that there will be a conflict between right and wrong, between ideas on a rolling basis as the culture evolves, he said. You add social media into the mix, and youve sort of ratcheted up the likelihood of temperatures rising. Because any given campus matter through the prism of social media can quickly become a national matter.

The role of university presidents has changed significantly since the mid-20th century, when, according to Sarat, colleges were viewed as parents and protectors of students, issuing rules on such matters as whether students of the opposite sex could cohabitate in a dormitory. That changed in the late 1960s, when college students began to be treated as adults and universities as institutions providing guardrails and infrastructure.

In some ways, universities today have gone back to the future, taking on more of a pastoral role to make sure all students feel safe and welcomed.

I think we have to recognize that were in a different world in higher education, and there are good reasons were in a different world, and universities understand that its not enough just to educate minds, Sarat said. The college and university educate persons with minds, and if a person doesnt thrive, then the mind cant function as well as we demand that it does in higher education.

Universities today, he said, are centers of care.

The role of colleges and universities is not to tell students they cant be in each others dorm rooms but to, in a sense, provide validation of the personal and the cultural, political and social concerns of the students and to some extent of faculty and staff, he said.

Perhaps that is why some university presidents feel compelled to release statements, as a way of making their students feel validated and safe. But that approach may need to be reexamined.

It asks presidents to do things maybe they ought not be doing and asks them to do things maybe theyre not singularly qualified to do, said Sarat. As you saw with MIT, Penn and Harvard, it puts them in the crosshair of political and cultural controversies that open universities up to further kinds of political criticisms.

The UVa committee, then, could be quite useful, argued Sarat and Katz. With a list of principles to abide by, the university would not have to randomly pick and choose when to issue a statement.

It gives the university something to, at the very least, rationalize what it does. And I think thats really very important, said Katz. I think that puts [Ryan] in a much better position. And I think thats better for the campus, because it guarantees that there is some agreed-upon general principles.

But its no panacea. Ryan could always be challenged by elected officials in Richmond or Washington, just like his counterparts at Harvard, Penn and MIT.

Those three presidents were dragged in front of Congress because Rep. Stefanik wanted to get them. And if theres a reason why she or somebody else wants to get Ryan, nothing will protect him. Thats politics. Thats not principle, said Katz.

It could be some time before the committee comes together, and the university doesnt yet have details on how its members would be selected. But Ryan at the Board of Visitors meeting referenced the Committee on Free Expression and Free Inquiry, which he said took roughly a year to draft a statement that was adopted by the board in 2021. Ironically, one of the appointees on that committee was none other than Liz Magill.

These topics, once you dig into them, unless everybodys going to agree you, should never say anything, period. They take a little bit of time, Ryan said.

The wait could be worth it. If and when the committee comes together, Sarat will be cheering for its success.

I think its extraordinarily important for the future of higher education in the U.S., and I expect that what UVa does will be to this generation what the Kalven Report was to the generation of the 1960s, he said. I, for one, cant wait to read their report.
After flipping the House of Delegates in November, Virginia Democrats will control the House Education Committee as well as the Senate education panel, which means Gov. Glenn Youngkin will likely need to compromise in order to advance any of his education agenda in the upcoming legislative session.

During the previous two legislative sessions, the Democratic-controlled Senate Education and Health Committee positioned itself as a brick wall to Youngkins education agenda while the Republican-controlled House education panel advanced his agenda, resulting in gridlock.

Incoming House Speaker Don Scott Jr., D-Portsmouth, announced Dec. 4 that he has selected Del. Sam Rasoul, D-Roanoke, to chair the House Education Committee. Rasoul, the only remaining Democratic legislator west of the Blue Ridge, has served in the House since 2014.

Rasoul says his priorities for the House Education Committee are increasing teacher pay, mental health supports for students, school construction investments, and expanding the community schools initiative.

Teachers and other state employees are set to receive a 2% pay raise after lawmakers and Youngkin came to a budget agreement in September on revisions to the current two-year budget that ends June 30, 2024. Rasoul said he wants to continue the progress this year, and make concrete strides toward paying Virginia teachers above the national average. He also wants to build on the school construction investments that the legislature has worked on over the past few years.

Rasoul has long been an advocate of community schools, which are hubs that offer on-site services for students, like primary health and dental care, mentoring, tutoring or social services. In 2020, Rasoul introduced legislation that aimed to help Virginia schools transition to community schools by allowing nonprofits and other social services to be available on school campuses.

Studies of community schools that have been running for more than five years have shown higher standardized reading and math scores, better attendance rates and greater parental involvement.

In presenting his two-year budget proposal on Dec. 20, Youngkin said: In K-12 education, we continue to invest in great teaching, great schools, and even greater flexible pathways.

Rasoul said he sees the opportunity to find common ground on some issues with Youngkin. Democrats, who will hold a 51-49 edge in the House and a 21-19 edge in the Senate, will not have the power to override a veto.

Places where we can work together, where theres common accord include mental health and some student mental health work as well, Rasoul said.

Youngkins proposed two-year budget includes $23 million to expand access to school-based mental health services for children.

But generally, Rasoul said, Youngkins budget proposal leaves much to be desired with the investments in education. He spoke shortly after the governor unveiled his proposed budget.

Statewide, the governors proposed two-year budget includes a $300 million decrease in general funds for public K-12 education compared with the current funding level.

The Youngkin administration says it is not obligated to replace one-time federal COVID allocations with ongoing state funds. Democrats assert that the Youngkin administration is using those federal funds to offset the rising cost of educating students.

Sen. Ghazala Hashmi, D-Chesterfield, the incoming chair of the Senate Education and Health Committee, and Del. Carrie Coyner, R-Chesterfield, recently wrote an opinion column in the Richmond Times-Dispatch in which they asserted that Virginias funding formula for K-12 education is broken. Hashmi is the former director of the Center For Excellence In Teaching & Learning at Reynolds Community College. Coyner is a former member of the Chesterfield County School Board.

Citing a study that the legislatures watchdog agency released in July, the lawmakers wrote that the formula grossly underestimates the actual cost of a quality public education in Virginia and that, in turn, leads to state underfunding, leaving localities to make up the shortfall.

Speaking of Youngkins budget proposal, Rasoul said: Virginia needs to do a lot more to be able to care for our students with disabilities. There were no additional funds there and thats a struggle.

He also said: We are one of the worst states with regards to how we fund programs that help our English language learners, our ELL students, and there were no additional funds there.

He added: It was a struggle to see where weve made real (progress) on education in this proposed budget. We certainly will have a lot of work to do.

Today in history: Dec. 27 1932: Radio City Music Hall 1968: Apollo 8 1985: Airport Attacks 1985: Dian Fossey 2000: Roger Gregory 2001: Guantanamo Bay 2012: Norman Schwarzkopf 2016: Shinzo Abe 2017: Disneyland 2017: Jose Altuve 2020: Donald Trump 2020: Nashville 2021: USS Milwaukee
The Virginia Department of Health on Thursday announced the states first influenza-associated pediatric death of the 2023-24 flu season.

Officials said a child in eastern Virginia died this week from complications associated with the flu.

We ... are broken-hearted and extend our sympathies to the family of this child during this difficult time, State Health Commissioner Dr. Karen Shelton said in a statement.

Larry Hill, a spokesperson for the VDH, said cases of influenza are expected to increase in the coming days as the weather grows colder and people return from gathering for the holidays. While experts anticipate the 2023-24 flu season will fall within the typical range of severity, Hill said that even typical seasons can result in illness, hospitalizations and death.

For the week that ended Saturday, emergency department and urgent care visits for flu-like illnesses across Virginia accounted for almost 7% of all visits, Hill said. State health officials reported five influenza-related deaths among children during last years flu season.

Shelton urged Virginians to get vaccinated against the virus to protect both themselves (and) those around them.

Even though the flu is common, it can cause serious illness and even death, Shelton said.

VDH officials said Virginians above the age of 6 months should receive the annual vaccine, but that only 27% of eligible Virginians have been vaccinated this season.

Flu vaccination reduced the risk of flu-related emergency department and urgent care visits by almost half and hospitalization by more than a third among U.S. adults during the 2022-23 season, Hill said. With flu activity increasing in Virginia, now is still a good time to get a flu vaccine if you have not already.

From the archives: 65 photos of Richmond in the 1930s
Looking for a ray of hope in 2024? Try getting on the bus.

The Greater Richmond Transit Company is experiencing an unprecedented growth spurt. Beginning in January, GRTC will extend four, full-service bus lines deep into Chesterfield and Henrico counties, for the first time crossing into rural Goochland. A second, north-south Pulse bus rapid transit line is in the works, micro-transit services are on the drawing board in harder-to-reach suburban locations and  for the first time since COVID-19  the bus company is fully staffed with drivers.

With public transit in most major cities under duress, GRTC is absolutely resurgent: Total ridership hit 9.3 million in fiscal year 2023, blowing past pre-pandemic levels. And the numbers for the current fiscal year are expected to eclipse 10 million.

All the growth has led to something else: GRTC, for decades resigned to Richmonds old streetcar routes with limited service into Henrico and next to no service in Chesterfield, is suddenly transforming into a truly regional transit system.

Whats happening in January is really remarkable, said the Rev. Ben Campbell, former chairman of the GRTC board of directors and a longtime advocate for public transit, in an interview Wednesday. To expand the service to Short Pump, to actually go into Goochland County, to develop the extension of the BRT, to be strengthening the service  all of that represents for us our final awareness that we need to function effectively and creatively as a community.

To the unfamiliar, GRTC has long been anything but. Racial politics, white flight and Virginias legislation of independent cities historically put the transit system on an island, with little space to grow.

In truth, since the 1970s our transit system has been so restricted that the recent progress feels like an exaggeration, the disparities so ingrained that they were overlooked: How the lack of public transportation reinforced economic isolation after desegregation, cutting off lower-income families from access to job centers in the growing suburbs, creating ever-concentrating pockets of poverty. How the lack of bus access limits regional educational opportunities, access to health care for immobile seniors, the inability to reach critical government services.

One of the low points came in 2011, when a study by the Brookings Institution found the Richmond region, out of the 100 largest U.S. metros, ranked 92nd in connecting residents to jobs. Up until the last few years, GRTC, half owned by Chesterfield County, was relegated to the hamster wheel, a well-run city system that served as an unwitting tool of economic oppression.

The tide turned in 2018, when GRTC introduced its Pulse BRT in downtown Richmond, launched a redesigned bus network in the city and expanded service in Henrico. Using a federal Transportation Investment Generating Economic Recovery grant, the system saw ridership increase nearly 20%.

Then came the blue wave. In February of 2020, with COVID-19 at Virginias doorstep, the General Assembly approved the Central Virginia Transportation Authority (CVTA), which created a special fund for transportation projects in metro Richmond thanks to a surcharge on sales and gasoline taxes collected in the regions nine localities. That new money is funneled to the localities for road infrastructure and transportation projects, with 15% set aside specifically for GRTC.

The surcharges  0.7 percentage point increase in the state sales tax, along with a 7.6-cent add on to the wholesale gasoline tax, and 7.7-cent increase in the wholesale diesel tax  is now generating more than $200 million a year for transportation projects, with GRTC netting roughly $30 million.

Having a committed funding stream has been a game-changer.

Where GRTC is now compared to where we were a year and a half ago  were light years ahead, Tyrone Nelson, chair of the GRTC board of directors, and a Henrico County supervisor, said in an interview in late November. (Nelson joined the GRTC board in October of 2022, when it expanded to include three members in Henrico, another milestone.)

Sheryl Adams, who was named chief executive in January, says GRTC is now fully staffed with 308 bus operators, up from a post-pandemic low of 235 a year ago. On-the-job stress during COVID restrictions led to departures, along with fierce competition for commercial drivers, forcing GRTC to raise wages and institute an in-house commercial drivers license training program.

Having a full complement of operators allows us to bring our service levels to pre-pandemic levels, she said in a recent interview. The Pulse, currently operating at a 15-minute frequency, will be back to 10 minutes in January. It also means GRTC can ramp up its full-service line to Short Pump, for example, and begin its eight-mile expansion westward on U.S. Route 60 in Chesterfield County, a major retail and jobs corridor, to the Walmart near Midlothian Village. A decade ago, full-service buses in the heart of Midlothian was little more than a pipe dream.

None of it would have been possible without the CVTA and GRTCs decision to eliminate bus fares system-wide in March of 2020, thanks primarily to federal and state grants. Eliminating fares allowed GRTC to improve efficiency, increase frequency of stops and grow ridership dramatically. Its an oddity of transit economics that fares represent such a small percentage of GRTCs $86 million in annual revenues  roughly 10%, or $8 million, pre-pandemic  but its been absolutely critical to the systems growth in the last four years. The remaining state funding, however, expires in June.

Adams says GRTC is working aggressively to continue zero fares by establishing a public-private joint venture, a Transit Access Partnership program, to raise the money to fill the gap. Going back to fares now, she says, would have a devastating impact on GRTC ridership  and its plans for the future.

It is critical that we figure out how to continue the funding, she said Tuesday.

The next few months will be an important test  not just for GRTCs bottom line but for the future of regional transit in metro Richmond. Keeping the buses fare-free puts money in the pockets of low-income workers, makes the wages employers pay more valuable and increases access to health care and affordable housing.

Its an investment in economic and common social life, Campbell said. Having the ability to travel; having the ability to move back and forth  its as important to the community as circulation is to the body.
The New York Times sued OpenAI and Microsoft on Wednesday, accusing them of using millions of the newspaper's articles without permission to help train chatbots to provide information to readers.

The Times said it is the first major U.S. media organization to sue OpenAI, creator of the popular artificial-intelligence platform ChatGPT, and Microsoft, an OpenAI investor and creator of the AI platform now known as Copilot, over copyright issues associated with its works.

Writers and others have also sued to limit the scraping  or automatic collection of data  by AI services of their online content without compensation.

The newspaper's complaint, filed in Manhattan federal court, accused OpenAI and Microsoft of trying to "free-ride on The Times's massive investment in its journalism" by using it to provide alternative means to deliver information to readers.

"There is nothing 'transformative' about using The Times's content without payment to create products that substitute for The Times and steal audiences away from it," the Times said.

OpenAI and Microsoft have said that using copyrighted works to train AI products amounts to "fair use," a legal doctrine governing the unlicensed use of copyrighted material.

On its website, the U.S. Copyright Office says "transformative" uses add "something new, with a further purpose or character" and are "more likely to be considered fair."

The Times is not seeking a specific amount of damages, but estimated damages in the "billions of dollars." It also wants OpenAI and Microsoft to destroy chatbot models and training sets that incorporate its material.

Talks to avert a lawsuit and allow "a mutually beneficial value exchange" with the defendants were unsuccessful, the 172-year-old newspaper said.

"We respect the rights of content creators and owners," OpenAI said in an emailed statement. "Our ongoing conversations with the New York Times have been productive and moving forward constructively, so we are surprised and disappointed with this development."

Microsoft did not respond to requests for comment.

$80 billion valuation for OpenAI

AI companies scrape information online to train generative AI chatbots, and have attracted billions of dollars in investments.

Investors have valued OpenAI at more than $80 billion.

While OpenAI's parent is a nonprofit, Microsoft has invested $13 billion in a for-profit subsidiary, for what would be a 49 percent stake.

Novelists including David Baldacci, Jonathan Franzen, John Grisham and Scott Turow have also sued OpenAI and Microsoft in the Manhattan federal court, claiming that AI systems might have co-opted tens of thousands of their books.

In July, the comedian Sarah Silverman and other authors sued OpenAI and Meta Platforms in San Francisco for having "ingested" their works, including Silverman's 2010 book "The Bedwetter." A judge dismissed most of that case in November.

The Times filed its lawsuit seven years after the U.S. Supreme Court refused to revive a challenge to Google's digital library of millions of books.

A federal appeals court had found that the library, which gave readers access to snippets of text, amounted to fair use of authors' works.

"OpenAI is giving the copyright industry a second bite at control," said Deven Desai, a professor of business law and ethics at the Georgia Institute of Technology.

"It's outputs that matter," Desai said. "Part of the problem in assessing OpenAI's liability is that the company has altered its products as copyright issues arose. A court could say its outputs at this moment in time are enough to find liability."

Chatbots have compounded the struggle among major media organizations to attract and retain readers, though the Times has fared better than most.

The Times ended September with 9.41 million digital-only subscribers, up from 8.59 million a year earlier, while print subscribers fell to 670,000 from 740,000.

Subscriptions generate more than two-thirds of the Times' revenue, while ads generate about 20 percent of its revenue.

'Misinformation'

The Times' lawsuit cited several instances in which OpenAI and Microsoft chatbots gave users near-verbatim excerpts of its articles.

These included a Pulitzer Prize-winning 2019 series on predatory lending in New York City's taxi industry, and restaurant critic Pete Wells' 2012 review of Guy Fieri's since-closed Guy's American Kitchen & Bar that became a viral sensation.

The Times said such infringements threaten high-quality journalism by reducing readers' perceived need to visit its website, reducing traffic and potentially cutting in to advertising and subscription revenue.

It also said the defendants' chatbots make it harder for readers to distinguish fact from fiction, including when their technology falsely attributes information to the newspaper.

The Times said ChatGPT once falsely attributed two recommendations for office chairs to its Wirecutter product review website.

"In AI parlance, this is called a 'hallucination,'" the Times said. "In plain English, it's misinformation."

Times general counsel Diane Brayton told staff in an internal memo that the newspaper recognized the potential of generative AI for journalism, but "the use of our work to create GenAI tools must come with permission and an agreement that reflects the fair value of that work, as the law provides."

The case is New York Times v Microsoft, U.S. District Court, Southern District of New York, No. 23-11195. (Reuters)
Costa Maya search for missing fisherman expanded

Costa Maya, Q. R.  The search for a missing fisherman off the coast of Xcalak continues. Costa Maya officials have expanded their land, sea and air searches since the fisherman was reported missing December 26.

Coordinacion Estatal de Proteccion Civil (State Civil Protection) reported Wednesday that the search has been expanded and continues.

The search for missing people in the community of Xcalak remains operational. It is reported that an intense search continues by the various authorities in coordination with the Port Captaincy, Secretary of the Navy, Secretary of Citizen Security and the Search and Rescue Commission and the State Coordination of Civil Protection.

The search operation has been carried out by air through small planes of the Secretary of the Navy, Helicopter with the Secretary of Citizen Security, Civil Protection and the Search and Rescue by sea with the Port Captaincy and family members who have been participating in the search.

This operation was activated after the disappearance was reported December 26, in the community of Xcalak.

The search began after a boat capsized in rough seas off the coast of Xcalak on December 26. Five people were on board the vessel at the time. Three were pulled from the sea alive. One man was found deceased. The body of the last man has yet to be found.

Family members meet with authorities at Xcalak in the ongoing search for the missing fisherman.

Photo: Coordinacion Estatal de Proteccion Civil QRoo December 27, 2023.

All five are reported to be area fishermen. The Secretaria de Seguridad Ciudadana (SSC) of Quintana Roo spent the weekend air searching for the local mans body in the Zaragoza canal.
Lopez Obrador meets with U.S. officials at National Palace

Mexico City, Mexico  American officials met with Mexicos President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador Wednesday during a planned meeting in Mexico City. Lopez Obrador met the U.S. government delegation officials at the National Palace.

The meeting was scheduled after a request from Lopez Obrador to U.S. President Joe Biden. In Mexico City was the U.S. Secretary of State, Antony Blinken, the Secretary of Homeland Security, Alejandro Mayorkas and the Presidential Advisor for Homeland Security, Elizabeth Sherwood-Randall.

Important agreements were reached for the benefit of our people and nations. Now more than ever, a good neighbor policy is essential, Lopez Obrador said of the meeting without providing details.

On his social networks, he said that the meeting aimed to directly address issues of economic cooperation, security and migration, but did not dive into specifics.

We ask President Biden to meet with Secretaries Antony Blinken, Alejandro Mayorkas, and Presidential National Security Advisor Elizabeth Sherwood-Randall, to directly address issues of economic cooperation, security, and migration.

Important agreements were reached for the benefit of our people and nations. Now more than ever, a good neighbor policy is essential, he posted on X.
Winston Brady has take a chapter, literally, from Dantes masterpiece to tell the tale of Americans lost in the dark woods of autonomous freedom. Is there a way out?

Dantes purpose in writing the Divine Comedy is placed in the mouth of Virgil a mere 76 lines into Canto I of the Inferno. The poet questions his charges malaise at his seemingly hopeless state: But you, why are you turning back to misery? Why do you not climb the peak that gives delight, origin and cause of every joy? The answer is clear: the Comedy is Dantes quest to seek the God who reigns above the hellscape in which he finds himself, to find true happiness in the City of God.

In The Inferno, Winston Brady remakes the path to happiness as relationship with God, modernizing Dantes insights into humanitys nature and need for salvation. The Florentine found himself at the door of Hell in despair over the death of Beatrice and exile from his beloved city. Brady writes his novel as a classical educator. His adept familiarity with both the Great Books and American history is evident throughout the novel, as he incorporates insights and anecdotes from classical writers and modern authors like Lewis and Tolkien. Bradys protagonist, Evan Esco (after the Latin evanesco, to disappear), however, represents a younger Bradydepressed, suicidal, and without hope.

Brady places Esco in the woods of Tidewater, Virginia, near the College of William and Mary, where the suffering man finds himself in a dark wood outside Hell after attempting suicide. It is there that he, like Dante, meets his guide through the underworld: Ernest Hemingway.

Escos fundamental problem is that he has replaced God with the beastthe follies and idols of this worldand he must be brought to see the futility of succumbing to the beasts charms. Esco was unpopular, and The Inferno reveals that his desire to become well-liked was rooted in a desire for autonomous freedom, the same fault that afflicts the sinners at all levels of Hell, most of whom are being punished in ways similar to Dantes shades.

There is no Limbo in Bradys Inferno, and Hemingway, a baptized Catholic, is condemned to his place of tormentthe Forest of Suicides. Hemingway is a curious guide, at once under Gods punishment and yet perceptive about Escos need to repent. The characters of this Inferno range from utterly rebellious (Lyndon B. Johnson) to completely aware and even repentant of their faults (Hemingway and Thomas Jefferson). Whether regretful of their earthly lives or bitter at their Creator, each serves in his own way as a guide to help Esco understand what true repentance is.

The beast calls each of us to indulge our own base desires, which can never truly satisfy. The irony of the demons constant attempts to restrain Esco in Hellcalling him to a false freedom of rebellion against Godis that God himself is the only possible source of deliverance. Devilish freedom is far from liberating. It is a burden from which only God can save him.

The Inferno is fundamentally a book about sin and repentance, and it well reflects Dantes message in the Comedy to lay aside idols and commune with God. Yet Brady has also described his book as a novel about contemporary American politics. This is not entirely foreign to the original Comedy. Dante included prominent Florentines to critique their idolatry and obsession with power and wealth. The glutton Ciaccos admission that pride, envy, and avarice are the sparks that have set the hearts of all on fire could easily exemplify Bradys thesis as well.

Yet while Florentine politics takes a subtextual role in Dantes work, American politics and culture are more of the text for Brady. This Inferno describes a contemporary America that is a land of idolatry, power, money, and sex. It is a land that has forgotten God and replaced him with autonomy. Brady never mentions debates on the right about the contemporary viability of the American foundings political project, but the words of some shades, including in this case a remarkably repentant Jefferson, seem almost post-liberal:

Indeed, the folly of it all, my vision that an Empire of Liberty might stretch across the American continent, a land of commerce and industry, or happiness and virtue, of life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness, the manifestation of every dream I ever dreamed that our people might be free, free in every meaningful way and from every impediment that might constrain their good and noble choices, free whether or not the happiness they pursued might lead to or, indeed, lead from their Creator. That was the empire I dreamed of and endeavored my whole life to build, the folly of which, now that I recognize its logical conclusion, only adds to my torment in Hell.

Through a few different characters, Brady intermittently traces the fateful fruits of libertine freedom throughout American history. It is this dream of an Empire of Liberty thatintentionally or notled to the cultural revolution of the 1960s and the ensuing alienation and despair that afflicts so many young Americans today, including Esco.

Numerous other residents of Hell have their own perspectives on the decline of our nation. Benedict Arnold is condemned for being a traitor, yet he suggests that the Patriots were not without philosophical fault either: So yes, I betrayed the revolution once I realized its true course, the nature of the beast they let loose upon the world: humanity is its own worst scourge, and liberty does nothing to alleviate our curse but truly serves to make it worse. Bradys sinners are not always trustworthy, but this comment is never contradicted. Martin Van Buren laments antebellum moral compromises over slavery, a representative of Tammany Hall recounts the power-hungry corruption of so many politicians, and Escos cultural idols, Everett Man and Kurt Cobain, exemplify the personal tragedy that results from a broken, godless society.

While answering the fundamental theological question (How does one repent?) with a simple yet profound answer (faith in Christ alone), a persistent political question is left unanswered by Brady: Is there an America that glorifies God and exemplifies civic virtue? This book is merely an Inferno, not a complete Comedy, so a lack of heroes is somewhat understandable, though it does leave the reader longing for more. Hemingway is no match for Dantes Virgil. A story of Hell lends itself well to telling of Americas vices, but not of its virtues. Brady pictures John Adams and Jefferson like Dantes Ulysses and Diomedes, twin flames intertwined. Jefferson says much, but Adams is relatively silent. One wishes that the Yankee Federalist whom Russell Kirk described as placing liberty under law had been allowed to give his own account of his nations future.

John D. Wilsey has spoken of the authenticity of a nation. Nations, like individuals, go on quests for their true selves, exemplified in their names, traditions, flags, and heroes. Danger lies when that quest reaches a false conclusion of moral purity. But many of the American Founders recognized the potential dangers of unchecked freedom. Yes, civil liberty can lead to license, but when rightly ordered, it can lead to human flourishing, the common good, and even a space for right relationship with God.

The end of this Inferno departs significantly from its predecessor. Before the throne of Satan and his arrayed demons, Esco is offered a choice: reject God and choose freedom in Satans kingdom or serve God within his limits. He is faced with the same question as Job, and he chooses similarly. He cannot bear to reject Gods providential care, which has given him another opportunity to serve his Creator in life.

Bradys heart for suffering young Americans is evident in this book, which issues a powerful call to them to repent of their idolspromoted by a culture hostile to their maturing and a healthy prosperityand turn to a Savior who can take their burdens. He also reminds us of the effects of sin on our nation. America has a long and complicated history, and many of its leaders have failed to live up to its founding principlesand their theological and moral foundations. Several of them appear in this book, and one can hope that its readers do not repeat their errors. But readers of the Inferno will hopefully also be reminded of the many great Americans Esco might have met had he continued into Paradise, Americans who recognized both human fallenness and human faithfulness in American history.

What might John Witherspoon have reminded Esco about this Empire of Liberty? He probably would have repeated this:

He is the best friend to American liberty who is most sincere and active in promoting true and undefiled religion, and who sets himself with the greatest firmness to bear down profanity and immorality of every kind. Whoever is an avowed enemy to God, I scruple not to call him an enemy to his country.

Spiritual liberty in Christ is the only solid foundation for true political liberty. Remembering this truth could be the beginning of an escape from the troubles experienced by Evan Esco and Americans like him.
A Moneta man faces multiple sanctions after security screeners at Roanoke-Blacksburg Regional Airport found a loaded handgun in his carry-on luggage, according to the Transportation Security Administration.

As the man was passing through security, a scanner alarm went off, at which point TSA officers asked the man if he had a gun in his carry-on bag, an agency press release said. The man denied having a gun, but police later found a 9 mm handgun loaded with five cartridges, including one in the chamber. The man told authorities that he carries his gun when he drives to work, but had to fly to Atlanta and he forgot that he usually has his gun with him, the release said.

Not so fast, a TSA official said in a prepared statement. The fact that this individual claimed that he routinely carries a gun and then denied it when specifically asked by our officers if there was a gun in his carry-on bag is outrageous, said Robin Chuck Burke, TSAs federal security director for various Virginia airports including Roanoke. Responsible gun owners know where their guns are and they know not to bring them to a checkpoint.

There was a knife in his belongings as well, authorities said.

TSA spokeswoman Lisa Farbstein said TSA will review the incident and then issue a federal civil penalty which will cost him thousands of dollars. He was also charged by police, the TSA said.

Farbstein said TSA would not release the name of the man to protect his privacy.
FLORENCE, S.C.  Advantage Academy, Florence 1 Schools career academy, invested $1 million in a new kitchen and other upgrades to its facilities.

The new kitchen improves considerably over the programs previous kitchen, which had few places for students to actually cook. Facility upgrades included a new EMS simulator that lets students see what its like to work in an ambulance hands-on.

Technology has changed career centers, Advantage Academy director Kitty Carpenter said in a district media advisory. We still offer occupational classes like weve known them in the past, classes like plumbing, and welding; those will never go away. Now, were also moving into things like megatronics and engineering classes.

The old kitchen had only a single oven, sink and stove with just six burners for the entire class. The new classroom is laid out like a commercial kitchen and is equipped with commercial-grade technology.

This is modern equipment and the students will be able to learn so much more now, Carpenter said. Along with six stoves and six ovens, there are three additional pieces of equipment that were not available in the old kitchen: a Combi Oven, a grill station, and a convection oven. Before we could only have 12 kids, and even that was tight. Now, we will be able to accommodate 21 students.

A ribbon cutting for the new kitchen was held on Dec. 14.

Florence 1 Schools is not stopping at Advantage Academy. It will soon have a new career academy, the School of Innovation in Healthcare, in the historic Poynor Building on the corner of Dargan and Palmetto streets.

The state recently awarded the district a $10 million grant to renovate the historic downtown building.

The new school should be ready to accept students in January 2026. Construction and curriculum planning are set to start in June 2024.

The renovation will cost a total of $15 million, according to district Superintendent Richard OMalley. The rest of the money will be provided by the school district.

The School of Innovation in Healthcare is a partnership between the district, McLeod Health, MUSC Florence and HopeHealth, each of which will help to run the new school, with the health care organizations having a major part in designing the schools project-based curriculum.

The Farm at Florence One, which the district opened in May, is yet another way the district is getting students out of the traditional classroom.

In addition to nine acres of farmland and greenhouses, the Farms main structure has a teaching classroom, a communal dining area, a commercial kitchen and an outdoor play area.

At its ribbon cutting, OMalley said the Farm is a good representation of the districts battle against minimally adequate education in the state of South Carolina.

While the district has been opening or beginning many new projects in 2023, it also closed its only charter school: Palmetto Youth Academy.

However, despite orders from the district and state, the school continued to stay open without its charter into the 2023-24 school year. OMalley has publicly accused the school of spending taxpayer dollars not only to keep its school open but also to line the pockets of its leadership.

The district has been battling the school in the S.C. Administrative Law Court after the school appealed the district Board of Trustees decision to not renew its charter.

After OMalleys public comments, Florence County Solicitor Ed Clements urged SLED to look into the school, and the agency confirmed its active investigation in November.

OMalley received pushback from two different civil rights groups, the Florence Chapter of the NAACP and the Racial Justice Network, for his statements about the school and the financial documents he released as proof. Both organizations said OMalley should have let the courts decide who is right, not divide the community over a school of predominantly Black students.

Yvonne Brown-Burgess, the schools director, has previously said the decision to close the school was rooted in race.

As hard as it is to believe that racism still exists here in Florence in 2023, a picture of the board room tonight definitely confirmed it, she said at the time.

Since September, the Racial Justice Network has been calling for the resignation of OMalley and the Board of Trustees, citing discriminatory policies and lack of communication to parents and others who express concerns with the district.
Here are six things to note about CPF contributions in Singapore. (PHOTO: Yahoo News Singapore file photo)

By Dee Lim

SINGAPORE  The Central Provident Fund (CPF) was started by the Singapore government in 1955 as a key pillar of the country's social security system. It is run by the CPF Board, made up of a chairman and 14 other members, who oversee the organisation's budget and performance.

On a wider scale, CPF is part of the ongoing effort in Singapores social policies to promote active government support for its citizens to be self-reliant particularly in their later years. Here's what you need to note about the CPF:

1. What is CPF?

CPF is part of an initiative to make sure that all Singaporeans and permanent residents have enough funds set aside for retirement. This mandatory retirement savings scheme was designed to help everyone achieve three main goals: a fully paid-up home, adequate insurance and savings for healthcare, and a steady stream of lifelong retirement income.

The money in your CPF comes from two main contributions: your employer and your own monthly salary. These are funnelled into three different accounts: Ordinary Account (OA), MediSave Account (MA), and Special Account (SA). A Retirement Account (RA) is created when you turn 55 years old.

2. How much is the CPF contribution each month?

The total contributions each month depends on your age. It ranges from 12.5 per cent to 37 per cent of your monthly salary, and is applicable only for those whose monthly salary is more than S$750.

For those who earn above S$50 but under S$750 per month, your employer is still required to pay their share of the CPF contributions, but there is no employee's share of the contributions.

Here is the percentage of contribution each month:

Employee's age (years) By employer

(% of wage) By employee

(% of wage) Total (% of wage) 55 and below 17 20 37 Above 55 to 60 15 16 31 Above 60 to 65 11.5 10.5 22 Above 65 to 70 9 7.5 16.5 Above 70 7.5 5 12.5

3. How to calculate CPF deduction from my salary?

To calculate how much is going into your CPF account each month, use the handy CPF contribution calculator.

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4. How can you check your CPF nomination?

As the money from your CPF is considered to be part of your estate, it will be paid out and distributed upon your death. If you have done a CPF nomination, it will be distributed to the nominee(s) stated. Without a nomination, your CPF savings will be transferred to the Public Trustee for distribution according to the laws of Singapore.

To check on your CPF nominations, go to the CPF Nominations page and log in with your Singpass. If you have not done so, follow the online guide to make your nominations. You will also be able to update your nominations here.

If your details are not available online, you can submit a request with your Singpass, and that should be processed within four working days.

5. How can you invest your CPF funds?

The CPF Investment Scheme (CPFIS) allows you to invest your CPF funds to possibly make it grow even more. You will need to set up a CPF Investment account with a registered bank such as DBS, OCBC or UOB. This will give you access to invest the money in your OA. You don't need to open a CPF Investment Account to invest your SA savings.

Keep in mind that you will have to maintain a minimum of S$20,000 in your OA and S$40,000 in your SA before you can invest in the CPFIS.

You'll be able to invest in a range of products, such as shares, REITs, Exchange Traded Funds, bonds, gold, insurance products, unit trusts, Treasury Bills (or T-bills) and Singapore Government Bonds, and fixed deposits. However, the CPF Board does not endorse any product providers or investment products that are included under the CPFIS.

6. How to buy property with CPF funds?

When it comes to property, you can use your CPF OA to buy a Housing and Development Board (HDB) flat, or buy or build private residential property.

There are terms and conditions to using your CPF for housing, and also some limits. Broadly speaking, this is what you'll need to know, but always check with CPF for the finer details.

For those buying HDB or DBSS flats, or private residential property, this is what you can use your OA for:

As direct downpayment on the purchase price of your flat

As repayments of your housing loan whether in part or to pay the monthly loan amount

To pay stamp duty and legal fees incurred during the purchase or mortgage of your property

To pay Home Protection Scheme premiums (for HDB flats only)

You won't be able to use your CPF to pay for booking fees, option fees or deposits, or for the monthly service and conservancy charges that you'll need to pay to your town council. Any taxes imposed on your flat is also ineligible to be paid by CPF. Renovation costs are also not covered by CPF, and you won't be able to use your OA if your purchase price is above the lower of the purchase price or the valuation of the property.

You should also note that there's a withdrawal limit when using your CPF towards your HDB or DBSS flat, or private residential property, depending on the age of your property and when it was purchased.

Check the CPF website for the maximum amount of CPF funds that you can use towards your property purchase.

For those who are 54, you can apply to have your savings remain in your OA, so that it doesn't transfer to the Retirement Account when you turn 55 years old. You should consider this if you're currently using your OA to repay an existing housing loan or thinking of using it to finance the payment on the purchase of your next property.

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Keropok Mfaizz Popularizes Packing Secara Live Nationwide

KUALA LUMPUR, MALAYSIA - Media OutReach Newswire - 28 December 2023 - Muhammad Faizz bin Pausan Arif from Terengganu, owner-operator of Keropok Mfaizz, is one of Shopee Lives top record-breaking rural sellers for selling over RM500,000 keropok lekor in just three months. Every morning at 8am on Shopee Live, he becomes a household name as Malaysian audiences watch him pack two thirds fish meat mixture for instant delivery on his 'Packing Secara Live' series.





Keropok Mfaizz Staff



I am very happy as Shopee Live has changed my life  previously, I was living with my mother and my sales were limited by slow traffic to my offline store. With Shopee Live, Ive managed to build my own home, have my own assets, and Im now able to take care of my family, said Muhammad Faizz, who now owns his own factory and processes 1 ton of fish meat per day and considering additional production capacity to keep up with customer demands on livestream.



His biggest lesson: content is king. Based on my experience, people get bored by the same types of content, so I always have to try new ways to engage with them. I used to show them how to make keropok live, and that was hot... before the views dropped off. Then I told them to buy five packets of lekor and get homemade chilli sauce free, but sales were still slow. When I show this is my product things I lose viewers and sales. After I did Packing Secara Live, my sales broke all records on 11.11 because customers love to see their products being packed and ready to post. I am always searching for new content.



Muhammad Faizz explains why he stands out from the crowd of livestream sellers by picking the 8am slot on Shopee Live: People love to eat keropok lekor as fresh as possible, so I show the breakfast audience how I mix 20kg of boneless ikan selayang fish meat with 10kg tepung sagu and fry it with other tasty ingredients live until it is half-cooked, and then vacuum pack it in time for the courier to pick it up at noon. When my customers receive their packages in two days, they can fry it again to eat.



Many of his competitors in Terengganu are offline keropok sellers who have to wait for the school holiday period to experience any uptick in sales. Muhammad Faizz on the other hand, has broken the norm and sold over 18,000 orders to customers nationwide, mostly from Selangor and Johor since joining Shopee Live in March 2023. A true believer now in online platforms, Muhammad Faizz aspires to take things to the next level as the top keropok online entrepreneur in Malaysia.



Thanks to its significant traffic and conversion rates, I save a lot of marketing costs on Shopee Live. My plan is to add more live stream sessions, and more production capacity and machines so that I can do Live for longer, and hire a host who can act as my backup.



His success is proving beneficial to his local community. He sources all fish from fishermen in Terengganu to make keropok lekor, keropok ikan putih and keropok segera. He now hires 25 employees in his neighborhood to help in production and packaging and is motivating his four siblings (who are all keropok sellers) to go online.



Kick off your New Year with an abundance of free vouchers daily for everyone, incredible discounts, and exclusive prizes up for grabsexclusively on Shopee Live! Don't miss out on the excitement. Visit now: https://shopee.com.my/m/live-viewer-hub?utm_content=21SH9Y9kygz3uvzYkKw5396MkXfM

Hashtag: #ShopeeRaiLokal #ShopeeMY #ShopeeLive



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The issuer is solely responsible for the content of this announcement.

Shopee

Shopee is the leading e-commerce platform in Southeast Asia & Taiwan. Shopee promotes an inclusive and sustainable digital ecosystem by enabling businesses to digitalise and grow their online presence, helping more people access and benefit from digital services, and uplifting local communities.



Shopee offers an easy, secure, and engaging experience that is enjoyed by millions of people daily. Shopee is also a key contributor to the regions digital economy with a firm commitment to helping homegrown brands and entrepreneurs succeed in e-commerce.



Shopee is part of Sea Limited (NYSE: SE), a leading global consumer internet company. Seas mission is to better the lives of consumers and small businesses with technology through its three core businesses: Shopee, Garena and SeaMoney.


Body of drowned man carried from Desaru beach by the Fire and Rescue Department of Malaysia (Photo: Facebook/JohorPost/Bomba)

KOTA TINGGI  A 49-year-old Singaporean man was confirmed on Thursday morning (28 December) to have drowned after he was swept away by strong waves off Malaysias Desaru Coast.

The New Straits Times (NST) reported that Isaac Kelvin Tan Lee Thong's body was found by a member of the public at about 5.30am. Lianhe Zaobao also reported the Penawar Fire and Rescue Department operation commander Masri Ibrahim confirming that Tan's body was found on the beach of the One and Only Desaru Coast resort hotel, about five kilometres from the drowning site.

A Facebook post by the Johor Post on Thursday said that the man's body, in shorts and without a shirt, was identified by his wife on site, and later taken to Kota Tinggi Hospital.

According to NST, Tan and his 16-year-old son had been hit by waves while they were in the water off the beaches near The Westin Desaru Coast Resort on Wednesday.

According to CNA, a search-and-rescue operation was conducted after the incident was reported at about 12.30pm on Wednesday. Masri said that 17 rescuers were deployed following the distress call, and Tan's son was eventually rescued and sent to Kota Tinggi Hospital for treatment.

The operation commander added that a red flag had been raised to warn visitors against engaging in activities on the beach due to weather conditions.

Search and rescue operation along Desaru Coast on Wednesday (Photo: Facebook/JohorPost)

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SIOUX CENTER, Iowa -- Former President Donald Trump was scheduled to make a stop at Dordt University but the event has been moved because "the vision of the Trump campaign and Dordt were incongruent."

Last week it was announced Trump would stop at the Dordt University Campus Center on Jan. 5 in Sioux Center. The event has now been rescheduled for the Terrace View Event Center in Sioux Center.

President Trump's visits to Siouxland Donald Trump, 2016 Republican presidential hopeful, campaigns Saturday, Jan. 23, 2016, at Dordt College in Sioux Center, Iowa. Sioux City Jour

On the events page of the Donald J. Trump website it states that the event is still scheduled to start at 4 p.m. with doors to open at 1 p.m. on Jan. 5.

Dordt University invites every political candidate in good standing with his or her political party to visit the campus each election cycle, according to a Dordt news release.

The release states Dordt maintains a neutral stance on politics and intended the event to be educational in nature and allow students to ask questions of the candidates.

"The Trump campaign started the process of lining up a campaign stop but desired a rally format," according to the news release. "Dordt understood that President Trumps visit would not be publicized until the format was finalized after the new year. Ultimately, the vision of the Trump campaign and Dordt were incongruent, and the event will not take place at the university."

President Trump's visits to Siouxland Donald Trump, 2016 Republican presidential hopeful, shakes hands while campaigning in an overflow room Saturday, Jan. 23, 2016, at Dordt Colle

Trump's campaign visits to Sioux Center and Mason City will come 10 days before the caucuses. When he held an event in Sioux Center on Jan. 23, 2016, less than two weeks before that year's caucuses, Trump remarked he could "stand in the middle of Fifth Avenue and shoot somebody, and I wouldn't lose any voters, OK?"

The event in Sioux Center will take place about a month after four other 2024 GOP candidates (DeSantis, Haley, Ohio businessman Vivek Ramaswamy and Texas pastor Ryan Binkley) attended a "Faith and Family with The Feenstras" function on the Dordt University campus. This cycle, Trump has yet to appear with Randy Feenstra, the two-term congressman who represents Iowa's Fourth Congressional District which is the most-conservative in the state.
A Moscow court on Thursday sentenced two men to long prison terms for reading poems against the assault on Ukraine.

Artyom Kamardin was sentenced to seven years in prison and Yegor Shtovba to five years and six months to cries of "Shame!" from their supporters in the courtroom, an AFP journalist at the hearing saw.

Russian authorities have detained thousands for simple acts of protest against the offensive in Ukraine, with criticism effectively outlawed.

Kamardin, 33, said his detention was particularly violent, claiming that officers raped him and forced him to film an apology video while threatening his girlfriend.

On the eve of his arrest, he had recited his poem "Kill me, militia man!" on a Moscow square where dissidents have been gathering since the Soviet era.

Kamardin also shouted offensive slogans against the imperial "New Russia" project aiming to annex the south of Ukraine.

Both were convicted of "inciting hatred" and "calling for activities threatening state security."

Kamardin told the court he did not know his actions broke the law and asked for mercy.

"I am not a hero, and going to prison for my beliefs was never in my plans," he said in a statement, posted on his supporters' Telegram channel.

'Under torture'

After the sentencing, his father Yury said: "This is a total outrage!"

Around two dozen friends came to support the defendants along with the poets' parents and wives.

Kamardin's wife Alexandra Popova was in the crowd.

"It is a very harsh sentence. Seven years for poems, for a non-violent crime," she said, before being detained.

In an interview with AFP in late 2022, she had recounted her then boyfriend's arrest, saying officers threatened her with "gang rape," hit her and sprayed superglue on her cheeks and mouth.

Meanwhile, Kamardin was taken to a separate room, where  as he told his lawyer  he was beaten and raped with a barbell.

Kamardin was also forced to film an apology video.

Sorry for 'leaving you'

Shtovba, 23, also insisted he did not break the law.

In his last statement in court, published by independent site Mediazona, he asked the judge: "What have I done that's illegal? Read poetry?"

He also addressed his mother, who he said depended on him financially.

"Mom, I know that you, more than anyone, believe in my innocence... Still, I'm sorry for how things turned out, leaving you and dad alone."

Nikolai Dayneko, who was arrested at the same time, was sentenced to four years in prison last May after entering a pre-trial agreement, according to OVD-info.

This is the latest in a string of heavy sentences against Russians who protested the offensive, in trials critics denounce as absurd.

In mid-November, judge Oksana Demiasheva sentenced artist Alexandra Skochilenko to seven years in prison for swapping price tags with slogans criticizing Russia's offensive in Ukraine.

Skochilenko had replaced five price tags in a branch of one of Russia's largest supermarket chains in Saint Petersburg with messages about the conflict.

The trials of ordinary Russians usually take place away from public attention, unlike those of prominent critics.

Most of Russia's high-profile opposition figures have fled the country or are behind bars, including Alexei Navalny. (AFP)
RENO, Nev.  The blank canvas of desert wilderness in northern Nevada seemed the perfect place in 1992 for artistic anarchists to relocate their annual burning of a towering, anonymous effigy. It was goodbye to San Franciscos Baker Beach, hello to the Nevada playa, the long-ago floor of an inland sea.

The tiny gathering became Burning Man's surrealistic circus, fueled by acts of kindness and avant-garde theatrics, sometimes with a dose of hallucinogens or nudity. The spectacle flourished as the festival ballooned over the next three decades.

Some say it grew too much, too fast.

Things came to a head in 2011 when tickets sold out for the first time. Organizers responded with a short-lived lottery system that left people out of what was supposed to be a radically inclusive event. As Burning Man matured, luxurious accommodations proliferated, as did the population of billionaires and celebrities.

Katherine Chen, a sociology professor in New York City who wrote a 2009 book about the event's creative chaos, was among those who wondered whether Burning Man "would be a victim of its own success.

Exponential growth led to increasing questions about whether organizers had veered too far from the core principles of radical inclusion, expression, participation and the pledge to leave no trace.

That last hurdle was never harder to clear than this year as Burners tried to leave over Labor Day weekend after torching the 80-foot wooden sculpture that is the Man.

A rare rainstorm turned the Black Rock Desert into a muddy quagmire 110 miles north of Reno, delaying the departure of 80,000 revelers. Once out, organizers had six weeks to clean up under terms of a federal permit.

By the smallest of margins, they passed the test last month, with a few adjustments recommended for the future. The verdict from the U.S. Bureau of Land Management means Burning Man is in line to use federal land again next year.

Debate over the events future, however, is sure to continue as divisions grow between the aging hippie-types and wealthier, more technologically inclined newcomers. Veteran participants fear the newer set is losing touch with Burning Mans roots.

The event has made a quantum leap from a gathering of hundreds to one that temporarily becomes Nevadas third largest city after metropolitan Las Vegas and Reno. The festival drew 4,000 in 1995 and topped 50,000 in 2010.

Its no wonder seasoned Burners sound a bit like griping cribbage players on a rural town square when they mutter: It aint like it used to be.

Back then, it was much more raw, said Mike Festie Malecki, 63, a retired Chicago mortician turned California sculptor who made his 13th trip this year to the land of colorful theme camps, towering sculptures, drum circles and art cars.

There are more (people) who come out to party and dont participate. We call them spectators," he said.

Senior organizers long have wrestled with whether to become more civilized or remain what co-founder Larry Harvey described as a repudiation of order and authority.

Ron Halbert, a 71-year-old from San Francisco, has worked support for Burning Mans 90-piece orchestra for 20 years and remains optimistic.

Its still the gathering of the tribe, he said.

The event is permitted tentatively for the same 80,000 attendance cap next year. Organizers are considering some minor changes, though generally resist making new rules, Executive Director Marian Goodell said.

Critics on social media howled at the mayhem left behind this year, posting photos of garbage piles, abandoned vehicles and overflowing portable toilets while ridiculing the hippies and their leave-no-trace mantra.

But that mayhem may have actually helped bring Burning Man back to its roots.

The rain weeded out the people who didnt want to be there for the right reason, Katrina Cook of Toronto said.

Twenty years ago, the psychedelic celebration like none other already was attracting academic scholars  anthropologists, sociologists, political scientists, economists and communications professors  curious about how the makeshift civilization functioned without real-world rules.

Burning Man references started popping up in TV episodes and talk show punchlines. The rich and famous began venturing to Black Rock City, as the festival's temporary metropolis is called.

A full-blown exhibit about the phenomenon debuted in 2018 at the Smithsonian American Art Museum in Washington. Even then, veteran Burners complained about the event becoming as much a curiosity to see as to do.

That's in part the problem veterans have with the advent of glamour camping, or glamping, in which private companies provide packaged trips to concierge camps with luxury RVs and lavish meals under chandeliers. Some believe the camps violate Burning Man principles.

The growing number of billionaires and celebrities who fly in on private jets to Black Rock City's temporary airstrip seems to be everyone's favorite thing to hate, Goodell said. But wealth shouldn't be a cause for shame, she said.

Burning Man's purpose remains the same: building a creative, stimulating environment, the essence of which people can take back to their own communities.

We thought that from the beginning," Goodell said. "We just didnt know it would be 80,000 people.
COLUMBIA, S.C.  Republican presidential candidate Nikki Haley was asked by a New Hampshire voter about the reason for the Civil War, and she didn't mention slavery in her response  leading the voter to say he was "astonished" by her omission.

Asked during a Wednesday night town hall in Berlin, New Hampshire, what she believed caused the war  the first shots of which were fired in her home state of South Carolina  Haley talked about the role of government, replying that it involved "the freedoms of what people could and couldn't do."

She then turned the question back to the man who asked it. He replied that he was not the one running for president and wished instead to know her answer.

After Haley went into a lengthier explanation about the role of government, individual freedom and capitalism, the questioner seemed to admonish Haley, saying, "In the year 2023, it's astonishing to me that you answer that question without mentioning the word 'slavery.'"

"What do you want me to say about slavery?" Haley retorted before abruptly moving on to the next question.

But 12 hours later, Haley walked back her comments, with her campaign disseminating a Thursday morning radio interview in which she said, "Of course the Civil War was about slavery," something she called "a stain on America." She went on to reiterate that "freedom matters. And individual rights and liberties matter for all people."

Haley, who served six years as South Carolina's governor, has been competing for a distant second place to Donald Trump for the 2024 Republican presidential nomination. She has frequently said during her campaign that she would compete in the first three states before returning "to the sweet state of South Carolina, and we'll finish it" in the Feb. 24 primary.

GOP presidential candidate Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis' campaign recirculated video of the original exchange on social media, adding the comment, "Yikes."

DeSantis faced criticism of his own over slavery early in the campaign, when Florida enacted new education standards requiring teachers to instruct middle school students that slaves developed skills that "could be applied for their personal benefit."

U.S. Sen. Tim Scott of South Carolina, the only Black Republican in the Senate and DeSantis' then-rival for the GOP presidential nomination, rejected that characterization, saying instead that slavery was about "separating families, about mutilating humans and even raping their wives."

Issues surrounding the origins of the Civil War and its heritage are still much of the fabric of Haley's home state, and she has been pressed on the war's origins before.

As she ran for governor in 2010, Haley, in an interview with a now-defunct activist group then known as The Palmetto Patriots, described the war as between two disparate sides fighting for "tradition" and "change" and said the Confederate flag was "not something that is racist."

During that same campaign, she dismissed the need for the flag to come down from the Statehouse grounds, portraying her Democratic rival's push for its removal as a political stunt.

Five years later, Haley urged lawmakers to remove the flag from its perch near a Confederate soldier monument following a mass shooting in Charleston, South Carolina, in which a white gunman killed nine Black church members who were attending Bible study. At the time, Haley said the flag was "hijacked" by the shooter from those who saw the flag as symbolizing "sacrifice and heritage."

South Carolina's Ordinance of Secession  the 1860 proclamation by the state government outlining its reasons for seceding from the Union  mentions slavery in its opening sentence and points to the "increasing hostility on the part of the non-slaveholding States to the institution of slavery" as a reason for the state removing itself from the Union.

On Wednesday night, Christale Spain  elected this year as the first Black woman to chair South Carolina's Democratic Party  said Haley's response was "vile, but unsurprising."

"The same person who refused to take down the Confederate Flag until the tragedy in Charleston, and tried to justify a Confederate History Month," Spain said of Haley in a post on social media.

"She's just as MAGA as Trump," Spain added, referring to Trump's "Make America Great Again" slogan.

Jaime Harrison, current chairman of the Democratic National Committee and South Carolina's party chairman during part of Haley's tenure as governor, said her response was "not stunning if you were a Black resident in SC when she was Governor."

"Same person who said the confederate flag was about tradition & heritage and as a minority woman she was the right person to defend keeping it on state house grounds," Harrison posted Wednesday night on social media. "Some may have forgotten but I haven't. Time to take off the rose colored Nikki Haley glasses folks."

Photos: Nikki Haley through the years
CAMBRIDGE, Mass.  A few years back, Sage Brook Carbone was attending a powwow at the Mashantucket Western Pequot reservation in Connecticut when she noticed signs in the Pequot language.

Carbone, a citizen of the Northern Narragansett Indian Tribe of Rhode Island, thought back to Cambridge, Massachusetts, where she has lived for much of her life. She never saw any street signs honoring Native Americans, nor any featuring Indigenous languages.

She submitted to city officials the idea of adding Native American translations to city street signs. Residents approved her plan and will install about 70 signs featuring the language of the Massachusett Tribe, which English settlers encountered upon their arrival.

What a great, universal way of teaching language, she said of the project done in consultation with a member of the Massachusett Tribe and other Native Americans.

We see multiple languages written almost everywhere, but not on municipal signage, she said. Living on a numbered street, I thought this is a great opportunity to include Native language with these basic terms that were all familiar with around the city.

Carbone has joined a growing push around the country to use Indigenous translations on signs to raise awareness about Native American communities. It also is way to revive some Native American languages, highlight a tribe's sovereignty as well as open the door for wider debates on land rights, discrimination and Indigenous representation in the political process.

We have a moment where there is a search for some reconciliation and justice around Indigenous issues, said Darren Ranco, chair of Native American Programs at the University of Maine and a citizen of the Penobscot Nation. The signs represent that, but by no means is that the end point around these issues. My concern is that people will think that putting up signs solves the problem, when in fact, it's the beginning point to addressing deeper histories."

At least six states have followed suit, including Iowa, New York, Minnesota and Wisconsin.

Signs along U.S. Highway 30 in Iowa include the Meskwaki Nation's own spelling of the tribe, Meskwakiinaki, near its settlement. In upstate New York, bilingual highway signs in the languages of the Seneca, Onondaga and Tuscarora tribes border highways and their reservations.

In Wisconsin, six of the 11 federally recognized tribes in the state have installed dual language signs. Wisconsin is derived from the Menominee word Weskohsaeh, meaning a good place and the word Meskousing, which means where it lies red in Algonquian.

Our partnerships with Wisconsins Native Nations are deeper than putting up highway signs, WisDOT Secretary Craig Thompson said in a statement. We are proud of the longstanding commitment to foster meaningful partnerships focused on our future by providing great care and consideration to our past.

Minnesota has put up signs in English and the Dakota or Ojibwe languages on roads and highways that traverse tribal lands, while the southeast Alaska community of Haines this summer erected stop, yield, Children at Play and street name signs in both English and Tlingit.

Douglas Olerud, the mayor at the time, told the Juneau Empire it was healing for him after hearing for years from Tlingit elders that they were not allowed to use their language when sent to boarding schools.

This is a great way to honor some of those people that have been working really hard to keep their traditions and keep the language alive, and hopefully they can have some small amount of healing from when they were robbed of the culture, he said.

In New Mexico, the state transportation department has been working with tribes for years to include traditional names and artwork along highway overpasses. Travelers heading north from Santa Fe pass under multiple bridges with references to Pojoaque Pueblo in the communitys native language of Tewa.

There have also been local efforts in places like Bemidji, Minnesota, where Michael Meuers, a non-Native resident, started the Bemidji Ojibwe Language Project. Since 2009, more than 300 signs in English and Ojibwe have been put up across northern Minnesota, mostly on buildings, including schools. The signs can also be found in hospitals and businesses and are used broadly to spell out names of places and animals, identify things such as elevators, hospital departments, bear crossings  MAKWA XING  and food within a grocery store, and include translations for welcome, thank you and other phrases.

Maybe its going to open up conversations so that we understand that we are all one people, said Meuers, who worked for the Red Lake Nation for 29 years and started the project after seeing signs in Hawaiian on a visit to the state.

The University of Maine put up dual language signs around its main campus. The Native American Programs, in partnership with the Penobscot Nation, also launched a website where visitors can hear the words spoken by language master Gabe Paul, a Penobscot pronunciation guide.

For me, and for many of our tribal citizens and descendants, it is a daily reminder that we are in our homeland and we should be at home at the university, even though it has felt for generations like it can be an unwelcome place, Ranco said.
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As the day of Iowas first-in-the-nation caucuses draws near, advertising offers a good insight into how campaigns are feeling about their position in the race and the threat of their opponents.

Republican candidates have dumped millions into TV advertising in Iowa, hoping to sway GOP voters to support them on caucus night, as competitors to Donald Trump increasingly see the state as their only shot to stop his road to the nomination.

According to AdImpact, candidates and super PACs had spent or reserved more than $66.2 million in advertising in Iowa as of Dec. 18, with Ron DeSantis and Nikki Haley leading the pack.

Here's a rundown of some of the campaigns' recent ads and the messages they're trying to convey.

Donald Trump includes Reynolds and highlights military support

For people who arent aware of the specifics of the race, the first ad looks like Reynolds is throwing her support behind Trump, even though she has not endorsed him and has criticized him this year. Reynolds said the ad was misleading Iowans" and that he is not entitled to her endorsement.

The second ad features Huckabee Sanders, who has endorsed Trump, and shows clips of Trump shaking hands with soldiers during the 2018 visit.

 Trump Campaign Releases New Television Ad  "A Christmas To Remember" pic.twitter.com/cy3i8lSmnL  Team Trump (Text TRUMP to 88022) (@TeamTrump) December 24, 2023

The ad is imbued with a more positive, friendly message compared to past Trump ads hitting DeSantis or tying Biden to crime and corruption. It may attract voters who are not all in for Trump and are amenable to the traditional conservative patriotism that is portrayed in the ad.

DeSantis group attacks Haley

Ron DeSantis advertising picture has gotten messy in recent weeks. Last week, Never Back Down, the primary super PAC backing his presidency, pulled $2.5 million future advertising in Iowa amid internal turmoil.

Two other groups, Fight Right and Good Fight, have formed to fill the gaps, both serving different roles.

Fight Right has been running ads attacking Nikki Haley with a heavy focus on China and linking her to the political establishment.

As has been the case for most of the primary, much of the airtime from DeSantis and Haley is focused on attacking each other as each tries to claw their way to a likely second-place finish in the caucuses.

But DeSantis backers are running pro-DeSantis messages too. Good Fight, which formed last week, is setting up to run an ad that features DeSantis' wife, Casey DeSantis, according to the New York Times, and is almost identical to an ad that ran in Florida during his 2022 reelection campaign.

In the 2022 ad, Casey DeSantis details her experience with breast cancer and says her husband "was there to fight for me when I didn't have the strength to fight for myself."

This ad serves to help viewers connect emotionally with DeSantis, who has been dogged by the perception that he is awkward and impersonable in public appearances.

Nikki Haley group punches back at DeSantis

Like DeSantis, Nikki Haley and her allies have spent much of their recent airtime attacking DeSantis.

Recent ads from SFA Fund, Inc., the super PAC supporting Haley, have pointed to stories chronicling his campaign troubles, calling his campaign a "dumpster fire," and depicted him as trying to imitate Trump.

Again, this points to the fact that Haley's backers are trying to improve her position relative to DeSantis as the caucuses draw near. Rather than trying to pull support from Trump, they're hoping to drag DeSantis down and hurt his performance on caucus night.

According to AdImpact, DeSantis has been the largest target of attacks in GOP advertising, not counting Biden. More than 13,000 anti-DeSantis attack ads have aired nationally, while 4,800 anti-Haley ads have run, mostly from DeSantis supporters.

Other recent ads produced by Haley's campaign have opted to attack Biden and portray Haley as the most likely candidate to beat him in the general election, pointing to recent polling.

While attack ads run rampant, both Haley's and DeSantis' campaigns are also making sure to tell voters why they should support their candidate. That is important for candidates who may not be as well known among less engaged voters.

Vivek Ramaswamy pulls advertising

Multiple outlets reported on Tuesday Ohio biotech entrepreneur Vivek Ramaswamy's campaign was suspending all TV advertising before the Iowa caucuses after spending around $4 million in the state, according to AdImpact.

Ramaswamy's campaign told NBC News they would focus on individual voter contacts like mail, text and live calling in order to bring out targeted voters.

It's unclear how the strategy will pay off for the candidate who has remained around 5% in recent Iowa polls despite an aggressive campaigning strategy. In a post on social media on Tuesday, Ramaswamy said TV advertising is "idiotic, low-ROI (and) a trick that political consultants use to bamboozle candidates who suffer from low IQ."

What I'm Reading

What went wrong for DeSantis in 2023 (The New York Times): A look inside the turmoils of DeSantis' presidential campaign.

How Donald Trump's 2024 campaign quietly built a grassroots juggernaut for the Iowa Caucuses (Galen Bacharier, Des Moines Register): Donald Trump's Iowa campaign has built an army of volunteers as it hopes to win big in the Iowa caucuses.

Photos: Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump campaigns in Waterloo, Dec. 19 Trump Waterloo 1 Trump Waterloo 2 Trump Waterloo 3 Trump Waterloo 4 Trump Waterloo 5 Trump Waterloo 6 Trump Waterloo 7 Trump Waterloo 8 Trump Waterloo 9 Trump Waterloo 10 Trump Waterloo 11 Trump Waterloo 12
It was going to happen sooner or later: American service members would be seriously hurt as Iran-backed militias conduct lethal target practice against U.S. bases in the Middle East. When will President Joe Biden do his duty as commander in chief and protect Americans deployed abroad?

Iranian proxies have attacked U.S. forces in the Middle East about 100 times since October, and a explosive drone made it past U.S. defenses recently at a base in Iraq. Two Americans were wounded and a third is in critical condition.

The administration conducted retaliatory strikes on three facilities used by Kataib Hezbollah, the Iranian proxy group responsible for the attack. Defense secretary Lloyd Austin issued a statement saying his prayers are with the wounded. That's nice, but Austin isnt a chaplain. The U.S. defense chiefs job is to deter such attacks and defend his troops from being too-easy targets for Shiite militias.

The White House response was worse. The National Security Councils Adrienne Watson issued a statement announcing the reprisal and insisted the President places no higher priority than the protection of American personnel serving in harms way.

This is demonstrably false, and the bromide is insulting. Bidens highest priority, whispered by the White House every day, is avoiding escalation with Iran or its proxies. Biden is afraid  we use that word advisedly  of being involved in a larger conflict, which might not be popular in an election year. But that anxiety is now interfering with his core obligation to defend U.S. forces.

Iranian front groups have been trying to kill U.S. troops for months. Yet Biden offered the military equivalent of a wrist slap after Americans suffered traumatic brain injuries in attacks this autumn.

The administration may want the public to think the latest retaliatory strikes were more substantive than the previous pinpricks on weapons stores. U.S. Central Command took the unusual step of saying that the recent strikes likely killed a number of militants. But the Associated Press, citing Iraqi officials, says the U.S. killed all of one militant. Some 18 were wounded.

Americans who sign up to serve in uniform know the risks, but serving as drone catchers because Washington refuses to deter the enemy isnt supposed to be among the occupational hazards. And Bidens token strikes havent deterred Irans proxies in Iraq or anywhere else.

The Houthis, another Iran-backed military, are also unimpressed with the new U.S. coalition to protect commercial shipping in the Red Sea. The terrorists are escalating despite U.S. restraint in response. ... The U.S. military said in recent days that American ships and fighter jets had shot down no fewer than 12 drones, three antiship ballistic missiles, and two land attack cruise missiles, ostensibly at multiple targets. All were fired by the Houthis in a 10-hour period.

Does that sound like an organization worried about how America might respond? The U.S. hasnt punished the Houthis for taking the world economy hostage, though the U.S. knows the location of Houthi launch sites, radars, weapons and military leadership. The Houthis are betting the U.S. and friends lack the political will to punish their piracy.

Behind all of this is Iran, though the White House refuses to speak this truth or do much about it. Biden frets that Iran could accelerate its nuclear program, or further unleash its proxies and create trouble for Iraqs government that hosts U.S. military trainers and anti-ISIS intelligence assets. Tehran is exploiting the U.S. fear of escalation to its own benefit.

The irony is that the biggest tonic for disorder in the Middle East would be restoring American deterrence. That would mean warning Tehran that its military and nuclear assets are at risk if it doesnt call off the proxy dogs. For all the Biden fears of Tehran, the recent empirical record  the U.S. strike that killed Iranian Gen. Qassem Soleimani, for instance  counsels that Iran backs down when it faces severe costs for its assaults.

Restoring deterrence in the Middle East would require the Biden administration to admit that its approach to Iran hasnt worked and demands a course correction. The alternative is a continuing spiral of violence the administration says it desperately wants to avoid. And sooner or later more Americans will be in critical condition, or dead.
SIOUX CENTER, Iowa  Dordt Universitys Dordt Worship recently released a Christmas song called Free (This Joy), which is now available on Spotify and Apple.

The song, a mashup of Joy to the World and Life Church Worships Free (This Joy), begins somberly before making a hairpin turn into classic rock and roll.

In addition to featuring musician and producer Carey Luce o keyboard, Free (This Joy), featurs many Dordt student musicians including sophomore David Condor, senior Deborah Noguiera Cordeiro, junior Joana Franca Correlia, junior Nicole Mahoney and sophomore Clair Wiart.

Director of production arts Alex Priore produced the song.

I love Christmas music, Priore said. In fact, Ive put out Christmas music every year for the past nine years. This year, it was great to make our Christmas music more focused on Dordt students to highlight their talents and abilities. It was also fun to take a familiar song and introduce something new to it.

Located in Sioux Center, Iowa, Dordt University is an institution of higher educaiton committed to the Reformed Christian perspective.
2023 will go down as the year we discovered beer and tacos can become BFFs, that the tastiest Cajun cuisine can be found on Native American reservations, and that blueberry vanilla goat cheese was actually, you know, like a thing.

Yes, this year has truly been an eventful one for Siouxland foodies and the Weekender has been your opinionated dinner companion during the past twelve months.

Grab a knife, a fork, and some antacid as we relive some of the favorite food from moments from 2023.

PO' BOYS & FRY BREAD

In a small restaurant located inside the Ho-Chunk Plaza, Reggie Frazier makes the most mouth-watering food on the Winnebago Reservation.

So, what was on the menu on a Friday in June? It was an Alaskan Po' Boy Sandwich, served with a zesty Cajun sauce and a Creole-inspired Cole slaw.

"The Po' Boy is one of the most popular lunchtime offerings," Frazier said. He owns R-EATZ, a 504 Ho-Chunk Plaza cafe with his wife Rita. "It's almost as popular as our Chinese Beef and Broccoli our Pulled Pork Nachos."

Wait, N'Awlins-style Po' Boys, Asian cuisine and south-of-the-border fare? That wasn't what we were expecting from an eatery inside of a Native American Reservation in Northern Thurston County, Nebraska.

"I can also make Indian fry bread," Frazier, a culinary school-trained chef, said. "But I like to experiment."

A member of both the Winnebago and Santee Sioux Tribes, Frazier originally opened R-EATZ as a once-every-Friday stall at the Ho-Chunk Village Farmers Market before moving into a more permanent storefront location in February 2023.

"People found out that Reggie can cook anything," Too Sharpback, on-site manager of the Ho-Chunk Village Farmers Market, said. "R-EATZ quickly acquired a cult following."

Indeed, you'll see a line of customers all the way out of the door of Frazier's small diner around lunchtime.

BURRITOS & BREWSKIS

Jackson Street Brewing's Dave Winslow is betting a freshly made carne asada taco will make you reach for one of his craft brew creations.

That's why El Comal, an eatery featuring authentic Mexican food, opened up inside Jackson Street Brewing's 607 Fifth St.'s tasting room.

When Winslow opened El Comal -- or "The Griddle" in Spanish -- back in July, he enlisted Leo Mendez, a food industry veteran.

Self-trained, Mendez started cooking at the ripe old age of 8.

"Leo's family owns La Victoria, a grocery store which is known for having the best meat department in Sioux City," Winslow said. "Leo was the store's butcher."

In addition to tacos, burritos and tortas, Mendez recommended El Comal's Carne Asada Fries, which is a loaded plate of French fries buried in a sea of beef, tomatoes, peppers and a zesty sauce.

"The Carne Asada Fries is a perfect meal for you to share with someone else," Winslow said. "But it is so good, you'll probably eat it all by yourself."

A NEW TAKE ON THE MEAT-AND-CHEESE TRAY

Is there anything more "Midwestern" than a meat-and-cheese tray?

Riley Sawyer didn't think so. Growing up, the Dakota Dunes resident remembered the elaborate platters her mom would make, containing a multitude of prepared meats, cheeses and crackers.

"They were always delicious and people loved 'em," she said. "Personally, I thought they could be a bit prettier."

Learning the art of charcuterie -- a French term that basically means fancy meat-and-cheese tray, Sawyer started Dunes Cheese Gal in 2019.

"I started out doing trays for family," she told the Weekender in November. "Then, they'd recommend me to their friends."

When creating a Dunes Cheese Gal charcuterie board, Sawyer makes sure to include meats like prosciutto as well as regular and peppered salami.

In addition, she'll add visual interest with fresh fruits and jams as well as savory and salty stuff to activate a person's taste buds.

So, what is the Dunes Cheese Gal's secret weapon? Believe it nor, it is blueberry vanilla goat cheese.

"My blueberry vanilla goat cheese is one of my go-to cheeses," Sawyer said. "It is purple and delicious and everyone seems to like it."

SCOOBY DOO-APPROVED SNACKAGE

You may not be able to find a multi-meaty "Mouth Watering Mystery" sandwich at a food truck yet, but the Scooby Doo-inspired snack was the big winner during ProStart's third annual Food Truck Competition held at North High School in March.

A partnership between the Iowa Restaurant Association and the National Restaurant Association Education Foundation, ProStart gives culinary and/or business-minded students the skills needed to make it in the food service industry.

That included creating a "Shark Tank"-like contest where students concocted a concept for a food truck, a marketing plan and a menu proposal which will be evaluated by a panel of industry experts.

"The students had less than a month to come up with their ideas," instructor Kelsey Miller explained. "Some of their plans were so imaginative."

Ruh-roh, it was the "Mouth Watering Mystery Sandwich" -- a meal created by a team headed up by North senior Karli Morris -- that won the approval of the judges.

Though your "Shaggy-like" friends at the Weekender had no say in the matter, this sandwich was, indeed, spectacular.

NIGHTIME IS THE RIGHT TIME FOR NOSHING

For three months, the Yummi Blox food truck lot was filled with food trucks featuring different types of international cuisine, face-painting, arts and crafts and, even a live DJ.

It was something that Alejandra Amezuca has always wanted.

"Big cities often have these exciting outdoor night markets with plenty of good food, a variety of vendors and family friendly activities," she said right before the launch of the 712 Night Market at 700 W. Seventh St., "We wanted Sioux City to have its own night market.

Alejandra and her husband German Amezuca were already veteran food truck entrepreneur, having started La Palapa, which features sweet, spicy and savory drinks, snacks and snow cones similar to the ones found at authentic snack bars in Mexico.

"(The Night Market) is a one-stop shop when it comes to food," Alejandra Amezuca said. "You can have Mexican, American, Thai and Korean-infused food all in one setting."

However, the 712 Night Market was much more than just food. She said it was more like a weekly neighborhood festival.

"The food is what brings people to the night market," Amezuca said. "It is the fun that keeps them coming back."
DR. WALLACE: My parents are both very successful professionals, and each have what I'd classify as "brainiac" jobs. They're both bright, responsible and well-regarded in their careers and our local community.

Unfortunately for me, I'm an only child. I say "unfortunately" because this puts all of their focus on me. If I had one brother and one sister, for example, there would only be one-third as much pressure on me.

So even though I'm an excellent student and I study hard, if I'm not perfect, they are very disappointed. I know I'm lucky that I have a good base of intelligence to work with, but at the same time I'm human and will not be perfect, no matter how hard I try.

And beyond this, I need a bit of a social life too. I can only study so long and so hard before I want to take a break and be a typical 16-year-old girl who wants to laugh and be silly for a few hours with her close friends. Thank goodness I have some great friends, because I'd be in big trouble without them to help me cope with the pressure I feel in my life.

I can also add that I was born here in America but my parents each came from a different foreign country, and they met here in the United States at a prestigious graduate school.

What can I do to convince my parents to not be so hard on me and to let me breathe a little? I have a really good GPA and I am ready soon to apply to several great colleges plus I have a very reputable career planned for my future.

But for now, I crave balance in my life, and I crave supportive parents who are nonjudgmental. Is this too much to ask?  Under Pressure, via email

UNDER PRESSURE: Your request is not too much to ask, and in fact is quite normal and reasonable. I suggest you explain your situation with both a counselor at your school and one of your favorite teachers.

Perhaps they can assuage some of your parents' pressure by singing your praises to them and explaining just how responsible and hardworking you already are, especially compared to your peers.

Sometimes parents take very responsible teenagers for granted and this seems to be the case with yours in my opinion, based on what I've gathered. It's fantastic that your parents are both very successful and I trust you will follow in their footsteps, but in your own way, and they should both be supportive of that. Getting this message through is at times difficult, but sometimes having an independent third party like a counselor or teacher state your case can really help. Give this a try as a first step.

I DON'T GET ASKED OUT ENOUGH AND I'M LONELY

DR. WALLACE: I'm a shy girl in my junior year of high school; I have never asked a boy I like out on a date. I've been asked out on dates only twice in my life, and both times I broke things off within two months because I could see that the guys were not right for me.

One started talking down to me and telling me how to dress and how to act, and the other one started to pressure me physically and then he grew distant and cold when I rebuffed his crude advances.

At least I have my self-esteem intact somewhat since I knew to extract myself from situations I knew were not right, even though each time I felt lonely and a bit depressed for several weeks when I resumed my "single" life. My question is, how can I get more compatible guys to ask me out in the future? I'm not bad looking but I'm no beauty queen either. I see myself as a normal, average-looking girl with an above-average heart and mind. What can I do from here?  Stuck Being Single, via email

STUCK BEING SINGLE: I commend you for moving on quickly once you knew a relationship was not compatible for you nor in your best interest. That mindset and skill is a very valuable one for anyone of any age to possess, and for you to have developed it quite well at your young age is an excellent accomplishment.

From here, seek out compatibility via commonality in advance as much as you can. Think about what hobbies, skills and interests you have. Then look to network in those areas, both at your school and in your community.

Also speak with friends, neighbors and trusted adults. You might be surprised at some of the quality introductions that might come your way via these avenues. When seeking out compatible dating partners, it's much better to be proactive than reactive. Don't sit back and wait for a random person who does not truly know you at all (or care too much about your feelings) to take up your time just to quell the loneliness you feel. But simply waiting around and hoping that a perfect person will miraculously arrive to ask you out on a date out of the blue is not a good dating strategy either.

Instead, be proactive so that you can circulate in environments that are more compatible for you to find someone to date that has a better chance at meshing with you and your own unique mindset and personality. Volunteer work, clubs that interest you and hobbies like music and art can be places to start spending social time in an effort to make a few friends first, based upon common interests. Each and every person has their own set of interests, so think thoughtfully and carefully about yours and then seek to network in those genres.

Once in those environments, speak up a bit when you come across someone interesting. Ask safe, open-ended questions and start out discussing the topic at hand. Seek to make as many friends as you can in these areas, and at some point, a nice dating opportunity or two will arise  either directly or via a referral or introduction. I feel this strategy will give you something to look forward to and enjoy as you continue your search to date compatible individuals.
Israeli and American policymakers began crafting detailed plans for postwar Gaza immediately after Hamas's October 7 massacres. These plans shared the flawed assumption that following an Israel Defense Forces (IDF) operation Hamas would no longer control Gaza's territory. However, Washington is currently pressuring Israel to wrap up its ground offensive by early January. Since the IDF cannot even fully dislodge Hamas from northern Gaza before that deadline, Jerusalem's best-case scenario now entails confining Hamas's remit to southern Gaza while designating its north a closed military zone.



Already on October 8, Chuck Freilich, an Israeli former deputy national security adviser, published an article addressing "what happens on the day after we topple Hamas." Defense Minister Yoav Gallant outlined Israel's war objectives before the Knesset's Foreign Affairs and Defense Committee on October 20. Destroying Hamas's military infrastructure constituted his strategy's "first phase." White House spokesperson John Kirby soon thereafter raised the possibility of multinational peacekeepers policing a post-Hamas Gaza.



Click here to read the rest of this article
In Slates annual Movie Club, film critic Dana Stevens emails with fellow criticsfor 2023, Bilge Ebiri, Esther Zuckerman, and Mark Harrisabout the year in cinema. Read the first entry here.

Ciao, Commendatores,

To the question of which 2023 performances have most stayed with me, the easy answers are several that have already been mentioned and discussed here at some length: Lily Gladstone, DaVine Joy Randolph, Michelle Williams, Franz Rogowski, Sandra Huller. To these I would also add Cillian Murphys transcendent turn in Oppenheimer, but Ive talked enough about Oppenheimer. This years Cannes winners, Merve Dizdar and Koji Yakusho, from Nuri Bilge Ceylans About Dry Grasses and Wim Wenders Perfect Days, were very deserving  but no reader is going to be able to see those movies until well into 2024. (They received under-the-radar qualifying releases in December, which  well, Ive already written about that increasingly irritating phenomenon.)

Instead, Id like to single out two performances from earlier in the year that will probably not win any awards but that continue to provide me immense amounts of joy. And they also happen to share some conceptual DNA. The first is Chris Messinas wonderfully foulmouthed turn as super-agent David Falk in Ben Afflecks Air, a chronicle of Nikes creation of the Air Jordan sneaker, an event which truly did change the world forever, at least for those in my generation. Earlier this year it seemed like Air (which is on my Top 20 list, and which, yes, Ive rewatched many, many times) might get more love come awards season, but, as often happens, other big hitters came out of the woodwork and eclipsed it as the year wore on.

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Messinas performance has really stuck with me, however, and its not just because my son quotes his I will bury you and light you on fire and dance and piss on your grave speech almost every day. (I probably shouldnt admit that in public, should I?) These pop-historical corporate dramedies, of which there were quite a few this year, often struggle to create real emotional stakes for their characters and their actions. Yes, youre risking it allyour reputation, your job, your companys profit margin, the approval of your bosses, etc.on a newfangled product which the world hasnt seen before. Big deal! We, 30 years later, know the product was a success! So why should we care? Well, in the case of Air, we care about Sonny Vaccaro (Matt Damon) because we know that if his Jordan pitch fails, Michael Jordans manager is waiting in the wings, ready to eat him, bones and all. In constant full-on rage-spiral mode, Messina makes Falk both terrifying and hilarious. The movie works beautifully for me on multiple levels, in part because the performance are all so strong. Viola Davis plays Michael Jordans mother Deloris, and in her small handful of scenes brings a necessary underlying tenderness to the proceedings. But without Messina, Air would just be a moderately entertaining series of incidents. He provides the wall of fire against which mere drama becomes melodrama.

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At the New York Film Critics Circle Awards in late November, a few of us tried to muster support for Glenn Howertons performance in BlackBerry, but we were powerless against the strength of Big May December. (Just kiddingCharles Meltons great, too.) Here then is another pop-historical corporate dramedy, this time about the creation of the BlackBerry, the Canadian smartphone that ultimately paved the way for the iPhone and so, in some ways, destroyed all our lives forever. Howerton plays Jim Balsillie, the Harvard-educated, phone-throwing apex predator whos hired to help run Research in Motion, the scrappy little Waterloo, Ontario, startup run by a couple of unmotivated nerds. He steps in thinking that hes joining a real company with a real business plan, only to discover that these overeducated dingdongs are more into Movie Night with their buds-slash-employees than actually creating working products.

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This prompts outrage on his part, but it also generates terror. What I particularly love about Howertons performance is that even as Balsillie maintains full-on shark mode, we sense that hes genuinely afraid of what will happen if he failsto the company, but also to him. This is an underrated insight into how the corporate world operates: less through greed and more through fear (which then expresses itself as greed). Watching Howertons intense glare bounce off the amiable, brilliant Mike Lazaridis (Jay Baruchel) and the ever-so-supportive Doug Fregin (Matt Johnson, who also directed) was among the most entertaining couple of hours Ive had at a movie this year.

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When I saw BlackBerry, I assumed Howerton was wearing a bald cap, much as his co-star Baruchel sported a not-very-convincing blond wig. It turns out the actor actually shaved most of his head for the part. Still, the vague unreality of his hairline actually added something to the part. It didnt feel like a realistic portrayal. It was somewhat closer to sketch comedy. That might sound like a backhanded compliment (no actor in a real movie wants to hear theyre doing sketch comedy), but in this case it isnt. That slight edge of unreality is occasionally required to allow actors to go bigto tap into the kinds of emotions that pure naturalism sometimes struggles with. This is incredibly hard to pull off without veering into shtick.

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This line between authenticity and realism is something Ive thought a lot about this year, particularly in regard to Adam Drivers starring turn in Michael Manns Ferrari, which I think is the best performance Driver has ever given. Does his silver hair look realistic? No. Does he genuinely look like a pudgy, 59-year-old Italian man? No, not really. Is the accent perfect? Hell no. But dear god, how I love this performance. The sheer determination on Enzos face, the unwillingness to fail, the way he closes himself off to anything that could puncture the wall hes built around himselfsave for that one heartbreaking moment early on, when he visits his dead sons graveI found it all so compelling. I am quite simply in awe of the blustery drive of this performance, which seems to capture something about the charisma of someone like this, who can convince the people around him to do all sorts of things, even go to their deaths. Id follow this man anywhere.

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Five years ago I sat here in the Slate Movie Club bloviating about Christian Bales performance in Vice and how in his efforts to perfectly replicate Dick Cheneys appearance and voice and cadence, the actor lost something essential about the man. It gave me no pleasure to admit that Vice, for me, was dead on arrival in part because my favorite working actor gave an empty, albeit technically accomplished, performance.

This year, something similar happened with Bradley Coopers perfect reconstruction of Leonard Bernsteins voice and cadence in Maestro, a movie that is adored by many of my friends but still manages to leave me cold. Watching the film, it was clear that Cooper had studied hours of footage of Bernstein to see how the legendary conductor presented himself to the world. But I didnt get any sense of what Bernstein was like in real life, in intimate settings. It felt like he was on the whole time. Yes, I think this is partly what Maestro is about: Here is a man who was always playing a part. I understood that intellectually, but not on emotionally. To be clear, I find Maestro somewhat disappointing but also interesting and worthwhile, while I find Vice (mostly) dire. But both extremely accomplished, authentic performances are left in the dust by a heartbreaking and riveting Adam Driver in a gray wig and a fat suit.

Which brings me to Dans interruption.

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Yes, Ferrari does have a scene where Enzo Ferraris mom says, The wrong son died. And yes, this does echo the wrong kid died line from Walk Hard: The Dewey Cox Story. And yes, as Dan notes, this was an actual thing Ferraris mom apparently said all the time. I chuckled at the line, too. I even asked Michael Mann about it when I interviewed him. He hadnt seen Walk Hard. (The interview is here, but that exchange wasnt included in the final piece.)

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And you know what? Good for him! Im glad Michael Mann isnt making creative decisions based on whether Judd Apatow got there first. Im glad hes focused on making his movies his way and not worrying about what people might mock him for. Its Michael Manns tunnel vision that makes him the director that he is, and that made it possible for him to finally make this film after 30 years of trying. That tunnel vision has served him well throughout his career. Its what made him start using digital video earlier than almost any other director, a decision for which he was criticized mightily at the time. I remember when I first saw Ali in 2001, I was shocked that he needle-dropped Sam Cookes A Change Is Gonna Come at the end of the scene of Malcolm Xs assassination, when just a few years earlier, Spike Lee had used the same song in the run-up to the assassination scene in his biopic Malcolm X. What were you thinking, Michael Mann? What a misstep! And yet  watching the two films today, both scenes are beautiful, and both pictures are wonderful. Shockingly, it turns out these music choices can coexist. And frankly, today, it seems like such a bizarre thing to have gotten worked up over.

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And despite my knowing chuckle during Ferrari, the line doesnt bother me at all. Because for starters, the film doesnt use it as some kind of great insight into Enzo Ferraris lifelong drive to be the best, the way a more conventional biopic might. It does reveal something about his contentious and often very funny relationship with his mother, played by a terrific Daniela Piperno. Ferrari is in fact often deliberately hilarious, even alongside all its heartbreak and its great, bellowing confrontations. Its an opera, really. Theres even an extended performance from La Traviata in it, just to make that clear. Even though the movie leaves me a total wreck every time I watch it, I find it stupendously entertaining.

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But also: Spoofs (spooves?) do not automatically disqualify other movies that may stray into their territory! I spent way too many years listening to people tell me that they couldnt take The Last Temptation of Christ seriously because theyd seen The Life of Brian. John Boormans Excalibur, the greatest King Arthur movie of them all, came out just six years after Monty Python and the Holy Grail, the second-greatest King Arthur movie of them all, and there were some who dinged it for being a bit too reminiscent of the Python version at the time. But cinema and the world would both be lesser places today if John Boorman had said, Well, on second thought, lets not go to Camelot. It is a silly place. I even remember some folks telling me at the time of its release that Michael Manns film version of Miami Vice (among the greatest of all movies) was too serious, too self-important, too unironic in a world where the comedy film reboot of Starsky & Hutch existed. I love you, Dan, but in 15 or 20 years nobodys going to care that Ferrari has a line of dialogue in it that Walk Hard made fun of. The film will live or die on its own terms, not some other movies.

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Related From Slate 2023 Was the Year the Superhero-Movie Phenomenon Ended Read More

Before I close out, I do want to note something about Machine Dazzle, the visionary designer Mark discussed in his last entry. Machine Dazzle actually created the crazy costumes for Once Within a Time, the wild new Godfrey Reggio movie that premiered this October. The film, running just 52 minutes long, is a retelling of the Adam and Eve story from the point of view of technology and the digital revolution. (Sort of. Its a Godfrey Reggio movie, so its all up for interpretation.) It looks amazing, with each frame consisting of multiple layers of models and miniatures and process shots and random digital doodles. Machine Dazzles costumes are somehow both patchwork and elementalround and square cages around peoples heads, elegant robes that become tree roots, elaborate headdresses made of antlers that leave you guessing whether theyre reaching for the stars or summoning forth demons. And it all stars  Mike Tyson? Anyway, a film like that was always going to be a tough sell, but it did make me a little sad to see it get almost completely ignored. A new movie, probably the last movie, from the director of Koyaanisqatsiand nobody noticed.

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I myself go through waves of despair and hope over the future of our industry on what sometimes seems like an hourly basis. But heres something that does give me hope: The fact that the Slate Movie Club is still going strongdriven by Danas passion and intelligence, Dans rigor and open-mindedness, and the whole Slate teams diligence. I give up cinema forever on Monday. Im back in the theater by Sunday. We all know its our deadly passionour terrible joy.

Brake later,

Bilge

Read the next entry in Movie Club: How Lily Gladstone Gave the Performance of the Year
Israeli forces on Thursday heavily bombed the besieged Gaza Strip as the center of fierce combat against Hamas moves steadily south, where hundreds of thousands of displaced Palestinians are sheltering.

The war, which started with Hamas's Oct. 7 attack on Israel, has devastated much of northern Gaza as air and artillery strikes and house-to-house fighting have become heaviest in the southern city of Khan Yunis.

The health ministry in Hamas-run Gaza reported at least 50 deaths and dozens more wounded in strikes across the territory on Thursday morning, after an AFP correspondent reported heavy artillery strikes overnight, particularly on Khan Yunis.

The Israeli army has deployed an additional brigade to Khan Yunis, the hometown of Hamas leader Yahya Sinwar, said military spokesman Daniel Hagari.

More than 80 percent of Gaza's 2.4 million people have been driven from their homes, the UN says, and many now live in cramped shelters or makeshift tents in the far south, in and around the city of Rafah near Egypt.

UN World Health Organization chief Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus called for "urgent steps to alleviate the grave peril" facing Gaza's people, including "terrible injuries, acute hunger and... severe risk of disease".

French President Emmanuel Macron in a call with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu voiced his "deepest concern at the very heavy civilian toll" and stressed "the need to work towards a lasting ceasefire", Macron's office said.

Israel has vowed to destroy Hamas in retaliation for its bloody Oct. 7 attack, which left about 1,140 people dead, most of them civilians, according to an AFP tally based on Israeli figures.

The Palestinian militants also took around 250 hostages, 129 of whom remain in captivity -- a source of intense grief and anxiety for their families, who have held protests demanding urgent action to "bring them home".

Israel's relentless aerial bombardment and ground invasion with troops and tanks have killed at least 21,110 people, mostly women and children, according to Gaza's health ministry.

The Israeli army says 167 of its soldiers have been killed in combat inside Gaza against Hamas, considered a "terrorist" organization by the US and EU.

Quadruplets born in war

An Israeli siege imposed in the wake of the Oct. 7 attack  following years of crippling blockade  has deprived Gazans of food, water, fuel and medicine.

The severe shortages have only been sporadically eased by humanitarian aid convoys entering primarily via Egypt.

"We are tired of everything," said Ekhlas Shnenou who fled her Gaza City home. "Enough with the war, enough with the pain, enough with the hunger."

One of the many people displaced, 28-year-old Iman al-Masry, recently gave birth to quadruplets in a hospital in southern Gaza after fleeing her family's home in the devastated north.

The arduous journey "affected my pregnancy," she said, recounting that she gave birth by C-section on December 18 to two girls and two boys, one of whom was too fragile to leave hospital.

"They are very slim," she said of the three other infants, speaking in a cramped schoolroom turned shelter in Deir al-Balah. "It's cold and windy and there's no bathtub... I just use wipes."

The Palestinian Red Crescent society reported fresh shelling Thursday near Al-Amal hospital in Khan Yunis, killing at least 10 people.

It decried in a statement the "intensification" of Israeli strikes in the area of the facility, already hit earlier this week, where about 14,000 Palestinians are sheltering.

Violence has also flared across the Israel-occupied West Bank, with at least 314 Palestinians killed by Israeli forces or settlers since Oct. 7, according to the territory's health ministry.

Israeli forces overnight raided money exchange shops across the West Bank which the military said had provided funds for armed groups.

In Ramallah, seat of the Palestinian Authority, one man was killed by the troops, according to the health ministry. An AFP journalist saw Palestinians hurl Molotov cocktails at the Israeli forces.

Israel has occupied the West Bank since the 1967 Arab-Israeli war and regularly carries out raids there, though they are far less common in the territory's institutional heart Ramallah.

A United Nations report Thursday said the human rights situation in the West Bank was rapidly deteriorating and urged Israel to "end unlawful killings" against the Palestinian population.

"The use of military tactics and weapons in law enforcement contexts, the use of unnecessary or disproportionate force, and the enforcement of broad, arbitrary and discriminatory movement restrictions that affect Palestinians are extremely troubling," UN rights chief Volker Turk said in a statement.

Mideast tensions flare

The bloodiest ever Gaza war has also sharply heightened tensions between Israel and its long-time arch foe Iran, which supports armed groups across the Middle East in what it dubs the "Axis of Resistance."

Iran blamed Israel for a missile strike in Syria on Monday that killed the senior Iranian military commander Razi Moussavi, who was laid to rest at a tearful mass funeral in Tehran on Thursday.

The crowd chanted "Death to Israel" and "Death to America" after supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei led a prayer over the body of Moussavi, a top commander of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps' foreign operations arms the Quds Force.

Tehran has vowed to avenge the death of Moussavi, the most senior Guards general killed since the US assassination of Quds Force chief Qasem Soleimani in 2020.

Israel has traded heavy cross-border fire with Iran-backed Hezbollah in Lebanon since the Gaza war broke out, and warned it will step up military action unless the group's militants withdraw further away from the border.

The army on Thursday said it intercepted a drone that crossed in from Lebanon over northern Israel after sirens blared in the Haifa area.

A drone also crashed near a village in the Israel-annexed Golan Heights late Wednesday, Israel's army said, after an Iraqi armed group with links to Hamas claimed responsibility for an attack in the area.

Another Iran ally, Yemen's Huthi rebels, has launched repeated drone and missile attacks at Israel, which have been intercepted in the air, and fired at passing cargo ships in the Red Sea, disrupting international trade. (AFP)
The biggest publishing story of 2023 was the explosion of book-banning efforts in libraries and schools. While concentrated in Florida and Texas, attempts to ban books featuring LGBTQ+ characters or focusing on Americas racial history have spread to a total of 21 states. Such campaigns tend to draw from playbooks created by well-funded conservative organizations affiliated with the GOP, whose motivations arent hard to surmise. Simply put, they want to undermine and eventually dismantle public school and library systems under the banner of parental rights so that rich people can pay even less tax.

To persuade the voters who actually benefit from schools and libraries to support this plan, groups like Moms for Liberty drum up culture-war panics. The easiest way to do this is to capitalize on parents fear that their children will learn about sex in a way they consider unhealthy or inappropriate. This tactic generates so much heat in the form of legislation, lawsuits, criminal complaints, protests, teacher firings, sex scandals, and shouting matches at school board meetings that the furor obscures a crucial fact: Even if right-wing book bans persist and triumph, theyll never achieve what their most ardent foot soldiers want.

Anxieties about how and when children learn about sex are understandable, and shared by many politically progressive parents. But a lot of social conservatives seem to believe that if their kids simply never find out about homosexuality or transgenderism, theyre guaranteed to grow up to be cisgendered heterosexuals. First of all, any number of queer people who grew up in small towns in the 1970s will be happy to assure you this isnt true. But secondly, these days, banning books about LGBTQ+ issues wouldnt succeed in shielding kids from this forbidden knowledgebecause thats not how kids are discovering it in the first place.

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A recent Washington Post article about book banning in one Florida community offers an inadvertent testimonial to this truth. An oral history of sorts, the story consists of long quotations by various residents of Escambia County, from a tearful teacher who cant read a history book to her class without a permission slip to a pastor whos totally glad that his activism caused bad books to be removed from the local schools.

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One source, a student, describes being raised very religious. The kind of Christianity that says you go to hell if youre gay, then goes on to explain (emphasis mine):

I grew out of that. I did my own reading online. I made friends who were gay. I realized gay people arent possessed by demons. Theyre just people. Im 17 now, and Im pansexual, which means I like anybody. Im also transgender and nonbinary, because I dont identify with male or female.

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While this teen was dismayed when the library that had once been their safe hangout was suddenly denuded of books, never do they indicate that their journey away from Christian conservatism to nonbinary transgender pansexuality began with a book in that library. The reading that fostered their transformation was done online.

Related From Slate The Years Best Movie About Faith Was a Tween Drama Set in the 70s Read More

Conservative book bans recall the old joke about the drunk who loses his car keys in the park but searches for them under a streetlight because thats where the light is. Conservative parents cant keep their kids from being exposed to bad information or ideas on the internet, but they can badger school boards into withdrawing books containing those ideas. The most this can do for them is to suggest to LGBTQ+ kids that the other adult authority figures in their lives share the bigotry of their parentsa cruel form of comfort, and one those kids learn almost immediately from their peers isnt actually true.

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As for the conservative advocacy groups behind the book ban movement, they cant lose. Thats because their goal isnt to protect kids but to bring about the (highly profitable) privatization of American education. To that end, they aim to discredit public schools as a tool of liberal indoctrination and to encourage the harassment of public servants, driving them out of their jobs so that they can be replaced by compliant conservatives. This they can accomplish even if all their book bans (which the majority of American oppose) are overturned. As disturbing as book bans are, theyre just one step in a larger agenda. If that agenda succeeds, the same people campaigning to keep Gender Queer out of their library will someday wonder why it is they dont have a library at all.
Rabbit Holes is a recurring series in which writers pay homage to the diversity and ingenuity of the ways we procrastinate now. To pitch your personal rabbit hole, email humaninterest@slate.com.

For two years in Brooklyn, my roommate and I had the luxury of a large (though likely tetanus-bearing, nail-littered) backyard. In the summer, we would have outdoor parties, but there was no greater joy than the post-party wind-down when stragglers would flop onto the small sofas in our cramped living room for a YouTube plunge. We would coast through music videos, watch Vine compilations, and hunt for old episodes of our favorite childrens shows. But my favorite videos to pull up were those in the elaborate cinematic universe of American Girl Doll Stop-Motion, or AGSM for those in the loop.

The first AGSM music video I saw, and the first I pull up to introduce friends to the genre, is a video by auteur PolkadotAG set to A Thousand Years by Christina Perri. A Thousand Years is the love theme from the final Twilight film and, unsurprisingly, a favorite of AGSM creators. This video opens with a close-up of a brunette dolls face dripping with tears. The video jumps back in time to follow the friendship of the brunette, Melody, and her blond best friend, Isabelle, leading up tospoiler alertIsabelles tragic death as the victim of vehicular manslaughter.

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PolkadotAGs work hits all of the marks of what makes these videos so great. Not only does the video have a tragic plot, but it also makes use of a variety of American Girl doll accessories mixed with DIY ingenuity. The girls make cookies together, putting a batterlike liquid onto a toy baking sheet that is placed into a toy oven before coming out with toy cookies on itbrilliant! Even Isabelles tragic death is brought about by another doll carelessly cruising in a pink AG SUV, and she is tended to by a doll in an official AG nurses uniform. Isabelles hospital room is decked out in a mixture of AG furniture and hospital equipment made out of graph paper and string. A handwritten ALERT on the graph paper hospital monitor makes for a heart-wrenching and striking visual.

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Last year, I left my Brooklyn apartment and moved home to Buffalo, New York, to help take care of my mom. I could not bring all of my friends or my living room with me, but I could bring AGSM videos. More and more, I find myself returning to these videos, especially late at night when I cant sleep. As the hours creep on, I sit in front of my laptop and watch AGSM music videos and movies. I am constantly impressed by the myriad uses of the hairless American Girl, from leukemia storylines to a personal favorite about a girl with alopecia finding her inner beauty. I am drawn to the melodrama, the production value, and the range of costumes and props. I am fascinated by the community: Encouraging comments abound, and shoutouts to other creators feature prominently in video descriptions. Ive even found subcommunities, like a thriving pack of religious makers set out to use their American Girl dolls to tell stories about Christ, like The True Meaning of Christmas.

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Im not proud to admit that this obsession started as a late-night laugh session at the hard work of young girls. The more I watched, however, the more I grew to appreciate and take seriously the effort and craftsmanship of the AGSM artists. In one video description, the creator shares that it took her two weeks to complete the video.

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It is exciting to see the ways young girls express themselves online. Most of the AGSM videos focus on female friendships. Sure, one of the girls usually ends up dying or battling an illness, but it is refreshing to see young girls making content for themselves that doesnt always revolve around boys, crushes, and romance. With so few women still being recognized for their work as screenwriters, directors, and cinematographers, it feels good to find a weird corner of the internet, a more wholesome proto-TikTok, where girls are teaching themselves how to be all of the above.

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Sprawled on the same bed in the same room where I hid from my high school bullies, I spend hours watching, but no longer laughing, at the AGSM videos. The creative work and sense of community reminds me of ways that I found solace online as a young girl. Growing up, I spent a lot of my time on LiveJournal. On LiveJournal, I was able to teach myself skills that seemed otherwise inaccessible. In creating custom HTML LiveJournal layouts, my peers and I were really young women in STEM. I also found a sense of community virtually when I struggled to find one at school. I love that AGSM videos provides that for a new generation of girls.

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User Agbrownies articulates my journey with AGSM in the plot description of a video about a 13-year-old realizing she isnt too old for her dolls: Eventually, the girl realizes that she can grow older, but bring her childhood imagination along with her. I am 27, almost 28, and have had a tough year, but these videos are one of the things that brings me comfort and joy. Thank you to the robust community of AGSM creators for helping to remind me that even as I get older, I can still bring my childhood imagination along with me.
The roughly 75 years between the end of the Civil War and the beginning of World War II was a period of drastic evolution in how we think about and solve crimes. From the Civil War bounty jumpers John, Frank, Sim, and William Reno, brothers who realized the best way to rob a train was to wait until the locomotive was moving, to H.H. Holmes, Americas first known serial killer, new classes of criminals were rising, including spies and mobsters. To fight the changing tides, law enforcement created new methods of investigation, including the photo lineup, and in the United States an entirely new government department was created to deal with wanted suspects ability to cross state lines with speed and ease.

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The social and cultural situation in this period also makes its crimes interesting. The story of the illustrious George Leslie comes right in the middle of the Gilded Age. Later known as The Gentleman Bank Robber, Leslie knew the key to robbing from the rich was to blend in. Because, especially in the late 1800s, the rich wanted to believe that they couldnt be fooled. So if you could become one of the upper class, you could get away with anything.

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Before he became known as the king of all bank robbers, the patron saint of burglars was a man born into a respectable family. His father was a brewer in Toledo, Ohio. And while little is known of George Leslies early life, its safe to say that he grew up wanting little, ready to marry well and live out his days with a top hat in hand.

Leslies villain origin story, if you want to call him a villain, truly begins after the Civil War ends. Leslie was engaged to a high-society woman named Sarah Lawrence; hed also graduated with honors after studying architecture. He should have been on his way toward living a fashionable life among the mid-tier elite. But an old ghost haunted him. Unlike millions of other men throughout the country, Leslie had escaped service in the Civil War through a rich persons loophole.

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Leslie biographer J. North Conway spoke with Slate podcast producer Mike Vuolo in 2016 about Leslie. Conway described how Leslies fathers decision to pay $300 to keep Leslie from being drafted to fight in the Civil War made him a pariah in Ohio and beyond when the fighting finally ceased.

So, at the end of the war, men like Leslie who had paid to get out of military service found themselves the object of scorn and ridicule, and Leslie himself was ostracized by many prominent Cincinnati families and friends and former associates, Conway said.

Heres the thing about what Leslieor rather his fatherdid: It wasnt illegal. While not fighting in a war simply because youre able to buy your way out certainly isnt a good thing, you really cant blame the Leslies for not wanting George to die as hundreds of thousands did. The problem isnt that Leslie and his father took advantage of an opportunity to avoid the war. The problem is that there was a system in place to allow this to begin with. Even in our most tumultuous and desperate time, the powers that be looked around and said, If youre rich enough, your life can be spared.

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This was an attitude toward wealth that Leslie would carry with him. While he was punished for buying his way out of servicehis fiancee Sarah eventually left him (likely after some meddling from her own father) and married one of the first men to receive the Medal of Honorthe idea that wealth could get you anything persisted.

Shunned in Ohio, Leslie did what many people had done before and have done sincehe moved to New York to start over. His parents had died by the end of the 1860s, so he sold all his ties to the state and hopped a train for the Big Apple.

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Practically every burglar and bank robber of note in the United States made New York his principal headquarters during the twenty years which followed the Civil War, but the only one to whom the police were willing to award the palm of genius was George Leonidas Leslie, also known as George Howard and Western George. So went the New Yorkers 1927 feature on Leslie. But why? Why go from the easy life of a gentleman to the precarious life of a criminal? According to biographer Conway, in his book King of Heists: The Sensational Bank Robbery of 1878 That Shocked America, the reason was actually quite juvenile.

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All the respectable things of the worldposition, education, and wealthdidnt mean a thing to him anymore. They had all come easily to him and had ultimately gotten him nowhere. What he wanted now was what hed never had in his lifemystery and adventure.

This was a case of poor little rich boy wants to join the circus. But you cant just become a criminal overnight. At least, not a successful one.

In an effort to find his greener pastures, Leslie worked to transform himself into a high-society dandy. Having sold his fathers brewery and offloaded his architecture firm, he was in possession of some money and able to start acquiring the trappings of wealth. But many of the things one needs to fit into the best of society are taught, not bought, and Leslie already knew them. His manners were impeccable, his style excellent. He knew how to blend into any social situation. But Leslie was itching to do something more than sip Champagne with the elites. As luck would have it, this was when he met the Queen of Fences.

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Known as Mother Mandelbaum, Fredericka Mandelbaum was, at the time of her death at 65, reported to have employed dozens of thieves. There is not a thief of note in the land to whom her name is not as familiar as his own, the Boston Globe wrote upon her death. Mandelbaum acted as a go-between in the criminal underworld. If you stole something, that was all well and good, but you needed to be able to sell it to get your cash, and its not like you could just go to the pawn shop and say Sir, would you like to buy this obviously stolen item that police are looking for? Thats where a fence came in. A fence had far-reaching connections to help you offload your filched property. For a fee, of course.

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Mandelbaum came to America from Germany in 1859 with her husband. The pair started a dry-goods business and bought several buildings, eventually using the buildings primarily for their dishonest gains. Youd go in the front door and see an unassuming haberdashery, but the back room was loaded with ill-gotten goods, waiting for illegal sale.

When Mr. Mandelbaum died, Fredericka was undeterred, and flourished. In 1894, she owned several tenements beyond the houses in which her business was conducted, and it is estimated that she was worth fully $1,000,000, according to the San Francisco Examiner, the equivalent of more than $34 million dollars today. The New York Sun estimated that Mandelbaum handled between $5,000,000 and $10,000,000 worth of stolen property over the course of her life. And because she had a legitimate business, Mandelbaum was able to stand out among fences because she always had cash on hand to purchase the stolen goods before turning around and selling them herself. Though some of the finest things, Mandelbaum kept for herself, in rooms (as the Sun described them) elegantly furnished by her clients with furniture and draperies from some of New Yorks finest mansions.

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Having the distinction of employing thieves and having New York police officers on her side, due to bribery or blackmail, Mandelbaum was occasionally arrested but mostly lived openly, until 1884 when a tough-on-crime district attorney managed to get enough evidence to charge her with grand larceny and receiving stolen goods. Mandelbaum fled to Canada before trial and lived there until she died in February of 1894.

But before she died, Mother Mandelbaum had all the pleasures money could buy, according to the Boston Globe, and she kept her employees safe with lawyers in her employ who fought their battles for them in the courts of justice, and whenever any of her proteges were in trouble no money was spared, and no trick left untried that could help them. Mother Mandelbaum also loved to throw lavish parties: A warm, generous hostess, she held frequent dances and dinners attended by celebrated criminals as well as friendly politicians and cops. It was at one such party that Mandelbaum and Leslie finally met.

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Leslie had been making his way in the city. He wore the finest suits money could buy. Since coming to New York, he had purchased several frock coats, vests, and trousers from Brooks Brothers, where everyone who was anyone bought their apparel, wrote William Bryk in a look back at Leslies life for the New York Sun in 2004. Not for nothing, Leslie was also tall, dark, and handsometraits that allowed him to easily ingratiate himself into any company he desired. Leslie had become a regular at the restaurant Delmonicos, a favorite among the elite, known for its famous Delmonico steak. It was there that he met famed architect John Roeblingbuilder of the Cincinnati Suspension Bridge in Leslies hometown and, at the time, chief engineer of the Brooklyn Bridge. It was also where he met a man that would truly change his life, Jubilee Jim Fisk.

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Fisk, a Wall Street speculator, was fabulously wealthy. Owner of the Erie Railway Company, Fall River steamship line, and other companies, he made corporate looting and corruption a fine art. You see, at this time, there were the street-level criminalsyour prostitutes, your pickpockets, your sneak thieves. But there was also a massive run on those in high society who made hoards of money through corrupt and exploitative means. This is, after all, around the time, historian Matthew Josephson later explained, the term robber baron was coined.

As game recognizes game, Fisk happened to be an attendee of Mother Mandelbaums parties, and he invited Leslie along for a night of fun. The rest is history. Mandelbaum was looking to diversify her own criminal portfolio, including bank robberies. But the old wayblowing up vaultstended to cost more on the front end than was gained, after her operatives blew up most of whatever was in the vault. Leslie was looking for a criminal enterprise that fit his skill set. Both had found their own ways to live in the balance between high society and the criminal slums. The pair took a liking to one another and turned out to have a very mutually beneficial relationship. Together, the Leavenworth Times wrote in 1894, they made more money than she made in any other five years during her career.

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Having acquired a reliable fence and ingratiated himself in the upper crust of society. Leslie was ready to start on his true purpose in coming to New Yorkcrime.

In all, Leslie would be an active criminal from 1869 until his death in 1884. During that time, its estimated that he played a role in 80 percent of all bank robberies in the United States. Throughout this time, Leslie used his background in architecture to study the blueprints of various banks, uncovering their weak points and using sophisticated toolssome of his own inventionto break into the vaults in a way that didnt destroy what was inside.

Leslie showed Mandelbaum his skills in June of 1869 with the Ocean National Bank robbery in New York City. In order to pull off the robbery, Leslie wanted to use a device that hed spent a lot of time perfecting. He called it the Little Jokera small metal wheel with a wire that fit perfectly inside the combination dial of a bank safe. When the safe was then opened, the dial would make notches in the wheel effectively showing the combination of the safe. But there was an obvious catchyou had to get to the vault twice. Once to place the device, and once to remove it.

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Leslie became a member of the bank in order to get an idea of the layout and the employees. Mandelbaum secured Leslie a crewincluding people like Jimmy Hope and Shag Draper, whom Leslie would work with again many times in the future. Leslies plan was precise, and he even got Mandelbaum to invest in the same safe the bank used so the crew could rehearse multiple times. They rented the empty office space in the basement below the bank. Jonny Irving, who was working as a janitor at the bank, planted the Little Joker. Finally, according to Conway in his interview with Slate, the crew broke into the bank on a Saturday (in order to have as much time to complete the job as possible) by drilling through the floor of the bank (or the ceiling of the basement) and ransacking the place. When they were done, the New York Herald reported, they left a mess of tools and goods they couldnt carry away.

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Scattered promiscuously about the floor were United States bonds and currency, gold coin, pieces of  iron, small wedges, railroad bonds, copper coin, augers, chisels, jackscrews, lanterns, fuses, flasks of powder, cigar stumps, ropes, saws, gold certificates and other articles too numerous to mention.

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At the end of the day, despite leaving behind hundreds of thousands of dollars in clearinghouse currencycertificates promising payments, sort of like checksand other certificates, as well as a bag of gold coin, the group made off with around $800,000. As biographer Conway explained on the podcast: Not a shots been fired, not a single person is injured, not a stick of dynamite is used. All thanks to Leslies ingenuity.

Leslies methodology of using skill instead of force in bank robberies was becoming a trendone that scared banks and people who put their money in these supposedly safe institutions. This robbery, the New York Times wrote of the Ocean National Bank heist, and other equally bold and ingenious ones of a late date, have rendered depositors exceedingly nervous as to the description of the vaults, the make of the safes and locks, and the character of the companies with whom they intrust [sic] their funds. It was a pattern that Leslie would continue with his gang of misfits and Mother Mandelbaums frequent investment.

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Probably one-third of their loot was taken from financial institutions in the metropolis, the New Yorker wrote of Leslie and his associates in 1927, their largest hauls being the theft of $786,879 from the Ocean National Bank in 1869, and $2,747,000 in cash and securities from the Manhattan Savings Institution  in 1878.

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The gang didnt just work in New York. They traveled from state to stateanywhere there was a bank that Leslie deemed penetrable. From the Wellsboro Bank of Philadelphia to the Saratoga County Bank of Waterford in New York, Leslies gang would travel anywhere on the East Coast for a score.

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On Jan. 27, 1876, seven thieves pulled off what would become known as one of the greatest bank robberies in history. Though Leslie would be involved in multiple robberies that bore the moniker of greatest, there was no denying that Leslie, along with six other members of his gangShag Draper, Red Leary, Billy Connor, James Burns, Thomas Dunlap, and William Scottpulled off a remarkable feat that would penetrate the minds of citizens and send rumors up and down the streets for years.

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Northampton, Massachusetts, was a small city over 150 miles from New York City. According to George Washington Walling in his 1887 memoir of his time on the force, Recollections of a New York Chief of Police, the bank was chosen based on which bank had vaults and safes that were easy to open. In this case, the bank was one where it only took one key bank employee to open the vault. Because very few banks will let you inspect the areas where they keep their money, Leslie and his men needed some help. Someone who was an expert in locks and safes and who had access to them. Enter William D. Edson.

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Edson was a traveling agent for Herring & Co., a safe manufacturer, and a man of loose morals looking for easy money. In exchange for a nice share of the takings, Edson pointed the group to Northampton National Bank. With this much learned, the rest of the task was not difficult to thieves of such broad experiences, Walling wrote. Northampton was a small town, and boldness, the burglars thought, would most successfully accomplish their designs.

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While the band was made up of successful safecrackers and bank robbers, their actual methodology was fairly mundane. In the night, the men put on masks and went to the home of the cashier of the bank, Mr. Whittlesey. They caused chaos in the home, waking up Whittlesey, his wife and kids, and their staff, tying everyone up and leaving them behind as they walked Whittlesey to the bank. Once at the bank, they threatened Whittlesey with death until he opened the vaults. Having collected everything they saw, the men then calmly walked Whittlesey back to his home and tied him up with the rest of his family.

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In all, Leslie and his crew got away with $1.5 million in money and negotiable securities. The negotiable securities were mostly useless to the thieves, but they still walked away with a hefty sum. Edson was soon arrested, and quickly flipped and named names because he thought he didnt get as much as he deserved from the robbery. Scott and Dunlap were arrested in Philadelphia on their way to another bank robbery and eventually sentenced to 20 years in prison. In 1877, Draper was arrested, and soon after, Connors was caught as well. The rest of the gang trickled in and out of jail, but Leslie was never arrested, or even formally implicated, for the robbery, likely because he had the incredible benefit of his co-conspirators not turning on him and his high position in society keeping him immune from suspicion.

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As Leslies skill and star as a burglar rose, he started to rethink his career. Like many lawyers, chefs, doctors, and other professionals before him, Leslie decided to start teaching the skills that had brought him nationwide renown.

For a stiff fee or a percentage of the gains, with a guarantee, he planned bank and store burglaries all over the United States, wrote Herbert Asbury for the San Francisco Examiner. While teaching crime may not initially sound as lucrative as actually committing the crimesor even something that a lot of people would be able to pay forLeslie is reported to have made $20,000 just to travel to the Pacific Coast to examine the plans for a potential bank robbery. He was such an expert mechanic and so able a negotiator, that his fame spread wherever first-class criminals associated, Walling later wrote. A telegram might summon him to Boston, Philadelphia, New York, or any other large city, simply to look over the scheme for a burglary which might be carried out by others. It was a win-win for the career criminalhe got to keep using his skills, but with far less risk.

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Leslie wasnt the only one who roped in pupils to learn his craft. Mandelbaum allegedly ran a school for boys and girls to learn how to become successful pickpockets and sneak thieves, with advanced courses in burglary and safecracking and postgraduate work in blackmail and con games, wrote Bryk for the New York Sun. Where Leslies move into teaching could act as a way for him to make money with less risk and effort, Mandelbaums courses had the added benefit of adding to her roster of thieves who could bring her stolen goods to fence.

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But Leslies life still wasnt without risk, and the greatest risk eventually came not from the crimes he committed, but from the women he took to bed.

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Leslie had one more greatest heist in his storied career before he met a violent end. On Sunday, Oct. 27, 1878, the Manhattan Bank Building was robbed by a group of men in a similar fashion to the Northampton Bank robbery. The group barged into the second-floor apartment above the bank to head off the bank janitor, Louis Werckle, from hearing anything and notifying the police. The men tied up Werckle and his family, but this time, instead of demanding Werckle open the safe, the men left the terrified family with a guard and went alone to the empty bank and opened the vaults. The men left with $12,764 in cash, $241,000 in coupon bonds, and $2,506,700 in registered bonds.

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The robbery had been in the works for three years and orchestrated by Leslie. According to Walling, In thieves slang it was a pudding; the bank was wealthy, and always kept a large amount of cash and negotiable security on hand; the vault, although apparently impregnable, was easy to enter, and enough police protection from subordinates in the department was assured to render surprise in the commission of the burglary difficult. Leslie, as well as planning the robbery, was in charge of figuring out a way into the actual vault. Instead of using traditional wedges, mallets and jimmies, Walling wrote, Leslie went for a more clever and quiet approach. Leslie got a vault of the same style as the one in the bank to use as practice. After examining the vault, he realized that the combination could be thrown out of gear, and the tumblers of the combination lock could be forced into the right order by drilling a hole under the indicator, and working the tumblers around with a fine piece of steel inserted in the hole.

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There were several setbacks over the planning periodat one point Leslie managed to actually get into the bank for a test run to see if this method would work on the real vault. It did for a part of it, and he thought success would be his, but although Leslie covered up the hole, he forgot to reset the tumblers, meaning the bank employees could have been tipped off that something was wrong with the safe. Luck was on his side, however, when the bank officers who discovered him decided to ignore the issue and simply let it go. But luck ran out when, during a second attempt at the bank, they realized the dummy lock they had been working with was slightly different from the one at the bank. With their attempts at artistry foiled, the gang decided to use the old-fashioned way of bank robbing, and thus violence and force were used both on the bank janitor and on the vault itself.

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Four of Leslies gang went into the bank: Jimmy Hope, William Kelly, Abe Coakley, and Pete Emerson, with outside help from John Nugent, a police officer. They had also planted a watchman in the bank, Patrick Shevlin. The case stumped police for months until, in May of 1879, they started to get word of officer Nugent bragging about being involved with the robbery. Shevlin also confessed when confronted, and the rest soon fell as well, except for Leslie. While Walling notes Leslies early involvement in the robbery, Leslie wasnt arrested or really on police radar after the fact. Likely, Leslie was along just for the stealth robbery purposes, and once they decided to tear the vault apart, his involvement wasnt necessary anymore.

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By 1884, Leslie was 40 years old, living in Brooklyn, and married to a woman named Mary Henrietta, nee Coath, the daughter of a landlady Leslie once stayed with. Theyd married when Mary was 15, and she thought Leslie was an Internal Revenue detective. But this was far from the truth and, within a few years, Mary knew her husbands true nature. But despite Marys willingness to go along with her husbands criminal life, little did she know that he was betraying her as well.

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Unwilling to maintain a semblance of honor among thieves where women were concerned, Leslie was rumored to have taken up with the wives and sisters of several men in his group, including Shag Drapers wife. In his memoirs, Walling wrote: These liaisons completely changed his mode of life. His proverbial sagacity and prudence deserted him.

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A mans body, well-dressed from head to toe, was found on June 4, 1878, three miles outside of Yonkers at the foot of Tramps Rock. His body was already partly decomposed, having been shot twice. Police would later learn that the body had been taken to that spot five days earlier and that the man was likely nude at the time he was shot and then dressed, given that no blood was on his clothing. They also learned that the body belonged to George Leslie, King of the Bank Robbers.

In the wake of Leslies death, the Boston Globe reported that Mrs. Mandelbaum was heartbroken. When Mrs. Mandelbaum learned that her old favorite was dead, she displayed what was for her an unusual degree of emotion, and exclaimed respectfully, Poor Shorge; he was such a very nais man.  While the murder of George Leslie was never solved, the longstanding theory was that he was murdered by his associates. According to New York Chief of Police Walling:

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The police fortified their theory by saying there had been a quarrel over the division of spoils, that Draper was jealous of Leslie, that [Johnny] Irving was opposed to him on account of his intimacy with Babe, and that Leslie had become leaky in regard to professional secrets.

While Leslie lived high and free, his death was violent, and in the end he received not a rich mans funeral, but was buried in a $10 plot that was little better than that given to the citys paupers.

Leslie was, in many ways, not only a product of his time but an inevitability. In the Golden Age he inhabited, Leslie made it clear that if you can blend in with the rich, you can rob them blind, in part because everyone was corrupt. Criminals like Leslie and Mother Mandelbaum were able to buy protection and more in those days. When corruption runs wild and those at the top are able to benefit most from it, people will get hurt.

Excerpt adapted from Between Two Wars: A True Crime Collection, by Cheyna Roth. Text courtesy of Ulysses Press.
It was three months agothough it feels like three yearswhen Secretary of State Antony Blinken strapped on a Fender Stratocaster, stepped to a mic in the State Departments august Benjamin Franklin Room, and led a band of musician-friends through a more-than-passable cover of Muddy Waters Hoochie Coochie Man.

Blinken was kicking off the Global Music Diplomacy Initiative, which, as he put it to the festive crowd of officials and artists, aimed to leverage the power of music to transcend the borders of geography and  language and to foster collaboration between America and people around the world.

He had no idea that, 10 days later, Hamas would mount a savage attack from Gaza, murdering 1,200 Israelis and kidnapping 250 more, or that Israel would retaliate with an invasion and air strikes that have killed 20,000 Palestinians so far, triggering massive waves of antisemitic and anti-American protests worldwide.

Nor did he have a clue that, two months into this gut-wrenching crisis, as he came to call it, Senate Republicans would block further military aid for Ukraine, holding it hostage to contentious domestic politicspassage of a bill that would pretty much close the U.S.Mexico border to asylum-seekersand thus calling into question not only Ukraines ability to continue staving off Russian aggression but also Americas reliability as an ally.

In retrospect, was Blinkens vision of music as a vehicle of global transformation a blip and a piffle, a charmingly naive indulgence?

Well, yes and no.

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The State Department has been sponsoring similar programs for decades. It began in the 1950s, at the height of the Cold War, when America was experiencing a different set of problems with its image. Adam Clayton Powell Jr., the flamboyant Harlem congressman, had a suggestion: Rather than sending ballet troupes and symphony orchestras on international tours, in a futile attempt to compete with the Soviet Unions Bolshoi, let the world see and hear real Americana, something the Russians couldnt matchsend out jazz bands.

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And so, for more than a decade, some of the countrys most famous musiciansDuke Ellington, Dizzy Gillespie, Louis Armstrong, Dave Brubeck, Benny Goodman, among otherswent on Jazz Ambassador tours, for weeks or months at a time, through the Middle East, South America, Asia, and the Soviet bloc.

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For a while, the venture had real impact. The musicians attracted enormous, excited crowds. During a stop in Congo, local drummers and dancers paraded Armstrong through the streets on a throne. In Athens, where students had recently thrown stones at the local headquarters of the U.S. Information Service in protest of Washingtons support for Greeces right-wing dictatorship, hundreds of the same students greeted Gillespie with cheers, lifting him on their shoulders, shouting, Dizzy! Dizzy! When Ellington came to Moscow, a U.S. diplomat wrote in his official report that crowds greeted the Duke as something akin to a Second Coming, with one Russian yelling, Weve been waiting for you for centuries!

Jazz was a natural enticement for the Cold War (just as rock n roll would be in the late 60s). Soviet citizens who hated their government found anything American alluring. Ralph Ellison called jazz an artistic counterpart to the American political system. Soloists can play anything they want as long as they stay within the tempo and the chord changesjust as, in a democracy, citizens can say or do anything as long as they dont break the law. When I was a Moscow correspondent in the early-to-mid 90s, many Russians I met told me that their most endearing, and enduring, impression of the United States came from listening to bootleg jazz albums and to Willis Conovers Jazz Hour on Voice of America radio.

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It is hard to imagine what sort of musicwhat sort of cultural artifact generallymight make a dent nearly as large as jazz did in the 50s or rock did in the 60s. For one thing, the world is no longer dominated by the EastWest divide. If the citizens of some country dont like their own culture, they can seek out the cultures of lots of other countriestheyre not restricted to choosing between American or Soviet models. For another, American music and movies are already widely available, through the internet or satellite TV; people might not even associate them with America.

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Finally, as Penny Von Eschen noted in her 2004 book Satchmo Blows Up the World: Jazz Ambassadors Play the Cold War, even in the programs heyday, audiences abroad never confused or conflated their love of jazz and American popular culture with an acceptance of American foreign policy. The biggest impact on hearts and mind came, as it always has, from what the U.S. government does.

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The State Department has continued to fund foreign tours modeled on the Jazz Ambassadors. Since 1975, American Music Abroad has funded 375 tours, mainly through Europe, of high school, college, and other not-so-famous bands. In 2005, the program branched out to Rhythm Road, which has sent 150 jazz musicians to more than 100 countries at a cost of $1.5 million a year. In 2013, it formed Next Level, which sends hip-hop musicians to conduct two-week-long workshops abroad63 countries so farand to bring some of the foreign musicians to the U.S. for tutorials in the music and recording industries.

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These are more modest programs than Jazz Ambassadors, in terms of scale, celebrity, and political ambition. Theres no attempt to pitch the superiority of American-style democracy. Rather, its to explore common elements of music here and abroad. Junious Brickhouse, the director of Next Level, told me that the idea is to createor help recognizea larger, global community.

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In that sense, its politico-cultural aim is a long-term endeavor, idealistic but not as quixotic as the earlier campaigns. T.K. Harvey, director of the Meridian International Center, which has been involved in some of these programs for decades, put it this way: The effects of cultural diplomacy arent felt right away. But when you work with young people abroad, they appreciate American cultureand that might affect the way they and their society view our country over time.

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Sometimes the effect is calculated. In mid-September, as Presidents Biden and Xi Jinping were about to hold their summit outside of San Francisco, members of the Philadelphia Orchestra arrived in China for a weeklong four-city concert tour. They played Beethoven, Mozart, and Bernstein, but also Hua Yanjun and Chen Yao Xing. The tour marked the 50th anniversary of the orchestras first visit, just after President Richard Nixons pathbreaking summit with Mao Zedonga trip that Nixon, who was a friend of Eugene Ormandy, the symphonys conductor, arranged. The orchestra had returned to China 13 times in the half-century since, each time to vast acclaim and mass media coverageeven more so this time, the first visit since the lifting of Chinas extreme COVID lockdown.

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Related From Slate The Best Jazz Albums of 2023 Read More

Nicholas Burns, the U.S. ambassador to China, said in an email, The pandemic had separated the American and Chinese people, with no in-person cultural exchanges for nearly four years. The Philadelphia Orchestras tour turned the page on that period of estrangement.

Matias Tarnopolsky, the orchestras president and CEO, recalled that the last time the musicians visited China, in 2017, he sat for a very stiff meeting with a senior Chinese official. But at the end, the official led him aside and urged him to keep making these tours. The official recalled how much his parents talked about the event when Ormandy and the orchestra came in 1973, and what it meant for hopes of contact with the rest of the world. At times, the official told him, these cultural exchanges are the only thing that works.
This is Totally Normal Quote of the Day, a feature highlighting a statement from the news that exemplifies just how extremely normal everything has become.

Much as the defendant would like it otherwise, this trial should be about the facts and the law, not politics. Jack Smith, special counsel, in a new motion filed in the federal election interference case.

While most of us are busy transforming into couches during the holiday slump between Christmas and New Years, special counsel Jack Smith is staying busy at work. He filed a new motion Wednesday asking Judge Tanya Chutkan to prevent Trump from injecting politics into his federal election interference trial.

The defendant has made clear his intent to introduce evidence and make arguments that are improperwhether because they have no bearing on his guilt or innocence, are otherwise irrelevant, or are substantially more prejudicial than probative, wrote Smith. The Court should exclude them.

Smith seems to be anticipating that Trumps legal team plans to argue that the whole trial itself is unjust political persecution.

That probably wont fly as a legal strategy, in any case. As Slates Ben Mathis-Lilley wrote earlier this year:

Are Trumps attorneys allowed to suggest that jurors vote not guilty because theyre uncomfortable with the timing of the trial or its potential effect on the election?

No. Juries in the United States are instructed only to consider whether the prosecution has proved its case with the facts presented, rather than to consider engaging in nullification, i.e., voting based on whether they think a given law is fair or a given prosecution is a good use of the governments time.

U.S. courts have been emphatic, most significantly in the 1895 Supreme Court case Sparf v. United States, in ruling that juries do not have an intrinsic right to consider nullificationor to be informed about it. Trumps lawyers will almost certainly not be allowed to argue that hes being prosecuted over an issue that should be left to voters, or raise the idea that he is being singled out because Democrats dont like him.

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But given the former presidents rhetoric outside the courtroom, it seems pretty likely he and his team will try to hint at those political arguments in a more indirect way. There is also historical precedent for itduring the 196970 Chicago Seven trial, for example, an attorney for anti-war protestors who had been sued by the Department of Justice argued that they were being targeted by an oppressive government. That attorney was convicted of contempt of court, but those convictions and his clients guilty verdicts were eventually overturned.

A flat-out argument that the prosecution is politically motivated would likely be shut down by the court, but any defense counsel worth her salt will find ways to raise this suggestion before the jury, Columbia University Law Schools Daniel Richman told Slate back in September. One way might be in cross-examination of government witnesses that suggests their testimony is biased because its politically motivated. Bias impeachment is foundational, and indeed, at some level, constitutionally protected, and counsel may therefore be allowed considerable leeway.

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Still, Smith is apparently doing what he can to keep those arguments out of the courtroom. In the 20-page filing, he lays out specific arguments that the former president should be banned from making during trial. At the top of the list is preventing Trumps lawyers from arguing that hes being politically targeted by the Biden administration and that the First Amendment gives him immunity from prosecution. These allegations are irrelevant to the jurys determination of the defendants guilt or innocence, Smith writes.

(About that whole immunity thingthe whole election interference trial is currently paused while an appeals court weighs Trumps claim that he has absolute immunity from prosecution for actions he took while he was president. The court is scheduled to hear oral argument on Jan. 9)

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Smith also does not want Trump to mention any of the consequences he may face as a result of his criminal prosecution, including the burden of the trial itself. The principle that juries are not to consider the consequences of their verdicts is a reflection of the basic division of labor in our legal system between judge and jury, wrote Smith. Allowing such statements invites jury confusion and nullification and is thus prejudicial to the jurys determination of his guilt or innocence.

Related From Slate The Fate of Jack Smiths Case Is in Limbo Read More

Another argument Smith wants to get ahead of is Trump arguing that the Jan. 6, 2021, insurrection should be blamed on Capitol Police, the National Guard, and the Washington, D.C., mayor. (The Capitol Police Board, a group made up of the House Sergeant at Arms, the Senate Sergeant at Arms, and the Architect of the Capitol, is responsible for Capitol security.)

Its not exactly clear when Judge Chutkan will rule on Smiths latest motion given that the case is currently paused. She has a growing list of filings to decide on, including a filing from Trumps lawyers seeking information on informants and other undercover operatives in the Jan. 6 insurrection at the Capitol.
Special Counsel Jack Smith filed a motion Wednesday in the Washington, D.C., prosecution of Donald Trump for trying to overturn the 2020 election, a motion whose larger significance might be easily missed. What Smith is asking U.S. district court Judge Tanya Chutkan to do is significant not only legally but politically as well.

On its surface, Smiths motion only asked the court to prevent Trump from raising matters during the trial that have nothing to do with determining whether he is guilty of committing the offenses with which he is charged.

The motion seeks pretrial evidentiary rulings from the judge to ensure that Trump cant politicize his trial by introducing evidence that would turn a courtroom into a circus. The former president has already begun to attempt this with statements that are playing a large part in his campaign to return to the White House but otherwise have no bearing on the case at hand.

Trump offered a striking example of the kind of thing Smith wants barred from the trial in a Christmas Eve post on Truth Social:

THEY SPIED ON MY CAMPAIGN, LIED TO CONGRESS, CHEATED ON FISA, RIGGED A PRESIDENTIAL ELECTION  JOE BIDENS MISFITS & THUGS, LIKE DERANGED JACK SMITH, ARE COMING AFTER ME, AT LEVELS OF PERSECUTION NEVER SEEN BEFORE IN OUR COUNTRY??? ITS CALLED ELECTION INTERFERENCE.

As the special counsels motion put it, Trumps defense should be barred from raising irrelevant political issues or arguments in front of the jury.  In addition to being wrong, these allegations are irrelevant to the jurys determination of the defendants guilt or innocence, would be prejudicial if presented to the jury, and must be excluded.

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What counts as irrelevant political issues or arguments? Well, Smith wants the judge to bar Trump from offering 10 different forms of evidence at the trial, virtually all of them foreshadowed by Trumps messaging to the public.

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For example, Smith noted that the defendant has signaled his intention to blame the events of January 6 on the Capitol Police, National Guard, and the Districts Mayor. He asked Judge Chutkan to bar Trump from doing so during his trial. As Smith writes:

A bank robber cannot defend himself by blaming the banks security guard for failing to stop him  and the defendant cannot argue that law enforcement should have prevented the violence he caused and obstruction he intended.

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Smith also wants the court to preclude Trumps claims of governments coordination with the Biden Administration to bring the case, at least unless Trump can produce some minimal evidence to justify raising the claim. A grand jury of 23 ordinary citizens filed this indictment against Trump based on evidencethe presidents administration did not.

In addition, Smiths motion alleges that the defendant has indicated that he intends to introduce evidence of foreign influence in the 2020 presidential election to show that (1) he was personally tricked by foreign disinformation, and/or (2) the January 6 riot resulted from efforts by foreign actors to influence public opinion. 

Such evidence, Smith notes, should be excluded as an irrelevant and confusing sideshow.

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As a matter of law, Smith is clearly right. Parties are not permitted to bring before trial juries claims made of whole cloth. Lawyers can only engage in what scholars call fact-based persuasion.

And no facts have surfaced to support Trumps self-serving claims that someone else is to blame for Jan. 6, that President Joe Biden has anything to do with the prosecution, or that foreign actors had anything to do with the 2020 election results.

Beyond the legalities, however, Smith has told us three important things about his larger project and strategy.

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First, hes a man in a hurry to ensure the fair administration of justice. Trump, on the other hand, wants to delay his court date as long as possible. Smiths new motion suggests that he hopes the election interference case can quickly overcome the former presidents stalling tactics and be ready to go to trial the moment appellate courts deny Trumps claim, as they surely will, that he is immune from prosecution as a former president.

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Second, the motion told us that even while the trial is on hold, Smith intends to take the initiative and remain the lead in the courtroom. Thats what great trial lawyers do at every stage of a court proceeding. Trump excels at surviving unfavorable situations by introducing chaos into thembut the motion shows that Smith will not let him do that here.

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Third, and most important, Smith is saying loud and clear that hes got Trumps number. The special counsel is telling Trump and the rest of us that he (Smith) understands who Trump is and the meaning of his trial for a rule-of-law society.

As Harvard historian Jill Lepore suggests, the D.C. prosecution has monumental significance for the current state of America, and Wednesdays motion shows it. The case is about truth versus disinformation, proof versus propaganda, and the difference between a court of law and the court of public opinion.

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In the political world that Trump inhabitsa world of grievance, blame, and made-up messaging whose repetition sinks them into the public consciousnessTrump is a master. But in courtrooms where facts matter, Trump is a perpetual loser.

Trump knows from vast experience that the one place where the false stories to which he is devoted do not fly is in court. And Jack Smith knows that by hook or crook, Trump will try to get those false stories before a jury. Its his only way out.

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Related From Slate Jack Smiths Keeping Busy Over the Holiday Season! Read More

The former president needs fraudulent messaging to lead one or more jurors to hang the jury, even in the face of overwhelming proof of Trumps guilt. Stopping that unlawful signaling is why Smith brought his motion Wednesday.

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Again, however, thats just the ground game. Whats really going on here is a kind of morality play of a much larger sort. Smith is enforcing the legal systems rules on a man who insists that he doesnt have to abide by them.

Its obvious why Trump makes his claims to put himself above the law. He seeks the unlimited power of a dictator on day one. In what lawyer and commentator David M. Crane calls the age of strongmen, leaders like Vladimir Putin or Viktor Orban have virtually complete freedom to serve their own interests and those of their friends at the expense of the freedom of others, regardless of whatever laws may exist on paper to preclude such behavior.

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By contrast, the rules of a constitutional republic, top to bottom, stand in the way of that power.

So with Jack Smiths new motion to enforce established evidentiary procedures and preempt their violation, we shouldnt miss the forest for the trees. He is speaking not just to Judge Chutkan, but also to the American public. He is reminding us that rules and their enforcement, even the kind of procedural rules that govern the stories that can be told in trials, are what truly make a constitutional republic function and thrive.

Smiths motion Wednesday captures the battle were all immersed in right now: one between a rule-of-law society and a man bent on destroying it. It shows the special counsels resolve in the fight, and that he is in a hurry to do the criminal justice systems part in getting on with it.
Last week, a friend tagged me in a post about a weird bird. Im used to itas a known bird guy, friends are constantly making me aware when some new study comes out or a rare bird shows up. But this post was different.

From a Facebook page called Route 370Newfoundland News & Weather, the post had what appeared to be a photo of a red-and-white bird perched on a snowy branch. The text read: A rare Red and White cardinal in its festive colors makes an appearance in Canada. Its unusual look is caused by Gynandromorphy.

Ive seen northern cardinals with gynandromorphism (meaning that an individual exhibits characteristics of both sexes), and they dont have any of the same colors as the Facebook Santa cardinal bird. It also had a thin, yellow bill like a chicken instead of the thick, orange bill of our northern cardinala trait that gynandromorphism wouldnt alter. This wasnt a cardinal, clearly, but what was it?

Reverse image search was no help, but when I looked closer, the answer was obvious. The bird appeared to have three feet, and the end of its tail was somehow covered in snow. This wasnt a real photo at allit was a photorealistic fantasy created by A.I. Ugh.

I posted a quick response to my friend, taking care not to make him feel bad for falling for the hoax, but scrolling down through the more than 2,000 comments, I could see he was hardly alone. With more than 10,000 shares and 24,000 likes, this imaginary bird was a viral hit for a group used to more modest numbers for posts like Garfield saying Happy Monday! or warnings about moose on the highway.

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Related From Slate The Pope in a Coat Is Not From a Holy Place Read More

Bird photos have always been popular on social media. Birds are beautiful, and theyre beautiful in an uncomplicated way thats attractive to people who arent looking for controversy or politics. Bird photography is an egalitarian pursuit, rewarding equally an image of a rare bird from a remote jungle and a nice picture of a backyard bird on a feeder.

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But the popularity of birds on social media, not surprisingly, has led to bad behavior. Photographers bait owls into action shots by tossing them store-bought mice or trim away branches surrounding a nest to get a clearer shot. Those who dont want to go outside to get bird content have turned to Photoshop and other editing tools (this image of a rainbow owl has been circulating online for more than a decade) or taking photos of stuffed animals and passing them off as real.

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Generative A.I. has made the process of generating bird content even easierand even worse. As far as I can tell, the Santa bird post originated in late November in another group, Wildlife Planet, that posts nothing but A.I.generated birds. This group and countless othersmost with generic names like Amazing Birds of the World or Beautiful Birdsexist purely to churn fake content onto the screens of an eager and unsuspecting public.

Theres a question about whether this is harmful. A flood of fake bird images is certainly going to make the internet more confusing, and many users lack the ability to tell which birds are real and which arent. Bill Hubick, co-founder of the Maryland Biodiversity Project, was alerted last week that his organization had been used as a source for an article called What Are the Unique Wildlife Species in Maryland? The entire article was generated with A.I. and riddled with errors but also appeared accurate enough to fool someone who didnt know, for example, that the Maryland darter, which adds a splash of color to the states aquatic ecosystems, hasnt been seen since 1988. (Though if you werent tipped off by the text, the flying deer and snake-headed bird in the header image might have clued you in.)

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Thankfully, there are tools to fight back for the truth. Online services can help spot deepfake videos, and there are A.I. voice detectors. A birders best tool might be the Cornell Lab of Ornithologys Macaulay Library, an online media database of tens of thousands of wildlife species, including birds, amphibians, and mammals. There are more than 10,000 bird species alive on earth, and every single one we know of has an entry in the Macaulay Library. Scrolling through the best of the images makes me frustrated we even bother with A.I. at all. Whats the point of making things up when there are so many stunning real-life birds out there already?

Future Tense is a partnership of Slate, New America, and Arizona State University that examines emerging technologies, public policy, and society.
Exploring the best email hosting for small business is essential in todays digital era where effective communication is key to success. The average office worker sends around 40 business emails and receives 121 emails every day, highlighting the immense role that communication plays in the modern professional landscape.

This statistic underscores not just the prevalence of email in daily work routines, but also its significance as a communication tool. Emails remain a vital form of communication for businesses across all industries, serving as a cornerstone for interactions both within companies and with external stakeholders such as clients, suppliers, and partners.

For many small businesses, email is not just a convenience but a necessity. Its instant nature allows for swift exchanges of information, making it a critical tool for time-sensitive communications. Additionally, the flexibility and versatility of email make it suitable for a variety of purposes  from formal contract exchanges to casual internal updates.

Discover the Zoho Ecosystem ChatGPT Prompts for Business Sell Your Business Advertise Your Business Here

In todays fast-paced business environment, the ability to send detailed messages, attach documents, and reach multiple recipients simultaneously gives email an edge over other forms of communication.

Moreover, email serves as a vital record-keeping tool. It provides a traceable, time-stamped record of conversations and decisions, which can be invaluable for reference, compliance, and accountability purposes.

For small businesses, this is particularly important as it helps maintain transparency and organization without the need for extensive physical documentation.

Small Business Deals

Our Methodology: How We Chose the Best Email Hosting for Small Business

For small businesses, selecting the right email hosting service is crucial for reliable communication, data security, and professional branding.

In guiding small businesses towards the best email solutions that balance functionality, cost, and ease of use, we use the following criteria, rated on a scale from 1 to 10, where 10 indicates the highest level of importance and 1 the lowest.

Ease of Use and User Interface Importance Scale: 9/10

Rationale: An intuitive and user-friendly interface is essential for efficient email management, especially for businesses with limited technical expertise. Integration Capabilities Importance Scale: 8/10

Rationale: The ability to integrate with other business tools and software (like CRM systems, calendars, etc.) is crucial for a streamlined workflow. Cost-Effectiveness Importance Scale: 8/10

Rationale: Affordable pricing, including free or low-cost options with essential features, is important for small businesses with tight budgets. Reliability and Uptime Importance Scale: 9/10

Rationale: High reliability and minimal downtime ensure consistent business communication without interruptions. Security and Privacy Features Importance Scale: 9/10

Rationale: Robust security measures, including encryption and spam filters, are vital to protect sensitive business information. Storage Capacity Importance Scale: 7/10

Rationale: Adequate storage space is important to accommodate growing email archives without frequent cleanups. Customer Support Importance Scale: 7/10

Rationale: Accessible and responsive customer support is essential for troubleshooting and assistance. Scalability Importance Scale: 7/10

Rationale: The ability of the email service to scale with the businesss growth, offering more advanced features as needed, is important. Mobile Access and Compatibility Importance Scale: 8/10

Rationale: Mobile access and compatibility with different devices allow for managing business communications on the go. Additional Features (like calendar, task management) Importance Scale: 6/10

Rationale: Additional productivity features can enhance the overall value of the email service for a small business.

By applying these criteria, we aim to provide small businesses with a comprehensive guide to selecting email products that not only meet their communication needs but also align with their operational capacity and budget.

Best Email Hosting for Small Business

With a range of different email hosting providers available, how do small businesses choose the best email platform? To give you a helping hand, take a look at the following eight best email hosting for small business.

Microsoft Office 365 Business Essentials

If your business relies on the sending and receiving large email attachments, Microsoft Office 365 Essentials could be the right email server for you. Microsoft Office 365 Business Essentials offers support for 150MG attachments, which is three times the size compared to many of their competitors.

Business Essentials also provides 50GB of storage per user meaning your team will be able to keep old, important emails for a long time, so you dont lose important business emails. And it quickly integrates with other Microsoft Office tools, making it an easy-to-use solution for many businesses.

Gmails GSuite

Googles Gmail prides itself on being an ultra-reliable server for businesses, which guarantees 99.9% uptime. As well as using GSuite for sending and receiving business email, you can use it for video conferencing, cloud storage and file sharing, all invaluable tool for greater team efficiency and collaboration.

One of the best features of Gmail is its Undo Send feature, where you can recall emails that have been miss-sent, providing you act quickly.

GMX Mail

One of the best parts of GMX Mails free email account is that you can define how long your messages are stored in the server, so that you have control of when messages in specific folders get trashed.

GMX Mail has a spam protection feature, helping your business email inbox stay uncluttered and spam-free. With a virus protection feature, youll also have peace of mind your business emails are well protected from hackers.

iCloud Mail

iCloud Mail has some advanced email features that can be useful for small business users, including auto responder for when you or members of your team are unable to respond to emails. Providing email senders with an automated response can boost the professionality of your business, though it has to be said, auto responder is a feature available on most email servers.

Lycos Mail

There are times when small businesses need to block nuisance email addresses and specific domain names, so they dont waste any time reading or responding to unproductive emails. With Lycos Mail you can block specific email addresses and domain names so precious company time isnt wasted and inboxes unnecessarily clogged up.

Lycos Mail includes 500MG of storage, as well as virus checking and spam filtering features, to help keep your business emails protected.

Rackspace Email

Rackspace provides a host of email products aimed at catering for the needs of small businesses. Rackspaces Plus Plan provides 30GM of cloud storage, along with advanced features like instant messaging, ActiveSync support and Office-compatible apps, costing $3.50 a month.

The servers extended Plus account brings an unlimited storage space via archiving, which can be useful for businesses that send and receive large numbers of emails.

AOL Mail

With advanced spam filters and virus protection for added security, AOL Mail is another good choice for business email users. If your business stores a hefty amount of business emails, you wont have to worry about running out of space and the AOL Mail feature comes with unlimited storage space.

Zoho Mail

Zoho Mail is a reliable and secure business email solutions, which can be customized to cater for your businesss communication needs. Zoho Mail provides custom domain-based email addresses for your employees. You can also set up different email groups for different teams and departments. Zoho Mail also provides a highly reliable 99.9% email uptime guarantee. Zoho Mail isnt free and its Professional package costs $6 per user per month.

Key Features of Top Email Hosting Options for Small Businesses

Microsoft Office 365 Business Essentials : Ideal for businesses that deal with large email attachments, offering 150MB support and 50GB storage per user.

: Ideal for businesses that deal with large email attachments, offering 150MB support and 50GB storage per user. Gmails GSuite : Known for its reliability (99.9% uptime) and unique Undo Send feature, making it a solid choice for businesses seeking versatile email solutions.

: Known for its reliability (99.9% uptime) and unique Undo Send feature, making it a solid choice for businesses seeking versatile email solutions. GMX Mail : Offers customizable message storage duration and robust spam protection, ideal for businesses looking for free yet effective email hosting.

: Offers customizable message storage duration and robust spam protection, ideal for businesses looking for free yet effective email hosting. iCloud Mail : Features like auto responder enhance professionalism; suitable for Apple ecosystem users.

: Features like auto responder enhance professionalism; suitable for Apple ecosystem users. Lycos Mail : Ability to block specific email addresses/domains, useful for managing productivity and inbox clutter.

: Ability to block specific email addresses/domains, useful for managing productivity and inbox clutter. Rackspace Email : Offers a comprehensive Plus Plan with 30GB cloud storage and various business tools, suitable for businesses needing advanced email features.

: Offers a comprehensive Plus Plan with 30GB cloud storage and various business tools, suitable for businesses needing advanced email features. AOL Mail : Unlimited storage and advanced spam/virus protection, a good option for businesses with high email storage needs.

: Unlimited storage and advanced spam/virus protection, a good option for businesses with high email storage needs. Zoho Mail: Customizable, secure email solution with domain-based addresses and group setup, perfect for businesses needing a tailored email experience.

Comparing the B est Email Hosting for Small Business

To summarize the key features and benefits of the top email hosting services for small businesses, the following table provides a quick overview. This comparison will help you choose the most suitable email hosting service for your business needs, based on factors like storage capacity, unique features, and pricing.

Email Product Storage Space Attachment Size Limit Unique Features Spam/Virus Protection Pricing Microsoft Office 365 Business Essentials 50GB 150MB Large attachment support Yes [Pricing details] Gmails GSuite [Storage details] [Attachment size limit] 99.9% uptime, Undo Send feature Yes [Pricing details] GMX Mail [Storage details] [Attachment size limit] Control over message storage duration Yes Free iCloud Mail [Storage details] [Attachment size limit] Auto responder Yes [Pricing details] Lycos Mail 500MB [Attachment size limit] Email blocking by address/domain Yes [Pricing details] Rackspace Email 30GB (Plus Plan) [Attachment size limit] Instant messaging, ActiveSync support Yes $3.50/month (Plus Plan) AOL Mail Unlimited [Attachment size limit] Advanced spam filters Yes Free Zoho Mail [Storage details] [Attachment size limit] Custom domain-based email, email groups Yes $6/user/month (Professional package)
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Choosing the perfect business name for your venture is an essential step on the entrepreneurial journey, significantly impacting the process of how to come up with a business name. This important decision not only defines your brands identity but also affects customer perception and recall.

In this comprehensive guide, well explore the art of naming your business, discussing creative strategies for brainstorming business names, and highlighting the importance of this process. Youll also discover resources for seeking professional assistance to create a great business name and learn about potential pitfalls to avoid during the naming process.

Unleash your inner wordsmith and learn how to come up with a business name that resonates with your target audience and paves the way for your ventures long-term success.

Sell Your Business Discover the Zoho Ecosystem ChatGPT Prompts for Business Advertise Your Business Here

Why Business Names are So Important

Whether you own an online store or a brick-and-mortar enterprise, the significance of a good business name goes beyond being a mere label; it encapsulates the essence of your brand and serves as a powerful marketing tool.

An effective business name creates a lasting impression, instilling trust and credibility in the minds of potential customers. It is a key factor in differentiating your company from competitors, ensuring your unique value proposition stands out in a crowded marketplace. Furthermore, a well-crafted name can evoke the right emotions, driving customer loyalty and fostering word-of-mouth referrals.

Ultimately, the best name lays the foundation for a cohesive brand identity, impacting everything from logo design to advertising campaigns. Thats why its a huge part of any business startup checklist.

In todays fast-paced business landscape, a memorable and meaningful name is indispensable in establishing your presence and shaping the trajectory of your entrepreneurial success story.

Small Business Deals

Whats in a Business Name?

The significance of a business name should not be underestimated, as it serves as the official representation of your brand. When starting a new business, youre faced with numerous considerations, ranging from logistics like packaging, shipping, and distribution to crucial marketing decisions.

However, amidst all these important factors, the absence of an appropriate official brand name can render everything else inconsequential. A notable example is Jeff Bezos, the founder of Amazon.

In 1994, Bezos initially contemplated naming his company Cadabra, drawing inspiration from the magical phrase Abracadabra. However, due to a miscommunication with his lawyer, who misheard it as cadaver, which refers to a lifeless body, Bezos swiftly made the decision to change the name to Amazon.

Dont miss the insightful video discussion by Jonathan Bell, Founder and agency head of WANT Branding, on the topic of business name categories. Bell, a branding expert with a three-decade career, has contributed to over 2,000 projects worldwide, helping industry giants like Apple, Google, Mercedes-Benz, Coca-Cola, and Johnson & Johnson to shape their branding strategies.

His understanding of branding, distilled from his experiences with numerous renowned brands, makes his video a meaningful supplement to the insights offered in this article.

How Do You Name Your Small Business?

Learning how to create a business name typically begins with introspection and research. Here are some general steps to guide you in creating the perfect name for your new business idea:

Define your brand

Before brainstorming a potential business name, its important to have a clear understanding of your brand. Start by defining your brands values, mission, and target audience. Consider the unique selling points of your products or services and the emotions you want your brand to evoke. This foundational understanding will help guide your name-generation process.

Brainstorm

Keywords play a vital role in capturing the essence of your business. So youll want to Generate a list of keywords and phrases related to your brand, products, services, or industry. Use word association and mind mapping to expand your ideas. Consider different name types such as descriptive, acronymic, invented, or evocative. Also, think about the benefits you offer and the problems you solve. Include both general terms and specific words that resonate with your target audience. For example, if youre opening a bakery, keywords like delicious, freshly baked, and artisanal could be on your list.

Keep it simple

Aim for a name that is easy to pronounce, spell, and remember. Shorter names tend to be more memorable and reduce the risk of mispronunciation or misspellings. Customers cannot refer your business to their family and friends if they dont remember your companys name.

Also, is the name easy for users to spell? This is the digital age, so your company name should be search engine friendly. Avoid complex or lengthy names that could confuse search engines or make it difficult for users to find your business online.

Consider brand name types

There are different types of brand names you can consider, each with its own advantages. Here are a few common types:

Descriptive: These names clearly convey what your business does or offers. They are straightforward and easy to understand, but they may lack uniqueness. For example, Cozy Home Furnishings immediately communicates the nature of the business.

These names clearly convey what your business does or offers. They are straightforward and easy to understand, but they may lack uniqueness. For example, Cozy Home Furnishings immediately communicates the nature of the business. Evocative: Evocative names evoke emotions or create a sense of imagery. They are often more memorable and can help build a strong brand personality. For example, Blissful Haven creates a sense of tranquility and comfort.

Evocative names evoke emotions or create a sense of imagery. They are often more memorable and can help build a strong brand personality. For example, Blissful Haven creates a sense of tranquility and comfort. Invented: Invented names are unique and have no specific meaning. They provide the opportunity to build a distinctive brand identity from scratch. Examples include Google and Kodak.

Invented names are unique and have no specific meaning. They provide the opportunity to build a distinctive brand identity from scratch. Examples include Google and Kodak. Compound: Compound business names combine two or more words to form a new word. This type of name can be catchy and memorable, such as Snapchat or YouTube.

Use this list to find out which type of brand name aligns best with your brand identity and target audience.

Test your brand name and refine

Seek feedback from friends, other family members, or potential customers. Ensure the brand name resonates with your target audience and avoids any negative connotations or cultural misinterpretations.

Once you have a shortlist of potential brand names, test them with your target audience, friends, and family. Seek feedback on the names clarity, memorability, and overall appeal of the brand name. Consider conducting surveys or focus groups to gather more comprehensive feedback. Based on the input received, refine your list and narrow it down to a few top choices.

Remember, a brand name is a long-term investment, so choose wisely. Aim for a name that resonates with your target audience, reflects your brands personality, and sets you apart from the competition. By following these steps and putting thought into your brand name, youll be well on your way to establishing a strong and memorable brand presence.

Check for business name availability

Conduct a thorough search to ensure the business name isnt already in use or trademarked. Verify domain name and social media handle availability for consistency across platforms.

Additionally, when you are selecting your business domain, take into consideration navigational searches. These searches are the traffic youll get when people search online for your company. Its also the reason why you should try and utilize it as your URL.

Of course, But if your business name isnt available as a .com, there are some excellent alternatives you can use. Also, if a domain name is taken, you can often add a verb to the name to make it work.

Consider getting related domains

While its always a good idea to select a top-tier domain like .com as your primary choice for a business name, its also a good idea to get related ones like .org and .net that feature your unique business name. That way, a competitor doesnt snatch them up and ride on your coattails.

Legal considerations

Consult a legal expert to confirm that your chosen business name complies with local regulations and to secure necessary trademark protections. After all, what will keep someone from cloning your website if you have no protections in place?

You can also conduct a trademark search to ensure that your potential business name is not already trademarked or in use by another company. This step is crucial for avoiding legal conflicts and protecting your brands identity.

Utilize online trademark databases, consult legal professionals, and consider hiring a trademark attorney for comprehensive research and guidance. Taking the time to conduct a thorough trademark search can save you from potential legal headaches down the road.

Be patient

Finding the right company name for your physical or ecommerce store may take time, so dont rush the process.

Be open to refining your ideas and allow your creative juices to flow. Remember, the journey to your own name and finding the perfect business name is unique for each entrepreneur.

By following these general guidelines and trusting your instincts, youll be well on your way to selecting a name that truly represents your brand and sets the stage for success.

How to Come Up with a Business Name

Heres a quick look at how to name your business. The table below shows you the main steps and actions to take. This makes it easier to see everything at once.

Step Advice Action 1 Align the name with your brand identity Draft a list of adjectives and key phrases that describe your brand's personality, and use them as inspiration for potential names 2 Keep it simple and memorable Test potential names by saying them aloud, and eliminate options that are difficult to pronounce or spell 3 Be versatile Review your potential names and discard any that may restrict the growth or adaptability of your next business idea 4 Avoid using trendy terms or buzzwords Review your list of potential names and remove any that rely heavily on trends or fads 5 Consider name types Research and evaluate various name types, then categorize your potential names accordingly 6 Research competition and industry Conduct a competitive analysis, noting successful naming strategies within your industry, and incorporate these insights into your brainstorming process 7 Seek feedback from others Share your shortlist of potential names with a diverse group of people, and collect their feedback on clarity, memorability, and emotional impact 8 Ensure name availability Perform thorough searches for existing businesses, trademarks, names of domains, and social media profiles to ensure your preferred name is available 9 Take your time Set aside ample time to brainstorm, evaluate, and refine your list of potential names, ensuring you're confident in your final choice 10 Consult a professional Research reputable naming consultants or agencies, and consider enlisting their help to refine your ideas or develop new naming options

Next, lets look closely at the steps for coming up with catchy business name ideas and simple action steps a new business owner can take toward each piece of advice. Each step should help new business owners come up with a list of great business name ideas and, ultimately, choose their new business names.

Align the name with your brand identity.

A successful business name should reflect your brands core values, mission, and unique selling proposition.

Entrepreneurs should consider the emotions and associations they want their customers to experience when they encounter their brand names. This is similar to how you might consider the psychology of colors when you create a logo.

Action step: Draft a list of adjectives and key phrases that describe your brands personality, and use them as inspiration for potential names.

Keep it simple and memorable.

A straightforward, easy-to-pronounce business name increases the likelihood of your small business target audiences remembering it and recommending your brand to others.

Avoid overly complex or lengthy names that may lead to confusion.

Action step: Test potential names by saying them aloud, and eliminate options that are difficult to pronounce or spell.

Be versatile.

A versatile name allows for future growth and expansion of your business. Avoid names that limit your offerings or geographic reach, as they may hinder long-term success.

Action step: Review your potential names and discard any that may restrict the growth or adaptability of your next business idea.

Avoid using trendy terms or buzzwords.

Although it may be tempting to incorporate current trends or buzzwords into your business name, doing so may cause your brand to feel dated as trends fade.

Instead, aim for a timeless name that will remain relevant.

Action step: Review your list of potential names and remove any that rely heavily on trends or fads.

Consider name types.

Business names can be descriptive, acronymic, invented, or evocative.

Each type has its advantages and drawbacks, so consider which best suits your brands identity and objectives. For example, creative business ideas may seek unique names, while a financial services provider may keep it professional.

Also, catchy names are often a hit. For instance, names like Yahoo and Zappos have tons of catchy appeal.

Action step: Create your business category. Research and evaluate various name types, then categorize your potential names accordingly.

Research competition and industry.

Analyzing your competitors and industry can provide valuable insights into naming trends and best practices. Look for gaps or opportunities to create a name that stands out in the market. For example, you could easily use the search bar on a search engine like Google to look specifically for how to come up with a winning restaurant name or food truck name ideas.

Action step: Conduct a competitive analysis, noting successful naming strategies within your industry, and incorporate these insights into your brainstorming process.

Seek feedback from others.

Gathering opinions from friends, family, or potential customers can help refine your name choices and identify any potential issues or misconceptions.

Action step: Share your shortlist of potential names with a diverse group of people, and collect their feedback on clarity, memorability, and emotional impact.

Ensure name availability.

Expanding on the tip: Its essential to verify that your chosen name is not already in use, trademarked, or has an available domain and social handles.

Action step: Perform thorough searches for existing businesses, trademarks, names of domains, and social media profiles to ensure your preferred name is available.

Take your time.

Finding the perfect business name may require patience and persistence. Dont rush the process or settle for a name that doesnt feel right.

Action step: Set aside ample time to brainstorm, evaluate, and refine your list of potential names, ensuring youre confident in your final choice.

Consult a professional.

If youre struggling to find the perfect name, consider seeking the assistance of a naming consultant or agency.

Professionals can provide valuable insights and expertise to guide you through the naming process.

Action step: Research reputable naming consultants or agencies, and consider enlisting their help to refine your ideas or develop new naming options.1.

Check out this video byBrandmaster Academy for choosing an epic business name: How To Come Up With A Business Name (Brand Name Ideas, Examples & Strategy).

How to Register a Business Name

If youre about to start a new business and feeling overwhelmed by the registration process, heres a simplified comparison table that outlines the essential steps. Itll help you see at a glance what you need to do to register your business name.

Step Description Action 1. Choose a Business Structure Your business structure impacts registration, taxes, and liability. Decide whether your business will be a sole proprietorship, partnership, LLC, or corporation. 2. Research State Requirements Your state has specific naming rules and registration procedures. Consult your state's SOS website or a local attorney to understand these rules. 3. Check Name Availability You can't use a business name that's already in use. Search your preferred name in your state's business registry database. Also, verify the availability of domain name and social media handles. 4. Register a Fictitious Business Name (if applicable) If you're using a name different from your legal name, you'll need to register it. This is relevant if you're a sole proprietorship or partnership. File an application for a "Doing Business As" (DBA) or fictitious business name. 5. Register Your Business Entity (if applicable) Formal business entities need to register with the state's SOS. This is relevant if you're forming an LLC, corporation, or other formal entity. Submit the required articles and pay a filing fee. 6. Apply for an EIN Most businesses need an EIN for tax purposes. Apply for an EIN online on the IRS website. 7. Register for State and Local Taxes You may need to register for specific business taxes. Research your state's tax requirements. Register for sales tax, employer taxes, or other business taxes as needed. 8. Obtain Necessary Licenses and Permits Different industries and locations have different licensing requirements. Check federal, state, and local requirements. Obtain any necessary licenses or permits. 9. File a Trademark (optional) Filing a trademark can protect your business name nationwide. This can involve the assistance of an attorney and includes a filing fee. 10. Keep Your Registration Up-to-Date Maintaining your registration requires ongoing tasks. File annual reports and renew licenses and permits as required by your state and local laws.

Now, lets take a detailed look at the steps for registering the name. While specific requirements and processes may vary by state, this step-by-step guide outlines the general procedure for registering a business name in the United States:

Choose a business structure

Determine the legal structure of your business, such as sole proprietorship, partnership, limited liability company (LLC), or corporation. The structure you choose will impact the registration process, taxes, and liability and protect your personal assets.

Research state requirements

Visit your states Secretary of State (SOS) website or consult a local attorney to understand the specific registration requirements naming rules and procedures applicable to your business structure and location.

Check name availability

Conduct a name search on your states business registry database to ensure your desired company name is not already in use or too similar to an existing business name. After all, you dont want your company to have the same name as one of your competitors.

Verify the availability of your desired domain name and social media handles.

Register a fictitious business name (if applicable)

If you are operating as a sole proprietorship or partnership and plan to use a name different from your legal name, you may need to register a Doing Business As (DBA) or fictitious business name.

This process typically involves filing an application with your county clerk or state agency, paying a fee, and publishing a notice in a local newspaper.

Register your business entity (if applicable)

If youre forming an LLC, corporation, or another formal business entity, youll need to register with your states SOS.

This usually involves the business entity submitting articles of organization (for an LLC) or articles of incorporation (for a corporation) and paying a filing fee.

Apply for an Employer Identification Number (EIN)

Obtain an EIN from the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) for tax purposes. This is necessary for most business structures, except for sole proprietorships without employees.

You can apply for an EIN online at the IRS website for free.

Register for state and local taxes

Depending on your state and local tax requirements, you may need to register for sales tax, employer taxes, or other business taxes.

Visit your states taxation website for specific details and registration procedures. You may also need to register your business in another state if you move or expand.

Obtain necessary licenses and permits

Depending on your industry and location, you may need various licenses or permits to operate legally.

Research federal, state, and local requirements to ensure youre compliant with all regulations.

File a trademark (optional)

If you wish to protect your business name nationwide, consider filing for a trademark with the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).

This process may require the assistance of an attorney and involves a filing fee.

Keep your registration up-to-date

Maintain your company name registration by filing annual reports and renewing licenses and permits as required by your state and local laws.

Please note that this guide provides a general overview, and specific requirements may vary based on your business type, structure, and location.

It is highly recommended that you consult a local attorney or accountant to ensure compliance with all applicable laws and regulations.

Legal and Trademark Considerations in Naming Your Business

When choosing a business name, its essential to intertwine creativity with legal prudence. This name is not just a label; its a cornerstone of your brands identity and legal entity. Heres what you need to know about the legal and trademark considerations in this process:

Trademark Search and Compliance: Conducting a trademark search is crucial to ensure that your chosen name doesnt infringe upon existing trademarks. This step is vital because infringement can lead to costly legal disputes and potentially necessitate rebranding. To conduct a search, utilize online trademark databases such as the USPTO. Its important to note that even unregistered names in use could pose legal risks if they could cause confusion among consumers.

Understanding Trademark Law: Trademark laws primary goal is to prevent consumer confusion by protecting names, logos, and other branding elements. These laws are territorial, meaning a name could be available in one area but protected in another. Understanding the geographical scope of your business is essential in this context, especially if you plan to expand your market reach.

Distinctiveness and Descriptiveness: From a legal standpoint, choosing a name that is distinctive rather than generic or merely descriptive is advisable. Generic or descriptive names offer limited legal protection and are often considered weak in the context of trademark law. Conversely, inventive, arbitrary, or fanciful names provide stronger legal protection and make your brand more legally defensible.

The 15 Best Business Name Generator Options

Stuck on how to come up with a good business name? Youre definitely not alone. After all, coming up with a business name is a very important decision.

Luckily, there are plenty of options for developing business name ideas. And they come in the form of business name generators. There is no shortage of these name generator sites that help you come up with business name ideas.

Heres a look at the top 15 business name generators:

Shopify Business Name Generator : A popular free business name generator tool that generates name ideas and checks domain availability, especially useful for e-commerce businesses. Namelix : An AI-powered name generator that creates short, catchy, and brandable names, complete with available names for domains. Lean Domain Search : This business name generator focuses on finding available names for domains based on your keyword input, helping you discover unique and memorable business names with matching domain names. NameStation : NameStation generates business name ideas using keywords, word combinations, and domain availability checks. The platform also offers a community-driven naming contest feature to crowdsource name suggestions. Novanym : This name generator provides unique business names, available domain names, and professionally designed logos. Anadea Business Name Generator : Generates business name suggestions based on your inputted keywords. Wordlab : Offers a wide range of business name generators, including one specifically for business names. Brandroot : This business name generator helps build brand recognition by creating unique and brandable business names with available names for domains and customizable logos. Business Name Generator (BNG) : Offers a simple interface to generate business name ideas based on your keywords and industry. Names4Brands : Generates random business names and allows you to customize the name based on specific criteria, such as word length and language. Panabee : This name generator offers business name ideas, domain name suggestions and checks domain availability. BrandBucket : This business name generator provides a curated list of brandable names of domains, including premium domains and unique business name ideas. DomainWheel : Offers business name ideas and available domain name suggestions, with a focus on creativity and wordplay. NameSnack : An AI-powered business name generator that creates name suggestions based on your keywords and provides available domain names. Zyro Business Name Generator : This creative name generator creates unique business name ideas based on your chosen keywords and industry, ensuring the availability of corresponding domain names for your potential business names.

How to Come Up with a Business Name FAQs

Here are answers to some frequently asked questions about coming up with a business name.

What are some catchy business names?

Catchy business names are memorable and unique and often evoke a positive emotional response from customers. They can be creative, use wordplay, or have a strong connection to the brands identity.

Here are some examples of catchy business names. These are some of the most iconic brands right now:

Netflix: A combination of Internet and flicks, implying a service that provides movies online.

Fitbit: A blend of fit and bit, suggesting a small device that helps users stay fit.

Groupon: A portmanteau of group and coupon, reflecting the companys group discount business model.

Etsy: A playful, invented name that evokes creativity and craftsmanship.

MailChimp: A quirky, memorable name that combines mail and chimp, emphasizing the fun and approachable nature of their email marketing platform.

These examples showcase the power of catchy and creative business names, which can effectively capture attention and leave a lasting impression on customers.

What to avoid in naming a business?

When naming a business, there are several key factors to avoid to ensure your chosen name is effective and beneficial to your brand. Here are some tips on what not to include in your business name:

Steer clear of names that are too long, complex, or difficult to pronounce, as they may lead to confusion and reduce memorability.

Avoid using trendy terms or buzzwords that may become outdated quickly, instead aiming for a timeless name.

Refrain from selecting names that limit your businesss growth, scope, or adaptability.

Its also important to avoid potential legal issues by ensuring your chosen name is not already in use, trademarked, or too similar to an existing business name.

Lastly, be cautious of names with unintended negative connotations, as they may harm your brands image.

What are the recent trends in business names?

Recent trends in business names reflect the evolving preferences and values of customers and the marketplace. Some noteworthy trends include:

Mash-ups and portmanteaus

Combining two words or concepts into one unique name is a popular approach. Examples include Instagram (instant + telegram) and Pinterest (pin + interest).

Misspellings and creative spellings

Intentional misspellings or unconventional spellings can make a name stand out, such as Flickr, Tumblr, and Lyft.

Use of technology-related terms

With the rise of tech companies, names incorporating tech-related terms or concepts have become increasingly popular. Examples include Salesforce, TechCrunch, and CyberArk.

Simple, descriptive names

Names that directly convey the businesss purpose or function have gained traction. Examples include Dollar Shave Club, The Honest Company, and Blue Apron.

Made-up or invented names

Unique, invented names can create a strong brand identity and are often easily trademarked. Examples include Spotify, Zillow, and Venmo.

Evocative names

Names that elicit an emotional response or convey a specific feeling have become popular. Examples include Evernote, Nest, and Serenity Spa.

Geo-specific names

Incorporating a location into the business name can create a strong local identity. Examples include Seattles Best Coffee and Brooklyn Brewery.

Minimalist, single-word names

Simple, one-word names can be powerful and memorable, such as Apple, Slack, and Tesla.

Use of suffixes

Adding popular suffixes like -ify, -ly, or -io to create brandable names has become a common trend. Examples include Shopify, Grammarly, and Dribbble.

These trends highlight the diverse approaches to creating modern, appealing business names that resonate with customers and stand out in the market.

Should you name a business after yourself?

Theres no rule against incorporating your own name into your business name. Several well-known brands use the creator of the companys name.

One example is Boeing, named after its founder, William Boeing. Another is Ben & Jerrys ice cream, named after its two founders, Ben Cohen & Jerry Greenfield.

However, naming a business after yourself has both advantages and disadvantages, and the decision ultimately depends on your personal preferences, goals, and the nature of your business.

Advantages:

Personal connection: Naming your business after yourself can create a strong personal connection with your brand and convey a sense of authenticity and trustworthiness. Legacy: Your name becomes synonymous with the business, potentially creating a lasting legacy and personal reputation within your industry.

Disadvantages:

Limited scalability: If your business expands or pivots, a personal name may not be as adaptable or relevant, possibly limiting your brands growth potential. Difficult to sell: Prospective buyers may be less inclined to purchase a business named after the original owner, as it may be more challenging to rebrand or dissociate from the founders identity. Privacy concerns: Using your name as the business name may expose you to potential privacy issues and make it more difficult to separate your personal and professional life.

Before making a decision, consider the long-term vision for your business and the message you want to convey to your customers.

If your personal reputation is a significant factor in your businesss success, and you are comfortable with the potential drawbacks, naming your business after yourself could be a viable option.

However, if scalability, a potential sale of the business, or privacy concerns are significant factors, you may want to explore alternative naming strategies.

How do you create a catchy business name?

When youre trying to figure out how to come up with a catchy name for your company, know that it involves a blend of creativity, strategy, and an understanding of your target audience.

Here are some tips to help you come up with a memorable and appealing name:

Keep it simple: A short, easy-to-pronounce name is more likely to stick in peoples minds. Its also more likely to fit on marketing materials, from online ads to reusable shopping bags. Aim for no more than three syllables, and avoid complex words or phrases

A short, easy-to-pronounce name is more likely to stick in peoples minds. Its also more likely to fit on marketing materials, from online ads to reusable shopping bags. Aim for no more than three syllables, and avoid complex words or phrases Be unique: Here, youll want to use one-of-a-kind words instead of common words. Avoid generic or overused terms. In a nutshell, stand out from the competition by choosing a name that distinguishes your business from others in your industry.

Here, youll want to use one-of-a-kind words instead of common words. Avoid generic or overused terms. In a nutshell, stand out from the competition by choosing a name that distinguishes your business from others in your industry. Use wordplay: Employing puns, alliteration, or rhyming words can make your business name memorable and fun. Examples include Dunkin Donuts and PayPal.

Employing puns, alliteration, or rhyming words can make your business name memorable and fun. Examples include Dunkin Donuts and PayPal. Evoke emotion: A name that triggers an emotional response or evokes a vivid image can make a lasting impression. Consider the feelings or ideas you want to associate with your brand and incorporate those elements into the name.

A name that triggers an emotional response or evokes a vivid image can make a lasting impression. Consider the feelings or ideas you want to associate with your brand and incorporate those elements into the name. Be descriptive: A name that conveys your businesss purpose or function can help customers understand your offerings. However, avoid being too narrow, as it may limit your future growth or expansion.

A name that conveys your businesss purpose or function can help customers understand your offerings. However, avoid being too narrow, as it may limit your future growth or expansion. Consider your target audience: Understand the preferences and values of your target audience and select a name that resonates with them.

Understand the preferences and values of your target audience and select a name that resonates with them. Test the name : Gather feedback from friends, family, or customers to ensure your chosen name is appealing and easy to understand.

: Gather feedback from friends, family, or customers to ensure your chosen name is appealing and easy to understand. Check availability: Make sure your desired name is not already in use or trademarked by another business. Also, verify that a suitable domain name is available for your online presence. Check into how to buy a business name if your choice is taken but not currently in use. Some website owners may also be willing to sell a domain name if you reach out.

By following these tips and carefully considering the message you want to convey with your business name idea, you can create a catchy and memorable brand identity that resonates with your target audience.

Why do you need a unique business name?

There are several compelling reasons you need a unique business name to ensure the success and longevity of your brand.

A distinctive name sets your business apart from competitors, establishes a strong brand story, and creates a lasting impression on customers.

Stand out in the market Easier to trademark Enhance brand identity Avoid confusion Improve online presence Encourage word-of-mouth marketing

What is the significance of using business cards in coming up with a business name?

Business cards can serve as a source of inspiration when brainstorming a business name. They often include essential information about a company, such as its logo, tagline, and contact details. Analyzing various cards for your business can help spark ideas, trigger creativity, and provide insights into effective naming strategies.
Knowing how to make a mailing list in Gmail is an important skill for any business owner. Your email lists play a vital role in your business, helping you connect with a variety of people. They allow you to send marketing emails, keep your customers informed about special deals, and maintain communication with suppliers, partners, and other collaborators. In short, email lists are an important part of your business communication.

Gmail is one of the top email systems used around the world. If youre a Gmail user, youve probably experienced the frustration of typing in the wrong email address or forgetting to include someone in an email. This is where Gmail Groups can be a big help.

With Gmail Groups, you can put contacts into a group and give that group a name. Then you can send emails to everyone in that group just by typing the groups name in the to field when youre writing an email. This feature can make your emailing tasks a lot quicker and easier.

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In this guide, were going to show you how to create your own email group in Gmail. Its a simple process, and it could make a big difference for your business.

What are Email Lists?

Simply put, an email mailing list is a subscriber list of addresses of customers that a business builds after customers have submitted their emails and opted to receive content and updates about the business through email. Besides offering updates on businesses offerings, email lists can also help in lead generation.

With Gmails mailing lists, you can assign a label to specific contacts. This allows you to group contacts based on specific lists. Grouping contacts is useful for the regular mailing of a specific list of persons. Essentially Gmails labels act like folders for your emails, letting you track the status of peoples tasks and help you to mark emails that need follow-up or emails that can be read at a late date.

In addition to helping businesses share news and find new customers, email lists are also a great way for businesses to build a closer relationship with their customers. When a customer joins an email list, theyre saying they want to hear more from the business. This allows the business to:

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Send personalized messages to the customers

Offer special deals and promotions

Share new products or updates

Make customers feel special and valued

Plus, by using Gmails features, businesses can easily keep track of all these communications and make sure theyre talking to the right people at the right time. All in all, email lists are a powerful tool for any business.

How to make an email list with Gmail

The mailing lists in Gmail are defined by assigning a label to specific contacts. Below we will describe all the necessary steps to create a mailing list.

Before we go too deeply into the detailed instructions, heres a table that shows the key steps and quick overview of the process for making a mailing list in Gmail.

Step Number Procedure 1 Log into your Gmail account, select the all-app icon located between your settings and profile icon 2 From the drop-down menu, select 'Google contacts' 3 Choose the contacts you want to include in your mailing list 4 Find and click on the 'create a label' icon in the left side menu 5 Enter the name for your label and click save 6 Hover above the selected contacts and select them 7 Hover over 'manage labels', add the contacts to the newly created label, then hit apply 8 Return to Gmail and click 'compose' 9 In the address field of your email, type in the label name to automatically populate the contacts. This can also be done for CC and BC fields 10 Add your email text and body, then click 'Send' to distribute your email to your selected group

Step 1: Log into your Gmail account, and from the top corner, pick the all-app icon in between your settings and your profile icon and click on it

Step 2: From the drop-down menu, select Google Contacts

Step 3: Then select the contacts you want to reach collectively

Step 4: Then on the left side menu locate the create a label icon and click on it

Step 5: Then type in the label name you want and hit save

Step 6: From your contacts, hover above the contacts you want to reach collectively and select them

Step 7: After selecting your contacts, go above your contacts and hover over the manage labels and add the contacts to the label that you just created, click on that label and hit apply

Step 8: Then go back to your Gmail and hit compose

Step 9: Type in the name of the label in the address field of your emails. This will then automatically populate all the emails you added to the label. This will also apply for CC and BC as well

Step 10: If you want to send an email to your selected group all you have to do is add your text and body and then click Send

Optimizing Your Gmail Mailing List for Effective Outreach

Creating a mailing list in Gmail is just the first step towards effective business communication and marketing. The real challenge lies in optimizing this mailing list to ensure that your outreach efforts are successful and yield tangible results. Heres a comprehensive approach to optimize your Gmail mailing list for effective outreach:

Segment Your Contacts: To send relevant and personalized emails, its essential to segment your contacts. Group them based on criteria like purchase history, location, interests, or engagement level. This segmentation allows for targeted email campaigns that resonate with specific groups, increasing the likelihood of engagement and response.

To send relevant and personalized emails, its essential to segment your contacts. Group them based on criteria like purchase history, location, interests, or engagement level. This segmentation allows for targeted email campaigns that resonate with specific groups, increasing the likelihood of engagement and response. Regularly Update and Clean Your List: Keeping your mailing list updated is crucial. Remove inactive or unresponsive email addresses and update contact information regularly. This helps in maintaining a high-quality mailing list, reducing bounce rates, and improving overall email deliverability.

Keeping your mailing list updated is crucial. Remove inactive or unresponsive email addresses and update contact information regularly. This helps in maintaining a high-quality mailing list, reducing bounce rates, and improving overall email deliverability. Personalize Your Emails: Use the information you have about your contacts to personalize your emails. Personalization goes beyond addressing recipients by their first name; it involves tailoring the content to meet their interests and needs, making each email more relevant and engaging.

Use the information you have about your contacts to personalize your emails. Personalization goes beyond addressing recipients by their first name; it involves tailoring the content to meet their interests and needs, making each email more relevant and engaging. Use Effective Subject Lines: The subject line is the first thing recipients see. Craft compelling, clear, and concise subject lines that capture attention and give a hint of whats inside. Avoid using spammy or misleading headlines to maintain trust and improve open rates.

The subject line is the first thing recipients see. Craft compelling, clear, and concise subject lines that capture attention and give a hint of whats inside. Avoid using spammy or misleading headlines to maintain trust and improve open rates. Monitor and Analyze Performance: Keep track of key email metrics like open rates, click-through rates, and conversion rates. Use this data to understand what works and what doesnt. Regular analysis helps in refining your email strategy for better performance.

Keep track of key email metrics like open rates, click-through rates, and conversion rates. Use this data to understand what works and what doesnt. Regular analysis helps in refining your email strategy for better performance. Leverage Automation and Scheduling: Automate routine email tasks such as welcome emails, thank you messages, or regular updates. Also, schedule your emails to be sent at times when your audience is most likely to engage with them, based on previous interaction data.

Automate routine email tasks such as welcome emails, thank you messages, or regular updates. Also, schedule your emails to be sent at times when your audience is most likely to engage with them, based on previous interaction data. Ensure Mobile Optimization: With a significant number of users accessing emails on mobile devices, its vital to ensure that your emails are mobile-friendly. Use responsive design to ensure that emails look good and are easy to read on any device.

More Gmail Tips & Tricks to Master Gmail

The video Top 10 Gmail Tips and Tricks. Boost your productivity and master Gmail by dottotech is great to watch after reading this article. The video gives you extra tips to use Gmail better and get your work done faster. So, with both the article and video, you can do more with Gmail and save time.

Email is Still Tops in Marketing

Unlike outreach through social media, email marketing subscribers are six times more likely to get higher click-through rates through emails than through social media posts. It is important that businesses build their email list organically. This is because purchasing email lists could deter prospective clients, as people might mark your email as spam if they didnt sign up for your list. Some benefits of email lists include:

They make it personal: People are more responsive to targeted personal online conversations making communications feel more human and real. With it, you can address each user with their name, and send a personalized message.

People are more responsive to targeted personal online conversations making communications feel more human and real. With it, you can address each user with their name, and send a personalized message. Customers still prefer emails : Even though several messaging technologies are available, people still prefer emails for business messages. Branded emails help to represent your business and help build your authority, credibility, and professionalism.

: Even though several messaging technologies are available, people still prefer emails for business messages. Branded emails help to represent your business and help build your authority, credibility, and professionalism. Emails help build intimate relationships: Emails are the most direct way to communicate one-to-one with your customers. It lets your customers talk with you in person and ask questions if they encounter problems.

Emails are the most direct way to communicate one-to-one with your customers. It lets your customers talk with you in person and ask questions if they encounter problems. Email lists can be managed easily: You can use your email lists to segment your recipients, follow through on conversations, offer targeted offerings, and much more with relative ease.

You can use your email lists to segment your recipients, follow through on conversations, offer targeted offerings, and much more with relative ease. Reach an already engaged audience: An email list can beef up your email marketing efforts to reach out to people who have signed up to your mailing lists to receive marketing messages.

The Perks of Using Gmails Mailing Service

Gmail offers lots of business solutions to give your business that extra edge. It offers features like email lists, group contacts, and mass emailing capabilities. Gmail recently revamped its platform to enable users to enjoy a clean, streamlined way to jump between their inbox, Chat, Spaces, and Meet.

Though some of its robust features come through its premium service, some great features come for free for businesses to capitalize on. With the free version of Gmail, you can send internal memos, team-specific emails, and even external messages to clients and partners. Besides offering ease of sending bulk emails to specific contacts Gmail also allows you to recall emails in case you invertedly sent the wrong email, or have typos in your email. You can do this by assigning a cancellation period for all outgoing emails.
Are you looking for an easy way to gain a better understanding of your business, understand what is driving your success, and plan for the future? A SWOT analysis is a great tool for doing all of this. This SWOT Analysis Guide provides examples, a free template, and helpful information to help you create a comprehensive report on the strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, and threats facing your organization. Lets get started!

What is a SWOT Analysis

SWOT analysis, standing for Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities, and Threats, is a strategic tool that assists businesses in comprehending their current position and future planning. This robust framework plays an essential role in strategic planning and analysis for any organization.

For example, a dip in profit margins for a business can be scrutinized using a SWOT analysis. This tool helps identify internal factors, such as inefficient practices or inflated costs, that might be causing this dip. Using the SWOT pillars  strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, and threats  one can derive strategies to rectify the problem and enhance profit margins.

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Through a SWOT analysis, businesses can:

Identify and assess their strengths and weaknesses : This might include distinct capabilities, resources, or operational inefficiencies within the business.

: This might include distinct capabilities, resources, or operational inefficiencies within the business. Spot external opportunities : Such as emerging markets or untapped customer segments that can offer growth prospects.

: Such as emerging markets or untapped customer segments that can offer growth prospects. Pinpoint potential threats: For example, regulatory changes or competitive pressures that might pose a challenge in the future.

In essence, this analysis delivers a holistic view of the businesss internal and external landscape, paving the way for informed decision-making and strategy creation.

Particularly for startups, employing a SWOT analysis is a crucial aspect of business planning. It aids in strategizing effectively, ensuring a smooth launch, and setting a clear trajectory for the journey ahead. Employing this strategic tool early on can foster a robust foundation for the business, empowering it to navigate the entrepreneurial landscape with confidence.

A SWOT analysis serves as a cornerstone for strategic planning, enabling businesses to align their goals with internal capabilities and market realities. Strengths and Weaknesses are introspective elements, helping businesses to capitalize on their unique competencies and address internal shortcomings.

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Opportunities and Threats, on the other hand, require an outward focus, assessing market trends, competitive landscapes, and external risks.

Understanding these four elements in unison allows businesses to construct a comprehensive strategy that plays to their strengths, mitigates risks, leverages market opportunities, and avoids potential pitfalls.

Be sure to watch SmartDraws insightful video, What is SWOT? Definition, Examples and How to Do a SWOT Analysis. Its a great addition to our comprehensive SWOT Analysis Guide, reinforcing key concepts and showcasing practical examples. This video enhances your understanding and makes the whole process of performing a SWOT analysis more digestible and engaging.

What is the Goal of a SWOT Analysis?

The primary goal of a SWOT analysis is to leverage strengths and opportunities while addressing weaknesses and mitigating threats.

By understanding the internal and external factors that impact the business, organizations can make informed decisions about allocating resources, pursuing growth opportunities, and minimizing risks.

It provides a structured approach to strategic planning and helps businesses align their actions with their goals and aspirations, ultimately increasing their chances of success in the marketplace.

Pros of SWOT Analysis

A SWOT Analysis offers invaluable insight for those making decisions at all levels of the organization, from upper management to individual teams. Here are five key pros of using this powerful tool:

Identify Strengths and Weaknesses. A SWOT Analysis can help identify an organizations internal strengths and weaknesses, as well as external opportunities and threats. This information can help businesses make smarter decisions about how they utilize their resources and plan for the future.

A SWOT Analysis can help identify an organizations internal strengths and weaknesses, as well as external opportunities and threats. This information can help businesses make smarter decisions about how they utilize their resources and plan for the future. Information is Quickly Obtained: A SWOT matrix is designed to be easily skimmed. This facet allows stakeholders and decision-makers to quickly grasp the internal strengths and weaknesses, as well as the external opportunities and threats faced by the business. This visual representation aids in identifying strategic priorities, facilitating discussions, and guiding the formulation of effective strategies based on the insights derived from the analysis.

A SWOT matrix is designed to be easily skimmed. This facet allows stakeholders and decision-makers to quickly grasp the internal strengths and weaknesses, as well as the external opportunities and threats faced by the business. This visual representation aids in identifying strategic priorities, facilitating discussions, and guiding the formulation of effective strategies based on the insights derived from the analysis. Focus on Goals. By analyzing factors that could have an impact on achieving a specific goal, businesses are better able to focus their efforts more strategically. This helps ensure that actions are taken in a way that could maximize positive outcomes while minimizing potential risks or drawbacks.

By analyzing factors that could have an impact on achieving a specific goal, businesses are better able to focus their efforts more strategically. This helps ensure that actions are taken in a way that could maximize positive outcomes while minimizing potential risks or drawbacks. See the Big Picture. Having an overall view of what is happening within a business allows those making decisions to take into account more than just immediate consequences but also the long-term effects of certain choices further down the line.

Having an overall view of what is happening within a business allows those making decisions to take into account more than just immediate consequences but also the long-term effects of certain choices further down the line. Improve Communication and Collaboration. Conducting a SWOT Analysis encourages collaboration between different teams, departments, or individuals within an organization. Doing so helps ensure everyone involved is aligned for collective success by creating a shared understanding of all factors impacting decision-making processes.

Conducting a SWOT Analysis encourages collaboration between different teams, departments, or individuals within an organization. Doing so helps ensure everyone involved is aligned for collective success by creating a shared understanding of all factors impacting decision-making processes. Gain Insight and Make Informed Decisions. When all relevant pieces of information are taken into consideration, organizations gain valuable insight which can help guide conversations around strategy development, budgeting priorities, and more leading to better-informed business decisions.

Cons of SWOT Analysis

Although a SWOT Analysis is a useful tool, there can be certain drawbacks that should be considered when utilizing this framework. Here are three potential cons of the SWOT Analysis:

Time Consumption. Conducting a thorough and accurate SWOT Analysis requires significant time. It can be a lengthy process to collect, analyze, and synthesize all relevant data into actionable insights.

Conducting a thorough and accurate SWOT Analysis requires significant time. It can be a lengthy process to collect, analyze, and synthesize all relevant data into actionable insights. Potential for Bias. As with any analysis or assessment, there can be potential bias as to what is included in the process. This could lead to incomplete results or faulty conclusions if too much emphasis is placed on one particular aspect of the analysis over others.

As with any analysis or assessment, there can be potential bias as to what is included in the process. This could lead to incomplete results or faulty conclusions if too much emphasis is placed on one particular aspect of the analysis over others. Limited Usefulness Over Time. The facts and data used for most SWOT Analyses will change over time, thus making them less effective in predicting future outcomes with certainty. To be successful with SWOT Analyses, they must be regularly updated as new developments unfold in order to remain applicable and accurate.

Breaking Down a SWOT Analysis (Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities, and Threats)

Writing a good SWOT analysis is crucial for small businesses looking to expand quickly and maintain a competitive edge over emerging competitors. It serves as a strategic planning tool that enables businesses to assess their internal strengths and weaknesses, as well as external opportunities and threats.

Conducting a SWOT analysis is about analyzing every aspect of a company and developing potential strategies accordingly.

First, well go through each of the components of a SWOT analysis and what to put down for each section to help you conduct a SWOT analysis. Make sure to research how to do a competitive analysis to get an idea of what your competitors strengths and weaknesses are.

Strengths

Your first step is to identify and list these business strengths. Your strengths are internal factors that are positive and within your control.

To help build your list of business strengths, ask yourself the following:

What internal processes of your company are successful? These could be good supplier relations, an advantage in the market over others, marketing, and online presence, additional services offered/value-adds, etc.

These could be good supplier relations, an advantage in the market over others, marketing, and online presence, additional services offered/value-adds, etc. What assets does your marketing team possess? Examples can be education, skills, knowledge, reputation, networking, and technical expertise.

Examples can be education, skills, knowledge, reputation, networking, and technical expertise. What assets does your company have: Assets can be in the form of location, equipment, software tools, unique selling points, robust processes, intellectual property, patents and other factors contributing to your businesss success.

Assets can be in the form of location, equipment, software tools, unique selling points, robust processes, and other factors contributing to your businesss success. What competitive advantages does your company have? This refers to unique strengths or capabilities that set your business apart from the competition and give you an edge in the market. It could include factors such as proprietary technology, exclusive partnerships, strong brand reputation, superior customer service, efficient supply chain management, or a highly skilled and experienced team.

Weaknesses

This is the tough part of the four quadrants since its difficult to confront the strengths and weaknesses of a business objectively. But your main priority here is to identify the companys weaknesses both internally and externally.

Think of this as the building blocks to help you convert weaknesses into strengths.

This could include external environment factors such as pricing, competition, lowered demand, and more. It can also include internal weaknesses that negatively affect the business, such as a lack of budget, small teams, etc.

Opportunities

Now that youve done a deep dive into your businesss strengths and your businesss weaknesses, its time to identify potential opportunities. Based on the strengths and weaknesses youve laid out, where does your company have the advantage?

Are there markets where youre performing well that can be further expanded? Do you have a strong marketing strategy that you could ramp up to drive demand? Think of the external factors youve identified and where your business might have an opportunity to grow.

Research how to create a one-page marketing plan and other business marketing plan tips to help you further develop your strategies.

Threats

The threats part of SWOT analyses can also scare off many. Essentially, the goal here is to look at potential threats that could negatively impact your business. Again, this can include internal issues and external threats that you identify.

Internal threats can include lack of staff, budgetary constraints, and other threats. External threats, as an example, can include markets you are not taking advantage of, negative reviews, strong competitors, and supplier issues.

When breaking down the SWOT analysis, businesses should consider questions like: For strengths, what unique resources do we possess? For weaknesses, what areas need improvement to compete effectively?

Opportunities can be identified by analyzing market trends: What new customer needs can we meet? Lastly, for threats, consider external changes like technological shifts: How can these disrupt our business model?

By methodically examining these elements, a business can develop strategies that leverage their strong points, improve weaknesses, reinforce opportunities, and guard against external threats.

External and Internal Factors

When looking at internal versus external factors, its important to differentiate between the two and understand how they could impact your business. Lets take a look at both below

Internal Factors

Internal factors are crucial components of your businesss internal environment, encompassing various aspects such as team size, resources, budget, processes, equipment, and other internal elements.

These factors are under the direct control of your business and hold the potential to exert a significant impact on your outcomes. By effectively managing and optimizing these internal factors, you can enhance efficiency, productivity, and overall performance.

It is essential to understand your strengths and weaknesses in these areas to make strategic decisions and strengthen your competitive position.

Human resources play a vital role in internal factors. A skilled and motivated team can contribute to higher productivity levels and increased customer satisfaction. Properly allocating resources and implementing well-defined processes ensures smooth operations and streamlined workflows.

Conversely, challenges such as limited budgets can pose constraints on hiring and training, while outdated equipment may impede efficiency and hinder progress. By assessing and addressing the specific needs of your human resources, you can optimize their potential and drive positive outcomes.

Financials are another critical aspect of internal factors. Managing your budget effectively allows for the proper allocation of resources and investment in growth opportunities.

It enables you to make informed financial decisions, such as allocating funds for research and development, marketing campaigns, or infrastructure improvements.

Monitoring and analyzing your financial data provides insights into cash flow, profitability, and overall financial health, allowing you to identify areas of improvement and make strategic adjustments.

External Factors

External factors, in contrast, refer to elements that are outside of your control and exist in the external environment of your business. These factors can include market size, economic conditions, technological advancements, legal and regulatory changes, and consumer trends.

While you may not have direct control over these factors, it is essential to be aware of their potential impact on your business.

External factors can present opportunities or threats to your business. For example, a growing market or favorable economic conditions can create opportunities for expansion and increased demand for your products or services.

On the other hand, factors such as economic downturns or disruptive technological advancements can pose challenges and require adaptation in order to remain competitive.

By closely monitoring and understanding external factors, you can anticipate changes, adjust your strategies, and take advantage of opportunities while mitigating potential risks.

Home Depot Example

One successful instance of SWOT analysis can be observed in the case of Home Depot. The company conducted a comprehensive evaluation of its internal strengths and weaknesses, as well as external factors that posed potential threats to its market position and growth strategy.

Home Depot identified several noteworthy strengths, including high-quality customer service, strong brand recognition, and positive supplier relationships. Conversely, its weaknesses were identified as a constrained supply chain, reliance on the U.S. market, and a business model that could be easily replicated.

Aligned with its weaknesses, Home Depot recognized various threats, such as the presence of close competitors, the availability of substitute products, and the condition of the U.S. market.

Through the SWOT analysis and other assessments, the company concluded that expanding its supply chain and global footprint would be essential for its growth and success.

By addressing its weaknesses and mitigating potential threats, Home Depot aimed to capitalize on its strengths and enhance its competitive position in the market.

How do You do a SWOT Analysis?

The following table breaks down the SWOT analysis that follows into simple steps, making it easy to understand and follow. It serves as a concise, clear guide, making the process less overwhelming and more manageable.

Steps for SWOT Analysis Description Step 1: Gather Data Gather internal and external data about your company or yourself. This data, which includes financial statements, customer feedback, and industry trends, will help you identify your strengths and weaknesses and potential opportunities and threats. Step 2: Brainstorm Brainstorm around the data, breaking it down into categories of strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, and threats. Be open to all ideas and make an exhaustive list as a foundation for further exploration. Step 3: Analyze Strengths Objectively analyze the strengths, asking questions about your main advantages, resources, and unique features. The goal is to gain insight into what makes you or your business successful. Step 4: Analyze Weaknesses After analyzing strengths, move on to weaknesses. Identify areas that could be improved and aspects that require more information for better decision-making. Step 5: Identify Opportunities Look towards external factors to find potential opportunities for change and growth. Keep up with current events and developments to open your mind to alternative options. Step 6: Analyze Threats Identify possible external threats such as competition and disruptions. Regular monitoring of outside forces is essential to make informed decisions quickly when needed. Step 7: Construct an Action Plan + Implement Solutions Using insights from the above steps, construct an action plan with set goals, responsibilities, and timelines. Implement the solutions within your organization to meet your targets efficiently.

A SWOT analysis provides businesses with an outline of the current state and tangible areas to focus on for improved performance or development. Research how to perform a personal swot analysis if you are conducting a SWOT analysis for yourself. Heres a step-by-step guide on how to do a successful business SWOT analysis:

Step 1: Gather Data

The first step in conducting a SWOT Analysis is to gather internal and external data about you or your company. Internal data includes financial statements, customer feedback surveys, and employee reviews, while external data may include industry trends and news reports from around the world.

This data will help identify your strengths and weaknesses as well as potential opportunities and threats in the environment.

Financial Statements

Financial statements are key for any company wanting to conduct a SWOT Analysis. These documents provide insight into your companys revenue, expenses, assets, and liabilities. Knowing these numbers can help you identify where your company stands financially.

Employee Feedback

Employee feedback is an essential resource for any company looking to conduct an effective SWOT Analysis. This data can provide insight into the issues facing your business, as well as potential solutions that could be beneficial for the company.

Step 2: Brainstorm

Once you have gathered the necessary data, its time to start brainstorming around it. Break down the information into categories such as strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, and threats. Start by listing out any ideas that come up during the brainstorming process without any judgments or filters.

Dont worry if some of these seem far-fetched or irrelevant. This list is simply meant as a starting point for further examination into each category.

Strengths

Some of the strongest areas for your business could include a strong brand, motivated employees, an excellent track record with customers, a presence in multiple markets, and more.

As an illustration, lets consider a hedge fund that has devised an exclusive trading strategy generating exceptional returns that outperform the market. The fund now faces the task of determining the most effective approach to utilize these outcomes in order to appeal to prospective investors and expand its investor base.

Similarly, for your business, notable strengths may encompass a well-established brand, a highly motivated workforce, a stellar history of customer satisfaction, a strong market presence across multiple sectors, and various other aspects that can help attract new investors.

Weaknesses

Areas where you could stand to improve include communication, customer service, lack of employees with specific skill sets, limited resources, etc.

Opportunities

Potential areas of growth could include international expansion, increased market share in a certain region, new products, or a better customer experience.

Threats

External factors to keep an eye on could include new competition, changes in the economy, or shifting customer preferences.

Step 3: Analyze Strengths

The next step is analyzing the strength category by asking questions such as what are your main advantages, what resources do you have access to, or what makes your company stand out in the market. Looking at these inquiries objectively will allow you to gain insight into what makes you or your company successful.

Advantages

Some of the main advantages could include a great reputation in the industry, a team of experienced employees, access to capital resources, and more.

Resources

What resources do you have access to that others in the market may not? This could include things such as experienced advisors, research and development teams, or reliable suppliers.

Unique Features

What makes your company stand out in the market? This could include a strong brand, state-of-the-art technology, or a diversified product line.

Step 4: Analyze Weaknesses

Continuing on from analyzing strengths comes looking at weaknesses within yourself or your organization. What processes could be improved?

Where can decisions be better informed? Allowing yourself and your team time to think about areas that need attention ensures that possible solutions can be discussed further down the line.

Improvements

Are there any processes that could be improved upon or streamlined? This can include anything from the way customer complaints are handled to the approval process for new projects.

Decision-Making

Are decisions being made with enough information? Having access to the right data is key for making informed decisions that will benefit the company.

Expertise

Do you have access to the right experts that can help make better decisions or provide assistance in certain areas of the business? If not, what steps can be taken to obtain the necessary expertise?

Step 5: Identify Opportunities

In order to find potential opportunities for change and growth look toward external factors such as what new technologies are emerging, what regulations are changing, and whether there are gaps in current products or services providing space for improvement. Keeping up with current events opens your mind up to alternative options.

Step 6: Analyze Threats

External factors can also bring along with them possible threats. What competition exists in your market? Does anything pose a risk of disruption within existing services or products being provided? Monitoring all aspects of outside forces should be continuously done in order to optimize decision-making abilities when needed quickly.

Step 7: Construct an Action Plan + Implement Solutions

Applying possible solutions found through each of these steps comes down to constructing an action plan on how they can be implemented within your organization.

Writing out desired goals in regards to members responsible for obtaining them by certain dates set out beforehand coupled with methods of their achievement should lead towards meeting targets quickly and efficiently.

SWOT Analysis Template

Now that weve gone through some examples in different industries, how do you get started on creating a SWOT analysis of your own? Luckily, this kind of analysis is pretty easy to structure. You can create one using your computer or even just divide a piece of paper into four quadrants and start writing.

These videos by Starbucks and Tesla show how they performed SWOT analyses on their companies. These examples can give you real-life applications to get you started on your own SWOT analysis.

Watching how established companies like Starbucks and Tesla conduct their SWOT analyses provides valuable insights and practical examples. It can help you understand the intricacies of the process and effectively implement it in your own business scenario.

As a helpful tool, weve created a free SWOT Analysis template for different types of businesses. You can use them to get started with your analysis:

SWOT Analysis Examples

When trying to come up with a SWOT analysis for your own business, its sometimes easier to see what others in your industry are doing. Before conducting a SWOT analysis for your company, you can look at some examples below to get some inspiration.

SWOT Analysis Example: Small Business

Regardless of industry, it can be difficult for a small business to identify weaknesses, opportunities, and threats. Heres a great example to help you understand how to structure your SWOT analysis:

Marketing SWOT Analysis

For businesses focusing on improving one specific aspect of the business, such as sales or marketing, here is a marketing SWOT analysis example that you can use as a starting point for your own SWOT analysis.

3. Company SWOT Analysis Example

For larger companies, its sometimes difficult to hone down and focus on strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, and threats because there are so many competing aspects. Thats why it can be helpful to look at a SWOT Analysis of a company example to help you structure your own.

SWOT Analysis Example for a Restaurant

Food service businesses tend to have their own unique challenges, so identifying potential strategies is often difficult. However, using a Restaurant SWOT analysis example, you can build off it and create a SWOT analysis for your business thats reflective of the market.

Acting on Your Results

A SWOT analysis is a powerful tool for understanding the internal and external factors that are impacting your business and is useful for startups, along with a proper business plan. Its important to use the results of the analysis to create actionable steps and set realistic timelines for reaching your goals.

By staying focused and organized, you can use a SWOT analysis to make analysis a part of your long-term business strategy to ensure the future success of your business. And if you dont have a business plan, be sure to research how to write a business plan to help set your business up for success.

While on the subject of planning, make sure to also learn how to create a one-page marketing plan. With all the data you have from your SWOT analysis, you will be able to establish a more effective marketing strategy.

SWOT Analysis Tips

A strong SWOT analysis is about diving deep into your business and collating all the information in an organized way. The more youre able to tap into what makes your business unique and what needs to improve, the more actionable your SWOT analysis will be.

Here are some tips to ensure youre getting the most out of a SWOT analysis:

Dont be Afraid

A good SWOT analysis is about confronting each part of the business: the good, the bad, and everything in between. Of course, it can be difficult to put down everything and objectively confront aspects of the business.

However, its important to move past that feeling and be truly objective about your business  that will ultimately help it improve.

Ask for Feedback

To make sure your SWOT analysis truly covers everything, ask for feedback and suggestions. Involving a mix of team members, including more senior and junior stakeholders, can help you spot problems you might not have known about.

Be Systematic

Sometimes, the easiest way to fill out a SWOT analysis is to have a system. That can mean going through internal issues across each quadrant first and then moving to external factors. Or you can choose to do two quadrants at a time, such as strengths and opportunities if that is easier.

Create Timelines

In order for your SWOT analysis to be actionable, you need to create timelines alongside to meet your goals. For all the opportunities you identify, what is a reasonable timeframe to make them happen? For threats, think about how close or far threats are so you can prioritize action items more realistically.

Learn Business Abbreviations and Acronyms

In order to make sure youre accounting for everything in the business, its important to learn any business abbreviations or acronyms that are used in the industry, especially for external factors.

The Takeaways

As you can see, a SWOT analysis is an essential tool for businesses and organizations to evaluate their internal strengths and weaknesses, as well as external opportunities and threats.

By conducting a thorough SWOT analysis, businesses can gain valuable insights into their current position and make informed decisions to drive success and growth.

Whether its identifying areas for improvement, capitalizing on strengths, or mitigating risks, the SWOT analysis provides a structured framework for strategic planning and decision-making.

Utilizing the examples and free template provided in this article, businesses can effectively apply the SWOT analysis to enhance their competitiveness and achieve their goals.
If youre a small business owner, youve probably heard of an EIN number but may not know what it is or if your business even needs one.

In this article, we will examine what is an EIN number and discuss whether your business needs one in order to stay compliant with the IRS and other legal requirements. Lets get started!

What is an EIN Number?

An EIN, also known as an Employer Identification Number, is a nine-digit number assigned exclusively to businesses and organizations by the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) to facilitate tax filing and reporting. It acts as a secure identifier for your business, similar to a social security number for individuals.

Here are some key points about an EIN:

Issuance : EINs are issued by the IRS to businesses in the United States. To get an EIN, you can apply online through the IRS website, by fax, or by mail. The online application is the quickest method and youll receive your EIN immediately upon completion of the application.

: EINs are issued by the IRS to businesses in the United States. To get an EIN, you can apply online through the IRS website, by fax, or by mail. The online application is the quickest method and youll receive your EIN immediately upon completion of the application. Necessity : If you have employees, operate a business as a corporation or partnership, or meet certain IRS requirements, you are required to have an EIN. Even some non-profit organizations, trusts, and estates must have EINs.

: If you have employees, operate a business as a corporation or partnership, or meet certain IRS requirements, you are required to have an EIN. Even some non-profit organizations, trusts, and estates must have EINs. Uses : EINs are used for a wide range of business tasks. These include opening business bank accounts, applying for business licenses, filing tax returns, and applying for loans or credit cards under the business name.

: EINs are used for a wide range of business tasks. These include opening business bank accounts, applying for business licenses, filing tax returns, and applying for loans or credit cards under the business name. Wage Reporting : Employers are required to include their EIN on all forms related to employee wages, such as W-2 and 1099 forms. This helps the IRS track income and tax obligations.

: Employers are required to include their EIN on all forms related to employee wages, such as W-2 and 1099 forms. This helps the IRS track income and tax obligations. Privacy Protection : Using an EIN for business transactions can help protect the business owners personal information. Without an EIN, sole proprietors must use their personal Social Security Number, which increases the risk of identity theft.

: Using an EIN for business transactions can help protect the business owners personal information. Without an EIN, sole proprietors must use their personal Social Security Number, which increases the risk of identity theft. Endurance : An EIN is permanent. Once an EIN has been assigned to a business, it will never be reused or reassigned to another business. Even if the business closes or is sold, the EIN will still be associated with that business entity.

: An EIN is permanent. Once an EIN has been assigned to a business, it will never be reused or reassigned to another business. Even if the business closes or is sold, the EIN will still be associated with that business entity. No Cost: There is no cost to apply for an EIN from the IRS. Be wary of websites or services that charge a fee to obtain an EIN.

In summary, an EIN is a critical identifier for businesses in the United States and plays a key role in many aspects of business operation and compliance with the IRS. So its important to be aware of the 1099 rules and the importance of filing taxes correctly and to simplify hiring. Obtaining an EIN is quick and easy and you can simply apply online in just a few minutes.

Who Needs an EIN Number?

The Internal Revenue Service requires businesses and organizations to obtain an EIN or federal tax ID number for tax reporting purposes.

Small Business Deals

However, not all businesses are required to have one. So who needs an EIN number? Heres a list of business types that may need an EIN in order to stay compliant with the IRS:

Sole proprietorships: What is a sole proprietor? Entrepreneurs who own their own business without formally creating a separate legal entity such as a corporation or LLC.

What is a sole proprietor? Entrepreneurs who own their own business without formally creating a separate legal entity such as a corporation or LLC. Partnerships: This includes general partnerships, limited liability partnerships (LLPs), and limited partnerships.

This includes general partnerships, limited liability partnerships (LLPs), and limited partnerships. Corporations: Business entities that are legally separate from their owners, such as C-corps, S-corps, and professional corporations.

Business entities that are legally separate from their owners, such as C-corps, S-corps, and professional corporations. Non-profit organizations: A specialized legal business structure created for charitable, religious, or educational purposes.

A specialized legal business structure created for charitable, religious, or educational purposes. Trusts and Estates: Wealthy individuals usually establish complex legal arrangements for tax or estate planning purposes. A trust or estate must obtain an EIN if they pay taxes, have employees, or operate a business.

When does the IRS require an EIN number?

Any business entity needs to understand when its necessary to get an EIN in order to accurately report taxes, properly manage its finances, and comply with IRS regulations. Lets take a look at when the IRS requires an EIN number

Sole Proprietorship

As a sole proprietor, you dont need to obtain an EIN unless you have employees, operate your business as a corporation or partnership, file excise tax returns, or withhold taxes on income paid to a non-resident alien. This includes hiring seasonal employees.

Single-Member LLC

Single-member LLCs are not required to obtain an EIN from the IRS, though its a good idea to get one if you plan to open a business bank account or hire employees. Make sure to research what is an LLC to determine if its the right business entity for your needs.

Multi-Member LLC or Partnerships

Multi-member LLCs and partnerships must obtain an EIN in most cases. The IRS also requires businesses to obtain a new EIN if there has been a change in the composition of the LLC or partnership that affects its federal tax status.

Corporations

All corporations, including S-corporations and C-corporations, must obtain an EIN in order to file taxes and for other business-related activities.

Non-Profit Organizations

Non-profit organizations are required to obtain an EIN in order to file taxes and other legal documents.

Trusts and Estates

A trust or estate must obtain an EIN if they pay taxes, have employees, or operate a business.

Why Cant I Just Use My Social Security Number?

Social Security numbers are issued to individuals and are not meant to be used for business or commercial purposes, so the IRS requires businesses to obtain a separate employer identification number (EIN).

Using a social security number for business activities could leave you vulnerable to identity theft since your Social Security Number is sensitive private information.

Using a Social Security Number would also make it difficult to accurately report taxes and other financial information related to your business.

An EIN is considered an official identifier and provides a secure way of managing your businesss finances and complying with IRS regulations.

How to Get an Employer Identification Number

Getting an EIN is free, easy, and can be done quickly online. Here are the simple steps needed to get yourself and EIN:

Step 1: Visit the IRS Website

The first step is to visit the IRS website and start the application process by clicking on the Apply for an Employer ID Number (EIN) link.

Youll need to provide basic information about your business, such as its legal name, structure (sole proprietorship, LLC, etc.), address, and the type of business youre conducting.

Step 2: Verify Your Identity

The IRS will then ask you to verify your identity by providing a valid drivers license or other government-issued ID.

You can also provide a copy of your Social Security card if you dont have a valid drivers license.

Step 3: Submit Your Application

Once youve provided all of the necessary information and verified your identity, submit your application. The IRS will issue you an EIN within minutes.

Step 4: Recieve your EIN and Open a Business Bank Account

Once the IRS has issued your EIN, you can use it to open a business bank account. This is an important step in setting up your business and managing its finances.

International EIN Applicants

As an international applicant, you may need an EIN in order to open a business bank account or file taxes in the U.S.

The application process is similar to that of domestic applicants, but you may need to provide additional documents such as a passport, visa, or alien registration card.

Benefits of Having an EIN

Having an EIN can provide a range of benefits to businesses and other entities. The following are five key benefits of having an EIN:

Improved credit rating. An EIN can help to establish a businesss credit ratings, making it easier to get loans and leases.

An EIN can help to establish a businesss credit ratings, making it easier to get loans and leases. Separate identity. Having an EIN allows a business or entity to separate its identity from its owners personal taxes.

Having an EIN allows a business or entity to separate its identity from its owners personal taxes. Deductible expenses. With an EIN, businesses can take advantage of certain tax deductions, such as employee salaries and business equipment purchase costs.

With an EIN, businesses can take advantage of certain tax deductions, such as employee salaries and business equipment purchase costs. Open bank accounts. Many banks will require an EIN in order to open a business account.

Many banks will require an EIN in order to open a business account. File taxes. An EIN is necessary for filing state and federal taxes each year.

Role of an EIN in Business Loans and Credit

An EIN is often a prerequisite for small businesses seeking loans or lines of credit. Lenders typically require an EIN to process loan applications, as it helps them assess the businesss creditworthiness and financial health. Having an EIN separates your personal and business finances, thereby protecting your personal credit score.

EIN and Business Identity Protection

Using an EIN instead of your Social Security Number (SSN) for business transactions enhances your privacy and reduces the risk of identity theft. It acts as a buffer, ensuring that your SSN is not exposed in various business activities, such as vendor contracts or credit applications.

EIN for International Business Entities

For international entities doing business in the U.S., obtaining an EIN is crucial. It allows them to comply with U.S. tax regulations, open U.S. bank accounts, and conduct business transactions smoothly. The process for international applicants might include additional documentation but is generally straightforward.

EIN in Organizational Changes

If your business undergoes significant changes, such as restructuring from a sole proprietorship to a corporation, you might need a new EIN. This change reflects the new legal entity and maintains accurate tax records. Its important to consult with a tax professional to understand when a new EIN is necessary.

Annual Reporting and EIN

An EIN is essential for annual reporting requirements, such as filing business tax returns. It helps the IRS track your businesss tax liabilities and ensures that your filings are accurate. Keeping your EIN information up-to-date is important to avoid any potential issues with the IRS.

Closing a Business and EIN

If you decide to close your business, your EIN will still be associated with the business entity. While the EIN itself cannot be closed, you should inform the IRS that your business is no longer operating. This step ensures that your businesss tax obligations are properly concluded.

Are there any disadvantages of having an EIN?

While having an Employer Identification Number (EIN) can provide a range of benefits to businesses and other entities, there are also some potential drawbacks.

These include additional administrative costs such as filing fees, the complexity of tracking multiple EINs associated with the entity, and changes made to the company must be reported promptly in order for the EIN to remain valid.

EIN Vs. DUNS Number

Its important to know what is a DUNS number and how it can be beneficial to a business. An EIN and a DUNS number both provide unique identification numbers to their owners.

However, the two are not interchangeable and serve different purposes as shown in the table below.

EIN D-U-N-S Number In order to obtain an EIN, the IRS requires business information from the responsible party, which is usually based on their social security number or existing EIN. A D-U-N-S Number will be issued by Dun & Bradstreet once multiple sources confirm a business's existence The number does not necessarily represent a one-to-one relationship with a business, as any business can have multiple numbers. Numbers are associated with business entities one-to-one Isn't required for sole proprietorships or other business entities Can be assigned to business entities including certain sole proprietorships Changeable, which means that it isn't consistent or persistent over time Maintains persistence, consistency, and uniqueness over the lifetime of that entity Tax IDs are for the United States only (other countries have their own tax IDs) Provides global coverage

Employee Identification Number vs. Federal Tax Identification Number (TIN)

An Employee Identification Number and an Individual Taxpayer Identification Number (TIN) are different types of unique identification numbers issued by the IRS. Lets take a look at both in the table below

Employee Identification Number Federal Tax Identification Number (TIN) Employer ID number General tax ID number A type of TIN This term can be used to describe a number other than an EIN, such as an SSN, ITIN, ATIN, and PTIN. U.S. residents may use it only for filing their business taxes Can be used in various ways

EIN Vs Federal Employee Identification Number (FEIN)

An EIN and Federal Employee Identification Number (FEIN) are both issued by the IRS and provide unique identification numbers to their owners. Lets take a look at how theyre different in the table below

EIN Federal Employee Identification Number (FEIN) Used to identify employers and sole proprietors who need to report business income or pay employment taxes Assigned to corporations that have employees or file an employment tax return. Used by certain trusts, estates, nonprofits, and other organizations. Identifies a given business entity for federal tax reporting purposes

Do I need an EIN if Im self-employed?

Yes, even if youre not formally creating a business entity such as a corporation or LLC, self-employed individuals, or the responsible party as the IRS calls it, may still need an employer identification number (EIN).

The IRS requires all businesses to obtain an EIN in order to accurately report taxes and other financial information related to the business.

Its also a more secure way of protecting your sensitive personal information since the number is only used for your business activities.

Does a DBA need an EIN?

Yes, if youre starting a business under a Doing Business As (DBA) name, you are required to obtain an Employer Identification Number (EIN) from the Internal Revenue Service.

Using a separate EIN helps protect your personal information since the number is associated with your DBA and not with your Social Security Number.

What is a federal employer identification number?

A Federal Employer Identification Number (FEIN) is a unique nine-digit identification number assigned by the Internal Revenue Service (IRS).

This number is used to identify and track the finances of a business or other entity for tax purposes.

A FEIN is required for many legal transactions, such as filing taxes or opening a business bank account. Having a FEIN also provides businesses with protection from identity theft and fraud.

Do I need an EIN before or after I form my LLC?

Generally, the best time to obtain your EIN and file for tax-exempt status is after youve formed your LLC. This way, you have all of the information needed to properly fill out the form and avoid any delays.

After you form your LLC, you can apply for an EIN online or by printing and mailing Form SS-4 to the IRS.

How do I look up my EIN?

Unfortunately, the IRS does not have a public database for looking up EIN numbers. You can find your EIN on the EIN confirmation letter the IRS sent you when your application for the number was approved.

If you do not have this letter, you can also check documents like tax returns or forms filed with the IRS.

If you dont have access to these documents, you can call the IRS Business & Specialty Tax Line for assistance in finding your EIN at 800-829-4933.

How do I look up another businesss EIN?

Looking up another businesss EIN doesnt have to be complicated. You can start by simply asking the company directly for their EIN.

Alternatively, if you are looking for a publicly traded company, check out their SEC filings which often contain the necessary information.

Additionally, inquiring with a credit bureau may also provide insight into the businesss EIN.

Lastly, there are numerous paid EIN databases available so you can quickly and easily look up the requested information.

How do I recover my EIN if I forget or lose it?

Its important to put your EIN confirmation letter in a safe place to avoid losing your EIN in the first place.

However, if you forget or lose your EIN, the process of recovering it is fairly straightforward. You can find your EIN on forms such as tax returns or other forms you filed with the IRS.

If you dont have those, give the IRS Business & Specialty Tax Line a call and ask them to search for your EIN at 800-829-4933.
In her free time, Tetiana Didenko, a refugee painter, helps others discover their painting talent in the Slovak capital.

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This story is also available in Ukrainian.

For Ukrainian painter and old architecture enthusiast Tetiana Didenko, Bratislava feels like a fairy tale full of inspiration and fascination.

Ive been fascinated by ancient architecture all my life and here, it's right in front of my eyes, the 58-year-old artist says. When I look at the tiled roofs in the citys Old Town, all the antique buildings, I return to my childhood, to the old fairy tales that I grew up on.

The artist, for whom the Slovak capital became a temporary home after Russia invaded Ukraine in February 2022, can be spotted with her easel and her brushes in the narrow old streets when the weather is nice as she tries to capture the beauty of the city. Some of her works, including a Vrakuna park, already hang on the walls in the Drak & Finch bar a stones throw from Bratislava Castle. Reminiscent of a window into the world of colours and sunshine where harmony reigns in all senses, they invite bar visitors to set out on a walk through the city and explore their secrets.

The fact that the local bar decided to exhibit the Bratislava works of this renowned Ukrainian artist, albeit unknown to many in Slovakia, is a coincidence.

I once painted nearby and stopped in the bar, sometimes leaving my things there, the painter tells The Slovak Spectator.

But this is not the first time her paintings are exhibited abroad, including in Slovakia. Over the years, Didenkos works, ranging from flowers and landscapes to portraits, have been on display and purchased by art collectors all over the world, from Mexico to Russia.

Farska Street in Bratislava. (Source: Courtesy of T. D.)

In love with Ukrainian impressionism

Born in Donetsk, a city in southeastern Ukraine, and raised in Kyiv, Didenko says that she often visited exhibitions, admired paintings and imagined what kind of persons created them.

Her artistic life fully began after graduating from Kyiv art schools. She describes her art as a classical style of painting with some elements of impressionism.

I admire Ukrainian impressionists like Oleksandr Murashko and Vasyl Krychevsky. They have always been a source of inspiration for me, the Ukrainian reveals, adding that she also likes Ukrainian artists of more recent times such as Karp Trokhymenko and Sergei Shishko, I like to look at their works, I adore them.

Looking back at a time when a young Didenko just admired paintings in art museums without being familiar with and diving into the life stories of these Ukrainian artists, which later changed, she now says that she is glad that most of her assumptions about the artists turned out to be correct.

Helping others discover painters in themselves

Didenkos fruitful career in Ukraine at first seemed to stop after Russias invasion of her motherland.

She decided to flee Ukraine and move to Slovakia where her daughter, Dana, studied and lived. But this was not the only reason why she chose Slovakia. Before the war, she had taken part in Days of Ukraine, a cultural event held in Kosice.

Because her daughter lived in Poprad, Tatras region, and the artist found herself in Kosice, she had no place to stay. Fortunately, at the local railway station she encountered a family that provided her with a shelter. Didenko stayed with them for seven months before she moved to Bratislava. Thanks to the artistic family, she joined the local creative community.

In Kosice, she co-founded Estet, an international aesthetics education studio, with her friend Natalia Oleksandrova. The Ukrainian ran the childrens dance group Harmony. The main goal is to provide lessons such as dancing and drawing to children, both Ukrainian and Slovak, Didenko says about the centre. The studio is also intended to bring the cultures of Ukrainians and Slovaks closer. When they opened it, Didenko also used the opportunity to exhibit some of her paintings again. But this time, some of these paintings were new. The artist painted them during her time in Kosice.

In Bratislava, the artist now and then teaches painting to elderly women at the Ukrainian-Slovak Cultural House.

Im surprised that people who have never painted before are so good at it, she says.

Bratislava's Old Town. (Source: Courtesy of T. D.)

Irpin pictures

Prior to her relocation to Bratislava, the Ukrainian painter decided to move back to Kyiv and planned to stay there. It was the end of 2022. But the constant shelling, she says, made her reassess her plan in the end.

Her daughter had moved to Bratislava by then.

Today, they live together in the Slovak capital. Still, the artist hopes that she can return home one day.

At the beginning of the war, when I just came to Slovakia, I had created a few graphic pictures. They are scary. They are about Irpin, the artist says.

Soon after the war broke out, there began the month-long battle of Irpin, a town of 70,000 near Kyiv. The Ukrainians managed to defeat Russian units in this battle and retake control of the town. The battle was heavily discussed in the media in early March of 2022, when the Russians began to shell a bridge that civilians were using to flee Irpin.

Its extremely difficult for me to live through such sad moments, the artist says. Therefore, Didenko has returned to portraying positive things such as landscapes. I mostly draw life as it is. I draw inspiration from nature, because everything in it is so complicated and interesting that there is no need to add anything else, the Ukrainian notes.

Bratislava. (Source: Courtesy of T. D.)

Despite war, life must go on

These days, Didenko is already working on another exhibition in Bratislava. It will be held in another cafe. She says she has selected landscape paintings that capture the Old Town from different perspectives.

However, the Ukrainian says that she doesnt like to stay in one place a long time. Thus, she intends to attend an event for painters in Macedonia and visit friends in Serbia.

Maybe I will work a little in Montenegro. I visited this year and fell in love with Petrovac [a small coastal town]. There are incredible landscapes, she shares with The Slovak Spectator.

Didenko says that in the past two years she has been painting and moving from one place to another more than at any time of peace. Today, the painter says that she is prepared to head towards any place life takes her to.

Despite everything, we have to hope for the best and live on, Didenko thinks.

However, the war is often on her mind. The artists sister has been staying in Kyiv.

Thoughts about the war are always with me. I feel them as a dark background regardless of the brightness of the colours in the foreground, Didenko says.

This article was created thanks to the UNESCO programme "Supporting Ukrainian Refugees Through Mass Media", financed by the Japanese government.
Some see it as their responsibility to get involved in civic life and follow Slovak politics.

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Do foreigners in Slovakia follow what is happening in the country and try to change it for the better?

This simple question can reveal a lot about foreigners, in particular to what extent they are engaged in civic life and how they perceive Slovakia.

The Bratislava-based Milan Simecka Foundation, in cooperation with Masaryk University (MU) in the Czech Republic, have published the results of a focus group survey that paints a picture of foreigners participation in Slovak public life. Researchers talked to 19 foreigners living in Bratislava to learn more about their experience, their topics of interest regarding civic life, and the hurdles they have encountered during their attempts to participate.

Foreigners who took part in the survey People from European and non-European countries, such as Macedonia, Croatia, Bulgaria and Ukraine, but also Vietnam, Canada, Ethiopia and Mexico.

Most of the involved respondents have lived in Slovakia for more than 5 years, but the length of their stay varied considerably and ranged from one week to 30 years.

Most of the respondents were of working age; several students and one pensioner also participated in the focus groups.

The degree to which the people involved in our research are interested in public life in Slovakia varies, and reflects not only their personal interests and preferences, but also the length of their stay in Slovakia and their language competence, explains MU sociologist Ivana Rapos Bozic.

Some of the respondents prefer to follow what is happening in the town or region where they live, because they feel that it has an immediate impact on their lives. Others are more interested in national politics. They like to compare the current political developments in Slovakia with the situation in their home country. Yet others feel that if they live in Slovakia, they should at least have a basic overview of Slovak politics.

I probably follow national politics more than local politics. Its not so easy to find information about local politics, one of the respondents told interviewers. Nevertheless, many of the 19 respondents described national politics as a source of disappointment and frustration in the survey.

Slovak politics is "like Netflix"

In fact, a respondent compared Slovak politics to a never-ending everyday drama.

Watching Slovak politics is like watching a series on Netflix, he said to experts.

Unlike national politics, many respondents based in Bratislava perceive local politics more positively. One of the reasons is Bratislava mayor Matus Vallo and his effort to actively communicate with foreigners. The city, for example, published a Bratislava prospectus for newcomers in English and Russian on its website in 2022.

I dont know much about him [Vallo] or if hes good enough. All I know is that he plays in a band and approaches foreigners, says a respondent. So I think maybe theres a way to actually get more involved and know more about whats going on in the city.

As Rapos Bozic explains, respondents who have lived in Slovakia for some length of time are more eager to follow whats happening in the country. Not only do they feel that they are part of Slovak society, but with the amount of contact they have with the locals, their awareness of whats going on usually grows as well, the sociologist says. But as the survey shows, foreigners who have relocated to Slovakia more recently also want to know more about and get involved in Slovak civic life. A case in point: a female respondent who came to Slovakia two years ago decided to vote in the 2022 local and regional elections.

I think when a person moves to another country its their personal responsibility to be interested in politics, she told researchers. Respondents agree that, unless they understand Slovak, its hard for them to access relevant information about politics in Slovakia. Non-Slovak speaking foreigners turn to Radio Slovakia International and The Slovak Spectator for such information in English.

At Radio Slovakia International, they produce radio programmes and articles; from time to time they tell the international community about important events that concern foreigners. However, its still very limited, thinks a respondent who finds Slovak politics interesting. Social media and the Facebook group Foreigners in Bratislava is an important source of information  mostly practical  for foreigners.

A discussion during the fjuzn festival in Bratislava in September 2023. (Source: Erik Boros)

How foreigners help Slovaks

Several respondents were prompted to become involved in civic life thanks to their own migration experience, according to the survey, and they specifically decided to assist other foreigners who came after them in navigating them through life in Slovakia. I tried to help people from Macedonia or the Balkans who also came here. We are citizens of third countries and face more difficult challenges than others, a Macedonian respondent told researchers. While some organise language cafes and introductory workshops for newcomers, the Horovod civic association founded by Ukrainian, Belarusian and Russian people organises art events in Bratislava to make newcomers feel included.

Although these cases show how foreigners primarily help foreigners, Rapos Bozic emphasises that such engagements can also contribute to changing the perception of the role of foreigners in Slovak society. Other respondents are engaged in initiatives that focus on minorities in the country. A lawyer included in the focus group, for example, educates people in Slovakia on human rights and the rights of minorities. Through different activities, he has been trying to help root out discrimination and racism against Roma people. Another respondent, a dancer, used her talent to hold a dance workshop to fight homophobia in Slovakia after the killings in 2022 of two queer people outside an LGBT+ club in the capital.

It [homophobia] is something I dont agree with, she told interviewers Im glad I did it.

Moreover, many respondents have said that they also support initiatives that concern all of society and touch on different topics, ranging from corruption via traffic problems to the environment, because they want to see the society they live in progress and thrive. Some dont even mind taking part in mass protests.

I protested alongside Slovaks because I live here and share the concerns of the locals, a respondent shared his experience with researchers.

He added that there are many foreigners who really want to call Bratislava home. The sociologist stresses that the diversity of topics of foreigners interest is important, as it points to the ability of foreigners to relate to different communities within their civic involvement.

Their experiences prove that they are fully-fledged actors in civil society, Rapos Bozic says.

A childrens activity during the fjuzn festival in Banska Stiavnica in 2023. (Source: Pavol Laco)

Barriers

Yet, it is not always easy for foreigners to get involved within different communities. The language is often identified as the biggest barrier. The sociologist, for example, says that foreigners may feel discouraged from taking part in events if they are organised in Slovak, but Slovaks may find themselves in a similar situation if an event is held in a foreign language.

They must therefore decide which language they will use in communicating with the public, and consider the consequences that this decision will have on the people who would like to participate, the sociologist adds.

In the survey, the respondents also admitted that they lack a deeper understanding of the functioning of Slovak public institutions. Such an understanding often goes beyond linguistic understanding and primarily requires knowledge of unwritten rules, Rapos Bozic explains. A lack of knowledge of unwritten rules can translate into, for example, difficult access to financing, she continues.

I suspect that when you respond to an open grant funding opportunity, there are things that are not said and that are distinctly Slovak, a respondent told interviewers. And thats fine, but you know, I dont know them.

Moreover, the survey has found that some respondents perceive Slovakia as a country where a person needs to know people in key positions to get something done. Some foreigners in the focus group also consider their position in Slovak society to be insufficiently legitimate to initiate changes themselves, and prefer helping local civic associations or individuals.

Im still of the opinion that when it comes to things we want to change in society, we should be represented by someone who is not from abroad. Without them, they may not take us seriously, claims one of the respondents in the survey.

But others, especially those who have lived in Slovakia for many years or grew up in the country, believe that they have the same right to change things in Slovakia as Slovak people. A foreigner, who said about herself that she looks different and tried to get involved in Slovak political life in the past, told interviewers that she didnt believe she could succeed in Slovak politics because of her appearance.

I still dont think that foreigners have many chances in politics. And thats a shame, she said. She also highlighted the different perspectives that foreigners can bring to the table. And Im the kind of Slovak who sees differences and can bring slightly different perspectives.
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Former US Marine: West Cant Grasp Russias Technological Supremacy on Battlefield

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2023-12-27T23:15+0000

2023-12-27T23:15+0000

2023-12-27T23:12+0000

analysis

military & intelligence

sergey chemezov

rostec

russia

west

armata

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As 2023 comes to a close, observers are drawing lessons from another year of fighting in eastern Ukraine. Brian Berletic, a geopolitical analyst and former US Marine, sat down with Sputnik to discuss the state of military technology employed in the conflict as Western weapons are put to the test against their increasingly sophisticated Russian analogues.The US and its allies neglected for decades crucial areas of defense technology including air defense and electronic warfare, Berletic claimed candidly, noting how Western objectives in recent years shaped emergent military technology. In the 21st century US-led coalitions have focused mostly on war in the Middle East, combatting guerilla fighters or small armies in countries like Iraq, Afghanistan, Libya, and Syria.Berletic said this focus has damaged the Wests ability to compete with more professional militaries, noting the US and other countries have focused instead on technology and tactics meant to fight irregular forces in failed states across the developing world from North Africa to Central Asia.The Wests need to play technological catch up was displayed vividly in 2022 when Russia unveiled powerful new hypersonic weapons, a technology not yet obtained by any other country.This dynamic is more recently illustrated in Russias development of the Supercam ammunition, which is highly protected against means of electronic warfare, according to Sergey Chemezov, the CEO of the Russian state-owned defense company Rostec. The United States has scrambled to compete in the electronic warfare space recently with a troubled drone development initiative and an attempt to create microwave weapons to disable enemy electronics.But Berletic noted Russia derives an advantage from its years-long investment in these areas, giving the country an edge not only in quality of weapons but also quantity, compounding the problems Ukrainian troops face day to day. As Russia works to perfect the Supercam technology its already developed advanced radar systems that can detect Ukrainian drones from tens of kilometers away.Russia is also testing new remotely-operated ground vehicles for use in combat. The technologys value is still unproven, but these weapons may ultimately transform warfare as significantly as aerial drones have. If they do, they will represent another area where Russia has the edge.Discussion then turned towards Russias Armata tank which is being developed as a response to the US Abrams and British Challenger tanks. Chemezov has spoken highly of the technology, confidently claiming there truly is no exaggeration whatsoever when Russias tank-building tradition is described as the most advanced in the world. He also recently said the Armata already surpasses Israels bloated Merkava tanks.Berletic noted that the Armata has so far only seen limited trials amid the special operation in Ukraine but said Russian designers are improving tank technology as they learn lessons from the military effort.The West still seems incapable of learning that quantity can indeed be a quality of its own, Berletic stated.Berletic concluded by addressing the larger state of play surrounding Russias rapidly emerging technological parity, and even supremacy, on the battlefield.Once again, quantity is a powerful indicator of Russias abilities. Rostecs CEO recently noted that the number of fifth-generation fighter jets being put into service is almost doubling every year. Meanwhile, Russias production volume of artillery shells has skyrocketed by roughly 50 times compared to 2021 while the number of infantry fighting vehicles and other armored fighting vehicles produced has quintupled. Russia now builds seven times the number of tanks it produced in 2021, according to Chemezov, making the country a global leader in the category.The collective West still believes firmly in its own full-spectrum supremacy in terms of political, economic, and military power, despite the growing body of evidence to the contrary, said Berletic. For decades (if not generations), the West has taken for granted the disparity between its own power and that of its adversaries, indifferent to the reality that as technology evolves, the geopolitical playing field is gradually being balanced.Most recently, the political consequences of the Wests sanctions regime have been observed in Germany, where Chancellor Olaf Scholzs popularity has plummeted amidst economic difficulties. Polling shows the populist right may ride to power there as they did in Italy, with the Alternative fur Deutschland (AfD) party rising in the polls.Russia has continuously expanded its military industrial base while at the same time the West allowed theirs to atrophy, said Berletic. The result is a proxy conflict where the collective West is incapable of matching let alone exceeding Russias level of ammunition, weapons, and vehicle production.And while the West appears to understand this mistake in hindsight, they still seem incapable of grasping just how much time is needed to rectify this or accept the possibility that it is perhaps impossible at this point to rectify.

https://sputnikglobe.com/20231227/russia-develops-supercam-kamikaze-drone--1115831295.html

https://sputnikglobe.com/20231227/russian-defense-sector-ceo-shoots-down-myth-of-western-military-superiority-1115824044.html

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state of russian weapons against us equipment, russian tech's battlefield advances
https://sputnikglobe.com/20231227/gaffes-mistakes--bloodshed-scandals-that-enveloped-joe-biden-in-2023-1115840507.html

Gaffes, Mistakes & Bloodshed: Scandals That Enveloped Joe Biden in 2023

Gaffes, Mistakes & Bloodshed: Scandals That Enveloped Joe Biden in 2023

With 2023 coming to a close, it is worth reflecting on US President Joe Bidens third year in office and all the gaffes, stumbles and mistakes he made along the way.

2023-12-27T23:53+0000

2023-12-27T23:53+0000

2023-12-28T00:12+0000

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us

joe biden

hunter biden

donald trump

ukraine

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With 2023 coming to a close, it is worth reflecting on US President Joe Bidens third year in office and all the gaffes, stumbles and mistakes he made along the way.Classified Docs for Me, Not TheeThroughout 2022, former President Donald Trumps mishandling of classified documents was a huge story, and with a trial against Trump still ongoing, it inarguably remained a massive story for much of 2023.But the media world was shocked when it learned that Biden, who once called Trumps poor handling of classified documents totally irresponsible, had stored classified documents he took while serving as vice president to a think tank office in Virginia and in the garage of his home in Delaware.In his first public remarks regarding the mishandling, Biden brushed off the severity of the situation at the time, telling reporters he had no regrets, and that theres no there there. He later shifted blame for the mishap on his team since they didnt do the kind of job that should have been done to go thoroughly through every single piece of literature that's there when his offices were being packed up.Earlier this month, US media reported that special counsel Robert Hur is not expected to file charges in the case; however, the double standards on how the Biden and Trump cases were handled was not lost on Republicans, with many questioning why an FBI raid was not held on Bidens properties as it had been done with his predecessor.Elsewhere, while Biden has continuously suffered from poor approval ratings, the classified docs case has only seen Trumps rating among supporters skyrocket as his case and others have continued to work their way through the justice system.The Balloons Are Coming! (Bidens Failed China Policy)Tensions with China were already high in 2022 after then-Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi (D-CA) visited with separatist leaders in Taiwan, angering the Chinese government. Things only got weirder in 2023 when a balloon appeared in the skies off the coast of Alaska.The US government claimed it was a Chinese spy balloon. The Chinese government insisted it was an independent weather observation balloon that had blown off course. The media tracked the balloon as it flew over Canada into the United States and across the country. Republicans called Biden weak for not shooting it down immediately, China warned the US against shooting down the object.In the end, Biden waited for the balloon to cross the US before shooting it down off the coast of South Carolina, angering China and not satisfying Republicans.Bizarrely, multiple other balloons and other unidentified objects appeared over US and Canadian airspace, most of which were again shot down, but little explanation was given about what the objects actually were. A Boy Scout group claimed their weather balloon experiment vanished around this time, though the State Department denied the possibility they were responsible for its disappearance.Relations between China and the US started off-base and ended worse in 2023. Taiwanese President Tsai Ing-wen visited then-House Speaker Kevin McCarthy (R-CA) in the US in April, causing sino-US tensions to grow further throughout the year.However, Biden had a plan. Chinese President Xi Jinping was one of the world leaders hosted in San Francisco during the APEC summit. It was the perfect opportunity to smooth things over with the worlds largest industrial manufacturer.According to Biden during a post-meeting presser, things went well. Biden said the two leaders discussed shared issues and reestablished military-to-military contact in an attempt to reduce misunderstandings.All seemed to be going to plan until, after declaring the engagement over, Biden decided to take one more question:Mr. President, after today, would you still refer to President Xi as a dictator? This is a term that you used earlier this year, asked the reporter.Well, look, he is, the commander-in-chief replied, drawing near-instant condemnation from the government Biden had just worked hard to court. A clip capturing Secretary of State Antony Blinkens reaction to Bidens comments went viral in the following days. Blinken later claimed the visible wince was due to a sore neck.Biden, Famous for His Empathy Ignores & Insults Disaster VictimsIn February, a Norfolk Southern train carrying hazardous materials derailed in East Palestine, Ohio, causing a fire. Rather than attempt to douse the flames, city, state and Norfolk officials made the decision to initiate a controlled demolition of the substances.The resulting explosion sent dangerous chemicals into the air, soil and water. Residents were evacuated, being told they could return less than a week after the derailment and three days after the explosion.But months later, residents in East Palestine were still sounding alarms about health issues they believed were linked to the chemicals and several videos went viral, seeming to show an oily rainbow film over nearby streams and in muddy soil.Biden promised to visit the area, but as 2023 comes to a close, he has declined to, citing his busy schedule. However, he did manage to find significant time to vacation in Delaware.According to US media, by August 2023, Biden had spent nearly four out of every 10 days away from the White House, primarily at his two homes in Delaware and the presidential retreat Camp David in Maryland.Meanwhile, Bidens likely opponent in the 2024 presidential election scored some points with voters in the swing state after he visited East Palestine the same month the crash happened. The former president called the federal response to the accident a betrayal.Bidens lack of empathy for disaster victims arose again after it took 13 days for him to visit Hawaii after devastating wildfires killed more than 100 people. When the US president finally showed up, he attempted to connect with the victims by recounting a house fire that almost cost him his car and cat, sparking more outrage.Lightning struck at home, on a little lake that's outside of our homenot a lake, a big pondand hit a wire that came up underneath our home into the heating ducts and air conditioning ducts, the president said. To make a long story short, I almost lost my wife, my '67 Corvette, and my cat.Reports from the time described the 2004 fire as small and contained to the kitchen, noting there were no injuries and it was contained within 20 minutes.Nobody Believes in Zelensky Like BidenBidens poll numbers have never been great, but they did see a slight bump following the start of Russias special military operation in 2022. During a speech in Warsaw, Poland, a month later he proclaimed the American people stand with Ukraine and urged NATO and the EU to remain unified today and tomorrow and the day after and for the years and decades to come.It was a sentiment he repeated often throughout 2022 and 2023, but throughout the year, the American people and some NATO allies turned against Bidens proxy war against Russia.Polls showed strong support among Americans for Ukraine aid at the start of the special operation but have since reversed, with more than half of Americans opposing additional aid as early as August. Americas opinion on Ukraine likely was not helped when classified Pentagon documents were leaked on Discord, showing a grim internal evaluation of Ukrainian Armed Forces capability.The souring public opinion on Ukraine led the Republican party, which included a small faction opposed to funding at the start of the conflict, to completely turn against further aid. Even US Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-SC), who, along with the late Sen. John McCain (R-AZ) infamously encouraged Ukrainian marines to break the Minsk ceasefire agreement in 2017, came out against sending more aid to Ukraine.Biden has repeatedly demanded that Congress pass an additional $60 billion in aid for Ukraine, but Republicans have remained steadfast in blocking it, demanding border concessions that are too distasteful for his base to accept.Meanwhile, parliamentary elections in Slovakia in September ushered in Prime Minister Robert Fico, who ran on a promise to end all aid to Ukraine and in November the Slovak parliament confirmed that agenda.That wasnt the only break in NATO on the Ukraine issue. In December, Hungary Prime Minister Viktor Orban blocked 50 billion in aid earmarked for Ukraine and promised to continue to do so for the foreseeable future.Ceasefires Are Bad, Mmkay?On the subject of the other conflict the US is fueling - Israels bombing campaign and invasion of Gaza, Biden has fared even worse.According to a poll released earlier this month, 57% of Americans disapprove of his handling of the situation, compared to just 33% who approve. The same poll found that some one-third of respondents felt as though the Biden White House was being too supportive of Israels actions.Despite taking a slightly harsher tone with the Israeli government, Biden and administration officials have repeatedly refused to set any red-lines that would make the US reconsider sending aid and weapons to Israel.The US has blocked several calls for a ceasefire by the UN Security Council, being the only member state to vote against it, thereby vetoing it. Multiple human rights organizations have warned about a humanitarian crisis in the area. More than 20,000 Palestinians have been killed since Israels operation began and more than 570,000 are starving, according to the UN.The Biden administrations steadfast support of Israels viscous military campaign has resulted in plummeting polls for Biden among his base, and growing calls from within his own party to shift the administrations Israel strategy.Additionally, a steady stream of pro-Palestinian protests have broken out across the country and Biden has been bleeding support among minorities and young voters, a situation that is almost certain to doom his reelection campaign if he cannot reverse the trend before November.Fear & Loathing in the White House: The Hunter Biden StoryThere have been some interesting first son and daughter controversies in the White House. Neil Bush, the son of former US President George H. W. Bush was sued by federal regulators for alleged conflict-of-interest regulation violations. Donald Trump Jr. shot an endangered deer in Mongolia. Malia Obama got caught smoking. The Bush twins were cited for underage drinking and allegedly partied with American actor Ashton Kutcher, which seemed like a big deal at the time.But no first family controversy appears to hold a candle to the much-talked-about presidential son, Hunter Biden. To be fair, Hunter is also considered the most exposed first son in history. He allegedly abandoned a laptop at a Delaware repair shop, the contents of which were eventually leaked to the media just prior to the 2020 election.According to the House Oversight Committee, which is heading the ongoing investigation into the Biden family, payments were allegedly routed through Hunter and the presidents brother James Biden before ending up in Joes hands.Committee Chairman James Comer (R-KY) showcased evidence of at least two examples of James Biden depositing money into Joe Bidens account following payments by an American hospital operator and a Chinese company into Hunter or James Biden accounts.There was also evidence on the laptop that Joe wrote letters of recommendation to universities for the children of a Chinese business associate of Hunter, emails from Hunter complaining about giving half his salary to his father and that he met in person with a number of his foreign business associates, including individuals from Ukraine, Russia, Mexico, China and Kazakhstan.Throughout his campaign and presidency, Biden repeatedly denied he met or spoke with his sons business associates or discussed business with him.In early December, House Republicans voted to formally open an impeachment inquiry into Joe Biden. The White House, as it has since the start of the investigation, decried it as politically motivated.I did not. And its just a bunch of lies. Theyre lies. I did not. Theyre lies, the president told reporters in December, despite documents put forth by congressional lawmakers.Hunter Biden was also indicted on gun and tax charges, though those are unlikely to blow back on his father.Hunter also appeared to cause his fathers administration a few more headaches over the summer when cocaine was found in the White House; however, the Secret Service closed the case without a suspect after two weeks. Despite a mass finger-pointing at Hunter due to his past with illicit drugs, the White House insisted it didnt belong to anyone in the Biden family - including Hunter, who was there just before it was discovered.The Inevitability of Age & DeclineIt is possible that the reason Biden continues to deny meeting with Hunters associates is that he doesnt remember meeting them.Age was an issue for Biden even during his campaign, but rewatching clips from 2020, he looks sprightly compared to present day - although that can be said of many presidents pre- and post-White House. Biden started his presidency older than his predecessors, and it shows.The 81-year-old president has looked lost while trying to find his way off stage, regularly stumbled over words, said the October 7 surprise attack by Hamas happened 65 years ago, confused popular celebrities Taylor Swift, Beyonce and Britney Spears in a single sentence, tripped over a wire while giving a speech, falsely claimed he was at Ground Zero the day after September 11, and got confused about where to go while watching the reef laying at the tomb of the unknown soldier.Some 77% of Americans, including a whopping 69% of Democrats, admitted in August that they have concerns about Bidens age, questioning whether he is mentally and physically fit enough to serve for another term.I tell you what, I dont know about you, but Im going to go to bed, Biden said after a 26-minute conference in Hanoi, Vietnam. The September blip didn't help improve the presidents image, instead prompting more questions about the commander-in-chiefs mental acuity.

https://sputnikglobe.com/20230122/all-deny--deflect-bidens-no-regrets-response-to-classified-docs-row-ripped-as-really-dumb--1106564745.html

https://sputnikglobe.com/20230214/why-bidens-baloney-war-of-balloons-fails-to-justify-his-failures--asia-pacific-escalation-1107435390.html

https://sputnikglobe.com/20231207/blinken-claims-stiff-neck-caused-wince-when-biden-called-xi-dictator-at-apec-summit-1115465743.html

https://sputnikglobe.com/20230223/east-palestine-spox-blasts-biden-he-feels-safer-in-a-war-zone-in-ukraine-than-ohio-1107724640.html

https://sputnikglobe.com/20230809/biden-falsely-claims-he-declared-national-emergency-in-hawaii-over-wildfires-1112484825.html

https://sputnikglobe.com/20230922/us-intel-insiders-admit-ukraine-counteroffensive-is-lost--seymour-hersh--1113579742.html

https://sputnikglobe.com/20231227/us-announces-final-250-million-ukraine-aid-package-for-2023-1115839951.html

https://sputnikglobe.com/20231221/most-us-voters-oppose-military-aid-to-israel-disapprove-of-biden-foreign-policy---poll-1115731280.html

https://sputnikglobe.com/20231211/how-team-biden-defies-own-human-rights-rules-in-israel-weapons-supplies-1115518899.html

https://sputnikglobe.com/20231121/most-voters-believe-joe-biden-participated-in-his-son-hunters-business-1115111674.html

https://sputnikglobe.com/20230704/hunter-biden-visited-white-house-before-suspected-cocaine-found-there-1111665740.html

https://sputnikglobe.com/20231219/bidens-reluctance-to-admit-his-age-worries-his-wife-and-team---reports-1115683627.html

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what scandals plagued biden in 2023, hunter biden troubles for white house, biden classified documents case, biden in east palestine, us-israeli strategy, biden's mental acuity, biden's blunders with china, poor approval ratings for biden
https://sputnikglobe.com/20231227/republicans-probing-if-biden-tried-to-obstruct-sons-cooperation-with-impeachment-inquiry-1115843385.html

Republicans Probing if Biden Tried to Obstruct Son's Cooperation With Impeachment Inquiry

Republicans Probing if Biden Tried to Obstruct Son's Cooperation With Impeachment Inquiry

US House Republicans are investigating whether President Joe Biden tried to influence or obstruct his son Hunter Biden's cooperation with the House impeachment inquiry, Congressmen James Comer and Jim Jordan said in a letter to the White House.

2023-12-27T23:44+0000

2023-12-27T23:44+0000

2023-12-27T23:44+0000

joe biden

americas

hunter biden

us

white house

republicans

hunter biden charges

impeachment

corruption

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"In light of an official statement from the White House that President Biden was aware in advance that his son, Hunter Biden, would knowingly defy two congressional subpoenas, we are compelled to examine as part of our impeachment inquiry whether the President engaged in a conspiracy to obstruct a proceeding of Congress," the congressmen stressed in the letter to White House Counsel Edward Siskel on Wednesday. The letter asks the White House to provide by January 10 all documents and communications sent or received by employees of the Executive Office of the President regarding Hunter Bidens deposition. Earlier this month, White House spokeswoman Karine Jean-Pierre emphasized that Biden was aware of what his son planned to say when he defied a House subpoena to testify behind closed doors about his business dealings. On December 13, Hunter Biden arrived at the US Capitol steps to announce that he would not testify in a closed-door deposition later that day as previously scheduled. He said he would only answer questions at a public hearing. In September, then-US House Speaker Kevin McCarthy launched an impeachment inquiry following probes into alleged criminal activity by President Biden and his son. The Biden family is alleged to have enriched itself through foreign influence peddling and bribery. The president dismisses the accusations against him, arguing that he has never discussed foreign business deals with his son.

https://sputnikglobe.com/20231214/biden-aides-concerned-sons-legal-troubles-could-consume-president---reports-1115591416.html

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hunter biden, impeachment inquiry, impeachment, biden impeachment, united states house of representatives, us congress, house of representatives, joe biden, hunter biden, corrupted biden, biden family, corrupted family, biden case, key words: ukrainian troops, ukrainian losses, russian forces, russian troops, russia wins, ukraine loses, ukrainian crisis, failed counteroffensive, ukrainian counteroffensive, foiled counteroffensive, counteroffensive attempt, thwarted counteroffensive, counteroffensive effort
https://sputnikglobe.com/20231227/some-western-countries-say-netanyahus-end-is-near---erdogans-chief-adviser-1115842086.html

Various Western Countries Say Netanyahu's 'End' Near, Top Erdogan Adviser Contends

Various Western Countries Say Netanyahu's 'End' Near, Top Erdogan Adviser Contends

Several Western countries say "the end" for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is near since "the world has already seen" the Jewish state's "brutality" in actions in the Gaza Strip, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan's Chief Adviser Akif Cagatay Kilic said Wednesday.

2023-12-27T23:17+0000

2023-12-27T23:17+0000

2023-12-28T14:02+0000

palestine-israel conflict

israel-gaza conflict

israeli-palestinian conflict

recep tayyip erdogan

benjamin netanyahu

turkiye

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palestine

genocide

humanitarian crisis

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Earlier on Wednesday, Erdogan criticized Netanyahu and once again compared him with Nazi German dictator Adolf Hitler. The Israeli prime minister, for his part, stated that Erdogan, who "is committing genocide against the Kurds and who holds the world record for imprisoning journalists who oppose his regime, is the last person who can preach morality to us." Additionally, the head of the communications department in the Turkish presidential administration, Fahrettin Altun, emphasized that the Israeli prime minister is "the last person to talk about anything related to genocide." Altun also highlighted that Netanyahu is "the last person to talk about morality," adding that he "cannot lecture anyone about how to conduct counter-terrorism operations because he has no experience in this arena!" The Turkish communications chief further said that the Israeli prime minister "has been on a mission to drive Palestinians out of their lands for the last four decades" and that he has not taken it "to a new level by using the Israeli army to kill civilians in their homes, hospitals and refugee camps." Last week, Erdogan suggested that the Israeli war on Gaza would end with Netanyahu's ouster from power, adding that "his leaving office will not save him" and that Ankara will "persecute him legally," as well as all those responsible for killings in Gaza. Erdogan also expressed hope that "Israel's cabinet reshuffle will put an end to this bloodshed."The Turkish president has repeatedly criticized Netanyahu since the offset of the Palestine-Israel conflict in the region on October 7, calling him a "murderer" and "executioner" and saying that the Israeli prime minister launched a genocide in the Gaza Strip to prolong his political career and evade legal proceedings launched against him in Israel. Ankara also refuses to recognize Palestinian movement Hamas as a terrorist organization.On October 7, Hamas launched a large-scale rocket attack against Israel from the Gaza Strip while its fighters breached the border, opening fire on the military and civilians. As a result, over 1,200 people in Israel were killed and some 240 others abducted. Israel launched retaliatory strikes, ordered a complete blockade of Gaza, and launched a ground incursion into the Palestinian enclave with the declared goal of eliminating Hamas fighters and rescuing the hostages. Over 21,100 people have been killed so far in Gaza as a result of Israeli strikes, local authorities said. On November 24, Qatar mediated a deal between Israel and Hamas on a temporary truce and the exchange of some prisoners and hostages, as well as the delivery of humanitarian aid into the Gaza Strip. The ceasefire was extended several times and expired on December 1.

https://sputnikglobe.com/20231201/genocide-becomes-functional-when-israel-us-deny-palestinian-existence---academic-1115335342.html

https://sputnikglobe.com/20231121/ex-cia-analyst-us-responsible-for-gaza-genocide-by-empowering-netanyahu--1115100230.html

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https://sputnikglobe.com/20231228/2023-or-2003-us-launches-airstrikes-in-iraq-as-middle-east-tensions-escalate-1115844746.html

2023 or 2003? US Launches Airstrikes in Iraq as Middle East Tensions Escalate

2023 or 2003? US Launches Airstrikes in Iraq as Middle East Tensions Escalate

The United States continues to throw its weight around in the region, although the growing power of anti-Western forces suggests the current balance of power may not remain for long.

2023-12-28T01:27+0000

2023-12-28T01:27+0000

2023-12-28T02:10+0000

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Beirut-based journalist Esteban Carrillo joined Sputniks The Final Countdown on Wednesday to discuss whats changed in the Middle East over the last decades, and whats remained the same.In a flashback to the 2003 illegal invasion of Iraq the US announced Tuesday theyd launched airstrikes in Baghdad. The strikes were targeted against fighters affiliated with Kataib Hezbollah as the US accused the group of using the Iraqi capital as a base of aerial drone activities.Opponents of Israels Western-backed war in Gaza have been launching drone attacks on US bases in the region daily over the past months in a show of defiance.Carrillo noted that the Iranian-backed organization was instrumental in defeating ISIS in Iraq. We often hear that the US drove ISIS out of Iraq. Its not really the case. It was these groups that really led the battle, that really led the fight to liberate Iraq from the grip of ISIS.These groups are also represented in [Iraqi] parliament, which is something very important to understand, reminded Carrillo. Iraqs government has consistently opposed the continuing US military presence in the country  to no avail  as American troops have remained stationed there despite multiple resolutions from the Iraqi legislature calling for their withdrawal.Without coordinating with the government you cannot be dropping bombs inside the capital city, the journalist stressed.But Carrillo noted the act is typical of Americas treatment of countries in the region that the US has moved to dominate for decades.Meanwhile, the hosts noted reports that China is building 8,000 schools in Iraq while the United States has constructed less than 30 since its 2003 invasion, which wrought devastation of the countrys infrastructure. At the time Iraqis were already suffering from a severe US-led economic embargo of the country, which killed an estimated 500,000 children. Former US Secretary of State Madeleine Albright famously remarked that she thought the deaths were worth it in order to punish the countrys leaders for the invasion of Kuwait.The breakdown in [the international] order has been happening for a while now, remarked Carrillo, agreeing that such actions would be viewed as acts of war if undertaken by most other countries.But Carrillo noted the unprecedented nature of Hamas resistance on October 7, saying it demonstrated that the world has changed, and there wont be such an uneven playing field anymore between US allies and opposition forces.Finally hosts Angie Wong and Ted Rall discussed Israels announcement that the country would deny visas to United Nations employees in the future, accusing them of facilitating Hamas propaganda. Carrillo claimed the move would prove to be detrimental for the Palestinian people who rely on aid from the UN as Israel has enforced a blockade on the Gaza Strip for years.The journalist noted Israels poor reputation among UN member nations, which is likely to continue to worsen after accusations the country is harvesting organs from Palestinians killed in Gaza.The Final Countdown can be heard on Rumble and followed on the Sputnik website as well as various podcast platforms.

https://sputnikglobe.com/20231107/more-us-troops-suffer-brain-injuries-as-militias-ramp-up-attacks-on-bases-in-iraq-syria-1114793801.html

https://sputnikglobe.com/20231028/us-forces-have-been-attacked-20-times-in-iraq-syria-since-october-17---pentagon-1114541077.html

https://sputnikglobe.com/20231121/ex-cia-analyst-us-responsible-for-gaza-genocide-by-empowering-netanyahu--1115100230.html

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https://sputnikglobe.com/20231228/baptism-by-fire-former-ukrainian-soldiers-survive-first-fight-in-russian-army-1115849029.html

Baptism by Fire: Former Ukrainian Soldiers Survive First Fight in Russian Army

Baptism by Fire: Former Ukrainian Soldiers Survive First Fight in Russian Army

Former Ukrainian soldiers became part of Kaskad operational-combat tactical group. Before receiving Russian citizenship, they were part of Kiev regime forces, but eventually laid down weapons and expressed their desire to fight for Moscow.

2023-12-28T10:38+0000

2023-12-28T10:38+0000

2023-12-28T10:38+0000

russia's special operation in ukraine

ukrainian crisis

russian armed forces

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Former Ukrainian soldiers from the Bogdan Khmelnitsky battalion have undergone their first battle as part of the Russian Armed Forces, serviceman Kirill Spassky from the detachment told Sputnik.[We] endured the first fight with dignity  we didnt retreat or run, we stormed forward. When [we] reached positions, we entrenched there and had another round of fight. After [we] entrenched, enemy birdies [Ukrainian drones] came. I had an anti-drone gun. I downed two birdies, then they started a mortar attack  with mines, with AGS [grenade launcher]  and I had no opportunity to use my gun anymore, so being in charge, I ordered a retreat, he said.Spassky, a former Ukrainian soldier, voluntarily laid down his weapons and surrendered to the Russian Army, believing that Russians and Ukrainians are one nation. He was wounded during his first sortie against Ukrainian forces, but stayed in charge and cared about his men until they safely returned to Russian positions.Earlier Sputnik reported that former Ukrainian soldiers who wish to fight alongside Russia will be united into one battalion named after Bogdan Khmelnitsky. Khmelnitsky was a Ukrainian warlord and politician (hetman) in the 17th century who started a national uprising against occupation by the Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth and reunited with Moscow, believing Ukraine to be a part of the Russian Tsardom.The fighters from the Bogdan Khmelnitsky battalion believe that their people can prosper only as a part of Russia and say that Ukrainians virtually became hostages of Volodymyr Zelensky and his cronies.

https://sputnikglobe.com/20231226/how-new-mobilization-law-could-buy-time-for-zelensky-with-thousands-of-lives-1115824209.html

https://sputnikglobe.com/20231224/ukrainian-volunteers-went-abroad-for-humanitarian-aid-and-fled-1115777955.html

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https://sputnikglobe.com/20231228/bidens-ratings-slip-to-historic-low-those-who-touted-bidenomics-fearful-of-looking-fraudulent-1115845905.html

Biden's Ratings Slip to Historic Low: Those Who Touted Bidenomics Fearful of Looking Fraudulent

Biden's Ratings Slip to Historic Low: Those Who Touted Bidenomics Fearful of Looking Fraudulent

Bidens approval rating hit 39% for the month of December, and when compared to other former presidents, his is the lowest of the bunch.

2023-12-28T02:43+0000

2023-12-28T02:43+0000

2023-12-28T02:43+0000

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Bidens approval rating hit 39% for the month of December, and when compared to other former presidents, his is the lowest of the bunch. Former president Donald Trumps rating was 45% in December of 2019, Barack Obama's was 43% in 2011, and George W. Bush's was 58% in 2003. But despite the low approval rating, the Biden administration isnt willing to walk back on their Bidenomics policies because theyre afraid of looking fraudulent, said Peter Coffin, a journalist and author who spoke with Sputniks The Final Countdown on Wednesday.Bidens lowest job approval rating was 37% which occurred three times, and was most recently recorded in November. Meanwhile, his average approval rating has lingered around 43% for his first term.A lot of unemployment numbers are considered somewhat inaccurate, like there are various polling firms that keep a real unemployment tally which is significantly higher than whats reported, added Coffin.Theres a lot of people who would vote that are not in a great situation financially speaking, and they attribute that to the economy, said Coffin.A poll from earlier this month showed that more Americans believe their standard of living is worse than their parents was. A majority of these include millennials and Gen-Xers, who are in an age group that is typically known for their prime working years. The poll also found that 85% of Americans pay more attention to their real life experiences than they do to national data.A separate poll from November also found that 81% of registered voters in the US viewed the economy as either fair or poor.Coffin was then asked how Biden expects to survive $45 fried chicken that was reportedly found on a restaurant menu in the US.I don't see how he really can, but I also, on the other hand, am not really so sure if they're going to be so quick to kick him off, because I dont know if they look good when they change direction so quickly, said Coffin, adding that the Democrats are most likely fearful of walking back on their Bidenomics plan because they dont want to look fraudulent.The likelihood of Democrats having a plan B for Biden is slim to none. Not only is it difficult to run a political campaign against a sitting president, but Biden is still relatively popular among Democratic voters despite his single digit approval ratings among Republicans. And the deadline to enter ones name on the primary ballot has already passed for many states.

https://sputnikglobe.com/20231218/biden-frustrated-over-approval-ratings-election-polling--reports-1115661218.html

https://sputnikglobe.com/20230923/inflation-still-too-high-for-average-american-to-bear--federal-reserve-officials-1113596705.html

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https://sputnikglobe.com/20231228/china-advocates-solving-red-sea-tensions-through-dialogue---defense-ministry-1115859426.html

China Advocates Solving Red Sea Tensions Through Dialogue - Defense Ministry

China Advocates Solving Red Sea Tensions Through Dialogue - Defense Ministry

Beijing advocates solving pressing regional problems, including the current tensions in the Red Sea, through dialogue and political consultations, Chinese Defense Ministry spokesman Wu Qian said on Thursday.

2023-12-28T17:23+0000

2023-12-28T17:23+0000

2023-12-28T17:23+0000

world

red sea crisis

wu qian

matthew miller

red sea

china

beijing

houthis

chinese defense ministry

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Earlier in December, US State Department spokesman Matthew Miller said Washington would like Beijing to join the US-led multinational operation to secure the Red Sea amid a surge in Houthis' attacks on cargo ships. The Red Sea is an important channel of international trade of goods and energy commodities, the spokesman said, adding that it was in the common interests of the international community to ensure security and stability in the region. In November, Yemen's Ansar Allah rebel movement, also known as the Houthis, announced its intention to attack any ships associated with Israel, urging other countries to recall their crews from the vessels. The Houthis vowed to continue the attacks until Israel ends its military actions in the Gaza Strip. On December 19, US Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin announced the establishment of a multinational operation to secure the Red Sea, saying that the United Kingdom, Bahrain, Canada, France, Italy, the Netherlands, Norway, the Seychelles, and Spain would take part in the mission, although Madrid has not officially confirmed its participation yet. The Houthis vowed to attack any ships that join the US-led maritime coalition.

https://sputnikglobe.com/20231224/iran-denies-involvement-in-red-sea-attacks-says-houthis-have-their-own-tools-1115782168.html

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https://sputnikglobe.com/20231228/colorado-gop-appeals-to-us-supreme-court-to-overturn-trumps-ban-from-state-ballot-1115845334.html

Colorado GOP Appeals to US Supreme Court to Overturn Trump's Ban From State Ballot

Colorado GOP Appeals to US Supreme Court to Overturn Trump's Ban From State Ballot

The Colorado Republican Party filed an appeal with the US Supreme Court challenging the decision by the Colorado Supreme Court to disqualify former President Donald Trump from the state ballot in the upcoming election, a court filing revealed.

2023-12-28T01:42+0000

2023-12-28T01:42+0000

2023-12-28T01:42+0000

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"The state has interfered in the primary election by unreasonably restricting the Partys ability to select its candidates," the court document stated on Wednesday. "As a natural and inevitable result, the state has interfered with the Partys ability to place on the general election ballot the candidate of its choice. And it has done so based on a subjective claim of insurrection the state lacks any constitutional authority to make." The Colorado Supreme Court recently ruled that Trump is disqualified from the 2024 Republican primary ballot due to his role in the events on January 6 at the US Capitol, citing the 14th Amendment of the US Constitution. The amendment restricts people who are engaged in insurrection from holding public office.

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https://sputnikglobe.com/20231228/dc-think-tank-growing-philippine-china-row-is-byproduct-of-us-presence-in-asia-pacific-1115855875.html

DC Think Tank: Growing Philippine-China Row is Byproduct of US Presence in Asia-Pacific

DC Think Tank: Growing Philippine-China Row is Byproduct of US Presence in Asia-Pacific

The Beijing-Manila tensions are fanned by Washington's assertive actions in the South China Sea and may potentially lead to a regional conflict, the Quincy Institute for Responsible Statecraft warned on December 28.

2023-12-28T15:16+0000

2023-12-28T15:16+0000

2023-12-28T15:16+0000

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Sino-Filipino tensions over the South China Sea have grown, with Beijing warning the Philippines against "causing trouble and chaos".Chinas Foreign Minister Wang Yi urged Manila to act with "caution", stressing that the nations' relations "are at a crossroads" on December 20. The remarks came in response to a series of encounters in the South China Sea, including a collision of a Philippine boat and a Chinese Coast Guard ship near the hotly contested Spratly Islands earlier this month.The Philippines claimed that, "China Coast Guard and Chinese Maritime Militia vessels harassed, blocked and executed dangerous maneuvers on Philippine civilian supply vessels". Beijing shredded the allegations, accusing the Philippine vessel of "disregarding multiple stern warnings" and "deliberately colliding" with the Chinese ship.On December 25, the People's Daily, a Chinese state-run newspaper, blamed the US for the escalation of tensions, arguing that "The Philippines relies on the support of external forces, ignores Chinas goodwill and restraint, and repeatedly provokes Chinas principles and bottom line."The Quincy Institute for Responsible Statecraft - a Washington-based think tank - believes that China's stance has certain merit.The unfolding row between China and the Philippines is far from the only theater in Beijing's ongoing maritime disputes. However, it has escalated to a greater degree than many of the others, the report said, citing Sarang Shidore, director of the Global South Program at QI. As per Shidore, Manila's assertive response to China's tactics in the South China Sea, which is almost entirely claimed by Beijing, is "partly as a byproduct of American presence in the region."Indeed, the US has enhanced military cooperation with Manila after Filipino President Ferdinand Marcos took the reins of the government. Under Marcos, Manila's relations with Beijing have become strained, whereas under his predecessor Rodrigo Duterte, most Philippine-Chinese disputes were routinely solved. Marcos is also known for his pro-Western stance and announced at the beginning of 2023 that his government was considering a tripartite security pact with the US and Japan.In February, the Marcos administration granted the US military access to four additional Philippine military bases in addition to the five existing sites under the US-Philippine 2014 Enhanced Defense Cooperation Agreement.In August, reports emerged saying that the US military was in talks to develop a port in the Filipino northwestern Batanes islands which could give Washington some control over the Bashi Channel  a part of the Luzon Strait between the East China Sea and the South China Sea. The channel is considered to be a choke point for Chinese vessels moving between the Western Pacific and the South China Sea. Per Goldstein, the Luzon Strait has become an "increasingly important" part of the US preparations for a "Taiwan contingency" amid growing tensions between Beijing and Washington over the island. "The US has been trying to put in place the groundwork to prepare for a day when they have to surge forces in a major way into Luzon," the US scholar said.The DC-based think tank noted that Beijing sees Washington's grand design and continues to warn Manila about the potentially disastrous consequences of the US-Filipino cooperation on the Taiwan scenario.Per the think tank, the US should not encourage Manila to engage in a direct conflict with China not only because it is likely to end very badly for the Philippines, but is fraught with a risk for the US to be dragged into the conflict. The 1951 US-Philippines Mutual Defense Treaty requires both nations to support each other if another party attacks them.Even though the current Sino-Filipino dispute has not yet translated into a serious crisis, it has become "an increasingly dangerous proxy and potential flashpoint" for the simmering US-China tensions, the think tank's report concluded.

https://sputnikglobe.com/20231225/beijing-castigates-philippines-extremely-dangerous-south-china-sea-incursions-1115803977.html

https://sputnikglobe.com/20231125/australia-and-philippines-launch-joint-naval-patrols-in-south-china-sea-1115203497.html

https://sputnikglobe.com/20230908/why-australia-philippines-deal-is-part-of-broader-us-effort-to-encircle-china-1113214053.html

https://sputnikglobe.com/20230501/new-us-bases-in-philippines-may-set-asia-pacific-on-fire-1109989761.html

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https://sputnikglobe.com/20231228/ex-pentagon-analyst-honest-audit-of-us-ukraine-funding-only-possible-without-team-biden-1115860438.html

Ex-Pentagon Analyst: Honest Audit of US' Ukraine Funding Only Possible Without Team Biden

Ex-Pentagon Analyst: Honest Audit of US' Ukraine Funding Only Possible Without Team Biden

The US government has reportedly been able to trace just $1.5 billion of the $75.4 billion it has approved for Ukraine, as per an RT analysis of a newly declassified US State Department IG report.

2023-12-28T18:57+0000

2023-12-28T18:57+0000

2023-12-28T18:57+0000

americas

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joe biden

ukraine

us arms for ukraine

us military aid

us state department

ukrainian counteroffensive attempt

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RT has obtained and analyzed materials from a declassified report by the inspector general of the US State Department concerning the costs of military support for Ukraine.As per the report, Kiev has received at least $44 billion from the State Department since the beginning of the Russian special military operation. This was the most significant part of the total flow of American funding into Ukraine which amounted to at least $75.4 billion during 2022 and 2023. For its part, the Pentagon has provided the Ukrainian defense industry with almost $13 billion annually since 2022.However, the US State Department has so far managed to trace only $1.5 billion  i.e. less than 2% of all monies approved by American lawmakers for Ukraine  explaining that the audit of the remaining funds has been complicated by military conditions. The materials reviewed by RT also blamed the lack of transparency on endemic corruption in Ukraine's public and private sectors.Washington has routinely funded the Ukrainian military since 2014. Even though the US-funded 2021 Global Organized Crime Index called Ukraine one of the largest arms trafficking markets in Europe, military funding was considerably stepped up in 2022. Still, Ukraine corruption concerns related to an alleged waste of Western aid were openly articulated only at the end of 2023.Washington began on-site inspections in Ukraine to keep track of the arms it supplied around October 2022, following a series of reports alleging that US weapons were hard to trace in Ukraine and warning about potential arms smuggling. In 2023 several US government teams were dispatched to Ukraine to monitor ongoing US security assistance to Kiev.In October, a confidential US strategy document obtained by Politico revealed that the Biden administration was far more concerned about Ukraine's corruption than it publicly admitted. The document proposed a series of reforms to root out malfeasance in the US government and its numerous agencies, arguing that "perceptions of high-level corruption" could "undermine the Ukrainian publics and foreign leaders confidence in the war-time government." So, will the latest effort to track US aid in Ukraine work?"Audits take time, and are effective only when there is some institutional reward for cutting costs and exposing waste," the former Pentagon analyst said.

https://sputnikglobe.com/20231218/pentagon-warns-congress-us-will-run-out-of-ukraine-aid-funding-by-december-30-1115667073.html

https://sputnikglobe.com/20230927/us-ukraine-reforms-is-signal-to-president-zelensky-that-his-time-is-up-1113742101.html

https://sputnikglobe.com/20231228/zelensky-formula-for-possible-russia-ukraine-peace-nothing-but-political-fantasy---analysts-1115856323.html

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https://sputnikglobe.com/20231228/germany-france-italy-eu-cast-doubts-on-us-idea-to-confiscate-russian-assets---reports-1115848060.html

Germany, France, Italy, EU Cast Doubt on US Idea to Confiscate Russian Assets - Reports

Germany, France, Italy, EU Cast Doubt on US Idea to Confiscate Russian Assets - Reports

Germany, France, Italy and the European Union have expressed reservations regarding Washington's idea to confiscate Russian assets worth $300 billion and consider it necessary to first assess the legality of the measure, the Financial Times newspaper reported on Thursday, citing sources.

2023-12-28T06:43+0000

2023-12-28T06:43+0000

2023-12-28T07:27+0000

world

european union (eu)

france

germany

italy

russian economy under sanctions

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The United States have proposed working groups from the G7 countries to explore ways to seize $300 billion in frozen Russian assets. With the support of the UK, Japan and Canada, the US proposed to prepare options on confiscating Russian assets for a possible G7 meeting around February 24, 2024. The EU, UK and France have stressed that the money received via the confiscation would not be easily accessible and would also be insufficient to cover Ukraine's reconstruction needs. In addition, the countries noted that the confiscation of Russian assets should not occur to the detriment of providing financial support to Kiev in 2024.Russia's Stance on Asset TheftMoscow has repeatedly stressed that any attempt to confiscate Russian frozen assets would violate basic principles on international law and will trigger legal response from Russia."Those who are trying to initiate this, and those who will implement it, must understand that Russia will never leave those who did this alone. And it will constantly exercise its right to a legal battle, internationally, nationally or otherwise. And this, of course, will have  both Europeans and Americans understand this very well  it will have legal consequences for those who initiated and implemented it," Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said commenting on the issue.Last year, Russian President Vladimir Putin dubbed the Wests asset seizure an unseemly business, and stressed that stealing other peoples assets has never brought anyone good.

https://sputnikglobe.com/20231216/g7-takes-another-step-toward-global-pariah-status-with-russian-asset-theft-scheme-1115625780.html

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https://sputnikglobe.com/20231228/hamas-says-hit-over-825-units-of-israeli-equipment-since-start-of-gaza-ground-operation-1115864542.html

Hamas Says Hit Over 825 Units of Israeli Equipment Since Start of Gaza Ground Operation

Hamas Says Hit Over 825 Units of Israeli Equipment Since Start of Gaza Ground Operation

Al Qassam Brigades, the military wing of Palestinian movement Hamas, said on Thursday that its fighters had destroyed over 825 units of Israeli military equipment since the start of the latter's ground operation in the Gaza Strip.

2023-12-28T22:38+0000

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"The number of equipment units hit by our fighters since the beginning of the ground aggression exceeded 825. Those include armored personnel carriers, tanks, bulldozers, military vehicles and trucks," Al Qassam Brigades spokesman Abu Obaida stated in a video message broadcast by Al Jazeera. On October 7, Hamas launched a large-scale rocket attack against Israel from the Gaza Strip, while its fighters breached the border, opening fire on the military and civilians. As a result, over 1,200 people in Israel were killed and some 240 others abducted. Israel launched retaliatory strikes, ordered a complete blockade of Gaza and launched a ground incursion into the Palestinian enclave with the declared goal of eliminating Hamas fighters and rescuing the hostages. Over 21,300 people have been killed so far in Gaza as a result of Israeli strikes, local authorities said. On November 24, Qatar mediated a deal between Israel and Hamas on a temporary truce and the exchange of some of the prisoners and hostages, as well as the delivery of humanitarian aid into the Gaza Strip. The ceasefire was extended several times and expired on December 1.

https://sputnikglobe.com/20231115/hamas-remains-intact-despite-israeli-operation-in-gaza-1114973626.html

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https://sputnikglobe.com/20231228/houthis-insist-riyadh-must-be-party-to-yemen-settlement-strategy-1115859248.html

Houthis Insist Riyadh Must Be Party to Yemen Settlement Strategy

Houthis Insist Riyadh Must Be Party to Yemen Settlement Strategy

One of the leaders of the Ansar Allah rebel movement, also known as the Houthis, which controls the north of Yemen, told Sputnik on Thursday that the group would not sign the recently proposed plan for resolving the conflict in the country until Saudi Arabia becomes a signing party to the deal.

2023-12-28T16:56+0000

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On Monday, a diplomatic source in Yemen told Sputnik that the UN, Saudi Arabia and Oman were preparing to sign in early January a strategy developed with the participation of the conflicting parties in Yemen and designed to ensure a peace settlement in the country. The movement considers Saudi Arabia, and not the internationally recognized government of Yemen, to be the key party in the conflict after Riyadh headed the coalition against the Houthis in the Yemeni civil war in 2015, the leader added. Yemen has been engulfed in an armed conflict between the government forces and the Houthi rebels since 2014. The situation was exacerbated in March 2015, when the Saudi-led Arab alliance, working in cooperation with the internationally-recognized Yemeni government, began conducting air, land and sea operations against the Houthis. The movement retaliated by attacking Saudi forces and firing missiles into Saudi Arabia. The war has exacted a heavy civilian toll and unleashed a humanitarian disaster on impoverished Yemen.

https://sputnikglobe.com/20231226/saudi-arabia-not-interested-in-joining-us-led-red-sea-coalition-against-houthis---reports-1115812231.html

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https://sputnikglobe.com/20231228/iran-russia-to-sign-national-currency-deal-in-first-quarter-of-2024-1115863926.html

Iran, Russia to Sign National Currency Deal in First Quarter of 2024

Iran, Russia to Sign National Currency Deal in First Quarter of 2024

Iran and Russia will sign a deal to trade in their national currencies instead of the US dollar in the first quarter of 2024, Iranian Central Bank governor Mohammad Reza Farzin stated on Thursday.

2023-12-28T22:05+0000

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"Our exports to Russia are lower than imports... Our effective measures [to change the situation] include the signing of a currency agreement between Iran and Russia in the first quarter of the next year," Farzin was quoted as saying by the ISNA news agency. Earlier this week, Farzin paid a two-day visit to Moscow, where he held a meeting with Russian Central Bank Governor Elvira Nabiullina. Farzin and Nabiullina agreed to open a credit line worth 6.5 billion rubles ($73.45 million), so that Iran could import necessary Russian goods. On Wednesday, the Tasnim news agency reported, citing the Central Bank of Iran, that the country's Bank Sepah opened the first foreign letter of credit for importing Russian goods after the US Justice Department had reinstated the sanction regime against the republic.

https://sputnikglobe.com/20231207/closer-iran-russia-ties-better-for-both-amid-transition-to-new-world-order-1115451220.html

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https://sputnikglobe.com/20231228/israel-ambassador-will-not-return-to-ankara-while-erdogan-in-power---foreign-minister-1115858064.html

Israel Ambassador Will Not Return to Ankara While Erdogan in Power - Foreign Minister

Israel Ambassador Will Not Return to Ankara While Erdogan in Power - Foreign Minister

The Israeli ambassador will not return to Ankara while Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan remains in power in the country, Israeli Foreign Minister Eli Cohen said on Thursday.

2023-12-28T15:46+0000

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On Wednesday, Erdogan criticized Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, comparing him once again to Adolf Hitler. Netanyahu, in turn, said that Erdogan "staged the genocide of the Kurds and holds the record for the number of detained journalists opposing his regime, is the last one who can lecture us." The tensions between the two countries started growing exponentially once Israel launched its full-fledged ground operation in the Gaza Strip. The hostilities resulted in thousands of casualties among the civil Palestinian population. President Erdogan has repeatedly reiterated Turkiye's unwavering commitment to holding the Israeli government accountable for its hostile tactics in the area.

https://sputnikglobe.com/20231227/some-western-countries-say-netanyahus-end-is-near---erdogans-chief-adviser-1115842086.html

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New York City imposes restrictions on arrivals of migrant buses

Xinhua) 15:40, December 28, 2023

NEW YORK, Dec. 27 (Xinhua) -- New York City Wednesday issued restrictions on arrivals of buses loaded with migrants amid a new wave of arrival, according to an executive order issued by New York City Mayor Eric Adams.

Charter bus companies transporting new migrant arrivals into New York City were required to provide a 32-hour notice before arrival and information on the population aboard, said the order.

Charter bus companies also were required to drop passengers off at a designated location in Manhattan only during specified hours, it said.

New York City also sent warning letters to charter bus companies that New York City has identified as engaging in transporting newly arrived migrants from Texas to the city.

Knowingly violating the executive order constitutes a class B misdemeanor crime punishable by up to three months imprisonment and up to a 500-U.S.-dollar fine for individuals and up to 2,000 dollars for corporations, according to New York State law.

Moreover, companies knowingly violating the executive order could have their buses impounded by the New York City Police Department.

Adams announced the decision in a virtual joint news conference with Brandon Johnson, the mayor of Chicago, and Mike Johnston, the mayor of Denver, calling for additional federal support to manage the national asylum-seeker crisis.

In November, New York City began to see another surge, with 14 buses of migrants arriving in the city within a single night last week, according to a release by the New York City Mayor's Office.

"Today's executive order will help ensure the city can continue to manage this humanitarian crisis in an orderly way," said the release.

It's reported that the City of Chicago recently instituted similar regulations on bus companies.

New York City plans to pursue a 20 percent reduction in spending on the migrant crisis in the fiscal year 2024 preliminary budget, which will be released in January.

The influx of migrants will cost New York City 12 billion dollars over three years, according to a city estimate in August 2023.

(Web editor: Zhang Kaiwei, Wu Chaolan)
https://sputnikglobe.com/20231228/israel-strikes-several-positions-in-syria-syria-downs-most-of-missiles-1115862546.html

Syrian Air Defenses Repel Several Israeli Strikes Near Damascus

Syrian Air Defenses Repel Several Israeli Strikes Near Damascus

The Syrian Defense Ministry said late Thursday that Israel has struck several positions in southern Syria, but the country's air defenses intercepted most of the missiles launched.

2023-12-28T21:27+0000

2023-12-28T21:27+0000

2023-12-28T23:53+0000

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Earlier on Thursday, Syrian state news agency SANA reported that Syrian air defense systems were repelling an attack near Damascus, adding that explosions were heard near Syria's capital. The attack has resulted in material damage, the ministry added.On Friday, Israel has carried out one more attack on Damascus outskirts, according to the ministry's report.

https://sputnikglobe.com/20231217/two-syrian-soldiers-injured-in-israels-attack-on-damascus-governorate-1115650680.html

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https://sputnikglobe.com/20231228/japanese-govt-oks-relocation-of-us-base-in-okinawa-though-local-govt-opposed---reports-1115848284.html

Japanese Gov't OKs Relocation of US Base in Okinawa Though Local Gov't Opposed - Reports

Japanese Gov't OKs Relocation of US Base in Okinawa Though Local Gov't Opposed - Reports

The Japanese government has approved the start of ground works for the relocation of a US military base in Okinawa prefecture, despite opposition from local authorities, Japanese news broadcaster reported on Thursday.

2023-12-28T07:06+0000

2023-12-28T07:06+0000

2023-12-28T07:06+0000

asia

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The Japanese Ministry of Land gave the green light to landfill works in Oura Bay on Thursday morning, the broadcaster reported, adding this is the first time that Japan's central government overrules a decision by local authorities in one of the prefectures. The Japanese Defense Ministry plans to start building embankments in mid-January, unless the Supreme Court grants the Okinawa government's appeal, in which case the Tokyo-based central government will have to stop the works, broadcaster said. Okinawa Governor Denny Tamaki insists that the Tokyo-mandated relocation and construction works violate the autonomy of the regional government, the broadcaster reported. Tokyo and Washington agreed to relocate the Futenma military base from near a densely populated area in Okinawa to an offshore site within the same prefecture back in 2006. This required landfill works, which the local government has refused to allow. The cause was taken to Japan's Supreme Court, which ruled in 2018 to start the ground works for the relocation. In 2020, after soft ground was discovered on the construction site, a design change was requested. Tamaki, who took office in 2018, declined the request. In October, the Japanese Land Ministry went to the Fukuoka High Court, which gave its green light for construction works. Tamaki appealed with the Supreme Court, but the mere filing of the suit is not a legal obstacle to the start of construction works as long as the verdict is pending.

https://sputnikglobe.com/20231222/warning-for-china-us-reclaims-airfield-used-to-firebomb-and-nuke-japan-in-wwii-1115744171.html

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https://sputnikglobe.com/20231228/japans-ambassador-assures-moscow-that-patriot-missiles-will-not-be-used-in-ukraine-1115858659.html

Japan's Ambassador Assures Moscow That Patriot Missiles Will Not Be Used in Ukraine

Japan's Ambassador Assures Moscow That Patriot Missiles Will Not Be Used in Ukraine

The Patriot missiles transferred from Japan to the United States will not be used in Ukraine, Japanese Ambassador to Russia Akira Muto said on Thursday.

2023-12-28T16:31+0000

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Last week, the White House confirmed the Japanese authorities' decision to transfer Patriot missiles to the US, saying it would contribute to enhancing Japan's security and peace in the Indo-Pacific region. "Muto stated that the decision to transfer the missiles was made solely for the sake of Japan's security, peace and stability in the Indo-Pacific region, and that the use of missiles is not envisaged in Ukraine," Muto said during a meeting with Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Andrey Rudenko, as cited by the Japanese Embassy in Moscow. Japan will continue to strive to create favorable security conditions for the country, as well as dialogue and ties in relations with Russia, the embassy added.

https://sputnikglobe.com/20231209/japan-advised-to-go-nuclear-as-us-umbrella-frayed-irreparably-1115493637.html

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https://sputnikglobe.com/20231228/kim-jong-un-calls-for-stepping-up-war-preparations-over-us-confrontation-moves-1115847355.html

Kim Jong Un Calls for Stepping Up 'War Preparations' Over US 'Confrontation Moves'

Kim Jong Un Calls for Stepping Up 'War Preparations' Over US 'Confrontation Moves'

North Korean leader Kim Jong Un has instructed the country's military to accelerate "war preparations" to counter "extreme confrontation moves" of the United States and its allies in the Korean Peninsula, North Korean state news agency KCNA reported Thursday.

2023-12-28T05:03+0000

2023-12-28T05:03+0000

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Kim made his remarks during the second-day sitting of the 9th Plenary Meeting of the 8th Central Committee of the Workers' Party of Korea, which took place on Wednesday. "He set forth the militant tasks for the People's Army and the munitions industry, nuclear weapons and civil defence sectors to further accelerate the war preparations, on the basis of in-depth analysis of the grave political and military situation in the Korean peninsula which reached extreme due to the anti-DPRK [Democratic People's Republic of Korea] confrontation moves of the U.S. and its vassal forces unprecedented in history," agency said. The North Korean leader also clarified the party's independent principle to "expand and develop the relations of strategic cooperation with the anti-imperialist independent countries and dynamically wage the anti-imperialist joint action and struggle on an international scale under the rapidly changing world geo-political situation" and indicated the orientation of the country's foreign politics toward the south, the report read. The state media has earlier reported that Kim Yo Jong, a senior party official and sister of the country's leader, sharply condemned the provocations of the US and its allies in the Korean Peninsula, accusing them of threatening peace and stability in the region, and called on the United Nations Security Council and the international community to condemn these actions.

https://sputnikglobe.com/20231130/north-koreas-kim-yo-jong-blasts-us-double-standard-for-hysteria-over-spy-satellite-1115313942.html

https://sputnikglobe.com/20231122/why-did-north-korea-launch-spy-satellite-1115133185.html

https://sputnikglobe.com/20231105/north-korea-us-japan-south-korea-military-alliance-could-trigger-world-war-iii-1114742729.html

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https://sputnikglobe.com/20231228/maduro-orders-defensive-military-drills-after-uk-deploys-british-warship-off-guyana-coast-1115861608.html

Maduro Orders 'Defensive' Military Drills After UK Deploys British Warship Off Guyana Coast

Maduro Orders 'Defensive' Military Drills After UK Deploys British Warship Off Guyana Coast

CARACAS (Sputnik) - Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro ordered on Thursday the armed forces to launch "the activation of a joint defensive action" in response to the deployment of a British warship off the coast of Guyana.

2023-12-28T20:32+0000

2023-12-28T20:32+0000

2023-12-28T20:33+0000

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"I have ordered the activation of a joint defensive action of the Bolivarian National Armed Forces" off the coast of Essequibo, he said in a state televised broadcast, but did not provide more information.Earlier this month, the British media reported, citing a British defense ministry spokesman, that the United Kingdom would deploy a patrol ship off Guyana's coast as a sign of support for the state in the territorial dispute over Essequibo. The head of Venezuela's defense ministry, Vladimir Padrino Lopez, called it a provocation.Venezuelan Foreign Minister Ivan Gil had previously called on his British counterpart David Cameron not to interfere in the affairs of Latin American and Caribbean countries, and to mind his own business.Venezuela's territorial dispute with Britain and Guyana, a former British colony, has been ongoing since the 19th century. The Bolivarian government stepped up its actions after Guyanese authorities began handing over fossil-rich areas of the disputed shelf to oil companies for development.Caracas held a referendum on December 3 in which an absolute majority of participants supported the annexation of the territory west of the Essequibo River, and began legislative work to legally back its actions.Guyana's President Irfaan Ali has since said that the country views Caracas' actions as a threat to national security and intends to appeal to the UN Security Council as well as its international partners. During a recent news conference, Ali did not rule out that Guyana may go for a military base for its allies in the region, and on December 7, the US Army's Southern Command carried out "flight operations" in the country.The leaders of Venezuela and Guyana, following recent talks on the territorial dispute over Essequibo, pledged not to use force under any circumstances and to resolve it in accordance with the 1966 Geneva Agreement.

https://sputnikglobe.com/20231209/maduro-signs-decrees-to-incorporate-essequibo-into-venezuela-1115495905.html

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https://sputnikglobe.com/20231228/pentagon-seeking-high-speed-vertical-takeoff-x-plane-1115846644.html

Pentagon Seeking High-Speed Vertical Takeoff X-Plane

Pentagon Seeking High-Speed Vertical Takeoff X-Plane

DARPA is sponsoring a moonshot effort to develop next-generation technology featuring the flexibility of the troubled V-22 Osprey aircraft.

2023-12-28T04:03+0000

2023-12-28T04:03+0000

2023-12-28T04:07+0000

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The US militarys Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA) has granted four private companies funds to develop a next-generation aircraft similar to the V-22 Osprey.The Osprey has found wide usage due to its novel ability to take off and land vertically like a helicopter, allowing it to operate in areas without runways. DARPA is launching the SPRINT (Speed and Runway Independent Technologies) program to develop a comparable aircraft capable of flying at much faster speeds.The current V-22 Osprey has a max speed of 270 knots or just over 300 miles per hour. DARPA is hoping for the development of an aircraft by spring 2027 that can travel at a brisk 460 to 520 miles per hour.But DARPA retains a broad wishlist for other capabilities it wants to see in the new technology. The agency is not requiring the design to be fully practical, but is hoping to develop technology at this stage that will inform future projects.However, the aircraft will be required to be able to carry a load of 40% of the vehicles projected weight, suggesting DARPA is hoping for an aircraft that can serve the logistics functions of the Osprey.The companies Aurora Flight Sciences (a subsidiary of Boeing), Bell Textron, Northrop Grumman, and Piasecki Aircraft Corp have been awarded funds to begin developing their ideas. Some of the early concepts, such as the one from Bell Textron, appear to be physically similar to the Osprey.Others, like the one from Aurora, appear to offer a simpler design that may be intended to avoid the technological complexity of the Osprey.The V-22 Osprey is valued by the US Marine Corps for its logistics capabilities but the aircraft has suffered numerous catastrophic failures since its introduction in 2007, claiming the lives of at least 53 service members. The plane was once again grounded throughout the US armed forces earlier this month after a crash off the coast of Japan killed eight Air Force Special Operations Command members.A recent analysis from Sputnik examined the complex mechanical design of the Osprey that makes the aircraft difficult to operate and maintain.

https://sputnikglobe.com/20231207/us-navy-grounds-all-osprey-aircraft-amid-probe-of-deadly-crash-off-japan-coast-1115441994.html

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https://sputnikglobe.com/20231228/russia-evacuates-citizens-of-ukraine-kyrgyzstan-sweden-morocco-from-gaza-1115851528.html

Russia Evacuates Citizens of Ukraine, Kyrgyzstan, Sweden, Morocco From Gaza

Russia Evacuates Citizens of Ukraine, Kyrgyzstan, Sweden, Morocco From Gaza

Among those evacuated by Russia from the Gaza Strip, in addition to Russians and Palestinians, were citizens of Ukraine, Sweden, Morocco and Kyrgyzstan, Yuri Gorlach, the head of the Russian Foreign Ministry's crisis management centre, said on Thursday.

2023-12-28T10:57+0000

2023-12-28T10:57+0000

2023-12-28T10:57+0000

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Since the new outbreak of Israel-Hamas conflict in October, Russia stepped up with humanitarian aid while strongly condemning violence and urging for a two-state solution."So far, 1,125 people have left and arrived through the Rafah checkpoint on special flights of the Russian Ministry of Emergency Situations, these are Russian citizens (644 people) and 473 Palestinians  family members of Russian citizens. We also managed to evacuate citizens of Kyrgyzstan, Ukraine, Sweden, and Morocco," Gorlach told reporters.

https://sputnikglobe.com/20231222/russia-to-deliver-20-tons-of-humanitarian-aid-to-gaza-1115739163.html

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https://sputnikglobe.com/20231228/russia-sends-34000-tonnes-of-fertilizers-to-nigeria-via-europe---company-1115853253.html

Russia Sends 34,000 Tonnes of Fertilizers to Nigeria Via Europe - Company

Russia Sends 34,000 Tonnes of Fertilizers to Nigeria Via Europe - Company

Russian fertilizer producer Uralchem Group said on Thursday it had shipped over 34,000 tonnes of potash in UN-facilitated humanitarian aid to Nigeria on board a ship that departed from an EU port.

2023-12-28T11:43+0000

2023-12-28T11:43+0000

2023-12-28T11:43+0000

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nigeria

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ventspils

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"Uralchem Group announces that a humanitarian shipment of over 34,000 tonnes of potash has been fully loaded onto a vessel in the port of Ventspils, Latvia, and is now en route to Nigeria," the statement read. The shipment has been facilitated by the United Nations World Food Programme (WFP), which chartered a cargo ship to transport the fertilizers, while Uralchem Group covered the sea freight and other delivery costs, the statement read. This is the Russian company's fifth donation of fertilizers to Africa, totaling 130,000 tonnes since 2022. Uralchem has committed to donating 300,000 tonnes of fertilizers to developing countries in an attempt to "alleviate the unprecedented global food crisis and prevent crop losses."

https://sputnikglobe.com/20231203/whats-behind-russias-drive-to-provide-africa-with-grain-1115358187.html

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https://sputnikglobe.com/20231228/russia-to-test-new-remote-controlled-ifv-in-special-operation-zone---rostec-head-1115851372.html

Russia to Test New Remote-Controlled IFV in Special Operation Zone - Rostec Head

Russia to Test New Remote-Controlled IFV in Special Operation Zone - Rostec Head

Russia's newest remote-controlled infantry fighting vehicle (IFV) will be tested in combat conditions in the zone of the special military operation, the head of Russian state-owned defense corporation Rostec, Sergey Chemezov, told Sputnik on Wednesday.

2023-12-28T10:25+0000

2023-12-28T10:25+0000

2023-12-28T10:28+0000

military

sergey chemezov

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"The vehicle is now undergoing tests, and after their completion, I think it will be tested in the special operation zone," Chemezov said in an interview. He added that remote control was a very promising technology that would allow IFVs to be used in the most dangerous areas without the risk of hitting the crew. "Moreover, we plan to use the remote control kit not only on the BMP-3 [IFV]. In the near future, for example, the 2S25M self-propelled anti-tank gun may be equipped with such a kit," Chemezov added. The All-Russian Scientific-Research Institute Signal, a member of Rostec's High-Precision Complexes Holding, has developed a robotic version of the BMP-3 with the Sinitsa combat module, which can operate without a crew. The vehicle can be remotely controlled by an operator from a mobile control center mounted on a vehicle base, but an electronic tablet is also sufficient for the new IFV. The Prometheus robotization complex developed by Rostec allows to transform any armored vehicle into a robotic complex. The robotization is carried out by installing electric actuators on the controls used by humans. As a result, armored vehicles can be used in both manned and unmanned versions.

https://sputnikglobe.com/20230901/examination-shows-russian-bmp-3-level-above-us-trophy-bradley-ifv-1113036475.html

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https://sputnikglobe.com/20231228/scott-ritter-maryinkas-liberation-major-victory-for-russia-1115848872.html

Scott Ritter: Maryinkas Liberation Major Victory for Russia

Scott Ritter: Maryinkas Liberation Major Victory for Russia

The Russian forces freeing Maryinka adds significantly to their drive to push on, by Scott Ritter, former US Marine Corps intelligence officer and UN weapons inspector, told Sputnik.

2023-12-28T10:54+0000

2023-12-28T10:54+0000

2023-12-29T14:56+0000

russia's special operation in ukraine

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Russias Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu announced that the Russian Armed Forces had liberated the town of Maryinka on Monday. Maryinka is a heavily fortified settlement situated on the outskirts of the city of Donetsk."In the course of offensive operations, assault detachments from the Southern Group of Forces completely liberated Maryinka southwest of Donetsk," Shoigu told Russian President Vladimir Putin during Mondays briefing.Speaking to Sputnik, Scott Ritter, a former US Marine Corps intelligence officer and UN weapons inspector recalled that from Maryinka, a town of around 9,000 people, Ukrainian forces carried out "merciless shelling of the civilian population of Donetsk and the surrounding area."He dubbed Maryinkas liberation "part of the concerted effort being undertaken by the Russian military to create a situation for the civilians of Donetsk, where they can live in peace without the fear of daily bombardment that has killed so many innocent civilians, including children."He recounted that the Russian defense industry "is in full gear" producing new military equipment in significant quantities for the Russian forces that are deployed in the Donbass and the new Russian territories of Kherson and Zaporozhye. "Right now, it looks like Russia will sustain and maintain the strategic advantage," per Ritter.The ex-US Marine Corps intelligence officer underlined that it remains to be seen whether Maryinka represents "the beginning of a new phase of aggressive offensive operations or whether Russia will continue to pick away at these heavily fortified Ukrainian defenses before going on the full-blown offensive."Morally, it stops the source of the daily shelling of the innocent civilians of Donetsk. And two, it represents yet another victory of the Russian Armed Forces over not just the forces of Ukraine, but the collective West and NATO, Ritter concluded.

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https://sputnikglobe.com/20231228/ukraine-loses-up-to-230-soldiers-in-donetsk-direction-in-past-day---mod-1115853423.html

Ukraine Loses Up to 230 Soldiers in Donetsk Direction in Past Day - MoD

Ukraine Loses Up to 230 Soldiers in Donetsk Direction in Past Day - MoD

Ukraine has lost up to 230 soldiers both killed and wounded in the Donetsk direction over the past 24 hours, the Russian Ministry of Defense (MoD) said on Thursday.

2023-12-28T12:04+0000

2023-12-28T12:04+0000

2023-12-28T12:04+0000

russia's special operation in ukraine

ukraine

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Over the given period, the Russian armed forces repelled six attacks by Ukrainian troops in the Kupyansk direction and three attacks in the Krasny Liman direction, the ministry said. Kiev has also lost up to 210 soldiers in the Krasny Liman direction and up to 115 soldiers in the South Donetsk direction, the statement read.

https://sputnikglobe.com/20231228/scott-ritter-maryinkas-liberation-major-victory-for-russia-1115848872.html

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https://sputnikglobe.com/20231228/un-urges-israel-to-end-unlawful-killings-in-west-bank-as-conditions-rapidly-deteriorate-1115862795.html

UN Urges Israel to 'End Unlawful Killings' in West Bank as Conditions 'Rapidly' Deteriorate

UN Urges Israel to 'End Unlawful Killings' in West Bank as Conditions 'Rapidly' Deteriorate

The United Nations released a report Thursday urging Israel to end unlawful killings in the West Bank, citing a rapidly deteriorating human rights situation.

2023-12-28T21:45+0000

2023-12-28T21:45+0000

2023-12-28T21:41+0000

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The United Nations released a report Thursday urging Israel to end unlawful killings in the West Bank, citing a rapidly deteriorating human rights situation.The report from the Office of the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) cited the use of heavy handed tactics by security officials leading to arbitrary detention and ill-treatment of Palestinians as well as discriminatory movement restrictions.The UN Human Rights Office has verified the deaths of 300 Palestinians from 7 October to 27 December 2023  including 79 children  in the occupied West Bank, including East Jerusalem, read a news release accompanying the report. Of those deaths, 201 involved no exchange of fire from the victim while 105 were caused by airstrikes and similar use of military force.The use of military tactics means and weapons in law enforcement contexts, the use of unnecessary or disproportionate force, and the enforcement of broad, arbitrary and discriminatory movement restrictions that affect Palestinians are extremely troubling, read a statement from UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Volker Turk.I call on Israel to take immediate, clear and effective steps to put an end to settler violence against the Palestinian population, to investigate all incidents of violence by settlers and Israeli Security Forces, to ensure effective protection of Palestinian communities against any form of forcible transfer, and to ensure the ability of herding communities displaced due to repeated attacks by armed settlers to return to their lands.The report documented the injury of 3,000 Palestinians by Israeli security forces, including at least 355 children. Israeli security often prevented the medical treatment of injuries by targeting Palestinian ambulances and paramedics or delaying their response.Additionally, Israeli military incursions were blamed for extensive damage to civilian objects and infrastructure in densely-populated areas, something also observed in Israels more highly-publicized operation in Gaza where at least 21,320 people have been killed, according to the latest figures from local officials.At least 4,700 Palestinians have reportedly been arrested in the West Bank, including some 40 journalists.The release documents the humiliation and brutal treatment of detainees: The report refers to the Palestinian territory west of the Jordan River, including East Jerusalem, which has been illegally occupied under international law by the Israeli military since 1967. Turk accused Israel of taking advantage of the situation since October 7 to accelerate the occupation of the West Bank, with both settlers and Israeli security forces engaging in violence against Palestinians.The rhetoric of Israeli officials has explicitly sanctioned the killing and displacement of Palestinians. We are now rolling out the Gaza Nakba, said Israeli security cabinet member Avi Dichter last month, referring to the Arabic word for catastrophe used to describe the forced displacement of Palestinians upon Israels founding in 1948. The Nakba led to the ethnic cleansing of some 500 Palestinian towns and villages and the killing of thousands.Israel has acted with apparent disregard for civilian life during its operation in Gaza, where some two-thirds of the dead are reportedly women and children. A child is killed every 10 minutes. Pregnant women are undergoing C-sections with no anesthetics, reported the organization CARE International recently, citing a collapse of the water, sanitation, hygiene, and health infrastructure as fuel storages run out and major hospitals shut down.Recently, Israeli Foreign Minister Eli Cohen announced the country would deny visas to UN staff members to protest the organization's criticism of Israels conduct.

https://sputnikglobe.com/20231215/hersh-hamas-troops-surrendering-in-gaza-west-bank-crisis-is-next-tinderbox-1115609130.html

https://sputnikglobe.com/20231213/us-reportedly-delaying-sale-of-m16-rifles-to-israel-over-west-bank-settler-violence-1115563559.html

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https://sputnikglobe.com/20231228/us-deploying-national-guard-troops-to-kosovo-for-nato-peacekeeping-mission-1115861005.html

US Deploying National Guard Troops to Kosovo for NATO Peacekeeping Mission

US Deploying National Guard Troops to Kosovo for NATO Peacekeeping Mission

The United States is deploying a few dozen members of the Iowa National Guard to Kosovo in the coming days to take part in a NATO peacekeeping mission, Iowa National Guard spokesperson Jackie Schmillen told Sputnik on Thursday.

2023-12-28T18:46+0000

2023-12-28T18:46+0000

2023-12-28T18:46+0000

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The situation in Kosovo escalated again in late September when a shooting occurred between armed local Serbs and the so-called Kosovo police at a monastery near the village of Banjska, some 30 miles from Pristina, leaving four people dead and several others injured. The Iowa National Guard will deploy two groups of troops to Kosovo over the coming days. On Friday, 33 Iowa National Guard soldiers will leave for Texas to complete their pre-mobilization training before heading to Kosovo, Schmillen said. Once in Kosovo, they will be on a 9-month tour where they will be conducting live aerial medevac operations, refueling and maintenance support to US, Coalition, and Kosovo Security forces, she added. Another 20 soldiers will deploy to Kosovo on January 7 to provide law enforcement support at a NATO installation where US troops will be located, according to Schmillen. In 2008, the Albanians in Serbia's province of Kosovo and Metohija proclaimed independence, with the backing of the United States and several European countries. Serbia has not recognized Kosovo's self-proclaimed independence. A remainder of the large Serb community is still residing in Kosovo's north, often bearing the brunt of diplomatic tensions between Belgrade and Pristina and protesting discriminatory policies by the ruling Albanians. In late May, clashes erupted after Kosovo forcibly installed new ethnic Albanian mayors in offices in several northern cities following municipal elections in April. The polls were boycotted by the Serb community but declared valid despite a less than 3.5% voter turnout. More than 50 Serbian protesters and at least 30 NATO peacekeeping troops were injured in the clashes.

https://sputnikglobe.com/20230930/blinken-vucic-discuss-needed-measures-to-de-escalate-tensions-with-kosovo-1113813983.html

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https://sputnikglobe.com/20231228/west-now-seeks-to-force-negotiated-end-of-ukrainian-conflict-1115858882.html

West Seeking to Force Negotiated End to Ukrainian Conflict

West Seeking to Force Negotiated End to Ukrainian Conflict

The United States and the European Union are looking to shore up Ukraines position in potential future negotiations with Russia to end the war, Politico reported on Wednesday, citing a White House official and a Washington-based EU diplomat.

2023-12-28T08:11+0000

2023-12-28T08:11+0000

2023-12-28T16:56+0000

world

ukraine

us

joe biden

european union (eu)

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The shift would focus away from the unrealistic goal of Ukraine achieving a military victory over Russia, the report said. With Ukraines counteroffensive effectively stalled and the unclear future of continued US military funding, US and European officials are quietly considering the redeployment of Ukrainian forces to the east to bolster their defensive position against Russian forces there instead, the report said. A senior US official also reportedly confirmed the unofficial change in policy. The new policy also involves helping Ukraine bolster its defenses along its northern border with Belarus and rebuilding its own defense industry to supply itself with weapons, the report said. The shift does not mean Ukraine will not launch new offensives but implies that future negotiations would likely involve relinquishing some Ukrainian territory to Russia, away from Ukraines stated goal of recovering all of its land. A congressional official said the Biden administration could not publicly admit to a shift away from the stated unconditional support for Ukraine to preparing for peace talks with Russia at a time when President Joe Biden faces a tough re-election campaign in 2024. The European diplomat said the European Unions threats to expedite Ukraine's membership in NATO were also part of the strategic shift to put Ukraine in the best possible position to negotiate with Russia.

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Its a busy time of year for everyone, including thrift shops like Goodwill in Statesville.

As many people look to make room in their homes after new toys, clothing, books and other gifts from the Christmas holiday arrive, it means thrifty shoppers can find hidden gems.

If youre a big Christmas decorator, this is the time of year to pounce on those things, said Sara E. Butner, communications manager with Goodwill Industries of Northwest North Carolina.

For those donating, there are a few guidelines that can make sure their donations go further and do more good for the community, according to Butner.

Whether separating fragile items from other donated items and packing them safely or removing a lightbulb from a lamp before it is dropped off, Butner said it doesnt take much to make sure Goodwill can make the most of peoples donations.

Our team members do a fantastic job of sorting through donated items and quickly getting them out on the floor. But it makes it go faster when people make sure they follow donation guidelines, Butner said.

Ultimately, deals for shoppers arent just good for them, but good for the community. The money spent at Goodwill goes toward job training and other services the company offers. Goodwill Industries of Northwest North Carolina serves 31 counties, including Iredell, and 26,404 people benefitted from Goodwills services last year, according to Butner.

The sale of items fund our missions, so we are incredibly grateful when people donate items they no longer need. It allows us to provide the training and services to the people we serve.

Dos and donts of donations

Donors can help ensure the safety of Goodwill employees and shoppers by being aware of items that present a risk:

Batteries, lightbulbs and other left-behind components. Its easy to accidentally forget a lightbulb left in a donated lamp, or batteries left inside toys or small appliances. But lightbulbs can break easily, and batteries contain toxic chemicals that can leak.

Aerosol cans. Goodwill cannot sell items that come in aerosol cans, like cosmetics, paint, pesticides or cleaning supplies. Punctured or damaged aerosol cans can explode or even ignite.

Hazardous liquids and materials. In addition to the danger of direct exposure, materials like paint, kerosene, propane and other chemicals require specialized disposal. Goodwill is not licensed to sell or dispose of hazardous materials.

Recalled consumer products. Items like car seats, baby cribs, playpens, and even exercise equipment are often recalled by the Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC). Goodwill cannot sell recalled items because of the potential danger they pose to shoppers.

Items with legally restricted disposal. Some items have strict regulations for their sale or disposal, such as building materials, auto parts, kerosene heaters and CRT televisions. Additionally, large and heavy CRT televisions and monitors pose risks to employees when they are moved or transported.

In addition to items in these categories, damage due to leaking cans or broken glass renders items unsaleable. If an item is not in saleable condition, the costs of handling or disposal pulls funds that would otherwise support Goodwills workforce development programs.

Goodwill advises donors to carefully check items before bringing them to an organization that accepts used items.

Double-check that youve removed batteries or lightbulbs and that boxes dont contain any spray bottles or cans. Wrap breakable items like glassware in newspaper or padding. And dont forget to check inside of pockets, purses, and bags to make sure that there are no personal items inside.

Donors can find a full list of the items that Goodwill is not able to accept on its website: www.goodwillnwnc.org/donation-of-good.
Outlook/Hotmail is no longer blocking my mail server

2023-12-23

1.9 min(0.8k words)

After some struggle, I managed to de-list the address of my mail server from Microsofts blocklist. Here is some experiences may help you.

I am running my mail server on one Oracle Cloud Computer, which has no cost. You can read my another blog post to dig the setting up details. After all work has been done, I can deploy mail to all major Mail Service Providers like Gmail, Yahoo Mail, QQ Mail, and so on. My employer uses the enterprise edition service of Office365. And I send testing mail to it, no problem has been found. Since I do not own a personal account of Outlook or Hotmail, I do not test mail to the domain of outlook.com/hotmail.com, assuming there is no problem.

One day some reader of my blog leave a message to me and He uses a mail address with the domain of live.com, which is part of Outlook/Hotmail. When I try to reply his message in my mail client, it received the following error message:

Delivery to xxx@outlook.com failed with error: outlook-com.olc.protection.outlook.com. said: Unfortunately, messages from [xx.xx.xx.xx] weren't sent. Please contact your Internet service provider since part of their network is on our block list (S3150). You can also refer your provider to http://mail.live.com/mail/troubleshooting.aspx#errors. [BN7NAM10FT025.eop-nam10.prod.protection.outlook.com 2023-12-15T15:17:55.319Z 08DBF7ED000951E3] Diagnostic-Code: smtp; 550 5.0.0 outlook-com.olc.protection.outlook.com.

I opened the link it offered. In the section Sender services, tools, and issue submission, they offers a link to create support list. You need an account of Microsoft to submit request, and I registered one with my own email address and some fake contact information, because I do not want to lave too many of my personal data to Microsoft. It take several days that Microsoft replied my request with Email. However, the reply is very frustrating, because it said that they do not block mail from my IP address.

Hi , Thanks for your patience while we investigated your request. Below your IP address(es) and their status(es) are listed. XX.XX.XX.XX; Nothing was detected to prevent your mail from reaching Outlook.com customers. Please follow the instructions below. Still need help? If you have additional questions or still experiencing deliverability issues or want further investigation, please reply to this email with the following information and an advocate will respond to you by via email. Relevant IP addresses(es) Detailed description of the problem you are having specific error message(s)

According some article from the Internet, I replied the mail immediately with the following content:

Hello, Thanks for replying. You say my IP address XX.XX.XX.XX was not prevent from reaching outlook.com. However, I still can not send email from XX.XX.XX.XX to outlook.com customers. Here is the error message: [...] XX.XX.XX.XX is my own personal email server, with controlled user creation access. This is a newly acquired IP address. Security This server is used solely for the purpose of mailserver, with ssh access only granted to an administrator. Settings The server is also configured with all the necessary records to ensure only authenticated users connected to our secured smtp can send mails from our domains.

Microsoft never reply my mail. Three days later, I resend another mail trying to persuade them to unblock my server. In the mail, I explained this is an indie mail server and for personal usage only. I also try to let them understand that I am not an spam sender by offering relative content of my blog. Maybe the fake contact information of my Microsoft Account make them worry that I am not a good guy. Here is the full content.

Sorry for replying again. I still can't delivery email to outlook/hotmail now. This server is my personal mail server for my own usage. I have setup only one month ago. I am also writing on my blog, and the readers may contact me by this mail server. My blog URL is https://taoshu.in/ and the setting process was recorded at https://taoshu.in/net/selfhost-email.html Some readers contacted me by hotmail/outlook, and I can't reply to them. That's when I discovered I hotmail/outlook has blocked my server. The IP XX.XX.XX.XX I am using is from Oracle Cloud, and it is not in any public blacklist according to mxtoolbox https://mxtoolbox.com/SuperTool.aspx?action=blacklist%3amx1.lehu.in&run=toolpage I have not, and will not to try to delivery bulk mail or spam mail to outlook/hotmail or any mail service provider. Please consider to unblock my IP. Thanks.

Still get no response. So I tried to contract to Oracle Cloud and wished they could offically communicate with Microsoft and make their IP address range unblocked. Unfortunately, they did not offer any help.

Thank you for your response. Unfortunately, we do not have any power or say when it comes to blacklists from third-parties. You would need to continue to work with Microsoft in order to resolve this issue.

I have no choice but wait the response from Microsoft.

Five days passed, there still no reply. But today I login the server and try to connect the MX server for Outlook/Hotmail by telnet. After I sent the command of mail from , the other side responded 250 2.1.0 Sender OK . I known Microsoft has finally unblocked my mail server. Cheering up

If you also encounter this kind of problem, do not be afraid. You are not alone. So many people have replied this thread , complaining Outlook/Hotmail block their mail server unreasonably. It is a problem for self-mail-hosting, however, it can be addressed. So dont be intimidated by this difficulties.

According to my experiences, although Microsoft may block some IP range, it does not intend to do so. This blocking policy is only one stress measure for the increasingly rampant Spam problem. They are just not very friendly, but never hostile to self-mail-hosting. If you encounter this kind of issue, using a normal Microsoft Account with real contact information and submit request with detailed information may address you problem.

So many words have been said that you should never run your own mail server. I beg to differ on this point. Because Email is the only successful federate system that is always defending the foundation of the freedom of the Internet. Every one should have the freedom to run their own mail server and communicate with each other freely. So we should defend the right for self-mail-hosting.
Cowlitz County Health Officer Alan Melnick and Deputy Health Officer Steve Krager elected to resign effective Sunday after the Cowlitz County Board of Health voted not to renew the county's contract with Clark County Public Health.

If a new health officer is not appointed before Jan. 1, Cowlitz County Health and Human Services may be unable to provide services such as birth and death certificates, Cowlitz County Health Communications Manager Kristin Young said. Customers can order them through the Washington State Department of Health instead, but should plan ahead because receiving the order will take between one and three weeks.

The decision to not renew the health officers' contract was made at the county board of health's last regular meeting for the year, and the board has not announced any additional meetings to discuss the issue before January.

Melnick said he and Krager resigned to ensure that Cowlitz County could not continue to use their signatures on documents like birth and death certificates while the county searches for new health officers because he was concerned about potential legal liability.

"I can't be responsible for communicable disease control as a physician, having people work under my standing orders, when I'm not the health officer," Melnick said.

Melnick and Krager, who work for Clark County Public Health, also serve as health officers for Cowlitz, Pacific, Skamania and Wahkiakum Counties.

Cowlitz County's contract for health officer services expires at the end of the year, and the Cowlitz County Board of Health put out a request for bids instead of renewing the contract. Clark County Public Health submitted the only application, but the Cowlitz County Board of Health voted at their Nov. 21 meeting to instead explore alternative options.

"I thought our health officer hasn't been as helpful as we hoped for," Cowlitz County Commissioner and Board of Health member Arne Mortensen said at the meeting. "I think that group has failed us ... and I will not sign anything that resembles a continuation of that."

Mortensen said he was unwilling to continue the existing contract because he believed Krager, the primary contact for Cowlitz County, demonstrated bias and did not provide balanced enough information in his response to the COVID-19 pandemic. However, Mortensen said he would be willing to consider hiring Krager directly instead of through Clark County.

Boards of health are required by state law to appoint county health officers. If a board is unable to do so, one will be appointed by the state until the board can fill the position, but the law does not specify a timeframe for this.

County health officers are responsible for enforcing state health statutes and preventing the spread of contagious diseases. During situations like the pandemic, they have the authority to implement emergency measures as necessary with the help of local healthcare and law enforcement agencies. They also sign birth and death certificates, food handler's certificates and standing physician's orders regarding how health providers should respond to cases of specific diseases or environmental contaminants like lead.
TUMWATER Washington State Health Care Authority officials says Indigenous people face above-average rates of opioid and fentanyl-related overdose deaths, so health leaders are working to combat that.

American and Alaska Native people are getting hit harder than just about any community thats out there, said Aren Sparck, a Chevak Native Village Qissunamiut tribal member with the Washington State Health Care Authority.

As substance abuse rates rise in and around reservations, Sparck said, so have efforts to build tribal-led infrastructure for members and the general public.

Thats what a lot of our tribal leaders in the state of Washington are doing, Sparck said. Showing that we can lead the way.

On Dec. 14, visitors from as far as Idaho joined members of the Chehalis Tribe and public officials for a tour of Hope and Healing Clinic, a new opioid treatment program location equipped with a mobile care unit, at 9474 Lathrop Industrial Dr. SW in Tumwater.

Earlier this year, Chairman Dustin Klatush of the Confederated Tribes of the Chehalis Reservation met with Gov. Jay Inslee and tribal leaders from across the state to discuss the opioid crisis in and around reservations in Washington.

Were hoping, with the opioid pandemic right now that were in, this is going to be a big, big start to helping out, Klatush said. (Inslee) doesnt think theres a pandemic, but we tribal people know that there is a pandemic out there.

The clinic, which will be open to both members and non-members of the Chehalis Tribe, aims to help people suffering from opioid addiction through medicated treatment  which includes the use of Methadone, Suboxone and Vivitrol  and the latest electronic medical record technology to track patients on their road to recovery. Outreach coordinators will also help clients connect with local resources including food and housing while in the program.

Tour leaders last week said the entire clinic is meant to provide comfort for staff and patients alike.

Were so excited and were so invested in being here to see this in fruition, Sparck said. Right now, we (in Washington) still dont have enough providers. We still dont have enough places. So when I see something like this, its the hope.

Organizers are aiming to provide care on and off the Chehalis Reservation, breaking down barriers for people with disabilities or other difficulties traveling with the new mobile unit.

Im happy that Chairman Klatush is out there doing this because hes not just thinking about his own people, but everybody in the communities around them, Sparck said. Weve been doing this since time immemorial. Now its time to partner with the rest of our communities. I think what were doing is also healing our communities at the same time.

Accessible non-emergency medical transport vehicles in addition to the new mobile treatment center will allow care to reach those who are unable to travel to Tumwater on their own. The mobile units are fully self-sustaining and connected to the clinic. The RV, converted by Mission Mobile Medical, is equipped with a telehealth room thats HIPAA compliant, a dispensary which meets all the DEA requirements for safety and storage of medications, and a private bathroom for urine analysis.

On Dec. 14, crews were working to update security for the housing and transportation of medication while awaiting certification from the DEA, which could come as early as January.

We care about our communities on the outside of the reservation: Lewis County, Thurston County and Grays Harbor, and our plan is to help everybody out, Klatush said. Ive been talking with Commissioner Swope and weve been chatting about that quite a bit, about stationing one of our mobile units down there in Lewis County to help our people out there, because theyre so close to the reservation. Lewis County is a big part of our community.

Josette Ross, director of client success with Indigenous PACT: Tribal Healthcare Consulting, said that because of a longstanding stigma around substance abuse disorders. Its hard enough to ask for help. We dont want to give any other reason that folks dont want to come ask for help. If we identify a barrier, were going to try and solve that.

Staff training at the facility began last week as professionals toured the building and mobile medical unit while receiving education and guidance on how to operate the new technology including the electronic medical records system.

I would say that it is definitely using technology to its fullest, said Lewis County Commissioner Sean Swope. Theyre coming to the room and youre getting expedited care versus going to a doctors clinic, sitting in a room for 15 minutes, staring at the wall. Youre going to get immediate care when people are coming in, which I think is fantastic.

The Hope and Health Clinic lobby features no front desk, which is part of their philosophy, having no barriers between staff and patients in recovery, Ross said. Instead of repurposing an already existing space, this building was built from the ground up, by the Chehalis Tribe, with those intentions in mind.

We want people to come into this space and feel welcome, Ross said. Feel like they are seen, that they are important, and that we are going to help them get better.
After several months of debate, the Cowlitz County Board of Health has passed a medical freedom resolution, partly to prevent the government from imposing one-sided health mandates. The majority of the board says COVID-19 mandates harmed the public and COVID vaccines do not work, despite state and national health organizations studies stating otherwise.

The resolution passed 4-3 last month, with board members Mary Jane Melink, Alyssa Fine and Dennis Weber opposed. The measure was written by board chairman Kelly Lane, but has changed since it was first proposed in September.

The passed resolution states:

the county shall not force individuals to accept medical intervention or to put something onto or into (their) body without informed consent,

public health emergencies will not be unilaterally imposed, and

citizens have the right to make personal decisions about vaccines and masks.

The resolution would not have any legal impact on the county, but is intended as a statement affirming residents freedom of choice, Lane said. It does not prevent individuals from choosing to follow expert advice, and private businesses can continue to require patrons to wear masks or follow other safety guidelines.

Fine, Cowlitz Indian Tribe Wellness and Diabetes Program coordinator, said at the Nov. 21 meeting the government already makes other health and safety requirements today.

The whole idea and concept of protecting the health of our community is that sometimes our personal freedoms get limited to protect those around us, she said. That happens in mandating washing hands by restaurant employees. It happens by mandating seat belts being worn.

Melink, the director of Longview-based The Health Care Foundation, said she did not feel comfortable supporting a resolution that included inaccurate information such as the section on COVID-19-related death rates.

The resolution states public health mandates related to COVID-19 caused more harm than they prevented, and death counts in the U.S. remained steady before, during, and after all phases of the pandemic.

However, a county health report shows an 18% increase in Cowlitz Countys overall death rate in 2021, and the Center for Disease Control reports a 16.8% increase nationwide in 2020, which it calls the largest single-year increase since annual mortality data for the country became available.

Peggy Malone, president of the Community Health Partners Board of Directors, read on Nov. 21 a statement from the board opposing the mandate and saying the board of health was neglecting its duty of care to its constituents by not considering vulnerable members of society.

One repeatedly presented argument in favor of the resolution was that the vaccine is ineffective at preventing COVID-19 transmission and may even lead to more serious cases.

A report by the Washington State Department of Health based on data from November found that unvaccinated individuals are between 1.6 and 7.2 times more likely to be hospitalized and between 1.8 and 3.9 times more likely to die from COVID-19 than people who have received at least one booster dose of the vaccine.

Trish Huddleston  a Woodland School Board member who wrote a similar resolution for her district which has not yet come to a vote  praised the passing of the county measure in a letter to The Daily News. Huddleston also said the vaccine is ineffective and that officials like politicians and CDC employees forced people to be vaccinated, while the officials could choose.

We should all be grateful that our Board of Health members still believe in personal autonomy and passed the Medical Freedom Resolution, she wrote. While some choose to ignore how the government destroyed our kids childhoods and education, crushed our economy, and divided communities, I will never.
Just days after the US ban on the Apple Watch Series 9 and Apple Watch Ultra 2 came into effect after a ruling by the International Trade Commission (ITC), the Apple Watch sale has begun again in the country. Even though US President Joe Biden declined to veto the ITC ban, the US Court of Appeals has temporarily paused it. Thus, the Apple Watch Ultra 2 and Watch Series 9 sale has begun again in the US, and the devices are returning to store shelves.

Apple Watch Ultra 2 ban paused

According to a report by MacRumors, it is likely that Apple will be able to sell both smartwatches throughout January. The US Appeals Court is determining whether to impose a longer ban on the sale of Apple Watch Ultra 2 and Watch Series 9 and thus, has put an interim stay. As per the report, the ITC has until January 10 to file a response against Apple's plea for a full stay against the ban. The court will also accept letters in favour of or against the ban until January 15.

Thus, until the matter concludes, Apple can kick off the sales of the Apple Watch Ultra 2 and Series 9 in the US again. It is also likely that third-party resellers will stock up on the devices. In case the ban comes into effect again, Apple will have to stop selling the Apple Watches. However, it does not extend to retailers such as Target, Walmart, and Best Buy, which will still be able to clear out their stock.

Apple Watch ban: What happened?

According to the lawsuit, Apple violated Masimo's patents for a light-based technology for measuring blood oxygen levels. In January, a US judge ruled that Apple indeed had infringed one of Masimo's patents. At that time, the decision was with US' ITC whether to ban the import of these smartwatches, and indeed it has taken the step, sending shockwaves around the tech industry.

On the other hand, Apple has also sued Masimo in Delaware's federal court, claiming that Masimo's actions are a way to maneuver to clear a path for its smartwatch in a segment that is highly competitive.

The original complaint made by Masimo in 2021 claimed that the Apple Watch Series 6 infringed its patents which was originally made in China, but the production shifted to Vietnam later on.
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:

NTU Ph.D. student Mr. Liu Yi, who co-authored the paper, shows a database of successful jailbreaking prompts which managed to compromise AI chatbots, causing them to produce information that their developers deliberately restricted from revealing. Credit: Nanyang Technological University

Computer scientists from Nanyang Technological University, Singapore (NTU Singapore) have managed to compromise multiple artificial intelligence (AI) chatbots, including ChatGPT, Google Bard and Microsoft Bing Chat, to produce content that breaches their developers' guidelinesan outcome known as "jailbreaking."

"Jailbreaking" is a term in computer security where computer hackers find and exploit flaws in a system's software to make it do something its developers deliberately restricted it from doing.

Furthermore, by training a large language model (LLM) on a database of prompts that had already been shown to hack these chatbots successfully, the researchers created an LLM chatbot capable of automatically generating further prompts to jailbreak other chatbots.

LLMs form the brains of AI chatbots, enabling them to process human inputs and generate text that is almost indistinguishable from that which a human can create. This includes completing tasks such as planning a trip itinerary, telling a bedtime story, and developing computer code.

The NTU researchers' work now adds "jailbreaking" to the list. Their findings may be critical in helping companies and businesses to be aware of the weaknesses and limitations of their LLM chatbots so that they can take steps to strengthen them against hackers.

After running a series of proof-of-concept tests on LLMs to prove that their technique indeed presents a clear and present threat to them, the researchers immediately reported the issues to the relevant service providers, upon initiating successful jailbreak attacks.

A jailbreak attack example. Credit: arXiv (2023). DOI: 10.48550/arxiv.2307.08715

Professor Liu Yang from NTU's School of Computer Science and Engineering, who led the study, said, "Large Language Models (LLMs) have proliferated rapidly due to their exceptional ability to understand, generate, and complete human-like text, with LLM chatbots being highly popular applications for everyday use."

"The developers of such AI services have guardrails in place to prevent AI from generating violent, unethical, or criminal content. But AI can be outwitted, and now we have used AI against its own kind to 'jailbreak' LLMs into producing such content."

NTU Ph.D. student Mr. Liu Yi, who co-authored the paper, said, "The paper presents a novel approach for automatically generating jailbreak prompts against fortified LLM chatbots. Training an LLM with jailbreak prompts makes it possible to automate the generation of these prompts, achieving a much higher success rate than existing methods. In effect, we are attacking chatbots by using them against themselves."

The researchers' paper describes a two-fold method for "jailbreaking" LLMs, which they named "Masterkey."

First, they reverse-engineered how LLMs detect and defend themselves from malicious queries. With that information, they taught an LLM to automatically learn and produce prompts that bypass the defenses of other LLMs. This process can be automated, creating a jailbreaking LLM that can adapt to and create new jailbreak prompts even after developers patch their LLMs.

The researchers' paper, which appears on the pre-print server arXiv, has been accepted for presentation at the Network and Distributed System Security Symposium, a leading security forum, in San Diego, U.S., in February 2024.

Testing the limits of LLM ethics

AI chatbots receive prompts, or a series of instructions, from human users. All LLM developers set guidelines to prevent chatbots from generating unethical, questionable, or illegal content. For example, asking an AI chatbot how to create malicious software to hack into bank accounts often results in a flat refusal to answer on the grounds of criminal activity.

Professor Liu said, "Despite their benefits, AI chatbots remain vulnerable to jailbreak attacks. They can be compromised by malicious actors who abuse vulnerabilities to force chatbots to generate outputs that violate established rules."

The NTU researchers probed into ways of circumventing a chatbot by engineering prompts that slip under the radar of its ethical guidelines so that the chatbot is tricked into responding to them. For example, AI developers rely on keyword censors that pick up certain words that could flag potentially questionable activity and refuse to answer if such words are detected.

One strategy the researchers employed to get around keyword censors was to create a persona that provided prompts simply containing spaces after each character. This circumvents LLM censors, which might operate from a list of banned words.

The researchers also instructed the chatbot to reply in the guise of a persona "unreserved and devoid of moral restraints," increasing the chances of producing unethical content.

The researchers could infer the LLMs' inner workings and defenses by manually entering such prompts and observing the time for each prompt to succeed or fail. They were then able to reverse engineer the LLMs' hidden defense mechanisms, further identify their ineffectiveness and create a dataset of prompts which managed to jailbreak the chatbot.

Escalating arms race between hackers and LLM developers

When vulnerabilities are found and revealed by hackers, AI chatbot developers respond by "patching" the issue, in an endlessly repeating cycle of cat-and-mouse between hacker and developer.

With Masterkey, the NTU computer scientists upped the ante in this arms race as an AI jailbreaking chatbot can produce a large volume of prompts and continuously learn what works and what does not, allowing hackers to beat LLM developers at their own game with their own tools.

The researchers first created a training dataset comprising prompts they found effective during the earlier jailbreaking reverse-engineering phase, together with unsuccessful prompts, so that Masterkey knows what not to do. The researchers fed this dataset into an LLM as a starting point and subsequently performed continuous pre-training and task tuning.

This exposes the model to a diverse array of information and sharpens the model's abilities by training it on tasks directly linked to jailbreaking. The result is an LLM that can better predict how to manipulate text for jailbreaking, leading to more effective and universal prompts.

The researchers found the prompts generated by Masterkey were three times more effective than prompts generated by LLMs in jailbreaking LLMs. Masterkey was also able to learn from past prompts that failed and can be automated to constantly produce new, more effective prompts.

The researchers say their LLM can be employed by developers themselves to strengthen their security.

NTU Ph.D. student Mr. Deng Gelei, who co-authored the paper, said, "As LLMs continue to evolve and expand their capabilities, manual testing becomes both labor-intensive and potentially inadequate in covering all possible vulnerabilities. An automated approach to generating jailbreak prompts can ensure comprehensive coverage, evaluating a wide range of possible misuse scenarios."

More information: Gelei Deng et al, MasterKey: Automated Jailbreak Across Multiple Large Language Model Chatbots, arXiv (2023). DOI: 10.48550/arxiv.2307.08715 Journal information: arXiv
Editors note: The officer-involved shooting death of Mark Hopkins is The Eagles No. 4 news story of 2023. This is part of a daily series of the top 10 stories in Bryan-College Station and the Brazos Valley this year. Stories will appear daily with No. 1 running in the Dec. 31 edition.

The family of Blinn College student Mark Hopkins, killed during an officer-involved shooting in February, filed a wrongful death lawsuit against the city of College Station in October claiming corruption and cover-up.

In December, the familys lawyers and the city reached a temporary agreement to share some of the information requested.

Collin Killian, College Stations public communications director, told The Eagle on Dec. 18 that neither party could provide exactly what information was shared with the family.

The city of College Station and Hopkins family lawyers have agreed to share information with each other under a confidentiality and protective order signed by the judge, Killian said in a statement.

In a statement to The Eagle, Hopkins family attorney Michael Patrick Doyle said the temporary agreement with the city came in exchange for some of the information originally requested.

We met with the department and its lawyers several weeks ago, and they agreed to provide some of the information requested, Doyle said via email. In return, we agreed to cancel the current hearing that was set [for] December 8 and reset it, if we cannot after review reach an agreement as to what additional materials should be required to be produced. I anticipate that by the middle of [January] we will know where we are at collectively.

Mark Hopkins, 22, was shot and killed by police in his apartment on the morning of Feb. 8 during the execution of a search warrant by the College Station Police Department.

The main suspect of the investigation, Abraham Eli Escobar, was not in the apartment at the time of the raid and was not a resident of the apartment, according to the lawsuit filed in October by the law firm of Aaron W. Perry on behalf of the Hopkins family.

In a statement, the city of College Station said it stands by the Texas Rangers independent investigation and that a grand jury did not indict the sole officer who shot Hopkins.

The Texas Rangers conducted an independent, thorough, fair, and transparent investigation, and the city is confident in their findings, the statement reads. The Brazos County grand jury also reviewed the matter and returned a No Bill, finding no criminal conduct by the officer involved. The loss of life is always tragic and the city sympathizes with everyone involved.

According to a copy of the search warrant obtained by The Eagle, police believed that Escobar had been using the apartment as a stash spot to deal drugs as he was dating one of Hopkins roommates, Lauren Decoux, at the time.

According to testimony from Alyssa Wilson, who was with Hopkins when police entered the apartment, officers did not identify themselves and Hopkins thought someone was breaking in.

At 6 a.m., Mark and Alyssa [Wilson] were asleep; both were awoken and stunned by the explosion of the flash-bang grenade and the shattering of a window, the lawsuit reads. During the commotion, they did not hear any knocking or attempt by the raid members to identify themselves as police officers. Instead, they believed that burglars had broken into the home.

Mark told Alyssa to call 911  Alyssa hid in the closet and Mark grabbed his shotgun. College Station PD employees forced the bedroom door open  Alyssa then heard instantaneous shots and witnessed Mark fall to the ground after he was repeatedly struck by gunfire.

Shortly after the shooting, Officer Dakota Norris was relieved from duty pending an investigation by the Texas Rangers. In late March, Norris returned to full duty after a grand jury found that he had no criminal conduct during the shooting death.
The U.S. Chemical Safety and Hazard Investigation Board (CSB) released a report this week criticizing the operators of a Burleson County well that caught on fire in 2020, resulting in the death of contract workers on-site.

At around 3 p.m. Jan. 29, 2020, the Daniel H. Wendland 1-H well in Deanville, Texas  operated by Oklahoma-based Chesapeake Energy  caught fire and fatally injured three contract workers and left one contract worker severely burned. At the time of the incident, 11 contractors were working at the site. All of the injured workers were contract workers either through Eagle PCO LLC or CC Forbes Energy Services.

The three fatally injured workers were identified in the report as Windell Jock Beddingfield, Brian Maldonado and Bradley Hendrix. The seriously injured worker was not identified.

The ensuing flash fire at the facility 35 miles from Bryan caused an estimated $1 million in property damages in addition to the casualties. The Caldwell Volunteer Fire Department, Texas Department of Public Safety and others were on-site after the incident.

The CSBs investigation, published Tuesday, identified four general safety issues. First, industry guidance states that companies should plan for well control prior to performing workover operations  Chesapeakes well control policies did not incorporate this guidance, and Chesapeake did not adequately review the past history of the Wendland 1-H well, which would have indicated previous well control issues, the CSB said in the report.

The CSB also reported that the intended well control barriers were ineffective in preventing loss of control and led to the subsequent blowout. They also found a lack of existing regulations on requiring implementation and maintenance on well control for gas and onshore oil operations.

Chesapeakes policies did not incorporate hazard assessments for finding ignition sources, and multiple potential ignition sources were identified during the investigation. Flammable hydrocarbons were released from the well and found an ignition source, causing the blowout.

Finally, the CSB said in the report that the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) had not developed adequate regulations to govern onshore oil, gas drilling and servicing operations despite prior attempts to develop special rules.

The ultimate conclusion of what caused the Wendland 1-H well blowout was a lack of well planning and well control barriers that resulted in hydrocarbons being released and ignited. The CSB also determined there is an absence of regulations governing oil and gas operations. If there were risk assessment regulations, it could have prevented the incident, according to the report.

The CSB issued recommendations to Chesapeake Operating, the American Petroleum Institute and the U.S. Occupational Safety and Health Administration for policy changes to prevent future accidents.

On June 28, 2020, Chesapeake Energy filed for bankruptcy in the U.S. Bankruptcy Court for the Southern District of Texas, Houston Division. The company later emerged from bankruptcy in February 2021 and settled a previous lawsuit from Pennsylvania landowners with Chesapeake Energy leases for improved protections for landowners, better payment and annual reporting among other stipulations. Chesapeake Energy also paid landowners $5.3 million in restitution and $350,000 to the Office of Attorney General.

Chesapeake Energy similarly faced a lawsuit from Linda Milanovich, the mother of Windell Beddingfield who was killed in the blast. The lawsuit asked Chesapeake Energy to preserve all evidence, including OSHA records and safety warnings. The injunction requested that Milanovich be allowed on the scene to photograph and document evidence should the team seek a claim against Chesapeake.

The CSBs board members, appointed by the President and confirmed by the Senate, investigate chemical accidents and provide recommendations to companies and groups to be adopted immediately or implemented over time with advocacy.
Amcor plc (NYSE:AMCR  Get Free Report) has been assigned a consensus rating of Reduce from the five brokerages that are currently covering the stock, MarketBeat reports. Two analysts have rated the stock with a sell recommendation, two have given a hold recommendation and one has assigned a buy recommendation to the company. The average twelve-month target price among brokerages that have covered the stock in the last year is $10.40.

A number of research analysts have commented on AMCR shares. Truist Financial cut their price target on shares of Amcor from $11.00 to $10.00 and set a hold rating for the company in a research note on Friday, November 3rd. TheStreet cut shares of Amcor from a b- rating to a c+ rating in a research note on Wednesday, September 27th.

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Insider Activity

Institutional Investors Weigh In On Amcor

In related news, Director Arun Nayar sold 10,261 shares of the businesss stock in a transaction on Friday, December 1st. The shares were sold at an average price of $9.39, for a total value of $96,350.79. Following the sale, the director now directly owns 52,527 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $493,228.53. The transaction was disclosed in a legal filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available at this hyperlink . 0.69% of the stock is owned by company insiders.

Several institutional investors and hedge funds have recently added to or reduced their stakes in the business. Linden Thomas Advisory Services LLC raised its holdings in shares of Amcor by 2.8% in the 2nd quarter. Linden Thomas Advisory Services LLC now owns 129,112 shares of the companys stock valued at $1,289,000 after purchasing an additional 3,533 shares during the period. CHURCHILL MANAGEMENT Corp bought a new stake in shares of Amcor in the 2nd quarter valued at about $3,837,000. Barclays PLC raised its holdings in shares of Amcor by 159.5% in the 2nd quarter. Barclays PLC now owns 3,224,711 shares of the companys stock valued at $32,183,000 after purchasing an additional 1,981,919 shares during the period. Sei Investments Co. raised its holdings in shares of Amcor by 33.1% in the 1st quarter. Sei Investments Co. now owns 1,369,790 shares of the companys stock valued at $15,588,000 after purchasing an additional 340,710 shares during the period. Finally, Vinva Investment Management Ltd bought a new stake in shares of Amcor in the 1st quarter valued at about $577,000. 49.52% of the stock is owned by institutional investors.

Amcor Trading Up 0.4 %

Amcor stock opened at $9.72 on Friday. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.76, a current ratio of 1.27 and a quick ratio of 0.74. The company has a market capitalization of $14.06 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 14.73, a PEG ratio of 10.61 and a beta of 0.80. Amcor has a one year low of $8.45 and a one year high of $12.37. The companys fifty day moving average price is $9.26 and its two-hundred day moving average price is $9.49.

Amcor (NYSE:AMCR  Get Free Report) last issued its quarterly earnings results on Tuesday, October 31st. The company reported $0.16 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, beating the consensus estimate of $0.14 by $0.02. The company had revenue of $3.44 billion for the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $3.35 billion. Amcor had a return on equity of 24.92% and a net margin of 6.72%. On average, analysts forecast that Amcor will post 0.69 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.

Amcor Increases Dividend

The company also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Tuesday, December 12th. Stockholders of record on Wednesday, November 22nd were issued a $0.125 dividend. This is a positive change from Amcors previous quarterly dividend of $0.12. The ex-dividend date was Tuesday, November 21st. This represents a $0.50 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 5.14%. Amcors payout ratio is 75.76%.

About Amcor

(Get Free Report

Amcor plc develops, produces, and sells packaging products in Europe, North America, Latin America, Africa, and the Asia Pacific regions. The company operates through two segments, Flexibles and Rigid Packaging. The Flexibles segment provides flexible and film packaging products in the food and beverage, medical and pharmaceutical, fresh produce, snack food, personal care, and other industries.

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Avior Wealth Management LLC grew its position in Energy Transfer LP (NYSE:ET  Free Report) by 3.1% during the 3rd quarter, Holdings Channel reports. The firm owned 28,865 shares of the pipeline companys stock after purchasing an additional 855 shares during the quarter. Avior Wealth Management LLCs holdings in Energy Transfer were worth $405,000 at the end of the most recent reporting period.

Several other institutional investors and hedge funds also recently made changes to their positions in ET. Recurrent Investment Advisors LLC raised its holdings in shares of Energy Transfer by 4.3% in the first quarter. Recurrent Investment Advisors LLC now owns 3,081,560 shares of the pipeline companys stock valued at $38,427,000 after buying an additional 126,853 shares during the last quarter. Argent Advisors Inc. raised its holdings in shares of Energy Transfer by 10.1% in the second quarter. Argent Advisors Inc. now owns 74,978 shares of the pipeline companys stock valued at $952,000 after buying an additional 6,885 shares during the last quarter. Capital Advisory Group Advisory Services LLC raised its holdings in shares of Energy Transfer by 11.8% in the second quarter. Capital Advisory Group Advisory Services LLC now owns 25,465 shares of the pipeline companys stock valued at $323,000 after buying an additional 2,695 shares during the last quarter. Fifth Third Bancorp raised its holdings in shares of Energy Transfer by 1.7% in the second quarter. Fifth Third Bancorp now owns 121,177 shares of the pipeline companys stock valued at $1,539,000 after buying an additional 2,000 shares during the last quarter. Finally, National Bank of Canada FI raised its holdings in shares of Energy Transfer by 3.4% in the second quarter. National Bank of Canada FI now owns 78,096 shares of the pipeline companys stock valued at $992,000 after buying an additional 2,568 shares during the last quarter. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 33.79% of the companys stock.

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Insider Activity at Energy Transfer

In other Energy Transfer news, Chairman Kelcy L. Warren acquired 1,000,000 shares of the firms stock in a transaction that occurred on Monday, November 6th. The stock was acquired at an average cost of $13.53 per share, for a total transaction of $13,530,000.00. Following the transaction, the chairman now owns 65,578,477 shares of the companys stock, valued at $887,276,793.81. The transaction was disclosed in a filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which can be accessed through the SEC website. In other news, EVP Thomas P. Mason purchased 7,500 shares of Energy Transfer stock in a transaction on Tuesday, November 7th. The stock was purchased at an average price of $13.33 per share, with a total value of $99,975.00. Following the transaction, the executive vice president now directly owns 1,707,720 shares in the company, valued at approximately $22,763,907.60. The acquisition was disclosed in a legal filing with the SEC, which is available at the SEC website. Also, Chairman Kelcy L. Warren purchased 1,000,000 shares of Energy Transfer stock in a transaction on Monday, November 6th. The shares were purchased at an average cost of $13.53 per share, with a total value of $13,530,000.00. Following the transaction, the chairman now owns 65,578,477 shares in the company, valued at $887,276,793.81. The disclosure for this purchase can be found here. 3.28% of the stock is owned by insiders.

Energy Transfer Stock Performance

Shares of NYSE:ET opened at $13.79 on Thursday. The stock has a market capitalization of $43.37 billion, a P/E ratio of 13.01 and a beta of 1.62. Energy Transfer LP has a 1-year low of $11.45 and a 1-year high of $14.15. The company has a current ratio of 1.05, a quick ratio of 0.85 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.37. The business has a 50-day moving average price of $13.56 and a two-hundred day moving average price of $13.35.

Energy Transfer (NYSE:ET  Get Free Report) last announced its quarterly earnings results on Wednesday, November 1st. The pipeline company reported $0.31 EPS for the quarter, beating analysts consensus estimates of $0.29 by $0.02. The company had revenue of $20.74 billion during the quarter, compared to analysts expectations of $21.68 billion. Energy Transfer had a return on equity of 11.98% and a net margin of 4.66%. Equities analysts predict that Energy Transfer LP will post 1.2 earnings per share for the current year.

Energy Transfer Increases Dividend

The business also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Monday, November 20th. Stockholders of record on Monday, October 30th were paid a $0.313 dividend. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Friday, October 27th. This is a boost from Energy Transfers previous quarterly dividend of $0.31. This represents a $1.25 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 9.08%. Energy Transfers dividend payout ratio is 117.92%.

Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades

A number of research analysts recently issued reports on the company. Pickering Energy Partners assumed coverage on Energy Transfer in a report on Tuesday, October 3rd. They issued an outperform rating for the company. JPMorgan Chase & Co. lifted their price target on Energy Transfer from $17.00 to $18.00 in a report on Tuesday, October 10th. Finally, The Goldman Sachs Group started coverage on Energy Transfer in a report on Thursday, October 5th. They set a neutral rating and a $14.00 price objective for the company. One research analyst has rated the stock with a hold rating, four have issued a buy rating and one has given a strong buy rating to the companys stock. According to data from MarketBeat, the stock has a consensus rating of Buy and an average target price of $16.57.

Read Our Latest Report on Energy Transfer

Energy Transfer Profile

(Free Report)

Energy Transfer LP provides energy-related services. The company owns and operates approximately 11,600 miles of natural gas transportation pipeline, and three natural gas storage facilities in Texas and two natural gas storage facilities located in the state of Texas and Oklahoma; and 19,945 miles of interstate natural gas pipeline.

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Avior Wealth Management LLC reduced its position in shares of Nuveen ESG Mid-Cap Growth ETF (BATS:NUMG  Free Report) by 10.6% in the third quarter, Holdings Channel reports. The firm owned 11,211 shares of the companys stock after selling 1,333 shares during the quarter. Avior Wealth Management LLCs holdings in Nuveen ESG Mid-Cap Growth ETF were worth $411,000 as of its most recent SEC filing.

Other institutional investors and hedge funds have also bought and sold shares of the company. Parkside Financial Bank & Trust bought a new stake in Nuveen ESG Mid-Cap Growth ETF during the 1st quarter valued at about $66,000. Coastal Investment Advisors Inc. bought a new stake in Nuveen ESG Mid-Cap Growth ETF during the 2nd quarter valued at about $65,000. Allworth Financial LP bought a new stake in Nuveen ESG Mid-Cap Growth ETF during the 2nd quarter valued at about $115,000. Cornerstone Planning Group LLC bought a new stake in Nuveen ESG Mid-Cap Growth ETF during the 2nd quarter valued at about $135,000. Finally, AlphaCore Capital LLC increased its stake in Nuveen ESG Mid-Cap Growth ETF by 8.0% during the 2nd quarter. AlphaCore Capital LLC now owns 4,228 shares of the companys stock valued at $165,000 after purchasing an additional 312 shares in the last quarter.

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Nuveen ESG Mid-Cap Growth ETF Stock Performance

BATS:NUMG opened at $42.60 on Thursday. The firm has a market cap of $404.70 million, a P/E ratio of 31.07 and a beta of 1.10. Nuveen ESG Mid-Cap Growth ETF has a fifty-two week low of $26.00 and a fifty-two week high of $31.52. The firm has a 50-day simple moving average of $38.31 and a two-hundred day simple moving average of $38.34.

Nuveen ESG Mid-Cap Growth ETF Profile

The Nuveen ESG Mid-Cap Growth ETF (NUMG) is an exchange-traded fund that is based on the MSCI TIAA ESG USA Mid Cap Growth index. The fund tracks an index composed of mid-cap US companies with growth characteristics that also meet certain environmental, social, and governance criteria. NUMG was launched on Dec 13, 2016 and is managed by Nuveen.

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StockNews.com upgraded shares of Badger Meter (NYSE:BMI  Free Report) from a hold rating to a buy rating in a research report released on Wednesday.

A number of other research analysts also recently issued reports on BMI. Stifel Nicolaus restated a hold rating and issued a $142.00 price target on shares of Badger Meter in a research report on Tuesday, September 12th. Northcoast Research cut shares of Badger Meter from a neutral rating to a sell rating and set a $120.00 price objective on the stock. in a report on Friday, September 29th. One equities research analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, three have given a hold rating and two have issued a buy rating to the companys stock. According to MarketBeat.com, the stock presently has a consensus rating of Hold and a consensus target price of $146.67.

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Read Our Latest Analysis on BMI

Badger Meter Stock Performance

Badger Meter stock opened at $155.98 on Wednesday. The firms 50-day moving average is $146.86 and its 200-day moving average is $151.49. Badger Meter has a 1 year low of $103.93 and a 1 year high of $170.86. The company has a market cap of $4.58 billion, a P/E ratio of 53.79, a PEG ratio of 2.47 and a beta of 0.88.

Badger Meter (NYSE:BMI  Get Free Report) last posted its quarterly earnings results on Thursday, October 19th. The scientific and technical instruments company reported $0.88 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, topping analysts consensus estimates of $0.81 by $0.07. Badger Meter had a net margin of 12.78% and a return on equity of 18.28%. The company had revenue of $186.20 million for the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $179.06 million. During the same period last year, the firm posted $0.61 EPS. The companys revenue for the quarter was up 25.8% on a year-over-year basis. As a group, sell-side analysts predict that Badger Meter will post 3.07 earnings per share for the current year.

Badger Meter Dividend Announcement

The company also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Wednesday, December 6th. Investors of record on Friday, November 24th were issued a $0.27 dividend. The ex-dividend date was Wednesday, November 22nd. This represents a $1.08 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 0.69%. Badger Meters dividend payout ratio (DPR) is presently 37.24%.

Hedge Funds Weigh In On Badger Meter

Large investors have recently bought and sold shares of the stock. Financial Gravity Asset Management Inc. acquired a new position in Badger Meter during the 2nd quarter valued at about $70,000. Harel Insurance Investments & Financial Services Ltd. acquired a new position in Badger Meter during the 2nd quarter valued at about $25,000. Pacer Advisors Inc. acquired a new position in Badger Meter during the 2nd quarter valued at about $28,000. Asset Management One Co. Ltd. acquired a new position in Badger Meter during the 3rd quarter valued at about $35,000. Finally, DekaBank Deutsche Girozentrale bought a new position in shares of Badger Meter during the 2nd quarter valued at about $70,000. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 86.81% of the companys stock.

Badger Meter Company Profile

(Get Free Report)

Badger Meter, Inc manufactures and markets flow measurement, quality, control, and communication solutions in the United States, Asia, Canada, Europe, Mexico, the Middle East, and internationally. It offers mechanical or static water meters, and related radio and software technologies and services to municipal water utilities.

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TOKYO, Dec 28 ( NHK ) - A Japanese court has ordered the central and Tokyo Metropolitan governments to pay damages over the wrongful arrests and detention of three people suspected of involvement in what they considered to be illegal exports.

Ohkawara Masaaki, who heads chemical machine maker Ohkawara Kakohki, and others sued the two governments, demanding the payment of damages worth over 500 million yen, or about 3.5 million dollars.

In the ruling handed down on Wednesday, Tokyo District Court's Presiding Judge Momosaki Tsuyoshi noted that investigations conducted by Tokyo Metropolitan Police Department were illegal. He pointed out that the indictment made by prosecutors was also illegal.

Momosaki ordered that damages totaling over 162 million yen, or about 1.1 million dollars, be paid to the plaintiffs. ...continue reading
BlueSky Wealth Advisors LLC increased its stake in shares of iShares Core S&P 500 ETF (NYSEARCA:IVV  Free Report) by 1.5% in the 3rd quarter, according to its most recent 13F filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The firm owned 8,894 shares of the companys stock after buying an additional 135 shares during the quarter. iShares Core S&P 500 ETF accounts for about 0.8% of BlueSky Wealth Advisors LLCs investment portfolio, making the stock its 26th largest position. BlueSky Wealth Advisors LLCs holdings in iShares Core S&P 500 ETF were worth $3,819,000 as of its most recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC).

Several other institutional investors have also recently bought and sold shares of IVV. Moneta Group Investment Advisors LLC raised its position in iShares Core S&P 500 ETF by 117,228.0% in the 4th quarter. Moneta Group Investment Advisors LLC now owns 195,582,257 shares of the companys stock valued at $75,144,659,000 after purchasing an additional 195,415,560 shares during the last quarter. Bank Julius Baer & Co. Ltd Zurich raised its position in iShares Core S&P 500 ETF by 212,409.8% in the 2nd quarter. Bank Julius Baer & Co. Ltd Zurich now owns 53,346,337 shares of the companys stock valued at $23,776,996,000 after purchasing an additional 53,321,234 shares during the last quarter. Providence Capital Advisors LLC raised its position in iShares Core S&P 500 ETF by 38,525.9% in the 1st quarter. Providence Capital Advisors LLC now owns 11,421,288 shares of the companys stock valued at $27,783,000 after purchasing an additional 11,391,719 shares during the last quarter. Marshall Wace LLP acquired a new stake in shares of iShares Core S&P 500 ETF in the 2nd quarter valued at $2,101,052,000. Finally, IMC Chicago LLC increased its stake in shares of iShares Core S&P 500 ETF by 122.2% in the 2nd quarter. IMC Chicago LLC now owns 534,522 shares of the companys stock valued at $238,242,000 after buying an additional 2,941,401 shares during the period.

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iShares Core S&P 500 ETF Stock Performance

NYSEARCA IVV opened at $478.66 on Thursday. The stock has a fifty day moving average of $451.01 and a 200-day moving average of $446.42. The stock has a market capitalization of $370.32 billion, a P/E ratio of 18.43 and a beta of 1.00. iShares Core S&P 500 ETF has a 52 week low of $378.15 and a 52 week high of $479.08.

About iShares Core S&P 500 ETF

iShares Core S&P 500 ETF (the Fund) is an exchange-traded fund. The Fund seeks investment results that correspond generally to the price and yield performance of the Standard & Poors 500 Index (the Index). The Index measures the performance of the large-capitalization sector of the United States equity market.

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Boston Trust Walden Corp boosted its holdings in shares of UnitedHealth Group Incorporated (NYSE:UNH  Free Report) by 0.4% during the 3rd quarter, according to its most recent disclosure with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The fund owned 304,389 shares of the healthcare conglomerates stock after buying an additional 1,132 shares during the quarter. UnitedHealth Group comprises 1.3% of Boston Trust Walden Corps portfolio, making the stock its 13th biggest holding. Boston Trust Walden Corps holdings in UnitedHealth Group were worth $153,470,000 as of its most recent SEC filing.

Other hedge funds have also recently bought and sold shares of the company. Strategic Investment Solutions Inc. IL bought a new stake in UnitedHealth Group during the first quarter valued at about $35,000. WFA of San Diego LLC bought a new stake in UnitedHealth Group during the second quarter valued at about $39,000. RVW Wealth LLC bought a new stake in UnitedHealth Group during the third quarter valued at about $44,000. Glass Jacobson Investment Advisors llc bought a new stake in UnitedHealth Group during the second quarter valued at about $47,000. Finally, Horizons Wealth Management bought a new stake in UnitedHealth Group during the second quarter valued at about $48,000. 85.69% of the stock is owned by institutional investors and hedge funds.

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Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades

A number of research firms have issued reports on UNH. Royal Bank of Canada restated an outperform rating and set a $596.00 price target on shares of UnitedHealth Group in a report on Thursday, November 30th. Stephens reiterated an overweight rating and issued a $585.00 target price on shares of UnitedHealth Group in a research note on Wednesday, December 13th. UBS Group upgraded shares of UnitedHealth Group from a neutral rating to a buy rating and increased their target price for the company from $520.00 to $640.00 in a research note on Monday, October 16th. Truist Financial reiterated a buy rating and issued a $610.00 target price on shares of UnitedHealth Group in a research note on Thursday, November 30th. Finally, Cantor Fitzgerald reiterated an overweight rating and issued a $591.00 target price on shares of UnitedHealth Group in a research note on Tuesday, November 21st. One investment analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, one has assigned a hold rating, fourteen have assigned a buy rating and one has issued a strong buy rating to the company. Based on data from MarketBeat.com, UnitedHealth Group presently has an average rating of Moderate Buy and a consensus target price of $574.89.

Insider Activity at UnitedHealth Group

In related news, EVP Erin Mcsweeney sold 4,498 shares of the firms stock in a transaction that occurred on Monday, October 16th. The shares were sold at an average price of $544.28, for a total value of $2,448,171.44. Following the completion of the sale, the executive vice president now owns 9,218 shares of the companys stock, valued at $5,017,173.04. The sale was disclosed in a document filed with the SEC, which is accessible through the SEC website. In other UnitedHealth Group news, Director Stephen J. Hemsley sold 121,515 shares of the firms stock in a transaction that occurred on Tuesday, October 17th. The shares were sold at an average price of $540.58, for a total value of $65,688,578.70. Following the transaction, the director now directly owns 521,818 shares of the companys stock, valued at $282,084,374.44. The sale was disclosed in a legal filing with the SEC, which is available through this hyperlink. Also, EVP Erin Mcsweeney sold 4,498 shares of the firms stock in a transaction that occurred on Monday, October 16th. The shares were sold at an average price of $544.28, for a total transaction of $2,448,171.44. Following the completion of the transaction, the executive vice president now directly owns 9,218 shares in the company, valued at $5,017,173.04. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. Insiders sold a total of 192,094 shares of company stock valued at $104,507,072 over the last quarter. Corporate insiders own 0.35% of the companys stock.

UnitedHealth Group Stock Performance

NYSE UNH opened at $522.87 on Thursday. The firm has a market cap of $483.61 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 22.69, a PEG ratio of 1.58 and a beta of 0.61. The company has a 50 day moving average of $535.77 and a 200-day moving average of $508.38. The company has a current ratio of 0.80, a quick ratio of 0.80 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.65. UnitedHealth Group Incorporated has a 1-year low of $445.68 and a 1-year high of $554.70.

UnitedHealth Group (NYSE:UNH  Get Free Report) last posted its quarterly earnings data on Friday, October 13th. The healthcare conglomerate reported $6.56 earnings per share for the quarter, topping the consensus estimate of $6.33 by $0.23. The company had revenue of $92.36 billion during the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $91.41 billion. UnitedHealth Group had a net margin of 6.02% and a return on equity of 26.58%. The companys revenue was up 14.2% on a year-over-year basis. During the same quarter last year, the business posted $5.79 earnings per share. On average, equities analysts forecast that UnitedHealth Group Incorporated will post 24.95 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.

UnitedHealth Group Announces Dividend

The business also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Tuesday, December 12th. Investors of record on Monday, December 4th were issued a $1.88 dividend. This represents a $7.52 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 1.44%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Friday, December 1st. UnitedHealth Groups dividend payout ratio is currently 32.64%.

UnitedHealth Group Company Profile

(Free Report)

UnitedHealth Group Incorporated operates as a diversified health care company in the United States. It operates through four segments: UnitedHealthcare, Optum Health, Optum Insight, and Optum Rx. The UnitedHealthcare segment offers consumer-oriented health benefit plans and services for national employers, public sector employers, mid-sized employers, small businesses, and individuals; health care coverage, and health and well-being services to individuals age 50 and older addressing their needs; Medicaid plans, children's health insurance and health care programs; and health and dental benefits, and hospital and clinical services, as well as health care benefits products and services to state programs caring for the economically disadvantaged, medically underserved, and those without the benefit of employer-funded health care coverage.

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CX Institutional cut its stake in shares of Bristol-Myers Squibb (NYSE:BMY  Free Report) by 41.4% during the 3rd quarter, according to its most recent filing with the SEC. The institutional investor owned 59,824 shares of the biopharmaceutical companys stock after selling 42,297 shares during the period. CX Institutionals holdings in Bristol-Myers Squibb were worth $3,472,000 at the end of the most recent reporting period.

Other institutional investors and hedge funds have also recently bought and sold shares of the company. SevenBridge Financial Group LLC grew its holdings in Bristol-Myers Squibb by 1.6% during the 2nd quarter. SevenBridge Financial Group LLC now owns 49,112 shares of the biopharmaceutical companys stock valued at $3,141,000 after purchasing an additional 797 shares in the last quarter. Plancorp LLC lifted its stake in shares of Bristol-Myers Squibb by 3.2% in the second quarter. Plancorp LLC now owns 8,973 shares of the biopharmaceutical companys stock worth $574,000 after acquiring an additional 275 shares in the last quarter. Security Asset Management grew its stake in Bristol-Myers Squibb by 20.3% during the 1st quarter. Security Asset Management now owns 9,230 shares of the biopharmaceutical companys stock valued at $640,000 after purchasing an additional 1,558 shares in the last quarter. Wealth Architects LLC boosted its stake in shares of Bristol-Myers Squibb by 4.8% during the 2nd quarter. Wealth Architects LLC now owns 8,012 shares of the biopharmaceutical companys stock valued at $512,000 after buying an additional 366 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Osterweis Capital Management Inc. grew its position in shares of Bristol-Myers Squibb by 69.6% during the second quarter. Osterweis Capital Management Inc. now owns 5,049 shares of the biopharmaceutical companys stock worth $323,000 after buying an additional 2,072 shares in the last quarter. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 74.98% of the companys stock.

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Analyst Ratings Changes

A number of research firms have commented on BMY. Bank of America reduced their price objective on shares of Bristol-Myers Squibb from $72.00 to $68.00 and set a buy rating on the stock in a research note on Wednesday. TheStreet lowered Bristol-Myers Squibb from a b- rating to a c+ rating in a report on Thursday, November 9th. Morgan Stanley reduced their target price on Bristol-Myers Squibb from $56.00 to $50.00 and set an underweight rating on the stock in a report on Friday, October 27th. UBS Group reiterated a neutral rating and issued a $60.00 price target (down from $70.00) on shares of Bristol-Myers Squibb in a report on Friday, October 20th. Finally, TD Cowen decreased their price objective on shares of Bristol-Myers Squibb from $80.00 to $66.00 and set a market perform rating for the company in a report on Friday, September 15th. One equities research analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, thirteen have assigned a hold rating, four have given a buy rating and one has issued a strong buy rating to the company. Based on data from MarketBeat, the company currently has an average rating of Hold and an average price target of $62.88.

Insiders Place Their Bets

In other news, Director Theodore R. Samuels II bought 8,500 shares of the companys stock in a transaction dated Monday, November 20th. The shares were acquired at an average cost of $49.81 per share, with a total value of $423,385.00. Following the completion of the transaction, the director now directly owns 35,500 shares in the company, valued at approximately $1,768,255. The acquisition was disclosed in a filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which can be accessed through this link. In other Bristol-Myers Squibb news, Director Theodore R. Samuels II bought 8,500 shares of the firms stock in a transaction dated Monday, November 20th. The stock was acquired at an average price of $49.81 per share, with a total value of $423,385.00. Following the completion of the transaction, the director now directly owns 35,500 shares in the company, valued at approximately $1,768,255. The purchase was disclosed in a legal filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available through this link. Also, CEO Christopher S. Boerner acquired 3,071 shares of Bristol-Myers Squibb stock in a transaction that occurred on Tuesday, November 28th. The stock was acquired at an average cost of $48.86 per share, with a total value of $150,049.06. Following the completion of the purchase, the chief executive officer now owns 79,384 shares in the company, valued at approximately $3,878,702.24. The disclosure for this purchase can be found here. In the last quarter, insiders have purchased 13,571 shares of company stock worth $672,994. Company insiders own 0.08% of the companys stock.

Bristol-Myers Squibb Stock Down 0.5 %

NYSE BMY opened at $51.21 on Thursday. Bristol-Myers Squibb has a 12 month low of $48.25 and a 12 month high of $75.18. The company has a market capitalization of $104.20 billion, a P/E ratio of 13.00, a PEG ratio of 2.22 and a beta of 0.34. The companys 50 day simple moving average is $51.35 and its 200 day simple moving average is $57.81. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.11, a current ratio of 1.18 and a quick ratio of 1.07.

Bristol-Myers Squibb (NYSE:BMY  Get Free Report) last posted its quarterly earnings results on Thursday, October 26th. The biopharmaceutical company reported $2.00 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, beating the consensus estimate of $1.76 by $0.24. The company had revenue of $10.97 billion for the quarter, compared to analysts expectations of $10.96 billion. Bristol-Myers Squibb had a return on equity of 51.59% and a net margin of 18.44%. The firms revenue was down 2.2% on a year-over-year basis. During the same quarter in the prior year, the company earned $1.99 earnings per share. Equities research analysts expect that Bristol-Myers Squibb will post 7.53 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.

Bristol-Myers Squibb Increases Dividend

The business also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Thursday, February 1st. Investors of record on Friday, January 5th will be paid a $0.60 dividend. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Thursday, January 4th. This represents a $2.40 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 4.69%. This is a boost from Bristol-Myers Squibbs previous quarterly dividend of $0.57. Bristol-Myers Squibbs dividend payout ratio (DPR) is currently 57.87%.

Bristol-Myers Squibb announced that its board has initiated a share repurchase program on Thursday, December 7th that authorizes the company to repurchase $3.00 billion in shares. This repurchase authorization authorizes the biopharmaceutical company to buy up to 2.9% of its stock through open market purchases. Stock repurchase programs are often an indication that the companys leadership believes its shares are undervalued.

Bristol-Myers Squibb Company Profile

(Free Report)

Bristol-Myers Squibb Company discovers, develops, licenses, manufactures, markets, distributes, and sells biopharmaceutical products worldwide. It offers products for hematology, oncology, cardiovascular, immunology, fibrotic, and neuroscience diseases. The company's products include Eliquis, an oral inhibitor for reduction in risk of stroke/systemic embolism in NVAF, and for the treatment of DVT/PE; Opdivo for anti-cancer indications; Pomalyst/Imnovid indicated for patients with multiple myeloma; Orencia for adult patients with active RA and psoriatic arthritis; and Sprycel for the treatment of Philadelphia chromosome-positive chronic myeloid leukemia.

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Coastline Trust Co acquired a new stake in Hess Co. (NYSE:HES  Free Report) in the third quarter, according to the company in its most recent Form 13F filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission. The firm acquired 5,147 shares of the oil and gas producers stock, valued at approximately $787,000.

Other hedge funds have also recently added to or reduced their stakes in the company. Banco Bilbao Vizcaya Argentaria S.A. lifted its holdings in shares of Hess by 3.6% in the second quarter. Banco Bilbao Vizcaya Argentaria S.A. now owns 10,100 shares of the oil and gas producers stock valued at $1,373,000 after purchasing an additional 349 shares in the last quarter. Nordea Investment Management AB lifted its holdings in shares of Hess by 1.2% in the second quarter. Nordea Investment Management AB now owns 15,749 shares of the oil and gas producers stock valued at $2,124,000 after purchasing an additional 188 shares in the last quarter. Great Lakes Advisors LLC lifted its holdings in shares of Hess by 5.0% in the second quarter. Great Lakes Advisors LLC now owns 5,376 shares of the oil and gas producers stock valued at $731,000 after purchasing an additional 258 shares in the last quarter. Point72 Europe London LLP bought a new position in shares of Hess in the second quarter valued at approximately $10,985,000. Finally, Alyeska Investment Group L.P. lifted its holdings in shares of Hess by 314.8% in the first quarter. Alyeska Investment Group L.P. now owns 366,989 shares of the oil and gas producers stock valued at $48,567,000 after purchasing an additional 278,511 shares in the last quarter. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 81.72% of the companys stock.

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Analyst Ratings Changes

A number of research analysts have recently weighed in on the company. Susquehanna restated a neutral rating and issued a $160.00 target price (down previously from $197.00) on shares of Hess in a report on Thursday, October 26th. Morgan Stanley dropped their target price on Hess from $166.00 to $165.00 and set an overweight rating on the stock in a report on Tuesday, October 17th. Raymond James reiterated a market perform rating on shares of Hess in a report on Tuesday, October 24th. Wells Fargo & Company reiterated an equal weight rating and set a $171.00 price target (up from $170.00) on shares of Hess in a report on Tuesday, October 24th. Finally, Piper Sandler lifted their price target on Hess from $167.00 to $169.00 and gave the stock an overweight rating in a report on Monday, October 9th. One investment analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, eight have issued a hold rating and eight have issued a buy rating to the company. According to MarketBeat.com, the company currently has a consensus rating of Hold and a consensus price target of $172.18.

Hess Stock Performance

NYSE:HES opened at $148.58 on Thursday. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.90, a current ratio of 1.31 and a quick ratio of 1.20. The business has a fifty day simple moving average of $145.09 and a two-hundred day simple moving average of $147.07. Hess Co. has a 1 year low of $113.82 and a 1 year high of $167.75. The company has a market capitalization of $45.64 billion, a P/E ratio of 28.60 and a beta of 1.45.

Hess (NYSE:HES  Get Free Report) last released its earnings results on Wednesday, October 25th. The oil and gas producer reported $1.64 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, topping analysts consensus estimates of $1.24 by $0.40. Hess had a return on equity of 18.06% and a net margin of 14.94%. The business had revenue of $2.30 billion during the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $2.68 billion. During the same period last year, the business posted $1.89 earnings per share. The businesss revenue for the quarter was down 27.3% on a year-over-year basis. On average, analysts expect that Hess Co. will post 5.29 earnings per share for the current year.

Hess Dividend Announcement

The business also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Friday, December 29th. Stockholders of record on Monday, December 18th will be given a $0.4375 dividend. This represents a $1.75 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 1.18%. The ex-dividend date is Friday, December 15th. Hesss dividend payout ratio (DPR) is presently 33.72%.

Hess Profile

(Free Report)

Hess Corporation, an exploration and production company, explores, develops, produces, purchases, transports, and sells crude oil, natural gas liquids (NGLs), and natural gas. The company operates in two segments, Exploration and Production, and Midstream. It conducts production operations primarily in the United States, Guyana, the Malaysia/Thailand Joint Development Area, and Malaysia; and exploration activities principally offshore Guyana, the U.S.

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Coastline Trust Co cut its position in McKesson Co. (NYSE:MCK  Free Report) by 32.6% in the third quarter, according to its most recent Form 13F filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The institutional investor owned 2,778 shares of the companys stock after selling 1,342 shares during the quarter. Coastline Trust Cos holdings in McKesson were worth $1,208,000 as of its most recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission.

Several other hedge funds have also recently bought and sold shares of the company. Price T Rowe Associates Inc. MD grew its stake in shares of McKesson by 324.0% in the first quarter. Price T Rowe Associates Inc. MD now owns 3,235,797 shares of the companys stock worth $1,152,107,000 after acquiring an additional 2,472,584 shares in the last quarter. Norges Bank purchased a new position in shares of McKesson in the 4th quarter valued at about $633,960,000. Moneta Group Investment Advisors LLC boosted its stake in shares of McKesson by 94,078.7% in the 4th quarter. Moneta Group Investment Advisors LLC now owns 596,151 shares of the companys stock valued at $223,628,000 after buying an additional 595,518 shares during the period. Bank of Montreal Can acquired a new position in shares of McKesson during the second quarter worth about $213,522,000. Finally, Arrowstreet Capital Limited Partnership increased its stake in shares of McKesson by 53.8% during the first quarter. Arrowstreet Capital Limited Partnership now owns 915,949 shares of the companys stock worth $280,399,000 after buying an additional 320,588 shares during the period. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 82.69% of the companys stock.

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McKesson Trading Up 0.4 %

MCK stock opened at $457.49 on Thursday. The company has a market capitalization of $60.87 billion, a P/E ratio of 18.08, a PEG ratio of 1.60 and a beta of 0.54. The business has a 50 day simple moving average of $455.53 and a 200-day simple moving average of $434.58. McKesson Co. has a twelve month low of $331.75 and a twelve month high of $476.35.

McKesson Dividend Announcement

McKesson ( NYSE:MCK Get Free Report ) last issued its quarterly earnings data on Wednesday, November 1st. The company reported $6.23 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, topping the consensus estimate of $6.11 by $0.12. McKesson had a net margin of 1.20% and a negative return on equity of 241.79%. The company had revenue of $77.22 billion for the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $76.03 billion. During the same period last year, the firm posted $6.06 EPS. McKessons revenue for the quarter was up 10.1% on a year-over-year basis. Research analysts predict that McKesson Co. will post 27.25 EPS for the current fiscal year.

The business also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Tuesday, January 2nd. Shareholders of record on Friday, December 1st will be given a dividend of $0.62 per share. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Thursday, November 30th. This represents a $2.48 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 0.54%. McKessons payout ratio is 9.80%.

Insider Buying and Selling at McKesson

In other news, CEO Brian S. Tyler sold 25,246 shares of the companys stock in a transaction that occurred on Friday, October 6th. The stock was sold at an average price of $446.86, for a total transaction of $11,281,427.56. Following the completion of the sale, the chief executive officer now owns 67,408 shares in the company, valued at $30,121,938.88. The transaction was disclosed in a document filed with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available through the SEC website. In other news, EVP Leann B. Smith sold 660 shares of McKesson stock in a transaction dated Friday, November 3rd. The shares were sold at an average price of $461.26, for a total value of $304,431.60. Following the sale, the executive vice president now owns 1,325 shares of the companys stock, valued at $611,169.50. The sale was disclosed in a legal filing with the SEC, which can be accessed through this hyperlink. Also, CEO Brian S. Tyler sold 25,246 shares of the stock in a transaction dated Friday, October 6th. The stock was sold at an average price of $446.86, for a total transaction of $11,281,427.56. Following the transaction, the chief executive officer now directly owns 67,408 shares of the companys stock, valued at $30,121,938.88. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. In the last ninety days, insiders have sold 39,898 shares of company stock worth $17,987,469. 0.21% of the stock is currently owned by insiders.

Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades

Several research analysts have commented on the stock. TD Cowen boosted their price target on shares of McKesson from $508.00 to $563.00 and gave the stock an outperform rating in a report on Monday, December 11th. StockNews.com lowered McKesson from a strong-buy rating to a buy rating in a report on Friday, December 22nd. Evercore ISI lifted their price target on McKesson from $485.00 to $490.00 in a report on Wednesday, October 11th. Mizuho increased their price objective on McKesson from $427.00 to $450.00 and gave the company a neutral rating in a report on Friday, November 3rd. Finally, Argus boosted their target price on McKesson from $450.00 to $480.00 and gave the stock a buy rating in a research note on Monday, October 9th. Two equities research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and nine have issued a buy rating to the company. According to data from MarketBeat, the stock presently has an average rating of Moderate Buy and an average price target of $480.31.

View Our Latest Analysis on MCK

McKesson Profile

(Free Report)

McKesson Corporation provides healthcare services in the United States and internationally. It operates through four segments: U.S. Pharmaceutical, Prescription Technology Solutions (RxTS), Medical-Surgical Solutions, and International. The U.S. Pharmaceutical segment distributes branded, generic, specialty, biosimilar and over-the-counter pharmaceutical drugs, and other healthcare-related products.

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Coastline Trust Co reduced its stake in shares of Manulife Financial Co. (NYSE:MFC  Free Report) (TSE:MFC) by 38.1% during the third quarter, Holdings Channel reports. The institutional investor owned 29,930 shares of the financial services providers stock after selling 18,390 shares during the period. Coastline Trust Cos holdings in Manulife Financial were worth $547,000 as of its most recent filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission.

A number of other large investors have also recently made changes to their positions in MFC. BlackRock Inc. lifted its position in shares of Manulife Financial by 10.1% during the 1st quarter. BlackRock Inc. now owns 878,359 shares of the financial services providers stock valued at $18,753,000 after buying an additional 80,450 shares in the last quarter. Raymond James Trust N.A. lifted its position in shares of Manulife Financial by 7.9% during the 1st quarter. Raymond James Trust N.A. now owns 27,503 shares of the financial services providers stock valued at $587,000 after buying an additional 2,013 shares in the last quarter. Cetera Investment Advisers purchased a new position in Manulife Financial in the 1st quarter worth approximately $428,000. Moors & Cabot Inc. lifted its holdings in Manulife Financial by 2.3% in the 1st quarter. Moors & Cabot Inc. now owns 43,078 shares of the financial services providers stock worth $920,000 after purchasing an additional 956 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Sequoia Financial Advisors LLC lifted its holdings in Manulife Financial by 32.7% in the 1st quarter. Sequoia Financial Advisors LLC now owns 14,560 shares of the financial services providers stock worth $311,000 after purchasing an additional 3,585 shares in the last quarter. 45.02% of the stock is owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors.

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Manulife Financial Stock Performance

NYSE MFC opened at $22.10 on Thursday. The company has a market capitalization of $39.92 billion, a P/E ratio of 11.05, a P/E/G ratio of 0.90 and a beta of 1.10. Manulife Financial Co. has a one year low of $17.07 and a one year high of $22.23. The stock has a 50 day moving average price of $19.32 and a 200-day moving average price of $18.98.

Manulife Financial Cuts Dividend

Manulife Financial ( NYSE:MFC Get Free Report ) (TSE:MFC) last posted its earnings results on Wednesday, November 8th. The financial services provider reported $0.69 EPS for the quarter, beating analysts consensus estimates of $0.60 by $0.09. The firm had revenue of $6.95 billion during the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $11.07 billion. Manulife Financial had a return on equity of 15.07% and a net margin of 10.79%. As a group, equities analysts predict that Manulife Financial Co. will post 2.45 EPS for the current fiscal year.

The company also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Tuesday, December 19th. Stockholders of record on Wednesday, November 22nd were given a dividend of $0.263 per share. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Tuesday, November 21st. This represents a $1.05 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 4.76%. Manulife Financials dividend payout ratio is currently 52.50%.

Analysts Set New Price Targets

A number of research firms recently commented on MFC. Royal Bank of Canada raised Manulife Financial from a sector perform rating to an outperform rating in a report on Tuesday, December 12th. TheStreet raised Manulife Financial from a c+ rating to a b rating in a report on Thursday, December 21st. Finally, StockNews.com began coverage on Manulife Financial in a report on Thursday, October 5th. They issued a hold rating on the stock. Two investment analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and two have assigned a buy rating to the companys stock. According to data from MarketBeat, Manulife Financial has a consensus rating of Moderate Buy and a consensus target price of $30.43.

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Manulife Financial Profile

(Free Report)

Manulife Financial Corporation, together with its subsidiaries, provides financial products and services in Asia, Canada, the United States, and internationally. The company operates through Wealth and Asset Management Businesses; Insurance and Annuity Products; and Corporate and Other segments. The Wealth and Asset Management Businesses segment offers investment advice and solutions to retirement, retail, and institutional clients through multiple distribution channels, including agents and brokers affiliated with the company, independent securities brokerage firms and financial advisors pension plan consultants, and banks.

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Coastline Trust Co cut its holdings in The Boeing Company (NYSE:BA  Free Report) by 10.9% during the 3rd quarter, according to its most recent Form 13F filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The fund owned 3,866 shares of the aircraft producers stock after selling 473 shares during the quarter. Coastline Trust Cos holdings in Boeing were worth $741,000 as of its most recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC).

Several other large investors also recently modified their holdings of BA. Moneta Group Investment Advisors LLC boosted its position in Boeing by 109,667.8% during the 4th quarter. Moneta Group Investment Advisors LLC now owns 16,055,730 shares of the aircraft producers stock valued at $3,058,456,000 after acquiring an additional 16,041,103 shares in the last quarter. BlackRock Inc. boosted its position in Boeing by 8.1% during the 1st quarter. BlackRock Inc. now owns 35,950,526 shares of the aircraft producers stock valued at $7,636,970,000 after acquiring an additional 2,682,272 shares in the last quarter. Renaissance Technologies LLC boosted its position in Boeing by 1,071.3% during the 1st quarter. Renaissance Technologies LLC now owns 2,592,100 shares of the aircraft producers stock valued at $550,640,000 after acquiring an additional 2,370,800 shares in the last quarter. Bank Julius Baer & Co. Ltd Zurich boosted its position in Boeing by 175,431.2% during the 2nd quarter. Bank Julius Baer & Co. Ltd Zurich now owns 2,141,481 shares of the aircraft producers stock valued at $452,195,000 after acquiring an additional 2,140,261 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Barclays PLC lifted its holdings in shares of Boeing by 599.0% during the second quarter. Barclays PLC now owns 1,522,410 shares of the aircraft producers stock valued at $321,475,000 after purchasing an additional 1,827,485 shares during the last quarter. 61.33% of the stock is owned by institutional investors.

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Boeing Trading Down 0.2 %

Shares of BA opened at $262.20 on Thursday. The Boeing Company has a 1-year low of $176.25 and a 1-year high of $267.54. The firm has a fifty day simple moving average of $219.69 and a two-hundred day simple moving average of $215.76. The firm has a market cap of $158.63 billion, a PE ratio of -55.79 and a beta of 1.53.

Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth

Boeing ( NYSE:BA Get Free Report ) last issued its quarterly earnings data on Wednesday, October 25th. The aircraft producer reported ($3.26) earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, missing analysts consensus estimates of ($3.21) by ($0.05). The firm had revenue of $18.10 billion for the quarter, compared to analysts expectations of $18.01 billion. During the same period last year, the firm posted ($6.18) earnings per share. Boeings revenue for the quarter was up 13.5% on a year-over-year basis. As a group, research analysts forecast that The Boeing Company will post -5.98 EPS for the current fiscal year.

Several equities analysts have recently issued reports on the stock. Wells Fargo & Company lowered their target price on shares of Boeing from $270.00 to $230.00 and set an overweight rating for the company in a report on Tuesday, October 3rd. Morgan Stanley lowered their target price on shares of Boeing from $235.00 to $220.00 and set an equal weight rating for the company in a report on Thursday, October 26th. William Blair initiated coverage on shares of Boeing in a report on Tuesday, December 12th. They set an outperform rating for the company. Barclays boosted their price objective on shares of Boeing from $210.00 to $235.00 and gave the stock an equal weight rating in a report on Wednesday, December 6th. Finally, Northcoast Research upgraded shares of Boeing from a neutral rating to a buy rating and set a $217.00 price objective for the company in a report on Tuesday, October 31st. Four analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and fourteen have given a buy rating to the stock. According to data from MarketBeat.com, the stock currently has an average rating of Moderate Buy and an average target price of $258.12.

View Our Latest Stock Analysis on Boeing

About Boeing

(Free Report)

The Boeing Company, together with its subsidiaries, designs, develops, manufactures, sells, services, and supports commercial jetliners, military aircraft, satellites, missile defense, human space flight and launch systems, and services worldwide. The company operates through four segments: Commercial Airplanes; Defense, Space & Security; Global Services; and Boeing Capital.

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Coastline Trust Co lowered its holdings in Merck & Co., Inc. (NYSE:MRK  Free Report) by 15.6% in the 3rd quarter, according to the company in its most recent 13F filing with the SEC. The institutional investor owned 39,966 shares of the companys stock after selling 7,413 shares during the quarter. Coastline Trust Cos holdings in Merck & Co., Inc. were worth $4,114,000 at the end of the most recent reporting period.

Other hedge funds have also recently modified their holdings of the company. Bank Julius Baer & Co. Ltd Zurich lifted its position in shares of Merck & Co., Inc. by 102,675.5% during the second quarter. Bank Julius Baer & Co. Ltd Zurich now owns 1,860,147,936 shares of the companys stock valued at $214,642,470,000 after buying an additional 1,858,338,022 shares during the last quarter. State Street Corp boosted its holdings in Merck & Co., Inc. by 1.9% in the second quarter. State Street Corp now owns 118,562,086 shares of the companys stock worth $13,766,428,000 after acquiring an additional 2,174,829 shares in the last quarter. Wellington Management Group LLP boosted its holdings in Merck & Co., Inc. by 10.6% in the first quarter. Wellington Management Group LLP now owns 68,563,817 shares of the companys stock worth $7,294,504,000 after acquiring an additional 6,546,946 shares in the last quarter. Geode Capital Management LLC grew its stake in shares of Merck & Co., Inc. by 2.9% during the second quarter. Geode Capital Management LLC now owns 52,723,457 shares of the companys stock worth $6,068,750,000 after acquiring an additional 1,504,701 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Morgan Stanley raised its position in shares of Merck & Co., Inc. by 10.6% in the 4th quarter. Morgan Stanley now owns 41,850,081 shares of the companys stock valued at $4,643,267,000 after purchasing an additional 4,000,816 shares during the last quarter. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 74.59% of the companys stock.

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Wall Street Analyst Weigh In

A number of research analysts have issued reports on MRK shares. StockNews.com started coverage on shares of Merck & Co., Inc. in a report on Thursday, October 5th. They issued a buy rating for the company. Truist Financial reiterated a buy rating and set a $122.00 price target on shares of Merck & Co., Inc. in a research note on Friday, October 6th. Deutsche Bank Aktiengesellschaft assumed coverage on Merck & Co., Inc. in a report on Thursday, November 9th. They set a buy rating and a $115.00 target price for the company. UBS Group raised shares of Merck & Co., Inc. from a neutral rating to a buy rating and raised their price target for the stock from $117.00 to $122.00 in a research report on Friday, October 20th. Finally, BMO Capital Markets raised shares of Merck & Co., Inc. from a market perform rating to an outperform rating and set a $132.00 price objective on the stock in a report on Friday, October 27th. Five analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and seventeen have assigned a buy rating to the stock. According to data from MarketBeat, the stock has a consensus rating of Moderate Buy and a consensus target price of $125.14.

Merck & Co., Inc. Stock Performance

NYSE MRK opened at $107.99 on Thursday. The stock has a market capitalization of $273.65 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 59.99, a PEG ratio of 9.11 and a beta of 0.34. The stock has a 50-day moving average of $103.76 and a 200 day moving average of $106.44. The company has a current ratio of 1.38, a quick ratio of 1.12 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.82. Merck & Co., Inc. has a twelve month low of $96.36 and a twelve month high of $119.65.

Merck & Co., Inc. (NYSE:MRK  Get Free Report) last posted its quarterly earnings data on Thursday, October 26th. The company reported $2.13 EPS for the quarter, beating analysts consensus estimates of $1.94 by $0.19. The business had revenue of $16 billion during the quarter, compared to analysts expectations of $15.30 billion. Merck & Co., Inc. had a return on equity of 18.26% and a net margin of 7.77%. The businesss revenue was up 7.0% compared to the same quarter last year. During the same period in the previous year, the business earned $1.85 earnings per share. Sell-side analysts anticipate that Merck & Co., Inc. will post 1.37 EPS for the current fiscal year.

Merck & Co., Inc. Increases Dividend

The business also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Monday, January 8th. Shareholders of record on Friday, December 15th will be given a dividend of $0.77 per share. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Thursday, December 14th. This is a boost from Merck & Co., Inc.s previous quarterly dividend of $0.73. This represents a $3.08 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 2.85%. Merck & Co., Inc.s dividend payout ratio is currently 171.11%.

Insider Buying and Selling at Merck & Co., Inc.

In other news, insider Johannes Jacobus Oosthuizen sold 2,081 shares of Merck & Co., Inc. stock in a transaction dated Thursday, November 9th. The shares were sold at an average price of $102.38, for a total value of $213,052.78. Following the sale, the insider now owns 18,191 shares in the company, valued at $1,862,394.58. The sale was disclosed in a document filed with the SEC, which can be accessed through the SEC website. In related news, EVP Richard R. Deluca sold 43,823 shares of the businesss stock in a transaction that occurred on Wednesday, November 8th. The stock was sold at an average price of $105.03, for a total transaction of $4,602,729.69. Following the completion of the sale, the executive vice president now directly owns 111,764 shares in the company, valued at $11,738,572.92. The sale was disclosed in a document filed with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which can be accessed through the SEC website. Also, insider Johannes Jacobus Oosthuizen sold 2,081 shares of the stock in a transaction on Thursday, November 9th. The shares were sold at an average price of $102.38, for a total value of $213,052.78. Following the completion of the transaction, the insider now directly owns 18,191 shares of the companys stock, valued at $1,862,394.58. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. Insiders own 0.20% of the companys stock.

Merck & Co., Inc. Profile

(Free Report)

Merck & Co, Inc operates as a healthcare company worldwide. It operates through two segments, Pharmaceutical and Animal Health. The Pharmaceutical segment offers human health pharmaceutical products in the areas of oncology, hospital acute care, immunology, neuroscience, virology, cardiovascular, and diabetes, as well as vaccine products, such as preventive pediatric, adolescent, and adult vaccines.

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Cornerstone Wealth Group LLC reduced its stake in shares of UnitedHealth Group Incorporated (NYSE:UNH  Free Report) by 16.0% in the 3rd quarter, according to its most recent 13F filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The firm owned 9,197 shares of the healthcare conglomerates stock after selling 1,758 shares during the quarter. Cornerstone Wealth Group LLCs holdings in UnitedHealth Group were worth $4,637,000 at the end of the most recent reporting period.

Other institutional investors also recently modified their holdings of the company. Bank Julius Baer & Co. Ltd Zurich lifted its stake in UnitedHealth Group by 97,436.9% in the 2nd quarter. Bank Julius Baer & Co. Ltd Zurich now owns 1,029,274,230 shares of the healthcare conglomerates stock valued at $494,710,366,000 after acquiring an additional 1,028,218,963 shares in the last quarter. Moneta Group Investment Advisors LLC lifted its stake in UnitedHealth Group by 100,076.4% in the 4th quarter. Moneta Group Investment Advisors LLC now owns 11,823,820 shares of the healthcare conglomerates stock valued at $6,268,753,000 after acquiring an additional 11,812,017 shares in the last quarter. Norges Bank bought a new stake in UnitedHealth Group in the 4th quarter valued at approximately $5,210,004,000. Osaic Holdings Inc. lifted its stake in UnitedHealth Group by 776.9% in the 2nd quarter. Osaic Holdings Inc. now owns 3,248,409 shares of the healthcare conglomerates stock valued at $177,941,000 after acquiring an additional 2,877,983 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Arrowstreet Capital Limited Partnership lifted its stake in UnitedHealth Group by 1,682.4% in the 1st quarter. Arrowstreet Capital Limited Partnership now owns 2,691,542 shares of the healthcare conglomerates stock valued at $1,372,606,000 after acquiring an additional 2,540,538 shares in the last quarter. 85.69% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors and hedge funds.

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Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth

UNH has been the topic of a number of analyst reports. Royal Bank of Canada reiterated an outperform rating and set a $596.00 price objective on shares of UnitedHealth Group in a research note on Thursday, November 30th. Piper Sandler upped their price objective on UnitedHealth Group from $580.00 to $584.00 and gave the stock an overweight rating in a research note on Monday, October 16th. StockNews.com cut UnitedHealth Group from a strong-buy rating to a buy rating in a research note on Saturday, October 21st. UBS Group upgraded UnitedHealth Group from a neutral rating to a buy rating and upped their price objective for the stock from $520.00 to $640.00 in a research note on Monday, October 16th. Finally, Morgan Stanley decreased their target price on UnitedHealth Group from $587.00 to $579.00 and set an overweight rating on the stock in a report on Monday, October 23rd. One analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, one has issued a hold rating, fourteen have issued a buy rating and one has issued a strong buy rating to the company. Based on data from MarketBeat, the stock presently has a consensus rating of Moderate Buy and an average price target of $574.89.

Insider Buying and Selling

In related news, EVP Erin Mcsweeney sold 4,498 shares of the companys stock in a transaction on Monday, October 16th. The stock was sold at an average price of $544.28, for a total transaction of $2,448,171.44. Following the completion of the sale, the executive vice president now directly owns 9,218 shares in the company, valued at approximately $5,017,173.04. The sale was disclosed in a filing with the SEC, which is available through this link. In other UnitedHealth Group news, EVP Erin Mcsweeney sold 4,498 shares of the stock in a transaction dated Monday, October 16th. The stock was sold at an average price of $544.28, for a total value of $2,448,171.44. Following the completion of the transaction, the executive vice president now directly owns 9,218 shares in the company, valued at $5,017,173.04. The transaction was disclosed in a filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available through the SEC website. Also, Director Stephen J. Hemsley sold 66,081 shares of the firms stock in a transaction dated Tuesday, December 5th. The stock was sold at an average price of $550.39, for a total value of $36,370,321.59. Following the transaction, the director now owns 635,528 shares of the companys stock, valued at $349,788,255.92. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. Insiders sold a total of 192,094 shares of company stock worth $104,507,072 in the last ninety days. 0.35% of the stock is owned by insiders.

UnitedHealth Group Stock Performance

UNH opened at $522.87 on Thursday. The firm has a market cap of $483.61 billion, a P/E ratio of 22.69, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 1.58 and a beta of 0.61. UnitedHealth Group Incorporated has a 52-week low of $445.68 and a 52-week high of $554.70. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.65, a quick ratio of 0.80 and a current ratio of 0.80. The businesss fifty day moving average is $535.77 and its 200-day moving average is $508.38.

UnitedHealth Group (NYSE:UNH  Get Free Report) last released its earnings results on Friday, October 13th. The healthcare conglomerate reported $6.56 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, topping the consensus estimate of $6.33 by $0.23. The company had revenue of $92.36 billion for the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $91.41 billion. UnitedHealth Group had a return on equity of 26.58% and a net margin of 6.02%. UnitedHealth Groups quarterly revenue was up 14.2% on a year-over-year basis. During the same period in the prior year, the firm posted $5.79 EPS. Sell-side analysts expect that UnitedHealth Group Incorporated will post 24.95 EPS for the current fiscal year.

UnitedHealth Group Dividend Announcement

The firm also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Tuesday, December 12th. Investors of record on Monday, December 4th were given a dividend of $1.88 per share. The ex-dividend date was Friday, December 1st. This represents a $7.52 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 1.44%. UnitedHealth Groups dividend payout ratio is currently 32.64%.

About UnitedHealth Group

(Free Report)

UnitedHealth Group Incorporated operates as a diversified health care company in the United States. It operates through four segments: UnitedHealthcare, Optum Health, Optum Insight, and Optum Rx. The UnitedHealthcare segment offers consumer-oriented health benefit plans and services for national employers, public sector employers, mid-sized employers, small businesses, and individuals; health care coverage, and health and well-being services to individuals age 50 and older addressing their needs; Medicaid plans, children's health insurance and health care programs; and health and dental benefits, and hospital and clinical services, as well as health care benefits products and services to state programs caring for the economically disadvantaged, medically underserved, and those without the benefit of employer-funded health care coverage.

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Cornerstone Wealth Group LLC trimmed its position in Pfizer Inc. (NYSE:PFE  Free Report) by 7.4% in the 3rd quarter, according to its most recent 13F filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The firm owned 8,561 shares of the biopharmaceutical companys stock after selling 686 shares during the quarter. Cornerstone Wealth Group LLCs holdings in Pfizer were worth $284,000 at the end of the most recent reporting period.

Several other hedge funds have also made changes to their positions in the company. Bank Julius Baer & Co. Ltd Zurich lifted its holdings in shares of Pfizer by 98,197.9% in the 2nd quarter. Bank Julius Baer & Co. Ltd Zurich now owns 1,948,438,709 shares of the biopharmaceutical companys stock worth $71,468,732,000 after buying an additional 1,946,456,532 shares during the period. BlackRock Inc. lifted its stake in shares of Pfizer by 0.6% during the 1st quarter. BlackRock Inc. now owns 445,384,893 shares of the biopharmaceutical companys stock worth $18,171,704,000 after purchasing an additional 2,516,132 shares during the last quarter. State Street Corp lifted its stake in shares of Pfizer by 1.9% during the 2nd quarter. State Street Corp now owns 287,201,692 shares of the biopharmaceutical companys stock worth $10,534,558,000 after purchasing an additional 5,374,611 shares during the last quarter. Wellington Management Group LLP lifted its stake in shares of Pfizer by 9.8% during the 1st quarter. Wellington Management Group LLP now owns 218,931,933 shares of the biopharmaceutical companys stock worth $8,932,423,000 after purchasing an additional 19,602,359 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Moneta Group Investment Advisors LLC lifted its stake in shares of Pfizer by 89,592.7% during the 4th quarter. Moneta Group Investment Advisors LLC now owns 161,143,638 shares of the biopharmaceutical companys stock worth $8,257,000,000 after purchasing an additional 160,963,976 shares during the last quarter. 68.05% 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 brokerages recently weighed in on PFE. Truist Financial decreased their price objective on Pfizer from $42.00 to $36.00 and set a buy rating for the company in a research note on Thursday, December 14th. UBS Group decreased their price objective on Pfizer from $34.00 to $27.00 and set a neutral rating for the company in a research note on Thursday, December 14th. Barclays decreased their price objective on Pfizer from $34.00 to $28.00 and set an equal weight rating for the company in a research note on Thursday, December 14th. Jefferies Financial Group upgraded Pfizer from a hold rating to a buy rating and upped their price objective for the stock from $38.00 to $39.00 in a research note on Monday, October 16th. Finally, JPMorgan Chase & Co. decreased their price target on Pfizer from $36.00 to $34.00 and set a neutral rating for the company in a research note on Monday, October 16th. Twelve investment analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and five have assigned a buy rating to the stock. According to data from MarketBeat, Pfizer presently has a consensus rating of Hold and an average target price of $40.35.

Insider Buying and Selling

In related news, Director Scott Gottlieb bought 3,000 shares of the companys stock in a transaction that occurred on Friday, December 15th. The shares were purchased at an average cost of $26.47 per share, with a total value of $79,410.00. Following the completion of the acquisition, the director now directly owns 9,000 shares in the company, valued at $238,230. The purchase was disclosed in a document filed with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available through the SEC website. 0.05% of the stock is owned by corporate insiders.

Pfizer Stock Up 0.8 %

Shares of PFE stock opened at $28.64 on Thursday. The stocks 50-day simple moving average is $29.52 and its 200-day simple moving average is $33.45. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.63, a quick ratio of 2.05 and a current ratio of 2.38. The firm has a market capitalization of $161.68 billion, a PE ratio of 15.65, a P/E/G ratio of 2.65 and a beta of 0.61. Pfizer Inc. has a fifty-two week low of $25.76 and a fifty-two week high of $51.67.

Pfizer (NYSE:PFE  Get Free Report) last announced its quarterly earnings data on Tuesday, October 31st. The biopharmaceutical company reported ($0.17) earnings per share for the quarter, beating analysts consensus estimates of ($0.32) by $0.15. The business had revenue of $13.23 billion for the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $13.77 billion. Pfizer had a return on equity of 16.72% and a net margin of 15.30%. Equities analysts expect that Pfizer Inc. will post 1.53 earnings per share for the current year.

Pfizer Increases Dividend

The business also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Friday, March 1st. Investors of record on Friday, January 26th will be issued a dividend of $0.42 per share. This represents a $1.68 annualized dividend and a yield of 5.87%. This is a positive change from Pfizers previous quarterly dividend of $0.41. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Thursday, January 25th. Pfizers dividend payout ratio (DPR) is 89.62%.

Pfizer Profile

(Free Report)

Pfizer Inc discovers, develops, manufactures, markets, distributes, and sells biopharmaceutical products worldwide. It offers medicines and vaccines in various therapeutic areas, including cardiovascular metabolic, migraine, and women's health under the Eliquis, Nurtec ODT/Vydura, and the Premarin family brands; infectious diseases with unmet medical needs under the Prevnar family, Nimenrix, FSME/IMMUN-TicoVac, and Trumenba brands; and COVID-19 prevention and treatment, and potential future mRNA and antiviral products under the Comirnaty and Paxlovid brands.

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A move by Japan to provide Patriot air defence systems to Ukraine will have "grave consequences" for Russia-Japan ties, Russian foreign ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova said on Wednesday.

Relations between Moscow and Tokyo, already difficult, have deteriorated sharply since Russia sent tens of thousands of troops into Ukraine in Feb. 2022. Japan has joined its Western allies in imposing sweeping economic sanctions on Russia.

Last week, Japan said it would prepare to ship Patriot air defence missiles to the United States after revising its arms export guidelines, in Tokyo's first major overhaul of such export curbs in nine years.

Although Japan's new export controls still prevent it from shipping weapons to countries that are at war, it may indirectly benefit Ukraine in its war with Russia as it gives the United States extra capacity to provide military aid to Kyiv. ...continue reading
Coronation Fund Managers Ltd. boosted its stake in shares of Lennar Co. (NYSE:LEN  Free Report) by 11.9% during the third quarter, according to the company in its most recent Form 13F filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission. The firm owned 52,168 shares of the construction companys stock after purchasing an additional 5,531 shares during the period. Coronation Fund Managers Ltd.s holdings in Lennar were worth $5,855,000 at the end of the most recent reporting period.

Several other institutional investors and hedge funds also recently added to or reduced their stakes in the stock. Coppell Advisory Solutions LLC purchased a new position in shares of Lennar in the 2nd quarter worth $46,000. West Tower Group LLC bought a new stake in shares of Lennar during the 2nd quarter valued at about $57,000. FNY Investment Advisers LLC bought a new stake in shares of Lennar during the 2nd quarter valued at about $61,000. IFP Advisors Inc lifted its stake in shares of Lennar by 97.5% in the 3rd quarter. IFP Advisors Inc now owns 547 shares of the construction companys stock worth $61,000 after purchasing an additional 270 shares during the period. Finally, Hook Mill Capital Partners LP bought a new stake in Lennar during the second quarter valued at approximately $82,000. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 79.87% of the companys stock.

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Lennar Price Performance

Lennar stock opened at $149.30 on Thursday. Lennar Co. has a 52-week low of $88.42 and a 52-week high of $156.01. The company has a market cap of $42.45 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 10.85, a PEG ratio of 1.93 and a beta of 1.52. The firms fifty day moving average is $126.87 and its 200 day moving average is $122.25. The company has a quick ratio of 1.72, a current ratio of 6.12 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.11.

Insiders Place Their Bets

Lennar ( NYSE:LEN Get Free Report ) last issued its quarterly earnings data on Friday, December 15th. The construction company reported $4.82 earnings per share for the quarter, topping the consensus estimate of $4.59 by $0.23. The company had revenue of $10.97 billion for the quarter, compared to analysts expectations of $10.22 billion. Lennar had a return on equity of 15.84% and a net margin of 11.51%. The firms revenue for the quarter was up 7.8% on a year-over-year basis. During the same period in the previous year, the firm posted $5.02 earnings per share. Sell-side analysts forecast that Lennar Co. will post 14.38 EPS for the current fiscal year.

In other news, VP David M. Collins sold 10,000 shares of the stock in a transaction on Tuesday, November 14th. The shares were sold at an average price of $130.00, for a total value of $1,300,000.00. Following the sale, the vice president now owns 37,060 shares of the companys stock, valued at $4,817,800. The sale was disclosed in a legal filing with the SEC, which is available at this hyperlink. In related news, VP David M. Collins sold 10,000 shares of the companys stock in a transaction dated Tuesday, November 14th. The shares were sold at an average price of $130.00, for a total transaction of $1,300,000.00. Following the transaction, the vice president now directly owns 37,060 shares in the company, valued at approximately $4,817,800. The sale was disclosed in a legal filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is accessible through the SEC website. Also, EVP Jeffrey Joseph Mccall sold 1,157 shares of the firms stock in a transaction dated Monday, October 23rd. The stock was sold at an average price of $105.01, for a total transaction of $121,496.57. Following the completion of the sale, the executive vice president now directly owns 131,386 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $13,796,843.86. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. Insiders sold 57,304 shares of company stock valued at $7,811,455 over the last three months. 9.53% of the stock is owned by company insiders.

Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth

Several research analysts have weighed in on LEN shares. StockNews.com upgraded shares of Lennar from a hold rating to a buy rating in a research report on Friday, December 15th. Barclays raised their target price on Lennar from $132.00 to $165.00 and gave the stock an overweight rating in a report on Wednesday, December 13th. Wedbush reiterated a neutral rating and set a $123.00 price objective on shares of Lennar in a research note on Monday, September 11th. JPMorgan Chase & Co. reduced their target price on shares of Lennar from $136.00 to $135.00 and set a neutral rating for the company in a report on Wednesday, September 20th. Finally, Citigroup reaffirmed a buy rating and set a $139.00 price target on shares of Lennar in a report on Tuesday, September 19th. Two research analysts have rated the stock with a sell rating, six have issued a hold rating and eleven have assigned 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 $140.53.

View Our Latest Stock Analysis on Lennar

Lennar Profile

(Free Report)

Lennar Corporation, together with its subsidiaries, operates as a homebuilder primarily under the Lennar brand in the United States. It operates through Homebuilding East, Homebuilding Central, Homebuilding Texas, Homebuilding West, Financial Services, Multifamily, and Lennar Other segments. The company's homebuilding operations include the construction and sale of single-family attached and detached homes, as well as the purchase, development, and sale of residential land; and development, construction, and management of multifamily rental properties.

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Builder Investment Group Inc. ADV reduced its holdings in shares of Eli Lilly and Company (NYSE:LLY  Free Report) by 3.7% in the third quarter, HoldingsChannel reports. The fund owned 30,055 shares of the companys stock after selling 1,150 shares during the period. Eli Lilly and Company accounts for 6.3% of Builder Investment Group Inc. ADVs portfolio, making the stock its 2nd biggest holding. Builder Investment Group Inc. ADVs holdings in Eli Lilly and Company were worth $16,143,000 at the end of the most recent reporting period.

A number of other large investors also recently bought and sold shares of the business. Aurora Private Wealth Inc. lifted its position in Eli Lilly and Company by 24.2% during the 3rd quarter. Aurora Private Wealth Inc. now owns 893 shares of the companys stock valued at $479,000 after acquiring an additional 174 shares during the period. Roman Butler Fullerton & Co. increased its stake in Eli Lilly and Company by 0.9% during the 3rd quarter. Roman Butler Fullerton & Co. now owns 9,966 shares of the companys stock valued at $5,353,000 after purchasing an additional 84 shares in the last quarter. Capital Asset Advisory Services LLC increased its stake in Eli Lilly and Company by 5.1% during the 3rd quarter. Capital Asset Advisory Services LLC now owns 5,517 shares of the companys stock valued at $2,963,000 after purchasing an additional 267 shares in the last quarter. Koshinski Asset Management Inc. increased its stake in Eli Lilly and Company by 3.6% during the 3rd quarter. Koshinski Asset Management Inc. now owns 4,295 shares of the companys stock valued at $2,307,000 after purchasing an additional 151 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Capital Advisory Group Advisory Services LLC bought a new stake in Eli Lilly and Company during the 3rd quarter valued at about $1,868,000. 81.38% of the stock is owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors.

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Eli Lilly and Company Stock Up 1.9 %

Shares of NYSE LLY opened at $581.60 on Thursday. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.59, a current ratio of 1.05 and a quick ratio of 0.82. The company has a market cap of $552.12 billion, a P/E ratio of 105.36, a PEG ratio of 3.48 and a beta of 0.33. Eli Lilly and Company has a 1 year low of $309.20 and a 1 year high of $629.97. The firm has a 50-day simple moving average of $585.34 and a two-hundred day simple moving average of $539.00.

Eli Lilly and Company Increases Dividend

Eli Lilly and Company ( NYSE:LLY Get Free Report ) last issued its earnings results on Thursday, November 2nd. The company reported $0.10 EPS for the quarter, topping analysts consensus estimates of ($0.08) by $0.18. The business had revenue of $9.50 billion for the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $8.88 billion. Eli Lilly and Company had a net margin of 15.55% and a return on equity of 48.12%. Research analysts anticipate that Eli Lilly and Company will post 6.6 earnings per share for the current year.

The business also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Monday, March 4th. Stockholders of record on Thursday, February 15th will be given a dividend of $1.30 per share. The ex-dividend date is Wednesday, February 14th. This is a positive change from Eli Lilly and Companys previous quarterly dividend of $1.13. This represents a $5.20 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 0.89%. Eli Lilly and Companys dividend payout ratio (DPR) is 81.88%.

Insider Transactions at Eli Lilly and Company

In related news, CAO Donald A. Zakrowski sold 670 shares of Eli Lilly and Company stock in a transaction that occurred on Monday, November 6th. The shares were sold at an average price of $571.10, for a total transaction of $382,637.00. Following the transaction, the chief accounting officer now directly owns 4,708 shares of the companys stock, valued at $2,688,738.80. The sale was disclosed in a filing with the SEC, which is accessible through this link. In related news, CAO Donald A. Zakrowski sold 670 shares of Eli Lilly and Company stock in a transaction that occurred on Monday, November 6th. The shares were sold at an average price of $571.10, for a total transaction of $382,637.00. Following the transaction, the chief accounting officer now directly owns 4,708 shares of the companys stock, valued at $2,688,738.80. The sale was disclosed in a filing with the SEC, which is accessible through this link. Also, major shareholder Lilly Endowment Inc sold 215,000 shares of Eli Lilly and Company stock in a transaction that occurred on Wednesday, October 11th. The shares were sold at an average price of $605.44, for a total transaction of $130,169,600.00. Following the transaction, the insider now directly owns 99,768,810 shares in the company, valued at $60,404,028,326.40. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. Corporate insiders own 0.13% of the companys stock.

Analyst Ratings Changes

A number of brokerages have recently commented on LLY. Morgan Stanley lifted their price target on shares of Eli Lilly and Company from $727.00 to $822.00 and gave the stock an overweight rating in a research note on Tuesday, December 19th. Argus boosted their target price on shares of Eli Lilly and Company from $470.00 to $620.00 and gave the company a buy rating in a research report on Tuesday, September 5th. Truist Financial restated a buy rating and set a $650.00 target price on shares of Eli Lilly and Company in a research report on Wednesday, November 29th. StockNews.com upgraded shares of Eli Lilly and Company from a hold rating to a buy rating in a research report on Friday, November 3rd. Finally, Wells Fargo & Company boosted their target price on shares of Eli Lilly and Company from $615.00 to $650.00 and gave the company an overweight rating in a research report on Monday, October 9th. One equities research analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, two have assigned a hold rating and seventeen have given a buy rating to the companys stock. According to data from MarketBeat, the stock has a consensus rating of Moderate Buy and a consensus target price of $583.24.

Read Our Latest Stock Report on Eli Lilly and Company

Eli Lilly and Company Company Profile

(Free Report)

Eli Lilly and Company discovers, develops, and markets human pharmaceuticals worldwide. It offers Basaglar, Humalog, Humalog Mix 75/25, Humalog U-100, Humalog U-200, Humalog Mix 50/50, insulin lispro, insulin lispro protamine, insulin lispro mix 75/25, Humulin, Humulin 70/30, Humulin N, Humulin R, and Humulin U-500 for diabetes; and Jardiance, Trajenta, and Trulicity for type 2 diabetes.

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DeDora Capital Inc. grew its stake in shares of Eli Lilly and Company (NYSE:LLY  Free Report) by 23.5% during the 3rd quarter, according to the company in its most recent Form 13F filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission. The institutional investor owned 1,732 shares of the companys stock after acquiring an additional 330 shares during the quarter. DeDora Capital Inc.s holdings in Eli Lilly and Company were worth $930,000 as of its most recent SEC filing.

Other hedge funds have also recently modified their holdings of the company. Bank Julius Baer & Co. Ltd Zurich increased its holdings in Eli Lilly and Company by 533,336.4% in the 2nd quarter. Bank Julius Baer & Co. Ltd Zurich now owns 19,059,681 shares of the companys stock worth $8,938,609,000 after buying an additional 19,056,108 shares during the period. Norges Bank acquired a new position in Eli Lilly and Company in the 4th quarter worth approximately $3,416,206,000. Moneta Group Investment Advisors LLC increased its holdings in Eli Lilly and Company by 102,752.2% in the 4th quarter. Moneta Group Investment Advisors LLC now owns 5,446,026 shares of the companys stock worth $1,992,374,000 after buying an additional 5,440,731 shares during the period. Morgan Stanley increased its holdings in Eli Lilly and Company by 44.1% in the 4th quarter. Morgan Stanley now owns 12,059,204 shares of the companys stock worth $4,411,740,000 after buying an additional 3,691,436 shares during the period. Finally, Imprint Wealth LLC increased its holdings in Eli Lilly and Company by 53,716.8% in the 2nd quarter. Imprint Wealth LLC now owns 1,751,200 shares of the companys stock worth $175,120,000 after buying an additional 1,747,946 shares during the period. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 81.38% of the companys stock.

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Eli Lilly and Company Trading Up 1.9 %

Shares of LLY stock opened at $581.60 on Thursday. The stocks fifty day moving average is $585.34 and its two-hundred day moving average is $539.00. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.59, a quick ratio of 0.82 and a current ratio of 1.05. The firm has a market capitalization of $552.12 billion, a P/E ratio of 105.36, a PEG ratio of 3.48 and a beta of 0.33. Eli Lilly and Company has a fifty-two week low of $309.20 and a fifty-two week high of $629.97.

Eli Lilly and Company Increases Dividend

Eli Lilly and Company ( NYSE:LLY Get Free Report ) last announced its quarterly earnings data on Thursday, November 2nd. The company reported $0.10 earnings per share for the quarter, beating analysts consensus estimates of ($0.08) by $0.18. The company had revenue of $9.50 billion for the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $8.88 billion. Eli Lilly and Company had a return on equity of 48.12% and a net margin of 15.55%. Research analysts expect that Eli Lilly and Company will post 6.6 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.

The business also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Monday, March 4th. Shareholders of record on Thursday, February 15th will be paid a $1.30 dividend. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Wednesday, February 14th. This is an increase from Eli Lilly and Companys previous quarterly dividend of $1.13. This represents a $5.20 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 0.89%. Eli Lilly and Companys dividend payout ratio (DPR) is 81.88%.

Analysts Set New Price Targets

Several equities analysts recently weighed in on the stock. JPMorgan Chase & Co. reiterated an overweight rating on shares of Eli Lilly and Company in a report on Wednesday, November 8th. TheStreet lowered Eli Lilly and Company from a b rating to a c+ rating in a research report on Monday, December 4th. StockNews.com upgraded Eli Lilly and Company from a hold rating to a buy rating in a research report on Friday, November 3rd. Argus upped their price objective on Eli Lilly and Company from $470.00 to $620.00 and gave the stock a buy rating in a research report on Tuesday, September 5th. Finally, Deutsche Bank Aktiengesellschaft started coverage on Eli Lilly and Company in a research report on Thursday, November 9th. They issued a hold rating and a $535.00 price objective on the stock. One equities research analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, two have given a hold rating and seventeen have given a buy rating to the companys stock. According to data from MarketBeat.com, Eli Lilly and Company currently has a consensus rating of Moderate Buy and an average target price of $583.24.

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Insiders Place Their Bets

In other Eli Lilly and Company news, major shareholder Lilly Endowment Inc sold 215,000 shares of the firms stock in a transaction on Wednesday, October 11th. The stock was sold at an average price of $605.44, for a total value of $130,169,600.00. Following the completion of the sale, the insider now directly owns 99,768,810 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $60,404,028,326.40. The sale was disclosed in a filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which can be accessed through this hyperlink. In other Eli Lilly and Company news, major shareholder Lilly Endowment Inc sold 215,000 shares of the firms stock in a transaction on Wednesday, October 11th. The stock was sold at an average price of $605.44, for a total value of $130,169,600.00. Following the completion of the sale, the insider now directly owns 99,768,810 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $60,404,028,326.40. The sale was disclosed in a filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which can be accessed through this hyperlink. Also, CAO Donald A. Zakrowski sold 670 shares of the firms stock in a transaction on Monday, November 6th. The stock was sold at an average price of $571.10, for a total value of $382,637.00. Following the completion of the sale, the chief accounting officer now directly owns 4,708 shares of the companys stock, valued at $2,688,738.80. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. Corporate insiders own 0.13% of the companys stock.

Eli Lilly and Company Company Profile

(Free Report)

Eli Lilly and Company discovers, develops, and markets human pharmaceuticals worldwide. It offers Basaglar, Humalog, Humalog Mix 75/25, Humalog U-100, Humalog U-200, Humalog Mix 50/50, insulin lispro, insulin lispro protamine, insulin lispro mix 75/25, Humulin, Humulin 70/30, Humulin N, Humulin R, and Humulin U-500 for diabetes; and Jardiance, Trajenta, and Trulicity for type 2 diabetes.

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Ballast Inc. lowered its stake in Eli Lilly and Company (NYSE:LLY  Free Report) by 16.4% in the 3rd quarter, HoldingsChannel.com reports. The firm owned 4,135 shares of the companys stock after selling 812 shares during the quarter. Eli Lilly and Company comprises about 0.9% of Ballast Inc.s holdings, making the stock its 19th biggest position. Ballast Inc.s holdings in Eli Lilly and Company were worth $2,221,000 as of its most recent filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission.

Several other institutional investors have also bought and sold shares of the stock. Aurora Private Wealth Inc. lifted its holdings in Eli Lilly and Company by 24.2% in the 3rd quarter. Aurora Private Wealth Inc. now owns 893 shares of the companys stock valued at $479,000 after acquiring an additional 174 shares during the last quarter. Roman Butler Fullerton & Co. lifted its holdings in Eli Lilly and Company by 0.9% in the 3rd quarter. Roman Butler Fullerton & Co. now owns 9,966 shares of the companys stock valued at $5,353,000 after acquiring an additional 84 shares during the last quarter. Capital Asset Advisory Services LLC lifted its holdings in Eli Lilly and Company by 5.1% in the 3rd quarter. Capital Asset Advisory Services LLC now owns 5,517 shares of the companys stock valued at $2,963,000 after acquiring an additional 267 shares during the last quarter. Koshinski Asset Management Inc. lifted its holdings in Eli Lilly and Company by 3.6% in the 3rd quarter. Koshinski Asset Management Inc. now owns 4,295 shares of the companys stock valued at $2,307,000 after acquiring an additional 151 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Capital Advisory Group Advisory Services LLC acquired a new stake in Eli Lilly and Company in the 3rd quarter valued at about $1,868,000. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 81.38% of the companys stock.

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Insider Activity at Eli Lilly and Company

In related news, major shareholder Lilly Endowment Inc sold 215,000 shares of the firms stock in a transaction dated Wednesday, October 11th. The stock was sold at an average price of $605.44, for a total value of $130,169,600.00. Following the sale, the insider now directly owns 99,768,810 shares of the companys stock, valued at $60,404,028,326.40. The transaction was disclosed in a legal filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is accessible through this link. In other news, CAO Donald A. Zakrowski sold 670 shares of the firms stock in a transaction dated Monday, November 6th. The stock was sold at an average price of $571.10, for a total transaction of $382,637.00. Following the completion of the transaction, the chief accounting officer now directly owns 4,708 shares in the company, valued at $2,688,738.80. The sale was disclosed in a filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available through this hyperlink. Also, major shareholder Lilly Endowment Inc sold 215,000 shares of the firms stock in a transaction dated Wednesday, October 11th. The stock was sold at an average price of $605.44, for a total value of $130,169,600.00. Following the transaction, the insider now owns 99,768,810 shares of the companys stock, valued at $60,404,028,326.40. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. 0.13% of the stock is currently owned by insiders.

Eli Lilly and Company Stock Performance

Shares of NYSE LLY opened at $581.60 on Thursday. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.59, a current ratio of 1.05 and a quick ratio of 0.82. The stocks fifty day moving average price is $585.34 and its two-hundred day moving average price is $539.00. Eli Lilly and Company has a one year low of $309.20 and a one year high of $629.97. The firm has a market cap of $552.12 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 105.36, a P/E/G ratio of 3.48 and a beta of 0.33.

Eli Lilly and Company (NYSE:LLY  Get Free Report) last issued its quarterly earnings data on Thursday, November 2nd. The company reported $0.10 EPS for the quarter, beating analysts consensus estimates of ($0.08) by $0.18. Eli Lilly and Company had a return on equity of 48.12% and a net margin of 15.55%. The firm had revenue of $9.50 billion for the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $8.88 billion. On average, equities analysts forecast that Eli Lilly and Company will post 6.6 EPS for the current year.

Eli Lilly and Company Increases Dividend

The firm also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Monday, March 4th. Investors of record on Thursday, February 15th will be paid a $1.30 dividend. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Wednesday, February 14th. This is a positive change from Eli Lilly and Companys previous quarterly dividend of $1.13. This represents a $5.20 annualized dividend and a yield of 0.89%. Eli Lilly and Companys dividend payout ratio (DPR) is 81.88%.

Wall Street Analyst Weigh In

A number of equities analysts have recently weighed in on the company. Morgan Stanley upped their target price on Eli Lilly and Company from $727.00 to $822.00 and gave the company an overweight rating in a report on Tuesday, December 19th. Deutsche Bank Aktiengesellschaft assumed coverage on Eli Lilly and Company in a report on Thursday, November 9th. They issued a hold rating and a $535.00 target price on the stock. StockNews.com upgraded Eli Lilly and Company from a hold rating to a buy rating in a report on Friday, November 3rd. Bank of America upped their target price on Eli Lilly and Company from $600.00 to $700.00 in a report on Friday, October 6th. Finally, TheStreet downgraded Eli Lilly and Company from a b rating to a c+ rating in a report on Monday, December 4th. One analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, two have assigned a hold rating and seventeen have issued a buy rating to the stock. According to MarketBeat.com, Eli Lilly and Company presently has a consensus rating of Moderate Buy and a consensus price target of $583.24.

Get Our Latest Report on Eli Lilly and Company

Eli Lilly and Company Profile

(Free Report)

Eli Lilly and Company discovers, develops, and markets human pharmaceuticals worldwide. It offers Basaglar, Humalog, Humalog Mix 75/25, Humalog U-100, Humalog U-200, Humalog Mix 50/50, insulin lispro, insulin lispro protamine, insulin lispro mix 75/25, Humulin, Humulin 70/30, Humulin N, Humulin R, and Humulin U-500 for diabetes; and Jardiance, Trajenta, and Trulicity for type 2 diabetes.

Further Reading

Want to see what other hedge funds are holding LLY? Visit HoldingsChannel.com to get the latest 13F filings and insider trades for Eli Lilly and Company (NYSE:LLY  Free Report).

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Galvin Gaustad & Stein LLC bought a new stake in Altria Group, Inc. (NYSE:MO  Free Report) during the third quarter, Holdings Channel reports. The institutional investor bought 5,083 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $214,000.

A number of other institutional investors have also modified their holdings of the business. CX Institutional grew its position in Altria Group by 306.4% in the 3rd quarter. CX Institutional now owns 67,227 shares of the companys stock valued at $2,827,000 after buying an additional 50,683 shares during the last quarter. Koshinski Asset Management Inc. grew its position in Altria Group by 1.0% in the 3rd quarter. Koshinski Asset Management Inc. now owns 41,691 shares of the companys stock valued at $1,753,000 after buying an additional 429 shares during the last quarter. Cornerstone Wealth Group LLC grew its position in Altria Group by 2.8% in the 3rd quarter. Cornerstone Wealth Group LLC now owns 76,247 shares of the companys stock valued at $3,206,000 after buying an additional 2,106 shares during the last quarter. Strategic Blueprint LLC grew its position in Altria Group by 10.0% in the 3rd quarter. Strategic Blueprint LLC now owns 9,993 shares of the companys stock valued at $420,000 after buying an additional 905 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Holland Advisory Services Inc. purchased a new position in Altria Group in the 3rd quarter valued at $303,000. 58.94% of the stock is owned by institutional investors and hedge funds.

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Insider Activity

In related news, Director Robert Matthews Davis acquired 1,200 shares of the companys stock in a transaction dated Monday, November 6th. The stock was bought at an average price of $40.50 per share, with a total value of $48,600.00. Following the purchase, the director now directly owns 8,473 shares in the company, valued at approximately $343,156.50. The purchase was disclosed in a filing with the SEC, which can be accessed through this hyperlink. Corporate insiders own 0.07% of the companys stock.

Altria Group Trading Down 0.4 %

Shares of MO stock opened at $40.19 on Thursday. The firm has a 50-day moving average price of $41.12 and a 200 day moving average price of $42.97. Altria Group, Inc. has a twelve month low of $39.06 and a twelve month high of $51.57. The company has a market capitalization of $71.08 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 8.19, a PEG ratio of 2.69 and a beta of 0.66.

Altria Group (NYSE:MO  Get Free Report) last announced its earnings results on Thursday, October 26th. The company reported $1.28 earnings per share for the quarter, missing the consensus estimate of $1.29 by ($0.01). Altria Group had a net margin of 35.58% and a negative return on equity of 237.91%. The firm had revenue of $5.28 billion during the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $5.43 billion. During the same period in the previous year, the firm posted $1.28 EPS. The companys revenue for the quarter was down 2.5% compared to the same quarter last year. As a group, research analysts predict that Altria Group, Inc. will post 4.96 earnings per share for the current year.

Altria Group Announces Dividend

The business also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Wednesday, January 10th. Stockholders of record on Thursday, December 21st will be paid a dividend of $0.98 per share. This represents a $3.92 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 9.75%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Wednesday, December 20th. Altria Groups dividend payout ratio is currently 79.84%.

Analysts Set New Price Targets

Several equities research analysts have commented on MO shares. UBS Group decreased their target price on shares of Altria Group from $40.40 to $39.20 and set a sell rating on the stock in a research report on Friday, October 6th. Jefferies Financial Group boosted their price objective on shares of Altria Group from $55.00 to $56.00 and gave the stock a buy rating in a research report on Friday, October 13th. StockNews.com lowered shares of Altria Group from a buy rating to a hold rating in a research report on Tuesday, December 19th. Citigroup decreased their price objective on shares of Altria Group from $46.50 to $45.00 and set a neutral rating on the stock in a research report on Wednesday, October 18th. Finally, Bank of America decreased their price objective on shares of Altria Group from $49.00 to $47.00 in a research report on Monday, October 9th. One equities research analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, three have assigned a hold rating and two have assigned a buy rating to the stock. Based on data from MarketBeat.com, Altria Group currently has an average rating of Hold and an average target price of $47.53.

Get Our Latest Stock Report on Altria Group

Altria Group Company Profile

(Free Report)

Altria Group, Inc, through its subsidiaries, manufactures and sells smokeable and oral tobacco products in the United States. The company provides cigarettes primarily under the Marlboro brand; cigars and pipe tobacco principally under the Black & Mild brand; moist smokeless tobacco products and snus products under the Copenhagen, Skoal, Red Seal, and Husky brands; and on! oral nicotine pouches.

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Garrison Bradford & Associates Inc. lessened its holdings in shares of UnitedHealth Group Incorporated (NYSE:UNH  Free Report) by 6.0% during the third quarter, according to the company in its most recent Form 13F filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission. The fund owned 44,832 shares of the healthcare conglomerates stock after selling 2,876 shares during the quarter. UnitedHealth Group makes up approximately 26.7% of Garrison Bradford & Associates Inc.s investment portfolio, making the stock its largest position. Garrison Bradford & Associates Inc.s holdings in UnitedHealth Group were worth $22,604,000 at the end of the most recent quarter.

A number of other institutional investors have also recently bought and sold shares of UNH. Bank Julius Baer & Co. Ltd Zurich grew its position in shares of UnitedHealth Group by 97,436.9% in the second quarter. Bank Julius Baer & Co. Ltd Zurich now owns 1,029,274,230 shares of the healthcare conglomerates stock valued at $494,710,366,000 after purchasing an additional 1,028,218,963 shares during the last quarter. BlackRock Inc. boosted its stake in shares of UnitedHealth Group by 0.7% in the first quarter. BlackRock Inc. now owns 74,928,539 shares of the healthcare conglomerates stock valued at $35,410,478,000 after buying an additional 509,633 shares during the period. State Street Corp boosted its stake in shares of UnitedHealth Group by 1.7% in the second quarter. State Street Corp now owns 46,313,751 shares of the healthcare conglomerates stock valued at $22,260,241,000 after buying an additional 764,872 shares during the period. Wellington Management Group LLP boosted its stake in shares of UnitedHealth Group by 0.6% in the first quarter. Wellington Management Group LLP now owns 24,079,140 shares of the healthcare conglomerates stock valued at $11,379,561,000 after buying an additional 140,312 shares during the period. Finally, Geode Capital Management LLC boosted its stake in shares of UnitedHealth Group by 2.6% in the second quarter. Geode Capital Management LLC now owns 17,546,024 shares of the healthcare conglomerates stock valued at $8,410,038,000 after buying an additional 444,629 shares during the period. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 85.69% of the companys stock.

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Insider Transactions at UnitedHealth Group

In other news, EVP Erin Mcsweeney sold 4,498 shares of the stock in a transaction dated Monday, October 16th. The shares were sold at an average price of $544.28, for a total transaction of $2,448,171.44. Following the transaction, the executive vice president now owns 9,218 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $5,017,173.04. The transaction was disclosed in a legal filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available through the SEC website. In related news, Director Stephen J. Hemsley sold 66,081 shares of the firms stock in a transaction dated Tuesday, December 5th. The shares were sold at an average price of $550.39, for a total value of $36,370,321.59. Following the transaction, the director now owns 635,528 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $349,788,255.92. The sale was disclosed in a legal filing with the SEC, which is available through this hyperlink. Also, EVP Erin Mcsweeney sold 4,498 shares of the firms stock in a transaction dated Monday, October 16th. The shares were sold at an average price of $544.28, for a total transaction of $2,448,171.44. Following the completion of the transaction, the executive vice president now directly owns 9,218 shares in the company, valued at approximately $5,017,173.04. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. Insiders have sold 192,094 shares of company stock valued at $104,507,072 in the last 90 days. 0.35% of the stock is currently owned by corporate insiders.

UnitedHealth Group Stock Performance

Shares of UnitedHealth Group stock opened at $522.87 on Thursday. The company has a current ratio of 0.80, a quick ratio of 0.80 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.65. The business has a 50-day moving average price of $535.77 and a two-hundred day moving average price of $508.38. UnitedHealth Group Incorporated has a 1-year low of $445.68 and a 1-year high of $554.70. The company has a market cap of $483.61 billion, a P/E ratio of 22.69, a PEG ratio of 1.58 and a beta of 0.61.

UnitedHealth Group (NYSE:UNH  Get Free Report) last issued its quarterly earnings results on Friday, October 13th. The healthcare conglomerate reported $6.56 earnings per share for the quarter, topping analysts consensus estimates of $6.33 by $0.23. UnitedHealth Group had a return on equity of 26.58% and a net margin of 6.02%. The firm had revenue of $92.36 billion during the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $91.41 billion. During the same period last year, the business posted $5.79 EPS. The businesss revenue was up 14.2% compared to the same quarter last year. As a group, analysts anticipate that UnitedHealth Group Incorporated will post 24.95 EPS for the current year.

UnitedHealth Group Announces Dividend

The business also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Tuesday, December 12th. Stockholders of record on Monday, December 4th were given a dividend of $1.88 per share. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Friday, December 1st. This represents a $7.52 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 1.44%. UnitedHealth Groups dividend payout ratio (DPR) is presently 32.64%.

Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades

Several equities research analysts recently issued reports on UNH shares. Stephens reiterated an overweight rating and issued a $585.00 price target on shares of UnitedHealth Group in a research note on Wednesday, December 13th. Morgan Stanley cut their target price on UnitedHealth Group from $587.00 to $579.00 and set an overweight rating for the company in a research note on Monday, October 23rd. StockNews.com cut UnitedHealth Group from a strong-buy rating to a buy rating in a research note on Saturday, October 21st. HSBC restated a reduce rating and set a $480.00 target price (down from $550.00) on shares of UnitedHealth Group in a research note on Monday, December 18th. Finally, UBS Group upgraded shares of UnitedHealth Group from a neutral rating to a buy rating and upped their price target for the stock from $520.00 to $640.00 in a report on Monday, October 16th. One analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, one has given a hold rating, fourteen have issued a buy rating and one has given a strong buy rating to the companys stock. Based on data from MarketBeat, the company presently has a consensus rating of Moderate Buy and a consensus target price of $574.89.

Read Our Latest Analysis on UnitedHealth Group

UnitedHealth Group Profile

(Free Report)

UnitedHealth Group Incorporated operates as a diversified health care company in the United States. It operates through four segments: UnitedHealthcare, Optum Health, Optum Insight, and Optum Rx. The UnitedHealthcare segment offers consumer-oriented health benefit plans and services for national employers, public sector employers, mid-sized employers, small businesses, and individuals; health care coverage, and health and well-being services to individuals age 50 and older addressing their needs; Medicaid plans, children's health insurance and health care programs; and health and dental benefits, and hospital and clinical services, as well as health care benefits products and services to state programs caring for the economically disadvantaged, medically underserved, and those without the benefit of employer-funded health care coverage.

Further Reading

Want to see what other hedge funds are holding UNH? Visit HoldingsChannel.com to get the latest 13F filings and insider trades for UnitedHealth Group Incorporated (NYSE:UNH  Free Report).

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StockNews.com began coverage on shares of Greenhill & Co., Inc. (NYSE:GHL  Free Report) in a research report sent to investors on Wednesday. The firm issued a hold rating on the financial services providers stock.

Separately, TheStreet cut Greenhill & Co., Inc. from a c rating to a d+ rating in a research note on Friday, November 17th. One equities research analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating and three have given a hold rating to the company. According to data from MarketBeat, Greenhill & Co., Inc. presently has an average rating of Hold and a consensus price target of $11.83.

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Check Out Our Latest Analysis on Greenhill & Co., Inc.

Greenhill & Co., Inc. Price Performance

Shares of GHL opened at $14.99 on Wednesday. Greenhill & Co., Inc. has a 12-month low of $6.14 and a 12-month high of $15.07. The businesss fifty day moving average is $14.87 and its 200 day moving average is $14.78. The company has a quick ratio of 1.89, a current ratio of 1.89 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 9.61. The stock has a market cap of $282.11 million, a P/E ratio of -9.31 and a beta of 1.03.

Greenhill & Co., Inc. (NYSE:GHL  Get Free Report) last issued its earnings results on Thursday, November 9th. The financial services provider reported ($1.50) earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter. Greenhill & Co., Inc. had a negative return on equity of 49.21% and a negative net margin of 10.95%. The firm had revenue of $30.69 million during the quarter.

Greenhill & Co., Inc. Announces Dividend

The business also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Wednesday, December 27th. Shareholders of record on Wednesday, December 13th were paid a dividend of $0.10 per share. This represents a $0.40 annualized dividend and a yield of 2.67%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Tuesday, December 12th. Greenhill & Co., Inc.s dividend payout ratio (DPR) is presently -24.84%.

Hedge Funds Weigh In On Greenhill & Co., Inc.

Large investors have recently bought and sold shares of the stock. Lazard Asset Management LLC bought a new position in Greenhill & Co., Inc. during the 3rd quarter valued at $35,000. Quantbot Technologies LP purchased a new stake in shares of Greenhill & Co., Inc. during the 1st quarter valued at $40,000. Barclays PLC increased its position in shares of Greenhill & Co., Inc. by 139.0% during the 4th quarter. Barclays PLC now owns 3,456 shares of the financial services providers stock valued at $36,000 after purchasing an additional 2,010 shares during the last quarter. Tower Research Capital LLC TRC increased its position in shares of Greenhill & Co., Inc. by 69.0% during the 1st quarter. Tower Research Capital LLC TRC now owns 3,859 shares of the financial services providers stock valued at $34,000 after purchasing an additional 1,576 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Wolverine Asset Management LLC purchased a new stake in shares of Greenhill & Co., Inc. during the 2nd quarter valued at $75,000. 61.26% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors.

Greenhill & Co., Inc. Company Profile

(Get Free Report)

Greenhill & Co, Inc, an independent investment bank, provides financial and strategic advisory services to corporations, partnerships, institutional investors, and governments worldwide. The company offers advisory services related to mergers and acquisitions, divestitures, restructurings, financings, private capital raising, and other similar transactions.

Featured Articles

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Greystone Housing Impact Investors (NYSE:GHI  Get Free Report) and Prairie Operating (OTCMKTS:CRKR  Get Free Report) are both finance companies, but which is the better investment? We will contrast the two businesses based on the strength of their profitability, dividends, institutional ownership, risk, valuation, analyst recommendations and earnings.

Risk and Volatility

Greystone Housing Impact Investors has a beta of 0.66, suggesting that its share price is 34% less volatile than the S&P 500. Comparatively, Prairie Operating has a beta of 1.59, suggesting that its share price is 59% more volatile than the S&P 500.

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Institutional and Insider Ownership

9.6% of Greystone Housing Impact Investors shares are owned by institutional investors. Comparatively, 49.5% of Prairie Operating shares are owned by institutional investors. 1.3% of Greystone Housing Impact Investors shares are owned by company insiders. Comparatively, 24.6% of Prairie Operating shares are owned by company insiders. Strong institutional ownership is an indication that endowments, large money managers and hedge funds believe a stock is poised for long-term growth.

Profitability

Net Margins Return on Equity Return on Assets Greystone Housing Impact Investors 50.11% 15.57% 3.18% Prairie Operating N/A N/A -286.57%

Analyst Recommendations

This table compares Greystone Housing Impact Investors and Prairie Operatings net margins, return on equity and return on assets.

This is a summary of recent recommendations and price targets for Greystone Housing Impact Investors and Prairie Operating, as provided by MarketBeat.com.

Sell Ratings Hold Ratings Buy Ratings Strong Buy Ratings Rating Score Greystone Housing Impact Investors 0 0 2 0 3.00 Prairie Operating 0 0 0 0 N/A

Greystone Housing Impact Investors presently has a consensus price target of $20.00, indicating a potential upside of 15.21%. Given Greystone Housing Impact Investors higher possible upside, research analysts plainly believe Greystone Housing Impact Investors is more favorable than Prairie Operating.

Valuation & Earnings

This table compares Greystone Housing Impact Investors and Prairie Operatings revenue, earnings per share (EPS) and valuation.

Gross Revenue Price/Sales Ratio Net Income Earnings Per Share Price/Earnings Ratio Greystone Housing Impact Investors $81.07 million 4.91 $65.56 million $1.93 8.99 Prairie Operating $520,000.00 3,062.90 -$13.42 million N/A N/A

Greystone Housing Impact Investors has higher revenue and earnings than Prairie Operating.

Summary

Greystone Housing Impact Investors beats Prairie Operating on 7 of the 11 factors compared between the two stocks.

About Greystone Housing Impact Investors

(Get Free Report)

Greystone Housing Impact Investors LP acquires, holds, sells, and deals in a portfolio of mortgage revenue bonds (MRBs) that are issued to provide construction and/or permanent financing for multifamily and student housing residential properties and commercial properties. It operates through four segments: Affordable Multifamily MRB Investments, Seniors and Skilled Nursing MRB Investments, MF Properties, Market-Rate Joint Venture Investments. The company was formerly known as America First Multifamily Investors, L.P. and changed its name to Greystone Housing Impact Investors LP in December 2022. The company was incorporated in 1998 and is based in Omaha, Nebraska.

About Prairie Operating

(Get Free Report)

Prairie Operating Co. engages in developing energy to meet growing demand, while protecting the environment. The company was formerly known as Creek Road Miners, Inc. and changed its name to Prairie Operating Co. in May 2023. Prairie Operating Co. is based in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma.

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Hennessy Advisors Inc. cut its holdings in shares of Coterra Energy Inc. (NYSE:CTRA  Free Report) by 2.4% in the third quarter, HoldingsChannel.com reports. The institutional investor owned 107,800 shares of the companys stock after selling 2,600 shares during the quarter. Hennessy Advisors Inc.s holdings in Coterra Energy were worth $2,916,000 as of its most recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission.

Other institutional investors also recently bought and sold shares of the company. ICA Group Wealth Management LLC purchased a new position in Coterra Energy during the 4th quarter worth approximately $25,000. Gradient Investments LLC raised its position in Coterra Energy by 1,976.2% during the 2nd quarter. Gradient Investments LLC now owns 1,308 shares of the companys stock worth $33,000 after buying an additional 1,245 shares during the last quarter. Beacon Capital Management LLC raised its position in Coterra Energy by 302.5% during the 2nd quarter. Beacon Capital Management LLC now owns 1,441 shares of the companys stock worth $36,000 after buying an additional 1,083 shares during the last quarter. Ceredex Value Advisors LLC purchased a new position in Coterra Energy during the 2nd quarter worth approximately $38,000. Finally, Missouri Trust & Investment Co purchased a new position in Coterra Energy during the 2nd quarter worth approximately $41,000. 90.54% of the stock is owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors.

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Coterra Energy Stock Down 0.3 %

Shares of CTRA opened at $25.84 on Thursday. The firm has a market cap of $19.44 billion, a P/E ratio of 8.88, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 0.21 and a beta of 0.30. Coterra Energy Inc. has a 12-month low of $22.25 and a 12-month high of $29.89. The companys 50-day moving average price is $26.54 and its 200 day moving average price is $26.77. The company has a current ratio of 1.04, a quick ratio of 1.01 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.12.

Coterra Energy Announces Dividend

Coterra Energy ( NYSE:CTRA Get Free Report ) last issued its quarterly earnings data on Monday, November 6th. The company reported $0.47 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, beating the consensus estimate of $0.44 by $0.03. The firm had revenue of $1.36 billion for the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $1.38 billion. Coterra Energy had a net margin of 33.97% and a return on equity of 17.14%. On average, sell-side analysts forecast that Coterra Energy Inc. will post 2.29 earnings per share for the current year.

The firm also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Thursday, November 30th. Shareholders of record on Thursday, November 16th were paid a dividend of $0.20 per share. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Wednesday, November 15th. This represents a $0.80 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 3.10%. Coterra Energys dividend payout ratio (DPR) is presently 27.49%.

Analysts Set New Price Targets

CTRA has been the subject of several recent research reports. Citigroup raised shares of Coterra Energy from a neutral rating to a buy rating and lifted their target price for the company from $28.00 to $30.00 in a report on Monday, December 11th. Susquehanna lifted their target price on shares of Coterra Energy from $28.00 to $31.00 and gave the company a neutral rating in a report on Wednesday, October 18th. Bank of America lifted their price target on shares of Coterra Energy from $32.00 to $34.00 in a research note on Wednesday, September 27th. Wells Fargo & Company raised shares of Coterra Energy from an equal weight rating to an overweight rating and set a $30.00 price target on the stock in a research note on Thursday, December 14th. Finally, Truist Financial lifted their target price on shares of Coterra Energy from $29.00 to $30.00 and gave the stock a hold rating in a research note on Wednesday, November 8th. Six investment analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and ten have assigned a buy rating to the company. According to data from MarketBeat.com, the stock has an average rating of Moderate Buy and an average price target of $32.07.

Read Our Latest Report on Coterra Energy

Coterra Energy Company Profile

(Free Report)

Coterra Energy Inc, an independent oil and gas company, engages in the development, exploration and production of oil, natural gas, and natural gas liquids in the United States. The company primarily focuses on the Marcellus Shale with approximately 183,000 net acres in the dry gas window of the play located in Susquehanna County, Pennsylvania.

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Hennessy Advisors Inc. reduced its holdings in shares of British American Tobacco p.l.c. (NYSE:BTI  Free Report) by 2.1% in the 3rd quarter, Holdings Channel.com reports. The fund owned 146,100 shares of the companys stock after selling 3,100 shares during the period. Hennessy Advisors Inc.s holdings in British American Tobacco were worth $4,589,000 as of its most recent SEC filing.

Several other hedge funds also recently made changes to their positions in BTI. Almanack Investment Partners LLC. acquired a new stake in shares of British American Tobacco in the 3rd quarter valued at approximately $25,000. Spotlight Asset Group Inc. acquired a new stake in shares of British American Tobacco in the 2nd quarter valued at approximately $26,000. Sanctuary Wealth Management L.L.C. acquired a new stake in shares of British American Tobacco in the 4th quarter valued at approximately $27,000. Steward Financial Group LLC acquired a new stake in shares of British American Tobacco in the 2nd quarter valued at approximately $28,000. Finally, CENTRAL TRUST Co lifted its holdings in British American Tobacco by 170.8% during the 3rd quarter. CENTRAL TRUST Co now owns 864 shares of the companys stock valued at $31,000 after purchasing an additional 545 shares during the last quarter. 7.56% of the stock is owned by institutional investors.

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British American Tobacco Stock Performance

BTI opened at $29.35 on Thursday. British American Tobacco p.l.c. has a fifty-two week low of $28.35 and a fifty-two week high of $40.84. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.51, a current ratio of 0.93 and a quick ratio of 0.58. The stock has a fifty day moving average of $30.47 and a 200-day moving average of $31.86.

Analysts Set New Price Targets

Several equities research analysts have issued reports on the company. Argus downgraded British American Tobacco from a buy rating to a hold rating in a report on Friday, September 1st. Morgan Stanley assumed coverage on British American Tobacco in a report on Wednesday, November 1st. They set an overweight rating for the company. StockNews.com raised British American Tobacco from a hold rating to a buy rating in a report on Wednesday, November 29th. Finally, Citigroup assumed coverage on British American Tobacco in a report on Monday, September 25th. They set a buy rating for the company. Two analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and three have issued a buy rating to the stock. Based on data from MarketBeat.com, British American Tobacco has an average rating of Moderate Buy.

View Our Latest Research Report on BTI

British American Tobacco Profile

(Free Report)

British American Tobacco p.l.c. engages in the provision of tobacco and nicotine products to consumers worldwide. It offers vapour, tobacco heating, and modern oral nicotine products; combustible cigarettes; and traditional oral products, such as snus and moist snuff. The company offers its products under the Vuse, glo, Velo, Grizzly, Kodiak, Dunhill, Kent, Lucky Strike, Pall Mall, Rothmans, Camel, Natural American Spirit, Newport, Vogue, Viceroy, Kool, Peter Stuyvesant, Craven A, State Express 555 and Shuang Xi brands.

Further Reading

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News On Japan - Jan 06

In a New Year's tradition that started over a century ago to help firefighters of this flood-prone area overcome their fear of water, local members of a Yamanashi City brigade were doused with cold water to symbolize purification and renewal of their commitment to bravery and service.
Hennessy Advisors Inc. lessened its holdings in Pfizer Inc. (NYSE:PFE  Free Report) by 2.2% during the 3rd quarter, according to its most recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The firm owned 185,400 shares of the biopharmaceutical companys stock after selling 4,200 shares during the quarter. Hennessy Advisors Inc.s holdings in Pfizer were worth $6,150,000 as of its most recent SEC filing.

Other institutional investors and hedge funds have also recently bought and sold shares of the company. Financial Gravity Asset Management Inc. lifted its position in Pfizer by 559.2% during the 2nd quarter. Financial Gravity Asset Management Inc. now owns 501 shares of the biopharmaceutical companys stock worth $14,919,000 after buying an additional 425 shares in the last quarter. Worth Asset Management LLC acquired a new position in Pfizer during the 1st quarter valued at about $29,000. Sanctuary Wealth Management L.L.C. acquired a new position in Pfizer during the 4th quarter valued at about $50,000. VitalStone Financial LLC lifted its position in Pfizer by 179.3% during the 2nd quarter. VitalStone Financial LLC now owns 1,106 shares of the biopharmaceutical companys stock valued at $45,000 after purchasing an additional 710 shares during the period. Finally, FWL Investment Management LLC acquired a new position in Pfizer during the 4th quarter valued at about $57,000. Institutional investors own 68.05% of the companys stock.

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Insiders Place Their Bets

In other Pfizer news, Director Scott Gottlieb acquired 3,000 shares of the businesss stock in a transaction on Friday, December 15th. The shares were acquired at an average price of $26.47 per share, with a total value of $79,410.00. Following the completion of the transaction, the director now owns 9,000 shares in the company, valued at $238,230. The acquisition was disclosed in a legal filing with the SEC, which is available at the SEC website. Insiders own 0.05% of the companys stock.

Pfizer Trading Up 0.8 %

NYSE PFE opened at $28.64 on Thursday. The company has a market cap of $161.68 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 15.65, a P/E/G ratio of 2.65 and a beta of 0.61. Pfizer Inc. has a 52 week low of $25.76 and a 52 week high of $51.67. The business has a 50 day moving average price of $29.52 and a 200-day moving average price of $33.45. The company has a quick ratio of 2.05, a current ratio of 2.38 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.63.

Pfizer (NYSE:PFE  Get Free Report) last announced its quarterly earnings results on Tuesday, October 31st. The biopharmaceutical company reported ($0.17) earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, topping the consensus estimate of ($0.32) by $0.15. Pfizer had a return on equity of 16.72% and a net margin of 15.30%. The business had revenue of $13.23 billion during the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $13.77 billion. As a group, equities analysts expect that Pfizer Inc. will post 1.53 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.

Pfizer Increases Dividend

The firm also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Friday, March 1st. Shareholders of record on Friday, January 26th will be given a $0.42 dividend. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Thursday, January 25th. This represents a $1.68 annualized dividend and a yield of 5.87%. This is a boost from Pfizers previous quarterly dividend of $0.41. Pfizers payout ratio is currently 89.62%.

Analyst Ratings Changes

A number of research analysts have issued reports on PFE shares. BMO Capital Markets cut their target price on shares of Pfizer from $44.00 to $33.00 and set an outperform rating on the stock in a research report on Monday, October 16th. Morgan Stanley lowered their price target on Pfizer from $39.00 to $37.00 and set an equal weight rating for the company in a research note on Wednesday, November 1st. Truist Financial lowered their price target on Pfizer from $42.00 to $36.00 and set a buy rating for the company in a research note on Thursday, December 14th. TheStreet cut Pfizer from a b- rating to a c+ rating in a research note on Monday, September 25th. Finally, UBS Group lowered their price target on Pfizer from $34.00 to $27.00 and set a neutral rating for the company in a research note on Thursday, December 14th. Twelve research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and five have assigned a buy rating to the company. According to data from MarketBeat, the stock presently has a consensus rating of Hold and a consensus target price of $40.35.

View Our Latest Research Report on PFE

Pfizer Profile

(Free Report)

Pfizer Inc discovers, develops, manufactures, markets, distributes, and sells biopharmaceutical products worldwide. It offers medicines and vaccines in various therapeutic areas, including cardiovascular metabolic, migraine, and women's health under the Eliquis, Nurtec ODT/Vydura, and the Premarin family brands; infectious diseases with unmet medical needs under the Prevnar family, Nimenrix, FSME/IMMUN-TicoVac, and Trumenba brands; and COVID-19 prevention and treatment, and potential future mRNA and antiviral products under the Comirnaty and Paxlovid brands.

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Impact Partnership Wealth LLC purchased a new stake in shares of Wells Fargo & Company (NYSE:WFC) in the 3rd quarter, Holdings Channel.com reports. The fund purchased 825 shares of the financial services providers stock, valued at approximately $34,000.

Several other large investors have also recently modified their holdings of WFC. Defender Capital LLC. bought a new position in shares of Wells Fargo & Company during the first quarter valued at $246,000. Fairfield Bush & CO. bought a new position in shares of Wells Fargo & Company during the first quarter valued at $124,000. Dakota Wealth Management bought a new position in Wells Fargo & Company during the first quarter worth $222,000. Candriam Luxembourg S.C.A. raised its stake in Wells Fargo & Company by 0.3% during the first quarter. Candriam Luxembourg S.C.A. now owns 273,936 shares of the financial services providers stock worth $13,274,000 after buying an additional 770 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Zions Bancorporation N.A. raised its stake in Wells Fargo & Company by 24.5% during the first quarter. Zions Bancorporation N.A. now owns 9,630 shares of the financial services providers stock worth $467,000 after buying an additional 1,895 shares during the last quarter. Institutional investors own 72.47% of the companys stock.

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Wells Fargo & Company Stock Down 0.6 %

Shares of NYSE WFC opened at $49.35 on Thursday. The stock has a market capitalization of $179.22 billion, a P/E ratio of 10.66, a P/E/G ratio of 0.96 and a beta of 1.18. The company has a 50-day moving average price of $43.81 and a 200-day moving average price of $42.96. Wells Fargo & Company has a 1 year low of $35.25 and a 1 year high of $50.77. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.17, a current ratio of 0.87 and a quick ratio of 0.87.

Wells Fargo & Company Dividend Announcement

Wells Fargo & Company ( NYSE:WFC Get Free Report ) last issued its quarterly earnings data on Friday, October 13th. The financial services provider reported $1.39 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, beating analysts consensus estimates of $1.24 by $0.15. Wells Fargo & Company had a net margin of 17.06% and a return on equity of 11.18%. The firm had revenue of $20.86 billion during the quarter, compared to analysts expectations of $20.09 billion. During the same period last year, the company earned $1.30 earnings per share. The businesss revenue was up 6.6% on a year-over-year basis. On average, equities research analysts forecast that Wells Fargo & Company will post 5.04 EPS for the current fiscal year.

The company also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Friday, December 1st. Investors of record on Friday, November 3rd were given a dividend of $0.35 per share. This represents a $1.40 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 2.84%. The ex-dividend date was Thursday, November 2nd. Wells Fargo & Companys payout ratio is currently 30.24%.

Insider Activity at Wells Fargo & Company

In other news, Director Richard K. Davis purchased 3,500 shares of the companys stock in a transaction that occurred on Thursday, November 9th. The shares were bought at an average cost of $41.22 per share, with a total value of $144,270.00. Following the completion of the transaction, the director now directly owns 4,244 shares of the companys stock, valued at $174,937.68. The acquisition was disclosed in a legal filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available at this hyperlink. 0.07% of the stock is owned by insiders.

Analyst Ratings Changes

A number of equities analysts recently weighed in on WFC shares. Raymond James lifted their target price on shares of Wells Fargo & Company from $52.00 to $55.00 and gave the stock a strong-buy rating in a research note on Wednesday, December 6th. Morgan Stanley lifted their target price on shares of Wells Fargo & Company from $52.00 to $54.00 and gave the stock an overweight rating in a research note on Monday, December 4th. HSBC started coverage on shares of Wells Fargo & Company in a report on Thursday, September 7th. They issued a hold rating and a $45.00 price target for the company. Deutsche Bank Aktiengesellschaft restated a buy rating and issued a $44.00 price target on shares of Wells Fargo & Company in a report on Friday, September 22nd. Finally, Jefferies Financial Group reduced their price target on shares of Wells Fargo & Company from $48.00 to $43.00 in a report on Tuesday, October 10th. Eight equities research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating, nine have issued a buy rating and one has given a strong buy rating to the companys stock. According to data from MarketBeat.com, Wells Fargo & Company currently has a consensus rating of Moderate Buy and an average price target of $49.56.

Get Our Latest Stock Analysis on WFC

About Wells Fargo & Company

(Free Report)

Wells Fargo & Company, a diversified financial services company, provides banking, investment, mortgage, and consumer and commercial finance products and services in the United States and internationally. It operates through four segments: Consumer Banking and Lending; Commercial Banking; Corporate and Investment Banking; and Wealth and Investment Management.

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Want to see what other hedge funds are holding WFC? Visit HoldingsChannel.com to get the latest 13F filings and insider trades for Wells Fargo & Company (NYSE:WFC  Free Report).

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Impact Partnership Wealth LLC acquired a new stake in Wells Fargo & Company (NYSE:WFC) in the 3rd quarter, Holdings Channel reports. The firm acquired 825 shares of the financial services providers stock, valued at approximately $34,000.

Other hedge funds and other institutional investors have also made changes to their positions in the company. Kathmere Capital Management LLC boosted its stake in shares of Wells Fargo & Company by 19.5% in the 3rd quarter. Kathmere Capital Management LLC now owns 7,248 shares of the financial services providers stock valued at $296,000 after buying an additional 1,185 shares during the period. Caxton Associates LP purchased a new stake in Wells Fargo & Company during the second quarter worth approximately $4,967,000. Pegasus Partners Ltd. purchased a new stake in Wells Fargo & Company during the second quarter worth approximately $226,000. Kentucky Retirement Systems Insurance Trust Fund purchased a new stake in Wells Fargo & Company during the third quarter worth approximately $5,143,000. Finally, Westwood Holdings Group Inc. lifted its stake in Wells Fargo & Company by 8,260.6% during the second quarter. Westwood Holdings Group Inc. now owns 1,781,638 shares of the financial services providers stock worth $76,040,000 after purchasing an additional 1,760,328 shares during the last quarter. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 72.47% of the companys stock.

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Insider Buying and Selling

In other Wells Fargo & Company news, Director Richard K. Davis acquired 3,500 shares of the companys stock in a transaction that occurred on Thursday, November 9th. The shares were purchased at an average price of $41.22 per share, with a total value of $144,270.00. Following the completion of the acquisition, the director now directly owns 4,244 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $174,937.68. The acquisition was disclosed in a filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is accessible through this link. 0.07% of the stock is currently owned by corporate insiders.

Analyst Ratings Changes

WFC has been the subject of several recent analyst reports. Morgan Stanley boosted their target price on Wells Fargo & Company from $52.00 to $54.00 and gave the stock an overweight rating in a research note on Monday, December 4th. Deutsche Bank Aktiengesellschaft restated a buy rating and set a $44.00 target price on shares of Wells Fargo & Company in a research note on Friday, September 22nd. Piper Sandler boosted their target price on Wells Fargo & Company from $45.00 to $47.00 and gave the stock a neutral rating in a research note on Friday, December 8th. BMO Capital Markets boosted their target price on Wells Fargo & Company from $52.00 to $54.00 and gave the stock a market perform rating in a research note on Monday, October 16th. Finally, Odeon Capital Group upgraded Wells Fargo & Company from a hold rating to a buy rating and set a $56.08 price objective for the company in a research note on Thursday, December 14th. Eight equities research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating, nine have given a buy rating and one has issued 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 price target of $49.56.

Get Our Latest Stock Report on WFC

Wells Fargo & Company Trading Down 0.6 %

NYSE:WFC opened at $49.35 on Thursday. The firm has a market cap of $179.22 billion, a P/E ratio of 10.66, a PEG ratio of 0.96 and a beta of 1.18. The company has a current ratio of 0.87, a quick ratio of 0.87 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.17. The stocks 50 day simple moving average is $43.81 and its 200-day simple moving average is $42.96. Wells Fargo & Company has a 12-month low of $35.25 and a 12-month high of $50.77.

Wells Fargo & Company (NYSE:WFC  Get Free Report) last released its earnings results on Friday, October 13th. The financial services provider reported $1.39 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, beating analysts consensus estimates of $1.24 by $0.15. The business had revenue of $20.86 billion for the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $20.09 billion. Wells Fargo & Company had a return on equity of 11.18% and a net margin of 17.06%. The companys revenue for the quarter was up 6.6% compared to the same quarter last year. During the same quarter in the previous year, the company posted $1.30 earnings per share. Equities analysts anticipate that Wells Fargo & Company will post 5.04 EPS for the current year.

Wells Fargo & Company Announces Dividend

The firm also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Friday, December 1st. Investors of record on Friday, November 3rd were issued a dividend of $0.35 per share. This represents a $1.40 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 2.84%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Thursday, November 2nd. Wells Fargo & Companys dividend payout ratio is presently 30.24%.

Wells Fargo & Company Profile

(Free Report)

Wells Fargo & Company, a diversified financial services company, provides banking, investment, mortgage, and consumer and commercial finance products and services in the United States and internationally. It operates through four segments: Consumer Banking and Lending; Commercial Banking; Corporate and Investment Banking; and Wealth and Investment Management.

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Invesco China Technology ETF (NYSEARCA:CQQQ  Get Free Report) saw unusually-high trading volume on Tuesday . Approximately 677,461 shares traded hands during trading, an increase of 324% from the previous sessions volume of 159,819 shares.The stock last traded at $34.59 and had previously closed at $34.63.

Invesco China Technology ETF Price Performance

The firm has a market capitalization of $717.60 million, a PE ratio of 77.33 and a beta of 0.64. The firm has a fifty day moving average price of $36.00 and a 200 day moving average price of $38.21.

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Institutional Investors Weigh In On Invesco China Technology ETF

Several hedge funds have recently modified their holdings of the stock. Envestnet Asset Management Inc. raised its position in Invesco China Technology ETF by 5.0% during the third quarter. Envestnet Asset Management Inc. now owns 7,088 shares of the companys stock valued at $257,000 after buying an additional 335 shares during the period. Citigroup Inc. raised its position in Invesco China Technology ETF by 10.2% during the first quarter. Citigroup Inc. now owns 5,608 shares of the companys stock valued at $263,000 after buying an additional 520 shares during the period. Stifel Financial Corp raised its position in Invesco China Technology ETF by 2.1% during the third quarter. Stifel Financial Corp now owns 28,830 shares of the companys stock valued at $1,044,000 after buying an additional 581 shares during the period. Simplex Trading LLC raised its position in Invesco China Technology ETF by 168.4% during the second quarter. Simplex Trading LLC now owns 1,004 shares of the companys stock valued at $39,000 after buying an additional 630 shares during the period. Finally, Natixis acquired a new position in Invesco China Technology ETF during the second quarter valued at $32,000.

Invesco China Technology ETF Company Profile

Guggenheim China Technology ETF (the Fund), formerly Claymore China Technology ETF, seeks investment results that correspond generally to the performance, before the Funds fees and expenses, of an equity index called the AlphaShares China Technology Index (the Index). The Fund will invest at least 80% of its total assets in common stock, American depositary receipts (ADRs), American depositary shares (ADSs), global depositary receipts (GDRs) and international depositary receipts (IDRs) that comprise the Index and depositary receipts or shares representing common stocks included in the Index (or underlying securities representing ADRs, ADSs, GDRs and IDRs included in the Index).

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Private Trust Co. NA raised its stake in shares of iShares MSCI EAFE Value ETF (BATS:EFV  Free Report) by 36.9% during the 3rd quarter, according to the company in its most recent 13F filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The firm owned 18,080 shares of the companys stock after buying an additional 4,873 shares during the period. Private Trust Co. NAs holdings in iShares MSCI EAFE Value ETF were worth $885,000 as of its most recent SEC filing.

Other large investors have also recently bought and sold shares of the company. Zhang Financial LLC grew its stake in shares of iShares MSCI EAFE Value ETF by 0.3% in the 2nd quarter. Zhang Financial LLC now owns 88,339 shares of the companys stock worth $4,322,000 after purchasing an additional 236 shares during the last quarter. Stephens Inc. AR boosted its holdings in shares of iShares MSCI EAFE Value ETF by 1.9% in the first quarter. Stephens Inc. AR now owns 13,430 shares of the companys stock worth $652,000 after buying an additional 249 shares during the period. American Financial Advisors LLC boosted its holdings in shares of iShares MSCI EAFE Value ETF by 1.6% in the second quarter. American Financial Advisors LLC now owns 16,987 shares of the companys stock worth $831,000 after buying an additional 269 shares during the period. Benjamin F. Edwards & Company Inc. boosted its holdings in shares of iShares MSCI EAFE Value ETF by 0.9% in the second quarter. Benjamin F. Edwards & Company Inc. now owns 31,848 shares of the companys stock worth $1,559,000 after buying an additional 284 shares during the period. Finally, Verus Capital Partners LLC grew its position in iShares MSCI EAFE Value ETF by 1.3% during the second quarter. Verus Capital Partners LLC now owns 22,472 shares of the companys stock valued at $1,100,000 after purchasing an additional 297 shares in the last quarter.

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iShares MSCI EAFE Value ETF Stock Up 0.5 %

EFV stock opened at $52.18 on Thursday. The firm has a 50 day moving average of $49.73 and a two-hundred day moving average of $49.41. iShares MSCI EAFE Value ETF has a 12 month low of $49.15 and a 12 month high of $59.57. The company has a market capitalization of $17.53 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 9.51 and a beta of 0.84.

iShares MSCI EAFE Value ETF Profile

iShares MSCI EAFE Value ETF (the Fund), formerly iShares MSCI EAFE Value Index Fund, is an exchange-traded fund (ETF). The Fund seeks to provide investment results that correspond generally to the price and yield performance, before fees and expenses, of the MSCI EAFE Value Index. The Index is a subset of the MSCI EAFE Index and constituents of the Index include securities from Europe, Australasia (Australia and Asia), and the Far East.

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New Hampshire Trust cut its holdings in shares of The Procter & Gamble Company (NYSE:PG  Free Report) by 1.4% during the third quarter, according to the company in its most recent disclosure with the Securities & Exchange Commission. The firm owned 35,754 shares of the companys stock after selling 519 shares during the quarter. Procter & Gamble makes up about 1.4% of New Hampshire Trusts investment portfolio, making the stock its 17th biggest position. New Hampshire Trusts holdings in Procter & Gamble were worth $5,215,000 at the end of the most recent quarter.

A number of other institutional investors and hedge funds have also bought and sold shares of the business. Your Advocates Ltd. LLP grew its position in shares of Procter & Gamble by 632.0% during the second quarter. Your Advocates Ltd. LLP now owns 183 shares of the companys stock valued at $28,000 after purchasing an additional 158 shares in the last quarter. Wunderlich Capital Managemnt purchased a new position in shares of Procter & Gamble during the second quarter valued at about $40,000. Itau Unibanco Holding S.A. purchased a new position in shares of Procter & Gamble during the second quarter valued at about $50,000. CGC Financial Services LLC purchased a new position in Procter & Gamble in the second quarter worth about $55,000. Finally, Impact Partnership Wealth LLC purchased a new position in Procter & Gamble in the second quarter worth about $57,000. 63.43% of the stock is owned by institutional investors.

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Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades

Several research analysts recently commented on the company. Jefferies Financial Group assumed coverage on Procter & Gamble in a research report on Monday, November 13th. They issued a buy rating and a $177.00 price target for the company. JPMorgan Chase & Co. dropped their price target on Procter & Gamble from $172.00 to $169.00 and set an overweight rating for the company in a research report on Thursday, October 12th. Barclays dropped their price target on Procter & Gamble from $166.00 to $154.00 and set an overweight rating for the company in a research report on Thursday, October 12th. StockNews.com lowered Procter & Gamble from a buy rating to a hold rating in a research report on Tuesday. Finally, William Blair started coverage on Procter & Gamble in a research report on Friday, September 8th. They issued a market perform rating for the company. They noted that the move was a valuation call. Seven investment analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and twelve have assigned a buy rating to the stock. According to data from MarketBeat, the stock has an average rating of Moderate Buy and an average price target of $166.41.

Procter & Gamble Stock Performance

Procter & Gamble stock opened at $146.09 on Thursday. The company has a 50 day moving average price of $148.98 and a 200-day moving average price of $150.32. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.51, a quick ratio of 0.48 and a current ratio of 0.67. The Procter & Gamble Company has a fifty-two week low of $135.83 and a fifty-two week high of $158.38. The company has a market capitalization of $344.32 billion, a PE ratio of 23.72, a P/E/G ratio of 3.02 and a beta of 0.46.

Procter & Gamble (NYSE:PG  Get Free Report) last posted its quarterly earnings results on Wednesday, October 18th. The company reported $1.83 earnings per share for the quarter, beating the consensus estimate of $1.71 by $0.12. The firm had revenue of $21.87 billion during the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $21.58 billion. Procter & Gamble had a net margin of 18.30% and a return on equity of 33.49%. The companys revenue was up 6.1% on a year-over-year basis. During the same quarter in the previous year, the firm posted $1.57 earnings per share. As a group, equities analysts forecast that The Procter & Gamble Company will post 6.42 earnings per share for the current year.

Procter & Gamble Announces Dividend

The firm also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Wednesday, November 15th. Investors of record on Friday, October 20th were paid a $0.9407 dividend. This represents a $3.76 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 2.58%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Thursday, October 19th. Procter & Gambles dividend payout ratio (DPR) is 61.04%.

Insider Buying and Selling

In related news, CAO Matthew W. Janzaruk sold 188 shares of the businesss stock in a transaction that occurred on Friday, October 20th. The shares were sold at an average price of $148.52, for a total value of $27,921.76. Following the completion of the transaction, the chief accounting officer now owns 626 shares of the companys stock, valued at $92,973.52. The sale was disclosed in a legal filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is accessible through this link. In other Procter & Gamble news, CAO Matthew W. Janzaruk sold 188 shares of Procter & Gamble stock in a transaction on Friday, October 20th. The shares were sold at an average price of $148.52, for a total value of $27,921.76. Following the transaction, the chief accounting officer now directly owns 626 shares of the companys stock, valued at $92,973.52. The transaction was disclosed in a filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available through the SEC website. Also, CEO R. Alexandra Keith sold 19,661 shares of Procter & Gamble stock in a transaction on Tuesday, November 14th. The stock was sold at an average price of $153.47, for a total transaction of $3,017,373.67. Following the completion of the transaction, the chief executive officer now directly owns 24,438 shares in the company, valued at $3,750,499.86. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. Insiders sold 79,382 shares of company stock valued at $11,988,690 over the last 90 days. Corporate insiders own 0.17% of the companys stock.

Procter & Gamble Profile

(Free Report)

The Procter & Gamble Company provides branded consumer packaged goods worldwide. It operates through five segments: Beauty; Grooming; Health Care; Fabric & Home Care; and Baby, Feminine & Family Care. The Beauty segment offers conditioners, shampoos, styling aids, and treatments under the Head & Shoulders, Herbal Essences, Pantene, and Rejoice brands; and antiperspirants and deodorants, personal cleansing, and skin care products under the Olay, Old Spice, Safeguard, Secret, and SK-II brands.

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Avolta (OTCMKTS:DUFRY  Get Free Report) and BZAM (OTCMKTS:BZAMF  Get Free Report) are both consumer discretionary companies, but which is the better business? We will contrast the two companies based on the strength of their analyst recommendations, earnings, institutional ownership, risk, dividends, valuation and profitability.

Risk and Volatility

Avolta has a beta of 1.57, meaning that its share price is 57% more volatile than the S&P 500. Comparatively, BZAM has a beta of 2.06, meaning that its share price is 106% more volatile than the S&P 500.

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Analyst Ratings

This is a summary of recent ratings and target prices for Avolta and BZAM, as provided by MarketBeat.

Sell Ratings Hold Ratings Buy Ratings Strong Buy Ratings Rating Score Avolta 0 0 4 0 3.00 BZAM 0 0 1 0 3.00

Valuation and Earnings

This table compares Avolta and BZAMs gross revenue, earnings per share (EPS) and valuation.

Gross Revenue Price/Sales Ratio Net Income Earnings Per Share Price/Earnings Ratio Avolta $7.21 billion 0.81 $60.99 million N/A N/A BZAM $37.96 million 0.45 -$27.31 million ($0.52) -0.18

Avolta has higher revenue and earnings than BZAM.

Profitability

This table compares Avolta and BZAMs net margins, return on equity and return on assets.

Net Margins Return on Equity Return on Assets Avolta N/A N/A N/A BZAM -122.29% -35.59% -21.84%

Institutional & Insider Ownership

0.0% of BZAM shares are owned by institutional investors. 8.7% of BZAM shares are owned by 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.

Summary

Avolta beats BZAM on 7 of the 10 factors compared between the two stocks.

About Avolta

(Get Free Report)

Avolta AG operates as a travel retailer. The company's retail brands include general travel retail shops under the Dufry, World Duty Free, Nuance, Hellenic Duty Free, Colombian Emeralds, Duty Free Uruguay, Hudson, Duty Free Shop Argentina, RegStaer, Autogrill, Hellenic Duty Free, HMSHost, and World Duty Free brands; Dufry shopping stores; brand boutiques; convenience stores primarily under the Hudson brand; and specialized shops and theme stores. It offers perfumes and cosmetics, food and confectionery, wines and spirits, watches and jewelry, fashion and leather, tobacco goods, souvenirs, electronics, soft drinks, packaged food, travel accessories, personal items, sunglasses, destination merchandise, and other products, as well as newspapers, magazines, and books. It operates duty-free and duty-paid shops located at airports, cruise lines, seaports, railway stations, and downtown tourist areas worldwide. The company was formerly known as Dufry AG and changed its name to Avolta AG in November 2023. The company was incorporated in 1865 and is headquartered in Basel, Switzerland.

About BZAM

(Get Free Report)

BZAM Ltd. operates as a cannabis producer with a focus on branded consumer goods. Its brands include the BZAM, TGOD, ness, Highly Dutch Organic, and TABLE TOP, as well as Dunn Cannabis, FRESH, and Wyld partner brands. The company operate facilities in British Columbia, Alberta, Ontario, and Quebec, as well as retail stores in Winnipeg, Manitoba and Regina, Saskatchewan. The company was formerly known as The Green Organic Dutchman Holdings Ltd. and changed its name to BZAM Ltd. in February 2023. The company was incorporated in 2016 and is headquartered in Vancouver, Canada.

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First Republic Bank (OTCMKTS:FRCB  Get Free Report) and Intercorp Financial Services (NYSE:IFS  Get Free Report) are both finance companies, but which is the superior investment? We will contrast the two businesses based on the strength of their institutional ownership, earnings, risk, profitability, valuation, analyst recommendations and dividends.

Insider and Institutional Ownership

1.9% of First Republic Bank shares are held by institutional investors. 0.7% of First Republic Bank shares are held by insiders. Strong institutional ownership is an indication that hedge funds, large money managers and endowments believe a company is poised for long-term growth.

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Valuation & Earnings

This table compares First Republic Bank and Intercorp Financial Services gross revenue, earnings per share (EPS) and valuation.

Gross Revenue Price/Sales Ratio Net Income Earnings Per Share Price/Earnings Ratio First Republic Bank $6.75 billion 0.00 $1.67 billion 7.48 0.00 Intercorp Financial Services $1.33 billion N/A $428.60 million $2.72 7.72

Analyst Recommendations

First Republic Bank has higher revenue and earnings than Intercorp Financial Services. First Republic Bank is trading at a lower price-to-earnings ratio than Intercorp Financial Services, indicating that it is currently the more affordable of the two stocks.

This is a breakdown of recent ratings for First Republic Bank and Intercorp Financial Services, as provided by MarketBeat.

Sell Ratings Hold Ratings Buy Ratings Strong Buy Ratings Rating Score First Republic Bank 0 0 0 0 N/A Intercorp Financial Services 0 0 2 0 3.00

Intercorp Financial Services has a consensus price target of $30.95, indicating a potential upside of 47.38%. Given Intercorp Financial Services higher possible upside, analysts plainly believe Intercorp Financial Services is more favorable than First Republic Bank.

Risk and Volatility

First Republic Bank has a beta of 1.51, meaning that its stock price is 51% more volatile than the S&P 500. Comparatively, Intercorp Financial Services has a beta of 1.26, meaning that its stock price is 26% more volatile than the S&P 500.

Profitability

This table compares First Republic Bank and Intercorp Financial Services net margins, return on equity and return on assets.

Net Margins Return on Equity Return on Assets First Republic Bank 20.45% 11.26% 0.72% Intercorp Financial Services 19.56% 12.37% 1.34%

Summary

First Republic Bank beats Intercorp Financial Services on 7 of the 12 factors compared between the two stocks.

About First Republic Bank

(Get Free Report)

As of May 1, 2023, First Republic Bank went out of business. Previously, First Republic Bank provided private banking, private business banking, and private wealth management services to clients in metropolitan areas in the United States. The company was founded in 1985 and was headquartered in San Francisco, California. First Republic Bank now trades on OTCPK.

About Intercorp Financial Services

(Get Free Report)

Intercorp Financial Services Inc. provides banking, insurance, wealth management, and payment services for retail and commercial clients in Peru. The company provides loans, credit facilities, deposits, and current accounts; life annuity products with single-premium payment and conventional life insurance products, as well as other retail insurance products; and brokerage and investment management services. It also engages in management, operation, and processing of credit and debit cards. The company was incorporated in 1897 and is based in Lima, Peru. Intercorp Financial Services Inc. operates as a subsidiary of Intercorp Peru Ltd.

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Roman Butler Fullerton & Co. lifted its holdings in UnitedHealth Group Incorporated (NYSE:UNH  Free Report) by 35.0% in the third quarter, according to the company in its most recent 13F filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The fund owned 1,512 shares of the healthcare conglomerates stock after acquiring an additional 392 shares during the period. Roman Butler Fullerton & Co.s holdings in UnitedHealth Group were worth $816,000 at the end of the most recent quarter.

Other hedge funds and other institutional investors have also added to or reduced their stakes in the company. Bank Julius Baer & Co. Ltd Zurich boosted its stake in UnitedHealth Group by 97,436.9% during the second quarter. Bank Julius Baer & Co. Ltd Zurich now owns 1,029,274,230 shares of the healthcare conglomerates stock worth $494,710,366,000 after buying an additional 1,028,218,963 shares during the period. BlackRock Inc. lifted its stake in UnitedHealth Group by 0.7% in the first quarter. BlackRock Inc. now owns 74,928,539 shares of the healthcare conglomerates stock worth $35,410,478,000 after purchasing an additional 509,633 shares during the last quarter. State Street Corp raised its holdings in shares of UnitedHealth Group by 1.7% in the second quarter. State Street Corp now owns 46,313,751 shares of the healthcare conglomerates stock worth $22,260,241,000 after buying an additional 764,872 shares during the period. Wellington Management Group LLP boosted its holdings in UnitedHealth Group by 0.6% during the 1st quarter. Wellington Management Group LLP now owns 24,079,140 shares of the healthcare conglomerates stock valued at $11,379,561,000 after acquiring an additional 140,312 shares during the period. Finally, Geode Capital Management LLC lifted its position in shares of UnitedHealth Group by 2.6% during the second quarter. Geode Capital Management LLC now owns 17,546,024 shares of the healthcare conglomerates stock worth $8,410,038,000 after purchasing an additional 444,629 shares during the last quarter. 85.69% of the stock is currently owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors.

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Insider Buying and Selling at UnitedHealth Group

In related news, EVP Erin Mcsweeney sold 4,498 shares of UnitedHealth Group stock in a transaction that occurred on Monday, October 16th. The stock was sold at an average price of $544.28, for a total transaction of $2,448,171.44. Following the completion of the transaction, the executive vice president now directly owns 9,218 shares in the company, valued at $5,017,173.04. The sale was disclosed in a document filed with the SEC, which can be accessed through this hyperlink. In other news, EVP Erin Mcsweeney sold 4,498 shares of UnitedHealth Group stock in a transaction that occurred on Monday, October 16th. The shares were sold at an average price of $544.28, for a total transaction of $2,448,171.44. Following the completion of the transaction, the executive vice president now directly owns 9,218 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $5,017,173.04. The transaction was disclosed in a legal filing with the SEC, which is available through the SEC website. Also, Director Stephen J. Hemsley sold 121,515 shares of the firms stock in a transaction on Tuesday, October 17th. The shares were sold at an average price of $540.58, for a total transaction of $65,688,578.70. Following the sale, the director now owns 521,818 shares in the company, valued at approximately $282,084,374.44. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. In the last quarter, insiders sold 192,094 shares of company stock worth $104,507,072. Insiders own 0.35% of the companys stock.

Wall Street Analyst Weigh In

UNH has been the topic of a number of research analyst reports. Morgan Stanley dropped their target price on shares of UnitedHealth Group from $587.00 to $579.00 and set an overweight rating on the stock in a research note on Monday, October 23rd. Cantor Fitzgerald restated an overweight rating and set a $591.00 price target on shares of UnitedHealth Group in a research note on Tuesday, November 21st. UBS Group upgraded shares of UnitedHealth Group from a neutral rating to a buy rating and increased their target price for the stock from $520.00 to $640.00 in a report on Monday, October 16th. Truist Financial reiterated a buy rating and set a $610.00 price objective on shares of UnitedHealth Group in a research note on Thursday, November 30th. Finally, Stephens reaffirmed an overweight rating and set a $585.00 target price on shares of UnitedHealth Group in a research report on Wednesday, December 13th. One analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, one has assigned a hold rating, fourteen have assigned a buy rating and one has given a strong buy rating to the stock. According to MarketBeat, the company has a consensus rating of Moderate Buy and a consensus price target of $574.89.

View Our Latest Report on UNH

UnitedHealth Group Trading Up 0.5 %

NYSE:UNH opened at $522.87 on Thursday. The company has a market capitalization of $483.61 billion, a P/E ratio of 22.69, a PEG ratio of 1.58 and a beta of 0.61. The company has a current ratio of 0.80, a quick ratio of 0.80 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.65. The firm has a fifty day simple moving average of $535.77 and a 200-day simple moving average of $508.38. UnitedHealth Group Incorporated has a 12 month low of $445.68 and a 12 month high of $554.70.

UnitedHealth Group (NYSE:UNH  Get Free Report) last announced its quarterly earnings data on Friday, October 13th. The healthcare conglomerate reported $6.56 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, topping the consensus estimate of $6.33 by $0.23. UnitedHealth Group had a return on equity of 26.58% and a net margin of 6.02%. The firm had revenue of $92.36 billion during the quarter, compared to analysts expectations of $91.41 billion. During the same period last year, the business posted $5.79 earnings per share. The companys revenue for the quarter was up 14.2% compared to the same quarter last year. On average, equities research analysts anticipate that UnitedHealth Group Incorporated will post 24.95 earnings per share for the current year.

UnitedHealth Group Announces Dividend

The firm also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Tuesday, December 12th. Shareholders of record on Monday, December 4th were issued a $1.88 dividend. This represents a $7.52 annualized dividend and a yield of 1.44%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Friday, December 1st. UnitedHealth Groups payout ratio is 32.64%.

UnitedHealth Group Company Profile

(Free Report)

UnitedHealth Group Incorporated operates as a diversified health care company in the United States. It operates through four segments: UnitedHealthcare, Optum Health, Optum Insight, and Optum Rx. The UnitedHealthcare segment offers consumer-oriented health benefit plans and services for national employers, public sector employers, mid-sized employers, small businesses, and individuals; health care coverage, and health and well-being services to individuals age 50 and older addressing their needs; Medicaid plans, children's health insurance and health care programs; and health and dental benefits, and hospital and clinical services, as well as health care benefits products and services to state programs caring for the economically disadvantaged, medically underserved, and those without the benefit of employer-funded health care coverage.

Further Reading

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Savers Value Village, Inc. (NYSE:SVV  Get Free Report) has received a consensus rating of Buy from the nine ratings firms that are currently covering the stock, Marketbeat Ratings reports. Nine analysts have rated the stock with a buy rating. The average twelve-month price objective among brokers that have updated their coverage on the stock in the last year is $27.63.

A number of brokerages recently weighed in on SVV. The Goldman Sachs Group cut their price target on shares of Savers Value Village from $29.00 to $25.00 and set a buy rating on the stock in a report on Friday, November 10th. Piper Sandler cut their price target on shares of Savers Value Village from $30.00 to $24.00 and set an overweight rating on the stock in a report on Friday, November 10th. Finally, Loop Capital reissued a buy rating and issued a $31.00 price target on shares of Savers Value Village in a report on Tuesday, September 26th.

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View Our Latest Stock Report on Savers Value Village

Savers Value Village Trading Up 1.3 %

NYSE SVV opened at $17.43 on Thursday. Savers Value Village has a 1 year low of $10.16 and a 1 year high of $26.88. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 2.50, a current ratio of 0.93 and a quick ratio of 0.77. The business has a fifty day moving average price of $14.88.

Savers Value Village (NYSE:SVV  Get Free Report) last posted its earnings results on Thursday, November 9th. The company reported ($0.05) earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, missing the consensus estimate of $0.18 by ($0.23). Savers Value Village had a return on equity of 34.22% and a net margin of 2.40%. The firm had revenue of $392.70 million during the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $395.61 million. Equities research analysts forecast that Savers Value Village will post 0.64 EPS for the current year.

Institutional Investors Weigh In On Savers Value Village

Several institutional investors have recently added to or reduced their stakes in SVV. Tower Research Capital LLC TRC lifted its holdings in shares of Savers Value Village by 5,798.0% in the third quarter. Tower Research Capital LLC TRC now owns 3,008 shares of the companys stock worth $56,000 after buying an additional 2,957 shares in the last quarter. Amalgamated Bank bought a new position in shares of Savers Value Village in the third quarter worth approximately $60,000. Citigroup Inc. bought a new position in shares of Savers Value Village in the third quarter worth approximately $92,000. California State Teachers Retirement System bought a new position in shares of Savers Value Village in the third quarter worth approximately $107,000. Finally, Picton Mahoney Asset Management bought a new position in shares of Savers Value Village in the third quarter worth approximately $188,000. 98.78% of the stock is owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors.

Savers Value Village Company Profile

(Get Free Report

Savers Value Village, Inc sells second-hand merchandise in retail stores in the United States, Canada, and Australia. It operates stores under the Savers, Value Village, Village des Valeurs, Unique, and 2nd Avenue banners. The company purchases secondhand textiles, including clothing, bedding, and bath items; shoes; accessories; housewares; books; and other goods from non-profit partners, then processes, selects, prices, merchandises, and sells them in its stores.

Further Reading

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TOKYO, Dec 28 ( News On Japan ) - The labor union of budget airline Jetstar Japan continues its strike over unpaid wages, threatening to spill into the New Year holiday season as negotiations with the company break down.

The Jetstar Crew Association, a labor union comprising pilots and cabin crew of Jetstar Japan, has been striking since December 22, refusing to work due to unpaid wages.

The union conducted collective bargaining with the company on December 27, but decided to continue the strike, stating that there was "no progress in response to their demands."

The strike is scheduled to continue as originally planned until January 7.

As the year-end peak looms, about 36 of the 100 participating members  the highest number to date  are expected to strike on December 29.

Jetstar Japan has explained that the six flights canceled so far were due to "sickness and strike effects."

As no compromise was reached in the discussions with the union, the company plans to request mediation from the Central Labor Relations Commission, a national agency that intervenes in labor disputes, on December 28.

The company commented, "We will continue to make adjustments as much as possible, but in case of flight cancellations, we will notify via our website," raising concerns about the impact on flight operations.
SS&H Financial Advisors Inc. acquired a new position in shares of Medtronic plc (NYSE:MDT  Free Report) in the third quarter, Holdings Channel reports. The firm acquired 2,756 shares of the medical technology companys stock, valued at approximately $216,000.

A number of other institutional investors also recently added to or reduced their stakes in MDT. Venturi Wealth Management LLC raised its stake in Medtronic by 48.9% in the 2nd quarter. Venturi Wealth Management LLC now owns 344 shares of the medical technology companys stock valued at $30,000 after purchasing an additional 113 shares during the last quarter. OLD National Bancorp IN raised its position in shares of Medtronic by 0.9% in the second quarter. OLD National Bancorp IN now owns 13,252 shares of the medical technology companys stock valued at $1,168,000 after buying an additional 116 shares during the last quarter. Pinnacle Bancorp Inc. raised its position in shares of Medtronic by 3.8% in the second quarter. Pinnacle Bancorp Inc. now owns 3,219 shares of the medical technology companys stock valued at $284,000 after buying an additional 117 shares during the last quarter. First PREMIER Bank lifted its stake in shares of Medtronic by 2.5% during the second quarter. First PREMIER Bank now owns 4,829 shares of the medical technology companys stock valued at $425,000 after buying an additional 120 shares during the period. Finally, Hall Capital Management Co. Inc. boosted its position in Medtronic by 2.9% during the second quarter. Hall Capital Management Co. Inc. now owns 4,226 shares of the medical technology companys stock worth $372,000 after acquiring an additional 120 shares during the last quarter. Institutional investors own 80.75% of the companys stock.

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Insiders Place Their Bets

In other news, EVP Brett A. Wall sold 4,997 shares of Medtronic stock in a transaction that occurred on Tuesday, December 19th. The shares were sold at an average price of $82.17, for a total transaction of $410,603.49. Following the sale, the executive vice president now owns 28,910 shares in the company, valued at $2,375,534.70. The transaction was disclosed in a legal filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available at the SEC website. 0.30% of the stock is owned by company insiders.

Analysts Set New Price Targets

A number of research analysts have weighed in on MDT shares. Royal Bank of Canada reissued a sector perform rating and set a $82.00 price target on shares of Medtronic in a research note on Wednesday, November 22nd. Truist Financial increased their target price on Medtronic from $84.00 to $87.00 and gave the stock a hold rating in a research report on Friday, December 22nd. Morgan Stanley dropped their price objective on shares of Medtronic from $104.00 to $98.00 and set an overweight rating for the company in a research note on Wednesday, November 22nd. Finally, StockNews.com began coverage on shares of Medtronic in a research report on Thursday, October 5th. They issued a buy rating on the stock. One equities research analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, four have issued a hold rating and seven have issued a buy rating to the stock. According to MarketBeat, Medtronic has an average rating of Moderate Buy and a consensus target price of $93.08.

View Our Latest Analysis on MDT

Medtronic Price Performance

Medtronic stock opened at $82.42 on Thursday. The firm has a fifty day moving average of $76.58 and a 200-day moving average of $80.78. Medtronic plc has a 52-week low of $68.84 and a 52-week high of $92.02. The company has a quick ratio of 1.69, a current ratio of 2.29 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.46. The firm has a market capitalization of $109.59 billion, a P/E ratio of 26.85, a PEG ratio of 3.06 and a beta of 0.73.

Medtronic (NYSE:MDT  Get Free Report) last announced its quarterly earnings results on Tuesday, November 21st. The medical technology company reported $1.25 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, beating the consensus estimate of $1.18 by $0.07. The firm had revenue of $7.98 billion during the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $7.93 billion. Medtronic had a return on equity of 13.73% and a net margin of 12.83%. The firms quarterly revenue was up 5.3% compared to the same quarter last year. During the same period in the prior year, the firm earned $1.30 EPS. As a group, analysts predict that Medtronic plc will post 5.16 EPS for the current year.

Medtronic Dividend Announcement

The business also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Friday, January 12th. Investors of record on Wednesday, December 20th will be given a dividend of $0.69 per share. This represents a $2.76 annualized dividend and a yield of 3.35%. The ex-dividend date is Tuesday, December 19th. Medtronics dividend payout ratio (DPR) is presently 89.90%.

Medtronic Profile

(Free Report)

Medtronic plc develops, manufactures, and sells device-based medical therapies to healthcare systems, physicians, clinicians, and patients worldwide. Its Cardiovascular Portfolio segment offers implantable cardiac pacemakers, cardioverter defibrillators, and cardiac resynchronization therapy devices; cardiac ablation products; insertable cardiac monitor systems; TYRX products; and remote monitoring and patient-centered software.

Further Reading

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Shares of Stellantis (NYSE:STLA  Get Free Report) have earned an average recommendation of Moderate Buy from the seven analysts that are currently covering the firm, MarketBeat Ratings reports. One equities research analyst has rated the stock with a sell recommendation, one has issued a hold recommendation and five have given a buy recommendation to the company. The average 12 month target price among brokerages that have issued a report on the stock in the last year is $25.85.

A number of research firms have recently commented on STLA. Wells Fargo & Company assumed coverage on shares of Stellantis in a research report on Monday, December 11th. They set an underweight rating for the company. Barclays started coverage on shares of Stellantis in a report on Monday, October 16th. They issued an overweight rating on the stock. Finally, Sanford C. Bernstein raised shares of Stellantis from a market perform rating to an outperform rating and raised their price target for the company from $18.50 to $26.40 in a research report on Wednesday, November 1st.

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Stellantis Trading Up 0.6 %

Insider Transactions at Stellantis

NYSE:STLA opened at $23.59 on Thursday. Stellantis has a 12 month low of $13.84 and a 12 month high of $23.66. The company has a quick ratio of 1.03, a current ratio of 1.29 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.26. The firms 50 day moving average is $20.90 and its 200 day moving average is $19.35.

In other Stellantis news, major shareholder N.V. Stellantis purchased 12,313,234 shares of the companys stock in a transaction dated Monday, October 16th. The shares were acquired at an average price of $5.68 per share, for a total transaction of $69,939,169.12. Following the purchase, the insider now directly owns 31,048,137 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $176,353,418.16. The acquisition was disclosed in a legal filing with the SEC, which is available through the SEC website.

Institutional Inflows and Outflows

Large investors have recently modified their holdings of the company. Cary Street Partners Investment Advisory LLC bought a new stake in Stellantis in the 3rd quarter valued at $26,000. Financial Management Professionals Inc. increased its holdings in shares of Stellantis by 307.4% in the 3rd quarter. Financial Management Professionals Inc. now owns 1,707 shares of the companys stock worth $33,000 after buying an additional 1,288 shares during the last quarter. Global Retirement Partners LLC increased its holdings in shares of Stellantis by 953.6% in the 3rd quarter. Global Retirement Partners LLC now owns 2,318 shares of the companys stock worth $43,000 after buying an additional 2,098 shares during the last quarter. Spire Wealth Management increased its holdings in shares of Stellantis by 81.1% in the 2nd quarter. Spire Wealth Management now owns 2,680 shares of the companys stock worth $47,000 after buying an additional 1,200 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Smithfield Trust Co increased its holdings in shares of Stellantis by 284,200.0% in the 1st quarter. Smithfield Trust Co now owns 2,843 shares of the companys stock worth $51,000 after buying an additional 2,842 shares during the last quarter. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 28.17% of the companys stock.

About Stellantis

(Get Free Report

Stellantis N.V. engages in the design, engineering, manufacturing, distribution, and sale of automobiles and light commercial vehicles, engines, transmission systems, metallurgical products, mobility services, and production systems worldwide. It provides luxury and premium passenger vehicles; pickup trucks, sport utility vehicles, and commercial vehicles; and parts and services, as well as retail and dealer financing, leasing, and rental services.

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Strategic Blueprint LLC lifted its position in shares of Abbott Laboratories (NYSE:ABT  Free Report) by 3.6% during the 3rd quarter, according to its most recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The institutional investor owned 8,235 shares of the healthcare product makers stock after purchasing an additional 286 shares during the quarter. Strategic Blueprint LLCs holdings in Abbott Laboratories were worth $798,000 as of its most recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission.

Other institutional investors also recently modified their holdings of the company. Public Employees Retirement Association of Colorado grew its holdings in shares of Abbott Laboratories by 9.8% during the 2nd quarter. Public Employees Retirement Association of Colorado now owns 1,415,759 shares of the healthcare product makers stock worth $154,346,000 after purchasing an additional 126,547 shares in the last quarter. Core Alternative Capital lifted its position in shares of Abbott Laboratories by 27.0% during the 2nd quarter. Core Alternative Capital now owns 1,290 shares of the healthcare product makers stock worth $141,000 after buying an additional 274 shares during the period. Fort Sheridan Advisors LLC lifted its position in shares of Abbott Laboratories by 315.5% during the 1st quarter. Fort Sheridan Advisors LLC now owns 12,182 shares of the healthcare product makers stock worth $1,234,000 after buying an additional 9,250 shares during the period. Freestone Capital Holdings LLC lifted its position in shares of Abbott Laboratories by 12.8% during the 1st quarter. Freestone Capital Holdings LLC now owns 99,836 shares of the healthcare product makers stock worth $10,109,000 after buying an additional 11,303 shares during the period. Finally, Harbour Investment Management LLC lifted its position in shares of Abbott Laboratories by 0.5% during the 1st quarter. Harbour Investment Management LLC now owns 26,750 shares of the healthcare product makers stock worth $2,709,000 after buying an additional 138 shares during the period. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 73.70% of the companys stock.

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Insider Buying and Selling

In related news, EVP Andrea F. Wainer sold 15,000 shares of Abbott Laboratories stock in a transaction on Thursday, December 14th. The stock was sold at an average price of $108.00, for a total transaction of $1,620,000.00. Following the completion of the sale, the executive vice president now directly owns 65,027 shares of the companys stock, valued at $7,022,916. The sale was disclosed in a legal filing with the SEC, which can be accessed through the SEC website. In other Abbott Laboratories news, Director Daniel J. Starks sold 50,000 shares of the businesss stock in a transaction dated Thursday, October 26th. The stock was sold at an average price of $94.05, for a total value of $4,702,500.00. Following the completion of the transaction, the director now directly owns 6,725,316 shares of the companys stock, valued at $632,515,969.80. The transaction was disclosed in a legal filing with the SEC, which can be accessed through this hyperlink. Also, EVP Andrea F. Wainer sold 15,000 shares of the businesss stock in a transaction dated Thursday, December 14th. The shares were sold at an average price of $108.00, for a total value of $1,620,000.00. Following the completion of the transaction, the executive vice president now directly owns 65,027 shares of the companys stock, valued at $7,022,916. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. 1.10% of the stock is owned by insiders.

Abbott Laboratories Stock Up 0.5 %

NYSE ABT opened at $109.79 on Thursday. The stock has a fifty day moving average of $101.16 and a 200-day moving average of $102.84. The stock has a market capitalization of $190.60 billion, a P/E ratio of 37.34, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 2.73 and a beta of 0.70. Abbott Laboratories has a 52 week low of $89.67 and a 52 week high of $115.83. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.38, a quick ratio of 1.23 and a current ratio of 1.74.

Abbott Laboratories (NYSE:ABT  Get Free Report) last released its earnings results on Wednesday, October 18th. The healthcare product maker reported $1.14 EPS for the quarter, beating the consensus estimate of $1.10 by $0.04. Abbott Laboratories had a return on equity of 20.15% and a net margin of 12.92%. The company had revenue of $10.14 billion during the quarter, compared to analysts expectations of $9.82 billion. During the same period last year, the firm earned $1.15 EPS. The businesss revenue for the quarter was down 2.6% on a year-over-year basis. On average, equities research analysts forecast that Abbott Laboratories will post 4.44 EPS for the current year.

Abbott Laboratories Increases Dividend

The business also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Thursday, February 15th. Investors of record on Friday, January 12th will be paid a dividend of $0.55 per share. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Thursday, January 11th. This is a boost from Abbott Laboratoriess previous quarterly dividend of $0.51. This represents a $2.20 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 2.00%. Abbott Laboratoriess payout ratio is 69.39%.

Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth

Several equities analysts recently commented on the company. Raymond James cut their target price on Abbott Laboratories from $123.00 to $110.00 and set an outperform rating for the company in a research report on Thursday, October 19th. Citigroup cut their target price on Abbott Laboratories from $130.00 to $122.00 in a research report on Monday, October 2nd. StockNews.com began coverage on Abbott Laboratories in a research report on Thursday, October 5th. They set a buy rating for the company. Wells Fargo & Company lifted their price objective on Abbott Laboratories from $116.00 to $121.00 and gave the company an overweight rating in a research report on Wednesday, December 13th. Finally, Morgan Stanley cut their price objective on Abbott Laboratories from $112.00 to $107.00 and set an equal weight rating for the company in a research report on Thursday, October 19th. Four equities research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and ten have assigned a buy rating to the companys stock. According to data from MarketBeat, the company has an average rating of Moderate Buy and a consensus price target of $117.80.

View Our Latest Research Report on ABT

Abbott Laboratories Profile

(Free Report)

Abbott Laboratories, together with its subsidiaries, discovers, develops, manufactures, and sells health care products worldwide. It operates in four segments: Established Pharmaceutical Products, Diagnostic Products, Nutritional Products, and Medical Devices. The Established Pharmaceutical Products segment provides generic pharmaceuticals for the treatment of pancreatic exocrine insufficiency, irritable bowel syndrome or biliary spasm, intrahepatic cholestasis or depressive symptoms, gynecological disorder, hormone replacement therapy, dyslipidemia, hypertension, hypothyroidism, Meniere's disease and vestibular vertigo, pain, fever, inflammation, and migraine, as well as provides anti-infective clarithromycin, influenza vaccine, and products to regulate physiological rhythm of the colon.

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StockNews.com upgraded shares of Synovus Financial (NYSE:SNV  Free Report) from a sell rating to a hold rating in a research note released on Wednesday morning.

Several other research analysts also recently commented on SNV. Bank of America reduced their target price on Synovus Financial from $37.00 to $34.00 in a research note on Tuesday, October 10th. The Goldman Sachs Group lifted their target price on Synovus Financial from $33.00 to $37.00 and gave the stock a neutral rating in a research note on Monday, December 18th. JPMorgan Chase & Co. reduced their target price on Synovus Financial from $40.00 to $34.00 and set an overweight rating for the company in a research note on Thursday, October 5th. Jefferies Financial Group reduced their price target on Synovus Financial from $37.00 to $31.00 in a research note on Tuesday, October 10th. Finally, Truist Financial boosted their price target on Synovus Financial from $38.00 to $46.00 and gave the company a buy rating in a research note on Friday, December 15th. Five equities research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and seven have issued 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 $35.46.

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Check Out Our Latest Stock Report on SNV

Synovus Financial Stock Down 0.3 %

SNV stock opened at $38.06 on Wednesday. The company has a quick ratio of 0.90, a current ratio of 0.90 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.67. The business has a 50 day moving average price of $31.36 and a two-hundred day moving average price of $30.83. The company has a market cap of $5.57 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 8.65 and a beta of 1.39. Synovus Financial has a twelve month low of $24.40 and a twelve month high of $44.44.

Synovus Financial (NYSE:SNV  Get Free Report) last posted its quarterly earnings results on Thursday, October 19th. The bank reported $0.84 earnings per share for the quarter, meeting analysts consensus estimates of $0.84. The firm had revenue of $550.30 million during the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $539.16 million. Synovus Financial had a return on equity of 17.48% and a net margin of 20.14%. The businesss revenue was down 5.5% compared to the same quarter last year. During the same period last year, the company earned $1.34 earnings per share. Analysts anticipate that Synovus Financial will post 4.24 EPS for the current fiscal year.

Synovus Financial Dividend Announcement

The firm also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Tuesday, January 2nd. Stockholders of record on Thursday, December 21st will be issued a dividend of $0.38 per share. The ex-dividend date is Wednesday, December 20th. This represents a $1.52 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 3.99%. Synovus Financials dividend payout ratio (DPR) is currently 34.55%.

Insider Transactions at Synovus Financial

In other news, EVP Allan E. Kamensky sold 19,301 shares of the businesss stock in a transaction on Thursday, December 7th. The stock was sold at an average price of $35.01, for a total transaction of $675,728.01. Following the completion of the transaction, the executive vice president now owns 66,783 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $2,338,072.83. The transaction was disclosed in a legal filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available through this link. In other news, major shareholder Eli Samaha bought 4,279 shares of the stock in a transaction on Friday, October 13th. The stock was acquired at an average price of $21.50 per share, with a total value of $91,998.50. Following the acquisition, the insider now directly owns 1,692,699 shares in the company, valued at $36,393,028.50. The transaction was disclosed in a document filed with the SEC, which is available through this hyperlink. Also, EVP Allan E. Kamensky sold 19,301 shares of the companys stock in a transaction dated Thursday, December 7th. The stock was sold at an average price of $35.01, for a total value of $675,728.01. Following the completion of the transaction, the executive vice president now directly owns 66,783 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $2,338,072.83. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. In the last quarter, insiders acquired 10,143 shares of company stock valued at $216,893. Corporate insiders own 1.60% of the companys stock.

Hedge Funds Weigh In On Synovus Financial

Institutional investors and hedge funds have recently bought and sold shares of the company. IFG Advisory LLC increased its holdings in Synovus Financial by 15.8% in the 2nd quarter. IFG Advisory LLC now owns 10,713 shares of the banks stock worth $324,000 after purchasing an additional 1,464 shares in the last quarter. FMR LLC grew its position in shares of Synovus Financial by 80.1% in the 1st quarter. FMR LLC now owns 7,675,742 shares of the banks stock valued at $236,643,000 after buying an additional 3,413,077 shares during the last quarter. Bank of Montreal Can bought a new stake in shares of Synovus Financial in the 2nd quarter valued at about $673,000. Comerica Bank bought a new stake in shares of Synovus Financial in the 2nd quarter valued at about $2,973,000. Finally, Inspire Investing LLC grew its position in shares of Synovus Financial by 16.4% in the 2nd quarter. Inspire Investing LLC now owns 10,406 shares of the banks stock valued at $315,000 after buying an additional 1,465 shares during the last quarter. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 79.92% of the companys stock.

About Synovus Financial

(Get Free Report)

Synovus Financial Corp. operates as the bank holding company for Synovus Bank that provides commercial and consumer banking products and services. It operates through four segments: Community Banking, Wholesale Banking, Consumer Banking, and Financial Management Services. The company's commercial banking services include treasury and asset management, capital market, and institutional trust services, as well as commercial, financial, and real estate loans.

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GHP Investment Advisors Inc. raised its holdings in shares of The Procter & Gamble Company (NYSE:PG  Free Report) by 0.5% in the third quarter, according to its most recent Form 13F filing with the SEC. The institutional investor owned 79,655 shares of the companys stock after buying an additional 407 shares during the period. GHP Investment Advisors Inc.s holdings in Procter & Gamble were worth $11,525,000 as of its most recent SEC filing.

Other large investors have also recently added to or reduced their stakes in the company. Davis Investment Partners LLC lifted its position in shares of Procter & Gamble by 4.1% in the 2nd quarter. Davis Investment Partners LLC now owns 1,658 shares of the companys stock worth $250,000 after purchasing an additional 66 shares during the period. LWM Advisory Services LLC lifted its position in shares of Procter & Gamble by 2.2% in the 2nd quarter. LWM Advisory Services LLC now owns 3,018 shares of the companys stock worth $457,000 after purchasing an additional 66 shares during the period. Proquility Private Wealth Partners LLC lifted its position in shares of Procter & Gamble by 1.1% in the 2nd quarter. Proquility Private Wealth Partners LLC now owns 6,008 shares of the companys stock worth $912,000 after purchasing an additional 66 shares during the period. Missouri Trust & Investment Co lifted its position in shares of Procter & Gamble by 0.9% in the 1st quarter. Missouri Trust & Investment Co now owns 7,309 shares of the companys stock worth $1,087,000 after purchasing an additional 67 shares during the period. Finally, Charles Schwab Trust Co lifted its position in shares of Procter & Gamble by 0.7% in the 2nd quarter. Charles Schwab Trust Co now owns 9,311 shares of the companys stock worth $1,327,000 after purchasing an additional 67 shares during the period. 63.43% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors.

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Procter & Gamble Price Performance

NYSE PG opened at $146.09 on Thursday. The Procter & Gamble Company has a 52 week low of $135.83 and a 52 week high of $158.38. The company has a market cap of $344.32 billion, a PE ratio of 23.72, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 3.02 and a beta of 0.46. The company has a quick ratio of 0.48, a current ratio of 0.67 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.51. The firms 50-day simple moving average is $148.98 and its two-hundred day simple moving average is $150.32.

Procter & Gamble Announces Dividend

Procter & Gamble ( NYSE:PG Get Free Report ) last announced its quarterly earnings results on Wednesday, October 18th. The company reported $1.83 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, topping analysts consensus estimates of $1.71 by $0.12. Procter & Gamble had a net margin of 18.30% and a return on equity of 33.49%. The firm had revenue of $21.87 billion for the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $21.58 billion. During the same period in the prior year, the firm posted $1.57 earnings per share. The companys revenue for the quarter was up 6.1% on a year-over-year basis. Research analysts predict that The Procter & Gamble Company will post 6.42 earnings per share for the current year.

The business also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Wednesday, November 15th. Investors of record on Friday, October 20th were paid a $0.9407 dividend. This represents a $3.76 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 2.58%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Thursday, October 19th. Procter & Gambles dividend payout ratio is currently 61.04%.

Insider Activity at Procter & Gamble

In related news, CEO R. Alexandra Keith sold 1,413 shares of the firms stock in a transaction that occurred on Monday, October 2nd. The shares were sold at an average price of $144.97, for a total value of $204,842.61. Following the sale, the chief executive officer now directly owns 26,306 shares of the companys stock, valued at $3,813,580.82. The sale was disclosed in a legal filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available at the SEC website. In other Procter & Gamble news, CEO R. Alexandra Keith sold 1,413 shares of the stock in a transaction that occurred on Monday, October 2nd. The shares were sold at an average price of $144.97, for a total transaction of $204,842.61. Following the transaction, the chief executive officer now directly owns 26,306 shares in the company, valued at $3,813,580.82. The sale was disclosed in a document filed with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which can be accessed through this hyperlink. Also, insider Susan Street Whaley sold 575 shares of the firms stock in a transaction that occurred on Monday, October 2nd. The stock was sold at an average price of $144.97, for a total transaction of $83,357.75. Following the completion of the transaction, the insider now owns 7,498 shares in the company, valued at approximately $1,086,985.06. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. Insiders have sold 79,382 shares of company stock valued at $11,988,690 over the last three months. 0.17% of the stock is owned by corporate insiders.

Wall Street Analyst Weigh In

A number of brokerages have recently issued reports on PG. DZ Bank upgraded shares of Procter & Gamble from a sell rating to a hold rating and set a $155.00 price target on the stock in a research report on Friday, October 20th. Wells Fargo & Company upped their price objective on shares of Procter & Gamble from $160.00 to $162.00 and gave the stock an overweight rating in a report on Thursday, October 19th. Jefferies Financial Group assumed coverage on shares of Procter & Gamble in a research note on Monday, November 13th. They issued a buy rating and a $177.00 target price for the company. HSBC assumed coverage on shares of Procter & Gamble in a research note on Friday, September 22nd. They issued a buy rating and a $179.00 target price for the company. Finally, Stifel Nicolaus reduced their target price on shares of Procter & Gamble from $161.00 to $151.00 and set a hold rating for the company in a research note on Monday, October 16th. Seven research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and twelve have issued a buy rating to the stock. According to MarketBeat, the stock has an average rating of Moderate Buy and a consensus target price of $166.41.

View Our Latest Stock Report on Procter & Gamble

Procter & Gamble Profile

(Free Report)

The Procter & Gamble Company provides branded consumer packaged goods worldwide. It operates through five segments: Beauty; Grooming; Health Care; Fabric & Home Care; and Baby, Feminine & Family Care. The Beauty segment offers conditioners, shampoos, styling aids, and treatments under the Head & Shoulders, Herbal Essences, Pantene, and Rejoice brands; and antiperspirants and deodorants, personal cleansing, and skin care products under the Olay, Old Spice, Safeguard, Secret, and SK-II brands.

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Advisors Management Group Inc. ADV lessened its position in The Procter & Gamble Company (NYSE:PG  Free Report) by 2.8% during the third quarter, according to the company in its most recent 13F filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission. The firm owned 49,094 shares of the companys stock after selling 1,438 shares during the period. Procter & Gamble makes up 2.2% of Advisors Management Group Inc. ADVs portfolio, making the stock its 12th biggest position. Advisors Management Group Inc. ADVs holdings in Procter & Gamble were worth $7,161,000 at the end of the most recent quarter.

Other large investors have also modified their holdings of the company. Davis Investment Partners LLC grew its position in Procter & Gamble by 4.1% in the second quarter. Davis Investment Partners LLC now owns 1,658 shares of the companys stock valued at $250,000 after acquiring an additional 66 shares during the last quarter. LWM Advisory Services LLC boosted its holdings in Procter & Gamble by 2.2% in the second quarter. LWM Advisory Services LLC now owns 3,018 shares of the companys stock valued at $457,000 after acquiring an additional 66 shares during the last quarter. Proquility Private Wealth Partners LLC boosted its holdings in Procter & Gamble by 1.1% in the second quarter. Proquility Private Wealth Partners LLC now owns 6,008 shares of the companys stock valued at $912,000 after acquiring an additional 66 shares during the last quarter. Missouri Trust & Investment Co lifted its stake in Procter & Gamble by 0.9% in the first quarter. Missouri Trust & Investment Co now owns 7,309 shares of the companys stock valued at $1,087,000 after buying an additional 67 shares during the period. Finally, Charles Schwab Trust Co lifted its stake in Procter & Gamble by 0.7% in the second quarter. Charles Schwab Trust Co now owns 9,311 shares of the companys stock valued at $1,327,000 after buying an additional 67 shares during the period. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 63.43% of the companys stock.

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Insider Transactions at Procter & Gamble

In related news, CFO Andre Schulten sold 40,298 shares of the stock in a transaction that occurred on Monday, November 6th. The shares were sold at an average price of $150.61, for a total transaction of $6,069,281.78. Following the completion of the sale, the chief financial officer now directly owns 36,460 shares of the companys stock, valued at $5,491,240.60. The transaction was disclosed in a document filed with the SEC, which can be accessed through the SEC website. In related news, CEO R. Alexandra Keith sold 19,661 shares of Procter & Gamble stock in a transaction on Tuesday, November 14th. The shares were sold at an average price of $153.47, for a total value of $3,017,373.67. Following the transaction, the chief executive officer now owns 24,438 shares in the company, valued at approximately $3,750,499.86. The sale was disclosed in a legal filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is accessible through this hyperlink. Also, CFO Andre Schulten sold 40,298 shares of the firms stock in a transaction on Monday, November 6th. The stock was sold at an average price of $150.61, for a total transaction of $6,069,281.78. Following the completion of the sale, the chief financial officer now owns 36,460 shares in the company, valued at $5,491,240.60. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. In the last three months, insiders sold 79,382 shares of company stock valued at $11,988,690. Company insiders own 0.17% of the companys stock.

Wall Street Analyst Weigh In

Several brokerages recently issued reports on PG. StockNews.com downgraded Procter & Gamble from a buy rating to a hold rating in a report on Tuesday. HSBC assumed coverage on Procter & Gamble in a report on Friday, September 22nd. They set a buy rating and a $179.00 price objective on the stock. DZ Bank upgraded Procter & Gamble from a sell rating to a hold rating and set a $155.00 price objective on the stock in a research report on Friday, October 20th. Jefferies Financial Group assumed coverage on Procter & Gamble in a research report on Monday, November 13th. They set a buy rating and a $177.00 price target on the stock. Finally, JPMorgan Chase & Co. cut their price objective on Procter & Gamble from $172.00 to $169.00 and set an overweight rating on the stock in a research report on Thursday, October 12th. Seven research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and twelve have issued a buy rating to the companys stock. According to data from MarketBeat, the company has a consensus rating of Moderate Buy and a consensus target price of $166.41.

View Our Latest Stock Analysis on Procter & Gamble

Procter & Gamble Price Performance

Shares of NYSE:PG opened at $146.09 on Thursday. The company has a quick ratio of 0.48, a current ratio of 0.67 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.51. The company has a 50-day moving average price of $148.98 and a 200 day moving average price of $150.32. The Procter & Gamble Company has a 52 week low of $135.83 and a 52 week high of $158.38. The company has a market cap of $344.32 billion, a P/E ratio of 23.72, a PEG ratio of 3.02 and a beta of 0.46.

Procter & Gamble (NYSE:PG  Get Free Report) last announced its quarterly earnings results on Wednesday, October 18th. The company reported $1.83 earnings per share for the quarter, beating analysts consensus estimates of $1.71 by $0.12. Procter & Gamble had a net margin of 18.30% and a return on equity of 33.49%. The company had revenue of $21.87 billion for the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $21.58 billion. During the same quarter last year, the business earned $1.57 EPS. Procter & Gambles revenue for the quarter was up 6.1% on a year-over-year basis. Research analysts predict that The Procter & Gamble Company will post 6.42 earnings per share for the current year.

Procter & Gamble Announces Dividend

The company also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Wednesday, November 15th. Shareholders of record on Friday, October 20th were given a $0.9407 dividend. This represents a $3.76 annualized dividend and a yield of 2.58%. The ex-dividend date was Thursday, October 19th. Procter & Gambles dividend payout ratio (DPR) is 61.04%.

Procter & Gamble Company Profile

(Free Report)

The Procter & Gamble Company provides branded consumer packaged goods worldwide. It operates through five segments: Beauty; Grooming; Health Care; Fabric & Home Care; and Baby, Feminine & Family Care. The Beauty segment offers conditioners, shampoos, styling aids, and treatments under the Head & Shoulders, Herbal Essences, Pantene, and Rejoice brands; and antiperspirants and deodorants, personal cleansing, and skin care products under the Olay, Old Spice, Safeguard, Secret, and SK-II brands.

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Pinnacle Bancorp Inc. cut its stake in UnitedHealth Group Incorporated (NYSE:UNH  Free Report) by 1.0% during the 3rd quarter, HoldingsChannel reports. The fund owned 2,083 shares of the healthcare conglomerates stock after selling 20 shares during the period. Pinnacle Bancorp Inc.s holdings in UnitedHealth Group were worth $1,050,000 as of its most recent SEC filing.

Other hedge funds also recently added to or reduced their stakes in the company. Strategic Investment Solutions Inc. IL acquired a new position in UnitedHealth Group in the first quarter worth about $35,000. WFA of San Diego LLC bought a new stake in shares of UnitedHealth Group in the 2nd quarter valued at approximately $39,000. RVW Wealth LLC bought a new position in UnitedHealth Group during the third quarter worth $44,000. Glass Jacobson Investment Advisors llc bought a new stake in UnitedHealth Group during the second quarter valued at $47,000. Finally, Horizons Wealth Management acquired a new position in shares of UnitedHealth Group in the 2nd quarter valued at about $48,000. 85.69% of the stock is owned by institutional investors and hedge funds.

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UnitedHealth Group Stock Up 0.5 %

Shares of UNH stock opened at $522.87 on Thursday. The stock has a market cap of $483.61 billion, a P/E ratio of 22.69, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 1.58 and a beta of 0.61. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.65, a current ratio of 0.80 and a quick ratio of 0.80. The stock has a fifty day moving average price of $535.77 and a 200 day moving average price of $508.38. UnitedHealth Group Incorporated has a one year low of $445.68 and a one year high of $554.70.

UnitedHealth Group Dividend Announcement

UnitedHealth Group ( NYSE:UNH Get Free Report ) last posted its quarterly earnings results on Friday, October 13th. The healthcare conglomerate reported $6.56 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, topping the consensus estimate of $6.33 by $0.23. UnitedHealth Group had a net margin of 6.02% and a return on equity of 26.58%. The firm had revenue of $92.36 billion during the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $91.41 billion. During the same quarter in the prior year, the business posted $5.79 earnings per share. The companys quarterly revenue was up 14.2% compared to the same quarter last year. Analysts predict that UnitedHealth Group Incorporated will post 24.95 earnings per share for the current year.

The company also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Tuesday, December 12th. Stockholders of record on Monday, December 4th were paid a $1.88 dividend. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Friday, December 1st. This represents a $7.52 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 1.44%. UnitedHealth Groups dividend payout ratio is presently 32.64%.

Insider Buying and Selling at UnitedHealth Group

In related news, Director Stephen J. Hemsley sold 66,081 shares of UnitedHealth Group stock in a transaction dated Tuesday, December 5th. The stock was sold at an average price of $550.39, for a total value of $36,370,321.59. Following the completion of the transaction, the director now directly owns 635,528 shares of the companys stock, valued at $349,788,255.92. The transaction was disclosed in a document filed with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is accessible through this link. In other news, Director Stephen J. Hemsley sold 66,081 shares of the businesss stock in a transaction on Tuesday, December 5th. The stock was sold at an average price of $550.39, for a total transaction of $36,370,321.59. Following the completion of the sale, the director now owns 635,528 shares in the company, valued at $349,788,255.92. The transaction was disclosed in a filing with the SEC, which is available at this hyperlink. Also, EVP Erin Mcsweeney sold 4,498 shares of UnitedHealth Group stock in a transaction dated Monday, October 16th. The stock was sold at an average price of $544.28, for a total value of $2,448,171.44. Following the completion of the sale, the executive vice president now owns 9,218 shares of the companys stock, valued at $5,017,173.04. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. Insiders have sold a total of 192,094 shares of company stock worth $104,507,072 over the last ninety days. Corporate insiders own 0.35% of the companys stock.

Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth

Several research firms have recently commented on UNH. Stephens reaffirmed an overweight rating and set a $585.00 target price on shares of UnitedHealth Group in a report on Wednesday, December 13th. Jefferies Financial Group dropped their target price on UnitedHealth Group from $565.00 to $503.00 and set a hold rating on the stock in a research report on Monday, November 20th. Truist Financial restated a buy rating and set a $610.00 price target on shares of UnitedHealth Group in a research report on Thursday, November 30th. HSBC reaffirmed a reduce rating and set a $480.00 price target (down previously from $550.00) on shares of UnitedHealth Group in a report on Monday, December 18th. Finally, StockNews.com cut UnitedHealth Group from a strong-buy rating to a buy rating in a research report on Saturday, October 21st. One investment analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, one has given a hold rating, fourteen have issued a buy rating and one has given a strong buy rating to the company. According to MarketBeat.com, the company presently has a consensus rating of Moderate Buy and a consensus price target of $574.89.

Get Our Latest Research Report on UnitedHealth Group

UnitedHealth Group Company Profile

(Free Report)

UnitedHealth Group Incorporated operates as a diversified health care company in the United States. It operates through four segments: UnitedHealthcare, Optum Health, Optum Insight, and Optum Rx. The UnitedHealthcare segment offers consumer-oriented health benefit plans and services for national employers, public sector employers, mid-sized employers, small businesses, and individuals; health care coverage, and health and well-being services to individuals age 50 and older addressing their needs; Medicaid plans, children's health insurance and health care programs; and health and dental benefits, and hospital and clinical services, as well as health care benefits products and services to state programs caring for the economically disadvantaged, medically underserved, and those without the benefit of employer-funded health care coverage.

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Want to see what other hedge funds are holding UNH? Visit HoldingsChannel.com to get the latest 13F filings and insider trades for UnitedHealth Group Incorporated (NYSE:UNH  Free Report).

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Benton, IL  The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Rend Lake Project is looking to fill student internship vacancies for summer 2024. The job announcement closes Jan. 14.

According to a news release, the internship offers work experience opportunity for students currently enrolled at accredited institutions. Interested applicants also must have an interest in careers related to the biological sciences, natural resources, park and recreation management or law enforcement.

The vacancies are filled through the Pathways Intern Program. The program provides students paid opportunities to explore careers in the federal government. Openings are available for qualified graduating high school seniors, undergraduates and graduate students in good academic standing and a cumulative 2.0 grade point average. The hourly rate is around $15.30, and 40 hours of work a week during the summer. Candidates must be able to work days, nights, weekends and holidays.

Students interested in applying should click here to review basic requirements and complete the application. Applicants are also encouraged to call the Rend Lake Office/Visitor Center at 618-724-2493 with questions or assistance in navigating the application. For more information, contact the Rend Lake Project Office/Visitor Center.
Orangeburg County is researching ways to hold companies responsible for damage on county-maintained roads during construction projects.

The county is currently undergoing a rapid phase of development, Orangeburg County Community Development Director Stewart Haig told the Orangeburg County Public Works Committee on Dec. 18.

We have numerous subdivisions currently online. We have numerous subdivisions coming to the county, he said.

Orangeburg County currently has no way  other than a lawsuit to recoup the cost of road damage during construction projects.

It is considering two additional ways to help address the issue of damaged roads.

The proposals include an ordinance requiring developers to apply for a road encroachment permit before clearing land.

Another would require developers to apply for a development impact fee. An impact he fee seeks to recover the financial impact of new development on local government, according to the Municipal Association of South Carolina.

The laws would only affect future development projects and would only cover projects and roads within the county's jurisdiction.

About ten years ago, the county was averaging about 24 new homes per year and three to six commercial projects annually, Haig said.

We are well past that number, Haig said. There is a lot coming. We are trying right now to adjust a lot of our operations ... to prepare for what is coming.

Orangeburg County Council would have to approve any new encroachment permit or impact fee.

Orangeburg County maintains its roads with money from its annual road maintenance fee.

Road encroachment permit

County Attorney D'Anne Haydel presented the county's Public Works Committee with a draft ordinance regarding road encroachment permits.

Under the proposed ordinance, a developer would obtain a road encroachment permit from the county before breaking ground on a project.

As part of the process, the county would most likely have to set up a land development department that developers would consult before breaking ground or clearing land in the county, according to Orangeburg County Planning Director Preston McClun.

As part of the encroachment permit process, the county would have a road inspection both before and after a construction project begins. Inspections would occur at least three days prior to and upon completion of the work, according to the draft ordinance.

The inspection would provide the county with a mechanism to assess the cost to restore the road to its pre-inspection condition.

The draft ordinance, if passed, would require a developer to pay a $10,000 security deposit or obtain a bond when a business license is sought.

The draft ordinance enables the county to liquidate the $10,000 if it is determined the developer caused damage to a road.

If the damage exceeds the security deposit, the developer would pay the difference between the $10,000 and the full cost of the damage, according to the proposed ordinance.

If the county-maintained road sustains damage, the developer would not only be responsible for costs to return the road to its pre-inspection condition, but would also be responsible for any legal costs incurred in the county's collection of damage costs.

The ordinance also notes if a developer proceeds with a project without putting up a $10,000 security or having a pre-project inspection, the developer would be in violation of the ordinance and would have its business license suspended and active building permits revoked.

The ordinance would also require the developer to report road damage caused by another entity and not the developer itself.

According to the draft, the ordinance would not affect the state's Right to Practice Forestry Act.

If the ordinance is passed, Orangeburg County could be the only county in the state to have an encroachment permit for construction projects, Haydel said.

Project impact fees

In addition to implementing an encroachment application process, the county could also enact an impact fee.

The county's Planning Commission will study the issue with the help of an outside consultant before the issue is considered by the full Orangeburg County Council.

According to the proposal, an impact fee would be paid by a developer at the time of land disturbance.

The impact fee would typically be based on how much land is being cleared and what the land is being cleared for, McClun said.

Haig said it would probably take a year or two to implement the fee due to the study that needs to be done.

It is a process, Haig said.

The county does not have an impact fee in place, Haig said.

We will have a good plan soon and a very good solution, Haig said.

Haig said the impact fee study will most likely not be done until the next budget cycle.
KOBE, Dec 28 ( News On Japan ) - Police suspect the same helmeted motorcycle rider was responsible for six snatch thefts within 1 hour in Kobe City on Tuesday.

Around 10:20 PM on Dec 26, on the sidewalk of Azumadori 3-chome in Chuo Ward, Kobe City, a 15-year-old female junior high school student riding a bicycle had her shoulder bag containing approximately 13,000 yen in cash snatched from her front basket by an offender approaching from behind.

Starting with this incident, until about 11 PM, within a radius of approximately 1.5 km, six men and women were robbed of their bags and other items from behind, with a total of about 51,000 yen in cash stolen.

According to police, the offender was riding a small motorcycle and wearing a full-face helmet. In the fourth incident, there were two people involved, but in the others, the offender acted alone.
TEL AVIV  Israel has given preliminary approval to Cyprus for a maritime humanitarian corridor to ship aid to the besieged and war-torn Gaza Strip, the foreign ministry said on Thursday.

The proposal, in the works for more than a month, aims to deliver large quantities of badly needed aid to Palestinians in Gaza, where Israel has waged a nearly three-month-long war against the Palestinian militant group Hamas that rules the territory.

Gaza's 2.4 million people are suffering chronic shortages of water, food, fuel and medicine, with only limited aid entering the Palestinian coastal territory, which has been under Israeli blockade since 2007. Israeli authorities inspect every delivery of aid into the enclave.



Last week, the UN Security Council passed a resolution calling for "safe and unhindered delivery of humanitarian assistance at scale."

Israeli foreign ministry spokesperson Lior Haiat said on Thursday Israel had tentatively approved a system to allow international aid to be checked "with Israeli supervision" in Cyprus before being delivered direct to Gaza.

"There's a basic authorization to use this route, but there are still some logistical problems that are waiting to be solved," Haiat told AFP.

Cyprus has proposed establishing a humanitarian corridor to collect, inspect and store aid on the east Mediterranean island before shipping it to Gaza, some 210 nautical miles away.

Official sources told the Cyprus News Agency that Cyprus had completed its part of the necessary procedures, but the issue of the security of the ships and their crews approaching Gaza was raised, as well as who would receive the aid.

During a visit to Nicosia last week, Israeli Foreign Minister Eli Cohen expressed support for creating a fast-track process for humanitarian aid sent to Gaza by sea.

He said Cyprus, Israel and other regional partners are promoting the initiative to facilitate the transfer of aid "in an organized and well-inspected manner."

Under the plan, the aid would be checked in Cyprus by a joint committee, including representatives from Israel.

The initiative aims to enhance humanitarian relief to Gaza by importing large volumes by ship instead of the limited deliveries by truck through the Rafah border crossing with Egypt.

Nicosia said it is ready to deliver large quantities of aid through this "maritime lifeline" expected to provide a sustained flow of high-volume humanitarian assistance to the civilians" in Gaza.

Israel is facing growing international pressure to increase desperately needed aid to Gaza.

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's government has vowed to destroy Hamas, which carried out the Oct. 7 attack that resulted in the death of around 1,140 people in Israel, according to an AFP tally based on the latest Israeli figures.

Some 250 people were also taken into the territory as hostages by militants during the attack.

Israel's blistering retaliatory assault has so far killed at least 21,320 people in Gaza, most of them women and children, according to the territory's health ministry.
GLOBAL growth is expected to remain weak, with the Latin America and the Caribbean (LAC) region projected to experience 2% GDP growth in 2023. The International Monetary Fund (IMF) suggests that T&Ts economy is on a broad-based recovery path. Explore these and other international, regional and local economic insights from the Chambers Trade & Business Development Unit.
Trinidad and Tobago has lost a man who blazed a trail like few others before him ever had, and like few others ever will again.

These were the words of President Christine Kangaloo as she paid tribute to former prime minister Basdeo Panday at his state funeral, at the Southern Academy for the Performing Arts (SAPA), San Fernando, yesterday.
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It was one of the best tributes (eulogies) I saw or heard, and perhaps the best speech Presi
If fun, fitness and philanthropy are on your list of resolutions for 2024, you can check all three boxes at the Ringing In Hope: Pig Out Race at 8 a.m. on Monday, Jan. 1 at St. Philips Plaza, 4280 N. Campbell Ave.

The family-friendly event will promote awareness and provide opportunities for financial support for five charities: Bag It, Bens Bells, Boulder Crest Foundation, Community Options, and Gospel Rescue Mission.

This is all about ringing in hope for charities and trying to provide hope for people, said Diane Brown, Race Director and owner of Ringing in Hope, which produces races in Tucson and Virginia.

After moving to Tucson 10 years ago, Brown discovered a huge need for community support.

It was a big shock to me. There is lots of homelessness and such a need for help in the community. For the inaugural Pig Out Run, we chose charities that we feel are reputable. We also want to support different disciplines: Lots of people have hearts for different causes. Some people want to support cancer patients, since that affects everyone in some way, and others care about homeless, while others want to help veterans. We try to choose charities that appeal to a range of interests, said Brown.

Participants can choose to raise funds or donate to one (or more) of the five charities, and the event also provides a valuable platform for awareness for the nonprofits, according to Brown.

Boulder Crest Foundation (https://bouldercrest.org/about-boulder-crest/locations/boulder-crest-arizona/) is doing important work providing Posttraumatic Growth for veterans and first responders. People may not know that it is one of the top-rated charities in the country, Brown said.

She is also happy to help promote Community Options (https://www.comop.org/about-us/our-offices/arizona/tucson-office/), which assists with housing and employment for those with disabilities.

Bag It (https://bagitcancer.org/) supports newly-diagnosed cancer patients; Bens Bells (https://bensbells.org/) teaches individuals and communities about the positive impact of intentional kindness; and Gospel Rescue Mission (https://grmtucson.com/) seeks permanent solutions to homelessness.

Ultimately, the Pig Out Run also promotes fun and fitness for families.

Brown said that people are encouraged to dress in costume and bring the whole family.

Everyone has pigged out during the holidays, and this is a great time for all ages and all abilities to get out and run or walk. You dont have to run. Lots of people walk it, including cancer patients and those supporting Bag It. They just enjoy being out and supporting the community, she said.
The best part of Tucson isnt the cotton candy-like sunsets or the adorable wildlife: its the new and inventive restaurants that pop up every season.

From falafel and plates of enchiladas to waffle-wrapped hot dogs, Tucsons food scene continues to expand and bring new flavors to the city.

As we transition into colder weather, these 17 new restaurants will continue to bring the heat, adding to our already huge list of delicious local food.

Whether you want coffee, vegan ice cream or quesabirria tacos, below are all the details on new spots in town.

Aspasia

Nothing hits the spot like a gyro does. Luckily, thats Aspasias specialty.

Aspasia serves up authentic Mediterranean food in midtown, featuring favorites like falafel, chicken shawarma and lamb kebabs. With an extensive menu that includes vegan options, Aspasia brings a little taste of Syria to Tucson.

Visit their website or Instagram page for more information.

Bashful Bandit BBQ

The popular biker hangout Bashful Bandit has been closed for the last two years after it was purchased in 2021. The 76-year-old building has since been transformed into a barbecue spot, which celebrated its soft opening on Dec. 21. The grand opening will be held Dec. 27. Find Texas-style barbecue items inspired by Arizona flavors, like green chile pulled pork and chicken basted in a housemade mole barbecue sauce.

Visit their Instagram page for more information.

Bobazona

This beloved boba spot made its way from Phoenix to Tucson this year. Originally opened in 2020 in Goodyear, this family-owned spot specializes in Instagram-worthy boba drinks and gelato. Cinnamon Toast Crunch smoothies, taro milk teas and banana dolce gelato are just a few of the sweet treats on the menu.

Visit their website or Instagram page for more information.

Brucedog

This hot dog stand has been around since 1989 and they have finally opened a brick-and-mortar. At Brucedog, you can try hot dogs, Polish sausages and bratwursts topped with bacon bits and chili.

Visit their Instagram page for more information.

Daddyburger

With a name like Daddyburger, you know youre in for an interesting experience. Daddyburger opened in The Boxyard this year, bringing burgers and gelato to the popular Fourth Avenue bar and food court. The menu features their signature Daddyburger, which includes angus beef, American cheese, caramelized onions and what they dub daddysauce. You can also enjoy their gelato while sitting under Boxyards string lights.

Visit their website or Instagram page for more information.

Kabul Corner

Try a little taste of Afghanistan at Kabul Corner. Kabul Corner opened in September and is the only Afghan restaurant in the city. The menu consists of popular Afghan dishes such as Qabuli Palaw and chicken kabobs. According to owner Ritiek Rafi, the chicken kabobs are marinated to perfection and practically melt in your mouth.

Aside from the restaurant, Kabul Corner is also a market where you can pick up different sweets and spices from Afghanistan.

Visit their Instagram page or read our story for more information.

K Donut Wheel

When news about the east-side Donut Wheels closure spread, Tucsonans were heartbroken. For 20 years, the community knew they could count on Donut Wheel to be a delicious start to their day.

After a year of being closed, its back and better than ever. Now called K Donut Wheel, the popular doughnut shop opened at a new location and features a new menu. Now you can pair your tasty doughnuts with boba tea or espresso, making your mornings so much sweeter.

Read our story for more information.

La Frida

La Frida made its first impression on Instagram, posting pictures of crazy drinks and huge plates of Mexican food. The east-side restaurant seems to already be a fan favorite, with its mural of the one and only Frida Kahlo.

Ribs with habanero sauce, quesabirria tacos, enchiladas, salmon and cauliflower tacos are just a few of the meals you can get at La Frida.

Visit their Instagram page for more information.

Lahainas Waffledogs

Waffledogs: that sounds like two of my favorite things.

The owners behind Lahainas Shave Ice have opened a new venture, taking on a whole new world of waffledogs. This food trucks menu consists of waffles on a stick, with renditions that include pizza, hot dogs and desserts. With sweet and savory flavors, you can get the best of both worlds here.

Visit their Facebook and Instagram for more information on where to find them.

Maru Plus

For more than a decade, Japanese restaurant Yoshimatsu was a staple on Campbell Avenue. Sadly, the restaurant closed its doors, but owner Yoshimi Tashima started a new chapter.

Maru Plus is now in the old Yoshimatsu space, serving as an expansion of its sister restaurant, Maru Japanese Noodle Shop. Tashima saw a shift in the restaurant business, noticing people still wanted good food but faster service. That observation served as an inspiration for Maru Plus, which serves ramen and udon at a blink of an eye.

Visit their website, Instagram page or read our story for more information.

Mockups Tucson

Best friends Warren Sammons and Michael Gonzales (nicknamed Gonzo) met when they both joined the same punk band in high school. Years later, they decided to team up again and open Mockups: a food truck dedicated to serving vegan ice cream and mocktails.

The big silver truck with a skull logo pays homage to their punk-rock roots while serving up some delicious sweet treats. Homemade cola, Cinnamon Toast Crunch ice cream and apple pie ice cream are just a few of the flavors you can enjoy at Mockups.

Visit their Instagram page for their schedule or read our story for more information.

Parkie Sandwich

It doesnt get much cooler than running a sandwich shop out of a school bus. This new food truck (or should I say food bus?!) serves up sandwiches that everyone can enjoy. On their menu you can find a vegan sandwich, an Italian pork belly sandwich and a new take on a classic BLT. They also have various sides and a sweet of the week.

Visit their Instagram page for more information on their schedule.

Redbird Scratch Kitchen + Bar

Owned by three best friends, Redbird Scratch Kitchen + Bar aims to provide bar food classics with an elevated twist. This menu has it all: tacos, fries, salads, burgers, wings, cocktails, mocktails and much more. Since its a scratch kitchen, everything is made in-house without pre-bought sauces or frozen food.

Visit their website or Instagram page for more information.

Talega Coffee Co.

This new coffee spot is located in the lobby of the Owls club, a mortuary-turned-bar. Talega sources the most ethical beans with the least environmental impact. Along with the usual coffee drinks, Talega features two specialty lattes: la rosa and maiz.

Visit their Instagram page for more information.

Tesoro Latin Kitchen & Cantina

Grab lunch or dinner at this new restaurant. Tesoro Latin Kitchen & Cantina combines Latin music and decor with several Latin American dishes such as enchiladas and tacos. Tesoro has three full-service bars, patio seating and live music. On Fridays and Saturdays, Tesoro stays open extra late so you can dance the night away.

Visit their website or Instagram for more information.

TraXide Taproom

Housed in the old Dillinger Brewing space, TraXide Taproom is continuing the brewing legacy. The owners behind Art and Sol Tattoo Gallery took over the taproom, paying homage to the trains that run along downtown and the streetcars in the area. They still have various Dillinger beers on tap along with some specialty cocktails for those who dont enjoy beer. It looks like they always have fun events and specials throughout the week so make sure to check their Instagram for more information.

Read the Arizona Daily Stars story for more information.

True Food Kitchen

In 2008, Dr. Andrew Weil and Tucson native Sam Fox teamed up to create True Food Kitchen, a restaurant based off Weils anti-inflammatory food pyramid. Weil is the longtime director of the Andrew Weil Center for Integrative Medicine at the University of Arizona.

The popular chain has finally opened a location in Tucson, serving food that tastes good and is good for you. Burgers, pizza, salad and salmon are just a few of the dishes on their extensive menu.

Visit their website or read the Arizona Daily Stars story for more information.

Turkish Kebab House

Turkish Kebab House is bringing Mediterranean cuisine to the University of Arizona area. Their dishes come from 100% authentic Turkish recipes and they say they only use the best quality ingredients. Chicken kebabs, lamb kebabs and curry chicken are a few highlights from the menu.

Visit their Instagram page for more information.

Coming soon

Special Eats Sweets: Special Eats popped out on the scene with gourmet grilled cheese sandwiches last year. Now they are dipping their toes into the dessert game. Special Eats is aiming to open their new dessert truck and brick-and-mortar, Special Eats Sweets, in January.

The Broadway Beer and Wine Bar: This new beer and wine bar is slated to open in 2024 on the historic Sunshine Mile.

Chelas Latin Cuisine: Chelas will open in downtown Tucson next year. This new restaurant is the sister concept to El Sur Mexican Restaurant.

Mantis Gourmet Chinese Food: This beloved Chinese spot will reopen in a new location next year.
The following is the opinion and analysis of the writers:

Point

The Year of the Strike Could Be a Turning Point for the Labor Movement

Picket lines captured headlines in 2023 like no year in recent memory.

In October, U.S. companies lost more workdays to strikes than in any month during the last 40 years. More than half a million American workers left the job this year  and many wound up winning significant concessions.

Big Three auto workers, Hollywood writers and actors, Las Vegas and Los Angeles hotel staff, and Kaiser Permanente healthcare workers will enter the new year with greater economic security, thanks to bargaining table wins. For UPS drivers, the mere threat of a Teamsters strike was enough to secure historic wage hikes and safety protections.

Many New Years toasts will celebrate these achievements, and for good reason. Corporate CEOs have gorged on ever more massive paychecks for decades while leaving their workers with crumbs.

But the strikers of 2023 are part of the tiny unionized share of the private sector labor force  which fell to a record low of 6 percent in 2022. If the labor movement cant make greater inroads in challenging organizing environments, corporations will always have enormous power to pit union and non-union workers against each other in a race to the bottom in wages and benefits.

This point is not lost on unions that scored two of the most significant victories in 2023: the UAW and the Teamsters.

After the UPS win, the Teamsters doubled down on Amazon, picketing outside 25 of the union-busting behemoths warehouses. A key demand: a fair contract for unionized drivers for one California-based Amazon delivery service.

UAW leaders  after securing a 25 percent pay hike for their GM, Ford and Stellantis members  sent a message to unorganized auto workers at other companies, urging them to join the union bandwagon.

Top executives at Nissan, Toyota, Honda and Hyundai were also listening. In an apparent attempt to fend off organizing drives, they immediately raised wages for their non-unionized U.S. employees.

These four firms have been part of an investment boom in southern states notorious for anti-union laws and politicians. Expanding worker power in this tough territory will be crucial for the labor movements future. In 2023, unions proved it can be done, winning elections at a Blue Bird bus factory in Georgia and AT&T Mobility hubs in Alabama.

The past year also saw union progress in another tough territory: tech. This December, Microsoft signed an agreement to remain neutral in organizing drives among their U.S.-based workers. This will make it easier for 100,000 Microsoft workers to unionize, with potential ripple effects across the industry.

These encouraging signs aside, labor laws still stack the deck in favor of bosses. Just look at the fact that Starbucks and Amazon have been able to get away with refusing to negotiate with workers who voted to unionize well more than a year ago.

Efforts in Congress to strengthen union rights are dead for now, with only two Republicans endorsing the Democrats Protecting the Right to Organize Act. On the other hand, President Biden is supporting unions in several ways  and could do more.

In September, Biden became the first American president to join a union picket line. Beyond showing moral support, the White House is using the power of the public purse to boost worker power.

Federal construction contractors now must negotiate project-specific collective bargaining agreements with workers. Biden should require the same of all corporations that get taxpayer-funded contracts and subsidies.

The White House should also demand that all corporations receiving public funds commit to union neutrality and have reasonable gaps between CEO and worker pay. This could make a huge difference since federal contractors employ 25 percent of U.S. workers  and they include Amazon and other corporations known for union-busting and overpaid CEOs.

We might dub this the year of the strike. But lets hope well someday look back at 2023 as more than that  as the year a re-energized movement began reversing its downward slide so that all American workers can get a fair reward for their labor.

Counterpoint

2023 Wont Mark a Union Revival, and Thats Good News

By Liam Sigaud

Theres no denying that unions notched impressive victories this year, including substantial increases in compensation for auto workers, actors, screenwriters, airline pilots and delivery drivers. Regarding work days lost, union strikes in 2023 were the largest in 40 years  big enough to affect the overall job market.

But it would be premature to declare a resurgence of the U.S. labor movement or to argue that most workers would have benefitted from one.

The historical trendline is unmistakable: In 2022, one in 10 U.S. workers belonged to a union, down from one in seven in 1996 and one in five in 1983, when the first comparable data were collected. The decline of union membership has been remarkably steady over the last four decades. Since 2000, the year-to-year change in the unionization rate has been positive only six times, and those small gains have quickly been reversed.

Moreover, the latest data show that unionization is increasingly concentrated in the government sector, especially local services like K-12 education and public safety. Only 6 percent of private-sector workers are union members.

Another sign that unions are a waning force in the labor market is that the union wage premium (i.e., how much more union members are paid than similar workers who arent represented by a union) has fallen sharply. Over the last decade-and-a-half, the union wage premium in the private sector has been slashed in half from about 25 percent to 12.5 percent  evidence that unions dont exert the kind of influence at the bargaining table that they used to.

The erosion of union power is rooted not in Big Business union-busting but in broader economic forces: globalization, technological change (including automation), shifts in industrial composition, and the rise of the gig economy. Those trends arent likely to reverse themselves any time soon.

Whether you celebrate or mourn the decline of organized labor, remember two things. First, workers have a right to organize and advocate for themselves. This leads me to the second point: Unions like to position themselves as promoting the interests of all workers, but their priority is mostly their own members. Sometimes, that comes at the expense of other workers.

For example, although higher wages for union workers are nothing to scoff at, they should be weighed against their not-so-obvious effects on the economy. By keeping pay above competitive market levels, unions reduce the number of workers unionized companies are willing to hire, making it harder for outsiders to find a job. States with policies that favor unions consistently experience slower employment growth and higher unemployment rates than other states, even after controlling for a host of other factors.

Moreover, unions generally advocate for seniority-based pay and benefits, which makes it harder to reward effective young workers. Unions often block employers from adopting the most efficient production methods, undermining companies profitability and, in some cases, driving them out of business.

Rigid work rules imposed by unions can degrade organizational culture. One study surveyed thousands of American workers and found that those in unionized companies reported reduced empowerment, less effective teamwork and less support for career development and advancement within the company.

These things trickle down to consumers. Researchers have documented, for example, that product recalls are significantly more common at unionized workplaces than non-unionized ones, possibly because higher wages crowd out investments in technology upgrades that would improve product quality.

Although unions tout fairness in the workplace, my colleague and I have found a connection between strong union protections and hiring discrimination. States that give unions more power to recruit members and raise funds have 30 percent higher rates of hiring discrimination against older women compared to other states. These findings suggest that high union pay encourages employers to reject job applicants they might view as less productive.

This doesnt mean unions need to be demonized for organizing out of self-interest, but it does mean more states should reconsider tipping the scales in unions favor. It also means most workers shouldnt worry about unions weakening grip on the labor market.






Raising the specter of public housing

Re: the Dec. 18 article Plan seeks to tackle poverty, social ills.

Steve Christys vote on Dec. 5 against Pima Countys Prosperity Initiative was not based solely on procedure. He elaborated during a Green Valley meeting on Dec. 13.

The following quote is easily decipherable: I suppose most of my district could be characterized as low-poverty, high-opportunity neighborhoods, and my concern is by changing housing policies, i.e., planning and zoning regulations, many of my constituents  if this policy goes as planned  could very well wake up one day across the street and see a government housing complex going up in their neighborhoods.

So ... Cabrini-Green springing up in Sahuarita! Christy would spare his voters the very sight of disfavored people. He may have forgotten that the FHA laid a foundation for todays ills through its practice of redlining. Government policies created generations of disparity, but in Christys view it would be a great overreach for the government to do something about it.

Robert Laux-Bachand

Green Valley

Colorado Supreme Court decision

Many have criticized the Colorado Supreme Court opinion barring Trump from the states presidential primary on the grounds that voters should decide on presidential candidates, not a bunch of judges. That view misses the point. It is not the Colorado Supreme Court, but Trumps own behavior which caused his ineligibility. While I would not expect the average citizen to be familiar with Section 3 of the 14th amendment, the same cannot be said of a man who served four years as president. Trump took an oath to uphold the constitution. Surely he read it before doing so. He must have known that his actions around the 2020 election could result in the action taken by the Colorado Supreme Court. He has only himself to blame.

Lynn Carey

Tubac

Warning labels on TEP bills

Surgeon General Cigarette Label: WARNING: Smoking Causes Lung Cancer, Heart Disease, Emphysema, and May Complicate Pregnancy. Arizona should do the same on all Utility electric bills: WARNING:: Fossil Fuels burned to provide your electricity cause Global Warming, are damaging to your health and safety, and significantly increase intensity of: wildfires, floods, heat stroke, kidney and heart disease, pregnancy complications, food and waterborne diarrheal disease, air pollution, allergens and pollen, vector diseases (malaria, etc.) mental health and stress related disorders; and reduce the nutritional value of the food you eat.

In an August Arizona Corporation Commission hearing, Utility industry expert Roger Morin testified that utilities oppose customer-owned rooftop solar because they see it as cutting into their profits. Out of State shareholders are reaping dividends while TEP rapidly depletes our precious water resources. TEPs gas/coal energy combination over its life cycle  uses 1,675 times the amount of water that solar uses to produce 1 megawatt -hour.

Shame on them for putting their profits above your health and safety.

Rick Rappaport

Oro Valley

Meeting future demand for mined products

A recent Arizona Daily Star editorial states extractive industries are relics of the past, which are no longer required to achieve our goal of a clean economy. However, it failed to acknowledge the simple fact that products of mining are not only essential for our modern lifestyle, but also help to insure Americas continued prosperity. We use products from mining in our homes, businesses and routine daily activities. This is unlikely to change in the foreseeable future.

Those who demonize mining refuse to recognize industrys efforts to resolve environmental issues resulting from historical mining activities as well as its development of new technologies and mining practices that minimize negative impacts from current and future operations.

Improvements can be made to further reduce many of its undesirable impacts. Todays mining professionals are working hard to make this a reality. We welcome constructive advice from all stakeholders on how to responsibly meet our nations demand for mined products.

David Briggs

Northwest side

The end of our 247-year experiment?

Are we seeing the natural evolution of a failing governmental system?

This year our present congress is dysfunctional and has not done a thing for our country or its citizens. They understand the problems but do nothing. It seems to be trying to destroy our leadership position in the world. Are they international political Luddites?

We have little faith in SCOTUS, our legal system nor congress.

Will we see the slow devolution of our laws to the states and end up with 50 sets of laws with nothing in common as we grow further apart in our political silos?

There are many in congress that do not believe in medical science nor most other sciences.

And so it goes.

Donald Plummer

Northwest side

Abortion

The abortion question is quite simple when viewed against the standard of natural rights. We have the inalienable rights of life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness. One cannot achieve a right at someone elses expense. For example, we cannot kill another except in self defense. A woman has the right to life and liberty. A fetus survives by usurping these rights. A woman will usually get sick, become more and more incapacitated, and have a small but significant chance of death. A woman can choose to give up these rights for the fetus but the fetus cannot take them. It is clear that only the woman can make this choice. Government should have no place in the decision.

Al Westerfield
Greenwood Commonwealth. December 26, 2023.

Editorial: A Bizarre Twist To Welfare Scandal

A story last week from Mississippi Today in its ongoing coverage of the states massive welfare scandal was a bit of a sideshow, but a fascinating one.

It detailed how possibly $30,000 of the $70 million-plus of squandered or stolen block grant money during the Phil Bryant administration wound up in the hands of an African scam artist.

Reading the story, written by Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist Anna Wolfe, you have to wonder what kind of fools would fall for something so patently bogus. And since the state was planning to do business with one of them, you also have to wonder what kind of due diligence is done on some of the economic development projects that taxpayers are asked to bankroll in Mississippi.

As Wolfe explains, the trail that led to the Ghanaian rip-off begins with Jake Vanlandingham, a neuroscientist from Florida who was counting on his connections to Brett Favre  and Favres connections to Bryant  to line up start-up funding for a pharmaceutical company that would produce a drug to treat concussions.

At the same time that Vanlandingham was securing a $2 million slice of the states allocation of Temporary Assistance for Needy Families funding, he was working on an overseas funding angle. He had been led to believe by an Ohio inventor, who claimed to have a direct line to God, that a wealthy heiress from Ghana was willing to invest $1 million into Vanlandinghams Prevacus venture.

Only problem, the inventor-turned-middleman told Vanlandingham, is that it would take $25,000 to perform a geological analysis on the land the heiress wanted to sell, the proceeds of which would produce the stake for Prevacus.

Surprise, surprise, the $25,000 was not enough to close the land deal. The heiress or her associates needed another $500, then $4,000, then $1,000, then $5,000, then $8,000, then $18,000. Along the way, the plan for raising the capital switched. Since the supposed real estate deal had run into roadblocks, the heiress instead would sell gold bars her father gave her before he died.

Although Vanlandingham had long since gotten suspicious he was being played, it didnt stop him from wiring one last $1,000.

Wolfe was not able to discern how much the scam netted. Vanlandinghams lawyer says his client was out no more than $30,000. Its fairly clear, though, that at least some of the swindled proceeds came from Mississippi, based on the proximity in time between the welfare money coming in to Prevacus and the payments going out to Ghana.

The welfare scandal has had its share of bizarre stories, starting with the $48,000 spent on ritzy drug rehab in Malibu, California, for a former pro wrestler. But the Ghanaian hoax goes to the top of the list.

END
James D. Watts Jr. Tulsa World Scene Writer Follow James D. Watts Jr. 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

The new restaurants that are scheduled or projected to open in 2024 include:

Isla's Southern Kitchen

Justin Thompson's newest restaurant, Isla's Southern Kitchen, is scheduled to open to the public Jan. 10. The restaurant, named for Thompson's daughter, will feature a menu focused on home-style Southern cuisine, from fried green tomatoes and deviled eggs to fried oysters and po' boy sandwiches, chicken-fried steak to banana bread pudding.

Prior to the official opening, the restaurant will host an open house preview, 6-9 p.m. Thursday, Jan. 4, at the restaurant, 404 E. Archer St., just across of ONEOK Field.

Related

The open house is a benefit for the Alzheimer's Association of Oklahoma, and guests are requested to make a minimum donation of $20 to the nonprofit, either in advance via the website, act.alz.org, or in person at the event.

Guest will be able to sample hors d'oeuvres and snacks featuring Islas cuisine and "Meemaws Farmhouse Ale," a signature beer by Cabin Boys Brewery.

Regular hours of Isla's Southern Kitchen will be 11 a.m.-10 p.m. Monday-Friday, 10 a.m.-10 p.m. Saturday-Sunday. islaskitchenok.com/home.

Rise

Rise, the Dallas-based restaurant company that specializes in sweet and savory preparations of that quintessential French classic, the souffle, announced in early 2023 it was planning to open its first Oklahoma location in Tulsa's Utica Square.

Chris Florczak, CEO of Risen Restaurant Group, which owns Rise, said at the time that Utica Square was the most logical place for the company to enter the Oklahoma market. "There is such an incredible legacy there, with a beautiful collection of established shops and restaurants, and we know the guests we serve love the options they will find in this center. It's really a place that checks every box we could imagine as the home of Rise Souffle."

Florczak said delays in obtaining permits from the city of Tulsa, which had to work out some easement issues with Utica Square, meant that construction had to be put off until all issues could be settled.

"However," he said, "that is now mostly behind us, and we anticipate starting construction in January with a June or July opening."

Sans Murs

James Beard Award semifinalist Paul Wilson started Sans Murs (French for "without walls") at the Silo Event Center, 4629 W. 41st St., in early 2023, as a kind of chef-driven pop-up restaurant. The menu drew from Wilson's wide-ranging career, from classical French cooking to Cajun and Creole cuisine, as well as his antic sense of humor.

When Wilson died in July in a tragic accident, some thought such a personal concept as Sans Murs would perish with him.

However, Silo Event Center owner Hugo Gutierrez said he and some of the chefs who worked with him to help fulfill the commitments for weddings and other events at the center are planning to launch a new restaurant concept similar to Sans Murs.

"We will be using a different name  Solaire  but we will be using some of the same recipes," Gutierrez said. "We are planning to host a soft opening in January, with a grand opening around Valentine's Day."

City Hall Steak & Cocktail

Another McNellie's concept, City Hall Steak & Cocktail, is scheduled to open by the summer of 2024 at 123 E. Main St. in downtown Jenks, taking over a building that had once served as the towns city hall.

When the project was announced, the new restaurant was described as having a blend of modern design and vintage accents that celebrate the buildings unique history. The atmosphere will be ideal for intimate dinners, special occasions, business meetings, gatherings with friends or just a glass of wine at the bar.

City Hall Steak & Cocktail is part of a citizen-led effort to rebrand the citys historic Main Street as The Ten District, a reference to that particular corner of Main Street being 10 miles from downtown Tulsa, Bixby, Sapulpa and Broken Arrow, and also 10 blocks west of the Arkansas River.

Another McNellie's project is a proposed Italian restaurant that will be part of the Santa Fe Square development at the corner of Second Street and Elgin Avenue downtown, which will likely open in the summer of 2024.

Misfit Kitchen

A team led by Joe Garrett, owner of Broken Arrow's Rustic Chophouse, is working to convert the former Laffa Medi-Eastern Restaurant, at 111 N. Main St., into Misfit Kitchen.

Garrett said at the time of the announcement that "the basic idea is for a place that will be offering elevated bar food, with great beers and cocktails. We want the place to fit in with the whole vibe of that area, where you have all these great live-music venues such as the Cain's Ballroom, as well as more and more people who are moving into all the new residential spaces there. There's just so much energy in that area, and we're excited to be a part of that."

Lilly Architects, the local firm whose projects include Rustic Chophouse, the Church Studio and the forthcoming In A Pickle sport and dining complex in Jenks, is designing the new space.

As for the name, Garrett said, "I think everyone kind of knows that we in the restaurant business are a little quirky and weird. So the name is kind of a fun tribute to that idea, that we're all a bunch of misfits." misfitkitchentulsa.com.

Clark Crew BBQ

The Oklahoma City-based Clark Crew BBQ, led by award-winning pitmaster Travis Clark, announced in June it would open a Tulsa location, taking over the old Fuddrucker's restaurant at 10825 E. 71st St.

At the time of the announcement, it was projected that the new restaurant would open in late 2023. Representatives from Clark Crew BBQ did not respond to requests for more information before deadline.
James D. Watts Jr. Tulsa World Scene Writer Follow James D. Watts Jr. 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

The newest concept from the McNellies Group, a neighborhood pub called Bishop Quigley, is now open, and a second, Maple Ridge Grocer, is due to open this week.

The two establishments share space in a renovated building near the corner of 18th Street and Cincinnati Avenue, which used to house a printing firm called Central Graphics.

Bishop Quigley, 1810 S. Cincinnati Ave., is designed to be a small neighborhood pub with a limited menu that includes such pub staples as fish and chips, a burger, a ham-and-cheese toasted sandwich, along with a Caesar salad, a curry dish and the Brown Soup of the Day.

In addition to a full bar, Bishop Quigley offers an array of canned and bottled beers, including local, national and international brands.

The bar gets its name from a distant relative of McNellies Group founder Elliot Nelson, who, according to the familys history, was a bishop in County Mayo, Ireland, a few centuries ago.

Hours for Bishop Quigley are 3-10:30 p.m. Monday-Thursday, 3-11 p.m. Friday, noon-11:30 p.m. Saturday and noon-10:30 p.m. Sunday. bishopquigley.com

Maple Ridge Grocer, at 1818 S. Cincinnati Ave., is expected to open this weekend, said Jim OConnor, chief operation officer with the McNellies Group.

Were hoping to open before the end of the year, he said.

The grocer portion of the name is a nod to the store that occupied the building in the 1920s, OConnor said. He added that, while the McNellies Group is not about to get into the grocery business, the new business will have a variety of pantry staples, such as eggs, pastas and breads, available for purchase.

But the real focus of Maple Ridge Grocer will be as an all-day bistro that will serve coffee, baked goods, breakfast, lunch and dinner, as well as having a full bar. The menu will range from breakfast dishes such as omelets and pastries, and lunch and dinner options that will include salads, sandwiches, burgers and pastas, along with chicken, beef and pork entrees.

OConnor said the menu and hours of operation are being finalized, but its likely Maple Ridge Grocer will be open 7 a.m.-10 p.m. Monday-Friday, 8 a.m.-10 p.m. Saturday-Sunday. mapleridgegrocer.com.

Rozays Wingz opening

Also opening this weekend will be the newest location of Rozays Wingz, at 5079 S. Yale Ave. This space has been previously home to Bamboo Thai and Waffle That.

Im aiming for us to be open the weekend right before New Years, owner Roosevelt Rozay Walker said.

Walker opened the first Rozays in 2017 at 2627 E. 11th St. He describes his variation on the popular chicken wing as Memphis-style: the wings are marinated in a secret spice mixture before being fried. While a variety of sauces are available, from mild to extra hot, honey garlic to Jamaican jerk, Walker said, a lot of folks say they dont need sauces with these wings.

Another Rozays is open in the Boxyard, 502 E. Third St.

Im planning on opening one in Owasso, and then maybe two more in Broken Arrow, Walker said. Im just wanting to give more people the chance to get a little taste of Memphis.

New restaurants coming in 2024

Other new restaurants that are scheduled or projected to open in 2024 include:

Islas Southern Kitchen

Justin Thompsons newest restaurant, Islas Southern Kitchen, is scheduled to open to the public Jan. 10. The restaurant, named for Thompsons daughter, will feature a menu focused on home-style Southern cuisine, from fried green tomatoes and deviled eggs to fried oysters and po boy sandwiches, chicken-fried steak to banana bread pudding.

Prior to the official opening, the restaurant will host an open house preview, 6-9 p.m. Thursday, Jan. 4, at the restaurant, 404 E. Archer St., just across of ONEOK Field.

The open house is a benefit for the Alzheimers Association of Oklahoma, and guests are requested to make a minimum donation of $20 to the nonprofit, either in advance via the website, act.alz.org, or in person at the event.

Guest will be able to sample hors doeuvres and snacks featuring Islas cuisine and Meemaws Farmhouse Ale, a signature beer by Cabin Boys Brewery.

Regular hours of Islas Southern Kitchen will be 11 a.m.-10 p.m. Monday-Friday, 10 a.m.-10 p.m. Saturday-Sunday. islaskitchenok.com/home.

Rise

Rise, the Dallas-based restaurant company that specializes in sweet and savory preparations of that quintessential French classic, the souffle, announced in early 2023 it was planning to open its first Oklahoma location in Tulsas Utica Square.

Chris Florczak, CEO of Risen Restaurant Group, which owns Rise, said at the time that Utica Square was the most logical place for the company to enter the Oklahoma market. There is such an incredible legacy there, with a beautiful collection of established shops and restaurants, and we know the guests we serve love the options they will find in this center. Its really a place that checks every box we could imagine as the home of Rise Souffle.

Florczak said delays in obtaining permits from the city of Tulsa, which had to work out some easement issues with Utica Square, meant that construction had to be put off until all issues could be settled.

However, he said, that is now mostly behind us, and we anticipate starting construction in January with a June or July opening.

Sans Murs

James Beard Award semifinalist Paul Wilson started Sans Murs (French for without walls) at the Silo Event Center, 4629 W. 41st St., in early 2023, as a kind of chef-driven pop-up restaurant. The menu drew from Wilsons wide-ranging career, from classical French cooking to Cajun and Creole cuisine, as well as his antic sense of humor.

When Wilson died in July in a tragic accident, some thought such a personal concept as Sans Murs would perish with him.

However, Silo Event Center owner Hugo Gutierrez said he and some of the chefs who worked with him to help fulfill the commitments for weddings and other events at the center are planning to launch a new restaurant concept similar to Sans Murs.

We will be using a different name  Solaire  but we will be using some of the same recipes, Gutierrez said. We are planning to host a soft opening in January, with a grand opening around Valentines Day.

City Hall Steak & Cocktail

Another McNellies concept, City Hall Steak & Cocktail, is scheduled to open by the summer of 2024 at 123 E. Main St. in downtown Jenks, taking over a building that had once served as the towns city hall.

When the project was announced, the new restaurant was described as having a blend of modern design and vintage accents that celebrate the buildings unique history. The atmosphere will be ideal for intimate dinners, special occasions, business meetings, gatherings with friends or just a glass of wine at the bar.

City Hall Steak & Cocktail is part of a citizen-led effort to rebrand the citys historic Main Street as The Ten District, a reference to that particular corner of Main Street being 10 miles from downtown Tulsa, Bixby, Sapulpa and Broken Arrow, and also 10 blocks west of the Arkansas River.

Another McNellies project is a proposed Italian restaurant that will be part of the Santa Fe Square development at the corner of Second Street and Elgin Avenue downtown, which will likely open in the summer of 2024.

Misfit Kitchen

A team led by Joe Garrett, owner of Broken Arrows Rustic Chophouse, is working to convert the former Laffa Medi-Eastern Restaurant, at 111 N. Main St., into Misfit Kitchen.

Garrett said at the time of the announcement that the basic idea is for a place that will be offering elevated bar food, with great beers and cocktails. We want the place to fit in with the whole vibe of that area, where you have all these great live-music venues such as the Cains Ballroom, as well as more and more people who are moving into all the new residential spaces there. Theres just so much energy in that area, and were excited to be a part of that.

Lilly Architects, the local firm whose projects include Rustic Chophouse, the Church Studio and the forthcoming In A Pickle sport and dining complex in Jenks, is designing the new space.

As for the name, Garrett said, I think everyone kind of knows that we in the restaurant business are a little quirky and weird. So the name is kind of a fun tribute to that idea, that were all a bunch of misfits. misfitkitchentulsa.com.

Clark Crew BBQ

The Oklahoma City-based Clark Crew BBQ, led by award-winning pitmaster Travis Clark, announced in June it would open a Tulsa location, taking over the old Fuddruckers restaurant at 10825 E. 71st St.

At the time of the announcement, it was projected that the new restaurant would open in late 2023. Representatives from Clark Crew BBQ did not respond to requests for more information before deadline.

The new Tulsa World app offers personalized features. Download it today.
A sobriety checkpoint has been announced for 5 p.m. Friday through 6 a.m. Saturday, according to the Oklahoma Highway Patrol ENDUI team.

Law enforcement agencies participating in the DUI checkpoint include the Bixby, Claremore, Glenpool, Sapulpa and Verdigris police departments and the Tulsa County Sheriffs Office.

The location of the checkpoints and additional patrols reportedly will be in Tulsa and Creek counties.

During holidays in 2021, Oklahoma saw 2,691 crashes statewide, according to a news release, with 5.5% related to alcohol or drugs.

Everyone is highly encouraged to create a plan beforehand and have a designated driver before heading out to celebrate the holiday festivities, the release states. Have fun and enjoy life, but do not, under any circumstances, drive while impaired by alcohol or any other substance. The cost is too high.

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Lenzy Krehbiel-Burton Tulsa World Staff Writer Follow Lenzy Krehbiel-Burton 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

A Tulsa school board member has followed through with a threat to file a police report alleging that three of her colleagues violated the Open Meeting Act earlier this month.

According to documents obtained by the Tulsa World, Jennettie Marshall filed a complaint with the Tulsa Police Department on Dec. 21 claiming an off-agenda discussion happened during an executive session at the boards Dec. 11 meeting, thus violating the Oklahoma Open Meeting Act.

Just before voting on whether to hire Ebony Johnson as the districts permanent superintendent that night, Marshall announced in open session that she would be filing a police report about conversations held during the board's 90-minute executive session.

The subjects of the complaint are listed as board President Stacey Woolley, Vice President John Croisant, District 2 representative Diamond Marshall, board clerk Sarah Bozone and attorneys Bo Rainey and Doug Mann.

According to an affidavit from Jennettie Marshall, the executive session included a brief, angry discussion between herself and Diamond Marshall about the boards October vote to reauthorize Tulsa Honor Academy High School.

That reauthorization vote was delayed twice after Diamond Marshall raised concerns about racial slurs directed at Black students and staff at Tulsa Honor Academy Middle School. Diamond Marshall ultimately voted to reauthorize the charter school, while Jennettie Marshall voted against it. Jennettie Marshall has since called on the district to terminate its sponsorship of the east Tulsa school.

The affidavit also states that the executive session included a discussion about whether to launch a national search for a new superintendent. When asked earlier in the evening in open session, Rainey advised the board that a motion to initiate such a search would be inappropriate since it was not on the published agenda.

Under state statute, a violation of the Open Meeting Act is a misdemeanor that can be punishable by a fine of up to $500 or up to one year in the county jail.

When asked about the allegation after the meeting, Woolley told the Tulsa World on Dec. 11 it was Jennettie Marshall herself who brought up Tulsa Honor Academy during the executive session and that she, Croisant, Rainey and Mann attempted to stop the discussion. Woolley also said at the time that she believed that Jenettie Marshall was intentionally trying to undermine the boards actions.

On Thursday, Woolley said she stood by her Dec. 11 comments and that the affidavit did not reflect her experience in that night's executive session. However, citing a desire not to break attorney-client privilege, she declined to elaborate on any differences between the affidavit and her recollections of the executive session.

Reached via text Thursday morning, Croisant said the accusations in the complaint are false.

The third board member listed, Diamond Marshall, said Thursday morning that she had not received any documentation from law enforcement about the complaint.

Citing advice from the citys Legal Department, the Tulsa Police Department declined Wednesday to release the full police report without a subpoena.

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Melissa Jacques Tulsa World Capitol Bureau Staff Writer Follow Melissa Jacques 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

Gov. Kevin Stitt said he would like to see more tax cuts and could ask state lawmakers to again consider a 0.25% personal income tax cut before their regular session starts in February.

Stitt said more tax cuts would be possible because state revenue has been steadily increasing. The Legislature will appropriate $13.9 billion this year, a $1 billion increase over last year, according to recently released estimates by the Office of Management and Enterprise Services.

Despite the increasing revenue, Stitt, who chairs the Board of Equalization, said he wants to keep the state budget small.

We cant just keep finding new ways to keep spending, he told reporters last week after the board met to make a preliminary certification of estimated general revenue fund collections that state lawmakers will have available for appropriation in the upcoming session.

The Board of Equalization will meet again in February to finalize the appropriations estimates, but the current numbers will allow the Governors Office to draw up an executive budget proposal to present to lawmakers for fiscal year 2025. Stitt said he is literally for flat budgets to slow the growth of the government.

The current numbers will also allow the Senate to begin the process of making recommendations for appropriations for each state agency.

Stitt called for a special session to cut personal income taxes in October, but nothing was passed.

Senate President Pro Tem Greg Treat expressed concern before the last special session about the cuts to personal income taxes that Stitt proposed, saying it would cost the state $4 billion.

The special session in October 2023 was the second Stitt called in an attempt to lower personal income tax and create a path to eliminate personal income tax in Oklahoma.

While the House was willing to push forward with cutting personal income taxes in October, the Senate blocked the effort due to concerns about loss of revenue.

The barrier for raising taxes in Oklahoma is higher than the barrier for lowering them. While lowering taxes only takes a simple majority, since State Question 640 was passed by voters in 1992, tax increases require a supermajority of votes in the Legislature or a vote of the people.

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Stitt on tax cuts: Put it up for a vote
Oklahoma spent more than $544,000 for the states National Guard to help secure the U.S. border with Mexico, money that came from a disaster fund typically used for National Guard response to tornadoes and other extreme weather events.

Republican Gov. Kevin Stitt, heeding a call from Texas Gov. Greg Abbott, called up the National Guard for a 30-day state deployment in August. More than a dozen Republican governors, who have criticized President Joe Bidens border security policies, sent National Guard members to assist Abbotts Operation Lone Star.

The deployments drew criticism from Democrats because border security historically is a federal responsibility and National Guard soldiers and airmen called up for that role had fewer enforcement powers than U.S. Border Patrol agents.

Stitt joined Abbott and Republican governors from Iowa, Nebraska and South Dakota at a press conference in Eagle Pass, Texas, on Aug. 21. Stitt said he was concerned about illegal drugs like fentanyl being smuggled across the border and people on terrorism watchlists evading authorities at border crossings.

Every state is a border state, Stitt said at the press conference, echoing talking points from fellow Republican governors.

Lt. Col. LeeAnn Tumblson, a spokeswoman for the Oklahoma Air National Guard, said during the August mission a 50-person contingent of Oklahomas National Guard helped with 969 detections that resulted in 23 apprehensions by law enforcement. They successfully turned back 1,183 migrants without incident, she said.

Costs for the deployment are complicated. The Oklahoma Department of Emergency Management and Homeland Security typically pays for state active-duty National Guard deployments out of that agencys State Emergency Fund, said spokeswoman Keli Cain.

Because the Oklahoma deployment used equipment funded by the federal government, the state will have to turn around and reimburse the federal government for those costs, Tumblson said.

The deployment to Texas was under the governors powers to deploy the Guard under state active duty status. Texas did not reimburse Oklahoma for the costs. Unlike federal deployments domestically or internationally, Guard members deploying under state active duty arent eligible for federal Veterans Administration care if they get injured.

The influx of migrants at the countrys southern border with Mexico stems partly from the expiration of a Trump-era Remain in Mexico policy that had asylum seekers wait in Mexico as their cases progressed through the U.S. immigration court system. A separate pandemic-related health emergency that limited migrant crossings expired in May, putting further pressure on immigration authorities at the southern border.

Abbott launched Operation Lone Star in the spring of 2021 with thousands of state Department of Public Safety troopers dispatched to the Texas border. They were followed by thousands more members of the Texas National Guard. To date, Texas has spent more than $5 billion on the initiative, with some of the money diverted from its prison budget.

Abbott recently signed a Texas law that made illegal immigration a state crime, allowing police to arrest people they suspect crossed the Rio Grande between ports of entry. That law, which takes effect in March, likely sets up a legal challenge from the federal government.

Stitts callup of the Oklahoma National Guard to help with Operation Lone Star included a provision to go back in 2024 with another 50 Guard members if the need arises, Tumblson said.

Stitts office said there are no plans for a second deployment to the Texas-Mexico border.

About Oklahoma Watch Oklahoma Watch, at oklahomawatch.org, is a nonprofit, nonpartisan news organization that covers public-policy issues facing the state.

Migrants protest in Mexico by sewing lips shut, demanding safe journey to US
Vietnam Airlines is drawing up a plan to assess and recruit redundant pilots of Bamboo Airways, Vietnam Airlines CEO Le Hong Ha said on the sidelines of a conference of the transport sector on Thursday.

Local air carriers have been facing multiple difficulties over the past periods, with Bamboo Airways reporting a high number of redundant pilots after cutting its fleet.

Ha said he had worked with leaders of Bamboo Airways to mull over opportunities to support each other to overcome their hardships.

Earlier, a Bamboo Airways leader said many of its employees were laid off, including 100 pilots and 500 flight attendants.

Budget carrier Vietjet has agreed to hire 50 flight attendants and 20 pilots from Bamboo Airways.

The airline is calling on other domestic airlines to support it in finding employment for its employees.

As for Vietnam Airlines, the COVID-19 pandemic has exerted a severe impact on it. The airline is restructuring strongly to ensure its effective operation, Ha said.

Speaking at the conference of the transport sector, Vietnam Airlines chairman Dang Ngoc Hoa revealed many difficulties of airlines this year.

In particular, the jet fuel price was high in 2023, at US$105 per barrel, 30 percent higher than that in 2019, resulting in a surge of over VND6 trillion ($247.9 million) in Vietnam Airlines operation costs over 2019.

The international aviation market recovered positively in 2023 but the recovery pace was slower than expected in the last months of the year, especially in Northeast Asia.

Vietnam Airlines will maintain its market shares on major air routes and open more international air services in 2024, specifically those to Canada, Italy, and Northern European countries, Hoa informed.

He proposed that the government allow airlines to flexibly offer airfares while ensuring healthy competition.

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Vietnam sold over 10 million forest carbon credits in 2023, bringing in a total revenue of US$51.5 million, according to the Vietnamese agriculture ministry.

Deputy Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development (MARD) Nguyen Quoc Tri unveiled the figures at a conference held on Wednesday to review the forestry sectors operations in 2023 and discuss its business plan for 2024.

2023 marked a significant milestone for Vietnam, which successfully sold a total of 10.3 million forest carbon credits, equivalent to 10.3 million tons of CO 2, generated in the north-central region through the World Bank (WB) for $5 per ton, Deputy Minister Tri said.

He attributed the sale, the first of its kind, to an agreement signed between the MARD and the WB in February 2020 to reduce greenhouse gas emissions in Vietnams north-central region during the 2018-24 period.

The Vietnam Forest Protection and Development Fund, under the MARD, has received the first payment of $41.2 million from the WB for the $51.5-million sale and has disbursed the proceeds to relevant agencies in all six provinces of the region in proportion to their carbon credit volumes, Tri stated.

Accordingly, Nghe An earned more than VND282 billion ($11.6 million) from the sale, while Quang Binh made VND235 billion ($9.7 million), Thanh Hoa VND162 billion ($6.7 million), Ha Tinh VND122 ($5 million), Thua Thien-Hue VND107 billion ($4.4 million), and Quang Tri VND51 billion ($2.1 million).

Authorities in each of the six localities will distribute revenues from the sale to forest owners, considering their contributions to the locality's carbon credit quantities, the deputy minister said.

This region possesses over 3.1 million hectares of forest land, constituting 57.4 percent of its natural land and representing 21.2 percent of the country's total forested area, according to the Vietnam Administration of Forestry (VAF) under the MARD.

The WB highly appreciated Vietnams first-ever sale of forest carbon credits and wants to share and spread this story of Vietnam to other countries around the world, said Pham Hong Luong, chief of office of the VAF.

Vietnam boasts 14.7 million hectares of forest covering over 42 percent of the country, Luong added.

Carbon credits are tradable certificates that give holders the right to emit a certain amount of CO 2 or another amount of greenhouse gas converted to CO 2 equivalents.

One carbon credit is equal to one ton of CO 2 or one ton of CO 2 equivalents.

Dr. Tang The Cuong, director of the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environments Department of Climate Change, mentioned in a recent interview with Tuoi Tre (Youth) newspaper that a carbon credit market is set to undergo a pilot phase in Vietnam in 2025 before official operations commence in 2028.

This initiative aims to contribute to the reduction of greenhouse gas emissions, aligning with the goal of achieving net-zero emissions by 2050.

It is anticipated to enhance income for businesses and individuals involved in forest protection and development.

Currently, 58 countries are developing carbon markets, 27 others are collecting carbon taxes, and several more are applying both.

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The five-year business partnership between Vietnams Bamboo Airways and Saigon Ground Services JSC (SAGS) will come to an end from Monday next week, due to issues possibly linked to overdue debts.

SAGS began providing all ground services to Bamboo at Tan Son Nhat International Airport in Ho Chi Minh City, Da Nang International Airport in central Da Nang City, and Cam Ranh International Airport in south-central Khanh Hoa Province when Bamboo launched its maiden commercial flight in January 2019.

Bamboo Airways deputy general director Truong Viet Cuong said in a document recently sent to SAGS that the carrier agreed to terminate its contract with the ground handler at Tan Son Nhat and Da Nang Airports.

Both sides will discuss measures to address their remaining issues before the termination of the contract, which was partly attributed to their issues related to overdue debt payments.

SAGS, a subsidiary of the Airports Corporation of Vietnam, will stop providing its services to Bamboo Airways from 0:00 on January 1, but the carriers December 31 flight schedule could linger on into the following day.

Pacific Airlines, a member company under Vietnam Airlines Group, would be the next one to offer the ground services to Bamboo Airways flights. Photo: Quang Dinh / Tuoi Tre

The carrier proposed that SAGS provide its services for all Bamboo Airways flights until 4:00 am on January 1 and support the carrier in the shift to a new ground handler, so that passengers would not be affected by the changes.

Fearing that the cessation of SAGS ground services for Bamboo Airways could take a toll on the transportation of air passengers, the Civil Aviation Authority of Vietnam asked both sides to report on their plans about the shift to a new ground handler.

In response, Bamboo Airways said it had found a new service provider, affirming that the shift would leave very little impact on its normal operations.

Findings from Tuoi Tre (Youth) newspaper showed that Pacific Airlines, a member company under Vietnam Airlines Group, would be the next one to offer the ground services to Bamboo Airways.

It is one of the very few Vietnamese carriers that operate a ground handling business.

A Pacific Airlines leader confirmed to Tuoi Tre that it had agreed to provide ground services to Bamboo Airways.

Pacific Airlines is undergoing a major transformation, in which it refreshed its ground services to optimize operations and secure employment for its workforce amid a gloomy economic outlook.

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A local man has handed over a two-meter long, eight-kilogram python to forest protection officers in Ho Chi Minh City.

The municipal Forest Protection Department reported on Wednesday that they received a python from Pham Trong Vinh.

Vinh later informed Tuoi Tre (Youth) newspaper that he and two others had captured the python in the yard of a workshop located in the outlying district of Binh Chanh in the city.

He handed the animal over to forest protection officers in the hope that it would be released back into the wild.

The forest protection authority confirmed that the reptile is a Burmese python, scientifically known Python bivittatus, which is on the list of rare and endangered species.

Vinh revealed that he has handed a total number of three pythons found in the workshop yard and on the street over to the department.

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Catch up on the news in Vietnam today:

Society

-- Hanoi will organize a countdown party at Dong Kinh Nghia Thuc Square from 7:00 pm on December 31 to 1:00 am on January 1 to usher in 2024.

-- Vietnam sold 10.3 million forest carbon credits worth US$51.5 million via the World Bank this year, Deputy Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development Nguyen Quoc Tri told a conference on Wednesday.

-- State President Vo Van Thuong on Wednesday signed a decision to reduce death penalties to life sentences for 18 prisoners.

-- The Peoples Committee of Khanh Hoa Province, south-central Vietnam, has issued a dispatch announcing the six-month suspension of Nha Trang Port for maintenance and repair. Accordingly, the port will be closed off to domestic vessels, but will still receive international cruise ships during the period.

-- Police in Bac Ninh Province, northern Vietnam, confiscated some 400,000 vaping atomizers of unclear origins after raiding a warehouse at the Khuc Xuyen craft village industrial cluster in Bac Ninh City on Tuesday.

-- Temperatures in the northern region are forecast to increase by 2 - 3 degrees Celsius on Thursday, while many central provinces will experience moderate to heavy rains, according to the national weather center.

Business

-- Several leaders of banks and real estate firms are rushing to buy millions of their entities shares to raise their ownership.

Lifestyle

-- Khanh Hoa Province Intellectual Association has proposed that the provincial Party Committee and Peoples Committee recognize the circular Dam Market as a provincial cultural historical relic.

-- A semi-realistic art program kicked off at Ponagar Tower in Nha Trang, a popular beach city under Khanh Hoa Province, on Wednesday night to provide visitors with knowledge about the Champa kingdom and offer them a festive atmosphere.

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Hanoi is set to bid farewell to 2023 with a countdown celebration held at Dong Kinh Nghia Thuc Square, adjacent to iconic Ho Guom (Sword Lake) in Hoan Kiem District, on New Year's Eve, a local official told a meeting in the Vietnamese capital on Wednesday.

The pedestrian street surrounding Sword Lake will open from December 29 to January 1 to serve local residents, said Pham Tuan Long, chairman of the administration of Hoan Kiem District.

The Vietnamese capital city will also usher in the 2024 Lunar New Year (Tet) holiday with a bang thanks to fireworks shows held at 31 locations citywide, according to the Hanoi Capital Command.

Each district in the city was told to designate one location for a pyrotechnic display while authorities in Hoan Kiem District chose two.

People can watch the high-altitude pyrotechnic shows at nine locations across the capital.

An overview of a meeting chaired by Tran Sy Thanh, chairman of the Hanoi administration, on December 27, 2023. Photo: Quang Vien / Tuoi Tre

During the 2022 Tet holiday, Hanoi did not display fireworks due to the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic.

In related news, Tran Sy Thanh, chairman of the municipal administration, chaired a meeting on Wednesday during which relevant units reported on their preparations for upcoming New Year celebrations and other public holidays.

Do Dinh Hong, director of the municipal Department of Culture and Sports, said the department had mapped out plans to adorn inner-city streets and entrances to the city with large posters and festive lights.

The citys chairman demanded that the decorations and use of festive lights look enchanting yet still match cityscapes.

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Doctors at Childrens Hospital 1 in Ho Chi Minh City on Wednesday announced that they had successfully extracted a squeaker from the lung of a 15-year-old boy from Phu Yen Province, south-central Vietnam.

Around seven to eight years ago, while the boy was blowing a squeaker taken from a childs shoe, his friend patted him on the back, causing him to choke on the squeaker.

He showed no signs of breathing difficulty and an X-ray taken at the time displayed no issues either.

However, about a month ago, the boy began to develop a chronic cough, so doctors suspected he had a foreign object lodged in his airway.

Following an examination at Childrens Hospital 1, doctors identified the squeaker stucked in the bronchial subsegment of his right lung.

During a challenging 90-minute procedure, a surgical team put the boy under anesthesia, controlled his bleeding, and performed an endoscopic removal.

After an initial failure, the surgeons succeeded in extracting the foreign object from the boys airway.

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The Ho Chi Minh City administration has given the go-ahead for the resumption of operations at the inland waterway port at the second quay of the Bach Dang Wharf in District 1.

Municipal vice-chairman Bui Xuan Cuong allowed Greenlines DP Technology Co. Ltd. to continue exploiting the inland waterway port for high-speed boat services connecting the city with Vung Tau City in neighboring Ba Ria - Vung Tau Province, restaurant vessels, and boats transporting tourists from the Bach Dang Wharf.

The inland waterway port will be used when the city has yet to deploy a detailed plan for the wharf.

Cuong asked the Department of Transport to ensure that the port could be closed when needed.

When the city orders Greenlines DP Technology Co. Ltd. to relocate, the company will bear all associated costs.

The firm will also have to submit land use fees in line with the law.

The municipal government assigned the Department of Natural Resources and Environment to coordinate with relevant departments and agencies to instruct companies using quay No. 2, 3, and 4 at the wharf to fulfill their financial obligations.

The department will have to report the results of their work to the municipal Peoples Committee next month.

The second quay at the Bach Dang Wharf is 80 meters long and nine meters wide.

The resumption of the quays operation will ensure the continuous provision of express boat services between Ho Chi Minh City and Ba Ria - Vung Tau Province, pending the arrangement of a new waterway port.

Greenlines DP Technology Co. Ltd. has managed and operated the quay since 2019.

In April this year, the Ho Chi Minh City Department of Transport extended the operation of express boat services at the inland waterway port of the Bach Dang Wharf until December 30 this year.

In January-October this year, there were 1,500 boat trips departing from and going to the port, carrying 85,000 passengers.

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Tourism in Ho Chi Minh City has made an impressive recovery in 2023, with the number of international visitors to the city expected to reach five million this year, according to the Ho Chi Minh City Department of Tourism.

The figure indicates a 44.3-percent increase over the same period in 2022, meeting 100 percent of the target for 2023.

Domestic visitors to Ho Chi Minh City are expected to exceed 35 million in 2023, a 12-percent rise over the same time frame in 2022, meeting 100 percent of the target for this year, as shown by data from the department.

Total tourism revenue is projected to hit VND160,000 billion (US$6.6 billion) in 2023, a 22-percent year-on-year jump, reaching 100 percent of the target for this year.

In order to attract more domestic and international tourists to discover the remarkable attractions of Ho Chi Minh City, the municipal Department of Tourism recently expanded the reach of its promotion for the Interactive Smart 3D/360 Map of Ho Chi Minh City (Map 3D/360) across multiple social media platforms, including fan page Vibrant Ho Chi Minh City, fan page Du lich Thanh pho Ho Chi Minh, and website visithcmc.vn.

By accessing social networking sites managed by the department and following the provided instructions, tourists can gain authentic 360-degree views of famous tourist destinations, including Ben Thanh Market, Notre-Dame Cathedral Basilica of Saigon, Reunification Palace, Ho Chi Minh Museum, and more.

This innovation has allowed visitors to conveniently obtain information and increased their engagement with the city before their actual trip.

Before embarking on their trip, Map 3D/360 facilitates tourists in exploring Ho Chi Minh City, streamlining their investigative efforts and saving valuable time and energy.

Furthermore, it serves as a practical resource for individuals who are unable to make an actual trip to the city but still desire to acquire an in-depth understanding of it.

Through the increased utilization of social media platforms to promote Map 3D/360, the tourism department has established beneficial conditions for visitors to virtually explore and experience Ho Chi Minh City.

This enables them to avoid the need to invest time and effort in researching the city before their visit.

It not only contributes to the enhancement of the city's reputation but also generates enthusiasm and expectation among tourists ready to explore it.

A guide for tourists to using Map 3D/360

Ben Duoc Memorial Temple in Cu Chi District, Ho Chi Minh City, as shown in Map 3D/360

Reunification Palace in District 1, Ho Chi Minh City, as shown in Map 3D/360

The tourism sector in Ho Chi Minh City is striving to appeal to a broader audience of domestic and international tourists who have an interest in exploring and visiting the city.

This effort involves the integration of new technological applications into tourism promotion strategies.
Several inner-city districts in Hanoi experienced poor air quality on Thursday morning, posing a threat to public health, according to data released on a website run by the Center for Environment Monitoring under the municipal Department of Natural Resources and Environment.

Polluted air clouded Pham Van Dong Street in Bac Tu Liem District, the headquarters of the Peoples Committee of Cau Dien Ward in Nam Tu Liem District, Thanh Cong Lake Park in Ba Dinh District, and several areas in Hoan Kiem District at 6:00 am on Thursday.

Residents with health issues were advised to avoid outdoor activity.

The Center for Environment Monitoring also advised residents who choose to go outdoors to wear face masks and limit their time outside.

According to Dr. Hoang Duong Tung, chairman of the Vietnam Clean Air Partnership, there are several reasons for the poor air quality at this time of the year, including poor control over gas emissions from production operations at factories and in craft villages, worsened by vehicle emissions and garbage burning.

Garbage burning is one of the main reasons for the poor air pollution in Hanoi, according to many experts. Photo: Danh Khang / Tuoi Tre

Tung also ascribed the poor air quality to low wind and high smog levels which have led to a surge in fine particulate matter.

Prof. Dr. Vu Van Giap, deputy head of the Respiratory Center at Bach Mai Hospital in Hanoi, said that individuals with respiratory illness are most likely to be affected by the low air quality.

Giap explained that bad air quality causes shortness of breath and coughing, and people with respiratory diseases should refrain from going outdoors unless absolutely necessary.

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Nguyen Thi Duc, a 58-year-old from Khanh Hoa Province in south-central Vietnam, has spent the past decade offering free classes to underprivileged children in the provincial capital city of Nha Trang.

Despite having no teaching certificates, Ducs compassion for disadvantaged children has allowed her to help children with disabilities, orphans, and kids from low-income families take steps toward fulfilling their dreams.

The inspiration to launch free classes came when she met two children from low-income families during the Mid-Autumn Festival in the early 2010s.

The two children, she noticed, were watching another group of children from afar, hesitant to join in the fun.

Duc approached the two children and found out that they were orphans and had to collect recyclable items along the street for resale in order to make ends meet.

I hope that the children joining my class will try their best in learning so as to fulfill their dreams. This would make me and other members in the class truly happy, Duc said.

Nowadays, she provides lessons for 58 students ranging from kindergarten to ninth grade with support from a team of high school- and college-aged volunteers.

One of these volunteers, Nguyen Quynh Nhu, a student at Khanh Hoa University in the namesake province, said that most of the children belong to marginalized groups.

She also noted that the children are all well-behaved and hard-working and that she believes they can be taught to love themselves, overcome lifes difficulties, and learn to become good citizens.

Nguyen Thi Duc carries her adopted children to her class each day on her motorcycle. She adopted these kids after they were orphaned due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Photo: Tran Hoai / Tuoi Tre

With her great love and compassion for those in need, Nguyen Thi Duc is considered a source of inspiration for the teaching volunteers in her free classes. Photo: Tran Hoai / Tuoi Tre

Nguyen Thi Ducs class opens on weekday evenings and is joined by many students and supported by a team of teaching volunteers. Photo: Tran Hoai / Tuoi Tre

A teaching volunteer helps a kindergartener learn the alphabet. Photo: Tran Hoai / Tuoi Tre

Nguyen Thi Duc teaches English to a group of students. Photo: Tran Hoai / Tuoi Tre

Nguyen Thi Duc briefs a volunteer on how to fix clothes donated to disadvantaged children from generous donors. Photo: Tran Hoai / Tuoi Tre

A volunteer teaches English to children. Photo: Tran Hoai / Tuoi Tre

Though he suffers from congenital brain malformations, Nguyen Duy Thinh is still able to join Nguyen Thi Ducs classes. Thinh is living with his grandmother and three younger siblings in a 15-square-meter rented house. Photo: Tran Hoai / Tuoi Tre

The children receive little gifts after each class. Photo: Tran Hoai / Tuoi Tre

Despite coming from marginalized communities, the children in Nguyen Thi Ducs class always try their best. Photo: Tran Hoai / Tuoi Tre

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Dao Manh Nghia, a young man from Quang Tri Province in north-central Vietnam, made history as the only Vietnamese to receive the Diana Award, an honor named after the late princess of Wales that is given to young leaders sparking change across the globe.

In mid-December, Nghia, a 25-year-old resident of Cam Lo District, received a certificate for the 2023 award.

Nghia, who was born in 1997 and graduated from the Ho Chi Minh City University of Law, works as a solicitor at a Japanese law company.

The man is deeply attached to community-driven activities, which made him reach the recognition of the Diana Award.

After being nominated for the award and undergoing several rounds of stringent selection, Nghia was named the only Vietnamese recipient of the accolade for his efforts in contributing to society.

This is a big surprise to me. The award will be my motivation to continue such a meaningful journey, Nghia expressed his emotions.

The young man said that he had joined countless social responsibility initiatives held in Southeast Asia in particular, and Asia in general.

He is also the founder of DMN, an initiative dedicated to Vietnamese youth, with a primary focus on promoting and disseminating awareness about the 17 Sustainable Development Goals of the United Nations, Vietnamese law, international law, and various international and domestic affairs.

Through the civic and social organization, Nghia called for a donation of over US$20,000 to fund a slew of community-related programs during the COVID-19 pandemic, benefiting more than 50,000 people in need.

A certificate for the Diana Award given to Dao Manh Nghia. Photo: Supplied

Since its inception in 2019, DMN has helped out over 100,000 people, delivered more than 20,000 medical supplies, and donated 100 financial aid packages to disadvantaged people.

Nghia also said that he was honored to be the winner of the ASEAN-Korea Academic Essay Contest 2019, to be selected as a senior delegate to participate in the CIMB Young ASEAN Leaders 2019 in Malaysia, and to be named an ambassador to the Asia-Pacific MY World 2030.

He has recently acted as a Vietnamese representative to join the Young ASEAN Leaders Policy Initiative 2023 in Thailand.

This non-profit organization serves as an international forum with the objective of addressing contemporary social issues through a grassroots approach, engaging the younger generation of ASEAN in policy creation and implementation.

Nghia is constantly finding ways to unlock the potential of the youth in his hometown during Vietnams international integration process.

Many young people in the province have little opportunity to access information about international programs, while no solutions were introduced to keep them updated on these, Nghia said.

As such, DMN was founded to solve the problem.

We expect the initiative to create a network of young leaders via a wide range of activities such as the DMN Young Leaders Competition, various national and international workshops and conferences, dialogues, skill-training courses, and charity programs, he added.

The Diana Award was launched by former UK Prime Minister Gordon Brown in 1999 in honor of the late Diana..

The Diana Award is given to young people aged 9-25 who are recognized for their social action or humanitarian work.

To qualify for the Diana Award, nominees must fulfill five essential criteria, encompassing vision, social impact, youth-led initiatives, service journey, and the ability to inspire others.

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UPDATED:

Seven has now pulled the late night Spotlight repeat for a movie, New Years Eve.

EARLIER:

What a tacky way to see in 2024

In a disappointing programming move, Seven will see it replay its controversial Spotlight Gender Agenda episode at 11pm on Sunday night -effectively making it the last show on its primary channel this year.

The episode fronted by Liam Bartlett was slammed by the Transgender community for suggesting there was an epidemic of kids being brainwashed into transitioning, and later regretting it.

4 people came forward to complain about the use of their online images to imply they regretted transitioning. An online petition against their inclusion currently stands at over 53,000 signatures.

Seven later issued an apology for mistakenly using one transgender woman.

It isnt clear if Spotlight has removed all the images of those who complained about being included.

As Mitch McTaggart yesterday remarked in his Last Year of Television special, Spotlight interviewed three people who regretted transitioning, including one American, Chloe Cole, who transitioned at 15. However the programme did not make clear that in Australia such surgery is not legal until the age of 18.

Vice Media also noted anti-trans hate was rising in Australia because of reports like Sevens Spotlight. It noted a survey claiming 1 in 2 trans Australians has experienced some form of hate in the last 12 months and 1 in 6 had experienced violence.

Frankly, if Seven wanted a Spotlight special to see out 2023, it might well have used its John Farnham episode in which music and nostalgia might have been a better fit for the occasion?

Just without the Hey Hey footage of Farnsy singing with Tom Jones perhaps, currently the centre of another legal fracas
Tauseef Ahmad/ TwoCircles.net

Hari Ram Pandey, a 66-year-old man from Deogarh in Jharkhand, has been raising abandoned girls on his own for the past two decades. He recently made news after appearing on television in October after being invited to participate in a reality show hosted by Bollywood superstar Amitabh Bachchan.



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Silent Guardian and Saviour of 35 daughters

Pandey discovered a baby girl in a wilderness abandoned by her parents in December 2004. Because the infant was in critical condition, he had her brought to a hospital, where she was treated for over three weeks. That day transformed his life, and after successful treatment, he adopted her and brought her home.

He named her Tappase. She has now turned 19. She was the first, but not the last, abandoned girl child Pandey would take under his care.

Months after Tappases recovery, I received a phone call from someone about another abandoned girl child. I rescued her and named her Khushi, Pandey told Two Circles.

Following the recovery of the second abandoned child, Pandey, on the advice of the temple towns then deputy commissioner, founded Narayan Seva Ashram for such children with his wife Bhavani Kumari and had it registered as a trust.

Pandey has raised 35 girl children and one boy between the ages of 0 and 8 years who were abandoned by their parents in forests, moving trains, lushes, riverbanks, or near garbage dumping sites since then. All of these children call him Pandey Baba (father).

Daughters Are Gods Gift to Me: Pandey

Despite several government campaigns throughout the years, Indian parents have a strong preference for sons. Boys are regarded as an investment, whilst girls are regarded as a liability.

I dont understand, we live in the twenty-first century where a girl child is still a burden for someone? Our society needs to change the perception. Our daughters can do more than our sons. Girls, too, deserve a good education and a good life, Pandey stated.

I had a headache yesterday. After school, all of the girls sat close to me. They are Gods gifts to me, he added.

Pandeys Ashram is located in the Adivasi (tribal) area of Jharkhand, where there is no place for abandoned children within 150-200 kilometers. For the past 20 years, Pandey has been a top priority for local police, railway police, and local administration when they find abandoned children in the district.

Humanity Above Religion

Pandey has struggled financially to sustain the Ashram while also providing good schooling for the children.

People have helped me a lot in terms of money and other facilities, especially the Muslims in the vegetable market who used to give me vegetables for free every day for my children, Pandey told Two Circles.

Pandey is doing a noble job raising these 35 children, giving them shelter, education, and a happy life. Liyaqat Ahmad, 42, a Muslim vegetable trader told Two Circles.

He also stated that all vegetable sellers, Muslims, and Hindus alike, will continue to help him in whatever way they can.

In addition to the assistance from the vegetable seller, the D.A.V Public School, which the children from the ashram attend, does not charge Pandey any fees. It gives me hope of carrying this mission forward, he said.

Pandey further stated that the district administration has recently provided some computers to the girls.

Plans for a School for Poor Children

Tappasi and Khushi, the first two adopted children, passed their high school final exams with first-division grades and aspire to be doctors. They want to take care of the children like them and poor people who are suffering from diseases and could not afford treatment, he said.

Pandey is currently on a mission to build a school for poor girl children whose parents cannot afford to educate their them owing to financial constraints. Will provide free meals and free education to students from poor communities, he remarked, adding that educating this generation will educate future generations.

Pandey has urged the administration to establish a public ashram for orphaned children in each district of the state.

Growing Numbers of Abandoned Children in India

According to a report by Carings, the central government portal for child care, the number of orphans and abandoned children in India has increased by 25% since 2020. According to the report, the number of such children in 2022-23 was 5663.

Tauseef Ahmad is an independent reporter based in Kashmir, India.
Prototypes of three different fare gates will debut Thursday at the West Oakland BART Station. The gates are designed to reduce fare evasion. Santiago Mejia/The Chronicle

BART riders have long been accustomed to seeing people casually jump over, crawl under, or force their way through the rail systems orange, fin-like gates without paying a fare.

That might end soon.

On Thursday, riders at BARTs West Oakland Station are expected to be the first to experience the new way of entering the rail system  through fare gates more than 7 feet tall, with sturdy and transparent polycarbonate doors.

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The new gates contrast the hip-level gates BART has used since its inception that are notoriously easy for fare cheats to vault over or push through.

A prototype of new fare gates will launch Thursday at the West Oakland BART Station. Santiago Mejia/The Chronicle

The gates debut at West Oakland Station kicks off a $90 million project to replace all BARTs 700-plus gates  including elevator entrances at station platforms  by summer 2025.

Heres what we know about BARTs new fare gates, and how they differ from the old ones.

How new gates make it difficult to evade fares

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BARTs new fare gates at the West Oakland BART Station are the first of the transit systems rollout. Santiago Mejia/The Chronicle

One of the main reasons fare evaders could find it challenging to bypass the new gates is because the clear, saloon-style doors cover most of its height, and sit within inches to the ground. The new gates at the entrance of the West Oakland Station resemble a wall, with a steel bridge above the swing doors connecting the gates.

That design leaves little openings for people to crawl under or vault over the gates.

BART riders will enter stations the same way they did with the old gates, by tapping in with a Clipper card. Then a green arrow will light up underneath the Clipper card reader and the doors will open, swinging away from the rider.

The agency says the speed of the doors is adjustable. The new gates can also handle higher foot traffic volumes at turnstiles than the old gates, according to BART, meaning less waiting during busy periods.

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Gates redesigned to withstand abuse

Prototypes of three fare gates have been installed and tested at the West Oakland BART Station. The new gates will eventually be installed throughout the system. Santiago Mejia/The Chronicle

BART laid out 70 pages of technical specifications to build its new gates when it awarded the contract to STraffic America, the company that replaced fare gates for rail systems in Seoul, South Korea, and Washington, D.C.

Those specifications originally called for building gates powered by electric motors and equipped with software locks in which the gate doors are programmed to push against people trying to pry them open.

However, BART assistant general manager Sylvia Lamb said tests found applying pressure to the doors created a little bit of flex in the gate, still more than we would like with the software lock. So, BART told STraffic to revise the gates design to instead include a mechanical locking system unique to BART that would keep the gates still when people try to force the doors to open, Lamb said.

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It will be harder to push through these fare gates than any other gate in the world, Lamb said.

New gates could help BARTs finances  and safety

BART spokesperson Chris Filippi tests prototypes of new fare gates at the West Oakland BART Station. The gates will emit an alarm if a commuters Clipper card has insufficient funds. Santiago Mejia/The Chronicle

BART officials in 2017 estimated the agency lost up to $25 million in revenue due to fare evasion. That estimate was based on the conservative assumption that between 3% and 6% of riders werent paying fares, pre-pandemic.

BART expects to recuperate more fare revenue with the new gates. It couldnt come at a more needed time for the agency, which projects nine-figure operating deficits starting in 2026 amid a sluggish post-pandemic ridership recovery.

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To date, BART has recovered about 45% of its 2019 ridership, or about 185,000 paying riders on its busiest weekdays.

Prototypes of fare gates are tested by workers at the West Oakland BART Station. Santiago Mejia/The Chronicle

Public pressure to replace the fare gates mounted this year from state legislators and the Bay Area Council business interest group, viewing it as a way to improve safety on BART to win riders back.

As we figure out how to balance the budget and how to make ends meet, our agency has been forced to pay far more attention to making riders feel good about riding BART, said BART Director Debora Allen, who championed the new fare gates.

Allen believes the new gates will improve safety and reliability on BART and reduce mayhem in the system, be it criminal activity or antisocial behavior that can stall service or fuel dirtiness on trains.

Though not everyone who fare evades commits other crimes on BART, transit police officials have acknowledged that fare evasion contributes to crime in the system.

Officers now patrol trains more often, and BART police officials have said that the hardened gates will allow officers to shift more of their focus toward enforcing rules beyond fare payment.

West Oakland gates wont be a finished product

Prototypes of fare gates have been installed and tested by workers at West Oakland BART Station and are scheduled to launch Thursday. Santiago Mejia/The Chronicle

The gates launching at West Oakland Station wont include the mechanical locks, and BART anticipates some of the most aggressive fare evaders will be able to push through the new gates.

The new fare gates come equipped with cameras and alarms that will go off when more than one person attempts to pass through the gate, or piggyback, as well as when someone tries to jump over or crawl under the gates, according to BART. Tapping in with a Clipper card that has insufficient funds will also trigger the door alarms.

The batch of West Oakland Station gates will include three different gate materials, including framed doors encased with perforated metal. Testing of West Oakland gates will determine the final design of the gates manufactured by STraffic, Lamb said.

BART will install the new gates in batches, and officials will announce the next eight stations to get the gate replacements at the Jan. 11 transit board meeting.

State bailout funds hinge on replacing gates

The West Oakland BART Station is the first in the transit system to receive the new fare gates. Santiago Mejia/The Chronicle

BART must meet its goal to replace all of its fare gates by 2025 to receive $352 million in state and regional subsidies. Those funds will effectively push back the agencys looming fiscal cliff by about two years.

The debut of the new gates at West Oakland Station will coincide with an increased discount  50% off fares  for low-income BART riders.

BART will collect fare evasion data

About 25% of riders report seeing acts of fare evasion, according to recent BART quarterly performance reports. However, the true prevalence of fare evasion on BART is not known because the agency doesnt track such data.

That will change with the new fare gates, which will come equipped with sensors that can track how often people push through the gates and try to evade fares.

BART officials acknowledge that the new gates wont put a stop to fare cheats, particularly the most aggressive offenders. Its unclear how effective the new gates will be in reducing fare evasion. For reference, the gates STraffic manufactured for D.C.s Metrorail, with gates shorter than BARTs new ones, brought down fare evasion by 70%.

Signs will accompany the prototypes of the new fare gates at the West Oakland BART Station. Santiago Mejia/The Chronicle

Allen is hopeful the new gates will end casual fare evasion from people who can afford fares but choose to not pay because of permissive enforcement.

Along with the people committing mayhem who dont pay, there are regular working people who have watched the people who dont pay, for years, throw their hands up and say, Well, why should I pay?   Allen said.

The reaction at West Oakland BART

The senior manager for Barts engineering programs Wahid Amiri stood at the West Oakland station Thursday morning alongside other Bart staff watching people use the gates for the first time. Police watched nearby. Amiri said extra people were stationed at the Bart stop to support the transition.

The morning went smoothly and there were no reported tech issues, Amiri said.

Martha Lincoln, who typically commutes to work via Bart, did not have any issues getting through the new gates with her bike, but is not a fan of the change.

Seems like a lot of resources are being used to criminalize the poor, she said.

Alvin Williams, who rides Bart daily, believed no one was trying to evade the Bart fare at the station Thursday morning because of the police watching, but guessed people could still get through without paying if they ran through the doors at the same time as another person.

Out of curiosity a man Williams was with tried pressing on a closed gate door to see if someone could push through, but it did not budge.

They want their money, Williams said.
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Dr. Hassan Ghazzawi Hospital Celebrates 25000 Miracles  A Milestone in Maternal Care

As the 25000 Miracles celebration unfolds, it stands as a shining example of medical achievement, community collaboration, and the boundless joy that accompanies the birth of each precious life at Dr. Hassan Ghazzawi Hospital. Read More

Thursday December 28, 2023 6:52 PM , ummid.com News Network

Jeddah: In a momentous occasion, Dr. Hassan Ghazzawi Hospital in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, under the esteemed management of Abeer Medical Group, announced the celebration of its 25000 Miracles Program, marking the birth of 25,000 babies.

The hospital, recognized for its commitment to excellence, holds accreditation from both the Central Board for Accreditation of Healthcare Institutions (CBAHI) and the Joint Commission International (JCI).

To commemorate this significant achievement, the hospital has adorned its premises with vibrant decorations, including eye-catching holdings and danglers, reflecting the jubilation surrounding the 25000 Miracles initiative.

The grand event, scheduled to take place, will be a heartwarming affair featuring selected babies and their parents. Eminent doctors, dedicated hospital staff, and esteemed community leaders will also grace the occasion, emphasizing the collaborative effort that has led to this remarkable milestone in maternal care.

The celebration is not just a reflection of the hospitals commitment to medical excellence but also a testament to the trust and confidence bestowed upon Dr. Hassan Ghazzawi Hospital by the community. The cultural programs incorporated into the event promise an engaging and festive atmosphere, blending the joy of new life with the rich tapestry of the local heritage.

Dr. Hassan Ghazzawi, the visionary leader behind the hospitals success, expressed gratitude to the entire healthcare team, the parents, and the community for their unwavering support throughout this incredible journey. The event aims not only to celebrate the 25,000 newborns but also to reinforce the hospitals ongoing dedication to providing exceptional healthcare services.

As the 25000 Miracles celebration unfolds, it stands as a shining example of medical achievement, community collaboration, and the boundless joy that accompanies the birth of each precious life at Dr. Hassan Ghazzawi Hospital.

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In solidarity with Gaza, Sharjah bars New Year fireworks

According to the Health Ministry of Palestine, the death toll in Gaza since Oct 7 is more than 21,000 - over 80 per cent of them women and children, as on Dec 28, 2023. Read More

Thursday December 28, 2023 3:43 PM , ummid.com News Network

Sharjah: In solidarity with the Palestinians brutally massacred by the Israeli Occupation Forces in Gaza and the occupied West Bank, the Sharjah Police has banned all celebrations and firework displays on 2024 New Year Eve.

The move is a sincere expression of solidarity with the people of Gaza where the relentless bombing by the Israeli Occupation police has claimed over 21,000 lives since Oct 7.

The police has appealed to all institutions and individuals to cooperate with it and adhere to the announcement, Khaleej Times reported citing a Facebook post by Sharjah Police.

In the announcement made on Facebook, the Sharjah Police warned that legal actions will be taken against those violating the ban.

Sharjah usually ushers in the New Year with fireworks lasting several minutes over Al Majaz Waterfront.

Other events cancelled too

Multiple festivals and events, including Tanweer Sacred Music Festival, which was to be held in Sharjahs Mleiha, the Culture Summit Abu Dhabi, and concerts at Dubai's Coca-Cola Arena have been either postponed or cancelled in the Emirate in a show of solidarity with Gaza, according to The National.

Earlier, Bethlehem  the birthplace of Jesus Christ in the Occupied Jerusalem, and a number of countries including the United Arab Emirates (UAE) had cancelled Christmas festivities scheduled for December 25 .

Gaza latest update

Israeli Occupation Army has waged a deadly war against the Palestinians in Gaza Strip and Occupied West Bank following the Operation Al Aqsa Flood launched by Hamas and other Resistance Groups on Oct 7, 2023.

According to the Health Ministry of Palestine, the death toll in Gaza since Oct 7 is more than 21,000 - over 80 per cent of them women and children, as on Dec 28, 2023.

The Ministry said at least 55, 240 civilians have been injured in round the clock shelling by the Israeli Occupation Forces and over 7,000 are missing.

Another 313 Palestinians have been killed in the Occupied West Bank, the Health Ministry said.

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Welcome Guest! You are here: Home  Israel

Suffering Gaza nightmare, Israeli soldier opens fire on colleagues

The soldier was staying at a resort in Ashkelon in southern Israel which is used by the military for rehabilitation purposes at the time of the shocking incident. Read More

Thursday December 28, 2023 12:59 PM , ummid.com News Network

[File image/socia media]

Occupied Jerusalem: In another incident reminiscent of the loses to the Zionist army , an Israeli soldier who participated in the massacre of Palestinians in Gaza woke up from a nightmare, picked up an assault rifle and started shooting his colleagues, Hebrew media reported.

The soldier was staying at a resort in Ashkelon in southern Israel which is used by the military for rehabilitation purposes at the time of the shocking incident, Israels Channel 12 reported on Wednesday.

The soldier opened fire on a wall, injuring an undisclosed number of soldiers who suffered shrapnel wounds, the Jerusalem Post reported citing the local media.

The incident was referred for investigation to Israels Ministry of Defence, however it was decided that no further action would be taken due to the soldiers psychological state.

Israeli soldiers killed in Gaza

The Zionist regime in Israel is hiding the losses inflicted on its army in Gaza. According to the official figures, it has confirmed the death 167 soldiers in Gaza, some of them the government claimed were killed in friendly shooting.

However, local Israeli media put the casualty figure of the Israeli soldiers much higher than the official numbers.

Citing an Israeli Ministry of Defense official, Hebrew daily Yedioth Ahronoth had earlier this month reported that Israeli hospitals are flooded by wounded soldiers, receiving at least 60 injured army personnel daily.

Citing the Israeli official, the newspaper also reported that as many 2,000 soldiers wounded in Gaza are officially recognized by the Ministry of Defence as disabled.

Also, the social media is flooded with videos and images showing accounts of Israeli soldiers who are crying and complaining about the mental trauma they are facing after participation in the inhuman massacre of civilians in Gaza and other occupied Palestinian territories.

Watch Video

              #    12          

"          ". pic.twitter.com/caY2p0UQhd   (@keymiftah79) December 25, 2023

Incidentally, similar complaints of mental trauma and fatigues were also reported by the soldiers of the United States and its allies who were involved in the massacre of civilians in Iraq, Syria and Afghanistan. Unable to handle their mental condition, many of these soldiers have committed suicide.

US soldiers suffering from post-traumatic stress disorder also similarly opened fire on colleagues and general public. One such incident was reported in November 2018 when in one the deadliest attacks in the United States, a 28-year-old Marine Corps 'veteran' of the Afghanistan war walked into a country music dance club in Thousand Oaks, California and opened fire with a handgun, killing 12 people and wounding 25.

Gaza latest update

Israeli Occupation Army has waged a deadly war against the Palestinians in Gaza Strip and Occupied West Bank following the Operation Al Aqsa Flood launched by Hamas and other Resistance Groups on Oct 7, 2023.

According to the Health Ministry of Palestine, the death toll in Gaza since Oct 7 is more than 21,000 - over 80 per cent of them women and children, as on Dec 28, 2023.

The Ministry said at least 55, 240 civilians have been injured in round the clock shelling by the Israeli Occupation Forces and over 7,000 are missing.

Another 313 Palestinians have been killed in the Occupied West Bank, the Health Ministry said.

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This 3D-printed 'body-on-chip' can save animals from drug tests

The plastic device, dubbed as 'body-on-chip' created using a 3D printer mimcs effect of medicines on a human body and has all the potential to save animals from drug testing. Read More

Thursday December 28, 2023 7:51 PM , ummid.com with inputs from Agencies

[3D Printer Image for Representation.]

London: A team of scientists at the University of Edinburgh, UK has developed a ground-breaking 3D-printed "body-on-chip" that mimics the effect of medicines on a human body, according to media report Thursday December 28, 2023.

Thousands of animals are used in the early stages of developing medicines worldwide every year, yet many drugs tested on animals do not end up showing any clinical benefit.

The plastic device created using a 3D printer has all the potential to save animals from drug testing.

According to The Guardian, the 3D printed chip has five compartments replicating the human heart, lungs, kidney, liver and brain. These replicas are connected by channels that mimic the human circulatory system, through which new drugs can be pumped.

PET scanning

The device uses Positron Emission Tomography (PET) scanning to produce detailed 3D images showing what is going on inside the tiny organs. It involves injecting tiny amounts of radioactive compounds into the chip to transmit signals to an extremely sensitive camera, allowing scientists to better assess the effect of new drugs.

This can help scientists test drugs to see how different organs react without the need for live animal testing, the report said.

"PET imagery ensures that the flow of new drugs being tested is even," the London based daily quoted Liam Carr, the inventor of the device, as saying.

"This device is the first to be designed specifically for measuring drug distribution, with an even flow paired with organ compartments that are large enough to sample drug uptake for mathematical modelling. Essentially, allowing us to see where a new drug goes in the body and how long it stays there, without having to use a human or animal to test it," Liam Carr said.

Also Read | NASA to deploy 3D printers to build homes on Moon

The platform, developed through a National Centre for Replacement, Refinement and Reduction of Animals in Research (NC3Rs) and Unilever co-funded PhD studentship award, is completely flexible and can be a valuable tool to investigate various human diseases, such as cancer, cardiovascular diseases, neurodegenerative diseases and immune diseases.

Were delighted to be supporting Liam and the CVS team in the development of this body-on-chip, and we look forward to seeing the impact this novel device has on the testing and progression of new compounds and drugs in the future", Dr Susan Bodie, of Edinburgh Innovations, the universitys commercialisation unit, said.

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In addition, for the first time, Coca-Cola features the Golden Dragon symbol inspired by the Dragon of the Ly Dynasty on its product packaging, along with the iconic Golden Swallows of the brand during the past years. Coca-Cola continues its journey bringing a meaningful Tet to millions of Vietnamese families and conveys the spirit of optimism to consumers on the threshold of the upcoming Tet.

30 years together with Vietnamese families and culture

Mr. Leonardo Garcia, General Director of Coca-Cola Vietnam and Cambodia, shared: The year 2024 marks a significant milestone for Coca-Cola, as it has been 30 years since the company began accompanying and witnessing the bonding moments of millions of Vietnamese families at every meal and get-together. We understand the value of family bonding, especially during the traditional Tet holiday. This Tet, we hope to continue spreading and honouring the values of familiarity through the message Gan ket lam nen Tet dieu ky, simultaneously implying the wishes for a fulfilled, sufficient new year to every family and individual.

This year, in celebration of Tet, Coca-Cola collaborated with graphic designer Ton Bui to launch its new product packaging featuring the Golden Dragon alongside the iconic Golden Swallow. The design was inspired by the dragon imagery of the Ly Dynasty meant to signify prosperity, optimism and hope for a blessed New Year. For the first time, Coca-Cola has launched 100 different versions of Tet cans, each with a special wish, as an attempt to convey a message of a beautiful, cohesive and complete New Year. These special Coca-Cola Tet 2024 products can be purchased at any retailer or e-commerce platform. For more information about the promotion, please visit the website HERE.

In this year's campaign, Coca-Cola introduced an interesting digital-physical (phygital) interaction activity called "iem chung gan ket  Chuc Tet dieu ky" on the website cokeurl.com/chuctedieuky. Consumers can visit the website and share the link with friends and family members to participate. For every new greeting created, Coca-Cola will donate VND15,000 to the Vietnam Red Cross Tet Fund, organizing "Tet Market 0 VND" to provide the most complete and meaningful Tet meals to the underprivileged.

The 0 Dong Market program brings magic to the underprivileged

From January 20 to February 03, 2024, the 0 Dong Market program will be jointly held by the Vietnam Red Cross and Coca-Cola. The program aims to support underprivileged households [1] in 4 provinces and cities in Viet Nam, including Ho Chi Minh City, Ha Noi, Long An and a Nang, with a voucher valued at 600,000 VND which can be redeemed at 0 Dong Market for Tet products. This is the second time Coca-Cola has accompanied the Vietnam Red Cross Society for 0 Dong Market, to join hands bringing meaningful encouragement and lucky wishes for a hopeful and raising New Year.

Leonardo added: Over the past few years, Coca-Cola has partnered with local communities to support initiatives that positively impact the economy and society where we operate. The Tet meals hold special significance for Vietnamese people, and we are honoured to be a part of this unique culture. I would like to express my gratitude to the Vietnam Red Cross for partnering with Coca-Cola in this year's campaign. Thanks to this collaboration, we have provided every family with a magic Tet meal, in alignment with the values that Coca-Cola promotes.

Coca-Colas 2024 Tet campaign Gan ket lam nen Tet dieu ky takes place from December 2023 to February 2024. It will consist of a variety of activities, including both online and outdoor experiences, aimed at providing consumers with fresh and exciting experiences. The ultimate goal of the campaign is to help families bond over shared meals during the Tet holiday.

About Coca-Cola Vietnam

Coca-Cola is one of the best-known international brands in Vietnam. Coca-Cola Vietnams manufacturing facilities in Ho Chi Minh, a Nang, and Ha Noi employ around 2,000 people, while creating an additional six to eight times of indirect jobs throughout the companys value chain. As a total beverage company, Coca-Cola is continuously investing in product innovation, diversifying packaging options, and providing a wide portfolio of quality beverage products, which includes less-sugar and zero-sugar variants. Coca-Cola Vietnam offers COCA-COLA, COCA-COLA LIGHT, COCA-COLA ZERO, COCA-COLA PLUS, SPRITE, FANTA, MINUTE MAID TEPPY, MINUTE MAID SPLASH, GEORGIA MAX COFFEE, NUTRIBOOST, DASANI, AQUARIUS, SCHWEPPES and FUZETEA+.

The company is also fully committed to create shared value in the communities it serves by ensuring that sustainability is at the core of its business operations. Coca-Cola continues building sustainable communities in locations where the company operates. From 2010, Coca-Cola has invested millions of dollars in community projects in Viet Nam. This includes programs such as the EKOCENTER, providing clean water, empowering women and local SMEs, supporting families in hardship, and sending disaster relief. For more information, visit our digital magazine Coca-Cola Journey Vietnam at https://www.cocacolavietnam.com/
General Motors has filed a lawsuit against San Francisco, alleging that the city unfairly imposed $108 million in taxes on the company over seven years. The Detroit-based automaker argues that the assessment was wrong, given its limited presence in terms of sales and personnel within the city. This photo shows officers at the scene where a person was trapped underneath a GM Cruise vehicle in downtown San Francisco on Oct. 2. Loren Elliott/Special to The Chronicle

General Motors has amended a lawsuit against San Francisco, alleging that the city unfairly imposed $108 million in taxes on the company over seven years. The Detroit-based automaker argues that the assessment was wrong, given its limited presence in terms of sales and personnel within the city.

GM contends that the city erroneously associated its tax liability with its San Francisco-based Cruise driverless car division, linking it to $3 billion in global revenue. It asserts that Cruise, its autonomous vehicle technology software company, operates as a distinct business entity.

Driverless cars: Map shows every crash in San Francisco

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In an amendment filed last week in state court in San Francisco to the complaint submitted in 2021, GM emphasizes that its core automotive business does not employ anyone in the city, has no plants or other physical locations in the city, has no dealerships in the city, and sells only a de minimis amount of retail goods (approximately $677,000 in 2022) in the city.

The company emphasized the timing of the claim followed the citys process for procedural updates each tax year. Bloomberg News first reported on the lawsuit.

Alex Barrett-Shorter, the deputy press secretary for the city attorneys office in San Francisco, said, We are reviewing the complaint and will respond in court.

GM is seeking a refund totaling nearly $108 million in taxes and nearly $13 million in interest and penalties, claiming an overpayment for the tax years 2016 through 2022. The lawsuit argues that the California Government Code mandates a fair reflection of city taxes based on the proportion of activity conducted within the city.

The lawsuit contends that, in GMs case, the code improperly considers Cruises payroll in determining apportionment. This results in an amount of GMs gross receipts being attributed to San Francisco that is tens of thousands of times greater than if Cruises payroll were not included in GMs payroll factor, the lawsuit states.

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GM emphasized that, during the years in question, it sold vehicles through approximately 4,200 independent dealers nationwide, none of which were located in San Francisco. The company further notes that Cruise primarily engaged in research and development activities in San Francisco during the period covered by the lawsuit, generating limited revenue from its ride-hailing business until June 2022.

This legal action adds to GMs difficult relationship with San Francisco following an investigation into an October crash involving a Cruise autonomous vehicle that struck and dragged a pedestrian in the city. Earlier this month, GM laid off 24% of Cruises staff, approximately 900 employees, as part of a restructuring plan. The crash also led to the companys suspension in California.

GM subsequently halted all driverless car trips in the U.S. while investigating the crash and Cruises response.
HA NOI  Viet Nam needs to adopt various solutions, particularly those to improve the quality of human resources to increase productivity, in order to achieve the 2024 growth target set by the National Assembly, said Nguyen Thi Huong, head of the General Statistics Office (GSO).

The legislature sets the goals that the national GDP would grow 6-6.5 per cent in the year, and GDP per capita would stand at between US$4,700 and $4,730. The processing and manufacturing industry is also projected to account for 24.1-24.2 per cent of the GDP.

To boost the domestic processing and manufacturing industry, the workforce must satisfy requirements, Huong explained, elaborating that the rate of trained workers should stay at about 69 per cent, of whom those with degrees and certificates range between 28 per cent and 28.5 per cent.

The official viewed productivity as a decisive factor in improving the competitiveness of the national economy and each enterprise, saying it plays a crucial role in boosting long-term economic growth.

It becomes even more important given the crunch of capital, land, and natural resources, and workforce affected by population aging, she continued.

According to the GSO, increasing productivity depends on different factors like consumption demand, production capital, wage, bonuses, science-technology, innovation, institutions, policies, and production structure, along with the factors associated with natural conditions and personnel quality with the latter playing a key role.

Besides, scientific and technological advances require labourers to have higher qualifications in order to optimise production, Huong said, stressing the need to improve training quality to meet requirements of businesses.  VNS
Robust foreign direct investment (FDI) flows into Viet Nam has become the spotlight of the Vietnamese economy on the backdrop of global slowdown and rising uncertainty. The Government has switched the FDI attraction policies towards quality inflow and sustainable development, pinned by the ambition of becoming a global chip production centre. Viet Nam Institute for Economic and Policy Researchs Vice President Nguyen Quoc Viet spoke with Viet Nam News reporter Mai Linh on new competitive advantages for Viet Nam to remain an attractive destination for the quality and high technology capital inflow.

What are the opportunities and challenges for Viet Nam in attracting the FDI in the new global context?

We can see that the recovery of the FDI flow is a rare bright spot in a relatively gloomy economic landscape of Viet Nam in which five out of 15 socio-economic indicators are forecast to be missed this year, including 6.5 per cent gross domestic product (GDP) growth target.

Despite concerns that global headwinds are triggering friend shoring, which in fact has happened in late 2022, diversifying production and supply chains remain a choice for multinational enterprises (MNEs) to disperse risks.

With macro-economic and political stability coupled with a favourable geographical location, Viet Nam arises to be an attractive destination for capital in the context that the geopolitical tensions between major economies is promoting a shift of global supply chains away from China.

Viet Nam has arisen to become one of the 40 largest economies and the top five fastest growing economies in the world after around four decades of reforms.

Viet Nam also provides a gateway to larger markets, including the ASEAN, Northeast Asia and the Pacific regions, as the country is proactively joining bilateral and regional free trade agreements (FTAs).

The appeal also comes from the countrys young population with an abundant workforce and cheap labour.

Viet Nam has drastically implemented institutional reforms and improved the business environment. Outstanding achievements in institutional reforms have helped Viet Nam to facilitate investment  a major push for FDI attraction in the pre-COVID period before a slight slowdown in 2021-22 as the pandemic took a hit.

Viet Nam also provides incentive policies for investment in high technology and part-supplying industry which also helps attract FDI inflow.

However, there are challenges as the existing competitive advantages of Viet Nam are reaching their critical points.

Specifically, cheap labour is no longer an advantage. There are some shortages in labour due to the economic restructuring towards the services sector coupled with the emergence of e-commerce. The rapidly ageing population also poses threats to labour-intensive industries like garment and footwear. Rising input costs, including logistics, are undermining Viet Nams competitiveness.

Viet Nam is lagging behind other countries in technological innovation, a significant challenge when the global demand is changing towards higher requirements for quality, environmental standards and sustainable value. Production is no longer the same, which requires higher levels of technology and innovation.

Our findings showed that Viet Nams innovation capacity remains low with limited spending on research and development (R&D) by both the domestic and FDI sectors. Thats the limit of Viet Nams production industry.

The adaptation of the global minimum tax will affect the FDI attraction because of changes in the preferential tax framework.

In addition, technical and policy bottlenecks for renewable energy development have not encouraged energy transition and the switch to green production.

All of these roadblocks must be tackled thoroughly if Viet Nam wants to take the opportunities from the global production shift to climb up the global value chain.

What factors can Viet Nam build new competitive advantages on to attract quality FDI?

The dynamics of the Vietnamese Government in enhancing cooperation, especially the establishment of strategic partnerships with major economies and recent high-profile visit exchanges, demonstrates that Viet Nam welcomes and is ready to open doors to large investors.

However, the implementation plans need to be more detailed and specific.

Viet Nam needs more specific investment attraction strategies and a new way to promote the attractiveness of the investment climate. In that picture, ensuring macro-economic stability is critical to create a firm foundation for the countrys socio-economic development, sustainable growth and consolidating the confidence of investors.

A point that must be critically changed. Thats how to improve the capacity for innovation and application of science and technology, which is vital to improve the economys productivity and efficiency as well as the countrys competitiveness.

Looking at the case of Viet Nam, when cheap labour and tax incentives are no longer advantages to attract FDI, only by breakthroughs in science and technology can the country move up further in the global value chain of a high-tech industrialisation world.

The focus must be on enhancing the quality of human resources as it is the fact that Viet Nams high-school education and vocational training are still below other countries in the region.

Skilled and qualified labour with the capacity to apply science and technology becomes a prerequisite for Viet Nam to transform production and FDI inflow to a new value chain.

Besides, more drastic business environment reforms must be continued to lower costs and risks for investors and facilitate trade and investment. This is important to activate endogenous growth factors and unlock resources for transformation into sectors with higher innovation, science and technology content.

The barriers to energy transition, as mentioned above, must be removed to facilitate investment.

Viet Nam should have a new approach in introducing investment incentive policies to unlock resources from the private and foreign sectors while the Governments budget is limited.

The policy push for industrial production should be changed, which should not simply look at the part-supplying industry or small- and medium-sized enterprises which are too fragmented but a combination of resources.

MNEs should be encouraged to participate in providing training, increase technology transfer, and build innovation centres in Viet Nam to give Viet Nam a higher position in their value chains.

What should be prepared for Viet Nam to attract FDI in the semiconductor industry and realise the ambition of becoming a global chip production centre?

Besides geopolitical competition, there is emerging competition in the influence on the global economy and trade in which semiconductor industry and rare earth are put on the central stage.

Viet Nam has advantages in the race, including abundant reserves of rare earth elements for chip production.

The country also has a foundation gained from success in the assembly industry, which provides experiences for the implementation of large-scale production together with an adaptive workforce.

The challenges are considerable, however. This is the race of large economies and MNEs in which none is willing to give up their advantages easily.

In the context that Viet Nams competitiveness needs to be improved more, the ambition of attracting investment in chip production is really challenging.

If Viet Nam still follows traditional investment attraction mechanisms, Viet Nam will still be doing outsourcing and it will be difficult to change the countrys position in the global production map.

The key issue is technology transfer, which is a must to enable local producers to participate in production changes. However, MNEs are never easy to transfer.

There are opportunities. There are challenges. The most important questions are where Viet Nams added value lies and whether the investment influx only aims at taking advantage of Viet Nams resources and labour.

This becomes the story of how Viet Nam improves its competitiveness to climb the global value chain. Further institutional reforms are needed to encourage the dare-to-do spirit of enterprises and unlock investment resources.  VNS
HAI PHONG  A conference seeking ways to promote resources of overseas Vietnamese (OVs) and connect localities and businesses was held in the northern port city of Hai Phong on Wednesday.

The event attracted the participation of Deputy Prime Minister Tran Luu Quang, Secretary of the Hai Phong municipal Party Committee Le Tien Chau, representatives from the Ministries of Foreign Affairs of Viet Nam and Laos, National Assembly agencies, the Viet Nam Fatherland Front Central Committee, and 29 provinces and cities. It also saw leaders of enterprises and business associations and over 100 OVs from 22 countries and territories.

Speaking at the conference, Deputy PM Quang said that amid complex developments of the world political and economic situations, thanks to the sound and prompt leadership of the Party and the drastic engagement of ministries, sectors and localities, and the solidarity and efforts of the entire nation, Viet Nam has reaped great achievements.

The important results have also been contributed by the OV community, he stressed.

Appreciating the initiative to organise the conference by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Peoples Committee of Hai Phong City, the Deputy PM affirmed that its theme of connecting OVs with businesses and localities as well as discussion contents related to green investment, human resources development and supply chains conform with the Governments current priorities.

He asked relevant agencies to listen to and acquire ideas and recommendations of OVs so as to promote their resources to better serve the national building and development.

According to statistics until the end of 2022, overseas Vietnamese from 35 countries and territories have invested in 385 FDI projects in 42 out of 63 provinces and cities in Viet Nam. The total registered capital for these projects reaches US$1.72 billion, contributing to promoting socio-economic development, creating employment opportunities for local people, and increasing tax revenue for the State budget.

The remittance amount sent to the country from 1993 (the first year remittances were recorded) to 2022 has reached over $190 billion, nearly equal to the disbursed FDI capital during the same period, according to Deputy PM Quang.

Le Thi Thu Hang, deputy foreign minister and chairwoman of the State Committee for Overseas Vietnamese Affairs, said that the OV community has truly become a valuable and potential resource, and the Party and State always treasure and appreciate its contributions, and pay attention to supporting and creating favourable conditions for them to stabilise their lives and contribute to the homeland.

Over 10-12 per cent of the six million overseas Vietnamese hold a degree higher than bachelor's degree, or about 600,000 people, making them an important source of high-quality human resources.

About 130,000-150,000 Vietnamese workers are going abroad for works on a yearly basis, contributing huge financial resources, and also contributing to the local workforce when they return.

Overseas Vietnamese entrepreneurs are also enjoying increasing economic power and influence not only to the local community but also to the local authorities, Hang noted.  VNS
HCM CITY On December 28, the People's Court of HCM City commenced the trial of defendant Diep Dung (former Chairman of the Board of Directors of the Cooperative Alliance of Trade Unions in Ho Chi Minh City - Saigon Co.op) on charges of "abuse of power in the execution of duty."

Four co-defendants, Nguyen Thanh Nhan (former CEO of Saigon Co.op), Ho My Hoa (former CFO of Saigon Co.op), Vo Thanh Trung (CEO of the New Urban Company), and Ton That Hao (Director of ai A Company), are also being tried for the same offence.

The remaining four defendants, Tran Trung Liet (former Chief Accountant of Saigon Co.op), Hang Thanh Dan (former Head of the Saigon Co.op Control Committee), Pham Thi Minh Ngoc (former Deputy Head of the Saigon Co.op Control Committee), and Nguyen Thi Thuy Trang (member of the Saigon Co.op Control Committee), faced charges of "negligence causing serious consequences."

During the morning session, the procuracy presented an indictment. In 2016, Saigon Co.op proposed the acquisition of the Big C Vietnam chain, a project approved by the HCM City People's Committee. To implement this, on March 4, 2016, Diep Dung issued a memorandum calling for capital mobilisation for the project. On March 10, 2016, Saigon Co.op received VN3 trillion (US$123 million) from individuals and companies as capital for the Big C acquisition. However, the auction in late May 2016 was unsuccessful.

Around July 2016, defendant Diep Dung directed defendant Ho My Hoa to withdraw VN1 trillion ($41 million) from the capital mobilisation account for investment cooperation. On August 19, 2016, without the approval of the Board of Directors, Diep Dung unilaterally signed an agreement with ai A Company for VN300 billion ($13 million) and another with the New Urban Company for VN700 billion ($28 million), both with an annual fixed profit of seven per cent.

According to the agreements, Saigon Co.op would receive an annual fixed profit of seven per cent on the cooperation amount, with a contract term of three months, and a one-time payment (principal + interest) at the end of the cooperation period. Subsequently, Diep Dung, representing the two companies, continued to sign four contract addenda to extend the contract term and maintain the fixed profit of seven per cent per year.

In March 2018, Diep Dung signed a supplementary agreement, with the two companies to adjust the seven per cent per year profit rate to 0 per cent per year from August 19, 2016, citing unprofitability in the investment cooperation.

The actions of Diep Dung and his accomplices resulted in Saigon Co.op not receiving the interest amount. This adjustment of fixed profit led to damages exceeding VN115.6 billion ($4.7 million), identified in the indictment as the loss in this case.

The trial is scheduled to last two days.

Earlier, at the end of 2022, the People's Court in HCM City sentenced Diep Dung to two years in prison for "misappropriation of State secrets." During the investigative process into irregularities at Saigon Co.op, Diep Dung admitted to being informed about the inspection and verification process.

Subsequently, the police identified Nguyen Hoai Bac, a former HCMC Police officer, as the source of leaked investigative information for his partner Le Thi Phuong Hong, who relayed the information back to Dung. Bac was later sentenced to five years in prison, and Hong received a six-year prison sentence for "intentionally disclosing State secrets." VNS
HA NOI  The Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) has sailed through 2023 with many achievements, despite the complex and unpredictable impact of the regional and international scenes.

That remark was made by o Hung Viet, Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs, at the inter-ministerial meeting on Viet Nam's engagement in ASEAN on December 27.

He said ASEAN had proved itself to be highly adaptive and able to leverage new trends in the world in 2023. Initiatives, such as the ASEAN Strategy on Carbon Neutrality and the ASEAN Blue Economy Framework, would be the catalyst for the association leaping forward in the future.

A notable ASEAN achievement in the year was the finalisation of the ASEAN Community Vision to 2045, whose objectives are to build a dynamic, innovative, resilient, and people-centric community. Another achievement was the elevation of its diplomatic relations with Japan to a comprehensive strategic partnership and with Canada to a strategic partnership.

In its role as a member, Viet Nam made significant contributions to the achievements.

The country has played a part in the implementation of ASEAN Plans of Action and chaired many ASEAN meetings and conferences, including the ASEAN Ministers Responsible for Information Conference and the ASEAN Senior Officials Meeting on Education.

Some of the country's ideas, such as the Corporate Sustainability Index, have been agreed on and become a programme for the association.

At the meeting, Vu Ho, Director of Department of ASEAN Affairs, kept participants up to speed with Conclusion No.59 issued by the Politburo, which charts the way for Viet Nam to 2030 as a member of ASEAN.

He also underlined the need for a revision to Regulation No.142, which regulates the cooperation between Vietnamese agencies involved in ASEAN affairs, to adapt to a new situation.

As the main theme for ASEAN in 2024 will be "ASEAN: Enhancing Connectivity and Resilience", Viet Nam will actively support Laos in its chairmanship and spare no efforts to strengthen the unity and coherence within the association.

At the end of his speech, Viet called on ministries and agencies to cooperate with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in charting a scheme for Viet Nam's engagement in ASEAN in 2024, of which the organisation of the ASEAN Future Forum and the implementation of Conclusion No.59 will be a part.  VNS
HA NOI  The President Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum Management Board has so far this year served more than 2.2 million Vietnamese and foreign visitors who came to pay tribute to the late leader and tour a Chong (K9) historical relic site in Ha Noi.

The figure was released at a year-end conference held by the board to review its performance in 2023 and set out tasks for 2024.

As heard at the event, the unit's mission in external relations and international cooperation has been expanded, sustaining robust collaborative ties with its partners in Russia, Laos, and Thailand. The board orchestrated the reception and served 109 high-level delegations, including 13 heads of state, from foreign countries who paid tribute to President Ho Chi Minh and fallen heroes.

President Ho Chi Minh passed away on September 2, 1969. His body was embalmed and placed in a glass coffin inside his granite mausoleum, which has become an important landmark of the capital city and is integral to the political and social history of Viet Nam.

K9 is located on Ba Vi Mountain, about 70 kilometres from downtown Ha Noi to the west. In May, 1957, President Ho Chi Minh decided to choose the site as a working and relaxing place for the Party Central Committee. Many decisions and instructions of the Committee were issued here, contributing to the liberation of the South and the national reunification in 1975. During 1969-1975, the body of the president was preserved there.  VNS
HA NOI  Military prosecutors announced the indictment against Phan Quoc Viet and six other defendants in the notorious Viet A Case on December 28.

Charges of "abusing position and power while on duty" were pressed against Trinh Thanh Hung, former Head of the Department of Science and Technology for Economic-Technical Sectors, Ministry of Science and Technology, and Ho Anh Son, former Deputy Director of the Institute of Biomedicine and Pharmacy, Military Medical Academy.

Given the charges, the prosecutors recommended a prison sentence of 15 years for Trinh Thanh Hung, and between 11 to 13 years for Ho Anh Son.

Four other defendants, charged with "violating bidding regulations to serious damages", also faced jail sentences.

The prosecutors suggested Nguyen Van Hieu, former Head of the Equipment and Supplies Division, Military Medical Academy, be behind bars for around seven to eight years; Le Truong Minh, former Head of the Pharmaceutical Chemistry Department, Military Medical Academy, for six to seven years; Vu inh Hiep, Viet A Companys former Deputy Director, for six to seven years; and Ngo Anh Tuan, former Head of the Finance Department, Military Medical Academy, for three to five years.

Former General Director of Viet A Company, Phan Quoc Viet, meanwhile, was slapped with two charges of "abusing position and power while on duty" and "violating bidding regulations to serious damages". The prosecutors recommended a 15-year prison term for the first charge and a 10- to 11-year term for the second.

Collectively, he would serve 25 to 26 years in prison.

In response to the indictment, Viet admitted committing the wrongdoings but he claimed that he did so "not for his gains". He said it didn't make sense for him to risk his life at the pandemic epicentre, only to gain something.

"If I had a chance to turn back time, I would do what I have done again. Despite being against the law, what I have done was necessary to contain the pandemic," said Viet.

According to the indictment, as COVID-19 was emerging globally, the board of the Military Medical Academy called for the formulation of research teams to develop testing kits for COVID-19.

In January 2020, Trinh Thanh Hung, Phan Quoc Viet and Ho Anh Son collaborated with Phan Quoc Viet to make Viet A part of their team and secured a licence for the company to mass produce 20,000 testing kits.

In return, Phan Quoc Viet greased Hung's palm with US$350,000 and Son's with VN2.5 billion ($103,000). He also paid VN7.1 billion ($293,000) to a group of officers in the academy, who were involved in bid rigging in Bac Ninh, Bac Giang and HCM City from May to December 2021.  VNS
Contrary to concerns about a decline in foreign investment (FDI) in the first months of 2023, Vietnam's FDI attraction recorded an even higher growth rate than last year.

In the context of many unfavorable global economic difficulties, the sharp increase in newly registered capital has shown that Vietnam is a safe and attractive destination in the eyes of foreign investors.

FDI in Vietnam increased sharply over the same period.

Accordingly, the Investment newspaper quoted the Foreign Investment Department as saying that as of December 20, 2023, the total registered FDI capital in Vietnam had reached nearly 36.61 billion USD, an increase of 32.1% compared to the previous year. It was the same period as last year.

In addition, the realized capital of FDI projects is estimated to reach 23.18 billion USD, an increase of 3.5% compared to 2022. This is also determined to be a record disbursement level ever.

Data from the Foreign Investment Agency recorded that, of the total registered capital of more than 36.6 billion USD, newly registered capital reached nearly 20.19 billion USD, an increase of 62.2% over the same period. The number of newly registered projects reached 3,188, an increase of 56.6%. Thus, both new projects and newly registered capital showed a sharp increase.

In addition to newly registered capital, Vietnam also recorded 1,262 projects registering to adjust investment capital (up 14% over the same period) in 2023, with a total additional investment capital of more than 7.88 billion USD (down 22.1% over the same period).

In addition, investment capital through capital contribution and share purchase reached more than 8.5 billion USD, an increase of 65.7% over the same period. Due to the increase in capital contribution scale, although capital contribution and share purchase transactions in 2023 only reached 3,451 transactions, down 3.2% over the same period, capital contribution still increased.

Vietnam is attractive to investors.

According to the assessment of the Foreign Investment Department, disbursed capital increased over the same period, showing the companionship of the Government and the Prime Minister. The close coordination of ministries, branches, and localities in proactively grasping and removing legal difficulties hindering investment and business activities of enterprises has been effective, helping businesses stabilize production and continue to invest.

Besides, the sharp increase in newly registered capital also shows that Vietnam is a safe and attractive destination in the eyes of foreign investors.

Foreign investment capital focuses heavily on provinces and cities with many advantages in attracting FDI (having good infrastructure, stable human resources, efforts to reform administrative procedures and be proactive in investment promotion...), such as Ho Chi Minh City, Hai Phong, Quang Ninh, Bac Giang, Thai Binh, Hanoi, Bac Ninh, Nghe An, Binh Duong, Dong Nai. These 10 localities alone account for 78.6% of new projects and 74.4% of the country's capital by 2023.

Also read: Apple's top partner invests in a $100 million project in Nghe An, Vietnam  Vietnam News - Latest Updates and World Insights | Vietreader.com

In addition, although adjusted investment capital still decreased over the same period, the decrease has improved. In particular, despite the decrease in capital, the number of capital-adjusted projects increased over the same period (up 14%). This shows investors' confidence in Vietnam's environment, continuing to expand existing projects.

In 2023, foreign investors invested in 18 21 national economic sectors. The processing and manufacturing industry leads with a total investment capital of more than 23.5 billion USD, accounting for 64.2% of total registered investment capital and an increase of 39.9% over the same period in 2022.

Next is the real estate business, ranked second with a total investment capital of nearly 4.67 billion USD, accounting for more than 12.7% of total registered investment capital, an increase of 4.8% over the same period last year.

Electricity production and distribution industries, finance, and banking ranked 3rd and 4th with total registered capital of more than 2.37 billion USD (up 4.9%) and nearly 1.56 billion USD (nearly 27 times).

Singapore leads in total FDI capital into Vietnam.

Regarding partners, by 2023, 111 countries and territories will invest in Vietnam. Singapore leads with a total investment capital of more than 6.8 billion USD, accounting for 18.6% of the total investment capital in Vietnam, an increase of 5.4% over the same period in 2022.

Ranked second is Japan, with nearly 6.57 billion USD, accounting for more than 17.9% of total investment capital, up 37.3% over the same period.

Hong Kong ranked third with a total registered investment capital of more than 4.68 billion USD, accounting for nearly 12.8% of total investment capital, 2.1 times higher than the same period. Ranked in the next positions are China, Korea, Taiwan...

Also read: Korean enterprises pour 1.5 billion USD into investing in Hai Phong, Vietnam  Vietnam News - Latest Updates and World Insights | Vietreader.com

If calculated specifically regarding the number of projects, China is the leading country in the number of new projects (accounting for 22.2%). Korea leads in capital adjustments (accounting for 25.9%) and capital contributions and share purchases (accounting for 27.8%).

In 2023, Ho Chi Minh City will be the locality ranked No. 1 in attracting foreign investment, with a total registered investment capital of more than 5.85 billion USD, accounting for nearly 16% of total registered investment capital, an increase of 48.5% compared to the same period. However, Ho Chi Minh City's investment capital is mainly in capital contribution and share purchase. This form accounts for nearly 73.3% of Ho Chi Minh City's total investment capital in 2023.

Hai Phong ranked second with a total registered investment capital of more than 3.26 billion USD, accounting for 8.9% of the country's total investment capital, an increase of 66.2% over the same period. The provinces of Quang Ninh, Bac Giang, and Thai Binh ranked next.
Apple wins watch ban pause in US patent feud, source: apple.com

"We are thrilled to return the full Apple Watch lineup to customers in time for the new year," an Apple spokesperson said in an email to AFP.

"Apple Watch Series 9 and Apple Watch Ultra 2, including the blood oxygen feature, will become available for purchase again in the United States at Apple Stores starting today and from apple.com tomorrow by 12 pm (2000 GMT)," the email added.

The ban on certain Apple smartwatch models came into effect Tuesday, after US President Joe Biden's administration opted not to veto a ruling on the patent infringements.

But the federal court said the ban order would not take effect pending its consideration of whether to allow a pause on the ban throughout the full appeal process.

After a complaint by Masimo, the United States International Trade Commission (ITC) decided in October to ban Apple Watch models over a patented technology for detecting blood-oxygen levels.

Masimo contends it invented the technology and that Apple poached key employees to win access to the know-how.

Apple last week paused its US sales of Apple Watch Series 9 and Apple Watch Ultra 2 in compliance with the order.

But the iPhone-maker contends that the ITC finding was in error and should be reversed, and appealed the decision in the federal appeals court.

Masimo declined to comment on the development. Apple did not immediately reply to a query from AFP.

Apple to shift iPad development resources to Vietnam Tech behemoth Apple Inc. is for the first time planning to allocate product development resources for its iPad range to Vietnam, according to sources cited by Nikkei Asia. This move marks a significant shift in the tech giant's manufacturing strategy.
Choosing the high-tech industry as one of their four economic pillars, the leaders of Hau Giang have set a target for the digital economy to contribute 30 per cent of the province's regional GDP by 2030. This goal is a clear endorsement of the strong commitment and support from the provincial government by inviting international businesses to invest in Hau Giang.

Frank Schellenberg receiving the business registration certificate from the leaders of Hau Giang

Frank Schellenberg, chairman and founder of DIGI-TEXX, appreciates the immense opportunities available in Hau Giang.

He highlighted the provinces strategic location in the heart of the Mekong Delta and the potential of the young workforce.

The leaders of Hau Giang have set a target for the digital economy to contribute 30 per cent of the province's regional GDP by 2030.

The province also offers favourable policies, including tax incentives for high-tech businesses. These geographical, social, and policy advantages are the driving factors for DIGI-TEXX to expand its operations in Hau Giang.

Sharing his impressions after the province's development plan announcement, Schellenberg asserted, The leadership of Hau Giang has a clear vision to develop the digital economy and is taking steps to realise that vision. In the future, Hau Giang will be known not only for its famous agricultural products but also as a regional technology hub.

In addition, Schellenberg expressed a desire to collaborate with the province on digital transformation projects, emphasising that Hau Giang's digital transformation journey should be carried out by its own talented workforce.

Chairman of Hau Giang People's Committee Dong Van Thanh visited the DIGI-TEXX office at ISC Hau Giang

During the conference, Dong Van Thanh, Chairman of Hau Giang People's Committee, visited DIGI-TEXX's office in the provincial IT park, ISC Hau Giang.

DIGI-TEXX's CEO Nguyen Minh Thoai presented the company's operating model and commitment to contribute to the province's digital economy and train a highly skilled IT workforce.

Thoai noted, With the upcoming investment in Hau Giang, DIGI-TEXX aims not only to expand its operational capacity but also to help the province develop and train a skilled workforce in IT. This new generation of digital personnel will contribute to the development of the province's digital economy and digital society, providing momentum for achieving the development goals set by the provincial management.

The occasion was graced by the presence of distinguished guests, including Tran Luu Quang, Vietnams Deputy Prime Minister, Martin Koerner, vice chairman of the German Business Association (GBA), and Le Quynh Anh, executive director of the GBA.

Their presence highlights the anticipation of the Vietnamese government and the international business community to the immense potential that digital transformation holds, not only for Hau Giang but also for the entire Mekong Delta region's economic and social development.

DIGI-TEXX is a German-owned business specialising in business process outsourcing and digital services in Vietnam. Established in 2003, the company is a pioneer in digitising services with over 1,200 highly skilled professionals.

The company currently operates in four locations with its headquarters in Quang Trung Software City in Ho Chi Minh Citys District 12 and three branches based in Ho Chi Minh Citys District 11, Can Tho city, and Fukuoka (Japan).

The new operation centre at ISC Hau Giang will be the company's fifth location, situated in a modern building spanning 2000 square metres that has a capacity for over 450 specialists. The facility will be equipped with sustainable technologies such as solar power, water filtration systems, and smart lighting and cooling.

Tien Giang master plan: marine and urban economy as growth engines The Mekong Delta province of Tien Giang will plan a new development along the Tien River as an important urban axis of the Ho Chi Minh City region, connecting to small tourist towns and river islands.

Legal tweaks could unlock potential Market players are expecting legal improvements in the pharma and healthcare market. Bui Thi Viet Lam, Vietnam country representative of the US-ASEAN Business Council, discussed how important regulatory changes are to its member companies strategies here, with VIRs Bich Thuy.
Nora Mishanec is a San Francisco Chronicle breaking news and enterprise reporter. She joined the paper in 2020 as a Hearst fellow and returned in 2022 after a stint at The Houston Chronicle.

She can be reached at nora.mishanec@sfchronicle.com.
Eiffel Tower closed as staff go on strike, illustration photo/ Source: freepik.com

The one-day stoppage on the 100th anniversary of the death of engineer Gustave Eiffel, who built the tower, was to protest against "the current way it is managed", the hard-left CGT union said in a statement.

The tower's operator SETE was "headed for disaster", it said.

The CGT said management was running the Eiffel Tower according to a business model that was "too ambitious and unsustainable" and that it said was based on an inflated estimate of future visitor numbers, while under-estimating construction costs.

SETE apologised to visitors, advising anyone with electronic tickets for Wednesday "to check their email" for more information on their booking.

The Eiffel Tower -- Paris's most famous landmark -- attracts nearly seven million visitors a year, around three-quarters of them foreigners, according to its website.

During the Covid pandemic numbers dropped sharply due to closures and travel restrictions, but recovered to 5.9 million in 2022.

The CGT said the tower's management was basing its future budget on 7.4 million annual visitors, although "this level has never been reached".

Stephane Dieu, a CGT union rep at the Eiffel Tower, told AFP that the monument was not sufficiently funded to pay for "very large maintenance work" that was needed.

"The Eiffel Tower is old, it's an old lady of 130 years," he said. "We have lifts here that were built in 1899."

Unless a financial deal could be made with the city of Paris, "we will run out of cash in 2025, despite our visitor numbers".

Some visitors who had hoped to go up the 1,083-feet structure expressed their frustration when they were turned away.

"We came here this morning to visit this magnificent Eiffel Tower," said Alessandro Monaco, 40, an Italian tourist.

"We were gobsmacked to see that there was a strike, that was a bit tough. It's a real pity," he said.

But Marie-Christine Riviere, a French health insurance consultant, said she was not too disappointed at being unable to climb up.

"The important thing is to see the Eiffel Tower, strike or no strike," she told AFP.

Eiffel died on December 27, 1923, at the age of 91.

While he will always be remembered mostly for his eponymous tower, he designed hundreds of other landmarks around the globe.

He created his reputation as a builder of railway bridges, but also used his metal wizardry to build the Pest railway station in Hungary, lighthouses in Finland and Madagascar, the structure of the Saigon Central Post Office in Ho Chi Minh City and the iron framework of the Statue of Liberty in New York.
As the year edges towards its close, Imexpharm, a prominent player in the pharmaceutical sector, has demonstrated commendable resilience and growth amid ongoing economic challenges post-pandemic.

In the first eleven months of 2023, the company's financial performance not only surpassed its targeted benchmarks but also marked a significant on-year increase.

Imexpharm's total revenue for November soared to approximately VND230.3 billion ($9.72 million), marking an 11.9 per cent increase compared to the previous year.

The cumulative net revenue from January to November reached roughly $75.48 million, coupled with a pre-tax profit of about $15.21 million. These figures represent a growth of 23.2 per cent and 36.2 per cent in revenue and profit, respectively, over the same period in 2022.

This financial upswing has enabled Imexpharm to exceed its revenue and profit targets for 2023, achieving 102.2 per cent of its planned revenue and 103 per cent of its profit goal.

These results, endorsed by the 2023 AGM, underscore the company's sustainable and efficient growth trajectory.

General director of Imexpharm, Tran Thi Dao said, "Listed since 2006, Imexpharm aspires to be a sustainable, professional, and transparent entity, particularly in governance. This year's performance validates our efforts and fortifies the trust placed in us by customers, shareholders, and investors."

Emphasising the company's commitment to quality and affordability, Dao added, "Our focus remains steadfast on delivering high-quality products at reasonable prices. Recognition from hospitals, doctors, and patients attest to our quality, backed by our adherence to international standards in manufacturing, including EU-GMP."

Looking forward, Imexpharm plans to harness the Balanced Scorecard tool for strategic goal management across various divisions. This approach will complement the company's efforts in fulfilling the 2023 plan and in optimising production to meet year-end market demands. Additionally, the company is set to refine its inventory control and financial planning to sustain operations into the next year.

In a resounding endorsement of its strategies in December 2023, Imexpharm was lauded for having one of the top 20 best annual reports in the non-financial sector and for ranking among the top 10 in company management within the mid-cap group.

This honour, presented at the Annual Vietnam Listed Company Awards 2023 event, co-organised by the Ho Chi Minh City Stock Exchange, Hanoi Stock Exchange, Dragon Capital, and VIR, recognises companies exemplifying superior corporate governance and management practices.

The announcement made on December 15 in the central province of Khanh Hoa, accentuates Imexpharm's commitment to professional, transparent reporting, and sustainable corporate governance. This initiative, aimed at elevating listed companies' reporting standards, also bolsters investor access to critical corporate information.

At this year's prestigious evaluation of annual reports, a total of 116 were evaluated, with 24 originating from the financial sector and a significant 92 from the non-financial sector.

The Organising Committee's assessment shows that the Annual Reports and Corporate Governance awarded can also be seen as a typical model that businesses on the market can refer to.

In addition, this is also the basis for policymakers and state management agencies to improve general and detailed standards to effectively manage and operate businesses, sectors, and industries, building national competitiveness.

"This is a proud result that recognises Imexpharm's efforts to become a listed company with professional, transparent operations that always comply with and meet international standards and practices in financial reporting, auditing, and corporate governance," said an Imexpharm spokesperson.
Over 120 foreign-invested enterprises are likely to be affected by the changes here, Photo: Shutterstock

Nguyen Tran Minh Tri, a representative from the Institute of World Economics and Politics under the Vietnam Academy of Social Sciences, proposed that the government should, as soon as possible, enact new incentives for foreign-invested enterprises (FIEs), especially those with large-scale projects, to help the country continue to be a magnet for foreign investment.

Vietnam is to apply the global minimum tax (GMT) of 15 per cent on multinational corporations (MNCs) with a revenue exceeding 750 million ($821.6) million from January 2024.

This means that the countrys investment climate will be less attractive, Tri stressed at a forum on Vietnams 2021-2024 economic performance in Hanoi earlier this month. To maintain existing incentives for FIEs, the government needs to soon offer non-tax support.

The National Assembly a month ago passed a resolution on the imposition of top-up corporate income tax (CIT) of 15 per cent under Global Anti-Base Erosion model rules, which will take effect on January 1 next year until the countrys new law on CIT is released.

Under the resolutions Article 2 on taxpayers, the taxpayers in Vietnam include a member company of an MNC with a turnover equivalent to $821.6 million or more in the consolidated financial statements of the ultimate parent company for at least two of the four years immediately preceding the fiscal year.

For Vietnam, the imposition of the GMT will help ensure the countrys right to levy the tax, in line with the international practices and trend currently deployed by so many nations.

Under a government report on assessing the impact of the resolution, based on 2022 CIT data analysis, it calculated that over 120 FIEs will be subject to the resolution, with a total amount of top-up CIT of about $616 million.

Tri said that, in principle, the support of enterprises which are subject to the GMT is applied after enterprises have fulfilled their GMT obligation in Vietnam.

The government can use this payment to support businesses in the form of costs for research and development, investment into equipment, and production of high technologies. For example, India has a policy on providing a specific sum of money for each unit of product sold out in the market, Tri said.

This support policy can be applied to all types of enterprises based on characteristics of their specialised operations. This will not violate the wider GMT principles, Tri added.

Vietnams current general CIT rate is 20 per cent, which is higher than the GMT rate. However, this rate is just of nominal value because all major foreign-invested projects in Vietnam have been currently enjoying special incentives policies covering various investment fields, locations, and labour use scales.

Thus, many MNCs are entitled to a four-year tax exemption and a half tax reduction for nine years, or a two-year tax exemption and half tax decrease for four years, so the total amount of their paid tax is less than 15 per cent.

If Vietnam does not collect the GMT from these enterprises, this tax value difference will fall into the hands of the countries where the parent companies are based, said the General Department of Taxations deputy general director Dang Ngoc Minh.

At present, the department is studying this policy, which will replace the existing CIT incentives for FIEs, which will be affected by the GMT.

The upcoming policy incentives must be based on the amounts the businesses have spent, ensuring they directly support the investment. This is especially true for large corporations and multinationals that own core technology, as well as priority sectors, such as semiconductor technology and chip manufacturing, Minh said. Simultaneously, it is necessary to accompany enterprises right from the start, facilitating construction and the procurement of equipment and machinery while providing housing for personnel, infrastructure, and more.

According to Vu Ngoc Thang, tax manager at consultancy firm Dezan Shira & Associates, if tax incentives are invalidated in Vietnam and there are no appropriate measures in place, other countries will benefit from top-up taxes and Vietnam will miss out on billions of US dollars of tax outflows to other countries budgets.

In the global context, the major stakeholders are quickly responding to the adoption of GMT. Specifically, it is being carried out by the EU, the UK, and South Korea in 2024. Vietnam is strongly attracting investment from these nations, as well as the United States and other powerhouses. What is more, Malaysia and Thailand are set to implement the GMT in 2024 and 2025, respectively, and they are big rivals of Vietnam in luring funding from abroad.

In this respect, Vietnam must devise certain solutions to protect its taxing rights and maintain sustainable foreign inflows by offering alternative incentives, Thang said.

Meanwhile, Rizwan Khan, partner at consultancy firm Acclime Vietnam, said that Vietnam may be able to maintain its appeal by carrying out other policies to offset the negative effects of the GMT.

For example, Vietnam could improve its public services, governance, and regulatory quality. It could also diversify its foreign investment sources, and foster more links with domestic firms, Khan said

According to the International Monetary Fund (IMF), the GMT adoption in 2024 will increase tax revenues but will require improvements to the investment climate. Vietnam could be among those most affected by the GMT  as it has often granted tax incentives to MNCs to attract FDI, including lower income taxes, that will be eroded.

The effects of the higher tax can be compensated by improving the business environment, upgrading infrastructure, and enhancing human capital, the IMF stated.

Vietnam set to implement global minimum tax Vietnam is poised to adopt global minimum tax (GMT) regulations, a move set to impact 122 foreign investment conglomerates and strengthen the country's fiscal framework in line with international standards.

Vietnam will remain FDI magnet with global minimum tax in place On November 29, the National Assembly of Vietnam approved a resolution on applying additional corporate income tax following the Global Anti-Base Erosion Rules, which is expected to have an impact on foreign direct investment (FDI) inflows into Vietnam.

Vietnam primed for GMT adoption With a long-awaited resolution adopted by the legislature, Vietnam now has a legal framework for applying top-up corporate income tax under a new international system.
The 2025 entry of a new law for real estate business will also come alongside a revamped housing law, photo Dung Minh

According to Nguyen Van Dinh, real estate legal expert, according to the new law, investors who want to transfer all or part of a real estate project need to fulfill their financial obligations related to project land and transfer.

The new law stipulates that the transferor must fulfill its financial obligations to the state before transferring, not allowing the transferee to continue to fulfill their obligations as suggested by many experts previously, Dinh said.

The new law also does not allow agencies and organisations to sell houses, construction works, or transfer land use rights due to bankruptcy, dissolution, division, or company separation.

In addition, credit institutions and debt management companies are not allowed to sell houses, construction projects, transfer land use rights, or transfer real estate projects as collateral for recovery debt.

The transfer in this instance shall comply with the Law on Credit Institutions currently being amended, and the Law on Real Estate Business shall not apply for those cases. This provision ensures that the relevant transfer conditions are only applied in a single law and avoid overlap between laws, Dinh said.

After a decision to allow the transfer is issued and the parties have signed the contract, land procedures will be carried out according to the provisions of the Land Law. The draft Land Law recommends that the transferee inherit the rights and obligations of the transferor without having to recover and deliver land or recalculate land use fees.

This condition revised the disadvantage of the 2014 Real Estate Business Law, which stipulated that the transferor must return the land to the state, which can then allocate the land to the transferee, Dinh added.

Phan Xuan Can, chairman of merger and acquisition consultants SohoVietnam, told VIR that one of the highlights in the new law was that projects can be transferred when its owners have transferees completed all necessary conditions but have not received a land use rights certificate, but meanwhile can continue to submit to competent bodies for issuance after the project is transferred.

This is a step to save time for both sides because they have completed all necessary procedures already, before the transfer, Can said.

In addition, for real estate projects that transfer part of the project, it is also necessary to ensure that the construction items or the use and business purposes of the construction works of the transferred project part should be independent to other parts in a real estate project.

Regarding the principle of transferring all or part of a real estate project, Can said that the new law stipulates that real estate project investors are allowed to transfer all or part of the project to another investor to continue to invest in construction and business while the project is being implemented and approved by a competent state agency.

When transferring all or part of a real estate project, related parties must ensure that the planning and objectives of the project will not be changed, ensuring the legitimate rights and interests of customers and related parties.

At the same time, after completing the transfer of all or part of the real estate project, the transferee inherits the rights and obligations of the transferring investor and is the investor of the project and the part which were transferred, Can explained.

The investor who receives the transfer of all or part of a real estate project does not have to redo the project documents, construction planning and construction permit of the project if there are no changes in the content of the project. If there are changes, the investor receiving the transfer shall make adjustments according to the provisions of law, Can added.

Significant land division changes set The new regulations issued under the Real Estate Business Law to tighten land subdivision are hoped to have a strong impact on land plots nationwide.

Critical juncture set for real estate prospects in 2024 Despite fluctuations expecting to continue in the Vietnamese real estate market for some months, industry analysts are quietly optimistic that 2024 will mark a turning point for a new cycle of recovery and development.
Cu Dinh Kien, a regular at Pasteur Street's Phu My Hung Taproom, enjoys Jasmine IPA every weekend with his friends. This brew, an embodiment of home-brewed bitterness intertwined with the essence of jasmine, captivates the senses.

"For me and my colleagues, Jasmine IPA is a must. Its classic hoppy taste coupled with that unmistakable hint of jasmine, truly makes it stand out," Kien said.

Jasmine IPA, the first product of Pasteur Street Craft Beer in Vietnam, has consistently been one of the best-selling beers

Having tried many craft beers locally and internationally, I truly admire Pasteur Street's distinct brewing style, especially the jasmine-infused beer. It's a standout particularly when paired with the delectable food served at the venue, he added.

Pasteur Street Craft Beer company proudly heralds Jasmine IPA as its flagship beer brand, a perennial top-seller in Vietnam's craft beer scene. Their artisans continually explore a diverse array of flavours, the bedrock of their success.

Their secret? Marrying global brewing techniques with local ingredients, and crafting beers that tantalise the Vietnamese palate. The final touch involves infusing these brews with Vietnam's distinctive spices, culminating in a range that resonates both locally and internationally.

"As pioneers in Vietnam's craft beer landscape, we have striven to promote this culinary art for nine years. Our strategically positioned taprooms serve as cultural conduits, telling stories through design, decor, and vibrant artwork," said Tom Duncan, Pasteur Street Craft Beers CEO.

Since its inception in 2014, Pasteur Street has continued to expand, with the newest Cua Bac Taproom located near Tran Quoc Pagoda, Quan Thanh Temple, Ba Dinh Square, in Hanoi.

The Cua Bac Taproom branch opened in November in Ba Dinh district, Hanoi

Hanoi is rich in culture, where the ancient values are preserved. Along with the Hoan Kiem Taproom, which opened in 2017, we also launched the Cua Bac branch in November. Customers can drink beer, enjoy the harmonious sounds, and appreciate the past and present values of Ba Dinh district, said a Pasteur Street representative.

Cua Bac Taproom is an open-space concept with a similar style and design to other branches, suitable for meeting and hanging out with friends and colleagues after a hard week. Tourists can also find this taproom as a way to recharge after a long journey, or to exchange small talk with Vietnamese or those from other countries.

Cua Bac Taproom is capable of hosting private parties for up to 50 guests

"You know what I love about craft beers from Pasteur Street? The flexibility. They mix fancy beer vibes with our city's historical fabric," said Tran Thanh Van, a 33-year-old office worker from Hanoi. "It ingeniously merges diverse ingredients from various regions, catering to even the most discerning palates. That's why Pasteur Street remains the top choice for enthusiasts seeking novel flavours while maintaining a nod to the Vietnamese taste."

Pasteur Street Craft Beer is a pioneer in the craft beer community in Vietnam. This beer brand is favoured because of its dedication to delivering both quality and creativity in each glass. With a mission to educate and excite Vietnamese consumers about craft beer, the brewery has opened seven branches in Ho Chi Minh City and now two in Hanoi, offering unforgettable craft beer experiences for customers. The Cua Bac Taproom opened its doors in November 2023, marking its second Hanoi outpost after the 2017 Hoan Kiem location. Strategically positioned near key Ba Dinh attractions like Tran Quoc Pagoda and Quan Thanh Temple, this taproom can accommodate events hosting up to 50 guests.

Hanoi year-end promotions put brands on the map Appealing year-end promotions have contributed to boosting consumption, lifting exposure of quality brands, and aiding firms to revive production and business.

Hanoi in the top 100 cities in the world 2024 The capital Hanoi ranked 96th and is the only representative in Vietnam mentioned in the World's Best Cities ranking.
According to a resolution from the Board of Directors (BOD) in mid-December, Imexpharm has approved the waiver of a public tender offer for the transfer of shares between SK Vina III and its existing shareholders. As a result, SK Vina III will increase its current ownership from 64.83 per cent to 65 per cent.

The transfer is slated to take place following approval at the General Meeting of Shareholders (GMS), depending on negotiations between the parties and market conditions. The timing of the GMS is yet to be confirmed.

If the acquisition and sale of shares leads to the holding of 65 per cent or more of the total voting shares, SK Vina III is required to carry out public tender offer procedures unless the GMS approves waiving this stipulation.

Due to the complex and lengthy procedures in the public tender offer process, and the fact that the number of shares expected to be transferred is insignificant, SK Vina III wrote a letter dated October 20 asking the BOD to consider submitting a waiver request to the GMS for approval. This would result in SK Vina III holding more than 65 per cent of the voting shares in IMP.

SK Vina III has invested in Imexpharm since May 2020 when it acquired 24.9 per cent, or 12.32 million shares, of the Vietnamese pharmaceutical company. Most of the shares (11.3 million) were acquired from Dragon Capital Group, while the remainder came from CAM Vietnam Mother Fund, Kingsmead, and Mirae Asset.

Market researcher IBM has predicted that Vietnam's pharmaceutical industry could reach $16.1 billion in 2026, up from $7.7 billion in 2021.

According to Fitch Solutions, pharmaceutical spending per capita in Vietnam could reach a compound annual growth rate of 7.8 per cent over the 2022-26 period, rising from VND1.46 million ($61.60) in 2021 to VND2.21 million ($93.25) in 2026 to account for around 5 per cent of the countrys per capita income.

Thanks to this potential, Vietnam has witnessed many merger and acquisition deals in the pharmaceutical industry, including those between Mekophar (Vietnam) and Nipro Pharma (Japan), Imexpharm (Vietnam) and SK Group (South Korea), Pymepharco (Vietnam) and STADA Service Holdings B.Vor (Germany), and Hataphar (Vietnam) and ASKA Pharmaceutical (Japan).

SK Group reaffirms commitment to Vietnam One of South Korean largest conglomerates - SK Group - has confirmed its commitment to long-term investment in Vietnam, focusing on strategic partnerships and diversifying into green business sectors, contrary to speculation about its market withdrawal.

Imexpharm raises its status with EU-GMP-standard factories Operating the largest pharmaceutical production lines that meet European standards (EU-GMP) in Vietnam, Imexpharm has great potential to become a leading pharmaceutical enterprise. These advantages are also shown through the company's impressive business results.
After the government in late November assigned ministries and localities to prepare necessary conditions to welcome new capital, localities were eager to appraise and approve dossiers to grant investment licences.

Stay-away investors neglecting completion process, illustration photo/ Source: freepik.com

The peoples committees of provinces and centrally -run cities such as Hanoi, Hai Duong, Bac Giang, Nghe An, and Ho Chi Minh City are proactively approaching and supporting investors to remove pending difficulties and accelerate disbursement of such capital.

The committees require their local authorities to speed up handling of business investment procedures, and simultaneously deploy electronic public administrative services for investors.

However, according to localities like Hai Duong, one of the reasons causing delays in handling business investment procedures is the absence of investors.

Post-pandemic, many foreign investors work online more often. They authorise consultant and law firms to complete the investment procedures. They often give authority to contractors during the process and only arrive in Vietnam to take the facilities into operation, said Nguyen Thi Thuy Hang, deputy director of Hai Duong Industrial Parks Management Authority.

However, Hang said that the absence of investors makes it difficult for authorities to guide the details of many business procedures.

We also suffer the pressure of complying with the deadline to license projects. Project dossiers take a lot of time to read. They are the basis for applying for firefighting permits, construction licences, and environmental impact assessment reports. If there are documents missed and the investor is not present to promptly supplement them, then it also prolongs the licensing period, Hang added.

She also said that in many cases, investors granting absolute authority of construction of facilities to contractors has caused unexpected violations. For example, many have constructed projects without a licence, and as a result, the investors have to suffer the fine.

According to other localities, this most often occurs with small- and medium-sized projects. According to information from the Vietnam Chamber of Commerce and Industry, over 80 per cent of foreign-invested enterprises in Vietnam have capital below VND100 billion ($4.2 million) each, a quarter employ fewer than 10 workers, and just over half have fewer than 50 workers. Thus, localities expect tight cooperation with investors to accelerate the licensing process.

Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh at a conference with foreign-invested enterprises (FIEs) in October said that the country would provide optimal conditions for FIEs to develop long-term and healthily compete with those from other economic sectors.

Ministries and localities need to continue effectively implementing policies and laws; review and adjust foreign cooperation policies to suit reality; and listen to the ideas of businesses and investors to settle all arising problems, PM Chinh said. Ministries and localities should seriously listen to such recommendations in a spirit of sharing, understanding, and companionship.

Foreign investors show keen interest in Vietnam's real estate A recent survey by the Vietnam Real Estate Research Institute reveals robust international interest, with calls for better legal and regulatory frameworks to fully capitalise on this growing investment trend.

Samsung cements status as premier foreign investor in Vietnam In a meeting with Vietnamese Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh on October 31, Park Hark Kyu, president and CFO of Samsung Group, highlighted Vietnam as an essential global economic player, expressing the company's intention to maintain its position as the largest foreign-invested enterprise (FIE) in Vietnam for some time.
The most recent iteration of flooring materials is core rigid vinyl. This innovative technology has five layers UV coating, wear layer, decor film layer, core layer, and pack padding and has caused a flooring industry revolution.

Le Quang, coo, Neo Floor

The product is at the forefront of consumer trends in the US, Europe, South Korea, and Japan, and its superior qualities in comparison to previous generations of conventional flooring include water resistance, fire resistance, effective isolation, a variety of designs, and safety for consumers.

Neo Floor, which is a member of Pha Le Group, benefits from a plentiful supply of CaCO3 stone material (which comprises 75 per cent of the volume of the products core layer) and the formula for combining CaCO3 with additives, which enables the company to master the application technology for constructing core rigid vinyl floors.

In 2019, a group of professors and physicians from the Polymer Materials Research Centre, affiliated with Hanoi University of Science and Technology, initiated the development of this formulation in conjunction with Neo Floor.

Emphasising the importance of fostering research and development (R&D) to establish competitive advantages, Neo Floor is dedicating up to 3 per cent of its annual revenue towards such efforts. The R&D division serves three primary purposes: conducting market and survey research; enhancing products, technologies, and materials; and investigating and developing new products.

Neo Floor is establishing three golden objectives for 2024. First is to conduct an initial market survey, investigation, and development of new potential markets, including but not limited to Canada, Mexico, Indonesia, and South Korea. Second is to develop novel sources of competitively priced basic materials that are of high quality. And third is to introduce new technology products featuring a lightweight, resilient central layer, and advanced production technology.

Currently, R&D for core rigid vinyl products focuses on enhancing the durability of thin products, preventing surface blemishes, and reducing floor weight. As a result, prevalent core rigid vinyl R&D activities frequently focus on the formulations, stability, and increased durability of the core layer; enhancing the products scratch resistance, which is inferior to ceramic tiles or laminate flooring; and simultaneously refining the surface to resemble genuine wood more closely. The reduction of core weight is crucial to enhancing product value through the mitigation of shipping volume and logistics expenses.

Eco-friendly products are a primary consideration for development

Neo Floors challenge is to optimise costs, speed, and security to remain competitive with large manufacturers such as China. The company should also be receptive to information and insights from partners and competitors, as Chinese manufacturers continue to have a significant impact on the flooring industry.

At present, the number of global manufacturers capable of producing core rigid vinyl products featuring a lightweight core layer is limited. Neo Floor plans to introduce this product at the International Surfaces Event in February 2024, the largest flooring materials trade show in the US, held annually in Las Vegas.

R&D is crucial in bolstering the competitive edge of organisations, facilitating elevated technological benchmarks, fostering increased productivity, expanding market presence, and diversifying production. On the other hand, R&D can be risky investment that is more challenging to effectively control than regular production and business operations, since companies cannot predict costs. Maintaining a competitive position, however, is challenging for organisations that do not invest.

Consequently, R&D as well as enhancing and devising production processes and technology are critical endeavours that yield numerous advantages. These include establishing a competitive edge over rivals, expanding market presence, and maximising monopoly profits. In light of the ongoing Fourth Industrial Revolution, it is critical for every business to encourage R&D.

Research and development for core rigid vinyl products often focuses on boosting durability

At the Vietnam Academy of Science and Technology, Neo Floor assembled pre-eminent experts in materials technology to form a specialised R&D block. A suitable proportion of annual business activities funds are allocated to R&D, ensuring continuity from the outset of product development.

Human health and environmentally favourable products are the primary considerations in the development of the companys merchandise. The trend towards replacing traditional flooring materials like wood and natural stone with rigid core plastic flooring products is what drives this development.

These products feature various properties similar to those of natural materials, but they have superior properties, including resistance to termite shrinkage and fire spread, water absorption, and ease of installation. The composition is devoid of heavy metals, carcinogens, and formaldehyde in particular; therefore, it is extremely environmentally and user-friendly. Due to its confined operation, the production process minimises environmental emissions.
Vietnamese and Lao delegates at the ceremony. (Photo: VNA)

Vientiane  A ceremony was held on December 27 in Xaysomboun province, Laos, to inaugurate and hand over the upgraded Xaysomboun hospital  a gift from the Government of Vietnam to Laos.

The upgrade started in February 2021 with a total investment of over 158 billion VND (6.5 million USD). The 80-bed hospital now has high-quality advanced equipment and its medical examination and treatment capacity are improved.

Speaking at the ceremony, Viengsavanh Vilayphone, Standing Vice Chairman of the Laos-Vietnam Cooperation Committee, appreciated Vietnams support to Laos which demonstrates the solid foundation of the great friendship, special solidarity and cooperation between the two countries. It also shows the strong commitment of the Vietnamese Government to supporting the Lao Government in socio-economic development, ensuring social security for the Lao people.

Major General Nguyen Ngoc Ha, Deputy Commander of the Military Region 4 and Head of the Project Management Board on the Vietnamese side, emphasised the investment in the project vividly demonstrates the great friendship and special solidarity between the two Parties and Governments in general and the deep affection between the armed forces of Military Region 4 and Xaysomboun province in particular.

Suksavath Vongphumleck, Deputy Governor of Xaysomboun province, expressed his sincere and deep gratitude to the Party and Government of Vietnam for supporting the province.

He affirmed that Vietnams support in building and upgrading the hospital greatly contributes to the local socio-economic development and helps local people access high-quality medical services conveniently.

First Cambodia-Laos-Vietnam friendship bicycle race opens in Laos The first CambodiaLaosVietnam friendship bicycle tournament opened in Vientiane on December 6.

Lao traditional weaving inscribed as UNESCO Intangible Cultural Heritage The United Nations Educational Scientific and Cultural Organisation (UNESCO) has recently inscribed Lao traditional Naga motif weaving as Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity.
This marks a significant stride in both the environmental and economic realms for the country.

The carbon credits, derived from the forest regions of north central Vietnam, are part of the Emission Reductions Payment Agreement (ERPA) established on October 2020 between the International Bank for Reconstruction and Development (IBRD), part of the World Bank Group, and Vietnam's Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development.

The first phase of the ERPA involved transferring 10.3 million tonnes of CO 2 to the World Bank, valued at $51.5 million. This translates to about $5 per tonne.

In early August, the World Bank disbursed $41.2 million, covering 80 per cent of the emission reductions stipulated in the ERPA. The remaining balance of $10.3 million will be settled following the complete transfer of CO 2 .

Funds from this transaction are earmarked for distribution among forest owners, local authorities, and organisations tasked with natural forest management. A portion of the proceeds will also be allocated to initiatives aimed at reducing forest loss and degradation, thereby enhancing the income and livelihoods of those involved in forestry.

The Vietnam Forest Protection and Development Fund is designated as the central entity for receiving, managing, and utilising the funds from the ERPA.

This includes coordination with the Forest Protection and Development funds of six provinces in the north central region: Thanh Hoa, Nghe An, Ha Tinh, Quang Binh, Quang Tri, and Thua Thien-Hue.

Beyond the credits already sold, the World Bank confirmed a total reduction of 16.21 million tonnes of CO 2 for the entire north central region in the first period (January 1, 2018-December 31, 2019), of which 10.3 million tonnes were part of the ERPA transfer.

"The World Bank is keen on acquiring an additional one million tons out of the remaining 5.91 million tonnes of CO 2 . We are currently seeking governmental approval to develop a plan for trading or transferring the residual 4.91 million tonnes, to further support forest protection and development in the region," the ministry official said.

Forest carbon credits are generated through greenhouse gas emission reduction activities such as curbing deforestation and forest degradation, and promoting afforestation, reforestation, vegetation restoration, and enhanced forest management. These credits provide an opportunity for forest owners to monetise the CO 2 absorption capacity of their managed forests in the burgeoning carbon market.

LPBank and Ea Sup 1 agree green credit deal LPBank and Ea Sup 1 Corporation have signed a credit agreement valued at approximately VND2 trillion ($84 million). The move, announced on November 9 at LPBank's Hanoi headquarters, focuses on the shift towards green credit financing.

Putting the carbon market to work The Paris Agreement, adopted in 2015, represents a historic global effort to combat climate change with the primary goal is to limit global warming to well below 2C above pre-industrial levels, with an aspiration to keep it within 1.5C. Achieving this ambitious goal is contingent on the collective efforts of nations to reduce greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions.
San Francisco prosecutors dropped all charges against Richard Everett, center, after a police officer who shot him invoked his Fifth Amendment rights during Everetts trial. Everett was represented by Nuha Abusamra, left, and Anthony Gedeon, right. San Francisco Public Defender's Office

A San Francisco police officer who shot a homeless man who was armed with a knife in the Tenderloin in August refused to testify in the mans trial last week, forcing prosecutors to drop all charges against the man, according to the prosecutors and defense attorneys.

Officer Russell Lucia was one of two officers who shot Richard Everett. Two other officers fired beanbag shotguns at him.

After the shooting, Everett, 54, was charged with carrying a concealed knife, brandishing a knife at an officer and resisting arrest.

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During Everetts trial last week, Lucia refused to take the stand, invoking his Fifth Amendment right against self-incrimination.Without Lucias testimony, the prosecution was unable to meet its burden of proof in the case against Everett, the district attorneys office said.

Prosecutors did not plan to put the other officer who shot Everett on the stand, defense attorneys said. It was not immediately clear why.

Prosecutors dropped charges against Everett while they continue their investigation into the Aug. 28 shooting. The district attorneys office investigates San Francisco police shootings as a matter of routine.

Lucias attorney, Nicole Pifari, said Lucia shot Everett in self-defense, and that she expected prosecutors to clear him of any wrongdoing. Still, Pifari said, it is a standard approach for an officer whose actions are under investigation to wait until the probe is complete to make any further statements.

Pifari said prosecutors could have carried on with the case against Everett a few different ways. She added that several other officers could have testified about the incident.

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That being said, I like to believe the district attorneys office is doing the best it can, given the resources and information they have available, Pifari said.

Tracy McCray, president of the San Francisco Police Officers Association, said Lucia was placed in a no-win situation and acted appropriately to preserve his rights and to preserve the integrity of the three ongoing investigations.

McCray said Lucia was in an unusual position, expected to testify in the criminal case while his actions in the shooting are under investigation.

Everett asserted his right to a speedy trial, the public defenders office said, adding that the trial was actually delayed twice because he was hospitalized due to complications from the gunshot wounds he suffered.

Everett was shot on Jones Street between Ellis and Eddy streets. A 911 caller had told police a man with a big knife was threatening others with it, according to audio recordings of the 911 call, which the Police Department released in September along with body-worn camera footage.

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Multiple officers talked to Everett for several minutes. He was told to put down the knife, although later he was told he could keep the knife so long as he put his hands in the air, according to footage captured by police body-worn cameras.

Everett held onto the knife and eventually picked up a duffel bag and crate and walked toward an officer, the knife in his right hand. Thats when officers shot him.

According to his attorneys, Everett was not told he was under arrest and tried to walk away when he was shot.

He suffered five gunshot wounds, including injuries to one of his lungs and right hand, his attorneys said. Police initially said the injuries were life-threatening.

Deputy Public Defenders Nuha Abusamra and Anthony Gedeon, who represented Everett, said the shooting and the charges against Everett were unwarranted.

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He should not have spent a day in jail, Abusamra said.

A Louisiana native, Everett has lived in San Francisco for more than two decades and has a history of mental illness, Abusamra said. She added that Everett was homeless and experiencing a mental health crisis the night of the shooting, and that he had a knife on him for protection.

After prosecutors dropped the case last week, Brian Cox, director of the Integrity Unit in the public defenders office, said the case illustrated the need for alternatives to policing.

Weve seen time and again that police too often resort to violence when interacting with vulnerable individuals like Mr. Everett, Cox said in a statement.

The district attorneys office said it did not have an estimate for when the investigation into the shooting would conclude.
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MOSCOW, Idaho (AP)  The house where four University of Idaho students were killed last year was demolished Thursday, marking an emotional step for the victims' families and a close-knit community that was shocked and devastated by the brutal stabbings.

The sounds of construction equipment pierced the early morning air as an excavator started tearing down the front part of the house. The former walls formed a large pile of crushed and smashed wood on the ground as debris was picked up and loaded into a dump truck. A few onlookers joined dozens of members of the news media.

After about three hours, the home was fully demolished and its concrete foundation had been broken up. Multiple dump trucks continued to remove debris from the site.

The owner of the rental home near the university campus in Moscow, Idaho, donated it to the university earlier this year. It has since been boarded up and blocked off by a security fence. Students Ethan Chapin, Xana Kernodle, Madison Mogen and Kaylee Goncalves were fatally stabbed there in November 2022.

School officials, who in February announced plans to raze the house, view the demolition as a key step toward healing and finding closure, university spokesperson Jodi Walker said.

It's incredibly powerful and emotional to see it come down, she said as she watched the demolition. We've turned into that next chapter, whatever that next chapter is, and that definitely is a bit of a relief.

Moscow resident Lilly Topping, who lives on a neighboring street and could see the house from her window, also said she felt relieved as she passed by the demolition. She said she had felt unsafe for a time after the killings, and her grandparents gave her a door stopper to place underneath her door knob as a precaution against break-ins.

You could just feel the presence of sadness, she said. It was just a tragic event, and I feel like we need to renew everything."

The fence that had surrounded the property is set to be reinstalled Thursday night and will stay up for about a week, until contractors return to grade and level the site so that it can be planted with grass at some point, Walker said. There are currently no other plans for the site, though the university may revisit that in the future, she said.

Some of the victims' families have opposed the demolition, calling for the house to be preserved until after the man accused of the slayings has been tried.

Bryan Kohberger, a former criminology graduate student at Washington State University in neighboring Pullman, Washington, has been charged with four counts of murder. A judge entered a not-guilty plea on Kohberger's behalf earlier this year.

The concerns from victims' families previously prompted the university to push back its timeline for demolition. After initially announcing the plan in February, the school in July said it would pause the process and revisit it in October.

On the one hand, some people want it taken down. It is a constant reminder of the heinous acts that went on inside it. It is also a place that continues to draw unwanted attention from media, YouTubers and others, university President Scott Green wrote in a July memo. On the other hand, it elicits deep emotional responses from those who are working through grief and who fear that its destruction could impact the court case. We hear all these arguments, take them seriously and weigh them against the greater good for our university.

Prosecutors, who hope to try Kohberger next summer, told university officials in an email that they don't anticipate needing the house any further, as they were already able to gather measurements necessary for creating illustrative exhibits for a jury. They added that a jury visit to the site wouldn't be authorized given that the current condition of the house is so substantially different than at the time of the killings.

The Latah County prosecuting attorneys office declined to comment, citing a gag order from an Idaho judge that restricts what lawyers in the case can say to the news media.

Kohbergers defense team was given access to the home earlier this month to gather photos, measurements and other documentation. And in October, the FBI gathered at the house to collect data that could be used to create visual aids for jurors at the upcoming trial.

Kernodle, Mogen and Goncalves lived together in the rental home just across the street from campus. Chapin  Kernodles boyfriend  was there visiting on the night of the attack. All of them were friends and members of the university's Greek system. The killings left many of their classmates and residents of Moscow reeling with grief and fear.

Moscow is a rural farming and college town of about 26,000 nestled in the rolling hills of north-central Idaho, about 80 miles (130 kilometers) southeast of Spokane, Washington.

Rush reported from Portland, Oregon.
Sens. Chuck Grassley and Joni Ernst nominated Iowa students to be considered for appointments to the U.S. service academies.

Each year, Iowas U.S. senators and representatives nominate current and future high school graduates for a select few service academy placements. The U.S. Air Force Academy, U.S. Military Academy at West Point and U.S. Naval Academy each select at least one qualified student from the nominations every year. The U.S. Coast Guard Academy does not require a congressional nomination for students to apply.

Both senators included some nominations from the Cedar Valley for the 2024-25 school year.

Grassleys nominations are:

Shawn Wegmann of Cedar Falls for the U.S. Naval Academy, U.S. Military Academy at West Point.

Aiden Sullivan of Nashua for the U.S. Military Academy at West Point.

John Butler of Cedar Falls for the U.S. Air Force Academy.

Ernsts nominations are:

Shawn Wegmann of Cedar Falls for the U.S. Naval Academy, U.S. Military Academy at West Point.

Jake Hulstein of Cedar Falls for the U.S. Military Academy at West Point.

Aiden Sullivan of Nashua for the U.S. Military Academy at West Point.

Cole Wilson of Cedar Falls for the U.S. Air Force Academy.

Students interested in academy appointments should begin the application process in the spring of their junior year of high school. Students can apply for more than one service academy and seek multiple nominations.

Photos: Staff photojournalist Chris Zoeller's favorite sports photos of 2023
As 2023 draws to a close, The Courier looks back at some of the biggest and most controversial news stories of 2023. After a contentious legislative session and on the eve of the 2024 Iowa caucuses, it's no surprise politics dominates this year's list.

The choices are presented in chronological order with no pretense of rating them by importance.

1.

In January, surrounded by school-choice advocates and private school students, Gov. Kim Reynolds signed a huge private school assistance bill, the culmination of a 3-year effort and a victory on one of the governors top legislative priorities.

The program will provide $7,600 education savings accounts for tuition and expenses at private schools. Eventually open to all students regardless of income, it will cost an estimated $345 million annually by 2027.

Supporters say the law provides choice for parents to send children to private school who cant afford it. Opponents say it will siphon money from public schools and fund unaccountable private schools that can turn away students with disabilities or who dont share their values.

2.

In March, Republican state lawmakers passed a slate of anti-LGBTQ bills, including a ban on gender-affirming care for minors.

Lawmakers also passed a law requiring students, employees, parents, and visitors to use restrooms, changing rooms, and other related facilities according to their biological sex as listed on a persons official birth certificate

Thousands of Iowans publicly protested. Students at dozens of schools across the state walked out of classes, and hundreds attended rallies at the Iowa Capitol. Democratic lawmakers, teachers, LGBTQ organizers and students said the bills contradict notions of freedom and liberty.

Republicans described the ban on gender-affirming care as necessary to protect children from medical care when the science is not settled, and the bathroom bill as a commonsense way to ensure the privacy and safety of students.

3.

In May, Reynolds signed a slate of education bills into law, including a bill limiting LGBTQ instruction in topics through sixth grade and barring books with sexual content from school libraries.

The law bars discussion of sexual orientation or gender identity in kindergarten through sixth grade, bans books depicting sex acts from school libraries and requires schools to notify parents if a student requests a change in their name or pronouns.

Supporters said it expands parents rights and gives them more input over their childrens education. It was opposed by LGBTQ rights organizations, which said it would put transgender youths in danger.

4.

On May 28, structural issues led to the partial collapse of an apartment building in Davenport, killing three people.

At the time of the collapse there were 53 residents registered as living in the 80-unit building.

Search and rescue efforts continued for nearly a week at the six-story apartment building constructed in 2015-16. It was eventually demolished, but left behind a slew of lawsuits, most still unresolved.

5.

In July, Reynolds signed into law a near-total ban on abortions in Iowa, passed three days earlier by a special session of the Iowa Legislature. Days later, a Polk County District Court judge temporarily blocked enforcement of the new law.

Iowa Attorney General Brenna Bird in November filed the states legal argument to the Iowa Supreme Court seeking to uphold a law that would ban most abortions after six weeks. Justices plan to hear the appeal.

6.

In October, Navigator CO2, one of three carbon dioxide pipeline companies seeking to build in Iowa, announced it was canceling its proposal because of unpredictable regulatory environment in Iowa and South Dakota.

The pipeline projects are meant to capture lucrative federal tax credits for sequestering carbon dioxide, a greenhouse gas that is a primary driver of climate change. Ethanol plants would benefit from the tax credits and from producing low-carbon fuels that can be sold in stricter markets.

But activists cite safety risks while questioning the alleged environmental benefits of the projects, and landowners have balked at the proposed use of eminent domain to acquire easements for the projects.

The pipeline proposals remain, by Summit Carbon Solutions and Wolf Carbon Solutions. Wolf has said it will not use eminent domain for its short route in Iowa.

7.

In November, candidates who supported restrictions on school materials and classroom discussions about gender and transgender students were roundly defeated in school board elections across Iowa.

School board elections in the Mason City, Linn-Mar, Ankeny and Johnston school districts, just to name a few, went almost exclusively for candidates who were supported by the teachers union and who opposed book-policing and transgender student policies. Almost exclusively, candidates who were endorsed by conservative groups, including the self-described parents rights advocacy group Moms for Liberty, failed.

In 2021, school board elections in Iowa and across the country swung toward candidates who opposed pandemic-era restrictions on schools, including closures and mask mandates. In 2023, the pendulum swung the opposite direction.

8.

In November, Reynolds officially endorsed Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis in his quest for the Republican presidential nomination, calling him one of the most effective leaders I have ever seen.

Reynolds originally said she would remain neutral in the run-up to the caucuses, but over the summer began to suggest she might endorse after all. Typically, Iowas governors have stayed neutral.

Donald Trump criticized Reynolds as disloyal. He called the decision the end of her political career. This month Trumps campaign released an ad including comments from Reynolds praising the former president. She argued the ad was misleading since she has endorsed DeSantis.

9.

Throughout 2023, former President Donald Trump dominated the contest for Iowa's delegates to the 2024 Republican National Convention.

Trump currently leads his Republican rivals by more than 30 percentage points, according to a RealClearPolitics average of Iowa polls.

Many political experts predicted the anti-Trump GOP vote would consolidate as the Iowa caucuses draw nearer. Instead, Trump's advantage has grown.

Trump had the support of 51% of likely Iowa Republican caucus attendees in a survey released this month conducted by J. Ann Selzer for the Des Moines Register, NBC News and Mediacom. Trump's standing grew by 8 percentage points from a similar poll in October.

While Trump rivals like Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis and former South Carolina Gov. Nikki Haley devoted huge amounts of time in money to Iowa, Trump has visited the state much less, although he stopped here four times in the last month.

10.

In December, a Satanic Temple display inside the Iowa Capitol in Des Moines was destroyed, and a former U.S. Navy fighter pilot who was recently defeated in a statehouse election in Mississippi was accused of causing the damage.

A Facebook posting by The Satanic Temple said the display, known as a Baphomet statue, was destroyed beyond repair."

The display is permitted by rules that govern religious installations inside the Capitol but drew criticism from many conservatives, including presidential candidate Ron DeSantis.

But others, including state Rep. Jon Dunwell, R-Newton, who also is a minister, warned against allowing a vocal critics to silence a minority for thinking or believing differently than the majority.

Writing on Facebook, Dunwell said: I dont want the state evaluating and making determinations about religions. ... Shocked so many want to give up their freedom so they dont have to see a display they disagree with.

Photos: Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump campaigns in Waterloo, Dec. 19 Trump Waterloo 1 Trump Waterloo 2 Trump Waterloo 3 Trump Waterloo 4 Trump Waterloo 5 Trump Waterloo 6 Trump Waterloo 7 Trump Waterloo 8 Trump Waterloo 9 Trump Waterloo 10 Trump Waterloo 11 Trump Waterloo 12
Ireland West Airport Knock is to receive 1.869,947 million in direct exchequer funding.

The announcement was made by Minister of State Jack Chambers.

Mayo Senator Lisa Chambers has welcomed the news.

"This operational funding is being administered under the Regional Airports Programme 2021-2025. The funding provided targeted support for vital safety and security operations at the airport such as air traffic control, fire services and security, ensuring the airport can continue to remain compliant with regulatory requirements in these areas. These supports are essential to allow the airport to continue to thrive and grow and to support our regional economy.

"This funding brings investment by government in Ireland West Airport Knock this year to a total of 6,869,488, including a previous capital allocation of 5,000,541. This level of funding has been fundamental to the strong return to vital connectivity into the region and a rebound in passenger traffic following the pandemic period, said Senator Chambers.

"Connectivity with Mayo and the Western Region to the rest of the world is essential for our continued economic development, attracting and sustaining foreign direct investment, facilitating tourism while also keeping us connected with family and friends abroad, she added.
Russian Defence Ministry report on the progress of the special military operation (27 December 2023)

The Armed Forces of the Russian Federation continue the special military operation.

In Kupyansk direction, units of the Zapad Group of Forces supported by army aviation and artillery repelled six attacks of assault groups of AFU 60th, 115th mechanised, 95th air assault brigades near Sinkovka (Kharkov region).

The AFU losses amounted to up to 45 Ukrainian troops, two motor vehicles, one Gvozdika self-propelled artillery system, and one D-30 howitzer.

In Krasny Liman direction, units of the Tsentr Group of Forces supported by artillery and heavy flamethrowers repelled two attacks launched by the AFU 63rd mechanised and 12th Special Forces brigades near Chervonaya Dibrova (Lugansk Peoples Republic).

In addition, strikes were delivered at clusters of enemy manpower and hardware near Serebryansky forestry.

Up to 190 Ukrainian troops, one tank, two armoured fighting vehicles, and one D-30 gun were eliminated.

In Donetsk direction, units of the Yug Group of Forces supported by artillery repelled two attacks launched by assault groups of the AFU 24th Mechanised Brigade near Novogorodskoye (Donetsk Peoples Republic).

In addition, strikes were delivered at enemy manpower and hardware near Veseloye, Krasnoye, Kleshcheyevka, Vasyukovka, Bogdanovka, and Andreyevka (Donetsk Peoples Republic).

The AFU losses in this direction amounted to up to 280 Ukrainian troops, two armoured personnel carriers, and three motor vehicles.

In the course of the counter-battery warfare, two Msta-B howitzers, two Akatsiya self-propelled artillery systems, two D-30 howitzers , and one Gvozdika self-propelled artillery system were eliminated.

In South Donetsk direction, units of the Vostok Group of Forces supported by artillery and aviation inflicted losses on enemy manpower of the AFU 79th Air Assault Brigade near Novomikhailovka (Donetsk Peoples Republic).

The enemy lost up to 90 Ukrainian troops and three pick-up trucks.

In Zaporozhye direction, units of the Russian Group of Forces supported by artillery and aviation inflicted losses on manpower and hardware of the AFU 33rd, 65th mechanised and 82nd air assault brigades close to Rabotino and Verbovoye (Zaporozhye region).

During the day, up to 45 Ukrainian troops, two armoured fighting vehicles, one motor vehicle, one Msta-B howitzer, and one D-30 gun were neutralised.

In Kherson direction, as a result of the Russian Group of Forces actions, artillery, and aviation, the AFU losses amounted to up to 20 Ukrainian troops, three motor vehicles, one Akatsiya self-propelled artillery system, one D-20 gun, and four Gvozdika self-propelled artillery systems.

Operational-Tactical Aviation, unmanned aerial vehicles, Missile Troops and Artillery of the Group of Forces of the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation engaged command and observation posts of the AFU 67th Mechanised Brigade and 1st Operational Brigade of National Guard, a fuel depot, as well as manpower and military hardware in 127 areas.

One Mi-8 helicopter of the Ukrainian Air Force was also shot down by air defence systems near Vodyanoye (Donetsk Peoples Republic).

Air defence systems also intercepted seven HIMARS MLRS projectiles, one HARM anti-radiation missile, and one JDAM aerial guided bomb.

In addition, 17 Ukrainian unmanned aerial vehicles were shot down near Gorlovka, Kirillovka (Donetsk Peoples Republic), Belogorovka, Novodruzhesk (Lugansk Peoples Republic), Radensk, Peschanovka (Kherson region), and Balochki (Zaporozhye region).

In total, 560 airplanes and 262 helicopters, 10,121 unmanned aerial vehicles, 442 air defence missile systems, 14,341 tanks and other armoured fighting vehicles, 1,189 combat vehicles equipped with MLRS, 7,527 field artillery guns and mortars, as well as 16,765 units of special military equipment have been destroyed during the special military operation.

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University of Wisconsin-La Crosse Chancellor Joe Gow, who was denied a pay raise five years ago over inviting a former porn actress to speak on campus, has been fired for himself engaging in explicit sexual acts with his wife on popular porn websites.

Gow, the longest-tenured chancellor in the Universities of Wisconsin system, was already planning to retire at the end of the school year. But in a three-hour, closed-door meeting Wednesday, the Board of Regents unanimously decided to terminate his chancellorship and place him on administrative leave.

Its unclear whether Gow violated any specific UW system policies. Current policies allow the system president and the Regents to fire a chancellor at any time, when such action is deemed to be in the best interests of the chancellors institution and of the UW System.

According to an Amazon author profile listed under a pseudonym, both Gow and his wife, former UW-La Crosse professor and chief of staff Carmen Wilson, are pictured and describe themselves as a married woman and man who serve in executive positions at two well-known organizations in the U.S. They frequently participate in civic and charitable events and appear in their local media.

Descriptions of the books listed on the Amazon author profile describe the couple as sex-positive and wanting to prevent the sexual lulls of past marriages, as well as stating the two have collaborated with workers in the porn industry to create their own upscale pornographic videos.

The profile goes on to say the couple has videos on accounts on popular porn websites, including PornHub and OnlyFans. An account on X, formerly known as Twitter, openly identifies them as Joe and Carmen as the two invite porn actors onto their personal show to cook with them while clothed and later engage in sexual acts reserved for the subscriber-based porn sites. The pair also posts their cooking show and conversations with the actors  including Hartley in one installment  on their YouTube account, Sexy Healthy Cooking.

Upon my recommendation, the UW Board of Regents today terminated Dr. Joe Gow from his position as chancellor of UW-La Crosse effective immediately, UW system President Jay Rothman said in a statement after the meeting. In recent days, we learned of specific conduct by Dr. Gow that has subjected the university to significant reputational harm. His actions were abhorrent.

Rothman said he planned to file a complaint with Betsy Morgan, named interim chancellor at UW-La Crosse within minutes of the Regents decision, to review Gows status as a tenured faculty member. An outside law firm will also investigate Gows conduct.

Board of Regents President Karen Walsh said in a statement that Gow had shown reckless disregard for his responsibilities as the leader of UW-La Crosse.

The outrage over his behavior is evidenced by the unanimous vote by the UW Board of Regents to terminate him as chancellor, Walsh said. We are alarmed, and disgusted, by his actions, which were wholly and undeniably inconsistent with his role as chancellor.

Gow said Wednesday night he was not invited to the closed-session meeting and has concerns about his rights to due process. He also highlighted what he said was the hypocrisy of the UW system preaching the importance of free speech at board meetings just weeks before firing him.

I want to stress that the most important thing is that my wife and I are grateful that we live in a country where we have a First Amendment freedom to create and publish books and videos that explore consensual adult sexuality, Gow said. Im very concerned that heres an issue of free speech, and were seeing the Board of Regents not supporting the concept.

In December 2018, Gow was denied a pay raise, which 10 other chancellors received, after inviting a porn star to the UW-La Crosse campus as part of an inaugural free speech week event. Then-UW system President Ray Cross said Gow had exercised poor judgment in inviting former porn actress and activist Nina Hartley to speak at the event.

Gow was one of two chancellors denied a raise that year, along with then-UW-Whitewater Chancellor Beverly Kopper, whose husband had been banned from campus that summer and stripped of an honorary, unpaid position after an investigation concluded he had sexually harassed female employees.

Gow became UW-La Crosses 10th chancellor in February 2007 and is the second-longest serving chancellor in the schools history. The Regents have already started a search for Gows successor.

[Editor's note: This article has been updated to correct a misquote of Board of Regents President Karen Walsh's statement about Gow. Walsh said Gow had shown reckless disregard for his responsibilities as the leader of UW-La Crosse.]
Levels of flu, RSV and COVID-19 are on the rise in Wisconsin, with all three circulating widely, according to the states latest weekly respiratory virus report, released Tuesday.

Flu activity was high in most parts of the state, with flu particularly increasing among school-age children, according to the report, which summaries data from the week ending Dec. 23.

Emergency room visits for RSV, or respiratory syncytial virus, were up considerably among children younger than 5. Two children died from RSV shortly before Christmas, state officials previously reported.

Meanwhile, 503 patients were hospitalized with COVID-19 as of Monday, the highest level in nearly a year.

Here are five key actions health officials say can help people stay healthy:

Get vaccinated

It takes about two weeks for immunizations to provide full protection, but shots now can help ward off illness  and reduce severity of illness  as viruses continue to circulate in the coming weeks. Everyone 6 months and older is advised to get an annual flu shot and an updated COVID-19 vaccine. The shots are especially recommended for people 65 and older, pregnant women and those with chronic health conditions. To find vaccines, go to vaccines.gov or or call 211 or 877-947-2211.

Vaccines against RSV, or respiratory syncytial virus, are recommended for people 60 and older and pregnant women at 32 weeks to 36 weeks of pregnancy, which confers protection to the infant.

A new monoclonal antibody shot is recommended for children younger than 8 months and those up to 19 months at an increased risk of severe RSV disease. However, the shot has been in short supply. Infants should get the antibody shot or have protection from maternal vaccination. They dont need both.

Wear a mask

Most mask mandates initiated during the COVID-19 pandemic have expired, but authorities still recommend masks in crowded places, such as on airplanes or subways, when respiratory illness is widespread. Some hospitals, such as UW Hospital and UnityPoint Health-Meriter in Madison, have started requiring staff, patients and visitors to wear face masks again in clinic settings such as waiting rooms, scheduling areas and exam rooms.

Have a mask available, said Tom Haupt, respiratory diseases epidemiologist with the Wisconsin Department of Health Services. If you feel uncomfortable in an area that has a lot of people around you, and you hear people are coughing and not covering their mouths, theres nothing wrong with putting a mask on ... Its going to help stop the spread to other people.

Wash your hands

Often. Scrub all areas of your hands, including your palms, backs of your hands, between your fingers and under your fingernails, says the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. This should be done for at least 20 seconds, or the time it takes to sing Happy Birthday. For people tired of that advice, the Los Angeles Times suggests choruses of other songs that last about as long, such as Princes Raspberry Beret and Beyonces Love on Top.

If soap and water arent available, use hand sanitizer with at least 60% alcohol.

Think about your nose and mouth

Respiratory etiquette calls for covering your mouth and nose with a tissue when you cough or sneeze, and throwing used tissues in the trash. If you dont have a tissue, cough or sneeze into your elbow, not your hands.

As much as possible, avoid touching your nose, eyes and mouth, to prevent germs from entering your body that way.

Stay home

If you develop a fever, cough or running nose  even if you have been vaccinated  stay home, especially if gatherings include people at high risk of complications from infection, such as people 65 and older, pregnant women and those with chronic health conditions.
The mayors of Chicago, New York City and Denver have renewed pleas for more federal help and coordination with Texas over the growing number of asylum-seekers arriving in their cities by bus and plane. The mayors held a news conference Wednesday. Their requests come as U.S. cities have struggled to manage the increasing number of migrants sent from Texas and other states. Republican Gov. Greg Abbotts busing operation has sent more than 80,000 migrants to Democratic-led cities since last year. His administration stepped up the practice last week and started sending chartered planes.
Major storms have put San Franciscos Ocean Beach at risk of long-term erosion near critical infrastructure. Jessica Christian/The Chronicle As a result of heavy storms this winter, Ocean Beach experienced erosion and damage such as broken fences. Juliana Yamada/The Chronicle People sit on sandbags at Ocean Beach in February. A combination of erosion and waves sucking sand out to the ocean is drastically changing the landscape of the beach. Juliana Yamada/The Chronicle Dan Hoover, U.S. Geological Survey oceanographer, does research on May 17, monitoring where the sand has been displaced from Ocean Beach due to last winters storms. Jessica Christian/The Chronicle

On a windy spring day at San Franciscos Ocean Beach, Jet Ski rider Tim Elfers powered through the surf in a straight line, keeping his knees loose to bounce with the waves. Elfers was carrying sonar devices that ping the seafloor, in search of all the sand that was sucked off the beach by enormous waves over the winter.

Weather: How El Nino impacts in California would vary by region

It certainly looked as bad as the last El Nino winter, said Dan Hoover, research scientist for the U.S. Geological Survey. To see something this year that looked comparable is surprising.

Hoover was comparing the dramatic aftermath of a January storm to the winter of 2015-16, when huge waves caused the worst erosion on California beaches in 150 years, a USGS study found. That season, Ocean Beach narrowed by as much as 180 feet between the shoreline and the Great Highway that runs along it.

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Hoover likens a beach to a bumper on a car, and Ocean Beachs role as the citys bumper is increasingly in jeopardy as sea level rise and ever-larger waves batter its southern end. That, combined with strong currents, is causing the beach to get wider at its northern tip while it gets narrower at the bottom, according to research.

U.S. Geological Survey Marine Operations Manager Tim Elfers surveys the seafloor at Ocean Beach from a Jet Ski. He is monitoring where the sand that was swept away from the beach by winter storms went. Jessica Christian/The Chronicle

A big test could come this winter, when El Nino is forecast to return, if it brings more big waves and causes back-to-back winters with major erosion.

If youre already depleted and you get a big one on top of that, the sand gets moved off, and then theres nothing left to absorb that energy, Hoover said.

While seasonal movement of sand from the beach to nearshore sandbars in winter and back in summer is normal, theres concern that strong enough storms could move it offshore for good.

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Year to year people talk about how the bar shifts in a pretty significant way. Its a really a charming aspect of Ocean Beach, said Laura Walsh, California policy manager of Surfrider Foundation, a beach and ocean conservation organization.

Dan Hoover, U.S. Geological Survey research scientist, rides an ATV while digitally mapping out sand levels on Ocean Beach. While seasonal movement of sand from the beach to nearshore sandbars in winter and back in summer is normal, theres concern that strong enough storms could move it offshore for good. Jessica Christian/The Chronicle

But its not just about recreation or aesthetics. There are areas near the beachs southern end that need protection, including a pump station and wastewater treatment plant near the zoo that handle 20% of the citys sewage.

Then there is Lake Merced Tunnel, a decades-old, 14-foot-diameter pipe that runs underneath the Great Highway south of Sloat Boulevard. Its job is to hold wastewater when the treatment plant is overwhelmed during storms.

If this erodes in and that pipe fails, that would be pretty catastrophic, said Hoover, who conducts monthly surveys of Ocean Beach from an ATV, driving a GPS up and down its ridges and valleys to get a three-dimensional read of its changing contours, as part of a 19-year research project.

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The risk has been known for years. Parts of the tunnel are immediately vulnerable to erosion and must be protected or moved to prevent a serious sewage spill that would contaminate coastal waters, a 2012 report from the nonprofit public policy organization SPUR read.

U.S. Geological Survey research scientist Dan Hoover uses GPS to digitally map the displacement of sand on Ocean Beach. Jessica Christian/The Chronicle

Without intervention, the segment of the beach south of Sloat Boulevard next to this critical infrastructure is projected to erode by more than 100 feet between now and 2100, according to a new study by USGS, leaving virtually no buffer between waves and the tunnel.

The San Francisco Public Utilities Commission has an ambitious $250 million plan to address the issue. For one, its planning to reroute the Great Highway at Sloat Boulevard and up to Skyline Boulevard, away from the narrowest part of the beach.

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To protect the underground Lake Merced Tunnel, the city will construct a buried seawall along its length. A trail will be built where the highway is now, and the existing parking lot at Sloat Boulevard, where erosion is a chronic issue, will be moved inland.

Those parts of the project are still under environmental review, with construction planned to start no earlier than 2024 and due to last four years.

U.S. Geological Survey oceanographer Dan Hoover has been surveying Ocean Beach by ATV to get a three-dimensional read of the beachs changing contours as part of a 19-year research project. Juliana Yamada/The Chronicle

Since SPUR first developed a plan with similar recommendations in 2012, the implementation has moved slower than we would like, than I think anybody would like, said Sarah Atkinson, resilience policy manager at SPUR.

Its not perfect, but we dont want perfect to be the enemy of the good, she said. I really do think the project is going to protect the beach.

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The city has already implemented shorter-term fixes by moving sand from the northern end of the beach, as well as sand dredged from the shipping channel in San Francisco Bay, to the southern part of the beach.

However, many people question whether that is always a worthwhile investment, because the added sand washes away so quickly in winter.

These storms are going to get more frequent, remain more intense, and sea levels are rising, Walsh said. So we need to be thinking about how effective really are these short-term sand management projects.

An already sand-depleted Ocean Beach could be faced with major erosion when El Nino is forecast to return this winter. Noah Berger/Special to The Chronicle

The project also will involve removing old rubble and armoring materials, a legacy of earlier attempts to widen the beach and protect it from the sea over the past century or more. Lake Merced, which now is separated from the beach at its closest point by the Great Highway and only several hundred yards, used to drain naturally into the ocean.

Thats where the beach wants to be, said Hoover.

This fall is when Hoover and his colleagues will know how much sand has returned to the beach and how prepared it will be for whatever next winter brings. Meanwhile, he will continue to trace the beachs dimensions from his ATV in the hope of advancing existing knowledge of beach erosion as the climate changes.

Change is coming. Its happening now, he said. This is the only way to understand whats going to happen in the next 10, 20, 30 years.
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The South Korean authorities have launched an investigation into the tragic death of the 'Parasite' actor as the car where his body was found is being towed away.

Dec 28, 2023

AceShowbiz - Lee Sun-kyun's car in which he was discovered dead after an apparent suicide has been towed away as police begin an investigation into his death.

South Korea's emergency office announced the "Parasite" actor, 48, was found unconscious in a car in a central Seoul park on Wednesday, December 27 with the country's Yonhap news agency reporting his body was found after his wife Jeon Hye-jin alerted officers to what appeared to be a suicide note she had found from her husband.

Dad-of-two Lee, famed for playing the Park family father in the 2019 Best Picture Oscar winner "Parasite", had reportedly been under police investigation over his alleged use of marijuana and other psychoactive drugs - and had been questioned three times by police over his alleged drug use, including a 19 hour interrogation by authorities over the weekend.

Police have been seen investigating the car in which the actor's body was found at a park in central Seoul, with reports saying authorities had found a charcoal briquette in the passenger seat of the car.

Yonhap reported Lee claimed he had been tricked into taking drugs by a bar hostess who then tried to blackmail him.

Those convicted of drug related offences in South Korea face tough punishments, with repeat offenders and dealers often facing up to 14 years in jail.

Lee, who won a Screen Actors Guild Award along with his "Parasite" castmates in 2020, briefly spoke with reporters in late October before entering an Incheon police station, telling them, "I sincerely apologise for causing great disappointment to many people by being involved in such an unpleasant incident. I feel sorry for my family, which is enduring such difficult pain at this moment."

Lee married his girlfriend of seven years Jeon Hye-jin in May 2009, with the couple having two sons.

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Cover Images/Media Punch Celebrity

The model and the 'Die Hard' actor, who tied the knot in 2009 and share 11-year-old Mabel and 8-year-old Evelyn together, celebrated their special milestone on December 27.

Dec 28, 2023

AceShowbiz - Bruce Willis' wife Emma Heming celebrated a special milestone in their relationship. To mark their 16th anniversary, the model penned a sweet tribute to her "special" husband on social media.

On Wednesday, December 27, the 45-year-old shared two photos of her and the "Die Hard" actor on Instagram. "16 years with this special man. My love and adoration for him only grows," she wrote, adding a white heart emoji.

Emma and Bruce tied the knot in 2009. They shared 11-year-old Mabel and 8-year-old Evelyn together. Bruce himself was previously married to Demi Moore from 1987 to 2000. The former couple shared three daughters together, 35-year-old Rumer Willis, 32-year-old Scout Willis and 29-year-old Tallulah Willis.

More than a month ago, Emma admitted she feels fortunate for the "resources" she has during such a difficult time even though she feels "guilty" that others don't have access to them as well.

She told Maria Shriver's Sunday Paper, "I struggle with guilt, knowing that I have resources that others don't. When I'm able to get out for a hike to clear my head, it's not lost on me that not all care partners can do that." She added, "When what I share about our family's journey gets press attention, I know that there are many thousands of untold, unheard stories, each of them deserving of compassion and concern."

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The '13 Reasons Why' star shares a TikTok video in which she's seen having an argument with two staff members, who allegedly 'intentionally' misgendered her at LaGuardia Airport in New York City.

Dec 28, 2023

AceShowbiz - Transgender actress Tommy Dorfman accused Delta Air Lines employees of transphobia. The "13 Reasons Why" star shared a video on her TikTok page in which she was seen having an argument with two staff members, who allegedly "intentionally" misgendered her at LaGuardia Airport in New York City.

In the clip, which has been deleted, one staffer could be heard using Tommy's preferred pronoun "she" before switching to "he." That prompted the 31-year-old star to interrupt him and furiously point out, "You just misgendered me again. Multiple times. Both of you have."

The agent calmly responded, "It wasn't intentional, but if you want to take it personal, that's also OK." Tommy continued to slam the workers, one of whom later called out her for her "condescending" tone and threatened to escort her from the airport.

"If you want to continue, I'll have Port Authority escort you out of the building right this moment if you want to play that game with me," he warned. "Would you like to continue three days before Christmas? I really don't mind."

In the caption, Tommy explained that the male staffer, named Tristan, "was fine with" the footage being shared online. "when you try to advocate for yourself at @delta and are met woth [sic] even more transpbobia [sic] and threats of being arrested at laguardia," she noted. "didnt realize it was condescending to flag a human rights violation after another employee misgendered me incessantly."

In response to the issue, a spokesperson for Delta said in a statement that the airline was "aware of the video and looking into the matter, including reaching out to our customer to understand more about what occurred."

Tommy came out as transgender in 2021. The "Love in the Time of Corona" star said in an interview with TIME magazine, "We're talking today to discuss my gender. For a year now, I have been privately identifying and living as a woman - a trans woman." She added, "Coming out is always viewed as this grand reveal, but I was never not out. Today is about clarity: I am a trans woman. My pronouns are she/her. My name is Tommy."

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The 'Fargo' actor and the former music video vixen are all smiles as they are engrossed in a fun conversation while walking around the Big Apple one day after Christmas Day.

Dec 28, 2023

AceShowbiz - Chris Rock and Amber Rose are enjoying each other's company this holiday season. The pair have sparked dating rumors after they were caught taking a stroll in New York City one day after Christmas Day.

On Tuesday, December 26, the comedian and the model stepped out in NYC. While showing no sign of PDA, they appeared to be comfortable around each other as they shared laugh during the relaxing walk.

The 58-year-old actor and the 40-year-old former music video vixen were all smiles as they strolled around the Big Apple. He seemingly told a funny story as he talked animatedly while the two stopped on a street corner. Following the stroll, they were reportedly heading back to his apartment.

Chris color coordinated his outfit in black cargo pants, a blue-and-black plaid button down, a cobalt beanie and a short wool coat. He contrasted his mostly dark outfit with a pair of white sneakers while adding a pair of black shades.

Amber cut a chic figure while keeping herself warm in a distressed leather jacket over a gray-and-black sweat set, which she teamed with red sneakers. She carried a black bag while accessorizing with a pair of stylish sunglasses and flaunting her blonde buzz cut.

Chris Rock and Amber Rose enjoyed a post-Christmas stroll in New York City.

The nature of their relationship is unclear. Prior to his outing with Amber, Chris was spotted on a flirty date with British TV host Sharon Carpenter in April, but their fling seemed to be short-lived. He was previously in a relationship with actress Lake Bell.

As for Amber, she rose to fame when she started dating Kanye West in 2008. They, however, don't have the best relationship since their split, with the rapper dissing her on 2010's song "Blame Game", which interestingly features Chris.

Following her split from the "Gold Digger" rapper in 2010, she was linked to a string of famous men, namely Machine Gun Kelly, 21 Savage, Odell Beckham Jr. and Wiz Khalifa, with whom she shares 9-year-old son Sebastian. She also has a 4-year-old son from her relationship with Def Jam executive Alexander "A.E." Edwards.

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The 'WAP' hitmaker appears to shut down speculation that she and her estranged husband are back together after they spent Christmas together with their children.

Dec 28, 2023

AceShowbiz - Cardi B has seemingly spoken up after she's reported to have taken Offset back. The Grammy Award winner has liked an interesting tweet after speculation ran rampant that she and her estranged husband might be back together following their Christmas reunion.

Seemingly denying the rumors, the Bronx femcee liked a post from an X (formerly Twitter) user who commented on the reconciliation claim with a clip from "Love & Hip Hop: Atlanta". In the clip, Kandi Burruss exclaimed, "You just made that up!" expressing the user's doubt on the reports.

The reconciliation rumors surfaced after Cardi and Offset took to their respective social media accounts to share videos showing how they spent Christmas with their loved ones, including daughter Kulture, 5, and son Wave, 2, as well as other extended family members.

In footage captured by Offset, the kids were seen gleefully unwrapping their presents. Cardi, meanwhile, showed the kids with their new toys while also giving a look inside her huge mansion.

Upon seeing the videos, some people suspected that the pair were back together or they never really broke up in the first place. "lol they fooled everyone," one person quipped. Another weighed in, "Thought it would at least take till 2024 before Cardi ran back to Offset again. Apparently I was wrong."

Cardi previously announced her split from Offset on Instagram Live earlier this month. A few days later, she lashed out at her estranged husband as she emotionally said, "He like to play games with me 'cause he knows I'm not an easy girl." She continued while crying, "After so many f**king years that I m***a f**kn helped your a**, not even a f**king thank you that I got from your b***h a**."

However, some music industry insiders thought that they were faking their split for publicity. "I don't believe they split. I know they have a project together that they plan on dropping soon. I think it's all just for [publicity,]" one of the insiders explained to Media Take Out, noting that both hip-hop stars have been struggling to sell records lately.

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Morning commuter traffic backs up on Interstate 80 westbound in Berkeley. Jessica Christian/The Chronicle

For Californians, 2023 was yet another year spent sitting in traffic. It was another year of tragic and preventable pedestrian deaths.

We can do better. Californians dont have to surrender to traffic-choked, dangerous streets. Nor must we wait around in hopes that autonomous vehicles will save us. We already have low-cost, low-tech street safety policies that are tried and true.

In the spirit of New Year, here are five resolutions California and its cities can make to improve our streets and make our neighborhoods more livable.

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Fix the sidewalks

In many California cities, the sidewalks are in bad shape, and can be especially hazardous for older adults. Fixing sidewalks, however, costs money. How can we pay for the needed work in a time of budget deficits? We should remove loopholes that let people park for free at meters, and use the revenue to make sidewalks more accessible. For instance, letting drivers with disability placards park without paying does little to improve curb access for people that most need it, encourages placard fraud, and weakens cities ability to pay for needed improvements.

Functional sidewalks dont just need to be in good repair; they also need to connect people to destinations. Streets wouldnt work well if they periodically had large gaps. Sidewalks are no different. Our sidewalk networks should let people easily walk from home to a storefront. And we should prioritize sidewalks that connect homes to schools to help our kids live more independent lives.

Even in walkable neighborhoods, we dont walk as much as we should. Half of trips outside the home in California are under 3 miles, but we keep driving anyway. Thats in part because driving is too cheap. Putting a price on driving would let us better estimate how much we actually value our driving trip. If you know your impromptu snack run will cost you extra during rush hour, you might consider walking or biking to the store instead. The state should start pricing its freeways and use the money to improve safer walking and biking routes. And before the state considers widening any more freeways, it should price the lanes it already has.

Green and narrow the streets

Wide streets make for fast and noisy driving, and hot and dangerous walking. Forever widening clearly doesnt do much to reduce congestion. Instead, we should narrow them, ideally with wider sidewalks, bike lanes, curbside restaurants and plants. Cities should line their street medians with trees. Trees will cool us down, clean our air and add beauty to our landscape. Make it more pleasant to get out of the car, and people will.

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Legalize neighborhood businesses

Many beloved local businesses would be illegal to open today, thanks to restrictive residential zoning laws. Neighborhoods like San Franciscos Inner Richmond or LAs Larchmont Village, with shops conveniently close to houses, and sometimes nestled among them, are essentially outlawed by todays zoning. Just as we legalized granny flats in California , we should also legalize small businesses in residential areas. A corner bakery, a bodega, a salon in someones garage: all can turn driving trips into walking ones, improve the local economy and foster community ties.

Ban right on red

When drivers can turn right on red lights at intersections, they look for cars coming from the left, and not for people crossing the street. San Francisco wants to ban right turns on red, and its time for the rest of our cities to do the same. And, while were at it, we should prioritize signals for pedestrian lights. No one wants to spend half their walk waiting on a light to turn while cars whiz by.

Eyes on streets

Too often, people who are hit or sideswiped by reckless drivers have little evidence to take to police. Cameras offer an inexpensive solution. Speed and red light cameras offer victims some recourse, and more important offer deterrence  they are proven to slow drivers down. When drivers know they will get caught and fined (even if the fine is small), they become less likely to break the law. Cameras are legal in California, but only rarely used. Thats in part because local elected officials fear the political backlash that accompanies actually enforcing traffic laws, and in part because California has added an expensive stipulation to camera enforcement: before a driver is fined, they need to be personally identified in the footage. Just as we charge the car, not the driver, when it parks in a red zone, the state should revise its camera law to mail fines to vehicle owners. The best camera systems in the world, moreover, are ineffective if police let drivers get away with fake, obscured or missing license plates.

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The 41-year-old was discovered in the toilet of her home in Tampa, Florida, on Saturday, December 23 morning by emergency workers who rushed her to a nearby hospital.

Dec 28, 2023

AceShowbiz - Nick Carter's sister Bobbie Jean Carter was found unresponsive in the bathroom just like their younger brother Aaron when he died. The 41-year-old was discovered in the toilet of her home in Tampa, Florida, on Saturday, December 23 morning by emergency workers who rushed her to a nearby hospital, but she was declared dead.

TMZ reported she was found unresponsive in the bathroom like Aaron at the time of his death aged 34 on 5 November 2022. Authorities have also revealed Bobbie Jean, who struggled with substance abuse and addiction throughout her life, was on probation for cocaine possession at the time of her death.

In June she was arrested for retail theft and drug possession after allegedly trying to steal $55 of crafts from a Brooksville, Florida, Hobby Lobby. But her roommates informed authorities Bobbie Jean had stayed away from drugs since her release from prison.

Following a thorough search of Bobbie Jean's bedroom and bathroom no narcotics or drug paraphernalia were found and no signs of foul play were discovered, it's been reported. News of her passing comes just over a year after Bobbie Jean's brother Aaron was found dead in his bathtub after taking alprazolam and compressed gas difluoroethane - and 11 years after her sister Leslie Carter died from an overdose at 25.

Bobbie Jean's mom Jane said in a statement about her girl's passing, "I am in shock from learning of the sudden death of my daughter, Bobbie Jean; and I will need time to process the terrible reality of this happening for the third time. When I am able to think clearly, I'll release a fuller statement; but until then I would request to be left to grieve in private."

Referring to Bobbie Jean's daughter, Jane added, "However deeply a parent feels the loss of a child, the suffering of a young child at the loss of a parent must be much greater. So, I would ask the sympathetic to say a prayer for my precious 8-year-old granddaughter Bella, who previously lost her father and is now also left without her mother."

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A woman accused of trying to extort around $50 million won from the SAG Award-winning actor was caught on late Wednesday, December 27, after fleeing before arrest warrant hearing.

Dec 28, 2023

AceShowbiz - Lee Sun-Kyun's alleged blackmailer has been detained by police, hours after the actor's tragic death. A woman suspected of extorting the "Parasite" star was taken into custody by local police on late Wednesday, December 27.

According to reports, Incheon Metropolitan Police Agency apprehended the suspect in her 20s after she failed to appear at Incheon District Court on Tuesday for a scheduled substantive review of her arrest warrant. The police traced her whereabouts after she did not show up at the court with no explanation.

The police did not disclose where they apprehended the woman, but she's currently held at the Incheon Nonhyeon Police Precint before her scheduled warrant review, which will take place on Thursday at 2:30 P.M.

The suspect is accused of blackmailing and extorting 50 million won ($38,700) from Lee Sun-kyun. The actor claimed he was threatened by the suspect and another woman, a 29-year-old hostess of a high-end bar, saying the two extorted a total of $350 million won from him.

Lee Sun-Kyun had been under investigation for alleged drug use weeks prior to his death. He had undergone three rounds of police questioning starting October 28. The third questioning took place on December 23 and lasted 19 hours, with the actor leaving the police station in the early hours of Christmas Eve.

He was found unconscious three days later, on December 27, after his wife Jeon Hye-jin alerted police to what appeared to be a suicide note she had found from her husband. The police located him inside a car which was parked near Waryong Park in northern Jongno-gu, Seoul.

His death is currently under investigation, with reports saying authorities had found a charcoal briquette in the passenger seat of the car. His agency said in a statement on Wednesday, "We respectfully ask that you refrain from spreading false facts based on speculation or speculation and malicious reports based on them so that the deceased's final journey will be in peace."

The agency also announced, "The funeral will be held quietly with the bereaved family and colleagues in attendance." A wake for the actor is currently taking place at Seoul National University Hospital in Jongno-gu, central Seoul.

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It has been reported that the 'Wednesday' star has signed an open letter to the U.S. President John Biden to urge a ceasefire in Gaza amid the ongoing conflict between Israel and Palestine.

Dec 28, 2023

AceShowbiz - Jenna Ortega has taken action regarding the ongoing conflict between Israel and Palestine. It has been reported that the "Wednesday" star has signed an open letter to the U.S. President Joe Biden to urge a ceasefire in Gaza.

The 21-year-old actress' name has now been featured in the list featuring more than 200 actors, comedians, fashion models, recording artists and more who demanded an end to the Israel-Hamas war. Among them are Ben Affleck, Gigi Hadid, Padma Lakshmi, Wanda Sykes, Jessica Chastain, Joaquin Phoenix, Drake and Dua Lipa.

In the letter, the artists who unite as a group called Artists4Ceasefire, began, "We come together as artists and advocates, but most importantly as human beings witnessing the devastating loss of lives and unfolding horror in Israel and Palestine. We ask that, as President of the United States, you and the US Congress call for an immediate de-escalation and ceasefire in Gaza and Israel before another life is lost."

"We urge your administration, Congress, and all world leaders, to honor all of the lives in the Holy Land and call for and facilitate a ceasefire without delay  an end to the bombing of Gaza, and the safe release of hostages. Half of Gazas two million residents are children, and more than two thirds are refugees and their descendants being forced to flee their homes. Humanitarian aid must be allowed to reach them," the letter continued.

It added, "We believe that the United States can play a vital diplomatic role in ending the suffering and we are adding our voices to those from the US Congress, UNICEF, Doctors without Borders, The International Committee of The Red Cross, and so many others. Saving lives is a moral imperative. To echo UNICEF, 'Compassion - and international law - must prevail.' "

The new report came after Jenna showed support to Melissa Barrera after she was fired from "Scream 7" a.k.a. "Scream VII" for her pro-Palestine posts. In November, Jenna was caught liking a post about Barrera. She clicked the like on celebrities4palestine's post that read, "Melissa Barrera Stands Her Ground After Being Dropped From Scream For Speaking Up For Palestine."

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The 'Black Adam' actor has been charged with violating travel restrictions in thermal area within the national park in Mammoth Hot Springs, Wyoming back in November.

Dec 28, 2023

AceShowbiz - Not even a former James Bond is granted a full access to forbidden areas in Yellowstone National Park. Pierce Brosnan has gotten in trouble after allegedly entering off-limits thermal area in the park during a visit on November 1.

According to CNN, court documents show the actor received two citations on Tuesday, December 26 connected to walking in forbidden thermal areas within Yellowstone Canyon. The "Mamma Mia! Here We Go Again" star was charged with "foot travel in all thermal areas and w/in Yellowstone Canyon confined to trails and Violating closures and use limits," which are listed as a petty offenses.

The 70-year-old actor is being ordered to appear at the state's U.S. District Court in Mammoth Hot Springs, Wyoming on January 23.

The thermal areas of Yellowstone have "delicate, breakable crusts that can sit atop scalding water," according to the park's website. For safety measure, visitors at the national park are advised to "always walk on boardwalks and designated trails. Keep children close and do not let them run on boardwalks." Other safety precautions include staying away from water in the hot springs as they can cause severe or fatal burns.

At least five people have been injured in Yellowstone's thermal areas in recent years.

Pierce was in the area for the filming of his new film "Unholy Trinity", according to Deadline. He is starring in the movie alongside Samuel L. Jackson and Brandon Lessard. However, there's no word if the "Die Another Day" actor visited Yellowstone Park alone or with other people.

Pierce has not addressed the reports regarding his alleged foot travel violation. He recently paid tribute to "Band of Brothers" director David Leland, who passed away on Christmas Eve at 82 years old.

"David Leland holds a mighty place in my heart. He gave me my break as an actor in Tennessee Williams' play 'The Red Devil Battery Sign'," the "Percy Jackson & the Olympians: The Lightning Thief" star said. "I was just out of Drama Centre London where David was also an alumni. It was the thrill of my young lifetime to be cast as McCabe, working with David and Tennessee. David will forever be an essential part of my story and of all who knew and loved him."

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Kim and Saint's outing comes a few weeks after Kim's rapper ex-husband took their eldest daughter North West to everyone's favorite holiday destination alongside his wife Bianca Censori.

Dec 28, 2023

AceShowbiz - It's time for mom and son's bonding time. On Wednesday, December 27, Kim Kardashian and her eldest son Saint West hit up Disneyland to spend a fun time together during the holiday season.

In a video obtained by TMZ, the SKIMS founder and the 9-year-old seemingly had a blast at Disney California Adventure Park. They were also seen going on some rides, including Silly Symphony Swings, at the happiest place on Earth.

Joined by his friends, Saint, who donned a pair of shoes from his dad's brand Yeezy, managed to keep them on despite the crazy movement. On the other hand, Kim, who looked casual in a baggy all-black outfit, was busy documenting the fun family moment with her phone.

It was also said that the group turned around and got out of line for the roller coaster after about queueing for 10 minutes. It's unclear if it was because the ride shut down, someone among them wasn't tall enough for that, or one of them simply changed their mind.

The Disneyland outing came a few weeks after Kim's ex-husband Kanye West took their eldest daughter North West to everyone's favorite holiday destination. The pair enjoyed some bonding time alongside the rapper's wife Bianca Censori.

For the outing, the 46-year-old rapper went with his go-to style in an all-black outfit, including black pants, a long-sleeved top and a partial head covering. As for Bianca, the Yeezy architectural designer returned to her signature fashion choice, a white spaghetti-strap bodysuit. The 28-year-old paired the look with yellow boots and an oversized black tote.

Meanwhile, North opted for a casual look in an oversized black graphic T-shirt and pants. The 10-year-old was pictured being all smiles during the getaway at the Mouse House. The young girl showed her bond with her stepmom as they enjoyed their churros and also held hands while walking.

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In a new interview, the former 'High School Musical' actor explains how he usually lets 'the character drift out' of him after he completes filming an onscreen role.

Dec 28, 2023

AceShowbiz - Zac Efron likes to "disconnect" in nature when he's finished a project. The 36-year-old actor is able to find his "true self" again in the great outdoors and needs to do that to decompress after he's completed work on a role before he can reconnect with his loved ones.

"When filming is done I need to disconnect. Be out in nature and let the character drift out of me and I then find my true self again. The best place for me to do that if not in nature is to be somewhere new. I think you need to re-engage with who you are before you head back and try to be with your friends and family," he told The Rake magazine.

"The Iron Claw" actor loves getting to travel and immersing himself in a new culture, which he sees as a great antidote to how "small" life in Los Angeles can be.

He said, "One of the biggest blessings of my journey is that I've been able to travel from a young age. At the beginning it was really just for press, being called across to Japan for 'Hairspray' and I got to see Japanese culture and I was really taken with that."

"That curiosity in me kept growing and usually if I am not working then I will be on a trip finding something new. A new part of the world, trying the food, meeting the people, finding out as much about their culture as possible."

"It is a great way to live, and it opens your eyes to something much bigger than Hollywood, it can all feel very small if you're stuck in LA and I was stuck there for quite a few years."

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In a new magazine interview, the 'Glass Onion: A Knives Out Mystery' actress gets candid as to why she doesn't really find 'the idea of fashion week' enjoyable.

Dec 29, 2023

AceShowbiz - Madelyn Cline thinks fashion shows are "not always as glamorous" as they appear. The "Glass Onion: A Knives Out Mystery" star - who has amassed a strong following on social media for her Hollywood life with 6.7 million TikTok followers and 16.7 million on Instagram - confessed catwalks have been romanticised and they aren't always as fun as they seem.

"The idea of fashion week is always so romantic until you put your body through it and then you get there and you realise, 'Oh, I'm not doing well.' It's not always as glamorous as it seems," The 26-year actress-and-model said while in conversation with TikTok star Nailea Devora for Interview magazine.

The 21-year-old influencer responded, "Exactly. It's very glamorous, and then you show up and you're like, 'My body is deteriorating.' I'm pretty sure that because of the junk food that I eat in the States - I'm a Hot Cheeto girl, I love a McDonald's breakfast hash brown - when I went to Paris, the food that I was eating over there, very healthy, fruits, that was the reason why before the show, I was yakking."

"TMI, but I was literally head in the toilet, Madelyn. It was bad. I was like, 'I don't know if I'm going to be able to make the show.' And my manager was like, 'Girl, they flew you out. You're making the show.' And I'm like, 'You're right. I'm there.' "

Madelyn added, "The good thing about those situations is that the shows are usually about 30 minutes long. Universally, I feel like everybody pulls it together for 30 minutes and then runs back to their hotel and then has to rot for a good few hours until the after parties."

The "Outer Banks" star also admitted that although she loves to go incognito for a while, she also loves being in the spotlight. Madelyn said, "I do love to disappear, but at the same time, I love to, in some ways, put myself out there. So it's a funny balance."

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Ananya Panday has captured hearts of audiences and critics with her latest release, Kho Gaye Hum Kahaan. The film has showed Ananyas unparalleled talent, earning her widespread acclaim for delivering the performance of her career.

The films success is not only attributed to its compelling storyline but also to Ananyas remarkable ability to bring her character to life. Fans and industry insiders have showered her with praises! She not only fits the role but makes it an unforgettable experience!

Another user expressed, tbh her best performance!! this shows the potential ananya has & can literally turn the tables , lots of love @ananyapandayy

tbh her best performance!! this shows the potential ananya has & can literally turn the tables , lots of love @ananyapandayy ?? https://t.co/1FCjoAI3gv  ? (@softiealiaa) December 26, 2023

A post read, Ananya Panday has established herself as a legit actor with Kho Gaye Hum Kahan.

Ananya Panday has established herself as a legit actor with Kho Gaye Hum Kahan.

Siddhant Chaturvedi is good but falls short in highly emotional scenes.

Adarsh Gourav and the entire caste also gave an on point performance.

Movie overall is very good, it's Zoya Akhtar after all!  Dev Sharma (@Devs3) December 27, 2023

A tweet read, Kho gaye hum kahan is pretty damn good!!?? I'm literally so shocked??? And Ananya Panday is pretty good too!

Kho gaye hum kahan is pretty damn good!!?? I'm literally so shocked??? And Ananya Panday is pretty good too!!? I wasn't expecting this at all  anusha (@dkmaybeidk) December 26, 2023

The film is a testament to Ananyas ability to connect with the audience on an emotional level, making her a standout actor in the industry!
As the curtains fall on a remarkable year of impactful launches, COLORS is all set to kick off the new year with another exciting love saga, 'Mera Balam Thanedaar. With a rich history of celebrating love with extraordinary narratives that bring societal change, stir emotions, and immortalize onscreen romantic pairs, COLORS continues its tradition of offering diverse content with this one-of-a-kind love story of two individuals, with opposite ideologies. The show stars Shagun Pandey and Shruti Choudhary as Veer Pratap Singh and Bulbul Rajawat respectively and traces the love story of a couple whose marriage is based on a lie that threatens to crumble the foundation of their relationship. Produced by Shashi Sumeet Productions, Mera Balam Thanedaar premieres on 3rd of January and airs every Monday to Friday at 9:30 pm only on COLORS.Top of Form

Set in picturesque locations of Rajasthan, 'Mera Balam Thanedaar' unfolds the journey of Bulbul and Veer who are as disparate as day and night but have intertwined destinies. Bulbul is a lively young girl who follows what her mother tells her to do. She is underage but unaware of this fact completely. On the other hand, Veer, an honest IPS Officer, firmly opposes deceit in any form. Bulbul doesnt know that her parents have concealed her true age. Meanwhile, Veer, a crusader against underage marriages, unknowingly marries Bulbul, not knowing that she is a minor. Will love blossom in this loveless marriage against the backdrop of deception and destiny?

Producer Shashi Mittal express, We take immense pride in crafting impactful stories that resonate with a mass audience, reaching even the hinterlands of India. Our new show, 'Mera Balam Thanedaar,' unfolds a distinctive love story between Veer and Bulbul, set against the vibrant backdrop of Rajasthan. Shot in real locations like Mandawa, Pushkar, and Kishangarh, the show captures the local essence of these beautiful places, aiming to authentically bring the look and feel of real Rajasthan to the audience. Producer Sumeet Mittal further adds, The collaboration between our production house and COLORS has consistently produced incredible shows, and this show stands out among our previous ventures as it addresses the issue of underage marriage wherein Veer and Bulbul find themselves entangled in a marriage scam. We are confident that viewers will appreciate the refreshing storyline and on-screen chemistry between Shagun and Shruti.

Sharing his thoughts on essaying the role of Veer Pratap Singh, Shagun Pandey says, "I am thrilled to step into the shoes of an honest IPS officer who stands firm against deceit. This role is exactly what I've been eagerly waiting for, and I am delighted to introduce Veer Pratap Singh to the audience - a man of principles. He is known for his opposition to underage marriages, but under tricky circumstances marries Bulbul without knowing that she is a minor. Having previously collaborated with COLORS, it's a pleasure to work with the brand again and I am hopeful that viewers will shower their love on my pairing with Shruti."

Set to be seen embodying the role of Bulbul, Shruti Choudhary says, In my acting journey, I've enjoyed playing different roles and Ive waited for a long time to spearhead a show. Im excited that my dream came true, and I landed an opportunity to work with COLORS for this exciting show. This role is special because I get to embody a teenager who is thrust into the complexities of adulthood and marriage based on a lie. My focus would be to bring out her nuances of innocence, vulnerability, and courage with a sincere effort to create a portrayal that instantly forges a connection between the viewers and Bulbul's character.

Will Veer and Bulbul restore the foundation of their marriage? Find out as Mera Balam Thanedaar premieres on the 3rd of January, airing every Monday to Friday at 9:30 pm only on COLORS.
Bob Egelko has been a reporter since June 1970. He spent 30 years with the Associated Press, covering news, politics and occasionally sports in Los Angeles, San Diego and Sacramento, and legal affairs in San Francisco from 1984 onward. He worked for the San Francisco Examiner for five months in 2000, then joined The Chronicle in November 2000.

His beat includes state and federal courts in California, the Supreme Court and the State Bar. He has a law degree from McGeorge School of Law in Sacramento and is a member of the bar. Coverage has included the passage of Proposition 13 in 1978, the appointment of Rose Bird to the state Supreme Court and her removal by the voters, the death penalty in California and the battles over gay rights and same-sex marriage.

He can be reached at begelko@sfchronicle.com.
Its time to review the most significant industry developments as the year 2023 draws to a close. Adgully is reviewing the year 2023 for M&E, Advertising, Digital, Marketing, PR, and communications, along with leading names in the industry as part of its annual Rewind series.

Recapping the year 2023, Nisha Narayanan, COO & Director, Red FM & Magic FM, speaks at length about the dynamic changes seen in the Media, Marketing and Advertising ecosystem in India in 2023; radio industry trends this year; launching first ever on-air Quiz India Movement; expectations from 2024, and much more

Media, Marketing and Advertising ecosystem in India in 2023

Nisha Narayanan noted that the year 2023 witnessed dynamic changes in Indias Media, Marketing, and Advertising ecosystem. Digital media continued to surge, prompting a revaluation of strategies amidst a noticeable fatigue from constant exposure of digital platforms, she added.

This shift led to a renewed interest in traditional media, as consumers sought a more balanced experience. The industry responded by embracing a dual approach, integrating digital innovation with the enduring appeal of traditional mediums.

Narayanan further said, Being a key player in the Radio landscape, we at Red FM embraced this changing dynamic by offering diverse and refreshing content, becoming a focal point for brands and advertisers. Experiential marketing and events played an essential role in our marketing strategy, encouraging meaningful touch-points with the audience. Overall, 2023 showcased the spirit and adaptability of the industry, emphasising the importance of a balanced and integrated media strategy.

Key trends and developments in 2023

According to Narayanan, one development that marked the year was TRAIs recent mid-year recommendations for the private radio sector signifying a significant shift, proposing crucial changes to foster industry growth and competition. Notably, these recommendations are a supporter for the elimination of an annual license fee clause, empowering private FM radio players to venture into news and current affairs programming, and mandating the inclusion of FM radio in mobile handsets.

She added, Once these are implemented, the industry will streamline market entry, intensify competition, and diversify content offerings. New players entering the industry may find it easier to establish themselves, consequently expanding the reach of radio platforms. This would result in a wave of innovation, encouraging the introduction of non-music stations and a broader spectrum of advertisers.

Red FMs performance in 2023

Narayanan informed that In 2023, Red FM remained committed to innovation, redefining our approach across on-air, digital, and experiential realms. The shift in media consumption had rapidly moved away from traditional methods to digital platforms. However, a noticeable fatigue had set in among people due to the constant use of social and digital media. This, in return, led audiences to get back to the comfort of reliable traditional mediums, offering respite from the overwhelming nature of digital options.

Red FM anticipated the need to provide refreshing content for its listeners, through multiple mediums, that led to the launch of Quiz India Movement, the first-ever live on-air quiz, which became a highlight this year for us. On a parallel note, we punctuated the year with an array of experiential festivals that transcend conventional music events, she added. From Swag Fest, a Punjabi-Pop Music Festival, to South Side Story, an Ultimate South Indian Experience Festival, to Season 4 of The Kavi Collective, a celebration of poetry in diverse forms, Red FM has consistently demonstrated a commitment to diversity and inclusivity. Initiatives, such as Meme Machao, Teen Rang Tawang, and Guts and Glory Salute 71, reflect a multifaceted approach to engage audiences and celebrate cultural richness.

She further said that Red FM has evolved itself into a holistic entertainer brand, with verticals on-air, on digital, and on-ground. We have been working extensively towards curating experiences that unite diverse communities that align with our motto of uplifting regional content too. Overall, staying ahead in the ever-evolving groove of the industry has been the standard for setting our brand apart, she added.

Narayanan concluded by saying, In the competitive media landscape, we take pride in connecting our clients with the appropriate audience, delivering a high share of voice. The renewed confidence in radio positions Red FM as not just broadcasters, but content creators and enablers of unique consumer experiences.
The year 2023 saw several important developments, realignments, rejigging of roles & responsibilities, and movements in the Indian advertising industry. Adgully takes a look back at the key developments and trends seen in the Indian advertising industry during the year.

Reorganisation at Dentsu

Dentsu India made several key level appointments during the year, even as there were some top level exits. In January, Sapna Arora was appointed as Chief Client Officer. February saw two senior level exits  Anu Gulati and Ajay Gahlaut. March saw Harsha Razdan come on board as CEO, South Asia, Dentsu. Also in March, Anita Kotwani was elevated to CEO - Media, South Asia, dentsu. In her expanded role Kotwani leads all Dentsus Media businesses across South Asia, including Carat, iProspect, dentsu X, Posterscope, and media investment arm Amplifi. This was followed by Ashish Khannas appointment as Global CEO, Dentsu Global Services.

In June, following an extensive tenure of approximately six years with Dentsu X, CEO Roopam Garg decided to leave the organisation. This was followed by Aalap Desais exit as Chief Creative Officer (CCO) of Dentsu Creative West and Dentsu Creative Experience in India in July. July also saw two key appointments  Surjo Dutt replaced Desai as CCO (Chief Creative Officer) for the West & South regions; while Jose Leon was appointed as Chief Executive Officer of Dentsu X.

August saw the appointments of Manzoor Alam as Executive Creative Director of Dentsu Creative India, and Aneesh Jaisinghani as Senior Group Executive Creative Director of Dentsu Creative India.

Bye-bye JWT

In October, WPP announced a major evolution in its offering to clients with the merger of Wunderman Thompson (previously known as JWT and J Walter Thompson) and VMLY&R, with the combined entity christened as VML. VML will be operational from 1 January 2024.

Walter Thompson (JWT) merged with digital agency Wunderman in 2018 to form Wunderman Thompson. JWT has had a long history in India of over 90 years and was earlier known as HTA (Hindustan Thompson Associates) before the merger. While JWT started its India operations in 1929, the agency was launched globally in 1864.

The October 2023 merger effectively ended three of WPPs most successful brands  J. Walter Thompson, Young & Rubicam, and Wunderman  as they have been absorbed by VML.

Piyush Pandey takes on an advisors role

In September, Ogilvy India announced an important leadership transition that will take effect from January 1, 2024  Piyush Pandey, currently Chairman Global Creative & Executive Chairman of Ogilvy India, will step down from this role and don the hat of Chief Advisor, working closely with the leadership team. A veteran of the Indian advertising industry and an integral part of Ogilvy for over four decades Pandey has built up a formidable legacy over the years that is hard to match.

Hephzibah Pathak is taking on the role of Executive Chairperson of Ogilvy India. She will be Ogilvy Indias first ever woman in this role. VR Rajesh, another stalwart of the agency, has been elevated as Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the agency.

Also read:

Being Piyush Pandey - The ad man, his creative thinking and his formidable legacy

Ive never planned my career, but have taken every day as a game: Piyush Pandey

AdAsia 2023 Seoul

Advertising doyen Ramesh Narayan was presented with the AFAA Honorary Life Member Award at the AdAsia Congress, held at Seoul Korea in October. With this, Narayan becomes the only person to be presented all the three prestigious awards that AFAA presents every alternate year at the AdAsia.

Sam Balsara, head of Madison World was Leader of the Indian Delegation to the AdAsia 2023 at Seoul.

EssenceMediacom launches

It was in April 2022 that GroupM united Essence and Mediacom to form Essencemediacom, which combines Essences digital and data-driven DNA with MediaComs scaled multichannel audience planning and strategic media skills. The developments, which follow the April 2021 launch of WPPs global data and technology business Choreograph, combines Essence with MediaCom and Mindshare with Neo to construct a new 9,000-strong cross-channel performance platform based on AI technology.

EssenceMediacom formally launched in February 2023. Led by Global CEO Nick Lawson, EssenceMediacom comprises of 10,000 people across 120 offices globally. In India, EssenceMediacom has announced the leadership elevation of Navin Khemka as CEO, South Asia, and Sonali Malaviya as Chief Strategy and Transformation Officer, South Asia.
As the year draws to a close, its time to take stock of the important trends and developments that dominated the industry, with long term ramifications. 2023 was a year when Artificial Intelligence disrupted every industry; Public Relations and Corporate Communications, too, did not remain immune to AIs wide-ranging impact. However, AI was not the only gamechanging development. Adgully spoke to a cross-section of PR and Corporate Communications leaders to do an exhaustive recap of this industry, as well as understand some of the trends that will dominate this industry in 2024.

PR & Corp Comm Industrys performance in 2023

Tarunjeet Rattan, Managing Partner, Nucleus PR, noted, Empirical data suggests that most firms have done 5X the business they did during the pandemic. At the start of the year, there was an attempt by the brand world to push for a pre-pandemic course correction, while the PR industry pushed back to break away and evolve from that set perception. This has led to an interesting amalgamation of services now being offered by PR agencies and probably a new definition of the profession.

The PR industry also saw an increased curiosity about the profession judging by the RFPs requested on a weekly basis. This also called for a larger mandate for the entire PR industry to educate and upskill the brands they worked with on how PR is evolving and changing this year.

According to Rattan, talent in the PR industry has also gone through a change at all levels. While the new JD for a new joinee in PR is still up for discussion, the middle management and leadership teams have had to upskill quickly to ride the tide, assimilate information on the go and churn out strategies that make sense in the new world, she added.

Growing demand for purpose-driven communication

In 2023, the PR industry witnessed a dynamic landscape characterised by evolving media consumption patterns and an increased demand for purpose-driven communication, observed Aman Gupta, Managing Partner, SPAG FINN Partners. He added, At SPAG FINN Partners, we navigated these shifts successfully by staying agile, embracing technology, and prioritising authentic storytelling. The industrys resilience and adaptability were evident, and we foresee continued growth as we leverage these lessons to shape our strategies in the years to come.

Emerging trends and innovative strategies

PR industry leaders unanimously agree that technology will emerge as an important enabler for the function as they leverage technology to enhance efficiency, track real-time and understand trends. Also, social media channels of the brand and its leadership will emerge as powerful mediums to communicate the narrative.

Akanksha Jain, Head - Public Relations and Corporate Communications, BharatPe, pointed out, Focus will be a lot more on purpose-driven communication, as consumers today are more keen to be associated with brands that have a clear impact narrative. In turn, the ESG roadmap will have to be clearly carved out for organisations.

Also, the Communications role will focus a lot more on larger reputation building and safeguarding, by leveraging earned, paid, social and owned media. It is the owned media channels that will be the next game-changer for the companies, driven by a well thought-through content strategy- that caters to a diverse set of stakeholders. Additionally, Key Opinion Leaders will continue to play an important role in driving brand narratives.

Jasrita Dhir, Director - Marketing and Communications, Karkinos Healthcare, highlighted some emerging trends:

Integrated Communications Approach: The line between traditional PR, new-age PR, digital PR has all but blurred. 2024 will see Comms professionals demand and PR agencies present integrated communication solutions incorporating external and internal comms, social media influencers, digital creatives, et al.

The line between traditional PR, new-age PR, digital PR has all but blurred. 2024 will see Comms professionals demand and PR agencies present integrated communication solutions incorporating external and internal comms, social media influencers, digital creatives, et al. Rise and rise of Podcasts: The medium that is expected to leapfrog further in 2024 is podcast, in both the audio and video formats.

The medium that is expected to leapfrog further in 2024 is podcast, in both the audio and video formats. Emerging need for climate communications.

Evolving need for ESG and sustainability Comms.

SPAG FINN Partners Aman Gupta said, In 2024, we anticipate several key trends shaping the PR industry. The increasing prominence of immersive technologies (Augmented reality (AR) and virtual reality (VR)) along with data driven audience insights, is transforming the way we engage audiences. These technologies offer new and creative avenues for storytelling and brand experiences. Additionally, the integration of artificial intelligence (AI) and data analytics is becoming a cornerstone of PR strategies, enabling more personalized and targeted campaigns.

AI to continue to transform PR even more

Mahima Misra, Head of PR & Corp Comm, Good Glamm Group, noted that AI will continue to transform PR even more. The potential of AI to improve content ranking through SEO optimisation and enhanced audience personalisation will boost PR efforts in 2024. It will also help in media tracking and calculating audience response more efficiently. AI can write about practically anything, including press releases. This may help reduce PR content creation costs while increasing scalability, Misra added.

Along with AI, Video and Podcast Content will also gain prominence. With the rise in demand for video and audio content, it is no surprise that this is an integral part of the future of PR and still on the list of PR trends. Podcasts (both audio and video podcasts) are in high demand. Videos are effective for telling a highly visual story, too. From regular to luxury PR campaigns, high-quality videos present the perfect medium to showcase your newest products, services, and even brand events. Not only that, but videos will also help you relay your side of the story during a crisis. Whether short or long, the fact remains that video marketing is here for the long haul, she added.

Social Media for Online Reputation Management, Contact Building

Social media is the heavyweight champion in PR and will remain so in 2024. Unlike traditional PR methods, social media enables two-way communication between brands and their customers, the media, and other stakeholders. Brand image and reputation enhancement through social media are also likely to continue. Social media will continue to play a role in helping brands manage a PR crisis and neutralise negative publicity.

Misra also considers LinkedIn as an important PR platform to establish brand/ company image and make impact and establish founders and professionals as thought leaders in their field.

Jyotsna Dash Nanda, AVP - Corporate Communications, Dharampal Satyapal Group (DS Group), added here, In the ever-evolving landscape of business, the integration of artificial intelligence (AI) and technology is universally recognised as a crucial skill for success, transcending the boundaries of company size. As businesses set their sights on 2024, a pervasive commitment to leveraging AI for content creation and writing assistance takes center stage, underscoring the transformative role of technology in shaping communication strategies.

Furthermore, the strategic use of various platforms and channels emerges as a cornerstone for achieving organisational goals, reflecting a forward-looking approach to digital engagement. Anticipating the importance of staying attuned to public sentiment and changing consumer needs, businesses are planning to harness the power of media monitoring tools and content calendars in 2024, aligning their efforts with the dynamic nature of the information ecosystem.

Madhukar Kumar, Founder & Chief Strategist, Grey Cell PR stated, "It's an exciting time in PR! We're seeing a surge in creative storytelling and digital engagement. At Grey Cell PR, it's like we're digital detectives, always on the lookout for the next big thing. We're embracing tools that help us understand our audience better and tailoring our strategies to be as unique as the clients we represent."
Troo Good, India's foremost millet snack enterprise, proudly announces the selection of Wunderman Thompson as its advertising agency, solidifying a multi-year, multi-crore collaboration. This transformative partnership positions Wunderman Thompson to spearhead comprehensive advertising campaigns and promotional initiatives for Troo Good, strategically conveying the brand's ethos to its target audience while fortifying and perpetuating the brand's market standing.

Under the terms of this pivotal mandate, Wunderman Thompson assumes responsibility for crafting compelling advertising and digital communications strategies for Troo Good across various social media platforms too. The agency's integral role encompasses the development of communication and creative frameworks, ensuring the brand's messaging is articulate and resonant with consumers. Wunderman Thompson is set to orchestrate Troo Good's inaugural mass media campaign, spotlighting the brand's distinctive attributes, centered on taste, nutrition, and affordability.

In the meticulous selection process for its advertising partner, Troo Good invited agencies nationwide to vie for the mandate. Following a rigorous shortlisting process, Wunderman Thompson emerged triumphant among 43 participating agencies, excelling in criteria such as national presence, business acumen, experience in managing comparably scaled high-growth enterprises, and a demonstrated prowess in creative communication strategies.

Troo Good, a trailblazer in the millet snacking industry, has significantly expanded its footprint from 15,000 to 30,000 outlets within the past six months. Presently operating six state-of-the-art factories, the brand's reach extends across Telangana, Andhra Pradesh, Chhattisgarh, Odisha, Karnataka, Uttar Pradesh, and Jharkhand. Notably, Troo Good has achieved a commendable revenue of 53 crores for the fiscal year 2022-23, projecting an ambitious revenue target of 100 crores for the fiscal year 2023-24. This strategic collaboration with Wunderman Thompson underscores Troo Good's commitment to elevating its brand presence and market share in the evolving landscape of millet-based snacks.

Speaking on the announcement, Raju Bhupathi, Founder and CEO, Troo Good, said, Troo Good has seen exponential growth since inception. We are making heavy investments in brand building and retail to further expand on that momentum and are exploring the utilization of all possible channels to highlight the benefits of millet-based snacks to consumers and make them aware of our affordable and healthy offerings. As a means of achieving this, we have assigned our advertising mandate to one of the top agencies in the country, Wunderman Thompson, after a detailed shortlisting process. We see a strategic fit and a professional alignment in this association that will help us accomplish our marketing goals."

Commenting on winning Troo Good's advertising mandate, Vijay Jacob Parakkal, Managing Partner at Wunderman Thompson, said, We are delighted to partner with the new exciting millet brand Troo Good. Our strategy weaves affordability and nutritional excellence into Troo Good's brand story. By amplifying the brand's unique selling proposition, we are poised to deliver a compelling narrative that not only captures attention but also reinforces Troo Good's market distinction.

Headquartered in New York, Wunderman Thompson was founded in 2018, after Wunderman was merged with J. Walter Thompson Co., and is an industry leader with a rich legacy of expertise in advertising, branding, digital marketing, and data analytics.
The battle against ad fraud has become increasingly critical as we approach 2024. Advertisers, publishers, and technology experts find themselves at the vanguard of a dynamic struggle to maintain the integrity of the digital advertising ecosystem. As the threat of ad fraud continues to grow, so too does the urgency for innovative technologies and collaborative strategies to thwart malicious actors.

Part 2 of this two-part report delves into the cutting-edge technologies and collaborative approaches that industry stakeholders are deploying to combat ad fraud. From monitoring invalid clicks to harnessing the power of geolocation tracking, the narrative unfolds the emerging solutions that promise to reshape the landscape of digital advertising in the coming year.

Collaboration is arguably one of the most beneficial things companies can do to help combat the growing threat of ad fraud, opines Nick Frizzell, VP, Marketplace Quality, Magnite. He says that threat-sharing minimises financial gains for bad actors and lessens their intended impact.

Greater collaboration also helps instill more trust within the programmatic landscape as ad quality issues that impact users can be defeated sooner with more knowledge and awareness. A mix of technology (verification) and human review/oversight is always recommended to minimize risk as much as possible. Technology only goes so far; and human review is critical in understanding that if something looks too good to be true, it probably is, adds Frizzell.

According to Andreas Naumann, Anti-Fraud Evangelist at AppsFlyer, the geographical regions have no bearing on the tactics employed by fraudsters; they target unsecured budgets using their specific methods. Naumann suggests that marketers must either be well-versed in the subject or have access to knowledgeable resources to effectively utilize available tools.

There is no one-size-fits-all solution; it always depends on the context. An often-overlooked resource for many marketers is tapping into their in-house expertise from other departments, such as brand advertising or monetization teams. These teams possess profound insights into advertising performance and can assist in scrutinizing whether eCPMs and conversion rates align sensibly with other marketing metrics or their internal monetization benchmarks, he explains.

Tej Naidu Kota, Business Head, PAD, lists the following pivotal technologies and collaboration to prevent ad fraud:

Blockchain - Securely track ad impressions and clicks, enhancing transparency and accountability. Machine Learning - Develop sophisticated algorithms to detect and predict emerging fraud tactics. Collaborative information sharing - Create industry-wide databases to share intelligence on known fraudsters and tactics. Regulation and standards - Implement stricter regulations and standardized reporting frameworks.

According to Kota, industry stakeholders can build a more resilient ad ecosystem by:

Standardizing practices - Establishing common definitions, metrics, and best practices for detecting and preventing fraud across all platforms. Sharing threat intelligence - Collaborating to create a central pool of information on emerging fraud tactics and sharing real-time data on suspicious activity. Investing in technology - Developing and adopting advanced AI-powered detection tools and blockchain-based solutions for increased transparency and accountability. Promoting transparency - Encouraging open communication about ad fraud challenges and successes, fostering greater trust and awareness within the industry. Holding each other accountable - Implementing robust enforcement mechanisms and penalties for non-compliance with anti-fraud standards and regulations.

Emerging solutions

In digital advertising, the perpetual evolution of technology is both a boon and a challenge. As we stand on the cusp of a new era in 2024, the battle against ad fraud takes center stage, prompting marketers to explore innovative solutions that promise to reshape the landscape of digital security. When it comes to ad fraud prevention, marketers need to rely on emerging solutions such as monitoring invalid clicks and harnessing the power of geolocation tracking.

Emerging solutions like monitoring invalid clicks and geolocation tracking offer proactive measures, says Sharath Madhavan, Lead - Performance Marketing, TheSmallBigIdea. According to him, marketers can leverage these tools by integrating them into their ad platforms, setting up real-time alerts, and fostering industry collaboration to share threat intelligence. Challenges may arise in navigating diverse regulatory landscapes and adapting strategies to regional nuances.

Invalid clicks involve clicking on ads that arent a result of genuine user interest, including intentionally fraudulent traffic and accidental or duplicate clicks. In contrast, standard-quality clicks are most likely from potential customers. To get the most from your ad campaign, you want to ensure you get as many standard-quality clicks as possible. By monitoring for invalid traffic, a users geolocation is the position of a users device, whether it is a home, computer, laptop, or smartphone. Geolocation accuracy plays an important role in combating ad fraud since it prevents fake locations and spoofing by verifying users' actual locations. Advertisers pay a premium for their ad to be served in a particular region, but fraudsters will send false location information so the ad can be served elsewhere. For example, users might surf the web on their mobile device in New Delhi and see ads for last-minute tours of Kashmir, at the other end of the country, says Laura Quigley, SVP, APAC, Integral Ad Science.

According to her, ad fraud can be challenging to identify as it comes in many shapes and impacts each market differently. She adds that the fraud landscape is ever-changing, and every traffic source requires continuous re-evaluation. Since a brand can have more than one digital campaign, running on multiple devices and platforms, it poses an added challenge for verification measurement. By working with measurement and ad verification firms, brands and advertisers can access a new level of transparency, which validates that the ad impressions are fraud-free, reaching real people, and brand safe. To proactively prevent ad fraud, advertisers can take the following steps:

Use verification and fraud solutions that can confirm ads were delivered to the desired place. Make sure you are always using blocking technologies instead of monitoring

Use fraud solutions that have been accredited for both General and Sophisticated IVT

Ensure the agency has agreed to contractual terms with Publishers on make goods for IVT

Use pre-bid filtering to avoid fraud in programmatic buys

Focus less on low CPMs and more on KPIs tailored to campaign goals

Look to use exclusion lists for fraud, managed by the agency

Emerging solutions like monitoring invalid clicks and geolocation tracking are pivotal in combating ad fraud, says Rakesh Mittapelly, Media Head, BCWeb Wise. According to him, the emerging solutions are:

Invalid click monitoring: ClickCease, ClickGUARD, Improvely & AdTectorm Tools capable of detecting and filtering out invalid clicks, such as click farms or bot-generated clicks, ensuring ad engagement is genuine. Geolocation tracking: Utilizing geolocation data to verify the legitimacy of user locations, ensuring ads are reaching the intended audiences in specific regions.

Leveraging tools and collaborative approaches:

Real-time analytics: Marketers can employ real-time analytics to monitor click patterns and behaviours, swiftly identifying anomalies indicative of fraudulent activities. Fraud detection platforms: Leveraging fraud detection platforms using AI and machine learning can automate the identification and prevention of fraudulent activities. Collaborative data sharing: Collaboration among advertisers, platforms, and industry bodies for sharing insights and data on fraudulent activities, enhancing the collective ability to identify and prevent fraud.

According to Tej Naidu Kota, the emerging solutions are:

Monitoring invalid clicks - Real-time detection of fake clicks based on user behaviour and geolocation data. Geolocation tracking - Identify and block traffic from known bot-hosting regions. Collaborative approaches - Marketers can share data and insights to collectively identify and target fraudsters.

The Challenges:

Data privacy compliance - Balancing fraud detection with data privacy regulations. Standardization across regions - Implementing consistent solutions across diverse advertising ecosystems. Resource limitations - Smaller businesses may lack the resources to invest in advanced solutions.

Standardised industry certifications

What is the importance of standardised industry certifications, and what role can data analytics play in ensuring the effectiveness of such certifications in mitigating ad fraud?

The problem in India is that there is no regulatory framework as such unlike The Online Safety Act in the UK. For starters, points out Laura Quigley, the lack of a regulatory body governing ad fraud in India makes it easier for fraudsters to operate without being detected.

Also, ad fraud mitigation strategies vary from advertiser to advertiser and across platforms. Since different vendors specialise in various aspects of adtech, such as ad serving, targeting, analytics, and fraud detection, brands and advertisers must work with multiple third-party vendors to access specialised features. Introducing standardised industry certifications will reduce the need for brands and advertisers to work with multiple third-party vendors. As content consumption grows, marketers need to know what is working and what isnt  the solution is not more data but more actionable data. When data is comprehensive, enriched, and in real-time, it will help marketers take control of their digital campaigns to drive superior results. With the help of actionable data, marketers can safeguard their brands, boost Return on Ad Spends (ROAS), and improve efficiency, says Quigley.

Certifications typically establish a groundwork for trust and best practices within the advertising industry, says Andreas Naumann. According to him, the effectiveness of these certifications is heightened by the application of data analytics, facilitating real-time monitoring, pattern recognition, performance evaluation, and adaptability to evolving fraud tactics.

Ideally, this combination contributes to a more sturdy and adaptable framework for combating ad fraud. However, the current reality diverges significantly: certifications in the present landscape are often ineffective, and even if a reputable one were to be introduced, it would likely be swiftly exploited. The challenges arise from the constantly evolving nature of ad fraud, the absence of universally embraced standards, insufficient enforcement, resource constraints, and the enduring financial incentives for fraudsters. Addressing these challenges requires a concerted and collaborative effort from the advertising industry, regulatory bodies, and technology providers to create a more resilient and effective framework for combating ad fraud, he concludes.

Sharath Madhavan points out that standardised industry certifications play a vital role in establishing trust and consistency. Data analytics can enhance the effectiveness of certifications by providing real-time monitoring, identifying irregular patterns, and improving overall fraud detection. The collaboration between industry stakeholders and data-driven insights is key to ensuring the credibility of certifications in mitigating ad fraud.

According to Tej Naidu Kota, the importance of standardised certifications is:

Ensuring trust and transparency - Certifications demonstrate adherence to industry best practices. Facilitating collaboration - Enables businesses to recognize and trust certified partners. Data analytics role - Analyzing certification data can identify gaps and areas for improvement.

Role of data analytics:

Identifying fraudulent patterns - By analyzing vast datasets of ad impressions, clicks, and conversions, data analytics can identify anomalies and patterns indicative of fraudulent activity. This allows for the development of more targeted and efficient detection methods. Evaluating certification effectiveness - Data analytics helps track the performance of certified providers and platforms, highlighting weaknesses and areas for improvement in the certification process. This feedback loop enables continuous improvement and adaptation to evolving fraud tactics. Monitoring compliance - Data analysis can monitor certified entities' adherence to standards and regulations, ensuring they maintain their commitment to mitigating fraud. This fosters trust and transparency within the industry. Predicting and preventing future fraud - By analyzing historical data and emerging trends, data analytics can predict and prevent future outbreaks of ad fraud. This proactive approach significantly reduces the financial and reputational damage caused by fraudulent activity.

Standardised industry certifications hold immense importance in the realm of ad fraud mitigation, says Rakesh Mittapelly. According to him, certifications will help in:

Establishing trust: Certifications set a benchmark for industry best practices, fostering trust among advertisers, platforms, and consumers. Uniform guidelines: They provide uniform guidelines and standards, ensuring a consistent approach to fraud prevention across the industry. Validation of competence: Certifications validate the competence of individuals or organizations in implementing effective fraud prevention measures. Risk mitigation: They contribute to reducing the risk of fraudulent activities by promoting adherence to recognized and proven methodologies.

Role of data analytics in certification effectiveness:

Validation and verification: Data analytics can be instrumental in validating the effectiveness of certified fraud prevention measures by analyzing campaign data for discrepancies or irregularities. Continuous monitoring: Analytics enable continuous monitoring of ad performance metrics, helping to detect anomalies that may signal fraudulent activities, and ensuring adherence to certification standards. Enhanced insights: Data analytics provide deeper insights into user behaviour, traffic patterns, and engagement metrics, supporting the refinement of certification criteria for better fraud prevention strategies. Improving Certification Criteria: Analysis of historical data can aid in refining certification criteria to adapt to evolving fraud tactics, ensuring certifications remain relevant and effective.

By leveraging data analytics, certification bodies can assess the efficacy of certified practices, continuously refine standards, and provide more robust guidelines for fraud prevention. This, in turn, enhances the credibility and effectiveness of standardized certifications in mitigating ad fraud across the advertising industry, Rakesh Mittapelly adds. According to Mittapelly, the certification examples as:

Trustworthy Accountability Group (TAG): TAG offers certifications like "Certified Against Fraud" for companies adhering to specific anti-fraud guidelines. Advertisers partnering with TAG-certified companies experience reduced ad fraud rates and increased trust in their ad placements.

TAG offers certifications like "Certified Against Fraud" for companies adhering to specific anti-fraud guidelines. Advertisers partnering with TAG-certified companies experience reduced ad fraud rates and increased trust in their ad placements. Interactive Advertising Bureau (IAB): IAB updates its guidelines based on data insights and emerging fraud tactics. Leveraging data analytics, IAB adapts certification criteria to better equip advertisers against newer fraudulent methods.

IAB updates its guidelines based on data insights and emerging fraud tactics. Leveraging data analytics, IAB adapts certification criteria to better equip advertisers against newer fraudulent methods. Media Rating Council (MRC):MRC sets standards for audience measurement and ad verification. Its certification ensures that companies comply with stringent guidelines for accurate and reliable measurement practices, enhancing trust and credibility in the industry.

These certifications, backed by data analytics, establish credible standards, validate best practices, and constantly evolve to combat ad fraud effectively across the advertising industry, concludes Mittapelly.
Roughly a week after Tuscaloosa police shot and killed a 24-year-old Black man in the back seat of a car pulled over for a traffic stop, his family and their attorneys are calling for accountability.

Tristian Clark, a Tuscaloosa resident, was shot and killed by a Tuscaloosa narcotics officer on Dec. 20.

Police statements so far have said that Clark had outstanding warrants and pulled out his gun after an officer told him not to. But Birmingham attorney Reginald McDaniel, who is representing Clarks family, disputed these claims, saying that two eyewitnesses told his legal team that Clark hadnt reached for a gun and his hands were raised when the officer shot him. He didnt name the eyewitnesses, but said they were both inside the car with Clark.

During a press conference near Tuscaloosa on Thursday, Alabama Rep. Juandalynn Givan, who is also an attorney representing the family, repeated the phrase, Say his name several times, as roughly a dozen of Clarks members and friends repeated back, Tristian Clark. She named Stephen Perkins in Decatur and Jawan Dallas in Mobile, in addition to George Floyd and a slew of other Black men and women across the country who have been killed by police.

Alabama State Rep. Juandalynn Givan is also an attorney representing Tristian Clark's family.AL.com

Tristian Clark was riding in a vehicle while Black, Givan said. Hands up, dont shoot. Theres no justification.

A spokesperson for the Tuscaloosa Police Department did not respond to a request for comment for this article.

Now, Clarks family and legal team are calling for accountability. McDaniel said his legal team has sent letters to city and county officials to preserve all evidence and urged transparency, and theyre calling on the Tuscaloosa Police Department to release any body camera footage as well as the names of the officers who were involved. Theyre also calling for the officers to be arrested and fired.

When the car was stopped, he was not committing any type of criminal offense, McDaniel said, denying that there were active warrants out for Clark. Somebodys not telling the truth.

Clarks mother, Jacoya Clark, said that she never imagined that she would be speaking about her son in the context of police brutality.

These are stories that I read about, I sit down and talk to my children about, she said, in between sobs. I stand here today asking everybody, stand up and help me fight for justice for my son.

On the afternoon of Dec. 20, Tuscaloosa narcotics officers stopped the vehicle that Clark was riding in on 37th Street East near the intersection of James I Harrison Jr. Parkway.

Tuscaloosa Violent Crimes Unit is leading the investigation, McDaniel said. Last week, Capt. Jack Kennedy said that one of the officers had ordered Clark to get out of the vehicle and not to touch a gun that was in his waistband. Kennedy also said that an officer got into a physical altercation with Clark, who got ahold of the gun and refused to drop it.

One officer shot Clark several times, and he was pronounced dead on the scene. Givan said that witnesses told her it was at least four gunshots.

The next day, the police department released Clarks name. With the investigation ongoing, two officers are on leave, but their names have not been released.

Tristian Clark's mother, Jacoya Clark (center), speaks about seeking justice for her son at a press conference.AL.com

Clarks mother, two sisters, girlfriend, other relatives and family friends described him as a gentle giant who was turning his life around before he died and recently committed to his faith at Greater Faith Church in Moundville, where the press conference was held.

One of his sisters, Megan Clark, said the most painful part of her brothers death was that his three young children would have to grow up without him.

Ill never get to hug him again. Ill never get to wish him another happy birthday, she said. I have so many memories of him, and Im going to make sure his kids know who he is, through me.

Jakyyah Dixon, Clarks girlfriend, recalled going to church with him every Sunday and how he would make sure to tell everyone in the house good morning when he woke up.

Clarks family is raising money through a GoFundMe page to cover the costs of his burial, a family friend said.

Editors note: This story has been updated with the correct spelling of Tristian Clarks name.
A Pensacola man was found guilty of abusing five of his seven children by beating them with belts and power cords and punching them in the face, the Florida Office of the State Attorney announced Wednesday.

Eric Shaquille Suggs, 28, last week was sentenced to a total of 23 years in state prison after being found guilty of one count of aggravated child abuse and four counts of child abuse.

The Office of the State Attorney said all five of the children had injuries from abuse, with the 13-month-old having the most extensive injuries.

According to the other children, the 13-month-old was maliciously punished by being beat with belts and charging cords to make the child walk, a release from the OSA said.

The Escambia County (Fla.) Sheriffs Office responded to the Gulf Coast Kids House in November 2022 after a report of seven children being abused, ranging in ages from 13 months to 11 years. Investigators found five of the children had signs of abuse.

Forensic interviews with four of the five children, along with information from the OSA, revealed the disturbing details:

Multiple children told investigators that Suggs would beat the 13-month old with a white phone charger cord.

The 6-year-old said Suggs whipped him with a brown belt and white phone charging cord.

The 8-year-old said Suggs had punched him in the shoulder with a ring on his hand and would also whip him with a belt and charging cords. The child also said Suggs once held him upside down by his legs and told him to stop crying. When the child didnt stop, Suggs dropped him on his head. The boy also said Suggs repeatedly hit him in the face. He also said Suggs burned him twice as punishment.

The 8-year-old also said Suggs had once told him Im gonna kill you before anyone else, according to the ECSO.

The 9-year-old told investigators she had informed other family members about the abuse. When Suggs found out, he held her by the neck against a wall and told her Dont you be telling people our business.

The 11-year-old said Suggs whipped her with a belt and once told her If our business gets out to the world, Ill kill you.

All four children stated they saw Eric whip [redacted] on the face several times with a cord, according to the ECSO arrest report. All four children stated Eric would whip each of them using a white charging cord or a brown belt, which left permanent scars on their body. Eric maliciously punished all five children by whipping them with a white phone charging cord and brown belt on multiple occasions.

Suggs was arrested on Dec. 26, 2022.
When Love Moor found out that her song, Libra Scale would air on an episode of HBOs Rap Sh!t, she cried.

Every time I get somewhere that Ive never seen before but feels monumental, I cry, said Moor, who likes to be called Love. I thanked God. I called my mom. She doesnt know what a Rap Shit is, but I cried. I was overjoyed.

Moor was born in Brooklyn, raised in Miami and came to Birmingham as a teenager. She graduated from Jackson-Olin High School and went to Lawson State Community College for a while. But she focused on working in Birminghams music circuit, performing at a lot of the underground Hip Hop open mic events.

Birmingham is where she was able to make a name for herself. I performed at Saturn, Secret Stages, Art on the Rocks, UAB, a little bit of everywhere, Moor said.

Moor also traveled to perform at places like Austins SXSW music festival.

Moor decided to move to Los Angeles in February 2023 to challenge herself artistically.

In April 2022, I was signed to a distribution label thats based in L.A. Ive thought about coming back to Birmingham a couple of times, said Moor. Los Angeles is so expensive, but my short term goal is to be here for at least two years, and long term to make my artistry sustainable here.

Moor recently released an EP called October Baby and a new song called Eat Me.

Rap Sh!t is an HBO scripted series thats executive produced by Issa Rae. The show follows two estranged high school friends, who come together to form a female rap duo and break into the music industry. The first season of the show debuted in July 2022 and was renewed for a second season a couple of months later. The show just wrapped up its second season on December 21st.
Two men have been charged in the shooting death of a man who was found gravely injured while he was seeking help in a Birmingham neighborhood five days ago.

Dustin Harry Stanfield, 43, of Hoover, and Joshua Corey Guthrie, 33, of Fairfield, are charged with capital murder and kidnapping in connection with the slaying of 43-year-old David Wayne Nicholas two days before Christmas.

Court records made public Thursday indicate a third person is sought. Crime Stoppers of Metro Alabama said Brittany Michelle Patterson, 33, of Kimberly, is also wanted on the same charges.

Charging documents stated Nicholas was killed when the suspects did knowingly attempt to abduct or injure or sexually violate the victim, as well as a female victim who survived.

East Precinct officers were dispatched just before midnight that Saturday to a report of a person shot in the 1400 block of Lake Lane N.E.

Officers arrived to find Nicholas wounded. Birmingham Fire and Rescue Service pronounced Nicholas dead on the scene at 12:53 a.m.

Police said Nicholas was assaulted at a home in that neighborhood. He was then able to leave the house and seek help from nearby residents.

Joshua Corey Guthrie(Jefferson County Jail)

Both suspects were booked into the Jefferson County Jail on Dec. 26 and remain held without bond.

It wasnt immediately clear where Stanfield was arrested.

Guthrie, however, was captured the following day by Leeds police officers at the Walmart Supercenter on Whitfield Avenue in Leeds.

Leeds Chief Paul Irwin said the homicide victims significant other was taken when Nicholas was killed. Police recovered her from Guthries vehicle when he was arrested. The victim had been stripped and beaten, and was hospitalized with a concussion, she told AL.com.

Authorities said those involved knew each other. One of the suspects is the ex-boyfriend of the woman kidnapped.
Rapper and restaurateur Chino Yang, in a self-described diss track, said Mayor London Breed aint nothing but a clown. Santiago Mejia/The Chronicle

A San Francisco rapper and restaurant owner has publicly apologized to Mayor London Breed for a song and music video he recently released slamming her over the state of crime in the city.

But Chino Yang, the rapper and restaurateur whose business was repeatedly burglarized, also stressed in a social media post on Tuesday that he was apologizing to Breed only after he received threats from an unnamed extremely powerful person who he said has the connection to presidents, senators, all the top elites.

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The Chronicle was unable to reach Yang for comment on Wednesday.

On Thursday, Rev. Amos Brown, a close ally of Breed, held an hour-and-a-half-long news conference with other local leaders to defend the mayor and push back on Yangs song while calling for unity between the Black and Asian American communities. Brown said at the news conference that Yangs comments about being threatened were not true, though Brown also did not appear to know the potential identity of the extremely powerful person referenced by Yang.



The bizarre flap comes as Breed heads into what is expected to be a tough reelection next year when crime will likely be a focus for voters, including the citys large Asian American population.

Yangs defiant apology was a response to backlash he received after putting out San Francisco Our Home, a self-described diss track in which he said Breed aint nothing but a clown who had failed to properly respond to deteriorating public safety in the city. One YouTube upload of the songs music video has received about 17,000 views since it was posted on Dec. 13. The video also gained online attention when it was written about by local, national and international news outlets.

Yang, who also goes by Andy, has been a frequent victim of property crime at two restaurants he owns in San Francisco, which he references in the introduction to the song. In July, his Chinese restaurant Kung Food near Alamo Square was broken into for the seventh time since 2020; two weeks later, his restaurant Aceking BBQ in the Richmond District was also burglarized, according to KRON4.

Everybody let me see your hands in the air/ Now throw your two middle fingers up to the mayor, Yang rapped in the song. He called San Francisco a city without law and order and said it was hard to be a man when crooked politicians wanna see me getting burned. Regarding Breed, he said that when she was really needed she aint never been around and also accused her of turning San Francisco into a zombie land.

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In addition to invoking the restaurant break-ins, Yangs song and video also made reference to a series of violent crimes against Asian Americans in the Bay Area, including the 2021 killing of 84-year old Vicha Ratanapakdee in San Francisco. Ratanapakdees killing helped set off a national movement to stop violence against Asian Americans.

Rev. Arnold Townsend of Church Without Walls speaks at a news conference at the Third Baptist Church in San Francisco, Calif., on Thursday, December 28, 2023. Community leaders gathered at the church to defend Mayor London Breed after a local restaurant owner and rapper released a diss track slamming Breed over the state of crime in the city. Lizzy Montana Myers Special to The Chronicle

In the apology video he uploaded to Instagram, Yang said he was simply a civilian, so for the sake of my family and my loved ones and my close friends, Id like to openly and publicly make an apology regarding my actions and what I say in the video. I had no idea this extremely powerful individual had so much emotional attachment to London Breed. So with that being said, I am sorry for my ignorance. I am sorry for my foolishness and impulsiveness. I should have been more informed about what she had done for our city.

Yang added that he was still standing firmly on his beliefs and opinions.

As the music video for Yangs song circulated online, it drew the attention of Brown, a longtime local civil rights leader who is the pastor of Third Baptist Church, located just two blocks down McAllister Street from Yangs Kung Food restaurant. Brown said he called Yang recently and tried to convince him that he was wrong to blame Breed for San Franciscos crime problems.

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I made very clear that he was entitled to his opinion, yes, but there is a difference between an opinion and a fact, and I shared with him gently, respectfully, that you cannot blame London Breed for all the crime in San Francisco and the Bay Area, Brown told the Chronicle in an interview Wednesday.



Brown and other community leaders echoed those comments at their Thursday news conference held at Browns church. Speakers at the news conference also issued forceful defenses of Breed in response to what they saw as a deeply disrespectful video and an insufficient apology.



Shes been my friend for a long time  I dont always agree with her, said Rev. Arnold Townsend. But theres a difference between disagreement and insult and degradation.



Townsend said if Yang truly believed he had been threatened by someone, he should report that to the police  and he criticized Yang for the way he qualified his apology.



To say I apologize because I was threatened? That is not an apology. That is not sincere. It is not real, Townsend said.

Former Mayor Willie Brown had been expected to speak at Thursdays news conference but did not attend.

In his interview with the Chronicle, Rev. Amos Brown said Yang isnt alone  brazen property crimes have become disturbingly common at and around Third Baptist as well. The church was broken into about three times in recent months, though the people responsible couldnt get to the valuable things, Brown told the Chronicle. Two catalytic converters were stolen from church vans in its parking lot this year, he said.

But Brown said he doesnt fault Breed for such incidents, calling them symptoms of a systemic problem that the mayor had been trying to solve by working with prosecutors and police. He said he wanted to work with Yang to help improve public safety in their community.

Brown said Breed was not personally involved in his outreach to Yang.

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She didnt know nothing about it. It wasnt necessary for me to talk with her, because it was not about the mayor. It was about civility, community and cooperation, Brown said.

In an emailed statement, Breed spokesperson Jeff Cretan didnt directly respond to Yangs song or videos but stressed the work he said the mayor was doing to improve public safety and help residents of Asian and Pacific Islander descent.

The Mayor is focused on keeping all of our communities safe, including the API community where she has focused on investing more law enforcement resources and support programs, Cretan said. In response to rising hate crimes in San Francisco and across the country a few years ago, Mayor Breed launched programs promoting safety that include senior escort programs and community safety patrols.

Cretan said San Francisco had seen an 80% decrease in anti-Asian hate crimes since they spiked in 2021.
The family of a man born in Alabama, and currently on trial in Russia, is still hoping he might win his freedom nearly two years after he was arrested.

David Thomas Barnes, 65, is a native of Gadsden and former resident of Huntsville who moved to the Houston, Texas area. He is currently being held inside Moscow Detention Center No. 5.

He was arrested in January 2022 after he traveled to Russia to meet with his two sons. In the past month, he has been on trial for child abuse accusations brought by his Russian ex-wife.

Barnes, on his way into court in November, told an ABC News reporter as he left the courtroom in handcuffs that he wanted to thank America for all their prayers and support.

His sister, Carol, who lives in Huntsville, said her brothers Russian lawyer informed her that Davids two days of direct examination in court went quite well.

We had hopes that there was a possibility he would be home by Christmas, but thats not going to happen, unfortunately, Carol said in a message to supporters.

A Russian judge will decide if Barnes is guilty of abusing his two sons several years ago in Montgomery County, Texas.

Barnes is accused of sexually abusing his two sons, ages 13 and 9, while living in the U.S. The charges were brought by his ex-wife, Svetlana Koptyaeva. Because at least one of the children has Russian nationality, according to reports, Russian authorities claim jurisdiction in the case.

Barnes, who pleaded not guilty, faces up to 20 years in jail for the case.

The couple divorced in 2015, followed by a messy child custody case. Koptyaeva made allegations of sexual abuse against Barnes, which were investigated and found not credible, according to Kelly Blackburn, an assistant district attorney with the Montgomery County D.A.s office in Texas. No charges were ever filed against him in the U.S.

After Barnes was awarded custody of the children, Koptyaeva left the country that same week with the two sons, and David Barnes eventually tracked them to Russia. Koptyaeva was indicted in Montgomery County, Texas on Dec. 12, 2019, for felony interference with child custody. A warrant was issued for her arrest.

When he entered Russia in 2022 to make contact with his sons, Barnes was arrested by Russian police after a report by Koptyaeva.

Barnes, in writing to his family, says he shares a cell with up to a dozen other inmates. He gets one shower a week, sleeps on a steel bunk, reads, writes and prays. He said he is 20 pounds lighter than when he entered the jail almost 22 months ago.
An argument between two brothers in east Alabama left one of them dead.

Cherokee County Sheriff Jeff Shaver on Wednesday identified the slain man as Billy Mitchell. He was 47 and lived in Gaylesville.

The incident happened Tuesday afternoon inside a vehicle on Highway 35 near Watsons Crossroads.

Shaver said it appears the driver of the vehicle was under attack when he shot Mitchell, who was his brother.

No charges have been filed.

The sheriff said the investigation is ongoing and the case will later be presented to a Cherokee County grand jury.

The JSU Center For Applied Forensics at Jacksonville State University, the Cherokee County Coroners Office and the District Attorneys Office are assisting in the probe.
A Birmingham man was killed, and a woman injured, in a fiery crash Wednesday in St. Clair County.

The wreck happened at 2:30 p.m. on Kelly Creek Road near McCrory Road. That location is about six miles north of Moody.

Alabama State Troopers said 85-year-old Ivey L. Mason was driving a Jeep Cherokee that left the road, struck a tree, and caught fire.

Mason was not using a seat belt at the time of the crash and was pronounced dead on the scene, said Senior Trooper Brandon Bailey.

His passenger, 83-year-old Sharon B. Mason, was taken to UAB Hospital in Birmingham. The extent of her injuries was not disclosed.

The investigation is ongoing by troopers.
A man is in critical condition after fire swept through a Birmingham home early Thursday.

Birmingham Fire and Rescue Service was dispatched at 4:54 a.m. to a report of a house fire with a person trapped in the 1000 block of Westley Street.

Lt. Catina Williams said crews were able to quickly get inside and pull the man from the blaze.

Firefighters resuscitate him on the scene and rushed him to the hospital. He remains in critical condition.

Williams said no other injuries were reported.

The home sustained extensive damage.

The cause of the fire remains under investigation.
A former model who suffers from mental health issues disappeared from a treatment facility in Pensacola, Fla., on Tuesday, according to WEAR in Pensacola.

Isabel Lawson, 24, was spotted on surveillance video at a Mobile gas station on Wednesday afternoon in the company of a homeless man. Pensacola police, her parents and an anti-trafficking group called The Shepherds have been searching for her since her Tuesday disappearance.

24-year-old Isabel Lawson was spotted in Mobile Wednesday, a day after she disappeared from an addiction treatment center in Pensacola.(Facebook/The Aware Foundation)

According to the WEAR report, The Shepherds made contact with the man, but he could not provide Lawsons whereabouts.

Lawsons parents, Anna and Lance Lawson, told the TV station their daughter has mental health issues and has been dealing with addiction for years, since she moved to Los Angeles to pursue a career as a model, although they also said shes been sober for six months.

She has been featured in fashion magazines both nationally and internationally, according to the report.

Isabel Lawson is described as 5-10, with blonde hair and blue eyes. Her parents said she has no identification or cell phone with her, to their knowledge.

Shes a beautiful, young girl, kind-hearted and vulnerable, Anna Lawson told WEAR. She would probably walk away with anyone.

Anyone with information on Isabel Lawsons location is asked to contact the Pensacola Police Department at 850-435-1900 or The Shepherds at 929-346-3663.
If youre looking to dispose of a live (or likely dead by now) Christmas tree, a Mobile-area church will take it off your hands  and then blow it up, along with dozens of others.

Family Pastor Dustin Tutor of Bayou Sara Baptist Church in Saraland says hes been blowing up Christmas trees for the past two decades, dating back to his days as an intern at a church in Petal, Miss.

Our college New Years Eve party was at a couples house who were from the church, Tutor told AL.com this week. They set up a couple of Christmas trees outside and covered them with bottle rockets. Then they placed a thing of gasoline and a candle beside it, then shot the gas container. It poured on the candle, which then lit the gas and the trees went off.

It was small, but fun. After that, I took it and ran with it. I thought it was really fun in the beginning and thought Why not make it bigger?

At Bayou Sara, the event has been incorporated to serve as the Christmas/New Years Eve party for the churchs students in grades 6-12, Tutor said.

Its a student ministry event we do every year, he said. We end each year with this event. The kids love it. Its something they look forward to. Its unique.

Tutor said set up starts during the week between Christmas and New Years Eve as people begin bringing their trees to the church. This year, a nearby Christmas tree lot is donating their leftover trees to the cause.

Last year, about 40 trees went up in flames (see the video above). Tutor said theyre hoping to exceed that number this year.

We cover them in tons and tons and tons of fireworks, he said. Thats what makes it fun -- while the trees are going up, the fireworks are going off.

He said some preliminary stacking will go on during the week, but most of the work will take place during the hours leading up to the lighting of the trees, set for 10 p.m. Sunday night.

Tutor clarified that he and the students arent technically blowing up the Christmas trees, but rather stacking them into a massive structure  a pyramid or tower of some sort  and then lighting the trees on fire with the use of fireworks and a unique lighting method.

Last year, however, a blanket of heavy, low-lying fog kept the gasoline fumes from dispersing, so when the 40 trees were lit (via bow and arrow), there was, in fact, an explosion.

This year, theyve built a trebuchet, or large catapult, to use for the lighting.

Were pretty pumped about that, Tutor admitted.

The public is invited to donate their trees to the effort. Trees will be accepted until 6 p.m. Sunday at the church, located at 12 Bayou Sara Avenue in Saraland. Trees should be free of all ornaments, lights or other decorations and left beside the church garbage dump at the back of the property.

The public is also invited to witness the show. Those interested should arrive at the church between 9:30 p.m. and 9:45 p.m. Sunday.
Authorities have identified the man shot to death on Tuesday by deputies in Jackson County.

Sheriff Rocky Harnen said Cameron Tolbert, 30, of Pisgah, was the man shot at about 2:30 p.m. Tuesday at a home on County Road 88 in Pisgah.

The Alabama Law Enforcement Agency is investigating the shooting.

According to the sheriffs office, a deputy went to the home to interview Tolbert about a weeks-old homicide. He was not a suspect but was wanted for questioning as a witness.

Weve already arrested a suspect, he said. He was just a neighbor.

Tolbert reportedly came out of the house brandishing a rifle and the deputy went to his car, calling for backup.

Tolbert went inside the home, staying for about 20 minutes, as other deputies arrived. Tolbert then came out and fired a round at the deputies, who returned fire, killing him.

No deputies were injured.

Two deputies, who have not been identified, are on administrative leave, per departmental policy, Harnen said.
A Pinson man is behind bars after authorities say he plotted to meet what he thought was a 14-year-old girl at a Fultondale hotel.

Christopher W. Card, 39, is charged with child solicitation by computer and traveling to meet a child for unlawful sex acts.

The investigation began last week when detectives with the Millen Police Department in Georgia were working to identify people committing internet crimes against children.

As part of that operation, they made contact with Card, who believed he was chatting online with a 14-year-old girl. He was actually communicating with undercover investigators.

Jefferson County sheriffs Lt. Joni Money said during the conversation, Card arranged to meet the teen girl at a hotel in Fultondale.

Millen police worked with the Jefferson County Sheriffs Office, the FBI, and the U.S. Secret Service on the case to meet the suspect at the hotel instead of the fictional teen girl.

On Dec. 22, Card was arrested in the parking lot of a hotel on Lowery Parkway in Fultondale.

A search warrant at his Pinson home led to the seizure of several electronic devices.

Money said additional charges are possible depending on what is found on those devices.

Card remains held in the Jefferson County Jail on $90,000 bond.

Agencies working together is another example of how our deputies build relationships, Sheriff Mark Pettway said. In this case, we were able to arrest a child predator living right here in Jefferson County.
Queens Park, a popular cocktail bar in downtown Birmingham, will close permanently on Dec. 30, the last night of its holiday pop-up.

The business, located at 112 24th St. North in the citys Loft District, announced its closure in an Instagram post on Wednesday afternoon.

It is with much sadness, that we announce our closure at the end of the service on December 30th. 4 more days to come see the staff and say your goodbyes, the post reads. Cheers and thank you Birmingham!

Within an hour of the announcement, the post was liked more than 1,000 times, with comments pouring in to bemoan the closure.

This is devastating, one commenter wrote.

Wait whaaaaaa? added another.

The bar, co-owned by Larry Mudd Townley and Laura Newman, opened five years ago. Townley said in a Facebook post that he and Newman are separating. Representatives did not immediately respond to requests for comment for this article.

Patrons typically stand in lines out the door during the holiday season, even on some weeknights, as the bar is well-known locally for its six-week-long Miracle on 24th Street theme.

Inside Queen's Park bar in Birmingham, which transforms into a holiday-themed pop-up bar for six weeks between November and December.Hannah Denham

The concept started in New York City in 2014 and has expanded internationally, including to Queens Park and other bars in Alabama, including in Huntsville and Montgomery.

The pop-up features 12 signature Christmas cocktails, two shots, nonalcoholic drinks, and the bar is decked out with ornaments, garland, bows and other holiday decorations from floor to ceiling.

Queens Park said in the Instagram post that the local holiday pop-up will take on a new life and continue in November next year.

Its name is inspired by the historic, Trinidad-based Queens Park Hotel and its namesake cocktail, which flourished after the U.S. prohibited alcohol in the 1920s.

Co-owner and beverage director Newman became the first female bartender to win the United States Bartender Guilds prestigious World Class competition, and went on to place second at the global finals in Berlin.

Last year, Queens Park was named as a regional semifinalist for the cocktail conference Tales of the Cocktails 2022 awards for the Best U.S. Cocktail Bar category.

Queens Park has a sister neighborhood dive bar, Neon Moon, located around the corner. Any gift cards will be eligible for the next four days at Queens Park, or through April 1 at Neon Moon, per the Instagram post.
An Alabama Death Row inmate has a new ally in his fight for a new trial: Kim Kardashian.

Kardashian, who is studying to be a lawyer, posted on social media Thursday morning about Toforest Johnson. Johnson, 50, has been on Alabama Death Row for more than two decades for a killing he says he didnt commit.

Who is Toforest Johnson? And why does the state of Alabama have an innocent man on death row? read a graphic that Kardashian posted on her Instagram story.

She continued posting on her story  posts that last for 24 hours, but dont show up on a persons profile grid  facts about the case from Johnsons website, toforestjohnson.com. She added that the Birmingham man spent his 26th Christmas in prison for a crime he did not commit, and encouraged supporters to sign a petition on his website.

The case centers around the shooting death of off-duty Jefferson County Sheriffs Deputy William Hardy in July 1995. The deputy had been working a second job as a security guard at a hotel in Birmingham when he was gunned down.

Johnson was convicted of capital murder in the case and sent to Alabama Death Row. He is currently housed at William C. Holman Correctional Facility in Atmore, where he is awaiting an execution date.

In October, the U.S. Supreme Court declined to review the case.

Johnsons lawyers appealed to the nations highest court in April, arguing the key witness was secretly paid a reward for her testimony.

Johnsons attorneys said in their filing to the court that the $5,000 payment to Violet Ellison was disclosed two decades later after years of the official denials that the witness was ever paid. According to State officials, who continue to pursue Johnsons execution, it had been misfiled all those years.

After his 1998 conviction, Johnsons lawyers said prosecutors suppressed evidence that Ellison knew about a $5,000 reward being offered in the case and testified hoping to get the money. That argument was litigated throughout the court system from 2003 until 2018.

In 2017, the U.S. Supreme Court reviewed Johnsons case and sent the case back to state court. There was a hearing in Jefferson County, and in 2018 the copy of the check that was paid to Ellison surfaced.

Johnsons lawyers werent told about the payment and didnt conclusively know about it until seeing that check.

The county circuit court judge ruled in favor of the state, and the case again was appealed to the Alabama Court of Criminal Appeals. That court also ruled that Johnsons team couldnt show Ellison knew about the reward money when she talked to police.

In 2020, Jefferson County District Attorney Danny Carr voiced his own concerns about Johnsons case and asked for a new trial, and the original prosecutor supported Carrs motion. That motion for a new trial is pending in Jefferson County, and was on hold until the Supreme Court issued their opinion in October.

Read more about his case and arguments to the U.S. Supreme Court here.

Thats currently where the case is being litigated.

The state argued in its filing to the high court this spring that Carrs brief does not raise any issues of national importance or point to the existence of a conflict.

The state said Johnsons attorneys had not proven their assertion that the key witness in the 1998 murder conviction testified in hopes of receiving a $5,000 reward from the governor. Marshalls office said there was no evidence that the witness, Violet Ellison, knew about or hoped to get the reward when she took the stand.

Of course, payment of the reward could not have been mentioned at Johnsons trial in 1998 because the prosecutor did not apply for the reward until three years after the trial, said the states filing.

Kardashian also posted a link pointing followers to a new podcast about Johnsons case called Earwitness. The podcast is from Lava for Good and Birmingham-based journalist Beth Shelburne.

Former Alabama Chief Justice Drayton Nabers and former Alabama Attorney General Bill Baxley are among numerous lawyers, former judges and prosecutors who have voiced support a new trial for Johnson. Other supporters include former U.S. Attorney Joyce White Vance, former magistrate Judge John Carroll, and three former jurors on the case.
More than a year ago, San Francisco Mayor London Breed urged laid-off Bay Area tech workers to apply to vacant city positions. Since then, only 16 such workers have been hired by the city. Scott Strazzante/The Chronicle

More than a year ago, Mayor London Breed urged laid-off Bay Area tech workers to apply to vacant city positions.

With more than 4,500 vacant positions at the time, Breed said in November 2022 that the city could use talented tech workers in civic roles. But since then, just 16 people have been hired by the city out of more than 500 who expressed interest and more than 200 who applied.

Tech layoffs: Here are the job cuts impacting Bay Area workers

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The news of how few tech workers have been hired comes as San Francisco continues to struggle to reform its notoriously slow, byzantine and broken hiring process.



In a post on X, Breed said last year that with talk of layoffs right now, including at companies like Twitter, a reminder that the City and County of San Francisco is hiring.

With over 4,500 vacancies, we are ready to help sign people up, Breed continued, linking to a smartrecruiters.com post with all city vacancies. In a separate post, Breed wrote that San Francisco has a lot of talent and that the city has good jobs that can transition easily from the private sector, such as analysts, IT, and engineering.

We also have vacancies in transit operations, public safety, healthcare, trades and more, Breed said.

But the Department of Human Resources told the Chronicle that while 518 people joined a special community to help people transition into public service through an online portal, only 228 candidates submitted at least one application. That group submitted a total of 1,109 applications, about 4.86 applications per candidate. Only 16 were hired.

Four of the sixteen went to work at the Human Services Agency, while two each went to the San Francisco Municipal Transportation Agency and the San Francisco Unified School District, said Mawuli Tugbenyoh, a spokesperson for the HR department.

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The recreation and parks department added one former tech worker, as did the planning department, elections department, ethics commission, human resources department, health department, the War Memorial and performing arts center, and the mayors office.



The HR department said some of the individuals completed applications for multiple positions, and that applications are active until someone withdraws or the vacant position is filled.

It was unclear why only 16 people have been hired out of hundreds who submitted an application. San Francisco has been criticized in the past for its onerous hiring process, which earlier this year could take up to 255 days  twice the length it took in 2015.

The pandemic exacerbated the painstakingly slow process, and the city now has some 3,000 budgeted but unfilled permanent positions. The city boasts a workforce of about 33,000. The HR department said the number is in flux given the city had offers out to candidates on 500 jobs as of Dec. 1.

Breed and her HR department have been working to make the process shorter. It now takes a median of 197 days to fill a permanent full-time position a 23% decrease thanks to reforms. The mayors office hopes that strategies such as automating referrals and prioritizing highly qualified candidates will further shorten the hiring timeline. San Franciscos vacancy rate for permanent positions is about 10.2%, compared with 14.2% in October 2022, according to the mayors office.

The mayors office said it has launched efforts to streamline the citys hiring process, including a government efficiency operation led by the office of the city administrator, the controller and the HR department that has led to significant improvements in hiring times over the last year and a half.



Our work to reduce hiring times is continuing; this is just a start of what we need to do, the mayors office said.

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Following the reforms, the city has seen a nearly 50% increase in applications for vacant city positions, the mayors office said, and a more than 25% increase in applicants for vacant city positions.

While San Franciscos unemployment rate remains under 4% according to November numbers, tech layoffs continue.

The mayors office said in a statement that the Bay Areas job market is highly competitive, and that while we want to take opportunities to leverage our talented local workforce and bring them into public service, we are often competing with the private sector. It was unclear how many tech workers were offered positions but turned them down.

Board of Supervisors President Aaron Peskin told the Chronicle in January that the process was broken.



It is high time they be fixed, he said of the rules. I certainly understand we want employees and prospective employees to be treated fairly and right, but (we) have to make sure the employer, the city, is treated fairly as well.
A grand jury indicted a north Alabama man with murder for allegedly killing his lover with a hammer over the summer at a Tuscumbia packaging plant where they both worked.

Victor Manuel Funez Cruz, 59, of Muscle Shoals, allegedly told police he was arguing over jealousy/infidelity with Edith Margarita Martinez when he beat Martinez with a hammer and then a metal pipe inside McVantage Packaging on July 11, according to court records.

Case records showed a Colbert County grand jury indicted Cruz on murder charges.

Officers arriving at the business on U.S. 43 in Tuscumbia on the day of the slaying found Martinez lying on the ground dead with severe head injuries.

An officer said he found Martinez not moving with a huge pool of blood by her head, according to an affidavit filed in the case.

Cruz allegedly told police Martinez first swung a metal pipe at him. He then became angry and reached for a hammer and hit Martinez with it.

The hammer handle broke, Cruz allegedly told police, and he then allegedly started striking Martinez with a metal pipe.

Both Cruz and Martinez worked at the plant but had different duties.
At first glance, Israel appears to have no choice but to buckle under U.S. pressure. After all she needs the resupply of munitions and the protection of the U.S. veto at the United Nations Security Council.

The New York Times reports The U.S. wants Israel to use elite forces to rescue hostages and kill Hamas leaders.

Mr. Biden wants Israel to switch to more precise tactics within three weeks, or soon thereafter. The officials asked for anonymity to discuss the presidents thinking. The new phase that the Americans envision would involve smaller groups of elite forces that would move in and out of population centers in Gaza, carrying out more precise missions to find and kill Hamas leaders, rescue hostages and destroy tunnels, the officials said.

But I submit they do have a choice. Time is on her side. Let us assume that Israel switches to the tactics demanded by Biden but takes her time in finishing off Hamas. In the meantime, Israel should agree to nothing. She should refuse to discuss the day after and she shouldn't agree to a ceasefire.

If so, it is Biden who is left with few choices. Since Israel is abiding by Biden's demands but slow walking the war, Biden has no option but to wait for the destruction of Hamas however long it takes. The destruction of Hamas is central to Biden's plans to advance the Two-State Solution. Since Israel would be following Biden's demands, Biden will have to continue to veto any calls for a ceasefire. To my mind, Biden would be stymied. His dreams of advancing the Two-State Solution (TSS) on the back of the Gaza War or reforming the Palestinian Authority would be put on hold until Hamas is destroyed which could take a year particularly if Israel takes it real slow in the name of protecting her soldiers.

Thus, all Biden's plans would be for naught. He would find himself in six months in the election season which will cause him to restrain himself, not Israel. Also, Israel could look forward to discussing the day after with a Trump administration.

On the other hand, Caroline Glick reports:

They (Biden admin) do not seek the eradication of Hamas and the return of the hostages. They seek the end of the war and the return of the hostages. And at the end of the war, they want to rebuild Gaza. They want to use the wars end as a means to compel Israel into a peace process. The goal of that process is to establish a Palestinian state in Gaza, and Judea and Samaria, led by terrorists from the Palestinian Authority which, like Hamas, seeks the annihilation of the Jewish state.

Assuming that is the case, Israel should still not agree to a ceasefire. Instead she should follow Biden's advice:

The new phase that the Americans envision would involve smaller groups of elite forces that would move in and out of population centers in Gaza, carrying out more precise missions to find and kill Hamas leaders, rescue hostages and destroy tunnels, the officials said.

In addition, following such tactics would reduce Israel's need for resupply and that would render her more immune to U.S. pressure.

During this time, Israel could demobilize much of her army and thus return her economy to normal. Of course, the Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) would remain on the northern border. Such a policy would further deter Hezb'allah. It may even make it possible for many northern residents to return to their homes.

And she could search the world for munitions and set up munitions production in Israel. With every passing month, Israel would be stronger and Biden weaker.

In fact, the search has already begun. Glick noted that YNET recently reported:

According to the report, the Defense Ministry is launching a crash program with Israels military industries and major industrialists to make Israel independent in everything related to ordnance. In the initial phase, Israel will begin producing bombs for its aircraft. Jerusalem also intends to expand its production of tank and artillery shells, as well as assault rifles and bullets. Separately, there is increased discussion regarding the establishment of a missile force as an independent arm of the IDF. The force would reduce reliance on the air force and develop more versatile, more easily defended missile launch platforms and massively expand Israels missile and drone arsenals.

Nir Birkat, a potential successor to Netanyahu, recently said:

It is unthinkable that we would endanger our soldiers, and send them exposed

in all kinds of buildings, without having bombed them beforehand. Surrendering to any external pressure, even if it is from our best friends,

is a grave mistake for which we pay heavy prices. Our role as the government of Israel is, first and foremost, to take care of

the vital interests of the State of Israel.

...and...

You must not give up because of any pressure.

Almost all of Israel is in agreement.

And Edward Luttwak wrote Why Israel cant accept a ceasefire:

But the unavoidable reality is that Israel cannot end its offensive, nor even accept protracted ceasefires in exchange for hostages.

There you have it, Israel, hang tight.

Image: Pixabay, via Picryl // Pixabay License
Brigadier General Mohammad Reza Naqdi, coordinating commander of the Iranian Revolutionary Guards Corps, has announced that Iran will close the Mediterranean Sea in retaliation for U.S. war crimes in Gaza. "They shall soon await the closure of the Mediterranean Sea, (the Strait of) Gibraltar and other waterways."

It is an expansion of attacks -- both verbal and military -- by Iran and its proxies for years but ramped up since the Hamas atrocities against Israel on October 7. U.S. forces in Iraq and Syria have been attacked at least 150 times since President Joe Biden took office, two U.S. defense officials told VOA. More than 103 rocket and drone attacks have occurred since Oct. 17.

Houthi terrorists have fired on more than 100 ships in the Red Sea and beyond since November. They claim the ships, including American ships, are Israeli or traveling to Israel and are thus, somehow, legitimate targets. Ships of several nations were affected and some large shipping companies -- including Maersk and BP -- said that, at least temporarily, they would not use the Red Sea to move cargo to the Mediterranean. Oil prices immediately rose two percent.

This is an act of war and should be treated by the U.S. as one. USCENTCOM operates in the Red Sea and has a firm grasp on Houthi -- and Iranian -- capabilities. Israel is a member of CENTCOM and should be able to call on its assets.

Instead, the U.S. formulated something called Operation Prosperity Guardian (OPG). It is already on life-support as three major American allies announced they wont participate. The French Defense Minister said that French naval assets in the region would remain under French command. Italian sources report that the Italian navy will respond to requests from Italian ships, but not in cooperation with OPG. Spains naval assets will be used only in coordination with NATO and/or the EU.

In addition to BG Naqdis boasts, Iran responded to Western hesitance with an expansion of Iranian assistance to the Houthis, who have now attacked a ship in the Indian Ocean. A U.S. National Security Council spokesperson said, Iranian-provided tactical intelligence has been critical in enabling Houthi targeting of maritime vessels since the group commenced attacks in November, adding that the drones and missiles the Houthis have been using for the attacks were also provided by Iran.

This is what happens when a country is nice to people who want to destroy it and all its friends. That would be the Biden administration being nice to Iran and its friends.

One of President Bidens first moves in 2021 was to remove the Houthis from the terror-sponsor list. Oil sale waivers allowed Iran access to billions of dollars. According to the IMF, Irans currency reserves fell from $122.47 billion to under $15 billion in 2019, before rising to $42 billion in 2023. Thats without the $6 billion the administration tried to put in Tehrans Qatari bank account this year. In July, the White House announced that it had given more than $315 million to the Palestinians this year -- and nearly a billion since the administration took office. The UN embargo on Irans production and sale of ballistic missiles expired in November with no U.S. comment. Last week, a Venezuelan money-launderer under indictment in the U.S. was released and shipped back to Venezuela -- his clients included Hezballah.

None of which moderated Iran or Hamas or the Houthis -- there is nothing moderate about people whose religious ideology drives them to death for themselves and others.

And all that time, Iran was shipping missiles, drones, and precision-guided weapons factories to its proxies -- and selling drones to Russia for use in Ukraine. By distributing its assets around the region, Iran appeared to be hoping that attacks on America (or Israel) would escape direct American (or Israeli) retaliation. Thus far, the mullahs have been right about the U.S., which has declined, until now, to retaliate (Israel is a different story).

This week, the U.S. finally struck back after an Iranian drone strike wounded three American soldiers in Iraq. But the retaliation was also in Iraq -- meaning Iran fired from Iran into Iraq and the U.S. did not go after the perpetrators. When Syria used chemical weapons on its own people, the Trump administration destroyed the al Shayrat military air base from which the attack was launched. We have the assets to do that to Iran and to the Houthis.

Since World War II, the United States has been the preeminent guarantor of freedom of navigation in the face of difficult and ongoing trends -- the establishment of dozens of independent and sometimes hostile countries lining the waterways, rather than colonies with colonial troops; the rise of Chinese and Russian fleets; and the expansion of Iran.

But we reflagged Kuwaiti oil tankers in the 1980s during the Iran-Iraq war -- leading the late Johnny Carson to opine that since those were now our ships, that was now our oil. We led an international coalition to prevent North Korean smuggling and one to fight off Somali pirates. We carry out freedom of navigation exercises in the South China Sea and the Taiwan Straits.

But we need two things ultimately to be successful -- a plan and allies. Both appear threadbare at the moment.

Image: US Navy
Left-leaning legal scholars have been climbing over each other to identify the Ring of Power that will allow them to prevent Donald Trump from being elected in 2024. Their latest pennant-waving exercise comes from the Colorado Supreme Court. Four justices who graduated from Poison Ivy League law schools (Harvard, Yale, Penn, and Virginia) declared, over the objections of three justices who graduated from the University of Colorado, Denver law school, that:

Section 3 of the 14th Amendment is self-enforcing,

Donald Trump committed insurrection, and

The president is an officer under the United States who is subject to Section 3.

Thus, Donald Trump is disqualified from election as president.

Twelve hundred words doesnt leave a lot of space to explain why they are dead wrong and the Supreme Court of the U.S. should drop kick that decision through the goal-posts of life. But, as one who spent a career translating doctor-speak into English for patients, Ill give it a try. Major sources for those who speak lawyer fluently are found here. Numerous opposing views include this. But those opposing views neglect to fully examine the text and history of the Amendment fully as the first source does. They misrepresent certain parts of the argument and ignore others. And, without further ado, Ill try to give the short version that SCOTUS will almost certainly adopt.

The Colorado Court claimed that the Amendment was self-enforcing. This means that they completely ignored the plain language of the Amendment. Section 5 says, The Congress shall have the power to enforce, by appropriate legislation, the provisions of this article. One of the key principles of legal interpretation is, expressio unius est exclusio alterius (the expression of one thing means the exclusion of others). In short, as Justice Antonin Scalia noted in his book A Matter of Interpretation (2018), this is the commonsense way to read the law. Section 5 says Congress has to enforce Section 3. It is not self-enforcing.

Scalia is in good company here. Not one member of the Congress that wrote the 14th Amendment is on record to suggest that it was self-enforcing. They all agreed with the need for Congress to flesh things out by statute. Strike one.

The second issue is insurrection. Logically, Donald Trump, the sitting president, could not commit insurrection against himself. An effort to overthrow the government would need to be actions taken after Joe Biden was installed. (We can skip the toilet analogies.) But lets ignore such obvious logic and consider what the writers of the 14th Amendment thought to be an insurrection. Almost all of the colloquy between the drafters dealt with the late insurrection. This is an unmistakable reference to the Civil War, specifically the Confederate side. In other words, to them insurrection was armed rebellion. Given that not a single person was arrested with a weapon during the J6 event, its pretty hard to logically construe it as an insurrection. And at this point, we must go one step further. 18 USC 2383 is the federal statute criminalizing insurrection. It is not a state crime. Since Congress reserved prosecution for insurrection to the federal government, no state court is competent to address the question. The Colorado Supreme Court has no legal right to opine on the issue. Strike two.

The last question is perhaps the only one that allows any debate whatever. Section 3 bans an insurrectionist from holding an office under the United States. It appears that the Left has, as the common objection states, assumed facts not in evidence. We begin in Article I, Section 4.

If the president is impeached and convicted (Article II, Section 4), the maximum penalty that the Senate can impose is to disqualify him from holding any Office of honor, Trust, or Profit under the United States. While this might seem to eliminate any possibility of him being re-elected, it does not define the term under the United States. Closer examination reveals that the President, Vice President and all civil Officers of the U.S. can be removed by impeachment. Grammatically, the president and VP arent civil officers of the U.S. This is emphasized in the exclusionary clause (Article I, Section 6), which blocks any Senator or Congressman from holding any Office under the Authority of the United States, and vice versa. They are either part of Congress or they hold offices Under the U.S. Not both. All further uses in the Constitution are semantically understood terms. That is, the writers knew what they meant and expected their readers to understand them as well.

In 1799, as Tennessee Sen. William Blount was to be impeached, his defense relied on the fact that it is clear that a Senator is not an officer under the Government. The Government consists of the President, the Senate, and House of Representatives, and they who constitute the Government cannot be said to be under it. The whole Senate agreed, declaring that they had no jurisdiction because the two houses are not under the U.S.

Joseph Storys Commentaries on the Constitution explores the term, finding that civil officers of the United States were those who derived their appointment from and under the national government. As this was the most influential authority as the 14th Amendment was being considered, we find with the universal agreement of the authors, The Government consists of the President, the Senate, and House of Representatives, and they who constitute the Government cannot be said to be under it. Strike three.

I wont bore you with a library of the back and forth on small items during the process. But it is abundantly clear that the president, in this case Donald Trump, is utterly immune from legal challenges based on the 14th Amendment. Section 3 requires Congressional action for enforcement, and none addresses Trump or J6. President Trump did not commit insurrection regardless of how the Left tries to mangle the language. And finally, as president, he was not an officer under the United States. With the two houses of Congress, he was the United States. Because of this, even if he were impeached and convicted, the maximum penalty does not prevent him from being elected president.

Three strikes and youre out.

Ted Noel M.D. is a retired anesthesiologist/intensivist who podcasts and posts on social media as DoctorTed and @vidzette. His Doctor Teds Prescription podcasts are available on many podcast channels.

Image: Pixabay / Pixabay License
During the Christmas rush, a Delta Air Lines employee at New York Citys La Guardia Airport inadvertently taught America a viral lesson on how to instantly shut down a transgender person claiming to be a victim of misgendering.

The transgender person tried to bully the airline employee at the check-in area, using a totalitarian mob-rule tactic to force subservient pronoun-use. But the bid fizzled quickly and peacefully, as seen in this Western Journal video, just based on the employee's calm, rational demeanor.

It can also be seen here:

The original TikTok video was posted by Netflix actor and apparent transgender victim Tommy Dorfman, who had declared himself a woman in 2021.

Therefore -- cell phone in hand -- Dorfman was apparently planning to videotape public noncompliance with his preferred feminine pronouns to gain social media applause.

However, the Delta employee stood his ground and refused to succumb to rhetorical blackmail when accused of misgendering Dorfman multiple times -- on purpose.

This employee exemplified what clinical psychiatrist, professor, and author Dr. Mattias Desmet teaches is the antidote for diffusing the mass formation outrage that creates mob rule. The idea is to confidently, calmly, and relentlessly repeat logic until the attempt at totalitarian tyranny extinguishes itself.

Consequently, Dorfman stopped his bullying and wisely decided not to be led out the door by the Port Authority for harassing a Delta clerk. Dorfman also took down his TikTok video after social media comments resonated respect for the airline employees demeanor.

That must have been a surprise.

Desmets mass formation principles were explained in several interviews including on the Tucker Carlson Show and an episode of The Joe Rogan Experience which also featured immunologist Dr. Robert Malones take on the COVID-eras fascism. Malone, the inventor of mRNA vaccine technology was himself attacked by mass formations psychotic individuals for considering the vaccine and masks flaws/effectiveness and for suggesting alternative therapeutics which evidently threatened the established superior morality of the collectives narrative.

Now, with one man's courage to shout out his variation of Desmets antidote to mass formation outrage, he shows how America can survive this onslaught of this transgender bullying.

Marie Hembree, holds an M.A. in Strategic Communications, and is an Academic Resource Case Manager/Instructor for a Title One California school district and is completing a doctoral dissertation in the Communication discipline.

Image: Screen shot from US-Viral video, via YouTube.
The United States, Israel, and other democracies have a huge stake in the success of the Iranian people to rid themselves of Islamic tyranny. This is not just a matter of geopolitical concern but a moral imperative rooted in the principles of democracy, human rights, and global stability. As I have continuously stated, the mullahs are highly vulnerable. And it is the Iranian people who continuously find themselves at the forefront of this enduring quest for freedom and justice.



A comprehensive political, moral, and economic measure by the United States and others offers the best chance of ending mullahs' reign of terror and diffusing the existential threat it poses to the world.

We must fully engage in this great battle of hearts, minds, and ideas. Let us stop talking about unimportant issues and peripheral concerns. Let us concentrate our efforts on bringing down this foreign enemy in Iran, the Islamofascists.

The survival of the Iranian nation and its identity depends upon it. Human beings cannot create an ideal world of peace and tranquility under totalitarian, despotic, and tyrannical regimes, such as the Islamist regime in Iran. Individual freedoms would be brutally repressed. The individual would be at the mercy of the merciless despots. Based upon the general reaction among Iranian opposition groups, it is clear that the time has come to form a new brand of political opposition, a united force whose sole purpose will be a regime change in Iran and establishing the rule of law.



The moral dimension of this endeavor is underscored by the timeless wisdom embedded in the Biblical adage, From those who are much given, much is demanded. Perhaps it is for this reason that the people of the United States of America are again called upon to make huge sacrifices to defeat another tyranny. The United States, as a nation endowed with immense power and influence, carries the responsibility to stand against this tyranny and champion the cause of liberty.



This echoes a historical pattern where the United States has, at critical junctures, risen to the occasion to confront oppressive regimes and champion the aspirations of those yearning for freedom. It is important that this great nation stays the course and enlists its power in support of the freedom-loving Iranian people and help them topple these ruling, bloodthirsty mullahs who are bent on wreaking death and destruction in the world.



As the spotlight shines on the vulnerabilities of the mullahs, a crucial moment presents itself for the international community, particularly the United States, to undertake comprehensive political, moral, and economic measures. The strategic alliance of democracies, spearheaded by the United States and Israel, can only serve as a beacon of hope for the people of Iran who seek to break free from the chains of oppression.



By doing so, the world can bestow upon the Iranian people the support they need to overcome the oppressive regime and pave the way for a new era of freedom, dignity, and self-determination. Through diplomatic efforts, economic sanctions, and moral solidarity, these nations can create a formidable front against the tyrannical rule of the mullahs.



Furthermore, empowering the Iranian people to shape their destiny is not just a geopolitical maneuver but an enduring commitment to human rights and the dignity of every individual on this planet.



In conclusion, the challenge posed by the mullahs in Iran is not just a regional issue; it is a global concern that demands the collective efforts of democracies worldwide. The United States, with its historical commitment to liberty, is once again called upon to lead the charge against tyranny.

By standing firmly with the Iranian people, the world has the potential to witness the triumph of freedom over oppression, signaling a new chapter in the ongoing struggle for justice and human dignity. By offering support to those on the front lines of the struggle for freedom, the international community can reaffirm its dedication to fostering a world where justice, liberty, and democracy prevail.

The United States has, in secular and free Iranians, its best friends in the entire world. It is imperative for the U.S. to help these Iranians to dislodge the vicious doomsday mullahs, not as an act of altruism, but as a prudent measure of enlightened self-interest.

Image: Pixabay / Pixabay License
Trump Derangement Syndrome. Many types of cancer may be cured, but not TDS. Those contracting the progressive disease suffer years of misery as Trump lives rent-free in their heads before their inevitable, gruesome, end. The disease drives its victims to paranoid obsessions and dementia commonly manifesting in apocalyptic, absurd public pronouncements of impending national and global doom. Other debilitating symptoms include dyschronometriatime distortiona tendency to accuse others of impossible crimes and a compulsion to engage in wild logical fallacies. One unfortunate TDS sufferer is apparently presidential historian Michael Beschloss, who implies Trump is not only going to destroy our democracya primary TDS symptombut Trump caused the Holocaust!

Presidential historian Michael Beschloss said Saturday on MSNBCs American Voices that former President Donald Trump intentionally uses language that led to the Holocaust. [skip] Beschloss said, Absolutely, and provide Hitler with an easy way to blame the many ills of Germany 1924 after World War I, one group which was Jewish people as well as some others but it was mainly Jews. And for Donald Trump as a former president and possible future president to use that language, knowing that that language led to the Holocaust, he knows what hes doing, and he thinks it works.

Image: Gage Skidmore, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons, unaltered.

Amazing. Considering Trump was born in June of 1946, thats quite an accomplishment. So is being the reincarnation of Adolph Hitler. That tooaccusing others, particularly Donald Trump of being Hitler--is a primary TDS symptom. Im unsure whether Beschloss has yet accused Ron DeSantis of being Hitler, but a variety of the terminally TDS afflicted have, so that base is covered.

Im not a psychologist or physician, but Beschloss is obviously suffering from dyschronometria. Its possible hes referring to unspecified that language causing what many are reasonably calling the Second Holocaust, the October seventh Islamist attack on Israel. If so, thats further and convincing diagnostic evidence of TDS. Hamas, bloodthirsty Islamist savages, certainly needed no verbal nudging from Donald Trump or anyone else to murder Jews, and Beschloss provides no specific information to indicate Trump had anything to say prior to October Seventh that could, in any logical universe, compel lunatic Islamists, who need no outside encouragement, to the slaughter of innocents.

Thats another common TDS-related mental illness, the idea that civilization dare not strike back at the Islamist barbarians raping, mutilating, immolating, torturing and murdering them, because that will make them angry and produce future generations of raging, Islamist savages.

This leaves the inescapable conclusion and diagnosis Beschloss is in stage four TDS. Yet another TDS symptom allied with paranoid obsession is thinking others possessed of supernatural powers. Beschloss implies Donald Trump, not yet even a gleam in his fathers eye, was influencing events in Germany after WWI. Obviously crackling with magical power, Trump, while not yet an embryo in utero, was somehow knowingly using that language, which led to the holocaust, and he projected that power across the Atlantic! Trumps powers are even more incredible when one considers the Holocaust was over before 1946 when Trump was born.

All people of good will must say a prayer for Beschloss and his family, but if even a tiny portion of his fantastic utterances are by chance true, and Donald Trump has those powers, thats a selling point, not a bug, for his reelection.

Mike McDaniel is a classically trained musician, Japanese and European fencer, life-long athlete, firearm instructor and retired police officer, high school and college English teacher. His home blog is Stately McDaniel Manor.
Hong Kong: Govt to resume Sheung Shui land

The Lands Department today posted land resumption notices for the implementation of a public housing development at Ching Hiu Road, Sheung Shui.

A total of seven private lots with an area of about 0.34 hectares will be resumed. The land will revert to the Government on March 29, 2024.

The Government will closely liaise with the land owners and affected parties, and handle compensation and rehousing matters.

The public housing development will provide about 620 residential units with the earliest population intake anticipated in 2028-29.

This story has been published on: 2023-12-28. To contact the author, please use the contact details within the article.
Jessica Flores is a reporter for The San Francisco Chronicle. Before joining The Chronicle in 2021, she worked for USA Today, NPR affiliate KPCC and Curbed LA. Originally from L.A., she received her masters degree in journalism from the University of Southern California and a bachelors degree from Mount Saint Marys University in Los Angeles.

She can be reached at Jessica.Flores@sfchronicle.com.
The inclusive and diverse Democrats in Chicago are desperate because Governor Greg Abbott of Texas has called their bluff on sanctuary cities. At first, the Democrats said come because we are tolerant here. Now, as more financial reality encircles them, they are singing a different tune, i.e. don't get off the bus or go back to Texas "por favor."

This is the latest from Chicago:

Last week, the Texas Division of Emergency Management or TDEM, which handles migrant transports, chartered its first flight with migrants to Chicago to avoid growing restrictions over when and where migrants can be dropped off. 'TDEM basically flipped it; they said if we're going to have problems with buses, we are going to send flights,' John Martin, who runs the Opportunity Center for the Homeless in El Paso, told DailyMail.com in an interview Tuesday.

Well, so they will fly to Chicago. Don't mess with Texas.

The straw that broke the camel's back, or better said, the decision that exposed the Democrats' hypocrisy on the issue, was when Governor Abbott decided to make this a national problem. It was a Texas problem when the migrants were flooding border cities. It's become a national problem now that Mayor Eric Adams of New York City is angry that the White House is not returning his calls.

The latest Texas vs Chicago feud is happening in the context of a record-breaking surge at the U.S.-Mexico border. Can you say something like thousands a day? Texas can't handle that and neither can anybody else.

So the migrants will fly to Chicago. Let's see what gimmick the mayor of Chicago comes up with to keep migrants from going to his sanctuary city. Maybe he will stand on the runway (George Wallace style) and keep the plane from landing.

P.S. Check out my blog for posts, podcasts and videos.





Image: formulaone
It's not just the Soviet-style show trials directed against President Trump that tells us the true character of Joe Biden, a man who probably cheated his way to the presidency.

It's that he continues to deny Robert F. Kennedy, Jr. the Secret Service protection he's asking for.

According to the Kennedy campaign, which cited a piece that ran in the Deseret News, the Bidenites told Kennedy 'no' for a third time, on the grounds that his campaign is not that significant.

That's a lie.

What's disgusting here is that RFK, Jr., since the first two denials, has since experienced potentially lethal threats at his home in Los Angeles; he's not just making stuff up.

According to RFK, Jr.'s campaign email:

This third rejection by the Administration is a travesty. The implications are unmistakable: I am personally at much greater risk; as is my family and close staff, and our campaign is on the hook for security detail that costs us thousands of dollars that could otherwise be used to garner ballot access. Only one thing will stop the political elites from having their way. Its called people power. Our grassroots supporters have funded our campaign, which is forced to hire private security (which already stopped an armed intruder with a Federal Marshal badge from entering an event.)

Kennedy explains that the dynamic of this nonsense is that by forcing Kennedy to pay for his own security protection, which I imagine must be a big bill, takes away money from his own campaigning.

Which seems like a rather slimey way of bleeding cash from the Kennedy campaign, the better to strengthen Joe Biden's campaign.

Joe gets Secret Service protection even though bin Laden himself has said he wouldn't assassinate Biden as he was too valuable in place as an incompetent. While this probably isn't the only threat he faces, it's a pretty big one he doesn't.

And yes, it happened. Remember this, from ABC News?

Osama bin Laden aimed to assassinate President Barack Obama but directed fellow al-Qaida fighters to leave Vice President Joe Biden alone, describing him as "totally unprepared" to take over and predicting a "crisis" in America if that happened, according to a newly declassified letter from the terrorist mastermind. In the missive, part of a trove of documents seized by Navy SEALs in the raid that killed bin Laden one year ago, bin Laden asks for an update on a plan to kill Obama or Gen. David Petraeus either in Pakistan or at Bagram Air Base in Afghanistan. ... "The reason for concentrating on them is that Obama is the head of infidelity and killing him automatically will make Biden take over the presidency for the remainder of the term, as it is the norm over there. Biden is totally unprepared for that post, which will lead the US into a crisis.

But Kennedy, whose unique family history includes multiple real assassinations, including that of his own father, and who has demonstrated that the freaks are still out there in that dangerous security incident at his house, does not.

Something here is very wrong with this picture. Anyone decent should worry about this guy's safety.

CNN did an obnoxious piece last July attempting to debunk Kennedy's claims and fell flat on its face.

Facts First: Kennedys suggestion that he is being treated differently than every other presidential candidate since 1968 is baseless. In reality, the vast majority of candidates in modern presidential primaries never receive Secret Service protection because they are not deemed major candidates  and it would be nearly unprecedented for even a major candidate to receive protection this early in a campaign if they did not already have it on account of currently or previously serving in the White House. A CNN review of presidential campaigns dating back to 1980 found that only then-Senator Barack Obama, who faced unique threats as a Black man with a realistic chance to become president, was granted Secret Service protection as early in a campaign as Kennedy is seeking it. Were too far out from the election, and Kennedy just doesnt meet the criteria, said Jonathan Wackrow, a CNN law enforcement analyst and former Secret Service agent. Hes not a major presidential candidate. You can make as many requests as you want; unless you meet that criteria that have been set forth, its just not warranted.

Joe Biden is scared to death of Kennedy taking votes away from him, and maybe even running away with the Democrat nomination, given his own abysmal polling numbers. That he's trying to deny Kennedy protection in order to stymie his campaign is obvious enough.

But the CNN claim about Obama is garbage, too. Obama is unique? Memo to purported fact-checker: So is Kennedy. To claim otherwise is nonsense.

CNN notes two other things that destroy its own argument about Kennedy's call for Secret Service protection being hype.

One, the beginning of its piece says that Kennedy submitted a 67-page memo showing all the possible threats out of the ordinary ones to the Bidenites, which suggests that at least some of them could be credible.

The other thing they noted was that then-President Jimmy Carter gave Teddy Kennedy Secret Service protection preemptively based on his family's history. Whatever you want to think about Carter on other things, that was the common sense thing to do. CNN cites that Kennedy was given it later in the campaign cycle, but that doesn't hold water, either, in that Teddy Kennedy didn't even think of challenging Carter for the presidency until late in the cycle. Teddy announced and Jimmy gave; Carter didn't want this to be a problem.

But Biden is entirely different kind of president.

With the risks to Kennedy real, Biden's denial of protection speaks to a malevolence unseen in American politics until now, and one gets the awful sense that Biden wouldn't be too upset if his campaign rival was knocked off any more than he would be if President Trump were.

What kind of a person is that? Well, the kind of person who would run the shambling Biden administration with all its wreckage of our fair country. If this isn't an argument alone to vote against this guy, what is?

Kennedy's email sought to raise campaign cash from this outrage, so for those who are interested in contributing, he sent out this link for it.

Image: Pixabay / Pixabay License
Normal Americans paying attention have long appreciated Mark Twain, who said: There are lies, damned lies, and statistics. Where government is concerned, they know governments statistics must be taken not with a pinch, but with a block, of salt.

An example is a report from the Federal Department of Education, which claimed during the 2015-206 school year 240 schools reported at least one incident of a school-related shooting. At least 240 school shootings in a single year?! Thats 4.8 school shootings per stateterrible odds. Why is anyone sending their kids to public schools?

Believe it or not, even National Public Radio found that number suspect, and they called every one of those schools, eventually confirmingeleven. NPR is anything but a conservative outlet, but they deserve credit for honestly reporting their results and confirming actual school attacks remain, thankfully, rare.

Many of the schools had no idea what the DOE was talking about. There was nothing resembling a shooting incident at their schools. Others might have had someone fire a round somewhere near the school sometime, or perhaps on a playground on a weekend. A gang shooting might have occurred blocks away. Words and definitions matter, particularly when one can use them to support a favored democrat/Socialist/Communist narrative. One might think it counter-intuitive for the DOE to suggest schools are free-fire zones, yet every child must go to public schools. Logical consistency is not a d/S/C hallmark.

Image: wikimedia commons, public domain

The FBI has long published crime statistics, and for decades was thought to be the definitive source of that information. Sadly, that hasnt been true for a long time. For years, many cities, particularly those in blue states, havent provided data to the FBI, or have provided only data that reinforces their preferred d/S/C narratives. To do otherwise would reveal the utter failure of their policies. Defunding and prosecuting the police has consequences. Combine that with the FBIs politization and weaponization against Normal Americans and Twains aphorism might add FBI statistics as the worst category of lies.

A case in point is the crime-stopping effectiveness of armed citizens. Credible research indicates up to 2.5 million Americans per year stop violent crimes, usually without firing a shot. The Clinton Administration did a study expecting to find data to support even more gun control. They were certain theyd find virtually no one used guns for good purposes.They found 1.5 million did and tried to bury the study, but it leaked.

The contemporary FBI is no less Clintonesque. From 2014-2022 the FBI identified only 302 active shooter incidents, and claimed armed citizens stopped only 14, just 4.6% of such attacks. If 2.5 million armed Americans stop violent crimes every year, how is that possible? Its not.

Dr. John R. Lott of the Crime Prevention Resource Center found 440, not 302, incidents for the same period, and found armed Americans stopped 35.7%. The source material was not only police reports, but media reports, which as one might imagine are often inaccurate, or due to media reluctance to report anything positive about guns or Normal Americans, nonexistent. However, Lott is a dogged and honest researcher who makes his methodology and data sets available to anyone who wants to replicate his results. Thats rare in these trust the science days, and more so where there is gun/citizen control to be done.

More specifically, in 2022, 41.3% of incidents were stopped by armed Americans. In 2021, 49.1%. In 2020, 37.7%, 29.3% in 2019, dropping to 17.4% in 2014. Why the drop in previous years? Only recently has the media been more fully, relatively speaking, reporting these incidents. In 2014, they were much more likely to entirely avoid such reporting.

Even today, d/S/C bias plays a defining role. The media has long shaped the news by simply refusing to report anything counter to their cherished narratives, and by outright lying. But what about the FBI? How did they get this so wrong? How could they have missed everything Lott so easily found and documented?

One should not ascribe to malice that which can be explained by incompetence, but perhaps there is plenty of both involved. That the FBI has become the enforcement arm of the d/S/C Party is blatantly obvious and terrifying. That alone might explain it. One of the most cherished d/S/C narratives is guns are used only for evil, no good can come of them, and theyre virtually certain to kill their owners and families rather than bad guys. An allied narrative is guns have the power to compel their owners to evil acts. Understanding those narratives, as well as base human laziness and incompetence, might explain a great deal.

At the very least, we can be certain in this and much else, Mark Twain was prescient.

Mike McDaniel is a classically trained musician, Japanese and European fencer, life-long athlete, firearm instructor, retired police officer and high school and college English teacher. His home blog is Stately McDaniel Manor.
The Iranian regime's policies have exacerbated the crisis in the Red Sea. The ongoing Gaza conflict has resulted in nearly 20,000 casualties, shedding light on the behind-the-scenes role of the Iranian regime and Supreme Leader in this war. Iranian proxy forces have received extensive training, missiles, drones, and financial support, and now it's time for them to deploy their artillery. The primary goal of the Iranian leadership in the Red Sea is to destabilize the region to secure the regime's position and survival in Iran.

On December 23, 2023, Mohammad Reza Naqdi, the deputy coordinator of the Revolutionary Guards, threatened that Americans should "expect the closure of the Mediterranean Sea."

These threats follow actions by the United States and other countries to counter Houthi attacks in the Red Sea. Following Houthi attacks on cargo ships in the Red Sea and disrupting a route that encompasses one-tenth of global trade, American authorities are planning direct intervention against these groups.

The United States has moved the aircraft carrier USS Eisenhower to the Gulf of Aden, near the Yemeni coast and close to the Bab el-Mandeb Strait, where attacks have occurred. Senator Tom Cotton stated that until helicopters, missiles, and drones of the Houthis and any Iranian regime-supporting ships are destroyed, these terrorists will continue to pose a threat to global trade with impunity.

Pentagon spokesperson General Patrick S. Ryder emphasized that Iranian proxy forces are undoubtedly trained, funded, and equipped by Iran. Therefore, they are de facto Iranian proxy forces. Regarding financial support for these attacks, all roads lead to the Iranian regime.

Adrian Watson, White House National Security spokesperson, said they knew that the Iranian regime was deeply involved in planning operations against commercial ships in the Red Sea. This involvement, with long-term financial support from the Iranian regime and encouragement of destabilizing actions by the Houthis, is consistent.

The Wall Street Journal reported that the White House declassified information indicating the extent of Iranian regimes support for the Houthis. The release of this information seems to be an attempt to create a basis for potential military action against the Houthis.

The Iranian regime seeks to present the Houthis as the government of Yemen, but the international community does not recognize the Houthis as such. The Yemeni government, based in Aden, is recognized by the United Nations as the legitimate government of Yemen.

Ali al-Sarawi, media advisor to the Yemeni prime minister, stated in an interview with Al Arabiya that the actions of the Houthis are not separate from Iran's position. These actions are carried out under the orders of Iran and with Iranian weapons. Those involved are officers of the Revolutionary Guards and Hezb'allah.

Iran's goal in these operations is to negotiate around its specific interests, using the Houthis to create crises. The Iranian regime wants to enter into a defined deal and gain leverage through these actions.

The Western powers, however, are not interested in escalating the situation. They attempt to restrain the regime through diplomacy and dialogue, but this policy has failed. The tyrannical regime in Tehran only understands the language of force. The only way to stabilize the region is for the West to abandon appeasement policies. Silence in the face of the Iranian regime's arson will only expand the scope of the fire. The West can play a strong deterrent role. Targeting the root cause, the Iranian regime, is the most principled policy and the right strategy for peace in the Middle East.

Hassan Mahmoudi is an Iran & Middle East political and Economic researcher.

Image: US Navy
We often hear the phrase, 'Israeli-Palestinian conflict' everywhere - in the media, from Israeli officials, written in articles, repeated by foreign policy think tanks, and U.S. politicians. It is ubiquitous.

They are all incorrect. A 'conflict' indicates two equal sides laying credible claim over a disputed issue. Thus, the false phrase equates Jews with terrorists and terrorist supporters. And, the incorrect saying plays into revisionist history in an antisemitic fashion.

Terrorists and their supporters claim that Israel 'stole' 'Palestine.'

But 'Palestine' was nothing more than a colonizer's term for Judea from 136 A.D. - to when Jews liberated Israel in 1948 from British occupiers. And, yes, Jews living in Israel during the aforementioned time period were known as 'Palestinians.'

Antisemites believe that Gaza is also 'Palestine.' False. Gaza legally under U.N. Article 80, still belongs to Israel, and has been Jewish land historically since 145 B.C. Gaza has been occupied by Arab settlers since 1948, mostly from Egypt.

Similarly, Judea and Samaria, in the ancestral heartland of Israel, are often mislabeled as 'Palestine' pertaining to some false 'homeland' of Arab 'Palestinians' -- when no such ethnicity or singular group exists.

Gazans are mainly from Egypt, but some are from Saudi Arabia, and some are Israeli Arabs who fled voluntarily when Arab armies invaded in 1948. The Israeli-Arabs hail from 25 different Muslim countries. The Arab settlers in Judea and Samaria are mostly Jordanian occupiers; about 30% to 40% of 'Arabs' in Judea and Samaria are genetically Jews who were converted to Islam in the 11th century and who live as Arabs.

It was not until 1967 when the KGB launched an antisemitic campaign against Israel called 'Operation SIG' that a false 'national liberation' movement was created, lumping together the various Arab groups that have no common origination points.

If it is not a 'conflict,' what is it exactly? It is a war against Jews and has been for well over a century.

While there were periods in Israel's history where Jews and Muslims fought off occupiers (Battle of Haifa in 1100 A.D. against the Crusaders; and both Muslims and Jews joined forces to fight against the Byzantines), overall, it has been violence from Arabs against Jews with official terrorism statistics dating back to 1860.

In the early 1900s, recent Jewish immigrants to Israel established Hashomer, or, Guild of the Watchman, as a self-defense guardian group to defend the Jewish villages in the Galilee, Judea and Samaria.

Small in numbers, but they helped with defense until the Haganah was established in 1920.

Historian Benny Morris explained, Anti-Jewish violence became endemic, with Jewish settlement guards  who were seen as symbols of the Zionist enterprise  regularly dying at the hands of Arab ambushers between 1911 and 1913. In April 1914, the British consul in Jerusalem reported, The assaults upon Jews in the outlying districts are increasingly frequent.'

Speaking of the British, it was those occupiers who fomented deadly Arab revolts against Jews in Jaffa (1921), Hebron (1929), Gaza (1936), Jerusalem (1936-1939), and numerous smaller acts of violence against Jews throughout the Jewish homeland. The British outlawed arms for Jews, but allowed Arabs to have weapons. And, instead of protecting the Jews in these post-pogroms, the British occupiers expelled Jews from deeply historically Jewish areas such as Hebron and Gaza.

Aside from the Arab violence against Jews in Israel, let's not forget the long list of pogroms against Jews in Muslim lands which spanned centuries. From the Fez Massacre in 1033 to the 1941 Farhud in Iraq; the pogroms in Cairo, Syria, Algeria, Yemen, Iran, to name but a few, were significant.

While everyone is familiar with the pogroms of Europe, Muslim violence against Jews is often ignored outside of Mizrahi Jewish communities, and is only mentioned as a false justification in response to the 'Zionism occupation' of a Jewish Zionist homeland.

Meanwhile, the Deir Yassin 'massacre' has long been debunked as such even by Arab testimonials and corroborated as not a massacre by military records held currently in the terrorist Palestinian Authority-run city of Ramallah, Israel. Only combatants were killed during the battle of Deir Yassin.

It is time to be historically honest and not aid in antisemitic falsehoods by equating Jews to terrorists. The war against Jews has been waging far too long; this current war in response to the genocide on October 7, and Israel's subsequent policies have to be so strong that it ends all terrorism against Jews in their own homeland.

Laureen Lipsky is the CEO & Founder of Taking Back the Narrative (www.tbtnisrael.com), a Zionism education company.
This is exactly what you get when government officials promote criminality as a virtue, whether it comes from the legislative chambers or the Soros-bought district attorneys around the countryanti-morality begets lawlessness and chaos.

Earlier this month ALeah Wallace, a young single mother in Fort Worth, Texas, fatally shot an intruder she caught attempting to come through the window of her young daughters room in the early hours of the morning. Tragically, the intruder turned out to be just a kid, a 14-year-old boy who lived in the same complex, but of course, Wallace didnt know that at the time. From a report published by the New York Post on Sunday:

I have four daughters. Its just me and my four daughters that stay there. I just was protecting my daughters, Wallace said. The remorseful mother says shes devastated that he [intruder] was 14, but I had to think about my babies. I didnt know he was 14 when he was on the other side of that window. All I knew was that somebody could come in and hurt me or my kids. Thats it.

To add context to the story, the incident occurred after a string of attempted break-ins, a complaint that Wallace had raised with her landlord prior; from Fox News:

The incident happened not long after police left Wallaces home after responding to her 911 call about someone trying to break into her duplex. I called them at 1:22 a.m. She talked for like 20 minutes. They did a report, took pictures of everything and then they left, she recalled. Wallace said she had four attempted burglaries before the last incident.

(The young man would be shot around 3 a.m., just a little over an hour after Wallace had called law enforcement over another attempted break-in.)

Even though Wallace purchased her firearm legally, and (as I see it) broke no laws, the anti-gun slumlord running her subsidized housing unit has issued her an eviction notice.

Wallace started a crowdfunding campaign to raise money for a new home, and as Im happy to report, has far exceeded her goal. Based on available evidence, Wallace did nothing wrong; in fact, she did exactly what a good mother should do. First and foremost she protected her childrenfour little girls aged 9, 8, 4, and 2, who would have been at the mercy of whoever was climbing through that window were it not for that great equalizer in Wallaces hand. What other hope does a woman have against a man if not a firearm?

Whats really interesting though, and brought to my attention by a colleague, is that many of the names on the donation list sound very blackwe see names like Rhoshanda, Davius, Laquisha, Tawonna, Venassa, Jhaquille, DeVon, and Devetteand one can only infer how much this issue speaks to the black community. After all, how could it not? They are the demographic most affected by the lawlessness pushed on the American citizenry by the Democrat party, the globalist left, and the useful idiot voter class.

Where are the Black Lives Matter lunatics who marched for George Floyd?

Apparently being a career criminal with a long and violent rap sheet, allegedly trying to pass off counterfeit money while being high on illicit drugs and dying in the process will earn you the exalted status of martyred victim and make you a civil rights hero, while being a single mother legally protecting the lives of herself and her four young daughters during a home invasion will get you homelessness and potential criminal charges.

Image: YouTube video screen grab.
After Apple appealed to the US Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit in Washington over the Apple Watch sales ban, the court ruled in favor of the tech giant. According to Bloomberg, reversing the sales ban is temporary, and Apple should seek to settle the case before the deadline.

Apple plans to take all measures to abolish the US International Trade Commission (ITC) sales ban on Apple Watch Ultra 2 and Series 9. The wearables were hit following a patent dispute between Apple and medical monitoring technology company Masimo. Given that this business sector bring in nearly $17 billion in revenue for Apple, the firm was determined to continue selling two of its most popular watches.

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Apple could temporarily reverse Apple Watch sales ban

According to the courts ruling, the Apple Watch sales ban will be on hold until January 10. Apple has already requested the court to halt the decision until January 12, when the US Customs and Border Protection (CBP) announces its final ruling on the case.

The iPhone maker has reportedly prepared a software update to solve the issues. The company has also submitted the design to the CBP for approval. While Masimo accused Apple of stealing its blood-oxygen sensor technology, it remains to be seen how a software update could satisfy the ITC.

The White House also had 60 days to review and reverse the ban. However, President Biden and US Trade Representative Katherine Tai refused to do so. The decision disrupted Apple Watch sales before and during the holiday season.

Meanwhile, this is not the first time Apple has sought US administration involvement to overturn a product sales ban. In 2013, the Obama administration reversed the sales ban on some iPhone and iPad models. Similarly, Samsung had accused Apple of infringing its patent rights.

Apple Watch Series 9 and Ultra 2 are among the best-selling wearables in the market. Their sales ban will negatively affect Apples following earning report. The tech firm needs to settle the case as soon as possible before other manufacturers can take advantage of the situation.
The ASUS ZenFone 10 (review) is now receiving a stable Android 14 OS update in the global markets. Earlier in June this year, the Taiwanese brand launched the compact flagship smartphone packed with a Snapdragon 8 Gen 2, 144Hz display, gimbal cameras, and more. It shipped with Android 13 OS out of the box. Read on to know all the details below,

Android 14 arrives on ZenFone 10

ASUS is rolling out the stable version of the Android 14 OS to the ZenFone 10 units in the global markets, including those sold in the EU. In a community forum post, ASUS revealed that the smartphone needs to be on the software build number 33.0220.0220.101. The Android 14 update has the version number 34.1004.0204.65 and it weighs 1.34GB in size. Hence, owners are recommended to download the update over WiFi or strong cellular network.

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The Android 14 update for the ZenFone 10 is being rolled out in a phased manner. Hence, it could take some time to reach all units across the world. If there is no update notification, users can manually check it by heading to Settings> System > System Updates. ASUS warns that users must take a backup of their data and charge the phone to 50 percent before proceeding with the update.

Android 14 new changes

The Android 14 update changelog on the ASUS ZenFone 10 mentions a revamped mobile manager, contacts, emergency dialer, calculator, and more system apps. The clock widget on the lock screen can now be customized. The update also introduces support for new photos and video permissions and the system photo ticker. It also fixes speakerphone call issues. The update also resolves the customized power menu on the phone lacking restart and shutdown options. Lastly, theres a new method of displaying battery usage to view app usage in segments.
A couple of weeks back, the Korean media reported that there would be no price hike for Samsungs Galaxy S24 series compared to the Galaxy S23. The report may have been specific to Korea but the company is expected to keep the prices unchanged in other markets too. Well, a new leak suggests the Galaxy S24 and Galaxy S24+ will be cheaper than their predecessors in Europe. The Ultra model, on the other hand, will be costlier in the region.

Leak reveals European prices for the Galaxy S24 series

According to the information obtained by the Dutch publication GalaxyClub, Samsung will price the 128GB Galaxy S24 at 899 in Europe. Its 256GB storage version will cost 959. At launch, the Galaxy S23 had a price tag of 949 and 1,009 for the two storage versions, respectively. So, we are looking at a 50 price cut for the 2024 model. The same goes for the Galaxy S24+. The publication quotes a starting price of 1,149 for the device (256GB version).

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If you double the storage to 512GB, the price goes up to 1,269. A quick look at the Galaxy S23+ prices confirms a 50 drop across the board for this model too. However, the picture is completely different for the Galaxy S24 Ultra. The report says Samsung will charge 1,449 for the 256GB version of the new Ultra flagship, 50 more than what it charged for the Galaxy S23 Ultra with the same amount of storage (1,399).

If you recall, the 2023 model has 8GB RAM while the upcoming Ultra gets 12GB RAM. This would have explained the price rise had the same applied to the Galaxy S24+. The latter is going from 8GB RAM to 12GB RAM as standard and still seeing a price drop. So, this is a bit confusing. Moreover, the 512GB and 1TB versions of the Galaxy S24 Ultra arent getting a price hike. They are said to cost 1,569 and 1,809, respectively10 less than the 2023 model.

Exynos 2400 could be allowing Samsung to cut prices

Local taxes may affect the Galaxy S24 prices in different European countries. But the gist is that the new Samsung flagships are getting cheaper in the region bar for the 256GB Ultra model. The only logical explanation we can think of now is the switch to the Exynos 2400 chip. The Galaxy S23 series used the Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 processor in Europe. The in-house processor costs Samsung less and it might be passing the benefit to consumers.

The Ultra model still uses a Snapdragon chip, the Snapdragon 8 Gen 3, so no notable price cut for it. And the 50 bump for the 256GB version is because of more RAM. Of course, all of this is just our speculation. There are even rumors of the Galaxy S24+ getting the Snapdragon processor globally, including in Europe. Thankfully, an official announcement is just around the corner. The new Samsung flagships are expected to debut on January 17, 2024.
A surfer navigates the heavy waves at Steamer Lane in Santa Cruz. High tides and huge swells flooded spots along the Northern California coastline Thursday with evacuations in Santa Cruz County. Stephen Lam/The Chronicle A crowd watches the heavy waves at Steamer Lane in Santa Cruz. Stephen Lam/The Chronicle Surfers navigate the heavy waves at Steamer Lane in Santa Cruz. Stephen Lam/The Chronicle A surfer navigates heavy waves at Steamer Lane in Santa Cruz. Stephen Lam/The Chronicle Pelicans accompany a large wave as it crashes ashore at Rodeo Beach in Sausalito. Scott Strazzante/The Chronicle Amid high waves, Alfredo Perez carries a sandbag to reinforce a home along a flooded Clarendon Road in Pacifica. Stephen Lam/The Chronicle Onlookers gather to check out the waves near Pacifica Municipal Pier. Stephen Lam/The Chronicle Andrew Jones stands on flooded Clarendon Road in Pacifica. Stephen Lam/The Chronicle Wolfgang Fernandez peeks over a fence to check his flooded front yard in Pacifica. Stephen Lam/The Chronicle Debris clutters a deck behind Zeldas on the Beach in Capitola after high waves battered much of the Northern California coast. Stephen Lam/The Chronicle A worker with the Capitola Public Works Department clears debris off a street with a front end loader after high waves battered much of the California coast. Stephen Lam/The Chronicle People walk by the barricaded Capitola Venetian Hotel. Stephen Lam/The Chronicle

UPDATED FORECAST: Heavy rain, gusts expected in California ahead of holiday weekend

Whipped-up waves pounded the California coastline Thursday, prompting residents to flee from flooding in the Santa Cruz region and in coastal Marin. The waves offered a dramatic show to locals and tourists watching 30-foot walls of water break offshore early Thursday.

At high tide late morning, water poured over breakwalls and into parking lots. It flooded streets and smashed into businesses and homes in several areas up and down the coast.

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The esplanade in Rio del Mar in Santa Cruz County was under evacuation orders as water poured in just before 8:30 a.m., one of the first areas to see the impact of exceptionally high tides. Stinson Beach in Marin County also was under an evacuation order just after 10 a.m. due to risk of flooding and wave damage, with the community reopened mid-afternoon.

Officials issued a long list of flood, high surf and wind warnings and advisories from Los Angeles to Humboldt County with the forecast playing out in real time.

Pickup driver Alfredo Perez drives a load of sandbags through a flooded street in Pacifica. Stephen Lam The Chronicle

Residents and tourists watched in awe at Ocean Beach.

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Its beautiful. Furious, Jason Santos of Brazil said as he stood on a bluff watching the steel-colored water churning below.

Just a bit south in Pacifica, water poured up into the Pacific Hotel Breeze parking lot and rolled high along the pier. A crowd gathered to watch, many forced to run squealing from the sea surging into unexpected terrain. A few of those fleeing were soaked up to their knees.

Ah! yelled one child. Oh, my God, screeched another.

I thought the water was gonna come get me, said Brooklyn De Los Reyes, 14, who was visiting with her parents and eight siblings from Idaho.

People watch the waves near Pacificas Municipal Pier. Stephen Lam/The Chronicle

She and her mother, Keri De Los Reyes, had decided to take a run through Rockaway Beach in Pacifica to see the towers of water.

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Ive never seen waves like this! Keri said. Its amazing!

Nearby, Mike Buyer was also scrambling backward with his family to escape the water.

Its really beautiful, he said. Its just breathtaking. It shows you the strength of Mother Nature.

The National Weather Service had warned people to stay away from waterside property, piers, jetties and rocks, although the allure of an angry ocean was too much to ignore.

At Linda Mar beach in Pacifica, the Coast Guard responded to reports of a surfer in distress just after 8:30 a.m. The person was located and was able to make the way back to shore, according to the North County Fire Authority.

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The waves rivaled the historic waves from last January that resulted in significant damage in Santa Cruz County, where piers collapsed and residential streets saw a foot of water flow through. The huge swell are the product of multiple storms with hurricane-force winds churning over the Pacific Ocean in recent days, with a 42-foot wave observed more than 1,000 miles off the California coast.

Capitolas beach-side esplanade, which suffered significant damage a year ago, once again took a hit as powerful waves broke over the seawall and flooded the area. Roads to the area were covered in muck, with debris strewn everywhere as workers with heavy equipment performed the Sysyphean task of pumping water from the streets back to the ocean during low tide.

Contractor Tom Oliver Ross places caution tape on a structure at the Capitola Venetian Hotel, first damaged during the winter storm last January and further battered by high waves Thursday. Stephen Lam/The Chronicle

I feel really bad, said Mikaela Martorella, who lives up the street. This is kind of a remake of last year. I feel bad for the restaurants along the water. They spent so much time getting things fixed and now they have to do it over again.

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Residents feared the incoming storm Friday combined with another extreme high tide could make the situation even harder for the community.

Were devastated. And were worried. Very worried, said local Verni Collins. They say tomorrow is going to be a lot worse.

Thursday was bad enough.

A worker inspects support pillars beneath Capitola Wharf after high waves battered much of the California coast. Stephen Lam/The Chronicle

With waves approaching the California coast expected to stretch as high as 40 feet Thursday, the National Weather Service issued a high surf warning: Large waves can wash people off jetties and rocks into the frigid ocean water.

In Santa Cruz, officials closed parts of East Cliff Drive because of flooding.

The big waves Thursday drew highly skilled surfers at Mavericks Beach near Princeton-by-the-Sea, about 25 miles south of San Francisco, where the surf can reach monstrous proportions  50, even 60 feet tall  about the height of a semi-truck standing on its end.

Its going to be wild! said Grant Washburn, who has surfed Mavericks for decades. Waves at the beach will be breaking miles out.

By midmorning all the nearby parking lots were full, with cars illegally lining the narrow road to the beach.

The sleepy village was jam-packed with wave-watchers as families trekked down the road with backpacks, long-lens cameras, dogs and kids.

Washburn had already made the mile-long trek to the beach but said he wasnt surfing Thursday. The waves are historic, and a little scary, he said, before correcting himself: A lot scary.

Its going to be one of the biggest days weve seen here, he said.

Videos posted on social media showed surfers braving monster waves, the water curling far over their heads. Some made it out, while others disappeared under a deluge of water and foam.

Up on the bluff, photographer Daniel Gorostieta captured the epic day using a drone flying above the surfers half a mile from the shore.

It was a really big day, he said, big even for Mavericks. Gorostieta has footage of some of the successful rides as well as big wipeouts, but Luca Paduas morning ride was arguably one of the best the photographer has ever captured. The Half Moon Bay surfer can be seen on the video getting towed by a jet ski to the edge of the wave. He then drops down the 40-foot wall of water before it curls over him. He reappears out of the tube, does a small jump and coasts to a stop outside the break.

The 20-second ride was jaw-dropping, even for veterans of Mavericks mighty waves.

I definitely didnt think he was going to make it, Gorostieta said. It was an experts-only day.

On the bluff overlooking the ocean at Mavericks, surfer Mario Mora, 28, stared out to where surfers could be seen bobbing up and down on the boards. The real action, where Jet Skis were pulling surfers to the huge waves, wasnt easily visible with the haze.



Its pretty cool, he said. I wouldnt go out here on such a big day. Its pretty crazy right now.



Big wave season began in November at the famed shoreline, where underwater rock formations make Mavericks one of only a handful of places in the world with the massive breaks.

The wild surf off Northern California was a preview for a storm scheduled to hit the region Friday, with an inch or more of rain predicted across the region along with a vigorous cold front, likely the strongest so far this year.

The heaviest rain is expected Friday between 2 and 9 p.m., with gusts up to 40 mph, but showers will continue overnight into Saturday.

Significant snow is also expected in the mountains, with Donner Summit forecast to see 6 to 8 inches.

In the meantime, a coastal flood warning was also issued Thursday morning for the areas of San Francisco, the North Bay coast, including Point Reyes National Seashore, the San Francisco Peninsula Coast, northern and southern Monterey Bay, and counties along the Big Sur coast, according to the National Weather Service. The warning was in effect until 3 p.m. Thursday.

Expect the worse impacts from inundation in the late morning around high tide, meteorologists wrote in a coastal flooding warning. The high surf will subside Friday before another large swell train arrives Saturday.
The Google Clock app has recently undergone a delightful makeover in its weather forecast feature, exclusive to Pixel phones. Earlier this year, the app added support for displaying weather forecasts when alarms are turned off, and a recent update has brought a visually appealing redesign to the forecast interface. The feature rolled out for most Pixel users this month as part of the December 2023 Feature Drop and Android 14 QPR1.

Powered by the Google Weather app on Pixel devices, the new design introduces a more Pixel-centric layout. Although it provides the forecast for the current date and not for the next, users are likely to appreciate the aesthetically pleasing presentation. The redesign aligns well with Googles Pixel design language.

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Weather conditions are now easier to notice at a glance with the redesigned weather forecast in Google Clock

In October, Google introduced the capability to display weather forecasts immediately after you stop or snooze alarms, a feature exclusive to the Google Pixel 8 and Google Pixel 8 Pro with Android 14. The initial design presented the forecast as a text block with an icon showing current conditions besides the temperature. The recent update brings a refreshing change to the user interface, animating the forecast in a Pixel-specific manner.

The redesigned forecast begins by showing current conditions and temperature in a circle that enters from the top left, followed by the forecasted high and low temperatures sliding in from the bottom right. A dismiss button labeled Ok thanks remains at the bottom of the screen similar to the previous design.

Despite the reduction in the amount of information displayed in the new UI, limited to the days forecast instead of the current and following days, the trade-off appears justified. The enhanced visibility and adherence to Googles Pixel design language contribute to a more user-friendly experience, especially during the morning routine. The design does mirror the setup screen used on Pixel phones in recent years, offering a consistent visual language across the Pixel ecosystem.

Interestingly, this seems to be a server-side change or potentially influenced by the Google Weather app on Pixel phones, as the Clock app itself has not received an update since October, notes 9to5Google.
One of the latest pieces AI hardware that has created much buzz in recent months is the Humane AI Pin. While the gadget made its first public debut in November, itll hit the shelves in March, according to Engadget. Pre-orders also began on November 16.

The company announced the news on its X account, saying, We are thrilled to announce that Ai Pin will start shipping in March 2024. Those who placed orders before will receive their AI Pins once the shipment begins. The delivery will be based on the date of purchase. The March 2024 timeframe for shipping AI Pin comes after the company first announced the shipment starts in early 2024.

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The Humane AI Pin shipment starts in the United States. While customers in the EU are also waiting to get their hands on the AI hardware, the product launch in the continent might face setbacks due to the regulations. If Humane plans to launch the AI Pin in the EU, it should ensure the product meets GDPR rules. The GDPR is said to be the most strict privacy and security set of laws in the world.

What the Humane AI Pin is, and how it works

As AI is finding its way to almost every app and service we use, AI-driven hardware is also becoming a focus for companies. The company behind the AI Pin, Humane, is founded by former Apple designers Bethany Bongiorno and Imran Chaudhri. The company is also backed by Sam Altman, co-founder and CEO of OpenAI.

The AI Pin is an AI-powered screenless phone that can be activated through voice commands. Since its backed by OpenAI, it uses ChatGPT to answer questions and benefits from a new operating system dubbed Cosmos. The idea behind the AI Pin is simple: Instead of picking up your bulky phone, you can interact with the AI Pin via voice commands and ask it to perform specific tasks. Chaudhri previously described the device as a new way of thinking, a new sense of opportunity.

While the Humane AI Pin is priced at $699, the company requires users to buy a subscription for $24 a month to access the pins cellular data, which is based on T-Mobiles network. You can now order the device through Humanes website.
The OnePlus 12R is coming, and its display info just got confirmed by the company. Before we get into that, do note that the OnePlus Ace 3 will be the OnePlus 12R in China. That device will actually launch before the OnePlus 12R, so this is kind of the confirmation for the ONePlus Ace 3 (it comes from Weibo). The exact same info applies to the OnePlus 12R, though.

The OnePlus 12R display info has been revealed by the company

Having that in mind, the OnePlus 12R will feature a BOE X1 display. Thats the same panel the OnePlus 12 utilizes, actually. Were looking at a 1.5K resolution here (a bit lower than on the OnePlus 12), and this is an OLED display.

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The max brightness on the panel will be 4,500 nits, which is industry-leading. Do note that youll never get that high, though. This display also has the industry-leading 8T LTPO (Low-Temperature Polycrystalline Oxide) circuit design. Thats great for power consumption.

The OnePlus 12R will also have OnePlus Bright Eyes Eye Protection tech. That tech basically adjusts the displays brightness and color temperature automatically in order to save your eyesight as much as possible.

The OnePlus Ace 3 is coming on January 4, the OnePlus 12R will follow on January 23

The OnePlus Ace 3 will launch on January 4, while the OnePlus 12R will launch on January 23. As already mentioned, those two devices will be the same, but made for different markets.

This is the very first OnePlus R series device that will leave China. OnePlus usually launches the Ace model in China, and the R model in India. That will change starting with the OnePlus 12R.

The OnePlus 12R will be fueled by the Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 processor. The phones design has also been revealed already, and it will basically look like the OnePlus 12. There will be some subtle differences that you really have to look for in order to spot them.

Its camera setup on the back will also be inferior to the OnePlus 12. OnePlus had to cut costs somewhere. If the company gets the price tag right, the OnePlus 12R will be a great phone for many people.
Taoiseach Bertie Ahern urged UK prime minister Tony Blair to clarify speculation around Roger Casements black diaries in an effort to close an unhappy period in Anglo-Irish relations.

Casement was one of the nationalists executed for his attempt to import ammunition through Irelands south coast ahead of the 1916 Rising.

He was also renowned for his inquiries into slave trades in Peru and the Congo during his work as a British Foreign Office official.

The so-called black diaries allegedly give an extensive and detailed account of Casements personal relationships, and suggested that he led a secret life as a gay man.

The diaries, which comprise two office diaries, an army field notebook, a pocket diary and a 1911 cash ledger, were used by the British to weaken calls for clemency during Casements trial for treason in 1916.

He was executed in August 1916 and his body was repatriated to Ireland in 1965 where he was given a state funeral and buried with full military honours.

Despite a forensic analysis of the diaries in 2002, funded by RTE and the Taoiseachs Department, concluding that they were genuine examples of Casements handwriting, the authenticity of the diaries are still contested.

In a short letter sent by Mr Ahern to Mr Blair dated December 23 1999, the taoiseach noted progress made on the Northern Ireland peace process, adding we have all come too far to fail.

He then stated that Mr Blairs Labour government had made an enormous difference on those issues, but wanted to raise a matter of largely historical interest.

Sir Roger Casement, whose remains were returned from Pentonville in a much appreciated gesture by Harold Wilson as Prime Minister in 1965, was a very distinguished British public servant, who was knighted, Mr Ahern wrote.

He continued: There is a heated ongoing historical controversy as to whether certain diaries he is alleged to have kept in addition to his conventional diaries are genuine.

The so-called black diaries, which purport to relate to various homosexual experiences were supposedly discovered in his home by the intelligence services in 1916, and were discreetly used to discourage pleas for mercy.

It remains a point of contention to this day, whether the additional diaries are genuine or forged.

Mr Ahern then asks Mr Blair if it was possible that the Home Office or intelligence services could throw some full light on the truth.

While I know that it is your position that the intelligence services do not comment on their activities, official histories have been written of the pre-World War II period, where the same restrictions clearly no longer apply.

Putting the historical record straight and settling the issue one way or the other, which ought to be possible given that it is a question of fact rather than a value judgement, would be beneficial in closing an unhappy episode in Anglo-Irish relations, and would of course have significance for both traditions in Northern Ireland.

I would appreciate any light that could still be shed from hidden recesses on your side, he concluded, before wishing Mr Blair and his wife well over the Christmas period.

According to a history blog post, Mr Blair replied to Mr Ahern on February 11 2000 to say he had looked at the issue but that nothing has been unearthed.

The Casement black diaries are still held by the British National Archives.

The material can be viewed in the National Archives in file 2023/154/4
Former prime minister Tony Blair put on ice Northern Ireland secretary Mo Mowlams plan to review abortion laws, warning it would cause further division, newly released documents reveal.

According to the previously confidential state papers there had been discussion within government around a review of abortion law in the region from February 1998.

The 1967 Abortion Act did not then apply to Northern Ireland, where the law on abortion was instead governed by a combination of statute and case law.

In a letter to DUP MP Jeffrey Donaldson in June 1998, Ms Mowlam said the government had been pressed by a range of interests, including the Standing Advisory Commission on Human Rights, High Court judges, gynaecologists and womens organisations, to clarify the current position.

This is not a position with which we as a responsible government can be comfortable, and I can confirm one option under consideration is the establishment of an expert committee to inquire into the legal, medical and social issues raised by the current law and practice, and to make recommendations, she wrote.

However, our predecessors have consistently taken the view that, if there is to be any change in the law, the preferable way for it to happen would be through Northern Ireland elected representatives. Accordingly, I envisage that any expert review would report in the first instance to the Northern Ireland Assembly and its ministers.

Then prime minister Tony Blair told Mo Mowlam in 1999 that a review of Northern Irelands abortion laws should be put on ice for now (Chris Ison/PA)

According to the file, Ms Mowlam proposed in 1999 that an independent review of legal and medical issues raised by the current abortion laws in Northern Ireland should take place.

But she was told by Mr Blair that he was not convinced that a review should be undertaken now because he saw little scope for bi-communal support.

He told her it should be put on ice for now.

Ms Mowlam was recorded as having accepted the prime ministers view, but maintained she would like to return to the issue when the political process permitted, noting that the Labour Party had made a pre-election commitment to review the abortion law.

She is recorded as having said she felt the approach she had suggested was a minimalist one.

The file also notes plans for a ship with a fully equipped operating theatre to carry out abortions to visit Dublin in 2001.

It records that the ship, financed by the Dutch Womens organisation Women on Waves, planned to launch its worldwide activities in Ireland because it has one of the most restrictive abortion policies in Europe.

However it also notes that the ship is not expected to come to Northern Ireland, and suggested that, if asked about it, the line to take was that it was a matter for the authorities there (Dublin).




by Ashok K Mehta





Bangladeshs 12th parliamentary elections are to be held 11 days from now. The question is will it be a walkover/cakewalk for Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina-led Awami League into her fourth consecutive and fifth overall term in office? When I was in Dhaka last month and asked people who would win the election, most including one person from our Embassy responded that if it was a free and fair election under a caretaker government Begum Khaleda Zias Bangladesh National Party would win. Anti-incumbency, price rise, unemployment and corruption, the usual culprits, were quoted as reasons for peoples discontentment. In Dhaka, I witnessed mass mobilisation protests by the BNP that were countered by AL counter-protests leading to violence and wide scale arrest of BNP leaders and workers. Readymade Garment Workers  garment factories account for 85 per cent of Bangladeshs USD 53bn exports  also called hartal over wage dispute. Since 28 October, BNPs 12th hartal was held last week.





Bangladesh's Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina [ Photo credit: AP via Al Jazeera]





Former Ambassador to Bangladesh, Veena Sikri has noted that Dhaka has had elections under Army-backed and independent caretaker governments before. In the 2008 elections under the caretaker regime, AL won 260 of 300 seats. In the two following elections held sans caretaker government AL won both, with 259 and 245 seats. Begum Hasina won more seats under a caretaker government than in the one without. The question of freedom and fairness is left to the Election Commission and watchdogs, especially security forces. Similarly, on legitimacy, this time AL has given 26 seats to the third-largest Jatiyo Party and some seats to independent candidates while some 40 parties are registered to contest the elections. BNP is making the mistake of demanding a caretaker government  a provision was removed by a constitutional amendment by the Awami League  when it should be voicing peoples grievances and discontentment.





A senior journalist who must remain unnamed has said that India must do everything possible within the rule of law and concerning Bangladeshs sovereignty to ensure BNP does not come to power as it is pathologically opposed to India. Jamat e Islami an ally of BNP which was opposed to Bangladeshs independence and colluded with Pakistan Armys genocide during the army crackdown, has been banned from elections and its members facing charges of treason under the Special International Tribunal set up by AL. India cannot forget that the BNP provided sanctuaries to ULFA militants. India has called an internal matter, the backsliding of democracy and persecution of minorities under the authoritative Awami League government.





I met a Hindu family belonging to the privileged class  educated, rich but most importantly, fought in the Liberation War, who are called Bada Lok/Bhadralok (intellectual). Between the very rich and the very poor, the middle class is very small.





The minorities  Hindus, Buddhists, Christians, Chakmas have declined from 12 per cent to 9 per cent of the population. Hindus celebrate their festivals escorted by police within allotted timings but they are always vulnerable. The preamble to the Constitution reads: Bangladesh is a secular country but later the provision Islamic State was added. Mercifully there is no Shariah or blasphemy law  yet.









India-Bangladesh relations are rated as the best in the neighbourhood. Bangladesh has registered six to 7 per cent growth despite COVID and other international impediments overtaking India in human development indices, notably women empowerment. Trade relations are promising and zero tariffs despite no FTA. Bangladeshs decision to join China-backed RCEP will certainly worry India. Connectivity by land, air water is highest in the region. Bar the Teesta Agreement hitch, both sides describe relations as mutually beneficial though some irritants exist, more with Dhaka complaining about Home Minister Amit Shah referring to illegal immigrants as termites and the killing by BSF of 300 civilians on the India-Bangladesh border.





It is in the enhanced defence cooperation that is growing phenomenally thanks to the rejuvenated legacy of the 1971 Liberation War, a monumental event that has faded from contemporary conversation and instead hyped anti-India feelings. India has provided USD 500 mn LOC for buying Indian military hardware which is so far mainly non-kinetic. The Chinese are prettily ensconced and are primary (75 per cent) providers of military equipment including light tanks. Defence procurement is regulated under Group A from West, Group B from China and Group C from India. Turkey has also become a leading military goods supplier. The Chinese have built a naval submarine base at Pekua near Coxs Bazar and gifted two submarines. They are fishing for a naval base close by. China has invested heavily in civilian infrastructure including the latest Padma Bridge, Sylhet airport and the Kainefuli tunnel. Beijing enjoys goodwill as well as influence, despite sometimes being openly critical of Bangladeshs endorsement of Indo-Pacific and QUAD though it is a recipient of Chinese USD 41bn investment in BRI.





Ironically, China and India are on the same page about Sheikh Hasinas likely re-election ignoring the US critique of democracy backsliding and consequent sanctions. Bangladesh Army which deposed AL, obliterated Sheikh Mujibs legacy and ruled between 1971 and 1991, has been tamed by Mujibs daughter Sheikh Hasina. She has raised the defence budget by 123 per cent since 2011 and bought over the Army by giving it power, status and money by insulating it from politics. Ironically it still treats India as Foxland in its war games. In this era of uncertainty, India has put all its eggs in the Hasina basket.





Ashok K. Mehta is a radio and television commentator, and a columnist on defence and security issues. He is a former Major General of Indian Army. After joining the Indian Army in 1957, he was commissioned in the 5th Gorkha Rifles infantry regiment in the same year. He had fought in all major wars India went into, except the Sino-Indian War of 1962. And he was also on a peacekeeping mission in Zaire in the year 1962 and in the Indian Peace Keeping Force, Sri Lanka (1988-90) and it was his last assignment in the Indian Army. He is also a writer of several books and a founder-member of the Defense Planning Staff in the Ministry of Defence, India.
David Cameron warned against any escalation in the conflict in Gaza, as he met the Lebanese prime minister.

The Foreign Secretary held talks with Najib Mikati on Thursday, as Israeli forces continued to bombard cities, towns and refugee camps across Gaza.

As Israel vows to continue fighting to eradicate Hamas, Iran-backed groups in Yemen, Lebanon, Syria and Iraq have launched attacks on Israel and its allies in support of the Palestinian militant group.

Clashes along the Lebanon-Israel border between Hezbollah and Israel have continued to intensify, with daily exchanges of missiles, air strikes and shelling across the frontier.

In the Red Sea, attacks by Houthi rebels in Yemen against ships they believe to be connected to Israel have disrupted trade and prompted the launch of a US-led multinational naval operation to protect shipping routes.

An escalation of the conflict in Gaza to Lebanon, the Red Sea or across the wider region, would add to the extremely high level of danger and insecurity in the world. Im grateful to Lebanese Prime Minister @Najib_Mikati for discussing these crucial issues with me today and for pic.twitter.com/GTLEtosZzh  David Cameron (@David_Cameron) December 28, 2023

It has all fuelled concerns about the danger of the Israeli offensive sparking a wider conflict in the Middle East.

Lord Cameron, in a post on social media, said: An escalation of the conflict in Gaza to Lebanon, the Red Sea or across the wider region, would add to the extremely high level of danger and insecurity in the world.

The former prime minister has been engaged in extensive diplomacy in recent weeks since taking on the post, as concerns grow about the conflict in which more than 20,000 Palestinians have already died.

Lord Cameron said he was grateful to the Lebanese prime minister for discussing these crucial issues with me today and for Lebanons efforts to prevent such escalation.
There were mixed views among officials in the early 1990s over how to interact with political parties linked to loyalist paramilitary groups, files have revealed.

In 1993 the Government refused to talk to Sinn Fein representatives due to their refusal to condemn Provisional IRA violence.

On the other side of the political divide in Northern Ireland, there were two political parties linked with loyalist terrorists  the Progressive Unionist Party (PUP) linked to the Ulster Volunteer Forces and the Ulster Democrat Party (UDP) linked to the Ulster Freedom Fighters.

Both parties had a small number of elected representatives in the early 1990s.

A previously confidential file reveals there was discussion over how to interact with the PUP and UDP.

Northern Ireland secretary Sir Patrick Mayhew (Bob Collier/PA)

A briefing note for then secretary of state Sir Patrick Mayhew dated February 1, 1993 described a piece of unfinished business from the proscription of the UDA was how ministers should treat two very small political parties, each with links to proscribed organisations, describing a benchmark having been set over the treatment of Sinn Fein.

The parties only have three councillors between them. The issue is not clear-cut because, despite their parties links, these elected representatives have generally condemned violence and have had recent contacts with ministers, the note reads.

It said the issue had been brought to a head by a planned visit by then direct rule health minister Lord Arran to Londonderry and whether then UDP councillor Ken Kerr should be excluded along with the Sinn Fein councillors.

The memo included notes on the loyalist councillors, describing Mr Kerr as despite having served a sentence in the early 1970s for possession of weapons, he had publicly denounced paramilitary violence and appears to enjoy a harmonious relations with local SDLP councillors. It also described the UDA as virtually moribund in Derry.

It said while formally the guidance with regard the UDP was the same as Sinn Fein, previously ministers had decided not to follow it and met with Mr Kerr.

However, it also said the guidance on contacts with Sinn Fein does not apply to the PUP and there are no restrictions, adding that the secretary of state had met PUP councillor Hugh Smyth in Belfast the previous year.

PUP leader David Ervine (right), Hugh Smyth (centre) and Billy Hutchison (left) at Stormont after the signing of the Northern Ireland peace agreement (Brian Little/PA)

The memo goes on to describe the parties as small beer but said how ministers treat them needs to be seen against the background of wider and more important policy considerations.

It said they wanted to encourage political involvement and not to cut off contacts with politicians unnecessarily, but also noted a rise in loyalist violence as focusing attention on how the Government treats anyone with links to loyalist groups.

Nationalists and the Irish Government will study our approach for signs of bias, it read.

On the other hand, the rise in Protestant extremism also emphasises the importance of keeping political avenues open, if possible, for politicians who can articulate extreme Protestant grievances.

The memo concluded: There is no clear consensus among officials. The Secretary of State may find it best to hold a meeting. The majority opinion is that contact should not be broken off at a time when there is increasing talk of Protestant alienation.

Minutes of a meeting on February 2, 1993, records the Secretary of State summing up a discussion as that he regarded loyalist violence in the same way as republican violence, but on the balance he considered that Mr Kerr and Mr Smyth could be met by ministers.

Sinn Fein could be expected to say that we were operating double standards but provided that the SDLP confirmed they did want Kerr on the delegation criticism could therefore be countered by saying that he was there at the invitation of the SDLP and not the Government, the meeting concluded, according to the note kept by private secretary W K Lindsay.
The Tories are writing off young people, Labour has said, with the number of young people out of work due to long-term sickness doubling since 2010.

Sir Keir Starmers party said that in 2010/11, there were 116,000 16 to 24-year-olds out of work or not looking for employment due to long-term sickness.

The latest Office for National Statistics (ONS) data for the whole of the UK now puts this number at 235,000 people out of work, the party said.

Shadow work and pensions secretary Liz Kendall said: By neglecting the foundations needed for a healthy economy, the Tories are writing off hundreds of thousands of young people.

The Labour MP said her party would ensure young people do not fall between the cracks between services and Government departments.

It hopes that improving mental health services, as well as reducing NHS waiting lists and strengthening workers rights, will help tackle the root causes of economic inactivity.

Ms Kendall said: Labour will tackle the root causes of economic inactivity, including the mental health crisis facing so many of our young people.

We will transform mental health services, drive down NHS waiting lists, boost skills, bolster employment rights and provide tailored job support.

Chancellor Jeremy Hunt and Work and Pensions Secretary Mel Stride have both sought to get people of all ages back into the workplace, in a bid to boost labour supply across the UK.

The proportion of people out of work rose since the start of the Covid-19 pandemic in 2020, but the issue is also seen to be caused by a broader set of factors including rising disability and long-term sickness levels.

A Government spokesperson said: We are driving down inactivity and helping young people into work as we build on our track record of youth unemployment falling by 43% since 2010.

We are investing 2.3 billion into mental health services and supporting more 16 and 17-year-olds to participate in education and apprenticeships.

More widely our Back to Work Plan will help up to 1.1 million people with long-term health conditions, disabilities or long-term unemployed to look for and stay in work.

A Conservative spokesman accused Labour of having a brass neck, saying the party had never left office with unemployment lower than what they inherited.
An award-winning author has spoken of her efforts to address the under-representation of the rural Northern Ireland experience in literature and to bring Ulster-Scots to an international audience.

Jan Carson from Ballymena also said there was chronic underfunding of artists in Northern Ireland, pointing out that funding in the Republic of Ireland is five times higher.

Ms Carson, a former winner of the EU Prize for Literature, has recently returned form the US where she was part of a group of Northern Ireland female writers who spoke at universities to commemorate the 25th anniversary of the Good Friday Agreement.

Writer Lisa McGee in front of a Derry Girls mural in Londonderry (Liam McBurney/PA)

She said the success of Lisa McGees Derry Girls had improved awareness of the situation in Northern Ireland internationally.

I might usually be in about 25 countries a year.

Before you had to really start at ground zero, the young people who had grown up post-1998 had no idea of what had happened here.

Now a lot of them have watched Derry Girls and they have a kind of working concept that there was a conflict here, there was division here, roughly an idea of what the problems were.

I was in Bulgaria this year and someone put their hand up and said Is that like in Derry Girls?, so Lisa has done an amazing job for us in terms of beginning that conversation.

Ms Carson said that the emotional core of her work is often drawn from her experiences growing up in Co Antrim.

She said: I personally feel I always keep getting drawn back from the places I came from and the places that made me and where I grew up because it is what I know best but also because I feel it is under-represented at the moment, particularly that rural Protestant experience.

When my novel The Raptures first came out, I went back to my primary school and I was teaching the P7 class and they were writing stories with me, and this one wee girl had this great bit about her dad being a farmer and getting the lambs back in the barn, it was very Ballymena.

She read the line and said Jan, whats a better way to say that. I said hold on, theres no better way to say that, thats your vernacular, thats the way you use language, its beautiful.

I was able to hold up The Raptures and say the kids in this book speak like you, this is based on this school and people like it so much it has been translated into languages all around the world, the way you speak.

I want them to grow up proud of where they are from.

Its important for young people from those backgrounds to see themselves represented in culture and arts as this helps to emphasise that their experiences are valid and worthy of being listened to, learned from and celebrated.

I didnt really see my own experience in art or culture as a child and it took me a long time to realise it was a valid experience.

Ms Carson said her use of Ulster-Scots can cause difficulties when her work is being translated for an international audience.

Jan Carson (right) was recently awarded a Major Individual Artist grant by the Arts Council of NI (Arts Council NI/PA)

She said: If I am going to put in ploughtering or footery or something and I will have to wrestle with the translators saying what does that mean?

Some English language writers who are from different continents like India or South America, they often pepper their work with Spanish terms or an Indian colloquialism and it is not translated because there is a deep respect.

Why would I not want to leave footery or ploughtering in there as a piece of Ulster-Scots terminology? I fight for that a lot. You are not translating it into a French version, just leave it.

Ms Carson was recently the recipient of an Major Individual Award from the Arts Council NI, but said she believed that there had to be increased financial support for the arts.

She said: I think it is chronic. This funding is for 15,000 to write what will be my 11th book. There are people in the Republic of Ireland who are getting 25,000 euros to work on their first book.

I feel very strongly that we talk the talk of a shared island approach to the arts, a lot of our arts organisations are shared island, but if we are going to do that we need to look at the discrepancies between funding and financial support for artists.

There is five times more support for arts in the South than there is in the North.

Jan Carsons next collection of short stories, Quickly While We Still Have Horses, will be released in April.
Irish officials investigated whether an extradition order issued by the UK for Desmond Dessie Ellis was valid if the warrant used the term Republic of Ireland rather than Ireland.

Confidential documents released this year also indicate that Gardai had been told not to arrest one fugitive if found as the warrant had used Republic of Ireland.

A request was made by the Attorney Generals office in January 1990 to examine the UKs use of Ireland as the name of the State, based on direction given by the Supreme Court on aspects of the Ellis extradition case.

The Supreme Court declined to uphold Ellis claim that his right to challenge the validity of the warrants was hampered by his inability to access the information upon which the warrants were based.

Mr Ellis, who is now a Sinn Fein TD, was serving a prison sentence in Portlaoise Prison at the time of the extradition request.

The warrants were issued in relation to the possession of explosives with intent to endanger life, and conspiracy to case explosions likely to endanger life, in the jurisdiction of England and Wales between January 1981 and October 1983, according to documents from the National Archives.

A document marked confidential stated that the Ellis extradition case was due to come before the District Court on January 8 1990, and could mark the first case of a request for extradition to Britain since the Guildford Four.

It stated that the terms of the judgements on the issue of the name of the State would certainly suggest a possibility that the District Court will refuse Elliss extradition on this ground alone.

The confidential briefing note outlines comments from Supreme Court judge Brian Walsh, who emphasised the obligation on the district court in Ireland to protect the constitutional rights of those before it.

The judges comments are quoted as: The present case could provide a possible illustration of what could arise it is difficult to see what, if any, justification can exist in justice for adding (a conspiracy charge) to the substantive offence if charged. To adopt it as a policy, is to say the least, very dubious.

In relation to the name of the State, the judge remarked: If the courts of other countries seeking the assistance of the courts of this country are unwilling to give this State its constitutionally correct and internationally recognised name then, in my view, the warrants should be returned to such countries until they are rectified.

The document notes that Gardai had been advised not to proceed with the arrest of one fugitive if found because the term Republic of Ireland appears in the warrant(s).

It also added that Irelands attorney generals office had been in touch with their counterparts in London to indicate that the use of Republic of Ireland will not be acceptable in warrants and that the Checklist will have to be amended to make this explicit.

Irelands Attorney General office suggested referring to a relevant Irish city or county instead.

The Chief Justice at the time Thomas Finlay agreed that it is undesirable that the name of the State should be incorrectly set out in warrants, but said that no argument was presented on this issue before the court and questioned whether it was good grounds for refusing extradition.

Mr Justice Niall McCarthy said the courts in Ireland should refuse to sanction any further such refusal to recognise Article 4 of the Constitution.

A legal adviser replied on January 9 that two formats of an agreement are used, and stated that both sides appear to be satisfied with the name of the other State as long as the document which binds them is in the correct designation according to domestic requirements.

In fact, to avoid difficulties in bringing the aforementioned agreement into force in each jurisdiction, the notifications have been worded to avoid the use of the names of the two States.

It also stated that legal requests from the UK are normally addressed to the courts of the Republic of Ireland, and have always been acted on without difficulty.

A briefing note from the Anglo-Irish Section stated that UK law is clearly wrong in saying that Irish law names the State the Republic of Ireland, and rather, the law says the states name is Eire or Ireland, and the description of the State is the Republic of Ireland.

The conclusion drawn is that it is clear that the British name the State, in the domestic and bi-lateral contexts, as the Republic of Ireland in the knowledge that we do not regard it is the name of the State.

But it added that if Ireland were to press the use of Ireland they may accept to do so provided that we (call) them by the name their law specifies, ie, the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland.

The observation was also made that Irelands own practice in this regard to the name of the State has not been wholly consistent, and points out that Republic of Ireland is sometimes used to distinguish the state from Northern Ireland.

In November 1990, Mr Ellis became the first person extradited from Ireland to the UK under the 1987 Extradition Act.

He had gone on hunger strike in the days prior to his extradition to protest efforts to send him to Britain.

Mr Ellis was acquitted at a trial in London the following year.

The material can be viewed in the National Archives in file 2021/53/29
Civil servants were warned that the allocation of EU funds to ex-prisoner groups in Northern Ireland was to come under intensified scrutiny from Brussels in the wake of 9/11.

Officials were told of inevitably heightened sensitivities within the European Commission on how its Peace Programme funding initiative would be portrayed internationally, after the terror attack on the US, according to a newly released archive document from the Public Records Office of Northern Ireland.

The cautionary note was written by a senior official in the Department of Finance on September 26, 2001, after the head of the Northern Ireland Civil Service, Gerry Loughran, asked all departments to assess and report back on the potential implications of 9/11.

In his email to colleagues within the Department of Finance, Leo OReilly said the events of September 11 in the US could have a direct bearing on EU structural funding.

He highlighted that allegations had been made from time to time that structural funds, particularly from the Peace initiative, had been used to assist those in Northern Ireland/Ireland engaged in terrorism.

He then referred to two allegations related to arms finds in premises used by ex-loyalist prisoner groups, that he said had received funding in the first tranche of the Peace Programme, Peace 1.

These incidents were investigated by Olaf (the European Commissions anti fraud unit) at our request, and in neither case did they find any evidence that EU funding had been used to purchase the arms concerned, he added.

He then noted the arrest of three republicans in Colombia the previous month  August, 2001. They were held on suspicion of training Farc rebels.

Mr OReilly said in that case there had been an alleged link to a republican ex-prisoner group that also received funding under the Peace Programme, albeit via the Republic of Ireland part of the initiative.

A view of World Trade Centre towers after the 9/11 attacks (PA)

He continued: We and the NIO (which was the lead department involved in the cases last year) take the view that since Peace money is and will continue to be used to assist ex prisoners, then it is inevitable (and entirely consistent with the objectives of the Programme) that some of those who benefit from it will be individuals, associated with projects, who have a previous paramilitary associations.

However there is also a clear responsibility on us and on intermediary funding bodies concerned to ensure that the money is used only for the purposes specified in some detail in the Operational Programme and the Programme Complement.

Officials in the European Commission also acknowledge that by providing this type of support to former prisoners carries presentational risks, but their line is that this is a risk for peace worth taking in the Northern Ireland context.

At the same time there is also considerable nervousness among those at senior levels in the Commission about how such funding might be portrayed more widely in the Union and beyond.

This is particularly so since several MEPs, including local unionist MEPs, have used their positions to put down motions etc criticising the Commissions approach to funding former prisoners projects in the Peace Programme.

All this usually manifests itself in detail requests for analysis, information and reassurances from the Commission to the member states each time allegations arise, as well as administrative delays in the payment of EU receipts to NI.

Mr OReilly suggested the level of scrutiny would ramp up further following 9/11.

The events of September 11 will inevitably heighten the European Commissions sensitivities as to how it how its funding policies under the Peace Programmes might be portrayed, he wrote.

This will not manifest itself in any general or arbitrary suspension of the funding (which could not be done anyhow without the member states agreements); however it will mean that we will be expected to ensure there are rigorous systems in place to ensure that the EU funding provided to ex prisoner and other groups is carefully targeted and monitored to ensure it (is) consistent with the objectives of the measures concerned.
Get dinner on the table in just 25 minutes this month with these simple recipes. From rich skillets like our Creamy Skillet Chicken with Spinach and Mushrooms to flavorful chilis like our Creamy White Chili with Cream Cheese, these meals are delicious, nourishing and perfect to help you stay fueled even when you have a full schedule.

Creamy Skillet Chicken with Spinach & Mushrooms

Marty Baldwin

Chicken cutlets are topped with a spinach-mushroom cream sauce for a flavorful yet healthy dinner. Serve over pasta or grains to soak up the sauce.

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Cauliflower Tikka Masala with Chickpeas

In this vegetarian riff on a popular Indian dish, we swap in cauliflower and chickpeas for the chicken in tikka masala. The cauliflower's nooks and crannies are particularly good at soaking up all the intense flavors of the sauce. Serve over rice for an easy healthy dinner that's ready in just 20 minutes.

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Spinach-Artichoke-Sausage Cauliflower Gnocchi

Hearty and piquant, this quick cauliflower gnocchi dinner incorporates several healthy convenience ingredients, including turkey sausage and tender artichoke hearts, so dinner is on your table fast.

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Creamy White Chili with Cream Cheese

This rich, yet healthy, white chicken chili recipe comes together in a flash thanks to quick-cooking chicken thighs and canned white beans. Mashing some of the beans acts as a fast thickener when your soups don't have a long time to simmer. Cream cheese adds the final bit of richness and a hint of sweet tang.

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This Mushroom-Miso Pasta Is Impossibly Flavorful

Photographer: Jacob Fox, Food stylist: Holly Dreesman, Prop stylist: Joseph Wanek

This miso pasta features mushrooms, another umami-forward ingredient that takes this quick vegetarian recipe to the next level. We use white miso, which is light and slightly sweet. Whisking the miso into the reserved cooking water makes it easier to incorporate into the pasta.

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Zucchini-Chickpea Veggie Burgers with Tahini-Ranch Sauce

This veggie burger recipe is one you'll want to make again and again. Savory chickpea and zucchini patties are topped with a creamy, herb-flecked tahini ranch sauce, juicy tomato slices and peppery arugula for a satisfying and healthy homemade veggie burger. Serve these vegan burgers on buns or stuff them in pitas. We recommend making extra sauceit's a great dip for veggie sticks and, thinned with a little water, it makes a wonderful salad dressing.

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The Easiest Chicken Carbonara (Ready in 20 Minutes!)

Photographer: Jacob Fox, Food stylist: Holly Dreesman, Prop stylist: Joseph Wanek

This chicken carbonara has the classic all-yolk sauce, which yields a rich and creamy texture. For some carbonara recipes the residual heat and starch from the pasta are enough to thicken the yolks, but we prefer the double-boiler method to gently cook the egg yolks to a custard-like texture without the risk of overcooking them to a scramble.

Roasted Vegetable & Black Bean Tacos

These hearty vegan tacos are quick and easy to make, perfect for busy weeknights. They are so tasty no one will miss the meat or dairy.

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When You Need Something Quick & Healthy, This 20-Minute Teriyaki Chicken Stir-Fry Has Your Back

Photographer: Brie Goldman, Food Stylist: Addelyn Evans, Prop Stylist: Gabriel Greco

Look for pre-sliced pepper-and-onion mix in the produce section of the supermarket. It helps save prep time in this quick five-ingredient dinner. This easy dinner calls for hot cooked brown rice, which is perfect if you have leftovers. If not, look for microwaveable brown rice or frozen brown rice to keep prep minimal.

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Pesto Pasta Salad

A creamy pesto sauce turns this simple pasta salad into a delightful dinner. Adding broccoli to the pasta cooking water just before the pasta is done is a convenient way to briefly cook it so that it turns a vivid shade of green and softens slightly.

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White Bean, Kale & Kielbasa Soup Is Ready in Under 20 Minutes

Brie Passano

This quick soup recipe is done in only 15 minutes thanks to convenience products like frozen chopped onion and precooked kielbasa. You'll have a warming winter soup on the table in no time!

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Green Goddess Salad with Chickpeas

In this cucumber, tomato, Swiss cheese and chickpea salad recipe, a healthy green goddess dressing is made from avocado, buttermilk and herbs. The extra dressing is delicious served with grilled vegetables.

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Cheese Quesadillas with Peppers & Onions

These 15-minute quesadillas are a notch above basic with the addition of sauteed peppers and onions. Let the kiddos load them up with the toppings at the table.

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Spaghetti with Rosemary & Lemon

Kristin Teig

This recipe, adapted from Eat Better, Feel Better, proves that pasta doesn't have to be complicated to be luscious. This dish is very simple but flavorful, so even a smaller portion makes a nice, light meal when paired with a big green salad. You could also add bits of cooked asparagus, broccoli, zucchinieven shrimp if you're not going for a meatless main.

Chicken Cutlets with Creamy Spinach & Roasted Red Pepper Sauce

Serve these saucy, ultra-quick chicken cutlets over your favorite pasta. This easy dinner recipe is sure to become a new weeknight favorite.

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One-Skillet Bourbon Chicken

Photography / Antonis Achilleos, Styling / Christine Keely, Ali Ramee

Bourbon chicken gets coated in a slightly sweet-spicy sauce for a flavorful dinner that comes together quickly, making it perfect for busy weeknights.

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Spinach & Artichoke Dip Pasta

If you've ever wanted to make a meal out of warm spinach and artichoke dip, this creamy pasta is for you. And here's what's almost as good as the flavor of this comforting dish: the fact that this healthy dinner takes just 20 minutes to prepare.

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Baked Beans with Ground Beef

Upgrade baked beans from a classic side dish to a meaty main meal by adding lean ground beef. The final result, a hearty casserole, is an easy and fast dinner option.

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Cheeseburger Stuffed Baked Potatoes

Skip the bun and serve all of your favorite cheeseburger ingredients--beef, cheese, tomatoes, red onions and lettuce--with baked potatoes for a hearty and easy dinner recipe that kids and adults will love. Feel free to swap out the ground beef for ground turkey or tofu crumbles.

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Black Bean-Quinoa Bowl

This black bean and quinoa bowl has many of the usual hallmarks of a taco salad, minus the fried bowl. We've loaded it up with pico de gallo, fresh cilantro and avocado plus an easy hummus dressing to drizzle on top.

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Vegan Coconut Chickpea Curry

To make this 20-minute vegan curry even faster, buy precut veggies from the salad bar at the grocery store. To make it a full, satisfying dinner, serve over cooked brown rice. When shopping for simmer sauce, look for one with 400 mg of sodium or less and check the ingredient list for cream or fish sauce if you want to keep this vegan. If you like a spicy kick, add a few dashes of your favorite hot sauce at the end.

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Creamy Garlic Skillet Chicken with Spinach

Marty Baldwin

Quick-cooking chicken cutlets are coated in a garlic cream sauce, while spinach adds a boost of color and nutrition in this easy, one-skillet recipe.

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Chicken Fajita Quesadillas Are Packed with 29 Grams of Protein

Photographer: Brie Goldman, Food Stylist: Addelyn Evans, Prop Stylist: Gabriel Greco

These 5-ingredient quesadillas take just 10 minutes to make. Using pre-sliced onions and peppers plus a taco seasoning blend helps keep the ingredient list (and prep time) short. If you like a little heat, use pepper Jack cheese in the filling.

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Lemon-Garlic Pasta with Salmon

Wondering what to do with leftover salmon? This is a delicious and easy way to turn it into another weeknight-friendly, quick dinner. Don't forget to reserve some pasta waterits starch thickens the lemon-garlic pasta sauce and makes it silky-smooth.

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Marinara Meat Sauce Topped Baked Potato

Break out of your pasta routine by subbing in a baked potato in this simple and satisfying dinner for one.

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Salmon & Avocado Poke Bowl

Poke (pronounced poh-kay), the bite-size marinated fish salad famous in Hawaii, is so popular that it's sold by the pound in supermarkets. Now it has crossed the Pacific to become the meal-in-a-bowl du jour, served in eateries from Los Angeles to New York. But it's easy to make at home with this quick recipe. Sriracha and Chinese-style mustard add a touch of heat to the classic poke seasoning of soy sauce and sesame oil. Serving it over a brown rice salad makes it a meal.

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20-Minute Creamy Chicken Marsala with Prosciutto

Jacob Fox

A bit of prosciutto adds savory flavor to this sauce. Serve this quick-cooking dish with whole-wheat angel hair pasta.

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Herby Cod with Roasted Tomatoes

Oregano, thyme and paprika flavor the cod in this 15-minute, Mediterranean-inspired meal. Olives, capers and roasted cherry tomatoes add color and zest to each bite.

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Spinach Ravioli with Artichokes & Olives

Store-bought spinach ravioli and a handful of basic pantry items are all you need to get a healthy dinner on the table in 15 minutes. Ingredients like oil-packed sun-dried tomatoes, briny Kalamata olives and toasty pine nuts help to build big flavor fast. If you can't find frozen artichokes, swap in a 15-ounce can (just be sure to drain and rinse them well).

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Lentil Curry with Cauliflower Rice

Combine precooked lentils (often located in the produce section of your grocery store) with an Indian-style simmer sauce for a super-fast and flavorful curry. Serving it over riced cauliflower bumps up the vegetable count and keeps carb servings in check. This 3-ingredient dinner (not counting salt, pepper and oil) is really as easy as it gets. To be mindful of the salt, look for simmer sauces with less than or close to 350 mg sodium per -cup serving.

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Read the original article on Eating Well.
Antony Blinken led the closed-door negotiations for the US side

The US and Mexico have vowed to crack down on migrant smugglers as a growing migration crisis causes chaos on their shared border.

Secretary of State Antony Blinken and Mexican President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador discussed how to stop the flow of people in talks held in Mexico City.

The high-level meeting came as pressure grows on the White House to stem the influx of migrants to the US.

US officials said last week that up to 10,000 people were crossing every day.

On X, the platform formerly known as Twitter, Mr Blinken said the US is committed to resolving "shared challenges" with Mexico including "unprecedented irregular migration flows", drug trafficking and re-opening ports of entry.

Speaking to journalists on Mr Blinken's flight back to Washington, a senior Biden administration official said that Mexico's delegation shared plans to crack down on migrant smugglers, whom officials say have been moving migrants en masse to the border on trucks and trains.

"We were really impressed by some of the new actions that Mexico is taking, and we have seen in recent days a pretty significant reduction in border crossings," the official was quoted as saying by the Agence France Press (AFP) news agency.

The official added, however, that the US would "never draw conclusions based on day-to-day fluctuations" of migrant numbers and would continue to monitor the situation in the new year.

Mexico's Foreign Minister, Alicia Barcena, told reporters that the negotiations also focused on the "economic part" and the "structural causes of migration".

Mexico's president gave a positive assessment of the talks, saying on X that the two sides came to "important agreements" but offering few details as Mr Blinken left.

Speaking ahead of the summit he had called for more efforts to address the root causes of migration and warned that it could become a key issue in the 2024 US election.

Former president Donald Trump has taken an increasingly hard-line stance on the border and will reportedly unleash a massive crackdown on undocumented migrants if returned to office next year.

President Lopez Obrador and Antony Blinken met in Mexico to address the spike in migration flows

The meeting in Mexico City came on the same day as the mayors of three US cities - New York City, Denver and Chicago - held a joint virtual press conference to address efforts to mitigate what officials have described as a migrant "crisis" in those areas.

Additionally, for the first time on Wednesday, New York City Mayor Eric Adams signed an executive order requiring bus charter companies to provide 32 hours' notice of migrant arrivals in the city and limiting the times of day in which migrants can reach the city. Last week, 14 buses carrying migrants arrived from Texas in a single night, an all-time high.

The number of people apprehended at the US southern border exceeded two million, both in the 2022 and the 2023 fiscal years.

US Customs and Border Protection [CBP] officials said in a statement on Friday that there were more than 190,000 apprehensions in November alone.

The figures have become a political vulnerability for Mr Biden, with the Republican-controlled House of Representatives refusing to allocate new military funding to support Ukraine without a commitment to reinforce the border.

Ahead of the meeting attention in US media turned to a migrant caravan of about 7,000 people which is making its way towards the US from southern Mexico.

At least 7,000 migrants are estimated to have joined the caravan which started in southern Mexico

The caravan left from the southern Mexican city of Tapachula, near the country's southern border with Guatemala, on Christmas Eve.

Its leaders carried a banner reading "Exodus from poverty".

So far, the caravan - reportedly made up of migrants from Honduras, El Salvador, Venezuela, Haiti and other countries - is about 1,000 miles south of the US border.
Theyre back.

A migrant caravan slowly making its way north from Mexicos border with Guatemala is taking center stage in the immigration debate as the Biden administration turns to Mexico for help in reducing border crossings.

The group of about 6,000 people took over immigration headlines that had been previously occupied by bipartisan Senate negotiations, but its likely to produce similar results.

The Senate talks to tie Ukraine aid to permanent border policy changes fizzled out as the holidays approached and are unlikely to return to the limelight in January, when Congress will be under deadline to keep the government open.

Migrant caravans, say Customs and Border Protection (CBP) officials, also tend to fizzle out.

These reported caravans generally travel very slowly and often splinter before they make progress moving northbound towards the Southwest Border. Nevertheless, CBP will continue to monitor developments in coordination with our foreign and interagency counterparts as we have with previous movements of migrants, said a CBP spokesperson in a statement.

Nevertheless, news of the caravan has overshadowed a high-level visit to Mexico led by Secretary of State Antony Blinken  and kept migration in the spotlight.

Thats bad news for President Biden, whose two weakest issues heading into the 2024 reelection campaign are his age and border security.

But it also underscores how deeply politicized migration has become: News of caravans forming periodically surface in a negative light, though the caravans rarely have a tangible effect on border operations.

Caravans are loosely enjoined groups of people who travel through Mexico together to minimize their exposure to criminals or corrupt officials.

The caravans also serve a political purpose, giving organizers and migrants exposure for their cause; the latest caravan was dubbed an exodus from poverty by organizers seeking to avoid official retaliation for leaving the southern city of Tapachula without government consent.

But with large numbers of migrants moving north within caravans or in smaller groups, the logistics of caravans become mostly irrelevant to border officials.

How they get to the border if they enter illegally has no bearing on how they are processed, a CBP official told The Hill.

Still, the exodus from poverty caravan dominated the issue as Mexican President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador hosted Blinken, Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas and homeland security adviser Liz Sherwood-Randall to discuss how to address the mass movement of people through Mexico.

Lopez Obrador preemptively shut down the possibility of a law enforcement crackdown, though Mexicos National Guard  a militarized police force created by him  has focused its resources on migration, rather than on criminal justice.

Asked Wednesday morning whether U.S. officials had called on him to tighten Mexicos immigration controls, Lopez Obrador said, No.

No, no, because they know very well what our proposals are. Weve always talked about addressing the root causes, that the ideal path is to help poor countries, he told reporters hours before his meeting with Blinken.

Though Lopez Obrador has often made the case that migration can only be stemmed by addressing root causes such as poverty, Mexican security forces have at times clashed with migrants, and his government played a key role in implementing the Trump administrations most stringent border controls.

Programs that require quick expulsion of third-country nationals to Mexico, such as Title 42 or remain in Mexico, need Mexicos acquiescence to work.

Trump obtained that green light by threatening tariffs, a tack unlikely to be taken by the Biden administration.

That gives Lopez Obrador a wider berth in negotiations with the United States, even as CBP has closed key commercial border crossings, citing a lack of manpower to deal with migrants and commerce.

The potential for economic hurt is asymmetric  Mexico is more dependent on U.S. commerce than vice versa  but prolonged border closures would hit key U.S. economic sectors including agriculture and the auto industry.

Those deep commercial ties force Mexico to the table, but Lopez Obradors tactics are different toward Biden, who sees the border as a liability, from what they were toward Trump, who saw it as his calling card.

Though Lopez Obrador has been a willing partner in controversial bilateral border policies such as Title 42, his public-facing rhetoric prioritizes root causes over enforcement.

And Lopez Obrador, who wants his party to remain in power after Mexicos 2024 presidential election, has found a useful public adversary in Republicans, from presidential candidates suggesting unilateral military action to Texas Gov. Greg Abbott.

They need to do more, to support more, and thats what the Congress should be proposing, with all due respect, how to authorize resources for the cooperation and support for the poor peoples of Latin America and the Caribbean, rather than imposing barriers, razor wire in the river or thinking of building walls, said Lopez Obrador.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill.
Two bodies found inside a car, believed to belong to a missing Texas teen who was nine months pregnant and her boyfriend, each had a gunshot wound, police said Wednesday.

San Antonio Police Chief William McManus told reporters earlier on Tuesday that authorities believe the bodies belong to 18-year-old Savanah Soto, who was last seen on December 22, and her boyfriend, but he could not confirm the identities.

One of the victims was later identified as 22-year-old Matthew Guerra, according to the medical examiners office. Guerra was Sotos boyfriend, family members told CNN affiliate KSAT.

Police told CNN they are still waiting for medical examiners to identify the female victim.

The medical examiners office will conduct a death investigation to determine cause of death, a Wednesday police statement said. This investigation remains ongoing.

The case has been listed as a Capital Murder due to the death of an unborn child, San Antonio Police Lt. Michelle Ramos told CNN Wednesday.

The bodies were found in a car parked near an apartment complex, police said in an earlier statement.

Police believe the bodies were there for possibly three or four days, McManus said, describing the crime scene as very, very perplexing.

Soto was pregnant and past her delivery date when she missed an essential medical appointment and her family reported her missing, according to the Leon Valley Police Department.

Soto was last seen Friday in the 6000 block of Grissom Road, in Leon Valley, according to an alert issued by the Texas Department of Public Safety. The car described in that alert was a grey Kia Optima.

San Antonio police will be taking over the investigation as the crime scene is located within the City of San Antonio, a release from the Leon Valley Police Department said.

CNNs Lauren Mascarenhas contributed to this report.

For more CNN news and newsletters create an account at CNN.com
Norway and Britain have sent Ukraine two Sandown-Class Mine Hunters to help clear the Russian naval mines showing up on the west coast of the Black Sea, where commercial shipping brings supplies to Ukraine and carries Ukrainian wheat and other food products to world markets. These 600-ton ships are already in service for Britian, Estonia, and Saudi Arabia. One was also transferred to Romania, a NATO member country with a coastline just south of Ukraine. Some of the Russian mines are drifting into Romanian waters. Sandowns have fiberglass hulls to protect them from bottom mines that look for metal hulled ships. The Sandowns have special sonar and other sensors to find mines as well as systems to detonate the mines safely. The hull of the Sandon-class ships is built to withstand the shockwave from mines the Sandown found and detonated.

The naval mine problem in the Black Sea became a problem for Ukraine in mid-2023, when there was a sudden increase in the number of free floating mines between Crimea and the shipping lane from the western Ukraine port of Odessa via waters controlled by NATO nations to the narrow straits Turkey controls that lead to the Mediterranean and the worlds oceans. Turkey and other NATO nations control most of the Black Sea coastline, especially the southern and western Black Sea coasts. The Russian navy is believed responsible for more than 400 free floating naval mines showing up west of Crimean since mid-2023.

Few of these mines appear to be tethered mines that broke loose from their chain. That is an old problem with Russian made floating mines. Tethered mines are designed to have their weighted base sink to the bottom of shallow (less than 20 meters) water. Most of the mines currently in the Black Sea were apparently released into the water without any tether. The use of naval mines is diminished because they are not much of a threat to warships, which are constantly on the lookout for them, and most commercial ships are too big to sink after encountering one of these mines. There is some hull damage and flooding, but not enough to sink a ship.

The mines are a danger to smaller commercial ships, especially fishing trawlers, not to mention some large private vessels like yachts. Some NATO counties with Black Sea coastlines have organized a mine clearing operation. Turkey, Romania, and Bulgaria contributed mine clearing vessels and equipment. NATO members that do not border the Black Sea but do have a lot of commercial shipping operating in it, are also contributing mines clearing ships and equipment.

Floating contact mines are a 19th century development that has been improved on for over a century and is still used because it is cheap and effective. Iran has acquired a stockpile of 3,000 to 6,000 mines, mostly of Soviet/Russian, Chinese or North Korean origin. Most are unsophisticated but still dangerous moored contact mines, like those that damaged several American warships in the Persian Gulf during 1991. These mines had been released by Iraq. Iran's current arsenal of sea mines is estimated to number around 2,000 and includes the domestically produced Sadaf-01/02 moored contact mines as well as more sophisticated bottom mines that depend on battery-operated sensors to detect ships passing overhead and detonate when a ship of the desired type comes by. These mines put holes in ships bottoms, which causes serious flooding that often sinks them. Naval forces with the right equipment can easily find and disable bottom mines and thats what happened to the ones Iran supplied to the Yemen Shia rebels. The rebels had only a few such mines, and apparently no more were smuggled in after so many were found and destroyed by naval mine clearing ships.
The University of Wisconsin System Board of Regents unanimously fired UW-La Crosse Chancellor Joe Gow during a closed-door meeting Wednesday after discovering videos posted on porn websites featuring him and his wife.

Gow, 63, and his wife, Carmen Wilson, are featured on several porn websites using "Sexy Happy Couple" as the account name, a moniker also used on at least two social media accounts.

The couple also published two books detailing their experiences in the adult film industry, under pseudonyms. Both books and the social media accounts feature photos clearly showing Gow and Wilson.

Joe Gow and his wife, Carmen Wilson, in September after the UW-La Crosse chancellor announced he would step down for a faculty role.

"In recent days, we learned of specific conduct by Dr. Gow that has subjected the university to significant reputational harm," UW System President Jay Rothman said. "His actions were abhorrent."

UW Board of Regents President Karen Walsh said Gow showed "a reckless disregard" for his role as a UW-La Crosse leader.

"We are alarmed, and disgusted, by his actions, which were wholly and undeniably inconsistent with his role as chancellor," she said.

Gow told the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, part of the USA TODAY Network, that the creation of books and videos exploring consensual adult sexuality falls within his right to free speech under the First Amendment. He said he previously hid this part of his life but made a recent decision to reverse course and "be a little bit more open about these free speech issues."

"There's nothing said about the University of Wisconsin; there's nothing said about the chancellor (on the videos)," he said after the firing Wednesday. "So someone else would have to make those associations. And then someone would have to say those are problematic."

No university property or funds were used to create the books or videos, Gow said. He created the content on his own personal time and spent more on production costs than the "minimal" money the videos have earned through the websites.

Gow questioned whether the board afforded him due process because he said he wasn't given an opportunity to make his case. He said no one at the UW System nor on the UW Board of Regents contacted him ahead of the Wednesday meeting where the board met behind closed doors for just over three hours.

The statements from UW leaders Wednesday struck a different tone from earlier this year when Gow announced plans to step down at the end of the 2023-24 school year and return to the faculty as a communications professor. He is the longest serving of the current chancellors, leading the 10,000 student campus since 2007.

This is a hallmark of excellent stewardship," UW System President Jay Rothman said in an August statement. "He has provided a steady hand through challenging times and met the moment when we needed him."

Gow's 2006 contract says little about the termination process. The six pages spell out his separate appointment as a tenured faculty member and explains how his new salary would be determined if he were to resign or be terminated from the chancellorship. The document also notes he would have received six months' notice of termination had he not been granted tenure.

The contract also includes these key lines: "The Chancellor is encouraged to engage in outside activities that contribute to the Chancellor's professional advancement or benefit the University. The Chancellor may not engage in any activity that may be adverse to, or competitive or inconsistent with the interests of the University of Wisconsin System."

Rothman said he placed Gow on paid administrative leave as he transitions into his faculty role. The UW System president, however, has also filed a complaint with the new interim chancellor, UW-La Crosse Provost Betsy Morgan, asking for Gow's tenured faculty status to be reviewed. Rothman also said he has engaged an outside law firm to conduct a full investigation.

Wilson chaired the search committee that selected Gow to lead UW-La Crosse. She was Gow's chief of staff in the chancellor's office from 2008 to 2011. She then led UW-Rock County from 2011 to 2016.

The two married in 2014. Now as Gow's spouse, Wilson serves as an "associate to the chancellor" under the terms of his contract. The formal appointment is unpaid and complements the chancellor's public-facing role leading the university.

Gow, Wilson used pseudonyms to avoid 'negative repercussions'

The couple's account on X, formerly Twitter, hinted at their hobby: "The Passionate plant-powered couple cooking, conversing, and shooting with top adult video stars. Visit our LoyalFans and OnlyFans sites for fully explicit scenes!"

Gow and Wilson have six videos on OnlyFans that feature adult film stars, according to descriptions of the videos. They also appear on at least two other porn websites, PornHub and XHamster. Some videos have more than 200,000 views. All videos were posted in the last two months.

They also appear on a YouTube channel called "Sexy Healthy Cooking." It shows nine videos of the couple cooking various vegan dishes with adult film stars.

The couple appears to have published two books together under the names Geri and Jay Hart. According to the author bio on Amazon, the names are pseudonyms for "a married woman and man who serve in executive positions at two well-known organizations in the U.S. An author photo shows Gow and Wilson.

The books don't reference La Crosse, Wisconsin, or any work for a university. But they do allude to the couple's status in the community, and how they have grappled with the tension they felt between the expectations of their establishment careers and their desires to be more open about their sex lives.

You see, we couldnt be more entrenched in the local establishment, they wrote in Monogamy with Benefits: How Porn Enriches Our Relationship, published in 2015. Not only do we serve as executives at two of the better-known organizations in the city where we live, but we are also highly active in charitable and civic activities. We hold seats on non-profit boards, and were fixtures at a very traditional downtown public service club. All this has made us rather visible public figures in our city. Were sometimes quoted in the newspapers, and people approach us from time to time to say theyve seen us on last nights television news. In fact, you can even go on the web and find photographs of us smiling alongside ultra-reputable current and former national and state political leaders.

The couple noted they were fairly certain a scandal would ensue if our peers were to know about what weve been doing.

We think our sex is beautiful and have no qualms at all about other people watching us make love. But our establishment colleagues likely would be shocked to watch us complete the full carnal process  particularly with professional porn stars  and were fairly certain wed be shunned in our community. Our careers likely would be ruined, and whats worse is that the lives of our families and friends also could be impacted significantly, and not in a positive way. So, as much as wed like to be as honest with everyone else as weve been with ourselves about our sexuality, we feel compelled to keep our unconventional lifestyle hidden.

That book ends with the couples first experience being in a professionally produced sex video just before they got married. Their 2018 book, Married with Benefits: Our Real-life Adult Industry Adventures, describes additional experiences creating pornographic videos and collaborating with other adult performers.

Gow was previously punished for inviting adult film star to speak on campus

UW-La Crosse Chancellor Joe Gow announced he would step down at the end of the 2023-24 school year during his annual university address Monday.

This isn't Gow's first brush with controversy.

He was in hot water five years ago after he invited adult film star Nina Hartley to speak on campus as part of a "Free Speech week" event. Hartley's optional lecture, Fantasy versus reality: Viewing adult media with a critical eye drew a reported 75 attendees on campus.

Then-UW System president Ray Cross reprimanded Gow for exercising poor judgment" and denied him a pay raise. Gow personally reimbursed the $5,000 speakers fee amid the public outcry. The fee initially came out of his offices discretionary fund, which was supported by interest earnings and vending machine revenue.

But Gow stood by his decision, emailing Hartley a week later to say it was "without a doubt the most original and thought-provoking presentation Ive seen in my 12 years at our university."

Gow told the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel earlier this year the lecture was a stimulating discussion about an uncomfortable topic and illustrated why free speech is a good thing for universities. He has been fairly open to media interviews throughout his UW career, which has sometimes drawn the ire of UW System officials trying to send a single, consistent message.

In an interview after announcing his intention to retire as chancellor, Gow mentioned his desire to spend more time cooking with his wife and return to the classroom.

This article originally appeared on Milwaukee Journal Sentinel: University of Wisconsin Chancellor Joe Gow fired for his porn videos
Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson (D) went after Texas Gov. Greg Abbott (R) on Wednesday after the governor sent a flight full of migrants from Texas to Chicago.

What Gov. Abbott is doing is, quite frankly, its reckless, Johnson said in a CNN interview.

Last weeks chartered flight of 120 migrants marked an expansion of Abbotts migrant busing program, which has sent thousands of migrants from Texas to so-called sanctuary cities around the country as a form of protest against President Bidens immigration policies.

Sanctuary city Chicago started obstructing and targeting our busing mission. Texas will now expand our operation to include flights to Chicago, Abbott wrote last Wednesday in a post on X, the platform formerly known as Twitter. Until Biden steps up to secure the border, we will continue to provide overwhelmed Texas border towns with much-needed relief.

City leaders have widely denounced Abbotts busing program. At least 26,000 migrants have arrived in Chicago via bus since late last year, according to city data, with another 4,200 arriving by air.

Sending buses all over the state of Illinois and all over the country is reckless, and quite frankly, its dangerous, Johnson continued.

The progressive mayor noted that he agrees with Abbott that state and local governments must do more about immigration, but he was clear that the pair dont agree on how that should be done.

What Ive called for repeatedly is, again, a coordinated approach between state and local municipalities so that we can address this crisis, Johnson said. We need more resources.

In no way what the state of Texas is doing is helping the cause, he continued. As we recognize that there are challenges  significant challenges  at the border, we do need real substantive immigration reform and policies that allow us to have a structure and a pathway to citizenship.

The flights started as Chicago raised penalties for bus companies that drop loads of migrants in the city without filing proper paperwork or using a designated drop-off location.

The White House slammed the move last week as a political stunt.

Yet again, Governor Abbott is showing how little regard or respect he has for human beings, White House spokesperson Angelo Fernandez Hernandez said in a statement to The Associated Press. This latest political stunt just adds to his tally of extreme policies which seek to demonize and dehumanize people.

Johnson hosted a video conference with New York City Mayor Eric Adams (D) and Denver Mayor Mike Johnston (D) later Wednesday to again denounce the migrant transit scheme. Abbott has also sent migrants to New York City and Denver.

We cannot allow buses with people needing our help to arrive without warning at any hour of day and night, Adams said. This not only prevents us from providing assistance in an orderly way, it puts those who have already suffered in so much in danger.

Adams also announced similarly increased penalties for buses dropping off migrants unannounced.

The lack of care that has been on display for the last year and a half has created an incredible amount of chaos, Johnson said.

Updated at 8:28pm.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill.
Campaigning is in full swing for Taiwan's presidential election on 13 January

The December sun is baking on the Heng Chun peninsula, the tongue of land that juts out from the bottom end of Taiwan into the Philippine Sea.

A half-smoked cigarette pokes from the corner of Hsu Keng-Jui's mouth. He is part of a network of volunteers - most of them veterans like him - who track the now-constant presence of Chinese ships and aircraft just outside Taiwan's territorial limit.

Using plastic zip ties, Mr Hsu straps a long radio antenna to a steel railing, then sits down with his portable radios and begins to scan the military channels. At first all we hear is the soft southern lilt of the Taiwan coastguard directing sea traffic. Then a different accent and a different tone comes through the heavy static. It's the Chinese navy.

China has been ramping up the pressure ahead of a pivotal presidential race in Taiwan, an island it has long seen as a renegade province. With just weeks to go, Beijing looms larger than ever before - on the ballot, and at Taiwan's borders.

"We represent all the people of China," the voice from the Chinese navy intones. "The People's Republic of China is the only legitimate government of China, and Taiwan is an inseparable part of China."

Dragging on another cigarette, Mr Hsu looks unmoved: "I hear it every day now. It's like they're reading from a script."

Another voice comes across the airwaves. It's the captain of a Chinese tugboat, just three miles off Taiwan's coast.

The captain has been asked to move out of Taiwan's territorial waters, but he refuses: "What territorial waters are you talking about? Taiwan doesn't have any territorial waters!"

Mr Hsu is suddenly furious. He leaps up, grabs a handset and lets loose a stream of invective over the airwaves. He swears as he sits back down, muttering, "Who does he think he is?"

Hsu Keng-Jui is a veteran who volunteers to track Chinese military intrusion into Taiwan's territory

For decades the governments in Beijing and Taipei had an unwritten agreement not to stray across a median line that divides the 110-mile-wide strait between them.

Now China is crossing it almost daily, at sea and in the air.

On one day in September the People's Liberation Army sent more than a 100 aircraft towards Taiwan, 40 of which crossed the median line.

Map of Taiwan's air defence identification zone

This so-called "grey zone warfare" is meant to "subdue the enemy without fighting" to borrow the words of a legendary Chinese military strategist. In this case the enemy is Taiwan's government, those who support Taiwan's permanent separation from China, and its foreign allies in the United States and Japan.

"China is sending a very strong message to the United States and even Japan," says retired Admiral Lee Hsi-min, a former commander of Taiwan's armed forces. "It's telling them that Taiwan is part of China. That this is our area so we can do whatever we want here. Meanwhile it's aimed at making Taiwanese people scared and making them capitulate."

With Taiwan due to elect a new president on 13 January, the key objective is to undermine support for the ruling Democratic Progressive Party (DPP). The island's current president Tsai Ing-wen is stepping down after eight years in power.

Beijing on the ballot - again

President Tsai, who has been candid yet deft in her defence of Taiwan's sovereignty, is deeply disliked by Beijing. But the man running to replace her, current vice-president William Lai, is far worse in their eyes. Despite saying he will do nothing to change the status quo, Mr Lai is seen by China as a hardline "splittist", an advocate of formal Taiwan independence.

Beijing's message to voters in Taiwan is that a vote for William Lai is a vote for war. It's also the message from the main opposition party, the nationalist Kuomintang or KMT. Their candidate Hou Yu-ih told supporters at a recent rally: "Our whole generation will lose everything we have fought for during our lifetime [if Lai wins]."

But DPP supporters don't seem cowed. They have seen this movie before, and every four years since Taiwan's first presidential election in 1996.

President Tsai (C) with her vice-president and frontrunner William Lai (L) at an election rally in November

On a recent drizzly Sunday afternoon, around 60,000 DPP supporters crowded into a square in downtown Taipei to see Mr Lai and his running mate speak.

Then President Tsai stepped onto stage and the crowd came alive cheering and waving little, green DPP flags. Dotted among them were many rainbow flags of gay pride. Ms Tsai is adored by the LGBT community here for making Taiwan the first place in Asia to legalise same-sex marriage.

Democratic elections aside, this is yet another thing that sets Taiwan apart from China. And it is one of many reasons DPP supporters are adamant this island will never be part of the People's Republic of China.

"I am very worried [about the threats from China], but I am not afraid," said Frederika Chou. "Because I will volunteer to be a soldier and fight if they ever try to invade our beautiful country."

"Some day we may have war, but I'm not afraid because I am Taiwanese, and I need to protect my country," said 27-year-old Abby Ding who'd come to the rally with her father all the way from Tainan in the south.

Beijing is far from the only issue on the ballot. Rising costs, unaffordable housing and shrinking opportunities have driven dissatisfaction against the DPP - and sent young voters into the arms of the Taiwan People's Party and its populist candidate Ko Wen-je.

Once a DPP supporter, Mr Ko now positions himself as a middle-of-the road option between his main rivals - and one who can broker better ties with Beijing. While "reunification" was always a possibility, China's claims have now turned more urgent, especially with its leader Xi Jinping's repeated vows to take the island, with a deadline to boot.

The issue of how much Taiwan should prepare to fight divides the island's main parties. The current DPP government has invested heavily in new, domestically-built submarines and bought scores more F16 fighter jets and modern missiles from the US. It has reinstated 12-month-long compulsory military service and says it will do more if re-elected.

Supporters at a recent rally for KMT, which is campaigning on a promise to secure peace with Beijing

The KMT is much more ambivalent. Its candidate for vice-president, Jaw Shaw Kong, has labelled the submarine building programme a vanity project and a huge waste of money. Mr Jaw's family is from China, and he has long been seen as one of the most Beijing-friendly voices in Taiwan politics.

He says the only way to secure peace for Taiwan is to talk to Beijing, to reassure Mr Xi that Taiwan is not intent on independence, and that one day Taiwan and China can and should be united.

This is far from an unpopular opinion in Taiwan. The island's links to China, from family ties to trade, run deep and are tangled with complicated questions about the past and identity. It's an issue that often pits an older generation with stronger ties to the mainland, against young people who have grown up in a democratic, open society.

No-one will deny the military threat from China but they are divided over how best to deter it.

While the main parties squabble, Taiwan's air force is being slowly and steadily exhausted by the constant Chinese pressure.

Early one morning in December a group of Mirage 2000 fighter jets scrambled from their base on the west coast and roared out in to the Taiwan straits. The base is home to the 45 jets of Taiwan's rapid reaction squadron, tasked with confronting those Chinese aircraft daily probing the edge of Taiwan's airspace.

The jets were bought from France in the early 1990s and are now getting old. China is wearing down the Taiwanese air force, says retired admiral Lee. And they can feel the impact because maintenance has increased and "it is actually affecting our capability", he adds.

China can afford to fly as often as it likes. The People's Liberation Army has more than 2,000 fighter jets and is building many more. Taiwan has fewer than 300, many of them now over a quarter of a century old.

Military experts say that the wear and tear on the Mirage fleet is so high and the cost of fixing them so prohibitive that they've quietly stopped scrambling to intercept all but the most threatening of Chinese intrusions.

Taiwan's Mirage 2000 fighter jets are old - and they are being exhausted by Chinese incursions

The long game

The latest polling data suggest Mr Lai and the DPP are heading for victory in January albeit by a small margin. For the DPP it would be an unprecedented third consecutive presidential term, and a slap in the face for Beijing.

But the DPP will probably get less than 40% of the vote. That means there is still plenty to play for. Taiwan has a free press and an open internet. So the door is wide open for China's propaganda apparatus to target the 60% of voters who won't vote for the DPP. They will also be voting in a new legislature, which the KMT could win.

For years the main target of Chinese propaganda has been Taiwan's older population, particularly those with family ties to the mainland, people who have traditionally voted for the KMT.

"It's been very effective," says Puma Shen, an academic and political activist who has spent years studying Chinese influence operations around the world.

"If you look back in history, supporters of the KMT used to be very anti-Chinese Communist Party. But now they have become anti-Taiwan independence. They now believe people who support Taiwan independence are the ones who could trigger a war."

A group of voters who used to think of the Chinese Communist Party as the enemy, now think the DPP is the real danger. It's not a rare view in Taiwan. Older Taipei residents speak disparagingly of President Tsai and her party as a "bunch of troublemakers".

But Beijing knows the key to success will be winning over young voters, those who have no party affiliation and are dissatisfied with both the old traditional parties. They are now being targeted through TikTok and YouTube. China has over 200 channels that are uploading videos daily.

"They are very good at finding out what young Taiwanese are interested in and then creating content to attract them," Mr Shen says. It's what he calls "paving the road". Once an audience is established and trust develops, pro-China messaging is then introduced.

Mr Shen's research has shown an increase in groups of young Taiwanese who are not pro-China, but have become increasingly anti-US and anti-Japan. Such influence operations are unlikely to yield any sudden embrace of China. But Beijing is playing the long game.

"This election is only one short-term goal for them," Mr Shen says. "The grand strategy, the real end game, is to get Taiwan to sign a peace agreement without the need to fight."
FALL RIVER  The citys Jewish community is losing its last place of worship.

According to a message from Stephen Silverman, president of Congregation Beth El, the congregation has come to a crossroads and must sell its synagogue at 385 High St.

The move comes after years of decline in the number of congregants and the rising expense of maintaining Temple Beth El, a large, aging building.

"It wasnt so long ago that we would see at least 200 people at our High Holiday services, Silverman wrote. This year, there were 30. Even including those who watched the livestream, the total didnt reach 50, in a sanctuary that seats 650.

Fall River Wonders: What is the history of Fall River's Jewish community?

Temple Beth El is on High Street in Fall River. The congregation announced recently that it will have to sell its building.

The congregation is currently led by husband and wife Rabbi Mark Elber and Cantor Shoshana Brown. Elber and Brown were not immediately available for comment.

Silverman said the congregations board decided unanimously to find a broker to sell the Temple Beth El building and possibly to find a new home for the congregants. Silverman wrote that the board is looking to move quickly so theres no lapse in continuity.

Our primary duty is to keep Congregation Beth El viable well into the future, Silverman wrote. As we are the last vestige of Judaism in the greater Fall River area, keeping the congregation alive is more important than ever.

Declining Jewish congregation can't sustain building expenses

The building was constructed in 1929, during what Bristol Community College professor and historian Ron Weisberger said was the start of a high point in the citys Jewish population.

Our 95-year-old temple has numerous building maintenance problems, some of which would require a major investment to correct, Silverman wrote. We have already spent 55% of our annual maintenance budget in the first three months of this fiscal year. During the High Holidays, we had to put three buckets in the vestibule to catch water dripping from one of the towers.

He wrote in his email that, at the rate of spending on maintenance, the congregations endowment will run dry in five years.

A labor of love: Fall River rabbi wins prize for his first book of poetry

Though People Incorporated leases space from the building for its preschool program, providing nearly half of the congregations annual revenue, that lease is set to expire in 2025 and will not be renewed. That loss of income will, Silverman wrote, hasten the loss of the endowment.

The temple building is on Fall River's list of significant structures, and is listed with the state's Historical Commission.

Temple Beth El cantor Shoshanah Brown and her husband Rabbi Mark Elber are seen in a September 2020 photo.

The last of Fall River's Jewish temples

Records show at one time Fall River hosted seven or possibly as many as 12 synagogues.

Temple Beth El reached its peak of activity in the 1950s, with 600 families attending services and its own bowling league, Braille class, scout troops and an educational lecture series that covered topics like Thomas Aquinas, the weather, Confucius, Sigmund Freud and Thomas Jefferson.

In 2012, the orthodox Congregation Adas Israel on Robeson Street sold its building to an evangelical Christian church, leaving Temple Beth El the last synagogue in the city.

Weisberger said most of the Jews that came to Fall River were immigrants, whose children moved away for college and didnt come back.

That left a much older population, he said.

Temple Beth El, undated.

Silverman wrote that the average congregants age is between 75 and 80 years old.

Without Temple Beth El, the closest conservative synagogue is Tifareth Israel in New Bedford. United Brothers in Bristol, Rhode Island, and Temple Habonim in Barrington, Rhode Island, are reform synagogues.

There was this very rich, vibrant Jewish community in Fall River, and it declined over the years," Weisberger said. Its one of the stories of Fall River but also of the Jewish community in the country, which has demographically shifted.

This is the last of the synagogues, which is to my mind very sad.

Dan Medeiros can be reached at dmedeiros@heraldnews.com. Support local journalism by purchasing a digital or print subscription to The Herald News today.

This article originally appeared on The Herald News: Temple Beth El in Fall River to be sold; decline in attendance blamed
It has been a tricky year atop the corporate ladder. Sluggish growth in many markets has set bosses scrambling to rein in costs just as inflation has spurred their workers to demand hefty pay rises. Fractious geopolitics and toxic culture wars have left corporate chieftains feeling like tightrope-walkers. The craze for generative artificial intelligence (AI) has had them fretting over looming technological disruption, too.

Still, for some chief executives 2023 was a vintage year. To determine who did it best, The Economist has examined the performance of bosses of large listed companies in the S&P 1200 index, which covers most big economies bar China and India. We put aside those who have been in the job for less than three years, to avoid giving too much credit for replacing an inept predecessor. We then ranked the remaining chief executives by the returns they generated for shareholders relative to their sectors average. The top ten by that measure included both household names and relative dark horses.

Among the top ten were bosses of two companiesCameco, a Canadian miner, and PulteGroup, an American homebuilderwhose stellar results were thanks mostly to macroeconomic forces (a surge in uranium prices and a slump in sales of existing homes, respectively). We left them out. Also on the list were the chief executives of two buy-out firms, 3i and Melrose Industries, whose results were more a testament to the performance of the bosses running their portfolio companies than the financiers on top. We excluded them, too. Last, we also removed Richard Blickman of BE Semiconductor Industries, a Dutch maker of chipmaking tools. His pay was rejected by shareholdersnot a good look for any chief executive.

That has left us with a shortlist of five superstar chief executives for 2023 (see table). In ascending order of shareholder returns these are: David Ricks of Eli Lilly, now the worlds most valuable pharmaceutical firm; David Velez Osorno of Nubank, a Brazilian neobank that is gobbling up customers across Latin America; Sekiya Kazuma of Disco, a Japanese maker of cutting-edge tools for semiconductor production; Mark Zuckerberg of social-media giant Meta; and Jensen Huang of Nvidia, a chipmaker whose market value soared past $1trn this year.

Over the holiday season all five can bask in the warm glow of having generated enormous value for shareholders. But who has had the best year of all?

A case can be made for any of the five. Mr Ricks has put Eli Lilly close on the heels of Novo Nordisk, a Danish rival, in the bulging market for anti-obesity drugs and overseen extraordinary results in a very ordinary year for the industry. Few neobanks have managed to dislodge entrenched incumbents. Yet under Mr Osornos leadership Nubank, which he co-founded in 2013, has grown into the fifth-largest financial institution in Latin America by number of customers. Mr Kazuma, who also runs Discos research-and-development division, has kept his company at the frontier of semiconductor dicing and grinding for many years. After terrifying investors in 2022 with his descent into metaverse madness, Mr Zuckerberg delighted them in 2023 with his year of efficiency and his companys forays into generative AI. And Mr Huang has cemented his firms position as the indispensable supplier of the chips powering the AI revolution.

How, then, to choose? One way is to listen to the underlings. After all, a chief executive that hoists the share price but enrages staff is unlikely to succeed for long. We gathered figures from Glassdoor, an employee-review website, on how workers at the five companies felt about their chief executives and their companies more broadly.

At a mere 62% Mr Zuckerbergs approval rating is a clear outlier, suggesting that his year of efficiency has been as awful as it sounds for employees. Worker satisfaction at Disco also seems low (albeit with fewer respondents). One explanation may be the companys odd mechanism for co-ordinating work. Teams use a virtual currency called Will to pay one another for providing services. Managers then dole out the currency among team members for performing tasks, which determines bonuses. All that sounds like an economists dream, but hardly collegial.

Angering customers is also an unsound strategy for chief executives. This year a number of American states including California have sued Eli Lilly, among others, for allegedly overcharging for insulin, an essential drug for diabetics. The companys decision in March to slash insulin prices by 70% has done little to quell the upset. (The company has rejected what it describes as the false allegations of the lawsuit in California.)

As for Mr Osorno, not all of his strategy is paying off. Although Nubank is profitable as a whole, an achievement that has eluded many of its peers elsewhere, it is losing money in Mexico, where its approach of targeting the unbanked is proving costly. If Mr Osorno pulls it off, he could claim the prize in years to come.

It is Mr Huang, then, who prevails. Few bosses have been as farsighted in their bets on AI as Nvidias chief. Over a decade ago Mr Huang realised that the graphical processing units his company produced were also good at training AI models. In the years that followed he readied Nvidia for the AI wave by investing in a proprietary software platform, CUDA, to help developers make use of its chips and by acquiring Mellanox, a supplier of networking technology that links many chips together to deliver greater processing power. The pay-off from those bets is now becoming clear; Nvidia controls over 80% of the market for specialist AI chips.

Mr Huang, whose signature leather jacket has become as integral to his public persona as the turtlenecks sported by Steve Jobs, reportedly shares the Apple founders intensity and exacting standards. Nonetheless, he is adored by staff, with a 98% approval rating. All things considered, he has had the best 2023 of all.

 2023 The Economist Newspaper Limited. All rights reserved.

From The Economist, published under licence. The original content can be found on https://www.economist.com/business/2023/12/28/who-was-the-best-ceo-of-2023
'A giant fusion reactor in the sky': Elon Musk told Joe Rogan the whole US could be powered with 100 x 100 miles of solar  and its not hard. 3 stocks to bet on that sunny outlook

Due to the complex interplay between environmental concerns, economic interests and geopolitical dynamics, energy is a highly contentious topic. But according to Tesla CEO Elon Musk, theres a great energy source that can fulfill all our needs right above us: the sun.

You could actually power the entire United States with 100 miles by 100 miles of solar, Musk said during a recent episode of The Joe Rogan Experience podcast.

Dont miss

Host Joe Rogan was intrigued by the idea, asking, Really? So you could just pick some dead spot, cover that sucker up with solar panels and charge the whole country?

Absolutely, Musk responded. We need batteries, but yes.

Musk explained that its not hard and very feasible to power the entire country with solar because the sun is converting more than four million tons of mass to energy every second and requires no maintenance.

That thing just works. We have a giant fusion reactor in the sky, he said. "If you can generate energy from solar panels and store it with batteries, you can have energy 24 hours a day."

Musks perspective not only highlights technological possibilities, but also draws attention to the solar industrys financial potential. In fact, many companies are already helping people harness the power of the sun.

The U.S. was expected to add a record 32 gigawatts of new solar capacity by the end of 2023, a 52% increase from 2022, according to a September report from the Solar Energy Industries Association (SEIA) and Wood Mackenzie. The latter expects total operating solar capacity to grow from 153 GW today to 375 GW by 2028.

Heres a look at three solar stocks in which Wall Street sees major upside.

Enphase Energy

Enphase (ENPH) is one of the worlds leading suppliers of microinverter-based solar and battery systems.

The stock has had an interesting journey. At the beginning of 2020, shares were trading at around $29 per share. Today, theyre above $130.

While thats a sizable gain in less than four years, its far from smooth sailing. For instance, Enphase shares surged 45% in 2022, but theyve tumbled 46% in 2023.

In the most recent quarter, the company shipped 3,905,239 microinverters and generated $551.1 million of revenue. Earnings came in at a dollar per share.

Goldman Sachs analyst Brian Lee has a buy rating on Enphase and a price target of $158, implying a potential upside of around 16%.

First Solar

First Solar (FSLR) produces solar panels for use in utility-scale solar power plants.

Its another player in the segment that attracted substantial investor attention in recent years.

In 2022, First Solar shares surged 72%, in stark contrast to the S&P 500s 19.4% drop during the same period.

Shares have fared less well in 2023, rising around 18% year to date.

In Q3, the company reported revenue of $801 million, a decrease of about $10 million from the second quarter. Management primarily attributed this decline to a reduction in the volume of modules sold.

In October, JPMorgan analyst Mark Strouse upgraded First Solar from neutral to overweight. The analyst has a price target of $220 on the company, implying a potential upside of 28%.

Read more: Super-rich Americans are snatching up prime real estate abroad as US housing slumps  but here's a sharp way to invest without having to move overseas

Tesla

Solar is probably not the first word that comes to mind when people think of Musks own company, Tesla (TSLA) its primary business is making electric vehicles.

However, Tesla deserves a spot on this list because it acquired SolarCity in 2016. The company has since integrated solar energy into its broader mission of accelerating the transition to sustainable energy.

Tesla offers solar panels for both residential and commercial use, as well as energy storage solutions like the Powerwall and Powerpack.

The company is contributing to the adoption of solar energy.

Despite supply chain challenges, we deployed 348 MW of solar in 2022, the highest deployment since 2017, Tesla said in a 2023 investor update.

Morgan Stanley analyst Adam Jonas has an overweight rating on Tesla and a price target of $380  45% above where the stock sits today.

What to read next

Thanks to Jeff Bezos, you can now cash in on prime real estate  without the headache of being a landlord. Here's how

Worried about the economy? Here are the best shock-proof assets for your portfolio. (Theyre all outside of the stock market.)

Rising prices are throwing off Americans' retirement plans  heres how to get your savings back on track

This article provides information only and should not be construed as advice. It is provided without warranty of any kind.
The temporary cease-fire between Hamas and Israel ended on Dec. 1, and Israel has resumed its bombardment of Gaza.

The end of the cease-fire came after Hamas freed over 100 of the more than 200 people its militants took hostage during the Oct. 7 surprise attack on Israel. In exchange, Israel released more than 200 Palestinians from Israeli prisons.

Click here for updates from previous days.





Latest Developments





Dec 28, 1:28 PM

IDF says it found tunnel shaft inside mosque

The Israel Defense Forces said its soldiers found a tunnel shaft and rocket launcher inside a mosque, which was next to a school near Khan Younis in southern Gaza.



The soldiers, who destroyed the tunnel shaft, also found areas to store weapons, the IDF said.



-ABC News Jordana Miller





Dec 28, 1:00 PM

2023 deadliest year on record for children in West Bank: UNICEF

Eighty-three children have been killed in the West Bank over the last 12 weeks -- which is more than double the number of children killed in all of 2022 and marks the deadliest year on record for children in the West Bank, UNICEF Regional Director for the Middle East and North Africa Adele Khodr said Thursday.



A total of 297 people have been killed in the West Bank since Oct. 7, according to the Palestinian Ministry of Health.

PHOTO: Palestinian artist Menna Allah Hamouda is drawing '2024' on the faces of displaced children ahead of New Year's celebrations at a UNRWA school in Deir Balah in the central Gaza Strip. (Majdi Fathi/NurPhoto via Getty Images)

"As the world watches on in horror at the situation in the Gaza Strip, children in the West Bank are experiencing a nightmare of their own. Living with a near-constant feeling of fear and grief is, sadly, all too common for children affected. Many children report that fear has become a part of their daily life, with many scared even walking to school or playing outside," Khodr said in a statement. The suffering of children in the West Bank, including East Jerusalem, must not fade into the background of the current conflict -- it is part of it."





Dec 28, 1:20 PM

American-Israeli-Canadian hostage confirmed dead

Judy Weinstein, a 70-year-old American-Israeli-Canadian hostage, was confirmed dead on Thursday, Kibbutz Nir Oz said in a statement.

Weinstein was fatally wounded during Hamas Oct. 7 attack on Israel and her body remains held in Gaza, the kibbutz said.

Her husband, American-Israeli Gad Haggai, was also killed on Oct. 7 and his body also remains in Gaza, the kibbutz said. His death was confirmed last week.

PHOTO: Gad Haggai and his wife Judy Weinstein. (The Hostages and Missing Persons Families Forum)

Weinstein, a mother of four and grandmother of seven, was an English teacher who specialized in helping children with special needs, Kibbutz Nir Oz said.



"For the past few years she has also taught Mindfulness to children and teenagers who suffered from anxiety caused by the ongoing rocket fire from Gaza," the kibbutz said. "Judy was a poet, entrepreneur, and pursued many initiatives to advance peace in the region."



Judy Weinstein was the last American woman being held hostage by Hamas who had not been released, according to the Hostage Families Forum.

PHOTO: Israeli youth, led by Israeli Scouts from Kibbutz Kfar Aza, rally for the release of hostages being held in Gaza that were kidnapped during the deadly October 7 attack by Palestinian Islamist group Hamas, in Jerusalem, Dec. 28, 2023. (Ammar Awad/Reuters)





Dec 27, 3:33 PM

Israeli forces destroy tunnel near Gaza hospital: IDF

Israeli forces have destroyed an underground tunnel near the Rantisi Hospital in northern Gaza, Israel Defense Forces spokesman Rear Adm. Daniel Hagari said at a briefing.



The tunnel infrastructure, several kilometers long, connected different locations in the Strip, Hagari said. [Israeli] forces uncovered three tunnel shafts in the area of the hospital, with one of them coming out of a school.



The tunnel network included steel doors, command control rooms, emergency rooms, many weapons that were underground and other intelligence materials, he said.



This comes as Israeli forces are at a very high level of readiness for the expansion of the war in northern Gaza, Hagari said.

PHOTO: Smoke rises following an Israeli bombardment in the Gaza Strip, as seen from southern Israel, Dec. 27, 2023. (Ohad Zwigenberg/AP)

We are in the final stages of the attack in the Al Burj area in the northern Gaza Strip, where we killed many terrorists, he said.

Hagari added that Israel is also attacking all the infrastructure that Hezbollah has built near the [Lebanon-Israel] border.

In southern Gaza, Israeli forces are fighting in several areas, Hagari said. One in the area called Al Burj in the central [Gaza] camps, where we are attacking for a third day. The second is in Khan Yunis in the south of the Gaza Strip, a major terror center of Hamas. There we expanded the operation -- today we added another division to this area and we continue to operate there with new combat methods above and below the ground.

PHOTO: Relatives mourn over the body of a loved one killed during Israeli bombardment at Nasser Hospital in Khan Yunis on the southern Gaza Strip on Dec. 27, 2023. (AFP via Getty Images)





Dec 27, 1:54 PM

Egyptian president meets with King of Jordan, says 'international community must push' for cease-fire

Egyptian President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi met with King Abdullah II of Jordan in Egypt on Wednesday and said "the international community must push towards" a cease-fire.



Both leaders affirmed their complete rejection of all attempts to liquidate the Palestinian issue or to displace the Palestinians from their lands or their internal displacement, stressing that the only solution that the international community must push towards implementing is an immediate cease-fire, and the entry of relief aid in the necessary quantities and at the speed that will make a real difference in alleviating the suffering of the people of the Gaza Strip, according to a readout from the Egyptian spokesman for the Presidency Counselor Ahmed Fahmy.



Talks also focused on regional developments, especially in the Gaza Strip and the humanitarian tragedy it faces, which resulted in thousands of deaths and injuries and the displacement of hundreds of thousands, the readout added.

ABC News Ayat Al-Tawy





Dec 27, 1:43 PM

WHO delivers aid, supplies to Gaza hospitals

The World Health Organization said it delivered much-needed aid and supplies to Al-Shifa Hospital in northern Gaza and the Palestine Red Crescent Society's Al-Amal Hospital in southern Gaza on Tuesday.

PHOTO: Palestinians mourn relatives, who were killed in an overnight Israeli airstrike on the Al-Maghazi refugee camp, during a mass funeral at the Al-Aqsa Hospital in Deir al-Balah in the central Gaza Strip on Dec. 25, 2023. (Mahmud Hams/AFP via Getty Images)

Al-Shifa and Al-Amal hospitals are also operating as shelters for displaced residents, sheltering 50,000 people and 14,000 people respectively, according to the WHO.

Gaza has 13 partially functioning hospitals, two minimally functioning hospitals and 21 hospitals that are not functioning at all, causing the hospitals that are functioning to become overloaded with patients who need help, according to the WHO.

PHOTO: Displaced Palestinian children watch from inside a tent as a man mourns relatives, who were killed in an overnight Israeli airstrike on the Al-Maghazi refugee camp, during a mass funeral in Deir al-Balah in the central Gaza Strip on Dec. 25, 2023. (Mahmud Hams/AFP via Getty Images)

"Today I repeat my call on the international community to take urgent steps to alleviate the grave peril facing the population of Gaza and jeopardizing the ability of humanitarian workers to help people with terrible injuries, acute hunger, and at severe risk of disease," WHO Director-General Dr. Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said in a statement.



Tedros said a cease-fire is needed "to spare civilians from further violence and begin the long road towards reconstruction and peace."





Dec 27, 12:08 PM

20 killed in strike in Khan Younis

Twenty people have been killed in a strike on a building near the Red Cross Al-Amal Hospital in Khan Younis in southern Gaza, according the Hamas-run Gaza Ministry of Health. The death toll is likely to rise, the Gaza Ministry of Health said.

PHOTO: A Palestinian mother reacts at Nasser Hospital in Khan Yunis, southern Gaza Strip, Dec. 27, 2023, after receiving news of her son's death following Israeli air strikes. (Haitham Imad/EPA-EFE/Shutterstock)

-ABC News Nasser Atta





Dec 27, 11:07 AM

At least 241 killed in Gaza in 24 hours

At least 241 people have been killed in Gaza in a 24-hour period, according to the Hamas-run Gaza Ministry of Health.



This comes as Israeli forces expand their ground offensive to central Gaza, launching over 200 rockets in one day, according to the Gaza Ministry of Health.

PHOTO: People mourn as they wait to collect the bodies of friends and relatives killed in an airstrike, Dec. 25, 2023, in Khan Yunis, Gaza. (Ahmad Hasaballah/Getty Images)





Dec 26, 9:53 PM

Blinken, Sullivan meet with Israeli minister over hostages, humanitarian situation in Gaza

Secretary of State Antony Blinken and National Security Adviser Jake Sullivan met with Israeli Minister for Strategic Affairs Ron Dermer Tuesday night, where they discussed freeing hostages still held in Gaza.



During the meeting, they covered four key points, officials familiar with the meeting told ABC News, including the transition to a different phase of the war to maximize Israel's focus on precision targeting of high value Hamas targets. They also worked on practical steps to improve the humanitarian situation and minimize harm to civilians. Planning for after the war ends was also covered, with discussions about governance and security in Gaza, a political horizon for the Palestinian people and continued work on normalization and integration.



The meeting came on the same day President Joe Biden spoke by phone with Qatar's Amir Sheikh Tamim Bin Hamad Al-Thani. According to a read-out of the call, the two leaders spoke about the efforts to see hostages released and ongoing efforts to get more humanitarian aid into Gaza.



-ABC News' Lauren Peller and Jay O'Brien





Dec 27, 11:08 AM

Gaza faces another telecommunications blackout: PRCS

Gaza is facing another telecommunications blackout, according to the Palestine Red Crescent Society.



This presents a significant challenge for emergency medical teams in reaching the wounded and injured, the organization warned.

PHOTO: Palestinians search the rubble of a building following Israeli bombardment in Rafah in the southern Gaza Strip on Dec. 26, 2023, amid ongoing battles between Israel and the militant group Hamas. (Said Khatib/AFP via Getty Images)

Click here to read the rest of the blog.
Mega Agency

Jon Hamm is showing that hes just like Us.

Hamm, 52, stepped out to drop off his laundry at a dry cleaner in Los Angeles on Wednesday, December 27. While unloading the large bag from his trunk, Hamm seemingly struggled to carry the clothes as he was seen trying to use his knee to help him steady the unwieldy sack.

But it wasnt all hard work, his outing also included some rest and relaxation as he made a stop at the nail salon for a manicure. While sitting in a chair inside the shop, Hamm looked down and inspected his new nails. In another snap, he appeared to be pleased with the nail technicians work as he fanned out both of his hands and admired the finished product.

Hamm has had a busy year. One month ago, the Morning Show actor broke his silence on his wedding to actress Anna Osceola. The pair tied the knot in June at an outdoor ceremony at Anderson Canyon in Big Sur, California, which is an iconic Mad Men location.

Mad Men Cast Where Are They Now

A-list status! Mad Men catapulted the careers of its cast, including Jon Hamm, Elisabeth Moss, Christina Hendricks and January Jones, to a new level. The period drama, which focused on a New York City ad agency in the 60s, aired on AMC for seven seasons from July 2007 to May 2015. During that time, the []

It only took me half a century, but I figured I might as well get it right, Hamm said in November on Jimmy Kimmel Live!

Before his wedding to Osceola, 35, Hamm was in a relationship with Jennifer Westfeldt for 18 years. After the twosome called it quits in 2015, Hamm met Osceola while filming the final episode of Mad Men. (Osceola portrayed a receptionist at the retreat that Hamms character, Don Draper, attended.)

Mega Agency

[It was] a full circle moment, Hamm told Jimmy Kimmel of their nuptials taking place at the same location where they met. It came all the way around.

When Kimmel asked if the pair got a discount with their connection to the venue, Hamm said, Yes, it was great.

Jon Hamm and Anna Osceola's Relationship Timeline

Not only did Jon Hamm win an Emmy for his role as Don Draper on Mad Men, but the show introduced him to his wife, Anna Osceola. The actors met while filming the series finale of the AMC drama in 2015, as Osceola played Clementine, a receptionist at the retreat Hamms character attended. Though briefly []

Since their June nuptials, a source exclusively told Us Weekly that the pair are still enjoying the honeymoon phase of their relationship.

Theyve been playing house and enjoying romantic nights in, just the two of them, the source shared. Jons gotten so much better about setting work aside or turning down invites with his buddies to enjoy couples time.

Mega Agency

The insider added that Hamm has been prioritizing his marriage with Osceola.

Everyones noticed how his wife is his No. 1 priority now, and he seems proud to be putting her on this pedestal, the source shared.

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Days after their wedding, another insider told Us that the pair were already thinking about expanding their family.

He and Anna are thinking of having kids soon, the source said. Jon feels like this is the beginning. Hes happy and healthy, and his friends love seeing him like this.
Rep. Nancy Mace (R-S.C.) appeared on Fox Business Networks Cavuto: Coast to Coast on Wednesday to discuss Biden administration officials trip to Mexico to speak with Mexican officials about immigration and the shared border, calling it lip service.

Secretary of State Antony Blinken, Secretary of Homeland Security Alejandro Mayorkas and White House homeland security adviser Elizabeth Sherwood-Randall traveled Wednesday to Mexico to discuss historic levels of migration as pressure builds on the Biden administration to act.

As you said earlier, Blinkens visit to Mexico is all about paying lip service to this issue, Mace told Foxs Edward Lawrence.

The officials will meet with Mexican President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador and his team, and they will discuss the unprecedented irregular migration and find ways the countries can reopen key points of entry.

Mace said it is not the United Statess responsibility to send aid to the home countries of migrants to address the root causes of migration to America.

I represent a very independent-minded district. We are seeing independents, Republicans and Democrats getting very angry about what theyre seeing at the border, Mace said. On some days, we have more people crossing the southern border in one day than we do all year from our northern border.

The South Carolina lawmaker said it is a massive problem for the Biden administration, but they refuse to address it.

The meeting between officials will serve as a follow-up to President Bidens phone call with Lopez Obrador last week, when the two leaders agreed additional enforcement action was urgently needed.

It also comes as a caravan of 6,000 migrants is reportedly making its way toward the U.S.

At least three points of entry in Texas, Arizona and California have closed to foot and vehicle traffic, and two railway crossings have closed. The meeting hopes to explore reopening some of them.

The surge of migrants has created political tension as Republicans demand reforms to border policy to unlock aid for Ukraine. Biden said he is willing to make significant compromises to make it happen.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill.
A civil rights leader says he was kicked out of a North Carolina movie theater while attempting to see The Color Purple for trying to use his own chair in the disabled section.

Bishop William Barber, 60, said he tried to use the special chair he brought in the disabled section of the Greenville theater on Tuesday afternoon and was told by staff he couldnt do that.

The former NAACP North Carolina chapter president told CNN he has a medical condition that makes it impossible to sit in a regular chair. He said he walks with two canes and his assistant carries a special chair everywhere he goes.

Bishop William Barber and the chair he tried to use, seen here in video shared with CNN by Barber. - Courtesy of Bishop Barber

In video of the incident shared by Barber with CNN, the chair appears to be a stool-type chair with a backrest and no arms. Barber has a form of arthritis known as ankylosing spondylitis, which causes inflammation in the joints and ligaments of the spine, according to the National Institutes of Health.

Ive used this chair everywhere, Barber said. Broadway, the White House, Ive never had a problem, he added.

The Greenville Police Department confirmed officers arrived at the AMC Fire Tower 12 after receiving a call for trespassing. Officers said the caller stated a customer was arguing with employees and the employees wanted the customer removed.

After a conversation with Barber, he agreed to leave the theater voluntarily and no charges were filed, according to a Greenville police statement.

I felt like I wasnt being heard, Barber said. It felt as though they werent even trying to consider making accommodations for my disability, he added.

AMC representatives said in a statement obtained by CNN affiliate WITN they have apologized to Barber.

AMCs Chairman and CEO Adam Aron has already telephoned him, and plans to meet with him in person in Greenville, NC, next week to discuss both this situation and the good works Bishop Barber is engaged in throughout the years, the statement reads. We are also reviewing our policies with our theater teams to help ensure that situations like this do not occur again.

The company also encouraged guests requiring seating accommodations to speak with a manager beforehand to see what can be done.

Barber had planned to see the film with his 90-year-old mother that day, he said.

I had to leave the theater without my mom. She was left behind with an assistant because I didnt want to get arrested, Barber said.

Barber said he will be holding a news conference Friday to address the situation.

In 1993, Barber joined Greenleaf Christian Church in Goldsboro, and over the next three decades he became renowned for his work addressing issues such as poverty, inequality and racism. He served as president of the North Carolina NAACP chapter from 2005 until 2017.

CNNs Sharif Paget contributed to this report

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Russia appears to be building yet another naval base for what remains of their Black Sea Fleet. The new base is being built in the Black Sea port of Ochamchire. This port is in Abkhazia, a Russian controlled area that used to be part of the pro-NATO Caucasus nation of Georgia. All this is happening in the distant northeast portion of the Black Sea, where the Russian warships are safer from attack by Ukrainian forces. While Ukraine has no Black Sea Naval forces, they have been successful at eliminating most of the Russian Black Sea fleet as well as Russian naval bases.

For a long time, the major Russian naval base in the Black Sea was Sevastopol, in the Crimean Peninsula. When the Soviet Union dissolved in 1991, Crimea became part of the new nation of Ukraine. Rather than lose Sevastopol, Russia arranged to lease Sevastopol from Ukraine. That lasted until 2014, when Russia took Sevastopol and Crimea from Ukraine.

In 2014 Russia initially claimed they had nothing to do with the Ukrainian loss of Sevastopol. Some of the uniformed men who took control of Crimea in 2014 were apparently locals, but the core of this local militia were men with obvious military training and who have been using those skills recently. Some were believed to be civilian contractors but most of them were Russian special operations troops. Russia also got former Ukrainian president Yanukovych to write a letter requesting Russian military assistance in Crimea. Yanukovych insisted he was still president of Ukraine and the Russians agreed with this as well as providing Yanukovych with sanctuary and protection from prosecution for crimes he was accused of in Ukraine. Yanukovych was the Russian Plan A, what went on in 2014 Crimea was Plan B. The 11,000 Russian troops stationed in Crimea were mostly support personnel for the naval base. The exception was 2,000 marines. A week after the Russian 2014 takeover another 7,000 troops, mostly infantry and special operations forces were flown in or arrived by ship.

All this is right out of the old Soviet playbook, where the communists rarely took direct control of a newly conquered territory but got pro-Russia locals to take over and arrange to become a place where Russian military forces were welcome. This system fell apart in 1989 and 1990, when East European nations occupied by Russian troops since 1945, when World War II ended, declared and maintained their independence from Russian control. When the Soviet Union itself fell apart in 1991, most of the unhappy non-Russians forced to be part of the empire got their freedom. Russia is now trying to use the old techniques to get their empire back. Thats not working out so well, although there have been some minor successes.

For example, Russia has long claimed ownership of the port of Sevastopol and the surrounding Crimean Peninsula, even though Crimea and Sevastopol were part of the newly independent, since 1991, Ukraine. Many Russians believed that Crimea was different and actually belonged to Russia even though after 1991 there was no longer any physical connection between Crimea and Russia. The newly independent Ukraine was willing to negotiate a lease for Sevastopol and other parts of Crimea so that Russia could keep their Black Sea Fleet there. This arrangement was fine with Ukraine, which needed the money, but unsatisfactory to many Russians who still insisted that Crimea belonged to Russia and if Ukraine would not recognize that, then Russia should just seize Crimea.

Before that happened, Russia leased Crimea and the port of Sevastopol from Ukraine. The Russian operations provided jobs for some 20,000 Ukrainians. After 1991 Russia considered the base sovereign Russian territory similar to a foreign embassy. Prominent Russians frequently and publicly demanded that Sevastopol become a part of Russia. The Ukrainians refused to even discuss this option. Many Russians, especially leader Vladimir Putin, openly claimed that much of Ukraine was actually Russian territory. This included Crimea and much of eastern Ukraine, where most of the industry and Russian-speaking population in Ukraine was. The Russians contend that these areas were colonized by Russians after Russia took control of Ukraine and were only incorporated into Ukraine during the Soviet period for convenience, not to recognize what territory an independent Ukraine might one day own. Despite this, after 1991 most of the Russian speaking Ukrainians wanted to remain in Ukraine and under Ukrainian rule. Initially, when the leasing agreements were negotiated in the 1990s, Russia suspected that the Ukrainians would not always be so cooperative. Because of those fears, in 2003 construction began at Novorossiysk, in Russian territory on the east coast of the Black Sea, to build an alternative to the old Soviet base of Sevastopol that was leased from Ukraine, which might not renew the lease someday.

In the 1990s Western nations had persuaded Ukraine to agree to leasing Crimea to Russia with the implicit guarantee that the West would back Ukraine if the Russians violated the terms of the lease, and expressly guaranteed Ukrainian independence if Ukraine gave up its Soviet-era nuclear weapons. Ukraine did so only to discover that the Western nations, including the U.S., had lied about those guarantees when the Russians invaded Ukraine in 2014 to seize Crimea and eastern Ukraines Donbas area.

In 2014, when Russia decided to seize Crimea, Russian troops in Crimea sought to coerce or persuade Ukrainian military commanders and government officials in Crimea to defect to the newly declared independent Crimea. This is all right out of the old Soviet playbook and Russians believed they would get away with it, feeling that Western economic sanctions were unlikely because Western Europe obtained a quarter of their natural gas from Russia. Alternatives to this natural gas were so expensive that the West caved to Russian pressure, though Western nations somewhat supported Ukrainian efforts to rebuild their armed forces after 2014 in case Russia invaded again. Russia turned out to be more ambitious with its 2022 invasion of Ukraine. Russia wanted to eventually absorb Ukraine back into Russia, but the Russian invasion ran into a very determined Ukrainian resistance by people who had become more nationalistic because of all the Russian pressure plus their usual war crimes against Ukrainian forces keeping the Russians from advancing further in the Donbas. Ukrainians were more determined to hang on to Ukrainian territory than the Russians were to seize it.

The current war in Ukraine has limited the usefulness of Sevastopol and the rest of Crimea for Russia. Crimean military bases and ports are constantly under attack by Ukrainian missiles and unmanned aerial and sea-going attack vehicles. The Russian civilian and military population of Crimea are unable to afford the cost of remaining in Crimea and maintaining the military and naval bases required to do that. At this point, Crimea is more trouble than it is worth to Russia.

All this was great for the port and naval base of Novorossiysk, which was originally just an export outlet for about fifteen percent of Russian oil exports as well as grain and other food items. Neither Russia nor Ukraine control the Black Sea, but both are able to block their opponents export efforts. This is more the case for Russia and less so for Ukraine. Odessa, the primary Ukrainian export port is west of Crimea while Novorossiysk is east of Crimea and both ports are under attack. Despite the larger Russian resources and ability to bring in additional warships from the Northern and Baltic fleets, maintaining control of the Black Sea is something that Russia has lost.

Russia continues to keep most of its remaining Black Sea fleet in the port of Novorossiysk. The naval base facilities were completed in 2012. Two years later Russia seized the Crimean Peninsula and the naval port of Sevastopol from Ukraine. After Russia invaded Ukraine in 2022, the Ukrainians began launching numerous attacks on Russian warships using USVs (Unmanned Surface Vehicles) and UAVs as well as anti-ship missiles. This forced Russia to use Novorossiysk as their main naval base for the Black Sea Fleet. From this port small Russian warships carry out patrols near Crimea but rarely further west.

Upgrading and reinforcing the Black Sea fleet is not an option as long as Russian ground forces are losing their battle against the Ukrainian counter offensive. Russia still wants a naval base in the Black Sea, but they want a base that is as safe as possible. That is why the new Ochamchire naval base is being created in distant Abkhazia and the Black Sea Fleet ships have temporarily left the Black Sea for the Mediterranean.
Brighton host Tottenham as the festive football season continues (Getty Images)

Brighton return to Premier League action after a Christmas break as Roberto De Zerbis side host Tottenham Hotspur.

The South Coast club secured a point against rivals Crystal Palace last Thursday, and could climb as high as seventh with a home victory.

Spurs rode their luck at times in their last outing against Everton, but a 2-1 win secured a valuable three points to ensure they spent Christmas in the top four.

There was more misfortune in that game for Ange Postecoglou, though, with another key figure set for a spell on the sidelines.

Heres everything you need to know. Get the latest Premier League odds and tips here.

When is Brighton vs Tottenham?

Brighton vs Tottenham is due to kick off at 7.30pm GMT on Thursday 28 December at the Amex Stadium.

How can I watch it?

Viewers in the United Kingdom can watch the match live on Amazon Prime Video, with coverage on the streaming service from 7pm GMT.

If youre travelling abroad and want to watch major sporting events, you might need a VPN to unblock your streaming app. Our VPN round-up is here to help and includes deals on VPNs in the market. Viewers using a VPN need to make sure that they comply with any local regulations where they are, and also with the terms of their service provider.

Confirmed line-ups

Brighton XI: Steele; Hinshelwood, Van Hecke, Dunk, Igor; Gilmour, Milner; Welbeck, Gross, Buonanotte; Pedro

Tottenham XI: Vicario; Porro, Royal, Davies, Udogie; Hojbjerg, Sarr; Johnson, Kulusevski, Son; Richarlison

Odds

Brighton win 31/20

Draw 11/4

Tottenham win 31/20

Get the latest betting site offers here.

Prediction

A score draw. Brighton 2-2 Tottenham
New Years Day is meant for fresh starts. But maybe even more, its meant for food.

As the new year arrives around the world, special desserts abound, as do long noodles (representing long life), field peas (representing coins), herring (representing abundance) and pigs (representing good luck).

The particulars vary, but the general theme is the same: Enjoy food and drink to usher in a year of prosperity.

Here are 10 good-luck servings of New Years food traditions around the world:

1. Hoppin John, American South

Field peas or black-eyed peas are the base for Hoppin' John. - Brent Hofacker/Shutterstock

A major New Years food tradition in the American South, Hoppin John is a dish of pork-flavored field peas or black-eyed peas (symbolizing coins) and rice, frequently served with collards or other cooked greens (as theyre the color of money) and cornbread (the color of gold). The dish is said to bring good luck in the new year.

Different folklore traces the history and the name of this meal, but the current dish has its roots in African and West Indian traditions and was most likely brought over by slaves to North America. A recipe for Hoppin John appears as early as 1847 in Sarah Rutledges The Carolina Housewife and has been reinterpreted over the centuries by home and professional chefs.

The dish reportedly got its name in Charleston, South Carolina, and it is a veritable staple of Lowcountry cooking.

2. Twelve grapes, Spain

In Spain, they bring in the new year with 12 grapes. The tradition has spread to many Spanish-speaking countries. - JAIME REINA/AFP/Getty Images

The people of Spain traditionally watch a broadcast from Puerta del Sol in Madrid, where revelers gather in front of the squares clock tower to ring in the New Year.

Those out in the square and those watching at home partake in an unusual annual tradition: At the stroke of midnight, they eat one grape for every toll of the clock bell. Some even prep their grapes  peeling and seeding them  to make sure they will be as efficient as possible when midnight comes.

The custom began at the turn of the 20th century and was purportedly thought up by grape producers in the southern part of the country with a bumper crop. Since then, the tradition has spread to many Spanish-speaking nations.

3. Tamales, Mexico

Tamales get special attention in Mexico during the holiday season. - Brent Hofacker/Shutterstock

Tamales, corn dough stuffed with meat, cheese and other delicious additions and wrapped in a banana leaf or a corn husk, make appearances at pretty much every special occasion in Mexico. But the holiday season is an especially favored time for the food.

In many families, groups of women gather together to make hundreds of the little packets  with each person in charge of one aspect of the cooking process  to hand out to friends, family and neighbors. On New Years, its often served with menudo, a tripe and hominy soup that is famously good for hangovers.

Those who live in cities with large Mexican populations shouldnt have much trouble finding restaurants selling tamales to go for New Years Eve and Day. In Mexico City, steamed tamales are sold from vendors on street corners day and night.

4. Oliebollen, Netherlands

An oliebol is a doughnut-like product, traditionally made and consumed in the Netherlands during the New Year's celebrations. - BAS CZERWINSKI/AFP/Getty Images

In the Netherlands, fried oil balls, or oliebollen, are sold by street carts and are traditionally consumed on New Years Eve and at special celebratory fairs. They are doughnut-like dumplings, made by dropping a scoop of dough spiked with currants or raisins into a deep fryer and then dusted with powdered sugar.

In Amsterdam, be on the lookout for Oliebollenkraams, little temporary shacks or trailers on the street selling packets of hot fried oliebollen.

5. Marzipanschwein or Glucksschwein, Austria and Germany

Fresh marzipan made in the shape of little pigges. - PATRIK STOLLARZ/AFP/Getty Images

Austria and neighbor Germany call New Years Eve Sylvesterabend, or the eve of Saint Sylvester. Austrian revelers drink a red wine punch with cinnamon and spices, eat suckling pig for dinner and decorate the table with little pigs made of marzipan, called marzipanschwein.

Good luck pigs, or Glucksschwein, which are made of all sorts of things, are also common gifts throughout both Austria and Germany.

6. Soba noodles, Japan

Many Japanese slurp down bowls of delicious Soba noodles to welcome the new year. - Nishihama/Shutterstock

In Japanese households, families eat buckwheat soba noodles, or toshikoshi soba, at midnight on New Years Eve to bid farewell to the year gone by and welcome the year to come. The tradition dates back to the 17th century, and the long noodles symbolize longevity and prosperity.

In another custom called mochitsuki, friends and family spend the day before New Years pounding mochi rice cakes. Sweet, glutinous rice is washed, soaked, steamed and pounded into a smooth mass. Then guests take turns pinching off pieces to make into small buns that are later eaten for dessert.

7. King cake, around the globe

The French do enjoy their galette des rois. - margouillat photo/Shutterstock

The tradition of a New Years cake is one that spans countless cultures. The Greeks have the Vasilopita, the French the gateau or galette des rois. Mexicans have the Rosca de Reyes and Bulgarians enjoy the banitsa.

Most of the cakes are consumed at midnight on New Years Eve  though some cultures cut their cake on Christmas or the Epiphany, January 6  and include a hidden gold coin or figure, which symbolizes a prosperous year for whomever finds it in their slice.

8. Cotechino con lenticchie, Italy

Cotechino con lenticchie is the yummy Italian pairing of sausage and lentils. - barbajones/Shutterstock

Italians celebrate New Years Eve with La Festa di San Silvestro, often commencing with a traditional cotechino con lenticchie, a sausage and lentil stew that is said to bring good luck (the lentils represent money and good fortune) and, in certain households, zampone, a stuffed pigs trotter.

The meal ends with chiacchiere  balls of fried dough that are rolled in honey and powdered sugar  and prosecco. The dishes find their roots in Modena, but New Years Eve feasts thrive across the country.

9. Pickled herring, Poland and Scandinavia

Rolled herring in vinegar, served with onions and pickles. - gkrphoto/Shutterstock

Because herring is in abundance in Poland and parts of Scandinavia and because of their silver coloring, many in those nations eat pickled herring at the stroke of midnight to bring a year of prosperity and bounty. Some eat pickled herring in cream sauce while others have it with onions.

One special Polish New Years Eve preparation of pickled herring, called Sledzie Marynowane, is made by soaking whole salt herrings in water for 24 hours and then layering them in a jar with onions, allspice, sugar and white vinegar.

Scandinavians will often include herring in a larger midnight smorgasbord with smoked and pickled fish, pate and meatballs.

10. Kransekage, Denmark and Norway

This is a traditional Norwegian marzipan ring cake. - V. Belov/Shutterstock/Shutterstock / V. Belov

Kransekage, literally wreath cake, is a cake tower composed of many concentric rings of cake layered atop one another, and they are made for New Years Eve and other special occasions in Denmark and Norway.

The cake is made using marzipan, often with a bottle of wine or Aquavit in the center and can be decorated with ornaments, flags and crackers.



This article was originally published in December 2012. CNNs Forrest Brown updated the article for 2023.

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It sounded like the perfect festive break: a cruise around the sunny Caribbean, before flying back to the cold and wet UK just in time for Christmas.

But the idyllic vacation turned into something of a nightmare for the 225 British passengers on P&O Cruises Caribbean Fly-Cruise, after their chartered return flight hit freak turbulence, landing some passengers in hospital and delaying everyones return home until after Christmas.

The passengers had booked one or two-week cruises on the luxurious Arvia ship. With no fewer than four pools and 30 bars and restaurants onboard, it was set to be a dreamy trip around top Caribbean destinations, including Antigua, St. Lucia and the Dominican Republic.

As it happened, the cruise went to plan. But getting home in time for Christmas was a different story.

Passengers boarded a charter plane, organized by the cruise company, to fly them from Barbados to Manchester on December 23, but shortly after takeoff the plane experienced every flyers nightmare: clear air turbulence, which is impossible to predict. It hit two and a half hours into the flight, as the Airbus 300-200, operated by Maleth Aero, was cruising at 38,000 feet.

The plane diverted to LF Wade Airport in Bermuda, where 11 passengers were taken to hospital. A spokesperson for P&O Cruises confirmed that all were discharged the same day. None of the 13 crew were injured.

Christmas on the beach

But their mission to get home for Christmas was still thwarted, as the flight could not be operated again until December 26. Instead, the passengers were put up in hotels in Bermuda at the cruise companys expense.

The repatriation flight was due to take off on Tuesday afternoon, arriving back in the UK on the morning of Wednesday December 27.

The dream cruise had taken in locations including St. Lucia. - Frederic J. Brown/AFP/Getty Images

A Bermuda government spokesperson said in a statement released to local outlet Bernews that all the injuries were minor.

They added: At approximately 12:50 a.m., Maleth Aero Flight 1975, en route from Barbados to Manchester experienced severe turbulence, necessitating an emergency landing at LF Wade International Airport.

The aircraft executed a controlled landing on the island.

Emergency Medical Technicians from the Bermuda Fire & Rescue Service [BFRS] greeted the aircraft to provide initial assessments of the passengers and pre-hospital care.

As a precautionary measure, the aircraft will remain grounded until a comprehensive inspection has been completed, ensuring the safety and integrity of the aircraft.

Bermudas Acting Minister of National Security Owen Darrell, added in a statement: We are extremely grateful for the quick response of all our emergency services personnel who ensured the safety of the passengers and crew.

A spokesperson for P&O Cruises told CNN in a statement: Following freak (unexpected) turbulence a flight from Barbados to Manchester was diverted to Bermuda on Sunday morning.

Having explored all flying options and due to airport operating times, guests were placed in hotels in Bermuda. The flight home will now depart at 4 p.m. today [Tuesday].

We are very sorry for this disruption to the journey following their holiday and we worked round the clock with the airline and hotels to take care of the guests and to ensure they get home as soon as possible.

They added that passengers were sent seven texts and five letters keeping them updated over the three-day period they were in Bermuda.

For more CNN news and newsletters create an account at CNN.com
Although Royals Caribbeans nine-month world cruise only set sail a few weeks ago, the experience has already gone viral on social media, with passengers opening up about their time on the boat.

On 10 December, the Ultimate World Cruise officially started its tour, with the ship  the Serenade of the Seas  departing from Miami, Florida. As noted by Royal Caribbeans itinerary, the trip consists of 274 nights, with visits to 11 world wonders and over 60 countries. Some of the destinations include Aruba, Barbados, Japan, Italy, Greece, Spain, Denmark, Germany, and France. The cruise concludes in the United States, as it docks back in Miami on 10 September 2024, after a day in the Bahamas on 9 September 2024.

Passengers will also have the opportunity to bond with like-minded explorers over global discoveries across all seven continents, according to Royal Caribbeans website. In addition, travellers will have the chance to connect with countless distinct cultures, soak up the most spectacular landscapes on Earth, and marvel at World Wonders that showcase mankinds boundless imagination.

Since the cruise began, passengers have documented their experiences on board, from the size of their rooms, to the meals being served, to some additional perks if theyre part of the Royal Caribbeans Pinnacle Club, which travellers get to join after accumulating over 700 cruise points from the previous cruises theyve taken. When posting videos on TikTok, passengers often use the #UltimateWorldCruise hashtag, which has more than 119.2m views as of 27 December.

From how to do your laundry to the cost of a room on board, heres everything we know about the Royal Caribbeans Ultimate World Cruise from TikTok.

What are the rooms on the ship like and how much do they cost?

As noted by Royal Caribbeans website, the most inexpensive room option for the 247 nights is $59,999 per person for an interior stateroom. Prices for other rooms are in a higher range, with the junior suite starting at $117,599 per person. However, regardless of the type of room passengers get, they are all offered amenities like a VOOM internet package, wash and fold laundry service, and a deluxe beverage package.

On TikTok, many passengers have shared in-depth tours of their rooms, with many showing off the relatively tiny spaces. For example, Ale Kenney recently shared a video of a room, which started with footage of the living room area, where there was a blue couch with a blanket on it. She and her husband, Andrew, decorated the walls with a banner, pictures, and sketches. There was also a desk and closet, which Kenney opted not to open because it was really tiny and she didnt want everything in it to fall out.

She then made her way to their small bathroom, where there was a tall shower right across from the sink. The bathroom also included a white toilet, underneath a magnetic shelf that the couple brought for extra storage. She noted that in addition to cramming [her] makeup and medicine in the storage section underneath the sink, she had a very tiny mirrored cabinet that opened. Kenney then made her way back through the living room and concluded her video with a shot of the king-sized bed in her room.

What kind of food is offered on the cruise?

While aboard the Ultimate World Cruise, guests are offered a variety of food options, from snacks to speciality dining. Royal Caribbean notes that one frequent spot for meals is the Windjammer, which is a buffet thats open for breakfast, lunch and dinner. On TikTok, passengers have shared some of the meals theyve eaten daily.

For example, a TikTok user who goes by the name Amike shared a video last week of what she ate in a day on the cruise, starting with breakfast at the Windjammer. Some of her food included fruit, yoghurt, a muffin, oatmeal, and a smoothie. For lunch, she returned to the Windjammer, where she had a salad, a burger patty with cheese, a plate of vegetables, and a coffee. For dinner at the buffet, she had some fish, noodles, corn, and slices of watermelon.

Amike also acknowledged that while shes received multiple questions about the food, her meals on the ship have been so good.

How do passengers do their laundry throughout the next nine months?

Each passenger on the cruise receives a laundry package, as noted by Royal Caribbean. The package includes a complimentary wash and fold service where passengers can send out up to three bags of laundry per week.

In a video shared to TikTok, passenger Brandee Lake went on to document her 10th day on sea, which included her plans to do laundry that day. She noted that while she didnt necessarily want someone else doing her laundry, she opted to go to the self-service laundry that was offered on board, which is free for passengers to use.

Is there a certain age range among travellers on the cruise?

Throughout the first few weeks of the cruise, many TikTok users have questioned who the passengers are on the trip, given its hefty price and lengthy time period. With that in mind, social media users have noticed that a lot of people who share content appear to be a part of Generation Z, meaning they were born between 1997 and 2012. However, according to Kenney, thats not necessarily the case.

I would say the majority, like the overwhelming majority of passengers, are retirees (or seniors), she said during an interview with Today, as she noted that 90 per cent of passengers were retired.

That doesnt change the fact that cruises are a popular travelling experience for adults. According to Gavin Smith, vice president and managing director of Royal Caribbean AUNZ, theres still a growing interest in cruises among young people.

Our Caribbean and European cruises are attracting younger Australian guests, with short Caribbean sailings proving immensely popular, including our new Oasis Class ship Utopia of the Seas which launches in July, he told News.com.au.

Regardless of the ages of passengers on the Ultimate World Cruise, people on social media have joked about what drama could occur on the nine-month trip. One woman named Kates, who goes by the name @whimsysoul on TikTok, went on to share The Ultimate Bingo Card for the next year for anyone else who is buckling in for this nine months TikTok reality show.

Some of the spaces on her Bingo Card included someone goes home early, staff dates passenger, lobster style sunburn, brands sponsor passengers, and minor mystery to solve.

The Independent has contacted Royal Caribbean for comment.
Actor Pierce Brosnan was cited in Wyoming after allegedly walking in thermal areas of Yellowstone National Park, a court document obtained by CNN shows.

The charges against Brosnan are Foot travel in all thermal areas and w/in Yellowstone Canyon confined to trails  and Violating closures and use limits and are listed as a petty offense, the docket filed in US District Court in Wyoming shows.

Yellowstones website offers tips to stay safe within the sprawling national park known for its hot springs and geysers, indicating that Boardwalks and trails protect you and delicate thermal formations.

Always walk on boardwalks and designated trails. Keep children close and do not let them run on boardwalks, the safety tips continue.

The 70-year-old actor best known for his role as James Bond in multiple 007 films was cited Tuesday and is being ordered to appear at the Yellowstone Justice Center on January 23.

CNN has reached out to Brosnans representatives for comment.

For more CNN news and newsletters create an account at CNN.com
A skull found along a highway in Californias Sierra Nevada mountains decades ago has been identified as that of a woman who went missing in 1970, police said Wednesday.

The DNA match solved the mystery of whether Donna Lass was alive or dead but not what happened to her, and officials continued to ask for any information in the case.

A sheriffs deputy found the skull in 1986 along Highway 20 and Interstate 80, 45 miles northwest of South Lake Tahoe, the Placer County Sheriff's Office said. It was preserved at the coroner's office as an unidentified person.

Lass was reported missing to South Lake Tahoe police in 1970, and the investigation exhausted all leads, officials said.

Donna Lass. (City of South Lake Tahoe / via Facebook)

She was 25 years old, had just rented an apartment in South Lake Tahoe and was a nurse at a casino in nearby Stateline, Nevada, when she vanished, according to a news article from the period shared by the sheriffs office. Left behind were her car, clothes and a bank account.

The DNA match was done through a cold case team that was recently formed in Placer County, the sheriff's office said.

The skull was sent to the California Justice Department, which was able to match the DNA to a sample given by Lass sister five years ago, South Lake Tahoe Police Chief David Stevenson told NBC affiliate KCRA of Sacramento on Wednesday. The match was discovered two weeks ago, police said.

South Tahoe Lake police said they have been in contact with members of the Lass family.

"We hope this development leads to closure after many years of searching," the police department said in a statement.

A cryptic postcard sent to the San Francisco Chronicle in 1971 had a symbol resembling that of the Zodiac Killer and the words Sierra Club, Sought victim 12 and "peek through the pines," as well as the upside-down phrase "around in the snow," The Sacramento Bee, which ran the postcard in a 1971 article, reported Wednesday.

That led to speculation that the disappearance could be linked to the still-unsolved serial killer case, but authorities have not connected Lass' disappearance with the Zodiac Killer, the Bee reported.

South Lake Tahoe police Sgt. Nick Carlquist said that there has been speculation about Lass being connected to the Zodiac cases, but there has not been a definitive, evidence-based connection to support that.

Having said that, we are exploring all possibilities, Carlquist said in an email.

In 2007, while acting on a tip related to the Zodiac killings, South Lake Tahoe police and others dug near Lake Tahoe looking for a possible burial site but found nothing, KCRA reported in 2013.

It remains unclear what happened to Lass.

"It hasnt been proven to be a homicide at this point, but were obviously treating it that way, Stevenson, the South Lake Tahoe police chief, told the station.

Anyone with information was asked to contact South Lake Tahoe police detectives at crimetips@cityofslt.us and refer to case 0070-6436.
Galal Yousif next to his mural Man With a Heavy Heart in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia

Artist Galal Yousif managed to flee Sudan when conflict erupted earlier this year with only a few belongings stuffed into a small backpack. The turmoil and bag, in which he had crammed his passport, two pairs of jeans, five shirts and a car key, is depicted in his painting Man With a Heavy Heart.

He first created the work as a mural in Addis Ababa, the capital of Ethiopia, which he reached after a harrowing journey in June.

Having now found temporary refuge in Kenya, he has recreated it on canvas - a striking image of a man with a hand over his heart, surrounded by large circular red dots resembling gunshot wounds.

A moon shines behind his head and lying on the ground is the backpack - symbolising all that Sudanese people have lost in the eight-month conflict. He had initially packed his car key thinking he would be back home soon.

"I paint my pain," he tells me in his home-cum-studio in Kenya's capital, Nairobi.

As an artist, he says his mission is to turn his personal experience into a collective visual narrative, offering a powerful glimpse into the "many people lost" in Sudan and the heavy toil of a "useless war".

The conflict began in April when two generals in the ruling junta fell out - pitting the army against the formidable paramilitary group known as the Rapid Support Forces (RSF). The fighting has since forced around seven million people from their homes, the UN says.

Yousif heard the first signs of war while working late towards the end of Ramadan in his studio near the presidential palace in Sudan's capital.

In the early hours of 15 April, he noticed troops massing nearby. Sensing something was about to happen, he decided to drive back to his family's home in the north of Khartoum - reaching there just before dawn after which the fighting started.

Galal Yousif has been in daily contact with his family in Rufa'ah until communications were cut last week

"Chaotic days" followed, he says, as there was no water, electricity and little food - and he struggled to care for his elderly aunt and uncle and other relatives.

Every night he heard the sounds of planes and gunfire and could see large plumes of smoke descending over the city - prompting him to take the decision to leave.

He hoped it was a temporary move - managing to get bus tickets for all the family to head to their ancestral home in the city of Rufa'ah - around 150km (93 miles) south-east of Khartoum.

As the situation deteriorated and with his relatives too frail to travel further, Yousif realised that as a well-established artist he could do more to support them if he headed to Nairobi. So he set off with his backpack on public transport to Metemma, a town on the border with Ethiopia where thousands of people were heading.

A month later he managed to get a flight from Addis Ababa to Nairobi where he has found a community of other Sudanese artists who had also fled the once-thriving art scene in Khartoum.

According to Khartoum art curator Rahiem Shadad, around 35 of these artists are now in the Kenyan capital, including other big names like Bakri Moaz, Yasir Algari and Hani Khalil Jawdat. Others have settled in Cairo.

Mr Shadad, who owns Khartoum's Downtown Gallery, representing many esteemed contemporary artists, tells the BBC his art space now lies in ruins.

A vast amount of artwork, including at least 165 framed paintings and 300 other pieces belonging to 60 artists, has also been lost, he says.

In recent months, the curator, who is also in Nairobi, has spearheaded numerous exhibitions of Sudanese art in the city.

He recently set up The Rest, a space for those in exile to live and work, with support from Nairobi's GoDown Arts Centre.

Despite this warm welcome by Kenya's art community, life is difficult for the Sudanese artists because of issues around asylum, lack of documents and their lack of substantial incomes.

"Some of these artists came with just $100 [80] in their pockets," Mr Shadad says.

Many of them are also deeply traumatised by their experience and losing their entire catalogue.

"Emotionally and spiritually, I am not OK," artist Tibian Bahari tells me about not being able to return to Sudan where her father and sister still live.

Tibian Bahari, seen here at an Alliance Francaise exhibition in Nairobi, wants to keep the spirit and culture of Sudan alive through her art

Her aim is to keep Sudan - a "sacred and magical land" - alive through her work, which currently centres around depicting the country's topography.

This determination comes down to her clothing.

"I always wear my jalabiya every morning," she says, referring to the ankle-length, loose-fitting robe with wide long sleeves worn by both men and women in Sudan.

She feels a deep sense of "responsibility" to share "truthfully" her journey and map out the art of displacement and especially keep a space for Sudan's women artists.

Many artists were part of the civilian protest movement that prompted the overthrow of Sudan's long-time leader Omar al-Bashir in 2019. Afterwards, the army initially entered into a power-sharing arrangement with civilian groups, before seizing power and the decent into war.

These artists feel their dreams have been crushed by the conflict - and that the world has forgotten them in the wake of the conflict in Gaza.

In the last week, fighting has escalated. Yousif's family has been under attack by the RSF in Rufa'ah.

Before the phone lines went down, he heard that his family, including his aunt, uncle and some of his siblings, had been forced out of their home by the RSF. They had managed to seek shelter at his grandmother's house in city centre.

"For the second time, my family has lost our home, first in Khartoum and now in Rufa'ah," he says, describing a city under siege.

"Nobody can go out," he says, adding that they are virtually prisoners unable to move around or flee.

Like his painting, Yousif feels his heart continues to bleed.

Man With a Heavy Heart exhibited at a show at the Alliance Francaise in Nairobi in September

More on the Sudan crisis:
EggHolic expects to open next week.

SHREWSBURY  An Indian-cuisine restaurant chain looks to open its first location in Massachusetts in January at a plaza off Route 9.

EggHolic, a restaurant with about 15 locations across the country and Canada, will open Jan. 5 with a menu inspired by Indian street food  often served out of street carts known as lahris in India.

Kush Patel, who lives in Ohio, said he and his father-in-law, Bharatkumar Patel, of the Shrewsbury area, have partnered to run the location.

Patel, 21, said the family also owns smoke shops and liquor stores in the area and gas stations in Ohio.

In August, the Patels were granted a victualer license by the select board.

The food business is never going to die, said Patel during an interview Thursday. You have to eat to survive which is why were deciding to go into the food business.

We are really excited for this.

As the name of the business suggests, eggs are the main ingredient of dishes.

Menu options include Toofani Curry, a dish with pieces of boiled eggs cooked in a spicy gravy; samosas, which are crispy fried dumplings filled with spiced potatoes and peas; and other chicken and vegetarian options.

The menu will also include alcoholic beverages typical to India, for which the business owners got their license from the town Thursday, according to Matthew Porter, the attorney representing the owners.

Non-alcoholic options include masala chhaas, which are salted butter milk, and desi chai, a type of black tea brewed in milk and water and then sweetened with sugar.

EggHolic will open its doors in one of the spaces of MarketPlace Shrewsbury, a multi-space retail plaza at 378 Maple Ave., once home to Price Chopper. Reliant Medical Group is a main tenant.

EggHolics space was previously home to a similar restaurant called Udupi Bhavan.

The EggHolic franchise is headquartered in Chicago, first opening in 2018, according to their website.

Porter, the attorney for the Patels, said the franchise is looking to grow by about 30 locations across the nation and Canada. He added that another Massachusetts location is in the works, for Burlington.

This article originally appeared on Telegram & Gazette: EggHolic Indian-cuisine to open first Mass. location in Shrewsbury
The Republican-led House Oversight and Judiciary committees on Wednesday are seeking any communications between the White House and lawyers for Hunter Biden about efforts to depose the president's son as part of their impeachment inquiry.

House Oversight Committee Chair James Comer, R-Ky., and Judiciary Committee Chair Jim Jordan, R-Ohio, made the request in a letter to Edward Siskel, assistant to the president and White House counsel, obtained by NBC News. The GOP chairmen said they're seeking to determine whether the president was involved in his sons decision not to comply with a congressional subpoena.

The letter asks for all documents and communications sent or received by employees of the Executive Office of the President regarding the deposition of Hunter Biden, as well as any records "sent or received by employees of the Executive Office of the President regarding President Bidens statement about his familys business associates on December 6, 2023.

The Republican lawmakers indicated they're not aware whether any such communications exist.

In light of an official statement from the White House that President Biden was aware in advance that his son, Hunter Biden, would knowingly defy two congressional subpoenas, we are compelled to examine as part of our impeachment inquiry whether the President engaged in a conspiracy to obstruct a proceeding of Congress, Comer and Jordan wrote.

"The fact that the President had advanced awareness that Mr. Biden would defy the Committees subpoenas raises a troubling new question that we must examine: whether the President corruptly sought to influence or obstruct the Committees proceeding by preventing, discouraging, or dissuading his son from complying with the Committees subpoenas. Such conduct could constitute an impeachable offense, they added.

President Joe Biden in Woodside, Calif., on Nov. 15, 2023. (Brendan Smialowski / AFP via Getty Images file)

The White House declined to comment. The offices of Abbe Lowell and Kevin Morris, attorneys for Hunter Biden, did not immediately respond to requests for comment.

Comer and Jordan referred specifically to a statement made during a White House press briefing Dec. 13 in response to a question about Hunter Bidens statement on the day he was due to appear for a closed-door deposition. Instead of participating in the deposition, as Republicans had requested, the presidents son spoke to reporters at a news conference outside the Capitol, repeating his offer to testify in a public hearing.

Im here today to make sure that the House committees illegitimate investigations of my family did not proceed on distortions, manipulated evidence, and lies. And Im here today to acknowledge that Ive made mistakes in my life, and wasted opportunities and privileges I was afforded, Hunter Biden said, reading a prepared statement. For that, Im responsible, for that Im accountable and for that, Im making amends.

During the Dec. 13 press briefing, a reporter asked White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre: Did [President Joe Biden] spend any time watching what his son had to say outside the Capitol?

Jean-Pierre noted that Hunter Biden is a private citizen and referred reporters to his representatives, adding that the president was certainly familiar with what his son was going to say.

And I think what you saw was from the heart from his son," she said. And youve heard  youve heard me say this; youve heard the president say this: When it comes to the president and the first lady, they are proud of him continuing to rebuild his life. They are proud of their son.

After Hunter Biden defied the request for a closed-door deposition, Comer and Jordan said Republicans would initiate contempt of Congress proceedings. The House is not expected to be back in session until the second week of January.

House Republicans last week released records showing that the president exchanged emails with his son's business associate 54 times while he was serving as vice president, with some of the messages sent around the time he was traveling to Ukraine while his son was working for a Ukrainian gas company. The records do not include the content of the emails. NBC News has not independently reviewed the messages.

Hunter Biden faces a series of legal woes. Federal prosecutors charged him with nine tax-related charges this month, including three felony counts. That came after he was indicted in September on federal charges of possessing a gun while using narcotics.

Comer has accused Hunter Biden and other Biden family members of engaging in shady business practices but has not yet provided concrete evidence of wrongdoing or influence-peddling by the president.
by Austin Bay December 27, 2023

The quote in the title receives little media and political attention. It should, for it provides a strategic insight into the Biden administration's worst policy disasters, foreign and domestic.

I call it the Biden administration's Afghanistan Narrative Warfare Ploy, an attempt to deceive the American people and the world, with Biden-friendly media a complicit ally in the deception.

Now the Biden administration is attempting to hide its responsibility for its policy disaster on the U.S.-Mexico border and the subsequent illegal migrant crisis. Even Democrats now acknowledge the border crisis is a major political and economic problem that will damage them in the 2024 national elections.

Back to The Quote: On Aug. 31, 2021, Reuters published a partial transcript of a July 23, 2021, phone call between President Joe Biden and the Afghan government's then-president Ashraf Ghani.

Before reading the quote, remember Biden held and still holds command authority over all branches of the U.S. government. He bears leadership responsibility, especially in defense and foreign affairs.

Joe Biden, as reported by Reuters: "...I need not tell you (Ghani) the perception around the world and in parts of Afghanistan, I believe, is that things aren't going well in terms of the fight against the Taliban. And there's a need, whether it is true or not, there is a need to project a different picture."

Translation for Ghani: Ignore the debacle on the ground and tell a rosy lie that politically benefits me, Joe Biden.

The statement is undisputed. Also undisputed: On July 23, 2021, the Afghanistan debacle was in full swing, and the Biden administration was denying it then, pivoting to blame any and all problems on former President Donald Trump.

Which takes us to Mexico City, Dec. 27, 2023, where Secretary of State Antony Blinken and Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas met with Mexican President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador (aka AMLO).

The State Department's Dec. 22 press release hyping the Blinken-Mayorkas meetup with AMLO says -- in self-important and arrogantly vague language -- the principals will discuss the "unprecedented irregular migration in the Western Hemisphere and identify ways Mexico and the U.S. will address border security challenges..." Blinken will also "reaffirm the U.S.'s commitment to the Los Angeles Declaration for Migration and Protection."

That's another giveaway The Ploy is being employed. The LA Declaration dates from June 2022 and ostensibly addresses controlling hemispheric migration issues. It abounds with noble words like "collaboration," "solidarity," "shared responsibility," "partnership with civil society and international organizations," et cetera. The lofty words are code justifying and masking the Biden administration's open border policy. Revelatory declaration phrase: "the imperative of promoting safe, orderly, and regular migration..." Rhetorical trick: Lumping all migrants in with "asylum seekers" and "refugees."

Sane laws recognize the difference between the genuinely desperate and lawbreakers entering illegally.

The Heritage Foundation's Simon Hawkinson wrote in 2022 "...the declaration does nothing to address the core problem: zero (law) enforcement at our border, which sends a clear signal to smugglers and would-be migrants across the Americas and the Caribbean that our door is wide open."

That's why the "irregular migration" Blinken bewails is unprecedented: Biden's wide-open door.

Wide-open it is, open for illegal migrants as well as human traffickers (often smuggling children) and drug smugglers. An estimated 8 million have illegally entered since January 2021, the month Biden became president and stopped enforcing border-crossing laws.

In 2022, American border towns in Arizona and Texas were overrun and suffering, but leftish media largely ignored their plight. Now liberal Democrat-run "sanctuary cities" are screaming. The sanctimonious sanctuaries can't afford to care for the illegal migrants. Their social welfare programs will go bankrupt.

More are coming. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) reported 242,418 migrant encounters in November, 240,986 in October and 269,735 in September -- a record. Encounters are just encounters -- not apprehensions. As for returning border violators to their country of origin? Why, that was Trump policy, and racistracistracist (all one ludicrous word).

On the cusp of 2024, Blinken and Mayorkas are not in Mexico City to close the door. They are there to posture before the cameras, to urge Mexico to clamp down on "border security" and, to quote Joe Biden, "to project a different picture" so he can look like he's doing something before next year's presidential election.

Their job is to project the appearance of a solution to a problem Biden created and would still prefer to ignore.
EAST PROVIDENCE  City police are investigating after a man was shot in the leg at a playground Tuesday afternoon.

The incident happened at about 1 p.m. at the Hull Street playground the police said in a news release.

Officers found a bullet casing in the playground parking lot, and a short time later, Providence police told the East Providence police they were with a man on Benefit Street in Providence who was suffering from a gunshot wound to his leg.

Investigators believe he was shot in East Providence.

The shooting victim was taken to Rhode Island Hospital for treatment and was listed in stable condition Tuesday afternoon.

The police said there was no threat to the public.

This article originally appeared on The Providence Journal: Hull Street playground shooting in East Providence leaves one injured
The Oklahoma Board of Education has approved a new charter school for Okmulgee

A Seminole-based nonprofit group focused on establishing charter schools in rural Oklahoma towns now has a green light to open a site in Okmulgee.

The state Board of Education last week approved without opposition the expansion of The Academy of Seminole into Okmulgee, about 65 miles to the east. The Okmulgee site, which is scheduled to open in August 2024, will hold classes in downtown Okmulgee in the building where a private school is closing at the end of this school year.

State schools Superintendent Ryan Walters, the chairman of the state board, called the application submitted to the board thorough.

This is an incredibly successful rural charter school that continues to position Oklahoma as a leader in education reform and innovation, Walters said. We want students and parents in rural communities to have robust options in education, and through its expansion, this high-quality school is filling that need. This school provides a model for others while making our state more competitive and our students more successful.

Advance Rural Education, which opened The Academy of Seminole in 2017, also will operate the Okmulgee site. The path toward the creation of both sites hasnt been without obstacles.

How the charter school in Okmulgee won state approval

In 2015, changes to state law opened the door to communities outside of Oklahoma City and Tulsa to have charter schools, which according to the Oklahoma State Department of Education website are public schools that are allowed greater flexibility for greater accountability. Charter schools have their own governing boards and are accountable to their sponsoring organization  either a local school board or the state Board of Education.

After the announcement in August 2016 of an application by ARE for a charter from the Seminole Public Schools board, that board rejected that application two months later. But in February 2017 the state board, led by then-state schools Superintendent Joy Hofmeister, agreed to serve as the schools sponsor.

The Okmulgee site followed a similar track. In July, the Okmulgee Public Schools board declined the charter schools application, leading ARE to instead seek sponsorship from the state board. Instead of sponsoring what will be called The Academy of Okmulgee as a separate entity, though, the state board approved the expansion of The Academy of Seminole to Okmulgee, so both campuses will operate under the already-existing agreement.

Bryan Cleveland, the OSDEs general counsel, recommended that setup, telling the state board it made more sense, at least from my perspective, to open up (Okmulgee) as a site under the existing Seminole charter district. It minimizes the financial risk and it also minimizes the legal limitations of what sharing (of resources) can happen.

Wren Hawthorne, the superintendent of the Seminole charter school, said the Okmulgee site will open with grades pre-kindergarten through eighth grade, then add another grade each year until it goes through 12th grade. School officials projected enrollment for the 2024-25 academic year to be about 180 students, with growth to between 250 and 300 students over the next four years.

Theres lots of interest to have a change and have a choice in Okmulgee, he said.

What will happen to Stonebridge Academy, the current Okmulgee private school?

Hawthorne said the board of the current Okmulgee private school, Stonebridge Academy, asked us to come in and start thinking about changing the private school into a charter. Thats how we started this journey.

Stonebridge Academys board also has voted to turn over all of that schools assets, including the building, to the new charter school, Hawthorne said. He added the Sam Viersen Family Foundation  which previously has supported Stonebridge Academy financially  has pledged $1.15 million over five years to support The Academy of Okmulgee and the Oakland, California-based NewSchools Venture Fund has awarded the Okmulgee site a $215,000 grant to help with startup costs.

The Academy of Seminole has 230 students. Its pre-K through eighth grade school and its high school each received a B on the most recent Oklahoma State Report Cards, the top score of any Seminole County school. Hawthorne said the Seminole school has a proven record of success which should bode well for establishing a similar school in Okmulgee, which has a population of about 11,300.

Thats not something you have very often, he said. Weve been through it once and we figured out the pitfalls and the things that work. Were committed to trying to do that again.

The Academy of Seminole has an Early College High School agreement with Seminole State College that allows academy students to simultaneously work toward earning an associates degree while also earning their high school diplomas. Hawthorne said the plan is to have a similar setup with The Academy of Okmulgee and the Oklahoma State University Institute of Technology in Okmulgee. Such a plan would have to be approved by the Oklahoma State Regents for Higher Education.

This article originally appeared on Oklahoman: New rural charter school site to open in Okmulgee after board approval
A program that allowed Graham High School students to obtain a Certified Nursing Assistant license set Abigail Hurst on her educational path.

Her choice was solidified when she entered the Wilson School of Nursing at Midwestern State University. Hurst graduated Dec. 16 with a bachelors degree in nursing.

My high school set me up for nursing, Hurst said. However, I wasn't 100% sold until I started the nursing program at MSU Texas. Once my skills, knowledge and confidence grew, I fell in love with nursing.

Abigail Hurst graduated from MSU Texas with a nursing degree in December.

In high school, students learned medical terms, anatomy, nutrition and patient care, and had a chance to shadow nurses at a local hospital. They were CPR certified and learned all the skills and information necessary to pass the CNA exam.

Hurst became a nursing major with a minor in French. That might seem unusual to some, but it made sense to her. Associate Professor of French Eric Lynch had encouraged her during her French studies.

Hurst was a Redwine Scholar, and the program requires participation in study abroad. She was interested in the France trip, but her original plans were delayed by COVID cancellation.

More: Degree of difficulty: Military spouse and mom of 2 finds college finish line at MSU Texas

In 2021, she did get the opportunity to study in France. This past summer, Hurst went to London with the nursing program.

She learned about community health, and by touring a hospital, she saw firsthand the differences and similarities between health care in England and the United States.

Over this last year, Ive gained so much confidence, Hurst said. Im not an outgoing person so the study abroad experience helped me to get out of myself.

As an extra project at MSU Texas, Hurst helped Assistant Professor of Nursing Sandra Groth by creating a flyer about toddler milestones. She joined Gamma Phi Beta sorority and the nursing fraternity Sigma Theta Tau.

For the past year, she has worked as a student assistant in the Disability Support Services Office at MSU Texas.

Hurst loves the flexibility and diversity nursing offers.

You can work exclusively with pediatrics or the elderly. You can work in mental health, oncology, surgery, and youre not limited to the hospital setting. You can work in a clinic, at a school, or in a home, she said.

More: Midwestern State University honors professor with faculty award

Hursts mother, Morgan Ervin, is also an MSU Texas alumna who graduated in 2005.

Hurst has become passionate about womens health, and she realized that she wanted to work in mother/baby nursing, which includes antepartum, labor and delivery, and postpartum.

I love taking care of and educating women and their families, she said. Nursing is such a rewarding profession, and I hope to continue to educate myself and become a Certified Nurse Midwife in the future.

This article originally appeared on Wichita Falls Times Record News: MSU degree in hand, Graham's Hurst looks forward to career in nursing
By Rich McKay and Joseph Ax

ATLANTA -A federal judge in Georgia upheld a Republican-drawn congressional map on Thursday, rejecting arguments from voting rights groups and Democrats that the latest district lines illegally diluted the voting power of Black residents near Atlanta.

The decision from U.S. District Judge Steve Jones likely ensures that Republicans will maintain their 9-5 advantage among the state's 14 seats in the U.S. House of Representatives.

"The court finds that the general assembly fully complied with this court's order requiring the creation of Black-majority districts in the regions of the state where vote dilution was found," Jones wrote in the order.

The case is one of several lawsuits whose outcomes could determine which party controls the House after next November's vote. Democrats need to capture a net of five Republican seats nationally to win back a majority.

Jones, appointed to the bench by former Democratic President Barack Obama, had ordered lawmakers in October to create a new map that included an additional district with a Black majority or near-majority in order to comply with the 1965 Voting Rights Act.

While the state filed an appeal, Republican Governor Brian Kemp also scheduled a special legislative session to comply with the order.

In early December, the Republican-controlled legislature approved a map that added a majority-Black district west of Atlanta. But in doing so, lawmakers also dismantled a nearby district  represented by Democrat Lucy McBath, a Black woman  comprised mostly of minority voters, including Black, Hispanic and Asian residents.

Democrats and voting rights groups had argued that the revised map violated Jones' ruling, which had said the state could not remedy the problem "by eliminating minority districts elsewhere." Republicans asserted that their effort complied with the decision because McBath's district was not majority Black.

"Today's ruling is a validation of what we put forward," Jon Burns, the speaker of the Republican-controlled Georgia House of Representatives, said in a statement. "Now we're going to get back to the work of lowering costs of living, improving education, expanding access to healthcare and delivering results for the people of Georgia."

The American Civil Liberties Union of Georgia, which helped represent the plaintiffs, disagreed with the ruling.

"Federal law requires an end to vote dilution and a real change for injured voters, not reshuffling the same deck," Ari Savitzky, a senior ACLU of Georgia attorney, said in a statement. "We will continue to hold the General Assembly accountable until Georgia voters get the maps they deserve."

It was not immediately clear whether the plaintiffs would appeal the district court's decision.

The Georgia NAACP, a civil rights group, called the new map an example of "racial gerrymandering."

"All of Georgia has now been diluted of our voices," said Gerald Griggs, president of the Georgia NAACP, who criticized the judge's ruling. "We respectfully disagree and look forward to further litigation on this issue."

(Reporting by Rich McKay in Atlanta and Joseph Ax in Princeton, New Jersey; Additional reporting by Jasper Ward, Ismail Shakil and Kanishka Singh; Editing by Rosalba O'Brien and Caitlin Webber)
A Ukrainian soldier near the front line in Donetsk this week

The White House has approved another tranche of US military aid to Ukraine worth some $250m (195m).

The latest package includes air defence, artillery and small arms ammunition, and anti-tank weapons, US officials say.

But it marks the last funding available without fresh approval from Congress, where talks have stalled.

Ukraine has warned that the war effort and its public finances are at risk if further Western aid is not forthcoming.

Amid a stalled counter-offensive in the east of the country and a little-changed line of control, Ukrainian officials are facing the prospect of a slowdown in aid from allies in Washington and Europe.

Although the Ukraine war effort has broad support in the US Congress, an agreement on further arms has been stopped by Republicans who insist that tougher security measures on the US-Mexico border must be part of any military aid deal.

An emergency spending measure that would have provided $50bn for Ukraine and $14bn for Israel was defeated in the Senate earlier this month, with every Republican voting against it - along with Bernie Sanders, an independent who usually votes with Democrats but has expressed concerns about Israel's war against Hamas.

A subsequent visit by Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky failed to sway lawmakers.

Wednesday's announcement will see the weapons pulled from existing Pentagon stocks, a move which does not need Congressional approval.

Secretary of State Antony Blinken said in a statement announcing the aid package that it was "imperative that Congress act swiftly, as soon as possible, to advance our national security interests by helping Ukraine defend itself and secure its future".

"Our assistance has been critical to supporting our Ukrainian partners as they defend their country and their freedom against Russia's aggression," he added.

Earlier this month a 50bn EU aid package for Ukraine was blocked by Hungary.

Ukraine is facing a $43bn budget deficit and officials say they may have to delay salaries and pensions for government employees if further aid from the West does not come soon.

"The support of partners is extremely critical," Ukraine's Deputy Prime Minister Yulia Svyrydenko, who also serves as the country's economy minister, said in an interview with the Financial Times on Wednesday. "We need it urgently."

The newspaper reported that talks were progressing on a smaller aid package that would not need Hungary's approval, which could be taken up in early February.

As funding has slowed from Ukraine's Western allies, Russian forces have continued to fight in the east of the country, where they seized a key town on Tuesday.

Russian Defence Minister Sergei Shoigu said his troops took Mariinka in eastern Ukraine after Ukrainian forces pulled back. The town has been at the forefront of fighting for over a year.


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YEREVAN, DECEMBER 28, ARMENPRESS. Secretary of the Security Council Armen Grigoryan has met with Iranian Foreign Minister Hossein Amir-Abdollahian in Yerevan.

Grigoryan and Amir-Abdollahian were pleased to underscore the importance of the continuity of high-level political dialogue developed on the basis of mutual respect between the two friendly countries and millennia-old brotherhood of the two peoples, the Office of the Security Council said in a press release.

Issues pertaining to bilateral economic and security relations were discussed, and the sides attached importance to the deepening of Armenia-Iran partnership in this context, as well as the implementation of effective steps in the direction of fulfilling agreements in that direction.

The sides also discussed the Crossroads of Peace project developed by the Armenian government and attached importance to the imperative of having lasting peace in the region.
Washington, United States, December 28, 2023 - The U.S. Department of Defense (DoD) announced on December 27, 2023, the Biden Administration's latest security assistance for Ukraine. This marks the fifty-fourth tranche of defense equipment allocated from DoD inventories for Ukraine since August 2021. The new U.S. military aid package includes NASAMS missiles, anti-tank weapons, and small arms ammunition.

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An airman attached to the 436th Aerial Port Squadron loads cargo during a Ukraine security assistance mission at Dover Air Force Base, Del., Jan. 13, 2023. (Picture source U.S. DoD)

The latest assistance package, valued at up to $250 million, is part of the Presidential Drawdown Authority (PDA) authorized in previous fiscal years. It includes a comprehensive range of military capabilities designed to meet Ukraine's immediate defense needs and strengthen its ability to maintain sovereignty and independence.

Key components of this assistance include additional munitions for National Advanced Surface-to-Air Missile Systems (NASAMS), Stinger anti-aircraft missiles, vital air defense system components, and more ammunition for High Mobility Artillery Rocket Systems (HIMARS). The package also provides 155mm and 105mm artillery rounds, Tube-Launched, Optically-Tracked, Wire-Guided (TOW) missiles, Javelin and AT-4 anti-armor systems, over 15 million rounds of small arms ammunition, demolitions munitions for obstacle clearing, along with spare parts, medical equipment, and maintenance support.

This robust support package reflects the U.S.'s commitment to Ukrainian defense and its determination to deter further Russian aggression. The aid will enhance Ukraine's capabilities to protect its sovereignty and independence effectively.

U.S. officials emphasize that supporting Ukraine is not only a strategic defense move but also an investment in global stability and American national security. The assistance deters potential aggression in other parts of the world, bolsters the U.S. defense industrial base, and creates skilled jobs domestically.

As the conflict continues, U.S. leadership remains crucial in maintaining and strengthening the coalition of around 50 allies and partners currently backing Ukraine. The Biden Administration urges Congress to act swiftly on the President's national security supplemental request in the new year. This action is imperative to ensure uninterrupted U.S. support for Ukraine, enabling the nation to defend itself against ongoing Russian attacks and to consolidate and expand its battlefield gains.

Defense News December 2023
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Her pivotal role in advancing transformative healthcare in Bhutan has elevated Indias status as a key partner in Bhutans development

Retired Punjab IAS officer Dr Poonam Khetrapal Singhs recent award of Bhutans National Order of Merit gold medal not only signifies her exceptional contributions to Bhutans healthcare but also gains significance in the context of Indias ties with the mountain kingdom and Chinas increasing engagement with Bhutan.

As the first Indian to serve as the regional director of WHO Southeast Asia, Dr Khetrapal Singhs recognition exemplifies Indias commitment to global health leadership. Her pivotal role in advancing transformative healthcare in Bhutan, leading to the early elimination of measles and rubella, has elevated Indias status as a key partner in Bhutans development.

The timing of the award, coinciding with Bhutans National Day celebration and the announcement of the Gelephu mindfulness mega-city project in the presence of a large Indian contingent is being seen as quite significant. Bhutans king Jigme Khesar Namgyel Wangchuk, made the announcement during elections in Bhutan, signalling the projects continuity despite political changes. King Wangchuks subsequent visits to India to discuss the project, where Indian infrastructure and private investment will play a vital role, indicate Indias commitment to countering Chinas growing influence in the region.

Indias proactive engagement in healthcare and development in Bhutan assumes significance, and its involvement in the countrys ambitious projects symbolises a strategic response to reinforce Indias regional leadership.

DG dilemma: Delay in appointments raises alarm

As central paramilitary forces and central police organisations grapple with several vacant director general (DG) level posts, the impending retirement of Mohammed Taj Hasan adds to the ongoing leadership vacuum. Hasan is set to retire at the end of this month as DG of fire services, civil defence and home guard.

The delay in appointing regular DGs in critical agencies such as the Central Industrial Security Force (CISF) and the Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) has raised serious concerns. Compounding this issue is the prolonged vacancy in the key position of DG (Investigation) at the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC), since August, following Manoj Yadavas transfer to the Railway Protection Force (RPF).

Babu corridors are abuzz with discussions about the significance of the post of director at the Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel National Police Academy, considered an additional director general (ADG) rank post. The retirement of A. Seema Rajan in February 2023 led to the elevation of the then inspector general Amit Gard as the head of the institution in the rank of ADG.

Recent security lapses in Parliament have heightened the awareness of senior officials across services and batches regarding crucial vacancies at the senior level. It may hasten the announcement of new appointments of regular DGs in the CISF, CRPF, fire service and civil defence, and possibly the NHRC. Watch this space for updates.

Promotions and puzzles: IRS overhaul signals change

The Centre has filled the vacant post of director general (investigations) in the Competition Commission of India (CCI) by appointing Anshuman Pattanaik, a 1994-batch IRS (Income Tax) officer. This position became available after Atul Verma completed his second extended term in November.

As head of the independent investigation arm of the CCI, Mr Pattanaik will lead inquiries into several high-profile corporate giants, including Big Tech companies, scrutinising anti-trust and competition-related matters.

Meanwhile, in other IRS-related developments, the 2006 batch of IRS officers have seen promotions to the grade of Commissioner of Income Tax (CIT). A total of 58 IRS officers have been promoted, signifying a reshuffling of key positions within the IRS. While the general impression is that this is a routine matter, it is noteworthy that the recommendation of the departmental promotion committee (DPC) for the empanelment of 16 IRS officers has been shrouded in secrecy, with the names placed in sealed covers.

Adding a layer of intrigue, at least three IRS officials have been denied empanelment. The reasons behind these decisions and the implications for the affected officers remain undisclosed. It will be interesting to observe the impact of these changes on the dynamics of tax administration and regulatory oversight in the country.
The legal battle is however not concluded, as the eight individuals have not been acquitted

New Delhi: In a significant turn of events, the Qatari Court of Appeal, at its fourth and final hearing on Thursday, commuted the death penalty for eight Indians and former Navy personnel, who were earlier sentenced to death by the Qatari Court of First Instance on October 26 on espionage charges. The Qatari Court's decision provides substantial relief to the individuals who had challenged the initial verdict. While the detailed judgment is awaited, New Delhi confirmed that the sentences have been "reduced" without specifying the new terms.

Observers view these developments as a measured diplomatic win and immediate relief for India. However, the legal battle is not concluded, as the eight individuals have not been acquitted. New Delhi affirmed its commitment to stand by its nationals, extending consular and legal assistance, and pledged to continue addressing the matter with Qatari authorities.

New Delhi noted the Qatari Court of Appeal's verdict and stated that it is in close touch with the legal team and family members to decide on the next steps. The Indian Ambassador to Qatar, along with other officials, was present in the Court of Appeal during the hearing.

The possibility of a royal pardon by the Qatar Emir in the future is being considered, given the ongoing uncertainties. Another speculated option is the potential transfer of the eight Indians to India to serve reduced jail terms under a treaty between India and Qatar, allowing the relocation of sentenced persons for proximity to their families. Additionally, there is speculation about the individuals approaching the Court of Cassation, the highest court in the Qatari judicial system, to seek acquittal and challenge their prison terms.

The eight former naval personnel, identified as Navtej Singh Gill, Birendra Kumar Verma, Saurabh Vashisht, Amit Nagpal, Purnendu Tiwari, Sugunakar Pakala, Sanjeev Gupta, and Ragesh, were accused by Qatar of spying for Israel on a secret programme related to stealth submarines. They were employees of Oman-based company Dahra Global Technologies and Consulting Services, advising on a Qatari submarine programme. The individuals were detained in August last year, convicted in October, and sentenced to death.

The charges against the eight Indians have not been officially disclosed by Qatar, and New Delhi has refrained from publicly stating the specifics. The Qatari Court of Appeal's hearing followed previous sessions on November 23, November 30, and December 7, after accepting the legal appeal filed by the individuals against the initial death penalty verdict. India had earlier expressed "deep shock" at the October 26 verdict and emphasised its commitment to exploring all legal options and providing consular and legal assistance. The latest developments come after a meeting between Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Qatar Emir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani during the COP 28 Summit in Dubai about four weeks ago.
ED has named Robert Vadra in its earlier charge sheet related to the case as an alleged close aide of Thampi

New Delhi: For the first time, the Enforcement Directorate has named AICC general secretary Priyanka Gandhi Vadra in its recently-filed chargesheet over the alleged purchase and sale of five acres of land in Haryana while the Congress Party cried foul over the agencys action.

The agency, in its chargesheet, mentioned her role in purchasing a tract of agricultural land measuring 40 kanal (five acres) in Haryanas Faridabad from a Delhi-based real estate agent, H.L. Pahwa, in 2006 and sold the same land to him in February 2010. Her husband, businessman Robert Vadra, is also named in this case, but neither of them is listed as an accused.

The purchase of three plots of land in Haryana in 2005-06 by former Congress president Sonia Gandhis son-in-law Robert Vadra from a real estate agent is being probed along with a land deal by his wife Priyanka Gandhi Vadra, the Central agency claimed in a money-laundering case chargesheet.

The agency filed the chargesheet, also known as a prosecution complaint, in November before a Delhi court against UAE-based NRI businessman C.C. Thampi, who is allegedly linked to Robert Vadra, and Sumit Chadha, a relative of alleged middleman Sanjay Bhandari.

A special Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA) court in Delhi

took cognisance of this chargesheet on December 22 and listed the matter for the next hearing on January 29, 2024.

According to ED officials, Bhandari fled to the UK in 2016, but the UK government approved his extradition to India in January this year, acting on a legal request made by the ED and the CBI.

The two Central agencies are probing charges of money-laundering and tax evasion against the alleged middleman for holding alleged

undisclosed assets abroad.

In the chargesheet, the ED claims that it came across the land purchase and sale transactions of the Vadras after it registered a Foreign Exchange Management Act (FEMA) case against 67-year-old Mr Thampi in 2015.

A long and thick relationship existed between Robert Vadra and Mr Thampi, the agency said. Robert Vadra has been questioned by the ED in this case in the past and he had denied any wrongdoing.

Mr Thampi, the ED said, had purchased about 486 acres of land between 2005 and 2008 in Amirpur village in Haryana's Faridabad district through H.L. Pahwa, a real estate agent based in Delhi-NCR. It is imperative to mention that Robert Vadra also purchased three

pieces of land measuring 334 kanals (40.08 acres) in Amirpur from H.L. Pahwa from 2005-2006 and sold the same land to H.L. Pahwa in December 2010, it said in the chargesheet.

Further, Priyanka Gandhi Vadra, wife of Robert Vadra, also purchased

agricultural land measuring 40 kanal (five acres) in village Amirpur,

district Faridabad, Haryana, from H.L. Pahwa in April 2006 and sold

the same land to H.L. Pahwa in February 2010, the ED stated.

It also said Pahwa was receiving cash out of the books for the purpose

of acquisition of land. It was also noticed that Robert Vadra did not pay the entire consideration to Pahwa. The investigation in this regard is still ongoing, the ED said.

Mr Thampi was arrested in this case in January 2020. The ED in a recent press statement alleged that he was a close associate of Robert Vadra. Mr Thampi is at present out on bail.

The ED also stated in the chargesheet that Mr Thampi, in a statement

recorded before the agency in January 2020, said he purchased a Land

Cruiser car from Robert Vadra more than 10 years ago, for which he made payments to the businessman through cheques from his NRE accounts in India. It also said that Mr Thampi has not submitted any documents or details to explain a bank transaction of Rs 10 lakhs with Robert Vadra in 2007.

Thus, from the above, it is quite evident that Robert Vadra has a close association with C.C. Thampi, it said.

In June 2019, Mr Thampi told the ED he knew Robert Vadra for more than 10 years and the businessman was initially introduced to him by Mr Madhavan, who was private assistant to Mrs Sonia Gandhi. He told the agency that he met Robert Vadra a number of times in the lounge of Taj Mansingh Hotel and some restaurants in Delhi and also in Dubai.

Mr Thampi, according to the ED, also told agency officials that Robert Vadra stayed at the property 12 Bryanston Square, London, three-four times.

The Central agency, in a press statement released earlier this week, had said Robert Vadra renovated and stayed at this London house, which is one of the proceeds of crime in the money-laundering case investigated against Mr Bhandari. The ED filed a criminal case against Mr Bhandari and others in February 2017.

Crying foul at the EDs move, the Congress Party on Thursday hit out at the BJP, alleging that it was a conspiracy by the ruling party. Look at what theyll do ahead of elections, its just the beginning. They are not doing it for the first time, they hatch such conspiracies when elections approach. Let them hatch conspiracies, Congress leader Pawan Khera said.
Kharge warns democracy will be finished if BJP, RSS not stopped

Mumbai: Sounding the bugle for the 2024 general election, senior Congress leader Rahul Gandhi on Thursday said that the coming polls will be a battle of two ideologies as slavery works in the BJP. He also promised a nationwide caste census if the Congress was voted to power at the Centre.

Addressing a Hai Taiyyar Hum rally in Nagpur that kickstarted the Congress campaign for next years Lok Sabha polls, Mr Gandhi lashed out at the ruling BJP, saying the saffron party is run on an authoritarian ideology like that of erstwhile kings.

There is a fight of ideologies going on in the country. Their (BJP) ideology is the ideology of kings. They dont listen to anyone, orders just come from above. Whereas in the Congress, the voices come from below, our small workers can point out the big leaders. I listen to our workers and also respect their voice (concerns), Mr Gandhi said.

The freedom struggle was not fought by the kings or rulers of that time, it was fought by the people of the country. Kings and rulers had a partnership with the British. The Congress fought against that partnership for the people of the country, he added.

Vice-chancellors are appointed not on the basis of merit but because they belong to a particular organisation. Unemployment is highest now in the last 40 years, Mr Gandhi stated.

The Congress leader also announced that his party will undertake a caste census if voted to power at the Centre. We will undertake a caste census after coming to power at Centre, he said.

After the Congress made a demand for a caste census, Prime Minister Narendra Modis language changed and he started saying poverty was the only caste in the country. The Congress will carry out the caste census and give employment to youths, who are deprived of jobs, Mr Gandhi added.

The Congress leader also said the BJP wants to take the country back to slavery, alleging that ghulami (slavery) works in the saffron party.

A few days ago, I secretly met a BJP MP in the Lok Sabha, who was previously in the Congress. He spoke out of fear, and tension was visible on his face. He said: BJP mein ghulami chalti hai (slavery works in the BJP), said the Congress leader.

The BJP leader said that whatever directions are received from the authorities above have to be followed without thinking twice. No one listens to us, orders come from above. It is just like how kings used to give orders earlier and everyone had to follow it. There is no choice whether you like it or not, Mr Gandhi said.

Addressing the rally, Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge said the RSS and BJP have ruined the country in the last 10 years and if they are not stopped now, then democracy will be finished.

The BJP made a mockery of democracy by suspending 146 Opposition MPs for asking questions and passing the bills in Parliament. The people should teach a lesson to Prime Minister Narendra Modi and the BJP for not respecting democracy, he added.

While Congress former president Sonia Gandhi and general secretary Priyanka Gandhi Vadra did not attend the rally, Telangana CM Revanth Reddy, Himachal Pradesh CM Sukhvinder Sukhu, Karnataka deputy CM D.K. Shivakumar, and former Maharashtra CMs Prithviraj Chavan, Sushilkumar Shinde and Ashok Chavan were present on the occasion.
Bihar deputy chief minister and RJD leader Tejashwi Yadav has rubbished the rumours about the resignation of Lalan Singh

New Delhi: Top leaders of the Janata Dal (United) are in New Delhi for the partys national executive meeting on Friday. The two-day meeting was convened by JD(U) president Rajiv Ranjan Singh, popularly known as Lalan Singh, amid speculation that he could step down to make way for Bihar chief minister Nitish Kumar to take over the reins of the party again. The JD(U)s national office-bearers' meeting was held Thursday and this will be followed by national executive and national council meetings on Friday.

However, Lalan Singh dismissed reports of his resignation, saying a narrative has been set by the media at the behest of the ruling BJP. Mr Singh said the meeting was a routine one, and stressed that his party remains united.

If I have to resign, I will call you (the media), and consult you about what to write in the resignation letter, so that you can go to the BJP office and get the draft. You are trying to set the narrative JD(U) is one, and will remain united, Mr Singh said.

Speculation has been rife that Mr Singh may be asked to resign due to his alleged proximity to ally Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD). A section of the media also claimed that after having dumped the BJP in August last year, Mr Kumar was now planning an about-turn.

Mr Nitish Kumar asserted that the partys meeting was a normal and annual affair with nothing extraordinary about it, rejecting speculation about turmoil in his party. He, however, ducked questions when asked whether Lalan Singh was likely to make a formal offer of his resignation at the meeting on December 29. He also evaded questions about the rumours of his joining the NDA.

Bihar deputy chief minister and RJD leader Tejashwi Yadav has rubbished the rumours about the resignation of Lalan Singh. These is all useless talk Every party holds its national executive meeting. We also held our partys national executive meeting in Delhi, Mr Yadav said.

At the national executive meeting venue, posters featuring Bihar CM Nitish Kumar reading Pradesh ne pehchana, ab desh bhi pehchanega (The state of Bihar recognised him, now the nation will) were put up. However, as the Lok Sabha elections draw closer, the BJP claims that a transfer of power in Bihar is in the offing, a claim strongly denied by the ruling coalition.

Union minister and BJP leader Giriraj Singh said: Nitish Kumar ji will remain the chief minister of Bihar for just a few days. Lalu Prasad Yadav has created a chakravyuh for this. The first step of this chakravyuh was making Awadh Bihar the Speaker of the Bihar Assembly. Nitish Kumar will become former (CM) very soon It is fixed that Nitish Kumar will not remain the CM anymore. In the next few days, Bihar is going to get a CM from the RJD
Invites Modi to Russia amid US concerns on Pannun case

Russian President Vladimir Putin, center, speaks to India's Foreign Minister Subrahmanyam Jaishankar, second left, during their meeting at the Kremlin in Moscow, Russia, Wednesday, Dec. 27, 2023. ( AP/PTI)

NEW DELHI: In a late Wednesday evening meeting, Russian President Vladimir Putin assured external affairs minister (EAM) S. Jaishankar that India-Russia ties continue to progress steadily despite global turbulence.

Putin, highlighting the enduring nature of their relations, pledged to maintain traditional ties irrespective of the government in power in New Delhi after the upcoming Indian general elections. The diplomatic engagements between India and Russia come at a time when relations between India and the US have become complicated due to the Pannun case, involving pro-Khalistan elements.

The US has expressed concerns about an alleged plot to kill proKhalistan extremist Gurpatwant Singh Pannun on American soil, further contributing to the complexities in the India-US relationship.

During the meeting, President Putin invited Prime Minister Narendra Modi to visit Russia next year. We will be happy to see our friend, Prime Minister Modi in Russia. We will have an opportunity to discuss the current issues and talk about the prospects for developing Russian-Indian relations. We have to cover a lot of ground. So I would like to ask you to convey to him my best wishes and please, give him our invitation we are looking forward to seeing him in Russia. That said, I realise that next year, Indias domestic political calendar is not simple. It is complicated considering that India will hold general elections to parliament. We wish success to our friends in India. We believe we will maintain our traditional friendly ties in any alignment of political forces, Putin said.

Jaishankar handed President Putin a letter from Modi, detailing the advancements in bilateral ties. The external affairs minister also conveyed Modis anticipation of visiting Russia in the coming year, at a mutually convenient date. Putin acknowledged Modis efforts in resolving the Ukraine conflict through peaceful means and promised to provide additional information to India about the situation.

The details of the meeting were released in the early hours of Thursday.

In a statement released by the Kremlin, President Putin expressed his happiness at the growing trade ties between India and Russia, which have surpassed $50 billion annually. He highlighted the substantial growth in trade, particularly in energy resources, high-tech areas, and stressed on the resilience of relations with traditional friends in Asia, particularly India.

Jaishankar, in a social media post, stated, Honoured to call on President Vladimir Putin. Conveyed the warm greetings of PM Narendra Modi and handed over a personal message.

He further appreciated President Putins guidance on the development of bilateral ties.

During the meeting, Jaishankar provided updates on the progress made in recent days, discussed trade developments exceeding $50 billion, and highlighted the nuclear cooperation, with agreements signed for the Kudankulam project.
Today's news: Muslim prisoners in Siberian jails went on hunger strike against religious discrimination. In Seoul over 1,000 military personnel carried out a series of defence drills, simulating an attack by North Korea. The Philippines will open four new medical departments in universities in as many provinces of the country.

HONG KONG

Hong Kong rights activist Agnes Chow, 27, flew to Toronto in early December to continue her studies, announcing on social media that she would never return to the city, thus violating "national security law." The police have ordered her to return to her by today, December 28, otherwise "a price" will be placed on her head, as has already happened to several exiles - among others - former parliamentarians Ted Hui and Dennis Kwok and activists Nathan Law and Anna Kwok. In this context today 3 activists were convicted of "conspiracy to commit terrorism" under the National Security Act and jailed for up to six years. They are Ho Yu-wang, 20 years old, Kwok Man-hei, 21 years old, and Cheung Ho-yeung, 23 years old.

INDIA

Indian Defense Minister Rajnath Singh has promised justice to the families of three civilians tortured to death while in army custody in Indian-administered Kashmir. The men were detained for questioning last week after four soldiers were killed in a terrorist attack. The video of their deaths has sparked tensions in the region. The inhabitants of Kashmir, one of the most militarized areas in the world, have long accused the security forces of excesses, including beatings and torture. Both India and Pakistan claim the entire territory, but control only parts of it.

IRAN

Iran's supreme leader led prayers this morning at the funeral of Sayyed Razi Moussavi, a senior Pasdaran (IRGC) advisor killed in what Tehran said was an Israeli air strike in Syria. Ali Khamenei paid tribute to "the tireless struggle of this martyr". He was among the most experienced and efficient commanders on the front.

JAPAN

Japan, South Korea and China are planning a trilateral summit in February 2024, an initiative that Seoul and Tokyo see as an opportunity to send a "unified warning" to North Korea and curb its nuclear ambitions. This was reported by the Japanese public broadcaster NHK, which specifies: "Tokyo would like to use the dialogue between the three nations also to understand how to curb North Korea, which has carried out repeated launches of ballistic missiles towards the Pacific".

RUSSIA

Some prisoners in the Siberian concentration camp of Irkutsk have held a hunger strike in recent days, led by the prisoner of Chechen origin Khumajd Khajdaev, to protest against discrimination against them on a religious basis, as they are Muslims, including the closure of the heating in their cells in a period of great frosts.

SOUTH KOREA

More than 1,000 military, police officers and emergency personnel carried out a series of defense drills on Wednesday, simulating a North Korean attack on Seoul. The exercise comes amid growing tension after Pyongyang tested an intercontinental ballistic missile, launched its first military spy satellite, and last month reinstated some military measures eased after a 2018 pact.

PHILIPPINES

President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. signed a series of laws establishing medical programs at four state universities that will help advance medical education in the country. The four institutions are: Benguet State University, Southern Luzon State University, University of the Eastern Philippines and Visayas State University. The regulations introduced aim to respond to the needs of development of human and scientific resources in the medical field in the respective provinces, the presidential office said.

KAZAKHSTAN

Kazakhstan took first place this year in GDP growth among the countries of Central Asia and the post-Soviet CIS, according to the report of the International Currency Fund, for a total value of 259 billion dollars, 15% in more (33.8 billion) compared to the previous year, and forecasts give the country continuous growth for the next 5 years.
by Sumon Corraya

Celebrations transcended boundaries of faiths in an atmosphere of forgiveness, peace, and reconciliation. A Muslim shared songs and food, as his Christian friend did earlier for the Islamic holiday of Eid. Official mentions the role played in local development by PIME missionaries, still remembered with affection by the community.

Natore (AsiaNews)  Christmas was marked by interfaith harmony and sharing with members of different religions united to celebrate the joy of the birth of Jesus in Natore, a district in Rajshahi Division, experiencing moments of intense participation in the name of rebirth, new beginnings, forgiveness, and peace in a country that once experienced sectarian tensions.

Trees adorned with lights and decorations illuminated the surroundings, accompanied by special prayers in churches and Christmas carols and hymns of joy in Christian homes.

The celebration crossed religious boundaries with members of the Christian, Muslim, Hindu, and Buddhist communities united in stressing that "Christmas is a universal celebration."

Robiul Islam, a young Muslim from Natore, spoke to AsiaNews about his experience. "I joined the Christmas party with my friend Jonathan Gomes. We sang Christmas carols, enjoyed delicious food, including the Christmas cake, he said. Stressing the strong bond between faiths, he said that Jonathan had previously participated in Eid (Islamic) celebrations with his family.

On Christmas Day, the parish of Bonpara, Natore, organised a convivial moment after the Mass with local Christians sharing Christmas cake and songs with people of different faiths.

Siddiqur Rahman Patwari, a Muslim leader and member of Parliament, as well as other political leaders, attended the event, bringing greetings to the Catholic community.

Patwari expressed gratitude to the missionaries from the Pontifical Institute for Foreign Missions (PIME) for their major role in local development. He also highlighted local religious harmony, expressing hope that it would continue in the future.

It should be noted that PIME priests and nuns from Italy served in the parish of Bonpara for many years. And their contribution, a local resident pointed out, is still remembered with affection by the Christians and non-Christians alike.

On Christmas, Bangladeshi President Mohammed Sahabuddin and Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina also extended their greetings to the Christian community.

The president hosted a reception at the Bangabhaban, his official residence, in the presence of Archbishop Bejoy N D' Cruze of Dhaka and Christian Association of Bangladesh President Nirmol Rozario, as well as other community representatives, diplomats and religious leaders from various countries.

The head of state urged everyone to work for the well-being of the country and its people, stressing that religion is a personal matter and that, at the national level, it is necessary to support harmony and the free practice of worship.

Lastly, he praised Christ's example for all faiths in leading people to truth, justice, and peace, working to make the world a peaceful place.

For his part, Card Patrick D'Rozario, Archbishop Emeritus of Dhaka, released a message for Christmas.

"Celebrating Christmas during the upcoming election is a grace from God and a call to embrace the challenge, the message reads.

In it, the cardinal also offered prayers to encourage people to bring the message of Christmas to the electoral process, and to choose leaders committed to justice, peace, and harmony, wishing everyone "a fruitful Christmas and a new year full of grace."
by Mathias Hariyadi

The UN Refugee Agency (UNHCR) said that it was deeply disturbed to see a mob attack on a site sheltering vulnerable refugee families, the majority being children and women. It urges the Indonesian government to provide the refugees with greater protection.

Banda Aceh (AsiaNews)  Hundreds of students in the province of Aceh, western Indonesia, invaded a shelter yesterday that temporarily housed more than a hundred Rohingya refugees, driving them out in what is but the latest incident due to local hostility towards the refugees, who belong to a persecuted stateless Muslim minority from Myanmar.

Since mid-November, more than 1,500 Rohingya fled refugee camps in Bangladesh to reach Aceh province by sea in makeshift crafts. According to the United Nations, this is the largest migration of Rohingya to Indonesia since 2015.

Under the slogan "Aceh's Students Denied Access to the Rohingyas", hundreds of people demanded that these asylum seekers leave from their temporary shelter in the Balee Meuseuraya building and be relocated elsewhere.

Even though most of vulnerable refugees are families, especially women and children, the students dragged them into vans and pickups and drove them to another place not far away, about a kilometre from the previous location.

About 135 Rohingya, who landed on an Aceh beach on 10 December, were subjected of this action, after.

We were able to move these Rohingya as most of our compatriots in Aceh have already expressed concern and were against their presence here," said one of the coordinators of Wednesday's action.

The protesters also said that in previous years Aceh had warmly welcomed Rohingya refugees. But local feelings soured after President Joko Widodo spoke  without evidence or without referring to any time frame  of "illegal trafficking of human beings" among refugees at a conference on 12 December.

The Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) in Jakarta harshly criticised the action by university students in Aceh against the Rohingyas who are now traumatised after yesterdays incident.

The UNHCR is deeply disturbed to see a mob attack on a site sheltering vulnerable refugee families, the majority being children and women, its office said in a statement released yesterday.

In its official communique, the UN agency called on Indonesian authorities to address the issue as soon as possible.

The UNHCR remains deeply worried about the safety of refugees and calls on local law enforcement authorities for urgent action to ensure protection of all desperate individuals and humanitarian staff, the statement read.

The attack on refugees is not an isolated act but the result of a coordinated online campaign of misinformation, disinformation and hate speech against refugees, it went on to say.
by Vladimir Rozanskij

For the past 30 years, the use of the language has been steadily decreasing outside the national borders. This contrasts with the attempted revival of ideology in the former Soviet countries (and beyond). From Moscow the accusation of an attack on 'Russian culture'. A defence that is not nostalgia for Soviet times, but to 'defend multinational Russia and dialogue between truly free countries'.

Moscow (AsiaNews) - The use of the Russian language outside national borders has been steadily decreasing for over thirty years, after the end of the Cold War. This becomes more and more a problem in the face of the revival of the ideology of Russkij Mir, which presupposes an increasingly vast union between people and peoples who feel that Russia is the country capable of taking care of moral, religious and social expectations in all continents.

Not only that, but as a consequence of the conflict in Ukraine, and other crisis situations in which Russia is involved, many areas are trying to discredit, replace and "decolonize" even many areas in which Russian is still widely spread. To this we must add the process of demographic decline in Russia itself, which has less and less possibility of spreading the presence of its fellow citizens everywhere.

As the vice-president of the State Duma, Petr Tolstoy, a descendant of the great writer of the late nineteenth century, said in recent days, "the Russian language must become the language of communication between the nations of all the former Soviet republics".

Today, in this sense, only Belarus, Kazakhstan and Kyrgyzstan remain more attached to the common linguistic past, while Armenia, Uzbekistan, Tajikistan and the other post-Soviet countries are now increasingly abandoning the use of Russian.

According to Tolstoy, "in all countries from which hundreds of thousands of migrants come, Russian language schools must be opened", renewing the integration system destroyed in the 1990s.

According to the parliamentarian, this should happen at the expense of the states from which the working migrants arrive in Russia, using part of the earnings that they send to their families back home. The Moscow government itself has implemented various initiatives to support the opening of Russian-speaking schools in Central Asia and other countries.

The Russian language is considered on par with the local one in Belarus and South Ossetia, while in Kyrgyzstan, Abkhazia and Kazakhstan it is one of the official languages, with some limitations. Russian is accepted as a usable language for some public functions in Tajikistan, Israel and even in some US states and in some regions of Australia.

The number of Russians living abroad is estimated at between 30 and 40 million, especially in Central Asian states such as Kazakhstan (5 million 800 thousand), Uzbekistan (2 million 420 thousand), United States (850 thousand), Tajikistan (580 thousand), Turkmenistan (530 thousand), Brazil (70 thousand) and Canada (60 thousand).

At the recent meeting of CIS leaders in Bishkek, President Vladimir Putin announced that an International Association for the Russian Language will be opened in Sochi; it will have the task of spreading Russian throughout the world "as a very important element of consolidation of the entire post-Soviet space, and an instrument of international communication".

According to the Russians, the relevance of the role of the Russian language on a global level is confirmed by the West's strategy of "global hybrid war against Russian culture", as Tolstoy states; a strategy that aims to use all the means of information space to fuel "controllable chaos" with which to achieve "lacerations in the field of linguistic security" of Russia. The algorithms of this hybrid model act in the information sphere, according to this thesis, to "control the sphere of culture and worldviews from behind the scenes".

The objective is to lead the masses to disorientation and relaxation, to the point of "destroying the traditional, moral and spiritual values of the Russian people and the peoples linked to them". These processes would be very evident in the countries involved in the current conflict such as Ukraine and Moldova, but also in the Baltics and the Caucasus and even in a Russian-friendly country such as Serbia.

The defense of the Russian language therefore serves not to return to Soviet times, but "to defend multinational Russia and dialogue between truly free countries".
NGABEZWENI - His Majesty King Mswati III yesterday commissioned thousands of Ingatja to fetch the scared shrub, known as Lusekwane.

Speaking through Indvuna Mfinyezi, the King urged the young boys to bring quality shrubs from Esikhaleni seLusekwane situated at Nhlambeni, which is approximately 14 kilometers from Ngabezweni Royal Residence. From Nhlambeni, Ingatja will march with the shrubs to Ludzidzini Royal Residence, where it would be delivered before the King this morning. The King wished the regiment a safe journey as they proceeded to fetch the shrubs. Uma nitatiphatsa kahle nitawuhamba ninjena niphindze nibuye ninjena, the King said in vernacular.

Accompanied

Not only did the King commission the young boys but he also accompanied them to Nhlambeni, together with the regiment of warriors. The young boys took a rest and received food parcels at Phocweni, before they proceeded to Nhlambeni, where they were introduced to Incwala songs, which would be sung for only four days. The King and the regiment of warriors returned, leaving Ingatja to fetch the shrubs at moonrise. Like last year, Ingatja received torches, which they would use during the course of the event, especially at night. The young and energetic boys showed their excitement throughout the journey, as the sang various song.

On another note, some sections of Matsapha came to a standstill as members of the public and vendors ceased operations and cheered Ingatja and the regiments as they passed by. Some shops were temporarily closed as the regiments passed by. Some boys had an opportunity to have a brief interaction with some of those who cheered them on. Security personnel were deployed in all corners to ensure safety. Two helicopters were flying over the regiment to ensure safety. The King will also commission the young boys to fetch red leaves known as imbondvo around Lobamba tomorrow morning. They will also be afforded the opportunity to show their bravery through killing a bull without using weapons.

On Saturday, emaSwati will gather inside Ludzidzini Cattle Byre in celebration of the harvest of the first fruit. The nation will also celebrate peace and stability which have prevailed since the country gained its independence from Britain in 1968. Worth noting is that the annual Incwala Ceremony is open to everyone, irrespective of race.
The illustrious bike-modding artisans over at Sinroja Motorcycles are best-known for their startling BMW projects, but they dont mind stepping outside their comfort zone from time to time. Under the leadership of Rahul Sinroja, the Leicester-based firm would probably be able to work wonders on bikes from just about any marque if necessary. Case in point, the sinister scrambler shown below is far from the German boxers they normally build.

Photo: Wil Collins Photography

Photo: Wil Collins Photography

By contrast, it started with one of Triumph s modern classics, more specifically a bone-stock Bonneville SE. Given the stylistic direction that the UK shop was looking to take, you might think it wouldve made more sense for them to use a Scrambler model. This would indeed be correct, but Rahul and his squad dont like taking the easy or obvious route when it comes to their majestic one-offs.In its stock incarnation, the Bonnie served as a daily commuter for the Sinroja crew. Come 2019, the guys decided to have it customized for the Malle Mille festival, which is an annual gathering celebrating motorcycle culture in the Midlands. Although this is how things were initially meant to go, a change of plans took place as the transformation process was unfolding.An eager client visited the firms headquarters while the Bonneville was on their workbench undergoing surgery. What happened next was a matter of love at first sight, because he immediately decided to buy the ongoing build before it was even close to completion. Confident in Sinrojas abilities, the customer had no intention of intervening in the creative vision theyd already established, instead opting to sit back and leave them to their own devices.This was clearly a very inspired decision, one which Rahuls specialists rewarded in spades while keeping things relatively simple and budget-friendly. Without further ado, lets dive in and see how theyve turned the stock Bonneville into a scrambled showstopper with stealthy looks. The extensive use of premium componentry from TEC Bike Parts is one of the most notable things about this specimen.At the front end, the forks were rebuilt with fresh internals and preload adjusters from TECs catalog, but the suspension mods were even more extensive out back. Sinroja ditched the donors factory shock absorbers altogether, replacing them with higher-spec piggyback alternatives sourced from the same aftermarket brand. Once the suspension-related work was out of the way, they had a gander down at the footwear department.Whereas the Bonneville s original seven-spoke wheels are still present, theyve been sand-blasted and repainted in a layer of satin-black. Then, the lads cloaked their rims in a beefy pair of dual-purpose TKC 80 knobbies supplied by Continental. In addition, they trimmed the front fender to reduce visual heft without sacrificing practicality, but the rear mudguard is nowhere to be seen.If you thought we were done listing all the TEC parts used on this build, think again. The company also provided the compact tail tidy mounted where the standard rear fender had once been, while the multi-function LEDs found on the flanks are top-grade Rizoma goodies. Once again turning to TEC solutions, Sinroja ordered an off-the-shelf skid plate with circular cut-outs, similar to the modules were seen on some projects from Tamarit Motorcycles.The new saddle came from Triumphs very own aftermarket inventory, and the factory SE fuel tank has been retained. However, it was stripped of its knee pads, badges, and original paintwork, then finished in metallic-black with gunmetal-grey graphics. A Monza-style flip-up filler cap takes pride of place up top, provided by  surprise, surprise  TEC Bike Parts. Further back on the Bonnies flanks, we come across a set of replacement side panels.Rear-mounted foot pegs from TEC also make an appearance, with the rear brake getting actuated via the repurposed master cylinder of a BMW R 100 RS. A fresh drive chain and accompanying sprockets finish off the creatures equipment at the rear, but theres more for us to talk about up front. Namely, were referring to a bright LED headlamp supported by handmade mounting hardware, while the front-end blinkers sit on the lower triple clamp.With the customization process nearing completion, Sinroja Motorcycles moved on to the powertrain side of things. They treated the parallel-twin mill to some youthful air filtration paraphernalia and an invigorating internal clean-up, before turning to the exhaust. Instead of the SEs standard pipework, you will now see a high-mounted aftermarket setup running a two-into-one configuration.Its made of stainless-steel and fitted with two heat shields to prevent temperatures from getting too toasty near the riders leg. All the engine covers are still the OEM parts, though theyve been painted matte-black to match the rest of the build. Even if there is nothing too crazy about the result of Sinrojas transformation , we can probably all agree that their scrambled Bonneville is a thrilling sight to behold!
Almost every Ford model that rolls off the production lines of factories in the United States will likely remain in production into 2028 unless a sudden change of plans occurs in the strategy. The Ford F-150 Police Responder is part of the plan.

Photo: Ford

The new Ford F-150 Police Responder is going to be delivered starting early 2024 and will most likely remain in production through April 2028. That is the moment when the newly ratified contract expires. Order banks are already open.The vehicle rolls off the production line of the Kansas City Assembly plant, while the factory in Dearborn manufactures another special version, the F-150 Raptor.It is the second police variant produced by Ford to stay in production for the next four years. The Police Interceptor Utility, based on the Ford Explorer, will remain in production at the Chicago Assembly plant through the end of the UAW (United Auto Workers) contract.Specifically designed to comply with a wide range of law enforcement requirements, the Ford F-150 Police Responder is one of the fastest vehicles in the Blue Oval's lineup.The cargo space of the pickup truck has been converted into an emergency response equipment carrier.The model is also equipped with a Police Perimeter Alert feature that monitors its exterior for motion or potential threats, automatically securing the vehicle and officer on board upon threat detection.Meanwhile, the Police Engine Idle function allows the office to remove the key and exit the truck securely without losing power to the emergency essential lights and sirens.The new Police Dark Car function turns off interior lighting and enables dash cluster dimming during surveillance operations to prevent the vehicle from drawing unwanted attention.Ford equipped the Police Responder pickup truck with the Supplemental Heat Sanitation solution, which temporarily elevates the temperature on board above 133 degrees Fahrenheit for 15 minutes to reduce viral concentration by 99 percent.There is also the Ford Pro Uphill Integration System (UIS), which simplifies uplifts and programmable control, ensuring smooth integration with a 12-inch digital instrument cluster. The F-150 Police Responder is the second Ford Vehicle to receive the function after the Super Duty.The For Pro Telematics and fleet management software, specifically designed to cut downtime and improve idle time and fuel consumption by 50 percent, are also part of the plan.The Police Responder variant is available, for a start, with the 3.5-liter EcoBoost V6 engine and a SuperCrew configuration. The PowerBoost hybrid variant will show up at a later date. The V6 that powers the police truck generates 400 horsepower (406 PS) and 500 lb-ft (678 Nm) of torque, which take the vehicle to a top speed of 120 mph (193 kph) and make it one of the fastest police trucks in the United States It is likely, though, that these figures will get un update for a mid-cycle refresh before 2028, when the newly ratified contract expires, as reported by FordAuthority.
While everyone and their dog is preparing for New Year's Eve fireworks and socializing with our loved ones, Merc is busy filing recalls with the federal watchdog. The latest campaign involves model year 2021 through 2024 vehicles from the C-Class, E-Class, CLS, S-Class, GLC, GLE, GLS, G-Class, GT, and SL lines, namely vehicles equipped with fuel pumps manufactured by Hyundam Industrial Co.

AMG

NHTSA

An estimated 79,676 vehicles require new fuel pumps, with said vehicles ranging from the 2022 to 2024 model year Mercedes-Benz C 300 toversions, including the 63 series . What is the problem with the suspect fuel pumps? According to documents published by the, the supplier identified a deviation in the production process of a sub-supplier. The fuel pump impeller might not meet material requirements, a condition that's eerily similar to Honda's recent mammoth recall involving 2.5 million vehicles equipped with Denso pumps.The impeller is prone to deform, therefore leading to mechanical resistance. Mercedes-Benz AG claims that  in some instances  the mechanical resistance might result in the fuel pump shutting down while driving. Before the fuel pump goes kaput, drivers may be made aware of the impending shutdown by a rough-running engine or a malfunction indicator lamp/warning message on the instrument cluster.Merc started investigating field reports alleging inconsistent power delivery in June 2022, with the first reports originating from outside the United States market. Stuttgart's favorite son retrieved fuel pumps from the field, which  over the next several months  were analyzed in coordination with Hyundai Industrial Co. and relevant sub-suppliers.In December 2022, the German automaker and Hyundam identified an irregularity in raw material batches at one sub-supplier. The following month, Hyundam was required to change its fuel pump impeller raw material sub-supplier. Merc also required the changing of the injection molding process at the injection molding supplier, as well as additional quality controls within the supplier chain.2,031 warranty claims, field reports, and service reports later, Mercedes recalled potentially affected vehicles in June 2023. Be that as it may, Mercedes-Benz AG didn't investigate this matter properly. In July 2023, the automaker determined that additional batches of raw material may have ended up as fuel pump impellers in tens of thousands of vehicles that were not included in the original recall's population.Between May 2022 and November 2023, the automaker received a further 1,901 claims and reports on top of the 2,031 mentioned earlier. Said 2,031 were received between August 2021 and May 2023. Thankfully for affected owners and Merc's legal department, the automaker isn't aware of any crashes, injuries, or property damage related to this issue.Dealers have already been informed about the second recall, which covers no fewer than 14 fuel pump variants. Obviously enough, service techs will replace iffy pumps with properly manufactured fuel delivery units at no charge whatsoever to owners.Owner notifications will be mailed in February 2024. For the time being, it would be wise to run the 17-character VIN on the NHTSA's website to determine whether your Mercedes is indeed affected or not.
SUV

EV

The 2024 HR-V is now larger than before and clashes with the Toyota Corolla Cross in the 'let's get people asleep with our bland looks' department. It's also pretty cheap, indeed, as it kicks off at $24,100. The best-selling 2024 CR-V is almost hard to recognize from its predecessor, but getting one in your driveway is always a good $30k deal.Then, if you want another crossover, there are also the mid-size siblings  Passport and Pilot, complete with two or three rows. The passenger car department is well represented by sensible options like the $24k Civic Sedan, $25k Civic Hatchback, $28k Accord, and the massive $37,840 Odyssey minivan. The only pickup truck option is the $40k Ridgeline, and there are also only two hybrids  the respective Accord and CR-V variants.As such, it is no wonder that Honda itself has decided to spice things up a little bit with some upcoming introductions like the eagerly-awaited Civic Hybrid, the all-electric Prologue, the forthcoming Prelude rebirth , or the all-new globalset to arrive in January at CES 2024 in Las Vegas, Nevada. Looking at the models to come, it's clear that Honda is not trying to stand out in any crowd  they're just paying attention to people's needs and hoping that will be enough to rack up good sales and keep up the positive momentum.Even the surprise Prologue concept's appearance in America was soon forgotten because the Honda prototype isn't all that interesting to begin with  at least in terms of design. Things would probably be a little different if this were the two-door Integra everyone wanted instead of the Acura five-door. Instead, it feels smaller than the renowned fifth-generation Prelude and, in fact, is a replacement for the discontinued Civic and Accord Coupes at a more affordable and electrified pricing point.But what if people don't accept this treatment? It will be pretty hard to argue with Honda in the real world, but the imaginative realm of digital car content creators has no qualms in changing the pre-ordained manner of doing revivals. For example, Jordan Rubinstein-Towler, the CGI automotive designer tucked behind the jrubinsteintowler alias on social media, has imagined a completely different Honda Prelude coupe than OEM.And we dare say it's a positive if unofficial development because it clearly references the unique design of the 1996 to 2001 fifth generation. The modern styling takes the quirky yet lovable Prelude into the next half of the 2020s with hidden A-pillars, a floating roof, slim LED taillights, and big metal surfaces that seamlessly flow with the two-door body style. But would you want it as a fully-fledged EV (like this unofficial design project), or not?
Tesla delivered the first Cybertruck units on November 30, and about 500 of them have gotten to their owners since then. As some of these units got into tuning shops for various personalization projects, some of their best-kept secrets have been revealed. These include the hidden "outlets" in the frunk and on the roof, which are, in fact, a bunch of wires.

Photo: T Sportline - Tesla Upgrades & Accessories via YouTube

Whether by mistake or design, Tesla did a lousy job at explaining all the Cybertruck features and design choices. However, as more people got their hands on one of the Foundation Series Cybertrucks in the past month, it was clear that the Cybertruck would reveal its secrets. Things are already happening, as some tuners and accessory makers got the chance to analyze and work on the Cybertruck.T Sportline claims it was the world's first Tesla tuner, having started modding Teslas more than ten years ago. Now, they got a Cybertruck to wrap and, while doing this, find as much as possible about its technicalities. The company has been quite busy posting videos with and about the Cybertruck on its YouTube channel, some of them showing some hidden and unknown features. If you're a Cybertruck fan or just want to learn more about it, you should check out their channel.The latest videos offer a great insight into the Cybertruck's 48-volt switchable outlets, as well as the gigawiper motor that put Tesla VP of Engineering Lars Moravy in difficulty a week ago. If you were wondering, the Cybertruck is pre-wired for aftermarket accessories, with an outlet in the frunk and another on the roof. Both can be switched on and off via the center infotainment screen. In fact, the light bar that was seen on some prototypes is powered using the rooftop outlet.T Sportline's videos show that this so-called outlet is, in fact, nothing more than a bunch of wires, which are isolated to prevent a short circuit with the truck's metal body. Intriguingly, each one has three wires, of which two are for the 48-volt supply . The power is reportedly limited to 400 watts, so connecting a winch to these outlets would be out of the question.A multimeter reveals that the third wire has about 11 volts on it all the time, no matter whether the outlet is switched on or off or even whether the Cybertruck is locked or active. It's unclear what the purpose of this wire is, but the T Sportline technician thinks it might be a signal line for some purpose-built accessories.The same goes for the frunk outlet, which also features three wires. Although the altimeter was not used this time, I assume they carry the same voltages and for the same purpose. It's a pity that Tesla chose to leave the wires naked instead of attaching some kind of connector to them. Even cooler, Tesla might've designed a magnetic connector for the roof light bar so that you wouldn't need to connect anything, just click the accessory into position.In another video, we get to see that the Cybertruck does come with an air port for the compressed air system, although it's hidden underneath the wheel arch cladding. Based on this, I doubt it was designed to allow Cybertruck owners to inflate the wheels or other accessories. Instead, it could be used in an emergency to pump air into the suspension system if the onboard compressor fails.
Tesla rushed the 2023 Holiday Update to market, allowing some nasty bugs to go through its quality control undetected. However, when owners complained about the issues, Service Center employees refused to acknowledge the problems and asked for money to fix them.

EV

FSD

This issue was able to be resolved via a power cycle although resulted in an influx of service appointments and calls, as well as causing confusion for those impacted.



To avoid further vehicles from encountering this, Tesla pulled the update and released .5.1 and .6 updates.  Teslascope (@teslascope) December 22, 2023

Tesla has pushed a patched version of the 2023.44.30.5.1 which resolves the failed install issue.



If your install failed earlier, youre safe to retry once it is pushed to your vehicle, typically within 30 minutes to 2 hours. https://t.co/9T5gxqRXrL  Teslascope (@teslascope) December 23, 2023

As many people know, software can be a magical solution to many problems, or it can be the problem itself requiring a magical solution. As the pioneer of software-defined vehicles, Tesla has been praised for its software updates, which add new features and solve bugs without requiring a physical presence in a service center. This is something that Volkswagenowners only dream of, as even software updates are done at a dealership.Tesla's over-the-air (OTA) updates have been mostly trouble-free, enhancing the functionality of the cars without much fuss for the owners. However, software is software, and bugs are an inherent part of it, as Tesla owners discovered this month. However eager they were to test the new features in the 2023 Holiday Update, Tesla owners had to grapple with bugs. Tesla appeared to struggle more than ever to fix the issue , with no less than six bug-fix updates to the Holiday Update.One of the factors that may have made the 2023 Holiday Update less stable than Tesla owners were used to was the inclusion of the Autosteer recall fix. This might have put pressure on Tesla's software team to offer the fix as soon as possible. As it often happens, rushing things also let some problems slip unnoticed. Hilariously, Tesla was forced to essentially "recall" the Autosteer recall fix.Among the issues reported by Tesla owners were FSD Beta disappearing from their vehicles, false positive alerts that the 12-volt battery was dead, and problems with the Auto wipers. To add insult to injury, the update 2023.44.30.5.1 was supposed to fix issues with all previous updates under the 2023.44.30 branch but failed to install on thousands of customers' cars. Considering all this, you'd expect Tesla to acknowledge the problems and offer a goodwill gesture to its customers.In the case of many Tesla owners who vented their frustration on social media, it was actually the opposite. One of them shared that their problems started with the 2023.44.30.2 update, when Autopilot,, and other driver assistance systems would not start anymore. They also received various warning messages, including "Dl_a175Cruise control unavailable" and "APS_w160Software update required."Reddit user u/aaaviciii booked a mobile service appointment but hours later was told a firmware fix would be pushed to their vehicle. Unfortunately, the fix did nothing to solve the issues, and the service center rep told them they needed to check the car in person. The next day, they got notified of a new software update, 2023.44.30.5.1, which the service team also recommended. Still, the problems persisted.Things got weird as a Tesla rep later denied in a voicemail that the issues had anything to do with the software updates. He even tried to make the car's owner responsible for the FSD disappearance, saying the FSD was suspended allegedly after several strikes. Since this doesn't explain why cruise control or basic Autopilot were broken, the owner disputed this claim and was told to bring the car in service for a diagnosis. However, this would have cost him $255, supposedly because their 2018 Model 3 LR RWD was out of warranty.The outraged owner found out there are countless Tesla owners with similar issues , yet the Tesla rep claimed this was not related to a known problem. Many were told absurd things that obviously had nothing to do with their issues, refusing to accept that Tesla's software updates screwed things up. At this point, nobody knows whether this is simple incompetence or Tesla staff being evil. Hopefully, Tesla will acknowledge the issues and fix them free of charge for everyone.
MBABANE  The stokvel treasurer who was arrested with two men for armed robbery, claims police arrested the wrong person, since she was innocent.

A stokvel is an informal savings scheme made of interested persons, who group themselves and make monthly monetary contributions. These contributions are then shared at the end of the year. Thabsile Precious Tsabedze (45) of Sitibeni, was arrested together with Mxolisi Fortune Dlamini (29) of Sidwashini and Muzi Mileage Mkhabela (40) of Gobholo. They are said to have threatened Wandile Nxumalo that they would shoot him if he offered resistance to the taking of the stokvel money while at Mpolonjeni in Mbabane. As a result of the threats, it is alleged that the trio, using force and violence, robbed Nxumalo of money amounting to E62 000.

Bail

In her bail application filed at the High Court, Tsabedze vehemently denied having committed the offence; instead she claimed that in her, the police arrested the wrong person. I state that I have a good bona fide defence to the charge and I will plead not guilty during my trial. I further state that I did not rob the complainant of the sum of E62 000, contended Tsabedze. In motivating her bail application, the accused averred that she was not a violent person and she had never been charged with any violent act before. It was her contention that in the event she was released on bail, she would not endanger the safety of the public or any particular person. It was further her undertaking that in the event the court granted her bail; she would not commit any offence and would not evade trial. I further wish to mention that when granted bail, I will not evade trial. I am a respectable woman of high moral values and I want to prove my innocence in this matter. I reiterate that I did not induce the complainant to surrender the sum of money with a firearm and/or bushknife, she argued. She went on to claim that she never threatened the complainant nor inflicted any harm on him.

Innocent

Members of the Royal Eswatini Police Service have arrested the wrong person since I am innocent, submitted Tsabedze. The accused further brought it to the attention of the court that she was not affiliated to any political party or organisation advocating for regime change in the country. Tsabedze was admitted to E15 000 bail by Judge Zonkhe Magagula, who, however, ordered her to pay E8 000 cash and provide surety for the balance. As part of her bail condition, Tsabedze was directed to surrender her passport or other valid international documents to the investigating officer at the Mbabane Police Station. She was warned that pending finalisation of the matter, she should not apply for a new passport or travel document.

The accused was also strictly warned to report monthly, following her release on bail, in person at the charge office at Mbabane Police Station between the hours of 8am and 4pm.

She was directed to make such a report after her release and thereafter, every last Friday of the month.

Another condition is that she should refrain from speaking with or communicating with or otherwise contacting any prosecution witnesses in the case against her. In the event she did not know the identities of the witnesses, she was ordered to ascertain same from the investigation office. As part of her bail conditions, Tsabedze was further warned to remain within the Kingdom of Eswatini, pending finalisation of her matter and to also provide the investigating officer with her residential address forthwith on release, for inter alia, purposes of domicilium citandi (the address nominated by a party).

Conditions

Some of the conditions were that she should attend court as and when ordered to do so and not commit a similar offence while out on bail. She was advised further that any relaxation or amendment of the above conditions would be authorised by a judge of the High Court. Lastly, she was told that non-compliance with any of the conditions would result in the cancellation of his bail and the amount paid forfeited to the State. The accused was represented by Sibusiso Mabuza of Mtshali Ngcamphalala Attorneys in Mbabane.
Unfortunately, official Yerevan, succumbing to the persuasion of Westerners, is trying to reformat its foreign policy line, he told the official Russian news agency TASS. It is exchanging the time-tested alliance with Moscow not even for concrete help from the West but only for vague promises.

Lavrov was particularly concerned about what he described as Armenias deepening ties with NATO.

Yerevan has been developing cooperation with NATO and its individual member countries lately, he said. This year, Armenia took part in several dozen events with the alliance. It continues to modernize its armed forces according to NATO standards, and the republics military personnel are undergoing training in a number of NATO member states. This cannot fail to cause us concern.

I hope that Yerevan is aware that deepening interaction with the alliance leads to a loss of sovereignty in the field of national defense and security, he warned.

Earlier this week, a senior NATO official praised Prime Minister Nikol Pashinians government for moving away from Russia and seeking more cooperation and political dialogue with NATO.

Armenia has decided very clearly to make some shift in their foreign policy, to take some distance from Moscow, Javier Colomina, the NATO secretary generals special representative for the South Caucasus and Central Asia, told Georgian television.

Pashinian declared in early September that his government wants to diversify our security policy because Armenias heavy reliance on Russia has proved a strategic mistake. He claimed that Moscow is unwilling or unable to defend its South Caucasus ally. Armenia hosted a U.S.-Armenian military exercise later in September.

The Russian Foreign Ministry denounced these and other unfriendly steps, accusing Pashinian of destroying Russian-Armenian relations at the behest of Western powers. The rift between the two longtime allies deepened further after Moscow did not prevent or stop Azerbaijans September 19-20 military offensive that restored Azerbaijani control over Nagorno-Karabakh.

Despite the heightened tensions, Pashinian has announced no plans to pull his country out of the Russian-led Collective Security Treaty Organization (CSTO). Pashinian said in late October that his administration is also not considering demanding the withdrawal of Russian troops from Armenia even if it sees no advantages in their presence.

Lavrov described as harmful any talk of such a withdrawal. He insisted that Armenia cannot successfully confront its grave security challenges with the help of the United States and the European Union.

Pashinians domestic political opponents have also criticized his foreign policy moves while agreeing with his assertions that Russia is not fully honoring its security commitments to Armenia. They argue that the West is not ready to give any Armenia security guarantees or significant military aid.
28 December 2023 19:30 (UTC+04:00)

Asim Aliyev Read more

Recently, France, which has been trying to undermine the national interests of Azerbaijan with its pro-Armenian position, has already led to the deterioration of diplomatic relations between the countries with its inadequate behavior. A few days ago, the summoning of the French ambassador to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Azerbaijan, followed by the expulsion of two French diplomats from the country by declaring them persona non grata, can be an example of exactly what happened.

In fact, the aggressive policy pursued by the French authority towards Azerbaijan is still surprising. Regarding the expulsion of the French diplomats, it was announced that the activities of these diplomats contradict the Vienna Convention on Diplomatic Relations of 1961.

It is interesting that France, which could not accept Azerbaijan's rightful remark, tried to respond to it, but showed its diplomatic instability. Thus, the French Foreign Ministry called Azerbaijani diplomats persona non grata without giving any reason and demanded their departure from the country. At present, this step of France has certainly made the diplomatic relations between the two countries even more tense.

According to the political scientist, diplomat, and professor of Western Caspian University, Fikrat Sadigov, who commented to AZERNEWS, Azerbaijan gave French diplomats 48 hours to leave Azerbaijan, accusing them of undiplomatic activity.

The expert said that although the Azerbaijani side cited the reason for declaring two diplomats of the French embassy as persona non grata, France left the retaliatory step against Azerbaijan without reason.

Fikret Sadigov added that France itself is the main cause of diplomatic tension between the two countries.

"Initially, the main reason for the aggravation of relations was the recognition of the so-called artsakh republic by the French authorities. After that, French officials made unfounded and fabricated statements against the Azerbaijani state. Subsequently, the adoption of a resolution against Azerbaijan by the French Parliament led to an even greater aggravation of relations between the two states," the expert said.

It is known that President of the Republic of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev has repeatedly condemned such double standards by France and its fabricated statements against Azerbaijan.

Despite the failure of its aggressive policy in the South Caucasus, the French authorities do not abandon their biased policy towards Azerbaijan. It is obvious that France unconditionally sided with Armenia and supported separatism in Garabagh, and this support continues today. Instead of welcoming the liberation of Azerbaijani lands after the 30-year invasion despite the four UN resolutions of international law, Paris is conducting an anti-Azerbaijani campaign. Today, the French government also plays an important role in fomenting revanchist sentiments against Azerbaijan by Armenia. The political aggravation of relations between the countries can deal a serious blow to the French economy. It is known that French companies "Total", "Alstom", "Suez", "Thales", "Danone", "Airbus", "Bouygues", "Iveco", "Sanofi", "Rothschild" have been working in Azerbaijan for many years in various spheres of economy".

According to the expert, if France crosses the red lines in relations with Azerbaijan, questions may arise about the activities of those companies, especially the largest energy and oil company in Azerbaijan.

"For example, Total Energy is one of the leading companies involved in gas production in Azerbaijan since 1996. The presence of this company in Azerbaijan has greatly benefited the French economy. Further aggravation of relations may lead to the withdrawal of French companies from Azerbaijan and the rupture of diplomatic relations," Sadigov said.

Fikret Sadigov added that despite the ongoing tense relations between France and Azerbaijan, diplomatic relations have not been broken. This is evident from the activity of the French Embassy in Azerbaijan, as well as the activity of the Azerbaijani Embassy in France.

"I think that so far this tension will not have a serious impact on the economic relations of the states, as the political tension is not so high to affect the economic interests and cooperation in the economic sphere. Therefore, French companies located in Azerbaijan will continue their activities," he underlined.

It should be noted that today, while speaking at the meeting regarding the final results of the year, the Minister of Foreign Affairs Jeyhun Bayramov touched on the mentioned issue and said that such a position by France is contrary to the norms of international law.

"If the French state was sure of the innocence of its employees, it could have gone for it. There was no response from them. Yesterday, France declared two members of our ambassador's staff persona non grata. There is a difference between the steps taken by us and by France. We speak with evidence and facts. This unjustified step of the French side was another wrong step for this country," Minister Bayramov said.

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28 December 2023 15:37 (UTC+04:00)

Qabil Ashirov Read more

Green energy holds the secret to human survival in the future because of the increasing incidents of climate disasters around the globe. States, societies, and systems are in the line of fire because of the looming threat of climate change in the world.

It is obvious that the deployment of renewables in the power, heat, and transport sectors is one of the main enablers of keeping the rise in average global temperatures below 1.5C. In the Net Zero Emissions by 2050 scenario, renewables facilitate electricity generation that is almost completely decarbonised.

Reports say that Azerbaijan may be directly affected by decarbonization on a global scale. Consequently, Azerbaijan may face both water scarcity and extreme hot weather in the coming years. It will especially affect agriculture.

According to the report of the UN Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC), the average annual temperature in the territory of Azerbaijan has increased by 0.4-1.3 degrees in the last 100 years. Azerbaijan will be among the nations with the most severe water shortages by 2040, and water supply will drop by 23 percent.

Speaking to Azernews on the issue, Dr. Mehmood ul Hassan Khan noted that unfortunately, its biggest river, Kura, is becoming drier, and due to a drought, Kura has not been able to reach the Caspian Sea for two years, which vividly reflects the negative effects of carbon dioxide gases in the country. He added that, despite being a responsible member of the international community, Azerbaijan only contributes 0.11 percent to global greenhouse gas emissions.

However, it started to actively participate in numerous decarbonisation initiatives to address climate change. The adoption of the laws on "Efficient use of energy resources and energy efficiency", "National Action Plan on Energy Efficiency" and "Roadmap to Accelerate the Adoption of Eco-Design and Labelling Requirements for Energy-Using Products". In addition, the "Azerbaijan 2030: National Priorities for Socio-Economic Development" program was announced in February 2021. The fifth priority mentioned in the program envisages the transition to "green development" by contributing to a clean environment. In May 2021, the law "On the use of renewable energy sources in the production of electricity" was adopted to expand the action plan in the speedy transition to clean energy, he emphasised.

The expert pointed out that Azerbaijan also plans to export 5 GW of electricity to Europe by 2030. A total of 4 GW will be exported under the Black Sea, and one GW will be exported from Nakhchivan through Turkiye for which integrated projects have already been initiated, which would be a game changer in terms of reduction of ratios or incidents of climate change, generation of more revenue from the exports of renewables to Europe, and ultimately, the role of Azerbaijan in the renewable supply chain would be further enhanced in the days to come, providing it with a more forceful socio-economic, geopolitical, and geostrategic role to secure its vested interests.

Most recently, President Ilham Aliyev signed a decree declaring 2024 the Green World Solidarity Year and reaffirming Azerbaijans commitments to global climate change efforts. The document aims to set a framework for the 2024 UN Climate Change Conference (COP29), which will take place in Azerbaijan next year. Frankly speaking, the holding of COP29 in Azerbaijan reflects the international community's profound respect and trust in Azerbaijan, recognising the nation's endeavours in environmental protection and addressing climate change on national, regional, and global scales.

Green energy has great prospects in Azerbaijan. It has already announced to generate 30 percent of its electricity from renewable sources and to export 4 GW of energy to Europe through the cables passing the Black Sea by 2030, which has great trans-regional socio-economic, geopolitical, and geostrategic multiplier effects, Dr. Mehmoud ul Hassan Khan said.

He reminded that in 2022, the Republic of Azerbaijan, Georgia, Romania, and Hungary signed the Agreement on a Strategic Partnership in the Field of Green Energy Development and Transmission. It also intends to transfer the electricity produced in Central Asia through its territories in the future.

Most recently, it signed a joint declaration with Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan to export electricity generated from renewable sources to European countries. The rapidly changing geopolitical and geostrategic conditions of South Caucasus, Central Asia, the Black Sea, and of course Caspian Sea and increasing energy demand in Europe have many matching boxes however, many regional stakeholders of oil & gas and even global movers & shakers will try to derail this mega project. In this regard, I suggest that policymakers of Azerbaijan should include China and its trans-regional megaproject BRI to complete it in the future, he said.

Mehmoud ul Hassan noted that energy, specifically green energy, has become the hottest source of investment and revenue generation for the states in the world. It has also attached numerous geopolitical and geostrategic dividends. Azerbaijans plan to export green energy would further enhance its economic stability and sustainability.

It will also further enhance its national drive for economic and energy diversification, fetching lots of socio-economic and geopolitical dividends in the future. It is predicted that it will also increase the role of Azerbaijan from being a member of the Middle Corridor to a mainstream connecting hub of trans-regional energy and renewables, he noted.

He pointed out that Azerbaijan has committed to reducing its greenhouse gas emissions by 30 percent from 1990 levels by 2030 and by 40 percent by 2050, as part of the Paris Climate Agreement. To achieve this strategic goal, it has formed the Renewable Energy Agency, which ensures the active participation of the private sector in the country. Ultimately, it has increased the share of installed electricity generation from renewable energy sources.

In October 2023, a 230-megawatt solar power plant in Baku's Garadagh district with an investment from Masdar was inaugurated. The $200m station will produce 1.5 billion kilowatt hours of energy per year and will reduce carbon emissions by 200,000 tons.

Moreover, the acceleration of green energy space, energy efficiency, and the usage of electric vehicles will be prioritised concurrently. According to the State Customs Committee, the usage of EVs is on the rise, which has increased by 6.2 times as compared to 2022, Dr. Mehmoud Ul Hassan Khan said.

The pundit underscored that according to the June 2021 BP Statistical Review of World Energy, at the end of 2020, Azerbaijans oil reserves of 7 bn barrels (1 Mt) accounted for 0.4 percent of global reserves. Furthermore, the country also has an estimated 2.5 trillion cubic meters of proven natural gas reserves. A comparative study of many published reports suggests that its energy mix is heavily concentrated in fossil fuels, with oil and gas accounting for more than 98 percent of the total supply.

It is a good omen that Azerbaijans renewable energy potential promises multiple advantages for the country. Relying more on renewable energy would help Azerbaijan save natural gas for exports and for use in the petrochemical industry; reduce the countrys GHG emissions to meet its 2030 Paris Agreement commitment; and improve electricity security by diversifying generation, the expert concluded.

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Qabil Ashirov is AzerNews staff journalist, follow him on Twitter: @g_Ashirov

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The Gara Garayev Central Arts School and the Vocal Music School of People's Artist of Azerbaijan Fidan Hajiyeva have given a charity concert dedicated to the Solidarity Day of World Azerbaijanis.

The concert was held within the framework of the 100th anniversary of National Leader Heydar Aliyev, Azernews reports.

At the event, the director of the Gara Garayev Central Arts School, Professor Aziz Garayusifli spoke about the heroic role of the Azerbaijani sons who wrote their names in the glorious chronicle of the country with their valor and courage.

The concert program included classical and patriotic compositions by school students.

An exposition was set up in the foyer, a charity auction was also held as part of the event.

Gifts were presented to the children of martyrs' families. Guests of the event highly appreciated the charity concert. All funds raised from which will be sent to the families of martyrs and veterans of the Garabagh War.

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Laman Ismayilova is AzerNews staff journalist, follow her on Twitter: @Lam_Ismayilova

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28 December 2023 11:29 (UTC+04:00)

Laman Ismayilova Read more

Atmosphere full of joy and the magic of the winter holidays have filled the National Carpet Museum. The museum hosted a festive event dedicated to the Solidarity Day of World Azerbaijanis and New Year, Azernews reports.

Students of the Children's Art School No. 2 named after Vagif Mustafazade, Children's Music School No. 7 named after Huseyngulu Sarabsky, Srq crag Children's Creative Center and dance groups Ugurum, Roya, Qafqaz Vurgunlar, Azrbaycan" Ritmlri Song and Dance Ensemble stunned the audience with colorful show.



The Carpet Museum also organized master classes on decorative and applied arts on New Year and winter themes for the participants of the festive event.

Bright performances, colorful lights and ornaments created a magical ambiance, invoking feelings of warmth and joy.

Founded in 1967, the National Carpet Museum holds more than 14,000 exhibits of the finest Azerbaijani carpets.

Initiated by eminent carpet artist Latif Karimov, the museum is beautiful inside and out.

The museum's new building is designed in the form of a rolled carpet. Now, the museum hosts multiple events, including international symposiums, conferences, and various exhibitions.

In 2019, the museum received national status for its significant contribution to popularizing and promoting Azerbaijani carpet weaving art.

In 2020, the Carpet Museum enriched its collection with a beautiful pile of carpets purchased by the Culture Ministry at the Sartirana Textile Show in Italy.

The 19th-century Guba carpet "Ugakh" was donated to the Carpet Museum, while the Garabagh carpet "Chelebi" enriched the collection of the museum's Shusha branch.

Moreover, the Carpet Museum won the Travellers' Choice Awards for the fourth time in a row last year.

The award proves once again that the professional activity of the National Carpet Museum is highly appreciated by visitors from all over the world.

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Laman Ismayilova is AzerNews staff journalist, follow her on Twitter: @lmntypewriterrr

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28 December 2023 12:41 (UTC+04:00)

Laman Ismayilova Read more

Baku Book Centre has hosted a charity event on the occasion of the New Year and the Solidary Day of World Azerbaijanis. The event was organized by the Children and Youth Development Center No. 2 under the Baku City Education Department, Azernews reports.

Pupils of Boarding Achool No. 2 in the village of Mardakan and Republican Special Boarding No. 3 for children with disabilities were invited to the holiday.

Participants of the Children and Youth Development Centre presented the guests with a program called New Years Miracle. Colourful scenes performed by little actors, dances of various peoples living in Azerbaijan, as well as fairy-tale characters, were very warmly received by the audience.

As part of the event, drawings and crafts made by participants in creative circles operating at the Development Centre were presented.

Gifts were distributed to the boarding school pupils on behalf of the Baku Book Centre and the Children and Youth Development Centre No. 2.

Baku Book Centre was officially opened to visitors on September 1, 2018. The main goal of the centre is to encourage people to read books as a source of cultural and spiritual values and useful knowledge.

Here, booklovers can also take part in presentations of books, literary and musical evenings, meetings with cultural and art workers, thematic master classes, and much more.

The Centre also organises events with the participation of international organisations and diplomatic missions.

By the decision of the CIS Executive Committee, Baku Book Center has been awarded the diploma "for the great work in the development of domestic book distribution and international book exchange in 2018."

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Laman Ismayilova is AzerNews staff journalist, follow her on Twitter: @Lam_Ismayilova

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28 December 2023 10:00 (UTC+04:00)

Abbas Ganbay Read more

Following the instructions of Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev, the return of former internally displaced persons to the restored city of Lachin continues, Azernews reports.

Another group of former IDPs, consisting of 25 families or 80 people, left the Gobu Park 3 residential complex in Garadagh for Lachin on December 28.

The resettled families will settle in the houses where they once lived in Lachin, which were restored or rebuilt based on instructions from the head of state after the end of the Armenian occupation. Lachin residents thanked President Ilham Aliyev and First Lady Mehriban Aliyeva for their comprehensive care and expressed gratitude to the valiant Azerbaijani Army, which liberated the lands from occupation.

Thus, until today, a permanent settlement in the city of Lachin has been provided for 408 families - 1555 people.

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28 December 2023 13:16 (UTC+04:00)

Abbas Ganbay Read more

At this crucial stage of the peace process, when the parties are not far from concluding a peace agreement, Yerevan's sincere attitude towards achieving concrete results is necessary. This was told by Ambassador Elchin Amirbayov, representative of the Azerbaijani President for special assignments, in an interview with The Guardian.

According to Azernews, Elchin Amirbayov noted that, having handed over the last version of the text of the peace agreement to the Armenian side last week, Baku now expects Yerevan to respond to its proposals.

The Ambassador noted that Armenia should fully realise the benefits of peace with Azerbaijan and finally give up all harmful illusions and manipulations aimed at disrupting the peace process and returning to military confrontation with Azerbaijan.

Having outlined five main principles that formed the basis of the draft peace agreement prepared by Baku, the representative of the President noted at the same time that the issue of determining the border could be resolved at a later stage, given its complicated and labor-intensive nature.

When asked about the mechanism of dispute settlement between the parties after the signing of the peace agreement, Elchin Amirbayov stressed that Azerbaijan prefers the idea of establishing a bilateral Armenian-Azerbaijani commission without any unnecessary interference from outside.

"As for the provision of transport communication between the main part of Azerbaijan and Nakhchivan, Baku considers this issue not only in the context of creating an alternative route linking China with Europe through the Middle Corridor but also as an important element of ensuring its national security.

In this sense, Amirbayov emphasised that, as events "on the ground" show, after three years of vainly waiting for a clear answer from Armenia, Baku does not intend to waste any more time. If Armenia is unable to understand its benefit in the creation of the Zangazur corridor, if it continues to spread an absurd narrative of impending aggression against it by Azerbaijan and intends to continue to remain in a regional deadlock, Azerbaijan moves to concrete actions and starts implementing the so-called "Plan B," preferring the creation of the aforementioned transport link through the territory of neighbouring Iran.

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28 December 2023 14:30 (UTC+04:00)

Abbas Ganbay Read more

Chairman of the Board of the Centre for Analysis of International Relations (CAMO), Farid Shafiyev, said at a press conference dedicated to the results of 2023 that Azerbaijan's goal is a peace agreement with Armenia, and we are very close to it, Azernews reports.

The chairman noted that it is difficult to name the exact date of signing the peace agreement yet.

"The process of demarcation and delimitation takes a very long time, so this issue will not be included in the document. With Russia, this process took 25 years, and part of the border with Georgia is still undefined," Shafiyev said.

To recall, Armenian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Ani Badalyan stated that Armenia has received Azerbaijan's latest proposals on the text of the peace treaty.

It should be noted that Azerbaijani Foreign Minister Jeyhun Bayramov noted that Azerbaijan has responded to Armenia's latest proposals on the peace treaty.

According to the Armenian Prime Minister, Yerevan is ready to take effective and concrete steps to open communications in the region.

"For more than 30 years, Armenia's borders with Turkiye and Azerbaijan have been closed, and today we are talking and discussing a lot about the possibility of unblocking transport communications in the region," the Prime Minister said.

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28 December 2023 15:53 (UTC+04:00)

Abbas Ganbay Read more

On 28 December, Chairman of the Central Election Commission (CEC) Mazahir Panahov met with the head of the OSCE Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights mission Johan Murphy in connection with the extraordinary presidential election of the Republic of Azerbaijan scheduled for 7 February 2024, Azernews reports.

According to the Media and Communications Department of the Secretariat of the Central Election Commission, the CEC Chairman welcomed the head and members of the observation mission and expressed satisfaction with the meeting.

Expressing his gratitude to Chairman Mazahir Panahov for finding time for the meeting despite the busy reception at the CEC and busy schedule, Johann Murphy informed about the structure and composition of the election observation mission. The mission members inquired about the preparations for the upcoming elections and asked the CEC Chairman to inform them about the ongoing and planned projects.

Chairman M. Panahov underlined that the structure headed by him attaches great importance to relations with international organisations, is always open for cooperation and all processes are carried out in conditions of wide publicity.

The Chairman talked of Azerbaijan's electoral system, electoral legislation, principles of activity of electoral commissions, and various projects implemented and envisaged in connection with the upcoming elections.

Saying that the preparation for the elections is going on consistently and systematically, the Chairman noted that in the extraordinary elections of the President of the Republic of Azerbaijan, 5 political parties have been nominated so far, 10 have been nominated by the candidates themselves, in total 15 persons have been approved by relevant decisions of the CEC.

M. Panahov also noted that by the requirements of the Electoral Code, the submitted signature sheets and other election documents are currently being checked by a professional working group. The CEC Chairman invited the members of the election observation mission to actively participate at any time both in the verification of signature sheets and in any other election-related procedures.

He noted that, like all stages, ample opportunities have been created to observe these processes, which are carried out in full transparency and open to the public.

Like other stakeholders, they can always directly observe the developments.

The meeting also included an exchange of views on some issues of mutual interest.

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MBABANE  Mangololo Eswatini is not pleased by the Federation of Eswatini Business Communitys (FESBCs) recent appointments, saying the organisation had allegedly engaged multiparty democracy pushers.

Mangololo Secretary General Nhlanhla Zwane, said there was no need for FESBC to incorporate multiparty democracy pushers and a resigned former army commander as the federations frontliners, not unless they were pushing another agenda.

Appointment

Last week, during the federations presidents end-of-year statement address, held at S&B Restaurant in Matsapha, FESBC announced the appointment of Paul Matimela as the organisations Public Relations Officer (PRO). Matimela is also the Deputy Secretary General of the Swaziland Liberation Movement (SWALIMO). FESBC also introduced former army commander Jeffery Sipho Shabalala, as the head of Safety and Security. Reacting to FESBC developments, Zwane said they learned with shock and dismay, on the announcement of candidates allegedly with backgrounds that suggested that they were multiparty democracy pushers.

According to Zwane, FESBCs status quo warrants a review, where they would be engaged in a fact-finding mission. He stated that FESBC was allegedly captured by multiparty stakeholders, as there was no need to involve the alleged multiparty democracy pushers. He mentioned that there was no need for FESBC to allegedly act xenophobic when Eswatini had no Bill in place that promoted and defended certain emaSwati with indigenous businesses. Zwane said the federation should focus on its key objectives and lobby government, Parliament in particular, to address their concerns. Buying of guns as a means to protecting emaSwatis businesses from being taken by foreigners, is self-defeating and far from being the solution to the problem.

Lobbying

FESBC has failed emaSwati by not lobbying government to enact a bill that speaks to this problematic free economy scenario for the longest time. Fighting Inyatsi and Montigny does not solve the situation but instead makes Eswatini xenophobic and scares away potential investors, Zwane said. Adding, he explained that FESBC needed to lobby Parliament for the enactment of Eswatini Empowerment Bill, to address the free-for-all Eswatinis economic situation. The problem is not Inyatsi or Montigny business dominance, but the problem is the free economy scenario we are faced with as emaSwati. The solution to the problem is not the introduction of multiparty democracy, but the simple enactment of emaSwati Business Empowerment Bill, he said.

Dinner

Furthermore, he made an example of the late former Prime Minister Sibusiso Barnabas Dlamini, where in one of his speeches, during the Entrepreneur of the Year Awards dinner which was held at Mavuso Trade and Exhibition Centre in 2013, said the country had no law that empowered emaSwati. Zwane mentioned that as an organisation, they believed FESBC should focus on real issues, than allegedly fighting Inyatsi and Montigny for buying businesses that were free for everyone to buy in the market.
28 December 2023 17:04 (UTC+04:00)

Abbas Ganbay Read more

Azerbaijani Foreign Minister Jeyhun Bayramov stated at a press conference on the results of the year that France refused to investigate facts related to the activities of the embassy staff in Azerbaijan, Azernews reports.

"Two employees of the French Embassy in Azerbaijan are recognised as undesirable persons. However, two days before that, we sent a note to the French Embassy. The existence of serious facts related to these persons and the importance and necessity of their investigation were stated by the state bodies of Azerbaijan. But they refused to investigate the case."

"If the French state was sure of the innocence of its employees, it could have gone for it. There was no response from them. Yesterday, France declared two members of our ambassador's staff persona non grata. There is a difference between the steps taken by us and by France. We speak with evidence and facts. This unjustified step of the French side was another wrong step for this country," the minister emphasised.

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29 December 2023 00:47 (UTC+04:00)

Abbas Ganbay Read more

Azerbaijani Foreign Minister Jeyhun Bayramov speaking at a press conference on the results of the year said that there are specific reasons why the Azerbaijani Embassy in Iran was closed, they are related to the attack and lack of security, Azernews reports.

"There was a serious risk to the life and safety of the embassy staff," the minister added.

According to the minister, this issue is the subject of ongoing discussions with the Iranian side.

"We expect that the perpetrator of this offense will be punished, also the security of our embassy should be fully guaranteed. Depending on the results, a decision will be made. In case of a positive decision it will be possible to resume the activity of our embassy," Bayramov said.

The attack on the Azerbaijani Embassy in Iran this year caused tension in relations, which was later mitigated through contacts.

The Minister noted that relations with neighbouring states are a priority in Azerbaijan's foreign policy.

Azerbaijani Foreign Minister Jeyhun Bayramov added that the total number of Azerbaijan's diplomatic missions abroad has reached 90.

"161 documents have been signed with 44 countries. Opening of new diplomatic missions continued in 2023," the Minister said.

Touching upon foreign policy issues, the Minister added that during the year important results were achieved at high-level meetings with Turkiye, Georgia, and Russia.

According to the Minister, Azerbaijan's foreign policy was characterised by rich content.

"The policy pursued under the leadership of President Ilham Aliyev is aimed at ensuring the national interests of our state. In 2023 Azerbaijan restored its sovereignty and territorial integrity. During the year, important results were achieved at high-level meetings with Turkiye, Georgia and Russia".

The Minister added that Azerbaijan attaches special importance to strategic cooperation within the framework of the Organisation of Turkic States (OTS). Minister Bayramov reminded that Azerbaijan hosted several events of the OTS in 2023.

Besides, the minister underlined that this year Azerbaijan contributed to the expansion of cooperation within the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation.

"A document was adopted at the OIC conference in Mauritania regarding the terrorist attack on our embassy in Tehran and other issues," said the minister adding that Azerbaijan pays special attention to humanitarian issues and has allocated 2 million dollars to help Gaza.

The minister recalled that Azerbaijan provided humanitarian aid to Turkiye after the earthquakes in February 2023, as well as to Ukraine after the outbreak of war.

"All this is an example of Azerbaijan's humanitarian policy. We have also allocated $2 million to help Gaza. Two global appeals were announced to help small island states in Africa in connection with the COVID-19 pandemic, and Azerbaijan allocated $1 million to each appeal," the minister said.

Bayramov also touched upon the topic of presidential elections to be held in Azerbaijan on 7 February 2024.

"Foreign experts have already been invited to the country and representatives of foreign media are also expected to visit the country."

Minister Bayramov emphasised that all steps are being taken to hold transparent elections.

Touching upon the China-Azerbaijan relations, the Minister also stressed China's growing interest in the South Caucasus and said that Azerbaijan-China relations are very important for the country.

The Minister noted that there are excellent relations between the leaders of the two countries.

"We see China's growing interest in the South Caucasus. In addition, bilateral relations are also developing on an upward trend. This year there has been a significant increase in the number of Chinese tourists visiting our country. Work is also underway to expand cooperation in the tourism sphere. The Chinese delegation is on a visit to Azerbaijan. The main purpose of the visit is to use the Middle Corridor for transporting Chinese goods. We will witness further expansion of bilateral relations".

The Minister also mentioned issues related to the termination of the Russian peacekeeping contingent in Garabagh.

"There is a trilateral statement reached by the leaders of the three countries. In this document, the term of activity of the Russian peacekeeping contingent in Azerbaijan is envisaged until 2025. This document should be taken as a basis," the Minister emphasised.

Bayramov added that Azerbaijan is one of the few countries that has trusting relations with both Russia and Ukraine, so Baku's mediation may be acceptable to Moscow and Kyiv.

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28 December 2023 08:30 (UTC+04:00)

Qabil Ashirov Read more

From economic and political points of view, two fossil fuel giants, Russia and Saudi Arabia, gradually get closer to each other. The partnership between the two countries foreshadows predictable energy prices, which play an important role in the global economy.

As is known, Russia has been alienated globally since the inception of the Ukrainian crisis, which paved the way for fluctuations in energy prices. The cooperation with Saudi Arabia created new opportunities for Russia. Further, Russian President Putin's visit to Saudi Arabia deepened this partnership. During the meeting, the two countries agreed to enhance cooperation in the field of oil and gas. The two sides agreed on the importance of expanding cooperation in oil and gas, such as procurement, supply, and standardisation of equipment, research and development services, and assessment of the use of modern technologies. They commended their close cooperation and the successful efforts of the OPEC+ countries in enhancing the stability of the global oil market.

In addition, they stressed the importance of continuing this cooperation and the need for all participating countries to adhere to the OPEC+ agreement in a way that serves the interests of producers and consumers and supports the growth of the global economy.

The British journalist and expert on energy issues, Neil Watson, in a comment for Azernews, noted that the Russian-Saudi Arabian Alliance actually comes as no surprise, as during the meeting, Saudi Arabias Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman recalled in conversation with Russian President Vladimir Putin that there are historic and strong ties between the two countries, noting that Russia was the first nation to recognise the establishment of the Kingdom in 1926. The Crown Prince went on to describe President Putin as a special and very dear guest to the Kingdoms government and people," this being his first visit since 2019 and his second since gaining the Russian Premiership. British journalists were reminded that the Soviet Union, as well as the Russian Federation, forged alliances across the Arab world, and this became stronger following the foundation of the State of Israel at the behest of the UN. The Crown Prince reiterated that both nations share many interests, including energy, agriculture, trade exchange, and investment.

Saudi Arabia and Russia, holding respectively the second and eighth greatest oil reserves in the world, form part of OPEC+, and throughout 2023, they have played an integral role in driving the attempts of that organisation to stabilise markets. In April, OPEC+ announced production cuts of 1.6 million bpd. In June, Saudi Arabia announced excess voluntary cuts of an additional 1 million bpd. Saudi Arabia was later joined by Russia, which agreed to an additional voluntary cut of 300,000 bpd. Both of these cuts were extended several times and are now in force through the first quarter of 2024. In a December meeting, the ministers added an additional 780,000 voluntary cuts from OPEC+ members for the first quarter of 2024. Today, Alexander Novak, Russian Deputy Prime Minister, predicted that oil prices will average $80-85 a barrel in 2024, Neil Watson said.

He pointed out that Russia and Saudi Arabia account for 21 percent of world oil reserves, and they have a massive impact on OPEC+, oil prices, and subsequently inflation around the world, which, in turn, impacts internal politics in all countries. The meeting between Russia and Saudi Arabia came at a pivotal juncture.

Russia wants to demonstrate to the world that it remains relevant as an energy supplier, and thus the situation in Ukraine needs to be resolved, taking into account its stance. The reaffirmation of resolve with Saudi Arabia and other Arab countries ensures that it retains these alliances, which is particularly important during the Israeli-Hamas conflict. Furthermore, Russia retains a strong alliance with Iran, which holds a further 9.5 percent of international resources and ranks in fourth place in the oil reserve rankings. Russia is a dominant force in international energy, and that is set to continue, the British journalist said in conclusion.

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Qabil Ashirov is AzerNews staff journalist, follow him on Twitter: @g_Ashirov

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28 December 2023 11:14 (UTC+04:00)

Abbas Ganbay Read more

Western countries do not seek to bring peace and stability to Armenia and the South Caucasus in general. Their task is to squeeze Moscow, Azernews reports, citing Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov telling in an exclusive interview with TASS.

The Russian minister pointed out that Armenia faces some challenges.

"Moreover, it will not be possible to buy them with the help of Western players. The US and the EU, unlike Russia, do not seek to bring peace and stability to the republic and the South Caucasus as a whole. Their task is completely different - to squeeze Moscow and other regionalists, to create a new hotbed of tension following the Balkans, the Middle East, and Ukraine," Lavrov added.

At the same time, as the head of the Russian diplomatic ministry stressed that the way out of the difficult situation is obvious - to fulfill the trilateral agreements signed by Yerevan, Baku, and Moscow at the highest level.

Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov also added that Armenia's deepening dialogue with NATO leads to the loss of defense sovereignty.

"The Russian Federation expects Armenia to be aware of the threat of loss of sovereignty of the state in the sphere of national defense and security due to deepening dialogue with NATO."

The head of the diplomatic ministry stressed that this year Armenia took part in several events with the alliance. According to him, the republic continues to modernize its armed forces according to NATO standards, and its military is undergoing training in some North Atlantic bloc states.

"This cannot but cause us concern. We have repeatedly drawn the attention of our Armenian colleagues that the true goal of the NATO members is to strengthen their positions in the region and create conditions for manipulation according to the 'divide and rule' scheme," Lavrov added.

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28 December 2023 16:46 (UTC+04:00)

The net monthly minimum wage will be TRY17,002 ($577) in Turkiye in 2024 Labour Minister Vedat Isikhan said on Wednesday, marking a 49% increase from the level determined in July and a 100% hike from January.

Turkiye's annual inflation rate edged up to 61.98% in November, its highest level this year but just shy of expectations, signaling that an aggressive rate-hiking cycle will reduce the inflation.

However, some experts think that such an increase in minimum wage will affect the rise of inflation as well and the Turkish government will need to increase the minimum wage in mid 2024.

Besides, Turkiye is one of the biggest economies in the region, and as a matter of course, it is expected that a sharp increase in minimum wage will impact the surrounding countries as well.

The correspondents of Azernews learned opinion of the MUSIAD board member and former banker Unsal Sozbir on the issue. The former banker noted that first of all the 49% minimum wage increase rate was close to the expectations of most stakeholders in the business world. Consensus has been achieved here, even if some stakeholders had higher expectations.

I consider this decision as an important and appropriate step because a title related to the predictability of the Turkish economy has become clearer since May 2023. Looking back from a ten-year perspective, it will be clearly seen that there is a similarity between inflation and minimum wage increase rates in Turkiye.

A significant number of stakeholders, especially the Government, have taken positive steps to compensate for the weakening of the purchasing power of the large masses with fixed incomes (approximately 55% of wage earners) caused by inflation. Although each taken step was initially aimed at compensating the loss for fixed income earners, inflation expectations subsequently significantly reduced this improvement, Unsal Sozbir pointed out.

He noted that the fact that the minimum wage increase was made once a year and was determined somewhere between the past inflation and the expected inflation also met the demand of the new economic management. Expectations that the inflation rate will decrease with tight monetary and fiscal policy continue to increase.

Fees have an important place in the total cost. It would not be realistic to say that a 49% increase here will not affect inflation. Just how much it will affect will become clear based on general economic conditions, not on wages alone. Therefore, it is necessary to focus on supply and demand, especially the expectations of the parties in the economy. If expectations were broken, the inflation rate would decrease, the former banker said.

He noted that Ergun Atalay, as the Union President, expressing the expectation as 18 thousand TL and commenting on the memorandum is an understandable approach from the point of view of the masses he represents.

For the last 3 years, the efforts of the Government to compensate for the loss of fixed income earners by making an increase above expectations have continued this time. Unsal Sozbir noted that while it would be possible to force an increase in the 35-40% band if only the expected inflation was acted upon, the fact that it was 49% is a strong sign that it will be done once a year. In my opinion, it is in this direction, Unsal Sozbir said.

As for impact on the surrounding countries, the former banker noted that with the latest increase, the cost of minimum wage earners to employers in Turkiye has reached the level of $650-700. This level means that Turkiye will lose its relative superiority advantage in many business branches, especially in labor-intensive sectors such as textiles and construction, while on the other hand, there will be an increase in the number of people willing to work in Turkiye from the surrounding countries where the minimum wages are less than Turkiye.

Besides, For many years, especially auxiliary staff and labor-intensive workers from neighboring countries have been moving to Turkey, which will drive up employee costs in Azerbaijan and other countries. On the other hand, since the minimum wage will be reflected in all wage segments as an anchor, it will also cause businesses to incur greater costs when it comes to finding qualified people. The migration of qualified employees from Turkiye to western countries will also be towards Turkiye from the surrounding countries, MUSIAD member and former banker Unsal Sozbir concluded.

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28 December 2023 19:55 (UTC+04:00)

A US delegation met Wednesday with Mexican President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador to discuss the unprecedented flow of illegal immigrants on the border between their two countries and to identify ways to address challenges to border security, Azernews reports, citing Anadolu Agency.

Mexican Secretary of Foreign Affairs Alicia Barcena welcomed US Secretary of State Antony Blinken, Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas and White House Homeland Security Advisor Liz Sherwood-Randall ahead of their meeting with Lopez-Obrador and the Mexican Security Cabinet.

Lopez Obrador welcomed the US delegation's visit on his X account.

We ask President (Joe) Biden to meet with Secretaries Antony Blinken, Alejandro Mayorkas and Presidential National Security Advisor Elizabeth Sherwood-Randall to directly address issues of economic cooperation, security and migration. Important agreements were reached for the benefit of our people and nations. Now more than ever, a good neighbor policy is essential," he said.



Outside the National Palace, where the meeting took place, Barcena briefed reporters on what had been discussed during the three hours of talks.



She said regular meetings will be held with the governments of the US, Guatemala and other South and Central American countries to address migration in the hemisphere.



"We are going to work together with Guatemala, with the countries of South America and Central America. That was what was really discussed," she said.



Barcena also noted the US government did not request changes in the country's current immigration policy or strengthening security measures.



Blinken also shared what was addressed in the meeting.



"As we made clear in Mexico City today, we are committed to partnering with Mexico to address our shared challenges, including managing unprecedented irregular migration in the region, reopening key ports of entry, and combating illicit fentanyl and other synthetic drugs," he said on his X account.

The talks came as the biggest migrant caravan in more than a year is making its way through Mexico to the US border.

Around 8,000 migrants are en route, making it the largest US-bound caravan since June 2022.

The migrants, reportedly of 24 nationalities, entered through Chiapas state in southeastern Mexico and are heading for Mexico City.

Around 10,000 migrants have been apprehended daily at the southwest border this month, according to border patrol officials.

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28 December 2023 23:20 (UTC+04:00)

A plane landed on a frozen river instead of a runway in Yakutia, Azernews reports, citing 24.kg News Agency.

The AN-24 aircraft of Polar Airlines was flying on the route Yakutsk - Zyryanka - Srednekolymsk. But, having arrived at Zyryanka airport, it landed on Kolyma river. There were 30 passengers and 4 crew members on board. No one was injured and the aircraft was not damaged.

Passengers were accommodated at the airport terminal, those with children were accommodated in a hotel.

According to preliminary data, during the landing approach the pilots did not see the landing strip. The Federal Air Transport Agency is investigating the incident.

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MBABANE  A payment error, which was made to unintended beneficiaries, almost cost Baphalali Eswatini Red Cross Society millions of Emalangeni.

Some of the beneficiaries received extra cash following the system error. Each beneficiary receives E150 per head and a family of five could get up to E750 minimum. The organisation swiftly made a request for an automatic reversal from MTN Eswatini after noting the error. Currently, there are around 4 000 beneficiaries under the Finish Red Cross and the European Union (EU) funded project for cash for needs, known as unconditional cash. Speaking to this publication, some of the beneficiaries stated that they were shocked to learn that the funds had been reversed. They said they learnt about the reversal upon reaching agents to cash out the money.

Disappointed

According to the beneficiaries, they were disappointed about the whole scenario, as they had hopes that they would be getting the money. After receiving the notification that a specific amount had been transferred, I was very excited, stated one of the beneficiaries. The recipient said upon reaching the agent, she could not believe her eyes when she found that the message had been removed. She said the agent also checked on her behalf and confirmed that there was no money and her balance was only E5.

Confirmed

Baphalali Eswatini Red Cross Society Spokesperson Nontobeko Mbuyane confirmed that the institution erroneously sent extra cash to some of its beneficiaries, while others got less than what they were supposed to get. Mbuyane mentioned that the funds were automatically reversed by the organisation, a day after discovering the error, unfortunately, it had already been withdrawn by others. She said the total amount of the project was E90 million to be paid to the beneficiaries within three years. She said the project was concurrently running for three years, having started last year and would end next year. Mbuyane said they were not at liberty to disclose how much had been disbursed for now and how much was recovered.

The recipients receive the cash and use it according to their immediate needs, she added.

Mbuyane said the cash was meant to sustain the livelihoods of the beneficiaries. The spokesperson said they learnt of the mistake after they were called by beneficiaries who were having challenges in withdrawing the money. She stated that they would be starting afresh the process of the payments, urging the beneficiaries to be patient. She said there was a challenge in reversing some of the transactions, because the recipients owed MTN certain amounts of monies, hence the system failed to reverse it once deductions were made. Automatically, when we request a reversal from MTN, the money should still be intact for a reversal to be effected, Mbuyane said. She added that once they found that the money was short, they could not reverse the transaction. Mbuyane said there were those monies which were reversed yet they were correctly paid, but due to the error, the payment process would start all over again, as the organisation tried to rectify the error. The spokesperson mentioned that they had notified the constituencies through tindvuna tetinkhundla about the technical error, to relay same to their constituents.

We will recover monies

MBABANE  The Baphalali Eswatini Red Cross Society will recover monies erroneously sent to beneficiaries who received more than what they were supposed to get. The organisations spokesperson, Notobeko Mbuyane, said the recipients were not random people but were working with them and could easily be traced. She said if a recipient had received more than what he or she should be getting, they would cut the money next month. This process would also be effected to those who got less as theirs would be topped up. She said they would engage the beneficiaries and make an arrangement on how the monies would be recovered.




If, by chance, this one liberal fantasy could come true: Would gutting the 2nd Amendment of the U.S. Bill of Rights be worthy of saving just one life from gun violence? 8.82% Yes, I have a zero tolerance to the loss of life if the government would just only help 81.37% No, the 2nd Amendment is one of our most important amendments 9.8% This is all so boring 102 total vote(s) Voting has Ended!

Is all good government local? 87.5% Yes, I believe in grassroots representation 6.25% No, my needs are best met by the largest police power 6.25% I don't really care 80 total vote(s) Voting has Ended!

RALEIGH The meaning of the Second Amendment is being debated once again. Other than in general terms, few discuss the amendment's origins, the reasons for its inclusion in the Bill of Rights, or how the constitutional framers and ratifiers and early jurists interpreted the amendment.But such a discussion gets to the heart of the matter. The Second Amendment reads: "A well- regulated militia, being necessary to the security of a free State, the right of the people to keep and bear arms, shall not be infringed.""Gun controllers" interpret "militia" to be a professional unit such as the National Guard. The National Guard Association was not formed until 1878, however, and the wholesale nationalization and professionalization of the militia, the modern-day National Guard, did not occur until the Dick Militia Act of 1903.Many "gun rights" Americans claim a broad, individualist interpretation: Each American has a right to own a firearm for sport, hunting, or personal protection. (This is not absolute; for instance, felons cannot own firearms legally, and respective states, wisely or unwisely, can regulate gun ownership without violating the Second Amendment.)What did early jurists and constitutional commentators say regarding the Second Amendment? St. George Tucker in View of the Constitution of the United States (1803), the first systematic commentary on the Constitution after its ratification, describes the Second Amendment to be "the true palladium of liberty."As the preservation of the statue of Pallas in mythological Troy -- the Palladium -- needed to be protected for the ancient city's preservation, so the Virginian believed that the amendment ensured liberty's protection in the United States. If the nation had a "standing army" -- Revolutionary era-Americans' description for a full-time, professional army -- while individual Americans were denied the "right to keep and bear arms," then "liberty, if not already annihilated," Tucker wrote, "is on the brink of destruction."To Tucker, the Second Amendment is the linchpin that ensures the existence of all the other liberties.Tucker was not alone. Although U.S. Supreme Court Justice Joseph Story believed the national government should have more authority than did Tucker, both jurists interpreted the Second Amendment as liberty's safeguard. In 1833, Story noted in his influential Commentaries of the Constitution: "The right of the citizens to keep and bear arms has justly been considered as the palladium of the liberties of the republic, since it offers a strong moral check against the usurpation and arbitrary power of rulers, and will generally, even if these are successful in the first instance, enable the people to resist and triumph over them."These jurists repeated a widespread interpretation that had been practiced by the states. The first state constitutions -- which remained unaltered and in effect after the Constitution's ratification -- protected individual rights to possess and bear arms and allowed for a state militia.The Seventeenth Declaration of Rights in the 1776 North Carolina Constitution reads: "That the people have a right to bear arms, for the defense of the state; and as standing armies, in time of peace, are dangerous to liberty, they ought not to be kept up; and that the military should be kept under strict subordination to, and governed by, the civil power." Declaration of Rights 13 in the 1776 Pennsylvania Constitution is more explicit: "That the people have a right to bear arms for the defense of themselves and the state. ... "Americans, of all political stripes and regions, believed that the Second Amendment was necessary for individuals and states to ensure that other liberties were protected and to prevent tyranny from encroaching on other liberties.
Understanding that there are two firm positions concerning the Open Border Crises, but many realties regarding its current, and, or projected real impacts to the functioning, sustainability of this Constitutional Republic: What position below best represents what you know to be true regarding this impactful policy?

0% The United States' must continue the Executive initiative of Open Borders until a Democratic Congress can codify full Demographic Inclusion by keeping the Biden /Harris Open Borders policy in place.34.62% Our United States' borders are sovereign just as are our self-governed citizens, where borders must be maintained, monitored and defended, which is the position of core Republicans.3.85% I am in favor of Open Borders to make my America more of a global community; however, the federal government must now fix problems that "Red State" governors have caused in our cities.61.54% I do NOT favor the Democratic Socialists' disruption of the cultural fabric of my Representative Republic, and there will be Treasonous Hell to Pay when the certain calamity begins in earnest.
Maria Martinez, owner of the newly-opened Maria's Tamaleria in Port Arthur, started making tamales with her brother-in-law at their church. But it wasn't until she was in her 50s that she decided to make her own professionally.

She opened a tamaleria in 2016 in San Angelo -- where she was living at the time. After just two years, she closed the business because she, as an accountant and tax preparer, didn't have time to make tamales during tax season.

In the final months of 2021, Martinez made her way to Southeast Texas to help her son and daughter-in-law with their almost 1-year-old daughter.

And on Dec. 8, Maria's Tamaleria opened in Southeast Texas.

Martinezs favorite part of owning her own restaurant is seeing people enjoy her food and giving feedback, adding that she feels like she gets that from her father, who was a chef in Midland before he died.

One of Martinezs favorite memories while on the job was when she was interviewed by a reporter in San Angelo and the story was released earlier than she was told. After that her phone was ringing off the hook, people were lining up around the building and her and her best friend ended up making tamales until the early hours of the following day.

Q: What inspired you to open a tamaleria in Port Arthur?

A: I had sold my business in San Angelo, and I had been doing that for 40 years. I did it all. I did seminars, conferences -- you name it, I did it. It's nice to be in the business field and a professional. I enjoyed it while I did it, but I'm tired of thatI enjoy working with the people, talking to the people, serving the people. I clients who were so disappointed when I sold the business, because we had a good working relationship. My son said, 'Mother, maybe you should open an office here,' and I said 'No, I want to do tamales.' I love to do tamales, I love the people when they like what I cook.

Q: What does making tamales mean to you?

A: Tradition, for one. My mother made really good tamales. I will never be able to make them as (well) as she made, and she didn't teach me. She lived in Big Spring, Texas and I lived in San Angelo, Texas when she was making her tamales. So, I never learned from her. But eventually, I learned through helping at the church -- doing the assembly line and everything with my brother-in-law. It was a long time before I started. I was 50 when I started making tamales, but God has been good, and he's blessed my hands, to work with my hands. That's what I tell my son.

Q: What is the hardest part about making tamales?

A: The preparation. Oh my gosh, it takes me all week to prepare -- cook the meat, grind the meat, preparing, spice it up, everything. Making the tamale is no big deal. It's the preparation. It takes a lot of preparation.

Q: How do you find your suppliers?

A: I found La Morenita (on Gulfway Drive), because theres a lot of Spanish food for your soul, spices and breads and all that. I go there to buy my corn husk. But there's a place out of Fort Worth -- the Tamale King -- and they're the ones that sell everything. That's where I bought my Tamale King machine. That's where I love to buy my corn husks, because they're clean, they're the same size and I don't have to be cutting like with the stores here or even H-E-B. That is where I get my pork roast. I wont get my roast anywhere else but H-E-B. They have good quality food.

Q: What is something that people might not know about you?

A: I'm easygoing and I'm a happy-go-lucky person, but I'm not the type of person that has a bad attitude. I come in, I'm happy, I'm making my tamalesI mean I never have a bad attitude at work or at home.

Q: What advice would you give to those wanting to open a similar business?

A: Just don't expect glory or great things right away, it takes time. It takes a business one to five years to really establish.

Q: We typically think of tamales as savory  largely just meat in the masa. You have some different kinds, tell us how you started making those and how have customers reacted?

A: People say, 'I've never heard of sweet tamales, I've never tasted a sweet tamale.' When I had my tamales up in San Angelo, I hadn't either. I'm a very daring person. I'll try anything to satisfy the customer.

I had a lady call me and tell me that they were passing through and she wanted five dozen pineapple and raisin (tamales). I'm like, 'What? Pineapple and raisin? How do you do that? Do you put in the same ingredients for the masa?'

So, I got on Google and YouTube and started learning how to make the sweet tamales. And from there, I'm now telling you the people love the sweet tamales. I did the five dozen, and she texted me after they picked them up saying they were amazing, and the kids loved them.

I tasted them, of course. They were good and I thought, 'Wow, these could sell as a dessert.' Well in San Angelo, it didn't hit too good. Over here, they haven't really bought any. But they came in and tasted them. Everybody's like, 'Wow, I had never (thought) of this.' Everybody was amazed.
President Joe Biden's administration has been critical of noncompetes, particularly in healthcare, and some states have taken action to ban them. However, policy changes at the federal level haven't been enacted yet.

Heading into the final year of Mr. Biden's first term, physicians are watching closely to see how the federal government will proceed.

"Everybody is eagerly awaiting some resolution on the issue of noncompetes," Manoj Mehta, MD, medical director at Endoscopy Center of the North Shore in Wilmette, Ill., told Becker's. "While this might take much longer than the FTC has projected, it will fundamentally change the landscape of how medicine operates."

Over the last decade, physicians and surgeons entering practice have flocked to hospital employment because they leave training with too much debt; joining an independent practice is financially challenging. Hospitals have offered high sign-on bonuses for the initial contracts, but then the second and third contracts can be lackluster and noncompete clauses in their contracts make it challenging to exit hospital employment without moving to a new community.

If noncompetes are banned, more physicians and surgeons may choose independent practice in the future.

"We are already seeing physicians leaving the big healthcare systems in efforts to improve work-life balance, quality of life and equity," said Dr. Mehta. "An FTC ruling on this would certainly accelerate these departures."

Indiana restricted physician noncompetes in July, nullifying noncompetes for primary care physicians. South Dakota also considered legislation to expand a ban on noncompetes that was passed in 2021, eliminating them for physicians and advanced practice providers.

But even if the FTC bans noncompetes, that may not be the end of them.

"Just know that the states will be able to contest and regulate this at their own level, so the battle might not be a one and done one."
Here are the top five gastroenterology stories that Becker's readers were most focused on in 2023, starting with the most popular:

Ascension GI's death

Shawn Ingles, DO, a physician at Ascension Medical Group Valley Gastroenterology in Saginaw Township, Mich., died in a November traffic accident after losing control of his vehicle due to rain.

Anesthesia restrictions for GI procedures

Blue Cross Blue Shield Massachusetts announced that beginning Jan. 1, it will no longer cover the use of monitored anesthesia for certain gastrointestinal patients undergoing endoscopic, bronchoscopic, or interventional pain procedures.

GIs in the headlines

Here are four gastroenterologists making waves this year.

Celebrities with Crohn's

Here are 23 major celebrities that suffer from Crohn's disease, a type of inflammatory bowel disease that causes inflammation of the tissues in the digestive tract.

The world's best in GI

Newsweek named Rochester, Minn.-based Mayo Clinic the best hospital in the world for gastroenterology. Nine other facilities worldwide earned a spot on the list.
MBABANE  ESW Investment Group (Pty) Ltd has accused former FSRA CEO Sandile Dlamini of being involved in a purported fraudulent scheme that resulted in the transfer of over E335 million outside Eswatini.

ESW Investment Group (ESWIG) was previously known as Ecsponent Swaziland. The company made the allegation in its combined summons, where it is demanding a sum of E335 240 000 from the Financial Services Regulatory Authority (FSRA), Ecsponent Limited South Africa and GetBucks (Pty) Limited South Africa. Other defendants are Dave Van Niekerk, Edwin Soonius, the former FSRA CEO, Dlamini, Lindiwe Vilakati and Anthony Hay. According to the combined summons, Dlamini allegedly knew about measures to control ESWIG in order to ensure the fraudulent transfer of the amount of E335 240 000 to South Africa.

Returns

The money had been invested by a number of individuals and other entities in ESWIG to obtain higher returns. However, E335 240 000 of the invested E406 932 005.55 was allegedly transferred to South Africa, and the investors want their money back. The transfer of the investment funds, according to the combined summons, was allegedly done under the auspices of Dlamini, who was at the time, the CEO of FSRA, and its officials under his control, and/or cooperated with him. The plaintiffs (ESWIG) and Ligagu Investments (Pty) Ltd), informed the court that the transfer of the investment funds could, and should, have been prevented by FSRA under the auspices of Dlamini and those under his authority, in the exercise of their duties and responsibilities.

The sixth defendant (Dlamini), by virtue of his complicity in the fraudulent scheme, failed to comply with his duties and responsibilities in terms of sections 4,5,6 and 8 of the FSRA Act, by failing to foster through the regulation and prudential supervision the safety and soundness of the investments; the highest standards of conduct of business in relation to the investments; the fairness, efficiency and orderliness of the Eswatini non-banking sector and the protection of stakeholders, reads part of ESWIGs combined summons. The veracity of these allegations is still to be tested in court. The defendants are yet to file their answering papers. ESWIG is represented by Sidumo Mdladla of SV Mdladla and Associates.

Dlamini, according to ESWIG, allegedly failed to enforce functions that were necessary to suppress illegal, dishonourable and improper practices and financial fraud in order to prevent the transfer of the investment funds to a secured environment. He is also alleged to have failed to supervise the conduct of Ecsponent South Africa, Van Niekerk, to take measures for the protection of investment funds and to prevent the transfer of the investment amounts, contrary to a secured environment for the investors to obtain higher returns. The said failures by Sandile Dlamini were in bad faith as he knew before the investments were transferred to South Africa, that Escponent SA and Dave van Niekerk, assisted by the other defendants, put measures in place to control the first and third plaintiffs (Escponent and Ligagu Investments) and, therefore, the investments, to ensure the fraudulent transfer, further reads the papers.

ESWIG submitted that the alleged measures to control it and Ligagu, and, therefore, the investment funds, implemented by Ecsponent SA and Van Niekerk, assisted by the other defendants, purportedly included causing Soonius to act as a representative on behalf of it (ESWIG), as it did not have a qualified CEO resident in Eswatini.

This, according to ESWIG, is provided for in Regulation 9(4) of the Licensing Rules of 2013, derived from the Securities Act. The measures, according to ESWIG, to control it and Ligagu, also included causing it (ESWIG) and Ligagu to be controlled by Escponent SA, GetBucks SA, Van Niekerk, Soonius and Vilakati. The control of ESWIG, according to the combined summons, was further through causing the investment group not to have an appointed compliance officer as the purported compliance officer was allegedly controlled by Ecsponent SA to ensure the fraudulent transfer. Other control measure, according to ESWIG, were allegedly causing ESWIG not to submit copies of reports of internal audits, if any, conducted on the latter since its inception; causing ESWIG not to submit audited financial statements dating back to the 2010 financial year; causing ESWIG not to have a complaint handling policy system, which suppressed complaints through these channels by investors and causing it not to keep a complete registry of all emaSwati investors in its offices.

Further, ESWIG alleged that as a control measure, ESWIG was allegedly caused not to submit valuation reports of all investment products for the funds collected; not to have the required separate bank account for its business operations, for receiving investments from investors controlled by the bank, as provided for in Sections 81 and 84 of the Securities Act. This effectively denied the bank any control over the investment amounts.

Argued

ESWIG argued that the required regulation, monitoring, supervision and enforcement, as provided for in sections 4, 5, 6 and 8 of the FSRA Act, would and should have caused the FSRA to intervene and prevent the implementation of the alleged fraudulent scheme and/or the transfer of the investments to South Africa. All the above failures were known to Sandile Dlamini before the transfer of E335 240 000 invested funds to South Africa and he, in bad faith and as part of the fraudulent scheme, failed to prevent the failures causing the expatriation of the investment funds. Sandile Dlaminis failure to act and prevent the scheme was in bad faith within the meaning of Section 18 of the FSRA Act, as he deliberately failed to regulate, monitor and supervise the investments, as aforesaid, and in particular, failed to enforce any remediation of the failures, thereby permitting the fraudulent scheme to run its course. ESWIG submitted that Dlaminis purported deliberate failure allegedly was as a result of his conflicting relationship with Ecsponent SA and Van Niekerk, causing him to act in concert with Ecsponent and Van Niekerk and not prevent the said fraudulent scheme. The matter is pending in court.
Here are 10 ASC and medical building openings, expansions, plans and other moves that Becker's has reported on in December:

1. Marriottsville, Md.-based Bon Secours is nearing completion on a new $80 million, 98,000-square-foot facility in Suffolk, Va.

2. Montrose (Colo.) Regional Health plans to open a new four-story, 80,000-square-foot ambulatory care center in February.

3. Cottage Health and Alta Orthopaedics joined forces on a new ASC in Santa Barbara, Calif.

4. Healthcare real estate company Hammes completed a 43,000-square-foot ASC and medical office building in McAllen, Texas.

5. Vancouver, Wash.-based PeaceHealth closed one of its clinics Dec. 15.

6. Allentown, Pa.-based Lehigh Valley Health Network opened a $27 million medical office building at its Lehigh Valley Hospital-Macungie campus.

7. Lafayette-based Louisiana Orthopedic Specialists is planning a $16.2 million ASC.

8. UC San Diego Health was given $25 million by the McGrath Family Foundation in support of the development of the health system's new outpatient center.

9. Construction on a 10-story outpatient office building in Alexandria, Va., stalled as the building's team struggles to line up an anchor tenant.

10. Construction was completed on a 22,000-square-foot, $10 million medical office building in Queen Creek, Ariz., the first medical office building in the market
Effective Jan. 21, Jason Foland, MD, will become president of the Studer Family Children's Hospital at Ascension Sacred Heart in Pensacola, Fla., according to a news release sent to local news outlets Dec. 27.

Dr. Foland previously served as chief medical officer at the children's hospital, according to a company Facebook post. As president, he will oversee service expansions and integrations, and work with hospital leadership to improve experiences for patients, associates and physicians.

Studer Family Children's is the only full-service children's hospital in Northwest Florida.
William Ermann plans to retire as CEO of Guymon, Okla-based Memorial Hospital of Texas County on March 30 after more than three years at the helm, local news outlet KSCB News reported Dec. 27.

Mr. Ermann joined the 25-bed hospital on Oct. 25, 2020. He previously served as president of CHI St. Alexius Health Dickinson (N.D.) Medical Center and as CEO of Southwest Medical Center in Liberal, Kan.

A search for Mr. Ermann's successor has begun, with the hospital board aiming to ensure a smooth leadership transition in March, according to the report.

Becker's has reached out to the hospital for comment and will update this story as more information becomes available.
The last year, 2023, was the year of artificial intelligence in healthcare. Top executives from hospitals and health systems large and small dove deep into ways AI could make their organizations more efficient and elevate patient care.

While AI will stay a top priority over the next year, a new buzz word is on the tip of health system C-suite executives' tongues: partnerships. But not just any partnerships. Unique, innovative and outside-the-box partnerships will be essential for hospitals to thrive.

"While the pandemic pushed so many of us in the healthcare system to the brink, it also catalyzed innovation and transformed the way we deliver care in so many ways," Eugene Woods, CEO of Advocate Health in Charlotte, N.C., told Becker's. "Looking ahead to 2024, the Advocate Health leadership team is doubling down on innovation and continuing to cultivate strong partnerships across industries, while we strengthen our financial position and drive significant synergy savings consistent with our pledges to make care more affordable. We intend to pioneer out-of-the-box approaches to harness the full potential of new technologies, whether that's AI or deepening our partnerships with robotics and other leading-edge companies to bring inventive approaches to the bedside faster."

The next year will bring many of the same challenges as 2023 of staffing shortages and increased patient volume as baby boomers age, and Patty Donley, vice president of Wellspan Health in York, Pa., and president of Good Samaritan Hospital in Suffren, N.Y., sees health systems embracing transformational change to strengthen the workforce and future of healthcare delivery.

"By advancing the use of technology, leveraging alternate care delivery models including genomic care pathways, and initiating innovative partnerships, health systems can improve access challenges and workforce shortages to more effectively meet the needs of the communities we serve," Ms. Donley told Becker's.

The health systems able to financially recover in the next year will often need to reduce services and re-evaluate the scope of their current services to stay viable, Ronda Lehman, president and CEO of Mercy Health - Lima (Ohio) told Becker's. Health systems are evaluating their hospital portfolios and realizing each hospital can't offer all services, but rather can leverage technology to share virtual expertise and build programs to remotely monitor patients.

"I hope that we will see additional alignments where health systems are leveraging not just their own strengths, but also looking to other less likely partners to collaborate with," said Ms. Lehman. "We need to continue to meet consumers where they are at, and relentlessly continue to drive to incorporate 'health' into peoples' everyday lives rather than allowing barriers to obtaining care."

In some cases, health systems are partnering with non-traditional healthcare companies moving into the healthcare space, including Amazon, Best Buy and Costco. These relationships leverage expertise from the retail and tech world, including consumer experience expertise and supply chain efficiency, to match with the health system's core competency of care delivery.

"These partnerships will create renewed need for the ability to share data and transformation safely and securely so patients experience seamless and safe care delivery," said Karyn Baum, chief transformation officer of Essentia Health in Duluth, Minn. "I hope that continued focus on value-based care and population health will lead to these partnerships, and appropriate AI use, beginning to improve life expectancy again and allow us to make up some of the ground we lost over the past few years."

Traditional healthcare providers may also become new disruptors. More care is moving outpatient and ambulatory surgery centers are poised to elevate in the value-based care model as the high quality, low cost providers in the region. Brad Martin, associate director of care innovation and community improvement programs at UC Health in Aurora, Colo., sees ASCs representing an increasingly large market share, possibly upending referral sources for major revenue-generating lines at hospitals.

"With other competitors in the market directing patient referrals, health systems will be forced to either redefine their operational models to hyper-focus on patient experience and outcomes to maintain market share or establish formal partnerships with these other organizations to maintain referral pathways and levels," he told Becker's. "While this seems like a mildly depressing business-minded change, it will also coincide with a shift in mindset to focus on an 'ecosystem of care' that includes both health actors and community agencies addressing all health needs of the patient."

Beth Steele, MSN, RN, COO of Owensboro (Ky.) Health Regional Hospital also sees new opportunities with community organizations and partners to fill gaps in the current healthcare system.

"Community partners, qualified collaborators, and non-traditional pairings will likely be needed to tackle the rising concerns for managing mental health, substance abuse, and workplace violence amongst the operational challenges like workforce and rising expenses," she told Becker's.

Vi-Anne Antrum, senior vice president and chief nursing officer of Cone Health in Greensboro, N.C., believes payers will be important partners for health systems as healthcare evolves for value-based care.

"I believe new partnerships will emerge as more and more players enter niche aspects of the market. The niche players cannot provide comprehensive care and will need partners at health system to effectively manage their desired portion of care," Ms. Antrum told Becker's. "Additionally, health systems can leverage the trust they have built in the communities they serve to convene community partners and policymakers to drive meaningful change in things like behavioral health and workplace violence."
From Community Health Network agreeing to a $345 million False Claims Act settlement to the sentencing of an orthopedic surgeon for his role in an upcoding scheme, here are 11 healthcare billing fraud cases Becker's has reported since Dec. 12:

1. Ballwin, Mo.-based Total Access Urgent Care will pay more than $9.1 million to settle allegations it submitted false claims to Medicare and other federal healthcare programs.

2. The former CEO of Apache Behavioral Health Services in Whiteriver and Cibecue, Ariz., was charged in a scheme to defraud millions of dollars from the federally funded tribal healthcare provider.

3. Newark, Del.-based ChristianaCare is paying $47.1 million to resolve an over six-year-old kickback lawsuit filed by the health system's former chief compliance officer. Ronald Sherman accused the health system of infringing both anti-kickback laws and the False Claims Act through its relationship with Newark-based physician group Neonatology Associates.

4. A Florida nurse practitioner faces 20 years in prison for a $192 million Medicare fraud scheme that left her ordering more cancer genetic tests than any other provider in the United States.

5. The operator of a marketing company pleaded guilty to his role in a scheme that resulted in more than $127 million in fraudulent claims being submitted to healthcare benefit programs for durable medical equipment.

6. Indianapolis-based Community Health Network agreed to a $345 million settlement to resolve allegations that, dating back to 2008, it violated the False Claims Act and Stark law.

7. A Pennsylvania pain clinic CEO was sentenced to 30 months in prison for her role in a scheme to defraud Medicare and HHS.

8. The U.S. Attorney's Office filed a complaint under the False Claims Act against Steward Health Care System and its subsidiaries, alleging violations of the physician self-referral law and submission of false claims to Medicare.

9. A Massachusetts-based orthopedic surgeon was convicted by a federal jury for his role in an upcoding scheme.

10. Three people have been charged for their alleged roles in a scheme to defraud Minnesota's Medicaid program out of nearly $11 million.

11. Audu Ozigi, a former operator of home health agencies, was sentenced to 168 months in federal prison followed by three years of supervised release after he was found guilty of conspiracy to commit healthcare fraud, falsifying patient files and fraudulently billing Medicare and Medicaid.
A federal judge has temporarily blocked an Idaho law banning gender-affirming care for minors, The New York Times reported Dec. 27.

The law, set to take effect Jan. 1, would prohibit people 18 and under with gender dysphoria from receiving gender transition surgeries, puberty blockers or hormone therapy. Healthcare providers who offer such care could be convicted of a felony and face up to 10 years in prison under the law.

Idaho Gov. Brad Little signed the bill into law in April, saying it "seeks to protect children with gender dysphoria from medical and surgical interventions that can cause permanent damage to their bodies before they are mature enough to make such serious health decisions."

However, the American Civil Liberties Union and other organizations filed a lawsuit in May to block the ban on behalf of two Idaho families, claiming it is unconstitutional and would have detrimental effects to transgender children's mental health.

District Court Judge Lynn Winmill issued a preliminary injunction Dec. 26, saying the ban violates the Fourteenth Amendment.

The decision came the same day another federal judge declined to pause litigation against Alabama's gender-affirming care ban for minors. Judge Liles Burke denied the Justice Department's request for a stay until appellate courts can determine whether they'll accept related petitions regarding other state bans on gender-affirming care, according to CBS News.








An Oklahoma man was arrested Dec. 26 after phoning hospitals in Tennessee and Ohio with threats to commit violence, according to local news sources.

Kyle Odell, 45, allegedly called Hendersonville (Tenn.) Medical Center making "odd comments about various things" and threatening to commit violence against people at the hospital, FOX17 reported. Hendersonville police traced the call to Oklahoma and found that Mr. Odell had also called a hospital in Ohio.

Police did not release the name of the hospital in Ohio and are not releasing any additional information at this time, Sumner County Source reported Dec. 27.

Mr. Odell is being held in Oklahoma  pending extradition to Sumner County, Tenn.  on charges of a false report threatening violence and harassment.
Viviant Healthcare of Murfreesboro (Tenn.) is closing its doors for failing to meet Medicare and Medicaid health and safety requirements, according to a CMS notice of termination release Dec. 12.

In the notice, CMS cited that the agreement between the 100-bed nursing home and the Medicare provider would be terminated Dec. 14.

A denial of payment for new admissions was imposed on the nursing home Nov. 13, meaning CMS would end skilled nursing facility services for any Medicare and Medicaid beneficiary admitted to Viviant starting Nov. 16. Any service payments made before that date were rendered to beneficiaries for 30 days following the Dec. 14 termination, the notice shared.

The news comes after Viviant Healthcare in Bristol (Tenn.) suddenly closed in early November due to not paying vendors and failure to meet health and safety requirements.

Along with the closure, the nursing home filed a WARN notice on Dec. 20 stating that 79 workers in total would be affected by the closure from Dec. 20 to Jan. 14.

CMS noted it is monitoring resident transfers from Viviant to other facilities. Viviant Healthcare of Murfreesboro's last Facebook post was Dec. 7, with their website also no longer active.
The Department of Human Resources (DHR) and RAK Investment and Development Office (IDO) have signed a partnership agreement to launch a Certified Artificial Intelligence Practitioner (CAIP) Programme.

This is as part of Ras Al Khaimah Governments commitment to support the education, development and competitiveness of UAE talent in the global digital sector, and in line with the Emirates vision and strategy to create a bright and sustainable future.

In collaboration with PricewaterhouseCoopers (PwC) Academy, this CAIP agreement aims to enhance and develop the skills and abilities of Emirati job seekers and graduates by providing career development programmes in various areas, including Artificial Intelligence (AI), machine learning and data analytics, in order to keep pace with advancing digital technologies and increased automation, as part of the Fourth Industrial Revolution (4IR). Participants stand to earn certification from Stanford University, one of the top five universities in the world, and Cert Nexus, a reputable US body that offers certificates in the fields of emerging technologies.

The agreement was signed by Dr Mohamed Abdullatif Khalifa, Director General of the DHR, and Mohammed Sultan Al Qadi, Managing Director and Board Member of RAK IDO.

Enhancing national skills

Khalifa stated: This strategic partnership between the DHR and IDO in Ras Al Khaimah reflects our strong commitment to enhancing national skills and elevating education and training standards in the digital industry.

We are committed to offering development programmes that will enable graduates and job seekers to keep pace with digital technologies and achieve excellence in these global sectors.

Al Qadi added: This is a pioneering initiative aimed at preparing and qualifying national talent in the global sector of artificial intelligence, thus enabling them to perform at the highest international standards of leadership, creativity and competitiveness. In collaboration with PricewaterhouseCoopers (PwC) Academy, we are dedicated to offering specialised training programmes with the goal of empowering participants to obtain international academic qualifications, thus enabling them to perform at their highest capabilities and best represent Ras Al Khaimah and the UAE on the global stage.

Eight months

Ras Al Khaimahs CAIP Programme will continue for eight months, giving participants the opportunity to receive a CAIP certification from Cert Nexus, as well as an online certificate in machine learning from Stanford University. Throughout the Programme, participants will be given the opportunity to practice these new skills and they will have the opportunity to take part in internships and have support in job placements after completion of the Programme.

This partnership reflects Ras Al Khaimah Governments commitment to provide Emirati youth with the opportunities to develop and enhance their professional skills and international career prospects, in line with the Emirates vision for a bright, sustainable future for all.--TradeArabia News Service
Jamie Dornan has said the new season of hit thriller The Tourist, which airs on New Year's Day, is like "a Tourism Ireland advert" for how it showcases the Emerald Isle.

The actor, who hails from Holywood in Co Down, also told The Irish Post of his appreciation for the Irish crew he worked with on the production.

The Tourist follows amnesia-ridden car crash survivor Elliot (Dornan) from Northern Ireland, who attempts to retrace his life before unravelling a larger mystery. All the action takes place while Elliot is stranded in Australias outback.

The second series will focus on Elliot and Probationary Constable Helen Chambers (played by Danielle Macdonald) as they continue to hunt for answers relating to his identity. In doing so they are forced to face the dangerous consequences of his past actions.

The filming for the second series took place in Ireland and viewers will get a chance to see the results early next week.

Dornan said it will be a big change for the audience.

He said: "I hope they enjoy it as much as the first. We are offering up something a bit different purely by geography. I feel like the colour of the Outback, the scale of it and fear was a major character in the first series.

"We've taken that away this time and we have suddenly gone from the orangey dirt of the Outback to the lush green settings of Ireland. Particularly with the first episode, it's like a Tourism Ireland advert.

"It's different and I hope that people are on board with that and get the same sort of satisfaction as they did from the first series. The humour is all there, and the story is as mad as the first series.

The Tourist S2

Dornan is also an executive producer for the new series.

On the producer experience, Dornan said: "Its been great. It was one of those opportunities that presented itself to me and I was excited to do it.

"It's also nice to do it in a capacity where I already have the relationship with everyone involved and to come into this realm having already committed so much to the project.

"It's been nice to have a bit more say over the creative aspects of the show and its something I'm proud of."

The stunts on the intense, high action series have proved challenging, he added.

"I had to hang off a cliff for a long time. I was harnessed but you couldn't really see it and the whole point of the scene is that Im hanging there for a comically long period of time," he said.

"So, this does mean to film it, I really was hanging there for a long time, and I have a dodgy shoulder which really paid the price for hanging there for a whole morning.

"That was the most tricky and annoying scene to shoot because I'm an old man and my shoulders don't work."

One of his favourite parts of this new season is that Dornan "just loved filming with Danielle Macdonald".

He added: "We have an incredibly close bond. We had a strong bond filming the first series, but it's really blossomed more in the second series because we've had a lot more scenes together.

"We just trust each other so much. Anytime we have big scenes together in the series we know we're going to be approaching it the same way and on the same frequency, so having that with Danielle has been class.

"I've also loved working with Mark McKenna who plays Fergal in this; we've had a couple of poignant scenes.

"There's one in the forest early on when I had a lot of energy in the second week of filming, and when I look back on all the filming I did with him, I look back at it very fondly."

On filming closer to home for the new series, Dornan said: "It's amazing. The first day of shooting we were in Kilpedder in Wicklow, and I was walking through the trees and the worst rain I think I've ever seen came in and I thought, this is what it's like to film in Ireland.

"I had sort of forgotten it being three or four years since I filmed here but Ireland is beautiful.

"I've been to parts of Ireland that I'd never been to before.

"We predominantly filmed in Dublin and Wicklow, but we've managed to travel a little bit outside of there and got to showcase what a beautiful place Ireland is.

"Working with an Irish crew having the same sort of sense of humour has been great. It's been a dream to shoot here."

All episodes of Series 2 of The Tourist will be available on BBC iPlayer from 6am on Monday January 1, with episode one airing on BBC One at 9pm.
Passport, Caribbean cruise and wedding on the cards for Fermanagh lottery winners who scooped 3.8m

A Co Fermanagh couple who scooped almost 4m in a pre-Christmas lottery draw have toasted their big win.

Tesco delivery driver Jonny Johnston (45) and his partner of 25 years Christina Williams (46) became multi-millionaires after matching all six numbers on Saturday, December 16.

He revealed that despite normally select his usual numbers for the last 20 years, the week before he had matched two numbers and won an additional Lucky Dip for Saturdays draw and it was the free Lucky Dip line which proved to be the winner.

Mr Johnston was delivering festive goodies for Tesco just before he discovered his incredible stroke of luck.

Jonny Johnston and Christina Williams are 3.8m better off after winning in the Lotto draw Press Eye - Belfast - Northern Ireland - 28th December 2023

After completing his rounds on Saturday, he enjoyed a Christmas night out with work colleagues before spotting a familiar message from The National Lottery on his email announcing there was good news about his ticket.

Suspecting he had won a Lucky Dip, he went to bed as normal that night.

However, on Sunday morning Mr Johnston and his partner, Christina, were prompted to check the National Lottery app once more and they realised this was no ordinary win.

Jonny Johnston and partner Christina Williams (Pic: Peter Morrison)

He said: I was sitting on the edge of the bed on Sunday morning trying to make sense of what I was seeing. I just kept staring at the numbers on my account.

"I thought maybe I had won 38,000 but then there were too many zeros. I passed the phone to Christina for her to check and she was in disbelief too. We both began to think that it was a trick, a scam even.

"We decided we had better call Camelot and double-check.

The kids were silent at first, looking at both of us in disbelief. And then the screaming and shouting started and everyone was jumping around the kitchen, cheering! Seeing as it was still early, we popped the kettle on and toasted the amazing news with a cup of coffee.

Despite his amazing win, Mr Johnston still had another shift to work at Tesco before Christmas and was determined not to leave his colleagues in the lurch.

He completed a click and collect shift at the local store on Saturday 23 December, handing over bags of Christmas turkeys and all the trimmings to unsuspecting customers who had no idea the man helping them load their car up was in fact a millionaire.

Jonny Johnston and Christina Williams are 3.8m better off after winning in the Lotto draw Press Eye - Belfast - Northern Ireland - 28th December 2023

The couple plan to use this newfound wealth to provide financial security for their family, as well as to indulge in some well-deserved leisure time together.

They have three children - two sons aged 23 and 19, and a daughter aged 20 and have never been abroad together and Mr Johnston has never owned a passport.

He said: I would love for us all to go to the Caribbean, maybe on a cruise as it sounds and looks incredible. We have never had a family holiday together. I just need to apply for my passport first.

"I'm still in disbelief. This is a dream come true for me and my family. I've always worked hard, and this win will allow us to do things we could only ever have dreamt of before. I am incredibly grateful and still trying to wrap my head around it all.

The local community has expressed delight after the lucky pair won the jackpot a week before Christmas.

They have been described as hardworking before their fortunes changed over the festive season.
His previous convictions include a case described as akin to a Hollywood scripted" conspiracy

A disgraced GP was handed a two-year driving ban today after he drank six shots of whiskey in less than half-an-hour.

Imposing the driving ban as well as fines amounting to 550 and allowing 71-year-old James Cassidy four months to pay, District Judge Rosie Watters said it was clear the defendant has a problem with alcohol.

Cassidy, who was at one time the doctor for Tyrone GAA and who practised in Dundalk before he was struck off, had earlier entered guilty pleas to a total of four offences, all committed on November 9, this year, including driving while unfit, driving with neither a licence nor insurance, failing to provide a specimen.

Lisburn Magistrates Court heard that the manager of a restaurant in Lisburn alerted police on Thursday afternoon that a customer drank six measures of Jameson whiskey in 25 minutes and then got behind the wheel of a Mercedes C250 car.

A prosecuting lawyer said police were led to the car park of Sprucefield shopping centre where officers found Cassidy sitting behind the wheel but despite being asked, he failed to provide a specimen of breath.

The court heard that Cassidy, of Killyman Road in Dungannon, has previous criminal convictions including drink driving in May 2009 and conspiracy to commit forgery in 2014.

What the court did not hear however was that the forgery offences related to Cassidy forging the 1.5m will of pub owner Catherine Kitty Haughey between 2004 and 2007.

Forgery case

The 81-year-old, who owned Larkin's pub in Forkhill in south Armagh, left cash, land and property worth 1.5m on her death in 2004, but suspicions were raised when Ms Haughey's will was changed two weeks before her death.

In offences described as akin to a Hollywood scripted" conspiracy, Newry Crown Court heard how Ms Haughy's forged, handwritten last will attempted to redirect the childless widow's fortune from charitable organisations and a female friend to persons "in the business of becoming millionaires".

Having run the South Armagh pub with her brother and sister, Kitty was found dead in the pubs living quarters in December 2004.

Concerns were raised about her will after it emerged it had been changed two weeks before her death and although her body was exhumed in 2007 amid fresh suspicions surrounding her death, a post-mortem examination later confirmed she died of natural causes.

Cassidy, alongside David McQuaid (47), a quantity surveyor from Lisnaree Road, Banbridge and the widow's godson Francis Tiernan (62) of Carrickasticken Road, Forkhill  pleaded guilty to two charges of conspiracy to use a false document.

A fourth accused, Dr Cassidy's secretary Niamh Hearty, was unanimously found not guilty of forging the widow's signature.

During Heartys trial, the court heard how Miss Haugheys friend who had been the intended beneficiary of the will, brought her suspicions of Kitty's falsified signatures on a forged will to the Garda in the Republic.

The Garda investigation gained speed when a falsified patient file at the GP surgery of Dr Cassidy was generated at the behest of a letter said to be from a Dundalk solicitor.

The details of the GP's letter were constructed to read that an examination of Ms Haughey had been done by a now-deceased doctor shortly before the publican's death.

The diagnosis was to say that Ms Haughey had been a healthy woman right up to her death. The letter was declared to be false in its entirety in 2008.

In 2014, Cassidy was handed an 18-month prison sentence which was suspended for three years and then in November 2018, he was struck off the medical register over failings to comply with conditions attached to his registration, including completing an alcohol awareness programme.

Read more Co Down teenager accused of raping, assaulting and harassing woman

Mitigation and judges comment

In court today, Cassidys defence solicitor conceded the driving offences are pitiful behaviour, he recognises that.

He clearly has an alcohol problem but this was an extraordinary occurrence, said the solicitor revealing that while he is in receipt of the state pension of 600 per month, Cassidy lost a significant amount of money in the financial crash of 2008, almost 1m of investments completely wiped out.

I couldnt do what he did, said District Judge Watters: This was at lunchtime on a Thursday and I dont think I could actually drink six measures of Jamesons in 25 minutes  there would not even be a competition there.
A disabled Co Down man accused of pimping out vulnerable heroin addicts claims he acted as an innocent Good Samaritan, the High Court heard today.

Derek Brown allegedly exploited three women involved in the sex trade by arranging meetings and taking a cut of their earnings.

But counsel for the 60-year-old defendant argued that his intentions were entirely charitable.

Adrian Higgins said: He was helping these troubled young ladies as far as he was aware he was dropping them off to meet friends or at GP appointments.

Brown, of West Street in Newtownards, was refused bail on a total of 32 charges.

He faces multiple counts of human trafficking, controlling prostitution for gain, paying for sexual sevices, sexual assault, brothel keeping, voyeurism and being concerned in the supply of heroin.

The alleged offences took place over a three-year period between January 2020 and January 2023.

A previous court heard at least one complainant claims Brown met and paid her for sex while she was addicted to substances and living in a hostel.

He also allegedly arranged appointments for the women and took a cut of their money.

Prosecutors suggested that Brown may have used a car obtained through a disability allowance scheme as part of the offending, with checks on the vehicle revealing its mileage was nearly 10 times higher than expected.

During police interviews he denied any wrongdoing, branding the women liars and insisting that he had been a father figure to them.

He was said to have browsed websites offering sexual services in the Belfast area just to see who was around.

As Brown mounted a new bid to be released from custody, the court heard that he is mounting a Good Samaritan defence.

Mr Higgins submitted: Historically he has been involved in charitable work, and through that he met these three individuals.

He wasnt aware they were engaged in prostitution.

The barrister described the allegations as distasteful, but argued that Brown has been detained since June and could now be released under conditions.

Due to his physical conditions, this is somebody who is not going to be difficult to track, he added.

Denying bail, Mr Justice OHara ruled: I do not consider there is a change in circumstances.
The funeral of a Co Antrim man who was infected with contaminated blood during one of the worst scandals in NHS history will take place on Friday.

Simon Hamilton was the chair of Haemophilia Northern Ireland and died suddenly at Antrim Hospital on Christmas Day.

Former BBC newsreader Donna Traynor said: "So sorry to hear this news. What a lovely, compassionate man who, along with his family, suffered so much because of the infected blood scandal. I met Simon a couple of times during his long fight for justice. May he now rest in peace."

Alliance Party MLA Stewart Dickson said: "Very sad news. My condolences to Simons family and friends he was a regular visitor to my constituency office keeping me up to date with both his health and the work he and [the society] were doing."

Born in Glengormley, both Simon and his twin brother Nigel faced long-term illness after they received infected blood in separate incidents.

They received years of treatment for Hepatitis C, liver cirrhosis and cancer.

The Haemophilia Society said they were "deeply saddened" by the news of Simon's death.

Read more Co Down RAF hero on how war-zone horrors led to PTSD and bid to take her own life

Clive Smith, Chair of the Haemophilia Society, described Simon as a compassionate and steadfast colleague in the long battle for justice for people infected and affected by contaminated blood products.

"We send our condolences to the Hamilton family and the bleeding disorder community in Northern Ireland," a spokesperson said.

In what has come to be known as the contaminated blood scandal, the NHS used infected blood from individuals including prisoners and drug addicts in the 1970s and 1980s to treat people with with haemophilia and other bleeding disorders. It ultimately led to the death of more than 3,000 people and infected up to 30,000 patients with HIV and other life-threatening illnesses.

It was estimated that more than 400 people in Northern Ireland became infected but it's unknown how many have died from secondary illnesses.

Following a public inquiry, the final report of which is expected next year, the government most recently said it is still not in a position to make a final decision on compensation for the victims of the infected blood scandal.

Simon was the dearly loved husband of Olive and much loved father of Ethan. He was the beloved son of Betty and the late Sydney, dear brother of Nigel and Linley and a dear brother in law and uncle.

His funeral service will take place on Friday at 1pm in Killymurris Presbyterian Church, with burial afterwards in the adjoining graveyard.

The house is private and donations are welcomed if desired to Killymurris Presbyterian Church repair fund c/o DJM Robinson & Son, 121 Culcrum Road, Cloughmills, BT44 9DT.
A kilogram of heroin arrived in the Co Antrim town of Ballymena every month in 1997, police believed in 1998.

A subculture of heroin users was also present in South Belfast in the late 1990s, according to officials in previously secret state file titled Drugs  Heroin.

Officials commissioned research into the emergence of the drug in Northern Ireland in 1998 to monitor levels of usage.

Notes in the file indicated a correlation between heroin use and areas without strong community cohesion.

A general view of Ballymena Courthouse in Northern Ireland (PA)

Information given at a seminar on March 27, 1998 included figures from the RUC that heroin had been present in Ballymena since the early 1980s, that one kilogram was arriving in the town every month during the previous year, that one gram of heroin costs 80-100 and that a third of a gram sold for around 35.

However, the level of usage of heroin in Northern Ireland overall was termed as low level compared to the Republic of Ireland, with 34 grams of the drug seized in Northern Ireland in 1994 compared with 5,672 grams in the Republic.

Another paper in the file said the close knit nature of communities in Northern Ireland with strong family ties has prevented the development of widespread heroin abuse.

It also noted paramilitary violence and intimidation directed against use of hard drugs such as heroin, although it added there is evidence of paramilitary groups being involved in the supply in other sorts of drugs.

Ballymena was described as having pockets of deprivation linked to high levels of drug misuse on estates such as Ballykeel and Doury Road where there was high rates of unemployment.

It recorded that heroin misuse started in the Doury Road estate where there was a history of drugs, including LSD and cannabis in the 1960s-70s, and ecstasy and amphetamines in the 1980s with the development of the rave culture.

In 1994/5 two dealers began to obtain supplies of heroin which they made available in the Ballymena area through their local distribution network, it was noted.

There was a growth in heroin use and crack cocaine, especially among young unemployed males in the area, with dealing taking place openly on the estate.

It was attributed to social disadvantage, low employment levels, lack of paramilitary influence, limited community structures and facilities, the impoverished nature of the area, absence of strong policing and the good infrastructure and close proximity to ports and airports which made the transportation of drugs easier.
A young entrepreneur who introduced Joe Biden during his historic visit to Belfast has said that she wanted to tell the world how far Northern Ireland has come since the Good Friday Agreement in 1998.

Gabrielle Feenan, 24, from Banbridge, who shared a stage with the US president at Ulster University in April, also told how she had to keep her role in the event a secret from even her family.

Mr Biden spoke at the new 350 million campus to mark the 25th anniversary of the historic peace deal during his visit to the island of Ireland.

Ms Feenan, an interior designer, who was born following the Good Friday Agreement, was chosen to make a speech and introduce the president to the stage.

She told the PA news agency: It all happened quite late. The Biden event was on the Wednesday and I didnt find out about my participation in it until the Saturday before.

I was put in contact with the US Consulate. They asked me to come up for a meeting. I went up on the Saturday morning not sure what I was going into and I was asked if I would like to introduce the president.

Its not really something that comes around that often nor something that I thought Id ever be doing, but an opportunity you cant turn down.

Ms Feenan said the hardest part was keeping the secret from her friends and family.

She said: I was trying to keep this massive secret in. It was hard not having anybody to proof-read your speech, especially when you are speaking to such a global audience.

My parents didnt know a single thing. They really werent expecting it at all until they saw it on TV.

I think they were just astounded about the whole thing, how Id been able to keep it all in.

US President Joe Biden greets Gabrielle Feenan at Ulster University in April (Liam McBurney/PA)

Ms Feenan said she saw the opportunity to highlight the work being done by young entrepreneurs in Northern Ireland.

She said: It was a privilege and an honour to be able to go and stand there as a representative of the entrepreneurial spirit which is here in Northern Ireland.

Beforehand a few of us were brought out the back to meet him and get some photographs taken. He really was very down to earth and it was a really nice chat.

Meeting him on that personal level really settled my nerves beforehand because he was so normal, that took away any fears that I had.

I think once I was in the moment I was just focusing on not falling on the stage and not tripping over my words. It was just a matter of get up there, get the job done and then relax after that.

It definitely was daunting when you are standing up there and all you can see is a sea of media.

US President Joe Bidens visit to Belfast marked the 25th anniversary of the Good Friday Agreement (Liam McBurney/PA)

She added: He made a joke to me when I was coming off the stage. He said whenever you are the next world leader dont forget about me, that was nice.

His visit was to mark the 25th anniversary of the Good Friday Agreement. I was born a year after it, I am someone who has reaped the benefits of it.

I wanted to focus on the global stage about how far weve come in the last 25 years, what opportunities I have had, where it has brought me, what I have been able to do with it but also looking towards the next 25 years to come.

It is really important to look at how far we have come and respect and appreciate it but the work is by no means done and there is always further to go.

I wanted to strike home in that range of looking ahead, look whats already been achieved and imagine what more we could do if everybody came together and invested in the youth of Northern Ireland and Northern Ireland in general.

I think the biggest takeaway was backing and supporting young people here and how special of a generation we are and how much potential we have.

The main message was to look forward, to invest in the young people, see where you can help and to get stuck in and help with the people here because we have a lot to offer.

Ms Feenan said she believed her involvement in Mr Bidens visit was a life-changing event and she hopes it will continue to have a positive and lasting effect on Northern Ireland.

Gabrielle Feenan introduced Joe Biden during his visit to Belfast (Liam McBurney/PA)

She said: Immediately after I was doing lots of media. I remember seeing myself on the news and thinking thats really bizarre.

It was like being a celebrity for a day.

Then it was more about thinking long term. People know about us now, it was about how we capitalise on that exposure.

It helped to drive a really positive change across the board which can only be life-changing not only for me but for everyone else.
An 18-year old man has died in hospital following a crash between a car and a motorcycle on the Antrim Road in north Belfast.

The crash occurred around 9.20pm on Friday 22 December.

The young man was taken to hospital for treatment to his injuries following the crash but has now sadly passed away.

The road was closed for several hours following the incident while emergency services were in attendance.

A PSNI spokesperson said police are appealing for witnesses or anyone who may have footage relevant to their investigation to come forward.

"Our investigation is at an early stage and we would appeal to anyone who was in the area at the time, or who may have dashcam or other footage, to contact us on 101, quoting reference 1915 of 22/12/23, they said.

"Alternatively, you can submit a report online using our non-emergency reporting form via http://www.psni.police.uk/makeareport/."

Sinn Fein MP John Finucane expressed his condolences at the death of the young man and said it caused hurt in the north Belfast community.

My thoughts are with the family and friends of the young man who sadly lost his life following a a road traffic collision on the Antrim Road last Friday night in, he said.

This tragic accident has caused hurt for many in our community, we must pull together to support and comfort those grieving.
Ex-Secretary of State who introduced controversial Bill claims challenge in European Court political posturing driven by electoral fears rather than genuine attempt to help victims

Former Secretary of State Sir Brandon Lewis has hit out at the Irish Government for taking a human rights case against the controversial UK Legacy Act he introduced.

Earlier this month Dublin announced it would challenge the legislation, which offers a conditional amnesty for Troubles-era killings.

The law, passed in September, is opposed by victims groups and all the political parties here.

Mr Lewis said on the Conservative Home website: I am disappointed, but not entirely surprised, to see the Irish Government take legal action against the British Governments legislation for dealing with the legacy of the Troubles in Northern Ireland.

This was always an incredibly sensitive and contentious issue to deal with.

But at least the Government has brought forward a plan to address the legacy of one of the most painful periods in our shared history, as well as ensuring appropriate protections for our brave veterans who served in Northern Ireland.

Mr Lewis was Secretary of State from 2020 until July 2022, when he resigned during the Tory revolt against Prime Minister Boris Johnson.

He tabled the Bill in Parliament, saying veterans would no longer have to live in fear of prosecution.

He said: I am proud to have been the Secretary of State who took this legislation forward and worked with colleagues across the House to find a way forward.

The Irish Government, meanwhile, have never produced any credible, workable plan to provide information for victims and their families.

He claimed the Irish Government was under pressure from Sinn Fein and, with elections looming in 2024, there is a real sense that this is as much driven by their own domestic politics and posturing as anything else.

He added: It would not be unreasonable therefore to question if this action is driven more by naked political posturing rather than any meaningful attempt to seek answers for victims of the Troubles and their long-suffering families.

Certainly, it is a convenient coincidence that, in suggesting this legislation is in breach of the European Convention on Human Rights, the Irish Government may further stoke tensions over the convention within our party  a development that cant be anything other than a helping hand to the Labour Party.

As such, this legal challenge could be seen not as advancing the best interests of any community in Northern Ireland, let alone the province as a whole, but as pure politics at its worst.

Victims and their families should be given the best opportunity to get to the truth of what happened during the Troubles.

And the Conservative Party wants to deliver on their manifesto pledge and protect veterans.

I still believe this legislation finds the right balance; it is difficult for many to accept, but it reflects the painful reality of the period.

We should not allow the Irish Government or our opponents to distract us from our purpose with this legislation: to help all the communities of Northern Ireland.

He added: No viable alternative has so far been presented and the passage of time means the possibility of securing a prosecution for a Troubles-related crime is negligible.

This legislation was always going to be hugely challenging for many.

But compassion, and commitment to truth and accountability, is the only way we can move forward in peace, bring understanding and reconciliation for the next generation, and enable Northern Irish society to look forward.

The Irish Government was contacted for a response to Mr Lewiss comments.
Cabinet was split about whether to let London handle dangerous technology

There were plans to build a nuclear reactor on the shores of Lough Neagh

Northern Ireland Prime Minister Lord Brookeborough and how Lough Neagh might look with Nuclear Power plants on its shores.

A minister in the old Stormont government wanted the unionist regime to take control of nuclear power - and there was a plan to build a nuclear reactor on the shores of Lough Neagh, newly-declassified government files have revealed.

However, both ideas were dropped when the dangers involved were made clear to the unionist cabinet, with one fellow minister saying that if they were to take on the responsibility they would be like children playing with a toy which could destroy us.

The revelations come in fascinating files from the 1950s which have emerged after more than 60 years. The files are declassified today at the Public Record Office in Belfast under the 20 year rule.

They should have been released decades ago but, as often happens, they have turned up now for reasons which are unexplained but probably involve having got lost in a government department.

One of the files shows that there had been a plan in the years after the Second World War to build a nuclear power station at Washing Bay, a rural spot on the shores of Lough Neagh, about three miles from Coalisland.

However, by the late 1950s, the British authorities had a change of mind.

In a confidential letter to Northern Irelands Prime Minister, Lord Brookeborough, on 12 August 1958, John Cockcroft in the UK Atomic Energy Authority said: We consider that the situation has been materially changed by the suggestion that Lough Neagh may within 15 years or so be an important sources of water supply for Belfast.

This has made us considerably less happy about the choice of Lough Neagh for a nuclear power station site.

I do not think that any radiological hazard would result from normal operation of the power station since discharges of weak radioactivity from cooling plant would be kept well below the level acceptable for drinking water.

We have however to think of the possibility of an accident leading to over-heating of the reactor and some release of radioactive products.

He said that while everything possible was done to minimise that risk and the chance of such an accident was remote, the problem was that if in spite of all precautions a substantial release of radioactivity occurred as a result of an accident, pollution of the waters of the lough might occur, necessitating this source of drinking water being unavailable for several months. Fishing would also be interfered with.

Although the possibility of this is slight, I do not consider that Lough Neagh should be chosen unless there is no coastal site available.

Lough Neagh is now the source of about 40% of Northern Irelands drinking water but has become chronically polluted from other sources, with intensive agriculture and sewage contributing to the loughs water turning luminescent green this summer due to toxic cyanobacteria.

Read more Lough Neagh recovery could take up to 40 years

Referring to Belfast Lough, Mr Cockcroft told Lord Brookeborough: When I visited Northern Ireland last May I saw a sea lough north of Belfast which appeared to have a power station sited on it.

The cost of transmission from such a site to Belfast could not be very high.

In the end, Northern Ireland was the only UK nation not to have a nuclear power station constructed.

Some in Stormont worried about a situation where they wanted to build a nuclear reactor but were blocked by London, or where London approved a local reactor which they opposed.

Asking his colleagues to consider Stormont taking responsibility for licencing and regulating nuclear installations in Northern Ireland, Lord Glentoran, the Minister of Commerce, said in a memo to cabinet colleagues that there was an important constitutional principle that laws relating to internal matters here should be enacted by this parliament, meaning that the minister exercising those powers would be accountable to Stormont.

He said I would hesitate to recommendthe complete surrender of authority to an Imperial [Westminster] Minister on a matter which might be the subject of considerable local controversy.

However, Lord Glentorans colleagues were quick to point out the flaws in his argument.

In a memo to cabinet, Health Minister Jack Andrews - a future deputy prime minister - argued in favour of allowing Westminster to handle nuclear licencing.

Mr Andrews said: This matter of licensing and inspecting nuclear reactors is obviously a very serious matter. It is highly technical and there is little point in our pretending to be in effective control of it.

Whatever the constitutional arguments may be, in fact we would only be embarrassing our Parliament (to a certain extent) by pretending to control and deal with something for which in fact we had to depend on advice from England.

He also warned his colleagues that whatever the public thought of Stormont, there is one party who would certainly not be reassured by decisions at Stormont and that is the London insurance companies.

There were plans to build a nuclear reactor on the shores of Lough Neagh

Read more Co Down man hits out as parents home flooded twice in six weeks

That was crucial, he said, because insurance for the plants would be necessary and could be astronomical if the insurers did not have confidence in Stormonts ability to regulate them.

Terence ONeill, then the Finance Minister and soon to be the Prime Minister, agreed with Mr Andrews caution and said that we are glad enough for Westminster to legislate for us when it comes to (say) agricultural subsidies and there may be times in the future when we shall be more interested in this precedent than standing on our constitutional rights!

The leader of the Senate, Alexander Gordon, agreed, asking colleagues bluntly: If a Northern Ireland minister is to become the licencing authority for this area, where on earth is he to find the expert staff to do everything?

He went on: An accident to a station here might possibly affect Scotland, the Isle of Man, the north of England and Eire causing appalling damage.

Is the Government of Northern Irelands financial back broad enough to undertake such responsibility?

Expressing himself forcefully, he said: I feel that in this grave matter with all its attendant technical problems we are rather like children playing with a toy which could destroy us.

And, alluding to the IRA, he wondered if we are not presenting saboteurs with a vital target.

The cabinet ultimately decided on a compromise - Westminster would be asked to legislate for Northern Ireland, but the Stormont Minister of Commerce would be the licencing authority for nuclear plants in Northern Ireland.
Bahri Logistics, a global leader in logistics and transportation and one of the six business units of Bahri, has entered into an international freight forwarding service agreement with Saudi Arabia Railways (SAR).

SAR is the owner and operator of the railway networks in Saudi Arabia, which plays a pivotal role in supporting the goals of building an integrated transportation system.

Under the terms of the three-year agreement, Bahri Logistics will serve as SAR's primary freight forwarding service provider for both imports and exports.

With over forty years of logistics experience, Bahri Logistics offers end-to-end logistics and supply chain management solutions. Its multimodal transport ecosystem effectively integrates sea, air, rail, and road transportation to provide door-to-door, express freight forwarding, and last-mile delivery services.

Additionally, Bahri Logistics offers value-added services through supply and distribution centers, as well as local distribution and reverse logistics solutions.

"Since its inception, SAR has been instrumental in shaping the kingdom into the vibrant, economically diverse, and interconnected place it is today. We at Bahri Logistics are incredibly proud to partner with such a crucial national company, said Engineer Soror Basalom, Bahri Logistics President, after signing the deal with Engineer Salah bin Abdullah Al Omair, the Vice President for Shared Services at SAR in the presence of senior officials.

"Leveraging expertise gained over several decades, we will deliver seamless freight forwarding services to SAR and its customers in line with the highest global standards," noted Basalom.

Al Omair pointed out that SAR was contentiously working on developing its solutions and enhancing the efficiency of railway transportation to provide exceptional services to the clients in all railway networks across the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.

"We look forward to investing in this partnership to further elevate SAR services in the coming years, contributing to the growth of the railway sector," he stated.

"Bahri Logistics has established itself as one of the Kingdoms most trusted industry partners, and we look forward to enhancing SARs offerings in the coming years through this partnership. We hope that this alliance will strengthen our capabilities and contribute to the continued growth and success of both organizations," he added.-TradeArabia News Service
Secretary of State ultimately went against advice of Sir Jonathan Stephens, who became the NIOs most senior official

Sir Jonathan Stephens would go on to become the NIO's most senior official, but his advice was rejected by the Secretary of State

PUP councillor Hugh Smyth, pictured here with Billy Hutchinson, was said to have had long ties to the UVF. Photo: Mervyn Dowling

Senior NIO officials were split on whether the Government should break off contact with the political representatives of loyalist paramilitaries at a point where loyalist murders were dramatically increasing in the early 1990s, a previously secret document has revealed.

By the time the memo which reveals the disagreement was written on January 29, 1993, loyalist paramilitaries had already murdered five Catholics that year.

Less than a year earlier, UDA gunmen had massacred Catholic civilians in Sean Grahams bookmakers on the lower Ormeau Road.

For years, the Government had refused to ban the UDA, even though it was fully aware of the organisations murderous activities which it claimed under the UFF cover name.

Finally, the terror group was outlawed in August 1992  and that created a difficulty for the NIO.

Among files declassified at the Public Record Office in Belfast under the 20-year rule is a secret memo from NIO official Jonathan Stephens to Secretary of State Sir Patrick Mayhew.

The memo said: One piece of unfinished business from the proscription of the UDA is how ministers should treat two very small political parties, each with links to proscribed organisations. The benchmark is Sinn Fein.

The parties are the Ulster Democratic Party (UDP), which is linked to the UDA, and the Progressive Unionist Party (PUP), which is linked to the UVF.

He said that how to handle the parties  which had only three councillors between them  was not clear cut because, despite their parties links, these elected representatives have generally condemned violence and have had recent contacts with ministers.

The issue was pressing because NIO minister Lord Arran was due to receive a Derry City Council delegation which was to include two Sinn Fein ministers as well as Ken Kerr of the UDP.

However, the UVF had been banned decades earlier yet the Government had continued to meet the PUP, further complicating its stance.

Mr Stephens said that the UDP had been formed by the UDA in 1981 and there continue to be financial, personal, and organisational links with the UDA. The two organisations share the same buildings in both Belfast and Londonderry.

At the time of proscription, the party admitted to having UDA members among its number.

He said that Mr Kerr had a long history of links to the UDA although that organisation is now virtually moribund in Londonderry.

Mr Kerr has publicly denounced paramilitary violence and appears to enjoy harmonious relations with local SDLP councillors.

Similarly, Mr Stephens said that the PUP continued to share a building as well as financial, personal and organisational links with the UVF.

He said that Shankill councillor Hugh Smyth had a long history of links with the UVF but publicly does not support or encourage their use of violence.

Perhaps alluding to intelligence information, Mr Stephens said: Some further information on the PUP is being distributed separately on a restricted circulation.

Both parties, he said, were small beer but the principles involved were important because of the Governments stance on not meeting Sinn Fein. It is now known that despite this public stance, the Government had been engaged in backchannel dialogue with the IRA for years.

He said there were pragmatic arguments in favour of continuing to deal with the two parties: We should not abandon contacts with politicians who have proved helpful in the pastboth [councillors] appear sincere in their condemnation of violenceand may have some influence with the more extreme elements in the unionist community.

Sir Jonathan Stephens would go on to become the NIO's most senior official, but his advice was rejected by the Secretary of State

However, he added: The arguments against are more of principle. The Government has consistently taken a hard line on contacts with Sinn Fein because of its support, even though it is now publicly more circumspect, for the use of violence and its association with PIRA.

Mr Stephens concluded that there is no clear consensus among officialsthe majority opinion is that contact should not be broken off at a time when there is increasing talk of Protestant alienation.

My own view, and therefore recommendation, is that the evidence of personal and continuing links with paramilitaries is simply too much to ignore.

Ministers should treat these parties, and their personalities, in the same way as they treat Sinn Fein.

Three days later, officials discussed the issue with the Secretary of State who decided to reject Mr Stephens advice.

Also present was NIO minister Sir Jeremy Hanley, who said he had met Mr Kerr the previous year. A note of the meeting said Mr Hanley said he had found him to be quiet and pleasant and would need to have a good reason for not meeting him in the future.

Mr Stephens pointed out that despite this, evidence of links to paramilitarism were still there.

Another senior NIO official, Chris McCabe, said of the PUPs Hugh Smyth that it would be extremely difficult for them to remove Smyth from the relatively benign channel of communication which had existed for a long number of years.

In the end, the Secretary of State decided that both men could continue to be seen, even though he expected Sinn Fein to accuse the Government of double standards. He said they should point out that the SDLP had put Kerr on the delegation, rather than the Government.
Stormont releasing fewer files under law it passed to supposedly make itself more transparent

Not a single NIO file has been released at the Public Record Office in Belfast this year, and there has been a sharp decline in the number of files from devolved departments

Public Record Office of Northern Ireland at Titanic Quarter, Belfast

Sam McBride Thu 28 Dec 2023 at 07:45

Despite claiming to love transparency, Stormont is getting more secretive, with a dramatic decrease in the number of government files declassified today at the Public Record Office of Northern Ireland (PRONI).
Foreign Secretary Lord Cameron has been engaged in extensive diplomacy amid concerns about the conflict in Gaza (Dan Kitwood/PA)

David Cameron warned against any escalation in the conflict in Gaza, as he met the Lebanese prime minister.

The Foreign Secretary held talks with Najib Mikati on Thursday, as Israeli forces continued to bombard cities, towns and refugee camps across Gaza.

As Israel vows to continue fighting to eradicate Hamas, Iran-backed groups in Yemen, Lebanon, Syria and Iraq have launched attacks on Israel and its allies in support of the Palestinian militant group.

Clashes along the Lebanon-Israel border between Hezbollah and Israel have continued to intensify, with daily exchanges of missiles, air strikes and shelling across the frontier.

In the Red Sea, attacks by Houthi rebels in Yemen against ships they believe to be connected to Israel have disrupted trade and prompted the launch of a US-led multinational naval operation to protect shipping routes.

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It has all fuelled concerns about the danger of the Israeli offensive sparking a wider conflict in the Middle East.

Lord Cameron, in a post on social media, said: An escalation of the conflict in Gaza to Lebanon, the Red Sea or across the wider region, would add to the extremely high level of danger and insecurity in the world.

The former prime minister has been engaged in extensive diplomacy in recent weeks since taking on the post, as concerns grow about the conflict in which more than 20,000 Palestinians have already died.

Lord Cameron said he was grateful to the Lebanese prime minister for discussing these crucial issues with me today and for Lebanons efforts to prevent such escalation.
Imagine west Belfast being carpet-bombed by a vengeful prime minister

... with the indiscriminate slaughter described as fierce fighting

Surely no one in this day and age would sit by and watch so many children being killed?

John Laverty Thu 28 Dec 2023 at 07:45

Itll soon be half a century since the IRA committed what was, at the time, the most heinous single act of terrorism in the United Kingdom. On November 21, 1974, bombs planted by republican terrorists exploded without warning in two Birmingham city centre pubs. Twenty-one people died, with 220 others maimed.
University students hold a banner that reads Reject the Rohingya, as they demonstrate in front of the People's Representative Council (DPR) against the Myanmar refugees sheltering in the country, Banda Aceh, Aceh province, Indonesia, Dec. 27, 2023.

Human rights activists and some observers on Thursday alleged that university students who stormed a Rohingya shelter in Aceh province the day before had been influenced by an organized disinformation campaign, which some even linked to the upcoming general election.

Their comments came amid a flood of condemnation of the inhumane incident, which resulted in the students forcing the 137 terrified refugees in Banda Aceh, mostly women and children, into trucks to another location.

The Rohingya will now be guarded by security forces, a top minister said Thursday.

Observers noted that the mob action on Wednesday  which was captured on video and widely circulated  was not typical of student protests in Aceh.

Hendra Saputra, the project coordinator of Jesuit Refugee Service (JRS) Indonesia, an NGO in Aceh, said he suspected that Wednesdays incident was not spontaneous, but organized and systematic.

He told BenarNews that the students were influenced by social media posts that spread hate and misinformation about the Rohingya.

[The posts] also accused the refugees of taking their food and land, and of sexual harassment and other bad behavior. But these are all false accusations, he said, adding that no evidence was presented to substantiate the claims.

Besides, the refugees couldnt be a burden because the government is not spending money on them, Hendra said.

Theres no government budget allocated for refugee management, he said.

A Rohingya woman reacts as she is relocated from her temporary shelter following a protest demanding the deportation of the refugees, Banda Aceh, Aceh province, Indonesia, Dec. 27, 2023. [Riska Munawarah/Reuters]

Aceh, a predominantly Muslim province that has special autonomy status in Indonesia, has a history of welcoming the Rohingya refugees, who are also Muslim.

However, as more than 1,500 Rohingya have arrived since mid-November, the provinces villagers have been demanding they be sent back, claiming there werent enough resources for the refugees as well.

Those demands grew to small protests, which on Wednesday escalated to the student mob charging into the Rohingya shelter, kicking their belongings and creating mayhem, as many of the refugees sobbed uncontrollably or looked on, frightened and shocked.

The government will move the 137 Rohingya refugees to the local Indonesian Red Cross headquarters and the Aceh Foundation building, said Mohammad Mahfud MD, the coordinating minister for political, legal, and security affairs.

I have instructed security forces to protect the refugees because this is a humanitarian issue, Mahfud told journalists in Sidoarjo, East Java.

Newly arrived Rohingya refugees return to a boat after the local community decided to temporarily allow them to land for water and food, having earlier rejected them, Ulee Madon, Aceh province, Indonesia, Nov. 16, 2023. [Amanda Jufrian/AFP]

Some analysts have attributed the hostility towards the Rohingya to deliberate misinformation.

Chairul Fahmi, a Rohingya researcher and law lecturer at Ar-Raniry State Islamic University in Banda Aceh, said some of this disinformation could be linked to political actors who have an interest in exploiting the refugee issue for their own agenda.

The authorities might have had a hand in the Rohingya disinformation campaign. The protest yesterday did not reflect the typical student movement, he told BenarNews. There is a possibility that the students were instructed.

Political parties or groups could try to stir up anti-Rohingya sentiment ahead of the general election in February, suggested Ahmad Humam Hamid, a sociologist at Syiah Kuala University in Banda Aceh.

Aceh should not be used as a battleground for the presidential election over the Rohingya matter. It would be very dangerous, Ahmad told BenarNews.

Meanwhile, Defense Minister Prabowo Subianto, the frontrunner in the Feb. 14 presidential election, was in Aceh on Thursday, and spoke about the Rohingya.

He said that while Indonesia should be humanitarian towards the stateless Rohingya, it should also prioritize the welfare of its own people.

Many of our people are struggling, and it is unfair to take in all the refugees as our responsibility, even if we feel humanitarian and sympathetic, Prabowo said, according to local media.

Newly-arrived Rohingya refugees wait to board trucks to transfer to a temporary shelter after villagers rejected their relocated camp, in Banda Aceh, Aceh province, Indonesia, Dec. 27, 2023. [Chaideer Mahyuddin/AFP]

Della Masnida, 20, a student at Abulyatama University who took part in Wednesdays incident at the shelter, accused Rohingya refugees of making unreasonable demands.

They came here uninvited, but they act like this is their country. We dont think thats fair, she told reporters on Wednesday.The student mob collectively issued a statement saying they rejected the Rohingya because they have disrupted society.

We all know that President Joko Widodo has stated that there is a strong suspicion of criminal acts of trafficking among them. Even the Aceh police have said that this is an international crime, they said in the statement issued Wednesday.

The Rohingya are a persecuted Muslim minority from Myanmar, who have been fleeing violence and oppression in their homeland for years. Close to one million live in crowded camps in Bangladesh.

With few options after years of a stateless existence, many Rohingya are desperate to leave and that makes them susceptible to exploitation by human traffickers, analysts have said.

Gateway to Malaysia

Most of the Rohingya who arrived in Aceh recently had left violent and crowded refugee camps in Myanmars neighbor, Bangladesh, where 740,000 of them took shelter after a brutal crackdown by the Burmese military in 2017.

For the Rohingya, Indonesia is a gateway to Malaysia, which is a top destination for migrant workers from many South Asian and Southeast Asian nations.

The Indonesian government, which has not ratified the 1951 Refugee Convention, has said that it does not have the obligation or the capacity to accommodate the Rohingya refugees permanently, and that its priority is to resettle them in a third country.

Earlier this month, government officials complained they were overwhelmed and Indonesia was alone in bearing the burden of the Rohingya.

Mitra Salima Suryono, spokeswoman for the U.N. refugee agency UNHCR in Indonesia, believes nothing could be further from the truth, and cited some numbers to illustrate her point.

There are about 2,000 Rohingya refugees in Indonesia, compared to 105,000 in Malaysia, 22,000 in India, and nearly 1 million in Bangladesh, she said.

Arie Firdaus in Jakarta contributed to this report.
Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. (second from right) inspects a C-130T Special Airborne Mission Installation and Response aircraft, presented as a grant by the U.S. government, at the Haribon Hangar in Clark Air Base in Pampanga, March 31, 2023.

A majority of Filipinos support President Ferdinand Marcos assertive stance in dealing with Beijing on the South China Sea issue, a survey released Thursday said.

The survey held from Sept. 30 to Oct. 4 showed that Marcos approval rating of 58% jumped 15 points from July when Manila pollster OCTA Research Group conducted its previous poll.

This represents a significant 15-point increase from the 43% recorded in the second quarter, the pollster said in its report that surveyed 1,200 people about their opinion on Marcos policies in dealing with the West Philippine Sea, which is Manilas name for South China Sea waters within its exclusive economic zone.

The latest survey period coincided with reports of the Chinese Coast Guards alleged harassment of Filipino vessels delivering provisions to troops at its military outpost on Ayungin (Second Thomas) Shoal in the South China Sea.

Marcos, who took office last year, reversed his predecessor Rodrigo Dutertes pro-China policies, realigning with the United States and granting American troops greater access to Philippine bases.

A significant majority of Filipinos surveyed for the latest OCTA poll said they favored a dual approach of diplomacy and military action in asserting Manilas territorial rights in the West Philippine Sea.

Diplomacy was favored by 70% to secure territorial claims, while 65% backed military measures, including expanded naval patrols and troop presence.

Additional preferred strategies included strengthening military defenses (62%), conducting joint maritime patrols with allies (42%), expanding diplomatic efforts (42%), and exploring joint economic solutions (17%).

Earlier this year, Manila launched bilateral patrols with the United States and Australia in the West Philippine Sea. The Southeast Asian nation is preparing to collaborate with France, Canada, the U.K., India, and New Zealand on similar patrols, officials said.

Ray Powell, a retired U.S. Air Force officer and a commentator on regional maritime affairs, said the Duterte government had been soft in dealing with China and preferred bilateral talks to ease tension.

All of a sudden, the rest of the world is seeing this level of maritime aggression from China and recognizing that this has been going on for quite some time, and we havent been paying attention, Powell told Manila cable television station ANC last week.

He said the Philippines engagement with other nations has brought the country support from the international community.

If Beijing looks at the Philippines as an isolated country, it will always think that it has the edge. But if it looks at the Philippines as part of a large network of like-minded security partners who are willing to make real material sacrifices for Manila, that changes Beijings calculus a great deal, he said.

Permanent structures

Meanwhile, the Philippine armed forces spokesman, Col. Medel Aguilar, on Thursday confirmed that the government has allotted 100 million pesos (U.S. $1.81 million) to construct permanent military and civilian structures on Ayungin (Second Thomas) Shoal.

Manilas military outpost on the shoal is a rusty old navy ship, BRP Sierra Madre, which the government deliberately ran aground there in 1999.

Aguilar said that the construction of structures on the shoal would need the cooperation of several agencies because part of the structures will include civilian shelters for fisherfolk.

We will be ready to perform our task when the implementation of the project starts, Col. Medel Aguilar, the Filipino military spokesperson, told reporters.

Separately, U.S. Secretary of State Anthony Blinken and his Philippine counterpart Enrique Manalo spoke over the phone and discussed ongoing tension in the South China Sea, both sides said Thursday.

Manalo said Manilas interest in protecting its sovereignty, sovereign rights and jurisdiction while maintaining peace and security and upholding the rules-based international order.

Blinken underscored Washingtons ironclad commitment to the Philippines under the Mutual Defense Treaty.

Signed in 1951, the treaty calls on both countries to aid each other in times of aggression by an external power.

Secretary Blinken and Secretary Manalo also exchanged ideas on how to reinforce U.S.-Philippines cooperation in the coming year, building on President Marcoss official working visit to Washington, D.C., this past May, State Department spokesperson Matthew Miller said in a statement.

Jeoffrey Maitem contributed to this report from Davao City, southern Philippines.
Hyderabad, Dec 28 (UNI) Union Minister of Home Amit Shah on Thursday evening said " I will continue to visit Telangana until a BJP government is formed in the state.

Addressing the Mandal Presidents at the BJP state level meeting held at Ibrahimpatnam (Ranga Reddy district), outskirts of the city, Shah said that the BJP is a party that remains unfazed by electoral victory or defeat because it contests elections for the welfare of the nation the Bharat Mata.

Inspiring the mandal presidents Shah said that in Gujarat the BJP got only 9 percent votes in one election but formed a government with a two-thirds majority in the next.

Hence the Telangana BJP which got as much as 14 percent votes needs not be worried, he said and exodus confidence that the BJP will win 10 Lok Sabha seats in the upcoming election with 35 percent votes.

He also said that the upcoming election will be a contestation between Modi Ji and Rahul Baba and Modi Ji will emerge winner. Modi Ji will become the prime minister again with more than 300 seats, the Union Minister expressed.

In 2018, the BJP won one assembly seat which increased to 8 in 2023 and in the next assembly election it will become 64, he also expressed.

The Congress is a sinking ship, the BRS is a ship that has already sunk and the BJP is the only party that has a future, Shah said .

He said that, only the party which decides to work with double strength after a defeat finally becomes victorious.

Shah also appealed to the party workers and leaders to play the role of a powerful opposition so that six months before the assembly election people decide that the next government will be formed by the BJP, he added

Earlier, Shah offered prayers at Bhagyalakshmi Temple located at old city in the city.

This is Shah's first visit to the state after the recently concluded Assembly polls in Telangana which gave "disappointing" results to the saffron party though it secured eight assembly seats compared to one seat in 2018 elections.

UNI KNR GNK
Paris, Dec 28 (UNI) Jacques Delors, the former president of the European Commission and French politician, has died in his sleep at the age of 98, French media reported on Wednesday.

French President Emmanuel Macron expressed his condolences over the death of Delors.

"A statesman with a French destiny. An inexhaustible architect of our Europe. A fighter for human justice. Jacques Delors was all of that. His dedication, his ideals and his integrity will always inspire us. I pay tribute to his work and memory and share the pain of his loved ones," Macron said on X.

European Council President Charles Michel said in a post on X that Delor "transformed The European Economic Community into a true union based on humanistic values and underpinned by a common market and a single currency, the euro," adding that the former president was "a great Frenchman and a great European," who "went down in history as one of the creators of our Europe." Michel has also extended his condolences to Delors' family.

European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen also said on X that whole generations were shaped by Europe that Delors was building, adding that the politician's "life goal was a united, dynamic and prosperous Europe," which "shaped entire generations of Europeans, including my generation."

EU foreign policy chief Josep Borrell Fontelles called in an X post on incumbent politicians to live up to Delors' legacy, adding that "Europe has just lost one of its giants" who is "part of the pantheon of great Europeans whose legacy we must live up to."

Jacques Delors served as France's finance minister from 1981 to 1984 and headed the European Commission from 1985 to 1995. Delors played a key role in the creation of the European single market, the signing of the Schengen Agreement, the launch of the Erasmus student exchange program and the establishment of the Economic and Monetary Union of the European Union, which has led to the introduction of a single currency, the euro.

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Bennington, VT (05201)

Today

Cloudy skies with afternoon snow showers. Temps nearly steady in the mid 30s. Winds WSW at 5 to 10 mph. Chance of snow 40%..

Tonight

Cloudy. A few flurries or snow showers possible. Low 32F. Winds WSW at 5 to 10 mph.
BENNINGTON  The town's Community Policing Advisory Review Board is planning a series of listening sessions at several locations in Bennington, including some meetings focused on specific neighborhoods or population groups.

During its Dec. 21 meeting, the citizen advisory group narrowed down the potential locations and a general time frame, and members further refined the basic questions they hope to ask residents during the sessions.

In general, the board will be seeking feedback and comment from the public concerning the Bennington Police Department, including positive or negative citizen experiences while interacting with officers.

Chairwoman Kelly Carroll said the expectation is that the details of the effort might be finalized during the boards January meeting.

Multiple locations

Board member Lindsay Brillon said a subcommittee working on the outreach program is considering meeting locations for the general public, along with focus group discussions for the LGBTQ+, BIPOC, faith, senior citizen, veteran, recovery and possibly other populations  all of whom could also attend a session for the general public.

Brillon said the potential locations in Bennington, Old Bennington and North Bennington include the town Recreation Center on Gage Street; local schools and churches; the Bennington Rural firehouse building on Beech Street, an outbuilding at the Elks Lodge site; VFW Post 1332, the Multicultural Center, and Powers Market or other business or school sites in North Bennington.

Board members plan to contract the owners or managers of the locations after the list is finalized to seek permission to meet there and work out a schedule of dates and times.

Carroll suggested the board consider beginning the sessions in April, but no final decision was made at the recent meeting.

Board member Katherine Kost also suggested staggering some of the meeting times since not all potential participants would be available for either evening or daytime sessions.

Basic questions

Concerning the basic questions the board is developing to ask residents, Kost said that, at this point, questions would include the topic of resident interactions with the BPD and its officers; whether residents know how they can provide feedback to the department; whether they understand the concepts of the community policing model and what community policing means to them.

There is also agreement that the questions asked should be open-ended, Brillon said, and that the same questions are asked in each setting.

BPD review

The town review board was created in 2022 after a community-wide process and adoption of the CPARB format by the Select Board.

Formation of a citizen review panel was one of the recommendations included in a 2019-20 study of BPD policies and procedures by the International Association of Chiefs of Police.

The current outreach effort by the board is an part of an assessment of progress toward community policing based on changes instituted by the BPD since the IACP report.

That review was initiated by the Select Board following criticism of a department investigation into complaints of racially based harassment and threats filed by former state Rep. Kiah Morris of Bennington.

Morris, who is African American, left office in 2018 amid a campaign for re-election to her House seat and has since moved to the Burlington area.
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The ruffed grouse was known to the colonists here in New England and Canada as the "fool hen" for these birds were often sitting ducks, well, targets.
Missing the snow right now? Here's a look at past giant snowstorms in the Berkshires
Reporters, editors and photographers opened up their notebooks to give readers a taste of the stories we'll be keeping an eye on and hope to chase down in 2024.
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PITTSFIELD  A federal grant awarded to Pittsfield earlier this month will help the city rewrite the book on street safety  literally.

In mid-December, the U.S. Department of Transportation awarded Pittsfield $310,060 to cover the cost of creating a new comprehensive safety action plan. Along with that action plan, the city will be creating a traffic calming toolkit  essentially a manual and rubric  of safety measures and features that support the plan.

Ricardo Morales, the citys commissioner of public services and utilities, said the toolkit will give Pittsfield a kind of roadmap to follow for any situation where we are looking to reduce speeding in any of the streets.

The money comes from the Safe Streets And Roads For All grant, which dolled out $895 million in fiscal year 2023 to a total of 620 communities, for planning, demonstration or implementation projects that improve roadway safety and reduce death and injuries on local roads.

Pittsfield was one of 11 cities and two regional planning agencies in Massachusetts to receive grants in the latest round of funding.

The city submitted its application for funding back in July, but its something Morales said hes been wanting to tackle since he started working for Pittsfield in 2018.

Its something Ive been thinking about doing since I started as a city engineer  not the grant per se, but having a manual that would give us a how to deal with our streets in a more systematic way when someone wants to address speeding for example, Morales told The Eagle in an interview in July.

The desire jumped to the front of mind again over the last two years as the city saw a series of fatal and serious pedestrian crashes.

In October 2022, a fourth grade student from Egremont Elementary was struck by a 59-year-old driver on Holmes Road as he used the crosswalk on his walk home from school. The student, Owen Rathbun, suffered minor injuries.

In January, a local mother and her 3-year-old daughter were crossing West Street near Dorothy Amos Park when they were hit by an 84-year-old driver. The daughter had minor injuries while the mother, 30-year-old Shaloon Milord, died from her injuries.

Several days later, three children were hit in two separate car crashes  less than a mile from the site of the West Street crash. The children suffered minor injuries.

The series of crashes spurred two pedestrian-centered safety projects: a major redesign of the lane widths, sidewalks and crosswalks on both West Street and Holmes Road. But the commissioner said he talked with the mayor about putting forth a new policy approach.

I recall having a bit of a moment where I needed to speak with the mayor about this, about how we need to change the way as a whole  as a city to prioritize this type of work that will prevent [these kinds of crashes] from happening again, Morales said in July.

Since then, there have been two additional fatal pedestrian crashes.

In October of this year, 49-year-old Shane Cassavant of Lanesborough died after an 87-year-old driver hit Cassavant as he worked on a construction zone on West Street. In November, 26-year-old Noor Zadran of Albany, N.Y., died after he was hit by an 85-year-old driver on his walk home from work on Route 41.

Pittsfield submitted traffic crash fatality data as part of its grant application to the federal government. Between 2017 and 2021, there were 11 fatal traffic crashes in the city  averaging out to an annual fatality rate of about 5.2 deaths per 100,000 people.

The department had hoped to hear back from the Department of Transportation in August about the outcome of the application. When a round of funding was announced in October and Pittsfield didn't make the cut, Morales said he and his staff weren't optimistic.

Instead the news of the funding came in December, a late gift to cap the year.

In the coming months, the city will use the funds to work with a consultant to develop a starting group of preferred safety features  like raised crosswalks and refuge islands or medians for pedestrians to use to wait during large road crossings  and a rubric for how the city will prioritize different safety projects.

The toolkit will then be presented to the public and city council for consideration and input before a final vote by the council on whether or not to adopt the manual.

Pittsfields grant application also says that part of the grant will be used to conduct a pilot demonstration of the toolkits countermeasures. The application says theres plans for a pilot test of high-visibility" crosswalks with refuge islands with flex posts, curb extensions with flex posts and temporary mini-roundabouts along Williams Street  a high-crash corridor in the southeast of the city.
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NORTH ADAMS  UNO Park and city's dog park will remain closed until Oct. 16 after the health department learned that a dog that recently visit
"There is a vast body of literature, most likely written by men, on the proper way to load a dishwasher," Eagle columnist Donald Morrison writes. "It starts with the little booklet that comes with the machine upon arrival. Beyond that, the internet is loaded with helpful tips and instructional videos."
Monrovia, Dec 28 (UNI) At least 40 people died and 83 were injured after a fuel tanker crashed and exploded in Bong County in north-central Liberia, Liberian newspaper FrontPage Africa has reported, citing the country's deputy health minister and chief medical officer, Francis Kateh.

On Tuesday, the gas truck overturned in the Mulbah Hill Community in Totota and exploded shortly after, killing and injuring people who rushed to the site to siphon the leaking fuel, the newspaper reported. The initial death toll stood at 15 victims and 36 individuals were wounded, according to the report.

The blast killed a woman and three children aged between six and nine years, among other victims, the report said.

Those injured are receiving treatment at the Phebe Hospital and others were transferred to the 14 Military Hospital, John F. Kennedy Memorial Hospital and ELWA Hospital, Kateh was cited as saying by the newspaper.

UNI/SPUTNIK AKS
On affordable housing availability, Windrush Commons is a good step  and a reminder of the need for bigger strides

Our Opinion: On affordable housing availability, Windrush Commons is a good step  and a reminder of the need for bigger strides If anything could compel the requisite shift in policy and attitudes necessary to more efficiently scale up the commendable mission of affordable housing projects like Windrush Commons, perhaps it's a compassionate look at those holding out hope on the waiting list.

July 8: Great Barringtons newly minted affordable housing project offers a chance to celebrate a small step in the right direction as well as some lessons on how and why we must take bigger strides if we want to put a serious dent in this problem.

Last week, a ribbon-cutting ceremony marked the grand opening of Windrush Commons. The residential complex off South Main Street has 49 units, including 10 reserved for families who find themselves without a place to live or who are about to lose one, spread out over two acres with a central green common. Great Barrington has been a South County regional leader in beefing up its affordable housing stock, and putting 49 affordable units on the map in such a big, beautiful way is an achievement for which the town and Community Development Corp of South Berkshire should be lauded.

Windrush attracted more than 300 applicants  or more than six times its total units  before construction was even complete. The bright side is that this shows considerable enthusiasm among working- and middle-class families to move to or sustainably stay in a region rightly concerned with population loss. On the other hand, the fact that Windrushs waiting list currently is three times its capacity underscores the scope of the regions affordable housing needs and the necessity to quickly and efficiently scale up righteous efforts like this one if we want to put a dent in the commonwealths housing crisis. ...

We hope that our fellow advocates for the long-term health of Berkshire County recognize that, amid continued population exodus, this is what we need: families attracted to the Berkshires who want to live and work here. Among regional housing advocates and business leaders alike, we often hear some version of the mantra: If you build the housing, the families and the workforce will come. While this is perhaps overly simplistic, Windrushs quickly filled 49 units and lengthy waitlist offers evidence that, indeed, those families are willing to come. Will we build it?

Now: While the county's housing crunch  part of a statewide problem  isn't going away anytime soon, it's encouraging to see more and more attention and even material efforts to address it. Housing projects like Windrush Commons offer up one piece of the puzzle. A recent donation of land by Stockbridge residents Hans and Katherine Morris conditioned on building multifamily affordable housing offers another piece. (Hans Morris is chairman of the board and co-owner of The Berkshire Eagle.) And on the broader policy front, a sweeping housing bill that Gov. Maura Healey visited Pittsfield to pitch contains, hopefully, a few other pieces that could considerably bulk up Massachusetts' production of housing units. We look forward to seeing this issue continue to get the focus it deserves and the progress that comes with it

A food pantry manager's birthday wish and a gift that keeps giving

Aug. 25: When we hit milestone birthdays, most of us expect to receive. Some prefer to give. Take Mary Wheat, volunteer site manager of the food pantry at South Congregational Church, for example. For her 90th, Ms. Wheats big wish is for the Berkshire community to donate 900 boxes of cereal to the pantry by her Oct. 14 birthday to help feed our neighbors in need.

That might sound like a big figure, but it helps to put our regional pantries rapidly expanding missions in context. Those 900 boxes of cereal would be almost enough to give one box to every family served by the South Community Food Pantry each week. The Pittsfield pantrys kitchen manager told The Eagle that the number of people attending its community meals is beyond double the number at the same time last year. Other Berkshire pantries have seen demand rise as well, from The Peoples Pantry in Great Barrington to the Berkshire Food Project out of First Congregational Church in North Adams. ...

The Berkshire community is generous, and much is asked of it. We are all familiar with the ever-renewing fundraising rush, the nonprofit email fatigue, the pleas for cash from every corner. There are many worthy recipients, but if theres one category that touches the most afflicted lives even as its largely invisible but vital work grows more difficult and complicated, it is that of our Berkshire food pantries. Every time these kitchens, community dining rooms and delivery centers confront a new challenge in their mission to nourish the bodies and souls of our community, our community must in turn show them the support they need.

Now: The follow-up to this editorial had a happy ending. The greater Berkshire community not only met Mary Wheat's goal of 900 donated boxes of cereal but totally crushed it ahead of schedule. Before the deadline of Ms. Wheat's 90th birthday in October, more than 4,000 boxes of cereal poured in to South Congregational Food Pantry. This editorial and the story that inspired it underscored two critical issues: the vital and growing mission of our local food pantries in their tireless fight on food insecurity, and the great things we can accomplish when we are led by compassion and buoyed by collective community effort.

For democracy's sake, Trump's trial related to Jan. 6 must not be delayed

Our Opinion: For democracy's sake, Trump's trial related to Jan. 6 must not be delayed In such a case that goes to the heart of not just the rule of law but the public's right to the truth, justice delayed truly would be justice denied for the entire country. We therefore urge the judges and prosecutors in the remaining cases to cooperate to the extent permissible to accommodate the Washington, D.C., trial now scheduled for March 4, 2024.

Sept. 1: It is possible that voters could elect a felon to the presidency in November 2024. Donald Trump, who has been indicted on 91 felony counts across four separate cases, appears to be the prohibitive favorite to receive the Republican nomination for president. He is presumed to be not guilty on all of those 91 counts, and he claims that all of the pending charges have been fabricated for political reasons. Nevertheless, there is ample evidence  in indictments made public for anyone to read  to support conviction on some, if not many, of those counts.

While the voters have the right to elect a felon to the presidency, we believe it is essential that if the voters were to do so, they should do so knowingly. ...

From our perspective, it appears as if the federal case pending in Washington, D.C., that alleges Mr. Trump conspired with others to stop the legally ordered transfer of power that resulted in the Jan. 6, 2021, Capitol attack is the case that presents the best opportunity to give the public the information it needs before they head to the polls in November 2024.

In such a case that goes to the heart of not just the rule of law but the publics right to the truth, justice delayed truly would be justice denied for the entire country.

Now: In recent days, former President Donald Trump has continued what appears to be a strategy of running out the clock on his federal charges. We and others called on the Supreme Court to take up special prosecutor Jack Smith's request for certiorari before judgment on the Trump legal team's argument that federal charges relating to his action on Jan. 6 should be dismissed due to executive immunity that he claims should protect him from criminal prosecution even after he's out of office. Unfortunately, the high court did not  meaning a federal judge's ruling against Mr. Trump's executive immunity claim now must go to a federal appeals court before almost certainly being appealed once again to the Supreme Court. It's a development that might push this critical case past its slated trial date of March 4  and perhaps prevent the truth of that infamous day from ever getting its day in court.
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Eco BioTraps prepares for significant expansion into international markets

In an ambitious mission to combat mosquito-borne diseases, Ahmedabad-based startup Eco BioTraps is setting a groundbreaking target to protect 1.6 billion urban households and workplaces from dengue by the end of 2024. Over the past year, the company's revolutionary approach has not only proven successful but has also garnered significant attention and support.

Over the past 18 months, Eco BioTraps has actively worked in Dharavi, historically known for topping the charts in dengue and malaria cases. This year, Dharavi has notably been absent from the top 10 list of areas most affected by these diseases, showcasing the positive impact of Eco BioTraps' efforts.

In a recent collaboration with partner Rentokil PCI, Eco BioTraps were deployed in a defense establishment in Karnataka, resulting in a remarkable reduction in dengue cases from 50 to just 5 within a month. The strategic use of Eco BioTraps prevented a potential surge to 200 cases, and by the subsequent month, there were no new reported cases.

Similarly, the Kalyan-Dombivli municipal corporation, facing 40 dengue cases, sought assistance from Eco BioTraps and Rentokil PCI. After the strategic placement of EBTs, the caseload was significantly reduced to only 3 cases, with only 5 new cases emerging, thereby preventing the predicted escalation to 200 cases.

Eco BioTraps has developed an innovative solution in mosquito control that focuses on "Breaking the Chain" to eliminate the mosquito problem at its root, addressing the issues of dengue, malaria, and other mosquito-borne diseases.

As Eco BioTraps prepares for significant expansion into international markets such as Malaysia, Nepal, Africa, and China, the company aims to amplify its impact on both environmental sustainability and public health.
Nigeria's central bank has lifted a ban on transacting in cryptocurrencies, while saying global trends had shown a need to regulate such activities, the bank said in its latest circular.

Source: Reuters.

The Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) in February 2021 barred banks and financial institutions from dealing in or facilitating transactions in crypto assets, citing money laundering and terrorism-financing risks.

Subsequently Nigeria's Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) in May last year published regulations for digital assets that signalled Africa's most populous country was trying to find a middle ground between an outright ban on crypto assets and their unregulated use.

In a circular released recently, the CBN said current trends globally have shown there is a need to regulate the activities of virtual asset service providers (Vasps), which include cryptocurrencies and crypto assets.

The latest guidelines spell out how banks and financial institutions (FI) should open accounts, provide designated settlement accounts and settlement services and act as channels for forex inflows and trade for firms transacting in crypto assets.

Vasps would need to be licensed by the Nigerian SEC to engage in the crypto business.

"From the commencement of these regulations, Fl shall not open or permit the operation of any account by any person or entity to conduct the business of virtual/digital assets unless that account is designated for that purpose and opened in line with the requirement of these guidelines," the CBN said.

But banks were still barred from trading, holding or transacting cryptocurrencies, the CBN said.

Nigeria's young, tech-savvy population has eagerly adopted cryptocurrencies, for example using peer-to-peer trading offered by crypto exchanges to avoid the financial sector.

New York-based blockchain research firm Chainalysis said in a September report that the volume of crypto transactions in Nigeria grew 9% year-over-year to $56.7bn between July 2022 and June 2023.
Nigeria's competition commission has ordered British American Tobacco (BAT) to pay a $110m fine following allegations of market dominance abuse and infringement of public health regulations, the watchdog said on Wednesday, 27 December.

File photo: A woman poses with a cigarette in front of BAT (British American Tobacco) logo in this illustration taken 26 July 2022. Reuters/Dado Ruvic/Illustration/File Photo

The Federal Competition & Consumer Protection Commission (FCCPC) said the maker of Lucky Strike and Dunhill cigarettes had also penalised retailers for providing equal platforms for its competitors' products.

BAT spokesperson Aaron Shardey referred Reuters to BAT's 2023 half-year annual report, which confirmed the FCCPC investigation and penalty.

The fine is the highest ever levied by the Nigerian competition commission. FCCPC chief executive Babatunde Irukera told Reuters that the fine is a "consent order", which is equivalent to a plea bargain and not subject to appeal.

"In resolution of an investigation over a broad range of anticompetitive conduct including abuse of dominance, seeking to frustrate competitors...and infringement of public health control regulations, British American Tobacco and FCCPC entered into a consent order including a penalty of $110 million," the competition agency said on social media platform X.

Release: In resolution of an investigation over a broad range of anticompetitive conduct including abuse of dominance, seeking to frustrate competitors, penalise retailers for providing equal platforms for product display of competitors, product introduction in violation of pic.twitter.com/LvuBS07rWp  FCCPC Nigeria (@fccpcnigeria) December 27, 2023

The FCCPC said it initiated an investigation into BAT and affiliated companies in 2020 and obtained a federal court order to search multiple BAT sites and those of service providers for evidence used in a forensic analysis.

It added that additional investigation and analysis of evidence established multiple violations of competition laws.

The FCCPC will monitor BAT for 24 months to ensure appropriate behaviour and business practice consistent with prevailing competition laws and tobacco control efforts, the watchdog said.

"In exchange for BAT parties fulfilling their obligations under the consent order, the commission withdrew pending criminal charges against BAT Nigeria and at least one employee with respect to obstructing the commission," FCCPC said.
Bishkek, Dec 28 (UNI) Special services of Kyrgyzstan have prevented attempted terrorist attacks on a church and near a New Year's tree in the city of Jalal-Abad in the south of the republic, a spokesperson of the Kyrgyz State Committee for National Security told Sputnik on Thursday.

The spokesperson said in a statement that two sixteen-year-old members of the Islamic State - Khorasan Province (ISISK), a regional branch of the Islamic State terrorist group, have been detained in the course of counterterrorist activities in the territory of Jalal-Abad.

"The said individuals were recruited through the internet into the ranks of the ISISK. On the instructions of foreign emissaries of the ISISK, they were planning to plant an IED [improvised explosive device] near the main Christmas tree in the central square of Jalal-Abad and also were planning to organize a terrorist attack and an armed attack on the Assumption of the Mother of God Orthodox Church in Jalal-Abad," the spokesperson said.

"Irrefutable evidence of the preparation of a terrorist act, correspondence with the emissaries of the ISISK, action plan and instructions on how to make improvised explosive devices, as well as video recordings of the oath of allegiance [bay'ah] to the leader of the ISISK," has been found during the examination of the phones of the detained individuals, the spokesperson added.

The state committee added that it has launched an investigation into the "act of terrorism" and is looking for possible accomplices of the suspects.

UNI/SPUTNIK AKS
A South African high court has ushered in a new era of parental leave with a landmark ruling that new parents can share four months of parental leave, previously available only to mothers.

The case against the Minister of Labour was initiated by Werner and Ika van Wyk as first respondents, and advocacy group Sonke Gender Justice as third respondent. The organisation Equimundo: Center for Masculinities and Social Justice was commissioned to write an expert affidavit on international good practices regarding parental leave, and it drew mainly on the criteria of good leave policies set out in the MenCare Parental Leave Platform for the affidavit.

The Van Wyk couple laid the case after Werner van Wyk was not able to take sufficient leave to care for their baby. His wife Ika, who is the chief executive officer of her own company, had to take leave and her business suffered as a consequence. The couple argued the 10 days of parental leave made available for fathers was insufficient and discriminatory.

This is a groundbreaking judgement in Africa, since no other African country offers shared parental leave.

South Africa is leading the continent in joining the trend of countries worldwide to offer more parental leave to fathers. The percentage of countries offering paid leave to fathers for one day or more has increased dramatically over the last 30 years, from 25% in 1995 to 63% in 2022.

While this judgement is a significant milestone in the countrys family and parental rights, it also highlights the pressing need for further reforms.

The Johannesburg High Court judgement is an interim remedy. It provides lawmakers with a two-year window to refine and develop the law.

Crucially, the judgement avoids specifying marital or relationship status. It allows adoptive and separated parents to share care-giving responsibilities.

Adoptive parents, same rights

Adoptive parents now enjoy the same leave rights as biological parents. The previous leave for adoptive parents was only 10 weeks.

The most significant advance in this judgement is that fathers can now take a portion of up to four months of parental leave, provided they reach an agreement with the mother. The consequence is that mothers can return to work if fathers assume childcare responsibilities.

Theres still work to do

While this judgment represents a monumental shift in policy, the following issues must be addressed to increase the likelihood that men take parental leave and that care-giving responsibilities are shared equally:

Insufficient time: The International Labour Organization (ILO) recommends a minimum of 14 weeks of maternity leave. The judgment states that 16 weeks can be shared among two parents. Thats only eight weeks for each parent if divided equally. Importantly, the shared leave potentially reduces the time available to mothers compared to the previous full four months. While it benefits mothers who wish to return to work earlier, separation of mother and child can hinder the bonding and attachment between mother and child and complicate the logistics of breastfeeding.

Agreement between parents: In a high income family with both parents living together, shared leave could work, but for two-thirds of children in South Africa, where biological fathers do not live in the same household as the child, coming to an agreement may be difficult. Similarly, in situations where men still dominate household decisions, agreeing on men doing more of the laborious care work may be unlikely.

Reality on the ground: While fathers are becoming increasingly involved in caregiving, there is still a considerable gap in the time invested in care between parents. This discrepancy is evident in surveys like the UN Women Covid-19 Rapid Gender Assessment in South Africa and the #HowIcare Project which showed that the gender gap in time spent on care work widened after Covid.

For the formally employed only: Parental leave in SA currently only provides support to formally employed workers whose salaries contribute to the Unemployment Insurance Fund. Many South Africans are either self-employed or informally employed. The informal sector is currently recorded as contributing 28% of GDP.

Whats happening in the rest of the world?

More and more countries are adopting better parental and paternity leave policies.

The experience of the UK illustrates the limitations of shared leave policies, where mothers still predominantly utilise the leave.

One solution that countries like Spain, Sweden and Germany have adopted is to add a portion of extra use it or lose it leave that does not cut into the shared leave period.

In Germany in the first two years after introducing non-transferable leave the rates of uptake by fathers dramatically increased from 3% to over 20%.

Positive step but 

It is great to see South Africa keeping pace with the rest of the world. This judgement represents a step towards more balanced caregiving.

While the legislation is refined over the next two years, policy development can be based on evidence and the experiences of other countries rather than speculation.

This article is republished from The Conversation under a Creative Commons license. Read the original article.
Expats are returning to South Africa in droves and, contrary to popular opinion, they arent all settling in the Western Cape.

Source: 123RF.

A very large percentage are actually buying homes in Gauteng, and in the northern suburbs of Johannesburg in particular, says Rory OHagan, principal of the Chas Everitt Hyde Park and Sandton office.

We receive enquiries daily from South Africans of all ages who have been living and working abroad, sometimes for many years, but who are now returning to Johannesburg to take up new corporate jobs or to establish new businesses.

Most are highly skilled individuals with years of experience, which is a benefit to SA, and their reasons for coming back range from being tired of unpleasant weather and worried about natural disasters, through missing family and friends, to fears about the fallout from the Ukraine and Middle East conflicts, the high and rising cost of living in Europe, the UK and the US, and the realisation that they can purchase a much better property in SA with their euros, pounds or dollars than they can in their adopted countries.

At the same time, he says, the wave of semigration to the Western Cape from Gauteng and other inland provinces continues to be reversed as return-to-office mandates gain ground.

Frankly, many top executives and professionals are now also weary of the costs and inconvenience of commuting weekly between work in Johannesburg and family in Cape Town, while others admit that they have not adapted well to the Capes unpredictable weather and would prefer the Highvelds sunny winters."

What is more, there are definitely more economic opportunities in Gauteng. According to a recent study by StatsSA, the region continued to account for a third of SAs GDP between 2013 and 2022, despite all the semigration that took place in that period. In addition, the contribution of the Western Cape to the national GDP also remained relatively stable at around 14%, despite the influx of semigrants.

"In fact, at the end of 2022 the Western Capes regional GDP was only the third biggest, at R210bn, compared to R250bn for KwaZulu-Natal and R448bn for Gauteng.

A prime choice for returning expats

Within Gauteng, OHagan says, the northern suburbs of Johannesburg are definitely the most sought-after locations among returning homebuyers, not only because of their proximity to Sandton and other commercial nodes, but also because of the exceptional property value currently on offer in these areas.

The Cape Town and Johannesburg markets often find themselves at different stages of the property cycle, and while semigration has played a role in causing prices in Cape Towns most favoured areas to rocket over the past three years, those in Johannesburg have simultaneously moderated, with sellers in the luxury sector now often being willing after price counselling to accept 30% or even 40% less than when their properties were listed.

Meanwhile, returning expats are really diving into the sub-luxury sector between R5m and R10m as they realise just how much house they can buy for their money in Johannesburg.

What is more, he notes, this market intelligence is no longer restricted to South Africans.

It is being spread globally as both the public and private sectors work hard to expose affluent investors to the huge economic potential inherent in the African Continent Free Trade Agreement (AfCFTA), as well as SAs geographic position as a safe haven away from the conflicts ravaging prospects and markets in Europe and the Middle East, and also away from an increasing number of natural disasters such as wildfires, floods, droughts, hurricanes, volcanic eruptions and massive snowstorms in previously favoured investment destinations."

These investors see and understand that SA has big problems too, including low growth, high unemployment and crime as well as damaged infrastructures, but their view is often that these are problems that can be addressed and solved  and that there is already evidence of this happening in many parts of the country.

Global allure and strategic partnerships

He notes that SA also continues to attract larger numbers of tourists every year, many of whom are so favourably impressed that they decide to return permanently, as well as a growing number of retirees from more developed countries who literally cannot afford to live there and pay for healthcare on their pensions.

A recent study by retirement income specialist MGM Advantage showed, for example, that more than 6 million UK adults are actively planning to retire abroad. In addition, more than 5 million US adults have already retired to countries where their dollar goes further, and that number continues to rise every year.

And then of course we are spreading the word about SA globally, through our membership of Leading Real Estate Companies of the World. This international network not only connects us directly to more than 550 leading brokerages and over 150,000 top property professionals in 70 other countries, but also enables us to showcase South African real estate to millions of potential buyers and investors across the world.

It also gives us the opportunity to meet face-to-face at least twice a year with our international counterparts, and to share with them our in-depth knowledge of the local market and understanding of the value and lifestyle that SA real estate offers.

This is increasingly exciting to both expats and new investors, especially when they understand that Sandton is actually the Manhattan of Africa, and foreign purchasing has played a big role in enabling our northern-suburbs operations to achieve more than R100m worth of sales every month this year.

"And we expect sales to such buyers  especially returning expats  to increase in 2024 and beyond, as SA continues to grow into its global economic potential.
Fossil Group, South Africa has reopened its store in Canal Walk Shopping Centre, Cape Town.

Image supplied

Nestled near the vibrant activations section of the mall, Fossil delivers an unparalleled shopping experience, featuring a diverse selection of vintage-inspired watches, beautifully crafted leather goods, and timeless jewellery pieces.

The re-imagined space reflects the brands commitment to creativity and ingenuity.

Shaun Jacobs, managing director of Fossil Group in South Africa, shares his excitement, remarking, "We are extremely pleased with the rejuvenation of this store space. This is just a glimpse of what Fossil has in store for the future."

To mark this special occasion, Fossil Group, South Africa, hosted an exclusive event, with over 30 Top South African influencers attending.
Shipping companies sailing around the Cape of Good Hope to avoid Houthi attacks on the Red Sea face tough choices over where to refuel and restock, as African ports struggle with red tape, congestion and poor facilities, companies and analysts say.

Container ships are seen outside the harbour as workers at South Africa's state-owned logistics firm Transnet continue to protest outside the Port of Cape Town on their nationwide strike action that could paralyse ports and freight rail services in Cape Town, South Africa, October 17, 2022. REUTERS/Esa Alexander/File Photo

Hundreds of large vessels are rerouting around the southern tip of Africa, a longer route adding 10-14 days of travel, to escape drone and missile attacks by Yemeni Houthis that have pushed up oil prices and freight rates.

The attacks by Iranian-backed militants have disrupted international trade through the Suez Canal, the shortest shipping route between Europe and Asia, which accounts for about a sixth of global traffic.

South Africa's major ports, including Durban, one of Africa's largest in terms of container volumes handled, as well as Cape Town and Ngqura ports are among the worst performing globally, a World Bank 2022 index released in May found.

"Even the state that Durban is in now, it is still the most advanced and largest port in Africa, so ships rerouting around the continent have very limited choices for berthing for replenishment," Alessio Lencioni, a logistics and supply chain consultant told Reuters.

Other large African deep-water ports along the Cape route, such as Mombasa in Kenya and Dar es Salaam in Tanzania are too ill-equipped to handle the expected traffic over the next couple of weeks, Lencioni said.

Maersk said vessels routed around the Cape will as far as possible try to fuel at origin or destination.

"In case there is a need for bunkering en route, it would be decided on a case-by-case basis with Walvis Bay (Namibia) or Port Louis (Mauritius) being the top options," a spokesperson said.

Cape of Storms

Rough weather with high seas, common at the 'Cape of Storms' as well as the cyclone-prone Mozambique Channel, mean ships could burn through their fuel quicker, making refuelling services crucial, shippers said.

"In Singapore, were delivering larger bunker volumes to vessels that will now be sailing longer voyages," a spokesperson for TFG Marine, a unit of energy trader Trafigura, said.

Bureaucracy is a concern. In September, South Africa's National Revenue Service detained five bunkering vessels in Algoa Bay on suspicion of contravening the Customs and Excise Act. BP, Trafigura and Mercuria have all been hit by suspensions pending audits.

Since South Africa's first ship-to-ship offshore bunkering started in Algoa Bay in 2016, there has been a sharp rise in fuel volumes and vessels using it.

A spokesperson for Heron Marine, the TFG Marine affiliate operating in Algoa Bay, said the company is working with customers to manage their bunkering requirements. Mercuria and BP did not immediately respond to questions.

In anticipation of more marine fuel being needed, imports are expected to rise to around 230 kilotonnes in December, analysts say.

"South Africa is expecting a record high of fuel oil imports for December," because of demand for refuelling linked to the Houthi crisis, Younes Azzouzi, market analyst at data and analytics specialist Kpler said.
Vienna, Dec 28 (UNI) Russia will not be seeking Chinas participation in a New START successor treaty but will not object if Beijing decides to join, Russias Permanent Representative to International Organisations in Vienna Mikhail Ulyanov told Sputnik.

"If China decides that it wants to join and work in the format of the Nuclear Five [along with Russia, the United States, France, and the United Kingdom], we probably wont object. But we are not going to force Beijing to join like the United States is trying to do," Ulyanov said in an interview.

France and the United Kingdom, however, must be part of any New START successor treaty, the diplomat stated.

UNI/SPUTNIK AKS


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Ankara, Dec 28 (UNI) Several Western countries say "the end" for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is near since "the world has already seen" the Jewish state's "brutality" in actions in the Gaza Strip, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan's Chief Adviser Akif Cagatay Kilic said Wednesday.

Earlier on Wednesday, Erdogan criticized Netanyahu and once again compared him with Nazi German leader Adolf Hitler. The Israeli prime minister, for his part, said that Erdogan, who "is committing genocide against the Kurds and who holds the world record for imprisoning journalists who oppose his regime, is the last person who can preach morality to us."

"Netanyahu made a statement today about our president. You are ruthlessly and indiscriminately dropping bombs on people. Some circles do not want to understand the scale of the catastrophe when we talk about genocide. Our president spoke loudly about this in Germany and Greece. While many European capitals remained silent, our president demonstrated his position. Netanyahu is trying to wash the blood off his hands. But the world has already seen it. A permanent ceasefire and peace will only come when peace comes to Gaza. Israel is brutal, its policies are brutality. How can you explain bombs being dropped on children being treated for cancer? Many Western countries say this is the end of the road for Netanyahu," Kilic said in an interview with Turkish broadcaster TRT Haber.

The head of the communications department in the Turkish presidential administration, Fahrettin Altun, also said on Wednesday that the Israeli prime minister is "the last person to talk about anything related to genocide."

"The Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu is the last person to talk about anything related to genocide. He has mastered skills to sell the world, his war crimes against civilians as self-defense. Even though the world fails to stop him, the history will judge him as the war criminal he is ... Netanyahu is the last person to talk about our struggle against terrorism. We have fought against the terror group PKK [Kurdistan Workers' Party] and its extensions for more than 40 years. Kurdish people in Turkiye themselves fought against the PKK that indiscriminately kills civilians and children just like Netanyahu himself!" Altun said on X.

Altun also said that Netanyahu is "the last person to talk about morality," adding that he "cannot lecture anyone about how to conduct terror operations because he has no experience in this arena!" The Turkish communications chief further said that the Israeli prime minister "has been on a mission to drive Palestinians out of their lands for the last four decades" and that he has not taken it "to a new level by using the Israeli army to kill civilians in their homes, hospitals and refugee camps."

"Netanyahus desperate attempts to save his political career by killing civilians and expanding the war are doomed to fail. Our President Erdogan has called it for what it is and he will not stop fighting for justice no matter how many lies Netanyahu tells the world. We call on the international community, once again, to unite around our efforts to achieve an immediate ceasefire and negotiations to bring about lasting peace. We have been doing our part and will continue to do so regardless of political attacks and defamation leveled against Turkiye. We will continue to speak the truth!" Altun's post read.

The Turkish president has repeatedly criticized Netanyahu since the offset of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict in Israel on October 7, calling him a "murdered" and "executioner" and saying that the Israeli prime minister launched a genocide in the Gaza Strip to prolong his political career and evade legal proceedings launched against him in Israel. Ankara also refuses to recognize Palestinian movement Hamas as a terrorist organization.

On October 7, Hamas launched a large-scale rocket attack against Israel from the Gaza Strip while its fighters breached the border, opening fire on the military and civilians. As a result, over 1,200 people in Israel were killed and some 240 others abducted. Israel launched retaliatory strikes, ordered a complete blockade of Gaza and launched a ground incursion into the Palestinian enclave with the declared goal of eliminating Hamas fighters and rescuing the hostages. Over 21,100 people have been killed so far in Gaza as a result of Israeli strikes, local authorities said.

On November 24, Qatar mediated a deal between Israel and Hamas on a temporary truce and the exchange of some of the prisoners and hostages, as well as the delivery of humanitarian aid into the Gaza Strip. The ceasefire was extended several times and expired on December 1.

UNI/SPUTNIK AKS


External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar and Minister of Foreign Affairs of Russia Sergey Lavrov during a joint press statement after their meeting, in Moscow, Russia, Wednesday, Dec. 27, 2023. (Photo: @DrSJaishankar/Twitter)

MOSCOW (PTI): India-Russia relations reflect geopolitical realities, strategic convergence and mutual benefit, External Affairs Minister (EAM) S Jaishankar said Wednesday as he held a wide-ranging and "useful" meeting with his Russian counterpart Sergey Lavrov in Moscow during which they discussed the international situation and contemporary issues.



Jaishankar, who is on a five-day visit to Russia, and Lavrov also exchanged views on the Indo-Pacific region, the Ukraine conflict, the Gaza situation, Afghanistan and Central Asia, BRICS, Shanghai Cooperation Organisation, G20 and the UN.



"A wide-ranging and useful meeting with FM Sergey Lavrov of Russia. As strategic partners, discussed the international situation and contemporary issues," Jaishankar said in a post on X.



He noted the progress in bilateral economic cooperation, energy trade, connectivity efforts, military-technical cooperation and people-to-people exchanges.



"Signed Protocol on Consultations for the period 2024-28. India-Russia relations reflect geopolitical realities, strategic convergence and mutual benefit," the EAM said.



"For us, Russia is a valued partner, a time-tested partner. It is a relationship from which both India and Russia have benefitted enormously," Jaishankar said while responding to a question during a joint media appearance along with Lavrov after talks.



"My presence here today and the fact that all the developments that I have pointed out including our growing trade investments, our military-technical cooperation, our connectivity projects all of this will give you a good sense of the importance and value that we attach to the relationship," he added.



In his opening remarks at the meeting, Jaishankar said that Prime Minister Narendra Modi and President Vladimir Putin have been in frequent contact.



"Our relations have been very strong, very steady. And I think we have lived up to a special and privileged strategic partnership. This year, we have already met six times, and this is our 7th meeting," he said.



During Wednesdays meeting, the two sides focussed on bilateral cooperation in different spheres, adjusting it to changing circumstances and demands.



Jaishankar said the two sides have seen different expressions of their cooperation this year. "I will also mention our presence at the St. Petersburg International Economic Forum at the Far Eastern Economic Forum in Vladivostok at the meetings. And on the bilateral economic cooperation the India, Russia inter-governmental commission, which I had co-chaired with Deputy Prime Minister Denis Manturov," he said.



"We are very glad to see continued progress and we expect a strong Russian participation at the Vibrant Gujarat meeting in January," he added.



On his part, Lavrov said the relations between India and Russia are very long and very good and it's good to see that they're moving on consistently in the present moment.



On Tuesday, Jaishankar held a "comprehensive and productive" meeting with Deputy Prime Minister Manturov on the bilateral economic cooperation during which they witnessed the signing of some "very important" agreements related to the construction of the future power-generating units of the Kudankulam nuclear power plant in Tamil Nadu.



India's import of Russian crude oil has gone up significantly despite increasing disquiet over it in many Western countries.



"The time-tested India-Russia partnership has remained stable and resilient and continues to be characterised by the spirit of the Special and Privileged Strategic Partnership," the Ministry of External Affairs said in a press release ahead of Jaishankar's visit.




External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar and Minister of Foreign Affairs of Russia Sergey Lavrov in Moscow, Russia on Dec. 27, 2023. (Photo: @DrSJaishankar/Twitter)

MOSCOW (PTI): Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov on Wednesday said that Moscow is ready to launch the production of modern weapons under the 'Make in India' initiative.



Lavrov said this while addressing a news conference after holding talks with his Indian counterpart S Jaishankar in Moscow. The External Affairs Minister of India is on a five-day visit to Russia.



Lavrov said they discussed the outlook for military-technical cooperation, including joint production of modern weapons, between Russia and India, the state-run news agency TASS reported.



There is concrete progress on this track, Lavrov said.



The diplomat said Russia understands and is ready to support New Delhi's initiative, "producing military-purpose goods as part of the Make-in-India programme. We are ready to cooperate on this issue," he said.



Russia has been the major supplier of defence equipment to India. However, after India and the US stepped up their bilateral ties, New Delhi has diversified its import of military equipment to include many American defence items.



Lavrov also said that the North-South transport corridor project will be implemented "in the near time".



Russia, India and Iran signed an intergovernmental agreement on the creation of the North-South multimodal transport corridor in 2000. The number of participants expanded to 14 later.



The project goal is to bring transit freight traffic from India, Iran and Persian Gulf countries via the Russian territory to Europe.



The project brings together several different transport systems of individual countries at present.



Lavrov said the project "caused great enthusiasm among countries, on which its implementation depends, and it will be definitely realised in the near time.



The Foreign Minister said Russia and India have agreed on the "whole range of steps making possible for us to broaden cooperation, particularly in the context of the start of the North-South international transport corridor being prepared, creation of the Chennai-Vladivostok route and cooperation on Northern Sea Route development  this is a very promising line.



In his opening remarks before the bilateral talks with Lavrov, EAM Jaishankar said it was always good to be in Moscow.



"I agree with you that our relationship has been very strong, very steady, and I think we have lived up to the responsibilities of a special and privileged strategic partnership," he said.


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Actress Billie Lourd has paid an emotional tribute to her mother Carrie Fisher on the seventh anniversary of her death.

The Star Wars actress died at the age of 60 on December 27th, 2016, days after falling ill on a flight from London to Los Angeles.

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Fishers mother and fellow Hollywood actress Debbie Reynolds, died a day later on December 28th at the age of 84.

Carrie Fisher (left) and Debbie Reynolds (PA)

Lourd, 31, shared a throwback photo of her and her mother on a beach together with Lourd buried to the waist in the sand and detailed how her grief has evolved over the time.

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She wrote: It has been 7 years since my mom died (but whos counting?? Me I guess?)

Every anniversary brings a different iteration of my grief. Some infuse me with rage, some make me cry all day long, some make me feel dissociated and empty, some make me feel nothing, some make me feel guilty for feeling nothing, and some make me feel all of those things all at once.

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This year when I woke up I felt grateful  or griefull if you will.

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Grief has infused my life with a sense of appreciation I had never had before. It makes me soak up every moment of joy as if it were my last.

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Lourd, who shares son Kingston, three, and daughter Jackson, one, with husband Austen Rydell, said her eyes welled up with tears of joy as her youngest child was sleeping in her arms.

She said: I laughed at myself then cried more cause I was laughing. I felt my mombys presence like the warmth of the sun on your skin on a hot summer day.

The kind of warmth where you unknowingly close your eyes and take a slow breath through your nose and grin.

I miss her every day but the cliche is also true  she is with me every day  she infuses my joyful moments with even more joy.

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As I tell my son, she lives in the stars  and she damn sure makes my life sparkle.

Actress Carrie Fisher (Ian West/PA)

She added: Sending my love to all my griefers out there. And hoping everyone can feel a little sparkle of griefull among all the feelings grief inevitably brings.

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Fisher was 19 when she was cast in the role of Princess Leia opposite Mark Hamill and Harrison Ford in Star Wars, which would go on to define her career,

Her mother, Reynolds, was the same age when she appeared in Singin In The Rain opposite Gene Kelly.
A snapshot assessment of Northern Ireland politicians personalities, habits and attitudes was compiled ahead of Labours Westminster general election win in 1997.

The briefing mostly focusses on unionist politicians and does not include any Sinn Fein representatives, according to State documents released this year to the Irish National Archives.

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Among the descriptions prepared in a document called First Day Briefing Material written by the UK governments Northern Ireland Office was a description of UUP leader David Trimbles quick and disciplined mind and hints of the tense relationship between the SDLP leadership of John Hume and Seamus Mallon.

Tony Blair with David Trimble and John Hume on the last day of campaigning for a Yes vote in the Northern Ireland Referendum (PA)

Mr Trimble is described as articulate, business-like and intelligent in the document, but an instinctive hard-liner who has formidable political and presentational talents.

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It stated that although he showed political and personal courage at the start of the talks, Mr Trimble has not been able to provide strong and coherent leadership.

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Although he has a quick and disciplined mind, and is a formidable TV debater and polemicist, he can be arrogant and abrasive.

David Trimble, his deputy John Taylor and Ken Maginnis speak to the media outside Downing Street following talks with Tony Blair in 1997 (PA)

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Following on from a note in the document that states there is no obvious contender for his crown, Mr Trimbles deputy leader at the time, John Taylor, is described as not well-liked.

A complex figure, found by many to be arrogant and blustering and always seeming to be conscious of the fact that his unrivalled experience (and undoubted intelligence) gave him a special place in the party hierarchy.

Another senior UUP figure, Ken Maginnis, is large, friendly, open and garrulous.

The briefing said that Mr Maginnis was also in many ways the most attractive (in personal terms) of the UUP upper echelon.

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Something of a loose cannon in party terms, he has a reputation for speaking first and thinking later. A rambling and unfocussed speaker.

Northern Ireland secretary John Reid (centre) buys John Hume and Seamus Mallon a farewell drink, before Humes last speech as SDLP party leader in 2001 (PA)

SDLP leader Mr Hume is described as a complex character, capable of dark moods and depression when he feels things are not going right.

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He is often worried about his health.

His deputy, Mr Mallon, is described as very charming, but vigilant in spotting lapses of behaviour by the security forces and rigorous in his criticism of aspects of security policy which he considers counter-productive.

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It added: But he is a fair critic and does not go out of his way to be unnecessarily difficult.

The document also states that Mr Mallons relations with Hume are not always the best.

The material can be viewed in the National Archives in file 2022/45/425
The media needs to do a better job of explaining itself in order to combat growing scepticism of the media, according to the deputy director of Dublin City Universitys Institute for Future Media, Democracy & Society (FuJo).

As the so-called anti-mainstream media rhetoric appears to be growing in pockets of the population, Dr Eileen Culloty, who is an assistant professor in DCUs school of communications, said the lack of understanding among the public regarding how the media works is leaving news outlets open to criticism.

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Speaking to breakingnews.ie, Dr Culloty notes that while there has long been very legitimate criticism of the mainstream media, there is a knowledge gap surrounding the laws and conventions by which news outlets must abide.

People in general have very little understanding of media and how it works, or how different outlets are funded, or how journalists get paid, she explains.

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Where a distrust of traditional news outlets arises, people often turn to those outside the mainstream media. However, Dr Culloty notes that not all of these news outlets are created equal.

Whats happened more recently is weve seen the rise of alt outlets, and some of them are doing very good, important journalistic work by filling gaps that they see in the mainstream media, but then others present themselves as just being anti-mainstream media.

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A lot of the rhetoric rests on saying that the mainstream media is corrupt, or is in service of politicians or elites, and underpinning all of that is that mainstream media can be grouped the same, when in reality youre talking about very different types of outlets.

Threat

Not only does that knowledge gap exist around how different media outlets are funded and their ownerships, but also on issues like anonymity in the courts and criminal justice system, and defamation, Dr Culloty points out.

She adds that defamation is recognised as a major threat to the media in Ireland, and news outlets and journalists must take immense care not to be drawn into defamation actions as the costs can be ruinous.

Faced with the high cost of litigation, or the potentially astronomical awards if their defence fails, many recent cases taken against media outlets have ended in settlements.

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In contrast, Dr Culloty says the threat of a defamation action is not something the average person needs to worry about, because it is unlikely they will have the means to warrant someone taking legal action against them.

Its very easy for someone who runs a blog to say why arent RTE saying this, why arent they naming that person. Its because they have to be responsible and be absolutely sure they can stand over what they are reporting, she says.

She adds that anyone can call themself a journalist, with absolutely no training, and while this is not automatically a negative, as its a good thing that you have more points of view, parts of the alt media do not operate to the same journalistic standards as is required by their mainstream counterparts.

What they sometimes do then is attack the mainstream media and say that its not reporting, or its somehow trying to hide things, like its evidence of a conspiracy, and thats where it becomes insidious.

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In the same way that we want people to be numerate and literate, we need them to have an understanding of technology.

This is where media literacy comes in. The idea that if people understood the laws and conventions surrounding news reporting then they would better understand why the media operates the way it does.

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Dr Culloty says, in a world where our lives are digitised, in the same way that we want people to be numerate and literate, we need them to have an understanding of technology.

Digital literacy and media literacy are in many ways closely linked now. In the latest Digital News Report, 52 per cent of Irish respondents said their main source of news was online and social media.

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With the rise of misinformation online, it is in our interest to have a population that is digitally literate to enable them to spot deceitful or malicious content, be it in the form of fake news, inaccurate health information, or things like financial scams.

But we cannot solely rely on individual responsibility to fix a societal issue. While individual-centred interventions are one part of the potential solution, the heavy lifting needs to be done by the media industry and policymakers.

Media and journalists themselves need to do a better job explaining why they report the way they do, Dr Culloty says.

She adds that politicians also have to play their part, most urgently in properly funding and resourcing Coimisiun na Mean and in introducing protections for journalism.

If we keep saying that news media matters to democracy, we have to actually act on it, and ensure we actually do have a vibrant, independent media sector.
Changes to academic misconduct rules to include the use of AI, work to improve weather forecasts, and a suspended GoFundMe for the funeral of Tristan Sherry are some of Thursday's front page stories.

The Irish Times reports 'students may be punished if caught using AI', as Quality and Qualifications Ireland (QQI) is understood to be planning to extend academic misconduct to include students who use artificial intelligence to generate their coursework.

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The Irish Examiner's headline reads: ''Too easy' for children to get phones', while The Echo leads with calls for people to check on their neighbours following warnings over the impact of loneliness.

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The Irish Independent reads: 'Race to improve forecasts as severe weather threatens lives'.

Here is the front page of Thursday's Irish Independent pic.twitter.com/ClvNi4SdSE Advertisement  Irish Independent (@Independent_ie) December 28, 2023

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The Irish Daily Mail reports Gardai are on 'high alert' in case of reprisals following the restaurant shooting in Blanchardstown on Christmas Eve.

Finally, both the Irish Daily Mirror and Irish Daily Star cover a GoFundMe being taken down after it was set up to raise money to cover the funeral costs of Tristan Sherry, who was stabbed to death following the Christmas Eve shooting.

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In Britain, a range of issues appear on the front of Thursdays newspaper front pages, from politics to stormy weather battering the UK.

The Times focuses on childcare promises which it says Labour are due to announce as the build-up continues to an election year.

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The Times: Labour will promise big expansion of childcare #TomorrowsPapersToday pic.twitter.com/y72458QT3V  George Mann (@sgfmann) December 27, 2023

The Daily Mirror also opts for politics, saying UKprime minister Rishi Sunak is looking after the millionaires by scrapping inheritance tax in the pre-election budget.

The Daily Telegraph focuses on the havoc caused to travellers by Storm Gerrit.

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The front page of tomorrow's Daily Telegraph:



'Travellers told to delay plans amid storm and rail chaos'#TomorrowsPapersToday



Sign up for the Front Page newsletterhttps://t.co/x8AV4OoUh6 pic.twitter.com/dmmiBbfxuB  The Telegraph (@Telegraph) December 27, 2023

The Daily Star follows suit as it concentrates on the gridlock caused by the storm.

The i says homes sold to make room for the HS2 project are being rented out with funds going to government coffers.

The i: Homes bought up for axed HS2 rail line are rented out for millions #TomorrowsPapersToday pic.twitter.com/2cske0si6x  George Mann (@sgfmann) December 27, 2023

The Guardian opts for a story on domestic abuse victims as a senior officer from London's Metropolitan Police says the force has let women and girls down badly.

The Guardian: Domestic abuse survivors

have lost trust in us  Met #TomorrowsPapersToday pic.twitter.com/klW4RSHhLm  George Mann (@sgfmann) December 27, 2023

The Financial Times reports on multinational arms, security and aerospace companies pulling in record highs in orders and have grown by more than 10 per cent in just two years.

Financial Times UK : Post Office probe hears of aggressive legal tactics #TomorrowsPapersToday pic.twitter.com/z1gjZRo2Pl Advertisement  George Mann (@sgfmann) December 27, 2023

The Daily Express says TV star Esther Rantzens Christmas Day was crammed with love, smiles and sparkle, as she battles stage 4 liver cancer.

The Sun says UFC star Conor McGregor punched a parrot.
Israeli forces have bombarded cities, towns and refugee camps across Gaza overnight and into Thursday, killing dozens of people.

The Israeli air and ground offensive against Hamas has widened to most of the territory and forced thousands more to flee from homes and shelters.

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The war has already killed more than 20,000 Palestinians and driven around 85% of the population of 2.3 million from their homes.

Much of northern Gaza has been levelled, largely depopulated and isolated from the rest of the territory for weeks. Many fear a similar fate awaits the south.

Israel has vowed to dismantle Hamas  which is still putting up stiff resistance, even in the north  and bring back more than 100 hostages still held by the militants after their October 7th attack on southern Israel, in which some 1,200 people, mostly civilians, were killed.

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Palestinians fleeing the Israeli bombardment of the Gaza Strip arrive in Rafah (AP)

Israel has brushed off international calls for a ceasefire, saying it would amount to a victory for Hamas.

The United States  while providing crucial support for the offensive  has urged Israel to take greater measures to spare civilians and allow more aid to reach people.

But aid workers say the amount of food, fuel and medical supplies entering is still far below what is needed, and one in four Palestinians in Gaza are starving, according to UN officials.

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An Israeli air strike on a home in the northern town of Beit Lahiyeh  one of the first targets of the ground invasion that began in October  buried at least 21 people, including women and children, according to a family member.

Bassel Kheir al-Din, a journalist with a local TV station, said the strike flattened his family house and severely damaged three neighbouring homes.

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He said 12 members of his family  including three children aged two, seven and eight  were buried and presumed dead, adding that nine neighbours were missing.

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In central Gaza, Israeli war planes and artillery pounded the built-up Bureij and Nuseirat refugee camps, levelling buildings, residents said.

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Israel said this week it would expand its ground offensive into central Gaza, and typically launches waves of air strikes and shelling before troops and tanks move in.

A hospital in the nearby town of Deir al-Balah received the bodies of 25 people killed overnight, including five children and seven women, hospital records showed on Thursday.

Non-stop explosions could be heard throughout the night in the town  where hundreds of thousands of people have sought shelter, with many spending the cold nights sleeping on pavements.

Most of the Palestinian population has been forced to flee (AP)

It was another night of killing and massacres, said Saeed Moustafa, a resident of the Nuseirat camp.

He said people were still crying out from the rubble of a house hit by an air strike on Wednesday.

We are unable to get them out. We hear their screams but we dont have equipment, he said.

Further south, in Khan Younis, the Palestinian Red Crescent said a strike near its Al-Amal Hospital killed at least 10 people and wounded another 12.

Much of the citys population has left, but many are sheltering near Al-Amal and another hospital, hoping they will be spared from the bombardment.

Rami Abu Mosab, who lives in the Bureij refugee camp, said thousands of people have fled their homes in recent days because of the intense bombardment. He plans to remain there because he doesnt feel that anywhere in Gaza is safe.

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Here is death and there is death, he said. To die in your home is better.

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As Israel has broadened its offensive, fleeing Palestinians have packed into areas along the Egyptian border and the southern Mediterranean coastline, where shelters and tent camps are overflowing. Even in those areas, Israel continues to strike what it says are militant targets.

The Israeli military blames the high civilian death toll on Hamas, which positions fighters, tunnels and rocket launchers in dense residential areas. But the military rarely comments on individual strikes.

Israels offensive in Gaza has already been one of the most devastating military campaigns in recent history.

More than 21,100 Palestinians, most of them women and children, have been killed, according to the Health Ministry in Hamas-ruled Gaza. The count does not differentiate between civilians and combatants.

The Israeli military says it has killed thousands of militants, without presenting evidence, and that 167 of its soldiers have been killed in the ground offensive.
Russia fired almost 50 Shahed drones at targets in Ukraine and shelled a railway station where more than 100 civilians were gathered to catch a train to Kyiv, Ukrainian officials said.

The barrages killed at least five people and knocked out power in most of the southern city of Kherson.

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The aerial barrage came a day after Ukrainian warplanes damaged a Russian ship moored in the Black Sea off Crimea as both sides soldiers struggle to make much progress along the front line of the 22-month war.

Overnight, the Kremlins forces launched an artillery and drone bombardment of the Kherson region just as some 140 civilians were waiting for a train at the regions capital city of the same name, according to Ukrainian interior minister Ihor Klymenko.

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The shelling killed a police officer and injured two others, as well as two civilians.

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More than 100 people who were waiting for the train at the time of the attack arrived in Kyiv on Wednesday morning, national rail operator Ukrzaliznytsia said.

The attack on the Kherson region and its capital hit residential areas and a shopping centre as well as striking the power grid, leaving around 70% of households in Kherson city without electricity during the winter cold, regional governor Oleksandr Prokudin said.

It was not immediately possible to estimate when power might be restored, he said.

Targeting energy infrastructure was also a Russian tactic last winter, when it tried to break Ukrainians spirit by denying them heating and running water.

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In Odesa, another major city in southern Ukraine, the drone assault killed two people and wounded three, including a 17-year-old man, regional governor Oleh Kiper said.

Hanna Boichuk cries during the funeral of her son Vasyl Boichuk, a Ukrainian serviceman killed in Mykolayiv in March 2022, in Verkhovyna, Ukraine, on Tuesday December 26 2023 (Evgeniy Maloletka/AP)

Ukraines air force said it intercepted 32 out of the 46 drones that Russia fired overnight.

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A western military assessment, meanwhile, reckoned that Russias capture this week of a city in eastern Ukraine would not provide it with a springboard for major battlefield gains.

Ukrainian commander-in-chief General Valerii Zaluzhnyi said on Tuesday that his troops had retreated to the northern outskirts of the city of Marinka, which sits about 12 miles west of Donetsk, the largest city in Russian-held territory.

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General Zaluzhnyi said his troops had held Marinka for almost two years but Russians were destroying it street by street, house by house.

The Institute for the Study of War, a think tank, said: Russian forces are highly unlikely to make rapid operational advances from Marinka.

But it noted that localised Russian offensive operations are still placing pressure on Ukrainian forces in many places along the front in eastern Ukraine.

A Ukrainian MSLR BM-21 Grad rocket launcher fires towards Russian positions at the frontline near Kreminna, Ukraine (File image/Evgeniy Maloletka/AP)

Amid concerns that weapons supplies from abroad could diminish as allies become fatigued with the war, Ukraines minister of strategic industries told a briefing on Wednesday that the defence sector aims to increase production significantly next year and that production was three times higher in 2023 than in the previous year.

Oleksandr Kamyshin said Ukraine is now producing six Bohdana self-propelled artillery units per month.

Bohdanas are a strategically important weapon for the Ukrainian defence industry as they are the only Ukrainian-produced self-propelled gun using Nato-standard 155mm rounds instead of the 152mm rounds used by artillery based on Soviet technology.

Mr Kamyshin also said the country next year aims to produce up to 1,000 long-range strike drones  which have a range of about 620 miles  an increase from only a few dozen a month currently.

It is also targeting production of 10,000 middle-range and 1,000 long-range strike drones.
North Korean leader Kim Jong Un has called for bolstered war readiness to repel what he said were unprecedented US-led confrontational moves, state media reported.

South Korea has vowed a stern retaliation against any provocations by the North.

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Mr Kims comments, which came during a key political meeting tasked with setting state objectives for 2024, indicated North Korea will likely continue weapons tests to modernise its nuclear arsenal.

Observers say Mr Kim likely hopes to use his boosted arsenal as leverage in potential diplomacy with Washington, possibly after the US presidential election in November next year.

During Wednesdays second-day session of the ruling partys plenary meeting, Mr Kim set forth unspecified tasks for the military and the munitions industry to further accelerate the war preparations in the face of (anti-North Korea) confrontation moves by the US and its vassal forces unprecedented in history, the official Korean Central News Agency said.

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It said Mr Kim also clarified the partys stance on expanding North Koreas strategic cooperation with anti-imperialist countries amid the worlds rapidly changing geopolitical situation.

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KCNA said Mr Kim spoke about the direction of the Norths dealings with South Korea as well but did not elaborate.

The Workers Party meeting is expected to last several days, and state media are expected to publicise details of its discussions after it ends, likely on December 31.

Experts say North Korea is expected to come up with pledges and steps to strengthen its nuclear attack capability and expand cooperation with Russia and China, which are also locked in separate confrontations with the US.

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Mr Kim delivers a speech during a year-end plenary meeting of the ruling Workers Party in Pyongyang, North Korea (Korean Central News Agency/Korea News Service via AP)

South Koreas spy agency said there is a high possibility that North Korea will launch military provocations and cyber attacks ahead of South Korean parliamentary elections in April and the US presidential election in November.

The National Intelligence Service (NIS) said in a statement that senior North Korean military figures believed involved in past major deadly attacks and provocations have been given top posts in recent months.

The NIS said North Korea has conducted nuclear and missile tests and flown a drone across the rivals border ahead of the Souths previous parliamentary elections.

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During a visit to a frontline army unit on Thursday, South Korean president Yoon Suk Yeol called for a swift, stern retaliation against any provocations by North Korea.

If provoked, you should immediately respond and retaliate before reporting to (your higher-ups) later. Id like you to sternly and swiftly smash the enemys intentions to stage provocations on the spot, Mr Yoon told troops.

Topics to be dealt with at the North Korean meeting could include its push to operate more spy satellites following its launch of its first military reconnaissance satellite on November 21.

After the November launch, North Korea said it would submit to the plenary meeting a plan to launch more satellites to improve its spaced-based surveillance capabilities on its rivals.

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Since last year, North Korea has performed a barrage of missile tests in breach of UN bans, including last weeks launch of the solid-fuelled Hwasong-18 intercontinental ballistic missile  its most advanced weapon designed to attack the mainland US.

The North has argued it has sovereign, legitimate rights to conduct such tests to deal with the expansion of US-South Korean military exercises that it views as invasion rehearsals.

Mr Kim has refused to return to diplomacy with the US since his high-stakes diplomacy with then-US president Donald Trump fell apart in 2019. A main sticking point in the collapsed Kim-Trump diplomacy was how much sanctions relief North Korea would be given in return for a partial surrender of its nuclear programme.

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Matthew Miller, a spokesperson for the US State Department, maintained last week that the US harbours no hostile intent toward North Korea and remains committed to a diplomatic approach. He said the US commitment to the defence of South Korea and Japan remains ironclad.
A mother accused of killing her Irish son in a knife attack in the UK broke down in tears during her first appearance at the Old Bailey in London.

Keziah Macharia (41) was charged with the murder Kobi Macharia Dooly (4) after he was found with multiple cuts in his cot on December 20th.

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Kobi's father, Ben Dooley, who had split up with Ms Macharia about a year ago, is Irish, with his family known in Tramore, Co Waterford for their businesses, such as a local takeaway and amusement arcade.

On Thursday, friends and family of the boy attended court for a preliminary hearing with Macharia appearing by video link from Bronzefield prison.

A court sketch of Keziah Macharia appearing via video link at the Old Bailey (Elizabeth Cook/PA)

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During the hearing, Judge Lynn Tayton set a timetable for the case with a plea and trial preparation hearing on March 21st.

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A trial before a UK High Court judge was provisionally scheduled to go on for up to 10 days from next November 4th.

Macharia, dressed in a grey sweatshirt, had spoken only to confirm her name and date of birth then sobbed throughout the rest of the hearing as prosecutor Louise Oakley outlined details of the case.

On the evening of December 20th, police had been alerted to concerns for Kobis welfare by Mr Dooly.

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Within minutes of the 999 call, officers forced their way into the defendants home in Hackney, east London, at 10.59pm.

They found Kobi lying in his cot with a number of sharp force injuries.

He was taken to the Royal London Hospital where he died at 16 minutes past midnight on December 21st.

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Macharia was arrested at the address in Montague Road and charged with murder on December 22nd.

While a cause of death has yet to be confirmed, it is believed Kobi died from sharp force injuries, including one to the front of the neck and another to the upper left chest.

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At the conclusion of the short hearing, Judge Tayton remanded Macharia into custody.

Ireland Irish father in tribute to dearly missed boy (4)... Read More

Previously, Mr Dooly had released a statement saying: With heavy hearts we bid farewell to Kobi, you will be so dearly missed.

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The joy and laughter you brought to the world has been taken far too soon. We will be thinking of you day and night for eternity until we meet you again.

The family would like to acknowledge and appreciate all messages of support. Please respect our family privacy at this very difficult time.
A hard-hit Israeli kibbutz has announced the death of Judih Weinstein  an American-Canadian-Israeli woman who had been thought to be held hostage in Gaza.

The news came six days after Ms Weinsteins husband, Gad Haggai, was also declared dead.

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Ms Weinstein, 70, and Mr Haggai, 73, were taking an early morning walk near their home in Kibbutz Nir Oz on the morning of October 7th when Hamas militants burst across the border into Israel, killing about 1,200 people and kidnapping 240 others.

In the early hours of the morning, Ms Weinstein was able to call emergency services and let them know that both she and her husband had been shot and send a message to her family.

Ms Weinstein and her husband had been thought to be among the hostages still held in captivity in Gaza.

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But six days ago, the kibbutz announced that Mr Haggai was killed on October 7th and his body was taken to Gaza.

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On Thursday, the kibbutz said it had learned that Ms Weinstein was also killed on October 7th and her body is also being held in Gaza.

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It was not immediately clear how Israeli authorities determined their deaths.

The couple are survived by two sons and two daughters and seven grandchildren, the kibbutz said.

US president Joe Biden said he was devastated to learn of Ms Weinsteins death, especially after hearing about the couple during a meeting with their daughter.

The families have been living through hell for weeks. No family should have to endure such an ordeal, he said in a statement.

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Ms Weinstein was born in New York and was an active member of Kibbutz Nir Oz, a small community near the Gaza border where she taught English to children with special needs.

The kibbutz said she also taught meditation techniques to children and teenagers who suffered from anxiety as a result of rocket fire from Gaza.

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Mr Haggai was a retired chef and jazz musician.

Judy dedicated her life to serving others, spending years teaching English and using her passions for poetry, puppeteering, and mindfulness to empower children of all backgrounds, her family said in a statement.

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In a YouTube video made during a brief round of fighting between Israel and the Islamic Jihad militant group last May, Ms Weinstein read a series of poems and expressed hope for better days ahead.

I truly hope that the next time Im recording some Haiku it wont be under duress, under rocket fire, under conditions where people are at war, she said.

May we all be granted the right to our basic rights of home, food, shelter and peaceful days. Heres hoping.

Al Haggai, one of the couples sons, told Israels Channel 13 that the family had originally hoped their mothers multiple citizenships would allow her to be released during the week-long ceasefire in late November, when 105 hostages were let go.

Almost all were women and children.

He said that when his mothers name was not on any of the daily lists, he started to suspect that something had happened to her.

According to Israeli prime minister Benjamin Netanyahus office, at least 23 of the approximately 129 hostages believed to be held in Gaza have either died or been killed in captivity.

Nir Oz was one of the hardest-hit Israeli communities on October 7th, with roughly a quarter of its residents killed or kidnapped.

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The families of missing hostages have drawn widespread support and sympathy in Israel as they press the government to reach a new ceasefire deal to bring home their loved ones.

Mr Netanyahu met on Thursday in Tel Aviv with some of the families, where he told them there were behind-the-scene efforts to bring the hostages home, according to a statement from his office.

I cant elaborate on the details, we are working to return everyone, he said.
The food isnt revolutionary but there are some surprises: a wake up call of freshly squeezed orange juice, wheatgerm, yoghurt and bee pollen; toasted coconut bread made on the premises and delicious. bills is not just a great room, it is a completely focaccia-free zone and for this we give thanks and praise, the Herald noted approvingly in 1994. William Granger was born on August 29, 1969, in Melbourne and grew up in the beachside suburb of Mentone. His father  like his father before him - was a butcher and his mother a vegetarian but they sidestepped any disagreements about food by eating separately. His parents later split up but remained friends  it was the mismatch of the century, their son recalled ruefully. Bill Granger poses for a photo at Buckingham Palace, 2011. Credit: PA Granger and his brother Steven did not grow up in a household of gourmands. Their parents worked long hours, and so Granger learned to cook from Australian Womens Weekly recipe cards kept in a box by the stove, progressing to cooking three-course meals for his parents and their friends. He was also inspired by the food that his Jewish and Greek friends ate. I loved the fact that food was an important part of their lives and celebrations and I never had it, so Im inventing it for our family. Some people are really lucky and grow up with great food but most of us arent, he told the Herald in 2006.

After school, he studied architecture briefly at the Royal Melbourne Institute of Technology before tiring of the citys inclement weather and fleeing to Sydney in search of light and warmth. He switched to studying fine art and began waiting tables at La Passion De Fruit on Oxford Street to make some extra money. The cafe specialised in breakfast and lunch, but Granger rented it from the owner three nights a week to do his own dinner service. It taught him much about working in a kitchen but was a financial quagmire. Bill Grangerand other Royal chefs in a kitchen at Buckingham Palace in London, 2011. Credit: PA I went through a lot of money, he said in 2008. It was a good introduction to the restaurant business, but what it really did was show me that I wanted my own place. It was a lot of fun, I really enjoyed it and worked with some great friends ... when you do business at that age its very much a co-op feeling. Youre all young and doing it together. By 1993, he had opened bills on Liverpool Street, financed by a $300,000 loan taken out against his grandfathers life insurance policy. I remember thinking time was running out. I felt an overwhelming need to put down a stamp and do something, he said.

It was here that Granger was introduced by a colleague to Natalie Elliott, a documentary film producer who became his wife and business partner, and who was instrumental to his success. The couple went on to have three daughters, Edie, Ines and Bunny. To be honest, while I do have a good head for business, Im instinctive. I dont have good follow-through, he told The Australian in 2008. Our relationship is great because Natalie produces me as a creative and allows me to have time, because thats a struggle when you work in a creative business  having enough time to be creative. A dedicated father and husband, his love for his family was evident. My family ate together about three times in our whole childhood and I think thats why I do what I do now  my business is about the joy of the domestic and having food on the table, he said. At times its a struggle when we finally get the girls to bed at 7.30pm and theres [still] piles of work to do. The flip side is that one of us can pick them up from school every day and we feel really involved in their lives. The success of his first restaurant was followed by bills 2 in Surry Hills in 1996  still deliberately lower case and with no apostrophe  then a third restaurant in Woollahra.

In 2000 he opened the critically acclaimed billy kwong with Kylie Kwong on Crown Street, although he stepped back from the business in 2002. By 2008, he was going international, opening a restaurant in Japan, near the town of Kamakura, at Shichirigahama beach. This was followed by his first London restaurant, Granger & Co, in 2011, then his first site in Seoul in 2014. Granger was welcomed with open arms in his adopted home of London where his healthy, optimistic food struck a chord with pasty, sun-starved Londoners, more used to builders tea and bacon sandwiches in greasy spoons than exotic avocados and cheerful lamingtons. His first restaurant was on chichi Westbourne Grove in Notting Hill, rapidly expanding to the very smartest of suburbs including Chelsea, Clerkenwell, Kings Cross and Marylebone, all of which saw queues around the block for weekend brunch. Bill Granger and Kylie Kwong in 2000 at the opening of their joint venture, billy kwong in Surry Hills. Credit: Jennifer Soo Described by writer Kathy Lette as bright and brilliant as a Bondi ray of sunshine, he was much-loved by his peers and friends in the food industry across the world. One of his greatest qualities was the way he celebrated people and accepted them for who they truly were. Everyone who knew Bill remembers how non-judgemental he was; he saw the sunlight in everyone and every situation, said Kylie Kwong.
Children attending public schools around Willoughby, Pittwater and Vaucluse have among the worst teacher-to-student ratios in the state, according to data released by NSWs parliament.

There are 16.5 students per teacher on average in public schools across the electorate of Willoughby, but the difference shrinks to 10.6 students per teacher in the private system.

In Pittwater, there are 16.8 public school students on average per teacher, but that falls to 11.1 students per teacher in the private system.

One of the most considerable differences was in the electorate of Vaucluse, where the teacher ratio was 16.2 in the public system but 9.6 in private schools.
The Queensland government has taken legal action against a council for allegedly contaminating 100 cubic metres of topsoil spread across a school oval six years ago.

In documents filed in the Brisbane District Court, the government claims illegally dumped asbestos was discovered at a Southern Downs Regional Council waste facility on at least four occasions over an eight-year period.

Asbestos was found on the Warwick Central State School oval six years ago. The Queensland government is now suing those it believes responsible for the tainted topsoil. Credit: Nearmap

The government claims the council was negligent in allowing the asbestos to contaminate mulched green waste the council made available to members of the public, including soil supply contractors, either for payment of a fee or for free.

According to the court documents, contaminated mulch was used by a third party to top dress the Warwick Central State School oval in December 2017, sparking health fears in the community.
A man and woman have been arrested in Melbournes south-east over the alleged theft of accused mushroom killer Erin Pattersons car.

The 18-year-old man and 23-year-old woman, both from Cheltenham, were apprehended in the allegedly stolen vehicle about 1am Thursday.

Erin Patterson in August. Credit: Marta Pascual Juanola

Police say they expect to charge the pair with theft of the red MG sedan, which was reported stolen after a burglary at Pattersons house on Christmas Eve.

Patterson, 49, is in custody after being charged in November with three counts of murder after a deadly lunch was served in Leongatha in July. Investigators believe the group ate death cap mushrooms.
On and off social media, watermelons are being used as a symbol to communicate solidarity with Palestinians in the deadly war between Israel and Hamas.

The fruit is painted on semicircles of cardboard at protests in support of Palestinians. The watermelon emoji appears next to the Palestinian flag in display names on TikTok and X, formerly known as Twitter, and thousands of Instagram users have liked an illustration of a watermelon wedge whose seeds spell ceasefire now.

The fruit is grown in the Gaza Strip and the West Bank, and has the same four colours  red, green, black and white  as the Palestinian flag. Palestinians have used it for decades as a symbol of identity and resistance, said Amani Al-Khatahtbeh, 30, the founder of the digital publication Muslim Girl.

Its taken on a much more widespread understanding since the beginning of the war, Al-Khatahtbeh said. There are people that have absolutely no connection whatsoever to Palestine and Israel, but theyre still using the emoji because of what its come to represent on social media.
A 27-year-old man survived for six days on only rainwater while pinned tightly inside his crashed pick-up truck beneath a highway bridge in the US state of Indiana, police said.

His ordeal ended when two men scouting for fishing spots noticed the badly damaged vehicle, its airbag deployed, and reached inside.

Police rescue a man after finding his damaged vehicle. Credit: AP

They touched the body, and the person turned their head and started talking to them. So, that got a little rise out of them, Indiana State Police Sergeant Glen Fifield told local news outlets.

The truck went off Interstate 94 ahead of a bridge over Salt Creek, missing the guardrail and likely rolling several times before landing on the other side of the creek, hidden out of sight from the road above, Fifield said.
Washington: Republican presidential contender Nikki Haley declined on Wednesday night to say that slavery was one of the main reasons for the US Civil War, an omission she corrected later, but not before drawing rebukes from Democrats and some of her opponents.

Haley, who is vying to be her partys nominee in the 2024 presidential election, was asked by an audience member at a town hall in northern New Hampshire what she believed to be the cause of the Civil War, according to an exchange captured by CNN and several other media outlets.

Republican presidential candidate Nikki Haley. Credit: AP

In response, Haley first paused, and said: Well, dont come at me with an easy question.

She then added: I mean, I think the cause of the Civil War was basically how government was going to run, what you could and couldnt do, the freedoms in what people could and couldnt do.
Taylor Swift and Emma Stone were, reportedly, feuding over their wedding plans. (Photo: Mario Anzuoni/File Photo/REUTERS)

In a tragic turn of events at a Taylor Swift concert in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, a 23-year-old fan, Ana Clara Benevides Machado, lost her life due to heat exhaustion, as confirmed by post-mortem examinations and an official forensic report. The incident has cast a shadow over the celebratory nature of live music events, raising serious questions about safety protocols and the responsibilities of event organizers.

Ana Clara, a dedicated fan who had traveled from Rondonopolis to Rio to attend Swift's much-anticipated Eras Tour show, succumbed to the extreme heat that soared to 39C (102F) with a "felt" temperature of 59.3C. The young psychology student fainted during Swift's second song and, despite immediate medical attention and transfer to a hospital, suffered cardiovascular shock and bleeding of the lungs, leading to her sudden death.

The tragedy struck a chord with Taylor Swift, who expressed her devastation on social media, stating, "I can't believe I'm writing these words, but it's with a shattered heart that I say we lost a fan earlier tonight before my show."

The pop icon, known for her close relationship with her fans, invited Ana Clara's grieving family to meet her at a separate show and made a personal donation, acknowledging the profound loss with, "I feel this loss deeply and my heart goes out to her family and friends."

However, the incident has opened up a broader discussion about the safety measures and facilities provided at such large-scale events. Reports from attendees like Nathalia Barbieri, who also fainted due to the heat, criticized the show's organizers, T4F, for prohibiting personal water bottles at the venue.

Although T4F asserted that "thousands of cups of water were distributed," many, including the victim's father, Weiny, are demanding clarity and accountability, especially given the allegations of insufficient water provision and assistance.

The Civil Police of Rio de Janeiro have initiated an investigation into the alleged "crime of danger to life or health" by the event organizers. This probe seeks to understand the circumstances leading to Ana Clara's death and whether more could have been done to prevent such a tragedy. As Weiny poignantly shared with Folha de S.Paulo, "I lost my only daughter, a happy and intelligent girl... She left home to fulfill a dream and came back dead."

As the music world and fans mourn the loss of a young life, the incident at Taylor Swift's Rio concert serves as a grim reminder of the importance of stringent safety measures and the urgent need for event organizers to prioritize the well-being of attendees. It's a call to action for the industry to reflect on its practices and ensure that the joy of live music is never overshadowed by preventable tragedy.
UN to mark Russia invasion of Ukraine anniversary by urging 'just peace' (Photo: President.gov.ua, CC BY 4.0 (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0), via Wikimedia Commons)

As 2024 approaches, the United States and the European Union's new assistance to Ukraine is still pending. U.S. congressional Republicans refuse to compromise on aid to Ukraine, and Hungary remains firmly against the EU's aid plan.

To demonstrate continued support for Ukraine, the Biden administration bypassed Congress and newly approved $250 million in military aid. However, this may be the last new aid the U.S. can provide before Congress relents. The EU, on the other hand, is preparing to circumvent Hungary by raising funds for Ukraine through capital market loans.

If all else fails, the U.S. is considering using the hundreds of billions of dollars in frozen assets of the Russian central bank to support Ukraine.

On December 27, the U.S. State Department announced the latest $250 million military aid package for Ukraine, including anti-air missiles and anti-armor ammunition. This is the final batch of weapons aid the U.S. will provide to Ukraine this year, and the State Department is urging Congress to act quickly to approve new aid.

Since the Russia-Ukraine conflict began in February 2022, the U.S. has provided $46 billion in military aid to Ukraine. Including the newly announced aid, the U.S. has provided three batches of military assistance to Ukraine this month, each worth around $200 million, showing a decrease in assistance.

To approve new aid for Ukraine, President Biden used the "Presidential Drawdown Authority," which allows the government to ship from the Department of Defense's existing inventory and provide military aid to foreign countries without going through Congress.

However, the $250 million aid approved on Wednesday might be the last the U.S. government can provide on its own. Mike McCord, the Pentagon's Comptroller, warned Congress that the Department of Defense's funds for military aid to Ukraine will be depleted after this month's aid is sent.

This month, the U.S. Senate rejected a $110.5 billion security assistance bill, which included $60 billion in new aid for Ukraine. As the U.S. elections approach, Republican calls to stop aid to Ukraine are growing louder, urging the money to be spent domestically. Republicans are also pressuring the Biden administration to increase efforts to limit immigration at the U.S.-Mexico border, or they will not compromise on aid to Ukraine.

Internal disputes are also affecting the EU's aid to Ukraine. At this month's EU summit, Hungary made a concession by not casting a veto vote, allowing the EU to approve the start of accession negotiations with Ukraine.

Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban believes Ukraine does not meet the conditions to join the EU and strongly opposes starting accession negotiations with Ukraine. Finally, at the suggestion of German Chancellor Scholz, Orban chose to temporarily leave the meeting room during the vote. Hungary was marked as absent in the vote, which did not affect the EU's voting outcome.

However, Orban refuses to compromise on aid to Ukraine, and the EU has not been able to pass the 50 billion euro aid plan for Ukraine.

To continue "transfusing" Ukraine, the EU is considering bypassing Hungary and raising funds for Ukraine through loans on the capital market. EU officials revealed to the Financial Times that the EU is considering two alternative plans.

One alternative plan is for EU member states willing to aid Ukraine to issue guarantees, allowing the European Commission to borrow up to 20 billion euros from the capital market for Ukraine's aid. This plan doesn't require guarantees from all 27 EU member states, just from the highest credit-rated EU members, like Germany.

But for the European Commission to issue guarantees from countries like Germany requires parliamentary approval in each country, so this plan will take several months. Another alternative plan is to extend this year's 18 billion euros in low-interest loans to Ukraine for several months to a year. This plan needs the agreement of most EU member states.

Regardless of the plan, the EU intends to provide new funds for Ukraine by March next year at the latest. If no other solution is found, the U.S. is considering pulling out a "trump card."

U.S. and European officials told The New York Times that the U.S. is discussing with G7 members whether it can confiscate the $300 billion in assets of the Russian central bank frozen in various countries for aid to Ukraine. Most of these assets are stored in European countries, and the U.S. is urging countries to submit asset confiscation plans by February next year.

However, U.S. Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen has warned that confiscating another country's frozen assets without U.S. Congress's permission would violate U.S. law. U.S. officials are also concerned that confiscating the Russian central bank's assets will scare off other countries from storing funds in the U.S.

Russian President Vladimir Putin's spokesperson warned that if the U.S. and European countries confiscate the Russian central bank's assets to support Ukraine, countries will face serious consequences, including retaliatory asset confiscation or breaking off diplomatic relations. European companies like Wintershall Dea, a subsidiary of the German chemical giant BASF, and the Austrian oil and gas company OMV, have assets in Russia.

Aid from various countries is crucial for Ukraine to continue fighting. Ukraine's projected expenditure for 2024 is 3.35 trillion hryvnia (about $91 billion), with nearly half allocated for defense.

But the country's projected fiscal revenue for 2024 is only 1.77 trillion hryvnia, with a budget deficit of 1.57 trillion hryvnia. According to Ukraine's plans, 47.4% of its 2024 expenditures will come from loans and aid from other countries and international institutions.
Hundreds of traders from the Chintpurni area in Una district shut their shops to carry out a procession through the main bazaar in protest against a passenger ropeway to the Mata Chintpurni temple.

They closed the market on Wednesday and sat on strike near Baba Maidas House, a statement issued by the traders' body on Thursday said.

The protest came in response to a 1.1-km aerial ropeway proposed to be constructed with an outlay of Rs 76.50 crore.

The ropeway, which would transport 700 passengers per hour in each direction, is aimed at enhancing the pilgrims' experience.

The state government had recently handed over a 'Letter of Award' for the development of the project to a company.

The Trade Board said that the distance to the temple is only 1 km and the ropeway will destroy the businesses of thousands of shopkeepers.

The temple administration keeps golf carts for the movement of elderly, disabled, and sick who come to the temple.

Traders said that the ropeway construction would also hamper the movement of vehicular movement from the villages.
The CM also evaded questions about rumours of his joining NDA

Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar on Thursday ducked queries about rumours of major organisational change in his Janta Dal (U) ahead of a crucial two-day party conclave which will begin in Delhi later in the day.

The JD (U) supremo in a brief interaction with journalists before boarding his flight to Delhi asserted that the party meet in Delhi was 'normal'.

"These meetings take place every year. It's normalthere is nothing specific at all. These are routine meetings", said the CM when journalists sought his views on rumours of major organisational change in JD(U) during the two-day party conclave.

His remark came in the backdrop of rumours that Kumar's key aide Rajiv Ranjan Singh 'Lalan' has told the former that he wanted to step down as JD(U) national president.

The CM evaded a direct reply when asked whether Lalan was likely to make a formal offer of his resignation at the JD(U)'s crucial meetings scheduled in Delhi on December 29.

The CM also evaded questions about rumours of his joining NDA.

His attention was also drawn to a claim of senior BJP leader Sushil Kumar Modi, who as a former deputy CM had known Kumar from close quarters, that the JD(U) supreme leader was growing uneasy with his party chief's closeness with his ally, and fearing sabotage.

The BJP leader claimed that "speculations" about Kumar's possible return to the NDA camp were being deliberately spread by his party, the JD(U), as part of his gameplan to keep the Grand Alliance partners RJD and the Congress in check in Bihar. "But the fact is that the BJP's doors have been closed for him (Nitish Kumar)," he had said.
Chinas top political advisory body removed three senior leaders at missile-making firms from its national committee, the latest sign of turmoil within the upper echelons of the nations military.



The Chinese Peoples Political Consultative Conference revoked the membership of the executives during a Wednesday meeting, state broadcaster China Central Television reported.

The body didnt specify a reason for ousting the men, who all work at state-owned firms. Its constitution states members can be removed for serious violations of its rules. The Ministry of Defense did not immediately reply to a request for comment.





This move represents further evidence the party is conducting a significant investigation into corruption in military procurement for the rocket force, said Neil Thomas, a fellow for Chinese politics at the Asia Society Policy Institutes Center for China Analysis.

All three held senior posts at major defense contractors during the period Li headed the militarys procurement department, which is now under probe for dates overlapping with his tenure. President Xi Jinping has overhauled his nations military leadership this year. Beijing ousted Li Shangfu as defense minister without explanation in October, months after replacing two top leaders of its secretive rocket force. The PLA unveiled a new navy commander this week, amid rising tensions in the South China Sea.

Wu Yansheng, who has won national awards for his contribution to the space sector, serves as chairman of China Aerospace Science and Technology Corp., which makes tactical missile systems.

Wang Changqing is an executive at China Aerospace Science & Industry Corp., which manufactures cruise missile systems. Liu Shiquan is a missile technology expert who worked for China Aerospace Science and Industry Corp. until 2022, before being transferred to China North Industries Group Corp.

CASIC is a state-owned enterprise that makes spacecraft and missile systems, while Norinco is a weapons producer for the Peoples Liberation Army.

Their names are still listed on the company websites, and its unclear whether their professional positions will be affected. Attempts to reach the companies for comment were unsuccessful.
In recent weeks, IDF soldiers led by the 162nd Division's 401st Brigade, in collaboration with Flotilla 13 and the 'Yahalom' Unit, discovered and searched three active tunnel shafts near Rantisi Hospital (Photo: PTI)

Expanding their offensive against Hamas, Israel Defence Forces located and destroyed three terror tunnel shafts belonging to the Hamas terror organization near the Rantisi Hospital and in the nearby High School on Wednesday.

The tunnel shafts, that the Hamas fighters used are dozens of metres deep and are linked by an underground network that runs beneath the hospital and into Gaza City.

"IDF troops are uncovering Hamas' tunnels inside and around multiple hospitals within Gaza. The Rantisi Hospital is just another terrorist stronghold used to connect and transfer terrorists and weapons throughout Gaza to be used against Israelis," the IDF wrote in a post on X (formerly Twitter), after recovering the tunnel.

In recent weeks, IDF soldiers led by the 162nd Division's 401st Brigade, in collaboration with Flotilla 13 and the 'Yahalom' Unit, discovered and searched three active tunnel shafts near Rantisi Hospital.

'Yahalom' soldiers searched the region, as well as the shafts and tunnels, employing a variety of methods to map the topography of the tunnels and the linkages between the shafts.

Notably, Yahalom is a sayeret unit of the Israeli Combat Engineering Corps of the Israel Defence Forces (IDF).

According to the IDF, this operation revealed that the shafts are connected by a wide underground network passing under the hospital, spanning several kilometres, and leading to strategic points in the heart of Gaza City.

"The tunnel in Rantisi is close to a school and leads to another school in the area. The tunnel also served as a command and control centre for conducting combat in the northern Gaza Strip and for carrying out terrorist attacks," the IDF said.

The Israeli forces said that the operational shaft was located in a girls' school in the area was about 20 meters deep and included an elevator and electrical infrastructure.

"Following intelligence information directed by Unit 504 of the Intelligence Directorate, another operational shaft was located inside one of the hideout residences used by one of the commanders of Hamas' naval unit in the Gaza Strip," the IDF said.

Junctions and blast doors were placed in the tunnels' topography to prevent IDF soldiers from breaking in and to secure the tunnel system.

The tunnel infrastructure and shafts were demolished in a coordinated operation by soldiers from the 'Yahalom' Unit and engineering soldiers from the 14th Brigade, the IDF added.

The discovery of the shafts near the hospital and school exemplifies Hamas' unscrupulous use of civilians. Exposing Hamas' exploitation of Gaza people, especially refugees and children, as human shields

The Tzabar Battalion and the 52nd Battalion conducted raids and scans of buildings in the hospital area, where major terror infrastructure, including command and control centres, media equipment, maps, aids, and numerous weapons, was discovered.

Earlier on Tuesday this week, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said that Israel is making "every effort" to bring back the hostages held captive by Hamas in the Gaza Strip and won't be stopping until it achieves victory, Times of Israel reported.

"We aren't stopping and we won't stop until victory because we have no other land and no other path," he said while being booed by the family members of hostages in Hamas captivity.

In the ongoing conflict between Israel and Hamas, troops of the Nahal Brigade raided two schools in Gaza City's Daraj and Tuffah neighbourhoods, CNN reported. The IDF said raids were carried out following intelligence of Hamas operatives hiding at the complexes.

Hamas's Daraj-Tuffah battalion is believed by the IDF to be the last standing battalion in northern Gaza. According to the IDF, the troops during the raids encountered and killed several Hamas gunmen. Dozens of explosive devices, assault rifles, and 15 explosive belts were found in the complexes.

In one incident, a Hamas terrorist fired a missile from one of the schools at the troops.

Netanyahu also visited the war zone in the Palestinian coastal enclave. He said the war against Hamas in Gaza is far from over, The Times of Israel reported.
There's been no shortage of tough news for China's economy as some of the world's biggest brands consider or take action to shift manufacturing to friendlier shores at a time of unease about security controls, protectionism and wobbly relations between Beijing and Washington.

Count Adidas, Apple and Samsung among those looking elsewhere.

But as a tumultuous 2023 for the Chinese economy comes to a close, there has been at least one bright spot for Beijing when it comes to foreign investment: American fast-food chains have decided a market of 1.4 billion people is simply too delicious to pass up.

KFC China's parent company opened its 10,000th restaurant in China last month and aims to have stores within reach of half of China's population by 2026. McDonald's is planning to open 3,500 new stores in China over the next four years. And Starbucks invested $220 million in a manufacturing and distribution facility in eastern China, its biggest project outside the U.S.

This is surely not what Chinese President Xi Jinping had in mind as he made the case to American CEOs about the upside of China's super-large market last month while he was in San Francisco for a summit of world leaders. The investments in fast food and other consumer goods, while Washington is curbing exports of computer chips and other advanced technology, don't fit into China's own blueprint for modernizing its economy.

As you try to interpret the signals from McDonald's and Starbucks" and other chains, says Phil Levy, chief economist at the supply chain management firm Flexport, note what the industries are: These are not high-tech burgers.'



And while some U.S. companies are increasing investments in the world's second-largest economy, overall foreign investment began falling this year. In the July-September quarter, net foreign direct investment in China sank to a deficit of $11.8 billion, the first quarterly deficit since Beijing began publishing the data in 1998.

As tensions simmer between China and its Western trading partners, many multinational companies are shifting investments to other places, such as Southeast Asia or India, or repatriating their earnings. That has sapped China of a key engine when its economy has yet to fully recover from the disruptions of the pandemic and a property industry crisis that has been a drag on growth.

Beijing puts some of the blame on U.S. government policies.

Commerce Ministry spokesperson Shu Jueting said recently, The U.S. side has repeatedly politicized economic, trade and technology issues and overstretched the concept of security, abused export control measures, and restricted trade and investment in China by its own enterprises, which is forcing enterprises to give up opportunities in the Chinese market and opportunities for win-win cooperation."



A survey released in September by the U.S.-China Business Council, which represents American companies in China, suggested that the uncertainty has taken a toll: 43% of its members said China's business environment had deteriorated in the past year, and 83% said they were less optimistic about China than they had been three years ago. Twenty-one percent said they were investing fewer resources in China, versus just 10% who were investing more.

Surveys of European and Japanese companies have shown similar results.

While China's market is gigantic, it's ailing. Unemployment among young Chinese rose to over 20% by June, the last time the government released that data. Housing prices are falling and the stock market is down nearly 15% since the summer. That's left many Chinese feeling nervous about spending.

Still, bullishness for China as other industries try to de-risk and detangle from Beijing may be a profit-increasing strategy for the fast-food industry.

We believe there is no better time to simplify our structure, given the tremendous opportunity to capture increased demand and further benefit from our fastest-growing market's long-term potential, McDonald's CEO Chris Kempczinski said as the Chicago-based company announced in November it was increasing its minority 20% ownership of its McDonald's licensed stores in China, Macau and Hong Kong to 48%.

Burgers and lattes don't raise the sorts of friction that more high-tech industries have in the complicated U.S.-China relationship. Those strains have persisted under the presidency of Joe Biden, who took office vowing to do more to counter China's expanding military clout and its menacing of neighbors, to improve the country's treatment of Uyghur and other ethnic minorities, and to crack down on intellectual property theft.

Relations hit a low point in February when Biden ordered a Chinese spy balloon that traversed the continental United States to be shot down. Beijing, which claims self-governed Taiwan as its own territory, also protested a stopover in the U.S. by the island's president, Tsai Ing-wen, earlier this year. China answered fresh U.S. controls on exports of advanced computer chips and the technology to make them with limits of its own on exports of vital commodities like graphite, gallium and germanium, all metals used in making semiconductors, solar panels, missiles and radar.

The relationship appears to be stabilizing somewhat as 2023 winds down, highlighted by last month's Biden and Xi meeting outside San Francisco. But since then, Biden's top advisers have said there are no plans to shift the strategy of tightening regulations and blocking U.S.-based high-tech investments in China, citing the need to safeguard national security.

Both former President Donald Trump, the 2024 GOP presidential front-runner, and Biden have worried about depending on China, a potential adversary, for supplies of critical materials used in many high-tech products. Both have sought to reduce America's reliance on Chinese factories and have encouraged companies to shift away from China to other countries so-called friend-shoring.

Still, Biden administration officials have said they don't want to see a total decoupling of the world's two biggest economies.

De-risking, yes. Decoupling, no, Nicholas Burns, the U.S. ambassador to China, said at a recent event in Washington. We want to continue a major trade and investment relationship with China, just not ... in the realm that might help them leapfrog over us sometime in the next 10 years in military technology.

Rosemary Coates, executive director of the nonprofit Reshoring Institute, noted that decisions to expand or retrench are relatively easy for a company like McDonald's or its fast-food rivals.

Franchises can be opened or closed," Coates said. It's not like you're investing in an auto plant or some kind of machine shop.

China's vast market is vital for many foreign companies: At their annual investors day gathering this month, McDonald's executives noted that 70 million of the 150 million customers active in its customer loyalty program are in China.

KFC China says growth in its new outlets has averaged more than 22% over the last five years. The chain Popeyes Louisiana Kitchen relaunched its brand in China in August with a flagship restaurant in Shanghai and plans to open 1,700 stores over the next 10 years.

But for all the promise of China's huge market, U.S. businesses have other reasons to think twice about expanding in China.

In July, the U.S. recommended Americans reconsider traveling to China because of arbitrary law enforcement and exit bans and the risk of wrongful detentions. Commerce Secretary Gina Raimondo has warned Chinese leaders that U.S. businesses might stop investing in their country if they do not address complaints about worsening conditions due to raids on firms, unexplained fines and unpredictable official behavior.

While insisting that China is keen to have foreign investment, Beijing has given no indication it might change trade, market access and other policies that irk Washington and its other trading partners.

Where do you draw the line?' asked Levy, a former White House economic adviser in George W. Bush's administration. Someone might say: For sourcing sensitive computer chips, this has to be done in a place I really trust. The other extreme is: We're OK selling them lattes and burgers.



Savoury signs



KFC China's parent company opened its 10,000th restaurant last month

It aims to have stores within reach of half of China's population by 2026

McDonald's is planning to open 3,500 new stores in China over the next four years

Starbucks invested $220 million in a manufacturing and distribution facility




However, while this influx may be indicative of a vibrant market, it also brings to the fore significant concerns about the high-risk nature of these trades and the relatively low success rate among participants. To navigate the risks inherent in futures and options trading,



A Closer Look at the Derivatives Market in India



The recent upsurge in F&O trading can be attributed to a confluence of factors. Notably, stock exchanges have restructured some options contracts to enable more efficient and cost-effective trades. Parallel to this, the rapid growth of online trading platforms has significantly democratised access to these markets.



The result is a marked increase in the daily average value of assets underlying stock options  which has more than doubled between March and October to a staggering $4.2 trillion, as per exchange data. This spike in activity, however, is not solely driven by traditional investment strategies; it is also significantly fueled by a growing speculative trend within the markets.



However, this surge in trading activity comes with its caveats. Cognizant of the risks involved, the Securities and Exchange Board of India (SEBI) has adopted a cautious stance and issued warnings. Market analysts also echo these concerns, having observed that the surge in options activity is used more for speculative than for hedging purposes. This trend poses a risk of magnifying market volatility and can lead to steep financial losses, especially for inexperienced traders.



Speaking of the inherently risky nature of the futures and options segment, Nilesh Sharma, Executive Director & President of SAMCO Securities, explains how the risks and rewards match up.



While the F&O market offers substantial opportunities for wealth creation, it also demands discipline and a deeper understanding of market dynamics. The recent surge in participation from retail investors is encouraging, but it also necessitates a greater focus on spreading awareness about the inherent risks and how to navigate them effectively. For inexperienced traders without the right risk mitigation strategies, it can lead to substantial losses. However, with the right tools, traders can leverage the unique opportunities for hedging and leveraging positions in the F&O segment.



Sharma further delves into how SAMCO Securities helps traders bridge the gap between the risks and rewards in F&O trading with post-trade analysis.



Each trade offers valuable insights, and at SAMCO, our focus is on harnessing these unseen insights  or Andekha Sach as we call them  to enhance risk management in F&O trading. By meticulously analysing post-trade data, we provide traders with actionable feedback that directly impacts their future trading decisions. This approach is crucial for navigating the complexities of the F&O market.



Sharmas insights and SAMCOs offerings are particularly relevant in the current era of F&O trading, which is dominated by younger retail investors aged between 20 and 30 years. Yet, the high-risk nature of these markets is evident in the fact that the top 5% of active profit makers accounted for the majority of the total net profits. This concentration of success among a small fraction of traders, coupled with the average loss of Rs 1.1 lakh among the majority who incurred losses, highlights the challenging and speculative nature of F&O trading.



Key Risk Management Strategies for F&O Traders



Trading in futures and options is accompanied by various uncertainties and risks that traders must navigate carefully. Market risk, stemming from fluctuations in asset prices, is one such uncertainty. It can significantly impact the value of positions held in these derivatives. Liquidity risk is another concern, where traders might find it challenging to enter or exit positions without substantial price changes.



Leverage risk, also common in F&O trading, amplifies both potential gains and losses. Additionally, traders face counterparty risk as well, where the other party in the contract may default on their obligations. Addressing these risks requires a multifaceted approach that includes various strategies, as outlined below:

Indias financial markets are witnessing a paradigm shift, which is particularly evident in the dramatic rise of futures and options (F&O) trading in the country. This sector, once the domain of seasoned investors, is now attracting an increasing number of retail traders who are drawn by the allure of potentially high returns.However, while this influx may be indicative of a vibrant market, it also brings to the fore significant concerns about the high-risk nature of these trades and the relatively low success rate among participants. To navigate the risks inherent in futures and options trading, SAMCO Securities offers a proprietary, industry-first feature in its trading app. Aptly named My Trade Story, this feature analyses billions of data points from past trades and gives traders personalised unseen insights or Andekha Sach, so they can mitigate the risks, hedge their positions and improve their F&O trading performance.The recent upsurge in F&O trading can be attributed to a confluence of factors. Notably, stock exchanges have restructured some options contracts to enable more efficient and cost-effective trades. Parallel to this, the rapid growth of online trading platforms has significantly democratised access to these markets.The result is a marked increase in the daily average value of assets underlying stock options  which has more than doubled between March and October to a staggering $4.2 trillion, as per exchange data. This spike in activity, however, is not solely driven by traditional investment strategies; it is also significantly fueled by a growing speculative trend within the markets.However, this surge in trading activity comes with its caveats. Cognizant of the risks involved, the Securities and Exchange Board of India (SEBI) has adopted a cautious stance and issued warnings. Market analysts also echo these concerns, having observed that the surge in options activity is used more for speculative than for hedging purposes. This trend poses a risk of magnifying market volatility and can lead to steep financial losses, especially for inexperienced traders.Speaking of the inherently risky nature of the futures and options segment, Nilesh Sharma, Executive Director & President of SAMCO Securities, explains how the risks and rewards match up.Sharma further delves into how SAMCO Securities helps traders bridge the gap between the risks and rewards in F&O trading with post-trade analysis.Sharmas insights and SAMCOs offerings are particularly relevant in the current era of F&O trading, which is dominated by younger retail investors aged between 20 and 30 years. Yet, the high-risk nature of these markets is evident in the fact that the top 5% of active profit makers accounted for the majority of the total net profits. This concentration of success among a small fraction of traders, coupled with the average loss of Rs 1.1 lakh among the majority who incurred losses, highlights the challenging and speculative nature of F&O trading.Trading in futures and options is accompanied by various uncertainties and risks that traders must navigate carefully. Market risk, stemming from fluctuations in asset prices, is one such uncertainty. It can significantly impact the value of positions held in these derivatives. Liquidity risk is another concern, where traders might find it challenging to enter or exit positions without substantial price changes.Leverage risk, also common in F&O trading, amplifies both potential gains and losses. Additionally, traders face counterparty risk as well, where the other party in the contract may default on their obligations. Addressing these risks requires a multifaceted approach that includes various strategies, as outlined below:

Diversification to Mitigate Risks

Diversification is crucial for reducing risk exposure in F&O trading. By spreading their investments across different asset classes, traders can minimise the impact of adverse market movements on their entire portfolio. This strategy helps in balancing the risk-reward ratio and increases the possibility of the performance of one investment setting off the losses in another.



Stop-Loss Orders to Limit Potential Losses

Implementing stop-loss orders is another pivotal strategy for controlling losses in volatile F&O markets. These orders automatically close a position at a predetermined price  thus limiting the potential losses on a trade. By setting these limits for every open position in the derivatives market, traders can manage their risk exposure and prevent significant financial downturns from unexpected market movements.



Position Sizing to Cut Down Risk

Effective position sizing ensures that traders do not overexpose themselves in a single trade. It involves determining the appropriate amount of capital to allocate to each trade based on the overall trading capital, risk tolerance and prevailing market trends. This strategy is essential to prevent disproportionate losses and maintain a healthy trading account balance.



Hedging to Protect Against Market Downturns

Hedging is an advanced strategy used to offset potential losses in F&O trading. This can involve taking an opposite position in a related asset or using derivatives like options to protect against adverse price movements. Effective hedging strategies help stabilise a traders asset portfolio when the market moves unexpectedly or contrary to the anticipated trend. This, in turn, reduces the overall risk exposure.



Managing Risk and Improving Trading Success in the F&O Segment with SAMCO Securities



For risk management strategies to be effective, traders require the right tools and insights. Whats equally crucial is that these insights need to be made available in a timely manner. SAMCO Securities has succeeded in striking this balance with My Trade Story  a unique, industry-first feature integrated into its trading app.



This feature gives F&O traders hidden insights about their trades, so they can assess their strengths, identify their weaknesses and take corrective action promptly. Nilesh Sharma explains why My Trade Story is a game changer for futures and options traders across the country.



In F&O trading, understanding your own trading behaviour is crucial for managing risk. My Trade Story provides these details by meticulously analysing each trade. It helps identify which strategies are working and which are not, so traders can focus on profitable tactics while discarding or improving the less successful ones.



For instance, if a trader repeatedly incurs losses in specific market conditions or with certain options strategies, My Trade Story will highlight these patterns. This allows traders to either avoid such techniques or approach them with a revised strategy, thus reducing their risk exposure significantly. Ultimately, My Trade Story equips traders to make data-driven decisions and sharpens their approach to each F&O trade. This leads to a more calculated and informed trading strategy, reduces unnecessary risks and enhances the potential for consistent profitability.



Sharma is on the money about My Trade Story being a powerful tool that significantly aids traders in the futures and options segment. Here are several ways in which it helps manage risks:



Comprehensive Post-Trade Analysis

For F&O traders, understanding the outcome of each trade is crucial. My Trade Story helps with this by providing a detailed analysis of every trade executed. This includes the success and failure of different strategies, whether in index options, stock futures or other derivatives. Such analysis helps traders learn from their past actions and makes it easier to differentiate successful strategies from those that carry higher risks.



Strike Rate Evaluation

In F&O trading, the strike rate  or the percentage of successful trades  is critical. My Trade Story helps traders monitor their strike rate across different derivative strategies and categories. This information is vital in assessing the effectiveness of the strategies used under various market conditions. A higher strike rate in a particular segment, say index options, might encourage a trader to allocate more resources there, while a lower rate in another segment might signal the need for strategy revision or additional caution.



Average Win/Loss Size Analysis

Understanding the average size of wins and losses is also pivotal in F&O trading. My Trade Story breaks down these figures, so traders can evaluate the profitability of their strategies more easily. For instance, a trader might discover that while their overall strike rate is high, the average size of losses on failed trades is significantly larger than the wins. This insight can lead to strategy adjustments like setting tighter stop-loss orders or reducing position sizes in riskier trades.



Holding Period Insights

The holding period or the duration for which positions are held is another critical factor in F&O trading. My Trade Story analyses and presents data on holding periods to help traders understand their tendencies to remain in or exit certain positions. For example, if a trader tends to hold losing positions for longer periods in the hope of a market reversal, My Trade Story highlights this pattern and encourages more disciplined exit strategies to minimise losses.



SAMCOs My Trade Story  A One-Stop Solution to Comprehensive F&O Risk Management



Harnessing the power of sophisticated analytical tools like My Trade Story is pivotal for traders looking to refine their strategies and manage risks in F&O trading. This tool from SAMCO Securities stands out as a comprehensive solution for traders seeking to gain a deeper understanding of their trading patterns, successes and areas for improvement.



With features such as strike rate analysis, average win/loss size and holding period insights, My Trade Story goes beyond basic trading analytics and offers a personalised view of trading performance. Moreover, the actionable insights provided as a part of the My Trade Story feature further empower traders to make informed decisions about their trading strategies. This level of introspection and course correction is crucial in a market where every decision can have significant financial implications.
Wednesday, December 27, 2023 at 10:32PM

Netflix is bringing its highly anticipated sci-fi drama series 3 Body Problem to CES 2024, where it will offer attendees a chance to step into the mysterious world of the show through a virtual reality headset.

The streaming giant will have a booth at the Central Hall of the Las Vegas Convention Center. It will showcase an immersive experience based on the series, which is adapted from the best-selling novel trilogy by Cixin Liu. The virtual experience will feature the series trailer, which will be unveiled for the first time at CES, as well as clues about the main plot of the show.

3 Body Problem follows a group of scientists and a detective who must face the consequences of a young womans decision in 1960s China that affects the fate of humanity across space and time. The series, which will premiere on March 21, 2024, is created by David Benioff and D.B. Weiss (Game of Thrones) and Alexander Woo (The Terror: Infamy), and stars John Bradley, Jess Hong and Sea Shimooka.

Netflix will also host a press preview of the trailer and the VR experience on Tuesday, January 9, from 10-11 a.m. at its booth, where the creators and the cast will be available for interviews. In addition, Netflix will have a presence at the C Space exhibition area at the Aria Resort & Casino, where it will meet with partners and clients and transform Easys Cocktail Lounge into the Netflix Speakeasy.

Source
Every year, many students travel to countries like the United States, Australia, and the United Kingdom for education. These countries are known for offering high-quality education and better career opportunities. If you're thinking about studying abroad, it's crucial to know about intake dates. These are the times when universities start accepting applications for the upcoming term. For 2024, here's a breakdown: January to May for Spring Intake, May to August for Summer Intake, and September to December (or early January) for Autumn Intake.

What does "study abroad intake 2024" mean?

Studying abroad can be an amazing experience for students, giving them a chance to dive into a new culture, pick up a new language, and see the world from a different viewpoint. But for students thinking about studying abroad, it's crucial to understand the study abroad intake schedule.

"Study abroad intake 2024" simply refers to the dates when a university or program starts taking applications from international students. These dates differ from one institution or program to another, so students should do some research and plan accordingly. Study abroad intake dates can vary between universities and programs. They are usually categorized into three main periods: Autumn Intake, Spring Intake, and Summer Intake. Let's explore each one:

Autumn Intake

Autumn Intake is when most universities welcome the highest number of students. It usually happens from September to December (though some universities may start accepting applications as early as August). During this time, there are many courses available, and students can explore numerous scholarship and internship opportunities. However, keep in mind that Autumn Intake attracts a lot of applicants, making the acceptance rate lower. It's advisable for students to start preparing at least 10 months to a year before the beginning of Autumn Intake to make sure they have everything ready for the admissions period.

Spring Intake

Spring Intake is another time when students can apply to international institutions. It starts in January and goes until May, providing another chance for admission. In some places like Canada and the UK, courses begin in January. Spring Intake is sometimes also called Winter Intake. Not all universities offer Spring Intake, especially for popular courses, so there might be fewer choices during this period. However, because there are usually fewer applications, acceptance rates are higher, and class sizes are smaller. Applying during Spring Intake also gives students more time to prepare for their applications and any required exams.

Summer Intake 2024

The Summer intake is a shorter option for studying abroad, typically from May to July or August. It's not as common as the Fall and Spring intakes, but some universities provide summer programs designed for international students. Summer intake is great for students who want to learn more about a specific subject, explore a new field, or participate in hands-on learning experiences. These programs might include language courses, research internships, or short-term study programs that let students earn credits during their summer break.

Intakes can vary based on the program and the institution. In some places, intakes may also be called terms or semesters. Always check your preferred institution's official website to find out about the available intake periods.

What to think about before applying?

Before applying for a study abroad program, it's crucial to look into the intake schedule and plan accordingly. Here are some points to consider before applying for the 2024 academic year:
Illuminations new animated movie Migration stars a family of ducks flying south for the winter. To celebrate its release, were taking a look at some of our favorite ducks throughout cartoon history.

We have to start things off with the greatest duck of all, Daffy Duck, who is  in his own words  just sloppin over with talent. The moment Tex Avery introduced Daffy in Porkys Duck Hunt (1937), the cartoon world was sent hurtling into a new, more anarchic direction. Heres Daffy finding a workaround to the whole migration routine in the Robert McKimson classic Birth of a Notion (1947).

If Daffy is the best of all cartoon ducks, Donald Duck runs a close second. Clarence Nash first developed Donalds unique manner of speech on vaudeville, although it was intended to be the voice of a nervous baby goat, not a duck. When Nash auditioned for Disney as an animal impressionist, director Wilfred Jackson recognized something special and switched on the intercom that went directly to Walt Disneys office. Disney supposedly ran into Jacksons office and exclaimed, Thats our talking duck! With the emphatic exception of Fleischer characters like Popeye and Betty Boop, most cartoon stars of the early 1930s were plucky mischief-makers with generic falsetto voices; Donalds unique voice and short fuse instantly set him apart and established a precedent for cartoon characters with personalities as readily identifiable as the best live-action comedians. Heres a prime Donald scene from Billposters (1940), featuring some great acting by animator Ed Love.

Lots of studios tried their own spin on Clarence Nashs duck voice. One of the oddest attempts is Duckie Wuckie, a duck caricature of Mae West, who appeared in the Max Fleischer short Chicken a la King (1937). Jack Mercer, the voice of Popeye, trying to sound like a mallard seductress (se-duck-tress?) results in one of the weirdest vocal performances of all time.

Tex Avery did some duck hunting in his spare time, and he seemed to get a kick out of ridiculing his own hobby. Averys brilliant MGM short Lucky Ducky (1948) stars a wacky waterfowl that heckles two dopey hunters in a frantic series of increasingly surreal gags.

Speaking of MGM ducks, lets not forget Quacker, a self-pitying little yellow duckling who appeared in a number of Tom & Jerry shorts. Quackers voice was provided by nightclub comic Red Coffey. Here he is in his debut short Little Quacker (1950).

William Hanna and Joseph Barbera mustve been fond of Quacker, because they brought him back for tv, only now voiced by Jimmy Weldon and rechristened Yakky Doodle. Yakky starred in his own segment on The Yogi Bear Show, and was often teamed with colorful antagonists like Alfy Gator, a spoof of director Alfred Hitchcock.

Baby Huey, a gargantuan young moron created by animator Marty Taras, starred in thirteen theatrical animated shorts in the 1950s. Hueys cartoons are a prime example of Famous Studios signature blend of saccharine cuteness and almost bloodthirsty cartoon violence. I tend to think of Huey as a slightly obscure character, but maybe Im wrong; he was popular enough to score a 1990s reboot The Baby Huey Show, and he was even name-dropped by U.S. President Bill Clinton, who once said, Im a lot like Baby Huey. Im fat. Im ugly. But if you push me down, I keep coming back. Heres a scene from Hueys debut, Quack-a-Doodle-Doo (1950).

The Terrytoons studio had their own duck character, the adorable Dinky Duck, who appeared in several cartoons throughout the 1940s and 50s. These films were strictly routine until Dinkys final appearance, Its a Living (1957), where directors Gene Deitch and Winfield Hoskins completely demolished the formula by having Dinky get fed up with his own series and quit the animation business altogether! This beautiful Cinemascope print comes from Steve Stanchfield.

Forbes ranked Donalds miserly uncle Scrooge McDuck as the richest fictional character of all time, estimating that his worth is $65.4 billion. Im not sure where they came up with that number, as Scrooges creator Carl Barks once claimed that Scrooges fortune adds up to one multiplujillion, nine obsquatumatillion, six hundred twenty-three dollars and sixty-two cents. Scrooge made his first comic book appearance back in 1947, and he has gone on to appear in various animated shorts, tv series, and feature films. His best known film role is the holiday classic Mickeys Christmas Carol (1983), but his animation debut was in the little-seen educational short Scrooge McDuck and Money (1967). Scrooge is performed here by Bill Thompson (the voice of Droopy), doing the same Scottish brogue he used for Jock in Lady and the Tramp.

Donalds girlfriend Daisy and his nephews Huey, Dewey, and Louie made frequent appearances in the classic theatrical Disney shorts, but various other residents of Duckburg have subsequently been added to the DDEU (Donald Duck Extended Universe). One of my favorites is Ludwig Von Drake, a Viennese pseudo-intellectual voiced by Paul Frees, who frequently appeared on Walt Disneys Wonderful World of Color in the 1960s to lecture about science, art, child psychology, etc. Watch Ludwig go to town in his only theatrical short, A Symposium on Popular Songs (1962), in a scene animated by Ward Kimball.

Disney Television Animation has continued to ride the duck train with animated series like DuckTales, Quack Pack, Mighty Ducks: The Animated Series, and Darkwing Duck. This intro to the two-part Darkwing Duck pilot from 1991 features some impressively fluid and expressive animation.

Like Donald, Daffy has inspired his share of spin-off characters. Plucky Duck from Tiny Toon Adventures is essentially a younger version of Daffy, but Pluckys spaced-out love interest Shirley the Loon (who speaks in a Valley Girl accent provided by Gail Matthius) is a fun new addition.

Another Daffy-adjacent character: Clarence, star of the canceled live-action/animated movie The Duck, which was supposed to be about a real duck that turns into a cartoon superhero. The film was developed in 1998 by Uli Meyer, who was hot off of his stint as a supervising animator on Space Jam. For some reason, Daffy Ducks design was used for the test footage, although Clarence presumably wouldve looked different in the finished film. Funding for the movie ultimately fell through, but Meyers nine-minute proof-of-concept film is a fascinating curio.

Sally Cruikshanks characters Quasi and Anita are so heavily abstracted that its easy to forget that theyre supposed to be ducks, but that all goes along with the off-kilter style of these wonderfully bizarre indie shorts. Heres a typically weird moment from Quasi at the Quackadero (1975).

So many cartoon ducks have appeared in animated tv series for kids, either as the lead characters (Sitting Ducks, Breadwinners) or supporting players (Wade from Garfield and Friends, Le Quack from Courage the Cowardly Dog) that I couldnt possibly name them all. One that deserves mention is Count Duckula, a macabre British tv series that ran from 1988 to 1993 about a vegetarian vampire duck.

And then theres Duckman, the cult 90s animated series created by Everett Peck, who sadly died from pancreatic cancer last year. The series was produced by Klasky-Csupo, and it shares the same rough-hewn art style as Rugrats and Aaahh!! Real Monsters, despite being aimed at an older audience. The shows belligerent lead character Eric Duckman (voiced by Jason Alexander) has some great rants, including this memorable one about the value of comedy.

One of the most unsung cartoon fowls is Yuckie Duck, who appeared in a couple of hilarious shorts on Cartoon Networks anthology series The What a Cartoon! Show. The feverishly insane drawings here are unabashedly cartoony and I cant get enough. Its a crime that creator Pat Ventura never got to helm his own animated series. Heres a scene from Yuckies second cartoon Im On My Way (1995).

And thats just scratching the surface. I havent even mentioned the early webtoon Queer Duck or the raunchy X-rated feature Down and Dirty Duck, directed and almost single-handedly animated by Chuck Swenson, who later co-created the Cartoon Network series Mike, Lu & Og.

But lets turn it over to you: who are your favorite cartoon ducks? Let us know in the comments below.
Yoshiyuki Tomino, an anime industry veteran of more than 50 years and the creator of the iconic Gundam franchise, recently sat down with Japanese publication Toyo Keizai to discuss the current state of the his countrys animation industry.

According to Tomino, anime is in the middle of a historic boom, but hes concerned about the future.

I think it would be difficult to say that better work than what is being produced now will come out, he told the publication before warning that hes seen recent changes that could derail the good thing the Japanese industry has going.

After switching from hand-drawn to digital animation, many of Disneys works became disappointing. But thats how theyre produced, he explained, arguing that if Japanese producers follow suit, theyll see a similar dip in quality.

Tomino says that since Bandai Namco Group reorganized its business and moved his offices into a new, state-of-the-art facility, hes been unhappy with the work environment, which he believes is not conducive to creating enduring artwork.

This magnificent building has been completely digitalized and has excellent air conditioning, he started before explaining why modernization isnt necessarily a good thing. Its like Disneys boring digital production system today. A creative person must have a crazy side, spiritual, earthy, and indie-like. If you can create a piece of art in a space with fully controlled air conditioning, I think you should do it. But when I look back at something like Machiko Hasegawas Sazae-san, I get the sense that it was drawn in a drafty workplace during the post-war period when manga began to appear. I feel there is a danger that sense may disappear.

Tomino also lamented that he had noticed a fundamental change in his own creation over time. In the case of Gundam, however, the creator says its been driven by audience taste rather than shifting production techniques.

To tell you the truth, I feel that the fundamental messages I put into Gundam, such as theories about society and war, are hindered by the design of the giant robot called Gundam and arent being conveyed as well as I would like, he explained. Children like dinosaurs and giant robots, and Gundams popularity is an extension of that.
Armenia imposes 6-month cement import ban

ICR Newsroom By 28 December 2023

The Armenian government has banned imports from third countries for a period of six months. The step was taken to create favourable conditions for local cement producers.



The adoption of the decision is due to the need to regulate the importation of cement from third countries and to create equal conditions for cement produced and imported in the local cement market indicates government text.



In the January-October 2023 period, 0.965Mt of cement were produced in Armenia, up 20.1 per cent YoY. In addition, 173,000t of cement was imported in the January-September 2023 period, up 5.7 times when compared with the previous year. State import duties were reduced from AMD14,000 (US$34.74) to ARD2000. Georgia and the Russian Federation were key importers.



The import ban comes into force on 18 January and will remain valid until 18 July 2024.

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Recently, Hamilton County District Attorney Coty Wamp announced that in 2023, her office had transferred the cases of 14 juvenile offenders to criminal court to be tried as adults. According to DA Wamp, these transfers are necessary to deter other juvenile offenders from engaging in criminal activity, thus promoting public safety.

However, the evidence does not support this claim. Studies have shown that trying children as adults does not reduce crime and may even lead to worse outcomes. For example, one study found that the arrest rate for violent crimes committed by juveniles in Idaho increased 13 percent after the state implemented a juvenile transfer law. Another study, which analyzed juvenile arrest rates in New York, found that a state law that automatically sent juveniles charged with violent crimes to adult court had no deterrent effect on juvenile crime. Several similar studies also support the conclusion that transferring more juveniles to adult court does not reduce the juvenile crime rate.

Furthermore, some studies have even found that trying juveniles as adults increases their likelihood of committing future crimes. For example, a study done by the CDC found that in Florida, youths sent to the adult system were 34 percent more likely to be rearrested for felonies than those retained in the juvenile system.

According to researcher Dr. Richard E. Redding, there are several possible explanations for this phenomenon, including the stigmatization and other negative effects of labeling juveniles as convicted felons, the sense of resentment and injustice juveniles feel about being tried as adults, the decreased focus on rehabilitation and family support in the adult system, and the learning of criminal mores and behavior from adult criminals. The harsh environment of the adult criminal legal system likely contributes to a cycle of criminal behavior rather than rehabilitation, increasing the crime rate and making society less safe.

When considering juvenile crime, it is also essential to understand the impact of adolescent brain development on behavior. One of the main differences between adult and adolescent brains is that adolescents brains lack prefrontal cortex development. Because of this, adolescents struggle to understand the risks and consequences of their actions, manage impulse control, and cope with stressful situations such as economic instability and violence. All adolescents experience a period of brain development that makes them more susceptible to crime, but youth suffering from mental health disorders are at even greater risk. Approximately 70 percent of youth in the juvenile system have a diagnosable mental health disorder, and over 90 percent have at least one Adverse Childhood Experience (ACE), such as witnessing or experiencing violence, growing up in extreme poverty, or having a parent incarcerated. The lack of brain development in juveniles makes them fundamentally less culpable than adults and often plays a major role in juveniles criminal behavior.

To be clear, this is not to say that it is never appropriate to try juveniles as adults. However, it is a decision that must not be taken lightly and should be made only after careful consideration of the circumstances of each individual case. In most cases, though, it is in the best interest of both the juveniles and society to keep young offenders in juvenile court. This is because the primary goal of juvenile courts is rehabilitation and treatment rather than punishment. The principles underlying the juvenile system are based on the understanding that adolescents are still developing and can be positively influenced to lead law-abiding lives. Juvenile courts can provide meaningful and practical solutions to address juvenile crime through restorative justice practices, evidence-based interventions, and collaborative efforts with community-based organizations while also ensuring that juvenile offenders are held accountable. Through these measures, the juvenile system can address the root causes of criminal behavior and offer interventions to guide children toward becoming productive members of society.

Tyler Foster

A native of Chattanooga, Tyler Foster is "a formerly incarcerated individual who is passionate about creating a more equitable criminal legal system." He serves on the Board of Directors for Chattanoogans in Action for Love, Equality, and Benevolence, a nonprofit, nonpartisan organization that works on criminal legal reform. He also serves on the Governance Committee of the Formerly Incarcerated College Graduates Network, a national nonprofit organization that helps formerly incarcerated individuals pursue higher education. He graduated summa cum laude from the University of Memphis in May 2023 and will be attending law school next fall.

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As Mr. Foster alluded to, I prefer to let our elected official, District Attorney Coty Wamp, make the decision regarding moving juveniles to adult court. I support her 100 percent.

Ernie McCarson

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I agree with Mr. Foster. Many of these young people, especially those going on to commit even serious crimes, have been broken down at such a young, vulnerable and impressionable age, the outcome is predictable. Many in the field of child behaviors have been warning for decades.

When you break children like limbs from trees and carve worthless, failure, monster, (read the book "Monster"--Walter Dean Myers) and label them with other derogatory names on their souls, conscience and tiny masks, along with the physical abuse so many have endured earlier on in life, you risk the chance producing more hardened criminals without a conscience.

Some years ago, studies were showing young people committing crimes were imitating things that had been done to them while being stopped. Down to and including invasive pat downs and such.

You can see the change emerging in many of these young people, especially young boys, by third grade. I personally witnessed it working in the school system over 30 years ago. They came into school being those inquisitive, impish, curious, excited little tykes...with that light in their eyes. Then by third grade the light was gone and replaced with this dull stare.

Girls often internalize their pain, and commit self destructive acts. While boys go inward and out, self destructing and exploding on society.

These youths committing crimes, aren't feeding off one another as much as they're imitating and regurgitating adult behaviors and their experiences when having crossed paths with those adults who've harmed and damaged them/ physically, psychologically and emotionally.

Brenda Washington

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I absolutely agree with DA Wamps decision to try teenagers as adults for certain levels of criminal offenses. It is quite obvious, the Juvenile Court route has not been successful in stopping or slowing down these crimes. It actually seems to have become an enticement for teens to participate. It seems these crimes have become a sort of initiation. There seems to be a level of pride, which is evident when they are caught, sent to Juvenile Court and released. Maybe they have proven their skill level.

This is not a race issue. All races are guilty of ongoing blatant and dangerous practices which, if not stopped will multiply with time.

The parents of these teenagers should be held responsible for the actions of their children.



Kudos to DA Wamp. I am so thankful that we have a DA in place who is determined to make a difference.

Gene Porter

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I believe the proper solution lies in a balanced approach. It is essential to impose stricter punishments for aggressive crimes committed by children, while also addressing the underlying causes such as education and poverty.

Additionally, it is crucial to acknowledge the role of parents in shaping their children's behavior. Growing up in poverty myself, I understand the significance of providing opportunities for personal growth. However, it is important to recognize that young minds may not be fully developed, and the current systems of punishment often fail to address the root issues.

Implementing comprehensive programs that focus on education and poverty alleviation, alongside rehabilitation and skill-building after release, can help break the cycle of re-offending. It is imperative to find a middle ground in treating these young individuals, considering the severity of their actions. Understanding the reasons behind their mindset is also crucial for effective interventions.

Christopher Cooper

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The notion of major juvenile crime and proportional punishment was brought home to my family this week. A granddaughter will graduate from college in May as a teacher, so shes student teaching this spring. I asked her where, and she named an elementary school in a small town several miles west of Athens, Ga.

Curious, I looked it up on the maps, then sought specific information on the little town. Uh-oh! In 1986 a 13-year-old boy stabbed the schools principal to death with a nail file. News items from that time are available online; one of them says the boy who was paddled the day before was charged with fatally stabbing principal Murray Kennedy during a heated meeting with the boy's mother.

Say what you will, the boy was black, the murdered man was white, and things got exciting. The usual bunch of support groups came to town to add their two cents worth to the festivities. The young murderer was tried as an adult and sentenced to 15 years in prison.

When I told this to my granddaughter and the rest of the family (ages 17 to 76), their united reactions might surprise you. Nobody said, Poor boy! or Thats extreme; he was just a kid! Nobody even asked where he got the nail file. Without exception, they began, Only fifteen years?! Yes, only fifteen years. For murder?! Yes, for murder. And then someone did the arithmetic: That murderer is out of jail now! I did the math, too; the victim and I were age-mates.

A relatively young, educated, useful professional man was murdered. He was just as dead as if hed been shot by a dozen adult terrorists with a dozen guns. But nobody here was concerned about the killers age or other details; it didnt matter whether the mush in the kids skull had gelled yet, or whatever other excuse might be posited. The important thing was that an innocent man was dead, as dead as anybody could ever make him.

Its safe to say that in my family, at least, prosecuting serious young criminals as adults is accepted as reasonable. The problem with the case in point is not that the trial and sentence of the kid was excessive; the problem is that the penalty wasnt proportional to the crime. Its not a question of age or race, mush-for-brains or bad environment or anything else of the sort. That principal was absolutely dead at 43 years old, and his murderer paid a shamefully small price for his crime.

Maybe someone will do the research and discover that the murdering kid turned his life around and is now the most useful citizen of that small town. By now hed be 50 years old, if he isnt dead himself. Mr. Murray Kennedy, the dead principal, wouldve been the same age I am now, 80 years old. But he was murdered, and he didnt get to spend Christmas 2023 with his kids and grandkids. I think that's significant.

Larry Cloud


Several agencies went searching for two teenage cavers at the foot of Lookout Mountain on Wednesday night. They were located safe around 8:44 p.m.

The 17-year-old friends went hiking/caving Wednesday afternoon on the Skyuka Springs Trail. They usually end at dark and, when their families didnt hear from them, their loved ones notified authorities.

Chattanooga Fire and Chattanooga Police were on the scene and Chattanooga-Hamilton County Rescues Cave/Cliff Team also went to the location. The National Park Service was notified. CFD has the Battalion Chief for District 1 on this call, along with Squad 20.

CFD squad companies specialize in technical rescues, including rope rescues and confined space rescues.
On Alabama Avenue an officer spoke with a complainant who said she was on her porch when she observed a silver Kia Forte stop in the street in front of her house. She said the vehicle was occupied by four men. She saw one of the men jump out of the vehicle and begin running towards her house. The man saw her when she went inside and locked the door, at which point he turned around and got back in the vehicle. She said the vehicle sped off from the area.

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At the Jacks restaurant on Cummings Highway, an officer responded to a man causing a scene. The man began speaking about Barack Obama and other random topics. Police spoke with the lady complainant, who said that due to the man causing issues inside the business she asked him to leave, but he refused. She said the business would like to trespass him from their property. He was trespassed from the Jacks which he acknowledged. He then left the business without further incident.



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On West 57th Street, an officer spoke with a complainant who said she was inside her residence and observed a silver Kia Forte stop in front of her residence. She said a black male jumped out of the vehicle and ran up on her porch. Once the man saw her and her boyfriend through the glass door, he turned around and ran back to his vehicle. The vehicle then sped off around the corner. She said the vehicle was occupied by four men wearing all black with ski masks.

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On Integra Vistas Drive a victim said her black Jamis mountain bike was stolen off her porch sometime through the night.

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A man on East Brainerd Road told police his vehicle had been stolen sometime that morning. He said back in October he was carjacked and the key was never recovered. He said he thought his car was locked so it is unknown how the vehicle was taken.



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An officer saw a silver Kia Optima traveling west on Bonny Oaks with extremely dark tinted windows. The officer attempted to conduct a traffic stop for tint violation just before Highway 58 but the Kia fled. It was last seen traveling eastbound at 4300 Redlands Dr. At that time, the officer turned the emergency equipment off and turned around, and did not pursue the vehicle.



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An officer responded to a suspicious person call at 271 Northgate Mall Dr. at McCallister's Deli. The officer spoke to the complainant who said his boss told him there was a regular panhandler near McCallister's and described him as a white male wearing all black. He said if he was located they wanted him trespassed for regularly harassing customers. The officer patrolled the area but did not locate the suspect.



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An officer spoke to a woman who lives on Wellstone Drive over the phone. She said that around 8-9 months ago she had loaned her GoPro camera to a friend because he wanted to use it for a skydiving trip. She said since then she has made numerous attempts to have her camera returned, however he always comes up with some excuse on why he isn't able to return it to her. She said that she wanted to document this, and that he has stopped replying to her. She did not want to press charges at this time, however if she could not get her camera back she would like him to at least pay her for the camera.

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On O'Rear Street, an officer spoke with a complainant. She said her daughter was causing a disorder in her residence and being verbally aggressive. She said she wished for her to leave the residence. The officer spoke with the daughter who said she had nowhere else in the area to stay and the officer offered to take her to the Chattanooga Rescue Mission. She said she wished to go to the Rescue Mission and then said she would prefer her boyfriend to come pick her up. Police stayed until he arrived and he said they were going to his residence.



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An officer responded to a vehicle theft on North Access Road. The officer spoke with the victim via phone call. He said he had parked his vehicle at the disc golf course. When he returned to his vehicle he observed it to be making a loud sound. He said he looked under his vehicle and found the exhaust to have been cut as if someone were attempting to steal the catalytic converter. He said he saw a video on Facebook of a passerby catching someone under his vehicle while it was at the above location and was able to get the tag from the suspect vehicle. The officer was unable to see the video at the time but will be following up with him in an attempt to identify the suspect for prosecution.



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An officer responded to a disorder on Market Street and spoke to a man and a woman. Both said they had been at a wedding and had a verbal disagreement. They said they were from Florida and were only in town temporarily. Both were fine and were planning on staying separated for the remainder of the night.



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On West 14th Street Court, officers spoke with a complainant who said her neighbor was banging on her door around midnight. She said this had occurred multiple times over the last three months. She didn't see the person, however she believes it was her neighbor. She also showed officers a note on her door that read "we need to talk please" that she believes was placed there by the neighbor. Officers later identified the man from previous calls but were unable to make contact with him at the time.



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On Galahad Road, an anonymous caller requested police check the area for a black Toyota Highlander. People in that vehicle were seen checking door handles according to the caller. That vehicle showed as stolen when the tag was run through NCIC. Police and HCSO canvassed the surrounding areas but did not find the vehicle. The complainant did not wish to speak with police.



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An officer responded to suspicious activity at Hotel Bo, 901 Carter St. The night manager said a man had been attempting to get into hotel rooms and wanted him trespassed from the property. Police trespassed the man from Hotel Bo and he left the property.
Shelli Beth Shelton Cody, 56, received her angel wings on Wednesday afternoon, December 27, 2023 at her home surrounded by her family she loved so dearly.

God saw fit to give her the ultimate healing after a year long valiant battle with lymphoma. Shelli was born in Cleveland on May 4, 1967.

She was a 1985 graduate of Bradley Central High School and attended Cleveland State Community College. Shelli was a devoted woman of faith and of the Baptist tradition. She played softball as a teen and went on to become a scorekeeper with the local Cleveland/Bradley Umpire Association for many years until she had children of her own and left to spend time with them.

Shelli worked for almost 30 years in banking for several local banks. Starting as a teller and concluding her banking career as a mortgage loan processor, she met and made friends with many wonderful people. Following her career in banking, Shelli and her family founded Companion Funeral & Cremation Service. She was instrumental in helping the family business get started by leading the vital records department, selling preneed insurance, and planning new chapels in Athens and Chattanooga, as well as the new Olive Branch event center, slated to open in the next few months. Her smiling face was a source of great comfort to many families served through Companion Funeral Home.

Following her victory over breast cancer in 2001, Shelli became involved in the local chapter of American Cancer Society's Relay for Life for many years as the treasurer and co-chaired the event for three years which raised $302,000.00 in 2008-the most money raised in a single year to that point and since. She enjoyed cross stitching, cooking, and spending time at the family river house on the Hiwassee. Most importantly, spending time with her family was her favorite pastime. Out of all her accomplishments and the wonderful things she was known for, she was most proud of the title of "Yaya," given to her by her five precious grandchildren.

Shelli is preceded in death by two precious children she never got to see on this earth; her father Mack Shelton; one brother Ricky Shelton; paternal grandparents Benton & Hazel Shelton; maternal grandparents George & Mary Lou Roberson along with several aunts and uncles.

Shelli leaves behind her loving husband and soul mate of 36 wonderful years Robbie Cody; son and daughter-in-law Trae & Payton Cody; daughter and son-in-law Allie & Andrew Rogers; five precious grandchildren: Ivie, Crosby & Storie Cody and Noa Beth & Ella Rogers; mother Nina Shelton Bullins; two brothers Blake Shelton (Melanie) and Rocky Shelton; aunts Ruth Draughon and Elizabeth Leamon (Bill); father and mother-in-law Hershel and Beverly Cody; several special nieces, nephews and cousins, her best friend and soul sister Kristi Cawood Brock (Keith) and her family, wonderful work family and a host of special friends.

Shelli will be laid to rest by her father at Tasso United Methodist Cemetery at a private graveside service officiated by her daughter-in-law, Rev. Payton Cody.

A memorial service is planned for Saturday, Jan. 6 at 11 a.m. in the sanctuary of Clingan Ridge Baptist Church, where Shelli grew up and attended until adulthood. The service will be officiated by Fr. Jake Stum and Rev. Guinn Green. A reception and receiving of friends will immediately follow the memorial service until 3 p.m. at the Olive Branch Event Center located on 109 Interstate Drive, where everyone is welcome to come and share their favorite Shelli memory with the family.

The family would like to say a special thank you to Hearth Hospice nurses Lora Baker and Jane Bartolo and special friend Dorothy Williamson for the excellent care provided to Shelli and her family in these last weeks, the Companion work family, who provided Robbie and the family the time they needed to spend with her, and the many people and churches that have prayed for Shelli during the past year, sent cards, letters and tokens of food.

In lieu of flowers, the family asks that memorial donations be made in Shelli's memory to the American Cancer Society or the charity of your choice. You are invited to share a personal memory of Shelli or your condolences with her family at her online memorial located at www.companionfunerals.com.
The recent quiet passing of the anniversary of the day of infamy of December 7, 1941, brings up the questions of how would America respond to another wake up call when the privileges and freedoms that we as Americans enjoy are in jeopardy?

1) Would 18-year-old men and women head to the military induction centers to enlist and fight to defend our country?

2) Would 16-year-old teenagers lie about their age in order to be accepted for military service?

3) Would African Americans be willing to die as soldiers, sailors, pilots etc. although they would be subjected to segregation from whites in the armed forces until 1948 when President Henry Truman integrated the military?

4) Would the youth of today (18 to 25) burn their required selective service cards and flee to Canada to avoid induction into the military as took place in the Vietnam Era in the 1960s-1970s?

5) Would members of the Jewish faith whose parents and grandparents provided over 500,000 members to the military to fight the Nazis and the Japanese during World War II and are currently undergoing Anti-Semitism protests and attacks be willing to enthusiastically fight for America?

6) The same question may equally apply to Native Americans, Hispanics, Muslims, immigrants, etc. if such a foreign or domestic attack should take place?

(Americans have overcome being divided in the past but whether it will continue in the future is an unknown answer if should a horrible event as Pearl Harbor Day or September 11 repeat themselves?)

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You can reach Jerry Summers at jsummers@summersfirm.com
GasBuddy, a PDI company, on Thursday released its annual Fuel Price Outlook with some good news for drivers: expect lower gasoline and diesel prices in 2024. The outlook highlights key trends in gasoline and diesel prices, forecasting that, after two years of above average gas prices, 2024 will bring relief at the pump for consumers as several factors contribute to less of a pinch at the pump. GasBuddy expects the yearly national average will drop from $3.51 per gallon this year to $3.38 in 2024.Highlights from GasBuddys 2024 Fuel Outlook: Gas prices still could fall below a national average of $3 per gallon this winter before starting to rise in late-February, getting close to $4 per gallon as summer approaches, then mildly declining into summer, with hurricane season presenting uncertainty in late summer. Drivers in some California cities could again briefly see prices above $6 per gallon if major refinery issues develop during the summer, although most major U.S.cities will see prices peak at or slightly below $4 per gallon in 2024. Americans are expected to spend a combined $446.9 billion on gasoline in 2024. Average yearly spending per household will fall to an estimated $2,407, down 2% from 2023, and over 12% less compared to 2022. Electric vehicles (EVs) and the 2024 presidential election have the potential to impact fuel prices in the year ahead, with a potential slowdown in the EV transition at stake. Memorial Day will be the priciest 2024 holiday at the pump, with the national average price of gasoline expected to be $3.56-$4.04 per gallon on the holiday.As 2023 fades away, Im hopeful those $5 and $6 prices for gasoline and diesel will also fade into memory, said Patrick De Haan, head of petroleum analysis for GasBuddy. The global refining picture continues to improve, providing more capacity and peace of mind that record-setting prices will stay away from the pump in 2024. I anticipate that well still have some volatility, unexpected outages and disruptions, and potentially weather-related issues, but I do not expect it to lead to record prices. Offsetting OPEC+s production cuts is contributing to the rise of U.S. oil production, which now stands at record levels. Combined with Canada, North American oil production could further stabilize countries that have decided to curb oil production.The outlook forecasts the highest prices will be seen at the peak of the summer driving season in May, with the national average potentially rising as high as $3.89 per gallon. More uncertainty is expected with hurricane season in late summer. Diesel prices are also predicted to fall incrementally from 2023, peaking at $4.13 per gallon in March 2024.Download the full 2024 Fuel Outlook here: https://pditechnologies.com/ resources/report/2024-fuel- prices-outlook-trends- gasbuddy/?utm_source= prnewswire&utm_medium= press-release&utm_ campaign=trends-2024
The inaugural U.S. Broadband Awards hosted by Questexs Fierce Telecom named EPB Best Municipal Connectivity Program. Awards were featured during Questexs U.S. Broadband Summit which hosted leaders from service providers, state and federal broadband offices, trade associations and more to address leading topics in the industry.Alejandro Pinero, head of content, Fierce Technology Group at Questex, said, Congratulations to the winners of the inaugural U.S. Broadband Awards. We were extremely impressed with the submissions and look forward to watching them be implemented to connect the underserved and unconnected.In 2021, an independent study documented nearly $2.7 billion in community benefit during the first 10 years of EPBs community-wide fiber optic network and smart grid power distribution system: Creation and retention of 10,000 jobs, about 40 percent of all jobs created in Hamilton County during the study period; Annual decrease of 55 percent in outage minutes providing EPB customers with an average of $26.6 million in savings each year by helping them avoid spoilage, lost productivity and other negative impacts; Attraction of $110 million in Smart City research and earned designation as Living Laboratory by U.S.Department of Energy; and Helping bridge the digital divide for education with the launch of HCS (Hamilton County Schools) EdConnect, high-speed internet service provided at no charge to economically challenged families with K-12 students. Today, the program has grown to serve over 16,000 students  who with their families represent more than 28,000 Chattanooga area residents.Finalists for the award were selected by a panel of 20 judges based on effectiveness, technical innovation, financial and community impact, individual efforts in driving broadband investment and true innovation in addressing the digital divide.Our continuing effort to keep Chattanooga on the cutting edge continues to evolve with the support and vision of our communitys leadership who work closely with us to explore the frontier of how we can best use fiber broadband technology to enhance quality of life in our community, said EPB President and CEO David Wade. We deeply appreciate Questexs Fierce Telecoms recognition which honors the contributions of so many stakeholders, EPB team members and advocates.The U.S. Broadband Awards announced winners from 14 categories, recognizing excellence a competitive group of organizations, people and programs working to connecting the country through broadband services. In the Best Municipal Connectivity Program, EPB was selected among a group of four finalists which also Consolidated Communications and Maine Connectivity Authority, Montgomery County, Md. and Pulse Fiber Internet.The U.S. Broadband Awards were hosted on Nov. 16 during the U.S. Broadband Summit.
As of December 14, 2023, the Laboratory & Analytical Device Standard (LADS) can be officially used and integrated within laboratory and analytical devices. After a four-year development phase, the first version is now available and has been guided by key use cases from industrial practice. LADS ensures that all laboratory equipment and connected applications speak the same language and can be networked quickly and cost effectively. Thanks to LADS, users are able to collate an individual set of devices that can exchange data with each other, regardless of their manufacturer or interface.

Symbolic image Computer-generated image

The major industry project has therefore been implemented according to schedule, emphasizes Mathis Kuchejda, Chair of the Analytical, Bio and Laboratory Technology Division at SPECTARIS. LADS enables the efficient networking of devices, automated systems, and processes and offers a decisive advantage in an increasingly competitive laboratory market. According to a study carried out by McKinsey, digitalization and automation in quality laboratories can help secure savings of up to 50% in costs and up to 70% in delivery times.

SPECTARIS opted for the OPC UA platform. Open Platform Communications Unified Architecture (OPC UA) provides the optimum framework for networking devices, systems, and processes within the lab, in particular because many machine standards are based on it. OPC UA is used to define the service-oriented skeletal structure, whilst domain-specific extensions are defined via so-called Companion Specifications.

LADS provides the foundation for the secure horizontal and vertical (Plug & Play) integration of a very wide range of laboratory devices and analytical instruments with varying degrees of complexity and is based on the world-leading industrial interoperability standard OPC UA. This is a key milestone on the pathway towards the (end-to-end) digital transformation of Lab 4.0. The cross-industry capabilities of OPC UA enable the synergetic, semantic interoperability of LADS with relevant adjacent areas such as Pharma 4.0, robotics, and AI applications, explains Dr. Matthias Arnold, CTO of the LADS Joint Working Group at the OPC Foundation.

Moreover, the LADS interoperability standard is an ideal basis for further extensions and additions. An excellent example of this is the work currently being carried out on the Common Analytical Instrument System Integration Specification (CAISI), which  using LADS as a basis  will allow complex analytical instruments to be integrated into higher-level data systems. Since both LADS and CAISI are based on the OPC UA Standard, a seamless exchange of information will be able to take place between devices in the laboratory.

From its very inception, internationality has been central to the development of LADS. This was made possible through the creation of a Joint Working Group  encompassing participants from Spain, the Netherlands, the UK, and Japan. In Japan in particular, LADS is now really picking up speed, states Dr. Janina Bolling, Head of Analytical, Bio and Laboratory Technology at SPECTARIS.
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Selected by CT editors, below is our coverage of significant developments in 2023 for Christians in the Greater Middle East and North Africa, arranged in chronological order of publication:

Amid economic crisis and political turmoil, Christian worship, teaching, and sermons rival popular music on the nations airwaves. But while some see hope in the use of local dialect, others spot controversy and wonder if the content is sufficiently Arab.

View further reporting on Lebanon.

The Russian invasion of Ukraine sparked a simultaneous exodus of both nations Jewish populations. Whether from fear of war or persecution, believers in Jesus debated if a final destination in Israel represented a biblical commandment, a divine blessing, or a simple personal choice.

View further reporting on Russia, Ukraine, and Messianic Jews.

Clandestine visits by an Orthodox bishop began nearly a decade ago. But as the kingdom begins to publicize the holiday, its two million foreign Christian workers wonder if the privilege given to Egypt will result in greater religious freedom for all.

View further reporting on Saudi Arabia.

While the February earthquake in Turkey and Syria elicited millions of dollars in emergency aid for Ankara, sanctions against Damascus prevented a similar outpouring of support. A temporary US waivernow expiredaimed to ease regulations, but critics blamed a chilling effect for curbing global generosity.

View further reporting on Syria.

Violence that began in April between the national army and its formerly-aligned paramilitary force followed coups and pro-democracy demonstrations that once promised greater religious freedom. Now, scattered believers seek the Scriptures to make sense of the chaos in their troubled country.

View further reporting on Sudan.

Claiming to defend freedom of speech rights in the West last June, a Christian-background Iraqi immigrant in Stockholm offended the sentiments of Muslims worldwide. As protests raged back home and elsewhere, believers from his dwindling religious community faced pressure to condemn him.

View further reporting on Iraq.

Naming their disaster relief efforts after the biblical patron of widowsalso known as Dorcasevangelicals played an outsized role in serving their Muslim neighbors. And just as Peter raised the biblical heroine from the dead, the church hopes God will revive the nations ancient Christian testimony.

View further reporting on Turkey.

Last August, leadership of the global association of believers participated in a United Nations side event. Critics accused the move as whitewashing the Islamic Republics offenses against freedom of religion. Intending to aid the underground church, the WEA sparked debate about best advocacy practices.

View further reporting on the World Evangelical Alliance.

Arab believers are generally subject to Islamic Sharia in its ban on adoption. In Jordan, an evangelical ministry lobbied church leaders to include it in a bid to reform religion-based family law, while a scandal that ripped a Coptic orphan from his family marred Egypts promotion of foster care. Lebanon is best off, while Syria struggles.

View further reporting on adoption and Sharia law.

Customs require feeding large crowds of mourners, but Muslims and Christians alike struggle to pay for the cultural expections during times of economic crisis. A local pastor in the Hashemite kingdom calls on evangelicals to honor the deceased but to give the money instead to the poor.

View further reporting on Jordan.

While not officially recognizing an indigenous Christian convert community, the Atlas Mountain kingdom generally lets it exist in peace. But Septembers earthquake spurred believers to live their faith publicly in the provision of aid, amid differences on the degree to which they should also evangelize.

View further reporting on Morocco.

Offended by the near-unequivocal pro-Israel support of fellow believers, Arab Christians issue several statements condemning the high civilian death count in Gaza. But how do their views compare to global and American statements backing the Jewish state, in recognition of greater context?

View further reporting on the Israel-Hamas war.

Many in Iran suffer from the psychological toll of living under an authoritarian regime that cracked down on women protestors. Christian converts bear a further burden of family rejection and government oppression. Diaspora ministry enrolls hundreds of believers preparing to pastor accordingly.

View further reporting about Iran.

Check out the rest of our 2023 year-end lists here.
Home World 10 Christians, including toddler, killed by Islamic extremists in Uganda

NAIROBI, Kenya  Islamic terrorists on Dec. 19 killed 10 Christians in western Uganda, sources said.

Members of the rebel Allied Democratic Forces (ADF) from the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) mounted the attacks on Christians in western Ugandas Kyitehurizi village, Kamwenge Sub-County in Kamwenge District at around 2 a.m., according to a Uganda official and local sources.

I heard the attackers saying that, The Christians will not celebrate the birth of Issa [Jesus]  we have to teach a lesson to these infidels for refusing our religion, said a young woman who escaped the attack.

She told Morning Star News that she heard wailing close to her house and managed to leave and find a hiding place.

Those who lost their lives were members of the Anglican Church of Uganda, the Pentecostal Church and the Roman Catholic Church, area sources said. Enock Tukamushaba, chairperson of Kyitehurizi village, identified 10 Christians killed as 3-year-old Mary Kyomuhangi; Rossete Kugonza; Princess Ahumuza; Margaret Bunyazaki; Tugume; Esther Kurihura; Glorious Arindwaruhanga; Mesulamu; Bagiriana and Panddy.

More the 200 people were able to flee, but the assailants burned down their houses. Richard Baguma, a 35-year-old member of the Anglican Church of Uganda, said he escaped but lost all his belongings, including crops and farm products.

Originally based in western Uganda, the ADF has operated in the neighboring DRCs North Kivu Province since the late 1990s. Considered one of the most lethal of more than 120 armed groups in the eastern DRC, the ADF in 2019 split into two factions, with one merging into the Islamic State Central Africa Province.

The U.S. government in 2021 designated the ADF as a foreign terrorist organization with links to the Islamic State.

A Uganda Peoples Defense Forces spokesperson, Brig. Gen. Felix Kulayigye, reportedly confirmed that ADF militants attacked the village early on Dec. 19 but gave no details.

On June 6, an ADF splinter group was suspected in an attack on a school dormitory in Kasese District, Uganda, killing at least 37 students, most of them Christians. On Oct. 17, the rebels killed a Christian tour guide along with a foreign married couple he was driving at a national park in Kasese District, which is near the DRC border.

The Dec. 19 attack was the latest of many instances of persecution of Christians in Uganda that Morning Star News has documented.

Ugandas constitution and other laws provide for religious freedom, including the right to propagate ones faith and convert from one faith to another. Muslims make up no more than 12% of Ugandas population, with high concentrations in eastern areas of the country.
Home World Hezbollah injures civilian, IDF soldiers in missile attack on church day after Christmas

Hezbollah fired a missile at a Melkite Greek Catholic church in Israel the day after Christmas, injuring an elderly civilian and multiple Israel Defense Forces soldiers in an attack the Israeli military condemned for violating the freedom of worship.

An anti-tank missile from the Lebanon-based, Iranian-backed Shia militant group hit the St. Marys Greek Orthodox Church in Iqrit, firing additional missiles after IDF soldiers arrived to evacuate a civilian in his 80s who had been injured in the initial attack.

Hezbollah injured nine IDF soldiers after firing the additional missiles, The Times of Israel reported Tuesday. The attack seriously injured one soldier. The outlet noted that Hezbollah claimed it had targeted an IDF position, but the projectile hit the Palestinian Christian village instead.

In a Tuesday X post, the IDF stated that the attack was a violation of United Nation Security Council Resolution 1701, which calls for a full cessation of hostilities between Israel and Hezbollah in 2006. The IDF also declared that the attack was a violation of the freedom of worship.

IDF spokesperson Daniel Hagari addressed the situation with Hezbollah on Tuesday, warning that the group follows the same extremist and dangerous ideology as Hamas, a terror group that has controlled the Gaza Strip since 2007 and launched a deadly terror attack on Oct. 7 that killed over 1,200.

Hagari stated that Hezbollah is committing war crimes by indiscriminately attacking places of worship just like Hamas.

Hezbollah is risking the stability of the region for the sake of Hamas, Hagari said. Hezbollah started attacking Israel on October 7th, and it has been increasing its attacks ever since. The IDF has been responding and will continue to respond.

While the IDF initially claimed that the church Hezbollah attacked was Greek Orthodox, Kassy Dillon, a video journalist for Daily Wire, wrote in a Tuesday X post that the church was a Melkite Greek Catholic Church, according to Christians in the area.

So Hezbollah just attacked a Catholic Church, Dillon wrote.

In addition to the church, the Jewish News Syndicate reported Tuesday that terrorists in Lebanon also targeted Moshav Dovev, an Israeli agricultural community in the Upper Galilee, as well as Kibbutz Yiftah and Mount Dov.

Following Hamas onslaught against Israel on Oct. 7, which resulted in the deaths of at least 1,200 people and the abduction of around 240 others, Hezbollah forces have attacked Israeli communities and military outposts, according to The Times of Israel.

According to a Wednesday report by Times of Israel, Israel evacuated thousands of residents from its northern border towns due to the repeated fire exchanges between Hezbollah and Israel. Lobby 1701, a group representing the evacuees that is named for the 2006 U.N. Security Council resolution, urged the Biden administration to support Israels military efforts against Hezbollah and other terror groups in a letter.

Since October 7, Hezbollah has put an end to our daily lives here in northern Israel. Because of their daily missiles and UAV attacks that target our homes and communities, and the threat of many more, we were unwillingly forced to evacuate, the letter stated.

According to the letter, the U.N. Security Council resolution is ineffective, stressing that Hezbollah failed to abide by it, even going so far as to establish military positions on the Israel-Lebanese border near peoples homes. The letter also alleged that the resolution allowed Hezbollah to rearm, prepare and plan its invasion into Israel.

If Lebanon is unable to properly implement UNSCR 1701 to the extent that we deserve and demand, to provide a basic sense of security, we will relentlessly pressure our government to solve this issue through military means, and we request your full support. This is not a threat, nor is it a warning.

The letter also said that President Joe Biden and his administration should give its full support to the government of Israel to act with the necessary force.
Home Politics New York Times criticized for op-ed by Hamas-appointed mayor condemning Israel

The New York Times was criticized for publishing an op-ed by the Hamas-appointed mayor of Gaza City, which accused Israel of engaging in "unrelenting destruction," with only a brief mention of the terror group's Oct. 7 massacre.

On Christmas Eve, The New York Times published a guest essay by Yahya Sarraj titled "I am Gazy City's Mayor. Our Lives and Culture Are in Rubble." In the article, the mayor wrote that Israel has "pulverized" the city's "cultural riches and municipal institutions," stating that the "unrelenting destruction" had "broken [his] heart."

Sarraj is a former rector of the University College of Applied Sciences in Gaza, which was founded in 1998. He was appointed mayor of Gaza City in 2019 by Hamas, the terrorist group that has controlled Gaza since 2007 and carried out a surprise attack against Israel on Oct. 7, slaughtering 1,200 people, a majority of them civilians.

In his op-ed, Sarraj stated that Israel's retaliatory offensive has led to the deaths of more than 20,000 people, citing data from the Gaza Health Ministry, which Hamas runs. The Gaza death count does not distinguish between terrorists and civilians.

"I call on the world's municipalities  everyone  to pressure world leaders to stop this mindless destruction," Sarraj wrote.

"Why can't Palestinians be treated equally, like Israelis and all other peoples in the world? Why can't we live in peace and have open borders and free trade? Palestinians deserve to be free and have self-determination," the Gaza City mayor continued. "Gaza's emblem is the phoenix, which rises from the ashes. It insists on life."

The New York Times did not immediately respond to The Christian Post's request for comment.

Former New York Times writer Adam Rubenstein responded to the guest essay in an X post the following day, criticizing the op-ed for failing to disclose that Hamas runs the Gaza Health Ministry.

"It mentions a 'deadly attack' by Hamas but doesn't condemn it, or even state who was attacked (civilian communities) or what happened (pillaging, arson, rape, murder, taking of hostages back into Gaza)," Rubenstein noted about the essay's references to the Oct. 7 attack.

The writer condemned the op-ed for leaving out the context of Israel's ongoing campaign in Gaza, which is to eradicate the terror group and secure the release of the individuals Hamas took hostage.

"At the end of the essay, the mayor asks, credulously, 'Why can't we live in peace and have open borders?'" Rubenstein wrote. "With proper context, the answer would be too obvious to write that question. Open borders, really?"

Honest Reporting, a nonprofit that works to ensure truthful reporting about Israel, pushed back against The New York Times for publishing Sarraj's op-ed. A Tuesday post on its website points out how former New York Times opinion editor James Bennet lost his job after a backlash ensued following the outlet's decision to publish an op-ed by Sen. Tom Cotton, R-Ark. in June 2020.

"While some elected right-wing US politicians are evidently persona non grata on the opinion page, unelected members of Palestinian terrorist organizations don't cause quite the same level of disgust, if any, among the esteemed staff at The New York Times," Honest Reporting Editorial Director Simon Plosker wrote.

Plosker stressed that Hamas would not have appointed Sarraj mayor unless the terror group trusted him, adding that Hamas authorities likely approved his op-ed before submission.

Responding to the Gaza City mayor's calls for peace, open borders and free trade, Honest Reporting shared a clip of Hamas Official Ghazi Hamad promising that the group would carry out attacks like the one on Oct. 7 "time and again."

"The New York Times is perfectly within its rights to give a platform to ordinary Palestinians suffering as a result of Hamas' decision to launch a war against Israel," Plosker stated. "But giving a platform to a Hamas-appointed figure without giving its readership the full picture is one step too far."

Republican presidential candidate Nikki Haley, a former U.S. ambassador to the United Nations, tweeted her opposition to the op-ed.

"Remember when New York Times staff threw a tantrum over a Republican senator's op-ed?" she asked. "We heard no complaints from NYT staff about publishing an op-ed by a Hamas-appointed mayor over Christmas. That tells you everything you need to know about the state of our media."

The Jewish human rights group, the Simon Wiesenthal Center, also objected to the op-ed.

"New York Times gives #Hamas mayor, #YahyaSarrajIt its formerly prestigious op-ed space on Christmas Eve to condemn #Israel," the organization posted on X. "@nytimes  it's Hamas that mass murdered, raped, kidnapped and is still holding hostages nearly two months later."
Home Business Hobby Lobby gives 'glory to the newborn King' in nationwide Christmas ad

The chain retailer Hobby Lobby is distributing a Christmas message in newspapers across the United States, as it has for nearly 30 years.

Hobby Lobby, a faith-based arts and crafts store with more than 1,000 locations across the U.S., has published a Christmas message reading Glory to the Newborn King in newspapers nationwide. The advertisement, unveiled last week, features a picture of baby Jesus lying in a manger as a lamb looks up at Him. A star shines in the town of Bethlehem, which appears in the night sky in the background.

The ad also includes a passage from Isaiah 9:6, which declares, And He will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. The message will appear in newspapers in every town where Hobby Lobby has a store. The retail outlet expressed gratitude that with the addition of social media, many more thousands of people view and share the hope-filled messages.

This ad serves as a reminder of the true meaning of Christmas and celebrates what millions of people around the world and for centuries have considered a turning point in human history  the birth of Jesus Christ.

Hobby Lobby identified the ad as a partnership with Need Him Ministry to invite anyone who would like to know Jesus as Lord and Savior to contact chataboutjesus.com. It also offers free Bibles on mobile devices at mardel.com/bible. Information about both websites is available at the bottom of the ad.

As explained on Hobby Lobbys website, the companys tradition of placing Christmas and Easter messages in newspapers dates back to 1995, when company founder David Green felt commissioned by God to provide testimony to newspapers about the true meaning of Christmas. One year later, Green created his first newspaper ad since receiving the commission.

As you celebrate this Christmas season in the warmth of family and home, may you be drawn to the Savior; He who left the beauty of Heaven on our behalf and became like us, that we might become like Him, the Christmas 1996 ad read. If you know Jesus as your Savior, then this season already has a special meaning. If you do not, we encourage you [to] find a Bible-believing church in your community, and to discover a relationship with this Christmas with the God who loves you more than you can begin to imagine.

The Hobby Lobby website noted that before long, Hobby Lobby was placing beautiful full-page ads celebrating the real meaning of Christmas, Easter, and Independence Day in newspapers across the country. The webpage devoted to Holiday Messages contains a catalog of Hobby Lobbys Easter, Christmas and Independence Day messages published in newspapers dating back to Easter 1997.

Visitors to Hobby Lobbys website can download the current and past Hobby Lobby holiday messages as PDF files and send them directly to a friend via email. The messages can also be shared directly on Pinterest, Facebook or Twitter by clicking on them.

According to the Hobby Lobby store directory, the company has just over 1,000 stores in the 48 contiguous U.S. states. The chain identifies its mission in part as honoring the Lord in all we do by operating the company in a manner consistent with biblical principles as well as providing a return on the familys investment, sharing the Lords blessings with our employees, and investing in our community.

Due to the companys strong adherence to the Christian faith, all of its stores are closed on Sundays.
Home U.S. Hundreds join pastor in praying against 'nasty' Christmas-themed drag show tour

A California pastor led a group of protesters in prayer against a touring Christmas-themed drag show earlier this month, condemning it as a perverse attempt to sexualize Christmas.

Angelo Frazier, who pastors RiverLakes Community Church in Bakersfield, joined with hundreds he invited from various churches on Dec. 17 to protest a performance of "A Drag Queen Christmas" at the city's Fox Theater, according to local KBAK.

The drag show, which boasts of being "the longest running drag tour in America," marked its ninth consecutive year by touring 38 cities this Christmas season, with its last performance scheduled for Friday in Greensboro, North Carolina.

This year's show is hosted by a drag queen named "Miz Cracker" and features other drag queens from "RuPaul's Drag Race," according to Broadway SF. The description notes the "adult content" of the show is rife with "sexual language" and "naughty comedy" and is recommended for people over 18.

For Frazier and the others protesting the performance in Bakersfield by singing Christmas carols and praying outside the venue, the show was an inappropriate degradation and "perversion" of Christmas.

"It's naughty all the way through," Frazier told KBAK. "It's nasty, it's perversion. It's taking Christmas and turned it into a sexual show, that's what it is, and it's happening here in Bakersfield, California."

Frazier acknowledged that Christmas has become increasingly secularized over the years but blasted the "A Drag Queen Christmas" as "an abomination" for "sexualizing Christmas."

"I think it's wrong for kids, I think it's wrong for families, as a matter of fact, the message of Christmas is goodwill, great joy for all the people," Frazier continued. "This, what's happening here in Bakersfield, is perversion of Christmas."

Frazier said he felt "an obligation to say something about it" as a Christian.

Speaking to the gathering outside Fox Theater over a microphone, Frazier said, "The other side just wants to hate and do all these other things. We don't want to hate, we want to say there's a better way."

Frazier previously organized a similar protest outside Fox Theater in June, when tickets for the Christmas drag show first went on sale, according to the local outlet.

Last year's tour of "A Drag Queen Christmas" made headlines when footage emerged on social media that appeared to show small children attending a performance in Austin, Texas, that featured simulated sex, lewd dancing, sexually explicit stories, and a man with prosthetic breasts being spanked.

Video of a performance in Orlando last year also appeared to show minors in the audience.

Drag Fans, which puts on the event and is owned by Big Time Operator LLC, states on its website that "all ages [are] welcome unless otherwise noted on the marketing, the ticket or the venue website in each local city."

Earlier this month, state regulators in Florida and the Hyatt Regency Miami reached a settlement regarding a dispute about minors attending a performance of "A Drag Show Christmas" at the hotel last year, according to NBC News.

Officials with the Florida Department of Business and Professional Regulation attempted to revoke the hotel's liquor license, arguing in March that the show "simulated sexual activity, and lewd, vulgar, and indecent displays."

The hotel agreed to pay a $5,000 fine and to prohibit minors from attending any performance at the hotel that "contains, depicts or simulates any activities" that violate Florida's lewdness statutes.

In November, the U.S. Supreme Court denied Florida's emergency request to enforce its "Protection of Children Act," which makes it a crime to permit a minor into an "adult live performance." A lower court ruled that the law was too vague and did not adequately define terms such as "lewd conduct."
Home U.S. Kanye West apologizes in Hebrew to Jewish community for antisemitic remarks

Rapper Kanye West, who previously said that Adolf Hitler had some good qualities, issued an apology in Hebrew on Instagram a few weeks before the release of his album Vultures.

In a Tuesday Instagram post, West "sincerely" apologized to the Jewish community for "any unintended outburst caused by [his] words or actions," claiming that he did not intend to demean anyone. The rapper added that he regretted any pain that he may have caused.

"I am committed to starting with myself and learning from this experience to ensure greater sensitivity and understanding in the future," the post read. "Your forgiveness is important to me, and I am committed to making amends and promoting unity."

The controversy involving the musician, also known as "Ye," began last year over the rapper's remarks about Jewish people in interviews and social media.

AsBillboard reported, the rapper appeared onstage in Miami earlier this month wearing what appeared to be a black Ku Klux Klan Hood. West donned the hood during a listening party for his collaborative album Vultureswith Ty Dolla $ign.

"I ain't antisemitic/ I just f a Jewish b," West rapped.

The album's release date has been delayed several times, according to Billboard, and at one point, it was supposed to be released on New Year's Eve. West's latest album is now expected to be released on Jan. 12.

In response to West's apology, the Anti-Defamation League, a Jewish advocacy group, stated in a Tuesday X post that it welcomed what appeared to be "an act of contrition" from the rapper. However, the organization noted that "actions speak louder than words."

"After causing untold damage by using his vast influence and platform to poison countless minds with vicious antisemitism and hate, an apology in Hebrew may be the first step on a long journey towards making amends to the Jewish community and all those who he has hurt," the ADL wrote.

In 2022, West issued a series of antisemitic statements, claiming in an interview with Chris Cuomo that the "underground Jewish mafia" is targeting him and that he doesn't believe in the term "antisemitic."

The rapper also wrote in a now-deleted X post last year: "I'm a bit sleepy tonight but when I wake up I'm going death con 3 On JEWISH PEOPLE." He later claimed during an interview with Piers Morgan that the comment came from a place of "hurt," as he is a victim of trauma.

During an interview last year with InfoWars founder Alex Jones, West expressed admiration for Adolf Hitler, stating that, as a Christian, he is called to love everyone, including Nazis. The rapper said that he loved Jewish people, and he also loved Nazis.

"Well, I see good things about Hitler also," West said during the interview.

"I love everyone, and the Jewish people are not going to tell me, 'You can love us and you can love what we are doing to you with the contracts, and you can love what we are pushing with the pornography,' but this guy that invented highways, invented the very microphone that I use as a musician, you can't say out loud that this person ever did anything good,' and I am done with that."

"I am done with the classifications. Every human being has something of value that they brought to the table, especially Hitler," West added.

Amid the controversy, Daily Wire founder Ben Shapiro responded after West stated at one point that the term 'antisemitism" has been used to allow people in the music industry to "get away with murder sometimes." West also said the music industry is like "modern-day slavery."

"It's just pure unbridled anti-Semitism," Shapiro said. "There's just no other way to put it, there's no other way to read it. End of story."
Home U.S. Most American Christians say the Bible doesn't influence their views on Israel: poll

Only about a quarter of American Christians say the Bible influences their views on Israel as the Israel-Hamas war continues after the Oct. 7 attack on civilians in southern Israel killed over 1,200 and prompted an Israeli military offensive in Gaza.

Lifeway Research, in collaboration with The Philos Project, conducted a survey asking 1,252 American Christians for their views on the Israel-Hamas war. The poll, conducted between Nov. 14 and 21 and released Dec. 14, has a margin of error of +/-2.9 percentage points.

Respondents were asked about what has "influenced" their views about Israel and were given a list of responses that they could select all that apply. About 27% of Christians selected the Bible, suggesting that among 73% of respondents, the Bible does not inform their views of Israel.

The Bible was the second most commonly cited answer, coming in behind the media at 56%.

Other sources of opinions on Israel cited by American Christians include friends and family (26%), personal experiences with Jews (13%), positions of elected officials (13%), their local church (12%), national Christian leaders (10%), teachers or professors (6%) and personal experiences with Palestinians (5%).

Less than two in 10 American Christians (17%) listed the Bible as the primary influence of their views on Israel, coming in second to the media (44%) as the top source of opinions on Israel. Less than 10% of respondents identified each of the remaining options as the primary determinant of their feelings about the Jewish State.

"American Christians have been following the war between Israel and Hamas, and two-thirds of those who attend church most often say their church has prayed for peace in Israel," said Lifeway Research Executive Director Scott McConnell in a statement. "While a majority of American Christians support military action by Israel now, a much larger group believe lasting peace must come by mutual agreement of Palestinians and Israelis."

When asked what they believe to be the "optimal outcome to the current war between Hamas and Israel," 15% of American Christians responded with "Israel subdues Hamas and establishes longterm security over and control of Gaza," while 26% said, "Israel subdues Hamas and resumes negotiations with other Palestinian leaders on a permanent political solution to disagreements."

Twenty-nine percent responded, "Israel and Hamas negotiate an enduring cease fire that results in the release of hostages." Twelve percent said, "Israel subdues Hamas and consolidates civil and military control over both Gaza and the West Bank."

"While a noticeable minority of American Christians are critical of some of Israel's policies prior to October 7, 2023, a majority have positive views of Israel and feel a strong response to the terrorist attack is warranted," McConnell said. "Support for the defense of Israel does not supersede American Christians' desire for civilian lives to be preserved, for negotiations to take place and to continue praying for peace."

Broken down by demographic subgroup, 34% of those between the ages of 30 and 49 cited the Bible as an influence on their opinions of Israel, while just 22% of respondents aged 65 and older said the same. Thirty-one percent of Christians with some college education (31%) identified the Bible as a source of their opinions on Israel, as did 25% of those with a high school education or less.

A much higher share of Protestants (32%) and non-denominational Christians (37%) pointed to the Bible as an influence on their views about Israel than Catholics (16%).

An individual's frequency of religious worship also appeared to play a role in the weight of the Bible in determining their views about Israel. Thirty-nine percent of respondents who attend church services once a week or more pointed to the Bible as a source of their opinions regarding Israel, along with 37% of those who go to church two to three times a month, 22% who attend services once a month or several times a year, 19% who never go to church and 15% who rarely attend.

Similarly, Protestants (21%) and non-denominational Christians (25%) were more likely to point to the Bible as the primary determinant of their opinion about the Holy Land than Catholics (9%). Twenty-two percent of respondents between the ages of 30 and 49 credited the Bible as the main source of their views on Israel, while just 15% of Christians 65 years old and older said the same.

Those who attend worship services once a week or more were most likely to primarily attribute their views on Israel to the Bible (27%), followed by respondents who go to church two to three times a month (21%), once a month or several times a year (13%) and Christians who rarely go to church (9%).

Overall, 65% of American Christians have a positive opinion of Israel. All demographic subgroups examined had at least a plurality of respondents who viewed the Jewish state favorably.

The group with the highest favorability ratings for Israel was those over the age of 65 (78%), followed by those who go to church two to three times a month (72%), males (71%), respondents who go to church at least once a week (71%), whites (70%), those who never go to church (68%) and Christians between the ages of 50 and 64 (67%).

Smaller majorities of females (60%), those who go to church once a month or several times a year (59%), respondents aged 30-49 (57%), those who rarely go to church (57%), Hispanic Christians (56%) and African American Christians (51%) have favorable views of Israel. Asians (49%) and Christians aged 18-29 (47%) were the least likely groups to have a favorable opinion of Israel. However, pluralities of both subgroups viewed Israel favorably, with unfavorable ratings for the Jewish state measured at 35% and 42%, respectively.

When asked to identify factors that "have positively influenced [their] opinions about the country of Israel," 28% of respondents cited a statement reading, "the Bible says Christians should support Israel." This was tied as the least popular source of positive views about Israel, along with the belief that "Jews need a refuge after the Holocaust."

The most common reason for the positive opinion of Israel among Christians was the view that "Israelis have a right to defend and protect their state" (60%), followed by the belief that "Israel is the historic Jewish homeland," the fact that "Jesus was a Jew" and the declaration that "Israel is important for fulfilling biblical prophecy" (30%).

Those most likely to describe the Bible's insistence that Christians should support Israel as the reason why they view Israel positively include non-denominational Christians (42%), those who go to church at least once a week (38%), respondents residing in the South (35%), Protestants (33%), those with a high school level of education or less (32%), Christians who go to church two to three times a month (31%), those with some amount of college education (29%) and Christians who attend services once a month or several times a year (25%).

By contrast, smaller shares of Christians with graduate degrees (19%), those who rarely attend church (18%) and Catholics (15%) listed the Bible's mandate for Christians to support Israel as a source of their positive views about the country.
Home World Pastor's arrest forces 7 churches to shut down; family says he was falsely framed

The Nautanwa police recently released a pastor in Maharajganj district, Uttar Pradesh, on bail after arresting him last month.

In an interview with Christian Today, his wife and son alleged, "He is falsely framed."

Pastor Dashrath Gupta, from Barwa Khurd village under the Nautanwa administrative division, was taken into custody by the Nautanwa police based on a complaint filed by a female church member who had been attending regular services for the past year.

Gupta, 42, was apprehended on Nov. 25 on charges of allegedly enticing the church member to convert, under Sections 3 and 5 of the Uttar Pradesh Freedom of Religion Act.

Section 3 of the Act prohibits the conversion of any person from one religion to another through misrepresentation, force, undue influence, coercion, allurement or fraudulent means.

Section 5 stipulates that contravening Section 3 can result in imprisonment for a term not less than one year but may extend to five years, along with a fine not less than 5,000 rupees.

Pastor Gupta, granted bail on Dec. 5, was released from jail on Dec. 12.

Denying all allegations of fraudulent conversion, Gupta asserted in an interview with Christian Today that the complainant was coerced by her husband to sign the complaint letter. He claimed that she was offered money to convert to Christianity.

Gupta explained, "Her husband threatened to abandon her if she did not consent to sign the documents stating that I allured her to join the church. Her mobile was confiscated, and she could not call us and inform us about the police complaint."

The woman had joined the church fellowship a year ago seeking prayers for her husband. Gupta remarked, "She was a regular church attendee and was very firm in her faith."

Her husband discovered that she had been visiting the church and praying for him, prompting him to frame Pastor Gupta to teach them a lesson, as per Gupta's 17-year-old son, informed by friends in the village that her husband had performed a purification ceremony to bring her back into the Hindu fold.

Gupta, who conducted seven church services within a 20-kilometre radius, faced opposition in all the other villages also.

The Barwa Khurd villagers threatened Gupta of dire consequences if he continued church service in the village, leading to the closure of his church and six others in nearby villages.

Expressing concern about meeting the family's needs, Gupta's wife highlighted that they have six children between 10 and 22 years of age.

Once from a Hindu faith, Gupta not only himself believed in Christ, but also started this church two years ago and expanded to six more churches.

Despite being detained twice before, Gupta remains positive and steadfast in his faith, stating, "Now that I know the Truth (Jesus), I will not deny the truth; I am ready to die for Christ because I have the assurance that I will meet my Savior."

Originally published at Christian Today India
Home Opinion The ongoing fight against the Jewishness of Jesus

You would think this would be pretty easy to get right: according to the Gospels, Yeshua (Jesus) was born a Jew in an ancient Jewish city in the historic land of Israel. But no, all this must be disputed, after all, how can Jesus be the liberator of the oppressed if He Himself was born to an oppressor people in an oppressor city? The narrative must be changed.

Thats why, for many years, we have heard that Jesus was a Palestinian, or, more fully, Jesus was a Palestinian freedom fighter, suggesting that He led an armed revolt against  guess who?  the Israeli Jews!

In the words of Hamid Dabashi, in an op-ed published on December 25, 2018 on Aljazeera News, Remember: Christ was a Palestinian refugee.

Dabashi, the Hagop Kevorkian Professor of Iranian Studies and Comparative Literature at Columbia University, does acknowledge that Jesus was Jewish, but only in the context of being a Jewish Palestinian refugee child who grew up to become a towering revolutionary figure.

And in the midst of an article meant to be conciliatory for Muslims and Christians, he opines, The dark days of Zionism laying a false claim on Judaism and Palestine alike are happily over. The lies of a gang of European settler colonialists trying to rob Jews of their ancestral faith and Palestinians of their historical homeland have finally come to a crushing defeat when Jews and Palestinians, and Jews as Palestinians, have come together to lay a post-Zionist claim on their ancestral faith and homeland alike.

Can you feel the Christmas spirit? (And yes, when you parse every word of that paragraph, Prof. Dabashis claims are beyond shocking.)

This very Christmas, a Catholic priest from New York, Father Edward Beck, said this on CNN: What I'm so struck by is that the story of Christmas is about a Palestinian Jew. How often do you find those words put together? A Palestinian Jew born into a time when his country was occupied, right? They can't find a place for [Jesuss mother, Mary] to even give birth. They're homeless. They eventually have to flee as refugees into Egypt, no less. I mean, you can't make up the parallels to our current world situation right now.

This is not just a matter of historical inaccuracy, since the land in which Yeshua was born was not called Palestine until more than one century after His death and resurrection.

This is a matter of separating Yeshua the Jew from the Jewish people as a whole and from His ancient Jewish homeland. It is also making a political statement, comparing the first-century Roman occupiers of Judea with the people of Israel today, occupiers of the West Bank and Gaza. The Romans were and the Israelis are evil oppressors with no right to the land.

Thats the magic of using words like Palestinian and occupied.

As for language that is even more extreme, how about these comments from Palestinian Authority Prime Minister Muhammad Shtayyeh on December 28, 2020?

The birthday of our lord Jesus, peace be upon him  the first Palestinian self-sacrificing fighter from whom we learned Martyrdom-death, and who paid for his mission with his life  takes place at the same time as the anniversary of the outbreak of the Palestinian revolution [i.e., the anniversary of the Launch of Fatah, counted from its first terror attack against Israel], for which thousands of Martyrs have paid with their lives so that we will live and remain, and so that our children will dream of a better future. (For a sampling of other, similar quotes, see here.)

Did you think I was exaggerating?

How threatening it is to say that Yeshua was a Judean Jew, born in Bethlehem, the ancient city of David, called rabbi (not reverend or imam) by His followers.

This does not mean that Jesus would agree with every policy of Israel today or of every tenet of Judaism. He certainly would not. (The same can be said about Him agreeing with every American policy today or of every tenet of Christianity.) And this does not imply that He does not hurt for the downtrodden and the oppressed of all peoples. He certainly does.

But the references to Him as a Palestinian refugee born in occupied territory, not to mention Him being compared to an Islamic jihadist martyr, are meant to mislead in the most insidious way.

In comparison, the recent article by Victoria Emily Jones in Christianity Today, while not insidious, is certainly misleading, stating, Jesus was born in Asia. He was Asian. Yet the preponderance of Christian art that shows him at home in Europe has meant that he is embedded deeply in the popular imagination as Western.

What, exactly, does Jones mean? Pointing to Asian nativity scenes dating back 1240, she explains, Some may object to depicting Jesus as anything other than a brown male born into a Jewish family in Bethlehem of Judea in the first century, believing that doing so undermines his historicity. But Christian artists who tackle the subject of the Incarnation are often aiming not at historical realism but at theological meaning.

By representing Jesus as Japanese, Indonesian, or Indian, they convey a sense of Gods immanence, his with-usness, for their own communities  and for everyone else, the universality of Christs birth.

On the one hand, all this is quite understandable, since people from every nation embrace Jesus as one of us. That means that we depict Him (or imagine Him) to look like us. Thats why there are White European Jesus images and Black African Jesus images, along with other racial and ethnic Jesus images.

But Jesus was not born in Asia, nor was He Asian (based on what Asian would mean in the first-century Roman empire, and based on what Asian means today).

More importantly, given the historic attack on the Jewishness of Jesus, beginning with early Church leaders severing the Jewish roots of the faith, continuing with classic Christian art that demonized the ancient Jewish leaders and transformed Jesus into a White European, moving to the Nazi effort to make Jesus into a non-Jewish Aryan, and to the current Jesus was a Palestinian refugee rhetoric, now would be a good time to emphasize historic truth.

Jesus, whose Hebrew name was Yeshua, was born in Bethlehem of Judea. His mothers name was Miriam, and His followers were named Yaakov and Shimon and Yehudah, among others. And He was Messiah (= Christ in Greek) because He was hailed as the long-awaited Savior of the Jewish people (and thereby, the Savior of the whole world).

He was born King of the Jews and died King of the Jews.

And when He comes again, He is returning to Jerusalem.

Does this offend you?
Persecution expected to rise in 2024

Persecution against Christians is expected to rise in several countries in the coming year, according to Release International.

The organisation's new Persecution Trends report, released this week, warns of an intensfication of persecution in a number of countries, including Nigeria, India, Pakistan and China in 2024.

Nigeria has suffered one of its worst Christmases after 160 were killed in a series of attacks in Plateau State between 23 December and Christmas Day.

Morning Star News reports that the dead include church members and pastors, while hundreds of homes have been destroyed.

Release International's Nigeria partner confirmed the reports. They said, "We are deeply saddened by these incidents and condemn these killings and attacks on innocent Christians during their worship."

The Persecution Trends report predicts that persecution in Nigeria will rise in 2024. Attacks on Christian communities by jihadists are "dispossessing them of their lands by destroying their food supplies and forcing them to convert or flee". These attacks are expected to continue next year.

Release CEO Paul Robinson is calling on the worldwide Church to pray for Christians in Nigeria. He also wants the Nigerian government "to take decisive and effective action to protect its vulnerable communities".

"Our hearts go out to beleaguered Christians in Nigeria. We join them in their grief," he said.

In India, anti-conversion laws have made life hard for Christians, while Manipur is still reeling from ethnic violence that killed an estimated 175 people this year. Tens of thousands were driven from their homes and hundreds of churches were burnt down in the violence. Months later, many Christians have nowhere to meet.

General elections are due to be held in India between April and May 2024. If the ruling Hindu-nationalist BJP wins again, Release predicts that "persecution will rachet up again".

Its partners in the country warn, "The persecution of Christians and other religious minorities increases dramatically with each passing month."

In China, it is expected that censorship will be scaled up in the new year and President Xi Jinping will press on with his goal of religious "sinicization", bringing churches into line with the values and ideology of the Communist Party.

"The goal is to eliminate Christianity within China altogether," say Release International's partners in the country.

Mr Robinson said, "Anti-Christian persecution is rising in India and other nations around the world. Hostility is turning to violence. Christians are being attacked and driven from their homes.

"Release International works with partners on the ground in these countries to target aid, support and relief where it is most needed. They urgently need our help."
Cruise guests walk around the deck of the Viking Octantus while it is docked at the former Thunder Bay Pool Six site this past summer.
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A federal appellate court reversed a trial courts decision to certify a class of plaintiffs in a lawsuit that alleged State Farm Mutual Automobile Insurance Co. undervalued total-loss claims by Louisiana claimants.

A panel of the 5th Circuit Court of Appeals rejected an assertion by the plaintiffs attorneys that State Farms use of the Autosource Market-Driven Valuation software was improper because it resulted in actual cash value estimates lower than those in the National Automobile Dealers Associations Official Used Car Guide. The opinion says the NADA value was just one of many statutorily acceptable methods for calculation ACV.

Connie Bourques car was destroyed in a March 2018 crash. She filed a claim with State Farm, which determined the vehicle was a total loss and used Autosources product to determine the actual cash value of the vehicle.

Bourque filed a lawsuit in October 2019, seeking to certify a class of all persons insured by State Farm who made a claim for first-party total loss that State Farm valued using the Autosource product. The US District Court of Western Louisiana granted a narrower certification that included only those State Farm policyholders whose total-loss claims were valued using AutoSource and received a valuation less than the NADA estimate.

State Farm appealed the decision.

The appellate panel noted in its opinion that another panel of the 5th Circuit ruled in October that NADA is only one source that can be used to determine the actual cash value of a vehicle. In that case, Sampson v. United Services Automobile Association, a putative class of claimants sought to challenge the use of the CCC One Market Valuation Report to determine actual cash value.

The same district court judge who cleared the class-action lawsuit in the State Farm case, James D. Cain Jr., had certified a class of plaintiffs in the suit against USAA. The panel said under 5th Circuit rules, the ruling in Sampson controls its decision in the Bourque lawsuit against State Farm.

The panel said Bourque picked out NADA and NADA alone even though other valuation methods, including (Kelley Blue Book) and others, [are] equally legal and legitimate alternatives.

The panel concluded that Bourque had failed to establish an underlying breach of contract that would qualify as proof of injury to support certification of a class of plaintiffs in the case against State Farm. The panel vacated the district courts ruling and remanded the case.
Near fields awash with strawberries and greens, Ileana Miranda and her family pay $72 a month to get water piped into their home in a rural California community __ and that`s before they consume a drop.

They pay to bring it from more than a mile away because the groundwater beneath them has been contaminated with nitrates leached into the soil from years of large-scale farming.

Now, the San Jerardo cooperative __ where Miranda and 300 others live __ and environmental organizations have sued the state, demanding stricter rules about how much fertilizer farmers can use in the hope that the next generation of residents in the community 100 miles (161 kilometers) southeast of San Francisco will have cleaner water.

We understand crops need these chemicals to grow, but you don`t need to put that much in the groundwater, said Miranda, who manages the cooperative. It is essentially poisoning the groundwater that we need to live.

Some California farming communities have been plagued for years by problems with their drinking water due to nitrates and other contaminants in the groundwater that feeds their wells. Advocates have long pushed to remedy the situation, which disproportionately affects low-income and Latino residents, many who worked in the same fields where farmers are accused of leaving too much nitrate behind.

Nitrogen is in fertilizer because plants depend on it, but can lead to the contamination of drinking water supplies. Much of the nitrate detected in wells today comes from fertilizer applied decades ago to ensure crop size and quality. As a result, researchers say the issue of nitrate-laden drinking water, which can cause a blood disease known as blue baby syndrome in infants and affect pregnant women, will likely persist for decades.

California has been working for years to address the problem through regional water quality control boards and the State Water Resources Control Board. Different approaches have been taken in the Central Valley, which is home to more dairies and tomato farms, and the Central Coast to the west, where strawberries and leafy greens thrive.

Two years ago, the Central Coast Regional Water Quality Control Board issued rules limiting how much fertilizer farmers could apply and protecting areas near streams. The state water board this year put those plans on hold, arguing more consistent standards and scientific review are needed.

The decision drove San Jerardo residents and water quality advocates to take the state to court.

Farmers, meanwhile, filed their own legal action, arguing neither the state nor the regional board fully considered the economic impact of the changes on those responsible for the country`s food supply. Norm Groot, executive director of the Monterey County Farm Bureau, said nitrogen is vital to ensure the size and quality of produce consumed throughout the country, but fertilizer is already being applied more precisely than it was in the past.

We just cant sustain our food supply without some sort of nitrogen application,  Groot said. We now have a lot more science that supports when applications are needed, and how those applications can be measured and metered. Were not using nearly as much fertilizer as what was done a decade or 30 years ago.

The Central Coast board`s limits would have forced some county farmers to grow two crops of leafy greens a year instead of three, he said. Pumping out groundwater laden with nitrates to irrigate fields while replacing it with newer water could help improve the situation over time, he said, adding that farmers depend on local drinking water, too.

Edward Ortiz, a spokesperson for the State Water Resources Control Board, declined to comment on the lawsuits but said in an email that the approach taken in the Central Valley has the support of a panel of scientific experts. A second panel, he said, is expected to review both approaches.

The litigation comes as California is stepping up efforts to regulate the use of groundwater after years of drought and with potentially drier winters due to climate change. Farming is a key part of the state`s economy, with strawberries and lettuce bringing in more than $5 billion combined in 2021, agricultural statistics show.

Michael Cahn, irrigation and water resource advisor for University of California, Cooperative Extension, said hes been working with Central Coast farmers to reduce the nitrogen they leave behind. Strategies include rapid-testing soil before applying fertilizer, improving water management and planting cover crops, he said, but added the problem wont be resolved quickly.

The reality is the value of vegetables is so high and a lot of time it is just easer to put more fertilizer and water on than do careful management, Cahn said. We have a lot of contaminated groundwater to use so it will take a long time to clean up. People say this could be 50 years in the future.

Some local communities rely on bottled drinking water due to nitrate levels in groundwater wells, said Brandon Bollinger, senior community advocacy manager at Community Water Center. He said his organization delivers bottled water weekly to about 260 households in the Central Coast, and in one area, nitrate levels were six times what`s deemed safe to drink.

We like to say water flows toward money and power and in California that generally looks like water flowing toward industrial agriculture, he said. We need to have limits and targets and a timeline.

In San Jerardo, which was founded by farmworkers in the 1970s, people rely solely on groundwater for drinking, bathing and washing. The community`s first well was deemed contaminated in 1990, and the second, a few years later. After a third well went bad, the county got involved and drilled the latest well, said Horacio Amezquita, whose father was among the community`s founding members.

Amezquita said efforts can be made to clean up the water system, but the answer is to not use synthetic fertilizers in the first place. He said he`s still farming in the area, growing cover crops and grains, but doesn`t use fertilizer.

They`re more interested in having their crops, at their own time, having their schedule at their own time, Amezquita said. Its not a sustainable agriculture.

Top photo: Ileana Miranda stands in front of the new San Jerardo cooperative water tank while showing its operating system during an interview in Salinas, Calif., Wednesday, Dec. 20, 2023. Some California farming communities have been plagued for years by problems with their drinking water due to nitrates and other contaminants in the groundwater that feeds their wells. (AP Photo/Jeff Chiu)

Copyright 2024 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.
 Oregons utility regulator this week said it would investigate a petition by PacifiCorp to limit its liability from future wildfire-related lawsuits, delaying a decision on the power providers request by as long as nine months.

In October, the Berkshire Hathaway Energy subsidiary asked regulators in five of the six states it serves to limit damages tied to future utility-caused wildfires.

That request came four months after an Oregon jury found PacifiCorp must pay at least $87 million in compensatory and punitive damages for four wildfires that damaged more than 2,400 properties over Labor Day in 2020.

Putting a limitation on liability will allow it to ensure reasonable rates and finance future expenditures, PacifiCorp said in its October filing.

On Tuesday, the Oregon Public Utility Commission (OPUC) approved a staff recommendation submitted on Nov. 17 to suspend PacifiCorps request for up to nine months for an investigation.

The proposed modifications have significant policy implications as well as legal issues and cannot be adequately investigated by the effective date of Nov. 29, 2023, proposed by PacifiCorp, OPUC staff said in the recommendation.

The Portland-based utility serves 2 million customers in Oregon, Washington, California, Utah, Idaho and Wyoming.

PacifiCorps mounting litigation costs dampened third-quarter profits of parent company Berkshire Hathaways energy business.

Top photo: In this aerial view from a drone, people walk through a mobile home park destroyed by fire on September 10, 2020 in Phoenix, Oregon. Hundreds of homes in the town have been lost due to wildfire. (Photo by David Ryder/Getty Images)
CLEVELAND, Ohio  To celebrate National Bacon Day on Dec. 30, Wendys is offering its Jr. Bacon Cheeseburger for a penny from Dec. 27 to Jan. 2. Another item must be ordered to get the offer.

The one cent deal is available through the Wendys app. It is listed under the Reward Store tab for users who have registered for the Wendys Reward Program.
Carly DeFelice lives in a 20-foot by 8-foot RV for which she paid $14,000 cash.

Think you could squeeze your life into a space about the size of a parking spot? Carly DeFelice wouldn't have it any other way. The 38-year-old community manager at a coworking space in Austin, Texas, lives in a 20-foot by 8-foot travel trailer, and doesn't plan to leave the RV life anytime soon. "I love tiny living. I love everything about it. I love that everything has a spot," she tells CNBC Make It. "It's so quirky, it's so weird  but it's just so much fun." Of course, it hasn't always been a dream living situation. DeFelice began her tiny living journey in 2019, when she was feeling career burnout and took a sabbatical. She quickly learned that she loved the flexibility and simplicity of tiny living, but that conducting your life from an RV meant acquiring some new skills. "At first, everything was intimidating," she says. "I had no idea how to do anything with the tanks  the black water, the gray water  everything was like a foreign language to me." DeFelice eventually learned the ropes and currently lives a stationary RV life, setting up her trailer in a park with other RVs and tiny homes. With the benefit of experience, here's what she says are the best  and worst  things about living in an RV.

Pro: Affordability

DeFelice bought her RV, and an SUV to haul it, in cash, paying $14,000 for each. The move gives her a monthly cost advantage over other RVers who opted to finance fancier digs, she says. "A lot of people buy expensive rigs, so they have a payment on their RV. And then they buy this massive truck to haul it," she says. Paying for a vehicle she could afford in cash and avoiding taking out a loan, she says, "makes everything a lot less expensive." DeFelice pays $750 for the lot she parks on in East Austin, though she paid as little as $350 a month when she briefly lived in South Carolina. In September 2023, she paid about $42 for utilities, split between propane, water and electricity. Wi-Fi is included in her lot rental. Add it all up, and DeFelice pays about $792 a month to live within a short bike ride of her office.

Con: Maintenance

Before she gave tiny living a try, DeFelice assumed upkeep would be pretty straightforward. "I thought, how much could possibly be dirty?" she says. "Somehow, that's not the case. It's the fall, so leaves come in. You're constantly sweeping. And everything breaks all the time." Even though her amenities are limited, DeFelice has had to learn how to fix numerous issues that have come up, such as a lack of water pressure in the shower that turned out to be a broken aerator. Once DeFelice got that fixed, she had to figure out how to unclog her shower drain. "If you're thinking about RV life, there's always maintenance to consider," she says.

Pro: Freedom of movement

DeFelice likes the sense of community she has keeping her RV parked in Austin, the city where she has spent most of her adult life. But having a home on wheels means she has the freedom to pick up and live wherever she wants. Before settling back in Texas, DeFelice embarked on a lengthy road trip, towing her rig up through the Pacific Northwest with stops in Sedona, Arizona; Devil's Bridge; the Grand Canyon; Pismo Beach, California; and a lot of national parks. "The most empowering thing in the world is hauling my RV," DeFelice says. "I felt so empowered getting that tow hitch, attaching it to my SUV and just hitting the road. There's an amazing sense of freedom and adventure and thrill that I could not explain unless you've actually done that."

Con: Living without certain luxuries
Former Elle magazine advice columnist E. Jean Carroll watches as former President Donald Trump's video deposition is played in court during a civil trial in which Carroll accuses Trump of raping her in a department store dressing room in the mid-1990s and of defamation, in New York, May 4, 2023, in this courtroom sketch.

A federal appeals court on Thursday denied former President Donald Trump's request to halt proceedings in the upcoming E. Jean Carroll defamation trial.

In a court filing last week, Trump's attorneys asked the 2nd U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals to delay the case for 90 days while he considered appealing the court's previous rejection of his efforts to use presidential immunity as a defense.

The appeals court denied that request on Thursday, allowing the trial to begin Jan. 16.

Trump's request for a pause in the proceedings came after the appeals court unanimously ruled that the former president had waited too long  three years  to raise his presidential immunity defense in the defamation trial.

Trump had argued that he couldn't be sued for remarks he made in 2019 about Carroll and the claims of sexual assault against him because he was president at the time. He also contended that his comments were related to his official duties as president because he needed to speak publicly about the accusations being false.

The court noted that while Carroll filed her defamation suit in November 2019, followed by Trump's response in January 2020, he didn't bring up the presidential immunity defense until January 2023. Allowing him to use that defense now would cause "undue prejudice" to Carroll, the judges said in their ruling.

The upcoming trial is the second one involving Trump and Carroll, a magazine writer who alleged Trump raped her in the mid-1990s and defamed her after she spoke out publicly with her accusations in 2019. Trump has repeatedly denied the allegations. A jury this year found Trump liable for sexual abuse and defamation and awarded Carroll $5 million in damages, a verdict Trump is appealing.

The second trial centers on remarks Trump made about Carroll during his presidency and after the $5 million verdict, including his disparaging comments against her such as calling her a "whack job." The trial, which is expected to last three to five days, only focuses on what money damages Carroll is entitled to.

U.S. District Judge Lewis Kaplan in June denied Trump's immunity argument, writing that presidential immunity is "not a 'get out of damages liability free' card."

Trump has also raised the presidential immunity argument in the election interference case brought against him by special counsel Jack Smith. U.S. District Judge Tanya Chutkan shot down his argument in that case, ruling this month that the former president was not immune to the criminal charges. Trump, who has pleaded not guilty in the case, appealed the ruling to the federal appeals court in Washington, D.C. The Supreme Court last week denied Smith's request for the high court to immediately decide the matter.
The Boeing 737 MAX aircraft is displayed at the Farnborough International Airshow, in Farnborough, Britain, July 20, 2022.

Boeing is urging airlines to inspect 737 Max planes to look for a "possible loose bolt" in the rudder control system, the latest quality issue to affect the manufacturer's bestselling jetliner.

The company recommended the inspections after "an international operator discovered a bolt with a missing nut while performing routine maintenance on a mechanism in the rudder-control linkage," the Federal Aviation Administration said in a statement Thursday. "The company discovered an additional undelivered aircraft with a nut that was not properly tightened."

The inspections will take about two hours per plane, and all new 737 Maxes will undergo the check before they're handed over to customers, Boeing said.

"The issue identified on the particular airplane has been remedied," Boeing said in a statement. "Out of an abundance of caution, we are recommending operators inspect their 737 MAX airplanes and inform us of any findings.

Shares of Boeing were down more than 1% in afternoon trading.

Alaska Airlines plans to start the inspections on Thursday. A spokeswoman said the carrier anticipates completing them in the first half of January. "We don't expect any operational impact as a result," she said.

A spokeswoman for United Airlines , one of the biggest 737 Max customers, said the carrier doesn't expect any impact to its operations as a result of the issue.

American Airlines said in a statement that it will complete the inspections and that it also doesn't anticipate its operations to be impacted by them.

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The Bank of America released its latest Asia fund manager survey, revealing the most and least favored markets in the region for 2024  and named one sector "at the helm." Of the fund managers surveyed, a net 17% expected the Asia-Pacific economy ex-Japan to be stronger in the next 12 months, with most "still in search of an uptrend." The survey participants comprised 254 people with $691 billion in assets under management. However, four in five are expecting a rise in regional stocks in the next 12 months "on the basis of above-par earnings and supportive policy against a backdrop of fair valuations," the investment bank's analysts, led by Ritesh Samadhiya, wrote in a Dec. 19 note. They added that around 34% of the fund managers expect a pick-up in profits in the region in the next 12 months. Overweight tech The fund managers surveyed were mostly bullish about tech for 2024, "consistent with [their] favorable views on the semis cycle," BofA's analysts wrote, describing it as the sector "at the helm" in asset allocation. Segments they like include semis, tech hardware and software. They were, on the other hand, net underweight on sectors such as real estate and utilities, which they said "remain out of favor, notwithstanding the retreat in bond yields." The fund managers are overweight on what they call "tech-heavy" Taiwan and Korea. Taiwan is home to semiconductor giant TSMC and South Korea to Samsung . India also made the fund managers' top four markets they are overweight on. Forecasts for the South Asian country have been strong. In October, the International Monetary Fund hiked its growth forecast for India to 6.3% for both this year and next. China 'remains unloved' The fund managers were notably bearish on China, which sat at the bottom of a list of 12 markets in the region. "Investor interest towards risk assets in China is shockingly low  majority want to play wait-and-watch (34%) or look for opportunities elsewhere (28%), rather than be exposed, given their belief that Chinese households will stay put in a preservation mode," BofA's analysts said. The Chinese economy, still reeling from the Covid-19 pandemic and dogged by a real estate debt crisis, has been in a funk this year. Domestic demand has remained weak, with November's consumer prices falling at their fastest rate in three years . Singapore, Malaysia, Indonesia and Australia are some of the other markets those surveyed were bearish on. Japan 'atop the country preference list' Optimism on the Asian giant has waned among the fund managers, with 34% of those surveyed expecting a stronger economy in the next 12 months, down from 65% in November. Nevertheless, it "sits atop the country preference list, as cited by net 45% of investors, with a tilt towards banks and semis," BofA's analysts wrote. Japan caught the attention of several investors this year, including Warren Buffett, who said in May that he had raised his stakes in five Japanese trading firms to 7.4% after an April visit to Japan. And the Tokyo Stock Exchange's company governance reforms have boosted optimism on the country's market.  CNBC's Michael Bloom contributed to this report.
The Cheddar News logo is seen on a smartphone and PC screen.

Cheddar News owner Altice USA announced Thursday it has sold the financial news streaming service to the media company Archetype, which is owned by private equity firm Regent LP.

CNBC previously reported rumblings of a possible deal to sell Cheddar to Regent. Archetype oversees media brands including Sunset Magazine and Military Times.

"Cheddar has helped transform the way millennials have accessed television news since its groundbreaking debut broadcast from an iPhone in 2016," Archetype said in a statement. "We are excited to assist Cheddar in expanding its reach as the definitive independent 'Voice of What's Next' empowering new audiences to be informed and engaged citizens in an ever-changing world."

Terms of the deal were not officially disclosed, but a person familiar with the matter told CNBC it is structured as a so-called "earn out" deal. Altice USA will collect proceeds in the future if Cheddar meets certain performance targets. Those payments could amount to about $50 million based on internal projections, CNBC previously reported.

Cheddar, founded in 2016 by Jon Steinberg, was bought by Altice USA in 2019 for $200 million.

"We are incredibly proud of what Cheddar News has accomplished within the Altice USA portfolio, growing its distribution to reach new viewers with fresh and exciting need-to-know news content," said Keith Bowen, president of news, advertising and programming for Altice USA, in a statement.



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BEIJING  Chinese consumer electronics company Xiaomi on Thursday detailed plans to enter China's oversaturated electric vehicle market and compete with automaker giants Tesla and Porsche with a car model it says it spent more than 10 billion yuan ($1.4 billion) to develop.

The company's car model, known as Xiaomi SU7, "is in trial production and it will hit the domestic market in a few months," CEO Lei Jun said in a Tuesday post on the X social media platform, formerly known as Twitter. "The price has not been finalized yet."

Pronounced "Sue Qi" in Mandarin, the Xiaomi SU7 beats Porsche's Taycan and Tesla's Model S on acceleration and other metrics, Lei said during a three-hour presentation Thursday.

He laid out bold ambitions to become an industry leader, including in autonomous driving and noted that the SU7 design team previously worked at BMW and Mercedes-Benz.

Sales are due to begin in 2024, after more than three years of development  during which electric vehicles have taken off in China's highly competitive market, and domestic automakers have begun to differentiate their products through ambitious offerings of car-compatible tech.

This is an area of potential advantage for Xiaomi, which is best known for its smartphones and home appliances and previously said it wants to create a "'Human x Car x Home' smart ecosystem."

The SU7 is integrated with Xiaomi's smartphones and internet-connected home appliances, Lei announced Thursday. He emphasized the company's efforts to ensure data privacy among the devices and create a car that surpasses U.S. safety standards for rear-end collisions.

Lei said the vehicle will also be compatible with Apple 's iPhone, iPad, CarPlay and AirPlay. The U.S. giant has yet to release a car despite widespread speculation about such plans.
Just a couple of weeks from now, the U.S. could have its first spot bitcoin ETF. The excitement around the prospect has been building for months, but the market may be a little overheated now. The chances that the ETF approval will be a sell-the-news event have been getting higher, according to CryptoQuant, which points to the fact that investors have been sitting on high unrealized profits  a trend that historically has preceded price corrections. In this case, bitcoin could correct all the way down to $32,000, the short-term holder realized price, the crypto data provider said. "A lot of unrealized profits have been building up because of the price rally in anticipation of the ETF approval, and now those unrealized profits are at extremely high levels for short-term holders and also for miners," said Julio Moreno, CryptoQuant's head of research. "Because there is so much unrealized profit we argue that, once the news of ETF approval is confirmed, market participants would want to realize those profits by selling bitcoin." Meanwhile, with the recent surge in bitcoin price and transaction fees, miners have entered "extremely overpaid" territory, according to CryptoQuant, and have been selling lately with the price remaining above $40,000. The ETF has been the story of the second half of the year in crypto. Bitcoin has gained 57% over the past three months, as the Securities and Exchange Commission's engagement with potential ETF issuers appeared to increase and optimism started to intensify. The coin is up 11% for December. Approval would allow the first ever spot bitcoin ETFs to launch in the U.S. It's regarded by many as a key catalyst for bitcoin and crypto broadly in the new year, the bull case being that it would bring a flood of new investors into the market. (Of course, it's also possible the SEC issues rejections, but broad consensus is that that's unlikely.) Mark Connors, head of research at investment fund manager 3iQ  which launched a spot bitcoin ETF in Canada in 2021  said there's a "strong likelihood" of a pause or brief pullback should a bitcoin ETF, or several, receive SEC approval. However, he doesn't expect the sell-the-news phenomenon to take shape. "We have seen demand from clients for our spot bitcoin ETF in anticipation of a U.S. spot bitcoin ETF approval, so there may be some selling, but most of these clients are aligned with our price expectation for bitcoin, looking at recent purchases as good entry points for a longer term buy, less a short-term trade," Connors said. Assuming a U.S. bitcoin ETF gets greenlit, Connors said he expects bitcoin to trade between $45,000 and $55,000 on the day. The price could bounce in a $10,000 range but with a positive skew, as it did in March, when bitcoin rallied on banking crisis woes in the U.S. He added that bitcoin could reach $100,000 by the end of 2024. "Any pause in bitcoin's appreciation will be short and perilous for market timers," Connors said. Ric Edelman, founder of the Digital Asset Council of Financial Professionals, said the day the SEC gives the greenlight could be anticlimactic but that it wouldn't change the bull case for it. "The price will rise, but not necessarily as much as some might expect," he said. "Advisors and firms have clearly stated that they are not buying bitcoin until they can do so via these products. So, yes, there is buying occurring now in anticipation of SEC approval, but that approval would be the start of the action, not the end." It's entirely possible that rather than investors jumping into bitcoin ETFs on day one, new flows take place gradually over time  and that that trend gets misunderstood as low appetite for the ETFs. Already, some on Wall Street are concerned that expectations for institutions are overinflated and that a bitcoin ETF alone may not convert "nocoiners " (crypto slang for a person who has never bought any crypto before) into buyers. "I want to be humble about the effect of spot ETF  if the initial inflow isn't as much as people expect, I am concerned about the reversal of current momentum," said Oppenheimer analyst Owen Lau. "It takes time for people to understand the advantage of holding bitcoin. I don't expect a big initial inflow initially, it is more likely to be a steady increase. But the recent price action suggests a big pile of money like tens of billions dollar is waiting to get in. It may not be a good setup." Galaxy Digital , which is in line with the SEC for a spot bitcoin ETF in partnership with Invesco, estimates the addressable market size of a U.S. bitcoin ETF to be roughly $14 trillion in the first year after a launch, and expanding to $26 trillion in the following year and $39 trillion in the third year. While it may be reasonable to expect a short-term dip on ETF approval, Matthew Sigel, head of digital assets research at VanEck, emphasized that the event itself would nevertheless create new pathways for inflows from institutions with a long view. "If the flows don't materialize, short-term traders may look to push bitcoin lower into the halving, the next big catalyst," he said. "Keep in mind, however, that many of largest institutions may offer these ETFs on an unsolicited basis only to start. As time goes on, they will integrate bitcoin into their asset allocation models. That may be more meaningful than the initial launch."
The German share price index DAX graph is pictured at the stock exchange in Frankfurt, Germany, November 13, 2023.

LONDON  European stocks closed lower on Thursday as global markets searched for new record highs to close out the year.

The pan-European Stoxx 600 index provisionally closed down about 0.1%, with health care stocks adding 0.6% while banks dropped 0.5%.

The continental blue-chip index was last trading around the 478.21 mark, not far below the index's record closing high of 483.44 notched in November 2021.

Stateside, U.S. stocks were slightly higher after another day of modest gains on Wall Street, with the S&P 500 benchmark also closing in on a record high.

Shares in Asia-Pacific closed mostly higher overnight, with markets in mainland China and Hong Kong leading gains and Australia's S&P/ASX 200 hovering near a two-year high. Japan's Nikkei 225 and Topix bucked the trend to post slight declines.

Trading volumes are expected to be thin during the last two days of the trading year, with fewer data points on the economic calendar and all major central bank meetings out of the way.

In terms of individual share price movement in Europe, Spanish utility company Endesa fell 3.7% to the bottom of the Stoxx 600, while Finnish crane manufacturer Konecranes rose 2.7% to lead the index.

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A picture from September 4, 2003 shows Austrian engineer Gaston Glock at an event in Velden, Carinthia, Austria. Austrian engineer Gaston Glock, whose eponymous Glock pistol achieved global cult status, died at the age of 94 on December 27, 2023, according to the company.

Gaston Glock, the reclusive engineer and tycoon who developed one of the world's best-selling handguns, died on Wednesday aged 94, Austrian news agency APA said.

The Austrian won loyal followings among police and military across the world with the weapons that bore his name. Forbes estimated his and his family's fortune at $1.1 billion in 2021.

His rise began in the 1980s when the Austrian military was looking for a new, innovative weapon.

Up until then, the Glock company had made military knives and consumer goods including curtain rods. But he assembled a team of firearms experts and came up with the Glock 17, a lightweight semi-automatic gun largely made of plastic.

The revolutionary design - with a frame made of a high-strength, nylon-based polymer and only the slide made of metal - beat several other companies' blueprints and secured his upstart outfit the contract.

Soon the easily assembled weapon became a global hit. "Get yourself a Glock and lose that nickel-plated sissy pistol," Tommy Lee Jones said in the 1998 movie "U.S. Marshals".

Many U.S. police officers used them and U.S. rappers worked them into their rhymes, among them Snoop Dogg's "Protocol" and Wu-Tang Clan's "Da Glock".

U.S. soldiers found toppled Iraqi President Saddam Hussein hiding with a Glock in a hole in the ground in 2003. They later presented that weapon to U.S. President George W. Bush, according to the New York Times.

Gun-control advocates criticized Glock for popularising powerful guns that they said were easy to conceal and could hold more ammunition than other guns.
Smoke rises over Gaza, amid the ongoing conflict between Israel and the Palestinian Islamist group Hamas, as seen from southern Israel, December 27, 2023. Amir Cohen | Reuters

Israeli tanks advanced deep into a town in the central Gaza Strip on Thursday after days of relentless bombardment that forced tens of thousands of already displaced Palestinian families to flee in a new exodus. A Palestinian journalist posted pictures of Israeli tanks near a mosque in a built-up area of Bureij, the armoured contingent having apparently advanced from orchards on the eastern outskirts. Further south, Israeli forces struck the area around a hospital in the heart of Khan Younis, the Gaza Strip's main southern city, where residents feared a new ground push into territory crowded with families made homeless in 12 weeks of war. An Israeli air strike later on Thursday killed 20 Palestinians and wounded 55 in Rafah, a major town near Gaza's southern border with Egypt, Gaza health ministry spokesman Ashraf Al-Qidra said. The building that was hit was housing displaced civilians, according to local medics and residents. Palestinian health authorities said earlier that 210 people were confirmed killed in Israeli strikes in the past 24 hours, raising the toll of Palestinians killed in the war so far to 21,320 - nearly 1% of Gaza's population. Thousands more dead are feared to be buried or lost in the ruins.

An aerial view on December 26, 2023 shows destroyed buildings in Beit Lahia following Israeli bombardments in the northern Gaza Strip, amid ongoing battles between Israel and the Palestinian militant group Hamas. - | Afp | Getty Images

Over the course of the war, the Israeli military has expressed regret for civilian deaths but it blames Hamas for operating in densely populated areas or using civilians as human shields, a charge the group denies. Israel has escalated its ground offensive in Gaza sharply since just before Christmas despite public pleas from its closest ally the United States to scale the campaign down in the closing weeks of the year. It launched the war to destroy the militant Islamist Hamas movement that runs Gaza after fighters rampaged through Israeli towns in a cross-border raid on Oct. 7, killing 1,200 people and taking about 240 hostages. Of the hostages, 110 were freed during a short truce in late November and another 23 have now been declared dead in absentia, an Israeli government spokesperson said on Thursday. The main focus of fighting is now in central areas south of the wetlands that bisect the narrow coastal strip, where Israeli forces have ordered civilians out over the past several days as their tanks close in. Tens of thousands of people fleeing the densely packed Nusseirat, Bureij and Maghazi districts were heading south or west on Thursday into the already overwhelmed city of Deir al-Balah along the Mediterranean coast, crowding into hastily built camps of makeshift tents. "Over 150,000 people - young children, women carrying babies, people with disabilities & the elderly - have nowhere to go," the main U.N. organisation operating in Gaza, UNRWA, said in a social media post.

Gazans living in some neighborhoods in Khan Younis move to the southern city of Rafah after the announcement of Israeli forces on residents leaving some neighborhoods in the southern city of Khan Younis, where Palestinians were displaced from the northern Gaza Strip in Khan Yunis, Gaza on December 27, 2023. Jehad Alshrafi | Anadolu | Getty Images

The eastern part of Bureij was a theatre of heavy fighting on Thursday morning, with Israeli tanks thrusting in from the north and east, residents and militants said. "That moment has come, I wished it would never happen, but it seems displacement is a must," said Omar, 60, who said he had been forced to move with at least 35 family members. "We are now in a tent in Deir al-Balah because of this brutal Israeli war," he told Reuters by phone, declining to give a second name for fear of reprisals. Yamen Hamad, living in a school in Deir al-Balah since fleeing from the north, said the people who were newly displaced from Bureij and Nusseirat were setting up tents wherever there was open ground. With food running out, he said he had made a perilous trip to Rafah near the Egyptian border to buy a 25-kg (55-lb) sack of flour for his family.

Fighting near hospital in Khan Younis

Khan Younis, where Israeli forces advanced this month after a truce collapsed on Dec. 1, also came under heavy bombardment on Thursday morning from warplanes and tanks near the al-Amal hospital, west of Israeli positions.

An Israeli tank fires towards Gaza, amid the ongoing conflict between Israel and the Palestinian Islamist group Hamas, at the Israel-Gaza border, in southern Israel, December 27, 2023. Amir Cohen | Reuters

The Palestinian Red Crescent, which runs the hospital and has its headquarters nearby, said 10 Palestinians were killed and 12 wounded in one bombardment there, the third strike targeting the area around the hospital in less than an hour. Residents said they believed Israeli forces were trying to provoke a new exodus ahead of a further ground assault. Nearby at Nasser Hospital, the main medical centre in Khan Younis and largest still functioning in Gaza, women and children shrieked as the dead and wounded were brought in. A toddler lay motionless on a cot while medics tried to revive him; one doctor nodded "no," signalling the boy was dead. Israel reported three more of its soldiers killed, bringing its toll in the ground campaign to 169. The past week has seen some of its heaviest losses of the war so far.

Palestinian women cry where a relative is believed to be trapped in debris following Israeli bombardment in Rafah in the southern Gaza Strip on December 21, 2023, amid continuing battles between Israel and the militant group Hamas. Mohammed Abed | Afp | Getty Images

Virtually all of Gaza's 2.3 million residents have been driven from their homes at least once and many several times. Only a handful of hospitals still function. In a statement on Thursday, the Israeli military said it "regrets the harm caused to uninvolved civilians" from a Dec. 24 air strike on the Maghazi refugee camp that killed 70 people, according to the Palestinian health ministry. The military statement said warplanes struck two targets "adjacent" to where Hamas militants were operating, and a preliminary inquiry showed that further buildings nearby were also hit, "which likely caused unintended harm to additional uninvolved civilians". "The IDF ... is acting to draw conclusions and learn lessons from this event," it added. The Palestinian health ministry denounced the attack as a massacre in a crowded residential square. U.S. President Joe Biden warned earlier this month that "indiscriminate bombing" in Gaza jeopardised sympathy for Israel among its allies. Washington has said Israel should make a transition from full-scale ground war to a targeted campaign against Hamas leaders. Egypt, which has acted as a mediator including hosting the leader of Hamas last week, said it had put forward a proposal to end the bloodshed, including a three-stage plan for a ceasefire, but had yet to hear the warring sides' responses.
The S & P 500 's biggest winners this year  which includes names such as Tesla , Intel and Advanced Micro Devices  may not keep the lead in 2024, according to analysts. There are a couple of notable exceptions, however. The S & P 500 has rallied more than 24% this year, and 11% this quarter alone, as investors embrace the Federal Reserve's indication that central bankers will start cutting rates in 2024. The broader index is on pace to notch its ninth week in a row with gains, which would be a first since 2017. As the S & P 500 gets its Santa Claus rally bump, it's also nearing an all-time high closing level. Using the CNBC Pro Stock Screener Tool , we looked for S & P 500 stocks with the best performance in 2023 and then how analysts view they will do in 2024 according to consensus price targets. Below is the full list of winners and what analysts have to say about them. Analysts see further momentum for Nvidia and Amazon , two names that have already boasted significant returns this year as excitement bubbled around artificial intelligence. Nvidia boasts the largest return from the winners pack, outperforming the rest of the names in the S & P 500 by gaining more than 230% this year. Analysts have a consensus price target of $641.23, indicating nearly 30% upside over the next year. Although the stock has had a monster bull run, Bernstein senior analyst Stacy Rasgon told CNBC on Wednesday that Nvidia is the "cheapest" now than it has been in a decade, given its soaring earnings estimates. The U.S. chipmaking giant brought in $17.5 billion in net income through the first three quarters of this year, which was more than sixfold from a year earlier. Some analysts think the stock is due for a pullback, however, with a recent technical analysis from UBS Investment Bank Advisory Sales indicating a "negative surprise" in store for Nvidia in the first half of next year. Amazon, similarly buoyed by this year's AI craze and a bounce back in tech stocks, has seen its shares jump more than 80% in 2023. With a consensus price target of $177.14, analysts project roughly 15% upside over the next year. Analysts remain enthused by Amazon's growth potential in several key markets, including generative AI, cloud computing and e-commerce. Raymond James analyst Josh Beck recently selected Amazon as the firm's top pick, saying in a December note that the e-commerce giant is no longer a "GenAI laggard" after its most recent re:Invent conference highlighted major AI-related advancements in the company's products, such as Amazon Web Services' Neuron platform and cloud-based machine learning platform Amazon SageMaker. Beyond these tech players, investors are optimistic about manufacturing solutions provider Jabil , gaining more than 87.5% in 2023. According to analysts' consensus target on the stock, shares could pop more than 17% next year. In mid-December, the company posted a beat on earnings and revenue expectations for the first quarter. Among the list of winners, Tesla is projected to have the steepest losses next year. Analysts forecast shares could decline more than 13% in 2024. The electric vehicle maker has popped about 110% this year, even as competitors have seen modest share price growth amid concerns over high pricing and public charging infrastructure . Investors are growing concerned that appetite for EVs may be slowing into the new year. Recently, Ford and GM have been pivoting away from their one-time big EV growth plans. Another stock that seems to have rallied too much according to Wall Street this year is chipmaker Intel. The stock is up more than 91% in 2023, but analysts think shares could fall more than 22% given their average price target of $39.33. Other S & P 500 winners include cloud networking solutions provider Arista Networks , Facebook parent Meta Platforms and analytics company Fair Isaac .
Tired of the usual sights or craving a break from the travel herd? These five travel spots may be the getaway you're looking for. Adventure travel company Intrepid Travel's new "Not Hot" list is out  spotlighting overlooked travel spots around the world. The company's annual list attempts to combat overtourism by helping travelers "beat the crowds and ... inspire them to seek out different and unique experiences around the world in communities that can truly benefit from visitors," Matt Berna, president of the Americas at Intrepid Travel, told CNBC Travel. The 2024 list calls attention to two destinations in Asia, two in Europe and one in Central America.

Corsica

Corsica, a mountainous Mediterranean island and territorial collectivity of France, is a self-proclaimed "Island of Beauty."

Corsica, France. Source: Intrepid Travel

Unlike Italy's tourist-saturated Positano, travelers visiting Corsica can "enjoy a more authentic, tranquil, and immersive experience ... without the overwhelming crowds," according to a press release by Intrepid Travel. But the island's allure extends beyond its coastlines. Corsica is also known for its 180 kilometer (112 mile) hiking trail  the GR20  and numerous historic landmarks, France's tourism website showed. The island is home to six nature reserves, including the Scandola Nature Reserve  a UNESCO World Heritage Site renowned for its red volcanic rocks. Corsica's "unique blend of natural beauty, cultural richness, and historical significance ... sets it apart from popular destinations like Positano," according to Intrepid.

Seoul

Tokyo, Singapore and Seoul are the three most visited Asian cities in 2023, according to market research company Euromonitor International.

Seoul, Korea. Source: Intrepid Travel

Tokyo welcomed 31.8 million international tourists in 2019, according to the Japan National Tourism Organization. In the same year, 17.5 million international tourists visited Seoul, Korea, statistics by the Korea Tourism Organization showed. "Tokyo has been a popular travel destination for a long time, so its product offerings are more varied, attracting a larger spectrum of audiences especially families and more mature travelers," Nick Lim, Asia CEO of The Travel Corporation, told CNBC. Tokyo's bookings from January to November 2023 rose by 234%. But Seoul's popularity is rising. This year, flight bookings to Seoul increased 191%  double that of 2022, a representative at Trip.com told CNBC Travel. "Younger travelers may choose Seoul over Tokyo because the city offers a mix of traditional and modern culture," Lim said. The rise of Korean pop music and dramas have also boosted the city's appeal, he added. Nonetheless, Seoul and Tokyo remain vastly different. Both cities are "culturally rich with authentic and unique experiences ... the choice between them ultimately depends on individual preferences and interests," Lim said.

Panama

Panama, a Central American country bordered by Costa Rica and Colombia, is home to one of the world's most sophisticated engineering works  the Panama Canal.

The Panama Canal in Panama, Central America. Gonzalo Azumendi | Stone | Getty Images

The city has five UNESCO World Heritage Sites  two archaeological sites, Panama Viejo and Casco Antiguo, and three national parks, the Coiba, Darien and La Amistad national parks. Intrepid Travel recommends Panama for those who wish to "immerse themselves in local traditions, folklore, and contemporary arts ... that differs from the more European-centric cultural landscape," the press release stated. Beyond historical sites, seven indigenous communities reside in Panama. Two of which  the territories of Guna and Embera  are open to tourists, according to Panama's official tourism website.

Kefalonia to Corfu

Greece is known for its beaches, coastal caves and island hopping. But away from Santorini and Mykonos, the islands from Kefalonia to Corfu are "a serene haven for travelers seeking a tranquil escape," according to Intrepid.

Corfu, Greece. David C Tomlinson | The Image Bank | Getty Images

Kefalonia and Corfu are two of the largest islands in the Ionian Sea, while 12 others are scattered across the west coast of Greece. The Ionian Islands' "unspoiled landscapes and pristine beaches ... offers a serene haven for travelers seeking a tranquil escape, unlike the more crowded destinations" like Split and Dubrovnik in Croatia, Intrepid Travel's press release stated.

Borneo

Borneo, an island in Southeast Asia, is divided among three countries  Malaysia, Brunei and Indonesia. Kalimantan, the Indonesian region of the island, takes up two-thirds of the island, while the Islamic country of Brunei lies between two Malaysian states  Sarawak and Sabah.

Borneo, an island in Southeast Asia, has the Malaysian states of Sabah and Sarawak, Indonesian's Kalimantan and Brunei. Source: Intrepid Travel
Norways largest pensions manager divested $15 million from Gulf companies on concerns they may facilitate human rights violations, and decided to exclude Saudi Aramco because of climate risks.

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KLP, which oversees $70 billion, blacklisted a dozen companies listed in Saudi Arabia, Qatar, the United Arab Emirates and Kuwait from its investment universe. The divestments mostly reflect an unacceptable risk of contributing to human rights abuses, KLP said, with Aramco targeted separately for its negative impact on the environment.

The excluded firms included companies in the real estate sector, where KLP says migrant workers from Africa and Asia have faced discrimination and human rights violations. The pension fund also targeted the telecommunications sector, where it cited the development of artificial intelligence as reinforcing the risk of surveillance and censorship in the region.

Gulf states remain characterized by authoritarian systems of government that restrict freedom of expression and political rights, including of critics and human rights activists, said Kiran Aziz, KLPs head of responsible investment, in a statement.

The stocks which were blacklisted were mixed on Thursday, with some trading higher along with emerging-market peers, while others slipped. Aramco edged lower, tracking an overnight drop in oil. Foreign investors generally have a smaller exposure to Gulf markets  which comprise just over 7% of the MSCI Emerging Markets Index  due to smaller free floats and more recent inclusions to the benchmark.

KLP manages pensions for the public sector, including Norwegian municipalities, and describes itself as a responsible investor thats willing to divest from companies for environmental, social and governance reasons. In recent years, it has targeted Adani Green Energy Ltd. on concerns the company might have inadvertently helped finance polluting activities via its stake; US-based firms overseeing refugee centers linked to human right violations; and companies tied to Israeli settlements in the West Bank.

KLPs Aziz said Aramco was excluded primarily because the oil and gas producers energy transition plan failed to meet expectations. The pension fund said it has found engaging with companies in the Gulf States to be fruitful, but added that its difficult for shareholders to influence Aramco as its mostly state-owned.

KLP said the $15 million divestment amount would have been roughly $27 million if its investments more closely matched the index weightings of the stocks.
The state police and the Sashastra Seema Bal along with intelligence agencies have increased vigil on the India-Nepal border in view of the arrival of Prime Minister Narendra Modi in Ayodhya, officials said.

The tight watch is being maintained on the porous border of India-Nepal ahead of Modi's arrival for the inauguration of Shri Ram Airport in Ayodhya on December 30.

The grand Ram Temple is slated for inauguration on January 22.

"To prevent the movement of unwanted elements in the area, the security agencies have been asked to ascertain the identities of people before allowing them to cross over through the border," Deputy Inspector General, Sashastra Seema Bal, Gorakhpur, Akhileshvar Singh said.

"Cameras have been put on SSB posts besides the main roads. Dog squads and one platoon of women wing have also been deployed. Metal detectors have been installed at Sonauli and Thuthibari outposts on the Indo-Nepal border," Singh said.

In addition to this, security agencies such as Indo-Nepal Border Police, Local Intelligence Unit (LIU) and intelligence agencies have been asked to be on alert on the border, Singh added.

Intelligence units have also been asked to keep an eye on religious places along the border.

Police and SSB in Maharajganj, Siddharthanagar, Shravasti and Balrampur districts, which share the border with Nepal, have been put on high alert, the DIG said.
Adani Group's flagship entity, Adani Enterprises Limited on Thursday (December 28) said its subsidiary Adani Global Ltd, Mauritius (Adani) has formed 49:51 joint venture (JV) with UAE-based Sirius International Holding Limited in Abu Dhabi.

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"We would like to inform that the company through its wholly owned subsidiary, Adani Global Limited, Mauritius (Adani) has executed a term-sheet (Agreement) on 28th December 2023 for formation of 49:51 JV with UAE-based Sirius International Holding Limited, UAE (Sirius)," Adani Enterprises said in a regulatory filing.

The JV will enable to deploy Artificial Intelligence (AI), Internet of Things (IoT) and Secured Blockchain Products for industrial applications, the statement read.

Sirius JV will capitalise on global digital transformation expertise of Sirius and Adani's strategic insights to focus on leading the $175 billion opportunity in digitalisation of the Indian economy. This digital opportunity is rapidly evolving to becoming a $1 trillion market by 2030, the company said.

"Inexpensive sensorisation and the power of artificial intelligence are opening up new ways to drive extreme levels of efficiency, ensure real-time decision making, and rapidly deploy transformative business models. The power of compute and the ability to deliver green energy to data centers creates a unique combination of strengths that we bring to this partnership with Sirius International Holding which has a portfolio of the most exciting digital companies relevant in today's era," said Adani Enterprises spokesperson.

Adani and Sirius will hold 49% and 51% shareholding, respectively, in the proposed joint venture company with equal participation in the Board of Directors of the joint venture company.

"We believe that Sirius's expertise and Adani's dynamic approach will be instrumental in empowering businesses to thrive in the digital era with advanced technologies that optimise industries, streamline processes and foster growth," said a spokesperson at Sirius International Holding.
Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, December 28)  A few days before New Year's Eve, the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) called on local officials to strictly enforce the firecracker ban in their respective localities.

"Tiyakin po natin na napaiiral ang mga ordinansang itoLagyan natin ng pangil ang mga ordinansang ito laban sa mapanganib na paputok," said DILG Sec. Benhur Abalos, referring to the at least 1,210 local government units that have passed ordinances against the use of harmful firecrackers.

[Translation: Let's make sure that these ordinances are being implementedLet's be strict in implementing these ordinances against dangerous fireworks.]

According to the Philippine National Police, the prohibited firecrackers include varieties such as Five Star, Pla-Pla, Piccolo, Goodbye Philippines, Goodbye Bading, Giant Bawang, Watusi, Atomic Triangle, Judas Belt, Super Yolanda, Super Lolo, and Coke-in-Can.

READ: Call to ban firecrackers raised anew

Speaking to CNN Philippines' The Final Word on Wednesday, Quezon City Public Order and Safety Department head Elmo San Diego said they have been implementing a firecracker ban since 2019.

"We are actually very aggressive in strictly implementing a total ban on use and display of firecrackers in the city," San Diego said.

He said city residents face a six-month jail term and a fine of 5,000 for violating the ordinance.

Officials of the city's 142 barangays in QC were also advised to establish their respective fireworks display areas, he added.

The Department of Health has logged a total of 75 firecracker-related injuries over the last six days.
Malaybalay City, Bukidnon (CNN Philippines, December 28)  A husband and wife team believed to be top regional leaders of the New People's Army (NPA), along with their daughter, were among the 10 killed during an encounter with the military in Malaybalay City, Bukidnon on Christmas Day.

LTCol Anthony Bacus, Commanding Officer of the 8th Infantry Battalion, identified the slain rebel leaders as Beverly Sunta and her husband Alfredo Banawan, as well as their daughter Chen-Chen Banawan, all from Sitio Trukat, Barangay Cawayan.

Bacus alleged that Sunta was the secretary general while Banawan was the deputy secretary of the so-called Sub-Regional Committee-2 (SRC2), Headquarters Loader and Regional Sentro De Gravidad (RSDG) Compaq, all of the North Central Mindanao Regional Committee.

The four other fatalities were identified as Penita Singaman, Bebot Solinay, Aurellio Gonsalez, and a certain Loue from Agusan province.

The military said it has yet to identify the three remaining bodies.

Recovered from the rebels were high-powered firearms, cell phones, syringes, medicines, ammunition, projectors, generators, and several documents.

MGen Jose Maria Cuerpo of the 4th Infantry Division described the Christmas Day operation as a major success amid the ongoing effort to rid the Malaybalay City hinterlands of rebels.

In an emailed response, Communist Party of the Philippines (CPP) chief information officer Marco Valbuena said they have yet to receive any information from the NPA in Bukidnon regarding the identities of those killed on Dec. 25.

"What I can state with a high level of certainty is that there was no clash or ground encounter, and that the fatalities died during an aerial bombing and artillery shelling assault during the early morning of December 25. By its own admission, the AFP dropped scores of 250-lb bombs for several hours. This caused an unnecessary number of casualties which violate international rules of war and standards of civilized war," he said.

"Those who were killed in the AFP's December 25 attack will be remembered as martyrs of the Filipino people's struggle," he added.

The Christmas clash happened amid a two-day holiday ceasefire declared by the CPP.

In November, the government announced that it will resume peace negotiations with the National Democratic Front of the Philippines (NDFP), as both parties acknowledged the "need to unite" to address national challenges, including foreign security threats.

Bukidnon-based correspondent Melchor Velez and senior multiplatform news writer Bamba Galang contributed to this story.
Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, December 28)  The Supreme Court (SC) has upheld rulings issued by lower courts that ordered the cessation of activities causing irreparable damage to a forest zone in Sabangan, Mountain Province.

In a decision made public on Thursday, the SC ruled in favor of private complaintants who  in a citizen suit  expressed concern over alleged environmental violations committed by spouses Robles and Rose Maliones, who have claimed ownership of the subject land.

In 2015, the complainants filed a petition against the two, whom they accused of illegally occupying and destroying parts of a public forest.

They said the Malioneses conducted bulldozing and other earth-moving activities in that parcel of land in Barangay Data, Sabangan, where tax declarations have been issued in the couples names. They alleged that the two also cut trees, practiced kaingin, and used fertilizers and pesticides that threaten to irreversibly destroy a part of the area.

According to the SC Public Information Office (PIO), complainants also said the couple introduced improvements in the subject land, leading to the exclusion of the public from its use and enjoyment.

The Court upheld the factual findings of the RTC (Regional Trial Court) and the CA (Court of Appeals) that there exists an actual or imminent threat that can be attributed to [the Malioneses], including the activities they are conducting on the subject land that violate environmental laws and cause prejudice to the life, health, or property of residents of Barangay Data, Sabangan, Mountain Province, said the SC PIO.

The high court further affirmed that since the area is presumptively part of the public forest, the couple's actions of occupying, fencing off, clearing, planting on, sowing on and building on the land are contrary to the provisions of Presidential Decree No. 705.

There is also no evidence on record that petitioners have the requisite permits to enter, occupy and clear the forest land they claim, the SC said.

In fact, the City Environment and Natural Resources Office expressly declared that petitioners earth-moving activities were being done on a portion of the public forest. These facts were not rebutted by the petitioners, held the Court, said its PIO.

The SC ordered the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR), particularly the Cordillera Administrative Region office, to guard and patrol the land to prevent the repetition of illegal and destructive activities.

It also directed the DENR to rehabilitate damaged areas, including by planting trees in the denuded portions.
Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, December 28)  A new survey found that the majority of adult Filipinos agree with the Marcos administrations approach to handling the territorial dispute with China in the West Philippine Sea (WPS), as the approval percentage saw a significant 15% increase.

OCTA Research on Thursday said its Tugon ng Masa survey for the third quarter of the year showed that 58% of respondents approve of the governments policies and programs on the dispute.

This is up from the 43% in the second quarter survey conducted in July.

Since President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. took office in end-June last year, the government has filed over a hundred diplomatic protests over Chinas aggressions in the WPS, which this year included the use of a military-grade laser against a Philippine vessel, as well as water cannon attacks.

Officials have also noted boosted efforts to raise awareness of Beijings actions, which they have described as provocative and acts of bullying.

Recently, the Philippines also conducted joint patrols with the US in the WPS, something that has not sat well with China as it accused Manila of stirring up trouble in the region.

RELATED: PH stirring up trouble? DND says China credibility very low, more joint WPS patrols to happen

According to OCTA Research, the highest agreement ratings were seen in Metro Manila, followed by the Visayas and Mindanao. Among regions, Bicol Region logged the largest percentage, while disagreement was highest in Northern Mindanao.

In terms of socioeconomic classes, agreement ratings were highest among Filipinos belonging to Class D and lowest among Class ABC.

The survey also found that most respondents aged 75 and above agree with state policies on the matter, while disagreement was highest among the 18 to 24 age group.

Meanwhile, a significant majority of respondents favor a dual approach of diplomacy and military action  with the latter defined as expanded naval patrols and troop presence in the WPS  in asserting the country's rights.

Results also showed that 42% want more joint patrols with allied countries.

The National Security Council (NSC) welcomed the findings of the survey, saying these show that the countrys policies are "on the right track.

In a statement, National Security Adviser Eduardo Ano also gave his commitment that the NSC will always advance national interest and protect the country's rights.

"The survey results show that the Filipino people consider the WPS as a major concern and that the lives and livelihood of our people, especially the fisherfolk who depend on the seas, are primordial concerns which cannot be taken for granted," he said.
The biggest innovations are sometimes borne from seemingly small advancements. Developments such as finding ways to compress computer files, creating a practical phone battery, crafting an unassuming text editor, and filing a software patent sent shockwaves through the IT industry, leaving indelible marks on the modern world.

As Computerworld looks back on the lives of 13 scientists, authors, advocates, and entrepreneurs we lost this year who hailed from Israel, Lebanon, the Netherlands, Ukraine, and the United States, we remember their contributions and legacies that are felt worldwide.

Nabil Bukhalid: The father of Lebanons internet

1957  January 4, 2023

In 1988, Nabil Bukhalid was working as a biomedical engineer in a hospital in Beirut, capital of his native Lebanon. As the Lebanese civil war raged outside, Bukhalid hunkered inside, experimenting with the hospitals computers. Wanting to reach the world beyond the war, Bukhalid took his hospital experience and led a team that connected his alma mater, the American University of Beirut, to the nascent internet.

Bukhalid maintained his momentum beyond that initial connection: he founded the Lebanese Domain Registry and administered the .lb top-level domain; he co-founded both the Internet Society Lebanon Chapter and the Lebanese Internet Center; and he led the computing and networking services department at AUB, where he later earned an executive master of business administration. These contributions to his countrys infrastructure earned Bukhalid the nickname Father of the Internet in Lebanon, and he was inducted into the Internet Hall of Fame in 2017.

Bukhalid died at 65 from a heart attack.

Jerome R. Cox Jr.: Work hard, be kind

May 24, 1925  January 17, 2023

Jerome Cox Jr. may be best remembered for his contribution to the Laboratory INstrument Computer, often considered the first personal computer. LINC, first conceived by Wesley Clark, was developed at MITs Lincoln Laboratory, but the team felt a different sponsor would allow them to develop it further. Cox, the founding chairman of the computer science department at Washington University in St. Louis, brought the LINC team and their computer to his school in 1964. LINC development continued and thrived in the schools newly founded Biomedical Computing Laboratory, founded by Cox.

But Cox was not only an administrator and academic; he pioneered many advancements in biomedical research himself. Cox co-developed a computer for detecting deafness, leading to the standardization of hearing tests in infants; he conducted research into hearing loss in employees in industrial environments; and his work with CT and PET scanners improved the diagnosis of cancers and heart rhythm irregularities.

A graduate of MIT, where he earned his bachelors, masters, and Ph.D. degrees in electrical engineering, Cox later co-founded Growth Networks, which was acquired by Cisco; Blendics, which provided system-on-chip design tools and services; and cybersecurity firm Q-Net Security.

Cox had 12 patents and more than 150 publications, including his 2022 memoir, Work Hard, Be Kind. He was 97 when he died.

Bernie Newcomb: Taking stock

November 10, 1943  January 29, 2023

Bernie Newcomb was born with congenital cataracts that left him with such limited vision, he was legally blind. But he insisted on going to a traditional public school in his hometown of Scio, Oregon, where he graduated as valedictorian. Despite his academic accomplishments  including being the first in his family to graduate from college  few employers were willing to give him a chance. He eventually landed at General Electric, where he taught himself programming.

After meeting fellow Apple II user William A. Porter at a party in 1980, the two in 1982 founded the company Trade*Plus, which provided brokerage software for investment firms such as Fidelity. It was popular with the discount brokers, but it was a test for them, Newcomb told Oregons Corvallis Gazette-Times. As soon as they saw that it worked, theyd create their own system and take all our customers.

Morgan Stanley

So Newcomb and Porter pivoted, cut out the middleman and, in 1992, founded the online trading platform E*TRADE, enabling consumers to trade stocks directly without a broker. E*TRADE went public in 1996 and doubled its value by 1997, at which point Newcomb left to pursue philanthropy. He founded the Bernard A Newcomb Foundation and received the American Foundation for the Blinds Helen Keller Achievement Award in 2006.

Newcomb was proud not only of E*TRADEs role in the financial industry  the company was acquired by Morgan Stanley in 2020 for $13 billion  but also for its name. We were the first e, he claimed. If we were G-Trade, I figure there would be g-commerce and G-Bay.

Newcomb died at 79 from congestive heart failure.

Abraham Lempel and Jacob Ziv: A collaboration in compression

Abraham Lempel: February 10, 1936  February 4, 2023

Jacob Ziv: November 27, 1931  March 25, 2023

Jacob Ziv was born in 1931 in Palestine and earned his doctor of science degree from MIT before joining the faculty at the Israel Institute of Technology in 1970.

Abraham Lempel was born in 1936 in what is now Ukraine. He too earned a doctor of science degree, but from the Israel Institute of Technology, whose faculty he joined in 1977.

In 1977, the two IIT colleagues co-authored a landmark paper, A Universal Algorithm for Sequential Data Compression. The Lempel-Ziv lossless compression algorithm, or LZ as it became known, was the first to use a sliding window, a concept that spawned an entire family of later algorithms, including LZW, a 1984 compression algorithm co-developed with Terry Welch and used in the GIF image format.

 Jacob Ziv

The development of the LZ algorithm was so monumental that the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers named it an IEEE Milestone, joining the ranks of Benjamin Franklins experiments with electricity, the development of NASAs Apollo guidance computer, and the laying of the first transatlantic fiber-optic cable.

For their work in compression algorithms, Lempel earned the IEEEs Richard W. Hamming Medal in 2007, and Ziv was awarded the IEEEs Medal of Honor in 2021.

Lempel was 87 when he died this past February; Ziv was 91 when he died exactly seven weeks later.

Gordon Moore: Lawmaker

January 3, 1929  March 24, 2023

Intel Gordon Moore

After earning a Ph.D. in chemistry in 1954, Gordon Moore found himself unemployed. I couldnt find a good technical job in California, so I had to go east for my first job out of school, Moore said during his 2001 commencement speech to his alma mater, Caltech. He landed in Maryland at the Johns Hopkins University Applied Physics Laboratory.

An invitation from William Shockley, former Bell Labs manager, brought Moore back west to work at Shockley Semiconductor in Mountain View, California. But eventually, Moore joined seven other Shockley employees to form the traitorous eight that founded Fairchild Semiconductor.

Fairchild turned out to be the mother company of many Fairchildren, Moore said. Several dozen  I wouldnt be surprised if it went into the hundreds  of companies can trace their formation back to Fairchild and its spinoffs.

In 1968, Moore co-founded one of those companies: Intel, whose Pentium processor powered generations of personal computers, from the chips debut in 1993 to its retirement in 2023.

Moore may be best known for his 1965 prediction that the number of transistors on an integrated circuit would double every year, which he revised to every two years in 1975. His prediction has to date held true, giving rise to the name Moores Law.

Moore died at his home in Hawaii at the age of 94. His legacy includes the nonprofit Gordon and Betty Moore Foundation.

Edward Fredkin: Renaissance man

October 2, 1934  June 13, 2023

Computer History Museum Edward Fredkin

Despite an underwhelming academic start, Edward Fredkins career soared. He attended Caltech with some of the worst high-school grades the school had ever admitted. He dropped out to serve as a pilot in the United States Air Force, which, in 1956, assigned him to MIT Lincoln Laboratory, where he worked with the SAGE computer. From there, Fredkin moved to Bolt, Beranek & Newton, where he wrote an assembler language and operating system for the PDP-1 computer, adapting the hardware to support BBNs time-sharing system.

After a few years of founding and running the company Information International Inc., Fredkin joined the faculty of MIT  despite not having even a bachelors degree. At MIT, he directed the Project on Mathematics and Computation (Project MAC), a DARPA-funded initiative that paired Fredkin with Marvin Minksy in the field of artificial intelligence.

To incentivize further developments in AI, in 1980, Fredkin funded Carnegie Mellon Universitys Fredkin Prize, which offered $100,000 to whoever developed a computer capable of defeating a chess grandmaster. It was 17 years before IBM claimed that prize when Deep Blue won a match against Garry Kasparov.

Fredkin held many interests: he coined Fredkins paradox, invented a computational circuit known as the Fredkin gate, and was rumored to be the inspiration for the character of Dr. Falken in the iconic 1983 film WarGames. He saw the universe as one giant computer, consistent with his model of digital philosophy. And he chaired the Computer History Museums PDP-1 restoration project, successfully reactivating a 45-year-old machine in 2004.

Fredkin died in Massachusetts at the age of 88.

John Goodenough: Powering the future

July 25, 1922  June 25, 2023

As a child, John Goodenough struggled with undiagnosed dyslexia. Yet he still graduated top of his high school class in Massachusetts and went on to Yale, to serve in the US Army, and then to earn a masters degree and Ph.D. at the University of Chicago. He spent the next two dozen years at MITs Lincoln Laboratory, where he helped develop the materials for random access memory (RAM).

His next act was just as profound: while a professor at the University of Oxford, he developed a usable lithium-ion rechargeable battery. These small, powerful batteries now power everything from smartphones to Teslas, enabling a miniaturization of devices and an independence from fossil fuels. Yet he still saw room for improvement, continuing to work on new battery types well into his 90s.

Goodenough earned no royalties from his work, which may have informed his sardonic view of capitalism. Im probably most proud of the fundamental studies Ive done  but Ive gotten recognition for the batteries that I did, because people made money on it, he said. And when people make money on it, well, then you become important.

Goodenough received the National Medal of Science in 2011 and the Nobel Prize in Chemistry in 2019. Goodenough died at 100, at which time he was the oldest living Nobel Prize winner.

Kevin Mitnick: Most wanted

August 6, 1963  July 16, 2023

Kevin Mitnick started exploiting systems before he was a teenager, learning how to ride the Los Angeles bus system for free. At 16, he hacked into Digital Equipment Corporation, a crime that earned him a year in prison. He violated the terms of his release by hacking into voicemail computers, infiltrating email accounts, and stealing credit card numbers (which there is no evidence he ever used, according to the Associated Press).

His continued criminal activity earned him the attention of the FBI. A fugitive for over two years, Mitnick was eventually arrested in 1995  a hunt that was dramatized in the 2000 film Takedown. Although sentenced to five years in prison, his fans perceived Mitnicks hacking to lack consequential damage, leading magazines such as 2600: The Hacker Quarterly to promote a FREE KEVIN movement and encourage leniency for his crimes.

I [was] a hacker  not a hacker for profit, like we see today, but more a hacker for intellectual curiosity, said Mitnick.

After being released from prison, Mitnick founded Mitnick Security Consulting and was the chief hacking officer at security firm KnowBe4. His YouTube channel offered consumer tips on how to avoid being the victim of digital crimes. In 2011, he published his autobiography, Ghost in the Wires, and was a guest on The Colbert Report, where host Stephen Colbert introduced him as being once considered the worlds most famous hacker, the most wanted man in computer crime.

Mitnick died at 59 from pancreatic cancer.

Bram Moolenaar: Vim and vigor

1961 August 3, 2023

In 1988, Dutch software engineer Bram Moolenaar wanted to broaden access to Vi, the powerful yet complex text editor. Necessity was the mother of Moolenaars invention: I had an Amiga computer at home, I wanted to have a similar editor there too, and the only option was to write it myself, he told LinuxEXPRES.

Moolenaar took the Atari ST port of Vi, dubbed Stevie, and adapted and enhanced it. Released in 1991, Vim (short for Vi Imitation; later, Vi Improved) built upon the original by adding an advanced scripting language, multi-level undo, mouse support, and more.

Vim saw broad adoption and approval: today it is included with most Linux distributions as well as macOS, and it was voted the favorite text editor of readers of Linux Journal for five consecutive years, 20012005. Moolenaars work was recognized in 2008 with an award from The Netherlands Local Unix User Group (NLUUG).

Since Vim was released as free, open-source software, Moolenaar never profited off his tool. He instead asked users to send donations to ICCF Holland, an organization he founded to help children in Uganda affected by AIDS. The proceeds amounted to about 30,000, helping students complete both primary and college education.

After working at Google for 15 years, Moolenaar retired in 2021. He continued developing Vim, with v9.0 released in 2022. These days, now that I am retired, it gives me something interesting, joyful, and useful to do, he said in an interview with Evrone. Vim is a very important part of my life.

Moolenaar died at 62.

John Warnock: Making documents truly portable

October 6, 1940  August 19, 2023

Adobe John Warnock

While studying at the University of Utah, John Warnock was presented with the hidden surface problem, one of many the schools ARPA-funded computer graphics research center was tackling. Warnock solved it handily, developing what became known as the Warnock algorithm.

After earning his Ph.D. in mathematics, Warnock made his way to Xerox PARC, where he partnered with fellow employee Charles Geschke to develop InterPress, a standard for printing digital images. When Xerox did not pursue its implementation, Warnock and Geschke left to form Adobe in 1982. They licensed their newest printing technology, PostScript, to Apple, which embedded it into the LaserWriter printer, kicking off a revolution in desktop publishing.

Warnock was actively involved in the development of further products that put Adobe on the map. After creating Adobe Illustrator in 1986, he founded the development team Camelot, tasked with solving the problem that most programs print to a wide range of printers, but there is no universal way to communicate and view this printed information electronically. The solution: the Portable Document Format, or PDF, which heralded a new era of the promised paperless office.

Yet Warnock never abandoned the print medium himself: he loved old books and founded the Rare Book Room, an online archive to digitize and preserve classics.

Warnock and Geschke, who passed in 2021, shared many awards, including the American Electronics Associations Annual Medal of Achievement Award, the IEEE Computer Societys Computer Entrepreneur Award, the National Medal of Technology and Innovation, and the Marconi Prize.

Warnock served as Adobe CEO until 2000, a co-chair on the board of directors until 2017, and board member until 2023. He died at 82.

Molly Holzschlag: The webs fairy godmother

January 15, 1963  September 5, 2023

If Tim Berners-Lee is the father of the web, then Molly is its fairy godmother, said a friend of Molly Holzschlag.

An American teacher and author, Holzschlag devoted her life to web standards and accessibility online, in print, and in person. Holzschlag wrote or co-wrote 35 books, from 1996s Professional Web Design to 2005s The Zen of CSS Design and more. She founded and ran the first five years of Open Web Camp, an event that was held from 20092015, and she led the Web Standards Project from 2004 to 2006.

Holzschlag was indefatigable in her advocacy for accessibility, said Jeffrey Zeldman, publisher and talent chief content officer at Automattic. Molly was a warrior for web standards, he told Computerworld. She tirelessly shared the benefits of accessible, semantic markup to all who would listen. There was no web development conference to which Molly would not travel, no user question she would not answer thoughtfully, no web person she would not happily mentor and support if asked.

Holzschlag didnt always get her way, but that didnt deter her. There were so many things about what the web became that she hated, that shed spent so much time and energy fighting to avert, wrote author, event organizer, and early CSS advocate Eric A. Meyer. But she still loved it for what it could be and what it had been originally designed to be.

Holzschlag battled numerous health issues over the past decade. She was 60 when she died.

Martin Goetz: Father of the software industry

April 22, 1930  October 10, 2023



The First Software Patent | INVENTORS | PBS Digital Studios

Well before Apple and Microsoft were tried as monopolies, IBM was the computer industrys 800-pound gorilla. Since software wasnt being patented, IBM was free to copy code and ideas to bundle whatever software they wanted with their hardware, exploiting third-party developers. Trying to sell against free software is very difficult, observed programmer Martin Goetz.

He and the company he co-founded, Applied Data Research (ADR), decided to change that. Goetz filed for  and received  the first software patent in the United States, for a mainframe data-sorting algorithm (Sorting System). Computerworld covered the story in its June 19, 1968 edition, with a front-page headline: First Patent Issued for Software, Full Implications Are Not Yet Known.

IDG In 1968, Computerworld reported on the first software patent ever granted by the US patent office.

The implications proved to be the birth of the software industry, driving competition and innovation, starting with ADRs own Autodesk, often considered the first patented commercial software program. Protecting these patents involved an antitrust lawsuit against IBM  one by the US Department of Justice, another by ADR. By 1969, IBM had agreed to unbundle software from its mainframe, creating further opportunities for independent software developers.

In later years, Goetz sometimes found the precedent he had set to be abused by the likes of Apple and Amazon. The patent wars go on Its a little bit of a mess, I would have to say, he admitted.

Goetz was 93 when he died.
Along with numerous discarded Christmas trees and even more numerous hazy, headachey regrets, New Years Day also brings with it a special treat: a whole slew of intellectual properties enter the public domain.

While this happens every year, 2024 is a big one, because this is the year when Mickey Mouse finally slips away from Disneys tight, four-fingered legal fist  or, at least, the old-timey Steamboat Willie version of Mickey, everybodys favorite cartoon mouse/repugnant blackface substitute.

Yes, after decades of delays and well-funded legal fuckery, Mickey Mouse will soon be in the public domain, no doubt ushering in a golden age of lawful ironic T-shirts and half-assed edgelord slasher movies. But prior to this moment in history, a number of brave souls still employed the image of Mickey Mouse in some litigiously-risky, wholly unauthorized projects, some of the most notable examples of which include

An Army of Evil Mickeys Bombed Japan in a 1934 Cartoon A 1934 Japanese cartoon found Mickey Mouse riding some kind of demonic bat creature (with a face that also resembles Mickey Mouse) attacking an island full of innocent characters from Japanese folklore. Mickey and his army of Mickey clones are obviously a stand-in for America as a whole, which is possibly why the story is set in 1936, due to the expiration of a naval treaty between the United States and Japan on that date. Its hands-down the greatest movie in which Mickey Mouse plays a deranged, fanged monster, other than the one that Disney themselves made.

Mickey Is the Star of a Historical Comic Set in a Concentration Camp In the early 1940s, cartoonist Horst Rosenthal created a 12-page comic documenting his experiences in the Vichy concentration camp, Gurs, where the government, as part of their collaboration with the Nazis, sent Jews of any nationality other than French as well as undesirables that included several artists, writers and musicians. The protagonist of this tragic parable? Mickey Mouse. Mickey au Camp de Gurs, the story of the Disney icon being sent to a literal concentration camp, wasnt published until 2014, but is now considered one of the earliest surviving examples of a comic from the Holocaust. Rosenthal died in Auschwitz in 1942.

Mickey Became a Grizzled Jerk in the Pages of Mad Magazine Issue #19 of Mad Magazine, way back in 1955, took aim at the entire Disney brand with Mickey Rodent, a comic by Will Elder and Harvey Kurtzman that portrayed Mickey as a bitter maniac with a five oclock shadow. He ends up imprisoning Donald Duck  er, make that Darnold Duck  after stealing his clothes, purely as a punishment for getting too much attention. This unrelenting, meta approach to lampooning Mickey Mouse anticipated modern takes, such as the bloodthirsty Disney CEO in South Park.

That Time Mickey Mouse Got Shot by the Viet Cong A little more than a decade after appearing in Mad, Mickey died in Vietnam. The short animated film Mickey Mouse in Vietnam premiered at the 1968 Angry Arts Festival, an event organized by anti-war activists. Throughout the course of its one-minute running time, the film chronicles how Mickey enlists in the U.S. Army, travels by boat to Vietnam and promptly gets shot in the head. The films co-creator, graphic designer Milton Glaser, later revealed that there was a rumor that Disney briefly considered suing the filmmakers, but ultimately opted not to out of fears of generating bad publicity.
New Year's Day Hikes

New Day Hike, Killingworth

Take part in the six-year tradition of hiking on New Year's Day with others at Chatfield Hollow State Park on Monday, Jan. 1, starting at noon.

381 Route 80, Killingworth

First Day Hike, East Windsor

A 2.5-mile hike is scheduled by the East Windsor American Heritage River Commission on Monday, Jan. 1 from 1- 3 p.m. Visitors can also make donations to the local food pantry.

100 Melrose Road, Broad Brook

RomanKhomlyak/Getty Images/iStockphoto

First Day Guided Hike On The New England Trail, Simsbury

Join a 5.3-mile loop with other hikers, guided by Reach Your Summit, at Talcott Mountain State Park on Monday, Jan. 1 from 8 a.m. to noon. Registration is required.

1 Summit Ridge Drive, Simsbury

New Years Day Goat Hike, Washington

A local business, Got Your Goat, will host a hike at Steep Rock Preserve with a herd of goats in tow on Monday, Jan. 1 from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m.

2 Tunnel Road, Washington

New Year's Day Forest Bathing, Hamden

A gentle, guided walk through the woods that supports health and wellness through being outdoors takes place on Monday, Jan. 1 from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. at the West Rock State Park.

5 Main St., Hamden

New Years Day Hike, East Haddam

All are welcome to a hike hosted by the Friends of Machimoodus & Sunrise State Parks on Monday, Jan. 1 from 1-3 p.m.

128 Leesville Road, Moodus

Shows

Bob Kolb And Dave Childs Jazz Duo, Branford

A jazz duo will perform a New Year's Day show at the Evergreen Woods Retirement Center on Monday, Jan. 1 from 3 to 4 p.m.

88 Notch Hill Road, North Branford

Musician Brad Bensko, North Stonington

Songwriter Brad Bensko, a Berklee School of Music graduate, will perform at The Tin Peddler on Monday, Jan. 1 from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m.

230 Norwich-Westerly Road, North Stonington

Mark's Little Pub Crawl, Greenwich

Musician Mark Zelenz, member of the cover-band called "Short Bus," will perform a solo show at Little Pub Greenwich on Monday, Jan. 1 starting at 6 p.m.

531 E Putnam Ave., Cos Cob

Comedy Night at City Steam, Hartford

Join headliner Jacob Williams, recurring comedian on MTV's "Wild N' Out," along with other comedians at City Steam Brewery for a show on Friday, Jan. 5 from 8 to 10 p.m.

942 Main St., Hartford

Get the Led Out, A Celebration of "The Mighty Zep," Torrington

A group of six, Philadelphia-based musicians are scheduled to perform a tribute to Rock band Led Zeppelin at the Warner Theatre on Friday, Jan. 5 starting at 8 p.m.

68 Main St, Torrington

Arnold Gold / Hearst CT Media

Musician Myke Ross, Wallingford

Myke Ross, a local smooth jazz guitarist, will perform at Paradise Hills Vineyard and Winery on Friday, Jan. 5 from 5 to 8 p.m.

15 Windswept Hill Road, Wallingford

Visual arts

Bruce Museum, Greenwich

Several exhibitions are currently on display at the Bruce Museum in Greenwich. Connecticut Modern: Art, Design, and the Avant-Garde, 19301960, through Sunday, Jan 7; Monsters and Mermaids: Unraveling Natural Historys Greatest Hoaxes, through Sunday, Feb. 11; Tracing Lineage: Abstraction and its Aftermath, runs through Sunday, March 17; Harry Bertoia: Sculpture for Living runs through Sunday, April 7.

1 Museum Drive, Greenwich

Wadsworth Atheneum Museum of Art, Hartford

There are a few exhibits currently on display at the Wadsworth Atheneum. Arthur Carter: Mathematical Beauty runs through Sunday, Jan. 14 and Rules & Repetion: Conceptual Art runs through Sunday, Feb. 18.

600 Main St., Hartford

Creative Arts Workshop, New Haven

The Alchemy of Art: Ann P. Lehman and Creative Arts Workshop is a commemorative exhibition that celebrates Creative Arts Workshop founding member Ann P. Lehman. The exhibit is on view through Saturday, Jan. 27.

80 Audubon St., New Haven

Yale University Art Gallery, New Haven

There are several exhibits currently on display at the Yale University Art Gallery. "Mickalene Thomas / Portrait of an Unlikely Space" is on view through Sunday, Jan. 7. "Ornament" is on display through Sunday, Feb 18.

1111 Chapel St., New Haven

Arnold Gold / Hearst Connecticut Media

Florence Griswold Museum, Old Lyme

"Abandon in Place: The Worlds of Anna Audette" is on view at the Florence Griswold Museum through Sunday, Jan. 28. Audette was a Connecticut-based artist who specialized in creating oil paintings depicting decay.

96 Lyme St., Old Lyme

Aldrich Contemporary Art Museum, Ridgefield

There are several exhibits currently on view at the Aldrich Contemporary Art Museum. Ping Zheng: Where Memories of Travels Go and Raven Halfmoon: Flags of Our Mothers are on display through Sunday, Jan. 7. Laura Ortman: Transonic Homes is on view through Sunday, March 3. Yvette Mayorga: Dreaming of You and Chiffon Thomas: The Cavernous are on view through Sunday, March 17.

258 Main St., Ridgefield

New Britain Museum of American Art

There are several exhibits currently on view at the New Britain Museum of American Art, "Women Reframe American Landscape" is on display through Sunday, March 31. "Permanent Collection Installation, Modern Times: 1920s-1950s" is on view through Sunday, June 30. "NEW/NOW Anila Quayyum Agha: Illuminations" is display through Monday, April 29. "Masterworks of Shaker Design: Mount Lebanon, NY" is on view through Sunday, March 3.

56 Lexington St., New Britain

Other events

4th Annual Surfside Hotel Polar Plunge, Stratford

At 3 p.m. on Monday, Jan. 1 The Surfside Hotel will host its 4th annual polar plunge in benefit of the Make-A-Wish Foundation.

9 Washington Parkway, Stratford

Talking Heads "Stop Making Sense," Hartford

The Wadsworth Museum has a scheduled showing of the 1984 concert-film, "Stop Making Sense," about rock band Talking Heads on Friday, Jan. 5 from 2-3 p.m.

600 Main St., Hartford

Winter Hat Scavenger Hunt, North Haven

The local library will host a scavenger hunt during which 10 winter hats will be hidden in the children's department on Monday, Jan. 1. The event starts at 11 a.m.

17 Elm St., North Haven

Open Game Night at the Library, Stamford

A family board game night will be held at the Ferguson Library on Monday, Jan. 1 from 5 - 7:30 p.m.

1 Public Library Plaza, Stamford

Eras Tour Music Bingo, East Granby

Taylor Swift-themed bingo will be held at The Grill at Copper Hill on Wednesday, Jan. 3 starting at 6:30 p.m.

20 Copper Hill Road, East Granby
OIL PRICE FORECAST:

Oil Slides but Conflicting Messages Regarding the Red Sea Keeps Buyers Interested.

EIA Data Could Provide Bulls with Further Impetus Following API Numbers Yesterday.

IG Client Sentiment Shows Traders are 84% Net-Long on WTI at Present.

To Learn More About Price Action , Chart Patterns and Moving Averages , Check out the DailyFX Education Section .

Most Read: What is OPEC and What is Their Role in Global Markets?

Oil prices failed to maintain its momentum this week with a sharp selloff yesterday continuing through the Asian and European sessions today. US stockpile numbers released yesterday evening from the American Petroleum Institute (API) showed a buildup of 1.837 million barrels compared to 0.939 million barrels last week. Is the growth in inventory growth an indication of a possible slowdown in demand as well?

Recommended by Zain Vawda How to Trade Oil Get My Guide

RED SEA SUPPLY INTERRUPTIONS

The tensions around the Red Sea shipping corridor have seen mixed reports over the past few days. This started with the supposed Red Sea task force which at this stage seems to be on its knees before it began. The alliance members, notably Spain and Italy have both tried to distance themselves through statements with many countries the Pentagon claim is involved seemingly shy to confirm their participation.

According to the Pentagon the force is a defensive coalition of more than 20 Nations to combat the rising attacks by the Houthis in Yemen in response to the Israel/Palestine conflict. The lack of commitment by some Nations comes as international pressure continues to ramp up regarding the death of 21000 people in the Gaza strip, with President Biden believing the response in the Red Sea needs to be separated from these attacks. According to David Hernandez, a professor of international relations at the Complutense University of Madrid European governments are very worried that part of their potential electorate will turn against them. Saudi Arabia and United Arab Emirates earlier proclaimed no interest in the venture.

Denmark's Maersk MAERSKb.CO will sail almost all of its vessels travelling between Asia and Europe through the Suez Canal, while diverting only a small number around Africa. A detailed breakdown showed that while Maersk had diverted 26 of its own ships around the Cape of Good Hope in the last 10 days or so. For now, it appears the Suez Canal will be used with more than 50 Maersk vessels scheduled to use the route in the coming weeks.

Source: Refinitiv

LOOKING AHEAD TO THE REST OF THE WEEK

Looking to the rest of the week and the Geopolitical risk is likely to be the key driver and the most important risk to pay attetion to. Later today however we do have the EIA releasing its numbers with a print of around -2.85 million expected.

For all market-moving economic releases and events, see the DailyFX Calendar

TECHNICAL OUTLOOK AND FINAL THOUGHTS

From a technical perspective WTI did appear to break the long-term descending trendline on Tuesday but the pullback since leaves e questioning whether it was a false breakout. As things stand the Daily candle could provide hope today, with a hammer candlestick close likely to embolden bulls tomorrow and heading into the New Year.

Immediate resistance to the upside lies around the 75.00 mark before recent highs around the 76.00 handle comes into focus. There is a lot of hurdles to cross before the $80 a barrel mark comes into focus with resistance at 76.78, 77.84 and 78.55 all likely to provide some resistance.

WTI Crude Oil Daily Chart  December 28, 2023

Source: TradingView

Key Levels to Keep an Eye On:

Support levels:

72.45

72.10

70.00

Resistance levels:

75.00

76.00

76.78

IG CLIENT SENTIMENT

IG Client Sentiment data tells us that 84% of Traders are currently holding LONG positions. Given the contrarian view to client sentiment adopted here at DailyFX, does this mean we are destined to revisit the $70 mark?

For a more in-depth look at WTI/Oil Price sentiment and how to use it, download the free guide below.

Oil - US Crude Mixed Data provided by of clients are net long. of clients are net short.

Change in Longs Shorts OI Daily -4% 2% -3% Weekly -4% -14% -6%

Written by: Zain Vawda, Market Writer for DailyFX.com

Contact and follow Zain on Twitter: @zvawda
Actor Dominic West, confirming his estrangement from Prince Harry after revealing 'too much' about their 2013 South Pole Trek, has at least remained discreet about one aspect of the trip.

The Crown star resisted revealing specific details of Harry's 'eye-wateringly rude jokes' at the time.

Actor Dominic West confirmed his estrangement from Prince Harry after revealing 'too much' about their 2013 South Pole Trek

The actor had previously added 'which for a non-soldier like me was quite shocking'.

Carefree Harry's X-rated gags from a decade ago are unlikely to be described as amusing thigh-slappers by Meghan.

According to The Crown, part of Harry's punishment for wearing a Nazi uniform was to muck out the stables.

For most royals that would have been welcome relaxation but Harry has never shared the family love of all things equine.

Ditto Prince Andrew, who came late to enjoying horses due to punishment meted out in the Royal Mews when he was a boy.

According to The Crown, part of Harry's punishment for wearing a Nazi uniform was to muck out the stables

The young master, strutting his stuff, poking the horses and annoying the grooms, was flung into a pile of manure (or 'arisings' as they call it at Buck House).

A whiffy and miffed prince dashed off threatening to return with his mother to exact retribution.

The Queen never appeared. Was she enjoying a giraffe at the expense of her favourite son?

Princess Diana's alleged ignorance of the Irish border  as revealed in a 1993 diplomatic note from Ambassador Joe Small when he sent a missive to Dublin stating that she told him she 'had been in your country yesterday'  is disputed by friends.

Princess Diana's alleged ignorance of the Irish border is disputed by friends (Pictured: Princess Diana visiting Ulster Hospital, near Belfast, in 1993)

They say that Diana, who had just visited Belfast, was well aware that the six counties were separate from the Irish Republic.

'She didn't recognise the border,' says one chum. 'As far as she was concerned, Ireland was one country.'

Perky polymath Gyles Brandreth reports: 'Well, I opened the present and it turned out to be a life-sized portrait of myself, especially commissioned by my children. What was wrong with socks?'

Gyles was painted attired as an austere-looking duke.

Gyles Brandreth was painted attired as an austere-looking duke in a life-sized portrait of himself, especially commissioned by his children

Long friendly with our new Queen, what are the chances of some kind of belated honour for gongless Gyles?

Worcester pottery guru Henry Sandon, who has died aged 95, hoped to take his favourite piece of porcelain with him.

Worcester pottery guru Henry Sandon, who has died aged 95, hoped to take his favourite piece of porcelain with him

'They are God-given. I shall take one to heaven,' he said.

'It would be awful to get there and find they use hotel porcelain or plastic pots.' Now you know Henry.

So what was the reaction of Carl  Dolly Parton's near-invisible husband  when he heard rumours that she was having an affair with Burt Reynolds?

He came in with this picture of [their dog] Popeye and said: 'Here's yours and Burt's baby!' He's always treated these things tongue-in-cheek.
Archbishop of Canterbury  swear box to be sited at Lambeth Palace to try to stop His Grace saying naughty words whenever he thinks about the Tory party.

Duke of York  to move to the shires and become a dairy farmer. Much more fruitful than waiting at Windsor for forgiveness.

Rishi Sunak  to give up that executive jet. Plenty of time for the billionaire lifestyle after Downing Street, Prime Minister.

Sir Keir Starmer  to grow a handlebar moustache in the hope it gives him political personality.

Gary Lineker  to book into that monastery on Mount Athos during the general election campaign.

Gary Lineker  to book into that monastery on Mount Athos during the general election campaign

All members of the Supreme Court  to spend a few nights in Doncaster.

Sadiq Khan  deportment lessons to teach him to walk without strutting.

Prince Harry  it will take some practice, but 'Sorry, Dad' really need not be the hardest words.

Eddie Izzard  to stop eyeing up seats.

Omid Scobie  to resist plucking his eyebrows. Embrace the concept of wilding, honey. You are never going to be the next Liz Taylor.

Lib Dem leader Sir Ed Davey  if only for his own sanity rather than ours, to stop using those bogus campaign graphs that overstate the Lib Dem vote.

Piers Morgan  no more Mr Nice Guy in 2024. It's time to put aside all this modesty.

Sir Humphrey  to accept the result of the 2016 Brexit referendum.

Civil servants  to WFO (work from office, or maybe work for once).

Emmanuel Macron  there comes a point in every middle-aged monsieur's life when he must accept that he's going a bit thin on top and 'le combover' is starting to look foolish.

Suella Braverman  to let Nurse take away that voodoo doll of Rishi.

Baroness Hallett  to rip up everything her Covid Inquiry has done so far and start the whole thing again, this time with a six-month deadline.

Inquiry lawyer Hugo Keith KC  to stop imagining the sound of serenading saxophones every day that he heads for work.

Nicola Sturgeon  driving lessons for the motorhome.

Suella Braverman  to let Nurse take away that voodoo doll of Rishi

Prince William  to keep going with the Welsh lessons. Daliwch ati, bach. Or, as we say east of Offa's Dyke, keep at it, boy

Boris Johnson  to patch things up with Rishi.

Joe Biden  Mr President, you have had a good run but it has now become embarrassing and the Democrats need a younger candidate.

Prince William  to keep going with the Welsh lessons. Daliwch ati, bach. Or, as we say east of Offa's Dyke, keep at it, boy.

Robert Peston  to stop making the panellists of Radio 4's Just A Minute look taciturn.

Rebekah Vardy  to stop going in studs-up.

The office for budget responsibility  to recruit a gypsy fortune-teller with a crystal ball and a knotted headscarf to replace its forecasters.

Baroness Mone  to chair the next series of The Apprentice. It would become must-watch telly.

Sir Jacob Rees-Mogg  to visit a discotheque.

Erling Haaland  to stop arguing with the ref over the result of the Battle of Stamford Bridge (1066) and claiming 'Harald Hardrada was onside'.

Manchester's mayor Andy Burnham  to return to Westminster. Labour's front bench is pathetically underpowered.

Queen Camilla  to persuade the King to stop working such long days.

Joe Biden  Mr President, you have had a good run but it has now become embarrassing and the Democrats need a younger candidate

Home Secretary James Cleverly  to undo that straining middle button on his jacket. As Scotty on Star Trek used to say 'She cannae take any more, cap'n'.

Russell Brand  short-back-and-sides haircuts once a month from now on, please.

Rachel Reeves  numeracy lessons for the Shadow Chancellor, with special attention to tax-and-spend sums.

Lord Mandelson  to tell us what he really thinks about Sue Gray, his deadly rival for Sir Keir's affections.

'Money expert' Martin Lewis  to retire to a sun-kissed island in the Caribbean. If he's such a financial whizz, he can surely afford it.

Police commissioner Sir Mark Rowley  to come and sit in my office and see if he can work when that lunatic Left-wing protester Steve Bray is doing his stuff on the other side of Parliament Square.

Jeremy Clarkson  to stop trying to do wheelies in his combine harvester.

Harriet Harman  to no longer model herself on the New Testament's head-on-a-platter princess Salome.

Deputy prime minister Oliver 'Olive' Dowden  to stop hiding under his desk every time that his forthright Cabinet colleagues Kemi Badenoch or Gillian Keegan wander into Downing Street.

 and what they got for Christmas

Liz Truss  after her brief stint as PM, a Blankety Blank cheque book and pen.

Nigel Farage  a piggybank.

Wes Streeting  mirrors. Shadow Health Secretary Wes can never have too many.

Yvette Cooper  a tickling stick, laughing gas, a Mr Bean box-set; anything, dear Lord, to make the poor cabbage stop scowling.

Angela Rippon  after her exertions on Strictly, several tubes of Deep Heat.

Lord Cameron  ermine- lined pyjamas.

New BBC chairman Samir Shah  a tin helmet.

Sir Mick Jagger  a Zimmer frame with go-faster stripes.

Greek prime minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis  a pottery starter kit so that he can learn to make his own statues.
You know you're getting on a bit when you start to regard driving less as a fun activity in its own right, and more as simply a reliable means of getting from A to B, without the exhausting business of walking up hills or hanging around for ages on railway platforms, listening to announcements of delays.

That moment has come to me since I turned 70 last month, although it had been creeping up on me for several years before that. True, I still get a buzz from driving along empty, winding country roads, braking into the corners and accelerating out of them.

But I no longer feel anything like the pleasure I experienced behind the wheel in my youth, in the days before speed cameras sprouted around every bend, and the Archbishop of Canterbury could pootle along at 25mph without fear of being fined 300 for breaking a ludicrously low speed limit.

In those happy days, the police devoted most of their energies to deterring and catching muggers and burglars, before they decided that persecuting motorists was much less trouble.

That was also a time when local councils emptied bins and filled in potholes, before they found it was infinitely more satisfying  and lucrative  to charge car owners for entering Ultra Low Emissions Zones or fine them for cutting through Low Traffic Neighbourhoods.

A self-driving Nissan Leaf car is driven on public roads in Woolwich, south east London

Transport Secretary Mark Harper having a ride in a self-driving car being tested by automated driving company Wayve in Westminster

If autonomous vehicles are as safe as Mr Harper suggests  safe enough, we're told, to allow those sitting in the driving seat even to watch TV  then why on earth won't we be allowed to sink a few pints in the pub before instructing the car to drive us home? (Stock Image)

Indeed, driving was one of the greatest pleasures of my life from the age of 12, when my mother taught me how to do it in a field near our home in Berkshire. While my schoolmates dreamed of being engine drivers or fighter pilots, my childhood ambition was always to become a rally driver, in my spare time from practising as a vet.

But please don't think I'm another Mr Toad (poop, poop), or that I've ever been anything less than careful on public roads. While it's true that I may not always have observed the speed limit to the letter  show me the driver who has never exceeded 70mph, in good visibility on a traffic-free stretch of motorway, and I'll show you a hen's tooth  I've only once had a speeding ticket. That was in France, where they enforce the rules even more stringently than here at home.

Nor have I ever had a crash, on or off the public roads, touch wood, in all the 58 years since I learned to drive. (I don't count the two occasions, many years ago  once in London, once in Oxford  when young idiots rammed me from behind while I was stationary in the queue at red traffic lights).

Sheer good luck, you may say. Sheer good driving, I reply  though I grant you that the male who admits to being a poor driver is as rare as the female who doesn't insist that she alone knows the correct way to load a dishwasher.

As I say, however, a lot of the fun has gone out of driving over recent years and not just because of all those speed cameras and the constant risk of being fined. Nor is it chiefly because of the ever-increasing likelihood of getting stuck in a traffic jam or held up at a temporary four-way traffic light, timed to keep us waiting for what seems like a month before it turns green.

No, it's also because I'm very well aware that our reactions slow down as we age. I don't feel it yet, but I know that it must be happening to me, because it happens to us all. For all these reasons, I drive more slowly than I used to and I leave more space behind the car in front.

No longer do I regard it as an insult to my masculinity if I'm overtaken. I've also learned the truth that it makes very little difference to our time of arrival whether we drive at 80mph or 55mph. This is because there are sure to be roadworks up ahead, bringing the elderly spinster in the ancient Morris Minor once again level with the boy-racer in the Lamborghini, who overtook her 20 minutes earlier.

Like so many other drivers of my age, therefore, these days I tend to be cautious, where before we were perhaps merely careful.

Indeed, it is no surprise to me that we elderly, experienced motorists suffer far fewer accidents than the reckless young, fresh from passing their driving tests.

Though much of the pleasure has gone, however, I'd be lost without my car. Indeed, one of my greatest fears as I grow older is that, one day, I may have to surrender my driving licence  renewed for just three years, as the law dictates, when I reached my 70th birthday this November.

All's well now. But what if my eyesight were to begin to fail, dementia sets in or I contract some other medical condition that makes me unfit to drive? If my physical mobility were to suffer, too, it would mean something approaching house arrest, stuck as I am at the top of a long, steep hill in South London, ill-served by public transport and more than 100 miles from our grandchildren in Bristol and Somerset.

The quality of my life would plummet, as I became ever more dependent on others (and how much worse, of course, it must be for those who are stranded, carless, in the depths of the countryside with a rural bus service only once a week, if they're lucky).

For me, as for so many of us, my car and my freedom are indivisible.

But now there's hope for us all. Indeed, I can't think of any bit of news this year  apart from the birth of another grandchild  that has cheered me up more than this week's Government announcement that legislation is to be brought forward, permitting driverless cars on some of our roads as early as 2026.

A Cruise AV, General Motor's autonomous electric Bolt EV in Detroit

I confess that at first I was deeply suspicious of the new technology, finding it extremely unlikely that a computer at the wheel could be anything like as trustworthy as a human driver.

To this day, indeed, I'm nervous about using the automatic-parking function in my beloved A-Class Mercedes, which was my gift to myself on my semi-retirement five years ago.

Yes, I've occasionally used it, but never without keeping a terrified foot hovering over the brake, in case anything should go wrong (which it never has, so far). It just feels wrong to see the forward and reverse gears engaging themselves and the steering wheel spinning this way and that of its own accord. I like to feel in control and on the whole I prefer to do the parking myself.

But if we're to believe the results of extensive tests on autonomous cars, covering thousands of miles, the technology is already safe  and becoming more so all the time.

As Transport Secretary Mark Harper told Radio 4's Today programme: 'This potentially opens up a whole new world for personal freedom, getting to work, having the ability not to have to rely on other people.'

Certainly, I want to keep driving myself for as long as I'm able. But if this miracle technology means I'll never have to give up my car, then I say bring it on.

Just one question. If autonomous vehicles are as safe as Mr Harper suggests  safe enough, we're told, to allow those sitting in the driving seat even to watch TV  then why on earth won't we be allowed to sink a few pints in the pub before instructing the car to drive us home?

Is it simply because nannying politicians can't bear the thought of letting anyone else have fun?
When Amanda Bradford became newly single for the first time in a decade, in her twenties in business school, she realised that not everyone out there was looking to date a career-focused and ambitious woman like her.

Unsatisfied with the dating apps that were currently on the market and inspired by the 'power couples' in her Stanford Business School class, the Texas-born entrepreneur took matters into her own hands.

Bradford built her app, The League, from the ground up - and after launching almost a decade ago, it remains the only dating app entirely engineered and coded by a woman.

But The League is not like your average download and swipe dating app - to get some of the highest match rates in the industry and more New York Times wedding announcements than any other app, she had to think outside the box.

Last year, the CEO sold her app to Match Group, who own apps such as Tinder and Hinge, for an impressive $30 million according to Forbes - she spoke exclusively to MailOnline about how it went from an idea to a success.

Amanda Bradford built her own app, The League, from the ground up - after launching almost a decade ago, it remains the only dating app entirely engineered and coded by a woman

The League brands itself on being exclusive, emphasising 'quality over quantity' in terms of it's driven and goal oriented members.

While it might seem odd to get your CV out on a first date, singletons using the app aren't looking for a casual hook up - it's for those who are looking to hear wedding bells, 'know what they want and refuse to settle.'

Bradford told MailOnline: 'I started The League back when I had just gotten out of relationship and the dating app era was just taking off.

'Tinder had just broken out, and people were using it, but not all of us, especially women, didn't really feel comfortable being on some of the apps.

'I think a lot of them had more of a hook-up culture and a short term casual nature to them, and I felt like the technology made a lot of sense that you could meet a lot of people using these dating apps.

'But I wanted there to be a community where it was for long term relationships, where you're not feeling like you're on a meat market, so to speak.

'I really wanted to build one that community like you would have at university or graduate school, which was where I was studying at the time. There was a lot of very ambitious career, oriented people, and I was watching them all couple up.'

She admitted: 'I was actually in a relationship at the time, for most of business school, so it was only towards the end of my time there that I realized sort of how great of a community that was for dating.

Unsatisfied with the dating apps that were currently on the market and inspired by the 'power couples' in her Stanford Business School class, the Texas-born entrepreneur took matters into her own hands

Last year, the CEO sold her app to Match Group, who own apps like Tinder and Hinge, for an impressive $30 million - she spoke exclusively with MailOnline about how it went from an idea to a success

'I wanted to build something like that in the digital space, so you didn't have to go all the way to Stanford University in California to to meet ambitious guys and to meet guys that actually wanted an equal partner was the way I described it.'

In the second semester of business school, the ambitious singleton hired an engineer to to build out the concept and I tried to keep it really simple - her idea was 'a vetted community where you have to apply to get in'.

She explained: 'You have to spend a little bit of time on your profile and by nature of that, you're going to screen out a lot of the people that didn't want to put in the effort.

'I likened it to being an owner of a bar or a restaurant with a 'no shirt no service' sign and actually having standards for entry and for submitting a profile. So everyone would have to sync their LinkedIn - that is a big difference from a lot of the apps.

'A lot of people just let anybody sign up, and you could say you went to Oxford, Harvard, with no authentication. No verification. So instead of that, I actually wouldn't let anybody write anything I made them have to pull it from LinkedIn if they wanted to show that kind of information, and that made the data integrity much higher than any app out there.'

The CEO claims: 'Still, to this day, we're kind of the only dating app you can really trust the data in there.

'You can trust that information because I think it does tell a lot about someone's ambitions and their career path, and where where they want to spend their time'.

Amanda started working on the app alongside her studies as a hobby, before realising it could actually be a career for her.

In the second semester of business school, the ambitious singleton hired an engineer to to build out the concept and I tried to keep it really simple - her idea was 'a vetted community where you have to apply to get in'

She spent her last summer semester trying to get it off the ground, develop it and raise funds:

'I had spent a lot of my own money in business school. I took loans out. I didn't have parents that paid for it or anything.

'I thought about it like, if I spend another $20,000 to get this developed, I've already spent hundreds of thousands of dollars on business school. So I was like, let's just consider this a very expensive internship'.

She applied to a lot of entrepreneurship classes at Stanford and got rejected because she didn't have a co-founder.

Having 'never managed this kind of project before,' she had to hire and fire a multitude of people and make some mistakes along the way, which felt like 'changing a car while the tire is driving'.

Other unique features of the app include only getting three matches per day rather than endless swiping, and being able to hide your profile from co workers to avoid awkward interactions.

The American entrepreneur explained: 'those are the matches you're supposed to meet and you should have a good conversation with.

'You should text during the week and get to know their personality and treasure those matches, instead of seeing matches as these consumable things that you go through.

Amanda said: 'I really wanted to build one that community like you would have at university or graduate school, which was where I was studying at the time. There was a lot of very ambitious career, oriented people, and I was watching them all couple up'

'The League's a lot slower and more methodical, and I think people sometimes get frustrated by that'.

Amanda's dating life before the app included men telling her they 'don't date career women' and they 'want someone that's going to be at home' for them and the kids.

She said: 'Sometimes men will say they want someone with equal intelligence, equal career success, equally motivated.

'But then, when it actually comes to building a family together they tend to assumingly put the woman in this more traditional role with raising the kids, with housekeeping, with cooking and cleaning.

'It's a cultural change that's happening and some people are slower with it. Other people are faster on it.

'I noticed at business school, for whatever reason it felt like the guys were more progressive in that respect and so the part of me was like, okay, I need to track down these men and and put them in one app so we can all find them'.

Amanda admits that there are less men than women in the League, and there 'probably will always be' because in her experience not every man wants a 'super equal egalitarian partnership'.

The CEO millionaire revealed: 'I have a lot of women in my group of friends, we are single, but it's single by choice.

Other unique features of the app include only getting three matches per day rather than endless swiping and being able to hide your profile from co workers to avoid awkward interactions

The American entrepreneur explained: 'those are the matches you're supposed to meet and you should have a good conversation with'

'It's not that we couldn't find a boyfriend or be in a relationship, or even get married if we wanted to, but we haven't found one that we think it's actually superior to be in that relationship where we think that's gonna help us a accomplish more than we would by ourselves.

'It's like having a standard to find your equal that is actually gonna encourage you and push you to new boundaries and help you accomplish things that maybe you wouldn't do on your own.

With one of The League's taglines being 'if you'd rather be single than settle,' Amanda says it can help you 'find someone that's gonna really bring you up'.

She added, 'That's a high bar, especially if you're a very successful person in your own right. It's about being proud of the fact that you know you can live a great life without a partner.

'You don't need to sacrifice your hopes and dreams and the kind of relationship you want, just to be in a relationship'.

While the dating app is free to download, Amanda admitted that she does put some features behind a paywall - including the ability to see more profiles, see more about someone and see if they've liked you already.

You can also pay more to find dates in multiple cities if you're someone who travels around a lot.

The app is also integrating with other platforms like Strava, IMBD and Doximity to widen the different careers within the community - bringing in high caliber athletes, doctors, and people in creative spaces, all of which might not necessarily be on LinkedIn.

While the dating app is free to download, Amanda admitted that she does put some features behind a paywall - including the ability to see more profiles, see more about someone and see if they've liked you already

Of course, having tried it out herself, Amanda has met multiple 'great' people through the app - the first was someone at a Valentine's Day party in San Francisco, hosted by The League.

She said: 'During the party you could go up and give notes to people and someone came up and gave me a note and we dated for a couple of years.

'We met through The League, but we also met in person at an event which I think is a big part of where I'm trying to take the League, is to help people meet, not just behind the apps while they're swiping behind a screen but using technology to help make people find each other offline.'

Then, at another time in her life, she met someone else after changing her setting to being open to both San Francisco and LA: 'We had long distance relationship for a while, and then we were actually engaged. We decided not to take it all the way during the pandemic'.

She added: 'It predicted very good matches for me and I have at least 10 friends personally that have been married from the League, and then a lot of friends of friends.

'We're probably in the hundreds of tens of thousands of marriages, and hundreds, if not thousands, of babies.

Amanda gushed that her favourite stories are those of couples who would have otherwise 'never crossed paths in real life'.

She said: 'They could be from totally different planets, maybe their industries polar opposites, but they had a spark, and because they both joined this community where these traits are encouraged, it happened'.

Speaking about people who may have negative perceptions of The League, Amanda commented: 'Our reputation now is now like, it's an elite community that you have to apply to get in. There's a long wait list. It's expensive.

'Yes, in some respects all that is true, but I think we're also like a really good tool for the job, when people want to find their life partner

'I would put our app against up against any of the other apps and say we have a higher chance of like finding your soulmate, of starting a family. I would love to have some way to prove that with data.

'I'm working on that right now of trying to have some way of self reporting success stories'.

The CEO's advice to other women who want to make waves in male dominated industries is to 'go do it and get the ball rolling'.

She said: 'I think a lot of women may want to do something entrepreneurial, but then they feel like they need a partner, whether it's a female founder or a male founder.

'In tech space there's a little bit of a stigma if you're by yourself, if you're not really technical, but you can.

'You might need to hire people. You might need to pay extra money but just get the ball rolling somehow, because that people are attracted to momentum.

'I always encourage people to stop talking about it and stop fundraising and start building. Once you start building, all that stuff becomes a lot easier, those fundraising conversations become easier.'
A dermatologist has dished on some of her favorite cosmetic procedures that require little down time.

The information was shared by board-certified dermatologist Dr. Mamina Turegano, who practices in Louisiana. Turegano often takes to her various social media pages to share her tricks, tips and wisdom about skincare with followers.

In the video, which was posted on TikTok earlier this month, she revealed that there were 'a few' procedures out there that were 'perfect' for those with busy schedules and would get you back to normal life in no time.

'First, there's Botox,' Dr. Turegano divulged. 'People can come in during their lunch hour and get Botox and go back to work, and no one's gonna know that they had anything done.'

In a new video posted to TikTok, board-certified dermatologist Dr. Mamina Turegano revealed the cosmetic procedures with little downtime

She ran through each procedure, and what it entailed, as well as the recovery time

'There's a small chance that people can bruise,' Dr. Turegano noted.

Easy-peasy! Cosmetic procedures with little downtime, according to Dr. Turegano Botox: It takes about one week to kick in

Microneedling: Redness only lasts up to 48 hours

Laser Genesis: A bit of redness only lasting the day of procedure Advertisement

'I find that if we do see bruising, it's a little bit more common around the eye area, but in general, very low chance for that to happen, very low complication rate with Botox, especially right away.'

Botox, which is short for 'botulinum toxin,' is an injection made from neurotoxins, which work to weaken the muscles in the face or other parts of the body, per Cleveland Clinic.

It is often used to prevent signs of aging on the face.

In the clip, Dr. Turegano noted that Botox typically takes about one week to see effects.

'I tell patients not to lie down for the next six hours if possible, and I would say don't get a facial massage or a massage, because your face is kind of smushed into the massage face holder,' she warned.

'It's in the first few hours where your muscles are really taking in the neuromodulator, so I say to avoid those activities.'

Next up on the dermatologist's list was microneedling, a procedure that uses extremely tiny needles on the face to stimulate the production of collagen, according to Healthline.

The first cosmetic procedure that Dr. Turegano recommended in the video was Botox, which can be done during someone's lunch break

However, the doctor did note that there could be a small chance of bruising with Botox

Dr. Turegano also suggested microneedling, used to stimulate the production of collagen on the face, as another easy procedure with little downtime

Microneedling can help to improve the look of fine lines and acne scars, as well as tone the skin.

'I think microneedling is an easy procedure,' Dr. Turegano explained.

'Microneedling is like little microscopic needles that are getting punctured into your skin,' she continued. 'What this does it it stimulates collagen. It can also really help with your skin texture [and] helps with things like acne scarring.'

However, with microneedling, there are some side effects to be aware of.

'You are kind of red immediately after the procedure, but that redness typically just lasts for 24 hours,' Dr. Turegano said.

'In some people it can be 48 hours. So that's a great one, you could just do it on a Friday, by Monday you're fine.'

However, when doing a microneedling treatment that combines radiofrequency, that can be a bit more intense, the doctor warned.

Dr. Turegano also recommended a gentle laser treatment as a procedure that would have little recovery time

'You are kind of red immediately after the procedure, but that redness typically just lasts for 24 hours,' Dr. Turegano said about microneedling

'You might see a little bit more redness kind of persist past 48 hours, but still, I find that to be a pretty impressive downtime, too.'

In a similar vein, the expert noted that there were certain lasers that can have extremely limited recovery time.

'The Laser Genesis, which is what we have in our office, it's like a gentle 1064 laser,' she said in the clip.

Oftentimes, laser treatments are used to change the way that the skin appears, and can prevent signs of aging, fade dark spots and acne scars, per Mount Sinai.

'With that one, you can go right back to work or just resume your day. You might be a little bit red that day.'

Dr. Turegano also shared some cosmetic procedures that did have a longer downtime.

They included filler, chemical peels, and certain skin resurfacing and vascular lasers.

'With filler, there is the issue of potential bruising and swelling, which can last for a couple days, [for] some people longer,' Dr. Turegano explained.

Vascular lasers, however, require about a week of downtime on average, different from the gentle lasers that Dr. Turegano spoke about in the beginning of the clip

'Certainly with other lasers, resurfacing lasers or vascular lasers, those can have a little bit more of a downtime,' Dr. Turegano said

On 'some people you might not notice anything, so it's kind of person dependent and filler dependent,' she added.

Similarly, chemical peels are also a treatment that is 'person-dependent' and treatment dependent when it comes to the amount of downtime one may need.

'There are so many strengths, with chemical peels there's a wide range of concentrations and there's also different acids as well,' she said.

'So it just depends on which chemical peel you're getting done.'

Usually, she tells her patients that chemical peels require on average about a week of recovery.

'It's not a bad downtime, once again, it depends on the chemical peel, but typically you're kind of peel-y for, I would say, starting about day two, day three after the procedure, and that can last on average for about a week,' she said.

'Of course, with certain peels, it can be longer.'

She then clarified her point about particular laser treatments.

In the comments section of her video, many seemed to appreciate the tips

'Certainly with other lasers, resurfacing lasers or vascular lasers, those can have a little bit more of a downtime,' she explained.

'With vascular lasers, there's a concern with bruising, potentially, or redness, and that can last for a few days to a week depending on the person,' Dr. Turegano said.

When it comes to resurfacing lasers, those can also last a few days to one week, or even longer in some cases.

'With resurfacing lasers, depending on the strength of the laser, the depth of the laser, that downtime can be pretty extensive, and you can look pretty gnarly for a few days to a week or longer,' she concluded.

In the comments section of her post, many users appreciated the helpful advice.

'Great share doc!' fellow dermatologist Dr. Lindsey Zubritsky, also known as @dermguru, wrote.

'Thank you for the tips. Youre awesome,' another person typed.

A commenter agreed, 'This is amazing, so comprehensive. Thank you!'
It's been a chaotic year for King Charles - amid tensions with his son Prince Harry, the release of his memoir Spare, and further fallouts from Omid Scobie's Endgame.

However, the royal, 75 - and his wife Camilla - appear steady as ever after 18 years of marriage, despite turbulent romantic histories and pasts.

Annabel Elliot, the Queen's sister, recently described her as the King's 'rock', while her close friend, Lady Lansdowne, said the fact that the couple had to 'fight' to be together has only strengthened their unshakeable 'bond'.

And speaking publicly for the first time about the King and Queen's long relationship, Princess Anne  not known for her emotional effusiveness  gave her sister-in-law the royal seal of approval.

'I've known her a long time off and on. Her understanding of the role and how much difference it makes to the King has been absolutely outstanding,' she said.

However, the royal, 75 - and his wife Camilla - appear steady as ever after 18 years of marriage, despite turbulent romantic histories and pasts

'This role is not something that she'd be a natural for but she does it really well. She provides that change of speed and tone, that's equally important.'

The women were interviewed for tonight's BBC One royal documentary following Charles's first year as monarch, Charles III: The Coronation Year.

However, amid the couple's united front at the helm of the British monarchy, it would seem their neighbours on the continent haven't fared as well.

In the past few months alone, European monarchies have been shaken by scandalous claims of affairs - with some choosing to ignore the rumours, while others publicly denied infidelity allegations and slammed reports.

Most recently, Queen Letizia of Spain was embroiled in scandal after her ex-brother in law claimed that he had an affair with the royal before and after her marriage to the King.

King Charles III and Queen Camilla on the balcony of Buckingham Palace, London, following the coronation

Annabel Elliot, the Queen's sister, recently described her as the King's 'rock', while her close friend, Lady Lansdowne, said the fact that the couple had to 'fight' to be together. Pictured at their wedding in 2005

Elsewhere The Danish Royal Family was rocked by affair claims when photographs emerged of Prince Frederik enjoying a night out with a Mexican socialite in Madrid in October.

This year also saw Princess Charlene of Monaco and her husband Albert facing fresh rumours of being married for 'appearances only' and Crown Princess Victoria of Sweden and her husband slamming claims they were ever on the brink of divorce.

Here, FEMAIL looks at how monarchies across Europe have fared with rumours of marital woes in 2023...

QUEEN LETIZIA AND KING FELIPE OF SPAIN

This month the Spanish royal family was rocked by sensational claims from Queen Letizia's ex brother-in-law, who alleged that he had a relationship with the royal, 51, before and after her marriage to King Felipe.

Jaime Del Burgo, a Spanish businessman now living in the UK, who was once married to the Queen's sister Telma Ortiz, recently contributed to a tell-all book called Letizia y Yo (Letizia and I).

In it, he claimed he and Letizia were dating when she met Felipe and were still romantically involved after her 2004 wedding to the King.

This month the Spanish royal family was rocked by sensational claims from Queen Letizia's ex brother-in-law, who alleged that he had a relationship with the royal, 51, before and after her marriage to King Felipe. Letizia and Felipe pictured earlier this month

Following the bombshell claims, the entrepreneur shared a selfie the Queen took in a mirror during one of her pregnancies as 'evidence' of their relationship.

In the selfie, the royal can be seen wearing a black pashmina - which Del Burgo claims belonged to him - and he also typed out a message in his social media post, supposedly sent to him by Letizia.

It read: 'Love. I wear your pashmina. It's like feeling you by my side. It takes care of me. It protects me. I count the hours until we see each other again. Love you. Get out of here. Yours,'

Spanish media have reported other messages he supposedly posted on X, which the entrepreneur is understood to have removed shortly after he published them, that pointed to them having a secret affair after Letizia married Felipe.

After sharing the selfie, other X users questioned the validity of Del Burgo's claims - given there is no evidence that Letizia sent him the photo or accompanying message.

Telma Ortiz is seen leaving the EDP Gran Via Theater after attending the 'We Choose Earth Tour' on June 22, 2023 in Madrid

The Spanish palace has declined to comment on the allegations.

Father-of-two Del Burgo, who divorced Telma Ortiz by mutual consent in 2016 four years after they married and two years after they split up, claimed in the book that he was carrying an engagement ring in his pocket during a meeting at Madrid's Ritz Hotel with his 'then-girlfriend' Letizia in 2002 when she told him she had fallen in love with the future King of Spain.

He alleged he became friends with Felipe after they met and was asked by Letizia to be a witness at their wedding.

He also recalled a moment he says occurred following Princess Leonor's birth when they were lying together in a hammock by a pool, saying in the book, which was released last month: 'Letizia told me "I love you" and I responded "I love you".'

Telma is now with Irish lawyer Gavin Bonnar and the couple welcomed their first child together in October 2021. Gavin shares two children with his first wife - musician Sharon Corr.

In her recent album, The Fool & The Scorpion, Sharon wrote lyrics which included the phrase 'the queen's twisted sister' - which fans speculated were inspired by her children's new step-mother.

Meanwhile, Del Burgo married Swedish lawyer Lucia Diaz Liljestrom.

His X bio also says he is father to 'Ulla and Liv'.

What's more, the royal's ex-brother-in-law also made the far-fetched claim that he 'dealt' with Letizia's pre-nuptial agreement and helped to front the cost of the Queen's family's wedding outfits.

He is quoted as saying: 'When the wedding with Felipe came round, I dealt with the pre-nuptial agreement as you know, amongst other things.

'I also had to pay Letizia's family's expenses because [former King] Juan Carlos refused to pay or even go halves with me. So with the help of my friend Felipe Varela, I dressed her mum, grandmother and her sisters. And with the help of Jaime Jason, her father, grandparents and a cousin.'

King Felipe and Queen Letizia on their wedding day in Madrid in May 2004. Jaime Del Burgo claims he was going to propose to the newsreader until she announced she had met King Felipe

In the book, Letizia's alleged ex-lover describes Felipe as a 'kind-hearted man' and even goes on to say that he had a 'great friendship' with the royal. He told the author: 'I told him my problems and he told [me] his.'

One of the most damaging claims Del Burgo reportedly makes is that Letizia suggested they have a child together using a surrogate in Los Angeles.

Around this time, Del Burgo claims that he confronted Letizia after photos of her kissing Felipe appeared on the covers of Spanish magazines. He claims the Queen told him: 'I had to do it to protect us.'

Jaime Penafiel goes on to write that when Sofia was born, Jaime del Burgo became uncle to both of the girls.

It then quotes him as saying: 'It was a beautiful period. I didn't have children, and those girls made me so happy. I was working in Brazil and suffered a pulmonary embolism.

'I was in intensive care for a fortnight. I managed to get the Albert Einstein Hospital to give me a telephone Letizia and I spoke to each other every day on [the phone].

'During my visits to Madrid I would often go to the cinema with Felipe, Letizia and some friends. Letizia and I would always sit together, holding hands. They were moments of happiness.'

However in August 2011, Letizia allegedly abruptly ended their relationship when she called him and said: 'We can't continue seeing each other.'

Following this, Del Burgo claims that a female friend told him to get in touch with Telma - who he had met when he first started going out with the queen.

The following year, the pair got engaged after just two months of dating. The Queen's sister already had her daughter Amanda from her relationship with ex-partner Enrique Martin Llop.

In 2012, the pair relocated to New York to start their married life - but Telma returned to Barcelona that same year before announcing their permanent separation.

Despite the rumours - and Del Burgo seemingly doubling-down on the allegations on social media - Letizia and Felipe have put on a united front.

Making their first public appearance together since Letizia's ex-brother-in-law claimed he'd had an affair with the royal earlier this month, the pair appeared loved up as ever.

They brushed off the scandalous allegations and beamed as they arrived at a meeting with officials from the Princesa de Girona Foundation at the royal palace in Madrid.

Dressed in a scarlet red top and a black skirt with floral detailing, paired with knee length suede boots, mother-of-two Letizia looked up at her husband and smiled as they strolled into the room.

Meanwhile Felipe, looking sharp as always in a tailored suit, beamed back at his wife as they appeared deep in conversation.

And days later, the pair appeared happy as ever as they arrived for Infanta Elena's 60th birthday party in Madrid.

Letizia cut an elegant figure for her sister-in-law's celebrations as she arrived at the exclusive Pabu restaurant with Felipe in the country's capital.

Meanwhile the King looked equally dapper in a dark grey suit.

The royal paired his suit with a light blue shirt, red patterned tie and maroon patent shoes.

The couple were seen happily speaking to staff as they arrived, before later peering their heads around the door to wave to royal fans.

PRINCESS MARY AND CROWN PRINCE FREDERIK OF DENMARK

The Danish Royal Family have been hit by rumours in recent weeks - after photographs emerged of Prince Frederik enjoying a night out with a Mexican socialite in Madrid in October.

Mary and Frederik's 23-year romance has often been dubbed a 'real-life fairytale' - yet the couple's relationship has made headlines over recent weeks for less glowing reasons.

Spanish magazine Lecturas reported that, during their night out, Frederik - who is a fourth cousin of King Charles - and Genoveva visited a Pablo Picasso exhibition, walked through El Retiro Park and later went out for dinner.

At around 7pm, Lecturas claimed both Frederik and Genoveva went to her apartment building separately, and both re-emerged at around 9pm, two hours later, both having changed their clothes into evening wear.

The Danish Royal Family have been hit by rumours in recent weeks - after photographs emerged of Prince Frederik enjoying a night out with a Mexican socialite in Madrid in October. Frederik and Mary pictured in November

In the photos, Genoveva had ditched her chic camel coat with a tie belt in favour of a white shirt, black wide-leg trousers and a black jacket worn on her shoulders.

Meanwhile Frederik appeared to have changed from a navy jacket and brown trousers into a white shirt and dark trousers with a smart dark jacket. Again, they were reported to have emerged from the building separately, but got into the same white car.

TIMELINE OF FREDERIK'S NIGHT, ACCORDING TO MAGAZINE The magazine claims the following timeline of events took place. October 25, afternoon: Frederik and Genoveva walk around El Retiro Park 7pm: Frederik and Genoveva go to her apartment separately 9pm: They emerge from the building separately, having changed clothes, and get into the same white car 9pm-12am: Pair travel to El Corral de la Moreria restaurant for dinner and to watch flamenco 1am: The pair leave the restaurant and get into a car 8.30am: Frederik leaves Genoveva;s apartment Advertisement

The magazine claimed the pair watched a flamenco performance at a Spanish restaurant, El Corral de la Moreria, which finished at midnight.

It also claimed they remained at their table, which had been flanked by two of the Danish Prince's bodyguards, while other customers left, waiters finished up their shifts and the lights were being switched off.

Lecturas claimed the pair did not emerge from the restaurant until 1am, when they walked out onto the street and got in a car.

In a 'gesture of courtesy', Lecturas reports Prince Frederik opened the car door for his dinner companion.

The next day, the magazine claims the heir to the Danish throne was taken to the airport via car where he flew home to Denmark.

Publication of the pictures in Lecturas led the divorcee Mexican socialite to issue a statement 'categorically' denying any suggestion the pair are romantically involved, branding it 'malicious' and untrue, according to Hola!.

The news broke amid a packed schedule of events for the royal couple during the state visit King Felipe of Spain and his wife Queen Letizia, and will no doubt have been viewed as an unwelcome distraction by Mary, who has scarcely put a foot wrong in her almost two decades as a working royal.

Since the photos emerged Mary has remained tight-lipped about her husband's dinner with the socialite, and the pair have put on a united display in public appearances.

However, during one instance after the publication of the photos, body language expert Judi James told FEMAIL that Mary looked 'disengaged' when joining the Spanish King and Queen in Copenhagen in November.

Her husband, meanwhile, appeared 'hesitant' towards his wife while on the outing with King Felipe and Queen Letizia during their visit to Denmark.

PRINCESS CHARLENE AND PRINCE ALBERT OF MONACO

This year Princess Charlene of Monaco and her husband Albert faced fresh rumours of being married for 'appearances only'.

In September, Charlene slammed the 'exhausting' claims, insisting that she's 'serene and happy' in her relationship - denying reports that surfaced in German and French media that she was now 'living in Switzerland' and that her marriage was 'ceremonial'.

Speaking to South Africa's News24, the princess, who shares twins Jacques and Gabriella with Prince Albert, said: 'I find the rumours [about my marriage] tiring and exhausting.'

This year Princess Charlene of Monaco and her husband Albert faced fresh rumours of being married for 'appearances only'. Both pictured in May

In particular, she was referring to claims made in German newspaper Bild and French outlet Voici that she had moved to Switzerland and returned to Monaco 'by appointment' to carry out official engagements with the prince.

Insisting there is 'nothing wrong' with her marriage, the former Olympic swimmer said: 'I just don't understand where these rumours come from.'

Speculation about the couple's marriage was further fuelled this summer when Charlene deleted her Instagram account.

However, the mother-of-two shut down suspicions around her decision, claiming it was purely to protect the privacy of her children.

She revealed she wants to keep the twins away from the 'pressure' of life in the public eye for as long as possible - although she admits they are already picking things up.

Speaking about the close-knit siblings, she said she is 'grateful' to know they will always be there for one another.

The rumour mill went into overdrive when Charlene spent most of 2021 away from her husband after returning to her native South Africa for what was supposed to be a month-long trip.

She wasn't pictured in Monaco from January 2021 until March 2022, citing a sinus issue which stopped her from flying.

She missed the seventh birthday of her twins Gabriella and Jacques and her tenth wedding anniversary with Albert.

CROWN PRINCESS VICTORIA AND PRINCE DANIEL OF SWEDEN

Earlier this year, the husband of Crown Princess Victoria of Sweden has denied that there has been infidelity in his marriage and that the couple were ever on the brink of divorce in a rare television interview.

Prince Daniel slammed what he labelled a 'mean and false rumour' about his marriage to the nation's heir apparent.

He lashed out at those circulating the suggestions on social media and in parts of the Swedish press, saying the claims had had 'serious consequences' for his family.

Earlier this year, the husband of Crown Princess Victoria of Sweden has denied that there has been infidelity in his marriage and that the couple were ever on the brink of divorce in a rare television interview. Both pictured in November

'Many friends from across Sweden and overseas have got in touch and things arrived at a certain point where we felt we could no longer accept it,' he revealed.

'I don't think there is any sane person who believes in this rumour.'

The comments were made in a sit-down with SVT ahead of the future King Consort's 50th birthday in September.

Victoria and Daniel, who share two children, Princess Estelle, 11, and Prince Oscar, seven, celebrated their 13th wedding anniversary this year.

Previously a gym owner, Daniel, who was born Olof Daniel Westling, met Victoria at a training session before the pair began dating in 2002.

The couple announced their highly-anticipated engagement in 2009 and tied the knot a year later.

Sweden's royal court was forced to deny reports last year that an 'incredible betrayal' had brought Victoria and Daniel's marriage to a point of crisis.

It took the unusual step of putting out a statement to deny the 'extensive negative rumours', saying: 'We wish to make it clear, once and for all, that the rumours that are now spreading are completely baseless.'

A statement on the couple's Instagram read: 'It has come to our attention that there are widespread negative rumours about our private relationship.

The couple announced their highly-anticipated engagement in 2009 and tied the knot a year later. Pictured last month

'Allegations are being spread about betrayal in the relationship and an impending divorce.

'Normally, we do not comment on rumours and speculation. But in order to protect our family, we wish to make it clear, once and for all, that the rumours that are now spreading are completely unfounded.'

Swedish news site Stoppa Pressarna doubled down on the reports, however.

Daniel Nyhlen, the reporter who first published the claims, insisted: 'We had very credible informants, including special police guards and other staff close to the couple,'

He told a podcast for newspaper Svenska Dagbladet: 'I really had no qualms about it. This is about Sweden's constitution.'
She grew up embracing her curls even when the hairstyle was 'frowned upon'

Who run the world? Curls - at least according to a young CEO, who has created an impressive seven-figure business inspired by her hair type.

Chloe Homan, 32, grew up not knowing how to manage her tightly ringleted hair - but always embraced her natural style, even when dead straight hair was in style in the late 1990s and early 2000s.

After years of trial and error, she finally achieved her hair goals in her mid-20s, and now the Tennessee native has set up her own company to give hair advice to her fellow 'curlies' and provide the products they need to get their mane looking its best.

Chloe, who lives in Wisconsin, has created scrunchies, hair ties, bands and more that help hold curls in place without damaging them, hoping to improve the confidence of curly-haired people and help them embrace her gorgeous natural hair.

Chloe Homan, 32, admits she never knew how to manage her curly hair while growing up, but said she always embraced her mane even when the hairstyle was 'frowned upon' growing up

The Tennessee native who lives in Wisconsin created scrunchies, hair ties, bands and more that help hold curls in place without damaging them

'It was frowned upon to wear your hair naturally when I was growing up,' Chloe reflected.

She continued: 'It was seen as unkept and unprofessional and there really weren't any resources out there for people like me who wanted to embrace their curls.

'It's beautiful getting to be that difference maker.'

Chloe began her businesses by sharing the tips and tricks she'd painstakingly cumulated over the years and began to share them online, as well as launching a social media marketing business.

After realizing the demand for curly hair help was out there, it wasn't long before she set her sights on creating products that would make life so much easier for people with the same type of hair too.

Chloe explained one of the biggest frustrations people with curly hair often face is the lack of accessories, saying ones designed for straight hair can break when used with curly hair or damage the curls.

Determined to find a solution, she created an innovative solution with products that not only are big enough to hold and keep curls from being damaged, but can be matched to individual hair types.

Launching her company, Curlfriend Collective, Chloe created her products, including scrunchies, scarves, hair ties, bands, clips and specially-made pillow cases that retail from between $5 to $95 - which can also be matched for color.

'I am really happy to see that what I do is improving the confidence of curly-haired people to embrace who we really are,' Chloe shared

The products, which are also matched to hair color, made by her company, Curlfriend Collective, include scrunchies, scarves, hair ties, bands, clips and specially-made pillow cases

'We wanted to create products that are not only really functional for our hair but also really beautiful,' the curly-haired expert said. '[We also wanted] accessories that make us feel even more confident when we wear them.'

Chloe said it took about nine months to bring the products to the market due to misunderstanding about products for curly hair.

'We had problems like the ties not being stretchy enough or the suppliers not giving us enough fabric to work with curly hair types,' she explained.

Now, Chloe runs a successful seven-figure business - but explained that being a young CEO has it's obstacles.

While the position is empowering, Chloe admitted she faced challenges like imposter syndrome and was often reluctant to reach out for help when needed.

'I feel like I have to do everything by myself because I'm a woman,' she confessed. 'Whereas male CEOs reach out to their network all the time for resources, knowledge, money and investments and I've had to learn that I can do that too.'

Chloe said she was in the process of unlearning certain habits.

'It was frowned upon to wear your hair naturally when I was growing up. It was seen as unkept and unprofessional and there really weren't any resources out there,' she shared

'We wanted to create products that are not only really functional for our hair but also really beautiful - accessories that make us feel even more confident when we wear them,' she said

'When Curlfriend Collective, our self-care accessory business was launched, I did think, "Can I actually do this?"' she said.

'But I also have another side to me that's a little delusional in some ways where I'm like, "The only thing that's stopping me is me, right?"

'It quickly became apparent that the delusional side of me was right when the business took off.

'While it can be a little lonely at times, it's ultimately very empowering being a young CEO and being able to serve people like myself.'

Last year alone, the company sold 12,000 units of their products and have sold 20,000 units around the world, and they are currently run by a team of six independent contractors.

'Together with Curlfriend Collective and my social media marketing businesses, I've built a seven-figure business based on curls,' the business owner said.

'However, for Curlfriend Collective alone, we've built a half million dollar business in under two years and are on target to be a million dollar standalone business in 2024 - fully bootstrapped with zero investors.'

When it comes to business advice, Chloe advised to fully dedicate yourself to your dream, regardless of the outcome.

'My advice to any young women who want to set up a business is to just do it. Fail forward,' she encouraged.

'We all have so much in us that we can achieve, but we have to allow ourselves to believe we can.'

Chloe advised any potential businesswomen to 'get out of their own way' and to remember that it was 'okay' to fail.

'Every time you do learn from your mistakes, you don't make that mistake again,' she pointed out.

'Then you can take your next step forward and see what you can achieve.'
Professional fetish model Angel has claimed to have the biggest lips in Florida

A model has spent over 81K on plastic surgery including 25cc lips to become a real life Bratz doll.

Professional fetish model Angel Bimbo, 24, from south Florida, has spent over 8K on enhancing their lips alone in a bid to look like a living human version of their biggest inspiration - Bratz dolls.

The iconic Bratz dolls are an American fashion doll and media franchise created by Mattel which launched in 2001. Their slogan states that they have 'a passion for fashion', including focusing on popular fashion trends and having plump lips and visible makeup.

Angel, who was born male and has previously indicated they prefer to use they/them pronouns, first had hyaluronic fillers at 17 years old, which ignited their love for enhancements, leading to plastic surgery at 18 years old.

Now, Angel has had over 16 different procedures including hair transplants, nose job, BBL, butt implants, hyaluronic acid hip and butt injections, soft sculpt liposuction, calf implants, facial fat transplant, filler in multiple places in the face, buccal fat removal, gum tissue reshaping, Botox, permanent makeup tattoo, and fat dissolver injections. With their 25 cc XL lips, they have claimed to have the biggest lips in Florida.

Angel Bimbo (pictured), 24, from Florida has spent over 81,000 on plastic surgery look like a real life Bratz doll

Angel always felt confident on the inside, but now that plastic surgery and enhancements have become more accessible, they can finally feel as confident about their exterior as they are on the inside.

'I have always felt confident, but now my outside matches the way I feel and the way I like to be seen in society,' they said.

'My main inspiration for the size of my lips are the Bratz dolls. I decided to enhance my lips because I like the look.

'I think it's fun to challenge the limits of your body and how much it can handle.'

Angel follows the 'Bimbo Lifestyle', which they described as being more than just having cosmetic procedures.

They insisted the flamboyant lifestyle is a way to portray an exaggerated version of femininity.

Sadly, Angel often receives online hate because many people do not accept their lifestyle and enhancements.

Angel has had 16 different surgeries, and with their 25 cc XL lips, they has claimed to have the biggest lips in Florida

'Of course I have received hate,' Angel said. 'Mostly about the size of my lips.

'I've been called every name in the book you can think of, but I love the hate comments. If nobody hated me I would be so bored right now.

'I get a lot of different reactions, people love it, sometimes hate it.'

'My friends and family don't really say much. I have been doing this for many years, of course they think I'm crazy so it is not a big deal.'

Angel's plastic surgery procedures Hair transplants

Nose job

BBL

Butt implants

Hyaluronic acid hip and butt injections

Soft sculpt liposuction

Calf implants

Facial fat transplant

Filler in multiple places in the face

Buccal fat removal

Gum tissue reshaping

Botox

Permanent makeup tattoo

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Angel loves how they can express their true self and retain their bimbo lifestyle, even though they have received hate for it online, and doesn't plan to stop their lifestyle any time soon.

'To me, being a Bimbo is more than wearing pink and getting surgery, I see the extreme look and the exaggeration of femininity as a way to challenge society that has always tried to silence people like me,' they said.

'I always found that science and technology allow us to have control about the way we look. I always enjoyed change

'I will never stop.'

It comes after Angel, an OnlyFans entertainer, opened up about their lifestyle on an episode of the Truly series 'Hooked on a Look.'

Angel gushed that they love their big lips, small waist, and big butt, but they don't think they are 'extreme enough yet.'

'I will never want to be smaller. Who wants that? Being a bimbo is everything in my life, from the way that I walk, the way that I talk, the way I do my nails, the way I do everything,' they explained.

Angel recalled growing up watching plastic surgery shows with their mother in Mexico and thinking, 'Oh, wow, that's so cool.'

They said they moved to Miami because they knew a lot of people there were 'very into the plastic look' they were looking to achieve.

So far, they have gotten hairline surgery, a nose job, a chin implant and liposuction, butt and calf implants, and 'filler everywhere.'

In their Instagram bio, they boast about having 23 ccs of filler in their lips alone, claiming their pout is the 'biggest in Florida.'

Angel said they moved to Miami because they knew a lot of people there were 'very into the plastic look' they were looking to achieve

Angel Bimbo, 24, a non-binary OnlyFans entertainer, revealed on the Truly series 'Hooked on a Look' that they have spent roughly $100,000 on plastic surgery to look like a 'bimbo doll'

'I spend around $1,500 every month just to maintain my look,' they said. 'But there's always been generous men along the way that have helped me make my plastic dreams come true.'

Angel refused to put a label on their gender identity, saying they 'simply identify as a bimbo doll.'

'Gender is not important in my life. I don't think about it. It doesn't mean anything to me. I am not proud of being in the LGBT community, nor [do] I feel welcome,' they explained. '

'All these new politics and ideas don't represent me. People in the LGBT want to put a label on everything. 'Oh, you're gay' or 'You're trans.'

'If I sat here right now, and I told you, 'Oh, I'm a woman,' you will believe me. You will treat me as such because it's the right thing to do. But if I told you I'm a man, you will believe me, too, so what does it matter?'

They added that they have 'always felt a lot of judgment' from the LGBT community because they don't share the same ideas.

Angel stopped by a medical spa during the episode to have more filler put in their cheeks, despite the owner telling them they already looked perfect.

They admitted that they were already planning their next procedures, including filler in their butt and even more filler in their lips.

Angel noted that many people assume they are insecure because of all the plastic surgery they have gotten, but they insisted that 'you need to be 10 times more confident' when you choose to look like them because of the comments you get.
Murder is Easy fans have praised the Agatha Christie adaptation as 'perfect Christmas viewing' with a 'gorgeous setting'.

The adaptation of the 1939 novel stars David Jonsson as Luke Fitzwilliam, who is investigating a string of murders in the English village of Wychwood under Ashe.

The TV programme sets the show in 1954 and makes retired English police officer Luke a young man who has newly arrived from Nigeria.

Despite the unconventional retelling, many fans said they were felt the characters were true to the original, while also being gripped by the classic whodunnit.

Many also compared the show to the hit movie Hot Fuzz, where buddy cops played by Simon Pegg and Nick Frost investigate a series of murders in a rural English village.

Instead of giving us the Agatha Christie adaptation we'd like, Auntie Beeb devises something different that will be 'better for us'

Many also compared the show to the hit movie Hot Fuzz, where buddy cops played by Simon Pegg and Nick Frost investigate a series of murders in a rural English village

'Murder is Easy is giving me Hot Fuzz vibes with all these terrible accidents,' said one.

'Quite enjoying Murder is Easy, but its difficult not to keep thinking of Hot Fuzz with all the rural types insisting murders are accidents,' added another.

'The locations are simply stunning on Murder is Easy,' said another.

Many also praised Penelope Wilton's role in the show, although asked for her to have more screentime.

'Watched #MurderIsEasy for the fun of it and enjoyed every minute. The gorgeous location is exquisite,' said one.

'Am I alone in thinking Penelope Wilton would make a great Miss Marple?' added another.

'Absolutely loving this already. Penelope Wilton is absolutely brilliant in everything she is cast in #MurderIsEasy,' said a another.

'Loving #MurderIsEasy so far. Some really clever & subtle choices, and it looks gorgeous,' commented one.

'This Luke Fitzwilliam character has a fantastic tailor,' said another.

David Jonsson, who plays the protagonist in tonight's drama Murder Is Easy, said he initially turned down the role

However, some said the show was a little too slow, and asked for it to 'pick up the pace'.

'Switched off the new Murder is Easy after half an hour because it was so boring,' said one.

David Jonsson, who plays the protagonist in the drama Murder Is Easy, said he initially turned down the role for this reason.

In the radical reworking of Christie's book, Luke Fitzwilliam has been changed from a retired white colonial police officer to a black Nigerian, newly arrived in the UK for a diplomatic post in Whitehall.

Those behind the new adaptation, which also stars Penelope Wilton, say it has been 'embedded' with 'themes of dying empire, power, and the desire for independence, political and personal'.

Screenwriter Sian Ejiwunmi-Le Berre said she wanted the drama, about murders in an English village, to reflect the experience of black immigrants in the UK.

In the radical reworking of Christie's book, Luke Fitzwilliam has been changed from a retired white colonial police officer to a black Nigerian

The star admitted he is not a fan of 'colour-blind casting' (Pictured: Luke Fitzwilliam, played by David Jonsson, and Bridget, played by Morfydd Clark)

Those behind the new adaptation, which also stars Penelope Wilton (pictured), say it has been 'embedded' with 'themes of dying empire'

Luke Fitzwilliam arrives in the UK for a diplomatic post in Whitehall and is accused by fellow Nigerian immigrants of working for a boss who is a 'colonial butcher'

The story sees Fitzwilliam socialising in a West African Education Centre, where he is accused by fellow Nigerian immigrants of working for a boss who is a 'colonial butcher' and of 'collaborating with his oppressors'.

He is also asked whether he would not be better 'helping his own people gain independence back home'.

Jonsson said: 'I'm not a big fan of colour-blind casting... to be blind to anything is not a good thing. So I think I said no and they were quite persistent.'

But he said that after speaking to the show's bosses he realised they were not being 'blind to anything' and so he agreed to take part.
It sounds like the stuff of nightmares, or at least a pre-big day stress dream - a guest defecates on the floor of the toilet at the wedding venue.

However, for one couple, it was a grim reality on the biggest day of their lives - and so impactful that they've turned the horrifying scenario into a hit podcast, entitled 'Who s*** on the floor at my wedding?'

Helen McLaughlin and Karen Whitehouse, from Chipping Norton, wed five years ago in Amsterdam but had their nuptials - which included a jazz band - tarnished by the trauma of a poo on the floor.

The ensuing comedy podcast has since become so successful that one of the amateur sleuths charged with finding out exactly poo-dunnit - a friend of the couple - told Woman's Hour this week that it's unlikely the culprit will now ever come forward for fear of public shame.

Helen McLaughlin, left, and Karen Whitehouse, right on their wedding day; the couple got the gift no-one would ever want after walking down the aisle in 2018 - a poo on the floor of the toilet at their wedding venue

Tongue firmly in cheek, 'detective Lauren Kilby told BBC Woman's Hour's Nuala McGovern: 'The problem is the more famous this gets, and the more people that listen to it, the less likely they are to go on the podcast and say "Hey, I defecated on the floor at your wedding"'.

Brides McLaughlin and Whitehouse were spliced on August 11th, 2018, in the Dutch capital, with the sun shining and champagne flowing.

However, their big day went awry just after guests had feasted on a lunch of lasagne and chocolate mousse.

In an early episode of the podcast, Whitehouse tells listeners about the discovery no bride wants to make on their wedding day - that one of their friends, family or a staff member had left them a gift they really didn't want.

The couple from Chipping Norton have since become stars of the award-winning podcast 'Who s*** on the floor at my wedding?'

The couple's friend Lauren Kilby, left, has since become chief 'unqualified' detective on the case - and the podcast 'Who s*** on the floor at my wedding?' - but told BBC Woman's Hour host Nuala McGovern, right, that she may now never crack the case because the podcast has become too successful

Perfect day, except for... Karen, left, was so shocked when she discovered the 'matrimonial poo' that she didn't tell her wife Helen until the couple were back at their hotel after their nuptials

She says: 'As soon as I opened the door to the ladies, I saw a silhouette of this perfect, poo emoji-looking turd, really far away from the toilet cubicle. I stopped in my tracks.

Trying to rationalise what had happened, Karen says: 'The first thing that struck me, was that it was early on in the evening, and people weren't drunk enough to really excuse that.

'But also, it was really far away from the toilet bowl and - sorry for the detail - was really firm. That struck me as not an accident. That was on purpose.'

The bride was so upset by the incident, which happened shortly after she had delivered her speech that she didn't tell her new wife about what happened until they were safely back at the hotel, and their guests had gone home.

The trio have seen more than a million people tuning into episodes of their award-winning podcast

The 'matrimonial turd' has since sparked the podcast, with the couple enlisting the help of Kilby to try and track down exactly poodunnit.

On Woman's Hour, Whitehouse revealed details of how they've since tried to hunt down the poopetrator.

By way of detective work, the podcast has seen the trio sniffing the shoes of guests who'd attended the wedding and using a lie detector for interrogations.
She's grown up around royalty, even serving as a bridesmaid to the late Princess Diana.

But India Hicks, who is goddaughter and second cousin of King Charles, is far from the pomp and circumstance of the stereotypical British aristocrat.

The granddaughter of Earl Mountbatten, and former bridesmaid to Princess Diana, has spent most of her adult life in the Bahamas with her husband David Flint Wood and their five children.

Which means her average day is a far cry from society walks in the countryside, with her Instagram page showing pictures of her relaxing on the beach while dedicating most of her life to philanthropy.

Perhaps though, her free spirited nature has been obvious from a young age.

The daughter of Lady Pamela Mountbatten - who was a bridesmaid to the Queen - and interior designer David Hicks, was educated at 40,000-a-year Gordonstoun, near Elgin, Scotland, until she was expelled for inviting boys to her room.

Here, FEMAIL looks at how she's become the archetype of a modern, progressive, royal.

She's grown up around royalty but India Hicks is far from the pomp and circumstance and isn't the stereotypical British aristocrat

Loving mother-of-five

India married her long-term partner David Flint Wood in 2021. The pair had moved to the Caribbean together in 1996.

So far is she from the stiff rules of British society, India was with her partner for 26 years before she wed last year at the age of 54, after having five children together.

While in many ways her wedding was a typical society affair, it was certainly scaled down affair at the small Brightwell Baldwin Parish Church in Oxfordshire.

Few aristocrats and royalty was there, just her mother Lady Pamela, was among the 30-or-so guests at the ceremony. Charles was no invited in a bid to keep it small, with only her children's godparents in attendance.

Despite her family and royal connections, the socialite has worked to earn her keep.

Originally a model, she became a designer and businesswoman, launching a luxury lifestyle business before closing it down in 2022 to spend more time with her children: - Wesley, 26, Felix, 24, Amory, 22, Conrad, 18, and Domino, 13.

Wesley was adopted after his waitress mother died of cancer. The rest are her biological children.

In 2022 the aristocrat paid tribute to her adopted son's birth mother, who passed away in 2010 away after losing her battle with cancer.

India was pictured with her godfather King Charles at a charity polo match in Gloucestershire

India married her long-term partner David Flint Wood in 2021. The pair had moved to the Caribbean together in 1996

India first met Lynne while she was a working as a waitress at a local restaurant and the pair became friends.

Lynne, a single mother, raised Wesley and her other children on a low waitressing wage, and lost both her younger and older sister to breast cancer, before she too passed away from the disease.

India posted a photo of the family visiting Lynne's grave on Christmas Day with a caption saying it 'never gets easier'.

India first befriended Lynne during pregnancy, and when the children were born, India offered to help look after both of them.

'Lynne had other children and many different jobs,' she previously told MailOnline. 'I was lucky enough to have the space for an extra child.

'I had care in the home. It was easy for Wes to be dropped off at our home, which was better than him going to childcare.'

India took Wesley in and often shares happy family pictures of the whole family enjoying time together (seen at Christmas)

India shared a picture as she visited the late waitress' grave with Wesley, 25, alongside her sons Felix, 21, Amory, 19, Conrad, 16, and daughter Domino, 11, who she shares with husband David Flint Wood

India remembered Wesley as a spirited child, climbing on roofs with her own son, Felix, becoming close friends from a young age (seen)

Wesley was adopted when he was 12, after his mother Lynne- a Bahamian waitress- sadly died of breast cancer (seen as a baby)

India is seen on Wesley's graduation day alongside Amory as the two brothers are close

She remembered Wesley as a spirited child, climbing on roofs with her own son, Felix, becoming close friends from a young age.

In 2008, Wesley's mother moved the family some 50 miles away from Harbour Island over the water to Nassau.

It meant India didn't see much of him until 2010 when, by chance, she found herself sitting beside him on a tiny inter-island plane. His mother was ill and he was shuttled between family members - two days later, Lynne died.

India took Wesley in and often shares happy family pictures of the whole family enjoying time together.

Early life in royal circles

India was a bridesmaid at the wedding of Prince Charles and Lady Diana Spencer. She is pictured second left at the wedding with the Queen and Diana

India (standing third from left) served as a bridesmaid at the wedding of then Prince Charles and Diana

The newlywed was one of the five bridesmaids at the 1981 wedding of Diana and Charles, who is her godfather and second cousin.

As the daughter of famed interior decorator David Hicks and Lady Pamela Hicks, one of the late Queen's former ladies-in-waiting and the daughter of the last Viceroy of India, India was exposed to the design world as well as royal circles

She had been on holiday in the Bahamas aged 13 when the prince phoned and personally asked her to take on the role.

India shared a photo of herself with Charles on Instagram, describing him as a 'very considerate, very patient godfather'

'I had to practise,' she later recalled. 'It was during these rehearsals I got to know Diana, whom I first met at a dress fitting. She always seemed more like a head girl than a princess-in-waiting, with never a shy moment in private.'

India has kept her bridesmaid's wreath from the ceremony at St Paul's in its original box.

In November she posted a photograph of her dress  still in perfect condition  on social media.

Remarkably it was on a hanger on her stairs alongside another royal bridesmaid dress, that worn by Lady Pamela, 91.

Charity work

In May last year, she visited Ukraine alongside her son in support of the organisation, transporting clothing and spending time in a therapy shelter helping Ukrainian children. Pictured with son Felix

Her support for her godfather goes beyond family duty, and she works to promote King Charles's charity, the Prince's Trust

India has dedicated a lot of her life to charity, recently visiting Ukraine to help refugees and even putting her house on the market for charity.

She serves her godfather's charity, the Prince's Trust, as a patron for Women Supporting Women.

After attending the funeral of Queen Elizabeth II last year, India revealed that she would be undertaking a bicycle ride from Buckingham Palace to Windsor Castle in a bid to raise money for the monarch's charity.

India wrote on Instagram that she would be joining thousands of others for the ride, during which she would be part of the Women Supporting Women team.

In the post, she said: 'Tomorrow I am biking from Buckingham Place to Windsor Castle, along with several thousand other people, in the hopes of raising awareness and funds to help transform the lives of youngsters who are facing a frankly s***** future.

'King Charles (still feels strange saying that) set up the charity in 1976 with a few thousand pounds of his severance pay from the Navy, to tackle high youth unemployment which he feared would leave young people marginalised.

'The Prince's Trust has now helped over a million people, believing that every young person should have the chance to succeed, no matter what their background or challenges they are facing.'

India's work for her godfather's charity exists alongside her support for Global Empowerment Mission, a nonprofit that provides assistance in the wake of international disasters.

In May last year, she visited Ukraine alongside her son in support of the organisation, transporting clothing and spending time in a therapy shelter helping Ukrainian children.

Bahamas lifestyle

The 55-year-old daughter of Lady Pamela Mountbatten and David Hicks enjoys her quiet life in the Bahamas

India has put her beautiful Bahamas retreat up for rent over the summer, with a percentage of the proceeds going to The Prince's Trust

She has recently put her Bahamas holiday home up for rent over the summer, with a percentage of the proceeds going to the Prince's Trust.

The Harbour Island getaway comes with a hefty price tag of 18,000 a week but India told The Times that the island is a coveted destination

Sharing details of the property on Instagram, she wrote: 'Our guest house is set in a grove of palm trees, on the crest of the dunes.

'Designed to look as though it has always been there. Following tropical traditions we built the house on four pylons, to remain as cool as possible throughout the year.

'The sitting room and two large guest rooms are upstairs, leaving the dining room, kitchen, and remaining bedrooms downstairs.

'Late morning you might want to wander down the private path to three miles of pink sand beach and lie under our thatched cabanas on the sunbeds, or else there is a hammock slung between two trees, in the garden, somewhere for a siesta after a long lunch.

Pictures on Instagram of the property, designed by India and her husband, David Flint Wood, shows white-painted walls and comfortable furnishings

The Harbour Island getaway comes with a hefty price tag of 18,000 a week but India told The Times that the island is a coveted destination

'Facing south you have the chance to sit idling with a rum cocktail in hand, on the upper verandah, as the sun sets and watch the light changing over both the bay and the Atlantic.

'From up here you can hear the breeze in the casuarina trees and the rustling of palms below and spot a stray guest or an escaping child.'

Pictures of the property, designed by India and her husband, David Flint Wood, show comfortable furnishings and white walls and window panes.

Speaking to The Times , India said that the house and furniture was built by local carpenters and focused on making sure the property did not disrupt the ambience of the island.

She added: 'It's got a private part of the beach with beach cabanas, so it's a very beautiful, lovely property and we thought [renting it more widely] would be another way of raising some funding for a cause that I'm very, very involved with.'

While she has rented the property previously on a small scale, the King's goddaughter felt that she would carry out her new project before the hurricane season takes hold.

Respectful royal

India praised her godfather King Charles for his 'patience' with her as a child and paid tribute to his work through The Prince's Trust

The designer has paid tribute to her godfather's work with the Prince's Trust while wading into the debate over coronation invitations

Despite being detached from the stuffiness that comes with royal life, India has frequently visited the UK and praised the royal family.

On the eve of the coronation she said her godfather was 'considerate' and 'patient' - despite not receiving an invitation.

India posted photos on her Instagram story showing herself outside Buckingham Palace and she also appeared on Australian TV to discuss all things royal ahead of the ceremony in Westminster Abbey during his Coronation.

The designer tagged The Prince's Trust, the charity her godfather founded, in a video of herself speaking, with the words: 'Inclusivity, equality, diversity'.

Her visit to the UK came after she posted a photo of herself on Instagram with a caption praising King Charles's invitations to the coronation which are based on 'meritocracy' as she failed to make the list.

Her mother, who was the late Queen's bridesmaid at her wedding to Prince Philip in 1947, was also snubbed for an invite.

Devoted daughter

India is the daughter of Lady Pamela Mountbatten, who was herself a royal bridesmaid at the Queen's 1947 wedding, and interior designer David Hicks

Lady Pamela Hicks was one of the bridesmaids at the wedding of Prince Philip to Princess Elizabeth in 1947

The devoted daughter even launched a podcast recording conversations with her mother, called The India Hicks Podcast.

India's mother Lady Pamela is the daughter of Earl Mountbatten, the brother of Prince Philip's mother.

Earl Mountbatten, was affectionately known as 'Uncle Dickie' by Prince Philip and the Queen, and was seen as hugely influential in the early life of both royals.

Lady Pamela has previously shared insight into Prince Philip's family life.

Lady Pamela recalled in a podcast interview last year how the Queen was always 'patient' and 'kind' to her mother-in-law Princess Alice of Battenberg, who could be 'very sharp and difficult

She attended the funeral of Queen Elizabeth II at Westminster Abbey last year with her mother, Lady Pamela Hicks

'I remember, she was staying at Windsor and we were waiting to go into lunch,' Lady Pamela recalled. 'The equerry had come to collect her for lunch with the Queen.

'He was a new equerry, a young man of about 20, and thought he must entertain Princess Alice and talk to her.

'He unwisely asked, 'and what have you been doing this morning, Ma'am,' to which Princess Alice replied: 'And what has that got to do with you?''

Lady Pamela also explained that, despite living under the same roof as her son, Princess Alice and Prince Philip led very separate lives.'She was in a dressing gown, by choice, in the attic,' Lady Pamela said. 'While Prince Philip was very busy down below.'
The Las Vegas wedding industry is booming and expects to have a record-breaking surge in couples tying the knot due to the special New Year's Eve date.

This New Year's Eve will be 12/31/23 - or 1-2-3-1-2-3 - and because of this pattern, chapels are preparing to host thousands of lovebirds.

Couples are set to flood Las Vegas chapels to marry their partners on this special day in an attempt to set the rest of their relationship up for good luck.

And with the date being New Year's Eve, couples will have a double celebration as they will be ringing in 2024 and heading on their honeymoons.

The Las Vegas wedding industry is booming and expects to have a record-breaking surge in couples tying the knot due to the special New Year's Eve date (stock image)

According to the Las Vegas Review-Journal, 12/31/23 is a 'specialty date.'

'Combined with a weekend and all the excitement around New Year's Eve, what we're seeing is (that) it may be one of the biggest days of the year and one of the biggest days for a number of years,' Clark County Clerk Lynn Marie Goya told the outlet.

Meanwhile, Melody Willis-Williams, president of Vegas Weddings, referred to the day as a 'double whammy' for celebrations.

The company is fully booked on midnight at its multiple venues, including its brown-brick chapel in downtown Las Vegas with a white steeple and red awning.

The record for the most marriages in Las Vegas in one day was set on July 7, 2007 - with a whopping 4,492 couples tying the knot.

Typically, New Year's Eve has drawn somewhere between 450 to 550 couples to wed in Las Vegas since 2018, the Review-Journal reported.

Melody revealed that this year would be much higher - adding that her company alone has already booked 120 weddings for that day.

And five of those couples will tie the knot just seconds before it reaches midnight.

This New Years Eve will be 12/31/23 - or 1-2-3-1-2-3 - and because of this pattern, chapels are preparing to host more than 4,492 lovebirds (The Wedding Chapel at Vegas Weddings is pictured earlier this month)

Marie Goya noted that this was a popular date because couples refer to them as 'magic.'

She added that it was also easy to remember.

'I think the celebration that has a group dynamic is really appealing,' she told the publication.

'When everyone is in line and they're all getting married and excited about being in love, it just enhances their own experience.'

November 11, 2011, was the second-most popular date for weddings, according to the county's marriage bureau, with 3,125 couples tying the knot.
Days earlier, she was seen celebrating Christmas with her fiance in Miami

Lauren Sanchez has flaunted her envious curves in a blue bikini as she enjoyed a boat ride with her sister after celebrating Christmas with her Amazon billionaire fiance Jeff Bezos.

The former reporter, 54, shared a snap that featured her and her sister, Elena Sanchez Blair, posing together on a small watercraft to her Instagram Stories on Thursday.

The photo showed the two ladies, clad in bikini tops and jean shorts, smiling at the camera in front of a stunning backdrop of bright blue waters.

It's unclear where the photo was taken, but the journalist was spotted taking a stroll with her husband-to-be, 59, on Christmas Eve a few days earlier in Miami, Florida.

Lauren Sanchez flaunted her envious curves in a blue bikini as she enjoyed a boat ride with her sister after celebrating Christmas with her Amazon billionaire, fiance Jeff Bezos

It's unclear where the photo was taken, but the journalist was spotted taking a stroll with her husband-to-be, 54, on Christmas a few days earlier in Miami, Florida (seen)

Before Christmas, they were seen celebrating Lauren's birthday on Jeff's superyacht off the coast of the Caribbean island St. Barts (seen)

Lauren left her toned figure on full display, donning the blue triangle bikini top with denim bottoms, which she paired with a tan visor and dark shades.

'Best way to head into the New Year... With my best friend and sister,' Lauren captioned the shot.

She left her long brown locks in loose waves and wore minimal makeup for the outing.

While it's unclear when exactly they started dating, Lauren and Jeff's romance was first exposed by the National Enquirer in January 2019, while they were both married to other people. They're seen in March

Her sister rocked a similar outfit, but instead of a blue bikini, she chose a hot pink one.

Earlier this week, photographers caught Lauren and Jeff walking with their arms around one another in a park on Christmas Eve - one month after the business mogul announced that they were moving from Seattle, Washington, to the Sunshine State, which is where he grew up, so that he could be closer to his parents.

'Seattle has been my home since 1994 when I started Amazon out of my garage,' he wrote on Instagram in November.

'My parents have always been my biggest supporters. They recently moved back to Miami, the place we lived when I was younger.

'I want to be close to my parents, and Lauren and I love Miami. Also, Blue Origin's operations are increasingly shifting to Cape Canaveral.

'For all that, I'm planning to return to Miami, leaving the Pacific Northwest. I've lived in Seattle longer than I've lived anywhere else and have so many amazing memories here.

'As exciting as the move is, it's an emotional decision for me. Seattle, you will always have a piece of my heart.'

Before Christmas, they were seen celebrating Lauren's birthday on the Caribbean island St. Barts.

Soon after it was revealed, the mogul divorced his wife of more than 25 years, Mackenzie Scott (left), while Lauren left her husband, Patrick Whitesell (right)

They got engaged in early 2023, and Jeff popped the question on his yacht after they enjoyed a romantic dinner under the stars together

The couple partied alongside a slew of other celebrities, moguls, and entrepreneurs on Jeff's $500 million superyacht. The pair was also photographed exploring the island.

While it's unclear when exactly they started dating, Lauren and Jeff's romance was first exposed by the National Enquirer in January 2019, while they were both married to other people.

Soon after it was revealed, the mogul divorced his wife of more than 25 years and the mother of his four children, Mackenzie Scott, while Lauren left her husband, Endeavor talent agency co-founder Patrick Whitesell.

The businessman - who is the third richest man in the world and has a reported net worth of $172 billion - and the former journalist then made their first public appearance together in May of that year, and have been happily in love ever since.

They got engaged in early 2023, and Lauren opened up about the moment Jeff asked her to marry him to Vogue last month.

She recalled how Jeff popped the question on his yacht after they enjoyed a romantic dinner under the stars together.

She said Jeff concealed the huge diamond ring under her pillow, and that she almost 'blacked out' when she discovered it at the end of the evening just before they went to bed.

When asked about their upcoming nuptials, Lauren admitted that they were still in the early stages of planning the wedding, so they didn't have a lot figured out just yet.

'We're still thinking about the wedding and what it's going to be. Is it going to be big? Is it going to be overseas? We don't know yet,' she dished.

And Jeff made it clear that he was leaving it in her hands, telling the outlet when asked if he was going to be heavily involved in the planning, 'Oh, God, no. Do I look that dumb?'

As for whether or not Lauren will be taking her husband-to-be's last name, she admitted: 'Uh, yes, one hundred percent. I am looking forward to being Mrs. Bezos.'

In recent weeks, Lauren has been sporting a dazzling 'Mrs. Bezos' necklace - a custom Alison Lou piece which sits on a four-karat gold chain and costs a whopping $4,400.

A source told DailyMail.com when she was first seen wearing it last month that the necklace was gifted to her by 'a close friend of the couple.'
A beef wellington at a Sydney restaurant was named second best dish for 2023

A dish from a Sydney restaurant has been named the second best in the world by food and wine critics.

The beef wellington from Nel Restaurant in Surry Hills received great praise by Taste Hunter I-Hua Lim for Worlds50Best.

Ms Lim, from Melbourne, described the dish as 'one of the best things she's eaten this year'.

Nel Restaurant has an ever-changing Creative Modern Australian menu and offers diners a bunker-esque dining experience.

The fine dining restaurant mostly consists of set menus starting from $85 per person up to $185 per person.

The beef wellington from Nel Restaurant in Sydney was crowned the second best dish in the world by critics

I-Hua Lim, from Melbourne, (pictured) described the dish as 'one of the best things she's eaten this year'. 'Beef Wellington sounds like such a traditional and boring dish, however it's one of my favourite things to eat,' she said

'Beef Wellington sounds like such a traditional and boring dish, however it's one of my favourite things to eat as it is so complex and takes so much skill to cook the meat; the pastry has to be perfect and the flavours have to be balanced,' Ms Lim wrote.

'At Nel's, chef Nelly Robinson and his team serve their version with a slow-cooked beef cheek, spelt pastry, beautiful carrot puree, beef and peppercorn sauce.

'It was a dish that transported me and my friends to London immediately.'

The incredible recognition puts Sydney on the map among international restaurants as no other Australian city is included on the list of 16 dishes and cocktails.

The restaurant was thrilled after hearing the news and shared their excitement on Instagram on Thursday

The restaurant was thrilled after hearing the news and shared their excitement on Instagram on Thursday.

'What a way to end the year!' the post read.

'Our Beef Wellington dish from this years Great British menu was voted #2 by a TasteHunter in best meals of 2023.'

In first place was Table by Bruno Verjus in Paris while in third place was La Cime in Osaka.
Read more: I say this controversial sentence to men and they want to marry me

Australians revealed 'dating rules' to help other singles Down Under

A group of single Australians have listed their 'rules' when it comes to dating - including never exchanging Instagram handles and avoiding anyone from Bondi.

The conversation sparked on TikTok when young traveller Jade complained about Australia's dating culture and sought advice.

'Can someone please explain to me how Australian dating rules work? Because I don't get it,' she asked in a now-viral video.

'I feel like you say one wrong thing and you're left on read. And the amount of dates that have been organised and then the guys just never text me again has never happened anywhere else in the world.

'Every woman I speak to has [had] the exact same horror stories about Australian men.'

Since publishing the clip, Aussies have shared their own struggles and guidance in attempt to help Jade.

Several Australians have listed their own dating 'rules' after traveller Jade (pictured left) sought advice on TikTok. Alisha (right) shared a response video and suggested never dating someone from Bondi, don't exchange Instagrams and don't feel guilty speaking to multiple people

Alisha shared a response video on Tuesday and was happy to share her tips when it comes to looking for 'the one'.

First, she advised to 'never' give your date your Instagram handle - she didn't specify why but most agreed it was for safety and privacy concerns.

Next she added: 'Don't feel guilty about talking to multiple people, cause the Lord knows the man you're talking to is talking to multiple women.'

The third and perhaps most controversial point was to 'run' if someone you're dating is from Bondi.

'Just remember the hot girl summer mantra: Australian men are here for a good time, not a long time. So if you want to find yourself a hubby, you may as well pack your bags and move to Europe,' she said.

Another woman who goes by the TikTok moniker @rockpaperstilettos (left) claimed Aussie men will 'ghost you for no reason' and think 'they're the prize'. John (right) also chimed in and said the trick is 'just don't date'

DATING RULES ACCORDING TO AUSSIES: Don't be afraid to talk to multiple people at once when dating Never date someone from Bondi Never exchange Instagrams Hold off sleeping together Don't give out your mobile number after the first date Know your standards and stick to them Don't settle for less Just don't date Advertisement

Another woman who goes by the TikTok moniker @rockpaperstilettos claimed Aussie men will 'ghost you for no reason' and think 'they're the prize'.

'It's very rare to meet an emotionally intelligent man in this country,' she said in a video.

'You can't admit that you like anybody - it's this big game of whoever likes the other person less wins,' she said.

'Nobody's winning, nobody's happy, nobody's connecting.'

She added that whenever she tries to communicate her feelings to a man she can 'start to see him implode'.

John also chimed in and shared his simple approach to Jade's question by posting a video himself.

'So the trick is, you just don't date. Yeah? Life's then on easy mode and it's more simple,' he said bluntly.

Read more: I analysed Sydney Sweeney's 'it factor' that attracts men instantly Valerie, who goes by the TikTok moniker @villarvalerie, explained 'attraction psychology' and the cues Sydney Sweeney uses to draw people in Advertisement

The separate videos caused a stir among hundreds of others who also shared their view on the topic.

Many said they've resorted to dating men from overseas or have moved internationally after being unlucky in love Down Under.

'We are truly in the trenches here in Australia,' one person wrote, another said: 'I gave up and got an American. Highly recommended.'

'You gotta have filter/security questions for them. Make a list, dot point your main flags and then give them trigger questions and wait for reply,' a third added.

'It is somewhat comforting knowing that this is happening on both sides of the field. I feel ya,' another wrote.

'Mature Australian men are an endangered species,' another added.
A seasoned traveller has shared the one big difference she's noticed about Australia compared to the rest of the world.

Jordan Stacey, from Melbourne, said Europeans 'never believe her' when she says it often takes an hour to drive into the city back home.

She explained how in her eyes, Australian cities 'aren't walkable', there's little to no sense of community and it often takes time to get anywhere.

'I live in Melbourne, I'm well and truly on the trainline, but it takes me an hour to get into the city. Whereas it's an hour bus [ride] between Edinburgh and Glasgow,' Jordan said in a TikTok video.

'Anyway long story short I'm moving to Spain.'

Jordan Stacey has travelled around the world and noticed one thing about Australia compared to other countries. She claimed Australian cities 'aren't walkable' and it often takes time to get anywhere

Jordan described Melbourne and Sydney as 'so huge' while comparatively you can 'walk across the central arrondissements' in Paris in 'little over an hour'.

'Australia is one of the most urbanised countries ever. Melbourne and Sydney are so spread out,' she continued.

'I love Melbourne so much and I love Australia but I want to live in a walkable city, because it also just fosters a sense of community that's kind of hard to maintain here.'

To further her point, Jordan said she has friends across Melbourne and some live an hour away. Whereas someone who lives in Venezia, Spain, would have 'accessible' friends who live closer to them.

'If I'm in Edinburgh and I know someone else lives there, I don't even have to question how I'm going to get to them,' she said.

'In Melbourne when you meet someone ... they could tell you where they live and it could be two hours [away] on public transport from you but they still live in Melbourne.

'You're not going to get that in Edinburgh - it's probably a 20 minute walk away.'

Jordan described Melbourne and Sydney as 'so huge' while comparatively you can 'walk across the central arrondissements' in Paris in 'little over an hour'. A 'walkable city' by definition is a place that prioritises pedestrians and enables more journeys on foot

A 'walkable city' by definition is a place that prioritises pedestrians and enables more journeys on foot.

Of course, not every city in Europe, the US or UK is walkable, but most places with bigger populations tend to invest in transport and walkways to make it easier for tourists to get around.

Not to mention the fact that Australian cities aren't as old compared to others across the globe and Australia's population is only 26.6 million.

'I live in Melbourne, I'm well and truly on the trainline, but it takes me an hour to get into the city. Whereas it's an hour bus [ride] between Edinburgh and Glasgow ,' Jordan said in a video

The four-minute video has since been viewed more than 172,000 times but many seemed to miss the point.

'Walkable city doesn't mean you can walk to everywhere in the city. It means all your common amenities are within walking distance,' one person wrote.

Another said: 'You're applying the idea of a walkable city/community way too broadly, it just means having all amenities within 15 minutes walking distance.'

To which Jordan said: 'I know, and I am saying that is not the case as much here compared to many cities I have spent time in.'

Elsewhere she added: 'Everyone missing the point I'm saying Australian cities are too big, Germany doesn't just have half their population spilling out of Berlin and Munich.'

Someone else said: 'It's because in Europe most people live in apartments so they fit more people in smaller space but we all live in houses so we have to spread out further from the city.'

Another added: 'I feel like Adelaide is a walkable city if you don't live too rural.'
A&E departments have seen a rise in the number of patients attending with broken penises and other sex-related incidents this year.

Tens of thousands sought help removing a 'foreign object' from intimate areas, NHS data showed.

More generally, 'problems' with the penis and vagina have jumped by a third within a year.

More people went to emergency departments after contracting sexually transmitted infections and for problems including prolonged erections, analysis revealed.

It forms part of a growing trend of patients with more unusual conditions presenting at the country's emergency departments  including an eight-fold rise in people suffering from suspected caffeine poisoning.

NHS data shows there has been an increase in men and women needing treatment for injuries sustained during sex (stock)

The rise in coffee culture saw 142 people seek help for caffeine toxicity in 2022/23, compared to just 18 the year before.

Meanwhile, illnesses thought to be eradicated in the UK  such as smallpox and typhoid fever  also rose from seven and 94 cases in 2021 to 50 and 215 respectively last year, though likely contracted overseas.

Medical leaders said it was more evidence of how busy A&E departments are, typically seeing more than a million patients every month.

Dr Tim Cooksley, president of the Society for Acute Medicine, said: 'This data further shows the diversity of presentations that NHS teams manage every day.

'Fundamentally, these patients have urgent conditions that need timely, respectable care and, as for so many patients currently, this cannot be achieved in overwhelmed urgent and emergency care environments which are extremely distressing for patients.'

EXCLUSIVE READ MORE: How much did YOUR hospital make in parking charges last year? Worst NHS trusts named and shamed as analysis reveals one saw profits jump 60-fold Advertisement

On average, 45,000 people visit major hospital A&E departments every day in England, with a further 24,000 people using minor A&E facilities like walk-in-centres and minor injuries units.

A recent NHS report found attendances at major departments are 16 per cent higher than they were ten years ago, with reasons including poor GP access, mental health and the growing NHS waiting list often blamed.

Latest analysis of NHS figures suggest attendances for delicate issues are rising at a faster rate, with those with penis problems up 34 per cent from 13,911 to 18,592 last year while 20,675 women needed help with ailments linked to the vagina, a 30 per cent rise on 15,930 in 2021/22.

In the last 12 months, 73,300 patients had a procedure to remove a foreign object after attending A&E.

While these figures will also include removal of objects in orifices including eyes, noses and ears, the data shows that there were 1,502 attendances for 'foreign body in rectum' and 5,421 people attended due to a 'foreign body in the vagina'.

Some 373 men needed help for priapism - a prolonged erection of the penis, up from 342 in the previous 12 months and 272 in 2020/21.

Men are urged to seek urgent medical care if the condition lasts for more than two hours to 'avoid permanent damage' if home treatments such as a warm bath or shower, going for a gentle walk or urinating does not work.

A further 432 men presented with a fractured penis, which usually occurs during sex. This was up a quarter up on the previous year.

Doctors also saw a rise in the number of men who sought help for hydrocele - a painful condition where the scrotum becomes filled with fluid, with 2,276 attendances, up from 1,988 the previous year.

The data also shows 1,593 people attended an A&E department in England last year due to bleeding after sex.

Some 2,392 people were treated for micturition syncope - a condition which causes people to feeling dizzy or light-headed, or having short-lived loss of consciousness when passing urine.

Leading emergency doctors said that A&E staff are trained to help people with potentially embarrassing problems with 'confidence and respect' and urged people not to put off seeking help when needed.

Dr Adrian Boyle, president of the Royal College of Emergency Medicine, said: 'People attend A&Es with an array of issues, including some potentially embarrassing problems. Staff are trained to approach these problems confidentially and with respect.

'It is vital that if patients are concerned about something and feel they need urgent or emergency care, they should come to A&E.

'We don't want patients with potentially important problems to feel deterred.

'Some symptoms may be signs of a more serious problem and coming to A&E may be what is needed to diagnose that and receive the necessary and appropriate treatment.'
Children with severe epilepsy have been offered brain surgery by the NHS before medicinal cannabis, parents have revealed.

Several families have told the Mail their children were offered the 'insanely invasive procedure' which involves detaching one side of the brain from the other and can cause sight loss.

One mother declined the operation, which costs the NHS up to 33,400, and requested medicinal cannabis oil  which was legalised five years ago and has proven effective with epileptic children.

The oils are administered orally every day and three children in the UK have NHS prescriptions, with successful results.

But other youngsters with similar conditions have been denied it, leaving parents paying up to 2,000 a month to get the drug privately, while others can't access it at all.

Luci Griffin's son Alfie, 13, (pictured together) was diagnosed with intractable epilepsy six years ago and the family have so far been denied medicinal cannabis on the NHS. But last year doctors offered to carry out a hemispherotomy on Alfie, which would involve temporarily removing a piece of his skull to operate on his brain

The family are currently buying a high-concentrate CBD oil online, which costs them 300 a month, but Alfie's condition isn't improving. He can no longer go to school and Mrs Griffin has had to stop work to become a full-time carer (stock photo of cannabis concentrate oil)

Luci Griffin's son Alfie, 13, was diagnosed with intractable epilepsy six years ago and the family have so far been denied medicinal cannabis on the NHS.

But last year doctors offered to carry out a hemispherotomy on Alfie, which would involve temporarily removing a piece of his skull to operate on his brain.

The family said they were warned it carried 'a risk to life', that Alfie could lose his peripheral vision and would need weeks of rehabilitation to learn to walk again.

Mrs Griffin said: 'I don't want to have to turn to him and say we know it didn't work... I want to say we've done everything Alf, we did everything we could  why wouldn't we try medicinal cannabis first?'

The family, from Peterborough, have been refused Epidiolex on the NHS and private clinics that prescribe other oils cannot help.

In October the Mail revealed two families were smuggling cannabis oil from the Netherlands back in suitcases as the pharmacy which delivered their private prescription didn't have enough stock.

Mrs Griffin said getting the drug privately may not even be an option as they would struggle to keep up with large monthly payments.

'Even if we could [get it privately], how long can we sustain 2,000 a month? Not for long because we'd have to sell the house,' the mother said.

The family are currently buying a high-concentrate CBD oil online, which costs them 300 a month, but Alfie's condition isn't improving. He can no longer go to school and Mrs Griffin has had to stop work to become a full-time carer.

She said: 'We are absolutely stuck. We're alone. We have no support.'

Families say they pay anything between 400 to 2,000 a month to get medicinal cannabis privately (stock photo of a scientist checking hemp plants in a greenhouse)

The Mail has spoken to two other families whose epileptic children were offered brain surgery.

'You can't reverse brain surgery, so it seems like madness,' one mother said.

Caroline Gisbourne's son Mitchell, 16, had the procedure before medicinal cannabis was legalised in 2018 but it didn't work and is now successfully using the oils.

She said: 'If I had known about medicinal cannabis oils before, there's no way I would have put him through the operation.'

Costs of brain surgery to the NHS depend on patients' age and the complexity of the procedure but are typically 7,800 to 33,400.

Families say they pay anything between 400 to 2,000 a month to get medicinal cannabis privately.

An NHS England spokesman said: 'The decision to proceed with surgery... would be a joint one taken by a clinical team and a patient's family and/or carers.'
Those of us who have been through serious illness in the last year could not but be aware of huge advances in medicines.

Diseases, including cancers, once thought life-threatening are becoming, as my own physician described it, eminently curable.

The speed of advance was demonstrated in the pandemic when fast-track development of vaccines offered humanity and the global economy a lifeline.

If the cumbersome Covid-19 inquiry ever moves beyond tittle-tattle and WhatsApp messages and takes testimony on the scientific response, Boris Johnson and his government should receive credit for early adoption of vaccines.

It backed AstraZenecas Oxford jab and was among the first buyers of the Pfizer and Moderna immunisations.

Pharma deals: In much the same way as big tech is swallowing upstarts in key areas such as AI and games, so the life sciences giants are homing in on biotech

We also should remember the speed at which compounds emerged from UK labs, helping to alleviate symptoms and free up hospital beds.

Now that the pandemic panic is behind the world, leaving a trail of legal cases for the families of those unfortunate enough to experience vaccine side-effects, the global pharmaceutical industry is in overdrive.

It has been portrayed on the silver screen and streaming channels as the devil incarnate following the oxycontin addiction scandal and the over-pricing of new treatments.

That betrays the whole idea of ethical drugs. But we shouldnt let it blot out the fast-track development of transforming medications for oncology and to treat prevalent conditions such as osteoporosis.

It used to be that the life science groups largely depended on their own labs and research and development capability to come up with new medicines.

Astras success with immunology treatments for cancer was largely home-grown.

The great problem for big pharma comes when the pipeline of new drugs clogs up or they find, as has been the case with GlaxoSmithKline (GSK), they are playing catch-up on big disease groups such as oncology.

GSKs expertise on vaccines has not been enough to impress investors yet in spite of its brilliant development of the blockbuster shingles jab shingrix and the fast-growing respiratory disease (RSV) inoculation.

The search for new remedies has heightened bids and deals.

Over the holiday break, in the US, Bristol Myers Squibb scooped up Boston innovator Karuna Therapeutics for 11.5billion.

Britains Astra deepened its commitment to oncology and China with the purchase of Gracell for just under 1billion.

Earlier in December, Astra splashed a similar amount on Seattle-based Icosavax which is pursuing a vaccine for RSV, a respiratory virus.

Pfizer, after a regulatory pause, has just secured approval for its 33billion takeover of cancer care group Seagen as it plays catch-up with Astra and others.

Amid a global slump in deals, pharma is the exception.

The value of drug company deals climbed by 19 per cent in 2023 in a year when there was a sharp 21 per cent reduction in takeovers, which were at their lowest level in a decade, at 2.04trillion.

In much the same way as big tech is swallowing upstarts in key areas such as AI and games, attracting close attention of competition enforcers, so the life sciences giants are homing in on biotech.

There are big risks. A rough guide in the biotech industry is that the price paid for promising compounds should be in the order of five times potential sales.

That works when the buyer is cash-rich. But if it means taking on a shed-load of debt, as in the case of Bristol Myers, the whole enterprise potentially is at risk.

Drug discovery, as with Novo Nordisks obesity medicine, can be transforming. Big pharma is reluctant to see biotech discoveries slip from its grasp. Expect more deals.

Racing card

No sooner has the Chancellor Jeremy Hunt unfurled one tax and spend package than another is on the way.

The most recent public finance data suggested Hunt has 12billion in his back pocket.

The choice of the early date of March 6 for the Budget, a week ahead of the Cheltenham horse-racing festival, is certain to increase betting on an early general election and tax giveaways.

Abolition or easing of inheritance tax, which delivered 5.2billion of revenues in the first eight months of the 2023-24 tax year, is an ante-post favourite.

Speculation is up and running.
The boss of Stanley Gibbons has set out his plans to turn around the rare stamp dealers fortunes after it was rescued from administration.

The 167-year old company, which is one of the most prominent names in the stamp and coin collecting world, collapsed last week.

But as revealed by the Mail last Friday, it was immediately bought by its owner Phoenix Asset Management in a pre-pack administration deal.

All operations, including the 66 staff and intellectual property, have been transferred to a new company called Strand Collectibles Group.

Chief executive Tom Pickford said that this was an important moment in the long history of Stanley Gibbons, which is the worlds oldest rare stamp seller, and its dealing arm AH Baldwin.

Rescue: Stamp dealer Stanley Gibbons collapsed last week but was immediately bought by its owner Phoenix Asset Management in a pre-pack administration deal

It will continue its auctions and private dealings for stamps, coins, medals and other collectibles and has secured investment to expand.

It will launch a digital stamp collecting experience and continue to publish catalogues, magazines and albums for collectors, Pickford said.

Momentum starts with Stanley Gibbons hosting an online auction for stamps and covers of Asia on January 10.

Pickford, who has run the business since September 2022, said: Everyone at Strand Collectibles is excited about the future and we look forward to helping you to develop your collection in 2024 and beyond.

It comes just over a year after Phoenix  the biggest shareholder  took Stanley Gibbons off the London stock market.

Phoenix was co-founded by chief investment officer Gary Channon and is backed by insurance tycoon Sir Peter Wood.

Stamp of approval: Stanley Gibbons c hief exec Tom Pickford says the firm has a future

Other major investments include model train maker and Airfix owner Hornby.

Shares in Stanley Gibbons traded in London for 20 years before it was taken private.

It claims its roots can be traced back to 1856 after its eponymous founder was born in 1840, the year that the worlds first adhesive stamp  the Penny Black  was issued.

It lost 2.9million last year, having made a loss of 2.6million in the previous year.

Phoenix was set up by Channon in 1998 and recently linked up with Wood, who was behind Direct Line and Esure, to invest in British brands.

In May, it bought funeral directors Dignity.
A private equity company has paved the way for a takeover battle over Kin and Carta, which advises businesses on their technology strategies.

Apax Partners has laid the groundwork for a possible bidding war following its statement yesterday that it was considering its options.

The firm swooped on Kin and Carta in October when it agreed a 120p per share takeover, which valued it at 203million.

But this month, the consultancy said that it would instead accept a higher rival bid from Valtech  a firm controlled indirectly by funds advised by London investment group BC Partners  at 130p per share, or 239million.

But yesterday Apax said a previous statement that the offer price would not be increased or revised was no longer in effect.

Tech consultant: Apax Partners has laid the groundwork for a possible bidding war for Kin and Carta following its statement yesterday that it was 'considering its options'

The latest statement added: Apax is considering its options and a further announcement will be made when appropriate.

Kin and Carta shareholders are strongly advised to take no action in response to the announcement by Valtech in the meantime.

The update leaves the door ajar for a tussle over the firm, which was previously known as St Ives and dates back to 1964.

It started out as a printing group before diversifying into marketing services.

The company employs 1,800 workers and has its headquarters in London and a base in Chicago in the United States.

News of the companys likely departure from the London stock market, where it has been listed since 1985, came as another blow to the beleaguered City after several other delistings.
Global favourite: Exports of Scotch whisky to Singapore topped 380m, an increase of 31% on the year before

British whisky and chocolate makers are reaping the benefit of UK post-Brexit global trade arrangements this Christmas, the Government says.

It claims that soaring sales will be given a further boost as the UK becomes a member of the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership (CPTPP), a trading bloc of 11 nations in Asia and the Pacific.

The UK announced it was joining in July. Members include Australia, Brunei, Canada, Chile, Japan, Malaysia and Singapore.

Luxury British staples such as Scotch Whisky, chocolate and sparkling wine are being ordered en masse by CPTPP countries, the Government said.

Business Secretary Kemi Badenoch said: Our fantastic British food and drink producers are already reaping the rewards of the UKs tilt towards the Indo-Pacific.

Once we become a fully-fledged CPTPP member, tariffs on more than 99 per cent of UK goods will be 0 per cent.

Her department said that over the past year, UK chocolate exports to Singapore leapt 220 per cent to over 26million.

Exports of whisky to Singapore topped 380million, up 31 per cent, while sales to Malaysia rose 43 per cent.
Anglo American is eyeing the sale of a 49 per cent stake in a huge fertiliser mine being built under the North York Moors National Park.

The FTSE 100 company bought the Woodsmith project from its former owner Sirius Minerals in 2020 for 405million.

It has already spent 2billion developing the 7billion scheme.

But chief executive Duncan Wanblad told City analysts that the company was moving at pace to find a partner for the mine, the Times reported.

It is understood to have begun work internally to identify potential investors before launching a formal sale. Shares in the group rose 5.5 per cent, or 510p, to 1,980p, following the report.

Stake: Anglo American bought the Woodsmith project from Sirius Minerals in 2020 for 405m. It has already spent 2bn developing the 7bn scheme

The move to sell a stake in Woodsmith comes as Anglo is scrambling to cut costs across the entire company after a drop in commodity prices and production difficulties hit earnings.

Selling a chunk of the Woodsmith mine would save cash and spread development costs, which have spiralled since Anglo took on the project and produced its own estimates.

The former Sirius team had struggled to raise enough cash to fund Woodsmith, which involves building two mile-deep shafts and constructing a tunnel that would be longer than the Channel Tunnel to take the fertiliser from the main site near Whitby to Teesside for processing.

Anglo is thought to be considering approaching sovereign wealth funds and investors in major infrastructure projects.

It has previously said it would consider taking a partner.

The company is due to make a final investment decision over Woodsmith in early 2025 and is keen to line up shareholders who could take a stake at around the same time, the Times said.

Anglo is one of the worlds biggest mining companies and produces metals ranging from gold and copper to platinum and iron ore.

Moving into fertiliser is part of longer-term plans to invest in green materials.

The company also owns the worlds biggest diamond company, De Beers.

The Mail on Sunday revealed this week that Anglo is under- stood to be planning to slash jobs at De Beers. Anglo declined to comment.
New role: Lord Adair Turner (pictured) is Oaknorth's new chairman

SoftBank-backed lender Oaknorth has named the former boss of the UKs financial regulator Lord Adair Turner as chairman.

Turner, who ran the Financial Services Authority during the financial crisis in 2008, replaces Cyrus Ardalan, who steps down after eight years.

Since launching in 2015, Oaknorth has become one of the UKs most valuable fintechs, lending 10billion to entrepreneurs and businesses.

It became profitable after just a year and was valued at 2.2billion in a funding round led by Japanese conglomerate SoftBanks Vision Fund in 2019.

Turner was a senior independent director until he left in 2017.

Rishi Khosla, chief executive, said his appointment was an exciting milestone for the company, which he has built alongside Joel Perlman. His expertise will be invaluable, he said.

Turner said: Ive been following Oaknorths impressive growth story since I first met Rishi Khosla and Joel Perlman back in 2014 and I am excited by the opportunity to support its continued success.

It comes as Oaknorth considers an initial public offering.

The bank, which typically lends between 500,000 and 25million to businesses and property developers in the UK, posted profits of 152million in 2022, up from 134.5million the previous year.
The boss of Poundland said there was plenty of positivity on the High Street as he hailed strong trading at dozens of former Wilko stores snapped up by the value retailer.

Managing director Austin Cooke said that while times are tricky, there had been an amazing response from customers to the newly opened shops.

Poundland agreed to buy up to 71 former Wilko sites in September after its rival discount retailer collapsed.

Wilkos demise resulted in 400 shops closing and 12,000 jobs being lost this summer.

Its former bosses have been lambasted for poor leadership, including a failure to cash in on a demand for affordable goods amid the cost of living crisis. But Cooke said: There is still plenty of positivity on the High Street.

Rebranded: Poundland agreed to buy up to 71 former Wilko sites in September after its rival discount retailer collapsed

The Poundland chief added: You cant deny times are tricky for many and the cost of living situation is having an impact, but it just gives us more reason to give outstanding value.

His firm has so far opened 64 former Wilko stores under the Poundland branding.

And it has hired more than 1,000 former Wilko staff.

Cooke said that there had been an amazing response from the retailers customers.

He added: Every time we have opened a new store, we see that. People are really chuffed we are opening in their towns.

We saw an opportunity there to accelerate openings and are really happy with how it has gone.

Poundland has also opened another 23 stores in addition to those it purchased from Wilkos administrators during the past two months and is planning more openings in 2024.

Its estate has grown to more than 800 shops in the UK amid an ambitious expansion.
Five years ago, Natalie Ceeney, independent chair of the Access to Cash review and chair of Cash Access UK, wrote a piece for This is Money on how the downfall of coins and notes could unfold.

In it, she wrote in depth about how cash infrastructure works and why commercial providers were facing extra costs. Much of what she covered has been eerily accurate.

Since October 2018 when the piece was published, we've had a pandemic where cash usage plummeted. But this year, the signs are of an uptick of people using physical money again.

Here, she gives an update on cash and banking and where we're at now, broken into two parts. You can read the second installment here.

Cash usage plummeted during the pandemic, but the signs point to an uptick in people using physical money again

Five years ago, I started to dive deep into the fascinating world of cash and our transition to digital payments.

I had been asked to chair an independent review into the future of cash and to provide an answer to the question 'is Britain ready to go cashless?'.

Working with a panel of consumer, business, and payment experts, we started on a journey which led to conversations with thousands of individuals and small businesses up and down the UK, visits to countries which were already more cashless than us to learn lessons (Sweden and China) and a huge amount of data analysis.

But we didn't just want to understand the issue, we wanted to identify the action that industry and government would need to take as the UK became a low cash society to ensure that no-one was left behind.

At the time, I had no idea that this would become a campaign and then occupation which would last me the next five years.

I got hooked by an issue which got more interesting the more I looked at it, and which mattered hugely to individuals as well as society. I started to realise the risks to millions of people if nothing was done.

In 2018, when I started this work, around a third of all payments were made in cash.

In fact, it was only in 2017 when cash stopped being the most popular payment method and was overtaken by card for the first time, but it was a massive reduction from just a decade previously when more than two thirds of all payments were in cash.

In 2018, people scoffed at the idea that cash could disappear, but according to the most recent figures published by UK Finance, in 2022 just one in seven of all payments were made using cash.

Five years ago, it was front page news when a pub in Suffolk stopped accepting cash. Now, I often find I'm greeted with surprise if I ask to pay in cash.

So what has happened? Is this a big conspiracy by the government or the banks? Over the past five years I've heard almost every theory imaginable, but I really don't think there is a massive conspiracy to move everyone to digital.

For most of us, digital payments are just convenient. Why carry cash around when you can tap with a card, your phone or even your watch.

The problem is that digital payments don't work for everyone.

Five years ago, we did foresee a continued switch away from cash towards digital payments.

What we didn't anticipate was a global Covid-19 pandemic which would force most of the UK population indoors, strongly encouraged to shop online.

Unsurprisingly, cash use plummeted, as even people who preferred cash were given no option but to get to grips with ordering food and other essentials using their cards.

Cash use recovered very slightly as lockdowns eased, but figures from LINK, the ATM network, show cash machine use has fallen by around 40% since the beginning of Covid to now. It's not a surprise.

Places which never used to accept cash payments, started to have card devices, which meant we needed even less cash.

And many people who had overcome their fear of digital payments found it easier to keep using them and got used to the convenience of online shopping.

A new issue did start hitting MPs and charities' postbags though, which was the rise of shops and services who refused to accept cash. Many forgot that, even though cash use had fallen, it was still needed by millions of people.

Five years ago... In 2018, Natalie Ceeney, chair of Cash Access UK, looked in depth at how cash infrastructure works and why commercial providers were facing extra costs. She was asked to Chair an independent review into the future of cash and to provide an answer to the question 'is Britain ready to go cashless?'. At that time, around a third of all payments were made in cash. People scoffed at the idea that cash could disappear, but according to the most recent UK Finance figures, in 2022 just one in seven of all payments were made using cash. Read her 2018 piece for This is Money here: Is the day of shops refusing to accept cash near? How the downfall of coins and notes could unfold

So, what did I learn from the review? Firstly, cash is still very important, and it's not just used by older people.

Most of us can quite easily operate without visiting an ATM or a bank branch. But there are still millions who can't.

Not everyone can afford the technology or has good connectivity.

Not everyone is confident or able to use digital payments.

There are still more than a million people in the UK who can't get a bank account, who have no choice but to use cash.

Cash is still found by many to be more effective than digital as a way of budgeting, as you can literally take out your money for the week and put it in pots for food and essentials.

I often hear people commenting that 'eventually everyone will learn to use digital and then cash will die'. This is nonsense.

There is evidence that, with the cost-of-living crisis, many people have moved back from digital payments to cash as they sought more control over their spending.

And let's not forget illness  sadly, over the past five years my highly intelligent father-in-law who was very savvy at online banking has moved back to relying on cash as his Alzheimer's has progressed.

Cash use is also highest among the less well-off. ATM use fell by as much as 60 per cent in parts of the country during the pandemic, but if you look at some of the UK's poorest constituencies, cash withdrawals only fell by 15 per cent. Increasingly, those who use cash do so by need, more than choice.

When I started my review, my remit was firmly 'cash'. But what I found was that when I talked to people, everyone talked about bank branches in the same breath.

For cash to survive, it's not just about 'getting' cash, but also about 'depositing' cash.

Retailers who accept cash need to be able to pay it into their account, and they really don't want the risk and insurance premiums of keeping cash in their tills overnight.

I got hooked by an issue which got more interesting the more I looked at it, and which mattered hugely to individuals as well as society. I started to realise the risks to millions of people if nothing was done. Natalie Ceeney

People who are paid in cash, including taxi drivers, cleaners, and many others, need to get that cash into their bank account before bills go out.

But as most people now bank online, increasingly empty bank branches have closed at a fast rate 

Consumer body group Which? say around 50 close per month. So, while there is obvious concern when ATMs close or move to charge for access, the lack of bank branches has just as big an impact on cash access.

Enabling deposits is just as critical to the survival of cash as withdrawing cash.

And let's not forget that it's impossible to get out 7.35 from an ATM, but if you've only got 7.35 in your account, that's what you need to be able to withdraw, and you can only do it over a counter.

I'm often asked 'why are banks closing so many branches'? The answer is simple  economics.

We've all seen the high street change over the past decades as more shopping has gone online and retailers just can't survive.

Over the past decade we've seen the failure of iconic brands from HMV to Debenhams. The same pressures apply to banks.

Keeping a branch open five to six days a week is hugely expensive, particularly in smaller towns where there are few customers.

It's also easy to see why there might have been a rush for the door as it's the last bank in town gets all the flak for closing.

A cynic might say that closing before everyone else is the easiest thing to do. But it's left many communities without the essential services that they need.

Many had assumed that if branches closed, people would switch to another bank, or go online.

Some did. But many didn't. We found that people who rely on cash and these services will travel, often at great expense and difficulty, to go to another branch some miles away.

Very few consumers ever switch their bank. Retailers who want to accept cash from their customers would also need to travel, often in working hours, unless they chose to simply stop accepting cash.

The lack of cash access on high streets, started causing real harm to vulnerable consumers as well as whole communities.

I heard from people describing three hour bus trips with disabled relatives just to pay in cash before a bill came out as well as retailers choosing between relocating, going cashless or paying higher insurance costs as a result of leaving money in their till overnight because the only place to deposit cash locally was only open between 10am and 3pm on a weekday.

TOMORROW: Read part two of Natalie's column on why Britain cannot become cashless
Signs of the 400-year Roman occupation of Britain are all around us, if you know where to look.

Excavations are always bringing to light new treasures, but in London, many are in plain sight or hidden beneath the ground.

Among them are the remains of the wall which once surrounded the original city of Londinium, along with surviving parts of a fort that housed up to 1,000 soldiers.

Other surviving parts of Roman London include a majestic bathhouse in Billingsgate and an amphitheatre beneath the Guildhall which once played host to bloody gladiatorial games.

Below, MailOnline reveals some of the most significant surviving treasures.

London Wall

Although only a few sections of it survive now, the London Wall once surrounded the whole of what was then Londinium. Above: The part of the wall near Tower Hill Tube Station

Although only a few sections of it survive now, the London Wall once surrounded the whole of what was then Londinium.

Built in around AD200, it provided defence and security to the city's inhabitants, as well as representing the status of the settlement.

At its base it was up to more than eight feet thick and stood more than 19 feet high. It enclosed an area of around 134 hectares.

It was once two-and-a-half miles long, but was adapted and modified over time as the city expanded.

The wall originally included four city gates, with an additional entrance at the Roman army's fortress at Cripplegate.

There were also small square towers at various intervals along the wall.

The most significant surviving part of the wall stands at Tower Hill, north of the Tower of London.

After the Romans abandoned Londinium in around 450AD, the Saxon settlement of Lundenwic was set up further west, near what is The Strand today.

The area within the wall remained largely unoccupied until 886, when King Alfred the Great re-took the city in response to Viking raids along the Thames.

It is likely the wall was repaired at this time. Large parts of the Roman wall were then incorporated into the medieval defences of the city.

A surviving section of the London Wall that stands at Coopers Row, near Tower Hill

This part of the London Wall now stands in the car park beneath the Museum of London

The wall went into decline in the late 17th century, with houses being built up on either side.

London then dramatically outgrew the wall in the decades that followed. From the 1840s, large sections were destroyed by railway works and later by property development and road building.

In 1938 the wall was placed into the guardianship of the Ministry of Works, which was the predecessor to English Heritage.

Adjacent buildings that had obscured it were demolished and the wall was restored in the 1940s and 1950s.

Other surviving sections of the wall include ones at Aldgate, Bishopsgate, Moorgate and Newgate.

Billingsgate Bath House

Discovered in 1848, the Roman bathhouse that is now in the basement of an office block on Lower Thames Street, west of the Tower of London, was built in around AD150.

The bath house was found during the construction of the London Coal Exchange, which was demolished in the 1960s.

When archaeologists examined it, they found it boasted underfloor heating and a series of rooms of varying temperatures.

Discovered in 1848, the Roman bathhouse that is now in the basement of an office block on Lower Thames Street, west of the Tower of London, was built in around AD150

There was a frigidarium (cold room), a tepidarium (warm room) and caldarium (hot room).

The building - which formed part of a large private house - was used until the fifth century, when the Romans left Britain.

Hundreds of coins dating back to the fourth century were found during excavations.

The bathhouse is available to visit

When archaeologists examined it, they found it boasted underfloor heating and a series of rooms of varying temperatures

Roman Amphitheatre

The surviving parts of the amphitheatre were discovered beneath the Guildhall in 1988.

It was first constructed out of wood in AD70 but was renovated in the second century, when ragstone walls and a tiled entrance were added.

The space could hold up to 6,000 spectators, who would come to watch gladiatorial games, fighting between animals and executions.

After the Romans abandoned Britain, the amphitheatre was dismantled and lay in ruins for hundreds of years.

When this part of London was re-occupied to cope with overcrowding in the 11th century, the old amphitheatre ended up being surrounded by new buildings.

Now, all that remains of the once majestic space are parts of the original walls and the drainage system.

Entry to see the remains is free.

The surviving parts of the amphitheatre were discovered beneath the Guildhall in 1988

Roman fort

The Roman fort of Londinium was built at around the same time as Hadrian's Wall, in AD110-120.

Situated north-west of the main population settlement in the infant capital, the fort could house up to 1,000 soldiers.

The fort was only in use for around a century, before it was decommissioned as the southern region of Britain became more secure in military terms.

Today, the remains of the fort stand within the complex that houses the Barbican and the former Museum of London.

Visitors can see it as part of a guided tour.

The main London wall was built to align with the original fort wall.

The Roman fort of Londinium was built at around the same time as Hadrian's Wall, in AD110-120

Today, the remains of the fort stand within the complex that houses the Barbican and the former Museum of London

Roman statue

In 1801, British troops fighting in Alexandria unearthed a Roman statue of Deus Lunus, the male embodiment of the moon.

It was shipped to London and installed at Royal Arsenal Woolwich, where it remains to this day.

In 1801, British troops fighting in Alexandria unearthed a statue of Deus Lunus, the male embodiment of the moon. It was shipped to London and installed at Royal Arsenal Woolwich, where it remains to this day

Roman Mausoleum

In June 2023, experts discovered a Roman mausoleum at the Liberty of Southwark development in Borough, south London.

Described as 'extremely rare', it is thought to have been used as a burial ground or tomb for wealthier people.

In June 2023, experts discovered a Roman Mausoleum at the Liberty of Southwark development in Borough, south London

The centrepiece of the discovery was a beautiful mosaic, along with raised platforms and steps

The centrepiece of the discovery was a beautiful mosaic, along with raised platforms and steps.

Excavators from the Museum of London were surprised to find two layers at the site. The second had another similarly designed mosaic beneath the first floor.

Although no evidence of coffins was found at the site, more than 100 coins, roofing tiles, pieces of metal and pottery fragments were uncovered.

Excavators from the Museum of London were surprised to find two layers at the site. The second had another similarly designed mosaic beneath the first floor

Mosaic

The June 2023 discovery came after archaeologists unearthed an even bigger mosaic - the largest found in half a century.

It is thought it once decorated the floor of a Roman dining room.

The dining room might have been part of a Roman 'mansio'  an upmarket 'motel' offering accommodation, stabling, and dining facilities for state couriers and officials travelling to and from London.

The June 2023 discovery came after archaeologists unearthed an even bigger mosaic - the largest found in half a century

The dining room might have been part of a Roman 'mansio'  an upmarket 'motel' offering accommodation, stabling, and dining facilities for state couriers and officials travelling to and from London

It was likely located on the outskirts of Roman Londinium, an area centred on the north bank of the Thames and roughly corresponding to the modern City of London.

The entire mosaic was made of two highly-decorated panels, one larger than the other but both no longer complete, although they are still in an amazing state of preservation.

Both are made up of small, coloured tiles set within a red 'tessellated' floor  one composed of closely-packed repeated shapes.

The largest panel shows large, colourful flowers surrounded by bands of intertwining strands  a motif known as a guilloche.

There are also lotus flowers and several different geometric elements, including a pattern known as Solomon's knot, made of two interlaced loops.

The entire mosaic was made of two highly-decorated panels, one larger than the other but both no longer complete, although they are still in an amazing state of preservation

River Thames wall

In May 2023, archaeologists uncovered three new sections of an ancient Roman wall that was built along the River Thames.

Known as the 'Riverside Wall', it once completed the perimeter of the more famous 'London Wall'.

In May 2023, archaeologists uncovered three new sections of an ancient Roman wall that was built along the River Thames

The barricade is thought to have been constructed to protect London - or 'Londinium', as it was known at the time - from uprisings by local tribes. Pictured: Wall section at Riverbank House

The barricade is thought to have been constructed to protect London - or 'Londinium', as it was known at the time - from uprisings by local tribes.

The newly-excavated sections of the Riverside Wall are located by Riverbank House on Upper Thames Street, and Sugar Quay and Three Quays on Lower Thames Street.

In total, they make up about 330 feet (100 m) of the nearly 6,000-foot-long (1,800 m) wall which sealed off London from the Thames.
Britons might not have to travel as far as they think to find an incredible ski chalet-themed holiday home which even features its own private Tiki bar, Irish pub and sunken hot tub.

You would be forgiven for thinking the Chalet du Lac was located in the French Alps, but the recently refurbished holiday home is actually in Rushton Spencer, Staffordshire - a stone's throw from the Peak District.

Owned by the co-founder of the Cheshire Cheese Company, the five-bedroom property offers breathtaking views over Rudyard Lake and is described as 'one of the most loved homes' on Airbnb's website.

The huge south facing decked terrace features a sunken hot tub which guests can have a soak in while absorbing the stunning countryside views.

Perhaps the most defining feature of the house is its Irish pub which has been named after Dublin's famous Temple Bar boozer - or could it be the private Tiki bar where guests can enjoy some cocktails on the terrace?

Chalet du Lac offers breathtaking views over Rudyard Lake in Rushton Spencer, Staffordshire

Guests can absorb the incredible lakeside views while having a soak in the sunken hot tub or on the sun loungers

The property comes with its very own Temple Bar Irish pub (pictured) after the host gained inspiration from a visit to Dublin

Not content with just the one bar, the hosts then decided to top the property off with a private Tiki bar (pictured)

Richard Buxton, the host and cheese company magnate, told MailOnline: 'Chalet Du Lac was inspired by the many lovely ski lodges we have stayed in over the years. Lots of wood clad walls, a big log burner making it such a cosy place to stay.

'The views looking down over Rudyard Lake make it even more special.'

The 55-year-old said that the 'Temple Bar' pub was inspired by a trip to Dublin which is one of his favourite cities. Inside the Irish bar, guests are greeted with a pool table, dart board, 65-inch TV, log burner and - of course - a selection of Guinness barrels to place drinks.

Mr Buxton added: 'Not happy with just one bar we created an indoor outdoor Tiki Bar with a great beach bar vibe, and a built in outside pizza oven. So whatever the weather throws at you there's always a space to enjoy.

'We've had many family gatherings ourselves and lots of bookings for special birthdays, hen and stag do's, anniversaries with many people coming back to stay again.'

Chalet Du Lac accommodates up to 10 guests and costs a whopping 1,368 for a minimum two-night stay.

However, when split between the group it work out at 136.80 each - 68.40 per night - which is cheaper than most hotels in London.

Chalet Du Lac (pictured) accommodates up to 10 guests and costs a whopping 1,368 for a minimum two-night stay

There is a cosy living room where guests can put their feet up on the comfy sofas in front of a log burner

There is lots of space to host big groups both inside and outside. Pictured here is the dining room

There is also a huge dining room and an open plan kitchen which features a marble-top breakfast bar

Pictured here is one of the five bedrooms, which has incredible views. Two of the rooms have en-suites

According to Skyscanner, the cheapest hotel in London at the moment is 56 a night, but after that prices start at 75.

Stunning pictures of the property show the sunken hot tub looking over glorious scenery, while there are also deck chairs for guests to relax on.

While it is remarkable from the outside, inside the property is just as impressive.

Guests are greeted with a cosy living room where you can put your feet up in front of the fireplace.

There is also a huge dining room and an open plan kitchen which features a marble-top breakfast bar.

There are five bedrooms, three of which are small but cosy while the other two are en-suites.

The property is set in 16 acres overlooking Rudyard Lake and is just five minutes away from the market town of Leek where guests can explore a great selection of small independent shops and several antique shops.'

This gives a look inside the Temple Bar pub that the hosts have created. It boasts a 65-inch TV

Inside the Irish bar, guests are also greeted with a pool table, dart board, log burner and - of course - a selection of Guinness barrels

There is a south facing terrace for guests to relax on the outdoor furniture or have a dip in the hot tub

The hosts have gone all out with the Irish pub and Tiki bar which are some of the defining features of the home

The property is set in 16 acres overlooking Rudyard Lake and is just five minutes away from the market town of Leek

Rudyard Lake, where you can fish and swim, is 1.5 miles long with a lakeside walk taking around an hour and a half

The spa town of Buxton is also a 25 minute drive away, while the Alton Towers theme park is 15 miles away for those looking for a day out.

Rudyard Lake, where you can fish and swim, is 1.5 miles long with a lakeside walk taking around an hour and a half.

Guests may have everything they need on site, but if they want to try out the local pubs, both the Rudyard Hotel and Knott Inn Pub are accessible along the footpath.

Mr also revealed that he has another house 100m away from the chalet-themed home called Lakeview which has 'more of an LA vibe' with large glass windows and a massive roof terrace.
Americans support an impeachment inquiry into Joe Biden by a clear 12-point margin and six in 10 believe the president was probably inappropriately involved in his son Hunter's business deals, according to a damning new DailyMail.com poll.

When voters were asked to use one word to describe Hunter, 53, the top answer was 'corrupt'. Other popular responses were 'bad', 'criminal', 'crook' and 'guilty'.

The stark results showing most voters think Biden was linked to Hunter's overseas business activities comes as Republicans prepare to launch their formal impeachment inquiry.

Hunter was also spotted having lunch in Los Angeles on Wednesday as he faces a slew of tax-related charges in California, over allegations he failed to pay over $1.4 million to the IRS

The GOP has threatened to hold Hunter in contempt of court for defying a subpoena to testify in their probe behind closed doors.

On Wednesday, they demanded the White House hand over any communications suggesting that Joe was involved in the bid to duck the order.

The White House has insisted Joe was never 'in business' with Hunter or financially benefited from his deals, but their shifting defense has raised suspicion.

And since the start of 2023, Republicans have compiled a growing dossier of evidence they plan to use in the impeachment inquiry.

Nearly half of Americans support House Republicans' impeachment inquiry into Joe Biden, a new DailyMail.com poll has found

Six in 10 American voters also believe it is 'likely' that Joe Biden was 'inappropriately involved' in his son's business deals

When voters were asked to use one word to describe Hunter, 53, the top answer was 'corrupt'. Other popular responses were 'bad', 'criminal', 'crook' and 'guilty'

In the poll J.L. Partners asked 1,000 likely voters a series of questions about Biden's impeachment inquiry, and about Hunter.

The results showed 47 percent said they 'strongly or somewhat' support the inquiry, while 35 percent oppose it and 17 percent aren't sure.

Even among Democrats 22 percent strongly or somewhat back the probe.

Meanwhile, 58 percent of all voters say President Biden was likely 'inappropriately' involved in his son's business dealings, and 33 percent say they think he was not.

Even one third of Democrats say it is very or quite likely Biden was inappropriately involved in Hunter's lucrative deals with foreign businessmen.

It comes as House impeachment investigators are locked in a battle with Hunter and his attorneys over bringing the first son to testify on Capitol Hill.

House Oversight Chair James Comer and Judiciary Chair Jim Jordan subpoenaed Hunter and have demanded he come in for closed-door testimony before he is offered a chance to speak to the full committee before cameras.

Hunter, meanwhile, has insisted he will only come in for a public deposition.

49 percent of the poll's respondents believe that Hunter should attend a closed-door hearing with Republicans in the impeachment probe. The GOP has threatened to hold him in contempt of Congress for defying a subpoena

In a worrying sign for Biden, half of independent voters believe he was inappropriately involved in his son's deals

The poll showed more Americans agree with the Republican viewpoint that Hunter should first speak to them privately.

It shows 49 percent say he should attend the closed-door hearing, while 32 percent say he is right to insist on open doors, with 19 percent saying they don't know.

Republicans are planning to hold a vote to hold Hunter in contempt of Congress for defying their subpoena.

Earlier this month, he was charged with nine new counts of tax fraud filed by the Justice Department.

The case alleges Hunter was involved in a four-year $1.4 million tax evasion scheme.

All nine charges relate to tax, including two felony charges for filing a false return, a felony charge for tax evasion, four for failure to pay charges, and a further two charges for failure to file. The charges span the 2016, 2017, 2018 and 2019 tax years.

Hunter will be arraigned in the case and first appear in court on January 11.

In the impeachment inquiry Republicans also plan to bring in Hunter's associates Rob Walker, Eric Schwerin, Tony Bobulinski and Kevin Morris.

They also hope to obtain emails written by Joe Biden using pseudonyms that the GOP says the National Archives is failing to provide.

The National Archives has already handed tens of thousands of documents over to House Republicans.

Republicans are continuing to probe the extent to which the president was involved in his son's business dealings overseas.

They point to Biden pressuring Ukraine to fire prosecutor Viktor Shokin - who was investigating energy company Burisma, where Hunter sat on the board.

Democrats labeled Hunter as 'troubled' and 'bad' when asked to describe him, while both independents and Republicans said he was 'corrupt'

More than one third of Democrats believe Hunter Biden should testify behind closed doors to Republicans looking into his finances

Independents were more likely to back the impeachment inquiry than not, while most Democrats were against it

The White House has constistently denied that Joe was ever involved in son Hunter's business deals

The DOJ, FBI, IRS and National Archives have made nine witnesses available to discuss ongoing investigations and the Treasury Department has made 2,000 pages of suspicious activity reports available.

The Oversight Committee has also obtained and examined over 37,000 pages of bank records and hours of whistleblower testimony.

But Republicans insist there is more to see.

They are demanding more information on the 82,000 emails Joe Biden sent using a pseudonym, related to both official and family business.

And they are looking for more information on Hunter's 2014 and 2015 taxes.
In The Style CEO Adam Frisby has stepped down from the fast fashion firm he founded in his bedroom and turned into the 100million darling of celebs including Stacey Solomon and Billie Faiers, MailOnline can reveal.

The 36-year-old, who grew up in Great Yarmouth, Norfolk and now lives in Manchester, started the digital womenswear brand using a 1,000 redundancy payment.

But after ten years at the helm he is now stepping back - as he looks forward to the possibility of starting a family with fiance Jamie Corbett following a decade where the pressure of work has 'consumed' his time.

Today revealing the difficult decision to resign as CEO, he told MailOnline: 'It's emotional for me because In The Style is my baby. It's my proudest achievement - it feels that we've achieved so much with the brand.

'As you can imagine with a business comes a huge amount of stress and pressure and I've kind of carried that for ten years. It feels like the right time for me to have a few months, recharge and see what the future holds.

Adam Frisby, who grew up in Great Yarmouth, Norfolk and now lives in Manchester, started the digital womenswear brand using a 1,000 redundancy payment

After a decade at the helm, Mr Frisby counts becoming the most inclusive UK fashion brand and the signing of Stacey Solomon (pictured) among his proudest achievements

TOWIE's Billie Faiers is among the fans of the brand, which has grown to become a fashion powerhouse over the past ten years

Adam Frisby with one of his In The Style celebrity collaborators, Charlotte Dawson

Adam Frisby poses alongside reality stars Olivia Attwood, Charlotte Crosby, Billie Faiers and Binky Felstead in 2017

After ten years at the helm Adam is now stepping back - as he looks forward to the possibility of starting a family with fiance Jamie Corbett following a decade where the pressure of work has 'consumed' his time

'It's a bit bittersweet - I'm happy with everything, it's all positive - but at the same time it's obviously a big change. Definitely an emotional moment, but also a happy one as well!

'As we sort of near the moment of sharing it, I've got lots of different emotions going on. I wrote a caption, shed a few tears - it's been a huge part of my life.'

While he is stepping down as CEO, he will remain a part of In The Style and will continue to support the business in a different capacity where he will be consulting and involved in key brand decisions.

Mr Frisby dropped out of school at 15 without any GCSEs before working at a Burger King, where he became a shift manager aged 16.

He later took a job at Barclays and a role in business development before being made redundant in 2013.

At In The Style, the entrepreneur used TV personalities and social media influencers like Lauren Pope and Charlotte Crosby to design and market at products.

Despite starting the company with less than 1,000 in his account the approach was hugely profitable and he has built it into an estimated 35million fortune.

While he is stepping down as CEO, he will remain a part of In The Style and will continue to support the business in a different capacity - where he will be consulting and involved in key brand decisions

At In The Style, the entrepreneur used TV personalities and social media influencers like Lauren Pope and Charlotte Crosby (pictured) to design and market at products

The clothing brand has lots of celebrity endorsers including Love Island winner Dani Dyer (pictured left modelling an outfit from the range)

Adam Frisby (left) and fiance Jamie Corbett (right) are filmed together as they look forward to spending more time together as the CEO leaves his role

READ MORE: Millionaire In The Style fashion tycoon wins 125m legal battle against rival who accused him of stealing his business plan for the empire which collaborates with celebrities including Stacey Solomon and Billie Faiers Advertisement

After a decade at the helm, Mr Frisby says his proudest achievements are becoming the country's most inclusive UK fashion brand, his charity work, where the company raised 1.8 million alongside Dame Deborah James for Cancer Research, and the signing of Stacey Solomon.

He said: 'There's been some tough times but it's been incredible.

'For a brand that was started from nothing to become the most inclusive brand is something that I'm so proud of - we stand for that, which is amazing!

'Starting the brand I didn't go into this with a huge business idea - in fact I had no business background whatsoever!

'I really did it from the heart and over the years I was like: I don't want to just sell clothes and make money. That's not what this brand is about.

'I wanted to stand for real women inclusivity, work for people that have a really important message and are inspirational to people.

'It's definitely come from the heart and it's something that is built into the business now - that we will work with some of these amazing, inspirational people and really push out messages that that stand for something.'

Mr Frisby hit a road bump last year when he was sued by businessman Paul Clements over claims he stole the idea for In The Style from him. But the claims were thrown out by a High Court judge earlier this year.

TOWIE's Billie Faiers stuns in red wearing an outfit from In The Style's range

Adam Frisby parties with pals including Charlotte Crosby and her Geordie Shore co-star Holly Hagan

Frisby parties the night away with his famous friend, the Love Island winner Dani Dyer

One of Adam's proudest achievements is his charity work - where the company raised 1.8 million alongside Dame Deborah James for Cancer Research

Adam Frisby: The one thing I hope to stand for... 'The 10 Years party we did back in September was probably the moment I stood there was like: 'Wow, this is actually such such a great achievement. 'I like to think I'm quite humble in the way that I think - I was just a guy with a bit of an idea and no special background. 'The story is special to me really because I did start it from nothing - I had no business understanding, I had no qualifications and had less than 1,000 in my account. 'To look at where the brand is now and all these huge names to work with and the multi-million pound turn over - it's definitely a real sense of achievement. 'That's the one thing that I hope to stand for. That you can believe in yourself and give it a go and anything can happen. 'Whether it was Burger King, or In The Style, I always did my best and believed in myself. 'I really believe anyone that's in that position that's either a bit lost or in a job they feel isn't everything for them, just believe in themselves and give it a go. 'What's the worst that can happen?' Advertisement

In The Style was priced at more than 100million when it floated on London's junior Aim market in March 2021. It endured a difficult start to life as a listed company, with its shares dropping 98 per cent following profit warnings and challenges to trading.

Mr Frisby had already tried to step down in 2021 when he was replaced by former executive at The Very Group Sam Perkins, but he stepped back into the role in December the year after he says that 'for a variation of reasons the new CEO didn't work out'.

Looking back on the period, Mr Frisby admitted that the stress of 2022 played a part in his decision to finally step back.

He continued: 'If I look back to this time last year it is one of the darkest moments in my life.

'The CEO departed from In The Style because things hadn't worked out - I had no choice but to jump back in.

'I was just about to go through this horrendous court case and it was just such a dark time.

'When we got back to being profitable and things were back on track, I was a bit like, yeah, this is a really great time for me to depart. It's been ten years, but also mental health is a really serious thing.

'Although it's not that the whole reason at all, it definitely has been a factor. And it's nice to be on the other side of that.'

Earlier this year the business was bought by London-based Baaj Capital for just 1.2m to avoid administration, with Mr Frisby taking on the role of chief executive.

In The Style is expected to return to the black in the current financial year by netting a 1m profit compared to a 5m loss last year.

The retailer said the turnaround was due to inventory improvements, such as 'reducing stock obsolescence and clearance activations,' celebrity collaborations, and 'a more effective return on marketing investment'.

Mr Frisby added that he is glad he is leaving In The Style with the company back on an optimistic outlook.

He said: 'When it was struggling a bit at the time I had to step back into the business to sort of steady the ship.

'We've now come out the other side. It's profitable again, it's doing really really well and so naturally it feels like it's the right time to bring the right person in to continue it forward.

Adam Frisby poses alongside Stacey Solomon to show off her collection with In The Style

Adam Frisby and EastEnders actress Jaqueline Jossa pose alongside a billboard promoting her collaboration with the fashion firm

Alison Hammond laughs as she promotes her collection with In The Style - alongside a bus emblazoned with her name

'I wouldn't have made this decision until it was in a much better place and I think having it turn that full corner, to have that swing in just 12 months has been such a sense of achievement and feels like it's naturally a nice time to leave on that high.'

Mr Frisby overcame his latest challenge earlier this year when he emerged as the victor of a High Court case brought by fellow businessman Paul Clements.

Suing for millions, Mr Clements claimed he told Mr Frisby of his plan for the business in 2013 and put in his own start-up money, and that Mr Frisby 'took advantage' of that to set up his own company using the idea.

But in February, after a High Court trial in Manchester, Judge Mark Cawson threw out Mr Clements' case, branding his 'narrative' of how In The Style started to be 'false.'

Speaking afterwards, Mr Frisby said becoming embroiled in the case had led to the 'most difficult and unimaginable few months' of his life and that he was 'pleased and relieved' with the ruling.

'The judgment confirmed I have told the entire truth,' he said.

Manchester-based In The Style describes itself online as 'a digital womenswear fashion brand that champions female empowerment, inclusivity and body confidence'.

Mr Frisby added that he is glad he is leaving In The Style now it is back on an optimistic outlook. Pictured: Posing with his employees

Manchester-based In The Style describes itself online as 'a digital womenswear fashion brand that champions female empowerment, inclusivity and body confidence'. Pictured: With Stacey Solomon

The company sells through its website and app with a marketing business model focused on social media.

Mr Frisby has talked in interviews about how he dropped out of school at 15 with no qualifications and worked in Burger King and as a carer before following his fashion dream after being made redundant.

Ten years on he is looking forward to spending more time with his fiance Jamie Corbett after being so absorbed in the company.

He said: 'I think I think he's very much looking forward to kind of feeling like he's got me back a little bit!

'In The Style is so much commitment - it's something I thought about 24/7 for the last ten years.

'If you're in a pressured role it can be so stressful and it can consume your thoughts and your time.

'Definitely we've both said, you know, let's have some time and just spend some valuable time together.

'We've always been open about the fact that one day would love to start a family.

Adam Frisby shows off the In The Style offices to his beloved family, including his grandfather (right), late grandmother, cousin and aunt

Adam Frisby and Lauren Pope look through fabric samples as they create his first ever collaboration

'And I think we just haven't ever had time to look at what the future looks like for me and him and what's next for us.

'Definitely, it'd be nice just to spend some time. I know, he's very much looking forward to that as well!'

It comes after a High Court battle this year, where he faced the accusation by Mr Clements that he had stolen his business idea and even the name for In The Style after they met in 2013.

Mr Clements claimed to have developed the business model and had engaged Mr Frisby to test and activate his plans, putting up 10,300 as an initial investment.

He claimed to have 'fully disclosed' the business plan, including his ideas for advertisement, promotions and marketing, and the identity of potential suppliers, to Mr Frisby.

But through an associate, Mr Frisby had 'falsely or wrongly told Mr Clements that the business plan had no future,' he claimed, before instead developing the idea using his own company.

Mr Frisby denied the allegation, saying he was inspired to start up his fashion empire in or around May 2013 by 'Want That Trend', an online business which sold women's clothing, and discussed doing something similar with a friend, Jessica Devine, who was subsequently involved with In The Style.

He claimed he only met Mr Clements once when he and Mrs Devine approached him to ask him to invest and that he never spoke to Mr Clements again after that meeting at the Crown and Anchor pub in Ancoats, Manchester.

Mr Frisby overcame his latest challenge earlier this year when he emerged as the victor of a High Court case brought by fellow businessman Paul Clements

Adam Frisby overlooks one of his fashion company's huge hoardings from the side of a bridge

From June 2013, he had worked 'tirelessly in the creation, development, growth and success of the company' - with no involvement at all from Mr Clements.

Ruling on the case, Judge Cawson said it was 'telling' that Mr Clements had only asserted his claim after the stock market floatation of In The Style was reported in the media.

'I have come to the firm view that the narrative advanced by Mr Frisby is the true narrative, and that the narrative advanced by Mr Clements is a false one,' he continued.

'Consequently, I find that the idea behind In The Style and its business concerning collaboration with celebrities involved in reality TV in the marketing, through a website and social media, of fast fashion to younger end women, was that of Mr Frisby and Mrs Devine, and that Mr Clements played no part therein.

'Further, I find that the only meeting between Mr Frisby and Mr Clements was the one meeting at the Crown and Anchor, at which Mr Clements was sounded out as a potential investor, but which did not lead any further than that.'

Mr Clements' claim for unlawful misuse use of a business plan was dismissed.
Ramaswamy's campaign has hit a wall in recent weeks after a series of poor performances in the televised primary debates

GOP presidential candidate Vivek Ramaswamy's long-shot campaign for the White House had been handed a much-needed boost after an Ohio judge ruled that angry investors cannot force the biotech entrepreneur to help them win a multi-million-dollar legal spat about a biotech buyout.

Court documents, obtained exclusively by DailyMail.com, filed earlier this month show that Trump-appointed judge Chelsey Vascura quashed a legal order for the 38-year-old to give evidence.

Ramaswamy had complained earlier this year that it would effectively end his presidential run owing to the high number of speeches and media appearances he needs to take part in so that he can stay competitive in his bid for the Republican nomination.

He had climbed as high as third place in national polls of the GOP faithful, but his campaign has stuttered in recent weeks after a series of poor performances in the televised primary debates and this week moved to ax spending on TV commercials.

An Ohio judge ruled that investors cannot force Vivek Ramaswamy to give evidence in a multi-million-dollar legal spat about a biotech buyout

The case focuses on a long-running spat about the merger of two of Ramaswamy's business ventures.

Alpine, an investment firm, is suing Sumitovant Biotech Ltd in the North Atlantic island of Bermuda, a British colony, where that company is registered.

Their lawyers claim those investors were short-changed for the price paid for their 6.6% stake in Myovant Sciences, a company that makes drugs for a wide range of women's health issues.

But the judge threw out their subpoena that demanded Ramaswamy cough up an array of documents alleged to be in his possession linked to that takeover.

She also rejected their plan to grill the GOP's once-rising star under oath over his role in the $1.7 billion buyout by Sumitovant in March of this year.

Vascura said it would place 'an undue burden' on Ramaswamy, who had argued earlier this year that he was too busy running for president to take part.

Court documents filed earlier this month show that Trump-appointed judge Chelsey Vascura quashed a legal order for the 38-year-old to give evidence

Ramaswamy, a director of Sumitovant Biotech Ltd until early this year, insisted he had 'no recollection of any discussions' about the takeover negotiations and played no formal role in them.

Siding with the biotech near-billionaire, Vascura blasted Alpine's lawyers for wasting the court's time.

She said they had 'not demonstrated that Mr. Ramaswamy is even likely to have relevant information pertaining to the merger, given his recusal from all merger-related discussions'.

Alpine wants to be paid the difference  potentially running into millions of dollars  if they can win the case in Bermuda and re-value the price of their stake in Myovant.

Ramasamy, however, will not be personally on the hook for any of those damages if they succeed in convincing judges in the renowned tax haven that they have been ripped off.

The rabble-rousing Republican had long been fighting the move to get him involved in the spat, blasting it as 'harassment' and a deliberate move to derail his run for the White House.

The December 15 ruling is a rare legal victory for the entrepreneur-turned-politician, who is still being sued in his home state of Ohio.

The allegations in that case focus on the working environment of his 'anti-woke' investment firm Strive Asset Management.

Former employee Joyce Rosely, 53, claims she was unfairly booted out of her top role after raising concerns about sexual harassment and alleged illegal activity.

In a response filed on October 5 in that lawsuit, his attorneys dismissed what they called 'bare accusations' that have no 'direct or circumstantial evidence' to support Rosely's claims, and demanded the case be thrown out.

The Harvard and Yale graduate was originally ordered to appear for a deposition on June 30 in New York in the Alpine case but filed a series of legal challenges that have now led to the subpoena being quashed.

Ramaswamy's campaign has hit a wall in recent weeks after a series of poor performances in the televised primary debates

Vivek and Apoorva Ramaswamy, who live in Columbus, Ohio, are parents to two young sons Karthik, three, and Arjun, one

He was originally ordered to appear for a deposition on June 30 in New York but managed to put it off

Depositions are used to allow one party to question the other or a witness outside of court, under oath, so they will have a better idea of what that person will say at trial.

The two firms at the center of the months-long legal fight were, at one time or another, part of a spawning family of companies that fell under the Republican's biotech empire, Roivant Sciences, that focused on prescription drug development.

Ramaswamy founded Roivant Sciences in 2014. It focuses on applying technology to drug development

According to filings with the Federal Election Commission (F.E.C), Ramaswamy raked in a cool $640,204 salary last year from his role as a director and chair of Roivant.

He also picked up $3.5 million in compensation from stock he owned in the firm, the same source shows.

Ramaswamy stepped down in February from the firm he set up in 2014  to pursue 'an outside opportunity': his run for the White House..

It is registered in Bermuda but listed on the New York Stock Exchange.

Documents filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission show, that he sold just over 16,000 of Roivant stocks at the end of July to net $1.7 million.

Ramaswamy, however, plowed $5 million of his own money into his 2024 campaign in the second quarter of this year, according to filings with the F.E.C.

All presidential candidates are bound by election law to declare their sources of income and where they hold investments currently or held in the past.

Yet it is unclear how much Ramaswamy made from the merger that is still being contested before the Bermudian courts.

The brash businessman faces an uphill battle to win the Republican primaries, where Donald Trump enjoys 63.1 percent of the vote. where he trails Nikki Haley (10.8 percent) and Florida Governor Ron DeSantis (10.6 percent) with just 3.8 percent support.

DailyMail.com has approached a spokeswoman for Ramaswamy's business interests for comment.
The Royal Mint has unveiled new coins for 2024, featuring five exciting new designs celebrating Winston Churchill, Buckingham Palace and the RNLI.

The new coins will mark significant moments in British history, commemorating key events and anniversaries from the birth of former prime minister Winston Churchill to the 200th anniversary of the National Gallery.

A mint has revealed the 2024 annual set will include a Buckingham Palace 5 coin; a 150th anniversary of the birth of Sir Winston Churchill 2 coin; a 200th anniversary of the National Gallery 2 coin; a 200th anniversary of the RNLI 50p coin; and a Team GB and ParalympicsGB 50p coin.

According to the Royal Mint, commorative coins are intended to be souvenirs, rather than ordinary circulation coins, and are therefore rarely found in everyday circulation.

The coins can often fetch huge sums from eager collectors. For instance, the millennium gold 5 coin, which marked the year 2000, is worth a whopping 3,290.

The Royal Mint has unveiled new coins for 2024, featuring five exciting new designs celebrating Winston Churchill, Buckingham Palace and the RNLI

Rebecca Morgan, director of commemorative coins at the Royal Mint said: 'As we approach the new year, we are excited to reveal five new designs set to appear on commemorative coins in 2024, celebrating some of the most significant moments and anniversaries set to take place.

'In addition to commemorating important historical events such as the RNLI's 200th anniversary, the Annual Set also celebrates future events, like the 2024 Paris Olympic and Paralympic Games, with a 50p specially struck for Team GB and ParalympicsGB.

'The Royal Mint has been regularly issuing Annual Sets since 1971 and they have become highly collectable as works of art. They are also gifted to people celebrating special occasions in the upcoming year, as they serve as a keepsake of that memorable time.'

The Buckingham Palace 5 coin has been designed by artist Henry Gray, and features the architecture of Buckingham Palace front and centre of the coin.

Marking the 150th anniversary of the birth of Sir Winston Churchill, the 2 coin depicts a portrait of him as a young man in 1895, in the uniform of the 4th Queen's Own Hussars.

The Buckingham Palace 5 coin has been d esigned by artist Henry Gray, and features the architecture of Buckingham Palace front and centre of the coin

The 200th anniversary of the National Gallery 2 coin was created by designer, engraver and printmaker Edwina Ellis, and features the gallery building at the centre of the coin

A 50p coin will mark the 200th anniversary of the The Royal National Lifeboat Institution (RNLI), which, has been saving lives at sea since 1824

Marking the 150th anniversary of the birth of Sir Winston Churchill, the 2 coin depicts a portrait of him as a young man in 1895

The Royal Mint said it produced an official UK 50p to celebrate and wish Team GB and ParalympicsGB athletes the best of luck at the Paris 2024 Olympic and Paralympic Games

An inscription on the edge of the coin reads: 'Pave the way for peace and freedom,' which is taken from a remark he made in late 1953, while serving his second term as prime minister. The design appearing on the coin was created by Natasha Seaward, a graphic designer at the Royal Mint.

The 200th anniversary of the National Gallery 2 coin was created by designer, engraver and printmaker Edwina Ellis, and features the gallery building at the centre of the coin.

To mark the 200th anniversary of the The Royal National Lifeboat Institution (RNLI), which, has been saving lives at sea since 1824, a 50p coin has been issued to mark the milestone moment.

Created by John Bergdahl, the 50p coin design displays the RNLI flag surrounded by a life ring highlighting the 200-year anniversary.

The Royal Mint said it produced an official UK 50p to celebrate and wish Team GB and ParalympicsGB athletes the best of luck at the Paris 2024 Olympic and Paralympic Games. Designed by Charis Tsevis, the 50p depicts two athletes representing both the Olympic and Paralympic Games in parity.

According to the Royal Mint, commorative coins are intended to be souvenirs, rather than ordinary circulation coins, and are therefore rarely found in everyday circulation

The 2024 commemorative sets will be available in a range of precious metal and base proof finishes, from January 2 at the Royal Mint website, with prices starting from 34.50.

The Buckingham Palace 5 coin, National Gallery UK 2 coin, RNLI UK 50p coin and Team GB and ParalympicsGB UK 50p coin will be available to purchase individually throughout the year.

The Sir Winston Churchill 2024 UK 2 coin will be available as part of the 2024 Annual Sets and may also feature in other sets and product formats in the future, the Mint said.
Scotland's doctors are working in a war zone with 80 per cent saying staffing levels are unsafe.

The British Medical Association says medics are stretching themselves to breaking point amid staff shortages.

Its survey of 610 doctors working in the NHS in Scotland found just 1 per cent felt their department was well-staffed and above safe levels.

A survey of hundreds of doctors reveals many feel like they are fire-fighting for most of their shifts

Doctors comments included: I feel like I am firefighting the whole time and it is by the grace of God that we have not had serious incidents.

Another said: Every week is starting to feel like working in a war zone. This is only going to get worse as the winter progresses.

The BMA is pleading with the Scottish Government to act urgently.

Dr Iain Kennedy, chair of BMA Scotland, said: Both medical and wider staffing in Scotlands NHS are at dangerously low levels.

Now is not the time to tell us that we are at a record high in terms of doctors because it simply will not wash with the profession who are stretching themselves to breaking point, risking harm to themselves, in a bid to provide the level of care the people need and deserve.

I am deeply concerned that 80 per cent of our doctors who responded to this survey are warning that their experience within their teams is that medical and support staffing is regularly or sometimes unsafe.

We are in a medical workforce crisis and we need more doctors and other healthcare workers to keep up with the demands of an ageing, frailer and growing population. If I have one wish for 2024 it is this  and I direct this at the Scottish Government in the main  listen to the doctors. Act urgently. For the future survival of Scotlands NHS and the patients who rely upon it.

It is only by solving the medical workforce crisis you can even think about making progress in other areas, like cutting waiting lists.

Dr Iain Kennedy, chair of BMA Scotland, said that a survey has exposed that both medical and wider staffing in Scotlands NHS are at dangerously low levels

It comes after figures showed 439 consultant vacancies across the NHS in Scotland  up 11.7 per cent on this time last year.

The BMA survey found 49 per cent of doctors said their staffing of both doctors and their wider multi-disciplinary support team is sometimes unsafe and 31 per cent said it was regularly unsafe.

It found 72 per cent of doctors think medical staffing levels have worsened over the past two years, while 62 per cent are worried or very worried there wont be enough doctors in Scotlands NHS to meet patient demand this winter.

Labour public health spokesman Carol Mochan said: This damning survey exposes the dangerous pressure NHS staff are working under and the risk it poses to patients.

A Scottish Government spokesman said: We have increased the number of available medical school places at Scottish universities by 67 per cent since 2016 to a record high of 1,417 for 2023-24.

Record levels of investment will also see an additional 153 trainee doctor posts created next year.

The survey comes as Health Secretary Michael Matheson admitted A&E performance is below the levels we all wish to see, as figures showed just 61.7 per cent of patients attending in the week to December 17 were seen within four hours.
As residents of one of the UKs most remote inhabited islands, they are used to technology taking a bit longer to reach them.

But, while much of mainland Scotland awaits access to full-fibre broadband, Fair Isle in Shetland has been hooked up two years early thanks to a world first in engineering.

Anyone consulting a map would appreciate the challenge. Fair Isle - home to around 60 people - lies 24 miles south of the main island of Shetland and 27 miles from North Ronaldsay, the most northerly island in Orkney.

Fair Isle in Shetland is home to just 60 residents but now has faster broadband speeds than some areas of the mainland

But a 68-mile subsea cable does lie between Shetland and Orkney. Engineers from Openreach were able to run a spur cable from it to connect Fair Isle.

And, in what is believed to be a world first, a super-powered booster was deployed to increase the signal strength which was compromised by the distances between the islands.

The project represents the greatest distance that Openreach has transmitted a continuous full-fibre signal anywhere in the UK.

As a result of their efforts, the post office and shop on Fair Isle are among those benefiting from the ultrafast broadband.

The latest figures from industry regulator Ofcom show 53 per cent of Scottish homes have access to gull fibre broadband and 28 per cent of homes and businesses have taken it up.

The Fair Isle work was funded as part of a 400 million Scottish Government contract which seeks to expand broadband connectivity to remote parts of Scotland. It is helped by 17.4 million of funding from the UK Government.

Fair Isle, which has been owned by the National Trust for Scotland for almost 70 years, is an important breeding ground for rare birds so work to connect the island also had to be planned around nesting seasons.

Postmistress Fiona Mitchell said Stackhoull Stores and Post Office was connected to full fibre before Christmas

Openreach chief engineer for Scotland Fraser Rowberry said: Regular fibre signals just couldnt go the distance, so we had to get creative with some world-first engineering to transmit life-changing ultrafast broadband over 100km to islanders.

We had to do everything differently on Fair Isle, from planning around bird-nesting seasons to setting up flat-packed cabins for our crew.

Mr Rowberry said of the islanders: Theyve been amazing. Now theyre connected to the world in a whole new way.

This will make Fair Isle an even better place to be - for residents, visitors and future generations - and wed encourage people on the island to upgrade to full fibre.

Stackhoull Stores and Post Office was connected to full fibre before Christmas, with postmistress Fiona Mitchell saying she hoped having broadband would encourage more people to live on Fair Isle.

She said: We are a small population and want to grow and encourage people to be a part of our community.

Getting a full-fibre connection so that people can more easily work and live here is a major part of that. We need all hands on deck to make the island run.

Neil Gray, the Wellbeing Economy Secretary in the Scottish Government, said: I am delighted that we have achieved digital connectivity for Fair Isle almost two years earlier than planned.

Through our R100 commitment to tackle some of the hardest-to-access terrain in the country, we are improving the educational and life opportunities available to young people across Scotland.

This innovative step forward for engineering ensures children on Fair Isle are not left behind.

Internet speeds rivalling the best in the country are helping create a more attractive place for families and young people to live.
Investigators are probing whether an insider working on Melbourne's Carols by Candlelight may have helped two pro-Palestine protesters hijack the stage.

The Christmas Eve debacle saw protesters interrupt the family-friendly event, with one waving a Palestine flag and briefly snatching the microphone away from stunned hosts David Campbell and Sarah Abo.

The embarrassing lapse in security is the subject of discussions between Arts Centre Melbourne, police and sponsors.

Organisers said event staff were suspicious as to how easily the protesters were able to access the stage - yet the performers were the subject of strict security checks.

Arts Centre Melbourne said in a statement: 'Everyone has the right to protest peacefully, but not at the expense of the safety of others.

Organisers are reviewing whether a pro-Palestine protester at Melbourne's Carols by Candlelight had any inside help before she grabbed the microphone from Nine hosts David Campbell and Sarah Abo

The protesters managed to unfurl the Palestinian flag next to the orchestra pit before they were dragged offstage

'The matter has been reported to and is being managed by Victoria Police and it would be inappropriate to comment further.'

A 21-year-old woman from Brunswick has been charged with possession of a controlled weapon following the protest while the second protester was given a move-on direction by police.

Daily Mail Australia revealed this week the protestor who snatched the microphone goes by the handle @violentwaitress online and belongs to pro-Palestine activism group Block the Dock.

The group aims to disrupt Israeli shipping routes in protest against the country's violent retaliation to October 7 terrorist attacks carried out by Hamas.

The pro-Palestine activist defended her actions when contacted by Daily Mail Australia - despite the stunt sparking intense backlash because the event is strictly non-political.

She appeared to harbour a hatred for police on Instagram and championed a raft of other causes including support for sex workers and bolstering rights for members of the Indigenous, LGBTQI, and refugee communities.

The woman supports a raft of other activism projects which are plastered across her social media page

Some were furious the family event was infiltrated by political protests (above)

In the hours after the disruption, she shared a series of posts to her Instagram story written by fellow members of her cause offering their support over the stunt.

One post, featuring footage of the protest, said: 'Christmas is cancelled m*****f***rs' while another by activism group Whistleblowers, Activists & Communities Alliance (WACA) read: 'Imagine booing a woman saying kids are dying in Gaza'.

A third post also hit out at backlash online after outraged parents slammed the protesters for scaring children sitting in the audience with their families.

There was also a group of children performing on stage when the havoc unfolded who had to be rushed to safety.

'I don't give a f*** about your carols,' the third post, which featured an image of the Grinch, began.

'And every kid in that audience is gonna [sic] grow up and be Pro-Palestine or they're gonna [sic] grow up and be a zionist and tbh [to be honest] we will handle that when they're older but right now they're fine and nobody was traumatised.'

Concluding the highlight reel, the woman shared a selfie, writing: 'Anyway, I'm done goodnight xx'.

After the protest, the woman reshared a series of posts about her stunt to her Instagram story before signing off for the night

Furious parents later flocked online to blast the protesters for interrupting the Christmas family-friendly event.

'So disrespectful at this time of year and disgusting subjecting children to this commotion,' one woman said.

'Carols by candlelight is not the time or place,' another said.

But others lauded the protesters actions and threw their support behind the cause with one saying: 'If the Palestine protest at carols by candle light makes you uncomfortable. good'.

Executive Council of Australian Jewry co-CEO Alex Ryvchin described the protesters as 'extremists'.

'You can always count on anti-Israel extremists to make everything about them and to appall decent, ordinary people,' Mr Ryvchin said.

'The chorus of boos tells them loud and clear they're not wanted.'
A confused driver has left commuters fuming after accidentally blocking the Sydney CBD's main tram line.

A car with Queensland number plates caused the light rail to come to a stop on George Street, outside the Queen Victoria building, recently.

The tram beeped madly with the Queenslander eventually maneuvering to the side of the light rail line and coming to a stop on the sidewalk.

The confused driver travelled on the light rail tracks, and blocked the tram full of passengers, causing it to stop

The footage was uploaded to Reddit on Monday, with the poster sharing their frustration at the act.

'Left turn on Market Street onto light rail!!! Tram driver keeps horning and car would not move,' the commuter wrote.

Many were quick to blame the car apparently being driven by a Queenslander as the reason for the car's behaviour.

'Queenslanders... shakes head,' one wrote. 'Typical Queenslanders,' another wrote.

'B***dy Queenslanders. Two heads, no brains,' one social media user said.

Other people expressed their shock and frustration by the vehicle driving on a tram lane.

'Surely they're handing out fines for this, so frustrating,' one wrote.

'I wish there were plows fitted to the front of trams for this reason,' another said.

However, some social media users had empathy for the plight of the Queensland driver.

'I feel sorry for all drivers coming to Sydney confused by our overcomplicated roads,' one wrote.

Others couldn't believe the driver's actions, and saw the humour in the situation.

'That big 'No entry Trams Excepted' signs really throw off the 'ol noggin', one wrote.

'Nah son. We don't need Google Maps for our trip to Sydney - we can use my 2004 Gregory's!' another wrote.

The Queenslander then maneuvered to the side of the lane and stopped their vehicle, which allowed the halted tram to slowly move past the car

According to Transport for NSW, drivers must not drive in the trams way, turn in front of a tram or 'stop or park within the tram lane (even when you cant see a tram)'.

It is essential for drivers to follow traffic signals and signs and never queue across intersections.

A Transport for NSW spokesperson told Daily Mail Australia cars and vehicles, such as those belonging to emergency services can sometimes drive on the tram tracks for various reasons.

'Lightrail drivers are trained to deal with pedestrians and other vehicles entering the network and to act quickly to ensure the safety of themselves, passengers and the general public,' they said.

'When there is a blockage on the network, lightrail drivers will maintain a safe travelling distance from the other vehicle and report the incident to the control centre.'
A mother in Pennsylvania has claimed a man has broken into her house four times in order to watch her nine-year-old daughter sleep.

Surveillance footage has caught the strange man entering Tiffany Szabara's house in Coatesville with the latest incident coming on Christmas Eve.

She says he breaks in, heads straight to her young daughter's room and watches her sleep. 'Hes coming in and having conversations with her,' Szabara told WPVI.

Coatesville Police are investigating the incidents and have shared pictures of the man on social media in a bid to identify him.

The family is also being interviewed about the series of break-ins in the last few months.

Surveillance footage has caught the strange man entering Tiffany Szabara's house in Coatesville with the latest incident coming on Christmas Eve

Tiffany Szabara says he breaks in, heads straight to her young daughter's room and watches her sleep. 'Hes coming in and having conversations with her,' Szabara told WPVI

Video shows the man slipping through Szabara's back door in the middle of the night on Christmas Eve.

He is seen walking through her kitchen and a separate clip shows him walking back out and closing the door behind him.

Szabara said this has happened on three other occasions and added: 'He's going straight to my daughter's bedroom at the top of the stairs and watching her sleep.'

She said the first time he got into her home, the lock on the back door was not working properly.

While on the other two occasions, she accidently left it unlocked. The worried mother said the man even climbed in through a window once.

Every time he has entered her home, he has gone straight to her daughter's bedroom.

Video shows the man slipping through Szabara's back door in the middle of the night on Christmas Eve

He is seen walking through her kitchen and a separate clip shows him walking back out and closing the door behind him

'I even had cash on the counter one day, and he didn't touch the cash. He just goes into my daughter's bedroom,' Szabara said.

She thought he was drunk and went to the wrong address when it happened the first time.

Szabara has had to take extra precautions for the safety of her daughter and added new locks and cameras.

'You know, if this man is so determined to target my daughter, what else could he be doing?' she said.

Authorities have increased their patrols in the area in response to the incident.

DailyMail.com has contacted Coatesville Police for comment.
A Colorado judge has ordered a local Starbucks to rehire, pay and apologize to a barista who had been 'illegally' fired for organizing a union.

Barista Alendra 'Len' Harris had been fired on November 18, 2022, from her role as a shift supervisor at the Starbucks Superior location after she organized a union at the branch and participated in the Red Cup Rebellion in the same week.

The Red Cup Rebellion saw baristas from more than 200 US Starbucks locations walk off the job last month, the corporation's busiest day in the year, where it offers customers a reusable red cup to celebrate its holiday launch.

Federal administrative law Judge Ira Sandron ruled that the coffeehouse had 'engaged in certain unfair labor practices' against Harris on December 22, 2023.

Barista Alendra 'Len' Harris had been fired on November 18, 2022, from her role as a shift supervisor at the Starbucks Superior location after she organized a union at the branch and participated in the Red Cup Rebellion in the same week

Federal administrative law Judge Ira Sandron ruled that the coffeehouse had 'engaged in certain unfair labor practices' against Harris on December 22, 2023

As a remedy, Judge Sandron ordered Starbucks to rehire Harris in the same position in 14 days, pay for damages and losses she may have incurred while she was unemployed and provide her with an apology letter

As a remedy, Judge Sandron ordered Starbucks to rehire Harris in the same position in 14 days, pay for damages and losses she may have incurred while she was unemployed and provide her with an apology letter.

The court order also said the company would have to sign a notice stating they violated federal labor law.

In an interview with CBS, Harris said she feels validated by Judge Sandron's ruling.

'There's a lot of feelings. I'm incredibly validated. It really hits different when a legal document tells you you were treated unjustly,' said the supervisor.

But, the multinational corporation did not agree with the ruling.

A Starbucks representative told The Colorado Sun: 'We firmly disagree with the administrative law judges recommendations and intend to file exceptions  or an appeal  in this matter.

'It was not in retaliation for their participation in, or support of, any concerted union activities.'

'There's a lot of feelings. I'm incredibly validated. It really hits different when a legal document tells you you were treated unjustly,' said the supervisor

A Starbucks representative said : 'We firmly disagree with the administrative law judges recommendations and intend to file exceptions  or an appeal  in this matter'

The Red Cup Rebellion saw baristas from more than 200 US Starbucks locations walk off the job last month. Pictured here, Starbucks workers marched for their rights outside a location in NYC

Starbucks' Superior location voted to unionize in April 2022, but Harris pushed this location into unionizing and made the branch the state's first later that year.

According to court documents, shortly before Harris was fired, a temporary manager at the Superior location started firing workers last year.

Harris explained: 'She warned us an anti-union manager is gonna come in here, they're going to drop the axe, they're going to start really firing you for small infractions or things you didn't know about, and low and behold, after a month of working with her, that's exactly what she started doing.

'She started firing people for being a minute or two late, started firing people for dress code infractions.'

By October 2022, Harris was notified she had allegedly mishandled counting the store's safe and received a final notice, even though there were no prior problems during her employment.

She was later accused of leaving the door unlocked and cash unattended. Harris was later fired on those grounds on November 18, 2022.

Afterwards, she went to National Labor Relations Board and explained what had happened.

'I went to the National Labor Relations Board in Denver and I brought my concerns to them, and said, "hey, I was just fired from the company, this company, I was engaged in organizing a union, and I'm pretty positive they fired me for union organizing",' she said.

A six-month investigation then commenced and found Starbucks at fault, but the company continued to fight back till last week's ruling.

According to the union's website this year, some of their striking demands include a base wage of at least $20 an hour for baristas and $25.40 for shift supervisors

Last year - the Starbucks annual revenue was $32.25 billion, a 10.98 percent increase from 2021.

The 2022 holiday cup giveaway was the company's highest single sales day of all time - even though 100 of its locations went on strike last year, Axios reports.

Starbucks Workers Reunited said: 'Last year, workers went on strike. This year, on the heels of victories won by striking workers across different industries nationwide, Starbucks workers are taking the rebellion to the next level!'

According to the union's website this year, some of their striking demands include a base wage of at least $20 an hour for baristas and $25.40 for shift supervisors.

Currently - Starbucks stores have different wages for their baristas based on location.

California baristas make approximately on average $16.18 and New York City workers get paid $17.02, according to Indeed.

The wage for a Starbucks employee in Mississippi - the US state with the highest poverty rate - is $12.79.
The owner of embattled fast fashion giant White Fox Boutique threw a lavish Christmas lunch for her staff members, serving Iranian caviar and appearing to gift them a free holiday.

The company, which is owned by Australian couple Georgia and Daniel Contos, has been slammed online in recent weeks following huge delays and claims of 'poor customer service' in the lead up to Christmas.

Customers have complained about waiting weeks for their orders to be shipped, claiming they received no response or a 'sub-par' reply from the brand when they asked how long they would be waiting for their products.

Ms Contos hosted a Christmas lunch at her house in Vaucluse with fellow White Fox staff members, including her sister-in-law Sarah Contos who works in creative content for the brand.

Georgia Contos (right) is the founder of White Fox Boutique. Her sister-in-law Sarah Contos (left) works for the brand in creative content

Ms Contos hosted a Christmas lunch with her friends who also work for White Fox, screenshots show

Snaps shared to Sarah's Instagram story show two tins of Iranian caviar on the table. Beluga caviar is considered 'the finest of all caviars' with soft buttery and almond tones

Ms Contos is understood to have gifted her staff free trips to the Gold Coast. Guests received mocked up boarding passes and passports

White Fox Head of Product, Tiara Lepore, and the brand's Head of Creative, Laura Thomson, were also at the Christmas gathering.

Snaps shared by Sarah show the group of young women enjoying a seafood spread with two large tins of Beluga Iranian caviar, which is considered 'the finest of all caviars'. A 50g tin can cost $625.50.

In another post uploaded to Sarah's Instagram story, the group are seen holding makeshift tickets for a trip from Sydney to the Gold Coast, believed to have been gifted by Ms Contos to her staff.

'Couples getaway lets goooo,' Sarah wrote alongside the photo of the flight tickets, which had Merry Christmas messages on them. It's understood the gifts may be for Ms Contos' staff and their partners.

The group threw a similar Christmas gathering last year, along with the caviar and seafood spread.

READ MORE: White Fox Boutique founders buy fourth mansion in Vaucluse - as power couple add to their $120million property empire Georgia and Daniel Contos bought this 1920s residence designed by architect F. Glynn Gilling in Vaucluse for more than $25million Advertisement

'It is so frustrating to customers waiting for refunds and orders from White Fox to have these pictures shoved in their face,' one customer told Daily Mail Australia.

'I hope they enjoyed the caviar.'

Daily Mail Australia has contacted White Fox for comment. The company posted a message to its 2million Instagram followers on Thursday morning.

'The customer service team are experiencing a high volume of enquiries at this time so please allow additional business days for a response,' they said.

'Our team have extended hours and additional help at this time to ensure you can get a response ASAP.

'Please note sending multiple emails will push you to the back of the queue as we work in chronological order. We appreciate your patience and understanding.'

White Fox's Instagram page has been flooded with comments from angry customers demanding to know when their orders will be delivered.

'Everyday I check my emails to see if I got a response from my email that was sent well over a month ago. However I am disappointed to not see one. Then without fail I open my Instagram and see an obnoxious post from White Fox,' one commented on the company's latest post.

'Still waiting for a refund after nearly 3 months but still received not a single email or anything about it,' said another.

'I returned my item over 6 weeks ago for a store credit. After loads of emails and DMs on here and TikTok I have had nothing. This is ridiculous now!!' one wrote.

White Fox Boutique, founded by fashion power couple Georgia and Daniel Contos (pictured), is being slammed by customers over huge delays following record-breaking Black Friday sales

'The nerve of you to continue posting, while customers are literally begging for their orders,' one said.

Many of the comments have responses from White Fox asking them to send them a DM (direct message) to sort out their order, along with a love heart emoji.

Earlier this month the White Fox founders hosted a boat party filled with influencers.

On November 19, the brand hired out a function room to celebrate their tenth anniversary, titled the White Fox 10th Anniversary Gala.

Prizes were handed out to staff including trophies for the 'messiest desk' and 'most chaotic energy', while each place setting had a small bottle of tequila beside it.

Last week, Georgia Contos told FEMAIL she had all hands on deck to get orders out quickly.

Georgia Contos, the director and founder of the popular clothing company, told FEMAIL she has all hands on deck to get orders out quickly

'The team is currently working seven days per week and extended hours. Including myself and Daniel assisting in the warehouse,' she said. 'Currently we are dispatching over 20,000-25,000 orders per day.'

She admitted they are receiving 5000 customer enquiries per day about delays.

'We did prepare for these sales, ramping up both staff in our warehouse and additional resources in customer service,' she said.

'Unfortunately even with all of this preparation we still exceeded three times our sales targets.'

She was very apologetic about the delays and said she understands it is frustrating 'which is why the whole team across all departments are assisting in getting the orders out'.

'These are huge numbers for any Australian-based business and we are going through a huge amount of growth at the moment.'

Georgia, 32, and Daniel Contos, 33, have spent more than $120million buying up houses in Vaucluse.

Georgia and Daniel Contos own three homes in Vaucluse, worth $25million, $34.5million and $38million, and all three are right beside each other

They own three homes, worth $25million, $34.5million and $38million, and all three are right beside each other.

Their property portfolio has led to feverish speculation that the Contos' intend to knock down all three houses to build a mega-mansion on the now almost 3,500sq metre site.

That massive task of turning three properties into one will take some time, so in the meantime the couple is reportedly living in a house that was built in the 1920s.

The couple came from humble beginnings with Ms Contos saying she had no money when they launched the business, and relied heavily on social media.

They Contos' started selling clothes on eBay in 2013 when they were in their early 20s, offering the latest fashion trends at affordable prices.

Despite having no background in the industry, the venture proved to be a huge success and was the beginning of the brand that has been worn by the likes of the Kardashian sisters, Sofia Richie, Hailey Baldwin and Emily Ratajkowski.
A young mother left hospitalised after she was hit in the eye by a toy bullet from a Nerf gun has warned other families to be careful using the popular Christmas gift.

The Australian woman, who goes by manon_el on TikTok, shared the warning video to the social media platform this week explaining her retina is close to detaching after the shock accident, which could leave her with permanent damage.

Optometrists recommend protective eyewear is worn when playing with the toys, that they should never be aimed at the head and that only genuine branded projectiles be used.

'Just a PSA, if you get gifted a Nerf gun this year do not shoot anyone in the face,' the woman pleaded on TikTok.

'Yesterday my sister shot me in the eye and it blinded me instantly. Obviously it was an accident but it got me in the left eye and it really hurt.'

An Australian mother (pictured) has warned others on TikTok to be careful with Nerf guns after she was hit in the eye over Christmas leaving her with significant damage

The popular Nerf brand, owned by Hasbro and valued at more than $460million, sells toys that can shoot either foam darts or small gel pellets depending on the model

Nerf guns, which are made by the American toy conglomerate Hasbro, are plastic guns similar to water pistols but which shoot different pellets depending on the model.

These projectiles include foam darts, of which there are about 24 different types, and gel 'blasters' which are small balls made of water absorbing polymer.

'When I opened my eye after getting hit everything was black. Then I went to the hospital and everything was white,' the woman explained.

'I couldn't see anything, I was fully blinded. They did some tests and eventually my vision came back but it was all blurry and cloudy.'

The woman has since been discharged from hospital and returned home.

'There is a lot of damage in my eye and I'm not off the hook yet, I'm on strict bed rest because the retina is most likely going to detach if I move around too much.'

'So it needs to not do that cause I don't want to be blinded permanently.'

She added she is now on steroid drops to prevent her pupil from turning 'cat eye' and she will be assessed by doctors on whether surgery is required.

According to the Mayo Clinic this type of surgery involves repairing any tears to the retina using lasers or freezing treatment and then using a temporary gas bubble to apply pressure inside the eye that pushes the retina to reattach.

If done within a few days of the injury, vision can be fully restored.

The woman shared an update on Tuesday saying her vision has returned and she had been back to the hospital where doctors said the injury is healing well.

But she added doctors said her pupil could be permanently left in an oval shape.

The woman explained how she went to hospital after she was hit by the toy projectile in the eye and showed how one pupil is significantly larger than the other

Commenters on her video said it was a good warning and they would show their children.

'My kids got Nerfs this year.. I'm going to show them this because they just won't listen and I'm thinking of taking them back,' one mother said.

'Got kicked in the face by my horse and my eye did the same thing, blindness, double vision and my pupil ended up going back to normal after a month,' another said.

'You're handling the situation incredibly well, I'm so sorry that happened, hope you heal fast and that the damage will not permanent,' added a third.

It is not the first occasion there has been an injury from Nerf guns, with the gel blasters of particular concern.

Between December 2018 and May 2019 eight children from Queensland presented at hospitals with eye injuries from the toys.

Airsoft guns (pictured), which shoot harder pellets than gel blasters, are banned in Australia

Many Australian states have recently ruled the gel blaster version of the Nerf guns must be registered as a firearm and holders must obtain a valid firearm license.

Paintball guns commonly used in Australia are subject to similar rules.

Queensland is the only state where a license is not needed for the gel blasters but they are required to be kept in a locked container.

Airsoft guns, which look less like toys and shoot harder pellets with more force than gel blasters or paintball markers, are banned in Australia.
Two 'Aussie legends' are being praised for their bravery after they jumped into action when a car burst into flames following a crash at a busy intersection in Queensland.

Dashcam footage from a car stopped at an intersection in Woodridge - a suburb in the city of Logan, about 45km south of Brisbane - captured the fiery crash unfold.

The footage was shared to Facebook last Friday where it has been viewed more than 300,000 times.

Video showed traffic travelling north on Ewing Road before a driver in a red ute ran a red light on Compton Road and ploughed into a white hatchback.

Dashcam footage captured the moment a red ute burst into flames after it crashed into a white hatchback at a busy intersection in Woodridge, about 45km south of Brisbane, Queensland

The back tyres of the ute burst into flames as the vehicle spun 180 degrees and came to a stop.

Traffic came to an abrupt halt before two brave motorists immediately rushed to the aid of the ute driver.

One man was seen running towards the ute before he helped the driver get out of the burning wreck.

Another driver, who was behind the white hatchback and noticed the fire, quickly moved his car before jumping out and grabbing a fire extinguisher from the back of his ute.

The man ran over to the blaze and used the fire extinguisher until the flames were put out.

Social media users praised the two men for their quick-thinking and bravery, with many labelling the duo as 'Aussie legends'.

'Wow! Hats off to old mate who ran towards the car and the guy with the fire extinguisher!! Legends!' one person commented.

'Aussie legends... one legend gets out to help the driver and the other legend comes with the fire extinguisher,' another person wrote.

Two motorists are being praised as 'Aussie legends' after one rushed to help the driver out the ute escape the fiery wreck while another used his fire extinguisher to put out the flames

'Would love the shout the two blokes in the video a drink, fast responding and a fire extinguisher?? Amazing job,' a third chimed.

Others joked the man with the fire extinguisher was finally able to use it after 'waiting his whole life', while another captioned the crash a 'Flaming T-Bone'.

The footage acted as a good reminder for motorists to buy and keep a fire extinguisher in their cars.

Vehicle Fire Extinguishers can cost between $30 to $60 depending on model and size and often come with a vehicle bracket for easy installation.
Nurses could strike again in the New Year in pursuit of larger pay rises, the Royal College of Nursing warned yesterday.

Pat Cullen, the union's general secretary, said this year's walkouts only led to 'modest' progress in pay and staffing levels and more action is needed.

In a message to her half a million members, she accused politicians of only doing enough to 'save their own skins' and failing to deliver the 'revolution' needed.

Ms Cullen broadened the union's campaign for 2024 to include seeking safe staffing levels as well as fair pay for nurses. There are more than 40,000 nursing vacancies in England's NHS with staff routinely caring for 10 to 15 patients, which the RCN warns is unsafe.

Ms Cullen told members their actions 'forced ministers' to top-up the previous year's pay settlement and 'give more than they had wanted to for the current year'.

Pat Cullen, the union's general secretary, said this year's walkouts only led to 'modest' progress in pay and staffing levels and more action is needed

She added: '2024 is a general election year and every party will be challenged by the RCN to demonstrate clear vision and hard cash for nursing, the NHS and social care. Let's make sure we again push ministers further than they want to go.'

Three days of NHS strike action last week impacted 86,329 inpatient and outpatient appointments, according to figures released by NHS England.

Junior doctors seeking a 35 per cent pay rise held a 72-hour stoppage between December 20 and 23, and are now preparing for the longest strike in NHS history from January 3.

NHS England said the number of appointments axed due to industrial action since December 2022 now stood at more than 1.2million.

Professor Sir Stephen Powis, national medical director at NHS England, said: 'This latest round of strike action has put an already overloaded heath service under significantly more pressure.'

Three days of NHS strike action last week impacted 86,329 inpatient and outpatient appointments, according to figures released by NHS England

Junior doctors seeking a 35 per cent pay rise held a 72-hour stoppage between December 20 and 23, and are now preparing for the longest strike in NHS history

Matthew Taylor, chief executive of the NHS Confederation which represents healthcare organisations, said NHS leaders 'continue to despair' at the impact of strikes on patients and are looking at next week's six-day doctors' walkout with 'trepidation'.

Health leaders have warned it is likely to spark widespread disruption as the first week of the New Year is usually one of the busiest.

Earlier this year, RCN members were among a minority of non-doctor health staff to reject a 5 per cent pay rise and lump sum of at least 1,655.

But they were made to accept the offer as they belong to a coalition of health unions that delivered a majority vote in favour of settling the dispute. A subsequent RCN strike ballot failed to deliver a big enough turnout for further industrial action.

The Department of Health and Social Care said the 5 per cent pay rise and one-off awards were 'worth over 2,000 on average for full-time nurses'.

A spokesman said: 'We have recruited more than 50,000 extra nurses compared to 2019... and the Long Term Workforce plan will ensure the NHS has the staff it needs over the next 15 years so patients continue to receive the best possible care.'
Shocking surveillance footage captured the moment a Las Vegas lesbian allegedly dumped her girlfriend's mother's body by the side of the road in broad daylight, before speeding away to murder her girlfriend a block away.

Rosemary Meza, 37, is facing two murder charges over the deaths of her girlfriend Alyssa Valdovinos, 26, and her girlfriend's mother Norma Rios-Valdovinos, 58, in September.

Prosecutors have now released footage of what they claim is Meza callously discarding Rios-Valdovinos' body on the sidewalk, after she allegedly strangled her with a shoelace that was later found in her vehicle during a car accident.

As investigators looked into the body found on the side of the road, a welfare check was performed on Meza's girlfriend's home, leading them to discover Valdovinos dead from a suspected strangulation with the same shoelace.

Rosemary Meza, 37, is accused of strangling her girlfriend and her girlfriend's mother to death with a shoelace on September 18

Norma Rios Valdovinos, 58, (left) and her daughter Alyssa Valdovinos (right) were both found strangled in Las Vegas within hours of each other

The video of Meza allegedly carrying out the murders appears to have been taken by police from a home security system, and shows a grey car pull up to the side of the road across the street.

Meza, prosecutors say, then gets out of the car and walks around the back, opens the rear passenger side door and drags a body out.

Officers responded to the scene shortly after 6pm, and found Rios-Valdovinos had 'deep ligature marks on her neck', and it 'appeared that she had been attacked and defended herself,' reports 8NewsNow.

Paramedics rushed Rios-Valdovinos to hospital, but she was pronounced dead on arrival.

Later that same evening, police responded to reports of a car accident around three miles away from where the mother's body had been found, where officials said Meza crashed her car into construction equipment.

A blood-soaked shoelace was allegedly found in Meza's vehicle after the killings, and was believed to have been the murder weapon after both victims were found with ligature marks

As the detectives spoke to Meza, it reportedly became apparent that she was a person of interest in the body that was found earlier in the day, particularly as she matched the description of the person who was seen dumping the body.

Officers also reportedly found smeared blood on the middle console armrest of the car, and on shoelaces in the vehicle that Meza is suspected of using to carry out the alleged murders.

While in custody the 37-year-old confessed to killing her girlfriend, according to transcripts of a grand jury indictment.

The officer who spoke to Meza claimed to the grand jury that she 'just told me she was a bad person and that I should just kill her now.'

'And I replied that, no, I wouldn't, I wouldn't do that to somebody. And then she said that she had hurt her girlfriend and her girlfriend's mother,' the officer said.

The video of Meza allegedly carrying out the murders appears to have been taken by police from a home security system, and shows a grey car pull up to the side of the road across the street

Prosecutors allege that Meza can be seen in the video opening the rear passenger side door and dragging out a body in broad daylight

The footage shows the grey vehicle driving away and leaving Rios-Valdovinos' body in the street, and detectives said she had 'deep ligature marks on her neck', and it 'appeared that she had been attacked and defended herself'

The home of Valdovinos was searched later in the day, where investigators found her dead on the floor from an apparent strangulation

Officers then performed a fateful welfare check on Valdovinos' home, only around a block from where her mother's body was found earlier in the day near Las Vegas Boulevard.

Police say they found Valdovinos dead on the floor, and is feared to have been strangled with the same shoelace used to kill her mom.

Investigators suspect that Meza carried out the murders by first driving to Rios-Valdovinos' workplace earlier in the day, where she allegedly strangled her.

Meza reportedly told officers that she could not remember if she dumped Rios-Valdovinos' body before or after strangling Valdovinos, according to 8NewsNow.

She is next due in court on January 4, and prosecutors wrote in filing documents that they are keeping the death penalty on the table if Meza is convicted.
Melbourne's underworld war has reignited after a car outside a home linked to an alleged gangland figure was torched in what police suspect was a targeted attack.

Emergency services were called to a home in Fawkner, in the city's north, at around 3.30am on Thursday after a Toyota Camry parked in the driveway was set alight with accelerant.

Shocked witnesses claimed gunshots were fired before the car burst into flames. Police believe an unknown number of hitmen fled the scene in a getaway vehicle.

A second Toyota Camry was found burnt out nearby outside a local primary school in Lowson Street a short time later.

A car outside a home allegedly linked to gangland figure Mohammed Oueida was torched early Thursday morning

Police are investigating whether a white Toyota Camry found burnt out in nearby Lowson Street is linked to the earlier incident

Police are investigating whether the car fires are linked to a late-night shooting at the home five days earlier where the front door was peppered with bullets.

The address is linked to alleged Melbourne underworld figure Mohammed Oueida, who's currently behind bars in Western Australia charged with drug trafficking offences.

Police said one man fired shots at the home while his armed accomplice tried to break in.

The empty handed pair then fled the scene in an allegedly stolen Suzuki Swift which was later found burnt out in Broadmeadows.

The pair remain on the run five days on.

Three people at home at the time of the shooting weren't injured.

'At this stage, police believe the incidents were targeted,' a statement read.

The blue car was doused with accelerant and set alight by an unknown group of offenders

A white Toyota Camry was found burnt out outside a nearby primary school a short time later

Separate crime scenes remained in place at the cordoned off home and outside the school in Lowson Street on Thursday morning.

The extensively damaged cars remained at the respective scenes.

The latest incident has concerned neighbours fearing for their safety.

'I don't feel safe here now,' one man told the Herald Sun.

'What's going to happen the third time around?'

'This is about striking terror, you just don't need a gun to break a car window.'

It's not the first time properties allegedly linked to Oueida have been targeted.

Luxury cars and two other homes were firebombed in 2018, which resulted in more than $100,000 damage.

A year earlier, Oueida was shot in the stomach while leaving a mosque.

Anyone with any information, CCTV or dash cam footage of any of the latest incidents is urged to contact Crime Stoppers.
A homeless father was arrested after trying to look for a warm place to sleep on Christmas in what has been blasted as a move to 'criminalise' the disadvantaged.

David Evans, 57, slept at the indoor carpark on Frome Street, in Adelaide's CBD, to escape 13C weather on Saturday and the following night on Christmas Eve.

He was arrested and charged with trespassing before spending Christmas Day behind bars.

Mr Evans faced a tough legal battle ahead of him until South Australia's top barrister Mary Shaw KC stepped in to help him and successfully had his charges dropped.

Ms Shaw was far from pleased with the overall experience claiming it was an attempt to 'criminalise' homelessness in the state.

Top silk Mary Shaw KC (right) has come to the aid of a homeless father, David Evans (left), who spent Christmas in prison charged with trespassing while trying to find shelter on a cold night

She said she will be lobbying the SA Attorney-General, Kyam Maher, to help keep homeless people out of prison and find alternatives.

'Our services could be better spent on those who really do deserve to be in prison, not the people like Mr Evans,' Ms Shaw told 7News.

She is held as one of the state's top silks after being brought in as the lead defence lawyer in the Snowtown murders case, Australia's worst serial murder.

Ms Shaw came to Mr Evans' defence 18 years after first meeting him.

At the time she was a judge and Mr Evans came before the courts after he began to use heroin.

Instead of sending Mr Evans to prison, Ms Shaw ordered him to see a doctor to receive pain medication and help him get off of the drug.

Ms Shaw first met Mr Evans 18-years-ago while she was a judge, and ordered the then heroin-user to get help from a doctor instead of sending him to prison

Mr Evans would later write to Ms Shaw to thank her for her kindness and leniency that helped him piece his family back together,

'It put me back together with my family, with my son,' Mr Evans told 7NEWS.

'He was only a little fella at the time, 5 or 6, and it meant the world to him.'

While it is likely that he will have to sleep on the streets again, Ms Shaw took the chance to gift him a new pair of shoes outside of court.
A little boy has been struck by a falling tree branch and killed during a ferocious storm in Victoria's north.

The child - who is primary school aged - was fatally injured just after 8am on private property off Bells Rd in Gowangardie, near Shepparton on Thursday, authorities said.

The child sadly died at the scene, surrounded by family members.

The boy was killed just two days after a man died at another property in Victoria.

The child - who is primary school aged - was fatally injured just after 8am on private property off Bells Rd in Gowangardie, near Shepparton on Thursday

The child, who was with family members when he was found critically injured sadly died at the scene

He was struck in the head by a falling tree branch while camping on private property in Caringal, in the state's east.

Emergency services tried to revive him but he died at the scene on Tuesday.

A horrific week of storms has claimed several lives.

In Queensland, Robyn Carman, 59, died just 100m from her Gold Coast home on Christmas night after being struck by a falling tree.

Tragedy hit the Sunshine State on Boxing Day when nine-year-old Mia Holland-McCormack died after being swept into a drain by flood waters.

Mia, who was severely autistic, had jumped over the back fence of her family's home in Rochedale South, in southeast Brisbane.

Tragedy hit the sunshine state on Boxing Day when nine-year-old Mia Holland-McCormack (pictured when younger) died after being swept into a drain by flood waters

Brisbane Rugby identity David 'Mario' Logan and schoolteacher Stephen 'Taity' Tait were also pronounced dead after a boat holding 11 people capsized near Green Island, in Moreton Bay, at about 5.30pm on Boxing Day

Queensland Police also confirmed the death of two women on Wednesday after three hikers were dragged into the Mary River, near Gympie.

One of the women was able to swim to shore and call for help. The bodies of a 46-year-old woman and a 40-year-old woman have since been recovered.

Brisbane Rugby identity David 'Mario' Logan and schoolteacher Stephen 'Taity' Tait were pronounced dead after a boat holding 11 people capsized near Green Island, in Moreton Bay, at about 5.30pm on Boxing Day.

A Tingalpa man, 59, was confirmed as the third person to die from the accident when he was discovered on Wednesday morning. Eight people survived. The group had been on their annual fishing trip.

In Victoria, a woman who is yet to be formally identified was found dead at a campground in Buchan in the state's Gippsland region.

It is believed she was camping with a man, whose body has also been recovered.
His lawyers had fought to keep his name out of the media

Bruce Lehrmann hit with two counts of rape in early 2023

When Bruce Lehrmann 'broke his silence' on one of the country's most high profile rape trials, he talked of retribution.

'Let's light some fires,' he said in the first of two exclusive interviews with the Seven Network's Spotlight program in June.

'Everything needs to be out there, in the open, so people can assess this for what it is.'

But at the time he was facing other separate, serious accusations.

Bruce Lehrmann broke his silence on the high profile Canberra rape case in two interviews with the Seven Network's Spotlight (pictured)

Mr Lehrmann has strenuously denied the allegation or of ever having sex with Brittany Higgins, who is seen arriving at Australia's Federal Court to give evidence

In early 2023, police announced two counts of rape had been laid against Mr Lehrmann, stemming from an incident in his old home town of Toowoomba in 2021.

Under Queensland laws preventing the identification of people charged with prescribed sexual offences, he was given a title - the 'high profile man'.

Mr Lehrmann has not yet entered a plea to the Toowoomba charges, nor appeared at court since they were laid by police, although it is understood he denies the allegations.

In between the several mentions at the Toowoomba Magistrates Court, a mammoth legal battle was building in the background between Mr Lehrmann's legal team and media outlets, who were seeking to identify him as the man facing these serious charges.

It escalated to an 11th hour appeal to the Supreme Court, as Mr Lehrmann's lawyers tried to keep his name out of the media.

But that appeal would end with a rebuke from Supreme Court Justice Peter Applegarth, and every journalist naming him being linked to charges of rape, again.

In a final blow, Mr Lehrmann's legal team could be ordered to pay the costs of the failed application.

Why could Mr Lehrmann not be named?

Under section 7 of the Criminal Law (Sexual Offences) Act 1978 in Queensland, people charged with prescribed sexual offences like rape, attempted rape, assault with intent to commit rape and sexual assault could not be identified by media outlets.

The protections would only be lifted until the person was committed to stand trial in a higher court.

The state's Women's Safety and Justice Taskforce called for this restriction to be overhauled amid their extensive consultation with survivors of sexual assault.

In early 2023, police announced two counts of rape had been laid against Mr Lehrmann, stemming from an incident in his old home town of Toowoomba in 2021

It was one of 188 recommendations handed to the Queensland government and Shannon Fentiman, the state's then Attorney-General, earlier this year.

Until October 3, Queensland was the only state in Australia to have this law remain in place - alongside the Northern Territory.

EXCLUSIVE READ MORE: Meet Bruce Lehrmann's mysterious mentor who quietly supported him behind-the-scenes Advertisement

On that date, these restrictions were scrapped by the state government, effectively allowing media entities to name people facing charges of rape and sexual assault, and the like.

Yvette D'Ath, Queensland's current Attorney-General, said the changes would keep the interests of victims 'at the forefront of the reforms'.

'Rape and sexual assault are some of the most underreported criminal offences in Australia,' Ms D'Ath said on September 13.

Media outlets were preparing to name Mr Lehrmann once Queensland's restrictions were lifted.

But a bid at the Supreme Court in Brisbane resulted in an interim non-publication order (NPO) being granted in late September.

In separate proceedings in Canberra, Mr Lehrmann had faced trial for the alleged rape of Ms Higgins in a ministerial office in Parliament House in March 2019.

Mr Lehrmann had pleaded not guilty to a single charge of engaging in sexual intercourse without consent.

The trial was aborted due to juror misconduct and the ACT Director of Public Prosecutions declined to pursue a retrial over concerns for Ms Higgins' mental health, dropping the charge against Mr Lehrmann.

Mr Lehrmann has strenuously denied the allegation or of ever having sex with Ms Higgins.

Mr Lehrmann is pictured during filming for the Spotlight episodes, which aired on Seven

'He has chosen to remain silent'

By October, Mr Lehrmann's media appearances were already being put under the microscope.

It wasn't just his Spotlight appearance that had raised questions. There was also an appearance on breakfast television the morning after, along with another interview with Sky News' Sharri Markson.

In stark contrast to those appearances, Mr Lehrmann was silent when his Queensland matters progressed through the courts.

In fact, he never showed up on the day of his legal team's application to continue the non-publication order in Toowoomba.

Mr Lehrmann's lawyers sought for that order to be continued in the interests of their client's protection from harm.

It was opposed by barristers representing media outlets, including News Corp Australia.

Mr Lehrmann's promise to 'light some fires' was put under a critical scope during proceedings, after more questions were raised about his mental health in light of the media comments.

Barrister Andrew Hoare, representing Mr Lehrmann, said his client was at serious risk of self harm should his identity be made public.

Letters from Mr Lehrmann's treating psychologist were tendered as evidence to the court.

The court was asked to consider 'the potential harmful and psychological effects of his name being published' and how it could 'significantly jeopardise' his psychological wellbeing.

Mr Lehrmann's promise to 'light some fires' in his Spotlight interviews was put under a critical scope during proceedings in a Queensland court earlier this year

'A reignited 'media frenzy' was said to be likely to seriously exacerbate his depressive symptoms and present 'a real potential for increasing his risk of suicide',' Justice Applegarth's Supreme Court decision states.

One particular line Mr Lehrmann's psychological report, referring to his separate defamation proceedings and media interviews, stated: 'These should not be misconstrued as demonstrating his full recovery, or that his mental health is of no real concern; to the contrary, these actions taken by Bruce to step forward and tell his story and to take legal action have taken significant effort and strength on his part, often costing him greatly in psychological terms, leading to periods of severe depression following particular stress points'.

Robert Anderson, KC, acting for the media outlets, said Mr Lehrmann had not gone to court to give evidence of his dire mental health.

He pointed to Mr Lehrmann's public statements, across multiple media outlets, which were 'incongruent' with a man who was so unwell he would be at risk of self-harm from being named in the proceedings.

'He has voluntarily placed himself in public forum, in a way that will inevitably expose and require him to explain... all of his circumstances,' Mr Anderson said.

'He wants to be heard everywhere except here.'

Magistrate Clare Kelly ultimately refused the continuation of the order, finding Mr Lehrmann had actively placed himself in public view with his interviews.

'She (the magistrate) expressed the opinion that this was 'inconsistent with the contention that the media pursuit has been relentless',' the Supreme Court judgment states.

The high-profile man is revealed

Even with the order discontinued, Mr Lehrmann's legal team kicked off a last-ditch effort to keep his name anonymised.

A temporary stay of the order was granted until a judicial review of Magistrate Kelly's decision was heard on October 26.

That day, Justice Applegarth quashed all hopes of Mr Lehrmann keeping his identity a secret, finding it was not necessary to protect his safety.

His judgment noted affidavits from Mr Lehrmann's team did not address the circumstances under which he participated in the television interviews in June and August, or his state of mind at the time.

Bruce Lehrmann is seen during a break at the Federal Court of Australia on December 8

Justice Applegarth said the magistrate appropriately considered 'evidence about the nature, imminence and degree of likelihood of the identified harm'.

'Having assessed the evidence, was not satisfied that an order was 'necessary' to protect his (Mr Lehrmann's) safety,' the judgment states.

'She did not suggest that the applicant had the onus of proving that it was more probable than not that he would engage in self-harm if a non-publication order were declined.

'The applicant did not give any evidence that his mental health was precarious at the time he gave the interviews.

'(He) must have appreciated that, once the legislation commenced, his identity would be revealed publicly, unless he made and succeeded upon the kind of applications which he has recently made.'
A two-year-old girl has died after being pulled unconscious from a backyard pool in the fifth drowning in New South Wales since Christmas Day.

Emergency services were called to a property at Whian Whian, 25km north of Lismore, in NSW, at about 2.20pm on Wednesday afternoon.

The child was given CPR by family members before paramedics rushed her to Lismore Base Hospital where she was unable to be revived.

Police will prepare a report for the coroner.

A two-year-old girl has died after being pulled unconscious from a backyard pool (stock)

She was rushed to Lismore Base Hospital (pictured) where she was unable to be revived

The incident follows a spate of similar incidents in NSW, with five people drowning across Australia this summer.

A 35-year-old man drowned at the newly-opened Penrith Beach, about 66km from Sydney, while paddle-boarding outside of the patrol zone on Tuesday.

A major search operation including PolAir and police divers was launched with rescue crews making the grim discovery at about 6.15pm.

A man remains missing after he ran into rough surf to rescue his two younger brothers at Congo Beach, about 10km south of Moruya, on Tuesday afternoon.

Khattab Abu Haish, 19, managed to save one of his brothers while the other was able to get himself out of the water.

A land, air and sea search resumed on Thursday after rescue crews were unable to locate the teenager on Wednesday.

Khattab Abu Haish, 19, remains missing after he ran into rough surf to rescue his two younger brothers at Congo Beach, near Moruya, on Tuesday afternoon

A land, air and sea search resumed on Thursday after rescue crews were unable to locate the teenager on Wednesday (pictured, a Toll NSW Ambulance helicopters)

Congo Beach is infamous among locals as a hazardous isolated beach, with persistent rips and often a deep longshore channel.

On Monday, two men died at beaches on the Central Coast.

A man, aged in his 80s, was pulled from waters near Copacabana Beach, southeast of Gosford, while enjoying a beach day with his family.

He is understood to have suffered a medical episode while in the surf and could not be revived despite the efforts of lifeguards and paramedics.

Just a half-hour's drive west of Copacabana, at Umina Beach, a surfer died after being pulled from the water at about 11am.
Like a deadbeat boyfriend or a car from a dodgy garage, it's becoming clear that the only reliable thing about Keir Starmer is his unreliability.

After months of criticising the Government's Rwanda policy as being 'unworkable,' 'desperate' and a 'gimmick' that a Labour government would scrap, he realised that voters want immigration to be tackled properly.

Cue a screeching U-turn, with his party announcing that it is now considering plans for offshore processing schemes under which asylum seekers would have their claims assessed overseas.

In the three years since becoming Labour leader, Sir Keir has performed more flip-flops than an Olympic gymnast. Each time he nails his colours to the mast, he sees which way the wind blows, shins back up and rips them down again.

Of course, politicians must be adaptable, and ideologies must be refined before being put into practice.

But Sir Keir's U-turns are so frequent that it's debatable whether any of the grand visions he has outlined over the last three years are likely to last.

After months of criticising the Government's Rwanda policy as being 'unworkable,' 'desperate' and a 'gimmick' that a Labour government would scrap, Sir Keir Starmer (pictured during PMQ's earlier this month) realised that voters want immigration to be tackled properly

Cue a screeching U-turn, with his party announcing that it is now considering plans for offshore processing schemes under which asylum seekers would have their claims assessed overseas. Pictured: Migrants packed tightly onto a small inflatable boat attempt to cross the English Channel near the Dover Strait

This latest volte-face is classic Keir. But let's see if it will stand up to the current backlash from within his own party  grassroots group Momentum has attacked Starmer for 'aping inhumane Tory policies'  let alone public scrutiny.

Voters aren't fools. Sir Keir's Rwanda row-back is just the latest in a series of rapid retreats  and the public is taking note.

In 2021 Labour trumpeted their Green Prosperity Plan, promising to spend 28billion a year  from the moment they are elected to 2030  on green projects that would supposedly generate jobs galore while saving the planet.

But last month the Shadow Chief Secretary to the Treasury Darren Jones slid out the caveat that it would not be introduced until 'towards the end of the next Parliament' for fear it may damage the economy.

That's absurd. Either it's a good idea  so why not go ahead pronto and create all those prosperous new jobs? Or it's a bad idea  so have the honesty to say so and ditch it.

Voters don't like indecision or dishonesty. This smacks of both. As his Labour colleagues are learning, you can't count on Keir.

A group of people thought to be migrants are brought in to Dungeness, Kent, onboard an RNLI Dungeness Lifeboat, following a small boat incident in the Channel

Last month the Shadow Chief Secretary to the Treasury Darren Jones (pictured in September) slid out the caveat that it would not be introduced until 'towards the end of the next Parliament' for fear it may damage the economy

Labour Party leader Keir Starmer addresses members of his Shadow Cabinet on September 5, 2023 in London, England

When he stood for the leadership of his party in February 2020, he described Jeremy Corbyn as both a 'colleague' and a 'friend'.

But three years later when asked whether he considered Corbyn, by then disgraced over his stance on anti-Semitism, as a friend: 'No,' he replied. 'Not in the sense that we went to visit each other or anything like that. I worked with him as a colleague.' Ouch.

As a shadow cabinet minister, he promised that the next Labour government would offer a second Brexit referendum. But after Labour lost the 2019 election, Starmer, as Labour leader, promised to 'make Brexit work'.

Then he pledged to work with the trade unions, only to become the first Labour leader to ban his frontbenchers from joining picket lines last year, even sacking Sam Tarry, the shadow transport minister, joining striking RMT workers.

And then there is his apparent confusion as to what a woman is. Last year he was reluctant to say whether he believed a woman could have male genitals.

Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer gives a keynote speech marking the four-year anniversary of the 2019 election, at Silverstone Technology Park, near Milton Keynes, Buckinghamshire on December 12, 2023

In April he stated that 99.9 per cent of women don't have a penis  implying that one in 1,000 do. Labour also promised to scrap the need for a medical diagnosis of gender dysphoria to legally change sex.

But seeing the backlash when the Scottish Government introduced gender self-ID, this was diluted to a commitment to 'modernising the Gender Recognition Act,' and removing 'invasive bureaucracy'. What does that mean? It's unclear, like so much of Labour's policy.

With an election potentially months away, it's time for Sir Keir to reveal his hand.

What will he do if elected? What is his manifesto, and can he be trusted to stick to it? I'm not sure he even knows the answer.
Sir David Attenborough has said that the discovery of an enormous sea monster has revealed to him the 'romance' of fossil hunting.

The 97-year-old opened up about his love-affair with searching for ancient relics ahead of his new BBC documentary about the recent discovery of a pliosaur skull which was found off the coast of England earlier this year.

The ancient creature scoured the seas nearly 150 million years ago and was known as the 'apex predator in the ocean', with some experts convinced that it could even overpower a Tyrannosaurus Rex.

Sir David has been an avid fossil collector since he was a youngster, but admitted that he had never come across such a unique find before.

The wildlife presenter added that he had found a 'romance' with finding fossils and described it as a 'joy' that he had 'never got over'.

Sir David Attenborough has said that the discovery of an enormous sea monster has revealed to him the 'romance' of fossil hunting

The 97-year-old opened up about his love-affair with searching for ancient relics ahead of his new BBC documentary about the recent discovery of a pliosaur skull (pictured)

The ancient creature (pictured) scoured the seas nearly 150 million years ago and was known as the 'apex predator in the ocean'

Sir David said his enjoyment of fossil hunting is driven by a 'very basic curiosity but also a sense of privilege'.

He went on: 'You can tell in many cases because actually, there is a little brown line on a rock that leads you to believe there is something in there. And you can calculate were you should hit it in order to get it to split!

'Occasionally, and its happened to me, occasionally you will see in complete detail that the rock has split along the junction between a shell and the mud, and it just opens, and there it is, absolutely perfect.

'It doesn't require any further excavation, it doesn't require messing. There's this wonderful creature that nobody has seen before you in 150 million years. If youre young or old, its a joy!

'Ive never got over it really. Its very romantic. I mean, people talk about science, the cold, calculating eye of science, which of course you have to have, but it doesn't prevent you from having romance as well.

Talking about how he got into fossil hunting, Sir David added: 'It's easy to do when you're eight-year-old, you know, it's that little romance which I never lost. I used to go at weekends.

'The thing is in Leicestershire was that they had Ironstone workings, which were eventually worked out so there were these empty quarries.

The restored pliosaur skull was excavated from the cliffs of the Jurassic Coast, in Dorset

The skull has around 130 long and razor-sharp teeth.

Each tooth has fine ridges at the back to pierce its prey's flesh and prepare itself for a swift second attack

'You could get on your bicycle and ride for 15 miles or so and get lost in this great expanse of rock.

'All these boulders that nobody had ever hit! Youd think, surely the next one! If I hit that one Ill find something nobody has seen before.'

Sir David's new BBC documentary, Attenborough and the Giant Sea Monster, will follow the wildlife presenter as he investigates the discovery of huge skull.

He will be joined by a team of expert scientists and palaeontologists as they embark on an excavation and restoration of the rare discovery, which they believe could be a new species of pliosaur.

The ancient pliosaur was the 'ultimate killing machine,' able to navigate the ocean at high speed and kill its prey with a single bite.

The skull has around 130 long and razor-sharp teeth. Each tooth has fine ridges at the back to pierce its prey's flesh and prepare itself for a swift second attack.

It's prey was dolphin-like creatures and other pliosaurs, scientists told the BBC.

Pliosaurs had jaws more than twice as powerful as today's saltwater crocodiles.

Sir David said that he spoke to experts who told him that the pliosaur would have been able to overpower a Tyrannosaurus Rex.

David Attenborough holding an ammonite fossil in Kimmeridge Bay, in Dorset

Pliosaurs had jaws more than twice as powerful as today's saltwater crocodiles

Sir David said that he spoke to experts who told him that the pliosaur would have been able to overpower a Tyrannosaurus Rex

He said: 'There's an American expert, Dr Andre, and he was blown away by it. He said, it was the most terrifying animal in the seas.

'I asked him perhaps a rather childish question because it was very big, and it's bigger than the Tyrannosaurus rex by long way, so I asked this schoolboy question.

'I said: "Now, supposing Tyrannosaurus rex met this extraordinary pliosaur, who would win? And this chap was American and Tyrannosaurus Rex is an American dinosaur, so I expected his answer to be that.

'He said: Well, I think it probably was this pliosaur that won.

The exciting discovery was made when fossil enthusiast Phil Jacobs was walking along the rocky beaches of Kimmeridge Bay last year when one morning he discovered a jaw of a giant pliosaur.

The site is renowned for its fossils and features some of the most important geological discoveries on the Jurassic Coast.

Many of these were found by Dr Steve Etches MBE, who has spent more than 30 years amassing over 2,000 specimens.

Mr Etches was subsequently called in to assess the find and he speculated that the rest of the skull could still be encased in the cliff above.

A team of experts excavated the fossil from a cliff in Kimmeridge Bay, which is renowned for its fossils and features some of the most important geological discoveries on the Jurassic Coast

Sir David Attenborough and Steve Etches examine the fossilised snout of a pliosaur in the workshop of the Etches Collection Museum, in Kimmeridge

Sir David Attenborough holding replica pliosaur teeth at the School of Anatomy at the University of Bristol

He gathered a team of experts to excavate the rest of the fossil including fellow fossil hunter Chris Moore, who runs a small family fossil business in Charmouth.

While the avid fossil hunters have worked with each other for decades, they describe this particular fossil as the biggest discovery they have ever faced.

Dr Etches said: 'There's nothing comparable to it today.

'It's a big carnivorous reptile and one of the largest that ever lived in the sea. It's even bigger than a T-Rex, these are larger and more ferocious.'

After the skull was safely extracted, it was taken to Mr Etches workshop nearby where restoration work began. It took several months to bring it back to life.

This including moulding crowns for the skull from remains of the iconic trihedral shape pliosaur tooth which Mr Moore found in the cliff.

With the help of paleobiologists, visual effects sequences and digital scans, viewers will witness the peak of scientific research as they're given a detailed insight into the life of this pliosaur seeing how it looked, moved and hunted its prey.

Attenborough and the Sea Monster will air at 8pm on New Year's Day on BBC One and iPlayer.
Republicans are asking the Supreme Court to overturn the ruling from the Colorado Supreme Court that removes Donald Trump from the state's presidential ballot.

The Colorado Republican Party appealed the decision in the first step of a likely showdown in the highest court over the meaning of the 155-year-old 14th Amendment clause that bans those from office who 'engaged in insurrection.'

Although Colorado's 10 Electoral College votes are unlikely to go to the Republican candidate anyway, the ruling could set precedent for a slew of other states looking to remove Trump from the ballot.

The Michigan Supreme Court, however, already ruled after Colorado to leave the ex-president on the ballot for the state's primary  and the midwest swing state is much more important to clinching the White House in 2024.

Louisiana became the latest state to see a lawsuit filed attempting to keep Trump off the ballot related to the January 6, 2021 Capitol riot.

Former Trump attorney Jay Sekulow (pictured, left) filed a petition for Colorado's Republican Party appealing to the U.S. Supreme Court the Colorado state Supreme Court's 4-3 ruling to keep Donald Trump off the 2024 ballot

Former Trump attorney Jay Sekulow's conservative American Center for Law & Justice filed a petition Wednesday that would overturn Colorado's controversial decision.

'We've been saying from the day we took this case that this was one that would end up at the U.S. Supreme Court,' Seklow wrote in a statement on the filing along with his son Jordan.

'Today, we just filed a petition for certiorari to the U.S. Supreme Court to overturn the Colorado Supreme Court's dangerously flawed twisting of the 14th Amendment to ban President Trump from the ballot,' wrote the father-son duo, who are representing Colorado's GOP.

'This is the most important case we have ever taken on,' they added. 'Because if we lose our right to vote, we lose our constitutional republic.'

'We expect this case to move very quickly, and we will keep you updated on its progress.'

The first impact of the appeal is to extend the stay of the 4-3 ruling from Colorado's highest court. This puts the decision on pause until January 4  the day before the state's primary ballots are due at the printer  or until an appeal to the U.S. Supreme Court is finished, whichever comes first.

Trump says he also still plans to appeal the ruling to the nation's highest court.

The Supreme Court has never ruled on Section 3 of the 14th Amendment, which was added after the Civil War to prevent former Confederates from returning to government.

The clause states that anyone who swore an oath to 'support' the constitution and then 'engaged in insurrection' against it cannot hold government office  but the section specifically mentions several offices without directly naming the presidency.

The Colorado high court ruled that applies to Trump after he encouraged his supporters to engage in the January 6, 2021 attack on the U.S. Capitol. Rioters intended to stop the certification of President Joe Biden's victory in the 2020 presidential election when they descended on Washington, D.C.

Colorado's majority opinion is the first time in history that the 14th Amendment provision was used to block a presidential contender's campaign.

Four justices appointed by Democratic governors, Justices, Richard L. Gabriel, Melissa Hart, William W. Hood III and Monica Marquez, all circled, voted to disqualify the former president from Colorado's presidential primary ballot

'The Colorado Supreme Court has removed the leading Republican candidate from the primary and general ballots, fundamentally changing the course of American democracy,' the Colorado Republican Party's attorneys wrote.

The filing was posted on the website of a group run by Jay Sekulow, a former attorney for Trump representing the Colorado Republican Party who announced he was filing the appeal Wednesday.

Colorado Republican Party chairman Dave Williams confirmed the appeal was filed Wednesday.

The attorneys added: 'Unless the Colorado Supreme Court's decision is overturned, any voter will have the power to sue to disqualify any political candidate, in Colorado or in any other jurisdiction that follows its lead.'

'This will not only distort the 2024 presidential election but will also mire courts henceforth in political controversies over nebulous accusations of insurrection.'

The U.S. Supreme Court is expected to take the case, either after the Colorado GOP's appeal or Trump's own appeal.

If Trump ends up off the ballot in Colorado, it would have minimal effect on his campaign because he doesn't need the state, which he lost by 13 percentage points in 2020, to win the Electoral College in the presidential election. But it could open the door to courts or election officials striking him from the ballot in other must-win states.

Sean Grimsley, an attorney for the plaintiffs seeking to disqualify Trump in Colorado, said on a legal podcast last week that he hopes the nation's highest court hurries once it accepts the case, as he expects it will.

'We obviously are going to ask for an extremely accelerated timeline because of all the reasons I've stated, we have a primary coming up on Super Tuesday and we need to know the answer,' Grimsley said.

More than a dozen states, including Colorado, are scheduled to hold primaries March 5 on what is known as Super Tuesday  the largest single-day primary election contest.

To date, no other court has sided with those who have filed dozens of lawsuits to disqualify Trump under Section 3 of the 14th Amendment, nor has any election official been willing to remove him from the ballot unilaterally without a court order.

The Colorado Supreme Court claims Trump engaged in an insurrection and therefore under clause 3 of the 14th Amendment is disqualified from running for office  but Republicans argue the ex-president has never been charged with insurrection. Pictured: Trump supporters stormed the Capitol Building on January 6, 2021 to block Congress certifying Joe Biden's 2020 election win

The Colorado case was considered the one with the greatest chance of success because it was filed by a Washington D.C.-based liberal group with ample legal resources  and all seven of the Colorado high court justices were appointed by Democrats.

Still, three of those Democrat-appointed justices were against the decision.

The unprecedented constitutional questions in the case haven't split on neatly partisan lines with several prominent conservative legal theorists among the most vocal advocates of disqualifying Trump under Section 3.

Additionally, the half-dozen plaintiffs in the Colorado case are all Republican or unaffiliated voters.

Trump has been scathing all over his Truth Social account and at his rallies about the cases, calling them 'election interference.'

He continued that on Wednesday as he cheered a ruling earlier that day by the Michigan Supreme Court leaving him on the ballot, at least for the primary, in that state.

'The Colorado people have embarrassed our nation with what they did,' Trump said on Sean Hannity's radio show.
The man accused of supplying tracking devices to the men who allegedly killed Comanchero bikie boss Alen 'Fathead' Moradian was the target of a drive-by shooting days before Christmas.

Moradian, 48, was ambushed and shot seven times in an underground car park at Bondi Junction in Sydney's eastern suburbs on June 27.

Five men have since been charged over the bloody execution, which was believed to motivated by an outstanding drug debt.

One of those arrested was Jason Mansor, 22, who was charged with murder last Monday over tracking devices that were allegedly critical to the plot that killed Moradian.

Police-captured footage showed Mansor being marched out of his home handcuffed with his shirt covering his face.

Jason Mansor (pictured in white) was arrested and charged with murder for his alleged involvement in Alen Moradian's assassination

A home linked to Mansor was targeted in a drive-by shooting days before Christmas (pictured, damage left on the Canley Vale home)

New South Wales Police were called to a house linked to Mansor on Freeman Ave at Canley Vale, in Sydney's southwest, at about 11pm on December 23 following reports of gunshots.

Shots had been fired into the two-storey home but no one was injured. Mansor was in police custody at the time.

Underworld sources told the Daily Telegraph the shooting was likely to send a 'message' to Mansor, who has remained in custody since his arrest.

Police allege Mansor played a crucial role in supplying the tracking devices that were used to locate Moradian for his murder.

The Comanchero kingpin and major drug importer had been warned about a bounty on his head by NSW Police before his death, leading him to keep a low-profile.

Alen Moradian (above) was shot seven times in an underground car park at Bondi Junction in Sydney's eastern suburbs on June 27

Mansor (right) is accused of supplying a tracking device that was attached to Moradian's car

Police have also charged Mansor for allegedly importing a commercial quantity of drugs.

Detectives working under Taskforce Magnus have charged five people over Moradian's murder but none have been accused of being one of the two triggermen.

Majok Angelo Deng, 27 and Chom Manut Guam Chom, 28, are accused of being involved in sourcing cars used in the killing.

Two other men were charged in September over their alleged part in Moradian's death but cannot be identified due to a court order.

No arrests have been made in relation to the drive-by shooting at Mansor's home.

Mansor is before the courts.
Among Bill Granger's tight circle of friends before he found worldwide fame as the 'godfather of avocado toast' was aspiring bikini model Annalise Braakensiek.

The pair spent weekends together partying during their university days and remained close as they each forged successful careers but now they are both gone.

Granger succumbed to cancer in London on Christmas Day aged 54, almost five years after Braakensiek was found dead at 46 in her Sydney home.

Both had suffered episodes of depression but Granger believed his was driven by heavy cannabis use, as he revealed in a magazine interview a decade after opening his first restaurant.

Chef Bill Granger and bikini model Annalise Braakensiek met at university and became close. Granger, who died on Christmas Day, and Braakensiek, who was found dead in 2019, are pictured after a weekend of partying

Granger had briefly studied architecture in Melbourne before moving north to study at the City Art Institute, now known as UNSW Art & Design.

That was where he met Braakensiek, a fellow student and up-and-coming model.

The pair hit it off quickly and Granger accompanied Braakensiek on her first modelling trip to Japan when the blonde beauty was just 20.

'During one summer holiday, he joined me in Tokyo,' Braakensiek told Sunday Life in 2002.

'He was inspired by the Japanese lifestyle and got his first idea for communal dining.'

Granger dropped out of university at 22 and started waiting tables at La Passion du Fruit in inner-city Surry Hills - a favourite of stars such as Nicole Kidman at the time.

Having spent time in the kitchen and run the restaurant three nights a week, Granger opened his first cafe in 1993 in nearby Darlinghurst.

The cafe, known simply as 'bills', would become well-known for its communal table, Granger's signature scrambled eggs and avocado on toast.

Granger and Braakensiek had both suffered depression but the self-taught cook's had been only temporary. The model is pictured left with Granger and his wife Natalie Elliot in 2004

A second bills followed in Surry Hills three years later before Granger checked himself into a clinic having lost control of his 'chaotic life'.

'I used to smoke a lot of pot to unwind and eventually got depressed,' he told Sunday Life.

'People say there's nothing wrong with it but there it is; it's a depressive.'

Granger revealed his mother Patricia had been admitted to hospital for depression and alcoholism when he was 13 and he later feared he might have similar problems.

'Before then, she'd controlled her addiction but eventually it became too debilitating,' he said in 2002.

'She was always jovial and social but I never knew her not to be drinking. I just thought that that was the way it was until I got older and realised it was a problem.

'I suggested she see a doctor and she did. She hasn't touched a drop since.'

It was mum Patricia and Granger's father Bill who took over the two cafes for several months until their son recovered and was ready to work again.

'It was really just time out,' Granger told Sunday Life.

'Initially, I worried because there's a history of depressive illness in my family but seeing other people in hospital made me realise I wasn't that bad.

'Also, it was great to sleep in for a while and not have to get up for breakfasts.'

Braakensiek graced the covers of FHM, Maxim and GQ, scored roles on Heartbreak High, Home and Away and Fat Pizza, then became a jewellery and lingerie designer

While Granger went on to international fame as the 'King of Breakfast' with cafes in London, Seoul and Tokyo, Braakensiek followed her own path to fame at home.

She graced the covers of FHM, Maxim and GQ, scored roles on Heartbreak High, Home and Away and Fat Pizza, then became a jewellery and lingerie designer.

But as Granger continued expanding his business and raising three daughters with wife Natalie Elliot, his old friend's life seemingly unwound.

Braakensiek, a longtime ambassador for RUOK? Day, had married stockbroker Danny Goldberg in 2002 but they separated in 2018 without ever having children.

Family and friends had not heard from her for several days when Braakensiek was found dead on January 6, 2019 in her Potts Point apartment.

Police said there were no suspicious circumstances and loved ones who claimed she had been excited about the future disputed the theory she had taken her own life.

Granger revealed his mother Patricia had been admitted to hospital for depression and alcoholism when he was 13 and he feared he might have the same problems

The month before her death Braakensiek wrote on Instagram: 'Hanging in there by the hair on my chinny chin chin '

Another of Granger and Braakensiek's university friends, Imogen Kelly, took to social media on Wednesday to mourn their old group's latest loss.

Kelly, who describes herself as 'Australia's first lady of striptease' and the country's 'queen of burlesque', is an award-winning writer and producer who has performed at the Sydney Opera House.

'Nooooooo! Darling Billy! My friend- dear person.' Kelly wrote on Facebook.

'First Annalise and now you. Im devastated.

'Bill Granger was a gorgeous person. I have such fond memories of our years at uni when Annalise was a budding bikini model, I was a budding stripper and Bill was a kitchen hand at La Passion du Fruit with dreams of becoming a chef.

'We all dreamed of success and a better life. We all worked so hard.

'Then we all actually became famous, each in our separate fields it was incredible to watch my friends soar.

'I was always so proud of Bills achievements, and am sad to read of his passing.'

If you or someone you know needs help, contact Beyond Blue on 1300 224 636 or Lifeline on 13 11 14.
Overseas gangs are behind more than three-quarters of the fastest-growing form of fraud, according to an internal police report.

The previously unpublished intelligence memo reveals that, in February 2022, 76.6 per cent of 'advance fee' fraud offences reported the previous year were carried out from overseas.

According to the latest data from the Crime Survey for England and Wales, 409,000 advance fee frauds were committed in the year ending June 2023, making up around one in eight of all fraud offences in that period.

The National Fraud Intelligence Bureau (NFIB) memo suggests that as many as 313,300 of these were perpetrated from overseas, laying bare the role of international crime bosses in domestic scams.

Advance fee scams typically work by pressuring victims into paying a small amount upfront to release a larger sum of cash or a delivery that they are told is due to them.

Overseas gangs are behind more than three-quarters of the fastest-growing form of fraud (Stock Image)

Security minister Tom Tugendhat said the government has driven fraud down by 13 per cent

This is often claimed to be a lottery prize, a bank refund, tax rebate, an inheritance or consignment of goods.

Once the individual arranges the fee payment, their bank details can be used to syphon more money from their account or make large online purchases in their name.

The NFIB report also showed that 74.9 per cent of fraud related to computer hacking and viruses was perpetrated exclusively from overseas in 2021.

The most common of these scams are 'computer software service' frauds, where the criminal poses as a digital engineer working for a company like Microsoft.

READ MORE - Seven out of 10 adults in the UK are targeted by scams in the past year as 13% lose their cash to fraud, study finds Advertisement

They tell their victim there is a problem with their computer which they can fix for a fee.

The NFIB report found that just 314 (2 per cent) of the 15,707 computer software service scams reported to Action Fraud in 2021 had no foreign involvement.

Overall, the NFIB report - entitled 'Professional estimation of international fraud offending' - concluded that 77 per cent of fraud reported against consumers and businesses in the UK in 2021 was committed by overseas gangs working alone, or alongside criminals in the UK.

Meanwhile, just 23 per cent could be attributed exclusively to domestic fraudsters.

The NFIB report was obtained under Freedom of Information laws by the Labour Party.

Shadow attorney general Emily Thornberry said: 'The parasites behind these international fraud gangs are feasting on Britain and all the government can offer in response is another global summit.

'We should be demanding that concrete action is taken now by overseas countries to shut down the gangs targeting Britain, and where we are negotiating trade access to the UK market with those countries, we should ask them to work with us to tackle fraud as part of any deals.'

The NFIB report also showed that 74.9 per cent of fraud related to computer hacking and viruses was perpetrated exclusively from overseas in 2021 (Stock Image)

But security minister Tom Tugendhat hit back, saying: 'Once again, Labour appear to be behind the curve.

'This Conservative Government has already taken concrete action to crack down on fraud - driving it down by 13 per cent.

'We've joined forces with leading tech companies to develop and commit to the Online Fraud Charter - the first agreement of its kind anywhere in the world.

'We've launched a National Fraud Squad to pursue the most sophisticated and harmful fraudsters.

'And we've deployed our world-class intelligence agencies to hunt down fraudsters wherever they are in the world.

'Meanwhile, Labour continue to shout from the side-lines without coming up with a proper plan.'
The UK stockpiled medicines to combat biological, nuclear and chemical attacks in the wake of 9/11 amid fears of further terrorist atrocities, newly released documents show.

Medicines to combat anthrax, smallpox and the botulism toxin were all bought as part of a 15million spending drive by the Department of Health to treat everything from nuclear radiation to the sarin nerve agent.

Also bought up were protective clothing, decontamination units, needles and syringes that would be essential in combating the effects of a deadly attack.

The scramble to be able to protect the nation from potential attacks was revealed in discussions between Clive Gowdy, permanent secretary of the Department of Health in Northern Ireland and then-head of the Northern Irish Civil Service, Gerry Loughran.

In newly-disclosed official documents where he discussed the potential risk of being targeted after the World Trade Centre attack, he wrote: 'From our contacts with the Department of Health in London, the main risks identified here are anthrax, smallpox, botulism, and nerve gases such as sarin.'

Medicines to combat anthrax, smallpox and the botulism toxin were all bought as part of a 15million spending drive by the Department of Health to treat everything from nuclear radiation to the sarin nerve agent in the wake of the 9/11 tragedy (pictured)

He added: 'A judgement would have to be formed as to the scale of the stockpiling undertaken, but we understand from our colleagues in the Department of Health in London that they have been given an extra 15m for the stockpiling of supplies there.'

Mr Gowdy was responding to a request sent on September 24 2001 from Mr Loughran, who had asked his various departmental permanent secretaries to 'urgently assess' the potential impact and possible consequences of 9/11 on the region.

Mr Gowdy, who had responsibility for health, social care and the fire and rescue service in Northern Ireland, circulated a detailed reply to Mr Loughran and colleagues two days later.

The senior civil servant outlined the potential consequence for the region resulting from any US follow-up action 'to root out terrorism in the aftermath of this atrocity'.

'While it is still unclear what form of action will be taken, there must be speculation that it will range from action of a conventional war-like-kind, such as the Gulf War, to more widespread and unconventional attacks which have world wide implications and, in either scenario, there is the very real threat of reprisals and retaliatory action,' he stated.

He said a conventional war would result in the possible call-up of auxiliary military personnel, including medical, nursing and paramedic staff from Northern Ireland who were members of the Territorial Army Medical Corps.

However, he said the department's 'working assumption' was the potential for a 'more unconventional campaign' and, as a result, its focus of attention was on dealing with 'possible attacks on the local population'.

'In planning to deal with this latter scenario, there are a number of possibilities to be addressed,' he continued.

The scramble to be able to protect the nation from potential attacks was revealed in discussions between Clive Gowdy, permanent secretary of the Department of Health in Northern Ireland and then-head of the Northern Irish Civil Service, Gerry Loughran (pictured)

'The first is that we would be subject to conventional attacks, such as bombing, gun attack, or the use of planes or other vehicles to attack heavily populated areas.

'The implications for us are essentially the difficulties of having to handle mass casualties with all the problems of capacity in our hospitals and on both the Ambulance Service and the Blood Transfusion Service. The Fire Service would also be heavily involved.'

Mr Gowdy then raised the potential for a nuclear attack.

'The second possibility is that we would be faced with some form of nuclear attack,' he wrote.

'In this scenario, the nuclear device might be exploded directly within the Province or we might suffer the after effects of the radiation discharged from a nuclear device exploded across the water in Scotland or England.

'Again, this would raise issues of capacity in our hospitals and in the Ambulance Service and Fire Service.

'There would also be issues around the use of protective clothing and decontamination units.

'The third possibility would be the use of chemical or biological weapons.

Mr Gowdy was responding to a request sent on September 24 2001 from Mr Loughran, who had asked his various departmental permanent secretaries to 'urgently assess' the potential impact and possible consequences of 9/11 on the region

'From our contacts with the Department of Health in London, the main risks identified here are anthrax, smallpox, botulism, and nerve gases such as sarin.

'As before, the hospitals, Ambulance Service and Fire Service would be heavily involved and there would be a need for protective clothing and antibiotics and antidotes to whatever agents were used.

'There would also be issues around the nature of the transmission procedures used for the agents in question. For example, a chemical or biological weapon released into the air in a crowded area would create different circumstances from a weapon of this type released into the water supply or released by airborne transmission over a wide area.'

Mr Gowdy said there was a 'clear' need to stockpile sufficient supplies and materials 'for combating these various possibilities'.

'We will need to build up our supplies of antibiotics and antidotes, needles and syringes and protective clothing etc,' he said.

'We will also need to ensure that we have sufficient decontamination capacity and that staff are properly trained to deal with the possible weapons and outcomes they might face.'

The permanent secretary said there was also a social services dimension to the planning for a mass attack.

'The need for temporary shelter for those displaced from their homes will be a major consideration,' he wrote.

Mr Gowdry further spoke of the 'solidarity and bereavement' felt by Northern Irish firefighters with counterparts in New York, saying they had been particularly affected by the appalling scenes.

'There will also be a need for meals and clothing. If the attacks are substantial, there will be the need for counselling both at the time and subsequently.

'Our social services staff have built up quite a reserve of expertise on these issues over the years of the troubles here.'

Mr Gowdy concluded by making clear he currently did not have the budget to make the preparations for the scenarios he had outlined.

'We do not have the money to stockpile on the scale which may be required,' he stated.

'A judgement would have to be formed as to the scale of the stockpiling undertaken, but we understand from our colleagues in the Department of Health in London that they have been given an extra 15m for the stockpiling of supplies there.'

He said a 'rough estimate' of the equivalent figure in Northern Ireland would be 750,000.

'We would also face clear difficulties in coping with the increased level of demand in our hospitals and we would need to bring in extra nursing and medical staff,' he added.

'Ideally, we would prepare by creating some new capacity, particularly in Intensive Care Units and in isolation units in the event of biological devices being used.

'We simply cannot afford to do any of these things on our present budget and I would wish to flag this up as an issue at the outset.'

Mr Gowdry further spoke of the 'solidarity and bereavement' felt by Northern Irish firefighters with counterparts in New York, saying they had been particularly affected by the appalling scenes.

Mr Gowdy said senior fire chiefs had been assessing whether there were any lessons for firefighting and rescue efforts if a similar attack happened in Northern Ireland.

'They are already familiar with all major buildings in the Province and have a good understanding of the structural characteristics etc so their level of preparedness is good,' he said.
China's premier intelligence agency is using AI to track American spies and others in Beijing's embassy district, according to a new report highlighting the agency's growing Cold War-style rivalry with the CIA.

The Ministry of State Security (MSS) was once overshadowed by Chinese military intelligence units, but has grown in reputation and prowess to become the country's top spy agency.

Powerful and well-funded, the MSS combines the CIA's mission of foreign surveillance with the FBI's mandate of domestic counterintelligence, all in one overtly political agency explicitly devoted to protecting China's Communist Party.

The MSS is now using AI and facial recognition to track foreign diplomats, military officers and intelligence operatives in Beijing's embassy district, according to a New York Times report on Wednesday citing US officials and a person with knowledge of the matter.

The system creates instant dossiers on every person of interest in the area, tracking their movements and contacts, and can be used to identify their networks and potential vulnerabilities, the Times reported.

China 's premier intelligence agency is using AI to track American spies and others with surveillance cameras in Beijing 's embassy district, according to a new report (file photo)

Chen Yixin, a longtime aide to Chinese leader Xi Jinping, leads the MSS and has pushed to raise the profile of the notoriously secretive agency

In a statement to DailyMail.com on Thursday morning, Liu Pengyu, spokesperson for China's embassy in DC, called the allegations 'malicious slander.'

'The relevant parties vilified Chinese governments deployment of modern technology for better social governance as surveillance targeting minority groups,' said Liu.

'Such remarks are nothing better than malicious slanders. China launched the Global AI Governance Initiative on October 18,' he added. 'One of the core components of the Initiative is that we should uphold a people-centered approach in developing AI and adhere to the principle of developing AI for the good of humanity, so that AI is developed in a way that is beneficial to human progress.'

China's alleged advanced spy-tracking program underscores the prominent role of advanced technology in the emerging rivalry between the MSS and the CIA.

'For China in particular, exploiting the existing technology or trade secrets of others has become a popular shortcut encouraged by the government,' Yun Sun, director of the China program at the Stimson Center in DC, told the Times.

'The urgency and intensity of technological espionage have increased significantly.'

While China has long sought to pilfer the advanced technologies and trade secrets of other countries, the CIA is now pouring increased resources into gathering information on Chinese advances in AI and quantum computing, according to the Times.

David Cohen, the CIA's deputy director, told the newspaper that the agency has ramped up its focus on collecting information on Chinese technological advances.

'We've been counting tanks and understanding the capability of missiles for longer than we have been as sharply focused on the capability of semiconductors or AI algorithms or biotech equipment,' Cohen told the Times.

The former head of the MSS, Chen Wenqing, was promoted to China's Politburo in October 2022, the first spymaster to be elevated to such a high-level role in decades.

Chinese President Xi Jinping, bottom center, and senior members of the government are seen at the 20th National Congress of the Communist Party of China in October 2022

A Chinese policeman patrols outside the US embassy in Beijing in a file photo

His replacement as head of the MSS, Chen Yixin, is a longtime aide to Chinese leader Xi Jinping, and has pushed to raise the profile of the notoriously secretive agency.

Unlike the CIA or MI6, the MSS still does not have a public-facing website or any public contact information.

But Chen has launched social media accounts for MSS, including one on WeChat where the agency proclaimed: 'The United States' multifaceted obstruction, containment and suppression will only make China more battle hardened and self-reliant.'

In addition to its high-tech focus, the MSS has also been increasing its efforts to recruit American citizens as spies.

In one such case, American college student Glenn Shriver was recruited while studying abroad in Shanghai, by MSS handlers who offered him cash and encouraged him to apply for jobs at the US State Department and CIA.

Shriver pleaded guilty to conspiring to commit espionage for a foreign government and was sentenced to a four-year prison term in 2011.

He later admitted he was motivated by 'greed' and filmed a public service video for the FBI, imploring other American students not to fall into the same trap that he had.

American college student Glenn Shriver (left) was recruited by MSS while studying abroad in Shanghai, while Kun Shan Chun (right), a naturalized US citizen, was approached while working at the FBI with a top-secret clearance

The case, which garnered little media attention at the time, set off alarm bells in the intelligence community, as it showed Beijing's growing ambition to recruit young Americans without ethnic or family ties to China.

In another case, Kun Shan Chun, a naturalized US citizen, was sentenced to 24 months in prison in March 2016 for acting as an agent of China.

Chun, an FBI employee with a top-secret clearance, handed the Chinese government information about FBI surveillance methods, and details of an FBI agent's travel arrangements.

Last year, the first Chinese government intelligence officer to ever be extradited to the United States to stand trial was sentenced to 20 years in prison for espionage crimes and attempting to steal trade secrets.

Yanjun Xu, 42, was sentenced at the federal court in Cincinnati in November 2022 after he targeted American aviation companies to solicit trade secrets and recruited employees to travel to China on behalf of the Chinese government.

The 42-year-old had been working for the MSS when he was arrested during a business trip to Belgium in 2018.
Gardai are on high alert over mounting fears of reprisals following the killing of a suspected gunman on Christmas Eve.

Tristan Sherry stormed into Browne's Steakhouse in Blanchardstown and opened fire.

However, he was overpowered in the Dublin pub after failing to escape via a back door, and was then stabbed nearly 30 times in front of shocked onlookers. He died shortly after.

It is understood Mr Sherry had targeted a father and son, who were having dinner at the time, over a long-running gangland feud.

Sources said tensions are on a knife-edge as a bounty for the getaway driver's location and another suspected shooter who fled the scene has risen to thousands of euro.

Sherry was overpowered in the Dublin pub after failing to escape via a back door, and was then stabbed to death nearly 30 times in front of shocked onlookers

Multiple sources told the Irish Daily Mail they believe the horror attack is linked to a feud in the Corduff area of west Dublin which has been ongoing for several years.

Innocent female relatives of gang members are being moved to avoid being targeted by attacks following the dramatic events that unfolded in the restaurant.

A man in his 40s, who was understood to have been one of the targets of the attack, was shot in the neck. He remains in a serious condition in hospital.

A getaway car, a white Audi, fled the scene once the driver realised the attack had gone wrong.

Gardai are also now trying to locate one of the guns involved in the shooting which disappeared following the attack.

Gardai believe reprisal attacks could happen 'at any time' and sources said it's now a question of 'when, not if' they happen.

Officers remain on high alert with increased uniformed and armed patrols.

Sources said there have also been a growing number of rewards offered to members of the public by gangland figures for information leading to the identification of the getaway driver and the other shooter.

There are also security arrangements being made for innocent family members of the gang. One security source said: 'In the initial aftermath of the shooting, posts were put out on social media offering 1,000 for information on one individual.

Tristan Sherry stormed into Browne's Steakhouse in Blanchardstown and opened fire

'Since then, there have been other rewards offered, more than 1,000. These are being offered for information on the location of specific people that the Corduff gang believe were directly behind the attack or were the person driving the getaway car.

'Not just this, gardai are also aware of several women and children who are directly related to targets of these rewards who have moved home and been brought to safety, such is the fear that there will be petrol bomb attacks or shootings through windows.

'There is a real fear among these people as well as the gardai. The guards are also aware that there is a machine pistol still missing and they're looking at where it could have gone. They have their suspicions but right now they are focused on keeping the peace in the area.'

Another source told the Mail: 'There's been a feud since around 2019 involving a very serious drug gang based out in Corduff. They've been at war with a Finglas-based drug gang run by a young man who has been nicknamed Mr Flashy. There have been several shootings and fire attacks on homes and cars due to this feud.

'There was even an incident when a man was attacked with a machete in a Garda station over this feud.

Gardai are also now trying to locate one of the guns involved in the shooting which disappeared following the attack (Pictured: A forensic investigator at the scene in Blanchardstown, Dublin)

A getaway car, a white Audi, fled the scene once the driver realised the attack had gone wrong

Gardai outside Browne's Steakhouse in Blanchardstown on Christmas morning, following the shocking shooting incident

'It was warned that it would be a matter of time before a murder and it has happened. Sherry was known to gardai for his involvement in crime, especially his links to organised criminals.

'What appears to have happened is he went in firing shots at the two men but was overpowered and beaten and stabbed to death. It also looks like the men in the Audi outside realised that things had not gone to plan and sped off.

'What we're likely to see now is a ramping up of retaliations.

'Both sides of this feud are feared organised crime gangs who specialise in drug trafficking. The Finglas group have links to the Westies gang, which was a serious outfit over the last two decades where the other side have their own pedigree.

'The thing about this feud is that there are so many moving pieces. People who were once loyal to one gang are now on the other side and vice versa.'

Taoiseach Leo Vardakar said he was 'shocked' to hear about the shooting at 'a family restaurant I've visited many times'.

Sherry's 'heartbroken' mother, Marey Hand, has now set up a fundraising page with an an aim to raise 7,000 (approximately 6,077) to cover funeral costs

This is the shocking moment a diner screams 'someone's about to get whacked in front of me' as a gunman storms a Dublin steakhouse and takes aim at a father and son

He wrote on Twitter/X: 'Full Garda investigation under way. My thanks to them and solidarity to staff and customers.' Justice Minister Helen McEntee said that the attack taking place where families had gathered was 'disgusting'.

She added: 'I deplore the violence in Blanchardstown tonight. This viciousness has resulted in unimaginable human suffering this Christmas.

'That anyone could perpetrate such violence as families gathered together is especially disgusting.'

A GoFundMe set up for money for Mr Sherry's funeral has since been deleted, after setting a target of 7,000 to help with costs.

It had purportedly been set up by a member of Tristan Sherry's family.

Taoiseach Leo Vardakar said he was 'shocked' to hear about the shooting at 'a family restaurant I've visited many times'

The page read: 'We made this [appeal] to raise money for his funeral cost in this difficult time. We are absolutely heartbroken that this has happened.

'He was well known for his love of motorcycles and loved by many. He was an amazing son, brother, father and friend. We can't believe life has to go on without him.'

This has been the second gangland murder of the year. It comes after Brandon Ledwidge, who was in his 20s, was shot dead as he opened the door of his home in Finglas, north Dublin, last month. Gardai do not believe the two shootings are linked at this time.
Conservative firebrand Lauren Boebert has announced she will switch congressional districts for the 2024 election, after scraping to re-election in 2022 by only 546 votes.

Boebert, a 37-year-old grandmother and mother of four sons, said that she had made the decision to continue her fight against 'the socialists and communists taking over our country.'

She said there was 'dark money' directed at her personally 'to steal this seat'. And she said it was a fresh start after her divorce and 'personal mistakes'.

Boebert made headlines over the summer after she was caught on camera groping a date, vaping and taking selfies at a performance of the musical Beetlejuice in Denver, and then giving ushers the finger when she was asked to leave and declaring: 'Do you know who I am?' She also sparked controversy by heckling Joe Biden in his 2022 State of the Union address, and caused anger by making an Islamophobic joke about Ilhan Omar of Minnesota.

Boebert announced her switch of districts in a Facebook video published on Wednesday, saying: 'I did not arrive at this decision easily.

Boebert is pictured with Donald Trump in February 2022. She remains a staunch supporter of the former president

Lauren Boebert on Wednesday announced that she would not contest Colorado's 3rd Congressional District - which she narrowly won in 2022. Instead, she will switch to Colorado's 4th

'A lot of prayer, a lot of tough conversations and a lot of perspective convinced me that this is the best way I can continue to fight for Colorado, for the conservative movement and for my children's future.'

She said the Hollywood elites, Aspen money men and George Soros who tried to stop her can 'go and pound sand'.

The decision makes her re-election chances significantly stronger.

The 3rd District leans 9 percentage points in Republicans' favor, The Colorado Sun reported - while the 4th District leans 27 points toward the GOP, according to a nonpartisan analysis of election results from 2016 to 2020 by staffers for the Colorado legislature.

She has struggled to fundraise for her 3rd District reelection bid, the paper reported, and Republican donors in western Colorado have lost their enthusiasm for her brand of fiery pro-Trump politics.

Ryan Reynolds and Barbra Streisand are among stars who were trying to unseat her by donating to her Democrat rival's campaign.

The A-Listers have been joined by Eagles founder Don Henley, actor and director Rob Reiner, as well as Johnny Cash's daughter Rosanne Cash in donating to Adam Frisch's 2023 campaign.

Boebert, seen in October in Congress, faced losing her re-election campaign in 2024

Hollywood elites such as actor Ryan Reynolds (right), founding member of the Eagles Don Henley (center), EGOT winner Barbra Streisand (left) have donated to Adam Frisch's campaign

Data shows Reynolds has donated $1,500 to Frisch's campaign, Henley has donated $6,600, Streisand has donated $1,000, Reiner has donated $3,300 and Cash has donated $550.

Boebert's decision is good news for the Republican party, which feared she would lose.

It does not mean the 3rd District will vote Democrat - the district hasn't sent a Democrat to Congress since 2008 - but it does mean that a more moderate Republican can take the seat.

Grand Junction attorney Jeff Hurd, who is supported by a number of big-name Republicans and the conservative editorial board of The Colorado Springs Gazette, was challenging Boebert for her seat.

Carbondale investor Russ Andrews and Delta County business owner Curtis McCrackin are also in the race.

Boebert said on Wednesday she would move her family to the 4th District - even though she does not have to do so to qualify.

Boebert's divorce from Jason, 36, her husband of 18 years and father to her four children, was finalized in October after the couple's shock split in May

Boebert and her date, Quinn Gallagher, sparked outrage in September after they were caught on camera fondling each other at a Denver performance of Beetlejuice, and were kicked out of the theater

Boebert is seen baring her teeth in the theater lobby after being ejected and also gave staff the finger

At present, she lives in Garfield County, near the town of Silt - hundreds of miles from the 4th District's boundaries.

The 4th District spans the entire eastern border of Colorado, and all the land east of Denver stretching from Oklahoma in the south to Nebraska in the north, and east to Kansas.

The 3rd District, by contrast, stretched over the western border of the state, encompassing the wealthy mountain towns of Aspen and Telluride.

The 4th District is currently represented by Ken Buck, but Buck announced in November he would not run for re-election in 2024.

Buck, 64, said he considers himself a conservative aligned with Ronald Reagan, and adheres to individual liberty and economic freedom. He said he was stepping down partly in dismay at his colleagues' refusal to accept the 2020 election result, and partly because Congress was no longer able to get anything done.

Boebert is far from the only Republican seeking to replace Buck, but her $1.4 million war chest will certainly help her campaign.

She faces competition from conservative talk radio host Deborah Flora; former state senators Jerry Sonnenberg and Ted Harvey; and state representative Richard Holtorf.
There's more monkey business afoot at Fota Wildlife Park after it welcomed a new endangered species recently.

A Francois' langur monkey was born on November 22 to mother Mei and dad Shinobi, the park announced yesterday.

It is the first time this type of monkey has been born at the Co. Cork park.

A Francois' langur monkey was born on November 22 to mother Mei and dad Shinobi, the park announced yesterday

The Francois' langur monkey is classified as endangered by the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN).

The monkey's mother, Mei, who was born in 2016, and her younger sister Kaili, who was born in 2018, made their journey to Fota Wildlife Park from the UK's Twycross Zoo in September last year as part of a European Endangered Breeding Programme (EEP).

Teresa Power, lead ranger at Foot Wildlife Park, said they hope the birth of this baby will help 'raise awareness about the critical need for conservation efforts'.
Vinyl sales are at their highest annual level since the start of the 90's, industry analysis suggests, driven by artists like Taylor Swift and The Rolling Stones.

Some 5.9million units of vinyl were sold this year and sales are growing at their fastest rate so far this decade, according to an analysis by the British Phonographic Industry (BPI).

The trade body of the recorded music industry said sales of vinyl recordings increased by 11.7 per cent in the first 51 weeks of 2023. This was about four times more than the 2.9 per cent increase in sales the previous year.

This is the 16th consecutive year in the UK that vinyl sales have risen. At its low point in 2007 barely 200,000 LPs were sold.

Using data from the Official Charts Company, the BPI revealed that Swift's 1989 (Taylor's Version) was the top selling vinyl album in 2023.

Using data from the Official Charts Company, the BPI revealed that Swift's 1989 (Taylor's Version) was the top selling vinyl album in 2023

She was followed by the Stones's new release Hackney Diamonds, with Lana Del Rey's album Did You Know That There's A Tunnel Under Ocean Blvd in third.

Swift was also in fourth spot with Speak Now (Taylor's Version), with Fleetwood Mac's classic Rumours next in the list.

Blur's first new album in eight years, The Ballad of Darren, was in sixth slot, followed by Pink Floyd's The Dark Side of the Moon, Swift's Midnights, Olivia Rodrigo's Guts and Lewis Capaldi's Broken By Desire To Be Heavenly Sent.

CDs also registered their lowest decline in nearly a decade with nearly 11million of them sold across the year.

Added to this sales of cassettes topped 100,000 units for the fourth year running.

But more than four fifths of recorded music consumption is still made up of streaming.

Swift was followed by the Rolling Stones's new release Hackney Diamonds

The trade body of the recorded music industry said sales of vinyl recordings increased by 11.7 per cent in the first 51 weeks of 2023

The top selling CD in 2023 was Take That's album This Life, followed by Swift's 1989 (Taylor's Version) followed by The Rolling Stones and Capaldi albums as well as Ed Sheeran's most recent album.

The best-selling cassette was Rodrigo's Guts, followed by Sheeran's album and Kylie Minogue's Tension.

Seven of the top ten biggest vinyl sellers were new releases and 40 per cent of the top 100 most purchased vinyl LPs of 2023 were put out in the past two years.

Rumours is set to be among the top-ten selling vinyl albums for the eighth consecutive time. Other big sellers included Oasis' The Masterplan and Wham's The Singles - Echoes from the Edge of Heaven.

Dr Jo Twist OBE, BPI Chief Executive, said: 'Led by vinyl, the resurgence of physical product underlines the resilience of the UK music market at a time when streaming consumption continues to hit record levels.

'Whilst LP sales have now been on an upward path for the past 16 years, it is encouraging to see a stabilisation in demand for CD, as well as new generations of music fans falling in love with the cassette.

'It is giving people more choice than ever in how they enjoy their favourite music.'
Erin Patterson's two-storey home has been broken into by thieves as the accused mushroom chef spends Christmas alone behind bars.

The alleged thieves were caught on CCTV entering the property in Leongatha, in Victoria's Gippsland region, on Christmas Day.

They are accused of stealing a car, a TV and vacuum cleaners and removing CCTV cameras from the home - which has been broken into three times in the last month.

Patterson's friend shared a photo of one of the alleged vandals on social media.

A man is seen standing on the property's porch wearing a black hoodie, cap and a mask that covers his nose and mouth.

'We have had a friend's house broken into in Leongatha three times over the last month or so, last time being Christmas morning,' the friend said.

Erin Patterson is seen returning home to her Leongatha home on August 8, before she was hit with three counts of murder and five counts of attempted murder

The alleged thieves were caught on CCTV entering the property in Leongatha, in Victoria's Gippsland region, on Christmas Day (pictured)

Patterson's friend shared a photo of one of the alleged vandals on social media (pictured)

READ MORE: What Erin Patterson will be having for Christmas dinner in notorious Dame Phyllis Frost women's prison Advertisement

'This time they stole a car, TVs, vacuums. I have finally been able to retrieve CCTV footage from the second time they broke into the property and removed all the outside cameras.

'Police caught a couple of offenders from the first burglary where they stole a heap of things and we are now thinking they took all spare keys, car keys etc and were not retrieved by the police at the time.

'They have obviously passed the keys on to mates to come and go from the house as they please.'

It's unclear whether any of the mushroom chef's friends or family have been staying in the home while she's behind bars.

Daily Mail Australia has contacted Victoria Police for comment.

Patterson, 49, is currently being housed in the protection wing of the Dame Phyllis Frost Centre in Melbourne's western industrial suburbs.

She was one of 40,600 inmates spending Christmas in 116 prisons around Australia.

The mother-of-two has been charged with three counts of murder after her former parents-in-law Don and Gail Patterson, both 70, and Gail's sister Heather Wilkinson, 66, died after eating a beef Wellington pie at a family meal on July 29.

Patterson has also been charged with five counts of attempted murder, which relate to the sole survivor of the lunch - Heather's husband Ian, 68 - and four alleged attempts to kill her ex-husband, Simon Patterson.

The accused mushroom chef is a world away from the home she lovingly built but which was the scene of the beef wellington pie lunch.

Patterson, 49, is currently being housed in the protection wing of the Dame Phyllis Frost Centre in Melbourne's western industrial suburbs (she is pictured addressing media)

A police officer and a sniffer dog is seen searching the property in Leongatha in November

The accused mushroom chef is a world away from the home she lovingly built but which was the scene of the beef wellington pie lunch (pictured, the Leongatha property)

Lawyer Ophelia Hollway (centre) is seen at the Leongatha property on November 2

This will likely be the first Christmas she cannot see her children, who are aged in their early teens.

Patterson can receive visits from friends or her children, but not on Christmas Day when the state's public prisons are closed to visitors.

The kids will have to visit on other days during the holidays, although it is unclear who would accompany the young teens into the jail at Deer Park.

Patterson was arrested at her home on November 2 before specialist teams with sniffer dogs carried out a search of her home in Leongatha, where the alleged deadly lunch took place almost five months ago.

She was then taken to Wonthaggi police station, where she was later charged and spent the night in a cell before appearing at LaTrobe Valley Magistrates' Court.

Prosecutors requested a 20-week delay before her next appearance so computer equipment seized from her home could be analysed.

Patterson made no attempt at bail, but her lawyer, Ben Doogue, is expected to make an application in coming weeks.

She is next due before the court on May 3, and is expected to appear via video link.

Patterson has not entered a plea to any charge and Daily Mail Australia does not suggest she is guilty, but is simply on remand.
Australia's bestselling cars like the Toyota HiLux ute, popular SUVs and giant American pick-up trucks will become a thing of the past under new laws mandating strict emission standards.

Transport Minister Catherine King last week announced new cars sold from December 2025 - including four-wheel drives and utes - would be required to comply with European 'noxious emissions standards'.

The pollution-slashing move could force manufacturers to sell European versions of their bestselling cars in Australia to comply with the new Euro 6d rules - meaning fully electric or hybrid versions.

Next generation light cars, SUVs and commercial vehicles being introduced in Australia from December 2025 will all have to comply with the Albanese government's strict climate change requirements.

Existing production models will be allowed to be sold until 2028, but would then be banned unless the petrol or diesel engines were replaced with modern versions that emitted less carbon and pollutants.

Australia's bestselling cars like the Toyota HiLux ute, popular SUVs and giant American pick-up trucks (Ford F-350 pictured) will become a thing of the past under new laws mandating strict emission standards

Transport Minister Catherine King last week announced new cars sold from December 2025 - including four-wheel drives and utes - would be required to comply with European 'noxious emissions standards' (pictured is a Toyota HiLux)

In a statement, Minister King said: 'Following thorough consultation with industry and the community, new versions of new cars  including SUVs and light commercial vehicles  sold from December 2025 will need to comply with Euro 6d noxious emissions standards.'

Labor's plan to reduce carbon emissions by 43 per cent by 2030 could also see Australia adopt other aspects of Euro 6d, beyond reducing aromatic hydrocarbons in 95-octane petrol.

Cars that complied with the Euro 6d rule have, on average, produced less than 162 grams of carbon dioxide per kilometre, tests by UK consumer group Which? showed.

That would mean the Toyota HiLux, Australia's tradie favourite, would no longer be available as a just a petrol or diesel.

Australia's bestselling car overall in 2023 produces 210 grams for every kilometre.

The Ford Ranger - Australia's bestseller during six months of this year - emits 202 grams of CO2 per kilometre.

But next year, Toyota is introducing a hybrid HiLux in Australia while Ford from 2025 will be selling a plug-in hybrid version of the Ranger.

Several SUVs fall foul of the Euro 6d rule, including even the small Mitsubishi ASX, with Australian Automobile Association testing showing it produced 186 grams of CO2 per kilometre.

The Hyundai Tucson produced 164g/km while the MG ZS, a regular in the monthly top ten, emitted 174g/km, the same test showed.

The Toyota LandCruiser's future would be in doubt as a large four-wheel drive without a hybrid version, because the 300 Series model puts out 253 grams of carbon per kilometre, a separate analysis by the National Transport Commission found.

The six-metre long Ford F-150 American pick-up truck emits 256 grams of carbon a kilometre, which means it would only survive if the fully-electric Lightning version was imported into Australia.

The EV versions of the RAM 1500 and Chevrolet Silverado would also have to come to Australia to continue being sold at dealerships.

Private imports of even larger pick-up trucks, like the Ford F-350, could also be in jeopardy under these new rules.

The existing Ford Ranger (pictured) emits more carbon dioxide per kilometre that new regulations would allow

The Toyota LandCruiser's future would be in doubt without a hybrid version, emitting 253 grams of carbon per kilometre

New emissions rules EURO 6D: 162 grams of carbon/km TOYOTA HILUX: 210g of CO2/km FORD RANGER: 202g of CO2/km TOYOTA LANDCRUISER: 253g of CO2/km Advertisement

But medium hybrid cars like the Toyota RAV4 would pass for now, with this SUV emitting 111 grams per kilometre.

The 2.0 litre petrol version would also get through with Australian Automobile Association testing showing it emitted 155 grams of carbon per kilometre.

Some hatchbacks, however, could be in danger with a late model Hyundai i30 emitting 172 grams per kilometre.

The Toyota Corolla hybrid produced 97 grams per kilometre, compared with 139 grams for the petrol version.

The typical car sold just two years ago would fail to pass the new emission rules.

The Bureau of Infrastructure, Transport and Regional Economics estimated new vehicles sold in Australia in 2021 emitted 173.6 grams of carbon per kilometre on average, down from 181 grams in 2019.

By comparison, the typical new European car produced 115 grams of CO2/km compared with 169 grams in the US.

Euro 6d debuted in 2017 but was updated in 2020.

The cars producing 162 grams of CO2 per kilometre three years ago would soon struggle to comply with EU aspirations of cars producing 95 grams of CO2/km by 2025, as light commercial vehicles had a 147 grams/km limit.

A National Strategy on Energy Efficiency in 2009 recommended the introduction of CO2 emission standards for light vehicles in Australia.

It is the second measure Prime Minister Anthony Albanese's Labor government has introduced in a matter of weeks to force motorists to buy more fuel efficient cars, following a crackdown on hybrids announced in Treasury's Mid-Year Economic and Fiscal Outlook.

The government announced earlier this month that from July 1, 2025, a car selling for more than $76,950 will incur the luxury car tax unless it used less than 3.5 litres for every 100km.

That means a Lexus RX 350h front-wheel drive hybrid, priced from $87,500, would incur a 33 per cent tax for every dollar above the $76,950 threshold - adding up to $3,481.50 - because it used more than five litres per 100km.

The existing rule allows cars to escape the luxury car tax threshold if they use less than seven litres per 100 kilometres. The new measure is designed to push Australians to consider electric cars.

The federal government is already cracking down on hybrids to encourage luxury car buyers to choose a fully-electric car. This will affect those buying an $87,500 Lexus RX 350h (pictured)

Existing production models will be allowed to be sold until 2028, but would be banned unless the petrol or diesel engines were replaced with modern versions that emitted less carbon (pictured is a Toyota HiLux)

Like Australia, the EU has a net zero by 2050 target. But unlike Australia, the European Parliament in February passed a law banning the sale of new petrol and diesel cars from 2035.

Even if Australia doesn't copy this approach, large four-wheel drives and utes face extinction within five years unless they are sold as hybrids or fully-electric cars.

From January to November, Australia's three bestsellers - the Toyota HiLux (55,968 sales), Ford Ranger (55,589 sales) and Isuzu D-Max (28,369 sales) - were all available as a diesel.

The Federal Chamber of Automotive Industries data also had the LandCruiser at No.7 for the year to date with 24,055 sales.

The fully-electric Tesla Model Y, however, outsold it with 27,418 sales in sixth position.

The Tesla Model 3 was 14th overall with 16,506 sales, ahead of another Chinese-made all-electric BYD Atto 3 in 27th place with 10,286 sales.

Australians haven't quite embraced huge American pick-up trucks with the RAM 1500 coming in at No. 59 with 5,639 orders.

The Chinese LDV T60 was well ahead of its in 36th place with 8,334 leaving the showroom - and it's available as a fully-electric dual cab ute.
Six members of the same family have been killed after their minivan was hit head-on by a Chevrolet pickup truck being driven by a 17-year-old going the wrong way on the highway.

Rushil Barri, 28, who was driving the Honda Odyssey, had taken his relatives to Fossil Rim Wildlife Center and was driving home to Irving, Texas when the crash happened.

Barri, who moved to the U.S. from India in August 2020, was killed along with five of his six passengers: his cousin, his cousin's wife, two young children and in-laws, all from Alpharetta, Georgia.

A seventh person in the Honda Odyssey, a 43-year-old man, suffered critical injuries.

Rushil Barri, 28, had moved to Texas from India in August 2020. He was killed on Tuesday in a head-on car crash, when a pickup truck traveling the wrong way smashed into his car

The five dead were named as Naveena Potabathula, 36; Nageswararao Ponnada, 64; Sitamahalakshmi Ponnada, 60; and the children, Krithik Potabathula, 10, and Nishidha Potabathula, 9.

The 17-year-old driver of the Chevrolet pickup and his 17-year-old passenger were also taken to hospital with critical injuries.

Barri's roommate Ayyappala Bandaru told NBC News that at 4:01pm on Tuesday a message was sent from his friend's iPhone, saying the phone registered a crash.

'We were in shock like what just happened,' said Bandaru.

'We tried reaching everyone in the car and no one is picking up.'

The two severely damaged vehicles - a Honda Odyssey and a Chevrolet pickup truck - are seen following Tuesday's crash on the U.S. 67 in Johnson County

The accident happened at 4pm on Tuesday, as the family was returning from a day at Fossil Rim Wildlife Center

Ambulances and fire trucks are pictured on the scene of Tuesday's crash

Ayyappala Bandaru (left), Barri's roommate, said they were 'like brothers' and praised his friend's ambition

He said Barri was ambitious and driven.

'We were like brothers,' Bandaru said. 'He's actually like my brother over here.

'He had very big dreams. He always used to think about tomorrow. He used to be like 'Man, we need to rule this world.'

'We came here with a lot of struggles.'

Sergeant William Lockridge of Texas department of public safety said it was unclear why the 17-year-old was driving the wrong way.

'For an unknown reason at this time, the Chevrolet pickup truck traveled into the northbound lane and struck the Honda Odyssey head-on,' he said.
The ex-girlfriend of the man accused of stabbing two teenage girls on vacation from South America at Grand Central Terminal has claimed he was a stalker who belonged in jail.

Steven Hutcherson, 36, allegedly got into an argument with staff at Tartinery, who told him he could not sit in the restaurant's seating area.

That argument led to the attack on the innocent girls, aged 16 and 14, who were visiting from Paraguay.

Charisma Knight, 37, who dated Hutcherson for three months in 2021 and then again for nine months until October 2022, told the New York Post that he allegedly threatened to kill her 'at least five times' in the past year.

She also claimed he became more deranged after he kept refusing to take his meds for schizophrenia and bipolar disorder during their relationship

Steven Hutcherson, 36, is believed to have gotten into an argument with staff at Tartinery who told him he could not sit in the restaurant's seating area. That argument led to the attack on the two innocent girls, aged 16 and 14, who were visiting from Paraguay

Knight explained that she had repeatedly contacted authorities to warn them of his condition and the damage he could cause.

'I called the police all the time and said 'he's bipolar and schizophrenic, he needs help, he needs help.' These people actually do need help. If you're just letting them go he might just kill somebody.

'He should have been in a mental institution where he cannot come out and they can monitor him taking his medication.

'I feel like sometimes he wants to die. He says and does these things to people because he wants them to react so that he doesn't have to kill himself.

'If he would have got the right help that he needed, and either stayed in jail and got psychiatric help, or in a mental institution and getting help, this would never have happened. The girls would never have been stabbed,' she told the Post.

Knight also claims that Hutcherson was deeply involved in conspiracy theories, watching videos on YouTube about Malcolm X, wars and learning 'how to train to fight with a knife'.

'He swore the government was after him. I knew this was gonna happen because if you look at his Facebook account with all the rants that he's doing with the police, it's crazy,' Knight added, referring to the Grand Central attack.

'When he would go to work some days I would stay at his house and just be in his house until he gets home. He'll come back and be like, 'somethings funny with this seasoning,' or 'something's funny with the creamer. I think the FBI came in and put something in my coffee',' she further said.

'I would tell him it wasn't true because I was in the house all day.'

The man who stabbed two teenage girls on vacation from South America at Grand Central Terminal's has 17 prior arrests and was just let out of jail two weeks before he said 'I want all the white people dead' during his attack

Knight also claims that Hutcherson was deeply involved in conspiracy theories, watching videos on YouTube about Malcolm X, wars and learning 'how to train to fight with a knife'

The distressed woman said Hutcherson thought the mold growing in his bathroom was planted by the police and suspected a close friend of being an FBI informant.

Knight speculated that the reason the accused stabber attacked the teens was because he was 'estranged from his mother and never recovered from her death some two decades ago'.

'He gets depressed around the holidays. Around October, he starts thinking about his mom and thinking about how he has no one. Around Thanksgiving and Christmas, he's weird  extremely weird.

'Being that it was Christmas, it triggered something in him, whether he was mad that it was like a family setting that they were having and they was enjoying themselves,' she theorized.

Knight's revelations come after it was disclosed that Hutcherson had 17 prior arrests and was just let out of jail two weeks before he said 'I want all the white people dead' during his attack.

Yussif Abdullahi, 46, said that he was the victim of a November 7 attack in the Bronx after he saw Hutcherson - who is homeless and is plagued with mental health problems - harassing a woman before pulling on a gun on him and making similar anti-white threats.

'Why are you working for white people? I'm going to kill this man! I'm gonna shoot you. I don't care what kind of green card the government gave you,' Hutcherson said, according to police.

Hutcherson is believed to have got in an argument with staff at Tartinery (pictured) who told him he could not sit in the restaurant's area (file photo)

Knight speculated that the reason the accused stabber attacked the teens was because he was 'estranged from his mother and never recovered from her death some two decades ago'

Abdullahi - who was working outside a freight truck depot at the time - thought that Hutcherson was possibly 'high and going crazy,' according to the New York Post.

'I was thinking maybe he was just saying it and didn't mean it,' he said.

Then, Hutcherson told Abdullahi: 'Open your mouth and say something. I will shoot you right now.'

Hutcherson then walked away but less than a half hour later, he sucker-punched another man, police said.

He was eventually arrested while in possession of a knife at a gas station and charged with criminal possession of a weapon, menacing, harassment and assault. They did not find a gun on him.

Hutcherson pled guilty to a misdemeanor assault charge but was given conditional discharge on December 12 by Judge Matthew V. Grieco.

Abdullahi said it was the most dangerous thing he'd ever faced since he emigrated to the United States from Ghana in 2008.

'They shouldn't have let him out [of jail]. I don't believe it,' he said after learning of Hutcherson's stabbing attack.

'He gets depressed around the holidays. Around October, he starts thinking about his mom and thinking about how he has no one. Around Thanksgiving and Christmas, he's weird  extremely weird,' she theorized

The distressed woman said Hutcherson thought the mold growing in his bathroom was planted by the police and suspected a close friend of being an FBI informant

The girls, aged 14 and 16, were touring the city with their parents when they were suddenly attacked.

The stabbing happened around 11:25am on Christmas when the family had stopped for an early lunch.

The suspect, identified as Hutcherson, a Bronx resident, allegedly told the girls, 'I want all the white people dead.'

When Hutcherson complained that the two victims were being allowed to sit in the restaurant, he allegedly pulled out a knife and stabbed them both.

Hutcherson was arrested in under a minute as MTA police swooped in from their nearby posts.

One of the girls was stabbed in the thigh while the other was stabbed in the back, nicking her lung.

Both victims were taken to Bellevue Hospital.

Hutcherson has been charged with attempted murder, assault, criminal possession of a weapon and endangering the welfare of a child.
A young policeman has hit a high note with revellers after taking over as DJ at a beach rave.

Several videos have gone viral of the uniformed NSW officer getting into the party spirit over the festive season after police were called to a rave at the unpatrolled Turimetta beach in Sydney's north.

Surrounded by cheering revellers dancing in a marque, the young officer put on the headphones as he took over the DJ turntable.

Moments later, he handed the headphones back, thanked the appreciative crowd and farewelled his adoring new fans by waving his hands in the air.

The policeman showed off his DJ skills to delighted revellers at a rave held on Sydney's northern beaches

'Welcome to Australia where the police get on the DJ decks instead of shutting the party down,' one TikTok video was captioned.

Another reveller who also shared footage added: 'To protect and serve the beats. It's a Christmas miracle!'

A third attendee claimed online that police 'let the party keep going until at least sunrise'.

The footage attracted thousands of views within hours as viewers commended the officer for letting his hair down.

'Policing 101. Great job,' one viewer wrote.

A woman added: 'Good to see the cops having a laugh they are human too.'

Another wrote: 'The handcuffs definitely weren't being used for arrests after that set.'

NSW Police is aware of social media of an officer 'engaging' with revellers at an event

The NSW Police Force's TikTok account also weighed in with a light hearted response.

'This is defs going viral,' the force commented.

But some viewers doubted police would have been so lenient if the rave had been held elsewhere.

'If this was in western Sydney there'd be tear gas lol,' one man quipped.

A police spokeswoman said the Force was aware of footage of an officer 'engaging with the community at an event on the Northern Beaches.'

'Officers patrolling in the area attended and did their best to ensure the safety of everyone at the event, a spokeswoman told Daily Mail Australia.

Do you know more? Email tips@dailymail.com.
Gypsy Rose Blanchard's final moments behind bars are set to end with little fanfare as officials hope to avoid the fervent media attention that has built over her release.

The 32-year-old has spent the last eight years in prison for orchestrating her medically abusive mother Claudine 'Dee Dee' Blanchard's murder in 2015.

While the killer, Gypsy Rose's online boyfriend Nicholas Godejohn, will serve life in prison without the possibility of parole, she is now readying to enjoy an early release from her 10-year stretch on Thursday.

While the twisted saga that landed her in prison has spawned a number of documentaries and a Hulu series, Karen Pojmann, Communications Director for the Missouri Department of Corrections, told TMZ it will be a secretive process.

Gypsy Rose Blanchard is set to be released on Thursday, after serving eight years of a 10-year prison sentence for orchestrating the murder of her medically abusive mother

The felon will be released from Chillicothe Correctional Center in Chillicothe, Missouri, with prison officials attempting to keep the moment as low-key as possible by keeping the media away and not revealing when she will leave

Claudine 'Dee Dee' Blanchard (right) convinced her daughter Gypsy Rose (left) and others that she was suffering a variety of illnesses including leukemia and muscular dystrophy. The abuse continued for years, until Gypsy Rose ordered her mother's murder to 'escape'

To steer clear of the spotlight, Missouri prison officials have ruled that no one will be allowed on the premises when Gypsy Rose is released from Chillicothe Correctional Center on December 28.

This decision will likely mean there will be no cameras to capture the moment when she first tastes freedom, or fans to welcome her.

The time Gypsy Rose will be released is also being kept under wraps, and although she has given interviews from behind bars, she will reportedly not be giving a statement or speaking to the media upon her release.

According to Pojmann, the stricter rules over the release came at Gypsy Rose's request, with the felon reportedly already making a plan for where she will live.

Fears over the safety of prison staff have also led officials to keep the parking lot off limits for her release, as a large number of fans are expected to attempt to catch a glimpse of Gypsy Rose after growing obsessed with her bizarre story.

The teen is believed to have suffered one of the highest profile cases of Munchausen Syndrome, where her mom's insistence that she suffered various made-up illnesses led her to undergo painful surgeries and take medications with adverse side effects.

Gypsy Rose ordered Godejohn, an autistic man she had met online three years prior, to murder her mom to 'escape' her control - which began when Gypsy was only three months old and her mother told doctors the infant was having trouble breathing.

She was diagnosed with sleep apnea and given breathing apparatus, the first of many instances where Dee Dee falsified her daughter's ailments.

Because of her mother's unyielding focus on Gypsy's non-existent illnesses, she was forced to use a wheelchair from a young age, and Dee Dee told her family the child was suffering a chromosomal disorder that limited her movement.

Dee Dee once conned doctors into removing Gypsy Rose's salivary glands, and was accused of a number of depraved lies including shaving her head to make it appear that she was suffering from leukemia

Dee Dee is believed to have suffered from Munchausen by proxy syndrome, as she led people to believe that her daughter was terminally ill to enjoy praise as a doting mother along with perks such as charity-funded tickets to concerts and Disney World

Gypsy Rose (left) was handed a ten-year sentence for plotting to kill her mother, while her online boyfriend Nicholas Godejohn (right) was given a life sentence

In the subsequent years, the list of diseases and illnesses that Dee Dee told people her daughter suffered from included leukemia and muscular dystrophy, as she insisted to anyone speaking to her to remember she had the 'mind of a seven-year-old.'

She would shave Gypsy Rose's head to mimic the effects of leukemia, force her to use a wheelchair 24/7, sleep with a breathing machine, and even ordered the removal of her salivary glands.

Dee Dee was also accused of plying her daughter with certain medications to mimic symptoms, such as using a topical anesthetic to numb her gums to make her drool.

It was believed Dee Dee thrived on control over her daughter, and she had previously been ostracized from her family due to suspicions she killer her mother by withholding food.

At his trial, Godejohn's lawyers described the killer as a 'low-functioning person with autism', who was 'so in love with (Gypsy Rose) and so obsessed with her that he would do anything... and Gypsy knew that'

While many of Gypsy Rose's disorders were entirely fictitious, Gypsy Rose's frequent hospital visits saw her take an array of medications that severely hampered her health. In one instance, she was diagnosed with epilepsy and prescribed Tegretol, which caused her teeth to fall out.

This also saw Dee Dee fit a feeding tube to her wheelchair, despite Gypsy Rose's ability to eat and drink normally.

After years of abuse, Gypsy Rose schemed with Godejohn to rid herself of her mother, and the two believed they would only be able to be together if she was dead.

Shortly after their first encounter in 2015, the couple began to plan Dee Dee's murder, fueled by Gypsy Rose's confessions of the abuse she had suffered throughout her life.

She later told a Discovery ID documentary that the moment the plan formed came as the couple 'were talking one night, and he said that he would do anything to protect me, and I asked him, 'Anything?' and he said, 'Yeah.'

'From anybody?' [I asked], he said 'Yeah.' 'Even my mom?' [I asked], he said 'Yes.' And that's when this kind of plan started to develop [into] a murder plot.'

According to Fox4, she sent Godejohn money to help him travel from Wisconsin to her home in Missouri, and stole a knife from Walmart for him to use in the attack.

The twisted story was told in Hulu series 'The Act', with Dee Dee portrayed by Patricia Arquette (left) and Gypsy Rose played by Joey King (right)

Questions remain over Gypsy Rose's culpability in her mother's murder, amid claims she funded her killer boyfriend's travel and provided him with the knife used in the 2015 slaying

Godejohn then arrived at the family home in Springfield in June 2015, however it is not clear the exact date of the attack as Dee Dee lay in a pool of her own blood for several days.

He was let into the home by Gypsy Rose after her mom had gone to sleep, and hid in the bathroom with her hands over her ears to mask the noise of the savage stabbing.

She told ABC News that she wanted her mom to die 'not because I hated her... it was because I wanted to escape her.'

Dee Dee was found on the morning of June 14, 2015, after being stabbed 17 times in her sleep by Godejohn.

Police were initially baffled by Gypsy Rose's disappearance after her mother's murder and believed she may have been abducted, however investigators quickly realized her home life may not have been as it first seemed.

Chilling Facebook posts announcing and celebrating Dee Dee's death led investigators to Godejohn's home in Big Bend, Wisconsin, and the two were subsequently arrested.

Now, while Gypsy Rose readies for freedom, her twisted story still raises eyebrows to this day, with Green County Sheriff Jim Arnott recently telling Ozarks First that he still has doubts about the case to this day.

'From my perspective, she was the mastermind behind the murder of her mother,' he said, feeling that the 10-year sentence she received, in response to a guilty plea, was too lenient for her role in her mother's murder.

'If she served the 85%, then it is what it is. She did her time,' he said. 'There's a lot of victims in this deal. And that's not just Deedee and it's not Gypsy. It's the entire community.'
A picture of a suburban Australian yard that appears to show a Perth resident stealing water from their elderly neighbour has sparked outrage online.

The photo, shared to Reddit on Wednesday, shows the side of a house with a hose stretching over a tall fence and into the adjacent property.

The Redditor said it was their parents' house and they had just arrived back from overseas.

'So I caught my elderly parent's neighbours stealing from my parents,' the man alleged.

'They have been away for a few weeks on holidays to visit relatives in the old country and they came back to a more than $300 water bill. Well now we know why.

'I caught the neighbour red handed, I'm assuming she thought they weren't back yet.'

The photo appears to show the neighbours have hooked their hose up to an adjacent property

The Redditor added that the neighbour gave the excuse she was 'testing' because she had seen a nearby builder doing the same thing.

'I asked the builder and he said he had used water from the another house that's just been built.'

They said the neighbour stopped responding when they asked her what exactly she was testing and why she had not asked.

'What can my parents do? They are pensioners and this is a lot of money for them.'

Commenters were furious with many labelling the act 'theft, plain and simple'.

'See how green all their trees and shrubs are... water costs a fortune,' one said.

'Make a stand for your parents now or the neighbours will think they're a soft touch and try it or something else again,' another said.

'I'm outraged on your parents behalf,' added a third.

Redditors urged the homeowner to report it after they were hit with a huge water bill

A recent WA Water Corp employee advised the proper process was to file a police report then to email Water Corp with the case number, the picture, and the details of her parents overseas travel.

They said it would then be straightforward that the charge is removed.

Others pointed out the neighbour would appear to have been trespassing to access their property and that there are cheap products available which can lock taps.

The Redditor said her parents were hesitant to 'escalate' the issue but they would do something on their behalf as they felt they shouldn't have to pay the bill.
A horrific photo of a stingray with what appear to be huge shark bites in the side is serving as a timely reminder for swimmers this summer.

The stingray washed up with two chunks of flesh missing south of the Champagne Pools at 75 Mile Beach on Queensland's K'gari - formerly known as Fraser Island - on Wednesday morning.

It was still bleeding on the beach.

The picture shocked tourists but led knowing locals to say the photo is proof why no-one should swim in the ocean off K'gari, where sharks and marine stingers are known to live.

The stingray was washed up with chunks of flesh missing south of the Champagne Pools along 75 Mile Beach on Queensland's K'Gari on Wednesday morning

Swimming in the ocean is not recommended on K'Gari due to the presence of dangerous marine life

Bond University's associate professor of Environmental Science, Daryl McPhee told Yahoo it is likely the attack was by a shark.

'There's a large variety of different shark species there and several of those shark species really like to eat stingrays,' he said.

'A lot of the whaler sharks and also tiger sharks.

He said the attack is not a rare one, as sharks are opportunistic.

'Kgari has always had a lot of sharks. The only reason why there hasnt been too many shark bites there is because simply not many people swim there.'

He also said the species of stingray is known to sometimes live in shallow waters, making it even more important for tourists to be vigilant.

Many tourists were shocked by the find, whilst some were already aware of the presence of sharks

Tourists were stunned by the savagery.

'OMG that's scary,' one wrote.

Meanwhile others were bewildered why people wanted to go into the ocean around the island.

'And people still want to swim in the surf of K'Gari,' one wrote.

'No substitute for common sense,' another said.

Others tourists saw the funny side of the shark attack.

'Surprised you got that much back - you can still get a few scallops out of it,' one wrote.
A 15-year-old boy has tragically died in a horror shark attack at a beach.

The 'seriously injured' swimmer had his leg bitten off and was pulled from the water near Ethel Beach in the Innes National Park, on the Yorke Peninsula of South Australia, about 1.30pm on Thursday.

Witnesses said the attack on the 'talented' surfer played out in front of his horrified father.

'The shark took his leg, and so another local guy ran out, jumped on his board and paddled out to help him,' one local told the Adelaide Advertiser.

'The shark was circling them as the guy pulled the boy out of the water. There was a lot of blood.

'He brought him to shore but I think it was too late by then.'

The shark attack, near Ethel Beach (pictured) in the Innes National Park, on the Yorke Peninsula, was reported to police at about 1.30pm on Thursday

Emergency services tried desperately to save the teen but his injuries were unsurvivable.

There has been and outpouring of grief in the wake of the tragic news.

'A boy with so much potential. He will hold a place in everyone's heart,' a family friend wrote on social media.

A local fisherman said that large sharks are a common sight along Marion Bay at the Innes National Park.

'We've seen some pretty big bronzies in the area, but that's normal here,' he said.

'I went to take the boat out and the road to Ethel's was blocked by rangers.

'There's no cell reception out there in the park so we didn't know what had happened until we got back to Marion Bay.'

There have sadly been several shark attacks around South Australia in recent months.

Bridgette O'Shannessy, 32, was attacked while swimming with her partner off a reef shelf at Port Noarlunga, south of Adelaide, in November

Tod Gendle, 55, was killed by a four-metre great white while surfing near Granite Rock, close to Streaky Bay, on October 31

In mid-November, Bridgette O'Shannessy, 32, was attacked while swimming with her partner off a reef shelf at Port Noarlunga, south of Adelaide.

Ms O'Shannessy had to undergo two surgeries at Flinders Medical Centre after losing some of her teeth and suffering nerve damage.

Her attack came just weeks after 55-year-old surfer Tod Gendle was mauled to death by a huge 4.2-metre Great White shark near Granite Rock south of Streaky Bay, SA.

Witnesses described the moment the shark launched at the surfer before he was dragged underwater by the animal.

South Australian woman Pamela Cook was also mauled by a shark at Beachport on October 2.

The 64-year-old was on her morning swim with local community group Beachport Sea Urchins and Slugs when she was attacked shortly before 8am.

Just months earlier in May, 46-year-old Elliston man Simon Baccanello was killed in a shark attack on Walkers Rocks Beach.
Australian government officials have turned around a huge shipment of Teslas and sent it back to China over a plague of stink bugs on board a giant vehicle carrier ship.

The Glovis Caravel, which is understood to be carrying several months worth of the American EV giant's Model Y SUV, has been circling offshore from Brisbane since October 22 as the crew battled to fumigate the cargo ship.

But after weeks of trying to decontaminate the vessel, the ship has now been refused permission to dock in Australia, and has been ordered back to Shanghai, with most of its load still on board.

The Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry confirmed multiple biohazard risks had been found on board, including an outbreak of Yellow Spotted Stink Bugs.

Thousands of affected Tesla buyers have now been told their already-delayed deliveries are on hold indefinitely while the company tries to find a solution.

Australian government officials have turned around a huge shipment of Teslas over an insect infestation on board a giant vehicle carrier ship and sent it back to China

The Glovis Caravel has been circling offshore from Brisbane since October 22 as the crew battled to fumigate the ship and wipe out a plague of stink bugs

Tesla warned customers may have to wait for the next production run before they will be able to get their new cars - with prices starting at about $70,000 for a basic Model Y.

On Friday a DAFF spokesman said the department had been 'working with a vehicle carrier to manage biosecurity risks posed by live insects detected on the vessel and its cargo'.

It added: 'There were multiple detections including Yellow Spotted Stink Bug, which poses a significant threat to Australias plant health and environment because of the damage it can do to agriculture crops, fruit and ornamental trees.

An email from Tesla seen by Daily Mail Australia told buyers the ship has now been refused entry to Australia by the government officials.

'[It] is required to return to Shanghai for further processing prior to re-entering an Australian port,' said the email.

'We are actively investigating all available options to get your Model Y to you as soon as possible.

'This may include reassigning your order to a vehicle from the next batch of production. Further details will be provided in the coming week.'

It added: 'Thank you again for your patience, we understand this has been a disappointing experience.

'However, we want to reassure you that we are doing everything we can to minimise the impact to you.'

Customers have reacted furiously online to the blow.

'Wife just got a Glovis Caravel update from Tesla. Wife not happy. Wish me luck,' said one weary husband.

'Is Glovis Caravel really heading back to China?' added another incredulously.

'What is actually going on with Glovis Caravel? Why is it taking sooo long to get the problem sorted and get out of Brisbane?

'Really...how long does it take? Does this mean our car has been treated with fumigant numerous times?'

The ship is now sailing back to China and expected to arrive in Shanghai on January 2 for further fumigation treatments before it may try to return to Brisbane.

One customer said he had been told by Tesla the delay was caused by 'seeds and a biohazard' aboard the ship, with deliveries now put back five months until March.

Those with a Model Y (pictured) on board say they have been told there is no other way they can get their new car quicker than waiting for the ship to return

The Glovis Caravel is now headed back to China and expected to arrive at Shanghai on January 2 for further fumigation treatments before it may try to return to Brisbane

As a gesture of goodwill, it's claimed the car manufacturer will offer the delayed buyers six months of Tesla's enhanced autopilot driving system - although only some purchasers have been told of that offer.

Those with a Model Y on board say they have been told there is no other way they can get their new car quicker than waiting for the ship to return.

However, several mid-range Model 3 vehicles are available immediately from Tesla showrooms.

Another Tesla delivery a year ago ran into similar problems with a ship delayed for weeks as it fought a similar insect infestation before finally being allowed to dock, delaying Australian deliveries from Christmas 2022 until the middle of February.

Daily Mail Australia has contacted Tesla for comment.

Glovis Caravel was ordered to leave New Zealand in 2018 after 600 stink bugs were found on board while the vessel was anchored in Auckland.
Louisiana has become the latest state asked to judge whether Donald Trump should be on their ballot, after a woman from the New Orleans suburbs filed a law suit echoing those filed in multiple other states.

Ashley Reeb, from Chalmette, filed the suit on December 22 in East Baton Rouge Parish, seeking to keep Trump off their state's March primary ballot.

As with other lawsuits nationwide, Reeb argues that Trump's actions on January 6, 2021 amounted to insurrection, and therefore disqualify him from the presidency.

In Colorado, the state Supreme Court ruled on December 19 Trump was ineligible to be on the ballot. The case is expected to be appealed to the U.S. Supreme Court.

States across the country are seeing lawsuits seeking to remove Donald Trump from the ballot in the primaries, accusing him of having engaged in an insurrection on January 6, 2021 and thus being ineligible to hold office

Trump supporters are seen on January 6, 2021 smashing their way onto the Capitol

The then-president's followers are seen inside the Capitol, having stormed the building

Reeb's lawsuit follows a similar wording to that in Colorado and elsewhere.

'Both Trump's actions (engaging in insurrection) as well as his inaction (giving aid and comfort to insurrectionists) on Jan. 6, 2021, disqualify him from holding any office of/under the United States,' Reeb's lawsuit states.

Her case is filed against Louisiana's secretary of state, Kyle Ardoin.

Reeb, whose social media is filled with posts lamenting the January 6 unrest, said that she was inspired by the conservative legal scholar J. Michael Luttig, who said the argument in favor of striking Trump from the ballot was 'unassailable'.

'I have a massive respect for Judge Luttig,' she wrote on Facebook.

'Understanding this is what is driving my actions.'

Trump supporters are pictured on January 6, 2021 scaling the walls of the Capitol

Analysts are split on whether the legal arguments around Article 14 and Trump's actions are sound.

But Robert Collins, a political analyst at Dillard University, told Fox News he thought Reeb's petition was 'a very long shot.'

He pointed out that Trump has been impeached and faces federal trial for trying to subvert the election, but has not been criminally convicted.

'It might be a different situation if he had been criminally convicted in a court of law of insurrection,' he said.

'To make an interpretation that a president had engaged in insurrection, and to remove him from the ballot, I think most judges ideologically are just not there.'

LSU political science professor James Stoner agreed that the lack of a conviction likely undermines the petition.

'The whole meaning of the rule of law is that a prosecutor can't just jail you because he thinks you've done something wrong,' Stoner said.

'That's only the first step. The prosecutor makes the charge and then it has to go to trial. That's what happened with the Trump impeachment. The impeachment is a prosecution, but he was not convicted of those offenses.'

To date, no other court has sided with those who have filed dozens of lawsuits to disqualify Trump under Section 3, nor has any election official been willing to remove him from the ballot unilaterally without a court order.

On Wednesday, a court in Michigan ruled that Trump could remain on the ballot - effectively giving the opposite decision to the Colorado judges.
The family of a young nurse are reeling after she suddenly died on Christmas Eve.

Ashley Denness, who worked for Sydney's Royal Prince Alfred Hospital's neonatal intensive care unit, was holidaying with her partner's family in the Whitsunday islands off Queensland, when she collapsed.

Her devastated mother Debbie Negru told Daily Mail Australia that Ms Denness - who turned 34 during the trip - suffered a 'kind of seizure' after spending a happy morning crab-catching,

An ambulance was called and Ms Denness was rushed to Proserpine Hospital in the city of Mackay but had another seizure on the way there.

Despite desperately trying to save her life for 45 minutes, hospital emergency medics were unable to revive her.

Ms Negru has called on Brisbane's coroner to find out 'why a healthy 34-year-old woman has died so suddenly'.

Ashley Denness (pictured), who worked for Sydney 's Royal Prince Alfred Hospital's neonatal intensive care unit, was holidaying with her partner's family in the Whitsunday islands off Queensland, when she collapsed.

READ MORE: Geelong couple's plea to parents after their baby girl died suddenly of natural causes days out from Christmas Advertisement

'She had just told me what a great year it's been and I know she didn't want to die,' Ms Negru said.

'I hear her calling 'Mum' when I try to go to sleep which isn't much these days.

'The sparkle has just been taken out of our lives and we still cannot comprehend this.'

Ms Denness had worked for the Alfred's Neonatal Intensive Care Unit for 12 years and helped critically sick and vulnerable children.

In the past seven months she had in a role transporting sick and premature babies to hospital care by helicopter.

Her best friend Samantha Bozinovska said it was her 'dream job' and that she 'was a very special nurse who touched so many lives with her irreplaceable personality, charm, wit, empathy and caring soul'.

'Ash was a cherished daughter, loving sister and sister-in-law, adored life long partner, fun auntie, trusted friend, an incredible nurse and colleague as well as a loving mum to her fur babies.

'She embodied everything you ever needed and wanted in a person. She made everything feel so effortless and just like home.

'Ash was that sparkle in every room.'

Colleagues paid tribute to Ms Denness (pictured left) who died suddenly on Christmas Eve while in Queensland

'She just had that presence about her. An aura that she gave off. You knew she was the epitome of kindness.'

Some of Ms Denness's colleagues wrote about the qualities that made her a special presence in neo-natal unit.

'Ash was one of the nurses I worked with when she first started at NETS,' one person wrote.

'She was a great person to work with and we shared few difficult cases together to transfer but despite that, she did her best and kept her funny self during that high stressful times. She will always be in my mind and heart.'

Another nurse said: 'I had the pleasure with working with Ash for over 6 years at RPA.

'She touched the lives of everyone she met whether it was 5 minutes to years she would leave ever lasting memories of fun, love and passion for her friends, family and all the tiny humans and their families that she looked after.'

For the last seven months of her life Ms Denness (pictured centre) did her 'dream job' of transporting sick and premature babies to hospital care

'I have the fondest memories or Ash, always the life of the party, always dancing and always around those closest to her.'

A former trainee nurse paid a heartfelt tribute about what it was like to work with Ms Denness.

'Ash's kindness and wisdom is part of the reason I decided I wanted to be a NICU nurse during my studies - to learn under her and then work alongside her was such a privilege,' she said.

Mother's of former patients that Ms Denness also expressed their grief.

'Ash was an incredible nurse at RPA and looked after our twins in the NICU,' she said.

'I will be forever grateful for the amazing care she took of them and the photos she captured for us throughout our long stay at RPA. I'll always treasure these memories and remember her laugh, midnight sparkle and long eyelashes.'

Another colleague, Lisa Peereboom, said the world seem 'dimmer' without her.

'You made my world better, you made me feel safe and you made me excited for our next adventure,' she wrote.

'Laying around watching TV or flying to QLD to see our favourite artists, or working together catching babies or quickly calculating drugs in a resus while our adrenaline was pumping - EVERYTHING was made more wonderful because you were by my side.

'The world seems dimmer. Who will force me to wear flowers in my hair now? How will I ever laugh so hard?

'I love you. I miss you. Thank you for sparkling all over my life.'

A GoFundMe page has been set up to help pay for Ms Denness's body to be brought back to Sydney, as well as for funeral and other costs.

The Royal Alfred Hospital has been contacted for comment.
A fugitive felon who proclaimed himself a 'master of disguise' and who is a suspect in his girlfriend's death has been arrested after a four-year manhunt.

Tyler Adams, 51, was arrested in in Newport Beach, California and is set to be extradited this week to Hawaii, where he has been wanted since escaping state custody in 2019.

The FBI has publicly sought Adams for questioning in connection with the 2022 death of his girlfriend Racquel Sabean, whose body was found stuffed into a cooler in the trunk of a car in Tijuana, Mexico.

Adams was serving time at the O'ahu Community Correctional Center for two felony theft convictions when he failed to return from a work furlough on May 21, 2019.

In September 2020, an O'ahu Circuit Court judge issued a $50,000 warrant for Adams' arrest relating to a second-degree escape charge, a Class C felony.

Tyler Adams, 51, was arrested in in Newport Beach, California and is set to be extradited this week to Hawaii, where he has been wanted since escaping state custody in 2019

Adams' various aliases and appearances are seen in a police handout

According to the FBI, Adams used a number of aliases, including Aaron Lee, David Smith, Dominic Braun, David Phillips, Kevin Schoolcraft, Kevin Kennedy, Michael Whittman, Lance Irwin, Brice Johnson, Matthew Kashani, Taylor Chase and Joshua Smith.

Prior to his arrest, he was last seen entering the United States under the alias 'Aaron Bain' on June 16, 2022 - a day after police in Mexico questioned him about Sabean's disappearance.

Sabean's decomposing remains were later found in a Volkswagen Jetta parked on a residential street in Tijuana after locals reported a 'foul odor' coming from the vehicle.

The 40-year-old's neck had been broken, her father David Sabean told CBS8 News.

Adams, who is the father of Racquel's seven-month-old daughter Valentina, has not been charged in her death. Valentina was taken into protective custody after her mother disappeared.

Racquel's father said he 'would bet my life' that Adams is his daughter's killer, in an interview with the US Sun, and said there were a number of red flags.

Father David Sabean described his first time meeting Adams was a 'good first impression', but then noticed worrying 'red flags'.

He said his daughter confided in him that Adams was kind and polite to her while father was around but it was a different story when they were alone.

Adams, who is the father of Racquel's then-seven-month-old daughter Valentina, has not been charged in her death, but is wanted for questioning by the FBI

Sabean's decomposing remains were later found in this Volkswagen Jetta parked on a residential street in Tijuana after locals reported a 'foul odor' coming from the vehicle

David recalled Adams claimed he was a 'Mormon' but after questioning him on his faith and noticing a tattoo, David became suspicious.

'Eventually, I started thinking this guy's a phony, right?,' he said. 'We went to the beach, he took his shirt off. When he took his shirt off. I saw a tattoo on his left arm.'

'I know Mormon families. I've never seen any Mormon, real Mormons that have tattoos,' he said.

Racquel who had been with Adams for two years, knew him under the name Paul Phillips.

A day after being questioned by the authorities regarding his girlfriend's death, Adams fled the country and crossed the border into the United States under a new alias, Aaron Bain.

On June 17, 2022, the FBI issued a release asking the public for their assistance in helping to locate Adams, informing the public that he was a 'phony,' and a 'master of disguise.'

The FBI has confirmed they want to question him in connection with the murder.

The flyer featured photos of Adams that shows swelling under his eyes, and listed more than a dozen aliases.

Racquel Sabean had been in a relationship with Tyler Adams for two years (pictured together above). She knew him under the name Paul Phillips. The couple's daughter Valentina is now in protective custody

FBI San Diego wrote the Adams was detained in Mexico on Wednesday, June 15, 2022, regarding an Amber Alert issued for his infant daughter. The child was later found safe with a babysitter in Mexico, and remains in protective custody there.

Mexican authorities said Adams was reportedly uncooperative when they wanted to question him about his girlfriend's death before he crossed the border into the United States.

Video surveillance taken from the neighborhood in Tijuana where Racquel's body was found proves that her boyfriend was the killer, her father said.

He even describes the clothes Adams was wearing the day of the alleged murder- black pants, black shoes, black mask, and black gloves.

'In Mexico, there's a video of [Adams] parking my daughter's car,' David said, in part.

'I saw it with my own eyes,' Racquel's father went on.

He said Mexican police have access to the surveillance video - but said Adams hasn't been charged.
Storm Gerrit wrecked more than 100 homes as a tornado swept through a town with residents evacuated after roofs were torn apart and large trees blown onto roads.

A supercell thunderstorm barrelled across Greater Manchester overnight causing major structural damage to houses in Stalybridge, Tameside, just before midnight.

Homeowners were told to attend a town hall for help, and the Met Office revealed there had been a strong rotating updraft and it was 'likely' that a tornado had hit.

Greater Manchester Police confirmed officers were called to 'numerous reports of significant damage' at about 11.45pm last night and declared a 'major incident'. Photographs showed walls blown over, roofs torn apart and windows blown out.

Local resident Andy Turner told MailOnline today: 'At 11.30pm last night, there was - all I can describe - is a hurricane came through. It lasted for about 15 seconds. Cars were parked outside the house. My wife's car is a write off, my car's took a bit of the brunt of the tree. It's just lucky that nobody was hurt. It was pure carnage.'

Another resident Alison Atkinson told BBC Radio Manchester it was unprecedented, saying: 'There's trees down everywhere, the roads are closed, trying to get up here, you walk further up the road, there's another tree that's gone into a house. There's two guys up there trying to clear all the trees up now. The lane's completely blocked off. The pavements are all ripped up. Never seen anything like this, really haven't.'

Andy Wareham, whose Tesla windscreen was smashed, said he heard 'extremely loud wind noises', telling the Manchester Evening News: 'Things started flying around, roof tiles knocking off. There was about 30 seconds to a minute of chaos and then it calmed down and straight away I was like, 'it must have been a tornado'.'

And Richard Harrison, whose car window was also destroyed by flying debris, told the newspaper: 'It was just lucky no one was killed. You can see the strength with that wedged in the back. It was a good job no one was walking down the street.'

Matthew Marsland, who lives opposite houses that were badly damaged, added: 'I just heard an extreme noise at my back window. I was stood at the patio doors and there was basically a crazy sounding noise and then vibrations through the glass.'

It comes as travel chaos continued today across the UK after the storm struck with blizzards, 106mph gales and three inches of rain. Some 25,000 homes in Scotland lost power and drivers were trapped in snow on the A9 in the Highlands for hours.

Ferry operator DFDS said sailings between Dover and France were delayed today due to strong winds in the Channel. Passengers were told to check in and be put on the first available sailing. It comes after three-hour delays at the Kent port yesterday.

* Hit by the tornado? Please email your photos to: mark.duell@mailonline.co.uk *

An aerial view of homes destroyed by last night's tornado in Stalybridge, Greater Manchester

Destruction caused by the tornado after it hit Stalybridge in Greater Manchester last night

Destruction caused by the tornado which hit Stalybridge in Greater Manchester last night

Police officers inspect the tornado damage this morning in Stalybridge, Greater Manchester

A fallen tree in Stalybridge, Greater Manchester, pictured today after last night's tornado

Andy Turner next to his wife's car which was destroyed after a tree fell onto it in Stalybridge

Damage from the tornado that hit Stalybridge in Greater Manchester, pictured this morning

A tree surgeon works to remove a tree this morning after it fell onto a car in Stalybridge

Damage caused to the roof of a home in Stalybridge, Greater Manchester, seen this morning

An aerial view of homes destroyed by last night's tornado in Stalybridge, Greater Manchester

Damage to vehicles in Stalybridge, Greater Manchester, today after the tornado hit last night

Destruction caused by the tornado which hit Stalybridge in Greater Manchester last night

A fallen tree in Stalybridge, Greater Manchester, pictured today after last night's tornado

An aerial view of homes destroyed by last night's tornado in Stalybridge, Greater Manchester

Damage caused to the roof of a home in Stalybridge, Greater Manchester, seen this morning

Avanti West Coast said a tree falling on overhead wires between Rugby and Lichfield meant some rail lines were blocked again today. Journey times from London Euston towards the North West were being extended with trains diverted via the Midlands.

Separately, Great Western Railway services at London Paddington were suspended today after a person was hit by a train near Slough. This also impacted the Elizabeth line, with no service between Hayes and Harlington and Reading. It comes as:

ScotRail, Transport for Wales and other operators reported major storm disruption;

Power was restored to 31,000 houses but 14,000 further homes were still cut off;

Ferry crossings between Southampton and the Isle of Wight were cancelled today;

Heathrow Airport axed 18 flights yesterday due to air traffic control restrictions.

Flights were cancelled, rail lines were blocked and bridges closed, bringing lengthy delays as families returned home and commuters struggled back into workplaces.

The Environment Agency had 156 flood alerts and 23 warnings in place for England today after the deluge. Strong winds and heavy rain is forecast into the weekend, improving slightly with showers and sunny spells predicted for New Year's Eve.

But the Met Office has warned the question of whether snow - potentially 'significant amounts' - would spread into England and Wales next week was 'finely balanced'.

In Stalybridge, police confirmed 'various properties' suffered damage believed to have been caused by a 'localised tornado'. Officers declared it as a major incident 'due to the severity of the damage caused and potential risk to public safety'.

Damaged fences outside a home this morning in the aftermath of the tornado in Stalybridge

Destruction caused by the tornado which hit Stalybridge in Greater Manchester last night

Destruction caused by the tornado after it hit Stalybridge in Greater Manchester last night

A fallen tree in Stalybridge, Greater Manchester, pictured today after last night's tornado

Destruction caused by the tornado which hit Stalybridge in Greater Manchester last night

Damage to vehicles in Stalybridge, Greater Manchester, today after the tornado hit last night

Destruction caused by the tornado which hit Stalybridge in Greater Manchester last night

A fallen tree in Stalybridge, Greater Manchester, pictured today after last night's tornado

Destruction caused by the tornado after it hit Stalybridge in Greater Manchester last night

Police officers cordon off an area of Stalybridge this morning after it was hit by the tornado

Destruction caused by the tornado which hit Stalybridge in Greater Manchester last night

Damage to a roof in Stalybridge, Greater Manchester, today after the tornado hit last night

Damage caused to the roof of a home in Stalybridge, Greater Manchester, seen this morning

Destruction caused by the tornado after it hit Stalybridge in Greater Manchester last night

A fallen tree in Stalybridge, Greater Manchester, pictured today after last night's tornado

Damage caused to the roof of a home in Stalybridge, Greater Manchester, seen this morning

Destruction caused by the tornado which hit Stalybridge in Greater Manchester last night

Calico Crescent in Carrbrook Village was thought to have been one of the worst-hit areas with residents evacuated and 'scores' of properties structurally damaged, reported the Tameside Correspondent.

UK rail disruption on December 28, 2023 Avanti West Coast: A tree falling on overhead wires between Rugby and Lichfield means some rail lines were blocked again today. Journey times from London Euston towards the North West are being extended as trains are diverted via the Midlands. Passengers also face delays due to a speed restriction because of heavy rain between Lockerbie and Carstairs which caused major disruption yesterday. Great Western Railway: Services at London Paddington suspended this morning after a person was hit by a train in the Slough area. The incident also impacted the Elizabeth line, with no service between Hayes and Harlington and Reading. ScotRail: Flooding at Bowling blocking the line between Dalmuir and Dalreoch; flooding at Leuchars closing both lines between Edinburgh and Dundee; and flooding at Laurencekirk closing all lines between Edinburgh and Aberdeen via Dundee. Services from Inverness to Wick and Kyle of Lochalsh and from Glasgow Central to Oban and Mallaig may also be cancelled or revised due to the weather. Heavy rain flooded the railway at Fairlie, closing the line to and from Largs, with train services from Glasgow Central revised to start back from Kilwinning. On the line between Glasgow Central and Carlisle via Dumfries, water levels need to recede before engineers can examine a potential landslip  with trains from Glasgow Central instead terminating at Kilmarnock, and train from Carlisle stopped at Dumfries. The route between Glasgow Queen Street and Aberdeen and Inverness is also affected by engineering works, meaning trains between these stations may start or terminate at Perth. South Western Railway: Services between Leatherhead and Dorking were impacted by a 'precarious tree' near Box Hill & Westhumble station, meaning some lines were blocked. Thameslink: Services between Bedford and Brighton, St Albans and London Blackfriars and Luton and Rainham are still being affected today by a major signalling fault which also caused chaos to passengers yesterday. East Midlands Railway: Disruption between Derby and Stoke-on-Trent due to a tree blocking the railway outside Uttoxeter. CrossCountry, Lumo, LNER and TransPennine Express: Disruption between Darlington and Northallerton due to damage to the overhead electric wires. Great Western Railway: Train fault impacting services between Plymouth and Gunnislake Transport for Wales: Heavy rain across the network impacting services into the new year, with trains suspended between Llandudno and Blaenau Ffestiniog. Heavy rain flooding the railway between Fernhill and Aberdare meant all lines were blocked, with the route between Swansea and Shrewsbury was also closed. Southeastern: No services at London Victoria until January 1 inclusive, with trains instead using alternative London terminals. Greater Anglia: Journeys between London Liverpool Street and Norwich, Ipswich and Colchester are being disrupted through the Chelmsford area until January 1 inclusive. London Underground: Minor delays on the Central line due to a shortage of trains. No service on the District line between Earls Court and Kensington Olympia until January 1 inclusive. Docklands Light Railway: No service between Bank and Tower Gateway and Poplar and Canary Wharf until December 30 inclusive. Elizabeth line: No service between Hayes and Harlington and Reading, and minor delays between Paddington and Heathrow Terminals while 'emergency services deal with a casualty on the track'. London Overground: No service between Highbury and Islington and New Cross Gate, New Cross and Clapham Junction until December 29 inclusive. No service between Sydenham and West Croydon; and between Camden Road and Stratford. Advertisement

Over in Millbrook, several large trees fell into roads and onto cars. Electricity North West and Tameside Council were also involved in the response, and police told 'displaced' residents to visit Dukinfield Town Hall for help and advice.

Police said they were working with North West Ambulance Service and Greater Manchester Fire and Rescue Service, but 'there have thankfully been no injuries reported'.

Authorities in Greater Manchester were also called to weather incidents amid reports of a possible tornado in Dukinfield and Mossley last night.

Councillor Dave Sweeten from Tameside Council told the Manchester Evening News: 'We must have been just on the periphery of the route. I've lived at the top of the hill for about 50 years.

'Never heard any winds like it. It woke me up, I couldn't get back to sleep. Started looking at the council website and internet and all my emails - realised there was a major incident.'

He added: 'You've got New Year to look forward to, a new start. This is not what anybody needs. Scotland has been badly hit, we've been badly hit.'

One resident told the newspaper that the noise was 'like a bomb going off'.

Tameside Council said about 100 homes were evacuated after the 'mini tornado' hit areas of Carrbrook and Millbrook.

A spokesperson said: 'It is believed everyone affected made arrangements to stay with family and friends overnight.

'Our officers have been out all night and continue to be out today clearing debris, fallen trees and making roads, footpaths and other areas safe.'

The Tornado and Storm Research Organisation said a detailed site investigation would be undertaken before it can confirm the damage was caused by a rare British tornado.

Chief Superintendent Mark Dexter from Greater Manchester Police said: 'This incident has undoubtedly affected numerous people in the Stalybridge area with many residents displaced from their properties during the night.

'Our highest priority is keeping people safe which is why we are advising those who have been displaced not to return or entre their properties which have significant damage until they have been assessed by structural engineers.

'I would also like to urge members of the public to avoid the area where possible and take extra care when travelling in vehicles on the roads in Stalybridge and the surrounding areas, due to debris in the road.

'This has understandably caused some disruption and, though we are not yet in a position to confirm when the area will return to normal, further updates will be communicated when we have them. I would like to use this opportunity to thank the community for their cooperation and patience.'

And a Met Office spokesman said today: 'Last night a supercell thunderstorm crossed Greater Manchester causing damage.

'We know from our Dopplar radar that it had a strong rotating updraft. Whilst we don't yet have surface data to confirm, the presence of these features suggests a tornado at the surface was likely.'

On the trains today, ScotRail was among the operators facing major disruption due to the severe weather.

Flooding at Bowling blocked the line between Dalmuir and Dalreoch; flooding at Leuchars closing both lines between Edinburgh and Dundee; and flooding at Laurencekirk closing all lines between Edinburgh and Aberdeen via Dundee.

Services from Inverness to Wick and Kyle of Lochalsh and from Glasgow Central to Oban and Mallaig may also be cancelled or revised due to the weather.

Heavy rain also flooded the railway at Fairlie, closing the line to and from Largs, with train services from Glasgow Central revised to start back from Kilwinning.

On the line between Glasgow Central and Carlisle via Dumfries, water levels need to recede before engineers can examine a potential landslip  with trains from Glasgow Central instead terminating at Kilmarnock, and train from Carlisle stopped at Dumfries.

The route between Glasgow Queen Street and Aberdeen and Inverness is also affected by engineering works, meaning trains between these stations may start or terminate at Perth.

Meanwhile South Western Railway services between Leatherhead and Dorking were impacted by a 'precarious tree' near Box Hill & Westhumble station, meaning some lines were blocked.

Elsewhere Thameslink services between Bedford and Brighton, St Albans and London Blackfriars and Luton and Rainham were still being affected today by a major signalling fault which also caused chaos to passengers yesterday.

East Midlands Railway warned of disruption between Derby and Stoke-on-Trent due to a tree blocking the railway outside Uttoxeter.

Damage from the tornado that hit Stalybridge in Greater Manchester, pictured this morning

The roof of a property damaged last night by high winds in Stalybridge, Greater Manchester

Debris lying on the road outside a property damaged by a tornado in Stalybridge last night

A tree blown onto a vehicle last night during a tornado in Stalybridge, Greater Manchester

The roof of a property damaged last night by high winds in Stalybridge, Greater Manchester

A tree blown onto a vehicle last night during a tornado in Stalybridge, Greater Manchester

Residents carry debris last night after the tornado that hit Stalybridge, Greater Manchester

Damage caused by the tornado that hit Stalybridge in Greater Manchester last night

Debris on the street at Stalybridge in Greater Manchester last night following the tornado

Damage to a shop window after a tornado hit Stalybridge in Greater Manchester last night

Damage caused to the roof of a home in Stalybridge, Greater Manchester, seen this morning

Debris on the street at Stalybridge in Greater Manchester last night following the tornado

Passengers using CrossCountry, Lumo, LNER and TransPennine Express faced disruption between Darlington and Northallerton due to damage to the overhead electric wires.

Weather forecast for the final days of 2023 Here is the weather forecast for the next few days from Meteogroup UK: Today: Light scattered showers are expected in the UK, though they could become moderate later on, particularly across western areas. Snow and sleet is possible for Scotland. Cloud cover will be mostly heavy, however some clear spells will break through. There will be fresh to strong south-westerly winds Tonight: Patchy cloud coverage through the night with some clear spells, particularly for the Midlands and Wales. Scattered showers over Northern Ireland and Scotland, where they may turn heavy and wintry at times. More persistent rain for coastal areas. There will be gentle to moderate south-westerly winds. Tomorrow: A few light showers are expected throughout tomorrow, becoming moderate at times in northern England. Sleet and snow across northern Scotland. Clearer for South East England and the Midlands, with spells of sunshine in the morning and afternoon. There will be fresh westerly winds alongside. Saturday: A good deal of heavy rain on Saturday, turning heavy at times over South West England and Wales, and wintry over northern England. Moderate winds. Sunday (New Year's Eve): Patchy cloud and scattered showers on Sunday, wintry in the North. Turning clearer through the evening in the South. Strong winds along the South Coast Advertisement

And Great Western Railway said a train fault was impacting services between Plymouth and Gunnislake

Transport for Wales said heavy rain across the network would impact services into the new year, with trains suspended between Llandudno and Blaenau Ffestiniog.

Heavy rain flooding the railway between Fernhill and Aberdare meant all lines were blocked, with the route between Swansea and Shrewsbury was also closed.

Separately, Avanti West Coast passengers also faced delays due to a speed restriction because of heavy rain between Lockerbie and Carstairs which caused major disruption yesterday.

On Southeastern, there were no services at London Victoria until January 1 inclusive, with trains instead using alternative London terminals.

And Greater Anglia journeys between London Liverpool Street and Norwich, Ipswich and Colchester were being disrupted through the Chelmsford area until January 1 inclusive.

Yesterday, parts of Scotland experienced significant heavy snow with Scottish and Southern Electricity Networks (SSEN) saying workers had been dealing with wind speeds of 80mph in some coastal areas as they worked to reconnect customers.

High winds, along with heavy rain and snow, damaged electricity networks across Scotland as fallen trees, branches and other debris brought down power lines.

A yellow warning for wind and snow was in place until 6am this morning in the Shetlands.

SSEN said that as of 7.45am this morning, supplies had been restored to just over 31,500 homes, while just over 14,000 remained without power.

Director of corporate affairs Graeme Keddie told BBC Radio Scotland: 'Many of those are in the north-east and Shetland which saw later impact into yesterday afternoon and evening, and that will be very much our priority through the course of today.

'One of the main impacts we've seen is around access to faults - so blocked roads, flooding in fields, and issues with snow.

The Met Office released a map of last night's supercell thunderstorm in Greater Manchester

The Environment Agency has 156 flood alerts (in orange) and 23 warnings (in red) in place

'We're very hopeful that that will ease today but that has meant our teams on the ground have been saying that (in) the time it'd take to fix two or three faults they have only been able to fix one, but we are hopeful of further progress today as weather conditions have eased.'

Paddington rail services suspended after person hit by train Rail services at the UK's second busiest station were suspended today after a person was struck by a train. Great Western Railway (GWR) said all lines serving London Paddington were blocked following the incident in the Slough area of Berkshire. The incident was affecting GWR and Elizabeth line services, with disruption expected to continue until 11am. The emergency services were at the scene. A GWR spokesman said this morning: 'It is with great sadness that we report a person has been struck by a train, leading to all lines being blocked. It is necessary to bring all trains in the affected area to an immediate stop.' London Paddington was closed for engineering work for the previous four days - and it was repeatedly affected by infrastructure faults in the previous weeks, including a major incident on December 7 when passengers were stuck on trains for hours. Advertisement

Asked how long it will be before power is restored to all customers in Scotland, he said: 'Based on the impact, particularly in the north-east, we do believe that some customers, particularly in areas that have been impacted heavily or rural locations, will be into Friday.'

Meanwhile Police Scotland confirmed that the A9 has fully reopened in both directions and is 'passable with care' after snow blocked the road between Drumochter and Dalwhinnie.

Inspector Michelle Burns, from the force's Road Policing Unit, said: 'Conditions for travel in the affected areas may be hazardous and extra caution should be exercised by all road users.

The A90 northbound also reopened after earlier closures, but southbound lanes at Lochlands, Forfar remained off-limits with local diversions in place.

Scotland's rail network experienced widespread cancellations and delays with a train driver's cabin hit by a falling tree.

Aslef Scotland confirmed the driver was uninjured and Labour MSP Paul Sweeney said passengers were also unharmed.

ScotRail suspended multiple train services until further notice, impacting trains travelling while other lines saw their timetables shelved until 'a full inspection can be carried out' on the railway network.

Train operator LNER, which runs services between London and Scotland on the East Coast Main Line, also advised customers not to travel yesterday due to the weather.

Customers stranded by the disruption were told to book hotels which they can claim back.

Avanti West Coast, which operates services on the West Coast Main Line, said its route to Scotland yesterday had become impassable with all services to and from London terminating at Preston.

Massive waves smash against the harbour wall at Aberystwyth in Ceredigion this morning

Flooding in York this morning where the River Ouse has broken its banks after heavy rain

Scaffolding was blown down last night in Swanley town centre in Kent, pictured this morning

A woman's umbrella is blown inside out as she crosses London Bridge this morning

A jogger runs along a muddy country path on a dark morning today in Dunsden, Oxfordshire

A woman's hair is blown around during windy weather on London Bridge this morning

Destroyed scaffolding in Swanley, Kent, pictured today after being blown down last night

People out and about in the windy weather today around London Bridge after Storm Gerrit

Umbrellas are blown inside out as commuters cross London Bridge on the way to work today

Flooded country paths in the Oxfordshire village of Dunsden today after a night of heavy rain

Tower Bridge, the River Thames and HMS Belfast are seen on a windy morning in London today

Those with pre-booked tickets for travel between Preston and either Edinburgh or Glasgow can board trains today or tomorrow, the operator said.

Heathrow Airport cancelled 18 flights due to air traffic control restrictions, understood to be return routes from Aberdeen, Edinburgh, Glasgow, Jersey and Manchester, and to Barcelona, Berlin, Madrid and Paris.

Ferry operator Red Funnel, which provides services between Southampton and Cowes on the Isle of Wight, cancelled its Red Jet passenger services due to strong winds.

It added that while the vehicle ferry between Southampton and East Cowes was running, it could take longer. Disruption was expected until 6.30pm today.

Hovercraft services between Portsmouth and the Isle of Wight were also suspended yesterday but resumed today.

Storm Gerrit also brought plenty of rain at the Great Langdale Valley in the Lake District recording 80mm (3.1in) - nearly half the usual 178mm (7in) monthly rainfall for December, the Met Office said.

About 2cm (0.8in) to 3cm (1.2in) of snow fell in Aviemore in the Cairngorms.

The fastest recorded wind gusts yesterday were 106mph at the Cairngorm mountain summit in the Highlands, 86mph at Inverbervie in Aberdeenshire, 84mph at Fair Isle and 83mph at Capel Curig in North Wales.

Collapsed scaffolding in Swanley, Kent, last night as Storm Gerrit swept across Britain

Passengers wait for train services at London King's Cross station yesterday amid disruption

Police are in attendance as floodwater is cleared from the M9 at Stirling in Scotland yesterday

A tractor ploughs snow in Allenheads, Northumberland, yesterday as Storm Gerrit hits the UK

Scotland's rail network experienced widespread cancellations and delays with a train driver's cabin hit by a falling tree between Dundee and Glasgow yesterday

Gerrit, the fourth named storm this month and the eighth of the season, is a Dutch boy's name meaning 'brave with the spear'.

The RNLI urged those visiting the coast to exercise extreme caution, particularly along exposed cliffs, seafronts and piers.

Gareth Morrison, RNLI water safety partner, said: 'The RNLI advises staying a safe distance away from the water and cliff edges as the conditions could knock you off your feet or wash you into the sea. It is not worth risking your life.'

Stein Connelly, head of transport resilience at Transport Scotland, urged people to plan ahead when travelling.

He said: 'It's been an extremely challenging period for the transport network. The partnership response to Storm Gerrit continues and our trunk road operating companies are working hard to open roads as soon as possible.

'On the A96 at Huntly, the road remains closed in both directions due to flooding, with teams continuing to work to clear the water this morning.

'Fallen trees are still impacting the A82 between Fort Augustus and Invergarry, with the clearance effort still under way.

'The weather has improved and the Met Office warnings have ended, but people may still encounter difficult driving conditions due to surface water and flooding.

'We continue to ask people to plan ahead, to drive appropriately and to take care out on the road network.

Cars battle through blizzards on the A9 near Aviemore as Storm Gerrit hits Scotland yesterday

A fallen tree blocks the road on Three Mile Lane in Keele, Staffordshire, yesterday

Waves batter Blyth Lighthouse on the North East coast yestyerday as Storm Gerrit hits the UK

Residents in Cupar, Fife, wade through flooded streets as they flee their homes yesterday

Snow on the A9 at Drumochter in the Highlands causes treacherous conditions yesterday

The flooded railway line at Bowling station in Scotland yesterday as Storm Gerrit causes chaos

'Public transport services remain impacted, so please check with your transport operator across all modes to understand if your service has been cancelled or delayed.'

Storm Gerrit comes less than a week since Storm Pia lashed parts of the UK in the countdown to the festive season.

Winds of more than 80mph battered northern parts of the UK, with gusts of 81mph recorded at Brizlee Wood near Alnwick, Northumberland, and at Baltasound on Shetland, with 70mph gusts reported elsewhere in the North East of England.

The rest of this week is expected to see blustery showers - interspersed with hail and hill snow to the north - as winds ease before a further area of low pressure brings more unsettled conditions over the weekend.

However from New Year's Day the Met Office said it 'now looks finely balanced' as to whether wintry showers would 'filter southwards or not'.

'If the colder air filters southwards, wintry showers could be seen across parts of England and Wales, and it is possible some more significant snowfall could occur along the mild/cold air boundary,' it said.

* Hit by the tornado? Please email your photos to: mark.duell@mailonline.co.uk *
Israeli television has broadcast the first new photo in years of the secretive commander of Hamas's military wing - giving rise to hope that perhaps the IDF is closing in on the man known as 'The Shadow'.

Muhammad Deif is the leader of the Qassam Brigades, who were behind the October 7 terror attack.

The new photo of him was also obtained in Gaza, The Times of Israel said. It was unclear when it was taken, but shows Deif significantly older than the previously shared photo of him.

Deif has been on Israel's most wanted list since 1995, and has survived at least seven Israeli assassination attempts, The Messenger reported - most recently in May 2021.

Deif is believed to have lost both legs and an arm inthe attempts on his life, and now uses a wheelchair; the new photo also shows him seemingly missing an eye.

A new photo apparently shows Muhammad Deif, the leader of the Qassam Brigades. It is unclear when it was taken, but was found in Gaza, Channel 12 reported

The previous - also undated - photo of Deif shows a much younger and slimmer man, with dark hair

The terrorist leader narrowly escaped an assassination attempt in 2014 that killed instead his wife, infant son and three-year-old daughter.

The other assassination attempts took place in 2001, 2002, 2003 and 2006, the last of which was believed to have resulted in the loss of his legs.

IDF troops found wheelchairs they believe were used by Deif in a tunnel network uncovered in the Rimal neighborhood of Gaza City.

A new video, however, has reportedly been found in Gaza - although not made public - showing him walking on two feet, but with a limp.

Rear Admiral Daniel Hagari, an IDF spokesman, would not comment when asked by The Times of Israel whether the photo suggested they were getting closer to finding him.

Deif is one of the key targets for the IDF, as they seek to root out and destroy Hamas's top leadership.

He is believed to have been involved in the planning and execution of a large number of terror attacks, including many bus bombings in the 1990s and early 2000s.

Ruins of Khan Younis, in the southern Gaza Strip, are pictured on Christmas Eve following an Israeli air strike

Firefighters are seen struggling to quell a blaze in Gaza City on Wednesday

Deif was one of four Hamas leaders with a bounty on their heads

Deif's importance is emphasized by his appearance on fliers dropped by IDF forces over Gaza in early December, offering a bounty for any information leading to the capture of four top Hamas officials.

Top of the list was Yahya Sinwar - the leader of Hamas in Gaza.

Israeli forces offered $400,000 for information on Sinwar, and $300,000 for information on his brother, Muhammed Sinwar, who commands the terror group's southern brigade

They pledged $200,000 for information on Rafa'a Salameh, the commander of Hamas's Khan Younis battalion; and $100,000 for information on Deif.

So far none of the senior commanders has been caught or killed in nearly three months of fighting.

Gaza's officials say more than 21,000 people have been killed, and 55,000 injured.
Police must attend all burglaries within an hour, new guidelines state - after nearly 75 per cent of break-ins went unsolved last year.

The National Police Chiefs' Council (NPCC) says investigations carried out within the 'golden hour' lead to more arrests and increase the likelihood of recovering stolen property.

They expect officers to carry out forensic tests, carry out house-to-house inquiries and gather footage from CCTV cameras and video doorbells.

The move is intended to boost public confidence after the latest Home Office figures showed no suspect is identified in three out of four burglaries in England and Wales and offenders are charged in less than four per cent of cases.

The NPCC states: 'Effective action during the golden hour will increase the opportunity to identify suspects, protect victims and witnesses, and help to secure positive criminal justice outcomes.'

Nearly eight in every 10 burglaries in England and Wales have gone unsolved in the past five years

Just five per cent of investigations since 2018 led to a suspect being charged, according to Home Office statistics

A two-year trial of the approach by Greater Manchester Police saw its charge rate rise from three to eight per cent.

'The previous focus, I think, did take the eye off the ball in terms of burglary,' Supt Chris Foster, who leads GMP's Operation Castle, told the BBC.

READ MORE - Suspect wanted over 26million burglaries at London homes of Brit celebrities including Tamara Ecclestone is arrested in Serbia Advertisement

'Previously, it's been, 'We can't do anything about it, sorry. See you later, goodbye - crime closed.'

'Now, we arrest more people - and burglary rates are falling.'

'If we turn up properly, investigate properly, arrest people and make sure that we explain our actions, even if it is negative, that begets confidence in the police.'

Despite public concern, burglary is down about 80 per cent since the mid-1990s as part of a broader fall of most types of crime - including violent offences.

But there are still more than 1,000 break-ins every day, with many not reported to the police.

Figures released last week revealed nearly eight in every 10 burglaries in England and Wales has gone unsolved in the past five years.

Almost 900,000 out of 1.1million break-ins reported to police since 2019 have seen their cases closed by struggling forces without a suspect being identified, figures reveal.

And just five per cent of investigations led to a suspect being charged, according to an analysis of Home Office statistics by the Liberal Democrats.

This graph shows the areas with the biggest rise in the number of burglaries during the past year

Despite public concern, burglary is down about 80 per cent since the mid-1990s as part of a broader fall of most types of crime - including violent offences

In the summer former home secretary Sulla Braverman and police forces made an agreement to investigate all crimes.

READ MORE - Do you live in a burglary hotspot? Areas with the biggest uptick in cases Advertisement

Officers were told there was no crime too minor to be probed and police will be forced to act if there is tangible evidence to follow up, including CCTV footage, vehicle dashcams or phone tracking.

Mrs Braverman said no crime should be considered minor and insisted police forces had the resources to investigate all offences without having to divert efforts from serious investigations.

London residents reported the most burglaries last year, with the Metropolitan Police receiving 40,257 reports, followed by Greater Manchester at 16,761 and the West Midlands at 15,844 respectively.

Some of the biggest falls in domestic burglaries last year were in Devon and Cornwall, Merseyside, and South Wales.

In Devon and Cornwall, burglaries dropped 21 per cent in 2022 compared with the previous year, while burglaries also fell by 16 per cent in Merseyside and 12 per cent in South Wales.
Before he became the 'godfather of avocado on toast', Australian chef Bill Granger - who died on Christmas Day at the age of 54, thought his future lay in the world of art.

The Melbourne-raised restaurateur, who honed his skills in a home which contained his butcher father and vegetarian mother, had left school with plans to become an architect in his home town.

He then decided to switch to a fine art degree in sunnier Sydney, although this too was simply a stop along the path that would lead to his true calling in life.

The budding artist started working at French bistro La Passion du Fruit in a bid to raise some desperately needed cash to fund his studies.

But as luck would have it, it was his first move into the world of professional cooking

Bill Granger, pictured on ITV's Lorraine in 2015, was a regular sight on Britain's television screens

Granger (centre) tasting a pavlova in the kitchens of Buckingham Palace in London in 2011

Granger, who had spent his adolescence cooking three-course meals for his parents, and impressing their friends in the process, became friends with the owner.

READ MORE HERE: How Bill Granger gave the world avocado on toast... and spawned an entire generation of millennial obsessives who couldn't stop posting photos of their breakfast on Instagram Advertisement

Speaking in a 2009 interview with food blogger Lorraine Elliott, he said: 'I cooked for her and she really liked the way I cooked so she invited me to cook in the kitchen and it started from there.'

He quickly 'dropped out' of university, to focus on his cooking. He became a self-taught chef - there were no formal lessons, something he said was 'ironically, great training'.

He would tell the Sunday Times:' I wasn't tied down by any rules about food and fine dining. I didn't even know the rules I wasn't supposed to be breaking. It puts me on a parallel with the Australian way of eating: joyfully lacking in fixed assumptions or strict culinary history.'

When he decided to spread his wings and open his own establishment, Granger found himself trying to make the most of his less than ideal surroundings.

The chef barely had room to move inside the kitchen of bills - his first cafe which opened in Sydney 30 years ago - as all it had was a four-burner stove, a grill, fridge and coffee machine.

With environs more like a cramped kitchen in someones flat, Granger decided to offer breakfast recipes as they are 'never too complicated', adding that he was restricted to working from 7am to 4pm by licensing regulations.

It was here that he first put avocado on toast, the dish that has became so closely associated with him, on the menu.

Granger signs copies of his recipe book Bill Granger Every Day at a store in Sydney in 2006

Bill Granger at his first London location Granger & Co which opened in Notting Hill in 2011

It was Australian chef Bill Granger (pictured with Natalie Elliott), who has died aged 54, who first put chopped avocado on sourdough

Granger told Australian Financial Review earlier this year that he added avocado toast to the menu because it was something he ate as a quick and easy meal.

He said: 'I know, it's just a couple of ingredients, barely a recipe. Hospitality people always eat quickly, because they have so little time. It's immediately accessible, it's fresh and it's light. And it's green.'

He added: 'I grew up in Melbourne, and when I moved to Sydney, I was shocked by its morning life. People were on the beach, walking through the park, owning the day. It felt very Australian, very optimistic. I think avocado on toast is optimistic.'

READ MORE HERE: Bill Granger's humble first job as the secrets of his success are revealed Advertisement

He quickly gained a reputation for his simple yet delicious breakfast offerings, and this success allowed him to open two more branches of bills in other parts of Sydney.

After first making the leap north by opening a venue in Japan, his laidback Australian-style breakfasts finally arrived in the UK in 2011 when he opened his first branch of Granger & Co in Notting Hill.

While he was forced to change the name to avoid clashing with 'Bill's', a brand founded by Sussex greengrocer Bill Collison in 1993, Granger decided he wanted to keep the menu as close to his Australian roots as possible.

This included offering British people avocado on toast, something which he was later credited with inventing by the Washington Post.

Although he didn't realise at the time he'd created 'a classic', he opined: 'It was a natural thing to do. Australians are not a sweet-toast eating country - jam isn't our thing - and avocado struck me as a healthier alternative.'

Whatever the motivations or reasoning behind it, Granger left his mark - avocado on toast has since become a global sensation, with 60million kilograms of the fruit eaten in Britain alone every year,

He would later open another branch of Granger & Co in Clerkenwell, London, before making an ambitious move into the Hawaiian market in 2015.

He joked later that this was in part due to the poor weather in Britain, saying: 'Well, I wont pretend that the call didnt come through in January in London, and I thought, why not?'

Bill Granger with his wife Natalie Elliott and their three daughters Bunny, Ines and Edie

Granger pictured at the launch of Tom Parker Bowles' 'Let's Eat' recipe book at Selfridges in 2012

Granger often appeared on UK television and is seen here on ITV's Lorraine in June 2015

By the time of his death he had opened restaurants in his native Australia, his adopted home of Britain, as well as Japan, South Korea and the United States.

In addition to his work as a restaurateur, Granger became a popular figure with the public following his appearances on British television. It was renewed for a second season and spawned a spin-off called Bill's Holiday, where he travelled around Australia.

EXCLUSIVE READ MORE HERE: How Aussie chef Bill Granger's 20-year-old daughter Ines is following in his foodie footsteps after his tragic death aged 54 Advertisement

He starred in the series Bill's Food, which followed him for a week and was broadcast in the UK in 2005, while he also appeared on GMTV where he presented a special week-long barbecue from southern France.

His move over to the UK and subsequent opening of his first Granger & Co restaurant was filmed by the BBC, while he also worked The Independent on Sunday's weekly food columnist.

He also branched out into cookery books, giving fans the chance to make his dishes at home.

However, he almost didn't include his signature avocado on toast as he didn't consider it a proper dish, just a snack he'd always eaten.

As the chef put it once himself: 'I did say to my editor, this was back in 1999, is it too ridiculous to put avocado on toast into a recipe book?'

In the end he did include it, and went on to publish 13 more cookbooks, adding to the extraordinarily successful career he made for himself - although he always struck the tone of someone who couldn't quite believe his luck.

Throughout much of that he was accompanied by his wife Natalie Elliott, who he met at one of his Sydney restaurants.

The couple had three daughters together, Edie, 22, Bunnyz, 19 and Ines, 20 - the latter of whom is also a cooking enthusiast and art student.

At the start of 2023 he was awarded the Medal of the Order of Australia for services to tourism and hospitality.

He was surrounded by his family as he passed away in a London hospital on Christmas Day after what is believed to believed to be a battle with cancer following his diagnosis with the disease earlier this year.

Jamie Oliver shared a tribute to Granger, calling his fellow chef a 'wonderful man' (pictured)

The Melbourne-born cook opened his first restaurant in Sydney suburb Darlinghurst in 1993

Bill Granger shows off his culinary skills on ITV's Lorraine Live in September 2012

In a statement his family said: ''A dedicated husband and father, Bill died peacefully in hospital with his wife Natalie Elliott and three daughters, Edie, Ines and Bunny, at his bedside in their adopted home of London.

'Born in Melbourne, Australia, Bill was a self-taught cook who became a celebrated global restaurateur and food writer with a career spanning over 30 years.'

It added: 'He will be deeply missed by all, with his loss most profoundly felt by his adored family, who are grateful for all the love and support that has been given.'

Under the post, Ines wrote in a comment: 'I love you dadda.'

Nigella Lawson said she was 'heartbroken' in a response to the post while fellow TV chef Jamie Oliver called the news 'heart-breaking'.

He said: 'This is devastating news; I'm so sad to hear this, what a guy he was... a wonderful human, kind, calm soul....

'I admired everything he represented in food; I remember the first time I met him many moons ago. He couldn't have been nicer, and his food was so good.'

Australian MasterChef host Matt Preston called the chef a 'genuinely lovely bloke and an inspiration' and praised his work in shaping 'the image of modern Australian food worldwide'.
The Glock handgun's reclusive billionaire inventor, Gaston Glock, who 'revolutionised the world of small arms', has died aged 94.

The Glock company said in a statement that the life's work of its founder would 'continue in his spirit'.

As well as being utilised by security personnel, armed forces, gun owners and criminals worldwide, the weapon has also become an American pop culture staple, featuring in several Hollywood blockbusters.

Despite his success, Glock, who once knocked out a professional wrestler hired to assassinate him, has been portrayed as a reclusive character who enjoyed spending much of his time at an Austrian lakefront estate.

He managed to avoid media coverage for most of his life, but gained attention in 2012 when a book about his business was published, after a divorce from his first wife Helga in 2011.

Gaston Glock during an event in Velden, Austria on October 23, 2008

Arnold Schwarzenegger loading a high-capacity magazine into the Glock 18 in Terminator 3: Rise of the Machines

Charles Ewert, who managed Glock's affairs in Luxembourg, attempted to have him killed in the late '90s.

The hired attacker, who was a professional wrestler, hit him seven times on the head with a rubber mallet but Glock, who was 70 at the time, managed to knock him out.

Ewert - also known as Panama Charly - was sentenced to 20 years in jail for having organised the attempted murder in a Luxembourg car park.

'Gaston Glock charted the strategic direction of the Glock Group throughout his life and prepared it for the future,' the company said.

It also noted that he had 'revolutionised the world of small arms' and 'succeeded in establishing the Glock brand as the global leader in the handgun industry'.

Glock was born in 1929 and went on to study mechanical engineering in Vienna.

In 1963 he founded his own consumer goods firm in the town of Deutsch-Wagram, 20 kilometres (12 miles) outside of the capital.

By the early 1980s Glock had branched out into military supplies and decided to answer a call for tenders put out by the Austrian army, which wanted to update its pistols.

He devised the Glock, a firearm that revolutionised the field, made largely of non-metal components. It was lighter, easier to take apart, more reliable, and able to carry more bullets than other brands.

Once the contract with the Austrian army was finalised, the company's fortunes soared when it entered the American market, before taking off globally.

Gaston Glockand his wife Kathrin Tschikof. Glock married Tschikof, who is 51 years his junior, in 2011

Between 2014 and 2017 alone, the company's worth is estimated to have risen by almost 50 per cent and in 2021, Forbes estimated the fortune of Gaston Glock and his family at $1.1 billion (863 million).

American pop culture in particular helped the Glock attain its iconic status.

'At the end of the 1990s, Glock was the most mentioned brand' in the American Top 50 singles chart, Fritz Ofner, one of the directors of a film about the Glock, said in 2018.

Glock designed and patented a lightweight 9-millimetre semiautomatic handgun that was easy to reload and capable of shooting 18 rounds.

Paul Barrett, the author of Glock: The Rise of America's Gun, wrote that the Glock was now 'the Google of modern civilian handguns: the pioneer brand that defines its product category'.

The Glock's ubiquity in pop culture saw countless rappers, including members of the Wu-Tang Clan, weave mentions of the gun into their lyrics.

In 2014, Glock's then ex-wife unsuccessfully attempted to sue him for $500 million (391 million), accusing him of racketeering and of diverting funds from the company, as well as treating his family 'with the senseless and self-destructive rage of Shakespeare's King Lear'.

The lawsuit made a host of claims about how Glock had spent the money, including hiring strippers to represent the company at trade shows.

In 2011, Glock married a woman 51 years his junior, Kathrin Tschikof.

Gun control advocates criticised Glock for popularising powerful weapons that they said were easy to conceal and could hold more ammunition than other guns.

White supremacist Dylann Roof used a Glock pistol to kill nine African-American people during a Bible study session at a church in Charleston, South Carolina, in June 2015.

Glock himself rarely responded to criticism from activists and shunned public debate. In 2000, he refused to join other weapons manufacturers in signing a voluntary gun control deal with the US government.

Glock and his company were not reticent about using legal means to defend their reputation, but this wasn't always successful.

In 2012, the company lost a long-running lawsuit for defamation against the human rights organisation Amnesty International, which had drawn attention to reports of a Glock weapon being used by rebels in Sudan.

Glock is survived by his wife, two sons and a daughter.
North Korea leader Kim Jong Un has ordered his country's military, munitions industry and nuclear weapons sector to get ready for war following what he called unprecedented confrontational moves by the U.S., state media said on Thursday.

Speaking on the policy directions for the new year at a key meeting of the country's ruling party on Wednesday, Kim also said Pyongyang would expand strategic cooperation with 'anti-imperialist independent' countries, news agency KCNA reported.

North Korea has been expanding ties with Russia, among others, as Washington accuses Pyongyang of supplying military equipment to Moscow for use in its war with Ukraine, while Russia provides technical support to help the North advance its military capabilities.

'He (Kim) set forth the militant tasks for the People's Army and the munitions industry, nuclear weapons and civil defence sectors to further accelerate the war preparations,' KCNA said.

Kim Jong Un at the December plenary meeting of the Central Committee of the Workers' Party of Korea, in Pyongyang, in a picture released on December 28, 2023

Kim praised 'achievements and victories' that strengthened national power and boosted the country's prestige this year, as he opened a meeting to set new policy goals for 2024

On Thursday, South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol visited a frontline military unit in the eastern county of Yeoncheon to inspect its defence posture and called for an immediate retaliation if there was any provocation from North Korea.

'I urge you to immediately and firmly crush the enemy's will for a provocation on the spot,' Yoon told troops.

During the party plenum, North Korea's Kim also laid out economic goals for the new year, calling it a 'decisive year' to accomplish the country's five-year development plan, KCNA said.

'He ... clarified the important tasks for the new year to be dynamically pushed forward in the key industrial sectors,' and called for 'stabilising the agricultural production on a high level.'

The North has suffered serious food shortages in recent decades, including famine in the 1990s, often as a result of natural disasters. International experts have warned that border closures during the COVID-19 pandemic worsened food security.

North Korea's crop output was estimated to have increased year-on-year in 2023 due to favourable weather conditions. But a Seoul official has said the amount was still far below what is needed to address the country's chronic food shortages.

At the same time, the North Korean leader has urged women to have more children amid a plateauing birth rate, seen crying at a mothers' conference in Pyongyang earlier this month.

A transcript of his speech shows he also urged parents to 'flog' their children and instruct them towards jobs in the army or hard labour in the name of toughening up a jaded and stagnant population.

The last census North Korea released was in 2008, which showed its population stood at 24 million. Estimates now suggest 25.7 million people inhabit the country.

However, South Korea's government assesses that the North's fertility rate has declined steadily for the past 10 years.

That is a concerning development for the socialist country that depends on mobilised labour to help keep its broken, heavily sanctioned economy afloat.

North Korean Supreme Leader Kim Jong Un (3-R) and his daughter Ju-ae (2-R) inspecting the launch of a Hwasong-18 ICBM at an undisclosed location in North Korea, 18 December 2023

Military tanks take part in a military parade to mark the 70th anniversary of the armistice that halted fighting in the 1950-53 Korean War, on Kim Il Sung Square in Pyongyang, July 27, 2023

The 9th plenary meeting of the 8th central committee of the Workers' Party of Korea kicked off on Tuesday to wrap up a year during which the isolated North enshrined nuclear policy in its constitution, launched a spy satellite and fired a new intercontinental ballistic missile.

The days-long assembly of the party and government officials has been used in recent years to make key policy announcements. Previously, state media released Kim's speech on New Year's Day.
Presidential hopeful Nikki Haley has been slammed for refusing to say that slavery was the main cause of the Civil War.

Haley, the 51-year-old former governor for South Carolina, blundered her way through the question at town hall debate in Berlin, New Hampshire, on Wednesday night.

The former UN representative jokingly told the audience member 'well, don't come with an easy question', before claiming that the Civil War was fought for freedom and ideological differences in how governments ought to work.

'I think the cause of the Civil War was basically how government was going to run, the freedoms of what people could and couldn't do.'

The White House hopeful, currently a distant third place to Donald Trump in the race for the 2024 Republican presidential nomination, can then be heard going on a tangent about the limits of government overreach and civil liberties.

Nikki Haley, the 51-year-old former governor for South Carolina, (pictured) blundered through the question at town hall debate in Berlin, New Hampshire, on Wednesday night

The former UN representative jokingly told the audience member 'well, don't come with an easy question', before claiming that the Civil War was fought for freedom and ideological differences in how governments ought to work

'I think it always comes down to the role of government and what the rights of the people are, and I will always stand by the fact that I think government was intended to secure the rights and freedoms of the people.

'It was never meant to be all things to all people. Government doesn't need to tell you how to live your life.

'They don't need to tell you what you can and can't do. They don't need to be a part of your life. They need to make sure that you have freedom.

'We need to have capitalism. We need to have economic freedom. We need to make sure that we do all things so that individuals have the liberties so that they can have freedom of speech, freedom of religion, freedom to do or be anything they want to be without government getting in the way.'

Following the tangent, she tries to turn the question back to the voter, who tells her that he isn't the one running for the Oval Office in 2024.

'I think it always comes down to the role of government and what the rights of the people are, and I will always stand by the fact that I think government was intended to secure the rights and freedoms of the people,' she said

Haley's refusal to acknowledge this caught the ire of many across the political spectrum

Historians generally agree that slavery, and the divided opinions of Northern and Southern states over whether to abolish it, was the primary cause of the Civil War

The Southern states of the US, including Haley's home state of South Carolina, were pro-slavery, while Northern states were anti-slavery

He is then heard saying: 'In 2023, it's astonishing to me that you would answer that question without mentioning the word slavery.'

Haley asks him: 'What do you want me to say about slavery? Next question.'

Historians generally agree that slavery, and the divided opinions of Northern and Southern states over whether to abolish it, was the primary cause of the Civil War.

The Southern states of the US, including Haley's home state of South Carolina, were pro-slavery, while Northern states were anti-slavery. South Carolina's proclamation outlining its reasons for leaving the Union in 1860 pointed to the ''increasing hostility on the part of the non-slaveholding States to the institution of slavery' as a reason for the state removing itself from the Union.

But Haley's refusal to acknowledge this caught the ire of many across the political spectrum.

President Biden's account on X shared a video of Haley's town hall moment and tweeted, 'It was about slavery.'

Donald Trump is currently leading the race for the 2024 Republican presidential nomination

The campaign of Florida Governor Ron DeSantis, another of Haley's GOP foes, (pictured) recirculated video of the exchange on social media, adding the comment, 'Yikes.'

Aggregated polling data from FiveThirtyEight shows that, nationally, Haley may soon overtake Ron DeSantis to be second place in the race for the 2024 Republican presidential nomination

Even in her home state, Haley is trailing far behind, with less than half the share of votes that Trump has

Meanwhile, the campaign of Florida Governor Ron DeSantis, another of Haley's GOP foes, recirculated video of the exchange on social media, adding the comment, 'Yikes.'

Issues surrounding the origins of the Civil War and its heritage are still much of the fabric of Haley's home state, and she has been pressed on the war's origins before.

As she ran for governor in 2010, Haley, in an interview with a now-defunct activist group then known as The Palmetto Patriots, described the war as between two disparate sides fighting for 'tradition' and 'change' and said the Confederate flag was 'not something that is racist.'

During that same campaign, she dismissed the need for the flag to come down from the Statehouse grounds, portraying her Democratic rival's push for its removal as a desperate political stunt.

Five years later, Haley urged lawmakers to remove the flag from its perch near a Confederate soldier monument following a mass shooting in which a white gunman killed eight Black church members who were attending Bible study.

At the time, Haley said the flag had been 'hijacked' by the shooter from those who saw the flag as symbolizing 'sacrifice and heritage.'

Aggregated polling data from FiveThirtyEight shows that, nationally, Haley may soon overtake Ron DeSantis to be second place in the race for the 2024 Republican presidential nomination.

Despite this, she has a long way to go to beat Donald Trump, who currently has 61.2% of Republicans pledged to vote for him.

Even in her home state, Haley is trailing far behind, with less than half the share of votes that Trump has.

MailOnline has contacted Nikki Haley's presidential campaign for comment.
A 16-year-old boy arrested on suspicion of arson after a fire at a top Catholic school in west London allegedly tried to burn down its 5million atrium after using a school swipe card to enter the premises.

A source said the suspect is thought to be a pupil at the London Oratory as he is said to have entered the main building with a school-issued swipe card. All the books in the library are said to have been damaged in the fire.

The teen is alleged to have set fire to the 5million atrium at the school, which was built in 2016 and housed the library and four classrooms.

Ten fire engines rushed to the scene of the blaze at London Oratory School in Fulham, south west London, at 10am yesterday.

More than 70 firefighters battled the blaze at the school, which is favoured by politicians including Tony Blair and Nick Clegg. The Met police said a 16-year-old boy was arrested at 11.15am.

The Roman Catholic 'outstanding' school has nearly 1,400 pupils between the ages of seven and 18

Ten fire engines are at the scene of the blaze at London Oratory School in Fulham, south west London

The Roman Catholic 'outstanding' school has nearly 1,400 pupils between the ages of seven and 18. It admits boys from age seven and girls aged 16 to 18, and is a short distance from the Chelsea stadium, Stamford Bridge.

A parent told the Times that water from the fire engines has now flooded the school.

They said: 'It's a very high-achieving school and that can create pressures. His poor parents must be worried sick.

'This year we've been affected by RAAC, flooding and now this.'

No injuries were reported in the fire, the London Fire Brigade said.

A London Fire Brigade spokesperson said: 'Ten fire engines and around 70 firefighters have been called to a fire at a school on Seagrave Road in Fulham.

'An atrium is alight in a four-storey building with basement.

'The Brigade was called at 10.11am and is still at the scene.

'Fire crews from Fulham, Chelsea, Kensington, Wandsworth, Hammersmith, Clapham, Lambeth and Soho fire stations are in attendance.

'The cause of the fire is not known at this stage.'

The London Oratory School is a top Catholic school where competition for places is steep

Fire engines and police officers on Seagrave Road in Fulham, west London, as firefighters tackle a blaze at London Oratory School

Smoke was seen in the air as firefighters tackled the blaze on Wednesday

The London Ambulance Service, which also attended the scene, urged residents to close their windows.

Posting on X, the ambulance service said: 'We have an incident response officer and hazardous area response team on standby at the fire in Fulham.

'Please avoid the area if possible and close your windows if you live nearby.'

Photographs from the scene showed a heavy emergency service response, with groups of police officers being briefed as they arrived.

A nearby shopping centre and some residential addresses were evacuated as a precaution, police said.

A Metropolitan Police spokesperson said: 'Police don't know at this stage whether there are any injured persons inside the school.

'The cause of the fire is currently unknown and will be investigated.

'A nearby shopping centre and some residential addresses have been evacuated as a precaution.

'Road closures are in place. Please avoid the area at this time.'

Chelsea and Fulham MP Greg Hands said he was 'concerned' by the incident, and was in touch with the police.

Posting on X, he added: 'Lots of helicopter noise overhead this part of Fulham too.'

The school's alumni include actor Simon Callow, trade unionist Mick Whelan as well as the children of the former prime minister Sir Tony Blair, children of Harriet Harman and former deputy prime minister, Sir Nick Clegg.
A hospital chief who was accused of ignoring concerns about Lucy Letby has been given a formal role at the inquiry into her murder spree.

Tony Chambers, who is the former chief executive of the Countess of Chester Hospital, has been named as a 'core participant' at the upcoming Thirlwall Inquiry.

The 57-year-old, who resigned from his 160,000-a-year role two months after Letby was arrested, is joined by the hospital's former medical director Ian Harvey, former director of nursing Alison Kelly and former HR director Sue Hodkinson.

The Thirlwall Inquiry into Letby's crimes is expected to being hearing evidence in 2024 and will seek to determine how she was able to kill multiple newborn babies.

Letby was given a whole-life order last year after being found guilty of murdering seven babies and attempting to kill six others in a year-long death spree at the hospital.

Tony Chambers (pictured), CEO of Countess of Chester Hospital, was criticised in the wake of the Lucy Letby scandal

Letby (pictured) was jailed for life after being found guilty of murdering seven babies at the hospital and attempting to kill six others

The upcoming inquiry, which is being chaired by Lady Justice Thirlwall, will look at the experiences of the parents of the children who were targeted by Letby, the conduct of hospital staff and how effective NHS management was, the BBC reports.

READ MORE HERE: Lucy Letby inquiry asks every neonatal unit in England about installing CCTV while doctors, midwives and nurses are quizzed about hospital 'culture' Advertisement

The full list of core participants also includes the Royal Collage of Paediatrics and Child Health, the NHS, the Department for Health and Social Care, the Nursing and Midwifery Council and the Care Quality Commision.

A core participant is someone with a significant interest in an inquiry. As part of this they are given the opportunity to make opening and closing statements via legal representatives, suggest lines of questioning at oral hearings, apply to ask questions of witnesses and be provided with advance copies of reports.

It means that Mr Chambers, who was said to have been forced out of his role as chief of Countess of Chester Hospital following a vote of no confidence after six years in charge, will have access to the final report by Lady Justice Thirlwall before it is released to the public.

After leaving his role at the Cheshire hospital in September 2018 Mr Chambers, who lives in a 750,000 Grade II-listed house in Bolton, Greater Manchester, took up a number of interim but lucrative NHS jobs, moving first to the Northern Care Alliance in Greater Manchester.

In January 2020, while police were still investigating Letby, he is said to have bragged about being talked into taking up the 215,000 role  as CEO of Barking, Havering and Redbridge NHS Trust in east London  by Sir David Sloman, the NHS regional director for London at the time.

Mr Chambers left this role in August 2021 and joined the Royal Cornwall Hospitals NHS Trust, where he worked as interim CEO until January last year.

Months into Letby's trial earlier this year, Mr Chambers was appointed interim CEO of Queen Victoria Hospital in West Sussex.

An inquiry has been set up to determine how Letby was able to commit the murders at Countess of Chester Hospital (pictured)

Former director of nursing at the hospital Alison Kelly (pictured) has also been named as a core participant

The hospital's former medical director Ian Harvey (pictured) is another who has been given a formal role

Lucy Letby pictured holding a baby while she was at work. She carried out the killing spree at the Countess of Chester Hospital

Mr Chambers started work at QVH in February but left his nine-month term earlier than expected in June. The BBC reported that all his appointments were approved by NHS England with a representative on each interview panel.

Letby was jailed for life this month for murdering seven babies and attempting to murder six others at the Countess of Chester Hospital's neonatal unit.

Letby, who faces a retrial next June for one count of attempted murder, was also stripped of her nursing credentials after a panel ordered she be struck off from the register at a Nursing and Midwifery Council hearing this month.

The panel found she was unfit to practise nursing before it went on to make the striking-off order, a move they have heard Letby does not resist, despite maintaining her innocence in respect of her convictions.

Mr Chambers has come under fire after paediatric consultants said their warnings about the serial killer were not acted on by bosses.

NHS England insisted all interim CEO posts were made 'through a competitive process run by the relevant trusts'.

It told the BBC that Mr Chambers had also been offered the job in London 'following a competitive process'.

But it added: 'Sir David Sloman was not aware of the events at the Countess of Chester when Tony Chambers was appointed.'

Mr Chambers has previously told the Mail that 'serious concerns' about Letby were not flagged to him until June 2016  after the unexplained collapses of two babies.

He insisted he was 'focused' on working with the senior doctors and the hospital board of directors to establish what had happened 'from the outset'.
Veterans' minister Johnny Mercer and TV presenter Carol Vorderman have ramped up their extraordinary social media war after he swiped at her 'sh** lonely life'.

The Tory MP hit back after Vorderman - who was dropped by the BBC over her anti-government rants - accused him of breaking a promise to end homelessness among ex-forces personnel.

The former Countdown maths whizz said Mr Mercer had vowed to eradicate the problem this year, but in fact numbers had risen by 14 per cent.

However, he argued that his pledge had been to stop 'veterans sleeping rough due to a lack of provision' - which he had achieved.

Mr Mercer complained that Vorderman and the Labour candidate in his Plymouth seat, Fred Thomas, were 'deliberately misleading people' to 'make your sh** lonely life better'.

'No one normal really cares about your view. They think you're mad. I'm changing veterans' lives. What I came into politics to do,' he posted on the X site.

Johnny Mercer (pictured right with wife Felicity) hit back after Carol Vorderman (left) - who was dropped by the BBC over her anti-government rants - accused him of breaking a promise to end homelessness among ex-forces personnel

Mr Mercer complained that Vorderman and the Labour candidate in his Plymouth seat, Fred Thomas, were 'deliberately misleading people' about his pledge on homelessness to 'make your sh** lonely life better'

Vorderman hit back by branding Mr Mercer 'childish' and saying he was 'slinging abuse'

Vorderman hit back by branding Mr Mercer 'childish' and saying he was 'slinging abuse'.

She also complained that he had 'insulted' Mr Thomas by sniping that he only served 'five minutes' in the forces, when actually he had been in the Royal Marines for seven years.

Mr Mercer - a former army captain - and his wife Felicity have had a long-running spat with Vorderman.

The bizarre feud began early in July when Mrs Cornelius-Mercer accused Vorderman of being a 'celebrity attack dog' who was 'inciting people to hate all Tories'.

The row even made it into the House of Commons when a Conservative MP accused Vorderman of being a 'snob' after she criticised the Mercers for not going to university.

The latest instalment in the long-running feud erupted after Vorderman argued on the X site that Mr Mercer had broken his pledge

Mr Mercer voiced 'frustration' with the allegations about his homelessness promise, and jibed that Vorderman was 'irrelevant'

Vorderman also complained that he had 'insulted' Mr Thomas by sniping that he only served 'five minutes' in the forces, when actually he had been in the Royal Marines for seven years

Mr Thomas also responded to the criticism from Mr Mercer today

Mr Mercer was educated at 10,000-a-year Eastbourne College and served in the British Army while his wife worked as a crewing supervisor for MK Airlines.

She is now Principal Secretary in her husband's office - receiving a salary of between 40,000 to 49,000.

Mrs Cornelius-Mercer celebrated last month after Vorderman left her BBC show over her partisan social media posts.

The MPs' wife posted 'Binned by BBC' with an emoji of a bin.

She also liked another user's post branding the former Countdown presenter 'Vordermort' in reference to the Harry Potter villain.

Vorderman previously accused Mrs Cornelius-Mercer of 'harassment' and shared a reel showing a series of tweets she had sent her.

In response, Mrs Cornelius-Mercer said she had been tagging her in abusive tweets sent to her husband to show how she had stirred up 'awful traffic' by 'telling followers to target MPs'.

She added: 'Feel free to stop the reel and read them. These hateful comments are sent to us as a direct result of @carolvorders drivel. I've only ever reacted to her rubbish about hating all Tories, which has been going on long before I got involved.'
Gypsy Rose Blanchard has been released from prison and has already made major plans to celebrate her release.

The 32-year-old has spent the last eight years in prison for orchestrating her medically abusive mother Claudine 'Dee Dee' Blanchard's murder in 2015.

While the killer, Gypsy Rose's online boyfriend Nicholas Godejohn, will serve life in prison without the possibility of parole, she is now enjoying an early release from her 10-year stretch on Thursday.

She previously revealed that at the top of her to-do list upon her release from prison was to meet Taylor Swift at a Kansas City Chiefs game.

She told TMZ that she and her husband Ryan bought tickets to a game three days after her release from prison in hope that she runs into Swift.

Blanchard also told the outlet that she intends to buy tickets for Swift's October 2024 tour stop in New Orleans if she fails to meet the star.

Gypsy Rose Blanchard was released on Thursday, after serving eight years of a 10-year prison sentence for orchestrating the murder of her medically abusive mother

She told TMZ that she refers to Taylor Swift (pictured) as the 'kick-ass chick' who taught her the meaning of girl power

The felon was released from Chillicothe Correctional Center in Chillicothe, Missouri, with prison officials attempting to keep the moment as low-key as possible by keeping the media away and not revealing when she left

Claudine 'Dee Dee' Blanchard (right) convinced her daughter Gypsy Rose (left) and others that she was suffering a variety of illnesses including leukemia and muscular dystrophy. The abuse continued for years, until Gypsy Rose ordered her mother's murder to 'escape'

She told TMZ that she refers to Swift as the 'kick-ass chick' who taught her the meaning of girl power, adding that she uses the commissary money her father sends her to buy every album released by the star.

The internet has seemingly backed her dreams, with an online petition encouraging Swift to meet Blanchard being posted online.

The petition, set up on December 22, reads: 'Gypsy Rose Blanchard's story is one of resilience and strength. Having endured years of abuse and hardships, she has become a symbol of survival for an entire generation.

'Her journey has touched the hearts of many, including mine, and I believe that meeting her idol, Taylor Swift, would bring immense joy not only to her but also to countless others who have followed her story.'

She is also set to have a book that retells the difficult upbringing she had, detailing the physical and emotional abuse she suffered at her mother's hands.

A press release, published by Penguin Random House, reads: 'Gypsy saw her story told by others again and again in the media, from news reports and podcasts to TV series.

'Now, granted early parole and preparing to start a new life, shes free to speak directly to her supporters and the world.'

The book is set to be published in January 9.

Despite the international attention that Blanchard has enjoyed for several years, Missouri prison officials ruled that no one was allowed on the premises when Gypsy Rose was released from Chillicothe Correctional Center.

This decision meant there were no cameras to capture the moment when she first tastes freedom, or fans to welcome her.

Although she has given interviews from behind bars, she will reportedly not be giving a statement or speaking to the media upon her release.

According to Pojmann, the stricter rules over the release came at Gypsy Rose's request, with the felon reportedly already making a plan for where she will live.

Fears over the safety of prison staff also led officials to keep the parking lot off limits for her release, as a large number of fans were expected to attempt to catch a glimpse of Gypsy Rose after growing obsessed with her bizarre story.

The teen is believed to have suffered one of the highest profile cases of Munchausen Syndrome, where her mom's insistence that she suffered various made-up illnesses led her to undergo painful surgeries and take medications with adverse side effects.

Gypsy Rose ordered Godejohn, an autistic man she had met online three years prior, to murder her mom to 'escape' her control - which began when Gypsy was only three months old and her mother told doctors the infant was having trouble breathing.

She was diagnosed with sleep apnea and given breathing apparatus, the first of many instances where Dee Dee falsified her daughter's ailments.

Because of her mother's unyielding focus on Gypsy's non-existent illnesses, she was forced to use a wheelchair from a young age, and Dee Dee told her family the child was suffering a chromosomal disorder that limited her movement.

Dee Dee once conned doctors into removing Gypsy Rose's salivary glands, and was accused of a number of depraved lies including shaving her head to make it appear that she was suffering from leukemia

Dee Dee is believed to have suffered from Munchausen by proxy syndrome, as she led people to believe that her daughter was terminally ill to enjoy praise as a doting mother along with perks such as charity-funded tickets to concerts and Disney World

Gypsy Rose (left) was handed a ten-year sentence for plotting to kill her mother, while her online boyfriend Nicholas Godejohn (right) was given a life sentence

In the subsequent years, the list of diseases and illnesses that Dee Dee told people her daughter suffered from included leukemia and muscular dystrophy, as she insisted to anyone speaking to her to remember she had the 'mind of a seven-year-old.'

She would shave Gypsy Rose's head to mimic the effects of leukemia, force her to use a wheelchair 24/7, sleep with a breathing machine, and even ordered the removal of her salivary glands.

Dee Dee was also accused of plying her daughter with certain medications to mimic symptoms, such as using a topical anesthetic to numb her gums to make her drool.

It was believed Dee Dee thrived on control over her daughter, and she had previously been ostracized from her family due to suspicions she killer her mother by withholding food.

At his trial, Godejohn's lawyers described the killer as a 'low-functioning person with autism', who was 'so in love with (Gypsy Rose) and so obsessed with her that he would do anything... and Gypsy knew that'

While many of Gypsy Rose's disorders were entirely fictitious, Gypsy Rose's frequent hospital visits saw her take an array of medications that severely hampered her health. In one instance, she was diagnosed with epilepsy and prescribed Tegretol, which caused her teeth to fall out.

This also saw Dee Dee fit a feeding tube to her wheelchair, despite Gypsy Rose's ability to eat and drink normally.

After years of abuse, Gypsy Rose schemed with Godejohn to rid herself of her mother, and the two believed they would only be able to be together if she was dead.

Shortly after their first encounter in 2015, the couple began to plan Dee Dee's murder, fueled by Gypsy Rose's confessions of the abuse she had suffered throughout her life.

She later told a Discovery ID documentary that the moment the plan formed came as the couple 'were talking one night, and he said that he would do anything to protect me, and I asked him, 'Anything?' and he said, 'Yeah.'

'From anybody?' [I asked], he said 'Yeah.' 'Even my mom?' [I asked], he said 'Yes.' And that's when this kind of plan started to develop [into] a murder plot.'

According to Fox4, she sent Godejohn money to help him travel from Wisconsin to her home in Missouri, and stole a knife from Walmart for him to use in the attack.

The twisted story was told in Hulu series 'The Act', with Dee Dee portrayed by Patricia Arquette (left) and Gypsy Rose played by Joey King (right)

Questions remain over Gypsy Rose's culpability in her mother's murder, amid claims she funded her killer boyfriend's travel and provided him with the knife used in the 2015 slaying

Godejohn then arrived at the family home in Springfield in June 2015, however it is not clear the exact date of the attack as Dee Dee lay in a pool of her own blood for several days.

He was let into the home by Gypsy Rose after her mom had gone to sleep, and hid in the bathroom with her hands over her ears to mask the noise of the savage stabbing.

She told ABC News that she wanted her mom to die 'not because I hated her... it was because I wanted to escape her.'

Dee Dee was found on the morning of June 14, 2015, after being stabbed 17 times in her sleep by Godejohn.

Police were initially baffled by Gypsy Rose's disappearance after her mother's murder and believed she may have been abducted, however investigators quickly realized her home life may not have been as it first seemed.

Chilling Facebook posts announcing and celebrating Dee Dee's death led investigators to Godejohn's home in Big Bend, Wisconsin, and the two were subsequently arrested.

Now, while Gypsy Rose readies for freedom, her twisted story still raises eyebrows to this day, with Green County Sheriff Jim Arnott recently telling Ozarks First that he still has doubts about the case to this day.

'From my perspective, she was the mastermind behind the murder of her mother,' he said, feeling that the 10-year sentence she received, in response to a guilty plea, was too lenient for her role in her mother's murder.

'If she served the 85%, then it is what it is. She did her time,' he said. 'There's a lot of victims in this deal. And that's not just Deedee and it's not Gypsy. It's the entire community.'
A motorist has blasted Sadiq Khan's ULEZ scheme as 'the worst in Britain' after he was mistakenly charged five times for three different cars despite living 100 miles from London.

Partab Singh, 35, has seen money deducted from his bank five times since setting up an account to drive his grey BMW 5 series from his home in Leicester to a funeral in London in October.

Despite not returning to the capital since, he has been automatically billed for two other motors despite photos showing they are clearly different cars with different number plates.

Civil servant Partab has owned the unusual and personalised plate since he was at university and has registered it to at least three different cars without any issues before.

He said: 'It's ridiculous, I've never had any issues with that number plate before registering for ULEZ. It makes no sense, why is the newest camera network in Britain also the worst?

Partab Singh says his BMW (pictured) has been mistakenly charged by the ULEZ scheme five times

One of the vehicles that was mistakenly linked to Partab Singh despite the fact he lives 100 miles away

'The cameras and technology in place are clearly not working and fit for purpose. Why do I keep getting charged when I live in Leicester and generally only travel within the Midlands?

EXCLUSIVE READ MORE HERE - Sadiq Khan's Ulez charge made me go bald: Mechanic loses hair due to stress when his income halves after he had to scrap his truck and take extra job stacking Sainsbury's shelves to make ends meet Advertisement

'They should not have introduced the system which cost taxpayers millions until it had been tested thoroughly.'

Partab was sent a total of 50 in bills for a Renault and Mercedes Benz between October and December because their plates partly include the same numbers even though the pictures clearly show the full plates include others letters and digits that are different.

It was only by luck that he noticed the error while searching his bank statements for another charge.

He is calling on Transport for London (TfL) to repay the money it wrongly deducted from him and review whether other drivers are being wrongly charged.

He said: 'Normally I'm really bad at checking my bank statements so I could have easily missed this. I wonder how many people are getting charged when they haven't even driven into London and just don't realise.'

In August this year, London Mayor Sadiq Khan expanded the ULEZ scheme to cover the entirety of Greater London.

It's not the first time the system has snared the wrong people. In October a camera in Harrow, North West London, had to be switched off after it wrongly charged 927 drivers because it was pointed the wrong way.

This Renault was also mistakenly linked to Mr Singh. The charges have since been dropped by Transport for London

Mr Singh says he only registered his car (pictured on ULEZ cameras here) to go to a funeral in London in October

In August mayor Sadiq Khan (pictured) expanded the ULEZ scheme to cover all of Greater London

The zone operates 24 hours a day, seven days a week, 364 days a year - excluding Christmas Day.

Older vehicles that don't meet tight emissions standards have to pay 12.50 every day they are used within the ULEZ.

The charge runs from midnight to midnight, meaning drivers will be charged for two days if their journey starts before midnight and travels into the next day.

Generally, pre-2015 diesels and pre-2006 petrol cars, as well as pre-2007 motorbikes, face the fees but you can check if your vehicle meets the standards or not on the TfL website.

To drive in the ULEZ, petrol cars must meet the Euro 4 standards on emissions, and diesels, as well as larger vehicles, must meet the Euro 6 standards.

A TfL spokesman said: 'We apologise for any issues this has caused Mr Singh. We have refunded all charges paid and have put processes in place to avoid this happening in future.

'There is a long-established process where anyone who believes they have been incorrectly charged can make a representation and we will consider the evidence.'
Fans of the poet and author Benjamin Zephaniah have been asked to plant flowers or trees and name them in his memory.

The dub poet, known for his works about refugees and healthy eating and who also appeared in hit BBC show Peaky Blinders as Jeremiah Jesus, died earlier this month at the age of 65.

He had had been diagnosed with a tumour just eight weeks before his death.

It is understood he will be laid to rest at a small family funeral today.

A statement on X, formerly Twitter, said: 'Today is Professor Benjamin Zephaniah's funeral day. We know a lot of people want to show respect to him but cannot join his funeral.

Fans of the poet and author Benjamin Zephaniah have been asked to plant flowers or trees and name them in his memory

The dub poet died earlier this month at the age of 65

'As Benjamin does not like flowers without roots, we recommend that if you want to, please plant something like flowers, trees or any plants you want to, anywhere you wish, name them as Benjamin Zephaniah in memory of him.'

Supporters are alternatively asked to send money to the charities The Vegan Society or Inquest, which helps bereaved families of people who have died in police custody or prison, immigration detention, mental health settings or where there have been failings by the state.

READ MORE: Benjamin Zephaniah dies aged 65 after brain tumour diagnosis Advertisement

Zephaniah, who rejected an OBE in 2003 because of the association of such an honour with the British Empire and its history of slavery, was often outspoken on racial abuse and education.

The Birmingham-born poet was nominated for autobiography of the year at the National Book Awards for his work, The Life And Rhymes Of Benjamin Zephaniah, and the book was also shortlisted for the Costa Book Award in 2018.

He was kicked out of school at the age of 13, unable to read or write, and had dyslexia.

Despite this, the youngster was inspired to become a writer after being given a typewriter as a boy - an item of literary history which is now on display at the Birmingham Museums Trust.

Teaching himself to read, he eventually started to make a name for himself performing poetry with a political edge, before later writing novels and plays.

In his twenties he travelled to London where his first book Pen Rhythm was published by Page One Books.

Zephaniah used his debut anthology as a springboard in his campaign to resuscitate the reputation of poetry in academia, vowing to 'take [it] everywhere'.

He stared in the hit period crime drama Peaky Blinders, playing the role of preacher Jeremiah 'Jimmy' (left) in 14 episodes. He is pictured with Cillian Murphy, right

In his 2001 book Too Black Too Strong, Zephaniah chronicled the struggles of 'Black Britain' with a fierce and passionate eye.

He followed that up with the release of We Are Britain! in 2002, a collection of poems celebrating the nation's unique cultural diversity.

His first writings used dub poetry, a Jamaican style of work that has evolved into the music genre of the same name, and he would also perform with the group The Benjamin Zephaniah Band.

Upon hearing about his death, many artists, poets and musicians paid tribute, including co-star in Peaky Blinders, Cillian Murphy.

In a statement, Murphy said: 'Benjamin was a truly gifted and beautiful human being  a generational poet, writer, musician and activist.

'A proud Brummie and a Peaky Blinder. I'm so saddened by this news. RIP.'

The Repair Shop's Jay Blades said: 'RIP Benjamin Zephaniah, my heart and prayers are with your Family in this time of Great Sadness'

Children's author Michael Rosen - Children's Laureate from 2007 to 2009 - called Zephaniah's death 'tragic terrible news'.

Writing on X, formerly known as Twitter, he said: 'I'm devastated. I admired him, respected him, learnt from him, loved him.

'Love and condolences to the family and to all who loved him too.'

Bridgerton star Adjoa Andoh said the world had lost a giant.

She remarked: 'We have lost a titan today. Benjamin Zephaniah. Beautiful poet. Professor, OBE, advocate for love and humanity in all things.

'Heartbroken. Rest In Your Power - our brother.'
The body of pro-Putin regional politician Vladimir Egorov, 46, has been found after a suspected fall from a third-floor window.

The Tobolsk City Duma dropped to his death from the third-floor window of a home on Kedrovaya Street in Tobolsk in the Tyumen Oblast, Russian Telegram channel Baza, which has links to Russian security services, reported.

Egorov, who was a member of Vladimir Putin's ruling United Russia party, was found dead on Wednesday, according to Russian state media.

One source said there was 'no visible sign of a criminal death on the [politician's] body'. Pathologists are to examine the cause of death.

His corpse was found in the yard of his house, according to reports.

Vladimir Egorov. Egorov, 46, was a member of Vladimir Putin's ruling United Russia party (File Photo)

Vladimir Egorov. His corpse was found in the yard of his house, according to reports

Egorov was a prominent and wealthy politician in oil-rich Tobolsk in western Siberia.

According to the 72 news outlet, Egorov may have suffered from heart problems.

'One of the most likely reasons is heart problems,' a source told the publication.

Heart issues are frequently given as the explanation of multiple untimely or suspicious deaths among prominent people in Russia since the start of the war against Ukraine.

How this related to falling around 30ft from a third-floor window is unclear.

The report said: 'In the near future pathologists will conduct an autopsy to establish the true cause of Egorov's death.'

News outlet Baza reported: 'Police are now investigating what exactly caused his fall.'

Egorov was a trained lawyer with business interests. He had earlier been forced to leave the city administration in 2016 after a corruption scandal for which he was ultimately not convicted.

He returned to politics and was the wealthiest local deputy in Tobolsk.

He leaves behind a wife and two children.

One video shows him meeting his son after his return from army conscription.

He is not the only high-ranking figure in Russia whose death from falling out of a window has aroused suspicion since the start of Russia's invasion of Ukraine.

In June, the glamorous vice-president of a Russian bank reportedly plunged to her death after falling from the window of her Moscow apartment.

Kristina Baikova, 28, an executive at Loko-Bank, allegedly fell from her 11th floor apartment on the Khodynsky Boulevard in the early hours. She died instantly at the scene.

The bank executive was with a 34-year-old friend, thought to be named Andrei, at the time of the incident after inviting him over to her home for drink.

In February, a top Russian defence official was found dead after plunging 160ft from a tower block window.

Marina Yankina, 58, was discovered by a passerby at the entrance of a house on Zamshina Street in St Petersburg.

She is believed to have fallen from the 16th floor to her death.

Vladimir Egorov. Egorov was a trained lawyer with business interests. He had earlier been forced to leave the city administration in 2016 after a corruption scandal for which he was ultimately not convicted

Vladimir Egorov. After the corruption scandal, he returned to politics and was the wealthiest local deputy in Tobolsk. He leaves behind a wife and two children

In June, the glamorous vice-president of a Russian bank, Kristina Baikova, 28, reportedly plunged to her death after falling from the window of her Moscow apartment

In February, top Russian defence official Marina Yankina, 58, was found dead after falling 160ft from a tower block window

Marina Yankina. Yankina was a key figure in the funding of Putin's illegal war in Ukraine as head of the financial support department of the Ministry of Defence for the Western Military District

Yankina was a key figure in the funding of Putin's illegal war in Ukraine as head of the financial support department of the Ministry of Defence for the Western Military District, which is closely involved in the dictator's invasion.

The Russian Investigative Committee and the press service of the Western Military District 'Fontanka' both confirmed her death.

In December 2022, sausage multi-millionaire Pavel Antov, who had criticised Vladimir Putin's war in Ukraine, was found dead after a mysterious fall from a hotel in India.

Antov, from the main pro-Putin party United Russia, had been on a trip to celebrate his upcoming 66th birthday.

A male friend in his party had died 'from a heart attack' the previous week, and the wealthy politician lost his life two days later.

The married tycoon, an MP in the legislative assembly of the Vladimir region, was listed as Russia's highest-earning elected official in 2019.

The Russian Consul General in Kolkata Alexei Idamkin told TASS he 'fell' out of a hotel window in Rayagada, Odisha state.

In June of that year, Antov described the war and air strikes on Kyiv as Russian 'terror'.

He highlighted a Russian missile strike and said: 'A girl has been pulled out from under the rubble, the girl's father appears to have died.

'The mother is trying to be pulled out with a crane - she is trapped under a slab. To tell the truth, it is extremely difficult to call this anything other than terror.'

He later withdrew the comment and made a grovelling apology, claiming his post on social media had been 'an unfortunate misunderstanding' and a 'technical error'.

In December 2022, Pavel Antov, Russia's 'highest-earning elected politician' who had criticised Putin's war in Ukraine, was found dead after a mysterious fall from a hotel in India

Ravil Maganov, 67, (pictured with Putin after receiving a medal) chairman of Russian oil giant Lukoil, died on the spot after falling from a window on the sixth floor of the Central Clinical Hospital in Moscow in September 2022 at around 7.30am local time

He insisted he had 'always supported the president' and 'sincerely' backed the goals of Putin's military operation - but local journalists strongly disputed this.

In September 2022, the chairman of a Russian oil company that criticised Vladimir Putin's invasion of Ukraine was found dead in suspicious circumstances after he plunged from a sixth floor window at a Moscow hospital.

Ravil Maganov, 67, chairman of Lukoil, died on the spot after falling from a window on the sixth floor of the Central Clinical Hospital in Moscow at around 7.30am local time.

Russian state media quickly said his death was a suicide, but law enforcement sources said there was no suicide note and there were no CCTV cameras on the section of the building where Maganov fell.

Lukoil was one of the few major Russian companies to call for the end of fighting in Ukraine after Moscow invaded.

In a statement in the days after the invasion, the Lukoil board called for an 'immediate' end to the fighting, expressing its sympathy to those affected by the 'tragedy'.

Seven months later, Maganov was found dead after falling from the hospital window.
She persuaded her ex-boyfriend to kill her abusive mother in 2015

Munchausen by proxy victim Gypsy Rose Blanchard was freed from prison early Thursday with a new book, a docuseries and an an improbable meet-up with Taylor Swift on the top of her to-do list.

Ryan Scott Anderson, the teacher she married behind bars last year, pulled into the Chillicothe Correctional Center in northern Missouri to pick her up at 3:20am.

His Cadillac sedan, with a Bret 'the Hitman' Hart wrestling decal across the front license plate cover, emerged minutes later to whisk Gypsy away for her first night of freedom at a budget hotel.

The 32-year-old felon spent her childhood posing as a wheelchair-bound invalid after Claudine 'Dee Dee' Blanchard shaved her daughter's head, pumped her full of drugs and convinced the world she was suffering from leukemia and muscular dystrophy.

Their 'inseparable' bond ended when Gypsy burst free of her warped mom's control in 2015 by letting her besotted internet boyfriend Nicholas Godejohn creep into their Springfield, Missouri home to stab 48-year-old Dee Dee to death.

Gypsy was jailed for 10 years for the matricide but was granted early parole in September after friends and family begged authorities to take account of the cruel abuse and needless medical procedures she endured while being cynically paraded at charity events and fundraisers.

Gypsy Rose Blanchard was released on Thursday, after serving eight years of a 10-year prison sentence for orchestrating the murder of her medically abusive mother

Claudine 'Dee Dee' Blanchard (right) convinced her daughter Gypsy Rose (left) and others that she was suffering a variety of illnesses including leukemia and muscular dystrophy. The abuse continued for years, until Gypsy Rose ordered her mother's murder to 'escape'

The felon was released from Chillicothe Correctional Center in Chillicothe, Missouri, in the early hours of Thursday morning

Gypsy Rose was whisked away in a Cadillac sedan by her teacher husband, who she married behind bars last year

The sedan that whisked Gypsy Rose away to a budget hotel for her first night of freedom had a Bret 'the Hitman' Hart wrestling decal

Among those who wrote an impassioned note to the parole board was Titania Gisclair, a family friend who went to high school with Dee Dee and remained close with Gypsy throughout her seven-year stretch.

She's praying that Gypsy will make space for 'healing' as she puts her years of incarceration behind her to begin post-prison life as an unlikely reality star.

Titania Gisclair, a family friend who went to high school with Dee Dee and remained close with Gypsy throughout her seven-year stretch, was among those who wrote an impassioned note to the parole board

'Gypsy used to talk about moving to a big city where she could blend in and get a job at Walmart like anyone else. I would have to say, Gypsy I don't think that's going to be possible,' Titania told DailyMail.com ahead of Gypsy's release.

'I struggle with the fact she is diving so deep into all of this publicity at the beginning of her journey but I also sympathize as this is probably her best avenue to financially support herself.

'The fact is, she can't go work at Walmart or a department store because her story will always be out there.

'I don't think it will ever go away. I just hope all this attention doesn't cause her to regress.'

Gypsy's media credits and prison interviews already include Dr Phil, Good Morning America and 20/20, while Hulu, Netflix and Lifetime have all aired TV dramas based on her ordeal.

She took part in the 2017 HBO documentary Mommy Dead and Dearest, and has an upcoming three-part docuseries, The Prison Confessions of Gypsy Rose Blanchard, airing January 5 through 7on Lifetime.

The network's cameras will likely follow her every move as Gypsy enjoys her first few days of freedom which will reportedly include a spa, shopping trip and a Kansas City Chiefs game on Sunday - where she's told TMZ she's hoping to bump into Taylor Swift and Travis Kelce.

Dee Dee once conned doctors into removing Gypsy Rose's salivary glands, and was accused of a number of depraved lies including shaving her head to make it appear that she was suffering from leukemia

Dee Dee is believed to have suffered from Munchausen by proxy syndrome, as she led people to believe that her daughter was terminally ill to enjoy praise as a doting mother along with perks such as charity-funded tickets to concerts and Disney World

Fans can look forward to more snippets on social media profiles set up prior to her release including a TikTok page - already boasting 400,000-plus followers - which describes her as a 'public figure/Speaker' and links to her new eBook, Released: Conversations on the Eve of Freedom.

She married Anderson, a 37-year-old teacher and wrestling fan from Lake Charles, Louisiana, behind bars last year after calling off her engagement to another man, named Ken.

It's not known whether she's planning to move in with him or with her dad and stepmom, Rod and Kristy Blanchard, who also reside in the Pelican state.

'My most important thing is for Gypsy to get the one-on-one mental health counseling she needs to deal with her childhood trauma. She got barely any of that - if any - in prison,' said freelance writer Titania, 54.

'I've preached it to her, to her stepmom, to whoever would listen. The best thing that she can do for herself is to heal her inner child. If she gets the helps she needs, she will thrive. We are hoping for great things for her.'

Titania is working on her own project documenting her former friendship with Dee Dee, which stretched from childhood to the party days of their early 20s when the pair drifted apart.

'People always ask how all these doctors and family members could be taken in by Dee Dee. But I understand because I witnessed it growing up,' Titania told DailyMail.com.

'She was a smooth talker, very charismatic. And when she was manipulating you, she always did it in a nice, sweet way so she got what she wanted.

'I did find it weird that whenever I asked about Gypsy, she would have all these new ailments. But I never imagined she would do the things she did to her. It only made sense in hindsight.'

Gypsy's story is one of the more famous examples of Munchausen syndrome by proxy, where a person treats a perfectly healthy dependent, usually a child, as if they have a physical or mental illness.

Dee Dee shaved her daughter's head to mimic the effects of leukemia, doctored her birth certificate to pretend she was younger and fed her unnecessary medications that caused her to drool and eventually lose her teeth.

She basked in the role of doting caregiver, forcing Gypsy to use a wheelchair and undergo unnecessary surgeries on her eyes and salivary glands while cashing in with charity handouts and perks including a free trip to Disney World.

When doctors in their native Louisiana raised red flags, Dee Dee relocated to Missouri in 2008, where she got a bright pink home built for free, courtesy of Habitat for Humanity, and told everyone that Gypsy's medical notes were destroyed in Hurricane Katrina.

When Gypsy was 14 a neurologist deduced she was a victim of Munchausen syndrome by proxy but didn't feel he had enough evidence to report her mother to authorities.

Gypsy Rose (left) was handed a ten-year sentence for plotting to kill her mother, while her online boyfriend Nicholas Godejohn (right) was given a life sentence

The former nurse even fooled ex-husband Rod Blanchard, who remained close to his daughter but struggled to get access to her once Dee Dee moved away and constantly made excuses to cancel his visits.

It was only when he witnessed his daughter walk into a courtroom in handcuffs that the shellshocked dad finally grasped that Gypsy didn't need a wheelchair.

Dee Dee was found dead on the morning of June 14, 2015, after being knifed 17 times in her sleep by Godejohn, 34, who is serving life in prison without parole.

Her slaying was discovered after a Facebook account she shared with Gypsy declared: 'That b**** is dead!'

Gypsy was feared kidnapped until investigators traced the post to Big Bend, Wisconsin where she was taken into custody along with her autistic lover, Godejohn.

The sheltered pair had met three years earlier through a Christian dating site, bonding over their love of Disney and roleplay. Their innocent interactions eventually turned to chats about BDSM and sexual fantasies.

Godejohn travelled to Missouri and the pair had sex in a movie theater bathroom while Dee Dee was taking Gypsy to see Cinderella.

Gypsy would later tell a Discovery ID documentary how the murder plot was kindled by Godejohn's promise to do everything in his power to protect his 'soul mate.'

'From anybody?' [I asked], he said 'Yeah.' 'Even my mom?' [I asked], he said 'Yes.' And that's when this kind of plan started to develop [into] a murder plot,' Gypsy said.

The twisted story was told in Hulu series 'The Act', with Dee Dee portrayed by Patricia Arquette (left) and Gypsy Rose played by Joey King (right)

Questions remain over Gypsy Rose's culpability in her mother's murder, amid claims she funded her killer boyfriend's travel and provided him with the knife used in the 2015 slaying

Godejohn arrived at the family home late one night in June 2015, with a knife he had stolen from Walmart.

Gypsy let him inside then hid in the bathroom with her hands over her ears to mask the noise of Dee Dee being butchered in her bed.

She told ABC News that she wanted her mom to die 'not because I hated her... it was because I wanted to escape her.'

Gypsy pled guilty to second-degree murder in 2016 and was sentenced to 10 years in prison. Godejohn's lawyers described him as a 'low-functioning person with autism' who was obsessed with Gypsy and coerced into doing her bidding.

He was jailed for life in 2019 for first degree murder and armed criminal action after prosecutors convinced jurors that he understood the consequences of killing.

Godejohn will remain under lock and key at the Potosi Correctional Center in Mineral Point, Missouri as Gypsy begins her new life, having served 85 percent of her sentence, as required by state law.

'We're going to do Christmas. I've got a Christmas tree, I've got her so many gifts. I went overboard, actually,' her stepmom Kristy told NewsNation last week.

'Oh, we're also doing a spa day  we're going to go get her pedicure, manicure, facial, haircut, colored if she wants, you know, the works, bring her shopping. She can't wait.'
A teenage boy has been charged with murder over the death of a 22-year-old woman who was stabbed to death in a south-east London home.

The 16-year-old is due to appear at Croydon Magistrates' Court on Thursday following the incident on December 24 in Bermondsey.

Police said they were called to reports of a stabbing at Spenlow House on Jamaica Road at around 10pm - a teenager arrested a short time afterwards.

The woman, who died at the scene, has been named by police as Kacey Clarke and the Met said her family are aware and are being supported by specially trained officers.

A post-mortem examination gave the cause of death as a single sharp force trauma to the chest.

The woman and the teenager were known to each other, the police added.

A Metropolitan Police officer at the scene outside Spenlow House in Jamaica Road, Bermondsey, south east London

A police sniffer dog works at the scene after a 22-year-old woman was stabbed to death

A Metropolitan Police officer at the scene outside Spenlow House in Jamaica Road

A teenage boy has been charged with murder over the death of the 22-year-old woman in a south-east London home

Chief Superintendent Seb Adjei-Addoh, local policing commander for Southwark, said: 'This is a tragic incident and my thoughts are with the woman's family and friends at this incredibly difficult time.'

Detectives from the Met's Specialist Crime Command are leading the investigation, and Detective Chief Inspector Brian Howie asked for anyone with any information to come forward.

He said: 'Our investigation continues and a team of detectives are working at pace to establish what happened that resulted in a young woman losing her life.

'My thoughts, and those of my team, are with her family and friends at this awful time.

'One person has been arrested, however we still need to hear from anyone who was in the Spenlow House area between 7pm and 11pm on Christmas Eve and may have seen or heard anything suspicious.

'I would urge anyone with any information that may be relevant to our investigation, no matter how insignificant it may have seemed at the time, to come forward immediately.'

Ms Clarke's family are being supported by specially trained officers and have requested their privacy is respected.
Officials should consider providing separate prayer rooms for Sunni and Shia Muslims living on the Bibby Stockholm to avoid sectarian clashes, a government report has found.

The split between the two main sects of Islam is a major cause of conflict in the Middle East and can lead to unrest at sites where migrants are being housed in the UK, according to a Home Office equality impact assessment.

The document says that this can cause 'adverse behaviours' and 'consideration should be given to separate worship areas'. It adds that interactions between the two groups 'should be monitored'.

A separate report on RAF Scampton in Lincolnshire warns of 'tensions' resulting from the Sunni/Shia divide and says 'segregated onsite faith and worship rooms' are being made available.

Footage has emerged of fights breaking out between asylum seekers in the canteen at RAF Wethersfield, a former base in Essex.

Consideration should be given to providing separate prayer rooms on the Bibby Stockholm, a government report has found. Pictured are people boarding the vessel in October

The split between the two main sects of Islam is a major cause of conflict in the Middle East and can lead to unrest at sites where migrants are being housed, the document states

One asylum seeker said there had been 'nightly fighting' at the base.

A second, a 19-year-old from Iran, said the 'dangerous' conditions had left him feeling 'scared'.

Islam's great schism In Islam, Sunnis and Shiites differ on who should have succeeded the Prophet Muhammad after his death in 632. Sunnis supported the succession of Abu Bakr, the prophet's friend, whereas Shiite Muslims believe the successor should have been the prophet's son-in-law and cousin, Ali bin Abu Talib. This difference has been the root cause of conflicts across the Islamic world for centuries. Sunnis believe Muslim leaders can be elected for the job. But Shiites believe leaders should be direct descendants of the Prophet Muhammad. The two denominations still believe in the same holy book - the Quran - and they also pray to the same god - Allah. Advertisement

He told ITV News: 'Inside the camp: dangerous, because [most] nights... [there is] fighting another nationality, another language, another people.

'[There is] security but they can't control [things], because there are many people inside here. [There is] no safety. I am scared in here. It's dangerous.'

The first migrants arrived at RAF Wethersfield in July and it currently holds 430 people, with plans for up to 1,700 at the site.

Another source who has access to asylum seekers at the base said they have been made aware of 'numerous fights' and 'disagreements' and witnessed cuts and bruises sustained from fights.

One person's injuries were 'so bad' they had to be taken to Broomfield Hospital in Chelmsford to have stitches, it is claimed.

Earlier this month an asylum seeker died onboard the Bibby Stockholm in a suspected suicide.

He was recently named as Leonard Farruku, a 27-year-old Albanian who crossed the Channel in a small boat last summer.

Mr Farruku's sister, Jola Dushku, claimed he was being treated 'like an animal' on the vessel prior to his death, the Telegraph reports.

Other men living on the vessel said last week that he was screaming 'very loudly' at 3am for 15 minutes and could hear banging on the wall of the cabin.

Ms Dushku said: 'When I spoke with him last time, he told me that the conditions in that boat were not bad but they were treated by the guards like animals.

'My brother, when he arrived in the UK, gave the Home Office the address of our relatives in London. They were contacted by the police who told them what had happened.

A separate report on RAF Scampton in Lincolnshire warns of 'tensions' resulting from the Sunni/Shia divide and says 'segregated worship rooms' are being made available

Footage has emerged of fights breaking out between asylum seekers in the canteen at RAF Wethersfield, a former base in Essex. One man said the fights were between people of different nationalities

READ MORE - James Cleverly reveals officers stopped migrant boat in Channel and boasts of no Christmas crossings Advertisement

'According to our relatives who are in touch with the police, Leonard that night at 11pm in the evening had some problems and was calmed down by the security guard.

'At 3am he was found dead. We do not have more details about how he died.'

Mr Farruku, who was born just outside Durres, Albania's second biggest city, had come to the UK with the dream of finding work and securing indefinite leave to remain, his sister said.

She added that the loss of both of their parents, but particularly their mother, had changed her brother's behaviour in recent times.

The first asylum seekers were brought back to the barge, moored at the Port of Portland, in October  two months after it was evacuated following the discovery of potentially fatal Legionella bacteria in the water supply.

Campaigners have claimed a man on the vessel tried to take his own life earlier this year.
This is the terrifying moment a teenage girl was sprayed in the face with ammonia and bleach after she refused to let two strangers into her flat.

Shannelle Farrier was left in excruciating pain and fearing she would be left blind when David Nicholson squirted the substance at her following a night out in Newcastle.

The 19-year-old, who passed out from the pain and had to have her eyes washed out with litres of water, said she thought she was 'going to die'.

The teen was left grateful her injuries were not worse, but she has since struggled with her mental health and was left feeling so fearful in her own home she had to move back in with her mother.

But Ms Farrier was left furious after finding out her 21-year-old attacker was spared prison after being given a suspended sentence after pleading guilty to assault.

Shannelle Farrier was left fearful she would lose her eyesight after being sprayed in the face with ammonia and bleach

CCTV captured the moment David Nicholson sprayed the substance from a Fairy liquid bottle at her

CCTV footage captured the moment Nicholson took aim at Ms Farrier after she told him she didn't want him in her flat, squirting the powerful substance out of a Fairy liquid bottle.

Ms Farrier told the Sun: 'I felt burning in my eyes and my mouth. I was screaming in pain yelling that something was in my eyes.

'I honestly thought that I was going to die and screaming out for help.

'It was instant, I didn't know what was happening. They did it without rhyme or reason.'

The smell of the bleach was so strong that ambulance workers had to turn up in protective masks and Ms Farrier had to be taken into a shower to wash away the substance before being taken to hospital.

From there she spent five hours being treated by medics who desperately tried to get the pH level of her eyes down to a normal reading.

When she returned home she was left fearful that Nicholson might return and she was forced to move back in with her mother and unable to continue her college course as she was too nervous to be outside.

Despite the physical and mental anguish the attack has left on her, it has been revealed that Nicholson was spared prison after being given a suspended sentence.

She told the Sun that Nicholson would have targeted 'someone else' if he hadn't attacked her, adding: 'He was willing to harm someone.'

But she's not letting the attack hold her back, with Ms Farrier moving out of the area and starting a new job in the next month to 'start my new life'.

David Nicholson (pictured) was spared prison after pleading guilty to assault following the attack

In her victim impact statement, which was read out at court, Ms Farrier said: 'The incident came about for no reason whatsoever, it was a totally unprovoked attack by two males who don't even know me who think they can attack a female just because I didn't want them in my flat.'

'It's not left me with a physical scar but it's left me with an emotional one. I feel lucky I've not lost my vision or required plastic surgery as a result of this severe attack.'

Following this Nicholson, 21, of Hauxley Drive, Newcastle, was sentenced to 20 months suspended for two years with rehabilitation, an alcohol abstinence monitoring requirement and he was given a five-year restraining order.

The Newcastle Chronicle reports Judge Gavin Doig as saying: 'You attracted her attention, she came to the door and you squirted her in the face with something -she believed to be ammonia. It resulted in excruciating burning and pain for her. You did that to her twice.

'It's incredibly fortunate for her and for you that the injuries were not more serious. She was taken to hospital and her eyes were washed out with several litres of water until the PH level dropped to a more normal level.

'I've seen pictures of the reddening to her eyes. It's an extremely serious offence.'

Brian Hegarty, defending, said: 'He wishes to apologise to the complainant for this offence. It was not premeditated.'

A second man who handed Nicholson the bottle was sentenced at an earlier hearing,
A female Lidl worker has won 22,000 in a sex discrimination case after complaining her boss harassed her during a trip to Center Parcs.

Lydia Callaghan said Jonathan Carter, Lidl's Regional Head of Supply Chain at Avonmouth, near Bristol, had made her feel uncomfortable by holding her face and asking why she wasn't going swimming.

Her complaints were dismissed by Lidl, despite the investigation failing to ask any of the other witnesses about the 'unwanted physical contact'.

She took the supermarket to an employment tribunal, winning claims of sex discrimination and victimisation due to the way they handled her complaints.

The tribunal also ruled that Lidl failed to make reasonable adjustments after forcing her to travel 'substantial' distances despite a knee disability. But the tribunal ruled the supermarket did not discriminate against her because of her disability.

Now Ms Callaghan has been awarded 22,005 in compensation.

The hearing was told Ms Callaghan worked for Lidl from August 2017 as an administrator and assistant team leader until she resigned in March 2019.

Lydia Callaghan said Jonathan Carter, Lidl's Regional Head of Supply Chain at Avonmouth (pictured), had made her feel uncomfortable by holding her face and asking why she wasn't going swimming

She alleged Mr Carter bullied her and treated her unfairly, discriminated against her because he doubted her knee injury was a disability, and at Center Parcs harassed her by taking her face in his hand and refusing to let go.

In November 2018, while she was working at Lidl's regional distribution centre in Avonmouth, Ms Callaghan submitted a written grievance to regional director Graham Clark, complaining about Mr Carter.

She wrote: 'I feel like I have been consistently treated unfairly over the course of at least several months and had been subjected to shouting, exclusion, inappropriate offensive jokes, unwanted physical contact, intimidation, unreasonable criticism, undermining, blocking promotion, excessive workloads and non-cooperation.'

The tribunal heard the 'unwanted physical contact' referred to a work social weekend at Center Parcs.

Ms Callaghan said that after several drinks she was having a conversation with Mr Carter.

She added: 'During this conversation he held onto my face with both hands. I asked him to let go as I felt uncomfortable, yet I had to ask three times before he actually let go.

'During the course of this evening he had also... pressed me on why I wasn't going swimming and told me it was 'ridiculous' to feel uncomfortable. As a result of Mr Carter's actions on this evening I left the weekend early, leaving Saturday afternoon.'

Her complaints were dismissed by Lidl, despite the investigation failing to ask any of the other witnesses about the 'unwanted physical contact' (Pictured: The Avonmouth distribution centre)

Of the inappropriate comments, she claimed Mr Carter had called her 'sneaky' for wearing her jacket instead of putting it on a coat hook as requested.

She wrote: 'I don't want the possibility of someone else putting on my jacket and finding personal items in the pockets, or the humiliation of walking across the room/picking up my bag to access sanitary products without the room seeing/asking where I was going, so I choose to wear my jacket.'

Ms Callaghan also complained that Mr Carter had called a pregnant colleague 'fat'.

She complained she had to bring in a medical letter to prove to him her knee disability was real and get him to 'stop questioning me'. She had an abnormally high knee, micro trauma to the fat pad within the knee and patella tendonitis.

The tribunal in Bristol heard all grievance meetings were conducted in a block approximately 500metres from her workstation.

During the investigation, she elaborated on the Center Parcs incident: 'He put his hands round my face, I asked him three times let me go, this was intimidating.

'Clearly I wasn't looking at him, so he grabbed my face to turn me round, this really went over the line.'

In relation to the comments Mr Carter was alleged to have made about swimming, she said she was not comfortable and he said 'he didn't care what [she] looked like' and kept pushing her and other female staff to go swimming.

She added Mr Carter had been drinking and had made 'lots of body comments' which left her feeling uncomfortable.

The tribunal heard Mr Carter told the grievance investigation that he, Ms Callaghan and others had had a group hug, prompting Ms Callaghan to say that if he did it again she would 'knock him fucking out' and he apologised.

He denied holding her face and denied pressurising anyone to go swimming.

Mr Carter accepted calling Ms Callaghan 'sneaky', but explained that when the team moved to Avonmouth there were coat stands and so 'as a bit of a joke and to raise money' he fined people who put their coats on their chairs 10p which was donated to the NSPCC.

He said Ms Callaghan had been fined on two occasions and had then opted to wear her coat, and he had commented that it was a bit sneaky.

He also admitted commenting on a pregnant employee's weight as a joke, although he did not admit calling her fat, stating she 'had not taken it the right way' so he apologised.

Mr Clark did not uphold any of Ms Callaghan's grievances.

Despite not asking anyone else whether they saw Mr Carter holding M

s Callaghan's face, he ruled that no other person witnessed it and so he was 'unable to determine whether there was physical contact in the way you described'.

He did however accept Mr Carter's account that there had been a group hug and other incidents which 'could be deemed as unprofessional on occasions throughout the weekend. The events took place in a social setting, and I do not believe Mr Carter acted in this way out of malice'.

In December, Ms Callaghan appealed Mr Clark's decision but this was rejected and Miss Callaghan resigned in March 2019.

At the employment tribunal, she claimed the grievance investigation and appeal were sexist.

She said Mr Clark accepted Mr Carter's version of events because if she won he would have had to uphold an allegation of harassment against a male senior manager made by a woman, and he was unwilling to do so.

Judge Andrew Midgley agreed, stating: 'Mr Clark was unable to explain why he had accepted Mr Carter's evidence which was uncorroborated but rejected Ms Callaghan's evidence which was uncorroborated.'

Ms Callaghan also claimed that, in requiring her to walk a significant distance to a block for her grievance interview and in requiring her to travel to London for her grievance appeal interview, Lidl breached the duty to make reasonable adjustments for her disability, when they could have done it remotely.

Judge Midgley said: 'Given the simplicity of the proposed adjustments and that they would have cost Lidl nothing, we have no hesitation in finding that it would have been reasonable for them to have been made.'

Ms Callaghan also won a claim of victimisation after it was found Mr Carter had been 'ignoring' her following her grievance against him.
One man, 46, died at the scene while another was rushed to hospital

An attack in Sheffield which saw a car driven at a crowd of people and left one man dead may have been sparked by a row between two families at an engagement party, locals have claimed.

Residents said trouble flared in Sheffield, South Yorkshire, yesterday afternoon after a fall-out between the families of a woman and her partner.

There was allegedly violence in the street including a stabbing, before a man is said to have got in his car and driven at people. Unconfirmed reports suggest members of his own family and bystanders who had come to intervene were among those injured.

One local, who did not wish to be named, claimed: 'There had been an engagement party at a house and an argument broke out over something.

'I believe somebody was not happy this particular couple are together and its just escalated from there.

'A woman has got hurt and a family member has called another relative who has arrived at the scene in their car and driven down it at about 60mph.

'We were told the bloke who died may not have been involved in the argument at all and was just in the wrong place. It's very tragic.'

Another resident added: 'All I know there was a bit of a party going on and there was a row. Somebody has belted down the road and just not stopped.

'There were police everywhere. You don't expect it on a quiet residential street.'

Both families believed to be involved are from the area's large British-Pakistani community, locals said.

There was a large police presence in the Burgreave area of Sheffield late into the night

The scene in College Close, Burngreave, Sheffield as the police cordon remains in place

Forensic officers on Scott Road near to the scene on College Close in the Burngreave area of Sheffield

Residents said trouble flared in Sheffield, South Yorkshire, after a fall-out between the families of a woman and her partner

Forensic officers are seen at the scene on College Close in the Burngreave area of Sheffield

A vehicle was seen being towed away from the scene after reports of a disturbance

Horrific video footage shows at least one body in the street in the aftermath of the incident in Pitsmoor, Sheffield, on Wednesday afternoon.

A member of ambulance crew can be heard saying attempts were being made to resuscitate one casualty.

He also spoke of three other casualties including 'one gentleman with a stab wound'.

The crew member can be heard saying: 'We're just trying to get some kind of order in place.'

One man, 46, was pronounced dead at the scene while another person was rushed to hospital where they remain in a serious condition.

A 23-year-old man arrested on suspicion of murder continues to be held by detectives investigating the incident in College Close in the Burngreave area of Sheffield on Wednesday afternoon, South Yorkshire Police said.

They are also questioning a 55-year-old man who was arrested on suspicion of attempted murder.

Other residents living near the scene also claimed the violence may have followed a family row.

One local said: 'It's a dispute two between families. The boy who got in the car has three sisters and it's a fallout between their family and the family of the youngest sister's partner.

'We don't know what caused it and I don't think it's down to the family not approving who her daughter was with - it appears to be something else but it's really tragic.'

Another resident said: 'It's a family issue which led to the disturbance. What followed is really shocking.'

Police at the scene on College Close in the Burngreave area of Sheffield

Police officers stand at a cordon set up in the area after South Yorkshire Police launched a murder investigation

Police have arrested one suspect, 23, on suspicion of murder and a 55-year-old man on suspicion of attempted murder

On Thursday, police continued to guard an extensive cordon around the close, which is a small cul-de-sac of modern houses, a short distance from the city's Northern General Hospital and about a mile-and-a-half from the city centre.

Officers said emergency services were called to the area 'following reports of violence and disorder' at about 2pm.

As the call was under way, a car collided with a group of people.

People living in neighbouring streets said they were shocked by the incident but did not know what had happened.

They said a large number of police vehicles converged on the area on Wednesday afternoon and a car was later taken away on a truck.

Photos and video from the scene show multiple ambulances and police cars in the road, while a cordon put up afterwards remained in place well into the evening.

Senior investigating officer DCI Andrew Knowles said: 'We are now dealing with a murder investigation and understand the distress this will cause to those directly affected and the wider community.

'We have a large cordon in the area and are conducting CCTV and house-to-house inquiries.

'We'll be patrolling throughout the night to offer reassurance and to speak to anyone who may hold information or feel concerned.'

The man's next of kin has been informed and is currently being supported by officers.

Police would like to hear from anyone who lives in the area and has CCTV, doorbell or dashcam footage. The incident number is 459 of December 27.
A mother accused of murdering her four-year-old son, after he was found stabbed to death in his cot just days before Christmas, broke down in tears during her first appearance at the Old Bailey.

Keziah Macharia, 41, is charged with killing little Kobi Dooley-Macharia at their family home in Hackney, east London on December 20.

The court heard that young boy was found 'cold to the touch' with 'multiple knife wounds' by police officers after his father Ben Dooly raised concerns about the child's welfare.

Kobi was rushed to hospital for treatment but tragically died from his injuries a short while later.

Friends and family attended the court this morning, while Macharia appeared for a bail application hearing via video-link from HMP Bronzefield.

Little Kobi Dooley-Macharia, four, was found 'cold to the touch' with 'multiple knife wounds' by police officers, the Old Bailey heard today

Keziah Macharia, 41, is charged with killing little Kobi Dooley-Macharia at their family home in Hackney, east London on December 20. Pictured: A court sketch of Macharia appearing at the Old Bailey via video link from HMP Bronzefield

Wearing a plain coloured prison-issue tracksuit, she could be heard sobbing while the details of the case were read out.

She spoke only to confirm her name, date of birth, and address. She did not enter any plea.

Prosecutor Louise Oatley told the court how on the evening of December 20, police had been alerted to concerns for Kobi's welfare by Mr Dooly, who had split up with the defendant about a year before.

Within minutes of the 999 call, officers forced their way into the defendant's home in Hackney, east London, at 10.59pm.

They found Kobi lying in his cot with a number of sharp force injuries. He was taken to the Royal London Hospital where he died at 16 minutes past midnight on December 21.

Police officers at a property on Montague Road in Dalston

Macharia was arrested at the address in Montague Road and charged with murder on December 22.

While a cause of death has yet to be confirmed, it is believed Kobi died from sharp force injuries, including one to the front of the neck and another to the upper left chest.

She added: 'Officers arrived at the scene... and Kobi was found inside his cot with multiple knife wounds. He was cold to the touch by that time.'

She told the court that a full post-mortem has not yet been carried out, but that an initial report suggests the cause of Kobi's death was 'sharp force injuries'.

Her Honour Judge Tayton KC remanded Ms Macharia into custody until the case's next hearing.

She said: 'Ms Macharia, I am remanding you into custody until your plea trial preparation hearing on March 21, 2024.

'A provisional trial date has also been set for November 4, 2024, with a time estimate of seven to ten days.'

Previously, Kobi's father Mr Dooly had released a statement saying: 'With heavy hearts we bid farewell to Kobi, you will be so dearly missed.

'The joy and laughter you brought to the world has been taken far too soon. We will be thinking of you day and night for eternity until we meet you again.

'The family would like to acknowledge and appreciate all messages of support. Please respect our family privacy at this very difficult time.'
Labour is preparing to promise to create thousands more nursery places in an election pitch to parents.

Proposals being drawn up for the party's manifesto are expected to see funding pumped into early years provision at primary schools across the country.

It is part of what Labour bills a 'modernised childcare system' from the end of parental leave to the start of secondary school.

Keir Starmer's team believe the issue could be a crucial vote-winner next year, with complaints that parts of the country have become childcare 'deserts'.

However, there will inevitably be questions about how the measures can be paid for given the parlous state of the public finances.

Proposals being drawn up for the party's manifesto are expected to see funding pumped into early years provision at primary schools across the country (file photo)

Shadow education secretary Bridget Phillipson (pictured) has visited Australia, Ireland and Estonia to study their childcare reforms

Currently the government offers families up to 30 hours of free childcare a week for those aged three and four.

Chancellor Jeremy Hunt has declared that this should be extended to all children over nine months by September 2025.

However, there have been complaints that funding is not sufficient to cover the costs of providers.

And the respected Institute for Fiscal Studies think-tank has estimated that the cost of part-time nursery places for children under two went up 60 per cent between 2010 and 2021, twice as fast as growth in average earnings.

Sir David Bell, a former chief inspector of schools, has been drafted in by Labour to bottom out the expansion as part of a wider review.

Labour sources told The Times that using schools to increase provision would ensure all families can access free childcare.

'Childcare hours are no use to parents if they can't get places - that's why families are sceptical of what the Tories have offered, particularly in places Labour needs to win,' they said.

Shadow education secretary Bridget Phillipson has visited Australia, Ireland and Estonia to study their childcare reforms.

She is believed to be particularly interested in Australia, where the Labor Party won last year's election after committing to reduce the cost of childcare and increase availability.
A Singaporean tourist has shared an emotional video of responders scrambling to save his dying wife after she fell from a cliff in upstate New York.

Nur Aisyah Binte MD Akbar, 39, had been hiking with her husband Abdul Rauf Bin Mohd Said, 41, on Beacon Hill Trail the Friday before Christmas when she tumbled from the precipice and suffered fatal injuries while taking photos.

New York State Police said the couple 'stopped to take photos at the edge of the cliff' when Akbar 'lost her footing and fell approximately 70 feet'.

Said called 911, and State Police Ellenville troopers were dispatched to the popular hiking route in Minnewaska State Park near the Town of Rochester at around 1.06pm, officials said.

Two days later, Said shared an emotional video of her final moments on Facebook. Filming from the cliff edge, Said zooms in on people approaching his wife, whose body is visible through a web of branches and foliage.

Said can be heard sobbing violently as the camera shakes, and he shouts down to the responders - who are only partially visible and appear to be either members of the public or EMTs.

Nur Aisyah Binte MD Akbar, 39, was hiking with her husband Abdul Rauf Bin Mohd Said, 41, on Beacon Hill Trail the Friday before Christmas when she tumbled from the precipice. Said, pictured with Akbar, posted a video on Facebook of responders scrambling to save her

Said also posted a heart-wrenching tribute to his 'wife, best friend and soul mate' on Instagram. He said medics attempted to resuscitate Akbar for three hours

'Thank you. Is she still alive?' Said asks them. One woman shouts back: 'She is!' as Said splutters and cries while continuing to film the carnage.

'Can you please tell me what's going on?' Said shouts to them. Someone gives a response which is not audible, and he says: 'Thank you!' The footage ends as the responders cover Akbar's legs and torso with coats.

Said also posted a second video showing a FaceTime call between himself and three women who responded at the scene. He asks them what his wife's final words were.

'She told us her name, she told us that she has two dogs, that she wanted some sweet tea,' one of the women says.

Another says she told them she was on vacation and thanked them several times. She added that Akbar couldn't feel much pain through most of the ordeal, and that they held her hands to keep her warm.

NYSP Aviation used a helicopter to hoist Akbar to safety, and she was taken to Ellenville Regional Hospital, where she succumbed to her injuries.

Said also posted a heart-wrenching tribute to his 'wife, best friend and soul mate' on Instagram on December 23. Describing the horrifying ordeal, he said medics attempted to resuscitate Akbar for three hours.

'My heart is broken into pieces and I don't know how to piece them back together,' Said's tribute to Akbar reads.

'I've been crying non-stop for the last 12 hours and been really distraught by myself now. You're my wife, best friend and soul mate.

The Singaporean couple had been vacationing in upstate New York when tragedy struck

New York State Police said the couple 'stopped to take photos at the edge of the cliff' when Akbar 'lost her footing and fell approximately 70 feet' at around 1pm on December 22

Said called 911 after his wife fell from the precipice, and State Police Ellenville troopers were dispatched to the popular hiking route in Minnewaska State Park near the Town of Rochester at around 1.06pm, officials said. (Pictured: Said and Akbar)

Said shared an emotional video of his wife's final moments on Facebook . Filming from the cliff edge, Said zooms in on people approaching Akbar, whose body is visible through a web of branches and foliage

Akbar died on Beacon Hill Trail in Minnewaska State Park near the Town of Rochester

'I don't know what is this test from the Almighty. But I pen this post in order to allow your friends and family to have some form of closure and information.

'I'm sorry I didn't manage to get to you in time sayang.

'Nur Aisyah, also known as Ais Sarah, slipped and fell off a cliff at Minnewaska State Park. She fell roughly 100 feet and did not survive.

'The medical staff tried to resuscitate her for nearly three hours but it was unsuccessful.

'I beg those of you who know her, to please pray for her and that Allah place her amongst the pious and in Jannatul Firdaus.

'If there is anything that she owed anyone, please reach out to me personally.'

Said shared a photograph of himself with his wife beaming on a previous hike, kitted out in woolly hats and winter coats, along with another photograph of his wife smiling widely in a white bejeweled headscarf.

Several agencies responded to the tragic incident, including NYS Park Police, Park Operations Staff, NYS DEC Forest Rangers, and various Fire and EMT personnel.

New York State Police said the circumstances which led to her death remain under investigation.
A top secret SAS raid in which commandos stole a train and drove it behind enemy lines to carry out a major prison break in the Second World War has finally been revealed after 80 years.

British and French soldiers landed in Taranto in Italy in September 1943 and stormed the local railway station to seize the locomotive.

They drove it 50 miles deep into Nazi-occupied territory to a concentration camp where hundreds of prisoners, including Jewish civilians, were being kept in savage conditions.

Once they reached the camp, the raiding party burst out of the train and ambushed the Italian and German guards, giving 180 prisoners the chance to escape.

The freed inmates crammed into the train which sped back towards liberated territory with the Germans in hot pursuit. The soldiers even captured the Pisticci camp commandant so he could be brought to justice.

The daring operation involving 50 commandos, was masterminded by 2 SAS officer Major Oswald Cary-Elwes and his French deputy, Raymond Couraud on September 13-14, 1943.

It has come to light 80 years later after historian Damien Lewis found confidential reports about it tucked away in the Kew archives.

The daring mission's mastermind Major Oswald Cary-Elwes, left, is pictured with SAS Corporal Eric Mills

Maj Cary-Elwes is a direct ancestor of the English actor Cary Elwes, 61, who has starred in a string of Hollywood films including Robin Hood: Men in Tights, Twister and the most recent Mission Impossible offering - Dead Reckoning Part One.

Mr Lewis said it was the most 'audacious' mission he had ever read about and 'too far-fetched for a Hollywood movie plot'.

Mr Lewis has given a step-by-step account of the 'genius' break-out, which was kept secret by the authorities, in his new book, SAS Forged Into Hell.

He spoke to Maj Cary-Elwes' daughter who had no idea about the rescue mission her father had pulled off alongside other pioneers of the famed regiment, whose motto is 'who dares wins'.

She said he did not talk about his wartime operations but he did once tell her 'they learnt how to drive locomotives during their training'.

He said: 'I was doing some research at Kew and I started reading this report and could not believe it, but I found another two SAS reports to corroborate it.

'I have never come across anything like the train rescue operation and it would have remained secret if I didn't stumble across it.

'If you proposed it as a Hollywood movie plot they would say it was too far-fetched.

'The genius of the idea was typically SAS as only their imagination and daring could make it possible.

'The camp guards were understandably completely taken by surprise by the audacity of it and they managed to free 180 prisoners, sustaining only light injuries.

'When I told Major Carey-Elwes' daughter about the mission she didn't believe it as she knew nothing about it.

The Termoli Train crossing a river where daring SAS officers commandeered a train and drove it 50 miles behind enemy lines before orchestrating a major Second World War prison break

'Her father never spoke about the war but one of the few things he said was they were trained to drive locomotives.'

The SAS landed at Taranto on September 9, 1943, six days after the start of the Allied invasion of Italy.

Their task was to chase after the enemy, probe front line positions and help the main army beat a path through.

Part of their covert remit was to rescue Allied PoWs once the Italian Armistice had been declared.

The commandos only found out about the Pisticci concentration camp after a Yugoslav prisoner named Zelcko broke out of it and somehow made it to the Allied bridgehead.

He informed them of the 'first Italian concentration camp' where freedom fighters, Jews, artists, intellectuals and Catholic priests were incarcerated behind barbed wire.

Zelcko said the prisoners were about to be moved to Germany where there would be a 'human catastrophe'.

Maj Cary-Elwes hatched the unlikely rescue plan with Couraud, who had previously saved 2,000 Jews from the Gestapo in France by smuggling them out of the port of Marseille with the help of American socialite Mary Jane Gold.

When they were rumbled, he fled to Britain to join spies from the Special Operations Executive (SOE), known as Churchill's Ministry for Ungentlemanly Warfare.

Couraud, who changed his name to Lieutenant Jack William Raymond Lee, took over the train with his 'French squadron', a patrol of former French Foreign Legionnaires.

Also in the train was Lieutenant Alastair McGregor's SAS Troop.

They sped towards Pisticci while Maj Cary-Elwes and his patrol of four to six Willys jeeps stood guard at one of the key crossroads en route west of Metaponto to hold the junction and railway crossing against all adversaries.

SAS troops also used a number of Willys jeeps during the daring operation (pictured)

The train reached Pisticci camp on September 14 and, enjoying the element of surprise, commandos leapt out of the back and overpowered the camp guards.

The prisoners who could not fit in the train where told to hide in the mountainous terrain and lay low until the Allied soldiers who were fighting across Italy reached them.

Despite the mission being a remarkable success, it was purposefully kept secret and not reported in Britain.

This is because of fears that, were the concept of a concentration camp to become public knowledge, the outrage would be such that no enemy soldier would ever surrender as there could be no way they would receive empathy.

Mr Lewis said: 'I believe it was kept secret as the higher ups did not want details of concentration camps to come to light.

'They were worried that, were they known of, the enemy would think there was no way the Allies could show empathy to them so they would not surrender.

'It was only after Bergen-Belsen concentration camp was liberated in April 1945 and this was documented by film crews that they became known of in Britain.

'You would think that a mission like this would lead to an array of decorations, but no medals were awarded for it.'

One of the elite raiders under Maj Cary-Elwes' command was Charles 'Charlie' Hackney, who had been a tank commander.

Maj Cary-Elwes is a direct ancestor of the English actor Cary Elwes (pictured), 61, who has starred in a string of Hollywood films including Robin Hood: Men in Tights, Twister and the most recent Mission Impossible offering - Dead Reckoning Part One

He was the lone survivor on two separate occasions when his Crusader tank blew up underneath him in North Africa.

Hackney faced court martial as he refused to get in a tank again, so Maj Cary-Elwes gave him a lifeline and said he would let him join the SAS.

He then drove him 1,000 miles across the desert to begin his SAS training, before he excelled during the invasion of Sicily.

Cate Carey-Elwes said: 'It was difficult to get my father to talk about the war as he was very constrained by the Official Secrets Act and he took that very seriously.

'I knew nothing at all about the train mission so it was a complete revelation.

'It astonished all of us (the family).

'When I was very young he had told me to learnt to drive a locomotive.

'We should be very grateful to their generation and we don't know the extent of what they did or sacrificed for us.'

Maj Cary-Elwes remained in the army post-war and had five children with his wife Pamela, who worked in the War Office during the Blitz.

He died in the 1990s.

Cary Elwes will appear in Guy Ritchie's The Ministry of Ungentlemanly Warfare due for release next year, which is based on Damien Lewis's 2014 book Churchill's Secret Warriors: The Explosive True Story of the Special Forces Desperadoes of WWII.

The film will also feature Henry Cavill, Alex Pettyfer and Henry Golding.

SAS Forged In Hell, by Damien Lewis, is published by Quercus and costs 22.
Passengers again faced major rail disruption today as all services were cancelled at both London Paddington and Euston stations after two people were hit by trains.

Avanti West Coast travellers were affected by three separate incidents as a person was struck by a train at Harrow in London; a tree fell on overhead wires between Rugby and Lichfield; and heavy rain caused delays between Lockerbie and Carstairs.

Former Conservative MP Edwina Currie was among those affected by the disruption, tweeting a picture of a cracked window from her seat on an Avanti West Coast train. She wrote: 'Oh my... train from Manchester to London, just outside Euston (and very late), just been hit by something that's smashed a window. So now we're parked up.'

The incident also impacted London Northwestern Railway services between Euston and Birmingham New Street, London Overground services between Euston and Watford Junction and Southern services between Clapham Junction and Watford.

At the other end of the West Coast Main Line, huge queues formed outside Glasgow Central in the rain as passengers tried to get on London-bound trains following major disruption yesterday that led to a 'do not travel' warning north of Preston.

Separately, all Great Western Railway services at London Paddington were axed this morning after a person was hit by a train near Slough, which also resulted in the Elizabeth line having no service between Hayes and Harlington and Reading.

LNER said there would be no trains between Edinburgh and Aberdeen or Inverness for the rest of today due to the conditions, with customers told to delay travelling until tomorrow. ScotRail also had no trains on the Aberdeen route due to a landslip.

Passengers wait for information at London Euston station today amid major rail chaos

Chaotic scenes at London Euston once again today as passengers wait for travel updates

Former Conservative MP Edwina Currie among those stuck on a train outside Euston today

Avanti West Coast travellers are affected by three separate incidents at London Euston today

Rail passengers queue to get inside Glasgow Central station today to get a London-bound train

Passengers wait for information at London Paddington today while all services are suspended

A departure board at Stirling station in Scotland this morning amid major disruption to trains

Rail passengers queue inside Glasgow Central station today for a London-bound train

Elsewhere, trains between Inverness and Wick could only get as far north as Ardgay, services from Inverness to Perth via Stirling were suspended; and those between Glasgow Central, Ardrossan Harbour and Largs were being terminated early.

UK rail disruption on December 28, 2023 Avanti West Coast, London Northwestern Railway and London Overground: All trains suspended in and out of London Euston after three separate incidents  someone hit by a train at Harrow in North West London; a tree falls on overhead wires between Rugby and Lichfield; and heavy rain between Lockerbie and Carstairs. Southern: Services impacted between Clapham Junction and Watford after person is hit by a train at Harrow. Great Western Railway and Elizabeth line: All services going out west from London Paddington are suspended this morning after a person is hit by a train at Iver in Buckinghamshire. Elizabeth line has no service between Hayes and Harlington and Reading. LNER: No trains between Edinburgh and Aberdeen or Inverness for the rest of today due to the conditions, with customers told to delay travelling until tomorrow. ScotRail: No trains between Edinburgh and Aberdeen due to a landslip. Elsewhere, trains between Inverness and Wick can only get as far north as Ardgay, services from Inverness to Perth via Stirling are suspended; and those between Glasgow Central, Ardrossan Harbour and Largs are being terminated early. Trains between Glasgow Central, Oban and Mallaig are cancelled, while those from Glasgow Central to Carlisle via Dumfries being terminated at Kilmarnock. South Western Railway: Services between Leatherhead and Dorking were impacted by a 'precarious tree' near Box Hill & Westhumble station, meaning some lines were blocked. Thameslink: Services between Bedford and Brighton, St Albans and London Blackfriars and Luton and Rainham are still being affected today by a major signalling fault which also caused chaos to passengers yesterday. East Midlands Railway: Disruption between Derby and Stoke-on-Trent due to a tree blocking the railway outside Uttoxeter. CrossCountry, Lumo, LNER and TransPennine Express: Disruption between Darlington and Northallerton due to damage to the overhead electric wires. Great Western Railway: Train fault impacting services between Plymouth and Gunnislake. And a tree is blocking the railway between Gloucester and Swindon. Transport for Wales: Heavy rain across the network impacting services into the new year, with trains suspended between Llandudno and Blaenau Ffestiniog. Heavy rain flooding the railway between Fernhill and Aberdare meant all lines were blocked, with the route between Swansea and Shrewsbury was also closed. Southeastern: No services at London Victoria until January 1 inclusive, with trains instead using alternative London terminals. Greater Anglia: Journeys between London Liverpool Street and Norwich, Ipswich and Colchester are being disrupted through the Chelmsford area until January 1 inclusive. London Underground: Minor delays on the Central line due to a shortage of trains. No Bakerloo line between Stonebridge Park and Harrow & Wealdstone due to a casualty on the track. Severe delays on the District line between Upminster and Tower Hill due to an obstruction on the track. No service on the District line between Earls Court and Kensington Olympia until January 1 inclusive. Docklands Light Railway: No service between Bank and Tower Gateway and Poplar and Canary Wharf until December 30 inclusive. Elizabeth line: No service between Hayes and Harlington and Reading, and minor delays between Paddington and Heathrow Terminals while 'emergency services deal with a casualty on the track'. London Overground: No service between Highbury and Islington and New Cross Gate, New Cross and Clapham Junction until December 29 inclusive. No service between Sydenham and West Croydon; and between Camden Road and Stratford. Advertisement

Trains between Glasgow Central, Oban and Mallaig were axed, while those from Glasgow Central to Carlisle via Dumfries were being terminated at Kilmarnock.

And ferry operator DFDS said sailings between Dover and France were delayed due to strong winds in the Channel.

Passengers were told to check in and they would be put on the first available sailing. It comes after three-hour delays at the Kent port yesterday.

At Paddington, services were suspended after a person was struck and killed by a train near Iver station in Buckinghamshire at around 7.15am this morning.

All lines between Paddington and Reading were blocked, causing major disruption to Great Western Railway, Elizabeth line and Heathrow Express.

Some lines were reopened by 10am today but delays and cancellations continued at Paddington, which is the UK's second busiest railway station.

A British Transport Police (BTP) spokesman said: 'Officers were called to the line near Iver railway station at around 7.15am today following reports of a casualty on the tracks.

'Paramedics also attended; however, sadly, a person was pronounced dead at the scene. The incident is not being treated as suspicious and a file will be prepared for the coroner.'

A Great Western Railway spokesman said: 'It is with great sadness that we report a person has been struck by a train. Some lines have now reopened to allow the movement of trains once again but it will take a while to reintroduce a full service.

'Until that is in place, where we can, we will divert trains to run on other lines around the affected area. There may be certain instances of trains being held at stations some distance from the incident.

'This is due to congestion and such action will avoid any trains becoming stranded in open country.'

Paddington was closed for engineering work for the previous four days - and it was repeatedly affected by infrastructure faults in the previous weeks, including a major incident on December 7 when passengers were stuck on trains for hours.

Meanwhile South Western Railway services between Leatherhead and Dorking were impacted by a 'precarious tree' near Box Hill & Westhumble station, meaning some lines were blocked.

Elsewhere Thameslink services between Bedford and Brighton, St Albans and London Blackfriars and Luton and Rainham were still being affected today by a major signalling fault which also caused chaos to passengers yesterday.

East Midlands Railway warned of disruption between Derby and Stoke-on-Trent due to a tree blocking the railway outside Uttoxeter.

Passengers using CrossCountry, Lumo, LNER and TransPennine Express faced disruption between Darlington and Northallerton due to damage to the overhead electric wires.

And Great Western Railway said a train fault was impacting services between Plymouth and Gunnislake. And a tree was blocking the railway between Gloucester and Swindon.

CrossCountry said that fewer trains were able to run between Birmingham New Street and Nottingham due to a shortage of train drivers.

Merseyrail warned of disruption because of power supply problems at Hamilton Square, while London Northwestern Railway said damage to the overhead electric wires between Watford Junction and St Albans Abbey meant trains could not run and were being replaced by buses.

Transport for Wales said heavy rain across the network would impact services into the new year, with trains suspended between Llandudno and Blaenau Ffestiniog.

Heavy rain flooding the railway between Fernhill and Aberdare meant all lines were blocked, with the route between Swansea and Shrewsbury was also closed.

It comes on top of planned engineering works  with no services on Southeastern at London Victoria until January 1 inclusive, as trains instead use alternative London terminals.

And Greater Anglia journeys between London Liverpool Street and Norwich, Ipswich and Colchester were being disrupted through the Chelmsford area until January 1 inclusive.

Scotland's rail network experienced widespread cancellations and delays yesterday with a train driver's cabin hit by a falling tree.

Passengers at Paddington today as rail services at the UK's second busiest station are axed

Departure boards show disruption at London Paddington railway station this morning

Passengers at Paddington today as rail services at the UK's second busiest station are axed

Major disruption at London Paddington today after a person was hit by a train this morning

Departure boards show disruption at London Paddington railway station this morning

Passengers at Paddington today as rail services at the UK's second busiest station are axed

Departure boards show disruption at London Paddington railway station this morning

Aslef Scotland confirmed the driver was uninjured and Labour MSP Paul Sweeney said passengers were also unharmed.

ScotRail suspended multiple train services until further notice, impacting trains travelling while other lines saw their timetables shelved until 'a full inspection can be carried out' on the railway network.

LNER, which runs services between London and Scotland on the East Coast Main Line, also advised customers not to travel yesterday due to the weather.

Customers stranded by the disruption were told to book hotels which they can claim back.

Avanti West Coast said its route to Scotland yesterday had become impassable with all services to and from London terminating at Preston.

Those with pre-booked tickets for travel between Preston and either Edinburgh or Glasgow can board trains today or tomorrow, the operator said.

Heathrow Airport cancelled 18 flights due to air traffic control restrictions yesterday, understood to be return routes from Aberdeen, Edinburgh, Glasgow, Jersey and Manchester, and to Barcelona, Berlin, Madrid and Paris.

Ferry operator Red Funnel, which provides services between Southampton and Cowes on the Isle of Wight, cancelled its Red Jet passenger services due to strong winds.

It added that while the vehicle ferry between Southampton and East Cowes was running, it could take longer. Disruption was expected until 6.30pm today.

Hovercraft services between Portsmouth and the Isle of Wight were also suspended yesterday but resumed today.

Damaged houses are seen in Stalybridge, Greater Manchester, today after last night's tornado

Residents in the Kinloss Park area of Cupar in Scotland start to clear up today after flooding

Flooded fields on the Somerset Levels today after Storm Gerrit brought severe weather

The Environment Agency has 156 flood alerts (in orange) and 23 warnings (in red) in place

It comes after Storm Gerrit swept through Britain yesterday, causing chaos with a fastest recorded wind gusts of 106mph at the Cairngorm mountain summit in the Highlands, followed by 86mph at Inverbervie in Aberdeenshire, 84mph at Fair Isle and 83mph at Capel Curig in North Wales.

The Environment Agency had 156 flood alerts and 23 warnings in place for England today after the deluge. Strong winds and heavy rain is forecast into the weekend, improving slightly with showers and sunny spells predicted for New Year's Eve.

But the Met Office has warned the question of whether snow - potentially 'significant amounts' - would spread into England and Wales next week was 'finely balanced'.

The storm also wrecked more than 100 homes as a tornado swept through Stalybridge in Greater Manchester with residents evacuated after roofs were torn apart.
A Florida accountant who shot to infamy over an airport rant about his dogs was previously filmed semi-naked while screaming at his transgender porn star neighbor's husband.

Dustin Miller, 42, was filmed in a towel cursing at adult actress Austin Summers husband Dexter at the Fort Lauderdale apartment complex where both once lived.

Miller was heard screaming: 'Motherf*****g piece of s**t, f**k you.'

Dexter replies: 'Act crazy for the camera.' And Miller happily replies, swearing: 'F**k you, f**k you,' before walking away.

Dustin Miller is pictured ranting at transgender porn star Austin Summers at the Florida apartment complex both once lived at

Austin Summers, a famous Only Fans star, said Miller erupted with fury towards her husband Dexter

It's unclear what preceded the five second clip, or when it was filmed, with Summers refusing to comment further when contacted by DailyMail.com

The footage emerged hours after Miller and his husband Anthony Thorne, 40, were filmed melting down over their dogs Shelby and Dolly at Charlotte Douglas Airport earlier this week.

Miller was seen wailing with anger by a departure gate.

Thorne - who toted a Louis Vuitton bag - then tried to calm him by warning him that his tirade would keep them away from their 'girls' - the term of endearment they use for their two pets.

During the airport tirade, Miller caused chaos at his gate in Charlotte Douglas Airport by screaming at an American Airlines employee, having a very public screaming match with his distressed husband and then telling a woman in a wheelchair to 'F**k off, bitch!'

Miller's husband Anthony Thorne, 40, repeatedly pleaded with his husband to 'think of the girls - Shelby and Dolly,' who were later revealed to be the couple's dogs.

Summers, the transgender porn star ex-neighbor, took to Twitter to insist that Thorne was 'so kind' - and targeted Miller with his ire.

Miller and Thorne are pictured during the dramatic meltdown at Charlotte Douglas Airport, which has swept the internet

Now the Wilton Manors resident, pictured here (right) with his husband (left) is being put on blast by his neighbor - a transgender porn star who Miller allegedly threatened to kill

In the airport video - Miller's husband repeatedly pleaded with his husband to 'think of the girls - Shelby and Dolly,' who were later revealed to be the couple's dogs

Miller (left) works as an accountant at Sykes & Company. He is seen here with his husband, Anthony Thorne (right)

An X user responded to Summers's revelations, saying 'you shouldnt give the nice husband a pass because hes an enabler.

'Im sure the man is as sweet as molasses, but his choice in partner shows that he is also part of the problem. Although he keeps his hands clean, he refuses to check his husbands behavior, and thats just as bad,' the user said.

Summers responded: 'Regardless Im not having on my conscious (sic) someone getting evicted and being without a home.'

DailyMail.com has contacted Miller and American Airlines for further comment.

It's unclear if the couple were allowed to board the flight, or suffered any consequences as a result of their behavior.
A Harvard history professor has likened the college to a Medieval dictatorship in its handling over the Claudine Gay plagiarism scandal - and says the Ivy League school needs a 'reset.'

In an op-ed for The Wall Street Journal, James Hankins explained that the value of modern research universities depends upon academic integrity at those institutions and the ability to honestly reflect on mistakes.

Those dismissing recent accusations of plagiarism against President Gay undermine the 'project of improving human life through research and scholarship,' he wrote.

Hankins highlighted how students at Medieval universities would simply be taught widely-accepted facts and expected to memorize them - with scholars banned from challenging status quos. He appeared to suggest that the current state of affairs at Harvard over the Gay scandal now resembles a learning institution from the Middle Ages.

'What concerns me is that the public discussion so far hasnt shown a sufficient appreciation of how serious academic honesty is in research institutions,' he said, adding, however, that it may very well be the case that Gay is ultimately 'fired or asked to resign.'

Harvard History professor James Hankins wrote in the WSJ that the school needs to be more serious about academic honesty as its president faces accusations of plagiarism

President Claudine Gay, who has been under immense fire for her mishandling of anti-Semitism on campus in the wake of October 7, has more recently been accused of plagiarizing across her academic articles

Hankins wrote that the key difference between the modern research university model and the model used in medieval teaching is blind deference to 'authorities.'

Medieval learning institutions were 'built around collections of authorities in philosophy, medicine, law and theology,' he wrote.

'Lectures consisted of explaining the authorities, memorizing them and applying them to solve practical problems.

'Students werent supposed to think for themselves because the authorities had proved their worth and deserved respect.'

The model that modern Harvard appears to be embracing has too much in common with the academia of medieval times, according to Hankins.

The powerful Harvard Corp. wrote in a December 12 statement that Gay is the leader they believe is best suited to 'address the very serious societal issues we are facing.'

Gay - the first black woman to lead the college - first sparked fury during a Congressional hearing after highlighting the free speech concerns of banning anti-Semitism.

Critics say the remarks ring hollow, given Harvard's poor reputation for protecting free speech. Students have been warned that 'fatphobia' constitutes violence -as does refusing to use someone's preferred pronoun.

The dean has subsequently been accused of multiple instances of plagiarism - with corrections made to her academic publications made in response.

The defense of Gay, wrote Hankins, seems to reveal a 'shift' in the university's priorities.

'Harvards mission is no longer simply advancing knowledge, but knowledge "that will help address deep societal issues and promote constructive discourse,"' he wrote.

'From such a perspective, academic honesty seems to matter less than having the right progressive values, and the refusal to disclose underlying data is permissible so long as conclusions support a preferred narrative.'

As accusations of Gay's plagiarism continue to percolate through the various channels of Harvard's vast bureaucratic body, Hankins posits that if the university will only 'damage our hard-won prestige, cheapen the value of our degrees and erode the standards necessary for academic excellence' if it doesn't take them seriously.

It is not clear whether the Harvard board will call for her removal

In the wake of burgeoning calls for President Claudine Gay (pictured) to resign, faculty members are now also turning the spotlight on the other 11 members of the Harvard Corporation - the Ivy League's powerful governing body which continues to support her

Meanwhile, former Harvard Medical School dean Jeffrey Flier recently said he'd counseled several board members to do more to address the ongoing turmoil surrounding the school.

'You need to be more out front of this,' Flier recalled telling the execs, as he spoke with the New York Times. 'If people are saying the university is making mistakes, they are talking about you!'

Professor Kit Parker said that the school faces a fork in the road and the board members must resign in order for it to choose the right path.

'The big question now is, how arrogant is Harvard?' the professor of bioengineering and applied physics told the WSJ.

'And when I say Harvard, I mean the Harvard Corporation. Do they think this is going to go away?'

Gay sparked fury during a congressional hearing earlier this month after she said that it depended on context whether calls for the genocide of Jews at Harvard constituted harassment and violated the rules.

The president, who has recently denied reports that she is also a plagiarizer, first triggered outrage following the October 7 massacre of 1,200 people in Israel with a tepid condemnation of the attack.

She subsequently issued two apologies that offered more vociferous condemnation of Hamas, the Palestinian terror group behind the atrocities.

The Harvard Corporation admitted that she should have condemned Hamas' attack in Israel sooner, but gave its full support for her continuing in her role.
A University of Wisconsin chancellor - who previously paid a porn star to speak to students on campus - has been fired after it was revealed he creates his own adult content with his wife and shares it online.

UW-La Crosse Chancellor Joe Gow, 63, was terminated by the board of regents Wednesday after discovering he posts X-rated videos with his wife online under the name Sexy Happy Couple.

On X, formerly known as Twitter, Gow and his wife, Carmen Wilson, share photos of video clips from their cooking channel where they frequently have adult video stars as guests. They also link to LoyalFans and OnlyFans for 'fully explicit scenes.'

'In recent days, we learned of specific conduct by Dr. Gow that has subjected the university to significant reputational harm. His actions were abhorrent,' said Universities of Wisconsin President Jay Rothman.

UW-La Crosse Provost Betsy Morgan was appointed interim chancellor and as a tenured faculty member Gow was placed on paid administrative leave. Rothman filed a complaint to have Gow's tenured status reviewed.

UW-La Crosse Chancellor Joe Gow, 63, was terminated by the board of regents Wednesday after discovering he posts X-rated videos with his wife online

Gow (right) and his wife Carmen Wilson (left) post content under the name Sexy Happy Couple and host a cooking show where they have adult film stars as guests

Rothman said they have hired an outside law firm to investigate the matter.

'Dr. Joe Gow has shown a reckless disregard for the role he was entrusted with at UW-La Crosse to serve students, faculty and staff, and the campus community,' said UW System Regent President Karen Walsh.

'The outrage over his behavior is evidenced by the unanimous vote by the UW Board of Regents to terminate him as chancellor. We are alarmed, and disgusted, by his actions, which were wholly and undeniably inconsistent with his role as chancellor.'

Gow, who is La Crosses second-longest serving chancellor, told the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel his content is protected by free speech and no university property or funds were used to create them.

'There's nothing said about the University of Wisconsin; there's nothing said about the chancellor (on the videos). So someone else would have to make those associations. And then someone would have to say those are problematic,' said Gow.

In 2018, Gow was denied a pay raise after he paid porn star Nina Hartley $5,000 from his discretionary fund to speak at the La Crosse campus.

During the 90-minute address, Hartley told students it's acceptable to enjoy pornography, not enjoy it or be confused by it. She also stressed that pornography is fantasy.

Gow later apologized for the 'sensationalist' media attention Hartley's appearance had attracted and said he was naive about the possibility that her profession would overwhelm her message. He also personally reimbursed the school for the $5,000.

The Milwaukee Journal Sentinel reported Gow and Wilson have six videos on OnlyFans that feature adult film stars, according to descriptions of the videos.

In a recent cooking video, the couple had adult film star Lauren Phillips (right) as a guest. Their cooking account tells users to go to their OnlyFans page for 'explicit scenes'

The couple had adult film star Tyler Nixon (left) as a recent guest. The board of regents called Gow's actions 'abhorrent'

In 2018, Gow was denied a pay raise after he was in hot water for paying porn star Nina Hartley (pictured) $5,000 to speak on campus

The couple also appears on at least two other porn websites - PornHub and XHamster - and some videos have more than 200,000 views. All videos were posted in the last two months.

Some of the guest from their cooking channel include Lauren Phillips, Damon Dice, Tyler Nixon, Will Pounder, Danny Mountain and Mia Malkova.

Gow and Wilson reportedly published two books about their adult content under pseudonyms and describe themselves as executives from well-known institutions in the country.

In Monogamy with Benefits: How Porn Enriches Our Relationship, published in 2015, the couple said they are, 'fairly certain a scandal would ensue if our peers were to know about what weve been doing.'

'We think our sex is beautiful and have no qualms at all about other people watching us make love. But our establishment colleagues likely would be shocked to watch us complete the full carnal process  particularly with professional porn stars  and were fairly certain wed be shunned in our community.'
Her death was previously linked to the Zodiac Killer after a cryptic letter was sent to the San Francisco Chronicle in 1971 with ominous clues.

A skull that was previously linked to the Zodiac Killer and discovered along a highway in 1986 has now been identified as the remains of a woman who vanished in 1970.

On Wednesday, the Placer County Sheriff's Office said that DNA testing concluded that the skull belonged to Donna Lass, 25.

A deputy sheriff found the remains near California's Sierra Nevada mountains, along Highway 20 and Interstate 80- 45 miles northwest of South Lake Tahoe in 1986. The skull was held on to until there were more forensic technology advancements.

A security supervisor at the casino she worked at filed a missing persons report three days after Lass went missing.

Though there have been suspicions in the past that Lass' case was tied to the Zodiac Killer, authorities have not connected her mysterious disappearance with the infamous serial killer.

A skull that was discovered in 1986 has now been identified as Donna Lass, 25, who went missing in 1970. The skull was held on to until there were more forensic technology advancements

A new cold case team made up of authorities from the Place County Sheriff's Office and the Placer County District Attorney's Office sent the skull to the California Department of Justice for further testing.

David Stevenson told KCRA 3 that specialists cross-referenced the skull's DNA with a DNA sample from Lass's sister that they got five years prior.

Stevenson said: 'They had those remains sampled for DNA. It was processed, run through the system and CAL DOJ was able to get a hit on those remains based on that familial DNA that was uploaded.'

Testing concluded that the skull's DNA then belonged to Lass after it matched her sister.

Authorities then notified Lass's surviving family members to give them some sense of closure after decades of not knowing what happened to her.

'Obviously it was a long time ago, but families never forget. It never gets old. It never goes away. They never heal. That unknown is very painful for them,' Stevenson said.

Lass was last seen at the Sahara-Tahoe, a casino on the Nevada side of Lake Tahoe that has since been renamed the Golden Nugget.

She worked as a nurse at the casino, and according to a past news article, Lass was last seen on September 7 'walking with a young, blonde man' near an apartment she had rented but never lived in.

A deputy sheriff found the remains near California 's Sierra Nevada mountains, along Highway 20 and Interstate 80- 45 miles northwest of South Lake Tahoe in 1986

Lass worked as a nurse at the Sahara-Tahoe, a casino on the Nevada side of Lake Tahoe that has since been renamed the Golden Nugget. A security supervisor at the casino filed a missing persons report three days after she went missing

Over five decades later, the South Lake Tahoe Police Department have kept the case open and continued to investigate it.

'Cold cases stay open until they're solved,' Stevenson told NBC News.

In 1971, the San Francisco Chronicle received a puzzling letter that had the Zodiac Killer's well-known symbol plastered on it. The postcard also said 'Sierra Club', 'Sought victim 12' and 'peek through the pines.'

The cryptic letter led people to believe that Lass's disappearance was linked to the serial killer who remains unidentified.

After a tip was received in 2007 related to the Zodiac killings, police and others went on to dig near Lake Tahoe in hopes of finding a possible burial site connected to the Zodiac Killer.

Though the identity of the Zodiac Killer is still unknown, there has been plenty of speculation as to who the suspect might be after he killed at least five people in the late 1960s.

Journalist and cold case investigator Thomas Colbert alleges that an FBI whistleblower confirmed to him that Air Force veteran Gary Francis Poste, who has been previously posited as the killer, is currently listed by the bureau as a suspect.

Colbert claimed that FBI labs have a 'partial' DNA sample on Poste - who has been dead since 2018 - that links him to the murders, and believes authorities didn't look into him enough when he was alive.

Lass's mysterious disappearance and now death has long been linked to the serial killer after the San Francisco Chronical received a puzzling letter that had the Zodiac Killer's well-known symbol plastered on it

Lass's cause of death has not been determined but Stevenson said: 'It hasn't proven to be a homicide at this point, but we're obviously treating it that way'

Betti Lou Jensen (left), David Faraday (center), and Darlene Ferrin (right) are said to be three of the Zodiac killer's victims

'The felon has been secretly listed as the Zodiac "suspect" in Headquarters' computers since 2016,' Colbert's organization, Case Breakers, said in a statement.

While the Zodiac killer is known to have killed five people in Northern California between 1968 and 1969, the true figure is believed to be between 20 and 28 people, while the killer themselves claimed to have killed 37 in taunts sent to officials.

The FBI has long denied that the long-open case has been solved, confirming it remains open as recently as October 2021.

Lass's cause of death has not been determined, but Stevenson said: 'It hasn't proven to be a homicide at this point, but we're obviously treating it that way.'

The police department is now following up on leads that might fill in the blanks as there are still no suspects or descriptions of suspects involved in her case.
Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson believes reparations for descendants of slaves will help improve his city's rising crime rate.

Murders are down 13 per cent this year and 20 per cent in three years, but all crime is up 17 per cent - particularly car theft and robbery.

Johnson's 2024 budget includes $100 million for violence prevention, but also $500,000 to form a Commission on Restoration and Reparations.

The commission will study the issue and provide recommendations on whether and how to compensate Chicago's descendants of slaves.

'These are the first dollars spent in this city to begin the process of studying both restoration and reparations,' Johnson said last month.

Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson believes reparations for descendants of slaves will help improve his city's rising crime rate

'When residents who have experienced neglect and disinvestment for generations speak out of their pain and their trauma, this administration and the Black Caucus, we hear you.'

Johnson on Wednesday claimed reparations would also help reduce violent crime, though he was yet to directly explain how.

'I've added a half a million dollars for restoration and reparations to address, again, the cycle of violence,' he said on CNN.

The mayor in the same breath segued into other parts of his budget, linking the 'cycles of violence' to 'school closings, the closing of mental health facilities, which I've invested in now'.

Johnson argued tackling crime required investment to address its root causes, and that was the main aim of the public safety portion of his budget.

'My full-out community safety plan not only gets at the root causes of violence in the city of Chicago, but were making critical investments,' he said.

'Those investments look like what Ive presented in my last budget, a quarter of a billion dollars to address homelessness, $100 million for violence prevention.'

Surveillance video shows armed suspects entering Joyeria Molina in Chicago and stealing valuable items after threatening staff

Johnson also discussed his plan to increase youth employment so they would be less likely to turn to a life of crime.

'We added $80 million more to our youth employment program, of which we hired 25,000 young people just this summer, thats a 20 per cent increase from the previous year,' he said.

'Im going to hire 4,000 additional young people this summer.'

The mayor also wanted to 'welcome' former prisoners back into society once their sentence was over, so they wouldn't commit more crimes.

'We have stood up an entire office dedicated to re-entry, so individuals who are returning to our communities who have been incarcerated, because of failed policies, well have a welcoming space for them,' he said.

Johnson was asked about the latest crime statistics in Chicago that showed a 17 per cent uptick in crime this year.

Crime exploded across Chicago last year under his predecessor Lori Lightfoot, rising from 46,572 total complaints to 65,421 - though this was almost entirely driven by massive increases in car theft, burglary, and robbery.

This year did not reverse the city's fortunes as crime was up 64 per cent from two years ago, 68 per cent from three years ago, and 55 per cent from four years ago.

Murders and shootings are on a three-year slide, both falling 13 per cent this year and 20 per cent from 2020, with shootings down 25 per cent in that time.

However, both are up compared to before the Covid pandemic - murders up 24 per cent on 2019 and shootings up 15 per cent.

Robbery is up 23 per cent on last year and 39 per cent from 2019, while theft was stable this year but up 41 per cent since 2019 and 94 per cent since 2020.

By far the biggest jump in crime was thefts related to vehicles, which jumped 38 per cent this year and a staggering 227 per cent on 2019.

Johnson noted murders and shootings were down and pointed out rising crime was something all large American cities were dealing with.

'And as youve indicated, homicides are down, shootings are down, but, yes, what weve experienced in the city of Chicago, cities all over the country are experiencing,' he said.
President Joe Biden announced a $250 million weapons package to Ukraine on Wednesday in what officials said could be a final amount of aid from the U.S. unless Congress approves new funding.

Biden has asked Congress for another $61 billion in aid to Ukraine, but Republicans are refusing to approve the assistance without an agreement with Democrats to tighten security along the U.S.-Mexico border.

The White House has warned that without the additional appropriation U.S. aid for Kyiv will run out by the end of the year.

The package includes air defense munitions, anti-armor munitions, ammunition for high mobility artillery rocket systems, and more than 15 million rounds of small arms ammunition.

President Joe Biden announced a $250 million weapons package to Ukraine

'Over the course of this year, the U.S. has provided 34 military aid packages worth over $24 billion... We will always be grateful for all of this support,' Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskywrote Thursday on X, the platform formerly known as Twitter.

Congress has approved more than $110 billion for Ukraine since Russia's invasion in February 2022, but it has not approved any funds since Republicans took control of the House of Representatives in January 2023.

Earlier this month Senate Republicans blocked an aid package for Kyiv because it included no changes to border security policy.

Biden has said he is willing to compromise with Republicans but a deal was not reached before Congress left Washington DC for the holiday break.

Negotations are expected to resume in early January. Congress also faces a January 19th deadline to fund the U.S. government.

The president hosted Zelensky at the White House in early December to highlight the need for more funds.

'Without supplemental funding, were rapidly coming to an end of our ability to help Ukraine respond to the urgent operational demands that it has,' Biden said during his meeting with the Ukrainian president.

Zelensky also met with senators to make his case for more funds.

The administration has warned it does not have money elsewhere that it can allocate to Ukraine without congressional approval.

'We are still planning one more aid package to Ukraine later this month. However, when that one's done ... we will have no more replenishment authority available to us, and we're going to need Congress to act without delay, as we have been saying,' White House spokesman John Kirby said last week.

Pentagon spokesman Lt. Col. Garron Garn said that - as of Wednesday's aid package - the administration had run through the funds the Pentagon uses to replenish U.S. stockpiles after making weapons donations like the one to Ukraine.

'Now that the replenishment funds have fallen short of drawdown authority, we will rigorously assess the implications and ensure decisions align with broader strategic objectives,' Garn said in a statement. 'Without the supplemental funding, there will be a shortfall in replenishing U.S. military stocks, affecting American military readiness.'

Garn said there are also no funds remaining to place new factory orders for Ukraine.

Biden's request to Congress would give the administration an additional $7 billion in authority to make arms donations. It would also provide $18 billion for replenishing donated U.S. stocks and $12 billion for longer-term arms-manufacturing contracts for Ukraine - all of which are considered a lifeline in Kyiv's battle against Russian President Vladimir Putin.

His request also includes $14 billion for Israel as it fights Hamas and $14 billion for U.S. border security.

Utility workers rest during repair works at a railway station after Russian shelling on December 27, 2023 in Kherson, Ukraine

A view of damages at the site of an overnight drone attack at a cottage village near Odesa

The latest aid package comes as the war in Ukraine drags on into its 22nd month. Russia fired almost 50 Shahed drones at targets in Ukraine and shelled a train station in the southern city of Kherson where more than 100 civilians were gathered to catch a train to Kyiv.

And a day earlier, Ukrainian warplanes damaged a Russian ship moored in the Black Sea off Crimea as soldiers on both sides are struggling to make much progress along the front lines.

Zelensky remains defiant, vowing victory over Russia, but Putin has seized on Ukraine's difficulties, saying in a year-end news conference that Western aid was 'coming to an end little by little.'
The FBI has contacted the family of a US 'spy' about 'extraditing' him to the UK after he flew back to Texas days before he was due in court over a horrific crash that left a nurse seriously injured.

Issac Calderon is accused of being responsible for the collision on the A4103 in Herefordshire in July which left 56-year-old Elizabeth Donowho unable to walk for six weeks.

The 22-year-old was due to appear at Kidderminster Magistrates' Court on December 1. He was labelled a potential 'flight risk' by police, but was able to leave the UK on a commercial flight to Texas on November 25.

A fundraiser has since been set up on the crowdfunding site GoFundMe by the suspect's father, Manuel Calderon, in which the family are asking for $15,000 (11,760) to help with legal fees.

Calderon's father said the suspect was able to return to the US because 'the company that contracted him purchased him a ticket'.

Issac Calderon was due to appear at Kidderminster Magistrates' Court on December 1 but left for Texas on November 25

Elizabeth Donowho was unable to walk for six weeks following the collision that happened on the A4103 near Shucknall in Herefordshire on July 31

Manuel Calderon said his son, whom he called 'Isac', had been offered a contract job in the UK 'due to his security clearance with the Texas National Guard'.

West Mercia Police told Ms Donowho that Calderon had been carrying out work 'associated with the secret service' and working on matters 'that might come under the Official Secrets Act'.

EXCLUSIVE READ MORE - Uncle of American 'spy' says his nephew should have 'stuck around' Advertisement

Ms Donowho, from Malvern, Worcestershire, suffered multiple fractures in the crash - including both ankles, her sternum and her right hand.

Police told her 'the extradition process' has begun and there are no issues surrounding diplomatic immunity, the Press Association understands.

Calderon's father said his son still has problems with concussion and a fractured humerus following the collision.

In his plea for donations on the crowdfunding page, he said: 'My son was released from the contract job shortly after and could no longer support himself in the UK.

'He reported this to the court but they were not concerned with his financial problems.

'My son was able to return home because the company that contracted him purchased him a ticket.'

Ms Donowho broke both of her ankles, as well as suffering a fractured sternum and a broken bone in her hand

Scans showing Donowho's ankle after the crash

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He continued: 'Missing his court date... the situation has spiraled (sic) from a car accident to my son being a government asset and being removed from the UK under diplomatic immunity, neither of which are true.

'Due to this, his case is being compared to other cases where Americans have been saved by diplomatic immunity which my son is not privy to.'

Ms Donowho said that, when explaining Calderon was a flight risk, police had cited the case of Anne Sacoolas - a US citizen who was able to leave the UK after diplomatic immunity was asserted on her behalf following a crash that killed teenage motorcyclist Harry Dunn.

Mr Calderon continued: 'My concern for my son was for his wellbeing since at that time he had no funds and still needed his injuries to be looked at.'

He said his son has been given medical insurance for his fractured humerus and concussion but it will not 'kick in' until next month.

Harry Dunn was killed when his motorbike crashed into a car outside US military base RAF Croughton

Anne Sacoolas was able to leave the UK when diplomatic immunity was asserted on her behalf

Addressing the reasons for setting up the crowdfunding page, Mr Calderon added: 'We have been contacted by the FBI, they are talking about extraditing him.

'We do not have funds for hiring international legal counsel. We are a single-income family and not a family of means.

'We have spoken with an attorney. Although his price is reasonable, we do not have the funds or know of someone who would give or lend us that amount of money.'

Calderon has been described by the US embassy as a 'private citizen', and police said he had been in the UK on a work visa.

It is understood police were not advised of any intention Calderon had of leaving the UK.

Ms Donowho's spokesman, Radd Seiger, said: 'We have noted this GoFundMe page and have nothing to say other than to appeal to Mr Calderon junior, who simply should not have left the UK in the first place, to now do the right thing and return without any further delay.'
Florida Democratic Rep. Jared Moskowitz warned about the growing influence of foreign countries on young people's minds hours after a Dailymail.com poll revealed that 20 percent of Gen Z voters had a positive view of 9/11 mastermind Osama bin Laden.

The findings are the latest sign that young people may be learning about the world from social media sites that are filled with disinformation, foreign influence campaigns and conspiracy theories.

And it comes weeks after videos surged through TikTok supporting a decades-old letter written by the Al Qaeda chief criticizing the U.S. and its support of Israel.

'20 percent of young people have a positive view of Bin Laden,' Moskowitz wrote on the social media platform X, linking to the poll.

'While we focus on enhancing our physical borders we must also realize foreign countries have infiltrated our kids minds through online propaganda.'

One in five young Americans have a positive view of Osama Bin Laden and three in 10 believe the views of the terrorist leader who slaughtered thousands of innocent people were a 'force for good', according to disturbing results of a DailyMail.com poll

Democratic Rep. Jared Moskowitz said: 'While we focus on enhancing our physical borders we must also realize foreign countries have infiltrated our kids minds through online propaganda'

The results caused concern across the nation's political spectrum, and angered relatives of those killed in the 9/11 attacks.

'Ban #tiktok,' posted former Republican Rep. Adam Kinzinger. 'This is insane.'

Robert O'Neill, a member of Seal Team 6 who took part in the raid to kill Bin Laden after a 10-year manhunt, said: 'Our schools are failing our children.'

Another DailyMail.com poll in October found one in 10 voters under the age of 30 had a positive view of Hamas, despite the group's murderous attack on Israel that killed more than 1,300 men, women and children.

To assess attitudes to Al Qaeda more than 20 years after its terrorists hijacked planes and crashed them into targets across the U.S., pollsters at J.L. Partners asked 1,000 Americans what they thought of the man who declared holy war against the United States.

When 18 to 29-year-olds were asked what they thought of the Saudi Arabian warlord, eight percent said they had a 'completely positive' view while 12 percent said they had a 'somewhat positive' perspective.

Among black voters, almost one in five (18 percent) shared the same positive views.

Eight percent of the Gen Z age group said both Bin Laden's 'views and actions' were good, while 23 percent said his views were good but his actions were bad.

Overall, 81 percent of American voters said they had negative views of him, while just under one in ten (eight percent) viewed him positively.

Eight percent of the Gen Z age group said both Bin Laden's 'views and actions' were good, while 23 percent said his views were good but his actions were bad

The poll caused outrage and triggered calls to rein in the influence of TikTok

Fourteen percent said the terrorist leader had some 'some good in terms of either his views, actions or both' while 70 percent said both his views and actions were bad.

In the aftermath of the 9/11 attacks, the U.S. was united in tracking down Bin Laden and the terrorists responsible.

And in 2011, shortly after he was shot and killed, a poll of 22 countries found that three-quarters believed the United States was justified in taking him out.

The stunning results of DailyMail.com's poll reveal a stark change in attitudes and follow worrying examples in recent months of younger Americans questioning Bin Laden's evil.

In November, anti-Israel TikTok users sent Bin Laden's 2002 'Letter to America' with his justification for 9/11 viral.

Some users said their 'eyes had been opened' and backed his claim that the attacks were a retaliation for the U.S. supporting Israel.

In the letter he also accused the American government of spreading AIDS throughout the world and described homosexuality as 'immoral'.

James Johnson, founder of J.L. Partners, told DailyMail.com: 'It is hard to avoid the conclusion that there is a cancer in the American body politic: a small but sizeable group of its youngest voters.

'Polling has found that 18-29-year-olds are most likely to deny the Holocaust and, in our October Daily Mail poll we found that Gen Z Americans are more likely to sympathize with Hamas.

'And now we have this on Osama Bin Laden, the man behind the biggest attack on American soil in its history.

'A few weeks ago his writings went viral, with young Americans praising the Islamist leader. Some wrote that off as a few shrill voices on social media, others suggested it was fake.

'This poll shows that was no fad, but a reflection of real opinion amongst one in five 18-29-year-olds.'

Fourteen percent said the terrorist leader had some 'some good in terms of either his views, actions or both' while 70 percent said both his views and actions were bad

Bin Laden orchestrated the 2001 attacks on the World Trade Center that killed 2,977 people and injured thousands. He was also behind multiple plots that slain countless others

Terry Strada told DailyMail.com the results are 'horrifying' and are a 'disturbing' sign that terrorism is being 'normalized'.

Her husband Tom, a partner at Cantor Fitzgerald, was in the North Tower on the 104th floor on 9/11.

Their final conversation was when he called her after the second plane hit.

In the 22 years since, she has been fighting to find justice for her husband's murder and for the families of the victims as the National Chair of 9/11 Families United.

'What is wrong with our youth?' she added. 'How do they not realize the horrors of terrorism?'

'This is a dangerous and slippery slope to go down'.

Strada blames the results on the U.S. school system not adequately teaching the truth about 9/11 and those who were responsible.

The heroism of first responders is covered in lessons, but not the role of terrorists or the involvement of any state actors.

She has led the effort to pressure the U.S. government to reveal any ties Saudi Arabia had to the attacks, while they have swept them under the rug.

The results of this poll, she says, will leave a terrible legacy for the children of 9/11 victims who could still be seeking answers as the 'vile' attacks slip from the national consciousness.

Brett Eagleson, who was 15 when his father perished in the South Tower, said the poll results show young minds are being 'perverted' by the U.S. government's 'feckless inability' to hold responsible parties to account.

He has also spent years fighting for justice for the families torn apart on that fateful day and demanded the U.S. be more transparent about Saudi involvement.

Brett Eagleson, who was 15 when his father perished in the South Tower, said the poll results show young minds are being 'perverted' by the U.S. government's 'feckless inability' to hold responsible parties to account

Terry Strada told DailyMail.com the results are 'horrifying' and are a 'disturbing' sign that terrorism is being 'normalized'. Her husband Tom, a partner at Cantor Fitzgerald, was in the North Tower on the 104th floor on 9/11 and perished after calling her for the final time

DailyMail.com: 'We have never been told the full story or truth about what happened to us on 9/11.

'So it's no wonder why today's youth and adolescents have taken such extremist views supporting the evil that visited us that day. We have a two-decades-long government cover up to blame for this.

'The time is past for a full accounting of the Saudi Government role in 9/11 as well the intelligence failures of the US government.

'The minds of this country's youth are being perverted by our government's feckless inability to be honest with itself and hold the rightful parties accountable, so we actually have a situation where a significant number of young people are praising the murder and death of our neighbors.'

He was also outraged when Bin Laden's letter went viral, and said TikTokers fawning over him realized he wouldn't hesitate to kill them.

The letter began to gain traction online after UK newspaper The Guardian linked to a 2002 article which translated it in full in a piece about the ongoing Israel-Hamas war.

It was subsequently deleted by the British news outlet, but not before videos with the hashtag 'LettertoAmerica' had been viewed millions of times.

In his infamous letter, Bin Laden ranted that the treatment of Palestinian people had to be 'revenged' and expressed justifications for the killing of civilians in the name of jihad.

'The American people are the ones who pay the taxes which fund the planes that bomb us in Afghanistan, the tanks that strike and destroy our homes in Palestine, the armies which occupy our lands in the Arabian Gulf, and the fleets which ensure the blockade of Iraq,' bin Laden wrote.

In November, anti-Israel TikTok users sent Bin Laden's 2002 'Letter to America' with his justification for 9/11 viral

For this reason, the Saudi Arabian terrorist wrote, all Americans and Jewish people were culpable for 'the crimes committed by the Americans and Jews against [Muslims].'

Bin Laden wrote that AIDS was a 'Satanic American Invention' and repeatedly made anti-Semitic remarks including suggesting that American society was infiltrated by Jewish people who 'control your policies, media and economy.'

The rapid spread of the letter and the discourse it sparked among young people shows how TikTok is becoming an influential source of news.

A Pew Research poll conducted in November found the number of Americans getting their news from TikTok had quadrupled from three percent in 2020 to 14 percent in 2023.

A third of those under 30 said they 'regularly' got their news from the video platform.
A French star chef has quit his luxury hotel job after an alleged hazing ritual in which a kitchen hand was reportedly tied naked to a chair for hours with an apple in his mouth and a carrot in his rear.

Aurelien Largeau, 31, who has a coveted Michelin star to his name, ran the restaurant of the prestigious Hotel du Palais in Biarritz, southwestern France, until last week when he left.

A spokesman for hotel owners Hyatt told AFP that the management had been informed of a 'troubling incident', footage of which had been shared online.

She gave no details of what is on the images but regional daily Sud Ouest reported that they show an initiation ritual in the hotel kitchen.

A kitchen hand was allegedly tied to a chair naked for hours with an apple in his mouth and a carrot in his anus with the chefs - known as the kitchen brigade - looking on, allegedly including Largeau, according to AFP.

Aurelien Largeau in his chef outfit. Largeau, 31, who has a coveted Michelin star to his name, ran the restaurant of the prestigious Hotel du Palais in Biarritz, southwestern France, until last week when he left

The Hotel du Palais. The five-star hotel on the seafront in Biarritz has an average price per night of over 400 euros (348)

The footage has since been removed from the internet.

The 'humiliating' incident took place 'under the authority, and in the presence of, chef Aurelien Largeau', Sud Ouest said.

Hyatt said in a statement: 'The Management Team at Hotel du Palais has concluded an investigation that was launched immediately following concerning allegations and imagery regarding an incident in the premises of the hotel.

'The incident did not reflect the strong values we all stand for, and the appropriate decisions have now been taken.

'The security, wellness and wellbeing of our colleagues, guests and partners are always our utmost priorities. Due to our company policy and to respect the privacy of everyone involved we cannot comment any further.'

The five-star hotel on the seafront in Biarritz has an average price per night of over 400 euros (348).

Hazing, a humiliating initiation process, is banned under French law, but reports say the practice still occurs in French restaurants. It is sometimes defended as a test of whether junior staff can handle the pressures of the job.

A number of cooking professionals have started campaigns against violence in kitchens in recent years, including one called 'Hands off my Kitchen Hand' and another 'Respect your Kitchen'.

Largeau was recruited in March 2020, Sud Ouest reported.

A few months after the reopening of the Hotel du Palais in 2021, he was awarded a Michelin star, then the title of 'Great of Tomorrow' by Gault & Millau, the publication reported.
A longtime Massachusetts cop has been held on a $200,000 bail for allegedly raping a child under the age of 12, after reportedly confessing to the crimes in a cemetery on Christmas.

Winthrop Police lieutenant James Feeley, 56, was arraigned in East Boston District Court on Wednesday on charges including aggravated rape of a child and two counts of indecent assault and battery on a child under the age of 14, a Massachusetts State Police spokesperson said.

The criminal complaint alleged that Feeley, who had served with his force for 21 years and was promoted in 2020, had 'sexual intercourse or unnatural sexual intercourse' with the victim, though it is not currently known exactly when or where the alleged attacks took place.

The alleged victim was taken to Boston Children's Hospital on Tuesday, and claimed the sexual assaults began a year ago.

Feeley, who served as a sergeant in the department for three years before his promotion and was a reserve officer for eight before that, reportedly confessed as he stood over his parents' graves at Belle Isle Cemetery.

Winthrop Police lieutenant James Feeley (pictured) was charged with aggravated rape of a child and two counts of indecent assault and battery on a child under the age of 14

He was was arraigned in East Boston District Court (pictured) on Wednesday

Feeley's brother called Winthrop Sergeant Sean Delehanty, telling him Feeley 'was in a really bad way.'

Delehanty passed the warning on to his brother, Winthrop Police Chief Terence Delehanty, and asked that he meet the lieutenant at the cemetery, and also travelled there himself.

Upon arrival, the sergeant told him, 'whatever is happening the answer is not on his hip,' referring to the gun Feeley had on him.

Feeley allegedly replied: 'Wait until I tell you what I've done.'

The chief later arrived, and Feeley reportedly confessed to both brothers.

Believing he was suicidal, the chief took Feeley's gun away from him and had him taken to Massachusetts General Hospital to have a psychiatric evaluation.

Defense Attorney Nitin Dalal told the judge at a court hearing that Feeley has a place to stay in another community with one of his brothers and that Feeley brought what happened to light.

'He is feeling guilt, remorse, embarrassment, humiliation,' Dalal said, adding that Feeley is in need of mental health treatment.

Suffolk District Attorney Kevin Hayden said in a statement that 'this victim and the victim's family will receive all the help and support they need as this case moves forward.'

Feeley, currently on bail, has been ordered to wear an ankle monitor and stay away from the alleged victim's home, as well as to surrender his passport, firearms and to have no contact with any child under the age of 14.

Massachusetts' Department of Children and Families told local media: 'DCF is investigating these disturbing allegations.'

Chief Terence Delehanty said in a statement: 'James Feeley has been placed on administrative leave from the Winthrop Police Department pending the outcome of a criminal investigation headed by State Police Detectives assigned to the Suffolk County District Attorneys Office.'

The police investigation is ongoing, and Feeley is due back in court at the end of January for a probable cause hearing.
Nikki Haley was on clean-up duty Thursday morning in clarifying that her comments about the Civil War didn't mention slavery because 'that's the easy part.'

The 2024 hopeful faced a barrage of criticism and hate comments for answering a question at a New Hampshire town hall on what the Civil War was about without once mentioning slavery.

Haley told CNN that it's 'unquestioned' that the Civil War was about slavery, adding: 'But it was also more than that.'

'It was about the freedoms of every individual. It was about the role of government,' she insisted.

She also said in an interview with Pulse of New Hampshire radio show that she was answering the question by putting it into the context of what it means to Americans in the present day.

Nikki Haley cleaned-up her town hall blunder leaving slavery out as a reason for the Civil War by claiming 'that's the easy part'  and suggested the person who asked the question was a 'plant'

'Of course the Civil War was about slavery. We know that. That's the easy part of it,' Haley said Thursday morning. 'What I was saying was: What does it mean to us today?'

'What it means to us today is about freedom. That's what that was all about,' the former United Nations Ambassador said.

Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis' communications director said Haley's damage control was weak.

'Embarrassing cleanup attempt,' Andrew Romeo wrote on X. 'Even if that is true...If she can't handle a question as basic as the cause of the Civil War, what does she think is going to happen to her in a general election.'

'The Democrats would eat her lunch,' he added.

Haley, 51, was immediately slammed Wednesday and Thursday when she did not mention slavery when asked about the causes of the Civil War during a town hall in Berlin, New Hampshire.

Critics include her 2024 Republican competitors, but also President Joe Biden who quipped on X, formerly Twitter: 'It was about slavery.'

The former governor for South Carolina also insisted Thursday morning when doing damage control that the person who prompted the response was sent as a plant in an effort to get media to attack her as her poll figures skyrocket in New Hampshire.

She jokingly told the audience member asking the question Wednesday: 'Well, don't come with an easy question.'

She then claimed that the Civil War was fought for freedom and ideological differences in how governments are supposed to work.

'I think the cause of the Civil War was basically how government was going to run, the freedoms of what people could and couldn't do.'

The White House hopeful, currently a distant third place to Donald Trump in the race for the 2024 Republican presidential nomination, then goes on a tangent about the limits of government overreach and civil liberties.

'I think it always comes down to the role of government and what the rights of the people are, and I will always stand by the fact that I think government was intended to secure the rights and freedoms of the people.

'It was never meant to be all things to all people. Government doesn't need to tell you how to live your life.

'They don't need to tell you what you can and can't do. They don't need to be a part of your life. They need to make sure that you have freedom.

'We need to have capitalism. We need to have economic freedom. We need to make sure that we do all things so that individuals have the liberties so that they can have freedom of speech, freedom of religion, freedom to do or be anything they want to be without government getting in the way.'

Following the tangent, she tries to turn the question back to the voter, who tells her that he isn't the one running for the Oval Office in 2024.

'I think it always comes down to the role of government and what the rights of the people are, and I will always stand by the fact that I think government was intended to secure the rights and freedoms of the people,' she said

Haley's refusal to acknowledge this caught the ire of many across the political spectrum

Historians generally agree that slavery, and the divided opinions of Northern and Southern states over whether to abolish it, was the primary cause of the Civil War

He is then heard saying: 'In 2023, it's astonishing to me that you would answer that question without mentioning the word slavery.'

Haley asks him: 'What do you want me to say about slavery? Next question.'

New Hampshire holds the second-in-the-nation primary contest  and the first elections of the 2024 cycle after Iowa's caucuses, which makes it important for those vying for the nomination to run for president.

With just 26 days until the Granite State's elections, Haley is surging in the polls with the latest showing her trailing former President Donald Trump by only 4 percent with 29 percent support among Republican voters.

She believes the question asked in Berlin, New Hampshire on Wednesday was a way for opposition to get media to attack her amid the soaring surrey figures.

She clarified Thursday that she is well aware that slavery was a reason for the Civil War.

Historians generally agree that slavery, and the divided opinions of Northern and Southern states over whether to abolish it, was the primary cause of the Civil War.

The Southern states of the US, including Haley's home state of South Carolina, were pro-slavery, while Northern states were anti-slavery. South Carolina's proclamation outlining its reasons for leaving the Union in 1860 pointed to the ''increasing hostility on the part of the non-slaveholding States to the institution of slavery' as a reason for the state removing itself from the Union.

But Haley's refusal to acknowledge this caught the ire of many across the political spectrum.

Donald Trump is currently leading the race for the 2024 Republican presidential nomination  and the ex-president has not ruled out tapping Haley as his running mate

Polling shows Haley is now within only 4 percentage points of Trump with just 26 days until the New Hampshire primary elections on January 23  and aggregated data from FiveThirtyEight shows that Haley may soon overtake Ron DeSantis to be second place nationally

Gov. Ron DeSantis' campaign recirculated video of Haley's New Hampshire exchange on social media, adding the comment, 'Yikes'

Meanwhile, the campaign of Florida Governor Ron DeSantis, another of Haley's GOP foes, recirculated video of the exchange on social media, adding the comment, 'Yikes.'

Issues surrounding the origins of the Civil War and its heritage are still much of the fabric of Haley's home state, and she has been pressed on the war's origins before.

As she ran for governor in 2010, Haley, in an interview with a now-defunct activist group then known as The Palmetto Patriots, described the war as between two disparate sides fighting for 'tradition' and 'change' and said the Confederate flag was 'not something that is racist.'

During that same campaign, she dismissed the need for the flag to come down from the Statehouse grounds, portraying her Democratic rival's push for its removal as a desperate political stunt.

Five years later, Haley urged lawmakers to remove the flag from its perch near a Confederate soldier monument following a mass shooting in which a white gunman killed eight Black church members who were attending Bible study.

At the time, Haley said the flag had been 'hijacked' by the shooter from those who saw the flag as symbolizing 'sacrifice and heritage.'

Aggregated polling data from FiveThirtyEight shows that, nationally, Haley may soon overtake Ron DeSantis to be second place in the race for the 2024 Republican presidential nomination.

Despite this, she has a long way to go to beat Donald Trump, who currently has 61.2% of Republicans pledged to vote for him.

Even in her home state, Haley is trailing far behind, with less than half the share of votes that Trump has.
A vicar has complained his 170-year-old church is under threat because of a new 65ft cycle lanethat goes nowhere.

St Margaret's Church has stood beside the A56, on Dunham Road, in Altrincham, Cheshire, since 1854.

But after highways chiefs installed a new 500,000 one-way 'wheel walk and ride scheme' outside the entrance to the church car park on Gorsey Lane, the congregation can no longer access it from the main Dunham Road.

Instead parishioners and motorists, including those driving funeral hearses and wedding cars, are being forced into a circulatory detour down a narrow one-way system to get to the church entrance and car park.

Vicar Reverend David Murray said many of his congregation had already been put off attending services since the cycle lane was installed and he now fears his historic church could close unless the local council reconsiders the plans.

Highways chiefs installed a new 500,000 one-way 'wheel walk and ride scheme' outside the entrance to the church car park on Gorsey Lane (pictured)

Vicar Reverend David Murray (pictured) said many of his congregation had already been put off attending services since the cycle lane was installed

Traffic can no longer access the church from the main Dunham Road

'The church is under threat for a 20m stretch of cycle lane,' he said. 'We had a carol concert last week and were down by about half the usual numbers.

'Our bells have been ringing out since the mid-1800s and we've served this community through two world wars. Now we face extinction simply because of a crazy traffic system that closes access from the A56.'

He added: 'This plan pushes church traffic to a dangerous turn on a bend further up the A56 one way or indeed past a school the other way  that area is already very busy at school drop off and pick up times.

'It's madness. All for the sake of a 20m cycle lane that goes nowhere and actually takes cyclists straight into the headlights of oncoming traffic.'

Rev Murray said an alternative plan which would have kept Gorsey Lane open both ways and controlled by traffic lights was passed by Transport for Greater Manchester and the local council, but then blocked by the Green Party.

He said he has repeatedly asked for an explanation as to why they have 'persisted with this awful plan' but has heard nothing.

'I can't get an answer,' he added. 'We have elderly and disabled parishioners who can't walk or cycle and many of them are now choosing not to come. It's discriminating against them.'

Ironically, Rev Murray and his congregation were among scores of locals who signed a petition calling for changes to the A56  after a young schoolgirl Eleanor Horner campaigned for a pedestrian crossing.

Rev Murray now fears his historic church could close unless the local council reconsiders the plans

Rev Murray said the cycle lane was also impacting local youth groups and food banks that the church supports

Drivers cannot access the Church's car park due to the cycle path

Parishioners and motorists are being forced into a circulatory detour down a narrow one-way system to get to the church entrance and car park

Rev Murray said said the 20m cycle lane 'goes nowhere' and takes cyclists 'straight into the headlights of oncoming traffic'

Now a sixth former, Eleanor was just 13 years old when she stood up in front of a Trafford Council meeting to ask for her journey to Altrincham Grammar School for Girls to be made safer.

But the scheme being implemented is not just damaging to church services, but also impacting local youth groups and food banks that the church supports, Rev Murray said.

A spokesman for Trafford Council said work began on the scheme two months ago following an extensive public consultation, which was approved in September last year (2022).

'Some concerns have been raised since construction started,' the spokesman admitted.

'These have been discussed with councillors, and TfGM has carried out some small modifications to ensure vehicles can access the church.

'The design cannot be changed without carrying out a new round of consultation. We are in the process of implementing an Experimental Traffic Regulation Order to enable the impact of the Gorsey Lane scheme to be assessed.'

Richard Nickson, programme director for active travel at Transport for Greater Manchester, said: 'TfGM has been speaking regularly to representatives from Trafford Council and St Margaret's Church to address the concerns raised and following a site visit we have agreed to make some modifications to the scheme design to ensure that the church is accessible.

The cycle lane has caused motorists to go on a detour to access the church car park. Pictured: The blue bin marks where the car park entrace is

Rev Murray said the church had a carol concert last week and they down by about half the usual numbers. Pictured: The car park entrance

'Once complete, the new crossing on Dunham Road will enable people to safely cross a busy road, while the new signalised junction with Gorsey Lane will make it easier for vehicles to leave the vicinity of the church.

'The crossing scheme is part of a wider ambition to build the Bee Network, a fully integrated London-style transport system that will make travel safer for all road users.'

Rev Murray said a few inches had been cut off a traffic island which separated the cycle lane from the road following his complaints but that the work hadn't solved the problem.
David Cameron pleaded for restraint today as he visited Lebanon amid border clashes with Israel.

The Foreign Secretary warned of the 'extremely high' danger of escalation in talks with PM Najib Mikati.

As Israel vows to continue fighting to eradicate Hamas, Iran-backed groups in Yemen, Lebanon, Syria and Iraq have launched attacks on Israel and its allies in support of the Palestinian militant group.

Clashes along the Lebanon-Israel border between Hezbollah and Israel have continued to intensify, with daily exchanges of missiles, air strikes and shelling across the frontier.

David Cameron pleaded for restraint today as he visited Lebanon amid border clashes with Israel

The Foreign Secretary warned of the 'extremely high' danger of escalation in talks with PM Najib Mikati

In the Red Sea, attacks by Houthi rebels in Yemen against ships they believe to be connected to Israel have disrupted trade and prompted the launch of a US-led multinational naval operation to protect shipping routes.

It has all fuelled concerns about the danger of the Israeli offensive sparking a wider conflict in the Middle East.

Lord Cameron, in a post on social media, said: 'An escalation of the conflict in Gaza to Lebanon, the Red Sea or across the wider region, would add to the extremely high level of danger and insecurity in the world.'

The former prime minister has been engaged in extensive diplomacy since taking on the role.

Concerns have been growing about the conflict - sparked by Hamas massacring Israeli civilians and taking hostages on October 7 - with more than 20,000 Palestinians now thought to have died.

Lord Cameron said he was grateful to the Lebanese prime minister for 'discussing these crucial issues with me today and for Lebanon's efforts to prevent such escalation'.
A cop is back on the street after he assaulted a woman and then shot a police chief who confronted him at a bar in Brazil.

Federal District police officer Rodrigo Rodrigues could be seen on video arguing with the woman at a table and grabbing her by the hair after she slapped him multiple times.

The woman then left her her seat and stood next to an individual who was sitting at the table when Civil Police chief Karen Langkammer walked over and reprimanded Rodrigues.

Langkammer and Rodrigues could be seen arguing while a bar worker stood between them before Langkammer's companion walked over and shoved him.

Rodrigues' T-shirt was ripped off in the process. Moments later, he appeared in the video aiming his gun at Langkammer and then walked over and slapped her in the face.

The police chief charged at Rodrigues to disarm him before he shot her in the foot.

Federal District police officer Rodrigo Rodrigues aim his gun at police chief Karen Langkammer after she reprimanded him for allegedly assaulting a woman. Rodrigues shot Langkammer in the foot when she tried to disarm him

Rodrigo Rodrigues, an agent with the Civil Police in Federal District, Brazil, was ordered released by a court judge, who deemed he "did not demonstrate excessive dangerousness" after he was caught on video allegedly assaulting a woman at a bar table and then shooting a police chief, who attempted to defuse the argument and disarm him

Federal District Civil Police chief Karen Langkammer was shot in the foot by Rodrigues at a bar on Wednesday. She took to social media to say that she will be undergoing surgery at a future date

A wounded Langkammer managed to film Rodrigues, who stood behind a barricade, and asked him to drop his weapon.

'Please, put the gun away. You shot me in the foot,' Langkammer said. 'Please, you were hitting the woman and pulling her hair, please.'

Rodrigues fled the bar and was later arrested by the Military Police and had his gun and ammunition confiscated.

Despite the video evidence, a judge released Rodrigues several hours later because he 'did not demonstrate excessive dangerousness' that warranted keeping him in a jail cell.

The judge prohibited him from having contact with the victims and visiting the bar. He told TV Globo that he never assaulted the woman who was with him and that he shot Langkammer in self-defense.

Brazilian police officer Rodrigo Rodrigues (pictured in the black T-shirt) allegedly assaulted a woman (right) at a bar in Federal District during the early hours Wednesday before he shot a police chief, who reprimanded him for allegedly hitting and pulling the woman's hair. Despite footage of the incident that was captured on video, Rodrigues told TV Globo he never hit her

A shoving match ensued between police officer Rodrigo Rodrigues, police chief Karen Langkammer and a bar customer after she approached Rodrigues for assaulting a woman at his table

After being slapped by Rodrigo Rodrigues, police chief Karen Langkammer charged at him to try to disarm him and was shot in the foot

Brazilian cop Rodrigo Rodrigues remained on the scene after shooting police chief Lauren Langkammer at the bar. Despite being wounded, Langkammer filmed Rodrigues and pleaded with him to drop the gun

Langkammer released a video on social media Wednesday night after she was discharged from a hospital, where she received stitches.

'I'm fine. I've just arrived from the hospital,' she said. 'I had some stitches on my toe. I'll still have to undergo a surgical procedure, but this message is to thank you for your kindness.'

Rodrigues has been investigated in the past for allegedly assaulting and harassing women, Brazilian news outlet Metropoles reported.

In March, a 34-year-old massage therapist filed a harassment complaint against Rodrigues after she visited the police station where he worked to report a sexual harassment incident.

The woman alleged that Rodrigues ignored her and ended up texting her several days later to see if she was not dating or married.

'This police officer didn't even respond to me, but he felt entitled to take my details from the system and contact me to harass me,' she said.

Rodrigues told the woman she was 'very beautiful' and asked if she was 'single.'

In 2018, the mother of his two daughters, who is also Federal District Fire Department sergeant, filed a police report after he allegedly assaulted her and tried to hang her before one of their daughters intervened. At the time, she described him as being jealous, possessive and abusing alcohol.
Mexican and U.S. officials agreed to keep border crossings open, Mexican President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador said on Thursday, following a visit by U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken that focused on securing Mexico's help to stem record-high migration.

The United States earlier this month temporarily shuttered several crossings, including two key rail bridges, to redeploy enforcement resources elsewhere across the border amid soaring migrant numbers, a pivotal issue in next year's U.S. elections.

'This agreement has been reached, the rail crossings and the boarder bridges are already being opened to normalize the situation,' Lopez Obrador told a morning press conference.

'Every day there is more movement on the border bridges.'

The closures were seen as a way for the U.S. to put pressure on Mexico to do more to stop migrants hopping freight cars, buses and trucks to the border.

Mexican and U.S. officials agreed to keep border crossings open, Mexican President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador (right) said on Thursday, following a visit by U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken (second left) that focused on securing Mexico 's help to stem migration

The meetings come after more than half a million migrants this year crossed the dangerous Darien Gap jungle connecting South America with Central America - double last year's record - with many fleeing crime, poverty and conflict to seek better prospects in the United States.

And earlier on Wednesday Lopez Obrador urged U.S. lawmakers to invest more to help the poor in Latin America and the Caribbean 'instead of putting up barriers, barbed wire fences in the river, or thinking about building walls.'

Former U.S. President Donald Trump, the leading candidate to take on Biden in 2024, has promised to crack down on illegal immigration and restrict legal immigration if elected.

Blinken flew to Mexico City with Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Majorkas Wednesday for meetings.

The issue of fentanyl, a powerful and deadly opioid, was 'hardly discussed' in the meeting, Lopez Obrador added.

The U.S. has been pressing Mexico to do more to combat fentanyl trafficking, while Mexico has been pushing for stronger U.S. controls to prevent firearms from its soil from reaching powerful drug cartels.

Elsewhere, Mexico tried to give signs it was serious about tackling illegal migration.

Mexican officials in Matamoros, across the border from crossing hotspot Brownsville, Texas, cleared abandoned tents from a migrant camp with bulldozers.

Migrants set up the encampment in late 2022. It once held as many as 1,500 migrants, but many tents were vacated in recent months as people waded across the river to reach the United States.

U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken, center, greets Mexican Secretary of Foreign Relations Alicia Barcena as he arrives to the National Palace, the office and residence of the president, in Mexico City, Wednesday, Dec. 27, 2023. (AP Photo/Fernando Llano)

People camp as they wait to cross the border between Mexico and the United States in Ciudad Juarez, Mexico on December 27, 2023

'What we are doing is removing any tents that we see are empty,' said Segismundo Doguin, the head of the local office of Mexicos immigration agency.

But one Honduran who would give only his first name, Jose, claimed that some of the 200 remaining migrants had been practically forced to leave the camp when the clearance operation began late Tuesday.

'They ran us out,' he said, saying they were given short notice to move their tents and belongings and felt intimidated by the bulldozers 'You had to run for your life to avoid an accident.'

Some migrants moved into a fenced-in area of the encampment where immigration officers said they could relocate, but fear remained.

About 70 migrants flung themselves into the river Tuesday night and crossed into the U.S. They were trapped for hours along the riverbank beneath the layers of concertina wire set up on order of the Texas governor.

A migrant pushes and pulls his family's belongings as he walks north with a migrant caravan on the side of the highway in Villa Comaltitlan, Chiapas state, southern Mexico, Wednesday, Dec. 27, 2023. (AP Photo/Edgar H. Clemente)

Migrants cross the Rio Grande river to reach the United States from Ciudad Juarez, Mexico, Wednesday, Dec. 27, 2023. (AP Photo/Christian Chavez)

Few options exist for the migrants asked to leave the encampment, said Glady Canas, founder of a Matamoros-based nongovernmental group, Ayudandoles a Triunfar, or Helping Them Win.

'The truth is that the shelters are saturated,' Canas said.

She was working at the encampment Wednesday afternoon, encouraging migrants to avoid crossing illegally into the U.S., especially after several drowned in the last few days attempting to swim the river.

This month, as many as 10,000 migrants were arrested daily on the southwest U.S. border. The U.S. has struggled to process them at the border and house them once they reach northern cities.
A Texas SWAT team demolished the cab of an 18-wheeler truck with a bulletproof digger in order to pluck the driver out after he led them on an hours-long slow car-chase.

Shocking video shows the moment that a seven feet tall bulletproof vehicle, known as 'The Rook', tore apart the cab of a tractor trailer.

The Rook effortlessly ripped through the 18-wheeler's exterior and tore the door of the cab right off so that members of the Texas SWAT team could yank the driver out.

Deputies had been forced to bring the massive truck to a stop by using spike strips to puncture its tires.

The dramatic measure came after the truck's driver - later identified as Trinidad Cutshall - repeatedly ignored the officials' commands to exit and continued to rev the truck's engines as it drove down a highway east of Houston.

A Texas SWAT team demolished the cab of an 18-wheeler truck with a bulletproof digger in order to pluck the driver out after he led them on an hours-long slow car-chase

Shocking video shows the moment that a seven feet tall bulletproof vehicle, known as 'The Rook', tore apart the cab of a tractor trailer

After the tractor trailer had finally been forced to a halt, the digger ripped an initial hole in the cab which allowed the SWAT team to throw an unknown item into the vehicle.

The SWAT members then let one of their dogs into the truck before ripping Cutshall out.

According to officials - Cutshall continued to press the gas and hold on inside the cab as officers desperately tried to drag him out.

Eventually - at around 4 pm on Wednesday - the man was plucked from the cab and officers walked towards the bloodied man with a stretcher.

Cutshall's worrying behavior came after an already alarming hours-long car chase, Harris County Sheriff Ed Gonzalez said.

Gonzalez said the driver appeared to be suffering from 'heavy impairment,' but that authorities don't know what was behind his behavior.

'Still don't know why he was reacting in the erratic manner he was,' Gonzalez said.

According to officials - Cutshall continued to press the gas and hold on inside the cab as officers desperately tried to drag him out

After the tractor trailer had finally been forced to a halt, the digger ripped an initial hole in the cab which allowed the SWAT team to throw an item into the vehicle

Eventually - at around 4 pm on Wednesday - the man was plucked from the cab and officers walked towards the bloodied man with a stretcher

The driver appeared to be suffering from 'heavy impairment,' but that authorities don't know what was behind his behavior

The truck's container was reportedly empty.

After the car chase came to a very dramatic ending - Trinidad Cutshall was arrested and will be charged with felony evading.

Records show that Cutshall has faced previous criminal charges relating to traffic violations - including a speeding case in which he was found guilty.
Davis fled the scene but was later arrested after authorities reviewed surveillance footage

Jeffery Davis, 40, was identified as the man who attacked Hanafusa as she walked her dog and collected recyclables

A California woman was killed by a man wielding a sledgehammer on a college campus as she walked her dog and collected recyclables.

Junko Hanafusa, 65, was attacked on Sunday around 7 am near the gymnasium building on El Camino College's campus in Torrance.

Jeffery Davis, 40, allegedly took a sledgehammer to Hanfusa before he fled the scene. Somebody nearby then saw the victim unconscious and bleeding from her head.

Hanafusa was taken to the hospital where she died the following day. The official cause of death will later be announced by a medical examiner.

Davis has since been arrested and is being held without bail, according to the Inmate Information Center of the Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department.

Junko Hanafusa, 65, was attacked on Saturday morning when Jeffery Davis, 40, allegedly took a sledgehammer to her as she walked her dog on the El Camino College campus in California

Davis fled the scene before a bystander found Hanafusa outside the school's gymnasium, suffering from her injuries

Authorities responded to the campus after someone reported an assault. When they arrived they witnessed Hanafusa suffering from her injuries outside the school's gymnasium.

KTLA reported that the victim's dog remained by her side after she was brutally attacked.

'It's devastating. It's gut-wrenching. I'm still in shock. Our dogs became friends so they would play together and we would talk. Just the sweetest woman,' neighbor Leslie Anderson told KTLA.

After surveillance footage was reviewed, campus police identified Davis as the suspect.

'The person that we had an idea of who was on the security footage is, we believe, a homeless person we've had contact with before,' Sgt. Francisco Esqueda of El Camino College Police said.

Police later found Davis in a nearby park, where they have seen him before.

According to records, Davis has been involved in nine prior misdemeanor arrests and felony's in neighboring towns.

El Camino Campus Police identified Davis after they reviewed surveillance footage. They then found him in a nearby park and arrested him for the brutal murder

Many neighbors said that Hanafusa frequently walked her dog Cherry and collected recyclables in the area

Sgt. Francisco Esqueda of El Camino College Police said that Davis is a homeless person that his department has had contact with before

Multiple residents said that Hanafusa was known to collect recyclables around town and walk her dog.

One resident took to Next Door and posted about her as they recalled their interactions with her and her dog named Cherry.

'My husband and I walked to her house yesterday to drop off a gift and was greeted by Junkos sister who informed us that Junko had been attacked at ECC by a transient on Sunday,' they said in the post.

The post also revealed that Hanafusa's neighbor will reportedly adopt her dog.

Davis remains under investigation and police have urged anyone with further information to contact the Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department.
The head of the Illinois Chapter of the NAACP has been suspended over her inflammatory comments about migrants.

Teresa Haley made the remarks during a Zoom call in October, where she labeled the more than 25,000 new arrivals 'savages' and 'rapists'.

The soundbite soon went viral, and eventually elicited both an apology from Haley, and a statement from the seminal civil rights group.

In a statement, the Baltimore-based agency confirmed it had suspended Haley, 58, on December 13 - the day before she issued her apology.

When contacted Thursday, the NAACP did not immediately offer information or clarification on the retired state staffer's removal, including how long it will last. In the earlier statement, they said they would not be providing 'comment at this time.'

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Teresa Haley, 58, has been suspended over her inflammatory comments about migrants, the NAACP has confirmed

Her dismissal stems from remarks made during a Zoom call with state leaders in October, where she labeled the more than 25,000 new arrivals 'savages' and 'rapists'

'The NAACP stands firm in our commitment to advancing racial justice and cultivating a society where human dignity is respected,' the 114-year-old institution said of Haley, was elected to her first two-year term as president in 2015.

'As of December 13, NAACP Illinois State Conference President Teresa Haley has been suspended,' the bulletin continued.

'As an internal matter, there will be no additional comment at this time.'

Brass added: 'The NAACP will continue to foster an environment that is reflective of our mission and respective of our membership.'

The announcement, meanwhile, was issued on December 15, almost two months after Haley let loose in a recorded call with state leaders - where she appeared to channel a 2016-era Donald Trump.

'These immigrants who come over here, they've been raping people, they've been breaking into homes, they're like savages as well,' she said.

'They don't speak the language and they look at us like we're crazy,' she continued, before turning to communities she said are being ignored.

'Black people have been on the streets forever and ever,' Haley says at a point in the segment, which eventually earned scrutiny from her state's governor, Democrat JB Pritzker.

'And nobody cares,' she then adds, citing how the city allegedly views residents of its famously embattled South and West sides as 'drug addicts' - that or vagrants with 'mental health issues.'

'But these immigrants who come over here,' she added, 'they don't speak the language, and they look at us like we're crazy.'

He suspension comes days after the city spent nearly $1million to build a migrant camp that was scrapped this month, and as more than 25,000 migrants have entered Chicago since last year

The plan was only called off on December 5, despite previous warnings that the site was not safe due to after toxic chemicals and heavy metals being found onsite - warnings not heeded by city officials

Meanwhile, out of the mass of arrivals, more than 13,000 migrants currently embroiled in Chicago's shelter system, which is currently overrun and has led to criticism of new mayor Brandon Johnson

Johnson - a former school teacher who barely won a run-off last year, succeeded Lori Lightfoot, and has since vowed to continue 'sanctuary city' policies she had in place during her disastrous term in office

'Nobody cares,' Haley said in the October clip, claiming the city is taking away from residents of its famously embattled South and West sides with their migrant-first policies

Venezuela carries cots into the Chicago City Life Center last month. The center is one of 26 temporary shelters set up by Johnson and company that house more than 12,000 travelers - a number that is rising by the day

Seven months into the new mayor's term, the city is still struggling with how to address the increasing influx of asylum seekers, with Johnson in October warning that 22 busloads a day would likely be the new norm

O'Hare International Airport accommodated hundreds of migrants in a screened off area as the crisis gathered steam this summer

Meanwhile, crime remains an issue in the Windy City, particularly in the long-suffering neighborhoods previously mentioned

According to the city's most recent crime data, incidents have actually risen by a drastic 17 percent from this time last year, when it was still in the midst of a post-pandemic crime wave

Almost immediately after, Pritzker called remarks 'reprehensible' and 'extraordinarily inappropriate', and ordered Haley to apologize.

His December 12 statement added that remarks like that are commentary on our entire society', due to the fact that immigrants 'are all around us.'

Pritzker's words quickly proved prophetic, as days later, a resident of Chicago was filmed delivering essentially the same tirade to Mayor Brandon Johnson, over the city's 'sanctuary' status the progressive's failure to bring funds to more needy communities.

The exchange was recorded at the Chicago City Council's special meeting exactly a week ago, at a meeting called to consider whether residents should vote on a referendum on the city's sanctuary status for the upcoming year.

The meeting was thus filled with debate, and drew a fierce statement from a woman who billed herself as a Chicago native born and bred, Lauren Lawrence.

Speaking as Johnson stood deadpan at his podium, Lawrence lamented how she and others have witnessed a 'transition' that left citizens in the lurch, almost 'as if a lot of people are not important here.'

She said: 'I'm not against anyone coming in here legally. I want to say that clearly. But for those who have not, they don't top us. They don't go before us. We're not last in line.'

The heated interaction, meanwhile, came days after the city scrapped a nearly $1million to build a migrant camp, due to the presence of toxic materials officials had reportedly already been warned about.

Almost immediately after, Pritzker called remarks 'reprehensible' and 'extraordinarily inappropriate', and ordered Haley to apologize. His statement added that remarks like that are commentary on our entire society', due to the fact that immigrants are 'are all around us'

Pritzker 's words quickly proved prophetic, as days later, a resident of Chicago was filmed delivering essentially the same tirade to Mayor Brandon Johnson, over the city's 'sanctuary' status the progressive's failure to bring funds to more needy communities

Speaking as Johnson stood at attention at his podium, the woman lamented how she has witnessed a 'transition' that has left citizens in the lurch - 'as if a lot of people are not important here'

'I'm not for the sanctuary city,' the emotional woman at one point, before tearing into the relatively new mayor following a disastrous four years of Lori Lightfoot.

'The reason why I'm not for the sanctuary city is because people have waited years to come in here legally,' she continued, before officials called off the meeting prematurely due to an outpouring of agreement after Lawrence's words.

'There should not be two sets of laws,' she continued, claiming residents of at-roisk have been left on in the figurative - and at times, literal - cold.

She further suggested Johnson - a man brought up in a suburb of Cook County - had let down these communities, which are predominantly black, by continuing Lightfoot's guidance.

'The West Side and the South Side black communities have been earmarked for having funds  never seen it,' Lawrence said of the $138 million said to have been spent on addressing the constant stream of arrivals since last year.

'We're still waiting those funds to come into those communities.'

Mentioning the city's recent rise in crime - up 17 percent from this past year - she turned her attention Johnson, who after emerging out of the gate as an unknown in a mass of competitive candidates this year, raised eyebrows with a lofty plan to reallocate law enforcement funds to other services like housing and education.

Haley's comments months before were eerily similar, and expressed resentment toward shelter and aid given to the 'busloads' of migrants 'dumped' in the city on a daily basis

However, his now nearly yearlong tenure has so far fallen flat - a failure that Lawrence last week blamed on a misallocation of city money.

'Brandon Johnson, many people stood behind you,' Lawrence at first stated, before giving a rousing speech that caused officials to abruptly bring the Rules Committee meeting to an end, despite it being called to get citizens' takes on the migrant situation in the first place.

'They feel let down,' Lawrence eventually concluded.

Haley's comments months before were eerily similar, and expressed resentment toward shelter and aid given to the 'busloads' of migrants 'dumped' in the city on a daily basis.

Nearly a year into Johnson's term, the city is still struggling with how to address the increasing influx of asylum seekers, with Johnson in October warning that 22 busloads a day would likely be the new norm.

Just days ago, the situation was revealed to be worse than originally thought, when records showed the city spent almost $1million on a shuttered migrant camp at a Brighton Park lot - despite warnings the site was not safe after toxic chemicals and heavy metals were found onsite.

The plans were scraped weeks before a five-year-old boy fell ill and was pronounced dead at one of Chicago's spread-thin shelters at a warehouse with no heating housing thousands of other migrants on December 18.

The suspensions also comes days after Jean Carlos Martinez, 5, was pronounced dead on arrival in hospital on Sunday after days of being sick at the Pilsen shelter south of downtown Chicago

Video shot by a passerby later showed the horrid conditions the five-year-old and other migrants were being subjected to in the city-funded facility, with trash piled up and no heat. The converted factory was the subject of numerous complaints about unsanitary conditions

Videos from inside showed coughing and crying children, some so cold they were wearing snow jackets, as water leaked from the ceiling onto the cots below.

The shelter was run by Favorite Healthcare Staffing, one of several contractors the city has paid tens of millions of taxpayer dollars to since September 2022 to run these 'temporary' shelters.

Despite there being 27 meant to accommodate thousands, more than 300 migrants remain living at police stations waiting for placement into a facility.

At another meeting last week where Johnson faced heat, the former teacher insisted the blame for Jean's death laid squarely with southern governors like Texas's Gregg Abbott.

'They're just dropping off people anywhere,' Johnson argued, days after the migrant meeting where Lawrence spoke was called off over the outpour of criticism.

'Do you understand how raggedy and how evil that is,' he continued of the Southern state's practices, which essentially made good on city's like Chicago's statements touting its 'sanctuary' status.

'And then you want to hold us accountable for something that's happening down at the border?' the former Cook County commissioner said, before claiming that many of the asylum-seekers arriving in Chicago are already unwell due to the conditions they face at the border.

'Do you hear me? They're showing up sick,' he said of the bussed arrivals. 'The issue is not just how we respond in the city of Chicago, it's the fact that we have a governor  a governor, an elected official in the state of Texas  that is placing families on buses without shoes, cold, wet, tired, hungry, afraid, traumatized.'

He continued: 'And then they come to the city of Chicago where we have homelessness, we have mental health clinics that have been shut down and closed.

'The governor of Texas needs to take a look in the mirror [and see] the chaos that he is causing for this country.'

At another meeting last week where Johnson also faced heat, the former teacher said the blame for Jean's death laid squarely with southern governors like Texas's Gregg Abbott, for busing in migrants by the thousand to the so-called sanctuary city

As overall crime in Chicago remains on the rise, Haley - previously pegged as a rising star in the organization who won its activist of the year award in 2021 - told meeting attendees migrants were benefitting at the expense of black people.

'We were the only people in America who were brought over here against our will and were slaves, sold into slavery,' she said.

'But unlike everybody else who comes over here, we're so kind, we're so friendly, you need some clothes, you need a place to stay, we're gonna make it happen.'

Now put on leave, she had been scheduled to appear at a news conference December 16 in Springfield - for a speech that never materialized as it followed her now-confirmed suspension.

As officials weigh what to do with her, her previously reported effort to secure a seat on its national board is likely in jeopardy.

Current DuPage County board president Michael Childress - who previously offered his full support to Haley in that quest - last week said 'These comments are not indicative of what the NAACP stands for, but I'm not going to speak on behalf of [Haley].'

As for the Illinois NAACP president, ABC7 Chicago reported that she - earlier this month before issuing her apology - told one of its reporters in a phone call while she was on vacation in Dubai, that she did not make the comments and that the video was fake and was created with artificial intelligence.

"With AI, anything is possible," the civil rights leader reportedly said.

Meanwhile, crime - and migrant arrivals - in the Windy City continue to remain an issue.

City officials, however, seem happy to continue their current course, voting down an attempt to advance a non-binding referendum question that would have asked voters if Chicago should remain a sanctuary city just last week.

DailyMail.com has reached out to Johnson's office for comment.
Israeli-American dual citizen Judy Weinstein, 70, was killed during the barbaric Hamas terror attacks on Israel on October 7, revealed Kibbutz Nir Oz on Thursday.

The body of the grandmother of seven, alongside her deceased husband Gadi Haggai, 73, is being held in the Gaza strip in the custody of Hamas.

The elderly couple who lived on the peaceful Kibbutz near the Israeli southern border with Gaza were injured during Hamas' surprise attack on Saturday, October 7 and taken into terrorist custody.

Weinstein had called the security center of the kibbutz to let them know her husband had been greivously injured. Medical personnel were dispatched in their direction but were intercepted by the full onslaught of the Hamas attack.

Judy Weinstein and Gadi Haggai were taken from Kibbutz Nir Oz on October 7

In a statement on Thursday, their kibbutz revealed that Judy had been killed alongside her huband during the attack and that their bodies are being held by Hamas

In a statement the kibbutz said: 'Kibbutz Nir Oz announces with heavy mourning the murder of Judy Weinstein Hagai. Judy was 70 years old, a member of Kibbutz Nir Oz. Mother of 4, grandmother of 7 grandchildren.'

Weinstein was an english teacher who specialized in teaching children with special needs who struggled to pay attention in the classroom.

She was also described by the kibbutz as a 'poet' and 'entrepreneur,' who loved to 'create' and was 'dedicated to working for peace and brotherhood.'

The murdered couple left behind two sons and two daughters.

According to Israeli outlet Haaretz, Judy was able to call a kibbutz member for help after their abduction, and told them she had been shot in the arm while Gadi had been shot in the head and was 'critically injured.'

An estimated 60 percent of the population of Kibbutz Nir Oz was kiled or taken hostage during the attack on October 7.

It remains unclear how the kibbutz concluded that Weinstein was killed during the initial assault.

Weinstein was born in New York state and moved to Toronto at the age of three. Twenty years later she moved to Israel where she married her husband, a musician and and chef.

A statement from US President Joe Biden read: 'This tragic development cuts deep, coming on the heels of last weeks news that Judiths beloved husband, Gad Haggai, is believed to have been killed by Hamas.

'We are holding Judith and Gads four children, seven grandchildren, and other loved ones close to our hearts. I will never forget what their daughter, and the family members of other Americans held hostage in Gaza, have shared with me.

'They have been living through hell for weeks. No family should have to endure such an ordeal. And I reaffirm the pledge we have made to all the families of those still held hostage: we will not stop working to bring them home.'

Weinstein, 70, was an english teacher who specialized in teaching children with special needs who struggled to pay attention in the classroom

Members of the media visit Kfar Aza in the aftermath of the deadly Hamas attack

The body of a Hamas militant lies on the ground at the Kfar Aza Kibbutz in Israel in the days following the October 7 massacre

President Joe Biden issued a statement last week to say he was 'heartbroken' by the news that Haggai was likely murdered.

'Jill and I are heartbroken by the news that American Gad Haggai is now believed to have been killed by Hamas on October 7,' President Biden said.

'We continue to pray for the well-being and safe return of his wife, Judy. Their daughter joined by phone my meeting with the families of hostages last week.

'Those families bravely shared with me the harrowing ordeal that they have endured over the past months as they await news of their loved ones. Its intolerable.

'Today, we are praying for their four children, seven grandchildren, and other loved ones and are grieving this tragic news with them.

'And I reaffirm the pledge we have made to all the families of those still held hostage: we will not stop working to bring them home.'

The pair were among 240 people seized during the October 7 cross-border rampage by Hamas.

About six Americans are still believed to be hostages of Hamas.
Chris Christie hit back at calls for him to drop out of the Republican presidential primary, launching a new ad that calls Donald Trump a liar and warns the former president will 'burn America to the ground.'

The former New Jersey governor, a longtime Trump critic, doubled down on his long-shot presidential bid in a direct-to-camera ad targeting voters in New Hampshire, the first primary of the 2024 Republican contest.

'Some people say I should drop out of this race. Really? I'm the only one saying Donald Trump is a liar,' Christie says.

He goes on to warn of Trump: 'He'll burn America to the ground to help himself. Every Republican leader says that in private, I'm the only one saying it in public. What kind of President Do we want a liar or someone who's got the guts to tell the truth? New Hampshire. It's up to you.'

Chris Christie hit back at calls for him to drop out of the Republican presidential primary

Trump has a massive lead in the polls for the Republican presidential nomination.

In the RealClearPolitics polling average, Christie has a mere 3 per cent. Trump has 63 per cent. Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis comes closest to Trump and he is only polling at 11 per cent.

Christie's campaign made a seven-figure buy in New Hampshire to debut the ad, according to CNN.

His move comes about four weeks before voters go to the polls there.

He has run a shoestring campaign, counting on media interviews and his debate performances to keep his candidacy going until voters start voting.

Christie is counting on New Hampshire to give him a boost in the race with a strong showing there.

But other Republican candidates - including Nikki Haley - are making the same bet. And there has been pressure on some of the trailing candidates like Christie to drop out in order to consolidate anti-Trump support to one contender.

Haley has gained momentum and donor support recently. In the RealClearPolitics average of New Hampshire polls, Trump leads with 46 per cent but Haley is second with 25 per cent. Christie is third with 11 per cent.

But she also is playing clean up after a major flub in the state, when she didn't mention slavery during a town hall event in Berlin, N.H., on Wednesday evening after being asked about the causes of the Civil War.

Republicans and Democrats alike pounced on her. She quickly clarified her comments in an interview with New Hampshire public radio on Thursday: 'Of course the Civil War was about slavery. We know that, that's unquestioned, always the case, we know the Civil War was about slavery.'

'But it was also more than that. It was about the freedoms of every individual. It was about the role of government...by the grace of God we did the right thing and slavery is no more.'

Donald Trump has a massive lead in the polls for the Republican presidential nomination

Nikki Haley is running in second place to Donald Trump in New Hampshire but is also cleaning up after a major flub there

Christie is skipping the Iowa caucuses - the first primary contest - and it's unclear if he'll meet the thresh hold for the next debate, on Jan. 10.

Haley, meanwhile, received the endorsement from New Hampshire Gov. Chris Sununu, who is influential in that state.

Last week Christie noted that even if he left the race before the New Hampshire primary, not all of his supporters would necessarily back Haley.

He told a voter at a house party in Portsmouth that if Haley showed him 'she was actually running against Donald Trump,' then he 'might' consider supporting her.

But, Christie argued, 'Nikki won't answer the question' as to whether she would accept a vice presidential role from Trump, something he and DeSantis have both said they would reject.

Christie has played up his role as the anti-Trump candidate while Haley has focused more on questioning Trump's electability and DeSantis has questioned Trump's ability to deliver his agenda.

He also told the Messenger earlier this month that he has voting thresholds in mind for New Hampshire and Iowa, noting if he doesn't meet those numbers, he'll forfeit.

But he wouldn't say what those numbers are.

'That's for me to know. And believe me, you'll see me react to it. It's not like you don't know what I will do. In 2016, I didn't get to the number I wanted to get to, and I dropped out the next day,' Christie said. 'But I don't think that's gonna happen. I feel it when I'm out there now interacting with voters.'
Southern states in America are facing freezing temperatures with a chance of snow as the new year approaches.

While the Northeast is set to be drenched with heavy rain and there are flood warnings in place in several areas.

The storm, which created blizzard conditions in the plains states with a combination of near hurricane-force winds and nearly a foot of snow, will move into the South and East.

It will affect cities including Memphis, Nashville, Huntsville and as far south as Georgia.

But areas in the Northeast, including New Jersey and Pennsylvania, which have already suffered heavy rainfall and flooding, are set to be drenched in the coming days.

Southern states in America are facing freezing temperatures with a chance of snow as the new year approaches

The storm, which created blizzard conditions in the plains with a combination of near hurricane-force winds and nearly a foot of snow, will move into the South and East. Pictured: Nebraska roadways on Christmas day

It will affect cities including Memphis, Nashville, Huntsville and as far south as Georgia. Pictured: A family facing the cold weather in Florida on Christmas Eve

The South

Temperatures are set to dramatically drop in the South to below freezing with some snow forecasted ahead of the new year.

The storm in the Plains which led to blizzard conditions has moved down the country and will cause colder conditions.

'This low has been pretty much a troublemaker, wherever it is across the northern Plains now, moving into the south,' FOX Weather Meteorologist Kiyana Lewis said.

'This cooler air mass filters in behind it, and we'll see a lot of areas, where typically around this time of the year would be associated with warmer weather  Florida being one of those areas, that we watch closely towards the end of the week. Look at these lows back into the thirties, low twenties.'

The cold air is moving into the Southeast this weekend and temperatures will be up to 20 degrees below average for this time of year.

New York City will be warmer than New Orleans ahead of the New Year preparations and the weather in Key West and Miami won't make it to 70 degrees.

For much of the weekend these areas will experience freezing temperatures and highs will reach up to 50 degrees.

Other southern cities including Memphis, Nashville, Huntsville and Georgia are predicted to see snow fall on Friday night into Saturday.

'With this timing, the precip is looking to line up with the colder temps as it looks to come through with temps in the 28-32 degree range for north GA,' meteorologists at the National Weather Service office in Atlanta wrote.

'Ultimately expecting a rain snow mix at this time for north GA with accumulations generally <0.5 in, but higher elevations could see up to 1 in, potentially.'

The Nashville office has forecasted for up to an inch of snow falling in the area which would make bridges and overpasses slippery.

The cold air is moving into the Southeast this weekend and temperatures will be up to 20 degrees below average for this time of year

Southern cities including Memphis, Nashville, and Huntsville, Alabama, are predicted to see snow fall on Friday night into Saturday

The Northeast

Heavy rain which has pummeled New Jersey and Pennsylvania in recent days is set to push into New England late on Thursday.

The wet weather has triggered flooding after leaving widespread rainfall which measured multiple inches.

There were more than 60 reports received of heavy rain and flooding on Wednesday in areas from northern Maryland across eastern Pennsylvania and New Jersey.

Several streets were closed due to standing water including New Jersey Highway 91 and Pennsylvania State Highway 32.

There still flood warnings in effect for some rivers in New Jersey and Philadelphia which recorded up to three inches of rainfall.

The slow-moving system means there is still a chance of rain until Saturday morning.

'Maybe you're traveling. Maybe you're heading home,' FOX Weather Meteorologist Stephen Morgan said.

'AAA is expecting that Thursday is going to be one of the busiest days as folks are going to be hitting the road, heading back home Thursday.

'Wednesday into Thursday is going to be also the wettest day of this week. So, we'll watch that along that I-95 corridor.'

But there will be dry conditions in some areas in the northeast as we enter the New Year.

'Don't be deceived by this  these next three days  because in New York City, things are going to be improving,' Morgan said.

'We're dealing with the cloudy, sort of gloomy conditions followed by the rain, but, overall, we're going to see things dry out for the New Year.'

However areas inland including West Virginia, Pittsburgh and Buffalo are facing rainfall while snow is forecast from western New York into the Appalachians.

Heavy rain that has pummeled New Jersey and Pennsylvania in recent days is set to push into New England late on Thursday

Wet weather has triggered flooding after leaving widespread rainfall which measured multiple inches following the heavy fog of last weekend. Pictured: Wet weather in New Jersey
A black New York Times columnist and Columbia linguist slammed woke author Robin DiAngelo for claiming that he 'doesn't speak for the majority of black people.'

John McWhorter slated DiAngelo's controversial tome White Fragility in response to her remarks, saying: 'I'm "very conservative" like Clarence Thomas and Ben Carson? She has clearly read barely a word of my work.

'At least when I slammed her book I had read every word, and I maintain that White Fragility is literally the worst book ever written. It's so bad it's an achievement.'

During an episode of The Pan-African Experience Podcast with Sochima Iroh, DiAngelo characterized John McWhorter as a right winger, insisting that he doesn't represent the views of most black people in challenging progressive diktats about race.

'John McWhorter is a black man and he's conservative,' she claimed. 'He says not only has he rarely ever experienced racism but it has been an advantage to be black and I wouldn't wish anything else on him but I do not think he speaks for the vast majority of black people.'

DiAngelo - who is white, and who critics have branded a 'race grifter' over her best-selling anti-racist tome - further compared McWhorter's stance to that of conservative figures like Ben Carson and Supreme Court Justice Clarence Thomas.

'His record is very very conservative I would put him with Ben Carson and Clarence Thomas and other folks like that,' she added. But McWhorter has described himself as a 'cranky liberal Democrat' who simply abhors what he calls the excesses of wokeness.

Robin DiAngelo, left, was slated for writing the worst book of all time by New York Times columnist John McWhorter after she told a podcast that the writer did not speak for all black people

McWhorter - who's also a Columbia University Linguist - rubbished DiAngelo's claims that he's a conservative of the same ilk as Clarance Thomas. He says he's a 'cranky liberal Democrat' who abhors the excesses of wokeness

McWhorter took to X, former Twitter, on Wednesday, to call out the offensive take.

he wrote, accompanied by a clip of the podcast.

DiAngelo was responding to McWhorter's 2020 Atlantic article calling her out on her woke 'white women's tears' claim.

In 'The Dehumanizing Condescension of White Fragility,' McWhorter claimed the popular book by DiAngelo aimed to combat racism but talks down to black people.

In March, the 'White Fragility' author was accused of advocating for racial segregation in a bid to combat racism, prompting bewilderment from critics.

'People of color need to get away from white people and have some community with each other,' DiAngelo said during a March 1 webinar, 'Racial Justice: The Next Frontier.'

DiAngelo then went on to suggest that people who do not concede to antiracist teachings do not belong in modern workforces.

'In 2023, we have to see the ability to engage in these conversations with some nuance and some skill as a basic qualification and if you can't do that, you're just simply not qualified in today's workplace,' DiAngelo said.

DiAngelo - who is white - has been branded a 'race grifter' over her book White Fragility, which sold millions of copies in the wake of George Floyd's murder, as many Americans tried to enhance their understanding of systemic racism

The left-wing activist was on a panel with Diversity, Equity and Inclusion (DEI) consultants Mary-Frances Winters and Mareisha N. Reese discussing the future of DEI when she made the comments

'What I want to do is create a culture that actually spits out those who are resistant.'

The racially charged comments enraged conservatives on Twitter.

'Robin DiAngelo sounding like an old-line segregationist,' anti-CRT expert Chris Rufo tweeted in response to the clip.

Conservative podcast host Allie Beth Stuckey said DiAngelo's comments sounded like racial comments made by Dilbert creator, Scott Adams, that caused several newspapers to pull his long-running cartoon.

'When Robin DiAngelo says it, it's inspirational and she gets paid $20k. When Scott Adams says it, it's racist and he loses his job,' she tweeted.

Darrell B. Harrison, director of digital platforms at Grace to You Ministries, argued that DiAngelo's comments revealed her own racist attitudes.

'For people like Robin DiAngelo, it's always other white people who black people need to 'get away from,' but never her. DiAngelo is a woke Bull Connor, only instead of dogs and fire hoses, she uses the divisive and factious tenets of critical race theory to keep blacks in their place,' he tweeted.

The left-wing activist was on a panel with Diversity, Equity and Inclusion (DEI) consultants Mary-Frances Winters and Mareisha N. Reese discussing the future of DEI when she made the comments.

Her most recent book title, 'The Facilitator's Guide for White Affinity Groups: Strategies for Leading White People in an Anti-Racist Practice,' also suggests she believes Whites should stay within their own racial social circles.

DiAngelo has published a number of academic articles on race, privilege, and education and written several books.

In 2011, she co-wrote with Ozlem Sensoy, 'Is Everyone Really Equal? An Introduction to Key Concepts in Critical Social Justice Education.'

The book won the American Educational Research Association's Critics' Choice Book Award in 2012 and the Society of Professors of Education Book Award in 2018.

DiAngelo later that year published a paper titled 'White Fragility' in The International Journal of Critical Pedagogy, thereby coining the term.

She defined the concept of white fragility as 'a state in which even a minimum amount of racial stress becomes intolerable, triggering a range of defensive moves'.

The book became a huge bestseller in the wake of George Floyd's murder in May 2020, as white Americans rushed to try and deepen their understanding of systemic racism.

Since 2016, DiAngelo has regularly led workshops on the topic. In 2017, the term 'white fragility' was shortlisted by the Oxford Dictionary for Word of the Year.

In addition to being an author, DiAngelo is a tenured professor at Westfield State University in Massachusetts

White Fragility debuted in 2018, but has become more popular as the country has become more keen on race-based issues

An in June 2020, during the George Floyd protests, White Fragility reached number one on the New York Times list.

DiAngelo makes an estimated $728,000 a year from speaking engagements and workshops and is charging an average of $14,000 per speech to talk about 'utlra-woke' concepts.

DiAngelo, who has a PhD in Multicultural Education from the University of Washington has written multiple books about confronting racism including New York Times bestseller 'White Fragility.'

When 'White Fragility' debuted in 2018, her average speaking fees were $6,200, according to her website.

From there they steadily climbed to to $9,200 in 2019 and $14,000 by August 2020.

Now, she said her agency - Big Speak - negotiates her fees, which are listed on the the company's website as $30,000 to $40,000. She also makes 7.5 percent in royalties from 'White Fragility.'

Her main focus is 'accountability within antiracist work is the understanding that what I profess to value must be demonstrated in action,' according to her website.
Mexican officials used bulldozers to clear a migrant tent camp at the U.S.-Mexico border after agreeing to do more to help curb migration as border crossing continue to surge.

Bulldozers torn down a migrant encampment in Matamoros, Mexico - near Brownsville, Texas - late Tuesday, while a U.S. delegation met with Mexico's president this week to discuss migration.

The city of Matamoros cleared out what they claimed were abandoned tents at the camp which was set up in late 2022. It once held as many as 1,500 migrants, but many tents were vacated in recent months as people waded across the river to reach the United States.

'What we are doing is removing any tents that we see are empty,' Segismundo Doguin, the head of the local office of Mexico's immigration agency, said.

One Honduran migrant claimed that some of the 200 remaining migrants were practically forced to leave the camp when the clearance operation began late Tuesday.

The city of Matamoros cleared out what they claimed were abandoned tents at a migrant camp near Brownsville, Texas which was set up in late 2022

Over last few days as US and Mexico have been in talks over immigration, an encampment in Matamoros, MX was cleared out  forcibly, some said  with machetes and bulldozers.



One migrant father said they had little notice and many fled out of fear. This was the bulldozer used. https://t.co/9MuIYcjDK8 pic.twitter.com/tCYLvut0A7  Valerie Gonzalez (@ValOnTheBorder) December 28, 2023

People wait to cross the border between Mexico and the United States in Ciudad Juarez, Mexico on December 27. Mexican officials agreed to do more to help curb migration as border crossing continue to surge

'They ran us out,' he said, explaining that campers were given short notice to move their tents and belongings and felt intimidated by the bulldozers, 'You had to run for your life to avoid an accident.'

This month, as many as 10,000 migrants were arrested daily on the southwest U.S. border. In total, there have been 252,315 Southwest land border encounters in December.

The Del Rio sector in Texas reported 22,024 migrant apprehensions during the week of December 17 to December 23.

On Thursday, Mexican President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador said his country and U.S. officials have agreed to keep border crossings open following a visit by U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken that focused on securing Mexico's help to stem record-high migration.

Earlier this month the U.S. temporarily shuttered several crossings, including two key rail bridges, to redeploy enforcement resources elsewhere across the border amid soaring migrant numbers.

President Biden ordered rail crossings at Eagle Pass and El Paso, both in Texas, to be closed earlier this month so border agents could be diverted.

Mexican President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador (left) had a meeting with U.S. officials including Secretary of State Antony Blinken to discuss the border crisis

A caravan of about 1,500 people are walking through Escuintla, Mexico on December 28, attempting to reach the U.S.-Mexico border

Earlier this month the U.S. temporarily shuttered several crossings, including two key rail bridges, due to soaring migrant numbers

Rail company Union Pacific said 45 percent of its rail cars between the US and Mexico went through the two crossings and there wasn't enough capacity at the other four points of entry to reroute them.

The crossing at Lukeville, Arizona, was also closed on December 4 with no reopening date in sight, dealing a hammer blow to the local economy.

'This agreement has been reached, the rail crossings and the boarder bridges are already being opened to normalize the situation. Every day there is more movement on the border bridges,' said Lopez Obrador.

'The relationship with Biden is very good, and he is very respectful of us, of Mexico,' he said, adding that Biden 'understands that this (migration) phenomenon has to do with poverty.'

Lopez Obrador said he got a worried phone call on December 20 from U.S. President Joe Biden.

'He asked, Joe Biden asked to speak with me, he was worried about the situation on the border because of the unprecedented number of migrants arriving at the border,' Lopez Obrador said. 'He called me, saying we had to look for a solution together.'

The bilateral talks come as a caravan of about 1,500 people is slowly walking across southern Mexico.

Migrants cross the Rio Grande to Eagle Pass, Texas on Christmas Day. The Del Rio, where Eagle Pass is located, reported 22,024 migrant apprehensions during the week of December 17 to December 23

Migrants carrying children cross the Rio Grande. This month, as many as 10,000 migrants were arrested daily on the southwest U.S. border

Migrants are grouped together after crossing into Eagle Pass, Texas on December 24. In total, there have been 252,315 Southwest land border encounters in December

Starting in March, Texas will allow police to arrest migrants who enter the state illegally and give local judges the authority to order them out of the country.

The new law comes two years after Texas launched a smaller-scale operation to arrest migrants for trespassing. Although that operation was also intended to stem illegal crossings, there is little indication that it has done so.

Since 2021, Texas authorities have arrested nearly 10,000 migrants on misdemeanor trespassing charges under what Governor Greg Abbott has called a 'arrest and jail' operation: Border landowners enter agreements with the state authorizing trespassing arrests, clearing the way for law enforcement to apprehend migrants who enter the U.S. through those properties.

The arrests have drawn constitutional challenges in courts, including claims of due process violations. More recently, one landowner asked officials to stop the trespassing arrests on their property, claiming authorities never had permission in the first place.

The results raise questions about the impact arrests have on deterring immigration as Texas readies to give police even broader powers to apprehend migrants on charges of illegal entry. Civil rights organizations have called it an unconstitutional overreach that encroaches on the U.S. government's immigration authority.
Greece has offered to lend rotating exhibitions of 'important antiquities' to 'fill the void' in exchange for the the Elgin Marbles, it has emerged.

Lina Mendoni, the country's culture minister, gave an insight into the possible ways that Greece would consider compensating the British Museum, should the sculptures be 'reunited' in Athens.

British Museum chairman George Osborne last month pledged to continue working on an exchange deal to allow the Elgin Marbles to be displayed in Greece, despite a diplomatic fallout sparked by Prime Minister Rishi Sunak.

Mr Sunak ditched a planned meeting with his Greek counterpart Kyriakos Mitsotakis after accusing him of grandstanding about the return of the ancient sculptures.

Suggestions have previously been made that the British Museum could lend the statues back to Athens. But Mr Sunak has stressed that any deal to loan the Elgin Marbles to Greece must come with Greek acceptance that Britain is the legal owner.

Greece is prepared to organise rotating exhibitions of 'important antiquities' to 'fill the void' in exchange for the the Elgin Marbles, it has emerged. Pictured is a section of the Parthenon Marbles in London's British Museum

British Museum chairman George Osborne last month pledged to continue working on an exchange deal to allow the Elgin Marbles to be displayed in Greece. Mr Osborne (left) is pictured outside the British Museum in September this year alongside Sir Mark Jones (right) who has vowed to 'restore the reputation' of the museum

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

Mr Osborne has said that the museum trustees are 'very much up for a deal', telling his podcast Political Currency: 'I think the Greek government is very much up for a deal. And even if the British government is not speaking to the Greek prime minister, the British Museum is.'

He added that the deal would 'allows us to share the viewing of the marbles' but would not be an agreement that 'challenges anyone's fundamental claims'.

Ms Mendoni told the Guardian this week that Greece would be willing to reach an agreement that 'fills the void' left by the sculptures.

'Should the sculptures be reunited in Athens, Greece is prepared to organise rotating exhibitions of important antiquities that would fill the void,' she said.

Ms Mendoni added: '(They) would fill the void, maintain, and constantly renew, international visitor interest in the Greek galleries of the British Museum.'

The culture minister also said that 'any agreement and all its particulars, would have to be in accordance with the Greek law on cultural heritage'.

Lina Mendoni, (pictured in 2021) the country's culture minister, gave an insight into the possible ways that Greece would consider compensating the British Museum, should the sculptures be 'reunited' in Athens

Visitors look at ancient sculptures that are part of the Parthenon Marbles at the British Museum in London on November 28, 2023

The Elgin Marbles also known as the Parthenon marbles was sculpted by Phidias, are a series of Ancient Greek sculptures created between 447BC and 432BC. They were previously housed in the Parthenon in Athens (pictured)

Rishi Sunak has snubbed talks with the Greek prime minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis over his demand for the return of the Elgin Marbles

Greece has long demanded the return of the Elgin Marbles, also known as the Parthenon Sculptures, which were removed by Lord Elgin from occupied Athens in the early 19th century, when he was the British ambassador to the Ottoman Empire.

A Parliamentary Select Committee inquiry in 1816 found the acquisition of the Marbles had been entirely legal and done with permission of Ottoman authorities.

READ MORE: What are the Elgin Marbles and how did they end up in the British Museum? Advertisement

Part of friezes that adorned the 2,500-year-old Parthenon temple on the Acropolis, the Elgin Marbles have been displayed at the British Museum in London for more than 200 years.

Most of the remaining sculptures are in a purpose-built museum in Athens.

Mr Sunak cancelled a meeting with Mr Mitsotakis last month after the European leader said he would be raising the issue of the Marbles.

But the meeting was never confirmed by Downing Street and the PM's spokesman accused Greece of breaking a promise not to raise the Marbles row in public.

Greece, however, remains noisy in its view that the sculptures should be back in Athens.

Mr Mitsotakis told the BBC that the UK retaining the Marbles was a form of cultural vandalism akin to 'cutting the Mona Lisa in half'.

And a Greek newspaper has raged at Mr Sunak for refusing to discuss the future of the sculptures. The Eleftheri Ora front page declared: 'F*** You B******!'.

Mr Osborne has said he is exploring ways for the Elgin Marbles to be displayed in Greece, with speculation that this could involve a loan deal in which part of the sculptures would be sent to Athens.

Opinion polling suggests that the relative majority of Brits are supportive of returning the Elgin Marbles to Greece

Greek prime minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis says the UK's retention of the Elgin Marbles is akin to 'cutting the Mona Lisa in half'

The Elgin Marbles were taken from the Parthenon in Athens (pictured) in the early 19th century by Lord Elgin. A parliamentary inquiry found they had been acquired legally

The Elgin Marbles get their name from Thomas Bruce, 7th Earl of Elgin, who took them from Athens

Elgin alleged he was granted permission from the Ottoman Empire to bring the sculptures to the UK. Even though, there was quite a paper trail during this time period, no documents have been discovered to support his claims (Pictured: The Elgin Marbles)

The British-owned pieces of the Elgin Marbles can be viewed at the British Museum in London

But Mr Sunak has stressed that any deal to loan the Elgin Marbles back to Athens must come with Greek acceptance that Britain is the legal owner.

In a warning to ex-Tory chancellor Mr Osborne, now chairman of the British Museum's board of trustees, the PM said: 'Our view and our position on that is crystal clear: the marbles were acquired legally at the time.'

However, public support for retaining the Marbles is not strong. A YouGov poll of 2,871 British adults on November 28 found that only 15 per cent of people support keeping them in the country.

The relative majority of those polled, 49 per cent, supported returning the artefacts to Greece.

Suggestions have also been made that King Charles III appeared to make a plea for international co-operation with his choice of tie, stitched with a pattern of Greek flags fluttering in the wind, at the COP28 eco-summit in Dubai earlier this month.

Charles was also pictured wearing the tie whilst in conversation with Mr Sunak just days after the PM allegedly snubbed Mr Mitsotakis.

The Greek press seized upon his fashion choices, claiming that it could be interpreted as a 'gesture of support' for the country in its decades-long war of words over the artefacts.

Online news website the Greek City Times wrote: 'Just a few days after the uproar caused in Great Britain and Greece by Rishi Sunaks unfair treatment of Kyriakos Mitsotakis, King Charles III appeared to take a stand by choosing an obvious message, perhaps much stronger than any statement.'

King Charles III at the opening of COP28 in Dubai on December 1, wearing his distinctive tie patterned with fluttering Greek flags

He was later pictured, still wearing the Greek tie, with Prime Minister Rishi Sunak, who allegedly snubbed a meeting with his Greek equivalent amid a row over the Elgin Marbles

Daily newspaper Kathimerini noted: 'The kings sartorial choice of a Greek-themed tie was widely commented on.'

However, it is understood the tie the King was wearing is simply one of his 'current collection'. He wore it on Horse Guards Parade last month to welcome the South Korean President, prior to any recent news stories about Greece.

It may have also been a nod to his own heritage: Charles is half-Greek and his father, Prince Philip, was born at Mon Repos on the Greek island of Corfu in 1921.

His ensemble also included a pocket square in light blue and white, but in a different pattern.
Sen. Rick Scott (R-Fla.) became the second Republican lawmaker to be targeted by prank callers sending police to their homes over the Christmas holiday.

Police responded to a call to Scott's home in Naples, Florida around 9:00 p.m. Wednesday evening claiming that a shooting occurred on his block.

The incident with Scott, 71, came two days after Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene (R-Ga.) was also 'swatted' on Christmas Day.

A 'swat' call refers to when a prankster makes a fraudulent distress call that deploys police to a high profile individual's home to respond to a made-up emergency.

The Naples Police Department confirmed that the alleged shooting did not occur and the call to Scott's house was a 'swatting' incident that remains under investigation.

Rep. Greene also said that her home was hit with these fake threats while her family was enjoying holiday festivities inside  and said such calls have happened multiple times since taking office.

Republican Sen. Rick Scott's Naples home was 'swatted' two days after Christmas when someone lodged a fake call sending police to his home under false pretenses that there was a shooting

'I was just swatted. This is like the 8th time. On Christmas with my family here,' MTG wrote on X, formerly known as Twitter.

She added: 'My local police are the GREATEST and shouldn't have to deal with this. I appreciate them so much and my family and I are in joyous spirits celebrating the birth of our savior Jesus Christ!'

The Georgia congresswoman did not elaborate on the nature of the threats but she has been targeted previously by what her office described as 'political attacks'.

The 49-year-old politician was swatted twice in August this year. On August 23, the Rome Police Department said officers 'responded to a 911 call reference to a subject being shot multiple times at an address within the city limits.'

According to the police report, the caller said a man had been shot at MTG's home and that a woman and children could still be inside.

When cops turned up at her home, she assured them there was no issue and the call was determined to be a swatting incident.

The police report went on to say officers 'received a second call from the suspect who was using a computer generated voice stating that he/she was upset about Mrs. Greene's political view on transgender youth rights.'

The next day, her home was targeted again by a prank caller who told cops they had gunned down her family and threatened to kill any officers who came to the door.

MTG thanked her local police department in a tweet about the incident. 'Last night, I was swatted just after 1 am.

Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene (R-Ga.) said her home has been 'swatted' at least 'eight times'  including on Christmas Day this year when her family was celebrating inside her home when police arrived

'I can't express enough gratitude to my local law enforcement here in Rome, Floyd County. More details to come.'

Her office confirmed that a 'political attack' took place on Greene's home in a statement to DailyMail.com.

The act of 'swatting' generally entails making a prank call to emergency services to get law enforcement to descend on somebody's home.

Greene led GOP criticism of federal law enforcement ever since the FBI's unannounced search of Trump's Mar-a-Lago estate in Palm Beach, Florida on August 8, 2022.
her ex to kill her abusive mother in 2015

Munchausen by proxy victim Gypsy Rose Blanchard has been seen in public for the first time since her release on Thursday as she checked out of a hotel to begin her life as a free woman.

The 32-year-old was spotted leaving a Fairfield Inn & Suites by Marriott in Chillicothe, Missouri  where she had crashed overnight shortly after walking free from prison almost 12 hours earlier.

Wearing a distressed sweatshirt, jeans, and only socks on her feet, the ex-con was helped by her husband as she carried her belongings  including two plastic grocery bags full of snacks  to their silver Cadillac sedan, DailyMail.com photos show.

They then drove to a mall where she bought two pairs of sneakers.

The couple left the $150-a-night hotel around 11.15am in a convoy of cars including producers and a camera crew that have been following the abuse victim around for their Lifetime show.

They had rigged up GoPro cameras inside the car to capture her reaction.

Gypsy Rose Blanchard's first stop on Thursday was at an Off Broadway Shoe Warehouse in Liberty, just outside Kansas City, to buy some new shoes after leaving prison in socks

The 32-year-old - who was accompanied by her husband - showed off her new kicks to DailyMail.com on Thursday afternoon

Gypsy and her husband Ryan Anderson spent her first afternoon of freedom buying a couple of pairs of shoes

Gypsy was snapped in public for the first time since her release from prison after checking out of a Fairfield Inn & Suites by Marriott in Chillicothe where she spent her first night of freedom

Their first stop after driving off was at an Off Broadway Shoe Warehouse in Liberty, Missouri, just outside Kansas City, to buy Gypsy two new pairs of sneakers.

Showing off her new kicks to DailyMail.com on Thursday, a beaming Gypsy said: 'I love them.'

When asked what plans she had for the day she said: 'Lots of them.'

They then drove on to a four-bedroom Airbnb in a Kansas City suburb.

Gypsy is expected to attend Sunday's Kansas City Chiefs game against the Cincinatti Bengals at Arrowhead Stadium on Sunday for an improbable meet-up with Taylor Swift.

Hours earlier on Thursday, Ryan Scott Anderson, the teacher she married behind bars last year, was seen pulling into the Chillicothe Correctional Center in northern Missouri, to pick his wife up at 3:20am.

His Cadillac sedan, with a Bret 'the Hitman' Hart wrestling decal across the front license plate cover, emerged minutes later to whisk Gypsy away for her first night of freedom at the budget hotel.

The 32-year-old felon spent her childhood posing as a wheelchair-bound invalid after Claudine 'Dee Dee' Blanchard shaved her daughter's head, pumped her full of drugs and convinced the world she was suffering from leukemia and muscular dystrophy.

Anderson had picked Gypsy up from the prison facility in the early hours of Thursday when she was released after an eight-year sentence

The two spent the remainder of the night at a nearby hotel Chillicothe, before checking out later that morning to head to Kansas City

A film crew has been following the couple around documenting Gypsy's release for an upcoming film project about her life

Their 'inseparable' bond ended when Gypsy burst free of her warped mom's control in 2015 by letting her besotted internet boyfriend Nicholas Godejohn creep into their Springfield, Missouri, home to stab 48-year-old Dee Dee to death.

Gypsy was jailed for 10 years for the matricide but was granted early parole in September after friends and family begged authorities to take account of the cruel abuse and needless medical procedures she endured while being cynically paraded at charity events and fundraisers.

Among those who wrote an impassioned note to the parole board was Titania Gisclair, a family friend who went to high school with Dee Dee and remained close with Gypsy throughout her seven-year stretch.

She's praying that Gypsy will make space for 'healing' as she puts her years of incarceration behind her to begin post-prison life as an unlikely reality star.

'Gypsy used to talk about moving to a big city where she could blend in and get a job at Walmart like anyone else. I would have to say, Gypsy I don't think that's going to be possible,' Titania told DailyMail.com ahead of Gypsy's release.

'I struggle with the fact she is diving so deep into all of this publicity at the beginning of her journey but I also sympathize as this is probably her best avenue to financially support herself.

'The fact is, she can't go work at Walmart or a department store because her story will always be out there.

'I don't think it will ever go away. I just hope all this attention doesn't cause her to regress.'

The ex-con was helped by her husband as she carried her belongings - including two plastic grocery bags full of snacks - to their silver Cadillac sedan, DailyMail.com photos show

The couple left the $150-a-night hotel around 11.15am in a convoy of cars including producers and a camera crew that were seen trailing behind her as they captured footage for their Lifetime show

Blanchard and her husband drove 100 miles southwest to suburban Kansas City after her first night of freedom

The couple left the $150-a-night hotel around 11.15am in a convoy of cars

Gypsy was seen carrying a plastic bag full of snacks and Burger King takeout

Gypsy's media credits and prison interviews already include Dr Phil, Good Morning America and 20/20, while Hulu, Netflix and Lifetime have all aired TV dramas based on her ordeal.

She took part in the 2017 HBO documentary Mommy Dead and Dearest, and has an upcoming three-part docuseries, The Prison Confessions of Gypsy Rose Blanchard, airing January 5 through 7 on Lifetime.

The network's cameras will likely follow her every move as Gypsy enjoys her first few days of freedom which will reportedly include a spa, shopping trip and a Kansas City Chiefs game on Sunday - where she's told TMZ she's hoping to bump into Taylor Swift and Travis Kelce.

Fans can look forward to more snippets on social media profiles set up prior to her release including a TikTok page - already boasting 400,000-plus followers - which describes her as a 'public figure/Speaker' and links to her new eBook, Released: Conversations on the Eve of Freedom.

She married Anderson, a 37-year-old teacher and wrestling fan from Lake Charles, Louisiana, behind bars last year after calling off her engagement to another man, named Ken.

It's not known whether she's planning to move in with him or with her dad and stepmom, Rod and Kristy Blanchard, who also reside in the Pelican state.

'My most important thing is for Gypsy to get the one-on-one mental health counseling she needs to deal with her childhood trauma. She got barely any of that - if any - in prison,' said freelance writer Titania, 54.

'I've preached it to her, to her stepmom, to whoever would listen. The best thing that she can do for herself is to heal her inner child. If she gets the helps she needs, she will thrive. We are hoping for great things for her.'

Titania is working on her own project documenting her former friendship with Dee Dee, which stretched from childhood to the party days of their early 20s when the pair drifted apart.

'People always ask how all these doctors and family members could be taken in by Dee Dee. But I understand because I witnessed it growing up,' Titania told DailyMail.com.

Gypsy Rose Blanchard was released on Thursday, after serving eight years of a 10-year prison sentence for orchestrating the murder of her medically abusive mother

Claudine 'Dee Dee' Blanchard convinced her daughter Gypsy Rose and others that she was suffering a variety of illnesses including leukemia and muscular dystrophy. The abuse continued for years, until Gypsy Rose ordered her mother's murder to 'escape'

The felon was released from Chillicothe Correctional Center in Chillicothe, Missouri, in the early hours of Thursday morning

Gypsy Rose was whisked away in a Cadillac sedan by her teacher husband, who she married behind bars last year

The sedan that whisked Gypsy Rose away to a budget hotel for her first night of freedom had a Bret 'the Hitman' Hart wrestling decal

'She was a smooth talker, very charismatic. And when she was manipulating you, she always did it in a nice, sweet way so she got what she wanted.

'I did find it weird that whenever I asked about Gypsy, she would have all these new ailments.

'But I never imagined she would do the things she did to her. It only made sense in hindsight.'

Titania Gisclair, a family friend who went to high school with Dee Dee and remained close with Gypsy throughout her seven-year stretch, was among those who wrote an impassioned note to the parole board

Gypsy's story is one of the more famous examples of Munchausen syndrome by proxy, where a person treats a perfectly healthy dependent, usually a child, as if they have a physical or mental illness.

Dee Dee shaved her daughter's head to mimic the effects of leukemia, doctored her birth certificate to pretend she was younger and fed her unnecessary medications that caused her to drool and eventually lose her teeth.

She basked in the role of doting caregiver, forcing Gypsy to use a wheelchair and undergo unnecessary surgeries on her eyes and salivary glands while cashing in with charity handouts and perks including a free trip to Disney World.

When doctors in their native Louisiana raised red flags, Dee Dee relocated to Missouri in 2008, where she got a bright pink home built for free, courtesy of Habitat for Humanity, and told everyone that Gypsy's medical notes were destroyed in Hurricane Katrina.

When Gypsy was 14 a neurologist deduced she was a victim of Munchausen syndrome by proxy but didn't feel he had enough evidence to report her mother to authorities.

The former nurse even fooled ex-husband Rod Blanchard, who remained close to his daughter but struggled to get access to her once Dee Dee moved away and constantly made excuses to cancel his visits.

It was only when he witnessed his daughter walk into a courtroom in handcuffs that the shell-shocked dad finally grasped that Gypsy didn't need a wheelchair.

Dee Dee once conned doctors into removing Gypsy Rose's salivary glands, and was accused of a number of depraved lies including shaving her head to make it appear that she was suffering from leukemia

Dee Dee is believed to have suffered from Munchausen by proxy syndrome, as she led people to believe that her daughter was terminally ill to enjoy praise as a doting mother along with perks such as charity-funded tickets to concerts and Disney World

Dee Dee was found dead on the morning of June 14, 2015, after being knifed 17 times in her sleep by Godejohn, 34, who is serving life in prison without parole.

Her slaying was discovered after a Facebook account she shared with Gypsy declared: 'That b**** is dead!'

Gypsy was feared kidnapped until investigators traced the post to Big Bend, Wisconsin where she was taken into custody along with her autistic lover, Godejohn.

The sheltered pair had met three years earlier through a Christian dating site, bonding over their love of Disney and roleplay. Their innocent interactions eventually turned to chats about BDSM and sexual fantasies.

Godejohn travelled to Missouri and the pair had sex in a movie theater bathroom while Dee Dee was taking Gypsy to see Cinderella.

Gypsy would later tell a Discovery ID documentary how the murder plot was kindled by Godejohn's promise to do everything in his power to protect his 'soul mate.'

'From anybody?' [I asked], he said 'Yeah.' 'Even my mom?' [I asked], he said 'Yes.' And that's when this kind of plan started to develop [into] a murder plot,' Gypsy said.

Godejohn arrived at the family home late one night in June 2015, with a knife he had stolen from Walmart.

Gypsy let him inside then hid in the bathroom with her hands over her ears to mask the noise of Dee Dee being butchered in her bed.

She told ABC News that she wanted her mom to die 'not because I hated her... it was because I wanted to escape her.'

Gypsy Rose (left) was handed a ten-year sentence for plotting to kill her mother, while her online boyfriend Nicholas Godejohn (right) was given a life sentence

The twisted story was told in Hulu series 'The Act', with Dee Dee portrayed by Patricia Arquette (left) and Gypsy Rose played by Joey King (right)

Questions remain over Gypsy Rose's culpability in her mother's murder, amid claims she funded her killer boyfriend's travel and provided him with the knife used in the 2015 slaying

Gypsy pled guilty to second-degree murder in 2016 and was sentenced to 10 years in prison.

Godejohn's lawyers described him as a 'low-functioning person with autism' who was obsessed with Gypsy and coerced into doing her bidding.

He was jailed for life in 2019 for first degree murder and armed criminal action after prosecutors convinced jurors that he understood the consequences of killing.

Godejohn will remain under lock and key at the Potosi Correctional Center in Mineral Point, Missouri as Gypsy begins her new life, having served 85 percent of her sentence, as required by state law.

'We're going to do Christmas. I've got a Christmas tree, I've got her so many gifts. I went overboard, actually,' her stepmom Kristy told NewsNation last week.

'Oh, we're also doing a spa day  we're going to go get her pedicure, manicure, facial, haircut, colored if she wants, you know, the works, bring her shopping. She can't wait.'
Ron DeSantis went in for the kill on Thursday, slamming rival Nikki Haley for her Civil War gaffe and saying it showed she was simply not ready for primetime.

The Florida governor said his rival for the 2024 Republican nomination was wilting under the pressure and had a weak grasp of basic American history if she did not know that slavery was a key factor in the Civil War.

'I just think that this shows this is not a candidate that's ready for primetime,' he told reporters in Iowa.

'And she's gotten a pretty free ride from a lot of corporate press. The minute that she faces any type of scrutiny she tends to cave.'

It came after Haley, the former governor of South Carolina, was forced into damage limitation mode for not mentioning slavery when asked about the causes of the Civil War.

The DeSantis campaign said Haley had made an 'embarrassing gaffe' and rubbished her efforts at clean-up after she discussed the causes of the Civil War without mentioning slavery

Of course it was about slavery, she told interviewers and a town hall audience a day later.

She also tried to say that the man who posed the innocuous-seeming question at a Wednesday town hall was a Democratic plant.

'We see these guys when they come in. We know what theyre doing,' she said during an interview with a radio station in New Hampshire.

Not good enough, said DeSantis later, accusing her of delivering an 'incomprehensible word salad.'

'It's not that difficult to identify and acknowledge the role slavery played in the Civil War and yet that seemed to be something that was really difficult,' he said. 'I don't even know what to say.'

Haley has come under increasing attack from her Republican rivals as she moves up in the polls and collects increasingly important endorsements.

The DeSantis said she was guilty of an 'embarrassing gaffe' over the Civil War.

'Just like she showed us when she couldn't defend her pro-child mutilation, pro-China, pro-men in women's bathrooms positions on the debate stage in Alabama, she cant handle the pressure that comes with being the top spending candidate in the early states with less than a month to go,' it said.

Her car crash moment came during a town hall a day earlier.

The Civil War was fought from 1861 to 1865, between pro-slavery Confederate forces, who seceded the Union because they wanted to expand slavery, and mostly northern Union forces

Nikki Haley cleaned-up her town hall blunder leaving slavery out as a reason for the Civil War by claiming 'that's the easy part'  and suggested the person who asked the question was a 'plant'

She joked with the audience member asking the question: 'Well, don't come with an easy question.'

She then claimed that the Civil War was fought for freedom and ideological differences in how governments are supposed to work.

'I think the cause of the Civil War was basically how government was going to run, the freedoms of what people could and couldn't do.'

The White House hopeful, currently a distant third place to Donald Trump in the race for the 2024 Republican presidential nomination, then goes on a tangent about the limits of government overreach and civil liberties.

'I think it always comes down to the role of government and what the rights of the people are, and I will always stand by the fact that I think government was intended to secure the rights and freedoms of the people.

'It was never meant to be all things to all people. Government doesn't need to tell you how to live your life.

'They don't need to tell you what you can and can't do. They don't need to be a part of your life. They need to make sure that you have freedom.

'I think it always comes down to the role of government and what the rights of the people are, and I will always stand by the fact that I think government was intended to secure the rights and freedoms of the people,' she said

Haley's refusal to acknowledge this caught the ire of many across the political spectrum

'We need to have capitalism. We need to have economic freedom. We need to make sure that we do all things so that individuals have the liberties so that they can have freedom of speech, freedom of religion, freedom to do or be anything they want to be without government getting in the way.'

Following the tangent, she tries to turn the question back to the voter, who tells her that he isn't the one running for the Oval Office in 2024.

'Of course the Civil War was about slavery. We know that. That's the easy part of it,' Haley said Thursday morning. 'What I was saying was: What does it mean to us today?'

'What it means to us today is about freedom. That's what that was all about,' the former United Nations Ambassador said.

He is then heard saying: 'In 2023, it's astonishing to me that you would answer that question without mentioning the word slavery.'

Haley asks him: 'What do you want me to say about slavery? Next question.'

The result was an immediate barrage of criticism.

Critics include her 2024 Republican competitors, but also President Joe Biden who quipped on X, formerly Twitter: 'It was about slavery.'

The next day brought a clean up operation.

Haley told CNN that it's 'unquestioned' that the Civil War was about slavery, adding: 'But it was also more than that.'

'It was about the freedoms of every individual. It was about the role of government,' she insisted.

She also said in an interview with Pulse of New Hampshire radio show that she was answering the question by putting it into the context of what it means to Americans in the present day.

Historians generally agree that slavery, and the divided opinions of Northern and Southern states over whether to abolish it, was the primary cause of the Civil War

New Hampshire holds the second-in-the-nation primary contest  and the first elections of the 2024 cycle after Iowa's caucuses, which makes it important for those vying for the nomination to run for president.

With just 26 days until the Granite State's elections, Haley is surging in the polls with the latest showing her trailing former President Donald Trump by only 4 percent with 29 percent support among Republican voters.

She believes the question asked in Berlin, New Hampshire on Wednesday was a way for opposition to get media to attack her amid the soaring surrey figures.

She clarified Thursday that she is well aware that slavery was a reason for the Civil War.

Historians generally agree that slavery, and the divided opinions of Northern and Southern states over whether to abolish it, was the primary cause of the Civil War.

The Southern states of the US, including Haley's home state of South Carolina, were pro-slavery, while Northern states were anti-slavery. South Carolina's proclamation outlining its reasons for leaving the Union in 1860 pointed to the ''increasing hostility on the part of the non-slaveholding States to the institution of slavery' as a reason for the state removing itself from the Union.

But Haley's refusal to acknowledge this caught the ire of many across the political spectrum.

Donald Trump is currently leading the race for the 2024 Republican presidential nomination  and the ex-president has not ruled out tapping Haley as his running mate

Polling shows Haley is now within only 4 percentage points of Trump with just 26 days until the New Hampshire primary elections on January 23  and aggregated data from FiveThirtyEight shows that Haley may soon overtake Ron DeSantis to be second place nationally

Meanwhile, the campaign of Florida Governor Ron DeSantis, another of Haley's GOP foes, recirculated video of the exchange on social media, adding the comment, 'Yikes.'

Issues surrounding the origins of the Civil War and its heritage are still much of the fabric of Haley's home state, and she has been pressed on the war's origins before.

As she ran for governor in 2010, Haley, in an interview with a now-defunct activist group then known as The Palmetto Patriots, described the war as between two disparate sides fighting for 'tradition' and 'change' and said the Confederate flag was 'not something that is racist.'

During that same campaign, she dismissed the need for the flag to come down from the Statehouse grounds, portraying her Democratic rival's push for its removal as a desperate political stunt.

Five years later, Haley urged lawmakers to remove the flag from its perch near a Confederate soldier monument following a mass shooting in which a white gunman killed eight Black church members who were attending Bible study.

At the time, Haley said the flag had been 'hijacked' by the shooter from those who saw the flag as symbolizing 'sacrifice and heritage.'

Aggregated polling data from FiveThirtyEight shows that, nationally, Haley may soon overtake Ron DeSantis to be second place in the race for the 2024 Republican presidential nomination.

Despite this, she has a long way to go to beat Donald Trump, who currently has 61.2% of Republicans pledged to vote for him.

Even in her home state, Haley is trailing far behind, with less than half the share of votes that Trump has.
An inquiry into the Post Office Horizon scandal has found 'more than enough evidence' for police to launch a criminal investigation into senior staff, lawyers representing the victims have claimed.

The Post Office wrongfully prosecuted more than 700 sub-postmasters and sub-postmistresses between 1999 and 2015 for theft, fraud and false accounting based on information from a recently installed computer system called Horizon.

The scandal is considered the most widespread miscarriage of justice in British history, leading to the inquiry into what went wrong, and who was responsible.

Postmasters have claimed that Post Office senior staff covered up dozens of bugs and should be investigated for perverting the course of justice, The Times reports.

The inquiry has been shown correspondence which show how senior staff demanded the Post Office hurried up with prosecuting people, years after concerns were raised.

Seema Misra (pictured), 46, was sentenced to 15 months in prison in 2010 despite being eight weeks pregnant with her second child. Her conviction was quashed in 2021

Former subpostmasters Janet Skinner (left) and Tracy Felstead outside the Royal Courts of Justice, London in 2021. Their convictions were quashed

Investigators' bonuses were determined by how much money was recovered under the Proceeds of Crime Act - and one postmistress was prosecuted for theft after her investigator reported there was insufficient evidence.

Lawyers want the chairman of the inquiry, Sir Wyn Williams, to hand over files to the director of public prosecutions when it finishes next year.

Paul Marshall, a barrister who has represented postmasters, told The Times: 'Based on recent weeks' hearings there is more than enough evidence for the police to open criminal investigations into several senior Post Office staff.'

Among the victims fighting for justice is postmistress Janet Skinner, who was jailed for nine months after being falsely accused of an accounting error, leading her to lose her family home.

Ms Skinner, who has a formal role in the inquiry, said evidence supporting a criminal probe into senior Post Office staff was a 'focus' for her team.

Another postmistress, Seema Misra, 46, was sentenced to 15 months in prison in 2010 despite being eight weeks pregnant with her second child. Both convictions - along with more than 30 others - were quashed in 2021.

In recent weeks, she has seen internal emails from investigators and lawyers which show the Post Office did not disclose key documents to her legal team.

This included information about a bug in the system impacting several Post Offices which had been found in the lead up to her trial as well as the Ismay report into Horizon.

Her 2010 trial became a test case for how reliable Horizon was, with her lawyers telling the court that the system could not be trusted.

Lawyers want the chairman of the inquiry, Sir Wyn Williams (pictured), to hand over files to the director of public prosecutions when it finishes next year

The Met Police, which is currently probing two ex Horizon IT experts for perjury, is also taking part in the inquiry and has access to key documents.

Three witnesses are said to have already been warned they do not have to answer questions in case they incriminate themselves, while another two ex employees are expected to receive the same warning.

Ed Henry KC also suggested that there could be enough for an investigation, telling the inquiry in written submissions that the evidence 'has begun to reveal a conspiracy to pervert the course of justice' between 2006 and 2010 and in the years after.

He claimed there was a 'toxic corporate culture of secrecy and misinformation' and that the Post Office 'specialised in propaganda and policing its own people'.

An anonymous barrister warned, however, that the inquiry 'won't recommend people for prosecution unless there's a reasonable prospect of conviction'.

In September, the Government announced that every postmaster wrongfully convicted in the Post Office IT scandal will be offered 600,000 in compensation to settle their claim.

Those who were convicted on the basis of evidence from the faulty Horizon computer system and had their conviction overturned will be offered the money.

In September, the Government announced that every postmaster wrongfully convicted in the Post Office IT scandal will be offered 600,000 in compensation to settle their claim. (File image)

The Mail has fought a ten-year battle for justice for blameless postmasters whose lives were ruined by the ordeal.

Many had their spotless reputations blighted by criminal records, while some suffered from depression or even took their own lives.

In 1999, the Post Office rolled out the Horizon accounting IT system, but faults in the software led to shortfalls in branch accounts.

Postmasters were required to 'make good' the discrepancies with their own money or face immediate suspension, dismissal or worse.

A Post Office spokesperson said: 'We fully share the aims of the current public inquiry, set up to independently establish what went wrong in the past and accountability.

'We're acutely aware of the human cost of the scandal and we're doing all we can to right the wrongs of the past as far as that is possible.

'Both Post Office and government are committed to providing full, fair and final compensation for victims.'

A spokesperson for the Met said: 'We began an investigation in 2020 and this is ongoing. We are monitoring evidence from the public inquiry, while also carrying out our own enquiries.'
It only took 90 minutes for Idaho's most infamous building to come crashing down.

The clapboard house at 1122 King Road, Moscow, offered no resistance as a red Hitachi digger moved in before dawn.

And by 8am its work was done. The home where four University of Idaho students were murdered in their beds was gone  razed to the ground in an effort to bring healing to the small town on the Washington State border.

Once it was down two contractors were left to rake over the rubble and cart it away to be buried at an unannounced location.

'They want nothing left for ghouls to plunder,' said one of the few locals who had joined a throng of media to witness the final seconds of the doomed home.

The house where four University of Idaho students were killed last year was demolished Thursday, despite protests from some of the victims' families

It only took 90 minutes for Idaho 's most infamous murder house to come crashing down. The remnances are seen in DailyMail.com photos

The home where four University of Idaho students were murdered in their beds was gone  razed to the ground in an effort to bring healing to the small town on the Washington State border

Once it was down two contractors were let to rake over the rubble and cart it away to be buried at an unannounced location

Shortly before 6.30am local time a digger tore into the front of the infamous building. It butted and prized off the roof and tore into the walls as the building splintered and imploded amid tremendous noise

It is almost exactly a year since Bryan Kohberger, now 29, studying for a PhD in criminology at nearby Washington State University, was charged with stabbing to death 21-year-old friends Kaylee Goncalves and Maddie Mogen and Xana Kernodle and her boyfriend Ethan Chapin, both 20.

The former grad student is accused of stabbing Kaylee Goncalves, 21, Maddie Mogen, 21, Xana Kernodle, 20, and Ethan Chapin , 20, on November 13 in the home as they slept. The victims are pictured with roommates Dylan Mortensen (left) and Bethany Funke (right)

Kohberger was arrested during a raid on his parents' home in the Pocono Mountains of Pennsylvania on December 30, six weeks after, investigators allege, he broke into this three-story clapboard rental and carried out the now infamous attacks.

Two roommates, Dylan Mortensen and Bethany Funke, both 21, escaped the November 13 killings at the off-campus property.

Mortensen told investigators that she locked her bedroom door after seeing a man dressed in black, wearing a mask, walk past her towards the house's back exit at around 4am.

The killings rocked the small college town as residents and students alike no longer felt safe in their beds.

All these months on, when DailyMail.com visited King Road on the eve of its demolition, the house seemed to suck all the air out of the corner on which it stood.

Sealed up and silent, set into the hill and surrounded by the mulch of fallen leaves it was as stark and as chill as the Idaho winter.

Little wonder that many locals with whom we spoke told of their relief that the moment of its demolition had finally come.

University representatives, city officials and contractors  whom DailyMail.com has learned are bound to secrecy by a Non-Disclosure Agreement  met at the site midafternoon Wednesday.

Grim faced and somber they finalized the details of the demolition that, according to University of Idaho President Scott Green, has been the school's intention since they took ownership of the house earlier this year.

Green explained, 'It is the grim reminder of the heinous act that took place thereit is time for its removal and to allow the collective healing of our community to continue.'

The school has already twice postponed the demolition  first at the start of the fall semester, then again in October when Kohberger waived his right to a speedy trial. The trial has now been delayed indefinitely but seems likely to take place in the summer.

The school has already twice postponed the demolition  first at the start of the fall semester, then again in October when Kohberger waived his right to a speedy trial

The delays came amid fears that a premature demolition would compromise a successful prosecution by depriving the defense of adequate time to gather what evidence it needed

The university, which ordered the razing, has maintained that it was, 'trying to balance what's right for students [currently enrolled] and do right by the memories of the students that were lost'

The delays came amid fears that a premature demolition would compromise a successful prosecution by depriving the defense of adequate time to gather what evidence it needed.

The university has always maintained that it was, 'trying to balance what's right for students [currently enrolled] and do right by the memories of the students that were lost.'

Not all the victims' families agree that they have succeeded.

Last month Cara Northington, Kernodle's mother, added her name to a petition asking that jurors be allowed to visit the scene of the crime.

Writing on the change.org petition she stated, 'My daughter was murdered in that house, and there is no way they should be destroying any evidence.'

Similarly, Goncalves's family issued a statement earlier this month in which they asked, 'Isn't it better to have the King Rd. House and not need it than need the house and not have it?'

That, the statement continued, has been the family's question to the prosecution and University of Idaho, 'for the entire time the demo of King Road has been an issue.'

Why, they wanted to know, was it even up for discussion?

According to their statement, 'This is one of the most horrific crimes in the history of Idaho and the University wants to destroy one of the most critical pieces of evidence in the case.'

Giving voice to their utter frustration the family described their resistance to the demolition as 'like screaming into a void' and added, 'Nobody is listening, and everyone tells you how sorry they are for the decision, but the families' opinion isn't a priority.'

They are not alone in their fears that the move might negatively impact a jury's ability to reach a verdict at trial.

The evening before the demolition began many were drawn to take one last look at the site.

Local Linda Moser, 60, who has lived in Moscow all her life remembers the night the shelter in place alert was sent out following the attacks.

She told DailyMail.com that she understands the desire to 'move on' and 'heal'.

She said, 'This was so shocking to the whole community, the outpouring of love and concern and horror that followed was so stunning.'

But, she said, 'Removing this house isn't going to remove the image of it or the memory and I think it's vital for jurors to be able to see it.'

The house has already been combed for evidence and preserved in digital form many times over.

Back in October the FBI used 3-D imaging and drones to map the house's interior and exterior in a painstaking exercise that took several weeks and produced data that could be used at trial.

Kohberger appears in court in Moscow, Idaho, in October. Judge John Judge  whose order allows the suspected killer's defense a chance to review the genetic evidence against him  speaks on the video screen in the background

Investigators allegedly matched the DNA on a Ka-Bar knife sheath to that of Kohberger. Pictured is a similar Ka-Bar seven inch hunting knife

Kohberger was arrested some 2,300 miles from the crime scene in Pennsylvania. He had been attending college in Washington State

Earlier this month, on December 14 and 15, teams representing Kohberger asked for access to the house as they continued their preparation for the trial whenever it may happen.

They took photographs, measurements, and drone footage  a process that mirrored work already undertaken by the prosecution.

But for Moser, and others to whom DailyMail.com spoke, this is no substitute for jurors being able to view the house themselves.

She said, 'I worry that people looking at it on videos or 3-D models won't get a sense of the scale of the place, won't understand the acoustics.

'I don't understand the rush to tear it down. If it's about healing, then surely the way to heal is to have a sound trial. I think they're rushing to do this and they're putting that in jeopardy.'

Yet many who have lived in the house's shadow this past year told DailyMail.com that it was hard to imagine how real recovery could begin while the building remained intact.

In the months since the murders TikTokers and true crime junkies have turned the clapboard home into a ghoulish sort of tourist attraction.

Neighbors revealed how these true-crime-tourists had become an all-too-familiar sight on the otherwise quiet street; slowly driving by or standing outside, cellphones aloft, apparently oblivious to the bruise they were pressing with each selfie taken and video posted.

Last month Cara Northington, (left) the mother of murdered student Xana Kernodle, 20 (right) added her name to a petition asking that jurors be allowed to visit the scene of the crime

The parents of Kaylee Goncalves  seen here at a campus candlelight vigil last year - said 'Isn't it better to have the King Rd. House and not need it than need the house and not have it?'

Kohberger has maintained his innocence in the case, and due to a sprawling gag order, few details have emerged

Investigators have already constructed the physical recreation of the house when it had been inhabited by the victims (seen with floor plan)

The manner in which the killer navigated the three-story home to kill the four students  who were sleeping in separate rooms and floors  in the early hours of a November morning has raised questions about his motives

Crime-scene tape wreathed around the building in the immediate aftermath of the November killings had remained in place, along with a 24-hour security detail, preserving the integrity of a site that would, likely, have been trampled and plundered for morbid souvenirs.

The former 'party house' had belonged to a private landlord who transferred ownership to the University of Idaho at the beginning of this year.

The university swiftly erected a high chain-link fence around the property's perimeter and hammered plywood panels over the windows.

The patio where a grill had sat along with trash that spoke of the parties once held there  cans of beer and hard seltzer was cleared.

By the time the digger trucks moved in discarded screen windows, an old sofa and a laundry bin left in the yard remained the few unclaimed remnants of the lives once lived here.

The once vibrant memorial that sprang up organically along the house's front wall had dwindled and withered.

Plastic wrappers preserved the husks of floral tributes, plush animals sagged from months battered by the elements and photographs tucked in glass frames survived only as bleached out, sea-sick green shadows of the images placed there by those once moved enough to make the gesture, now long since gone.

Soon all this will be collected and thrown out as trash, as has happened with the other memorials that bloomed in the murders' wakes next to Moscow's town sign and on the university campus.

University authorities have yet to come up with a plan for what to do with the plot of land once the house is gone, beyond turning it into a 'green space.'

For now, they are just concerned with making sure there is nothing left behind for souvenir hunters to claim.
Ukrainian dwarf Natalia Grace's true age will finally be revealed in a documentary this week - after her adoptive parents claimed she was 22 years-old, not six.

Natalia was famously accused of being an adult sociopath with dwarfism who posed as a young child for her adoptive parents Michael and Kristine Barnett, an Indiana couple took her in back in 2010.

The first installment of the ID Discovery series, 'The Curious Case of Natalia Grace,' was watched by more than 10milion people.

The next installment, which will begin airing January 1, will finally reveal exactly how old Natalia really is through sophisticated DNA testing.

'I'm pretty confident that people will conclude what her age is, probably after two episodes,' said Beth Karas, a legal analyst who appears in the series.

The orphan claims she had her childhood 'stolen' by the Barnetts after they legally changed her age

Natalia's age has been a big question for years since her original adoptive parents alleged she was much older than they'd originally thought and successfully petitioned to have her 're-aged' so that they could abandon her and move countries.

In July of 2013, the Barnetts left Natalia alone in an apartment in Lafayette, Indiana, while the family moved to Canada. Both parents were later charged with counts of neglect of a dependent causing bodily injury - the cases were, however, dismissed.

In the second half of the ID Discovery series, the truth will be revealed about Natalia's age. The Ukrainian-born American-adoptee claims she was born in 2003 and is now 20.

'I was six years old when they adopted me. But the Barnetts did a petition to change my age to 22 years old. I literally lost my childhood,' she said.

'The Barnetts tried to paint me as this big monster, they claimed Im lying about my age.'

Karas said that, without wishing to disclose her personal opinion, 'I think that the age issue is now settled given information that we now have that the court who re-aged her did not have.'

She went on to hint that Natalia was telling the truth, saying: 'We get answers to questions in the second season, we have backup corroboration, it's not just like Natalia's word against Michael's.'

'This is my side of the story,' Natalia said in a series promo, adding, 'Do I look like a monster to you?

'The things that Kristine and Michael have said that Ive done is a lie. It was all copied off the movie Orphan. Ukrainian girl, Russian girl, check, orphan, check, all this crazy stuff  standing by the end of the bed with a knife. Check.'

'Orphan' is a 2009 horror film that followed the story of a couple who adopted a nine-year old who turned out who be a psychopath who endangered their family.

The Barnetts were charged with neglecting their child after ditching Natalia in the early 2010s and moving to Canada after they petitioned a court to move her birth year back 14 years, which was granted. Kristine's charges were dropped while Michael was cleared last year

Natalia Grace was adopted by an American family who soon abandoned her and successfully petitioned a judge to change her date of birth

Natalia will continue her confrontation with her former adoptive father Michael in the new documentary installment

She also vows to address some of the wild accusations that have been leveled at her, including that she tried to kill her adoptive family.

'In every lie is a hidden truth, but you gotta dig enough to see it,' she added. 'They are not going to get away with this.'

Natalia Gracie also states she 'lost her childhood' after the Barnetts petitioned a judge to change her legal age to 22.

The documentary will feature previously unseen evidence and footage, as well as new theories and testimony from an array of voices, including the retired FBI agents who initially investigated Natalias case, genetic experts who help determine Natalias true age, and the Tippecanoe County Deputy Prosecutor Jackie Starbuck who prosecuted Barnett in his October 2022 trial.

The Barnetts were taken into custody in 2019 on child neglect charges after they abandoned Natalia in an Indiana apartment while they moved to Canada after changing her age.

Michael was acquitted of the charges in October, while Kristine had her case dismissed in March, just three weeks before her trial.

Cynthia Mans, Natalia's new adoptive mom, claims Michael 'smirked' at her when found not guilty.

'It was like watching my daughter be raped,' Mans says in the documentary. 'There was no justice served, if I could have caught Kristine in an alley and put a black hoodie on I would have busted her upside the head.'

Natalia, pictured days after being collected from her Florida adoption center in May 2010 by the Barnetts, soon had her new parents suspicious as she had her period and a reportedly vocabulary for a six-year-old

Natalia has since been taken in by Pastor Antwon and Cynthia Mans

The saga of Natalia's adoption has generated global headlines in recent years amid the documentary and the arrests of her former adoptive parents.

The couple adopted Natalia in April 2010, believing they were taking home a six-year-old child.

But their dream adoption quickly turned into a nightmare when they realized she may not be who she had claimed, and they suspected she was a menacing adult masquerading as a child.

Just a year later they left Natalia in a Lafayette, Indiana, apartment while they fled north, claiming she had tried to kill them.

'She tried to poison and kill my wife,' Michael claimed. '(And) one night, I opened my eyes and Natalia is standing at the foot of the bed with a knife in her hand.'

Kristine, who is accused of abusing Natalia in the bombshell documentary, told DailyMail.com in 2019 that her family were terrorized by the Ukrainian in the months after they adopted her.

She alleged Natalia threatened to stab the family in their sleep, pushed her towards an electric fence, and poured bleach in her coffee.

She would make statements and draw pictures saying she wanted to kill family members, roll them up in a blanket and put them in the backyard, she told DailyMailTV.

She was standing over people in the middle of the night. You couldn't go to sleep. We had to hide all the sharp objects.

I saw her putting chemicals, bleach, Windex something like that, in my coffee and I asked her, "What are you doing?" She said, "I am trying to poison you."

The media is painting me to be a child abuser but there is no child here, said Barnett.

However, Natalia branded her former adoptive parents 'liars' and claimed they had tried to make her out to be a 'crazy person'.

In 2012, a petition launched by the family at probate court was granted and a judge legally changed her birth date from 2003 to 1989 on her Ukrainian birth document.

After the couple was granted their petition, they decided to move her into the apartment in Lafayette - three counties away from where they lived - while they moved to Canada.

Later in court, Natalia would testify that sustained herself mostly on peanut butter and jelly sandwiches, Ramen Noodles and an occasional pizza. She said she had limited use of her hands and arms, and struggled to open canned food.
He thought the board would be understand after they hosted a panel on free speech, but now questions how much the members value the First Amendment

University of Wisconsin-La Crosse chancellor Joe Gow said his only regret after being fired for posting adult content with his wife online is that he wishes he hadn't self-censored that part of his life for so long.

Gow, 63, was terminated by the University of Wisconsin board of regents Wednesday after they discovered he posts X-rated videos with his wife online under the name Sexy Happy Couple.

On X, formerly known as Twitter, Gow and his wife, Carmen Wilson, share photos of video clips from their cooking channel where they frequently have adult video stars as guests. They also link to LoyalFans and OnlyFans for 'fully explicit scenes.'

He told the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel he has no idea how the board became aware of his content and he was never asked by the board or school system about it.

'I did not expect that we'd end up where we are now. I thought at least the board, given their staunch support of free speech, would be a little more understanding. But clearly that's not the case,' Gow said.

UW-La Crosse Chancellor Joe Gow, 63, said his only regret is 'self-censoring' after he was terminated by the board of regents Wednesday after learning he posts X-rated videos with his wife online

Gow (right) and his wife Carmen Wilson (left) post content under the name Sexy Happy Couple and host a cooking show where they have adult film stars as guests

Gow, who had previously been reprimanded for hiring a porn star to speak on campus, said after attending a free speech panel the board hosted this month he felt no one would have a problem with his adult content.

'I would say that anything that I do or my my wife and I do, we do as citizens in the United States, who have the freedom of First Amendment to the Constitution, to create and publish books and videos that explore consensual adult sexuality,' he said.

'I just think we have people on the board that say they're for free speech, but they really aren't. And I don't know how they will explain this.'

UW-La Crosse Provost Betsy Morgan was appointed interim chancellor and as a tenured faculty member Gow was placed on paid administrative leave. He was planning to retire at the end of this school year and come back in the fall as a teacher - which he still plans to do.

Universities of Wisconsin President Jay Rothman has filed a complaint to have Gow's tenured status reviewed.

'In recent days, we learned of specific conduct by Dr. Gow that has subjected the university to significant reputational harm. His actions were abhorrent,' Rothman said.

Rothman said they have hired an outside law firm to investigate the matter.

Gow and Wilson hosted adult film stars Danny Mountain and Mia Malkova on a recent episode. Gow said he thought the board would be understanding because of their values on free speech

In one episode they hosted adult film star Sofie Marie. Gow said he still plans to return to the school in the fall to teach

'Dr. Joe Gow has shown a reckless disregard for the role he was entrusted with at UW-La Crosse to serve students, faculty and staff, and the campus community,' said UW System Regent President Karen Walsh.

'The outrage over his behavior is evidenced by the unanimous vote by the UW Board of Regents to terminate him as chancellor. We are alarmed, and disgusted, by his actions, which were wholly and undeniably inconsistent with his role as chancellor.'

Gow, who is La Crosses second-longest serving chancellor, said his content is protected by free speech and no university property or funds were used to create them.

'There's nothing said about the University of Wisconsin; there's nothing said about the chancellor (on the videos). So someone else would have to make those associations. And then someone would have to say those are problematic,' said Gow.

In 2018, Gow was denied a pay raise after he paid porn star Nina Hartley $5,000 from his discretionary fund to speak at the La Crosse campus.

During the 90-minute address, Hartley told students it's acceptable to enjoy pornography, not enjoy it or be confused by it. She also stressed that pornography is fantasy.

Gow later apologized for the 'sensationalist' media attention Hartley's appearance had attracted and said he was naive about the possibility that her profession would overwhelm her message. He also personally reimbursed the school for the $5,000.

The Milwaukee Journal Sentinel reported Gow and Wilson have six videos on OnlyFans that feature adult film stars, according to descriptions of the videos.

In a recent cooking video, the couple had adult film star Lauren Phillips (right) as a guest. Their cooking account tells users to go to their OnlyFans page for 'explicit scenes'

The couple had adult film star Tyler Nixon (left) as a recent guest. The board of regents called Gow's actions 'abhorrent'

In 2018, Gow was denied a pay raise after he was in hot water for paying porn star Nina Hartley (pictured) $5,000 to speak on campus

The couple also appears on at least two other porn websites - PornHub and XHamster - and some videos have more than 200,000 views. All videos were posted in the last two months.

Some of the guest from their cooking channel include Lauren Phillips, Damon Dice, Tyler Nixon, Will Pounder, Danny Mountain and Mia Malkova.

Gow and Wilson reportedly published two books about their adult content under pseudonyms and describe themselves as executives from well-known institutions in the country.

In Monogamy with Benefits: How Porn Enriches Our Relationship, published in 2015, the couple said they are, 'fairly certain a scandal would ensue if our peers were to know about what weve been doing.'

'We think our sex is beautiful and have no qualms at all about other people watching us make love. But our establishment colleagues likely would be shocked to watch us complete the full carnal process  particularly with professional porn stars  and were fairly certain wed be shunned in our community.'
The lifeless body of a teenager was recovered from the frigid waters of the Rideau River in Ottawa, Canada, after four pals fell through the ice on Wednesday evening.

Ahmed Haitham, 17, was confirmed dead, a 15-year-old girl and a 17-year-old boy were rushed to hospital, and a 16-year-old boy remains missing after hours of overnight search efforts.

The tragedy unfolded when four companions fell through the ice near Nicholls Island Road around 9.30 pm, approximately 12 miles from downtown Ottawa.

The teenagers had planned to skate on the river, but the ice had been steadily melting due to warmer-than-average weather, as temperatures rose above freezing for the past week.

Two of the youths were successfully rescued and transported to the Children's Hospital of Eastern Ontario to receive treatment for mild hypothermia.

The lifeless body of a teenager was recovered from the frigid waters of the Rideau River in Ottawa, Canada , after four pals fell through the ice on Wednesday evening

Ahmed Haitham (pictured), 17, was confirmed dead, a 15-year-old girl and a 17-year-old boy were rushed to hospital, and a 16-year-old boy remains missing after hours of overnight search efforts

The tragedy unfolded when four companions fell through the ice near Nicholls Island Road (pictured) around 9.30pm, approximately 12 miles from downtown Ottawa

The Rideau River flows 91 miles from Upper Rideau Lake in Eastern Ontario to the Ottawa River. The body was found near Nicholls Island Road, approximately 12 miles from downtown Ottawa

Meanwhile, a police diver was sent to the hospital for what paramedics described as 'a diving-related emergency.'

Ottawa police said in the early morning of Thursday: 'Ottawa Police Service members and emergency crews were called to Nicolls Island Road late last night after reports of four youths who had fallen through ice on the Rideau River,'

The 'water search in very difficult conditions' continued through the night, they added. At the time. two more youths were still missing and believed to be in the water.

'Police divers later recovered the body of one of the missing youths deceased,' according to the authorities.

'The search for the second youth had to be paused overnight and will commence this morning,' they added.

The Rideau River flows 91 miles from Upper Rideau Lake in Eastern Ontario to the Ottawa River.

The famous Rideau Canal, situated upstream along the river, transforms into the worlds largest skating rink during winter.

The skating season is weather-dependent but typically runs from January to early March. The Skateway is currently closed.

Haitham, the youngest of four children in his family, was a month away from turning 18

The famous Rideau Canal, situated upstream along the river, transforms into the worlds largest skating rink during winter

The 'water search in very difficult conditions' continued through the night, police said. At the time. two more youths were still missing and believed to be in the water

The 'water search in very difficult conditions' continued through the night, they added. At the time. two more youths were still missing and believed to be in the water

Haitham, the youngest of four children in his family, was a month away from turning 18, as reported by CBC.

The teenager's father, Haitham Mohammed, and aunt Faten Ataallah were at the scene and waiting to see his body.

The family moved to Canada as refugees from Iraq a decade ago, Ataallah said. 'They were excited to start a new beginning.'

Ataallah said Haitham hoped to attend a post-secondary police foundations program after he graduate from the John McRae Secondary School in February next year.

On Wednesday afternoon, Haitham left the family home to go skating with three friends but never came back.

'We were all screaming,' Ataallah said. "It's really hard. We can't describe. This is the worst feeling ever.'

Meanwhile, a police diver was sent to hospital for what paramedics described as 'a diving-related emergency'

On Wednesday afternoon, Haitham left the family home to go skating with three friends but never came back

A GoFundMe page has been established for Haitham and has raised more than $8,000 Canadian dollars as of Thursday afternoon.

'Ahmed Haitham was a teenager who was graduating in February 2024, he had aspirations to become a police man and was even being recruited,' the fundraiser page reads.

'Only a few nights after a green Christmas, the ice had been melting due to warmer weather,' it says.

'When he arrived at the river and put on his skates, he only took a few steps on the ice and unfortunately the ice broke.

'Ahmed and his friends fought for their lives wearing heavy winter pants and jackets, with heavy skates trying to swim in pitch black darkness.

'Ahmed was an amazing swimmer and he could hold his own and save someone as well. In the cold water fighting to save his friends and his own life.

'Unfortunately, Ahmed and one of his friends didn't not make it out.

'Ahmed's parents are in still in shock and calling his name asking "oh Ahmed where have you went",' the organizer wrote.

'As you know rising costs, high mortgages/rent and grocery prices expensive. The family needs your help in this difficult time that every Canadian is going through with our economy.'
A Youtuber found dead amid an investigation into images of child abuse in Brazil took his own life, a coroner has ruled.

Paulo Cezar Goulart Siqueira, known as PC Siqueira to his two million subscribers, died on Wednesday afternoon aged 37.

It is believed that the social media performer was found dead by his ex-girlfriend, Maria Watanabe, in his Sao Paulo apartment.

According to local media reports, the distressed ex-partner begged for neighbours to help her as they called the police.

Coroners have recorded his death as a suicide and it came just two days after he posted a heartfelt message on Instagram.

Youtuber PC Siqueira reportedly took his own life while he was facing a child porn investigation in Brazil

Paulo Cezar Goulart Siqueira, known as PC Siqueira to his two million subscribers, died on Wednesday afternoon at 37

He shared a video revealing to his 516,000 Instagram followers that he was spending his Christmas alone as he has very few friends.

PC Siqueria captioned the 30-second clip: 'Merry Christmas to you who don't have a family, don't have many friends or don't have money to party. You are not alone!'

Nearly 50,000 people liked the post.

His death comes as the internet star, known for social media content, presenting work, and comic book colouring, was facing an investigation for child pornography after the alleged leak of private messages in 2020.

Brazil's Public Security Secretariat had previously confirmed on December, 6: 'The case continues to be investigated by the 4th Pedophilia Repression Police Station of the Department of Homicide and Personal Protection (DHPP).

'Details about the progress of the investigation will be preserved, due to the secrecy decreed by the Court.'

PC Siqueira denied the accusation, according to local media.

According to local media, Siqueira was accused of sharing sick photos of a six-year-old child on June 10, 2020.

It is believed that the social media performer was found dead by his ex-girlfriend, Maria Watanabe, in his Sao Paulo apartment

Coroners have recorded his death as a suicide and it came just two days after he posted a heartfelt message on Instagram

It is believed that an anonymous X account released phone screen recordings where he could supposedly be seen talking to a friend about what was alleged.

He reportedly deactivated his YouTube channel after providing a statement to police, Brazilian newspaper O Globo reported.

On June, 10, 2022 a Twitter profile published an exchange of messages allegedly involving PC Siqueira.

In the conversation, he reports that he received images of a naked child.

After the prints were released, PC Siqueira took to social media to state that it was not true, accordingly to local reports.

'I was taken by surprise when I saw my name being used by a criminal organization, which tried to accuse me of something terrible, which I never committed or would commit', wrote PC Siqueria.

Then, the alleged YouTube reportedly released audios stating that he 'must have a trace' of pedophilia were shared on the internet.

'It's very bizarre, because, before yesterday, I was accused of racism. Now, I'm going to be the pedophile, because... Yeah, I kind of have a trace of that, because I looked at a girl's ass and, in amidst the situation, the virtual sex, that made me arroused', reports Globo.

He shared a video revealing to his 516,000 Instagram followers that he was spending his Christmas alone as he has very few friends

His death comes as the internet star, known for social media content, presenting work, and comic book colouring, was facing an investigation for child pornography after the alleged leak of private messages in 2020

After the audio was released by journalist Erlan Bastos, PC deleted the message from Instagram, but the statement remained on the YouTuber's Facebook page in 2020.

Caue Moura and Rafinha Bastos, who participated in the Ilha dos Barbados channel with PC Siqueira, announced the cancellation of the project.

They said: 'we are perplexed and disappointed'.

On June, 15, 2020 PC made a post in his Instagram stories in which he quotes an excerpt from the song 'You want it darker', by Leonard Cohen. 'You want darker, we kill the flame' (You wants more darkness, we put out the flame).

In 2021, the Superintendence of the Technical-Scientific Police of the Public Security Secretariat of Sao Paulo reportedly said it found no evidence to incriminate him for paedophilia.

It is believed that the investigation was under judicial secrecy before he took his own life.

Firefighters allegedly saved him from a suicide attempt in March this year.

In an online statement to his fans shared the following day, he said: 'Dear friends and enemies: yesterday I had a manic episode that got out of control, I exposed myself and my partner wrongly, and was followed by a new suicide attempt.

'I was rescued by the fire department and I am truly grateful for the special kindness of the sergeant who accompanied me. I'm fine and safe. Maria [Watanabe, his then girlfriend] is also safe and well.'

For confidential support call Samaritans on 116123 or visit www.samaritans.
A pilot was forced to battle wicked winds caused by Storm Gerrit before making an 'insane' landing at Heathrow Airport.

Video shows how the American Airlines flight from Los Angeles was met with heavy gusts and high speed winds as the pilot tried to land in London yesterday.

The Boeing 777 drifted from the crosswinds as it approached the tarmac. The plane appeared to wobble and shake as the wheels neared the ground.

Big Jet TV planespotter Jerry Dyer, who shared the footage online, applauded the pilot for tackling the unstable landing. He tweeted: 'Strong, gusting crosswind elements catching-out even the most seasoned pilots.'

The pilot's impressive landing came as Storm Gerrit battered the UK, causing a 'localised tornado' in Greater Manchester overnight and wreaking havoc on the nation's travel network.

An American Airlines flight from Los Angeles was met with heavy gusts and high speed winds as the pilot tried to land in London yesterday

A pilot was forced to battle wicked winds caused by Storm Gerrit before making an 'insane' landing at Heathrow Airport

The Boeing 777 drifted from the crosswinds as it approached the tarmac. The plane appeared to wobble and shake as the wheels neared the ground

Mr Dyer, who went viral last year after documenting the battles pilots faced while landing at Heathrow during Storm Eunice, says yesterday's landing was caught during their livestream at the airport.

He posted the one-minute video on X and it has already been viewed more than 2.3 million times. Throughout the clip, the aviation enthusiast can be heard reacting in disbelief as the plane struggles to land.

'The vortex is coming off the winds, folks,' he said as the plane neared the tarmac. He then screams 'oh, oh, oh, stop it' as the Boeing 777 rocks back and forth.

Commenting on the clip, he added: 'Wouldn't have liked being the NFP on this one.'

Mr Dyer, the son of an airline captain from Sussex, captivated the nation last year with his stomach-churning footage during Storm Eunice at Heathrow Airport.

Now, YouTube subscribers from all over the globe pay around 4-a-month for two live shows a week, commentaries from airports all over the UK and Europe, with access to exclusive footage and invites to fan-only events.

He even made a name for himself outside of the UK with viewers in Micronesia, New Zealand and Alaska all tuning in.

He also alleged last year that he had been in talks with NASA about filming a rocket launch at the Kennedy Space Center in Florida. However, it is unclear if that came to fruition.

The pilot battled crosswinds during landing at Heathrow Airport yesterday

'The vortex is coming off the winds, folks,' aviation enthusiast Jerry Dyer said as the plane neared the tarmac. He then screams 'oh, oh, oh, stop it' as the Boeing 777 rocks back and forth

Big Jet TV's latest video came as Storm Gerrit brought wind gusts of 80mph and heavy rain to the UK yesterday, causing delays to road, rail, air and ferry transport.

Eighteen British Airways flights were cancelled due to air traffic control restrictions.

The storm also wreaked havoc on the rail network on Wednesday with a string of train operators - including ScotRail, LNER and Avanti West Coast - suspending and terminating some services, as well as advising customers not to travel.

Scotland's rail network experienced widespread cancellations and delays with a train driver's cabin hit by a falling tree. No-one was injured.

ScotRail has suspended multiple train services until further notice to allow for safety inspections to be carried out.

Avanti West Coast, which operates services on the West Coast Main Line, said this morning that a tree falling on overhead wires between Rugby and Lichfield Trent Valley means some lines are blocked, extending journey times for services from London Euston towards the North West, as trains are diverted through the Midlands.

Ferry operator DFDS said its sailings between Dover and France are delayed due to strong winds in the Channel. Passengers are being advised to check in as normal and are being put onto the first available sailing.

The storm also brought what police have called a 'localised tornado' to Stalybridge, Tameside, damaging around 100 properties.

An aerial view of homes destroyed by last night's tornado in Stalybridge, Greater Manchester

An aerial view of homes destroyed by last night's tornado in Stalybridge, Greater Manchester

A piece of roof slate embedded in a car bumper following the localized tornado in the north of England

The main A85 trunk road at Glen Ogle was yesterday down to single carriage way with the southbound lane closed due to heavy snow and HGV's stuck on the steep incline

Destruction caused by the tornado after it hit Stalybridge in Greater Manchester last night

Shocking video footage shows Storm Gerrit tearing apart a wind turbine in Ayrshire, Scotland

Debris from the lone wind turbine was flung into the seemingly empty field surrounding it

The supercell thunderstorm caused power outages and widespread travel disruption. No injuries were reported but many residents were forced to leave their homes.

Tameside Council said about 100 properties were evacuated after the 'mini tornado' hit areas of Carrbrook and Millbrook.

The same type of supercell thunderstorm is moving across northwest England today, the Met Office has warned,

Forecasters say the thunderstorm is moving east across Morecambe Bay and may bring hail, frequent lightning and gusty winds to parts of Lancashire.

The Met Office has reported that as of this afternoon, the 'worst' of Storm Gerrit had cleared away.
They are said to have served the man behind her 'at least nine' drinks in increasingly large glasses after becoming fed-up with his repeated orders

The lawsuit, filed in Colorado federal court, names the Chicago-based carrier as a defendant, and alleges wrongdoing on the part of first-class flight's attendants

A woman has claimed she was sexually assaulted by a fellow United Airlines passenger after he was plied with at least nine vodka-orange juices.

The flight from Orlando to Denver happened in October of last year, and is now facing scrutiny after the unnamed 51-year-old filed suit Wednesday.

The lawsuit names the Chicago-based carrier as a defendant, and alleges wrongdoing on the part of flight staff.

They are said to have served the man next to her 'at least nine servings of alcohol' in increasingly large glasses just before the alleged assault - after becoming fed-up with the first-class rider's repeated drink requests.

Six screwdrivers were consumed in total, though several of them were doubles, the suit states. An hour in, the unnamed man allegedly initiated contact with the woman - before eventually fondling her breasts and crotch.

A woman has claimed she was sexually assaulted by a man on a 2022 United Airlines flight after he was plied with at least nine vodka-orange juices by flight staff. Pictured: an unrelated United Airlines Boeing 787-9 takes off from Los Angeles international Airport on July 30, 2022

The plaintiff - a frequent flyer who had been seated in first class - seeks damages to the tune of at least $75,000 'for injury she allegedly sustained as a passenger' on the United flight, the suit states, and names the flight in question as UA 1520.

The plane took off from Orlando, Florida, on October 2, 2022, the filing further reveals, before heading to its destination of Denver.

A section reads: 'This action arises from a series of sexual assaults of [the plaintiff] on a United flight, leaving [her] cowering in fear in her window seat for hours while the assaults continued.

'During the flight,' it continues, 'United served the passenger seated next to Ms. Doe and blocking the way to the aisle [referred to as the 'Assailant'], large quantities of liquor'.

It concludes: 'The foreseeable and natural consequence of United's failure to protect its passenger is that Ms. Doe suffered an extremely traumatic series of sexual assaults leaving her with post-traumatic stress disorder and other severe injuries.'

It then maps out how the alleged assault took place.

'[The plaintiff], 51 years old, is a frequent traveler,' it begins.

'On October 2, 2022, she boarded an early-afternoon flight from Orlando to Denver, flight number UAI520.

'She sat in window seat IA, while the Assailant sat next to her in the aisle seat, 1B.'

Asking for at least $75,000 in damages, the suit accuses flight staffers of serving 'at least nine' drinks-worth of screwdrivers - a cocktail containing a mix of vodka and orange juice - in increasingly large glasses after becoming fed-up with the unnamed man's repeated requests

The account goes on: 'When seated and before the airplane took off, the Assailant and [the plaintiff] each had one alcoholic beverage.

'For approximately the first 30 minutes of the flight, and prior to the Assailant becoming highly intoxicated, [the plaintiff] had a pleasant conversation with the Assailant,' it states.

However, once in-flight, that quickly changed, the complaint claims.

That's when the assailant, seated along the aisle, began to 'request drink after drink' - specifically, vodka and orange juice.

The orders, attorney's for the alleged victim wrote, came 'each time United's flight attendant for the first-class cabin walked by.'

The suit goes on to note how 'at one point, the Assailant's many requests for drinks [may have] caused United's flight attendant to grow frustrated.

'To avoid having to continue bringing him drinks so frequently,' it continues, the unnamed female staffer 'began giving the Assailant multiple servings of alcohol at a time, what she called "doubles," in larger glasses.

In total, the complaint states, the plaintiff counted 'at least three standard drinks and three doubles, for a total of at least nine servings of alcohol'.

It then adds that the true extent of the alcohol consumption could still 'possibly [be] more, considering the size and strength of each cocktail.

The orders, attorney's for the alleged victim wrote, came 'each time United's flight attendant for the first-class cabin walked by'

The suit goes on the describe the alleged assailant's first inappropriate contact with the plaintiff, when she got up to use the restroom less than an hour into the roughly four-hour flight.

When she did, 'the Assailant put his hand on her back,' the lawsuit claims - contact that was 'non-consensual' and made the plaintiff 'afraid to get up out of her seat again for fear of getting groped.

Then, about an hour in, the woman 'felt something on her leg', only to realize 'it was the hand of the now highly intoxicated Assailant.'

Upon making this realization, the traveler lifted it his hand away, spurring the man to 'again put his hand on [the plaintiff's] leg without her permission.'

The unwanted act allegedly led the woman to again order her alleged attack to stop, and once again 'remove the Assailant's hand.'

The filing states she placed it at the man's side 'to make clear that the touching was not welcome and needed to stop' - to which the man allegedly responded, 'I know, no means no.'

'But, as is explained below,' the complaint contends, 'he continued his series of assaults undeterred.'

The suit claims that since the flight attendant was or is a United employee, United is vicariously liable for the conduct described in the complaint

'The Assailant would not stop touching the plaintiff,' the suit goes on to assert, claiming the man's behavior continued and eventually escalated as the flight continued.

'This initially included touching the side of [the plaintiff's] leg, the top of her leg, [her] inner thigh, and finally digging his hand into [her] crotch, all the while being told to stop,' the complaint states.

At another point, the accused assaulter allegedly grabbed the woman's 'bare foot and began to rub it,' the filing further alleges.

In response, the plaintiff 'yet again' told the man - who is not named as a defendant - 'no,' before pulling her foot away.

As the assaults ramped up and continued, the plaintiff - a resident of Colorado - 'cowered as close to the window as possible,' the lawsuit alleges.

At a point, it claims, the assailant reached under the alleged victim's shawl, started touching her back, and asked to give her a back massage.

'She refused,' the filing claims, alleging the woman 'moved her elbow up' to again stop the alleged assailant.

Still, the suit states, the displays 'didn't work.'

The man allegedly responded by reaching 'up under [the plaintiff's] shirt and [touching] her directly on her back.

She, in turn, responded by 'jolting away', and pulling the Assailant's hand out from under her shirt, her lawyers claim - before going on to describe how even after all this, 'the Assailant would not stop tormenting' his alleged victim.

' He started reaching over [the plaintiff] to adjust the window shade. He did this three times, rubbing [her] breasts each time,' a section reads.

Each time, the alleged victim would push the man's arm away, the filing insists.

'Finally, with about an hour left in the flight, and on information and belief in airspace over Colorado, the Assailant reached over [the plaintiff] and put his mouth over her mouth, attempting to kiss her,' the complaint continues.

'The Assailant's face touched [the plaintiff] as she pushed him away in disgust. She then loudly stated: "You need to stop this now!"'

The assaults are said to have stopped there, and when the flight finally landed in Denver, the victim allegedly waited for all of the other passengers in the first-class cabin to depart the plane before getting off herself, out of 'fear of being further assaulted if she were to try to step into the aisle.'

The suit goes on to state that while the woman never sought help from flight staff, 'flight attendants made no effort to check on her or determine whether the Assailant's state of intoxication was creating problems or difficulties... despite having served the Assailant at least nine servings of alcohol.

It adds that the 51-year-old remained petrified as the plane proceeded across Colorado to Denver International Airport, and has since suffered from bouts of 'significant depression, anxiety, [and] post-traumatic stress.'

Her lawyers argue that since United's flight attendant was or is a United employee, 'United is vicariously liable for her conduct... because she was acting within the course and scope of her job responsibilities.

The airline - whose slogan for decades has been 'Fly the friendly skies' - declined to comment due to the pending litigation.
The owner of a Palestinian restaurant in New York City says he's receiving two death threats a minute after printing the phrase 'from the river to the sea' on menus.

Abdul Elenani, 30, who owns Ayat eatery with five branches across the city, said he's been bombarded with bloodcurdling threats since the opening of his latest outlet in Brooklyn five days ago, after some locals claimed the menu slogan was anti-Semitic.

Along with his Palestinian wife, Ayat Masoud, 33, Elenani launched the first eponymous restaurant in October 2020. He was on the way to report the messages they had received as a hate crime when he stopped to speak with DailyMail.com.

'I'm getting probably 10 threats every five minutes,' Elenani said. 'I'm contacting the police and I'm going to file for a hate crime.'

The messages range from people threatening to 'blow up' the restaurants, to vaguer menaces telling the owners 'the Jews are coming to annihilate you' while calling them 'rapists' and 'terrorists'. Many were too vulgar to publish.

Abdul Elenani, 30, who owns Ayat eatery with three branches across the city, said he's been bombarded with an average of 'two threats per minute' following the opening of his latest outlet in Brooklyn five days ago. (Pictured: Ayat owners Abdul Elenani and Ayat Masoud)

The owner of a Palestinian restaurant in New York City has said he's been flooded with death threats after word spread about the 'from the river to the sea' slogan on their menu. (Pictured: the latest branch of Ayat, which opened in Ditmas Park, Brooklyn, five days ago)

Elenani has added a paragraph underneath 'from the river to the sea' on his new menus to define what the slogan meant to Palestinian people like his wife and her family

Many Jews - and anti-Semitism watchdog the Anti-Defamation League - consider 'from the river to the sea' to be an anti-Jewish phrase because it appears to call for the violent destruction of Israel.

The full phrase is 'From the river to the sea, Palestine will be free,' and refers to the Mediterranean Sea and River Jordan, which sit on either side of Israel, the West Bank and Gaza.

Dahlia Scheitzer, a resident in the neighborhood, previously said that while the business may claim 'they're just advocating for freedom', she felt 'they're poking the hornet's nest by using the phrase and they know what they are doing.'

Asked about claims he was being more provocative by including the slogan than he was letting on, Elenani countered by saying that many Jewish people had also voiced support for the restaurant. He shared some of their messages on his business' social media.

Ayat's owners previously told the New York Times they had lost a few Jewish friends who became uncomfortable with their restaurant, and some of the recent threats appear to come from believers of the faith.

Elenani said he was worried about the safety of his staff, and had considered removing 'from the river to the sea' from their menus to soothe the rising tensions.

But he decided against it, reasoning that the phrase had been 'misinterpreted'. He added that Palestinians and Muslims should not have to 'constantly re-define ourselves'.

'We have always been misunderstood, we have always been called terrorists,' he said. 'In reality, we are not bad people. We are peace loving.'

Instead, Elenani opted to add a paragraph underneath to define what the slogan meant to Palestinian people like his wife and her family.

Just below 'from the river to the sea', the new menu reads: 'This mantra stands for Palestinians to have equal rights and freedoms in their own country.

'In no way does this advocate any kind of violence. It signifies peace and freedom.'

Elaborating, Elenani said: 'It literally means freedom for Palestinians. That's the simple meaning of it. We created the slogan and the mantra and that's what it means.

'In the new paragraph I'm making it clear what we as Palestinians mean as a community. We are calling for basic rights, nothing else.'

Speaking about the ongoing bombardment of Palestine by Israel, he added: 'Over 20,000 people - women and children - have been killed in Gaza.'

Israel began their onslaught after Hamas terrorists massacred 1,200 Israelis on October 7 in a surprise attack - the worst atrocity carried out against the Jewish people since the Holocaust.

Along with his Palestinian wife, Ayat Masoud, 33, Elenani launched the first eponymous restaurant in October 2020. (Pictured: the interior of the newest restaurant in Ditmas Park)

Ayat's owners previously told the New York Times they had lost a few Jewish friends who became uncomfortable with their restaurant, and some of the recent threats appear to come from believers of the faith. (Pictured: the interior of the newest restaurant in Ditmas Park)

A menu at Ayat's Manhattan restaurant in the East Village reading 'down with the occupation'

The latest branch of Ayat opened in Ditmas Park, which is among the most affluent areas of Brooklyn, while the borough-at-large one of the most heavily Jewish populated regions on earth.

Many local Jews have professed their fondness for the restaurant and branded it a very welcoming place to have dinner.

'You know how much I love Ayat and as a Jewish person have NEVER felt any hostility visiting any of your locations!' one woman wrote.

'Unfortunately it doesn't matter how much you explain, those committed to misunderstand you will continue to do so.'

'As a Jew, I want to say I am sorry about the vile messages you have received,' another person wrote.

'I will be encouraging all of my friends - who, like me, are not vile racists, and who support the Palestinian cause - to stop by your business.'

Elenani added that the graphic designer who created his menus, including penning the phrase 'from the river to the sea', is also Jewish.

Hania Khattab, 19, who waitresses at the newest branch of Ayat, told DailyMail.com she fears for her life after seeing the bomb threats sent to Elenani's business Instagram.

She said servers come from a mix of Hispanic, Arab, and Turkish descents, along with a Palestinian chef who makes traditional food from the country, and that patrons span all religions and cultures in the diverse neighborhood.

Elenani also pointed out that 'from the river to the sea' has been written proudly across his Bay Ridge restaurant walls for three years, and no-one has complained about it.

Hania Khattab, 19, who waitresses at the newest branch of Ayat, told DailyMail.com she fears for her life after seeing the bomb threats sent to Elenani's business Instagram

Elenani said he was worried about the safety of his staff, and had considered removing 'from the river to the sea' from their menus to soothe the rising tensions - but he decided against it because he does not want his identity to be censored

Coined in the 1960's, the phrase refers to the Jordan River and the Mediterranean Sea which sandwich both Israel and Palestine. It has been seen as increasingly divisive since the horrific October 7 Hamas incursion into Israel which killed 1,200 people.

In November, U.S. Rep. Rashida Tlaib was censured by the House after using the slogan - which House Democratic Leader Hakeem Jeffries condemned as being 'widely understood as calling for the complete destruction of Israel'.

Chanted in pro-Palestine rallies from Washington to London, it's been co-opted by some as a call for a single state in the Israel-Palestine region.

The phrase is also contentious because it appeared in the Hamas charter, and over the years the terror group had adopted it to drive its claim to land spanning Israel, the Gaza Strip and the West Bank.

'Palestine is ours from the river to the sea and from the south to the north,' Khaled Mashaal, the group's former leader, said in a 2012 speech in Gaza celebrating the 25th anniversary of the founding of Hamas.

'There will be no concession on any inch of the land.'
An intense storm surge pounded the Northern California coastline on Thursday and is expected to span across the state

A massive storm surge has pounded the California coastline and has sparked evacuations in the Bay Area and broke through a seawall in Ventura.

Evacuations have been ordered across Northern California, specifically in the Bay Area, as dangerously high surf and storm surges pound the coastlines with waves expected to reach a height of 33 feet.

Residents have been urged to 'leave immediately' as massive waves also rocked the area of Stinson Beach, located in Marin County on Thursday.

Calles Pinos, Pradero, Sierra, Onda Resaca, Ribera, sections of Calle Del Arroyo, Embarcadero and the Seadrift community have all been issued evacuation warnings.

Santa Cruz county has also been advised to evacuate and avoid the coast. Pajaro Dunes has been issued a warning and has been told to prepare to vacate the area as high tides and large breaking waves have started to consume the area.

Coast flooding engulfed the shore in Santa Cruz on Thursday a massive storm surge pounded the coastline

Construction vehicles are seen moving debris out of the way as a black Audi attempts to make its way through flooded streets in Pacifica

TONIGHT: Pro surfers have traveled from all over the world to ride massive & powerful waves at Northern CA's legendary Mavericks. The wave height is forecasted to peak from 6am to 6pm on Thursday. @NWSBayArea predicts waves could reach up to 30 ft.@abc7newsbayarea pic.twitter.com/gsGO9O78GZ  LaurenABC7 (@LaurenABC7) December 28, 2023

The National Weather Service has issued a high surf warning that is in effect until 3am Friday. Waves are predicted to reach 28 to 33 feet high on west-facing beaches.

They also advised residents that these conditions are life-threatening and that they should 'stay out of and away from the water', along with jetties and rocks.

They also advised people to make sure not to turn their backs on the water as 'sneaker waves' - occasional much bigger waves that can run far up the sand and wash someone off a beach are likely.

The surge is expected to be caused from two separate storm systems. One is directed at North California, while the other is set to hit the entire Golden State with massive rainfall.

All Los Angeles beaches have also been put under a high surf and coastal flooding advisory. The NWS reported that waves in Southern California could reach seven to 12 feet, along with dangerous rip currents.

Catalina Island, Hermosa Beach, Manhattan Beach and Palos Verdes Beach are all under strict advisory as well.

Coastal flooding and high surf advisories are expected to stay in place in Orange County until 2 am on Monday.

Monstrous waves nearly reached homes in Malibu as the powerful surf rolled up on shore

My pal who lives near the beach in Ventura just sent me this. Profanity warning but seems justifiable. pic.twitter.com/QC3n5ymEzG  Scott Wilson (@PostScottWilson) December 28, 2023

Excess water that is almost soap-like has built up on the land as roads have closed and residents try to navigate the harsh conditions.

'I thought the water was going to come get me,' Brooklyn De Los Reyes, 14, told the San Francisco Chronicle.

Highly-skilled surfers have not let the dangerous water conditions scare them as some of them have jumped into the action to ride the gigantic waves.

Southern California is expected to be showered with light rain over the weekend, The National Weather Service reported.

In Hawaii, the weather service forecast surf rising to 30 to 40ft along north-facing shores and 18 to 22 ft along west-facing shores of five islands.

Honolulu Ocean Safety lifeguards rescued 20 people along the islands famed North Shore on Wednesday and were busy with thousands of 'preventative actions', spokeswoman Shayne Enright said.

"This time of year produces incredible surf but it can also be very dangerous," she said.

The dangerous surf could also cause surges that could hit coastal properties and roadways, the weather service warned.

Large waves are seen crashing along Beach Drive in Aptos, California on Thursday as the stormy Pacific Ocean pushed in on the shoreline

A man attempted to push his SUV out of a flooded street in Santa Barbara on December 21

Onlookers watched as storm clouds quickly swept over the Golden Gate Bridge on December 19 as they walked their dogs

Just last week parts of SoCal were hit with unusually heavy rain, thunderstorms and the chance of a small tornado.

The rainfall was the heaviest that the state has seen since Hurricane Hillary hit in August. The system barreled through north-northwest at speeds of 25 mph, according to the National Hurricane Center.

Two people from Mexico lost their lives in the storm, as one of the victim's vehicles was swept away near Santa Rosalia, after catastrophic flooding swallowed parts of Mexico's Baja California Peninsula.

The tropical storm was initially a Category 4 Pacific Hurricane before it entered Central America on August 12.

It then dwindled down to a tropical storm once it hit the coast of Manzanillo, Colima - a city in Mexico - on August 16.

It went on to strengthen and become a hurricane again before it weakened once more as it hit California.
Colorado Supreme Court is using clause 3 of the 14th Amendment to say Trump is disqualified from running because he engaged in an insurrection on January 6

Donald Trump is back on the presidential ballot in Colorado after an appeal put a stay on the ruling that removed him under an 'insurrection' clause of the U.S. Constitution.

The Colorado Republican Party filed on Wednesday asking the U.S. Supreme Court to look at the lower court's ruling that disqualified Trump from running on the presidential ballot in the state due to his role in the January 6 Capitol riot.

Colorado Secretary of State Jena Griswold announced that Trump will for the time being remain on the ballot, which goes to print on January 5  unless the Supreme Court affirms the lower court's ruling or otherwise declines to take on the appeal.

The 4-3 ruling earlier this month said Trump would not appear on the state's primary ballot, according to a 155-year-old 14th Amendment clause that bans those from office who 'engaged in insurrection.'

Although Colorado's 10 Electoral College votes are unlikely to go to the Republican candidate anyway in the general election  and the state isn't highly important in the GOP primary  the ruling could set precedent for a slew of other states looking to remove Trump from the ballot.

Donald Trump will remain on the presidential primary ballot in Colorado for the time being as the GOP appeal puts Colorado's ruling on pause that disqualified the former president from running due to engagement in 'insurrection'

Colorado Secretary of State Jena Griswold (pictured on July 8, 2022) announced that Trump will remain on the ballot, but voiced her backing of her state's Supreme Court ruling, saying: 'The Colorado Supreme Court got it right... I urge the U.S. Supreme Court to act quickly given the upcoming presidential primary election'

The Michigan Supreme Court, however, already ruled after Colorado to leave the ex-president on the ballot for the state's primary  and the midwest swing state is much more important to clinching the White House in 2024.

Louisiana became the latest state to see a lawsuit filed attempting to keep Trump off the ballot related to the January 6 , 2021 Capitol riot.

'Donald Trump engaged in insurrection and was disqualified under the Constitution from the Colorado Ballot,' Griswold said in a press release.

'The Colorado Supreme Court got it right. This decision is now being appealed,' she continued. 'I urge the U.S. Supreme Court to act quickly given the upcoming presidential primary election.'

The Colorado Supreme Court put a stay  or pause  on its ruling until January 4 to allow time for the appeal process.

Former Trump attorney Jay Sekulow (pictured, left) filed a petition for Colorado's Republican Party appealing to the U.S. Supreme Court the Colorado state Supreme Court's 4-3 ruling to keep Donald Trump off the 2024 ballot

Former Trump attorney Jay Sekulow's conservative American Center for Law & Justice filed a petition Wednesday that would overturn Colorado's controversial decision.

'We've been saying from the day we took this case that this was one that would end up at the U.S. Supreme Court,' Seklow wrote in a statement on the filing along with his son Jordan.

'Today, we just filed a petition for certiorari to the U.S. Supreme Court to overturn the Colorado Supreme Court's dangerously flawed twisting of the 14th Amendment to ban President Trump from the ballot,' wrote the father-son duo, who are representing Colorado's GOP.

'This is the most important case we have ever taken on,' they added. 'Because if we lose our right to vote, we lose our constitutional republic.'

'We expect this case to move very quickly, and we will keep you updated on its progress.'

The first impact of the appeal is to extend the stay of the 4-3 ruling from Colorado's highest court. This puts the decision on pause until January 4  the day before the state's primary ballots are due at the printer  or until an appeal to the U.S. Supreme Court is finished, whichever comes first.

Trump says he also still plans to appeal the ruling to the nation's highest court.

The Supreme Court has never ruled on Section 3 of the 14th Amendment, which was added after the Civil War to prevent former Confederates from returning to government.

The clause states that anyone who swore an oath to 'support' the constitution and then 'engaged in insurrection' against it cannot hold government office  but the section specifically mentions several offices without directly naming the presidency.

The Colorado high court ruled that applies to Trump after he encouraged his supporters to engage in the January 6, 2021 attack on the U.S. Capitol. Rioters intended to stop the certification of President Joe Biden's victory in the 2020 presidential election when they descended on Washington, D.C.

Colorado's majority opinion is the first time in history that the 14th Amendment provision was used to block a presidential contender's campaign.

Four justices appointed by Democratic governors, Justices, Richard L. Gabriel, Melissa Hart, William W. Hood III and Monica Marquez, all circled, voted to disqualify the former president from Colorado's presidential primary ballot

'The Colorado Supreme Court has removed the leading Republican candidate from the primary and general ballots, fundamentally changing the course of American democracy,' the Colorado Republican Party's attorneys wrote.

The filing was posted on the website of a group run by Jay Sekulow, a former attorney for Trump representing the Colorado Republican Party who announced he was filing the appeal Wednesday.

Colorado Republican Party chairman Dave Williams confirmed the appeal was filed Wednesday.

The attorneys added: 'Unless the Colorado Supreme Court's decision is overturned, any voter will have the power to sue to disqualify any political candidate, in Colorado or in any other jurisdiction that follows its lead.'

'This will not only distort the 2024 presidential election but will also mire courts henceforth in political controversies over nebulous accusations of insurrection.'

The U.S. Supreme Court is expected to take the case, either after the Colorado GOP's appeal or Trump's own appeal.

If Trump ends up off the ballot in Colorado, it would have minimal effect on his campaign because he doesn't need the state, which he lost by 13 percentage points in 2020, to win the Electoral College in the presidential election. But it could open the door to courts or election officials striking him from the ballot in other must-win states.

Sean Grimsley, an attorney for the plaintiffs seeking to disqualify Trump in Colorado, said on a legal podcast last week that he hopes the nation's highest court hurries once it accepts the case, as he expects it will.

'We obviously are going to ask for an extremely accelerated timeline because of all the reasons I've stated, we have a primary coming up on Super Tuesday and we need to know the answer,' Grimsley said.

More than a dozen states, including Colorado, are scheduled to hold primaries March 5 on what is known as Super Tuesday  the largest single-day primary election contest.

To date, no other court has sided with those who have filed dozens of lawsuits to disqualify Trump under Section 3 of the 14th Amendment, nor has any election official been willing to remove him from the ballot unilaterally without a court order.

The Colorado Supreme Court claims Trump engaged in an insurrection and therefore under clause 3 of the 14th Amendment is disqualified from running for office  but Republicans argue the ex-president has never been charged with insurrection. Pictured: Trump supporters stormed the Capitol Building on January 6, 2021 to block Congress certifying Joe Biden's 2020 election win

The Colorado case was considered the one with the greatest chance of success because it was filed by a Washington D.C.-based liberal group with ample legal resources  and all seven of the Colorado high court justices were appointed by Democrats.

Still, three of those Democrat-appointed justices were against the decision.

The unprecedented constitutional questions in the case haven't split on neatly partisan lines with several prominent conservative legal theorists among the most vocal advocates of disqualifying Trump under Section 3.

Additionally, the half-dozen plaintiffs in the Colorado case are all Republican or unaffiliated voters.

Trump has been scathing all over his Truth Social account and at his rallies about the cases, calling them 'election interference.'

He continued that on Wednesday as he cheered a ruling earlier that day by the Michigan Supreme Court leaving him on the ballot, at least for the primary, in that state.

'The Colorado people have embarrassed our nation with what they did,' Trump said on Sean Hannity's radio show.
His body was recovered about two hours later

Witnesses saw the man fall off an inflatable kayak

A man has died after falling from an inflatable kayak several hundred metres from shore, following a spate of drownings across Australia.

His body was recovered near the Rosebud Pier at Rosebud, a town 61km south of Melbourne on Victoria's Mornington Peninsula, at about 5.30pm on Thursday.

The grim discovery came after reports the man was in trouble on the kayak about 300 to 800m from the shore of the popular beach.

Witnesses saw the man fall into the water at about 3.30pm with rescue crews recovering his body about two hours later.

The body of a man has been pulled from waters off Victoria's Mornington Peninsula after he was seen falling off an inflatable kayak (pictured, Rosebud Pier)

The grim discovery came after reports a man was in trouble on an inflatable kayak 300 to 800metres from the shore of the popular beach (pictured)

A Victoria Police spokesperson said a report will be prepared for the coroner.

Royal Life Saving Australia said some 30 people have drowned around the nation since the start of December, six more than this time last year.

A two-year-old girl died after being pulled unconscious from a backyard pool in Whian Whian, 25km north of Lismore in NSW, on Wednesday.

The child was given CPR by family members before paramedics rushed her to Lismore Base Hospital where she was unable to be saved.

A 35-year-old man drowned at the newly-opened Penrith Beach, about 66km from Sydney, while paddle-boarding outside of the patrol zone on Tuesday.

A major search operation including PolAir and police divers was launched with rescue crews making the grim discovery at about 6.15pm.

A man remains missing after he ran into rough surf to rescue his two younger brothers at Congo Beach, about 10km south of Moruya, on Tuesday afternoon.

Khattab Abu Haish, 19, managed to save one of his brothers while the other was able to get himself out of the water.

A land, air and sea search was suspended on Thursday after rescue crews were unable to locate the teenager on Wednesday.

On Monday, two men died at beaches on the Central Coast.

Khattab Abu Haish, 19, remains missing after he ran into rough surf to rescue his two younger brothers at Congo Beach, near Moruya, on Tuesday afternoon

Royal Life Saving Australia said some 30 people have drowned around the nation since the start of December, six more than this time last year

A man, aged in his 80s, was pulled from waters near Copacabana Beach, southeast of Gosford, while enjoying a beach day with his family.

He is understood to have suffered a medical episode while in the surf and could not be revived despite the efforts of lifeguards and paramedics.

Just a half-hour's drive west of Copacabana, at Umina Beach, a surfer died after being pulled from the water at about 11am.

RLSA chief Justin Scarr said the days between Christmas and New Year's Day are often the deadliest period for drowning.

'Whether you are holidaying, day tripping choosing a safe location to swim, where lifeguards are on duty is essential,' he said.

'Rivers, lakes, and unpatrolled beaches can be incredibly dangerous, especially for people with poor swimming skills.'
Ousted UPenn board chair Scott Bok has insisted that deep-pocketed donors shouldn't dictate how universities are run, after his college's president stood down amid fury over her handling of anti-Semitism.

Bok statement comes in the wake of influential alumni pulling their funds in protest of the university's handling of the anti-Semitism crisis on campus.

That saw former UPenn President Liz Magill quit earlier this month ahead of her anticipated firing, with Bok also standing down as donors closed their checkbooks. She'll remain as a tenured law professor at UPenn.

In an interview with Bloomberg TV, Bok emphasized that while donors are free to contribute to organizations as they see fit, they are not shareholders and should not have a 'loud voice' in the governance of universities.

'I think donors are absolutely free to give to whatever organizations they want or not to, and to withhold for any reason they choose to. But they are not shareholders, so I don't think they should have a particularly loud voice on how universities are run.'

'The biggest challenge has been that we haven't had any sort of crisis or controversy in a really long time,' Bok said this week to Bloomberg.

Ousted UPenn board chair Scott Bok made a bold stand, insisting that deep-pocketed donors shouldn't be calling the shots on how universities are run. He's pictured with Liz Magill, who stood down as president earlier this month over her handling of an anti-Semitism crisis

This fiery statement comes in the wake of influential alumni pulling their funds in protest of the university's handling of an anti-Semitism crisis on campus

Bok argued that trustees, typically focused on the financial health of institutions 'shouldn't overreact in this situation' and become 'involved' in academics.

'It's a small fraction of one percent of the people at these elite schools that are actively involved in a way that anybody would find troubling,' Bok said. 'We shouldn't fundamentally tear up a governance model that has worked for a very, very long time and made our universities the envy of the world because of a very short-term crisis.'

The resignations of Bok and Magill came amid mounting pressure from donors, alumni, and lawmakers, particularly concerning allegations of anti-Semitism on campus.

Magill was slated over her testimony to Congress about anti-Semitism, when she tried to invoke freedom of speech rules. Critics said the Ivy League college has been selective in its application of students' and faculty's First Amendment rights.

After the congressional hearing Bok, CEO of investment bank Greenhill & Co., faced criticism from Wall Street peers, led by Apollo Management Group Inc. CEO Marc Rowan.

Rowan, also head of Penn's business school board and a significant donor, advocated for his departure and urged other donors to withhold contributions until their resignation.

'I call on all UPenn alumni and supporters who believe we are heading in the wrong direction to close their checkbooks until President Elizabeth Magill and Scott Bok, chair of the board of trustees, step down,' he wrote in a letter reported by Bloomberg in October.

At the time, University of Pennsylvania rejected Rowan's demands, standing by its president and chair of the board of trustees, and brushing off any accusations of antisemitism.

Similar donor activism has surfaced at Harvard University, where both billionaires and recent graduates are pausing their gifts in protest against perceived inadequate measures to address antisemitism. President Claudine Gay has resisted calls to resign and has also been embroiled in a separate plagiarism scandal.

Scott L. Bok, Chair of the school's Board of Trustees, announced his resignation following Magill's decision to step down in early December - effective immediately

In a letter addressed to Magill, the Wharton Board said leadership of the university needed to change 'with immediate effect'

Magill resigned following calls for her to quit which only ramped up after she appeared before Congress to explain her response to the anti-Semitism

Harvard President Claudine Gay at the congressional hearing on antisemitism on campus

The hearing also saw widely criticized testimony from MIT president Sally Kornbluth

Len Blavatnik, a billionaire donor who has contributed at least $270 million to Harvard, recently suspended his gifts.

Earlier this month, the president of the University of Pennsylvania resigned from her post following fierce backlash to her controversial congressional testimony over antisemitism on campus.

Bok stepped down from his position as the chair of the University Board of Trustees on Dec. 9  just minutes after Penn President Magill's resignation.

Magill, alongside the presidents of Harvard and MIT, was summoned before the House Committee on Education and the Workforce by lawmakers concerned by reports of a rise in antisemitism at leading universities.

They faced heated questioning from committee chair Congresswoman Elise Stefanik but failed to assert that calls for genocide against Jews on campus would definitively constitute harassment.

Following international outcry, including more than 70 lawmakers calling for her resignation, Magill stood down on Saturday.
Maine's Democrat Governor Janet Mills has been branded a liar by the National Weather Service after claiming its forecasters didn't warn her about a historic storm.

The esteemed federal agency lashed Mills after she was slammed for failing to adequately warn locals that up to half a foot of rain would fall on December 18, causing huge floods and leaving 400,000 without power.

Mills put her foot in it last Wednesday while touring flood-battered Kennebec County, saying: 'The National Weather Service did not predict five or six inches of rain in any community in Maine.'

But a NWS spokesman said the 75 year-old lawmaker was talking nonsense, insisting state and local officials had been briefed about the impending inundation on December 15.

And on Sunday the 17th - the day before the storm - the weather service met with state officials to further brief them on expected flooding, winds, and impact to the state's coast line.

Governor Janet Mills is catching flack for saying the National Weather Service did not adequately predict the severe dimensions of the winter storm that hit Maine last week

Cars are flooded in a parking lot at the Hathaway Creative Center alongside the Kennebec River, Tuesday, Dec. 19, 2023, in Waterville, Maine

Mills and her office have not yet responded to the NWS's claims that she is a liar.

Images of the storm's aftermath show cars hanging off extremely damaged roads, intense, murky floodwaters that swept other vehicles away, collapsed construction sites, and downed trees and powerlines.

The storm, which Mills called 'an extraordinary event,' barreled into the Northeast on Monday, knocking out power to hundreds of thousands of people, forcing flight cancellations, and killing at least four people.

Wind gusts reaches nearly 70 miles per hour, which Mills also said the National Weather Service did not predict.

'The National Weather Service did not predict 68-70 mile an hour winds in any area of Maine,' she said. 'It was an extraordinary event.'

In fact, the NWS does seem to have predicted possible winds of 65-70 miles per hour at the same time that they predicted four-to-six inches of rain.

Earlier this week, Mills announced the launch of an online resource for Maine residents who were hit hard by the flood and other storm damage.

The Maine Flood Resources and Assistance Hub was launched on Tuesday. According to the governor's office, it will aggregate 'information, resources, and assistance' for those impacted by the storm.

Propane tanks set free by flood waters discharge gas as they float on the Kennebec River through Augusta, Maine, Tuesday, Dec. 19, 2023

Nathan Sennett and Tori Grasse retrieve furniture from a flooded patio near the Kennebec River, Tuesday, Dec. 19, 2023, in Hallowell, Maine

A car floats in a flooded parking lot at the Hathaway Creative Center alongside the Kennebec River in Waterville, Maine

A man observes the flooded Kennebec River on December 19 in Maine

The announcement of the hub arrived after civil states of emergency were declared in 14 of 16 counties in Maine.

The severity of the storm's damage prompted Mills to request a Major Disaster Declaration from President Joe Biden, which will allow federal resources to supplement the recovery efforts led by the state.

'In the wake of last weeks storm, my Administration has launched the Maine Flood Resources and Assistance Hub to help Maine people with questions they may have about property damage, road safety, tree removal, and more,' Mills said in the news release about the resource hub.

'We will update this website as more information becomes available as part of our effort to do all we can to support the swiftest possible recovery of Maine communities.'

The governor also announced Tuesday that the Federal Emergency Management Agency has approved the Maine Emergency Management Agency's request to begin an preliminary damage assessment, which is the first formal step toward request the aforementioned Major Disaster Declaration.
Supporters showed up in droves for a Florida honors student who confessed to killing his mother that made a court appearance for a standard status hearing on Thursday.

Derek Rosa, 13, allegedly admitted to stabbing his mother, Irina Garcia, 39, over 40 times and slashing her neck on October 12 in a 911 call.

At the hearing a judge ordered a unredacted version of that tape be handed over to the defense and that the Metro West Detention Center, the adult jail he is being held at, provide biweekly updates on his school and recreation, reported NBC 6.

Dozens of supporters have shown up in court for Rosa, including his maternal grandmother and father.

On Thursday, a group of mothers and grandmothers came to court wearing t-shirts stating, 'he is not an adult, he is a boy,' 'justice for Derek,' and 'we are all Derek.'

Derek Rosa, 13, who allegedly admitted to stabbing his mother to death appeared in court on Thursday

Footage shows Rosa coming out of his home with his hands up on his October 12 arrest

Gladimar Lizcano, a supporter, said: 'For us its very important he goes to class. Goes to therapy. He goes to patio. Its really important for a kid 13-years-old. Thats all that matters. And we are here to fight for his rights.'

Supporters in court did not comment on if they thought Rosa is innocent, just that they want him to be treated like a child.

Rosa is being tried as an adult and has pleaded not guilty to this charges. His attorneys are seeking to have him juvenile detention center while he waits trial.

There is a Change.Org petition called 'Save Derek Rosa' that claims his is innocent and states, 'I Plea For Justice For This Beautiful Young Man, Who Looks Innocent Only Because He Is Innocent, Please Help Him, God Bless This Young Man And Justice For Derek.'

Footage shows Rosa walking out of his home with his hands up as officers throw him to the ground and arrest him.

During an earlier a pre-trial hearing in December prosecutors played a recording of Rosa speaking to a detective directly after the stabbing, where he said: 'I woke up, I grabbed one of the kitchen knives and I went to her room... I killed her.'

After hearing the disturbing tape, Miami Dade Circuit Judge Richard Hersch ordered the teen to be held in an adult jail, the Miami-Dade Metro West detention center, until his trial which is now scheduled for February 26.

Rosa is accused of killing his mother, Irina Garcia, 39 (pictured) on October 12 before sending photos of her body to a friend on social media

Supporters have showed up in droves for Rosa and his family say he is a 'good kid' and that 'no one could imagine this would ever happen'. He is pictured with his mother and stepfather

At a separate hearing, prosecutors shared harrowing babycam footage showing Rosa standing over his sleeping mother in her bed, moments before he allegedly stabbed her 46 times.

The 13-year-old was seen in eerie black and white images looming over his mom with a time stamp at 11pm. Rosa called 911 to report the murder around 11:30pm.

Another haunting photo released by investigators shows Garcia in her bed, cradling her 14-day-old baby, at 10:23pm the same evening. Investigators believe she was fast asleep when the attack began.

Officers have detailed finding a grisly scene when they arrived at the home, with Garcia left splayed on the floor with dozens of knife wounds, including a slashed artery in her neck.

Laying near to the deceased mother was her two-week-old baby still laying in her crib.

Rosa is also accused of sending a smiling selfie to a friend directly after the killing, where he was sticking his tongue out with what appears to be blood smeared on his hands.

Police said after taking the pictures, Rosa asked a dispatcher if the move was 'bad'.

Rosa, with his hands covered in blood, is seen making a 'hang loose' surfer gesture of friendship. The photo is believed to be the one he sent to his friend before calling 911

Crime scene photos show Rosa standing over his mother's bed at 11pm, before he allegedly fatally stabbed her. His newborn baby sister's crib is by her bed

The knife is seen at the crime scene in Hialeah, Florida. Rosa has been charged as an adult with the killing and his being held at the Metro West Detention Center

He also allegedly claimed that he found two guns owned by his stepfather after the stabbing, and planned to commit suicide but didn't go through with the plan.

His family have expressed their shock at the alleged murder, saying Rosa was a 'good kid' and that 'no one could imagine this would ever happen'.

His attorneys have not argued any mental health issues contributed to their client's mindset at the time of the killing.

The pink-handled knife covered with blood that prosecutors say was used in the crazed attack were also shown to the court.

He was initially held in Miami-Dade's juvenile detention center for two weeks after his arrest on October 12, until his charged were upgraded to first-degree murder by a grand jury and he was transferred to Metro West.
When they arrived home they were confronted by attackers who stole their valuable heirlooms

Two married Asian doctors were 'targeted' by a gang of robbers who followed them 16 miles from a jewelry store to their California home where the assailants attacked and robbed them.

Dr. Vijay Wali and his wife Dr. Jyotika Wali were at a jewelry store in the Little India area of Los Angeles on December 22

The couple were getting their precious and rare family jewels and heirlooms polished.

When they pulled into the driveway of their home in Fullerton that night in their white Tesla Model X they were violently robbed in a surprise attack by a group of men.

The attack struck as Jyotika was about to enter the house while Vijay unloaded the trunk.

A married South Asian couple (pictured here with their daughter Priyanka in the middle) were 'targeted' by a gang of robbers who followed them 16 miles from a jewelry store to their home where the assailants attacked and robbed them

When they pulled into the driveway of their home in Fullerton that night they were violently robbed in a surprise attack by a group of men

A man ran at Vijay and punched him in the head before throwing him to the ground -despite Vijay's efforts to fight back.

'I started screaming, "Jyotika, Jyotika, Jyotika, lock the door, lock the door, lock the door,"' Vijay said.

When Jyotika tried to help her husband - a second attacker pounced on her.

'I was immediately attacked by another man, and my purse was taken, and I saw my husband had been assaulted, and I screamed for help,' Jyotika recalled.

The couple's daughter Dr. Priyanka Wali was inside the house with her fiance - but the pair ran outside when they heard the commotion.

Priyanka's fiance immediately hopped in his car to try and follow the thieves - but wasn't able to track them down.

The men had escaped in two cars - a gray or silver Nissan Altima and a black Honda Odyssey, driven by two additional men.

Among the items stolen was a dehjoor - a hexagonal jewel worn of the ear of a Kashmiri Hindu bride, which Priyanka said 'has deep, deep symbolic significance in our culture.'

She also revealed that generations of their family jewelry had been stolen in the robbery.

Indian jewelry is renowned for being high quality and most gold used to produce it is 22 karats - almost pure.

Security footage clearly showed the face of one attacker - and family members are now asking the public to help identify the dangerous individual that robbed them.

One of the two drivers was also caught on camera at the jewelry store, according to the family.

Fullerton Police Sgt. Ryan ONeil said detectives are working on a 'home invasion robbery,' but he declined to elaborate, NBC reported.

'At this time, it is still an active and ongoing investigation. To protect the integrity of the investigation, we will not be releasing any information at this time,' O'Neil said.

A man ran at Vijay and punched him in the head before throwing him to the ground -despite Vijay's efforts to fight back

The men had escaped in two cars - a gray or silver Nissan Altima and a black Honda Odyssey, driven by two additional men

Meanwhile - Priyanka has taken to Facebook to spread awareness of the terrifying crime her family faced.

'This is a matter of NATIONAL security,' Priyanka said.

'My family was specifically targeted by going to a South Asian jewelry store. There are more and more South Asian families coming forward and sharing with us similar stories of targeted assaults and burglaries involving stolen jewelry and heirlooms.

Priyanka said that some of the other South Asian families that have been victimized are 'too scared to speak up publicly due to fear of retribution or the criminals coming back.'

However, she said that by targeting her parents 'these guys messed with the wrong family because WE WILL NOT STOP until something happens to keep our communities safer.'

The robbers had chased the couple all the way from the jewelry store back to their home - a 16 mile journey.

The couple took a different route home from the usual straightforward way via freeway.

They had made a quick stop at Jyotika's office and checked out some nearby Christmas lights before returning home.

The family said they have even seen unsettling video of the attackers watching the couple at the Cerritos jewelry store and at Jyotika's office.

Among the items stolen was a dehjoor - a hexagonal jewel worn of the ear of a Kashmiri Hindu bride, which Priyanka said 'has deep, deep symbolic significance in our culture'

Despite the terrifying incident - the married couple returned to work over the weekend.

Jyotika is a primary care physician who worked Saturday and her husband is an emergency room doctor who even did a shift on Christmas Eve.

They opened up about being terrified to return home after the unsettling attack.

'Emotional trauma and physical trauma are one and the same thing,' Jyotika said. 'So yes, we may be able to walk and talk and have all of our limbs and vital organs functioning, but emotionally the damage has been absolutely devastating.'
Republican presidential candidate Nikki Haley ended 24 hours in New Hampshire she'd rather forget by facing off against a 9-year-old who compared her to John Kerry Thursday afternoon.

The night before, Haley stuck her foot in her mouth at a New Hampshire town hall when asked what caused the Civil War and then failed to mention slavery.

She spent the bulk of Thursday in the Granite State cleaning up those comments before heading to North Conway where she faced audience members' questions yet again.

'So Chris Christie think that you're a flip-flopper on the Donald Trump issue,' a child named Adam boldly told her. 'And honestly, I agree with him. You're basically the new John Kerry,' the kid said to laughs.

Kerry was the Democrats' 2004 presidential nominee, who was criticized for constantly changing his position, and lost to incumbent Republican President George W. Bush.

Nikki Haley was confronted by a 9-year-old at a town hall Thursday in North Conway, New Hampshire, who compared her to 'flip-flopper' John Kerry on the issue of support for former President Donald Trump

'How can you change your opinion like that in just eight years and will you pardon Donald Trump?' the 9-year-old then asked.

Christie, who is also running for the Republican nomination, has been critical of Haley for being too soft on Trump, her former boss.

Haley commended the youngster and said that politics is often about 'distraction.'

She answered that she hasn't been able to appease 'anti-Trumpers' nor 'pro-Trumpers' with her stance on the ex-president, who is leading the GOP primary pack.

'I told you that I agreed with a lot of his policies. But do I think he's the right president to go forward? No,' Haley answered. 'We can't handle the chaos anymore.'

She also used the question to go after Christie.

'I mean God bless him, he's a friend. He's obsessed with Trump,' Haley said. 'He sleeps, eats and breaths it, every day.'

Christie was one of only a handful of GOP hopefuls to base his run off being a Trump critic.

'I'm thinking bigger than that,' Haley said. 'If we do that, we're no different than Trump.'

Nikki Haley cleaned-up her town hall blunder leaving slavery out as a reason for the Civil War by claiming 'that's the easy part'  and suggested the person who asked the question was a 'plant'

Earlier Thursday, Haley was clarifying that her comments about the Civil War didn't mention slavery because 'that's the easy part.'

Haley told CNN that it's 'unquestioned' that the Civil War was about slavery, adding: 'But it was also more than that.'

'It was about the freedoms of every individual. It was about the role of government,' she insisted.

She also said in an interview with Pulse of New Hampshire radio show that she was answering the question by putting it into the context of what it means to Americans in the present day.

'Of course the Civil War was about slavery. We know that. That's the easy part of it,' Haley said Thursday morning. 'What I was saying was: What does it mean to us today?'

'What it means to us today is about freedom. That's what that was all about,' the former United Nations Ambassador said.

Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis' communications director said Haley's damage control was weak.

'I think it always comes down to the role of government and what the rights of the people are, and I will always stand by the fact that I think government was intended to secure the rights and freedoms of the people,' she said

Haley's refusal to acknowledge this caught the ire of many across the political spectrum

'Embarrassing cleanup attempt,' Andrew Romeo wrote on X. 'Even if that is true...If she can't handle a question as basic as the cause of the Civil War, what does she think is going to happen to her in a general election.'

'The Democrats would eat her lunch,' he added.

Critics included her 2024 Republican competitors, but also President Joe Biden who quipped on X, formerly Twitter: 'It was about slavery.'

The former governor for South Carolina also insisted Thursday morning that the person who prompted the response was sent as a plant in an effort to get media to attack her as her poll figures skyrocket in New Hampshire.

She jokingly told the audience member asking the question Wednesday: 'Well, don't come with an easy question.'

She then claimed that the Civil War was fought for freedom and ideological differences in how governments are supposed to work.

'I think the cause of the Civil War was basically how government was going to run, the freedoms of what people could and couldn't do.'

Historians generally agree that slavery, and the divided opinions of Northern and Southern states over whether to abolish it, was the primary cause of the Civil War

Donald Trump is currently leading the race for the 2024 Republican presidential nomination  and the ex-president has not ruled out tapping Haley as his running mate

The White House hopeful, currently fighting for a distant second place after Trump with DeSantis, then went on a tangent about government overreach and civil liberties.

'I think it always comes down to the role of government and what the rights of the people are, and I will always stand by the fact that I think government was intended to secure the rights and freedoms of the people.

'It was never meant to be all things to all people. Government doesn't need to tell you how to live your life.

'They don't need to tell you what you can and can't do. They don't need to be a part of your life. They need to make sure that you have freedom.

'We need to have capitalism. We need to have economic freedom. We need to make sure that we do all things so that individuals have the liberties so that they can have freedom of speech, freedom of religion, freedom to do or be anything they want to be without government getting in the way.'

Following the tangent, she tried to turn the question back to the voter, who told her that he isn't the one running for the Oval Office in 2024.

He is then heard saying: 'In 2023, it's astonishing to me that you would answer that question without mentioning the word slavery.'

Haley asks him: 'What do you want me to say about slavery? Next question.'

New Hampshire holds the first-in-the-nation primary, held just days after the Iowa caucuses, which makes it important for those vying for the nomination to run for president.

With just 26 days until the Granite State's elections, Haley is surging in the polls with one survey showing her trailing Trump by only 4 percent with 29 percent support among Republican voters.

She clarified Thursday that she is well aware that slavery was a reason for the Civil War.

Polling shows Haley is now within only 4 percentage points of Trump with just 26 days until the New Hampshire primary elections on January 23  and aggregated data from FiveThirtyEight shows that Haley may soon overtake Ron DeSantis to be second place nationally

Historians generally agree that slavery, and the divided opinions of Northern and Southern states over whether to abolish it, was the primary cause of the Civil War.

The Southern states of the US, including Haley's home state of South Carolina, were pro-slavery, while Northern states were anti-slavery.

South Carolina's proclamation outlining its reasons for leaving the Union in 1860 pointed to the 'increasing hostility on the part of the non-slaveholding States to the institution of slavery' as a reason for the state removing itself from the Union.

But Haley's refusal to acknowledge this caught the ire of many across the political spectrum.

Meanwhile, the DeSantis campaign recirculated video of the exchange on social media, adding the comment, 'Yikes.'

Issues surrounding the origins of the Civil War and its heritage are still much of the fabric of Haley's home state, and she has been pressed on the war's origins before.

As she ran for governor in 2010, Haley, in an interview with a now-defunct activist group then known as The Palmetto Patriots, described the war as between two disparate sides fighting for 'tradition' and 'change' and said the Confederate flag was 'not something that is racist.'

During that same campaign, she dismissed the need for the flag to come down from the Statehouse grounds, portraying her Democratic rival's push for its removal as a desperate political stunt.

Five years later, Haley urged lawmakers to remove the flag from its perch near a Confederate soldier monument following a mass shooting in which a white gunman killed eight Black church members who were attending Bible study.

At the time, Haley said the flag had been 'hijacked' by the shooter from those who saw the flag as symbolizing 'sacrifice and heritage.'

Aggregated polling data from FiveThirtyEight shows that, nationally, Haley may soon overtake Ron DeSantis to be second place in the race for the 2024 Republican presidential nomination.

Despite this, she has a long way to go to beat Donald Trump, who currently has 61.2% of Republicans pledged to vote for him.

Even in her home state, Haley is trailing far behind, with less than half the share of votes that Trump has.
Commons Speaker Sir Lindsay Hoyle has racked up a bill of more than 125,000 in a single year to jet around the globe.

The money was splashed on nine foreign jaunts in the 12 months to October, details of his official expenses obtained under Freedom of Information rules show.

It means that in just one year Sir Lindsay has gone through half the 250,000 his predecessor John Bercow took ten years to spend on globe-trotting.

Critics today said that, for someone whose job it is to sit in a chair and largely keep quiet, taxpayers would find the bill 'difficult to swallow'.

Among the more eye-catching foreign travel bills was 40,599 - including 33,400 on premium or business-class flights - for a four-day trip to Australia.

Commons Speaker Sir Lindsay Hoyle (pictured) has racked up a bill of more than 125,000 in a single year to jet around the globe

It means that in just one year Sir Lindsay has gone through half the 250,000 his predecessor John Bercow (pictured) took ten years to spend on globe-trotting

It was to attend the Conference of Speakers and Presiding Officers of the Commonwealth in Canberra in January with two staff.

The bill also included 4,702 on 'ground transportation' and 682 on 'meals'.

A five-day trip to Ottawa in Canada this summer to meet his counterpart came in at 23,571, including nearly 15,000 on flights and 8,650 on hotels.

And taxpayers were billed 24,657 for a three-day jaunt to Japanese capital Tokyo for the G7 Speakers' Conference in September, including 21,312 on flights and 3,300 on hotels.

A trip to the G20 Parliamentary Speakers' Summit in Jakarta, Indonesia, in November 2022 followed by a visit to Sir Lindsay's counterpart in Singapore came with a price tag of nearly 25,000.

This included nearly 19,000 on flights, 5,190 on accommodation and 410 for a photographer.

Thousands of pounds was also spent on an 'official visit' to the Caribbean island of Montserrat, a British Overseas Territory, and giving a speech at the University of Southern California.

While flights and hotels for the latter trip were covered by the university, it is unclear if the 3,169 bill for 'ground transportation' was. Sir Lindsay also flew to Gibraltar and Dublin in the 12-month period.

Sir Lindsay took a five-day trip to Ottawa in Canada this summer to meet his counterpart Anthony Rota (pictured) came in at 23,571

Separately, he spent 101,552 - including 47,962 on flights - sponsoring a 'Speakers of the UK House of Commons and Overseas Territories' conference on the paradise Caribbean island of Anguilla.

He attended the three-day conference, which made 12,000 income from 'conference observer' fees, with two staff.

During the period, Sir Lindsay also accepted 1,000-worth of hospitality and tickets from Formula One for the Silverstone Grand Prix, 600-worth of hospitality from the Concours d'Elegance automotive display at Hampton Court Palace and 1,717-worth of hospitality from The Royal Edinburgh Military Tattoo.

He racked up taxi bills of 621 this year and 995 last year, according to the data released after FOI request by the Mail.

Sir Lindsay, who is the MP for Chorley and is entitled to a 163,000-a-year salary, has also spent tens of thousands of pounds laying on drinks and canapes receptions over the last year.

These include 4,100 on a reception to mark 'LGBT History Month' and 3,500 on a retirement party for former Clerk of the House Sir John Benger.

It comes after it emerged in October that taxpayers have been billed 7million to refurbish the grace-and-favour Speaker's House since Sir Lindsay came into office.

The sum has been spent on renovations of the Grade-I listed building, located in the New Palace of Westminster, since November 2019.

Sir Lindsay also accepted 1,000-worth of hospitality and tickets from Formula One for the Silverstone Grand Prix (pictured)

With more than 1 million spent per year on the works since the Speaker took office, the bill appears to dwarf those of previous refurbishments.

It is unknown exactly how much of the money was spent on furnishings and how much went towards structural improvements.

John O'Connell, chief executive of the TaxPayers' Alliance, said: 'Taxpayers will find these enormous expenses difficult to swallow.

'The Speaker's role is a significant one, and cannot necessarily be done on the cheap, but that doesn't give anyone in the role a blank cheque.

'All politicians should remember that each penny spent fulfilling their duties is ultimately billed to taxpayers, including their own constituents.'

Sir Lindsay was installed as Speaker in November 2019 but has done the vast majority of foreign travel within the last 12 months or so due to the Covid-19 pandemic.

His predecessor Mr Bercow came under fire for some of his spending during his ten-year tenure chairing Commons debates.

He flew almost 207,000 miles and his globe-trotting cost 250,000. His most expensive trip was to Burma and New Zealand in July 2013, costing 41,000 for him, three staff members and three MPs.

A House of Commons spokesman said: 'The Speaker is a representative for the House of Commons and has a responsibility to explain and promote the work of the House, representing it at high-profile state events and inter-parliamentary conferences - both across the Commonwealth and around the world.

'To meet these responsibilities, transport arrangements are made by the Speaker's Office, with value for money and security the primary considerations.'
The talented teenage surfer killed in a shark attack at a remote beach in South Australia has been named as Khai Cowley, 15.

The youngster died after his leg was bitten off in the attack and he was pulled from the water near Ethel Beach in the Innes National Park, on the Yorke Peninsula of South Australia, about 1.30pm on Thursday.

Witnesses said the attack played out in front of his horrified father who had taken his son there from their home four hours away in Seaford, south of Adelaide.

Just two weeks ago, Khai - ranked 146th under 18 surfer in Australia - had been named the 'most outstanding grom performer' by his local Seaview Road Board Riders surf club.

The talented teenage surfer killed in a shark attack in a remote beach in South Australia has been named as Khai Cowley, 15 (pictured)

The youngster died after his leg bitten off in the attack and he was pulled from the water near Ethel Beach in the Innes National Park, on the Yorke Peninsula of South Australia on Thursday

Just two weeks ago,Khai Cowley - ranked 146th under 18 across Australia - was named 'most outstanding grom performer' by his local Seaview Road Board Riders surf club (pictured)

'The shark took his leg, and so another local guy ran out, jumped on his board and paddled out to help him,' one local told the Adelaide Advertiser.

'The shark was circling them as the guy pulled the boy out of the water. There was a lot of blood.

'He brought him to shore but I think it was too late by then.'

Emergency services tried desperately to save the teen but his injuries were too gruesome.

Friends have paid tribute to the youngster online, with one posting on social media: 'Fly high Kai - lots of love and missing you already'.

His aunt Lauryn Barley has now set up a GoFundMe appeal to raise funds for the family in the wake of the tragedy, raising more than $15,000 within hours.

'Our beloved Khai was suddenly taken from us by a white pointer while surfing at Ethel Wreck off the coast of Yorke Penisula,' she posted.

'Im here to try help raise funds for my sister, Kate and brother, Tim to cover the cost of the funeral service.'

A family friend added: 'Life can change in a second and we are never prepared.

'Our friend's son and grandson Khai died yesterday in a shark attack which has not only rocked a family yet a whole community.

'As a community we come together and this is one way we can support this family right now. Thank you for your kindness.'

Another added: 'A boy with so much potential. He will hold a place in everyone's heart.'

Surfing South Australia joined the tributes with a statement on Thursday.

'We are devastated to learn that a young, talented and dearly loved member of our surfing community, was the surfer involved in the attack at Ethel Beach, and are absolutely shattered to hear that the incident was fatal,' it said.

'Our utmost deepest sympathies are with his family.

'We ask that you keep them in your thoughts and respect their privacy as they navigate such a heartbreaking time.'

The shark attack, near Ethel Beach (pictured) in the Innes National Park, on the Yorke Peninsula, was reported to police at about 1.30pm on Thursday

A local fisherman said that large sharks are a common sight along Marion Bay at the Innes National Park.

'We've seen some pretty big bronzies in the area, but that's normal here,' he said.

'I went to take the boat out and the road to Ethel's was blocked by rangers.

'There's no cell reception out there in the park so we didn't know what had happened until we got back to Marion Bay.'

There have been several shark attacks around South Australia in recent months.

In mid-November, Bridgette O'Shannessy, 32, was attacked while swimming with her partner off a reef shelf at Port Noarlunga, south of Adelaide.

Ms O'Shannessy had to undergo two surgeries at Flinders Medical Centre after losing some of her teeth and suffering nerve damage.

Bridgette O'Shannessy, 32, (left) was attacked while swimming with her partner off a reef shelf at Port Noarlunga, south of Adelaide, in November while Tod Gendle, 55, (right) was killed by a four-metre great white while surfing near Granite Rock, close to Streaky Bay, on October 31

Her attack came just weeks after 55-year-old surfer Tod Gendle was mauled to death by a huge 4.2-metre Great White shark near Granite Rock south of Streaky Bay, SA.

Witnesses described the moment the shark launched at the surfer before he was dragged underwater by the animal.

South Australian woman Pamela Cook was also mauled by a shark at Beachport on October 2.

The 64-year-old was on her morning swim with local community group Beachport Sea Urchins and Slugs when she was attacked shortly before 8am.

Just months earlier in May, 46-year-old Elliston man Simon Baccanello was killed in a shark attack on Walkers Rocks Beach.
An Auschwitz survivor has described feeling 'very humbled' to receive a personal letter and flowers from the King to mark her 100th birthday.

Lily Ebert had expected to be sent the traditional congratulatory telegram from the monarch when she turned 100 today, but instead was surprised by the 'touching' personal gesture.

Since she was deported from her home in Hungary to the notorious Auschwitz-Birkenau death camp aged 20 in 1944  where her mother, brother and sister were killed in the gas chambers  Ms Ebert has committed her life to raising awareness about the Holocaust.

She had made a promise to herself that she would 'tell the world what had happened' and her memoir, Lily's Promise, became an international bestseller.

The King wrote the foreword to the book and decided to send a heartfelt personal message to Ms Ebert after being told of the milestone by her family.

Auschwitz survivor Lily Ebert has described feeling 'very humbled' to receive a personal letter and flowers from the King to mark her 100th birthday

Lily Ebert had expected to be sent the traditional congratulatory telegram from the monarch when she turned 100 today, but instead was surprised by the 'touching' personal gesture

The letter said: 'Dear Lily, I particularly wanted to write a personal word on the very special occasion of your 100th birthday

'The terrible suffering which you and your family endured can never be adequately described or acknowledged, but as a survivor of the horrors of those years, your life's work has been to remind our generation of the depths of depravity and evil to which humankind can descend, when reason, humanity and truth are abandoned.

'By continuing to remind the world of the unimaginable atrocities which you witnessed, you have lived your life positively, with true nobility and without hatred, in a way that is an example to us all.

'Your extraordinary strength of spirit, resilience and courage is admired more than I can possibly say.

'I do hope that you have a very happy day in the company of your family and friends, and this brings you countless thoughts and blessings on such a memorable anniversary.'

The letter  signed by the King 'with very special and warmest wishes'  was also accompanied by a bouquet of flowers and the traditional 100th birthday telegram signed by the King and Queen.

Ms Ebert said: 'I was surprised and very humbled when my great-grandson Dov informed me that the King had taken the time to write a personal and heartfelt letter for my 100th birthday.

'Never in my wildest dreams did I imagine surviving Auschwitz, let alone starting a family and reaching the age of 100, only to be honoured in such a meaningful way.

Ms Ebert was deported from her home in Hungary to the notorious Auschwitz-Birkenau death camp aged 20 in 1944  where her mother, brother and sister were killed in the gas chambers

'The memories of my mother, youngest brother, and sister, who were murdered in the gas chambers of Auschwitz-Birkenau on July 9, 1944, weigh heavy on days like today.

'Alongside 100 other members of my extended family, they were senselessly killed simply because of the religion they were born into.

'Receiving this touching gesture from Their Majesties has deeply moved me.'

Ms Ebert met Charles, then Prince of Wales, at the Queen's Gallery in London as portraits of herself and six other Holocaust survivors were unveiled in January 2022.

The paintings were commissioned by Charles as patron of the National Holocaust Memorial Day Trust.

She received an MBE for services to Holocaust education at Windsor Castle in January this year.
The Princess of Wales is set to turn her attention to the importance of fathers in children's early years.

Kate has met a number of fathers' groups amid plans to raise awareness about the role men play at the beginning of youngsters' lives.

She has consulted experts in the sector to find out how best to highlight the issue, as well as how to attract more fathers to parenting groups and support their mental health.

Research by the princess's Royal Foundation Centre for Early Childhood found that only 19 per cent of the population could identify the period between pregnancy and the age of five as the most important for shaping a child's future. While one in four women did, this was matched by only 14 per cent of men.

The Princess of Wales takes part in a Dad Walk in the local park during a visit to "Dadvengers", a community for dads and their children, in Arnos Grove, north London, on November 1 to highlight the important role that fathers play in their children's earliest years

Kate has met a number of fathers' groups amid plans to raise awareness about the role men play at the beginning of youngsters' lives. She is pictured on November 1 during a Dad Walk in Arnos Grove, north London

Kate's decision to increase her focus on fatherhood follows her visit to Maidenhead Rugby Club in Berkshire in June to speak to men about their experiences as first-time fathers.

Rugby star Ugo Monye is among the high-profile figures backing the princess's Shaping Us campaign, which raises awareness of the importance of early childhood.

Monye said he had been 'highly impressed by Her Royal Highness and her dedication to a topic which connects so many of us'.

Christian Guy, executive director of the Royal Foundation Centre for Early Childhood, told the Daily Telegraph: 'There remains a real need to provide information, advice and support to men about what a significant role they can play in the earliest days, weeks and months  and even before the baby is born  which is such an important period developmentally and begins to lay foundations for the rest of their lives.'
Police abandon investigations into four crimes every minute without tracking down the culprits.

The number of inquiries closed by officers without identifying a suspect has rocketed by nearly 250,000 year-on-year.

Forces gave up on investigations into 2,306,623 reported crimes in the year to June, including hundreds of thousands of violent offences and burglaries. The official Home Office figures are equivalent to more than 6,300 every day on average, or one every 14 seconds.

They prompted serious questions about whether the taxpayer is getting value for money for the multi-billion-pound sums injected into policing by the Government.

One Conservative MP last night described the figures as 'very concerning' and demanded an explanation from forces over their failure to deliver results. And one expert said it showed criminals were increasingly getting away scot-free.

Police abandon investigations into four crimes every minute without tracking down the culprits (Stock Image)

Forces gave up on investigations into 2,306,623 reported crimes in the year to June, including hundreds of thousands of violent offences and burglaries (Stock Image)

The official Home Office figures are equivalent to more than 6,300 every day on average, or one every 14 seconds (Stock Image)

The 2.3million abandoned investigations represented an increase of nearly 13 per cent on the previous year.

The latest figures also showed the police's performance has worsened since the pandemic, with abandoned investigations up 7 per cent compared with the 2.1million in the year to March 2020, despite force budgets rising.

The Government's 'police uplift' programme has seen the number of officers in England and Wales jump from 129,110 at the end of March 2020 to 147,430 in March this year [2023].

The Home Office spent 3.6billion up to March on an election pledge to hire 20,000 police officers, and it expects to spend a further 18.5billion on the wage bill over the next decade.

Earlier this month the Home Office also announced that police funding from central government will increase by 843million to 18.4billion in the next financial year  a rise of 30.7 per cent in cash terms on the 2019-20 figure.

The Home Office data showed nearly 342,000 crimes of 'violence against the person' were closed without a suspect being identified during the 12-month period in England and Wales. It was up more than 24,000 on the previous year.

For thefts it was 1.3million, including just under 150,000 burglaries, up from 1.1million in the previous 12 months.

The total also comprised nearly 32,000 sex offences  including 6,406 reported rapes  up year-on-year from 29,700.

Investigations into more than 45,000 robberies were abandoned, plus just over 317,000 cases of criminal damage or arson and nearly 200,000 public order offences.

The data also shows there has been a massive surge in the number of inquiries which had to be dropped due to 'evidential difficulties', even though the victim supported pushing for a prosecution. This category rose to 872,000 from 772,000 the previous year across England and Wales.

The true numbers will be even higher because one force, Devon and Cornwall, was not included for technical reasons.

My stolen car got 8 tickets... but police did nothing By JACK HARDY Police closed the investigation into Greg Szymanski's stolen car after just two days  but it did not stop the missing vehicle receiving eight parking tickets. The 45-year-old handyman was dismayed to learn that his car had not been irretrievably lost, as the lack of police interest indicated, but was instead being parked illegally around Fulham, west London. By this stage, two months after it had been stolen, the car's MoT had expired and it was no longer taxed, meaning it was being repeatedly flagged for road violations. But because the council was responsible for enforcement  rather than the police  there was no effort to reunite him with his stolen car. Cheated: Police closed the investigation into Greg Szymanski's stolen car after just two days  but it did not stop the missing vehicle receiving eight parking tickets To add to the farce, the police told him they could not take the matter further because the case had already been closed. Mr Szymanski said: 'I got eight tickets in places that were a five-minute drive from where the car was stolen. 'I feel very cheated by the whole system, I have paid tax for 18 years and the police spend public money but they are useless. I'm sure there are more people who have had a similar experience. 'The parking system should be connected with the police system, the car was in that area for a long time. 'It was a huge disappointment. I keep thinking about it, because I still miss the things that were in the car their value was higher than the car, but they were not insured.' They included expensive tools, money and even his passport. 'A thief can feel unpunished in this city,' Mr Szymanski added. Advertisement

Conservative MP James Daly, a member of the Commons home affairs committee, said: 'The Government has provided the funding and extra officers to allow the police to tackle all forms of crime and it's very concerning and disappointing that progress has not been made.

'The police are clearly not delivering on the investment. It's even more troubling that victims are not getting the results they expect and deserve. We need a proper explanation from police forces.'

David Spencer, of think-tank Policy Exchange and a former Met Police detective chief inspector, said: 'Criminals are increasingly getting away with it  fewer are being identified and charged than ever before. A culture of impunity has emboldened law-breakers.

'Although the number of officers plummeted in the years to 2018 there are now more than ever before  many people will be asking when we will see a return on that investment.'

Katie Kempen, of charity Victim Support, warned: 'If the public continue to report crimes without ever seeing it lead to a charge, let alone a conviction, they are going to lose all faith in the criminal justice system. The police must be held to account for the service they deliver to victims.'

Conservative MP James Daly, a member of the Commons home affairs committee, said: 'The Government has provided the funding and extra officers to allow the police to tackle all forms of crime and it's very concerning and disappointing that progress has not been made'

Victims' Commissioner Baroness Newlove (pictured) said the figures raised 'significant questions' for the police

Victims' Commissioner Baroness Newlove said the figures raised 'significant questions' for the police. 'It's incumbent on police to drastically improve performance or we risk fewer victims coming forward, fewer victims backing prosecutions, and, in turn, communities feeling more fearful for their safety,' she said.

A National Police Chiefs' Council spokesman said: 'Police forces conduct thousands of successful investigations every year. In some cases, there may not be enough information to act upon or bring about criminal proceedings.

'The National Police Chiefs' Council and College of Policing have worked together to update guidance on reasonable lines of inquiry, which aims to further improve standards.'

The Home Office said: 'We have a record number of police officers in England and Wales, and it is clear we are going in the right direction. Serious violent crime is down 52 per cent since 2010.'
The Crown was today accused of taking aim at Carole Middleton with an 'appalling' depiction of the Princess of Wales' mother.

The Netflix series showed Mrs Middleton as a scheming meddler intent on throwing her daughter into the path of Prince William during their time at university, according to a new Mail podcast.

In the latest episode of The Crown: Fact or Fiction, the Mail's royal experts said they felt the mother-of-three was treated unfairly by the makers of the hit series.

They examined the latest instalment of The Crown, Alma Mater, which focused on William and Kate's relationship after they first met at St Andrews University in 2001.

Daily Mail royal editor Rebecca English, Mail writer and royal biographer Robert Hardman and The Mail on Sunday's royal correspondent Natasha Livingstone debunked invented details from the programme in the podcast.

House of the Dragon actress Eve Best (pictured) plays Carole Middleton in the latest series of The Crown

Carole Middleton and her daughter, the Princess of Wales, are pictured shopping in Chelsea in 2006

Mr Hardman said he felt it was 'the most speculative and therefore entirely fictitious episode of the series so far because there's no real factual evidence to go on'.

He said it showed Mrs Middleton, played by Eve Best, as having 'entirely engineered' the relationship between the future Prince and Princess of Wales, adding: 'It doesn't ring true.'

Mr Hardman said: 'I think that's incredibly unfair. These are the kind of charges that are wounding and I just hope Carole Middleton doesn't have to sit and watch this.'

The latest episode in the sixth series of The Crown started with a fictitious meeting between a schoolgirl Kate and her mother with Prince William and his mother Princess Diana in 1996.

It then showed a supposedly smitten Kate cutting out a picture of William in her bedroom while her mother teased her about meeting the prince, telling her: 'You never know.' The programme then followed William as he announced he would attend St Andrews University and go to South America for his gap year, and showed Mrs Middleton listening to the press conference, apparently making plans for her daughter's future.

It later featured a supposed showdown between Kate and her mother, in which Kate said: 'You have always loved the idea of me and William together.

'I was all set to go to Edinburgh University, then you suggested I change it to St Andrews. That was no coincidence... And then the expedition in Chile as well, where he went.'

The programme showed Mrs Middleton responding: 'I thought you would thank me. You said you liked him.'

In reality, William and Kate did not meet while they were at school, and Kate denied claims she had a picture of him on her bedroom wall, insisting it was 'the Levi's guy'.

The sixth and final instalment of the show visits the blossoming romance between Kate and Prince William as they both attend St Andrew's University in 2001 (Pictured: Meg Bellamy and Ed McVey play a young Kate Middleton and Prince William)

Eve Best (as Carole Middleton) is seen with the shoulder-length blonde hair the royal's mother was sporting in 2001 as she plays The Crown's Carole

On The Crown Carole Middleton is presented as pushing her daughter to pursue Prince William (Pictured: Carole and Michael Middleton attend The 'Together At Christmas' Carol Service at Westminster Abbey on December 8, 2023)

She did turn down a university place at Edinburgh in favour of St Andrews, where she later met her future husband.

She also enrolled on the same expedition in Chile as William, although they were not there at the same time, and Raleigh International organisers have since said her application was completed before William's announcement.

Mail royal editor Rebecca English said: 'The biggest low [of the episode] was the depiction of Carole Middleton, which I though was incredibly harsh and incredibly unfair.'

Mr Hardman said: 'I thought that was very harsh on Carole Middleton... I think it's appalling.'

Other reviews of the latest series of The Crown have also commented on the depiction of Mrs Middleton, with the Daily Telegraph dubbing it 'a pantomime version'.

The episode also invented a fictitious girlfriend for William at St Andrews, blonde undergraduate Lola Airdale-Cavendish-Kincaid.

The Crown has previously come under fire for blurring the line between real events and fiction.

Its makers have described it as 'drama based on historical events'. Creator Peter Morgan said earlier this month: 'Some of it is necessarily fiction. But I try to make everything truthful even if you can't know if it's accurate.'
A pregnant teenager and her boyfriend were found in his car with a bullet wounds to their heads, and her death declared a homicide.

Savannah Soto, 18, disappeared last Saturday when she was supposed to be induced into labor and was found dead on Tuesday with Matthew Guerra, 22.

Guerra died from a 'contact gunshot wound to the head' and Soto was also shot in the head, the medical examiner in Bexar County, Texas, said.

The autopsy also led to her death being declared a homicide on Thursday afternoon.

Savannah Soto, 18, disappeared last Saturday when she was supposed to be induced into labor and was found dead on Tuesday with Matthew Guerra, 22

Their bodies sat in the car for three or four days until they were discovered, police said. Soto's unborn baby did not survive

San Antonio Police Chief William McManus said the scene was complex and 'very perplexing' and the case was being investigated as a possible murder.

Their bodies sat in the car for three or four days until they were discovered, police said. Soto's unborn baby did not survive.

Guerra's Kia Optima was found in a car park on Danny Kaye Drive in San Antonio after a witness messaged Soto's sister-in-law Joanie Wasil on Facebook.

Wasil saw Soto in the front passenger seat and Guerra in the back. She glanced at Soto's face 'and didn't want to see any more'.

Soto took out a restraining order against Guerra a year ago after he beat her on Christmas Day 2022 and was charged with assault.

'You are prohibited from intentionally, knowingly or recklessly communicating with Savannah Soto, whether by telephone, in writing, or in person in a harmful or injurious manner,' court records stated.

The documents did not provide details on the 2022 assault.

Mariana Delgado, who claims to be the deceased teenager's sister-in-law, posted on Facebook that Soto's body had been found early this evening and that she was in a 'bad bad condition'

Matthew Guerra, 22, pictured in jail booking photo from 2022

Despite a documented history of violence, Guerra's mother claimed her son was not abusive

Guerra violated his parole for the domestic violence charge and was back court in June charged with three new felonies: evading arrest, unlawfully having a firearm, and reckless driving.

'The defendant demonstrates being in the pre contemplation stage and wants to continue to engage in criminal activity,' the legal paperwork noted.

He also failed to seek lawful employment or attend battery counseling classes.

After the teen girl's disappearance, a neighbor of Soto and Guerra claimed they witnessed the boyfriend 'arguing [with] and beating her almost every day'.

'I witnessed him beating her and kicked her downstairs while she was unconscious,' the unnamed person said, adding that 'he kicked her body and face' and 'she needed stitches.'

Despite a documented history of violence, Guerra's mother claimed her son was not abusive.

'I know my son and he wouldn't do anything to hurt her,' Karen Hernandez posted online in the days when the couple was still missing.

'As a mother, I know my son and his girlfriend were taken against their will because my son does what he does for money.'

The 18-year-old was last seen at her Leon Valley apartment and was described to be in 'imminent danger' or involuntarily disappeared

Her boyfriend Matthew Guerra had also gone missing and some have accused him of being involved. Guerra's mother denied the accusations against her son: 'I know my son and he wouldn't do anything to hurt her'

Hernandez did not elaborate on what exactly he did for money.

Soto's family insisted she wouldn't have run away as they made a Christmas Day appeal for help to find her.

'I don't know where she's at or where she could be at because this is not like her,' her mother Gloria Cordova told reporters.

'She was so excited to have this baby, the house is already baby-ready. She was so excited she was going to be a mommy.'

Wasil added: 'It's all she was talking about since she got pregnant... That was her life. She was so ready to be a mom. I think she was meant to be a mom.'

Victor Nathaneal Rivas, 18, was on trial for the murder of Ethan Soto, 15, on Friday when the Soto family launched an attack, footage shows

The shooter reportedly lured his 'victim' from his home in May 2022 after Ethan stole THC cartridges from Rivas (pictured: Ethan Soto)

Soto's family was recently involved in a courtroom brawl with supporters of the teenager accused of murdering her brother last year.

Ethan Soto, 15, was shot dead in what is believed to be revenge for a drug robbery in May 2022, according to San Antonio police.

Victor Nathaneal Rivas was taking the stand in court, when members of the Soto family launched at him, triggering a huge brawl.

Footage showed at least four members jumping a partition and throwing punches at Rivas - who allegedly provoked the group by making a gesture at them.
A gruesome wasp which hatches inside other insects, and eats its way out, is one of a record 815 new species discovered by the Natural History Museum this year.

Scientists have also found the largest penguin ever known to exist, a fearsome armoured dinosaur and a new moth species discovered in Ealing which is actually native to Western Australia.

Londons Natural History Museum has counted the number of new species it has described each year since 2018, and 815 is the record so far.

The total includes 619 new species of wasps, including 14 which have been given the group name Dalek after the villains in Dr Who.

That is because they are short, sturdy and metallic in colour, as well as having a murderous lifestyle.

This 'gruesome' wasp, called the Dalek nationi, was one of the 815 new species discovered by the Natural History Museum this year

The Museum also named 58 new species of beetle including a number of vivid green and pinkish-orange darkling beetles from China and Laos

How many new species have been discovered? In total 815 new species have been named by the Natural History Museum in 2023. This includes: 619 species of wasps

58 species of beetle

24 species of frogs

15 species of algae

8 species of moth

4 fossil birds

1 new dinosaur Of the 24 new frogs found this year, 20 are miniature species. Pictured, Hyperolius ukaguruensis Advertisement

Describing the Dalek wasps, the Natural History Museums resident wasp expert, Dr Gavin Broad, said: These wasps are a little bit sci fi, as they rather gruesomely lay their eggs inside an insect called a plant louse.

When the eggs hatch, the baby wasps eats their way out of the louse from the inside, ensuring they get a food supply of fresh meat.

It just shows how ingenious wasps are, as other parasitic wasps which use insects in this way can paralyse their hosts or even use mind control  manipulating spiders to spin different webs, which are more beneficial for the wasps.

Last year, when the Natural History Museum revealed 351 new species, wasps made up the majority of new discoveries.

In 2022, 85 new species of wasp were discovered including some that could prove useful as a biological control agent in agriculture.

One tiny parasitic wasp with feather-like wings was one is one of the smallest insects ever discovered and infests the eggs of 'thrips' - an insect which damages crops.

The new species discovered in 2023 also include the largest penguin ever known to exist, Kumimanu fordycei, which weighed about as much as a gorilla, tipping the scales at an estimated 330 pounds (150kg).

The giant penguin, which roamed the seas and beaches of New Zealand more than 50 million years ago, was three times as heavy as a modern emperor penguin.

One of the species discovered was the Kumimanu fordycei, the largest penguin ever to exist at an estimated 330 pounds (150kg).

Another surprising discovery was a new species of moth, found by an amateur in Ealing which turned out to be native to Western Australia

Meanwhile, last month an amateur enthusiast discovered a tiny brown moth in her moth trap in a park in Ealing which turned out to be a new species from Western Australia, which has also established itself in part of west London.

The insect was named Tachystola mulliganae after the moth-lover, Barbara Mulligan, who found it.

The 619 new wasp species, including the tiny Dalek wasps measuring no more than 0.08 inches (2 millimetres) are largely the result of a research trip to Costa Rica, which found more than 550 new wasps.

Experts say wasps are vital in killing pest insects, such as the mealy bug, which would otherwise threaten to destroy vital food supplies like the cassava crop in Africa.

In total, 619 new species of wasp were discovered including this Anicetus lysithe which is believed to parasitise gall-forming insects

READ MORE: 'Alien-like' parasitic wasp that sucks blood from its host before eating it from the inside out is discovered Advertisement

There are 58 new species of beetle named, including a number of vivid green and pinkish-orange darkling beetles from China and Laos, and four new long-snouted weevils from South Africa.

Other insects include six stick insects from Australia, one of which was found for the first time on the side of a bin, and nine new species of bristly worms, including two which eat bones.

There are 24 new species of frogs, of which 20 are miniature species from the forests of Madagascar.

The total includes Hyperolius ukaguruensis, a reed frog from Tanzania that's known as 'voiceless' because it's among the few frogs that do not vocalize to other frogs.

This year has also seen four new fossil bird species, including an ancient, toothed bird called Janavis finalidens which was flying around at the time an asteroid wiped out the dinosaurs, and a species of Mauritius ground thrush that likely went extinct in the 1600s after the introduction of black rats.

A number of the Museum's discoveries are long since extinct just like this ground bird which quickly succumbed to the introduction of black rats

The Natural History Museum also found a new type of armoured dinosaur called the Vectipelta barretti which was found on the Isle of Wight

There is a new dinosaur, with blade-like spiked armour, which is the first armoured dinosaur to be named on the Isle of Wight for 142 years.

Also discovered infecting the roots of 400-million-year-old plants, was the earliest ever disease-causing fungus ever discovered, which was named Potteromyces asteroxylicola after Peter Rabbit author and fungi enthusiast Beatrix Potter.

There were also 14 new meteorites described by museum scientists.

As part of The Darwin Tree of Life project, any new species found in the UK will have its DNA fingerprint sequenced and uploaded onto an extensive database.
Animal lovers will be dancing for joy over the birth of this rare lemur baby at Chester Zoo.

Adorable photos of the bright-eyed baby Coquerel's sifaka lemur show it clinging tightly to mum's fur as she leaps from tree to tree.

Chester Zoo is currently the only zoo in the UK, and one of just three in Europe, to care for the Coquerel's sifaka in a bid to prevent its extinction.

This species of primate, originally from Africa, is critically endangered and has been nicknamed the 'dancing lemur' because of its distinctive sideways gallop.

Their prancing movement allows them to cross long distances while only using the minimum amount of energy.

This critically endangered 'dancing' lemur has been born at Chester Zoo. The tiny new arrival was born to parents following a five-month pregnancy

This is the second baby born to parents Beatrice, 11, (pictured) and Elliot, 10. Primate experts at the zoo say the baby will begin to branch out and explore on its own at around three months old, which is when they will reveal if its male or female

WHAT ARE COQUEREL'S SIFAKAS? In the wild, Coquerel's sifaka lemurs grow to up to 18 inches (46cm) tall and weigh up to 13 pounds (6kg). They are native to the northern region of Madagascar and are unusual among lemurs in the way they walk. They move through trees by vertical clinging and leaping, and can spring over distances of up to 30 feet (9m). On the ground, the sifakas are known for their extravagant dance - maintaining an upright posture and springing sideways using only their back legs. Sifakas have distinctive vocal calls which they use to ward off predators and locate each other, and have a scent gland in their throat which they rub along branches to mark their path and attract mates. Advertisement

Primate experts at the zoo say the baby will begin to branch out and explore on its own at around three months old, which is when they will reveal if it's male or female.

Born to parents Beatrice, 11, and Elliot, 10, Dr Nick Davis, primatologist at Chester Zoo, says that the baby will be a big boost for the species.

'A new arrival into the conservation breeding programme is a huge boost for the species, ' says Dr Davis.

He adds: 'The little one will be joining only five other Coquerel's sifaka living in zoos across Europe, so every addition is very special.

'The new baby was born with a thick fuzzy white coat, just like its parents, and is already wide-eyed and full of personality.

'Mum Beatrice is being kept very busy with her playful arrival who is feeding from her regularly and has, so far, showed great signs of development.'

The baby, who was born on September 21, marks the latest success of the conservation breeding programme.

In the last 30 years, the wild population of Coquerel's sifaka lemurs has declined by 80 per cent due to widespread habitat loss on the island of Madagascar.

As a result, the species has become classed as critically endangered according to the International Union for the Conservation of Nature.

Mike Jordan, Director of Animals and Plants at Chester Zoo says: ' These unique primates are found in only one place on Earth, the northwestern forests of Madagascar.

'Sadly, their population is in sharp decline and their habitat has become increasingly fragmented as more than 90 per cent of the islands forest has been wiped out to make way for agricultural farming and human activities.'

Mr Jordan adds that the zoo has been working with non-governmental organisations in Madagascar to develop an area of protected forests over more than 100 square miles.

Chester is now the only Zoo in the UK and only one of three in Europe to care for these rare creatures

The zookeepers will be unable to determine the newborn's gender until after three months when it stops clinging to its mother

'Were hopeful that the work here at the zoo in the UK, as part of the coordinated efforts with other European zoos, paired with our efforts in Madagascar to protect the forests, will ensure species like the Coquerels sifaka can thrive for generations to come,' he adds.

In their native habitats, Coquerel's sifaka lemurs can grow as big as 18 inches (46cm) tall, while their tail alone measures another 18 inches.

This tail helps them hold their balance as they spring between 20 and 30 feet (6-9m) through the trees.

On the ground, however, their very short front legs make it impossible to run on all fours so use their unique dancing bounce.

Unique among lemurs, this walk is believed to allow them to cross long distances while only using the minimum amount of energy.

It is thought that, by crossing one leg in front of the other, the momentum from landing can help generate some of the energy for the next take-off.

Sifakas have distinctive vocal calls which they use to ward off predators and locate each other, and have a scent gland in their throat which they rub along branches to mark their path and attract mates.

Coquerel's sifaka lemurs are considered critically endangered as their wild population has declined by 80 per cent in the last 30 years

Their decline has mainly been driven by deforestation in their native home of Madagascar

The tiny new arrival weighed 120g - around the same as a medium-sized tomato

Coquerel's sifaka lemurs are known for their distinctive dancing jump which they use to move around on the ground

This latest edition to the family comes after the first ever birth of a Coquerel's sifaka in Europe at Chester Zoo a year ago.

The 4 oz (119g) baby lemur had been born to Beatrice and Elliot, but unfortunately she passed away at around two-and-half-months old due to an underlying health condition.

Before her birth, no Coquerel's sifaka had ever been successfully bred in captivity in Europe.

With the latest edition to the family, the zoo is once again home to three of these extremely endangered animals.
A popular dog and cat food company has issued an urgent recall in seven US states after some of its products tested positive for salmonella and listeria.

North Carolina-based Blue Ridge Beef is warning pet owners about its two-pound logs of its Kitten Grind, Kitten Mix and Puppy Mix sold in Connecticut, New York, Pennsylvania, Virginia, Maryland and Massachusetts.

The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has warned humans to be wary of the food because they can also be infected from handling contaminated products.

Consumers who have purchased these products are urged to contact Blue Ridge Beef for a full refund and destroy the food in a way that children, pets, and wildlife cannot access.

North Carolina-based Blue Ridge Beef is warning pet owners about its two-pound logs of its Kitten Grind, Kitten Mix and Puppy Mix sold in Connecticut, New York, Pennsylvania, Virginia , Maryland and Massachusetts

The lot numbers for all three recalled products are N24 1114 to N24 1224, shown on silver tabs at the end of the tubes.

Blue Ridge produces '100 percent pure raw pet food,' according to its website.

The North Carolina Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services discovered the potentially contaminated products, which tested some products in the company's facility and found they tested positive for salmonella and listeria.

Salmonella is a bacterial infection often described simply as 'food poisoning' and occurs when food is prepared by people who have not washed their hands after using the toilet or handling other contaminated food.

Listeria is a bacterial infection often associated with dairy products  such as ice cream  and deli meats. It can be deadly to pregnant women, newborns and the elderly.

The Food and Drug Administration ( FDA ) has warned humans to be wary of the food because they can also be infected from handling contaminated products

Healthy people infected with salmonella may experience nausea, vomiting, diarrhea or bloody diarrhea, abdominal cramping and fever.

The FDA urges owners to look out for a decreased appetite, fever and abdominal pain for pets.

'Infected but otherwise healthy pets can be carriers and infect other animals or humans,' the FDA shared in an announcement.

'If your pet has consumed the recalled product and has these symptoms, please contact your veterinarian.'

The recall comes nearly four years since the FDA slapped Blue Ridge Beef with a warning letter after finding the company was not up to code.

The letter stated the company was not properly inspecting meat in its raw pet food.

'Your firm utilizes tissues from animals that have died otherwise than by slaughter in the manufacturing of pet food without first determining whether the animals suffered any type of illness, injury, and/or whether any medications may have been administered to the animals prior to your pick up from the supplier and subsequent use in manufacturing, such that tissues from the animals would be unsuitable for manufacturing and processing into your pet food,' the letter reads.
As far as first days go, this one will be hard to beat. Im in Amritsar, northern India  at a farm where, after milking cows, I am dressed in a turban. Then Im taken to the Golden Temple, a holy Sikh shrine with a marble exterior dripping with 24-carat gold.

At night, it glitters, gleams and floats majestically on a pool, its reflection shimmering in the water. By day, the temple takes on a serene, almost ethereal hue.

Whats more, this 420-year-old temple is home to the biggest kitchen on the planet. On the ground level, volunteers chop garlic and onions, a floor up theyre stirring steaming vats of dahl and on the top floor is a conveyor belt of chapatti-making where I help roll dough into thin circles.

Some 100,000 people are fed here daily because Sikhs believe nobody should go hungry. Its noble and brilliant.

India has a population of 1.4 billion (the worlds second highest) and, as travelling here can be a culture shock, many holidaymakers prefer to come on an escorted tour.

Jo Kessel visits the Golden Temple at Amritsar (pictured), which she describes as 'a holy Sikh shrine with a marble exterior dripping with 24-carat gold'

Ive joined one such ten-day trip around northern India with small-group specialist Jules Verne, which has itineraries visiting lesser-known sites and promises authentic travel with a twist. The average group size is around 20 (though there are only eight in ours). We never feel guided, instead were joined by locals who show us around and share insights. By some fluke they even lead us on to a Bollywood movie set.

The Punjab city of Amritsar has seen a recent makeover, with shiny, new pedestrianised market streets fanning from the temple. But its still physically scarred by its history. Bullet marks on walls show where the British Raj massacred thousands of innocent civilians in 1919.

And its 1984 siege led to hundreds of deaths as well as the assassination of then Prime Minister Indira Gandhi. The regions darkest moments, however, were after the countrys partition in 1947, sanctioned by the British.

This created Pakistan  Amritsar is only 20 miles from the border  and led to an estimated two million displaced Muslims, Hindus and Sikhs being slaughtered. Their story is told in graphic, upsetting detail at the citys Partition Museum and our guide, Jagroopsingh, shares his thoughts. Imagine the superpower India would be now if Pakistan and Bangladesh were still part of it, he says.

Jo visits Indias border with Pakistan at Wagah to watch the daily Closing of the Border Ceremony. Held in a packed, 30,000-capacity stadium, its a frenzy of pomp, with soldiers marching, high-kicking and shaking hands. Pictured: Indian Border Force personnel during such a ceremony

Jo visits Amritsar, Dharamshala and Shimla before ending with a local train ride to Delhi

Today, there is peace. We visit Indias border with Pakistan at Wagah to watch the daily Closing of the Border Ceremony. Held in a packed, 30,000-capacity stadium, its a frenzy of pomp, with soldiers marching, high-kicking and shaking hands.

After a couple of nights in Amritsar we head for the Himalayan foothills in a convoy of three white Toyotas.

Theres no Highway Code to speak of  instead its a nail-biting free-for-all of honking, swerving rickshaws and trucks. India has vast distances to cover, so prepare for long, bumpy journeys  and cows.

Theyre considered sacred, roam freely and are a constant hazard. Kill one, even by accident, and Ill be hunted down and beaten up, says our driver, Vinod, as he waits patiently for one to cross the road. Our journey is broken up with several overnight stays, including one at Indias first private forest reserve, Kikar Lodge. Leopards, jungle cats and antelope call this home and we hope to spot them during a jeep safari  but when they prove shy we enjoy a sundowner under the stars instead.

Jo travels to the hill station of Shimla (pictured) 'where the British Raj used to escape the summer heat'

Jo says Shimla was 'a tiny village of 100 inhabitants' when the British Raj found it in 1815, but that now it has a population of 200,000, plus lots of monkeys (above)

The next day we catch our first glimpse of Himalayan hills in the Kangra Valley, where the exiled Dalai Lama has created his very own slice of Tibet. We visit his monastery in Dharamshala and stumble upon a large gathering of Buddhist monks in a heated debate about something or other.

The higher we climb, the bigger the mountains. We acclimatise for a couple of nights at the Rakkh Resort in Palampur  a 4,900 ft-high retreat that offers yoga, meditation and an early-morning trek through the local villages ten-acre tea plantation. Their unique Kangra blend is available at the hotel and the cuppa I make in my room is delicious  fragrant and delicate.

Another 3,000ft up takes us to the Taj Theog Resort, where the air is crisp and clear, and the view hypnotic. The steep slopes ahead are terraced with rice paddies, while the taller peaks beyond are capped with snow. Its an awe-inspiring, energising vista of which it is impossible to tire.

This is our base to discover the hill station of Shimla, where the British Raj used to escape the summer heat. When they found it in 1815 it was a tiny village of 100 inhabitants. Now it has a population of 200,000 (with nearly as many pesky langur monkeys) and a brave policy of no plastic or smoking.

Its crumbling pastel houses cling precariously to hillsides with several colonial buildings still standing, including the Viceregal Lodge where Lord Mountbatten, the last Viceroy to India, once lived. Its interiors are magnificent, with elaborate chandeliers and sweeping staircases crafted from dark, Burmese wood. Chillingly, the desk where the partition was drafted is still in situ.

Pictured: One of the rooms at the Rakkh Resort in the Himalayas, where Jo stays. She says it's a '4,900 ft-high retreat that offers yoga, meditation and an early-morning trek through the local villages ten-acre tea plantation'

The trip ends with a local train ride to Delhi where, during an immersive tour, we get an insight into life in Indias capital. We admire red and white Mughal-era architecture, learn the art of paper-cutting and make perfume. And theres the local Punjab specialty of Kulcha to try, Indias answer to a Cornish pasty  hot bread stuffed with meat, cheese or vegetables served with sweet chutney.

Best of all is a cycle-rickshaw ride through the old towns noisy tangle of alleys, inhaling the heady scents of incense as we pedal past stalls selling saris and street-food.

A tour of India isnt restful. Its intense  but its a feast. For body and soul.
Greeces fury over Rishi Sunaks snub of its prime minister, Kyriakos Mitsotakis, has upset tour companies and one or two locals who escort millions of British visitors to the bleached Acropolis.

The Acropolis is our most important monument; just imagine if someone removed the clock from Big Ben, or sold the Eiffel Tower? says the founder of Athens Walks, Kostas Chatzivasileiou.

But all is not lost. The city is on a roll  recovering from an economic crisis and years of Covid lockdowns.

A record four million British visitors travelled to Greece this year, while the capital, Athens, became a Greekend destination, rivalling Berlin or Barcelona as a city break for foodies and art lovers.

At the top end of the market, hotel openings like The Dolli and the One&Only have put a spring in Athenss step. Last summer, those paying to see the Acropolis soared by 80 per cent, meaning long queues and cancellations to avoid overcrowding. Undaunted, more than 17,000 people daily clambered the rocky hillside in Athens to snap a selfie with the Parthenon in the background.

'Last summer, those paying to see the Acropolis (pictured) soared by 80 per cent, meaning long queues and cancellations to avoid overcrowding,' writes June Field. 'And now the powers that be have decided to hike the cost of a visit. From July 2025, the entry fee will rise from 20 per person to 30'

And now the powers that be have decided to hike the cost of a visit. From July 2025, the entry fee will rise from 20 per person to 30.

The best way to beat the queues, especially in high season, is to pre-book a group tour online  ideally the earliest skip the queue ticket at 9am, which includes entry fee plus a two-hour tour with a licensed guide. This avoids the more costly guides heckling visitors at the site entrance.

For a totally jostle-free experience, visit off season.

Early spring or October onwards are the best months. Go at 5.30pm for those glorious sunset shots, as well as half-price entry tickets, at 10 per person.

Most importantly, wear your most comfortable trainers, as there are 200 slippery marble steps up to the Acropolis. Plus, beware that the site itself is full of uneven, rocky paths. And dont forget a hat and a bottle of water.

No food is allowed and none is sold inside, so dont come hungry.

No food is allowed at the Acropolis and none is sold inside, says June. 'So dont come hungry,' she adds. Pictured: Cafes in the nearby Plaka district of Athens

As you enter, youll arrive at the most impressive viewpoint, the iconic south-west corner of the Parthenon monument, where the missing Pentelic sculptured marble frieze once formed its famous crowning centrepiece.

As far as calling them the Elgin Marbles, its a phrase best avoided here. They were supposedly bought while Thomas Bruce, 7th Lord Elgin was British ambassador to the Ottoman empire in the 19th century; so the suggestion of ownership is generally unwelcome. Instead, guides refer to them as statues and sculpted reliefs of the Parthenon.

Pause for lunch or a drink on the balcony of the nearby Acropolis Museum cafe and theres also a marvellous shop to stock up on souvenirs.

Meanwhile, many Acropolis guides believe the recent ruffling of feathers over the Elgin Marbles has worked in their favour.

This exchange of words has put the spotlight on the campaign on a global level, which can only be good news, is how one of them put it.

And its probably not bad for visitor numbers, either.
Dame Esther Rantzen's daughter has given a heart-breaking insight into what could be her last Christmas with her mother.

Rebecca Wilcox revealed how she was 'determined to make the most' of it and how the big day spent with her mother and family was 'so filled with love'.

The television presenter said she 'held on to each moment so tightly' as they filled their Christmas Day with 'happy memories' after Childline founder Dame Esther was diagnosed with stage four lung cancer earlier this year.

The 83-year-old revealed this month she has joined assisted-dying clinic Dignitas in Switzerland and will consider going there to end her life should her next scan show she is getting worse.

Dame Esther has also reignited the debate over assisted-dying after calling for national debate on the subject, saying people deserve 'the choice' over how they pass away.

Esther Rantzen spent Christmas with her family. Pictured: (Seated L-R) Teddy , Alexander, Romily, Kelly Florence, (Standing L-R) Rebecca Wilcox, Joshua, Esther, Benjamin and Miriam

Dame Esther Rantzen's daughter has given a heart-breaking insight into what could be her last Christmas with her mother (Dame Esther Rantzen' pictured in 2022)

The Childline founder, 83, who was diagnosed with stage four lung cancer earlier this year, revealed she has joined the assisted-dying clinic in Switzerland and will consider going there

Dame Esther previously revealed she had not expected to spend this Christmas with her family after being diagnosed with cancer, but a 'miracle' drug had given her additional time with her loved ones.

Is Assisted Suicide illegal in Britain? Under the Suicide Act 1961, anyone helping or encouraging someone to take their own life in England or Wales can be prosecuted and jailed for up to 14 years if found guilty of an offence. Section two of the act states that a person commits an offence if they carry out an act capable of encouraging or assisting the suicide or attempted suicide of another person, and the act was intended to encourage or assist suicide or an attempt at suicide. In 2015 MPs including former prime minister David Cameron rejected a Bill to legalise assisted dying. Opposition to changing the law has come from faith groups, campaigners who say disabled people may feel pressured to end their lives and campaigners who fear assisted dying would become a business. Advertisement

Writing in her column for The Mirror, her daughter Rebecca, 43, explained: 'Its not often that you know beforehand it will be the last time you will dish out turkey and pull crackers at the table with your mother, but thats what this year has been for us.

'She thought she would be dead in spring, but a miraculous drug has meant that we have another Christmas with her, a wonder we couldnt have imagined possible when she was diagnosed in January. I was determined to make the most of it.'

Rebecca continued: 'I couldnt relax. I was too aware every moment was a precious treasure. I felt I needed to hold on to each minute so tightly I was probably exhausting to be around.'

She explained how despite initially stressing about the 'trickling away time' she managed to finally 'relax' and find contentment in making memories.

She revealed how Dame Esther made wonderful memories with her grandchildren - teaching two how to play solitaire and being taught in return how to do a sudoku puzzle - before singing karaoke late into the day.

Rebecca added that the was 'filled with so much love that our memories will last' and said she was holding out hope for 'another Christmas miracle' by having her mother with them next year.

She previously said she fears she could be accused of murder if she helps her seriously ill mother travel to Dignitas.

However, Dame Esther admitted such a decision would put her family and friends in a difficult position as they could be prosecuted should they decide to join her.

Rebecca told TalkTV: 'It's impossible, isn't it, because I can't even say to you, I would support my mum on her journey to Dignitas because if I said that, that's legally murky.

'Obviously, in my head, I would have thought that I would never let her go alone to somewhere like that, but I'm a busy working mum. I can't leave my children to pop off to jail while she's buzzing off to Switzerland.

'The fact is only three people a year get prosecuted. But the actual process of going through a court case at what is the worst time of my life so far.

'You know, mum is my person. I do not want to live without her. I will have to live without her and please, please don't make it worse for me by accusing me of murdering her and making me go through what would be a terrifying legal process.'

Her daughter Rebecca Wilcox told of how she 'held on to each moment so tightly' as they filled their Christmas Day with 'happy memories'

The broadcaster, who has stage four lung cancer, said she has heard tales of 'intolerable suffering' since revealing that she has joined assisted-dying clinic Dignitas

Dame Esther has called for a free vote on assisted dying as it's 'important that the law catches up with what the country wants'.

Speaking on the current illegal status of assisted dying in the UK she pleaded: 'This cruelty must stop.'

READ MORE HERE: Dame Esther Rantzen pleads 'This cruelty must stop' as she urges a free vote to be held on legalising assisted dying Advertisement

She continued:'The current law was intended to protect the vulnerable, to stop them being pressured into suicide.

'And of course precautions are vital. But bad cases make bad laws, and in trying to prevent crime the law at the moment denies us the most valuable freedom of all, the freedom to choose when to end our own suffering.'

She said she will find out in a few weeks if a new medication she has been taking is 'performing its miracle' or if it has 'given up'.

Asked about the current rules on assisted dying, Ms Wilcox said: 'Why would it be a problem to set up regulation around this?

'We have regulation around everything. I've been trying to adopt a dog and the forms and licences and things that go through that is ridiculous.

'So death and birth are possibly the most important moments in your life.

'My death, I want it to be exactly how I want it to be and I think coming together, making a law, making structures, making regulation that respects my opinion on my body and my death for everybody is the only sane way.

'It would stop the money-makers who want to make money from people's death and frankly if you're going to give someone a good death, make some money out of it as long as you're helping them.

Rebecca previously said she fears she could be accused of murder if she helps her seriously ill mother travel to Dignitas

Dame Esther married Desmond Wilcox, a fellow journalist, in 1977. The couple had three children together, Miriam, Rebecca, and Josh, before Desmond died from heart disease in September 2000 aged 69

Dame Esther explained to her family that she didn't 'want their last memories of me to be painful because if you watch someone you love having a bad death, that memory obliterates all the happy times'

'I have to say, Dignitas does not look like a very lovely place. I would much rather have diamonds and champagnes and a hot bathtub, and it doesn't look like they supply that, and I think mum would too. We both model ourselves on Dame Joan Collins who is fabulous.'

Ms Wilcox had earlier told ITV's Good Morning Britain how her mother, who has also worked as a broadcaster for several years, 'doesn't care what anyone else says' as she prepares to join her family for what tragically could be her last Christmas.

'It's horrific and she always promised us she would live forever. She's not usually one to break her promises so we're a little upset about that.

'I would personally want to ground her plane if she was going to fly to Zurich but I know it's her decision. I just don't ever want her to go.'

Ms Wilcox also spoke of the heartbreak of watching her father, Desmond, endure a slow and painful death as he battled heart disease, adding: 'That's what mum wants to avoid.'

Dame Esther said that if 'nothing's working' she might 'buzz off to Zurich' in Switzerland but realises this would put her family and friends in a difficult position as they could be prosecuted should they decide to join her.
Billie Lourd took to honor her late mother Carrie Fisher Wednesday, on the seventh anniversary of the death of the Star Wars actress.

'I miss her every day but the cliche is also true - she is with me every day - she infuses my joyful moments with even more joy,' the 31-year-old actress said on Instagram.

Lourd shared an image of herself and her late mother at a beach with the emotional post.

'It has been 7 years since my mom died (but whos counting?? Me I guess?)' Lourd wrote. 'Every anniversary brings a different iteration of my grief.'

Fisher, who played Princess Leia in the Star Wars anthology, died at 60 on December 27, 2016 at Ronald Reagan UCLA Medical Center in Los Angeles, four days after she had a heart attack on a flight from London to Los Angeles.

Billie Lourd, 31, took to honor her late mother Carrie Fisher Wednesday, on the seventh anniversary of the death of the Star Wars actress

Lourd shared an image of herself and her late mother at a beach with the emotional post

Medical examiners subsequently found cocaine, ecstasy and heroin in Fisher's system at the time she had passed.

Compounding the Hollywood tragedy, Fisher's mother and Billie's grandmother, Singin' in the Rain star Debbie Reynolds, died at 84 after a stroke December 28, 2016 as she was planning Fisher's memorial.

On Wednesday, Lourd opened up on the variety of emotions she's experienced in the wake of her mother's passing.

'Some infuse me with rage, some make me cry all day long, some make me feel dissociated and empty, some make me feel nothing, some make me feel guilty for feeling nothing, and some make me feel all of those things all at once,' the Los Angeles native said. 'This year when I woke up I felt grateful - or griefull if you will.'

'Grief has infused my life with a sense of appreciation I had never had before. It makes me soak up every moment of joy as if it were my last.'

Lourd has welcomed two children in the years since her mother's death, as she's mom to son Kingston, three, and daughter Jackson Joanne, one, with husband Austen Rydell, 31.

'Today I was holding my daughter while she was napping in my arms and my eyes welled up with tears of joy,' said Lourd, who's been seen on Scream Queens and American Horror Story. 'I laughed at myself then cried more cause I was laughing.

'I felt my mombys presence like the warmth of the sun on your skin on a hot summer day. The kind of warmth where you unknowingly close your eyes and take a slow breath through your nose and grin.'

Fisher and Lourd were pictured at an event in London in June of 2016

Fisher's mother and Billie's grandmother, Singin' in the Rain star Debbie Reynolds, died at 84 after a stroke December 28, 2016 as she was planning Fisher's memorial. Pictured in January of 2015 in LA

Lourd honored her late mother earlier this year when she attended a Hollywood Walk of Fame ceremony on May 4 (Star Wars Day) as Fisher was posthumously awarded a star

Lourd, whose father is CAA CEO Bryan Lourd, said that she has often spoken about her late mother to her young children: 'As I tell my son, she lives in the stars - and she damn sure makes my life sparkle.'

Lourd wrapped up in expressing her empathy for others missing loved ones: 'Sending my love to all my griefers out there. And hoping everyone can feel a little sparkle of griefull among all the feelings grief inevitably brings.'

Lourd honored her late mother earlier this year when she attended a Hollywood Walk of Fame ceremony on May 4 (Star Wars Day) as Fisher was posthumously awarded a star.

She said in a speech, 'Mama, you've made it. My mom died six-and-a-half years ago, and ever since, I've fallen deeply in love with Leia and the entire Star Wars universe. I buy every single piece of Leia merch I Leia my eyes on.'

Last year, Lourd took to social media speaking on her sadness that her mother never was able to meet her spouse and their two children.

'My mom is not here to meet either of them and isn't here to experience any of the magic,' she said. 'Sometimes the magical moments can also be the hardest. That's the thing about grief. I wish my Momby were here, but she isn't.

'So all I can do is hold onto the magic harder, hug my kids a little tighter. Tell them a story about her. Share her favorite things with them. Tell them how much she would have loved them.'
Australian Ninja Warrior star Zed Colback suffered an immense tragedy earlier this month when his younger brother Samuel died in a snorkeling accident.

The former reality star, 29, shared an update to Instagram on Thursday revealing Sam's beachside funeral will be livestreamed on social media later that day.

Posting a photo of his younger brother looking at the sunset at a Perth beach, Zed invited family, friends and fans to watch the service live on Facebook.

'Please join us to honour and celebrate the full and vibrant life of Sam. Ocean's Church, Albany, shoes optional,' he wrote.

'We will swap some love and stories of Sam,' Zed added.

Australian Ninja Warrior star Zed Colback, 29, (pictured) honoured his late brother Samuel during a barefoot beach funeral in Thursday morning, after the 24-year-old died during a solo snorkelling incident earlier this month

Zed also shared a throwback photo of a shirtless Sam grinning in his car seat.

Sam was just 24 years old when he died during a solo snorkelling trip in Western Australia earlier this month.

His body was recovered from the water in Albany, on the southern tip of WA.

The former reality star shared an update to Instagram on Thursday revealing Sam's beachside funeral will be livestreamed on social media later that day

Sam (right) died in a snorkelling accident earlier this month. His body was recovered from the water in Albany, on the southern tip of WA

Zed, who competed on Australian Ninja Warrior in 2018, paid tribute to Sam in a touching post following the tragedy.

He shared a gallery of precious family photos capturing him and Sam living life to the fullest while rock climbing and parasailing and captioned it with some sad words.

'Love ya little bro. Wish we could go on one last adventure together,' he began.

'Our little Amara will learn all about her crazy loving, big hearted, fearless uncle Sam as she grows up. See you in glory.'

Zed, (pictured with wife Nicole and newborn daughter Amara) paid tribute to Sam in a touching post following the tragedy
Billie Shepherd has made a big change on social media amid her family's lavish Christmas getaway to the Maldives.

The reality star, 33, jetted off to celebrate in the sun with husband Greg, 38, and children Nelly, nine, Arthur, five, and 11-month-old Margot.

But the latest trip saw Billie turning off the comments section on her post after previously being accused of rubbing her wealth in people's faces, according to The Mirror.

In the snaps the former TOWIE star looked gorgeous in an array of stylish beach wear as she sipped Champagne with her family on the beach.

Writing: 'Wishing everyone a wonderful Christmas love The Shepherd's'.

Billie Shepherd has made a big change on social media amid her family's lavish Christmas getaway to the Maldives

The reality star, 33, jetted off to celebrate in the sun with husband Greg, 38, and children Nelly, nine, Arthur, five, and 11-month-old Margot

According to The Mirror previous posts from the star's many trips including to Dubai and Greece were met with backlash from fans.

According to the publication one wrote: 'Bragging about your wealth as always'.

While another said: 'I am not hating but it's sickening when all you do is flaunt your life off on social media and get paid to promote brands that you don't even use or would never entertain but because they pay you money to endorse their products and make out you use them, you just do it because they pay you money'.

And: 'How vile you seem to rub your new wealth into people's faces.. show some compassion for how your followers are struggling at the moment'.

Earlier this month sister Sam Faiers was also slammed by fans for gushing about her seventh trip to Lapland UK where tickets cost at 140 a pop.

The 32-year-old shared a video montage of her last trip to the Christmas experience with her partner Paul Knightley and their children Paul, seven, Rosie, six, and one-year-old Edward.

She captioned the post: 'Our family tradition.. I cant believe this is our 7th year visiting @laplanduk. Magical in every way.'

But the TV personality came in for criticism from her followers who said many people can't afford to go to Lapland once, nevermind seven times.

But the latest trip saw Billie turning off the comments section on her post after reportedly being accused of rubbing her wealth in people's faces

In the snaps the former TOWIE star looked gorgeous in an array of stylish beach wear as she sipped Champagne with her family on the beach

Their lavish villa also boasted a traditional Christmas tress

Writing: 'Wishing everyone a wonderful Christmas love The Shepherd's'

According to The Sun, one user wrote: 'Perhaps next year Sam could donate tickets to a family that isn't as privileged.'

Another added: 'OK to post pictures of Lapland but to make a point of saying it's the 7th time is a little unfair.'

A third wrote: 'Love your family but some people would like to take their little one's once,' while a fourth penned: 'You're lucky you can afford it.'

It comes after Sam and her Billie signed a multi-million pound deal for their podcast with Amazon.

According to Treports previous posts from the star's many trips were met with backlash from fans.

The family have both visited Dubai and Greece in 202

They will be bringing their podcast The Sam and Billie Show to Amazon's podcast platform Wonderly in a multi year deal.

The former TOWIE stars, who launched their podcast back in 2021, are now setting their sights on conquering the US.

An insider exclusively told MailOnline: 'The deal with Amazon marks a significant milestone for Sam and Billie.

'The girls are hoping the deal will open doors for them in the US.'

The source close to Sam and Billie said the huge signing marks a new era for the sisters, after Sam stepped down from Mummy Diaries filming in 2021.

The podcast covers the sisters' lives as they negotiate family life with being in the public eye.

The lucrative deal comes as Sam's brand Revive Collage netted more than 13million in the first three years.
Jett Kenny and his influencer girlfriend Lily Brown are currently enjoying a romantic one-year anniversary getaway on the Sunshine Coast in QLD.

On Wednesday, Lily, 25, shared a sweet video to TikTok capturing the lovebirds having the time of their lives at a luxury cottage getaway.

The footage begins by showing the pair strolling to their cottage and then cuts to a jaw-dropping view of their room's spacious surroundings.

A shirtless Jett, 29, flexes his six-pack abs in the cottage as he poses up a storm against the scenic view of the nature surroundings and then passionately kisses Lily.

Lily captioned the video: 'Happy one year to my love. Here's to 100 more, I love you so much.

Jett Kenny (pictured) and his influencer girlfriend Lily Brown are currently enjoying a romantic one-year anniversary getaway on the Sunshine Coast in QLD

'The best thing since slice bread. You changed my whole world,' she added.

Jett, who is the son of Australian sporting champs Lisa Curry and Grant Kenny, looked to be having the time of his life with Lily, who gave him a bouquet of flowers to mark the milestone.

Lily and Jett debuted their relationship last December after weeks of rumours.

On Wednesday, Lily (right), 25, shared a video to TikTok capturing the lovebirds having the time of their lives at a luxury cottage getaway. The pair were seen passionately kissing at the dinner table

The model and influencer both shared the same photo of them kissing to Instagram on New Year's Eve.

Jett captioned his romantic post, 'To the future,' alongside a pair of love heart emojis.

Lily meanwhile wrote alongside her own re-post of the photograph: 'You'd be a tough one to keep a secret.'

Lily gave Jett a bouquet of flowers to celebrate the milestone occasion and said it was the first of many

The pair were forced to deny they were set to welcome their first child after a round of pregnancy speculation in May.

The rumour mill was sent into overdrive after Lily's mother appeared to let slip the pair are preparing for a baby on Instagram.

Nataly shared a photo of pink, embroidered baby clothes, writing: 'Bit of baby shopping on the way home because [excitement emoji].'

Jett, who is the son of Australian sporting champs Lisa Curry and Grant Kenny, looks to be having the time of his life with Lily
Rebel Wilson has provided fans with some hints about what to expect from her upcoming tell-all memoir called Rebel Rising.

The Bridesmaid star, 43, shared a video to Instagram on Thursday, capturing her signing the first 4000 copies of her book for eager fans.

The Sydney-born star tells fans they can expect her book to challenge their preconceived notions of who she is as a person.

'I can't wait for you to read this, you're going to see a whole new side of me. Lots of funny and serious stuff,' she began.

'Hopefully you will love the book as much as I've liked writing it. Although sometimes it's been gut-wrenching and emotional.'

Rebel Wilson (pictured) has provided fans with some hints about what to expect from her upcoming tell-all memoir called Rebel Rising

The Bridesmaid star, 43, shared a video to Instagram on Thursday, capturing her signing the first 4000 copies of her book for eager fans

Rebel Rising, which will hit bookstores in April, promises an intimate exploration of Wilson that goes beyond her public persona.

In October, the veteran performer revealed on social media she had written a memoir and said it will reveal a never before seen side of her.

'This book is like me sitting down telling my deepest, darkest secrets to a friend, with some laughs along the way of course,' she said.

'So when it's released, "my friend" will become YOU.'

Publisher Harper Collins also offered a sneak peek at the front cover, which features a glamorous Rebel wearing a revealing red sequinned dress.

The book, due to hit shelves in April 2024, will unveil the 'messy reality' of the funnywoman's rise from dog-groomer to Hollywood star.

The Sydney-born star tells fans they can expect her book to challenge their preconceived notions of who she is as a person

It will also document her struggles with her confidence and 'constantly questioning "Am I good enough?", "Will I ever find love?" and "Will I ever change and become healthy?"'

'Rebel writes for the first time about her most personal and important moments in her life  from fertility issues, weight gain and loss, sexuality, overcoming shyness, rejections and much more,' the description of the book reads.

Wilson told People that she 'underestimated how much work it really is' to write a memoir.

'I think the first few chapters were really s**t,' she said. 'Then the editor was like, "This just doesn't sound like you." So what I started doing is I just sat there by myself as if I'm just telling the story to a friend.'
Jennifer Lawrence proved herself a doting mom as she was spotted carrying her one-year-old son Cy during a stroll in Beverly Hills on Wednesday.

The Oscar winner  who recently stole the spotlight at a Broadway premiere  looked like she stepped off the cover of a magazine with her chic black leather jacket and matching pants.

She added a denim oxford to the stylish mix as she stomped the tony Los Angeles town's sidewalk in beige flats.

With a large taupe handbag hanging off her shoulder and a set of designer shades holding back her blonde locks, she tightly held onto her baby boy, whom she shares with husband Cooke Maroney, an art gallerist she married in 2019.

The adorable mother-son outing comes after the Silver Linings Playbook vet hit back at speculation that she has had plastic surgery in an interview with Kylie Jenner in a recent edition of Interview Magazine.

Jennifer Lawrence proved herself a doting mom as she was spotted carrying her one-year-old son Cy during a stroll in Beverly Hills on Wednesday

The Oscar winner looked like she stepped off the cover of a magazine with her chic black leather jacket and matching pants

She insisted that her recent change in appearance was due to a make-up technique.

'I also think it's incredible what make-up can do because I work with. Hung [Vanngo], who overlines the lip, and I call him a plastic surgeon, because everybody in the last few months since I've been working with him is convinced that I had eye surgery,' she added.

'I'm like, 'I didn't have eye surgery. I'm doing make-up.''

Jennifer also opened up about treating her security guards as family members now that she hired a crew after the birth of Cy.

'Before I hired them, in my mind I was like, I want them to be invisible, I don't want my kid to see you or know you,' she explained.

'And then once they start working for you, it's like, 'Well, wait. This is a person in our life. He's helping us.'

'That's not really a good lesson to ignore the person that's helping us. It's probably better to say, 'Say good morning to Sean. Hi. How are you?'

'We've incorporated them more in our lives, which surprised me. That wasn't how I planned it.'

She added a denim oxford to the stylish mix as she stomped the tony Los Angeles town's sidewalk in beige flats

Jennifer insisted the changes to her appearance was a result of cleverly applied make-up - not a cosmetic procedure (she is pictured on the left last week, right in September 2009)

Jennifer shares the tyke with her husband, Cook Maroney (Pictured in New York in March)

Jennifer and Cooke welcome Cy, their first child together, in 2022.

The couple have been linked since the summer of 2018 after meeting through a mutual friend.

Following several months of courtship, the actress and the art gallery director became engaged in early February 2019 and exchanged vows in October of the same year.
The second season of The Tourist is set to drop on Stan on January 2.

And now Aussie actress Danielle Macdonald, who stars in the hits series alongside Jamie Doran, has revealed a surprising detail about the upcoming season.

The show's creators never envisaged a follow up.

'Wed heard they kind of wanted a Season 2, but it was only ever meant to be a mini-series  it was never meant to have another season,' Macdonald, 32, told Variety Australia on Monday.

'A little while later, I was chatting with the writers, and they were like, ''I kind of miss this world, and I was like, ''Me too, its been really fun''.

The brand new season of The Tourist premieres January 2, only on Stan.

The second season of The Tourist is set to drop on Stan on January 2. Pictured: Danielle Macdonald

And now Aussie actress Danielle Macdonald, who stars in the hits series alongside Jamie Doran (pictured), has revealed a surprising detail about the upcoming season

'Then, a month later, they emailed me saying that they wrote a pilot for Season 2. And I was like, great, ''give it to me now,''' she continued.

In season one, which is set in Australia, Elliott (Dornan) wakes up in an outback hospital after an accident, with no idea about what happened to him or why.

Season two, filmed in Ireland, picks up the story a year later as Elliott tries to get in touch with his roots which leads to complications with his family.

The new season follows the action to Dublin, a year after Elliott left the outback, as he comes face to face with his past.

Helen (played by Macdonald), an outback cop, travels to Ireland with Dornan's troubled character, only to be dragged into the mystery of his past life.

Macdonald adds: 'The writers have a very specific writing style. Its funny, its dark, its wild, and its crazy. It was a world I wanted to be a part of.'

Earlier this month Macdonald revealed to the Daily Mail Australia what it was like working alongside her sexy Fifty Shades of Grey co-star

'Jamie is amazing and great. He is really fun, funny and incredibly trustworthy and supportive,' she said.

'I always felt 100% taken care of and we also work very similarly. We are always on the same page about characters. He has always got your back so he is a joy to work with.'

In season 2 filmed in Ireland, Helen (played by Macdonald), an outback cop, travels to Dublin with Dornan's troubled character, only to be dragged into the mystery of his past life Pictured: Danielle Macdonald on the red carpet in Los Angeles earlier this year

Macdonald said fans can expect something 'wild' in season 2 of The Tourist (pictured)

She also insisted he is nothing like his controversial character Christian Grey in Fifty Shades of Grey.

'I don't see him as Christian Grey at all. If anything, he is further from him. He is like a big goofball and a very funny Irish guy. Not this like stud hardcore man,' she added.

'He is so many worlds apart from that character as a human being that I can't even see that character in him.'

Danielle also said it was 'amazing' filming season two of The Tourist in Ireland.
Emma Roberts was overcome with love as she wrote a sweet tribute to her son Rhodes on his 3rd birthday.

The Nickelodeon alum, 32, shared the heartfelt message to Instagram Wednesday along with several photos of the child.

The first showed Roberts knelt down on the pavement with her son in her lap as they spent time together in a small New England town.

Another was a photo of an adorable photo of Rhodes' that was framed in a silver Christmas ornament.

'Happy Birthday to the sweetest soul. I love you Rhodes! Here's to 3! [HEART-EMOJI],' captioned the American Horror Story star.

Emma Roberts was overcome with love as she wrote a sweet tribute to her son Rhodes on his 3rd birthday

On her grid, Roberts uploaded a stunning blank-and-white photo of herself smiling up at Rhodes while he rested in her lap.

The priceless portrait was captured by photographer Victor Demarchelier.

Her mother Kelly Cunningham told her grandson that she loves him 'so much' and posted some of her favorite photos of Rhodes.

One showed the grandmother and grandson cuddling together on a couch.

Roberts shares the darling three-year-old with actor Garrett Hedlund, 39.

And Hedlund made sure to honor his son's special day with an Instagram post of his own.

'Happy Birthday to My Tender Toughie Rhodey!!!!' the Four Brothers star began.

He then called Rhodes his 'Wings and my Shadow,' adding: 'The Holy Trinity3!!!!'

Along with his words, Hedlund included a candid photo of himself having one-on-one time with his only child.

The hunky star was recently spotted on a sushi date with actress Rachel Bilson, 42  nearly two years after his and Emma's split.

The former couple parted ways in early 2022 after three years of dating.

They welcomed their son just a little over a year prior in December 2020.

Besides birthday tributes and rare Instagram Story cameos, both Hedlund and Roberts have kept Rhodes out of the spotlight.

The Nickelodeon alum, 32, shared the heartfelt message to Instagram Wednesday along with several photos of the child

Rhodes' dad Garrett Hedlund made sure to honor his son's special day with an Instagram post of his own

Her mother Kelly Cunningham told her grandson that she loves him 'so much' and posted some of her favorite photos of Rhodes

One showed the grandmother and grandson cuddling together on a couch

Hedlund has maintained an amicable relationship with Roberts since their split, and he paid tribute to her in the video for his song Day One, which was released in May.

Earlier this year, Roberts spoke to PEOPLE about being a working mom and how it can be 'very hard.'

The actress will soon be back to work on the second half of American Horror Story: Delicate following the end of the SAG-AFTRA strike, which paused production in July.

'I just see [work] from such a different perspective now,' she said.

'Being a mom is a full time job, so I see how for women who have full-time jobs and [are] full-time moms, it's so hard, and I have so much respect for them.'

In an interview with the UK outlet Tatler, Roberts revealed her approach to parenting and what she hopes to teach her son.

'I definitely think about how I can help him be the utmost gentleman. I want him to be respectful and intelligent at school but also in life,' she explained.

'What it means to be a man is being rewritten right now and I hope my contribution to the world can be raising an amazing boy who turns into an amazing man.

Roberts and Hedlund split in early 2022 after three years of dating; seen in August 2019

They welcomed their son just a year prior in December 2020

'I want him to feel that there's nothing he couldn't ask or tell me.'

Since her split with Hedlund, Roberts has found love again with boyfriend Cody John.

The couple went public with their relationship in August 2022 after they were reportedly introduced by mutual friends.

Cody did so by posting a photo of himself kissing Roberts on Instagram in August 2022 with the caption, 'sweet sweet.'
Hugh Grant spent Christmas Day spreading joy to Londoners by serving up a festive lunch.

The 63-year-old helping out at the Big H&F Christmas Day Lunch was described as 'the real Love Actually' as he surprised locals.

The event allowed elderly residents of Hammersmith and Fulham, who would otherwise have been on their own, to enjoy Christmas together.

Grant was seen socialising with guests and fellow volunteers in addition to waiting on the people of west London.

A spokesperson for the council said: 'Thanks to everyone who joined us at the annual Big H&F Christmas Day Lunch - including a very special guest, Hugh Grant.

Hugh Grant was spotted serving up Christmas dinner to his London neighbours at the Big H&F Christmas Day Lunch

The actor was helping at the event which allows elderly residents of Hammersmith and Fulham, who would otherwise be on their own, to enjoy Christmas together

He was seen socialising with guests and fellow volunteers at the Novotel hotel in Hammersmith

A spokesperson for the council said: 'Thanks to everyone who joined us at the annual Big H&F Christmas Day Lunch - including a very special guest, Hugh Grant'

'This was the real Love Actually,' the spokesperson added, having reportedly raised 40,000 to put the event on

'Hugh helped us serve lunch to 500 local older people who otherwise would have celebrated alone. This was the real Love Actually.'

Deputy leader of the borough, Councillor Ben Coleman, added: 'Massive thanks to Hugh Grant for his surprise appearance serving guests at our Big H&F Christmas Day Lunch.

'We were all delighted to see him. He made an already fun occasion even more special.'

As well as the celeb appearance, and a two-course Christmas dinner, those who attended at the Novotel hotel enjoyed live music and their own gift bags filled with 'festive goodies' - with free transport put on for any who needed it.

The Evening Standard reported that 40,000 was raised through donations from local businesses and crowd funding to make it happen.

It was not the only instance of festive giving by the Wonka actor, himself a Londoner, who was also recently reported as having donated 20,000 to 'Britain's kindest plumber' James Anderson.

The 55-year-old has helped thousands of disabled and elderly people through his charity DEPHER, which stands for Disabled and Elderly, Plumbing and Heating Emergency Response.
Kaleb Cooper, the young farmer whose clashes with his boss Jeremy Clarkson amused viewers of Amazon's reality show Clarkson's Farm, enjoys muck-spreading close to Soho Farmhouse.

The expensive Cotswolds private members' club is near their Diddly Squat Farm in Oxfordshire.

'I'm making it very smelly for them people coming from London,' Kaleb says, adding sarcastically: 'They love that.'

Cooper has featured on the show - which takes a look at former Top Gear host Clarkson, 63, managing his farm in the Cotswolds - since it kicked off in 2021, and he's become a popular figure in his own right.

Speaking in his column for The Times, Clarkson recently revealed that his wife's horse tragically passed away on the farm just before Christmas.

Kaleb Cooper, who appears on Amazon show Clarkson's Farm with his boss Jeremy Clarkson, admits he enjoys muck-spreading close to Soho Farmhouse

'I'm making it very smelly for them people coming from London,' Kaleb says, adding sarcastically: 'They love that'

Keeping his followers up to date during the Christmas holidays, he shared that he was enjoying the festive season on his Oxfordshire farm - Diddly Squat - with his new granddaughter.

But it hadn't been a completely joyous time for the presenter or his family as Lisa's much adored horse, Bertie passed away at the age of 26.

Elaborating on the upsetting news, he wrote: 'It wasn't a fun event, even for me, and I didn't like it one bit.

'When Lisa's horse died, I was upset because I could see she was. And because I would have to deal with it.'

The pair first realised that everything was not fine, when they received word that Bertie was 'lying on his side, in a stream'.

Sadly, when Clarkson managed to get to the horse, Bertie had already passed away.

The columnist also predicted that Bertie's passing may not be the only unfortunate event during the festive holidays.

He quipped: 'At least with all this unpleasantness out of the way, we won't have to face it tomorrow, which will free up some time for some other unpleasantness.'

The news comes after it was announced a fourth season of Amazon show Clarkson's Farm is set to launch a fourth season.

Cooper has featured on Clarkson's Farm - which takes a look at former Top Gear host Clarkson managing his farm in the Cotswolds - since it kicked off in 2021

The fly-on-the-wall series has been a ratings phenomenon for Amazon and something of a business boom for the Grand Tour star.

The show documents Clarkson's attempts to transform his huge 1,000-acre Diddly Squat Farm into a working business complete with a farm shop and his Hawkstone organic beer brand.

The broadcaster shared the news via his social media, the day following his departure from The Grand Tour.
MAFS UK star Shona Manderson showed off her 'real skin' in a candid Instagram snap on Wednesday.

The reality star, 31, shared a makeup free selfie, showing fans her spots while giving an update on her acne battle.

Shona told her 143k followers: 'Acne update. My skin was great after my peel I was buzzing with it but it's flared up again.

'I decided to finally go to the GP and I've been given 3 months of Lymecycline (antibiotics) & acnecide gel.

'For those interested I'll keep you updated with how I get on & if anyone's taken before please let me know how you got on I was really reluctant to take antibiotics but they re like cists and so red!'

MAFS UK star Shona Manderson showed off her 'real skin' in a candid Instagram snap on Wednesday

The reality star, 31, shared a makeup free selfie, showing fans her spots while giving an update on her acne battle

Shona later added: 'Thank you so much for your kind messages about my skin. I'm taking so many tips and I really appreciate you reaching out.'

The influencer previously explained in a video that the acne was being caused by her IUD, due to the progesterone hormone, which is an androgen.

The IUD is a popular choice of contraception for many women and can protect against pregnancy for five to 10 years.

She said: 'Here's a little update where I'm at, so my spots seem to be like here, here, here, got them really bad on my chin.

'But I'm getting my coil removed on Monday so hopefully... fingers crossed.'

It comes after Shona and Matt Pilmoor revealed they 'definitely want to get married' and have children together as they opened up about their relationship.

The duo originally tied the knot on with Brad Skelly and Adrienne Naylor respectively on the E4 show, but their respective romances both ended leading to their surprise union.

Now the reality star couple are ready to take their relationship to the next level as they discussed marriage and starting a family.

Speaking in an interview with OK! Magazine , Matt, 29, and Shona said they would like to get married in the UK so their family can attend and have an 'amazing honeymoon in Bali'.

Shona told her 143k followers: 'Acne update. My skin was great after my peel I was buzzing with it but it's flared up again.'

Shona later added: 'Thank you so much for your kind messages about my skin. I'm taking so many tips and I really appreciate you reaching out.'

Matt said: 'We definitely want to get married. Getting married abroad would be lovely but logically we would do it in the UK for family coming. We do need money so there will be no ring anytime soon!

'But I would love to propose at some point. Let's see how the next year goes in terms of finances but it's definitely on the cards!'

Shona added: 'Yeah we've spoken about getting married. Matt has said he will wear a kilt because my family are Scottish. We've spoken about engagement rings, we just need the money first.'

The couple went on to say that they are also on the 'same page with kids' and are hoping to have two.

Shona continued: 'I want two kids. I'm 32 next year so I definitely want babies in the next few years. It's mental but when you know, you know, and it just works. And it can move at a healthy pace. I don't even feel scared about anything.'

As the year comes to an end, Shona and Matt went on to reveal their plans for the new year as they hope to go on their 'first holiday' together and 'move in'.

T he couple confirmed their relationship last month after going on separate journeys on Married At First Sight.

Speaking previously to OK!, Shona, who was ejected from the experiment due to the toxicity of her marriage , revealed: 'We have a really healthy, happy, safe, fun, relationship - I really appreciate Matt, it's what I deserve, we deserve each other'.

Matt admitted they 'had to be so careful' to keep their romance secret and while it would have been 'incredible' to be paired together from the start, he conceded: 'I think it happened this way around for a purpose.'

Shona went on: 'I'm proud to be his girlfriend and it just works. Matt would be driving and I would be in the back, we would be walking around Nottingham and I'd be all the way over there, we were like secret agents on a mission'.

Matt added: 'We had to do it, we had to be so careful...

'We had to do what we had to do, my experience was good but we were meant to go on those journeys to find each other... Being together from the start would have been incredible but I think it happened this way around for a purpose.'

It comes after Shona and Matt Pilmoor reveal they 'definitely want to get married' and have children together as they opened up about their relationship

The reality star couple are ready to take their relationship to the next level as they discussed marriage and starting a family

Earlier this year, Shona appeared on the It's Not You, It's Them, But It Might Be You podcast with LalalaletMeExplain.

She told the dating expert about some of Brad's behaviour that wasn't shown on the Channel 4 show.

Shona started by saying: 'So majority of Bradley's inexcusable behaviour actually happened off camera and there was an incident after our third dinner party which then resulted in the experts intervening and choosing to send us home...

'And I won't share the details because it's just too much. It's too much for me to go into. But something I am happy to share with you is an example of something that didn't make the edit, but it happened in front of people...

'We were at a second CC and my friend, Laura in the cast, has just been called a gold digger by another cast member, Luke.

'And a little bit of context, Bradley throughout the experiment, he's done TV before. So he kept being like 'don't do this, don't do that, I'm getting annoyed that you're not listening to me and don't rise to drama. We don't rise to drama...

'Your yoga vibes and meditation vibes', blah, blah, blah. And I'm sat there and my heart's going for Laura and I'm thinking I want to stick up for about hate confrontation, anyway, I do. And as soon as I do, Bradley, let's go off my hand...

'And he goes. 'What the eff are you doing?' And I just freeze and I come like a deer in the headlights you see it in the edit and I kind of like stumble on my words, my argument is rubbish.'

An emotional Shona added: 'I feel really embarrassed. And then he just goes 'well done, you made a complete c*** out of yourself there'...

It comes after Shona was ejected from the MAFS experiment due to the toxicity of her marriage to Brad Skelly (pictured)

'And I'm just sat there. 'Bradley, you can't talk to me like that.' I run to the toilet, have a massive panic attack and I have to sit on the couch.'

Matt meanwhile clashed with Adrienne with their contrasting views on children - with the former wanting to have kids and the latter not.

In the final week of the experiment when the topic of starting a family was brought up as Matt said: 'Is there a reason why we shouldn't work on the outside? We want to travel, we want to do bits and bobs. I would one day like to have kids.'

Getting serious, Adrienne replied: 'I think we are in an amazing place and I think the world of you.

'But it does worry me that you do want kids. I've always said 'don't want them'. And I've never met anybody that's made me want to change that answer.' Looking disappointed, Matt replied: 'Ummm... do you think that it could be changed?'
Karl Stefanovic has been enjoying the sunshine in Noosa over the Christmas period with his family.

And over the weekend, his daughter Willow took to Instagram to share a gallery of photos of the Stefanovics soaking up the sun in Queensland.

Willow looked stunning as she posed for a photo alongside her dad and brothers Jackson, 24, and River, 17, while dining out.

A second photo sees the brunette posing in her bikini for a mirror selfie before heading into the ocean.

Another sees Willow showing off her low-key makeup look while dressed in a colourful dressing robe.

Karl Stefanovic was is every inch the proud father as he reunited with his 18-year-old model daughter Willow over the weekend while holidaying in Noosa. Also pictured: sons Jackson, 24, and River, 17

Willow took to Instagram to share a gallery of photos of her enjoying her time in Queensland

The London-based model, who celebrated her 18th birthday in March, previously fled Australia to study at the respected London College of Fashion.

For international students, the fees start at around $44,000.

This isn't Willow's first foray into the fashion world.

A second photo sees the brunette posing in her bikini before heading into the ocean

Another sees Willow showing off her low-key makeup look while dressed in a colourful dressing robe

Before graduating high school she'd signed with the modelling agency Precision.

At the time, she told Stellar that she's been 'drawn' to modelling since she was little and embarking on a career in fashion was a dream come true.

'Dad backs me 100 per cent as long as I'm happy. We all know I didn't get my fashionista gene from him,' she added.

Her Instagram gives a pretty clear picture of her fabulous life.

She spends her time between London, Queensland and Sydney.
Dianne Buswell looked incredible in a slew of social media snaps on Thursday, as she enjoyed a trip to the beach in Australia.

The Strictly Come Dancing professional, 34, returned Down Under with her boyfriend Joe Sugg for the festive period.

Dianne showcased her jaw-dropping figure in a black swimsuit as she posed for a sizzling Instagram snap.

In another picture, Dianne donned a vest top and denim shorts as she cosied up to her father Mark in front of a picturesque lake.

Dianne travelled to her homeland of Australia to spend the whole of Christmas with her cancer-stricken father Mark and the rest of her family.

Dianne Buswell looked incredible in a slew of social media snaps on Thursday, as she enjoyed a trip to the beach in Australia

Dianne showcased her jaw-dropping figure in a black swimsuit as she posed for a sizzling Instagram snap

She recently gave fans an update, sharing that her father started the third round of his chemotherapy treatment last week.

And enjoying some well-needed family time with Joe, 32, and family, Dianne shared photos from their swanky Christmas spread.

Captioning her post, she wrote: 'I feel so blessed to have all these people in my life. Sending you all a merry Christmas, I hope your day is filled with love and happiness.'

Joe and Dianne looked happier than ever as they posed cuddling up on the sand, enjoying the hot weather.

Dianne looked incredible as she showcased her washboard abs in a gorgeous burnt orange bikini set.

After returning to Australia to support Mark, she shared a video of herself in the hospital with her father as she praised him for always having a 'positive mind frame'.

In the clip, Dianne and her father Mark walked into the hospital arm-in-arm, before he gave her the thumbs up as he sat and waited for his treatment.

Dianne then flashed a smile as she reached out her hand towards her father, before the video came to an end with the pair leaving the hospital holding hands.

She gushed in a caption: 'Round 3 proud of you dad always with a positive mind frame and smile on your face.'

The Strictly Come Dancing professional, 34, returned Down Under with her boyfriend Joe Sugg for the festive period

In another picture, Dianne donned a vest top and denim shorts as she cosied up to her father Mark in front of a picturesque lake

Dianne travelled to her homeland of Australia to spend the whole of Christmas with her cancer-stricken father Mark and the rest of her family

Dianne wrote: 'Australian summer photo dump!'

Her Strictly co-stars and celebrity friends were quick to send their messages of support to the dancer in the comments section.

Amy Dowden, who is battling breast cancer , wrote: 'Cmon mark you got this! Love you both.'

While Gemma Atkinson - who is married Strictly professional Gorka Marquez - commented: 'Oh bless him.'

Amanda Abbington who quit this series of Strictly for personal reasons - said: 'So beautiful. All of you. Sending you massive cuddles and the most love and light!!'

Arlene Phillips penned: 'So beautiful. With love this Xmas and the happiest and healthiest on new years,' while Graziano Di Prima also sent his support.

Dianne returned home to Australia just days after competing in last Saturday's Strictly final, where she competed with EastEnders star Bobby Brazier.

After the pair missed out on the glitterball, Dianne revealed on social media that she had jetted back to Australia and reunited with her father Mark.

Sharing a snap of them together, she wrote: 'and from the concert to having our first morning coffee  I'm home @mark.3802.'

Dianne broke down in tears on Strictly back in October after her father Mark was diagnosed with cancer.

Dianne returned down under to spend the whole of Christmas with her cancer-striken father Mark (middle) and the rest of her family

She recently gave fans a recent update, sharing that her father started the third round of his chemotherapy treatment last week

In a recent interview, Dianne spoke about the difficulty of not being in Australia with her family as her dad goes through chemotherapy.

Dianne told Heat Magazine: 'I am such a hard-working, crazy dancer that it's been a really nice balance, where Bobby has brought a lot of calmness into my life.

'There has been quite a lot of going on in my personal life over these past few months, and Bobby has been really realistic and supportive, telling me everything's going to be OK.

'It's crazy that such a young guy can have such a good mind on him.'

On Sunday, Dianne shared a gushing Instagram tribute to Bobby after they missed out on the Glitterball trophy to winner Ellie Leach.

In 2018, she was a finalist on the sixteenth series with her partner and now boyfriend YouTuber Joe Sugg - but they didn't win.

But as she reflected on the 2023 series she said she was less 'obsessed' with winning the trophy and was choosing to focus instead on the friendship she found with Bobby.

She said: 'I used to be so obsessed with winning a sparkly trophy constantly thinking about that moment and what it would feel like!

'But what I have realised dancing with this wonderful human is the win and the sparkle is everywhere if you want it to be.

Dianne gave fans an update on her father Mark's cancer treatment after she returned home to Australia to support him

The dancer competed in Saturday's final with EastEnders star Bobby Brazier , but missed out on the coveted Glitterball trophy

'Last night Bobby and I danced with so much joy passion and emotion that my heart was bursting with happiness and pride and there was our win!

'Bobby's only competition in this show was himself he wanted to become a better dancer and a better professional and to help him achieve both those goals makes me a proud teacher.

She signed off by adding: 'I am so grateful that i was the lucky one to be partnered with bobs and I am so excited for his bright future ahead he is not just a real talent but a really lovely soul.

'Thanks for making me enjoy my dancing like I was a little girl again no fear no anxiety just love and passion for what I am able to do.'
Charlotte Crosby showed of her sensational figure in a red bikini on Instagram as she enjoyed a lavish getaway in the Maldives on Thursday.

The former Geordie Shore star, 33, displayed her toned physique in the halterneck two-piece as she posed by the pool holding a snorkel and flippers.

Leaving her long wet brunette tresses loose, the reality star flashed her gorgeous smile while soaking up the sun.

Charlotte, who is staying at the 2,000 a night Emerald Maldives Resort & Spa Hotel, penned: 'Happiest when scuba diving'.

The TV personality fly to the luxury location with her fiance Jake Ankers and her daughter Alba who, at just fourteen months, is already quite well-travelled.

Charlotte Crosby showed of her sensational figure in a red bikini on Instagram as she enjoyed a lavish getaway in the Maldives on Thursday

It comes after Charlotte announced her plans to fly her family to Maldives on Christmas Day and said it will be her first time abroad for Christmas.

She was eager to get away as her last Christmas was tainted by the death of her beloved grandmother just weeks prior.

Charlotte told The Mirror: 'Last Christmas, we obviously lost my Nana. So, the thing that makes Christmas 'Christmas', when you have your grandparents round, was gone.'

Explaining her plans for the trip, she said: 'This is a first time abroad I've never done a Christmas away and we're not doing any presents. It's just about making some memories, like amazing memories, on a big family holiday.'

The star continued: 'We're going with my mum, my dad - just basically everyone who we would gather with on Christmas Day.'

In December, Charlotte was struck down with pneumonia and rushed to hospital after feeling ill for six weeks.

Days later, she shared an update to her Instagram Story in which she revealed she had been 'struggling to shift' unbearable chest infections.

Charlotte posted a mirror selfie and wrote over the top: 'It's been a very long 5/6 weeks of on and off coughing/ chest infections. And the whole time I've been struggling I've been doing the very most work wise.

Charlotte has been showing off her weight loss transformation after welcoming her first child 14 months ago

It comes after the reality star announced her plans to fly her family to Maldives on Christmas Day and said it will be her first time abroad for Christmas

The former Geordie Shore star fly out with her fiance and her daughter Alba who, at just fourteen months, is already quite well-travelled

She was eager to get away as her last Christmas was tainted by the death of her beloved grandmother (pictured) just weeks prior

'Travelling up and down the country, trains, cars and almost planes. A couple of occasions even losing my entire voice at work. I've not been able to carry out some of the stuff I've had to.'

Days later, Charlotte took to Instagram with an update for fans, writing: 'UPDATE. I've been on my new antibiotics for 4 days! And I'm starting to feel SO MUCH better!

'HOWEVER....a period from hell decided to come yesterday. I'm I was doubled over this morning with the worst cramps and Jakes got a really busy couple of days with work.

'So looks like a big coffee for me this morning! And some strong pain killers! Hopefully once this period passes that will be me back to full health!'

'Four weeks since I've done any exercise and I was onto my very last part of testing our BRAND NEW CHALLENGE on @blitznburn which will resume next week!

'And we have an EXCITING filming day Monday! Which has had to be rescheduled twice now because I've been so unwell!

'But I am so so so ready to get back to it and show you all what we have got coming!'
Timm Hanly has given fans an intimate look inside his life as a new dad with a hilarious photo featuring his three-month-old daughter Harper.

In the candid snap posted to Instagram on Thursday, the 31-year-old reality star can be seen lying on his back, holding his newborn over his chest, with his abs covered in fresh vomit.

'Ok no more flying game,' the former Bachelorette star wrote in the caption.

Timm and fiancee Briana De La Motte welcomed their baby girl in September, sharing the news to their social alongside adorable footage of their little bundle of joy.

In the clip, the newborn is seen sleeping peacefully while swaddled in a white blanket.

Timm Hanly has given fans an intimate look inside his life as a new dad with a hilarious photo featuring his three-month-old daughter Harper. Pictured with fiancee Briana De La Motte

In the candid snap posted to Instagram on Thursday, the 31-year-old reality star can be seen lying on his back, holding his newborn over his chest, with his abs covered in fresh vomit

'Harper Florence Hanly. 31.8.23,' Timm wrote beside the post.

The couple's good news was quickly flooded with comments from their celebrity friends.

'Congrats to you & Breezer, legend!' wrote fellow Bachelorette star Jamie Doran.

'Congrats guys! What a blessing,' added Carlin Sterritt, who also appeared on Timm's season of The Bachelorette.

'Congrats guys!!! She is perfection,' added Love Island Australia star Anna McEvoy.

The couple announced they were expecting a baby in April, one year after Timm proposed to his long-time girlfriend.

Timm and fiancee Briana De La Motte welcomed their baby girl in September

Timm and Briana had been dating on-and-off for six years before his stint on Angie Kent's season of the Bachelorette in 2019, where he placed runner-up to Carlin Sterritt.

He went on to appear in Bachelor in Paradise in 2020, where he struck up a romance with Brittany Hockley in Fiji.

The pair left the show as a couple after just a few episodes, but broke up not long after returning to Australia.

Timm and Briana went public with their newly rekindled romance soon after Bachelor in Paradise's finale aired on TV.
Holly Willoughby stunned This Morning fans on Thursday after returning to the show for an interview with Miriam Margolyes, albeit in a pre-recorded segment.

The presenter, 42, relinquished her role as host of the daytime flagship in October after an alleged plot to kidnap and murder the mother-of-three resulted in the arrest of a man from Harlow, Essex.

But she was back on ITV1 for the first time since stepping down as This Morning aired a festive compilation of clips from the last 12-months and around the same time it was announced she will return to present Dancing On Ice alongside Stephen Mulhern.

In the hilarious clip, This Morning was thrown into chaos as guest Miriam discussed 'steaming her vagina' and her sex life, while she also swore twice live on the show.

During the appearance to promote her latest memoir, Miriam said: 'I'm grateful, I can't walk I fart all the time but I'm still going!'

Holly Willoughby stunned This Morning fans on Thursday after returning to the show for an interview with Miriam Margolyes, albeit in a pre-recorded segment

Holly and Josie couldn't stop giggling as Miriam added: 'My friends say I haven't changed but I've always been as naughty and outspoken as I am now.

Going on to speak about her sex life, Miriam continued: 'Sex is not for me now, it is not what it is in life but I will advise and talk about it.

'Bottoms are friendly if a man flies his... but you can touch bottoms.'

She added: 'Daniel Radcliffe said I farted and it's true.'

Meanwhile, speaking of her Vogue cover from June this year, Miriam shared: 'I thought it was a hoax my agent wrote to them and said would I be on the gay pride issue.

'I was happy to take it. Because I'm an elderly lesbian and they prettied me up. My partner won't read the book because she's in it and she is shy and she is a well-behaved 80 year old. She is my rock and I adore her and I am grateful we are still together after 50 years.'

Harry Potter star Miriam is a regular guest on the ITV daytime show and has often in the past turned the air blue during comical moments.

In the hilarious clip, This Morning was thrown into chaos as guest Miriam discussed 'steaming her vagina' and her sex life, while she also swore twice live on the show

During the appearance to promote her latest memoir, Miriam said: 'I'm grateful, I can't walk I fart all the time but I'm still going!'

Holly is set to return to live television after agreeing to host Dancing on Ice, MailOnline can exclusively reveal.

After weeks of deliberating over whether to present the ITV skating show, she signed the deal over Christmas and is said to be 'excited' about to getting back to work on the show that she hosted with her former friend Phillip Schofield for many years.

Sources at ITV say that the channel's bosses are 'delighted' that she will join Stephen Mulhern for the series, which starts on January 14 almost three months after she learned of an alleged plot to kidnap and murder her by former security guard Gavin Plumb.

An ITV insider told MailOnline: 'Holly is a star and everyone was so very much hoping that she would decide to come back.

'After many discussions and a lot of thought, she thought that getting some normality into her life would be a good thing.

'There are obvious worries about going on live television, her main priority is her family, ITV have been hugely understanding and have not put any pressure on her at all.

Holly is to return to live television after agreeing to host Dancing on Ice with Stephen Mulhern, MailOnline can exclusively reveal

After weeks of deliberating over whether to present the ITV skating show, the presenter signed the deal over Christmas and is said to be 'excited' about to getting back to work on the show, (pictured with Phillip Schofield in a still from the last series)

'They wanted to give her all of the time she needed but it has been a rough decision for her.

'Time was ticking but the bosses were trying to remain calm.'

Holly has always looked forward to January because it was her chance to get dolled up in fairytale dresses to host the show alongside her former This Morning co-star and friend Schofield, whom she adored so much.

'As soon as Christmas went, Holly would get giddy about Dancing On Ice,' says a friend of the star.

Last week, Holly enjoyed her first trip out in public since she quit This Morning in October.

She put on a brave face to join her family for a Christmas lunch in South West London months of being too frightened to leave her home.

While the star didn't crack a smile, those close to her say that she is 'feeling better as each day goes by'.

ITV bosses are 'delighted' Holly is set to return to the show when it begins on January 14, over two months after her last TV appearance (pictured)

Holly stepped down from This Morning in October (pictured in September 2023) after finally being 'tipped over the edge' by an alleged 'kidnap and murder plot'

One friend told MailOnline: 'For some time Holly hasn't wanted to go to a restaurant or anywhere other people will see her, she has stuck to private places but little by little she is starting to get her life back.

Holly's retreat from the limelight extends beyond her TV roles. She has even put her commitments with Marks & Spencer and L'Oreal on hold because she wants to be at home with her three young children.

Stephen, who hosts ITV game shows Catchphrase and Deal Or No Deal, is a close friend of Holly and signed a deal to host Dancing On Iast week after agreeing to step into Schofield's shoes.

ITV did not have a stand-in for Holly waiting in the wings, however, meaning that all hopes were pinned on her.
Parasite star Lee Sun-kyun had begged police not to announce his last appearance for questioning over an alleged blackmail plot just four days before his apparent suicide, officials confirmed Thursday.

Sun-kyun, best known for his role as Park Dong-ik in Bong Joon-ho's 2019 Academy Award-winning film, was found dead inside his car aged 48 on December 27 at Waryong Park in Seoul.

His tragic death came as police were quizzing him over allegations of illegal drug use, accused of using marijuana and other substances at the home of a hostess from a local bar. The actor claimed she tricked him into taking the drugs and said he did not know what he was taking, and that she then tried to blackmail him.

Sun-kyun's lawyer asked police to close the latest questioning round, on Saturday, to the press - but police rejected the request, according to police officials and legal sources.

His lawyer said on Tuesday, a day before Sun-kyun's body was found, that he hoped any future interrogation would be conducted behind closed doors, saying his client felt 'burdened' by appearing in public settings to discuss the allegations.

The actor's death brought an outpouring of sympathy from the film industry and the public alike as well as questions over the apparently harsh and public nature of the probe that fuelled media coverage delving into Lee's private life.

Lee Sun-Kyun played the patriarch in award-winning 2019 film Parasite (pictured)

Emergency services arrive to remove the body of Lee Sun-kyun from a park in Seoul on December 27 after he was found dead in an apparent suicide

The head of the district police force that investigated South Korean actor Lee Sun-kyun has defended the tough questioning of him before he was found dead.

Incheon Metropolitan Police chief Kim Hui-jung told a news briefing the entire process was justified and done with Lee's consent.

He expressed 'deep regret' over his death and offered his condolences to his family.

Kim said the questioning over Lee's three highly-public appearances, including a final one that went on all night, was necessary to hear his side and was done in the presence of his lawyer.

'The investigation of the deceased was conducted based on specific reports, testimony and evidence and under legally prescribed procedures,' he said.

Sun-kyun appeared before police in media between October and December, most recently on Christmas Eve.

Sun-kyun there declined to answer questions from reporters about the charges against him but said he was fully cooperating with the investigation.

He was later found dead in a car at a park in Seoul after being reported missing.

Lee was last seen in public early on Sunday morning after 19 hours of questioning - reportedly as police tried to hear him out in full.

Yoon Hee-keun, the commissioner general of the National Police Agency (NPA), denied that unreasonable investigations had caused the actor's death.

He added that he would look into investigation practices, YNA reported.

Former South Korean President Moon Jae-in, who was a human rights lawyer before entering politics, was among those who criticised police practice and sensational media reporting of the case.

'The practice that does huge damage to someone's honour and character, such as excessively putting them at a media photoline, and pushes them to take the extreme choice must now end,' Moon said on Facebook.

Film industry colleagues visited the memorial set up at Lee's wake, including 'Parasite' director Bong Joon-ho and the Netflix hit series 'Squid Game' actor Lee Jung-jae.

Incheon police had earlier questioned K-pop star G-Dragon over suspicion of illegal drug use but dropped the case without charging him.

Police investigate a car in which the body of South Korean actor Lee Sun-kyun was found at a park in central Seoul on December 27, 2023

Lee Sun-kyun and wife Jeon Hye-jin, who reportedly found a suicide note from her husband before raising the alarm

South Korean actor Lee Sun-kyun (R), best known for his role in the Academy Award-winning film 'Parasite'

The probe comes as part of a crackdown by the government of conservative President Yoon Suk Yeol, who called it a 'war on drugs'.

There has been a string of high-profile arrests, including business conglomerate heirs and celebrities, under the country's tough drug laws, which punishes those found guilty of abusing drugs as well as drug dealing by up to 14 years in prison.
Chris Hemsworth and Elsa Pataky have 'drifted apart as a couple', according to a recent report.

The genetically blessed duo, who have been married for more than 10 years, recently set tongues wagging that not all was well in paradise after they went on separate holidays.

Now a source close to the pair has told In Touch magazine that despite maintaining a united front for their family and spending Christmas together, the duo have been growing apart for some time.

'The status of Chris and Elsa's marriage is a question mark,' the source told the publication.

'The separate vacations are a huge red flag, but it's more than that. They're still very much a united family, but they've drifted apart as a couple.'

Chris Hemsworth and Elsa Pataky have 'drifted apart as a couple', according to a recent report

The genetically blessed duo, who have been married for more than 10 years, recently set tongues wagging that not all was well in paradise after they enjoyed separate holidays

The source claimed Chris wants to live a 'simpler life' but 'Elsa wants more'.

'They were the perfect husband-and-wife team for so long - both gorgeous, beautiful kids. Everything seemed picture-perfect. But things have definitely changed,' they added.

Daily Mail Australia has reached out to Chris and Elsa for comment.

The couple have spent a significant amount of time holidaying separately in recent months, prompting fans to question if all is well in paradise.

Since fans raised their concerns, Chris shared an image of himself and Elsa to Instagram, showing the pair lapping up the sun aboard a boat.

The chatter began when Elsa and the couple's children put up the family Christmas tree at their Byron Bay mansion without Chris.

'Haven't seen you and Chris together in a while. Hope all is good,' one follower commented underneath photos the Spanish star posted of the Hemsworth clan decorating the home.

'Where is Chris?' another worried fan wrote, as one pointed out the pair have been taking less photos together than usual.

Chris and Elsa hosted Christmas at their $20million Byron Bay pad recently. The couple were joined on the day by their family, including Chris' brother, Liam, 33, and Luke, 43, who got into the festive spirit by dressing up. All pictured

A source close to the pair has told In Touch magazine that despite maintaining a united front for their family and spending Christmas together, the duo have been growing apart for some time

In October, Elsa jetted to Japan with the couple's twin sons Tristan and Sasha, nine, without her husband

In October, Elsa jetted to Japan with their nine-year-old sons, Tristan and Sasha, while Chris took daughter India, 11, to Iceland.

In November, the pair went on separate trips yet again.

Elsa travelled back to her native Spain to attend The Woman Awards, where she posed up a storm in a daring backless gown.

Chris was conspicuously absent, instead choosing to travel to Abu Dhabi for a family getaway with his brothers Liam and Luke, their partners Gabrielle and Samantha and the famous siblings parents, Craig and Leonie.

Chris' twin sons Tristan and Sasha also joined their father for the whirlwind trip.

It's unclear whether India joined her mother or father for their respective trips.

Meanwhile, Chris took their daughter India, nine, on a daddy-daughter getaway to Iceland

In November, the pair went on separate trips yet again. Elsa travelled back to her native Spain to attend the Woman Awards, where she posed up a storm in a daring backless gown

Meanwhile, Chris travelled to Abu Dhabi for a family getaway with his brothers Liam and Luke

Their partners Gabrielle and Samantha and the famous siblings parents Craig and Leonie also went on the trip, but there was no sign of Elsa

The action star was also in the United Arab Emirates capital to attend the F1 Grand Prix with his famous brothers and male pals.

Earlier this month, Chris jetted off to Brazil to promote his new film Furiosa alongside co-star Anya-Taylor Joy.

Chris and Elsa tied the knot during the Christmas holidays in 2010.

The couple live in a $30million mansion in Broken Head near Byron Bay after relocating from Los Angeles to Australia nine years ago.

The action star was also in the United Arab Emirates capital to attend the F1 Grand Prix with his brothers and male pals
Ant McPartlin's ex-wife Lisa Armstrong shared a post about karma just hours after his wife Anne-Marie Corbett stepped out 'appearing pregnant'.

On Wednesday, the couple's former assistant, 45, was seen in a loose dress as they prepared to jet off from Heathrow to Dubai to ring in the New Year.

It followed months of rumours that they might be expecting  particularly after she decided against flying to Australia to be at the 48-year-old TV legend's side while he hosted ITV 's I'm A Celebrity... Get Me Out Of Here.

Lisa, who was married to Ant for 11 years before splitting in 2017, took to Instagram to share a post reading: '2023 = 8. Eight in numerology represents Karma. This will be the year where people will be recovering back what they have been putting out.'

There was no clear indication who the post was aimed at, however the message also comes in conjunction with her split from her boyfriend of three years, Sky electrician James Green, 40, earlier this year.

Ant McPartlin's ex-wife Lisa Armstrong shared a post about karma just hours after his wife Anne-Marie Corbett stepped out 'appearing pregnant'

Lisa, who was married to Ant for 11 years before splitting in 2017, took to Instagram to share a post reading: '2023 = 8. Eight in numerology represents Karma. This will be the year where people will be recovering back what they have been putting out'

On Wednesday, the couple's former assistant, 45, was seen in a loose dress as they prepared to jet off from Heathrow to Dubai to ring in the New Year

Anne-Marie is the former personal assistant of her now-husband Ant. She began working closely with the TV star in 2017, but worked for the same company as Dec Donnelly's wife, Ali Astall, for over a decade in London

There was no clear indication who the post was aimed at, however the message also comes in conjunction with her split from her boyfriend of three years, Sky electrician James Green, 40, earlier this year

Ant and Anne-Marie were seen headed away on holiday, during which he was beaming as he wished fellow travellers a merry Christmas. An onlooker said: He couldnt stop smiling, he looked like the happiest man in the world.

Ant and Lisa had a rocky road to their acrimonious split, which came amid his well-documented battle with substance abuse.

His battle came to a head in 2017, when he checked into rehab after becoming addicted to prescription drugs following a devastating knee injury at the time.

He gave a candid interview at the time admitting he had 'let people down', before thanking Lisa and co-star Declan Donnelly for their support.

His statement to the publication read: 'The first step is to admit to yourself you need help. Ive let people down. Im truly sorry...

'I feel like I have let a lot of people down and for that Im truly sorry. I want to thank my wife, family and closest friends through this really difficult time.

'I have spoken out because I think it is important that people ask for help if they are going through a rough time and get the proper treatment to help their recovery.'

He subsequently split from Lisa, whom he married in 2006, in December 2017 before it was revealed he was dating their former employee Anne-Marie.

Lisa and Ant are pictured at their wedding on July 22, 2006

Ant was open about his desire to have children long before he and Anne were married, but bemoaned it being 'tougher than you think when you get a bit older'

The acrimonious divorce was made official in October 2018 at the Central Family Court in London where Ant admitted adultery. It was reported in January 2020 she received 31m as part of a divorce settlement with her famous ex.

He went on to marry Anne-Marie, who has two children, in 2021 in Hampshire.

Back in August, Lisa separated from her boyfriend, after which he moved out of her home. A source close to the couple said the surprise split had 'come out of the blue'.

But a friend said that the end of their three-year relationship had been amicable and that the former couple would remain friends.

Lisa used to regularly post selfies on Instagram of her looking loved up with James, along with images of them enjoying a series of luxury holidays.

But following their break-up she has made no mention of James and has instead been posting pictures of her ten-year-old Labrador, Hurley, with whom she spent the festive season - having shared a Christmas card from her and the pup.
He delighted fans by returning to the beloved role earlier this year.

But after handing over the keys to the TARDIS to the new Doctor Who frontman Ncuti Gatwa, David Tennant returned to his role as 'fanboy' for the show by watching the star's debut in the Christmas Day Special.

In a snap posted by his wife Georgia on Instagram, the actor tuned into the festive special The Church On Ruby Road.

David appeared to be watching the moment that a young Ruby is left on the steps of a church by a hooded figure on Christmas Eve.

Georgia captioned the post: '#backtofanboy @bbcdoctorwho.'

David Tennant has given Doctor Who frontman Ncuti Gatwa his seal of approval, as he tuned into watch his debut in the Christmas Special, in a snap shared by his wife Georgia

David briefly reprised his role as The Doctor for a trio of specials this year in honour of the show's 60th Anniversary, before he 'bi-generated' into Ncuti's incarnation in an explosive twist.

Penned by showrunner Russell T Davies, Ncuti's performance was universally praised by fans, with many stunned to learn of his unexpected singing talents during the episode's musical number.

The Goblin Song had been released as a single earlier this month, but Ncuti and his co-star Millie Gibson's vocals had been kept secret from viewers.

In the episode, The Doctor finds himself drawn to young Ruby after she was abandoned outside a church on Christmas Eve as a baby.

Viewers were quick to laud Ncuti and Millie's first scenes together, with many also stunned to hear their singing talents.

Taking to X - formerly known as Twitter - fans said: 'Ncuti Gatwa is completely believable and compelling as The Doctor and weve only seen him for literal minutes;'

'LOVEEEE Ncuti Gatwa as the Doctor already;' 'Ncuti Gatwa is *so* the Doctor!;' 'Millie Gibson is absolutely outstanding. Ncuti Gatwa really enjoyable too;'

'Ncuti is going to make such a good Doctor, absolutely buzzing;' 'The screen presence Ncuti Gatwa and Millie Gibson both bring is superb. Promising start to the new era.'

Penned by showrunner Russell T Davies, Ncuti's performance was universally praised by fans

'WAIT WHAT HE CAN SING TOO?!?!?!;' '#DoctorWho daaamn #NcutiGatwa is such a babe who can sing AND dance.'

Ncuti made his first appearance as The Doctor in the third 60th Anniversary Special earlier this month, when The Doctor 'bi-generated' meaning two incarnations of him were in existence at the same time.

He and the Fourteenth Doctor (played by David Tennant) thwarted the Toymaker's evil plan, with the previous incarnation deciding to stay on Earth with his own TARDIS, best friend Donna Noble and her family.

Ncuti is the first black actor to take on a full-time stint as The Doctor, after Jo Martin briefly played a version of the character in 2020.
Shannen Doherty enjoyed a night on the town in Los Angeles after recently opening up about undergoing 'massive struggles' including her divorce and cancer battle.

The 52-year-old actress flashed a smile as she made her way through the eatery's parking lot while being accompanied by a friend.

The Beverly Hills, 90210 star donned a white blouse underneath a navy blue overcoat during her night on the town.

Doherty also wore pairs of jet-black shoes and slim-fitting blue jeans, and she accessorized with a small purse.

The performer completed his look with a black hat, and her dark brunette hair cascaded onto her shoulders.

Shannen Doherty appeared to be in high spirits as she left a restaurant in Los Angeles on Wednesday evening

The actress' outing took place just a month after she revealed that her stage four breast cancer had spread to her bones.

Doherty made the news about her health known to the public during a recent interview with People, in which she bluntly told the media outlet: 'I don't want to die.'

The performer was first diagnosed with breast cancer in March of 2015, and she underwent both chemotherapy and radiotherapy before her disease went into remission in 2017.

However, she revealed that her cancer ultimately returned and had been classified as stage four in February of 2020.

Doherty went on to state that the cancer had spread to her brain this past June, and she announced that the disease had made its way to her bones last month.

The Heathers actress spoke to People that month and told the media outlet that she still wanted to achieve much in her life despite her diagnosis.

'I'm not done with living. I'm not done with loving. I'm not done with creating. I'm not done with hopefully changing things for the better,' she said.

Doherty went on to discuss how her diagnosis had caused her to re-evaluate her values and aspirations.

The Beverly Hills, 90210 star, who recently opened up about undergoing 'massive struggles' over the past year, donned a white blouse underneath a navy blue overcoat during her night on the town

Doherty also wore pairs of jet-black shoes and slim-fitting blue jeans, and she accessorized with a small purse

The actress' outing took place just a month after she revealed that her stage four breast cancer had spread to her bones; she is seen earlier this month

The Heathers actress spoke to People that month and told the media outlet that she still wanted to achieve much in her life despite her diagnosis

'When you ask yourself, "Why me? Why did I get cancer?" and then "Why did my cancer come back? Why am I stage 4?," that leads you to look for the bigger purpose in life,' she said.

The performer then expressed that she wanted to break several stigmas attached to individuals suffering from various forms of cancer.

'We're vibrant, and we have such a different outlook on life. We are people who want to work and embrace life and keep moving forward,' she stated.

Doherty added: 'We're the people who want to work the most, because we're just so grateful for every second, every hour, every day we get to be here.'
Alan Ford will be joining the cast of EastEnders next year as Stevie Mitchell, it has been confirmed.

The legendary actor, 85, will be making a bombshell arrival in Walford in the New Year to take on the role of Billy Mitchell's (Perry Fenwick) estranged father Stevie.

Billy grew up in care from the age of ten after Stevie took sole custody of his brother Charlie and they last saw each other off-screen more than 25 years ago.

Stevie's arrival in Walford will come as the Mitchell family prepare to say goodbye to their beloved Aunt Sal (Anna Karen), the sister of Peggy Mitchell.

His entrance is sure to cause drama among the family as it quickly becomes clear that his attendance at the funeral is not welcome.

Alan Ford will be joining the cast of EastEnders as Stevie Mitchell next year, it has been confirmed

The legendary actor, 85, will be making a bombshell arrival to Walford in the New Year to take on the role of Billy Mitchell's (Perry Fenwick, pictured) estranged father Stevie

On joining the cast of EastEnders, Alan says: 'I feel highly delighted to be playing a character close to my own age in this extremely popular television drama series.'

Alan is best known for his roles in Guy Ritchie's gangster movies including Snatch, Riot Club and Lock, Stock and Two Smoking Barrels.

He also appeared as separate characters in eight episodes of The Bill while he also starred in 2010 movie Mission London.

EastEnders' executive producer Chris Clenshaw said of his casting: 'It's an honour to welcome the immensely talented Alan Ford to the cast of EastEnders as he takes on the role of Stevie Mitchell.

'Whilst Billy has been a stalwart in the show for over 25 years, viewers know very little about his complicated childhood and the events that led him to grow up in care.

'Alan arrives in Walford as the Mitchell family prepare to say goodbye to their beloved Aunt Sal but it soon becomes apparent that he is not welcome in the family fold.'

The actor, 85, (pictured with Steve McFadden's Phil Mitchell) will arrive in Walford in the New Year as the Mitchell family prepare to say goodbye to their beloved Aunt Sal

Alan is best known for his roles in Guy Ritchie's gangster movies including Snatch (pictured), Riot Club and Lock, Stock and Two Smoking Barrels

Alan previously appeared as guest character Sam Sangers on the BBC soap opera back in 1986.

Aunt Sal's funeral will be aired on EastEnders in scenes next year, after actress Anna Karen died in a house fire last year.

Sal last appeared on EastEnders back in 2017 at Ronnie and Roxy Mitchells funeral, but she has since been mentioned by Phil Mitchell (Steve McFadden).
John Whaite has been forced to pull out of his latest pantomime performance after falling ill.

The former Strictly Come Dancing star, 34, took to Instagram on Thursday to reveal that he had to sit out of his latest show due to illness.

John's understudy William Elijah Lewis had to step into the role of Dandini for the Cinderella pantomime show at the Bradford Alhambra Theatre.

The celebrity baker did not confirm when he would be back on stage amid his bout of illness but thanked William for standing in for him.

He wrote: 'This little superstar stood in for me today (I'm ill) and apparently he was sensational.

John Whaite has been forced to pull out of his latest pantomime performance after falling ill

'Proud of you (and so bloody grateful for you) @williamelijahlewis).'

Cinderella, which has been running since December 9 and will continue until January 21, also stars comedian Billy Pearce and Emmerdale's Samantha Giles.

John previously said of the pantomime: 'I love the stage more than anything. OK so Strictly was sort of on a stage although's it's TV, and the Strictly tour was like theatre on steroids, but being on a proper stage with a live audience: you can't beat it!'

His on-stage stint comes after John revealed that he has quit the TV industry in the wake of the news that Steph's Packed Lunch has been axed after three years on air.

In October, the Great British Bake Off star, who appears as the show's resident chef, reacted to the 'deeply sad news' that the programme is being taken off air.

John insisted he planned to 'leave TV this year anyway' and said that was the reason for his absence from the show over the past few weeks.

The TV personality's admission comes after he revealed he 'fell' for his Strictly Come Dancing pro partner Johannes Radebe while filming the show in 2021.

The former Strictly contestant, who is engaged to fiance Paul Atkins, admitted the decision to pull the show made no difference to him as he plans to focus on his 'business and creativity'.

John has been portraying Dandini for the Cinderella pantomime show at the Bradford Alhambra Theatre

The Strictly Come Dancing star, 34, took to Instagram on Thursday to reveal that he had to sit out of his latest show due to illness, with his understudy William Elijah Lewis taking his place

In a clip posted to Instagram, he said: 'This is the truth, I was going to leave TV this year anyway. That's why I've been off Packed Lunch for a couple of weeks just to get my head in the gear and I just came to the conclusion that I think my career in television is now done. I've had a great run and loved it.'

'I'll do the odd bit here and there but I need to focus my attention now on business and on my creativity, so that's where I am,' he continued.

'If you're going to think about anybody and give best wishes to anybody, please think of the Packed Lunch team.'

Elsewhere, John made headlines over the summer when he revealed he fell for his dance partner Johannes Radebe during his stint on Strictly Come Dancing.

He was partnered with the professional dancer, 36, during the 2021 series and said he almost fell victim to the show's famous curse.

They were the first ever male same-sex pairing on the show and made it to the final two, before being beaten by Rose Ayling-Ellis and Giovanni Pernice.

In a candid interview with The Times, John told how he 'fell in love' with Johannes while engaged to his partner of 15 years Paul Atkins.

He said the couple 'spent some time apart' after he opened up about his feelings towards the South African dancer.

In extracts from his memoir, Dancing on Eggshells, John detailed the depth of his feelings for Johannes.

He described feeling a 'sense of loss' after Strictly finished as he would no longer get to see Johannes every day and expressed wanting 'to be close to him'.

He said: 'After that final dance, I hung up my clothes for the last time. I felt a sense of loss.

'Not because the competition was over, I was knackered and ready for a break, but because I wouldn't get to see Johannes every single day.

His on-stage stint comes after John revealed that he has quit the TV industry in the wake of the news that Steph's Packed Lunch has been axed after three years on air

In October, the Great British Bake Off star, who appears as the show's resident chef, reacted to the 'deeply sad news' that the programme is being taken off air

'I watched him as he sat on the window sill of the dressing room drinking a glass of champagne, still sparkling in his bright white show dance outfit.

'I was jealous of the sweat beads as they shimmered on his beautiful skin. I wanted to be close to him... We hugged goodbye, I didn't want to let go.'

Speaking about the infamous Strictly curse, John added: 'Johannes knew that [the curse] could happen. He had seen it a thousand times with his dance companions over the years.

'When you are physically pressed against another man for ten hours a day, things move emotionally... He was being cautious. Strictly has a magical way of revealing the truth.'

Discussing his relationship with his fiance in the aftermath, he recalled: 'For a while, Paul and I had to have some time apart. I felt like I didn't know what I wanted from my existence any more.

'Paul had moved back with his parents and I thought to myself 'What the hell are you doing?' I was making that childhood premonition of growing old alone come true.

'Fourteen years in a solid relationship with a man who loves me unconditionally, a man who would move the earth to make me feel safe and I was p***ing all over it.'

However, John said the couple managed to put the issue behind them as they didn't want to throw away the history they had together.

MailOnline reached out to Johannes Radebe's representatives for comment at the time.

John previously admitted he 'still loves' Johannes but said he believes being in regular contact would be disrespectful to his partner.

He said: 'I still love him, of course I do. I can't speak for him  because I'm not allowed to, legally  but it felt like there was love there.

'We had such similar stories growing up  the homophobia, the bullying, coming out, coming to terms with our sexuality  as any queer kid would.'

After rekindling their romance, last summer John shared a loved-up post dedicated to Paul, detailing their 'complicated' relationship.

Elsewhere, John made headlines over the summer when he revealed he fell for his dance partner Johannes Radebe during his stint on Strictly Come Dancing

In a candid interview with The Times , John told how he 'fell in love' with Johannes while engaged to his partner of 15 years Paul Atkins

The caption read: 'Relationships are complicated  the ones we have with ourselves, and those that we share with others.

'They aren't a blissful merging of freedoms, but rather a complicated sharing of experiences, both joyous and painful.

'We learn more about ourselves on a daily  if not hourly  basis, and we grow from those lessons.'

John continued: 'After 14 years I'm blessed to have this man in my life, and how we define what we have is ours alone.

'So do enjoy the work we both share publicly, but please respect that we all have a sacred and precious right to privacy.'
The upcoming action film Civil War will not exceed three hours in runtime.

Several reports regarding the length of the feature's length have been shared in the recent past, although A24 has confirmed to Variety that the movie will last for 1 hour and 49 minutes.

The feature, which went into production last year, is set to star performers such as Kirsten Dunst, Wagner Moura and Jesse Plemons.

A fictional version of the President of the United States is also set to be portrayed by Nick Offerman.

Civil War is centered on a team of journalists who travel across America while documenting a conflict between a dystopian government and various militia forces.

The upcoming action film Civil War will not exceed three hours in runtime

Development on the feature was revealed to the public in January of 2022, and much of the film's cast had been added by that point.

Performers such as Cailee Spaeny, Stephen McKinley Henderson and Karl Glusman will round out the project's cast.

Sonoya Mizuno, who collaborated with Garland on several of his past projects, will also appear in the feature.

Physical production on the feature commenced in Atlanta last March, and its team eventually moved to London.

The feature was also produced on a budget of $50 million, making it A24's most expensive project to date.

Civil War's official trailer was released to the public earlier this month, and it received much notice for its shocking depiction of an alternate version of the United States.

According to Newsweek, the clip stirred up controversy with conservative commentators, many of whom described the upcoming movie as so-called predictive programming.

Garland spoke about the project during an interview with The Telegraph, where he stated that the feature would take place in familiar times.

Several reports regarding the length of the feature's length have been shared in the recent past, although A24 has confirmed to Variety that the movie will last for 1 hour and 49 minutes

The feature, which went into production last year, is set to star performers such as Kirsten Dunst, Wagner Moura and Jesse Plemons

A fictional version of the President of the United States is also set to be portrayed by Nick Offerman

Civil War is centered on a team of journalists who travel across America while documenting a conflict between a dystopian government and various militia forces

The filmmaker remarked that Civil War was 'set at an indeterminate point in the future  just far enough ahead for me to add a conceit.'

The writer also described the feature as a 'companion piece' to his most recently-released feature Men, which debuted last year.

However, Garland also stated that the two films were only related to one another 'in some ways.'

Civil War is currently scheduled to be released to the public on April 24.
A resurfaced photo of Nicole Kidman and Keith Urban visiting a Sydney kebab store has whipped fans into a frenzy, after they noticed an alarming detail.

The snark Instagram page Celeb Spellcheck shared a snap on Friday of Nicole and Keith, both 56, visiting a local takeaway store in Manly in 2022.

The lovebirds are seen posing up a storm in front of the drinks fridge which has a price sign on it, telling customers they can grab two 600ml Coca Cola bottles for $9.

Fans were alarmed over the shock cost to purchase two small soft drinks in Sydney and quickly took to the comments section to complain about the high cost of living.

'Two small bottles of Coke for $9?' one stunned fan commented, adding a shocked face emoji.

A resurfaced photo of Nicole Kidman (right) and Keith Urban (left) visiting a Sydney kebab store has whipped fans into a frenzy, after they noticed an alarming detail. The pair were seen posing in a Sydney kebab store, which is selling two 600ml Coca Cola bottles for $9

'$4.50 for a small bottle of coke?' a second person asked and a third chipped in: 'That's Australia for ya.'

A 600ml bottle of Coca Cola currently costs $4.05 from Coles supermarket, meaning customers are paying 90 cents extra to purchase two from the takeaway store.

This is a ten per cent price increase which is typically standard for the convenience of not having to line up in a long supermarket queue.

Fans were alarmed over the shock cost to purchase two small soft drinks in Sydney and quickly took to the comments section to complain about the high cost of living

Nicole and Keith returned to Australia last year to spend the Christmas holidays and were snapped visiting the popular kebab takeaway store in Manly.

In the photo, the Hollywood stars embraced one another as they posed inside the iconic shop.

This wasn't the first time Keith had visited the kebab store, with the musician previously pictured posing at the Manly Seaside Kebabs shop.

According to news outlet Manly Observer, the married couple treated themselves to delicious meals at the popular shop.

Country musician Keith splashed out with a lamb kebab 'with the lot', while actress Nicole 'made an equally decent selection with the falafel roll', per the publication's post on Instagram.
A Ukrainian teenager whose home was destroyed during the war against Russia has had his residence rebuilt after he was featured in an Imagine Dragons video.

The music video for Crushed showed the wreckage of Sasha's village after it was under occupation for five months.

His home and other buildings in the town were completely destroyed. Sasha survived the devastation by hiding in an underground bunker, but his neighbors did not live.

The band ultimately helped bring Sasha's story to the attention of an organization that decided to rebuild his home. Video released by United24, the fundraising platform behind the rebuilding efforts, captures the moment Sasha enters the home for the first time.

The tear-jerking video showed Sasha and his family moving into the new home, and described how the rebuilding came to be.

Ukrainian teenager Sasha has had his home rebuilt after he was featured in the Imagine Dragons video Crushed

Sasha and his family - pictured beside their new home - lost their family during the war against Russia

'A year ago, Imagine Dragons director of photography and frequent collaborator Ty Arnold came to Ukraine as a volunteer,' the video explained.

'In the village of Mykolaiv Oblast, which suffered devastating Russian attacks, he met 14-year-old Sashko.

'Sashko's home and village were completely destroyed, and Ty documented his story.

'Moved by the footage, Imagine Dragons featured Sashko in their official music video for Crushed.

'The musicians invited Sashko to their concert in Warsaw, where they met in person.

'This video helped the world see the horrors of war unleashed by Russia.

'And millions learned about Sashko's biggest dream - to come back home.

'That night, representatives of the UNITED24 partners, Aurora retail chain, was in the audience.

The tear-jerking video shows Sasha standing beside the wreckage and his newly-constructed home

The home was rebuilt by United24, Ukraine's official fundraising platform

Sasha shown sitting by candlelight in his old home compared to an image of him in his brand new bedroom

Sasha seen entering the keys to his new home

Him and his family enter their brand new home

The band helped bring Sasha's story to the attention of an organization that rebuilt his home

'The company decided to rebuild Sashko's home from scratch.

'After six months of work, Sashko opens the door to his brand new home for the first time.'

Sasha is then shown receiving a video message from the band, who tell him: 'We are so incredibly proud of you. You have inspired us, you've inspired thousands of people across the globe.

'Thank you to all the incredible donors who made this dog. And above all, Sasha, welcome home.'

Sasha receives a video message from the band after he entered his new home

The poignant video shows the construction of Sasha's home, and moving side-by-side images comparing his destroyed home to his new one.

In one photo, Sasha sat in his ruined home by candlelight. But in the newer image, Sasha sat in his brightly lit bedroom with a brand new desk and computer nearby.

Imagine Dragons posted the video to their account with the caption: 'One year ago, our friend @ty__arnold met a 14 year old boy named Sashko in Ukraine. He was wandering the streets of his destroyed town of Novohryhorivka, still in disbelief of the complete destruction of his home, his neighborhood, and his school.

'@ty__arnold captured Sashkos story in our music video for Crushed. Thanks to UNITED24 (which we support) and their donor @avrora.multimarket , Sashko and his mothers house has been rebuilt.

UNITED24 was set up by Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy as the main platform for collecting charitable donations in support of Ukraine.

Last week the organization released video of Ukranian soldiers on war-weary frontlines in Bakhmut singing modified versions of Christmas classics including Happy Xmas (War Is Over), Let It Snow and Have Yourself A Merry Little Christmas.

The covers include changed lyrics 'designed to remind people about the ongoing war and the importance of global support for Ukraine', according to the UNITED24 fundraising platform behind the campaign.
Apple has resumed sales of its newest watches, a day after an appeals court paused a ban on sales in the US.

The tech giant announced that it would restart sales of its latest models - the Apple Watch Series 9 and Watch Ultra 2 - at stores Wednesday.

It said customers would be able to buy the smartwatches online from 12pm Pacific Time, or 3pm Eastern Time, on Thursday.

Apple paused all sales of the newest models on Christmas Eve, as a result of a patent case brought by biotech company Masimo that the company lost in October.

The White House had a deadline of December 26 to veto the order made by the International Trade Commission (ITC), but failed to intervene. But on Wednesday, a federal appeals court temporarily reversed the ban following an emergency appeal from Apple.

The tech giant announced that it would restart sales of its latest models - the Apple Watch Series 9 and Watch Ultra 2 - at stores Wednesday, and online from Thursday

The company has asked the court to halt the ban until a US Customs decision due on January 12 about whether redesigned watches proposed by the tech giant avoid Masimo patents.

Masimo has accused Apple of hiring away its employees, stealing its pulse oximetry technology - which is used to measure blood-oxygen levels - and incorporating it into Apple Watches.

California-based Masimo sued Apple in federal court in 2020 and again in 2021 after the Apple Watch Series 6 release, the first model to have the blood oxygen feature.

In October, the ITC announced its ruling, finding that the devices infringed on two patents owned by Masimo.

The ban did not apply to the cheaper Apple Watch SE, which is available online from $249. The Series 9 and Ultra 2 retail for $399 and $799 respectively.

The watches also remained available at other retailers, including Amazon, Best Buy, Costco and Walmart.

Masimo has accused Apple of hiring away its employees, stealing its pulse oximetry technology

Following its successful appeal, Apple said in a statement: 'We are pleased the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit has stayed the exclusion order while it considers our request to stay the order pending our full appeal.'

Although it is a win for the company, the fate of sales, service and repairs of the smartwatches depends on how the case plays out in federal court over the coming weeks.

The federal appeals court gave the Commission until January 10 to respond to Apple's request for a longer pause in the ban's enforcement.

The company claimed it could 'suffer irreparable harm' because of its inability to sell its 'most popular' smartwatch models.

The announcement comes as an email from a former Masimo scientist to Tim Cook surfaced.

Bloomberg shared the 2013 email from Marcelo Lamego, who promised to make Apple 'the No. 1 brand in the medical, fitness and wellness market' with his knowledge of medical devices.

Masimo's lawyers claimed Lamego lacked prior knowledge of such technologies and used Masimo's sensors to develop those in the Apple Watch Series 6.

Lamego was hired by Masimo in 2003 as a research scientist and became the CTO for Ceracaor about three years later.

The announcement comes as an email from a former Masimo scientist to Tim Cook surfaced

The 2013 email from Marcelo Lamego, who promised to make Apple 'the No. 1 brand in the medical, fitness and wellness market' with his knowledge of medical devices

Apple is said to have offered Lamego a position at the company in 2013 when the tech giant met with Masimo for a possible acquisition that never matured.

Lamego declined the offer but reconsidered after being passed over as the CTO of Masimo, lawyers for the biotech company argue.

Lamego was hired by Apple in 2014, and he 'pursued on behalf of Apple numerous patent applications on technologies he was intimately involved in at Plaintiffs Cercacor and Masimo,' the lawsuit claims.

The scientist is also named as an inventor on an August 2014 patent titled 'Reflective Surface Treatments for Optical Sensors,' along with several others.

'Lamego had unfettered access to Plaintiffs highly confidential technical information. He was trained and mentored at Masimo by the most skilled engineers and scientists and was taught about the keys to effective non-invasive monitoring, something he was not involved in prior to Masimo,' the lawsuit claims.

'He was also exposed to guarded secrets regarding mobile medical products, including key technology and advance plans for future products.'

Lamego left Apple just seven months after being hired.
West Chester, Pennsylvania, was the most popular place for people looking to buy a home in 2023, according to analysis from Zillow.

The real estate marketplace analyzed metrics that indicated consumer demand - including page-view traffic, home value growth and days listed before being sold - for more than 2,000 US cities.

All of the top ten were in the Northeast - a shift from last year when the Midwest dominated and Prairie Village, Kansas, was top.

West Chester - a 'quaint' town of about 20,000 people, which is just over an hour's drive from Philadelphia - took over the crown, with a surge of page views on listings in the area.

Prospective homebuyers generally gravitated toward smaller cities in 2023, the report showed. Of the 10 most popular markets, only one - Manchester, New Hampshire - has a population of more than 100,000, and the majority are less than half that size.

West Chester, Pennsylvania , was the most 'popular' housing market in 2023, according to analysis from real estate marketplace Zillow

Zillow reported that a 'strong interest' in the West Chester area has helped push home values up about 8 percent in the last year.

The typical home in West Chester is worth about $584,000, putting it among the more expensive cities in Pennsylvania.

'But given its relative affordability compared to larger cities nearby such as New York City and Washington DC, those looking for a break from city life may see West Chester as an attractive and affordable place to call home,' the report read.

West Chester ranked within the top 100 cities in page views per listing among the nearly 2,300 cities included in Zillows rankings, far outperforming its size.

Almost two thirds of those views came from outside the city, the analysis found, which is a possible signal of interest in moving in.

Although West Chester took the top spot, seven of the 10 most popular markets of 2023 were located in New England.

West Chester - a 'quaint' town of about 20,000 people, which is just over an hour's drive from Philadelphia - took the crown for the most 'popular' housing market in 2023

Nashua and Manchester in New Hampshire ranked second and third, followed by Connecticut's Wethersfield and West Hartford in fourth and fifth place.

Stow, Ohio, came in sixth place, Middletown, Connecticut in seventh, and Twinsburg, Ohio, in eighth.

Zillow ranked Newington, Connecticut in ninth place and Concord, New Hampshire, rounded off the 10 most popular markets of 2023.

The real estate company also singled out some breakout towns in specific categories.

It ranked Chula Vista, California, which has a population of around 278,000 and a typical home value of $808,000, as the most popular large city in the US in 2023.

South Portland, Maine, was the most popular seaside town, while Vermilion, Ohio, took the top spot among vacation towns.

North Carolina's Pinehurst edged out Hilton Head Island, South Carolina, for the top retirement town.

West Chester also ranked first among college towns, with Kent, Ohio, coming in just behind.

It comes as mortgage rates have fallen for the ninth consecutive week - offering much-needed respite to prospective homebuyers heading into the new year.

Mortgage rates have fallen for their ninth consecutive week, ending the year at their lowest point since May

Data from Government-backed lender Freddie Mac shows the average rate on a 30-year home loan is now 6.61 percent, down from 6.67 percent last week, and at its lowest point since May.

It is good news for home shoppers after rates soared to a peak of 7.79 percent in late October.

However, the average buyer still faces paying around $800 per month more now on a home loan than if they had bought two years ago.
The country is going to be a developed country by 2047; free from poverty, unemployment and deprivation

In the counting of votes held on December 3, 2023, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) is going to form government in three of the four big states, Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan and Chhattisgarh, and Congress has won in only one state, Telangana. BJP has often been raising issues of vote bank politics, corruption, dynasty politics etc. in the elections. Issues like the construction of the Ram temple, the abrogation of Article 370, and communal violence, were widely discussed. But history is witness to the fact that even though these issues are important if a party or the government does not work for the welfare of the people, then they will be summarily rejected.

In 2014, India's economy was among the five most fragile economies, facing the tragedy of declining investment and a continuously declining growth rate. But in less than 10 years, India has moved from the tenth to the fifth largest economy of the world.

Today India has also become the fastest growing economy in the world. In such a situation, Prime Minister Narendra Modi has given new wings to the aspirations of the common people of the country by pledging to become a developed nation before the completion of the first 100 years of independence.

A New Welfare State

Till now, the distribution of money through employment schemes, free or cheap electricity and water, subsidy on petrol, diesel and gas, cheap ration, government expenditure on education and health etc. were considered to be the essence of a welfare state. But over the last 9 years, the definition of the welfare state itself has changed and seems to be improving, which has also received public support.

Firstly, there has been an attempt to ensure the genuineness of expenditure on the housing scheme, by using technology, in a unique housing scheme.

In just a few years, about 3 crore houses have been constructed, for which Rs 5 lakh crore was given by the Central Government and Rs 15 lakh crore was spent by the beneficiaries themselves, who built better houses for themselves in rural and urban areas; and started enjoying a respectable life. Under the Ujjwala scheme, 10 crore poor women were given free LPG connections and later those poor women got cylinders refilled, at their own expense.

Today, on average, Ujjwala beneficiaries get more than three cylinders filled in a year. By providing electricity to almost all the villages in the country, not only has the standard of living improved but the government has also been successful in taking the communication and internet revolution across the country.

The target of providing tap water to all the houses is almost achieved, due to which women do not have to go far to fetch water, which saves their time. Construction of toilets in every house has freed us from the curse of open defecation, pictures of which foreigners often used, to show India as a backward nation. Improvement in primary care and most importantly free treatment up to Rs 5 lakh under Ayushman Yojana is proving to be a boon for the less resourceful people.

If seen, all these schemes are for the targeted beneficiaries. Beneficiaries have got relief with the help of the government. According to the United Nations Development Program (UNDP), in just five years from 2015-16 to 2019-21, the index of multidimensional poverty has decreased from 0.122 to just 0.69. Today, the changing circumstances are giving birth to new dimensions to politics in the country, and the country is moving towards becoming a developed country by 2047, free from poverty, unemployment and deprivation.

(The author is Professor, PGDAV College, University of Delhi; views are personal)
The Court held that Parliament has legislative powers on state reorganisation and that Article 370 was a temporary provision

Article 370 died on August 5, 2019, with a stroke of pen when former President Ram Nath Kovind signed Constitutional Orders (CO) 272 and 273. However, it was not cremated and its corpse continued to be kept in the mortuary in the hope that the Supreme Court of India would blow life into it. However, vide three separate but concurring judgments, the Supreme Court of India unanimously let Article 370 rest in peace. This historic moment saw a Constitutional Bench led by the CJI delving into multiple facets, each crucial in determining the status and implications of this constitutional provision, namely: the extent of sovereignty enjoyed by J&K, temporary versus permanent nature of Article 370, the validity of amendments and abrogation through constitutional orders (CO), and scope of parliaments power under Article 3 of the Constitution.

Although Paragraph 8 of the Instrument of Accession by which J&K acceded into India, retained sovereignty with Maharaja Hari Singh, the subsequent Proclamation by Yuvraj Karan Singh on 25 November 1949 explicitly stated the supremacy of the Indian Constitution over all other conflicting provisions within the state. Furthermore, Article 370 read with Article 1 of the Indian Constitution declares J&K to be an integral part of India. Unlike the Preamble to the Indian Constitution, there is nothing in the Constitution of J&K that declares it to be sovereign. On the contrary, the unamendable Section 3 of the Constitution of J&K reinforces the position under Article 1 of the Indian Constitution. The Bench, distinguishing judgements like Prem Nath Kaul (1959), held that there was complete subordination of J&K to the Constitution of India, and its status aligned with the principle of asymmetric federalism and not internal sovereignty.

Regarding the status of Article 370, the Court inferred from an analysis encompassing historical, textual as well as purposive angles that it was a temporary provision. Article 370 was needed given the war-like situation in the State, besides serving an interim purpose till the Constituent Assembly of J&K ratified the Indian Constitution and decided the contours of engagement between the Union of India and the state of J&K for matters other than those mentioned in the Instrument of Accession.

Textually, its placement in Part XXI of the Constitution and the marginal heading of the provision suggest the inference that Article 370 is temporary and transitional. And finally, Article 370(1)(d) and 370(3) had the avowed purpose of constitutional integration of J&K into India. At the time of the dissolution of the Constituent Assembly of J&K, the war-like situation persisted, and hence Article 370 outlived the Constituent Assembly. Holding that Article 370 cannot be abrogated after dissolution would lead to derailing the process of integration which was the purpose of introducing the said article in the first place.

It is the prerogative of the President to decide if the special circumstances that necessitated Article 370 have ceased to exist. The Court did not find any mala fide as the State had already seen a series of integrative endeavours through 370(1)(d), and CO 273 was only the culmination of that process. Further, given the absence of any limitation concerning the extent or manner of the Constitution's application, the Court dismissed claims of non-application of mind merely because CO 272 applied all provisions of the Constitution to J&K.

The Court highlighted that the consequential effect of applying all provisions of the Constitution to J&K under Article 370(1)(d) mirrors the outcome of issuing a notification under Article 370(3). Since the President had unilateral powers under Article 370(3) post the dissolution of the Constituent Assembly of J&K, hence there was nothing mala fide in the President not seeking concurrence of the state government for the full application of the Constitution under Article 370(1)(d). Thus, the Presidential action was not ultra vires the law laid down in S R Bommai (1994).

CO 272 vide Paragraph 2 amends Article 367 by which the Constituent Assembly in proviso to Article 370(3) would mean Legislative Assembly. And then it abrogates Article 370, effectively amending Article 370. Hence, Paragraph 2 of CO 272 was held unconstitutional however the rest of the portion which extended the whole of the Constitution of India to the state of J&K was held to be valid. The Court categorically held that the power under Article 356 is not subject to Article 357. Hence, Parliament gets not just the legislative power but also the power to give recommendations on behalf of the legislature for irreversible actions like state reorganization. Given the non-binding nature of the State Legislature's recommendations and reasonable nexus between the exercise of power and the object sought to be achieved, there was nothing mala fide in the recommendation by Parliament on behalf of the Legislature.

The Court directed the restoration of statehood at the earliest possible opportunity. The Court mandated the Election Commission of India to conduct elections, a fundamental facet of India's representative democracy, to the Legislative Assembly of J&K by 30 September 2024. Justice Kaul recommended setting up a Truth and Reconciliation Commission on the lines of post-apartheid South Africa which would complement the process of integration of J&K with India. The Court has delineate a nuanced and pivotal perspective on controversial issues of national importance. At the same time, the court's avoidance of conclusively addressing Parliament's power under Article 3 to alter a State's character into Union Territories leaves room for future considerations regarding the scope, impact, and legitimacy of such actions on the principles of federalism, historical context, and representative democracy.

(Siddharth Mishra is Sr Assistant Professor, Faculty of Law, University of Delhi and Shashank Rai is an advocate at the Supreme Court of India, views are personal)
Defence Minister Rajnath Singh on Wednesday said that soldiers must safeguard national interests and also win the hearts of the people while discharging their duties. Addressing a gathering of troops in one of the forward locations in Rajouri, he emphasised, The Indian Army is not an ordinary army. Soldiers are our protectors, tasked not only with safeguarding national interests but also with winning the hearts of the people.

Referring to a recent terrorist strike on Army vehicles, Rajnath Singh remarked, Such incidents (ambush) cannot be taken for granted. I acknowledge your alertness to the situation, but heightened vigilance is required. I want to assure you that the government stands with you, and your welfare is our top priority.

In an apparent reference to the killing of three civilians, the Defence Minister urged the troops to avoid mistakes that harm the citizens of the country.

As one of the senior-most Cabinet ministers in the Narendra Modi-led Union Government, Rajnath Singhs visit to the border area was significant. He made all-out efforts to pacify aggrieved members of civilian families.

He described the recent incidents in the sector as unfortunate and urged all ranks to undertake operations based on hard intelligence, following established procedures and aided by niche technology. He also urged all Commanders to have zero tolerance for violations of the well-established Standard Operating Procedures .

Sounding a word of caution, the Defence Minister exhorted the troops to remain extra vigilant to prevent untoward incidents in the future, reiterating that there should be zero tolerance for terrorism. Lauding the role of the Indian army, Singh expressed full faith that the Indian Army would eradicate terrorism from Jammu and Kashmir.

While addressing the troops at a military garrison in Rajouri, the Defence Minister said, I believe in your bravery and steadfastness Terrorism should be eradicated from Jammu and Kashmir, and you need to move forward with this commitment. I have full faith that you will achieve victory. Singh paid tribute to the fallen soldiers and prayed for the speedy recovery of the injured personnel. I want to assure you that given the seriousness of the incident, required and appropriate steps will be taken. For us, every soldier is a part of the family, and his life is very precious. Anyone eyeing our soldiers is not acceptable to us, he said. The government treasury is open for further beefing up security and intelligence gathering, he added. The sacrifice of the soldiers is unparalleled and cannot be compensated with money. The void can never be fulfilled, he added.

During his day-long visit, Rajnath Singh also conducted a first-hand assessment of the prevailing situation and counter-terror operations in the area.

He chaired a high-level security review meeting at Raj Bhawan in Jammu, accompanied by Chief of the Army Staff General Manoj Pande and General Officer Commanding-in-Chief, Northern Command Lt Gen Upendra Dwivedi.

The Defence Minister received a detailed brief on the prevailing security situation, the counter-infiltration grid, and operational preparedness. Rajnath Singh discussed the operating challenges with the Commanders on the ground, emphasising the need for professional conduct and due diligence during operations.

Later, Rajnath Singh met with the families of the deceased persons, residents of the village Topa Peer of Bufliaz in Poonch district. He assured expeditious investigation into the incident, culminating in the deliverance of justice.

Rajnath Singh expressed satisfaction with the high level of synergy between the security forces, civil administration, J&K Police, Central Armed Police Forces, and other security agencies. This collaboration projects a clear message of resoluteness toward improving the security environment conducive to fostering a new era of development in the Union Territory (UT).
The tug of war between the CPI(M)-led Kerala Government and Hindus in the State has cast a shadow on the future of the more than two centuries old Thrissur Pooram, scheduled for April 2024. Thrissur Pooram, known across the world as the Festival of Festivals and featuring nearly one hundred caparisoned elephants and more than 500 percussionists, is facing unprecedented uncertainty.

A decision by the Kerala Government to hike the rentals of the venue from `42 lakh to `2.2 crore has upset the organisers, who told the authorities that they would be forced to cut short the festivities to mere ritual and do away with the splendour and pomp of Pooram.

Nandakishor, humourist and the unofficial cultural ambassador of Thrissur, has taken up the cudgel on behalf of Pooram aficionados and believers.

The stance of the Government to hike the rental is not at all justifiable or convincing. Pooram is a cultural event and has become famous for its aesthetic value. Though the organisers of Pooram hinted at restricting the festival to a ritual, the response by the Government that it would organise the Pooram is being seen as an attempt to wrest control of the two famous temples, Vadakkumnathan and Paramekkavu, Nandakishor told The Pioneer.

He said that Pooram is a socio-cultural event and should not be treated as a money-spinner. All temples that come under the Cochin Devaswam Board, which is under CPI(M) control, are financed by the Thiruvampady and Parameikkavu Devaswams, said Nandakishor.

Millions make it to Thrissur to watch the Pooram show when elephants line up for a colourful display of umbrellas and fireworks. Many movies in Malayalam have Pooram as a theme, and it is impossible to imagine what Thrissur would be without this centuries-old festival, said Raju Raphel, a documentary filmmaker based in Thrissur. He said organisers were hoping against hope to stage the event to rekindle the spirit of the local residents.

The controversy took a new turn on Wednesday as leading astrologers assembled at Kozhikode, issuing a statement asking the Kerala Government and the organisers of the event to work out a solution. If there is any interruption in organising the Pooram, it would adversely affect the divinity associated with Thrissur and surrounding areas. Thrissur, besides being the cultural capital of Kerala, is a major commercial and trading hub in South India, said Kakkassery Raveendran Panickar, an astrologer-cum-astronomer who is the secretary of Panickar Service Society, a think-tank on astrology and astronomy. Pooram, which is led by Devaswams (the boards that control the Vadakkumnathan and Paramekkavu temples), features nearly 20 temples in and around Thrissur city.

More than a Hindu festival, Pooram is an inter-religious congregation where all three major religions take part with enthusiasm. The preparations for the Pooram itself are a round-the-year process and involve the making of colorful umbrellas and other paraphernalia to be displayed atop the elephants standing in parade at the venue, said Sudheer Damodaran, a cultural activist in the district.

The Pooram is already enmeshed in controversy regarding the use of elephants for the parade. Animal rights activists have challenged the organisers decision to use the pachyderms as an act of cruelty to the elephants. The elephants are made to stand for more than 15 hours without any break during the Pooram gaiety.
As the scheduled arrival of Prime Minister Narendra Modi on December 30 approaches, Ayodhya is undergoing a magnificent transformation reminiscent of the splendor of Treta Yug.

Acting upon the directives of Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath, meticulous preparations are underway to extend an unprecedented welcome to the prime minister.

Ayodhya is being adorned with a combination of local and foreign flowers, along with artistic archways. Plans are also underway to extend an extraordinary welcome to the prime minister through flower showers.

Approximately 700-800 skilled artisans from Ayodhya and surrounding districts, as well as contributors from West Bengal, Mathura and Sitapur, are actively engaged in this endeavour. The flowers are being procured from places like Kolkata, Kanpur, Delhi, Bangalore etc.

Over 24 archways will grace a stretch exceeding nine kilometres, spanning from the airport bypass through the four-lane Dharampath. The railing dividers, statues, and other elements along this route will be adorned with flowers and bouquets.

Balkrishna Saini, a resident of Ayodhya, is actively engaged with his team in preparations for the forthcoming event. He said that Ayodhya would be adorned with delightful fragrances of both local and foreign flowers.

More than 20 DCM flowers (approximately 1,44,000 quintals) will be used for the purpose. These will include marigold strings from Kolkata, Ashoka leaves from Kanpur and Delhi, and exotic blooms from Bengaluru. Orchids, Anthuriums, Carnations, Tata Rose, Star, Dahlia, Gerbera as well as Victoria, Sun of India, Para grass, Manokamini flower, China leaf, Ghoda palm, Areca palm etc will also be included in the decoration. The roads will also be decorated with flowers like marigolds, roses, tuberoses, dog roses, dahlias, etc, he said.

Saini said that Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath gave a different identity to Ayodhya and everyone was excited to welcome them. He said the workforce included 250 artisans from Mathura-Vrindavan, another 250 from Sitapur, 150 from West Bengal, and 75 local artisans, all diligently contributing to the project. With only three days remaining for the prime ministers visit, the pace of the work has intensified to ensure its timely completion.
The Delhi BJP on Wednesday held a protest near AAP headquarters here over supply of drugs that failed quality standard tests in Government hospitals and demanded resignations from Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal and Health Minister Saurabh Bharadwaj. Addressing the protesters, Delhi BJP president Virendra Sachdeva said that another sample failed the test on Wednesday.

Today, another sample has arrived and that was also found to be fake. The tender for the medicines whose samples were found to be fake had ended, Sachdeva said. The protesters also raised slogans against Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal and Health Minister Saurabh Bharadwaj. Delhi police used water canon to disperse BJP workers as they broke police barricades to run towards AAP office and arrested them. The police had made adequate security arrangements and put up barricades.

Leader of Opposition in Delhi Assembly Ramvir Singh Bidhuri said that in political career spread in over 4 decades he has not seen a government stoop as low as to allow distribution of fake and poor quality medicines in government hospitals like the Arvind Kejriwal government. Despite supply of spurious medicines, they shamelessly defended their act and trying to put blame on the bureaucracy. Kejriwal and Bharadwaj should immediately resigned from their posts and tender apology to the people of Delhi, he said.

Former Union Health Minister Dr Harshvardhan said there is no such scheme in which corruption has not taken place in Kejriwal Government. BJP MP Manoj Tiwari said that Kejriwal lied and cheated the poor, women and general public of Delhi and not only this, he is playing with the lives of the poor. BJP MLA Vijendra Gupta said that Arvind Kejriwal has the biggest hand in the way fake medicines being distributed in Delhi Government hospitals.
Bhartiya Kisan Union (BKU) has stepped up the campaign for mounting pressure on the state government for the early fixation of the Sugarcane Advisory Price (SAP) for the current cane crushing season 2023-24. The SAP is yet to be announced even as the cane crushing commenced in Uttar Pradesh in November.

The BKU is organising panchayats at tehsil level in Western UP districts demanding the increase and announcement of the sugarcane price for the current season. BKU (Tikait faction) maintains that resentment prevails among the farmers over the delay in announcement of the SAP.

At present, SAP for common varieties of cane stands at Rs 340 per quintal, while the price for early and late maturing varieties is fixed at Rs 350 and Rs 335 per quintal, respectively. The Yogi government had last revised SAP in September 2021 before the 2022 assembly elections.

Official sources said ahead of the next Lok Sabha elections in 2024, Uttar Pradesh government was likely to order a significant increase in the SAP of sugarcane for the upcoming 2023-2024 season.

As per the estimates of the sugar industry the SAP is likely to be raised by Rs 25 per quintal. The hike in SAP could be easily absorbed by the industry as well as benefit the farmers as the price of sugar is ruling high in the domestic and international markets. The Union government has already banned the export of sugar for keeping the price of the commodity under check in the domestic market.

However, not everyone in the industry is convinced that such a substantial increase is likely to materialise.

A source in UP Sugar Mills Association (UPSMA) said the customary deliberation on SAP in Uttar Pradesh usually took place in October, and an increase of Rs 25 per quintal at this stage would be unusually high. UPSMA sources further pointed out the deficient rainfall in Uttar Pradesh by 17-18% could adversely affect the sugar recovery.

The rainfall deficit has undoubtedly impacted the yield and availability of sugar for crushing. The challenges faced by the sugar industry are multifaceted, with weather conditions being a critical factor affecting sugar production, he said.

With the expected hike in SAP for 2023-24, the estimated payments for sugarcane farmers in Uttar Pradesh are likely to be over Rs 36,000 crore as the state gears up for the 2023-24 crushing season.

Although officially the cane crushing season (October-September) started on October 1, operations are expected to gain momentum in the coming weeks, starting from Western UP and gradually covering the entire state.

The state sugar production stood at nearly 10.7 million tonnes last year. Of the total 120 sugar mills in the state, the private sector leads with 93 plants, followed by the cooperative sector with 24, and UP state sugar corporation with three.

Nearly 4.5 million households are directly associated with sugarcane farming in the state. For the current crushing season, sugarcane area is estimated at 2.85 million hectares with production estimates standing at 235 million tonnes.


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Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann on Wednesday launched a scathing attack on the BJP-led Union Government for rejecting the state's tableau for the Republic Day parade the next year. Accusing the power-mad Centre of demeaning and humiliating the sacrifices made by Punjabis in the national freedom struggle, Mann announced that these rejected tableaus would be showcased in Republic Day functions across the State with a Rejected by Centre tag.



Mann expressed deep disappointment over the second consecutive year of Punjabs tableau exclusion from the Republic Day parade. We have done all formalities in advance as required by any state. However, we got a letter today from the Centre informing us that Punjabs tableau wont be part of the Republic Day parade, he declared.



This year, the Centre had written a letter to the state asking our willingness regarding the state's tableau...On August 4, 2023, we wrote a letter of willingness and also mentioned that not just in January 2024, but for 2025 and 2026 also, we expressed our willingness that our tableau be includedBut, we received the letter today morning that our tableau has been rejected for this year again, said Mann.



The Chief Minister accused the Centre of favoring BJP-ruled states in the selection of tableaux, pointing out that most of the 20 states whose tableaux were approved are BJP-ruled. Even AAP-ruled Delhis tableau has allegedly not been approved, he added.



We proposed three tableaux from Punjab for shortlisting and even gave them designs for this, and our officers also held three meetings in this regard with the Centre, said the Chief Minister.



Displaying pictures of the three tableaux prepared by the states Information and Public Relations Department, Mann expressed his dismay, stating, It is disheartening to see how the Modi-led BJP Government at the Centre is out to finish Punjab from the cultural scenario of India.



Mann, addressing the media, emphasized that the rejection is part of a larger strategy to erase opposition-ruled states cultural representation. He accused the Centre of saffronization and politicization of Republic Day and Independence Day, challenging state BJP leaders to clarify their stance on what he termed an anti-Punjab move by their masters.



The Chief Minister highlighted the three proposed tableaux for Punjab  Punjab Kurbaniya ate Shahadatan Da Itihaas, showcasing the history of sacrifice and martyrdom; Nari Shakti  Mai Bhago, depicting the first lady warrior of Sikhism and promoting womens empowerment; and Punjab da Ameer Virsa te Odi Peshkari, celebrating the rich heritage of Punjab.



Mann accused the Modi Government of undermining the immense contributions of Punjab to the nations development and freedom struggle. The rejection was a deliberate attempt to humiliate the state, especially during the days when the world pays homage to the sacrifices of chotta Sahibzadas Baba Zorawar Singh and Baba Fateh Singh, along with Mata Gujri ji, he said.



Expressing his commitment to highlight Punjabs heritage, Mann declared that even if the Centre omits Punjab from the Republic Day parade, the State Government will include the rejected tableaux in all functions held across Punjab on January 26. He criticized the BJP-led NDA Government for its anti-Punjab syndrome and vowed to confront the injustice meted out to the state.



The Chief Minister denounced the Centre's actions against Punjab, citing stalled funds for Aam Aadmi Clinics, Rural Development Funds, and the Mukh Mantri Teerth Yatra Scheme. Despite these challenges, Mann asserted that the State Government is working tirelessly to make Punjab self-reliant.



Also slamming the Centre, Punjabs Tourism and Culture Affairs Minister Anmol Gagan Maan asked if an attempt is being made to erase the history. Disheartened to witness the exclusion of Punjab's tableau from the Republic Day parade. Are we erasing the rich tapestry of our diverse history? This decision deserves scrutiny. Is it now a parade of select narratives, leaving the sacrifices of our heroes in the shadows? wrote Anmol Gagan on X (formerly Twitter).



Also expressing disappointment, Power Minister Harbhajan Singh ETO said that the Centre has done gross injustice by removing Punjab's tableaux. Punjab is the land of martyrs and it has made exemplary contributions in every field for the progress and prosperity of the country, but the BJP Government at the centre has done a gross injustice by removing the tableaus of Punjab on Republic Day, he posted on X.


Congress has killed democracy in the country. Today the people of the country are asking the Congress Party that when will they get justice for the injustice done to them in the past? In such a situation, if Congress takes out Nyay Yatra, it will be the biggest dishonesty with the countrys said BJP State President and MP Vishnudutt Sharma said this during a discussion with the media on Wednesday.

The Congress Party and the Gandhi family have been doing injustice to the country and its countrymen for a long time. In such a situation, the speaking of justice by Congress is not true.

The State President also gave information to the media regarding the Small State Working Committee meeting.

State President Sharma, while discussing Rahul Gandhi's Bharat Jodo Yatra, said that recently the Congress Party had taken out a yatra under the leadership of Rahul Gandhi. What happened on that journey? Wherever Rahul's feet landed, every part of his body fell apart. Wherever Rahul Gandhi reached during the yatra, the deposits of the party candidates were confiscated in those areas. Sharma said that it would be better if Rahul Gandhi takes out an apology march for the injustice done to the people of the country by the Congress Party over the years.

State President Sharma said that the Congress Party and the Gandhi family have done injustice to the people of this country. Injustice has been done to the poor of the country, injustice has been done to those people in whose heart India resides. Sharma said that the work of providing justice to these people is now being done by Prime Minister Narendra Modi and the people of the country and the whole world are giving him full blessings.
The New Delhi Municipal Council (NDMC) in its budget 2024-25 announced geotagging of all properties, hosting a Tulip festival and redevelopment of the sewerage system. Among his other announcements were modernising the dhobi ghats, acquiring electric bikes and scooters for field staff, providing uninterrupted water supply and giving health cards to students of NDMC schools. The NDMC budget also proposed to make available untied funds of Rs 10 crore for residents welfare associations and market trade associations in the NDMC area for 2024-25 with an objective to provide scope for local initiatives and flexibility for local action by them.

The NDMC budget 2024-25 showed a total expenditure of Rs.4,829.36 crore against Rs. 4,568.21 crore provided in revised estimate (RE) 2023-24 and actual of Rs. 3,999.31 crore in 2022-23. The total receipts of the Budget Estimate for 2024-25 are Rs 5,069.63 crore against Rs 4,888.93 crore provided in the Revised Estimate for 2023-24. The actual receipts in 2022-23 was Rs 4,302.79 crore. This is the first time that the budget of the NDMC has gone over Rs 5,000 crore, NDMC chairman Amit Yadav said while presenting the budget for the year 2024-25. The total actual receipts in 2022-23 were Rs 4,302.79 crore. The budget estimate (BE) 2024-25 for the revenue receipts are Rs.4,444.36 crore against Rs. 4,293.51. crore provided in Revised Estimate 2023-24 and actual of Rs.3,894.67 crore in 2022-23. The BE for capital receipts are Rs.625.27 crore against Rs. 595.42 crore provided in RE 2023-24 and actual of Rs.408.12 crore in 2022-23. The capital expenditure is projected at Rs. 434.07 crore in BE this year against Rs.309.67 crore in revised estimate in 2023-24 and actual of Rs. 143.04 crore in 2022-23, he said.

The BE for revenue expenditure are Rs. 4,395.30 crore against Rs. 4,258.55 crore provided in RE 2023-24 and actual of Rs. 3,856.27 crore in 2022-23. NDMC is expecting to collect Property Tax of Rs.1,150 crore in Revised Estimates 2023-24 and Rs.1,150 crore in 2024-25. The actual receipts in 2022-23 for License Fee from Municipal Properties stood at Rs. 628.69 crore. The Projections for RE 2023-24 are at Rs. 825.11 crore and BE 2024-25 are at Rs. 825.11 crore.

The NDMC has also approved the proposal to increase 1% of transfer duty for both male and female from 1.8.2023 which will ensure additional revenue of Rs.15 crore approximately each year from 2023-24 onward.

Yadav said the total revenue receipts from Electricity Distribution Strategic Business Unit (EDSBU) have been projected in 2023-24 at Rs.1,455.18 crore as against actual Rs.1577.51 crore in the year 2022-23. The projections for BE 2024-25 are at Rs. 1,565.05 crore.

Talking about the G-20 Summit, Yadav said, This year was a milestone for the NDMC as we had to prepare New Delhi for hosting the G-20 summit, under the leadership of our Prime Minister Narendra Modi. The NDMC devoted itself to ensuring the success of this significant event and took numerous initiatives to prepare the city to welcome our guests from across the world. Through the concerted efforts of team NDMC we not only met but exceeded the expectations.

On issue of pollution, the NDMC chairman said the Council has implemented a range of proactive measures to combat environmental pollution through promoting greenery and expanding the green cover to mitigate the spread of dust, deployed Smog Guns, Mechanical Road Sweepers, to switch to only electric vehicles in a phased manner and have augmented e-charging points to support use of electric vehicles in NDMC area.

NDMC has procured two lakh tulip bulbs for the winter to enhance the citys aesthetics and to add colour to its landscape, he said, adding that the civic body is planning to make the Tulip Festival an annual event.

Noting that the city infrastructure needs to be upgraded with passage of time, Yadav said the NDMC has asked the Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs to sanction projects worth Rs 556 crore under the Urban Development Fund (UDF) scheme for rehabilitation of the NDMC sewerage system.

This will enable NDMC to augment the sewerage system in a phased manner within a span of five years, he said. The NDMC is also working on an amendment to the NDMC Act, 1994 to align with current global best practices, he said.

As part of our tax reform process we will implement geotagging of all properties starting from the next financial year i.E. 2024-25. Geotagging will mandate uploading the photos of taxpayers properties through mobile app or the NDMC website for easy identification and tracking, he said.

Yadav also announced that the Charak Palika Hospital will soon get an ICU facility and blood storage unit. The work regarding procurement of equipment for ICU is in advanced stages and likely to be completed by March, 2024, he said.

Yadav said NDMC has created an Innovation Fund, and a committee will be set up to lay down the modalities for projects. The first of such projects: bioremediation-based innovative hybrid technology is being used to clean the partial open portion of Kushak nallah from 11 Murthi SP Marg to Kemal Ataturk Marg about 2 km in length, he said. It is proposed that this fund will be used for a long-term solution that ensures that untreated water does not flow into Kushak Nala or Yamuna, he added.

Yadav also announced that a comprehensive project for upgradation of dhobi ghats will be launched. In the Budget it is proposed to make available Untied Funds of Rs. 10 crore for the Resident Welfare Association (RWAs) and Market Trade Associations (MTAs) of the NDMC area for the year 2024-25 with an objective to provide scope for local initiatives and flexibility for local action by the RWAs/ MTAs.

NDMC is also working on amendment to the NDMC Act, 1994 to align with current global best practices, to factor our learning experiences over the last three decades, ensuring ease of doing business, reducing regulatory burden and carrying out reforms including tax reforms, he said.
Chhattisgarh Director General of Police Ashok Juneja on Wednesday told his force to increase mobility to curb crime and anti-social elements.

Maintain vigilant patrols on the states borders to prevent illicit transportation of paddy from other states, he told a meeting with all Range Inspector Generals and Superintendents of Police in Raipur.

In view of the property-related crimes, Juneja told the officials to increase night patrols.

He also told them to deploy police forces at crowded places like hotels, markets and temples to ensure peace and security on the occasion of New Year.
Father of Bhopal's theater artist and line producer Animesh Mehta has accused the BJP leader of not paying the money for the work done in the elections and which became primary reason of the suicide by the 36-year-old artist.

He also mentioned his differences with his wife. His fellow artists have expressed grief over Animesh's death. He said that Animesh has worked as a supporting and junior artist in many films including Raajneeti, Chakravyuh, Fraud Saiyaan.

Animesh's friend Mohit said that Animesh was continuously working on many projects. He not only acted but also worked as a line producer in many films. His passing away like this is sad for all the artists of the city. Animesh's album song shot in Himachal was released two days ago. There he worked with the shooting team. He was also performing street plays.

Father Rajendra Mehta said, 'I, my wife and grandson were at home on Monday. When Animesh came home in the afternoon, I was getting some work done in the shop downstairs. When he went upstairs around 6 in the evening, his wife told him that their son's room was closed since noon. He would often come and sleep in the afternoon. So I didn't pay attention. When I did not wake up till 7 o'clock and the lights in the room were also off, I called out. When he did not get any response, he went to the police station and informed the police. When the police opened the door, the son was found hanging from the fan.

Jahangirabad police station in-charge Ajay Tiwari said that Animesh was under depression. The police have established a route and started an investigation. The postmortem of the body was done on Tuesday and body handed over to the family.
A former ward member of the insurgency affected Chatrochatti police station area of Bokaro district has been murdered by CPI Maoists on the charges of being a police informer here on Tuesday evening, said police.

Regarding the incident, it was told that Sukhram Manjhi, 35, a resident of Dandara village of Chute Panchayat under Gomia block, was murdered late on Tuesday evening.

His body was thrown near the forest department officials residence, some distance away from his house.

The incident occurred around 7:30 in the evening. According to the information, Sukhram Manjhi was at his home shop and some people from the village were also there.

Suddenly a group of Maoists arrived and caught Sukhram Manjhi and killed him by slitting his throat. During this, the Maoists raised slogans that stop being police informers and SPOs.

Whoever informs the police will have the same fate. After carrying out the incident, the Maoists also left a leaflet there. In the form, Sukhram Manjhi has been accused of becoming the SPO of the police. In this regard, police station in-charge Neeraj Kumar said that information about the incident has been received. But nothing can be said until we reach the spot. Let us tell you that Dandara village has been an area affected by militancy in the past.


MECON received the prestigious IEI Industry Excellence Award on December 27 at 38th Indian Congress held at Jabalpur on the theme Reimagining Tomorrow: Shaping the Future through Disruptive and Interdisciplinary Technologies. The 38th Indian Congress is being hosted from 27th  29th December 2023 by The Institution of Engineers (India), Jabalpur Chapter with valuable support from the Department of Science & Technology, Govt. of India.



The Industry Excellence Award was handed over by Rajendra Shukla, Dy.CM, MP and U.P.Singh, Former Secretary, GOI to Ajit Kumar Saxena, CMD, MECON and Sanjay Kumar Verma, Director(Commercial) in the presence of eminent technocrats, educationalists and other Indian as well as foreign dignitaries.



This award signifies Excellent Engineering Capabilities and Rich & Diverse Industry experience of MECON of so many decades. It also reflects recognition of MECONs commitment to help Indian Industry to move ahead rapidly to bring the country in line with an industrially developed nation with special focus on Atma Nirbhar Bharat.



Saxena and Verma have congratulated employees of MECON for this achievement.
A Facilitation Cell named MedTech MITRA, was launched virtually by Union Minister, Mansukh Mandaviya, Minister of Health and Family Welfare and Minister of Chemicals and Fertilizers, Government of India, on December 25, 2023, in the presence of Prof SP Singh Bhagel, Union Minister of State for Health and Family Welfare.

The aim of MedTech MITRA is to provide holistic hand-holding support to medical technology (MedTech) innovators for the translation of their technologies from concept to commercialization. AIIMS Bhopal is part of this nationwide consortium that will provide handholding support for innovations related to medical diagnostics.
Union Minister of Jal Shakti Gajendra Singh Shekhawat will hold a crucial meeting on Thursday in Chandigarh to address the long-standing Sutlej-Yamuna Link Canal (SYL) issue. Haryana Chief Minister Manohar Lal Khattar and Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann will attend the meeting, a Haryana Government spokesperson said on Wednesday.



The spokesperson said that the Haryana Chief Minister had written a letter to Punjab Chief Minister earlier and had expressed readiness to hold a meeting to resolve any obstacles or issues related to the SYL canal's construction.



The spokesperson said that on October 4, 2023, the Supreme Court passed a detailed order regarding the SYL canal, clearly stating that it is not related to the allocation of water. Every citizen of Haryana has been eagerly awaiting the speedy completion of the construction of the SYL canal, as per the original claim of 1996, as specified in Clause 6 of the decree. In addition, the Chief Minister has been continuously making efforts to realize the long-awaited dream of irrigating the dry land in southern Haryana. Haryana hopes that the Punjab government will definitely support in resolving this issue.



Meanwhile, before this, a bilateral meeting between the two states took place on October 14, 2022. After that, on January 4, 2023, the second round of discussions was held under the chairmanship of the Union Minister for Jal Shakti, where the Chief Ministers of both states were present. "However, all meetings on the SYL canal issue remained inconclusive due to the Punjab government's negative attitude," the statement added.



Despite the decisions of the Supreme Court, Punjab has not completed the construction work of the SYL canal. Instead of implementing the Supreme Court's decisions, Punjab tried to obstruct the progress by enacting the Repealing of Agreements Act in 2004. As per the provisions of the Punjab Reorganization Act, 1966, and the orders of the Government of India dated March 24, 1976, Haryana was allocated 3.5 MAF (million acre-feet) of water from the surplus water of the Ravi-Beas rivers. Punjab, by not completing the construction of the SYL canal in its territory, is using approximately 1.9 million acre-feet of water illegally that belongs to Haryana. Because of Punjab's actions, Haryana is unable to access its share of 1.88 MAF of water.



The unavailability of this water is causing a significant decline in the groundwater level in southern Haryana. Due to the non-construction of the SYL canal, Haryana farmers are using expensive diesel and running tubewells with electricity for irrigation, incurring additional costs ranging from Rs. 100 to 150 crore annually. Also, due to the conduct of Punjab in its region, Haryana is unable to get 1.88 MAF of water from its share. This situation has rendered useless the irrigation capacity created to irrigate 10 lakh acres of land. Haryana also suffers a loss of 42 lakh tons of food grains every year. If the SYL canal had been constructed in 1983 as per the agreement in 1981, Haryana would have produced an additional 130 lakh tons of food grains and other cereals. This agricultural production would have had a total value of Rs 19,500 crore at a rate of Rs. 15,000 per ton, said the spokesperson.
A police constable was suspended and booked under the charges of rape, allegedly committed on the pretext of marriage, an officer in Bareilly said on Wednesday.

Superintendent of Police (City) Rahul Bhati said, An FIR of rape was lodged against Shahnawaz, a police constable, on Tuesday at the Subhash Nagar Police Station on the complaint of woman who alleged that Shahnawaz raped her on several occasion on the pretext of marriage.

The constable was suspended on the order of the Senior Superintendent of Police, the officer said.

Meanwhile in Barabanki, four men have been arrested for allegedly raping a Dalit woman in Deva area, police said on Wednesday. According to the victim, she had a fight with her husband on Monday and left for her in-laws house. On her way to her maternal home, four people, Mughal Azam alias Riyaz, Ashraf alias Bhure, Shabbu and Islamuddin, offered her a lift in their car, police said.

When she refused to sit in the car, two of them pulled her on the back seat and stuffed a cloth in her mouth. They later took her to an isolated house and gang-raped her, police said.

The woman somehow managed to call her sister-in-law, who informed the entire incident to the police. The police immediately rushed to the spot, rescued her, and caught one of the accused, they said.

Additional Superintendent of Police CN Sinha said that the medical examination of the victim woman was being conducted and all the accused were arrested.


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The year 2023 saw Punjab Police engaged in a high-stakes battle against the criminals, resulting in the neutralization of nine notorious gangsters and the apprehension of 127 others. However, the pursuit of justice came at a cost, with one brave officer paying the ultimate sacrifice in the line of duty, while six others sustained injuries during the perilous exchanges of gunfire.



As revealed by the states Inspector General of Police (IGP), Headquarters, Dr Sukhchain Singh Gill in a gripping year-end press conference on Wednesday, a tumultuous year for law enforcement in Punjab unfolded with a barrage of bullets. At least 60 encounters (exchange of fires) took place between the police parties and criminals this year, during which nine gangsters or criminals were neutralized and 127 gangsters or criminals were arrested, of which, 32 had sustained injuries Unfortunately, one of our colleagues attained martyrdom, while, six police personnel had sustained injuries during the exchange of fires, he said.



In a jaw-dropping blitz against the narcotics trade, organized crime, and terrorism in the border state, the Punjab Police has concluded 2023 with a series of astonishing victories. IGP Gill unveiled unprecedented successes that included the momentous seizure of 1161 kilograms of heroin, the audacious forfeiture of properties worth Rs 127 crores, and a relentless crackdown on gangster activities.



Gill revealed that the Punjab Police's unyielding strategy against drugs, focusing on Enforcement, Prevention, and Rehabilitation, has notched up substantial results. The State Government's three-pronged approach aims to obliterate the drug menace, with a sharp focus on creating awareness about Section 64-A of the NDPS Act, providing a lifeline for drug consumers caught with small quantities.



The IGP announced that 65 drug consumers had embraced rehabilitation under Section 64-A of the NDPS Act  marking an unprecedented step towards addressing the root cause of the issue, aiming to rehabilitate individuals ensnared in the grip of drug abuse.



Throughout the year, Punjab Police recorded a staggering 14,951 arrests of drug smugglers and suppliers, including 2,424 major players, following the registration of 10,786 FIRs. The police force also seized 795 kilograms of opium, 403 quintals of poppy husk, and a mind-boggling 83.17 lakh tablets, capsules, injections, and vials of Pharma opioids. Notably, Rs 13.67 crores in drug money were recovered, and 294 properties worth Rs 127 crores were ruthlessly confiscated from major smugglers.



The IGP emphasized the states commitment to tackle proclaimed offenders and absconders in NDPS cases, with 673 individuals arrested in this category. Additionally, a list of 55 drug smugglers has been submitted to invoke the Prevention of Illicit Traffic in Narcotics Drugs Psychotropic Substances (PIT-NDPS) Act against them.



On the front of gangster activities, the Anti-Gangster Task Force (AGTF) played a pivotal role in arresting 482 gangsters and criminals. The force busted 188 gangster modules, recovering 519 weapons, 102 vehicles, 4.5 kilograms of heroin, and a staggering Rs 71.08 lakhs in drug money.



Notably, immediately after coming to power, the AAP-led State Government on April 6, 2022, formed a special Anti-Gangster Task Force (AGTF) headed by ADGP Promod Ban to wipe out gangsters from the state.



In the realm of counter-terrorism, Punjab Police's Internal Security arrested 67 terrorists in 2023. The year witnessed the dismantling of 13 terror modules, with the recovery of rifles, pistols, improvised explosive devices (IEDs), explosives, hand grenades, and an astounding 111 drones. A total of 303 drone sightings were recorded, reflecting the growing challenges in maintaining security.



Gill said that Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann had already sanctioned Rs 19.25 crores for the installation of Closed-Circuit Television (CCTV) cameras in the border areas to further strengthen the second line of defence and keep vigil against drug smugglers and anti-social elements, while, two committees were formed to counter rogue drones effectively.



The first committee, headed by ADGP (Security) SS Srivastava, will prepare a future road map for bolstering the capabilities in drone detection, neutralization, lawful use of drones for effective policing, disaster management, drones training, and drones forensics, he said, adding that the second committee headed by ADGP (Counter Intelligence) to assess the requirements of drones, training for use of drones, countering rogue drones and procurement of equipment.



Acting tough against extortion calls, Punjab Police have registered 201 first information reports (FIRs) and arrested 99 persons involved in making threatening calls to extort money from influential persons, he added.



The achievements extended to solving high-profile cases, including three low-grade explosive blasts at Heritage Street in Amritsar; a murderous attack at Batala-based Hindu Shiv Sena (Samajwadi) leader and his brother and his son; Kulcha shop owner murdered in Bathinda; Dacoity in Ludhiana; former Sarpanch murdered in Khosa Kotla village in Moga; Ludhiana-based industrialist was kidnapped and shot at by miscreants to extort money. All these cases were effectively solved by Punjab Police, added IGP Gill.



Looking ahead, the Punjab Police is gearing up to implement Chief Minister Bhagwant Singh Mann's visionary project  the Sadak Surkhya Force (SSF). This specialized force will focus on road safety and combating criminal activities, contributing to the overarching goal of making Punjab's roads safer.



The Punjab Road Safety and Traffic Research Centre, a subsidiary of the traffic wing of Punjab Police, introduced Solar Powered Smart barricades equipped with advanced AI capabilities. These barricades, operating 24x7, can read license plates, identify blacklisted vehicles, and promptly alert authorities to any suspicious activities.



In terms of employment generation, the Punjab Government's decision to recruit 1,800 constables and 300 sub-inspectors annually for the next four years was highlighted. Recruitment for various positions is already in progress, with appointments made and underway.



The year 2023 also witnessed the government's commitment to the welfare of police personnel and their families, as six cheques of Rs two crores each were handed over to the families of five Punjab Police officials and one Home Guard who lost their lives in the line of duty.



As a fitting conclusion to the year-end press conference, IGP Gill underscored the proactive approach of the Punjab Police in maintaining law and order, combating drug-related challenges, and enhancing overall security measures.


In a collaborative effort between the State Bank of Indian and the Madhya Pradesh Police, 18 beneficiaries were granted a significant amount of ?1,00,000 each under MUDRA loan to support the operation of 'Shakti Cafes' run by women in the 18 precinct areas of Bhopal. The inception of 'Shakti Cafes' marks a pioneering step by the Madhya Pradesh Police, aimed at providing employment opportunities on a daily basis and facilitating justice for women affected by violence.

The Energy Help Desks were established in Bhopal's precincts in 2017, later expanded in 2021 across every precinct in Madhya Pradesh through the 'Shakti Committees', wherein female officers in every precinct assist women affected by violence in seeking justice. This initiative has gained recognition from the Supreme Court's Juvenile Justice Committee in 2023 as a best practice.

Today, the Indian State Bank has taken a meaningful initiative across 18 precincts to provide employment to all women in the form of 'Shakti Kiosks', enabling them to become self-employed and financially resilient. These women will operate kiosks providing tea and snacks, ensuring both employment opportunities and economic empowerment.

Top officials including Deputy Managing Director Mr. Binod Kumar Mishra, Chief General Manager Mr. Chandrashekhar Sharma, General Manager NW-1, Mr. Kundan Jyoti, Police Commissioner Bhopal Mr. Harinarayan Chari Mishra, Mr. Vineet Kapoor IPS other senior officials of Bhopal Police along with the Thana in charge 18 precincts were present at occasion of distribution of approval letters provided by the State Bank of Indian.

Binod Kumar Mishra expressed, "State Bank always stands ready to support the underprivileged sections of society. Moving forward, whenever the need arises, State Bank will continue to collaborate with the Madhya Pradesh Police and other such organizations." The event also witnessed addresses by Commissioner of Police, Bhopal, Mr. Harinarayan Chari Mishra, and Vineet Kapoor, who lauded the initiative undertaken by SBI. They expressed their commitment to supporting such initiatives in the future as well.
Madhya Pradesh police's SCRB team on Wednesday paid a courtesy visit to Madhya Pradesh Police Chief DGP Sudhir Kumar Saxena after receiving the award in New Delhi for taking technological initiatives in policing.

DGP Saxena expressed happiness on achieving this achievement and congratulated and encouraged the entire team.

He said that Madhya Pradesh police should be taken to new heights by using modern technology to prevent crimes. Those who have got the first prize should maintain it and those who are in second and third place should try to get first place in the coming year.

On this occasion, the entire team including ADG Chanchal Shekhar, AIG Pranjali Shukla, Inspector Dolly Goswami, Head Constable (Computer) Ankush Soni and Arshdeep Singh posted at SCRB, Police Headquarters, Bhopal were honored for their excellent work.

It is noteworthy that in the Conference on Good Practices in CCTNS/ICJS, 2023 organized in New Delhi on December 21-22, 2023, Madhya Pradesh Police was honored by the National Crime Records Bureau (NCRB), Ministry of Home Affairs, Government of India for its excellent performance in the digital sector and The first prize has been awarded for preventing crimes using ICJS. This trophy was awarded to Madhya Pradesh Police for securing first position in the entire country for its commendable work in the implementation of ICJS (Inter-Operable Criminal Justice System). Along with this, the Forensic Branch of the state has got the second prize in the country and Madhya Pradesh Police has also got the third prize for the new initiative of e-Rakshak Mobile App.

ICJS is an important technique for quick and transparent investigation: -

ADG SCRB Shri Chanchal Shekhar said that State Crime Records Bureau (SCRB) acts as the nodal agency in the implementation of ICJS in Madhya Pradesh. The SCRB coordinates with the nodal officers of all the pillars to ensure smooth functioning of the ICJS, expeditious trial of crimes and successful execution of the judicial process. SCRB holds monthly meetings of all the pillars and resolves the problems and their report is sent to the e-committee of the Honorable High Court.

ADG SCRB Chanchal Shekhar said that the excellent performance in ICJS portal is mainly based on four points, on which Madhya Pradesh Police has successfully worked.

Criminal background check of people involved in the incidents happening in the state, which were 3 lakh 50 thousand till January 2023, which has increased to 56 lakh in November.

Greater sharing of information across all pillars of the criminal justice system  Sharing of information about FSL investigations was done systematically in Madhya Pradesh for the first time in the country.

For the first time in Madhya Pradesh, district and tehsil level judges were trained and used in ICJS.








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In a significant development, security forces have successfully intercepted a major Naxalite plot in the West Singhbhum district. The joint operation, involving Chaibasa Police, Cobra 209 BN, 203 BN, 205 BN, Jharkhand Jaguar, and CRPF units, has been ongoing with the aim of neutralizing the subversive activities orchestrated by the likes of Misir Besra, Anmol, Mochhu, Chaman, Kande, Ajay Mahato, Sagen Angriya, and Ashwin, along with their squad members.



A coalition of 26 teams from various security forces has been meticulously conducting operations to curb Naxalite influence in the region. The joint campaign, initiated on October 10, is currently concentrated in villages under Lalkera police station, including Kuidra, Chhota Kuidra, Maradiri, Meralgada, Hathiburu, Katamba, Bayhatu, Bora Reya, and the border areas of Lemsadih and villages under Tanto police station - Husipi, Rajabasa, Tumbahaka, Regada, Patatorab, Goburu, Luiya.



During the course of the operation, a breakthrough was achieved on December 26, in the forest/hilly area around Vanagram Maradiri under Goikera police station. Security forces successfully recovered a 4 kg Improvised Explosive Device (IED), which was intended for use in subversive activities. Additionally, one firearm, previously planted by Naxalites to target security forces, was discovered and safely disposed of by the bomb disposal squad.



The security forces remain vigilant, and the anti-Naxal campaign is ongoing to dismantle the infrastructure and operations of the CPI Maoist. The authorities stress the importance of community cooperation and intelligence sharing to ensure the success of these operations.



The recent achievements in the joint operation signify a significant step towards maintaining law and order in the region. The concerted efforts of the security forces aim to root out Naxalite elements and bring stability to the affected areas. As the operation continues, authorities urge citizens to remain vigilant and report any suspicious activities to aid in the ongoing fight against insurgency.



In response to emerging security threats and recent developments in the region, authorities have taken proactive steps to bolster security in West Singhbhum. The decision comes in the wake of heightened concerns related to Naxalite activities and other potential security challenges.



Law enforcement agencies have increased their presence and implemented enhanced security measures across West Singhbhum. Additional personnel from police, paramilitary, and specialized units have been deployed to strategic locations to ensure the safety and well-being of the local population.



The decision to reinforce security comes at a critical juncture, with ongoing operations against Naxalite groups in neighboring areas. The recent recovery of a significant amount of explosives and the discovery of firearms underscores the need for vigilance and preparedness in the face of potential threats.


Haryana Health and Family Welfare Minister Anil Vij on Wednesday claimed that the strike conducted by government doctors has failed, with only 26.86 percent of doctors participating, adding that government healthcare institutions ran normally and there was no disruption in healthcare services.



Vij stated that the doctors' strike is unjustified since their main demand for approval of the specialist cadre has been granted, with the Chief Minister also giving his consent. Additionally, he informed that the Additional Chief Secretary has approved the demand related to the PG Policy, and the process is ongoing. Similarly, the process for the direct recruitment of Senior Medical Officers (SMOs) and ACP is underway. Most of the demands of the doctors have been acknowledged, he said, adding that Doctors were invited for discussions on Wednesday, but their representative body did not attend.



The Health Minister said that as COVID cases are increasing in the country, doctors should refrain from going on strike and directed the Director-General of Health Services to ensure no disruption occurs in healthcare services and there is no compromise with people's lives.



DG Health Services, R.S. Punia, held a video conference late afternoon with all the state civil surgeons, providing necessary instructions to ensure uninterrupted healthcare services. During the video conference, Punia instructed all civil surgeons that if there is any requirement for manpower from outside or from other districts, it should be brought to headquarters' attention to ensure the smooth functioning of healthcare services in those districts.



Meanwhile, appealing to the doctors on strike, Vij urged them to end the strike and return to work to avoid any difficulties in healthcare services for the people.



An official statement said that in the state, there are a total of 3,466 posts for Medical Officers and Senior Medical Officers, out of which only 931 doctors went on strike. Ambala has 0 doctors on strike, Bhiwani 44, Charkhi Dadri 25, Fatehabad 17, Faridabad 20, Gurugram 90, Hisar 77, Jind 37, Jhajjar 70, Kaithal 29, Kurukshetra 8, Karnal 59, Mahendragarh 56, Mewat 23, Palwal 76, Panchkula 77, Panipat 22, Rewari 85, Rohtak 44, Sonipat 37, Sirsa 10, and Yamunanagar 25 doctors on strike, the statement added.
The Uttar Pradesh government is working with determination to fulfill Prime Minister Narendra Modis goal of making the country tuberculosis-free by 2025.

Directives have been issued to various departments, emphasising enhanced TB screening and testing through collaborative efforts, ensuring comprehensive treatment and providing government assistance. The impact of these measures is evident not only at the community and administrative levels but has also earned recognition from experts.

Experts from the National Institute of TB and Respiratory Diseases and the National Task Force Medical College have lauded the Yogi Adityanath government for Uttar Pradeshs groundbreaking achievement as the first state in India to consistently organise regular TB clinics over the past two years.

Since June 2021, there has been an initiative to organise Difficult to Treat TB Clinics nationwide under the auspices of the Central TB Division and National Task Force. The primary aim is to provide quality treatment, prevention and better management for TB patients.

Through this initiative, all district tuberculosis officers and other departmental officials in Uttar Pradesh have the opportunity to directly connect with specialists online, sharing their challenges and finding effective solutions. Uttar Pradesh stands out as the first state in the country to consistently organise this clinic for the past two years.

During the 50th online clinic held last Tuesday under the guidance of the State Tuberculosis Unit, Dr Ashok Bharadwaj, president of the National Task Force Medical College, and Dr Rajendra Prasad, vice-president of the Task Force, National Institute of Tuberculosis and Respiratory Diseases, New Delhi, consultant TB, Dr Roopak Singla, congratulated Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath for Uttar Pradeshs pioneering status as the first state where the TB clinic has been organised continuously for two years.

During the online clinic, employees associated with the DR TB Centre brought attention to treatment challenges, seeking guidance from specialists. Expert physicians provided clear and concise explanations for managing these difficulties. Additionally, information was provided about ongoing research and upcoming new medications to improve treatment in the future.
A woman and her daughter, identified as Mithlesh (50) and Mukesh (18), were found dead under suspicious circumstances in village Hariyakheda of Muzaffarnagar Budhana.

As per reports, Vijaypal, a resident of Hariyakheda village of Kotwali area, works as a labourer. On Tuesday night, Vijaypal and his elder daughter, Babli, were sleeping in separate rooms, while his wife Mithlesh (50) and younger daughter, Mukesh (18) were sleeping on a cot in the verandah.

Vijaypal said that he heard a banging sound in the night and saw a monkey throwing objects. His wife also woke up, and together they scared away the monkeys before going back to sleep.

On Wednesday morning, when his neighbour called him to go to the fields, he discovered that his wife and daughter were still lying on the cot. When he attempted to wake them up, he found them dead. He started screaming, prompting other family members and neighbours to gather at the spot.

Vijaypal informed the local police after which the bodies were sent for the post-mortem. Inspector Anand Dev Mishra said that the post-mortem report pointed that both were strangled to death. He claimed to have detained three local residents on the suspicion of their involvement in the killing.

The cops said that they were probably killed as the suspects were trying to lure Mukesh and probably on Monday night, they tried to kidnap her and facing opposition, they strangulated both and fled. Further investigations are on.

Meanwhile, in Meerut, a couple facing opposition to their relationship from their families performed a wedding ritual before committing suicide on Sunday, police said on Wednesday.

The bodies of Rakhi Chauhan (21) of Budhanagar and Manish Chauhan (24) of Haridwar were found hanging from a tree in the Bahsuma police station area of Meerut on Monday.

According to initial investigations, Rakhi and Manish were in love with each other but faced opposition from their families, Station House Officer Santosh Kumar said. The post-mortem report confirmed death by suffocation due to hanging, indicating that both succumbed almost simultaneously, Kumar added. The families cremated their bodies.

A similar incident was reported on the same day in the Jani police station area of Meerut, in which a 20-year-old woman jumped into a canal with a man. While locals rescued the woman, divers were still searching for the man, senior police officer Rohit Singh Sajwan said.

Meanwhile, an elderly man in Muzaffarnagar allegedly killed his wife by slitting her throat in order to implicate his nephews in the murder case. On information, the Muzaffarnagar police registered a case of murder against the accused and arrested him on Wednesday.
Advisory Alpha LLC cut its stake in iShares CMBS ETF (NYSEARCA:CMBS  Free Report) by 6.2% in the third quarter, according to the company in its most recent disclosure with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The firm owned 33,944 shares of the companys stock after selling 2,252 shares during the period. Advisory Alpha LLC owned about 0.35% of iShares CMBS ETF worth $1,529,000 at the end of the most recent quarter.

A number of other hedge funds and other institutional investors have also recently bought and sold shares of CMBS. Advisors Asset Management Inc. lifted its holdings in iShares CMBS ETF by 2.5% during the 1st quarter. Advisors Asset Management Inc. now owns 9,734 shares of the companys stock worth $485,000 after buying an additional 237 shares during the last quarter. Penserra Capital Management LLC lifted its holdings in iShares CMBS ETF by 5.8% during the 1st quarter. Penserra Capital Management LLC now owns 5,460 shares of the companys stock worth $272,000 after buying an additional 300 shares during the last quarter. Equitable Holdings Inc. lifted its holdings in iShares CMBS ETF by 12.8% during the 1st quarter. Equitable Holdings Inc. now owns 4,565 shares of the companys stock worth $228,000 after buying an additional 518 shares during the last quarter. Citadel Advisors LLC lifted its holdings in iShares CMBS ETF by 13.9% during the 2nd quarter. Citadel Advisors LLC now owns 4,652 shares of the companys stock worth $224,000 after buying an additional 566 shares during the last quarter. Finally, First Manhattan Co. purchased a new stake in iShares CMBS ETF during the 1st quarter worth about $28,000.

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iShares CMBS ETF Price Performance

iShares CMBS ETF stock opened at $46.91 on Thursday. iShares CMBS ETF has a fifty-two week low of $44.19 and a fifty-two week high of $47.87. The stock has a 50-day simple moving average of $45.40 and a 200-day simple moving average of $45.43.

iShares CMBS ETF Company Profile

The iShares CMBS ETF (CMBS) is an exchange-traded fund that is based on the Bloomberg U.S. CMBS (ERISA Only) index. The fund tracks an index of investment-grade commercial mortgage-backed securities (CMBSs) with an expected life of at least one year. CMBS was launched on Feb 14, 2012 and is managed by BlackRock.

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B.O.S.S. Retirement Advisors LLC raised its stake in Chevron Co. (NYSE:CVX  Free Report) by 0.4% in the 3rd quarter, according to the company in its most recent filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission. The institutional investor owned 28,504 shares of the oil and gas companys stock after buying an additional 118 shares during the quarter. Chevron makes up approximately 1.0% of B.O.S.S. Retirement Advisors LLCs investment portfolio, making the stock its 13th largest position. B.O.S.S. Retirement Advisors LLCs holdings in Chevron were worth $4,806,000 as of its most recent filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission.

Several other large investors also recently added to or reduced their stakes in the stock. Meridian Wealth Management LLC grew its holdings in Chevron by 110.5% in the 3rd quarter. Meridian Wealth Management LLC now owns 51,382 shares of the oil and gas companys stock valued at $8,664,000 after buying an additional 26,974 shares in the last quarter. Brown Miller Wealth Management LLC grew its holdings in shares of Chevron by 1.2% during the 3rd quarter. Brown Miller Wealth Management LLC now owns 11,923 shares of the oil and gas companys stock worth $2,010,000 after purchasing an additional 142 shares during the period. Argus Investors Counsel Inc. grew its holdings in shares of Chevron by 4.9% during the 3rd quarter. Argus Investors Counsel Inc. now owns 7,514 shares of the oil and gas companys stock worth $1,267,000 after purchasing an additional 348 shares during the period. Howland Capital Management LLC grew its holdings in shares of Chevron by 7.7% during the 3rd quarter. Howland Capital Management LLC now owns 192,030 shares of the oil and gas companys stock worth $32,380,000 after purchasing an additional 13,758 shares during the period. Finally, Kiley Juergens Wealth Management LLC grew its holdings in shares of Chevron by 1.5% during the 3rd quarter. Kiley Juergens Wealth Management LLC now owns 14,849 shares of the oil and gas companys stock worth $2,504,000 after purchasing an additional 213 shares during the period. 68.87% of the stock is currently owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors.

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Wall Street Analyst Weigh In

A number of equities analysts have recently weighed in on the company. Sanford C. Bernstein upgraded Chevron from a market perform rating to an outperform rating and lowered their price target for the stock from $184.00 to $182.00 in a report on Thursday, November 2nd. Royal Bank of Canada reiterated an outperform rating and set a $180.00 price target on shares of Chevron in a report on Tuesday, October 24th. Bank of America upgraded Chevron from a neutral rating to a buy rating and increased their price target for the stock from $190.00 to $200.00 in a report on Monday, October 30th. BNP Paribas upgraded Chevron from a neutral rating to an outperform rating and set a $190.00 target price for the company in a report on Thursday, October 12th. Finally, Morgan Stanley lowered their target price on Chevron from $203.00 to $201.00 and set an equal weight rating for the company in a report on Tuesday, October 17th. Four analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and thirteen have given a buy rating to the stock. Based on data from MarketBeat, Chevron currently has a consensus rating of Moderate Buy and an average target price of $186.50.

Chevron Price Performance

Shares of NYSE CVX opened at $151.97 on Thursday. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.12, a quick ratio of 0.97 and a current ratio of 1.25. Chevron Co. has a fifty-two week low of $140.72 and a fifty-two week high of $187.81. The firm has a market capitalization of $286.88 billion, a PE ratio of 11.28, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 0.81 and a beta of 1.11. The stocks 50-day simple moving average is $147.61 and its 200-day simple moving average is $156.34.

Chevron (NYSE:CVX  Get Free Report) last issued its earnings results on Friday, October 27th. The oil and gas company reported $3.05 earnings per share for the quarter, missing the consensus estimate of $3.70 by ($0.65). Chevron had a return on equity of 16.15% and a net margin of 12.11%. The business had revenue of $54.08 billion for the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $51.41 billion. During the same period last year, the business posted $5.56 EPS. Chevrons revenue was down 18.9% on a year-over-year basis. As a group, equities research analysts forecast that Chevron Co. will post 13.13 EPS for the current fiscal year.

Chevron Announces Dividend

The company also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Monday, December 11th. Investors of record on Friday, November 17th were paid a dividend of $1.51 per share. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Thursday, November 16th. This represents a $6.04 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 3.97%. Chevrons dividend payout ratio is presently 44.84%.

About Chevron

(Free Report)

Chevron Corporation, through its subsidiaries, engages in the integrated energy and chemicals operations in the United States and internationally. The company operates in two segments, Upstream and Downstream. The Upstream segment is involved in the exploration, development, production, and transportation of crude oil and natural gas; liquefaction, transportation, and regasification associated with liquefied natural gas; transportation of crude oil through pipelines; and processing, transportation, storage, and marketing of natural gas, as well as a gas-to-liquids plant.

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Want to see what other hedge funds are holding CVX? Visit HoldingsChannel.com to get the latest 13F filings and insider trades for Chevron Co. (NYSE:CVX  Free Report).

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Lithia Motors, Inc. (NYSE:LAD  Get Free Report) has earned an average rating of Hold from the six analysts that are covering the company, MarketBeat reports. One research analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, four have assigned a hold rating and one has assigned a buy rating to the company. The average 1-year target price among analysts that have issued ratings on the stock in the last year is $324.89.

Several equities research analysts recently weighed in on the stock. Wells Fargo & Company reduced their price target on shares of Lithia Motors from $275.00 to $259.00 and set an equal weight rating on the stock in a research report on Thursday, October 26th. JPMorgan Chase & Co. cut shares of Lithia Motors from an overweight rating to a neutral rating and set a $295.00 target price on the stock. in a research report on Tuesday, October 31st. StockNews.com started coverage on Lithia Motors in a research report on Thursday, October 5th. They issued a hold rating for the company. Finally, The Goldman Sachs Group decreased their price objective on Lithia Motors from $348.00 to $300.00 and set a neutral rating on the stock in a research report on Thursday, October 26th.

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Check Out Our Latest Research Report on Lithia Motors

Institutional Inflows and Outflows

Lithia Motors Stock Up 0.7 %

Several institutional investors have recently made changes to their positions in the business. Vanguard Group Inc. boosted its stake in shares of Lithia Motors by 0.4% in the third quarter. Vanguard Group Inc. now owns 2,807,407 shares of the companys stock worth $829,112,000 after buying an additional 10,649 shares during the last quarter. Teachers Retirement System of The State of Kentucky lifted its holdings in Lithia Motors by 93.2% in the third quarter. Teachers Retirement System of The State of Kentucky now owns 9,412 shares of the companys stock valued at $2,780,000 after acquiring an additional 4,541 shares during the period. Citigroup Inc. boosted its position in Lithia Motors by 95.6% in the 3rd quarter. Citigroup Inc. now owns 12,649 shares of the companys stock worth $3,736,000 after purchasing an additional 6,181 shares in the last quarter. Wellington Management Group LLP grew its stake in shares of Lithia Motors by 59.6% during the 3rd quarter. Wellington Management Group LLP now owns 12,684 shares of the companys stock worth $3,746,000 after purchasing an additional 4,737 shares during the period. Finally, American Century Companies Inc. increased its holdings in shares of Lithia Motors by 33.7% during the 3rd quarter. American Century Companies Inc. now owns 35,164 shares of the companys stock valued at $10,385,000 after purchasing an additional 8,862 shares in the last quarter.

NYSE LAD opened at $328.60 on Friday. Lithia Motors has a 52 week low of $194.26 and a 52 week high of $330.98. The company has a quick ratio of 0.32, a current ratio of 1.33 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.09. The company has a market capitalization of $9.04 billion, a P/E ratio of 8.75, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 4.42 and a beta of 1.56. The stocks 50-day moving average price is $273.24 and its 200-day moving average price is $288.61.

Lithia Motors (NYSE:LAD  Get Free Report) last issued its quarterly earnings results on Wednesday, October 25th. The company reported $9.25 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, missing analysts consensus estimates of $9.99 by ($0.74). Lithia Motors had a return on equity of 18.51% and a net margin of 3.41%. The business had revenue of $8.28 billion during the quarter, compared to analysts expectations of $8.17 billion. During the same quarter in the previous year, the company posted $11.08 EPS. The companys quarterly revenue was up 13.5% on a year-over-year basis. On average, equities research analysts predict that Lithia Motors will post 36.77 earnings per share for the current year.

Lithia Motors Dividend Announcement

The firm also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Friday, November 17th. Shareholders of record on Friday, November 10th were paid a dividend of $0.50 per share. This represents a $2.00 annualized dividend and a yield of 0.61%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Thursday, November 9th. Lithia Motorss payout ratio is 5.33%.

Lithia Motors Company Profile

(Get Free Report

Lithia Motors, Inc operates as an automotive retailer. The company operates through Domestic, Import, and Luxury segments. It offers new and used vehicles; vehicle financing services; warranties, insurance contracts, and vehicle and theft protection services; and automotive repair and maintenance services, as well as sells body and parts for the new vehicles under the Driveway and GreenCars brand names.

Further Reading

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Caprock Group LLC raised its position in Lockheed Martin Co. (NYSE:LMT  Free Report) by 1.5% in the 3rd quarter, according to the company in its most recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The firm owned 1,746 shares of the aerospace companys stock after purchasing an additional 26 shares during the period. Caprock Group LLCs holdings in Lockheed Martin were worth $714,000 at the end of the most recent reporting period.

Several other large investors have also recently bought and sold shares of LMT. CGC Financial Services LLC purchased a new position in Lockheed Martin in the 2nd quarter worth $31,000. Coppell Advisory Solutions Corp. purchased a new position in Lockheed Martin in the 4th quarter worth $31,000. Alaska Permanent Fund Corp purchased a new position in Lockheed Martin in the 2nd quarter worth $35,000. KB Financial Partners LLC purchased a new position in Lockheed Martin in the 1st quarter worth $35,000. Finally, Milestone Investment Advisors LLC purchased a new position in Lockheed Martin in the 1st quarter worth $38,000. 74.26% of the stock is owned by institutional investors.

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Wall Street Analyst Weigh In

A number of equities analysts recently commented on the stock. Deutsche Bank Aktiengesellschaft assumed coverage on shares of Lockheed Martin in a research report on Wednesday, September 27th. They issued a hold rating and a $435.00 target price on the stock. UBS Group started coverage on shares of Lockheed Martin in a research report on Tuesday, October 10th. They issued a neutral rating and a $470.00 target price on the stock. JPMorgan Chase & Co. decreased their price objective on shares of Lockheed Martin from $495.00 to $481.00 and set a neutral rating on the stock in a research report on Wednesday, October 18th. Citigroup decreased their price objective on shares of Lockheed Martin from $555.00 to $540.00 and set a buy rating on the stock in a research report on Wednesday, October 18th. Finally, Jefferies Financial Group decreased their price objective on shares of Lockheed Martin from $505.00 to $455.00 and set a hold rating on the stock in a research report on Wednesday, October 4th. One equities research analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, ten have given a hold rating and five have assigned a buy rating to the companys stock. According to MarketBeat, the company has a consensus rating of Hold and an average target price of $484.07.

Lockheed Martin Trading Down 0.3 %

NYSE:LMT opened at $448.97 on Thursday. Lockheed Martin Co. has a one year low of $393.77 and a one year high of $508.10. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.86, a current ratio of 1.36 and a quick ratio of 1.16. The companys 50-day simple moving average is $447.68 and its 200 day simple moving average is $444.93. The firm has a market capitalization of $111.39 billion, a P/E ratio of 16.40, a PEG ratio of 1.92 and a beta of 0.57.

Lockheed Martin (NYSE:LMT  Get Free Report) last posted its quarterly earnings data on Tuesday, October 17th. The aerospace company reported $6.77 EPS for the quarter, topping the consensus estimate of $6.67 by $0.10. Lockheed Martin had a net margin of 10.29% and a return on equity of 75.46%. The business had revenue of $16.88 billion for the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $16.73 billion. During the same quarter in the previous year, the firm posted $6.87 earnings per share. Lockheed Martins quarterly revenue was up 1.8% on a year-over-year basis. As a group, analysts forecast that Lockheed Martin Co. will post 27.19 EPS for the current fiscal year.

Lockheed Martin Increases Dividend

The company also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Friday, December 29th. Stockholders of record on Friday, December 1st will be paid a $3.15 dividend. This represents a $12.60 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 2.81%. The ex-dividend date is Thursday, November 30th. This is an increase from Lockheed Martins previous quarterly dividend of $3.00. Lockheed Martins dividend payout ratio is currently 46.04%.

About Lockheed Martin

(Free Report)

Lockheed Martin Corporation, a security and aerospace company, engages in the research, design, development, manufacture, integration, and sustainment of technology systems, products, and services worldwide. It operates through four segments: Aeronautics, Missiles and Fire Control, Rotary and Mission Systems, and Space.

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Advisory Alpha LLC reduced its position in iShares MSCI USA Min Vol Factor ETF (BATS:USMV  Free Report) by 18.6% in the 3rd quarter, according to the company in its most recent 13F filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The firm owned 16,779 shares of the companys stock after selling 3,842 shares during the period. Advisory Alpha LLCs holdings in iShares MSCI USA Min Vol Factor ETF were worth $1,214,000 as of its most recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC).

Other hedge funds have also recently added to or reduced their stakes in the company. Moneta Group Investment Advisors LLC grew its stake in iShares MSCI USA Min Vol Factor ETF by 140,054.1% in the 4th quarter. Moneta Group Investment Advisors LLC now owns 10,961,456 shares of the companys stock valued at $790,321,000 after acquiring an additional 10,953,635 shares during the period. Alaska Permanent Fund Corp purchased a new stake in iShares MSCI USA Min Vol Factor ETF during the 2nd quarter worth approximately $350,979,000. Allstate Investment Management Co. purchased a new stake in iShares MSCI USA Min Vol Factor ETF during the 4th quarter worth approximately $308,588,000. Osaic Holdings Inc. lifted its position in shares of iShares MSCI USA Min Vol Factor ETF by 69.6% in the second quarter. Osaic Holdings Inc. now owns 5,490,944 shares of the companys stock valued at $231,290,000 after acquiring an additional 2,254,112 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Envestnet Asset Management Inc. boosted its stake in shares of iShares MSCI USA Min Vol Factor ETF by 6.8% in the second quarter. Envestnet Asset Management Inc. now owns 27,194,855 shares of the companys stock worth $2,021,394,000 after acquiring an additional 1,731,554 shares during the last quarter.

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iShares MSCI USA Min Vol Factor ETF Trading Up 0.2 %

USMV opened at $77.75 on Thursday. iShares MSCI USA Min Vol Factor ETF has a twelve month low of $47.44 and a twelve month high of $55.45. The firm has a market capitalization of $29.82 billion, a PE ratio of 20.17 and a beta of 0.75. The firms 50-day moving average price is $75.08 and its 200 day moving average price is $74.44.

iShares MSCI USA Min Vol Factor ETF 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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Koshinski Asset Management Inc. decreased its stake in Vanguard Real Estate ETF (NYSEARCA:VNQ  Free Report) by 4.9% during the third quarter, according to its most recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The fund owned 6,858 shares of the exchange traded funds stock after selling 355 shares during the period. Koshinski Asset Management Inc.s holdings in Vanguard Real Estate ETF were worth $573,000 at the end of the most recent quarter.

A number of other institutional investors have also recently made changes to their positions in VNQ. Moneta Group Investment Advisors LLC increased its holdings in shares of Vanguard Real Estate ETF by 115,289.9% in the 4th quarter. Moneta Group Investment Advisors LLC now owns 1,063,365,980 shares of the exchange traded funds stock worth $87,706,426,000 after buying an additional 1,062,444,438 shares during the last quarter. Bank Julius Baer & Co. Ltd Zurich increased its holdings in shares of Vanguard Real Estate ETF by 99,609.1% in the 2nd quarter. Bank Julius Baer & Co. Ltd Zurich now owns 27,821,833 shares of the exchange traded funds stock worth $2,324,792,000 after buying an additional 27,793,930 shares during the last quarter. Cowa LLC grew its holdings in shares of Vanguard Real Estate ETF by 75,967.4% during the 1st quarter. Cowa LLC now owns 5,210,614 shares of the exchange traded funds stock valued at $824,000 after purchasing an additional 5,203,764 shares during the last quarter. JPMorgan Chase & Co. grew its holdings in shares of Vanguard Real Estate ETF by 36.4% during the 2nd quarter. JPMorgan Chase & Co. now owns 8,674,939 shares of the exchange traded funds stock valued at $724,878,000 after purchasing an additional 2,313,548 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Beacon Capital Management Inc. grew its holdings in shares of Vanguard Real Estate ETF by 5,377.7% during the 3rd quarter. Beacon Capital Management Inc. now owns 1,902,882 shares of the exchange traded funds stock valued at $143,972,000 after purchasing an additional 1,868,143 shares during the last quarter.

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Vanguard Real Estate ETF Stock Performance

VNQ stock opened at $88.79 on Thursday. Vanguard Real Estate ETF has a 52 week low of $70.61 and a 52 week high of $94.53. The firms fifty day moving average is $79.86 and its 200 day moving average is $80.97. The firm has a market cap of $34.23 billion, a P/E ratio of 28.40 and a beta of 0.91.

Vanguard Real Estate ETF Company Profile

Vanguard REIT ETF (the Fund) is an open-end investment company. The Fund invests in stocks issued by real estate investment trusts (REITs), companies that purchase office buildings, hotels, and other real property. It tracks the return of the MSCI US RIT Index, a gauge of real estate stocks. The Vanguard Group, Inc provides investment advisory services to the Fund.

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Kingfisher (OTCMKTS:KGFHY  Get Free Report) and Unrivaled Brands (OTCMKTS:UNRV  Get Free Report) are both retail/wholesale companies, but which is the better business? We will contrast the two businesses based on the strength of their risk, valuation, dividends, institutional ownership, analyst recommendations, earnings and profitability.

Profitability

This table compares Kingfisher and Unrivaled Brands net margins, return on equity and return on assets.

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Net Margins Return on Equity Return on Assets Kingfisher N/A N/A N/A Unrivaled Brands -2.37% N/A -1.16%

Earnings and Valuation

This table compares Kingfisher and Unrivaled Brands top-line revenue, earnings per share and valuation.

Gross Revenue Price/Sales Ratio Net Income Earnings Per Share Price/Earnings Ratio Kingfisher $16.01 billion 0.37 $577.21 million N/A N/A Unrivaled Brands $52.01 million 0.12 -$188.93 million $0.01 0.78

Risk & Volatility

Kingfisher has higher revenue and earnings than Unrivaled Brands.

Kingfisher has a beta of 1.36, suggesting that its stock price is 36% more volatile than the S&P 500. Comparatively, Unrivaled Brands has a beta of 2.91, suggesting that its stock price is 191% more volatile than the S&P 500.

Analyst Recommendations

This is a breakdown of recent ratings and target prices for Kingfisher and Unrivaled Brands, as provided by MarketBeat.

Sell Ratings Hold Ratings Buy Ratings Strong Buy Ratings Rating Score Kingfisher 0 1 2 0 2.67 Unrivaled Brands 0 0 0 0 N/A

Institutional & Insider Ownership

0.0% of Kingfisher shares are held by institutional investors. 17.2% of Unrivaled Brands shares are held by company insiders. Strong institutional ownership is an indication that large money managers, hedge funds and endowments believe a company is poised for long-term growth.

Summary

Kingfisher beats Unrivaled Brands on 7 of the 9 factors compared between the two stocks.

About Kingfisher

(Get Free Report)

Kingfisher plc, together with its subsidiaries, supplies home improvement products and services primarily in the United Kingdom, Ireland, France, and internationally. The company also offers property investment, finance, digital, sourcing, and IT services. It also operates retail stores under the B&Q, Castorama, Brico Depot, Screwfix, TradePoint, and Koctas brands. The company sells its products through stores and e-commerce channels. Kingfisher plc was incorporated in 1982 and is headquartered in London, the United Kingdom.

About Unrivaled Brands

(Get Free Report)

Unrivaled Brands, Inc. cultivates, produces, distributes, and retails medical and adult use cannabis products in California, Oregon, and Nevada. It also operates medical marijuana retail and adult use dispensaries, cultivation, and production facilities. The company was formerly known as Terra Tech Corp. and changed its name to Unrivaled Brands, Inc. in July 2021. Unrivaled Brands, Inc. was founded in 2010 and is based in Santa Ana, California.

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Prime Minister Narendra Modi expressed his dedication to identifying those yet to be encompassed by these welfare initiatives.(Image source:Twitter)

New Delhi: Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Wednesday said his government is working to make cooperatives a strong aspect of rural life. He said they are being scaled up in fisheries and different sectors of agriculture after making a mark in the dairy and sugar industries.

Engaging with beneficiaries during a virtual interaction of the ongoing 'Viksit Bharat Sankalp Yatra' (VBSY), the Prime Minister expressed his dedication to identifying those yet to be encompassed by these welfare initiatives. He declared that the 'Viksit Bharat Sankalp Yatra' is actively seeking individuals excluded from government welfare schemes.

Elaborating on the efforts to organise small farmers, the Prime Minister discussed the establishment of Farmer Producer Organisations (FPOs) and cooperative enterprises like Primary Agricultural Credit Societies (PACS).

"It is our endeavour that cooperation emerges as a strong aspect of rural life in India. We have seen the benefits of cooperation in the milk and sugarcane sectors, and now it is being expanded to other areas of farming and sectors like fish production. We are moving ahead with the target of creating new PACS in two lakh villages in the coming time," said Modi.

He also highlighted proposals for promoting cooperative solutions in dairy and storage, along with efforts to strengthen over two lakh micro-industries in the food processing sector.

He emphasised that the goal of VBSY is to extend support to individuals who, for various reasons, have been excluded from government schemes. The Prime Minister asserted that this campaign, aligned with the vision of a developed India, is continuously expanding.

"It has not even been 50 days since the Viksit Bharat Sankalp Yatra started, but it has already reached 2.25 lakh villages. This is a record in itself," stated Modi, expressing gratitude to everyone, especially women and youth, for contributing to its success.

He highlighted the Yatra's purpose, aiming to reach individuals who, due to specific reasons, have missed out on the benefits of Government of India schemes.

"This proactive outreach is intended to assure people that government schemes are accessible to all without any bias or discrimination, and I am actively searching for those who have been overlooked," Modi said.

The Prime Minister underscored the unprecedented confidence among beneficiaries, acknowledging their stories of positive life changes in the past decade.

"These benefits are motivating beneficiaries to enhance their lives further. Today, millions of beneficiaries across the country are using government schemes as a means to progress," he noted.

He mentioned the transformative impact of Modi ki Guarantee ki Gaadi and its role in boosting people's confidence while fulfilling their aspirations.

The Prime Minister pointed out that many new beneficiaries are availing themselves of these benefits and emphasised the responsibility of local body representatives in identifying eligible individuals in villages, wards, cities, and localities.

In his address, Modi shared the government's initiative to empower women in rural areas through a substantial campaign for self-employment. Over the past years, approximately 10 crore sisters, daughters, and didis have joined self-help groups, receiving assistance exceeding Rs 7.5 lakh crore from banks.

"To further expand this campaign, I have set a target of creating two crore Lakhpati Didis in the next three years," he announced, introducing the Namo Drone Didi Yojana aimed at bolstering the confidence of rural women.
DMDK founder-leader and popular yesteryear Tamil actor Vijayakanth passed away (PTI file image)

Chennai: DMDK founder-leader and popular yesteryear Tamil actor Vijayakanth who sowed the seeds of hope among his fans, admirers and the people on the possibility of a real alternative to the Dravidian majors, the DMK and AIADMK died here on Thursday following illness. He was 71.

Praised as 'Karuppu MGR' (black MGR) by his fans for his generosity, Vijayakanth has been ill and kept a low-profile for the past 4-5 years and his wife Premalatha formally took over the reins of the DMDK on December 14 and she was declared the general secretary at a party meet here.

MIOT International hospital said in a press release: "Captain Vijayakanth was on ventilatory support following his admission for pneumonia. Despite the best efforts of the medical staff he passed away in the morning on 28th December 2023."

Vijayakanth allied with the AIADMK in the 2011 Assembly elections and the Jayalalithaa-led bloc won the polls and the DMDK founder went on to become the Leader of the Opposition.

His verbal duel with Jayalalithaa in the Assembly took the state by storm and he appeared all set to take on the powers-that-be and break down the hegemony of the Dravidian parties, that have held sway for over half a century in Tamil Nadu's political landscape.

While the party statement had said that Vijayakanth had tested positive for coronavirus and was under ventilator, the hospital bulletin said he battled pneumonia. Hospital sources said the party issued that statement even before the results for the second round of samples were available.
Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah

Bengaluru: Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah is scheduled to hold a high-level meeting on Thursday over the forced installation of Kannada signboards at shops and offices.

Officials of Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike (BBMP), the primary civic body in the city, and the state Culture Department will participate in the meeting, according to sources.

Earlier, on Wednesday, the Federation of Karnataka Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FKCCI) expressed concern over the BBMP (Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike) directions for inscribing '60 percent Kannada' letters on all name boards for commercial establishments.

The FKCCI, while reiterating that it will always follow the rules of the government, stated that it will also instruct its members to adhere to the orders of the state or BBMP.

However, the FKCCI also urged the state government not to initiate any action under the above rule until the deadline of February 28, next year.

"We request the Government of Karnataka and BBMP not to initiate any action for the above rule till the deadline of 28th February 2024 and also urges the Government to ensure that no one takes law in their own hands to harass the Trade and Commercial establishments," Ramesh Chandra Lahoti, president, FKCCI said in a statement.

Bengaluru Police, on Wednesday, detained the members of Karnataka Rakshana Vedike (KRV), a pro-Kannada activist group, who staged a protest in Bengaluru demanding that all businesses and enterprises in Karnataka put up boards in Kannada at their shops and commercial establishments in keeping with the state's obligation that 60 per cent of them are in Kannada.

The public awareness protest was held under the leadership of Karnataka Rakshana Vedike State President T A Narayan Gowda.

It has also come to the fore that the KRV activists also vandalised shops that had signboards in English letters. The members of Karnataka Rakshana Vedike also broke flower pots outside the Mall of Asia in Bangalore, broke signboards in English and sprayed black ink on them, officials said earlier.

KRV state president TN Narayan Gowda said, "People from various states are settled in Bengaluru and run businesses. However, they don't put up Kannada boards. They mostly put up boards carrying English letters. If they want to stay in Bengaluru and run their establishments with hassles, they have to install signboards carrying Kannada letters. Otherwise, they should consider shifting to other states."

He also cited a law by the Karnataka government, stipulating that 60 per cent of the signboards on shops and commercial establishments carry Kannada letters.
By 8 am, serpentine queues were witnessed at all centres, which continued throughout the day, even as the government had appealed to people not to rush to submit applications as the sabhas will be held till January 6. (Twitter/@CommissionrGHMC)

HYDERABAD: The Congress governments Praja Palana initiative received an overwhelming response from the public on the first day, with people flocking to grama sabhas and ward sabhas from early morning, braving cold conditions, to avail of benefits under the Six Guarantees.

While people were asked to attend the sabhas from 8 am to noon and then from 2 pm to 6 pm, in two shifts, people started reaching community centres, where the sabhas were held, by 6 am.

By 8 am, serpentine queues were witnessed at all centres, which continued throughout the day, even as the government had appealed to people not to rush to submit applications as the sabhas will be held till January 6.

The state government has formed 3,714 teams, comprising officials from multiple departments concerned, to organise the sabhas in all 12,769 gram panchayats and 2,626 municipal wards and divisions across the state from December 28 to January 6.

The unanticipated rush on Day 1 led to a shortage of application forms at several centres, with photocopy centres and brokers selling copies of the form for Rs 100 each. Despite the government providing the forms for free, people paid for the photocopies in a bid to secure their benefits early.

People waiting in queues were all praise for Chief Minister A. Revanth Reddy, for sending officials to their localities, as it was seen as a proactive step to implement the Six Guarantees promised by the Congress in the poll run-up. They also expressed relief over not having to run around MeeSeva centres or MRO offices to submit their applications.

Among the most sought-after benefits on Day 1 were for housing plots under the Indiramma Housing scheme, which was a major poll plank for the Congress as it rapped the BRS regime for failing to give 2BHKs.

There were also many applicants seeking to avail of Rs 500-gas cylinders and Rs 2,500 monthly aid under the Maha Lakshmi scheme, while Cheyutha pension seekers were also in significant numbers, given the wide range of people being catered to.

A huge rush was also spotted at exclusive counters set up for those seeking to apply for ration cards, which would be the main criterion for selecting beneficiaries for the Six Guarantees.

Separate counters were set up for women, the physically challenged and senior citizens, for their convenience, which garnered much praise. Volunteers were also pressed into service to help illiterate/semi-literate persons fill out the application forms.

Under GHMC limits, about 600 counters were set up across 150 wards, with about 10,000 staffers deployed for the programme.
Russian President Vladimir Putin attends a meeting with External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar in Moscow (Alexey NIKOLSKY / POOL / AFP)

Moscow: President Vladimir Putin on Wednesday invited Prime Minister Narendra Modi to visit Russia next year as External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar called on the Russian leader at the Kremlin."We will be glad to see our friend, Mr. Prime Minister Modi in Russia," Putin told Jaishankar.

Jaishankar, who is here on a five-day official visit to Russia, earlier met with his Russian counterpart Sergey Lavrov.

During a joint media appearance along with Lavrov after their talks, Jaishankar said he was confident that Prime Minister Modi and President Putin will meet for an annual summit next year. In his opening remarks earlier, Jaishankar said that the two leaders have been in frequent contact.

The summit between the prime minister of India and the Russian president is the highest institutional dialogue mechanism in the strategic partnership between the two sides.

"Honoured to call on President Vladimir Putin this evening. Conveyed the warm greetings of PM @narendramodi and handed over a personal message. Apprised President Putin of my discussions with Ministers Manturov and Lavrov. Appreciated his guidance on the further developments of our ties," Jaishankar said in his post on X.

So far, 21 annual summits have taken place alternatively in India and Russia. The last summit took place in New Delhi in December 2021.

Putin also said that the trade turnover between Russia and India is growing, particularly on account of crude oil and high technology areas.

"Our trade turnover is growing, for the second year in a row at the same time and at a steady pace. The growth rate this year is even higher than in the last year," he said.

On Tuesday, Jaishankar held a "comprehensive and productive" meeting with Deputy Prime Minister Denis Manturov on the bilateral economic cooperation during which they witnessed the signing of some "very important" agreements related to the construction of the future power-generating units of the Kudankulam nuclear power plant in Tamil Nadu.

The ties between India and Russia remained strong notwithstanding Moscow's invasion of Ukraine. India has not yet condemned the Russian invasion of Ukraine and it has been maintaining that the crisis must be resolved through diplomacy and dialogue.

India's import of Russian crude oil has gone up significantly despite increasing disquiet over it in many Western countries.
Capital Investment Advisors LLC cut its stake in shares of Archer-Daniels-Midland Company (NYSE:ADM  Free Report) by 95.3% in the 3rd quarter, according to its most recent Form 13F filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission. The fund owned 4,051 shares of the companys stock after selling 81,350 shares during the period. Capital Investment Advisors LLCs holdings in Archer-Daniels-Midland were worth $306,000 at the end of the most recent quarter.

Several other hedge funds have also recently bought and sold shares of the stock. PCA Investment Advisory Services Inc. acquired a new stake in shares of Archer-Daniels-Midland in the second quarter valued at approximately $25,000. Hanseatic Management Services Inc. acquired a new stake in shares of Archer-Daniels-Midland in the first quarter valued at approximately $26,000. Exchange Traded Concepts LLC raised its position in shares of Archer-Daniels-Midland by 41.9% in the second quarter. Exchange Traded Concepts LLC now owns 491 shares of the companys stock valued at $37,000 after buying an additional 145 shares in the last quarter. MRP Capital Investments LLC acquired a new stake in shares of Archer-Daniels-Midland in the first quarter valued at approximately $40,000. Finally, Almanack Investment Partners LLC. acquired a new stake in shares of Archer-Daniels-Midland in the third quarter valued at approximately $43,000. 77.73% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors and hedge funds.

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Archer-Daniels-Midland Stock Performance

NYSE ADM opened at $72.19 on Thursday. The firms fifty day moving average price is $73.11 and its two-hundred day moving average price is $76.84. The stock has a market cap of $38.50 billion, a PE ratio of 10.05 and a beta of 0.82. Archer-Daniels-Midland Company has a fifty-two week low of $69.31 and a fifty-two week high of $95.90. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.33, a quick ratio of 1.07 and a current ratio of 1.69.

Archer-Daniels-Midland Announces Dividend

Archer-Daniels-Midland ( NYSE:ADM Get Free Report ) last issued its quarterly earnings data on Tuesday, October 24th. The company reported $1.63 earnings per share for the quarter, topping the consensus estimate of $1.53 by $0.10. Archer-Daniels-Midland had a net margin of 4.05% and a return on equity of 16.63%. The company had revenue of $21.70 billion for the quarter, compared to analysts expectations of $23.69 billion. During the same quarter in the previous year, the firm posted $1.86 earnings per share. Archer-Daniels-Midlands revenue for the quarter was down 12.1% on a year-over-year basis. On average, equities analysts expect that Archer-Daniels-Midland Company will post 7.26 EPS for the current fiscal year.

The firm also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Wednesday, December 6th. Investors of record on Wednesday, November 15th were paid a $0.45 dividend. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Tuesday, November 14th. This represents a $1.80 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 2.49%. Archer-Daniels-Midlands dividend payout ratio is 25.07%.

Analyst Ratings Changes

A number of brokerages recently issued reports on ADM. JPMorgan Chase & Co. decreased their price objective on shares of Archer-Daniels-Midland from $77.00 to $75.00 and set a neutral rating on the stock in a research note on Wednesday, October 25th. Stephens decreased their price objective on shares of Archer-Daniels-Midland from $80.00 to $75.00 and set an equal weight rating on the stock in a research note on Wednesday, October 25th. Morgan Stanley decreased their price objective on shares of Archer-Daniels-Midland from $87.00 to $76.00 and set an equal weight rating on the stock in a research note on Monday, October 30th. BMO Capital Markets cut shares of Archer-Daniels-Midland from an outperform rating to a market perform rating and decreased their price objective for the company from $90.00 to $80.00 in a research note on Monday, December 18th. Finally, UBS Group decreased their price objective on shares of Archer-Daniels-Midland from $115.00 to $104.00 and set a buy rating on the stock in a research note on Wednesday, December 20th. Five analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and three have issued a buy rating to the stock. Based on data from MarketBeat.com, the company has a consensus rating of Hold and a consensus target price of $89.80.

Read Our Latest Research Report on ADM

About Archer-Daniels-Midland

(Free Report)

Archer-Daniels-Midland Company procures, transports, stores, processes, and merchandises agricultural commodities, products, and ingredients in the United States, Switzerland, the Cayman Islands, Brazil, Mexico, Canada, the United Kingdom, and internationally. The company operates in three segments: Ag Services and Oilseeds, Carbohydrate Solutions, and Nutrition.

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Flagship Harbor Advisors LLC decreased its position in Becton, Dickinson and Company (NYSE:BDX  Free Report) by 4.1% during the 3rd quarter, according to its most recent filing with the SEC. The institutional investor owned 1,195 shares of the medical instruments suppliers stock after selling 51 shares during the period. Flagship Harbor Advisors LLCs holdings in Becton, Dickinson and Company were worth $309,000 as of its most recent filing with the SEC.

Other institutional investors have also recently made changes to their positions in the company. Householder Group Estate & Retirement Specialist LLC acquired a new position in shares of Becton, Dickinson and Company during the 3rd quarter worth approximately $25,000. McClarren Financial Advisors Inc. increased its position in shares of Becton, Dickinson and Company by 4,900.0% during the 2nd quarter. McClarren Financial Advisors Inc. now owns 100 shares of the medical instruments suppliers stock worth $26,000 after purchasing an additional 98 shares during the last quarter. Indiana Trust & Investment Management CO acquired a new position in shares of Becton, Dickinson and Company during the 3rd quarter worth approximately $27,000. OLD Point Trust & Financial Services N A acquired a new position in shares of Becton, Dickinson and Company during the 2nd quarter worth approximately $36,000. Finally, Glass Jacobson Investment Advisors llc acquired a new position in shares of Becton, Dickinson and Company during the 2nd quarter worth approximately $37,000. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 86.72% of the companys stock.

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Insider Buying and Selling

In related news, EVP Richard Byrd sold 2,156 shares of the companys stock in a transaction on Tuesday, November 28th. The stock was sold at an average price of $238.47, for a total transaction of $514,141.32. Following the completion of the sale, the executive vice president now directly owns 4,120 shares in the company, valued at approximately $982,496.40. The sale was disclosed in a filing with the SEC, which is available through this link. 0.31% of the stock is owned by corporate insiders.

Becton, Dickinson and Company Stock Performance

NYSE:BDX opened at $242.50 on Thursday. The stock has a fifty day moving average price of $242.65 and a 200-day moving average price of $258.29. The company has a market cap of $70.42 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 48.89, a PEG ratio of 1.95 and a beta of 0.49. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.57, a quick ratio of 0.81 and a current ratio of 1.31. Becton, Dickinson and Company has a fifty-two week low of $228.62 and a fifty-two week high of $287.32.

Becton, Dickinson and Company (NYSE:BDX  Get Free Report) last released its earnings results on Thursday, November 9th. The medical instruments supplier reported $3.42 earnings per share for the quarter, meeting analysts consensus estimates of $3.42. The firm had revenue of $5.09 billion during the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $5.02 billion. Becton, Dickinson and Company had a return on equity of 13.91% and a net margin of 7.66%. The companys revenue was up 6.8% compared to the same quarter last year. During the same period in the prior year, the company posted $2.75 EPS. As a group, equities analysts anticipate that Becton, Dickinson and Company will post 12.83 EPS for the current fiscal year.

Becton, Dickinson and Company Increases Dividend

The firm also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Friday, December 29th. Investors of record on Friday, December 8th will be given a dividend of $0.95 per share. This is an increase from Becton, Dickinson and Companys previous quarterly dividend of $0.91. This represents a $3.80 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 1.57%. The ex-dividend date is Thursday, December 7th. Becton, Dickinson and Companys dividend payout ratio is currently 76.61%.

Analyst Ratings Changes

BDX has been the topic of a number of recent analyst reports. Piper Sandler decreased their target price on Becton, Dickinson and Company from $305.00 to $280.00 and set an overweight rating on the stock in a report on Friday, November 10th. TheStreet lowered Becton, Dickinson and Company from a b rating to a c+ rating in a report on Thursday, November 9th. Citigroup decreased their target price on Becton, Dickinson and Company from $282.00 to $260.00 in a report on Monday, October 2nd. Raymond James reduced their price target on Becton, Dickinson and Company from $304.00 to $269.00 and set an outperform rating for the company in a research note on Friday, November 10th. Finally, Morgan Stanley reduced their price target on Becton, Dickinson and Company from $310.00 to $280.00 and set an overweight rating for the company in a research note on Monday, December 4th. Two investment analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and six have issued a buy rating to the companys stock. Based on data from MarketBeat, the stock currently has a consensus rating of Moderate Buy and a consensus target price of $279.57.

Read Our Latest Stock Report on BDX

About Becton, Dickinson and Company

(Free Report)

Becton, Dickinson and Company develops, manufactures, and sells medical supplies, devices, laboratory equipment, and diagnostic products for healthcare institutions, physicians, life science researchers, clinical laboratories, pharmaceutical industry, and the general public worldwide. The company operates in three segments: BD Medical, BD Life Sciences, and BD Interventional.

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Howard Capital Management Group LLC lowered its stake in Exxon Mobil Co. (NYSE:XOM  Free Report) by 2.4% during the third quarter, according to the company in its most recent Form 13F filing with the SEC. The fund owned 15,919 shares of the oil and gas companys stock after selling 397 shares during the quarter. Howard Capital Management Group LLCs holdings in Exxon Mobil were worth $1,872,000 as of its most recent SEC filing.

Other institutional investors and hedge funds have also bought and sold shares of the company. Intrepid Capital Management Inc. grew its position in shares of Exxon Mobil by 1.2% in the 2nd quarter. Intrepid Capital Management Inc. now owns 7,928 shares of the oil and gas companys stock valued at $850,000 after acquiring an additional 92 shares during the period. Lee Financial Co lifted its stake in Exxon Mobil by 0.5% in the 2nd quarter. Lee Financial Co now owns 20,454 shares of the oil and gas companys stock valued at $2,194,000 after purchasing an additional 94 shares during the last quarter. Traynor Capital Management Inc. grew its holdings in Exxon Mobil by 4.2% during the third quarter. Traynor Capital Management Inc. now owns 2,346 shares of the oil and gas companys stock worth $276,000 after purchasing an additional 94 shares during the period. WPWealth LLP increased its position in Exxon Mobil by 1.2% during the first quarter. WPWealth LLP now owns 8,419 shares of the oil and gas companys stock worth $923,000 after buying an additional 97 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Fluent Financial LLC raised its stake in Exxon Mobil by 2.8% in the third quarter. Fluent Financial LLC now owns 3,610 shares of the oil and gas companys stock valued at $424,000 after buying an additional 97 shares during the period. Institutional investors own 58.53% of the companys stock.

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Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades

Several research analysts have recently commented on the company. StockNews.com initiated coverage on Exxon Mobil in a research note on Thursday, October 5th. They set a hold rating for the company. Erste Group Bank reiterated a hold rating on shares of Exxon Mobil in a report on Friday, December 22nd. Morgan Stanley raised their target price on shares of Exxon Mobil from $131.00 to $134.00 and gave the stock an overweight rating in a research note on Monday, October 2nd. Truist Financial upgraded shares of Exxon Mobil from a hold rating to a buy rating and upped their price target for the company from $110.00 to $131.00 in a research note on Thursday, October 12th. Finally, JPMorgan Chase & Co. reduced their price objective on Exxon Mobil from $134.00 to $127.00 and set an overweight rating for the company in a report on Friday, December 8th. Ten analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and thirteen have given a buy rating to the company. According to MarketBeat, the company presently has an average rating of Moderate Buy and a consensus price target of $128.70.

Insider Activity at Exxon Mobil

In other Exxon Mobil news, Director Jeffrey W. Ubben sold 2,077,000 shares of the companys stock in a transaction dated Tuesday, November 28th. The stock was sold at an average price of $104.06, for a total value of $216,132,620.00. Following the completion of the transaction, the director now owns 13,000 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $1,352,780. The sale was disclosed in a legal filing with the SEC, which is available through the SEC website. In related news, Director Jeffrey W. Ubben sold 2,077,000 shares of Exxon Mobil stock in a transaction that occurred on Tuesday, November 28th. The shares were sold at an average price of $104.06, for a total transaction of $216,132,620.00. Following the sale, the director now directly owns 13,000 shares in the company, valued at approximately $1,352,780. The transaction was disclosed in a filing with the SEC, which can be accessed through this link. Also, VP Leonard M. Fox sold 12,000 shares of the companys stock in a transaction that occurred on Monday, December 18th. The shares were sold at an average price of $102.65, for a total transaction of $1,231,800.00. Following the completion of the transaction, the vice president now owns 220,678 shares of the companys stock, valued at $22,652,596.70. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. 0.04% of the stock is currently owned by company insiders.

Exxon Mobil Stock Performance

Exxon Mobil stock opened at $101.66 on Thursday. The company has a quick ratio of 1.08, a current ratio of 1.42 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.18. The stock has a market cap of $402.87 billion, a PE ratio of 10.10, a P/E/G ratio of 3.70 and a beta of 1.01. Exxon Mobil Co. has a 12-month low of $97.48 and a 12-month high of $120.70. The businesss 50-day moving average price is $103.79 and its two-hundred day moving average price is $107.23.

Exxon Mobil (NYSE:XOM  Get Free Report) last released its quarterly earnings data on Friday, October 27th. The oil and gas company reported $2.27 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, missing analysts consensus estimates of $2.36 by ($0.09). Exxon Mobil had a return on equity of 20.72% and a net margin of 11.56%. The company had revenue of $90.76 billion for the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $93.41 billion. During the same quarter in the prior year, the company earned $4.45 earnings per share. Exxon Mobils revenue for the quarter was down 19.0% compared to the same quarter last year. As a group, analysts expect that Exxon Mobil Co. will post 9.18 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.

Exxon Mobil Increases Dividend

The company also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Monday, December 11th. Stockholders of record on Wednesday, November 15th were paid a $0.95 dividend. This represents a $3.80 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 3.74%. This is a boost from Exxon Mobils previous quarterly dividend of $0.91. The ex-dividend date was Tuesday, November 14th. Exxon Mobils dividend payout ratio is presently 37.74%.

Exxon Mobil Company Profile

(Free Report)

Exxon Mobil Corporation engages in the exploration and production of crude oil and natural gas in the United States and internationally. It operates through Upstream, Energy Products, Chemical Products, and Specialty Products segments. The Upstream segment explores for and produces crude oil and natural gas.

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Global Retirement Partners LLC grew its stake in shares of The Boston Beer Company, Inc. (NYSE:SAM  Free Report) by 262.3% in the third quarter, according to the company in its most recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The fund owned 279 shares of the companys stock after acquiring an additional 202 shares during the quarter. Global Retirement Partners LLCs holdings in Boston Beer were worth $106,000 at the end of the most recent quarter.

A number of other institutional investors and hedge funds also recently modified their holdings of the stock. Vanguard Group Inc. grew its holdings in shares of Boston Beer by 2.2% during the 3rd quarter. Vanguard Group Inc. now owns 886,104 shares of the companys stock worth $286,787,000 after purchasing an additional 18,969 shares during the period. State Street Corp raised its position in shares of Boston Beer by 0.6% during the 2nd quarter. State Street Corp now owns 261,664 shares of the companys stock valued at $80,708,000 after acquiring an additional 1,612 shares in the last quarter. Geode Capital Management LLC increased its position in Boston Beer by 5.3% in the second quarter. Geode Capital Management LLC now owns 137,739 shares of the companys stock worth $42,484,000 after buying an additional 6,897 shares during the period. Southernsun Asset Management LLC grew its stake in shares of Boston Beer by 5.4% in the second quarter. Southernsun Asset Management LLC now owns 133,099 shares of the companys stock worth $41,053,000 after purchasing an additional 6,789 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Dimensional Fund Advisors LP grew its holdings in Boston Beer by 8.3% during the second quarter. Dimensional Fund Advisors LP now owns 127,757 shares of the companys stock worth $39,406,000 after acquiring an additional 9,802 shares during the period. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 64.10% of the companys stock.

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Analysts Set New Price Targets

Several research firms have weighed in on SAM. StockNews.com began coverage on Boston Beer in a research note on Thursday, October 5th. They set a hold rating on the stock. Jefferies Financial Group began coverage on Boston Beer in a report on Monday, November 13th. They set a hold rating and a $375.00 price target for the company. UBS Group reduced their price target on Boston Beer from $408.00 to $390.00 and set a neutral rating for the company in a report on Friday, October 27th. Morgan Stanley lifted their price target on Boston Beer from $270.00 to $285.00 and gave the company an underweight rating in a report on Friday, October 27th. Finally, Citigroup lifted their price target on Boston Beer from $350.00 to $370.00 and gave the company a neutral rating in a report on Wednesday, October 11th. Two investment analysts have rated the stock with a sell rating, nine have assigned a hold rating and three have issued a buy rating to the companys stock. Based on data from MarketBeat, the stock has an average rating of Hold and an average price target of $341.38.

Boston Beer Price Performance

Shares of Boston Beer stock opened at $348.74 on Thursday. The Boston Beer Company, Inc. has a 1 year low of $296.27 and a 1 year high of $420.49. The business has a 50-day moving average of $347.24 and a two-hundred day moving average of $347.45. The company has a market capitalization of $4.25 billion, a P/E ratio of 51.59, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 1.44 and a beta of 1.10.

Boston Beer (NYSE:SAM  Get Free Report) last announced its quarterly earnings results on Thursday, October 26th. The company reported $4.66 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, topping the consensus estimate of $4.25 by $0.41. Boston Beer had a return on equity of 8.77% and a net margin of 3.83%. The company had revenue of $601.60 million during the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $592.88 million. On average, equities analysts anticipate that The Boston Beer Company, Inc. will post 8.41 EPS for the current fiscal year.

Insiders Place Their Bets

In related news, insider Carolyn L. Oboyle sold 102 shares of the stock in a transaction dated Friday, December 1st. The stock was sold at an average price of $354.90, for a total transaction of $36,199.80. Following the completion of the transaction, the insider now directly owns 2,834 shares in the company, valued at $1,005,786.60. The transaction was disclosed in a filing with the SEC, which can be accessed through this link. Corporate insiders own 23.50% of the companys stock.

Boston Beer Profile

(Free Report)

The Boston Beer Company, Inc engages in the production and sale of alcohol beverages primarily in the United States. The company's flagship beer is Samuel Adams Boston Lager. It offers various beers, hard ciders, flavored malt beverages, and hard seltzers under the Samuel Adams, Twisted Tea, Truly Hard Seltzer, Angry Orchard, Dogfish Head, Angel City, Coney Island, and Havana Lager brand names.

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2023 marks the 800th anniversary of the creation of the first crib by St Francis of Assisi in Greccio Italy.

To mark this anniversary Ballinascreen Parish will host a very special Live Crib event on Saturday, December 30.

This free event will take place at St Eugenes Church Moneyneena and will commence with Mass at 10.00 am at which Bishop McKeown will be the main celebrant.

Following this Mass the live crib featuring real animals and people will be operational. Everyone is warmly invited to come make the journey around the church grounds from Nazareth to Bethlehem.

This journey will lead you past 14 stations each one depicting a key moment from the Nativity story and will bring you to the live crib. All the main characters from the Nativity story will be dressed in costume in the crib which will also feature live animals including a donkey, calf, sheep and goats.

After marvelling at the sight and sounds of the live crib, you may enter St Eugenes Church where there will be Exposition of the Blessed Sacrament from 11.00 am until 6.00 pm.

A marquee will be erected in which free refreshments will be served throughout the day and where there will be colouring and quiz activities for children.

To personally record your visit to this amazing event there will be a special backdrop for photos in the marquee. At 6.00 pm this event will conclude with a candlelit Vigil Mass and Benediction.

While this is a free event to which everyone is warmly invited, people attending may, if they so wish, make a voluntary contribution to St Eugenes Church Repair Fund. Come along to St Eugenes Moneyneena next Saturday, December 30 and enjoy discovering the true meaning of Christmas. Everyone is very welcome.
A man has been remanded in custody at Derry Magistrate's Court today for what was described as 'serious allegations of violence and coercive control'.

Thomas Goligher (33) of Mullagh Park in Maghera faced 17 charges of domestic abuse including four charges of non fatal strangulation on December 26, a sexual assault charge and numerous charges of assault against the same woman.

A police officer connected the accused to the charges and opposed bail.

He told the court that the alleged victim had described seven years of domestic abuse and coercive control.

He said that the woman had said she had to resort to contacting ambulance staff to contact police.

The officer said that it was alleged that Goligher had also made threats against the woman's family.

He said that police were concerned about the possibility of further offences if bail was granted.

Defence counsel Eoghan Devlin said said this was 'a litany' of serious offences and the court was rightly concerned about the possibility of further offences.

He said that it was likely to be six or seven months before this case is dealt with and asked for bail.

He accepted that it was 'a difficult application'.

District Judge Barney McElholm said that he had' no intention ' of granting this man bail.

He said this was' a disgraceful and appalling set of facts' yet Goligher's response was no comment.

He added 'there is absolutely no chance of this man getting bail from this court.'

Goligher was remanded in custody to appear again on January 17.
A young entrepreneur who introduced Joe Biden during his historic visit to Belfast has said that she wanted to tell the world how far Northern Ireland has come since the Good Friday Agreement in 1998.

Gabrielle Feenan, 24, from Banbridge, who shared a stage with the US president at Ulster University in April, also told how she had to keep her role in the event a secret from even her family.

Mr Biden spoke at the new 350 million campus to mark the 25th anniversary of the historic peace deal during his visit to the island of Ireland.

Ms Feenan, an interior designer, who was born following the Good Friday Agreement, was chosen to make a speech and introduce the president to the stage.

She told the PA news agency: It all happened quite late. The Biden event was on the Wednesday and I didnt find out about my participation in it until the Saturday before.

I was put in contact with the US Consulate. They asked me to come up for a meeting. I went up on the Saturday morning not sure what I was going into and I was asked if I would like to introduce the president.

Its not really something that comes around that often nor something that I thought Id ever be doing, but an opportunity you cant turn down.

Ms Feenan said the hardest part was keeping the secret from her friends and family.

She said: I was trying to keep this massive secret in. It was hard not having anybody to proof-read your speech, especially when you are speaking to such a global audience.

My parents didnt know a single thing. They really werent expecting it at all until they saw it on TV.

I think they were just astounded about the whole thing, how Id been able to keep it all in.

Ms Feenan said she saw the opportunity to highlight the work being done by young entrepreneurs in Northern Ireland.

She said: It was a privilege and an honour to be able to go and stand there as a representative of the entrepreneurial spirit which is here in Northern Ireland.

Beforehand a few of us were brought out the back to meet him and get some photographs taken. He really was very down to earth and it was a really nice chat.

Meeting him on that personal level really settled my nerves beforehand because he was so normal, that took away any fears that I had.

I think once I was in the moment I was just focusing on not falling on the stage and not tripping over my words. It was just a matter of get up there, get the job done and then relax after that.

It definitely was daunting when you are standing up there and all you can see is a sea of media.

She added: He made a joke to me when I was coming off the stage. He said whenever you are the next world leader dont forget about me, that was nice.

His visit was to mark the 25th anniversary of the Good Friday Agreement. I was born a year after it, I am someone who has reaped the benefits of it.

I wanted to focus on the global stage about how far weve come in the last 25 years, what opportunities I have had, where it has brought me, what I have been able to do with it but also looking towards the next 25 years to come.

It is really important to look at how far we have come and respect and appreciate it but the work is by no means done and there is always further to go.

I wanted to strike home in that range of looking ahead, look whats already been achieved and imagine what more we could do if everybody came together and invested in the youth of Northern Ireland and Northern Ireland in general.

I think the biggest takeaway was backing and supporting young people here and how special of a generation we are and how much potential we have.

The main message was to look forward, to invest in the young people, see where you can help and to get stuck in and help with the people here because we have a lot to offer.

Ms Feenan said she believed her involvement in Mr Bidens visit was a life-changing event and she hopes it will continue to have a positive and lasting effect on Northern Ireland.

She said: Immediately after I was doing lots of media. I remember seeing myself on the news and thinking thats really bizarre.

It was like being a celebrity for a day.

Then it was more about thinking long term. People know about us now, it was about how we capitalise on that exposure.

It helped to drive a really positive change across the board which can only be life-changing not only for me but for everyone else.
Lung cancer and coronary artery calcification risks screening simultaneously - DeepRad.AI realizes vision of preventive medicine

According to the latest Taiwan Cancer Registry published by the Ministry of Health and Welfare (MOHW) in November 2023, lung cancer has overtaken colon cancer as the most common type of cancer in Taiwan. It is also one of the leading causes of death around the world. One of the reasons that lung cancer has such a high mortality rate is that it is often only diagnosed in later stages when the best time for treatment has lapsed. Therefore, early screening is of utmost importance. The DeepLung-CAC developed by DeepRad.AI employs multimodal AI technology, utilizing low-dose computed tomography (LDCT) imaging It aims to achieve the goal of preventive medicine by detecting lung nodules and simultaneously predicting the risks of coronary artery calcification.

DeepRad.AI is a spin-off company of Taipei Medical University founded by the university's former president, Professor Cheng-Yu Chen, a specialist in AI research. The company's research and development are centered on reducing case fatality rates through early detection and prevention, aiming to optimize the utilization of healthcare resources in society. Yao-Chi Chang, the CEO of DeepRad.AI, emphasized that the earlier lung cancer is detected, the higher the chances of recovery. With conventional X-ray technology, locating nodules is challenging, and by the time symptoms are identified, the cancer often progresses to stages three or four, resulting in a survival rate of only 10-30%. The widely used LDCT is highly effective and capable of detecting stage one or even stage zero lung cancers, significantly boosting the survival rate to over 90%.

Nonetheless, the evaluation of LDCT lung cancer screening results currently relies on radiologists. The latest CT scanners can now offer up to 640 slices, resulting in a significant increase in the number of images for analysis. This surge in workload poses a substantial impact on doctors' productivity. In contrast, the DeepLung-CAC optimizes the clinical workflow to address these challenges.

According to Yao-Chi Chang, DeepLung-CAC can provide doctors with preliminary results within five minutes after the completion of the LDCT scan. The patient's old and new images can also be compared to identify any nodular changes, assisting the doctor in explaining the screening results to the patient. Furthermore, DeepLung-CAC can automatically generate lung cancer screening reports that align with the Health Promotion Administration (HPA) standard. This significantly reduces the time required by doctors for analysis and report generation, enhancing the accuracy of test results and overall productivity.

In addition to lung cancer screening, the DeepLung-CAC can simultaneously assess coronary artery calcification risks. Coronary artery calcification serves as a crucial indicator for evaluating the risk of cardiovascular disease. DeepRad.AI utilized paired data (i.e., examination data from simultaneous screening for lung cancer and coronary artery calcification)to train DeepLung-CAC. This enables the platform to simultaneously detect early-stage lung cancer and assess coronary artery calcification risk in a single LDCT scanning session. Following four years of research and analysis, DeepLung-CAC is now capable of screening for these two diseases, which rank as the first and second leading causes of death in Taiwan, using a single LDCT scan.

The platform is currently undergoing clinical trials in anticipation of TFDA approval, expected to be granted in 2024. Clinical trials are underway at Taipei Medical University Hospital and Shuang Ho Hospital, where the platform has demonstrated improved CT interpretation efficiency.

As for the market potential of DeepLung-CAC, approximately 500,000 people in Taiwan are categorized as high-risk for lung cancer, but only 50,000 underwent government-funded screening last year. If the concept of preventive health gains widespread acceptance, this could lead to a tenfold increase in overall screening volume in Taiwan. However, with only 1,600 radiologists currently available, there is an urgent need for AI to reduce their workload and enhance the quality of care. DeepRad.AI aims to assist and optimize the overall process for radiologists using AI. By improving the efficiency of lung cancer screening and early detection rates, the vision of successful lung cancer prevention and treatment can be realized.

DeepRad.AI has made progress in screening for lung cancer and coronary artery calcification. The next step is to proactively develop predictions for osteoporosis and dementia. The company aims to contribute to innovative breakthroughs in the fields of preventive health and diagnosis.

Yao-Chi Chang pointed out that the team's hard work and Taiwan's innovation-friendly environment are the two main factors to success. In addition to a focus on research and development, precise and effective market planning is crucial for start-ups to promote their products. He expresses hope that policy support from government agencies will attract the attention of foreign investors to DeepRad.AI's technology and platform, facilitating successful commercialization. Looking ahead, he envisions Taiwan refining its laws, regulations, and auxiliary policies to leverage its capabilities in technology and healthcare sectors, creating an even greater competitive edge in smart healthcare.

DeepRad.AI utilizes a single LDCT examination and multimodal AI technology to conduct a one-time scan of the lungs and heart, enabling automated lung nodule detection and prediction of coronary artery calcification risk. The examination concludes with a standardized text report for doctors' reference

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Global top 5 notebook brands combined shipments rise in November and December, says DIGITIMES Research

The global top 5 notebook brands, not including Apple, saw their combined shipments in November rise 10% from October, while those of the top 3 ODMs also enjoyed growth at a similar level, according to DIGITIMES Research's figures from the global notebook shipment update report for November.

Among the top 5 brands, Hewlett-Packard (HP) had the highest on-month growth at over 46% in November, followed by Acer at around 10%, while Lenovo and Asustek Computer suffered an on-month decline. Dell's November shipments were flat from a month ago.

According to the report's figures, the top brands' November shipments all achieved growth with their combined volumes rising more than 19% year-on-year.

On the contrary, the top 3 ODMs together only managed to get a flat on-year performance in November shipments, dipping less than 1%. Quanta Computer was the only ODM within the top three to witness an on-year decline, but it was also the key contributor in the on-month shipment growth of the top ODMs in November.

For December, the top notebook brands are expected to continue enjoying a ramp-up in their combined shipments. Dell is the only brand to be undermined by an on-month decline.

Digitimes Research treats detachable notebook products as tablets. Convertible notebooks with undetachable keyboards are considered notebooks.
Civil servants were warned that the allocation of EU funds to ex-prisoner groups in Northern Ireland was to come under intensified scrutiny from Brussels in the wake of 9/11.

Officials were told of inevitably heightened sensitivities within the European Commission on how its Peace Programme funding initiative would be portrayed internationally, after the terror attack on the US, according to a newly released archive document from the Public Records Office of Northern Ireland.

The cautionary note was written by a senior official in the Department of Finance on September 26, 2001, after the head of the Northern Ireland Civil Service, Gerry Loughran, asked all departments to assess and report back on the potential implications of 9/11.

In his email to colleagues within the Department of Finance, Leo OReilly said the events of September 11 in the US could have a direct bearing on EU structural funding.

He highlighted that allegations had been made from time to time that structural funds, particularly from the Peace initiative, had been used to assist those in Northern Ireland/Ireland engaged in terrorism.

He then referred to two allegations related to arms finds in premises used by ex-loyalist prisoner groups, that he said had received funding in the first tranche of the Peace Programme, Peace 1.

These incidents were investigated by Olaf (the European Commissions anti fraud unit) at our request, and in neither case did they find any evidence that EU funding had been used to purchase the arms concerned, he added.

He then noted the arrest of three republicans in Colombia the previous month  August, 2001. They were held on suspicion of training Farc rebels.

Mr OReilly said in that case there had been an alleged link to a republican ex-prisoner group that also received funding under the Peace Programme, albeit via the Republic of Ireland part of the initiative.

He continued: We and the NIO (which was the lead department involved in the cases last year) take the view that since Peace money is and will continue to be used to assist ex prisoners, then it is inevitable (and entirely consistent with the objectives of the Programme) that some of those who benefit from it will be individuals, associated with projects, who have a previous paramilitary associations.

However there is also a clear responsibility on us and on intermediary funding bodies concerned to ensure that the money is used only for the purposes specified in some detail in the Operational Programme and the Programme Complement.

Officials in the European Commission also acknowledge that by providing this type of support to former prisoners carries presentational risks, but their line is that this is a risk for peace worth taking in the Northern Ireland context.

At the same time there is also considerable nervousness among those at senior levels in the Commission about how such funding might be portrayed more widely in the Union and beyond.

This is particularly so since several MEPs, including local unionist MEPs, have used their positions to put down motions etc criticising the Commissions approach to funding former prisoners projects in the Peace Programme.

All this usually manifests itself in detail requests for analysis, information and reassurances from the Commission to the member states each time allegations arise, as well as administrative delays in the payment of EU receipts to NI.

Mr OReilly suggested the level of scrutiny would ramp up further following 9/11.

The events of September 11 will inevitably heighten the European Commissions sensitivities as to how it how its funding policies under the Peace Programmes might be portrayed, he wrote.

This will not manifest itself in any general or arbitrary suspension of the funding (which could not be done anyhow without the member states agreements); however it will mean that we will be expected to ensure there are rigorous systems in place to ensure that the EU funding provided to ex prisoner and other groups is carefully targeted and monitored to ensure it (is) consistent with the objectives of the measures concerned.
Rates of Covid-19 and flu are rising in Ireland and will lead to significant pressures in hospitals, health chiefs have warned.

The Health Service Executive (HSE) said there has been a rise in the number of people with respiratory illnesses attending emergency departments  538 people with flu and 282 with Covid attended hospital this week, an increase from 312 (flu) and 144 (Covid) the previous week.

The HSE said while the health system is responding well to the increased pressures, the public need to play their part in using the right options for care.

A HSE statement said: Increasing community infection rates will lead to increased risk of outbreaks in hospitals, nursing homes and residential care facilities, potentially affecting the most vulnerable people.

There are currently 30 outbreaks of Covid in hospitals and 24 in nursing homes, again an increase from last week.

Our acute hospitals are as prepared as can be to deal with the expected rise in attendances and admissions over the coming period.

Today there are 119 people on trolleys (87 in ED and 32 on a ward) compared to 443 on the same date last year.

A further 124 patients are occupying surge beds compared to 375 on the same date last year.

Meanwhile, yesterday there were 357 people in hospital ready for discharge and awaiting suitable non-acute care, compared to 475 people on the same date last year.

Members of the public have been urged only to attend hospital for emergencies and to use options such as a local pharmacy or HSE.ie.

Eligible people have also been urged to get their flu and Covid vaccine.

Dr Colm Henry, HSE chief clinical officer, said: Rates of Covid and flu are rising now and over the next few weeks, which will put significant pressure on hospitals and residential care facilities in the short term.

Our emergency departments are expected to encounter significant pressures as a result and we know from experience that a delayed peak in flu season such as we are seeing now will inevitably lead to further pressures throughout the healthcare system with heightened risk of outbreaks in all facilities and delays discharging patients to nursing homes or step down facilities if they have flu or Covid.

This increase in viruses circulating obliges anyone with respiratory symptoms to avoid visiting hospitals and nursing homes if we have respiratory symptoms.

Every healthcare setting is assessing the risks locally and monitoring their own local risks, and this may lead them to take additional measures in certain settings, such as the wearing of masks if deemed necessary.

Dr Eamonn OMoore, director of national health protection, said: We are now seeing a sustained rise in the levels of infection with both Covid-19 and seasonal flu, including among people attending emergency departments and being admitted to hospitals.

The new JN.1 variant of Covid is fast becoming the dominant strain. This variant may be more transmissible than previous variants, resulting in more infections.

We are still collating data in Ireland and internationally on whether it will result in more illness requiring hospital care but at this time we are not seeing that signal.

However, with more infection around, there is greater risk some people who are vulnerable could become ill and require hospital care and we still need to protect our vulnerable members of society, children and adults, by doing what we can to reduce the spread of respiratory viruses.
FOLLOWING the rapid rise in the number of reported flu cases over recent weeks, Cork/Kerry Community Healthcare has announced it will be holding free nasal flu vaccine walk-in clinics for children aged 2-17 years over the coming days.

Dr Nicola Murphy, specialist registrar in public health medicine explained that children are twice as likely to contract flu and remain infectious for longer when compared with adults.

"Young children, in particular, are more likely than adults to be very sick and admitted to hospital because of flu, "said Ms Murphy.

Symptoms of flu in children include high temperatures, muscle pains, headache and extreme tiredness.

A study in the UK showed substantial reduction in the number of children who were hospitalised with flu in regions where primary school children were vaccinated.

Children are given the nasal vaccine by spraying it once into each nostril. It is a quick and painless process during which children can breathe normally, with many even reporting that it tickles when being administered.

The walk-in clinics are open to children aged 2-17 for a free nasal spray vaccine at two locations in Cork: Nemo Rangers GAA club today (Thursday, December 28) from 10am-2pm, and Newtown Vaccination Centre, Bantry on Friday, 29 December from 10am-3pm.
A Cork family business is this Christmas celebrating 30 years of donating eggs to local charities.

December 2023 marks the third full decade in which the Kelleher family of Watergrasshill, owners of Riverview Eggs, have been donating eggs to St Vincent de Paul (SVP) Cork.

This month, Riverview donated nearly 5,000 six-packs of eggs, or 10,000 dozen, to the SVP Christmas Food Appeal.

The company also donates eggs to Cork Penny Dinners and to Cork Simon Community each and every week of the year.

DJ Kelleher, managing director of Riverview, told The Echo his family has been in the egg business for almost six decades.

It was the brainchild of my mother Margaret, and my father Dan-Joe Kelleher. They were married in 1965. Then in 1966 they decided that they needed another revenue stream to support the family farm. They started with 700 hens, in a barn, on the farm, and grew from that each and every year, he said.

His family had always taken a proactive stance towards giving back to the community by giving eggs to various Cork charities, Mr Kelleher said.

We are living in a time of a lot of hardship for so many in our communities, and we have a responsibility to help, wherever and whenever we can.

"Eggs are nutritious and protein-packed and are the basis of a lot of the meals created for the service-users of [SVP, Cork Penny Dinners and Cork Simon].
AN unprecedented number of people took part in a public consultation on the redesign of the Irish passport.

The consultation, undertaken by research agency Red C on behalf of the Department of Foreign Affairs, took place over three weeks during the summer.

The consultation is available online in Irish and English and was promoted to citizens living on the island of Ireland and overseas.

Red C said response rates were unprecedented, in terms of typical public consultation responses, with more than 10,000 responses in the first week, and a total of 15,470 surveys completed over the course of the three-week fieldwork period.

Final design concept

The results have provided the Department of Foreign Affairs with insights into what citizens would like incorporated into the new passport design. They could select from images of native flora and fauna.

The Irish wolfhounds image was the favoured animal people wanted featured in the redesign, while the shamrock was the preferred plant.

Tanaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs, Micheal Martin, welcomed the report. I am delighted to release the report on the passport-design public consultation.

The insights provided by the public are invaluable to my department, and will guide the look of the inside of the final book when it is launched.

We share our island with a rich array of indigenous flora and fauna and I look forward to seeing a wide range of them represented in our next passport book.

The Irish wolfhound, red squirrel, and red deer were the top-three fauna selected, while the shamrock, gorse, and bluebell were the top flora choices, he said.

These choices, and many more, are now being developed in to a final design concept, which will feature in the new passport book.

Passport ranking

The Irish passport ranks fourth in the Henley Global Passport Index.

This high ranking provides citizens with visa-free access to 190 countries.

The existing passport book is now more than 10 years old and to maintain its integrity, frequent redesigns and enhanced security features to passport books, passport cards, and other travel documents are recommended by the International Civil Aviation Authority (ICAO).

One million passport applications have been received so far this year, with 2023 described as another busy year for the passport service.

Mr Martin reminded people who are planning to travel to check that their passport is in date, and if they need to apply for a new passport, to use Passport Online.

Over 90% of citizens now use Passport Online, as it is the quickest, cheapest, and most efficient way to apply for your passport, Mr Martin said.
HUNDREDS of homes and businesses in Cork remain without power this morning following strong winds, thunder, and lightning reported across the county.

More than 1,000 properties in the Carrigaline area alone were without power for a period last night, with outages also reported in Clonakilty, Lee Bridge, and Timoleague, among other areas.

While most power has now been restored, there are just under 100 homes and businesses still without power in the Carrigaline area this morning. The estimated restoration time is between 2pm and 4pm today.

Dozens of properties between Castlemartyr and Midleton also remain without power this morning, with an estimated restoration time of 4pm.

In the city, there is a fault in Mayfield where 17 properties are affected. It's estimated power will be returned by 2pm.

It came as Storm Gerrit swept across Ireland, with Cork, Kerry, Wexford, Waterford, and Clare under an orange wind warning.

A status yellow rain warning was also in place.

Poor conditions were reported across the county from early in the day, with a number of roads in Cork impassable due to localised floods for a time  including the R-621 (townlands including Kilvealaton West, Newberry, Gortnagros) and the R-587-167 (townlands including Demesne, Derreens, Derrylahan, Ardcahan).

Fota Wildlife Park closed its doors early yesterday.

Council crews were on standby yesterday in response to the warnings, with a spokesperson for Cork County Council saying that sandbags and pumps had been deployed to areas known to be affected by coastal flooding events.

Last night, the local authority warned that parts of West Cork were expected to see violent gusts for a period.

Speaking to The Echo, Cllr Danny Collins  who is based in the Bantry area  said that conditions were fairly wild in the area, but thankfully there was no significant damage barring some trees coming down.

He said that, on Tuesday night, three local businesses had experienced flooding when water came up through the sewers.

His brother and Cork South West TD Michael Collins  based in Goleen  reported the conditions were windy with heavy rain, but that it wasnt on the scale of previous storms.

Meanwhile, Cork County Council has said that while its Civic Amenity sites are scheduled to open today, this will be subject to an inspection early this morning.

Met Eireann said that today will be another windy day with heavy showers and a chance of hail and thunder, as well as an ongoing risk of coastal flooding.
A high-ranking fire officer is pleading with people to check on their neighbours after a number of heartbreaking calls from the elderly.

Victor Shine, second officer at Cork City Fire Brigade, said that frontline workers have to deal more often with the loneliness of members of the public.

Loneliness, Mr Shine said, is among the more poignant issues that Corks emergency services deal with.

Firefighters have attended calls at homes where deceased occupants lay undiscovered for considerable periods.

It is sometimes weeks before any concerns are raised. This is largely due to isolation.

Mr Shines appeal to neighbourliness comes months after an inquest last October heard that the body of Cork man Tim OSullivan  found by Cork County Council staff in January 2023  had remained undetected in a Mallow house for more than two decades. His family expressed fears at the time that the tragedy may not have been an isolated incident.

Mr Shine said that loneliness and isolation are still common.

It is a problem, he said.

In the last few months, we have come across deceased people in their houses who would have been there for a considerable length of time. You would think that those days are gone, but these kinds of things are still happening. This is why it is so important that we remember to check on our neighbours. People can help through that bit of support.

January can be a grim month for people suffering from anxiety or depression.

You see people getting deeper into depression post-Christmas, Mr Shine said. We see this before Christmas as well, but its typically after. Its a difficult time, when the good times are over and thats when you need the support. Mental-health issues affect everybody, from the very old to the very young. However, for the older community its mainly loneliness.

People with mental-health issues frequently call the service for help.

The fire-safety side of things isnt as much of an issue as it once was, because of improved engineering and better materials, Mr Shine said. Thats very positive. However, many of the calls we are attending have a mental-health focus.

"This is a particularly difficult time of year for many people. When the nights draw in, you see people getting more depressed. This can often relate to the financial strains of the festive season. Some are paying back for the good times after Christmas, which can take a toll on ones mental health.

"There is light at the end of the tunnel, Mr Shine said.

There are lots of lots of things that can kind of cause anxiety and stress. However, some people may not always realise that tomorrow will always be there to solve the problem. We have people on the verge telling us they are suffering because of the breakdown of a relationship.

This might only be a small thing when you look at the bigger picture. Males typically can get very depressed after the breakdown of a relationship. At times, it seems like the end of the world. Others are at a different stage of their life, where they are dealing with the pressures of raising families. There could be 101 different things, but each problem is relative.

Fianna Fail councillor and GP Dr John Sheehan, who owns Blackpool Bridge Surgery, said he has referred people to social prescribers in the past as a means to tackle loneliness. The practice involves supporting people with positive social outlets in the community. This could include anything from a choir to a hillwalking club, depending on their interests.

Loneliness can be more difficult to admit to than a physical ailment, Dr Sheehan said. Its easier to go to your GP with a sore knee or leg than tell them we are lonely, because we all have our pride. Loneliness is an issue, especially at this time of year, and people can experience it very acutely.

The role of the social prescriber is very useful in that sense. If people are agreeable, they will put the person in touch with groups in the community and guide them in a way that helps them become more active in the community. They are very skilled at linking them in with groups that are of interest to that individual. The list of things to do in the community has become far more diverse.

Dr Sheehan is urging communities to promote inclusion.

Of course, a lot of people will have family, friends, and neighbours, and people looking out for them, Dr Sheehan said. Some are very engaged in their communities by participating in senior citizens groups or even just going to the shop. However, there are others who, due to illness or mood, are more shy and maybe a little bit more isolated.

"People are often more vulnerable during the winter months, when there are not as many people out and about. These are the individuals that we need to make a special effort for. Its important to ensure that they are OK, because loneliness can have a significant impact in terms of mental-health outcomes.

There are a lot of people out there who are lonely. This doesnt just happen in rural areas and can also be an issue in a busy city.

Dr Sheehan spoke about how people can often withdraw from society gradually. Sometimes people can stop engaging and going to events. Social prescribers can guide people to use social activities to alleviate loneliness.

Loneliness can potentially lead to mental-health issues or contribute to physical ailments.

Unfortunately, we saw with covid the impact loneliness can have, where mental-health issues are concerned, Dr Sheehan said. This is also the case with physical conditions, like cardiovascular disease. We are naturally social individuals, who like to engage with people. Thats why its so important that we look out for our neighbours and make a special effort.

There are people out there who dont have family in Cork. Others might have family members who are abroad, making them that little bit more vulnerable. You could be in the middle of a busy town and still feel very lonely.

A number of charities in Cork are working to reduce isolation in communities.

For example, ALONE works with older people, including those who are lonely or isolated. They also provide support to older people affected by illness, homelessness, or poverty.
A BUSY road in Douglas has been described as an accident waiting to happen, with calls to install safety barriers to protect school-going children from speeding vehicles.

The call came from Independent Cllr Mick Finn who has tabled a motion asking for the stretch of footpath from Clermont Cottages to Douglas Community School to be made safer.

I received calls during the autumn to have overgrowth cut back along this footpath which is used by children and families going to schools in Douglas, Mr Finn said.

This was done, but the fact that people have to step off the footpath onto what is a very busy road is not acceptable at any time of the year, and measures  such as a rail or barriers  are required.

Mr Finns request will go to the Local Area Committee for a report from engineers.

Meanwhile, Labour Party local election candidate Peter Horgan, has said that any expansion of the public bike scheme in Cork has to include the Douglas and Blackrock area as a priority.

While it is welcome that a review is underway for the expansion of the scheme, it is vital that the review puts Douglas and Blackrock front and centre on the expansion priority list, said Mr Horgan.

What is critical is the expansion of the scheme southside towards Blackrock and Mahon and out to Douglas and Rochestown, creating a triangle of its own bike network that also subs into the city.

These areas have been described as low hanging in the past, well now its time to pick them.

We also need to see the expansion of the scheme onto the northside, as has been advocated by my party colleague Cllr John Maher for years.

We in Labour will continue to advocate for a fuller, bolder public bike scheme in Cork city that can serve everyone.
James Cox

Services like Uber should be allowed to operate in Ireland to address transport issues in rural Ireland, according to a Fine Gael Senator.

The National Transport Authoritys (NTA) "resistance to services like Uber" needs to be addressed by the Minister for Transport or people living in rural Ireland will continue to suffer, Fine Gael Senator Garret Ahearn said.

Mr Ahearn said that Minister for Transport Eamon Ryan should be doing more to ensure a quicker rollout of taxis and hackneys in areas outside the main urban cities.

He said towns, including his Clonmel constituency, have been impacted by a lack of transport services this Christmas, hindering shoppers and people trying to socialise.

Minister Ryan continues to dodge any meaningful discussions around introducing Uber to rural passengers.

Mr Ahearn said: While Uber has been in Ireland and is licensed by the NTA since 2014, it still only operates in our cities and is subject to the same regulations as other small public service vehicles (SPSV) operators. Dispatch operators are required to only provide bookings to SPSV licensed drivers using SPSV licensed vehicles.

Minister Ryan continues to dodge any meaningful discussions around introducing Uber to rural passengers.

At the beginning of this year, he launched the 2023 Local Hackney pilot scheme, a one-year grant-aided pilot programme that aims to assist in the provision of part-time local hackney services in designated rural areas which cannot support a full-time taxi or hackey operation.

But this pilot is currently only servicing 21 locations nationwide and even at that, local hackneys may only pick up passengers within a designated area of between 7-10km from a chosen point."

He added: Those living in our cities and major urban centres are afforded choice when it comes to transport. Theres public transport, and various taxi options. A choice of transport is something most people in rural Ireland can only dream about  they need a safe, reliable mode of transport that can take them where they need to go, be it to meet friends, attend an appointment or do shopping.

For too long Minister Ryan has passed the buck to the NTA, leaving the ball entirely in their court to veto who drives our taxis, from where and when.

Fine Gael is serious about delivering for rural Ireland and ease of access has to be a top priority for Minister Ryan in 2024."
Grainne Ni Aodha, PA

Taoiseach Bertie Ahern urged UK prime minister Tony Blair to clarify speculation around Roger Casements black diaries in an effort to close an unhappy period in Anglo-Irish relations.

Casement was one of the nationalists executed for his attempt to import ammunition through Irelands south coast ahead of the 1916 Rising.

He was also renowned for his inquiries into slave trades in Peru and the Congo during his work as a British Foreign Office official.

The so-called black diaries allegedly give an extensive and detailed account of Casements personal relationships, and suggested that he led a secret life as a gay man.

The diaries, which comprise two office diaries, an army field notebook, a pocket diary and a 1911 cash ledger, were used by the British to weaken calls for clemency during Casements trial for treason in 1916.

He was executed in August 1916 and his body was repatriated to Ireland in 1965, where he was given a state funeral and buried with full military honours.

Despite a forensic analysis of the diaries in 2002, funded by RTE and the Department of the Taoiseach, concluding that they were genuine examples of Casements handwriting, the authenticity of the diaries are still contested.

In a short letter sent by Mr Ahern to Mr Blair dated December 23rd, 1999, the taoiseach noted progress made on the Northern Ireland peace process, adding we have all come too far to fail.

It remains a point of contention to this day, whether the additional diaries are genuine or forged.

He then stated that Mr Blairs Labour government had made an enormous difference on those issues, but wanted to raise a matter of largely historical interest.

Sir Roger Casement, whose remains were returned from Pentonville in a much appreciated gesture by Harold Wilson as Prime Minister in 1965, was a very distinguished British public servant, who was knighted, Mr Ahern wrote.

He continued: There is a heated ongoing historical controversy as to whether certain diaries he is alleged to have kept in addition to his conventional diaries are genuine.

The so-called black diaries, which purport to relate to various homosexual experiences were supposedly discovered in his home by the intelligence services in 1916, and were discreetly used to discourage pleas for mercy.

It remains a point of contention to this day, whether the additional diaries are genuine or forged.

Mr Ahern then asks Mr Blair if it was possible that the UK Home Office or intelligence services could throw some full light on the truth.

While I know that it is your position that the intelligence services do not comment on their activities, official histories have been written of the pre-World War II period, where the same restrictions clearly no longer apply.

Putting the historical record straight and settling the issue one way or the other, which ought to be possible given that it is a question of fact rather than a value judgement, would be beneficial in closing an unhappy episode in Anglo-Irish relations, and would of course have significance for both traditions in Northern Ireland.

I would appreciate any light that could still be shed from hidden recesses on your side, he concluded, before wishing Mr Blair and his wife well over the Christmas period.

According to a history blog post, Mr Blair replied to Mr Ahern on February 11th, 2000, to say he had looked at the issue but that nothing has been unearthed.

The Casement black diaries are still held by the British National Archives. The material can be viewed in the National Archives in file 2023/154/4
By Jonathan McCambridge, PA

A teenager has died following a road traffic collision in Belfast last week.

A PSNI spokesperson said: We received a report at around 9.20pm that a car and motorcycle had collided in the Antrim Road area of north Belfast on Friday December 22.

We can confirm that a man has died following a road traffic collision in Belfast last week.



Read more: https://t.co/QZEPMdzl8y pic.twitter.com/KfHNUndaM7  Police North Belfast (@PSNIBelfastN) December 28, 2023

An 18-year-old man was taken to hospital for treatment at the time, but has since sadly passed away.

Our investigation is at an early stage and we would appeal to anyone who was in the area at the time, or who may have dashcam or other footage, to contact us on 101, quoting reference 1915 of 22/12/23.




New US$47 million hog feed mill to be set up in central Pennsylvania, US

A new US$47 million feed mill is being constructed in central Pennsylvania, the United States, by Country View Family Farms.

The mill will produce enough feed to supply at least 120 Pennsylvania farms contracted with Country View Family Farms LLC, a Middletown-based hog procurement and production company owned by the Clemens Family Corp.

The Union County-based hog feed mill will be capable of producing 8,000 tonnes of feed a week.

Last year, Country View outlined plans for a new mill, which is located on a 100-acre parcel in White Deer Township. In addition to feed production, the project will also include storage for 600,000 bushels of corn and soybean. The facility is on track to be operational by October 2024.

According to Aaron Ott, president of Country View Family Farms, the new mill will produce enough feed to meet the needs of about 60% of Country View's contracted hog producers and most of them are within 50 miles of the site.

"It will support some of our current business and support growth," he said. "Right now, the feed production number is based on a five-day week, so we can expand that to six days if we need to."

Ott added that grain for the mill will be purchased from local farms and the facility will operate 24 hours a day, employing 50 people including mill operators and truck drivers.

"Local grain purchasing will depend on the growing season. In a year like we just had, we'd probably be able to purchase all of it locally," he said. "We're really excited to work with the local farming community."

The feed mill will sit under a 176-foot-tall mill tower that has a 3,582-square-foot base. Four 150-foot-tall grain silos and a pelleting annex are also included in the project.

The mill will bring several benefits that will improve efficiency and cost, according to Ott. Previously, Country View purchased feed from other mills for its hog farms, and the process was sometimes time consuming as those mills had to change over from production for other species, such as cattle and poultry.

Since the new mill will focus solely on hog feed production for all stages  farrow to finish  there will be no time loss for changeover. There will also be capability to produce antibiotic-free feed in the mill.

"Our contract growers will see a consistent product on feed from one mill. It will be more efficient than having to switch between species and we won't have to compete with feed demands at other mills," Ott said.

- Lancaster Farming
B.S., Biology, University of Missouri in Columbia

How much do you know about endangered species? Test your knowledge with this quiz. Answers can be found at the bottom of the page.

1. An endangered species is _____________ that will become extinct if its populations continue to decline.

a. any species of animal

b. any species of plant

c. any species of animal, plant, or other living organism

d. none of the above

2. What percentage of the species listed as endangered or threatened by extinction have been saved by conservation initiatives resulting from the Endangered Species Act?

a. 100%

b. 99%

c. 65.2%

d. 25%

3. In what ways do zoos help endangered animals?

a. They educate people about endangered animals.

b. Zoo scientists study endangered animals.

c. They establish captive breeding programs for endangered species.

d. All of the above

4. Due to the success of recovery efforts under the Endangered Species Act of 1973, what animal is being taken off the endangered species list in the United States in 2013?

a. gray wolf

b. bald eagle

c. black-footed ferret

d. raccoon

5. In what ways do people try to save rhinos?

a. fencing rhinos into protected areas

b. cutting off their horns

c. providing armed guards to ward off poachers

d. all of the above

6. In what U.S. state are half of the world's bald eagles found?

a. Alaska

b. Texas

c. California

d. Wisconsin

7. Why are rhinos poached?

a. for their eyes

b. for their nails

c. for their horns

d. for their hair

8. What did whooping cranes follow from Wisconsin to Florida in a simulated migration?

a. an octopus

b. a boat

c. a plane

d. a bus

9. Just one plant may provide food and/or shelter to more than how many species of animals?

a. 30 species

b. 1 species

c. 10 species

d. none

10. What once-endangered animal is the national symbol of the United States?

a. grizzly bear

b. Florida panther

c. bald eagle

d. timber wolf

11. What are the greatest threats facing endangered species?

a. habitat destruction

b. illegal hunting

c. introducing new species that can cause problems

d. all of the above

12. How many species have disappeared in the last 500 years?

a. 3,200

b. 1,250

c. 816

d. 362

13. The Sumatran Rhino's total population is estimated at:

a. under 80

b. 250-400

c. 6001,000

d. 2,5003,000

14. As of October 2000, how many plants and animals in the United States were listed as endangered or threatened under the Endangered Species Act?

a. 1,623

b. 852

c. 1,792

d. 1,025

15. All of the following species have gone extinct except the:

a. California condor

b. dusky seaside sparrow

c. dodo

d. passenger pigeon

16. How can you help protect endangered animals from extinction?

a. reduce, recycle, and reuse

b. protect natural habitats

c. landscape with native plants

d. all of the above

17. Which member of the cat family is endangered?

a. the bobcat

b. the Siberian tiger

c. the domestic tabby

d. the North American cougar

18. The Endangered Species Act was created to ___________?

a. make people like animals

b. make animals easier to hunt

c. protect plants and animals that are at risk of becoming extinct

d. none of the above

19. Of the 44,838 species that have been studied by scientists, about what percentage is threatened with extinction?

a. 38%

b. 89%

c. 2%

d. 15%

20. Nearly ________ percent of mammal species are globally threatened with extinction?

a. 25

b. 3

c. 65

d. none of the above

Answers:
What Is Emigration?public betting percentages nba

Emigration is the relocation or process of people leaving one country to reside in another. People emigrate for many reasons, include increasing one's chance of employment or improving quality of life. Emigration affects the economies of the countries involved in both positive and negative ways, depending on the current state of the countries' economies.

Key Takeaways

Emigration is the relocation or process of people leaving one country to reside in another.

People emigrate for many reasons, including increasing one's chance of employment or improving quality of life.

Emigration has an economic impact on the countries involved, including the workforce and consumer spending.

Understanding Emigration

When people leave a country, they lower the nation's labor force and consumer spending. If the country they are leaving has an oversaturation of the labor force, this can result in the positive effect of relieving unemployment rates. On the other hand, the countries receiving the emigrants tend to benefit from more available workers, who also contribute to the economy by spending money. While emigration usually represents people leaving a country, immigration is the process of a country receiving people who left another country. In other words, immigration is the result of emigration for the receiving country. For example, people might say they immigrated to the United States, which is where they now have permanent residence, but they emigrated from Spain. Many countries regulate the number of people that can emigrate or immigrate from one country to another.

In the United States, the number of people who emigrate and eventually become permanent residents are tracked and totaled by the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS), which is part of the Department of Homeland Security (DHS). As of 2019, nearly 35 million people who had emigrated from their home country became permanent residents of the U.S. since 1980. The 2019 figure represents an increase from 30.3 million people in 2015 that had emigrated since 1980.

Fiscal Impact of Emigration

When people emigrate to a new country, they pay taxes in the new country based on earnings, property owned, and other factors. They may also pay sales tax on purchases when applicable. These people may also qualify for social services provided by that country, such as education for dependent children or universal health care. Each country needs to ensure new tax revenues match the additional expenses for social services provided to the emigrants and their families.

Effect of Emigration on Job Market and Wages

When large groups of emigrants enter the job market in a new country, there is an effect on the available number of jobs and the amount of wages one can ask for a particular job. The new country must have enough job openings to support emigration without damaging the chances of the native-born labor force finding employment. Additionally, if an emigrant takes a job for a lower wage than typically offered to the native labor force, it can lower wages for both emigrants and the native population.

However, at times a country might struggle to have enough workers within their labor force to satisfy the demand for jobs. In the late 1990s, the U.S. had an unemployment rate of 4%, and companies struggled to find workers. Emigration can help alleviate labor shortages during times of economic expansion while increasing consumer spending and tax revenue for state and local governments.

Rules for Emigration to the United States

The Immigration and Naturalization Act serves as the basis for emigration into the United States and allows for 675,000 permanent immigrants yearly. The country also provides emigration status to a certain number of refugees separate from this number. When choosing emigrants, the United States examines things such as family ties and unique job qualifications and creating diversification within the country. The goal of this Act is to protect the American economy by making positive additions to the workforce and maintaining a healthy job market for American citizens.
A great learning and networking experience attended by Damien Connelly

Thenfl parlay picks week 5 ICE conference always has great speakers. The Japan Roundtables that started Mondays International Casino Conference were worth the conference fee for the information they shared.

Mr. Ed Bowers, CEO Japan, MGM Resorts International, discussed the possibility that operators will need to frequently renew their Area Development Plan (ADP) for each Integrated Resort (IR) in Japan. This renewal possibility would increase each IRs political risks, making it harder to obtain project financing. Ms. Ayako Nakayama, Representative Director, Japan IR Association, also commented on the ADP renewal issue. Additionally, Ms. Nakayama clarified that the lack of understanding among politicians and consumers is slowing the development of IRs in Japan.

Image:Jonathan Strock Director of Casino Development at Lucien Barriere Hotels & Casinos. President of Barriere Japan

As Ms. Nakayama stated, Japan already has other forms of gambling such as pachinko and government controlled gambling including horse racing and motorbike racing. Confusion exists in Japan about what the term Integrated Resort means. Many people  politicians and consumers  think IR is only a casinoa ghost casino.

Ms. Nakayama stressed the focus of the Japanese government is on developing IRs focused on non-gaming amenities that will support Japans push to open its tourism market. She compared this push to open its tourism market using IRs as its flagship tourism products to being similar to how Japan culturally and economically opened itself to the outside world in previous centuries.

Mr. Bowers estimated the investment for Japanese IRs could go as high as US$12 billion. Mr. Jonathan Strock, CEO, Groupe Barriere Japan, acknowledged this $12 billion relates to an IR in a metropolitan area such as Osaka, which is a complex site to develop. Mr. Strock and Ms. Nakayama noted an IR in a smaller Japanese city would likely require a $4-5 billion investment.

Image: Ayako Nakayama Representative Director-Japan IR Association

If you are being asked to finance multi-billion dollar investments, you want to know your investment is secure. Mr. Akira Kurita, IR Specialist, Hakuhodo Capital, stated that the Japanese central government is in two minds at present. They are considering:

1. Select all three IR locations in metropolitan areas, namely Osaka, Tokyo and Yokohama.

2. Select a combination of metropolitan areas and local cities, with one or two of the IRs in metropolitan areas, and the remaining one or two in local cities. Local cities being considered include Sasebo and Tomakomai.

Mr. Kurita of Hakuhodo Capital confirmed that central and local governments will decide on the split between metropolitan and local cities in Autumn 2019. This date was originally going to be in Spring 2021, but central government has brought it forward. As Mr. Bowers from MGM stated, 2019 is going to be a very interesting year for the development of IRs in Japan.

It is possible that the Japanese government will allow a two tranche development process. This would enable a location to develop and open more quickly its IR. With Osaka to host the 2025 World Expo, such a two tranche approach would allow Osaka to begin building its IR early.

Image: Damien Connelly Casino Life & Akira Kurita IR Specialist Hakuhodo Capital

During the Japan Roundtable discussions, I chatted in more detail with other influential people, including Mr. Masahiro Terada. Mr. Terada is a consultant to the Osaka local government and works as Business Development Leader for PwC Consulting. Mr. Terada stressed that it

is a very important decision to select the best partner (operator) to work with the Osaka Prefecture. This is understandable as the investment required to build the Osaka IR is huge. Also, once completed, it is forecast the Osaka IR would be the largest IR in the world. Based on my calculations, I estimate Osakas IR annual revenue would be almost US$9 billion once all its amenities are operational.

Image: Masahiro Terada Business Development Leader PwC Consulting

In my own opinion, having discussed and researched options with various people, Osaka will definitely receive one of the IR licenses. I think it is also probable that Yokohama will receive one license, leaving the other one undecided. Again, and I stress this is my own opinion, I think a southern location such as Sasebo will get the third license.

The Japan Gaming Congress runs 16-17 May in the Conrad Tokyo, and is organised by Clarion Gaming. For a market with the potential of Japan, its worth adding the JgC to your global must-visit conferences. Go to Japan!

For information on Japan Gaming Congress please click here

For information on ICE VOX 2020 please click here

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The White House Photo: VCG

The White House on Tuesday announced a policy continuation of the so-called "national emergency" that was first declared in 2020 by the previous Trump administration and inherited by the current Biden administration, which prohibits US investors from investing in Chinese companies that have "military ties".The US executive order was declared to "deal with the unusual and extraordinary threat to the national security, foreign policy, and economy of the US constituted by the threat from securities investments that finance certain companies of the People's Republic of China," read a White House statement.The continuation was announced on Tuesday, the final voting day of the 2022 midterm elections held in the US. Chinese experts said that extending the Trump-era "national emergency" could be a move to cajole Trump supporters in the US."But cracking down on Chinese companies could not help solve the domestic problems in the US," Dong Dengxin, director of the Finance and Securities Institute of the Wuhan University of Science and Technology, told the Global Times on Wednesday.The ban on American investment in Chinese companies, citing "ties to Chinese military", began in 2020. Since June 2020, the US Department of Defense has repeatedly blacklisted several Chinese companies and prohibited the purchase or sale of publicly traded securities of the blacklisted Chinese companies.On November 12, 2020 and January 13, 2021, then-President Donald Trump signed executive orders, declaring a "national emergency" and prohibiting US investors from making any investments in the listed Chinese companies.Biden inherited the Trump-era policy of repression after he took office. On June 3, 2021, Biden signed another executive order, further expanding the scope of the "national emergency," and the list of Chinese companies attached to the new order reached 59.In response to the US' ill-intentioned and unjustified suppression, Chinese smartphone maker Xiaomi, which was included in the list, filed a lawsuit in 2021 against the US government in the US District Court for the District of Columbia, and the court eventually sided with Xiaomi. The ruling was a strong rebuke to the US government's act of business coercion."Biden's recent action indicated that the US will do anything in its capacity to contain China by slowing down China's economic growth. The move shows that Washington is becoming increasingly reckless," Dong said.Dong noted that the open and free market practice of the US was once a model for the world. At present, in order to suppress the Chinese economy, the US has reneged on the basic spirit of free market, which is a sign of regression.On the one hand, the US' politicization of financial activities will hurt its own reputation in the world among global investors. On the other hand, the bourse in Hong Kong, with 40 percent of its trading volume coming from overseas investors, has surpassed the US in terms of both degrees of openness and liberalization, and it offers a much safer choice with much lower costs, Dong said.A total of 26 US-listed Chinese companies have gone public in Hong Kong, mainly through secondary listings over the past few years, media reports said in July.In response to the US' latest move, Zhao Lijian, a spokesperson of China's Foreign Ministry, said on Wednesday at a press brief that "the US is repeating its mistake.""This is a move driven by its political agenda and a wanton denial of the facts," Zhao said, adding the move has seriously undermined the rules and normal order of the market, and hurt the legal rights and interests of Chinese businesses and those of global investors, including American investors."We urge the US to respect the rule of law and the market, mend its ways, and stop taking actions that harm the functioning of global financial markets and the legal rights and interests of investors," Zhao said.The Chinese side will take necessary measures to firmly uphold the legitimate rights and interests of Chinese companies, and support Chinese businesses in protecting their interests in accordance with law, he added.
President Hu Jintao has met with the foreign ministers of Shanghai Cooperation Organization member states in Beijing.

Hu Jintao said, after 10 years of development, the SCO has become an important organization in the region. Faced with the new situation, member states should focus on security cooperation and deepen exchanges in a variety of fields.

He added Fridays council meeting created a solid foundation for the SCO Beijing Summit in June. Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov noted that many agreements were reached during the meeting. He said this shows the member states common wish to further promote the development of the SCO.

CNTV

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Another hurdle has emerged to foilAustralian gambling operator Crown Resorts plan to build a multibillion-dollar casino resort in Sydneys Barangaroo precinct, local media reported. The New South Wales Land and Environment Court is set to hear on Tuesday a case filed by residents of the nearby Millers Point suburb.

If the case succeeds, this may delay the ambitious project and, according to many, even derail it. Millers Point residents argue that if built, the Crown Sydney complex, which is planned to feature a 271-meter hotel tower, will occupy too much public spaceand that they will literally have to live in its shadow.

The propertys location and design has been the bone of contention between developers and Sydney residents and officials since it was first introduced several years ago. Crown Sydneys building had originally been planned to protrude over Barangaroos shorebut that idea had been ditched.

Crown Resorts and its development partner Lendlease later on unveiled a new location, with the hotel tower being set 30 meters back from the shore in favor of more public space. Under the plan, the hotel tower will be placed on a six-story podium that will be housing the gambling venue.

Opponents of the project have been arguing that the said six-story structure will be taking up too much public space. Sydneys architectural community has also not been hiding its discontent with the proposed plan.

After multiple delays and discussions, the New South Wales Planning Assessment Commission gave its nod to the project this summer, with Crown Resorts promising to build its property in a manner that would provide more public space and a bigger foreshore walk.

Crown Sydney is projected to be completed and launched in 2021. However, if the Millers Point case succeeds, the propertys opening may be put off to a later date.

Under Crown Resorts casino license, granted by the New South Wales government in 2013, the operator will have to build a casino intended mainly for VIP players. The gambling venue will not feature slot machines, or poker machines as called Down Under.

However, the recent detention of Crown Resorts employees in China as part of a crackdown on gambling-related crimes has cast a gloomy shadow over the future of the companys VIP operations (and those of other operators with gambling venues in the region). Chinese high rollers constitute a significant part of the operators clienteleand according to many, the arrests may lead to further withdrawal of that particular gambling group from casinos.
U.S. Ambassador Gary Locke () said on Wednesday that he will step down from his position early next year to rejoin his family.

When I met with President (Barack) Obama earlier this month, I informed him of my decision to step down as Ambassador in early 2014 to rejoin my family in Seattle, Locke said in a statement to the media.

Serving as the U.S. Ambassador to China has been the honor of a lifetime, said Locke, adding that he is profoundly grateful to President Obama for providing him the opportunity to serve as the presidents representative in Beijing over the past two-and-a-half years. Locke is the first Chinese-American to hold the post.

Locke said it has been an immense and rewarding challenge to help manage one of the most vitally important bilateral relationships for the United States, with so many critical American interests at stake.

Living in China while representing the United States has truly been an exciting privilege for our entire family, said the statement.

Locke said that during his term, the embassy has focused its efforts on job creation in America by increasing exports to China, opening more markets for American companies, and promoting Chinese investment in the United States.

We have significantly increased Chinese business and tourism travel to the U.S. by dramatically reducing wait times for visas to 3-5 days from historical highs of 70-100 days, he said in the statement.

Locke said that as ambassador, he knows that U.S.-China relations continue to grow stronger.

While our bilateral relationship is a complex one, I remain confident in the ability of our leaders to manage differences and increase cooperation in areas of mutual concern to the benefit of not just our two great peoples, but the entire world, he added.

Xinhua

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We brought in Don Lemon, the year that he wrote his book, and I told that story to the audience that was there.

Marvin takes off his T-shirt and dives into his swimming pool.

Lady Edith is so sad that her sadness nearly set the whole damned house on fire.

They were going to tell their story, consequences be damned.

There was a handy distraction in the Che t-shirt the tourist was wearing while celebrating the death. The Life and Hard Times Of The Family A Cuban Defector Left Behind|Brin-Jonathan Butler|December 19, 2014|DAILY BEAST

There'll be heaps uh fun in the Cypress Hills country when they get t' runnin' the whisky-jacks out. Raw Gold|Bertrand W. Sinclair

The ne'er-do-well blew, like seed before the wind, to distant places, but mankind at large stayed at home. The Unsolved Riddle of Social Justice|Stephen Leacock

An with that I laid down on the settee, an felt orful bad, an the more I tho't about it, the wus I felt. The Book of Anecdotes and Budget of Fun;|Various

I've tried to teach lots of folks; an' sum learns quick, an' some don't never learn; it's jest 's 't strikes 'em. Ramona|Helen Hunt Jackson
What Is Floor Area Ratio?judi onlin terbaru dragon 777 slot

The floor area ratio is the relationship between the total amount of usable floor area that a building has, or has been permitted to have, and the total area of the lot on which the building stands. A higher ratio likely would indicate a dense or urban construction. Local governments use the floor area ratio for zoning codes.

You may determine the ratio by dividing the total or gross floor area of the building by the gross area of the lot.

 Floor Area Ratio = Total Building Floor Area Gross Lot Area \begin{ aligned} &\text{ Floor Area Ratio} = \frac{ \text{ Total Building Floor Area} }{ \text{ Gross Lot Area} } \\ \end{ aligned} Floor Area Ratio=Gross Lot AreaTotal Building Floor Area

What Does the Floor Area Ratio Tell You?

The floor area ratio accounts for the entire floor area of a building, not simply the building's footprint. Excluded from the square footage calculation are unoccupied areas such as basements, parking garages, stairs, and elevator shafts.

Buildings with different numbers of stories may have the same floor-area-ratio value. Every city has a limited capacity or limited space that can be utilized safely. Any use beyond this point puts undue stress on a city. This is sometimes known as the safe load factor.

The floor area ratio is variable because population dynamics, growth patterns, and construction activities vary and because the nature of the land or space where a building is placed varies. Industrial, residential, commercial, agricultural, and nonagricultural spaces have differing safe load factors, so they typically have differing floor area ratios. In the end, local governments establish regulations and restrictions that determine the floor area ratio.

The floor area ratio is a key determining factor for development in any country. A low floor area ratio is generally a deterrent to construction. Many industries, largely the real estate industry, seek hikes in the floor area ratio to open up space and land resources to developers. An increased floor area ratio allows a developer to complete more building projects, which inevitably leads to greater sales, decreased expenditures per project, and greater supply to meet demand.

Key Takeaways

The floor area ratio is the relationship of the total usable floor area of a building relative to the total area of the lot on which the building stands.

A higher ratio usually indicates a dense or highly urbanized area.

floor area ratios vary based on structure type, such as industrial, residential, commercial, or agricultural.

Example of How to Use the Floor Area Ratio

The floor area ratio of a 1,000-square-foot building with one story situated on a 4,000-square-foot lot would be 0.25x. A two-story building on the same lot, where each floor was 500 square feet, would have the same floor-area-ratio value.

Considered another way, a lot has a floor area ratio of 2.0x and the square footage is 1,000. In this scenario, a developer could construct a building that covers as much as 2,000 square feet. This could include a 1,000 square foot building with two stories.

As a real-life example, consider an apartment building for sale in Charlotte, North Carolina. The asking price for the apartment complex is $3 million and spans 17,350 square feet. The entire lot is 1.81 acres or 78,843 square feet. The floor area ratio is 0.22x, or 17,350 divided by 78,843.

The Difference Between the Floor Area Ratio and Lot Coverage

Though the floor area ratio calculates the size of the building relative to the lot, the lot coverage takes into account the size of all buildings and structures. The lot coverage ratio includes structures such as garages, swimming pools, and shedsincluding nonconforming buildings.

Limitations of Using the Floor Area Ratio

The impact that the floor area ratio has on land value cuts both ways. In some instances, an increased floor area ratio may make a property more valuable if, for example, an apartment complex can be built that allows for more spacious rentals or more tenants.

However, a developer who can build a larger apartment complex on one piece of land may decrease the value of an adjoining property with a high sale value bolstered by a view that is now obstructed.
Its no secret that slot machines are the most popular type of casino game in many countries. Rather than roulette or blackjack,to the moon crypto card online casino players often head to the reels for their fix of fun - with slot machine bonus rounds being particularly attractive to many.

This is often where a slot truly comes to life, with additional features and game settings being enabled which all combine to give you a better chance of landing big wins. But how do you actually activate them, and, more to the point, which slot machines have bonus games?Well walk you through our top picks for 2019.

What Are Slot Machine Bonus Games?

A bonus game, also known as a bonus round, in a video slot is an extra level that players can activate as they play. Some are more difficult to trigger than others, ranging from complete randomness to seeing a certain number of the same symbol appear in specific places. In general, the harder it is to activate, the more potential there is to land big wins from it when you do.

A few examples of slot machine bonus games are:

Free Spins Round : Spin away without the need to wager your own money.

: Spin away without the need to wager your own money. Pick n Click : Select a random bonus (such as Extra Coins or Multipliers).

: Select a random bonus (such as Extra Coins or Multipliers). Board Game Mode : Roll the dice to progress around a board full of offers.

: Roll the dice to progress around a board full of offers. Spin the Wheel: Very similar to Wheel of Fortune, but with casino bonuses given away.

So, its pretty clear why video slot bonus rounds go down well with players, as they essentially give you a free-hit at winning something. As such, near enough all software developers include them in their games these days - and this has already led to some high-quality new releases this year.

What Are the Most Popular Slots with Bonus Rounds in 2019?

Dead or Alive 2

Released just a couple of weeks ago, NetEnts Dead or Alive 2 has been the talk of online casino. Should they have released a sequel to such a classic? Are the 3 Free Spins Rounds any good? Is it actually better than the original?

Well, well leave you to ponder two of those questions yourself, but the fact that Dead or Alive is one of our chosen picks for the best video slot bonus game says it all about the Free Spins Rounds.

As Free Spins is pretty common, NetEnt have created three different Rounds to mix it up - Train Heist, Old Saloon, and High Noon - and you simply select which you prefer after landing 3 or more Scatter Symbols within one spin.

But this is no gimmick. Rather than three of the same thing but with just a different theme, what you choose matters - as youll either enjoy increasing Multipliers, Sticky Wilds, or the use of NetEnts MAX feature for extra volatility.

Have a look at the trailer below to see what were talking about:click here

Holy Diver

In a nod to Dios classic rock tune, Holy Diver by Big Time Gamingis a medieval title with a special round: Reel Adventure.

Rather than relying on special symbols, you can calculate Reel Adventures progress with a knight in armour walking down a path with every spin you make. Along the way, hell bump into special chests, with four gemstones to collect.

Once you have them all, this opens up a bonus game, with two choices given. However, there are plenty of possibilities - including rocking out to Holy Diver along the way!

Its a very unique take, so it was an obvious entrant.

The Shadow Order

Released only this week, Push Gamings The Shadow Orderarrives with 5 reels, 5 rows and a hefty number of extra game features.

For starters, there are three coloured orbs hovering above the reels. If you get on a winning run, utilising the slots cascade feature, then the orbs may fall onto the reels to act as Wilds. However, if one manages to reach a Hotspot zone before being removed, you can look forward to one of the following:

Creation Orb : Between 3 and 6 Wilds added to the board.

: Between 3 and 6 Wilds added to the board. Preservation Orb : The highest-value symbols are held while cascades operate.

: The highest-value symbols are held while cascades operate. Destruction Orb: Lower-value symbols are replaced as a new symbol cascade begins.

But thats not all!

There are four different characters to unlock which enhance the base game even further. Youre given one character to begin, with the other three appearing once youve collected enough Ring symbols. Oh, and theres also the traditional Free Spins Round too.



Find the Perfect Place to Play with Casino Professor

With so many top software developers these days, we feel that all online casinos should be offering an extensive library of titles. Theres just no excuse for sites not to have a 500+ as a bare minimum from our point of view,

However, you also need to consider many other aspects - such as the welcome offer, payout speeds, and more. For those issues, head to the Casino Professor for detailed casino reviews and guides.

Category: Casino BlogMagazine
Chinese scientists have set a world record by harvesting 12,575 kg of seed cotton on a single hectare of land in northwest Chinas Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region, data released Sunday showed.

The output, 838.31 kg per mu (0.067 hectares), has surpassed the former world record by over 100 kg per mu, said Li Xueyuan, deputy director of the Cash Crop Research Institute under the Xinjiang Academy of Agricultural Sciences.

The record was achieved on an experimental field in the Tarim Basin

in southern Xinjiang through the use of new varieties of cotton and quantitative management methods, Li said.

Xinjiang, the largest cotton producer in China, is expected to reach 3.2 million tonnes in cotton output for 2012 on an area of 24.7 million mu, accounting for half of the national yield.

Xinhua

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What Is Takaful?roulette cash game wynn las vegas

Takaful is a type of Islamic insurance wherein members contribute money into a pool system to guarantee each other against loss or damage. Takaful-branded insurance is based on sharia or Islamic religious law, which explains how individuals are responsible to cooperate and protect one another. Takaful policies cover health, life, and general insurance needs.

Takaful insurance companies were introduced as an alternative to those in the commercial insurance industry, which are believed to go against Islamic restrictions on riba (interest), al-maisir(gambling), and al-gharar(uncertainty) principlesall of which are outlawed in sharia.

Key Takeaways

Takaful is a type of Islamic insurance wherein members contribute money into a pool system to guarantee each other.

Takaful-branded insurance is based on sharia or Islamic religious law and covers health, life, and general insurance needs.

Any claims made by participants are paid out of the takaful fund.

Understanding Takaful

All parties or policyholders in a takaful arrangement agree to guarantee each other and make contributions to a pool or mutual fund instead of paying premiums. The pool of collected contributions creates the takaful fund. Each participant's contribution is based on the type of coverage they require and their personal circumstances. A takaful contract specifies the nature of the risk and the length of the coverage, similar to that of a conventional insurance policy.

The takaful fund is managed and administered on behalf of the participants by a takaful operator, who charges an agreed-upon fee to cover costs. Much like a conventional insurance company, costs include sales and marketing, underwriting, and claims management.

Any claims made by participants are paid out of the takaful fund and any remaining surpluses, after making provisions for the likely cost of future claims and other reserves, belong to the participants in the fundnot the takaful operator. Those funds may be distributed to the participants as cash dividends or distributions, or via a reduction in future contributions.

An Islamic insurance company operating a takaful fund must operate under the following principles:

It must operate according to Islamic cooperative principles.

A reinsurance commission may only be received from or paid out to Islamic insurance and reinsurance companies.

The insurance company must maintain two separate funds: a participant and policyholder fund, and a shareholder fund.

Special Considerations

According to Allied Market Research, the global takaful insurance market was valued at $24.85 billion in 2020 and is projected to reach $97.17 billion by 2030, growing at a CAGR of 14.6% from 2021 to 2030.

Since 60% of the global Muslim population is comprised of young Muslimsless than 25 years of agethis demographic can represent a sizeable customer base as their wealth grows over time.

Some of the largest names in the takaful market, according to a Research and Markets report, were believed to be the following:

Islamic Insurance Company

JamaPunji

AMAN

Salama

Standard Chartered

Takaful Brunei Darussalam Sdn Bhd

Allianz

Prudential BSN Takaful Berhad

Zurich Malaysia

Takaful Malaysia

Qatar Islamic Insurance Company.

Takaful vs. Conventional Insurance

Most Islamic jurists conclude that conventional insurance is unacceptable in Islam because it does not conform with sharia for the following reasons:
Chinese Vice Premier Hui Liangyu on Saturday urged efforts to improve all types of measures for preventing and reducing natural disasters.

May 12 marks the fourth anniversary of the 8.0-magnitude earthquake that jolted Chinas southwest Sichuan province in 2008, leaving more than 80,000 people dead.

More than 10,000 military and civilian personnel on Saturday participated in a four-hour comprehensive exercise held in Chengdu and other cities in Sichuan province to simulate post-quake rescue and relief work.

After overseeing the exercise, Vice Premier Hui said the exercise was successful and impressive, and it showed that people have been instilled with knowledge and skills for disaster prevention and reduction.

Hui said China is one of the countries around the world that suffers the most serious natural disasters. After fighting all kinds of disasters, a command-and-work mechanism for disaster prevention and relief has been established.

In the upcoming period, mankind may face heavier tasks in disaster prevention and reduction work since there will be more extreme weather conditions due to global climate change and increased earthquake activity, Hui said.

Government agencies at all levels responsible for disaster prevention and reduction work should strengthen their cooperation and coordination capabilities, enhance disaster monitoring and make more efforts to evacuate at-risk citizens before disasters occur, he said.

The government should also increase its stockpile of disaster relief materials and equipment and publicize more disaster-prevention knowledge, he said.

Xinhua

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Tucker Carlson: Construction of Obama's temple was halted

closeVideo

Fox News host Tucker Carlson reacts to a noose being found around the construction of former President Obama's presidential library on 'Tucker Carlson Tonight.'

NEWYou can now listen to Fox News articles!

The concept of a presidential library, a shrine to a former president, is a relatively new idea. For the first 150 years of this country's existence, presidents didn't have lavish monuments built to commemorate their rule. The whole notion would have repulsed the men who waged a war with a monarchy to build this country, but starting with FDR, of course, presidential libraries became customary and they've gradually transformed from that  from libraries  into multimillion dollar temples to hubris.

The most recent ex-president to get his very own temple and the biggest of all, of course, is Barack Obama . The total cost of his library clocks in at about half a billion dollars. Construction began last year when Obama demanded that his donors pay for it, but today, construction of the temple was halted because of an emergency. No, not a fire, not a lightning strike.

According to the construction company working on the library: "This morning, we were informed that an act of hate was discovered at the project site," and you knew the act of hate was serious because the media went all in. They devoted a lot of time to talking about this  on the brink of nuclear war and recession, but the act of hate on the Obama construction site led the news.

ARIZONA RANCHER: AFTER MS-13 WALKED THROUGH THE GAP IN THE BORDER WALL, THEY CAME KNOCKING AT MY DOOR

Former President Barack Obama speaks after he and former first lady Michelle Obama unveiled their official White House portraits during a ceremony in the East Room of the White House, Wednesday, Sept. 7, 2022, in Washington. (AP Photo/Andrew Harnik) (AP )

DON LEMON: Construction at the Obama Presidential Center in Chicago is suspended after a noose was discovered at the site on Thursday.

CBS ANCHOR:An act of hate. A noose is found at the site of the Obama presidential center.

CNN REPORTER: A noose was found at the site. Illinois Gov. J.B. Pritzker condemning the hateful act.

NORAH ODONNELL, CBS:An ugly, racist symbol was found at the future site of the Obama presidential center. A noose was discovered at the construction site this morning. Operations were halted and the police were called. A $100,000 reward has been offered for information leading to those responsible for what officials described as this shameless act of cowardice and hate.

REPUBLICANS SPLIT ON TRUMP'S EFFECT ON LACKLUSTER MIDTERMS AS CONTROL OF CONGRESS HANGS IN BALANCE

A lot of huffing and puffing. Have you heard a story like this before? Well, it wasn't that long ago in the middle of a national crime wave, which it has done very little to solve, the FBI rushed a team of agents to a NASCAR garage after a character called Bubba Wallace suggested that a noose had been left in that garage. Turns out the noose was a garage door pole. Here's the interesting thing: Everyone makes mistakes, but mistakes like this never get corrected. Nobody ever apologized for that  not the media, not the FBI, and certainly not Bubba Wallace. In fact, Bubba Wallace said that only stupid people would doubt his story even after it was proven to be false.

QUESTION: What would you say to those people who are doubting that this even happened or that it's true?

BUBBA WALLACE: Yeah, just like Steve Phelps said, it offends me that people would go to those measures, but again, I'm not shocked. Simple-minded people like that, the ones that are afraid of change, they use everything in their power to defend what they stand up for and instead of trying to listen and understand.

What? You alleged a crime. Hard to say that's a crime, but whatever, worthy of the attention of the FBI, this is all insane, but you were wrong. Instead of apologizing, you're lecturing people like they're your moral inferiors for asking questions and it was obvious from the beginning that Bubba Wallace's story made no sense. We're not saying he was making it up, but he was wrong, and there is a high likelihood that this noose at Barack Obama's temple might be a hoax, too.

FATHER OF MISSING MARYLAND KIDS 'CAUTIOUSLY OPTIMISTIC' MOM CATHERINE HOGGLE WILL BE COMPETENT TO STAND TRIAL

Video

A lot of these stories are. Why do they keep appearing? We'll tell you why  because accusations of hate crimes and bias more generally, are tools that the people in power use, not the powerless, the powerful, to ward themselves greater and totally unearned moral authority over everybody else.

Barack Obama is the perfect example. Oppressed, really? Obama is a half-White guy with an Ivy League degree and served as president of the United States for two terms and lives in two oceanfront compounds in the richest zip codes in the world. Does that sound like oppression? No, it sounds like privilege. That's fine, but no, they tell you he's Emmett Till. He's a powerless victim of your racism. So, when you make allegations like that, nobody gets to ask the obvious questions like, where did you get all this money? Like, how are you making a living? How did you get so rich? What have you been selling in exchange for that money and by the way, why are you spending a half a billion dollars on a presidential library?

You don't get to ask those questions because all you know is that somebody left a noose at a construction site because this is an immoral, racist country. All the people below me are bad people. People at the top are good people. The bad people in the bottom are creating a country full of racism that's so pervasive and scary that we have to pause construction on the temple just to catch our breath. Obama's told us many times before this is a bad country. He told us for eight years.

ON VETERANS DAY, NEW YORK TEEN HONORS WWII VETERAN WITH MEMORIAL AND PERSONALIZED CREATIONS

OBAMA: He knew from his own life that progress is fragile, that we have to be vigilant against the darker currents of this country's history, of our own history, but there are whirlpools of violence and hatred and despair that can always rise again. Bull Connor may be gone, but today we witness with our own eyes police officers kneeling on the necks of Black Americans.

"Bull Connor might be gone, but you still exist and you're oppressing everybody else, so we're going to have to oppress you." This latest offense against one of the world's most powerful men is so appalling that the authorities have offered a $100,000 reward to anyone who can find the person who left a noose at Obama's presidential library. $100,000 because we victimized Barack Obama yet again and his wife. What's interesting is, for perspective, is that there's no $100,000 reward outstanding for the, say, thousands of unsolved murders in this country and that's a lot of murders.

In fact, roughly half the murders that occur in the United States are now never solved because they're not becoming third worlds or anything. Thomas Hargrove, who runs the Murder Accountability Project, put it this way very crisply: "It's a 50/50 coin-flip. It's never been this bad. During the last seven months of 2020, most murders went unsolved. That's never happened before in America." Now, why is that happening? Because nobody cares. That's why and where are these murders happening? Oh, in Obama's fake hometown of Chicago. A lot of them.

ARIZONA DEMOCRAT REP. SUSIE LEE WINS RE-ELECTION IN NEVADA'S 3RD CONGRESSIONAL DISTRICT

Former U.S. President Barack Obama speaks about the Affordable Care Act and lowering health care costs for families during an event in the East Room of the White House in Washington, D.C., U.S., on Tuesday, April 5, 2022. (Photographer: Al Drago/Bloomberg via Getty Images)

MIKE TOBIN: That mass shooting that we were just talking about is in Chicago, was in the troubled west side of town where the bloodshed is frequent. It happened about 9:30 p.m. local time. People had gathered for a vigil. Police say it was an SUV that pulled up. Two gunmen opened fire and sprayed bullets into the crowd. The whole thing was over in about three seconds. Fourteen people were injured. Witnesses say one man was shot in the head and one person was hit by a car in the chaos, but among the victims are a 3-year-old, an 11-year-old and a 13-year-old boy. The rest of the victims are said to be adults.

OK. Does anyone care? No. Nobody in power cares, not at all about any of these crimes, actual crimes. In Nevada, an illegal alien called Carlos Nava, who has been deported seven times, but is still here because the Democratic Party wants his vote, is now facing charges that he raped five people in this country over nearly 20 years. Five people were raped. Did anyone ever offer $100,000 for his arrest or to give to his victims? But we've got $100,000 to spare for whoever tied that piece of string in a forbidden shape of Barack Obama's construction site. Really?

Again, if all the moral outrage were directed on behalf of people with no power who are actually suffering (and there are millions of them in America), you could kind of put up with it, but all this huffing and puffing over Barack and Michelle Obama ? Most people don't see them as a color. They see them for what they are, which is the most privileged people in the world and yet Michelle Obama just wrote a whole book about her struggle to "stay visible in a world that doesn't necessarily see a tall, Black woman." What? You don't see Michelle Obama? She was the president's wife for eight years. How much money has Michelle Obama made in the last six years? Oh, you'd love to know, but you're supposed to just accept it uncritically, just like you're supposed to believe the Jussie Smollett hoax.

GINGRICH CALLS FOR POSTMORTEM REVIEW OF MIDTERMS, LAUDS GOP FOR REPORTEDLY WINNING POPULAR VOTE

ALI VELSHI:We've got some breaking news. Actor and musician Jussie Smollett from the hit show "Empire" was attacked and beaten early this morning in Chicago and police say it could be a hate crime.

MIGUEL ALMAGUER: There are many indications of a hate crime here. They are looking for two suspects who were apparently wearing "Make America Great Again" hats.

ELLIOT PAGE: We have a media that's saying it's a debate whether or not what just happened to Jussie Smollett is a hate crime. It's absurd.

MICHAELA ANGELA DAVIS, WRITER: You know, Jussie Smollett had a noose on his neck just this week.

SARAH GILBERT: And the media has really cast so much doubt on his story, which I find so personally offensive that a gay Black man is targeted and then suddenly he becomes the victim of people's disbelief.

BROOKE BALDWIN: He said his attackers hurled racial and homophobic slurs at him and this is America in 2019.

AIR FORCE VETERAN AND HIS WIFE FACED PTSD HEAD-ON WITH THE HELP OF ALL SECURE FOUNDATION

Video

This is America in 2019, where the most powerful people are the most frequently victimized and that really is the message is the people in charge, people with power over your life, the people who make the laws, the people who shape your culture, in some cases, people who can put you in jail, certainly, people are paid a lot more than you are. They're the real victims. They're the real victims. So, what are we watching? We're watching a power play, of course.

We're watching a transfer of moral authority from the population, a nation of citizens, to the top 1% and as the recession deepens and people get poorer, you're going to see a lot more of this. "Don't notice my looting. I'm the victim." That's why Hillary Clinton plays the sexism card. "Don't ask questions. I'm a woman."

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Hillary Clinton at Venice Film Festival (Andreas Rentz)

CLINTON:So, any of you who've read my book about what happened know that I think that misogyny and sexism was part of that campaign. It was one of the contributing factors and some of it was old-fashioned sexism and a refusal to accept the equality of women and certainly the equality of women's leadership.

Yeah, they all do it. Chelsea Clinton does it. Nancy Pelosi does it, Ocasio-Cortez does it. Kamala Harris does it. The most powerful people in the world are always telling you they're victims. Joe Biden can't do it, of course, because he's a White man so instead, he accuses you of transphobia, thereby keeping the balance of moral authority on his side of the scale. "Shut up, transphobic."

Tucker Carlson currently serves as the host of FOX News Channels (FNC) Tucker Carlson Tonight (weekdays 8PM/ET). He joined the network in 2009 as a contributor.
What Is an Auditor?betfair clothing pechanga baccarat

An auditor is a person authorized to review and verify the accuracy of financial records and ensure that companies comply with tax laws. They protect businesses from fraud, point out discrepancies in accounting methods and, on occasion, work on a consultancy basis, helping organizations to spot ways to boost operational efficiency. Auditors work in various capacities within different industries.

Key Takeaways

The main duty of an auditor is to determine whether financial statements follow generally accepted accounting principles (GAAP).

The Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) requires all public companies to conduct regular reviews by external auditors, in compliance with official auditing procedures.

There are several different types of auditors, including those hired to work in-house for companies and those who work for an outside audit firm.

The final judgment of an audit report can be either qualified or unqualified.

Auditor

Understanding an Auditor

1:03

Auditors assess financial operations and ensure that organizations are run efficiently. They are tasked with tracking cash flow from beginning to end and verifying that an organizations funds are properly accounted for.

In the case of public companies, the main duty of an auditor is to determine whether financial statements follow generally accepted accounting principles (GAAP). To meet this requirement, auditors inspect accounting data, financial records, and operational aspects of a business and take detailed notes on each step of the process, known as an audit trail.

Once complete, the auditors findings are presented in a report that appears as a preface in financial statements. Separate, private reports may also be issued to company management and regulatory authorities as well.

The Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) demands that the books of all public companies are regularly examined by external, independent auditors, in compliance with official auditing procedures. Official procedures are established by the International Auditing and Assurance Standards Board (IAASB), a committee of the International Federation of Accountants (IFAC).

Unqualified Opinion vs. Qualified Opinion

Auditor reports are usually accompanied by an unqualified opinion. These statements confirm that the company's financial statements conform to GAAP, without providing judgment or an interpretation.

When an auditor is unable to give an unqualified opinion, they will issue a qualified opinion, a statement suggesting that the information provided is limited in scope and/or the company being audited has not maintained GAAP accounting principles.

Auditors assure potential investors that a companys finances are in order and accurate, as well as provide a clear picture of a companys worth to help investors make informed decisions.

Types of Auditors

Internal auditors are hired by organizations to provide in-house, independent, and objective evaluations of financial and operational business activities, including corporate governance. They report their findings, including tips on how to better run the business, back to senior management.

are hired by organizations to provide in-house, independent, and objective evaluations of financial and operational business activities, including corporate governance. They report their findings, including tips on how to better run the business, back to senior management. External auditors usually work in conjunction with government agencies. They are tasked with providing an objective, public opinion concerning the organization's financial statements and whether they fairly and accurately represent the organization's financial position.

usually work in conjunction with government agencies. They are tasked with providing an objective, public opinion concerning the organization's financial statements and whether they fairly and accurately represent the organization's financial position. Government auditors maintain and examine records of government agencies and of private businesses or individuals performing activities subject to government regulations or taxation. Auditors employed through the government ensure revenues are received and spent according to laws and regulations. They detect embezzlement and fraud, analyze agency accounting controls, and evaluate risk management.

maintain and examine records of government agencies and of private businesses or individuals performing activities subject to government regulations or taxation. Auditors employed through the government ensure revenues are received and spent according to laws and regulations. They detect embezzlement and fraud, analyze agency accounting controls, and evaluate risk management. Forensic auditors specialize in crime and are used by law enforcement organizations.

Auditor Qualifications

External auditors working for public accounting firms require a Certified Public Accountant (CPA) license, a professional certification awarded by the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants. In addition to this certification, these auditors also need to obtain state CPA certification. Requirements vary, although most states do demand a CPA designation and two years of professional work experience in public accounting.

Qualifications for internal auditors are less rigorous. Internal auditors are encouraged to get CPA accreditation, although it is not always mandatory. Instead, a bachelor's degree in subjects such as finance and other business disciplines, together with appropriate experience and skills, are often acceptable.

Special Considerations

Auditors are not responsible for transactions that occur after the date of their reports. Moreover, they are not necessarily required to detect all instances of fraud or financial misrepresentation; that responsibility primarily lies with an organization's management team.

Audits are mainly designed to determine whether a companys financial statements are reasonably stated. In other words, this means that audits do not always cover enough ground to identify cases of fraud. In short, a clean audit offers no guarantee that an organizations accounting is completely above board.
Ph.D., Sociocultural Anthropology, the University of Texas at Austin

M.A., Social Sciences, University of Chicago

B.A., Sociology and Anthropology, Carleton College

Structural violence refers to any scenario in which a social structure perpetuates inequity, thus causing preventable suffering. When studying structural violence, we examine the ways that social structures (economic, political, medical, and legal systems) can have a disproportionately negative impact on particular groups and communities.

The concept of structural violence gives us a way to consider how and in what forms these negative impacts occur, as well as what can be done to curtail such harm.

Background

The term structural violence was coined by Johan Gultang, a Norwegian sociologist. In his 1969 article, Violence, Peace, and Peace Research, Gultang argued that structural violence explained the negative power of social institutions and systems of social organization among marginalized communities.

It is important to distinguish Gultangs concept of violence from the term as it is traditionally defined (physical violence of war or crime). Gultang defined structural violence as the root cause of the differences between peoples potential reality and their actual circumstances. For example, potentiallife expectancy in the general population might be significantly longer than the actuallife expectancy for members of disadvantaged groups, due to factors like racism, economic inequality, or sexism. In this example, the discrepancy between the potential and the actual life expectancy results from structural violence.

Significance of Structural Violence

Structural violence enables more nuanced analyses of the social, cultural, political, economic, and historical forces that shape inequality and suffering. It creates an opportunity to consider seriously the role of different types of marginalizationsuch as sexism, racism, ableism, ageism, homophobia, and/or povertyin creating lived experiences that are fundamentally less equal. Structural violence helps explain the multiple and often intersecting forces that create and perpetuate inequality on multiple levels, both for individuals and communities.

Structural violence also highlights the historical roots of modern inequality. The inequities and suffering of our time often unfold within a broader history of marginalization, and this framework provides a critical context for understanding the present in terms of its relationship to the past. For instance, marginalization in post-colonial countries often connects closely with their colonial histories, just as inequality in the U.S. must be considered with respect to complex histories of slavery, immigration, and policy.

Structural Violence and Health

Today, the concept of structural violence is widely used in the fields of public health, medical anthropology, and global health. Structural violence is particularly useful for examining suffering and inequity in the sphere of health. It highlights the complex and overlapping factors that influence health outcomes, such as in the case of health disparities (or inequity) between different racial or ethnic communities in the U.S. or elsewhere.

Paul Farmers research, writing, and applied work in the field of global health has brought significant attention to the concept of structural violence. An anthropologist and physician, Dr. Farmer has worked in this field for decades, using the lens of structural violence to show the connections between vast differences in wealth accumulation and related disparities in health care and outcomes around the world. His work emerges from the intersections of public health and human rights, and he is the Kolokotrones University Professor of Global Health and Social Medicine at Harvard University.

Dr. Farmer co-founded Partners in Health, an international organization that aims to improve preventable negative health outcomes in disadvantagedand disproportionately illcommunities. Why is it that some of the worlds poorest countries are also the sickest? The answer is structural violence. Farmer and Partners in Health began working in Haiti in the mid-1980s, but the organization has since expanded to multiple sites and projects around the world. Projects related to structural violence and health include:

The aftermath of the 2010 earthquake in Haiti

Tuberculosis epidemics in Russian prisons

Reconstructing Rwandas health care system after the 1994 genocide

HIV/AIDS interventions in Haiti and Lesotho

Structural Violence in Anthropology

Many cultural and medical anthropologists are influenced by the theory of structural violence. Key anthropological texts on structural violence and health are:

"Pathologies of Power: Health, Human Rights, and the New War on the Poor" (Paul Farmer)

"Death Without Weeping: The Violence of Everyday Life in Brazil" (Nancy Scheper-Hughes)

"Fresh Fruit, Broken Bodies: Migrant Farmworkers in the United States" (Seth Holmes)

"In Search of Respect: Selling Crack in El Barrio" (Philippe Bourgois)

Structural violence is particularly prominent in medical anthropology, including the anthropology of global health. It has been used to analyze a variety of topics, including but not limited to substance abuse, migrant health, child mortality, women's health, and infectious disease.

Sources
Illustration: Chen Xia/GT

Indian External Affairs Minister Subrahmanyam Jaishankar,who is currently on an Australia visit, emphasized one point on Monday - India's national interests - in response to a question about India-Russia relations.At a press conference with Australian foreign minister Penny Wong, when asked whether India is rethinking its relationship with Russia given what is going on in Ukraine and whether he thinks India should reduce its reliance on Russian weapon systems, Jaishankar answered, India and Russia "have really a longstanding relationship with Russia, a relationship that has certainly served our interest well," and "for multiple decades, Western countries did not supply weapons to India." He added that "we all in international politics deal with what we have. We make judgments which are reflective of both our future interest as well as our current situation."The message cannot be more straightforward - India's foreign policy is based on its own interests in the international community. The country has been seeking the maximum interests in the wider international environment, including getting close to the US and the West, while maintaining cooperation with Russia.The question of the journalist clearly represents the long-standing Western-centric perspective. From their point of view, they have offered India enough "benefits," including the title of world's largest democratic country, as well as increasing arms deals with India. The US, for instance, has spent billions of dollars in security aid to India, signed four defense agreements that cover areas of military information, logistics exchange, compatibility, and security, with India, inked a deal to share sensitive satellite intelligence with India and invited India to join the Quad, experts note, adding that is why the West find it hard to understand, against such a backdrop, why New Delhi would still keep its defense collaboration with Moscow.But some Westerners have obviously failed to realize their arrogance for having such confusion - the arrogance of not respecting other country's own interests. Neither the US nor other Western countries have a say on which countries should India cooperate with. It is India's own business. And for India, the best option is surely to maximize its interests by cooperating with as many countries as possible, observers say.During the Russia-Ukraine conflict, India did not participate in the West-initiated sanctions campaign against Russia, nor did it stop its trade with Moscow. Not only that, India increased its energy imports from Russia with a lower price. As a member of the Quad, India refuses to dance to the US beat. This must have embarrassed the US. But with whom India trades with does not depend on the US, but India's interests. If New Delhi had not held this position, it would be now suffering from an energy crisis like in Europe, and have to pay for energy and gas at four times above US market prices.It is not only India, but the rest of the BRICS countries, as well as the vast majority of developing countries, have refused to participate in sanctions against Russia. Since the outbreak of the Russia-Ukraine conflict, the US has shown that it does not have sufficient capacity in dealing with international relations, and the trend will only become more and more evident in the future, Lan Jianxue, a professor from China Institute of International Studies, told the Global Times.Lan added that the major reason for that is that the US is too selfish, which has bitterly disappointed its allies and partners, especially during the Ukraine crisis, because of the US selling energy at very high prices when Europe is trapped in multiple crises.As long as a major country adheres to its own strategic autonomy, it is impossible to remain on the same page with Washington on all issues. There must be differences. However, Washington does not accept or respect such strategic autonomy. Worse, it deliberately seeks to contain others' strategic autonomy. Nowadays, the trend of multi-polarization in the international community is becoming mainstream. And there is an increasing number of countries are brave enough to say "no" to the US.The US and its Western allies will keep trying to draw India over to their side. Nevertheless, on many issues including the Russia-Ukraine conflict, India is sending a signal - if the US and the West continue to cast a cold eye to other countries' national interests while asking them to take sides, they will end up in disappointment.The author is a reporter with the Global Times. [email protected]
Daniel in the lions' den New Word List Save This crypto ninja leather poker tableWord! Save ThisWord!

During the captivity of the Jews (see also Jews) in Babylon (see also Babylon), in the sixth century b.c., the prophet Daniel continued to pray to his God against the express command of the king. As a result, Daniel was thrown into a lions' den to be devoured. But God sent an angel to protect him, and he emerged miraculously unharmed the next day.

notes for Daniel in the lions' den

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How to use in a sentence France 24 is providing live, round-the-clock coverage of both scenes as they progress. LIVE Coverage of the Paris Terror Attacks||January 9, 2015|DAILY BEAST

LIVE Coverage of the Paris Terror Attacks||January 9, 2015|DAILY BEAST Sands was involved in a scandalous-for-the-time romance with the carpenter and there were rumors she was pregnant with his child. New Yorks Most Tragic Ghost Loves Minimalist Swedish Fashion|Nina Strochlic|January 8, 2015|DAILY BEAST

New Yorks Most Tragic Ghost Loves Minimalist Swedish Fashion|Nina Strochlic|January 8, 2015|DAILY BEAST Three on-the-record stories from a family: a mother and her daughters who came from Phoenix. I Tried to Warn You About Sleazy Billionaire Jeffrey Epstein in 2003|Vicky Ward|January 7, 2015|DAILY BEAST

I Tried to Warn You About Sleazy Billionaire Jeffrey Epstein in 2003|Vicky Ward|January 7, 2015|DAILY BEAST This is a guy who has his son-in-law clean his eyeglasses, for crying out loud. Will Chris Christie Regret His Cowboy Hug?|Matt Lewis|January 5, 2015|DAILY BEAST Her travel clique has been known to arrive at an airport, bags packed, passport-in-hand, within hours of spotting a deal. We Out Here: Inside the New Black Travel Movement|Charlise Ferguson|January 4, 2015|DAILY BEAST

We Out Here: Inside the New Black Travel Movement|Charlise Ferguson|January 4, 2015|DAILY BEAST Sleek finds it far harder work than fortune-making; but he pursues his Will-o'-the-Wisp with untiring energy. The Pit Town Coronet, Volume I (of 3)|Charles James Wills

The Pit Town Coronet, Volume I (of 3)|Charles James Wills And so this is why the clever performer cannot reproduce the effect of a speech of Demosthenes or Daniel Webster. Expressive Voice Culture|Jessie Eldridge Southwick

Expressive Voice Culture|Jessie Eldridge Southwick Such throats are trying, are they not?In case one catches cold; Ah, yes! Boys and Girls Bookshelf; a Practical Plan of Character Building, Volume I (of 17)|Various

Boys and Girls Bookshelf; a Practical Plan of Character Building, Volume I (of 17)|Various The commander-in-chief still kept him attached to the headquarter staff, and constantly employed him on special service. Napoleon's Marshals|R. P. Dunn-Pattison

Napoleon's Marshals|R. P. Dunn-Pattison So far Murat had always held subordinate commands; his great ambition was to become the commander-in-chief of an independent army. Napoleon's Marshals|R. P. Dunn-Pattison

QUIZWILL YOU SAIL OR STUMBLE ON THESE GRAMMAR QUESTIONS?Smoothly step over to these common grammar mistakes that trip many people up. Good luck!QuestionDaniel's situation is an image for an impossibly hostile environment.dangleberry, dangling participle, Dani, Dania, Daniel, Daniel in the lions' den, Daniell cell, Danielle, Daniels, Danilova, danioThe New Dictionary of Cultural Literacy, Third Edition Copyright  2005 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.
The most notorious states are Saudi Arabia and Pakistan, where death is an acceptable legal remedy.

Asia Bibi, as she is known, was arrested and sentenced to death.

Just the hard-on before you shoot unarmed members of the public.

I disapprove of what you say, but I will defend to the death your right to say it.

Three on-the-record stories from a family: a mother and her daughters who came from Phoenix. I Tried to Warn You About Sleazy Billionaire Jeffrey Epstein in 2003|Vicky Ward|January 7, 2015|DAILY BEAST

This is the place where the Muscovite criminals are banished to, if they are not put to death. The Life and Most Surprising Adventures of Robinson Crusoe, of York, Mariner (1801)|Daniel Defoe

Elyon is the name of an ancient Phnician god, slain by his son El, no doubt the first-born of death in Job xviii. Solomon and Solomonic Literature|Moncure Daniel Conway

Your sacrifice shall be the agony of agonies, the death of deaths, and yet you'll find yourself unable to resist. Checkmate|Joseph Sheridan Le Fanu

Good is set against evil, and life against death: so also is the sinner against a just man. The Bible, Douay-Rheims Version|Various
A Chinese envoy on Friday urged Israel and Palestine to immediately achieve a ceasefire,betrivers sign in betuk free spins avoid any military ground operations and other actions that may lead to further escalation in the Gaza Strip.

Liu Jieyi, Chinas permanent representative to the United Nations, made the appeal at an emergency meeting of the Security Council on the situation in the Middle East.

In spite of repeated calls from the international community, Israel has continued with its large scale aerial bombardments against Gaza and has launched a ground invasion into Gaza leading to heavy civilian causalities including those of women and children, said Liu, expressing Chinas deep concern and sadness at this development.

China condemns any abuse of force, whatever the excuse is, any action that causes heavy causalities among innocent civilians is unacceptable, he said. Instead of solving problems, force will only lead to more bloodshed and destruction and greater hatred.

Liu also voiced Chinas disappointment that the humanitarian truce did not lead to a sustained ceasefire.

We urge parties concerned to immediately cease hostilities, withdraw their ground troops from Gaza, completely lift the blockade against Gaza and give access to UN and other international humanitarian aid agencies so as to ease the misery of the local population, Liu stressed.

Reiterating the issue of Palestine remains the core of the Middle East issue, the Chinese diplomat pointed out that the re- emergence of conflict in Gaza highlights the importance and urgency of a solution of the Palestinian issue in the current situation.

As the dominant force, Israel must take proactive actions and create necessary conditions for the re-launch of peace talks, Liu said, calling on the international community to redouble its efforts to push for meaningful initiatives on both sides so as to re-establish mutual trust, resume dialogue as soon as possible and achieve substantial progress.

The imperative at this stage is that Israeli and Palestinian parties must respond positively to the international communitys ceasefire initiative and good offices, immediately achieve a ceasefire and avoid any military ground operations, rocket firings and other actions that may lead to further escalation and tension,  he noted.

Liu also expressed Chinas firm support to Palestines cause of restoration of their legitimate national rights.

We support the Palestinian peoples efforts to establish an independent state of Palestine that enjoys full sovereignty, with East Jerusalem as its capital and based on the 1967 border, he said. We support the admission of Palestine into the UN and other international organizations.

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Chinese President Xi Jinping on Tuesday urged Iran to seek positive results in the upcoming talks over its nuclear program in Geneva.

Themohegan sun hotel suites previous round of talks in Geneva earlier this month helped defuse tension and kept talks going, Xi told Iranian President Hassan Rouhani in a telephone conversation.

The talks, Xi said, were in line with the direction of a political settlement of the issue.

Xi asked the Iranian side to seize the opportunity of the new round of talks to be kicked off Wednesday and to seek broadest consensus with the P5+1  Britain, China, France, Russia and the United States plus Germany.

China, as a party to the Geneva talks, is willing to work positively to create conditions for a comprehensive settlement of this issue, Xi said.

He said China stands for a peaceful solution through negotiations on the basis of mutual respect, incremental approach and reciprocity.

China appreciates Tehrans efforts to improve relations with the international community, he said.

The Chinese president said his country attaches great importance to its relations with Iran, and looks at them in a long-term perspective. China is willing to work with Iran to enhance mutual trust and carry out practical cooperation, Xi said.

Rouhani stated Irans position that the nuclear issue should be settled in accordance with international law and norms of international relations.

He appreciated Chinas impartial stand and its efforts to encourage talks, and expressed hope that China can continue to play a constructive role in the upcoming talks and push for win-win results.

Rouhani said he was impressed with the meeting with Xi in Bishkek in September at a Shanghai Cooperation Organization summit.

Tehran takes Iran-China relations as a priority in its foreign policy and is willing to enhance cooperation with China so as to carry forward bilateral relations.

During their conversation, Xi also extended condolences to Rouhani over the terrorist attack on the Iranian Embassy in Beirut and said that China is against all forms of terrorism. Rouhani thanked Xi for his condolences.

Xinhua

Xi Jinping urges Iran to seek positive results in Geneva talksadded by chinatimesonline on

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Chinese government will invest around 600 billion yuan (95 billion U.S. dollars) between 2011 and 2015 in turning the nations scattered and dilapidated rural lands into efficient farming areas, under Ministry of Land and Resources plans unveiled on Tuesday.

Dong Zuoji, director of the ministrys planning department, said at a press conference that the fund will help establish 400 million mu (around 26.7 million hectares) of efficient farmland across the country by 2015.

The investment will also help newly create 24 million mu of agricultural land in the period, Dong said.

The official estimated the campaign will boost the nations grain output by 25 million tonnes.

The government will optimize the layout of construction land in rural areas and urge local regions to use land more frugally, according to the plans.

Meanwhile, farmland damaged by construction will be reclaimed, Dong said.

To ensure grain security, China strives to keep at least 1.8 billion mu of farmland for grain production. However, the nation faces increasing challenges to maintain the quota as official data has showed the countrys total acreage of farmland stood at 1.826 billion mu in 2010, down from 1.945 billion mu in 1998.

Xinhua

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What Is the Fisher Transform Indicator?custom clay poker chip

The Fisher Transform is a technical indicator created by John F. Ehlers that converts prices into a Gaussian normal distribution. The indicator highlights when prices have moved to an extreme, based on recent prices. This may help in spotting turning points in the price of an asset. It also helps show the trend and isolate the price waves within a trend.

Key Takeaways

The Fisher Transform is a technical indicator that normalizes asset prices, thus making turning points in price clearer.

Some traders look for extreme readings to signal potential price reversal areas, while others watch for a change in direction of the Fisher Transform.

The Fisher Transform formula is typically applied to price, but it can also be applied to other indicators.

Asset prices are not normally distributed, so attempts to normalize prices via an indicator may not always provide reliable signals.

Understanding the Fisher Transform Indicator

The Fisher Transform enables traders to create a Gaussian normal distribution, which converts data that isn't typically normal distributed, such as market prices. In essence, the transformation makes peak swings relatively rare events to help better identify price reversals on a chart.

This technical indicator is commonly used by traders looking for leading signals, rather than lagging indicators. The Fisher Transform can also be applied to other technical indicators, such as the relative strength index (RSI) or moving average convergence divergence (MACD).

TradingView.

The Fisher Transform Formula

 Fisher Transform = 1 2  ln ( 1 + X 1  X ) where: ln is the natural logarithm X = transformation of price to a level between -1 and 1 \begin{ aligned} &\text{ Fisher Transform} = \frac{ 1}{ 2}*\ln \left( \frac{ 1+X}{ 1-X} \right)\\ &\textbf{ where:}\\ &\ln \text{ is the natural logarithm}\\ &X = \text{ transformation of price to a level between -1 and 1}\\ \end{ aligned} Fisher Transform=21ln(1X1+X)where:ln is the natural logarithmX=transformation of price to a level between -1 and 1

How to Calculate the Fisher Transform

Choose a lookback period, such as nine periods. This is how many periods the Fisher Transform is applied to. Convert the prices of these periods to values between -1 and +1 and input for X, completing the calculations within the formula's brackets. Multiply by the natural log. Multiply the result by 0.5. Repeat the calculation as each near period ends, converting the most recent price to a value between -1 and +1 based on the most recent nine-period prices. Calculated values are added/subtracted from the prior calculated value.

The Fisher Transform Indicator Trading Applications

The Fisher Transform indicator is unbounded, which means extremes can occur for a long time. An extreme is based on the historical readings for the asset in question. For some assets, a high reading may be seven or eight, while a low reading may be -4. For another asset, these values may differ.

An extreme reading indicates the possibility of a reversal. This should be confirmed by the Fisher Transform changing direction. For example, following a strong price rise and the Fisher Transform reaching an extremely high level, when the Fisher Transform starts to head lower that could signal the price is going to drop, or has already started dropping.

The Fisher Transform frequently has a signal line attached to it. This is a moving average (MA) of the Fisher Transform value, so it moves slightly slower than the Fisher Transform line. When the Fisher Transform crosses the trigger line, it is used by some traders as a trade signal. For example, when the Fisher Transform drops below the signal line after hitting an extreme high, that could be used as a signal to sell a current long position.

As with many indicators, the Fisher will provide lots of trade signals, plenty of which are not profitable to follow. Therefore, some traders prefer to use the indicator in conjunction with trend analysis. For example, when the price is rising overall, use the Fisher Transform for buy and sell signals, but not for short-sell signals. Meanwhile, during a downtrend, use it for short-sell signals and ideas on when to cover.

The Fisher Transform Indicator vs. Bollinger Bands

These two indicators look very different on a chart, yet both are based on a distribution of asset prices.

Bollinger Bands use a normal distribution in that they use standard deviation to show when the price may be overextended. Fisher Transform, on the other hand, uses a Gaussian normal distribution. The Fisher Transform appears as a separate indicator on a price chart, while Bollinger Bands are overlayed over the price.

Limitations of the Fisher Transform Indicator

The indicator can be rather noisy at times, even though its intent is to make turning points easier to identify. Extreme readings are not always followed by a price reversal; sometimes the price just moves sideways or reverses only a small amount.

What qualifies as extreme can also be hard to judge, since the levels tend to vary over time. Four may be a high level for years, but then readings of eight may start to frequently appear.

Looking at all changes in direction on the Fisher Transform can help spot short-term changes in price direction. However, the signal may come too late to capitalize, as many of these price moves may be short-lived.

Asset prices are not normally distributed, therefore attempts to normalize prices could be inherently flawed and may not produce reliable signals.
Haters are not your problemignoring them is liverpool to win the quadruple bet365By: Jay Baer, Author of the book Hug Your Haters

The near-universal adoption of smartphones and social media has fundamentally altered the science of complaints. Critics (haters) can now express their displeasure faster and more publicly than ever.

Based on my research with Edison, we found two main hater types, Onstage haters, who publicly launch complaints via social media and online review sites, and Offstage haters, who conduct their complaints via more private channels such as email and phone.

There are no meaningful differences in educational level or annual income between hater types. There are also no gender differences of note between onstage and offstage haters.

However, men complain more often across all channels combined. In our research, we found that 22 percent of men have complained to a business seven times or more in the past year, compared to 16 percent of women.

Age has a significant impact on how and where people complain

More than 90 percent of American complainers in nearly every age category have complained offstage via phone or email in their lives. With regard to onstage haters, young people are far more likely to have complained via social media, discussion boards, forums, and online review sites than have older consumers. More than 80 percent of 25 to 34 year-olds have complained publicly, compared to 58 percent of survey respondents age 65 or older.

The look at me ethos

Facebook is a favorite haven for onstage haters. But when examining the relationship between channels and complaints, I begin to wonder whether Facebooks pervasiveness, ease-of-use, and look at me ethos is disproportionately fueling onstage haters. After all, you have to create status updates about something, and Ive been wronged by this company is a good way to solicit interactions from friends and digital acquaintances.

Ninety-four percent of frequent complainers have a Facebook account, and among research participants that claim to use Facebook several times per day, nearly one-quarter of them have complained seven or more times in the past year. That group of hard-core Facebook fans is 300 percent more likely to be frequent complainers than are people who do not use Facebook at all.

Although the total number of users is smaller, this dynamic is even more pronounced with Twitter. While 70 percent of heavy complainers have a Twitter account, nearly one-third of the respondents who use Twitter several times per day are frequent complainers. Across every social media platform including Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest, Instagram, Snapchat, Vine, WhatsApp, and WeChat the heavier the usage, the more likely the consumer is to complain about businesses. Given the proliferation of social media and social networks, this isnt going to change any time soon, if ever.

Do they want an answer or an audience?

Social media is facilitating complaints and breeding onstage haters. But the issues that are communicated in social media, review websites, discussion boards, and online forums are sometimes more frivolous than those in telephone or email interactions. Especially in social media, consumers often post quick missive without much depth.

Mason Nelder, Director of Central Insights and Social Business at Verizon, sees this difference every day: Typically, the people who send email have, I think, much more meaning behind what theyre writing, because its long-form. In social media, because its short-form, its much more emotional. Its almost like, if they took time to think about it and actually write about it appropriately, it might not be as emotionally charged.

What we categorize as a complaint in social media (in particular) isnt a complaint in the same sense that a well-crafted email or a telephone call is a complaint. Instead, these short, social missives are often simply expressions of the current situation. And among heavy social media users, any customer experience falling short of perfect is legitimate grounds to instantly admonish the business. In the same way that bumper stickers are the most shallow form of political expression, social media grousing is the thinnest form of customer complaints.

Offstage haters want an answer. In many cases, onstage haters want an audience.

Our research found that when people complain in private they almost always expect a response from the business or company. Yet, when complaining in public, onstage haters expect a response roughly half the time or less. This ratio varies by channel.

Richard Binhammer agrees, recalling his time at Dell. Often, even when customers are being difficult in public, theyre just calling you out to get your attention. And once theyve got your attention they actually turn around and can become good customers.

Only half of onstage haters actually want help

This distinction is also evident in other countries. A survey of 2,000 online complaints in the Netherlands in 2013 by TNS found thirty percent were venting negative feelings, and 23 percent were seeking vengeance. Only 48 percent wanted help.

My friend from high school and college Alan Moir is disproportionately concerned about beverage temperature. He is fond of sayingwithout irony, that  theres no such thing as too much ice. This is perhaps an unexpected thing to obsess over for a Canadian, since the drinks must be as cold as possible notion is a uniquely American construct.

Yet, a person like Alan can quite easily use social media to proclaim, Hey, Le Pain Quotidien! How about some more ice in the lemonade while still drinking that same lukewarm beverage. He can express his displeasure in an instant, at no personal cost. He may even be able to interact with the brand (which can be a bit of a thrill) or at the very least, put it out there for his friends in social media to react to alongside him.

Guy Winch explains why we do this in his book The Squeaky Wheel:

When we complain, we hope to purge the frustration, anger, or irritation that is generated by our dissatisfaction. Indeed, the expression getting it off our chest refers to the palpable lightness, the cathartic easing of internal tension, we hope to experience by speaking up about a troubling complaint. But what creates the catharsis is not the voicing of our complaints aloud, but rather voicing them to another person.

Its much easier to get it off our chest online that it is offline. Would Alan take the time to telephone about that issue? Would he sit down at a computer and write out an entire email? No. The platform used to voice the complaint usually fits the nature of the crime against the consumer. The bigger the issue, the more likely it is that contact will be through private, offstage channels. This is true of the first complaint only. If an issue requires more than one contact to satisfactorily solve, a much different scenario can occur.

Even though the tragedy of a beverage-specific ice shortage isnt cause for a move to DEFCON 4, the business in question still has to deal with it, because its now in the public domain. And if you dont answer that complaint, it not only reduces the customer advocacy of the complainer, anyone looking on might be frustrated and disappointed in your lack of attention as well.

Customer service is now a spectator sport

When delivered online and in public, a lot of what we call complaints would be classified as a comment if delivered offline, if delivered at all. Annoyances that formerly would have qualified for an inner monologue of oh, that sucks now spur a oh, that sucks and I should share it with the world.

But to garner the attention from companies, their friends, and the public at-large, onstage haters often have to up their rhetorical game, to stand out amidst the same messaging clutter that companies have to face when trying to market their wares.

The complainers? They have to break through the noise as well, Mason Nelder concurs. This is why many onstage haters complaints are delivered in an outlandish and overwrought fashion, way out of proportion to the seriousness of the issue. On first contact, we right-size our channel (smaller problems are registered with onstage complaints) but we do not right-size how we describe our angst.

I implore you to spend 45 glorious minutes watching the Youtube channel of a production company called Gotta Kid to Feed. The channel is titled Real Actors Read Yelp Reviews, and its a hilarious collection of 23 (and counting) short videos. They illustrate precisely what I mean about onstage haters employing amazing rhetorical flourishes to get noticed.

British Airways: what not to do

To stand out and make sure they are heard, onstage haters sometimes go beyond inflammatory language and ensure they have an audience (from the company and beyond) by buying it. In 2013, Hasan Syeds father flew British Airways to Paris, and his luggage was lost. Syed went to the British Airways Twitter account to complain, but found that the account was not monitored during the evenings. Frustrated, Syed spent more than $1,000 to buy advertising on Twitter, delivering a tirade of anti-British Airways tweets to hundreds of thousands of users. He specifically targeted followers of the British Airways Twitter account with Thanks for ruining my EU business trip #britishairways. I shouldnt have flown @BritishAirways. Never flying with you again.

Despite the scope and scale of this rancor, British Airways replied with:

Sorry for the delay in responding, our Twitter feed is open 0900-1700 GMT. Please DM your baggage ref and well look into this.

Remember, haters arent the problem. Ignoring them is. British Airways has flights around the clock. Yet their customer service is open 10 hours per day, at least on Twitter. Without this gap, would Syed have purchased ads? Of course not.

British Airways could have answered his initial tweet in 15 minutes, even at night. But thats not how their customer service program works. KLM would have answered Syed because their program is set up to do so.

In situations like these, hugging your haters can be a major competitive differentiator.

Drawn from Hug Your Haters: How to Embrace Complaints and Keep Your Customers, about which Guy Kawasaki says: This is a landmark book in the history of customer service. Written by Jay Baer, Keynote Speaker and Marketing Expert, Hug Your Haters is the first customer service and customer experience book written for the modern, mobile era and is based on proprietary research and more than 70 exclusive interviews. For more information, visit www.JayBaer.com.

Category: Casino BlogMagazine
It sends us even deeper into the partisan death spiral we were already in.

To prevent that death spiral, we should just let cities borrow and spend and borrow and spend until the crisis has past.

This produces the transit version of a death spirala more arduous commute and fewer opportunities for the affected communities.

India, which had merely got lucky the first time round, went into a death spiral.

The 49ers are filled with relics of the last calamitous decade  a death spiral of dysfunction and double-digit losing seasons that sent the Washington franchise slumping into irrelevance. Playing the 49ers reminds of past failures, but Washington finally seems to have moved on|Les Carpenter|December 10, 2020|Washington Post

I disapprove of what you say, but I will defend to the death your right to say it. The Muslim Cop Killed by Terrorists|Michael Daly|January 9, 2015|DAILY BEAST

Asia Bibi, as she is known, was arrested and sentenced to death. In Defense of Blasphemy|Michael Tomasky|January 9, 2015|DAILY BEAST

The most notorious states are Saudi Arabia and Pakistan, where death is an acceptable legal remedy. In Defense of Blasphemy|Michael Tomasky|January 9, 2015|DAILY BEAST

Father Joel Roman Salazar died in a car crash in 2013; his death was ruled an accident, but the suspicion of foul play persists. Mexicos Priests Are Marked for Murder|Jason McGahan|January 7, 2015|DAILY BEAST

The death toll, which experts believe has been significantly undercut by secret burials, stands at 7,905. The Race for the Ebola Vaccine|Abby Haglage|January 7, 2015|DAILY BEAST

This is the place where the Muscovite criminals are banished to, if they are not put to death. The Life and Most Surprising Adventures of Robinson Crusoe, of York, Mariner (1801)|Daniel Defoe

Elyon is the name of an ancient Phnician god, slain by his son El, no doubt the first-born of death in Job xviii. Solomon and Solomonic Literature|Moncure Daniel Conway

Your sacrifice shall be the agony of agonies, the death of deaths, and yet you'll find yourself unable to resist. Checkmate|Joseph Sheridan Le Fanu

Good is set against evil, and life against death: so also is the sinner against a just man. The Bible, Douay-Rheims Version|Various
Gambling online has exploded in popularity over the past couple of decades. Unfortunately,miami club casino no deposit bonus codes wherever theres mass amounts of money changing hands, there will be unscrupulous characters looking to take advantage of unsuspecting punters.

Aside from that, there will also be plenty of amateurs putting together half-baked websites to try to cash in on the digital gold rush. These sites will inevitably be unsafe and can cause endless problems for players.

With this in mind, we decided to compile this list of safety tips for online gamblers. Make sure youre playing at safe and secure online casinos in the future.

Always Check the Connection

One of the simplest safety tips we can give you is to always check that the web connection is encrypted with the latest Secure Socket Layer encryption.

You wont need any advanced technical skills to do this. Simply open the website and check out the web address. If you see https:// before the domain, its secure. If you dont, then its not, and you should not transmit money or financial information over this connection.

Why is this important? Theres a certain breed of hacker that specializes in snooping on web connections. If the information being transmitted is not encrypted, its like sending a letter in an unsealed envelope.

Look for a Valid Gambling License

Unlicensed gambling sites arent always scams, but theyre much more likely to be than licensed ones. You should always look for a gambling license from the UK Gambling Commission, Malta Gaming Authority, or another credible and respected iGaming regulator.

When a gambling website has a license from one of these authorities, it means it complies with the laws and regulations in that jurisdiction. If it doesnt, it will be fined or will have its license revoked. This can cause severe damage to the gambling brand, so operators are keen to play by the rules.

You can usually find information on an operators gambling licences in the footer of the website. You can also verify the license numbers and other information on the websites of the regulators.

Use Secure Payment Methods

Sharing or storing your financial details with any website entails some degree of risk. Even legit, safe gambling sites could be hacked, and any information youve stored on them can be downloaded and used or sold on by data thieves.

Thats why its always a good idea to use safe casino payment methods like PayPal, Neteller, or Paysafecard. The first two are e-wallets which provide a layer of protection between your bank account and the gambling site. The latter is a voucher system that uses a PIN to load cash onto the gambling website.

If a hacker does manage to break into your account or the gambling site in general, theyll see nothing other than your email address and personal details. There will be no sensitive financial information to steal.

Staying Safe When Gambling Online

Dont let the ideas of hackers and rogue gambling sites put you off. The vast majority are honest brokers, and most gambling sites are safe and secure.

Still, implementing these basic online gambling safety tips could save you a lot of headaches. Remember them and make them habits when finding new gambling sites to bet on.

Category: Casino Blog
What Is IRS Form 8379: Injured Spouse Allocation?hotels near crown casino perth

The "injured" spouse on a jointly filed tax return can file Form 8379 to regain their share of a joint refund that was seized to pay a past-due obligation of the other spouse. These obligations might include past-due federal tax, state tax, child support, or federal non-tax debt (such as a student loan). The term "injured" refers to the negatively impacted spouse, who does not owe the debt.

Key Takeaways





IRS Form 8379 is a tax form that can be filed to reclaim part of a tax refund that has been used to pay for an overdue debt.

If a married couple files a joint tax return and the refund is applied to one spouse's past-due debts, the "injured" spouse can file Form 8379 to get their share of the refund.

An injured spouse form can be filed with a joint tax return, amended joint tax return, or afterward by itself.

If you live in a community property state, the rules may differ. The IRS uses laws in these states to determine ifand how muchan injured spouse is entitled to.

It takes 8 to 14 weeks for the IRS to process an injured spouse allocation.

Who Can File Form 8379: Injured Spouse Allocation?

Typically, spouses are jointly responsible for a tax obligation so an injured spouse should file Form 8379 when they become aware that all or part of a share of a refund was, or is expected to be, applied against their spouse's legally enforceable past-due obligations.

If a spouse has fallen behind on child support payments, alimony, federal or state taxes, federal non-tax debt such as student loans, or certain unemployment compensation debt, then the Department of Treasury is authorized to take a taxpayer's refund and apply it toward the past-due debt. By filling out Form 8379, the injured spouse is requesting that the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) release their share of a joint tax refund.

To be eligible to file Form 8370 an injured spouse must have reported income included in the joint return in which a refund was garnished.

How to File Form 8379: Injured Spouse Allocation

Form 8379 can be filed with a joint tax return, amended joint tax return (Form 1040-X), or it can be filed afterward by itself. An injured spouse form is only filed with Form 1040-X: Amended U.S. Individual Income Tax Return if a spouse is amending an original return to claim a joint refund.

An injured spouse form must be filed for each year the taxpayer wants their portion of any offset refunded. If a couple files their return knowing any refund might be seized, the injured spouse can file the form with the joint tax return or file separately.

Once you file a Form 8379, the IRS will review it to determine whether you are eligible for injured spouse relief and, if so, how much. It takes the IRS about 14 weeks to process an injured spouse form if you file a paper version with a joint return and 11 weeks if you file it electronically.

All pages of Form 8379 are available on the IRS website.

Special Considerations When Filing Form 8379: Injured Spouse Allocation

If you live in a community property state different rules may apply. In general, these states take the view that debts and assets acquired during a marriage are jointly owned, though there are exceptions. The rules vary in each state. The IRS uses each state's rules to determine the amount, if any, refundable to the injured spouse. Community property states include Arizona, California, Idaho, Louisiana, Nevada, New Mexico, Texas, Washington, and Wisconsin.

Injured spouse relief is not the same as innocent spouse relief. This is a separate form that can be filed if one spouse has been made responsible for back taxes, interest, or penalties from improperly reported tax filings.

Other Relevant Forms

"Injured" spouse relief should not be confused with "innocent" spouse relief. A person files for "innocent" spouse relief when they have been made responsible for back taxes, interest, and penalties resulting from improperly reported taxes on a joint return. If the "innocent" spouse had no knowledge of the improper items leading to the problematic filing, Form 8857: Request for Innocent Spouse Relief can be submitted to claim relief. Several conditions must be met:

The understated tax was reported on a joint return.

The understated tax stems from under-reported income or improperly applied deductions, credits, or cost basis.

The spouse can demonstrate they signed the joint return without knowing the understated tax existed.

Finally, the IRS must determine it would be unfair to hold the spouse responsible.

Who Does the Term Injured Spouse Apply to on IRS Form 8379?

The "injured spouse" on Form 8379 refers to a spouse who has been affected by the application of a joint tax refund to offset their spouse's debts. Because they have been financially harmed ("injured") by this use of the refund, that spouse is able to reclaim their share of the refund from the IRS.

When Does the IRS Begin Processing Injured Spouse Forms?

It can take up to 14 weeks for the IRS to process an injured spouse allocation form, although processing is faster if the form is submitted electronically. If Form 8379 is filed separately from a joint tax return, it will take around 8 weeks.

Can I File an IRS Injured Spouse Form Because of a Spouses Student Loan Debt?

In most cases, an injured spouse can file Form 8379 to claim their share of a tax refund before it is used to offset their spouse's debts. However, rules are different in community property states, where the tax refund may be considered shared marital property. In those cases, the IRS will divide the return according to the state community property law.

Where Do I Send My Tax Form 8379?

Generally speaking, Form 8379 should be filed with the IRS Service Center for the area where you live. However, if you have already filed your tax return for the year in question, you should send Form 8379 to the same Service Center you filed your tax return, even if you now live somewhere else.

Can I File Form 8379 Electronically?

Yes, and the IRS will process your injured spouse allocation faster if it is sent online. Electronic submissions take about eleven weeks to process, compared to fourteen weeks for paper filings.

How Long Does It Take To Get a Tax Refund With an Injured Spouse Claim?

If an injured spouse files Form 8379 along with their joint tax return, it will take between 11 and 14 weeks to receive their share of the tax return. Of course, this is contingent upon the IRS determination that the injured spouse is qualified for a share of the return.

How Do You Check Injured Spouse Refund Status?

If an injured spouse files Form 8379 and does not hear back, they can call the Bureau of Financial Services' TOP Center at 800-304-3107.

Can the IRS Deny an Injured Spouse Claim?

Yes, the IRS may determine that someone filing Form 8379 is ineligible for an injured spouse allocation, or that they are not entitled to as much as they believe. When the IRS receives a claim, they will calculate the injured spouse's share of the tax return, based on state laws and the circumstances surrounding each case.
What Is a Ponzi Scheme?bet365 api python

A Ponzi scheme is a fraudulent investing scam promising high rates of return with little risk to investors. A Ponzi scheme is a fraudulent investing scam which generates returns for earlier investors with money taken from later investors. This is similar to a pyramid scheme in that both are based on using new investors' funds to pay the earlier backers.

Both Ponzi schemes and pyramid schemes eventually bottom out when the flood of new investors dries up and there isn't enough money to go around. At that point, the schemes unravel.

Key Takeaways

The Ponzi scheme generates returns for older investors by acquiring new investors, who are promised a large profit at little to no risk.

The fraudulent investment scheme is premised on using new investors' funds to pay the earlier backers.

Companies that engage in a Ponzi scheme focus their energy into attracting new clients to make investments, otherwise their scheme will become illiquid.

The SEC has issued guidance on what to look for in potential Ponzi schemes including guarantee of returns or unregistered investment vehicles with the SEC.

The largest Ponzi scheme was carried out by Bernie Madoff, conning thousands of investors out of billions of dollars.

What Is A Ponzi Scheme?

Understanding Ponzi Schemes

1:44

A Ponzi scheme is an investment fraud in which clients are promised a large profit at little to no risk. Companies that engage in a Ponzi scheme focus all of their energy into attracting new clients to make investments.

This new income is used to pay original investors their returns, marked as a profit from a legitimate transaction. Ponzi schemes rely on a constant flow of new investments to continue to provide returns to older investors. When this flow runs out, the scheme falls apart.

Origins of the Ponzi Scheme

The term "Ponzi Scheme" was coined after a swindler named Charles Ponzi in 1920. However, the first recorded instances of this sort of investment scam can be traced back to the mid-to-late 1800s, and were orchestrated by Adele Spitzeder in Germany and Sarah Howe in the United States. In fact, the methods of what came to be known as the Ponzi Scheme were described in two separate novels written by Charles Dickens, Martin Chuzzlewit, published in 1844 and Little Dorritin 1857.

Charles Ponzi's original scheme in 1919 was focused on the US Postal Service. The postal service, at that time, had developed international reply coupons that allowed a sender to pre-purchase postage and include it in their correspondence. The receiver would take the coupon to a local post office and exchange it for the priority airmail postage stamps needed to send a reply.

Ponzi schemes rely on a constant flow of new investments to continue to provide returns to older investors.

This type of exchange is known as an arbitrage, which is not an illegal practice. But Ponzi became greedy and expanded his efforts.

Under the heading of his company, Securities Exchange Company, he promised returns of 50% in 45 days or 100% in 90 days. Due to his success in the postage stamp scheme, investors were immediately attracted. Instead of actually investing the money, Ponzi just redistributed it and told the investors they made a profit. The scheme lasted until August of 1920 when The Boston Post began investigating the Securities Exchange Company. As a result of the newspaper's investigation, Ponzi was arrested by federal authorities on Aug. 12, 1920, and charged with several counts of mail fraud. In November 1920, Ponzi was sentenced to five years in prison.

Madoff and the Largest Ponzi Scheme in History

The concept of the Ponzi scheme did not end in 1920. As technology changed, so did the Ponzi scheme. In 2008, Bernard Madoff was convicted of running a Ponzi scheme that falsified trading reports to show a client was earning a profit on investments that didn't exist.

Madoff promoted his Ponzi scheme as an investment strategy called the split-strike conversion that utilized ownership of S&P 100 stocks and options. Madoff would use blue-chip stocks which have highly accessible historical trading data which he could back into to falsify his records. Then, falsified transactions that never occurred were reported to yield the desired periodic return.

During the 2008 Global Financial Crisis, investors began to withdraw funds from Madoff's firm, exposing the illiquid nature of the firm's true financial picture. Madoff stated that his firm had approximately $50 billion of liabilities owed to approximately 4,800 clients. Sentenced to 150 years in prison with forfeiture of assets of $170 billion, Madoff died in prison on April 14, 2021.

Ponzi schemes can be carried out over decades. Investigators suspect Madoff's Ponzi scheme was started in the early 1980's and lasted over 30 years.

Ponzi Scheme Red Flags

Regardless of the technology used in the Ponzi scheme, most share similar characteristics. The Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) has identified the following traits to watch for:

A guaranteed promise of high returns with little risk A consistent flow of returns regardless of market conditions Investments that have not been registered with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) Investment strategies that are secret or described as too complex to explain Clients not allowed to view official paperwork for their investment Clients facing difficulties removing their money

What Is an Example of a Ponzi Scheme?

Imagine a very basic example where Adam promises 10% returns to his friend Barry. Barry gives Adam $1,000 with the expectation that the value of the investment will be $1,100 in one year. Next, Adam promises 10% returns to his friend Christine. Christine agrees to give Adam $2,000.

With $3,000 now on hand, Adam can make Barry whole by paying him $1,100. In addition, Adam can steal $1,000 from the collective pool of funds if he believes he can get future investors to give him money. For this plan to work, Adam must continually get money from a new client in order to pay back older ones.

What's the Difference Between a Ponzi Scheme and a Pyramid Scheme?

A Ponzi scheme is a mechanism to attract investors with a promise of future returns. The operator of a Ponzi scheme can only maintain the scheme as long as new investors are brought into the fold.

On the other hand, a pyramid scheme recruits other people and incentivizes them to further bring along other investors. A member within a pyramid scheme only earns a portion of their proceeds and is "used" to generate profit by members higher along the pyramid.

Why Is it Called a Ponzi Scheme?

Ponzi schemes are named after Charles Ponzi, a 1920's businessman who successfully persuaded tens of thousands of clients to invest their funds with him. Ponzi's scheme promised a specific amount of profit after a specific amount of time through the purchase nd sale of discounted postal reply coupons. Instead, he was using new money invested to pay off old obligations.

How Do You Identify a Ponzi Scheme?

The SEC has identified a few traits that often signify a fraudulent financial scheme. It is important to understand that almost all types of investing incur some level of risk, and many forms do not carry with them guaranteed profits. If an investment opportunity (1) guarantees a specific return, (2) guarantees that return by a certain time, and (3) is not registered with the SEC, the SEC advises to invest with caution as these as identifiers of fraud.

What Is the Most Famous Ponzi Scheme?

The most famous modern Ponzi scheme was orchestrated by Bernie Madoff. His firm executed the largest Ponzi scheme in history, defrauding thousands of investors out of billions of dollars over decades.



The Bottom Line

When clients give money to their financial advisers or investment firms, they expect a level of fiduciary duty. Unfortunately, those funds can be fraudulently mismanaged through Ponzi schemes. By taking one investor's money to repay another, Ponzi schemes aren't actual investment plans. They are fraudulent investment schemes that have resulted in the loss of billions of dollars.
A contradiction has tugged at American presidential history for 130 years. Donald Trumps announcement on Tuesday night that he would again seek the highest office threatens to exacerbate this recent vegas jackpot winnersdisjuncture in the nations self-understanding.

In short: If Trump wins back the White House, we may be even more confused over just how many presidents there have been.

Thats because our nomenclature is misleading. Joe Biden is the 46th president, but just the 45th personto be president.

This numbering lawlessness stems from Grover Cleveland, who was elected, lost re-election and then ran again and won  making him both the 22nd president and the 24th president.

And so one consequence of a second Trump term would be that we are all thrown off a little more: Whoever then succeeded him would be the 48th president, but just the 46th holder of the job.

This quirk is not exactly a matter of national security, but it is worth pausing over, because it relates to the fact that Trump could become only the second president, after Cleveland, to serve nonconsecutive terms. This is a larger and more meaningful distinction. As much as Trump proved his first time around that he was a unique political figure, Clevelands presidential precedent might offer clues to what a second Trump term would look like.

I think once presidents are elected, if they were elected nonconsecutively, they are reacting to much different things than before, said Michael J. Gerhardt, a professor at the University of North Carolina School of Law and the author of The Forgotten Presidents: Their Untold Constitutional Legacy.

He added, And they govern differently.

But first: Is it really true that Trump, if he won again, would be the 47th president soon after having been the 45th?

Yes. Americans have numbered presidents this way since Cleveland became the 24th president in 1893, eight years after becoming the 22nd and four years after ceding the White House to the 23rd, Benjamin Harrison. The White House website uses this numerology, in which Cleveland is identified as two different presidents. (Similarly, many English-language sources have reported that Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva will soon become Brazils 39th president after serving as its 35th from 2003 to 2010.)

Numbering Cleveland this way derived from early Americans practice of referring to presidencies rather than presidents, according to the historian Michael Beschloss.

The former president, whose historically divisive time in office shook the pillars of the countrys democratic institutions, is seeking another term. Ignoring Concerns: Donald J. Trumps announcement of a third bid for the White House comes as many Republicans blame him for their weak showing in the midterms.

Donald J. Trumps announcement of a third bid for the White House comes as many Republicans blame him for their weak showing in the midterms. Allies Are Inching Away : Within hours of Mr. Trumps announcement, some of his former aides, donors and staunchest allies shunned his attempt to recapture the White House.

Within hours of Mr. Trumps announcement, some of his former aides, donors and staunchest allies shunned his attempt to recapture the White House. A Work in Progress : Though Mr. Trump has talked of a third presidential bid since before he completed his term, the rollout of his 2024 campaign has been surprisingly slapdash.

Though Mr. Trump has talked of a third presidential bid since before he completed his term, the rollout of his 2024 campaign has been surprisingly slapdash. Fact Check: Mr. Trump announced his third bid for the presidency in a speech that was like many others that have come before it: packed full of falsehoods.

In other words, George Washington presided over the first presidency, he said. The problem is we no longer have that antique way of saying it, so it gets to this odd thing where it sounds like youre talking about Cleveland being two different people  and Trump, should it come to that.

This semantic oddness frequently leads to confusing statements. When Barack Obama declared in his first inaugural address, minutes after his swearing-in, that forty-four Americans have now taken the presidential oath  that was, well, not true (the accurate number was 43).

Image Grover Cleveland delivering his inaugural address to a crowd on the east portico of the U.S. Capitol in 1885, for his first term.Credit...Library of Congress

One person who thought this system was ridiculous was Harry S. Truman, the 33rd president. Why dont you number all the second terms of other presidents and the third and fourth terms of President Roosevelt, and where will you be? he once said.

He concluded defiantly, I am the 32nd president.

The point can seem pedantic  the equivalent of insisting that the new millennium began on Jan. 1, 2001. There may even be good, or less-bad, reasons for counting as we do. If we must be slightly inaccurate, said Alexis Coe, a presidential historian, I would rather amplify Barack Obama by one person than reduce Benjamin Harrison to a nonentity.

Tevi Troy, a senior fellow at the Bipartisan Policy Center and the director of its Presidential Leadership Initiative, said he expected that if Trump were elected again, he would be known as both the 45th and 47th president. But Troy added that one portrait would suffice.

Trump has already put himself in rare company as a president running for a third time. Should he win the Republican nomination, he would join figures like Cleveland, Franklin D. Roosevelt and Richard M. Nixon (who lost in his first try) as presidents who were major-party nominees three times.

Cleveland  whose wife, Frances, is said to have asked the White House staff upon her first departure to preserve the furniture for her return  is the best comparison for Trump, historians suggested.

Though they were quite different personalities, there are provocative parallels between Trump and Cleveland. The election of 1888  the one Cleveland lost  produced a rare split between the Electoral College and the popular vote, making him the only president other than Andrew Jackson and Franklin Roosevelt to win the popular vote three times. (Trump lost the popular vote twice by significant margins. The Electoral College put him over the top in 2016, but not in 2020.)

For the three presidential elections that Cleveland was in, the country was very closely divided, Beschloss said. If you look at those three elections as showing a phenomenon where the country was divided roughly half-and-half, you might see the same phenomenon with Trump.

In the four years between his two terms, Cleveland operated like a Trump of his time in terms of campaigning, Coe said. He gave nearly a dozen speeches a year as he tried to defy tradition and continue leading his party after defeat  though he did not focus on maligning Harrison.

And Martha Joynt Kumar, a professor of political science at Towson University, noted archly that unlike Trump in 2020, Cleveland accepted his loss in 1888.

In his third bid, Cleveland and the Democratic Party replaced his previous running mate with his former loyal, active assistant postmaster general. Once victorious, he narrowed his inner circle, appointing his former private secretary as secretary of war and his former secretary of state as ambassador to Britain.

It could be argued that Cleveland deserves to be considered as two presidents because of the divergence in how he governed during his two terms.

Cleveland was quite different as president each time  radically different, Gerhardt said. He was overly passive the first time, overly active the second.

In his first term, from 1885 to 1889, Cleveland failed to marshal Congress behind his chief policy priorities of reducing tariffs and promoting gold-backed currency. (He did set the record for vetoes, with 414, nixing many private bills written to benefit individuals.) In his second term, by contrast, Cleveland successfully backed the repeal of a law mandating purchases of silver and, absent Congresss help, turned to J.P. Morgan to finance money for gold.

He became much more aggressive and belligerent, almost a distant personality, Gerhardt said. He was strong-arming people, trying to intimidate them.

A signal moment in Clevelands second term came in 1894, when he dispatched federal troops to bust up striking railroad workers in Chicago, even over the objections of the Illinois governor, a fellow Democrat. If it takes the entire Army and Navy of the United States to deliver a postcard in Chicago, Cleveland said at the time, that card will be delivered.

Gerhardt questioned whether having had four years to sit there thinking about it during his interregnum influenced Clevelands perhaps overly proactive governing style after he returned to the White House. We all might wonder the same about another once and maybe future president.

Image

What to read

Its early, but several deep-pocketed Republican donors are signaling that they want to move on from Donald Trump.

In Trumps heads-I-win-tails-you-lose world, Jonathan Weisman writes, all successes accrue to him, and any failings are someone elses fault  the 2018 midterms, his presidential loss in 2020, and now the 2022 disappointment for Republicans.

Twelve Senate Republicans joined Democrats to advance the Respect for Marriage Act, putting federal protections for same-sex marriages on track to become law in the twilight of the Democratic-held Congress. Annie Karni has the details.

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LONDON,bitcoin on chain data Oct. 15, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- NetBet has shown it is the place to be as another player has scooped a 1.2 million jackpot.

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M.A., Geography, California State University - East Bay

B.A., English and Geography, California State University - Sacramento

Kashmir is a region located in the northwestern part of the Indian subcontinent. It includes the Indian state of Jammu and Kashmir as well as the Pakistani states of Gilgit-Baltistan and Azad Kashmir. The Chinese regions of Aksai Chin and Trans-Karakoram are also included in Kashmir. Currently, the United Nations refers to this region as Jammu and Kashmir.

Until the 19th century, Kashmir geographically included the valley region from the Himalayas to the Pir Panjal mountain range. Today, however, it has been extended to include the aforementioned areas. Kashmir is significant to geographic studies because its status is disputed, which often causes conflict to develop in the region. Today, Kashmir is administered by India, Pakistan and China.

Historical Facts About Kashmir

Historical documents state that the region of present-day Kashmir was formerly a lake, thus its name is derived from several translations that deal with water. Kaashmir, a term used in the religious text Nilamata Purana, means for example "a land desiccated from water."

Kashmir's old capital, Shrinagari, was first founded by the Buddhist emperor Ashoka and the region served as a center of Buddhism. In the 9th century, Hinduism was introduced to the area and both religions thrived.

In the 14th century, the Mongol ruler, Dulucha invaded the Kashmir region. This ended the Hindu and Buddhist rule of the area and in 1339, Shah Mir Swati became the first Muslim ruler of Kashmir. Throughout the rest of the 14th century and into subsequent times, Muslim dynasties and empires successfully controlled the Kashmir region. By the 19th century, though, Kashmir was passed to the Sikh armies that were conquering the area.

Beginning in 1947 at the end of England's rule of India, the Kashmir region was given the choice to become a part of the new Union of India, the Dominion of Pakistan or to remain independent. Around this same time, however, both Pakistan and India attempted to gain control of the area and the Indo-Pakistani War of 1947 began which lasted until 1948 when the region was partitioned. Two more wars over Kashmir took place in 1965 and 1999.

Today's Geography of Kashmir

Today, Kashmir is divided among Pakistan, India and China. Pakistan controls the northwestern part, while India controls the central and southern portions and China controls its northeastern areas. India controls the largest portion of land at 39,127 square miles (101,338 sq km) while Pakistan controls an area of 33,145 square miles (85,846 sq km) and China 14,500 square miles (37,555 sq km).

The Kashmir region has a total area of about 86,772 square miles (224,739 sq km) and much of it is undeveloped and dominated by large mountain ranges such as the Himalayan and Karakoram ranges. The Vale of Kashmir is located between mountain ranges and there are also several large rivers in the region. The most populated areas are Jammu and Azad Kashmir. The main cities in Kashmir are Mirpur, Dadayal, Kotli, Bhimber Jammu, Muzaffrarabad and Rawalakot.

Kashmir's Climate

Kashmir has a varied climate but in its lower elevations, summers are hot, humid and dominated monsoonal weather patterns, while winters are cold and often wet. In the higher elevations, summers are cool and short, and winters are very long and very cold.

Economy

Kashmir's economy is mostly made up of agriculture that takes place in its fertile valley areas. Rice, corn, wheat, barley, fruits and vegetables are the main crops grown in Kashmir while lumber and the raising of livestock also play a role in its economy. In addition, small-scale handicrafts and tourism are important to the area.

Ethnic Groups in Kashmir

Most of Kashmir's population is Muslim. Hindus also live in the region and the main language of Kashmir is Kashmiri.

Tourism

In the 19th century, Kashmir was a popular tourist destination because of its topography and climate. Many of Kashmir's tourists came from Europe and were interested in hunting and mountain climbing.

Resources and Further Reading
Wanted by Beijing and deported by Canada,spinago login Lai Changxing arrived in Beijing Saturday, after a twelve-year legal battle, said Chinese state television quoted the Ministry of Security public.

Mr. Lai has landed in Beijing from Vancouver in the custody of Canadian police and was handed over to Chinese authorities who immediately arrested him.

A Canadian court has approved Thursday the deportation to China of Mr. Lai, who is the prime suspect wanted by the Chinese judicial authorities in a smuggling case in Xiamen, the port city of Fujian province (southeast) from which it originates.

He came to Canada with his family in 1999 with a tourist visa after fleeing China in which he was accused of masterminding a network that has elapsed between six and ten billion dollars of contraband and corrupt local officials.

China has committed not to condemn Lai Changxing to the death penalty if tried and convicted. Canada prohibits the return of prisoners to countries where they could be sentenced to death.

Canada has consistently refused to grant Lai Changxing refugee status and arrested in early July in order to expel him after years of legal twists.

Canadian authorities have decided to act quickly after a decision by a federal court Thursday to deport Mr Lai, a decision that the Canadian justice had opposed for years lest he be executed or tortured.

But China has promised not to execute Mr. Lai  about 52 years  if he is tried and convicted.

The repatriation of Lai Changxing is a victory for Beijing, which is seeking its return for over a decade and the end of a diplomatic headache for Ottawa.

Lai Changxing Deported from Canada Arrived in Beijing Saturdayadded by chinatimesonline on

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Xi Jinping said on Sunday that the Communist Party of China (CPC) members must bear in mind that full and rigorous self-governance is casino games welcome bonus no depositan unceasing endeavor and that self-reform is a journey to which there is no end.



"We must never slacken our efforts and never allow ourselves to become weary or beaten," said Xi at the opening session of the 20th CPC National Congress.



The CPC has a pivotal role in building China into a modern socialist country in all respects and in advancing the rejuvenation of the Chinese nation on all fronts, Xi said.



As the largest Marxist governing party in the world, the CPC must always stay alert and determined to tackle the special challenges that a large party like the CPC faces, so as to maintain the people's support and consolidate its position as the long-term governing party, he said.



The CPC must meet the overall requirements for Party building in the new era, improve the systems for exercising full and rigorous self-governance, and comprehensively advance its efforts to purify, improve, renew, and excel itself, Xi said.



This will enable the Party to stay true to its original aspiration and founding mission and remain the strong leadership core in building socialism with Chinese characteristics, he said.



In the report, Xi stressed upholding and strengthening the centralized, unified leadership of the Party Central Committee, enhancing cohesion and forging the Party's soul with the Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era, and improving the systems and regulations for the Party's self-reform.



He also stressed cultivating officials capable of shouldering the mission of national rejuvenation, enhancing the political and organizational functions of Party organizations, taking strict steps to improve Party conduct and enforce Party discipline, and winning the tough and protracted battle against corruption.


Americas third pandemic Thanksgiving may feel like the most normal holiday gathering in a while. AAA expects travel over the long weekend to reach 98% pre-pandemic levels,ug gaming slotbot commander deck with an estimated 54.6 million people driving and flying to see loved ones. In fact, 2022 is on track to be the third busiest Thanksgiving since AAA started tracking these travel numbers in 2000.

At the beginning of the pandemic, celebrating Thanksgiving meant either virtual or very small in-person gatherings. Now that COVID-19 vaccines and medications are available, it makes it easier to see more family, which is a beautiful thing, says Dr. Juanita Mora, an allergy and immunology specialist at the Chicago Allergy Center and a national spokesperson for the American Lung Association. But that doesnt mean you shouldnt do your best to keep everyone safe this yearparticularly since this Thanksgiving comes amid a new set of Omicron subvariants, a heavy flu season, and high RSV infection rates among children and older adults.

Mora tells TIME how shes approaching this holiday season. Im trying to follow exactly what Im telling patients, she explains. Our precautions should revolve around the most vulnerable person thats going to be at our Thanksgiving table: so that grandparent whos having chemotherapy, that parent with diabetes, or a child who has asthma, or that brand-new baby.

For Moras family, their precautions revolve around my dad whos 76. Hes pretty healthy, but we want to make sure to keep him healthy. The first step is to make sure everyone is up-to-date with their shots. Im the type of doctor thats very proactive with her family, says Mora, which means she makes sure everyones flu vaccinated and has COVID-19 updated boosters, including the kids.

Read More: Cold Weather Can Be Dangerous for the Human Body. This Winter Worries Experts

Moras sister and her children will be visiting from California, and will have gotten their shots before traveling. Shes asking that all her family members wear a mask while traveling: Mask on the plane, mask at the airport, mask at the train station, mask on the train as well, because all of that is going to be key in keeping our family members safe.

Donald Milton, professor of environmental and occupational health at the University of Maryland, is also hosting family this year who are traveling, and they are taking a similar approach. We consistently use N95s when in public places with possible close contact and/or low indoor air quality, he says. On top of this, we will use HEPA filters and DIY Corsi-Rosenthal boxes to reduce risk of transmitting COVID and flu, he says, adding that everyone, including the 8-month old grandchild, has been vaccinated and boosted multiple times when eligible.

Those gathering for Moras Thanksgiving will also be doing a mini quarantine in the week leading up to Thanksgiving dinner, she says; this means trying to limit the amount of people that theyre in contact with. So no big events. Trying not to go to bars, not going to restaurants, shopping at the grocery store when theres not going to be a lot of people, Mora explains. Im a 7 A.M. grocery shopping kind of girl.

Then, on the day prior to gathering, everyone will take a COVID-19 rapid test, says Mora. The same goes for Miltons family: We will ask everyone to test on two consecutive days, including the morning of the gathering or prior to arrival and stay away if they have either a positive test or symptoms, he says.

Its also worth taking a few additional precautions once the holiday is over. Mora recommends wearing a mask for a week afterwards if it was a big family reunion or family festivity, just to make sure that nobody unwittingly spreads viruses. Also, consider doing a rapid test five days after the gathering or if people start feeling sick. Taking all these precautions to minimize the risk of infection will be key, she says, to getting throughand enjoyingthe holidays.
In the past six months, companies ranging from Uber to NBCUniversal to Boeing have laid off employees, as industry after industry has been decimated.

From coast to coast, transit agencies are planning for layoffs and pared-down service as the coronavirus pandemic decimates budgets and a federal stimulus package remains stalled in Congress.

With the pandemic decimating ridership and fare revenue, the agency is looking to cut one-quarter of its $2 billion in annual operating expenses from next years budget.

As this pandemic continues to decimate the livelihoods of countless independent musicians, Swift has sold more albums inside this calendar year than anyone else on Earth.

Free sampling  an age-old marketing tactic  has been decimated by store closures and lockdown mandates from coronavirus. No brainer: Marie Claire launches sampling business to boost revenue and data practice|Lucinda Southern|August 3, 2020|Digiday

But the site has seen little of the decimation from heavy tourism that has plagued the northern pyramids of Giza in Egypt. Egypt Aint The Only Pyramid Show In Town|Nina Strochlic|December 11, 2014|DAILY BEAST

In Texas, the grave consequences of the decimation of state family-planning funds in 2011 are already evident. Isabel Allende: How a Mysterious Baby Girl Sparked My Fight for Women|Isabel Allende|October 20, 2012|DAILY BEAST

The Shirt-tail battalion and the bluegrass battalion stood in peril of decimation in their maiden engagement. The Code of the Mountains|Charles Neville Buck

The Texans in their escape and conflicts had lost five men, and Santa Anna demanded the decimation of the rest. Graham's Magazine Vol XXXII No. 6 June 1848|Various

It is only because of the large families that they rear, that they are able to withstand this yearly decimation of their ranks. The Bird Book|Chester A. Reed

We should not be surprised if at least one part of the mysterious decimation turned out to be an early act of beneficial hidation. Domesday Book and Beyond|Frederic William Maitland
This super star pokerarticle is part of The D.C. Brief, TIMEs politics newsletter. Sign up hereto get stories like this sent to your inbox.

Most of us have bombed an assignment, be it a spelling test we forgot to cram for back in elementary school, a college exam that we just didnt understand, or a work project with a deadline that we blew off until it was too late. Most of us slink away, vowing to do better next time and hoping it doesnt define us.

Not Donald Trump.

On Tuesday night, the ex-President stood at the front of what these days is his at-the-ready classroom of Mar-a-Lago and made official what hes been teasing for months. The twice-impeached provocateur whose final days in office inspired a mob to besiege the U.S. Capitol in an attempt to overturn his loss in 2020, will try again in 2024. And, judging from his rhetoric and tone, hes going to run the same campaign as beforethe one that rendered him a loser. After all, any change would require an admission that the race he ran in 2020 was a clunker.

Put another way: Trump is the student who demands a chance to retake a test he failed, but has zero plans to do the reading, review the study guides, or even bring a pencil. To Trumps mind, his gut holds the answers even if the proctors with red pensin this case, the American electoratehave a different barometer of success in mind. With signature bravado, Trump is of the mind that if he can just find a different teaching assistant who will fall for his charms, he can get across the finish line with the same answers but more selling swagger.

This strategy has a number of flaws, not the least of which is that many of the Republican Partys leaders fault him for last Tuesdays electoral losses in an environment that should have favored the GOP. A defiant Trump insisted on Wednesday that he had 232 wins and a relatively small 22 losses. Left unsaid? Trumps hand-picked candidates for gigs like Pennsylvania, Arizona, New Hampshire, and Nevada senator; Arizona, Pennsylvania, and Wisconsin governor; and secretaries of state in Wisconsin and Arizona all lost marquee races. And most of the wins Trump took credit for would have happened without his endorsement. Around D.C., the ongoing joke was that Trump nominated winning dogcatchers but not actual lawmakers.

But this is classic Trump. An outcome can still be a win as long as he can convince the public the outcome was exactly as planned. And, as he stood in his Palm Beach, Fla., ballroom under chintzed chandeliers and klieg lights, the New York real estate hype man said Republicans erred in not just saying a House majority was the winning outcome all along.

We have taken over Congress, Trump crowed, even though the math was still out at that hour. I told them, I said, if you just keep a little bit lower standard, youre going to have a big victory. If you win by two seats, be happy.

For anyone who covered Trump since his 2015 descent via golden escalator to the lobby of Trump Tower for a visceral speech that set the tone of his entire campaign and presidency, the rhetoric Tuesday night was as expected. There were rifts on China and a border wall, the blood-soaked streets of our once-great cities and Democrats weak-on-crime posture, a volley against the fake news even though he insisted he wouldnt use that slur on such an elegant night. It was a raft of performance art aimed at his Make America Great Again base, laden with spite for immigrant caravans carrying savages, contempt for educators building inclusive spaces for transgender students and those from historically disadvantaged backgrounds, and drug dealers.

But plenty has changed since his first national introduction. He, his family, and his companies are all facing scores of criminal and civil investigationsincluding one featuring classified documents allegedly recovered from the same private club where Trump chose to begin his own comeback Tuesday night. But, true to form, Trump mocked the FBI raid on Mar-a-Lago: Im a victim. Let me tell you, Trump said, returning to his favorite Soviet-era tactic of whataboutism. The raid of a very beautiful house that sits right here, the raid of Mar-a-Lago. Think of it. I said, why didnt you raid Bushs place? Why didnt you raid Clinton? 32,000 emails! Why didnt you do Obama, who took a lot of things with him? (Hint: Trump doesnt know what hes talking about, or doesnt care that these sideshows are not true.)

Trump may be right when he said he was the only Republican who could defeat Hillary Clinton in 2016. But that test has long expired, and Trump has shown he simply cant ace a quiz with Joe Biden, who is still telling his aides and reporters to expect a 2024 campaign eventually. Republicans arent exactly ready to bet that Trump will spend the time to learn enough for his next exam, especially since hes barely changed his setlist from 2016 to 2020 or even 2022.

Republicans suffered losses in 2018, 2020, and now 2022 under Trumps auspices. The lone major Republican win in 2021 came from Republican Glenn Youngkin, a figure who found the way to embrace Trumpism but keep away from Trump himself. Youngkin, of course, is considering a run of his own in 2024, as are a number of Governorsincluding chief Trump threat, Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis.

Ask anyone who has spent time reporting on Republican rallies in this cycle, theres an admiration for Trump in the crowds but not necessarily an appetite for a return to his baggage. Instead, the folks who wait for hours to hear candidates in states like Nevada, Ohio, and Wisconsin say they want to see DeSantis, a Trump-style candidate without the headaches inherent to Trump himself. You can love his moxy without having to excuse when he gets too far over his skis and snowballs down the mountain.

Still, failure isnt in Trumps vocabulary. Cleverness, however, is. Just as he suggested his predecessors engaged in the very crimes the FBI is investigating inside the Trump orbit, the ex-President used his own campaign launch eventone where he had absolute control over the words coming from his mouthto suggest China had meddled to help Biden. Many people think that because of this, China played a very active role in the 2020 election, Trump said. Just saying, just saying. Im sure that didnt happen. This is the type of overreach that has many Republicans asking if they really have to muzzle themselves for another two or even six years.

The sharp tongue and smooth style for sure helped Trump win an improbable race in 2016 and kept him close in 2020. But Republicans havent seen him learn any new tricks, and heading into 2024, even an early showing to schedule his classes might not be enough if he doesnt actually do his homework. And, judging from his all-too-familiar throwback monologue, Trump hasnt spent any time over the last two years thinking of how he might fill in the exam booklet differently this time around.

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Chinese and DPRK leaders have held their third meeting in Beijing,old mobile bet9ja mobile focused on developing two special economic zones in the DPRK.

The Rason Economic and Trade Zone is adjacent to Northeast Chinas Jilin Province. While the Hwanggumphyong and Wihwa Islands Economic Zone is located near the estuary of the Yalu River, a border river that runs between the two countries.

Both sides agreed to strengthen the investment environment by accelerating their construction, and implement policies to attract more foreign direct investment.

For more on the meeting, were now joined on the line by our reporter Chang Dili in Beijing. Hello, Dili.

Q1: Bring us up to date on the latest about the meeting?

cntv

Chinese, DPRK agree to increase investmentadded by chinatimesonline on

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What Does Tax-Deferred Mean?dual control kitchen taps

Tax-deferred status refers to investment earningssuch as interest, dividends, or capital gainsthat accumulate tax-free until the investor takes constructive receipt of the profits. Some common examples of tax-deferred investments include individual retirement accounts (IRAs) and deferred annuities.

Key Takeaways

Tax-deferred status refers to investment earningssuch as interest, dividends, or capital gainsthat accumulate tax-free until the investor takes constructive receipt of the profits.

An investor benefits from the tax-free growth of earnings with tax-deferred investments, and if held until retirement, the tax savings can be substantial.

An example of a tax-deferred vehicle is a 401(k) plan: A tax-qualified defined contribution account offered by employers to help grow employees retirement savings.

Understanding Tax-Deferred

An investor benefits from the tax-free growth of earnings with tax-deferred investments. For investments held until retirement, the tax savings can be substantial. At retirement, the retiree will likely be in a lower tax bracket and no longer subject to premature tax and product withdrawal penalties.

Investing in qualified products, such as IRAs, allows participants to claim some or all of their contributions as a deduction on their tax returns. The benefit of declaring deductions in current years and incurring lower taxation in later years makes tax-deferred investments attractive.

Qualified Tax-Deferred Vehicles

A 401(k) plan is a tax-qualified defined contribution account offered by employers to help grow employees retirement savings. Companies employ a third-party administrator (TPA) to manage contributions, which are deducted from employee earnings. Employees choose to invest these contributions among various options, such as equity funds, company stock, money-market equivalents, or fixed-rate options. Contributions to qualified savings plans, such as 401(k) accounts, are made on a pre-tax basis, reducing taxable income received by the employee, which typically equates to lower tax liability.

Distributions from qualified plans are taxable as ordinary income if the owner is under the age of 59. The IRS may assess a 10% premature withdrawal penalty. Tax-deferral and employer dollar-matching provisions encourage employees to set aside wages for retirement savings.

Nonqualified Tax-Deferred Vehicles

Because contributions to a nonqualified plan are from post-tax income, they do not reduce taxable income. However, if tax-deferred, the earnings may accumulate tax-free. The contributions establish a cost basis for interest calculations.

On distributions, only the earnings are taxablehence, the name deferred annuities. Deferred annuities are attractive insurance products that embrace the benefits of tax deferral. Individual retirement accounts, such as traditional IRAs, limit annual contribution amounts. For 2023 , the contribution limit is $6,500, or $7,500 if a person is age 50 or older, up from $6,000 (or $7,000 for those 50 and older) in 2022. However, many annuities and other nonqualified tax-deferred products do not restrict contribution amounts.
The Year of the French language in China () was inaugurated September 13, 2011 at Beijing Language and Culture University, attended by Mr Alain Juppe, French Minister of Foreign and European Affairs, Ms. Liu Yandong, Chinese State Councilor and Mrs. Fu Ying, Chinese Vice Minister of Foreign Affairs.

According to Mr. Juppe, the event is a moving testimony to the commitment of many Chinese to French, a language of love and poetry, but also a language used in the science and business. I hope that this event continues to develop the presence of French in China and strengthen exchanges between our two countries, he said.

Cultural exchanges are important means to promote diplomatic relations between China and France, said Liu at the opening ceremony. Many events will be held in Beijing, Shanghai, Guangzhou, Wuhan and Chengdu, to highlight the diversity of French culture and attract more Chinese and to learn French.

More than 100,000 people are learning French in high schools and universities in China. More than 3,000 Chinese are studying in France. Dong Qiang, professor of Beijing University, is not satisfied with these figures: Basically, there are not many Chinese who are learning French, or French who are learning Chinese. This kind of event is absolutely necessary and I hope it will mark a great start to mobilize more people to become interested in languages of both countries. 

China Launched the Year of French languageadded by chinatimesonline on

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China has quietly started to sail its first aircraft carrier, the Shi Lang. The name of this ship is explicit: AdmiralShi Lang (1621-1696) was the commander of the Manchu fleet who conquered the island of Taiwan in 1681.

Chinese Navy desired to acquire the aircraft carrier, which marks the importance of a nation internationally. The aircraft carrier is an air base that can move a thousand miles a day bypassing all the overflight clearances, sailing in international waters. This is the sign of the great naval powers such as the United States, France, and Russia with a ship named Kousnetzov, sister ship of Shi Lang.

The Shi Lang is not new. It had originally been placed on hold in Ukraine in 1985 under the name of Riga. Ukraine had hoped that Russia could pay its bills to complete building the ship. Yet Moscow was not able to pay and Ukrainians have proposed to sell to the Chinese or Indians, who were interested at the time. After tough negotiations, the Russians finally agreed to sell the Varyag to China. Although Chinese got the ship, the Chinese Navy had neither the culture nor the technology of aircraft carrier.

This ship will primarily serve as training ship to train fighter pilots. The Chinese also built a stunning concrete model of Shi Lang in Wuhan on an office building for the maneuvers of aircraft on a flight deck.

An aircraft carrier is only part of a full battle group. The Chinese have frigates, destroyers and refueling tankers that accompany a carrier battle group, as well as nuclear attack submarines . But the navy has not been able to monitor the sky, like Hawkeye, which are now essential. Helicopters can fulfill this mission, but not completely.

In order to conduct military operations, the Shi Lang needs at least five years or more. Americans had abandoned conventional aircraft carriers and replaced with catapult / nuclear powered ones. Since the Chinese Navy decided to acquire conventional aircraft in the future, they will have to find their own culture and management.

Chinese Aircraft Carrier Shi Lang May Be Operational in Five Yearsadded by chinatimesonline on

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What Is FATCA?betway for beginners xer mega888

The Foreign Account Tax Compliance Act (FATCA) is a law that requires U.S. citizens living at home or abroad to file annual reports on any foreign account holdings they have. The main goal of FATCA is to stop tax evasion.

The FATCA was passed in 2010 as part of the Hiring Incentives to Restore Employment (HIRE) Act, which is designed to promote transparency in the global financial services sector. Form 8938 is used to report any foreign account holdings and there are serious penalties for not reporting them.

Key Takeaways

The Foreign Account Tax Compliance Act (FATCA) requires U.S. citizens to file annual reports on any foreign account holdings and pay any taxes owed on them with the goal of stopping tax evasion.

The tax revenues brought in by the FATCA pay for the business incentives introduced in the 2010 HIRE Act.

Form 8938 is used to report any foreign account holdings and there are serious penalties for not reporting them.

U.S. residents who do not report their foreign account holdings over $50,000 in any given year are subject to steep penalties.

Critics of FATCA claim that it places an unfair burden on foreign banks and financial institutions that are expected to report on the assets of their customers.

Understanding FATCA

The Foreign Account Tax Compliance Act (FATCA) was signed into law by President Barack Obama in 2010 as part of the Hiring Incentives to Restore Employment (HIRE) Act. HIRE was largely designed to incentivize businesses to hire unemployed workers. Unemployment rates had skyrocketed during the 2008 financial crisis.

One of the incentives offered to employers through the HIRE Act was an increase in the business tax credit for each new employee hired and retained for at least 52 weeks. Other incentives included payroll tax holiday benefits and an increase in the expense deduction limit for new equipment purchased in 2010.

The Goal of FATCA: Preventing Tax Evasion

FATCA seeks to eliminate tax evasion by American individuals and businesses that are investing, operating, and earning taxable income abroad.

While it is not illegal to maintain an offshore account, failure to disclose the account to the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) is illegal since the U.S. taxes all income and assets of its citizens on a global scale.

In fact, the FATCA was at least in part created to fund the costs of the business incentives offered in HIRE. FATCA provisions require U.S. taxpayers to report all financial assets held outside of the country annually and pay any taxes due on them. The revenue stream produced by FATCA goes toward the costs of the hiring incentives offered in the HIRE Act.

Penalties are imposed on U.S. residents who do not report foreign account holdings and financial assets that exceed $50,000 in value in any given year.

Who Needs to Comply With FATCA?

Form 8938 needs to be filed by any American taxpayer with financial assets totaling $50,000 or more. Those assets may be in a bank account or may be in stocks, bonds, and other financial instruments.

There are certain exceptions. One major one is an exception for assets held in a foreign branch of a U.S. institution or a U.S. branch of a foreign institution.



Foreign Institutions

Foreign financial institutions (FFI) and non-financial foreign entities (NFFE) are required to comply with this law by disclosing the identities of U.S. citizens with accounts and the value of the assets in those accounts to the IRS or the FATCA Intergovernmental Agreement (IGA).

FFIs that do not comply with the IRS will be excluded from the U.S. market and have 30% of the amount of any withholdable payment withheld from them as a tax penalty. Withholdable payments may include income generated from the U.S. financial assets held by these banks such as interest, dividends, and periodic profits.

FFIs and NFFEs that agree to the law must annually report the name, address, and tax identification number (TIN) of each account holder that meets the criteria of a U.S. citizen as well as the account number, the account balance, and any deposits and withdrawals on the account for the year.



Individual Taxpayers Living Abroad

The IRS requires Form 8938 for taxpayers living abroad under the following circumstances:

"You are married filing a joint income tax return and the total value of your specified foreign financial assets is more than $400,000 on the last day of the tax year or more than $600,000 at any time during the year. These thresholds apply even if only one spouse resides abroad. Married individuals who file a joint income tax return for the tax year will file a single Form 8938 that reports all of the specified foreign financial assets in which either spouse has an interest.

"You are not a married person filing a joint income tax return and the total value of your specified foreign financial assets is more than $200,000 on the last day of the tax year or more than $300,000 at any time during the year."

The reporting thresholds for foreign assets vary based on whether you file a joint income tax return and whether you live abroad. According to the IRS:

"If you are single or file separately from your spouse, you must submit a Form 8938 if you have more than $200,000 of specified foreign financial assets at the end of the year and you live abroad; or more than $50,000, if you live in the United States. If you file jointly with your spouse, these thresholds double. You are considered to live abroad if you are a U.S. citizen whose tax home is in a foreign country and you have been present in a foreign country or countries for at least 330 days out of a consecutive 12-month period."

Individual Taxpayers Living in the U.S.

The IRS requires Form 8938 for taxpayers living in the United States under the following circumstances:

"You are unmarried and the total value of your specified foreign financial assets is more than $50,000 on the last day of the tax year or more than $75,000 at any time during the tax year.

"You are married filing a joint income tax return and the total value of your specified foreign financial assets is more than $100,000 on the last day of the tax year or more than $150,000 at any time during the tax year.

"You are married filing separate income tax returns and the total value of your specified foreign financial assets is more than $50,000 on the last day of the tax year or more than $75,000 at any time during the tax year. For purposes of calculating the value of your specified foreign financial assets in applying this threshold, include one-half the value of any specified foreign financial asset jointly owned with your spouse. However, report the entire value on Form 8938 if you are required to file Form 8938."

Who Is a U.S. Person Under FATCA?

The FATCA guidelines refer to the term United States person or USP. A USP can be any of the following:

A citizen or resident of the United States

A domestic partnership (organized in the United States)

A domestic corporation (incorporated in the United States)

Any estate other than a foreign estate

Any trust if a court within the United States is able to exercise primary supervision over the administration of the trust, and one or more United States persons have the authority to control all substantial decisions of the trust

The United States government, a State, or the District of Columbia (including any agency, instrumentality, or political subdivision thereof)

A client could be considered a U.S. resident for tax purposes by virtue of the time spent in the U.S. according to the substantial presence test. The test must be applied each year that the individual is in the United States.

Students (F1, OPT, J1, Q Visas) are considered non-resident aliens for up to five years and are exempted from the substantial presence test for a period of five years.

Teachers and researchers (J1, Q Visas) are considered non-resident aliens for up to two years and are exempted from the substantial presence test for a period of two years.

For other H1B, L1, and other visa holders, to meet the substantial presence test, a foreign person must be physically present in the United States for at least 31 days during the current year and be physically present 183 days during the three-year period that includes the current year and the two years immediately before that, counting: (i) all the days the individual was present in the current year, and (ii) 1/3 of the days the individual was present in the year before the current year, and (iii) 1/6 of the days the individual was present in the year before last.

F and J student visa holders are to exclude five calendar years of presence for purposes of the substantial presence test.

J non-student visa holders are to exclude two years.

Penalties for Non-Compliance

There are penalties for failing to file Form 8938. The IRS can impose a $10,000 failure to file penalty, an additional penalty of up to $50,000 if the guilty party continues to not file after notification by the IRS, and a 40% penalty for understating taxes attributable to non-disclosed assets.

The statute of limitations is extended to six years after an entity files its return for income over $5,000 that is not reported and is attributable to a specified foreign financial asset. Also, if a party fails to file or properly report an asset on Form 8938, the statute of limitations for the tax year is extended to three years beyond the time when the party provides the required information.

If there is a reasonable cause for the failure, the statute of limitations is extended only with regard to the item or items related to such failure and not for the entire tax return.

No penalty is imposed if the failure to disclose is found to be reasonable, although this is decided on a case-by-case basis.

The Cost of Compliance

Although the price to pay for not complying with FATCA is high, the compliance costs for foreign financial institutions are also high. Nigel Green, CEO of deVere Group and co-founder of the Campaign to Repeal FATCA, estimated that 250,000 foreign financial institutions were being impacted by FATCA's reporting requirements.

One Spanish bank stated that compliance could cost one of its local bank branches $8.5 million and a global financial institution $850 million. Estimates of the costs to U.K. financial institutions ranged from $1.1 billion to $1.9 billion.

Criticism of FATCA

Of course, there are always critics of new tax laws. The Reuters news agency reported that FATCA drew the ire of banks and business people, who termed it "imperialist." Financial institutions objected to the fact that they were expected to report on their U.S. clients or withhold 30% of the interest, dividend, and investment payments due to those clients and send the money to the IRS.

Tax lawyers at the Swiss-American Chamber of Commerce in Zurich denounced FATCA as "the neutron bomb of the global economic system" and said it would deter foreign investment in U.S. markets.

Some critics argued that the cost of implementing FATCA was too great a burden on foreign financial institutions and could even cause them to divest their U.S. assets.

Foreign banks objected to the FATCA on the grounds that it is burdensome to their operations.

The Expat View

American Citizens Abroad proclaimed that Americans residing overseas need to have assets and bank accounts in their country of residence. If these Americans are subject to Form 8938, this amounts to discrimination against Americans residing overseas because Americans residing in the United States are not required to report their assets for tax purposes. Only their income needs to be reported since federal taxes are levied only on income and capital gains.

Overall, American Citizens Abroad was of the opinion that FATCA risked a potential loss of trillions of dollars of investment in the United States, the opportunity for American companies and financial institutions to compete in a global environment, and American citizens' ability to reside and thrive overseas.

What Is the Difference Between FATCA and FBAR?

The FBAR and FATCA reporting requirements are similar, but there are several significant differences. Some assets should be disclosed on one form but not the other, and some must be disclosed on both.



The Report of Foreign Bank and Financial Accounts, or FBAR, is a form required by the IRS for expatriates and other citizens with certain foreign bank accounts. FBARs also must be filed on behalf of trusts, estates, and domestic entities with interests in foreign financial accounts.



FATCA applies to individual citizens, residents, and non-resident aliens.



Residents and entities in U.S. territories must file FBARs but don't need to file FATCA forms.



The FATCA requires disclosure of foreign stocks and securities, partnership interests, hedge funds, and other private equity funds. FBARs are required for assets held in foreign branches of U.S. banks, accounts where the owner has signatory authority, and indirect ownership interests or beneficial interests.

Is FATCA Only for U.S. Citizens?

FATCA impacts all U.S. taxpayers who have assets held abroad. That includes citizens and green card holders as well as businesses owned by U.S. citizens and anyone that spends a certain number of days per year in the U.S. and has foreign accounts. All banks worldwide are affected by FATCA if they hold the assets of U.S. taxpayers.

How Can I Avoid FATCA?

There is no way to avoid FATCA if you are an American taxpayer and have assets that are held in foreign financial institutions.



Moreover, the penalties for trying to avoid it are harsh.

The Bottom Line

The Foreign Account Tax Compliance Act (FATCA) requires U.S. citizens living at home or abroad to file annual reports on any foreign account holdings they have. Filing is done by completing and sending in Form 8938. Depending on whether individuals live in the U.S. or live abroad, there are different filing requirements and holding thresholds. If you hold assets abroad, it's important to check if you need to file as there are high penalties for not doing so.
During an emergency that ratio could be allowed to drop to 8.5 people per orbit.

Absent a body, no one can say with absolute certainty whether Castro is dead, even if all signs point in that direction.

A policewoman was shot dead this morning while law enforcement searched for the Charlie Lebdo killers.

The cartoonist, better known as Charb, was shot dead Wednesday.

But with the pipeline, transportation costs drop and production would be higher. Fact-Checking the Sunday Shows: Jan. 4|PunditFact.com|January 5, 2015|DAILY BEAST

A little boy of four was moved to passionate grief at the sight of a dead dog taken from a pond. Children's Ways|James Sully

Before he could finish the sentence the Hole-keeper said snappishly, "Well, drop out againquick!" Davy and The Goblin|Charles E. Carryl

When he plays a sonata it is as if the composition rose from the dead and stood transfigured before you. Music-Study in Germany|Amy Fay

To-day I'm more dead than alive, as we had a lesson from him yesterday that lasted four hours. Music-Study in Germany|Amy Fay
Indian authorities allied with Prime Minister Narendra Modi have questioned Apple on the accuracy of its internal threat algorithms and are now investigating the security of its devices, according to The Washington Post. Officials apparently targeted the company after it warned journalists and opposition politicians that state-sponsored hackers may have infiltrated their devices back in October. While Apple is under scrutiny for its security measures in the eyes of the public, the Post says government officials were more upfront with what they wanted behind closed doors.

They reportedly called up the company's representatives in India to pressure Apple into finding a way to soften the political impact of its hacking warnings. The officials also called in an Apple security expert to conjure alternative explanations for the warnings that they could tell people  most likely one that doesn't point to the government as the possible culprit.

The journalists and politicians who posted about Apple's warnings on social media had one thing in common: They were all critical of Modi's government. Amnesty International examined the phone of one particular journalist named Anand Mangnale who was investigating long-time Modi ally Gautam Adani and found that an attacker had planted the Pegasus spyware on his Apple device. While Apple didn't explicitly say that the Indian government is to blame for the attacks, Pegasus, developed by the Israeli company NSO Group, is mostly sold to governments and government agencies.

The Post's report said India's ruling political party has never confirmed or denied using Pegasus to spy on journalists and political opponents, but this is far from the first time its critics have been infected with the Pegasus spyware. In 2021, an investigation by several publications that brought the Pegasus project to light found the spyware on the phones of people with a history of opposing and criticizing Modi's government.
It was an amazing year for games. While there were no new consoles, we did get new VR headsets and a wave of new handheld PCs offered even more options for playing games on the go (or at least on the couch). Thats reflected in many of our picks for best games of the year, with several PC-only choices.

The year kicked off with a fantastic remake of space horror Dead Space and the breakout success, Pizza Tower. But there were so many more. Obvious selections? Yes: the latest Zelda epic is there, as is Baldurs Gate 3. If youve got some time between Christmas and New Year, there may be no better way to spend it than with one of these games. Ive got Cocoon waiting for me.

 Mat Smith

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The biggest stories you might have missed

The Right to Repair movement won its biggest victories in 2023

Deathloop is free on PC for Amazon Prime members

The first EV with a lithium-free sodium battery hits the road in January

What happens next depends on the ITC's response.

Urgh, tech news whiplash. A federal appeals court in Washington D.C. has allowed Apple to continue importing the Apple Watch Series 9 and Apple Watch Ultra 2 models. This was just a day after Apple filed its appeal against the International Trade Commissions decision to ban imports of both models of the Apple Watch due to a patent dispute. But you probably read all about that  multiple times.

Continue reading.

The AI companies used the newspaper's articles for training.

The backlash against AI companies and their tools continues to grow. The New York Times is suing OpenAI and Microsoft for using its news articles to train its artificial intelligence chatbots without an agreement that compensates it for its intellectual property. It alleges that more than 66 million records, ranging from breaking news articles to op-eds, published across the NYT websites and other affiliated brands were used to train the AI models. The Times also says these AI products can generate output that mimics its expressive style. This mirrors complaints from comedians and authors like Sarah Silverman and Julian Sancton.

Continue reading.

eSoil is here.

Thor Balkhed/Linkoping University

Researchers from Linkoping University in Sweden have developed a "bioelectronic soil." It can apparently speed up the growth of plants in hydroponic spaces, or farms that grow plants in environments made up of mostly water. After integrating the engineered eSoil into the framework where seedlings grow, researchers discovered that sending electrical signals through the soil made barley plants grow 50 percent more on average.

This is done through a conductive polymer within the soil and applying a voltage as small as 0.5V on the eSoil to stimulate the roots electrically.

Continue reading.
reuters | The New York Times sued OpenAI and Microsoft, accusing them of using millions of the newspaper's articles without permission to help train chatbots to provide information to readers.
CLEVELAND  Kimberly Thomas recalls the day she gave birth to her twins, who were born at just 22 weeks.

Kimaya was 12 ounces, a little over 12 ounces and DJ was 15.2 ounces, she said.

To put that into perspective, they were around the same size as pop cans.

The first day, I felt like I was in shock and it was just pretty much blank, said Kimberly.

But reality set in when it was time to be discharged.

Even though I was coming back to the hospital, I was leaving without my babies, she said. Thats when it kind of hit me that this is real  their lives are in someone elses hands.

Kamaya and DJ spent four months in the NICU.

Doctor Firas Saker said theyre considered the youngest surviving premature twins born at Cleveland Clinic.

This was a long journey. It takes a lot of resources and some specialists. Putting IVs is a challenge, putting the central catheter is a challenge, he explained.

It was emotionally challenging as well.

If you were to talk to our nurses and respiratory therapists, this was rough for them, there was many times they had sweats and tears, he said.

Those tears have since turned to smiles.

And now the twins are back home, getting ready to celebrate Christmas.

I can be mom. That was one of the hardest parts, other than being sick at the hospital, I felt like I couldnt be mommy other than just standing there by their side, so it means a lot to me to just be able to hold them and be their mom, Kimberly said fondly.

The twins are being closely monitored to make sure they are on track with their development.
Time seems to take longer in Washington, D.C., Case in point: If you were a Republican on Capitol Hill, 2023 was endless.

At its start, the year arrived with a new GOP-led House and a new hope that this off-election session would be legislatively productive because 2024, a presidential election year, already loomed like an impending tornado.

But the year started poorly with Januarys four-day, 15-ballot intraparty brawl that finally delivered the speakers gavel to GOP House leader Kevin McCarthy. The bitter, deeply personal battle left wounds on many Republicans and drained McCarthy of any real power from the start.

With little mojo in his own caucus and none with Democrats, McCarthy spent most of his waking hours juggling GOP-tossed swords until Oct. 4, when eight of his own party members yanked him feet first from the speakers podium.

The end, preordained by McCarthy during Januarys dealmaking to become speaker, was ugly and unprecedented. The 216-to-210 vote, noted Reuters later that day, marked the first time in history that the House removed its leader

Stripped of his power, McCarthy  in another display of his uncanny inability to read the room  boldly assured mutinous colleagues that hed remain in the House. Eight weeks later, his dream, year and career in tatters, the California Republican announced his resignation at years end, another casualty of the too-long 2023.

Hes not alone. By mid-December, noted the website Ballotpedia, 38 members of Congress  seven members of the U.S. Senate and 31 members of the U.S. House  announced they would not seek reelection in 2024.

Thats eight more than two years ago and the election is still 11 long months away.

McCarthy, however, wasnt the cause of this years House dysfunction; he was just a symptom. In fact, since his firing, the House GOP remains so disorganized it has yet to move any required legislation through its own caucus, let alone through the House.

For example, McCarthys firing left Congress in uncharted waters to update farm-subsidy and nutrition programs, pass government funding bills and consider further aid to Ukraine.

Three months later, every item on this short list not only remains undone under new Speaker Mike Johnson, each seems even further from completion than when McCarthy was struggling to soothe the Houses GOP bellyachers and backbiters.

Worse, opined Punchbowl News, a daily report from Capitol Hill, Johnsons indecisive, do-little style of leadership portends even more do-nothingness for 2024.

For example, the Houses failure to take up legislation to reauthorize a foreign surveillance law, FISA, before leaving for Christmas was yet another terrific example of  Johnsons speakership: He is either unwilling, unable or disinterested in making big decisions.

Who can blame him? The second he was handed the speakers gavel  after yet another bloody brawl  his GOP colleagues put a target on his back. Just look at his five immediate Republican predecessors and their fate: Gingrich, deposed; Hastert, deposed; Boehner, deposed; Ryan, deposed; McCarthy, fired.

Is Johnson just the next GOP Caesar to be chopped and diced into salad by his own partys knife fighters?

That story will be written in the first four months of 2024 because he faces a legislative calendar that is as relentless as the march of time itself.

In January, he must pass Tranche one of government funding, the first part of the much-delayed 2024 federal budget, noted Punchbowl. In February, Tranche two of government funding looms. March brings the reauthorization of the Federal Aviation Administration and April, our old friend, FISA reauthorization returns.

And dont forget, the overhaul of the 2023 Farm Bill that was punted into 2024 after House Republicans could neither agree on its spending levels nor its spending priorities. Repubs spent the first part of the delay blaming each other for that failure.

But, alas, the new year always brings new hope.

Unless youre a member of the House Republican leadership where any day might bring a new speaker.
Small, family-run food producers in Scotland will be able to access support through a new government pilot to help them become more sustainable.

The Small Producers Pilot Fund, worth over 180,000, will be used to assist farmers and crofters to establish more localised supply chains and cut food miles.

The funding will be used to support two small-scale abattoir projects and establish a new information resource webpage for small producers.

It also aims to develop a framework to assess small producers' data, as well as procure a service to deliver training courses for small producers.

Rural Affairs Secretary Mairi Gougeon said: The fund will help small producers grow their businesses and facilitate the growth of a more diverse and resilient food and drink industry.

This pilot marks the start of our wider efforts to help small producers move to more green and sustainable production methods.

The Scottish government remains committed to supporting small producers and empowering them to play a key role in making our Vision for Agriculture a reality."
Nick Carters sister Bobbie Jean was found unresponsive in the bathroom just like their younger brother Aaron when he died.

Nick Carters sister Bobbie Jean was found unresponsive in the bathroom just like their younger brother Aaron when he died

The 41-year-old was discovered in the toilet of her home in Tampa, Florida, on Saturday (23.12.23) morning by emergency workers who rushed her to a nearby hospital, but she was declared dead.

TMZ reported she was found unresponsive in the bathroom like Aaron at the time of his death aged 34 on 5 November 2022.

Authorities have also revealed Bobbie Jean, who struggled with substance abuse and addiction throughout her life, was on probation for cocaine possession at the time of her death.

In June she was arrested for retail theft and drug possession after allegedly trying to steal $55 of crafts from a Brooksville, Florida, Hobby Lobby.

But her roommates informed authorities Bobbie Jean had stayed away from drugs since her release from prison.

Following a thorough search of Bobbie Jeans bedroom and bathroom no narcotics or drug paraphernalia were found and no signs of foul play were discovered, its been reported.

News of her passing comes just over a year after Bobbie Jeans brother Aaron was found dead in his bathtub after taking alprazolam and compressed gas difluoroethane  and 11 years after her sister Leslie Carter died from an overdose at 25.

Bobbie Jeans mum Jane said in a statement about her girls passing: I am in shock from learning of the sudden death of my daughter, Bobbie Jean; and I will need time to process the terrible reality of this happening for the third time.

When I am able to think clearly, Ill release a fuller statement; but until then I would request to be left to grieve in private.

Referring to Bobbie Jeans daughter, Jane added: However deeply a parent feels the loss of a child, the suffering of a young child at the loss of a parent must be much greater.

So, I would ask the sympathetic to say a prayer for my precious 8-year-old granddaughter Bella, who previously lost her father and is now also left without her mother.
Noddy Holder says hes fit after a revolutionary drug helped him fight cancer.

Noddy Holder says hes fit after a revolutionary drug helped him fight cancer

The Slade frontman, 77, was given six months to live when he was diagnosed with oesophagus cancer five years ago but says hes now on an even keel after undergoing gruelling experimental medicine treatment.

He told BBC Radio 2: It was touch and go. I lost all my hair. My weight was down to about eight stone  so every cloud.

Ive just had a scan last week and everythings on an even keel at the moment, so I hope it carries on that way.

Im fit, fit, fit but Im fit for nothing.

The Merry Xmas Everybody rocker and wife Suzan kept his cancer fight secret for five years, but Noddy spoke out this year about his diagnosis to highlight the work of the Christie group in Manchester.

He added to Radio 2s Johnnie Walker: I was more worried for Suzan and the kids and the grandkids than I was for myself, really, because I knew itd be much more of a trauma or certainly an equal trauma for them as it was for me.

Five years later, Im still standing, in the words of Elton (John.)

Noddy had previously vowed to belt out his famous Its Christmaaaaaas lyric live after returning to stage following his cancer battle.

He said earlier this year when asked if he intends to get back to singing Merry Xmas Everybody at gigs: Oh yes. I dont really know why my voice wasnt affected, because my breathing was.

I dont quite breathe in the same way I used to, but somehow Ive adapted the singing around it.

Slade, formed in Wolverhampton in 1966, went on to become one of the most influential glam rock bands of the 1970s, scoring six No1s, including festive favourite Merry Xmas Everybody.
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Southeast Asias economy is projected to grow by 4.3 per cent this year and by 4.2 per cent in the next, below the pre-pandemic average of 5 per cent per year, according to the latest Economic Insight report for Southeast Asia, commissioned by the Institute of Chartered Accountants in England and Wales and Oxford Economics.

The region has displayed resilient economic momentum in the third quarter (Q3) this year, with improved trade conditions driving gross domestic product (GDP) growth to surpass expectations.

Export growth in Singapore, Vietnam and Malaysia expanded from Q2 to Q3, with the first two nations enjoying notable turnarounds. The regions exports will likely be weighed down by a prolonged global weakness, particularly from the United States and China, a Vietnamese media outlet report citing the document.

Southeast Asia's economy is forecast to grow by 4.3 per cent in 2023 and by 4.2 per cent in 2024, says a report by the Institute of Chartered Accountants in England and Wales and Oxford Economics. The region's exports will likely be weighed down by a prolonged global weakness, particularly from the US and China. Other advanced nations are set to be sluggish.

Vietnam's economy will grow by 4.7 per cent this year and by 5 per cent in the next, with a bright medium-term outlook. Overall growth there next year is expected to be subdued by normal standards. The pre-pandemic growth trend was around 7 per cent in the country.

Vietnam has emerged as a key winner amid the global supply chain reshuffling, and its share of global goods exports should rise further over the medium term, spurred by the China Plus One strategy of multinationals, the report predicts.

That should drive Vietnamese GDP outperformance relative to the country's ASEAN peers until at least 2030, it notes.

Though economic momentum picked up in the third quarter this year in Vietnam, concerns exist about potential headwinds next year, the report says.

Factors weighing down the 2024 forecast for Vietnam include US- and China-led slow global growth, tourism bright spots losing their shine and declining private consumption.

Singapore's economy enjoyed robust 1.4 per cent quarter-on-quarter growth in the third quarter this year, driven by a turnaround in exports and manufacturing activity. The GDP growth forecast for this year for the country is 0.7 per cent, down from 3.6 per cent last year.

While the United States will probably avoid a recession, an extended period of poor growth is likely ahead, the report notes.

Other advanced economies are set to be sluggish due to past policy tightening, while Chinas spending will remain subdued as it faces its internal problems, it adds.

Fibre2Fashion News Desk (DS)
Siddhant Chaturvedi On His Dating Life: Actor Siddhant Chaturvedi over the years proved his mettle by delivering some outstanding performances. He was recently seen in Netflix's coming-of-age film 'Kho Gaye Hum Kahan' and received rave reviews for the same.

The Gully Boy actor has been averse to discussing his private life in public. He is rumoured to be dating Amitabh Bachchan's granddaughter, Navya Naveli Nanda. Despite being spotted together multiple times, he has never acknowledged it.

One of the rising Gen Z stars in Tinseltown, Chaturvedi, recently, in an interview, talked about whether he feels comfortable getting papped and why he keeps his love life private.

Year Ender 2023: Ranbir Kapoor To Siddhant Chaturvedi; Heroes Who Defined 2023 With Stellar Performances

Siddhant Chaturvedi on keeping his love life private

In an interaction with India Today recently, the charming actor shared that when it comes to love, he follows his mother's wise words. He was quoted as saying, "About relationships and dating life, I absolutely try to avoid it because that is not something for the world to see. That's just for me, and my mom says 'jisko aap bohut pyaar karate ho, chupake rakhna chahiye. Nazar lag jaati hai."'

Siddhant on getting papped

Talking about how he came to terms with getting papped, he stated, "I am not papped too much in the year, actually. Right now, you see me getting papped because of promotions. Getting papped with friends is a good feeling because for them, it is fun."

Adding that he is very comfortable around paps, the 30-year-old actor said, "I speak to them, talk to them, their job is so hard. You have called the same person, and then you act like oh, who called them? I find it weird. Hence, I prefer giving pictures when I can because it is anyway rare that I am spotted."

Kho Gaye Hum Kahan REVIEW: Ananya-Siddhant-Gourav's Netflix Film Works Like A Charm, Makes You Swipe Right

Siddhant Chaturvedi is currently preparing for his upcoming action film, Yudhra, in Bhopal.
The past year has been one of unparalleled success for Bollywood sweetheart Ananya Panday, as the actress attained new highs, both personally and professionally.

From breaking the 100 crore barrier to representing the country internationally, here's a look back at Ananya Panday's successful 2023.

Dream Girl 2 Hits The 100 Crore Club

Dream Girl 2, starring Ananya Panday and Ayushmann Khurrana, was one of 2023's most popular films and the actresses' first film to break the 100 Crore barrier. In the film, Ananya plays the role of a small-town girl from Mathura, a stark contrast to the Bandra girl she is in real life. The actress received heaps of praise for her ability to step into the shoes of a small-town girl, as the film became her highest-grossing one to date.

Ananya Goes International - A Brand Favourite

The past year saw Ananya Panday become the face of some of the biggest and most popular brands around, even representing the country at an event in New York City alongside the likes of Kim Kardashian, Gwyneth Paltrow, Serena Williams, Ashley Graham, and more. After names like Deepika Padukone and Alia Bhatt, Ananya Panday has become the new favourite face for brands, not just in India, but Internationally as well.

New House And New Beginnings

The success Ananya has seen throughout the year led her to achieve a major personal milestone, buying her own house. Whether you are an actor or not, moving into your own house is still a major milestone, and one of the toughest individual decisions one can make. Ananya's new house is a major step forward, both in her career and her personal life.

Ananya Panday's 2023 Fashion Book

A major highlight of the past year has been Ananya Panday's fashion sense. Her looks during the promotions of Dream Girl 2 as well as other celebrity events have made her stand out among her peers in the industry. Ananya has been hailed as the perfect fashion icon, be it Traditional, Festive or even Western wear, which is no surprise as the actress continues to deliver jaw-dropping looks wherever she goes.

The Release Of Kho Gaye Hum Kahan

Ananya Panday's latest Netflix release, Kho Gaye Hum Kahan, is one that will resonate with every young adult and friend group out there. Ananya's portrayal of Ahana has been hailed as her best performance yet, with the actress receiving praise from across the industry for bringing the best out of a character so many of us can relate to. Her performance has been called glamorous, outstanding, and in many places, flawless. She portrays Ahana with much-required sincerity as her character is ambitious and smart but deals with her insecurities when going through heartbreak.

Over the past year, Ananya Panday has undoubtedly been the envy of many, given the amount of success she has seen at such a young age. As she continues to ride the highs of 2023, fans of the Kho Gaye Hum Kahan actress will undoubtedly be praying for an even more successful year to come.
2023 was a year of resurgence for Bollywood, with films starting to pick up in both theatres as well as the OTT space. Several songs became popular hits among the audience, making them groove to the hook steps along the way.

As 2023 comes to an end, here's a look at some of the most popular songs and their hook-steps from the past year that became a hit among fans.

Jhoome jo Pathaan

Pathaan, one of 2023's best films, also gave us some iconic songs. The titular song 'Jhoome jo Pathaan', gave us one of the year's most iconic steps. When paired with SRK's charm and screen presence, the song took the country by storm as fans and actors alike joined in on the Pathaan craze.

What Jhumka

The electric chemistry of Ranveer Singh and Alia Bhatt rocked the industry as Rocky Aur Rani Kii Prem Kahaani brought a sense of the old Bollywood romance back to the big screen. Similarly, the peppy and catchy number, 'What Jhumka' maintained steady numbers on music charts, while the hook step from the song took social media by storm as users all over the country began posting videos doing the step.

Main Parwaana

'Main Parwaana' from the war film 'Pippa' took us back to the 70's with its style and ambience. The song also gave us one of the best choreographies of the year, and with Ishaan Khatter in the lead, took the dance world by storm. The hook steps of this catchy song gave dancers a new challenge as they recreated the magic of 'Main Parwaana', with the song being used over 83,000 times.

Show Me the Thumka

'Show Me the Thumka' from 'Tu Jhoothi Main Makkaar' brought us the electric combination of Ranbir Kapoor and Shraddha Kapoor, giving us one of the catchiest songs of the year. The thumka's from both actors went viral, and became instant hits on social media, as fans sought to recapture the magic of the song and its hook-step for themselves

Jamal Kudu

Jamal Kudu from Animal marked the return of Bobby Deol to the big screen and became one of the most iconic songs of the year. The Persian lyrics became an instant hit, as the song skyrocketed to popularity. The images of Bobby Deol dancing with a glass on his head were the hook-step, and spawned an entire trend, as Jamal Kudu and the iconic dance became the go-to for reels and other videos on Social Media.

The Indian Film Industry is defined as much by its music as by its films, and the release of so many catchy songs in the span of a year, is a true indicator of Bollywood's success in 2023, as the industry and fans alike, finally found their groove again.
Sharmila Tagore On KWK 8: The latest episode of Karan Johar's chat show Koffee With Karan season 8 was a blockbuster as it saw film veteran Sharmila Tagore gracing the couch for the first time with her son Saif Ali Khan.

The conversations spanned family dynamics, cinema, and more. Tagore, who was among the first few actresses to wear a bikini on the big screen for her 1967 film An Evening In Paris, spoke about the backlash she got for it.

During the show, Sharmila shared how her bold step grabbed eyeballs, including those seated in Parliament.

Sharmila talks about her bikini photoshoot in 60s

The 79-year-old actress was her unfiltered best on Koffee With Karan 8. She revealed how fans and the film industry were shocked seeing her bikini scene and even added that questions were raised over the same in the Indian Parliament.

Ajay Devgn Calls Karan Johar His 'Sworn Enemy' On KWK 8, Leaves Latter SPEECHLESS; See VIDEO

Host Karan said, "Your famous bikini shot... You know the shot I am talking about. Nobody else wanted it to happen. Even the photographer had some anxiety issues about doing that."

Replying to him, Sharmila Tagore stated, "Yes I do." Saif Ali Khan added, "People in my boarding school used to ask me, is that your mum? I was very proud of it."

Sharmila then added, "Yes, the photographer was slightly worried and I just thought I looked very nice. It really hurt me later because everybody interpreted it in such a way that I was upwardly mobile, I was trying to catch eyeballs. I didn't feel like that. When it came out in Filmfare, I was in London and I was unaware till Shakti (Samanta) ji called me and said, will you come back quickly? There are terrible things happening here. He said if you want to be in the public eye, this is not the way to go."

She mentioned that she sent a telegram to Tiger Pataudi and said, "I was very upset with all this... Completely opposite of what I thought would happen so, I sent a telegram because those days you could send telegrams. So, I sent it to Tiger and he said, I am sure you are looking very nice. So that was my support."

"Questions were asked in Parliament. It was not pleasant for me. But learning I did. After that I chose Aaradhna. It was RRR of our time," Sharmila said, referring to her film with Rajesh Khanna in 1969.

KWK 8: KJo Asks Aditya Roy Kapur If He Is DATING Ananya Panday; Actor Has THIS To Say

Sharmila Tagore returned to screen after years with Gulmohar this year alongside Manoj Bajpayee.
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Swathi Mutthina Male Haniye OTT Release Date: This latest romantic drama enacted, written, and directed by Raj B. Shetty which was released to limited screens in Karnataka on November 24. The movie won applause and struck a chord with the film buffs.

Upon its theatrical release, Swati Mutthina Male Haniye was received well by film critics who praised Raj B. Shetty for his stories, content, and filmmaking. The movie got widespread positive responses from a section of the audience who enjoyed the theatrical experience of this emotional film. Critics couldn't stop but heap appreciations on Raj B. Shetty for making films that make him as well as the movie lovers proud.

Swathi Mutthina Male Haniye Story

Prerana, a counselor in a hospital befriends Aniketh, a terminally ill patient who comes to her for guidance. Their unconventional bond challenges the core emotions and values of love, life, and humanity.

Swathi Mutthina Male Haniye OTT Release Date & Time On Amazon Prime Video

This movie was at first planned to be released directly on the OTT platform but upon several discussions, the movie had a theatrical release. The digital streaming rights of the movie are secured for a decent amount by OTT giant Amazon Prime Video and the movie is ready to make its OTT debut on December 29.

Swathi Mutthina Male Haniye Cast

The movie stars Raj B. Shetty as Aniketh and Siri Ravikumar as Prerana. In addition, the cast includes Balaji Manohar, Surya Vasishta, Rekha Kudligi, Sneha Sharma, JP Thumminad, and Gopalkrishna Deshpande among others who played key roles.

Swathi Mutthina Male Haniye Crew

The movie Swathi Mutthina Male Haniye has its story, and screenplay written and directed by Raj B. Shetty. The movie was produced by Ramya, Ravi Rai Kalasa, and Vachan Shetty under the Lighter Buddha Films and AppleBox Studios banner. Midhun Mukundan composed the film's music and Praveen Shriyan worked as the cinematographer-cum-editor.
As the nation is gearing up for the New Year 2024 celebrations and is taken over by the holiday vibes, the Tamil film industry came up with a most heartbreaking news this morning as legendary actor Vijayakanth breathed his last on December 28. He was 71. For the uninitiated, Vijayakanth aka Captain Vijayakanth, who was a part of around 154 films, was quite popular in Tamil cinema for his role of a police officer and wore the uniform in 20 films.

Besides, after a successful career in showbiz world, he also carved a niche for himself in politics and was the founder and president of the Desiya Murpokku Dravida Kazhagam (DMDK) Political party. And while Vijayakanth enjoyed a massive fan following, the news of his unfortunate demise has sent a wave of shock and grief across the Tamil film industry.

According to media reports, Vijayakanth was hospitalised lately after he was diagnosed with pneumonia. And while the senior actor was undergoing the treatment for the same, it was reported that he tested positive for Corona virus (COVID 19) and was put on ventilator support this morning. He also reportedly having difficulty in breathing.

The news of his demise was confirmed by the hospital in a statement which read as, "Captain Vijaykanth was on ventilatory support following his admission for pneumonia. Despite the best efforts of medical staff he passed away in the morning on 28th December 2023".

To note Vijayakanth was earlier hospitalised in November this year owing to respiratory illness and was discahrged later. On the other hand, as Vijayakanth was hospitalised again lately, renowned actor Suriya had sent him recovery wishes and tweeted, "Wishing brother Vijayakanth a speedy recovery. Like me, several of his fans are praying for his well-being and he will definitely recover and bounce back soon."
In what came as a shocking news from the Tamil film industry, renowned actor and DMDK leader Vijayakanth breather his last today (December 28). According to media reports, Vijayakanth aka Captain Vijayakanth, who was hospitalised in a private hospital lately due to pneumonia, was on ventilator support after he tested positive for Coronavirus during the treatment. He later passed away this morning in the hospital.

As the news has left everyone shocked and sent a wave of grief across Tamil Nadu, Vijayakanth's wife Premalatha was seen crying inconsolably as she got the news of the senior actor's unfortunate demise. In several videos and pics going viral on social media, Premalatha was seen taking Vijayakanth's mortal remains back home for the last respects and she was seen breaking into tears after she saw Vijayakanth.

Photo Credit:

Photo Credit:

To note, the news of Vijayakanth's demise was confirmed by the hospital in a statement which read as, "Captain Vijaykanth was on ventilatory support following his admission for pneumonia. Despite the best efforts of medical staff he passed away in the morning on 28th December 2023".

Meanwhile, as the news of Vijayakanth's demise has spread like wildfire, the social media is abuzz with tweets condoling his unfortunate demise. In fact, Prime Minister Narendra Modi also mourned his death and wrote, "Extremely saddened by the passing away of Thiru Vijayakanth Ji. A legend of the Tamil film world, his charismatic performances captured the hearts of millions. As a political leader, he was deeply committed to public service, leaving a lasting impact on Tamil Nadu's political landscape. His passing leaves a void that will be hard to fill. He was a close friend and I fondly recall my interactions with him over the years. In this sad hour, my thoughts are with his family, fans and numerous followers. Om Shanti."
SEOUL, South Korea, Dec. 28, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- On December 1, 2023, Jung Kwan Jang honors its 124th anniversary with the unveiling of the Red Ginseng Heritage Edition, a tribute to the company's respect for Korean cultural heritage.

Conceived as a "small museum for your own," Red Ginseng Extract Heritage Edition is a limited edition that packages Jung Kwan Jang's signature product, Red Ginseng Extract in six exquisite designs inspired by national treasure-equivalent cultural heritages.

Rooted in shared history and trajectory with Jung Kwan Jang, the beginning Red Ginseng Extract goes back to 1899, the 36th year of King Gojong's reign. The Korean Empire's red ginseng monopoly generated significant revenue for the imperial family, constituting over the half of the family's yearly budget. Adopting a national approach to red ginseng management, the Korean Empire paid attention to the development of processing methods for easier consumption of red ginseng, beyond traditional root forms. As a result, the first processed red ginseng concentrate product like the current Red Ginseng Extract Jung was born in Gaesung, Gyeonggi-do in 1912.

Korea Ginseng Corporation (KGC), Korea's leading health supplement company, is faithfully carrying forth the tradition. KGC is paving a unique way that no one can follow, popularizing and globalizing red ginseng through systematic cultivation management system, rigorous quality assurance, R&D and global market opening.

In particular, it has been contributing to solidifying the country's position as the ginseng pioneer as four functionalities of red ginseng, which are blood circulation improvement, memory improvement, antioxidant activity, and climacteric women health improvement, are recognized as Jung Kwan Jang's technologies, among other benefits accepted by the Korea Ministry of Food and Drug Safety.

KGC R&D Center has published about 290 papers in academic journals in and out of the country, and owns about 200 technical patents and 15 protection rights for its exclusively cultivated species. In 2016, KGC's analysis of ginsenoside received the world's first accreditation from the Korea Laboratory Accreditation Scheme (KOLAS).

Jung Kwan Jang, which has been exporting about 250 products to about 40 countries, has topped the global ginseng retail market in sales for 10 consecutive years, according to global market research institution Euromonitor International. Euromonitor's 2022 report shows the global ginseng retail market was USD2.47 billion last year, with Jung Kwan Jang solidifying its position as the no. 1 ginseng brand with a commanding 41.9% share.

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View original content:https://www.prnewswire.co.uk/news-releases/jung-kwan-jang-launches-a-limited-edition-red-ginseng-marking-its-124th-anniversary-302020836.html
Tokyo, Japan--(Newsfile Corp. - December 27, 2023) - ZIPAIR Tokyo announced that the carrier will expand its transpacific network with service between Tokyo Narita and Vancouver International Airport, starting March 13, 2024. The service to Vancouver will become the carrier's fourth route across the Pacific, following Los Angeles, San Jose Mineta, and San Francisco International Airport. Reservations and tickets are now on sale on www.zipair.net.

ZIPAIR operates the highly efficient Boeing 787-8 aircraft on its international routes and will initially offer three flights per week between Tokyo Narita and Vancouver. The carrier's unique business model provides a convenient low-cost option, allowing more people to connect between Canada and Asia with ease.



The city of Vancouver features scenic views and a moderate, oceanic climate throughout the year making it a popular tourist destination. Locations such as Stanley Park, Granville Island, Vancouver Aquarium, and Grouse Mountain are considered one of the top attractions in the area. Vancouver is also known as one of the most ethnically and linguistically diverse cities around the world.





Credit: Destination Vancouver/Albert Normandin



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Credit: Destination Vancouver/Kindred & Scout

Left: Grouse Mountain Resort / Middle: Spanish Banks / Right: False Creek



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"This new route will strengthen our international network across the Pacific, while meeting the growing travel demand between Vancouver and Tokyo Japan," said ZIPAIR President Shingo Nishida. "Ever since our establishment in 2018, our mission is to define a new standard in the airline industry by offering a unique low-cost business model on long-haul international routes. We sincerely look forward to welcoming customers in Canada to take advantage of our service, as this route will provide a valuable link for commercial and cultural exchange between the two countries."

Flight Schedule

March 13 - March 30, 2024

Flight # Schedule Operates ZG22 Departs Narita 16:00

Arrives Vancouver 08:30 Monday / Wednesday / Saturday ZG21 Departs Vancouver 10:30

Arrives Narita 13:00 (next day)

March 31 - June 30, 2024

Flight # Schedule Operates ZG22 Departs Narita 15:40

Arrives Vancouver 08:25 Monday / Wednesday / Saturday ZG21 Departs Vancouver 10:25

Arrives Narita 12:25 (next day)

July 1 - September 30, 2024

Flight # Schedule Operates ZG22 Departs Narita 15:40

Arrives Vancouver 08:45 Monday / Wednesday / Saturday ZG21 Departs Vancouver 10:45

Arrives Narita 12:25 (next day)

October 1 - October 26, 2024

Flight # Schedule Operates ZG22 Departs Narita 15:40

Arrives Vancouver 08:25 Monday / Wednesday / Saturday ZG21 Departs Vancouver 10:25

Arrives Narita 12:25 (next day)

Flight schedules are subject to relevant government approvals.

Flights will operate between Tokyo Narita Terminal 1 - North Wing and Vancouver International Airport

Sample Airfares

Fare Type Airfare (Per Seat / One-Way Fare) Age Tokyo - Vancouver Vancouver - Tokyo ZIP Full-Flat Value From JPY 105,335 ~ From CAD 1,102.16 ~ 7 years and above Standard Value From JPY 32,960 ~ From CAD 352.16 ~ 7 years and above U6 Standard Value JPY 12,790 (Flat Rate) CAD 156.16 (Flat Rate) 6 years and under

Airfares shown above are per seat / one-way fares and are inclusive of taxes and applicable fees. (Prices are valid as of December 27, 2023)

Each fare includes a maximum of 7kg of carry-on baggage allowance.

Additional fees apply for optional services, including checked baggage, inflight meals, etc.

Carrier does not impose a fuel surcharge.

Ancillary Service Package

Pricing Details Baggage Allowance 30kg per piece JPY7,000 / CAD73 Carry-on Baggage

(7kg Included) Fee-based option to add 8kg (Total 15kg) JPY5,000 / CAD52 Package Value Checked Baggage 30kg, Seat Selection, Inflight Meal JPY11,000 / CAD114 Premium Checked Baggage 30kg, Seat Selection, Inflight Meal, Carry-on +8kg, Amenity Set JPY18,000 / CAD187

Fare Rules ([ZIP Full-Flat Value] [Standard Value] [U6 Standard Value])

Reservations Available on ZIPAIR Website or at the Contact Center Purchase Deadline 90 minutes prior to the scheduled flight Date Change Not Permitted Refund Not Permitted

- An administrative ticketing fee will apply per person (per sector) for purchases made through the Contact Center.

- Tickets for children (Age 2-6) must be purchased 24 hours prior to the scheduled flight. For children (Age 0-1) tickets must be purchased 48 hours prior to the scheduled flight.

- For additional details, visit https://www.zipair.net/en/farerules

Reservations and Sales

Reservations will be accepted from December 27 (12:00 Japan Standard Time)

For additional information, visit https://www.zipair.net.en





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About ZIPAIR Tokyo

Established in 2018 as a wholly owned subsidiary of Japan Airlines, ZIPAIR features a fully customizable travel experience based on an LCC business model. Offering complimentary Wi-Fi for all classes of travel, the carrier operates the Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner configured in a 290-seat layout. One of the few international airlines to provide a contactless inflight experience, ZIPAIR's self-ordering payment system is accessible to order meals and goods through a personal smartphone or tablet. Based out of Tokyo Narita, ZIPAIR currently operates to eight international destinations, including Bangkok, Singapore, Manila, Seoul, Honolulu, Los Angeles, San Jose Mineta, and San Francisco.

Media Contact:

Mark Morimoto

morimoto.qfc4@jal.com

To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/192527

SOURCE: ZIPAIR Tokyo Inc.
HEFEI, China, Dec. 28, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Sungrow, the global leading inverter and energy storage system supplier, opened its new and expanded headquarters office tower on December 26th, 2023 in Hefei, China. The milestone event was graced by the presence of Sungrow's Chairman, Cao Renxian, who presided over the opening ceremony and commemorated the occasion alongside valued partners, ushering in the new year with fervor and camaraderie.

Inspired by the concept of a "sinusoidal waveform superimposed with three harmonics", this magnificent building is a testament to its commitment to advancing clean energy technologies. It also symbolizes its dedication to "connect the green mission and create long-term value" in the clean energy field.

The newly opened Sungrow Tower spans an area of 60,000 square meters and stands as a certified green building, boasting a forward-thinking design integrated with sustainable principles. Notably, the tower's rooftop consists of a PV plant generating clean energy to power the office. Enhanced by a sloped glazing curtain wall, the space enjoys increased natural light, fostering a brighter and more comfortable working environment.

In tandem with Sungrow's expanding global presence, the facilities within the new office have been meticulously crafted to foster collaborative workspaces for colleagues around the globe. The office is fully equipped with cutting-edge tech-enabled meeting rooms, social and break-out areas, and an immersive exhibition hall showcasing products and solutions across five business segments, encompassing PV, energy storage, wind power, electric vehicles, and green hydrogen.

Dr. Jack Gu, Vice Chairman of Sungrow and President of Sungrow PV & Storage Business Group said, "This marks an exciting chapter for our team. The Sungrow Tower truly reflects the growth we have experienced and will allow us to provide our team with fantastic collaborative workspaces. This new space enables us to meet the evolving demands of our global clients and partners."

About Sungrow

Sungrow Power Supply Co., Ltd. ("Sungrow") is the world's most bankable inverter brand with over 405 GW installed worldwide as of June 2023. Founded in 1997 by University Professor Cao Renxian, Sungrow is a leader in the research and development of solar inverters with the largest dedicated R&D team in the industry and a broad product portfolio offering PV inverter solutions and energy storage systems for utility-scale, commercial & industrial, and residential applications, as well as internationally recognized floating PV plant solutions, NEV driving solutions, EV charging solutions and renewable hydrogen production systems. With a strong 26-year track record in the PV space, Sungrow products power over 150 countries worldwide. For more information about Sungrow, visit www.sungrowpower.com.

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View original content:https://www.prnewswire.co.uk/news-releases/sungrow-opens-new-office-tower-at-its-global-headquarters-302023091.html
CANBERA (dpa-AFX) - The U.S. dollar weakened against other major currencies in the Asian session on Thursday. The U.S. dollar fell to an 8-year low of 0.8396 against the Swiss franc and a 2-week low of 141.18 against the yen, from yesterday's closing quotes of 0.8425 and 141.45, respectively. The greenback slid to a 5-month low of 1.1123 against the euro and nearly a 5-month low of 1.2815 against the pound, from Wednesday's closing quotes of 1.1108 and 1.2800, respectively. Against the Australia and the New Zealand dollars, the greenback dropped to 5-1/2-month lows of 0.6872 and 0.6370 from yesterday's closing quotes of 0.6853 and 0.6348, respectively. The greenback edged down to 1.3193 against the Canadian dollar, from yesterday's closing value of 1.3206. If the greenback extends its downtrend, it is likely to find support around 0.82 against the franc, 140.00 against the yen, 1.13 against the euro, 1.29 against the pound, 0.69 against the aussie, 0.65 against the kiwi and 1.30 against the loonie. 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.
Dubai, United Arab Emirates--(Newsfile Corp. - December 28, 2023) - In a significant development for the renewable energy sector, Inverex, Pakistan's solar panel manufacturer and distributor, has announced a strategic partnership with Trade Foresight, a pioneering trade tech company. This international agreement marks a pivotal moment in Inverex's mission to become a global brand in green and clean energy production, leveraging Trade Foresight's AI-based platform.

Inverex is one of Pakistan's largest solar panel and inverter manufacturers and distributors, with 10 years of experience in producing solar technology equipment for domestic and commercial settings. The company has ambitions to expand its operations to new territories, with a particular focus in the Middle East and Africa, and sees Trade Foresight as the right partner to provide the business intelligence it needs to help it bring sustainable energy production to the world.

Inverex has already supplied solar energy products and completed projects from the household to the government level in Pakistan and the UAE, and it will be building on those beginnings to establish a solid presence in the emirate, which is already a major market for solar energy. The UAE's government is steering the nation towards becoming a clean energy global powerhouse, and Inverex is committed to playing its part in that journey.

Abdul Ahad, COO of Inverex, and the author of this strategic global partnership, who will co-manage it with Trade Foresight, anticipates a bright future. "Strategic partnerships of this nature enable us to expand our horizons and increase our impact. Together, we are committed to delivering sustainable energy solutions that align with global standards and promote Pakistan's contribution to reducing the impact caused by global warming."

Muhammed Zakir, Inverex's founder, said that "harnessing solar energy for a sustainable world finds a perfect match in Trade Foresight's innovative approach to global trade."

This chimes with Inverex's own statement that says, "We recognize the need to promote green energy products that contribute to global sustainability, and we welcome this new partnership as a means of furthering that aim."

Trade Foresight is a leader in trade technology. Its digital tools leverage AI to help international businesses trade more efficiently and sustainably. It offers real-time intelligence on liberalization, policy initiatives, regulations, and trade sanctions, as well as industry analysis, trade data, and product-level insights. It gives businesses around the world the tools to trade more efficiently and reduce their carbon footprint by up to 90%.

Trade Foresight's CEO, Muhammad Ehsan Khan, said of the collaboration, "We are thrilled to embark on this journey with Inverex. This partnership is more than a business alignment; it's a shared commitment to sustainable development. Through our 'GoGlobal' initiative, we aim to empower not just local businesses but also to contribute significantly to the global green economy."

Trade Foresight has helped local businesses in developing countries explore international markets with a focus on sustainable trade through its GoGlobal initiative. Together, the two companies aim to create a solar power revolution that inspires other businesses to do the same.

Muhammad Saad Khan, COO of Trade Foresight, said, "By combining our strengths, we are not only promoting sustainable business practices but also setting a precedent for others to follow in the pursuit of a greener global economy."

This new collaboration aligns with targets set out at the recent COP28 summit in Dubai, which include fast-tracking the adoption of cleaner energy production to cut greenhouse gas emissions before 2030, as well as the climate action goals which all UN member states signed up to in 2015.

Media contact:

Contact person - Mr. Saad Khan

Email - Saad@tradeforesight.com

Website - http://aptinverex.com/

To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/192345

SOURCE: Elite Discoveries Digital Inc.
ZURICH (dpa-AFX) - The Monetary Authority of Singapore or MAS has fined Swiss bank Credit Suisse AG, affiliated to banking major UBS Group AG (UBS), a civil penalty of S$3.9 million for its failure to prevent or detect misconduct by its relationship managers or RMs in the Singapore branch. When the bank executes the OTC transactions, it charges a spread over the price obtained from the relevant interbank counterparties. The RMs in Singapore had provided clients with inaccurate or incomplete post-trade disclosures. This had resulted in clients being charged spreads which were above bilaterally agreed rates for 39 over the counter or OTC bond transactions. For 39 of these OTC transactions, the RMs had made false statements to their clients regarding the executed interbank prices and the spreads charged, and had omitted material information that the spreads charged were above the agreed rates. In a statement, the MAS said its penalty comes after reviewing the pricing and disclosure practices of the banking industry. Its investigations revealed that the bank had failed to put in place adequate controls, such as post-trade monitoring, to prevent or detect the RMs' misconduct. MAS added that the bank has admitted its liability and failure to prevent or detect the misconduct by its RMs. It has paid the civil penalty and has also separately compensated its clients as part of the civil penalty settlement. On Wednesday, UBS shares closed at $31.23, up 0.13% on the New York Stock Exchange. 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.
Beijing, China--(Newsfile Corp. - December 28, 2023) - In a concerted effort to foster global unity and cross-cultural dialogue, Beijing Sage World Culture Communication Co., Ltd., extends a heartfelt invitation to individuals and institutions worldwide to engage with the profound teachings of "Wisdom of Life," a pivotal publication by Li Yiheng. This initiative includes a series of international symposiums, cultural exchanges, and educational programs designed to delve into the book's insights on achieving societal balance and nurturing peace.

"Li Yiheng's 'Wisdom of Life' resurfaces, advocating ancient Chinese insights for global harmony and qualifying for Nobel consideration and Intangible Cultural Heritage."

The author's laborious 20-year exploration into reviving the essence of Chinese culture through its age-old philosophies is now finding its place amongst foundational texts in libraries and homes across nations. The teachings of "Wisdom of Life" can be an anchor to many, offering solutions rooted in the deep wisdom of Confucianism, Taoism, and the Art of War, and providing clear insights into achieving societal balance and international peace.

The Book of 'Wisdom of Life'

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The book asserts that humanity can overcome the blights of greed, conflict, and injustice for a better world, drawing lessons from revered Chinese texts.

By participating in these events, people from various backgrounds will have the opportunity to absorb, discuss, and propagate the shared treasures of cultural wisdom and the pacifist ideologies that "Wisdom of Life" advocates.

For more information, review copies, or interviews, please contact Beijing Sage World Culture Communication Co., Ltd. via the email 18510488388@qq.com or visit the website at zz3000.cn.

About Li Yiheng: Li Yiheng's "Wisdom of Life" paints a world transformed by the ancient principles of Chinese philosophy-a world where peace is paramount, and conflicts dissolve through wisdom rather than warfare. His conviction that peace can prevail through the timeless knowledge imparted by sages forms the cornerstone of his work. With its analysis spanning three millennia, including ancient prophecies and canonical texts, the book elevates Chinese intellectual traditions as vital tools for carving a world devoid of conflict and suffering. The intricate fabric of insights Li weaves intersects the prestigious domains of Nobel-recognized literature, medicine, and peace, while aspiring for the honor of being designated as an element of Intangible Cultural Heritage, marking a transformative moment in humanity's narrative.

About Beijing Sage World Culture Communication Co., Ltd.: Beijing Sage World Culture Communication Co., Ltd. is an esteemed cultural institution dedicated to the preservation, promotion, and dissemination of traditional Chinese wisdom and philosophy. With a deep-seated commitment to cultural education and international exchange, Beijing Sage World serves as a bridge connecting China's rich historical heritage with the modern world.

Contact Info:

Name: Li Yiheng

Email: 18510488388@qq.com

Organization: Beijing Sage World Culture Communication Co., Ltd.

Website: http://zz3000.cn

To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/192584

SOURCE: Plentisoft
CHANGSHA, China, Dec. 28, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Zoomlion Heavy Industry Science & Technology Co., Ltd. ("Zoomlion", 1157.HK), a leading Chinese construction machinery and equipment manufacturer, is further underscoring its commitment to the Middle Eastern market. The company's Chairman and CEO, Zhan Chunxin, along with Co-President Wang Yongxiang and Vice President Sun Changjun, recently visited the company's subsidiaries in the region. This visit highlights Zoomlion's dedication to deepening its engagement in the Middle East through a focused strategy on localization and technological innovation, aiming to foster stronger collaborative ties with the region.

Mr. Zhan expressed great pride in the company's ongoing growth in the Middle East. Zoomlion's business model in the Middle East has yielded promising results, and he encouraged the subsidiaries in the region to continue expanding market share, aligning with the company's strategic direction. He also outlined further investment plans to develop an integrated hub encompassing sales, service, exhibitions, storage, and spare parts.

Key Recent Business Highlights:

In the UAE and Saudi Arabia , Zoomlion secured contracts for 85 various types of equipment during a recent product launch event this November, totaling over 200 million Yuan (approximately US$28 million), with prospective orders of more than 200 units, totaling over 500 million Yuan (approximately US$70 million). Notably, in Saudi Arabia, sales surged by more than 170% year-on-year up to the end of November 2023, contributing to significant infrastructure projects such as the futuristic NEOM city.

, Zoomlion secured contracts for 85 various types of equipment during a recent product launch event this November, totaling over 200 million Yuan (approximately US$28 million), with prospective orders of more than 200 units, totaling over 500 million Yuan (approximately US$70 million). Notably, in Saudi Arabia, sales surged by more than 170% year-on-year up to the end of November 2023, contributing to significant infrastructure projects such as the futuristic NEOM city. At the opening of its Oman subsidiary , Zoomlion signed contracts and prospective orders totaling over 35 million Yuan (approximately US$4.9 million). Mr. Sulaiman Saif Hamoud Al Shaqsi, Technical Manager of Oman Vision 2040, attended the ceremony and highlighted Zoomlion's advanced equipment's role in achieving Oman's 2040 vision.

, Zoomlion signed contracts and prospective orders totaling over 35 million Yuan (approximately US$4.9 million). Mr. Sulaiman Saif Hamoud Al Shaqsi, Technical Manager of Oman Vision 2040, attended the ceremony and highlighted Zoomlion's advanced equipment's role in achieving Oman's 2040 vision. The company also unveiled innovative crane models in the region, including the all-terrain ZRT850 and ZRT900V-1 cranes, tailored for oil field operations.

As Zoomlion expands in the Middle East and other international markets, its comprehensive, digital, and localized business strategy is earning increasing trust and support from local clients. To further reinforce this strategy, Zoomlion is set to expand its localization efforts by establishing new subsidiaries in Qatar and Kuwait.

The company's global commitment to providing superior equipment and solutions underscores its international vision and unwavering dedication to technological innovation and customer service excellence.

Photo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/2308432/Zoomlion_s_earthmoving_machinery_are_participating_in_Saudi_Arabia_s_The_Line_Project__a_linear_smar.jpg

View original content:https://www.prnewswire.co.uk/news-releases/zoomlion-accelerates-growth-and-innovation-in-the-middle-east-with-strategic-development-and-collaborative-innovation-302023217.html
Vancouver, British Columbia--(Newsfile Corp. - December 28, 2023) - Blackrock Silver Corp. (TSXV: BRC) (the "Company", "Blackrock", "we", "our" or "us") is pleased to provide the following Shareholder letter.

Dear Shareholders,

2023 proved to be a pivotal year for us, with our flagship Tonopah West project stepping into the spotlight as one of the preeminent silver deposits in the industry having surpassed 100M AgEq ounces at a block diluted grade of 509 g/t AgEq following delivery of our latest mineral resource estimate (MRE) in October1.

Less than four short years from our initial discovery hole, we have now delivered two mineral resource estimates, rapidly creating intrinsic value at the project level with our latest MRE seeing our ounces increase by 2.36X and grade improve by 14%. Further expansion potential requires no leaps in logic, with "step-in" drilling along the vein corridor easily conveyed that will seek to connect our 3 deposit areas together as one cohesive silver-gold system spanning over 4 kilometres, while also remaining wide open along strike to the northwest and at depth. Your Company has overseen one of the largest new silver discoveries of the last decade and has cemented Tonopah West's position as the highest-grade undeveloped large silver-rich project in the world2.

In addition to high grades and significant size potential, another clear differentiator of Tonopah West is the straightforward metallurgy. All of the historic production from the Tonopah silver district3 was from a dore produced at site. Well known Kappes and Cassidy and Associates from Reno, Nevada, completed our initial test work which lines up very well with historic reports, with recoveries averaging 95% for gold and 87% for silver, with no need envisioned for costly extra steps to create a lead/zinc concentrate or requiring the involvement of a smelter.

With our resource situated entirely on patented claims in Nevada, the Tonopah West project has a streamlined process with the State of Nevada for exploration, development and construction applications and approvals.

As 2023 comes to a close, the Company is in the process of finalizing its 2024 plans that are to be duel focused on both resource expansion and the continued de-risking of the project. Further infill drilling is planned to link the deposits as one, and engineering and hydrologic studies are already underway, all of which will form the basis for a maiden preliminary economic analysis anticipated in 2025.

But that's not all. At Silver Cloud the Company made a bonanza grade gold and silver discovery at the Northwest Canyon target (see January 17, 2023 news). The follow-up of the discovery intercept (70 g/t gold and 600 g/t silver over 1.5 metres) was initiated in 2023, but following the high grade has proven to be tricky, though I'm confident the Nevada team will sort it out.

In 2023, the Company completed an Exploration and Development Agreement on Tonopah North (see January 10, 2023 news). Our partner, Tearlach, is spending their money to explore for and develop a lithium deposit on our land holdings, and shareholders will control 30% of a potentially large lithium resource if our partner is successful.

With gold recently surpassing all time highs, and silver consumption projected to put the metal into deficit territory next year, there's a lot of light quickly emerging at the end of the tunnel for investors, especially with the Fed now openly projecting rate cuts following the most aggressive hiking cycle in modern history. We've navigated the choppy waters of the industry as best we could over the last few years, doing so without blowing out our share structure and with a resolute focus on adding substantial intrinsic value at the project level. This is a management team that prides itself on doing what it says they're going to do. The day is coming, and it's my vision that day is very soon, where it, and we, will be rewarded for that in the marketplace.

For those wanting to learn more about our story, I invite you to watch our short presentation from the Precious Metals Summit Zurich in November: Watch Here

I wanted to take the opportunity to thank all those stakeholders that supported us this year, our incredible team, Board of Directors, consultants, advisors, lawyers, bankers, and all those that played their crucial part in our story. Our Nevada technical team, led by Bill Howald, have done a masterful job in taking the project from what were a few conceptual drill targets just a handful of years ago to making one of the great silver discoveries of the decade, while bringing new life to one of Nevada's most cherished mining camps in the process.

Most of all, I wanted to thank our shareholders for their continued support. Blue skies ahead!

On behalf of everyone at Blackrock Silver, I wish you all a very healthy and prosperous New Year!

Sincerely,



Andrew Pollard,

Blackrock Silver, President & Chief Executive Officer

About Blackrock Silver Corp.

Backed by gold and silver ounces in the ground, Blackrock is a junior precious metal focused exploration company driven to add shareholder value via the drill bit. With 6.12 million tonnes grading 508.5 g/t silver equivalent[4] at its Tonopah West project, and a new bonanza-grade gold discovery at its Silver Cloud project, the Company has a proven track record of exploration success. In addition to its gold and silver project portfolio, the Company is credited with a lithium discovery, the Tonopah North project, which is under option to a lithium exploration group. Anchored by a seasoned Board of Directors, the Company is focused on its 100% controlled Nevada portfolio of properties consisting of low-sulphidation, epithermal gold and silver mineralization located along the established Northern Nevada Rift in north-central Nevada and the Walker Lane trend in western Nevada.

For further information, please contact:

Andrew Pollard, President & CEO

Blackrock Silver Corp.

Phone: 604 817-6044

Email: andrew@blackrocksilver.com

Blackrock's exploration activities at Silver Cloud, Tonopah North and Tonopah West are conducted and supervised by Mr. William Howald, Executive Chairman of Blackrock. Mr. William Howald, AIPG Certified Professional Geologist #11041, is a Qualified Person as defined under National Instrument 43-101. He has reviewed and approved the contents of this news release.

Forward-Looking Statements

This news release contains "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of Canadian securities legislation. Such forward-looking statements concern the Company's strategic plans, including the Company intentions for its project portfolio in the 2023 calendar year, timing and expectations for the Company's exploration and drilling programs, estimates of mineralization from drilling, geological information projected from sampling results and the potential quantities and grades of the target zones. Such forward-looking statements or information are based on a number of assumptions, which may prove to be incorrect. Assumptions have been made regarding, among other things: conditions in general economic and financial markets; accuracy of assay results; geological interpretations from drilling results, timing and amount of capital expenditures; performance of available laboratory and other related services; future operating costs; and the historical basis for current estimates of potential quantities and grades of target zones. The actual results could differ materially from those anticipated in these forward-looking statements as a result of risk factors, the timing and content of work programs; results of exploration activities and development of mineral properties; the interpretation and uncertainties of drilling results and other geological data; receipt, maintenance and security of permits and mineral property titles; environmental and other regulatory risks; project costs overruns or unanticipated costs and expenses; availability of funds; failure to delineate potential quantities and grades of the target zones based on historical data, and general market and industry conditions. Forward-looking statements are based on the expectations and opinions of the Company's management on the date the statements are made. The assumptions used in the preparation of such statements, although considered reasonable at the time of preparation, may prove to be imprecise and, as such, readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on these forward-looking statements, which speak only as of the date the statements were made. The Company undertakes no obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statements included in this news release if these beliefs, estimates and opinions or other circumstances should change, except as otherwise required by applicable 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 release.

________________________

1 Technical information relating to the Tonopah West project is based on and derived from the National Instrument 43-101 technical report prepared for Blackrock entitled "Technical Report for Updated Estimate of Mineral Resources, Tonopah West Silver-Gold Project, Nye and Esmeralda Counties, Nevada, USA" effective October 6, 2023 and dated November 8, 2023 authored by Jeffrey Bickel, C.P.G. (the "Technical Report"). The Technical Report outlines 6.12 million tonnes at a block diluted grade of 242 grams per tonne (g/t) silver (Ag) and 2.9g/t gold (Au) for a total inferred mineral resource of 47,738,000 ounces Ag and 570,000 ounces Au, or 508.5 g/t silver equivalent (AgEq) for 100.04 million oz AgEq. AgEq equivalent grade is based on silver and gold prices of US$22/ounce and US$1,850/ounce, respectively, and recoveries for silver and gold of 87% and 95%, respectively.

2 As of December 26, 2023. Sourced from company reports and S&P Capital IQ for deposits greater than 80M AgEq ounces (MI+I)

3 All historic production information from Nevada Bureau of Mines & Geology, Bulletin 51 Bulletin 92.

4 Technical information relating to the Tonopah West project is based on and derived from the National Instrument 43-101 technical report prepared for Blackrock entitled "Technical Report for Updated Estimate of Mineral Resources, Tonopah West Silver-Gold Project, Nye and Esmeralda Counties, Nevada, USA" effective October 6, 2023 and dated November 8, 2023 authored by Jeffrey Bickel, C.P.G. (the "Technical Report"). The Technical Report outlines 6.12 million tonnes at a block diluted grade of 242 grams per tonne (g/t) silver (Ag) and 2.9g/t gold (Au) for a total inferred mineral resource of 47,738,000 ounces Ag and 570,000 ounces Au, or 508.5 g/t silver equivalent (AgEq) for 100.04 million oz AgEq. AgEq equivalent grade is based on silver and gold prices of US$22/ounce and US$1,850/ounce, respectively, and recoveries for silver and gold of 87% and 95%, respectively.

To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/192539

SOURCE: Blackrock Silver Corp.
EQS-News: African Energy Chamber / Key word(s): Personnel

Centurion Law Group Chief Executive Officer (CEO) NJ Ayuk to Step Down as CEO, Zion Adeoye to become CEO and Managing Partner of the Firm



28.12.2023 / 12:15 CET/CEST

The issuer is solely responsible for the content of this announcement.





Centurion Law Group Chief Executive Officer (CEO) NJ Ayuk to Step Down as CEO, Zion Adeoye to become CEO and Managing Partner of the Firm

After more than a decade running one of Africa's most influential law firms, covering all aspects of the oil and natural gas sector, NJ Ayuk has announced that he will not make another long-term commitment to Centurion Law Group and will step down.

"I am proud of my work as Centurion's CEO - we have been able to build a historic relationship with African governments, oil and gas entrepreneurs and international energy companies working in Africa. We have hired, trained and developed more African lawyers than any other law firm in Africa. We became the first African law firm to be listed on the German Stock Exchange and have spearheaded an audacious, on-demand legal service business model in Africa," stated Mr. Ayuk.

"I have fought the good fight, I have run the race and I have kept the faith. I believe it is time to pass the torch to the next generation that can take the firm to the next level, and I have full confidence that Zion Adeoye and his team will be able to achieve this. It also grants me much-needed time to focus on my family, the work of the African Energy Chamber and other entrepreneurial ventures and causes in which I believe," he concluded.

Mr. Ayuk has been named one of world's top energy lawyers by Who's Who Legal, one of top 10 most influential Africans by Forbes, and one of the top 100 personalities transforming Africa by French magazine, Financial Afrik.

Zion Adeoye will be appointed as CEO of Centurion Law Group, after serving as Managing Director under Mr. Ayuk for many years. Mr. Adeoye holds an LLB from Nigeria's University of Ibadan, an LLM from Columbia University in the City of New York and an MBA from the University of Dundee, Scotland.

"Mr. Ayuk's work in building one of the finest law firms in Africa, as well as his ability to serve clients, solve disputes and close complex transactions, cannot go unnoticed. All of the employees and clients of this firm cannot thank Mr. Ayuk enough for his leadership and dedication," he stated.

"Working with Mr. Ayuk, our team has accomplished what few gave us the chance - important legal and public policy victories across Africa, deal after deal for entrepreneurs, winning tough legal cases in complex jurisdictions while enforcing the rule of law, opening new markets and instilling in Africans the belief that African lawyers can do great things," concluded Mr. Adeoye.

During his time at Centurion, Mr. Adeoye has demonstrated a relentless pursuit of excellence and made outstanding contributions to the firm's growth. As a seasoned attorney with extensive experience in energy law, he has played a pivotal role in securing favorable outcomes for clients across the continent.

Mr. Adeoye is a member of the Nigerian Bar Association and the Association of Independent Petroleum Negotiators. Before joining Centurion in 2017, he served in various roles at the Nigerian Petroleum Development Company Limited, KPMG Nigeria, Terra Cotta Legal, Olaniwun Ajayi LP, Templars Law and Transnational Energy Group, and has been instrumental in the reform of oil and gas legislation across several African markets.

Mr. Adeoye was additionally awarded an ESQ 40 under 40 Lawyer Award at the Nigerian Rising Stars Awards for shaping the future of the legal profession in the country.

Distributed by APO Group on behalf of African Energy Chamber.

Download image: https://apo-opa.co/3RFQK3P

About Centurion Law Group:

Centurion ( www.CenturionLG.com ) is a leading pan-African legal and energy advisory group with extensive experience in the oil and gas sector. The group provides outsourced legal representation and covers a full suite of practice areas for its clients, including arbitration and commercial litigation, corporate law, tax and anti-corruption advisory and contract negotiation. Centurion specializes in assisting clients that are starting or growing a business in Africa with offices and Affiliates in Ghana, Cameroon, Canada, Germany, Congo, Equatorial Guinea, South Africa, South Sudan, Nigeria, Gabon, Angola and Senegal.

28.12.2023 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




WASHINGTON (dpa-AFX) - Michigan's Supreme Court has refused to hear an appeal by a group of voters in the state who filed a legal challenge to former President Donald Trump's candidacy for next year's presidential primary.



The apex Court in the state declined to review a ruling of the Michigan Court of Appeals that granted Trump's request to stop the proceedings at the primary stage, as opposed to the general election. The lower court's ruling was based on technicalities of Michigan state law regarding when challenges to presidential candidates' qualifications may be filed. The court held that these challenges may not be filed before the primary.



A lawsuit filed by Pro-democracy advocacy group Free Speech For People on behalf of a group of Michigan voters sought to invoke an insurrection clause in the US Constitution, and to disqualify Trump from election over his role in the 2021 Capitol riots.



The decision comes a week after the Colorado Supreme Court ruled that Trump cannot contest for next year's presidential election from the state's ballot, citing an insurrection clause in the 14th Amendment of the U.S. constitution.



Rejecting the appeal Wednesday, Michigan Supreme Court Justice Elizabeth Welch ruled that the state's laws were different from Colorado's.



The appellants 'have identified no analogous provision in the Michigan Election Law that requires someone seeking the office of President of the United States to attest to their legal qualification to hold the office,' she wrote in dismissing the petition.



It declined to overrule a lower court ruling that the Michigan state challenge process does not allow challenges to presidential candidates at the primary stage.



Free Speech For People's similar challenge to disqualify Trump from running for 2024 presidential primary is pending in Oregon.



Ron Fein, Legal Director of Free Speech For People, expressed disappointment over the Michigan Supreme Court's decision.



'The decision isn't binding on any court outside Michigan and we continue our current and planned legal actions in other states to enforce Section 3 of the Fourteenth Amendment against Donald Trump,' he said in a statement.



The Colorado Supreme Court's verdict is subject to Trump's appeal to the US Supreme Court, and will be put on hold until January 4.



A nine-member House select committee investigating the January 6, 2021, Capitol Hill attack said in its report that Trump had knowledge about the riot in advance, and that he engaged in a 'multi-part plan' to overturn the result.



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NOT FOR DISSEMINATION IN THE UNITED STATES OR THROUGH U.S. NEWSWIRE SERVICES

VANCOUVER, BC / ACCESSWIRE / December 28, 2023 / Intrepid Metals Corp. (TSXV:INTR)(OTCQB:IMTCF) ("Intrepid" or the "Company") announces an update to its $3 million non-brokered private placement (the "Offering") with Leocor Gold Inc. (CSE:LECR) ("Leocor") that was announced on December 19, 2023. In order to facilitate the completion of the Offering without Leocor becoming a "control person" as defined by the TSX Venture Exchange and the requirement to obtain shareholder approval, the Offering is being restructured into two components that will close concurrently :

The issuance of 6,600,000 units (the "Units"), with each Unit consisting of one post-Consolidation common share and one common share purchase warrant (each a "Warrant") at a price of $0.34 (post-Consolidation) per Unit for aggregate gross proceeds of $2.244 million. Each Warrant shall entitle the holder thereof to acquire one additional common share at a price of $0.40 (post-Consolidation) for a period of twenty-four (24) months from the closing date of the Offering. The issuance of 2,223,529 pre-funded special warrants units at a price of $0.34 (post-Consolidation) per Special Warrant for aggregate gross proceeds of $0.756 million. Each Special Warrant shall entitle the holder thereof to acquire one Unit, for no additional consideration but subject to an exercise limitation such that Leocor may not exercise if it would result in them having beneficial ownership over common shares in excess of 19.9%, for a period of five years from the closing date of the Offering.

The restructured Offering will still provide the full $3 million in gross proceeds on closing of the Offering. Prior to the closing of the Offering, Intrepid shall complete a consolidation of its common shares on the basis of one post-consolidation common share for every two pre-consolidation common shares (the "Consolidation").

Intrepid intends to close the Offering as soon as practicable following TSX Venture Exchange approval. As part of the transaction, Leocor will have the right to nominate two directors to the Board of Directors of the Company. The directors will be nominated concurrent with the closing of the Offering.

Intrepid still intends to concurrently conduct an additional non-brokered private placement (the "Secondary Offering") consisting of up to 5,882,353 units (the "Secondary Units"), with each Second Unit consisting of one post-Consolidation common share and one common share purchase warrant (each a "Secondary Warrant") at a price of $0.34 (post-Consolidation) per Secondary Unit for aggregate gross proceeds of up to $2 million. Each Secondary Warrant shall entitle the holder thereof to acquire one additional common share at a price of $0.40 (post-Consolidation) for a period of twenty-four (24) months from the closing date of the Secondary Offering. Intrepid intends to close the Secondary Offering in January 2024 to accommodate for the holiday season.

The net proceeds of the Offering and Secondary Offering will be used for exploration expenditures on the Company's mineral properties, investor relations activities and general working capital.

The closing of the Offering is not conditional on the closing of the Secondary Offering. Closing of the Offering and Secondary Offering is subject to approval of the TSX Venture Exchange.

The Company also announces that it has entered into an agreement dated December 27, 2023 (the "Agreement") between Planet Ventures Inc. ("Planet Ventures") and Intrepid. The Company has engaged Planet Ventures to develop and manage an investor relations and corporate communications program, as well as to support the Company with strategic capital markets advisory services. Planet Ventures has been retained for a six-month term that ends on June 30, 2024. As consideration for the services, the Company has agreed to pay Planet Ventures a total fee of $230,000 plus applicable taxes payable from cash on hand and proceeds from the Offering. Planet Ventures has ownership of 500,000 shares and 100,000 warrants of the Company and may acquire additional securities in the future.

Planet Ventures' contact person, address, email, and telephone number are as follows: Etienne Moshevich, 303-750 West Pender Street, Vancouver, BC, V6C 2T7, Info@planetventuresinc.com, 604-681-0084.

This news release does not constitute an offer of securities for sale in the United States. The securities being offered have not been, nor will they be, registered under the United States Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and such securities may not be offered or sold within the United States absent U.S. registration or an applicable exemption from U.S. registration requirements.

About Intrepid Metals Corp.

Intrepid Metals Corp. is a Canadian company focused on exploring for high-grade essential metals such as copper, silver, lead, and zinc mineral projects in proximity to established mining jurisdictions in southeastern Arizona, USA. The Company has acquired or has agreements to acquire several drill ready projects, including the Corral Copper Project (a district scale advanced exploration and development opportunity with significant shallow historical drill results), the Tombstone South Project (within the historical Tombstone mining district with geological similarities to the Taylor Deposit, which was purchased for $1.3B in 2018) both of which are located in Cochise County, Arizona and the Mesa Well Project (located in the Laramide Copper Porphyry Belt in Arizona). Intrepid has assembled an exceptional team with considerable experience with exploration, developing, and permitting new projects within North America. Intrepid is traded on the TSX Venture Exchange (TSXV) under the symbol "INTR" and on the OTCQB Venture Market under the symbol "IMTCF". For more information, visit www.intrepidmetals.com.

INTREPID METALS CORP.

On behalf of the Company

"Ken Brophy"

CEO

For further information regarding this news release, please contact:

Ken Brophy

CEO

604-681-8030

info@intrepidmetals.com

Cautionary Note Regarding Forward-Looking Information

Certain statements contained in this release constitute forward-looking information within the meaning of applicable Canadian securities laws. Such forward-looking statements relate the completion of the Offering or any tranche thereof; the number of securities to be issued under the Offering and Secondary Offering and the gross proceeds received; the timing of the closing of the Offering and Secondary Offering; the payment of any finders fees and the form thereof; and the use of net proceeds from the Offering and Secondary Offering.

In certain cases, forward-looking information can be identified by the use of words such as "plans", "expects", "budget", "scheduled", "estimates", "forecasts", "intends", "anticipates" or "believes", or variations of such words and phrases or state that certain actions, events or results "may", "could", "would", "might", "occur" or "be achieved" suggesting future outcomes, or other expectations, beliefs, plans, objectives, assumptions, intentions or statements about future events or performance. Forward-looking information contained in this news release is based on certain factors and assumptions regarding, among other things, the Company can raise additional financing to continue operations; the TSXV approves the Offering; and the timing of closing the Offering. While the Company considers these assumptions to be reasonable based on information currently available to it, they may prove to be incorrect.

Forward looking information involves 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 information. The forward-looking information is 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 or revise any forward-looking information.

Neither the TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) has reviewed or accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.

SOURCE: Intrepid Metals Corp.

View the original press release on accesswire.com
NEW YORK, NY / ACCESSWIRE / December 28, 2023 / BlueGrace Energy Bolivia (BGEB), in partnership with London-based MAXIMANCE 2030 LTD, recently announced a groundbreaking $2 billion forest conservation project. As indicated by Julio Jose Montenegro, CEO of BlueGrace Energy Bolivia (BGEB), this initiative, commencing on December 19, 2023, for a 10-year term, is a significant leap towards sustainable rainforest management and conservation. With an ISIN approval (ISIN UK.BG.MAX 785.985257), this project showcases BGEB's commitment to over 90% of the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and marks a milestone in its journey towards impactful investments and global market expansion.

Building on this momentous announcement, we have more news to share regarding BGEB's commitment to sustainability. BGEB has been recently accepted as a participant in the United Nations Global Compact, joining a network of over 17,000 businesses and 4,000 organizations striving for a sustainable future.

The United Nations Global Compact is the world's largest corporate sustainability initiative, guiding businesses towards universally accepted principles in human rights, labor, environment, and anti-corruption. BGEB's inclusion in this compact not only reinforces its dedication to sustainable business practices but also positions it as a key player in the global movement towards ethical and responsible business conduct.

Linking Conservation Efforts with Global Standards

The alignment of BGEB's forest conservation project with its participation in the UN Global Compact reflects a strategic and comprehensive approach to sustainability. By engaging in one of the world's most ambitious conservation efforts and committing to the Compact's principles, BGEB is setting a standard for how businesses can effectively contribute to global sustainability goals.

As BGEB moves forward with these initiatives, it continues to demonstrate its role as a leader in sustainable business practices, fostering collaboration and innovation to bring about meaningful change in markets and societies worldwide. These efforts illustrate a clear and compelling narrative of a company deeply committed to aligning its operations with global sustainability objectives and ethical standards.

Aligned with the UN's environmental conservation and sustainable energy requirements, BlueGrace Energy Bolivia is spearheading an extraordinary project to conserve 20.5 million acres of the Amazon Rainforest in Bolivia. This project, the largest of its kind, reflects a robust commitment to protecting the Amazon Rainforest and advancing clean energy solutions in line with the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) through the Tokenization of SDG Bonds and Natural Forest Capital Assets.

The urgent need for sustainable progress

In a recent development highlighting the urgent need for sustainable progress, the Economic Commission for Latin America and the Caribbean (ECLAC) released an analysis indicating that the region must accelerate its efforts to meet the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) of Agenda 2030. Only 24.6% of the targets are currently on track to be achieved, necessitating more robust and transformative actions. Amidst this critical backdrop, BlueGrace Energy Bolivia (BGEB) has been recognized and accepted by ECLAC as part of this ambitious agenda. This acknowledgment not only reaffirms BGEB's commitment to sustainable practices and principles but also places it at the forefront of driving change and innovation in the region's quest for a sustainable and equitable future.

Utilizing advanced technologies like artificial intelligence and satellite imagery to precisely quantify carbon credits, this initiative will make a substantial contribution to global climate goals.

As the demand for personalized carbon offsetting grows globally, individuals and stakeholders are increasingly aware of their role in addressing climate change. The carbon credits market is projected to reach $100 billion by 2030. Nature-based credits are gaining prominence due to rising corporate demand and tightening regulations. Bloomberg's report emphasizes the importance of carbon credits in attaining net-zero emissions. The goal of limiting global warming to 1.5C by 2030 requires $44 trillion in renewable energy investments. Over 6,323 entities are actively pursuing emission reduction through the Science-Based Targets Initiative. Major financial institutions like Citi Group and JP Morgan are significantly investing in carbon credits, demonstrating the intersection of finance and environmental action.

BGEB's partnerships extend beyond environmental goals, forming strategic alliances with influential entities such as the Capital Market Association (ICMA), a renowned non-profit headquartered in Zurich with a global presence in London, Paris, Brussels, and Hong Kong. These collaborations are focused on empowering indigenous communities through comprehensive social initiatives. By enhancing access to education, healthcare, and infrastructure, BGEB is committed to fostering community development alongside its environmental efforts. This integrated approach, which marries environmental conservation with the transition to clean energy and community empowerment, establishes BGEB as a frontrunner in both ecological preservation and clean energy innovation within Bolivia.

These alliances underscore the ongoing importance of the partnership as it strives towards a sustainable and carbon-neutral future, serving as a compelling example of what collective action and innovation can accomplish.

About BlueGrace Energy Bolivia:

BlueGrace Energy Bolivia, a global consortium of energy experts, is committed to advancing the transition to a net-zero future in response to climate change challenges. Our team specializes in clean and renewable energy, boasting decades of experience in pioneering 21st-century energy transition projects. Grounded in professional expertise and unwavering integrity, we aim to create genuine value for business and society. Learn more at https://bluegracebolivia.com/.

For further information, please contact:

JULIO JOSE MONTENEGRO

jmontenegro@bluegracebolivia.com

+1 (305) 972-6173 (Miami - EE.UU.)

NELSON PINEDA MARTINEZ

nelopineda@bluegracebolivia.com

+591 714-72257 (Bolivia)

For all media inquiries, please contact:

Ivan Linde

ivan.linde@bluegracebolivia.com

+1 (786) 273-7068 (Miami - EE.UU.)

Disclaimer

This announcement is solely for informational use and should not be viewed as financial, legal, or investment guidance. It includes projections and statements that aren't based on past events. Any statement in this release that isn't a historical fact is a projection. Readers should be aware that the basis for these projections might be incorrect and are advised not to rely solely on them. Any projections in this announcement come with a warning. They are current as of the release date, and the Company has no plans to update them, except as mandated by securities regulations.

SOURCE: BLUEGRACE ENERGY BOLIVIA

View the original press release on accesswire.com
Vancouver, British Columbia--(Newsfile Corp. - December 28, 2023) - Rome Resources Ltd. (TSXV: RMR) (FSE: 33R) ("Rome" or the "Company") is pleased to announce that, pursuant to the heads of terms between the Company and Pathfinder Minerals Plc ("Pathfinder") announced on November 29, 2023, Rome has entered into a loan agreement (the "Loan Agreement") dated December 21, 2023 with Pathfinder, which provides for Pathfinder to lend up to $2,500,000 to Rome pursuant to two drawdowns, subject to satisfaction of certain conditions set out in the Loan Agreement. The Loan Agreement provides for the grant of loan bonuses to Pathfinder whereby 2,000,000 share purchase warrants ("Warrants") will be issued to Pathfinder in connection with the first drawdown of $500,000 and an additional 8,000,000 Warrants will be issued to Pathfinder in connection with the second drawdown of $2,000,000. Each Warrant will be exercisable to purchase one common share in the capital of Rome at a price of $0.25 per share on or before the later of the Final Repayment Date (as defined in the Loan Agreement) or the Extended Repayment Date (as defined in the Loan Agreement). The Final Repayment Date is defined in the Loan Agreement as (a) the date that is 12 months from the date of the second drawdown, or (b) if the second drawdown does not occur on or prior to December 21, 2024, the date of the first drawdown. The Extended Repayment Date is the date that is 12 months from the Final Repayment Date by which all funds borrowed would have to be repaid in the event the proposed reverse takeover of Rome by Pathfinder (the "Transaction") terminates before April 15, 2024 or such later date as may be agreed between Pathfinder and Rome (the "Long Stop Date"). If the Transaction terminates prior to the Long Stop Date, the Loan Agreement provides for Rome to grant a further loan bonus to Pathfinder comprised of an additional 10,000,000 Warrants, provided that the total number of outstanding Warrants held by Pathfinder in connection with the Loan Agreement shall not exceed 10,000,000 unless agreed to in writing by the parties and subject to approval by the TSX Venture Exchange. The issuance of the Warrants to Pathfinder is subject to acceptance for filing by the TSX Venture Exchange.

About Rome Resources

Rome Resources Ltd. is a mineral exploration company that has entered into two option agreements and a binding term sheet to acquire direct and indirect interests in two contiguous properties situated in the Walikale District of the North Kivu Province in eastern DRC, which are collectively referred to as the "Bisie North Tin Project". Rome has completed an initial phase of drilling on the project where it is responsible to fund exploration up to the completion of a definitive feasibility study.

Contacts

Investors / Shareholders

Mark Gasson

President, CEO & Director

P: (604) 687-6140



Media

E: info@romeresources.com

Cautionary Note Regarding Forward-Looking Statements

The information in this news release may include certain information and statements about management's view of future events, expectations, plans and prospects that may constitute forward-looking statements. Forward-Looking statements are based upon assumptions that are subject to significant risks and uncertainties. Because of these risks and uncertainties and as a result of a variety of factors, the actual results, expectations, achievements or performance may differ materially from those anticipated and indicated by these forward-looking statements. Although Rome Resources Ltd believes that the expectations reflected in forward-looking statements are reasonable, it can give no assurances that the expectations of any forward-looking statements will prove to be correct. Except as required by law, Rome Resources Ltd disclaims any intention and assumes no obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statements to reflect actual results, whether as a result of new information, future events, changes in assumptions, changes in factors affecting such forward-looking statements or otherwise.

Neither TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.

Not for distribution to United States newswire services or for dissemination in the United States.

To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/192583

SOURCE: Rome Resources Ltd.
Vancouver, British Columbia--(Newsfile Corp. - December 28, 2023) - Kraken Energy Corp. (CSE: UUSA) (OTCQB: UUSAF) (FSE: F2C) (the "Company" or "Kraken") is pleased to report that the Company has received approval to resume their Phase I drill program at the Harts Point Uranium Property ("Harts Point" or the "Property") in Southern Utah.

With a revised and approved exploration permit, the Company will drill the property from two pad locations over a 5 km strike length targeting the favorable uranium bearing Chinle Formation host rock where three historical oil and gas wells returned "off-scale" radioactivity. Upon favorable results, the Company intends to continue the drill program to further evaluate the mineralized trend.

As a result of this development, management has made the strategic decision to reallocate resources from drilling at the Apex Uranium Property ("Apex") to the resumption of drilling at Harts Point.

CEO Matthew Schwab stated: "We are excited to be resuming our Phase I drilling program at Harts Point in Utah and we believe the site to be extremely promising in the short-term. Regarding Apex, we anticipate resuming drilling there once the property is fully permitted, including the US Forest Service portions. While we are encouraged by the continued exploration at Apex, we believe that we can run our drill program more effectively and efficiently once we have the property fully permitted. As such, Harts Point will be our immediate focus moving into 2024."

Harts Point Property Highlights:

World class uranium jurisdiction: located in the center of the Colorado Plateau, which has produced over 328 million ("M") pounds ("lbs") U 3 O 8 at 0.2 to 0.4% U 3 O 8 since the 1950s 1 .

located in the center of the Colorado Plateau, which has produced since the 1950s . Property consists of 324 lode mining claims on Bureau of Land Management (" BLM ") ground that covers an area of 2,622 hectares ("ha") (6,480 acres) .

on Bureau of Land Management (" ") ground that covers an area of . Harts Point Anticline is Analogous to the Lisbon Valley Anticline: where the Lisbon Valley Uranium District hosted 17 large uranium mines which produced approximately 80M lbs U 3 O 8 at 0.34% U 3 O 8 from 1948 to 1988 2 . The dimensions of these tabular sandstone-hosted uranium deposits range from 2 to 13 meters ("m") (7 to 43 feet) thick, 100 to 3,048 m (328 to 10,000 feet) long, and 31 to 427 m (100 to 1,400 feet) wide 3 .

where the Lisbon Valley Uranium District hosted from 1948 to 1988 . Significant Historic Uranium Production: Several historic mines located 11 km (7 miles) west of the Harts Point Property produced approximately 280,000 lbs U 3 O 8 at 0.3% U 3 O 8 from the favorable Chinle Formation host rock 4 . The Lisbon Valley Anticline is located 31 km (19 miles) to the east of the Harts Point Property produced approximately 80M lbs U 3 O 8 0.34% U 3 O 8 2 .

Historic Exploration: Three wide-spaced historic oil and gas wells on the Property (Figure 1) along the east flank of the Harts Point Anticline show 'off-scale' radioactivity within the favorable Chinle Formation host rock. Drilled between 1953 and 1980, historic drill holes 43-037-10438, 43-037-30109, and 43-037-30623 showed off-scale radioactivity readings between 2.1 to 3.7 m thickness (7 to 12 feet) from depths of 390 to 417 m (1,280 to 1,368 feet).

(Figure 1) along the east flank of the Harts Point Anticline Excellent Infrastructure: located approximately 64 km (40 miles) north of the White Mesa uranium processing facility. There is also excellent access throughout the Property, which is situated 45 km (28 miles) from the town of Monticello, Utah.

located approximately





Figure 1 : Harts Point Property with Local Uranium Occurrences

To view an enhanced version of this graphic, please visit:

https://images.newsfilecorp.com/files/8684/192538_001cd4aee4937b5c_001full.jpg

Apex Drilling Summary:

A total of 873.5 meters ("m") were drilled over three holes during the recent drilling program at the Apex Uranium Property. None of the three drill holes intersected bedrock and all three drill holes were abandoned at roughly 300 m depth. Target depths for this program were based on a geophysical inversion of the VTEM data collected in 2022 where the depth to basement was indicated between 50 to 150 m depth in the areas of interest.

The geophysical targets and strong radon anomalies west of the Apex Mine still hold strong technical and geological merits, but due to the variance in target depths the decision was made to pause drilling and reevaluate targeting on the property.

Frankfurt Listing:

The Company is pleased to announce the listing of its shares on the Frankfurt Stock Exchange ("FSE"). Kraken's shares trade under the symbol FSE: F2C.

The FSE is one of the world's largest international trading centers for securities. Operated by the Deutsche Boerse AG, FSE, is the largest of Germany's seven stock exchanges, and is responsible for approximately 90 percent of all securities traded in Germany. The FSE facilitates advanced electronic trading, settlement and information systems and enables cross-border trading for international investors.

References:

1 Holger Albrethsen, Jr. and Frank E. McGinley (1982). Summary History of Domestic Procurement Under U.S. Atomic Energy Commission Contracts, September 1982.

2 Chenoweth, W.L. (1990). Lisbon Valley, Utah's Premier Uranium Area, a Summary of Exploration and Ore Production. Utah Geological Survey Open File Report 188, July 1990.

3 Gordon W. Weir and Willard P. Puffett (1981). Incomplete manuscript on stratigraphy and structural geology and uranium-vanadium and copper deposits of the Lisbon Valley area, Utah-Colorado. Open-File Report 81-39. Pages 153 to 163. United States Department of the Interior Geological Survey.

4 Chenoweth, W.L. (1993): The geology and Production History of the Uranium deposits in the White Canyon Mining District, San Juan County, Utah, Utah Geological Survey Miscellaneous Publication 93-3.

Technical Information:

All scientific and technical information in this news release has been prepared by or reviewed and approved by Matthew Schwab, P.Geo., President and CEO of the Company, and Garrett Ainsworth, P.Geo., Chairman of the Company. Each of Mr. Schwab and Mr. Ainsworth is a Qualified Person for the purposes of National Instrument 43-101 - Standards of Disclosure for Mineral Projects.

The data disclosed in this news release is related to historical drilling results. Kraken has not undertaken any independent investigation of the sampling, nor has it independently analyzed the results of the historical exploration work in order to verify the results. Kraken considers these historical drill results relevant as the Company is using this data as a guide to plan exploration programs. The Company's current and future exploration work includes verification of the historical data through drilling.

About the Harts Point Property:

Harts Point is located in the center of the Colorado Plateau, referred to by some as "the Athabasca Basin of the US" and is 64 kilometers ("km") (40 miles) north of the White Mesa Uranium Mill, the only fully licensed and operating conventional uranium mill in the United States. The Property consists of 324 lode mining claims on Bureau of Land Management ("BLM") ground and drill permits are in place for up to 20 exploration drill holes.

About Kraken Energy Corp.:

Kraken Energy Corp. is a new energy company advancing its portfolio of high-grade uranium properties in the Unites States. The Company is advancing its 100%-owned Apex Uranium Property, located 280 km (174 miles) east from Reno, Nevada which is recognized as Nevada's largest past-producing uranium mine. The Company has additionally entered into an option agreement to earn 100% of the Garfield Hills Uranium Property. The past-producing Garfield Hills Uranium Property covers 1,238 ha (3,060 acres) and is located 19 km (12 miles) east of Hawthorne in Mineral County, Nevada. Kraken Energy has also recently staked the Huber Hills Uranium Property, located 136 km (85 miles) north of Elko, Nevada which covers 1,044 ha (2,580 acres) and encompasses the historic Race Track open pit mine. The Company has recently entered into an option agreement to earn 75% of the Harts Point Uranium Property. The Harts Point Uranium Property covers 2,622 ha (6,480 acres) and is located 49 km (30 miles) northwest of Monticello in San Juan County, Utah.

For more information about the Company, please visit; www.krakenenergycorp.com.

On Behalf of the Board of Kraken Energy Corp.:

Matthew Schwab

President & Chief Executive Officer

Corporate Office:

Suite 907 - 1030 West Georgia Street

Vancouver, British Columbia

V6E 2Y3

T: (604) 628-2669

For investor relations inquiries, contact:

Kin Communications Inc.

T: (604) 684-6730

E: uusa@kincommunications.com

This news release contains forward-looking information which is subject to a variety of risks and uncertainties and other factors that could cause actual events or results to differ from those projected in the forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements in this press release include our plans for exploration at the properties. These forward-looking statements are subject to a variety of risks and uncertainties and other factors that could cause actual events or results to differ materially from those projected in the forward-looking information. Risks that could change or prevent these statements from coming to fruition include changing costs for mining and processing; increased capital costs; the timing and content of upcoming work programs; geological interpretations based on drilling that may change with more detailed information; potential process methods and mineral recoveries assumption based on limited test work and by comparison to what are considered analogous deposits that with further test work may not be comparable; the availability of labour, equipment and markets for the products produced; and despite the current expected viability of the project, conditions changing such that the minerals on our property cannot be economically mined, or that the required permits to build and operate the envisaged mine can be obtained. The forward-looking information contained herein is given as of the date hereof and the Company assumes no responsibility to update or revise such information to reflect new events or circumstances, except as required by law.

To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/192538

SOURCE: Kraken Energy Corp.
Vilnius, Lithuania--(Newsfile Corp. - December 28, 2023) - WhiteBIT is pleased to announce that "ByHI", an educational show about cryptocurrencies and blockchain founded by WhiteBIT's very own CEO, Volodymyr Nosov, has won the Davos Communications Awards 2023 in the "Communications in the Crypto Age" category. The winners were announced during the award ceremony on December 12, 2023.





WhiteBIT: 'ByHI' wins the award for Communications in the Crypto Age at Davos 2023



To view an enhanced version of this graphic, please visit:

https://images.newsfilecorp.com/files/8871/192114_byhiimage.jpg

"ByHI" is a YouTube show created and hosted by Volodymyr Nosov, founder and CEO of WhiteBIT, one of the largest cryptocurrency exchanges in Europe. Previously, the project was called the Gagarin Show, but since September 2022, its new name is "ByxoHIC" (abbreviated as "ByHI"). In the episodes, hosts Volodymyr Nosov and Hlib Ushakov introduce viewers to all the nuances of the crypto and blockchain sphere in an entertaining format. The show's audience includes both experienced crypto enthusiasts and those who are just getting acquainted with the Web3 space.



"We created the first project of its kind, which eventually has become the best. I am extremely proud of the team, which has been setting the level for four years, despite COVID and the war. We have once again proved that crypto and blockchain can be talked about in an interesting and humorous way. We are grateful to our viewers for their loyalty and devotion over the years. Thank you for believing in the development of the crypto industry in Ukraine, just like we do," said Volodymyr Nosov, CEO of WhiteBIT.



This year, Ukrainian and Brazilian specialists in the field of communications received the most awards at the Davos Communications Awards 2023. In total, Ukrainian companies won five of the 28 total nominations.



The Davos Communications Awards 2023 is an award established by the World Communications Forum Association. It annually honors the best projects of public relations and communications professionals from around the world.



Samira Abdulova

pr@whitebit.com

Vilnius, Lithuania

To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/192114

SOURCE: PRNews OU
VANCOUVER, BC / ACCESSWIRE / December 28, 2023 / Pampa Metals Corp. ("Pampa Metals" or the "Company") (CSE:PM)(FSE:FIR)(OTCQB:PMMCF) is pleased to announce that it has issued 2,250,000 units ("Units") at a price of $0.16 per Unit under the Non-Brokered Private Placement offering (the "Offering") detailed in a December 19, 2023 News Release for gross proceeds of $360,000. Each Unit consists of one fully paid common share and a half share purchase warrant entitling the holder to acquire an additional common share at a price of $0.30 for a period of 3 years after the closing of the Offering.

No cash commissions or finder's warrants were paid and all securities issued are subject to a four-month hold period, in accordance with securities laws and the policies of the Canadian Securities Exchange, as applicable.

Two directors of the Company participated in the Offering in the combined amount of $87,400. The transaction with the directors, who are insiders of the Company, constitutes a "related party transaction" as defined under Multilateral Instrument 61-101 Protection of Minority Security Holders in Special Transactions ("MI 61-101"). The Company is relying on the exemptions under section 5.5(a) and section 5.7(1)(a) from the formal valuation and minority shareholder approval requirements of MI 61-101, as the fair market value of the common shares issued to the related party and the consideration paid by the related party under the Offering does not exceed 25% of Company's market capitalization, as determined in accordance with MI 61-101. The Company did not file a material change report in respect of the related party transaction at least 21 days before the closing of the Offering, as the details of the participation by related party of the Company were not settled until shortly prior to closing of the Offering.

Total gross Offering proceeds of $1,600,000 will fund follow-up diamond drilling at the newly acquired Piuquenes Copper-Gold Porphyry Project, where the Company recently reported 130m from 362m @ 1.31% CuEq*, within a broader interval of 558m from 362m @ 0.73% CuEq* which remains open at depth (refer 5 December 2023 News Release). Preparatory work is underway, and drilling is scheduled to commence in mid-January, with assay results to follow shortly thereafter.

Grant of Incentive Stock Options and RSUs

The Company also announces that it has granted a total of 2,117,138 stock options and restricted share units ("RSUs") to its President & CEO and two consultants, in recognition of their effort in identifying and securing the Piuquenes Project.

1,000,000 RSUs have been granted to the Company's President & CEO, with 500,000 to vest upon the 10-day volume weighted average trading price of the common shares being equal to $0.30 and 500,000 upon the 10-day volume weighted average trading price of the common shares being equal to $0.45.

650,000 stock options exercisable at $0.30 until December 28, 2026 have been issued to one consultant and 467,138 RSUs to another consultant, to vest upon the 10-day volume weighted average trading price of the common shares being equal to $0.30.

The latest Company presentation can be accessed at https://pampametals.com/investor/

.ON BEHALF OF THE BOARD

Joseph van den Elsen | President & CEO

INVESTORS CONTACT

Joseph van den Elsen | President & CEO

Joseph@pampametals.com

ABOUT PAMPA METALS

Pampa Metals is listed on the Canadian Stock Exchange (CSE:PM), Frankfurt (FSE:FIR), and OTC (OTCQB:PMMCF) exchanges, and wholly owns a portfolio of projects highly prospective for copper, molybdenum, and gold along proven and highly productive mineral belts in Chile, the world's largest copper producer.

In November 2023, the Company announced it had entered into an Option & JV Agreement for the acquisition of an 80% interest in the Piuquenes Copper-Gold Porphyry Project in San Juan Province, Argentina.

Qualified Person

Technical information in this news release has been approved by Mario Orrego G, Geologist and a Registered Member of the Chilean Mining Commission and a Qualified Person as defined by National Instrument 43-101. Mr. Orrego is a consultant to the Company.

* %CuEq values are calculated based on copper and gold metal prices: Cu = US$3.20/lb, Au = US$1,700/oz and Ag = US$ 20/oz. The formula utilized to calculate %CuEq is: Cu Eq Grade (%) = Cu Head Grade (%) + [(Au Head Grade (g/t) / 31.104) * (Au Price (US$/oz) / Cu Price (US$/lb) / 22.04) + [(Ag Head Grade (g/t) / 31.104) * (Ag Price (US$/oz) / Cu Price (US$/lb) / 22.04.

Neither the CSE nor the Investment Industry Regulatory Organization of Canada accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.

FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENT

This news release contains certain statements that may be deemed "forward-looking statements". All statements in this release, other than statements of historical fact, that address events or developments that Pampa Metals expects to occur are forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements are statements that are not historical facts and are generally, but not always, identified by the words "expects" and similar expressions, or that events or conditions "will" or "may" occur. These statements are subject to various risks. Although Pampa Metals believes the expectations expressed in such forward-looking statements are based on reasonable assumptions, such statements are not guaranteeing of future performance and actual results may differ materially from those in forward-looking statements.

SOURCE: Pampa Metals Corp.

View the original press release on accesswire.com
AcuSpray is proud to announce its selection as the Top Precision Farming Solution Provider by Agri-Business Review. This recognition highlights AcuSpray's commitment to innovative agricultural solutions and its significant impact on modern farming practices.

DETROIT, MI / ACCESSWIRE / December 28, 2023 / AcuSpray, a leader in precision farming technology, is thrilled to announce its recognition as the Top Precision Farming Solution Provider by Agri-Business Review. This prestigious award underscores AcuSpray's innovation and impact in the agricultural sector.

AcuSpray Leadership Team Featured in Agri-Business Review December 2023

The AcuSpray executive team, prominently featuring Aaron Duval (COO), Chris Wielinski (CMO), and Jeff Bickley (CEO), graces the cover of Agri-Business Review's December 2023 issue.

Chris Wielinski, CMO at AcuSpray, expressed his excitement: "This accolade from Agri-Business Review is a testament to our team's hard work and dedication. Our mission has always been to blend advanced drone technology with practical agricultural needs, creating a synergy that drives efficiency and sustainability in farming."

Specializing in advanced drone technology, AcuSpray offers a range of services including targeted spraying, multispectral imaging, and precise fertilizer application. These solutions combine technological innovation with an understanding of agricultural demands, emphasizing efficiency and sustainability.

Agri-Business Review is a respected authority in the agricultural industry, known for its in-depth analysis and coverage of emerging trends and innovations. Their endorsement further establishes AcuSpray as a leading force in the field of precision farming.

At the heart of AcuSpray's mission is a commitment to empowering farmers, enhancing crop yields, and promoting a sustainable future for agriculture.

As part of its ongoing expansion, AcuSpray is excited to announce that franchise opportunities are now available as of December 2023. This initiative marks a significant milestone in AcuSpray's journey, offering entrepreneurs and businesses a chance to be part of a revolutionary movement in agriculture, turf management, and conservation management.

For more information on AcuSpray's services and franchise opportunities, please visit AcuSpray.com.

Contact Information

Chris Wielinski

Chief Marketing Officer

chris@acuspray.com

(855) 977-7299

Related Files

Agri-Business Review Preview.pdf

SOURCE: AcuSpray

View the original press release on newswire.com.
Toronto, Ontario--(Newsfile Corp. - December 28, 2023) - Stakeholder Gold Corp. (TSXV: SRC) ("Stakeholder" or the "Company") is pleased to announce the closing of a non-brokered private placement financing ("Private Placement"), raising gross proceeds of $1,400,000 CAD through the issuance of 1,400,000 Units at $1.00 per Unit. Each Unit consists of one common share ("Common Share") priced at $1.00 per Common Share, and one half of one common share purchase warrant ("Warrant"). Each whole Warrant entitles the holder to purchase one additional Common Share at $1.50 for a period of two years from the closing of the Private Placement.

Each whole Warrant has an early exercise provision that allows the Company to trigger exercise of the Warrant when the 10-day average price of Common Shares traded on the TSX Venture Exchange exceeds $3.00 per share. Thirty days (30) after the trigger date, any unexercised Warrants will be deemed to be null and void. All securities issued under this Private Placement will be subject to a hold period expiring four months and one day from the date of closing.

Proceeds will be used for exploration on the Company's Ballarat Exploration Project in the White Gold District located in the Yukon Territory, Canada and for developing the Company's exotic stone quartzite business in Minas Gerais, Brazil.

One Officer of the Company (the "insider") has invested in this Private Placement subscribing for in aggregate 45,000 Units, or gross proceeds of $45,000 CAD. The participation of insiders in the Private Placement constitutes a "related party transaction" within the meaning of Multilateral Instrument 61-101 - Protection of Minority Security Holders in Special Transactions ("MI 61-101") and the policies of the TSX. The Company is relying on exemptions from the formal valuation and minority approval requirements contained in sections 5.5(a) and 5.7(1)(a) of MI 61-101 on the basis that participation by insiders will not exceed 25% of the fair market value of the Company's market capitalization. The Company did not file a material change report at least 21 days prior to the completion of the Private Placement because the existence of any placement or insiders' participation therein had not been determined at that time.

This Private Placement does not result in any new insiders or control persons of the Company, and closing is subject to final approval by the TSX Venture Exchange.

For further information please contact:

Stakeholder Gold Corporation

416 525 - 6869

Forward-Looking Information

This news release contains forward-looking information. All information, other than information of historical fact, constitute "forward-looking statements" and includes any information that addresses activities, events or developments that the Corporation believes, expects or anticipates will or may occur in the future including the Corporation's strategy, plans or future financial or operating performance.

To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/192530

SOURCE: Stakeholder Gold Corp.


MOSCOW (dpa-AFX) - The United States has announced the year's final package of weapons and equipment for Ukraine as the Biden administration's funding requests for its ally is pending approval by the Congress.



Announcing the latest tranche of U.S. military assistance, Secretary of State Antony Blinken said, 'This package provides up to $250 million of arms and equipment under previously directed drawdowns for Ukraine.'



'It is imperative that Congress act swiftly, as soon as possible, to advance our national security interests by helping Ukraine defend itself and secure its future,' Blinken said.



With funds to arm Ukraine nearly exhausted, the White House said last week that just one more Ukraine security assistance package remains to be provided this year without lawmakers' approval.



Even as the Biden administration moves in full swing with executive actions to strengthen Ukraine's defense capabilities, Republicans defeated a foreign aid Bill for Ukraine in the Senate by 51 to 49 votes in protest against the package's lack of changes to border and immigration policy.



Out of the $110 billion foreign assistance package for Ukraine, Israel and Gaza, $61 billion was earmarked for Ukraine.



Defense officials have warned that, without action from Congress, further U.S. assistance for Ukraine could be in jeopardy at a critical time as Russia's war approaches the two-year mark.



In a recent letter to lawmakers, Defense Department comptroller Michael J. McCord said the department would be obligating the remaining $1 billion in funds authorized by Congress to replace U.S. inventories of weapons provided to Ukraine by the end of this month.



The security assistance package announced Wednesday is likely the last until Congress authorizes additional funds.



The Biden administration has committed more than $44.2 billion in security assistance to Ukraine since the beginning of Russia's invasion in February 2022.



The assistance has been provisioned through drawdowns of existing U.S. stocks and through the Ukraine Security Assistance Initiative, the authority under which the U.S. procures capabilities from industry and partners.



The latest military aid package includes air defense munitions, other air defense system components, additional ammunition for high mobility artillery rocket systems, 155mm and 105mm artillery ammunition, anti-armor munitions, and more than 15 million rounds of ammunition to help Ukraine counter Russia's incessant attacks.



Although a coalition of more than 50 countries continues to provide critical support for Ukraine's forces, the United States remains the largest provider of arms and ammunition that helped Kyiv fight the Russian forces in the battlefront for nearly two years.



In his meeting with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy earlier this month in Washington, U.S. Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin said the capabilities provided by the U.S. and its allies and partners 'are making a crucial difference on the battlefield' and have helped Ukraine retake more than half of the territory seized by Russia during the ongoing war.



Copyright(c) 2023 RTTNews.com. All Rights Reserved



Copyright RTT News/dpa-AFX
DUBAI, UAE, Dec. 28, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Bybit , the world's third largest crypto exchange by volume, is thrilled to announce an exciting partnership with Manta Network, a pioneer in zero-knowledge (ZK) application ecosystems. Together, they are also launching a celebratory 100K MANTA Carnival to introduce the community to cutting-edge ZK technology and unlock exciting rewards.

This collaboration marks a pivotal moment for Bybit's Web3 ecosystem, amplifying its openness and connectivity through integration with Manta Network.The Bybit Wallet now supports Manta, providing a seamless experience for over 800,000 users utilizing Bybit Web3 Wallet. This integration not only expands the functionality of the Bybit Wallet but also brings the advantages of Manta Network's ZK technology to a broader user base.

Ben Zhou, co-founder and CEO of Bybit, expressed his enthusiasm about the partnership, stating, "We are thrilled to join forces with Manta Network to advance the adoption of zero-knowledge technology in the Web3 space. This collaboration aligns with our Web3 commitment to creating a decentralized ecosystem that is simpler, open and equal for all."

Manta Network's core product, Manta Pacific, offers a revolutionary solution for Web3 developers. It's a scalable and cost-effective Layer 2 ecosystem built on Ethereum, utilizing ZK-Rollups to significantly reduce gas fees and simplify deployment through Solidity. This paves the way for a new era of web3 application development, one that's faster, cheaper, and accessible to more users.

100K MANTA Carnival: Fun and Rewards for Everyone:

Bybit Web3 is ecstatic to share its excitement for Manta Network with the community through a 10-day carnival packed with opportunities to win a share of 100,000 MANTA tokens.

The 100K MANTA Carnival kicks off on December 22nd, 2023, at 10AM UTC and runs until January 1st, 2024. Don't miss out on this incredible opportunity to learn about ZK technology, win valuable tokens, and participate in shaping the future of decentralized applications.

For more details and participation instructions, visit: https://announcements.bybit.com/en/article/manta-network-x-bybit-web3-carnival-up-to-100-000-manta-up-for-grabs-blt3c730aff1e7ab01f/

Bybit / TheCryptoArk

About Bybit

Bybit is a top-three cryptocurrency exchange by volume with 20 million users established in 2018. It offers a professional platform where crypto investors and traders can find an ultra-fast matching engine, 24/7 customer service, and multilingual community support. Bybit is a proud partner of Formula One's reigning Constructors' and Drivers' champions: the Oracle Red Bull Racing team.

For more details about Bybit, please visit Bybit Press .

For media inquiries, please contact: media@bybit.com

For more information, please visit: https://www.bybit.com

For updates, please follow: Bybit's Communities and Social Media

Discord | Facebook | Instagram | LinkedIn | Reddit | Telegram | TikTok | X (Twitter) | Youtube

Photo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/2308468/Bybit_Web3_Partners_Manta_Network_Celebrating__with_100K_MANTA_Carnival.jpg

Logo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/2267288/Logo.jpg

View original content:https://www.prnewswire.co.uk/news-releases/bybit-web3-partners-with-manta-network-celebrating-with-100k-manta-carnival-302023296.html


JERUSALEM (dpa-AFX) - World Health Organization teams have undertaken high-risk missions to deliver supplies, with partners, to hospitals in Northern and Southern Gaza.



The teams, consisting of officials from WHO and UNICEF, witnessed intense hostilities, high patient loads and overcrowding caused by people displaced by the conflict seeking refuge.



The teams visited two hospitals - Al-Shifa in the north and Al-Amal Palestine Red Crescent Society in the south - to deliver supplies and assess needs on the ground.



Both hospitals also serve as shelters for displaced people seeking relative safety. At Al-Shifa Hospital, a reported 50000 people are sheltering, while in Al-Amal there are 14000.



According to the latest WHO assessments, Gaza has 13 partially functioning hospitals, 2 minimally functioning ones, and 21 that are not functioning at all.



WHO staff also reported Tuesday that the need for food continues to be acute across the Gaza Strip.



While transiting across Gaza, WHO staff witnessed tens of thousands of people fleeing heavy strikes in the Khan Younis and Middle Area, on foot, riding on donkeys, or in cars. Make-shift shelters were being built along the road,' the UN health agency said in a press release .



WHO Director-General Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus repeated his call on the international community to take urgent steps to alleviate the grave peril facing the population of Gaza and jeopardizing the ability of humanitarian workers to help people with terrible injuries, acute hunger, and at severe risk of disease.



Thousands of families in the thickly populated Palestinian enclave are seeking shelter as they flee bombing after Israel broadened its ground offensive across central and southern Gaza.



More than 21100 Palestinians were killed in Israeli raids in Gaza in retaliation for Hamas' October 7 terror attacks on communities in southern Israel, according to the Hamas-run health ministry.



Copyright(c) 2023 RTTNews.com. All Rights Reserved



Copyright RTT News/dpa-AFX
By Thomas Brown

Originally published by Team Rubicon

NORTHAMPTON, MA / ACCESSWIRE / December 28, 2023 / New no-cost trainings are bolstering disaster management capabilities within at-risk communities and providing them the ability to plan for future crises on their own.

For a community to effectively respond to and recover from disaster, that community must first understand its capabilities before the disaster happens. Decades of research demonstrate that every dollar a community spends on disaster preparedness can save anywhere from $4 to $11 in response or recovery costs. One of just three nongovernmental organizations nationwide to have a memorandum of agreement with FEMA, Team Rubicon has extensive experience and recognized expertise in disaster management and preparedness. Sharing that expertise in a professional setting is one of the most valuable services Team Rubicon offers vulnerable communities.

As a longtime sponsor of Team Rubicon, FedEx has helped countless communities after disasters across America. Team Rubicon's mission, however, is to serve global communities before, during, and after disasters and crises, and FedEx's partnership extends into supporting the before phase as well. Disaster preparedness exercises are one of the most effective ways that Team Rubicon reduces the impact of disasters on vulnerable communities: by bolstering the disaster management capacity in those communities. FedEx is a crucial ally in providing communities at risk with the knowledge and training to successfully plan for future crises.

How Communities Benefit from Disaster Preparedness Exercises

Many communities lack the resources to conduct disaster exercises effectively; community leaders need significant time, money, and trained personnel in order to practice their disaster-management strategies. Team Rubicon Greyshirts regularly conduct disaster preparedness exercises across the country for a wide variety of threats, from wildfires to floods-whatever hazard a community could face-all of which are run by Master Exercise Practitioners. Master Exercise Practitioners are FEMA-trained and -certified exercise managers. They are professionals with advanced knowledge and skills in emergency management exercise design, conduct, and evaluation. The professional structure of an experienced team can lead to great potential savings for communities that lack the resources to perform their own exercises.

"Most of the areas that we go to don't have adequate funding or staff," said Michael Brady, one of Team Rubicon's Master Exercise Practitioners, "and our ability to bring these simulations at no cost to the community, along with our experience and certification, helps them build their capabilities."

Building capacity begins with identifying disaster preparedness deficiencies, such as a lack of appropriate response equipment, an inadequate communications system, or staff without the necessary training to respond to a disaster. One of the primary advantages of these simulations is that they offer a no-fault, low-cost environment in which to stress-test a community's disaster plans. Another advantage of these exercises is that the benefits scale up for tinier communities, says Team Rubicon's Exercise & Field Leadership Manager, Greg Ramoni. "The smaller the community, the more time- and cost-prohibitive such an exercise is and so the greater the benefits to the community become."

Most recently, this was the case for a small college in Wisconsin. In October of 2023, Team Rubicon helped the college conduct a tabletop exercise-a classroom-style simulation in which participants discuss their roles during a specific potential emergency and their responses to that particular scenario-for an active shooter situation.

"This is a small school," explains Brady, "the impact on them, if there's an active shooter, is going to be massive because they don't have the resources like a big state university. By us going down there, we gave them close to that level of preparedness."

By coming in as a neutral party Team Rubicon helps emergency managers and community leaders identify gaps in their planning, potentially saving time, money, and lives when a disaster does strike. As professionals from outside the community, Team Rubicon's Master Exercise Practitioners provide expert analysis and testing that would otherwise be too expensive for many communities to afford. Thanks to FedEx, the costs and basic logistics of setting up and running an exercise don't get handed off to the communities, either. Exercises demand paperwork, forms, posters, handouts, and more. "Every exercise we do," said Brady, "there's, at the very least, 1117 handouts printed with all the exercise scenario information, all right out of a FedEx Office."

Preparing for the Worst, Anywhere

The potential benefits of these simulations may be larger for smaller communities, but because Team Rubicon's disaster preparedness exercises are based on the Homeland Security Exercise and Evaluation Program (HSEEP), they provide actionable lessons for communities of all sizes. Additionally, as a nationally recognized set of best practices, guiding principles, and performance guidelines, the HSEEP methodology is designed to be appropriate for all kinds of disasters-from cyclones and blizzards to wildfires to hurricanes and everything in between.

Toward the end of 2022, Team Rubicon participated in a full-scale nuclear disaster simulation in Atlanta with around 40 federal, military, state, local, and nonprofit agencies and organizations. "This gives us the ability to really respond to any situation," said Chayne Sparagowski with the Atlanta-Fulton County Emergency Management Agency to Atlanta News First, "whether it's a national disaster that occurs and we need to bring in some of these folks or something worse like a chemical, radiological, nuclear event."

Team Rubicon's emergency planning assistance isn't limited to planning for domestic disasters. In the summer of 2023, Michael Brady and another Greyshirt flew to Colombia to lead a three-day disaster preparedness exercise, something the Colombian government had never done before. "Not only had they never run an exercise," said Brady, "but should a major disaster strike, the government doesn't have the infrastructure or capacity to quickly access many areas of the country; rural and remote communities will be on their own after a disaster. We empowered them to develop their own local exercises and their own local response using the templates that we shared with them."

Team Rubicon's exercises run the gamut from a functional, full-scale exercise to classroom seminars to small workshops; all of them allow community leaders to test their plans, policies, and personnel in a no-fault, low-cost environment. Partners like FedEx make it possible to bring these efforts to communities of all sizes, facing all varieties of disasters or crises. "I get to help train communities to better respond, to help people in their worst day." said Greg Ramoni, "and FedEx helps get us there before that worst day happens."

Photo courtesy of Team Rubicon

View additional multimedia and more ESG storytelling from FedEx Corporation on 3blmedia.com.

Contact Info:

Spokesperson: FedEx Corporation

Website: https://www.3blmedia.com/profiles/fedex-corporation

Email: info@3blmedia.com

SOURCE: FedEx Corporation

View the original press release on accesswire.com
Evolva Holding SA / Key word(s): Takeover

Evolva and Lallemand close the sale of Evolva AG to Danstar Ferment AG on 28 December 2023



28.12.2023 / 17:45 CET/CEST





PRESS RELEASE

Evolva and Lallemand close the sale of Evolva AG to Danstar Ferment AG on 28 December 2023 Reinach, Switzerland, 28 December 2023 - Following the approval on 21 December 2023 by the shareholders of Evolva Holding AG (SIX: EVE) of the sale of Evolva AG to Danstar Ferment AG, a Swiss affiliate of Lallemand Inc., the parties have successfully closed the transaction on 28 December 2023. Evolva Holding SA will seek the delisting of its shares from SIX Swiss Exchange in line with the established practice for such transactions, and therefore expects the delisting to take place after a customary period of between 6-12 months. Following the satisfaction of all customary conditions precedent, the acquisition by Danstar Ferment AG of all shares in Evolva AG from Evolva Holding SA (the "Company") was successfully closed on 28 December 2023. As previously communicated (see press releases of 21 November 2023, 30 November 2023 and 21 December 2023), Following the closing, the CHF 20 million initial purchase price may be adjusted on an upward or downward basis; the Company will provide further updates regarding these purchase price adjustments once they have been set and quantified in accordance with the terms of the share purchase agreement;

In addition to the purchase price of CHF 20 million the transaction is subject to an earn-out payable to the Company of up to CHF 10 million based on the achievement of certain product-based sales targets;

The net proceeds from the transaction will be distributed to the shareholders of the Company after the satisfaction of all creditor claims and the warranty periods of the share purchase agreement (SPA) have lapsed. The liquidation of the Company is currently expected to be completed in the first quarter of 2026;

Based on the information available today, the liability profile of the Company and estimated future costs and expenses during the liquidation, assuming an orderly liquidation process (and excluding unforeseen events), the Board of Directors and Management estimate the potential liquidation dividend (per share) to range between CHF 0.70 (assuming some downward purchase price adjustment and no earn-out target having been met) and CHF 2.40 (assuming some upward purchase price adjustment and full earn-out potential achieved);

The delisting of the shares of the Company is expected to take place after a customary period of between 6-12 months following the extraordinary general meeting of 21 December 2023. Stephan Schindler, Chairman of Evolva Holding SA, comments: "We thank the Evolva shareholders for their support to enable the transaction with Lallemand, securing the future of Evolva AG's operations for its employees, customers and partners. Our focus is now on the orderly handling of the liquidation of the Company, considering potential earn-out payments and the distribution of a respective liquidation dividend." Contact Evolva

Doris Rudischhauser

Investor Relations and Corporate Communications

+41 79 410 81 88

dorisr@evolva.com

About Lallemand Inc.

Lallemand Inc. is a family-owned business headquartered in Canada whose focus is on the development, production, and marketing of yeasts, bacteria, fungi and enzyme solutions across the baking, food ingredients, human and animal nutrition and health, crop protection/nutrition, oenology, brewing, alcohol and biofuel sectors. Lallemand is present in more than 50 countries, operates more than 48 production plants and has circa 5,000 employees.

About Evolva

Evolva is a Swiss biotech company focused on the research, development and commercialization of ingredients based on nature. We have leading businesses in Flavors and Fragrances, Health Ingredients and Health Protection. Evolva's employees are dedicated to make the best products that can contribute to health, wellness and sustainability. Find out more at evolva.com .

Disclaimer

This announcement is not an offer of securities 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 (the "Securities Act"), and may not be offered, pledged, sold, delivered or otherwise transferred, directly or indirectly, in the United States, except pursuant to an exemption from, or transaction not subject to, the registration requirements of the Securities Act. No public offering of securities is being made in the United States. Further, the securities referred to herein have not been and will not be registered under the applicable securities laws of Canada, Australia or Japan or under the applicable securities laws of any other jurisdiction where to do so might constitute a violation of such laws.

This press release contains specific forward-looking statements, e.g. statements including terms like believe, assume, expect or similar expressions. Such forward-looking statements are subject to known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors which may result in a substantial divergence between the actual results, financial situation, development or performance of the company and those explicitly or implicitly presumed in these statements. Against the background of these uncertainties readers should not place undue reliance on forward-looking statements. The company assumes no responsibility to update forward-looking statements or to adapt them to future events or developments. Additional features:



File: Evolva and Lallemand close the sale of Evolva AG to Danstar Ferment AG on 28 December 2023





End of Media Release


Private placement of 1m, conducted with a restricted group of Italian private and institutional investors

Following recent announcements, these funds will enable Ikonisys to speed up growth by further expanding its commercial development across Europe and the USA with Hospitex and by supporting the implementation of the distribution agreement with Biocare

Regulatory News:

Ikonisys SA (ISIN Code: FR00140048X2 Ticker: ALIKO) (Paris:ALIKO), a company specializing in the early and accurate detection of cancer with a unique and fully-automated solution for medical diagnostic labs (the "Issuer"), today announced that it raised 1m, via a private placement with Italian private and institutional investors, in order to strengthen its financial resources in view of the implementation of the distribution agreement with Biocare Medical1 and the future integration of Hospitex International2

The net proceeds of this issue, amounting to 1m, will provide the Issuer with additional resources to:

support the launch of the commercialization of its solutions by Biocare Medical in the USA, and

expand the commercialization of Hospitex's products initially in Europe and at a later stage in the USA.

Alessandro Mauri, Chief Financial Officer of Ikonisys declared: "We are very pleased to announce the successful completion of an operation that provides us with additional resources to support the dynamic growth expected in 2024. Our recent deals have deeply reshaped the profile of the Company. In the framework of our partnership with Biocare Medical to expand global distribution of our Ikoniscope solutions, we have now visibility over the next 2 years and the revenue forecast is set between 5 and 7 million by this time. Furthermore, the strategic acquisition of Hospitex positions us globally across the entire value chain of pathology labs, from slide preparation to analysis. This move not only strengthens our short-term perspective of profitability but also leverages strong technological, commercial and operational synergies. As we look forward to these promising developments for the year to come, we would like to thank our new investors for their confidence in the strategic direction of our Company."

Legal terms of the Capital Increase

The implementation of this capital increase, carried out with cancellation of shareholders' subscription rights through a private placement, was approved by the Board of Directors of the Issuer at its meeting held on December 27, 2023 (the "Capital Increase

The new shares will be issued on the basis of the 8th resolution of the Issuer's shareholders' meeting held on June 28, 2023. The settlement-delivery of the new shares will take place on January 2, 2024.

The Capital Increase did not require the approval of a notice ("prospectus") by the Autorite des marches financiers (the "AMF

Main terms of the Capital Increase

The Issuer has issued a total of 666,667 new ordinary shares, with a par value of 0.50 each, to a restricted circle of investors, pursuant to article L. 411-2 1 of the French Monetary and Financial Code, in accordance with the 8th resolution passed by its Annual General Meeting on June 28, 2023.

The issuance price of the new shares issued under the Capital Increase, equal to 1.5 per share, represents a discount of approximately 13% on the Ikonisys share price at the close of December 27, 2023.

Impact of the transaction in terms of liquidity risk management and financing horizon

As at June 30, 2023, and as mentioned in the half-year financial statements published on October 31, 2023, the Issuer's consolidated cash position amounted to 66k.

Following the Capital Increase and including the existing financing facility secured in October 2022, the Company will be in a position to meet its financing needs for more than 12 months.

Impact of the Capital Increase on a shareholder holding 1% of the capital

On the basis of the 9,784,757 shares outstanding, the impact on the shareholding of a shareholder holding 1% of the Issuer's capital prior to the transaction is as follows:

On a non-diluted

basis On a diluted

basis1 Before completion of the Capital Increase 1.00% 0.96 After issuance of the 666,667 shares resulting from the Capital Increase 0.94 0.90

1 Dilution takes into account the exercise of all outstanding dilutive instruments likely to result in the issuance of a maximum indicative number of 426,673 new shares.

Capital breakdown before and after completion of the Capital Increase

Before the Capital Increase:

Shareholder Number of shares % of share capital and voting rights Cambria Co-Investment Fund 5,268,989 53.85% Cambria Equity Partners 2,374,049 24.26% MC Consulting* 351,464 3.59% Free float 1,790,255 18.30% Total 9,784,757 100.00%

*Holding company of the CEO, Mario Crovetto

After the Capital Increase:

Shareholder Number of shares % of share capital and voting rights Cambria Co-Investment Fund 5,268,989 50.41% Cambria Equity Partners 2,374,049 22.72% MC Consulting* 351,464 3.36% Free float 2,456,922 23.51% Total 10,451,424 100.00%

*Holding company of the CEO, Mario Crovetto

Risk factors related to the Issuer

Detailed information about the Issuer, including its business, financial information, results, outlook and related risk factors, is contained in the 2022 annual financial report for the financial year ended December 31, 2022, published on April 29, 2023, and in the half-year report 2023, published on October 31, 2023. This document, together with other regulated information and all the Issuer's press releases, is available on the Issuer's website (www.ikonisys-finance.com).

About Ikonisys

Ikonisys SA is a cell-based diagnostics company based in Paris (France), New Haven (Connecticut, USA) and Milan (Italy) specialized in the early and accurate detection of cancer. The company develops, produces and markets the proprietary Ikoniscope20 platform, a fully-automated solution designed to deliver accurate and reliable detection and analysis of rare and very rare cells. Ikonisys has received FDA clearance for several automated diagnostic applications, which are also marketed in Europe under CE certification. Through its breakthrough fluorescence microscopy platform, the company continues to develop a stream of new tests, including liquid biopsy tests based on Circulating Tumor Cells (CTC).

For further information, please go to www.Ikonisys.com

Disclaimer

This press release contains forward-looking statements about the Issuer's prospects and development. These statements are sometimes identified by the use of the future tense, the conditional tense and forward-looking words such as "believe", "aim to", "expect", "intend", "estimate", "believe", "should", "could", "would" or "will" or, where appropriate, the negative of these terms or any other similar variants or expressions. This information is not historical data and should not be construed as a guarantee that the facts and data set forth will occur. This information is based on data, assumptions and estimates considered reasonable by the Issuer. It is subject to change or modification due to uncertainties relating to the economic, financial, competitive and regulatory environment. This information contains data relating to the Issuer's intentions, estimates and objectives concerning, in particular, the market, strategy, growth, results, financial situation and cash flow of the Issuer. The forward-looking information contained in this press release is made only as of the date of this press release. The Issuer does not undertake to update any forward-looking information contained in this press release, except as required by applicable law or regulation. The Issuer operates in a competitive and rapidly changing environment and therefore cannot anticipate all of the risks, uncertainties or other factors that may affect its business, their potential impact on its business or the extent to which the materialization of any one risk or combination of risks could cause results to differ materially from those expressed in any forward-looking information, it being recalled that none of this forward-looking information constitutes a guarantee of actual results.

1 Ikonisys and Biocare Medical Forge Alliance: Amplifying Global FISH Diagnostics with Advanced Fluorescent Scopes, October 31, 2023

2 Ikonisys to Acquire Hospitex International and Become an Integrated Cancer Diagnostic Leader, November 30, 2023

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20231228431151/en/

Contacts:

Ikonisys

Alessandro Mauri

CFO

investors@ikonisys.com

NewCap

Louis-Victor Delouvrier/Aurelie Manavarere

Investor Relations

Ikonisys@newcap.eu

Tel.: +33 (0)1 44 71 94 94

NewCap

Nicolas Merigeau

Media Relations

Ikonisys@newcap.eu

Tel.: +33 (0)1 44 71 94 98
Finsbury Growth & Income Trust Plc - Transaction in Own Shares

PR Newswire

LONDON, United Kingdom, December 28

For immediate release

28 December 2023

FINSBURY GROWTH & INCOME TRUST PLC

(the "Company")

MARKET PURCHASE OF COMPANY'S OWN SHARES

The Company announces that it has today purchased 102,740 of its own shares ("Ordinary Shares") at a price of 859.05 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 26,431,066; 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 198,560,237.

The figure of 198,560,237 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
PHOENIX, AZ / ACCESSWIRE / December 28, 2023 / ArmorPoint, LLC, a leading provider of cybersecurity solutions, is pleased to announce the appointment of Andrew Hernandez, CISM, CISA, as its new Director of Risk Management.

Hernandez, a seasoned professional with over 28 years of experience in financial services, risk management, and IT, brings a wealth of knowledge and expertise to ArmorPoint. His career has been marked by significant contributions to the field of risk management, where he has consistently demonstrated exceptional leadership and a deep understanding of cybersecurity risks and challenges.

In his role as Director of Risk Management, Hernandez will leverage his extensive experience in heavily regulated industries, which equips him with an ability to empathize with clients, understand their priorities, risk appetites, and compliance requirements. His ability to bridge the gap between business, technology, and risk will ensure that ArmorPoint's clients receive tailored, future-proof solutions for their cybersecurity needs.

"Hernandez's arrival at ArmorPoint marks a significant enhancement to our managed risk team," said David Trapp, CEO of ArmorPoint. "His past experience as a vCISO and his profound understanding of IT security risks are invaluable assets that supports our rapidly growing cybersecurity program management practice. I am confident that Hernandez's visionary leadership will play a pivotal role in advancing our strategic objectives and protecting our clients."

Andrew Hernandez on His Vision and Strategic Priorities as Director of Risk Management

Reflecting on his new role, Hernandez stated, "Joining ArmorPoint is a fantastic opportunity to apply my skills and experience in a dynamic environment. My aim is to empower organizations to navigate the complexities of cybersecurity, ensuring they are well-equipped to protect their critical assets in an increasingly digital world." Guided by this vision, Hernandez is plans to implement strategic initiatives, like those listed below, to further position ArmorPoint as a leader in cybersecurity program management solutions.

Addressing Overlooked Areas of Risk

Hernandez's strategic focus lies in unveiling and addressing the often-overlooked areas of risk. He notes, "One of the biggest gaps clients have is not knowing where risk exists," he explains. Hernandez intends to help clients first understand their risk and then assist with crafting response strategies, plans, and mitigating measures involving people, process, and technology.

Fostering Proactive Risk Mitigation

Similarly, in his commitment to fostering a proactive risk mitigation culture at ArmorPoint, Hernandez underscores the importance of learning from past experiences. He advocates for a principle of attraction rather than promotion, where sharing experiences plays a key role in helping both clients and the ArmorPoint team to manage risks effectively and preemptively.

Addressing Industry Trends

In addition to this, a significant part of his strategy involves addressing current industry trends and emerging threats, with a particular focus on vendor management in the context of increased cloud adoption. Hernandez emphasizes the necessity of conducting thorough business impact analyses to mitigate risks inherent in outsourcing technology, ensuring that vendor relationships enhance rather than endanger security postures.

Enhancing ArmorPoint's Partnerships in the Cybersecurity Ecosystem

Hernandez aims to strengthen ArmorPoint's partnerships and collaborations within the cybersecurity ecosystem. He believes in broadening the understanding that risk exists beyond cybersecurity, a perspective he sees as crucial for enhancing ArmorPoint's risk management capabilities and delivering exceptional value to clients.

"Assisting our clients and partners to recognize that risk exists beyond cybersecurity is paramount," Hernandez comments. "This approach will strengthen our partnerships and collaborations, broadening perspectives in a field often overshadowed by the glamour and hype of cybersecurity."

ArmorPoint is confident that Hernandez's expertise, vision, and leadership will greatly contribute to the company's continued success and its commitment to providing comprehensive cybersecurity program management solutions.

About ArmorPoint

ArmorPoint, LLC is a managed cybersecurity solution that combines the three pillars of a robust cybersecurity program - people, processes, and technology - into a single solution. Designed by cybersecurity experts, ArmorPoint's cloud-hosted SIEM technology and extended detection and response capabilities enable businesses to implement a highly-effective, scalable cybersecurity program. With customizable pricing available, every ArmorPoint plan offers a dynamic level of managed security services that support the risk management initiatives of all companies, regardless of available budget, talent, or time. To learn more about ArmorPoint, visit www.armorpoint.com.

Contact Information

Ashley Capps

Chief Marketing Officer

acapps@armorpoint.com

(602) 282-3090

SOURCE: ArmorPoint

View the original press release on newswire.com.


BEIJING (dpa-AFX) - Tesla CEO Elon Musk slammed the media for its recent reports about robot attacks at his Giga Texas factory in Austin, claiming it was an attack by Optimus robot.



Musk defended the robots by posting on X that, 'Truly shameful of the media to dredge up an injury from two years ago due to a simple industrial Kuka robot arm (found in all factories) and imply that it is due to Optimus now.' He further claimed that Optimus robots are futuristic and will help to create a 'quasi-infinite' economy.



The reported robot attack took place in 2021 when a programming engineer was pinned and assaulted by a robot. The robot sank its claw into the engineer's back and arm, leaving a blood trail on the factory floor. The employee was saved when another employee pressed the emergency stop button.



The incident came to light when an injury report was submitted, revealing that a lack of safety and improper working conditions had led to a high injury rate at the Giga Texas factory.



In 2020, regulators of California reported that Tesla had sent them incomplete factory injury reports.



According to a report submitted to the US Occupational Safety and Health Administration, about one in 21 workers faced injuries last year. This year, in January, a terrifying incident occurred when water was accidentally submerged in molten aluminum, leading to an explosion resembling a 'sonic boom' that sent a ball of fire into the air.



Similarly, an employee was crushed in Shanghai by factory equipment. The Chinese authorities said they wanted to punish the company for a lack of safety measures.



In October, Tesla rejected the German union's complaints regarding safety weaknesses.



Copyright(c) 2023 RTTNews.com. All Rights Reserved



Copyright RTT News/dpa-AFX
WASHINGTON (dpa-AFX) - General Motors (GM) has filed a lawsuit against San Francisco, alleging that the city has imposed unfair taxes and interest on the company since 2016. The company seeks to recover $108 million in taxes and $13 million in interest. The case was filed in the California Superior Court and the County of San Francisco. The Detroit-based car manufacturer alleges that higher taxes were charged to it by factoring charges of its autonomous vehicle subsidiary, Cruise. It further claims that since Cruise operates independently, it should not be included in the company's tax assessment. The company said that it generated mere sales of $677,000 in San Francisco in 2022, and has limited presence in the city with no employees, manufacturing units or any dealerships. The lawsuit could have a significant impact on the San Francisco city, given its estimated $800 million budget deficit for the next two years due to a slow recovery from the pandemic. Mayor London Breed has also instructed all city agencies to cut their budgets by 10% to offset the deficit. Earlier this year, driverless Cruise was pulled from the market following a collision incident, which raised safety concerns regarding it. 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.
Carrier readies services from country's second city

SAMARKAND, Uzbekistan, Dec. 28, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Air Samarkand has moved nearer to the launch of charter flights and scheduled services after receiving its Air Operator Certificate (AOC) from the Uzbekistan Ministry of Transport's Civil Aviation Authority (CAA).

The announcement confirms the airline's compliance with requirements of the country's aviation legislation and with international standards and requirements for flight safety under the Chicago Convention on International Civil Aviation. It follows a thorough audit of the airline's technical documentation, equipment and aircraft systems, preparation for flights, as well as the qualifications of flight and ground personnel by inspectors of the Uzbekistan Ministry of Transport.

Anton Khojayan, CEO of Air Samarkand, said:

"We thank the Ministry for Transport and the UzAviation Agency for their thorough assessment of our preparation for flights. Air Samarkand is now a further step nearer to the commencement of services from this incredible, historic city of Samarkand. Everything is now ready for this."

The airline has also officially received its own 'UZS' code from the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO), as well as the radio call sign 'Samarkand'.

Mr Khojayan said: "Over the past 12 months we have been carefully developing our business strategy, while concurrently recruiting an experienced airline leadership group and a talented flight and cabin crew team to deliver an exceptional in-flight service to our customers. We have an ambitious plan for the rapid development of Air Samarkand, providing our passengers with safe, direct and high-quality services to a growing number of cities in Asia and Europe as we ramp up operations."

Air Samarkand will initially begin operations with charter flights from Uzbekistan's second-largest city, before launching scheduled services in the Spring to popular destinations including Turkey, points in south-east Asia, China and others. Further expansion will connect Samarkand with popular cities in Europe during the first 12 months of operations.

The planned full-service carrier has already begun to grow an impressive fleet of modern, safe and fuel-efficient Airbus aircraft. Last month, Air Samarkand received its first Airbus A330-300 long-haul wide-bodied aircraft and an A321 narrow-body airliner for short and medium-haul operations.

Notes to Editors

Founded by Uzbek business leader Bakhtiyor Fazilov, Air Samarkand is part of a major tourism and commercial drive for the historic city of Samarkand. It will use a fleet of modern, safe and fuel-efficient Airbus aircraft, operating from the newly redeveloped Samarkand International Airport that is part of a large-scale investment project combining ancient heritage with modern infrastructure and facilities in the Samarkand region. Alongside the new airport facilities, a significant investment has gone into a multi-faceted Silk Road Samarkand tourist complex in the city - the first international tourism resort in Central Asia embracing four and five-star hotels.

Located in eastern Uzbekistan, Samarkand is one of the oldest cities in Asia, with its origins said to date back to the seventh or eighth millennium BC. Situated on the famed Silk Road, Samarkand is in the heart of the country's ancient and medieval tourist attractions, along with Bukhara, Khiva, Shakhrisabz, and the Zaamin National Park.

Air Samarkand will provide the 12.6 million people in its local catchment area with the option of taking direct charter flights and scheduled services to key cities in Asia and Europe, removing the current need to use time-wasting flight connections in Tashkent and other regional airports. Its network will begin with services to cities in Turkey, Vietnam, Malaysia, Indonesia and China.

Air Samarkand CEO Anton Khojayan, 37, has been heading a project team on the launch of Air Samarkand. Khojayan graduated from the Tashkent Institute of Architecture and Construction in 2009 and joined Uzbekistan Airways' Department of Ground Facilities and Airport Management, quickly rising through the ranks to head the division just three years later. In 2019 he became Deputy Chairman of the Board for Capital Construction and Technical Development of Uzbekistan Airports, a position he held for three years until he moved to lead Air Samarkand.

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View original content:https://www.prnewswire.co.uk/news-releases/air-samarkand-receives-air-operator-certificate-aoc-302023490.html
WASHINGTON (dpa-AFX) - Danish shipping company Maersk has announced its decision to resume shipping through the Red Sea, following the launch of military operations to protect the ships from Houthi attacks. The Red Sea is one of the most important sea routes for transporting oil, natural gas, and consumer goods, bordered by the Yemen coast and the Suez Canal. Since the beginning of the Hamas-Israel war, Houthi rebels in Yemen started attacking the route, claiming that shipments are headed for Israel, using rockets and drones. Due to the fear of disruption, many shipping companies, including Mediterranean Shipping Company (MSC), CMA CGM, Hapag-Lloyd, and Maersk, decided to take an alternative route around the Cape of Good Hope. This new route adds around 3,500 nautical miles to the transit journey, making it more expensive. To protect the ships, the U.S. launched an international naval operation called Operation Prosperity Guardian. Maersk stated that it is working on plans for the first vessels to make the transit. However, it emphasizes that it will not hesitate to re-evaluate the situation and initiate diversion plans again if deemed necessary for the safety of its seafarers. Meanwhile, Hapag-Lloyd mentioned that it would reassess the Red Sea situation before making any final decisions. On Wednesday, the U.S. Military announced that it had shot down more than 12 drone missiles launched by Houthis. Following this, oil prices fell by 3%. 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.
Toronto, Ontario--(Newsfile Corp. - December 28, 2023) - Prophecy DeFi Inc. (CSE: PDFI) ("Prophecy DeFi" or the "Company") announces that it has granted an aggregate of 2,000,000 options ("Options") to purchase common shares of the Company to a certain officer, director, employee and a consultant of the Company, exercisable at a price of $0.05 per common share for a period of five (5) years from the date of grant, in accordance with the terms of the Company's stock option plan. Further, the Company announces that it has cancelled 3,292,000 Options pursuant the terms of the Company's stock option plan. The Options had been granted between March 2021 and December 2021 to certain officers, directors, employees and consultants to the Company. The cancelled Options had exercise prices ranging from $0.22 to $0.60 and expiry dates ranging from March 2024 to December 2024. The Options were voluntarily surrendered by the holders for no consideration.

The common shares issuable upon exercise of the granted options are subject to a statutory hold period of four months and one day from the date of grant.

About Prophecy DeFi

Prophecy DeFi Inc. (PDFI) is a publicly traded investment company whose primary objective is to invest its funds for the purpose of generating returns from capital appreciation and income. It plans to accomplish these goals by bringing together technology start-ups in the Blockchain and Decentralized Finance sectors to fund innovation, elevate industry research, and create new business opportunities in a coherent ecosystem.

www.prophecydefi.com

For further information, please contact:

John McMahon, CEO

Tel: (416) 764-0314

Email: jmcmahon@prophecydefi.com

Forward-Looking Information

Certain information set forth in this news release may contain forward-looking information that involves substantial known and unknown risks and uncertainties. This forward-looking information is subject to numerous risks and uncertainties, certain of which are beyond the control of the Company, including, but not limited to, the impact of general economic conditions, industry conditions, and dependence upon regulatory approvals and the possibility that the completion of the transaction may not occur. 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 information. The parties undertake no obligation to update forward-looking information except as otherwise may be required by applicable securities law.

Neither the Canadian Securities Exchange nor the Investment Industry Regulatory Organization of Canada accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.

NOT FOR DISTRIBUTION TO UNITED STATES NEWSWIRE SERVICES OR

FOR DISSEMINATION IN THE UNITED STATES

To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/192655

SOURCE: Prophecy DeFi Inc.
Hina Khan has been hospitalised, and the news was shared by the actress herself. She shared a story on Instagram and penned a note that has left her fans worried. Khan is still optimistic and said shed bounce back.

She wrote- I have had four terrible terrible nights of high-grade fever. This shit wont come down only. Continuous 102-103 temperature. Uff no energy left now. Its sickening. #lifeupdates for all those who are worried for me, I will bounce back. Inshallah, send in your love please.

Hina Khan performs her first Umrah

Earlier in March this year, Khan performed her first Umrah with her mother and brother. In a string of posts shared on her Instagram handle, Hina updated her fans and followers about her entire journey to the holy city. Known for working in shows like Yeh Rishta Kya Kehlata Hai and Kasautii Zindagii Kay, Hina Khan arrived in Mecca and also shared a few pictures of her flight tickets and her trip with family.

Expressing her gratitude for being able to perform her first Umrah, Hina wrote, Doosra umrah mukammal..Mashallah Jazaakallah..May Allah accept our umrah and dua.. Thank you Allah for making it easy for us all.. Thank you @alkhalidtours To help us take this sacred journey to umrah..

As soon as she dropped the pictures and the video, fans took to the comment section and extended their greetings to the actress. A user wrote, Masa Allah apko Umrah bhut bhut mubarak ho dua me yd, while another one wrote, MashaAllah. Bht Mubarak.

Prior to this, the actress in another slot of pictures shared glimpses from her flight trip and from her hotel in Mecca.
Actor-politician Vijayakanth died on Thursday at a private hospital in Chennai. The actor was admitted to MIOT Hospital and put on ventilator support. The 71-year-olds condition deteriorated due to pneumonia and despite doctors best efforts, he couldnt survive. The DMDK chief was earlier admitted to the hospital in November due to respiratory issues but was discharged a few weeks later. Fondly called Captain, all the morning shows in theatres across Tamil Nadu were cancelled to honour the yesteryear star.

As soon as the news came out, fans along with celebrities also mourned his passing and paid heartfelt tributes.

Tributes pour in for Captain Vijayakanth

Actor Kamal Haasan penned a long note in Tamil, paying homage to the actor-turned-politician.

He lived with humanity in every action. He was the creator of innovative ideas in Tamilnadu politics. He had a helping hand extended to the poor. Fearless courage was his hallmark. Vijayakanth, a revolutionary artist who made his mark in both the fields of cinema and politics, will remain forever in our memories. I offer my heartfelt condolences to all his family, volunteers and fans who are grieving his loss, a part of his tweet read.

https://twitter.com/ ikamalhaasan/status/ 1740230433269596231

Jr NTR expressed grief over the demise of the veteran actor. Saddened to learn about Vijayakanth Garus passing. A true powerhouse in both cinema and politics. May his soul find eternal peace. My thoughts are with his family and friends, he wrote.

https://twitter.com/tarak9999/ status/1740240112762724354

Actress Trisha, extending his condolences to the entire family wrote, RIP Captain. Lots of love and strength to Premalatha Maam and his family. Ill forever remember your kindness.

https://twitter.com/ trishtrashers/status/ 1740231382054629615

Actor Sonu Sood, expressing gratitude to Captain Vijayakanth, wrote, I owe my career to him.

https://twitter.com/SonuSood/ status/1740240375565230586

Others, including Vikram, Sriya Reddy, Mohanlal, and Chiranjeevi Konidela, also paid tributes across social media platforms.

https://twitter.com/ KChiruTweets/status/ 1740259408398148057

https://twitter.com/Mohanlal/ status/1740269600384975280

https://twitter.com/chiyaan/ status/1740215412326076681

As thousands of fans and supporters mourn Captain Vijayakanths demise, his mortal remains have been taken to the DMDK office. Earlier, his mortal remains were placed at his residence in Virugambakkam, where Chief Minister MK Stalin and other politicians arrived to pay last respects. His last rites will be held on Friday, 29 December.
The New Year is just around the corner and the holiday season is in full swing. Its the last week of the year, and whats better than some rest and family time? All those planning to stay home can make the most of their weekends and spend New Years Eve watching their favourite shows and films. With Netflix, Amazon Prime Video, and Disney+Hotstar serving a series of releases this week, what can be better than tuning in your favourite show or film as they hit OTT?

Here is a list of the top OTT releases this weekend that you can binge-watch with your friends and family.

OTT releases this week

1. Kho Gaye Hum Kahan

Release date: 26 December 2023

Where to watch: Netflix

Ananya Pandey, Siddhant Chaturvedi, and Adarsh Gourav-starrer, the coming-of-age drama film, Kho Gaye Hum Kahan released this week on Netflix. Revolving around the lives of three close friends in their 20s, the film shows them navigating through the complexities of their lives in the era of social media while also struggling to balance between real life and online personalities.

2. 12th Fail

Release date: 29 December 2023

Where to watch: Disney+Hotstar

Vikrant Masseys sleeper hit 12th Fail is all set to release this weekend on Disney+Hotstar. A biographical drama film based on Anurag Pathaks novel, the film revolves around the true story of Manoj Kumar Sharma who despite facing a setback after failing in his Class 12 exams goes on to attain the prestigious position of an IPS officer.

3. Berlin

Release date: 29 December 2023

Where to watch: Netflix

Revolving around the titular character played by Pedro Alonso in the highly acclaimed show Money Heist, Berlin will be released this week on Netflix. Exploding Berlins life before the biggest heist, the series highlights his characters leadership and remarkable heists throughout Europe, along with his expertise and background as he worked with a selected team of proficient thieves.

4. Three of Us

Release date: 29 December 2023

Where to watch: Netflix

Shefali Shah, along with Jaideep Ahlawat and Swanand Kirkire, stars in the poignant drama, Three of Us, which revolves around how Shailaja grapples with dementia and revisits her childhood town on the Konkan coast. She confronts a traumatic event from her past and faces the realities of her marriage and the complexities of the future.

5. Pokemon Concierge

Release date: 28 December 2023

Where to watch: Netflix

A must-watch for kids, the stop-motion animated series Pokemon Concierge explores a unique setting within the beloved franchise. Revolving around the story of Haru, a new concierge, it shows how she goes on to discover herself while interacting with different Pokemon and the trainers at the Pokemon resort on the Southern island.

6. Dono

Release date: 29 December 2023

Where to watch: ZEE5

Featuring the very young Rajveer Deol and Paloma Dhillon, Avnish S Barjatyas romantic drama film releases this week on ZEE5. The film revolves around the story of a young man who falls in love with a girl after meeting her at a wedding in Thailand. However, what happens next forms the main plot of the film.

While these are some of the top releases this week across OTT platforms, you can always go back to your watchlist and figure out how to make the most of this extended weekend. Happy holidays!
Keeping up with his annual tradition, former US President Barack Obama has finally shared the list of his favourite films of this year. From Christopher Nolans blockbuster Oppenheimer to a few other heavyweights like Rustin, Leave the World Behind, Blackberry, Anatomy of a Fall, and Past Lives, among others, While revealing the list of his favourites from 2023, Obama also acknowledged the SAG-AFTRA strike in Hollywood, explaining how it would benefit the writers and actors and lead to better working conditions and protections.

Taking to his X handle, Barack Obama noted that the listed films reflect the hard work of the actors and writers over the last year. Further, he also included his personally backed films from Higher Ground, the production company that was founded by Obama and his wife Michelle in 2018.

Earlier this year, writers and actors went on strike to advocate for better working conditions and protections. It led to important changes that will transform the industry for the better. Here are some films that reflect their hard work over the last year, including some like Rustin, American Symphony, and Leave the World Behind that we were proud to release through HG Media. What films did I miss? he wrote in the caption.

Obamas list of favourite films from 2023

Sharing the list on social media, Obama wrote, Im biased since these movies were produced by Higher Ground, but these are in fact three of the best films I saw this year.

While the list included projects from his own HG Media, Rustin, Leave the World Behind, and American Symphony, Obama further listed The Holdovers, Blackberry, Oppenheimer, American Fiction, Anatomy of a Fall, Monster, Past Lives, Air, Polite Society, and A Thousand and One as his favorites.

While the list included some of the best films this year, a few other notable films, like Greta Gerwigs Barbie and Martin Scorseses Killers of the Flower Moon, The Colour Purple, and Poor Things, among others, failed to make the cut, grabbing the attention of fans.

Many took to the comment section and shared similar views about their own favourites from the list, a section of social media users also pointed out the missing names.
Veteran actor Farooq Shaikh, who made his debut in Hindi cinema with Garam Hawa in 1974, passed away on December 28, 2013. And Shabana Azmi remembered the time when she worked with him very fondly in a heartfelt note.

The veteran actress shared a picture of the actor on her Instagram account and remembered the time when they worked together. She wrote- 10 years .. I remember so clearly that on 14th Dec we did our last show of Tumhari Amrita in front of the Taj Mahal. I remarked that we can never find a venue to match the Taj and that it should be our last show since we had been playing it for 22 years .

She added,  Pat came your reply  why should we pull the curtains on Tumhari Amrita  we will do it for another 22 years!14 days later you were gone  and with it were washed away a deep friendship of 40 years .. I can never play Amrita again with my Zulfi gone I miss you Firkee.

How late actor Farooq Shaikh secretly helped a 26/11 victims family

The late actor read a story in one of the leading newspapers The Indian Express few days after the attack in December 2008, and decided to fund the education of the victims children. The name of the victim who lost his life in the attacks was Rajan Kamble, who worked as a maintenance worker at the Taj Hotel. Shaikhs decision to fund Kambles childrens education stemmed from the emotional turf his story walked on.

Kambles wife Shrutis statement

While the Taj management has taken care of us, if not for Sheikh saab, my children couldnt have dreamed of making it so far. Today I can finally tell my sons that this was the stranger who looked after us when everyone we called our own gave up.

By the time they knew who the angel in their lives were, Shaikh passed away in December 2013.

Cant believe he is gone: Shaba Azmi on Farooq Shaikh

Shabana Azmi, Farooq Shaikhs co-star for 21 years in the popular play Tumhari Amrita who had also worked with the actor in several films, was devastated with the news of his sudden death.

One of Indian cinemas finest actors, Farooque was on a holiday with his wife and two daughters in Dubai when he suddenly died of a massive heart attack in December 2013.

Devastated by the suddenness of the tragedy, Shabana said: I cant believe hes gone so suddenly and so cruelly! Farooq was in Dubai with his wife and daughters when he suddenly suffered a massive heart attack. He just collapsed! Just like that. Is that any way to go?
Bollywood actress Bhumi Pednekar is one of the most talented young actresses in B-town. Besides her professional endeavours, the actress is also known for being very close to her sister, Samiksha Pednekar.

Redefining some serious sibling goals, Bhumi and Samiksha are the best of friends and are clearly proud of the sisterhood they share. That being said, as the two are often seen hanging out, a recent sighting at the Mumbai airport created quite a buzz on the Internet, as fans got confused due to the uncanny resemblance between the Pednekar sisters.

In a video going viral on the Internet, the siblings at the Mumbai airport left the paparazzi confused. The paps evidently found it difficult to identify who among them was the actor and who was the sister. Notably, the sisters look quite identical, leaving the media as well as the fans confused as many wondered if they were twins. The paparazzi account also added a hilarious caption that reads, Kaafi zyada confusion hai, Ek saath do-do bhumi? Hahaha, nahi ek Bhumi aur ek samiksha ab kon bhumi kon samiksha wo aap hi pata lagao.

While Samiksha, clad in a white top stepped out of the car first, she was followed by Bhumi, who donned a striking black top paired with blue denims at the airport. The actress also greeted the paparazzi and smiled at them as they gathered around.

A user wrote, Bhumi Pednekars sister Samiksha, and theyre not twins, while another one wrote, Theyre sisters right??

Another user wrote, Pahli wali ko hi bhumi.. Kisne kisne samjha (Who assumed the first one as Bhumi?.

The actress herself also reacted to the video and dropped a laughing emoji.

Bhumi Pednekar was recently seen in Karan Boolanis Thank You For Coming and The Lady Killer opposite Arjun Kapoor.
Bollywood superstar Salman Khan celebrated his 58th birthday on December 27, and the actor greeted a sea of fans outside his residence on this occasion. The fans love for Bollywoods Bhaijaan was evident in the sheer scale of the crowd that waited to catch a glimpse of Salman. While the actor celebrated his big day with friends and family members, he didnt disappoint his fans.

Salman Khan waves to fans on 58th birthday

Fans in large numbers gathered outside Salman Khans Mumbai residence i.e., Galaxy Apartments on Wednesday evening to wish him on his birthday. Salman came to the balcony and acknowledged the enthusiastic crowd. The actor was dressed in a casual grey T-shirt paired with trousers, sporting his signature bearded look. While fans went into a joyful frenzy chanting his name and affectionately calling out Bhai, he also seemed moved by their heartwarming gesture. The actor flaunted a happy smile and waved toward them.

Not to forget, the actors father, veteran screenwriter Salim Khan, also accompanied him to the balcony, watching his sons fandom. While fans followed the annual tradition of gathering outside the actors residence, many also flooded social media with birthday wishes for their favourite actor.

Salman Khan celebrates birthday with family

The actor who was out of the city returned back to Mumbai on Wednesday evening and headed straight to his family for birthday celebrations. Hosted at Arpita Khan and Aayush Sharmas residence, the party had several stars, including Bobby Deol, Neha Dhupia, Angad Bedi, Genelia DSouza, and Riteish Deshmukh.

Salman Khans family members were also a part of the celebrations. Videos going viral on social media show the Dabangg actor cutting the birthday cake with his niece Ayat, as they share their birthdays.

On the work front, Salman Khan was recently seen in Yash Raj Films Tiger 3 alongside Katrina Kaif and Emraan Hashmi.
China has long been focused on building up its military.

And the countrys public has been behind its government with its so-called military fans posting pictures of ships and aircrafts on social media.

But now, authorities are warning users against it.

Lets take a closer look:

What happened?

In a WeChat post Saturday entitled This is a cool hobby, but you must be very careful, the Ministry of State Security said: Some individual military enthusiasts severely endanger national military security by illegally obtaining information regarding national defence and disseminating them on the internet.

With a focus on military airports, ports, national defence and military industrial units, they drove to or took ferries or planes that pass by designated routes, and clandestinely photographed with telephoto lenses or drones.

As per Newsweek, it said it had in recent years uncovered a number of criminal cases of military enthusiasts secretly photographing sensitive military equipment.

It warned information could be used by people with ulterior motives to cause serious harm to national military security.

As per CNN, repeat offenders could face up to seven years in prison.

However, first-time or occasional offenders could be let off with a warning.

The Ministry of State Security oversees intelligence and counterintelligence activities both within China and overseas.

The agency earlier this year launched a social media account which warns the public against broadcasting Chinas secrets abroad.

The account also urges the public to join in the fight against spying.

The security ministry on its WeChat account in August said China should encourage its citizens to join counter-espionage work, including creating channels for individuals to report suspicious activity as well as commending and rewarding them.

A system that makes it normal for the masses to participate in counter-espionage must be established, wrote the Ministry of State Security, the main agency overlooking foreign intelligence and anti-spying, in its first post on its WeChat account.

In protecting itself from espionage, China would need the participation of its people in building a defence line, the state security ministry wrote in its WeChat post in August.

The latest post warned against showing the progress of warships and aircraft carriers by posting images online.

The development cycle of new military equipment, especially large surface ships such as aircraft carriers, is relatively long, it said as per Newsweek.

Hostile external forces who analyse individual personal photos and other relative information can accurately surmise the manufacturing progress of military equipment, estimate and assess the timeline for commissioning into service and reaching combat effectiveness, and use this as a reference to prepare countermeasures, it added

This gains significance amid the fact that Chinas latest aircraft carrier, the Fujian, has been a popular subject for amateur spotters.

As per SCMP, a military enthusiast in 2021 was given a year in prison for publishing unauthorised pictures of the Fujian using a high-definition camera.

The newspaper quoted intelligence experts as saying the pictures had time stamps that would allow foreign agencies to evaluate progress on the Fujian.

The camera also captured sensitive devices on the Fujian.

As per SCMP, another man in 2021 was given 14 months in prison after taking pictures near a dual-use airport in Zhejiang provinces Jiaxing.

The Fujian, which is undergoing outfitting at a Shanghai shipyard, weighs 80,000 tonnes.

It is considered a rival to the newest US Navy carriers, is equipped with an advanced electromagnetic catapult system.

China tightens screws

The warning underscores Chinas efforts to prevent the unauthorised sharing of sensitive military information, aligning with its broader strategy to control information flow and enhance national security.

Chinese lawmakers in April passed a wide-ranging update to Beijings anti-espionage legislation, banning the transfer of any information related to national security and broadening the definition of spying.

The law took effect on 1 July.

President Xi Jinping has made national security a key focus of his administration since taking office in 2012 and analysts say these revisions are evidence of that stricter regime as suspicion of the United States and its allies grows.

All documents, data, materials, and items related to national security and interests are under the same protection as state secrets following the revisions, according to the full text of the revised law.

The law does not define what falls under Chinas national security or interests.

It expands the definition of espionage to include cyber attacks against state organs or critical information infrastructure, state news agency Xinhua reported.

The revised law allows authorities carrying out an anti-espionage investigation to gain access to data, electronic equipment, information on personal property and also to ban border crossings. Cyberattacks are also classed as acts of espionage.

Political security is the top priority of national security, and the core of political security is the security of Chinas political system, Minister of State Security Chen Yixin wrote in an article in a Chinese legal magazine in July.

The most fundamental is to safeguard the leadership and ruling position of the Communist Party of China and the socialist system with Chinese characteristics, Chen said.

In recent years, China has arrested and detained dozens of Chinese and foreign nationals on suspicion of espionage, including an executive at Japanese drugmaker Astellas Pharma in March.

Australian journalist Cheng Lei, accused by China for providing state secrets to another country, has been detained since September 2020.

Chinas declaration that it is under threat from spies comes as Western nations, most prominently the United States, accuse China of espionage and cyberattacks, a charge that Beijing has rejected.

The United States itself is the empire of hacking, a Chinese foreign ministry spokesperson has said.

Notably, the United States also has regulations restricting photography near certain military installations and equipment. The US Code prohibits making photographs or representations of vital military and naval installations or equipment without proper permission, and violators could face up to a year in prison.

While amateur military enthusiasts have been a common source of open-source intelligence, concerns about national security and protecting military secrets are leading both China and the United States to take measures against such activities, CNN reported.

With inputs from agencies
The Centre is cracking down on fraudulent loan apps.

The government on Wednesday ordered social media platforms and other websites not to host advertisements for any such apps.

Union minister Rajeev Chandrasekhar said, One of the areas we are now cracking down on is advertising of fraudulent loan apps that many platforms are carrying and we have, through yesterdays advisory, made it clear that no intermediary can carry advertisements of fraudulent loan apps because it will be misleading and exploits people who are using the internet.

But how big of a problem are these apps in India?

Lets take a closer look:

As per Indian Express, the digital lending market has made huge strides in India over the past decade. The newspaper quoted credit information firm Experian as saying the industry has touched $350 billion in 2023 and has grown at a rate of around 40 per cent.

While a major chunk of the industry is driven by genuine players, many illegal lenders have emerged.

Experts put their chunk of the industry at between $700 and 800 million.

Most of these apps are on the most popular social media platforms  Meta, Google, Apple app store and WhatsApp. Not only are they using these platforms to advertise and distribute these apps, they also use them to pester users for repayment.

This can often have real-life consequences.

Bharat Singh, from Uttar Pradesh, borrowed Rs 15,000 from UnicashX  a loan app he saw on Instagram Singh needed money to pay for his sisters wedding. The app claimed it had the support of a non-banking financial company (NBFC).

However, Singh got a rude shock. UnicashX in return demanded he pay back Rs 50,000.

And when he did not pay more than the Rs 15,000 he borrowed, he began receiving threatening messages.

I will hurl such abuses at you that you will consume poison, read one such message.

Singh is far from alone in being harassed.

The newspaper has, since 2020, counted around a dozen cases in which people caught in the vicious cycle of these apps have died allegedly by suicide.

Akshay Bajpai, an independent cybersecurity expert in Bhopal, told Al Jazeera over 700 such apps are available in India.

While some of them are Indian, most are owned by the Chinese who then hire Indians.

The outlet quoted cybersecurity firm CloudSek as saying that their experts found 55 fake loan apps that target people between July and September 2023.

They also found over 15 obscure payment gateways run by persons of Chinese origin who undertook those steps to evade detection.

As per Al Jazeera, Bhupendra Vishwakarma, a father of two in Bhopal, was harassed incessantly by recovery agents for months.

Tell him to repay the loan; otherwise, today I will strip him naked and upload it on social media, was one of the messages the insurance agent received.

The 35-year-old then gave his two minor sons a poisoned drink.

Vishwakarma and his wife then hanged themselves.

Vishwakarma wrote in his suicide note, Today, the situation has reached the point of losing my job as well. I cant see a future for myself and my family. I am no longer worthy of showing my face to anyone. How will I face my family?

Then theres the case of Shivani Rawat in Delhi.

In June, the 23-year-old college receptionist applied for a loan of Rs 4,000 on an app called Kreditbe.

Even though the approval for her loan remained pending, she soon began receiving calls demanding that she pay double the back.

When she told the agents she didnt get the money, they began abusing her. Rawat then stopped answering calls  after which she began receiving abusive messages.

It didnt end there.

Rawats colleagues were then sent fake explicit photos of her and her family. Her manager then asked her to quit as her coworkers were feeling uncomfortable.

After losing my job, I became so depressed that I even had thoughts of ending my life, Rawat said.

Take additional measures

In the advisory issued on Tuesday, the IT Ministry directed that intermediaries and platforms should take additional measures to not permit any advertisements of illegal loan and betting apps having the potential to scam and mislead the users, the consequences of which will be the sole responsibility of the intermediaries and platforms.

The advisory also stressed the importance of robust grievance redressal mechanisms employed by intermediaries.

In a meeting convened in October 2023, the IT Ministry and the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) discussed the necessary actions against illegal betting apps.

During this meeting, the ministry urged the RBI to devise a more comprehensive Know Your Customer (KYC) process for banks. This proposed KYC process, termed Know Your Digital Finance App (KYDFA), is envisioned to enhance the ability to trace and address rogue loan apps effectively.

This recommendation was officially communicated to the Department of Financial Services (DFS) and RBI on 13 October, 2023.

At the time Chandrasekhar had said: We have recommended the RBI, within their regulatory framework, to design a detailed KYC for companies, which we refer to as Know Your Digital Finance App (KYDFA), in the same manner that customers have to undergo detailed KYC for opening a bank account.

This, he had said, will ensure that only legitimate and scrutinised financial apps can access and use the Indian banking system and further, if there is any violation of law, the KYDFA process will help in establishing traceability and origin of the app for action under the law.

Earlier this month, the government informed Parliament that Google has suspended or removed over 2,500 fraudulent loan apps from its Play Store between April 2021 and July 2022.

The government is constantly engaged with the RBI and other regulators and stakeholders concerned to control fraudulent loan apps, finance minister Nirmala Sitharaman had said in a written reply to the Lok Sabha this month.

As part of steps taken to control fraudulent loan apps, she said, the RBI has shared a whitelist of legal apps with the Government of India, and this list was shared by the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (Meity) with Google, whose app store is the primary source of distribution of digital lending apps.

Google has updated its policy regarding enforcement of loan lending apps on the Play Store and has also deployed additional policy requirements with strict enforcement actions for lending apps in India, she added.

As per their revised policy, only those apps are allowed on the Play Store which are published by Regulated Entities (REs) or those working in partnership with REs.

The matter is also regularly discussed and monitored in the meetings of the Financial Stability and Development Council (FSDC), an inter-regulatory forum under the chairpersonship of the Finance Minister.

The objective is to remain proactive, maintain cyber security preparedness with constant vigilance, and take appropriate and timely action to mitigate any such vulnerabilities in the Indian financial system, she said.

With inputs from agencies
India on Thursday asked Pakistan to extradite Hafiz Saeed.

Saeed, the founder of Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) and mastermind behind the 26/11 Mumbai attacks, is one of Indias most wanted terrorists.

The Ministry of External Affairs has requested the Pakistani Ministry of Foreign Affairs to initiate the legal process for Saeeds extradition.

India has repeatedly demanded that Saeed be handed over for trial for his suspected role in the Mumbai attack but Pakistan has refused to do so.

India isnt alone. The US has also placed a $10 million bounty on Saeed.

Lets take a look at Saeeds many crimes:

As per Hindustan Times, Saeed travelled to Afghanistan during the late 1970s or the early 1980s to receive militant training.

Here, he met Abdullah Azzam  mentor to Osama bin Laden and other Afghanistan fighters.

Saeeds Jamaat-ud-Dawa is the front group for the Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT).

Saeed founded LeT in the 1990s.

The US treasury department website says the LeT has conducted numerous attacks against Indian military and civilian targets since 1993.

However, Saeed abandoned its leadership after India accused it of being behind an attack on the Indian Parliament in December 2001.

The LeT also carried out the 2008 Mumbai attack in which 166 people, including six Americans, were killed.

The Government of India implicated LeT in the July 2006 attack on multiple Mumbai commuter trains, and in the December 2001 attack against the Indian Parliament. LeT is also suspected of involvement in attacks in New Delhi in October 2005, and in Bangalore in December 2005, the website states.

In 2005, Saeed determined where graduates of a LeT camp in Pakistan should be sent to fight, and personally organized the infiltration of LeT militants into Iraq during a trip to Saudi Arabia. In 2006, Saeed oversaw the management of a terrorist camp, including funding of the camp, the UN website states.

Saeed, who has been arrested and released several times, denies any involvement with militancy, including the 2008 Mumbai attacks.

He has also denied any links between the JuD and LeT.

Saeed told Pakistans Geo TV in 2008, No Lashkar-e-Taiba man is in Jamaat-ud-Dawa and I have never been a chief of Lashkar-e-Taiba.

In July 2019, Saeed was arrested in connection with the terrorism financing case while on his way from Lahore to Gujranwala.

The JuD chief was in April 2022 sentenced to 32 years in jail in two terror financing cases.

The sentences awarded to convict Hafiz Muhammad Saeed run concurrently of this case and of previously awarded, if any, the court said in an order, dated 7 April, 2022.

That development came in the backdrop of attempting to avoid being blacklisted by the Financial Action Task Force.

Pakistan, which had been on the watchdogs grey list since 2018, was taken off it in October 2022.

The US Department of the Treasury has designated Saeed as a Specially Designated Global Terrorist.

The country has, since 2012, has offered a $10 million reward for information that brings Saeed to justice.

In Washington, US officials said the decision to offer the $10 million reward under the State Departments longstanding Rewards for Justice program came after months of discussions among US agencies involved in counter-terrorism.

Saeed has been in jail since 2019.

However, a new political front group set up by Saeed has fielded candidates for most of the national and provincial assembly constituencies across Pakistan for the 8 February general elections.

The Pakistan Markazi Muslim League (PMML) party  set up by Saeed  says it is a political party.

The party, whose electoral symbol is a chair, says it wants to make Pakistan an Islamic welfare state.

In a video message, PMML President Khalid Masood Sindhu said that his party is contesting on most of the national and provincial assembly seats.

We want to come to power not for corruption but to serve the people and make Pakistan an Islamic welfare state, he said.

Saeeds son Talha Saeed is contesting from Lahores NA-127.

When contacted, Sindhu denied his partys link with Saeeds outfit. The PMML has no backing of Hafiz Saeed, he claimed.

In 2018, the Milli Muslim League (MML) was the political face of JuD. It had fielded candidates on most seats, especially in Punjab province but failed to win a single seat.

For the 2024 polls, the PMML has been formed because of a ban on the MML.

With inputs from agencies
As Israel wages its war in Gaza, several young conscientious objectors have refused to serve in the military. One of these Jewish youths includes Tal Mitnick, an 18-year-old who was sentenced to 30 days in military jail on Tuesday (26 December).

He is facing imprisonment for his refusal to enlist in the Israeli army. Flanked by supporters, Mitnick entered the Tel Hashomer enlistment center, a base near the Gaza fence in central Israel, and rejected the countrys mandatory military service.

Who is Tal Mitnick and what are Israels conscription rules? Lets take a closer look.

Who is Tal Mitnick?

Tal Mitnick, who recently graduated from high school, is a resident of Tel Aviv.

He is associated with Mesarvot, which, as per Al Jazeera, is a network supporting conscientious objectors in a campaign against the Israeli occupation of Palestinian territories.

Tal Mitnick, an activist in the Mesarvot network showed up today at Tel Hashomer base and was sentenced to 30 days in military prison. Listen to what he had to say before he walked in. Support him and other refusniks: https://t.co/drRtLjk4U3 pic.twitter.com/zu1XZJqmhG  Mesarvot  (@Mesarvot_) December 26, 2023

Speaking to Turkish news agency Anadolu in November, the teen explained why he did not want to enlist in the military, accusing the Israeli army of oppressing Palestinians in the Bat Yam area in southern Tel Aviv.

I believe that the Israeli army is an operational arm of Jewish exclusivism in this region. (This army) relies on the oppression of the Palestinian people, and I refuse to be a part of this oppression. Instead, I continue with human rights activism.

Describing Hamas 7 October attack on Israel as horrendous, he said people turned their anger over this assault into a sense of revenge. The Jewish youth said he preferred to channel it into a feeling of desiring more security for everyone rather than revenge.

He was among more than 200 young conscientious objectors who launched an open letter in late August announcing their decision to refuse their eventual enlistment into the Israeli military.

In an interview with +972 magazine at the time, Mitnick said he and other youths realised that the dictatorship that exists in Israel and the dictatorship that has existed for decades in the occupied territories are inseparable.

He said that the weekly protests against Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahus judicial overhaul were an awakening for him. For months, anti-government demonstrators took to the streets to protest the overhaul. However, their focus shifted towards helping Israeli soldiers and civilians following Hamas attack in October.

I was not politically active before the protests. They made me understand what it means to demonstrate as a draftee, with hundreds of others before their enlistment, and to say we will not serve, the magazine quoted Mitnick as saying.

Defending his decision to deny enlistment, Mitnick said in a video statement shared by Mesarvot on Tuesday, I believe that slaughter can not solve slaughter. The criminal attack on Gaza wont solve the atrocious slaughter that Hamas executed. Violence wont solve violence. And that is why I refuse.

In a written statement, the youngster said he believed Israels retaliation against Hamas had failed in protecting the lives of civilians in Israel or Gaza.

We must recognise the fact that after weeks of the ground operation in Gaza, at the end of the day  negotiations, an agreement, brought back the hostages. It was actually military action that caused them to be killed, he said, as per Independent.

Because of the criminal lie that there are no innocent civilians in Gaza, even hostages waving a white flag shouting in Hebrew were shot to death. I dont want to imagine how many similar cases there were that were not investigated because the victims were born on the wrong side of the fence, the statement added.

Mitnick will spend 30 days in a military prison and could be detained further if he continues to reject military service.

What does Israeli law say?

As per Israeli law, all citizens, aged 18 years or above, are required to serve in the military. There are some exemptions, including religious women, married individuals, and those with mental or physical disabilities.

Israels ultra-Orthodox Haredi Jews studying religious scriptures in traditional yeshiva schools are also legally exempt. But those who refuse due to political ideologies are not considered valid objectors.

Conscientious objectors

Conscientious objectors are those who refuse to serve in the military due to their conscience, often for ideological and religious reasons, noted Indian Express.

Several countries around the world have conscription or compulsory military service. But there have been many instances in the past when people have turned down the call citing their beliefs.

Article 18 of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR) protects the right to conscientious objection to military service.

According to the United Nations Commission for Human Rights, states must refrain from subjecting conscientious objectors to imprisonment and to repeated punishment for failure to perform military service.

However, conscientious objection is still not a legal right in many countries with conscription. In some, like Israel, it is mostly restricted.

Israel often puts objectors in jail, while increasing their sentences multiple times, reported Al Jazeera. The West Asian nation has seen high-profile refuseniks in the past. In 2003, a group of Israeli Air Force pilots refused to carry out operations in the West Bank and Gaza, triggering national fury.

In March this year, about 700 reservist soldiers resigned protesting Netanyahus judicial overhaul.

The Israeli PM, who was accused by critics of curtailing Supreme Court powers to protect himself from corruption charges, said at the time, Theres no room for refusals, calling military service the first and most important foundation of our existence in our land The refusals threaten the foundation of our existence.

Now, Israel is witnessing the rise of a small minority of youngsters who are opposing its occupation of Gaza and the West Bank and the bombing of civilians in the narrow enclave.

One of the young conscientious objector, Ella Keidar, told Anadolu that she believes that the only solution to the Israel-Palestine conflict is political, not military. Like Israelis, Palestinians also deserve freedom. I believe in the possibility of an equal future, which includes the right of return for Palestinians.

With inputs from agencies
On Wednesday, the University Grants Commission (UGC) issued a notification cautioning students against pursuing Master of Philosophy (MPhil) programmes from Indian universities.

The development comes after it cancelled the course, despite which some universities persist in offering it.

Why is the MPhil no longer a valid degree? Whats next for students who wish to pursue a career in academia or research? Lets take a closer look.

MPhil is no longer a recognised degree

Higher education institutions were instructed not to offer MPhil programmes, as the commission had previously announced that advanced research course offered at all universities would no longer be legitimate, according to NDTV.

Additionally, the university authorities have been asked to take steps immediately to stop accepting new students into the MPhil programme for the 20232024 academic year.

As a result, universities throughout the country  except Tamil Nadu and Karnataka  ceased offering the programme, as per Telegraph India.

Thus, in an official notification issued on Wednesday, the UGC stated, It has come to the notice of the UGC that a few universities are inviting fresh applications for MPhil (Master of Philosophy) programme. In this regard, it is to bring to the notice that the MPhil degree is not a recognised degree.

The notification emphasised Regulation No. 14 of the UGC (Minimum Standards and Procedures for Award of PhD Degree) Regulations 2022, which clearly prohibits higher educational institutions from offering MPhil programmes.

Notably, the nation is seeing a large increase in the number of new universities, many of which are offering programmes that are not approved by the UGC, reported Livemint. The Ministry of Education announced earlier on 24 December that during the previous five years, up to 140 private universities have been founded nationwide, with Gujarat leading the way, followed by Maharashtra and Madhya Pradesh.

Why?

The National Education Policy (NEP-2020), which promotes a four-year Bachelors degree and a research-intensive Masters degree, eliminating the necessity for an MPhil for a PhD, is the main cause of the discontinuance of the advanced post-graduation research programme, as per another Livemint report.

The document goes into further detail about the modifications being made to the post-graduation and graduation programmes.

Higher education institutions will have the flexibility to offer different designs of masters programmes: (a) there may be a two-year programme with the second year devoted entirely to research for those who have completed the two-year Bachelors/Masters programme. Undertaking a PhD shall require either a masters degree or a four-year bachelors degree with research. The MPhil programme shall be discontinued, the NEP states.

The Union government has come under fire from experts for implementing the NEP without sufficient state consultations or discussion in Parliament. The governments of Tamil Nadu and Karnataka had already established committees to draft their own state education policies, explained Telegraph India.

Moreover, the Education Ministrys 2023 All India Survey on Higher Education (AISHE) report showed that, over the previous five years, the Compound Annual Growth Rate (CAGR) for MPhil programmes was -21.2 per cent. It had dropped dramatically from 43,267 in 201617 to 16,744 in 202021 or approximately 61.3 per cent, according to The Print.

Notably, in the current academic year, the MPhil and Certificate programmes were the only two levels where total enrollments decreased. 8,696 independent institutions, 40,176 colleges, and 1,084 universities responded to the AISHE report.

Whats next for students

An MPhil degree in India is an advanced postgraduate research degree that serves as a foundation for a PhD (Doctor of Philosophy).

The degree is nearing a doctorate, yet it is classified as a masters degree.

Even though both degrees require research, the PhD is a more sophisticated and demanding curriculum in terms of scope, depth, and duration of the research.

For individuals seeking advanced knowledge without the commitment to a lengthy doctoral study, the MPhil can served as a terminal degree or a stepping stone to a PhD.

After the discontinuation of the course, postgraduates who want to continue a career in academia or research can pursue a PhD.
Indias IT capital, Bengaluru, witnessed violence on Wednesday when activists vandalised signboards and hoardings of business establishments that were in English, reigniting the language row in the city.

Shortly after the incident, Union minister Pralhad Joshi, when asked about it, said that while he did not agree with the violence, he did agree with the demand that shop signages in Karnataka should be predominantly in the local language. Everybody should be able to read the signs and not everyone can read English. What is the harm in writing in Kannada as well as in English or another language, like Hindi? This is not England, the minister, who is also an MP from Dharwad, told NDTV.

But what exactly is the language row in Karnataka and why did violence flare up on Wednesday? Heres what we know.

What is the 60% Kannada rule?

Earlier on Christmas, the Bengaluru civic body passed a directive asking all stores to have signboards, with at least 60 per cent of them being in Kannada. Tushar Giri Nath, chief commissioner of Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike (BBMP), had then said that commercial stores in the civic bodys jurisdiction will face legal action if they fail to follow the signboard order.

He had said that a survey would be carried out of all the stores in the area and those who do not use 60 per cent Kannada would be given a notice. After issuing the notice, they would be given time until 28 February to implement Kannada language nameplates and submit compliance to the respective zone commissioners.

He then added, Legal action will be taken against shops that do not install Kannada nameplates by 28 February. Accordingly, store fronts that do not use Kannada language on nameplates will be suspended as per the law and then their licence will be cancelled.

Following the diktat, store owners said that they would abide by the rule, with one of them telling NDTV, If there is an order to change the signboards, we will do it. If they want 60 per cent, we will get it done.

The Federation of Karnataka Chambers of Commerce and Industry in reaction to the order had said that it would ask all its members to follow the rule, but requested that the government take no action until the deadline.

Then what happened on Wednesday?

Following the diktat, on Wednesday (27 December), members of Karnataka Rakshana Vedike  a pro-Kannada group  carried out a protest-cum-awareness campaign, asking stores to change their signboards.

However, the rally quickly descended into chaos when the members began pulling down store signages, which were in English. According to reports, more than 1,000 people had gathered on Airport Road to protest the absence of Kannada boards.

#WATCH | Bengaluru: Kannada Raksha Vedhike holds a protest demanding all businesses and enterprises in Karnataka to put nameplates in Kannada. pic.twitter.com/ZMX5s9iJd0  ANI (@ANI) December 27, 2023

The protesters were seen vandalising the signboard of the multi-city hotel chain Bloom. They were also seen entering the hotel premises chanting pro-Kannada slogans. Videos from the rally also showed protesters spraying black ink on English letters. Several protesters, mostly wearing yellow and red scarves (the colours of the Kannada flag), stormed into businesses and tore down English signage.

Several big stores and franchises were targeted during the protest. For instance, Starbucks, Third Wave Coffee, Theobroma, House of Masaba, McDonalds saw their signages being damaged. Protesters also targeted the Mall of Asia in Hebbal, smashing flower pots and vandalised English signboards in the complex.

English signboards destroyed on Lavelle Road. Where are the cops!! At least 20 shops!! pic.twitter.com/1TwoOFMaVM  Aral Lobo (@aralalobo) December 27, 2023

Phoenix Marketcity in Whitefield, another major mall in the city, also downed its shutters early, reported the Hindustan Times.

KRV president Narayana Gowda, said during the vandalism, We are not saying Gujaratis, Sindhis or Marwadis cant work here, but the usage of our mother tongue to represent that work is essential.

Gowda had earlier been quoted as saying, People from various states are doing business in Bangalore. But they don't put Kannada nameplates on their shops. They are only putting up the nameplates of their shops in English. If they want to stay back in Bangalore then they have to put nameplates on their shops in Kannada or else they have to move from Karnataka to other states.

How has the government reacted?

The Bengaluru Police later detained around 500 protesters including the factions chief T A Narayana Gowda. They also registered five FIRs.

#WATCH | Police detained members of Karnataka Rakshana Vedike, protesting to deliver messages to owners of many malls, shops, commercial buildings, companies and factories, especially multinational companies to install Kannada sign boards and give more visibility to the Kannada pic.twitter.com/tRjsPidLbB  ANI (@ANI) December 27, 2023

On Wednesday, Chief Minister Siddaramaiah said, I dont know what they (the protesters) are doing. I have got information that Narayana Gowda is protesting about having Kannada name boards. We will take action against those who took the law into their own hands and went against the law.

Meanwhile, Deputy Chief Minister DK Shivakumar, who is also the Bengaluru Development Minister, said that stores should follow the rules. For those living and doing business in Bengaluru, there is a law which says signages should have 60 per cent Kannada in them. Everyone should follow it.

What is Karnatakas language row?

The vandalism and protests in Bengaluru is just another chapter in Karnatakas language row. For far too long, theres been a debate on the usage of Kannada in the state, with many insisting that it should be the language spoken by all in the state.

Earlier in October, Chief Minister Siddaramaiah had emphasised the importance of learning Kannada. While it is impossible to exist in states like Tamil Nadu, Kerala, Telangana and Uttar Pradesh without learning the local language, you can survive in Karnataka even if you don't speak Kannada, he had said at an event in October.

Instead of Kannadigas teaching our language to others, we are learning their language first, he added.

In his earlier tenure as chief minister, Siddaramaiah had pushed for wider use of Kannada and even taken steps to ensure it. A government body had been set up to promote Kannada and it had given bank officials only six months to learn the language.

Notably, it was during Siddaramaiahs earlier tenure that Hindi names of Bengaluru metro stations were targeted and covered with tape.

With inputs from agencies
Khalistan terrorist Hardeep Singh Nijjar was killed in Surrey, Canada in June. Now, six months later, it seems that the Canadian police are one step closer to arresting suspects involved in the murder.

A report by Canadian-based Globe and Mail has revealed that the Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP) will apprehend two suspects in the murder of the Khalistani leader, whose death led to a diplomatic spat with India, within the next few weeks.

Reacting to the report, New Delhi has said it has assured Ottawa that it will look into whatever specific and relevant information is shared related to the investigation.

Heres what we know of the investigations so far.

Canadian investigation in Nijjar murder

Canadian authorities are one step closer to arresting those involved in the murder of Khalistan leader Hardeep Singh Nijjar. Nijjar, 45, was murdered on 18 June outside a Sikh temple in Canadas Surrey when he was shot multiple times in a gangland-style slaying.

Also read: Who killed Khalistani leader Hardeep Singh Nijjar? The new ISI link, revealed

Months later, a Washington Post investigation had revealed that Nijjar had been killed in a coordinated attack by at least six men who arrived in two vehicles outside the Guru Nanak Sikh Gurdwara. According to the report, two of the attackers had fired roughly 50 bullets, of which 34 hit Nijjar, killing him. Bystanders at the scene had then described the two men as running away on foot, reaching a waiting car, which was later described by the police as a 2008 Toyota Camry, that spirited them away.

And now, the Globe and Mail citing sources has said that the two men involved in the murder plot are under police surveillance and will be arrested in a matter of weeks. According to the daily, the two had never left the country and were in hiding all this time. However, officials had found them and were keeping close tabs on their movement.

Furthermore, on their arrest, the police will explain the alleged assassins involvement as well as that of the Indian government when charges are framed.

Nijjar killing and the diplomatic fallout

Nijjars killing in June led to diplomatic fallout between India and Canada when Prime Minister Justin Trudeau in September stood up in Canadian parliament and accused the government of India of being behind the brazen shooting of Nijjar, a Canadian citizen.

India vehemently and repeatedly has denied the allegations, calling them absurd and has even asked Ottawa to share evidence on the matter. The accusation led to a series of unfortunate events; the suspension of free-trade discussions and a business trade mission by Ottawa. It also led to India suspending visa services for Canadians (it was later restored in November), and New Delhi revoking diplomatic protections for 41 Canadian diplomats in India.

India also accused the Canadian government of continuing to be soft on Khalistani elements, which have vandalised Hindu temples in Canada. Moreover, they have had a tableau depicting Indira Gandhis assassination and glorifying her killers in a procession at Brampton.

In November, Indian High Commissioner Sanjay Kumar Verma had also said that India had been convicted even before the investigation into the killing of Khalistani terrorist Hardeep Singh Nijjar. In an interview to CTV channel, he had said, There are two points on that. One is that, even without the investigation being concluded, India was convicted. Is that a rule of law?

If you look at the typical criminal terminology, when someone asks to cooperate, it means you have already been convicted and you better cooperate. So, we took it in a very different interpretation. But, we have always said that if there is anything very specific and relevant, and communicated to us. We will look into it, the Indian envoy added.

However, Canadas claims were bolstered in November when the United States announced that they had foiled a plan to kill a Canadian-Sikh activist, who was later identified to be Sikhs for Justice leader, Gurpatwant Singh Pannun.

An indictment in New York stated that Nikhil Gupta, who is now in a Czech prison, had allegedly arranged for the murder of Pannun. As per the indictment, Gupta had been recruited by an Indian government official to orchestrate the assassination of Pannun. US prosecutors alleged that this official paid a hitman $10,000 to kill Pannun in a deal that was brokered by Gupta.

India had then said that it was looking into the matter and as recently as 20 December, Prime Minister Narendra Modi in an interview to Financial Times said, If someone gives us any information, we would definitely look into it, adding, If a citizen of ours has done anything good or bad, we are ready to look into it. Our commitment is to the rule of law.

Indias latest reaction

Reacting to the Globe and Mail report, Indias High Commissioner to Ottawa Sanjay Kumar Verma was quoted as telling the Hindustan Times, We still dont have any information on that so Ill wait till the time the information is shared. But what we have been assuring at all levels is that if there is anything specific and relevant, we shall look into it. So, well wait till the time the Canadian authorities approach us and share with us the information that they have and then we will evaluate the information and look into things.

With inputs from agencies
Artificial intelligence, which was once hailed by many to revolutionise many industries, including media, is now making headlines for all wrong reasons. A growing list of individuals and publishers are trying to stop OpenAI from using copyrighted material. And now, The New York Times has joined the group.

On Wednesday, the American daily filed a federal lawsuit against ChatGPT-maker OpenAI and Microsoft in a US court, alleging that the companies powerful AI models used millions of articles for training without permission.

Through their AI chatbots, the companies seek to free-ride on The Times massive investment in its journalism by using it to build substitutive products without permission or payment, the lawsuit said.

With the suit, The New York Times chose a more confrontational approach to the sudden rise of AI chatbots, in contrast to other media groups such as Germanys Axel Springer or the Associated Press that have entered content deals with OpenAI.

What is The New York Times seeking?

The Times, one of the most respected news organisations in the US, is seeking damages, as well as an order that the companies stop using its content  and destroy data already harvested. While no sum is specifically requested, the Times alleges that the infringement could have cost billions of dollars in statutory and actual damages.

Microsoft, the worlds second biggest company by market capitalisation, is a major investor in OpenAI, and swiftly implemented the powers of AI to its own products after the release of ChatGPT last year. The AI models that power ChatGPT and Microsofts Copilot (formerly Bing) were trained for years on content available on the internet, under the assumption that it was fair to be used without need for compensation.

But the lawsuit, filed in a federal court in New York, argued that the unlawful use of the Times work to build artificial intelligence products created a potential rival and threatened its ability to provide quality journalism.

These tools were built with and continue to use independent journalism and content that is only available because we and our peers reported, edited, and fact-checked it at high cost and with considerable expertise, a spokesperson for the Times said.

The Times said it attempted to seal a content agreement with OpenAI and Microsoft, but that the companies maintained that their technology was transformative and therefore did not need a commercial arrangement. The lawsuit said content generated by ChatGPT and Copilot closely mimicked New York Times style and that the papers content was given a privileged status in perfecting the chatbot technology.

It also said content that proved to be false was sourced incorrectly to The New York Times. There is nothing transformative about using The Times content without payment to create products that substitute for The Times and steal audiences away from it, the lawsuit alleged.

Why is the New York Times so concerned?

The media has already been hit by a shift in readership to online outlets. While several publications, most notably the New York Times, have successfully carved out a digital space, the rapid development of artificial intelligence (AI) threatens to significantly disrupt the publishing industry.

Web traffic contributes significantly to the papers advertising revenue and helps boost subscriptions to its online site. However, the outputs of AI chatbots, according to the Times, divert that traffic away from the paper and other copyright holders, making it less likely that consumers will visit the original source for the content, reports Times Now.

These bots compete with the content they are trained on, said Ian B Crosby, a partner and lead counsel at Susman Godfrey, which represents The Times.

The Times claims that these companies are jeopardising its livelihood by basically stealing billions of dollars worth of labour by its journalists, in some cases spitting out Times information verbatim to those seeking answers from generative artificial intelligence like OpenAIs ChatGPT.

The lawsuit, filed on Wednesday, cited instances of OpenAIs GPT-4 spitting out huge chunks of Times articles, including a Pulitzer Prize-winning investigation into New York Citys taxi sector that took 18 months to finish. It also highlighted Bing Chat outputs, now known as Copilot, which featured verbatim extracts from Times articles.

The complaint was filed in federal court in Manhattan following what appears to be a breakdown in negotiations between the newspaper and the two firms, which began in April.

What OpenAI is saying?

In a statement, an OpenAI spokeswoman stated that the business respects content producers rights and is committed to collaborating with them to help them profit from the technology and new income models.

Our ongoing conversations with the New York Times have been productive and moving forward constructively, so we are surprised and disappointed with this development, said a spokeswoman for the company, as reported by Times Now.

Were hopeful that we will find a mutually beneficial way to work together, as we are doing with many other publishers, she added.

Microsoft has yet to respond to the situation. The tech giant has a partnership with OpenAI, which allows it to capitalise on the companys AI technology. In response, Microsofts supercomputers help power OpenAIs AI research and the tech giant integrates the startups technology into its products, as per their agreement, as reported by Times Now.

What are the other cases involving AI?

The emerging AI giants are facing a wave of lawsuits over their use of internet content to build their AI systems that create content on simple prompts.

A number of writers, notably comedian Sarah Silverman, have sued the business, alleging that their works were used to train OpenAIs AI models without their permission. More than 4,000 writers signed a letter in June accusing the CEOs of OpenAI, Google, Microsoft, Meta, and other AI developers of exploitative methods in constructing chatbots that mimic and regurgitate their language, style, and ideas.

Last year, Game of Thrones author George RR Martin and other best-selling fiction writers filed a class-action lawsuit against OpenAI, accusing the startup of violating their copyrights to fuel ChatGPT.

Universal and other music publishers have sued artificial intelligence company Anthropic in a US court for using copyrighted lyrics to train its AI systems and in generating answers to user queries.

US photo distributor Getty Images has accused Stability AI of profiting from its pictures and those of its partners in order to make visual AI that creates original images on simple demand.

With lawsuits piling up, Microsoft and AI player Google have announced they would provide legal protection for customers sued for copyright infringement over content generated by its AI.

What happens next?

Different stakeholders recognise that technology has the potential to disrupt their entire business model, but the challenge is how to adapt to it, according to Sarah Kreps, director of Cornell Universitys Tech Policy Institute.

Kreps agreed that these chatbots pose a threat to The New York Times. However, she also stated that truly resolving the issue would be a difficult task.

Theres so many other language models out there that are doing the same thing, she told Times Now.

The News/Media Alliance, a trade group representing over 2,200 news organisations, praised the Times decision on Wednesday.

Quality journalism and GenAI can complement each other if approached collaboratively, alliance president and CEO Danielle Coffey stated. But using journalism without permission or payment is unlawful, and certainly not fair use.

With inputs from AP and AFP
In an unprecedented move, the Enforcement Directorate (ED) has named Congress leader Priyanka Gandhi in its charge sheet, citing her involvement in the acquisition of a 40 kanal (five-acre) agricultural land in Haryanas Faridabad from a Delhi-based real estate agent HL Pahwa in 2006.

Subsequently, she allegedly sold the same land back to Pahwa in February 2010.

The ED claims that the property in question is located in Amipur village in Faridabad and was purchased from Pahwa, the same agent who, in earlier transactions, had dealings with Priyankas husband, Robert Vadra. Vadra reportedly acquired three parcels of land totaling 334 kanals (40.08 acres) in Amipur village between 2005 and 2006, subsequently selling the land back to Pahwa in December 2010.

Notably, Pahwa is also identified as the individual who sold land to NRI businessman CC Thampi. The broader investigation involves fugitive arms dealer Sanjay Bhandari, who is facing scrutiny from various agencies for alleged money laundering, violations of foreign exchange and black money laws, and breaches of the Official Secrets Act. Bhandari fled to the UK in 2016.

Thampi stands accused of aiding Bhandari in concealing the proceeds of criminal activities, alongside Sumit Chadha, a British national.

ED has named Robert Vadra in its earlier charge sheet related to the case as an alleged close aide of Thampi.

In the fresh charge-sheet, it is mentioned that Pahwa was receiving cash out of the books for the purpose of acquisition of land. It was also noticed that Robert Vadra did not pay the entire sale consideration to Pahwa.

The ED investigation in this regard is still ongoing. However, the copy of the ledger accounts in the books of Pahwa reflecting the above mentioned transactions were taken on record vide letter dated November 17, 2023.

It is submitted that Robert Vadra incorporated entities with the names of Sky Light Hospitality Pvt Ltd and Sky Light Realty Pvt Ltd in India on November 1, 2007 and November 16, 2007 respectively. The same have been downloaded from the website of Ministry of Corporate Affairs. Whereas, an entity nemed Sky Lite Investment FZE in UAE was incorporated on April 1, 2009 with CC Thampi as its sole shareholder, mentions the charge-sheet.

During the course of investigation of Thampi and his Indian entities in the case bearing no. T-3/219/HQ/2015 being investigation under the provisions of Foreign Exchange Management Act, 1999 (FEMA) it has been found that Thampi purchased land 486 actes (approx.) from 2005 to 2008 in village Amipur in Haryanas Faridabad district through one HL Pahwa, Delhi NCR based real estate agent.

It is also mentioned in the charge-sheet that Robert Vadra incorporated an entity in India with the name Blve Breeze Trading Pvt Ltd on November 1, 2007 which was later converted into LLP.

The email ID of the said entity has always remained as [email protected] ic. when it was a Private Limited entity and later when it got converted into an LLP. The incorporation documents of the said entities were downloaded from the website of Ministry of Corporate Affairs. It is the same email id on which one Beena, employes of CC Thampi in Dubai used to communicate in connection with the property 12 Bryanston Square, London, mentions the charge-sheet.

During the course of investigation in another PMLA case (bearing fo. ECIR/OG/HIU2018) being investigated against Robert Vadra, his entity Sky Light Hospitality Pvt Ltd, and others, it has been found that one Mahesh Nagar, resident of Delhi NCR, represented various entities of Robert Vadre at the time of purchase and sale of various pieces of land in Delhi-NCR and Bikaner, Rajasthan, it pointed.

In a statement, the ED on Tuesday, had also mentioned Robert Vadra in connection with the purchase of a property in London that is part of the probe.

Detailing the association between Vadra and Thampi, the charge sheet states, During the course of investigation in this case, it is found that a long and thick relationship exists between CC Thampi and Robert Vadra. Not only a personal/cordial bond but common and similar business interests are also found between them.

Thampi, arrested in January 2020, ostensibly told ED that he knew Vadra for over 10 years and that they met several times during Vadras visits to the UAE as well as in Delhi.

With inputs from agencies
A total of 157 cases of COVID-19 sub-variant JN.1 have been detected in the country, with Kerala reporting the highest number of 78, followed by Gujarat at 34, according to the Indian SARS-CoV-2 Genomics Consortium (INSACOG) updated on Thursday.

Kerala has 78 cases followed by Gujarat (34), Goa (18), Karnataka (eight), Maharashtra (seven), Rajasthan (five), Tamil Nadu (four), Telangana (two) and Delhi (one), according to INSACOG.

The number of daily cases had dropped to double-digits till December 5, but infections have again gone up after the emergence of a new variant and cold weather conditions.

Several states have been reporting an uptick in the number of Covid cases over the last few weeks and nine states and Union territories have so far detected the presence of the JN.1 sub-variant of the virus.

At least two fresh cases of COVID-19 were reported on Thursday in Delhi, said the Medical Superintendent of All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS) hospital. Meanwhile, the reports of the positive cases have been sent for genome sequencing to confirm instances of the sub-variant, JN.1, added the Medical Superintendent.

The INSACOGs data showed 141 Covid cases recorded in the country in December had the presence of JN.1, while 16 such cases were detected in November.

Delhi Health Minister Saurabh Bharadwaj visited Lok Nayak Jai Prakash Narayan Hospital to assess the preparedness.

Earlier today, Bhardwaj asserted that there are no new cases of JN.1 subvariant of COVID in Delhi at present after one patient infected with the virus was discharged on Thursday.

We have increased the number of tests. Yesterday, we performed 636 tests in private and government hospitals combined. Three genome sequencing results were received yesterday, out of which two were old Omicron variants and one was JN.1, Minister Bhardwaj said. Reassuring the public, the Health Minister highlighted, The new variant is mild, and people are not getting severely ill because of this.

Providing specifics on the patient with the JN.1 variant, he said, The patient has already been discharged from the hospital and is healthy now.We can say that there are no patients of JN.1 variant in Delhi currently, he added.

According to the Union Health Ministry data, India recorded 692 fresh cases of COVID-19 in the last 24 hours. The total active caseload increased by four, reaching 4,097, the health ministry data said.

As per official data, six deaths have been reported in the country in the last 24 hours  two in Maharashtra, and one each in Delhi, Karnataka, Kerala, and West Bengal.

With this, the total count of coronavirus cases in India since its outbreak in January 2020 has reached 4,50,10,944, with an increase of 702 cases in the last 24 hours. The total death toll due to COVID-19 cases in India has risen to 5,33,346, reflecting an increase of six deaths in the last 24 hours.

The All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS) in Delhi has issued guidelines for COVID-19 suspected or positive cases that will be reported at hospitals following the sudden surge in the cases of Coronavirus in the country.

The JN.1 sub-variant is a descendant of the Omicron subvariant known as BA.2.86 or Pirola. The first case of the JN.1 variant of COVID-19 was reported in Kerala. A total of 109 cases of the JN.1 sub-variant have been detected in India until Wednesday, as per Health Ministry sources.

The World Health Organization (WHO) recently classified JN.1 as a variant of interest, distinct from its parent lineage BA.2.86. However, the global health body emphasised that the overall risk posed by JN.1 remains low based on current evidence.

With inputs from agencies.
Rajiv Ranjan (Lalan) Singh on Thursday dismissed rumours of resigning as the president of JD(U), saying that if he has to arrive at such a decision he will definitely consult the media.

#WATCH | On rumours about his resignation as JD(U) president, Rajiv Ranjan (Lalan) Singh says, If I have to resign, I will consult you pic.twitter.com/MjOjCtZeAx  ANI (@ANI) December 28, 2023

He further said that Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar is the leader of the JD(U) and the party is united and will remain so.

His remark came in the backdrop of rumours that Kumars key aide Lalan has told the former that he wanted to step down as JD(U) national president.

#WATCH | On rumours about his resignation as JD(U) president, Rajiv Ranjan (Lalan) Singh says, Nitish Kumar is the leader of our party. Janata Dal (United) is united and it will remain the same pic.twitter.com/fRqK43WieG  ANI (@ANI) December 28, 2023

Meanwhile, Kumar on Thursday ducked queries about rumours of major organisational change in the JD (U) ahead of a crucial two-day party conclave which will begin in Delhi later in the day.

The JD (U) supremo in a brief interaction with journalists before boarding his flight to Delhi asserted that the party meet in Delhi was normal.

These meetings take place every year. Its normal there is nothing specific at all. These are routine meetings, said the CM when journalists sought his views on rumours of major organisational change in JD(U) during the two-day party conclave.

The CM evaded a direct reply when asked whether Lalan was likely to make a formal offer of his resignation at the JD(U)s crucial meetings scheduled in Delhi on 29 December.

The CM also evaded questions about rumours of his joining NDA.

His attention was also drawn to a claim of senior BJP leader Sushil Kumar Modi, who as a former deputy CM had known Kumar from close quarters, that the JD(U) supreme leader was growing uneasy with his party chiefs closeness with his ally, and fearing sabotage.

The BJP leader claimed that speculations about Kumars possible return to the NDA camp were being deliberately spread by his party, the JD(U), as part of his gameplan to keep the Grand Alliance partners RJD and the Congress in check in Bihar.

But the fact is that the BJPs doors have been closed for him (Nitish Kumar), he had said.

With inputs from agencies
With an objective to benefit Indian carmakers, India aims to bring in potential investors from foreign countries, including Germany, Britain and South Korea under its new electric vehicle (EV) policy.

Talks are underway and we aim to bring all countries on board, the official said, without giving a timeline on the launch of the new policy. The policy will also aim to benefit Indian carmakers. It should be for everyone, an Indian government trade official told Reuters on Thursday.

Indias commerce minister had said in September that the country would come up with new policy to attract electric vehicle manufacturers and encourage greater investment in the sector.

With inputs from agencies.
The Indian government has officially requested Pakistan to extradite Hafiz Saeed, mastermind of 26/11 Mumbai terror attacks, to India and face trial in various cases registered against the Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) founder by the National Investigation Agencies (NIA).

Government sources to News18 said a Letter of Rogatory sent to Pakistan names Hafiz Saeed as the accused in several NIA cases, including terror attacks and funding of terror groups in Kashmir.

He is also indulging in anti-national and subversive activities in the Kashmir valley, an official said.

This is a Letter of Rogatory which Pakistan agencies have not replied to. We are awaiting a reply. We will follow up again, another official said.

Sources further said before any possibility of talks between India and Pakistan, Islamabad must comply with New Delhis extradition request of Hafiz Saeed.

India has repeatedly demanded Hafiz Saeeds extradition to face trial for the 26/11 Mumbai attacks, but there has been complication in the process as both the countries do not have an extradition treaty.

A letter Letter Rogatory was sent to Pakistan back in 2018 when responding to a question in Rajya Sabha, then-Minister of External Affairs in the Ministry of External Affairs V K Singh had said since India and Pakistan do not have an Extradition Treaty, the Indian government has sent a Letter Rogatory to the government of Pakistan for assistance in investigation in Mumbai terror attack including against Hafiz Saeed and his affiliates.

There has been no response from Pakistan, Singh had said.

India has consistently called upon Pakistan for an expeditious and successful conclusion of the trial against the accused in Pakistan. It has been conveyed that the conspiracy for the Mumbai terror attack took place in Pakistan and therefore, it is the responsibility of Pakistan to present all necessary evidences to the trial court, Singh had said.

A new political front of Hafiz Saeed has fielded candidates for most of the national and provincial Assembly constituencies across Pakistan for the general elections in the country scheduled for 8 February, 2024.

Hafiz Saeed, a UN-designated terrorist, has been in jail since July 2019 after being convicted for several years in multiple terror finance cases. He was sentenced for 11 years.

In December 2008, he was listed under the United Nations Security Council Sanctions Committee on Al-Qaida and ISIL following the 26/11 Mumbai terror attack the same year.

Not just in India, Hafiz Saeed has also been designated as international terrorist by the United States and the EU. The US has placed a $10 million bounty on him.

He was put under house arrest by Pakistani authorities in 2017, but was subsequently released after being cleared of charges against him, drawing strong criticism from the US and India.

Last year in April, documents showed that a court in Pakistan had sentenced Hafiz Saeed to 31 years in prison in connection with terrorism financing.

Despite court sentencing Hafiz Saeed, it is unclear whether he is in jail as some reports have claimed that he remains a free man after being released from house arrest in 2017.

Reports also have claimed earlier that Hafiz Saeed had been arrested and released several times over the past decade.

With inputs from agencies
The Delhi Police on Thursday filed a plea seeking permission to administer polygraph tests to all six individuals apprehended in connection with the breach of Parliament security.

The request was submitted before Additional Sessions Judge Hardeeep Kaur, who scheduled the matter for 2 January, citing the absence of the counsel representing some of the accused.

The police presented the six accused in court during the plea hearing.

The individuals, namely Manoranjan D, Sagar Sharma, Amol Dhanraj Shinde, Neelam Devi, Lalit Jha, and Mahesh Kumawat, are presently in police custody until 5 January.

Public Prosecutor Akhand Pratap Singh, representing the Delhi police, had previously informed the court that the attack was well planned.

He had further submitted before the court that the custodial interrogation of the accused was required to find out the actual motive behind the attack, and if they had any association with any other enemy country or terror organisations.

In a major security breach on the anniversary of the 2001 Parliament terror attack, two persons  Sagar Sharma and Manoranjan D  jumped into the Lok Sabha chamber from the public gallery during Zero Hour, released yellow gas from canisters and shouted slogans before they were overpowered by the MPs.

Around the same time, two other accused  Amol Shinde and Neelam Devi  sprayed coloured gas from canisters while shouting tanashahi nahi chalegi outside Parliament premises.

With inputs from agencies
Prime Minister Narendra Modi condoled the passing away of Tamil super star and Desiya Murpokku Dravida Kazhagam (DMDK) founder Vijayakanth. He passed away at a private hospital Thursday after a prolonged illness.

As per a statement released by MIOT Hospital in Chennai, Vijayakanth, fondly called as Captain, was admitted for pneumonia and was placed on ventilator support due to the severity of his condition.

He is survived by wife, Premalatha, and two sons.

Despite the best efforts of medical staff he passed away in the morning on 28th December 2023, the hospital said in a release.

Mourning the death of Vijayakanth, PM Modi said, Extremely saddened by the passing away of Thiru Vijayakanth Ji. A legend of the Tamil film world, his charismatic performances captured the hearts of millions.

As a political leader, he was deeply committed to public service, leaving a lasting impact on Tamil Nadus political landscape. His passing leaves a void that will be hard to fill. He was a close friend and I fondly recall my interactions with him over the years. In this sad hour, my thoughts are with his family, fans and numerous followers. Om Shanti, the Prime Minister said in a post on X, formerly known as Twitter.

Extremely saddened by the passing away of Thiru Vijayakanth Ji. A legend of the Tamil film world, his charismatic performances captured the hearts of millions. As a political leader, he was deeply committed to public service, leaving a lasting impact on Tamil Nadus political pic.twitter.com/di0ZUfUVWo  Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) December 28, 2023

Offering condolences to Vijayakanth's family and admirers, Union Home Minister Amit Shah said, "Deeply saddened to learn about the passing of DMDK leader and respected film veteran Vijayakanth Ji. Affectionately referred to as the captain, Vijaykanth Ji inspired patriotism among people both through his onscreen and offscreen roles."

Deeply saddened to learn about the passing of DMDK leader and respected film veteran Vijayakanth Ji. Affectionately referred to as the captain, Vijaykanth Ji inspired patriotism among people both through his onscreen and offscreen roles. My heartfelt condolences to his family and  Amit Shah (@AmitShah) December 28, 2023

For the past 4-5 years, Vijayakanth has been keeping unwell and kept a low profile. On 14 December, he participated in DMDK's executive and general council meeting during which his wife formally took over the reins of the party after she was declared the general secretary.

Why was Vijayakanth called 'Captain'?

Vijayakanth was fondly referred to as 'Captain' because of his on-screen portrayal of military characters. Before entering into political, he featured in 154 films and had established himself as a versatile actor.

Vijayakanth's political journey

Vijayakanth debuted in the film industry in 1979 with Iniikum Ilamai, however, he entered politics in 2005 by floating his party - DMDK, emerging as a new alternative in Tamil Nadus Dravidian politics, challenging parties like DMK and AIADMK.

Vijayakanth's party made its electoral debut in the 2006 Tamil Nadu Assembly elections. The DMDK contested independently in 232 constituencies, and managed to secured a surprising 8.4 per cent of the votes with Vijayakanth being the sole winner. He had contested from Virudhachalam constituency.

In the next Assembly polls in Tamil Nadu in 2011, Vijayakanth's party had joined hands with AIADMK. The DMDK scrippted history by securing win on 29 seats, pushing the DMK to a distant third and becoming the states main opposition party.

Vijayakanth served as the leader of the Opposition in the Tamil Nadu Assembly from 2011-2016.

Also, when DMDK contested alone in 2006 Tamil Nadu Assembly polls and 2009 Lok Sabha elections, it had 8.4 per cent and 10.3 per cent vote share.

Vijayakanth's film carrer

Born as Vijayaraj on 25 August, 1952 in Madurai, Vijayakanth debuted in the film industry with Iniikum Ilamai in 1979.

His popular films include Senthoora Poove, Pulan Visaranai, Chatriyan, Captain Prabhakaran, Chinna Gounder, Sethupathi IPS, Honest Raj, Vanathai Pola, and Ramana, among others. Vijayakanth also headed the actors body called Nadigar Sangam.

In 2001, Vijayakanth was honoured with the Kalaimamani award by the Tamil Nadu government, recognising his contributions to Tamil arts and cinema. His stellar performance in the 2002 anti-corruption film Ramanaa earned him the Tamil Nadu State Film Award.

With inputs from agencies
On 6 and 9 August, 1945, as the propellors of the two B-29 Superfortress Enola Gay and Bockscar ominously whirred, Japans history was about to be rewritten. Little Boy and Fat Man obliterated 70,000 Japanese in Hiroshima and another 46,000 in Nagasaki, respectively.

The B-29s took off from Tinian, one of the four constituent municipalities of the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands (the overseas autonomous states of America), around 200 km north of Guam, a United States (US) territory in the Western Pacific.

In 1946, the US Air Force (USAF) abandoned Tinian, which, along with Saipan and Guam, housed fleets of B-29s during WWII.

After 77 years, the USAF has reclaimed the 101 sq km island, whose six runways are covered with jungle, by requesting $78 million from the Joe Biden government.

The US Air Force is stepping up construction at the Tinian North airfield, once used by the largest B-29 bomber fleet during World War II, and at the Tinian International airfield. Tinian lies about 200 km north of Guam and is part of the Northern Mariana Islands. Revitalizing pic.twitter.com/CoXCsrKrT8  Byron Wan (@Byron_Wan) December 17, 2023

America has started constructing an extensive facility at the Tinian North airfield and the Tinian International airfield, General Kenneth Wilsbach, Commander of the US Pacific Air Forces, told Nikkei Asia last week.

If you pay attention in the next few months, you will see significant progress, especially at Tinian North. Well be clearing that jungle between now and summertime, Wilsbach said.

Why US focused on Tinian

Once the Tinian mission is complete, it would boost the US militarys firepower in the Indo-Pacific, which has the Naval Base and the Andersen Air Force Base on Guam and the secretive US Navy Support Facility on the Indian Oceans British atoll Diego Garcia.

Clearly, the decision to reuse Tinian is to counter the rising Chinese threat and Beijings muscle-flexing in the Indo-Pacific, which stretches from the USs West Coast to the eastern coast of Africa.

The US views China as its only competitor with the intent and, increasingly, the capacity to reshape the international order.

In its 2023 annual report to Congress titled Military and Security Development Involving the Peoples Republic of China (PRC), the US Department of Defence (DoD) stated that the 2022 National Defence Strategy identifies China as the pacing challenge.

The PLAs evolving capabilities and concepts continue to strengthen the PRCs ability to fight and win wars against a strong enemy (a likely euphemism for the United States), counter an intervention by a third party in a conflict along the PRCs periphery and project power globally, the report reads.

In 2023, China adopted more dangerous, coercive and provocative actions in the Indo-Pacific while accelerating its development of capabilities and concepts to strengthen its ability to fight and win wars, the report states.

Between September-November 2021 and 2023, the US documented more than 180 instances of PLA coercive and risky air intercepts against US aircraft in the region.

Video released by the US Indo-Pacific Command shows a Chinese jet flying next to a US plane. The US armed forces say the Chinese jet performed an 'unsafe manoeuvre' forcing the US aircraft to take 'evasive manoeuvres'.https://t.co/mZeFbm2fmP pic.twitter.com/vPIMYnmq2o  Sky News (@SkyNews) December 30, 2022

America also recorded about 100 instances of coercive and risky operational behaviourlasing, reckless manoeuvres, close approaches in the air or at sea and discharging chaff or flares in front of or in proximityby the Peoples Liberation Army (PLA) against aircraft of the US and allies.

A Chinese fighter jet flew only 400 feet away from an American plane. U.S. Indo-Pacific Command called the act an "unnecessarily aggressive maneuver." pic.twitter.com/FFNGtvnRTw  USA TODAY (@USATODAY) May 31, 2023

The report also mentioned the PLAs new core operational concept called Multi-Domain Precision Warfare, which aims to leverage a C4ISRCommand, Control, Communications, Computers (C4) Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance (ISR)network.

The network incorporates advances in big data and artificial intelligence to rapidly identify key vulnerabilities in the US operational system and then combine joint forces across domains to launch precision strikes against those vulnerabilities.

The PLA Air Force (PLAAF) and PLA Navys (PLAN) aviation wing are the largest aviation force in the Indo-Pacific. The PLAAF is rapidly catching up to Western air forces.

In October 2019, the PLAAF signalled the return of the airborne leg of its nuclear triad after the PLAAF publicly revealed the H-6N as its first nuclear-capable air-to-air refuellable bomber, the report states.

According to the report, if China expands its overseas logistics and basing infrastructure to project its military power at greater distances, it could disrupt US military operations.

Chinas first overseas naval base, in Djiboution the Horn of Africa and an important nation in the geopolitics of the Indo-Pacificbuilt at a cost of $590 million supports Chinese warships deployed in the Indian Ocean region.

The DoD report mentions the Chinese ambition of providing additional military logistics facilities to support the PLA Ground Forces, PLAAF and PLAN beyond DjiboutiKenya, Seychelles, Tanzania, Angola, Nigeria, Namibia, Mozambique, Cambodia, Myanmar, Thailand, Indonesia, Pakistan, Sri Lanka, Bangladesh, the UAE, Papua New Guinea, Solomon Islands and Tajikistan.

Cambodias Ream Naval Base is being upgraded by China, which docked its warships there for the first time this month. The US State Department expressed serious concerns about Chinas plans for exclusive control over portions of Ream Naval Base as Beijing expands its military footprint.

The DoD is concerned about Chinas anti-access/area denial (A2/AD) counter-intervention strategy, which aims to restrict US access to the Indo-Pacific. Chinas A2/AD capabilities are the most robust within the First Island-Chain, comprising Japan, Taiwan, portions of the Philippines, and Indonesia.

Beijing seeks to strengthen its capabilities to reach farther into the Pacific Ocean, the report states.

China can strike every American military base in the Western Pacific and the Indian Ocean, including Guam, Diego Garcia, Japan, South Korea and Australia.

According to the American University Digital Research Archive, 2021, the US military has 750 bases in 80 countries. Of these, 73 US bases and 26,414 troops are in South Korea; 120 bases and 53,713 troops in Japan; and 7 bases and 1,085 troops in Australia.

The PLA Rocket Force (PLARF) is increasing its strategic deterrence by developing new conventionally armed ICBMs that could strike the US, Hawaii and Alaska.

China has the biggest and the most varied stockpile of land-based, cruise and anti-ship missiles numbering 2,000mobile ground-launched SRBMs, MRBMs and IRBMs, ICBMs and ground-launched cruise missiles.

The PLARFs conventional missile forces include:

 DF-15 SRBM, range 725-850 km

 DF-16 SRBM, range more than 700 km

 DF-11 SRBM, range 600 km

 Land-attack and anti-ship variants of the DF-21 MRBM, range around 1,500 km

 Hypersonic glide vehicle-capable DF-17 MRBM, range 1,800-2,500 km

 DF-26 IRBM, range 3,000-4,000km

 DF-31 ICMB, range 7,200-8,000 km

 DF-31A ICBM, range 11,000-plus km

 DF-5, DF-41 ICBMs, range approximately 12,000 km

 DF-41 ICBM, range 15,000 km

 DH-10 GLCM, range about 1,500 km and

 DF-100 GLCM, range around 2,000 km

Using the DF-21D ASBM variant, China can conduct long-range precision strikes against ships, including aircraft carriers, out to the Western Pacific from mainland China.

The DF-26 can rapidly swap conventional and nuclear warheads and conduct precision land-attack and anti-ship strikes in the Western Pacific, the Indian Ocean, and the South China Sea (SCS) from mainland China.

According to the US, a Chinese military expert said in 2020 that the DF-17s main purpose is to strike foreign military bases in the Western Pacific.

The DF-31A and DF-41 can reach most locations in the US. The DF-41, which can carry 10 independently targeted nuclear warheads, could theoretically hit the US in 30 minutes, per the Centre for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS).

Similarly, US bases in Japan are within the striking range of DF-21s and the CJ-10 land-based cruise missile.

A day after an American U-2 spy plane allegedly entered a no-fly zone in SCS in August 2020, Beijing fired the DF-21s carrier killer version DF-21D and the DF-26which has a carrier killer version called the DF-26Bas warnings to USS Nimitz and USS Ronald Reagan and Guam respectively.

Besides, China has strategically docked its aircraft carriers and attack submarines to strike US bases in SCSone aircraft carrier, four nuclear-powered attack submarines and 14 diesel-powered attack submarines of the Northern Theatre Command Navy and an aircraft carrier, four nuclear-powered ballistic missile submarines and 14 diesel-powered attack submarines of the Southern Theatre Command Navy.

The threat of Chinese missiles forced the US to end its 16-year-old Bomber Assurance and Deterrence (BAAD), or the Continuous Bomber Presence (CBP) mission, on Guam in 2020.

Guam housed the long-range strategic American bombers B-52 Stratofortress, B-1 Lancer and B-2 Spirit to assure American allies/partners of swift US retaliation, in case, of an enemy attack or to deter adversaries.

Publicly, the US said that the BAAD was ended to make American force deployments operationally unpredictable to challenge competitors by frustrating and precluding their options.

The actual reason for ending the CBP mission was the DF-26 missile, or the Guam Killer, which could have destroyed several B-2s, the costliest aircraft in the USAF inventory. Besides, the PLAAFs H-6K bomber, which has a combat radius of 3,700 km, could have fired the Changjian-20 air-launched cruise missile in Guam.

The bombers could always return to protect American allies/partners from an enemy attack, the US said. However, the bombers would take 13-16 hours to cover 11,000-13,000 km between Midwestern American airbases and Guam and require midair refuelling. The time gap will be sufficient for China to attack US bases in the Indo-Pacific.

A few months later, in 2020, three B-2s were deployed on Diego Garcia for the first time since 2016. Six months earlier, six B-52s were redeployed on the atoll. The two deployments were done after it was reported that the PLAAN was planning a live-fire training drill 545 km north of Taiwan near the Zhoushan Islands. The redeployment of the bombers on Diego Garcia was a veiled warning to China not to attack Guam.

One year later, the USAF deployed B-1s on Diego Garcia, which already had B-52s and B-2s, for the first time in more than 15 years after China launched air drills near Taiwan and a joint naval exercise with Russia in the Sea of Japan.

B-1 bombers deploy to Diego Garcia for the first time in over 15 years:https://t.co/WTKYKvl8gD  Tyler Rogoway (@Aviation_Intel) October 20, 2021

Increasing Chinese belligerence against Taiwan, a crucial component of the Indo-Pacific due to its geographical and strategic position, also endangers the US. Though Washington believes in the One-China policy, it will not be mute to a Chinese attack on the self-governed country claimed by Beijing.

However, several war games have shown that China will attack Guam and other bases if the US tries to defend Taiwan, which connects the Indian Ocean to SCS and the Sea of Japan.

A war game for a Chinese amphibious invasion of Taiwan run by the CSIS 24 times showed that the US/Taiwan/Japan defeated a conventional amphibious invasion by China in most scenarios, but they too lost dozens of ships, hundreds of aircraft and tens of thousands of servicemembers.

In the war game, Chinese missiles destroyed around 90 per cent of US, Japanese and Taiwanese aircraft on the ground despite the large number of American and Japanese air and missile defences on Okinawa. The US lost two aircraft carriers and 7-20 destroyers/cruisers.

Chinas A2/AD capabilities are now formidable. Chinas sizable and sophisticated force of ballistic and cruise missiles challenges the US ability to operate from its few air bases in the Western Pacific, and Chinas development of anti-ship ballistic missiles threatens to destroy US surface ships, the CSIS report reads.

A 2020 Pentagon war game based on 2030 showed that the US would fail to defend Taiwan with the PLA targeting Guam. A 2018 war game also showed that China would target Guam. Another 2020 war game showed Chinese missiles hitting US bases and warships in the Indo-Pacific.

ACE to counter China in Indo-Pacific

The USAF will reuse Tinian under its Agile Combat Employment (ACE) doctrine, a proactive and reactive operational scheme of manoeuvre executed within threat timelines to increase survivability while generating combat power.

After reducing its overseas bases by 65% from 93 in WWII to 33, the USAF realised that it challenged its ability to project power.

America doesnt expect to maintain the same level of air supremacy with large unprotected air baseslike Kadena Air Base (Okinawa) or Anderson Air Force Baseno longer considered a sanctuary from attack due to Chinese technological advances in pervasive intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance and long-range precision strikes.

According to Mark Gunzinger, director of government programmes and war gaming, Mitchell Institute for Aerospace Studies, The best place to kill an enemys air force is on the ground.

Besides, Chinese A2/AD threats and the rapid proliferation of advanced technologies have reduced the USAFs operational ability and manoeuvre.

The ACE doctrine involves a network of small and dispersed basesif one gets hit, the loss is small, and the others can continue to function.

Several small bases with dispersed combat jets will complicate Chinas missile targeting process, create political and operational dilemmas and provide operational flexibility to the US and its allies.

A 2019 Rand Corporation report titled Distributed Operations in a Contested Environment emphasised ACE in the context of Chinese missile inventory being the most significant threat to US air bases.

Distributing aircraft across more locations improves survivability; an adversary must fire more missiles to achieve the same effect, RAND suggests. More Chinese missiles would be required to attack several targets if America operates from several protected air bases.

General CQ Brown, Jr., former USAF chief and current Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, said, To generate combat power from a number of locations to create dilemmas for an adversary  I just need a runway, a ramp, a weapons trailer, a fuel bladder and a pallet of [meals, ready-to-eat].

As part of ACE, F-22s Raptors from the 673rd Air Base Wing and 3rd Wing at Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson, Alaska, and the Kadena Air Base participated in a joint exercise called Agile Reaper on Guam and Tinian in March.

In October 2022, the US withdrew the F-15 C/D Eagle fleet from Kadena Air Base only to announce this year that they would be replaced with its most advanced variant, the F-15EX Eagle II, but only 75 per cent of the earlier strength. It was another ACE strategy to disperse the Eagles from Kadena to execute operations and avoid Chinese missile strikes.

In an earlier ACE exercise in July 2021, around 25 Raptors from the Hawaii Air National Guard and Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson; 10 F-15 Strike Eagles from Mountain Home Air Force Base, Idaho; and two C-130J Hercules transport planes from Yokota Air Base, Japan, participated in Operation Pacific Iron over Guam and Tinian. The exercise aimed to operate from smaller airports on islands around the western Pacific.

A few days before Agile Reaper, Wilsbach said, From the Agile Combat Employment standpoint, what were spending our dollars on this year is expanding the number of places that we can go to, and of the places that were already at, expanding the capability at those places.

For example, an air base under ACE lacks a traditional runway.

Theres a runway, a taxiway, a very small ramp and a very small terminal which acts as the commercial terminal. And the other half is our [operations] centre, he added. Crews at such air bases are always in touch with their parent wings located elsewhere.

ACEs purpose is to disperse your forces, he said. It makes them use more munitions, and it gives us a chance to keep air power in the air to create effects, he said.

The writer is a freelance journalist with two decades of experience and comments primarily on foreign affairs. Views expressed in the above piece are personal and solely those of the writer. They do not necessarily reflect Firstposts views.

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My first interaction with Vice President Jagdeep Dhankhar was both pleasant and surprising. He was then the Governor of West Bengal. I was to speak in Kolkata at the renowned institution, Birla Academy of Art and Culture, run by the creative and ever-energetic Jayashree Mohta. The lecture was on my latest book, Adi Shankaracharya: Hinduisms Greatest Thinker. A day before the event, Jayashree called me excitedly to say that Governor Dhankhar had confirmed his presence at the talk, but because of other commitments, would not stay only for a few minutes.

My talk was online, on a big screen put at the Birla Academy. Dhankhar, Jayashree told me later, did not leave early, as he had said, but stayed on for the entire lecture, which went on for over an hour. She was surprised and I was glad, and I regretted the opportunity to thank him personally.

Sometime after this, when he had become the Vice President (VP), there was a function at his residence where he was launching a new book by Karan Singh on Hinduism, to which I was invited. This was the first time I was physically meeting Dhankhar Saheb. But I was taken aback by his warmth. He referred to me and my books more than once while speaking at the launch, and at the tea that followed, not only talked with me at great length, but also asked his official photographer to take a picture of us together and directed his staff to arrange a separate meeting with me later.

I mention the above incidents to show that Dhankhar is a pleasant and unassuming person, with a lively interest in subjects beyond the usual ken of politicians, a keen sense of humour and a ready and hearty laugh. I was surprised, therefore, that he took such umbrage at Trinamool Congress MP Kalyan Banerjees caricature of him and dubbed it as an insult to his high constitutional office.

Kalyans mimicry was done not on the floor of the Housewhere it would have been objectionable and a contempt of the Chairbut outside, where MPs suspended from both Houses of Parliament had gathered in protest. At one level, the attempt by both the Speaker and the VP (as chair of the Rajya Sabha), to end the cacophonous vandalism that has become routine in our Parliament, is justified. But at another, it is a well-established tradition that the responsibility to run the House lies primarily with the Treasury benches. The mass expulsion of such a large number of MPs for their insistence that Home Minister Amit Shah make a statement in Parliament on the very serious breach of security in Parliament on 13 Decemberwith potentially lethal consequenceswas not unreasonable. In fact, presiding officers of both the Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha should have themselves endorsed this request. The anger of Opposition MPs thus had a context.

In any democracy, satire on politicians is par for the course. In our own country, eminent cartoonists like K Shankar Pillai (1902-89), routinely lampooned political leaders, including, most prominently, prime minister Jawaharlal Nehru himself. In fact, the popular publication, Shankars Weekly, had 400 cartoons on Nehru, none of which could remotely be called complimentary.

This traditionand freedomto satirise politicians, was continued in the iconic cartoons of RK Laxman, Unny and Abu Abraham. In fact, Abu became famous for his audacious cartoon during the Emergencywhich somehow escaped the draconian censorship laws thenwhere he showed president Fakhruddin Ali Ahmed, signing an Ordinance, without even reading it while luxuriating in a tub at the Rashtrapati Bhavan. Fakhruddin was holding a constitutional post but was not spared for having become a rubber-stamp president, who just did the bidding of prime minister Indira Gandhi.

In other genuine democracies, particularly the UK and the USA, no high political office is insulated from the excoriating lampooning by writers, cartoonists and stand-up comics. In India, the advent of stand-up comics started as a professional and highly popular genre around 2010, with pioneers like Vir Das, and spread like wildfire. In a way, the Indian stand-up comics, were only following a well-established theatrical tradition, where, for instance, in the 14th century Jaydesvara Bhattacharyas explosive play, Hasyarnava Prahasanam, fearlessly mocked the king and his inept courtiers. More recently, we have classics like Srilal Shuklas Raag Darbari (1968), and OP Vijayans, The Saga of Dharmapuri, which were fearless and scathing satires on the politically powerful.

I am perturbed, therefore, that our politicians have become so thin-skinned about jokes cracked at their expense. Prime Minister Narendra Modi himself, on the floor of the House, mimicked Rahul Gandhi, and while Rahul himself and the Congress may have found it distasteful, no one else took it as an assault on the democratic Opposition of the country and considered it a harmlesseven funnyepisode.

Why then is the BJP as a whole so upset about Kalyan Banerjees caricature of Dhankhar? Even more surprisingly, having known to some extent the Vice President himself, I am a little taken aback by his outraged reaction. To all our politicianson either side of the political spectrumI would recommend what Alexander Pope (1688-1744), the most well-known poet and satirist of the Enlightenment Era, said about satire. He said that it is a holy weapon left for Truths defense, terror of Folly, Vice and Insolence.

Democracy, and the freedom to poke fun at public figures, however high they may be, are not antithetical. My request to Honble Vice President Jagdeep Dhankhar is to take such incidents in his stride, and not as an insult to the high constitutional post he occupies.

The author is a former diplomat, an author and a politician. Views expressed in the above piece are personal and solely that of the author. They do not necessarily reflect Firstposts views.

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In the ever-evolving landscape of Pakistani politics, the recent events surrounding Shah Mehmood Qureshi, former foreign minister and a key figure in Imran Khans party, have taken centre stage. From legal battles to dramatic arrests, the political drama in Pakistan seems to be reaching new heights.

Shah Mehmood Qureshi, a close associate of former prime minister Imran Khan, finds himself entangled in a web of legal troubles. Recently granted bail in the cipher case by Pakistans Supreme Court, Qureshis freedom was short-lived. Caught outside the Rawalpindi jail, he was re-arrested in connection with another case. The manner of his arrest, marked by force and rough handling, raises eyebrows, especially considering his previous role as a representative of Pakistan on the international stage.

Imran Khan, the head of the party to which Qureshi belongs, is facing a staggering 150 cases. Last week, Khan was granted bail, but his legal woes persist. His partys strategy appears to hinge on legal manoeuvering, seeking relief from the courts to enable him to contest the upcoming elections. However, the courts, so far, have not been entirely accommodating.

Legal gambit

Khans legal team approached Pakistans Supreme Court with a specific demandto suspend Khans conviction in the Toshakhana case, which involves allegations of corruption, accusing Khan of stealing from the state treasury. The party argues that suspending the conviction is crucial for Khans participation in the forthcoming elections. However, the court deferred an immediate hearing and expressed reservations about the effectiveness of suspending the conviction due to the lingering election ban.

In the complex world of Pakistani politics, rivalries add another layer of intrigue. Nawaz Sharif and his party, the Pakistan Muslim League  Nawaz, initially praised the judiciary when Sharifs own convictions were overturned last month. However, the tone changed when they accused the same courts of granting certificates of innocence to Imran Khan, highlighting the inconsistency in the political discourse.

Uncertain future

As the legal drama unfolds, the courts are currently on a winter holiday, but upon their return, Khans cases will take centre stage. The pressure from the Pakistan Army, coupled with an extensive list of charges and cases, presents a challenging scenario for Khan. With the impending release of the final candidate list by the poll body, time is running out for Khan to secure his political future.

The political landscape in Pakistan is undergoing a tumultuous phase, characterised by legal battles, strategic manoeuvers and shifting alliances. The fate of key political figures like Shah Mehmood Qureshi and Imran Khan hangs in the balance, and as the courts resume their proceedings, the nation watches eagerly, anticipating the outcome that will shape the future of Pakistani politics.

Views expressed in the above piece are personal and solely that of the author. They do not necessarily reflect Firstposts views.

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The world was largely peaceful until early 2022. There were small but controllable skirmishes between nations, political tensions containing considered adversaries, increased terrorism, but no wars involving nuclear powered nations.

February 2022 witnessed the commencement of the Ukraine conflict with Russia launching its special military operation. It dominated headlines for most of 2022, up until the Hamas attack on Israels Beeri Kibbutz on October 7 this year. The retaliation by Israel pushed the Ukraine conflict onto the sidelines.

After nearing two years of conflict, funding fatigue has begun to set in for most of Ukraines supporters, despite Volodymyr Zelenskyy, the Ukrainian President, claiming Kiev is blocking Russian expansion into Europe.

It was the West which stopped ceasefire talks hoping to draw Russia into a second Afghanistan, but failed. Currently, the world focus has shifted.

At the commencement of the conflict, the West announced it has imposed crippling sanctions on Russia, while providing military and economic support to Ukraine. These did little to curtail the war. Russias economy remains resilient, while large parts of Ukraine lie devastated.

The much-touted Ukrainian counteroffensive achieved nothing. Its failure only highlighted the split between Zelenskyy and General Valery Zaluzhny, the army chief. The army chief admitted that the counteroffensive had achieved nothing substantial, while Zelenskyy disagreed. This added to funding fatigue.

Patience running out

The coming year could either witness a new Russian offensive or talks to end the war. Patience running out on Ukraine was evident when in the US, the senate blocked funds for it. In Europe, nations seem to possess similar views.

Polands new government has stopped providing military equipment to Ukraine. Hungary has blocked EUs 50 million Euro aid to Ukraine, post commencement of EU-Ukraine talks, while in Romania, an anti-Ukraine funding political party is gaining ground.

Geert Wilders, whose party won the recently concluded Netherlands election stated, We believe we shouldnt give military support to Ukraine while we are unable to defend our own country.

Zelenskyy too has admitted that the war in Gaza is taking away the focus from the ongoing conflict on his soil. Ukraine is no longer in the news. Peace talks hosted by Arab states are on hold.

The Russian President, Vladimir Putin, has already hinted on talks with the US, Europe and Ukraine to terminate the conflict. With elections due in major countries involved in the war or supporting warring sides in 2024, including Russia, Ukraine, EU parliament and the US, the possibility of the war concluding in Russias favour appears bright.

Gaza, which was the globes largest open-air prison, was generally ignored, despite Israels crippling control over its residents. It jumped into global attention with the Hamas attack and the violent counter strike by Israel.

While 1,200 Israelis were killed in the initial Hamas assault on October 7 and over 150 were taken prisoner, over 20,000 Palestinians have died in the ongoing Israeli offensive. Large parts of Gaza have been destroyed. While the Western world initially backed Israel in its efforts to eradicate Hamas, they seem to be having doubts as civilian casualties mount.

Calls for a humanitarian ceasefire as also restricted operations to engage only military targets avoiding collateral damage have had limited impact. The five-day ceasefire which led to exchange of prisoners and movement of aid ended with both blaming the other for violating it.

In the latest, the UNSC has passed a resolution for immediately speeding aid deliveries to hungry and desperate civilians in Gaza, but without the original plea of suspension of hostilities. How it will unfold is to be seen.

Israels military aims include denuding the war machinery of Hamas, eradicating its leadership and destroying its tunnels. It is willing to accept civilian casualties as collateral. Eradicating the Hamas leadership in Gaza and its military capabilities may be achievable with losses, however removing the ideology of Hamas is difficult.

Both the wars have multiple similarities. The stronger states, Russia and Israel, have faced limited damage on their soil, while the weaker adversary, Gaza and Ukraine, have suffered immensely, necessitating global funding for reconstruction.

The UNSC has been ineffective in stalling both conflicts, mainly due to the power of the veto of permanent members. While Russia is itself a permanent member, Israel has the backing of the US. Thus, after repeatedly failing to enforce a ceasefire through the UNSC, the matter had to be referred to the UN General Assembly.

Resolutions passed by the UN General Assembly, which are anyway non-binding, conveyed global perceptions. Majority called for peace but their requests were ignored by those involved, Russia and Israel. The sufferers have been the populace in the weaker states, Ukraine and Gaza.

Thousands have died, while countless continue to suffer due to damages to infrastructure and lack of medical facilities, especially as winter sets in. In Gaza most of the dead are believed to be women and children, while a news report mentions that 10,000 civilians including 600 children have died in Ukraine. A number of states, including India, have largely maintained neutrality by avoiding to blame one side for it, while demanding a ceasefire and talks.

Dissimilarities between Gaza and Ukraine

There are however dissimilarities too, mainly because Ukraine is a nation-state and Gaza controlled by a terrorist organization, Hamas.

In March this year, the International Criminal Court issued an arrest warrant against Putin and others in his government for forced deportation of children. Not a word has been mentioned by any global organization against Israel or its leadership for unrestricted operations resulting in thousands of civilian casualties, largely children, and uncontrolled destruction of infrastructure, including hospitals, beyond what is essential to sustain operations.

Ukrainian refugees, mainly comprising women, children and the elderly were accepted by all countries in Europe, while no nation is willing to adopt Palestinians, leaving them at the mercy of Israeli military power.

Entry into Egypt from Gaza and Jordan from the West Bank is blocked. While Ukraine was supported by Europe and the US, Gaza is being backed by Iran and other West Asia terrorist groups, conveying the message that terrorists of the world stand together.

While Russia prevented Ukraine from using its Black Sea ports to export its foodgrains, the Houthi-backed Hamas are attacking ships on the Red Sea, mainly of nations backing Israel or those headed to Israeli ports. While the Ukraine war was the result of Kyiv intending to join NATO, an anti-Russian block, the Hamas assault of October was due to stifling controls maintained by Israel over Gaza.

The main gainers from these conflicts are armament industries which are witnessing a leap in profits. Interest and desire to control the narrative by major global powers acted as stumbling blocks in preventing conflicts from commencing or even terminating.

At the end of the day, innocents lost their lives, while militaries battled on. Unless there is a global realisation and pressure applied on warring sides, these wars would continue into the next year, only adding to the loss of lives and destruction of infrastructure.

The author is a former Indian Army officer, strategic analyst and columnist. Views expressed in the above piece are personal and solely those of the author. They do not necessarily reflect Firstposts views.

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Early Leaders: A.O. Hume initiates INC; Dadabhai Naoroji becomes its first president in 1886
In a recent revelation, Chinas premier intelligence agency, the Ministry of State Security (MSS), has harnessed the power of artificial intelligence (AI) to surveil and track American spies and other foreign operatives in Beijings embassy district.

This development highlights the escalating Cold War-style competition between the MSS and the CIA.

Formerly overshadowed by Chinese military intelligence units, the MSS has risen to prominence, amalgamating the missions of foreign surveillance akin to the CIA and domestic counterintelligence akin to the FBI.

With significant resources at its disposal, the MSS now employs AI and facial recognition technology to compile instantaneous profiles on individuals of interest, monitoring their movements, contacts, and identifying potential vulnerabilities, as reported by the New York Times, citing US officials and an informed source.

Chinas advanced spy-tracking program highlights the crucial role of technology in the intensifying rivalry between the MSS and the CIA.

Yun Sun, Director of the China program at the Stimson Center in DC, noted that China has increasingly embraced technological espionage, exploiting existing technologies and trade secrets. Simultaneously, the CIA has shifted focus towards gathering information on Chinas advancements in AI and quantum computing.

Chen Yixin, the current head of the MSS, has elevated the agencys profile, even though it remains notably secretive without a public-facing website. The agencys intensified efforts include not only high-tech surveillance but also recruitment initiatives targeting American citizens.

Previous cases, such as Glenn Shriver, a college student recruited while studying abroad in Shanghai, and Kun Shan Chun, an FBI employee sentenced for acting as an agent of China, highlight Beijings ambitions to recruit individuals without ethnic or family ties to China.

The MSSs technological prowess and recruitment strategies have even extended to attempting to steal trade secrets from American aviation companies, exemplified by the case of Yanjun Xu, the first Chinese government intelligence officer extradited to the US. Xu was sentenced to 20 years in prison for espionage crimes and attempting to acquire proprietary information.
A court of Appeal of Qatar has reduced the sentences of eight former Indian Navy personnel, arrested in August 2022 in connection with an alleged case of espionage.

All the eight Indian men were handed the death by Qatars Court of First Instance on 26 October, 2023 after being detained for more than a year on undeclared charges.

The detailed judgement is awaited. We are in close touch with the legal team as well as the family members to decide on the next steps, the Ministry of External Affairs said in a statement.

India had got a round of consular access to the detainees on 7 November.

Our Ambassador to Qatar and other officials were present in the Court of Appeal today, along with the family members. We have stood by them since the beginning of the matter and we will continue to extend all consular and legal assistance. We will also continue to take up the matter with the Qatari authorities, the MEA statement read.

Due to the confidential and sensitive nature of proceedings of this case, it would not be appropriate to make any further comment at this juncture, the MEA said.

The development comes weeks after Qatars Court of First Instance accepted the appeal filed by the Indian government against the death sentence given to the ex-Navy personnel.

The Indian men, all employees of Doha-based Dahra Global, were taken into custody in August 2022. The company provided training and other services to Qatars armed forces. The subsidiary was shut down in May this year.

The charges against them were not made public by Qatari authorities. Earlier reports said the eight Indians had been charged with spying for Israel.

After the initial verdict was pronounced, India had called it deeply shocking. External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar had also met the family members of the eight men and assured them that the government attaches the highest importance to the case.

Following their arrest in 2022, the eight former Navy personnel were moved out of solitary confinement and put in a double-bed occupancy in a jail ward along with their colleagues.

This year on 25 March, the charges were filed against the eight men after which the trial began on 29 March.

In May 2023, Dahra Global shut down its operations in Doha and all employees  primarily Indians  have since returned home.

With inputs from agencies
The IDF on Wednesday said that it has located and destroyed three tunnel shafts near Gaza Citys Rantisi Childrens Hospital which is just another Hamas stronghold used to connect and transfer terrorists and weapons throughout Gaza to be used against Israelis.

IDF troops are uncovering Hamas tunnels inside and around multiple hospitals within Gaza. The Rantisi Hospital is just another terrorist stronghold used to connect and transfer terrorists and weapons throughout Gaza to be used against Israelis. pic.twitter.com/aYBkpgsfn9  Israel Defense Forces (@IDF) December 27, 2023

According to Times of Israel report, in a previous revelation, the IDF provided evidence indicating the use of the hospitals basement by Hamas for storing weapons and potentially holding hostages.

The recent investigation by the IDFs 401st Brigade, Navys Shayetet 13 commando unit, and the elite Yahalom combat engineering unit identified and mapped out the three tunnel shafts.

According to the report, citing IDF, these shafts are part of a broader underground network spanning several kilometers beneath the hospital and leading to strategic points within Gaza City.

The operations revealed that the three shafts are connected by a wide underground network that runs under the hospital, is several kilometers long and leads to strategic points in the heart of Gaza City.

It says the tunnel at Rantisi was used by Hamas as a command center to manage the fighting against Israel. One of the shafts, found in a high school adjacent to Rantisi, has an elevator heading down some 20 meters, according to the IDF. Another shaft, found in the home of a pic.twitter.com/4BJKkgmbs0  Emanuel (Mannie) Fabian (@manniefabian) December 27, 2023

One of the shafts, found in a high school adjacent to Rantisi, has an elevator heading down some 20 meters, according to the IDF.

Another shaft, found in the home of a commander in Hamass naval forces, featured a blast door to prevent troops from entering, it says.

After being investigated, the tunnel network was demolished by combat engineers.

With inputs from agencies
In a recently filed money laundering case charge-sheet, the Enforcement Directorate (ED) stated that a land deal made by Robert Vadra, the son-in-law of Congress leader Sonia Gandhi, is being investigated, as is the purchase of three plots of land in Haryana by him from a real estate agent in 20052006.

The federal agency charged NRI businessman C.C. Thampi, who is purportedly connected to Robert Vadra, and Sumit Chadha, a relative of suspected middleman Sanjay Bhandari, in a court filing in November.

This is the first time that Robert Vadra and Congress general secretary Priyanka Gandhi have been named together in a complaint, even though they are not listed as accused in the charge sheet.

A special Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA) court in Delhi took cognisance of this charge-sheet on December 22 and listed the matter for next hearing on January 29, 2024.

Bhandari fled to the UK in 2016 and the British government approved his extradition to India in January acting on a legal request made by the Enforcement Directorate (ED) and the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI). The the two federal agencies are probing charges of money laundering and tax evasion against the alleged middleman for holding alleged undisclosed assets abroad.

The ED stated in the charge-sheet that it came across the land purchase and sale transactions of the Vadras after it registered a Foreign Exchange Management Act (FEMA) case against 67-year-old Thampi in 2015. A long and thick relationship existed between Robert Vadra and Thampi, the agency said.

Robert Vadra has been questioned by the agency in this case in the past and he had denied any wrongdoing.

Thampi, the ED said, had purchased about 486 acres of land between 2005-2008 in Amirpur village in Faridabad in Haryana through H L Pahwa, a Delhi-NCR based real estate agent.

It is imperative to mention that Robert Vadra also purchased three pieces of land measuring 334 kanals (40.08 acres) in Amirpur from H L Pahwa from 2005-2006 and sold the same land to H L Pahwa in December 2010, it said in the chargesheet

Further, Priyanka Gandhi Vadra wife of Robert Vadra also purchased agricultural land measuring 40 kanal (05 acres) in village Amirpur, district Faridabad, Haryana, from H L Pahwa in April 2006 and sold the same land to H L Pahwa in February 2010, the ED stated.

It said that Pahwa was receiving cash out of the books for the purpose of acquisition of land. It was also noticed that Robert Vadra did not pay the entire consideration to Pahwa. The investigation in this regard is still ongoing, the ED said.

Thampi was arrested in this case in January 2020 and the ED in a recent press statement alleged that he was a close associate of Robert Vadra. Thampi is at present out on bail .

The agency said Robert Vadra, the brother-in-law of Congress leader Rahul Gandhi, renovated and stayed at a London property which is a proceeds of crime in the money laundering case being investigated by it against Bhandari.

The ED filed a criminal case against Bhandari and others in February 2017 taking cognisance of an Income Tax Department chargesheet filed against him under the anti-black money law of 2015.

(with inputs from PTI)
A recent addition to New York Citys dining scene, Ayat, a Palestinian restaurant with existing locations, has stirred up controversy by adding anti-Semitic phrases in its menu phrasing and decor.

The use of the phrase from the river, to the sea and the declaration down with the occupation has sparked backlash, particularly in the heavily-Jewish area of Ditmas Park, Brooklyn.

The Anti-Defamation League has labeled the chant from the river to the sea as an anti-Semitic call for Israels destruction through violent means. Despite this, Ayats owners, Ayat Masoud and Abdul Elenani, claim that the phrase is intended to convey freedom and rights for the Palestinian people in the region.

Elenani, responding to criticism on Facebook, emphasised their positive relationships with Jewish neighbors and colleagues, asserting that their stance is against a particular mindset rather than aimed at Jewish people.

The restaurants decor prominently features Palestinian symbols, and images inside depict what seems to be contentious scenes related to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.

While Ayats owners assert their commitment to advocating for peace and highlighting the Palestinian occupation, some residents feel the restaurant is deliberately provoking controversy. Ditmas Park resident Dahlia Scheitzer drew an analogy, stating its akin to a Southern food restaurant displaying the Confederate flag.

The affluent Ditmas Park, known for its significant Jewish population, has mirrored wider reactions in the U.S. amid the Middle East crisis, where businesses face backlash for expressing or avoiding opinions on the conflict. Ayat, too, experienced negative online reviews following Hamas attack.

Tensions over the Gaza conflict have led to protests at public events, including disruptions at the Thanksgiving Parade in New York City. Activist groups connecting the crisis to broader issues like climate change have faced both support and opposition.

Christmas Day saw further protests in Manhattan, escalating to clashes and prompting the NYPD to implement a Level Three mobilization. Officers faced attacks during the protests, where demonstrators chanted slogans related to the intifada. The protests extended to the homes of Pentagon chief Lloyd Austin and National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan.

The ongoing turmoil highlights the challenging task of navigating political stances in public spaces, where even festive events become platforms for expressing dissent.
For some they shouldnt be in their habit, since they are in a habit of swearing by the miracles of marijuana. Puffing out plumes of smoke with each drag of marijuana, a group of women clad as nuns in Mexico, who go by the name of Sisters of the Valley, have vowed to take back control of the drug from the narcos.

The group was founded in 2014 with the vision to spread the healing qualities of cannabis. Even as they trace their roots to Central Mexico, their wealth comes from the United States. The cult sells cannabidiol tincture, along with other cannabis-based products, in America, according to the Daily Mail. They even posted a profit of $500,000 last year.

According to reports, this group in Mexico remains heavily veiled from the prying eyes of the cartels, public and the police. They operate from a dilapidated false front building, but their online presence is huge, where they use monikers and not their real identities, Daily Mail said.

We want to take the plant back from the narcos, Daily Mail quoted one of the sisters, who went on to add, The Sisterhood is in a totally different context here in Mexico  because of how religious the country is and because of the plants ties to cartels.

As per the report, she is a homeopathic practitioner, who prescribes cannabis to patients suffering from cancer, joint pain and insomnia.

These zealots have not taken any formal vows before donning the habit and they grow a small yield from marijuana plants potted in paint buckets.

They use old glass coffee jars to store their products.

These nuns are not just pot growers, but they are activists who go around lobbying for legalisation of the drug. They believe that the war against drugs in Mexico has been a dismal failure and a by-product of it has been extreme violence and loss of countless lives.
Following widespread pro-democracy protests, three Hong Kong activists admitted guilt to charges relating to a plot to plant bombs in court buildings and other public infrastructure in 2021, which resulted in their imprisonment for up to six years on Thursday.

Under the National Security Law, Ho Yu-wang, 20, Kwok Man-hei, 21, and Cheung Ho-yeung, 23, were all accused of conspiracy to commit terrorism.

The protracted pro-democracy protests in Hong Kong created a hostile social atmosphere, which High Court Judge Alex Lee acknowledged could easily cloud one persons moral judgment (and) might turn people with previously good characters into radicals.

The prosecutions summary of facts states that Kwok was a member of the pro-independence group Returning Valiant.

The three were accused of planning to make improvised explosives devices and place them in public places including government offices, cross harbour tunnels, police staff quarters, railways and court buildings between April 1 and 5 July 2021. The defendants were arrested before any of the devices were made or used.

Ho, who was alleged to be the mastermind behind the plan, and Cheung were sentenced to six years imprisonment, while Kwok was sentenced to 30 months imprisonment.

Ho pleaded guilty to the terrorism charge while Cheung and Kwok pleaded guilty to an alternative charge of conspiring to cause explosions likely to endanger life or to cause serious injury to property.

The starting point of Hos sentence was set at 10 years and Judge Lee granted him four years deduction for his assistance to the prosecution that led to a guilty plea from Cheung.

Four others involved in the plans were sentenced in May. One 21-year-old was jailed for five years and eight months for renting a flat for the scheme, while three others aged between 17-20 were sent to training centres.

Beijing imposed a national security law on Hong Kong in 2020 to punish secession, subversion, terrorism, collusion with foreign forces with up to life imprisonment.

Some foreign governments including the U.S. say the security law is a tool to crush dissent. Beijing says the security law has restored stability to the global financial hub after the mass 2019 protests.

Since the national security law was imposed, more than 280 people have been arrested including opposition politicians, activists, lawyers and journalists.

(with inputs from Reuters)
Kim Jong Un, the leader of North Korea, asked his party to accelerate war preparations, including its nuclear program, according to official media on Thursday.

Only one week prior, Kim had threatened Pyongyang that it would not hold back from launching a nuclear strike if it were provoked to do so.

Kim said these things at the Norths ongoing year-end celebration, where he is anticipated to announce important policy choices for 2024.

According to Pyongyangs official Korean Central News Agency, Kim asked the party to further accelerate the war preparations across sectors, including nuclear weapons and civil defense.

He also stressed that the military situation on the Korean peninsula had become extreme due to unprecedented anti-North confrontations with Washington.

Seoul, Tokyo and Washington have ramped up defence cooperation in the face of a record-breaking series of weapons tests by Pyongyang this year and recently activated a system to share real-time data on North Korean missile launches.

Earlier this month, a US nuclear-powered submarine arrived in the South Korean port city of Busan, and Washington flew its long-range bombers in drills with Seoul and Tokyo.

The North has previously described the participation of US strategic assets  such as B-52 bombers  in joint drills on the Korean peninsula as the intentional nuclear war provocative moves of the US.

Pyongyang this year successfully launched a reconnaissance satellite, enshrined its status as a nuclear power in its constitution, and test-fired the most advanced intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM) in its arsenal.

Kim earlier this week defined 2023 as a year of great turn and great change in which Pyongyang saw eye-opening victories.

Last week, the United Nations atomic agency said a second reactor at North Koreas Yongbyon nuclear facility appeared to be operational, calling it deeply regrettable.

North Korea is likely to deploy tactical nuclear weapons in areas near the inter-Korean border and further advance its nuclear program in the new year, Ahn Chan-il, a defector-turned-researcher who runs the World Institute for North Korea Studies, told AFP.

Pyongyang would make such moves to exert great pressure on South Korea and the United States, while maintaining close ties with traditional allies Russia and China, he added.

 Nuclear confrontation 

At last years year-end party meeting, Kim called for an exponential increase of the countrys nuclear arsenal.

The United States and South Korea earlier this month held the second meeting of their Nuclear Consultative Group in Washington, where they discussed nuclear deterrence options in the event of conflict with the North.

They warned that any nuclear attack from Pyongyang on the United States or South Korea would result in the end of the Kim regime.

A spokesperson for North Koreas defence ministry then slammed the allies plans to expand annual joint military exercises next year to include a nuclear operation drill, calling it an open declaration on nuclear confrontation.

Pyongyang declared itself an irreversible nuclear power last year and has repeatedly said it will never give up its nukes programme, which the regime views as essential for its survival.

The United Nations Security Council has adopted many resolutions calling on North Korea to halt its nuclear and ballistic missile programmes since it first conducted a nuclear test in 2006.

(with inputs from AFP)
Two men were given lengthy prison sentences by a Moscow court on Thursday for reading poetry critical of the invasion of Ukraine.

An AFP journalist present at the hearing witnessed the supporters of Artyom Kamardin and Yegor Shtovba yelling Shame! from the courtroom as they were sentenced to seven years and five years, respectively, in prison.

Thousands of people have been detained by Russian authorities for merely expressing opposition to the offensive in Ukraine, and criticism is now essentially forbidden.

The 33-year-old Kamardin claimed that the officers had sexually assaulted him during his arrest and had made him record an apology video under duress while threatening to break up with his girlfriend.

On the eve of his arrest he had recited his poem Kill me, militia man! on a Moscow square where dissidents have been gathering since the Soviet era.

Kamardin also shouted offensive slogans against the imperial New Russia project aiming to annex the south of Ukraine.

Both were convicted of inciting hatred and calling for activities threatening state security.

Kamardin told the court he did not know his actions broke the law and asked for mercy.

I am not a hero, and going to prison for my beliefs was never in my plans, he said in a statement, posted on his supporters Telegram channel.

 Under torture 

After the sentencing, his father Yury said: This is a total outrage!

Around two dozen friends came to support the defendants along with the poets parents and wives.

Kamardins wife Alexandra Popova was in the crowd.

It is a very harsh sentence. Seven years for poems, for a non-violent crime, she said, before being detained.

In an interview with AFP in late 2022, she had recounted her then boyfriends arrest, saying officers threatened her with gang rape, hit her and sprayed superglue on her cheeks and mouth.

Meanwhile Kamardin was taken to a separate room, where  as he told his lawyer  he was beaten and raped with a barbell.

Kamardin was also forced to film an apology video.

 Sorry for leaving you 

Shtovba, 23, also insisted he did not break the law.

In his last statement in court, published by independent site Mediazona, he asked the judge: What have I done thats illegal? Read poetry?

He also addressed his mother, who he said depended on him financially.

Mom, I know that you, more than anyone, believe in my innocence Still, Im sorry for how things turned out, leaving you and dad alone.

Nikolai Dayneko, who was arrested at the same time, was sentenced to four years in prison last May after entering a pre-trial agreement, according to OVD-info.

This is the latest in a string of heavy sentences against Russians who protested the offensive, in trials critics denounce as absurd.

In mid-November judge Oksana Demiasheva sentenced artist Alexandra Skochilenko to seven years in prison for swapping price tags with slogans criticising Russias offensive in Ukraine.

Skochilenko had replaced five price tags in a branch of one of Russias largest supermarket chains in Saint Petersburg with messages about the conflict.

The trials of ordinary Russians usually take place away from public attention, unlike those of prominent critics.

Most of Russias high-profile opposition figures have fled the country or are behind bars, including Alexei Navalny.

(with inputs from AFP)
President Vladimir Putin on Wednesday invited Prime Minister Narendra Modi to visit Russia next year as External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar called on the Russian leader at the Kremlin.

External Affairs Minister Dr S Jaishankar met Russian President Vladimir Putin in Moscow pic.twitter.com/aD7LCyjzDD  ANI (@ANI) December 28, 2023

The Russian President said Moscow is gratified to note that despite all the turmoil happening worldwide, the relationship with our true friend in Asia, India has been progressing incrementally.

Definitely, we will be glad to see our dear friend, Prime Minister Narendra Modi, paying a visit to Russia, we will be able to discuss all the relevant, current issues and talk to the prospects of the Russian and Indian relationship, NDTV quoted him as saying.

On the situation in Ukraine, he said Russia knows the position of PM Modi and that he has repeatedly informed him about the situation around this conflict.

I am referring to his position, his attitude to complicated processes, including hot spots, the situation in Ukraine. I have repeatedly informed him about the situation around this conflict. I know about his striving to resolve this problem through peaceful means, said the Russian President.

Talking about India-Russia trade, Putin said that our trade is growing for the second year running and at a confident pace, adding that this year, the growth rates were even higher than last year.

We are working together in high-tech areas, and we are very pleased to note that despite the current turbulences in the world, relations with our traditional friends in Asia, with India and the Indian people are making steady headway, he added.

On his part, Jaishankar said that India and Russia the substantial progress in trade, which is more than a turnover of $50 billion.

We believe that this is something whose potential is now only beginning to be visible. We must give it a more sustainable character, and we discussed how we should do that, said Jaishankar

Jaishankar also informed Putin that PM Modi was looking forward to visiting Russia next year.

I am sure that we will find a date which is mutually convenient for the political calendar of both countries. So it is certainly something that he (PM Modi) looks forward to, said the External Affairs Minister, who is on a five-day official visit to Russia.

Referring to the Lok Sabha election due next year, Putin said he wished our friends every success and stressed that traditional conventional friendly ties will persist between New Delhi and Moscow no matter what the alignment of political forces is.

The general elections in Parliament are scheduled for next year. We wish our friends every success in that and we hope that anyway, no matter what the alignment of political forces would be, the traditional conventional friendly ties will persist between our nations, NDTV quoted the Russian President as saying.

Since the onset of the Ukraine conflict, India has consistently advocated for a resolution through dialogue.

New Delhi has engaged in discussions with both President Putin and President Volodymyr Zelensky of Ukraine. During a meeting with the Ukrainian President earlier this year, Prime Minister Modi assured that India is committed to doing everything within its capacity to bring about a resolution to the conflict. In a 2021 meeting with Putin in Samarkand, the Prime Minister emphasized that the current era should not be defined by war.

India has withstood Western pressure to align against Moscow and, despite international criticism, continued its purchase of Russian oil even after the imposition of sanctions by the West in response to Moscows actions in Ukraine.

In an interview with NDTV, Jaishankar revealed that the Prime Minister instructed him to take necessary actions for the benefit of the country.

With inputs from agencies
In the Far East of Russia, a passenger plane carrying 34 people made an emergency landing on a frozen river, presumably due to a pilot error.

The Soviet-era Antonov An-24 aircraft operated by Polar Airlines came to an abrupt stop on Thursday morning on the frozen River Kolyma, not far from land. Fortunately, no one was injured.

The aircraft touched down on the Zyryanka airport runway.

Prosecutors said that initial investigations indicated pilot error was the cause. On board were thirty passengers and four crew members.

Early on Thursday, the Sakha republics capital city of Yakutsk in the Far East of Russia saw the departure of Flight PI217.

It was bound for Zyryanka, 1,100km (685 miles) to the north-east, and was due to fly on to another small town in Srednekolymsk before returning to Yakutsk.

Video from one of the passengers showed the plane almost in the centre of the frozen River Kolyma in eastern Siberia. Temperatures in Zyryanka dip to around -40C at this time of year.

Prosecutors said the plane had landed on a sand bank in the river. A trail in the snow revealed how long it had taken to come to a standstill.
The Chinese embassy in Myanmar on Thursday issued a directive urging its citizens to evacuate a northern district along the shared border due to heightened security risks.

This advisory comes in the midst of ongoing clashes in Myanmars northern Shan state since October, where the Arakan Army (AA), the Myanmar National Democratic Alliance Army (MNDAA), and the Taang National Liberation Army (TNLA) launched an offensive against the military.

The ethnic minority armed groups, including the AA, MNDAA, and TNLA, have captured several towns and crucial border hubs essential for trade with China. Analysts view this as the most significant military challenge to the junta since it took control in 2021.

Specifically, the MNDAA has declared its intention to reclaim Laukkai town, situated in a district bordering China. This area is controlled by a military-aligned militia and is known for activities such as gambling, prostitution, and online scams.

Addressing the situation, AFP quoted Chinese embassy saying on its WeChat account, The conflicts in Laukkai district of Kokang, northern Myanmar continue, and safety risks have escalated for people stranded there.

The Chinese Embassy in Myanmar once again reminds Chinese citizens in Laukkai district to evacuate as soon as possible.

Media affiliated with the MNDAA said this week that Myanmars junta had carried out airstrikes in the self-administered Kokang region that surrounds Laukkai and shelled parts of the town.

AFP has contacted an MNDAA spokesperson for comment.

Earlier this month, Beijing said it had mediated talks between the military and the three ethnic armed groups and reached an agreement for a temporary ceasefire.

But clashes have continued in parts of Shan state, with the TNLA claiming to have captured two more towns in recent days.

Analysts say Beijing maintains ties with ethnic armed groups in northern Myanmar, some of whom share close ethnic and cultural ties with China and use Chinese currency and phone networks in the territory they control.

Beijing is also a major arms supplier and ally of the junta, but ties have been strained in recent months over the juntas failure to crack down on online scam compounds in Myanmar that Beijing says target Chinese citizens.

Protesters gathered for a rare demonstration in Yangon last month to accuse China of backing the ethnic minority alliance, in what analysts say was a move sanctioned by junta authorities.

With inputs from agencies
Calls for civilians to carry arms have increased due to the rapid advance of Sudanese paramilitaries, raising the possibility that the eight-month battle between rival generals could turn into a full-fledged civil war.

In their ongoing battle with the army, the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF) have taken control of the majority of southern Sudans Al-Jazira state, including Wad Madani, the state capital. They have also started to advance farther south into Sennar state.

Groups of civilians in the Sudanese states of White Nile, River Nile, Gedaref, North, Kassala, and Red Sea have called for armed popular resistance in response to mounting allegations of abuses by RSF fighters.

In the meantime, the RSF has mandated that residents of areas it has taken control of supply volunteers to the paramilitary group so they can protect their territory with weapons.

The fighting since April 15 pits army chief Abdel Fattah al-Burhan against his former deputy, RSF commander Mohamed Hamdan Daglo.

The violence has killed more than 12,000 people, according to a conservative estimate by the Armed Conflict Location and Event Data Project.

The UN says at least 7.1 million people have been displaced, including 1.5 million who fled across the border into neighbouring countries.

Last week at a thousands-strong rally in the northern city of Shendi, River Nile state governor Mohammed Badawi said: We are going to train young people on weapons, so that they can defend their lands and their honour, and protect the families from the rebellion of the RSF.

In the coastal city of Suakin, south of Port Sudan, a Beja tribal leader, Mohammed al-Amin Turk, announced on Monday: We are ready to take up arms (against the RSF) for the victory.

In a village in Al-Jazira states west, one resident  requesting anonymity for safety concerns  told AFP that the paramilitaries have already handed out weapons.

The RSF are arming a number of young men in each village, giving them Kalashnikovs and one or more cars, depending on the size of the village, he said.

 Easier than finding food 

The proliferation of arms has spurred fears that the conflict might spill over beyond the ranks of the army and the RSF.

According to the Small Arms Survey project, 6.6 percent of Sudans 48 million people have weapons.

The risks are particularly grave in the vast western region of Darfur, already scarred by bloody violence in the 2000s that killed about 300,000 people.

Darfur as well as Kordofan in the south and the capital Khartoum have borne much of the brunt of the current war.

The United Nations in May warned that armed civilians, tribal fighters and rebel groups had already taken up arms in Darfur.

The calls now to arm more civilians are disastrous, a Sudanese security official told AFP, requesting anonymity.

They add fuel to the fire, in a country already suffering from the proliferation of weapons.

To Sherif Mohammed Othman, a leader of Sudans main civilian alliance the Forces for Freedom and Change, we must call on both parties to put an end to the conflict, instead of encouraging citizens to join the popular resistance or the ranks of the army.

The only thing it would do is prolong the war, he said.

A government agency tasked with collecting arms estimated that at the end of 2022, five million weapons were in the hands of civilians, excluding those of rebel groups in Darfur, South Kordofan and Blue Nile states.

The security official said that it was likely an underestimate.

Even before the war, gun permits had become easy to obtain and many weapons were being smuggled into Sudan from neighbouring countries, the official said.

Al-Jazira state resident Yussef Ali said he was determined to be armed.

If no side gives me a weapon, Ill buy one myself, he said.

Its easier than finding food.

(with inputs from AFP)
A week after US President Joe Biden launched a new maritime force to protect ships transiting the Red Sea that have come under attack by drones and ballistic missiles fired from Houthi-controlled areas of Yemen, many allies dont want to be associated with it, publicly, or at all.

Two of Americas European allies who were listed as contributors to Operation Prosperity Guardian  Italy and Spain  issued statements appearing to distance themselves from the maritime force.

The Pentagon says the force is a defensive coalition of more than 20 nations to ensure billions of dollars worth of commerce can flow freely through a vital shipping chokepoint in Red Sea waters off Yemen.

The reluctance of some U.S. allies to link themselves to the effort partly reflects the fissures created by the conflict in Gaza, which has seen Biden maintain firm support for Israel even as international criticism rises over its offensive, which Gazas health ministry says has killed more than 21,000 Palestinians.

There are about 400 commercial vessels transiting the southern Red Sea, an area roughly the size of Washington D.C. to Boston, at any given time, a senior military official told reporters who are traveling with Austin in the region.

Under the new mission, the military ships will not necessarily escort a specific vessel, but will be positioned to provide umbrella protection to as many as possible at a given time, the official said on the condition of anonymity to provide additional details not made public on how the new operation will work.

Mohammed Abdel-Salam, the Houthis chief negotiator and spokesman, challenged the U.S.-created coalition on Tuesday, saying the Iranian-backed rebels would continue targeting Israel-linked vessels off Yemen.

The American-formed coalition is to protect Israel and militarize the sea without any justification, and will not stop Yemen from continuing its legitimate operations in support of Gaza, he wrote on social media platform X, formerly known as Twitter.

He said the Houthis attacks are not a show of force nor a challenge to anyone, adding, Whoever seeks to expand the conflict must bear the consequences of his actions.

On Tuesday the shipping company Maersk announced that for now, it had decided to re-route its ships that have been paused for days outside the strait and Red Sea, and send them around Africa through the Cape of Good Hope instead  a much longer and less efficient passage. Maersk said it welcomed the international security effort, but at the present time, the much longer route would provide more predictable outcomes for its customers.

In the last four weeks, Houthi militants have attacked or seized commercial ships 12 times and still hold 25 members of the MV Galaxy Leader hostage in Yemen, Austin said in remarks Tuesday in a ministerial meeting on the new maritime mission. The U.S. is still actively seeking member countries to join the mission, and increase the number of navies present and participating.

The United Kingdom, Bahrain, Canada, France, Italy, Netherlands, Norway, Seychelles and Spain have joined the new maritime security mission, Austin said. Some of those countries will conduct joint patrols while others provide intelligence support in the southern Red Sea and the Gulf of Aden.

One notably absent participant is China, which has warships in the region, but those ships have not responded to previous calls for assistance by commercial vessels, even though some of the ships attacked have had ties to Hong Kong, the military official said.

Several other countries have also agreed to be involved in the operation but prefer not to be publicly named, a defense official said on the condition of anonymity to discuss additional details of the new mission that have not been publicly announced.

The new maritime security mission will be coordinated by the already existing Combined Task Force 153, which was set up in April 2022 to improve maritime security in the Red Sea, Bab el-Mandeb and the Gulf of Aden.

While the task force has primarily provided a headquarters structure to date, the goal of the new mission is to provide ships and other assets to carry out the protection. There have been 39 member nations in CTF 153, but officials were working to determine which of them would participate in this latest effort.

Separately, the United States has also called on the United Nations Security Council to take action against the attacks.

In a letter to council members obtained Monday by The Associated Press, U.S. Ambassador Linda Thomas-Greenfield said Houthi attacks targeting commercial vessels legally transiting the international waterways continue to threaten navigational rights and freedoms, international maritime security, and international commerce.

The 15 council members discussed the Houthi threat behind closed doors Monday but took no immediate action.

Two U.S. warships  the USS Carney and the USS Mason, Navy destroyers  are currently moving through the Bab el-Mandeb Strait to help deter and respond to attacks from the Houthis.

The move to set up the expanded operation came after three commercial vessels were struck by missiles fired by Iranian-back Houthis in Yemen on Dec. 3. Those attacks were part of an escalating campaign of violence that also included armed and other drones launched in the direction of U.S. warships.

To date, the U.S. has not struck back at the Iranian-back Houthis operating in Yemen or targeted any of the militants weapons or other sites. On Monday Austin did not answer a question as to why the Pentagon had not conducted a counterstrike.

The Iran-backed Houthis have attacked or seized a dozen ships with missiles and drones since Nov. 19, trying to inflict an international cost over Israels campaign, which followed the Oct. 7 rampage in southern Israel by Hamas militants that killed 1,200 people and took 240 hostages.

The Rea Sea is the entry point for ships using the Suez Canal, which handles about 12% of worldwide trade and is vital for the movement of goods between Asia and Europe. Houthi attacks have seen some ships rerouted around Africas Cape of Good Hope, substantially increasing sailing time and costs.

Denmarks giant container firm Maersk said on Saturday it would resume shipping operations in the Red Sea and the Gulf of Aden. But Germanys Hapag Lloyd said on Wednesday it still believes the Red Sea is too dangerous and will continue to send ships around the Cape of Good Hope.

DISCORD OVER GAZA

While the U.S. says 20 countries have signed up for its maritime task force, it has announced the names of only 12.

Well allow other countries, defer to them to talk about their participation, U.S. Major General Patrick Ryder told reporters last week.

The EU has signalled its support of the maritime task force with a joint statement condemning the Houthi attacks.

Although Britain, Greece and others have publicly embraced the U.S. operation, several mentioned in the U.S. announcement were quick to say they are not directly involved.

Italys defence ministry said that it would send a ship to the Red Sea following requests from Italian ship owners and not as part of the U.S. operation. France said it supported efforts to secure freedom of navigation in the Red Sea but that its ships would remain under French command.

Spain has said it will not join Operation Prosperity Guardian and opposes using an existing EU anti-piracy mission, Atalanta, to protect Red Sea shipping. But on Wednesday, Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez said he was willing to consider the creation of a different mission to tackle the problem.

Saudi Arabia and United Arab Emirates earlier proclaimed no interest in the venture.

Public anger over Israels Gaza offensive helps explain some of the reluctance of political leaders. A recent Yougov poll found that strong majorities of Western Europeans  particularly Spain and Italy  think Israel should stop military action in Gaza.

There is also the risk that participating countries become subject to Houthi retaliation. The person familiar with the U.S. administrations thinking says that it is this risk  rather disagreements over Gaza  driving some countries to steer clear of the effort.

That appears to be the case for India, which is unlikely to join the U.S. operation, according to a senior Indian military official. An Indian government official said the government worries that aligning itself with the U.S. could make it more of a target.

INTERNATIONAL SUPPORT NEEDED

In reality, many European and Gulf countries already participate in one of several U.S.-led military groups in the Middle East, including the 39-nation Combined Maritime Forces (CMF).

The EUs Atalanta operation already cooperates in a reciprocal relationship with CMF, according to a spokesperson for the group.

That means that some countries not formally joining the Red Sea maritime task force could still coordinate patrols with the U.S. Navy.

For example, while Italy  a member of Atalanta  has not said it will join Operation Prosperity Guardian, an Italian government source told Reuters that the U.S.-led coalition is satisfied with Italys contribution.

The source added that the decision to send a naval frigate as part of existing operations was a way to speed the deployment and did not require a new parliamentary authorization.

The U.S. effort to draw international support for its Red Sea security push comes as the United States faces pressure on multiple fronts from Irans military proxies in the region.

Beyond the Houthis in Yemen, Iran-backed militia have been attacking U.S. troops in Syria and Iraq.

So far, the United States has carried out limited retaliatory air strikes against the militia in Iraq and Syria, but it has refrained from doing so in Yemen.

Michael Mulroy, a former deputy assistant secretary of defence for the Middle East under the Trump administration, said the Pentagons goal with the new maritime coalition appeared to be to make any future Houthi attacks an international issue in order to divorce it from the Israel-Hamas war.

Once the military vessels in Operation Prosperity Guardian start protecting commercial shipping and come under a direct attack, (the Houthis) will be attacking the coalition, not just the U.S., Mulroy said.

With inputs from Reuters.
The U.S. imposed sanctions on a group of money exchange services from Yemen and Turkey, accusing them of assisting in funding Iranian-backed Houthi rebels. The rebels have been launching attacks on commercial shipping vessels in the southern Red Sea.

The sanctions target the head of a financial intermediary in Sanaa, Yemen, and three exchange houses in Yemen and Turkey. The U.S. Treasury alleges that these individuals and entities played a role in transferring millions of dollars to the Houthis, following the directions of the sanctioned Iranian financial facilitator Said al-Jamal.

As a result of the sanctions, the affected individuals and companies are barred from accessing U.S. property and bank accounts. Additionally, they are prohibited from engaging in business activities with Americans.

Thursdays action is the latest round of financial penalties meant to punish the Houthis.

Earlier this month, the U.S. announced sanctions against 13 people and firms alleged to be providing tens of millions of dollars from the sale and shipment of Iranian commodities to the Houthis in Yemen.

Brian E. Nelson, Treasurys undersecretary for terrorism and financial intelligence, said Thursdays action underscores our resolve to restrict the illicit flow of funds to the Houthis, who continue to conduct dangerous attacks on international shipping and risk further destabilizing the region.

Nelsons said the U.S. and its allies will continue to target the key facilitation networks that enable the destabilizing activities of the Houthis and their backers in Iran.

The Houthis have sporadically targeted ships in the region in the past, but the attacks have increased since the start of the war between Israel and Hamas, spiking after an Oct. 17 explosion at a hospital in Gaza killed and injured many. Houthi leaders have insisted Israel is their target.

In December, the White House also announced that it was encouraging its allies to join the Combined Maritime Forces, a 39-member partnership that exists to counter malign action by non-state actors in international waters, as it looks to push back against the Houthis.

The attacks on commercial vessels in the Red Sea by Yemens Houthi rebels have scared off some of the worlds top shipping companies and oil giants, effectively rerouting global trade away from a crucial artery for consumer goods and energy supplies that is expected to trigger delays and rising prices.

With inputs from AP.
In a significant development, Tyler Adams, a fugitive who declared himself a master of disguise and is a suspect in the death of his girlfriend Racquel Sabean, has been apprehended after a four-year manhunt.

The arrest, which took place in Newport Beach, California, is expected to lead to Adams extradition to Hawaii, where authorities have sought him since his escape from state custody in 2019.

Adams, 51, had been serving time at the Oahu Community Correctional Center for felony theft convictions when he failed to return from a work furlough in May 2019. The FBI has publicly sought Adams for questioning regarding Racquel Sabeans death in 2022, whose body was discovered in a cooler in the trunk of a car in Tijuana, Mexico.

Prior to his arrest, Adams utilised various aliases, including Aaron Lee, David Smith, Dominic Braun, and others, as revealed by the FBI. His last sighting entering the United States under the alias Aaron Bain was on June 16, 2022, a day after Mexican police questioned him about Sabeans disappearance.

Despite being the father of Racquels seven-month-old daughter Valentina, Adams has not been charged in her death. Valentina is currently in protective custody since her mothers disappearance.

Racquels father, David Sabean, expressed suspicions about Adams, citing red flags in their interactions. Despite Adams claiming to be a Mormon, David became skeptical after noticing a tattoo, considering it inconsistent with Mormon practices. Adams had been known to Racquel as Paul Phillips during their two-year relationship.

After being questioned by authorities regarding his girlfriends death, Adams fled the country, crossing the border into the United States under a new alias, Aaron Bain. The FBI issued a public release seeking assistance in locating Adams, describing him as a phony and a master of disguise.

Mexican authorities detained Adams on June 15, 2022, regarding an Amber Alert for his infant daughter. The child was found safe with a babysitter in Mexico and remains in protective custody. Despite video surveillance indicating Adams presence at the location where Racquels body was found, he has not been charged in connection with the murder.
What's Next for Super Smash Bros.? Masahiro Sakurai Speaks Out About His Next Move

Masahiro Sakurai reaffirms his commitment to game development!

The mastermind behind iconic gaming franchises like Super Smash Bros. and Kirby, recently addressed speculation surrounding his future in the gaming industry. Despite stepping out of the spotlight after the success of Super Smash Bros. Ultimate, Sakurai has assured fans that he remains dedicated to game development, dispelling any notions of retirement or complete departure from the industry.

Sakurai Debunks Retirement Rumors

In a video on his channel, "Masahiro Sakurai on Creating Games," the creator shed light on his current stance.

Acknowledging the trend of developers shifting away from public view after achieving success or financial security, Sakurai emphasized his continued involvement in game creation. While hinting at a potential reduction in game development hours, he unequivocally affirmed, "I'm still creating games for the time being."

However, amidst this affirmation, Sakurai refrained from disclosing specifics about his ongoing projects. The tantalizing prospect emerges: Could a new installment in the Super Smash Bros. series be brewing under his guidance?

Sakurai's previous assertions about his indispensability to the franchise fuel speculation that he might be consulting or contributing to a potential sequel. Though no official confirmation has surfaced, the notion isn't far-fetched considering Sakurai's integral role in shaping the series.

Read Also: The New 'EF-24G' Fighter Aircraft Now Ready to Take Flight in VTOL VR

The Power of Sakurai's Channel

While his gaming projects remain veiled in secrecy, Sakurai's YouTube channel has garnered substantial attention. "Masahiro Sakurai on Creating Games" serves as an insightful platform where Sakurai unravels the world of game development.

With episodes unveiling behind-the-scenes secrets of character reveals in titles like Super Smash Bros., the channel has amassed over 570,000 followers as of writing, in its English iteration and a parallel audience in Japanese.

In the meantime, you can watch his video here:

Related Article: The Super Smash Bros. Nintendo Switch OLED Bundle Still Up for Grabs at a Discounted Price
Fallout: London Mod Set to Launch on THIS Date, Says Team FOLON

Team FOLON, creators of the much-awaited Fallout: London mod for Fallout 4, have finally revealed the release date for their project. Despite initial excitement in 2021 and an enticing trailer in 2022, the mod encountered delays, missing its projected release window this year.

In their recent December 23 developer update, the team showcased significant progress since their last trailer. They offered glimpses into London's varied locations, introduced new foes, displayed a range of weapons, and more, culminating in the highly anticipated release date announcement.

Refining the Gaming Experience

Team FOLONs decision to postpone the release from its initially anticipated date stems from a dedication to delivering a refined and near-flawless gaming experience.

In a candid statement on Twitter (hereinafter X), the team explained that despite achieving content completion as planned, challenges within their scripting teamaffected by regional conflictshad hindered their testing process. This led to a meticulous reorganization and upskilling of team members to regain lost ground, albeit at the expense of comprehensive testing.

This delay aims to avoid any potential issues during the mod's launch, aligning the release closer to the highly anticipated premiere of Amazon Studios' Fallout TV series on April 12. Team FOLON's commitment remains unwaveringto provide enthusiasts with a memorable and seamless venture into the uncharted territory of post-apocalyptic London.

Read Also: 'Pokemon Sun and Moon' Latest News & Update: Happy Shiny Pokemon Catching in Isle Abeens; Process Explained

Exploring Fallout: London's Distinctive Environment

Fallout: London guarantees an engaging journey, departing from the conventional American settings that characterize its predecessors. Instead, players will be immersed in a post-apocalyptic rendition of London, offering a unique and captivating gaming experience.

This shift opens doors to unexplored cultures, unhampered by the influence of their American counterparts. It also offers a deep dive into pre-war European history, unraveling the societal impacts of the Resource Wars on Britain's class-structured society.The mod's potential extends beyond the exploration of a new setting, delving into the narrative possibilities within this unexplored realm.

As we draw nearer to April 23, 2024, both Fallout fans and gaming enthusiasts are poised in anticipation for the arrival of Fallout: London.

In the meantime, you can watch release date announcement here:

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New York Times Files Lawsuit Against OpenAI and Microsoft Alleging Copyright Infringemen News -Rohit Agrawal

The New York Times, one of the most prestigious news publications in the world, embarks on a legal crusade against tech behemoths OpenAI and Microsoft. The heart of the matter lies in the alleged unauthorized use of countless articles from The Times to train sophisticated generative AI models, including the likes of OpenAI's ChatGPT and Microsoft's Copilot.

This lawsuit has thrown a spotlight on the ongoing debate regarding intellectual property rights in the age of AI-driven content generation.

Copyright Concerns in AI Development

In a bold move, The Times is not just seeking reparations but is demanding the complete eradication of models and databases that incorporate its copyrighted content. The damages sought are reported to be in the billions, underscoring the gravity The Times places on protecting journalistic integrity.

The crux of their argument is the potential societal impact if news organizations lose the ability to safeguard their content. OpenAI, in response, has expressed a commitment to upholding the rights of creators and is seeking an amicable resolution with The Times.

Legal Battles and Licensing Agreements

As the clash between generative AI vendors and news outlets intensifies, the tech industry has seen several legal disputes centered around the use of copyrighted materials in AI training datasets. The case brought forth by The Times is particularly significant given its status as the largest publisher to challenge AI companies on intellectual property violations.

The complaint filed also details instances where Microsoft's Bing Chat disseminated incorrect information purportedly from The Times, which amplifies concerns about the potential for AI to inadvertently harm news publishers' reputations.

The Future of Journalism and AI

The ongoing lawsuits, such as those involving OpenAI and Meta, have led some publishers to consider alternative approaches. Rather than engage in costly legal battles, a number of news organizations have opted for licensing agreements with AI vendors. These agreements allow the use of publishers' content in a controlled manner, potentially laying the groundwork for a new ecosystem where AI and journalism coexist through mutually beneficial arrangements.

FAQ's What legal action is The New York Times taking against OpenAI and Microsoft? The New York Times is embarking on a legal crusade against OpenAI and Microsoft for the alleged unauthorized use of its articles to train their AI models.

What are The New York Times' demands in their lawsuit against AI companies? The New York Times is demanding the eradication of AI models and databases that contain its copyrighted content, along with reparations reported to be in the billions.

What is the significance of The New York Times' lawsuit in the tech industry? The Times' lawsuit is significant as it is the largest publisher to challenge AI companies on intellectual property violations, potentially setting a precedent for future legal disputes in the industry.

What alternative approaches are some news organizations considering in response to AI copyright disputes? Rather than engaging in legal battles, some news organizations are considering licensing agreements with AI vendors to allow controlled use of their content.

What could be the potential impact of the lawsuit by The New York Times on the future of AI and journalism? The outcome of the lawsuit could have far-reaching implications for AI innovation and the media landscape, potentially shaping a new ecosystem where AI and journalism coexist through mutually beneficial arrangements.

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Apple Watch Ban Temporarily Lifted Amid Patent Dispute News -Shonit Khanna

In a recent development, a U.S. appeals court has temporarily lifted the import ban imposed by the U.S. International Trade Commission (ITC) on Apple's flagship smartwatches. This ban was a consequence of an ongoing patent dispute with Masimo, a medical device maker based in Irvine, California.

Apple swiftly filed an emergency request with the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit, seeking a halt to the ITC's order, which the court has granted for the time being.

Resumption of Sales for Apple Watches

As a result of the court's decision, Apple can now resume sales of its smartwatches, including the Apple Watch Series 9 and Apple Watch Ultra 2. These devices had been pulled from Apple's website and retail stores following the ITC's ruling.

The court's order allows Apple to continue sales until a final decision is reached, which could have substantial financial implications for both Apple and Masimo.

Patent Dispute Background

Masimo had accused Apple of patent infringement, alleging that the tech giant incorporated its pulse oximetry technology into the Apple Watches. The ITC had initially ruled in favor of Masimo, leading to the import ban on Apple's smartwatches. Apple, in turn, countered the accusations, deeming Masimo's legal actions as a strategy to pave the way for its own competing smartwatch.

Potential Ramifications and Future Outlook

While the immediate financial impact of the legal battle is yet to be determined, analysts suggest that the negative publicity generated by the lawsuit may overshadow any monetary losses for Apple. The court's temporary lift on the ban provides Apple with a breather, allowing it to resume sales during the ongoing legal proceedings.

Customs Agency Decision Awaited

Notably, U.S. Customs and Border Protection is evaluating redesigned versions of Apple Watches to assess whether they infringe Masimo's patents and can be imported. The agency is expected to announce its decision on January 12th, adding another layer of complexity to the situation.

Looking Ahead

As the legal tussle continues, Apple remains focused on exploring legal and technical options to address the patent dispute. The court's decision to pause the ban temporarily provides Apple with an opportunity to strategize its next steps in this legal saga.

FAQ's What has allowed Apple to continue selling its smartwatches in the United States? A reprieve from a U.S. appeals court has allowed Apple to continue selling its smartwatches in the United States.

Why was there a threat to the sales of Apple Watches in the U.S.? The threat to the sales of Apple Watches in the U.S. was due to a patent dispute with Masimo, which led to an import ban by the U.S. International Trade Commission.

What was the reason behind the imposed import ban on Apple Watches? The import ban on Apple Watches was imposed because of allegations that Apple infringed on patents held by Masimo.

Who is Masimo and what is their specialization? Masimo is a company based in Irvine, California, specializing in medical monitoring technology.

What action did the U.S. appeals court take regarding the import ban on Apple Watches? The U.S. appeals court decided to pause the import ban on Apple Watches.

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Adam Frisch, center, stops in Grand Junction in February at the Base Camp Beer Works at 2575 U.S. Highway 6&50. Frisch now may be considered the front-runner for the 3rd Congressional District after incumbent Lauren Boebert announced Wednesday that she is seeking election in the 4th CD instead of the 3rd CD.
Dennis received bachelor's degrees in communication and political science with a TAG degree in Spanish from The University of Akron in Ohio. He grew up in Ohio with 2 sisters and two brothers, one being his fraternal twin. He and his wife have 3 dogs: Duke, Bacio, and Cal. Dennis currently covers natural resource and environmental issues for The Daily Sentinel
Israelis raise pictures and placards as they march to call for the release of hostages abducted by Palestinian militants during the October 7 attack, in Jerusalem on December 28, 2023
Larry Robinson/The Daily Sentinel

Traffic is freely moving through Clifton for the first time in months as the first of two roundabouts has been completed at the intersection of U.S. Highway 6 and 1st Street. Though its currently in operation as a single-lane roundabout, construction will continue on either side to create two lanes.
Thu Thursday

33 /13

Snow showers in the morning. Highs in the low 30s and lows in the low teens.
Gabina VOA is designed to be an infotainment youth radio show broadcasting to Ethiopia and Eritrea in the Amharic language. The show brings varied perspectives on issues concerning young people in the Horn of Africa region. Gabina in the Amharic language is a front-row taxi ride.
December 27, 2023

Contracts

Contracts For Dec. 27, 2023

DEFENSE LOGISTICS AGENCY

Valiant Integrated Services LLC, Herndon, Virginia, has been awarded a maximum $152,000,000 firm-fixed-price with economic-price-adjustment, indefinite-delivery/indefinite-quantity contract for food supplies. This was a sole-source acquisition using justification 10 U.S. Code 2304 (c)(1), as stated in the Federal Acquisition Regulation 6.302-1. This is a 251-day bridge contract with no option periods. Locations of performance are the United Arab Emirates, Oman, Djibouti and Kenya, with a Sept. 3, 2024, ordering period end date. Using customers are Army, Navy, Air Force, Marine Corps and Coast Guard. Type of appropriation is fiscal 2024 defense working capital funds. The contracting activity is the Defense Logistics Agency Troop Support, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania (SPE300-24-D-4003).

ARMY

Lakey Inc.,* Lukin, Texas, was awarded a $20,000,000 firm-fixed-price contract for construction services. Bids were solicited via the internet with five received. Work locations and funding will be determined with each order, with an estimated completion date of Dec. 31, 2028. U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Fort Worth, Texas, is the contracting activity (W9126G-24-D-0015).

DRS Sustainment Systems Inc., Bridgeton, Missouri, was awarded a $15,375,000 firm-fixed-price contract for heavy-duty tank trailers. Bids were solicited via the internet with one received. Work will be performed in West Plains, Missouri, with an estimated completion date of Dec. 22, 2026. Fiscal 2024 Foreign Military Sales (Israel) funds in the amount of $15,375,000 were obligated at the time of the award. U.S. Army Contracting Command, Detroit Arsenal, Michigan, is the contracting activity (W56HZV-24-C-0020).

AIR FORCE

Criterion Corp., Marquette, Michigan, was awarded a not-to-exceed $12,000,000 firm-fixed-price, cost-reimbursable emergency bridge extension contract for base operating support services. This extension contract provides for base operating support services in support of supply management, vehicle operations and maintenance, traffic management operations, real property maintenance, fuels management, and airfield management functions. Work will be performed at March Air Reserve Base, California, and is expected to be completed by Dec. 31, 2024. This contract was a sole source acquisition. Fiscal 2024 operation and maintenance funds in the amount of $5,200,000 are being obligated at time of award. The 452nd Mission Support Group Contracting Office, March Air Reserve Base, California, is the contracting activity (FA4664-20-C-0008-P00030).

Tactical Communications Group (TCG) LLC, Tewksbury, Massachusetts, was awarded a $9,990,608 contract for a ground support system. TCG will be responsible for sustainment and maintenance of the previously acquired ground support system (GSS) to include the purchase of GSS parts and functional components to repair or expand the functional use of the GSS. Work will be performed in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, and is expected to be completed by Dec. 31, 2027. This contract involves Foreign Military Sales (FMS) to the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. This contract was a sole-source acquisition. FMS funds in the amount of $4,516,266 are being obligated at time of award. The Air Force Life Cycle Management Center, Aerial Networks Division (International Programs) Branch, Hanscom Air Force Base, Massachusetts, is the contracting activity (FA2291-24-C-B002).

L3Harris Technologies Integrated Systems L.P., Greenville, Texas, was awarded a $9,109,277 cost-plus-fixed-fee contract for software licenses and life cycle support services. This contract provides lifecycle lab support, System Integration Laboratory software, and aircraft licensing and subscriptions for 2024. Work will be performed in Greenville, Texas, and is expected to be completed by Dec. 31, 2024. This contract was a sole-source acquisition. Foreign Military Sales funds in the amount of $9,109,277 are being obligated at time of award. The 645th Aeronautical Engineering Systems Group, Wright-Patterson Air Force Base, Ohio, is the contracting activity (FA8620-24-F-4830).

Intelsat General Communications LLC, McLean, Virginia, was awarded a $9,087,138 contract for the Defense Experimentation Using Commercial Space Internet (DEUCSI). This contract provides for efforts to develop and experimentally test satellite communications (SATCOM) systems capable of operating with multiple commercial space internet constellations operating in low, medium, and geostationary earth orbits offering a new low size, weight, power, and cost (SWaP-C) terminal that easily integrates onto aircraft platforms to provide resilient, high throughput, globally available, and highly reliable SATCOM. Work will be performed in McLean, Virginia, and is expected to be completed by Nov. 26, 2024. This contract was a competitive acquisition and 11 offers were received. Fiscal 2023 research, development, test, and evaluation funds in the amount of $8,842,797 are being obligated at time of award. The Air Force Research Laboratory, Wright-Patterson Air Force Base, Ohio, is the contracting activity (FA2385-24-C-B016). (Awarded Dec. 26, 2023)



*Small business

https://www.defense.gov/News/Contracts/Contract/Article/3627236/

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U.S. CENTCOM conducts strikes against Kataib Hezbollah terrorist group targets in Iraq

U.S. Central Command

USCENTCOM

Dec. 25, 2023

Release Number 20231225-01

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

TAMPA, Fla. -- In response to multiple attacks against coalition forces in Iraq and Syria, U.S. military forces conducted airstrikes against multiple facilities used by Kataib Hezbollah and affiliated groups in Iraq at 8:45 p.m. (EST) on Dec. 25.

Earlier in the day, Iranian sponsored Kataib Hezbollah terrorists and affiliated groups attacked coalition forces at Erbil, Iraq resulting in several injuries.

Early assessments indicate that these U.S. airstrikes destroyed the targeted facilities and likely killed a number of Kataib Hezbollah militants. There are no indications that any civilian lives were affected. The U.S. military will continue to evaluate the effectiveness of these strikes.

"These strikes are intended to hold accountable those elements directly responsible for attacks on coalition forces in Iraq and Syria and degrade their ability to continue attacks. We will always protect our forces," said General Michael Erik Kurilla, U.S. Central Command Commander.

-30-



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Press Briefing by IDF Spokesperson Rear Admiral Daniel Hagari December 26th, 20:40

IDF Press Release

Press Briefing

26.12.23

IDF

[In English]:

Today, Hezbollah fired an anti-tank missile from Lebanon, hitting a Greek Orthodox Church in Northern Israel and wounding two Israeli Christians.

When IDF troops arrived to evacuate the wounded, Hezbollah terrorists fired another missile at the church, wounding 9 of our soldiers. Shortly after Hezbollah deliberately fired at the church, Hezbollah then fired at Israel from next to a mosque in Lebanon.

We shared clear video evidence of this so that Hezbollah's violations of international law are on full display to the world.



Iran-backed Hezbollah in Lebanon follows the same extremist and dangerous ideology as Hamas, firing from holy sites in Lebanon and Gaza, and firing at holy sites across Israel. Hezbollah is committing war crimes by indiscriminately attacking places of worship, just like Hamas. Hezbollah is risking the stability of the region - for the sake of Hamas.



Hezbollah started attacking Israel on October 7th and it's been increasing its attacks ever since. The IDF has been responding and will continue to respond.

Hezbollah is trying to drag the country of Lebanon and the region into this war that Hamas started. If Hezbollah continues, they will bear the consequences and the responsibility for the outcome: an unnecessary war aimed at fulfilling an ISIS ideology, that could bring unwanted destruction to the people of Lebanon in this war they don't deserve. A war that the entire region doesn't deserve.

We are preparing for all scenarios should a diplomatic solution not be found to Hezbollah's constant violations of UN Security Council Resolution 1701.



Hezbollah is a threat to Israel, Lebanon, and the entire region.

[In Hebrew]:

Good evening,

IDF forces are fighting in the southern Gaza Strip in the area of Khan Yunis, and we have expanded the combat to the area known as the Central Camps. In our operations in Khan and the Central Camps, we are using new methods and different force compositions to meet the challenge. We will continue to adapt our operations, methods, and force composition in accordance with the operational requirements.

In the north, today, IDF forces struck several Hezbollah targets in Lebanese territory, as multiple launches towards Israel were identified throughout the day.

In the afternoon, Hezbollah launched an anti-tank missile that hit a church in Iqrit and injured an 80-year-old civilian who had come to pray for Christmas. Several IDF soldiers who arrived to evacuate the civilian were also injured from continued fire.

The IDF struck in Lebanon and killed the terrorist who carried out the shooting. Hezbollah has turned southern Lebanon into a war zone and continues to endanger the future of the entire State of Lebanon for the sake of Hamas and Iran. We will continue to act resolutely to distance Hezbollah from the border.

Today, an IDF/IAF fighter jet successfully intercepted a hostile aerial target in the Red Sea area that was on its way to Israeli territory. The target did not enter Israeli territory. The firing by the Houthis towards Israeli territory is an act of terror, carried out under Iran's direction and using Iranian intelligence and weaponry. These hostile actions are not only directed at Israel: the attack on ships in the Sea, which have no connection to Israel, is an Iranian terrorist act carried out by the Houthis - and is a global issue.

We announced today the loss of six soldiers who fell in the battles for the defense of Israel. They were all lovers of the land and its protectors. The IDF fallen soldiers belong to all segments of Israeli society and are from every part of the country. They fought together, with camaraderie and bravery, for our common home. We are accompanying and embracing the families. As the Chief of the General Staff said today, we have a duty to ensure that their sacrifice was not in vain.

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Appointment of Sigrid Kaag

US Department of State

Press Statement

Matthew Miller, Department Spokesperson

December 26, 2023

The United States welcomes today's announcement by United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres of the appointment of Ms. Sigrid Kaag of the Netherlands as Senior Humanitarian and Reconstruction Coordinator for Gaza. We look forward to coordinating closely with Ms. Kaag and the UN Office for Project Services on efforts to accelerate and streamline the delivery of live-saving humanitarian relief to Palestinian civilians in Gaza.

The United States has provided more than $110 million in humanitarian assistance for Palestinians in Gaza and the West Bank since October 7.

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World's Largest Aircraft Carrier Arrives in Souda Bay

US Navy

26 December 2023

From U.S. Naval Forces Europe-Africa Public Affairs

SOUDA BAY, Crete -- The U.S. Navy's newest aircraft carrier, USS Gerald R. Ford (CVN 78), and embarked staff from Carrier Strike Group (CSG) 12 arrived in Souda Bay, Crete for a scheduled port visit, December 26, 2023.

This port visit comes at the heels of the 28th U.S. Secretary of Defense's visit to Gerald R. Ford during which the Secretary reiterated the importance of the GRFCSG's presence in the Eastern Mediterranean and its contribution to regional deterrence.

"The Sailors of USS Gerald R. Ford are excited to return to the gorgeous island of Crete," said Capt. Rick Burgess, Commanding Officer of Gerald R. Ford. "Greece and the United States have had a strong NATO alliance since 1952 and we enjoy and appreciate every opportunity to strengthen our maritime partnership as well as the rich history, food, and culture this area has to offer."

This port visit is the capital ship's seventh stop while deployed to the U.S. Naval Forces Europe (NAVEUR) area of operations. The U.S. Navy routinely operates with Greece, sending its largest aircraft carrier in the fleet to Souda Bay twice after it visited Piraeus in July.

The ship deployed from Norfolk, Virginia on May 2, and has been conducting training, exercises, and operations to support maritime stability and security in defense of U.S., Allied, and partner interests.

Gerald R. Ford is the U.S. Navy's newest and most advanced aircraft carrier. As the first-in-class ship of Ford-class aircraft carriers, CVN 78 represents a generational leap in the U.S. Navy's capacity to project power on a global scale. Ford-class aircraft carriers introduce 23 new technologies, including Electromagnetic Aircraft Launch System, Advanced Arresting Gear and Advanced Weapons Elevators. The new systems incorporated onto Ford-class ships are designed to deliver greater lethality, survivability and joint interoperability with a 20% smaller crew than a Nimitz-class carrier, paving the way forward for naval aviation.

The Gerald R. Ford Carrier Strike Group (GRFCSG) is conducting a scheduled deployment in U.S. Naval Forces Europe-Africa/U.S. Sixth Fleet area of operations, demonstrating the commitment and power projection capability of the Navy's globally deployed force. The GRFCSG provides an inherently flexible naval force capable of deploying across combatant commands to meet emerging missions, deter potential adversaries, reassure allies and partners, enhance security and guarantee the free flow of global commerce. In total, the GRFCSG is deployed with more than 6,000 Sailors across all platforms ready to respond globally to combatant commander tasking.

The Gerald R. Ford Carrier Strike Group consists of Carrier Strike Group 12, Carrier Air Wing 8, Destroyer Squadron 2, USS Normandy (CG 60), USS Ramage (DDG 61), USS McFaul (DDG 74), and USS Thomas Hudner (DDG 116).

Headquartered in Naples, Italy, U.S. Naval Forces Europe-Africa/U.S. Sixth Fleet operates U.S. naval forces in the U.S. European Command (USEUCOM) and U.S. Africa Command (AFRICOM) areas of responsibility. U.S. Sixth Fleet is permanently assigned to NAVEUR-NAVAF, and employs maritime forces through the full spectrum of joint and naval operations. Our persistent presence in Europe is in accordance with our international commitments and agreements and is necessary to reassure our Allies and Partners of our commitment to collective defense.

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USS Normandy Arrives in Piraeus, Greece

US Navy

26 December 2023

From U.S. Naval Forces Europe-Africa Public Affairs

PIRAEUS, Greece -- USS Normandy (CG 60), a part of the Gerald R. Ford Carrier Strike Group (GRFCSG), ported in Piraeus, Greece, for a regularly scheduled port visit December 26, 2023.

This is the second port call Normandy has made to Piraeus in the month of December, and it offers the United States a chance to strengthen its bond with its fellow NATO ally Greece.

"While Normandy and the Gerald R. Ford Carrier Strike Group continue to provide a persistent presence in the Mediterranean Sea, this second port call to Piraeus ensures my officers and crew get to enjoy some well-earned liberty during the holiday season," said Capt. Errol A. Robinson, commanding officer, USS Normandy.

"I am excited to revisit Piraeus and Athens, and see the Acropolis for the first time," said Logistics Specialist 2nd Class Jason Stone. "You grow up hearing the myths about Zeus and Mt. Olympus, and now I get to learn the historical background behind them, and see where these stories actually came from."

The last U.S. Navy vessel to visit Piraeus was the Arleigh Burke-class guided missile destroyer USS Bulkeley (DDG 84) on December 8, 2023. Bulkeley was preceded by an earlier visit to Piraeus from Normandy on December 3, 2023.

The GRFCSG has spent a significant amount of its maiden deployment steaming with the Hellenic navy, with Normandy hosting Greek sailors from HS Elli aboard in late August.

Normandy is a part of the Gerald R. Ford Carrier Strike Group (GRFCSG). The GRFCSG is comprised of Gerald R. Ford (CVN 78), Carrier Air Wing (CVW) 8, Destroyer Squadron (DESRON) 2, the Information Warfare Commander, and the Ticonderoga-class guided-missile cruiser USS Normandy (CG 60).

The ships of DESRON-2 within the GRFCSG are the Arleigh Burke-class guided-missile destroyers USS Ramage (DDG 61), USS McFaul (DDG 74), and USS Thomas Hudner (DDG 116).

The squadrons of CVW-8 embarked aboard Gerald R. Ford are the "Tridents" of Helicopter Sea Combat Squadron (HSC) 9, the "Spartans" of Helicopter Maritime Strike Squadron (HSM) 70, the "Bear Aces" of Airborne Command and Control Squadron (VAW 124), the "Ragin' Bulls" of Strike Fighter Squadron (VFA) 37, the "Blacklions" of (VFA-213), the "Golden Warriors" of (VFA-87), the "Tomcatters" of (VFA-31), the "Gray Wolves" of Electronic Attack Squadron (VAQ) 142, and the "Rawhides" of Fleet Logistics Support Squadron (VRC) 40.

For over 80 years, U.S. Naval Forces Europe-U.S. Naval Forces Africa (NAVEUR-NAVAF) has forged strategic relationships with allies and partners, leveraging a foundation of shared values to preserve security and stability.

Headquartered in Naples, Italy, NAVEUR-NAVAF operates U.S. naval forces in the U.S. European Command (USEUCOM) and U.S. Africa Command (USAFRICOM) areas of responsibility. U.S. Sixth Fleet is permanently assigned to NAVEUR-NAVAF, and employs maritime forces through the full spectrum of joint and naval operations.



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December 27, 2023

Release

Fact Sheet: Department of Defense Concludes 'Decisive Year' in the Indo-Pacific Region

Throughout 2023, the United States has worked alongside allies and partners to deliver groundbreaking achievements for peace, stability, and deterrence in support of a free and open Indo-Pacific region. As Secretary Austin has said, "In this decisive decade, 2023 will be remembered as a decisive year for implementing U.S. defense strategy in Asia."

Transforming U.S. Regional Force Posture

In 2023, the United States delivered historic achievements with allies and partners to make U.S. force posture in the Indo-Pacific region more mobile, distributed, resilient, and lethal, including by:

Forward stationing key U.S. military units to Japan, including a U.S. Marine Littoral Regiment - the Marine Corps' most advanced formation - and a U.S. Army watercraft unit to significantly enhance combat-credible deterrence.

Launching a series of new force postures initiatives with Australia, including more and longer expeditionary visits of U.S. submarines resulting from AUKUS, increased rotations of U.S. bombers and fighters, expanded maritime and ground forces cooperation, enhanced space and logistics cooperation, continuing upgrades of key bases, and movement toward the creation of Submarine Rotational Force-West in Australia by 2027.

Expanding U.S. rotational access across the Philippines by designating four new Enhanced Defense Cooperation Agreement (EDCA) sites at strategic locations, which will strengthen the interoperability of U.S. and Philippine armed forces and allow both countries to address shared challenges in the Indo-Pacific region.

Concluding a Defense Cooperation Agreement with Papua New Guinea (PNG) that builds on decades of bilateral defense and security cooperation, strengthens the U.S.-PNG relationship, and increases regional stability and security.

Bolstering deterrence and increasing strategic asset rotations to the Korean Peninsula, including the first port call of a U.S. SSBN to the Republic of Korea (ROK) in over 40 years and the first landing of a U.S. nuclear-capable B-52 on the Peninsula since 1988.

Making Historic Investments in Capability

The United States is deploying cutting-edge military capabilities right now, developing the capabilities needed to maintain deterrence in the Indo-Pacific in the future, and supporting allies and partners as they invest in their own capabilities by:

Releasing the most strategy-driven defense budget in the Department's history, including $170 billion for procurement to advance air, sea, and land power; $145 billion for research, development, test, and evaluation; and $9.1 billion for the Pacific Deterrence Initiative - more than ever proposed for these key lines of effort.

Announcing the Optimal Pathway for Australia to acquire conventionally-armed, nuclear-powered submarine capabilities through AUKUS.

Supporting Japan's decision to acquire new capabilities that strengthen regional deterrence, including indigenous and acquired counterstrike capabilities like the Tomahawk Land Attack Missile, as well as Tokyo's decision to double its defense budget over the next five years and develop its research, testing, and industrial expertise to promote regional peace and stability.

Advancing defense industrial base cooperation with Australia, including by agreeing to develop the ability to co-produce Guided Multiple Launch Rocket Systems (GMLRS) by 2025, announcing an AUKUS Innovation Challenge focused on electronic warfare, and launching a new Maritime Autonomy Experimentation and Exercise Series through AUKUS.

Bolstering India's defense modernization plans, including by advancing the priorities outlined in the Roadmap for U.S.-India Defense Industrial Cooperation to co-produce fighter jet engines and Stryker armored vehicles, as well as launching the India-U.S. Defense Acceleration Ecosystem (INDUS-X) to promote partnerships between U.S. and Indian researchers, entrepreneurs, and investors.

Advancing a Shared Regional Vision

The United States is joining together with Indo-Pacific allies and partners in ways that strengthen peace and security across the region, including by operating together like never before. Key examples include:

Japan and the ROK, cooperating more deeply than ever following this year's historic Camp David Summit. In December, the three countries delivered on two key objectives from the summit - a multi-year, trilateral exercise plan and the full activation a real-time DPRK missile warning data-sharing mechanism.

Australia and Japan, strengthening cooperation through participating in bilateral and trilateral exercises, and integrating Japan into existing U.S.-Australia force posture initiatives.

India, modernizing the scope our military engagements including by incorporating advanced fighter aircraft and strategic bombers in our exercises, which strengthens interoperability and highlights shared efforts to promote stability and security in the Indo-Pacific.

The Philippines, issuing the alliance's first-ever Bilateral Defense Guidelines to chart a vision for defense cooperation across all domains.

The Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), including through capacity-building programs and training courses to support the incorporation of Women, Peace, and Security principles into regional security planning and operations, as well as an emerging leaders fellowship program for young civilian and defense leaders in the Indo-Pacific.

Investing over $1.2 billion in security cooperation initiatives across the Indo-Pacific region, including one of the largest U.S. investments in history to bolster Indo-Pacific partners' capability and capacity, maritime domain awareness, and resilience against coercion.

Exercise BALIKATAN with the Philippines, which featured more than 17,600 service members from the Philippines, Australia, and the United States, and - for the first time ever - featured littoral live fire and cyber defense elements to support deeper interoperability.

Exercise COPE THUNDER with the Philippines, which returned to the Philippines for the first time after more than thirty years, featuring participation by fifth-generation fighter jets.

Exercise SUPER GARUDA SHIELD with Indonesia and over ten nations represented, which featured more than 4,000 service members participating in amphibious and airborne operations training, command and control simulation, academic exchanges, and professional development exercises.

Exercise MALABAR with India, Japan, and Australia, hosted in Australia for the first time this year, which facilitated high-end training in anti-submarine exercises, communications, and air defense.

Exercise PACIFIC VANGUARD with the ROK, Japan, and Australia, which strengthened interoperability at sea by bringing together over 2,000 naval forces from the United States and three of its closest allies.

https://www.defense.gov/News/Releases/Release/Article/3626886/

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US aircraft carrier activity adds fuel to South China Sea tensions

Global Times

Experts warns the Philippines not to receive wrong signals and escalate situation

By Liu Xuanzun Published: Dec 27, 2023 09:26 PM

A US aircraft carrier has reportedly entered the South China Sea in a move experts said on Wednesday sends a wrong signal to the Philippines amid the Southeast Asian country's repeated provocations on Chinese islands and reefs in the region.

The US Navy Carl Vinson carrier strike group departed Singapore following a port visit there, and is now in the South China Sea, USNI News, the news service of the US Naval Institute, reported earlier this week.

The carrier strike group is one of the few extra-regional naval forces currently operating in Southeast Asia over the Christmas period with other navies having all wrapped up their deployments, USNI News said.

By keeping an aircraft carrier sailing in the South China Sea during the Christmas period, the US wants to maintain the South China Sea issue as a hot topic and retain its military presence in the region, Wei Dongxu, a Beijing-based military expert, told the Global Times on Wednesday.

Such show of military force in sensitive waters amid tensions goes in the opposite direction of peace and stability in the South China Sea, Wei said.

Chen Xiangmiao, director of the World Navy Research Center at the National Institute for South China Sea Studies, told the Global Times on Wednesday that US aircraft carrier activity in the South China Sea is nothing new, as such moves usually attempt to deter China and show support to US allies, so the US can consolidate its hegemony.

The US carrier's entry into the South China Sea this time is adding fuel to the persistent tensions between China and the Philippines in the region, and sends a wrong signal to the Philippines that could incite Manila to take more extreme moves that escalate contradictions with China, Chen said.

Since August, the Philippines has repeatedly sent vessels to illegally trespass into waters off Chinese islands and reefs in the South China Sea and saw its attempts restricted by the China Coast Guard. One of the focuses of the Philippine provocations is Ren'ai Jiao (also known as Ren'ai Reef), as the Philippines made several attempts to send building materials to reinforce an old warship illegally grounded there.

Medel Aguilar, a Philippine military spokesperson, on Tuesday accused China of "carrying out dangerous maneuvers" and "committing all the violations," and claimed that the Philippines "is not provoking conflict in the South China Sea," Reuters reported on Tuesday.

In response, Mao Ning, a spokesperson at China's Ministry of Foreign Affairs, said at a regular press conference on Tuesday that the recent developments involving China and the Philippines in the South China Sea are caused by the Philippines' change of policy and position, refusing to honor its commitments, violating international law and the Declaration on the Conduct of Parties in the South China Sea, and deliberate infringement of China's sovereignty and provocations, and the responsibility lies with the Philippines.

China will resolutely protect its territorial sovereignty and maritime rights and interests, Mao said, noting that "we hope that the Philippines will make the wise choice, return to the right track of properly handling disputes through dialogue and consultation, and work with China to properly handle and manage the situation at sea."

Mao's remarks are a stern warning with clear formulation, and if the Philippines insists on serving as a pawn of the US in making provocations in the South China Sea, it is essentially lifting a rock only to drop it on its own feet, Wei said.

The Philippines is making a strategic misjudgment, as it underestimates China's determination to safeguard its rights as well as stability in the South China Sea, and wrongly believes that the US has the capability of containing China, Chen said.

Multiple military experts told the Global Times that the US Navy used to hold provocative, large-scale carrier exercises in the South China Sea, but this has changed in recent years.

While US carriers still operate in the South China Sea, they tend not to stay in the region for too long at a time because the US Navy understands the Chinese military's capabilities in targeting large moving warships on its doorstep, which significantly reduces the survivability of aircraft carriers, experts said, noting that US carrier activities in the South China Sea now serve more as a political and diplomatic tool than actual military instruments.

Experts urged the Philippines to make independent decisions that really fit its national interests, and not to rely on the US, which only sees it as a pawn.

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Prolonged Gaza war leads to growing risks of wider regional conflict

Global Times

By GT staff reporters Published: Dec 27, 2023 10:32 PM

Chinese experts raised concerns on Wednesday about the growing risks of a wider conflict in the Middle East, as Israel's military chief warned that its war on Hamas will likely last for months. Experts said that it is hard to predict when the war will end, but that a prolonged war will be increasingly detrimental to Israel.

Israel's Chief of Staff Herzi Halevi told reporters in a televised statement on Tuesday from the Gaza border that the war would go on "for many months," Reuters reported on Wednesday.

With Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and other leaders vowing to continue fighting, despite growing international pressure to wind down the battle and calls at home for a deal to free hostages held in Gaza, the military appeared poised for a newly intensified push into the central and southern parts of the Strip, the Times of Israel said.

Israel's Defense Minister Yoav Gallant also told Knesset lawmakers on Tuesday that Israel would punish Hamas over its brutal October 7 attack, "whether it takes months or years."

However, Israeli President Isaac Herzog said Israel is willing to agree to a new temporary truce with Hamas in Gaza to secure the release of more captives held by the Palestinian group, Al Jazeera reported on December 19.

The information coming from Israel is still somewhat chaotic, but it can be broadly divided into two aspects. "On one hand, there are some efforts in response to international pressure and humanitarian concerns, including humanitarian aid and negotiations for a cease-fire and the exchange of hostages. On the other hand, there is a strong military stance, indicating a determination to continue the conflict," Liu Zhongmin, a professor at the Middle East Studies Institute of Shanghai International Studies University, told the Global Times on Wednesday.

Still, it may be challenging to predict the end of the Israel-Palestine conflict, Liu noted. "While the prolonged conflict is increasingly detrimental to Israel, Israel maintained a strong stance to convey its determination, especially to Hamas."

Gallant also warned on Tuesday of a growing risk of a regional conflict in the Middle East as tensions with Iran increase, the Financial Times reported.

He told a parliamentary committee that Israel was being attacked in a "multi-arena war" from seven areas, which he identified as Gaza, the West Bank, Lebanon, Syria, Iraq, Yemen and Iran.

The US said on Tuesday that it had shot down 12 attack drones and five missiles launched by the Houthi militia in Yemen, as the Israeli military said a fighter jet successfully shot down a "hostile aerial target," believed to be a drone launched at Israel from Yemen over the Red Sea, the Times of Israel reported.

Amid the escalating conflict in the region, Houthi forces also launched an attack on a container ship passing through the Red Sea on Tuesday, which has led several vessels to steer clear of the area, according to media reports.

Since late December, we have witnessed new developments in the Israel-Palestine situation. Israel has conducted more precise special operations when striking Hamas in the Gaza Strip, resulting in a narrower range of attacks compared to the indiscriminate bombardment in northern Gaza, Sun Degang, director of the Center for Middle Eastern Studies at Fudan University, told the Global Times on Wednesday.

"We can see that the conflicts in the Middle East have evolved, with Arab nations and Turkey adopting a generally neutral or detached stance. Therefore, Iran has gradually become the central focus of the conflicts," he said.

Against this backdrop, the US and Israel are likely to redirect their conflicts. As these conflicts escalate, Israel and the US will seek to portray Iran and its proxies as the primary threat in the Middle East, Sun noted.

Some experts believe that the US has become increasingly isolated in its Middle East policy, and especially when it comes to the US-led Red Sea coalition, as regional countries are unwilling to show their support publicly.

"The expansion of the Red Sea crisis is due to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, the prolonged military action in Gaza, as well as the support of the US, which is the fundamental cause of the issue," Liu said.

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Drone attack hits US base in northern Iraq

IRNA - Islamic Republic News Agency

Dec 27, 2023

Tehran, IRNA -- Iraqi resistance groups have conducted a drone attack on a US base in the north of the country, the latest in a series of operations in retaliation for Washington's support of the Israeli regime in its brutal war against Palestinians in Gaza.

The Islamic Resistance in Iraq issued a statement on Wednesday, claiming the attack on the US base near Erbil's airport in the Kurdistan region, Al Mayadeen reported.

The group also carried out a drone strike on another US base in Erbil on Monday night that left three American military personnel injured.

Resistance groups in Iraq have in the past weeks conducted scores of missile and drone attacks on US interests and bases in Iraq and neighboring Syria in response to the crimes being committed against Gazans.

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YEREVAN, DECEMBER 28, ARMENPRESS. Infrastructures are of great importance for Goghtanik residents of Vayots Dzor region. Compatriots forcibly displaced from Artsakh have recently settled in the village with 200 inhabitants. With the support of Ucom company and SunChild NGO, a solar photovoltaic plant with a capacity of 6.9 kWt was installed in the administrative building of Goghtanik settlement of Yeghegis enlarged community. The aim is to spread the green agenda and develop community infrastructure.

"Our commitment to social responsibility extends to all communities where we can make a charitable impact. Through the installation of this alternative energy receiving station in Goghtanik, we address two key issues: providing heating for the administrative building and the adjacent cultural house, where the community's events are organized, and simultaneously, helping them save funds for addressing other essential needs," stated Ucom Director General Ralph Yirikian.

This collaboration materialized in 2023 within the framework of the memorandum of cooperation signed in August between Ucom company and the SunChild NGO dedicated to the preservation of nature and culture. Originally, the support outlined in the memorandum was intended for other initiatives. However, given the forced displacement of Artsakh residents and their resettlement in various communities in Armenia, the focus shifted towards easing the challenges associated with managing rural communities.

"SunChild NGO has been implementing environmental projects since 2006. As a result of implementing this project with Ucom, the community will be able to develop faster. The funds saved from the operation of the installed solar photovoltaic plant will be able to be redirected to the implementation of other projects. These joint works will be continuous and will be aimed at the development of community infrastructures," said Sona Kalantaryan, Director of SunChild NGO.

Artur Stepanyan, head of Yeghegis enlarged community, thanked the heads of two companies for supporting Goghtanik.

"As a result of the savings of this solar photovoltaic station, we will have the opportunity to spend that money for the improvement of other areas, for example, in the direction of compensating the damages caused by bear attacks. The installation of the solar plant is effective and useful," said Artur Stepanyan.

Ucom is the fastest fixed and mobile services provider in Armenia. The company is the absolute leader of the local IPTV and fixed internet market, as well as occupies the key position on the Armenian mobile internet market. With modernized 4G+ and own fiber optic networks meeting the best international standards, Ucom provides a complete set of fixed and mobile communication services to more than 700,000 subscribers.

Established in 2006, The SunChild NGO is a non-profit organization renowned for and dedicated to environmental education, awareness raising, and behavior change projects. SunChild NGO has successfully organized a range of high-profile events, including the SunChild International Environmental Festival, that have attracted significant media attention and public participation, as well as the SunChild EcoClub Network, allowing thousands of young people to obtain environmental knowledge.
Yemen warns US against 'militarization' of Red Sea as tensions spike over Gaza

IRNA - Islamic Republic News Agency

Dec 27, 2023

Tehran, IRNA -- Yemen has warned the United States against military activities in the Red Sea, pledging a severe blow in case that crimes against Palestinians continue or Yemen's security is harmed.

Commanders of Yemeni armed and security forces convened a meeting on Wednesday as the US has formed an international coalition to counter Yemeni military operations in the Red Sea, which Sana'a says are aimed at building up pressure on the Israeli regime to stop its genocide in Gaza and lift its blockade of the territory.

The commanders issued a statement, warning the US and its allies against repercussions of the "militarization" of the Red Sea and serving the interests of the Israeli regime, Yemen's Al-Masirah news network reported.

The military officials announced their readiness to "counter anyone who intends to dissuade Yemen from its firm stance on cruelty towards the Palestinian nation."

"If enemies continue their crimes against Palestinians and the blockade [of Gaza] or they plan to harm Yemen's security and sovereignty, we are ready to deal the severest blows to them", said Defense Minister Mohamed al-Atifi as he addressed the meeting.

He stressed that Yemen has numerous strategic options and will not hesitate to use them if necessary.

Yemen's stance towards the genocide against the Palestinians in Gaza is a religious and moral stance which is in accordance with all international and humanitarian laws, the minister noted.

The Yemeni armed forces have in the past several weeks carried out missile and drone attacks on Israeli positions and stepped up attacks against Israeli-linked ships in the Red Sea. They say the attacks will continue until the war stops and Gazans receive the food and medicine they need.

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Hezbollah targets Israeli military headquarters in occupied lands

IRNA - Islamic Republic News Agency

Dec 27, 2023

Tehran, IRNA -- The Lebanese resistance movement Hezbollah has targeted an Israeli command headquarters in the northern parts of the occupied territories.

Hezbollah said in a statement on Wednesday that it has targeted the Israeli military headquarters at the Israeli army's naval base in the Rosh HaNikra grottoes area in the northern parts of the occupied Palestinian territories and southern Lebanon with appropriate weapons.

Israeli media also announced that 18 missiles were fired from Lebanese territory at Rosh HaNikra grottoes.

Earlier today, Hezbollah also fired 12 missiles from southern Lebanon toward the Zionist military bases on the occupied Shebaa Farms and Upper Galilee region.

The Lebanese resistance group has targeted Israeli military positions in recent weeks as part of its support for the Palestinian resistance in the Gaza Strip, where Israeli assaults have killed at least 20,915 people.

Israeli regime waged the genocidal war on Gaza on October 7 after Hamas carried out a historic operation against the occupying entity in retaliation for its intensified atrocities against the Palestinian people.

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PM Netanyahu on Turkish President Erdogan's Remarks

Israel - Prime Minister's Office

The 37th Government

27.12.2023

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, today:

"Erdogan, who is committing genocide against the Kurds and who holds the world record for imprisoning journalists who oppose his regime, is the last person who can preach morality to us.

The IDF, which is the most moral army in the world, is fighting to eliminate the most abhorrent and brutal terrorist organization in the world, Hamas-ISIS, which has committed crimes against humanity, and which Erdogan has praised and whose leaders he hosts."

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Israel expands ground offensive in central Gaza, UN warns of "catastrophic" humanitarian crisis

People's Daily Online

(Xinhua) 14:47, December 27, 2023

JERUSALEM, Dec. 26 (Xinhua) -- Israel declared on Tuesday the expansion of its ground offensive in the central Gaza Strip, as the United Nations warned that the escalation of attacks is exacerbating a "catastrophic" humanitarian crisis in the war-ravaged Palestinian enclave.

Israel previously urged the residents of Gaza to move from the northern region to the central and southern regions, which it claimed as "safe zones." However, the Israeli forces later expanded their strikes across the strip, including the central and southern parts.

In a statement, UN Human Rights Office's spokesperson Seif Magango reported that more than 50 strikes occurred in central Gaza on Dec. 24-25, targeting the refugee camps of Bureij, Nuseirat, and Maghazi, where two strikes hit seven residential buildings, killing at least 86 people.

"An unknown number of people are still believed to be trapped under the rubble," Magango said.

The escalated Israeli bombardment, said Magango, is "deepening an already catastrophic humanitarian situation," with all roads connecting the three camps destroyed, hindering the delivery of relief aid. Shelters and hospitals, operating at a minimal capacity, are grappling with critical overcrowding and limited resources.

Palestinian health authorities have reported that approximately 21,000 people, predominantly children, women, and the elderly, were killed during the 81-day conflict, with thousands more missing and presumed to be buried under the rubble. A majority of the 2.3 million population has been displaced, and the UN reports widespread hunger.

Meanwhile, an Israeli military spokesperson told reporters that the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) believes that "thousands" of Hamas militants are located in the refugee camps of central Gaza.

IDF Chief of the General Staff Herzi Halevi said in an address to soldiers that the attacks will now concentrate on central and southern Gaza.

According to Halevi, the military "is close to completing the dismantling of Hamas' battalions in the northern Gaza Strip."

He said that the military killed "many" militants and Hamas commanders, some surrendered to the Israeli forces and "hundreds" were taken prisoner. However, "it cannot be said that we killed them all. It seems likely that we will still encounter fighters in this area."

He acknowledged that the ongoing attack has exacted a "heavy and painful toll" on soldiers' lives, with official figures indicating that the number of Israeli troops killed has reached 161 since the beginning of Israel's ground invasion.

The Israeli objectives -- eliminating Hamas and bringing back home about 129 hostages who are still held in Gaza -- "are not simple to achieve," Halevi noted, saying that the fight would continue "for many more months."

Addressing the parliament Security and Foreign Affairs Committee, Israeli Defense Minister Yoav Gallant also emphasized that Israel faces "a long fight."

He said that since Hamas launched its surprise attack on Oct. 7, Israel has been "in a multi-front war. We are being attacked from seven different arenas: Gaza, Lebanon, Syria, Judea and Samaria (the West Bank), Iraq, Yemen, and Iran."

Israel has "retaliated in six of these arenas," Gallant said. "Anyone who acts against us is a potential target, there is no immunity."

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Jordan's King Abdullah, Egypt's Sisi reject any Israeli move to expel Palestinians from Gaza, West Bank

Iran Press TV

Wednesday, 27 December 2023 7:01 PM

Jordan's King Abdullah and Egypt's President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi have firmly rejected any Israeli move to expel Palestinians from the besieged Gaza Strip and occupied West Bank.

Following a meeting in the Egyptian capital Cairo on Wednesday, both leaders "reiterated their complete rejection of all attempts to liquidate the Palestinian issue and forcibly displace Palestinians in the West Bank and the Gaza Strip."

According to a statement released by Jordan's official Petra news agency, King Abdullah reaffirmed his country's support for Egypt's firm position against any attempts to displace inhabitants of the war-ravaged Gaza Strip.

Both King Abdullah and Sisi stressed the need "for the whole world to push towards an immediate ceasefire in Gaza, and the delivery of sufficient and sustainable humanitarian aid to alleviate the tragic situation and the suffering of Gazans," the statement further said.

The leaders also called on the international community to pressure the Israeli regime to agree to an immediate ceasefire and allow enough aid into Gaza in an attempt to ease the "tragic plight" of over two million Palestinians under siege there, it added.

They also emphasized that the international community "shoulders an immense political and ethical responsibility" toward implementing UN resolutions to "maintain the integrity of these international entities."

King Abdullah and Sisi further stressed the need to counter any attempts to reoccupy parts of Gaza, build so-called buffer zones in the blockaded Palestinian territory or separate it from the West Bank.

The Israeli regime waged the war on Gaza on October 7 after the Palestinian Hamas resistance group carried out the surprise Operation Al-Aqsa Storm against the occupying entity in response to the Israeli regime's atrocities against Palestinians.

Since the start of the US-backed offensive, the Israeli regime has killed at least 21,000 Palestinians, mostly women and children, and injured more than 55,000 others. Thousands more are also missing and presumed dead under the rubble.

UN figures say around 1.9 million people, 85 percent of Gaza's population, have been internally displaced in Gaza. The regime's evacuation orders cover around two-thirds of the strip, limiting the civilian population to less than one-third of the region.

The Israeli siege of the strip, which has extremely limited the flow of water, food, medicine and fuel to the region, has also caused starvation among the population.

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Over 4,000 Gaza students killed in Israeli bombardment since October 7: Ministry

Iran Press TV

Wednesday, 27 December 2023 5:14 PM

Palestinian Ministry of Education says at least 4,037 students and 209 educational staff have been killed since the start of Israel's brutal aggression on the besieged Gaza Strip on October 7.

In a statement released on Wednesday, the ministry said that more than 7,259 students and 619 teachers were also injured in the besieged strip between October 7 and December 26.

The ministry and several education-focused NGOs reported that 352 schools across the Gaza Strip have sustained damage, affecting the education of 400,700 students.

Three governorates namely Gaza, Khan Younis and North Gaza are highly affected, accounting for 74 percent of the total damage.

Israel has been under fire by the UN agencies and human rights organizations for the "collective punishment" of Gaza's 2.3 million people.

The figures come as hospitals and schools, protected under international humanitarian law, have repeatedly been hit by Israeli strikes since the war erupted.

Israel has justified attacks on UN schools, universities and hospitals, saying they were used by the Palestinian resistance group Hamas. The regime has provided no proof for its claims.

Media reports have also debunked Israeli claims that Hamas ran a command center under Shifa Hospital, Gaza's largest medical facility, which was crippled by Israeli shelling.

UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres has repeatedly called for a ceasefire and decried the dire humanitarian crisis in Gaza. The UN chief has invoked Article 99 of the UN Charter, a move aimed at formally warning the Security Council of a global threat posed by Israel's barbarism.

The Red Cross demands Israel adhere to international law.

Meanwhile, the secretary-general of the International Federation of the Red Cross, Jagan Chapagain, says "No words adequately capture the depth of human suffering in Gaza".

The humanitarian organization has repeatedly appealed for access to Gaza and for civilians to be protected.

"In this conflict, civilians, humanitarian workers are paying the highest price with some losing their lives," Chapagain wrote on X. "Rules exist to help preserve humanity in the darkest moments, and they desperately need to be."

The developments come as incessant and indiscriminate bombardments claim the lives of more innocent civilians on day 82 of the Israeli genocidal war on Gaza. The Israeli regime is continuing with its relentless bombardments, killing more innocent women and children.

At least six Palestinians have been killed in the latest air attacks that hit northern Gaza.

The Israeli army has also targeted the Nuseirat, Bureij and Maghazi refugee camps.

In the south, the city of Khan Yunis has been the scene of deadly artillery strikes and air raids, the latest of which killed 20 people.

The Palestinian health ministry says the regime has intensified attacks around the Nasser hospital, raising concerns about the lives of thousands of people taking shelter there.

The death toll has now surpassed 21,100, mostly women and children. Meantime, the World Health Organization has once again denounced the Israeli bloodbath in Gaza and warned about the dire humanitarian situation there.

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Iran FM hopeful lasting peace in Caucasus within reach in coming months

Iran Press TV

Wednesday, 27 December 2023 4:38 PM

Iran's foreign minister expresses optimism that a lasting peace in the South Caucasus region can be established in the coming months through the 3+3 format to put an end to long-running tensions between Azerbaijan and Armenia.

Hossein Amir-Abdollahian made the remarks in a joint presser with his Armenian counterpart Ararat Mirzoyan on Wednesday, referring to a group, including the three South Caucasian nations, Azerbaijan, Armenia, and Georgia, as well as three neighboring powers, Turkey, Russia, and Iran.

It was created in 2020 to promote peace and development in South Caucasus and resolve outstanding issues such as the status of Karabakh region.

Amir-Abdollahian said Iran believes that the establishment of a lasting peace in the South Caucasus region will help boost the International North-South Transport Corridor, which connects northern Europe to South Asia.

He said an agreement on a permanent cessation of hostilities in the region in which regional countries act as guarantors could have plentiful benefits for all sides of the conflict.

Amir-Abdollahian also announced Iran's readiness for the establishment of an Armenian consulate in the northwestern Iranian city of Tabriz.

The top Iranian diplomat said the Islamic Republic seeks expansion of relations with Armenia and both sides have a positive assessment of the whole process of cooperation.

Iran's foreign minister arrived in the Armenian capital on Wednesday to hold consultations on efforts to bring about peace between Yerevan and Baku as well as some other pressing issues.

On Tuesday night, Amir-Abdollahian held separate talks with his Azeri and Russian counterparts, with the focus being peace between Azerbaijan and Armenia.

Azerbaijan recaptured the long-disputed Karabakh region in a September lightning offensive against Armenian separatist forces, which prompted over 100,000 ethnic Armenians to flee the region.

After just one day of fighting, Armenian separatist authorities, which had controlled Karabakh for three decades, surrendered and agreed to reintegrate with Baku.

Azerbaijan's victory marked the end of the protracted territorial dispute, which had long been seen as unresolvable.

The exodus of the entire Armenian population from the mountainous enclave has sparked a refugee crisis in Armenia.

Armenia and Azerbaijan have said they are close to signing a peace agreement based on the recognition of each other's territorial integrity.

The long-disputed region of Karabakh was at the center of two costly wars between Armenia and Azerbaijan in 2020 and the 1990s.

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'Level of horror in Gaza is unmatched in our lifetime': UN

Iran Press TV

Wednesday, 27 December 2023 4:12 PM

The UN special rapporteur on the situation of human rights in occupied Palestinian territories says the level of oppression Palestinians have experienced in Gaza is unmatched and unprecedented in recent history.

Francesca Albanese, the UN Special Rapporteur on the occupied Palestinian Territories, has said that "in Gaza, Palestinian children are given sedatives to alleviate their pain while dying - as they cannot be treated."

"80 days of heavy Israeli bombing have devastated the health system. This level of horror is unmatched in our lifetime," she added.

Albanese also on Tuesday said that the international community's silence on Israeli crimes against Palestinians has allowed the occupying regime to commit genocide in Gaza, likening the situation in the besieged strip to massacres in other parts of the world such as Srebrenica and Rwanda.

Albanese, who has frequently criticized Israel's occupation of Palestine and the regime's relentless crimes against innocent Palestinians, has been barred by the regime from entering the occupied territories since her appointment as the UN special rapporteur in April 2022.

She has also slammed the European Union's unwavering support for Israel in its aggression on Palestinians in the Gaza Strip, and its double standards regarding Palestine and Ukraine.

Tel Aviv was backed by its staunch Western allies, the US and the EU, over the past months.

Albanese also in April had called out Western media for their "misleading" coverage of Israeli military raids, saying such an approach contributes to the regime's unchecked occupation. She was referring to the headline of a BBC news article that used the word "clashes" to refer to the brutal assault unleashed by Israeli forces against unarmed Palestinian worshippers at al-Aqsa mosque.

Meanwhile, the Doctors Without Borders (MSF) organization also on Wednesday expressed "horror" about the dire situation of the Palestinians trapped in the Gaza Strip, saying the proportions of death and destruction in the genocidal Israeli war are indescribable.

The latest remarks by Albanese come as the head of the World Health Organization (WHO) has said the health system in Gaza was being destroyed as Israel intensifies its aerial and artillery strikes on the besieged Palestinian territory.

Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus recently said in a social media post on Sunday that the decimation of the Gaza health system was a tragedy. He also reiterated his call for an immediate ceasefire.

The UN health agency has long been sounding the alarm about the state of health care in the besieged territory. Hospitals, protected under international humanitarian law, have repeatedly been hit by Israeli strikes since the war erupted.

Of Gaza's original 36 hospitals, only nine are now partially functional, all of them in the south and all of them overwhelmed.

The latest remarks by Albanese also come as the Palestinian resistance movement, Hamas, says Israel has stolen the organs of 80 Palestinians whose bodies were abducted by the regime's invading troops in Gaza.

Hamas, in a statement, condemned Israel's cruelties after the regime returned the bodies to Gaza in a state of decomposition, which made their identification difficult.

Hamas said, this heinous crime once again proved Israel's barbarism and moral decline.

Gaza's government media office also confirmed that the bodies delivered to Gaza were mutilated and their organs were stolen.

It called for an independent international investigation into the abduction of slain Palestinians and the stealing of their organs.

This is not the first time Israel has stolen the organs of dead Palestinians. The regime had in the past admitted that it harvested organs from dead Palestinians.

Day 82 of Israel's genocidal campaign in the Gaza Strip. The Israeli regime is continuing with its relentless bombardments, killing more innocent women and children.

At least six Palestinians have been killed in the latest air attacks that hit northern Gaza. The Israeli army has also targeted the Nuseirat, Bureij and Maghazi refugee camps.

In the south, the city of Khan Yunis has been the scene of deadly artillery strikes and air raids, the latest of which killed 20 people.

The Palestinian health ministry says the regime has intensified attacks around the Nasser hospital, raising concerns about the lives of thousands of people taking shelter there.

The death toll has now surpassed 21,100.

UN agencies and rights groups have once again denounced the Israeli bloodbath in Gaza and warned about the dire humanitarian situation there.

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Netanyahu is 'no different' than Adolf Hitler, Turkey's president says

Iran Press TV

Wednesday, 27 December 2023 3:57 PM

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan says Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's actions in the war-torn Gaza Strip are "no different" than those of Nazi Germany's Adolf Hitler.

In a speech delivered at a science awards ceremony in the capital Ankara on Wednesday, Erdogan likened Israel's brutal attacks on the besieged Gaza Strip for well over the past two months to the treatment of Jewish people by the Nazis during the reign of Hitler.

"How do you (Netanyahu) differ from Hitler? These (actions) will make us look for Hitler as well. Is there anything Netanyahu does that is less than Hitler? No," he said.

"They talk about Hitler in a strange way, what is the difference between them and Hitler? They will make us miss Hitler even more," Erdogan added.

The Israeli regime waged the war on Gaza on October 7 after the Palestinian Hamas resistance group carried out the surprise Operation Al-Aqsa Storm against the occupying entity in response to the Israeli regime's atrocities against Palestinians.

Since the start of the US-backed offensive, the Israeli regime has killed at least 21,000 Palestinians, mostly women and children, and injured more than 55,000 others. Thousands more are also missing and presumed dead under the rubble.

The Turkish president also welcomed those scholars who face pressure to defend human dignity in the Palestinian enclave, stressing that the doors of Turkish universities are open to them.

"We realized that the institutions that talk big and spend big budgets are completely hollow when it comes to Israel and its atrocities," Erdogan said, adding, "From the UN Security Council to press organizations, from the EU to journalist groups, all institutions that serve as apostles of democracy have failed (over the Israeli attacks on Gaza)."

Previously, he strongly condemned Israel's military operation in Gaza as genocide, labeling Israel as a "terrorist" entity.

Back in October, Israel recalled its diplomats from Turkey after Erdogan accused Israel of committing war crimes in Gaza. Turkey later also recalled its ambassador from Israel.

It is not the first time Erdogan has compared the Tel Aviv regime to Nazi Germany. In July 2014, he said Israel is "keeping Hitler's spirit alive" during a war with Gaza.

Since the onset of the current war, The Turkish president has massively stepped up his criticism of the occupying regime over its bloody offensive on the densely-populated Palestinian sliver.

On Tuesday, The Doctors Without Borders (MSF) organization expressed "horror" about the dire situation of the Palestinians trapped in the Gaza Strip, saying the proportions of death and destruction in the genocidal Israeli war are indescribable.

"We no longer have words to describe the horror of what is happening today in Gaza," the charity said.

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Hezbollah strikes Israeli positions after three killed in southern Lebanon airstrike

Iran Press TV

Wednesday, 27 December 2023 2:15 PM

Fighters from Lebanon's Hezbollah resistance movement have launched a volley of rockets at Israeli military positions in the northern flank of the 1948-occupied territories, after an Israeli airstrike on a southern Lebanese border town killed three people.

Lebanon's Arabic-language al-Manar television channel, citing a Hezbollah statement, reported that the group had targeted a "new command center" near the Israeli naval base in Rosh HaNikra, and fired at least 18 rockets at the site.

A number of Israeli soldiers were also injured, when Lebanese resistance fighters struck Dhaira and Hadb al-Bustan outposts.

Hezbollah said in a separate statement on Wednesday that it launched heavy-caliber Burkan (Volcano) missiles at the Israeli Khirbet Maer site post near the border, inflicting casualties.

Israeli artillery and tanks, meanwhile, shelled the outskirts of al-Naqoura city, Aita al-Shaab village, and al-Hamames hilltop south of al-Khiam.

Israeli forces pounded the outskirts of al-Jibbain, Tayr Harfa and Yarine villages as well.

Moreover, Israeli soldiers along the border fired heavy machine guns towards areas bordering Lebanese forests.

Earlier on Wednesday, three people were killed in an Israeli aerial raid on a house in southern Lebanon.

"Enemy warplanes raided, before midnight (2200 GMT), a house... in the center of the town of Bint Jbeil," around two kilometers (a little over a mile) from the border, killing a man, his brother and his wife, Lebanon's official National News Agency said.

The NNA identified the deceased as Ali Bazzi, his brother Ibrahim and his wife Shourouk Hammoud.

Another family member was wounded, it added.

Hezbollah later announced that Ali Bazzi was one of its fighters.

A relative told AFP news agency that Ibrahim Bazzi was an Australian citizen, who had flown in for a visit about a week ago.

The Israeli regime has been waging sporadic attacks on southern Lebanon since October 7, when it launched a devastating war against the besieged Gaza Strip.

Hezbollah has mounted near daily rocket attacks on Israeli positions at the border, while Israel has conducted air and artillery strikes in southern Lebanon.

More than 150 people have been killed on the Lebanese side of the border since October 7, mostly Hezbollah fighters and more than a dozen civilians, according to an AFP tally.

Israel says at least six of its soldiers and four settlers have been killed in the area, and the Lebanese army lost a soldier.

More than a dozen Lebanese civilians, three of them journalists, have also lost their lives in the exchanges.

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YEREVAN, DECEMBER 28, ARMENPRESS. Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan's spouse Anna Hakobyan on December 28 visited Hematology Center named after Prof. R. H. Yeolyan.

Accompanied by Minister of Health Anahit Avanesyan and deputy director of the center, Hayk Grigoryan, Anna Hakobyan had a meeting with the children receiving treatment, Hakobyans Office said.

Deputy director Hayk Grigoryan noted that 22 patients are receiving inpatient treatment at the center. About 90 new patients have been diagnosed this year. The center's management emphasized the acquisition of new diagnostic devices and the introduction of the latest technologies for more detailed research. Patients under the age of 25 are treated free of charge at the hematology center, reads the statement.

According to the source, the deputy director Hayk Grigoryan noted that the number of people traveling abroad for treatment has decreased, as many of them prefer receiving treatment in Armenia.

The deputy director said that last year, cases were also recorded where foreigners had chosen Armenia and the Hematology Center as their place of treatment.

Anna Hakobyan visited all the children, distributed New Year's gifts and talked with them. The Prime Minister's wife asked family members and doctors about the children's health condition and the dynamics of treatment.

Anna Hakobyan encouraged both the children and parents to stay strong wishing them health and patience.
Iraqi resistance targets US military bases in Iraq, Syria in retaliatory strikes

Iran Press TV

Wednesday, 27 December 2023 9:52 AM

Iraqi resistance fighters have launched two separate attacks against US military bases in western Iraq and neighboring Syria over Washington's support for the Israeli war on the Gaza Strip.

A rocket attack targeted a US military base in Iraq's western province of Anbar early on Wednesday, the Dubai-based and Saudi-owned al-Hadath television news network reported.

The report said three powerful blasts were heard at the US military facility. The consequences of the attack are unknown at this point.

Earlier, the Islamic Resistance in Iraq, an umbrella group of anti-terror fighters, claimed responsibility for the drone strike against the US-run al-Shaddadi base in Syria's northeastern province of Hasakah.

In a statement published on its Telegram channel, the group noted that the drone strike was carried out in retaliation for US support of Israel's bloody war against Palestinians in the Gaza Strip.

There were no immediate reports about the extent of damage at the military facility, or possible casualties.

The United States, Israel's biggest ally, has provided the regime with arms and ammunition since the initiation of the Gaza war.

Washington has also vetoed United Nations Security Council resolutions that called on the occupying regime to cease its aggression.

Israel waged the war on Gaza on October 7 after the Strip-based Palestinian resistance groups of Hamas and Islamic Jihad carried out the surprise Operation Al-Aqsa Storm into the occupied territories in response to the occupying regime's intensified crimes against the Palestinian people.

According to the Gaza-based health ministry, at least 20,912 Palestinians have been killed in the strikes, most of them women and children, and more than 54,918 others injured.

Tel Aviv has also imposed a "complete siege" on Gaza, cutting off fuel, electricity, food, and water to the more than two million Palestinians living there.

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Dec. 26: 'Axis of Resistance' operations against Israeli occupation

Iran Press TV

Wednesday, 27 December 2023 8:36 AM

By Press TV Website Staff

Amid Israel's genocidal war on the Gaza Strip, which has claimed the lives of more than 20,000 Palestinians, mostly children and women, resistance groups in Palestine and across the region continue their operations against the Tel Aviv regime and its Western backers.

The operations carried out by the Palestinian and regional resistance groups on December 26, Tuesday, are as follows:

Qassam Brigades' operations on Dec. 26:

Targeted two Merkava tanks of the Israeli military with an 'Al-Yassin 105' shell east of Bureij refugee camp in the central Gaza Strip.

Targeted a troop carrier carrying a number of soldiers northeast of the Bureij camp in the central Gaza Strip, causing several casualties.

Detonated a booby-trapped tunnel among an Israeli military unit consisting of eight soldiers east of the Bureij refugee camp in the central Gaza Strip, causing an unspecified number of casualties.

Targeted Israeli military vehicles and an infantry force in the Sheikh Zayed area.

Lured Israeli special forces into a house in Beit Hanoun and targeted them with explosives.

Targeted at least two Israeli military tanks and bulldozers with 'Al-Yassin 105' shells, north of the city of Khan Yunis in southern Gaza.

Destroyed an Israeli military jeep in the Al-Nada Towers area in the northern Gaza Strip.

Targeted an Israeli infantry force in a house in the Al-Qasaib neighborhood in Jabalia camp.

Quds Brigades' operations on Dec. 26:

Engaged in fierce clashes with anti-tank missiles, machine guns and mortar shells with Israeli forces in east and north of Khan Yunis in southern Gaza.

Targeted two Israeli military vehicles with RPG shells in the Sheikh Radwan neighborhood in Gaza City.

Targeted Israeli military concentrations with a barrage of mortar shells in Juhr al-Dik in the central Gaza Strip.

Pounded "Sderot" and "Nir Am" areas with a rocket barrage.

Targeted Ashkelon, Sderot, and the settlements of the northern Gaza Strip with rockets.

Targeted five Israeli military vehicles with 'Tandem' and 'Al-Yassin 105' shells in Jabalia Al-Balad, north of the Gaza Strip in a coordinated operation with the Qassam Brigades.

Targeted military concentrations in the Abasan area, east of Khan Yunis, with a barrage of 60-caliber regular mortar shells.

Hezbollah's operations on Dec. 26:

Eastern sector:

At around 9:45 local time, the Zabdin site was targeted with appropriate weapons.

At around 14:50 local time, the Zabdin Barracks was targeted with Burkan missiles.

At around 15:30 local time, the Al-Baghdadi site was targeted with appropriate weapons.

At around 15:30 local time, a drone targeted the newly established command headquarters of the Israeli army in the vicinity of the Kiryat Shmona, causing casualties.

Western sector:

At around 11:40 local time, Israeli regime soldiers were targeted in the vicinity of the Ramia site, leading to casualties.

At around 12:00 local time, an Israeli military monitoring room near the Shumira barracks was targeted, resulting in casualties.

At around 12:10 local time, Israeli regime soldiers were targeted near the Dovev Barracks, leading to an unknown number of casualties.

At around 13:45 local time, Israeli regime soldiers were targeted at the Raheb site, leading to an unknown number of casualties.

At around 13:45 local time, the headquarters of the 91st Division of the Israeli military was targeted at the Beranit Barracks with appropriate weapons, causing damage and casualties.

Yemeni military's operations on Dec. 26:

The naval wing of the Yemeni armed forces carried out a targeting operation against a commercial ship, "MSC UNITED," with appropriate naval missiles. The targeting of the ship came after its crew refused multiple calls from the Yemeni naval forces, as well as repeated warning messages.

The Yemeni Air Force also carried out an operation with several drones against military targets in the Umm al-Rashrash (Eilat) area and other areas in occupied Palestine.

Iraqi resistance's operations on Dec. 26:

The Islamic Resistance in Iraq attacked the US military occupation base in the Al-Shaddadi area in Syria with a missile salvo, hitting the targets and resulting in casualties and heavy damage to the illegal base.

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Numerous bodies buried under rubble; Israeli strikes 'gravely concerning': UN

Iran Press TV

Wednesday, 27 December 2023 8:18 AM

The UN human rights office (OHCHR) has expressed deep concern over Israel's deadly airstrikes on central areas of the Gaza Strip amid a catastrophic humanitarian crisis in the besieged Palestinian territory.

In a statement released on Tuesday, OHCHR spokesperson Seif Magango said Israel carried out more than 50 aerial assaults across central Gaza on December 24-25, including on three refugee camps of Bureij, Nuseirat, and al-Maghazi.

He added that the combined death toll in Bureij and al-Maghazi camps has risen to at least 131 amid a "deepening and already catastrophic" humanitarian situation there.

"We are gravely concerned about the continued bombardment of Middle Gaza by Israeli forces, which has claimed more than 100 Palestinian lives since Christmas Eve," Magango said.

"It is particularly concerning that this latest intense bombardment comes after Israeli forces ordered residents from the south of Wadi Gaza to move to Middle Gaza and Tal al-Sultan in Rafah."

The UN rights office spokesperson also noted that all roads connecting the three camps targeted in Israeli air raids have been destroyed, obstructing the delivery of relief aid to those in need.

Minimally operating shelters and hospitals are "critically overcrowded and under-resourced," he said. An unknown number of people are still under the rubble.

"Israeli forces must take all measures available to protect civilians. Warnings and evacuation orders do not absolve them of the full range of their international humanitarian law obligations," he added.

Israel waged the genocidal war on Gaza on October 7 after the Palestinian Hamas resistance movement carried out a historic operation against the occupying entity in retaliation for its intensified atrocities against the Palestinian people.

Since the start of the aggression, the Tel Aviv regime has killed at least 20,915 Palestinians, mostly women and children, and injured 54,918 others.

Thousands more are also missing and presumed dead under the rubble in the Gaza Strip, which is under "complete siege" by Israel.

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Biden has blood of Gaza children on hands; Netanyahu only succeeds in massacre: Hamas

Iran Press TV

Wednesday, 27 December 2023 7:18 AM

US President Joe Biden's hands are soaked in the blood of Palestinian children in Gaza, says a senior official of the Palestinian resistance movement Hamas.

Speaking at a press conference in Beirut on Tuesday, Hamas's representative in Lebanon Osama Hamdan said Washington was "orchestrating the aggression" against the besieged Palestinian territory.

"The hands of US President Joe Biden are stained with the blood of Gaza's children," he said.

He reaffirmed the resistance movement's position on the "necessity of stopping the aggression against our people" by the Israeli occupation forces in Gaza.

"Our people are not awaiting temporary pauses that the occupation would violate with additional atrocities against civilians; rather, they are after a comprehensive halt to the aggression," the Hamas official said.

He stressed that Israeli prime minister Netanyahu moves from failure to failure and "only succeeds in killing civilians."

Hamdan further added that Netanyahu his cabinet and his occupation army are "aimless and have no specific goals and approach" in Gaza.

"Netanyahu has only one option and that is to admit defeat and face his own fate accordingly," he said.

Backed by the United States, Israel waged the war on Gaza on October 7 after Hamas-led Palestinian resistance groups carried out Operation Al-Aqsa Storm against the occupying entity in response to the Israeli regime's decades-long campaign of death and destruction in Palestine.

The Israeli aggression has so far killed nearly 21,000 Palestinians, most of them women and children. Nearly 55,000 people have also been wounded while many bodies remain trapped under rubble.

US escalation in Red Sea for 'expanding circle of fire'

The senior Hamas official also praised the position of Yemen's Ansarullah resistance movement "in their support for their brothers in Gaza, and the continuation of a global mass movement in solidarity with Gaza."

Hamdan described the US escalation in the Red Sea as an "overt effort from Washington to shield the occupation and allow it to persist in its genocide war," and said the US escalation was a "comprehensive plan" aimed at "expanding the circle of fire."

Moreover, Hamdan called on the international community to continue their solidarity with Palestinians in Gaza.

The Hamas official appreciated the support of certain European nations in condemnation of the actions of the Israeli occupation, calling on them to take a unified stance under the European Union to stop the aggression.

Hamdan also warned European countries against complying with Israeli prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu's plot of "voluntary migration" of Palestinian people in Gaza.

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Six Palestinians killed in Israeli drone strike on West Bank refugee camp

Iran Press TV

Wednesday, 27 December 2023 6:54 AM

At least six young Palestinian men were killed in an Israeli drone strike in the West Bank, as violence escalates in the occupied territory concurrent with the Tel Aviv regime's relentless bombardment of the Gaza Strip.

Medical sources at Martyr Dr. Thabet Thabet Government Hospital in the northwestern West Bank city of Tulkarm said in a statement that six bodies and a number of wounded people were accepted at the facility after a group of Palestinians were directly targeted with a drone in the Nur Shams refugee camp on Wednesday morning.

The sources added that the victims arrived at the hospital more than an hour after Israeli forces had disallowed paramedics to enter the camp, according to the official Palestinian news agency WAFA.

The deceased Palestinians were identified as 19-year-olds Ahmed Anwar Hamarsha and Ahmed Abdel Rahman Issa, 23-year-olds Adham Muhammad Fahmawi and Yazan Ahmed Wahid Fahmawi, 29-year-old Fares Hossam Fahmawi, and Hamza Ahmed Mustafa Fahmawi, 17.

A young man was so seriously injured after he was struck in the head with a bullet. His condition has been described as critical.

Head of Tulkarm Doctors' Syndicate, Radwan Balibla, said an Israeli soldier stabbed one of the injured people inside the ambulance, adding that other Palestinians were assaulted by beatings with rifle butts, kicks, punches, and received death threats.

Moreover, Israeli forces shelled an abandoned house in the Aktaba neighborhood, east of Tulkarm, and sprayed a vehicle that had been parked near the house with bullets.

Eyewitnesses said Israeli troops stopped an ambulance that had come to check whether there were injuries, and forced its officer to enter the house and search it before letting him go.

Israel has ramped up its aggression in the West Bank since its bombardment of Gaza began in early October. The deaths of the young men bring the total number of Palestinian fatalities reported in the occupied territory since then to more than 300, making it the deadliest year on record in 18 years.

Israel waged the genocidal war on Gaza on October 7 after Hamas carried out a historic operation against the occupying entity in retaliation for its intensified atrocities against the Palestinian people.

The Israeli aggression has so far killed at least 20,915 Palestinians, most of them women and children, and wounded 54,918 others.

The Tel Aviv regime has imposed a "complete siege" on the territory, cutting off fuel, electricity, food, and water to the more than two million Palestinians living there.

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Hamas remains 'resilient', reconstituting capabilities despite Israeli war: US think tanks

Iran Press TV

Wednesday, 27 December 2023 6:38 AM

The Palestinian Hamas resistance movement has proved to be "resilient" on the battlefield despite suffering losses in the devastating Israeli aggression against the Gaza Strip, war monitors say.

In a report published on Tuesday, the Institute for the Study of War (ISW) and the Critical Threats Project (CTP) highlighted Hamas's ability to reconstitute amid the occupying regime's failure to eliminate it.

"Hamas remains resilient and able to reconstitute its military capabilities, despite its military losses in the war thus far," the report said.

It noted that any deal that keeps Hamas in Gaza would be "tantamount to Israel's defeat" because it would preserve the group as a governing body and military force in the besieged Palestinian territory and enable it to threaten the usurping regime.

Israel waged the genocidal war on Gaza on October 7 after Hamas carried out a historic operation against the occupying entity in retaliation for its intensified atrocities against the Palestinian people.

However, 82 days into the offensive, Tel Aviv has failed to achieve its objectives of destroying Hamas and finding Israeli captives in Gaza.

On Tuesday, Israel's minister of military affairs Yoav Gallant said the regime is in a "multi-arena war," warning of a long fight ahead.

Gallant's comments followed Israeli prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu's remarks Monday that the Gaza war is far from over.

The Tuesday report by the US war monitors stressed that Israeli officials have underlined the need for a "prolonged" war to achieve their declared objectives in Gaza.

It added that Hamas continues to engage in battles in the northern Gaza cities of Beit Hanoun and Jabalia.

Hamas and the Palestinian Islamic Jihad resistance movement "conducted a combined complex ambush using standard and thermobaric rockets against Israeli forces sheltering in a home in Jabalia city," the report said.

Palestinian fighters are also engaged in "heavy fighting" against Israeli troops in southern Gaza using mortars and rockets.

The US report further referred to clashes between Israeli forces and Palestinian fighters across the occupied West Bank and attacks by the Lebanese Hezbollah resistance movement on the occupied territories.

Since the start of the Israeli aggression, the regime has killed at least 20,915 Palestinians, mostly women and children, and injured 54,918 others.

Thousands more are also missing and presumed dead under the rubble in the Gaza Strip, which is under "complete siege" by Israel.

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Southeast Asia appears stuck in a history trap

Nostalgia for good times is not the way to deal with an increasingly unstable and unpredictable world.

A commentary by David Hutt 2023.12.27 -- The story Southeast Asia likes to tell itself is that, by the late 1990s, it had something like its "end of history" moment.

By 1999, the region was free of colonialism, with the last push made by Timor-Leste, which that year held a referendum to throw off Indonesian imperialism. With that development, the region's national borders appeared to be finally decided and revanchism, although it was still voiced on the fringes, had ended.

All Southeast Asian countries, except Timor-Leste, were members of ASEAN. Communist Vietnam and Laos were stable and internationally accepted. Anti-communist tyrants like Indonesia's Suharto, Burma's Ne Win and Ferdinand Marcos in the Philippines had either resigned or been ousted.

And the worst crimes of the Cold War-era, including the Khmer Rouge genocide in Cambodia, were not just over but there was to finally be some sort of justice. In 1999, the holdout Khmer Rouge leaders finally surrendered and Ta Mok, its former army chief, was symbolically arrested by the local authorities.

Today, however, Southeast Asia finds itself trapped by history.

On the one hand, it became evident in February 2021 that not all of 20th-century history was over. The military coup in Myanmar that month awakened many to the reality that some elements of the pre-Cold War period had not been solved.

Indeed, Myanmar has been trapped in the early 20th century since independence from Britain in 1948. Whereas all other Southeast Asian threw off their colonial powers and then resolved their internal battles over what form of government would follow, Myanmar did not.

Myanmar as outlier

Anti-colonial struggles are conflicts against a foreign aggressor and civil wars at the same time. It is not enough to claim self-determination; it must be determined what sort of self you want once free. The partition of Vietnam was both things at once. Many historians date the Cambodian Civil War as beginning in either 1967 (with the Samlaut Uprising) or 1979 (with the Lon Nol "coup") but those same political schisms were latent, though blanketed, under Nordom Sihanouk's regime that ruled after independence.

The People's Power uprising in the Philippines in 1986 was essentially the answer to the question  constitutional or personalist rule  that was posed when the country gained independence from Spain in 1898, and, indeed, was the internal debate within almost all of Jose Rizal's writings.

But Myanmar never went through this processor, rather, successive military juntas never allowed the question to be seriously explored. The 1962 coup effectively froze in time the question of self-determination of Myanmar's myriad ethnic minorities, a remnant of colonial rule.

In two ways, Myanmar under the military remained a colonial holdout: The Bamar center colonized the ethnic periphery and the anti-colonial struggle was never allowed to fully run its course. The cataclysm of the 2021 military coup appears to be the event that will finally bring this historical question to a proper solution.

The answer offered by the anti-junta movement, centered on the National Unity Government, is a revolutionary federal state, in which Myanmar maintains its same territorial borders but vastly more power and autonomy is given to the ethnic areas, while at the same time the national army, a product of anti-colonialism, will be dissolved and something (perhaps a network of militias) will take its place.

The junta's answer, the same that its predecessors offered, is devolution based on the permission of a central authority, implemented through peace talks. The problem with this answer, as has been the case in the past, is that it is dependent not upon rules or laws but the whims of whichever general is sitting in Naypyidaw, so essentially yet another delay in answering the post-colonial civil war question. Yet, for now at least, according to some hopeful observers, the forces of revolution are prevailing over the forces of reaction in Myanmar.

Baked-in crisis

Alas, the rest of Southeast Asia seems unwilling to accept that a historical reckoning must happen in Myanmar for there to be any progress.

One can put aside the fatuousness of permitting Myanmar entrance into ASEAN in 1997 before those civil-war conflicts were solved, yet ASEAN still doesn't accept that by doing so it institutionalized those conflicts into the regional system. In other words, by accepting Myanmar into the ASEAN bloc, the rest of the region (perhaps) unwittingly accepted a share of responsibility for solving those historical conflicts. This point is still not appreciated by ASEAN in its continued insistence that the solution to the current crisis is to return to a point in time: the status quo ante.

Yet, even if that return was feasible, which it isn't, ASEAN would still be left with the situation of Myanmar's 20th-century conflicts sparking another similar crisis at some point in the future.

ASEAN is, therefore, trapped in apparently thinking that Myanmar is unique in that it won't have to go through the same bloody processes that the rest of the region did  a final reckoning of post-colonial civil wars  and clearly thinks that the region's responsibility is to forestall, not assist, this process.

On the other hand, Southeast Asia is also in a history trap of believing that the post-Cold War era is still alive.

It can be fairly said that the region, aside from China, was the biggest beneficiary of the world order left after the collapse of communism in Europe. A cursory look at how the region has developed economically, culturally and socially since 1989 is enough to make that argument.

But what should we call the period between 1989 and, roughly, 2019? The "Chimerica Era", that chimera when the United States and China thought they could get along and when the West thought that Beijing was playing by the same rules? Or, perhaps, the "Inter-Cold War Era?"

Nostalgia not enough

In any case, that period is now over. Yet, Southeast Asia's leaders still think that they can deny its disappearance by repeatedly stating their opposition to what has come after - a "New Cold War" - as if denying something's existence makes it not exist.

They hold onto the hope that Washington and Beijing will finally see sense and agree that because things were much better for all in the 2000s that should be their shared vision for the future.

If there is a purpose to "hedging", it is presumably to play both superpowers off against one another to extract the most benefits. Yet the downside is that you make yourself dependent on both sides, as has been the case: As a share of overall ASEAN trade, the United States and China have taken on a larger, not smaller, percentage in recent years.

Hedging, as manifested today, is to take both sides, rather than to take neither side. That is problematic, to say the least, if there is a possibility of both sides going to war, when you will be forced by events outside your control and at a time not of your choosing to decide which side to take.

None of this is unreasonable from an emotional level; it's only natural for Southeast Asian leaders, by 1999, to have been jubilant that the horrors of the 20th century were over and that their societies could finally have the stability to become prosperous - thanks to the Inter-Cold War Era.

It's only natural to want the good times to continue. Sadly, they're over and the world is once again a far more unstable and unpredictable place, including in ASEAN's northwest. Nostalgia for times past will only get you so far.

David Hutt is a research fellow at the Central European Institute of Asian Studies (CEIAS), the Southeast Asia Columnist at the Diplomat, and writes analysis pieces for several newspapers and magazines. He has covered Southeast Asian politics since 2014. The views expressed here are his own and do not reflect the position of Radio Free Asia.

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 December 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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Bangladesh's long and troubled history with elections

Born out of a war that stemmed in part from an electoral dispute, the country still lacks a credible election system.

By Ahammad Foyez and Nazmul Ahasan for BenarNews 2023.12.27 -- Bangladesh's birth as a nation in 1971 was violent, coming out of a war partly ignited by the then-Pakistani military government's refusal to honor the results of a democratic election.

Fifty-two years after East Pakistan broke free and became Bangladesh, Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina - the daughter of the country's founding father - and her party seem poised to clinch a lopsided victory for a fourth consecutive term through the ballot box.

Government critics and the opposition, however, warn that next month's general election will essentially be another undemocratic exercise in a nation with a long record of dubious polls. As its own nation, Bangladesh has failed to institute an independent election system that's credible enough to satisfy domestic and international observers, critics say.

"Even after 52 years of independence, we still lack an electoral system acceptable to all. This is extremely disappointing," Mujahidul Islam Selim, a Bangladeshi freedom fighter in the 1971 war and a veteran politician who heads the Bangladesh Communist Party, told BenarNews.

"Politics has morphed into merely a means of plundering public wealth. To sustain this plunderage, no one wants to risk going out of power."

Hasina inherited the reins of the Awami League years party after her father, Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, was assassinated during a military coup in 1975. In the months leading up to the Jan. 7 election, she and Awami officials have refused to give in to the opposition's main demand that her government step aside to allow a neutral caretaker government to oversee the polls to guarantee that they be free and fair.

The Bangladesh Nationalist Party, which leads the opposition, has staged mass street demonstrations and transportation strikes in 2023 to force Hasina to step aside. But Hasina and her party have not buckled under this pressure. The BNP has now opted to boycott the polls after the Awami League refused to budge on the caretaker government issue.

On Dec. 16, Bangladesh celebrated the 52nd anniversary of its victory against the Pakistani military in the 1971 war for independence, but criticism about the state of democracy in the South Asian nation of 160 million persists.

During Hasina's uninterrupted rule as PM for the past 14 years, Bangladesh's economy posted impressive growth, but that progress shrunk after the COVID-19 pandemic and through a steep rise in oil prices following the Russian invasion and war in Ukraine.

Critics, including international human rights groups, have accused her government of becoming increasingly authoritarian and committing rights abuses and violations, such as jailing critics and carrying out extrajudicial killings and state-backed enforced disappearances. Government officials have adamantly rejected such accusations as false.

Next month's polls will be the 12th general election in Bangladesh's history as a free nation, but some observers are predicting that the polls will seal Hasina's autocratic rule.

Out of the 11 previous general elections, only four were considered to be relatively free, fair and uncontroversial because they were shepherded under a non-partisan caretaker system.

"The rest of the elections were very controversial, domestically and internationally," M. Sakhawat Hossain, a former election commissioner, told BenarNews.

All of the four elections that were overseen by a caretaker administration delivered a victory for the opposition, whereas the seven polls under a partisan government always resulted in a landslide for the incumbent.

The Awami League government removed the provision for a caretaker government from the constitution in 2011 based on a partial reading of a Supreme Court ruling. The two elections held since then have been contentious.

In 2014, the opposition led by the BNP boycotted the elections, allowing the Awami League to return to power virtually unopposed. The boycott was so widespread that the Awami League faced no rival candidates - not even from independent ones - in more than half of the parliamentary seats.

In 2018, the opposition did take part in the vote, but the ruling party and its allied partners secured more than 95% of the seats amid reports of extensive fraud and intimidation.

Citing this experience, the BNP refused to participate in the upcoming Jan. 7 election.

The government responded to the BNP's protest rallies and escalating strikes and transportation blockades - which often disintegrated into violence - by arresting tens of thousands of its members, including senior figures.

BD-election-3.jpg

In 1970, when Bangladesh was a geographically detached region of Pakistan, the Awami League headed by Sheikh Mujibur Rahman - widely regarded as the leader of the Bangladeshi independence movement - captured the majority of Pakistan's federal legislature.

However, the Pakistani junta, led by Gen. Yahya Khan, refused to recognize the Awami League's right to rule Pakistan. As negotiations to end the stalemate extended to March 1971, the Pakistani military launched "Operation Searchlight" in what's now Bangladesh, targeting mainly Bengali civilians.

As many as 3 million people are believed to have been killed in the war, which ended in the defeat of the Pakistani military on Dec. 16, 1971.

Rahman, who had been jailed by Pakistan early on during the war, returned from a Pakistani prison to take the helm of the newly independent country as its president in 1972.

But the tenure in power of Bangladesh's founding father drifted into autocratic rule.

The election in 1973 - the first in independent Bangladesh's history - saw Rahman's party win all but seven seats in the 300-seat parliament.

In 1974, he formalized the country as a one-party state by banning all other political parties and most of the press.

After his assassination in a coup the next year, a military government in various iterations ruled the country for the next 16 years. During those years, elections in Bangladesh lacked legitimacy and were widely seen as a rubber stamp to gain authority.

Elections under the military rulers in the 1980s sowed deep-seated suspicion among the public about the electoral system, according to Abul Kashem Fazlul Haq, a retired professor of Dhaka University.

"But even during the military rule, the distrust was not as widespread as it is today," he told BenarNews. "This proves that we are deteriorating gradually as a nation."

'Caretaker' system

In 1990, the Awami League and the BNP banded together to end the military rule of Gen. Hussain Muhammad Ershad.

Both parties then agreed to take part in an election under an interim government headed by Shahabuddin Ahmed, a widely respected chief justice of the Supreme Court.

The election returned a narrow victory for the BNP.

But as the BNP's tenure neared an end, the Awami League began to call for a permanent non-partisan system of electoral government, citing alleged rigging in parliamentary by-elections.

The BNP rejected the demands and went ahead with holding a one-sided election in February 1996 where its candidates won in all but 11 seats.

However, amid violent protests from the Awami League-led opposition and under mounting pressure from a large swath of civil society, the BNP-led government gave in to pressure to codify the caretaker system into the constitution.

"The BNP should be credited for agreeing to launch the caretaker system in the face of demands from all opposition parties for an acceptable election process," said Nazrul Islam Khan, a member of BNP's top decision-making body and a veteran of the 1971 war.

Within a month, the BNP resigned from the government so that the newly formalized caretaker government could hold another election. Sheikh Hasina's Awami League came to power through that election.

Five years later, in 2001, under a similar caretaker government, the BNP-led opposition coalition returned to power with a landslide victory.

But around 2006, the Awami League, which was then in the opposition, again raised accusations against the BNP government. It accused the BNP government of trying to manipulate the caretaker system by allegedly pushing for a loyal former chief justice to head the electoral government.

The judge soon declined to lead the interim government, but violence and clashes persisted.

In early 2007, the military intervened as parties failed to reach any consensus and helped install a technocratic government led by a former central bank governor.

That caretaker government didn't limit itself to holding an election.

Instead, it launched ambitious reform programs and even arrested major political leaders, including Sheikh Hasina and BNP leader Khaleda Zia on corruption charges.

With its reform experiments largely failing after more than a year, the government decided to hold an election by releasing most political prisoners.

In that election in 2008, the Awami League returned to power with a thumping supermajority.

Three years later, the Supreme Court declared the unelected nature of the caretaker system unconstitutional, but carved out an exception for two more elections under the system.

The Awami League ignored the exceptions and removed the caretaker system from the constitution.

'Both are to blame'

Today, many observers in Bangladesh view both parties as equally responsible for the credibility crisis facing the election system.

"The non-partisan caretaker government was introduced as an emergency measure, but because of the power-hungry mentality of the BNP and Awami League, this system became controversial," said Mujahidul Islam Selim, the communist party leader.

"The BNP tried to manipulate the caretaker system to cling on to power and failed. But the Awami League succeeded. With its wholesale elimination of the caretaker system, the Awami League de-legitimized the entire electoral arrangement."

But the Awami League and the BNP have wildly different interpretations of today's crisis.

"After removing the caretaker system from the constitution, the Awami League has held the election process hostage," said Nazrul Islam Khan, the BNP leader.

"The upcoming elections will be the last nail in the coffin of our election system."

Shahjahan Khan, another 1971 freedom fighter and a member of the Awami League's top political body, agreed that Bangladesh's election system still faced debates.

But, he said, his party was trying to build a stronger electoral system by fighting against the BNP.

"The BNP is not a democratic political party," he told BenarNews, referring to its boycott of the election. "Whatever they do does not matter to the people of this country."

BenarNews is an online news outlet affiliated with Radio Free Asia.

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 December 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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Taliban Closes Education Ministry Department, Creating Uncertainty For Thousands

By RFE/RL's Radio Azadi December 27, 2023

The Taliban's hard-line Islamist government in Afghanistan has eliminated the Monitoring and Evaluation Department in the Education Ministry, a move that threatens the jobs of more than 5,000 people in Kabul and across the country and further erodes secular education in Afghanistan.

The department was tasked with monitoring the quality of teaching in public and private schools in Afghanistan and has workers in all 34 provinces.

It is unclear whether the employees who lost their jobs will be transferred to other jobs, keep their jobs within a renamed department, or be left jobless.

"This step is tragic and has made us destitute," Idris Ehsaas, one of the affected employees, told RFE/RL's Radio Azadi. But he noted that the Taliban-led government could still transfer employees to schools, universities, and other educational institutions where they are needed.

Khayal Mohammad, another employee who lost his job, said some of the laid-off workers were promised they would be transferred to a new branch called the Professional Development Department.

"But only a small number of people from the Monitoring and Evaluation Department would be absorbed into this new department," he said.

Taliban government officials and spokesmen did not respond to repeated requests for comment about the disbanding of the department.

But one Education Ministry employee said the Taliban had merely changed the name of the department to the Professional Development Department.

The ministry employee, who requested anonymity because he was not authorized to speak to the media, added that former employees of the Monitoring and Evaluation Department will continue be employed within the new office.

Since returning to power in August 2021, the Taliban has retained a large number of the civilian employees it inherited from the previous pro-Western Afghan government but essentially disbanded its security forces.

The Islamist group has, however, imposed draconian restrictions and bans on secular education.

It has also banned women and teenage girls from schools and universities and converted many secular schools to madrasahs. Last week, the Taliban said that it would allow girls of all ages to study in madrasahs.

In a report released earlier this month, the global rights watchdog Human Rights Watch (HRW) said the Taliban had caused "irreversible damage" to the education of both Afghan boys and girls.

"By harming the whole school system in the country, they risk creating a lost generation deprived of a quality education," said Sahar Fetrat, a women's rights researcher at HRW and the report's author.

Source: https://www.rferl.org/a/afghanistan-education-layoffs- fears/32749748.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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Abkhazia OKs Handing State Resort Over To Russia, Triggering Protests

By RFE/RL's Georgian Service, RFE/RL's Echo of the Caucasus December 27, 2023

SUKHUMI, Georgia -- The de facto leader of Georgia's breakaway region of Abkhazia, Aslan Bzhania, on December 27 signed into law a controversial deal with Moscow under which a Black Sea resort will be transferred to Russia -- a move that sparked spontaneous protests after it was approved by Abkhazia's de facto parliament in an overnight session.

The Georgian Foreign Ministry condemned the deal on handing the Bichvinta (aka Pitsunda) complex of holiday homes to Russia, calling it "another illegal act and the continuation of Russia's policy of occupation of the indivisible regions of Georgia, which grossly violates the fundamental principles of international law."

"The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Georgia appeals to the international community to properly assess this new illegal step by the Russian Federation aimed at encroaching on the sovereignty and territorial integrity of Georgia," the ministry said in a statement.

Georgian President Salome Zurabishvili also condemned what she called "another land grab by Russians in Georgian territories...and their creeping annexation policies."

Hundreds of demonstrators have been rallying in front of the de facto parliament's building in the regional capital, Sukhumi, since December 26, demanding that the deal be scrapped immediately.

Asida Shakryl, a former de facto ombudswoman of the breakaway region, called the move illegal.

"Lawmakers have ignored the constitution of the Republic of Abkhazia.... They have to explain why they had decided to discuss the issue during the night. They have to justify the legitimacy of that sort of session," Shakryl said.

Opposition politician Alkhas Jinjolia said on December 26 that the rally in front of the de facto parliament's building will continue until the protesters' request to cancel the deal is met.

Abkhazia's de facto Foreign Minister Inal Ardzinba said earlier that the deal on handing the resort Russia was "legal and corresponded to international laws."

Russia's envoy to the breakaway region Mikhail Shurgalin has said that, according to the deal, the land on which the resort is located will not be owned by Russia.

"The territory will be rented [by Russia] for 49 years. Only buildings will be owned [by Russia] and their maintenance and repair work will be conducted by [Russia's] Federal Guard Service," Shurgalin said earlier.

The Bichvinta complex was built in 1958-61 at the request of then-Soviet leader Nikita Khrushchev.

According to the Russian-Abkhaz deal signed in January 2022, the complex will be handed to Russia free of charge, with a symbolic annual payment of 1 ruble for each land parcel.

Russia recognized the independence of Abkhazia and Georgia's other breakaway region, South Ossetia, in August 2008 following a five-day Russian-Georgian war. Abkhazia declared independence from Georgia in 1992, a move which led to all-out war with Tbilisi.

The West has called the move effectively an annexation of the two regions by Russia. Only Venezuela, Nicaragua, Nauru, and Syria have recognized Abkhazia as independent.

Moscow keeps thousands of its troops in Abkhazia and South Ossetia.

Source: https://www.rferl.org/a/georgia-abkhazia-state-resort- russia-/32749083.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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Azerbaijani officials have said the country could be closing in on a peace agreement with Armenia to end their decades-long conflict following its lightning offensive in September to take control of Nagorno-Karabakh, the Guardian reports.

December 28, 2023, 16:11 Azerbaijan and Armenia close to peace agreement, officials says

STEPANAKERT, DECEMBER 28, ARTSAKHPRESS: The two sides have now exchanged seven drafts of a potential relatively short peace agreement. Elchin Amirbayov, the special ambassador to the Azerbaijani president, said the country is now waiting for Armenias response to its comments on the latest draft proposals.

What is important to understand is that at this crucial stage in negotiations, where apparently were not that much far away from the final agreement, [is that] we do need a result-oriented exercise, he said. I know that that after three decades of negotiations and without no major result, there is a certain kind of fatigue and also frustration in both parties for how long we will continue just to see to meet each other without any reasonable results.

Amirbayov said the five principles in the draft agreement are mutual respect for each others territorial integrity, sovereignty and inviolability of international recognised borders, rejection of any territorial claims to each other, now and in the future, rejection of any acts that would run counter to UN charter, like the use of force or threat of use of force, but also delimitation of the border between Armenia and Azerbaijan, which has never been done. And, last but not least, opening of communication routes and ties between Armenia and Azerbaijan, because weve been without any connection because of the conflict for 30 years.

In practice the issue of the border demarcation might be settled at a later stage since the negotiations are deemed so complex.

Azerbaijan also wants some kind of dispute mechanism for the agreement. Our preference would be to have peace agreements. An article which would speak about some kind of bilateral commission, which needs to be set up in order to address all those misunderstandings or differences in interpretations between us."

The linkage between Azerbaijan and Nakhichevan between two parts of Azerbaijan is crucial for us, in terms of national security, but also in terms of ensuring alternative route for the middle corridor, Amirbayov said. We cannot waste any more time. After three years Armenia has not even started a feasibility study for the 42km leg.

Of course, we cannot force Armenia to implement what they had committed to, and it is nonsensical to suggest we would invade to impose this corridor through force or such like. So we have reached out to Iran as a plan B to build a link by road and rail through Iran.

He said if it is possible the existence of the alternative route might make Armenia to realise how much they may lose by continuing to resist the link going through its land.
IDF to Push Hezbollah Away From Border If Lebanon, Other Countries Fail to Do So

Sputnik News

20231227

MOSCOW (Sputnik) - The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) will push Lebanese Shia movement Hezbollah away from the northern border if Lebanon's authorities and other countries fail to do so as time for diplomatic solutions is running out, Israel's National Unity Party head and war cabinet member, Benny Gantz, stated on Wednesday.

On December 27, IDF Chief of the General Staff, Lt. Gen. Herzi Halevi, said that the Israeli military was on high alert on the border with Lebanon and should be ready to strike.

"The situation in the north must change. The stopwatch for a diplomatic solution is running out. If the world, and the Lebanese government, won't stop the shooting towards the northern communities from Lebanon, and won't act to remove Hezbollah from the border - the IDF will," Israeli newspaper Haaretz quoted Gantz as saying.

On Monday, Israeli Defense Minister Yoav Gallant did not rule out agreements that would ensure the return of residents of northern Gaza to their homes.

On Tuesday, Israeli media reported about a kamikaze drone attack in the Upper Galilee in northern Israel near the border with Lebanon, which resulted in the death of a soldier. An Israeli citizen also received injuries in the kibbutz of Adamit as a result of a projectile launch from Lebanon.

The IDF said nine servicepeople were wounded after the moshav of Shomera was shelled by an anti-tank missile while the troops were attempting to evacuate a victim of the previous strike.

The tensions have been mounting on the Israeli-Lebanese border since the onset of the Palestine-Israel conflict escalation on October 7, with intermittent exchanges of fire and a looming threat of a two-front war for Israel persisting to date.

On October 7, Palestinian movement Hamas launched a large-scale rocket attack against Israel from the Gaza Strip while its fighters breached the border, opening fire on the military and civilians. As a result, over 1,200 people in Israel were killed and some 240 others abducted. Israel launched retaliatory strikes, ordered a complete blockade of Gaza and launched a ground incursion into the Palestinian enclave with the declared goal of eliminating Hamas fighters and rescuing the hostages. Over 21,100 people have been killed so far in Gaza as a result of Israeli strikes, local authorities said.

On November 24, Qatar mediated a deal between Israel and Hamas on a temporary truce and the exchange of some of the prisoners and hostages, as well as the delivery of humanitarian aid into the Gaza Strip. The ceasefire was extended several times and expired on December 1.

 Sputnik

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Turkiye Inching Toward Final Vote on Sweden's NATO Bid After Key Committee Backing

Sputnik News

20231227

Turkiye's Foreign Affairs Committee has endorsed Sweden's bid, setting the stage for a final vote in the Turkish Parliament as Sweden aimed at meeting Ankara's conditions for approval.

Turkiye has moved a step closer to greenlighting Sweden's NATO membership, with the country's Foreign Affairs Committee officially endorsing the bid.

The development, which marks a critical juncture on Sweden's road to joining the North Atlantic Treaty Organization, paves the way for a final decision by the Turkish Parliament potentially happening this week.

The approval process has involved significant diplomatic negotiations, including a recent discussion between Biden and Erdogan, which also touched upon Turkiye's potential acquisition of F-16 fighter jets from the US. The White House has linked Sweden's NATO membership to this sale.

Sweden's bid faced challenges due to its stance on support for Kurdish independence, which Turkiye views as linked to terrorism. However, Sweden has made constitutional and legal amendments to address Turkiye's concerns.

Russian President Vladimir Putin has repeatedly warned that NATO's expansion does not contribute to international peace and security, calling the policy a "relic of the Cold War."

The Russian president also stressed that the US was doing its best to thwart Moscow's rapprochement with Europe.

Vladimir Putin recently pointed out that NATO expansion is based on false promises made to the late Soviet leaders.

"As we know, Finland has been dragged into NATO, Sweden's accession is planned, de facto this means another stage of the alliance coming closer to our borders. We all know very well that in 1991 [NATO members] promised Gorbachev: 'Not an inch to the east'. So these are the partners we've got. They lie without shame at every step," Putin stated.

 Sputnik

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Carl Vinson Carrier Strike Group Conducts Maritime Operations in South China Sea

US Navy

27 December 2023

From Ensign Valentine Mulango

SOUTH CHINA SEA -- U.S. Navy Carrier Strike Group (CSG) 1 led by its flagship, Nimitz-class aircraft carrier USS Carl Vinson (CVN 70), is operating in the South China Sea following a successful scheduled port visit to the Republic of Singapore.

While in the South China Sea, the strike group is conducting maritime security operations, which include flight operations with fixed and rotary wing aircraft, maritime strike exercises, and coordinated tactical training between surface and air units. Carrier operations in the South China Sea are part of the U.S. Navy's routine presence in the Indo-Pacific.

"The United States will continue to fly, sail, and operate safely, wherever international law allowsso that all nations can benefit from use of the maritime commons. This includes the South China Sea, where nearly $4 trillion in trade transits each year and it has some of the world's richest fishing grounds that employ an estimated 3.7 million people," said Rear Adm. Carlos Sardiello, commander, CSG-1. "Since transiting the Pacific from San Diego into the South China Sea, we've participated in multilateral, trilateral and bilateral training exercises in the Indo-Pacific region to increase our combined readiness with like-minded allies and partners to demonstrate our shared commitment to the rules-based international order."

CSG 1 consists of CVN 70, Carrier Air Wing (CVW) 2, Ticonderoga class guided-missile cruiser USS Princeton (CG 59) and Destroyer Squadron (DESRON) 1, which includes Arleigh Burke-class guided-missile destroyers USS Hopper (DDG 70), USS Kidd (DDG 100), USS Sterett (DDG 104), and USS William P. Lawrence (DDG 110).

Prior to entering the South China Sea, CSG-1 participated in a trilateral maritime exercise with the Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force (JMSDF) and Republic of Korea Navy. The exercises provided an opportunity for the three maritime forces to sail together and conduct enhanced planning and advanced maritime communication operations.

The Vinson strike group departed San Diego Oct. 12 for a scheduled deployment to the Western Pacific. Since entering the U.S. 7th Fleet area of operations, the group participated in the Multi-Large Deck Event and Annual Exercise 2023 in the Philippine Sea. These exercises provided opportunities to collaborate with allied forces such as the Royal Australian Navy, Royal Canadian Navy, and JMSDF, to further strengthen regional cooperative efforts.

CSG-1 is a multiplatform team of ships and aircraft, capable of carrying out a wide variety of missions around the globe from combat missions to humanitarian assistance and disaster relief response. CSG-1 is currently deployed to U.S. 7th Fleet area of operations in support of a free and open Indo-Pacific.

U.S. 7th Fleet is the U.S. Navy's largest forward-deployed numbered fleet and routinely interacts and operates with allies and partners in preserving a free and open Indo-Pacific region.

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Biden Struggles to Contain Israel-Hamas War as Conflict Spreads on Multiple Fronts

By Patsy Widakuswara December 27, 2023

As the government of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu expands its ground offensive in Gaza, Iran's threats of retaliation over the airstrikes that killed a senior military officer and continued attacks from Tehran-backed groups in the region are increasing the likelihood of an all-out war in the Middle East. It is a risk U.S. President Joe Biden cannot afford as he heads into an election year in 2024.

Earlier this week, Tehran vowed retribution for what it called the assassination in Syria of Seyed Razi Mousavi, a senior adviser to Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps.

Mousavi was said to be involved in supplying arms to Hezbollah, the Iran-backed militia in Lebanon and Syria that has been intensifying its assault from Israel's northern border in solidarity to Palestinians in Gaza. Israel declined to confirm it was behind the airstrike that killed Mousavi.

The White House did not respond to VOA's queries on whether Israel informed Washington in advance of the airstrikes that killed Mousavi, or whether the administration believes the war can still be contained in Gaza.

The conflict spreads

Immediately after the Gaza war broke out, the United States moved military assets to the Middle East as a deterrence and telegraphed to Tehran and its proxies to stay out. Around the region, however, there are signs the conflict is spreading.

On Monday, Biden ordered "necessary and proportionate" strikes at Kataib Hezbollah, Iran-backed militias in Iraq, in response to a drone attack that injured soldiers in a U.S. military base in Irbil, northern Iraq.

Baghdad condemned the U.S. strikes as a "hostile act" and a violation of its sovereignty. But with about 3,500 U.S. troops in Iraq and Syria directly in the line of fire, analysts say Biden had little choice but to respond.

On Tuesday, Yemen's Iran-backed Houthi militia, also known as Ansar Allah, claimed responsibility for a missile attack on a container ship in the Red Sea. It's the latest in a string of attacks on global shipping in recent weeks that has prompted Washington to set up a multinational naval forces coalition to patrol the waterways.

Escalation is inescapable as Iran-backed groups compete to show their support for Hamas, said Michael Knights, a fellow at the Washington Institute who focuses on Iran-backed militias in Iraq and Syria.

"Some players within the Axis of Resistance, like the Houthis, are trying to show that they are more dedicated to the cause than the other Iraqi or Lebanese or Syrian factions," he told VOA, referring to groups in the region with varying levels of military and political proximity to Tehran.

"The Red Sea is the real concern because the Houthis are much harder to deter, particularly because nobody wants to disrupt the peace process of Saudi Arabia," he added.

Since 2022, Saudi Arabia and Houthi rebels in Yemen have been negotiating a permanent cease-fire to end their eight-year war.

'On the brink of war'

Since the Gaza conflict began, Israel has engaged in fierce cross-border clashes with Hezbollah in Lebanon.

"The situation is really on the brink of war," said Elisheva Machlis, senior lecturer of Middle East Studies at Bar-Ilan University.

Tens of thousands of Israelis have been evacuated from border towns in anticipation of an attack by Hezbollah. It's "an intolerable situation" that may be turning public opinion to favor of expanding the war north, Machlis told VOA.

Netanyahu's government has said that military action is not off the table to ensure that Israeli citizens can return to their homes.

Risk of Israel-Iran war

"Israel's decision to assassinate a high-ranking member of the Iranian military in Damascus is a huge provocation," said Omar Rahman, fellow at the Middle East Council on Global Affairs.

"Iran has stayed out of direct involvement so far, but if its commanders are being targeted, it will have trouble continuing along a path of restraint," he told VOA.

Israel neither confirms nor denies involvement in Mousavi's death.

If Israel is behind the killing, it's unclear whether it is doing so as a warning to Tehran or to trigger an Iranian response that would give Israel the pretext to enlarge the war, said Trita Parsi, executive vice president of the Quincy Institute for Responsible Statecraft, a Washington research group that advocates restraint in American foreign policy.

Israeli Defense Minister Yoav Gallant acknowledged the country is "in a multifront war," under attack in "seven theaters," including Gaza, the West Bank, Lebanon, Syria, Iraq, Yemen and Iran.

Pressure on Israel

As President Biden gears up for the November 2024 election with polls showing most Americans disapproving of his handling of Gaza, he is keen to avoid a broader war. Privately, the Biden administration has been urging Israeli for restraint in Lebanon.

On Gaza, the U.S. has been making increasingly public and urgent appeals for Israel to transition to a more limited and surgical phase of the war. Israeli attacks, however, have been intensifying. Since Christmas Eve, its airstrikes have killed hundreds of Palestinians, many of them in refugee camps.

"We are expanding the fight in the coming days," said Netanyahu in comments released by his Likud party on Monday.

U.S. pressure on Israel continued Tuesday, as Secretary of State Antony Blinken and national security adviser Jake Sullivan met with Ron Dermer, the Israeli minister of strategic affairs, in Washington. Among Gaza-related topics, the meeting focused on "the transition to a different phase of the war to maximize focus on high-value Hamas targets," and "practical steps to improve the humanitarian situation and minimize harm to civilians," a White House official told VOA.

The meeting is the latest in a monthslong diplomatic engagement by Biden's top aides with stakeholders across the region, pushing for more aid for Gazans and hostage release deals even as it continues to provide Israel with military assistance and diplomatic support.

At the United Nations, U.S. Ambassador Linda Thomas-Greenfield worked with Arab states to reach language on a resolution on temporary pauses in fighting and humanitarian aid delivery mechanisms that Washington could abstain on to allow adoption by the Security Council.

Biden is "trying every solution possible except for the most obvious one: a cease-fire in Gaza," Parsi, of the Quincy Institute, told VOA. "A cease-fire would end the attacks on U.S. troops, end the attacks on ships in the Red Sea and most likely also calm down the Lebanese Israeli border."

The U.S. and Israel say a cease-fire at this point will allow Hamas to regroup.

Since October 9, Israeli airstrikes and a ground offensive have killed close to 21,000 people in Gaza, according to health authorities there. Hamas' October 7 surprise attacks in Israel killed 1,200 people. The violence is the bloodiest episode in the decades-long territorial conflict between Israelis and Palestinians.

Mykhailo Komadovsky contributed to this report.

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Israeli Airstrikes Hit Gaza City

By VOA News December 27, 2023

Israeli forces carried out fresh airstrikes Wednesday in the Gaza Strip, a day after comments from Israeli officials about expanding ground fighting sparked concern from the United Nations about the safety of civilians.

Wednesday's fighting included Israeli ground operations and airstrikes in Gaza City, in the northern part of the Gaza Strip where Israel initially focused its campaign to eliminate the Hamas militant group

After moving south to the Khan Younis area, Israeli officials this week have signaled a push into parts of central Gaza, including areas home to multiple refugee camps.

Much of Gaza's population has been forced from their homes by the fighting, with people crowding into overburdened shelters and scrambling to exit areas after Israel warns of impending military action. Humanitarian aid deliveries have also been limited by the violence, leaving shortages of food, water and fuel.

"There are no shortcuts in dismantling a terrorist organization," Israeli army chief Herzi Halevi said Tuesday, referring to Hamas. He said the war would go on "for many months."

The expansion of fighting in central Gaza prompted the United Nations Tuesday to voice alarm over Israeli attacks that killed more than 100 Palestinians in the span of two days this week.

"We are gravely concerned about the continued bombardment of Middle Gaza by Israeli forces, which has claimed more than 100 Palestinian lives since Christmas Eve," U.N. human rights office spokesperson Seif Magango said Tuesday.

The World Health Organization said its teams have undertaken "high-risk missions to deliver supplies, with partners, to hospitals in northern and southern Gaza. A statement issued Wednesday said the WHO teams witnessed "intense hostilities in their vicinity, high patient loads and overcrowding caused by people displaced by the conflict seeking refuge."

"Today I repeat my call on the international community to take urgent steps to alleviate the grave peril facing the population of Gaza and jeopardizing the ability of humanitarian workers to help people with terrible injuries, acute hunger, and at severe risk of disease," said WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus.

Residents on Wednesday reported airstrikes and shelling in the areas of the Nuseirat, Maghazi and Bureij refugee camps in central Gaza.

Radwan Abu Sheitta, who lives in Bureij, told The Associated Press by phone, "The bombing was very intense."

The White House Wednesday welcomed the appointment this week of Sigrid Kaag as United Nations senior humanitarian and reconstruction coordinator for Gaza.

"We welcome Ms. Kaag's leadership and look forward to working together closely to increase the flow of aid into Gaza, and ensure safety and security for the aid delivery and the humanitarian staff providing the life-saving support to those in need," said a statement from national security advisor Jake Sullivan.

Sullivan and Secretary of State Antony Blinken met Tuesday with the Israeli minister for strategic affairs, Ron Dermer. A White House official said Sullivan and Dermer discussed transitioning to a different phase of the war to focus on high-value Hamas targets, and planning for the day after fighting ends, including governance and security in Gaza.

On October 7, Hamas militants poured over the border with Israel and attacked southern Israeli communities, killing about 1,200 people, according to Israel. Hamas, designated a terrorist group by the United States and others, also seized around 240 hostages, of whom 129 remain in Gaza.

In response, Israel vowed to crush Hamas and launched an air, land and sea attack on Gaza. The Israeli offensive has left vast parts of Gaza in ruins and killed nearly 21,000 Palestinians, according to the Gaza health ministry.

The fighting has also displaced most of Gaza's 2.3 million people, with many trying to find safety in overcrowded, U.N.-run shelters in southern Gaza.

The Israeli army said Tuesday that 158 Israeli soldiers have been killed inside Gaza since fighting began in October.

Some material for this report came from The Associated Press, Agence France-Presse and Reuters.

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Israeli Forces Kill 6 People in West Bank

By VOA News December 27, 2023

Israeli forces killed six people Wednesday during a raid in the occupied West Bank.

The official Palestinian news agency Wafa said an Israeli airstrike hit the Nur Shams refugee camp near the town of Tulkarem and that several other people were injured.

Israel's military said it carried out a counterterror operation in the Nur Shams camp, and that its forces came under attack by a group of people throwing explosives.

The Israel Defense Forces said an aircraft attacked the group, and that soldiers also arrested 14 people during the operation in Nur Shams and also in Hebron.

Violence has increased in the West Bank since Israel launched its operation in the Gaza Strip in response to the October 7 attack on Israel by Hamas militants.

The Palestinian health ministry says more than 300 people have been killed in the West Bank by Israeli forces and settlers during that time.

Some information for this report came from The Associated Press, Agence France-Presse and Reuters.

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Chad's President Pledges Respect of Referendum that Paves Way to Civilian Rule

By Moki Edwin Kindzeka December 27, 2023

Chad's Supreme Court will on Thursday declare definitive results of the country's constitutional referendum that paves the way for a return to civilian rule.

Chad's military leader said he will respect the verdict, which is likely not going to be different from provisional results published on Sunday indicating the central African state's new constitution was approved by 86% of voters.

Some opposition leaders challenge the figures, saying the constitution approved in a referendum does not guarantee that the military leaders are ready to hand power to civilians.

Chad's transitional military government said the large turnout of voters in the central African state's constitutional referendum indicates that civilians overwhelmingly adhere to General Mahamat Idriss Deby's plans to hand power to civilian rule by December 2024.

Deby spoke on Chad's National Television this week after provisional results of the constitutional referendum were announced.

He congratulated civilians, political actors and civil society activists who helped Chad's constitutional referendum to unfold peacefully from Nov. 25, when the campaign was launched, through Dec. 17, when the referendum took place, up to Dec. 24, when the National Commission Charged with the Organization of the Constitutional Referendum, CONOREC, announced provisional results.

According to the provisional results, the new constitution was approved by 86% of voters.

CONOREC reports that more than 63% of the more than 8.3 million voters took part in the Dec. 17 referendum.

But Chad's opposition leaders and civil society groups say a majority of voters did not turn out to vote.

Opposition parties, including the Union of Democrats for Development and Progress, report that several million voters did not even collect their voter cards.

Before the referendum, CONOREC reported that it had launched a campaign for several million voters to collect their voter cards to be eligible to vote in the referendum.

Many opposition leaders and civil society groups described the referendum as a sham to prepare for an eventual election of Deby, a 39-year-old military general.

Deby assumed power in April 2021 following the death of his father, General Idriss Deby Itno, who took power in a 1990 coup.

Chad's opposition and civil society say the younger Deby started showing his intention to hold onto power after he failed to organize elections within 18 months from April 2021 as he had promised. He instead extended his rule until November 2024.

Saleh Kebzabo is Chad's civilian transitional prime minister, appointed by Deby,

He said opposition parties and civil society groups that claim that Deby is doing everything possible to illegally continue his family's 31-year autocratic rule are ill-intentioned.

He said it would be better for political parties and civil society groups to prepare for elections that will hand power to civilians by December 2024 instead of wasting their time in unnecessary political quarrels.

Kebzabo said the referendum is key for a return to civilian rule by 2024. The opposition argued it does not bar Deby from running for president.

Chad's military rulers said voters in the referendum also decided that Chad would continue as a decentralized system of government, with the country's 23 regions to have greater financial autonomy with elected regional officials.

Chad's Supreme Court has until Thursday to examine provisional results and declare definitive results of the Dec. 17 referendum.

The opposition, CONOREC, military government and civil society groups said they do not expect any changes from the provisional results declared on Sunday.

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Letter to the Speaker of the House and President pro tempore of the Senate consistent with the War Powers Resolution (Public Law 93-148)

December 27, 2023

Dear Mr. Speaker: (Dear Madam President:)

As I have reported previously, militia groups affiliated with Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) have perpetrated a series of attacks against United States personnel and facilities in Iraq and Syria. These attacks, including the recent attack on the Erbil Air Base by Iran-affiliated Kataib Hezbollah and affiliated groups, have caused injuries to United States personnel and have placed under grave threat the lives of both United States personnel and Coalition forces operating alongside United States forces.

Previously, in response to these attacks and the threat of future attacks, at my direction, United States forces have conducted targeted strikes against facilities in Iraq and Syria used by IRGC and IRGC-affiliated groups.

On the night of December 25, 2023, at my direction, United States forces conducted discrete strikes against three facilities in Iraq used by Iran-affiliated groups for training, logistics support, and other purposes. The strikes were taken to deter future attacks and were conducted in a manner designed to limit the risk of escalation and minimize civilian casualties. I directed the strikes in order to protect and defend our personnel who are in Iraq conducting military operations pursuant to the 2001 Authorization for Use of Military Force. The strikes were intended to degrade and disrupt the ongoing series of attacks against the United States and our partners, and to deter Iran and Iran-backed militia groups from conducting or supporting further attacks on United States personnel and facilities.

I directed this military action consistent with my responsibility to protect United States citizens both at home and abroad and in furtherance of United States national security and foreign policy interests, pursuant to my constitutional authority as Commander in Chief and Chief Executive and to conduct United States foreign relations. The United States took this necessary and proportionate action consistent with international law and in the exercise of the United States' inherent right of self-defense as reflected in Article 51 of the United Nations Charter. The United States stands ready to take further action, as necessary and appropriate, to address further threats or attacks.

I am providing this report as part of my efforts to keep the Congress fully informed, consistent with the War Powers Resolution (Public Law 93-148). I appreciate the support of the Congress in this action.

Sincerely,

JOSEPH R. BIDEN JR.

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WHO teams deliver supplies to hospitals in Northern and Southern Gaza

New mass displacement of Palestinians fleeing fighting, health facilities crammed with people seeking refuge, food

27 December 2023

Statement

World Health Organization teams have undertaken high-risk missions to deliver supplies, with partners, to hospitals in Northern and Southern Gaza witnessing intense hostilities in their vicinity, high patient loads and overcrowding caused by people displaced by the conflict seeking refuge.

"Today I repeat my call on the international community to take urgent steps to alleviate the grave peril facing the population of Gaza and jeopardizing the ability of humanitarian workers to help people with terrible injuries, acute hunger, and at severe risk of disease," said Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, WHO Director-General.

In WHO's latest high-risk mission, teams visited on Tuesday 26 December two hospitals - Al-Shifa in the north and Al-Amal Palestine Red Crescent Society in the south - to deliver supplies and assess needs on the ground.

Both hospitals also serve as shelters for displaced people seeking relative safety. At Al-Shifa Hospital, a reported 50 000 people are sheltering, while in Al-Amal there are 14 000.

At Al-Shifa, WHO delivered fuel to keep essential health services running. With UNICEF, WHO also delivered medical supplies for the hospital. And in support of NGO partner, the World Central Kitchen, delivered materials to support a kitchen at Al-Shifa. Medical supplies were also delivered to the Gaza Central Drug Store, which will act as a medical supply hub to deliver to other hospitals, and will be supported by WHO and partners.

At Al-Amal, colleagues saw the aftermath of recent strikes that disabled the hospital's radio tower and impacted the central ambulance dispatch system for the entire Khan Younis area affecting more than 1.5 million people. Of the 9 ambulances the hospital once had, only 5 remain functioning. WHO staff reported finding it impossible to walk inside the hospital without stepping over patients and those seeking refuge. There are only few functioning toilets available in the hospital and adjacent community buildings and PRCS training centres for the people taking refuge there, staff and hospital patients.

While transiting across Gaza, WHO staff witnessed tens of thousands of people fleeing heavy strikes in the Khan Younis and Middle Area, on foot, riding on donkeys, or in cars. Make-shift shelters were being built along the road.

"WHO is extremely concerned this fresh displacement of people will further strain health facilities in the south, which are already struggling to meet the population's immense needs," said Dr Rik Peeperkorn, WHO Representative in WHO's office for the West Bank and Gaza. "This forced mass movement of people will also lead to more overcrowding, increased risk of infectious diseases, and make it even harder to deliver humanitarian aid."

According to the latest WHO assessments, Gaza has 13 partially functioning hospitals, 2 minimally functioning ones, and 21 that are not functioning at all.

Among these is Nasser Medical Complex, which is the most important referral hospital in Southern Gaza, and is partially functioning. Recent reports of residential areas being ordered to evacuate around the hospital are extremely concerning.

"When military activities intensify near the hospital, ambulances, patients, staff, and WHO and partners will be unable to reach the complex, and this key hospital will quickly become barely functional," said Dr Peeperkorn. "This scenario was witnessed all too often in the North. Gaza can not afford to lose any more hospitals. WHO is working to strengthen and expand the existing struggling health system."

WHO staff also reported Tuesday that the need for food continues to be acute across the Gaza Strip. Hungry people again stopped our convoys today in the hope of finding food.

WHO's ability to supply medicines, medical supplies, and fuel to hospitals is being increasingly constrained by the hunger and desperation of people en route to, and within, hospitals we reach.

Dr Tedros said: "The safety of our staff and continuity of operations depends on more food arriving in all of Gaza, immediately. My own colleagues are also being directly and personally affected by the conflict, just like virtually everyone in Gaza. I continue to receive heartbreaking news of the loss of our Gaza staffers' family members."

"The recent United Nations Security Council resolution appeared to provide hope of an improvement in humanitarian aid distribution within Gaza," Dr Tedros added. "However, based on WHO eyewitness accounts on the ground, the resolution is tragically yet to have an impact. What we urgently need, right now, is a ceasefire to spare civilians from further violence and begin the long road towards reconstruction and peace."

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Russo-Ukraine War - 27 December 2023 - Day 671

Su M Tu W Th F Sa 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31

A number of claims and counterclaims are being made on the Ukraine-Russia conflict on the ground and online. While GlobalSecurity.org takes utmost care to accurately report this news story, we cannot independently verify the authenticity of all statements, photos and videos.

On 24 February 2022, Ukraine was suddenly and deliberately attacked by land, naval and air forces of Russia, igniting the largest European war since the Great Patriotic War. Russian President Vladimir Putin announced a "special military operation" (SVO - spetsialnaya voennaya operatsiya) in Ukraine in response to the appeal of the leaders of the "Donbass republics" for help. That attack is a blatant violation of the territorial integrity, sovereignty and independence of Ukraine. Putin stressed that Moscow's goal is the demilitarization and denazification of the country. The military buildup in preceeding months makes it obvious that the unprovoked and dastardly Russian attack was deliberately planned long in advance. During the intervening time, the Russian government had deliberately sought to deceive the world by false statements and expressions of hope for continued peace.

"To initiate a war of aggression... 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." [Judgment of the International Military Tribunal]

The General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine reported that during the day of December 27, there were 49x combat engagements. Russian forces launched 67x air strikes, carried out 12x MLRS attacks at the positions of Ukrainian troops and various settlements. Unfortunately, the Russian attacks have resulted in civilian casualties and injuries. Private residential buildings, hospitals and other civilian infrastructure were destroyed and damaged.

Volyn and Polissya axes: no significant changes. No signs of formation of an offensive group. Certain units of the armed forces of Belarus continue their missions in the areas bordering Ukraine.

Sivershchyna and Slobozhanshchyna axes: Russia maintains its military presence in the areas of russia bordering Ukraine. Russia continues its sabotage and reconnaissance activities, shelling Ukrainian settlements from the territory of Russia and increases the density of minefields along the state border of Ukraine. More than 20x settlements came under Russian artillery and mortar fire, including Volodymyrivka, Novovasylivka, Popivka (Sumy oblast), Losivka, Bochkove, Krasne Pershe (Kharkiv oblast).

Kup'yans'k axis: the Ukrainian defenders repelled 8x attacks in the vicinity of Syn'kivka and east of Ivanivka (Kharkiv oblast). The Russian occupiers launched an air strike near Ivanivka (Kharkiv oblast). Russian forces fired artillery and mortars at around 10x settlements, including Dvorichna, Syn'kivka, Petropavlivka, Ivanivka, Berestove (Kharkiv oblast).

Lyman axis: the Ukrainian Defense Forces repelled 3x attacks in the area of Serebryans'ke forestry (Luhansk oblast). In the area, the Russian occupiers, with air support, made unsuccessful attempts to breach Ukrainian defense. Russian forces launched an air strike near the settlements of Spirne (Donetsk oblast). Russian forces fired artillery and mortars at more than 10x settlements, including Nevs'ke (Luhansk oblast), Tors'ke, Serebryanka, Spirne, Rozdolivka (Donetsk oblast).

Bakhmut axis: the Ukrainian Defense Forces repelled 2x Russian attacks near Bohdanivka (Donetsk oblast). Around 10x settlements came under artillery and mortar fire, including Bohdanivka, Ivanivske, Kalynivka, Klishchiivka, Andriivka, Stupochky (Donetsk oblast).

Avdiivka axis: the Ukrainian defenders repelled 12x Russian attacks east of Novobakhmutivka, Avdiivka, and 15x more attacks in the vicinities of Sjeverne, Pervomais'ke and Nevel's'ke (Donetsk oblast). Russian forces fired artillery and mortars at around 10x settlements, including Keramik, Stepove, Avdiivka, Tonen'ke, Pervomais'ke, Nevel's'ke (Donetsk oblast).

Mar'inka axis: the Ukrainian Defense Forces continue to hold back Russian forces in the vicinities of Mar'inka and Novomykhailivka (Donetsk oblast), where Russian forces, with air support, conducted 3x failed attacks on Ukrainian positions. The settlements of Krasnohorivka, Mar'inka, Kurakhove, Pobjeda, Yelyzavetivka were under artillery and mortar fire of the Russian occupiers.

Shakhtars'ke axis: Russian forces conducted no offensives. The invaders launched an air strike near the settlement of Zolota Nyva (Donetsk oblast). Russian forces fired artillery and mortars at around 10x settlements, including Vuhledar, Prechystivka, Zolota Nyva, Urozhaine (Donetsk oblast).

Zaporizhzhia axis: the Ukrainian Defense Forces repelled 2x Russian attacks west of Verbove and Robotyne (Zaporizhzhia oblast). In that area, Russian forces made failed attempts to dislodge Ukrainian troops from their positions. Russian forces launched air strikes in the vicinity of Orikhiv and Preobrazhenka (Zaporizhzhia oblast). More than 25x settlements, including Poltavka, Luhivs'ke, Novodanylivka, Novoandriivka, Shcherbaky, Kam'yans'ke, Plavni (Zaporizhzhia oblast), came under Russian artillery and mortar fire.

Odesa operational-strategic group, Kherson axis: the Russian adversary fired artillery at the city of Kherson, the settlements of Beryslav, Stanislav (Kherson oblast). Also, Russian forces launched air strikes in the vicinities of Chervonyi Mayak, Zmiivka, and Novoberyslav (Kherson oblast).

Russian forces do not abandon their intention to drive Ukrainian units out of their footholds on the left bank of the Dnipro. Thus, during the day, Russian forces made 10x unsuccessful assaults. The attacks were repelled and Russian forces suffered significant losses. The Ukrainian troops are holding the line, continue to retain their positions and fire for effect on the Russian enemy.

During the day of December 27, the Ukrainian Air Force launched air strikes on 10x concentrations of Russian troops, weapons, and military equipment.

The Ukrainian missile troops hit 5x concentrations of troops, weapons, and military equipment, 2x command posts, and 4x ammunition depots of the Russian invaders.

The Ministry of Defense of the Russian Federation reported that in Kupyansk direction, units of the Zapad Group of Forces supported by army aviation and artillery repelled six attacks of assault groups of AFU 60th, 115th mechanised, 95th air assault brigades near Sinkovka (Kharkov region).

The AFU losses amounted to up to 45 Ukrainian troops, two motor vehicles, one Gvozdika self-propelled artillery system, and one D-30 howitzer.

In Krasny Liman direction, units of the Tsentr Group of Forces supported by artillery and heavy flamethrowers repelled two attacks launched by the AFU 63rd mechanised and 12th Special Forces brigades near Chervonaya Dibrova (Lugansk People's Republic).

In addition, strikes were delivered at clusters of enemy manpower and hardware near Serebryansky forestry.

Up to 190 Ukrainian troops, one tank, two armoured fighting vehicles, and one D-30 gun were eliminated.

In Donetsk direction, units of the Yug Group of Forces supported by artillery repelled two attacks launched by assault groups of the AFU 24th Mechanised Brigade near Novogorodskoye (Donetsk People's Republic).

In addition, strikes were delivered at enemy manpower and hardware near Veseloye, Krasnoye, Kleshcheyevka, Vasyukovka, Bogdanovka, and Andreyevka (Donetsk People's Republic).

The AFU losses in this direction amounted to up to 280 Ukrainian troops, two armoured personnel carriers, and three motor vehicles.

In the course of the counter-battery warfare, two Msta-B howitzers, two Akatsiya self-propelled artillery systems, two D-30 howitzers , and one Gvozdika self-propelled artillery system were eliminated.

In South Donetsk direction, units of the Vostok Group of Forces supported by artillery and aviation inflicted losses on enemy manpower of the AFU 79th Air Assault Brigade near Novomikhailovka (Donetsk People's Republic).

The enemy lost up to 90 Ukrainian troops and three pick-up trucks.

In Zaporozhye direction, units of the Russian Group of Forces supported by artillery and aviation inflicted losses on manpower and hardware of the AFU 33rd, 65th mechanised and 82nd air assault brigades close to Rabotino and Verbovoye (Zaporozhye region).

During the day, up to 45 Ukrainian troops, two armoured fighting vehicles, one motor vehicle, one Msta-B howitzer, and one D-30 gun were neutralised.

In Kherson direction, as a result of the Russian Group of Forces actions, artillery, and aviation, the AFU losses amounted to up to 20 Ukrainian troops, three motor vehicles, one Akatsiya self-propelled artillery system, one D-20 gun, and four Gvozdika self-propelled artillery systems.

Operational-Tactical Aviation, unmanned aerial vehicles, Missile Troops and Artillery of the Group of Forces of the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation engaged command and observation posts of the AFU 67th Mechanised Brigade and 1st Operational Brigade of National Guard, a fuel depot, as well as manpower and military hardware in 127 areas.

One Mi-8 helicopter of the Ukrainian Air Force was also shot down by air defence systems near Vodyanoye (Donetsk People's Republic).

Air defence systems also intercepted seven HIMARS MLRS projectiles, one HARM anti-radiation missile, and one JDAM aerial guided bomb.

In addition, 17 Ukrainian unmanned aerial vehicles were shot down near Gorlovka, Kirillovka (Donetsk People's Republic), Belogorovka, Novodruzhesk (Lugansk People's Republic), Radensk, Peschanovka (Kherson region), and Balochki (Zaporozhye region).

In total, 560 airplanes and 262 helicopters, 10,121 unmanned aerial vehicles, 442 air defence missile systems, 14,341 tanks and other armoured fighting vehicles, 1,189 combat vehicles equipped with MLRS, 7,527 field artillery guns and mortars, as well as 16,765 units of special military equipment have been destroyed during the special military operation.





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An "unusual" sight at a New South Wales property has stunned onlookers who were shocked to see a small brushtail possum befriend an unlikely candidate.

Inside a chicken coop at an animal refuge in Jervis Bay on the South Coast, owner Belinda Donovan spotted the marsupial escaping the heat on Wednesday where it somehow managed to find itself an unwanted roommate.

A photo shared on the Mudgeroo Emu Farm and Animal Refuge Facebook page shows the wide-eyed animal resting beside a giant diamond python, just centimetres apart. Although non-venomous and not dangerous to humans, the snake, like many others, feeds on possums and other smaller animals, so you don't often see them side by side unless it's feeding time.

A possum and a diamond python were spotted resting close to one another at a NSW property. Source: Mudgeroo Emu Farm and Animal Refuge

Two animals often coexist on property

As strange as it might seem, it's a common occurrence at the animal refuge where wild snakes often roam. Donovan said the two animals regularly coexist on the 70-acre property. "It's pretty crazy," she told Yahoo News Australia.

"We have had possums live all around our chicken coops for the last ten years, and we've got lots of pythons that live there too," she added. "The possums shelter there during the day, and the pythons do as well. They just coexist and we let them be."

Sign the python has already eaten

While it's "normal for pythons to eat all sorts of animals" Donovan says her team wasn't concerned about the welfare of the possum in this instance. That's because "our pythons are pretty well fed already because they've got a good food source of rats" on their property and this particular snake "was very fat".

Looking at the photo, there's an obvious bulge around its belly which indicates it's likely already eaten a large meal.

Story continues

"It could either be gravitate (pregnant) and it's about to give birth, or it could be full of last night's dinner of rats," Donovan said. Plus the "possum looks quite content".

Aussies respond to 'scary' sight

After sharing the image on Facebook with its followers, many were shocked to see the two animals effortlessly coexist  but some still feared for the safety of the possum.

"Run little guy, run! I dont like the law of averages," said one, responding to the post. "That possum needs a lesson on stranger danger," said another. While some others said the situation looked "so scary".

Earlier this month, snake catchers from the Sunshine Coast were called to a property to rescue a carpet python that had swallowed a brushtail possum. At the time, Stuart told Yahoo News it was by far "the biggest food item" he's ever seen a snake inhale and at first thought it might have been a pet cat or small dog.

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Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Mao Ning's Regular Press Conference on December 27, 2023

Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the People's Republic of China

2023-12-27 18:00

CCTV: This year marks the 10th anniversary of the Belt and Road Initiative put forward by President Xi Jinping. It's also been a fruitful year for Belt and Road cooperation. What has high-quality Belt and Road cooperation accomplished this year? What's China's expectation for the cooperation in the next decade?

Mao Ning: The BRI is a major initiative for international cooperation proposed by President Xi Jinping with an insightful grasp of the trend of the world and the future of mankind. Over the past decade, Belt and Road cooperation has made historic achievements and become the most popular international public good and the largest platform for international cooperation.

This year has seen steady progress in trade and investment under Belt and Road cooperation. For the first 11 months, China's trade with Belt and Road partner countries totaled RMB 17.65 trillion, up by 2.6 percent year on year; non-financial FDI from China in these countries reached RMB 201.1 billion, up by 26.8 percent year on year; and the completed turnover of China-contracted projects in these countries rose to RMB 784.8 billion, up by 8.5 percent year on year.

Connectivity cooperation has produced numerous highlights. For the first 11 months of this year, the China-Europe railway express ran 16,145 trains, up by 7 percent year on year, and shipped 1.749 million TEUs of cargo, up by 19 percent year on year and exceeding the total shipment for last year. The Jakarta-Bandung High-Speed Railway, which has been in operation for just two months, has transported over 1 million passengers. Projects such as the Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman Tunnel in Bangladesh and the Lekki Deep Sea Port in Nigeria have opened, giving a strong boost to national and regional connectivity.

Cooperation for better livelihood has yielded fruitful outcomes. The Africa Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Headquarters that China helped to build completed construction early this year. Small but practical livelihood projects, such as the Luban Workshop, the Brightness Action, programs on growing Juncao and hybrid rice and cooperation on artemisinin have brought sustained benefit to our fellow developing countries and had an extensive and positive impact.

Cooperation in new areas, such as green and digital areas, is booming. China and relevant countries have jointly issued the Beijing Initiative for Belt and Road Green Development and the Beijing Initiative on Belt and Road International Digital Economy Cooperation, stepped up industrial cooperation in green energy such as hydro power, wind power and photovoltaic power, and reinvigorated traditional industries through such digital economy platforms as the Silk Road e-commerce.

The third Belt and Road Forum for International Cooperation held in October is the culmination of the commemoration of the BRI's 10th anniversary and marked a new stage of high-quality Belt and Road cooperation. At the forum, President Xi Jinping reviewed achievements of the past decade and the good experience and announced eight major steps China will take to support the joint pursuit of high-quality Belt and Road cooperation. This identified the direction, new vision and the source of impetus for BRI. We hope the 10th anniversary of BRI can be a new starting point for high-quality Belt and Road cooperation and galvanize efforts to build a community with a shared future for mankind.

China Daily: Several overseas media reported that a commander of the Baloch National Army that had surrendered himself to the Pakistani government disclosed that India has been secretly supporting terrorist activities in Balochistan and financing Balochistan separatist forces. Baloch officials said that India's support and use of terrorists is the main reason behind the increasing terrorist activities in the province. What's your comments?a

Mao Ning: We noticed relevant reports. Terrorism is humanity's common enemy. China firmly opposes double standards on counterterrorism. To support and use terrorist groups and let them thrive out of one's selfish interests at the expense of international and regional security benefits no one and will only backfire.

China stands for strengthening counterterrorism cooperation among all countries to jointly fight all forms of terrorism.

AFP: Zambia's foreign minister resigned yesterday due to suspicion of taking bribes from a Chinese businessman. Could you share more information on this or your comment?

Mao Ning: I noted the reports but do not have information on what exactly happened. The Chinese government asks overseas Chinese companies and individuals to strictly abide by local laws and regulations in their cooperation with local partners. Zambia is China's important partner in Africa and we will continue working with Zambia to expand and deepen bilateral cooperation in various fields and advance common development.

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China sanctions US compliance firm over Uyghur research

Kharon 'provided so-called evidence for America's illegal sanctions,' Beijing says.

By Adile Ablet and Alex Willemyns for RFA 2023.12.27 -- Beijing has sanctioned Kharon, a U.S.-based company that helps businesses comply with the Uyghur Forced Labor Prevention Act, which bans the import of goods made using forced labor in China's far-west.

Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Mao Ning said Tuesday the sanctions were a "countermeasure" to hit back at sanctions imposed on Dec. 8 by the United States against two Chinese officials for their role in "serious human rights abuses" against Uyghurs in the Xinjiang region.

"In accordance with China's Anti-Foreign Sanctions Law, we will take countermeasures against American intelligence data company Kharon, which has long collected Xinjiang-related sensitive information and provided so-called evidence for America's illegal sanctions," Mao said.

Mao said sanctions would also be issued against Kharon's director of investigations, Edmund Xu, and Nicole Morgret, a former researcher with the Center for Advanced Defense Studies, which earlier this year issued a report about U.S. brands ties to Uyghur-mined gold.

She said both Xu and Morget would be banned from entering China, Hong Kong and Macau, and would have any assets frozen there.

"We again urge the U.S. to stop smearing China, cancel the illegal unilateral sanctions on Chinese officials and companies, and stop implementing wrongful acts such as the Uyghur Forced Labor Prevention Act," Mao said at a press briefing. "If the U.S. refuses to change course, China will not flinch and will respond in kind."

Uyghur Forced Labor Prevention Act

Los Angeles-based Kharon describes itself as a research company that helps businesses "identify a wide range of sanctions and compliance risks" to assist "with managing financial crimes, supply chain exposure, export controls, investment risk, and more."

Among other things, the company helps businesses comply with the Uyghur Forced Labor Prevention Act, which bans the import into the United States of any goods produced using the slave labor of Uyghurs, and presumes that any goods originating from Xinjiang are tainted.

In a statement, Kharon said its "world-class" investigative and analytical services were "relied upon by thousands of clients, customers, and stakeholders to effectively and efficiently manage risk in accordance with applicable legal and regulatory requirements."

The firm also denied it was engaging in a smear campaign and said that because it has no presence in China, the sanctions "will not impact its operations or ability to service its clients."

"Kharon notes that the Government of China has sanctioned other U.S. businesses, individuals, and organizations over the last several years," it said, adding it "will continue to provide research and data analytics that is objective, independent, and based on reliable sources."

As many as 1.8 million Uyghurs and other members of ethnic Turkic groups are thought to have been detained by Chinese authorities since 2017. The United States has previously labeled the effort a genocide and has cited allegations of torture, forced labor, sterilization, and severe restrictions on freedom of speech, movement and religion.

China has called its efforts in Xinjiang a "de-extremification" campaign and has dismissed allegations of widespread abuse as a lie.

Louisa Greve, the director of global advocacy for the Uyghur Human Rights Project and a former colleague of Morgret, said the sanctions issued by Beijing were a hamfisted attempt to hit back at an increasingly successful global campaign to call out its abuses.

"Overall, it is clear that the Chinese government wishes to censor and intimidate anyone uncovering the facts about the Chinese government's state imposed forced labor of Uyghurs," Greve said. "However, these sanctions cannot cover up the truth."

Edited by Malcolm Foster.

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 December 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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China firmly opposes negative China-related provisions in US defense authorization act

Global Times

By Global Times Published: Dec 28, 2023 01:56 AM

China expresses strong dissatisfaction and firm opposition to the negative provisions related to China in the US' National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2024. These clauses extensively manipulate the Taiwan question, advocate for strategic competition with China, exaggerate the "China threat," push for "de-risking" in key areas related to China and brazenly interfere in China's internal affairs, China's Foreign Affairs Committee of the National People's Congress (NPC) said on Wednesday.

In regards to the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2024 passed and signed into law by the US, Xu Dong, spokesperson of China's Foreign Affairs Committee of the NPC, said on Wednesday that the act severely undermines China's interests of sovereignty security and development and seriously violates the consensus reached at the China-US San Francisco summit.

China's Constitution clearly stipulates that "Taiwan is part of the sacred territory of the People's Republic of China. It is the inviolable duty of all Chinese people, including our compatriots in Taiwan, to accomplish the great task of reunifying the motherland." Any attempt to separate Taiwan island from China goes against the national interest of China, which the Chinese people will never accept, Xu said.

The Taiwan question is China's core interests, the fundamental basis of the political foundation of China-US relations, and the first and foremost red line that must not be crossed in China-US relations. The US has made solemn commitments on the Taiwan question in the three joint communiquAs. China will eventually achieve reunification, which is inevitable. Any attempt to use Taiwan to contain China is doomed to fail, Xu noted.

China will consistently adhere to the path of peaceful development and persist to the development of the country and the nation. Chinese people's rights to pursue a better life is sacred and inviolable. The relevant provisions in the US act ignore facts, advocate for "decoupling" and "cutting off ties," and arbitrarily politicize issues related to trade, technology and culture, attempting to artificially disrupt normal exchanges and cooperation between China and the US. Such a practice is unpopular, unjust, and contrary to the interests of any parties, Xu said.

Mutual respect, peaceful coexistence and win-win cooperation are the shared directions for both China and the US. We strongly urge the US to abandon Cold War and zero-sum thinking as well as ideological biases, refrain from implementing the negative clauses related to China in the aforementioned act, and avoid taking risks in matters concerning China's sovereignty and core interests. The US should work with the Chinese side to implement the important consensus reached at the San Francisco meeting between the two heads of state with practical actions, Xu stressed.

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Iran says Zionists' assassination of Iranian cmdr is violation of int'l human rights law

IRNA - Islamic Republic News Agency

Dec 27, 2023

Tehran, IRNA -- Permanent Mission of the Islamic Republic of Iran to the United Nations Office and other international organizations in Geneva has said that the Monday assassination of an Iranian commander in a Zionist attack in Syria was a violation of international human rights law.

The mission said on Wednesday that the recent assassination, which took place out of any active armed conflict in Damascus, was not only a violation of international law and the UN Charter, but also breached the international human rights law.

Iranian Ambassador and Permanent Representative to the UN Amir Saeed Iravani also wrote a letter to UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres and UNSC President Jose de la Gasca Lopezdomingue last night which said that Iran has its legitimate and inherent rights based on international law and the United Nations Charter for a decisive response at the appropriate time.

"Iran also reaffirms the inherent right of the Syrian Arab Republic, under international law, to take all necessary measures in response to terrorist attacks and acts of aggression by the Israeli regime against its sovereignty, independence, and territorial integrity," Iravani said.

9341**2050

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Army to set up five missile units across Iran: Cmdr.

IRNA - Islamic Republic News Agency

Dec 27, 2023

Tehran, IRNA -- The Commander of the Iranian Army Ground Force has said it plans to establish five missile divisions in different critical locations inside the country.

Brigadier General Kioumars Heidari made the remarks during an inspection of a missile unit in central Iran on Wednesday.

He said that the Army Ground Force has always attached importance to the development of missile units as part of its agenda to improve combat readiness and defensive capabilities.

Emphasizing the need for the reinforcement of the Army's missile units, he noted that it will unveil and make operational two advanced types of ground-based and air-based missiles in the near future.

Pointing to the constant advancements of the Army Ground Forces in upgrading the missile sector, the commander said that the Army Ground Force is capable of responding to any sort of missile threat at any time and location.

4208**2050

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Nothing new in Iran's nuclear activities: Nuclear chief

IRNA - Islamic Republic News Agency

Dec 27, 2023

Tehran, IRNA -- Iran's nuclear chief says the country's nuclear activities are being carried out within the framework and regulations of the International Atomic Energy Organization (IAEA).

The UN nuclear watchdog said Tuesday that Iran has reversed a months-long slowdown in the rate at which it is enriching uranium to up to 60% purity.

Iran has "increased its production of highly enriched uranium, reversing a previous output reduction from mid-2023," the IAEA said in a statement, according to Reuters.

Head of the Atomic Energy Organization of Iran (AEOI) Mohammad Eslami said in response that the other side is trying to divert public attention from the Zionist regime's war on Gaza toward Iran.

"We did not do anything new, and it is our routine activity that is being carried out according to the framework and regulations," he told reporters on the sidelines of a weekly cabinet session on Wednesday morning.

"What the other party has said is not a new thing, and it is more of a media hype," he said. "Given the political conditions and the situation that has happened to the other party in Gaza, they are trying to create a different atmosphere and divert public attention from the Gaza side toward Iran."

In fact, he contended, it is clear what their goals are when they do such things.

7129**4354

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Iran: IRGC advisor's assassination violation of UN Charter, universal human rights

Iran Press TV

Wednesday, 27 December 2023 6:09 PM

The Permanent Mission of the Islamic Republic of Iran to the United Nations Office and other International Organizations in Geneva has vehemently condemned the israeli assassination of a senior Iranian military advisor in Syria as a blatant violation of the international law and human rights.

The diplomatic mission said in a post published on X on Wednesday that the "assassination and targeted killing" of Seyyed Razi Mousavi by the Israeli regime airstrike "was not only an outrageous violation of international law and the UN Charter, but also of universal human rights law."

Mousavi was martyred by the Israeli regime on Monday in the Sayyeda Zeinab neighborhood of the Syrian capital of Damascus, while on an advisory mission in Syria.

He was one of the companions of Iran's top anti-terror commander, Lieutenant General Qassem Soleimani, who was assassinated in a US drone strike near Baghdad International Airport on January 3, 2020.

Iran maintains an advisory mission in Syria at the request of the Arab country with the aim of helping Damascus get rid of the foreign-backed militants who have been fighting the democratically-elected government there since 2011.

Earlier in December, Israel killed two Islamic Revolution Guards Corps (IRGC) military advisors - identified as Mohammad Ali Ataee Shoorcheh and Panah Taqizadeh - in an attack in Syria.

The IRGC announced in a statement at the time that the two officers were martyred against the backdrop of the relentless savagery of the "fake and child-killing" Israeli regime in Gaza.

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Iran Army Ground Force to unveil two new missiles, set up 5 missile units in sensitive locations: Cmdr.

Iran Press TV

Wednesday, 27 December 2023 4:10 PM

Commander of the Iranian Army's Ground Force says the force plans to showcase two new homegrown missiles within the next few months, and set up five missile units at sensitive locations across the country.

Brigadier General Kioumars Heidari made the remarks during a visit to a military base in Aran va Bidgol County of Iran's central province of Isfahan on Wednesday.

He noted that the Iranian Army Ground Force, as part of efforts to enhance its combat capabilities and preparedness and also in line with the guidelines of the Commander-in-Chief of the Iranian Armed Forces Ayatollah Seyyed Ali Khamenei, has devised plans aimed at self-sufficiency in the design and production of various kinds of munitions.

The high-profile Iranian commander highlighted that five missile units are going to be set up at five sensitive locations across the country under the grandiose Labbaik 2 (Allegiance 2) plan, the second of a three-part plan aimed at promoting the capabilities of the Ground Force in designing and manufacturing cutting-edge weapons.

Heidari went on to say that the Iranian Army Ground Force has equipped its units with homegrown missiles, which can hit targets with pinpoint accuracy, so that the forces will be able to respond to any act of aggression in the shortest possible time.

The commander stressed that his force is going to unveil two new air-launched and ground-launched missiles by the end of the current Iranian calendar year, which concludes on March 20, 2024.

The air-launched missile will be fired from various attack helicopters and fighter jets, while the ground-launched one will be built in accordance with the required tactical range, Heidari pointed out.

Iranian military experts and engineers have in recent years made remarkable breakthroughs in manufacturing a broad range of indigenous equipment, making the armed forces self-sufficient.

Iranian officials have repeatedly underscored that the country will not hesitate to strengthen its military capabilities, including its missile power, which are entirely meant for defense, and that Iran's defense capabilities will be never subject to negotiations.

Ayatollah Khamenei has repeatedly called for efforts to maintain and boost Iran's defense capabilities, decrying enemies for questioning the country's missile program.

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Iran's atomic chief: Nothing new in nuclear work, all activities in line with rules

Iran Press TV

Wednesday, 27 December 2023 3:23 PM

Head of the Atomic Energy Organization of Iran (AEOI) Mohammad Eslami has dismissed new foreign media reports suggesting a spike in the level of uranium enrichment in recent weeks, saying Tehran's nuclear activities comply with international rules and regulations.

"The new media project that has started about Iran's enrichment is nothing new, and we are proceeding with our current activity within the framework of the regulations," Eslami told reporters on the sidelines of a cabinet session on Wednesday.

The comments came after the Reuters news agency said in a report that the UN nuclear watchdog had notified its members about an increase in the rate at which Iran has been enriching uranium at two of its nuclear facilities since the end of November.

Eslami rejected any concerns, saying that enriching uranium up to 60% has been a routine at Iranian nuclear facilities.

"We are enriching [uranium] to the very 60 percent purity; we have neither changed our work nor expanded our capacity," he explained.

"This is media propaganda and the White House and the Zionist regime normally use such phrases to reduce the pressure of the global public opinion caused by the crimes they are committing in Gaza," said the AEOI chief.

"By making a case about such issues, they want to divert attention away from Gaza and shift it toward Iran," he said of the ongoing Israeli aggression against Palestine which has been supported by the United States.

Back in June, Eslami said that the AEOI has been enriching uranium to the purity level of 60% in accordance with a December 2020 parliamentary law -- dubbed the Strategic Action Plan to Counter Sanctions -- for different purposes, including the production of radiopharmaceuticals and detectors.

In 2019, Iran started to roll back the limits it had accepted under a landmark nuclear deal with world powers that had been signed in 2015. The decision came a year after the US withdrew from the agreement and re-imposed sanctions on Tehran.

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IRGC to Israel: Await our revenge for commander's assassination

Iran Press TV

Wednesday, 27 December 2023 9:38 AM

The spokesman of the Islamic Revolution Guards Corps (IRGC) says Iran will respond appropriately to the Israeli regime over the assassination of a senior military advisor in Syria, vowing to take revenge for the terrorist attack in different times and places.

Brigadier General Ramezan Sharif made the remarks at a news conference on Wednesday, after senior IRGC commander, Seyyed Razi Mousavi was killed in an Israeli airstrike in the Sayyeda Zeinab neighborhood of the Syrian capital of Damascus.

"Definitely, with the martyrdom of Mousavi, there will be no disruption in our missions to confront the Zionist regime," the IRGC's spokesman said.

He noted that the assassination of Mousavi is a continuation of the violation of international laws by the Israeli regime, calling on the international community to stop the crimes of the occupying regime which endanger international peace and security.

Seyyed Razi Mousavi was martyred by the Israeli regime on Monday, while on an advisory mission in Syria.

He was one of the companions of Iran's top anti-terror commander, General Qassem Soleimani, who was assassinated by the US in Iraq four years ago.

'Hamas' Al-Aqsa Storm a revenge for Soleimani'

Sharif further noted that the martyrdom of Mousavi is a great loss but stressed that Iran will continue the path of resistance with strength.

The IRGC's spokesman also noted that one of the main reasons that the Israeli regime assassinated Mousavi at this point was due to its failure on October 7, when Palestinian resistance movements launched the surprise attack, dubbed Operation Al-Aqsa Storm, into the occupied territories.

He also said Operation Al-Aqsa Storm against the Israel regime was one of the acts of revenge for the assassination of Lieutenant General Soleimani, warning that these acts of revenge will continue.

The Israeli regime has for years targeted what it calls Iran-linked positions in Syria.

Sharif said Mousavi had a good experience in equipping the resistance and confronting Israelis, adding that he played a vital role along with the resistance front in the fight against the Daesh Takfirit terrorist group in Syria.

The IRGC's spokesman continued that Iran's response to the assassination of Mousavi will be a combination of direct action and the resistance front, pointing out that the number of Israel's casualties following Operation Al-Aqsa Storm is a sign of the regime's decline.

Israel is under immense pressure, he said, which is the reason why the occupying regime is seeking to expand the scope of the ongoing war in the Gaza Strip and attack other countries as well.

Sharif noted that Iran will continue to confront the Israeli regime as it did after the assassination of its nuclear scientists.

Iran maintains an advisory mission in Syria at the request of Damascus with the aim of helping the war-torn Arab country get rid of the foreign-backed militants who have been fighting the democratically-elected Syrian government since 2011.

Earlier in December, Israel killed two IRGC military advisors -- Mohammad Ali Ataee Shoorcheh and Panah Taqizadeh -- in an attack in Syria.

The IRGC announced in a statement that the two officers were martyred against the backdrop of the relentless savagery of the "fake and child-killing" Israeli regime in Gaza.

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Hong Kong: Nov exports value up 7.4%

The value of Hong Kongs total exports increased to $386.6 billion in November, up 7.4% on the same month last year, the Census & Statistics Department announced today.

The value of goods imports increased 7.1% to $414.6 billion for the same period.

A trade deficit of $27.9 billion, or 6.7% of the value of imports, was recorded for November.

Comparing the three-month period ending November with the preceding three months on a seasonally adjusted basis, the value of goods exported rose 5.1%, while that of goods imported increased 5.5%.

The Government noted that the value of merchandise exports recorded a year-on-year increase due to a low comparison base. Exports to the Mainland rose, those to the US grew modestly, while those to the European Union fell visibly. Exports to other major Asian markets saw a mixed performance.

Looking ahead, it added that the challenging external environment will continue to weigh on Hong Kongs export performance in the near term.

This story has been published on: 2023-12-28. To contact the author, please use the contact details within the article.
Uneven roads with potholes and broken asphalt are a common sight in Australia, leaving residents across the nation fed up and ready to take matters into their own hands.

Citizen-made signs on streets have become an increasingly popular way for people to let the government know just how frustrated they are, with Diamond Creek Road in Victoria  known as 'The Windy Mile' for locals  the latest to be called out for its poor condition.

A yellow sign, which at first glance appears to be from authorities, has been positioned on the road next to a row of potholes. Yet when looking closer, it quickly becomes apparent the sign has been added by a fed-up member of the public.

"Surface still f**ked", it reads. It's unclear who left the sign and how it was made, but the frustration behind it is clear for all to see.

It is still unclear who made and put the road sign up. Source: TikTok/Trianabutler

While over one million people have looked and laughed at the sign shared online, saying it's "the most Australian thing" they've ever seen, it also speaks to a much deeper, ongoing issue with the condition of the arterial road in Melbourne's North East, as well as across Australia.

The state of the road has prompted Labor Member for Eltham, Vicki Ward MP to release a survey for Diamond Creek Road after "a number of locals have raised their concerns" with her about it. She states online that the feedback given will be presented to the Department of Transport and the Minister for Roads and Road Safety for consideration.

Tree planted in pothole nearby

In 2021  just five minutes up the same road  residents planted a tree directly in a giant pothole to get the attention of the council after it had been left, damaging several cars.

Photos of the tree had hundreds of people from the area celebrating the move. "This is in my local area  local council says it's a VicRoads issue, VicRoads says it's Metro Trains' issue, Metro says it's not..." one person shared, showing the frustration felt by many.

Story continues

Diamond Creek Road is an arterial road, meaning it is a major connecting road, and is managed by the state's transport department, not the local council. In Melbourne this is VicRoads.

Yahoo News Australia has reached out to VicRoads and Vicki Ward MP for comment.

Tree planted in pothole in Diamond Creek in 2021 (left). A spray painted message on a road in Adelaide in October (right). Source: The Today Show/Facebook

Not the first frustrated message on Australian roads

In October, one road user showed their anger over a defect by spray painting "fix it you lazy pricks" onto an Adelaide road with an arrow pointing to an uneven kerb at a roundabout.

It appeared some work had been carried out to smooth the surface but was seemingly incomplete, prompting the brutal call for action.

An image of the road message was posted online by MP Blair Boyer, the South Australian Minister of Education, Training and Skills, who confirmed he does not condone graffiti but did notify authorities of the road conditions.

"I dont agree with spray painting the road to make your point (and just creating further work for council in the process), but nonetheless I have written to City of Tee Tree Gully council about the kerb," he said.

Do you have a story tip? Email: newsroomau@yahoonews.com.

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Death Sentence For Iranian Protester Accused Of Murder 'Illegal,' Lawyer Says

By RFE/RL's Radio Farda December 27, 2023

The death sentence for murder given to an Iranian man detained while taking part in last year's anti-regime protests is "illegal," a lawyer for victims' families has said.

Mujahed Korkor (also known as Abbas Korkori) was sentenced to death for the murder of Kian Pirfalak, a 9-year-old boy, and several other people killed in the southwestern city of Izeh in November 2022.

They were killed during reprisals by government forces who opened fire on those protesting the death in custody of 22-year-old Mahsa Amini, who was arrested for breaking the country's strict Islamic dress code.

Khosrow Alikordi, a lawyer representing several victims' families, said on X, formerly Twitter, that Pirfalak's parents had not identified Korkor as the killer of their son, had not filed a complaint against him, and had not demanded "qesas," or retribution, and that this made Korkor's death sentence "illegal."

Kian Pirfalak has become a symbol of Iran's brutal crackdown on protesters. His father was severely injured in the violence and hospitalized for two months, unaware of his son's death for weeks.

Iranian authorities have charged Korkor with using a military-style automatic weapon to kill Pirfalak and several other protesters, despite the boy's parents saying that the car they were riding in was shot at by security forces.

Furthermore, in a video released after partially recovering from his wounds, Meysam Pirfalak rejected the authorities' claim that Korkor had killed his son.

The rate of executions in Iran has been rising sharply, particularly in the wake of the widespread protests triggered by Amini's death.

Iran Human Rights said that, as of December 2023, more than 700 people have been executed in Iran, with a marked increase in recent months.

Amnesty International says the regime in Tehran has executed more people than any other country in the world other than China so far this year.

Written by Ardeshir Tayebi based on an original story in Persian by RFE/RL's Radio Farda

Source: https://www.rferl.org/a/iran-korkor-death- sentence-illegal/32749612.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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Iraqi Shiite militia claims rocket attack on U.S. base in Syria

People's Daily Online

(Xinhua) 14:48, December 27, 2023

BAGHDAD, Dec. 26 (Xinhua) -- An Iraqi Shiite militia on Tuesday claimed responsibility for a rocket barrage on a U.S. military base in Syria's northeastern province of al-Hasakah.

The militia, named Islamic Resistance in Iraq, claimed in an online statement that its fighters fired rockets on the al-Shaddadi military base and hit their targets, without giving further details.

The attack by the Iraqi armed group is part of a series of retaliatory measures against the U.S. forces amid the ongoing conflict in the Gaza Strip, the group's statement added.

Meanwhile, the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, a Britain-based war monitor, confirmed that explosions were heard in the al-Shaddadi base. There are no reports of casualties so far.

The incident marked the 61st recorded attack on the U.S. bases in Syria since Oct. 19, the war monitor added.

Earlier in the day, the White House said that U.S. President Joe Biden ordered the military to launch airstrikes against three locations utilized by Kataib Hezbollah and affiliated groups in Iraq. The order came after a drone attack on Monday on a U.S. base near Erbil Airport in northern Iraq wounded three U.S. service members, one critically.

Later in the day, the Iraqi government condemned the U.S. airstrikes on Iraqi security sites, which killed a security member and injured 18 people, including civilians, according to a statement by the media office of Prime Minister Mohammed Shia' al-Sudani.

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Fighting in Rakhine threatens Chinese-backed infrastructure projects

Parties to a deep-sea port project sign addendum to speed up the plan.

By RFA Burmese 2023.12.27 -- Intense fighting between junta troops and an ethnic army in western Myanmar's Rakhine state has threatened to disrupt Chinese-backed infrastructure projects that are part of the Belt and Road Initiative.

Progress has stalled on the projects a the Kyaukphyu Special Economic Zone, a deep-sea port and a railway a because of the armed conflict, said a Rakhine resident who has been monitoring developments there.

"For the time being, China's two important projects a the railway and deep-sea port a are impossible to implement, because the [railway] must connect Kyaukphyu to Mandalay," he said. "Currently, there is fighting in both Mandalay and Magway regions. There are also conflicts in Rakhine state, so it is challenging to implement the project."

The Kyaukphyu area is also the starting point of dual pipelines that transport oil and gas across Myanmar and into China. The pipelines are Myanmar's largest energy infrastructure project and a crucial source of revenue for the Southeast Asian country.

Intense clashes between the junta and the Arakan Army, an ethnic armed organization also known as the AA, resumed in Rakhine state on Nov. 13. The AA is now dominant in southern parts of the state, though battles continue, said a second resident who declined to be named for safety reasons.

Nevertheless, Myanmar and China are trying to speed up the implementation of the deep-sea port project a a key part of China's Belt and Road initiative in Myanmar a said Aung Naing Oo, chairman of Myanmar Special Economic Zone Central Working Committee and the junta's Union Minister for Union Government Office 1.

To that end, a Burmese and a Chinese official involved in the port project signed an addendum to the original agreement in Naypyitaw on Tuesday, as armed conflict in the state expands, according to the junta's cabinet minister via the state media.

The project will improve living standards and create job opportunities in Rakhine state, including in Kyaukphyu, Aung Naing Oo said.

Threat to fishing

But Kyaukphyu residents, who are economically dependent on fishing, said they have little faith in the project, fearing they will lose their livelihoods.

They pointed out that authorities cited similar incentives for locals when building the natural gas and oil pipeline project, though they failed to materialize, residents, who did not want to be named for safety reasons, told RFA.

"One or two projects have been implemented, but the locals didn't get job opportunities," one local said.

China is investing the bulk of the money in the deep-sea port project, which will have 10 jetties where container ships can dock and accommodate about 7 million 20-foot containers per year, with goods shipped to Europe, South Asia and Africa.

Because the AA dominates sizable areas in Kyaukphyu and Ramree townships, where the project will be implemented, China will have to negotiate with the AA, a third resident pointed out.

The Chinese Embassy in Yangon did not respond to an email request for comment.

Myanmar's previous civilian-led government signed the agreement to build the deep-sea port and special economic zone in November 2020.

Residents flee

A skirmish between the AA and junta forces in Ramree township on Dec. 18 drove nearly all of town's 10,000-plus residents from their homes after the Myanmar military unleashed attacks by its army, navy and air forces, residents told Radio Free Asia. The island is the site of one of two deep-water container ports financed by a Chinese consortium.

An elderly man from Laung Chaung village was killed and two girls from Nyaung Pin Hla village were seriously injured when the junta's forces fired heavy weapons during the fighting, according to a statement issued the same day by the Three Brotherhood Alliance of ethnic armed organizations, including the AA.

Additionally, four junta soldiers were killed, the AA seized arms and military equipment, the statement said, though RFA could not independently confirm the information.

The following day, the junta deployed warships around Ramree Island and fired heavy weapons, a resident told RFA. Internet and phone lines were cut off, making it difficult to obtain further information on the situation.

The ongoing fighting in Rakhine state could expand to Kyaukphyu, Toungup, Thandwe and Gwa townships, said the first resident.

In a statement issued on Dec. 10, the AA said it seized four police stations and a police battalion in Ramree township.

Fierce fights between the junta troops and the AA forces also occurred in Rakhine's northern townships, including in Pauktaw on Dec. 18, when a junta battalion opened fire on the town with heavy weapons, according to the AA.

The ethnic army said it seized 142 army camps in Rakhine state and Paletwa township in Chin state during the fighting.

RFA could not reach junta spokesman Maj. Gen. Zaw Min Tun or Hla Thein, junta spokesman and attorney general for Rakhine state, for comment.

More than 100,000 civilians have fled their homes in Pauktaw, Ponnagyun and Minbya townships due to the fighting, according to the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Assistance.

Translated by Htin Aung Kyaw for RFA Burmese. Edited by Roseanne Gerin and Malcolm Foster.

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 December 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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Junta attack kills 8 civilians, injures 25 in Myanmar's Laukkaing city

Junta continues to bombard the city, making it difficult to ascertain the full extent of the casualties.

By RFA Burmese 2023.12.27 -- Junta's recent deployment of heavy weaponry in Laukkaing, a city within the Kokang Self-Administered Zone in Myanmar's Shan State, has resulted in the death of eight civilians and left 25 others injured, according to the anti-junta Myanmar National Democratic Alliance Army (MNDAA) on Tuesday.

The MNDAA said in a statement that the military junta's two heavy weapons landed near the Crown hotel in Dong Cheng neighborhood in Kokang, bringing civilian casualties. It added that the injured individuals were transported to the hospital, while those who passed away were cremated.

A local resident, who wished to remain anonymous for fear of reprisals, told RFA Burmese that he eye-witnessed the death of several civilians when a shell hit and detonated on a car parked near the Crown Hotel.

"The heavy weapon dropped straight on that car and one of the people in the car and the two others near the car died. Children and women were among the dead," said the resident.

He further explained that the incident occurred when troops from the MNDAA positioned near the Sel Ton gate, just outside Laukkaing city, launched an attack on the 77th Division of the military junta as they entered the city. A heavy weapon used in this exchange landed near the Crown Hotel and exploded, resulting in casualties.

The military junta continues to bombard Laukkaing city, and frequent disruptions in internet and telecommunication services have made it difficult to ascertain the full extent of the casualties.

RFA Burmese called Li Kyarwen, a MNDAA spokesman on Wednesday regarding the local's claim, but he did not respond.

The military junta has yet to issue a statement on this incident as of Wednesday noon. RFA Burmese also contacted Maj. Gen. Zaw Min Tun, the State Administration Council spokesman, but the call went unanswered.

Separately, the MNDAA said three civilians were killed and ten were injured on Dec. 24 in an junta's airstrike in Laukkaing and Hseni (Hsenwi) township.

Between Oct. 27 to Dec. 23, a total of 55 civilians were killed and more than 40 people were injured due to the junta airstrikes in Kokang Region, according to data compiled by RFA based on the MNDAA's statements.

Translated by RFA Burmese. Edited by Taejun Kang and Elaine Chan.

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 December 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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Indonesia urged to protect refugees following mob attack

27 December 2023 - The UN refugee agency, UNHCR, has appealed for action in the wake of a mob attack against refugees in Banda Aceh, Indonesia, on Wednesday.

Hundreds of young people stormed a building basement where scores of Rohingya refugees were sheltered, according to media reports.

The Rohingya are a mainly Muslim community who have fled waves of persecution in Myanmar, a predominantly Buddhist country.

Nearly one million are living in camps in Bangladesh and more than 1,000 have arrived in Indonesia by boat in recent months.

Call for protection

UNHCR issued a statement saying it was "deeply disturbed to see a mob attack on a site sheltering vulnerable refugee families."

The mob broke a police cordon and forcibly put 137 refugees on two trucks and moved them to another location in the city, the agency said, noting that the incident has left refugees shocked and traumatized.

"UNHCR remains deeply worried about the safety of refugees and calls on local law enforcement authorities for urgent action to ensure protection of all desperate individuals and humanitarian staff," the statement said.

Anti-refugee campaign

The attack was "not an isolated act but the result of a coordinated online campaign of misinformation, disinformation and hate speech against refugees and an attempt to malign Indonesia's efforts to save desperate lives in distress at sea."

UNHCR appealed for the public "to be aware of the coordinated and well-choreographed online campaign on social media platforms, attacking authorities, local communities, refugees and humanitarian workers alike, inciting hate and putting lives in danger."

People are urged to cross-check information posted online, much of which is "false or twisted, with AI generated images and hate speech being sent from bot accounts."

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Pakistan Expels Some Afghans Waiting For U.S. Resettlement

By RFE/RL's Radio Azadi December 27, 2023

Pakistan has sent scores of Afghans back to their country despite their possessing documents confirming they are being considered for resettlement to the United States.

The expulsions are part of a broader Pakistani crackdown on more than 1.7 million "undocumented foreigners," who are predominantly Afghans.

Nearly half a million Afghans have returned to their country since early October, when Islamabad announced the forced repatriation drive.

"The process of our resettlement [in the United States] should be expedited or the problems of Afghan asylum seekers will worsen," Gul Wali Ahmadzai, an Afghan in the northwestern Pakistani city of Peshawar who is waiting to be resettled, told RFE/RL's Radio Azadi.

"Although we carry a letter of protection from the United States, it has not deterred the [Pakistani] police from detaining us," said another Afghan asylum seeker who requested anonymity.

"The police do not allow us to even call or text the U.S. government hotline," he added.

The U.S. Embassy in Islamabad sent protection letters to some 25,000 Afghans. The letters proved to Pakistani authorities that they were being processed for resettlement in the United States.

U.S. officials say they are trying to keep in touch with these Afghans in Pakistan. Washington has established an emergency hotline on WhatsApp in Dari, Pashto, and English.

A senior State Department official told Reuters that his country had "no formal way to track these kinds of cases," adding that the number of Afghans deported while awaiting U.S. resettlement was "very small."

But Shawn VanDiver, president of #AfghanEvac, the main coalition of groups helping Afghan resettlement, told Reuters that at least 130 Afghans waiting for U.S. special immigration visas in Pakistan had been expelled and returned to their country.

He said the Pakistan police have arrested more than 230 such Afghans. Of these, about 80 have since been released.

"The letters matter in some cases and not others," said VanDiver. "Not all local officers are abiding by it."

Senior Pakistani government leaders have repeatedly assured their Western counterparts that Islamabad will not deport the tens of thousands of Afghans whose cases are being considered for immigration.

On December 13, Islamabad extended a deadline to allow tens of thousands of Afghans waiting to be resettled in a third nation to stay in the country for two more months.

Under the extension, the Afghans can remain in the country until February 29. Previously, they were to leave by the end of December.

With reporting by Reuters

Source: https://www.rferl.org/a/pakistan-afghan-refugees- resettlement-united-states/32749464.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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Press release on Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov's telephone conversation with Foreign Minister of Iran Hossein Amir-Abdollahian

26 December 2023 20:28

2631-26-12-2023

On December 26, Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov spoke by telephone with Foreign Minister of the Islamic Republic of Iran Hossein Amir-Abdollahian, at the initiative of the Iranian side.

The ministers expressed a mutual desire to further promote bilateral trade and economic cooperation, in part, in line with the EAEU-Iran free trade agreement signed in St Petersburg on December 25.

They discussed current bilateral, regional and international issues of mutual interest with a view to developing contacts at various levels.

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Press release on Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov's upcoming talks with Minister of External Affairs of the Republic of India Subrahmanyam Jaishankar

26 December 2023 13:00

2625-26-12-2023

On December 27, Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov and Minister of External Affairs of the Republic of India Subrahmanyam Jaishankar will meet for talks in Moscow.

The Russian-Indian special and privileged strategic partnership is founded on mutual trust and respect. The two countries cooperate extensively in various areas, including political dialogue in bilateral and multilateral formats, and interdepartmental contacts in the economy, finance, energy, military equipment production, science, and culture.

The two foreign ministers will focus on current and future areas of cooperation and discuss the schedule of upcoming meetings, with an emphasis on the further development of sustainable transport, logistics, banking and financial networks, as well as a wider use of national currencies in mutual settlements. They will also address collaboration in high-tech sectors, such as space and nuclear industries, as well as the implementation of joint projects to explore hydrocarbon resources on the Arctic shelf and in Russia's Far East.

Mr Lavrov and Mr Jaishankar will exchange views on pressing international issues, with particular attention to cooperation within the UN, SCO, and G20. They will also discuss Russia's priorities during its BRICS chairmanship next year and hold a discussion on building a fair security architecture in the Asia-Pacific region, as well as the developments in Ukraine and Afghanistan. Additionally, they will address the Palestinian-Israeli conflict.

Moscow and New Delhi remain committed to multipolarity as an essential factor to ensure balance in the world order that has emerged over recent decades. Russia provides assistance to the Global South countries in their efforts to defend political and economic sovereignty in the face of expanding neocolonial practices. The priority is to promote a positive agenda and foster an effective interstate dialogue.

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Russia In Africa: Coups, Anti-Western Messaging Offset Setbacks From Ukraine War, Prigozhin's Demise

By Todd Prince December 27, 2023

When Wagner mercenary force founder Yevgeny Prigozhin was killed in a fiery plane crash in August, exactly two months after leading a rebellion that challenged President Vladimir Putin's 24-year grip on power, it cast a thick cloud over the future of Russia's footprint in Africa.

Ever since the West began isolating Russia following Moscow's takeover of Ukraine's Crimea region in 2014, Putin had attempted to rekindle Soviet-era ties with nations in the Global South, especially in Africa, using Prigozhin's paramilitary company as one of his most important tools of influence.

A skilled businessman and charismatic leader who was said to enjoy fierce loyalty from his troops, Prigozhin picked up clients in several African states seeking regime protection as instability spread, moving money and weapons around the continent through an intricate web of shell companies he controlled.

In addition to increasing Moscow's clout in Africa, Wagner's presence has been lucrative. A report published this month by a U.S.-based pro-democracy group said its analysis "suggests that Wagner and Russia have earned more than $2.5 billion from blood gold [in Africa] since the full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022."

But Prigozhin's demise after nine years at Wagner's helm raised serious questions about whether Russia would be able to ensure a seamless transfer of control over the group's African mercenary, disinformation, and business operations to the security services and to selected Putin allies.

Russian defense and intelligence officials have parachuted into Africa in recent months to reassure existing clients of continuity and woo potential new ones.

Earlier this month, an RFE/RL investigation found that a former Kremlin envoy to the EU whom European diplomats link to Russian intelligence has been dispatched to the Central African Republic (CAR) to oversee coordination between the Wagner mercenary group and local security forces.

Meanwhile, The Wall Street Journal reported that Western intelligence indicates the fugitive former chief operating officer of payments-processing company Wirecard, Jan Marsalek, is now helping Russia with "the reconfiguration of [Prigozhin's] business empire in Africa."

Media outlets have reported that the Russian military is setting up a force called Africa Corps as a replacement for Wagner, and Telegram channels have posted recruitment ads, but the Defense Ministry has not confirmed such plans and it's unclear how much progress the initiative has made.

On a far more public level, Putin met with the heads of 17 African states at a summit in St. Petersburg in July, a month after the rebellion. Growing instability and anti-Western sentiment, especially in the Sahel region, has been helping Moscow get a bigger foothold on the continent, even as its attention and resources are consumed by the war in Ukraine.

Joseph Siegle, research director at the Washington-based Africa Center for Strategic Studies, said that Russia has strengthened its position in the Central African Republic (C.A.R.), Sudan, and the countries of the Sahel, where a series of coups have brought juntas to power.

Russian defense officials earlier this month met with junta leaders in Niger to discuss security cooperation after the government ordered French troops to leave, becoming the third Sahel country to do so.

Mali and Burkina Faso had earlier kicked out French forces amid growing anti-colonial sentiment and frustration over the lack of progress against jihadist groups terrorizing the western Sahel.

Wagner's checkered record isn't helping its cause, Siegle said. Mali's stability has deteriorated, with militant attacks on the increase since the junta ejected French and UN forces and brought in about 1,000 Wagner trainers. Meanwhile, Wagner has reportedly grabbed lucrative assets in the C.A.R.

The European Union and others in the international community have accused Wagner of gross human rights violations, including torture and killings, in countries including Mali, Libya, C.A.R, and Sudan.

"The pointy spear of Russian engagement in Africa continues, but I think there's a growing realization among leaders that this is breeding instability, that Russian deployments are a national security threat, not a solution," Siegle said.

Burkina Faso and Niger have yet to sign on with Russia, nor has the Democratic Republic of Congo, which has also held meeting with Russian defense officials.

Putin's decision in June to pull out of a grain deal that allowed the safe passage of ships carrying Ukrainian grain from the Black Sea to world markets hurt Russia's image in Africa, Siegle said.

"It was just a very vivid demonstration of Putin's blatant disregard for the real priorities in Africa -- a sobering realization that to Russia, Africa is just a pawn in its broader geostrategic interests," he said.

Russia blocked Ukrainian grain exports following its full-scale invasion in 2022, driving up global prices and adversely affecting African countries that depend on those imports.

Global Influence

Experts say Russia's growing interest in Africa is driven by a desire to expand its global influence amid a breakdown in relations with the West due to its invasion of Ukraine, and to secure military bases to project power.

Moscow is also seeking to expand arms sales, build and run nuclear power plants, and acquire the rights to natural resources throughout the continent. Russia is Africa's largest supplier of arms, accounting for about 40 percent of annual sales to the continent, which gives it some political leverage.

Russian arms are cheap, and Moscow does not tie weapons sales to a nation's human rights record, opening doors to more countries.

Wagner's presence has focused international attention on Moscow's growing role in Africa. But Amaka Anku, who oversees the continent at the risk consultancy firm Eurasia Group, said that Russia's real influence is limited.

Wagner is deployed in a few impoverished countries ruled by juntas or authoritarian leaders that lack legitimacy and domestic support, she said, adding that aside from arms and grain sales, Russia does little trade with Africa and does not provide much investment or aid.

"Russia has very little to offer" African nations, Anku said.

But Russia does share a deep grievance with a number of African nations about what they see or portray as an unfair, Western-led world order. Both Russia and the African Union advocate for a "multipolar" world in which the United States would be less powerful than it is.

The United States' use of sanctions to punish countries for rights abuses and aggression, including cutting them off from the U.S. dollar, has alarmed many states in the Global South.

Moscow has played upon these and other grievances, like the continent's brutal colonial legacy, to drive a wedge between Africa and the West, experts say. Moscow supported African independence movements during the Cold War and that legacy is still a powerful factor today.

"I think there's a gross underestimation of how impactful Russia has been with its disinformation campaign," Siegle said.

Cameron Hudson, who served as the National Security Council's director for African affairs under President George W. Bush, told a congressional hearing in July that Russia has been more effective than the United States in promoting its views, producing information in African languages -- not just English and French -- and using TikTok to reach the continent's young audience.

"We are playing a different communications game than Russia is online, and we are losing because of it," Hudson, who is now an analyst at the Center for Strategic and International Studies, told the U.S. House of Representatives' Foreign Affairs Committee in July.

Ukraine War And 'Consistency'

Russia's war against Ukraine has generated another grievance between the West and the Global South, said Bruce Jones, an analyst at the Brookings Institution in Washington.

The West quickly mobilized tens of billions of dollars in military, financial, and humanitarian aid for Ukraine in the wake of Russia's full-scale invasion.

By comparison, he said, the U.S. response to the Tigray War in Ethiopia that has killed 500,000 people, mainly civilians, since 2020 has been "a drop in the bucket" -- and that is not lost on Africans.

Echoing that point, U.S. Representative Sydney Kamlager-Dove (Democrat-California) told Mike Hammer, U.S. President Joe Biden's special envoy to the Horn of Africa, that Africans want to see "consistency" in the U.S. response to civilian deaths and human rights violations.

"African countries often feel our double standard," she said at a November 30 House hearing on the Tigray War.

The Democratic Republic of the Congo (D.R.C.) is one of those countries.

The government in Kinshasa has complained about what it says has been the lack of Western attention to renewed rebel attacks that have created a massive humanitarian crisis in the D.R.C.'s eastern provinces.

A few months before Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine, Rwanda-backed M23 rebels seized control of large parts of North Kivu Province, triggering fighting that has forced more than 800,000 people to flee their homes.

The "Congolese felt that very little action was taken to support their sovereignty -- a point made more stark by comparison with the invasion of Ukraine," Kristof Titeca, a professor at the University of Antwerp in the Netherlands, wrote in a March report following dozens of interviews with Congolese policymakers, foreign diplomats, civil society members, and journalists.

Some in the D.R.C. government are now calling for a pivot toward Russia, Titeca said.

"The geopolitical landscape is in flux, and the Congolese government's exercise of the 'Russia option' is at least as much about the way it can be leveraged in relations with the West as it is of its actual Russia policy," Titeca said.

The D.R.C. will hold presidential elections on December 20 with incumbent Felix Tshisekedi seeking reelection in a vote that could be contested.

"If there's controversy, Russia could very easily jump in and support Tshisekedi's claims of winning" to enhance its standing with the incumbent, Siegle said.

Anku agreed that Russia is a card that African leaders can play to "push back against the West."

"Talking to Russia has a lot of value in that context," she said.

Africans think that Russia's invasion of Ukraine is breaking down the existing world order, opening an opportunity for African nations to help shape the new one in a way that is more favorable to the continent, Anku said.

Amid the rise in anti-Western sentiment, and mindful that African nations hold more than a quarter of the seats in the UN General Assembly, the Biden administration has significantly stepped up its engagement with Africa over the past 12 months.

In December 2022, the United States hosted the first U.S.-Africa Summit in eight years, with 49 heads of state and the president of the African Union attending. Afterwards, Biden dispatched 17 top officials to 26 nations on the continent, including Vice President Kamala Harris, Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin, Secretary of State Antony Blinken, and Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen.

During those visits, the United States announced aid and investments in Africa running into the billions of dollars.

Biden has yet to fulfill a promise he made to African leaders at the summit to visit their continent this year. A U.S. president has not visited sub-Saharan Africa since 2015.

Source: https://www.rferl.org/a/russia-africa-wagner-prigozhin- ukraine-war-putin/32749091.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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'Polar Wolf': The Harsh Prison Where Navalny Was Sent And How His Team Found Him

By RFE/RL's Siberia.Realities December 27, 2023

Known as "Polar Wolf," the strict-regime prison to which opposition politician Aleksei Navalny has been sent is a place where a water cannon is an instrument of torture.

"In the winter, prisoners would be hastily assembled in the courtyard in light clothing," said prisoners' rights activist Olga Romanova, relating the testimony given by a man who was released from Polar Wolf, more formally known as IK-3, in 2018. "They were held in formation and not allowed to clap or rub their hands together. They had to stand for 30 or 40 minutes without moving when it was -45 degrees Celsius or colder. If one person moved, the whole group was doused with water."

"In the spring, there was a new torture," she added. "Mosquitoes and biting flies. If you moved a hand, the water came. They would just douse the whole group with a water cannon."

After spending 19 days incommunicado during transit from a prison in the Vladimir region, Navalny confirmed his arrival at IK-3 -- in the settlement of Kharp in the Yamalo-Nenets district above the Arctic Circle in north-central Siberia -- on December 26, one day after his lawyer was able to visit him there.

Navalny is serving a 19-year prison term on extremism charges that he and his supporters maintain are part of a campaign of persecution aimed at stymying his political activity. Amnesty International, the banned Russian human rights group Memorial, and others have recognized him as a political prisoner.

Navalny's long absence, while routine in Russia during prisoner transfers, raised global alarm because the last information about him on December 5 was that he had fallen ill in his cell after being subjected to harsh conditions, including limited food, a lack of ventilation, and minimal exercise time. Several court hearings into Navalny's complaints about his treatment were postponed until the courts could establish his whereabouts, judges said.

Lawyers and supporters launched a major effort to locate Navalny, requesting information about him from prisons and pretrial detention centers (SIZOs) across Russia.

"We carried out massive legal work," said Ivan Zhdanov, the director of Navalny's Anti-Corruption Foundation, which was declared extremist by the state and banned in Russia. "We wrote inquiries, visited various SIZOs and eliminated them one by one. Only now do I understand what a huge amount of work that was. But in the end, we achieved our result."

In a December 26 social-media post, Navalny wrote that he arrived at Polar Wolf, which is renowned as one of the most remote and inaccessible prisons in Russia, during the evening of December 23 and was shocked when guards came to him on December 25 to tell him that a lawyer had arrived to see him.

'You Are In Purgatory'

"As soon as you cross the threshold, they let you know that you are in purgatory where you have no rights and there is no one to complain to," said Ukrainian filmmaker Oleh Sentsov, who spent five years on a terrorism conviction at the IK-8 prison ("Polar Bear"), also in the Yamalo-Nenets region. "Beatings, humiliation, electric shocks, being kept in a cold cell naked or in wet clothes -- but that is still not the worst.... You can be sealed in the fetal position in an iron box where you can hardly breathe and have to urinate on yourself.... They routinely threaten to rape you when they are bullying you."

Some 2,000 kilometers northeast of Moscow, IK-3 holds about 1,050 of Russia's most incorrigible prisoners. Human rights activists say the prison holds serial killers, rapists, pedophiles, repeat offenders, and others convicted of the most serious crimes and serving sentences of 20 years or more. In some cases, like Navalny's, the government sends convicts who are widely considered to be political prisoners there as well. Platon Lebedev, a former business partner of Mikhail Khodorkovsky who was convicted of tax evasion and other charges during the dismantling of the Yukos oil giant, spent about two years at IK-3 in the mid-2000s.

The prison was founded in 1961 at a former camp of dictator Josef Stalin's Gulag network. The settlement of Kharp, with about 5,000 people, mostly provides housing and services for prison workers and administrators.

"All you need to do is look at a map and you can see that this is the northernmost, harshest prison," Zhdanov told RFE/RL. "The very location means the conditions there are the most severe. And Navalny will be held for at least a year in a cell with a tiny exercise area from which you cannot even see the sky."

For most of the year, there are no flights to the area, and access by train is difficult and limited. The Federal Penitentiary Service's (FSIN) postal service -- FSIN-pismo -- does not service IK-3. The only communication with the prison is by the normal Russian postal service, Zhdanov said.

"You never know if you your letter arrived or not," he said. "Or whether there was any opportunity for the recipient to respond. Of course, that was the point of sending Aleksei so far away."

In addition, the prison system's cell-phone service, Zonatelekom, was shut down at IK-3 around the time Navalny arrived.

"Until today, Zonatelekom worked fine at IK-3," Romanova said on December 25. "As far as we can tell, they just shut it off today. I hope it is just a technical problem, but it definitely looks like a strange coincidence."

While Navalny's team was searching for him, they learned that FSIN Director Arkady Gostev visited the remote prison earlier this year. He also visited the nearby strict-regime prison IK-18 ("Polar Owl").

"It was a very unusual visit for the head of the agency," Zhdanov said. "It is not normal for him to visit prisons, especially ones so remote, north of the Arctic Circle. It is very likely that this trip was in preparation for sending Aleksei Navalny there in the near future. And they concealed the information about his transfer from us so thoroughly that it seems obvious they wanted to keep him hidden for as long as possible."

In a post on X, formerly Twitter, human rights activist Sergei Davidis wrote on December 25 that "there should be no prisons in Kharp."

"There is no point in their existence except to make convicts suffer and to waste budgetary funds," he wrote.

Written by Robert Coalson based on reporting by RFE/RL's Siberia.Realities

Source: https://www.rferl.org/a/russia-navalny-arctic- polar-wolf-prison/32749723.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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The water at a host of beaches has been off limits after wild storms lashed Australia's east  but experts are warning not to rush back to a handful of popular swimming spots over a lingering threat.

Dozens of swimming spots in Sydney were deemed unsafe to enter earlier this week after recent storm activity led to water pollution fears from overflowing sewers and stormwater runoffs.

The public health risk is likely to significantly reduce at ocean beaches in just a day or so as bacteria is dissipated out into the ocean, however Professor Stuart Khan from the University of Sydney warned harbour beaches and sheltered swimming spots posed a risk for much longer as they often have a slower water cycle.

Camp Cove in Watsons Bay is sheltered by North Head, meaning it could take longer for pollution to clear. Source: Getty

"If you go up into the harbour or into an enclosed bay, even the beaches like Watsons Bay, Rose Bay, those beaches take longer to recover after a pollution event than the other ocean beaches such as Coogee and Bondi," he told the ABC News channel.

"So it's those beaches you want to avoid for three days after rainfall whereas the ocean beaches, it's usually just one day after heavy rainfall to keep away."

Following storms in Victoria, many of the beaches furthest away from the entrance to Port Phillip bay in Melbourne, including St Kilda, were deemed unsuitable for swimming on Thursday as were swimming spots along the Yarra River.

Polluted water irritates skin and eyes

Professor Khan said the bacteria and viruses detected after storms can cause skin infections, eye infections and if you swallow them, can cause diarrhoea and vomiting.

He warned those in Queensland, where intense storms have lashed large parts of the state, also need to be wary of debris such as large branches, which could prove to be a concussion risk and in worst case scenarios, could prove deadly.

Story continues

Many states have a beach report available to residents to check water quality at swimming locations, with Victoria's found here and NSW's found here.

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Russian Defense Sector CEO Shoots Down Myth of Western 'Military Superiority'

Sputnik News

20231227

Recent reports from the special op zone have shown that Russian troops continue to advance, thereby expanding their areas of control on all fronts. The main factor contributing to Moscow's success are the timely deliveries of advanced ammunition, drones, tanks, infantry combat vehicles, and artillery systems utilized by the Russian army.

Sergey Chemezov, CEO of Rostec Corporation (a state-owned defense conglomerate) recently sat down for an interview with Sputnik. Chemezov shed light on several key topics, including the rapid enhancement of Russian equipment through combat experience, the vulnerability of Western tanks, advancements in high-precision weapons and multiple launch rocket systems (MLRS), and innovative approaches to countering Ukrainian drone attacks.

Chemezov began by highlighting the fact that the extensive US-led support for the Kiev regime virtually has no tangible future. The amount of various weapons used by Ukraine's forces is rapidly dwindling.

"Meanwhile, the Ukrainian military industrial complex is simply unable to compensate for the overwhelming losses. Foreign aid is shrinking before our very eyes. It seems Kiev's Western donors are starting to realize their futility on this score," Chemezov noted.

Meanwhile, Russia has done a great deal of work when it comes to modernizing its military facilities long before the special op ever came to be. In fact, it entailed modifying capacities, and introducing up-to-date findings and technologies. The process covered multiple areas that ended up being extremely productive on the front lines.

Artillery and Tanks

As for manufacturing artillery shells, Russia's overall production volume has skyrocketed by roughly 50 times, compared to 2021. The number of infantry fighting vehicles (IFV) and various armored fighting vehicles (AFV) has quintupled. That said, today the country produces nearly seven times the number of tanks, making Russia a global leader in this category.

Russian experts are meticulously examining 'trophy' samples of Ukrainian equipment. Some things are undoubtedly taken into further consideration, but on that score, it has become evident that the so-called military and technological superiority of the West is largely a myth.

"They certainly have their strengths. However, Russian equipment is just as solid. Just take a close look at the number of 'invisible' tanks like the Leopards, Challengers and Bradleys that have failed to live up to their reputation on the battlefield," he emphasized.

Another widespread fallacy about Western weaponry is their supposed impenetrability. Reality has demonstrated that they burn down in batches, with Russian anti-tank guided missiles (ATGM) such as the Kornet or Khrizantema piercing right through them, like a hot knife through butter.

"There truly is no exaggeration whatsoever when Russia's tank-building tradition is described as the most advanced in the world", the CEO stressed. The new and advanced T-90s, as well as the extensively upgraded T-72s and T-80s, are all currently operating in the special op zone. These vehicles have exhibited an outstanding performance. Take the Proryv tank, for instance, which stands as the premier mass-produced vehicle when compared to similar ones globally. Even Western specialists, albeit reluctantly, acknowledge its superiority.

Top-Notch Accuracy of Russia's Weapons and Drones

High-precision weaponry together with Russia's latest drones have displayed remarkable effectiveness in the special op zone by targeting and neutralizing the enemy's armored vehicles, air defenses, and troops. An exemplary instance is the renowned Lancet drone.

"Russia's military profile has been significantly enhanced recently, which is exemplified by the deployment of a universal planning and correction module that enables the transformation of free-falling bombs into guided ones. For example, Su-34 fighter bombers are now heavily deployed in the special operational zone against Ukrainian military facilities," the corporate executive added.

An exciting newcomer is the Koalitsiya howitzer that will ensure Russia's offensive advantage over Western artillery. The first experimental and industrial batch is expected to be delivered to the front lines in late December 2023.

Cheremezov noted that "this year, Rostec enterprises finished working on a whole 'bouquet' of new artillery systems. In addition to the Koalitsiya-SV, the company has produced tha Malva 152 mm wheeled self-propelled gun, the Floks 120 mm gun, the Drok 82 mm self-propelled mortar, and the Derivatsia 57 mm anti-aircraft gun". Each is unique in their own way.

Recently, Russian Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu noted that during the course of the special op, "Russia's defense industry has shown its remarkable agility in creating new weapons in a matter of mere months", like the KUB and Lancet drones, produced by the world-renowned Kalashnikov concern, as well as the Zemledelie remote mining system.

"Thanks to such weaponry, the military operational zone has essentially become a highly inaccessible area for Ukrainian drones. They are being shot down by the dozens, struck by anti-aircraft missiles and neutralized by electronic warfare systems," the top company executive pointed out.

A Sputnik

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Russia Unveils New Supercam Kamikaze Drones

Sputnik News

20231227

Sergei Lebedev

Sergey Chemezov, head of the Rostec state corporation, told Sputnik about the key advances in Russian military technologies and explained how they will affect the course of the special military operation.

Russia has developed the Supercam loitering ammunition - a projectile highly protected against electronic warfare systems, the head of Rostec Sergey Chemezov told Sputnik.

At present, Supercam, which also has a modification for battlefield reconnaissance, is undergoing extensive testing.

"Right now Rostec is developing another UAV, the Supercam model. There is a reconnaissance modification and a kamikaze modification. The Kamikaze Supercam is undergoing tests, demonstrating its capabilities," Chemezov said.

The Rostec executive added that Supercam is "highly protected against means of electronic warfare" and that such drones are "difficult to suppress".

Remote-Controlled Infantry Fighting Vehicles to be Tested in Battle

Russia has created the newest remote-controlled IFV and plans to test it on the battlefield, Rostec chief Sergey Chemezov told Sputnik.

"Now the machine is undergoing trials, after completion it will be tested in a special operation zone," he said.

He stressed that this new machine will eliminate risks for the crews in the most dangerous directions. In the near future, the remote control system will also be installed on self-propelled guns.

T-14 Armata Tank Enhanced

Russia is improving the combat capabilities of the T-14 Armata tank and the worst for its enemies is yet to come, Rostec chief Sergey Chemezov told Sputnik.

"In the near future Armata will become an even more fearsome weapon, we can continue to work on improving its potential and combat cababilities. The result will be seen soon enough. Thus, the worst for our enemies is yet to come," Chemezov stressed.

He added that the Armata tank easily trumps the Israeli "Merkava", which has been hyped as over-protected and in fact is no safer than heavy IFV - as can be observed during the Gaza crisis.

"It is an excellent machine, full of modern electronic systems and has the next-generation fire control system. The crew is fully protected, they are in a separate armored capsule inside the vehicle," Chemezov concluded.

New Radar Stations Against Ukrainian Drones

Russia has created new radar systems capable of locating enemy drones from tens of kilometers away, Chemezov told Sputnik.

"We have created small radar stations that can be installed in the most volatile directions, including for the defense of our cities. These systems can locate enemy UAVs at a distance of tens of kilometers and transmit the information about the target so that it could be destroyed," he explained.

New MLRS Vozrozhdenie Created

Russia will create the newest bicaliber MLRS Vozrozhdenie ( lit. "Renaissance"), full-scale production will begin in the first half of Y2024, Sergey Chemezov told Sputnik.

He added that Vozrozhdenie will be produced on the basis of the Zemledeliye (lit. "Agriculture") remote mine-laying system, which "has proven its capabilities in the special operations zone."

According to Chemezov, Rostec experts combined the features of the MLRS with the features of the remote mining system. As a result, they created a machine capable of both mass rocket launch and remote mine-laying.

He said that the system has "a name that speaks for itself - Vozrozhdenie".

New Anti-Interference Guided Missiles

Russia is creating a new anti-interference guided missile for MLRS systems, Chemezov told Sputnik.

"Defense enterprises are working together to create a new guided missile projectile that will be as accurate and interference-proof as possible," the Rostec executive stated.

He added that the projectile is currently undergoing tests, including tests on real battlefields. At the same time, serial production is underway.

Guided Bombs Improved

The Russian defense industry is also improving the technology of guided bombs and extending their range.

Chemezov also stressed that Russian guided bombs have already "generated a lot of buzz" by turning so-called "dumb bombs" (unguided) into guided smart projectiles.

He added that Su-34 bombers regularly use guided bombs in the special military operation zone and have already destroyed "hundreds of Ukrainian military targets" using Rostec technologies.

En course of special military operation, Russian defense companies has boosted the productions of weapons.

Earlier Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu stressed that Russian military-industrial complex is working in round-the-clock mode.

"To ensure uninterrupted supply of troops involved in the special military operation zone, enterprises of the military-industrial complex have significantly increased the production of the most popular types of weapons and means of destruction, many have switched to round-the-clock operation," Shoigu said.

Construction of Next-Gen Fighter Jets Underway

Next-generation Su-57 fighter jets are already under construction and will be delivered to the Russian Armed Forces next year, the Rostec chief said.

He added that "the number of fifth-generation fighter jets being put into service is almost doubling every year".

Earlier it was reported that in Y2023 Russian authorities launched the modernization of production facilities of Su-57 fighter jets.

A Sputnik

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Three remain missing in sub accident: Taiwan Navy

Taiwan Navy's naval staff chief said the trio were swept away by sudden strong waves during training.

By RFA Staff 2023.12.26 -- The search continues for three crew members of a Taiwanese submarine, who were swept off their boat by a sudden large wave last week, Taiwan's Navy has said.

The accident took place last Thursday when the Hai Hu (Sea Tiger) submarine was on a training mission in southeastern Taiwan, but it was not covered extensively in the media over the festive period.

Despite the window known as "golden 72 hours," when the survival rate of the victims is high, having long passed, the search-and-rescue mission has not stopped.

"All officers and soldiers are brothers and sisters and we will not give up the search and rescue of anyone," Chief of Naval Staff Vice Adm. Wu Li-ping told a press briefing in Taipei on Tuesday.

Rogue waves

At around noon on Dec. 21, four crew members were sent up to the deck of the sub to recover a rescue buoy that was detached for unknown reasons. All of them were wearing life jackets and safety harnesses, the vice admiral said.

Three of them were swept off the deck by a sudden large wave but one of the three was saved because his safety harness was working.

Among the team of six crew who were sent later to the deck to rescue the initial four members, two were also swept overboard - one was rescued but the other one disappeared.

The three missing sailors have been identified by their last names as Lin, Yen and Chang.

Wu said that as the weather conditions on that day were within safety standards, an unexpected surge in the sea was likely the main reason for the accident.

The Hai Hu left the southern port of Kaohsiung on Dec. 18 for a training exercise that is set to finish on Dec. 29.

Hai Hu, together with another submarine named Hai Lung (Sea Dragon), are the only two combat-ready submersible vessels in the Taiwan Navy.

The diesel-electric attack submarines were bought from the Netherlands in the 1980s and are a modified version of the Dutch Navy's Zwaardvis class.

Taiwan is building its first indigenous submarine, the Hai Kun (Narwhal) with a budget of US$1.54 billion. The Navy hopes to have three submarines with full combat capabilities by 2025 and four by 2027.

Meanwhile Taiwan's defense ministry said on Tuesday that it has not seen any signs of large-scale Chinese military activity around the island even as presidential and parliamentary elections come nearer.

The election outcomes are expected to play a decisive role in the relations with mainland China.

"So far we haven't seen signs they're making big moves," said a defense ministry spokesman, Sun Li-fang at a press briefing in Taipei. "We are watching all the time."

The Chinese military often holds drills around Taiwan at the times of big political events, such as the visit to Taipei by the U.S. House Speaker Nancy Pelosi in Aug. 2022 or Taiwan President Tsai Ing-wen's meeting with U.S. House Speaker Kevin McCarthy in Apr. 2023.

Edited by Taejun Kang and Elaine Chan.

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 December 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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'Troll' accounts taking cues from China state-affiliated media: Researchers

ROC Central News Agency

12/27/2023 09:28 PM

Taipei, Dec. 27 (CNA) "Troll groups" attempting to shape online discourse about Taiwan's Jan. 13, 2024 presidential election appear to be taking cues from Chinese state-affiliated media, a research group said Wednesday.

Troll groups -- clusters of social media accounts acting with a suspicious degree of synchronization -- have mirrored the narrative pivots taken by Beijing-controlled outlets such as the People's Daily, Haiwainet, Xinhua News Agency, Global Times, and China Central Television (CCTV), according to a report released by Taiwan AI Labs.

Ethan Tu (), the founder of Taiwan AI Labs, told a press conference in Taipei that between September and November of this year, China-affiliated media platforms focused on portraying the ruling Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) as pushing Taiwan toward war.

Since December, however, Chinese reporting has shifted to "the repercussions of terminating the Economic Cooperation Framework Agreement (ECFA)," as well as "Taiwan's grim economic prospects," with troll groups following suit, Tu said.

Hwang Chao-hwei (), CEO of Taiwan AI Lab, told CNA that the organization has been monitoring leading social media platforms along with a total of 31,278 online troll accounts exhibiting similar activation dates, content, and comments since 2020.

Despite the correlation between some accounts and the messaging of Chinese state-affiliated media, not all troll activity aligned with Beijing's narratives, Taiwan AI Labs research showed.

For example, the primary narratives pushed by "YouTube #71012" -- the most active troll group on YouTube during the second week of December -- were either pro-DPP or critical of opposition parties, according to Taiwan AI Labs.

However, excluding YouTube, where partisan attacks were roughly equal, negative comments aimed at the DPP outranked those targeting the main opposition Kuomintang (KMT) on all other social media platforms, including Facebook (14 percent vs. 3.1 percent), TikTok (22.6 percent vs. 19.4 percent), and local online bulletin board system PTT (15.1 percent vs. 6.4 percent), Taiwan AI Labs said.

(By Chung Yu-chen)

Enditem/ASG

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DPP's 'Taiwan independence' stance root cause for difficulty in ECFA-related issuesis official

Global Times

By GT staff reporters Published: Dec 27, 2023 02:23 PM

The decision by the Chinese mainland to end tariff concessions for some Taiwan products is normal, and the determination of Taiwan businesspeople to invest in the mainland is unlikely to change, Chen Binhua, a spokesperson for the Taiwan Affairs Office of the State Council, told a press conference on Wednesday.

Last week, the mainland announced the termination of tariff concessions for 12 types of products including propylene imported from the Taiwan island starting from January 1, 2024, as the island was found to have violated Economic Cooperation Framework Agreement (ECFA) rules by imposing discriminatory restrictions on mainland goods.

Experts noted that mutual benefit is the essence of economic and trade exchanges between the mainland and Taiwan, urging the island to adhere to the 1992 Consensus and abandon restrictions against mainland products, in order to seize more development opportunities from the rapid rebound of the mainland's economy.

Chen said that, based on the 1992 Consensus, the mainland and the island signed the ECFA in 2010. The Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) authorities on the island has refused to recognize the 1992 Consensus, while it has intensified its discriminatory restrictions against mainland goods. The DPP authorities have enjoyed the dividends of the ECFA, but they have violated relevant provisions under the agreement and relevant WTO rules, resulting in the mainland authorities suspending the tariff concessions for some products under the ECFA.

The DPP authorities' stubborn adherence to "Taiwan independence" and their refusal to recognize the 1992 Consensus are the root causes of the difficulty in resolving ECFA-related issues, the spokesperson noted.

"The decision of the relevant departments to suspend tariff concessions for some ECFA products is normal and reasonable. If the DPP authorities stubbornly adhere to 'Taiwan independence,' we will support the relevant authorities in taking further measures in accordance with related regulations," he said.

"The political tricks played by the DPP authorities have greatly affected normal trade exchanges between the mainland and Taiwan, although the mainland made a lot of concessions and brought more dividends to the island under the ECFA," Wang Jianmin, a senior cross-Straits expert at Minnan Normal University, told the Global Times on Wednesday.

Wang noted that since the DPP came to power, the authorities took a negative attitude toward economic cooperation with the mainland, rolling out a series of restrictive measures on mainland goods. "The decision to end tariff concessions for some Taiwan products is reasonable," the expert said.

When asked whether the suspension will affect Taiwan-based businesses' continued investment in the mainland, Chen said that from January to September, the number of projects involving Taiwan businesses investing in the mainland increased by 23.9 percent year-on-year, and cross-Straits trade reached nearly $200 billion.

"Data fully illustrates that the bright prospects for cross-Straits economic exchanges and cooperation have not changed, and the mainland remains Taiwan business people's best destination," he noted.

Wang noted that although global demand is weak, the scale of trade between the mainland and Taiwan is still very large, and Taiwan businesses are still very optimistic about the huge mainland market.

Since the beginning of this year, the mainland economy has been steadily improving and has become the most important engine of global growth. "We will, as always, share development opportunities with our Taiwan compatriots and enterprises, increase policy support and optimize the investment environment, so that the fruits of cross-Straits integration and development will benefit Taiwan compatriots more," the spokesperson said.

After the mainland resumed imports of sugar apples from Taiwan, grouper imports also resumed recently.

"On the basis of adhering to the 1992 Consensus and opposing 'Taiwan independence,' we are willing to work with the relevant parties on the island to continue to provide assistance for the resumption of imports of Taiwan's agricultural and fishery products to the mainland, on the premise of complying with the relevant inspection and quarantine regulations of the mainland," Chen said.

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Lai slammed for comments on war risk

People's Daily Online

By Jiang Chenglong (China Daily) 08:35, December 28, 2023

A Chinese mainland spokesman slammed Lai Ching-te, deputy leader of China's Taiwan region, on Wednesday for his comments on the risk of a cross-Strait war, and warned that the pursuit of "Taiwan independence" means war.

Lai recently claimed that if he is elected as Taiwan's leader as the candidate of the "pro-independence" Democratic Progressive Party, the risk of a cross-Strait war would be the lowest, because his policy is the most "correct" and also "aligns with international practices".

Chen Binhua, spokesman for the Taiwan Affairs Office of the State Council, said at a news conference on Wednesday that the ruling DPP authorities obstinately stick to their "Taiwan independence" stance, escalating the tense and volatile situation across the Strait and pushing Taiwan toward the brink of war.

Upholding the one-China principle is a common consensus of the international community, the spokesman said, emphasizing that opposing "Taiwan independence" and safeguarding peace is the right way forward.

People from Taiwan and even Lai himself would find it hard to believe his own words, as Lai, a prominent figure in the ruling DPP authorities, has openly declared himself to be a pragmatic advocate of "Taiwan independence", Chen added.

The mainland official said that as long as the 1992 Consensus is upheld and opposition to "Taiwan independence" is maintained, cross-Strait negotiations can be restored, all matters can be discussed and negotiated, and cross-Strait relations can return to the track of peaceful development.

Chen said that when the Taiwan Strait is peaceful and stable, the interests and well-being of Taiwan compatriots can be enhanced, but these will be compromised when the Strait is tense and turbulent.

From 2008 to 2016, both sides of the Taiwan Strait, based on adhering to the 1992 Consensus and opposing "Taiwan independence", created the conditions for the peaceful development of cross-Strait relations, Chen said, noting that this brought tangible benefits to compatriots on both sides, especially those in Taiwan, and gave positive energy to the prosperity and stability of the Asia-Pacific region.

However, Chen said that since the DPP came to power in 2016, it has persistently clung to a "Taiwan independence" separatist stance, refused to acknowledge the 1992 Consensus, colluded with external forces to seek "Taiwan independence" and gradually pushed Taiwan into a dangerous situation.

"We sincerely hope that compatriots on both sides of the Strait can join hands to safeguard peace and stability in the Taiwan Strait, promote the peaceful development of cross-Strait relations, and create a new era of prosperity and development," Chen said.

He noted that the actions of the DPP authorities have undermined the political foundation of cross-Strait negotiations, fundamentally causing difficulties in solving problems related to the Economic Cooperation Framework Agreement.

Starting from Jan 1, the mainland will suspend tariff reductions on a total of 12 items of chemical products from Taiwan in response to the island's unilateral and discriminatory trade restrictions, which violate the economic pact between the two sides.

Those tariff reductions are stipulated in the ECFA, which was signed in 2010 between the two sides based on the 1992 Consensus that embodies the one-China principle, and is a comprehensive cross-Strait economic pact intended to lower commercial barriers.

Chen also expressed strong dissatisfaction with and firm opposition to the United States' National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2024 which contains negative Taiwan-related content, and was passed and signed into law this week, despite China's opposition.

Chen stressed that the Taiwan question is purely China's internal affair, which brooks no external interference.

He noted that the blatant interference by the US in the Taiwan question has seriously violated the one-China principle and the three Sino-US joint communiques, sending a grave and erroneous signal to "Taiwan independence" separatist forces and causing significant harm to the peace and stability of the Taiwan Strait.

The spokesman underscored that while some in the US claim to seek peace and stability in the Taiwan Strait, their actions actually accelerate the arming of Taiwan and incite confrontation between the two sides of the Strait.

"We urge the US to earnestly abide by the solemn political commitments it made to China on the Taiwan question, honor its promise of not supporting 'Taiwan independence' with concrete actions, stop implementing the NDAA's negative clauses related to Taiwan, immediately cease arming Taiwan, and stop intervening in Taiwan's regional elections," he said.

Chen criticized the DPP authorities for proclaiming that war is not an option for Taiwan while intensifying efforts to seek "independence" by relying on the US and through force.

He warned that: "No matter how many weapons the DPP authorities acquire from the US, it cannot shake our steadfast determination to resolve the Taiwan question and achieve national reunification, and cannot withstand our powerful capability to thwart the 'Taiwan independence' plot and safeguard national sovereignty."

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December 27, 2023

By Joseph Clark , DOD News

DOD Announces Aid Package for Ukraine

The Defense Department today announced a security assistance package for Ukraine valued at up to $250 million.

The package includes air defense capabilities, artillery and antitank weapons and other equipment to help Ukraine in its continued fight to counter Russia's unprovoked invasion.

The latest round of assistance marks the 54th drawdown of military equipment for Ukraine from DOD inventories since August 2021.

It comes amid negotiations on Capitol Hill over President Joe Biden's supplemental request to Congress to continue critical funding for military and humanitarian aid for Ukraine.

Defense officials have warned that, without action from Congress, further U.S. assistance for Ukraine could be in jeopardy at a critical time as Russia's war approaches the two-year mark.

"We would, again, continue to urge the passage of the supplemental that we've submitted," Pentagon Press Secretary Air Force Maj. Gen. Pat Ryder said in a briefing last week.

"As you look at the situation that Ukraine finds itself in, we will obviously continue to support them," Ryder said. "But it is imperative that we have the funds needed to ensure that they get the most urgent battlefield capabilities that they require."

In a recent letter to lawmakers, DOD comptroller Michael J. McCord said the department would be obligating the remaining $1 billion in funds authorized by Congress to replace U.S. inventories of weapons provided to Ukraine by the end of this month.

The security assistance package announced today is likely the last until Congress authorizes additional funds.

Earlier this month, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy traveled to Washington to meet with Biden, defense officials and lawmakers. During those talks, Zelenskyy extended his gratitude for the United States' support and underscored his country's urgent need for that support to continue.

After meeting with Zelenskyy at the White House, Biden pledged that the U.S. "will not walk away from Ukraine," as he implored lawmakers to authorize additional funding.

"The brave people in Ukraine have defied [Russian President Vladimir] Putin's will at every turn, backed by the strong and unwavering support of the United States and our allies and partners in more than 50 nations in Europe and the Indo-Pacific," Biden said. "Ukraine will emerge from this war proud, free and firmly rooted in the West unless we walk away."

He said he would continue to provide U.S. military assistance for as long as congressionally approved funds are available.

"Without supplemental funding, we are rapidly coming to an end of our ability to help Ukraine respond to the urgent operational demands that it has," he said.

"Putin is banking on the United States failing to deliver for Ukraine," he continued. "We must prove him wrong."

In introductory remarks ahead of Zelenskyy's address at National Defense University in Washington, Secretary of Defense Lloyd J. Austin III also underscored the United States' "unshakable" commitment to supporting Ukraine as it defends itself against Russian aggression.

"Ukraine matters profoundly to America's security and to the trajectory of global security in the 21st century," Austin said. "That's why the United States has committed more than $44 billion in security assistance to Ukraine's brave defenders." He added that the U.S.-led coalition of allies and partners have also contributed more than $37 billion in security assistance to Ukraine.

Austin said those contributions include capabilities that "are making a crucial difference on the battlefield" and have helped Ukraine retake more than half of the territory seized by Russia since February 2022.

He said the U.S. and its allies and partners remain "determined to help Ukraine consolidate and extend its battlefield gains and to build a future force that can ward off Russian aggression in the years ahead."

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U.S. Announces Final Drawdown Of Military Aid For Ukraine, Future Assistance Up To Congress

By RFE/RL's Ukrainian Service December 27, 2023

The United States on December 27 announced the final drawdown of weapons and military equipment for Ukraine from U.S. stockpiles under existing presidential authorization.

The $250 million package includes air-defense munitions, additional ammunition for High-Mobility Artillery Rocket Systems (HIMARS), 155 mm and 105 mm artillery ammunition, and anti-armor munitions, Secretary of State Antony Blinken said in a statement.

"Our assistance has been critical to supporting our Ukrainian partners as they defend their country and their freedom against Russia's aggression," Blinken said, adding that the arms and equipment was being provided under previously directed drawdowns for Ukraine.

White House national-security spokesman John Kirby said last week that President Joe Biden was planning one more military aid package in December, but that further assistance after that would require an agreement in Congress, where the prospects for a deal are uncertain.

"When that one's done...we will have no more replenishment authority available to us and we're going to need Congress to act without delay," Kirby said on December 18.

Blinken urged Congress to "act swiftly" on new aid for Ukraine, "to advance our national security interests by helping Ukraine defend itself and secure its future."

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy was in Washington last week to speak with U.S. lawmakers about Ukraine's needs as Biden's proposed $61 billion in aid for Ukraine, along with additional military aid for Israel and Taiwan, has been stalled by Republican demands that the administration address border security.

Senate leaders said after Zelenskiy's visit that negotiators were "making encouraging progress" but "challenging issues remain."

The announcement of the aid package came as the Ukrainian military said its troops fought 49 combat clashes along the front line. In addition, the General Staff said on December 27 in its evening summary that Russian forces carried out 67 air strikes and fired 12 rocket salvos at Ukrainian troop positions and populated areas.

The main hotspot remains the area near Avdiyivka in the Donetsk region, where Ukrainian troops repelled nearly 30 enemy attacks, the General Staff said, adding that about 10 settlements, including Avdiyivka, were hit by enemy artillery and mortar fire during the day.

The Ukrainian military also repelled attacks in the areas near Kupyansk, Lyman, Bakhmut, Maryinka, and Zaporizhzhya.

In the Kherson region, the General Staff said Russian forces "do not give up their intention to knock out our units from the bridgeheads on the left bank of the Dnieper."

Russian forces carried out 10 unsuccessful assaults on the positions of Ukrainian troops during the day and "received a decent repulse and suffered significant losses," the General Staff said, adding that Ukrainian forces were "firmly holding" their defensive positions.

Also on December 27, the country's minister of strategic industry told RFE/RL that long-range drones were now being mass produced in Ukraine. Oleksandr Kamyshin said this includes "analogs" of Iranian-made Shahed drones.

He also announced a new version of a Ukrainian-made drone that flies as far as 1,100 kilometers but did not provide details.

"The product that previously worked for 1,100 kilometers will soon have a new version, you will hear about it over time, based on the results of use," he said.

With reporting by Reuters

Source: https://www.rferl.org/a/ukraine-us- last-aid-drawdown/32749847.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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Ukrainian Navy Claims Destruction Of Russian Warship A 'Serious Blow' To War Effort

By RFE/RL's Ukrainian Service, RFE/RL's Russian Service December 27, 2023

The Ukrainian Navy has described the claimed destruction of a Russian landing ship in the occupied Crimean Peninsula as a "serious blow" to Russia's war operations against Ukraine.

Navy spokesman Dmytro Pletenchuk told RFE/RL's Ukrainian Service on December 27 that the damage inflicted upon the Novocherkassk landing ship during an air strike on the Crimean port of Feodosia on December 26 will significantly harm Russia's logistics capabilities.

Russia confirmed the ship had been damaged, and new satellite imagery taken on December 26 by Maxar Technologies appeared to show the wreckage of a sunken ship along the quay of the Feodosia port, and other damaged port equipment.

Pletenchuk claimed that the Russian military is currently unable to use the Crimean Bridge, a key route for transporting military supplies from the Russian mainland to the Russian-occupied Crimean Peninsula.

Now, with the loss of the Novocherkassk -- which the Russian Defense Ministry acknowledged was damaged -- the Russian military will now only be able to use ferries to transport military cargo because it has "not been able to use large amphibious ships in the Black Sea for a long time," according to Pletenchuk.

Yuriy Ihnat, a spokesman for the Ukrainian Air Force, said that the December 26 strikes caused an explosion that indicated that ammunition on the large landing ship had detonated.

He said that the ship was used to transport equipment, weapons, and personnel to Feodosia and other Russian-occupied ports on the Ukrainian Peninsula.

In addition to the damage sustained by the Novocherkassk, the training ship UTS-150 was also damaged and partially sunk, RFE/RL's Russian Service reported on December 26.

The satellite images taken by Maxar Technologies also show a smaller ship partially submerged not far from the apparent wreckage of the Novocherkassk.

Pletenchuk said that successful Ukrainian attacks have seriously depleted Russia's naval forces, leaving it with only six large ships on the Black Sea and none on the Sea of Azov.

Crimea.Realities, a regional news outlet of RFE/RL's Ukrainian Service, reported that, following the December 26 attack, two Russian vessels left the port of Feodosia. It was not possible to identify the ships by name, but judging by their size the vessels were a military ship and a military boat belonging to Russia's Black Sea Fleet.

Pletenchuk said that, including the strike that hit the Novocherkassk, Ukrainian forces had disabled seven large Russian ships.

Following the December 26 attack, British Defense Minister Grant Shapps wrote on X, formerly Twitter, that 20 percent of Russia's Black Sea Fleet had been destroyed in the past four months.

"Russia's dominance in the Black Sea is now challenged," Shapps wrote.

The most significant loss suffered by the Russian Navy came in April 2022, when the Black Sea Fleet flagship guided-missile cruiser Moskva was sunk south of the Ukrainian port of Odesa. In September, the Rostov-On-Don diesel electric submarine was damaged while in port in Sevastopol.

The Crimean Bridge, a major transport link opened in 2018 after Russia's illegal annexation of Crimea in 2014, has been heavily targeted by Ukrainian forces since Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022.

Both the rail and the automotive sections of the bridge were heavily damaged in a truck explosion in October 2022. In July, a sea-drone attack collapsed one section of the vehicle traffic span and damaged the separate rail section.

The bridge was most recently closed to traffic following sea-drone strikes on December 21.

Meanwhile, the Ukrainian Air Force said on December 27 that "waves" of Russian kamikaze drones targeted Ukrainian territory overnight, with 32 of 46 drones shot down.

The governor of the Odesa region said that a 35-year-old man was killed by debris from a downed drone in a residential area.

The Interior Ministry said four people, including a 6-year-old child, were wounded.

The air force said the drones were fired from the Russian-occupied Crimean Peninsula and from Russia's southwestern Krasnodar region.

The attacks ended in the early morning hours of December 27, with some successfully striking near the front lines in Ukraine's east and west.

With reporting by Reuters

Source: https://www.rferl.org/a/ukraine-russia-drones-attack-war- novocherkassk-ship-air-strike/32749027.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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US Announces 'Final' $250 Million Ukraine Aid Package for 2023

Sputnik News

20231227

The latest aid package is part of the US' continued drawdowns via the Foreign Assistance Act, which allows the administration to bypass the congressional greenlight.

US Secretary of State Antony Blinken announced Wednesday that Washington would be releasing a "final" military aid package to Ukraine to the tune of up to $250 million.

A release issued by Blinken details that the aid is being pulled from "previously directed drawdowns for Ukraine" and will include a variety of arms such as: air defense munitions, high mobility artillery rocket systems and anti-armor munitions, among over "15 million rounds of ammunitions."

The aid package is just one of over 50 similar drawdown packages provided to the Kiev regime by the Biden administration that bypasses a typically-required congressional clearance by tapping on the Foreign Assistance Act.

Shortly after news broke of the aid drawdown, a published memo from US President Joe Biden to Blinken called on the secretary "to determine whether it is important to the security interests of the United States to furnish up to $20 million in assistance to Ukraine."

The memo cites the Foreign Assistance Act of 1961, and effectively "empowers" Blinken to provide a detailed explanation on whether new aid is imperative.

New batches of additional funding have remained frozen amid a congressional standoff over GOP backlash regarding the administration's poor handling of the growing border crisis.

Lawmakers on the hill have suggested that a new funding agreement would be established upon Congress' return from holiday break; however, many insiders have indicated the feat would not be quite as easygoing.

The timing of the announcement comes as Michael McCloud, the comptroller for the US Department of Defense, previously revealed that the Pentagon's Ukraine accounts would be entirely emptied come December 30.

"The Department will not execute these transfers until 15 days have passed following submission of this notification," McCloud said in the letter dated December 15. "Once these funds are obligated, the Department will have exhausted the funding available to us for security assistance to Ukraine."

At that time, McCloud stated the US had only enough funds for one more aid package, which is likely to be the Wednesday-announced assistance.

To date, estimates have indicated the US has spent upwards of $75 billion in Ukraine assistance, with the growing pricetag more than likely to continue skyrocketing. Biden's latest request to Congress include an additional $60 billion for Kiev.

A Sputnik

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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.

NIO closes $2.2 billion strategic equity investment from CYVN

NIO Inc., a Chinese company in the premium smart electric vehicle market, today announced that it has closed the $2.2 billion strategic equity investment from CYVN Investments RSC Ltd, an investment vehicle based in Abu Dhabi, as announced on December 18, 2023.

Photo credit: NIO

GAC MOTOR's St. Petersburg transit warehouse put into operation

On December 25, GAC MOTOR Russia's second complete vehicle transit warehouse, located in St. Petersburg, Russia, was officially put into operation. Simultaneously, its second logistics provider also made its inaugural shipment. A representative from dealerships expressed, "The official launch of GAC MOTOR's St. Petersburg Transit Warehouse and the simultaneous first shipment by the new logistics provider will significantly increase GAC MOTOR's logistics resources, ensuring the stable and timely delivery of vehicles to every dealership and customer."

First mass-produced unit of Chery Fulwin T9 rolls off line

On December 28, the first mass-produced unit of the Chery Fulwin T9, the fire new plug-in hybrid electric SUV under the Fulwin new energy vehicle range, came off the assembly line at Chery's Qingdao plant.

ECARX, smart co-build software joint venture in Hangzhou, Zhejiang Province

On December 28, Geely-backed mobility technology firm ECARX partnered with electric vehicle maker smart to announce the formation of Zhimda Software Technology Co., Ltd. ("Zhimada" in Chinese pinyin).

Xiaomi unveils 5 core automotive technologies in auto tech conference

At 2 PM on December 28, 2023, Xiaomi's automotive technology conference took center stage. Lei Jun, Xiaomi's founder, chairman, and CEO, unveiled Xiaomi's five fundamental car-making technologies: electric drive, battery, high-pressure die casting, intelligent driving, and smart cockpit.

Meituan, NIO Capital invests in Sichain Semiconductor's Pre-B funding round

On December 28, high-end SiC power device manufacturer, Sichain Semiconductor, announced the successful completion of its Pre-B round financing, which raised for the company several hundred million yuan.

3rd-Gen Hongqi L4 Robotaxi passes unmanned driving license test in Beijing

Recently, the AI development arm of FAW Group, FAW (Nanjing) Technology Development Co., Ltd., saw its Hongqi-based L4 Robotaxi passed the L4 Robotaxi unmanned test license examination in the Beijing High-level Automated Driving Demonstration Area (BJHAD), the automaker announced on December 27.

ARCFOX  T5 hits market with 800V supercharging capability

On December 27, BAIC Group's premium new energy vehicle brand, ARCFOX, officially put the  T5 onto the market with four variants, whose prices range from 155,800 yuan to 203,800 yuan.

ZEEKR's first sedan model ZEEKR 007 hits market, starting at 209,900 yuan

On December 27, the ZEEKR 007, the first sedan model under Geely's premium electric vehicle brand ZEEKR, hit the market with five trim levels offered, featuring a price range of 209,900 yuan to 299,900 yuan.

Ji Yue, Changshu Automotive Trim Group ink agreement to step up cooperation

On December 26, Ji Yue, the automotive robot (Robocar) brand jointly backed by Geely and Baidu, signed an agreement with Changshu Automotive Trim Group Co., Ltd. ("CAIP") to cement their strategic partnership. The event also celebrated the successful delivery of the initial fleet of twelve units of the Ji Yue 01, Ji Yue's first production model, to CAIP.

Sunwoda Mobility Energy Technology inaugurates NEV electronics manufacturing base in Maoming city

On December 27, Sunwoda Mobility Energy Technology Co., Ltd. ("SEVB"), a subsidiary of Sunwoda Electronic Co., Ltd., officially inaugurated its manufacturing base in the Dianbai district of Maoming city, Guangdong province.
Russian Air Defenses Down 2 Ukrainian Drones Over Belgorod, Rostov Regions

Sputnik News

20231227

MOSCOW (Sputnik) - Russian air defense systems have prevented a drone attack by the Ukrainian armed forces on Russia's western regions of Belgorod and Rostov, the Russian Defense Ministry said on Wednesday.

Both drones have been destroyed, the statement said.

"During the night, the attempts to stage a terrorist attack by the Kiev regime with the use of unmanned aerial aircraft-type vehicles on the Russian territory were prevented," the defense ministry said in a statement.

Ukraine has repeatedly attacked Russia's Bryansk, Belgorod, Rostov and Kursk regions with drones since Moscow launched special military operation to protect people of Donbass from Kiev regime.

A Sputnik

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We are working on new defense packages - address by the President of Ukraine

President of Ukraine

27 December 2023 - 19:46

I wish you health, fellow Ukrainians!

First of all, I would like to thank the defenders of our skies. Over the past evening and night, they managed to shoot down most of the 46 "Shahed" drones. This is a significant result. The result, which proves every day the soundness of our actions and our communication with partners: Ukrainian air defense, our mobile firing groups, our anti-aircraft gunners succeed in defending the state. We are already planning international events in January and February intensively to boost Ukraine's strength. We are working on new defense packages.

Today, I held a large meeting with the executives of Ukrainian defense enterprises - more than 100 companies of the industry were represented. Obviously, this is not everyone. But these are the ones who are doing a remarkable job, the ones who were able to come to Kyiv today. I presented state awards to the heads of enterprises and, through them, to the teams that have accomplished the most.

In total, our defense industry now employs about 300 thousand people, and this is one of the greatest achievements of our country in several years. Ukraine's defense industry is not just recovering, it is becoming as productive as it needs to be for a modern, technology-driven warfare. Many private initiatives are already in operation: four out of five companies in our defense industry are private businesses. Many state-owned enterprises that had been inactive for decades have now launched their production, including new types of weapons.

For the next year, we have set ourselves crystal clear goals in terms of artillery, drones, missiles, and armored vehicles. One of our major political results this year is an agreement with our partners, particularly the United States, on co-production of weapons. Establishment of new production facilities. Localization in Ukraine. Expansion of the repair base. All this contributes to Ukraine's defense and economic robustness, resulting in considerable GDP growth and good jobs. I am grateful to each and every person who develops our industry, to everyone who contributes their efforts and ideas to the development of the Ukrainian defense industry. And I am confident that our defense industry - given such continuous development - will eventually make it into the top 10 most productive and powerful defense complexes in the world. This is the true potential of Ukraine, and our country can definitely become one of the global security donors and one of the strongest members of NATO. We are working for this.

I also held a number of meetings with ministers today. With the Governor of the National Bank of Ukraine and the Minister of Finance we discussed the next year's budget. There was a meeting with the Minister of Defense.

Also, I had a meeting with the Minister of Internal Affairs. A report on the Russian strike on Kherson yesterday: unfortunately, one police officer was killed - Lieutenant Ihor Misiunia, Kirovohrad Main Department of the National Police. My condolences to the family and friends... Four people were injured, including two police officers, all of them received the necessary assistance. All services are working to restore electricity supply to Kherson. Yesterday 70% of the city was cut off from the grid. Critical infrastructure is powered by generators. Normal operations are gradually being restored. Gas supply to Kherson has been restored.

The Minister of Internal Affairs also reported on the functioning of the entire MIA system. Emergency response, mine clearance, provision of weapons and equipment to our National Guard and National Police units fighting on the frontline.

By the way, I would like to commend the employees of the National Police of Ukraine who faithfully serve the state and society, defending the country on the frontline together with everyone else in the Defense and Security Forces of Ukraine. Especially the warriors of the "Fury" Brigade of the National Police. Police Private Vitalii Melnychuk, Police Corporal Andrii Molochnyi, Senior Sergeant Dmytro Hanenko, Junior Lieutenant Bohdan Horuk, Lieutenant Oleksandr Pyatnychuk, Senior Lieutenants Oleksandr Hladyr and Ivan Krotov, and Police Captain Mykhailo Hlavatskikh. Thank you, guys, for your exemplary actions in combat!

Of course, today I extend my congratulations and our common gratitude to all the counterintelligence officers of the Security Service of Ukraine - today is their professional day. A unit that works 24/7, whose job is ensuring the state's tranquility and society's protection from various hostile agent networks. This year has been productive for counterintelligence. I am thankful for that, guys!

Glory to everyone who fights and works for Ukraine! Glory to our people!

Glory to Ukraine!

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We must strengthen Ukraine to the point where Russia feels that every one of their strikes will face our retaliation - President at the meeting with representatives of the Ukrainian defense industry

President of Ukraine

27 December 2023 - 16:29

President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelenskyy met with executives and employees of state-owned and private defense enterprises and presented state awards.

He emphasized that each of the attendees represents powerful teams that make a great contribution to the common cause of defending our state and people every day. According to the Head of State, the defense sector of Ukraine employs about 300 thousand people.

"I thank you for each of your initiatives in the Ukrainian defense sector and for all your personal energy, for all the implemented ideas that strengthen each of us and the state of Ukraine as a whole," Volodymyr Zelenskyy said.

According to the President, this year, thanks to the Ukrainian defense industry enterprises, the production of weapons and equipment has tripled compared to last year. There is also an extremely significant increase in the production of ammunition, particularly for artillery. Systematic deployment of ammunition manufacturing for domestic drones is underway, while the quantitative and qualitative indicators of missile production have grown as well. Next year, special attention will be paid to the production of explosives and powders, which are in short supply worldwide.

"Ukraine's task is crystal clear: we must strengthen our state to the point where Russia feels that every one of their strikes will face our retaliation. This task can only be accomplished through sufficient domestic arms manufacturing. Anyone who provides Ukraine with equipment, shells, and all the necessary weapons also provides our state with political independence," he emphasized.

The Head of State also noted that the share of private companies in the defense sector is continuously increasing. Already four out of five companies in the defense industry are non-state enterprises.

"We have to step up the use of this power, one of the main powers of human nature - the power of entrepreneurship. Swift development is simply impossible without it. It is only right that state-owned enterprises compete with private companies on an equal footing to ensure the quality and speed of our Ukrainian production. We are all on the same team. We all need the same thing - victory," the President emphasized.

According to Volodymyr Zelenskyy, the state will continue to simplify bureaucratic procedures - from importing components to the commissioning process, and the government is working to secure financing for long-term contracts.

In addition, the President noted, Ukraine's defense industry will become part of the international defense system, and there are already agreements with a number of leading countries and world companies on co-production.

"There will be more such agreements, more integration of our capabilities and those of the world, our production and production of major states," the Head of State emphasized.

Volodymyr Zelenskyy expressed gratitude to everyone who establishes and develops Ukrainian defense enterprises, as well as to the families of employees for their support and assistance.

"I thank you for this year and wish us all to become an even stronger team in the coming year," the President said.

Volodymyr Zelenskyy presented the defense industry representatives with awards, including the Order of Prince Yaroslav the Wise, V class, Order of Merit, II and III classes, Order of Princess Olga, III class, and medals "For Labor and Valor", for their significant personal contribution to the development of the defense industry of Ukraine, dedication and professionalism in creating high-tech products under martial law, and many years of conscientious work.

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Andriy Yermak had a phone call with the National Security Advisor to the President of South Africa

President of Ukraine

27 December 2023 - 13:51

On the instructions of President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelenskyy, Head of the Presidential Office Andriy Yermak had a phone call with National Security Advisor to the President of the Republic of South Africa Sydney Mufamadi.

Andriy Yermak thanked his interlocutor for the active participation in the meetings at the level of advisors on the implementation of the Ukrainian Peace Formula. The parties exchanged views on preparations for the next meeting of the national security advisors and key events to implement the points of the Peace Formula next year.

They also addressed the issue of contacts between Ukraine and South Africa in the near future.

The Head of the Presidential Office conveyed greetings from President Volodymyr Zelenskyy on the upcoming New Year and expressed hope for further enhancement of bilateral dialogue.

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VANCOUVER, British Columbia, Dec. 27, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Western Resources Corp. (the Company) (TSX: WRX) is pleased to announce that Western Potash Corp. (Western Potash), the Companys 100% owned subsidiary, received the second tranche of funds in the amount of CAD$5 million from Vantage Chance Limited (Vantage). The transaction, set out in the Companys news release of August 15, 2023, has now closed.



On August 15th, 2023, Western Potash signed an exchangeable debenture subscription agreement with Vantage, pursuant to which Vantage agreed to subscribe for a CAD$10 million exchangeable debenture (the Exchangeable Debenture) to be issued by Western Potash upon receipt of the full amount. Western Potash received the first tranche payment of CAD$5 million in September 2023. This CAD$5 million payment is the second and final payment required to be made by Vantage to Western Potash under the terms of the Exchangeable Debenture.

The Company will file the Exchangeable Debenture under the Company's profile on SEDAR+ at www.sedarplus.ca.

ON BEHALF OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS

Bill Xue

Chairman and CEO

For more information on the contents of this release please contact Jack Xue, Corporate Secretary, at 306-924-9378.




Brandt employees directed funds to support 14 organizations across Canada, the United States, Australia, and New Zealand during an annual holiday event.



REGINA, Saskatchewan, Dec. 28, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- The holidays just got a lot more festive for 14 charities, thanks to $500,000 in donations from the Brandt Group of Companies Thanks A Billion Holiday Fund.



We are very grateful to our customers, employees, and the communities where they live and work, says Brandt Senior Vice President of Marketing, Matt Semple. Our Thanks A Billion Holiday Fund is our way of saying 'thank you. And theres no time like the holiday season to do that.

The charitable donations were part of Brandt Family Christmas, an annual online holiday celebration for Brandt employees around the world. As part of the festivities, employees voted for their favourite charities, and $500,000 was distributed to organizations across Canada, the USA, Australia, and New Zealand based on percentage of votes cast.

We are so grateful to be included as one of the charities of choice for this years Brandt Family Christmas, says Phyillis OConnor, executive director of the Canadian Mental Health Association (Saskatchewan Division). Brandts donation will ensure quality programming to support those living with mental illness and those who wish to maintain their mental wellness.

Brandt has grown over the past few years, and so has its commitment to local communities. Since 2020, the Thanks A Billion Holiday Fund has donated more than $1.6 million to charities in the communities where Brandts employees and customers live and work. This years recipients, by country, are:





Canada ($275,000 CAD) Canadian Cancer Society $97,500 Canadian Mental Health Association $78,000 Ronald McDonald House Charities $55,500 Make a Wish Canada $26,000 Salvation Army of Canada $18,000 US ($75,000 USD) St. Jude Childrens Research Hospital $43,000 Wounded Warrior Project $18,000 Illinois CancerCare Foundation $14,000 Australia ($75,000 AUD) Rural Aid $44,000 Ronald McDonald House Charities $25,000 The Smith Family $6,000 New Zealand ($75,000 NZD) Cancer Society New Zealand $41,500 New Zealand Rural Support Charitable Trust $23,500 Heart Foundation New Zealand $10,000

Its exciting to see our employees get involved in how the Holiday Fund is distributed, concludes Semple. The charities theyve chosen to support this year are having a huge positive impact on the lives of people, locally and internationally.

The Thanks A Billion Holiday Fund is a part of Brandts Thanks A Billion program, which celebrated its 12th anniversary in 2023. Since its inception, the program has invested more than $25 million in local communities.

About the Brandt Group of Companies



The Brandt Group of Companies  headquartered in Regina, Saskatchewan, Canada  is a privately owned manufacturing and distribution company that serves a growing international audience in industries such as agriculture, construction, forestry, rail, mining, steel, transportation, material handling, and energy. The company has 6200+ employees and more than 180 locations in Canada, USA, Australia, and New Zealand. Brandt is one of Canadas largest privately owned companies and is among an elite group of Platinum Club members of Canadas Best Managed Companies.

A photo accompanying this announcement is available at https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/3879ed99-fd79-4adb-94a1-ea0cc206aeaf
New York, Dec. 28, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- The cryptocurrency exchange BISSNEX has recently completed key market expansion actions and gained increased recognition from the U.S. federal government and financial systems. BISSNEX's acquisition of the U.S. MSB license signals the continuous strengthening of the platform's capabilities and the adjustment of its global market strategy.

Following the challenging progress of Bitcoin and Ethereum ETF proposals, the U.S. has shown rising friendliness towards the crypto industry, supporting cryptocurrency taxation as property. Although their overall attitude towards cryptocurrencies remains cautious, as the industry continues to evolve, governments worldwide are gradually implementing trading and regulatory standards for the crypto industry. The widespread circulation of mainstream cryptocurrencies has made BISSNEX particularly attentive to expanding into the U.S. market.

The International Organization of Securities Commissions (IOSCO) previously released the "Consultation Report on Policy Recommendations for Crypto-Asset and Digital Asset Markets," indicating further progress in global crypto industry regulation standards. Soon after, BISSNEX obtained the Money Services Business (MSB) license from the U.S. Financial Crimes Enforcement Network (FinCEN), a milestone demonstrating BISSNEX's compliance with the highest industry standards in Anti-Money Laundering (AML) and Know Your Customer (KYC) practices. The platform will expand its services with higher compliance standards and strict regulatory requirements.

Since its establishment, BISSNEX has been committed to creating a safe and legal trading environment to ensure the best protection for users' interests and assets. The acquisition of the U.S. MSB license is a significant achievement in BISSNEX's compliance efforts, representing its leading position in trading compliance. The granting of this license requires exchanges to undergo rigorous due diligence to ensure compliance with the highest financial regulatory standards.

In the U.S. states of New York and California, cryptocurrencies are considered legal digital assets. Based on its global market strategy, BISSNEX has strategically established its headquarters in New York, a decision made after careful consideration of the global regulatory environment of cryptocurrencies. The U.S., particularly New York, is known for its stringent regulatory framework, providing a solid foundation for financial business expansion. BISSNEX recognizes the importance of working closely with regulatory authorities to create a safe and sustainable cryptocurrency trading environment.

BISSNEX is positioned at the forefront of compliance in the crypto industry. As a global financial centre, New York offers abundant financial resources and professional talent, providing BISSNEX with ample development opportunities. BISSNEX has also announced plans to expand its compliance team, recruiting various talents specializing in cryptocurrency regulations. This team will work tirelessly to ensure BISSNEX's operations comply with all relevant local and international regulations, providing users with peace of mind during trading. In addition to advancing compliance work, BISSNEX actively collaborates with regulatory bodies and industry associations to stay abreast of the latest developments in the cryptocurrency field.

As the crypto industry continues to evolve, BISSNEX remains firmly committed to operating with the highest compliance and security standards. The acquisition of the MSB license is a clear practice of this commitment, demonstrating BISSNEX's determination to provide a safe and compliant trading environment for its users.
PITTSBURGH, Dec. 28, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Integris Health recently announced that it suffered a data breach on or about November 28, 2023, which potentially impacted the personal information of millions of individuals. The information potentially impacted in the data breach includes individuals names, dates of birth, contact information, demographic information, Social Security numbers, and information about hospital visits.



Lynch Carpenter, LLP is investigating claims against Integris Health related to this data breach. If you received a data breach notification from Integris Health or believe that your information was impacted by the data breach, you may be entitled to compensation.

If you believe that that your information was impacted by the data breach, please call Patrick Donathen at (412) 322-9243, email him at patrick@lcllp.com, or fill out our contact form at www.lynchcarpenter.com/contact.

About Lynch Carpenter

Lynch Carpenter is a national class action law firm with offices in Pennsylvania, California, and Illinois. Our firm has represented millions of clients in data privacy matters for more than a decade and has earned national acclaim for complex litigation for plaintiffs across the country. To learn more, please visit www.lynchcarpenter.com.


TORONTO, Dec. 28, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Montauk Metals Inc. (TSX-V: MTK) (the Company or Montauk) is pleased to announce that it is been advanced US$200,000 (the Loan Amount) pursuant to the loan and option agreement (the Loan Agreement) with Omni Bridgeway (Fund 5) Canada Investments Ltd. (Omni), as previously announced in its news release on November 9, 2023. The Loan Amount was advanced to the Company in connection with the execution of promissory note by Montauk in favour of Omni (the Note).



Background

Montauk brought arbitration proceedings (the Arbitration) against the Republic of Colombia (Colombia) to enforce the Companys rights to compensation under the Canada-Colombia Free Trade Agreement (the FTA), as previously described in its news releases of March 27, 2018, February 25, 2019, February 10, 2020, November 23, 2021, September 1, 2023, October 5, 2023 and November 9, 2023 and subject to certain conditions and approvals as noted below.

Montauk contends that Colombia breached its obligations owed to the Company, including specific obligations under the FTA. The claims include Colombias refusal or failure to compensate the Company for the losses with respect to the Companys Reina de Oro project incurred as a consequence of Colombias prohibition of mining in the paramos (high altitude eco-systems). On March 21, 2018, Montauk filed a Request for Arbitration against the Republic of Colombia before the International Centre for Settlement of Investment Disputes (ICSID).

The Arbitration is being conducted in two phases. Phase One will determine whether the ICSID Tribunal adjudicating Montauks claims (the Tribunal) under the FTA has jurisdiction over this case and whether Colombia has breached its obligations under the FTA and is liable for compensation to the Company. Assuming that ICSID decides in favour of Montauk in Phase 1 (the Phase 1 Decision), Phase 2 of the arbitration (Phase 2) will involve determining the quantum of damages awarded to Montauk to compensate it for losses incurred.

The Company must make a payment of US$200,000 to ICSID (the ICSID Payment) before a ruling on Phase 1 is rendered. The Company has advanced the Loan Amount to ICSID to satisfy the ICSID Payment and expects for this to result in the issuance of a decision on jurisdiction and liability. The ICSID payment was originally required to be paid on or before November 9, 2023 (the Payment Deadline), however the Company advised ICSID that the Agreements (as defined below) were subject to the approval of shareholders at a meeting of shareholders to be held on December 14, 2023 (the Meeting), and accordingly ICSID indicated that they would extend the Payment Deadline until after the shareholders vote to approve the Agreements at the Meeting. Shareholders of the Company approved the Agreements at the Meeting.

Litigation Funding

The Loan Agreement grants Omni the option, exercisable in the sole discretion of Omni (the Phase 2 Election) to provide litigation funding to the Company pursuant to an arbitration funding agreement (the AFA, and together with the Loan Agreement, the Agreements). The Company, Omni and Lenczner Slaght LLP entered into the AFA, which, should Omni exercise the Phase 2 Election, provides Montauk an initial funding amount of up to US$2,325,000 (the Non-Recourse Funding Amount) subject to certain conditions. The Non-Recourse Funding Amount will be used to fund Phase 2 and may be increased in certain circumstances as may be agreed upon between the Corporation and Omni.

If Omni elects to provide the Non-Recourse Funding Amount for Phase 2 and the enforcement of any award obtained by the Company in the Arbitration, the Loan Amount and interest shall be repaid through proceeds recovered in the Arbitration (and in the event there are no proceeds recovered in the Arbitration, such amount inclusive of such interest shall be payable by the Company at the conclusion of the Arbitration). Please see the Companys press release issued on November 9, 2023 and management information circular dated November 9, 2023 for further information on the Agreements.

Omnis return on the Non-Recourse Funding Amount (the Omni Return) will be limited solely to recovery from the amount of money for which the Arbitration is settled, or for which a final, non-appealable award is given in favour of the Corporation (the Litigation Proceeds). The Omni Return shall be an amount calculated as the sum of (i) a multiple of the amounts actually incurred of the Non-Recourse Litigation Funding Amount and (ii) a percentage of the gross recovery proceeds, both calculated when the recovery proceeds are received, as set out in the table below:

Months Multiple Percentage 0-12 2.0x 12% 12-24 3.0x 14% 24+ 3.5x 16%



For any resolution that occurs on or after thirty-six (36) months from the date Omni makes a positive Phase 2 Election, Omnis Return shall bear interest at the rate of twelve percent (12%) per annum, accruing and compounding on a monthly basis.

The Litigation Proceeds, if received, will be disbursed in the following order of priority: (a) Omni shall be reimbursed the Recourse Loan and the amounts actually incurred of the Non-Recourse Funding Amount; (b) Omni shall be paid the Omni Return and legal counsel shall be paid their legal fees; and (c) the balance shall be paid to the Corporation.

In connection with the Loan Agreement, Note and LFA, the Company has agreed to grant Omni a continuing first priority security interest over any and all assets of the Company (whether presently held or acquired after the date hereof), including the Companys interest in any Litigation Proceeds.

The Company cannot guarantee that it will be successful at the Arbitration, or that the estimated amounts disclosed herein will not be revised as the Arbitration proceeds. The Company also cannot guarantee that it will be able to recover all or part of its legal and arbitration costs from Colombia even if it is successful at the Arbitration. Management of the Company will continue to provide updates on material developments of the status of the Arbitration.

Private Placement Withdrawal

Due to securing the foregoing funding, the Company will not be proceeding with the proposed private placement that was previously announced by the Company on October 5, 2023.

RISK DISCLOSURE STATEMENT: At the present time, the Companys payment obligations are substantially in excess of its cash balances and it has no other assets. The Company is not solvent and cannot continue as a going concern. Trading in shares of the Company and any investment in the Company is highly speculative. No trading in securities of the Company or investment should be made without being able to lose the entire amount of such funds. See below, Cautionary Note Regarding Forward-Looking Statements. Investors are advised to seek professional advice before making any decision to trade in or invest in the securities of the Company.

Montauk Metals Inc.

Mari Doren

VP Administration

775-748-5221

mdoren@montaukmetalsinc.com

www.galwaygoldinc.com

Cautionary Note Regarding 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 Montauks future plans, objectives or goals, including words to the effect that Montauk or management expects a stated condition or result to occur. Forward-looking statements may be identified by such terms as believes, anticipates, expects, estimates, may, could, would, will, or plan. Since forward-looking statements are based on assumptions and address future events and conditions, by their very nature they involve inherent risks and uncertainties. Although these statements are based on information currently available to Montauk, Montauk 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 status of the Arbitration, the merits and the associated costs of continuing the Arbitration, the availability of funding for continuing the Arbitration, the expected timelines for Arbitration decisions and outcomes, and the Companys ability to operate an active business assuming an unfavourable result from the Arbitration. Factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from such forward-looking information include, but are not limited to: the inability to reinstitute the Arbitration for any reason; costs of the Arbitration for amounts which are in excess of anticipated amounts; an inability on the part of the Company to succeed on Phase One and Phase Two of the Arbitration and the resulting failure to recover damages in respect of the termination of the Reina de Oro project with a complete loss of all costs incurred in respect of the Arbitration; any change in the legal landscape which could render the Companys pursuit of the Arbitration more or less promising; any change in the legislation, policy and/or jurisprudence of Colombia and/or Canada which could impact the ability of the Company to recover damages in respect of the termination of the Reina de Oro project; failure of Omni to exercise the Phase 2 Election to provide litigation funding for Phase 2; fluctuations in currency exchange rates diminishing the ability to use of the proceeds of the litigation funding as described; political risks; uncertainties relating to the availability and costs of financing needed in the future; changes in equity markets; inflation; changes in exchange rates; fluctuations in commodity prices; assuming an unsuccessful result at the Arbitration, the Company may have no commercial operations and has no history of profit, while retaining significant liabilities in connection with the Arbitration; risks of a material adverse change to the Companys ability to develop its properties or generate revenue due to an unfavourable result at the Arbitration; the ability to continue as a going concern assuming an unfavourable result at the Arbitration; and those risks set out in Montauks public documents filed on SEDAR+. Although Montauk has attempted to identify important factors that could cause actual actions, events, or results to differ materially from those described in the forward-looking information, there may be other factors that cause actions, events, or results not to be as anticipated, estimated, or intended. There can be no assurance that forward-looking information will prove to be accurate. The forward-looking information contained herein is presented for the purposes of assisting investors in understanding Montauks plans, objectives, and goals and may not be appropriate for other purposes. Accordingly, readers should not place undue reliance on forward-looking information. Montauk does not undertake to update any forward-looking information, except in accordance with applicable securities laws.

Neither TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.
Chandler, Dec. 28, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Chandler, Arizona -

In the thriving communities of Chandler, Mesa, and Queen Creek, where the real estate market is bustling with activity, Pritchett Home Inspections LLC is making a substantial impact with its exceptional home inspection services. Led by the proficient and experienced Kyle Pritchett, this company has become synonymous with reliability and precision in home inspections.

Understanding the complexities and nuances of modern homes, Kyle Pritchett and his team at Pritchett Home Inspections LLC offer a comprehensive range of services. From the structural integrity of buildings to the intricacies of electrical systems, plumbing networks, and HVAC systems, their inspections cover every critical aspect of a property. Their meticulous approach ensures that potential homeowners and real estate professionals gain a thorough understanding of the property's condition.

Steven Drew, who heads a successful real estate team, has high praise for Kyle's work. "Kyle's expertise in home inspections is unmatched. His attention to detail and ability to convey complex information simply is invaluable to our clients. He's helped countless homeowners make informed decisions with confidence," says Drew.

In a market as dynamic as Chandler, Mesa, and Queen Creek, staying ahead of potential issues is key. Pritchett Home Inspections LLC provides detailed reports that are not only informative but also easy to understand, highlighting issues that require immediate attention and offering insights into long-term property maintenance.

Their service extends beyond traditional home inspections. Kyle and his team are adept at conducting pre-listing inspections, which are crucial for sellers to understand the condition of their property before putting it on the market. Similarly, for new constructions, Pritchett Home Inspections LLC offers inspections that ensure the newly built properties meet all the required standards and regulations.

Recognizing the importance of environmental factors in home inspections, Pritchett Home Inspections LLC also offers specialized services such as allergen testing and mold inspection. These services are crucial for ensuring the health and safety of the occupants, a priority that Kyle Pritchett holds in high regard.

The team's dedication to customer education sets them apart. They believe that a well-informed client is best positioned to make decisions regarding their property. Therefore, they take the time to educate clients about their findings, ensuring that the technical aspects of home inspections are understood by all.

Pritchett Home Inspections LLC's commitment to excellence is not just limited to the technical aspects of their work. They prioritize customer service, ensuring that each client is treated with respect and their concerns are addressed promptly. This approach has earned them a loyal client base and numerous referrals.

Their use of the latest technology in home inspection services further exemplifies their commitment to providing the best service. By using state-of-the-art equipment, they can detect issues that may not be visible to the naked eye, providing an even deeper level of analysis and peace of mind for their clients.

In an area where the housing market continues to grow, the importance of a reliable home inspection service cannot be overstated. Pritchett Home Inspections LLC not only meets but exceeds these expectations with their comprehensive, client-focused approach.

As Kyle Pritchett himself says, "Our goal is not just to inspect homes but to ensure that our clients can enjoy their homes with the assurance of safety and quality. We take pride in our work and in the part we play in helping people make one of the biggest decisions of their lives."

In conclusion, Pritchett Home Inspections LLC offers an unparalleled home inspection service in Queen Creek, Mesa, and Chandler. With their thorough inspections, commitment to customer education, and exceptional customer service, they are not just inspecting homes; they are building trust and peace of mind, one inspection at a time.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8k4MugNSIls

For residents and real estate professionals in these vibrant communities, Pritchett Home Inspections LLC stands as a beacon of quality and reliability in the home inspection industry.

###

For more information about Pritchett Home Inspection, contact the company here:



Pritchett Home Inspection

Kyle Pritchett

602-757-1162

kyle@pritchetthi.com

57 West Lynx Way Chandler AZ 85248
Shanghai (Gasgoo)- On December 27, the ZEEKR 007, the first sedan model under Geely's premium electric vehicle brand ZEEKR, hit the market with five trim levels offered, featuring a price range of 209,900 yuan to 299,900 yuan.

Photo credit: ZEEKR

Scheduled deliveries will commence on January 1, 2024. The Navigation ZEEKR Pilot (NZP) driving assistant functions will be available on expressways nationwide upon the beginning of the delivery, with commuter mode slated for public testing in June 2024.

In addition to the market launch, ZEEKR has unveiled exclusive benefits for early reservations. From December 27, 2023, to January 31, 2024, customers placing a 5,000-yuan deposit for the ZEEKR 007 (excluding the four-wheel-drive performance model) can opt for a complimentary exterior package valued at 8,000 yuan in either Sky Blue or Dawn Brown color solutions. Moreover, they have the opportunity to upgrade from the 75kWh Golden Brick battery to the 100kWh Qilin battery for an additional 20,000 yuan. For the Intelligent Drive versions owners, a lifelong free trial of the ZAD (ZEEKR Autonomous Driving) fully intelligent driving assistance system is offered, while other models receive a one-year free trial of the NZP high-speed autonomous navigation assistance system.

Photo credit: ZEEKR

Crafted under the minimalist luxury design language "Hidden Energy," the ZEEKR 007's exterior was designed by former Bentley Chief Designer Stefan Sielaff. Combining opulent design aesthetics with advanced technology solutions, the vehicle boasts a rounded front-end, elevated hood design, and sleek, elongated headlights that exhibit a blend of technology and style.

Coming with two front-end design options, the high-spec model showcases a 90-inch light strip spanning the front, allowing customizable light patterns, while the base version adopts a slim light strip. The headlights, positioned beneath the front, achieve a maximum illumination distance of 189m. The intelligent light strip comprises 1,711 LED beads, supporting personalized light patterns and various modes for interactive communication.

Photo credit: ZEEKR

The side profile showcases raised wheel arches at the front and rear, accentuating the car's muscular appearance. The streamlined design includes concealed door handles to reduce aerodynamic drag, and the rear features a full-width taillight design, enhancing the visual width. The model measure 4,865mm in length, 1,900mm in width, and 1,450mm in height, with a wheelbase of 2,928mm.

Photo credit: ZEEKR

On the inside, the car is equipped with the Qualcomm Snapdragon 8295 intelligent cockpit computing platform, featuring an AI-learning NPU with 30 TOPS of computing power and introducing the AI large model, creating the ZEEKR in-car AI system KR GPT for a comprehensive intelligent interaction experience. Additionally, the car boasts a 35.5-inch AR-HUD and a 15.05-inch 2.5K OLED sunflower center display, catering to user needs in various scenarios.

The ZEEKR 007 is equipped with a 7.1.4 Dolby Atmos advanced audio system consisting of 21 speakers, providing users with an immersive audio experience. In terms of intelligent driving assistance, the ZEEKR 007 features its "self-developed full-stack high-level intelligent driving assistance system" powered by dual Orin X smart driving chips, boasting a computing power of 508 TOPS. The hardware includes 1 LiDAR unit, 12 high-definition cameras, 5 millimeter-wave radars, and 12 ultrasonic radars.

The ZEEKR 007 is powered by ZEEKR's in-house developed "Golden Brick" battery, utilizing lithium iron phosphate cells with a charging rate of up to 4.5C and a maximum charging power of 500 kW. A 15-minute charge can restore the vehicle's range by 500 km.

Photo credit: ZEEKR

In terms of the powertrain, the ZEEKR 007 adopts an 800V high-voltage platform, offering both rear-wheel-drive (RWD) single-motor and dual-motor options. The RWD version's combined CLTC-rated range is 688 km, while the four-wheel-drive (4WD) and 4WD intelligent driving trims have a range of 616 km, and the 4WD performance model achieves a range of 660 km. The official statement claims that version equipped with CATLs Qilin battery version can reach a maximum comprehensive working range of 870 km.
Vancouver, December 27, 2023 - Sanatana Resources Inc. (TSXV: STA) ("Sanatana" or the "Company") is pleased to announce that, further to its news releases dated December 15, 2023 and December 19, 2023, it has closed the first tranche of the previously announced private placement (the "Private Placement") of flow-through units of the Company (the "Units") at a price of $0.10 per Unit. Each Unit consists of one common share in the capital of the Company (a "Share") designated as a flow-through share pursuant to the Income Tax Act (Canada) and one non-flow through Share purchase warrant (a "Warrant"). Each Warrant entitles the holder thereof to purchase one additional Share at a price of $0.15 per Share for a period of 36 months from the date of issuance.

The first tranche closing of the Private Placement consisted of 2,000,000 Units for aggregate gross proceeds of $200,000. All securities issued in connection with the first tranche of the Private Placement are subject to a statutory hold period in accordance with applicable securities legislation. The Company will use the proceeds from the sale of the Units for exploration purposes in British Columbia.

In connection with the first tranche closing of the Private Placement, the Company paid aggregate finders' fees of $14,000 and issued an aggregate of 140,000 compensation warrants (each, a "Compensation Warrant"), pursuant to a finder's fee agreements entered between the Company and a finder. Each Compensation Warrant entitles the holder thereof to purchase one Warrant Share at a price of $0.10 per Warrant Share until December 22, 2026.

The securities being offered 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 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. This news release will not constitute an offer to sell or the solicitation of an offer to buy nor will there be any sale of the securities in any State in which such offer, solicitation or sale would be unlawful.

All references to currency in this news release are to Canadian currency. The Company expects to close a second tranche before December 31, 2023.

About the Company

Sanatana Resources Inc. is a mineral exploration and development company with an experienced management team and board of directors. Sanatana is based in Vancouver and is listed on the TSX Venture Exchange (TSXV: STA).

Sanatana's principal project is the Oweegee Dome copper-gold porphyry property which the Company optioned from ArcWest Exploration Inc. (see the Company's news release dated July 21, 2021). The Oweegee Dome copper-gold porphyry property is situated 40 km east of the KSM - Brucejack -Treaty Creek cluster of base and precious metal deposits and is underlain by similar geologic conditions, Stuhini Group (Tiassic age) host rocks, intrusions of the right age, alteration and porphyry style copper - gold - silver - molybdenite mineralization.

Sanatana Resources Inc.

(signed) "Peter Miles"

Peter Miles

Chief Executive Officer

For additional information on the Company, please contact:

Mr. Peter Miles, Chief Executive Officer at (604) 408-6680 or email investor@sanatanaresources.com.

To be added to the email distribution list, please email ir@sanatanaresources.com with "Sanatana" in the subject line.

Cautionary Statement Regarding "Forward-Looking" Information

This news release includes "forward-looking statements" and "forward-looking information" within the meaning of Canadian securities legislation. All statements included in this news release, other than statements of historical fact, are forward-looking statements including, without limitation, statements related to the Private Placement and the use of proceeds for the Private Placement.

Forward-looking statements and information can be identified by the use of words such as "plans", "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. Forward-looking statements and information are not historical facts and are subject to a number of risks and uncertainties beyond Sanatana's control. Actual results and developments are likely to differ, and may differ materially, from those expressed or implied by the forward-looking statements contained in this news release. Accordingly, readers should not place undue reliance on forward-looking statements. The Company undertakes no obligation to update publicly or otherwise revise any forward-looking statements, except as may be required by law.

Neither TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulations 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 IS NOT FOR DISTRIBUTION TO U.S. NEWSWIRE SERVICES FOR

DISSEMINATION IN THE UNITED STATES

To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/192533
Energy Fuels and Astron Corporation execute non-binding MOU to jointly develop the Donald Mineral Sands Project, a large heavy mineral sand deposit that has the potential to supply Energy Fuels with approximately 7,000 tonnes of rare earth-bearing monazite sand per year starting in 2026, ramping up to 14,000 tonnes per year soon thereafter.

LAKEWOOD, Dec. 27, 2023 - Energy Fuels Inc. (NYSE American: UUUU) (TSX: EFR) ("Energy Fuels" or the "Company"), a leading U.S. producer of uranium, rare earth elements ("REE"), and vanadium, is pleased to announce that it has entered into a non-binding Memorandum of Understanding ("MOU") with Astron Corporation Limited ("Astron") to jointly develop the Donald Rare Earth and Mineral Sands Project, located in the Wimmera Region of the State of Victoria, Australia (the "Donald Project"). The MOU describes indicative commercial terms and provides Energy Fuels with a binding exclusivity period to end on March 1, 2024, during which Energy Fuels will be entitled to conduct due diligence and the parties will negotiate definitive agreements.

The Donald Project is a world-class, world scale, 'shovel-ready' critical mineral deposit that Energy Fuels believes would provide it with another near-term, low-cost, and large-scale source of monazite sand in an REE concentrate ("REEC") that would be transported to the Company's White Mesa Mill in Utah, USA (the "Mill") for processing into REE oxides and other advanced REE materials and recovery of the contained uranium. Energy Fuels is announcing this non-binding MOU at this time, because Astron has determined that it is required to announce the MOU at this time under applicable Australian Securities Exchange ("ASX") rules.

With supportive U.S. government policies, and U.S. and European companies increasingly focused on security of supply, Energy Fuels is rapidly creating a new significant REE supply chain that can reduce America's reliance on REE's from China. As part of this strategy, the Company is actively securing long-term sources of REEC through offtake (Chemours), joint venture (Astron), and direct ownership (the Company's 100% owned Bahia Project in Brazil). Through these assets and potentially others, Energy Fuels is building a world significant REE oxide supply chain that the Company believes will be attractive to EV manufacturers and their Tier 1 suppliers.

THE DONALD PROJECT

With Energy Fuels' proposed investment of approximately A$180 million (approximately US$122 million at current exchange rates), and most licenses and permits in place (or at an advanced stage of completion), the Donald Project (see Figure 1) is expected to soon be a new, long-term source of several critical minerals key to the clean energy transition, including REE's, titanium, zircon, and uranium. The Donald Project is expected to provide Energy Fuels with 7,000 to 14,000 metric tons ("tonnes") of REEC per year, containing 4,000 to 8,200 tonnes of total REE oxides ("TREO"), with commissioning and ramp-up expected to begin in 2026. Most of Energy Fuels' proposed investment is expected to be disbursed in 2025.

This annual quantity of REEC contains roughly 850 to 1,700 tonnes of neodymium-praseodymium ("NdPr") oxide, 70 to 140 tonnes of dysprosium ("Dy") oxide and 12 to 25 tonnes of terbium ("Tb") oxide. The REEC from the Donald Project is also expected to contain approximately 50,000 to 100,000 pounds of low-cost recoverable uranium per year, which, in addition to the Company's large-scale uranium production from its numerous US mines and other sources, would be sold to the U.S. nuclear industry for the generation of clean, carbon-free electricity.

NdPr, Dy and Tb are known as the "magnet rare earths," as they are key ingredients in powerful permanent REE magnets used in the most efficient electric vehicles ("EVs"), wind generators, and other defense-related and advanced technologies. For scale, REEs provide significantly greater power and range for EVs, and the typical REE-powered EV uses about one kilogram ("kg") of NdPr oxide per vehicle. Therefore, the Donald Project could supply enough of these critical elements for up to 1.4 million EVs per year.

The following tables summarize the updated Ore Reserve Statement for the Donald Project, prepared in accordance with the Australasian Code for Reporting of Exploration Results, Mineral Resources and Ore Reserves, 2012 Edition ("2012 JORC Code"), as of June 27, 2023. The Company is treating the Mineral Reserves disclosed in the table below as historical in nature as a Qualified Person ("QP") for the Company has not conducted the due diligence necessary to classify these as current Mineral Reserves. There can be no assurance that additional due diligence work will convert the historical Mineral Reserves to current Mineral Reserves under S-K 1300 and NI 43-101:

MIN5532































% of total HM



Tonnes HM Slimes Oversize Zircon Rutile + Anatase Ilmenite Leucoxene Monazite Xenotime

Classification (Mt) ( %) ( %) ( %)

Proved 263 4.4 15.4 9.8 16.7 5.5 21.6 25.9 1.8 0.67

Probable 46 4.1 19.7 11.1 15.3 5.5 21.3 20.1 1.8 0.64

Total 309 4.4 16.1 10.0 16.5 5.5 21.6 25.1 1.8 0.66

Notes:





















1) The ore tonnes have been rounded to the nearest 1 Mt and grades have been rounded to two significant figures.





2) The Ore Reserve is based on Indicated and Measured Mineral Resources contained within the mine designs above an economic cut-off.

3) A break-even cut-off has been applied defining any material with product values greater than processing cost as Ore.





4) Mining recovery and dilution have been applied to the figures above.











5) The area is wholly within the mining license (MIN5532).













6) The rutile grades are a combination of rutile and anatase minerals. 7) The Ore Reserve estimates have been compiled in accordance with the guidelines defined in the 2012 JORC Code.



































RL2002 outside of MIN5532









% of total HM

Tonnes HM Slimes Oversize Zircon Rutile + Anatase Ilmenite Leucoxene Monazite Xenotime Classification (Mt) ( %) ( %) ( %) Proved 152 5.6 7.1 18.8 21.1 9.4 31.3 18.2 1.8

Probable 364 4.1 13.7 15.7 17.1 7.5 32.8 19.3 1.6

Total 516 5.6 11.7 16.6 18.6 8.2 32.3 18.9 1.7

Notes:



















1) The ore tonnes have been rounded to the nearest 1 Mt and grades have been rounded to two significant figures. 2) The Ore Reserve is based on Indicated and Measured Mineral Resources contained within the mine designs above an economic cut-off. 3) The economic cut-off is defined as the value of the products less the cost of processing. 4) Mining recovery and dilution have been applied to the figures above. 5) The updated RL2002 Ore Reserve does not include an announced figure on xenotime due to historical samples used in the Ore Reserve calculation not being analyzed for xenotime. 6) The rutile grades are a combination of rutile and anatase minerals. 7) The Ore Reserve estimates have been compiled in accordance with the guidelines defined in the 2012 JORC Code.

THE DONALD PROJECT JOINT VENTURE:

The MOU sets out in broad terms the basis upon which the parties would enter into an Australian incorporated Joint Venture (the "Venture") covering the tenements MIN5532 and RL2002, which together form the Donald Deposit (see the attached figure). The MOU provides for the continuation of due diligence by Energy Fuels and the negotiation of definitive and binding agreements governing the Venture. The transactions contemplated by the MOU, including formation of the Venture, are conditional on a number of factors, including the Company being satisfied with the results of its due diligence investigations and the ability of the parties to successfully negotiate and enter into definitive and binding agreements. There can be no assurance that the Company will enter into definitive agreements to govern the Venture, or if entered into that the terms will be as set out in the MOU.

The MOU contemplates that the Venture would initially consist of operations to mine 7.5 million tonnes per year of ore to produce approximately 200,000 to 250,000 tonnes per year of heavy mineral concentrate ("HMC") and approximately 7,000 to 8,000 tonnes per year of monazite-bearing rare earth element concentrate ("REEC") ("Phase 1"). It is further contemplated that, as soon as practicable after commencing Phase 1 commercial production, the Venture would double ore production to 15 million tonnes per year to produce approximately 400,000 to 500,000 tonnes per year of HMC and approximately 13,000 to 14,000 tonnes per year of REEC ("Phase 2") for decades to come.

The MOU provides for Energy Fuels to invest A$180 million (approximately US$122 million at current exchange rates) to earn a 49% interest in the Venture, most of which is expected to be spent in 2025. In addition, the Company would issue to Astron common shares having a value of US$17.5 million in consideration of RL2002 being included in the Venture to cover the entire Donald Deposit.

Energy Fuels' investment of A$180 million is expected to satisfy most of the equity capital requirements for the construction of the Phase 1 project. Astron, with a 51% interest, would be the Manager and Operator of the Venture, with specified major decisions subject to approval of both parties. Any future Venture expenditures, including development of Phase 2, would be funded by Energy Fuels and Astron on a pro-rata basis.

The MOU contemplates that under the Venture, Energy Fuels would enter into an offtake agreement for 100% of the Donald Project's Phase 1 and Phase 2 REEC production based on market prices of contained rare earth elements. Astron would have the right, but not the obligation, to enter into an offtake agreement with the Venture for up to 100% of the HMC product at market prices. Following payment of all joint venture expenses, all profits from the Venture would be distributed to Energy Fuels and Astron, pro-rata according to their respective ownership percentages.

The MOU also provides that the agreements will provide Energy Fuels with a first right of refusal over participation in the development of Astron's Jackson Deposit which is contained in the tenement RL2003 and adjoins the Donald Deposit to the south-west (see the attached figure). The Donald Deposit and the Jackson Deposit, together, form the Donald Rare Earth and Mineral Sands Project.

The Donald Project would greatly supplement Energy Fuels' other near-term monazite supplies. Earlier in 2023, Energy Fuels announced the acquisition of its 100% owned Bahia Mineral Sand Project, which is comprised of 60+ square miles of mineral concessions in Brazil containing large in-ground heavy mineral sand resources, including monazite. The Company is currently completing a sonic drill program at the Bahia Project to expand the heavy mineral sand resources and guide mine planning and additional permitting. The Bahia Project is expected to commence production in 2026, producing in the range of 3,000 to 10,000 tonnes of REEC per year.

Therefore, between the Bahia Project and the Donald Project, Energy Fuels would control roughly 10,000 to 24,000 tonnes of low-cost REEC per year, containing approximately 1,150 to 2,700 tonnes of NdPr along with significant quantities of "heavy" REEs and uranium for decades to come. The Company is continuing to evaluate additional opportunities to secure low-cost, large-scale monazite concentrates globally.

ENERGY FUELS' NEW U.S.-CENTRIC RARE EARTH SUPPLY CHAIN:

For the past four years, Energy Fuels has been developing a secure, U.S.-centric REE oxide supply chain that sources monazite concentrates from the US and around the world. Monazite is an excellent source of REE's, as it has superior distributions of the 'magnet' REE's versus other minerals. Energy Fuels is utilizing excess capacity at the Mill, and installing additional infrastructure, to produce advanced REE materials, including mixed REE carbonate and separated REE oxides. The Mill is the only operable conventional uranium mill in the U.S., and these REE capabilities are additive to the Company's uranium production capabilities.

Energy Fuels is utilizing the Mill for REE recovery, as most major REE-bearing minerals, including monazite, bastnaesite, ionic clays, xenotime, and others, contain uranium, thorium, and other radioactive elements that become concentrated through the REE extraction process. Therefore, companies that process REE-bearing minerals must have the licenses, infrastructure, tailings capacity, and expertise in radioactive hydrometallurgy to properly manage, process, recover, and/or dispose of uranium, thorium and other radioactive elements. As a result, the Company believes the Mill is an ideal facility to perform these functions, as it already possesses these attributes and is further able to recover the associated uranium for beneficial use. The Mill is licensed and constructed in the United States and overseen by an array of federal and state government agencies with expertise in the processing of radioactive materials. The Mill has an exceptional record of regulatory compliance and operates to the highest global standards for the protection of human health and the environment.

Furthermore, the proven processing method for producing high purity separated REE oxides is solvent extraction ("SX"), and the Mill has been utilizing SX for over 40 years to produce high-purity uranium and vanadium oxides. Therefore, it has not been difficult for Energy Fuels to deploy this institutional knowledge and experience with relatively minor Mill modifications to produce mixed REE carbonates since 2021 and to begin producing separated REE oxides, expected in early 2024, that meet applicable specifications.

As previously announced, the Company is currently installing a "Phase 1" REE separation circuit (the "Phase 1 REE Separation Circuit") within the Mill's existing SX building that will have the capacity to process 8,000 to 10,000 tonnes of REEC per year and produce up to 1,000 tonnes of high-purity NdPr oxide per year. Based on current committed REEC supplies, the Company expects to produce 40-50 tonnes of NdPr oxide in 2024, while continuing to negotiate for the procurement of additional feedstock. The Mill has pilot-tested NdPr separation at its in-house laboratory for over two years, which has allowed the Company to compile extensive real-time data that it is using to design and optimize its soon-to-be-operational NdPr circuit. As previously announced, the Phase 1 REE Separation Circuit is expected to be operational in Q1-2024. Also in Q1-2024, the Company plans to perform pilot-scale testing on "heavy" REE separation, including the production of high-purity Dy and Tb oxides, along with potentially samarium ("Sm+") oxides and others.

The Company is also in the process of designing a "Phase 2" REE separation circuit (the "Phase 2 Separation Circuit") and a "Phase 3" REE separation circuit (the "Phase 3 Separation Circuit") at the Mill. The Phase 2 Separation Circuit, which is currently expected to be completed in 2027, subject to receipt of any required regulatory approvals and the Company securing sufficient supplies of REEC, will consist of expanding NdPr oxide capacity to process between 30,000 and 40,000 tonnes of REEC per year and produce approximately 3,000 to 4,000 tonnes of NdPr oxide per year. The Company also plans to construct a dedicated "crack-and-leach" circuit in conjunction with its Phase 2 Separation Circuit, in order to allow the Mill to simultaneously process conventional uranium ore and REEC independently, thereby allowing for more efficient utilization of Mill capacity. The Phase 3 Separation Circuit, which is currently expected to be completed in 2028, subject to receipt of any required regulatory approvals, will consist of installing the capacity to produce "heavy" REE oxides, including Dy, Tb, and potentially Sm and other oxides. The Company continues to evaluate opportunities to enter the REE metal, alloy, and magnet-making space, in order to fully-integrate the entire REE magnet supply chain.

Assuming completion of the transactions contemplated by the MOU and formation of the Venture, the Company would expect to receive Phase 1 quantities of REEC from the Donald Project commencing in 2026. The Phase 1 quantities of REEC from the Donald Project would then be processed through the Mill's Phase 1 Separation Circuit, which is expected to be completed in 2024, for the production of NdPr oxide, with the heavies, Tb and Dy, either stockpiled at the Mill for future processing for the recovery of Tb and Dy in the Mill's Phase 3 Separation Circuit when constructed (currently expected to be in 2028) or sold as an SM+ carbonate to third parties in the interim. The Company currently expects that the Phase 2 Separation Circuit at the Mill will be completed prior to receipt of Phase 2 quantities of REE from the Donald Project.

MARK S. CHALMERS, PRESIDENT AND CEO OF ENERGY FUELS STATED:

"Energy Fuels is working to secure future large-scale in-situ rare earth element projects around the world, which we expect to become low-cost sources of feed to supply our U.S.-centric REE supply chain in the coming years. Earlier in 2023, we acquired the Bahia Project in Brazil, and now we are working toward partnering with Astron on the Donald Project in Australia. Energy Fuels' goal is to source monazite from the US and around the World and become a reliable, globally diversified, multi-decade supplier of U.S.-produced magnet REE oxides to EV manufactures and other end-users. Our announcement today should help people 'connect-the-dots' to better understand the magnitude of our burgeoning REE business strategy. We are earning into an essentially 'de-risked' heavy mineral sand project that is in Australia, has many years of detailed resource and project evaluation, and has all the main regulatory approvals in place or well-advanced.

"And we are able to develop this U.S.-centric REE supply chain without diminishing our U.S.-leading uranium production capability in any way. Uranium will always continue to be our primary focus. However, REE and uranium production go hand-in-hand, as the REEC from the Donald Project contains decades of low-cost recoverable uranium, which perfectly complements the Company's large-scale uranium production. While this represents only a small part of our total uranium production, these pounds of uranium are very valuable to us because their incremental cost of production is expected to be very low, while providing a secure source of uranium for the generation of clean, carbon-free electricity in the U.S.

"We are putting Utah on the map as a responsible domestic supplier of many clean energy and critical minerals, including uranium, rare earths, vanadium, and even potentially life-saving medical isotopes. We are not aware of any other U.S. company able to produce as many advanced materials that contribute to carbon-reduction and electrification as Energy Fuels."

QUALIFIED PERSON

The technical information in this press release has been prepared in accordance with both U.S. and Canadian requirements set out in SK-1300 and National Instrument 43-101 and reviewed on behalf of the company by Dan Kapostasy, VP, Technical Services of Energy Fuels Resources (USA) Inc., a Qualified Person under both SK-1300 and National Instrument 43-101 regulations. The JORC compliant Mineral Reserves contained herein were disclosed by Astron Corporation Limited on 27 June 2023. The Company has not completed the necessary due diligence on the Mineral Reserves to disclose them as current Mineral Reserves. Therefore, the Company is treating the contained tables as historical in nature as a Qualified Person has not done sufficient work to classify the Mineral Reserves as current under S-K 1300 or NI 43-101. These historical Mineral Reserves are relevant to this disclosure, as they provide information on the potential size and scale of MIN5532 and RL2002. The method used to estimate the in-situ resources was ordinary kriging utilizing octant and ellipsoid search parameters. The mineralized zone was domained into three zones: low grade, medium grade (>3% & <5%), and high grade (>5%) heavy mineral. The block model used a 100 m x 200 m x 1 m block, which is approximately half the drillhole spacing in the well drilled areas. The model was visually verified against drillholes, SWATH plots were used to check average grade trends, and the current estimate is similar to previous estimates. To convert the mineral resources to mineral reserves, modifying factors including mining methods (dry mining), metallurgical testwork (including processing size assumptions, >38 m size fraction) producing both a heavy mineral concentrate (Ti and Zr minerals) and a rare earth mineral concentrate (monazite + xenotime), capital cost, operating costs, and environmental factors. Additional details regarding the historical Mineral Reserves are available in the Astron Corporation Limited press release dated 27 June, 2023:

https://www.astronlimited.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2023/06/20230627-Phase-2-Ore-Reserve-Update.pdf

ABOUT ENERGY FUELS

Energy Fuels is a leading US-based uranium and critical minerals company. The Company, as the leading producer of uranium in the United States, mines uranium and produces natural uranium concentrates that are sold to major nuclear utilities for the production of carbon-free nuclear energy. Energy Fuels recently began production of advanced REE materials, including mixed REE carbonate, and plans to produce commercial quantities of separated REE oxides commencing in 2024. Energy Fuels also produces vanadium from certain of its projects, as market conditions warrant, and is evaluating the recovery of radionuclides needed for emerging cancer treatments. Its corporate offices are in Lakewood, Colorado, near Denver, and substantially all its assets and employees are in the United States. Energy Fuels holds two of America's key uranium production centers: the White Mesa Mill in Utah and the Nichols Ranch in-situ recovery ("ISR") Project in Wyoming. The White Mesa Mill is the only conventional uranium mill operating in the US today, has a licensed capacity of over 8 million pounds of U 3 O 8 per year, and has the ability to produce vanadium when market conditions warrant, as well as REE products, from various uranium-bearing ores. The Nichols Ranch ISR Project is on standby and has a licensed capacity of 2 million pounds of U 3 O 8 per year. The Company recently acquired the Bahia Project in Brazil, which is believed to have significant quantities of titanium (ilmenite and rutile), zirconium (zircon) and REE (monazite) minerals. In addition to the above production facilities, Energy Fuels also has one of the largest NI 43-101 compliant uranium resource portfolios in the US and several uranium and uranium/vanadium mining projects in production, on standby and in various stages of permitting and development. The primary trading market for Energy Fuels' common shares is the NYSE American under the trading symbol "UUUU," and the Company's common shares are also listed on the Toronto Stock Exchange under the trading symbol "EFR." Energy Fuels' website is www.energyfuels.com.

ABOUT ASTRON

Astron Corporation Limited (ASX: ATR) is an Australian-based company listed on the ASX. With over 35 years of operating history, Astron has been involved in mineral sands processing, downstream product development, as well as the marketing and sales of zirconium and titanium related products. Astron's prime focus is on the development of its large, long-life Donald Rare Earths and Mineral Sands Project in regional Victoria, Australia. Astron's website is www.astronlimited.com.au.

Cautionary Note Regarding Forward-Looking Statements: This news release contains certain "Forward Looking Information" and "Forward Looking Statements" within the meaning of applicable United States and Canadian securities legislation, which may include, but are not limited to, statements with respect to: any expectation that the Company will maintain its position as a leading U.S.-based uranium and critical minerals company or as the leading producer of uranium in the U.S.; any expectation that the transactions contemplated by the MOU will be completed, or the terms on which it will be completed, and that the Venture will be formed; any expectation as to production levels or timing or duration of production from the Donald Project or any of the Company's other mines or projects; any expectations as to costs of production at the Donald Project or any of the Company's mines or other projects; any expectation that the Company will complete a sonic drill program at the Bahia Project, or that any such program will expand the heavy mineral sand resources and guide mine planning and additional permitting; any expectation that the Company will be successful in creating a new REE supply chain that can reduce America's reliance on China that will be attractive to EV manufacturers and their Tier 1 suppliers or at all; any expectation that the Company will be successful in becoming a reliable, globally diversified, multi-decade supplier of U.S.-produced magnet REE oxides to EV manufacturers and other end-users; any expectation that the Company will be successful in entering the REE metal, alloy, and magnet-making space, in order to fully-integrate the entire REE magnet supply chain; any expectation that any ore reserves estimated to date will accurately reflect actual reserves or resources; any expectation that the Company's A$180 million investment in the Venture will satisfy most of the equity capital requirements for the construction of Phase 1 of the Donald Project; any expectation that the Company will be successful in securing any additional low-cost monazite concentrates globally, or at all; any expectation that the Mill will successfully continue to operate to the highest global standards for the protection of human health and the environment; any expectation that the Company will be successful in advancing its REE initiatives or that it will be successful in installing REE production capacity at the Mill and the timing of installation of any such production capacity; any expectation as to the success of the Company's permitting programs; and any expectation that the Company will be successful in its medical isotopes program. Generally, these forward-looking statements can be identified by the use of forward-looking terminology such as "plans," "expects," "does not expect," "is expected," "is likely," "budgets," "scheduled," "estimates," "forecasts," "intends," "anticipates," "does not anticipate," or "believes," or variations of such words and phrases, or state that certain actions, events or results "may," "could," "would," "might" or "will be taken," "occur," "be achieved" or "have the potential to." All statements, other than statements of historical fact, herein are considered to be forward-looking statements. 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 express or implied by the forward-looking statements. Factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those anticipated in these forward-looking statements include risks associated with: the results of due diligence investigations relating to the Donald Project yet to be performed; the inability to negotiate satisfactory definitive agreements relating to the Venture; commodity prices and price fluctuations; engineering, construction, processing and mining difficulties, upsets and delays; permitting and licensing requirements and delays; changes to regulatory requirements; legal challenges; the availability of feed sources for the Mill; competition from other producers; public opinion; government and political actions; available supplies of monazite; the ability of the Mill to produce rare earth carbonate, rare earth element oxides or other rare earth element products to meet commercial specifications on a commercial scale at acceptable costs or at all; market factors, including future demand for rare earth elements; the ability of the Mill to be able to separate radium or other radioisotopes at reasonable costs or at all; market prices and demand for medical isotopes; and the other factors described under the caption "Risk Factors" in the Company's most recently filed Annual Report on Form 10-K, which is available for review on EDGAR at www.sec.gov/edgar.shtml, on SEDAR at www.sedar.com, and on the Company's website at www.energyfuels.com. Forward-looking statements contained herein are made as of the date of this news release, and the Company disclaims, other than as required by law, any obligation to update any forward-looking statements whether as a result of new information, results, future events, circumstances, or if management's estimates or opinions should change, or otherwise. There can be no assurance that forward-looking statements will prove to be accurate, as actual results and future events could differ materially from those anticipated in such statements. Accordingly, the reader is cautioned not to place undue reliance on forward-looking statements. The Company assumes no obligation to update the information in this communication, except as otherwise required by law.

Cautionary Note for U.S. Investors Concerning Mineral Resources and Reserves: Certain technical disclosure contained in this news release has been prepared in accordance with the JORC Code. The JORC Code differs from the requirements of the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission ("SEC") and resource information contained in this news release may not be comparable to similar information disclosed by domestic United States companies subject to the SEC's reporting and disclosure requirements.

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SOURCE Energy Fuels Inc.
VANCOUVER, Dec. 27, 2023 - Western Resources Corp. (the "Company") (TSX: WRX) is pleased to announce that Western Potash Corp. ("Western Potash"), the Company's 100% owned subsidiary, received the second tranche of funds in the amount of CAD$5 million from Vantage Chance Limited ("Vantage"). The transaction, set out in the Company's news release of August 15, 2023, has now closed.



On August 15th, 2023, Western Potash signed an exchangeable debenture subscription agreement with Vantage, pursuant to which Vantage agreed to subscribe for a CAD$10 million exchangeable debenture (the "Exchangeable Debenture") to be issued by Western Potash upon receipt of the full amount. Western Potash received the first tranche payment of CAD$5 million in September 2023. This CAD$5 million payment is the second and final payment required to be made by Vantage to Western Potash under the terms of the Exchangeable Debenture.

The Company will file the Exchangeable Debenture under the Company's profile on SEDAR+ at www.sedarplus.ca.

ON BEHALF OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS

Bill Xue

Chairman and CEO

For more information on the contents of this release please contact Jack Xue, Corporate Secretary, at 306-924-9378.
TORONTO, December 28, 2023 - McFarlane Lake Mining Ltd. (NEO:MLM)(OTCQB:MLMLF) ("McFarlane Lake" or the "Company"), a Canadian gold exploration and development company, announces that the Company's board of directors has approved: (i) the grant of 5,650,000 stock options (collectively, the "Options") to certain directors, officers and consultants of the Company; and (ii) the grant of 3,600,000 restricted shares units (collectively, the "RSUs") to certain consultants of the Company, each in accordance with the rules of Cboe Canada and the applicable plan.

The Options are exercisable into the equivalent amount of common shares of the Company at a price of $0.09 per share until December 27, 2028.

The RSUs granted to the consultants will vest in accordance with the terms and conditions set forth in the applicable award agreements and once vested, each vested RSU will entitle the holder thereof to receive a common share in the capital of the Company.

About McFarlane Lake

McFarlane Lake is a mineral exploration company focused on the exploration and development of the High Lake mineral property located immediately east of the Ontario-Manitoba border and the West Hawk Lake mineral property located immediately west of the Ontario-Manitoba border. In addition, McFarlane Lake holds the McMillan and Mongowin mineral property located 70 km west of Sudbury and owns the Michaud/Munro mineral property 115 km east of Timmins. McFarlane is a "reporting issuer" under applicable securities legislation in the provinces of Ontario, British Columbia and Alberta.

To learn more, visit https://mcfarlanelakemining.com/. Additional information on McFarlane Lake can be found by reviewing its profile on SEDAR+ at www.sedarplus.ca.

Further Information

For further information regarding McFarlane Lake, please contact:

Roger Emdin, Chief Operating Officer

McFarlane Lake Mining Ltd.

1-705-562-8520

remdin@mcfarlanelakemining.com

Craig MacPhail

NATIONAL Capital Markets

cmacphail@national.ca

1-416-525-5709

SOURCE: McFarlane Lake Mining Ltd.

View the original press release on accesswire.com
Vancouver, December 28, 2023 - Rome Resources Ltd. (TSXV: RMR) (FSE: 33R) ("Rome" or the "Company") is pleased to announce that, pursuant to the heads of terms between the Company and Pathfinder Minerals Plc ("Pathfinder") announced on November 29, 2023, Rome has entered into a loan agreement (the "Loan Agreement") dated December 21, 2023 with Pathfinder, which provides for Pathfinder to lend up to $2,500,000 to Rome pursuant to two drawdowns, subject to satisfaction of certain conditions set out in the Loan Agreement. The Loan Agreement provides for the grant of loan bonuses to Pathfinder whereby 2,000,000 share purchase warrants ("Warrants") will be issued to Pathfinder in connection with the first drawdown of $500,000 and an additional 8,000,000 Warrants will be issued to Pathfinder in connection with the second drawdown of $2,000,000. Each Warrant will be exercisable to purchase one common share in the capital of Rome at a price of $0.25 per share on or before the later of the Final Repayment Date (as defined in the Loan Agreement) or the Extended Repayment Date (as defined in the Loan Agreement). The Final Repayment Date is defined in the Loan Agreement as (a) the date that is 12 months from the date of the second drawdown, or (b) if the second drawdown does not occur on or prior to December 21, 2024, the date of the first drawdown. The Extended Repayment Date is the date that is 12 months from the Final Repayment Date by which all funds borrowed would have to be repaid in the event the proposed reverse takeover of Rome by Pathfinder (the "Transaction") terminates before April 15, 2024 or such later date as may be agreed between Pathfinder and Rome (the "Long Stop Date"). If the Transaction terminates prior to the Long Stop Date, the Loan Agreement provides for Rome to grant a further loan bonus to Pathfinder comprised of an additional 10,000,000 Warrants, provided that the total number of outstanding Warrants held by Pathfinder in connection with the Loan Agreement shall not exceed 10,000,000 unless agreed to in writing by the parties and subject to approval by the TSX Venture Exchange. The issuance of the Warrants to Pathfinder is subject to acceptance for filing by the TSX Venture Exchange.

About Rome Resources

Rome Resources Ltd. is a mineral exploration company that has entered into two option agreements and a binding term sheet to acquire direct and indirect interests in two contiguous properties situated in the Walikale District of the North Kivu Province in eastern DRC, which are collectively referred to as the "Bisie North Tin Project". Rome has completed an initial phase of drilling on the project where it is responsible to fund exploration up to the completion of a definitive feasibility study.

Contacts

Investors / Shareholders

Mark Gasson

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December 28 - Global Stocks News - On December 20, 2023 Dolly Varden Silver (TSXV:DV) (OTC:DOLLF) announced that it intends to acquire a 100% undivided interest in the southern portion of the Big Bulk Project from Libero Copper & Gold. Dolly Varden will issue Libero 275,000 common shares at a deemed value of .78 to close the deal.

DV Silver is also developing its 100% held Kitsault Valley Project located in the Golden Triangle of British Columbia, Canada, 25kms by road to tide water.

"Big Bulk is located about 10 kilometers east of the Kitsault Valley Project," VP of Exploration Rob van Egmond told Guy Bennett, CEO of Global Stocks News. "Prior to this transaction, we controlled the northern part of it. It's a property that we haven't done a lot of work on because we've been focusing on the high-grade silver to the west."

The southern portion of the Big Bulk property that DV is acquiring rights to earn 100% ownership in, contains seven mineral claims making up 3,025 hectares. When combined with DV's northern portion, this doubles the size of the Big Bulk Project to approximately 6,000 hectares.

The option will give DV a new consolidated copper-gold porphyry project in the Golden Triangle, British Columbia.

"The Big Bulk porphyry was discovered in the early 1900s," stated van Egmond. "It's above treeline, the rocks are exposed so it got prospected first, revealing some high-grade silver and gold veins, peripheral to the porphyry system."

"A Porphyry means it has larger crystals in it," van Egmond continued. "The mineralised fluids are often lower grade, copper, gold, silver and molybdenum. The deposits tend to be homogeneous. They are amenable to low-cost open pit mines. It's a bulk tonnage scenario."



Click Image To View Full Size

Deal Highlights:

Consolidation of the Big Bulk copper-gold mineralized calc-alkali porphyry system of the Texas Creek plutonic suite (Big Bulk)

Historic data sets will be incorporated into a complete geologic model.

Existing Land Use Agreement and Exploration Permit in place

"We have been continuing to seek accretive consolidation opportunities in the area and the amalgamation of the southern portion of the Big Bulk copper gold porphyry with Dolly Varden's portion is our latest step," stated Shawn Khunkhun, President and CEO of Dolly Varden.

"In the Golden Triangle, porphyry systems can represent metallogenic feeders to high-grade vein systems, such as the KSM Deposit that occurs adjacent to the Brucejack Mine. Big Bulk may represent a causative mineralized porphyry to the high-grade silver and gold deposits 10 kilometres to the west at the Kitsault Valley Trend," added Khunkhun.

"'Metallogenic feeders' is a technical phrase that means, 'fluids that that carry metal.'" van Egmond told Bennett. "These feeders can be up to 10 kilometers away from the big porphyries. It's the driver for the mineralized systems. Typically, they're interconnected at depth and related to each other."

"Recent work by the British Columbia Geological Survey ("BCGS") and University of British Columbia ("UBC") Mineral Deposits Research Unit ("MDRU") indicate that Big Bulk is the northernmost porphyry of a string of several porphyry mineralized systems," states DV.

"We undertook detailed (1:10,000 scale) mapping in the Kinskuch Lake area near the Big Bulk porphyry prospect (Fig. 2b), which has characteristics and stratigraphy similar to the KSM deposits", reported BCGS.

A 2022 KSM Pre-Feasibility Study captured proven and probable reserves of 47.3 million ounces of gold plus 7.3 billion pounds of copper and 160 million ounces of silver over a 33-year open pit mine life.



Click Image To View Full Size

https://cmscontent.nrs.gov.bc.ca/geoscience/PublicationCatalogue/Paper/BCGS_P2020-01-06_Miller.pdf

From 2001 to 2003, the southern portion of the Big Bulk Property was explored by Teck and Canadian Empire Minerals. The northern half of the system was drilled by AngloGold in 2009, encountering porphyry-style alteration with copper and gold mineralization.

Following the Big Bulk announcement, "Libero Copper announced that it has "decided to concentrate its focus and allocate resources solely to the significantly more advanced Mocoa Porphyry Copper-Molybdenum Deposit in Colombia."

"We've been talking to Libero for more than a year," confirmed van Egmond. "Libero's lead asset is in Colombia, so for them Big Bulk was a distraction. We could see the strategic value of it. But we've been patient. DV Silver acquired this asset for a very good price."

"The Kitsault Valley Project will remain our main focus," explained van Egmond, "We still have about 70 holes to release from the 51,000-meter 2023 drill program. We expect to do a similar sized program in 2024. We'll be looking to deploy drills to Big Bulk and learn more about what we have there."

On November 2, 2023 Dolly Varden Silver announced that it has closed a deal where Hecla Canada invested $10 million in DV Silver, raising its stake in DV Silver from 10.6% to 15.7%.

Hecla Mining has a market cap of USD $3.07 billion and trades on the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE). It has produced 11.4 million ounces of silver this year so far.

"Hecla's increased ownership stake is a benefit to us," Khunkhun told Bennett, "Hecla has demonstrated it is a sticky shareholder. They're looking to expand their North American silver portfolio. Our consolidated Big Bulk Project is surrounded by Hecla's land package."

"The Golden Triangle includes the largest undeveloped Cu-Au porphyry deposit (KSM), the highest grade recently-opened underground gold mine (Brucejack), and the most precious metal-rich VMS orebody (Eskay Creek) in the world," states the Prospectors & Developers Association of Canada.

Contact: guy.bennett@globalstocksnews.com

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Copyright (c) 2023 TheNewswire - All rights reserved.
Shanghai (Gasgoo)- On December 26, Ji Yue, the automotive robot (Robocar) brand jointly backed by Geely and Baidu, signed an agreement with Changshu Automotive Trim Group Co., Ltd. ("CAIP") to cement their strategic partnership. The event also celebrated the successful delivery of the initial fleet of twelve units of the Ji Yue 01, Ji Yue's first production model, to CAIP.

Photo credit: CAIP

In her address, Ms. Cheng Xi, Vice President of the Ji Yue Automotive Supply Chain, emphasized the pivotal role played by CAIP as Ji Yue's inaugural partner, providing luxurious interior products and top-notch services. She expressed hope for deeper collaboration in the future, focusing on continuous exploration and innovation in areas such as smart cabins, user experience, new technologies, materials, processes, intelligence, connectivity, and environmentally friendly solutions. The aim is to elevate both parties' brand influence and market competitiveness while jointly expanding into broader markets.

Responding to the occasion, Ms. Luo Xifang, Executive Deputy General Manager of CAIP, highlighted that the Ji Yue 01 project marks the initiation of their collaboration, with a second project already in smooth development. Since joining hands in 2021, the shared values have fostered mutual trust and support. The strategic signing is a renewed commitment, paving the way for continued exploration and innovation in smart mobility and user experience, leveraging each other's resource advantages.

Through this strategic agreement, both parties aim to maximize their respective strengths, establish a technological alliance, accelerate the effective transition from technology to product, and form a long-term, multi-product, and multi-project strategic partnership. Together, they aspire to set the benchmark for intelligent automotive solutions.

Ji Yue currently has one mass-produced model, the Ji Yue 01, for sale. On December 26, the carmaker announced that its second production model is officially named "Ji Yue 07," which is set to hit the market in 2024.
2023 WASSCE results: Bawumia celebrates students, teachers and parents

GraphicOnline Education Dec - 28 - 2023 , 14:20

Vice President, Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia, has lauded the fourth batch of Free Senior High School (SHS) graduates for their impressive performance in the 2023 West African Senior School Certificate Examination (WASSCE), acknowledging the immense contributions of teachers and parents to their success.

Experts have hailed this year's results as the best since 2015, a testament to the dedication and hard work of all involved. Taking to his Facebook page, Dr. Bawumia celebrated the students, teachers, and parents, writing: "Congratulations to all WASSCE students, their teachers as well as their parents for the excellent performance attained by the students in this year's WASSCE."

He continued, "This is no doubt the result of hard work and dedication by all of you. You have made Ghana proud and I wish you the very best as you move on to greater challenges."

However, the outstanding results have been met with criticism from former President Mahama, who alleged widespread cheating facilitated by teachers.

Addressing these claims, Dr. Bawumia urged the graduates not to be disheartened by negativity.

"Please don't let anyone denigrate your achievements," he wrote. "Not everyone can appreciate what it takes to be an intelligent student. You have earned the excellent performances by sheer hard work. God bless you."
Asanteman Council sets February 6 and 8 to commemorate 1874 Sagrenti war

Kwame Asare Boadu Dec - 28 - 2023 , 09:05

The Asanteman Council - the highest traditional authority in Asante - has announced the dates for the commemoration of the 150th anniversary of the 3rd Anglo-Asante war also known as the Sagrenti war, which led to the burning and looting of the palace of the Asantehene, Kofi Karikari.

Giving details, the Juabenhene, Nana Otuo Siriboe II told Graphic Online that the anniversary will be marked with a symposium on February 6, 2024 , and a durbar on February 8, 2024.

The war was fought on 6th February. The plan we have on the table is that we will hold a symposium on the 6th of February, and on the 8th, we will hold a durbar, he said at the last meeting of the year of the Asanteman Council at the Manhyia Palace, reports Graphic Online's Kwame Asare Boadu.

The anniversary of the Sagrenti war will be one of the important events to be celebrated in Asanteman in 2024, a year which will above all, witness the Silver Jubilee of the coronation of the Asantehene, Otumfuo Osei Tutu II.

The Juabenhene further indicated that, a 700-page book on the history of the Asante Kingdom put together by the British in collaboration with traditional rulers of the Kingdom will be launched.

General Sir Garnet Wolseley

Sagrenti war

In 1874, the British army led by General Sir Garnet Wolseley charged on the Asante army which had earlier inflicted a crushing defeat on the British, and had also been attacking the coastal states of the Gold Coast.

Because the people of Gold Coast could not pronounce the name Sir Garnet Wolseley, the war was referred to as the Sagrenti War.

An article titled, the Sagrenti war and the sacking of Kumasi published by the Edward A. Ulzen Foundation, stated, The capital, Kumasi, was abandoned by the Ashanti when the British arrived on February 4. They demolished the royal palace with explosives, leaving Kumasi a heap of smouldering ruins."
Ukraine expands diplomatic footprint in Africa with new Embassy in Ghana

GraphicOnline Dec - 28 - 2023 , 09:29

Ukraine's foreign minister, Dmytro Kuleba, announced on Wednesday the commencement of operations at the country's embassy in Ghana, marking a significant step in Kyiv's efforts to broaden its diplomatic presence across the African continent.

In a statement released by the Ukrainian Foreign Ministry, Kuleba revealed that the initiative to establish new embassies in Africa was set in motion by President Volodymyr Zelenskyy last year.

Alongside the embassy in Ghana, Ukraine has also opened a diplomatic mission in Rwanda, with plans underway to establish embassies in Mozambique, Mauritania, Botswana, Ivory Coast, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, and Sudan, having obtained the necessary permits.

Kuleba emphasized the strategic significance of this diplomatic expansion, characterizing it as part of Ukraine's commitment to fostering relations with African nations, contributing to the Ukrainian-African renaissance, and countering Russian influence globally. He underscored that this move would unlock new opportunities for the Ukrainian state, businesses, and citizens.

The Ukrainian embassy in Accra, Ghana, will operate at the level of charge d'affaires until the appointment of an ambassador. Its primary functions include developing political contacts, fortifying economic ties, and providing consular services for both Ukrainians and Ghanaians.

According to Kuleba, the upcoming countries to witness the unveiling of new Ukrainian embassies will be Rwanda, Mozambique, and Botswana. The overarching goal is to establish a total of ten new embassies in Africa, reinforcing Ukraine's diplomatic presence on the continent.
'Not everyone can appreciate what it takes to be an intelligent student' - Bawumia to Mahama on 2023 WASSCE results

Enoch Darfah Frimpong Politics Dec - 28 - 2023 , 11:07

Vice President Dr Mahamudu Bawumia has urged students, especially the 2023 WASSCE candidates not to allow "anyone [to] denigrate their achievements."

In a Facebook post on Thursday morning [Dec 28] in reaction to a campaign message by former President John Mahama [SEE VIDEO ATTACHED BELOW] that the government with the connivance of teachers in recent times was allowing students to cheat during exams so as to be able to tout that a better form of education was being offered by the government, Dr Bawumia said: "Not everyone can appreciate what it takes to be an intelligent student."

"You have earned the excellent performances by dint of hard work. God bless you," Dr Bawumia posted.

"Congratulations to all WASSCE students, their teachers as well as their parents for the excellent performance attained by the students in this years [2023] WASSCE."

"This is no doubt the result of hard work and dedication by all of you. You have made Ghana proud and I wish you the very best as you move on to greater challenges," Dr Bawumia wrote.

Mahama on 2023 WASSCE results pic.twitter.com/iTq0tVjpjZ  DailyGraphic GraphicOnline (@Graphicgh) December 28, 2023

Mahama's comment

"We are worried about the lack of text books" following the introduction of a new curriculum, former President John Dramani said while challenging the authenticity of the 2023 WASSCE results.

"I wonder what kind of government this is. Our education system is in shambles," Mr Mahama said.

Commenting on the 2023 WASSCE results per the data released by the West African Examination Council (WAEC), which indicates that it is the best in the last five years, Mr Mahama said in recent times and in many places during examinations, invigilators "let the children to cheat freely. You go to many places and the teachers are conniving with the children to cheat."

"The effect of this will be seen later because you certify these children, you say he is of this standard, either BECE or SSCE and that child will use that certificate go abroad to a school and they will find that in Ghana your qualification is not up to what you say it is."

" It is going to affect this nation. You think we are just doing it, anytime the results come you say the children have performed better than they ever performed before and we all know what is happening in the system".

Mr Mahama said his government, when he wins Election 2024 will ensure that together with teachers, they will re-order things so that things are done properly.

Attached below is the full statement by Dr Bawumia posted on Facebook

CONGRATULATORY MESSAGE TO 2023 WASSCE STUDENTS. Congratulations to all WASSCE students, their teachers as well as their parents for the excellent performance attained by the students in this years WASSCE. This is no doubt the result of hard work and dedication by all of you. You have made Ghana proud and I wish you the very best as you move on to greater challenges. Please dont let anyone denigrate your achievements. Not everyone can appreciate what it takes to be an intelligent student. You have earned the excellent performances by dint of hard work. God bless you. I wish you all a happy new year.

Writer's email: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Follow @enochfrimpong Follow @Graphicgh
 Read the full article on Motorious

We couldnt make this up if we wanted to

Were still trying to wrap our heads around how one man is being blamed by police for stealing more than 50 luxury cars, which he then gave to each of his 16 girlfriends. Delhi Police interrogated the man, who confessed to the crimes, admitting he stole the vehicles for his girlfriends and his own hobbies. The man, named Robin, has a string of known aliases and were assuming quite the toolkit for boosting cars.

Watch the latest Motorious Podcast here.

During his interrogation, Robin spilled the beans on how he broke into the cars. While not all the details were supplied to local media, it did come out he would take the luxury vehicles in the morning hours. The repot doesnt state a specific time, but well assume if hes like most thieves he likes to strike when he knows the owners wont be trying to go to the car, giving him plenty of time.

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In fact, this guy did take his time boosting each car. He told police he would spend about 10 minutes opening each one. You would think with so much practice he would be quicker, but maybe he was a perfectionist or didnt want to leave even a little nick in the paint or glass.

A local news report says Robin would change his look when stealing each car. Being bald, he would don a different wig each time. Well assume he also switched up what kind of clothes he was wearing. Its like something out of a movie, only hes not cracking a safe in Milan or London.

Not surprisingly, this guy has done time for (wait for it) car theft. In fact, he was recently released from jail, so obviously he hasnt learned his lesson one bit. You could even say hes become more hardened as well as better than ever at thievery.

What we cant believe is the report doesnt say anything more about Robins 16 girlfriends. Maybe thats not an unusual thing in Delhi, but here in the US it would be the main focus of the story. And just how many cars does each woman need, anyway? We have so many more questions and no answers.

Source: Pledge Times

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Simon Sanchez High School students, faculty and staff presented "a toy for each and every student" of Daniel L. Perez Elementary School, Machanaonao Elementary School, and Upi Elementary school, according to a press release from the high school.

With the help of "Santa Claus," the high school community delivered more than 1,500 gifts directly to the schools and placed into students hands.

They say that "absence makes the heart grow fonder" and for the Sanchez High community, their temporary campus move from Yigo to Tamuning filled their thoughts and hearts with the desire to give back to their home community of Yigo, most especially to the youngest students this holiday season.

The gift-giving, according to the school, is a joint effort by the SSHS Legacy club, SSHS JROTC Program, and Student Body Council, with logistical support provided by the school administration.

"This event was a tremendous success and even inspired other non-profit groups, and citizens to make donations for our cause. Our students, in turn, made their own personal donations, our faculty and staff sponsored entire classrooms, and community partners supported our effort through in-kind donations," Simon Sanchez High School teacher Ron Canos said in a statement.

Simon Sanchez High has had to share the John F. Kennedy High School campus since Typhoon Mawar, and years of deterioration forced the Yigo campus to permanently close.

"While a double session format has provided our students with an opportunity to obtain some semblance of an education, it is not home. At best, it is a hotel stay with all the amenities we could ask for except that shine does not replace soul," Canos said.

He said schools are an integral part of a communitys culture and identity.

"In very many ways, schools reflect the values, hopes, dreams, growth and even redemptions of our community. The Yuletide in Yigo event was a testament to multiple groups working together towards a common goal. There was never a question of why an event of this magnitude could not happen. Not a single thought was wasted on the challenges that presented itself. Even in its most stressful moments, time was spent towards positive problem solving rather than excuses, second-guesses, or feeding roadblocks to its success. There were much bigger things at stake," he said.

The teacher said there are also lessons that could be learned by the parties hoping to get the construction of the new Simon Sanchez High School campus moving forward.

"Especially during this holiday season, with the shadow of Typhoon Mawar behind us and a New Year upon us, the message our students sent was loud and clear. We can make things happen, when we all work together for a common goal," Canos said. "Perhaps with each one, it brings us closer to getting back home ... to a school we can call our own."
A couple is seeking $30 million in damages from the U.S. government in its lawsuit alleging negligence and medical malpractice at Naval Hospital Guam, connected to an April 2021 jaw surgery and post-surgery care.

The lawsuit, filed by Sandra and John Leipheimer, alleges, among other things, that the military hospital failed to properly assess and perform proper surgical care and post-operative care for Mrs. Leipheimer.

As a direct and proximate result of the negligence of the Defendant in failing to properly diagnose and treat Mrs. Leipheimer, her conditions deteriorated and worsened, directly and proximately, causing Mrs. Leipheimer to suffer and continue to suffer personal injuries, complications, losses, damages, and pain and suffering, according to a Dec. 26 amended lawsuit.

The couple is represented by attorney Peter C. Perez.

On or about April 3, 2021, Mrs. Leipheimer was admitted to Naval Hospital Guam emergency room for a suspected abscess in the left side of her jaw or face, according to the complaint.

She was assessed and surgery was performed on her.

In less than 48 hours after her surgery, or on April 5, 2021, she was discharged from the hospital, and was given oral antibiotics.

The complaint alleges that the womans condition was not resolved and did not resolve but instead continued and worsened.

Mrs. Leipheimer, according to the lawsuit, contacted the hospital, complaining of symptoms that included extreme pain and fever and was advised that she would need and be given a CT scan and bloodwork.

When she arrived at the hospital, she was advised that the CT scan was not working and only lab work was performed.

No change of care was given, the complaint stated.

The lawsuit said Mrs. Leipheimer reported a few more times to Naval Hospital, complaining of severe pain with a fever, numbness over her jawline and down her neck, unable to fully open her jaw, and unable to love the left side of her mouth and other conditions, such as the feeling of toxicity, but the hospital failed to address her conditions, failed to provide care, failed to refer her to other providers, and failed to otherwise arrange for alternative care.

In March 2023, the Leipheimers submitted administrative federal tort claims for personal injuries to the Department of Navy, Office of the Judge Advocate General, Tort Claims Unit Norfolk; the U.S. Naval Hospital Guam; and the Office of the U.S. Attorney for Guam.

More than three months later, their claims were denied and they have exhausted all available administrative remedies.
A federal judge is allowing a class action lawsuit to proceed against a travel service agency, which allegedly terminated the employment of about a hundred employees without a 60-day advanced notice during the early periods of the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020.

The judges decision only certifies or allows the class action to proceed, and does not address the merits of the allegations.

U.S. District Court Chief Judge Frances Tydingco-Gatewood on Wednesday granted plaintiff Osamu Igarashis motion to certify the class action suit against H.I.S. Guam Inc., and the appointment of class counsel, Razzano Walsh & Torres P.C.

The court makes clear that its ruling is solely based on the motion for class certification and not on the merits of the case, the judge wrote in her Dec. 27 order.

A class suit is a type of civil lawsuit brought on behalf of a group of people who have suffered common injuries as a result of the defendants conduct, with at least one individual acting as a representative of that group. In this particular case, the plaintiff, Igarashi, represents employees of H.I.S. Guam.

Class actions often are more practicable for the parties and the court to join individual actions into one lawsuit.

H.I.S. Guam employed about 100 people, including the plaintiff.

In March 2020, the travel service agencys employees stopped working due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Although the employees were not working, their employer paid their wages until May 30, 2020.

On or about May 30, 2020, Igarashi, along with other allegedly affected employees, received a separation notice from H.I.S. Guam.

The notice stated that employees would be placed on a furlough status effective the following day, May 31, 2020.

More than a year later, Igarashi filed a class action complaint alleging that the employer violated the Worker Adjustment and Retraining Notification Act when it furloughed the plaintiff and other affected employees without the 60-day advanced notice required by the WARN Act.

No advance notice of the furlough was provided to the employee, and no notice under WARN, according to Igarashis initial complaint in September 2021.

The WARN Act requires employers not to order a plant closing or mass layoff until the end of a 60-day period after the employer serves written notice of such an order to the affected employees.

The employer in 2022 asked the court to strike the plaintiffs motion for class certification. H.I.S. Guam argues that the elements of the WARN Act are not met and, therefore, the court should dismiss the case.

The court, which denied that motion, said it would be premature to reach the question of whether the WARN Act applies because the court does not reach the merits of a class action complaint at the certification stage.

Parties moving for class certification must demonstrate that they have fulfilled the four requirements under Rule 23 of the Federal Rule of Civil Procedure.

The judge, in her order, said the plaintiff satisfies the requirements of numerosity, commonality, typicality, and adequacy of representation.

Defendant confirmed that there are at least 96 full-time employees and 96 potential class members satisfies the numerosity requirement, the judge wrote, adding that the typicality is satisfied because it is the same injury and the same course of conduct, i.e., mass termination without the required WARN Act notice, resulting in employment loss.

Some 30,000 Guam employees lost their jobs temporarily and permanently during the pandemic, and most received more than $800 million in federal Pandemic Unemployment Assistance.
A bout of drinking and fighting during an off-campus school activity came before a reported riot between Simon Sanchez High School students at the John F. Kennedy High School campus earlier this month.

Thats according to Sanchez High Principal Carla Masnayon, who shared more details about the fights at JFK during a roundtable on school violence hosted by the Office of the Attorney General this Wednesday.

Masnayon confirmed that students involved in the incident earlier this month were from Sanchez High, and were not fighting JFK students.

Sanchez students have been left attending double-session classes at JFK after the Sanchez campus in Yigo was abandoned due to serious damage from Typhoon Mawar in May.

Police responded to a reported riot at the JFK campus on Dec. 11, and two students who were 18 years old were arrested and charged following the incident, the Pacific Daily News reported previously.

But trouble began a day before, during a school concert that was held at Ypao Beach, according to Masnayon. Guam Police Department had to be called to stop a fight between students who had become intoxicated and started fighting around a pavilion at the beach.

This was the first time that we did an off campus, open area event. We wanted to showcase some of the talents of our students, and one of the challenges that weve had because we were doing a double session was that we didnt have a facility to do these things, she said.

When fighting broke out at Ypao Beach, it was dark, and difficult to identify students in the wide-open beach, Masnayon told Attorney General Douglas Moylan on Wednesday.

School administrators had to focus on keeping parents and students who had come for the concert away from the fighting.

By the time GPD arrived for the incident, the fighters had dispersed. Fighting at Ypao, that was brought into the campus on the following day, the principal said.

Charging documents alleged the Dec. 11 fight at JFK campus started after one student, Attshawn Kasuta, 18, approached another with his fist wrapped in a red bandana and asked if were going to throw down?

Christian Rick Ada, also 18, told police he witnessed the first fight, and said that more students jumped into the fight after Kasuta and the student Kasuta was fighting, fell on the ground, court documents stated.

Masnayon said Sanchez High has implemented a Student Advocate Mentorship program, to provide mentors to students in the hopes of keeping them on the right track. The school has been tracking a higher number of ninth graders involved in mischief this year, from contraband to fighting.

84 riots so far this school year

Though the Simon Sanchez fights, which were caught on camera, were the most recent to make headlines, there have been a total of 84 riots reported at public schools just halfway through the 2023 to 2024 school year, according to data shared by the Guam Department of Education.

A perceived high level of violence on school campuses is what led to the OAGs Wednesdays roundtable.

If the rioting trend continues through the second half of the school year, this year will be on track to record more school riots than every school year since the summer of 2019, based on GDOE data.

The number of fights reported this school year, however, are on par with whats been seen in previous years.

Simon Sanchez students actually have a lower daily average of disciplinary incidents than every high school besides Tiyan High School, according to GDOE data, though data doesnt differentiate between minor infractions and violent behavior reported at each school.

Disturbing videos of fights

Also more commonplace are videos of altercations between students.

Education oversight chairman, Sen. Chris Barnett, said hes discovered a number of Instagram pages which are entirely devoted to fights on school campusboth disagreements and sparring matches between students.

What I see when I see these videos, I see students who are very comfortable with disrespecting each other. I see students who are also very comfortable with the amount of time they have, he said.

Guam Education Board Chair Mary Okada said the board called the fight videos that have been circulating quite disturbing, and that the board wants to support GDOE to deal with issues at local schools.

Many of us have seen the videos over the past several months, as school began. Post-COVID students returning to campus, and theyre bringing back to campus, perhaps a lot of built up energy that theyve had during COVID, she said.
Public Auditor Benjamin J.F. Cruz and his team are seeking Office of Public Accountability independence from budget control and obtaining public auditor immunity from lawsuits or prosecution in the normal discharge of their duties.

OPA, tasked with improving the performance of government of Guam agencies, transparency and accountability of government funds, has been pushing for financial independence for years.

In its newly released 2024-2028 strategic plan, OPA listed protecting and enhancing OPAs independence as among its strategic priorities.

By February, it targets to identify a senator who would introduce permanent legislation to codify OPAs continuing annual budget of 0.25% of the government of Guams annual general fund revenues.

It also targets to soon complete its research and review of the legal framework related to the public auditors immunity or removal from office.

OPA hopes to secure a permanent funding mechanism thats not subject to political whims or the actions of those that OPA tries to audit, investigate or help.

The 2024-2028 strategic plan, which is available on www.opaguam.org, envisions the following outcomes:

Public trust in supreme audit institutions;

Audit recommendations implemented;

Effectiveness and efficiency in government processes and government programs;

Compliance with laws and regulations; and

Advocacy and engagement of stakeholders.

To ensure public trust and assure good governance in GovGuam, OPA said it will endeavor to reach these outcomes by accomplishing the following strategic priorities:

Protect and enhance the independence of OPA. Timely delivery of impactful and quality audit reports. Continue to deliver timely decisions on procurement appeals. Foster and enhance public perception and OPA awareness to stakeholders. Recruit and retain competent, high-performing staff to provide impactful and quality service.

It is my hope that we will receive support from all our stakeholders to successfully implement our 20242028 Strategic Plan, the public auditor said in a statement Thursday.

Among specific performance measures is releasing performance audit reports within six to eight months from the entrance conference, depending on the complexity of the reports.

OPA also targets that at least 75% of audit recommendations are addressed by GovGuam audited entities one year after the report release date.

Its also aiming at a draft of proposed amendments to existing Guam procurement laws and administrative rules to include standard operating procedures, by June 2024.

OPA also updated its vision and mission.

The Government of Guam is the standard of public trust and good governance, the OPA vision states, while the OPA mission is now, We independently conduct audits and administer procurement appeals to safeguard public trust and promote good governance for the people of Guam.
The Supreme Court of Guam on Thursday affirmed the Superior Courts decision granting a mans motion to suppress evidence in a case involving a warrantless search conducted by Guam Police Department officers.

A warrantless search is presumptively unreasonable, the upper court said.

In reviewing the trial courts decision to grant (Zerxes Jabidando) Vivas motion to suppress and the inconsistencies and contradictions in the officers accounts, the trial courts decision to suppress the evidence was not clearly erroneous. Accordingly, we affirm the Superior Courts order granting Vivas motion to suppress, the justices wrote.

The Dec. 28 opinion was authored by Justice Katherine A. Maraman and joined by Chief Justice Robert J. Torres and Justice F. Philip Carbullido.

Because the Superior Court had concerns about the credibility of the peoples witnesses, it was not clearly erroneous for the Superior Court to determine that it was unclear whether Viva consented to the search and that the evidence obtained during the search should be suppressed, according to the Supreme Court.

GPD Sgt. Ephraim Amaguin conducted a traffic stop after witnessing Viva drive through a stop sign, based on the transcript of the motion to suppress hearing in July 2022.

After pulling over, Viva exited the car on his own, and Viva and Amaguin stood in front of the vehicle.

According to court documents, the GPD sergeant performed none of the ordinary inquiries of a traffic stop.

He did not ask for Vivas license or registration, run the plates of the car, check for outstanding warrants, or issue a ticket or citation for failing to stop at the stop sign.

Instead, according to Amaguin, he asked Viva: (1) if he was still on probation, to which Viva answered yes, (2) if he had any drugs on him, to which Viva answered no, and (3) for permission to search Vivas vehicle, to which Viva gave consent, based on Amaguins testimony.

However, he later testified that he could not recall when in the string of events this conversation had occurred, court documents stated.

According to Amaguin, after obtaining consent, he requested backup to conduct the search and GPD Officer Christopher Champion and trainee Officer Clomera Conner responded to the request.

According to court documents, Champion testified he did not ask Viva for consent to search the vehicle. He testified he discovered a large kitchen knife and saw a suspicious message banner on Vivas phone that Champion believed to be related to a drug deal but he took no photographs of the message nor did he extract any data from Vivas phone.

The officers found a baggie containing a substance that tested positive for methamphetamine using a field test.

They also found Vivas wallet containing $2,000 but its unclear from their testimony whether they found the wallet during the search of Vivas car or if they discovered it on his person.

Champion arrested Viva. The other officer, Conner, testified that none of the officers read Viva his Miranda rights.

In contrast, Champion testified that he read Viva his Miranda rights at the precinct.

In its decision and order, the Superior Court questioned the truthfulness of the GPD officers testimony and ultimately did not find it persuasive.

Instead, the trial court found the officers presented inconsistent testimony and that it was unclear whether Viva consented to the search.

Ultimately, unable to find that the officers obtained consent, the trial court granted Vivas motion to suppress.

The Office of the Attorney General appealed the suppression, arguing the trial court did not properly address Vivas consent.

In affirming the trial court decision, the Supreme Court said the decision to grant Vivas motion to suppress was based on the trial courts justified concerns about the credibility of the officers testimony, not on a failure to properly address the issue of consent.
MIAMISayUncle released six brand new scenes starring gay porn stars Jonah Wheeler, Skylar Finch, Dakota Lovell, and more fan-favorite performers.

Jonah Wheeler and Oliver Carter star in "Welcome to the Mission," for Missionary Boys.

A synopsis of the scene explained, "President Jonah wants to find out more about Olivers past, especially his sexual past. Oliver doesnt give too much information, which leads Jonah to strip Oliver down to show him what lustful sins look like. "

Zacc Andrews is in a new scene for Pig Bottoms called "Zacc Attack." Jay Wu, Jesse Stone, and Jordan Lake co-star in the scene.

Skylar Finchh stars in new DadCreep's latest scene titled "Fuck College!" The synopsis for this scene is as follows:

"Skylars stepdad (Johnny Ford) is very disappointed in Skylars decision not to go to college, he doesnt want a slacker living under his roof. With the threat of getting kicked out, Skylar offers to do anything Johnny wants him to do in order to stay. Johnny takes advantage of this to use it for his horniest desires."

In a special Christmas episode for FreeUse Twink called "Two Twink Under the Tree," Dakota Lovell and Danny Shine star alongside Tristan Jaxx.

Alex Tikas and Damian Rose star in a new Family Dick scene, entitled A Christmas Plow. A synopsis for this scene is as follows:

"Alex finds his stepson Damian practicing his lines for the play by the Christmas tree in the middle of the night. Instead of getting mad at Damian for waking him up, he helps him rehearse his lines. Eventually, Alex realizes that what Damian needs is more confidence, and the only way to give him that is with a good Christmas plow from his stepdad."

Another Christmas scene for Family Dick, "So Tender and Mild," stars Damian Rose and Alex Tikas.

Visit SayUncle.com and follow the studio on X (formerly Twitter): @sayunclenetwork and Instagram @sayunclenetwork.
Robert Underwood is the former president of the University of Guam and Guams former delegate in the U.S. House of Representatives.
A woman from Chalmette, Louisiana, has filed a lawsuit to block former President Donald Trump from appearing on the states primary ballot next March.

The suit, filed by Ashley Reeb in East Baton Rouge Parish, asserts that the Republican front-runner should be barred from office given his incitement of the Jan. 6 riots.

Both Trumps actions (engaging in insurrection) as well as his inaction (giving aid and comfort to insurrectionists) on Jan. 6, 2021, disqualify him from holding any office of/under the United States, Reebs lawsuit states.

Louisiana has now joined a growing list of states with efforts seeking to disqualify Trump from reelection.

On Dec. 19, Colorados Supreme Court ruled to kick Trump off the states 2024 primary ballot under similar legal reasoning.

A majority of the court holds that President Trump is disqualified from holding the office of President under Section Three of the Fourteenth Amendment of the United States Constitution, read the bombshell 4-3 decision.

Protesters gather Jan. 6, 2021, on the second day of pro-Trump events fueled by President Donald Trump's continued claims of election fraud in an effort to overturn the results.Los Angeles Times via Getty Imag

We do not reach these conclusions lightly, wrote the Colorado judges. We are mindful of the magnitude and weight of the questions now before us.

The Colorado Republican Party has since asked the Supreme Court to overturn the ruling.

On Dec. 27, Michigans Supreme Court dismissed a bid to disqualify Trump from the states ballot under similar grounds. Meanwhile, suits in Oregon, Maine, New York and other states  hinging on the so-called insurrectionist ban  are pending decisions.

Political analysts, however, warn anti-Trump hopefuls that such decisions are unlikely to thwart the ex-president in the long term.

Robert Collins, a professor of public policy at New Orleans Dillard University, told Fox News that such suits are a long shot, given that Trump is yet to be convicted of criminal wrongdoing.

To make an interpretation that a president had engaged in insurrection, and to remove him from the ballot, I think most judges ideologically are just not there, Collins said in an interview with the outlet.




Haiti - Social : Nearly 200,000 Haitians returned to Haiti for the holiday season





The voluntary exodus of Haitians living in the Dominican Republic and returning to Haiti to spend the Christmas and New Year festivities with their families has accelerated in recent days, with a total estimated at nearly 200,000 voluntary departures to Haiti according to data from the Specialized Land Border Security Corps (CESFront)...



From December 20 to today, thousands of Haitians have arrived by bus in the province of Dajabon to cross the border to their country of origin to reunite with their loved ones. Every day, entire buses dump hundreds of Haitians loaded with packages and luggage. Some cross the border bridge on foot with their suitcases or pay 3-wheel motorcycle drivers to transport their luggage...



Faced with this influx, CESFront soldiers are vigilant and search luggage to ensure that illegal products do not cross the border into Haiti, such as plantains and rice, the export of which is temporarily prohibited https://www.icihaiti.com/en/news-41303-icihaiti-contraband-seizure-of-rice-and-bananas-destined-for-haiti.html



This phenomenon is observed every year and these Haitians who leave for their country return to the Dominican Republic from January. However, many return illegally using smugglers whom they pay between 4,000 and 10,000 pesos to facilitate their return to Dominican territory.



S/ HaitiLibre






















Haiti - News : Zapping...





The construction of the canal lacks money

The Committee for the construction of the irrigation canal on the Massacre River is facing, for the first time, a lack of financial means to continue the work, according to Pastor Joseph Moise. The Chairman of the committee highlights the secondary and tertiary canals, revealing that the work already carried out represents 40% of the work. It calls for the goodwill of supporters.



Registration open : "Study of the U.S. Institutes" program

The American Embassy in Haiti announces the opening of the application process for summer 2024 of the "Study of the U.S. Institutes" (SUSI) program for secondary educators from Colombia, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, Haiti, Nicaragua, Panama and Venezuela interested in the theme of entrepreneurship and economic development. The five-week program will begin in July 2024 and will be conducted in Spanish. The deadline to submit an application is midnight Eastern on Friday, January 5, 2024. For more information: https://ht.usembassy.gov/education-culture/academic-professional-exchanges/



Justice : The PMs hearing at his residence divides

Voices are being raised to denounce the decision of Judge Walter Wesser Voltaire to travel to hear Prime Minister a.i. Ariel Henry at his official residence. Pierre Esperance, Executive Director of the National Network for the Defense of Human Rights, denounces a scandal, believing that justice is once again flouted by the political authorities. However, the decision of Judge Walter Wesser Voltaire to travel to hear the Prime Minister is in accordance with the law, in the opinion of Me Pierre Michel Brunache. This is, according to him, a gesture of courtesy.



25% of arable land occupied by armed men

25% of the country's arable land would be occupied by armed men, estimates agronomist Charlot Bredy, Minister of Agriculture, who promises that the Government will endeavor to fill the deficit in the agricultural sector.



A Haitian Gang Leader Killed in the DR

Joseph Canon Pierre, an alleged Haitian gang leader, was fatally injured in neighboring Republic during exchanges of fire with Dominican police officers. Joseph Canon Pierre specialized in attacks on travelers upon their arrival at Las Americas airport.



Japan : 14 million in additional aid

The Government of Japan has decided to provide additional aid of approximately $14 million to improve the security and humanitarian situation in Haiti, where the situation is very worrying.



HL/ HaitiLibre


















Published on 2023/12/27 | Source

New poster and stills added for the upcoming Korean movie "Star of Ulsan" (2024)

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Directed by Jung Ki-hyuk

With Kim Geum-soon, Choi Woo-bin, Jang Min-young-I, Do Jung-hwan, Im Hyeong-tae, Byun Joong-hee,...

Synopsis

Star of Ulsan calmly captures a way of life that is silently collapsing. Yunhwa, who works at a shipyard to manage their livelihood after her husbands accident, receives a notice of unfair dismissal. To make matters worse, their relatives suddenly come and try to take away the family land. Her son loses a large sum of money with Bitcoin, and her daughter dreams of escaping to Seoul while giving up her studies. Instead of resolving the misfortunes and conflicts surrounding the characters at once or erasing them neatly, the film chooses to stare at the uncomfortable situations as long as possible. In that way, the film, which makes it impossible to turn away from the stains and fatigue of life, reminds us of moments and things that cannot be turned away and should not be turned away. It is trustworthy because the characters do not give up hope nor indulge in self-pity easily. SONG Kyung-won

27th Busan International Film Festival

Release date in Korea : 2024/01/24
Published on 2023/12/27 | Source

A pictorial shot by actors Keum Sae-rok and Steve Sanghyun Noh together was released.

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ELLE, a fashion magazine, released a photo shoot of Keum Sae-rok and Steve Sanghyun Noh on Wednesday. With the concept of an old couple in one place, they captured the chemistry from the Disney+ original series "Soundtrack #2".

In an interview after the shooting, Keum Sae-rok as Hyeon-seo, who met her ex-lover as a piano teacher, said, "This was my first time to act in a romance in the form of giving and receiving love. In my previous drama, "The Interest of Love", I was close to one-sided love, but there was a task where I wanted to harmonize my emotions well. Steve Sanghyun Noh, my co-star, is an actor who tries to fill in even the smallest details. Thanks to him, I was able to create a richer scene".

Having proved her existence step by step from "The Silenced", "The Fiery Priest", "Youth of May", and "The Interest of Love" she said, "I think it's important to hold out well. I was able to move on to the next one because I endured it. That strength lies in wanting to do what I like. I always want to do better tomorrow".

Steve Sanghyun Noh also said, "I was able to immerse myself more easily thanks to Keum Sae-rok, who has deep emotional lines". Playing Hyeon-seo's former lover and successful entrepreneur Soo-ho, Steve Sanghyun Noh said, "Baek Isak of "Pachinko", Lee Sang-wook of "Behind Every Star", and Lim Moon-seong of "Curtain Call" are all characters who sought their ideal love. Soo-ho is a person who reveals his emotions as they are. I liked pure Soo-ho who doesn't calculate".

He changed his career from a business school to acting, saying, "I went to the military at a late age, but it was a difficult time in many ways. The future was hazy, and nothing had been achieved, but in retrospect, I want to be proud of myself in the time when I emptied my head, thought positively, and didn't give up my dream, and I want to console myself that I did well".

"Soundtrack #2", which was released on Disney+ on the 6th, is set to end this week as a romance that takes place when piano tutor Hyeon-seo stays in the same house with a younger man who has re-established his dream with his ex-lover.

The photoshoots and interviews of Keum Sae-rok and Steve Sanghyun Noh can be found on the January issue of ELLE and the ELLE website.
BROOMFIELD, Colo.Eldorado Trading Company, an award-winning distributor of adult toys, lingerie, and party supplies, has scheduled the first Virtual Elevation event of the 2024 season on Thursday, Jan. 4, at 11:00 a.m. MT and will be hosted by Anne Meunier, international sales director of Lovely Planet.

Lovely Planet is a French-based company celebrating its 20th anniversary in 2024.

This 60-minute live webinar training is a private event for adult retailers to learn more about the importance of "encouraging people to play, explore intimacy, and expand their sexual wellness."

Meunier is looking forward to next weeks event. She shared, "I am passionate about life and I do my best to share my enthusiasm while showing our products, so our customers will have all the tips to best promote them. I am excited to show Eldorados customers our last creations from the Wonder CollectionBeliever, the prettiest clitoral stimulator with flapping movements. Wonderlover is the most efficient connected dual stimulator. This range represents the freedom to escape, to be, and to live with the sole purpose of spreading smiles all over the world."

Eldorado marketing manager, Nathan Morimitsu appreciates the important value of these training events. He shared, "Eldorados Virtual Elevation connects manufacturers with stores and allows store employees to gain product knowledge without leaving the store. Better product knowledge enhances the customer experience, ultimately increasing sales for the retailer and the manufacturer."

Click here to register.

Check out the Lovely Planet digital catalog here.

For more information about Virtual Elevation, or Lovely Planet products, contact an Eldorado Account Manager. For more information about Eldorado, call (800) 525-0848 or visit eldorado.net.
Hill County Commission meets with other county officials March 22 to discuss pay levels at the Hill County Health Department. After months of contentions meetings, the commission finally approved both a restructuring of the department and raising its pay levels to about the state average.

The Havre Daily News has covered a number of impactful political events in 2023, from controversies and internal division on the local level, to a chaotic legislative session on the state level, along with the tension between local and state government that has risen in this year as well.

Here are some of the stories the Havre Daily News has been able to cover in 2023:

Commission and state spar over property taxes

One political issue at the forefront of practically everyone's mind is property taxes, which most people saw go up this year, often dramatically, partially as a result of inaction from the state.

Valuations for properties around Montana went up significantly, for many people, which the Legislature, controlled by a Republican supermajority, was warned about, but despite the protestations of many Democrats, little was done to address the coming rise in property taxes.

This situation was followed by a direction from Gov. Greg Gianforte's Department of Revenue to counties that they must collect 95 mills worth of property taxes for the state's school equalization fund, which the majority of counties refused on the grounds that it was unsustainably high for their constituents, illegally so based on the counties' interpretation of state law.

A total of 49 of Montana's 56 counties, including Blaine, Chouteau, Hill and Liberty, refused the order and instead attempted to collect 77.9 mills, which they argued was more sustainable and more in line with state law which limits the amount taxes can rise in a short period of time.

Counties would lose the ensuing legal battle in the Montana Supreme Court which said the counties had to follow the order of the state, which means a lot of local people could see a second tax bill this year to make up the difference.

This fight created a great deal of tension between the county and state, as well as, to a lesser degree, counties and education advocates.

The fund these tax dollars go into is meant to address the difference in resources between schools in high and low income areas and increase educational opportunities and schools, as well as education advocates broadly expressed worry that the county's actions would hurt school equalization.

Counties argued that budgets for schools had already been set, and state's general fund had more than enough to make up the difference.

School associations argued that the money was needed, and lowering the mills assessed would shortchange schools.

On the local level, the public conflict between the county and schools was very civil, with both sides expressing support and sympathy for the uncomfortable position the state had put each other in, even as they disagreed about the merits of the county's fight against the state.

In the aftermath, Hill County Commission Chair Mark Peterson said he stands by his decision to fight the state on this matter, and even though they lost in court they at least know where things stand.

However, Peterson said, a lot of Gianforte's rhetoric, characterizing the rise in taxes as the fault of local government, was completely false.

He said the taxes in question go to the state and the county took an active role in trying to make sure they didn't get out of control.

Senate Bill 442

This is not the first high-profile conflict between Gianforte and counties in 2023, as, earlier in the year, Gianforte vetoed the almost universally popular Senate Bill 442, introduced by Sen. Mike Lang, R-Malta, which would would have divided tax revenues levied on recreational marijuana sales between the state's general fund; county road construction and maintenance; conservation and recreation programs; addiction treatment, and veterans services.

In a session rife with partisan division, this bill drew support from practically every segment of the political spectrum, and when Gianforte vetoed the bill, it caused outcry from practically everyone, including the counties and local legislators.

After passing its last legislative hurdle in a 48-1 vote, the Senate adjourned before it was notified the bill was vetoed but the House was still in session when word came down which meant the Legislature couldn't override the veto, which would have been likely given its support.

Gianforte said the bill, by allocating funds to projects normally under the jurisdiction of local government, creates a dangerous "slippery slope" with the state paying for local government projects. He also has said he wants the money to primarily to go to law enforcement.

He also expressed concern that county governments would use the increased breathing room in their budgets to redirect taxpayer dollars to "capricious, unnecessary projects," which he said would add to Montanans' tax burden.

This drew the ire of local legislators from both parties, as well as the Hill County Commission, which objected not just to the veto but Gianforte's justification.

One of the bill's biggest local supporters was Hill County Commissioner Jake Strissel, who said he and his colleagues don't want to place an undue burden on taxpayers, but the bill could have been incredibly helpful for the county, especially with improving county roads.

Local legislators, regardless of party, agreed and some accused the governor of deliberately timing his veto to avoid the possibility of override.

Conflict between commission and health department

While tension between the state and county certainly rose this year, tensions within Hill County itself sparked more than once as well, probably the most high profile instance being a conflict between the commission and health department over wages, one that saw tears shed and tempers rise.

Hill County Health Department employees had been asking for years to have their wages raised, not just because they were well below the state average for their positions, but because the educational requirements of their jobs are higher than most other county employees.

Hill County Public Health Director Kim Berg, also the county's health officer, requested raises that would cost the county around $30,000 in total, and the department suggested a number of ways the county could go about freeing up that money, all of which were, for various reasons, rejected or not addressed.

Eventually Berg proposed a second solution, to restructure the health department, eliminating some currently unfilled positions to free up funds to pay remaining positions the amount she said they deserve, something that would require no additional funding from the county, but this plan got pushback from the commission as well.

Members of the department, including Berg, had said they think county employees in general are long-overdue for an increase in compensation, but given the costs of the department employees' required degrees as well as ongoing training and certifications makes their need especially great.

Berg and others had said that the low wages are making recruitment and retention at the department incredibly difficult, and, with the departure of then-WIC Coordinator Nicole Hungerford, its staff was under 50 percent.

Hungerford said her departure was due to the low wages and a lack of respect for her and her work by the Hill County commissioners, with her resignation letter saying she cannot work for elected officials who do not treat her profession with any respect.

Hungerford's resignation seemingly brought the long-standing issue to a head and prompted a months-long series of meetings between the commission and the department, many of them tense, with members of the department becoming increasingly frustrated with the commission's handling of the matter and its lack of action.

Department employees and other county officials criticized the commission's handling of the issue, including their setting up meeting after meeting to discuss matters that had already been discussed at length and asking questions that had been repeatedly answered by the department.

A sticking point was grant funding, which commissioners Peterson and Sheri Williams, the latter of whom was elected at the end of last year, defeating incumbent Republican Diane McLean, repeatedly brought up as a method to raise wages despite Berg and other county officials telling them that that isn't how these grants work.

In every public meeting on the issue, Berg said that she cannot pay for wage increases through grants, something that Hill County Clerk and Recorder Lexis Dockter had also said.

Meetings became increasingly tense as the months went on as Berg and others kept asking for action and the commission continued to retread issues that had already been addressed, and criticizing Berg for her conduct.

Peterson claimed that Berg had been uncooperative and refused to answer questions.

Berg said she had answered every question sent to her by the commission, often more than once, and had provided every bit of documentation and information they asked for.

Williams criticized Berg for not coming to the commission with information about the grants they get and for the proposed raise to her own wages.

Berg's proposed wage increase for herself, unlike that of the other employees, was lower than the state average for her position, which she said she was willing to take given the economic conditions at the time and the county generally being stretched thin.

After this became another sticking point she made a last ditch effort to convince the commission by proposing a wage for everyone in the department to the state average and no increase for herself.

After a great deal of argument the commission eventually voted to raise the wages of the department to the state average.

Controversy over public comment procedures

The Hill County Commission also drew criticism earlier this year over changes it made to its public comment procedures, changes many argued were an undue infringement on people's ability to engage with the commission during meetings.

In February, Hill County Commission Chair Mark Peterson announced that from that point on, the public and county officials would no longer be permitted to speak during discussion of agenda items unless called to by the commissioners.

Peterson said people can still comment on issues at the very beginning of the meeting, but after that only the commissioners may speak on the agenda items.

Before this, members of the public were allowed to make comment and ask questions on individual items when they were discussed in the meetings, a system that critics of the change said was working perfectly well.

Peterson said this decision was made in order to prevent people from going off on tangents and slowing down meetings, but the move drew widespread criticism from county residents, county officials and fellow Commissioner Sheri Williams who said she was not involved in the conversation about that change until just before it was announced.

Over the next few meetings the commission fielded complaints from a number of members of the public who felt like their voices weren't being heard, and many criticized the fact that Williams had apparently been completely excluded from the decision.

Many critics said that because the agendas for the commission's meetings tend to be somewhat vague many don't know exactly what is being discussed until the item is reached on the agenda, so restricting public comment means people will not have a chance to express informed opinions.

Despite requests to go back to the previous method of public comment, the commission has remained with this new method, and the commission wasn't the last county entity to have controversy like this.

The Hill County Park Board, which the commissioners also sit on, voted to impose limits on public comments a few months later.

Board Chair Jeff Jensen said he wanted to establish a time limit of one minute on public comments on specific agenda items, with three minutes available at the end of the meeting to discuss matters not on the agenda.

Jensen said he hoped this change would speed up their meetings, but the change drew criticism from board member Lou Hagener who has argued repeatedly that the board needs to do more to improve their relationship and transparency with the public.

Hagener and others said they were concerned with the lack of clarity on the agenda, similar to the criticism made of the commission's agenda, but these concerns were largely brushed off and the change still stands.

Grazing committee faces continued criticism

The Park Board and its Grazing Committee have faced a fair amount of criticism in general this year, particularly regarding grazing allocations and the makeup of the committee.

During a meeting earlier this year the board voted to adopt using the three-year average as their gauge for grazing allocations this coming year, a number recommended to them by their Grazing Committee.

Many said this vote was improper because the two board members who made and seconded that motion, Tony Reum and Larry Kinsella, and voted in favor of it, run cattle on the park, which is a major conflict of interest.

Members of the board clarified that Reum doesn't run cattle on the park, just his family, but board member and Hill County Commissioner Mark Peterson suggested they redo that vote with them abstaining, which was done later in the year with the motion passing.

Conflict over this vote came in the wake of ongoing criticism of the committee, which many have argued is compromised by conflicts of interest due to having too many active grazers on it.

Earlier this year Hill County had to pay Ray and Debra Kallenberger $18,750 as part of a settlement after the couple alleged that the makeup of the committee and board are a conflict of interest and said they had been excluded and mistreated by both, though neither party admitted to liability.

In 2022 the Kallenbergers argued that their treatment by the committee is the result of a "good ol' boys club" attitude that ignores present conflicts of interests and keeps most from having a fair chance to use the park for grazing.

They said they had turned their lease over to a family member after they sold off their cattle, but when they had tried to get back to grazing on the park, after they had built their herd back up, they were put on a waiting list. When a lease was relinquished, they tried to get back on the park but were denied.

The Kallenbergers have argued that the handling of this issue was done in violation of board and committee policy, an accusation that has been denied by the committee.

Throughout the year, the board and committee have been criticized for this state of affairs and urged to consider taking steps to eliminate conflicts of interest.

Legislature passes laws restricting queer rights

This year's legislative session was a chaotic one, with the Republican supermajority and governor pushing through a number of bills drawing the ire of Democrats and divisions rising over social and economic issues between the parties.

While the session was unusual throughout, some of the biggest profile conflicts had to do with the rights of transgender Montanans.

The biggest of these bills was Senate Bill 99, which effectively bans gender affirming care to minors, despite the objection of nearly every relevant medical organization in the state.

Proponents claim the bill is intended to protect children from unnecessary medical procedures, but the medical community, as well as civil rights advocates, have said that it is a restriction on medical freedom and will restrict access to care that saves lives.

During debate over the bill House Republicans banned Rep. Zooey Zephyr, D-Missoula, from the floor for the remainder of the session for saying those who support a ban on gender-affirming care would "have blood on their hands," which Republicans said broke house decorum rules.

The banning of Zephyr, the first openly transgender woman ever elected to Montana's Legislature, became a national story, criticized by many for being completely unnecessary and an attempt to silence criticism.

The bill has been temporarily blocked by a state judge in Missoula as proceedings continue, finding that the law seems to have "no rational relationship to protecting children."

The bill was voted for by Sen. Russ Tempel, R-Chester, Sen. Mike Lang, R-Malta, Rep. Josh Kassmier, R-Fort Benton, and Rep. Casey Knudsen, R-Malta, and against by Rep. Paul Tuss, D-Havre, Sen. Mike Fox, D-Hays, and Rep. Jonathan Windy Boy, D-Box Elder.

Tempel criticized the bill, saying he thinks it goes too far, but when asked why he still voted for it said it does more good than harm.

House Bill 234, which allows public school employees to be criminally charged for disseminating "obscene" materials, was signed into law with Tempel, Lang and Kassmier voting in favor and Tuss, Fox, Windy Boy and Knudsen voting against.

The initial version of the bill also included museums and libraries, prompting reactions from local officials, but it was eventually changed to only include schools.

This bill was criticized broadly as a thinly-veiled attempt to limit the availability of queer literature in school, and an attempt to further marginalize LGBTQ people.

House Bill 359 sought to ban drag performers from reading to children public schools and libraries, but was blocked in court on the grounds that the law is too vague and that there is no evidence that drag performers reading to children is dangerous.

The bill also prohibits minors from attending "sexual oriented or obscene performances on public property," which critics say is an attempt to prevent any drag, or gender-non-conforming performances in public.

The bill was voted for by Lang and Kassmier, and against by Tempel, Fox, Knudsen, Tuss and Windy Boy.

Charter school bill passes

Among the bills that passed this year was House Bill 562, which creates a framework for charter schools that would operate largely outside the traditional public school system.

"Community choice" schools would be exempted from a number or requirements that traditional public schools follow like teacher certification and be operated by governing boards eventually elected by parents and guardians of attending students with a commission under the Montana Board of Public Education to oversee them.

While this bill was largely opposed by public school advocates and Democrats, it did draw support from many Native American education advocates, who say it could make the process of setting up immersion schools easier.

Under the Cultural Integrity Commitment Act, schools can receive money from the state for language immersion programs as long as they provide instruction in their chosen Native language for at least 50 percent of the the day, and that it is done under the purview of a language instructor who is proficient in the language and holds a Class 7 teaching license.

HB 562 is being challenged in court, but Windy Boy has intervened in the case, adding his support to the bill as it faces ongoing litigation.

It was voted for by Lang, Knudsen, Kassmier and Windy Boy, and against by Tempel, Fox and Tuss.

However, this wasn't the only charter school-related bill to pass, and questions remain about apparent conflicts between these laws.

House Bill 549 authorizes the establishment of charter schools under local school boards, keeping the creation and administration of them within the current system and requiring them to follow similar rules as traditional public schools, which are essentially the rules the state had for charter schools for decades.

This bill was more palatable to public education advocates and schools, many of which supported the bill in opposition to HB 562, but now that both have passed, many wonder which model will win out. Education advocates say they cannot both be implemented.

The bill was voted for by Tuss, Windy Boy, Kassmier and Knudsen, and against by Tempel, Fox and Lang.

Earlier this year a state judge blocked portions of HB 562, specifically the establishment of a commission overseeing the "community choice" schools.

Members of the commission had already been appointed and will be allowed to adopt bylaws and hire staff, but they cannot consider applications for new schools as litigation continues.
(CNBC) The New York Times on Wednesday filed a lawsuit against Microsoft and OpenAI, creator of the popular AI chatbot ChatGPT, accusing the companies of copyright infringement and abusing the newspapers intellectual property to train large language models. Microsoft both invests in and supplies OpenAI, providing it with access to the companys Azure cloud computing technology.

To read this article:
After 12 weeks of indiscriminate bombardment of Gaza, the US-supported Israeli attacks on the Gaza strip and a parallel upsurge in raids on the West Bank continue. So far, the Israeli attacks have resulted in significant casualties and damage mainly to defenceless civilian residents as of December 28, 2023. In Gaza, over 21,000 Palestinians, including 8,200 children, have been killed and more than 55,000 injured.

In the West Bank, at least 313 have died. Israel's death toll stands at approximately 1,139. Infrastructure damage in Gaza includes over 313,000 residential units, 352 educational facilities, 26 hospitals, 102 ambulances, and 203 places of worship. The conflict has also claimed the lives of 73 journalists and for some their entire families, resulting in the accusations that Israel targets journalists intentionally in order to prevent them from reporting on the war crimes committed.

Every hour in Gaza, 42 bombs are dropped, 15 people, including 6 children are killed, 35 people are injured and 12 buildings are destroyed.

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan compared Israeli PM Benjamin Netanyahu to Adolf Hitler, drawing parallels between the Gaza war and the genocide in Nazi Germany, on Wednesday. The rest of the western leaders, including the Finnish government and politicians have mainly remained silent.

Against the background of this tragic and barbaric ongoing assault and the silence of the western leaders, we sat down with The Palestinian Ambassador to Finland, Taissir Al Adjouri, for a conversation regarding Finland's evolving stance amidst Israeli attacks in Gaza. Ambassador Adjouri spoke about Finland's initial abstention from a UN ceasefire vote, the subsequent shift in their position, and the ongoing challenges in advocating for Palestinian rights and achieving a ceasefire in Gaza.

Helsinki Times: What kind of support has Finland provided to Palestine amid the Israeli attacks in Gaza? And do you think Finland has done enough?

Ambassador Adjouri: Looking at the current situation, I believe that the support from Finland is not sufficient. However, there has been a positive development in their stance compared to the beginning. Initially, Finlands abstention from voting in favour of a ceasefire at the United Nations General Assembly was a let-down, contradicting their traditional policy and international human rights law. I expressed our disagreement with the Finnish foreign ministry. Nevertheless, Finland later voted for a ceasefire on December 12th, a decision more in line with their traditional policies and stance, which I appreciate.

Helsinki Times: How did you approach the Finnish government about the situation and what was their response?

Ambassador Adjouri: As part of the Arabic and Islamic groups, we conducted several meetings with Arabic, Arab, and Islamic ambassadors in Finland. We also had discussions with the Finnish foreign ministry, where we elaborated on the situation, shared our position, and requested a clear stance from Finland. The Foreign Minister made several promises regarding this matter. We seek a clear position from Finland in support of the Palestinian and Arab Islamic position at the UN, within the Nordic countries, and the EU. This includes recognising the state of Palestine and achieving a political solution. Our immediate request is for the cessation of Israeli aggression and a ceasefire to halt the massacre against our people. The Finnish government has been attentive to our appeals.

Helsinki Times: Western countries, including Finland, initially described the situation as Israel retaliating to the October 7, 2023, Hamas attack. Do you also condemn the Hamas attack?

Ambassador Adjouri: We condemn any actions that harm civilians. I cannot selectively condemn one action and not the other. In the UN, the condemnation must be impartial and against attacks on civilians. The public's memory is short; the problem did not start on October 7, but dates back to 1948. It has been 75 years of the international community overlooking the massacre of Palestinian people and the Israeli government's policy of hatred. Israel's Prime Minister Netanyahu falsely equated the actions of Hamas with those of Daesh, justifying the killing and massacre, and carrying out nakba, which is condemnable. We are fundamentally against any harm to civilians from all sides. This stance is clear in the policies of the Palestinian state and government, and our President Mahmoud Abbas. However, after a week, people began to recognise the falsehoods, leading to a change in position in Europe and elsewhere.

Helsinki Times: What are your views on the stance of Western countries regarding the ongoing attack in Gaza by Israel, particularly those labelling it as self-defence?

Ambassador Adjouri: For countries calling it self-defence, I see it as a demonstration of double standards. They are overlooking the occupation of Palestine. In fact, people under occupation have the right to resist. They condemn what is happening in Ukraine and support Ukraine's resistance. When it comes to Palestine, there is no condemnation. Palestinians have the right to resist. I find this position unacceptable. If they feel guilty towards Israel and the Israelis, it should not be at the cost of Palestinians. The historical injustices against Jewish people in Europe do not justify the suffering of Palestinians.

Helsinki Times: The United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) recently voted for an immediate humanitarian ceasefire in Gaza, which contrasts the US's repeated blocking of ceasefire calls in the UN. Finland also initially voted against the ceasefire. Do you see this as hesitance or hypocrisy on the part of countries advocating for peace?

Ambassador Adjouri: It is hypocrisy. If you cannot stop a massacre and genocide against a population and give rights to a fascist state, whose ministers are condemned by the law in Israel and abroad for their fascist ideologies, then this hypocrisy is unacceptable. You cannot ask for humanitarian corridors while agreeing with the continuation of aggression.

Helsinki Times: Why, in your opinion, is Israel receiving this kind of support?

Ambassador Adjouri: Firstly, many countries have supported Israel since its inception, believing that Israel can safeguard their interests in the region. Secondly, when the United States takes a stance, others tend to follow suit. The risk lies in the military and IT exchanges, which are difficult to reconcile with talks of humanitarian law and human rights, especially when dealing with an occupying power.

Helsinki Times: Finland has finalised a 317 million deal with Israel for the Davids Sling air defence system. How do you view this deal in the context of Israel's military actions in the Gaza Strip and other Palestinian territories?

Ambassador Adjouri: I cannot view this deal independently of the larger context. As representatives of Palestine in Finland, we have met with the foreign minister, the speaker, and the foreign committee in the parliament, and plan to meet other politicians. Such trade supports Israels military industry, which is responsible for harming our children and women. It's not just about the deal itself, but the principle behind it. When you engage in arms trade with an occupying power, you are economically supporting that occupation.

Helsinki Times: How do you perceive the killings and blockade of electricity and water supply in Gaza in terms of international laws of war? Can Israel be prosecuted in the International Criminal Court for these actions?

Ambassador Adjouri: These actions are undoubtedly war crimes. When you deprive a population of water, electricity, and food, you are effectively deciding to kill civilians. We hope for swift action against Israel in the ICC, similar to the response against Russia. We will persist in our efforts until the Israeli state and all responsible individuals, including Netanyahu, are brought to justice. As a small country, we believe that the only protection we have are the international humanitarian law and human rights. One day, justice will be served.

Helsinki Times: Some politicians believe that these incidents in Gaza need thorough investigation before being labeled as war crimes. What is your opinion on this?

Ambassador Adjouri: I urge these politicians to open their eyes, avoid double standards, and educate themselves about the situation. These are clear war crimes, and it's unacceptable to delay action under the pretext of needing further investigation. Israel's actions are intentional and politically motivated, not accidental. When similar actions were taken by Russia in Ukraine, the EU president declared them war crimes. I fail to understand why Israel should be treated differently.

Helsinki Times: What are your thoughts on the two-state solution proposed by some countries, including Finnish politicians, for the Palestine-Israel conflict?

Ambassador Adjouri: Just this morning, I discussed this issue with the Finnish foreign ministry. Frankly, we are tired of the empty rhetoric surrounding the two-state solution. If countries truly believe in this solution, they must take practical steps towards its realisation. You cannot claim to support a two-state solution while recognising only one state and ignoring the other. It's crucial for these countries to recognise the state of Palestine. Immediate implementation of this solution is needed, along with a clear message to both parties and an international conference to discuss the model. The international community needs to take responsibility and push for an independent Palestinian state.

Helsinki Times: What kind of humanitarian aid is Palestine expecting from Finland?

Ambassador Adjouri: Finland is providing aid through the EU and the International Red Cross. They have also sent teams to the borders to evaluate the situation. However, the current level of humanitarian aid is not enough. We need more, as the aid is controlled by Israel. Pressure must be applied on Israel, as they control all aid trucks. The number of trucks has been reduced significantly, not meeting even 10% of the population's needs for food, medicines, and other essentials. Hospitals and schools have been destroyed. Therefore, we consider these actions to be war crimes and genocide.

Helsinki Times: There have been significant protests in Finland against Israels actions in Gaza. Do you perceive a gap between the solidarity shown by the Finnish people and even the Palestinian community here, and the Finnish government and politicians?

Ambassador Adjouri: There was a gap previously, but it is closing, as indicated by the government's changing initial position. The Finnish people's movement in solidarity with Palestine and the Palestinian families here is a positive sign. The government must maintain Finland's traditional policy of human rights and respect for international law, in line with Nordic policies. Sweden and Norway have followed this path, and Finland must also adhere to it.

Helsinki Times: Do you believe Finland can act independently of the EU on this matter?

Ambassador Adjouri: Yes, they can. For instance, Spain has a clear position regarding the recognition of the State of Palestine, as do Belgium and France. There is a certain level of awareness, yet sometimes these countries align with the EU's stance. We would, however, appreciate Finland's support for Israel, guiding them towards the right path.

Helsinki Times: Do you think Finland can act as a strong mediator?

Ambassador Adjouri: Definitely. President Ahtisaari set a precedent for this. Finland is capable, provided there is a willingness. Currently, there are efforts from Finland, but they havent yet reached the level we aspire to.

Helsinki Times: How is the Palestinian embassy collaborating with Finnish authorities on issues like human rights and international cooperation?

Ambassador Adjouri: We are engaged with Finland in various sectors. Finland supports our stance in the Human Rights Council, endorsing our resolutions and our rights within this commission. We have repeatedly encouraged Finland to engage in Item 7 discussions at the Human Rights Council. In Palestine, Finland contributes significantly, collaborating with civil societies and reinforcing the understanding of international laws."

Helsinki Times: How would you describe the current state of bilateral relations between Palestine and Finland?

Ambassador Adjouri: Our bilateral relations are strong, and our voices are heard. Recently, there was a telephonic conversation between the presidents of Finland and Palestine, focusing on the situation in Gaza and the West Bank. We are working together on these issues. We have requested their intervention regarding the ill-treatment of Palestinian prisoners. We are eager to further develop these relations. Recognising the State of Palestine is a crucial step that Finland can take, following the examples of Sweden and Iceland. This remains our primary objective. Our educational cooperation is commendable, with Finland leading educational programs in Palestine, establishing Finnish schools and a university, and providing aid to our health sector. Finland's support for NGOs in Palestine is also noteworthy.

Helsinki Times: Do you think that the Palestinian community feels confident in Finland?

Ambassador Adjouri: Yes, they seem to be quite comfortable and well-integrated. We see many Palestinians excelling as engineers, doctors, and academics in Finland. This integration has enabled them to conduct peaceful and respectful demonstrations.

Helsinki Times: What are the goals of the Palestinian embassy in Finland for the upcoming year?

Ambassador Adjouri: Our foremost goal for 2024 is the recognition of the State of Palestine by Finland. We aim to facilitate high-level visits between Finland and Palestine. We're also focusing on developing educational programs involving teachers and professors from Gaza and Palestinian universities in collaboration with Finnish institutions. This will greatly benefit Palestinians. Additionally, we are looking to enhance direct trade between Palestine and Finland. Lastly, we encourage Finnish people to increase tourism in Palestine, in partnership with Palestinian operators, for a more enriching experience with our hospitable community.

Sonali Telang - HT
Credit: Victoria Arlens Instagram

With Molly Qerim out on PTO, Victoria Arlen stepped in to host ESPNs First Take this week.

Its a feat that would have seemed almost unfathomable just days earlier, as Arlen spent the week prior in the hospital following complications from surgery.

Taking to her Instagram page, Arlen detailed the health scare and her journey back. According to the Boston native, she went in for a preplanned surgery last week when things took a very scary turn and knocked me off my feet to say the least.

First Day wearing real clothes in a week, Arlen posted on Wednesday. Thank you to the amazing nurses, docs, surgeons and my family who took amazing care of me and helped me get back on my feet. And thank you everyone for your messages and prayers  it means more than you know.

View this post on Instagram A post shared by Victoria Arlen (@arlenv1)

View this post on Instagram A post shared by Victoria Arlen (@arlenv1)

Arlen didnt share the specifics of her surgery or the complications that resulted in her week-long stay. The 29-year-olds health history, however, as been well documented, as she was diagnosed with two rare conditions (Transverse Myelitis and Acute Disseminated Encephalomyelitis) at the age of 11, which resulted in her losing the ability to speak, eat, walk and move.

Despite being given little hope of survival or recovery, Arlen fought back to not only re-learn those skills, but became a gold medal-winning Paralympian swimmer. After spending nearly a decade in a wheelchair, she re-learned to walk again in 2016  one year after being hired by ESPN at the age of 20 to serve as a reporter at the 2015 Special Olympics World Games.

In the time since, Arlen has appeared on ABCs Dancing With the Stars and hosted several ESPN digital programs in addition to reporting at the X Games and Special Olympics. While certainly concerning, her latest health scare only adds to the incredible story of one of what appears to be ESPNs rising stars.

[ESPN Press Room]
By Ben Sales

(JTA)  On Oct. 6, JTA led its morning newsletter with an article that had long been in the works  and that we expected to drive conversation in the days ahead: It was a profile of a Jewish dad in Florida who had pushed to ban hundreds of books  including Anne Franks diary  from school libraries.

The ongoing saga of book bans in school libraries, and how they ensnared works about the Holocaust and other Jewish topics, is a story our reporter Andrew Lapin, and JTA more broadly, had focused on all year. For much of 2023, book bans seemed like one of the topics that would define American Jewish life this year.

Then Hamas Oct. 7 attack happened, plunging Israel into war and upending life not only there but for Jews in the United States and across the world. For the past 10 weeks, nearly everything we have covered at JTA  from advocacy for Israeli hostages to antisemitism to discourse on college campuses  has related back in some way to the Oct. 7 attack and the Israel-Hamas war.

In the wake of that cataclysm, it sometimes feels like everything else American Jews once thought and talked about has taken a backseat. But before the Hamas attack, there were important and complex topics that occupied and characterized Jewish life this year  not least another upheaval in Israel.

Here are nine stories that defined our year before Oct. 7.

A campaign spreads to ban books, including Jewish ones, from school libraries

The book ban movement, driven by conservative parents rights groups such as Moms for Liberty, wasnt only a Jewish issue: Activists largely sought to ban books about race and gender, claiming that they were inappropriate for children. But those campaigns, sometimes targeting large numbers of books at once, often swept up Jewish books in their dragnet.

One book that faced challenges in multiple school districts  some of them successful  was a graphic novel adaptation of Anne Franks diary. The Holocaust graphic novel Maus was also hit with challenges. One of the most prolific participants in the book ban movement was that Florida Jewish dad.

More generally, some American Jews felt that the book ban movement built on a tradition of censorship that has often boded poorly for the Jews. And even when the bans didnt target Jewish books, Jews were sometimes implicated: A Florida mom who tried to ban an Amanda Gorman poem had also promoted the Protocols of the Elders of Zion. She apologized.

A seismic fight erupts in Israel over the judicial system

Before October, if you asked what the most important Israeli news story of 2023 was, this was the answer, hands down. At the beginning of the year, Israels brand-new, hardline right-wing government unveiled a plan to sap the Supreme Court of its power and independence, a plan proponents said would enable the government to enact the agenda of its conservative voters.

The plan sparked an unprecedented protest movement  drawing hundreds of thousands of protesters into the street who condemned the overhaul as a danger to Israeli democracy. What followed was civil unrest, mass threats by reservists to abstain from military service, a raft of warnings and criticism from world leaders and Diaspora Jewish groups alike, and fruitless negotiations between Israels sparring political parties.

In July, the government pushed through one piece of the plan, limiting the Supreme Courts ability to strike down government decisions. That led to a fresh wave of protests, and anticipation across the country and beyond regarding what else the government would legislate. Lawmakers were set to reconvene after the Jewish holidays ended with Simchat Torah  which fell on Oct. 7.

The Pittsburgh synagogue shooter is tried and sentenced to death

In 2018, a violent attack on Jews shocked the country and the world. In the spring of 2023, the man who killed 11 Jews at prayer in a Pittsburgh synagogue stood trial, was convicted and sentenced to death.

The shooters guilt was never in question; his lawyer admitted as much. But the course of the trial revealed gruesome details about the attack and  for jurors and others  served as a primer of sorts on American Jews and how they see their place in the United States. And in Squirrel Hill, the historically Jewish neighborhood where the shooting occurred, residents contended with fears of retraumatization and leaned on each other to heal.

The shooters lawyers did fight hard to spare him the death penalty. Families of victims and survivors also disagreed over the punishment. But following a months-long trial, the jury handed down a death sentence in August.

Elon Musks handling of hate speech on Twitter/X raises alarms

Elon Musk, the billionaire tech mogul, bought Twitter in 2022. And over the course of 2023, his shifting approach to hate speech, including the removal of some of the platforms guardrails, alternately enraged, concerned and confounded Jewish watchdogs and others.

As the year progressed, Musks personal pronouncements about Jews began to draw criticism. In May, he posted that George Soros, the liberal megadonor and frequent target of antisemitism, hates humanity. He later turned his sights on the Anti-Defamation League, threatening to sue it for billions of dollars and blaming it for rising antisemitism.

This particular story has continued post-Oct. 7. Musk has taken steps to combat anti-Israel rhetoric on the platform, now called X. He visited Israel and toured sites of the massacre. But he also amplified an endorsement of an antisemitic conspiracy theory, leading major advertisers to stop their spending on the platform.

A trio of antisemitism-themed shows run on Broadway

For a few days this year, Broadway fans keen on seeing antisemitism portrayed on stage could go to three shows on the topic.

The musical Parade, about the 1915 lynching of Leo Frank, opened in March. The play Leopoldstadt, a semi-autobiographical work by Tom Stoppard about his Jewish family in Vienna in the years surrounding the Holocaust, opened in October 2022 and ran through July. And Just for Us, a one-man show by Jewish comedian Alex Edelman about the time he attended a meeting of white supremacists, opened in June.

All three received positive reviews, and Leopoldstadt and Parade won a total of six Tonys in June. And Parade wasnt immune from antisemitism: Neo-Nazis protested at its previews.

Christies faces blowback for auctioning jewelry with Nazi ties

Christies, the auction house, achieved a record sale when it put a jewelry collection belonging to Austrian art collector Heidi Horten on the block. But the auction house also faced a wave of blowback from critics who said it obscured the source of the wealth that purchased the jewelry: Helmut Horten, Heidis husband and a Nazi Party member who made his fortune from businesses seized from their Jewish owners.

Christies pledged to donate a portion of the proceeds to Holocaust research and education, but organizations and institutions devoted to Holocaust memory castigated the auction house, and the Tel Aviv Museum of Art called off an event about art restitution that had been organized by Christies. In August, Christies canceled a planned second auction of the jewelry.

Maestro, the Leonard Bernstein biopic, reignites a debate over Jewface

Controversy over the prosthetic nose Bradley Cooper wore in his biopic about composer Leonard Bernstein began last year, when promotional shots of the movie circulated. But the debate ramped up this year when the first trailer for Maestro hit screens ahead of its December premiere.

Was it antisemitic for a non-Jew to put on an elongated nose for a Jewish role? Should non-Jews play Jewish characters at all  a practice some call Jewface? Those questions sparked numerous takes online and beyond, but petered out after the ADL and Bernsteins family said they had no objections to the movie, which began streaming on Netflix this week. The makeup artist of Maestro apologized anyway.

Synagogues face a string of fake bomb threats

Before reports of rising antisemitism began to dominate the headlines, synagogues across the United States were hit with dozens of bomb threats. All of them were fake, seemingly designed to provoke a police response. Some of the perpetrators targeted synagogues that live streamed their services, such that the congregation could be seen on screen fleeing their pews.

This is not the first time waves of fake bomb threats have hit Jewish institutions, and suspects have been arrested for the incidents, but they have continued throughout the year. One weekend in December, hundreds of synagogues across the country got false bomb threats.

Israel and Saudi Arabia move toward a treaty

One major news story from this year that is now in limbo: prospects for a diplomatic accord between Israel and Saudi Arabia. Before Oct. 7, the Biden administration was pushing for the two countries to normalize relations  a step that would signify significant warming between Israel and the Arab world and that would transform regional relations in the Middle East. It would be a major coup for Israel, which had already established ties with four other Arab nations in recent years.

There appeared to be progress toward a treaty, and the outlines of a deal had been proposed. But what will happen next on that front is unclear: After Oct. 7, Saudi Arabia put the talks on hold.
(JTA) - A decades-long era of Jewish comedy on television will come to an end next year, as "Curb Your Enthusiasm," Larry David's HBO comedy, is set to end after its 12th season.

The imminent conclusion of "Curb" has been rumored for several seasons now, but a poster and press statement from David this week confirmed that its 12th go-around, premiering Feb. 4, will indeed be the show's last.

"As 'Curb' comes to an end, I will now have the opportunity to finally shed this 'Larry David' persona and become the person God intended me to be - the thoughtful, kind, caring, considerate human being I was until I got derailed by portraying this malignant character," David's statement reads. "And so 'Larry David,' I bid you farewell."

David's particular blend of semi-autobiographical Jewish misanthrope humor has influenced much of television comedy since "Seinfeld," the cultural watershed sitcom he co-created with Jerry Seinfeld, debuted in 1989. After that series went off the air, David went solo to premiere the heavily improvised "Curb" in 2000, taking a series of extended hiatuses but always returning to his kvetching alter ego. The full series is now streaming on Max.

Now 76, David has over the years populated "Curb" with a wealth of Jewish characters and plotlines, including the time he posed as an Orthodox Jew in an effort to weasel out of donating a kidney to a friend; the time he went behind his Jewish community's back to dine at a Palestinian chicken restaurant; the time he accidentally arranged a meeting between a Holocaust survivor and a contestant on the reality show "Survivor"; the time Mel Brooks cast him in "The Producers" on Broadway; and, most recently, the time he stole a pair of "Holocaust shoes" from a Holocaust museum to wear on his own feet.

Side characters on "Curb" have also become Jewish breakout stars in their own right, including Susie Essman, who told the Jewish Telegraphic Agency in 2021 that she's noticed the show has a large universal appeal despite often being specifically Jewish.

"I've had every ethnicity, every race, stop me on the street telling me how much they love the show," Essman said. "It's the truth-telling that we do - that we basically say all the things that people are thinking but are afraid to say."

Details on the next season aren't out yet, but life has imitated art since the last season: Presidential candidate and vaccine skeptic Robert F. Kennedy Jr. - who is married to "Curb" co-star Cheryl Hines - has made numerous comments linking COVID-19 vaccine mandates to the Holocaust or other antisemitic tropes.
Susan Bernstein (standing on the left in back) with residents of The Savoy in Winter Springs.
Yotam Haim, one of three Israeli hostages mistakenly killed by Israeli forces in the Gaza Strip on Dec. 15, 2023.

(JNS) - Iris Haim on Wednesday told the Israeli soldiers who accidentally killed her son in the Gaza Strip on Oct. 15 that she doesn't blame them for the tragedy.

"I wanted to tell you that I love you very much and I know that what happened is not your fault, it is the fault of no one except Hamas, may their names and memory be erased from the earth," she said in an audio message which has been distributed on social media.

Her 28-year-old son, Yotam, along with Alon Shamriz and Samer Fouad Talalka, had escaped from a building where they were being held captive by Hamas terrorists. They were shot and killed by Israeli forces, despite the fact that they were not wearing shirts and one of them was waving a white flag.

"Take care of yourselves, do not hesitate for a moment if you see a terrorist. You need to protect yourself, that's the only way you can protect us, all the people of Israel," Haim's message continued.

She added that her husband and children were not judging the soldiers and invited them to visit.

"You are welcome to come visit us, we all want to see you with our eyes, and hug you, and say, as painful as it is sad, what you did was probably the right thing for that moment," she said.

Hamas kidnapped Yotam from Kibbutz Kfar Aza near the Gaza border on October 7. According to Yotam's brother, Tuval, the last communication the family received from him that day was a brief video clip capturing the darkness of his safe room and the chilling sound of gunshots outside.

"He wrote us that he loves us, and then the connection was abruptly cut off," said Tuval.

Findings of the IDF probe

The Israel Defense Forces disclosed on Wednesday cries for help from the three hostages were recorded by a video camera worn by a military dog days before the tragic event.

A probe of the incident found that on Dec. 10, soldiers from a Golani Brigade reconnaissance unit had sent the dog into a building from which Hamas terrorists had fired on them.

According to Channel 12, Alon Shamriz, who served in the IDF as a member of the elite Yahalom engineering unit, saw the dog and, knowing that it would be equipped with a camera, began yelling for assistance in Hebrew.

Golani forces in the area heard the cries but believed Hamas terrorists were using a recording to lure them into an ambush, as had happened several times before, according to the report.

The troops eliminated the terrorists, unknowningly enabling Haim, Shamriz and Talalka to escape. The dog was shot and killed by terrorists.

The three were found by the soldiers five days later and were mistaken for terrorists.

According to the probe, the camera, which did not have a real-time feed, was recovered on Dec. 18.

IDF investigators also reported that after their escape, the hostages had written on the walls of the building they hid in "SOS" and "3 hostages," but that the Golani force believed this, too, was a Hamas ruse.

While a nearby force had been alerted that there could be hostages in the area, that intelligence was not communicated to the troops involved in the incident, according to Channel 12.

At least 1,200 people were killed in Hamas's attacks on Israeli communities near the Gaza border on Oct. 7. The number of men, women, children, soldiers and foreigners held captive in Gaza by Hamas is now believed to be 129. Other people remain unaccounted for as Israeli authorities continue to identify bodies and search for human remains.
(JTA)  When a recent survey showed that nearly three-quarters of Palestinians supported Hamas Oct. 7 attack, Israeli officials and commentators cited it to justify their countrys war in Gaza, which aims to depose the terror group.

Palestinians need to focus on prioritizing the building of their nation, rather than trying to destroy ours, read an online post by Act4IL, an Israeli government-run social media feed. Its not a conflict about borders, its about the mere fact that Palestinians dont want us here.

For Israelis and others who hope to see Palestinians reject Hamas and its attacks on Israelis, the poll offered little reason for optimism. It found that 72 percent of respondents approved of Hamas decision to launch the Oct. 7 attack, in which the terror group killed 1,200 Israelis, took more than 240 captive and committed numerous atrocities.

That finding was no outlier. According to the survey, support for Hamas has increased since September, particularly in the West Bank, where it has tripled. More than 60 percent of respondents say violence is the best means of ending the Israeli occupation. Most Palestinians  particularly in the West Bank  approve of Hamas conduct during the war.

Writing in Israel Hayom, an Israeli right-leaning paper, commentator Nadav Shragai said the results underscored the argument that commitment to perpetuate the struggle against the Jews and the State of Israel as the state of the Jewish people comes from the grassroots level, from the Palestinian public en masse.

But the pollster who conducted the survey and other analysts of Palestinian affairs say the results, while sobering, paint a more complex picture. Several told the Jewish Telegraphic Agency that the increased support for Hamas is an indictment of the past decade or so of Israeli-Palestinian relations, in which the two sides have not conducted any sustained peace negotiations. In the absence of diplomacy, they say, Palestinians have turned to violence.

The prevailing perception is that the Palestinians do not have the option of resorting to diplomacy and negotiations to end the Israeli occupation, that this is not a viable means of ending the Israeli occupation so theyre left with nothing but violence, said Khalil Shikaki, director of the Ramallah-based Palestinian Center for Policy and Survey Research, which conducted the poll.

And the only group in Palestinian society that can deliver violence effectively against Israelis is Hamas, he said. So we will continue to see support for Hamas going up as long as the majority or substantive number of Palestinians do not see diplomacy as viable.

The poll, conducted between Nov. 22 and Dec. 2 in the West Bank and the Gaza Strip, reached 1,231 adults in face-to-face interviews, 750 in the West Bank and 481 in the Gaza Strip. It has a margin of error of 4 percent.

Shikaki, perhaps the most widely respected Palestinian pollster, pointed out wrinkles in the data. Support for Hamas as a movement, according to the poll, is softer than support for its actions. In addition, support for the two-state solution  in other words, the establishment of a Palestinian state alongside Israel  has risen slightly since the last edition of the poll and stands at 34 percent, though 70 percent of respondents dont think U.S. efforts toward that outcome are serious.

Perhaps most significantly, the overwhelming majority of Palestinian respondents said they did not know or were in denial that the events of Oct. 7 included mass atrocities. Some 85 percent of respondents said they did not see videos showing the violence of the day and, when told of the atrocities, only 10 percent believed they occurred.

Shibley Telhami, the Anwar Sadat Professor for Peace and Development at the University of Maryland, said such denial is typical in the throes of a war, especially one in which close to 20,000 Palestinians have been killed, according to the Hamas-controlled Gaza Health Ministry. (That figure does not differentiate between civilians and combatants and does not denote deaths from misfired Palestinian rockets. It is roughly in line with Israeli estimates of Palestinian casualties in Gaza.)

Hearts harden and you demonize the other, said Telhami, who is also a veteran pollster. And then you block because you see whatever it is that youre doing as justified, and whatever your side is doing as justified.

The same is true of the Israels, he said. When you look at the Israelis, they still think their army is doing its best to save civilians, even though we have thousands killed, he said.

That assessment is reflected in a recent poll of Israelis by the Israel Democracy Institute, which found that nearly all Jewish Israelis, 91.5 percent, believe the army is observing the rules of war and international law, while 81% believe that the army should not take Palestinian suffering into account when planning its military operations in the war. The poll reached 503 Hebrew speakers and has a margin of error of approximately 4 percent.

Other analysts agreed that Palestinians see violent attacks as their best hope following the collapse of the peace process launched in the 1990s. Scholars say settlement expansion, settler violence against Palestinians and Israels recent advances in normalizing relations with a support of Arab and Muslim countries have contributed to the isolation fueling Palestinian backing for violence as a means of achieving their goals.

Hamas actions putting Gaza on the world stage apparently look quite effective to Palestinians, Dahlia Scheindlin, an Israeli public opinion expert, wrote in Haaretz after the poll came out. Given the renewed urgent international attention to reviving diplomacy to resolve the conflict, Hamas made a good argument for using force.

Yousef Munayyer, who heads the Palestine-Israel Program at the Washington D.C.-based Arab Center, said Hamas was garnering support as the more able agent to achieve Palestinian national ambitions, not for its Islamist ideology.

He pointed to a question near the end of the poll that asked respondents about what the most vital Palestinian goal should be. Forty-three percent responded ending Israels occupation and establishing a state in the West Bank, Gaza and East Jerusalem, while 36 percent said the priority should be Palestinian refugees returning to their homes in Israels recognized borders  a demand Israeli officials have long viewed as tantamount to the end of Israel as a Jewish state. Smaller percentages favored focusing on building an Islamic society or strengthening democracy for Palestinians.

The poll, said Munayyer, calls on us to be cautious about interpreting support for Hamas as support for the religious ideology, in terms of the way society should be structured.

The poll showed cratering support for the Palestinian Authority, led by Mahmoud Abbas. Biden wants a reconstituted Palestinian Authority to govern the Gaza Strip once the war is over. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu says thats out of the question and has depicted Abbas as not much better than Hamas  although cooperation between Israel and P.A. forces has so far kept a lid on violence erupting in the West Bank.

Disdain for Abbas may be the one area where Palestinians agree with Netanyahu. Some 60 percent of respondents want the Palestinian Authority dismantled and nearly 90 percent want Abbas to step down. Ronni Shaked, a research fellow at the Truman Institute at Hebrew University whose specialty is Palestinian society, said Palestinians see Abbas and the P.A. as it currently stands as little better than collaborators.

In their eyes, he is working with the Israelis, for the Israelis, he cooperates and coordinates the security with the Israeli people, Shaked said. He noted also that the polling was conducted during an exchange of Israeli hostages for Palestinians in Israeli prison on security offenses. Israel released roughly three prisoners for every hostage.

That boosted Hamas in Palestinian eyes because of the priority Palestinians place on the release of the thousands of prisoners held by Israel, Shaked said.

Its a consensus among all the Palestinians, Hamas, Fatah [Abbas party], whatever you want, that to release the prisoner is  No. 1 for the society.

The poll showed that 81 percent of respondents believed that Hamas primary goal in its Oct. 7 attack was a response to settler attacks on Al-Aqsa Mosque and on Palestinian citizens and for the release of prisoners from Israeli prisons.

Shikaki, who has been polling Palestinians since the outset of the Oslo process, said shifts in public opinion occur when diplomacy becomes viable, something that Biden is hoping to achieve even in the face of Netanyahus opposition to the P.A. and its low standing among Palestinians.

For a long time, we never had a majority in support of violence, he said. Support for violence started to rise when two, three years ago, violence by settlers increased considerably.

Shaked was pessimistic. He said violence had become part of the Palestinian ethos since the collapse of the 1990s-era peace process and the launch of the Second Intifada in 2000. What was needed, he said, was a strong Palestinian leader who repudiated violence, and long-term teaching for peace to supersede decades of teaching violence.

The ethos of the Palestinians has not changed, he said. They have the same collective memory, the same collective emotion, the same collective societal beliefs about the delegitimization of the Jewish people.
(MEMRI via JNS)  The Jews who came to Palestine are pagan Khazar converts, not the Children of Israel, Syrian President Bashar al-Assad said in a Dec. 18 speech posted online by the official Syrian Arab News Agency and translated by the Middle East Media Research Institute.

The Syrian dictator went on to state there is no evidence that six million Jews died in the Holocaust, and that the Nazis did not employ any special methods of torture or killing for Jews, who he said were killed just like other victims of World War II.

The Holocaust was politicized and used as a false pretext to transfer the Jews from Europe to Palestine, said Assad. He also claimed that America was the one who supported the rise of the Nazis in Germany between the world wars.

Most of us do not know that the rise of Nazism between the two world wars happened with American support. The question on everybodys mind is: How is it that despite the German collapse and European constraints, Nazism was allowed to rise and build an army? It was done with American support, money, loans and investments, he said.

While nobody denies there were holocausts, he continued, the singling out of the Jewish victims of WWII was proof of political motive.

True, there were concentration camps, but what shows you that this is a politicized issue, and is not a humanitarian issue, and is not real, [is] how come we talk about these six millions, and not the 26 million Soviets who were killed in that war? Are those six millions more precious? The same acts were everywhere. There was no method of torture or killing specific to the Jews. The Nazis used the same method everywhere, said Assad.

However, this issue was politicized, in order to falsify the truth, and later to prepare for the transfer of the Jews from Europe to other areas, or [rather] to Palestine. The Jews who came to Palestine are Khazar Jews, from east of the Caspian Sea. They were pagans who converted to Judaism in the eighth century. They emigrated to Europe, and from there, came to this region. They have nothing to do whatever with the [ancient] people of Israel.
(JTA)  Birthright Israel on Tuesday announced that it would resume its free, 10-day educational trips to Israel in January after suspending them amid the ongoing war with Hamas.

Around 350 participants, students and young adults primarily from the United States, are expected to travel to Israel beginning the week of Jan. 5, 2024, the organization said in a statement.

The 350 participants are a small fraction of the 23,000 Birthright had planned to send to Israel this year. Still, the resumption of the programs is a powerful symbol of a potential return to normalcy for Israel, which has been in war mode since Hamas attack on Oct. 7. Even as Israeli leaders say they are unwilling to put an end date on their military operations in Gaza, universities are gearing up to reopen Dec. 31 and on Monday, the government raised limits on gathering sizes, citing reduced concerns about rocket attacks.

The decision to resume Birthright trips was made after careful consideration and conversations with the groups local partners in Israel, the groups statement said, and will operate under strict safety and security standards set by the Israel Defense Forces Homefront Command.

Birthright CEO Gidi Mark said that while the trips will continue to prioritize the organizations goals of positive Jewish identity building, they will also incorporate a focus on the Hamas attack and its impact on Israeli society and Jewish communities around the world.

Everything is different post-Oct. 7 from an educational perspective. The people of Israel are different and the young adults arriving to Israel are different, Mark told JTA. We are preparing the educational teams to deal with broad discussions and an open dialogue. We believe that participants will come to explore and learn about what happened and what is occurring now, and also share about the reality back home and the rise of antisemitism.

Travel to and from Israel has been limited to Israeli carriers since Oct. 7, and the war has taken a steep toll on tourism.

Last month, Birthright announced the launch of volunteer programs in Israel after it canceled its regular scheduled trips for December amid security concerns. More than 3,300 of its alumni had applied to volunteer in kibbutzes and other Israeli communities to harvest crops in the absence of the thousands of foreign field workers, the organization said in a statement at the time.

Even with the resumption of its regular programs, the two-week volunteer trips  which are exclusively for Birthright alumni  would continue in tandem, Mark told JTA.

Naturally, alumni of January classic trips will be able to extend their stay in Israel, for an additional two-week volunteering experience, he added.

Birthright Israel has brought some 850,000 young Jewish adults to Israel on a free tour of Israel since its launch in 1999. The organization had previously canceled trips only once before, during the COVID-19 pandemic. Facing financial woes, it has scaled in the years since.
WASHINGTON (JTA)  The U.S. House of Representatives called on the presidents of Harvard University and the Massachusetts Institute of Technology to resign after they declined to say clearly in a congressional hearing that their schools would take action against those calling for the genocide of Jews.

The vote Wednesday night was 303-126, with three voting present. All but one of the votes against the resolution were by Democrats, including seven of the caucus 24 Jewish Democrats. The three voting present were likewise Democrats, and the one Republican voting against was Thomas Massie of Kentucky.

The lead initiator of the resolution was Rep. Elise Stefanik, the New Yorker who is the third-ranked Republican in the House and whose questioning of the presidents of Harvard, MIT and the University of Pennsylvania last week elicited their qualified comments on what they would do if people at their universities called for the genocide of Jews. Two lead co-sponsors were Jewish Democrats, Rep. Josh Gottheimer of New Jersey and Rep. Jared Moskowitz of Florida.

Liz Magill, the Penn leader, has since resigned and the resolution called on the other two to follow suit. Harvard President Claudine Gay has apologized for her remarks at the hearing, and following a lengthy meeting earlier this week, Harvards board chose to keep her in office. MITs board has likewise affirmed its continued support of President Sally Kornbluth, who is Jewish.

A number of the Jewish Democrats said the resolution was disingenuous because Stefanik has failed to confront antisemitism in her own party, echoing conflicted sentiments some liberal Jewish figures have expressed in the wake of the hearing.

Jamie Raskin, from Maryland, was one of the seven Jewish Democrats voting against. He took aim at Stefanik, a leading supporter of former President Donald Trump, for never calling out Trump for his associations with antisemites, including Nick Fuentes, a Holocaust denier who recently called for the execution of Jews.

Still waiting for a serious response from Rep. Stefanik. Will she denounce virulent antisemitism in the GOP, including calls for Jewish genocide from Trumps dinner guest at Mar-a-Lago Nick Fuentes, leader of the America First Political Action Conference? Raskin wrote Wednesday on X.

Other Jewish Democrats voted for the nonbinding resolution because they agreed with its contents, but said it was meaningless political posturing.

North Carolinas Kathy Manning, who voted for the measure, called for practical legislation instead of nonbinding resolutions. She previously accused Stefanik of copying portions of a letter Manning had circulated about the hearing.

I have no interest in meaningless resolutions that do nothing to address the underlying issue of antisemitism, she said on the House floor before the vote. We dont need throwaway resolutions, we need effective solutions.

Stefanik lambasted those Democrats who did not support the bill.

The world is watching as Members from both sides of the aisle stand resolutely with the Jewish people to condemn antisemitism on university campuses and the morally bankrupt testimony of the Harvard, MIT, and Penn university presidents during last weeks House Committee on Education and the Workforce hearing, she said on X, the platform formerly known as Twitter. It is disappointing and revealing that 128 Democrats chose to vote against condemning antisemitism on college campuses and the pathetic and abhorrent testimony of the university presidents.
(JNS)  Israeli ground, air and naval forces struck more than 300 targets in the Gaza Strip over the past day, causing heavy Hamas casualties and destroying terror infrastructure, the Israel Defense Forces reported on Wednesday morning.

Paratroopers from the 55th Brigade raided a Hamas military headquarters in the terror groups stronghold of Khan Yunis in the southern Strip, according to the military. During the search, many weapons were found as well as ammunition and explosive charges, including 20 mortar shells.

Also in Khan Yunis, soldiers from the 7th Armored Brigade raided...
GLOBALink | Innovation helps China's time-honored ink brand thrive Pub Date:23-12-28 10:39 Source:Xinhua A time-honored ink brand in China's Tianjin rejuvenates its legacy with innovation, creating culturally rich and elegant colored inks, as well as stylish inks tailor-made for customers overseas. Produced by Xinhua Global Service Editor:Qin Shuying

Related News The 14th China (Hefei) International Garde... Fossil discovery puts brakes on highway pr... Great Wall find unveils old military pastime Huangmei Opera 'Marriage of the Fairy Prin...
(JNS)  Israel Defense Forces soldiers have recovered the body of hostage Elia Toledano, the IDF announced on Friday morning.

The body of the 28-year-old Toledano was identified by medical and rabbinical officials as well as the Israel Police.

The IDF did not indicate how or when he died.

Hours later, the military announced that forces operating in Gaza retrieved the bodies of two more Israeli hostages: Cpl. Nik Beizer, 19, and Sgt. Ron Sherman, 19.

Toledano was taken captive at the Supernova music festival at Kibbutz Reim. More than 360 people were massacred at the outdoor event and anot...
(JTA)  The Lincoln Memorial closed temporarily on Wednesday after its steps were vandalized with graffiti reading Free Gaza in multiple places.

U.S. Park Police are investigating the graffiti, which was discovered Wednesday morning at the Washington, D.C. monument, according to ABC News. Crews were dispatched to clean up the vandalism. The steps of the memorial were splattered with red paint and pro-Palestinian messages, which the National Park Service said could take some time to complete.

National Park Service conservators have begun the process of removing the paint this mor...
(JTA)  The Massachusetts Institute of Technology and the University of California, Davis, both of which have recently experienced widely publicized episodes of conflict around Israel, are among six new institutions facing U.S. Department of Education investigations.

The department has indicated it is taking a newly aggressive approach to addressing it and Islamophobia on campus since the outbreak of the Israel-Hamas war and is announcing new investigations at a rapid clip, dramatically increasing the pace of civil rights inquiries that it opens.

All of the investigations relate to allega...
(JNS) - David Wolpe, rabbi emeritus of Sinai Temple, a conservative synagogue in Los Angeles, joined Harvard University's Antisemitism Advisory Group in the hopes that he could persuade the school to make some serious changes.

"I wanted immediate, visible action," he told JNS. "In fact, what I saw was that the anti-Jewish agitation on campus was getting worse, not better."

Earlier this month, the Anti-Defamation League's inaugural rabbinic fellow, named by Newsweek as the most influential rabbi in the United States, publicly quit the Harvard group. (He remains a visiting scholar at Harva...
(JNS)  Since Oct. 7, the International Red Cross has been helping imprisoned Palestinian terrorists receive controversial stipends from the Palestinian Authority, according to Israeli NGO Palestinian Media Watch.

According to PMW, incarcerated Palestinians fill out forms to receive the stipends, and the Red Cross delivers the paperwork to Ramallah.

The role of the International Red Cross in this process is central, explained PMW director Itamar Marcus. The international health organization is involved in this because as they visit prisoners, theyre able to bring in forms....
(JNS)  Two months after his parents and two sisters were brutally murdered in their home by Hamas terrorists during the Oct. 7 massacre at Kibbutz Nahal Oz, Ariel Zohar celebrated his bar mitzvah on Thursday.

The tefillin (phylacteries used for Jewish rituals) that the bar mitzvah boy placed around his arm and on his forehead were given to him by his Holocaust-survivor grandfather, who got it from his late father. Despite the charred home, it stayed intact and was recovered by first responders.

Ariel, who turned 13 about three weeks after the massacre, is the son of Israel Hayom videographer Yaniv Zohar and his wife, Yasmin, both of whom were murdered in the early hours of the Oct. 7 terrorist attack on southwestern towns by Hamas, which culminated in some 1,200 Israeli residents murdered. This was the worst terrorist attack in Israeli history.

Yaniv and Yasmins two daughters, Keshet and Tchelet, were also murdered. Ariel had just left for a job when the attack began and found shelter at a different home.

One of the VIP guests at Thursdays bar mitzvah was former Chief Rabbi Israel Meir Lau. Lau, a Holocaust survivor who immigrated to Israel with his older brother Naftali after their entire family was murdered by the Nazis, told Ariel: When my bar mitzvah came around, my father had also been murdered, and my mother had been murdered, and I, like you, was already without parents.

On an optimistic note, the rabbi added: And yet I had a good life and achieved much. And you too will achieve, and you too will have a good life, because you see how many good people love you.

Ariels tefillin were saved by ZAKA forensics volunteers.

Motti Buktzin, the organizations spokesman, reported: We went into Nahal Oz escorted by special forces and under heavy fire. Ultimately the unbelievable happenedwe managed to extricate the tefillin intact.

Previously published by Israel Yayom.
There is a petition circulating, initiated by Defenders of Free Speech, to stand with Dr. Darren Klugman, who is a doctor and professor at Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine.

On Oct. 7, Dr. Klugman spoke out about the atrocities committed by Hamas that day. As a result of speaking out on social media, he has been suspended by Hopkins with possible termination, and the American Board of Pediatrics has begun the process of revoking his board certifications. His family has received death threats, requiring round-the-clock security.

Why has this happened to him? Dr. Klugman, whose elderly mother lives in Israel, posted several strongly worded tweets within 48 hours of the genocidal attack by Hamas on Israel.

Palestinians showing world exactly who they are & what they want  dead Jews & no more Israel, Palestinians are bloodthirsty morally depraved animals who want every inch of Israel and all Jews dead, and Israel has no peace partner with the Palestinians, barbaric animals with no concern for life. He went on to support the complete victory of Israel over Hamas.

Dr. Klugman did engage in one conversation on Oct. 7 with a Palestine supporter who accused Israel of calling for a large scale slaughter spread out massacres across a year to displace Palestinians, to which he replied, G-d willing.

No one noticed these tweets until Nov. 12, when Stop Zionist Hate, a group committed to exposing zionists, began a defamatory hate campaign against Dr. Klugman. They twisted his words and claimed that Dr. Klugman advocates genocide, calls people of certain ethnicities depraved animals, and glorifies/promotes violence.

Dr. Klugman immediately deleted his tweets and emailed an apology to his academic colleagues. His division chief also drafted an email letting the department know that leadership was aware of the situation. Within hours these internal confidential communications were leaked by an unidentified source. The screenshots of both emails, which were only accessible to members of his department, were posted to the Stop Zionist Hate X account.

The Council on American-Islamic Relations filed a complaint with the Maryland board of Medicine against Dr. Klugman. On Nov. 15, Johns Hopkins informed him that he was suspended from Hopkins and was no longer permitted to have direct contact with his colleagues.

Stop Zionist Hate posted a video of Dr. Klugman taken from the Hopkins website that they edited and distorted, called for his resignation, and labeled him a supporter of genocide.

Almost a week later, Dr. Klugman received notification from the American Board of Pediatrics that his board certifications were to be suspended for no less than five years which he is appealing.

Zainab Chaudry, director of the Maryland chapter of CAIR, and the person responsible for filing the complaint with the Maryland Board of Medicine, was suspended from the states hate commission for a history of antisemitic social media posts, and she refuses to withdraw her comments. She believes Dr. Klugman should be held to a different standard because he is a physician.

Defenders of Free Speech initiated their petition in support of Dr. Klugman because this is an antisemitic defamatory hate campaign directed at a respected Jewish Zionist. Dr. Klugman was exercising his free speech right to condemn the actions of Hamas on Oct. 7 on social media. Rather than support him after his apology, JHU suspended him.

Other Hopkins physicians have posted countless slurs and hatred against Israel, Jews, and Israelis since the Oct. 7 massacre. One example: I hate Israel not because its a Jewish state, but because its a Jewish supremacist state committing genocide.

In November a group of self-identified JHU doctors, nurses and medical students held a pro-Palestinian rally outside the hospital chanting "there is only one solution, intifada revolution" and "Zionism must go" with no recourse.

With an impeccable track record of care for patients of all ethnicities and religions, Dr. Klugman has been vilified and his comments twisted by antisemitic hate groups. Chaudry, on the other hand, has a long-standing history of antisemitic beliefs, and claims a free speech right to her comments that she continues to spew. Dr. Klugman has dedicated his career to saving the lives of children of all ages with congenital heart disease. Vile antisemitism, veiled as free speech stands not only to threaten his career but worsen the lives of many children and families who benefit directly from his compassionate care and expertise. The discrimination of Jewish free speech must be called out and Jews must be protected by the same constitutional rights granted to others.

To read the petition and show support for Dr. Klugman go to https://chng.it/ZqWp5QPQZt.

Petition Update

The Free Speech organization FIRE (Foundation for Individual Rights and Expression) has issued the following press release on behalf of Dr. Klugman:

Johns Hopkins University investigates professor for anti-Palestinian commentary

By Leslie Corbly

December 21, 2023

Johns Hopkins University professor Darren Klugman is the latest victim of overzealous administrative action in the continuing tumult caused by the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.

JHU has placed Klugman, a School of Medicine professor as well as a student in the business school, on indefinite leave and opened an investigation following his anti-Palestinian social media posts. Now, FIRE is calling on JHU to honor its commitment to freedom of speech by immediately dropping its investigation into Klugmans expression and rescinding any disciplinary action taken against him.

JHUs actions prompted FIRE to write the university to explain why investigating Klugman and placing him on leave violates the institutions commitment to freedom of speech, which guarantees Klugman  as a member of the faculty and student body  the right to speak and debate without fear of restraint or penalty . . . even when those views are provocative or unfamiliar. Based on this promise, Klugman would reasonably believe he is free to speak his mind on a matter of public concern without fear of punishment  even if others find his words offensive or hateful.

In the same vein, JHU may not punish merely uncivil expression. The American Association of University Professors has long criticized civility standards as pernicious threats to free expression. Indeed, committing to free speech means protecting heated and even intemperate debate on sensitive and controversial matters of public concern  such as the matters that Klugmans posts address.

JHUs investigation into Klugmans posts as discriminatory harassment is likewise meritless because they also do not meet the legal standard for peer-on-peer discriminatory harassment. Even incendiary social media posts, without more, do not meet the severe, pervasive, and objectively offensive requirement for actionable harassment.

Allegations that Klugmans posts amount to threats are also unfounded. A true threat requires a statement of serious intent to commit unlawful violence. Speech advocating for or endorsing violence is not a true threat, absent more, nor is the use of hyperbolic politized language.

Finally, JHUs charge that Klugman violated the student code of conduct by engaging in conduct that adversely affect[s] the universitys integrity or mission is groundless. This provision is incompatible with the free speech principles JHU promises to uphold; such a vague, subjective standard is too easily abused by administrators. Students cannot reasonably know what behavior violates this boundless provision, allowing for selective discipline based on the subjective opinions of administrators.

FIRE continues to call on JHU to honor its strong commitment to freedom of expression by dropping its investigation of Klugman and rescinding any disciplinary action it has taken against him.
(JNS)  The city of Sderot is located less than a mile from the Gaza Strip. Some 90 percent of the towns 30,000 residents fled on Oct. 7 after Hamas invaded southern Israel. My wifes cousin Ilan is currently stationed with his IDF infantry unit in what was until recently a Sderot elementary school. The happy, high-pitched yelping of children has been replaced by the metallic sounds of assault rifles being taken apart, cleaned and reassembled by soldiers.

We were visiting Ilans family in Nahariya, Israels northernmost coastal city, when his mother told us that she had just gotten off the phone with him. Ilan had been given a 48-hour pass, was on a bus with a few fellow northerners from his platoon and would be arriving in a few hours.

Since my wife, our four children and I needed to catch the final train to Haifa before Shabbat kicked in, we were not sure we would be able to see Ilan. Sderot is in the western Negev, a good 200 kilometers from Nahariya.

But as we were packing our things and saying our goodbyes, in walked my wifes cousin. Ilan, wearing a wrinkled combat utility uniform, had picked up a farmers tan down south. His hair had grown shaggy. As we embraced, I saw how bloodshot his eyes were.

My twin sons had never seen Ilan in army fatigues, much less slinging an M-16 over his shoulder. When the two seven-year-olds started to pepper their 27-year-old relative with questions about what he was doing in Sderot, Ilan kept his answers pleasantly vague. My boys eyes lit up when he told them about the green parakeet that greeted him and his army buddies when they got to the school.

When one of my sons asked him what kind of food he was eating where he is stationed, Ilan told him that Netivot, a city not far from Sderot, has the best hummus and pita in Israel.

The day Gaza-based Hamas terrorists infiltrated Israel, murdering 1,200 people and kidnapping another 240, Ilan was a full-time civil and environmental engineering student at the Technion, one of Israels top universities.

Now he was showing my sons the inside of his M-16, explaining to them where the 5.56 mm cartridge went, how when the pit hit the round it ignites the powder inside the round, the explosion creating the gas pressure needed to push the bullet down and out of the barrel.

This conversation about the inner workings of a weapon between a sergeant first class and a couple of second graders was a testament to the vital role of the army in Israeli society. Ilan, along with 300,000 other civilians, was drafted in response to Hamass attack on Israel. As they fight to free Israel from the constant threat of annihilation, their lives, loves and livelihoods are in a state of suspended animation.

I had to cut the boys interrogation of Ilan short as we had to huff it to the train station.

Back home, we lit a ninth Chanukah candle. This year, many Israelis decided to extend the Festival of Lights by one day. The traditional Chanukah prayers include a recitation of previous attempts to destroy the Jewish peoplePharaoh in Egypt, Haman in Persia, the Babylonian kingdoms, the Seleucid-Greek monarchy. Now, there is also a call for the destruction of Hamas and the safe return of all the hostages.

Since their meeting with Ilan, our sons have been boning up on Sderot. When their stream of questions exhausted their parents patience, the boys broke out the maps, becoming pint-sized experts on Sderots geography and even topography.

Yet no matter how far Sderot down south is from our home up here in Haifa, there is no real distance between the two cities. On Oct. 7, Israelis from every corner of the country became citizens of Sderot, Netivot and all the other southern communities.
(JNS)  An Israeli mental-health professional shared with a small group of visiting Americans how the remains of those who were savagely murdered on Oct. 7 were lovingly handled. Breathing slowly, she described how ZAKA, the volunteer organization that handles victim identification after disasters and terrorist attacks, diligently goes about collecting body parts, and then arranges refrigerated transportation and ritual observances for the dead. She humbly said that when a deceased person was inappropriately handled, maybe bumped, the worker would apologize to the dead.

We must face the truth about who bears the guilt for all this carnage and pain. When Hamas terrorists launch thousands of rockets, engineer hundreds of miles of high-tech tunnels and fire bullets from an automatic weapon, know their patron is Iran. Back in 2015, after much debate, the Obama administration had its way in signing the Iran nuclear deal. Besides giving Iran a pathway to a nuclear weapon, the deal also handed the terrorist regime over $150 billion. That paid for a lot of firepower and a lot of it went to Hamas.

More recently, the Biden administration lifted the oil-export sanctions put into place by the Trump administration, and more billions flowed into Iran. The $10 billion ransom paid by U.S. President Joe Biden for nine hostages held in Iran, despite flimsy Iranian assurances of using the money for peaceful purposes, was a nice payday for the Iranians and their terror proxies Hamas, Hezbollah and the Houthis. To gauge the enormity of the monies involved, consider that since Oct. 7, the entire Jewish Federation system has raised $750 million for its emergency fund. Its wonderful, but only a fraction of the blood money that Iran received.

Who should apologize for enabling Iran to fund its murderous agents? Which congresspeople voted for the Iran deal? Who voted for the politicians who didnt see the obvious danger? Which Jewish organizations equivocated on condemning the deal for fear of offending donors and board members? What issues were considered more important than safeguarding Israel and keeping Americans out of harms way?

Ponder also how Israels enemies were emboldened by woke/intersectional agendas that demonized Israel as one of the progressives oppressors. The wildly hypocritical pro-Hamas, pro-terrorism, antisemitic demonstrations accusing Israel of genocide must have signaled to Teheran that support for Israel in the West is becoming controversial. Who were the individuals and organizations sucked into this virtue-signaling pact with the devil? Was the need to be politically correct too tempting? Was there no will to resist the progressive promotion of safe spaces barred to Jews? Lets hope they all apologize for the aid and comfort they provided our enemies.

Academia sits upon the throne of anti-Israel, antisemitic doctrine and the media grovels at its feet. Jewish applicants and donors hypnotized by the Ivy Leagues promise of success have sadly helped the left and terror-supporting states like Qatar to advance radical antisemitic bias, eroding support for Israel and elevating the Palestinian narrative. Apologies are due from the parents and philanthropists who chose so poorly.

Did Jewish organizations forget the Jews own history of oppression? Did they fail to arm Jewish children with the facts about Israel? Did they fail to instill in Jewish youth the confidence to defend themselves in the face of the haters? Did a cult of assimilation cause Jewish organizations to fruitlessly curry acceptance from other groups instead of firmly standing by Israel and the principles of Judaism? Did politics become a replacement for religion? Unwise leaders should apologize for their shortsightedness.

After an honest reexamination of our past actions and their ramifications, we should appoint only thoughtful, committed people to be our leaders, and contribute only to righteous causes.

Benjamin Franklin said, Never ruin an apology with an excuse. Instead of an excuse, lets hope a fearless moral inventory will turn error into wise investments.
(JNS)  Recently, I attended a dinner given by a major pro-Israel organization. It was the first since COVID and the turnout was great. There were old and new friends, Jews and non-Jews, Democrats and Republicans. It was wonderful and uplifting in a time of worry, sorrow and love for Israel and its supporters around the world.

Until several speakers said that thing about supporting Israels right to exist.

No. Stop. Please. Stand up straight.

The fact that anti-Israel and antisemitic forces say Israel has no right to exist is not a reason for Jews to adopt their premise as a talking point that needs refutation.

Israel was established by a U.N. mechanism for post-colonial independence in areas that came under League of Nations control in the aftermath of World War I, when it was determined that the Ottoman Empire had no right to exist, having chosen the wrong side of the war. Just because the Arab states of the time didnt agree with the League and the U.N.s decision on Palestine didnt make the British Mandate or the later State of Israel less legitimate in its modern origins.

Does Chile defend its right to exist? Does Iceland? Does Palau or Russia or India or Guyana or the UAE? What about the countries of the post-Ottoman era? Iraq or Jordan, say, both created out of whole cloth. What about Lebanon or Syria, both former French colonies? From 1945-1960, post-colonial Africa and Asia saw more than 30 new countries emerge. Today, the U.N. brags that since its founding, 80 former colonies have gained their independence.

It is true that some people in some places dont want those countries to existtheres a lot of turmoil out therebut in no case do these states feel the need to say, I have a right to exist.

What would work better than this defense? Perhaps holding the U.N. to its own language. You could start with U.N. General Assembly Resolution 181, which defines in great detail the protected status of Jerusalem and defines in great detail the democratic nature of the Palestinian Arab state that was supposed to emerge.

But UNGA resolutions have no actual force. This may be why Arab violations of the resolution, including the desecration of Jewish patrimony on the eastern side of the city, were entirely ignored.

So, try U.N. Security Council Resolution 242 of Nov. 1967, following the Six-Day War, when the U.N. rightly understood Israels Arab enemies as the aggressors.

The preamble refers to the inadmissibility of the acquisition of territory by war and the need to work for a just and lasting peace in the Middle East in which every State in the area can live in security.

Acquiring territory by aggressive war is not, in international law, the same as acquiring it in defense. And security is security, not the permanent threat of indiscriminate rocket fire, rape, torture or kidnapping.

The resolution affirms that the fulfillment of Charter principles requires the establishment of a just and lasting peace in the Middle East, which should include the application of both the following principles: (i) Withdrawal of Israeli armed forces from territories occupied in the recent conflict.

The recent conflict is now 56 years in the past. Israel withdrew from more than 90 percent of the territory by returning the Sinai to Egypt under the terms of a peace treaty. Gaza was specifically excluded by Egypt. Jordan rejected the return of Judea and Samaria under the terms of the Jordan-Israel treaty. Syria rejects any conversation about peace, treaties or the future of the Golan Heights.

And then, the crux of the matter: (ii) Termination of all claims or states of belligerency and respect for and acknowledgment of the sovereignty, territorial integrity and political independence of every State in the area and their right to live in peace within secure and recognized boundaries free from threats or acts of force.

This is precisely the position the Abraham Accords countries have taken. It is far from a wobbly right to exist at the sufferance of others. Israels life is not an are not! am too! argument with regional bullies or meddling superpowers.

Israel has rights.

Friends of Israel should demand that the U.N. Security Council put its musclesuch as it isin service of the resolution it passed in 1967. The U.S. government should notify states or parties that do not accept the resolution that American political and military support will not be forthcoming the way it has beentake note, Jordan and Qatar. The U.S. should notify the Palestinian leadership as well. The fact that there was none in 1967 doesnt change the requirement to terminate its claims and state of belligerency. It is the only way forward for them. Friends of Israel should demand that Congress adopt the language of the resolution as American policy.

I look forward to attending the dinner again next year, but I hope we will be more self-confident on behalf of our friend and ally Israel.
There are reports circulating Israel of high-level talks involving negotiations to release more of the hostages brutally kidnapped by Hamas terrorists on Oct. 7 and held captive in Gaza since. Reports of the hostages conditions from the 100+ who have been released are horrifying. They have suffered physical and psychological torture, starvation, held in underground cages in complete darkness, and suffered violent sexual assaults including gang raping women. Speculation is that many are dead, as some of the hostages bodies have been found, littered across Gaza as if trash rather than human beings.

When Israel launched its military operation, it had two goals: to eradicate Hamas and remove it and its leaders from any ability to ever control Gaza and its population or threaten Israel, and to free ALL the hostages. Over the course of a week last month, Israelis were glued to the TV every night as Hamas paraded out more hostages, mostly women and children, under the voyeurism of the world media. But some 130 hostages remain in captivity: Arab and Jewish Israelis, and non-Jews of other nationalities. Still, many of the hostages are women and children, one of whom is 10 months old, doesnt even know his name, and who has spent nearly a third of his life in captivity.

While Israelis celebrated the return of all the hostages, we were impacted by the psychological warfare that Hamas inflicted. Manipulating the hostages until the last moment, armed and masked terrorists escorted the hostages, instructing them to wave for the camera.

The terrorists handed off the hostages to representatives of the International Committee of the Red Cross, as if batons in a relay race, a scene rehearsed night after night. Israelis who watched the spectacle understood that Hamas was trying to appear humanitarian, and that the Red Cross was inept, playing the role of useful idiot or complicit partner to Hamas evil. They did nothing until that point to see or assess the well-being of all the hostages, not providing needed medical care, or anything else that is not only their mandate but their responsibility.

The ICRCs mission is to alleviate human suffering, protect life and health, and uphold human dignity, especially during armed conflicts and other emergencies. It has an annual budget of $2.4 billion. By their own measure of fulfilling its own mission, they have been nothing but an expensive abject failure relating to the hostages.

Early on I realized that the Red Cross was serving as nothing more than a glorified Uber service. Yet there was one horrific difference. The Red Cross, which is supposed to protect the welfare of hostages and others, provided vehicles with clear windows, not remotely attempting to provide any privacy or dignity for the hostages or their well-being. Its as if they were flaunting their prime-time shuttling of hostages to get maximal world attention, and take credit, more than doing their job.

Its not the first time that the Red Cross has abandoned its responsibilities, and the Jewish people. During the Holocaust, the Red Cross avoided taking more aggressive action on behalf of the Jews of Europe and even issued a report white washing the Nazi concentration camp Terezin. Only decades, and six million Jews later, the ICRC admitted its wrongdoing.

Watching the hostages being released put a spotlight on the Red Cross inaction. Visiting Israel, the head of the ICRC balked at taking responsibility for advocating on behalf of the hostages, claiming that Hamas wont allow it, rather than insisting Hamas comply. In another shocking instance, a Red Cross representative horrifyingly chided families of hostages to think about the Palestinians.

Looking at its (in)action today, it seems that the Red Cross is spending more time defending its shameful record than it is actually doing its job.

Israelis and Jews are typically not familiar with Christianity, yet many have a reflexive negative stereotype based on millennia of persecution. Historically, Jews feared Christians, their churches, and were revolted by the cross and everything it represented as a symbol of hatred to Jews.

At a time when Christian support for Israel and the Jewish people is at historically unprecedented highs, this should bother Christians deeply. I have asked Christian friends if it angers or hurts them to see the cross, the penultimate symbol of their faith, being used to promote discrimination against Jews and Israelis. Its not a time for Christians to turn the other cheek, but to reclaim what their faith stands for as represented by the cross and affirming that to be a Christian means to love and support the Jewish people.

As much as it is shameful that the Red Cross has failed the Jews so abysmally again, another shame of the Red Cross is that the symbol of the cross has been hijacked by the ICRC to portray a negative reflection on Christians.

As I saw the hostages being released, I saw terrorists hiding behind their masks, and the ICRC staff hiding behind the purported neutrality of their cross. I realized that while some Israelis will recognize the Red Cross symbol, for many it is equivalent to seeing something Christian. With many Israelis not knowing much about Christianity, or having much interaction with Christians, for many the treacherousness of the Red Cross complements the historic reality of Christians persecuting Jews.

Even though the Red Cross doesnt represent Christianity, it is time that Christians take back their cross and what it represents. I realize that some will find it unusual, even off-putting and say its not my place as an Orthodox Jew to tell Christians what to think or do. Theres surely something to that. But because I am concerned about building bridges between Jews and Christians which includes breaking down barriers and how Jews look at and perceive Christians and Christianity, I care. Maybe it comes across with great hubris to say if I were a Christian Id do so and so. Nevertheless, if I were a Christian, Id:

 Urge Christians to flood the virtual gates of the ICRC, demanding that they do their job and stop their history of antisemitism.

 Implore Christians speak out publicly against the Red Cross, and its history of antisemitic bias that continues to play out today.

 Tell Christians to stop giving to the Red Cross, anywhere, unless there is a complete and permanent overhaul of their anti-Israel bias everywhere.

 Beseech Christians to sign the petition demanding that the Red Cross support the well-being and freedom of ALL the hostages.

I dont know if its possible or has any legal basis, but if I were a Christian, I would initiate a lawsuit against the Red Cross, barring it from using the word cross or the symbol of a cross anywhere because of the slanderous way it reflects on Christians and Christianity.

These are big wishes for Christmas, but Jews and Christians worship a big God. If we come together, these are little things we can achieve. And if not, I am sure that $2.4 billion can be used better by defunding the whole organization.

May all the hostages be released soon.
By 5 p.m. EST., on Tuesday, Dec. 19, the U.N. Security Council was supposed to vote on a resolution to stop the war in Gaza to deal with the humanitarian crisis in the enclave. By 3:45 p.m., word came out the vote was delayed for a day and is expected today, on Wednesday, if consensus is achieved.

The reason for the delay is simple: the draft demanded a cessation of the war, effectively blocking Israels stated objective to decimate Hamas terrorist organization. And ignored Israels right to self-defense.

The clearest indication that such a resolution will not pass without appropriate modifications to language came from National Security Council spokesperson John Kirby earlier today. Its important for us, Kirby said, that the rest of the world understand whats at stake here and what Hamas did on the 7th of October and how Israel has a right to defend itself against those threats.

Now, world states are working on replacing the word cessation with suspension, which leaves room for future Israeli action against Hamas. We are waiting to see if the final draft will acknowledge Israels right to self-defense.

I have met U.N. Secretary General Antonio Guterres and his predecessors in the past. This is why I raised my voice to ask diplomats and states drafting the resolution a simple question: The war in Gaza was started by Hamas, not Israel. Why do U.N. draft resolutions find it difficult to say this?

I posed this question on our platforms on X/Twitter, Facebook and Instagram. Please share widely.

A reasonable U.N. Security Council resolution would note that the war continues because:

One, a terror group refuses to release Israeli hostages; Two, wont lay down arms; and Three, wont hand over those responsible for the Oct. 7 massacre.

A reasonable U.N. resolution would not that civilians die in Gaza because Hamas rushes to hide in safe zones that Israel designated for civilians instead of fighting a war that it started.

U.N. member states have a choice: hold a terror group responsible or show anti-Israel bias and lose credibility.

The choice is clear.
I suddenly woke up this morning at 3:16 a.m., and knew I had to write this article.

I recently went on a trip to Israel. The country is in the middle of a war and the people are grieving. I went with a Christian organization, CityServe, and also with the support of another Christian ministry. When I boarded the EL AL plane, a woman said you know there is a war going on there, right?

The trip changed my life.

I am a neurosurgeon in Orlando, and I have lived here since 1999. As I get older, I am constantly looking for a purpose to justify my years of living on this earth. I have traveled to Ukraine after the war started, Maui after the fires, and most recently to Israel after the barbaric attacks of Oct. 7. The reason I travel to these places is to remind myself of how tragedy can demonstrate how amazing people are when the unimportant things are stripped away.

After a tragedy, people are not obsessed with politics, social media, or buying the latest luxury good or fancy electronic toy. When people lose everything, they are reminded about what is really important. The most important thing is our relationship with God and our relationships with those around us.

When I went to Israel, I toured moshav Ein HaBesor. Amazing individuals here fought off the terrorists with the help of God. They just happened to have a few M16s. They just happened to close the gates minutes before the terrorists arrived and they just happened to have a few very brave men protecting the moshav early in the morning. God was with them. They risked everything to preserve their way of life and save their families. They managed to hold off the terrorists while their families hid. The brave men had no idea of how they would succeed or if their families would survive. Some had to hold the doors to their safe rooms closed for hours while terrorists tried to kill them. The doors do not lock. They were successful and the terrorists moved on. Brother fought with brother to save the moshav. One brave man, Yftach Gepner, drove his Tesla at high speeds backward to save his brother who had been shot twice. God was with Yftach.

Another area was not so lucky. Kibbutz Nir Oz was decimated by the terrorists. Approximately 130 terrorists stormed the peaceful community and killed or kidnapped 100 of the residents. Only 400 lived there. One fourth of the community was brutalized. I toured this kibbutz. There was destruction everywhere. Buildings were burned. Homes were ransacked. There was blood everywhere, as if the attack had just happened. Safe rooms were filled with bullets and scorch marks were everywhere. Burning tires had been placed at the doors of the safe rooms to smoke out the occupants. They were then tortured and killed. The massacre was of medieval proportions. There were trails of blood where people had been killed and then dragged outside to be further brutalized.

Words cannot describe how violent and terrible the scenes were. True evil was present at this kibbutz. Everything was destroyed. The only sign of life was a few stray cats.

I also visited the refugees in Eilat. These people had been through a horrible ordeal. The only thing keeping them sane was the sense of family and community. The refugees are staying in a hotel. The accommodations are nice, but they are not home. Nevertheless, the people there are supporting each other with love and compassion in this horrible time. Their tight family groups and their optimism for the future is allowing them to survive. They are hurt and broken but they have the most important things on earth  a love of God and a love of those around them.

This is the most important thing I learned in Israel. When everything else is gone, we still have God and each other. On a personal note, I lost my wife two years ago and a relationship with someone I love very much recently ended. I mention this not for sympathy but to drive home two crucial points. First, God is always there and He loves us unconditionally. When everything is gone He is there with intense love. Some might argue that being completely alone is when you see God the best.

The second point is that the relationships with those around us can help heal our souls in the face of tragedy or loneliness. Lean into those around you when things look hopeless. Tell them how much you love them. Never take them for granted.

The trip to Israel absolutely changed my life. The people there have been through unspeakable evil but they survive by loving and helping each other. They will rebuild their communities and their lives. They are strengthened by the spark that keeps us all alive in times of trouble. They love God and they love each other and they will persevere.

This is why I travel to communities in need. I need to escape the daily dramas of my life and visit places where real humanity is there for everyone to see. Real people with real problems using their love of one another to get through a crisis.

Support Israel. Think about the people of Israel. Think about those around you that you love and make sure they know how deeply you love them. Remind those who you have lost and those who may have forgotten you how deeply you love them. Remind God how much you love Him.

This is what Christmas and Chanukah is about. It is not important if you get the toy or gift you really want. All you need is in front of you. Love those you are with and love those who are apart from you.

I travel to some tragic places, but I also see humanity at its best when I am there. This is what keeps me going.
The final curtain of the year 2023 is upon us. December, as always, brings with it cold weather and cosy retrospection. Once the awards season kicks into gear, there is the inevitable temptation to look back at all the books, films and shows that kept us company. The page-to-screen pipeline kept pumping out the adaptations. The triumph and tragedy of J Robert Oppenheimer, as documented by Kai Bird and Martin J Sherwin in American Prometheus , got the Christopher Nolan treatment, going from the book shelf to the box office without losing an atom of credibility. The joy and uncertainty of adolescence, as captured by Judy Blume in Are You There God? Its Me, Margaret , got the Kelly Fremon Craig treatment, only gaining in its resonance. Getting a blockbuster biopic like Oppenheimer and a teeny triumph like Are You There God? Its Me, Margaret in the same year reflects the wealth of source material that remains readily available for cinematic translation.

For history buffs and film lovers alike, there is no denying Oppenheimer was the marquee cinema event of the year. Its unlikely pairing with Barbie became a pop-cultural totem of sorts. Nolan put a biography of over 700 pages into a particle accelerator to get to the core of a subject full of contradictions. Just because this was a retelling of history, not one of his high-concept sci-fi movies, didnt mean he lost his maximalist tendencies and love for nonlinearity. The film repeatedly turns in on itself. Watching the building of the A-bomb and its fallout in parallel forces us to see how creation and destruction are two sides of the same coin. The intense gaze of a haunted Cillian Murphy become a window into a soul tormented by visions of a hidden universe and trapped in a prison of his own guilt.

If Oppenheimer didnt convince the sceptics who place a much-too-high personal premium on the printed word, Killers of the Flower Moon surely did. Indeed, who better than Martin Scorsese could challenge the assumptions of those who take for granted the cultural superiority of the source text over the film? Rather than merely retrace the facts and figures from David Granns 2017 book, Scorsese and his co-writer Eric Roth take the investigation into an American genocide and reshape it into a story about a marriage blighted by greed and white entitlement. Leonardo DiCaprios Ernest Burkhart and Robert De Niros William Hale embody the inherent gangsterism of cutthroat capitalism. Think Jordan Belfort and Jimmy Conway, only far more insidious.

The more fascinating adaptation of Dahls work came earlier in the year from Wes Anderson. Each of the four meticulously controlled dioramas of the authors lesser-known short stories  The Wonderful Story of Henry Sugar, The Swan, The Rat Catcher and Poison  is full of love and reverence for the source. (Netflix)

Capitalist expansion takes no prisoners. Even today, the big oil companies treat tribal sovereignty as an obstacle but hardly as an insurmountable one. In the face of such a threat, how can a historically marginalised community of people get the interlopers off their land? In Daniel Goldhabers How to Blow Up a Pipeline, inspired by Swedish author Andrea Malms 2021 manifesto, Michael (played by indigenous actor Forrest Goodluck) picks fights with the local oil riggers working near his home on the North Dakota reservation. When picking fights with oil riggers does about nothing, he turns to more radical tactics. Given his expertise in making home made explosives, he is recruited by a rag-tag cadre of eco-activists plotting to bomb an oil pipeline in Texas.

To combat the existential threat of climate change may necessitate an escalation in tactics, argued Malm. Non-violent demonstrations wont cut it any more. Malm called for the intelligent sabotage of the fossil-fuel infrastructure poisoning our world. His book, however, wasnt a how-to guide for blowing up a pipeline, but why we may need to. The polemical tone was meant to adrenalise people into action, not fire up anarchists to blow shit up. Spurred by this moral case for property destruction as a climate justice strategy, Goldhaber presents not a documentary of curious provocation, but a fictionalised complement to a clarion call.

A powder-keg of an idea gets the treatment it merits  as a ticking-clock heist thriller. Flashbacks reveal each of the activists has personal reasons for joining a radical movement, be it a family tragedy or oil spills poisoning their land and water. Goldhaber is conscious of the likely disapprovals of violence as a means of resistance. So, he writes them into the film. Members of the group express concern over the bombing possibly damaging public support and ultimately bringing about no change. Nonetheless, the film urges us to stop fence-sitting if we want to defeat the climate crisis. As one of the members declares with unflinching conviction, Im not thinking about it, Im doing it.

In the hands of Kelly Fremon Craig... Are You There God? Its Me, Margaret. is not only as frank and sneakily complex as the 1970 novel, it in fact renews our appreciation for the source text. (https://www.itsmemargaret.movie/gallery/)

More than 80 years after the publication of his debut childrens book The Gremlins, Roald Dahl continues to hold the imagination of both adults-in-waiting and adults. A Willy Wonka origin story from the makers of Paddington is currently playing in cinemas around the world. Indeed, the more fascinating adaptation of Dahls work came earlier in the year from Wes Anderson. Each of the four meticulously controlled dioramas of the authors lesser-known short stories  The Wonderful Story of Henry Sugar, The Swan, The Rat Catcher and Poison  is full of love and reverence for the source. But what makes the films so fascinating is how Anderson confronts Dahls complicated legacy through the artifice of his production. The author becomes a character in himself as the filmmaker examines each story from an angle not considered in the original text.

The Lying Life of Adults is a typically textured coming-of-age story driven by family resentments, class tension, and adolescent turmoil, all threatening to boil over. (Netflix)

In The Fall of the House of Usher... horror auteur Mike Flanagan packs all the poems and stories, references and easter eggs, he can into eight episodes, not worrying about keeping things organic or neat, instead giving the writers nightmares an amorphous and timeless dread. (Netflix)

Since its launch in 2019, Apple TV+ has slowly grown into the go-to steaming platform for sci-fi fans. This year, the home of For All Mankind, Foundation and Severance dropped the first season of Silo, based on Hugh Howeys book series of the same name. Holed up in an underground bunker are the last remnants of mankind struggling to navigate a totalitarian bureaucracy and challenge its historical erasure. A dystopian thriller alive with ideas, it is as bracing and gripping as genre TV gets.

Chief among the disappointments that left many, if not all, readers and viewers griping was the third and hopefully last of the Agatha Christie adaptations from Kenneth Branagh. With Branagh on board as Hercule Poirot, Murder on the Orient Express derailed and Death on the Nile sank without a trace. This time around, A Haunting in Venice got lost in the shadows and showed few signs of life. Amazons rendition of Taylor Jenkins Reids Daisy Jones and the Six sounded too much like a bland one-note tune for a story loosely inspired by Fleetwood Mac. As the episodes went on, the satire of Zakiya Dalila Harriss The Other Black Girl felt too soft around the edges on screen.

As we finish looking back on 2023, we also cant help but look forward to 2024, a year which promises high-profile book adaptations of Viet Thanh Nguyens The Sympathizer, Janice YK Lees The Expatriates, and Edward Ashtons Mickey 17, to name a few. So, do stay tuned for another banner year of literary and cinematic riches.

Prahlad Srihari is a film and pop culture writer. He lives in Bangalore.
Constituting the Delhi Commission for Women (DCW) and the Delhi Jal Board (DJB), passing the Delhi Electricity Reform bill, and formulating the Delhi Urban Shelter Improvement Board (DUSIB) -- these are some of the key decisions that the Delhi legislative assembly has taken in the last 30 years since it was reconstituted in the winter of 1993. The Delhi assembly passed several legislations, creating institutions that have helped in the development of the city. Sanjeev Verma/HT Archive

Jagdish Mukhi, the then finance minister, presented the first budget in the Delhi legislative assembly on March 8, 1994, in which energy, transport, water supply, sanitation, urban development, education, public health and the welfare of the SC/ST communities were marked as priority sectors. At least 87% of the plan outlay was allocated to these sectors.

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We had made a pledge to the people of Delhi to give them a clean, efficient and responsive government and the time has now come to redeem it. This budget is a small step in that direction, Mukhi stated in his budget speech at the time amid enthusiastic thumping from the treasury benches.

Delhi assembly speaker Ram Niwas Goel, who was an MLA in 1993, said that in the last 30 years, the assembly has played a pivotal role in the development of Delhi. But in 2023, the powers of the assembly were taken away by the Centre through an ordinance. This is quite unfortunate, he said.

PK Tripathi, who was the chief secretary of Delhi from 2011 to 2012, said that the need of the hour is cooperative federalism, where the Centre should appreciate the demands of Delhi, and the state government should appreciate the Centres suggestions.

While the controversy rages, HT has listed 10 bills that paved the way for the creation of institutions or large-scale reforms -between 1994 and 2022.

1994: Delhi Commission for Women (DCW)

Soon after the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) formed the government in 1993, Surender Pal Ratawal, who served as the social welfare minister at the time, said that the government was committed to safeguarding the interests and rights of women. It was decided to bring a bill to establish a body which is entrusted with the task to look into complaints (of women) and take suo motu notice of matters relating to deprivation of womens rights; mitigating hardships and ensuring welfare and providing relief to women; participate and advise on the planning process of socio-economic development of women, among other things, Ratawal had said in April 1994 at the assembly.

On April 9, 1994, the Delhi Commission for Women Bill, 1994, was passed, paving the way for the constitution of a statutory body, called the Delhi Commission for Women (DCW). Since its inception, six women have held the post of the DCW chief, with Swati Maliwal serving her third term as the chief.

1994: Delhi Preservation of Trees bill

In August 1994, the Delhi assembly passed the Delhi Preservation of Trees Bill, 1994, in a bid to protect Delhis trees, as rapid development was going on in the city. The Delhi Tree Authority, a statutory body for the preservation of trees in the Capital, was formed; and tree officers were appointed.

1994: Delhi Finance Commission

To govern the distribution of net proceeds of the taxes, duties, tolls and fees -- which the Delhi government levied -- between the government and the municipalities, the Delhi assembly passed the Delhi Finance Commission bill in August 1994.

1997: Delhi Jal Board (DJB)

In the mid-1990s, water supply was erratic in regular colonies, and no water supply lines were available in the unauthorised colonies, leading to a water crisis. In 1997, Sahib Singh Verma, who was the chief minister at the time, introduced the Delhi Water Board Bill, 1997. This led to the constitution of the Delhi Jal Board (DJB), which was given the responsibility of ensuring smooth supply of water, and maintaining the sewerage and drainage in the Capital.

1998: Establishment of the IP University

There was not a single Delhi government-run university in the city till 1998. In March 1998, with a new government in place led by the Indian National Congress (INC), the Delhi assembly passed the Indraprastha Vishwavidyalaya Bill, 1998, which led to the creation of the Indraprastha (IP) University. In its 25th year, IP University teaches courses such as B.Tech, M.Tech, and MBA, among others.

Arvinder Singh Lovely, former education minister and Congress leader, said that the government brought multiple bills in the assembly to create educational institutions, such as the Ambedkar University in 2007, and the Indira Gandhi Delhi Technical University for Women in 2012, among others.

2000: Privatisation of Power Distribution

In the year 2000, unauthorised colonies witnessed 10-15 hours of power cuts daily, while some planned colonies also witnessed up to eight hours of power cuts daily during the summer. The Delhi Electric Supply Undertaking, the main power supply agency in Delhi, was running into huge losses due to low collection, and rise in power purchase cost. The Delhi Electricity Reforms Bill, 2000, was introduced in the Delhi assembly, which led to the constitution of the Delhi Electricity Regulatory Authority, whose main job was power production, distribution, and transmission. This paved the way for privatisation of power distribution in the Capital, a move which not only reformed the sector but also reduced the losses in the power sector in Delhi, said a former Delhi power secretary. The distribution of power in Delhi was finally privatised in 2002.

2010: Formation of DUSIB

Till 2010, a slum department under the MCD managed 450 slums in the city. Dissatisfied with its functioning, the then government introduced the Delhi Urban Shelter Improvement Board Act in March 2010. Once passed, it led to the formation of DUSIB -- a body that provides civic amenities in slums, and looks after the rehabilitation of slum dwellers as well as homeless people.

2011: Trifurcation of the MCD

Until 2011, the MCD was a unified organisation responsible for sanitation services, maintaining roads in internal colonies, running primary schools, and several hospitals and dispensaries. In December 2011, the Delhi assembly passed the Delhi Municipal Corporation (Amendment) Bill to trifurcate the MCD into north, east, and south, to make municipal governance more effective. In 2022, the three MCDs were unified by the central government.

2015: Delhi Jan Lokpal Bill

This bill was one of the biggest poll promises that the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) had made before it formed government in 2015. The party had described it as the strongest anti-corruption legislation in the country, and while it was passed, it was pending with the Centre. In 2020, it expired once the term of the sixth assembly ended. The Delhi (Right Of Citizen To Time Bound Delivery of Services) Amendment Bill, and the Delhi School (Verification of Accounts and Refund of Excess Fee) Bill, 2015 , suffered the same fate.

2022: Delhi Teachers

University Bill

In January 2022, the then deputy chief minister Manish Sisodia introduced the Delhi Teachers University Bill in the assembly, which was passed. The bill sought to establish an institution that will offer four-year integrated teacher education programmes.

To be sure, the AAP government has implemented a number of public welfare schemes such as free electricity up to 200 units per month, free water up to 20,000 litres per month, free travel for women in public buses, new and well equipped schools and classrooms, and 518 mohalla clinics. However, these decisions were implemented through the cabinet decisions and not through the assembly.

A senior Delhi government official explained that government has to take the House route for measures that need amendment in a law, and it is free to implement schemes depending on what is convenient and quicker.
Mr. Vatsal Gaudani, founder of Vatsal Exports LLP started building the organisation with the aim of positioning it as one of the country's top exporters of textiles. And now in the industry, one name that is rapidly making a mark for itself is Mr. Vatsal Gaudani. With a keen eye for business and a passion for international trade, Mr. Vatsal has successfully established Vatsal Exports LLP as a fast-growing textile manufacturing and export company. In just a few years, Mr. Gaudani has taken his company to new heights, becoming a major player in the export industry and earning a reputation for reliability, quality, and innovation.

What is the future of the Textile Industry in India?

Over the past three years, the Indian textile industry has made a significant economic contribution to the nation. It has experienced tremendous expansion and change over time, becoming one of the main industries boosting India's economic growth. India's textile industry is now embracing circular fashion, a movement that aims to make the industry more eco-friendly and resource-efficient. The progress that has been made so far is encouraging. By adopting sustainable practices, the industry can reduce its environmental impact and ensure a sustainable future for itself. Also the adoption of advanced technology and machinery has enabled Indian textile manufacturers to improve productivity and efficiency. Automation and digitalization have streamlined various processes, enhancing the overall competitiveness of the industry. In recent years, there has been a growing emphasis on sustainable and eco-friendly practices in the Indian textile industry. Many manufacturers , including our company Vatsal Exports LLP, have embraced sustainable sourcing, eco-friendly techniques, and responsible waste management, appealing to environmentally conscious consumers.

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What is Vatsal Exports LLP ?

The purpose of Vatsal Exports' founding is to export excellent grade textile products. We offer Cotton Yarn, Knitted Fabrics and Apparels, together with contemporary facilities, making them a one-stop solution for all your textile needs. While keeping up with the quick evolution of the textile sector, we provide our clients with a dependable, personable service that encompasses designing, sourcing fabrics, printing, and packaging. Vatsal Exports provide a wide range of cotton yarn products to cater to different applications and needs as a textile solution provider. Our creative team works closely with cotton to design and develop high-quality products.

What is the secret ingredient behind your companys Triple Digit Growth YOY?

In a span of just a few short years, Our company has not merely doubled, but tripled its annual growth rate. This has not been a simple feat to achieve and was created through a combination of strategic planning, relentless dedication, and a keen eye for market trends. We have exhibited commendable performance during the calendar year 2023 at Vatsal Exports LLP. Spanning from fiscal year 2021-22 to fiscal year 2023-24, we consistently surpassed our financial objectives, ensuring the successful attainment of all predetermined targets. It has grown at an unprecedented rate in 2023 under the guidance of Mr. Vatsal Gaudani in just over two years, our company's earnings have increased by three times from its first year.. In the face of this phenomenal growth, Mr. Vatsal remains grounded. We are aware that sustaining this growth requires continuous innovation, staying ahead of market trends, and constantly enhancing the quality of their offerings. But this extraordinary growth isn't solely about numbers; it's about the relationships we have cultivated. As Vatsal Exports LLP, our company has focused on maintaining strong relationships with their clients across the globe. We have a dedicated customer support team that works round the clock to address queries, resolve issues and ensure a smooth transaction process. Providing customised solutions that meet the specific requirements of their clients is their specialty. This has earned us trust and loyalty from our clients, further fuelling the growth. As the company continues to triple its growth year after year, Mr. Gaudani's export empire appears to be on an unstoppable journey towards becoming a powerhouse in the international trade industry.

How do you envision the growth trajectory of the company ?

When our founder, Mr. Vatsal Gaudani launched the company, the vision was clear - to dominate the export industry by delivering quality products to global markets. Understanding the fierce competition and the myriad challenges that lay ahead, Mr. Vatsals vision was to invest heavily in building a robust environment and sourcing the right talent. Over time, these investments began to bear fruit as the company started to witness a consistent rise in their export figures. The impetus behind this extraordinary expansion has been the dedication to provide unparalleled quality and satisfy the expanding global demand. The team that works for Mr. Vatsal, makes sure to stay vigilant about his vision, monitor market developments, respond quickly to shifts, and spot unrealized potential. We have been able to expand their product offerings and penetrate new markets as a result, giving his vision a wider reach and catering to 10+ countries around the globe.

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.
Jaipur - a city of palaces and kings. Regal, strong and stunning to behold. Beyond this royal city lies the wild, where kings of the jungle roam. Golden leopards, royal blue peacocks, stately Nilgai antelopes, the Imperial Eagle Each of these fierce, magnificent creatures stands tall in the jungle ecosystem, sealing Jaipur (and Rajasthans) reputation as the land of royalty.

Currently, there are a host of wildlife sanctuaries in and around Jaipur - Jhalana and Amagarh leopard reserves, the Sariska National Park, Nahargarh Wildlife Sanctuary and more. A days trip will take you to the famous Ranthambore National Park, where regal Bengal tigers roam the land. Each of these parks and reserves rank amongst the top places to visit in Jaipur.

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When at Treehouse Resort Jaipur, you can take a safari in the jungle and spot incredible wildlife and rare birds. This safari gives you the silence, serenity and privacy to view these magnificent creatures and wildlife in peace. The land is only open to guests from the resort, and it is rich with wildlife, plants and birds.

Let us introduce you to 5 unique wildlife sightings at the Treehouse Resort, Jaipur safari.

Into the wild with Treehouse Resort Jaipur

Treehouse Resort, Jaipur is located in the Syari Valley, and offers beautiful views of the Aravalli hills. This lush, green land spread over 300 acres protects animals, birds, trees and plants in its protective embrace. Treehouse Resort wildlife safari takes place in this region, in a private plot of land. The entrance to the safari is a short drive from the resort. Youll pass farms, rippling fields and rustic roads where peacocks wander with arrogant ease. Along with the driver, you will be accompanied by a naturalist who is also a wildlife photographer. Listen in as he weaves stories of the forest and shares tips and tricks to take beautiful pictures of the wild.

On your safari, you stand a chance of sighting some of these incredible animals and birds.

Leopards: These graceful and powerful big cats are characterised by their thick light gold fur, which is covered in dotted dark spots. These spots are called rosettes because their shape resembles a rose. Leopards are fast, flexible and great climbers, which makes it imperative that you look for them in the trees and on the ground. These solitary and shy predators spend most of their time alone. Each leopard marks out their own territory by leaving scratch marks, urine and faeces to denote their own personal kingdoms. Males and females may occasionally cross territories to mate. Leopards are largely nocturnal and are more active at night, when they venture out for food. This is why we have scheduled safaris in the evening, where you can see leopards clustered around the water holes in the forest.

Nilgai: This animal - royal and tall in stature - is the largest Asian antelope. You will find many Nilgai roaming in the forest during your safari. The name Nilgai (which translates to Blue Cow) refers to the distinctive blue grey coat of adult bulls. The Nilgai has a long neck that is edged with a short and stiff mane, a narrow bony head, a wide barrel chest and strong legs. The head of the nilgai is topped with two small horns. Nilgai are only moderately social, you wont see herds of more than 10 grazing in one area.

Imperial Eagle: This king of the skies is a large bird of prey, measuring between 70 to 85 centimetres in length. The female is usually larger than the male. Their wingspans spread over 180 to 210 centimetres. The eagles body, which is dark brown, is tinted on the crown, nape, sides of the neck and head with a pale cream or buff tone. This endangered birds numbers are quickly dwindling due to a loss of habitat and an excess of hunting. Spotting it is a very rare treat that the wilderness offers.

Peacock: Name a bird with a more magnificent plumage than the proud peacock of India. Even its mate - the peahen - cant compete with its splendour. The national bird of India is a sight for sore eyes. The Indian blue peacock boasts of a bright royal blue body and a shimmering waterfall of feathers that grow from its back that trail behind it. While it is rare to see a peacock fly, it does happen occasionally - usually when they feel threatened. Did you know that peahens are often extremely choosy about who they mate with? Peacocks must put on an elaborate display, shaking their iridescent feathers while making their distinctive mating call. Peacocks can be found strolling around the resort and there is a high likelihood of seeing them even before you reach the forest!

Indian porcupines: This trundling, prickly rodent is one of the world's largest porcupines. Unlike the new porcupines, the Indian porcupine prefers to dwell and burrow deep into the ground, aided by the strength of its front feet. Porcupines are naturally nocturnal and spend most of their day in their dens. Occasionally, you may see them basking out in the sun. When irritated the porcupine will raise their sharp quills threateningly and vibrate the hollow spines in their tails creating a distinct rattling sound. If this doesnt work, they attack. They are best observed from a distance - perfect for a safari!

A safari is easily one of the most fascinating things to do in Jaipur. These animals, in addition to the amazing displays of birds, flora and fauna in forests and parks are amongst the most famous things in Jaipur. Book your room at Treehouse Resort, pack your cap, sunblock and sunglasses youre going on a safari!

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.
The war between major league IT firms and Cognizant seems to be intensifying as Infosys sent a notice to the firm, soon after IT giant Wipro had sued two of its former executives just days after joining Cognizant. Infosys has sent a notice to Cognizant amid poaching bid.

Wipro filed a lawsuit against former Chief Executive Officer Jatin Dalal and executives Mohd Haque just days after they joined Cognizant. Now, Infosys has also sent a letter to the firm, accusing it of poaching valuable employees.

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In its notice, Infosys has accused Cognizant of using "unethical poaching techniques" after a few of its top management executives joined the firm, reported Moneycontrol. Till now, four top executives from Infosys have joined Cognizant.

"Non-compete clauses are not enforceable but this communication to Cognizant was more of a deterrent," said a source quoted by Moneycontrol. This comes shortly after Cognizant completed its hiring of over 20 people in top management positions.

Poaching wars against Cognizant

Former Infosys executive and current Cognizant CEO Ravi Kumar has till now hired 20 people as executive vice presidents and four vice presidents in the company. A majority of these top managers are from Infosys and Wipro, which is why the two companies are now going after Cognizant.

Over the last year, rival companies have been successful in poaching over 15 top-level executives from Wipro and Infosys. From Infosys, Cognizant has till now hired Anurag Vardhan Sinha, Nageswar Cherukupalli, Narsimha Rao Mannepalli and Shweta Arora for top posts.

Wipro, taking the poaching war to the next level, filed a lawsuit against ex-CFO Jatin Dalal and executive Mohd Haque after the two joined Cognizant. The firm had also recently lost its chief growth officer Stephanie Trautman to a rival company.

Wipro shares struggle amid CFO exit

Wipro shares have been buzzing ever since the CFO left the company to join the rival firm Cognizant. Not only this, but trouble has been mounting on CEO Thierry Delaporte amid rumours of a change in the top post.

Wipro is considering former L&T Infotech CEO Sanjay Jalona to take the top post to boost growth in the company. The IT giant, however, has dismissed this rumour. However, this development has caused a strain on the growth of Wipro share prices.
Mumbai: India's Financial Intelligence Unit has issued show cause notices to nine offshore crypto-currency operators, including Binance, for not complying with the anti-money laundering PML Act. Binance logo.(Reuters)

In a release, the government said the body has issued "compliance Show Cause Notices to nine offshore Virtual Digital Assets Service Providers (VDA SPs)".

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They are: Binance, Kucoin, Huobi, Kraken, Gate.io, Bittrex, Bitstamp, MEXC Global, and Bitfinex.

The FIU has written to the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology to block the URLs of these nine entities as they have been "operating illegally without complying with the provisions of PML Act in India."

Virtual Digital Assets Service Providers (VDA SPs) were brought into the ambit of Anti Money Laundering/Counter Financing of Terrorism (AML-CFT) framework under the provisions of the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PML) Act, 2002 in March 2023.

"As part of compliance action against the offshore entities, Financial Intelligence Unit India (FIU IND) has issued compliance show cause Notices to following nine offshore Virtual Digital Assets Service Providers (VDA SPs) under Section 13 of the Prevention of Money Laundering Act, 2002 (PMLA)," FIU said in a release.

"Virtual Digital Asset Service Providers (VDA SPs) operating in India (both offshore and onshore) and engaged in activities like exchange between virtual digital assets and fiat currencies, transfer of virtual digital assets, safekeeping or administration of virtual digital assets or instruments enabling control over virtual digital assets etc. are required to be registered with FIU IND as Reporting Entity and comply with the set of obligations as mandated under Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA) 2002," the statement read.

It further said the obligation to comply with laws for such entities is based on activity, not on physical presence in India.

"The regulation casts reporting, record keeping, and other obligations on the VDA SPs under the PML Act which also includes registration with the FIU IND," it added.

It said 31 such entities are registered with India's Financial Intelligence Unit.

"However, several offshore entities catering to a substantial part of Indian users were not getting registered and coming under the Anti Money Laundering (AML) and Counter Financing of Terrorism (CFT) framework," it added.

Binance is one of the biggest global companies in the world's cryptocurrency space. It was founded by a software developer named Changpeng Zhao in 2017.
KPI Green Energy Limited, a Gujarat-based renewable power generating firm, is likely to issue bonus shares to its shareholders, CNBC TV18 has reported. The company maintains renewable power plants under the brand name 'Solarism' (Image courtesy: kpigreeenergy.com)

To accommodate the bonus issue, the company could approve an increase in its authorised share capital, the report added.

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Why the proposal?

According to the website, this is because KPI Green's shares have seen a significant rise this year, increasing 183%. Its stock is trading marginally lower than the record high of 1413.90, achieved on December 13.

KPI Green's board is, therefore, contemplating additional shares for the company's shareholders, and the proposal is likely to be taken up  and approved  at the board meeting on Saturday. The proposal, if approved, will be the second instance of KPI Green issuing additional shares to its shareholders; in January, these were given in the ratio of 1:1, i.e., one free share for every one share held.

About KPI Green Energy Limited

It was incorporated in 2008 and is the renewable energy vertical of the KP Group. With a focus on providing renewable power through various business verticals, it develops, builds, owns, operates, and maintains renewable power plants both as an Independent Power Producer (IPP), and as a service provider to Captive Power Producer (CPP) under the brand name of 'Solarism'.

The firm's current solar portfolio is worth 356 MW and the management expects a 2:1 debt-to-equity ratio, said CNBC TV18.
Mumbai: Asia's richest person Mukesh Ambani, addressing his company's employees on Thursday, said they must accelerate the artificial intelligence (AI) transformation of all businesses of Reliance Industries in 2024. Chairman and MD of Reliance Industries Mukesh Ambani. (Hindustan Times file photo)

We need to be at the forefront of using data, with AI as an enabler for achieving a quantum jump in productivity and efficiency, he said.

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He said implementing artificial intelligence will enable the company to solve India's national priorities in education, healthcare, agriculture and employment generation.

Mukesh Ambani's remark comes a day after his son Akash Ambani said Reliance Jio Infocomm Ltd. is working with the Indian Institute of Technology to launch Bharat GPT, a large language model that would be tailored to the needs of Indian users.

Apart from its traditional oil and gas business, Reliance has become a huge entity when it comes to the digital world. It owns one of India's largest telecom and internet providers, JIO. It also has a large presence in e-commerce.

Reliance was started by Mukesh Ambani's father Dhirubhai Ambani in 1957. With a market value of 200 billion dollars, Reliance is one of the biggest conglomerates in the world.

Mukesh Ambani today said he wants Reliance to become one of the top 10 conglomerates in the world. He also warned his employees against complacency.

On Thursday, Reliance rival Adani Group said that it had formed a joint venture with a unit of Abu Dhabi-based International Holding Co. (IHC) for deployment of AI, Internet of Things (IoT) and blockchain products.

"Today, the domestic and global environments for business are changing very fast. There is simply no room for complacency. Reliance was never complacent in the past, and Reliance will never be complacent in future," he said.

"Reliance can and Reliance will grow to be among the top 10 business conglomerates of the world," he said.

With inputs from Reuters, PTI
Ratan Tata, who initially invested 66 lakh for a 0.02 per cent stake in FirstCry, is planned to sell all 77,900 shares at an average cost per share of 84.72, as per draft red herring prospectus filed with SEBI on Thursday. Ratan Tata took to Instagram to answer various questions.(Instagram/@ratantata)

Brainbees, the parent company of the online retailer, will issue fresh shares worth 1,816 crore, while existing investors will offload 54.39 million shares through Offer For Sale, according to the DRHP.

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Also read- FirstCry IPO: Brainbees Solutions files issue paperwork, Mahindra to divest 0.58 % stake

Who else are selling shares before FirstCry IPO?

Among the key sellers in the OFS are SoftBank's SVF Frog (Cayman) with 20.3 million shares, followed by Mahindra & Mahindra with 2.8 million shares, PI Opportunities Fund-1 with 8.6 million shares, TPG Growth V SF Markets Pte. with 3.9 million shares, and NewQuest Asia Investments with 3 million shares.

Other sellers are Apricot Investments with 2.5 million shares, Valiant Mauritius Partners with 2.4 million shares, TIMF Holdings (Mauritius) with 8.37 million shares, Think India Opportunities with 8.37 million shares, and Schroders Capital with 6.16 million shares.

Firstcry co-founder Supam Maheshwari is also among individual shareholders offloading his shares.

How will FirstCry use the IPO proceeds?

FirstCry intends to utilise the Net Proceeds for the following purposes:

1. Expenditure for:

 Setting up new stores, warehouse

 Lease payments for existing identified stores in India

2. Investment in subsidiary, FirstCry Trading, for overseas expansion by:

 Setting up new warehouses and stores in Saudi Arabia

3. Investment in Globalbees Brands, towards the acquisition of an additional stake in indirect subsidiaries.

4. Sales and marketing initiatives

5. Technology and data science costs, including cloud and server hosting-related expenses.

6. Funding inorganic growth through acquisition and other strategic initiatives, and general corporate purposes.
NewsVoir HT Image

New Delhi [India], December 28: Indian women's beauty and personal care brand Urban Yog announced actress Tara Sutaria is its brand face. Celebrating women who are bold enough to speak their minds and are ready to bring change, the brand found Tara's versatility and professionalism to be an ideal match.

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Urban Yog is always focused on bringing result-oriented products for women that ease their everyday problems in real time.

www.instagram.com/reel/C0GjfxooRBb/?igshid=ZWQ3ODFjY2VlOQ==

Talking about the partnership, Tara said, "I am glad to partner with Urban Yog as their ideology aligns with mine. When I look at women today, I am so happy to learn and see us achieve so much personally and professionally. For both working women and women who are homemakers, we constantly aim to achieve a lot with our day! And Urban Yog helps us achieve this easily and comfortably with such fabulous products that suit girls and women of all ages and adds value and ease to always hectic schedules!"

Seconding the above, Hemant Raulo, Founder & CEO of Urban Yog says, "Urban Yog is not just a brand, it's a lifestyle for today's busy women who not only want to excel at work but also manage their lives along with it. When I think of Tara Sutaria the first thing that comes to my mind is her multitasking approach which suits apt for our brand."

Urban Yog offers bold, affordable, and innovative beauty and personal care products spanning menstrual, skin, and hair care categories. All the products are alcohol-free, paraben-free, cruelty-free, suitable for all skin types, and are available on their website and Amazon.

Urban Yog is a women's beauty and personal care brand from GlobalBees Brands Pvt. Ltd. The brand was founded in 2019 and has been continuously innovating solutions for bold women who wish to bring change in themselves and society.

For more information, please visit the website urbanyog.com.

(ADVERTORIAL DISCLAIMER: The above press release has been provided by NewsVoir. ANI will not be responsible in any way for the content of the same)
Former minister and senior BJP leader KS Eshwarappa slammed the Karnataka government for arresting pro-Kannada group activists after they vandalised shops in Bengaluru. He said that they did not commit any crime and they were only trying to protect their language. BJP's KS Eshwarappa defends pro-Kannada outfits, demands govt to release them

Also Read - Karnataka Dy CM condemns vandalism by pro-Kannada outfits in Bengaluru, over 50 people arrested

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Speaking to reporters, Eshwarappa said, The protesters were demanding for changing signage boards to Kannada and the demand is entirely acceptable. I do not know why they are arrested. The state government must release them immediately as they did not commit any illegal activities. If people want to do business in Karnataka, they must put Kannada signboards

Karnataka CM Siddaramaiah has also responded to the arrests made by the Bengaluru police and said that nobody must take law into their own hands. We are not against anyone holding protests, but legal action will be taken against those who take the law into their own hands, he said on Thursday. He also said that he will be holding a meeting with the BBMP officials and police department on Thursday. Bengaluru police on Wednesday arrested Karnataka Rakshana Vedike chief Narayana Gowda and 50 other activists for vandalizing shops in various areas of Bengaluru. They are currently under judicial custody and sent to Bengalurus Parappana Agrahara central prison.

On Wednesday, activists from fringe group, Karnataka Rakshana Vedike has attacked shops for having signage boards in English at MG Road, Brigade Road, Lavelle Road, UB City, Chamarajpet, Chickpet, Kempe Gowda Road, Gandhi Nagar, St Marks Road, Cunningham Road, Residency Road and Sadahalli Gate near Devanahalli.

Protesters also targeted the Mall of Asia in Hebbal, smashing flowerpots and vandalizing English signboards in the complex. They demanded to prioritise Kannada in the signage boards, which was also directed by the BBMP recently.
A day after vandalism incidents shook Bengaluru, Karnataka CM Siddaramaiah held a high-level meeting with the officials of Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike (BBMP) and the department of Kannada and Culture. He said that an ordinance will be passed where the commercial establishments will be directed to put name plates with 60% Kannada on it. He also urged everyone who is running a business in Karnataka to follow the rules and not panic. Dont panic, install nameplates with 60% Kannada on it by Feb 28:' Karnataka CM

Also Read - BJP's KS Eshwarappa defends pro-Kannada outfits, demands Karnataka govt to release them from jail

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He said, I directed the officials of BBMP and culture department to pass an ordinance and implement the 60% Kannada rule on all name plates. Rules will be formed, and they will be notified to everyone.

Siddaramaiah also urged establishments to follow the guidelines set by the state government. It is important to prioritise the local language and highlight it in the name plates. Owners must change the name boards if they don't have 60% Kannada on them by February 28. I assure safety of all businesses and need to panic, he added.

The chief minister also condemned the rampage created by Karnataka Rakhsana Vedike on Wednesday. Nobody should take law and order into their own hands. We do not encourage any kind of vandalism in Bengaluru, he further said.

Meanwhile, Karnataka home minister G Parameshwara said that there is an act already to protect the local language. He said, There is already an act to protect Kannada language and culture. But we need an amendment to section 17, sub-section 6, wherein the percentage of language has to be decided, like the name boards etc. The 60:40 (Kannada to a secondary language) ratio will be brought in by an ordinance.

However, earlier on Tuesday, BBMP had already directed the commercial establishments to install signage boards with 60% Kannada in it. BBMP commissioner Tushar Girinath said, There are 1400 km of arterial and sub-arterial roads in the city, and all the commercial shops on these roads will be surveyed zone wise. After the survey a notice will be given to the shops that do not use 60% Kannada language. After issuing the notice, they will be given time till February 28 to implement Kannada language nameplates and submit compliance to the respective zone commissioners.
Bengaluru (Karnataka) [India], December 28 (ANI): Karnataka Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) president BY Vijayendra on Thursday held a meeting with senior leaders of the party in Bengaluru ahead of the 2024 Lok Sabha polls. HT Image

Former Chief Ministers BS Yeddyurappa and Basavaraj Bommai, and senior leaders including KS Eshwarappa and Ashwath Narayan attended the meeting.

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According to party sources, the BJP leaders held a discussion outlining the essential tasks ahead of the 2024 Lok Sabha polls. It was a strategic session to unite the BJP's top brass to strategize on the political road ahead, they pointed out.

The BJP suffered a major electoral defeat this year in the Karnataka assembly elections, thereby losing the only state the party ruled in south India. The Congress bagged 135 out of 224 seats in the state legislative assembly with a 43.2 per cent vote share. The BJP was reduced to 66 seats with a vote share of 36.3 per cent.

The BJP was, however, quick to tie up with the Janata Dal (Secular) (JDS) for the 2024 Lok Sabha elections to take advantage of the regional party's Vokkaliga vote bank. The JDS which had traditionally played the role of a 'king-maker' in Karnataka assembly polls, did not factor much in the state elections this year owing to the Congress' stellar performance.

In 2019, the BJP won 25 of the 28 Lok Sabha seats. The JD(S) and the Congress who were allies back then won one seat each. (ANI)
Karnataka deputy CM DK Shivakumar has condemned the act of vandalism at Bengaluru shops by pro-Kannada outfits and assured protection to the establishments from the government. He also said that all commercial establishments must adhere to the 60% Kannada rule on the signage boards. The Bengaluru police arrested the Karnataka Rakshana Vedike members along with state chief TN Narayana Gowda (ANI)

Speaking to reporters on Thursday, DK Shivakumar said, Everyone has the right to protest in democracy, but they cannot take law into their own hands. We do not support vandalism and I am very much disturbed by the events that happened yesterday.

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Also Read - Pro-Kannada stir turns violent; signboards torn in Karnataka

DK Shivakumar also said that all shops should follow the recent BBMP order, where the civic body directed the shops to prioritize Kannada on signage boards. It is important for shops to follow the government rules. I assure complete protection to these establishments further. I personally spoke to the police officers about the Mall of Asia issue, and we will resolve things peacefully, he added. He also clarified that the government will not be compensating the shops which were damaged on Wednesday by protesters.

Meanwhile, Bengaluru police have arrested Karnataka Rakshana Vedike chief Narayana Gowda and 50 other activists for vandalizing shops in various areas of Bengaluru. They are currently under judicial custody and sent to Bengalurus Parappana Agrahara central prison.

On Wednesday, activists from fringe group, Karnataka Rakshana Vedike has attacked shops for having signage boards in English at MG Road, Brigade Road, Lavelle Road, UB City, Chamarajpet, Chickpet, Kempe Gowda Road, Gandhi Nagar, St Marks Road, Cunningham Road, Residency Road and Sadahalli Gate near Devanahalli. Protesters also targeted the Mall of Asia in Hebbal, smashing flowerpots and vandalised English signboards in the complex.

However, the Federation of Karnataka Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FKCCI) requested that the state government not initiate any action until February 28, the deadline set by the BBMP for changing the signage boards.

On Tuesday, Tushar Giri Nath, chief commissioner of Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike (BBMP), said that establishments that did not meet 60% Kannada rule by February 28 next year would be penalized.
A day after doctors went on a one-day strike and shut down outpatient department (OPD) services across the state under the banner of Haryana Civil Medical Services Association (HCMSA) on Wednesday, they have now decided to suspend emergency, labour, postmortem, jail services and other health services in the state for indefinite period in support of their pending demands from Friday. Dr Deepak Goyal, state treasurer of the body, said, Nearly 2,500 doctors are likely to take part in the strike. If there is any public harassment or any untoward incident, the government will be responsible for it.

HCMSA president Dr Rajesh Khyalia said during a late evening meeting with the director-general, health services (DGHS), it was assured that life-saving interventions would be done by a team of volunteer doctors in public interest, but the strike will remain.

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Dr Deepak Goyal, state treasurer of the body, said, Nearly 2,500 doctors are likely to take part in the strike. If there is any public harassment or any untoward incident, the government will be responsible for it.

The association conducted an internal meeting earlier in the day, attended by 21 district bodies except Ambala, home district of health minister Vij.

Dr Goyal said 17 bodies were ready for total suspension of services, while two proposed to form a small team of doctors to treat life-threatening emergencies outside the hospital, which was later accepted in a meeting with the DGHS.

The HCMSA is demanding a specialist cadre of doctors, no direct recruitment of senior medical officers (SMOs), change in PG policy, dynamic assured career progression (ACP) scheme and others.

Dr Sandeep Abrol, Karnal district president of the body, said the doctors, currently, need to submit two surety bonds  1 crore each to pursue PG courses that was increased from 50 lakh each nearly two years ago.

The association has in the past urged the government to withdraw the decision, a demand seconded by Vij himself, but no final decision has been taken so far, he added.

The HCMSA president said doctors are quitting due to issues related to work overload, inappropriate working conditions, shortage of medicines, security lapses at workplace, and for being denied the status of a class I officer, while there is a dearth of specialist doctors in the state and some districts dont have even a single specialist of a particular category.

Demands already accepted: Vij

On the other hand, the government didnt issue any statement on Thursday and is holding back on the health ministers statement issued a day before. Vij had already termed the strike unjustified saying that the main demand for approval of specialist cadre, according to him, has already been granted, with the chief minister also giving his consent.

Additionally, he had said the additional chief secretary, health, has approved the demand related to the PG policy, and the process is underway. Similarly, the demand related to the ACP scheme and direct recruitment of SMOs was also being considered.

In response, Dr Goyal said if the demands have already been accepted, the government should release an official notification.
CPI(M) leader and Gupkar Alliance spokesperson MY Tarigami on Thursday said that opposition parties and stakeholders in civil society would file a review petition in the Supreme Court against the decision to uphold the abrogation of Article 370 before January 11. CPI(M) leader and Gupkar Alliance spokesperson MY Tarigami on Thursday said that opposition parties and stakeholders in civil society would file a review petition in Supreme Court against the decision to uphold the abrogation of Article 370 before January 11. (HT file photo)

On December 11, a five-judge constitution bench of the Supreme Court had upheld the decision of the Centre to abrogate Article 370 of the Constitution through a presidential order issued on August 5, 2019.

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Also read: Intense cold, dense fog affects life in Kashmir

The doors are open. Why would we construe that doors will not open for us. Earlier, when we moved the Supreme Court challenging the Centres decision to revoke Article 370, many people were pessimistic and discouraged us, Tarigami told mediapersons in Jammu.

But as a student of politics and as a citizen of this nation, one option of filing a review petition is still left. Some retired justices, who are colleagues, also feel that there is a room for a review petition before the apex court. Why shouldnt we explore the opportunity and why should we be pessimists before taking the step, he said while responding to a query.

Tarigami felt that many people like him were contemplating filing the review petition. Many others are serious on this question because as citizens we think justice has not been delivered to us. We have to explore all options and review petition is one of them, he said.

He said last time besides him, leaders of the National Conference, Sajjad Lone of the Peoples Conference, and stakeholders, such as Radha Kumar and retired air vice marshal Kapil Kak, had moved the petitions before the apex court.

We have certain time (till January 11) and we will do it (by then), he responded when asked by when the review petition will be filed.

J&K, Ladakh havent got justice: CPM leader

He said that the revocation of Article 370 was a grave injustice and an assault on the basic constitutional rights of the people of Jammu and Kashmir and Ladakh.

While a five-judge constitutional bench of the apex court delivered the judgment after 16 days of consecutive hearing in August-September, Tarigami felt justice was not done with the people of Jammu and Kashmir and Ladakh. The people of Jammu, Kashmir and Ladakh have not received justice and thats why we are debating and discussing among stakeholders and petitioners to file a review petition, he said.

We will appeal to the Supreme Court to review its judgment. Our deliberations are on and applications are being mulled, he said.

Misleading narratives

Tarigami expressed regret over the false narrative being built by quarters to project that Article 370 was responsible for terrorism and other ills plaguing J&K.

He said that Article 370 got gradually eroded by successive regimes at the Centre and the democratic process was influenced by Delhi that eventually rendered Article 370 hollow.

Misleading narratives were built to justify the abrogation of Article 370, Tarigami said.

Referring to the statement of LG Manoj Sinha that implementation of the Anand Marriage Act in J&K became possible only because of the abrogation of Article 370, Tarigami said that there has been a long list of amendments made to Article 370, allowing the application of central laws to J&K. The passage of GST in 2017 by the Jammu and Kashmir assembly was one of such instances in recent times. There were 42 constitution (application to J&K) orders extending the scope of central intervention which were not envisaged at the time of the adoption of Article 370, he said.

Additionally, the extent of the misuse of Article 370 to encroach on the states power can be seen from one of the measures taken in July 1986.The President issued an order under Article 370, extending Article 249 of the Constitution to the state. This empowered the Parliament to legislate on matters in the state list based on a resolution from the Rajya Sabha, which is nowhere in any other state of India, he said.
Delhi Mayor Shelly Oberoi on Thursday suspended four BJP councillors, including opposition leader Raja Iqbal, for 15 days for creating a ruckus in the Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD) House. She said that they were not ready for discussions on the issues of the people, news agency PTI reported. The other suspended BJP councillors were Ravi Negi, Yogesh Verma, and Gajendra Singh. BJP councillors protest inside Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD) house on Thursday.

Addressing a press conference following the adjournment of the House, Oberoi said,  MCD LoP Raja Iqbal Singh since 2-3 sessions, starts creating ruckus even before the session starts and provokes his councillors to create ruckus inside the House...they don't want discussions on the issues of people of Delhi and they raise such issues that have nothing to do with MCD...today, LoP Raja Iqbal Singh, Yogendra Verma, Gajendra Singh and Ravi Negi, these four members have been suspended from the House, they were given warnings several times earlier also.

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Earlier in the day, BJP councillors staged a protest inside the MCD House, citing a lack of information about the purpose of the House session. According to PTI, leader of opposition Raja Iqbal Singh, talked about counterfeit medicines being distributed in Delhi government hospitals and called for the arrest of Saurabh Bhardwaj. Their protest involved displaying placards with slogans like Saurabh Bharadwaj ko jail bhejo, House tax mafi yojna laao, and kya hua tera wada, pehli tareekh ko salary kaha that.

In the midst of the chaos, the mayor managed to approve 18 proposals, defer three, and refer back two for further consideration.

The House adjourned shortly after commencement due to disruptions from BJP and Congress councillors, who were seeking answers on various issues including delayed employee salaries, pensions, and house taxes.

A special session convened on Saturday by the Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD) aimed to address concerns about unsealing properties under the civic body's jurisdiction. The opposition members disrupted the session with protests and slogans. Mayor Shelly Oberoi, following the adjournment due to the commotion, warned that councillors engaging in such behaviour might face severe consequences in the future.

Oberoi, speaking at a press conference held at the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) headquarters on Saturday, highlighted that since her party took charge in the MCD, BJP councillors have consistently obstructed the smooth functioning of the House.
A controversy has broken out at Delhi Universitys Ramanujan College over a refresher certificate course on the Bhagavad Gita, with some teachers alleging that the email announcing the course termed it mandatory and the administration saying that while attendance was encouraged, no penal action would be taken over absence. Jigar Champaklal Inamdar, Chairman of the colleges governing board, said that the refresher certificate course on the Bhagavad Gita was optional(Ramanujan College website)

Teachers said that they received an email on December 18 asking for mandatory attendance for a refresher certificate course on the Bhagavad Gita from December 22 to January 9 for two hours every day.

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It has been decided that all the newly recruited teaching staff in the last one year must register and attend the programme. It is compulsory for them to attend in the offline mode. Rest of the teaching staff, it is also compulsory, but they can take a call on whether they would like to attend online or offline, said the email, seen by HT.

The email further elaborated that the course was in line with the setting up of the Indian Knowledge Centre in the college.

Some teachers objected to this. I am a practising Hindu but there are people from other communities too and they should not be forced to attend. Further, contractual staff have to leave two-hours later as they are all afraid of the consequences, said a teacher at the college, requesting anonymity.

Jigar Champaklal Inamdar, Chairman of the colleges governing board, brushed aside the allegations.

On December 22, some teachers said that they might not be able to attend so we told them that it was okay. We have encouraged teachers to attend it, however, it is okay if they do not attend it too, he said.

Inamdar said that the objective of the course was to impart the teachings and understand the relevance of the Gita. He added that the two-hour sessions will focus on understanding the text and comprise dialogue and question-and-answer sessions.

Some teachers alleged that on December 22, they received an email from the official college email ID with the principal as the signing authority, highlighting that 37 teachers had not registered for the course.

It has been observed that the following teachers have not registered for the certificate course on Bhagawad Gita neither in the online or offline mode. All are once again requested to register for the same, said the email, with an attachment listing the professors and assistant professors who had not registered for the course. HT has seen this email as well.

This second email deepened the row.

We have no problem with the course, but it should not be mandatory. Further, it is holiday season and college is off so many teachers are travelling during the days of the workshop. There is no point saying that it is not mandatory now... After reading such a threatening mail, even the remaining teachers paid the fees and registered for it, said a second teacher, requesting anonymity.

HT reached out to principal SP Aggarwal but did not receive a response till the time of filing this report.

According to the college website, Bharatam or the newly launched Centre for Learning, Illumination and Innovation, is hosting the 20-day course called Srimad Bhagavad Gita.

Rooted in the essence of Bharatiya Gyan Parampara, the course endeavours to delve into each adhyaya [chapter] of the Bhagavad Gita, unravelling its philosophical intricacies and timeless teachings. Through a meticulous examination of the verses, the participants will embark on a deep exploration of the spiritual wisdom encapsulated in this revered scripture. The course fees is 950.

The Democratic Teachers Front, a teachers association, issued a statement condemning the move. It is not against academic principles to critically study Srimad Bhagavad Gita or any other text. Making it mandatory and holding participants captive, however, suggests propagation of uncritical thinking and sectarian beliefs, the statement said.
The Enforcement Directorate (ED), Lucknow unit, has provisionally attached properties of M/s Peers India Corporation Limited (PICL) and its director Alok Tripathi, totaling 4.79 crore. The attachment includes bank balance worth 3.77 crore and land valued at 1.02 crore in Uttar Pradeshs Moradabad and Budaun, Chittaurgarh in Rajasthan and Mehsana in Gujarat, under the provisions of the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA), 2002, said ED officials on Thursday. For Representation Only (HT File Photo)

Providing additional details, officials stated that the ED initiated the investigation based on various FIRs and complaints filed by UP police against M/s Peers India Corporation Limited and its directorsAlok Kumar Tripathi, Ashish Tripathi, Vishnu Kant Tripathi, and others.

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The officials said that the investigation exposed M/s Peers India Corporation Limited and its directors cheating the public at large. The directors, including Alok Kumar Tripathi, Ashish Tripathi, and Vishnu Kant Tripathi, allegedly enticed individuals to invest in the company by falsely promising extravagant returns in the form of land and/or payments upon maturity of the investments.

According to officials, the firms directors collected proceeds of crime exceeding 25 crore from unsuspecting investors and diverted the funds to purchase land in various locations across India. They mentioned that further investigation is currently in progress.
MEERUT: The Rampur police have set up a team headed by an inspector to execute a non-bailable warrant issued against former member of parliament (MP) and actor Jaya Prada in connection with two cases relating to violations of the model code of conduct, police said. A non-bailable warrant has been issued against the ex-MP Jaya Prada because she had not been attending court hearings in connection with model code of conduct cases registered against her (Facebook/somendra.harsh)

Rampur superintendent of police Rajesh Dwivedi said the police had been unable to trace the actor-politician who had been skipping court proceedings related to two criminal cases against her.

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Dwivedi said a special team led by an inspector has been formed in compliance with the court order to ensure Jaya Prada turns up before the judge by January 10. But the team has not been able to find her, he said.

The judge issued a non-bailable warrant against her after she did not show up for her trial despite being given multiple opportunities.

Jaya Prada faces two cases relating to violation of the code of conduct during the 2019 elections when she contested and lost the Rampur seat on a Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) ticket.

One case was registered against her in the constituencys Swar area in which she was accused of inaugurating a road in Noorpur village on April 19 2019 in violation of the code. The second case was registered by Kemri police station in connection with accusations that she made objectionable remarks at a public meeting in Pipliya Mishra village.

In both cases, the investigation was complete and charge sheets have been filed against her in the MP-MLA Special Court.
Chief minister Yogi Adityanath directed officials to conduct archaeological excavation in the Sohagibarwa Wildlife Sanctuary and take necessary measures to address the issue of mobile networks from Nepal interfering with Indian telecom networks in Indo-Nepal border areas, during the 16th wildlife board meeting here on Thursday. For Representation Only (AFP File Photo)

In bordering areas, it has been observed that the network of neighbouring Nepal-based mobile companies is disturbing the cell network of Indian telecom companies. This needs immediate attention, said the CM.

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The CM further said, In villages Dhamrauli in Somari forest area, there are uncovered historical facts that need excavation. The Archaeological Survey of India is also interested in this.

CM Yogi Adityanath has also directed officials to initiate helicopter services for easy transportation to ecotourism destinations such as Dudhwa, Katarniaghat and Chuka. Additionally, he emphasised the creation of a new cadre of veterinarians dedicated to serving wild animals and the training of local youth as guides at eco-tourism sites.

Special efforts were urged to foster a tourism-friendly environment by training and employing locals as guides at key tourist locations, along with establishing quality accommodation arrangements for tourists.

Conservation of animals and birds is an integral part of our culture. Ensuring the safety of Siberian birds and other animals is a common responsibility. Any form of cruelty towards these beings is unacceptable, the CM told officials.

Highlighting the success in developing and conserving the Gangas clean and continuous flow resulting in an increase in the number of dolphins, CM Adityanath called for similar initiatives to safeguard and enhance the well-being of dolphins and other species in rivers such as Ghaghra, Chambal, Saryu, and Gerua. Local villagers should be educated and encouraged to become dolphin friends.

Addressing the issue of increasing silt and floods in rivers, CM Adityanath recommended continued dredging to reduce deforestation in villages, protect forests and wildlife, and increase income.

Regarding the Sohagibarwa wildlife division in Maharajganj district, officials were instructed to take necessary action after obtaining no-objection/wildlife clearance from the standing committee of the National Wildlife Board, following the rules.
At least 10 members of the Bajrang Dal were injured after they clashed in Odishas Balasore district on Thursday morning with a group allegedly trafficking cattle to Bengal. The Odisha CID in an affidavit in the Orissa high court has said that there has been progressive rise in cases of illegal transportation of cows coming under the category of cruelty to animals in the state.

Police officials said the Bajrang Dal workers from Salepur area of Cuttack followed at least three vans carrying cattle for around 200 km till they tried to stop the vans at Fuladi area on the outskirts of Balasore town on NH 60 on Thursday morning.

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As a fight ensued between the Bajrang Dal workers and the men carrying cattle, the latter sought help from local villagers, said a police official of Balasore Sadar police station.

He said the local villagers came armed with bamboo sticks and other weapons and attacked the Bajrang Dal workers which injured at least 10 of them. Three of the Bajrang Dal workers have been seriously injured with fractures and gashes on their heads.

The two vehicles in which the Bajrang Dal workers were travelling were badly damaged. A case has been lodged with the Balasore Sadar police station in this regard.

In September, an angry mob torched a vehicle carrying cattle in Keonjhar district over suspicions that it was being used for smuggling of cattle amid a series of such incidents involving hundreds of cattle across the state. The same month, locals in Balasore district had set ablaze three cattle-laden vans along Kamarda-Baliapal road when they intercepted three vans carrying around 100 cattle to West Bengal in three vans.

Last year, Odisha CID in an affidavit had told the Orissa high court that there has been progressive rise in cases of illegal transportation of cows coming under the category of cruelty to animals over the past five years. The CID affidavit said that there had been a whopping 217% rise in cases of illegal transportation of cows since 2017.
A 26-year-old woman was gang-raped in Rajasthans Jhalawar by two unidentified men on Wednesday night in the Kapasiyapuya area, police said. (Representative Photo)

The inspector of the local Mahila Thana, Babulal Meena said, The accused are yet absconding. A search is on for them. A special team has been formed for further investigation.

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According to the police, the woman, a native of Madhya Pradesh, resides with her family in the same area and is a garbage collector by profession.

When she went out around 10pm last night, two men abducted her and dragged into the jungle, and raped her. Later, she was found unconscious beside the main road from where locals took her to the hospital, said the inspector.

A case has been lodged against two unidentified men under sections 376 D (gang rape) and 366 (abduction) of the Indian Penal Code based on the complaint from the woman.

Her medical examination was conducted. We will arrest both culprits soon. Further investigation is underway, officer Meena said.
SILCHAR: The Assam police have arrested 12 persons for their alleged involvement in the three grenade blasts which took place in the state between November 22 and December 13, officials said on Thursday. Assam DGP Gyanendra Pratap Singh. (File)

In an excellent operation lasting weeks, the three crimes of grenade lobbing by a banned organisation in Tinsukia, Sivasagar and Jorhat have been cracked and perpetrators arrested and motorcycles used recovered, Assam director of general of police, Gyanednra Pratap Singh wrote on X.

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According to police, eight suspected linkmen of the United Libaration Front of Assam-Independent (ULFA-I) related to these blasts were arrested in Sivasagar district while two each were arrested in Tinsukia and Jorhat district.

The first grenade was thrown near Diram Army Camp in Tinsukia on November 22. Similar blasts happened near 149 Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) camp at Joysagar area of Sivasagar district on December 9 and in Jorhat on December 13. The ULFA-I later claimed responsibility for the triple blasts.

A team of the National Investigation Agency (NIA) has also initiated an investigation into these blasts.

Sivasagar superintendent of police (SP) Subhrajyoti Borah said that in the last two weeks, the district police have arrested eight suspected ULFA-I linkmen who were involved in the blast. He said the police have also recovered the motorcycle which was used to throw the granade.

Tinsukia SP Gaurav Avijit Dilip said they have arrested two persons. He said two bikes were used to throw the granade. We also found one grenade which was supposed to be used for another blast, he added.

Jorhat SP Mohan Lal Meena said that they have arrested two prime accused on Thursday under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA). We are interrogating them and the bike they used has also been recovered. Some documents have been recovered which indicate their links with banned groups, he said.

The DGP on Thursday said that they have identified some more people who are supporting banned militant groups.

People instigating these perpetrators through online platforms have also been identified and would be brought to book whichever corner they are in. The evidence would be presented in appropriate court of law in due course, he said.

He further wrote, Assam police remains steadfast in resolve to protect the people of the state from all violent crimes at all personal and professional cost. My compliments and gratitude to each officer and men associated in the operations. We resolve to keep the Assam Police flag flying high.

After the blasts ULFA-I said that they are showing protest against Assam DGP and they have no issues with the police or common people. Singh in response said that he lives in Guwahati and ULFA-I can target him directly instead of throwing grenades.

Police later arrested several ULFA-I linkmen and shot some suspected cadres in Assam. Some youths were also arrested for showing support to the militant group on social media. DGP cautioned the youths of Assam to be careful while posting anything on social media.
(Baonghean.vn) - On the afternoon of December 28, the organizing committee of the competition for creating logos and slogans for Nghe An tourism held a summary and announcement of the officiallogo and slogan for Nghe An tourism.

The event was attended by Mr. Bui Dinh Long - Vice Chairman of the Nghe An Provincial People's Committee; Mr. Vo Van Dung - Member of the Provincial Party Committee, Deputy Head of the Provincial Party Committee's Publicity and Education Commission; Mr. Nguyen Manh Cuong - Director of the Department of Tourism.

Also present were representatives of the leadership of provincial departments, committees, sectors, and units; leaders of districts, cities, and towns within the province.

The leaders of Nghe An province and its departments, committees, and sectors press the button to announce the logo and slogan of Nghe An tourism. Photo: Cong Khang

With the aim of refreshing the brand identity of Nghe An tourism, conveying the contribution and development of the tourism industry to the province's socio-economic development, the Provincial People's Committee issued a plan to organize the competition for creating logos and slogans for Nghe An tourism.

The competition was launched on June 16, 2023, and submissions were accepted from the launch date until October 31, 2023. At the end of the submission period, the organizing committee received 133 valid entries by 41 authors from 15 provinces and cities nationwide.

The judging process consisted of three steps: step 1 was the preliminary judging to select 5 artworks; step 2 involved gathering public opinions on the 5 selected artworks; step 3 was the final judging to select 1 First Prize-winning artwork and 3 artworks receiving Encouragement Prizes.

Through the competition and based on the awarded artworks, the organizing committee unanimously selected the new brand identity for Nghe An tourism, including logos and slogans: The logo was derived from the winning artwork of the First Prize, featuring a stylized image of a five-petal lotus.

The logo and slogan of Nghe An tourism.

The slogan: "Nghe An tourism - homeland of Uncle Ho" conveys the message about the historically rich, culturally unique land of Nghe An, distinguished by its diverse and abundant natural beauty, cultural destinations, characteristic tourist spots, prominently linked to the homeland of President Ho Chi Minh as a core value.

The logo and symbol of Nghe An tourism reflect the strategic spirit of Nghe An tourism development until 2030, with a vision toward 2035. It aims to make Nghe An a destination for Asian and global tourism, with a distinctive tourism brand focusing on specialized tourism related to President Ho Chi Minh, the land, culture, and the people of Nghe An.
Raghubar Das, who took oath as Odisha governor on November 1 and started with a visit to chief minister Naveen Patnaiks house, has started visiting various parts of the state to hear grievances of people and writing letters to Patnaik on matters of governance, causing disquiet in the ruling Biju Janata Dal (BJD), people familiar with the matter said. Odisha governor Raghubar Das interacting with the patients at the District Headquarter Hospital in Jharsuguda district on Wednesday. (Image posted on X by Raghubar Das)

Soon after taking oath as the 26th governor of Odisha, Das, a former chief minister of Jharkhand, visited Patnaiks house, breaking protocol, which opposition Congress alleged was part of a deal between the BJD and the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP). However, on the contrary, a senior BJD leader said the visit by the governor to the districts to hear out the grievances of people just ahead of the election next year was not a good sign for the ruling party and his writing letters to the chief minister seemed to be more political.

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Soon after visiting Angul and Dhenkanal districts between December 5 and 7, Das wrote to the chief minister narrating rising pollution as well as the elephant menace.

During my interaction with them (people), they have brought out various issues pertaining to them which may kindly be considered by the state government for appropriate action. People brought to my notice the water pollution caused by mining operations of Mahanadi Coalfield Limited (MCL), its adverse impact on the health of the local residents. The groundwater level in the area has also been getting depleted. The people also said that no meeting of the Rehabilitation and Periphery Development Advisory Committee (RPDAC) has been held in the last two years. As a result, the grievances of the people in the area are not being redressed. My attention was also drawn to the huge loss caused to the farm sector due to the elephant menace. The Forest department has not been taking any steps to tackle the jumbo menace, Das wrote in his letter to Patnaik.

Earlier this week, during his visit to Sambalpur district, he visited the Urban Health Centre (UHC) where he discussed the problems with the chief district medical officer (CDMO), health workers and ASHA workers. The governor visited Dhanakauda UHC today. He interacted with doctors and paramedical staff. There was another interaction programme with the patients to take feedback from them about the healthcare at the centre, said Sambalpur CDMO, Purnachandra Sahu.

In Sambalpur, while hearing the grievances of farmers in paddy procurement, Das said the free rice that was being given to poor was a great step by the (Prime Minister) Modi government. The Modi govt is giving free rice to over 80 crore people so that no one sleeps hungry, he said.

On Wednesday, while visiting Jharsuguda district, he expressed his anger over the husband of a woman sarpanch running the show on her behalf.

While visiting Bargarh district on Wednesday, he stopped his motorcade to meet farmers and heard their grievances while in Rayagada district he offered 25,000 financial assistance to a destitute woman, Lalita Bidika. In Malkangiri district, he gave 1 lakh to a tribal girl who wanted to become an Indian Administrative Service (IAS) officer.

He is a Constitutional figure and there are certain rules which he needs to adhere to while holding the office of governor. His writing letter to CM and meeting people to hear out their grievances seem to be more political, said a senior BJD leader, refusing to be named.

Another BJD leader said the governor by his actions may be proving himself to be an agent of the Modi government. The governor can visit districts, but he can let the grievance redressal meetings a miss, said another BJD leader.

Opposition BJP and Congress criticised the states BJD government and alleged that the governors findings in the two districts were just the tip of the iceberg. The entire state is facing a similar situation, alleged BJP leader Mohan Charan Majhi.

Former Odisha Congress president Jaydev Jena said the BJD governments claim of transformation in different sectors seemed to be a hollow one. The governors visits have revealed the truth behind the development in the state, he said.

Incidentally, Das has recently sought the appointment of Santosh Satpathy, former IAS officer and first special secretary to Naveen Patnaik as his chief advisor on tribal issues as well as other important matters. He also forwarded the names of educationist Shukla Mahanty and Subrat Mohanty as advisors on matters of education and media.
In his first visit to Jammu and Kashmir after the December 21 Surankote, Poonch terror attack, defence minister Rajnath Singh made a conscious effort to reach out to the civilian population in the region. Singh met the families of the three local residents who had died in the custody of security forces after being picked up for interrogation following the terror attack, and assured them of an expeditious investigation into the incident culminating into deliverance of justice. Later, the brother of one of the deceased, a BSF jawan, said Singh expressed regret over the death and assured family members that the guilty wouldnt be spared. The minister also met the Army brass and lauded the soldiers as protectors of the nation, but reminded them that they also needed to win the hearts of the people. Singhs outreach follows Indian Army chief Manoj Pandes orders to soldiers that they must conduct operations in a professional manner and his statement that the force has zero tolerance for human rights violations.

The admission of a slip-up by security personnel, immediate distribution of compensation, and the readiness to probe the allegations of custodial deaths and the promise of justice to the victims, from the highest authorities in the security apparatus is heartening. It sends out a message to the local population as well as within the forces: Custodial killings can only alienate the local population, which will have consequences for the Armys own anti-terror operations. The Rajouri-Poonch region, where four security personnel died last Thursday, seems to be becoming a new theatre of terrorism  29 Army personnel have been killed in terror attacks since October 2021. The support of local residents, especially intelligence inputs, will be essential for the Armys pushback in the region.

Rajnath Singhs visit also highlights the importance of political representatives in facilitating a healing process. Security forces are trained for operations; civilian outreach is the responsibility of public representatives. This is why holding elections in Jammu and Kashmir is important, a key fact that the Supreme Court flagged while upholding the Centres 2019 decision to abrogate Article 370. Naya Kashmir cannot be built just on the promise of material prosperity, the edifice has to be raised on the foundations of representative democracy.
The Chhattisgarh Board of Secondary Education (CGBSE) has released the board exams date sheet for classes 10, and 12. Candidates can check the detailed examination schedule on the official website at cgbse.nic.in. CGBSE class 10th and 12th exams to be held from March 1 to March 23(Biplov Bhuyan/HT PHOTO)

As per the exam timetable, the Higher Secondary Certificate Examination will be conducted from March 1 to March 23. The high school certificate examination will be held from March 2 to March 21.

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in addition to the CGBSE class 10th and 12th exams, the Physical Training Diploma Examination ( First and Second year) exam will be conducted from March 1, 2024, to March 12, 2024.

The examination is scheduled to be conducted from 9:15 am to 12:15 pm. The CGBSE class 10th examination will commence with Hindi and will conclude with Music. The class 12th examination will begin with Hindi subject and will conclude with Language subject.

CGBSE will conduct the Class 10th and Class 12th practical exams for the 2024 session at schools between January 10 to 31.

Candidates can check the detailed examination schedule below:
Bihar Public Service Commission will release BPSC 69th Mains Admit Card 2023 on December 28, 2023. Candidates who will appear for the 69th main examination can download the admit card through the official website of BPSC at bpsc.bih.nic.in. BPSC 69th Mains Admit Card 2023 releasing today, heres how to download

The examination will be conducted from January 3 to January 6, 2024, at various exam centres across the state. The exam will be conducted in two shifts- first shift from 9.30 am to 12.30 pm and the second shift from 2 pm to 5 pm.

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BPSC 69th Mains Admit Card 2023: How to download

All those candidates who will appear for the exam can download the admit card by following the steps given below.

Visit the official website of BPSC at bpsc.bih.nic.in.

Click on BPSC 69th Mains Admit Card 2023 link available on the home page.

A new page will open where candidates will have to enter the login details.

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 registration process for the main examination was started on November 27 and ended on December 6, 2023. This recruitment drive will fill up 475 posts in the organisation. For more related details candidates can check the official website of BPSC.

Official Notice Here
Uttar Pradesh Subordinate Services Selection Commission will release the Preliminary Eligibility Test (UP PET 2023) result on the official website.The UPSSSC PET Result 2023 will be made available on the official website, upsssc.gov.in, as soon as it is released. The UP PET result 2023 will be available here. UP PET result 2023: Latest updates(HT file)

The Preliminary Eligibility Test (UP PET 2023) was conducted by UPSSSC on October 28 and 29, and the answer key was released on November 6.

Follow the blog for the latest updates on the UPSSSC PET revised answer key and result.
New Delhi [India], December 28 (ANI): Filmfare Awards, one of the most glamorous and oldest film awards in the Hindi film industry, is all set to be back with its 69th edition. HT Image

The new edition will take place in Gandhinagar, Gujarat on January 28, 2024.

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In July 2023, the Gujarat Tourism Corporation Limited (TCGL) signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Worldwide Media Pvt Ltd (A Times Group Company) to organise the 69th Filmfare Awards.

The MoU signing ceremony was attended by Gujarat Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel and Managing Director of Times Group Vineet Jain.

Actor Tiger Shroff represented the Hindi film industry at the ceremony, wherein he shared his special connection with Gujarat.

"I have a special relation with Gujarat as my grandfather was Gujarati. And speaking of Filmfare, I have had a beautiful relationship with this award show. I attended the Filmfare Awards for the first time in 1990. That year my father (Jackie Shroff) won the Best Actor Award at Filmfare and I have been attending the award show since then. I also got opportunities to perform at several editions," Tiger said.

"This is going to be an amazing experience. Thank you to the CM of Gujarat for opening his arms up to the film industry, to Filmfare," he added.

Filmfare Awards was first introduced in 1954. Reportedly, Black (2005) has won the maximum number of Filmfare awards in a single year. It won 11 Awards under the Best Film, Best Director, Best Actor, Best Actress, Critics Award Best Movie, Best Actor (Critics' Choice), Best Actress (Critics' Choice), Best Supporting Actress, Best Editing, Best Cinematography and Best Background Score categories. (ANI)
Yet another co-star of Tom Cruise has nothing but praise for the actor. Ted Lasso star Hannah Waddingham appeared on ITV series James Martins Saturday Morning on Christmas Day when the topic of Tom Cruise came up. They will be seen together on Mission Impossible-Dead Reckoning's sequel. (Also read: Mission Impossible Dead Reckoning Part One review: Tom Cruise fights evil Chat GPT, brings insane fun back to the movies) Hannah Waddingham is working with Tom Cruise on Mission Impossible: Dead Reckoning Part 2.

Hannah spoke about spending five intense days with Tom Cruise while shooting for the movie. By the end of it, she was such a big fan of the actor that she said, I have to say, I have a real problem with anybody that goes at him now.

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He is without doubt one of the loveliest and encouraging, positive and inspiring human beings I have ever met. Isnt he gorgeous? I have no time for anyone saying anything about him, she said.

What are the haters saying?

Hannah was likely referring to all the criticism that Tom faces from time to time due to his affiliations with Scientology. The controversial cult is said to have intensely impacted and manoeuvred Tom's personal and professional decisions. Tom is also infamous for his bad temper on film sets.

Recently, even Emily Blunt recalled working with Tom Cruise in the science fiction action film Edge of Tomorrow and said that as an actor and as a person he is inspiring and amazing.

Emily Blunt's review of Tom Cruise

Emily appeared at the Academy Museum of Motion Pictures in Los Angeles recently for a moderated discussion with filmmaker Rob Marshall, with whom Blunt collaborated in 2014's Into the Woods and 2018's Mary Poppins Returns.

During the conversation, Marshall brought Blunt back to her time working on Edge of Tomorrow with Tom, 61. The two co-starred in the 2014 science-fiction action film as a pair of soldiers in a near-future war between mankind and an alien civilization.

As Emily Blunt discussed getting in shape for the physically demanding part, she mentioned that action movie star Tom Cruise "tightens the screws on everyone when it comes to what you think you're capable of."

"And because he can do everything and wants to do everything, it makes you want to meet him where he is at," she shared, adding, He's so inspiring. Such a doll to me. "He is so gracious. So cute. Oh, so cute. I loved him. Yeah. He was amazing," she continued. She also praised Tom for including her in many aspects of the film's production.

"We were sort of writing the third act as we went," she said. "And again, sometimes the best movies, they're born out of that chaos. And I think I thought it was going to be sort of boys club and [Cruise] brought me into every script meeting, every single decision."
Eminent actor Pierce Brosnan, famously known for his portrayal of the iconic spy James Bond, found himself in legal trouble as federal prosecutors in Wyoming filed charges against him for trespassing into restricted areas of Yellowstone National Park. Actor Pierce Brosnan accused of trespassing in Yellowstone(Instagram/Pierce Brosnan)

The court documents, dated November 1, detailed Brosnan's alleged unauthorized entry into closed-off sections, specifically mentioning "mammoth terraces" and "thermal areas" within the park.

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The charges brought against Brosnan were classified as a "petty offense," as noted in the court docket. Although the actor has yet to enter a plea, the Los Angeles-based address listed on the court documents corresponds to Brosnan's residence, as reported by The Messenger.

ALSO READ| Ted Lasso star Hannah Waddingham reveals why she can't stand Tom Cruise haters

At present, no immediate response has been received from Brosnan's representative regarding this incident.

Scheduled for a court hearing on January 23, Brosnan's involvement in trespassing within Yellowstone Park comes amid his recent filming activities near the area.

In October, the actor was reportedly shooting a western thriller, "Unholy Trinity," set in Paradise Valley, situated in close proximity to Yellowstone National Park. Notably, this movie features Samuel L. Jackson alongside Brosnan.

The trespassing incident contradicts Brosnan's on-screen image, given his recent hosting role in the History Channel series "History's Greatest Heists." The show delves into remarkable tales of infiltrating secured places and successfully evading detection. Yet, it's unlikely that Brosnan's Yellowstone escapade will be showcased as one of these daring feats in any future episodes.

ALSO READ| Kevin Hart takes legal action against YouTuber Tasha K over alleged extortion

About Yellowstone National Park

Yellowstone National Park, a site of natural wonder and ecological significance, imposes regulations to protect its delicate ecosystem. Brosnan's alleged breach into restricted areas underscores the importance of respecting such boundaries to preserve these natural landscapes.

Yellowstone, established by the US Congress on March 1, 1872, stands as the United States' inaugural national parkrecognized as the oldest, among the largest, and most renowned in the nation.
The first mugshot of Danny Masterson has been released as the That '70s Show alum was transferred to North Kern State Prison in Delano, California. The 47-year-old convicted rapist looks emotionless in the photo, and his hair and bear appear to have overgrown. Danny Masterson arrives at an event on March 24, 2014, in Los Angeles (Photo by Annie I. Bang/Invision/AP, File)(Annie I. Bang/Invision/AP)

Masterson is reportedly going through the classification and reception process in his new living quarters. This is the same place where Tory Lanez is also serving his 10-year sentence.

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This handout image released by California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation (CDCR) on December 27, 2023, shows the booking photo of actor Danny Masterson who was admitted to North Kern State Prison in Delano. (Photo by California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation / AFP) / RESTRICTED TO EDITORIAL USE - MANDATORY CREDIT "AFP PHOTO / HANDOUT /California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation " - NO MARKETING - NO ADVERTISING CAMPAIGNS - DISTRIBUTED AS A SERVICE TO CLIENTS(AFP)

Masterson was charged with two counts of forcible rape for sexually assaulting Jen B. and N. Trout in his Hollywood-area home. In September, he was sentenced to 30 years in prison. He was being held at the LA County Mens Central Jail previously, according to New York Post.

Masterson was sentenced in September this year."This has been a long and arduous road for the victims of Mr. Masterson," read a statement from District Attorney George Gascon at the time. "They not only survived his abuse, they also survived a system that is often not kind to victims."

Ever since the allegations first surfaced, Masterson has maintained his innocence.From day one, I have denied the outrageous allegations against me. Law enforcement investigated these claims more than 15 years ago and determined them to be without merit, he told US Weekly in a statement in December.

I have never been charged with a crime, let alone convicted of one. In this country, you are presumed innocent until proven guilty. However, in the current climate, it seems as if you are presumed guilty the moment you are accused, he added.

Mastersons last role was on The Ranch, a Netflix sitcom, where he worked along withAshton Kutcher. However, after the allegations, he was written off the show.

As a result of ongoing discussions, Netflix and the producers have written Danny Masterson out of The Ranch, a spokesperson for the streaming company told US Weekly in a statement in December 2017. [Monday] was his last day on the show, and production will resume in early 2018 without him.
Actor-turned-politician Captain Vijayakanth is no more. The 71-year-old, who was famous for his cop roles, was admitted to the hospital for a routine checkup but was found suffering from pneumonia and tested positive for Covid-19. Despite being put on ventilator support due to difficulty in breathing, he passed away on Thursday. His health had been failing for a while now. As a mark of respect, morning shows in theatres have been cancelled across Tamil Nadu. Stars and fans took to social media to mourn his passing. (Also Read: How actor-turned-politician Vijayakanth earned the popular moniker Captain) Vijayakanth passed away due to Covid-19 on Thursday

Celebs mourn his passing

Kamal Haasan penned a lengthy note in Tamil, a portion of which reads, He lived with humanity in every action. He was the creator of innovative ideas in Tamil Nadu politics. He always had a helping hand extended to the needy. Fearless courage was his hallmark. Vijayakanth, a revolutionary artist who made his mark in both cinema and politics, will always be in our heart.

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Trisha extended condolences to his family, RIP Captain. Lots of love and strength to Premalatha maam and his family. Ill forever remember your kindness. Jr NTR called him a powerhouse, Saddened to learn about Vijayakanth Garu's passing. A true powerhouse in both cinema and politics. May his soul find eternal peace. My thoughts are with his family and friends.

Saddened to hear the passing of one of the most loving and caring beings ever. We will miss you Captain!! #RIP, wrote Vikram, while Sonu Sood reminisced how he got his first role on-screen due to Vijayakanth, Kallazgar my first film ever, was a gift from the legend VIJAYKANTH sir.. He came across this still of mine and in no time I was filming with him.. I owe my career to him .. Will miss you so much sir. RIP CAPTAIN.

A rich legacy

Born as Narayanan Vijayaraj Alagarswami in 1952 in Madurai, Vijayakanth is one of the few Tamil actors to have acted only in films of the language throughout his career. Most of his films have often been dubbed into Telugu and Hindi. He was called a Puratchi Kalaignar (revolutionary artist) in the industry. Most of his roles saw him play the righteous do-gooder, with his roles as a police officer being the most famous. It was his 1991 film Captain Prabhakaran that earned him the moniker, Captain.

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 [ xia23 ]  2023-12-28 10:28:02 .

on page 490: in: In another German dictionary: [French fondue, really = melted fondre] a. It is a Swiss dish. A small piece of bread dips into melting and floating mixture of hard cheese, white wine and seasoning and serves as a dish. b. It is a short form of meat fondue. c. Chinese fondue (google traslate translated as , use soup instead of oil. on page 525 in: in In an English dictionary on page 457: in In another English dictionary, fondue is said to be derived from a French verb fondre's past participle: on page 683 and 684: in: In another dictionary on page 883 in: In another dictionary on page 1043: in: On page 433 of French-English part: in: On page 773 In a French dictionary: fondre: I. As a transitive verb: 1. Liquify by heating solid or pasty material into liquid 2. Make something with molten material 3. Combing somethings together by melting to form something; to amalgamate II. As an intransitive verb: 1. Heating to liquify 2. Dissolve in a liquid 3. Decrease quickly III. As an intrasitive verb: melt on IV. se fondre, as a reflective verb (acting on the subject itself in French) 1. Liquify itself 2. Wait itself 3. Combine together itself in In google translate, fondue is translated as  In a Chinese-English dictionary:  is hot pot in: In a Chinese-English dictionary,  is chafing dish: in: In google search: Conclusions 1. Fondue's origin is a French verb, fondre, meaning melt, dissolve, blend, merge, combine. 2. French verb's past participle is fondu. With an "e", fondue becomes a noun feminine noun in French). 3. Fondue means a. A dish in which cubes of meat in hot oil cookd and served; b. A dish in which Cheese, bread, white wine and seasoning in hot oil cooked and served; c. A Chinese dish (Chinese fondue or )The ingredients are not in oil but in soup. 4. I feel, fondue, you could also translated as  in Chinese, or  as a verb. In English, probably similar to slow cook or something like that. 5. You need more than one dictionary for finding the meaning of a word or in your translation work.

>>> Embarrassing momnetThe car was broken,



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Rajinikanth and Fahadh Faasil are shooting for TJ Gnanavels Vettaiyan in Nagercoil. A photo of the duo leaked online on Wednesday and fans were pumped to see them together in the same frame. However, post actor-politician Vijayakanths death, Rajinikanth has halted shooting for the film to rush back to Chennai. (Also Read: Captain Vijayakanth no more: Kamal Haasan, Jr NTR, Trisha and others mourn his passing) Leaked picture of Fahadh Faasil and Rajinikanth shooting for Vettaiyan

Shoot halted

Trade analyst Ramesh Bala shared on his X account that when Rajinikanth heard the news of his friends death, he halted shoot to rush back to Chennai. He wrote, #SuperstarRajinikanth canceled his movie #Vettaiyan shoot in Nagerkovil and is rushing back to Chennai to pay his homage to Captain #Vijayakanth. Fans of the actor lauded him for the gesture under the post, writing, Great gesture by Rajini. Another fan wrote, Its his dear friend, as a Thalaivar fan I would be disppointed if he didn't.

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The leaked picture

While the makers are yet to respond, the picture sees Rajinikanth and Fahadh shooting outside a house. Rajinikanth can be seen interacting with a team member and Fahadh can be seen preparing for the scene. Other crew members can be seen crowding near them, with two of them holding umbrellas to shield the actors from the sun. Most probably a montage, wholesome, speculated a fan about the scene, while another X user wrote, Thalaivar and FaFa in same frame!! (heart emoji).

About Vettaiyan

Shooting for Vettaiyan has been in progress for the last few months. Rajinikanth was previously spotted shooting for the film in Trivandrum, Tirunelveli and Tuticorin. Post Tuticorin, the makers moved the shoot to Nagercoil. Expectations are high on Vettaiyan because Gnanavels last film Jai Bhim with Suriya was a massive hit. Amitabh Bachchan, Rana Daggubati, Manju Warrier, Ritika Singh and Dushara Vijayan also star in the film.

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Vijayakanths death has left a void that cannot be filled, state fans and celebs alike on social media. The actor who passed away at age 71 on Thursday morning was known not just for his philanthropy, but for also encouraging new talent in Tamil cinema. Actor Sonu Sood is one of the many who got a kickstart in the film industry thanks to him. Talking to Hindustan Times, Sonu reminisces about his debut film, his association with the late actor-politician and more. (Also Read: Captain Vijayakanth no more: Kamal Haasan, Jr NTR, Trisha and others mourn his passing) Sonu Sood goes down memory lane and shares his memories of working with Vijayakanth(Instagram)

Vijayakanth is the nicest person Ive met

In 1998 Vijayakanth came across a picture of Sonu flexing his muscles on a bike. This led to him getting his on-screen debut in 1999 with Kallazhagar in which he played a priest by the name of Soumya Narayanan. The film opened doors for him to continue acting in Tamil and Telugu before his big Hindi debut in 2002 with Shaheed-E-Azam. Vijayakanth is one of the finest actors and the nicest people Ive ever worked with, Sonu tells us.

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I vividly remember how we shot for my debut in Madurai. I was new to the industry but he helped me so much.

He gave me the time I needed

Sonu remembers how he was surprised by Vijayakanths willingness to halt shooting for him. Theres a fight scene in the climax between us and I needed not just to build my body but also train for it. I asked for a months time and Vijayakanth willingly stopped shooting for me, he explains, adding, I put on weight for the climax and stayed in Chennai for a month to train. I would train with three fighters at Marina Beach every single day.

Vijayakanth didnt just take care of me and checked up on the progress the month I was there, he made sure the fighters taught me well.

I owe everything to him

The very climax fight Sonu shot for would make people sit up and take notice. In fact, Vijayakanth even predicted Sonus success. We shot the climax sequence at the Botanical Gardens. I am a trained fighter today because he let me take my time to get the sequence right and let me learn, says Sonu, adding, He told me the film will do wonders for me and he was right. I owe everything to Vijayakanth because he introduced me to the film industry.

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Bigg Boss 11 contestant Hina Khan has been hospitalised due to a high fever. The actor shared health updates with her fans and assured them that she would bounce back stronger. Taking to Instagram, Hina shared her health update with fans by sharing pictures from the hospital. (Also Read: Hina Khan says news amid Israel-Hamas War is making her feel depressed: 'It's affecting me personally, I need a break') Hina Khan is hospitalised again(Instagram)

The first featured a thermometer, revealing her body temperature to 102 degrees.

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She captioned the post, "I have had four terrible terrible nights of high-grade fever. This shit won't come down only. Continuous 102-103 temperature. Uff no energy left now. It's sickening. #lifeupdates for all those who are worried for me, I will bounce back. Inshallah, send in your love please."

Another photo showed Hina sitting on the hospital bed looking away from the camera. Sharing the image, she wrote, "Life updates Day 4. #onedayatatime."

In October, Hina also shared her health update with her fans. She shared a mirror selfie, in which she could be seen donning hospital clothes and with a bandage on her hand. She captioned the picture, "Spread Love and happiness". She added, "No matter whr u are, what state of mind you are in, if u find a mirror; do not miss to click a mirror selfie."

However, the actor didn't reveal the reason behind her hospitalisation.

Hina became a household name with her role as Akshara in the popular television show Yeh Rishta Kya Kehlata Hai. She was also a part of Kasautii Zindagii Kay 2, in which she played the antagonist Komolika. However, she quit the show after a few months. She also participated in television reality shows like Khatron Ke Khiladi Season 8 and Bigg Boss 11.

Hina was recently seen in Country Of Blind. Country of Blind is set in the 1800s and depicts the life of a valley full of blind people. It teaches a valuable lesson about how, despite their lack of sight, they live a happy and contented existence. Besides Hina, Country of Blind also stars Anushka Sen, Shoib Nikash Shah, Namita Lal, Inamulhaq, Pradyuman Singh Mall and Jitendra Rai.

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Thursday's episode of Koffee With Karan was rather unprecedented as it saw a mother-son pairing on the couch for the first time. Veteran actor Sharmila Tagore and her actor son Saif Ali Khan were the guests on the 10th episode of the current eighth season of the show. Also read: Koffee with Karan Season 8: Aren't we all glad to have a septuagenarian on a chat show obsessed with the youth? Saif Ali Khan with his mother Sharmila Tagore on Koffee With Karan.

During a fun and lively chat, they revealed previously unknown stories about Saif's childhood, his bratty teenage years and even addressed his first marriage with actor Amrita Singh. Saif recalled his mother's heartbroken reaction to his wedding news as well.

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Saif said that Sharmila Tagore was in Mumbai to meet him when he broke the news to her that he had gotten married to Amrita the previous day, after she had just told him not to get married. A big tear fell out of her eye and she started crying. She said, 'you've really hurt me.'

Sharmila explained that it's a good thing to share every aspect of your life with your parents as they are the ones who bring you up.

Saif added that when he decided to separate from Amrita, Sharmila was the first person he told. She told him that she was with him if that's what he wants.

However, Sharmila also addressed the not so harmonious time that followed after the split. When you are together for such a long time and you have such lovely children, then no break up is easy. Then it is not a harmonious I know it is difficult to have harmony at that stage, everybody is hurt so that stage was not nice but I tried. But that's water under the bridge, she needed time to cool down. Sharmila added that it was not a happy time for the family as they lost not just Amrita but also her and Saif's kids, Sara Ali Khan and Ibrahim Ali Khan.

Saif is now married to Kareena Kapoor Khan and has two sons with her, Taimur and Jeh. Amrita lives with her two kids. Sharmila lives in Delhi at the Pataudi Palace.

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Chennai: An ongoing tussle between the Tamil Nadu government and the Enforcement Directorate (ED) intensified on Wednesday. (PTI)

An ongoing tussle between the Tamil Nadu government and the Enforcement Directorate (ED) intensified on Wednesday after the federal agency accused the state police of abusing the law with a sole motive to prevent it from investigating cases of corruption.

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The federal agencys reaction came as it did not respond to summons issued by Tamil Nadu police in connection with the arrest of ED officer Ankit Tiwari, who was arrested by the Directorate of Vigilance and Anti-Corruption in connection with an alleged bribery case on December 1.

Tiwari was arrested for allegedly accepting a bribe of 20 lakh from a government doctor, threatening to reopen a case against him. The DVAC also raided EDs sub-zonal office in Madurai district on that day. On December 23, the Madurai city police issued summons to ED officials to appear on Tuesday in connection with the case.

In a statement, EDs assistant director in Madurai, Atul Gupta, said although the notice was issued on December 23, the agency received it only on December 26, by which time the date and time of the summons had lapsed.

The central agency also said that the notice did not carry any office seal and does not even disclose the name and identity of the person issuing the notice. It also did not convey reasons for the summons, it said, adding: ... the Notice simply mentions to answer certain queries.

ED also reiterated their accusation that some identified people, along with the DVAC, had entered their Madurai office and collected copies of key documents  a claim that has already been rejected by the police.

Please note that this office (being sub-zonal office of the Directorate of Enforcement) is conducting investigations under Prevention of Money Laundering Act, 2002 in various high-profile cases, including illegal mining, high profile corruption cases, public investment fraud cases, bank frauds etc, the statement said.

Since, we have grievance that such kind of repeated illegal acts and abuse of provisions of CrPC is being done with the sole motive to prevent this office from conducting lawful investigations into cases of corruption registered in the State and by the powerful persons of the State; we have also filed a criminal complaint, it added, referring to their complaint against DVAC with Tamil Nadus director general of police Shankar Jiwal on December 2, along with a reminder on December 16 to register a first information report.

Here also, we would like you to appreciate that such kind of abrupt and sudden notice without even informing the subject matter of the notice, creates unnecessary impediment in the smooth office functioning, the agency said.
The West Bengal government on Wednesday appointed senior Indian Police Service (IPS) officer Rajeev Kumar, who is considered to be close to chief minister Mamata Banerjee, as the states director general and inspector general of police (DGP and IGP), a senior officer from the home department said. IPS officer Rajeev Kumar. (Samir Jana/HT photo)

Kumars appointment came after Manok Malaviya retired during the day.

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A notification issued by the state home department on Wednesday said that Kumar, a 1989-batch IPS officer, will hold the charge of DGP and IGP of West Bengal, until further orders. Manoj Malaviya, the present DGP, retired on Wednesday, the senior officer said, wishing not to be named.

Kumar is currently the principal secretary of the Information Technology and Electronics department. He earlier served as Kolkata Police commissioner and also headed the Crime Investigation Department and state polices Special Task Force.

In February 2019, Banerjee sat on a two-day dharna after a team of officers from the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) visited the IPS officers house to question him in connection with chit fund cases. She called off the demonstration after the Supreme Court granted Kumar protection from arrest.

CBI has accused Kumar of allegedly suppressing and destroying evidence in the investigation of the Saradha scam while leading a Special Investigating Team (SIT) set up by the state government to probe the matter.

The Saradha chit fund scam involves an estimated 2,460 crore that was raised from over one million depositors from West Bengal, Assam, Jharkhand, Odisha, and Chhattisgarh.
New Delhi: Senior Congress leader Rahul Gandhi on Thursday claimed a BJP MP had told him that the latter's party promotes a culture of slavery. Addressing the 'Hain Tayyar Hum' rally in Nagpur, Gandhi, referring to the BJP-Congress political tussle, said a battle of ideologies was underway in the country. Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge and party leader Rahul Gandhi greet the crowd during the party's Hain Taiyaar Hum rally. (ANI)

"There is a fight of ideologies going on in the country. People think that it is a political fight, a fight for power, but the foundation of this fight is of ideology, of two opposing ideologies," he said.

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Rahul Gandhi claimed he met a turncoat leader in the Parliament who used to be a Congress politician.

"I met a BJP MP in the Lok Sabha, many BJP MPs were earlier in Congress, and this one was also in Congress. I met him secretly, he spoke out of fear and said, Rahul ji, I want to talk to you. I asked him what do you want to talk about, you are in BJP. Tension was visible on his face, I asked him if everything was okay. To which he answered no," said Rahul Gandhi.

He claimed the politician told him he couldn't bear being a BJP leader. Gandhi said the leader told him that the party's culture promotes slavery.

Also read: Rahul Gandhi's Bharat Nyay Yatra to cover more distance than Bharat Jodo: Details

"He said, 'Rahul ji, I can't bear being in BJP. I am in BJP but my heart is in Congress'. I said, your heart is in Congress, your body is in BJP, meaning the heart is afraid of bringing the body to Congress. I asked him why his mind was not set on the party. To which the BJP leader replied that 'BJP mai ghulami chalti hai' (slavery works in the BJP)," said the Congress leader.

Gandhi claimed the leader told him that BJP leaders are forced to follow orders of the top brass.

"The BJP leader further said that whatever directions are received from the authorities above have to be done without thinking twice. No one listens to us, orders come from above. It is just like how kings used to give orders earlier and everyone had to follow it. There is no choice whether you like it or not," he added

"Our PCC President Nana Patole asked Prime Minister Narendra Modi about farmers, asking what will be the share of farmers in GST. Modiji did not like this question, and Patoleji was out," he claimed.

Also read: Rahul tries his hand at wrestling at Jhajjar akhara

Gandhi claimed the BJP's ideology resembled that of the kings of the feudal era.

"Their (BJP) ideology is the ideology of kings, don't listen to anyone, orders just come from above. In Congress the voice comes from below, our small workers can point out the big leaders. I listen to our workers, and also respect their voice (concerns)," he said.

Meanwhile, the BJP launched a counterattack at Gandhi. Maharashtra's deputy chief minister Devendra Fadnavis said nobody takes Gandhi seriously.

"I think their (Congress) theme was 'Hain Taiyyar Hum' but I think people are not ready to take Rahul Gandhi seriously," he said.

BJP leader Ashishrao R. Deshmukh said: "Rahul Gandhi should not talk about Gulamgiri... Congress is full of the mindset of slavery... This is the reality of the Congress party."

With inputs from ANI
The ministry of home affairs (MHA) on Wednesday banned a faction of Muslim League Jammu Kashmir, led by separatist leader Masarat Alam Bhat, under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA) for five years for indulging in anti-national and secessionist activities, with home minister Amit Shah asserting that those who work against the unity, sovereignty, and integrity of the nation will not be spared. Separatist leader Masarat Alam Bhat.

The PM @narendramodi governments message is loud and clear that anyone acting against the unity, sovereignty, and integrity of our nation will not be spared and face the full wrath of the law, Shah said in a post on X.

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In a statement, the MHA said the objectives of the Muslim League Jammu Kashmir (Masarat Alam faction) were to attain freedom for Jammu & Kashmir from India, merge it with Pakistan, and establish Islamic rule.

The organisations members have been involved in secessionist activities, raising funds through various sources, including Pakistan and its proxy organisations, to support terrorist activities and sustain stone-pelting on security forces in Jammu & Kashmir, the statement said.

The home ministry emphasised that the outfit and its members show disrespect towards the constitutional authority and setup of the country. Their unlawful activities undermine the integrity, sovereignty, security, and communal harmony of India, it said.

The MHA also said that there have been indications of the Muslim League Jammu Kashmir (Masarat Alam faction) having linkages with banned terrorist organisations. The outfit and its members have been supporting terrorist activities with the intent to create terror in the country, thereby endangering its security and public order. Their anti-national activities demonstrate disregard and disrespect for the constitutional authority and sovereignty of India, it said.

Bhat is known for his anti-India and pro-Pakistan propaganda. He became the chairman of the hardline faction of the Hurriyat Conference following the death of Syed Ali Shah Geelani.

Officials at North Block, who didnt want to be named, said Bhat has been in jail since 2010 for his alleged involvement in violent protests in Kashmir valley.

In his post on X, Shah said the outfit was declared as an unlawful association under UAPA.

The Muslim League Jammu Kashmir (Masarat Alam faction)/MLJK-MA is declared as an Unlawful Association under UAPA. This organisation and its members are involved in anti-national and secessionist activities in J&K supporting terrorist activities and inciting people to establish Islamic rule in J&K, he said.
The Congress on Thursday hit out at the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) over party leader Priyanka Gandhi Vadra being mentioned in the Enforcement Directorate (ED)s chargesheet in a Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA) case, alleging that it was a conspiracy by the ruling party. Congress general secretary Priyanka Gandhi Vadra during the party's 139th Foundation Day celebration at the party headquarters in Delhi on Thursday. (ANI)

The Enforcement Directorate has claimed that Priyanka Gandhi Vadra purchased about five acres of agricultural land in Haryana from Delhi-based real estate agent HL Pahwa in 2006 and sold it back to him in 2010. ED has also noted that her husband Robert Vadra purchased about 40 acres of land from Pahwa and later sold it back to him.

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Pahwa was the same agent who sold land to NRI businessman CC Thampi, who has been linked to Sanjay Singh Bhandari, whom multiple agencies are investigating in a case involving money laundering, violation of foreign exchange and black money laws, and the Official Secrets Act. Thampi has been accused of helping Bhandari hide the proceeds of crime. In a previous chargesheet, the ED alleged that Vadra is a close associate of Thampi.

Look at what theyll do ahead of the elections, its just the beginning. They are not doing it for the first time, they hatch such conspiracies when elections approach. Let them hatch conspiracies, said Congress leader Pawan Khera.

As senior Congress leaders gathered in Nagpur to commemorate the partys 138th Foundation Day, Himachal Pradesh chief minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu told reporters that the names of many people were linked with the ED before the Lok Sabha elections.

Also Read | Priyanka Gandhi mentioned in ED charge sheet in PMLA case

Maharashtra Congress president Nana Patole said, They [the BJP] are so scared of the Gandhi family. Back then, the British were scared of Gandhi. And now, todays government too is scared of Gandhi. That is why the Central government, Narendra Modis government, puts the Gandhi family into such issues and conspires to divert people from the real issues.

Karnataka deputy chief minister D K Shivakumar claimed that the development was a part of the BJPs plan to round up all Congress leaders, and that he himself had been issued a notice regarding a case that had already been withdrawn.

They [BJP] feel we are afraid of going to jail. No one is afraid of it. We know the law of the land. They cant use these institutions to threaten us. To save democracy and India, we are fighting, he said.

Meanwhile, Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) spokesperson Priyanka Kakkar also said that the ED was continuously taking actions against Opposition leaders. Kakkar said that she would refrain from commenting on Priyanka Gandhis issue in particular, as she was not aware about it.

Three of our (AAPs) leaders were sent to jail, two are still in jail. The trials have not begun yet and they have not been convicted. Yet, they have been in jail for so long. The law of guilty until proven innocent is in effect, which is very dangerous, she said at a press conference in Delhi.
The Delhi High Court on Thursday refused to hear a plea by Neelam Azad, one of the accused arrested in the Parliament security breach case, challenging her police remand. The court said there was no urgency. Accused Neelam Azad outside Parliament on December 13. (PTI)

A vacation bench of Justice Neena Bansal Krishna said, Itll be taken up on the 3rd. There is no urgency. Nothing absolutely.

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Azad moved the Delhi HC seeking immediate release on Wednesday challenging the legality of the December 21 remand order. Azad said in her plea that she was not allowed to consult a legal practitioner of her choice to defend her during the proceeding of the remand and one was only provided to her 29 hours after her arrest.

Azad was residing in Hisar for advanced studies. A 37-year-old resident of Ghaso Khurd village, Azad had gone to Hisar 5-6 months before her arrest to prepare for the Haryana civil services examination.

The plea, which was filed through lawyer Suresh Kumar, read, Upon her arrest, the petitioners family wasnt informed. It was informed only in the evening of 14.12.2023. Further, she wasnt permitted to meet any person including advocates which is mandatory under Article 22(1) of the Constitution of India. Even at the court a single DLSA (Delhi Legal Services Authority) counsel was appointed to all the accused persons without giving them any choice among counsels.

According to Indian laws, an individual in custody or someone acting on their behalf has the right to file a habeas corpus petition in either a high court or the Supreme Court to secure their appearance if they believe they are being held unlawfully. If, upon examination, the respective court determines that the detention is indeed illegal, it has the authority to issue an order for the person's release.

The plea added, The remand order dated 21.12.2023 is illegal and violative of Article 22(1) of the Constitution of India which mandates the accused person to be defended by a legal practitioner of his choice whereas in the present case the petitioners advocate wasnt permitted to take instructions and defend the petitioner prior to the disposal of the remand application.

Recently, the high court halted a trial courts order to provide a copy of the FIR to Azad, citing the case's "sensitive nature". Referring to a Supreme Court judgment, the court highlighted that FIRs related to sexual offences, insurgency, terrorism, and those falling under the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act should not be uploaded on the authorities' website.

On December 13, on the anniversary of 2001 Parliament terror attack, Sagar Sharma and Manoranjan D breached security, entering the Lok Sabha chamber, releasing yellow gas, and shouting slogans.

Simultaneously, Amol Shinde and Neelam Azad sprayed coloured gas outside the Parliament House premises, chanting "tanashahi nahi chalegi". In addition to the four accused, Lalit Jha and Mahesh Kumawat have also been arrested and are undergoing police interrogation.
The Beatrice Police Department and Yellow Cab have partnered since November 2019 to provide safe ride home vouchers throughout the year.

Owner of Yellow Cab Melissa Snyder said she the goal of the vouchers was to provide a safe ride home and an option to driving under the influence.

We want to provide a free ride home so people are not driving under the influence, she said. A DUI is expensive and there is always a risk of injuring someone else in an accident.

Snyder said they have always provided a free ride home on New Years Eve, regardless of the voucher program.

Yellow Cab will be available 7 a.m. on New Years Eve to 2:30 a.m. for free rides home in Beatrice. Outside of Beatrice is $2 a mile. They will be available on New Years Day from 7 a.m. to 2 a.m. the next morning, and taking vouchers. Yellow Cab can be reached by calling 402-806-2727.

The vouchers are only be used to go home. Customers are charged $10 to go to another bar.

BPD Officer Ethan Jordan said he had heard of the program being used in different communities.

It was something that we could do as a police department to help with community safety, he said. We wanted to provide an option to a DUI arrest. There is also the possibility of a needless injury accident.

He said it was important, especially during the holidays, to have a plan for getting home safely.

Its important to drink responsibly. This means having a driver that is not drinking or using a safe ride home voucher, he said.

Jordan noted that the vouchers are available at all of the bars in Beatrice, but can be obtained by calling the non-emergency number at 402-223-4080. There is no limit to the number of vouchers a customer can use.

For example, if someone is at a house party drinking and they want a voucher, they can call the non-emergency number, he said. An officer will bring a voucher to the party.

There were 234 vouchers used in 2022. Jordan said each of those used vouchers prevented a DUI.

Stone Hollow Brewery bartender Jenny Montag said customers request the vouchers regularly.

Im glad we have the option of providing a safe ride home voucher when the customer requests them which happens regularly, she said.

Gage County MAPS Community Coalition provides funding for the voucher program.
Hyderabad, Dec 28 (PTI) Union Home Minister Amit Shah will participate in a BJP state-level meeting on Thursday and chalk out a roadmap to the party's Telangana unit leaders and cadre for the general elections to be held in a few months. HT Image

This is Shah's first visit to the state after the recently concluded Assembly polls which gave "disappointing" results to the saffron party though it could improve its tally in terms of votes and seats.

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The BJP which emerged as a principal challenger to the BRS at one point of time after winning a couple of by-polls and the Greater Hyderabad Municipal Corporation elections, before the November 30 Assembly elections, finally ended up doubling its vote share to nearly 14 per cent besides improving its tally to eight seats in the 119-member House.

"Amit Shah will visit the Sri Bhagyalakshmi temple (near the historic Charminar). Afterwards, he will address the gathering of party leaders from across the state. Basically the meeting will delve into the party's performance in the Assembly polls and also chalk out the roadmap for the upcoming Lok Sabha polls," BJP sources said.

The issue of the BJP Legislature Party (BJPLP) leader may come up in the meeting.

The party will hold discussions on the Ram Temple in Ayodhya and "Viksit Bharat Sankalp Yatra", a resolve and guarantee of Prime Minister Narendra Modi to fulfil the dreams of the common man, according to sources.

Union Minister G Kishan Reddy, also the Telangana BJP president, recently exuded confidence that the saffron party will get seats in double digits in the Lok Sabha polls. In the last elections in 2019, it got four seats with 19 per cent vote share in Telangana.

Besides Shah, the meeting on Thursday will be attended by the party's mandal presidents to national leaders such as BJP national general secretaries Tarun Chugh, Bandi Sanjay Kumar and Sunil Bansal.

BJP sources said the meeting will come out with a plan of action for the next 90 days in order to be fully prepared for the elections.

Reddy had said though the party did not get expected results in the recent Assembly polls in Telangana, the number of seats have increased and the vote share doubled.

In the 2018 Assembly polls, BJP got 6.8 per cent vote share and won just one seat. However, just after 100 days, in the Lok Sabha elections, the saffron party won four seats with 19 per cent vote share, Reddy had said.
Over the last few days, social media has been abuzz with videos of passengers shouting at the ground staff at a few airports in the country. From shortage of planes to weather and shortage of crew  the reasons for delays are innumerable and at most times not honestly shared with the passengers which leads to a messier problem to solve at the airport. Regulator's rules on compensation for delayed, cancelled, and overbooked flights.(HT File Photo/Representative image)

In November, 2.69 lakh passengers were compensated by airlines for delays, nearly 40 thousand passengers were compensated for cancellations and 1231 were compensated for denied boarding.

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The regulator DGCA (Directorate General of Civil Aviation) has a specific CAR (Civil Aviation Regulation) to deal with cases of delayed flights, cancelled flights and overbooking. The obligation of compliance rests with the airline which performs or intends to operate the flight, including by wet-leased aircraft.

Denied Boarding

If the airline books more passengers on a flight than its capacity, the airline has to first ask for volunteers to give up their seats in exchange for any benefits at the airline's discretion. However, if boarding is denied against the will of the passenger then the airline has to arrange an alternate flight within one hour of the original scheduled departure and failing so, the airline has to compensate the passenger with an amount equal to 200% of booked one-way fare plus airline fuel charge which remains capped at INR 10,000 if the airline has arranged for a flight within 24 hours.

The penalty increases to 400% of booked one-way fare plus airline fuel charge and remains capped at INR 20,000 if the alternate flight on offer is more than 24 hours after original departure time. In case the passenger does not opt for alternate flight, the airline has to refund the full value of ticket and compensation equal to 400% of booked one-way basic fare plus airline carge, subject to maximum of INR 20,000. If this happens on a connecting flight, the compensation is restricted to the first flight for the flight leg.

Cancellation

The regulator expects the airline to inform the passenger of the cancellation at least two weeks before the date of travel and arrange an alternate flight or refund the passenger. If the airline announces cancellation between two weeks and up to 24 hours before the scheduled time of departure, the airline is bound to offer an alternate flight or refund the ticket. This is easier said than done from a passenger perspective since the last-minute fares are extremely high and make travel difficult for the booked passenger.

If the passengers are not informed or they miss the connecting flight on same ticket number, the airline has to provide an alternate flight or compensation which includes a full refund and INR 5000 or booked one-way basic fare whichever is less for flights having block time up to one hour, INR 7500 or booked one-way basic fare whichever is less for flights between one to two hours and INR 10,000 or booked one-way basic fare, whichever is less for flights above two hours.

Airlines have to provide meals and refreshments and hotel accommodation including transfers as needed.

Flight delays

The most common of all are flight delays and the regular expects airline to offer refreshments or meals for flights which are delayed beyond two hours for flights having a block time of up to two and half hours; delays beyond three hours for flights having blocktime between two and half hours and five hours and for delays beyond four hours for other flights.

If the delay is more than 24 hours or more than six hours for flights departing between 2000 hrs and 0300 hours, the passengers should be provided with accommodation.

Loopholes remain

While the regulator has tried its best to accommodate multiple possible considerations in the CAR (Civil Aviation Regulation), there remain loopholes which can be exploited by the airline in absence of transparency.

Airlines are exempted from paying any compensation when the delay is due to Air Traffic Control, security, natural disasters, political issues, etc. While some can be well-defined, parameters like Air Traffic Control cannot be well-defined. Additionally, when the airline plans a transfer of crew from one aircraft to another - the delay in a flight due to connecting crew is a classic example of delay due to Air Traffic Control

There also remains an issue where airlines do not delay the flights by a longer duration upfront and instead delay the flights by a few hours at a time. It is equally true that airlines do not like delaying flights but the evidence on ground has been clear that airlines have remained unrealistic in most cases when it comes to informing about delays.
Apples warning to several Opposition leaders and journalists about potential hacking attempt on their iPhone by state-sponsored attackers prompted the Narendra Modi government to quickly demand the US firm soften its message, the Washington Post reported. Apple has previously said it did not attribute the threat notifications to "any specific state-sponsored attacker".(Reuters)

Government officials reportedly exerted pressure on Apple to downplay the political impact of the warnings, the newspaper said citing three unidentified sources. They even summoned an Apple security expert to a meeting in New Delhi, urging them to provide alternative explanations for the warnings to the users, according to the report.

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The visiting Apple official stood by the companys warnings. But the intensity of the Indian government effort to discredit and strong-arm Apple disturbed executives at the companys headquarters, the report claimed.

On October 31, a number of leaders from the Opposition Indian National Developmental Inclusive Alliance (INDIA) and some journalists claimed that they had received emails from Apple warning them that state-sponsored attackers were potentially remotely trying to compromise the iPhones associated with their IDs.

Some of them shared screenshots on social media of a notification quoting the iPhone maker as saying: "Apple believes you are being targeted by state-sponsored attackers who are trying to remotely compromise the iPhone associated with your Apple ID".

Apple said it does not attribute the threat notifications to any specific state-sponsored attacker. State-sponsored attackers are very well-funded and sophisticated, and their attacks evolve over time. Detecting such attacks relies on threat intelligence signals that are often imperfect and incomplete, it said in a statement.

While Union IT minister Ashwini Vaishnaw expressed concern over the threat notifications from Apple Inc., he dismissed the Oppositions claims that the government had engaged in attempts to compromise their phones.

The government is concerned about this issue and it will get to the bottom of it. We have already ordered investigation into it, Vaishnaw told a press conference.

In a series of social media posts, Vaishnaw later said that "much of information by Apple on this issue seems vague and non-specific in nature."
The headmaster of a government school in Shivamogga district of Karnataka was suspended on Thursday after a video of students cleaning toilets was shared online, officials familiar with the matter said.The incident occurred in Neralekere village of Bhadravati taluk in Shivamogga. The incident occurred in Neralekere village of Bhadravati taluk in Shivamogga (Representative picture)

The headmaster, identified as Shankarappa, along with other teachers, reportedly forced students to clean toilets with their hands in a government school in the village. Later, the directorate of public instructions suspended the headmaster.

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Deputy director of public instructions CR Parameshwarappa said:I have seen the video. The students aged 10-12 were made to clean toilets. Based on the probe report by the Bhadravati block education officer, I have ordered the suspension of the headmaster and initiated a departmental inquiry. Disciplinary action will be taken.The suspended headmaster said they made the students clean the toilets as social work. We asked the students to clean the toilets as social work... (we) did not do any discrimination, Shankarappa said.

Education minister Madhu Bangarappa condemned the incident and termed it shocking and deplorable.
West Bengal chief minister and Trinamool Congress's supremo Mamata Banerjee has said that the INDIA alliance will contest the 2024 Lok Sabha polls in all constituencies, reported news agency ANI. West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee ((ANI Photo))

"No agenda, no leadership, and no strategy...INDIA alliance will contest on all seats across the country," Mamata said while addressing a rally on Thursday.

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While speaking at a public meeting in Chakla in West Bengal's North 24 Parganas district, the West Bengal CM emphasised that she has been already giving five kilograms of rice to all the poor which BJP has been announcing in their election campaigns.

"During the election, the BJP announced that they would give 5 kg rice but we have been giving that from the beginning...," she said.

ALSO READ| Indian government is targeting high-profile journalists with Pegasus: Report

During her address, Mamata highlighted that the BJP-led central government had stopped giving funds to West Bengal state but despite that she kept the MGNREGA scheme going for 45 days.

"The central government has stopped all flow of funds to the state. They did not even pay for those who have worked for 100 days. We, under the initiative of the state government, have kept it going for 45 days in every manner, so that people can earn their living," she said.

The West Bengal chief minister further talked about the welfare schemes that her government has implemented since coming to power in 2021.

"After we formed the government in 2021, we have given free ration, Swastha Sathi card, Laxmir Bhandar as promised. We have started giving smart cards to students as promised. Every student gets a Sabuj Sathi cycle when she is in Class 9 and a smart phone in Class 12," said Mamata.

"We give 25000 to poor women, regardless of their religion or community, if they are unmarried. Under the Kanyashree scheme, after studying till the age of 18, girl students get 25000 in their bank accounts if they are unmarried. Today, women do not need to worry. They are the pride of our society. Scholarships are given when women are in class 12 and even when they are in college or university," she added.

Mamata also asked TMC workers to reach out to the people, mix with them and complete the works for people's welfare. She said the party's work is not to serve oneself but the people.

Meanwhile, the BJP-led NDA is aiming to form a government at the centre for the third consecutive term by winning a majority in the 2024 Lok Sabha elections.
India has asked Pakistan to hand over Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) founder Hafiz Saeed, who is wanted in the country for several terror attacks including the 2008 assault on Mumbai, according to reports in the Pakistani media. Hafiz Saeed has been convicted and sentenced in at least five cases of terror financing since 2020 (ANI Archive)

Read here: Pakistan's Abdul Rehman Makki, Hafiz Saeed kin, listed as global terrorist by UN

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The Indian demand for handing over Saeed, who was detained in 2019 by Pakistani authorities in connection with charges of terror financing, was first reported by Geo News channel on Wednesday. Saeed has been convicted and sentenced in at least five cases of terror financing since 2020, though his current whereabouts are not known.

There was no immediate word on the development from Indian officials. India has called on Pakistan several times to hand over Saeed for his role in masterminding the 2008 Mumbai attacks that killed 166 people and injured hundreds more. Saeed has never been formally charged by Pakistani authorities for his role in the Mumbai attacks.

When Pakistan foreign office spokesperson Mumtaz Zahra Baloch was asked about the matter during a weekly media briefing on Thursday, she replied: The question is based on speculative reporting. We would not like to comment on such reports.

Saeed has been given prison terms ranging from fifteen-and-a-half years to 31 years following his conviction in the cases of terror financing. Saeed was detained in these cases following pressure from the Financial Action Task Force (FATF) and Western powers.

In 2012, the US offered a bounty of $10 million for Saeed. The LeT and Jamaat-ud-Dawah (JuD), a front for the terror group, have been banned by the US and the UN. Despite these steps taken by the world community, Saeed continued to operate freely in Pakistan and candidates from the Milli Muslim League, another front organisation of the LeT, sought to contest elections in 2018.

Read here: Pakistan poll body accepts Nawaz Sharif's nomination for 2024 election

The Pakistan Markazi Muslim League (PMML), a party backed by Saeed, has fielded candidates for every National Assembly constituency for Pakistans general election in February 2024. Among the candidates is Saeeds son Talha Saeed, who is contesting from a parliamentary constituency in Lahore. The PMML was created after the Pakistan government banned the Milli Muslim League.
India's government has again targeted high-profile journalists with Pegasus spyware, Amnesty International and The Washington Post said in a joint investigation published Thursday. India's government has again targeted high-profile journalists with Pegasus spyware, Amnesty International and The Washington Post said in a joint investigation published Thursday. (Representational picture)(AP)

Created by Israeli firm NSO Group, Pegasus can be used to access a phone's messages and emails, peruse photos, eavesdrop on calls, track locations and even film the owner with the camera.

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Watchdogs have documented widespread use of the spyware -- which is normally only sold to governments or security agencies -- against journalists and activists in dozens of countries, including India.

ALSO READ| Shashi Tharoor says he would love to visit Ram Temple one day but not before elections

Amnesty said journalists Siddharth Varadarajan of The Wire and Anand Mangnale of The Organized Crime and Corruption Reporting Project (OCCRP) had been targeted with the spyware on their iPhones.

"Increasingly, journalists in India face the threat of unlawful surveillance simply for doing their jobs," said Donncha O Cearbhaill, head of Amnesty International's Security Lab.

That threat compounds an already hostile climate for reporters also facing "imprisonment under draconian laws, smear campaigns, harassment, and intimidation", he added.

India's government did not immediately respond to the report, which said the most recent identified case of spyware use occurred in October.

In 2021, New Delhi was accused of using Pegasus to surveil journalists, opposition politicians and activists, with leaked documents showing the spyware had been used against more than 1,000 Indian phone numbers.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi's main political rival, Rahul Gandhi, was among those targeted.

The government denied conducting "illegal surveillance" but refused to cooperate with a Supreme Court probe into the allegations, the findings of which have not been made public.

The OCCRP, one of the two target organisations named in Thursday's report, published an investigation in August into the financial dealings of Indian tycoon Gautam Adani, a key business ally of Modi.

Adani's conglomerate shed more than $100 billion in value earlier this year after a US short-seller investment firm made explosive allegations of accounting fraud, which the Indian company dismissed as an organised "smear campaign".

Mangnale told AFP that he was targeted "within hours" of sending questions to Adani Group on behalf of the OCCRP.

"I can't blame the Adani Group or the Government of India for it, because we don't have the evidence yet," he added. "But, the chronology itself is really telling."

Varadarajan of The Wire suggested to The Washington Post that he had been targeted for leading opposition to the detention of a prominent news publisher in New Delhi.

- 'State-sponsored attackers' -

Local media reported last month that authorities were again investigating allegations by opposition politicians of attempted phone tapping after they reported receiving warnings from Apple of "state-sponsored attackers".

In that case, Ashwini Vaishnaw, the information and technology minister, said the government was "concerned" by the complaints.

Activists say that press freedom in the world's biggest democracy has suffered during Modi's tenure.

India has fallen 21 spots to 161 out of 180 countries in the World Press Freedom Index, compiled by Reporters Without Borders, since he took office in 2014.

Journalists reporting critically on the government say they are subjected to judicial harassment and relentless campaigns of online abuse.
As Indias latest stealth destroyer INS Imphal prepares for its operational deployment on the high seas to further boost the Indian Navys readiness in a challenging and vast strategic expanse, the warships commanding officer Captain Kamal Kumar Choudhury said it will be a globally deployable versatile platform, and its forward presence will help secure the countrys growing economic and military interests. In an interview to Rahul Singh on board the destroyer, Choudhury spelt out his top priorities, the challenges faced by the commissioning crew of a warship, the multi-mission capabilities of INS Imphal, how it will enhance Indias sea power, and the historic firsts associated with the destroyer. Edited excerpts: HT Image

What will be your top priorities in the coming months?

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The immediate focus will be on conducting trials of the Barak-8 medium range surface-to-air missile (MRSAM) system. It will provide air defence against all kinds of aerial threats. Completing the aviation trials is equally critical for helicopter operations by day and night. All other weapons and systems were fully tested before the commissioning, including the extended-range BrahMos supersonic missile, Varunastra heavy-weight torpedoes and anti-submarine rockets. Once INS Imphal is integrated with the navys Western Fleet, we will be ready for deployment anywhere.

What does it feel like to be the commissioning captain of a frontline destroyer?

To commission a new warship, and that too a destroyer, as a captain is the opportunity of a lifetime. I have been in service for almost 26 years, and I am telling you that it is the best job you can ever get in the Indian Navy. This happens to be my third commissioning. The first one was guided missile frigate INS Talwar in 2003 at St Petersburg in Russia. At the time, I was a gunnery officer and in charge of the forward-mounted 100 mm gun. I was also the executive officer (second-in-command) when guided missile destroyer INS Kochi was commissioned in 2015.

Can you talk about the challenges faced by the commissioning crew of a warship?

The biggest challenge is that you are starting from scratch. You have to set up the warships organisation from scratch. In an operational ship, only a part of the crew is new and amalgamates with the rest of the ship. In the navy, a third of the crew moves in and out of a ship every year. There is some continuity. In commissioning, everyone comes from a different background. Some may be familiar with that class of ship, and others not. But all of them must fit together and put the platform through its paces. They must do many things for the first time. There is no previous experience to draw from. Starting a new organisation without any past references is the biggest challenge. But therein lies a great opportunity too. Whatever you thought should happen in the navy through your service, you have an opportunity to make that happen on the ship.

Can you elaborate on the capabilities of the destroyer?

INS Imphals multi-mission offensive and defensive capabilities will allow it to tackle the full spectrum of maritime threats. The modern platform clearly demonstrates the maturity of indigenous technological and shipbuilding prowess. It is the first Indian warship to have fired the BrahMos missile before its commissioning. It shows we are able to commission ships that are combat ready. The missile arms INS Imphal with the capability to strike enemy ships and shore installations with precision at extended ranges. INS Imphal can accommodate two multi-role helicopters including the US-origin MH-60R and the indigenous advanced light helicopter. It is capable of blue water operations across the spectrum of naval warfare in all four dimensions --- air, surface, underwater and electronic.

In anti-air warfare, the MRSAM weapon complex including the MFSTAR (multi-functional surveillance and threat alert radar) can take down take down any kind of aerial threat. In anti-surface warfare, we have the capability to carry out long-range surveillance and engagement of surface and land targets. In the anti-submarine domain, the weapon fit consists of torpedoes and rockets. The warships sensor suite is advanced and tailored for multi-dimensional surveillance. It consists of the MFSTAR active phased array radar, RAWL 02 MK-IIA air search radar, surface surveillance radar, bow-mounted HUMSA-NG sonar, and the Shakti and Nayan electronic surveillance systems that provide a continuous, all-round and multi-dimensional surveillance bubble around the warship. The warship is equipped with advanced electronic warfare systems that can detect and track all types of threats. We can launch countermeasures against them.

INS Imphal has been commissioned at a time when Chinas influence is rising in the Indian Ocean region. It also faces other challenges. Your thoughts?

The multi-mission destroyer will add to Indias already formidable maritime might. It is a major combatant. From the smallest peace-time challenge to fighting under NBC (nuclear, biological and chemical) warfare conditions, this destroyer is a potent platform. It is equipped with cutting-edge capabilities, the best that the Indian Navy has today. She has long legs and can operate wherever Indias maritime interests lie, be it the Indian Ocean region or beyond. INS Imphal can operate independently or as part of a carrier battle group. It can and will accomplish any assigned mission.

The warship has many historic firsts...

Like I said, it is the first warship to have fired the BrahMos supersonic cruise missile before its commissioning. It is also the first warship with separate accommodation for women officers and sailors. We can currently accommodate eight women officers and 12 sailors. Right now, there is only one woman officer on board. She is the deputy logistics officer and the first woman to be part of a warships commissioning crew in the Indian Navys history. It is also the first warship to be named after a city in the countrys North-East.
Kochi: The mouthpiece of an influential Muslim Sunni body of clerics in Kerala has hit out at the Congress for its non-committal stance on whether it would attend the consecration ceremony at the Ram temple in Ayodhya on January 22. Prime Minister Narendra Modi will inaugurate Ayodhya railway station on December 30. (HT Photo)

The editorial published in Suprabhatham, the mouthpiece of the EK faction of the Samastha Kerala Jamiyyathul Ulama (SAMASTHA), on Wednesday attacked the Congress for its alleged soft-Hindutva stance by pointing out actions of its senior leader and former Madhya Pradesh chief minister Kamal Nath.

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The Congress stance seems to be that it wants to attend the Ram temple event to prevent the erosion of its Hindu vote base in north India especially with Lok Sabha elections approaching. It is this soft Hindutva stance that has taken the party which ruled India for 36 years down to its present condition. The Congress leadership may not know this but the people of India do, the editorial said.

It pointed to Kamal Nath sending 11 silver bricks for the construction of the Ram temple as evidence of the Congress soft-Hindutva approach.

The Sangh Parivar forces are experts at exploiting religion and belief to achieve political aims. But who is giving the Congress leadership the foolish advice of countering the Sangh Parivar with the same methods? the editorial asked.

If the Congress does not rethink its stance on such issues, the BJP will come back to power at the Centre in the 2024 elections, the newspaper warned. The party that led the freedom movement in the country will be reduced to trash in the pages of history books, it said.

Taking a swipe at the Congress using its arch-rival CPM in Kerala, the Muslim bodys mouthpiece said that the Left partys general secretary Sitaram Yechury had the wisdom to understand that the Ram temple event on January 22 is a litmus test to convert India into a Hindu nation. Indias secular and democratic believers expect the same courage from Congress leaders like Sonia Gandhi and others, it said.

Meanwhile, IUML leader PMA Salam said that the party has not received the invitation to attend the event in Ayodhya.

We have not got the invitation. Those who have been invited should answer what they plan to do. Then why should we clarify our stand? BJPs policy is to exploit communal feelings and they are continuing to do that. We want to say that no one should fall into the agenda set by the BJP, Salam said.

The strong words in the Samastha editorial for the Congress is likely to give the party jitters as the EP faction of the outfit has largely remained close to the IUML, the oldest ally of Congress in the state. With the CPM vociferously wooing Muslim outfits like Samastha, mistakes on the part of the Congress can tilt the balance in favour of the Left especially in the upcoming Lok Sabha elections.

Muslims comprise nearly 26 percent of the states population and can influence electoral outcomes in districts like Malappuram, Kasaragod, Kannur, Kozhikode and Wayanad.
Chennai: Desiya Murpokku Dravida Kazhagam (DMDK) founder and popular yesteryear Tamil actor Narayanan Vijayaraj Alagarswami, popularly known as Vijayakanth, who raised his voice against corruption on the big screen before taking the political plunge, passed away after a prolonged illness on Thursday. He was 71. Supporters gather during the last rites of DMDK chief Captain Vijayakanth, in Chennai on Thursday. (Lakshmi)

Read here: How actor-turned-politician Vijayakanth earned the popular moniker Captain

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In a statement, MIOT International Hospital said Vijayakanth was admitted for pneumonia on December 26. Captain Vijayakanth was on ventilatory support following his admission for pneumonia. Despite the best efforts of the medical staff he passed away in the morning on 28th December 2023, the hospital said.

The DMDK said the actor-turned-politician had also tested positive for Covid-19.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Tamil Nadu chief minister MK Stalin were among a string of leaders to condole the death.

Popularly known as Captain after he performed the role of an IFS officer in the 1991 blockbuster Tamil movie Captain Prabhakaran, Vijayakanth was not in good health since 2016, leading him to stay away from party affairs. He was last spotted at the DMDKs general council meeting on December 14, when his wife V Premalatha, was elected as party chief.

In a post on X, Modi said: Extremely saddened by the passing away of Thiru Vijayakanth Ji. A legend of the Tamil film world, his charismatic performances captured the hearts of millions. As a political leader, he was deeply committed to public service, leaving a lasting impact on Tamil Nadus political landscape. His passing leaves a void that will be hard to fill. He was a close friend and I fondly recall my interactions with him over the years. In this sad hour, my thoughts are with his family, fans and numerous followers. Om Shanti.

As Vijayakanths mortal remains were brought to his residence, Stalin, along with his cabinet colleagues, arrived to pay their tributes. Stalin described him as a beloved friend who scaled the heights of cinema and shone in public life through his dedicated work. His death is a loss to Tamil Nadu and the film world, he wrote on X.

Stalin also announced full state honours for Vijayakanths funeral.

Swarms of people and party supporters thronged the DMDKs headquarters after Vijayakanths body was shifted from his residence in a procession. The DMDK said the last rites would be conducted at 4.45pm on Friday on the premises of the party headquarters and party flags would fly at half mast for 15 days.

Born on August 25, 1952 in Madurai and despite hailing from the Telugu-speaking Naidu community, Vijayakanth was hailed by the Tamil film world and fans alike for over two decades (since the 1980s) as the macho actor and real life saviour. His spirited fight against graft in the movie Ramana struck a chord with the electorate during his initial years in politics.

He earned the nickname Captain after his hundredth film Captain Prabhakaran and also the title Puratchi Kalaignar.

He truly had all the qualities of a Captain to lead, said fellow actor and now BJP member S V Sekar. Anyone could visit his office for food at any time. At least 200-250 people ate in his office everyday, Sekar said.

When Vijayakanth was the head of the Nadigar Sangam (actors association), he repaid all debts, Sekar added.

Vijayakanth made his foray into politics in 2005 by floating the DMDK, to take on then heavyweights M Karunanidhi (of Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam or DMK) and J Jayalalithaa (of All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam or AIADMK). While the DMDK contested 24 out of 234 assembly seats during the elections a year later, Vijayakanth was the lone winner.

During the 2011 elections, the DMDK allied with the AIADMK and the former won 29 of the 41 seats it contested, becoming the second largest party after the AIADMK. The Jayalalithaa-led bloc won the polls and the DMDK founder went on to become the leader of opposition (2011-16).In 2012, Vijayakanth and then chief minister Jayalalithaa sparred inside the legislative assembly expressing regret over aligning with each other to win the election that concluded the previous year. the eventual fallout led them to split.

For the 2016 polls, the actor-turned-politician joined hands with the Left and smaller parties but drew a blank. In 2019, the DMDK joined the National Democratic Alliance for the Lok Sabha elections but parted ways during the 2021 assembly polls over disagreements in seat sharing.

Everyone thought that Vijayakanth was the only one who could challenge the supremacy of Amma (Jayalalithaa) and Kalaignar (Karunanidhi) but the party lost track, a former DMDK leader, who is now in the AIADMK, said, seeking anonymity.

Vijayakanth also served as an MLA for two terms, from Virudhachalam and Rishivandiyam constituencies.

Like the DMK and AIADMK, Vijayakanth also founded a television channel named Captain TV. He also founded the Andal Alagar Engineering College, in Chennai, which he offered to the state to be used as a hospital during the Covid-19 pandemic.

AIADMK general secretary Edappadi K Palaniswami and senior party leaders paid floral tributes at the DMDK headquarters. Describing Vijayakanth as a dear brother, the former chief minister said the DMDK founder won laurels both as a leader and as an actor in the world of cinema.

Actor and Makkal Needhi Maiam president Kamal Haasan said on X: The news of the death of my beloved brother Vijayakanth, the founder of the Desiya Murpokku Dravida Kazgam, a unique actor and captain of Tamil cinema, who was loved by all, is deeply saddening. He was the creator of innovative ideas in Tamilnadu politics.

Read here: Captain Vijayakanth no more: Kamal Haasan, Jr NTR, Trisha and others mourn his passing

Andhra Pradesh chief minister Y S Jagan Mohan Reddy expressed shock and grief over Vijayakanths demise. The chief minister conveyed his condolences to Vijayakanths bereaved family members, fans and DMDK party workers, said an official statement.

Vijayakanth is survived by his wife Premalatha, and two sons, Vijaya Prabhakaran and Shanmuga Pandian.
A Billings man pleaded not guilty Thursday to accusations of firing shots in North Park earlier this week and then leading police on a vehicle chase that ended with a wreck south of Billings.

Nathaniel Justin Burke, 18, has been charged in Yellowstone County District Court with assault with a weapon and criminal endangerment. He appeared for his arraignment via teleconference.

Standing Master Laurie Grygiel said she has had the misfortune of reviewing several recent complaints involving young men and guns and she set Burkes bond at $45,000.

Late on the night of Dec. 26, officers with the Billings Police Department met with a woman who said Burke had been tailing her in a vehicle earlier that night, and that he was armed with a handgun, according to charging documents. Speaking with police in the parking lot of a business on Shiloh Road, the alleged victim said she was in her vehicle at North Park when Burke drove up to her.

Burke allegedly pointed a pistol at her head, then fired several shots into the air. The woman drove away. As she was speaking with police, an officer spotted a vehicle driven by Burke heading south on Shiloh Road, court documents said. The officer radioed for assistance and gave a description of the vehicle.

At around midnight that same night, a Yellowstone County deputy saw Burkes vehicle in the same area, court documents said. The deputy followed Burke through a parking lot until he allegedly turned east onto King Avenue West and accelerated to speeds approaching 100 miles per hour. In accordance with law enforcement policy, the deputy broke off the pursuit in the interest of safety.

Within five minutes of the deputy backing off the pursuit, officers received word from dispatch that Burke had allegedly crashed his vehicle on a rural property off Hillcrest Road and Crest Ridge Road, south of Billings. Traveling with a passenger, Burke had plowed into a barbed wire fence about 45 feet from the road. Officers booked Burked into Yellowstone County Detention Facility.

At Thursdays arraignment, Senior Deputy County Attorney Sarah Hyde requested the $45,000 bond. Although Burke has no prior criminal history, Hyde said his first foray into the criminal justice system involved him allegedly committing gun violence. Hyde also noted several of the latest homicides in Billings had involved young men and firearms.

Starting in late October 2023, gunfire led to five deaths in Billings over a period of less than two weeks, nearly doubling the number of homicides in the city this year. The oldest of those five victims was a 31-year-old man. The youngest was a boy just a day shy of being a year old. During a public safety meeting held in response to the spike in violence, Billings Mayor Bill Cole said the average age of the five homicide victims and those accused of killing them was 18. The youngest of the homicide suspects charged in connection to those five deaths was 16-year-old boy.

Among the at least 12 homicide victims in Yellowstone County this year, the average age of the victims was 29.

At the national level, the number of children and teens killed by gunfire in the United States increased by about 50% between 2019 and 2021, according to data published by the Pew Research Center and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Those deaths include murders, suicides and accidental shootings. However, homicides in particular accounted for the majority of gun deaths of people in the U.S. under the age of 18 in 2021.

Should Burke make bail, Standing Master Grygiel also required that he be monitored by GPS and adhere to a curfew. If convicted of assault with a weapon, he could be sentenced up to 20 years in prison, while a criminal endangerment conviction comes the possibility of up to 10 years.
Three Manipur-cadre Indian Police Service (IPS) officers were appointed as chiefs of central paramilitary forces on Thursday with Nina Singh becoming the first woman to head the Central Industrial Security Force (CISF). IPS officer Nina Singh(X/ @NDTV)

A 1989-batch IPS officer, Singh currently serves as the Special Director General of CISF, a central paramilitary force that manages airports, Delhi Metro, government buildings and strategic buildings throughout the country.

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The officer has been holding the additional charge of CISF DG since the superannuation of Sheel Vardhan Singh on August 31. Singh, who was inducted into the IPS as a Manipur cadre officer, was later moved to the Rajasthan cadre.

Singh will remain at the helm till her retirement on July 31, 2024.

Meanwhile, the Appointments Committee of the Cabinet has approved Intelligence Bureau officer Rahul Rasgotra's appointment as Indo-Tibetan Border Police (ITBP) chief and Anish Dayal Singh has been made the Director General of the Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF).

Rasgotra, a 1989-batch IPS officer currently serves as a special director in the Intelligence Bureau (IB). He has spent nearly three decades in the IB. The appointment of Rasgotra comes at a time when the paramilitary force will have an additional team of intelligence officers for surveillance and intelligence gathering.

He has been appointed to the post till September 30, 2025.

Anish, a 1988-batch IPS officer, has been holding the CRPF DG's post as an additional charge for the last few weeks besides heading the ITBP. He will head the CRPF until his superannuation on December 31, 2024.

(With inputs from ANI, PTI)
New Delhi: Union minister Rajeev Chandrasekhar on Thursday lambasted a US daily's report that claimed Indian authorities had asked Apple to help soften the political impact of the latter's hacking alert, saying the newspaper had omitted the technology company's response that the notification could be a case of "false alarm". The BJP MP said the report was "half facts, fully embellished". Minister of state for Electronics and Information Technology, Rajeev Chandrasekhar.

Rajeev Chandrasekhar said it was for Apple to explain if their mobile phones were vulnerable and what triggered the alert. He said Apple had been asked to join a probe by the authorities over the alerts and several meetings had been held.

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"Those are the facts. Rest of the story is creative imagination & clickbaiting at work masquerading as journalism," he wrote on X.

In October, several Opposition politicians received alerts that state-sponsored hackers might have hacked their mobile phones.

After the alert triggered a giant controversy in India, Apple said in a statement that the company didn't attribute threat notifications to any specific state-sponsored attacker.

"State-sponsored attackers are very well-funded and sophisticated, and their attacks evolve over time. Detecting such attacks relies on threat intelligence signals that are often imperfect and incomplete. Its possible that some Apple threat notifications may be false alarms, or that some attacks are not detected. We are unable to provide information about what causes us to issue threat notifications, as that may help state-sponsored attackers adapt their behaviour to evade detection in the future," it had said.

Also read: Govt demanded Apple soften political impact of iPhone hack warnings: Report

The government later ordered a probe into the notifications.

Washington Post, a leading American daily, claimed on Thursday that the BJP government had asked Apple to soften the political impact.

Government officials allegedly exerted pressure on Apple to downplay the political impact of the warnings, the newspaper said citing three unidentified sources. They even allegedly summoned an Apple security expert to a meeting in New Delhi, urging them to provide alternative explanations for the warnings to the users.

Apple's India representatives were called by administration officials who asked the company to help 'soften' the political impact of the warnings, the daily had claimed, citing sources.

The visiting Apple official stood by the companys warnings. But the intensity of the Indian government's effort to discredit and strong-arm Apple disturbed executives at the companys headquarters, the report claimed.
Canada's The Globe and Mail reported that the two men believed to have shot Sikh separatist leader Hardeep Singh Nijjar never left Canada and are going to be arrested soon. Citing sources, the report said the two suspects have been under police surveillance for months and are now very close to being arrested by the Royal Canadian Mounted Police. The police will explain the alleged assassins' involvement and that of the Indian government when charges are laid against the two men, the report said. Canadian media reported that police is very close to arresting the suspects of Hardeep Singh Nijjar killing.

The killing of Hardeep Singh Nijjar on June 18 outside a Gurdwara in Surrey dented India-Canada relationship after Canada PM Justin Trudeau alleged that India had a role in Nijjar's assassination. India rejected the charge and a diplomatic fall-out followed. India temporarily suspended visa operations in Canada and sent back 41 Canadian diplomats posted in India, accusing them of interfering in India's internal affairs.

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New Delhi said Canada has become a haven for Khalistani terrorists and despite India's nudge, the Canadian government did not crack down on these elements. India, on the other hand, is ready to cooperate with the investigation into Hardeep Singh Nijjar's murder. Canada.

Meanwhile, the United States charged an Indian man, Nikhil Gupta, with conspiracy to murder Gurpatwant Singh Pannun on American soil. Following the US indictment, the Canada PM said he believed that India's relations with Canada may have undergone a tonal shift. The U.S. indictment appears to have convinced the Indian government to adopt a more sober tone, said Trudeau.

"I think there is a beginning of an understanding that they can't bluster their way through this and there is an openness to collaborating in a way that perhaps they were less open before," Trudeau said.

In a recent interview with Financial Times, PM Modi spoke on US allegations and said India will look into any information it receives on its alleged links to the foiled plot to murder the Sik separatist leader in the United States. "If a citizen of ours has done anything good or bad, we are ready to look into it. Our commitment is to the rule of law," PM Modi said.
Led by its charismatic young leader Conrad K Sangma, the NPP bagged 26 seats in the 60-member House, seven more than what the party had managed in the 2018 assembly polls. HT Image

The NPP got another shot in the arm in May, when the People's Democratic Front (PDF), along with two MLAs, merged with it, increasing the ruling partys tally to 28.

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Despite Prime Minister Narendra Modi and top central ministers campaigning for the BJP, the saffron party could only retain the two seats it had won in 2018.

The Opposition Congress and the TMC secured five seats each, while the newly floated Voice of the People Party (VPP) won four.

Within months of formation of the new government, VPP chief Ardent Basaiawmoit began a fast that lasted for over 200 hours, demanding the Conrad K Sangma-led Meghalaya Democratic Alliance government constitute an expert committee to review a 51-year-old reservation policy.

The state government announced the constitution of such a panel to review the 1972 policy, which awarded 40 per cent of reserved jobs to Garos, 40 per cent for Khasi-Jaintia tribes, 5 per cent for other tribes and 15 per cent for general category candidates.

The VPP leader maintained that the ratio in terms of job reservation should be proportionate as per the population structure of the state.

Sangma also reconstituted the regional committees in a bid to resolve the remaining six areas of differences along the interstate border with neighbouring Assam.

The committees headed by Deputy Chief Ministers Prestone Tynsong and Sniawbhalang Dhar and Tourism Minister Paul Lyngdoh have met, but could not make any significant headway due to reported skirmishes along the border.

Last year, Assam and Meghalaya had signed a border pact for the first six areas of differences identified between the two northeastern states.

The talks for the remaining six areas of differences, which include the disputed Langpih area in Meghalayas West Khasi Hills, and Mukroh and Lapangap villages in West Jaintia Hills district, are at an advanced stage, officials said.

In September, clashes broke out at Lapangap village and the situation remained tense for weeks, as people of two ethnicities attacked each other with catapults, bows and arrows.

At one point, the Assam Police resorted to firing teargas shells to disperse unruly crowds, which engaged in violence by burning down huts, police had said.

The relocation of residents of the Punjabi Lane area here also made news in Meghalaya during the year, as the state government proposed to shift 342 families from the disputed area to land owned by the Shillong Municipal Board.

People from Punjab, who were brought to Shillong around 200 years ago by the British, live in the area.

After initial reluctance, the residents agreed to the proposed relocation but with certain demands, including the government providing them plots and bearing the cost of constructing their houses.

The genesis of the relocation can be traced to a clash that erupted in the area, after a person was assaulted in May 2018. Thereafter, the Shillong Municipal Board began an exercise to determine the legal residents of the area.
The Nicaragua-bound Indians sent back from France after being detained over fears of human trafficking were first supposed to embark on their attempt to illegally emigrate in 2021, and had paid the first instalments to a network of travel consultancies running the racket as far back as 2020. Passengers of a charter plane, which was grounded in France for four days over suspected human trafficking, arrive in Mumbai, on Tuesday. (PTI)

Read here: Flight from France: Returnees in Punjab tighlipped fearing action

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These details were shared by police officials who cited information given up by two persons arrested for allegedly working as agents of the syndicate and the disclosures by family members, who have now sought help in recovering their money.

On Wednesday, a Legend Airways Airbus A340 landed in Mumbai with 276 of 303 passengers, returning from Vatry in France where the plane and its occupants were questioned for four days. The incident brought to light a racket involving 17 private companies, mostly based in Gujarat, that help people reach US and Canada via stops in Europe and South American countries.

To make the multi-hop journey, now known as the donkey route, the consultancies help create fake education certificates, identity documents, job letters and even secure high English language tests scores --- helping people receive transit, student or tourist visas for countries along the way to their eventual destination: US or Canada.

The group that took the flight that was held back at Vatry was the third lot to leave in three months, a Gujarat police official said, asking not to be named. Another flight was scheduled for December 29 and a number of people who had paid to be on it approached police for help after the syndicate went underground following the incident in France.

They had paid advance amount in 2020 and were promised to fly in 2021 but due to Covid, their money got stuck with agents and they were promised flights in 2022, but eventually left only at the end of this year, said this official, adding that the two men arrested on Wednesday --- Sahil Patel and Krunal Varia  told them that families had begun to pressure them since they had taken on loans.

The families said they were convinced that the plans would work since two flights had already left, with an average of 250-300 Indians on each, in the last three months, said the officer.

Patel and Varia said jobs had been arranged illegally at the destination cities of US and Canada, and lawyers and documentation was ready for all the Indians on the latest flight and those before. But in their case, these people just ran out of luck when the French intervened, said the officer, citing the duos disclosures.

HT reported on Thursday how such rackets charge between 70-80lakh per person for the journey, which in its last leg usually involves a land crossing through the porous US-Mexico border, or via sea through other South American nations such as Nicaragua.

A family member of one of the 276 who returned to their home in Punjab, told HT: The next instalment was to be paid when he would have reached Nicaragua and another after reaching Mexico and the final one on reaching the final destination [the US], the person said, requesting anonymity. Their relative had left for Dubai on a work visa two months ago.

The money is usually paid in tranches, with 3-5lakh at the beginning.

The Crime Investigation Department (CID) of the Gujarat police has identified 96 people from four districts  Gandhinagar, Mehsana, Sabarkantha and Banaskantha --- who were among the 276 sennt back from France.

Police said family members and the passengers are not cooperating with them and have insisted they were on a legitimate visit to Nicaragua, a claim they are possibly making to avoid any action from police.

They are also likely to not press any charges if they get their refunds. The only thing that matters to most of these families now is to recover the money they had paid, a settlement of sorts with the rackets kingpins, said another official, asking not to be named.

Both Mexico and Nicaragua allow Indians to get a visa on arrival if they have a visa for UK, the Schengen area (most European Union countries such as France and Spain) among some others. It is to secure a visa for these transit nations and to therefore be eligible for visa-on-arrival that the companies in the syndicate forged documents, going so far as arranging more skilled people to take the IELTS test, which is often a prerequisite for students visas to some countries.

A senior official said that raids at 17 offices, they have recovered passports, forged IELTS results, bank statements, Aadhaar cards, and school and college marksheets. Based on the recovery we are conducting investigation and questioning family members of the passengers to know the exact sequence of the travel, he said requesting anonymity.

The official said since the families are reluctant to cooperate fearing police action, they are now scouring details of people who took a similar route out of India. We are verifying the travel list from the airport to know how many people travelled from Gujarat to Mumbai and Dubai in the last three months. How many have returned and whereabouts of the rest through their family members, he said.

Passports and Instagram ads

The raids showed that the travel companies held the passports of 300-500 people, purportedly as a guarantee for their families to pay up the final instalments, which they do only once their relatives have reached their destination.

Read here: Separate probes on post-plane grounding in France over trafficking suspicions

It is the responsibility of the tout to return the passport in US to the concerned person after they receive the entire payment from the passenger, the officer said, adding that some passports were recovered from these offices while records of others had been seen.

A second police official, attached with the cyber division, said the department was also probing multiple social media accounts through which these rackets were advertised. One of these accounts, seen by HT, advertised services for people who wanted to reach US via legal route or illegal route, and also to those visas had been rejected on previous occasions.

(With inputs from Navrajdeep Singh in Jalandhar)
Neelam Singh alias Neelam Azad, one of the six people arrested in connection with the Parliament security breach, on Wednesday moved the Delhi high court, alleging her police remand was illegal as she was not allowed to consult a legal practitioner of her choice and was not produced before a trial court as per norms. Accused Neelam Singh outside Parliament on December 13. (PTI)

In her petition filed through advocate Suresh Kumar, Singh said the remand order dated December 21 is illegal as the trial court made a fatal error by adjudicating the remand application first and then asking the petitioner (Singh) if she wanted to be defended by a legal practitioner of her choice.

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Upon arrival in the court, an advocate associated with the Delhi Legal Service Authority (DLSA) already present in the court was appointed as she did not have legal representation. She and her co accused were not given any option with regards to their legal representation. Nor were they provided with any information about the appointed counsel that might have any impact on their decision, the petition said.

The accused also said that following her arrest on December 13, on the day of the security breach, she was produced before the trial court after a period of 29 hours, in violation of Article 22 of the Constitution. She sought an immediate release from the custody of Delhi Police.

Article 22 requires police to inform the person about the grounds on which he/she has been detailed, allow him/her to be defended by a legal practitioner of his/her choice and to produce the person before the magistrate within 24 hours of detention.

Singh and the remaining accused have been arrested under provisions of the Indian Penal Code and Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act.

Of the six accused, two men walked through three layers of security with smoke canisters stuffed in their shoes, vaulted into the Lok Sabha from the visitors gallery, and sprayed smoke inside the hallowed chambers in a daring breach of security on December 13, the anniversary of the 2001 Parliament terror attack.

Outside Parliament, two others, including Singh, shouted slogans such as Tanashahi nahi chalegi (no to dictatorship), Bharat Mata ki jai and Jai Bhim. They were later detained by the police.

Two people were later arrested for their involvement in the plan.
Ayodhya (Uttar Pradesh) [India], December 28 (ANI): Prime Minister Narendra Modi will address attendees at the grand consecration event of the Ram Temple in Ayodhya from the front of the 'Singh Dwar', the main entrance to the temple, sources said on Thursday. HT Image

PM Modi will throw the gates of the grand temple open for visitors at the consecration event on January 22, next year.

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According to sources, lakhs of devotees are likely to pour into the temple town for the January 22 consecration.

Meanwhile, Shri Ram Janmabhoomi Teerth Kshetra, the trust entrusted with the construction and management of the grand Ram Temple in Ayodhya, is scheduled to hold a meeting today.

According to sources, the discussions will centre on the idol of Lord Ram, which will be installed inside the sanctum sanctorum of the grand temple at the grand opening or consecration of the shrine on January 22.

Preparations for the consecration ceremony of the temple on January 22 will also be discussed in detail during the meeting, the sources added.

There will be another meeting of the trust to select the idol of Ram Lalla.

Earlier in the day, Uttar Pradesh Deputy Chief Minister Keshav Prasad Maurya participated in the cleanliness campaign drive in the temple city ahead of the grand event.

While speaking to reporters, he said, "With the resolve, Swachh Rahe Shri Ram Ka Dham' (Lord Ram's place should be cleaned) the cleanliness campaign is going on in Ayodhya and today we have launched the cleanliness campaign. Everyone together will keep Ayodhya clean."

Earlier, on Wednesday, trust secretary Champat Rai said that a 51-inch tall idol of Lord Ram reflecting a five-year-old Ram Lalla -- would be selected among three designs.

"The one which has the best divineness and has a child-like look about it will be selected," he said.

Rai, describing the map of Shri Ram Janmabhoomi temple, said a total of 21-22 lakh cubic feet of stone has been used in the construction of the entire structure. "Such a big stone structure has never been built in North or South India even in the last 100-200 years," he said.

"A foundation of 56-layered artificial rock, created by engineers, has been laid below the structure. Second, a plinth comprising 17000 granite blocks from Karnataka and Telangana has been laid across 21 feet above the ground. Around five lakh cubic feet of pink-coloured sandstone sourced from Bharatpur, Rajasthan have been used to construct the temple structure. The sanctum sanctorum of the temple is made up of pure white Makrana marble, which is ready," he told reporters.

Meanwhile, Prime Minister Narendra Modi is scheduled to arrive at the temple city on Saturday to inaugurate the Ayodhya airport and the railway station, which is being revamped especially on the temple model. (ANI)
For Representation Only (HT File Photo)

The 1463-crore Maryada Purushottam Shri Ram International Airport and the revamped and renamed Ayodhya Dham railway station are among the over 22,000-crore projects that Prime Minister Narendra Modi is set to gift to Ayodhya during his visit to the temple town on Saturday, said a state government official on Thursday.

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Modis visit comes weeks ahead of the much-awaited consecration ceremony of the idol of Ram Lalla (child deity) on January 22 and is part of the governments infrastructure push to make Ayodhya a prime religious tourism destination.

The projects include those which he will dedicate to the people as well as those for which the foundation stone will be laid.

All preparations have been made for the Prime Ministers Ayodhya visit. The PM will inaugurate Ayodhya International airport and the Ayodhya Dham railway station, said Ayodhya divisional commissioner Gaurav Dayal.

The 2183 crore New Ayodhya Township is among the projects for which the prime minister will lay the foundation stone. Spread over 1407 acre on both sides of the Lucknow-Gorakhpur highway, it has been conceptualised to decongest Ayodhya. The new township will have a lake replenished with water of the Saryu to give a spiritual look to the place. It will be extended by 442 acres in the second phase.

As for the airport, the facade of its terminal building is said to reflect the architecture of the Ram Temple.

The interior of the new terminal building is being enlivened with local art from across India, art and paintings depicting the life of Shri Ram. It is proposed to be decorated at different heights to convey a feeling of grandeur of the structure. The first flight to Ayodhya is scheduled to reach at 11.20am after taking off from Delhi at 10 am.

The first phase of the Ayodhya Dham railway station has been completed at a cost of 241 crore.

Modi will also lay the foundation stone of the 300-crore Vashishth Kunj residential project as well for construction of new ghats and beautification of existing ones.

FOUNDATION STONE TO BE LAID

New Ayodhya Township 2183 crore

Vashishth Kunj residential project 300 crore

Office of ADA/AMC 119 crore

CIEPT 39 crore

New ghats: 23.89 crore

Tourist facilities 23.29 crore

Viewing gallery at Ram Ki Paidi 23.25 crore

Walkway on ghats 22.83 crore

Beautification of four historical gates 15.18 crore

Improvement of Lko-Ayodhya NH-28(New NH-27) 297 crore

Improvement of existing Ayodhya bypass 218 crore

PROJECTS TO BE DEDICATED TO PEOPLE

Ayodhya Airport 1463 crore

Ram Path 844 crore

Bhakti Path 68 crore

Dharm Path 65 crore

Multi-level parking 37 crore

Transit hostel for police personnel 34 crore

Parking and commercial complex at Kaushal Kunj- 4 crore

Beautification of Bhakti Path facade- 4 crore

ROB on Badi Buaa Railway crossing - 74 crore

NEW AYODHYA TOWNSHIP PROJECT

Area: 1407 acres

2 km elevated road to reach township

Lake filled with water of river Saryu

It will have residential plots, group housing, commercial plots, ashram/ mutts, guest houses

Housing and urban planning department of the state government will execute the project
New Delhi: Prime Minister Narendra Modi will visit Ayodhya on December 30, Saturday, and will inaugurate projects worth 11,100 crore, including the Ayodhya Airport and the Ayodhya Dham Junction Railway Station. The Prime Minister will also flag off two new Amrit Bharat trains and six new Vande Bharat trains. Weeks ahead of the consecration ceremony of the Ram Temple, PM Modi will also inaugurate four new roads in the temple city. Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi will also lay the foundation stone for a greenfield township in Ayodhya.

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According to a government statement, he will inaugurate the railway station at 11.15 am and flag off new Amrit Bharat trains and Vande Bharat trains.

PM Modi will inaugurate the newly built Ayodhya Airport at 12.15 PM. At around 1 PM, PM Modi will participate in a public programme where he will inaugurate, dedicate to the nation and lay the foundation stone of multiple development projects worth more than 15,700 crore in the state.

These projects include 11100 crore worth of projects for Ayodhya and its surrounding areas and projects worth 4600 crore for other UP cities.

"The Prime Ministers vision is to develop modern world class infrastructure in Ayodhya, improve connectivity and revamp its civic facilities while also conforming to the rich history and heritage of the city. In realisation of this vision, a new airport, new redeveloped railway station, new urban roads and other civic infrastructure is being inaugurated in the city. Further, foundation stones of a number of new projects will be laid that will contribute to beautification and revamp of civic facilities in and around Ayodhya," a government statement reads.

According to the statement, the phase 1 of the Ayodhya airport has been built at a cost 1450 crore. The terminal building with an area of 6500 square meters can serve 10 lakh passengers per year.

"The facade of the Terminal Building depicts the temple architecture of the upcoming Shri Ram Mandir of Ayodhya. The interiors of the terminal Building are decorated with local art, paintings & murals depicting the life of Bhagwan Shri Ram. The terminal building of Ayodhya airport is also equipped with various sustainability features like insulated roofing system, LED lighting, rain water harvesting, landscaping with fountains, water treatment plant, sewage treatment plant, solar power plant and many other such features have been provided to meet GRIHA - 5 star ratings," the statement read.

The redevelopment of Ayodhya Railway Station took place at a cost of 240 crore. It is now a three storey station with modern features like lifts, escalators, food plazas, cloak rooms, child care rooms, waiting halls etc.

PM Modi will flag off the Amrit Bharat Express, which boasts facilities like beautiful and attractive designed seats, better luggage rack, mobile charging point with suitable mobile holder, LED lights, CCTV, public information system, among others. Two trains will be flagged off -- Darbhanga-Ayodhya-Anand Vihar Terminal Amrit Bharat Express and Malda Town-Sir M. Visvesvaraya Terminus (Bengaluru) Amrit Bharat Express.

PM Modi will also flag off six new Vande Bharat Trains. These include Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Katra-New Delhi Vande Bharat Express; Amritsar-Delhi Vande Bharat Express; Coimbatore-Bangalore Cantt Vande Bharat Express; Mangalore-Madgaon Vande Bharat Express; Jalna-Mumbai Vande Bharat Express and Ayodhya-Anand Vihar Terminal Vande Bharat Express.
NEW DELHI: A Qatari court on Thursday commuted the death sentence given to eight former Indian Navy personnel earlier this year and sentenced them to prison for varying durations ranging from three years to 25 years, people familiar with the matter said. The Indian side will work with the legal team to explore options, including the mounting of a further appeal against the prison terms given to the eight men (Photo courtesy: Doha.directory)

The ruling by Qatars Court of Appeal came during the hearing of an appeal by the families of the eight men, who were detained in August 2022 on undeclared charges. Reports have suggested they were accused of espionage, though Qatari and Indian authorities havent provided details of the charges against them.

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The external affairs ministry said in a brief statement that Qatars Court of Appeal had reduced the sentences given to the eight men  Captains Navtej Gill and Saurabh Vasisht, Commanders Purnendu Tiwari, Amit Nagpal, SK Gupta, BK Verma and Sugunakar Pakala, and sailor Ragesh  but provided no details. The detailed judgement is awaited, the statement said.

The people cited above said the Qatari court had commuted the death sentence of all eight men and given them prison terms of varying duration. The death sentence is off the table. The prison terms vary from a few years to several years, one of the people said on condition of anonymity.

A second person said the prison terms range from three years to 10, 15 and 25 years.

The commutation of the death sentence makes it possible for India to invoke a 2015 agreement with Qatar on the transfer of sentenced persons. The pact allows citizens of India and Qatar who have been convicted and sentenced for criminal offences to serve their sentences in their home country.

The agreement  signed during a visit to India by the emir of Qatar, Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani, in March 2015  is not applicable to persons sentenced to death.

The external affairs ministry said the Indian side is in close touch with the legal team and the families of the eight men to decide on the next steps.

The Indian ambassador to Qatar and other officials were present in the Court of Appeal with family members when the verdict was delivered on Thursday.

We have stood by them since the beginning of the matter and we will continue to extend all consular and legal assistance. We will also continue to take up the matter with the Qatari authorities, the statement said.

Due to the confidential and sensitive nature of proceedings of this case, it would not be appropriate to make any further comment at this juncture, it added.

The people said the Indian side will work with the legal team to explore options, including the mounting of a further appeal against the prison terms given to the men. This is all part of a process and it will continue, the person cited above said.

The eight men, including decorated officers who commanded frontline warships in the Indian Navy, were sentenced to death by Qatars Court of First Instance on October 26 after being detained for more than a year. At the time, the external affairs ministry expressed deep shock at the verdict and pledged to look at all legal options to help the former naval personnel.

Qatars Court of Appeal had held three hearings on November 23, November 30 and December 7. The Indian ambassador was provided consular access to meet the eight men on December 3.

Earlier, the families of the men had petitioned the emir of Qatar to pardon them. The emir usually pardons prisoners on Qatars national day on December 18 and during the Eid festivals.

The eight men were employees of a subsidiary of Oman-based Dahra Engineering & Security Services, which provided training and other services to Qatars armed forces. The subsidiary was shut down in May this year.
The Morton County Sheriff's Office violated North Dakota's open records law in June on a technicality when it failed to inform a woman that a requested record did not exist, according to an opinion from Attorney General Drew Wrigley.

Resident Karen Jordan lodged allegations against various government entities and asked the sheriff's office to investigate, according to Wrigley. Sheriff Kyle Kirchmeier said Jordan did not respond to his request that she meet with an investigator. Jordan later requested a copy of "a report that should have been written." Kirchmeier did not respond.

Wrigley said he understood Kirchmeier's frustration but that technically the sheriff should have told Jordan that such a record did not exist. Wrigley said the sheriff's office should review its processes for responding to records requests "to make sure that if a record does not exist, the requester is informed promptly."
A Qatari court on Thursday commuted the death sentence given to eight former Indian Navy personnel earlier this year and sentenced them to prison for varying durationsranging from three years to 25 years, people familiar with the matter said. The Indian side will work with the legal team to explore options, including the mounting of a further appeal against the prison terms given to the eight men (Photo courtesy: Doha.directory)

The ruling by Qatars Court of Appeal came during the hearing of an appeal by the families of the eight men, who were detained in August 2022 on undeclared charges. Reports have suggested they were accused of espionage, though Qatari and Indian authorities havent provided details of the charges against them.

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Read here: Sentences of 8 ex-Navy men on death row in Qatar reduced: MEA

The external affairs ministry said in a brief statement that Qatars Court of Appeal had reduced the sentences given to the eight men  Captains Navtej Gill and Saurabh Vasisht, Commanders Purnendu Tiwari, Amit Nagpal, SK Gupta, BK Verma and Sugunakar Pakala, and sailor Ragesh  but provided no details. The detailed judgment is awaited, the statement said.

The people cited above said the Qatari court had commuted the death sentence of all eight men and given them prison terms of varying duration. The death sentence is off the table. The prison terms vary from a few years to several years, one of the people said on condition of anonymity.

A second person said the prison terms range from three years to 10, 15 and 25 years.

The commutation of the death sentence makes it possible for India to invoke a 2015 agreement with Qatar on the transfer of sentenced persons. The pact allows citizens of India and Qatar who have been convicted and sentenced for criminal offences to serve their sentences in their home country.

The agreement  signed during a visit to India by the emir of Qatar, Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani, in March 2015  is not applicable to persons sentenced to death.

The external affairs ministry said the Indian side is in close touch with the legal team and the families of the eight men to decide on the next steps.

The Indian ambassador to Qatar and other officials were present in the Court of Appeal with family members when the verdict was delivered on Thursday.

We have stood by them since the beginning of the matter and we will continue to extend all consular and legal assistance. We will also continue to take up the matter with the Qatari authorities, the statement said.

Due to the confidential and sensitive nature of proceedings of this case, it would not be appropriate to make any further comment at this juncture, it added.

The people said the Indian side will work with the legal team to explore options, including the mounting of a further appeal against the prison terms given to the men. This is all part of a process and it will continue, the person cited above said.

The eight men, including decorated officers who commanded frontline warships in the Indian Navy, were sentenced to death by Qatars Court of First Instance on October 26 after being detained for more than a year. At the time, the external affairs ministry expressed deep shock at the verdict and pledged to look at all legal options to help the former naval personnel.

Qatars Court of Appeal had held three hearings on November 23, November 30 and December 7. The Indian ambassador was provided consular access to meet the eight men on December 3.

Read here: Qatari court reduces death sentence for 8 ex-Indian Navy personnel to 3-25 yrs in jail

Earlier, the families of the men had petitioned the emir of Qatar to pardon them. The emir usually pardons prisoners on Qatars national day on December 18 and during the Eid festivals.

The eight men were employees of a subsidiary of Oman-based Dahra Engineering & Security Services, which provided training and other services to Qatars armed forces. The subsidiary was shut down in May this year.
Telangana chief minister A Revanth Reddy on Wednesday kickstarted Abhaya Hastam, a programme to implement the six guarantees as promised by the Congress before the elections, and said his government was committed to implementing all the promises within 100 days. Telangana chief minister A. Revanth Reddy after launching 'Praja Palana' (Abhaya Hastham) application form at the state secretariat, in Hyderabad on Wednesday. (PTI)

As part of the programme, the state government will take up a week-long exercise  Praja Palana (Peoples governance)  starting Thursday (December 28). The programme, aimed at receiving applications from the eligible beneficiaries of various schemes promised under Abhaya Hastam, will conclude on January 6.

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The chief minister along with deputy chief minister Mallu Bhatti Vikramarka and other senior cabinet colleagues and officials launched the format of the Praja Palana applications, the programme logo and other materials at the Secretariat on Wednesday.

Speaking to reporters, Revanth Reddy said the entire exercise of the Praja Palana was to take the government to the door steps of the people. Instead of people going to the government to represent their grievances, the government itself will go to the people to find out their needs and resolve their issues, he said.

He said the programme would be held in all the villages and wards across the state to receive grievances and applications from the people. There would be counters in all the villages to collect applications. Separate counters would be set up for women, he said.

The chief minister said every mandal (revenue block) would be divided into two parts, one headed by a mandal revenue officer (MRO) and the other by a mandal parishad development officer (MPDO). Each officer would visit two villages in one day. In villages where there are more people, more counters will be opened. Those who cant apply at grama sabha can apply at gram panchayats also. This will be a continuous process and wont stop on January 6, he said.

There would be separate counters for the people submitting grievances, apart from the applications for the government schemes. While the schemes are meant for those having ration cards, those without ration cards can also apply for the six guarantees and they could apply for new ration cards at the separate counters provided by the government, he said.

He said the entire exercise was to know about the exact number of beneficiaries to be covered under various schemes, so that the schemes would not be misused.

Commenting on the ongoing Praja Vani programme being held every Tuesday and Friday at the Jyotiba Phule Praja Bhavan, he said so far over 24,000 applications had been received and they were being directed to the department concerned.

The government has already laid down a process of digitalising the grievances received at the Praja Bhavan by giving them a docket number and sending received messages to the applicant. A tracking system was put in place as we need to know where the application reached and what was the action taken, the chief minister said.

Once the government receives the applications, it would have 100 days to fulfil the aspirations of the people, he said.

Bharat Rashtra Samithi lawmaker and former chief minister K Chandrasekhar Raos daughter Kalvakuntla Kavitha said the entire exercise of the Congress government was creating more confusion. The number of beneficiaries for various schemes have already been identified and were getting benefits during the BRS government. Whatever the new government promised, they can be straightaway extended to them, she said.

For example, already 4.4 milion senior citizens were getting old-age pensions to the extent of 3,000 per month. Under the six guarantees programme, the Congress promised to enhance the pension to 4,000 per month. The existing beneficiaries can be straightaway given the enhanced pensions from January 1. Why calling for fresh applications again? Kavitha asked.

Similarly, the number of domestic power consumers is already available with the government and they can be straightaway given free power supply up to 200 units, the BRS leader said.
Shiv Sena (Uddhav Balasaheb Thackeray) leader Sanjay Raut on Thursday sharpened his attack against the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) over the controversy around the invitation for the Ram Temple consecration ceremony in Ayodhya, saying it seems they have kidnapped Lord Ram. Shiv Sena (UBT) leader Sanjay Raut.

Raut has claimed that Shiv Sena (UBT) was not invited to the Ram Temple consecration ceremony scheduled for January 22.

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"There is BJP government in UP and at the Centre. It seems like they have kidnapped Lord Ram. Are we waiting for the invitation? When the BJP event is over, we will go to visit Ram Lalla," the Rajya Sabha member told reporters.

On Tuesday, Raut said there was no need for an invitation to party chief Uddhav Thackeray to visit Ayodhya for the ceremony as Shiv Sena has an old association with the UP town, unlike BJP. Raut claimed when the BJP blamed the Shiv Sena for pulling down Babri masjid in 1992, Sena founder Bal Thackeray took responsibility for it.

"When the Ayodhya movement was going on, those who consider themselves warriors today ran away from there and at that time Balasaheb Thackeray came forward and said I am proud of Shiv Sainiks who have done this work for Ram Temple. Those who contributed in the Ram Janmabhoomi movement include former Deputy Prime Minister Lal Krishna Advani, Balasaheb Thackeray, former VHP president Ashok Singhal, Uma Bharati, Vinay Katiyar and Shrish Chandra Dikshit," he said.

Meanwhile, Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) chief Sharad Pawar has expressed his disappointment for not being invited to the event, accusing BJP of playing politics in the name of Ram Mandir.

"I have not been invited to the inauguration of Ram Mandir, I have some places of faith, I go there. The question of going to a religious place is personal. I am not saying that openly. BJP is doing politics or business in the name of Ram temple, I don't know," said Pawar.

"The ruling party does not have any concrete program to garner people's support, so it seems they are trying to create a different opinion among the people by using Ram Mandir as an excuse," added Pawar.
New Delhi: The Ministry of External Affairs said on Thursday that the sentences of eight former Indian Navy personnel -- who are on death row in Qatar -- have been reduced. Court generic(HT )

In a statement, MEA said the Court of Appeal of Qatar reduced the sentences in the Dahra Global case. It, however, didn't specify what the court said.

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"We have noted the verdict today of the Court of Appeal of Qatar in the Dahra Global case, in which the sentences have been reduced...The detailed judgement is awaited," the MEA said in a statement.

It said India's Ambassador to Qatar, officials and the family members of the incarcerated ex-Navy personnel were present in the Court of Appeal.

"Our Ambassador to Qatar and other officials were present in the Court of Appeal today, along with the family members. We have stood by them since the beginning of the matter and we will continue to extend all consular and legal assistance. We will also continue to take up the matter with the Qatari authorities," it added.

In October, a court in Qatar announced the death penalty to the eight former Navy personnel who had been detained in the country for over a year. Those detained included decorated officers of the Navy who commanded major Indian warships.

Also read: 8 ex-Indian Navy personnel sentenced to death in Qatar; New Delhi says deeply shocked

They had been working for Qatar's Al Dahra Global Technologies and Consultancy Services, a private firm that provided training and related services to Qatars armed forces and security agencies. Their bail pleas were rejected numerous times and their detention was extended by Qatari authorities.

New Delhi had expressed deep shock on the death penalty. People familiar with the matter recently had told HT on condition of anonymity that the eight men were charged with espionage.

Earlier this month, MEA said two hearings had taken place in connection with the case.

Also read: Working for early release of 8 former naval personnel detained in Qatar: India

"There have been two hearings. We filed an appeal, with the families, and the detainees had a final appeal. Two hearings have since been held. One was on November 30th and the other was on November 23rd. I think the next hearing is coming up soon," MEA spokesperson Arindham Bagchi had said.

The government has not revealed the charges on which they were sentenced to death. This comes weeks after a recent meeting between Prime Minister Narendra Modi and the Emir of Qatar, Sheikh Tamim Bin Hamad in Dubai.
The bulk of 276 Nicaragua-bound Indians sent back from France following detention over fears of human trafficking belong to Punjab and Gujarat, prompting police in the two states to launch separate investigations. A person, who was on board Nicaragua-bound flight grounded in France on suspicion of human trafficking, evades the media as he leaves the Mumbai airport. (REUTERS)

A Legend Airways charter flight arrived in Mumbai on Wednesday carrying 276 of the 303 passengers originally on board after French authorities questioned them for four days. The rest have sought asylum in France and were detained for a human trafficking investigation.

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A relative of a returnee from Punjab, who left for Dubai on a work visa two months ago, said he planned to go to the US via Nicaragua. He added they paid four lakh to an agent. The next instalment was to be paid when he would have reached Nicaragua and another after reaching Mexico and the final one on reaching the final destination [the US], the relative said, requesting anonymity.

Around 70% of the 276 returnees are from Punjab and 25% from Gujarat.

A Gujarat Police officer, who did not want to be named, said they have so far found all the passengers from the state carried legal documents even as their investigation was still on.

A Punjab Police officer said initial inquiries have suggested the involvement of Shashi Kiran Reddy, a Hyderabad-based consultant under scrutiny in a 2022 case involving a Gujarat couple and their two children, who died trying to enter the US from Canada.

Investigators in Gujarat and Punjab said Reddy was said to have chartered Dubai-Nicaragua flights in 2023.

One of the three people from Shahkot in Punjabs Jalandhar, who were on the Nicaragua-bound flight, refused to speak when HT managed to get in touch with him. His family refused to give details of the travel agents, who arranged his Dubai work visa and tickets to Nicaragua.

The passengers refused to speak to media after landing in Mumbai and most returned to their homes.

A Jalandhar-based travel agent, who asked for anonymity, said the circuitous route to the US costs between 40-45 lakh with payments made in instalments for each destination. Mostly, there are no police complaints as the travel agents involved return the money if a person fails to reach the final destination.

A second Gujarat Police officer, who has investigated illegal migration cases, said the cost of reaching the US was between 50-60 lakh per person with the Mexico route being the preferred one. The Nicaragua flight was also for illegal migration through Mexico.

HT on Wednesday reported at least 17 cases have been filed across Gujarat since the December 22 grounding of an Airbus A340 in France blew the lid off operations of a syndicate helping Indians enter the US and Canada illegally on forged documentation. The First Information Reports in these cases do not directly reference the Nicaragua-bound flight but they pertain to the same syndicate.

The ring charged each person between 70 lakh and 80 lakh for donkey route immigration. Two people among a web of at least 50 travel agents and touts based in India have been arrested.
Amid intense politicking over attending the grand Ram Mandir inauguration on January 22, Congress MP Shashi Tharoor on Thursday clarified that he would love to visit the Ram temple one day but not on the day of the 'grand political extravaganza'. The day will also not come before the 2024 elections, the Thiruvananthapuram MP said adding that his visit to Ram Temple should not be interpreted politically. A day before, Shashi Tharoor said to him religion is a personal attribute and not the government's business. Shashi Tharoor said he would like to visit Ram Temple but not on the day of the inauguration, nor before the elections.

"Speaking for myself as a Hindu, I see a temple as place to connect with the divine rather than a stage for political theatre," the writer of Why I Am a Hindu said.

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The Ram Temple invitations to the Congress's top leaders have put the party in a quandary as its UDF allies in Kerala and several Muslim bodies are not in favour of Congress leaders attending the event. The Congress leadership has also not committed on their stance -- on whether no Congress leader would attend the January 22 event.

The Congress stance seems to be that it wants to attend the Ram temple event to prevent the erosion of its Hindu vote base in north India especially with Lok Sabha elections approaching. It is this soft Hindutva stance that has taken the party which ruled India for 36 years down to its present condition. The Congress leadership may not know this but the people of India do, the editorial of Suprabhatham, the mouthpiece of the EK faction of the Samastha Kerala Jamiyyathul Ulama (SAMASTHA) read.

Reacting to the row, Shashi Tharoor said every individual should be free to take this decision. "Personally, I believe religious faith is a personal matter and should not be seen politically, or misused politically. I hope each of the invitees is left free to make a personal choice, rather than be described as "anti-Hindu" if they don't go or "playing into the BJP's hands" if they do attend," Tharoor said.
New Delhi: The Indian Navy has now deployed five frontline guided missile destroyers along with logistics tanker, Boeing P 8 I anti-submarine warfare aircraft and long endurance Sea Guardian drone to keep the sea lanes of communication between Bab el-Mandeb to Indian coast safe for merchant shipping and missile attack by Iranian proxies in the Middle-East. Indian Navy has deployed five destroyers after MV Chem Puto strike.

It is understood that the Indian Navy has deployed INS Kolkata, INS Kochi, INS Mormugao, INS Chennai and INS Visakhapatnam into the Arabian theatre independent of the US led coalition in the Middle-East region. While INS Kolkata is on the mouth of Red Sea, INS Kochi is south of Yemen Socotra Island, INS Mormugao is in west Arabian sea with Chennai in Central Arabian sea.

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INS Visakhapatnam was tasked to patrol the north Arabian sea and left the Indian coast two days ago after an Iranian loitering ammunition Shahed 136 hit chemical tanker MV Chem Pluto 210 nautical miles off Dwarka in Gujarat.

The five top of the line destroyers are being fueled by M V Swarnamala, a 25000 ton oil tanker, currently hired by the Indian Navy. The civilian tanker has a massive fuel and lubricant capacity as compared to the Indian Navys tankers.

While the Indian ships are dominating the Arabian Sea to prevent black shipping, piracy and deter missile attacks on commercial shipping by Iranians axis of resistance militia and terrorist groups, Boeing P 8 I multi-mission aircraft along with long endurance Sea Guardian drone are constantly surveying the vessels in Arabian Sea and up to Gulf of Aden to identify suspicious ships and dhows used for targeting the commercial shipping by the Shia Houthis in Yemen, Shia Kaitab Hezbollah in Iraq and by Tehran. The Iranian proxies, particularly the Houthis, are targeting vessels in the Red Sea and Arabian Sea against Israels war against Sunni Hamas terrorist group in Gaza. Iran backed Shia Hezbollah group has also opened a front with Israel on its northern border.

While the US led coalition is deterring the Iranian proxies from attacking commercial shipping in the Red Sea, the Indian effort is to help secure the Arabian Sea from any missile attacks on commercial shipping routes emanating from the Red Sea and the Persian Gulf with trillion dollar worth of merchant and oil trade at risk from Iranian militia.

To add to the Indian Navy effort, the Coast Guard is also patrolling the EEZ on western coast with offshore patrol vessels and Dornier surveillance aircraft to ensure that there is no suspicious activity on the Indian coast line and Arabian Sea.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Thursday remembered DMDK founder Vijayakanth as a close friend, a legend of Tamil film world and a deeply committed politician. Vijayakanth passed away at Miot Hospital where he was admitted for pneumonia. He also tested positive for Covid-19. "Extremely saddened by the passing away of Thiru Vijayakanth Ji. A legend of the Tamil film world, his charismatic performances captured the hearts of millions. As a political leader, he was deeply committed to public service, leaving a lasting impact on Tamil Nadus political landscape. His passing leaves a void that will be hard to fill. He was a close friend and I fondly recall my interactions with him over the years. In this sad hour, my thoughts are with his family, fans and numerous followers. Om Shanti," PM Modi tweeted. PM Modi said actor and DMDK leader Vijayakanth was a dear friend.

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Congress leader Rahul Gandhi condoled his family and fans and remembered his contribution to cinema and politics. "Deeply saddened by the demise of DMDK founder, Thiru Vijayakanth ji. His contributions to cinema and politics have left an indelible mark on the hearts of millions. My heartfelt condolences to his family and fans during this difficult time," Rahul Gandhi posted.

We are deeply saddened by the passing away of DMDK Founder and President, Captain Vijayakanth. A prolific actor and a leader who was staunchly admired by the people, his contribution to the social and political empowerment of Tamil Nadu, shall always be remembered. Our deepest condolences to his family, friends, admirers and followers, Congress president mallikarjun Kharge posted.

Chief minister MK Stalin reached the residence of Vijayakanth after his mortal remains were brought. From there, his body would be taken to the DMDK office. Captain Vijayakanth would be laid to rest with State Honours, Stalin announced.

Vijayakanth was admitted to the hospital in November though he had not been keeping well for the past 4-5 years. His wife Premalatha Vijayakanth formally took over the party leadership on December 14.

Vijayakanth's filmography

Before venturing into politics, Vijayakanth featured in 154 movies. vaidehi Kathirunthal, Amman Kovil Kizhaale, Perarasu, Sethupathu IPS, Kannupada Poguthaiya, Chatriyan, Narasimha, Ramana, Captain Prabhakaran are some of his films.

Vijayakanth in politics

Vijayakanth founded Desiya Murpokku Dravida Kazgam in 2005.

In 2006, DMDK contested in all assembly seats but its performance was poor.

In 2011, DMDK fought the elections in alliance with the AIADMK and contested 41 constituencies, winning 26.

DMDK won more seats than the DMK in 2011 and emerged as the principal opposition party that year.

Vijayakanth served as the leader of the Opposition in the Tamil Nadu Assembly from 2011-2016.

Later, owing to differences of opinion, the DMDK broke ties with the AIADMK, resulting in bulk resignations of DMDK MLAs.
He was 71. HT Image

Praised as 'Karuppu MGR' (black MGR) by his fans for his generosity, Vijayakanth has been ill and kept a low-profile for the past 4-5 years and his wife Premalatha formally took over the reins of the DMDK on December 14 and she was declared the general secretary at a party meet here.

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MIOT International hospital said in a press release: "Captain Vijayakanth was on ventilatory support following his admission for pneumonia. Despite the best efforts of the medical staff he passed away in the morning on 28th December 2023."

Vijayakanth allied with the AIADMK in the 2011 Assembly elections and the Jayalalithaa-led bloc won the polls and the DMDK founder went on to become the Leader of the Opposition.

His verbal duel with Jayalalithaa in the Assembly took the state by storm and he appeared all set to take on the powers-that-be and break down the hegemony of the Dravidian parties, that have held sway for over half a century in Tamil Nadu's political landscape.

While the party statement had said that Vijayakanth had tested positive for coronavirus and was under ventilator, the hospital bulletin said he battled pneumonia. Hospital sources said the party issued that statement even before the results for the second round of samples were available.
Members of the Karnataka Rakshana Vedika, a pro-Kannada activist group, were detained on Wednesday after they vandalised some stores in Bengaluru demanding Kannada nameplates to be put up abiding by the guidelines of the civic authority. Several videos of their rampage on Bengaluru streets, in front of Phoenix Mall of Asia, went viral. Karnataka Rakshana Vedika president TN Narayan Gowda said his organisation organised an awareness protest rally about the 60% Kannada on signboard rule which is a government law. Some social media accounts claimed nameplates which had Kannada apart from English were also vandalised. Karnataka Rakshana Vedike activists pulling down a signboard on Wednesday in Bengaluru as it did not have 60% Kannada. (PTI)

What is the 60% Kannada rule?

Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike has come up with a rule that all commercial establishments will have to put up 60% signage in Kannada. More than half of a signboard should read in Kannada, according to this guideline. A deadline of February 28 has been given, failing which the shops will be closed and their trade licenses cancelled.

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'Don't take action before Feb 28': FKCCI

The Federation of Karnataka Chambers of Commerce and Industry on Wednesday said the authorities should not take action before the deadline. The federation said it will ask all its members to follow the rule but the government should not take any action against establishments before the deadline. Many establishments were not aware that the 60% Kannada was a BBMP rule and not the demand of some fringe organisations.

'Move to other states if...': Narayan Gowda

Karnataka Rakshana Vedika president TN Narayan Gowda said if establishments do not want Kannada names on their signboards, they should move out of Karnataka. "People from various states are doing business in Bangalore. But they don't put Kannada nameplates on their shops. They are only putting up the nameplates of their shops in English. If they want to stay back in Bangalore then they have to put nameplates on their shops in Kannada or else they have to move from Karnataka to other states."

"We told them to put a Kannada nameplate but Mall of Asia (Bangalore) did not bother and has not put a Kannada nameplate so we will fight against this. Today police are providing full protection to the Mall of Asia (Bengaluru), but tomorrow who will provide protection? Tomorrow again our activists will protest, till our demand is fulfilled," Narayan Gowda said.

Siddaramaiah warns of action against whoever takes law into hands

After the rampage of the pro-Kannada protestors, chief minister Siddaramaiah said, "I don't know what they (the protestors) are doing. I have got information that Narayana Gowda is protesting about having Kannada name boards. We will take action against those who took the law into their own hands and went against the law."

This is not England: Pralhad Joshi amid BJP vs Congress over Bengaluru rampage

While the Karnataka BJP leaders blamed the Congress government for creating the Kannadiga versus non-Kannadiga row in Bengaluru, Union minister and Karnataka MP Pralhad Joshi backed the demand of 60% Kannada and asked why the establishments don't want Kannada signage. "Everybody should be able to read the signs and not everyone can read English. What is the harm in writing in Kannada as well as in English or another language, like Hindi? This is not England," he said.
Historic winter snowfall and smoky summer skies marked the weather in North Dakota in 2023, a year in which spring flooding battled with drought and weather records seemed to fall like dominoes.

Snow was in abundance early in the year, with Bismarck's season total hitting triple digits for only the third time in nearly 1  centuries and falling just shy of an all-time mark. But there also was a lack of summer storms, with the National Weather Service office in Bismarck issuing the fewest severe thunderstorm and tornado warnings for central and western North Dakota in the modern era, post-1995, when new radar technology was adopted.

In between there was historically bad spring weather in much of North Dakota that prompted a presidential disaster declaration for a second straight year. But once things dried out, the pattern of excessive precipitation ended like a shut-off faucet in parts of the state. And the fall was the opposite of autumn 2022, with mostly mild conditions and bare ground on Christmas rather than 1  feet of snow.

"In North Dakota weather, you can really never rule any one thing out," said weather service Meteorologist Megan Jones, who specializes in climate matters.

Wild winter

As New Year's bells rang across North Dakota in 2023, Bismarck was headed for a record winter snowfall, though it fell off that pace following a relatively dry January.

But the tide changed again -- for example, the 4.5 inches of snow that fell in Bismarck on Feb. 21 smashed the city's record for that date of 3.2 inches -- and when all was said and done the city had an official season snowfall total of 101.2 inches, less than half an inch shy of the record of 101.6 inches, set in 1996-97.

Bismarck also set three snowpack records over the winter. The city had a streak of 152 days with a snowpack of at least 8 inches, nearly double the previous record of 80 days, set in 2009-10. The record for consecutive days with a snow depth of at least 6 inches reached 153; the previous mark was 108 days in 1996-97. Bismarck also set a record of 54 consecutive days of a snowpack measuring at least 12 inches.

Grand Forks also had its second-snowiest winter on record, and Dickinson broke its all-time mark. In terms of precipitation statewide, it was the 21st wettest winter on record, according to State Climatologist Adnan Akyuz.

The unusual winter prompted the Legislature to pass a bill providing $20 million in snow removal aid to cities, counties, townships and tribal governments.

Whether the winter was one the likes of which many people will not see again in their lifetime is anyone's guess.

"Could it not happen for another 50 to 70 years? Yeah," Jones said. But she added, "Could it happen this year? Sure, and we get back-to-back 100-inch winters."

That's not expected, though, due to a change in water temperatures in the central and eastern Pacific Ocean that influence weather in the continental U.S. The past three winters have been La Nina years -- the cold phase -- while this winter meteorologists expect a strong and possibly very strong El Nino, or warming of the waters.

The El Nino will reshape the jet stream, with a Pacific stream shifting to the southern U.S. and bringing cooler and drier weather there, and a polar stream moving well north into Canada and leading to milder conditions in the northern U.S. The outlook for Bismarck is for a normal winter, with snowfall about half of what fell last year, according to Jones.

"There's a reason that our average is only 50.5 (inches), because we just have such a large spread in terms of seasonal snow totals we can get in Bismarck," she said. "We have as low as 11.7 and we have as high as 101.6. So anything in between there is fair game, and even then, something outside of that range is still fair game, too."

The year ended not with snow but with ice. What Jones described as "unusual" weather conditions in the Upper Midwest led to a Christmastime ice storm in the eastern half of North Dakota, including in Bismarck-Mandan, that shut down travel and offices and cut power to thousands of people.

Flooding and drought

Many parts of western and central North Dakota on Easter Sunday April 9 saw their first day at or above 50 degrees in five months. The stretch of 154 consecutive days was the longest on record for Dickinson; for both Jamestown and Bismarck the stretch of 157 days was third-longest on record, according to the weather service.

Just a day later, Gov. Doug Burgum issued a spring flooding statewide emergency executive order, making state resources available in preparation for expected flood fights in the coming weeks.

They did materialize, though mostly in eastern North Dakota. In western and central North Dakota, dry soils from extensive drought in the summer of 2022 quickly sucked up the melting snow. Ice jams caused the Heart River to quickly rise at Mandan on April 14, leading to apprehension but no significant damage.

President Joe Biden the day after the Fourth of July declared a disaster in North Dakota to pave the way for federal aid to help repair spring damage to roads, culverts and other infrastructure, mostly in the east.

As summer wore on drought returned to northern North Dakota, though not nearly as severe as in 2022. The abrupt change from the wet winter was due mainly to the switch to El Nino conditions and a "Canadian ridge" upper air pattern that led to warmer and drier conditions, according to Jones.

What stands out the most to her was the lack of stormy weather.

"The summer was so quiet," she said. "This year we only had 136 severe thunderstorm and tornado warnings combined, and that is the lowest number since 1994."

Smoky skies

But while big storms were largely absent, hazy skies were often prevalent.

Thousands of wildfires in Canada this year blackened an area larger than North Dakota. The fires that stretched from the western provinces east to Quebec sent smoke south on a regular basis over the summer, leading to unhealthy air on many occasions, beginning in May.

"The wildfire season started early in 2023; we usually dont see much smoke until late June or early July," said Ryan Mills, ambient air monitoring manager for the North Dakota Department of Environmental Quality. "The Canadian fires started in mid-May 2023 and didnt let up all summer. In June and July the western Montana and Idaho fires started, but they paled in comparison to the Canadian fires that influenced our wildfire smoke season."

The fires scorched about 45 million acres north of the border, about seven times more than in an average season.

The Canadian ridge was a factor in the path of the smoke, according to Jones.

"It was much easier for the smoke to kind of go from British Columbia and Alberta, where the wildfires were, to swing right into North Dakota," she said. "We just had the perfect upper air pattern where it filtered right into the region."

Mills said the smoky summer "was the worst year we have ever seen in North Dakota for wildfire smoke, hands down."
Janhvi Kapoor set the internet ablaze as she shared season's greetings with her fans in an Instagram post featuring the actor dressed in a red bodycon ensemble, styled with wet-hair look. The photoshoot left her followers swooning, including her BFF Orhan Awatramni and actor Sobhita Dhulipala, and they showered Janhvi with praises in the comments section. Scroll down to check out Janhvi's photos and read our download on her sizzling look. Janhvi Kapoor shared her season's greetings photoshoot with her fans on social media. (Instagram)

Janhvi Kapoor's 'season's greetings' photoshoot leaves her fans drooling

Janhvi Kapoor recently posted pictures from a red-themed photoshoot on her Instagram page. "[Love Letter Emoji] seasons greetings [Love Letter Emoji]," she captioned the post. Her BFF, Orry aka Orhaan Awatramani, commented, "Seasons greetings." Sobhita Dhulipala posted, "Red chilli emoticons." Manish Malhotra dropped hearts. A fan wrote, "Being this hot should be illegal." Another commented, "HOTTTTT [fire emojis]." A user wrote, PAINT THE TOWN RED.

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All you need to know about Janhvi's all-red look

Celebrity stylist Meagan Concessio styled Janhvi for the clicks. The shoot shows Janhvi drenched in water and posing for the camera dressed in a body-hugging leather dress styled with a wet-hair look and striking glam picks. While Janhvi's dress serves Christmas vibes, her look could be a great hit for your New Year's party too. Steal some styling tips from the actor and get ready to paint the town a sizzling red.

Coming to the design elements of Janhvi Kapoor's dress, the faux leather ensemble has a turtle neckline, full-length sleeves, a midi-length hemline, and a figure-hugging silhouette sculpting her enviable frame. Janhvi ditched all accessories to style the outfit, letting it be the star of the photoshoot.

Meanwhile, Janhvi chose feathered brows, black winged eyeliner, subtle shimmery pink eye shadow, mascara on the lashes, mauve lip shade, rouge on the cheekbones, highlighter on the contours, and a dewy base for the glam picks. Lastly, a lightly tousled and back-swept open wet-hair look gave the finishing touch.

On the work front

Fans will see Janhvi in Mr and Mrs Maahi alongside actor RajKummar Rao. She will also be seen in Devara along with Jr NTR and Saif Ali Khan.
Sloe gin is a festive old English drink that's especially well-suited to the winter holidays. You can drink it over ice, try it in a cocktail, or forage for sloe berries and make a home batch. Family recipes have been passed down for generations, but for novices, its easy to experiment at home. (Also Read | 3 irresistible recipes to welcome New Year 2024: Chicken Pops, Mutton Seekh Kebab, Garlic Prawns) Check out holiday cocktail recipes made with sloe gin. (AP)

THE BERRIES

Sloe gin's origins go back to the hedgerows of blackthorn bushes that served as fences all across England when common farmland was divvied up in the 17th century. Their plum-like, inky blue-purple sloe berries became synonymous with the English countryside.

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After realizing that the raw berries tasted tart and astringent, people tried to make wine from them. But the astringency remained, and then someone had the bright idea of resting it on a spirit, says Joe Horning, the liquid quality and innovations manager at the London-based Sipsmith Gin.

By steeping sloe berries in alcohol, the low-quality gin of the time was transformed into a more palatable tipple. As distilling methods improved, a more refined drink was created. And bartenders further elevated its profile with the invention of the famous Sloe Gin Fizz in the early 20th century and pre-Prohibition cocktails like the Charlie Chaplin.

GREEN AND SEASONAL

Theres been a resurgence recently in the popularity of sloe gin, according to Siobhan Robinson, owner of the East London craft distillery Mothers Ruin.

As we got more interested in the environment and foraging and what were doing to the world, I think theres been a renaissance of people making their own sloe gin, and a real interest in sloe gin, she says.

Sloe gin also has a Christmas association because the berries are at their ripest in the autumn, and its earthy warm flavor suits the time of year, she adds.

She suggests using it in hot cocktails, like a Hot Sloe Gin Punch, a Hot Toddy with whiskey, or even adding a slug to hot chocolate for a punchy festive treat.

Technically, sloe gin isn't a gin at all, Robinson says. With the addition of sugar and sloes, it becomes a liqueur, and has a far lower alcohol content than a standard gin, around the same strength as a strong wine.

While sloe gin is traditionally drunk over ice as a digestif, it is also versatile in modern cocktails.

Horning suggests substituting raspberry flavors like Chambord for a twist on a French Martini or a Kir Royale. He also recommends a Sloe Negroni, reducing the measures to allow for a shot of sloe gin in addition to London Dry Gin, Campari and sweet Vermouth.

FORAGING AND DIY

When you forage for sloes, Horning says, feel the berries for ripeness, but also look for a yeast powder on the berry's core, a telltale sign that the fruits ripe. As for quantity, the more the merrier.

Old traditions dictate that each berry is given a pinprick to let the juices flow into the base spirit, but Horning recommends freezing the berries instead. That causes small ruptures in the skin, allowing the juices to come through, and is far less time-consuming.

The sloes should be rested in a Mason jar of gin, filled just below the liquid level. Resting periods can vary from months to a year. There are no hard-and-fast rules; Horning recommends two to three months, while Robinson thinks the longer the better.

Either a sugar syrup or honey should be added at the end, and less is more.

Sweeten cautiously, because you can always add more sugar if need be, but you cant take away, Horning advises.

Both he and Robinson agree its all about experimentation and play.

If sloe berries aren't readily available, you can substitute damsons, a similar fruit, or experiment with any fruits and a base of gin or even vodka.

Pick your fruit, put it in alcohol, add sugar, leave it for a long time, drink it and see if you like it, Robinson laughs.

Some cocktail recipes:

MOTHER'S RUIN SLOE GIN SOUR

1 oz (30ml) Sloe Gin

1 oz (30ml) Bourbon

1 oz (50ml) freshly squeezed lemon juice

Dash of Angostura Bitters

Drop of foaming bitters (we use Ms Betters Bitters Miraculous Foamer)

Add ice and all the ingredients to a shaker, shake for 30 seconds, and strain into a glass so the ice stays in the shaker.

MOTHER'S RUIN SLOE GIN FIZZ

1 oz (50ml) Sloe Gin

 oz (25ml) freshly squeezed lemon juice

 oz 12.5ml sugar syrup (buy or make your own)

Sparkling water

Add ice and all ingredients except the sparkling water to a shaker, shake for 30 seconds, and strain into a glass filled with ice. Top up with sparking water and stir gently.

SIPSMITH SLOE NEGRONI

 oz (15ml) London Dry Gin

 oz (15ml) Sloe Gin

 oz (15ml) Campari

 oz (15ml) sweet vermouth

An orange twist or wedge

Combine equal parts Sipsmith London Dry Gin, Sipsmith Sloe Gin, vermouth and Campari in a rocks glass over ice. Garnish with an orange twist or wedge.

SIPSMITH HOT MULLED SLOE

1 oz (30ml) Sloe Gin

2 oz (60ml) hot water

2 oz (60ml) cloudy apple juice

Assorted spices (we use cinnamon sticks, star anise, cloves and cardamom pods)

Vanilla pod (cut down the middle)

A cinnamon stick (to garnish)

Half an orange slice (to garnish)

Add the assorted spices and vanilla to a pan. Top with cloudy apple juice. Simmer for 5 to 10 minutes until just before boiling.

Ladle into a mug, teacup, or Irish coffee mug, and add sloe gin. Garnish with a half orange slice and/or a cinnamon stick.
The new Telecommunications Act, 2023 replaces the Indian Telegraph Act, 1885, the Indian Wireless Telegraphy Act, 1933, and the Telegraph Wires (Unlawful Possession) Act, 1950, in order to adapt Indian regulation to changes in technology that are reshaping communications markets globally. These shifts include the rise of emerging digital technologies and machine-to-machine communications over the Internet. The law improves on a previous draft Bill that was floated for public consultations earlier in the year, as it recognises a key regulatory first principle  the need to separate governance frameworks for content and carriage services.

Carriage providers offer network infrastructure and internet access as a service. Simply put, they provide pipelines for content and data. On the other hand, content services such as games, movies, music, and e-retail use these pipelines to reach end-users. Naturally, pipelines and the content flowing through them require distinct forms of State supervision. For instance, telecom and internet pipelines are laid on public land and require the right of way. This is a peculiar need with no analogue in the universe of content applications. Similarly, the constitutional right to disseminate content online has no analogue in the world of carriage infrastructure and requires specialised regulatory treatment.

The law responds to the duality of content and carriage chiefly by defining a message to include all types of content. A message is defined to mean any sign, signal, writing, text, image, sound, video, data stream, intelligence or information sent through carriage infrastructure. That is, a message is the content that flows through telecom or internet carriage infrastructure. Conversely, the law makes no reference to over-the-top (OTT) or internet-based services that deal in content, unlike its draft which clubbed them with telecom. The holistic definition of a message and exclusion of references to OTT helps to distinguish between regulatory frameworks for content and carriage services. Only the latter will require State authorisation under the new law.

The new law also recognises that content businesses depend on telecom and internet infrastructure to reach end-users, not the other way around. Similarly, end-users like digital nagriks (citizens) and all manner of institutions and firms dependent on the Internet require last-mile carriage infrastructure to access content applications. The law, therefore, defines users as natural or legal person(s), which effectively means that both content services and individuals are users of carriage services that provide telecom and internet. Therefore, content services cannot be users of carriage services and, at the same time, qualify as operators of network infrastructure under the law, further cementing their distinction. Such separation of content and carriage is in line with international best practices. For example, Singapore and Malaysia explicitly recognise their differences and regulate the two separately.

The clear regulatory treatment of content and carriage services in the telecom law is a good practice that should be replicated in other ongoing legal reforms. For instance, the Broadcasting Services (Regulation) Bill, 2023 qualifies OTT content services as carriage services, obviating the distinctions made in the telecom law. Specifically, the Bill includes OTT services in the same category as cable and satellite providers that carry TV signals to end-users. Not only does this homogenisation fly in the face of the new telecom law, but the broadcasting Bill also overlaps with a dedicated regulatory framework for OTT services in the form of the Information Technology Act, 2000. OTT services providing curated content are further governed under the specialised Information Technology Rules, 2021, which are tailor-made to oversee them. These rules include several unique requirements that simply cannot apply to carriage services. OTT services that provide curated content are mandated to age-classify each movie, show and documentary they make available to end-users. Just imagine if carriage services were made to do this instead  they would effectively have to inspect data packets, invade citizens privacy, and violate the commercial privileges of OTT service providers.

The telecom law is fit-to-purpose for governing network infrastructure and its specialised approach should be reflected in all future legislation aimed at regulating content or carriage in the digital age. Doing so will mark a commitment towards the even application of regulatory best practices across Indian technology markets. This, in turn, will provide a much-needed fillip to private investment in digital India.

Vivan Sharan and Achyutam Bhatnagar are with Koan Advisory Group, a technology policy consulting firm. The views expressed are personal
Air fryers have revolutionized cooking, offering a healthier alternative to traditional frying methods. The best air fryers are designed to fry, bake, grill, and roast with little to no oil, providing crispy and delicious results. Models like the Philips XXL Airfryer, COSORI Air Fryer Max XL, and Ninja Foodi Digital Air Fry Oven stand out for their versatile cooking capabilities, capacity, and user-friendly features. Best year end deals: Air fryers can make life better in kitchen.

Investing in an air fryer during year-end deals presents an excellent opportunity to upgrade your kitchen essentials. These sales often offer significant discounts, making high-quality air fryers more accessible. Additionally, bundles or package deals during this time might include accessories or recipe books, enhancing the value proposition.

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The Philips XXL Airfryer boasts a large capacity suitable for families, while the COSORI Air Fryer Max XL offers a wide temperature range and a sleek design. The Ninja Foodi Digital Air Fry Oven stands out for its multifunctionality, functioning as an air fryer, toaster oven, and dehydrator. Year-end sales make these premium models more affordable, allowing buyers to enjoy healthier cooking options at a reduced cost.

Moreover, purchasing during year-end deals often ensures access to the latest models and technology upgrades. Manufacturers frequently release newer versions or upgraded features, and these sales offer a prime opportunity to acquire these improved models at a discounted price. Additionally, warranties and customer service are typically upheld during these sales, providing reassurance for buyers.

In conclusion, air fryers have become a staple in modern kitchens, offering a healthier cooking alternative. Taking advantage of year-end deals to purchase these efficient and versatile appliances not only saves money but also enhances cooking experiences by accessing the latest technology and features, making it an opportune time to invest in these kitchen companions.

1) Pigeon Healthifry Digital Air Fryer, 360 High Speed Air Circulation Technology 1200 W with Non-Stick 4.2 L Basket - Green

The Pigeon Healthifry Digital Air Fryer boasts 360 High-Speed Air Circulation Technology, offering efficient cooking with its 1200W power. Featuring a Non-Stick 4.2 L Basket in a vibrant Green design, it facilitates healthier frying with minimal oil. This appliance ensures even cooking, delivering crispy results while preserving nutrients. Its spacious basket accommodates larger servings, ideal for families. With its user-friendly digital controls, this air fryer provides convenience and precision in cooking various dishes, promising a healthier and flavorful culinary experience.

Specifications of Pigeon Healthifry Digital Air Fryer boasts 360 High-Speed Air Circulation Technology:

Power: Operates at 1200W for efficient cooking.

Capacity: Features a Non-Stick 4.2 L Basket, suitable for family-sized portions.

Technology: Utilizes 360 High-Speed Air Circulation for even frying.

Design: Vibrant Green exterior adds a stylish touch to the kitchen.

Controls: Equipped with Digital controls for user-friendly operation.

Pros Cons Efficient cooking with 360 air circulation. May require occasional shaking for even frying. Ample 4.2 L capacity for family-sized meals. Limited colour options might not suit all kitchen aesthetics.

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2) PHILIPS Digital Air Fryer HD9252/90 with Touch Panel, uses up to 90% less fat, 7 Pre-set Menu, 1400W, 4.1 Liter, with Rapid Air Technology (Black), Large

The PHILIPS Digital Air Fryer HD9252/90 is a culinary powerhouse with a sleek black design. Boasting a powerful 1400W motor, it uses innovative Rapid Air Technology to fry with up to 90% less fat, promoting healthier cooking. The 4.1-liter capacity and touch panel simplify operation, while the 7 pre-set menus cater to diverse culinary needs. Its large size makes it ideal for families, and the black finish adds a modern touch to any kitchen. Elevate your cooking experience with this efficient and stylish air fryer from PHILIPS.

Specifications of PHILIPS Digital Air Fryer HD9252/90:

Capacity: 4.1 litres

Power: 1400W

Technology: Rapid Air Technology for healthier frying

Pre-set Menus: 7 options for versatile cooking

Fat Reduction: Utilizes up to 90% less fat for healthier meals

Pros Cons Healthy Cooking: Uses minimal fat, maintaining food's taste while reducing unhealthy elements. Capacity Limitation: May be large for some countertop spaces or smaller households. Versatility: Offers a variety of pre-set menus, making cooking easier for various dishes. Price: Higher price point compared to some other air fryers in the market.

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3) PHILIPS Air Fryer HD9200/90, uses up to 90% less fat, 1400W, 4.1 Liter, with Rapid Air Technology (Black), Large

The PHILIPS Air Fryer HD9200/90 is a large 4.1-liter capacity appliance designed with Rapid Air Technology, consuming up to 90% less fat while offering 1400W power. It ensures efficient and healthier frying with minimal oil. Its spacious design allows versatile cooking options for larger meals or gatherings. The unit offers a balance of size and performance, providing ample space without compromising on cooking quality. However, its size might not be suitable for smaller kitchens, and the larger capacity may not be necessary for smaller households.

Specifications of PHILIPS Air Fryer HD9200/90:

Capacity: 4.1 litres

Power: 1400W

Technology: Rapid Air Technology for healthier frying

Fat Reduction: Up to 90% less fat usage

Colour: Black

Pros Cons Large Capacity: Ideal for cooking larger portions or meals for gatherings. Size: Might be bulky for smaller kitchens or limited countertop space. Efficient Technology: Uses Rapid Air tech for healthier frying methods, reducing fat consumption. Capacity: Might not be necessary for smaller households, leading to underutilization.

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4) AGARO Regency Air Fryer,12 Liters,Family Rotisserie Oven,1800W Electric Air Fryer Toaster Oven,Tilt Led Digital Touchscreen,9 Presets Menu For Baking, Roasting,Toasting Etc,With Accessories, Silver

The AGARO Regency Air Fryer is a versatile 12-liter electric oven and air fryer, offering 1800W of power. Its tilt LED digital touchscreen provides easy operation with nine preset menus, suitable for baking, roasting, toasting, and more. With family-sized capacity and a rotisserie function, it's equipped for various culinary needs. The included accessories add convenience. Its silver finish complements modern kitchens, making it an efficient, multifunctional appliance for cooking enthusiasts seeking diverse cooking options and larger meal preparation.

Specifications of AGARO Regency Air Fryer:

Capacity: 12 litres

Power: 1800W

Functionality: Family rotisserie oven with electric air fryer toaster

Control Panel: Tilt LED digital touchscreen

Preset Menus: Nine preset menus for baking, roasting, toasting, etc.

Pros Cons Diverse Functionality: Offers multiple cooking functions in one appliance Space Requirement: Due to its larger capacity, it might require more space on the kitchen countertop. Large Capacity: Ideal for families or larger meal preparations. Learning Curve: Might take some time for users to familiarize themselves with all the functions and presets.

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5) Lifelong 4.2L Digital Air fryer for Home - 1350W Airfryer with Touch Panel - Hot Air Circulation Technology with Temperature & Timer Control - Uses Up to 90% Less Oil (LLHFD439, Black)

The Lifelong 4.2L Digital Air Fryer brings convenience with a 1350W power and touch panel for effortless control. Utilizing hot air circulation technology, it ensures even cooking with temperature and timer control, reducing oil usage by up to 90%. Its 4.2-liter capacity suits home cooking needs, offering a healthier way to enjoy crispy delights. The black LLHFD439 model provides a sleek design and efficient performance, making it an excellent addition to any kitchen seeking healthier cooking alternatives.

Specifications of Lifelong 4.2L Digital Air Fryer:

Capacity: 4.2 litres

Power: 1350W

Technology: Hot air circulation

Control: Touch panel with temperature and timer settings

Oil Usage: Up to 90% less oil consumption

Pros Cons Generous Capacity: The 4.2-litre basket suits family cooking needs. Limited Features: May lack some advanced functionalities compared to higher-end models. Healthier Cooking: Hot air circulation technology minimizes oil usage, offering healthier meals. Design Specifics: Some users might prefer more color or design options.

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6) PHILIPS Digital XL Airfryer HD9280/90 (Wifi enabled), Touch Panel, 5000 Series XL 6.2 Ltr (1.2kg), Rapid Air Technology

The PHILIPS Digital XL Airfryer HD9280/90 stands out with its WiFi-enabled convenience, enabling remote control via a smartphone. Sporting a touch panel for intuitive operation, it belongs to the 5000 Series XL, offering an ample 6.2-liter (1.2kg) capacity. Its Rapid Air Technology ensures quick and uniform cooking, delivering crispy, tasty meals without excessive oil. This Airfryer's larger capacity caters to more substantial meal preparations, making it ideal for bigger families or gatherings.

Specifications of PHILIPS Digital XL Airfryer HD9280/90:

WiFi-enabled Control: Allows remote operation via smartphone.

Touch Panel: Ensures easy and user-friendly navigation.

5000 Series XL: Offers a substantial 6.2-liter (1.2kg) capacity.

Rapid Air Technology: Enables fast and even cooking with minimal oil.

Adjustable Settings: Temperature and time controls for precise cooking.

Pros Cons Convenient Connectivity: WiFi-enabled feature for remote control. Space Requirements: Its larger size might require more countertop space. Generous Capacity: Offers a larger cooking space for bigger batches. Complexity: Advanced features might have a steeper learning curve for some users.

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7) Havells Air Fryer Prolife Crystal | See-Through Window | 85% Less Oil | 5L Pan | 8 Presets Menu | Auto Restart | Touch Screen | Digital Display |Dehydrator Mode | 1500 Watt & 2 Year Warranty, 5 Liter

The Havells Air Fryer Prolife Crystal boasts a transparent window, allowing visual monitoring while cooking. Offering an 85% reduction in oil usage, its 5-liter pan accommodates sizable meals. Featuring an 8-preset menu, auto restart, and touch screen with digital display, it ensures convenient operation. Additionally, the dehydrator mode and 1500 watts of power enhance its versatility. With a generous 2-year warranty, it promises durability and reliability, making it an ideal choice for health-conscious individuals seeking efficient and multi-functional cooking appliances.

Specifications of Havells Air Fryer Prolife Crystal:

Capacity: 5 litres

Technology: Rapid air technology for healthy frying

Preset Menu: 8 presets for versatile cooking options

Power: 1500 watts

Additional Features: See-through window, Auto restart, Touch screen, Digital display, Dehydrator mode

Pros Cons Diverse Cooking: Offers a wide range of preset cooking options for convenience. Capacity Limitation: The 5-liter capacity might not suffice for larger families or gatherings. Visual Monitoring: See-through window enables monitoring without interrupting the cooking process. Learning Curve: Advanced features might require some time to master for new users.

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8) Philips Essential Air Fryer HD9252/70 with Rapid Air Technology, uses up to 90% less fat, 7 Presets Touch Screen

The Philips Essential Air Fryer HD9252/70 utilizes Rapid Air Technology, reducing fat consumption by up to 90%. Sporting a user-friendly touch screen, it boasts seven preset cooking options for hassle-free meal preparation. This fryer's innovation ensures efficient cooking with minimal oil, making it a healthier alternative. The touch screen interface simplifies operation, catering to various cooking preferences and enabling quick selection of preset menus. Its ability to produce crispy, flavorful dishes using significantly less oil sets it apart, offering both health-conscious and flavorful meals.

Specifications of Philips Essential Air Fryer HD9252/70:

Rapid Air Technology: Enables frying with minimal oil for healthier meals.

7 Preset Menus: Offers a variety of cooking options for convenience.

Touch Screen Interface: User-friendly controls for easy operation.

Capacity: Sufficient cooking space for moderate-sized meals.

Efficiency: Utilizes up to 90% less fat compared to traditional frying methods.

Pros Cons Health Benefits: Reduces fat intake while maintaining the taste of fried foods. Capacity Limitation: May not suit larger meals or families. Convenient Presets: Pre-programmed menus simplify cooking processes. Learning Curve: Initial adjustment may be required to optimize settings for different dishes.

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9) KENT 16096 Classic Hot Air Fryer 4L 1300 W | 80% Less Oil | Instant Electric Air Fryer | Auto Cut Off | Fry, Grill, Roast, Steam, and Bake | 1 Year Warranty | Black

The KENT 16096 Classic Hot Air Fryer, with its 1300W power and 4L capacity, reduces oil usage by 80% for healthier meals. Its versatility allows frying, grilling, roasting, steaming, and baking with ease. Equipped with an auto-cut-off feature, it ensures safety while cooking. The appliance provides instant electric air frying and comes with a one-year warranty, ensuring durability and performance. Its sleek black design complements modern kitchens, offering a convenient and efficient way to prepare a variety of dishes.

Specifications of KENT 16096 Classic Hot Air Fryer:

Capacity: 4 liters

Power: 1300 watts

Cooking Functions: Fry, grill, roast, steam, bake

Oil Reduction: Up to 80% less oil usage

Warranty: 1 year

Pros Cons Versatile cooking functions for various meal types. Limited capacity for larger families or bigger meals. Significant reduction in oil consumption for healthier meals. Single-year warranty might seem short for some users.

B09G75BMW4

10) Amplesta 5 Litre Digital Air fryer| 1500W| 4 in 1 Appliance with 8 Preset Menu - Air fry, Grill, Toast, Roast & Bake | Soft Touch panel | Low fat Air oven, Oil Free Cooking | Dishwasher safe |Black

The Amplesta 5-Liter Digital Air Fryer is a versatile kitchen companion, boasting 1500 watts of power and a 4-in-1 functionality. With 8 preset menus including air fry, grill, toast, roast, and bake, it offers diverse cooking options. Its soft-touch panel and dishwasher-safe components ensure convenience. Promising low-fat, oil-free cooking, it's an efficient and healthier cooking alternative. The ample 5-liter capacity suits larger meals or family gatherings, perfect for those seeking a multifunctional, user-friendly, and efficient cooking appliance in a sleek black design.

Specifications of Amplesta 5-Liter Digital Air Fryer:

Power: 1500W

Capacity: 5 liters

Functions: 4-in-1 appliance with 8 preset menus (Air fry, Grill, Toast, Roast, Bake)

Control Panel: Soft-touch panel for easy operation

Maintenance: Dishwasher-safe parts for convenient cleaning

Pros Cons Versatile cooking options with multiple preset menus. Higher power consumption at 1500W. High capacity suitable for larger meals or gatherings. May occupy more counter space due to its larger size.

B094HT1JKL

3 best features for you

Product Name Feature 1 Feature 2 Feature 3 Pigeon Healthifry Digital Air Fryer 360 High-Speed Air Circulation Technology 1200 W Power with Non-Stick 4.2 L Basket Green Color PHILIPS Digital Air Fryer HD9252/90 Uses up to 90% Less Fat 7 Pre-set Menu Rapid Air Technology (Black) PHILIPS Air Fryer HD9200/90 Uses up to 90% Less Fat 1400W Power, 4.1 Liter Capacity Rapid Air Technology (Black) AGARO Regency Air Fryer 12 Liters Capacity 1800W Power, Tilt LED Digital Touchscreen 9 Presets Menu, Family Rotisserie Oven (Silver) Lifelong 4.2L Digital Air Fryer for Home 1350W Power, Touch Panel 4.2L Capacity, Hot Air Circulation Technology Temperature & Timer Control (LLHFD439, Black) PHILIPS Digital XL Airfryer HD9280/90 (Wifi) Touch Panel, Wifi Enabled 6.2 Ltr Capacity, Rapid Air Technology (5000 Series) XL Size (1.2kg) Havells Air Fryer Prolife Crystal See-Through Window 85% Less Oil, 5L Pan 8 Presets Menu, Auto Restart, Dehydrator Mode Philips Essential Air Fryer HD9252/70 Rapid Air Technology 7 Presets Touch Screen Uses up to 90% Less Fat KENT 16096 Classic Hot Air Fryer 80% Less Oil 4L Capacity, 1300W Power Multiple Cooking Functions, Auto Cut Off Amplesta 5 Litre Digital Air fryer 1500W Power, 4-in-1 Appliance 5L Capacity, 8 Preset Menu Soft Touch Panel, Dishwasher Safe, Oil-Free

Best value for money



The Lifelong 4.2L Digital Air Fryer for Home (LLHFD439, Black) stands out as the best value for money. Offering a substantial 1350W power and a 4.2L capacity, it features advanced hot air circulation technology for efficient cooking with reduced oil use, aligning with its cost-effectiveness. The touch panel allows precise temperature and timer control, providing versatile cooking options. These attributes, coupled with its economic pricing, make it a wise investment for healthier cooking without compromising on taste or quality.



Best overall product



The PHILIPS Digital XL Airfryer HD9280/90 stands out as the top overall product among the listed air fryers. Its Wifi-enabled interface, coupled with a 6.2L capacity and Rapid Air Technology, defines versatility and efficiency. The large capacity caters to family-sized meals, while the innovative features like the touch panel and advanced technology streamline cooking. This model presents a seamless cooking experience, offering ample functionalities and size to accommodate various cooking needs, making it a standout choice for larger households or those seeking a comprehensive cooking solution.





How to buy the best air fryer in India

To ensure the best air fryer purchase in India, consider several factors. Start by evaluating the capacity, as it should match your cooking needs. Review the power consumption, ensuring it aligns with your usage and electricity supply. Check the preset cooking options and functionalities offered, ensuring they cater to your desired cooking styles. Additionally, assess safety features, warranty, and customer reviews to understand reliability. Lastly, compare prices across different brands and models while considering ongoing deals or discounts to make a cost-effective choice aligned with your cooking requirements.

Disclaimer: At Hindustan Times, we help you stay up-to-date with the latest trends and products. Hindustan Times has an affiliate partnership, so we may get a part of the revenue when you make a purchase. We shall not be liable for any claim under applicable laws, including but not limited to the Consumer Protection Act, 2019, with respect to the products. The products listed in this article are in no particular order of priority.
A woman took to Reddit and claimed that her boss asked her to use her sick leave after she went to use the washroom for 'eight minutes.' Since she posted about this incident on the story-sharing platform, it left many angered. Some even slammed her boss for making such demands. The woman shared her experience on Reddit.

The post was shared on Reddit by user 'SpecterGygax.' She wrote "I work from home and stepped away from my workstation to use the bathroom this morning. Halfway through my eight-minute bathroom break, I got a voicemail from my boss telling me that I either needed to call in sick, take PTO or get back online right now. I reiterated, I was offline for eight minutes and they wanted me to use a sick day. I frequently skip breaks and work past when my shift is set to end. I got this job in my second year in college because I was sick of working retail." (Also Read: Boss wants employees to sign out for bathroom breaks)

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She further added, "This job has slowly become much worse than retail. The customers are worse, the supervisors dont care if they verbally abuse you, schedules can get changed without any notification, and they give people work that they legally cant be asked to do because the company wont foot the bill to give employees proper qualifications. Additionally, we get paid less than we would working at McDonald's. It was a decent place for a college student to work in at first, but this entire company has gone to hell."

Take a look at her entire post here:

This post was shared a few days ago on Reddit. Since being shared, it has gained more than 7,000 upvotes and numerous comments.

Here's how Redditors reacted to the post:

An individual wrote, "With work-from-home employees, managers have a lot more work to do because they have to justify their position when their team is as productive or more productive without their micromanaging. This sounds like the manager is trying to justify his position by saying he caught an employee abusing breaks."

A second added, "Lodge a complaint with HR about harassment. Voicemail and warning can be part of your paper trail."

A third commented, "Obviously its time to leave and make more at McDonalds, but on your way out, report them for every illegal action, wage theft, and dirty laundry that you can. Everything. If youre lucky, theyll retaliate, and you can get a nice severance."

A fourth said, "Act your wage. Take your breaks."
A man from Mumbai took to X to share details about the distress caused by loan recovery agents of a bank over a loan taken by a relative. Yash Mehta claims to have received threatening calls after a relative failed to pay HDFC Bank EMI. He further alleged that the agent, who identified herself as Neha, not only harassed him but also verbally abused his father and grandfather in separate calls. HDFC Bank took cognisance of the matter and shared that they are investigating the matter. HDFC Bank took cognisance of the matter and shared that they are investigating it.(PTI)

Someone took the EMI, and to recover the loan, HDFC Bank is calling the relatives of the person, and I am one of them, wrote Yash Mehta on X.

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In the next few lines, he added that the loan recovery agent has all the information about his whereabouts. The agent gave me a threat that she will call my dad and grandfather who are in no way related to the person who took EMI. The person has all the details of my location where I work and all. Who has given the HDFC Bank the right to breach my privacy when I am not even related to the person?

He tagged HDFC bank and wrote, Kindly please take a look into it, and I am filing a complaint with RBI along with the recording of how that person spoke to me and my father, who are in no way related to that person. The person who is calling has identified herself as Neha, which is a fake name.

Yash Mehta also attached a screenshot of the call logs with his tweet.

Take a look at the tweet here:

After the tweet went viral, HDFC Bank apologised to the customer and assured a speedy investigation. The company wrote, Hi Yash, we are sorry about the experience that you have had with us. We have subsequently spoken to you and noted your feedback and are investigating the matter on priority. Please allow us some time to come back on this with a resolution.

In the comments section of the post, Mehta shared that the loan amount was 3,500. He also shared that the bank has promised to resolve the issue by January 16, 2024.

The tweet, since being shared on December 24, has gone viral with over 1.2 million views. Additionally, many retweeted the post and shared their thoughts in the comments section.

Heres how X users reacted to the tweet:

Omg. Scary. What exactly are they saying to you? Did you say you are not related to that person? posted an individual. To this, Mehta replied, They have been abused very badly, too. She was the lady and she has contacts that I have and called my father and grandfather with the same language.

Another commented, Isnt this supposed to be a punishable offence and shouldnt the banking ombudsman be contacted for this? Ideally, this should come with a financial compensation as well.

This is really disappointing and concerning too. I am an old HDFC Bank customer, but such incidents make me wary whether we should trust such organisations at all! expressed a third.

A fourth wrote, When I got a similar call for a neighbour who had taken a loan. All I did was record the call. He was threatening my family. Next I called up the loan department and spoke to the lawyer and told them Im filing a case against them. Never got that call again.

Had a similar issue with ICICI bank long back. I emailed them with all the details. I got a call from some management team, and then those calls finally stopped, shared a fifth.
NASA has recently launched a mission to intercept a near-Earth asteroid nicknamed God of Chaos. For this mission, the US space agency deployed OSIRIS-APEX, after the spacecraft's return from deep space. The asteroid Apophis, or God of Chaos, will brush past Earths orbit, only 20,000 miles away from the surface in 2029. Its close proximity could even result in Apophis visibility in the Northern Hemisphere. The image shared by NASA shows Earth from space(Instagram/@nasa)

Apophis, God of Chaos asteroid

Named after an ancient Egyptian deity, Apophis is a 1,000-foot-wide asteroid. It was first discovered in 2004 and is expected to fly by Earth on April 13, 2029. During that time, OSIRIS will intercept the asteroid to study any changes made by its earthly encounter. According to scientists, such an asteroid passes by Earth every 7,500 years.

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Experts initially said there was a 3 per cent chance of collision, only to realise there would be no impact at all. Apophis is expected to make a return trip in 2036. The asteroids close encounter with Earth will alter its orbit and length of day. It could also lead to landslides and quakes on Apophis.

NASAs mission to intercept Apophis

After a seven-year mission in deep space to collect samples from the Bennu asteroid in September, OSIRIS is being redeployed for another mission. The spacecraft is being renamed from OSIRIS-REx to OSIRIS-APEX, an acronym for Origins, Spectral Interpretation, Resource Identification, and Security  Apophis Explorer.

OSIRIS-APEX will descend to within 16 feet of the asteroid's surface and use its thrusters to stir up rocks and dust, allowing scientists to study what lies beneath. In a press release last week, the mission's principal investigator, Dani Mendoza DellaGiustina, said, The close approach is a great natural experiment.

We know that tidal forces and the accumulation of rubble pile material are foundational processes that could play a role in planet formation. They could inform how we got from debris in the early solar system to full-blown planets, the NASA expert added as per Fox News.
China's embassy in Myanmar urged its nationals on Thursday to leave the Laukkai area in Kokang region in northern Myanmar as soon as possible, citing growing security risks. Myanmar's military has been battling coordinated rebel attacks in the north.

Myanmar's military has been battling coordinated rebel attacks in the north in its biggest battlefield challenge since the 2021 coup, worrying neighbouring China.

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"The current security situation in Myanmar's Kokang Self-Administered Zone is serious and complex," China foreign ministry spokesperson Mao Ning said at a regular press conference on Thursday.

"We hope the relevant Myanmar parties maintain the highest level of restraint, take the initiative to de-escalate the situation on the ground, jointly push for a soft landing of the situation in northern Myanmar," Mao said.

She also urged local authorities to guarantee the safety of Chinese personnel.

Earlier this month, China mediated peace talks between Myanmar's ruling military and rebel groups, and the parties agreed on a temporary ceasefire and to maintain dialogue.

The insurgent alliance, however, reaffirmed its commitment to defeat what it called Myanmar's "dictatorship", and made no mention of peace talks or a ceasefire.
China accused Taiwan of deliberately "hyping up" a military threat from Beijing for electoral gain ahead of elections on the island. Taiwan's presidential and parliamentary election will be conducted on January 13 amid ramped up pressure from Beijing that denies the island's sovereignty claims. Ahead of elections, Taiwan has been reporting Chinese fighter jets and warships around the island and balloons crossing the sensitive Taiwan Strait. China-Taiwan Conflict: A Chinook helicopter carrying a Taiwan flag flies over the city during the country's National Day celebration in Taipei, Taiwan.(Reuters)

What Beijing said on Taiwan?

Chinese defence ministry spokesperson Wu Qian said Taiwan's government was to blame for the tensions and not Beijing.

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"The Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) authorities are deliberately hyping up the so-called 'military threat from the mainland' and exaggerating tensions," Wu Qian said, adding, This is entirely to seek electoral gain.

Taiwan is using a familiar electoral playbook to stoke confrontation and manipulate the election, the spokesperson said.

China's People's Liberation Army was well aware of Taiwan's military movements and "we will, as always, take all necessary measures to resolutely defend national sovereignty and territorial integrity," he asserted.

China has also been angered by US arms sales to Taiwan as it said, "We firmly oppose any country having official and military contact with Taiwan in any form. The United States is manipulating the Taiwan question in various forms, which is a very dangerous gamble.

What Xi Jinping said on Taiwan?

China's president Xi Jinping said the "reunification" of Taiwan with China is inevitable. Speaking at the 130th anniversary of the birth of Mao Zedong, the founder of the People's Republic of China, Xi Jinping said, The realisation of the complete reunification with the motherland is an inevitable course of development, is righteous and what the people want. The motherland must and will be reunified.
Egypt confirmed on Thursday that it had put forward a framework proposal to end the conflict between Israel and Hamas in the Gaza Strip that includes three stages ending with a ceasefire, and said it was awaiting responses on the plan. Israel-Hamas War: Palestinians gather at the site of Israeli strikes on houses, amid the ongoing conflict between Israel and Hamas. (Reuters)

Egypt would give further details of the plan once those responses are received, Diaa Rashwan, head of Egypt's State Information Service, said in a statement.

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The proposal is an attempt "to bring viewpoints between all concerned parties closer, in an effort to stop Palestinian bloodshed and the aggression against the Gaza Strip and restore peace and stability to the region," he said.

Egyptian security sources had previously said the proposal included a multi-stage ceasefire involving prisoner releases by Israel and Hamas. One Egyptian source said the idea of a post-war Gaza administration was raised.
JINGXIAN, Dec. 27 (Xinhua) -- Xuan brush, with elegant style, fine texture and durable quality, is produced in Jingxian County of east China's Anhui Province. The craft of making the brush was listed as a national intangible cultural heritage in 2008.

She Ji, 36 years old, has been making Xuan brushes for about ten years. In 2013, he quit his job in Shanghai and returned to his hometown to learn the craft from his father She Zhengjun, who is a national-level inheritor of the art.

In a decade, She Ji has helped his father start a workshop named "Guardians of Crafts" at his hometown, and also opened an online store in an aim to popularise the Xuan brush. Through his efforts, the design and making of the artwork have gone through various innovations, with more creative products catering to modern life entering the market. Speaking of the future, She Ji hopes more people, especially the younger generation, can have the chance to know about the traditional craft and work in the industry.

Producers: Wang Jianhua, Li Yabiao

Planner: Wang Qingqin

Coordinators: Zhu Weixi, Tian Weiwei

Journalist: Zhou Mu

Editors: Wang Haijing, Niu Hairong, Hu Jingwen, Tian Weiwei, Zhu Weixi, Wang Zecong

Video Editor: Tian Weiwei
As has been in the news, two Native American tribes successfully sued the North Dakota secretary of state, our top election official, over North Dakotas new legislative map diluting tribal members votes. In November, the U.S. District Court of North Dakota determined the legislative map violated the Voting Rights Act and gave the Legislature until Dec. 22, 2023, to fix the issues. That deadline has come and gone, despite efforts to delay or extend.

It is important we understand the process and protections in place regarding redistricting in order to recognize the significance of this case.

The North Dakota Constitution requires the Legislature to redistrict after each federal census, i.e. every 10 years. Redistricting is the process of drawing boundaries that divide the districts for our state Legislature and other public offices. The purpose of redistricting after a census is to see where the population has increased and decreased. This way, each district can have approximately the same number of people to ensure equal political representation.

The Voting Rights Act is a federal law that, in part, prohibits redistricting plans that dilute voters due to race. Prior to the VRA, things like literacy tests, poll taxes and moral requirements kept people of color from voting in elections. Spurred by the Civil Rights Movement, the VRA sought to end racial discrimination in voting.

As the U.S. Supreme Court has determined, the VRA guards against an electoral structure that operates to minimize or cancel out minority voters ability to elect their preferred candidates. The VRA prohibits redistricting that has a discriminatory result, whether it be intentional or not.

Two discriminatory results of redistricting include cracking and packing. A legislative map can crack minority voters into several districts, which then leaves a small number of that minority population in each district. Or, a map can pack minority voters into one district, so that they will not have more political power if spread out into many districts.

The ultimate goal of democracy is equal representation. Each resident of our state should have an equal opportunity to elect his or her preferred candidate. If district lines are drawn so that Native American communities cannot elect their preferred candidate, that is a major problem. As evidenced by this case, the VRA plays a crucial role in safeguarding the electoral process.

It has been disappointing to see the response from elected officials since the court determined our legislative map violated the VRA. The legislative redistricting committee met a couple of times to review options, but legislators did not even ask for input from the tribes involved in this litigation. When asked if a non-Native American can represent a Native American community as well as someone who is Native American, Sen. Judy Estenson, R-District 15, responded, I can represent those people better than ... whatever would be their preferred candidate. Therein lies the problem.

Here is my unsolicited advice to those involved in the redistricting process: listen to the tribal communities involved. They are seeking equal representation, and they have spent time determining how that can be achieved. Adopt a new legislative map efficiently. Stop spending taxpayer dollars to prolong the sure and fair outcome.
Young women's "first aspiration" should be to have children, a senator with the right-wing party of Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni said on Thursday, sparking outrage among opposition groups. Lavinia Mennuni is seen.

Meloni's Brothers of Italy party has made it a priority to reverse the country's declining birth rate and promote the traditional family as it clamps down on same-sex parenting.

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"My mother always used to tell me ... you must always remember that you have the opportunity to do whatever you want, but you must never forget that your first aspiration must be to be a mother yourself," senator Lavinia Mennuni said.

Mennuni, who was speaking on a talk show on the La7 TV channel next to a Catholic archbishop, said Italian and Vatican institutions had to make maternity "cool" again and encourage young people to marry early and start families.

"There is a need, let's say a mission, because I think it is a beautiful thing, (for women) to bring children into the world who will be the future citizens, the future Italians," said the 47-year-old lawmaker who has three children herself.

Senator Raffaella Paita, from the centrist Italia Viva party, said such comments showed "an embarrassing backwardness".

"Her words resonate with ideas from an obscurantist past, fortunately outdated," Paita said.

Chiara Appendino, a lawmaker with the left-leaning Five Star Movement, wrote on social media X that Brothers of Italy suffered from "Medieval nostalgia" and said young women should be taught "the freedom to dream and the means to accomplish themselves as they wish."

Last week, Mennuni sparked criticism for proposing a bill that would prevent school directors from halting Catholic-themed activities, such as the staging of Christmas plays or the making of nativity scenes.
Lebanon's Hezbollah accused Israel on Thursday of hacking into CCTV cameras installed outside homes and shops in southern Lebanon and urged residents there to take the device offline. Lebanese citizens gather in front of a house that was destroyed by an Israeli airstrike (AP)

The powerful Iran-backed armed group accused Israel of using the footage to target its fighters and urged Lebanese citizens to "disconnect the private cameras... from the Internet".

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The Israel-Lebanon border has been rocked by escalating exchanges of fire, mainly between the Israeli army and Hezbollah, since the Israel-Hamas war broke out on October 7, raising fears of a broader conflict.

Hezbollah said Israel had hacked the camera systems to gain visibility after the group's cross-border attacks had "targeted most of the cameras" Israel had installed near the border.

"The enemy has recently hacked into civilian cameras connected to the internet and installed in front of homes, shops and institutions in frontline villages," a Hezbollah statement said.

Since the cross-border hostilities began, more than 150 people have been killed on the Lebanese side, most of them Hezbollah combatants but also more than 20 civilians including three journalists, according to an AFP tally.

On the Israeli side, at least four civilians and nine soldiers have been killed, according to figures from the military.

Exchanges of fire have been largely confined to the border area, although Israel has conducted limited strikes deeper into Lebanese territory.

Israel has warned it will step up military action unless Hezbollah militants withdraw further from the border.

Israel has vowed to destroy Hamas in retaliation for the October 7 attack, which left about 1,140 people dead, mostly civilians, according to an AFP tally based on Israeli figures.

Israel's relentless aerial bombardment and ground invasion have killed at least 21,320 people, mostly women and children, according to Hamas-run Gaza's health ministry.
Indonesia's navy said Thursday that it forcibly pushed a boat packed with refugees back to international waters after the vessel approached the shores of Aceh province. Indonesian protesters burn a tire during a protest for the deportation of the Rohingya refugees in Banda Aceh.(Reuters)

The province that forms part of Sumatra island has seen an increasing number of arriving boats, most carrying Rohingya refugees from southern Bangladesh. Large numbers of Rohingya fled to Bangladesh in 2017 following military attacks on members of the persecuted Muslim minority in their homeland of Myanmar.

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The Indonesian navy said a coast guard vessel detected a boat thought to be carrying Rohingya refugees entering Indonesia's waters on Wednesday. A helicopter from a navy ship subsequently spotted a wooden vessel nearing Weh island in north Aceh province, the navy said.

The navy ship KRI Bontang-907 located the boat about 63 nautical miles (72 miles) off the Indonesian coast and drove it out, "ensuring that the boat did not return to Indonesian waters, the navy said in a statement posted in its website.

Indonesia has appealed to the international community for help and intensified patrols of its waters due to a sharp rise in Rohingya refugees leaving overcrowded camps in Bangladesh since November. Over 1,500 Rohingya have arrived in Aceh and faced some hostility from fellow Muslims.

A mob of students on Wednesday attacked the basement of a local community hall in Banda Aceh, the capital of Aceh province, where about 137 Rohingya were taking shelter.

Footage obtained by The Associated Press showed a large group of refugees, mostly women and children, crying and screaming as a group wearing university green jackets was seen breaking through a police cordon and forcibly putting the Rohingya on the back of two trucks.

The incident drew an outcry from human rights groups and the U.N. refugee agency, which said the attack left the refugees shocked and traumatized.

Indonesia, like Thailand and Malaysia, is not a signatory to the United Nations 1951 Refugee Convention so is not obligated to accept the Rohingya coming from Bangladesh. So far, refugees in distress have received at least temporary accommodations.

Muslims comprise nearly 90% of Indonesias 277 million people, and Indonesia once tolerated such landings, while Thailand and Malaysia pushed refugee boats away. But there has been a surge of anti-Rohingya sentiment this year, especially in Aceh, where residents accuse the Rohingya of poor behavior and creating a burden.

The growing hostility of some Indonesians toward the Rohingya has put pressure on President Joko Widodos government to take action.

This is not an easy issue, this is an issue with enormous challenges, Foreign Minister Retno Marsudi told reporters.

About 740,000 Rohingya were resettled in Bangladesh after fleeing their homes in Myanmar to escape a brutal counterinsurgency campaign by security forces. Accounts of mass rape, murder and the burning of entire villages are well documented, and international courts are considering whether Myanmar authorities committed genocide and other grave human rights abuses.

Efforts to repatriate the Rohingya have failed because of doubts their safety can be assured. The Rohingya are largely denied citizenship rights in Buddhist-majority Myanmar and face widespread social discrimination there.
Israel carried out an aerial strike targeting a main Syrian air defence base in southern Syria on Thursday in the latest bombing campaign since the outbreak of war in Gaza on Oct. 7, Syrian army and intelligence sources said. Israeli soldiers operate in the Israeli-occupied Golan Heights near the border with Syria.(REUTERS)

Citing a Syrian military source, state media had earlier said missile strikes coming from the direction of the Israeli-occupied Golan Heights had targeted several sites it did not identify.

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"Our air defences confronted the (Israeli) aggressors' missiles and downed some of them with only material losses," a Syrian military source said.

Reuters could not independently verify the report. There was no immediate comment from Israel's military.

Since the Oct. 7 attack by Hamas on Israeli civilians and soldiers, Israel has escalated its strikes on Iranian-backed militia targets in Syria and also struck Syrian army air defences and some Syrian forces.

The strikes are believed to have targeted a Syrian army air defence base and a radar station in the Tel al-Sahn area in the Sweida province in southwestern Syria, according to a Syrian military intelligence source and another regional security official familiar with the matter.

Last month, another anti-aircraft defence system in Tel Qulaib and Tel Maseeh in southern Syria were hit in what the senior intelligence sources said was an intensified campaign by Israel to disrupt Syrian air defence systems that Iran was involved in expanding.

"Tehran is stepping up its efforts to provide Syria with air defence systems that can potentially erode of the effectiveness of Israeli strikes," said another regional military source who requested anonymity due to the sensitivity of the matter.

"This is related to the Gaza war calculations in the event of the conflict spreading," he added.

Israel has for years carried out attacks on what it has described as Iran-linked targets in Syria, where Tehran's influence has grown since it began supporting President Bashar al-Assad in a civil war that started in 2011.

The strikes are part of an escalation of what has been a low-intensity conflict with a goal of slowing Iran's growing entrenchment in Syria, Israeli military experts say.

Fighters allied with Iran, including Hezbollah, now hold sway in vast areas in eastern, southern and northwestern Syria and in several suburbs around the capital.
Michigan [US], December 28 (ANI): The Michigan Supreme Court has dismissed a bid to exclude ex-President Donald Trump from the 2024 primary ballot based on the US Constitution's "insurrectionist ban," CNN reported. HT Image

The decision contrasts with the recent ruling from the Colorado Supreme Court, which kicked Trump off its primary ballot because of his role in the January 6 Capitol riot. That decision has been paused pending an appeal.

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With these duelling decisions, the expected appeals to the US Supreme Court become even more critical, especially as the nation races toward the start of the 2024 primaries, the CNN reported.

Unlike in Colorado, Michigan courts rejected the case on procedural grounds without delving into the questions of insurrection and Trump's involvement in it.

Michigan law was compared to Colorado's election code, and the Michigan Supreme Court's order did not release a vote count.

According to CNN, one of the Michigan justices on Wednesday wrote why Michigan is different from Colorado.

The anti-Trump challengers "have identified no analogous provision in the Michigan Election Law that requires someone seeking the office of President of the United States to attest to their legal qualification to hold the office," Justice Elizabeth Welch wrote, comparing Michigan law to Colorado's election code, CNN reported.

The lower-court rulings in Michigan kept the door open to future 14th Amendment challenges if Trump wins the Republican nomination.

On Truth Social, Trump criticised attempts to keep him off the ballot, warning of a "rigged and stolen" 2024 election.

Legal challenges continue in Michigan, with Ron Fein of Free Speech For People calling the decision "disappointing" but emphasising its non-binding nature outside Michigan.

Another attorney for the challengers, Mark Brewer, said they would continue the efforts in Michigan.

"The Court's decision is disappointing but we will continue, at a later stage, to seek to uphold this critical constitutional provision designed to protect our republic," Brewer said in the statement.

The 14th Amendment challenge against Trump was filed by Free Speech For People in September, seeking to apply the "insurrectionist ban." The vague wording of the amendment has only been applied twice since 1919, and the Michigan lawsuit was part of a broader legal strategy pursued by the group. (ANI)
Islamabad [Pakistan], December 28 (ANI): Amid the ongoing protests by Baloch activists against 'enforced disappearances' and alleged extrajudicial killings by the Pakistani forces, Zaheer Baloch, a PhD student has been released by Islamabad police after a five-day disappearance, reported The Balochistan Post on Thursday. HT Image

Even though he was arrested at a protest against the Islamabad police's refusal to allow participants in the "Long March Against Baloch Genocide" to enter Islamabad, the authorities first denied knowing where he was.

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However, the authorities revealed in the Islamabad High Court a few days later that he was being kept in Adiala jail. On social media, the Baloch Yakjehti Committee hailed his release, noting that 34 other students are still missing.

Dr Mahrang Baloch, a political leader who is organising the continuing protest for the safe release of Baloch missing persons and the end of enforced disappearances and extrajudicial killings in Balochistan, spoke to the protest gathering in Islamabad alongside Zaheer Baloch.

"In the past several days, we heard from the Islamabad police that Zaheer Baloch was not in their custody. However, he was detained illegally for five days without being presented in front of a court or allowed the right to a lawyer," she said, according to The Balochistan Post.

"We launched this movement against enforced disappearances and extrajudicial killings in Balochistan. Some elements are spreading a false narrative that we don't want to negotiate with the authorities. That is untrue. We are ready for negotiation, but we will not be defrauded this time," she added.

She further stated that the movement is for the people of Balochistan and that more people are participating daily. To quell the march, the police and related authorities have resorted to violence and deception, including snatching their loudspeakers in the middle of the night.

Recalling his time in jail, the missing PhD student, Zaheer Baloch described the inhumane conditions there.

He said, "Over 45 people were crammed into one small room. We could not stand, sit, or lie down, let alone sleep. We were dehumanized and an FIR was registered against us as they saw fit, without informing us or any of our friends. We were not allowed to contact our lawyers or our families," reported The Balochistan Post.

Zaheer alleged that the investigative officer attempted to assault him. He stated that he was escorted to the session court and appealed to the police to allow him to receive legal representation, but he was denied.

Notably, Zaheer Baloch was missing following the protests.

These students were arrested when they gathered to protest the federal government's and Islamabad Police's refusal to allow participants in the "Long March Against Baloch Genocide" to enter Islamabad.

The Islamabad police used tear gas, batons and water cannons to suppress the peaceful protests, resulting in the arrest of hundreds of protesters.

Notably, the harsh crackdown in Islamabad has been widely condemned by national and international activists and human rights organisations.

Over the last week, protests erupted in Turbat, Quetta, Khuzdar, Dalbandin, Gwadar, and other cities. Furthermore, the Baloch Yakjehti Committee organised large anti-government protests in Karachi, Lahore, and Bahawalpur.

Meanwhile, Mahrang Baloch, one of the march organisers, demanded the release of all the protesters "or otherwise we will be forced to take hard steps. Our demand is to release all detainees and this is our clear last warning."

The Baloch protest march was started in Turbat on December 6 after the alleged extrajudicial killing of a Baloch youth by Counter Terrorism Department (CTD) personnel and reached the federal capital last week.

However, following their protest, they were met with brutal force and over 200 protestors were taken into custody by the Islamabad police.

Later, to raise their voice against the crackdown, the march led by the Baloch Yakjehti Committee converted into a sit-in outside the Islamabad National Press Club. (ANI)
A former Buckingham Palace staffer said that Prince William and his father King Charles don't always agree on everything but they are always respectful of one another. The two have different ways of handling things, but Prince William is always respectful of his fathers rank as the monarch as he understands there's a hierarchy and his father comes first, the insider told Daily Beast. Britain's William, Prince of Wales attends the Royal Family's Christmas Day service at St. Mary Magdalene's church.(Reuters)

This comes after Prince William said earlier this year that he plans to take the monarchy a step further.

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Charles absolutely wants William to plough his own furrow, he is encouraged to do so, just as he was," the insider said.

So what is the equation between King Charles and Prince William?

Prince William and King Charles may have differing opinions, depending on the topic, which often result in a healthy debate, creating growth as per the insider who suggested, I think it is broadly seen as a productive rivalry, rather than a destructive one, because William respects his fathers rank as head of The Firm.

King Charles methods are more traditional while his son's ways are more relaxed, the insider adding, saying, I am sure they will butt heads as Charles is allergic to anyone telling him what to do, and William is not exactly famed for his subtlety. Ultimately the monarchy is a hierarchical structure based on military principles, and when push comes to shove, you have to obey orders from your superiors. Thats what William and Kate understand.
Western powers on Thursday condemned Iran accelerating its production of highly enriched uranium, after a watchdog said it had upped manufacture following months of slowdown. Iran's Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei(AFP)

In a joint statement, Britain, France, Germany and the US said they "condemn this measure that further aggravates the continued escalation of the Iranian nuclear programme," adding that "Iran's production of highly enriched uranium has no credible civilian justification".

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The statement came two days after the International Atomic Energy Agency released a report saying Iran "increased its production of highly enriched uranium, reversing a previous output reduction from mid-2023."

Iran had increased its output of 60 percent enriched uranium to a rate of about nine kilograms (20 pounds) a month since the end of November, the UN watchdog said.

That is up from about three kilograms a month since June, and a return to the nine kilograms a month it was producing during the first half of 2023.

In their statement on Thursday, the Western powers said that "these developments constitute a step in a bad direction on the part of Iran", warning of "significant proliferation risks".

"These decisions show the absence of will on the part of Iran to engage in a de-escalation in good faith and result in irresponsible behaviour in the context of regional tensions," the statement said.

Responding to the IAEA report, Iran's top nuclear official Mohammad Eslami said: "We have done nothing new and our activity is according to the regulations".

Enrichment levels of around 90 percent are required for use in a nuclear weapon.

Iran appeared to have slowed its enrichment as a gesture while informal talks for a restored nuclear agreement resumed with the United States.

But animosity between the two countries has intensified in recent months, with each accusing the other of exacerbating the war between Israel and Hamas.

Iran suspended its compliance with limits on its nuclear activities set by a 2015 nuclear deal with major powers a year after then US president Donald Trump unilaterally pulled out of the agreement in 2018 and reimposed sweeping sanctions.

It has since built up its stocks of enriched uranium to 22 times the level permitted under the deal, according to a confidential IAEA report seen by AFP last month.

Iran has consistently denied any ambition to develop a nuclear weapons capability, insisting that its activities are entirely peaceful.
Pakistan's election body accepted former prime minister Nawaz Sharif's nomination for the 2024 national elections, ARY News reported. This means that no objections have been raised to 73-year-old Nawaz Sharif's candidature have been raised as he will now contest both from Lahore and Mansahra city of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. Pakistan's former prime minister Nawaz Sharif waves to his supporters.(AP)

What Shehbaz Sharif said about Nawaz Sharif?

His younger brother and former premier Shehbaz Sharif claimed that Nawaz Sharif is going to be the next prime minister of Pakistan for a record fourth time after the general election in February.

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"Nawaz Sharif is going to the PM for the fourth time by the will of God after (Feb 8, 2024) polls," Shehbaz Sharif said, adding, We have made Pakistan economically strong again under the leadership of Nawaz Sharif.

Why is the election body's move important?

Nawaz Sharif was banned from running in elections by the Supreme Court in 2017 which declared him dishonest for not disclosing income from a company which was owned by his son. A court overturned two convictions for graft against Nawaz Sharif who arrived back home in October from four years of self-imposed exile in London.

His biggest challenge will be to wrest back his support base from his main rival, former cricket hero Imran Khan who remains popular following his ouster from the premiership in 2022.

What about Imran Khan?

Imran Khan is disqualified from the election because of the graft conviction, which he has appealed. Earlier, Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) chairman Imran Khan alleged that Nawaz Sharif returned to the country under a 'London Plan' as per which military establishment will make him prime minister.
Meghan Markles wish to return to acting in 2024 will test her partnership with Prince Harry, an astrologer claimed. Susan Miller, founder of Astrology Zone, predicted that Prince Harry will face some difficult years ahead as his relationships will be tested. The Duke of Sussex' marriage, business partnerships, or collaborations tested in 2024, the astrologer claimed as per Daily Mail. Prince Harry will also miss his old life in London as an active royal as Meghan Markle will crave a return to acting, the astrologer predicted. Britain's Prince Harry, Duke of Sussex and his wife Meghan, Duchess of Sussex, seen. (Reuters)

Susan Miller said, I think of Harry in a bucolic, beautiful setting. Santa Barbara is the closest thing to paradise Ive ever seen, and it doesnt have the hustle (and) bustle though. Its gorgeous, but he used to have 20 detail men following him around, and all the things he was doing. His life has changed dramatically. Now, living in Santa Barbara is perfect for the children, and I know he loves to play poloHe loves history and family.

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The astrologer also said that the couple will face issues next year which will arise from their professional lives.

I think [Harry] is going to miss London, and I dont know how theyre going to figure that out. I think its great when the kids are little, because, of course, they need places to play, and just be kids, and theyre gonna have the privacy there. But Meghan wants to go back to actingI dont think the [Netflix] business plan of creating movies is the way its going to go. I think she will go back to work," she said, adding, I also think they may need a constant supply of money because theyve sort of told all the family secrets, they dont have any more to tell. I think we all know too muchIts an odd situation.

For Prince Harry, the astrologer said, Either your marriage will be tested, or a business partnership or collaboration will be tested. It just means that you will have to adjust to things. You will have to come up with imaginative solutions, or you may decide to leave the situation. It will be [Harry] who is going through the test. But whats interesting is [Meghan] (a Leo) felt it and is coming out of it. Hes going into it because Leo had it already.

Hes the one finding it difficult," she predicted.
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Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said on Thursday that some in the West were suggesting that Moscow should discuss peace in Ukraine because the United States and its allies had failed to defeat Russian forces in Ukraine. Russia-Ukraine War: Russian President Vladimir Putin speaks during a meeting with the top military brass in Moscow.(AP)

Nearly two years into Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine, Moscow controls about 17.5% of Ukrainian territory and a Ukrainian counter-offensive this year has failed to win any major territorial gains against Russian forces who have defended the front with extensive mine fields and swarms of drones.

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Lavrov, in an interview with RIA state news agency and the Rossiya 24 TV channel, said there were signs that the West was changing its tactics and strategy on Ukraine.

"The West is really changing its tactics - maybe even thinking about clarifying the strategy. Because if the 'strategic defeat of Russia' is a strategy, forgive the tautology, then this strategy failed miserably," Lavrov said.

"There are some approaches, some whispers: why don't you (Russia) meet with someone in Europe who would be ready to talk, talk about Ukraine without Ukraine itself," said Lavrov, who also reiterated that Moscow would achieve all its goals in Ukraine.

President Vladimir Putin has repeatedly said he is ready to talk about peace in Ukraine but on Russia's terms. U.S. officials have said they think he is waiting for the 2024 U.S. presidential election before making any serious move towards peace.

Ukraine says it will not rest until every last Russian soldier is ejected from its territory as defined in 1991 when the Soviet Union collapsed. The West says it will not push Ukraine towards peace.

Putin casts the Ukraine war as a battle for Russian survival against an arrogant West which he says is plotting to cleave Russia apart and to steal its vast natural resourves.

U.S. President Joe Biden has said the West does not seek to destroy Russia but wants Kyiv to defeat Moscow's forces on Ukrainian territory. Biden also said in 2022 that Russia had suffered a "strategic failure" in Ukraine.

Lavrov, who has been in post since 2004, also said on Thursday that major Western powers had met in "secret" about 10 days ago as part of a G7 plus developing nations meeting to discuss a "peace formula" proposed by Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy.

Lavrov said they had agreed on a further meeting in January and a "peace summit" in February based on the Zelenskiy peace formula. Reuters could not independently verify his assertions.

Zelenskiy's 10-point peace plan calls for the withdrawal of Russian troops and cessation of hostilities and the restoration of Ukraine's state borders with Russia.

Moscow says the Zelenskiy idea is absurd as it does not include Russia in talks.
A second American being held hostage by Hamas in the Gaza Strip has died, a report claimed. Judi Weinstein Haggai and her husband, both Israeli Americans, were taken hostage from their community of Kibbutz Nir when Hamas attacked Israel on October 7. The couple is said to have disappeared in the fields surrounding Kibbutz Nir Oz and had not been heard from since. Following this, it was announced that Judi Weinstein Haggai- one of eight Americans being held captive by Hamas- had died. Judih Weinstein and Gad Haggai.

This comes a week after Judi Weinstein Haggai's husband, Gad, died. He was the first American hostage to die amid the war between Israel and Hamas. The six other Americans being held hostage by Hamas include Omer Neutra, Itay Chen, Sagui Dekel-Chen, Edan Alexander, Hersh Goldberg Polin and Keith Samuel Siegel as per Fox News.

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The couple is survived by their children.

Following Gad's death, US president Joe Biden and first lady Jill Biden said they were "heartbroken."

"Today, we are praying for their four children, seven grandchildren, and other loved ones and are grieving this tragic news with them," Joe Biden said in a statement after he spoke with the couples daughter by phone. The US president had then also reaffirmed his pledged to the families of hostages that "we will not stop working to bring them home."

This comes as the UN humanitarian office said that the scale and intensity of ground operations and fighting between Israel and Hamas is having a devastating impact as it is impeding aid deliveries. More than 20,000 Palestinians, two-thirds of them women and children, have been killed since the start of the war. About 1,200 people were killed after Hamas raided southern Israel on October 7, with around 240 people taken hostage.
Donald Trump has centered his unlikely rise from reality television star to onetime  and potentially future  president on the idea that hes wiser than Washingtons bumbling political class, once going so far as to label himself a very stable genius. Trump is facing criticism for repeatedly harnessing rhetoric once used by Adolf Hitler to argue that immigrants entering the U.S. illegally are poisoning the blood of our country.(AP)

But when it comes to one of historys darkest moments, Trump is professing ignorance

Facing criticism for repeatedly harnessing rhetoric once used by Adolf Hitler to argue that immigrants entering the U.S. illegally are poisoning the blood of our country, Trump insisted he had no idea that one of the worlds most reviled and infamous figures once used similar words. The Nazi dictator spoke of impure Jewish blood poisoning Aryan German blood to dehumanize Jews and justify the systemic murder of millions during the Holocaust.

I never knew that Hitler said it, Trump told conservative radio host Hugh Hewitt on Friday, volunteering once again that he never read Hitlers biographical manifesto, Mein Kampf.

I know nothing about Hitler, he insisted. I have no idea what Hitler said other than (what) Ive seen on the news. And thats a very, entirely different thing than what Im saying.

Trumps assertion that he knows so little about one of the 20th centurys most documented figures is notable for someone seeking the presidency, a role steeped in and shaped by history. But claiming ignorance, particularly when it comes to people who espouse racist or antisemitic rhetoric, is a tactic Trump has repeatedly deployed when aiming to distance himself from uncomfortable storylines.

After he was endorsed by former Ku Klux Klan grand wizard David Duke during his winning 2016 campaign, Trump insisted he had no knowledge of the white supremacist who had run for office numerous times and is described by the Anti-Defamation League as perhaps Americas most well-known racist and anti-Semite.

Just so you understand, I dont know anything about David Duke, OK?" he told CNNs Jake Tapper in February 2016. I dont know anything about what youre even talking about with white supremacy or white supremacists.

Asked if he would condemn the white supremacists supporting him, Trump said he would have to look at the group. I mean, I dont know what group youre talking about. He continued to repeat that assertion even after Tapper said he was referring to the KKK.

OTHER CASES

Trump has also pleaded ignorance in other cases. As he ran for reelection in 2020, Trump said he didnt know much about QAnon, the convoluted conspiracy that alleges Democrats are involved in a satanic pedophilia ring and casts Trump as the nations savior  even as he retweeted accounts promoting the conspiracy.

I know nothing about it, he said during an NBC town hall. Nonetheless, he refused to rule it out as false. I dont know that and neither do you, he said.

It was the same when Trump was asked to condemn the Proud Boys militia group, which was key in organizing the assault on the U.S. Capitol on Jan. 6, 2021. Enrique Tarrio and other members of the far-right extremist group have been found guilty of seditious conspiracy and other crimes for their part in the attack, which was part of a desperate bid to keep Trump in power after he lost the 2020 election to Joe Biden.

I dont know who the Proud Boys are," Trump told reporters after instructing the group, during a presidential debate, to Stand back and stand by."

I mean, you'll have to give me a definition cause I dont really know who they are, Trump said of the group, which was drawing headlines at the time.

Trump has also suggested he was unaware of some of the most consequential periods of American history. At a recent rally in Reno, Nevada, Trump said he had to ask Texas Gov. Greg Abbott to define the post-Civil War era known as Reconstruction as he boasted about his growing popularity with Hispanic voters and Republican wins along the border.

They say the first time since Reconstruction. You know what Reconstruction means? That means the Civil War," Trump told the audience. I said, Give me a definition, governor, of Reconstruction. You said Im the first one to win all of these towns since Reconstruction.' He said, Well, Reconstruction: since the Civil War. Thats a long time ago. Thats pretty good.

Trump campaign spokesman Steven Cheung said Trump has been very clear that hes talking about criminals and terrorists who have crossed the border under Joe Bidens watch. When hes back in the White House, the United States will return to a secure border and a system that places the safety and security of Americans first."

THE MOST SAVAGE CRIME'

The former president's claims about Hitler are particularly notable given his upbringing in New York, home to one of the nation's largest Jewish populations.

Trump has also participated in Holocaust memorial events. He spoke at a ceremony at the U.S. Capitol hosted by the U.S. Holocaust Memorial Museum in 2017, where he denounced Holocaust deniers as accomplices to horrible evil." And he paid a brief visit to Yad Vashem, Israels national Holocaust memorial, where he called the Nazi extermination of 6 million Jews the most savage crime against God and his children.

Trump's insistence that he has not read Mein Kampf  an assertion he also made at an Iowa rally last week  evoked a different Hitler book he once allegedly had in his possession.

Journalist Marie Brenner reported in Vanity Fair magazine in 1990 that Trumps ex-wife, Ivana Trump, told her lawyer that, from time to time her husband reads a book of Hitlers collected speeches, My New Order, which he keeps in a cabinet by his bed.

Trump told Brenner that, it was my friend Marty Davis from Paramount who gave me a copy of Mein Kampf, and hes a Jew. Davis confirmed to Brenner that he had indeed given Trump a book about Hitler, but it was My New Order,  a collection of Hitlers speeches. I thought he would find it interesting, Davis said, adding, "I am his friend, but Im not Jewish.

Later, Trump returned to this subject.," Brenner wrote. "If I had these speeches, and I am not saying that I do, I would never read them, Brenner wrote.

HISTORY

Knowing basic American history is important for a president, said Princeton University professor Julian Zelizer, who studies political history.

We dont need a historian as president, but certainly you want a president with a feel for some of the basic parts of American history, of world history," he said, noting, for instance, that Reconstruction was a "a formative moment for civil rights and race relations."

In Mein Kampf, Hitler wrote that, All great cultures of the past perished only because the originally creative race died out from blood poisoning.

Trump told Hewitt his message was very different and he had zero racist intent.

I'm not a student of Hitler. I never read his works," he said. They say that he said something about blood. He didnt say it the way I said it, either, by the way. Its a very different kind of a statement. What Im saying when I talk about people coming into our country is they are destroying our country.

Still, he repeated poisoning references eight times.

Among those references: They are poisoning our country. They are poisoning the blood of our country. Theyre coming from all over the world. Theyre coming from prisons. Theyre coming from mental institutions and insane asylums. Theyre terrorists. Absolutely thats poisoning our country. Thats poisoning the blood of our country. And thats whats happening."
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Turkey's radio and television watchdog RTUK on Thursday placed a two-week broadcasting ban on the popular television series "Kizil Goncalar" (Crimson Buds), a board member said, as it was deemed to be against "society's national and spiritual values". Poster of Kizil Goncalar is seen.

Ilhan Tasci, a member of the RTUK board representing the main opposition, said on social media platform X that the regulator had also imposed a 3% administrative fine on broadcaster Fox TV, owned by Walt Disney Co. unit Fox Networks Group.

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"Kizil Goncalar", which highlights the division between religious and secular segments of society, faced immediate backlash after it was first aired on Dec. 18, even though its first two episodes topped ratings lists and had more than 10 million views on YouTube.

RTUK has often penalised shows over what it has labelled as violations of Turkey's moral values, the structure of family, or other issues it considers to be unethical, namely LGBTQ rights. Its critics and opposition parties have criticised it for curbing freedoms.

The show's producer, Faruk Turgut, said the series reflected the sociological reality of Turkey, portraying the clash between secular and religious segments of society.

"I am trying to hold a mirror on the realities of Turkish society. The realities must be discussed, we cannot progress by ignoring them," Turgut was quoted by daily Hurriyet as saying.

"They declared war on us, but we will fight until the end."

Ebubekir Sahin, RTUK chairman and a member of President Tayyip Erdogan's ruling AK Party, wrote on X that outraged viewers had called for the cancellation of the show, and that its posters on billboards in Istanbul had been vandalised with black paint.

Pro-government media accused the show of being Islamophobic, prompting the cancellation of filming venue permits for upcoming episodes.

The Ismailaga Brotherhood, a prominent religious sect in Turkey, sharply criticized the series.

"Productions in today's media that target our religion and devout individuals by aiming to denigrate the names of Allah, our noble book the Quran, spiritual institutions such as sects and orders, are absolutely unacceptable," the sect said on X.

Tasci said the "RTUK has bowed down to cults and sects".
A Moscow court on Thursday sentenced two men to long prison terms for reading poems against the assault on Ukraine. Russia-Ukraine War: Russian President Vladimir Putin speaks during a meeting with the top military brass in Moscow.(AP)

Artyom Kamardin was sentenced to seven years in prison and Yegor Shtovba to five years and six months to cries of "Shame!" from their supporters in the courtroom, an AFP journalist at the hearing saw.

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Russian authorities have detained thousands for simple acts of protest against the offensive in Ukraine, with criticism effectively outlawed.

Kamardin, 33, said his detention was particularly violent, claiming that officers raped him and forced him to film an apology video while threatening his girlfriend.

On the eve of his arrest he had recited his poem "Kill me, militia man!" on a Moscow square where dissidents have been gathering since the Soviet era.

Kamardin also shouted offensive slogans against the imperial "New Russia" project aiming to annex the south of Ukraine.

Both were convicted of "inciting hatred" and "calling for activities threatening state security".

Kamardin told the court he did not know his actions broke the law and asked for mercy.

"I am not a hero, and going to prison for my beliefs was never in my plans," he said in a statement, posted on his supporters' Telegram channel.

- 'Under torture' -

After the sentencing, his father Yury said: "This is a total outrage!"

Around two dozen friends came to support the defendants along with the poets' parents and wives.

Kamardin's wife Alexandra Popova was in the crowd.

"It is a very harsh sentence. Seven years for poems, for a non-violent crime," she said, before being detained.

In an interview with AFP in late 2022, she had recounted her then boyfriend's arrest, saying officers threatened her with "gang rape", hit her and sprayed superglue on her cheeks and mouth.

Meanwhile Kamardin was taken to a separate room, where -- as he told his lawyer -- he was beaten and raped with a barbell.

Kamardin was also forced to film an apology video.

- Sorry for 'leaving you' -

Shtovba, 23, also insisted he did not break the law.

In his last statement in court, published by independent site Mediazona, he asked the judge: "What have I done that's illegal? Read poetry?"

He also addressed his mother, who he said depended on him financially.

"Mom, I know that you, more than anyone, believe in my innocence... Still, I'm sorry for how things turned out, leaving you and dad alone."

Nikolai Dayneko, who was arrested at the same time, was sentenced to four years in prison last May after entering a pre-trial agreement, according to OVD-info.

This is the latest in a string of heavy sentences against Russians who protested the offensive, in trials critics denounce as absurd.

In mid-November judge Oksana Demiasheva sentenced artist Alexandra Skochilenko to seven years in prison for swapping price tags with slogans criticising Russia's offensive in Ukraine.

Skochilenko had replaced five price tags in a branch of one of Russia's largest supermarket chains in Saint Petersburg with messages about the conflict.

The trials of ordinary Russians usually take place away from public attention, unlike those of prominent critics.

Most of Russia's high-profile opposition figures have fled the country or are behind bars, including Alexei Navalny.
As we bid farewell to 2023, New York City prepares for the iconic New Year's Eve ball drop at Times Square. Mayor Eric Adams expresses concern about potential disruptions by Pro-Palestine protestors, citing previous incidents at the Rockefeller Center Christmas tree lighting and Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade. Were sure theres gonna be some type of attempt this year, the mayor said. NEW YORK, NEW YORK - NOVEMBER 23: Pro-Palestinian protesters are detained during Macy's annual Thanksgiving Day Parade on November 23, 2023 in New York City. Thousands of people lined the streets to watch the 25 balloons and hundreds of performers march in this parade happening since 1924. (Getty Images via AFP)

Everyone looks for events like this if they want to do bad things, and the police department is on top of it, he added

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As a safety measure, NYPD is deploying thousands of officers in uniform and plain clothes to Times Square. The variety of tools, whether robots, drones, bomb-sniffing dogs  all of those things are in play, the ex-deputy commissioner told CBS New York.

Theyre going to be on alert for something different than what weve had in the past, but they are mostly concerned [about] the people who go out [to] enjoy their night, and they want to keep the protests and the freedom of speech from interfering with other peoples freedom and enjoying themselves, he added

Collaborative efforts for security

Times Square Alliance will collaborate with the NYPD, private security firms, and federal authorities to ensure the site's security. Times Square Alliance president Tom Harris warns potential disruptors, stating, If you're going to come and try to disrupt the event, you're probably not gonna be successful, and if you are, you're going to be arrested. So stay home and protest someplace else.

Times Square will be roped off starting at noon on New Year's Eve, with police checkpoints and security screenings for anyone entering the area. Concerns arise about the NYPD's ability to handle protests following changes in response tactics due to a recent lawsuit settlement.

The NYPD abandoned the "kettling" tactic as part of a settlement, limiting their ability to respond to mass demonstrations. Mayor Adams expresses hesitation about these changes, emphasising the challenges it pose in maintaining peace during events.

The Police Department  [has] to be extremely more hesitant in actions that they would have carried out in the past to keep the peace. I did not agree with the concept of those changes, he said.

No credible threats reported:

Despite concerns, the NYPD reports no credible threats related to demonstrations during the New Year's Eve ball drop. The department remains vigilant in monitoring the situation.

Previous incidents:

Pro-Palestinian protesters have demonstrated in various locations across New York City, including the Rockefeller Center Christmas tree lighting and the Thanksgiving Day Parade. Over 500 demonstrations have occurred since the war in Israel began.

With tensions and demonstrations linked to the conflict between Israel and Hamas, the NYPD maintains a proactive stance to ensure the safety of New Year's Eve revellers at the iconic Times Square ball drop.
Despite facing legal challenges in several states over his alleged involvement in the January 6 attack on the US Capitol, former president Donald Trump has secured his place on the Michigan state ballot for the 2024 presidential primary. FILE - Former President Donald Trump speaks at a campaign rally in Durham, (AP Photo/Reba Saldanha, File)(AP)

On Wednesday, the Michigan Supreme Court upheld a lower court order that rejected a lawsuit seeking to disqualify Trump from running for office again.

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The lawsuit, filed by a group called Free Speech for the People, argued that Trump violated section 3 of the US Constitutions 14th amendment, which bars anyone who has engaged in insurrection or rebellion against the US government from holding any federal or state office. The group claimed that Trump incited the violent mob that stormed the Capitol in an attempt to overturn the 2020 election results.

However, the Michigan Supreme Court did not agree with the groups interpretation of the 14th Amendment, which was enacted after the US Civil War to prevent former Confederate officials from returning to power.

ALSO READ| Trump feigns ignorance of Hitler's rhetoric. That's part of a broader pattern

The court did not provide any explanation for its decision, simply stating that it was not persuaded that the questions presented should be reviewed by this court.

Trump's eligibility under 14th Amendment challenged across multiple jurisdictions

The courts ruling contrasted with that of the Colorado Supreme Court, which earlier this month decided to remove Trump from its state primary ballot based on the same constitutional provision. The Colorado court said that Trumps actions on January 6 amounted to insurrection or rebellion and that he forfeited his eligibility to hold office. The Colorado decision is currently on hold pending further litigation.

According to Lawfare, a website that covers national security issues, more than a dozen states have similar lawsuits pending against Trump, aiming to enforce section 3 of the 14th Amendment. The outcome of these cases could have a significant impact on Trumps political future, as he has hinted at running for president again in 2024.

ALSO READ| Nikki Haley roars past Donald Trump in New Hampshire poll within 4 points

Ron Fein, the legal director of Free Speech for the People and one of the attorneys for the plaintiffs in the Michigan case, expressed disappointment with the courts ruling, but vowed to continue the fight in other states.

The decision isnt binding on any court outside Michigan and we continue our current and planned legal actions in other states to enforce Section 3 of the Fourteenth Amendment against Donald Trump, Fein said in a statement.

Trump celebrating Michigan court's order

One of the dissenting justices in the Michigan case, Elizabeth Welch, suggested that the challengers could still pursue their case in the general election, if Trump becomes the Republican nominee or runs as an independent. Welch noted that there were procedural differences between the primary and the general election that could affect the application of section 3.

ALSO READ| Russian textbooks for children: Donald Trump denied US presidency, Biden cheated

Michigan is expected to be a key battleground state in the 2024 presidential election, as it was in 2016 and 2020. The states primary is scheduled for February 27, 2024.

Trump, who has been banned from most mainstream social media platforms, celebrated the Michigan courts order on his own platform, Truth Social.

The Michigan Supreme Court has strongly and rightfully denied the Desperate Democrat attempt to take the leading Candidate in the 2024 Presidential Election, me, off the ballot in the Great State of Michigan, Trump wrote.

We have to save our Country from decline and the Radical Left. Make America Great Again!
A chilling video has captured the moment three armed men ambushed a vehicle in Queens and murdered a 28-year-old mom sitting in the front passenger seat on Tuesday, October 26. 28-year-old Clarisa Burgos was in a black Honda sedan when the tragedy took place. Her car was pulled over near 127th Street and Liberty Avenue in Richmond Hill. A chilling video has captured the moment three armed men ambushed a vehicle in Queens and murdered a 28-year-old mom Clarisa Burgos (New York Post screenshot, Facebook)

The male driver, 39, was also wounded in the attack. Burgos, however, died on the spot after being shot once in the head, police said, according to New York Post.

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Weve raised her in a good way, with love, Burgos aunt said. God knows what has happened to her.

Gothamist reported that Burgos is survived by a four-year-old son.

What does the video show?

The footage shows two men, wearing dark clothes, crossing the street and approaching the vehicle. A third man is seen walking right by the car on the sidewalk.

One of the men suddenly draws a gun and fires several bullets into the drivers side window. Another man fires from behind him. The driver, evidently already wounded, tried to hit the gas and flee. The suspect who was seen walking on the sidewalk comes in front of the car and fires through the front windshield and drivers side window, the video shows.

The victims car gradually drives away and the three gunmen flee. Reportedly, the driver later approached NYPDs 103rd precinct station house, which is located 2.5 miles from the crime scene, shortly after midnight. He informed police that he and Burgos had been shot.

The driver had been shot about 6 times in the torso and was rushed to Jamaica Hospital Medical Center. He was listed in stable condition. Burgos, however, was declared dead on site, police said. As of Wednesday, December 27, no arrests had been made and no notice determined. It is unclear how Burgos was related to the driver.
Central America's small nation of Nicaragua is back in the headlines for all the wrong reasons after an Indian flight to the country was grounded over allegations of carrying illegal immigrants. Parents-to-be from Haiti stand at a gap in the US-Mexico border wall after having travelled from South America to the United States, in Yuma, Arizona, (AFP)

In recent years, the small nation bordering the Caribbean has seen a surge in immigrants, not to settle - but to cross over. Although it is a hot destination for those seeking real estate investment properties, there's also a negative reason behind the recent crowd. Many use it as a donkey route to illegally cross over to the US.

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Why are people travelling to Nicaragua?

The surge of travellers in Nicaragua is due to several reasons, be it an off-beat getaway or business opportunities. However, on the downside, many use this beautiful Central American nation as a springboard for illegal immigration into the United States and Canada.

Often facilitated by agents, Nicaragua's porous border and weak visa policies make it a hot destination to be used as a donkey route, allowing migrants to reach countries neighbouring the US and Canada. Once the illegal migrants reach there, they cross the American and Canadian borders on foot.

Do Indians need visas for Nicaragua?

An MEA document signed by Pranab Mukherjee shows an agreement between the India and Nicaragua governments allowing Indian passport holders to enter the country without a visa. However, another report says the Nicaragua embassy does not issue Tourist visas. So, Indians having valid USA/UK/Schengen visas can get Nicaragua visas on arrival. This ambiguity of visa rules and a porous border has made it a good haven for illegal immigration.

How is Nicaragua weaponising illegal immigration to US?

Of late, Nicaragua has emerged as a migratory springboard with relaxed entry requirements that allow Indians and a handful of other foreign nationals to purchase a low-cost visa without proof of onward travel.

According to an AP report, over 260 charter flights believed to be carrying migrants from Haiti have touched down in Nicaragua in recent months. The Ortega government knows they have few important policy tools at hand to confront the United States, ... so they have armed migration as a way to attack, said Manuel Orozco, director of the migration, remittances and development program at the Inter-American Dialogue told AP. This is definitely a concrete example of weaponizing migration as a foreign policy.

AP investigation further unveiled, a shadow industry of charter flights moving donkey travellers around the Americas. These migrants land at Managua airport, from where they are smuggled north. Mostly near Mexico, from where they try crossing the border on foot.

South American travel agencies use planes from low-budget Latin American airlines as donkey flights.

Indians form third largest illegal immigrant community in US

According to the US Customs and Border Patrol (CBP), 96,917 Indians were arrested while attempting to enter the US illegally in 2023 alone. Indians form the third largest illegal immigrants in the US, numbering around 725,000. The report goes on to elaborate that most cross over into the country barefoot. 30,010 arrests were at the Canadian border and 41,770 at the Southern border.
Lee Sun-kyun, the actor best known in the US for playing the rich dad in Bong Joon-Ho's 2019 film 'Parasite', was found dead in his car in Seoul following a 19-hour police interrogation. The South Korean government has renewed its draconian war on drugs since the election of right-wing President Yoon Suk Yeol. This year alone, 17,000 people have been arrested in connection with drug use and possession. Users, growers and dealers alike have been targeted in a ruthlessly authoritarian crackdown on everything from hemp plants to cocaine. The punishment for being a habitual drug user? Six months to ten years in prison.

Allegations about Sun-Kyun's drug use reportedly lost him two prominent acting roles, $270,000 in payments to a blackmailer, and his good standing with the conservative South Korean government.

Sun-Kyun's public life was under intense scrutiny in the tabloids as well as with the police. The actor had faced three rounds of lengthy interrogation, over his alleged drug use, following an incident with a hostess who he alleged was blackmailing him. Sun-Kyun maintained his innocence throughout.
Starting in 2016, dozens of decapitated seal pups have been found on beaches along the California coast. Many speculated that the seals, found with their heads torn off, were being harmed by humans. (Representational image)

Scientists, however, said that the cuts were jagged and did not appear to have been made with a knife. A team was thus set up on the case, and camera traps were put in place in the state's northern region. What the team saw shocked them.

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The footage showed a coyote dragging a lifeless seal pup and tearing off its head on camera. The cameras that captured the video are part of UC Santa Cruz PhD student Frankie Gerraty's land and sea connections research. They had joined hands with Sarah Grimes, stranding coordinator at the Noyo Center for Marine Science in Mendocino County, according to Daily Mail.

The team has said they have planned to release the video in the future. It was so gruesome, Grimes told The Mercury News. I was like marine mammal CSI, seeing all the dead pups with their heads torn off, and I'm like, 'What the heck did that?' Grimes added that the discovery was surprising.

Grimes said that although seals and coyotes coexist in the same habitat, coyotes tend to go after live marine life. The team set up cameras at MacKerricher Beach in northern California to see what happened.

We set up camera traps and got one really solid video of a coyote dragging a harbor seal pup and beheading it, Gerraty said. We are pretty confident there has been predation at four sites along the Northern California coast.

Researchers are trying to find out why the coyotes only feast on the heads of the seal pups. Steveston resident David Stuart came across one of the first sightings of headless seal pups in 2016. This was a crime scene as far as I was concerned; this needed to be looked at, he told Richmond News at the time.
The United States government has announced that it will be releasing $250 million in weapons and equipment for Ukraine. This will be its final package for the year. This follows officials pressing Congress to renew aid in the new year. FILE - U.S. President Joe Biden shakes hands with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy as they meet at the White House, Tuesday, Dec. 12, 2023, in Washington.(AP)

Our assistance has been critical to supporting our Ukrainian partners as they defend their country and their freedom against Russias aggression, Secretary of State Antony Blinken said in a statement. It is imperative that Congress act swiftly, as soon as possible, to advance our national security interests by helping Ukraine defend itself and secure its future.

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The war aid package includes ammunition for artillery and air defense systems as well as anti-armor munitions and more than 15 million rounds of small arms ammunition. Javelin anti-tank systems and Stinger anti-aircraft missiles would be among the weapons offered, The Defense Department said in a press release.

According to the administration, the US has provided about $44.3 billion in military assistance since Russias full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022.

Biden's bid to fund Ukraine faces opposition

President Joe Bidens pleas to provide more funds for Ukraine before Congress left for its holiday has been vehemently opposed by Republican lawmakers. An emergency spending measure to provide $50bn for Ukraine and $14bn for Israel was defeated in the Senate earlier this month. Considering the escalating tensions around growing migrants from US-Mexico border many have outrightly opposed such expenditures. While others support assistance to Ukraine as well as to Israel and Taiwan but demand that any legislation be tied to border and immigration restrictions.

The announcement of aid comes days after Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky visited US to sway lawmakers, but failed. The country has warned that despite western aid the war effort and its public finances are at risk. Ukrainian officials are now facing the prospect of a slowdown in aid from allies in Washington and Europe.
Vivek Ramaswamy blasted Bank of America for its move to provide home loans without down payment to people from Black and Hispanic Communities. Vivek Ramaswamy speaks to guests during a campaign stop at the AmericInn on December 19, 2023 in Webster City, Iowa (Photo by SCOTT OLSON / GETTY IMAGES NORTH AMERICA / Getty Images via AFP)(Getty Images via AFP)

Taking to X, Ramaswamy wrote, Mark my words: This act of anti-racism today will be called systemic racism tomorrow - when minorities end up defaulting on these loans.

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What is Bank of Americas new move?

Bank of America stated that Community Affordable Loan Solution is available for properties in Black/African American and Hispanic-Latino communities in places including Charlotte, Dallas, Detroit, Los Angeles and Miami. Eligible people can obtain an affordable loan to buy a home as a result of this move.

The Community Affordable Loan Solution is a Special Purpose Credit Program which uses credit guidelines based on factors such as timely rent, utility bill, phone and auto insurance payments, Bank of America said online, adding that no mortgage insurance or minimum credit score will be needed.

The eligibility of the individual is based on income and home location, it said, adding that any individual from any race or ethnicity is welcome to apply. This new program is in addition to and complements Bank of Americas existing $15 billion Community Homeownership Commitment to offer affordable mortgages, industry leading grants and educational opportunities to help 60,000 individuals and families purchase affordable homes by 2025, the bank wrote.

The National Association of Realtors states that there is almost a 30-percentage-point gap in homeownership between White and Black Americans. The gap is nearly 20 percent when it comes to Hispanic buyers, making it significantly difficult for people of colour to purchase homes.

Homeownership strengthens our communities and can help individuals and families to build wealth over time, said AJ Barkley, head of Neighborhood and Community Lending for Bank of America. Our Community Affordable Loan Solution will help make the dream of sustained homeownership attainable for more Black and Hispanic families, and it is part of our broader commitment to the communities that we serve.
Republican presidential nominee Nikki Haley today embarrassed herself by ignoring the most important factor that led to US civil war - Slavery. FILE - Republican presidential candidate Nikki Haley speaks during a town hall, Dec. 18, 2023, in Nevada, Iowa. Haley is betting her 2024 candidacy on winning South Carolina. (AP)

During an audience question-answer round, Haley, a former U.N. ambassador and South Carolina governor was asked - "What was the cause of the United States Civil War?

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Despite slavery being the main cause of the civil war Haleys answer did not include any mention of the word. It prompted surprise from her questioner and swift criticism and rebuttals from Democrats and Republicans, including President Biden.

Nikki Haley caught off guard

At first, when she heard the question, Haley appeared caught off guard. She then looked at the man dressed in a plaid shirt who stood behind his sons seated in the back row. Paused and responded, Well, dont come with an easy question. Then she proceeded to answer.

She was interacting with people in recreation room in the northernmost city in New Hampshire, a place that has leaned red in recent elections, grew quiet.

I think the cause of the Civil War was basically how government was going to run, the freedoms and what people could and couldnt do, Haley said.

What was cause of the Civil War?

She then turned the question to the man who asked it: What do you think the cause of the Civil War was?

The man responded that he is not running for president and wanted to hear her thoughts.

I think it always comes down to the role of government and what the rights of the people are, Haley continued. And I will always stand by the fact that I think government was intended to secure the rights and freedoms of the people. It was never meant to be all things to all people. Government doesnt need to tell you how to live your life. They dont need to tell you what you can and cant do. They dont need to be a part of your life.

The man then responded, In the year 2023, its astonishing to me that you answer that question without mentioning the word slavery.

Haley quickly replied with a question: What do you want me to say about slavery?

The man said, Youve answered my question, thank you. Haley replied, Next question.

US President Joe Biden later took to social media to call attention to Haleys exchange. It was about slavery, he wrote on X, formerly Twitter.

Vickie Plourde, Haley's supporter felt the question was a setup. We have to move past that, she said of slavery. If we continue to look in the past and say Look, look, look, look, and were not moving forward, were going to stay back there.

Nikki Haley and race rhetoric

In the past, race has been a delicate issue for Haley. After a white supremacist killed nine people attending Bible study at a historically Black church in Charleston in 2015, Haley signed legislation removing the Confederate flag from the State House grounds. In 2010, she suggested that she would not make such a move and was well-equipped to challenge an NAACP-boycott of the state over the flag because of her status as a woman of color.
The US sanctioned one person and three money exchanges it said have helped transfer millions of dollars to the Houthis on behalf of Iran. An Israeli navy missile boat patrols in the Red Sea off the coast of Israel's southern port city of Eliat.(AFP)

The action Thursday comes as the Yemen-based militant groups attacks on ships transiting the Red Sea have snarled trade in the region, sending half of the container ship fleet that regularly uses the sea and the Suez Canal on much longer routes.

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Brian Nelson, the Treasury Departments under secretary for Terrorism and Financial Intelligence, said in a statement the action underscores our resolve to restrict the illicit flow of funds to the Houthis, who continue to conduct dangerous attacks on international shipping and risk further destabilizing the region.

Treasury sanctioned Turkey-based money exchanger Al Aman Kargo Ithalat Ihracat Ve Nakliyat Limited Sirketi, which it said serves as a conduit for Iranian money to the Houthis businesses in Yemen. The agency sanctioned Nabco Money Exchange and Remittance Co. in connection with this trade.

Treasury also sanctioned Nabil Ali Ahmed Al-Hadha, the president of the Currency Exchangers Association in Houthi-controlled parts of Sanaa, alleging that he served as a financial intermediary for the Houthis Iranian sponsors and helped disguise the source of the funds by converting them into Yemeni rials using Al Rawda Exchange and Money Transfers Company.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky on Thursday thanked the US for releasing the last remaining package of weapons available for Ukraine under existing authorisation, as uncertainty surrounds further aid to his war-torn country. Russia-Ukraine War: Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky speaks during his end-of-the-year news conference in Kyiv, Ukraine.(AP)

Zelensky had warned that any change in policy from the US -- Kyiv's main backer -- could have a strong impact on the course of the war.

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"I thank President Joe Biden, Congress, and the American people for the $250 million military aid package announced yesterday," Zelensky said on social media.

"To defend freedom and security not only in Ukraine and Europe but also in the United States, we must continue to respond to ongoing Russian aggression," he said.

President Joe Biden has made backing Ukraine a priority and US weapons and financial assistance have been crucial in helping the pro-Western country battle against a far larger attacking Russian force.

Republicans have led a push to halt the effort, refusing to authorise new budget outlays unless the Democrats first agree to sweeping, tough new measures against illegal migration.

Zelensky said that the equipment provided in the final package -- including air defence missiles, anti-tank weapons and mine clearing equipment -- "will cover Ukraine's most pressing needs".

The Ukrainian President also thanked the US for 34 military aid packages worth over $24 billion this year and its "historic decision" to provide F-16 jets, saying: "We will always be grateful for all of this support."

The US Ambassador to Ukraine, Bridget Brink, called it a "vital security package".

"The need for funding to help Ukraine defend itself remains critical and urgent," she added on X, formerly Twitter.
China said that it will not turn a blind eye to repeated "provocations and harassment" by Philippines as tensions rise between the two countries over a spate of run-ins in the South China Sea. Earlier this month, Philippines accused the Chinese coastguard and maritime militia of repeatedly firing water cannons at its resupply boats. China caused "serious engine damage" to one and "deliberately" rammed into another, Manila said. Chinese president Xi Jinping.(AP)

What China said on Manila's claims?

Wu Qian, China's defence ministry spokesperson said that the Philippine side insisted on sending vessels to "intrude into" waters near a disputed shoal and "proactively rammed" a Chinese Coast Guard vessel. These accusations are purely false hype.

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The China Coast Guard took necessary enforcement measures which were justified and legitimate, the spokesperson said as per news agency Reuters.

"China is always committed to resolving differences through dialogue and consultation and making joint efforts to maintain maritime stability, but we will not turn a blind eye to the Philippine's repeated provocations and harassment," Wu Qian said.

"We urge the US to immediately stop meddling in the South China Sea issue, stop emboldening and supporting Philippine infringement and provocation, and safeguard regional security with concrete actions," the spokesperson added.

What Philippines said on China?

A Philippine military spokesperson said that the country was not provoking conflict in the South China Sea in response to accusations that Manila was relying on US support to antagonize China.

Why have relations soured between the neighbours?

Relations soured between the two neighbours over the South China Sea under Philippine president Ferdinand Marcos Jr. Manila has pivoted back to the United States which supports the country in its maritime disputes with China, irking Beijing.
In a somber development, approximately 80 Palestinian bodies, their identities yet to be determined, have been laid to rest in a mass grave located in Rafah, a city situated in the southern region of Gaza.

According to sources within the health ministry controlled by Hamas, the bodies were transferred from morgues and graves to Israel. The purpose of this transfer was to enable authorities to verify that there were no hostages among the deceased individuals.

Dead Palestinians Buried in Rafah

Per BBC, the individuals were then brought back via the Kerem Shalom crossing located in the southern region of Gaza.

According to Israeli authorities, a total of 240 individuals were reportedly abducted and transported to Gaza. As of now, 129 of these individuals remain unaccounted for, leaving their whereabouts unknown.

A series of attacks on that fateful day, allegedly orchestrated by Hamas, resulted in the loss of 1,200 lives. According to Gaza's health ministry, the number of Palestinians killed in Israeli bombardments has exceeded 20,600.

Israeli forces have reportedly launched a ground offensive into urban refugee camps located in central Gaza. Prior to this offensive, the Israeli military had subjected the densely populated Palestinian communities to intense bombardment.

Additionally, residents were given orders to evacuate the area. Gaza's primary telecommunications provider has made an announcement regarding yet another "complete interruption" of services within the besieged territory.

According to the UN human rights office, over 100 Palestinian lives have been lost in the ongoing bombardment of middle Gaza since Christmas Eve. According to the office, Israel has issued an order for certain residents to relocate.

Residents in central Gaza have reported intense shelling and airstrikes that have caused significant tremors in the Nuseirat, Maghazi, and Bureij camps. In the aftermath of the 1948 war, Palestinians and their descendants have found refuge in the built-up towns, where they have sought solace after being displaced from their homes in what is now Israel.

The camps have become increasingly crowded as a result of the influx of individuals who have fled from the northern region. In a phone interview from Bureij, Radwan Abu Sheitta described the bombing as highly intense.

Read Also: Russian Warship in Black Sea Damaged by Ukrainian Air Strike-Defense Ministry Shares Details

Palestinians Seek Shelter Amid Ongoing Israeli Intense Combat

The Israeli military has issued an order for residents to evacuate a specific area in central Gaza. Urging them to relocate to the nearby town of Deir al-Balah, this directive highlights the escalating tensions in the region. In a recent development, the military has revealed that it was conducting operations in Bureij.

Furthermore, they have made a claim that they successfully identified a Hamas training camp in the area. In the wake of a series of telecom outages witnessed throughout the war, Paltel has recently announced yet another outage.

NetBlocks, a renowned organization specializing in monitoring internet outages, that network connectivity in Gaza has once again been disrupted. This disruption is expected to have a significant impact, as it is likely to result in a majority of the residents being left without online access.

Senior Hamas official Osama Hamdan revealed that multiple countries have submitted proposals aimed at resolving the ongoing conflict. This development comes in the wake of news regarding an Egyptian proposal, which suggests the establishment of a transitional Palestinian government in both Gaza and the occupied West Bank.

In his statement, he expressed that Hamas has shown willingness to consider any proposals that would result in a comprehensive cessation of hostilities against their people. The military's announcement of the new battle zone threatens further destruction in a war that Israel says will last for "many months" as it vows to crush the ruling Hamas militant group after its Octotber 7 attack.

Israeli forces have been actively involved in intense urban combat in both northern Gaza and the southern city of Khan Younis. As a result, Palestinians are being forced to seek shelter in increasingly confined spaces, as per WA Today.

Israel's Minister for Strategic Affairs, Ron Dermer, held a meeting with Secretary of State Antony Blinken and National Security Adviser Jake Sullivan, according to official statements from the United States.

In response to US appeals for Israel to reduce civilian casualties and growing international demands for a ceasefire, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has declared that the military will intensify its engagement in the conflict.

Related Article: PM Netanyahu Explains Key to Israel-Palestine Peace: Hamas Elimination, Gaza Demilitarization, More

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A Tesla robot attack incident has resurfaced in a 2021 injury report. Investigators said that the alarming incident happened at the automaker's gigafactory in Austin, Texas.

The report 2021 injury report was filed to Travis county and federal regulators. Although this is considered to be the only robot attack that happened at the Tesla Gigafactory in Texas in 2021 and 2022, it is still alarming. The incident was confirmed as concerns over automated technologies in workplaces increased. Now, the question is, should humans and robots really work together in the same place?

2021 Tesla Robot Attack Incident Confirmed

According to The Daily Mail UK's latest report, two workers witnessed the horrifying robot attack at the Tesla Gigafactory Texas in 2021. They said that a machine attacked their fellow worker after malfunctioning.

The robot, which was designed to grab and move freshly cast aluminum auto parts, pinned the victim who was programming software for two disabled Tesla robots.

The 2021 injury report stated that the Tesla machine sunk its metal claws into the employee's arm and back, leaving a blood trail along the factory surface.

The victim was left with an open-wound on his left hand, as described by investigators. Prosecutors said that the injured Tesla worker wasn't provided any time off although his injuries were severe.

"We've had multiple workers who were injured and one worker who died, whose injuries or death are not in these reports," said Workers Defense Project's Attorney Hannah Alexander via The Daily Beast.

She explained that these robot-related injury robots should be accurately completed and submitted by the American automaker to the county in order to get tax incentives.

Read Also: Russian 'Combat Robots' Redefines the Ukrainian Battlefield

Should Humans Work With Robots?

The 2021 robot attack incident at the Tesla Gigafactory Texas is just one of the injuries in workplaces linked to machines. Industry experts said that reports show increasing robot-caused injuries in other companies, such as Amazon's shipment centers.

These machine-related incidents involve self-driving car accidents, violence from robotic chess instructors, and incidents involving droid surgeons.

Because of these, many advocates are questioning the fast integration of automated technologies in workplaces where humans are usually present.

Although humans could face many risks if they work with machines, many companies encourage the use of robots to complete tasks faster and more efficiently.

But, if tech giants want to do this, advocates said that they should have effective safety measures. Tesla and other companies integrating automated machines in workplaces should provide enough training sessions to their workers as well.

Aside from this, companies should also disclose all injuries and deaths that are caused by their machines so that authorities will know what to do.

Related Article: China Seeks To Build Advance Humanoid Robots by 2025, Issues Guidelines for Innovation System

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Road closures in downtown Buffalo for the New Years Eve celebrations were announced Thursday by Mayor Byron Browns staff.

The 36th annual Buffalo Ball Drop and Fireworks Celebration at the Electric Tower will begin at 10:00 p.m. Sunday in Roosevelt Plaza, featuring live music by The Strictly Hip and Saxophonist Will Holton. The ball drop at midnight will be followed by fireworks.

Buffalo officials recommend motorists avoid that area all day Sunday.

The following roads will be closed from 4 p.m. Sunday to 2 a.m. Monday:

East Huron Street, between Pearl and Ellicott streets; Genesee Street, between Huron and Ellicott; Main Street, between Mohawk and Chippewa streets; and Washington Street, between Mohawk and Chippewa.

In addition, Chippewa Street, between Delaware Avenue and Pearl, will be closed from 1 p.m. Sunday to 6 a.m. Monday.

A ridesharing zone will be set up on New Years Eve on Pearl Street, between Huron and Chippewa, and free parking will be available at Mohawk Ramp and Fernbach Ramp.

- Mike McAndrew
Russia is allegedly using Ukrainian POWs. This time, the new allegation claims that the Kremlin is forcing prisoners of war to order their families to protest against the Ukrainian government.

This was confirmed by Ukrainian coordinating staff's spokesperson Petro Yatsenko, who claimed that families of Ukrainian POWs receive some calls from captive soldiers being held by the Russian government.

Yatsenko said that some families haven't heard from their captive relatives for over a year, and then suddenly their loved ones are calling them.

Russia Allegedly Forcing Ukrainian POWs to Protest Against Ukraine

According to Politico EU's latest report, some Ukrainian families are receiving calls from POWs. These prisoners of war allegedly ask them to go against the Ukrainian government since Kyiv no longer plans to get them back.

"It was Serhii. We talked only for three minutes. I was not allowed to ask him questions. As soon as I tried, he shook his head and just said no," said 35-year-old Valentyna Tkachenko.

Tkachenko is a mother of two from Chernihiv in northern Ukraine whose husband was kidnapped after Russia invaded the European country.

"Instead, he kept saying: 'Valya, go make things hard for Kyiv. Kyiv does not want to take us back,'" added the Ukrainian civilian.

Valentyna further stated that her husband had to end the call for unknown reason. But, he promised her that he'll call back if he ever had a chance.

Many war experts said that Russia is refusing to exchange POWs with Ukraine for many reasons. One of these is to worsen tensions in Ukrainian society so that Ukraine's residents will go against Volodymyr Zelenskyy.

If this is true, then the Kremlin is taking advantage of Ukrainian POWs by using them as political weapons against Ukraine.

"They started so well, exchanging so many. But then suddenly it all stopped. I think Russians want to discredit our government. People are exhausted, and POWs' relatives are losing their temper," explained Valentyna.

Read Also: Russia Allegedly Putting Ukrainian Children in Military Training; Thousands of Kids Possibly Relocated in Belarus

Other Ways Russia Allegedly Use POWs

Aside from using POWs as political weapons against Ukraine, Business Insider reported that Russia also allegedly used Ukrainian prisoners of war as human shields.

This alarming activity was revealed by a video, which showed that Russian soldiers were pointing assault rifles at Ukrainian positions while leading unarmed POWs, who were covering them.

The footage revealed that these POWs are in front of Russian soldiers; raising their hands in the air to prevent Ukrainian troops from attacking Putin's forces.

If you want to learn more about this alarming POW activity of the Russian government, you can click this link.

Related Article: Ukraine Investigates Ukrainian POW Execution Allegations Against Russia; Victims Reportedly Unarmed When Killed

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South Korean actor Lee Sun-kyun, who won an Oscar for his performance in the comedy-thriller film Parasite, was reportedly discovered dead in his vehicle on Wednesday, December 27, in Seoul after a lengthy police probe into allegations of his drug use.

In a report by The Associated Press, Lee was initially discovered in a parked automobile on a street in northern Seoul by police and emergency personnel who thought he was only unconscious. The Seongbuk police station said that medical personnel subsequently verified his death.

After getting an alert that the 48-year-old actor was missing, the police began hunting for him. They were tight-lipped about whether or not they had concluded Lee had committed suicide.

South Korean media reported that Lee's family informed the police early Wednesday that he had left a letter that seemed to be a suicide note before he left the house.

Career as Actor

In 2020, Lee was a part of the cast of Parasite, a film that took home four Oscars, including best picture. The satire made history as the first South Korean film to win an Oscar and the first non-English-language movie to win best picture in the Academy Awards' 92-year history. The film featured Lee as the father of a privileged household.

The whole cast, including Lee, also took home an award in 2020 from the Screen Actors Guild for their work in the film's ensemble performance.

Last year, for his role in the science-fiction thriller Dr. Brain, he received a nomination for Outstanding Actor at the International Emmy Awards.

For several years prior to Parasite, Lee had considerable success as an actor in South Korea. His breakout performance was in the 2007 TV drama Coffee Prince, and subsequent hits like Behind The White Tower, Pasta, and My Mister catapulted him into the public.

See Also: 'Max Payne' Voice Actor James McCaffrey Passes Away at 65

Alleged Drug Use

Accusations that Lee took illegal drugs at the home of a bar hostess placed him under police investigation.

As reported by Yonhap, Lee maintained that he was deceived into taking the drugs and had no knowledge of their contents. However, the inquiry led to widespread tabloid coverage and unproven online speculation over his personal life and his suspected drug use. Lee accused the hostess and another person of blackmail and sued them.

In late October, he apologized to his family and fans and bowed deeply many times upon being called for interrogation at a police station in Incheon, a city near Seoul.

Police in Incheon said on Wednesday that they would be discontinuing their investigation into Lee's alleged drug usage claims but would maintain their probe against the two individuals that Lee had sued.

See Also: Vin Diesel Speaks Out After Former Assistant Files Lawsuit Alleging Sexual Battery

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The South Korean military, police, and emergency workers participated in rarely-seen defense exercises on Wednesday, December 27. The drills mimicked an assault by North Korea on Seoul.

The purpose of these exercises was to alleviate concerns that the city is within striking distance of Pyongyang's weaponry and covert attack strategy.

The drill takes place amid heightened tension after the North Korean government's launch of its first military spy satellite and the testing of an intercontinental ballistic missile.

Meanwhile, South Korea has recently resumed certain military initiatives that were scaled back after an agreement was signed in 2018.

See Also: South Korea's Organized Crime Crackdown Targets Gen Z, Millennial Criminals

In Case of Surprise Assault

"There was a big lesson for us when Israel's world-class advanced [defense] system helplessly buckled under a surprise attack by Hamas armed with conventional artillery and primitive means," said Mayor of Seoul Oh Se-Hoon, as reported by Reuters.

The extremist group's cross-border rampage across cities in Israel on October 7 demonstrated that superior military capabilities did not matter much if the enemy conducted a successful surprise strike, according to him. That rampage resulted in the deaths of more than 1,200 people at the time and the ongoing conflict in the Gaza Strip.

A large water supply facility, telephone network stations, and an underground communications and power cable corridor were all targets of imitation assaults during the exercises that took place on Wednesday.

Oh went on to say that Seoul's proximity to the military border with the North, which is just 38 kilometers (24 miles) away, makes it especially vulnerable to an incident at any moment. With an additional 1.4 million individuals who work and attend school there daily, the highly populated center of government, business, and finance is home to 9.4 million people.

Oh has taken a harsh stance against North Korea, stating that, to neutralize the danger posed by Pyongyang, the South must acquire nuclear weapons.

South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol, on the other hand, has said that he does not want to acquire nuclear weapons. Instead, he has made it a top priority to strengthen a military alliance with the United States and to restore security to Japan.

In other news, eight North Koreans associated with nuclear and missile programs were sanctioned further by South Korea on the same day as the exercises.

The Korean Conflict

Since the conclusion of the Korean War in 1953, there has not been a frontal assault on Seoul. However, there have been clashes at sea between the two nations, and the North attacked one of the South's islands, which resulted in the deaths of several people on both sides.

Following the successful launch of its first military spy satellite in November, the North conducted a test of its newest ballistic missile this month. In September, the country's constitution was revised to establish the use of nuclear weapons as a national defense strategy.

See Also: North Korea Convenes Party Meeting, Sets Stage for Unveiling Nuclear Policy Ahead of New Year

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(Photo : Scott Olson/Getty Images)

The Colorado Supreme Court issued a ruling that disqualifies former United States President Donald Trump from the state ballot in the 2024 presidential race over his involvement in the Capitol Hill siege.

On Wednesday, the Michigan Supreme Court rejected an attempt to remove former President Donald Trump from the state's primary ballot under the 14th Amendment's insurrection ban. The group ruled in favor of Trump remaining on the ballot as a left-leaning collective.

They ruled that, regardless of whether or not the former president violated the 14th Amendment, Michigan's Secretary of State does not have the legal authority to remove him from the ballot.

The state's Supreme Court, which leans heavily Democrat, let the lower court ruling stand in an unsigned order that stated it was "not persuaded that the questions presented should be reviewed by this Court."

This is a clear victory for Trump and his legal team as his lawyers attempt to fight off 14th Amendment lawsuits from across the country, which aim to prevent the former President from returning to the White House.

What is The 14th Amendment?

The amendment, as designed, would prohibit someone from holding any office if they engaged in an insurrection after taking an oath as an officer of the United States. The 14th Amendment was ratified after the Civil War and was used to prevent Confederates from returning to office after fighting against the Union.

The Trump cases - citing the events of January 6th - pose a series of open legal questions, including whether the clause applies to the presidency and whether courts have authority to disqualify candidates.Trump's legal team had successfully defended against a case in Minnesota, but he took a big hit in Colorado, where the state's supreme court banned him from the ballot. However, that ruling is currently on hold.

Liberal-leaning nonprofit Free Speech for People brought the Michigan lawsuit challenging Trump's ballot placement, and the group brought a similar lawsuit in Oregon.

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The $45 billion online gaming business in China has taken a hit due to plans to cut spending and regulate the industry.

Investors are in a state of worry after regulators announced new guidelines last week, including spending limitations for online games, a prohibition on games that reward players for checking in every day, and a ban on lucky draw components supplied to minors.

According to The Guardian, the market value of Tencent's stock dropped over $43 billion as its shares dropped over 12% on Friday, December 22. NetEase's stock also dropped over 24%. The social networking site BilliBilli, which gets about 17% of its income from gaming, even saw an almost 10% drop in share price on Friday.

The authorities have heard all sides' worries and thoughts, according to state media, and the suggestions may yet be improved and revised.

Crackdown on the Gaming Sector

In an effort to limit kids' and teenagers' gaming time, Chinese officials first focused on the country's enormous gaming industry in 2021.

Video games were referred to as "spiritual opium" by state-run media at that period. The business went into a spiral when the government introduced a restriction that was difficult to enforce, which indicated that children under 18 may play games for only two hours per day, including on weekends and holidays.

The popularity of video games persists despite China's crackdown on the sector.

This year, domestic sales increased by 13%. Half of China's population, or 668 million people, played video games in the first half of the year, according to the government-run industry group CGIGC, which released its numbers in July.

In a report by NewScientist, researchers from the University of York discovered this year that the 90-minute daily gaming ban that was put in place in 2019 did not reduce heavy gaming at all. Nevertheless, the year 2022 saw the first-ever decline in the online gaming industry.

Though they had risen from their low points by Wednesday, December 27, Tencent and NetEase shares on the Hong Kong stock market are still lower than they were before Friday.

Tencent Games' Vice President Vigo Zhang has promised that the business would adhere rigidly to any new rules.

Read Also: China Steals AI Tech To Carry Cyberattacks in US, FBI Warns

Latest Regulations by Chinese Authorities

According to experts, the new regulations will have the greatest impact on smaller gaming enterprises. After Beijing's initial crackdown in 2021--which blocked the approval of new games for over a year--about 14,000 smaller studios and video game companies allegedly deregistered in the second half of that year.

A new regulation mandating the processing of gaming license applications within 60 days is one of the industry-welcomed improvements included in the most recent proposals.

On Friday, Beijing also gave the go-ahead for 40 new imported games to be released in China. An industry group said that the government's approval of 105 more games this week demonstrates its support for the expansion of online gaming.

The deadline for public feedback on the suggestions is January 22, 2024.

Read Also: China's iPhone Crackdown Worsens as Western Smartphone Ban in State Firms, Government Departments Expand

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Two U.S. senators are urging Tesla to conduct a mass recall because of faulty EV suspension parts. The American officials sent a letter to Elon Musk, asking the billionaire to order his EV company to initiate a recall.

Democratic senators Edward Markey (Massachusetts) and Richard Blumenthal (Connecticut) said that they are concerned about the recent report about the automaker's knowledge of safety flaws in its EV models, as well as the concealment of these flaws' causes.

The report they were referring to came from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.

US Senators Call for Tesla Recall Over Faulty EV Suspension Parts

Markey and Blumenthal said that it is quite concerning that Tesla already has knowledge regarding its faulty EV suspension components and still blames the issues on drivers.

"We are disturbed that you would blame your customers for these failures," said the Democratic senators via Teslarati.

"It is unacceptable that Tesla would not only attempt to shift the responsibility for the substandard quality of its vehicles to the people purchasing them but also make that same flawed argument to NHTSA," they added.

Based on Reuters' investigation, Tesla allegedly informed its EV consumers and NHTSA that the issues on suspension parts, such as the aft link, are happening because of driver abuse.

With this claim, the giant EV maker was able to avoid recalling its affected electric cars in the United States. But, what's suspicious about this is that Tesla conducted a recall in China back in 2020 over the same suspension flaws.

However, the investigation revealed that the Tesla 2020 recall in China only included the Model X and Model S, which are low-volume cars, meaning that fewer Chinese consumers are purchasing them.

Read Also: Tesla Cybertruck Resellers Could Face Lawsuit if They Sell EV Less Than a Year

Tesla Engineers Complain About Suspension Failures

In 2020, NHTSA issued a statement regarding the mass recall in China. The transportation safety agency said that it was aware of the faulty suspension parts in the Chinese market.

But, officials clarified that they haven't received any significant report on these suspension issues in the U.S. However, the latest investigation by Reuters revealed the opposite.

The report claims that some Tesla engineers are complaining about frequent failures of aft link suspensions and other similar components. Aside from these, they have also reported issues with EV axle and steering wheel parts for years.

As of writing, Tesla and Elon Musk haven't commented regarding the recall request of the two U.S. Democratic senators.

Related Article: 2021 Tesla Robot Attack Incident Resurfaces as Concerns Over Automated Technology in Workplaces Increase

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Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu refused to discuss post-war plans for the Gaza Strip. As of writing, it looks like Netanyahu is only focusing on eliminating Hamas.

Ever since the 7-day ceasefire between the Israel Defense Forces and the Palestinian terrorist group ended on Dec. 1, Israel has been expanding its counteroffensives.

Despite calls from the U.S. and other allied countries, IDF is still bombarding the Gaza Strip; expanding their attacks to densely populated urban refugee camps in the central part of the city.

Because of this, security officials are now urging Netanyahu to discuss post-war plans for Gaza. Unfortunately, the prime minister rejected their requests.

Israeli PM Netanyahu Refuses to Discuss Post-War Plans for Gaza

According to The Guardian's latest report, directors of Mossad, the Shinbet, the IDF chief of staff, and the defense ministry requested Netanyahu's office to arrange post-war discussions for Gaza.

However, Israel's Channel 12 (Keshet 12)a local news companyclaimed that the prime minister rejected the requests of the security officials.

The Israeli network mentioned an unnamed security leader of Israel, who said that Netanyahu and his government should start making decisions inside and outside the Gaza Strip after the war.

"Time is running out and decisions need to be made already about how to act with regard to all the relevant actors inside and outside the Gaza Strip," explained the anonymous Israeli official.

He added that the Israeli government needs to start discussing post-war plans for Gaza since the United States is already asking for explanations.

Read Also: Iran Releases Animated Assassination of NetanyahuHere's How They Envision Killing Israel's Leader

Why Netanyahu Don't Want Post-War Gaza Plans

Rumors claimed that Benjamin Netanyahu is refusing post-war plan discussions for the Gaza Strip since he is protecting his current position as Israel's prime minister.

Experts said that once the Israel-Hamas war ended, his wartime unity government would be disbanded. They added that any solution involving Palestinian leaders, such as the Palestinian Authority of the West Bank, could threaten the stability of Netanyahu's far-right coalition government.

Since Netanyahu is showing no interest in making post-war plans for the Gaza Strip, many leaders accuse him of just wanting to exterminate all Palestinians.

One of these leaders is Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas, who claimed that Benjamin Netanyahu only wants to get rid of Palestinians in Gaza.

While the Israeli government refuses to talk about post-war Gaza plans, Politico reported that the Biden Administration officials are drafting their own after-war game plan for the Palestinian city.

The majority of their drafted post-war game plan involves allowing a "revamped" Palestinian Authority that could govern the Gaza Strip. Although this solution is still far from perfect, U.S. officials claim it is the best one for Palestinians.

Related Article: Israel-Hamas Conflict: Dozens of Dead Palestinians Buried in Rafah Mass Grave in Southern Gaza

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The Eiffel Tower stayed closed to the public due to a strike that began over contract discussions scheduled on Wednesday, December 27, the same day as the centennial of the death of the structure's founder, Gustave Eiffel.

The Eiffel Tower is one of the most visited attractions in the world and is normally open for business 365 days a year. The iconic structure is anticipated to play a significant part in the 2024 Olympic Games in Paris, France.

Employees' Concerns

A number of visitors displayed obvious dismay upon seeing a large statement beneath the iron facade of the structure. The sign offers an apology for the inconvenience caused by the closure and announces it in numerous languages. Others continued to take photographs despite the closure.

On Wednesday, visitors were still able to reach the glass-enclosed esplanade that was located underneath the tower. However, they were not permitted to enter the tower, which is 300 meters (984 feet) tall. According to Stephane Dieu, a member of the CGT union, it is scheduled to reopen on Thursday, December 28, as reported by ABC News.

An official spokeswoman for SETE, the firm that operates the tower, said that the strike was launched in advance of contract discussions that are scheduled to take place the following month with the city of Paris.

According to unions, the 400 people who are employed at the tower are concerned about the monument's long-term prospects.

Dieu said in an interview with The Associated Press: "We had COVID. We lost a year of revenue. We have huge debts. The tower is more than 130 years old and is starting to get tired. There's a lot of renovation work that needs to be done in the coming years and decades. The management company needs the means to face this."

He added that the strike was a symbolic action that took place on a significant day, with the purpose of commemorating the anniversary of Eiffel's death and conserving his original work.

See Also: Wells Fargo Becomes First Major US Bank With Unionized Branch

Visitors' Dismay

The Dutch visitor Istvan Harman, who was standing underneath the tower, expressed his pragmatic views over the closure by remarking, "You have to go somewhere else."

On the other hand, it was tragic for other individuals.

"It's the first time we've been to Paris with the children and it was the first activity on the program. And so we were really disappointed to see that the Eiffel Tower was closed today," Emma Fontaine said, a mother who visited the site along with her family.

A representative for the attraction said that during this time of year, the attraction typically receives around 20,000 people on a daily basis.

According to the spokesperson, a special music concert commemorating the passing of Gustave Eiffel on December 27, 1923, was still set to run on social networks and French television on Wednesday night since it had been prerecorded.

See Also: Activision Blizzard Settles Discrimination Case Against Female Employees for $54 Million

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(Photo : JAAFAR ASHTIYEH/AFP via Getty Images)

Members of the Israeli army deploy to demolish houses in in Rummanah town in the occupied West Bank, on August 8, 2022. - Israeli security forces arrested Subaihat, 20, and Yussef Al-Rifai, 19, in May 2022 on suspicion of killing three Israelis in the central town of Elad.

Heavy strikes continued to rock central and southern Gaza overnight and into Wednesday after Israel began broadening its offensive against Hamas militants to areas that the IDF had previously told Palestinians to seek in southern

Heavy bombing was reported in the Bureji refugee camp in central Gaza, in the city of Khan Younis, and in the southern town of Rafah. These are areas where tens of thousands of Palestinians have sought solace as northern Gaza was turned to rubble by Israeli fighter planes.

"It was a night of hell. We haven't seen such bombing since the start of the war," said Rami Abu Mosab, speaking from the Bureij camp, where he has been sheltering since fleeing his home in northern Gaza.

What Is The Bureji Camp?

The Bureji camp was created to house refugees in 1948, Gazans who had been displaced when the modern state of Israel was created..With large swaths of northern Gaza deemed unlivable, Palestinians believe a similar fate with eventually befall Khan Younis, which is where Israeli group forces launched operations in early December.

Six Palestinians were killed in the West Bank during an overnight raid in the Nur Shams refugee camp, reported the Palestinian Health Ministry. A total of 300 Palestinians have been killed in the West Bank since the war began.

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The Apple Watch import ban made huge headlines after the Biden Administration decided not to veto the restriction. Because of this, the iPhone maker can no longer sell its latest smartwatches via its official stores.

Luckily, this scenario changed after the gadget manufacturer scored a major victory on Wednesday, Dec. 27. Apple was able to do this after filing an emergency request to the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit.

The appeals court then decided to temporarily pause the Apple Watch import ban. Here are other details consumers need to know.

US Temporarily Lifts Apple Watch Import Ban

On Monday, the Biden Admin refused to pause the import ban of ITC against Apple's smartwatches. This was confirmed by the Office of the U.S. Trades Representatives on Dec. 26.

But, Apple was able to appeal the decision, allowing the latest Apple Watch models to be sold in the U.S., thanks to the temporary ban lift made by the U.S. appeals court.

"This is a big win for Apple that was unexpected by many given the legal issues involved in this patent battle," said Dan Ives, a Wedbush Securities analyst, via AOL.

"Masimo now has a big fight ahead. We expect an appeals case in January to be a big moment," he added.

The U.S. Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit's four-paragraph decision said that it would temporarily halt the import restriction while waiting for Apple's motion for a longer-term halt, as reported by CNBC.

Officials said that they will wait for the measures of the iPhone maker during the appeals process. Meanwhile, the appeals court gave the U.S. International Trade Commission to respond to Apple's request until Jan. 10.

"The motion for an interim stay is granted to the extent that the Remedial Orders are temporarily stayed," explained the court filing.

Read Also: China's iPhone Crackdown Worsens as Western Smartphone Ban in State Firms, Government Departments Expand

What Apple Watch Import Ban Lift Means for Consumers

Apple is not the only one benefitting from the temporary Apple Watch import ban lift.

Consumers of the iPhone maker can also take advantage of this halt since they can now order the latest Ultra 2 and Series 9 watches via the official Apple stores.

However, interested Apple Watch buyers need to decide if they want to purchase the newest smartwatch models this December since Apple's case against Masimo's allegations is still ongoing.

If ever Apple really loses against Masimo, then the import ban could drastically affect its business; making it lose hundreds of millions of dollars.

"Going forward, it's absolutely certain they are going to have to take a different approach in future hardware to still enable this feature," explained Creative Strategies CEO Ben Bajarin.

Related Article: Apple Watch Imports Now Banned in US as Biden Admin Refuses to Veto; iPhone Maker Appeals ITC's Decision

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At least two Republican candidates plan to challenge Assembly Member Patrick B. Burke later this year.

Political newcomer Joseph P. Flatley of South Buffalo and Sandra Magnano of West Seneca plan to challenge Burke, a Democrat from Orchard Park, for the 142nd District seat, Erie County Republican Chairman Michael Kracker told The Buffalo News.

Flatley, 23, has worked for the Erie County Board of Elections and in freight and receiving at Home Depot in Hamburg.

Im a blue-collar worker through and through, Flatley said.

Flatley said he wants to trim the bureaucracy of state government. He said recent accusations of workplace harassment against Burke by former staffers  Burke denies the accusations  have been a distraction.

Its a burden on the taxpayers. Its a burden on the constituents, Flatley said. He doesnt seem like he focuses on the issues that matter to this district.

2 former staffers of Assemblyman Pat Burke file lawsuit against him The lawsuit was filed in State Supreme Court in Erie County by attorney Nate McMurray on behalf of Matthew Dearing and Nicole Golias who accuse Burke of discriminating against them based on race and gender and their outside political activities.

Burke stated that an Assembly investigation cleared him of wrongdoing, and that he has focused on bipartisan issues since his 2018 election to the Assembly.

I bring a ton of resources back to this district because I work for them, and it reduces their cost, Burke said.

Burke also noted that it would be difficult for a Republican to unseat him in a presidential election year, when turnout in heavily Democratic Erie County is higher. Democrats outnumber Republicans 40,626 to 19,868 in the 142nd District, according to the state Board of Elections.

Whoever wants to do it  go ahead, Burke said. I know how to run a quality race, and Ill do that.

Magnano did not respond to repeated phone calls seeking comment, but Kracker said the registered nurse has expressed interest in trying again to unseat Burke.

Patrick Burke wins re-election to Assembly With 100% of the vote counted, Burke had 52.9% of the vote and Magnano had 46.9%, according to unofficial results from the Erie County Board of Elections.

In 2022, Magnano lost to burke by 2,790 votes, according to Board of Elections records. Burke and Magnano spent a total of nearly $250,000 in their race, and Magnano received financial support from the New York State Republican Assembly Campaign Committee.

In May, during her unsuccessful campaign for a West Seneca School Board seat, Magnano had a social media account that included posts comparing President Biden to Hitler, criticizing Pride Month as disgusting and calling for the abolition of the FBI.

Im not anti-Semitic, Im not anti-gay. I just want to be clear on that, Sandra Magnano told The News at the time. Ive been meaning to take down this stupid Truth Social thing.

Flatley called Magnano a failed candidate, and said, Its time for some fresh blood, in politics.

Reports by WKBW-TV have stated that Erie County Clerk Michael P. Kearns may have an interest in returning to the Assembly seat  which he held previously  but Burke said he doubted that would happen. A spokesperson for Kearns said he was not available to comment.

I dont think Mickeys going to do it, Burke said. He left the seat. I think its tough to justify going back to it.

Kracker said Republicans would endorse a candidate to challenge Burke in late January or early February.
In a strong statement, Iraq expressed its condemnation of the recent US airstrikes conducted on Iraqi territory. The Iraqi government labeled these airstrikes as a "hostile act" and a clear violation of the country's sovereignty.

On Monday, the United States forces executed strikes, specifically targeting Iran-backed militias in Iraq. This action was taken in direct response to a drone attack that occurred earlier on the same day, resulting in injuries to three US service members.

Iraq Condemns US Airstrikes in Baghdad

Iraq has reported that the United States' strikes have resulted in the unfortunate demise of one of its security forces. Furthermore, news reports indicate that these strikes have also caused injuries to a total of 18 individuals, including civilians.

In a government statement, the US strikes were described as "an unacceptable violation of Iraqi sovereignty," according to the government. The attacks carried out by armed groups on US-led coalition advisers are considered hostile acts and are in direct violation of Iraqi sovereignty. This position has faced criticism from Kataib Hezbollah.

In a stern warning, Abu Ali al-Askari, a security official representing the faction, cautioned individuals of all ranks, from the highest echelons to the lowest, against challenging their patience. A US military official has reported that a substantial number of rockets were launched towards Al-Shaddadi, a Syrian patrol base where US and allied forces are stationed.

This incident occurred on Tuesday morning, adding to the escalating tensions in the region. According to an official, there were no reports of damage or casualties. Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin revealed that the US strikes conducted on Monday specifically targeted three locations that were being utilized by Kataib Hezbollah and its associated groups.

In a significant development, the United States has officially designated Kataib Hezbollah as a terrorist organization. Precision strikes have been carried out in direct response to a string of attacks targeting US personnel in Iraq and Syria.

These attacks were orchestrated by Iranian-sponsored militias, with one such assault occurring today by Iran-affiliated Kataib Hezbollah and its associated groups on Irbil Air Base. The primary objective of these strikes is to disrupt and weaken the capabilities of the Iran-aligned militia groups that bear direct responsibility for these acts of aggression.

According to Adrienne Watson, the spokesperson for the National Security Council, Kataib Hezbollah, a faction of Iran-backed militants operating under an umbrella group, has taken responsibility for the attack that occurred on Monday. Watson also mentioned that one of the US service members sustained critical injuries.

Read Also: Turkey Panel Committee Approves Sweden's Bid To Join NATO

US Aims to Combat Islamic State Group in Iraq, Syria

US and coalition forces have been actively engaged in the region as they carry out their mission to combat the Islamic State group in Iraq and Syria. Israeli forces have faced numerous attacks from Iranian-backed proxies, with approximately 100 incidents occurring since Israel initiated its offensive against the militant group Hamas in the Gaza Strip.

According to the US military, they have reported that they successfully disrupted the majority of the attacks, or that the attacks failed to hit their intended targets, resulting in no damage. Several incidents, including Monday's, have resulted in injuries to US military personnel.

In a series of retaliatory strikes, previous targets have included Kataib Hezbollah and various other groups. Notably, the United States conducted strikes in November as part of these actions, Mail Online reported.

Related Article: Iran Releases Animated Assassination of Netanyahu-Here's How They Envision Killing Israel's Leader

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(Photo : Spencer Platt/Getty Images)

New York City Mayor Eric Adams announced a new executive order restricting Texas' efforts to bus migrants into the Big Apple.

New York City Mayor Eric Adams announced a new executive order restricting Texas Gov. Greg Abbott's efforts to bus migrants to the Big Apple.

The order comes as the Republican-led state has sent tens of thousands of asylum seekers to New York City. Adams now requires charter bus companies to provide 32 hours' notice of the arrival of a busload of migrants in the city. The executive order also limits the times of day at which migrants can be dropped off.

Eric Adams' New Executive Order

The development comes a year and a half into a migrant crisis that has consumed the New York City mayor's administration. It also comes after 14 busloads of migrants arrived from Texas in a single night last week, which was the highest total recorded since the spring of 2022.

During a virtual news conference with the mayor of Chicago, Brandon Johnson, and the mayor of Denver, Mike Johnston, Adams said that they cannot allow buses of people who need help to arrive without warning at any hour of day and night, as per the New York Times.

Adams added that the executive order would not prevent people from coming to New York, but instead works to ensure the safety of migrants and ensure that they arrive in a coordinated and orderly way.

Under the executive order, companies that violate the new rules face class B misdemeanor charges. These could result in three months in jail, a $500 fine for individuals, and a $2,000 fine for corporations. Buses found to have violated the Police Department could also be seized.

The three mayors spoke during the news conference and demanded that the federal government grapple with its dysfunctional immigration system. Johnston said that his city had received more than 35,000 migrants and was already housing 4,000. He argued this created a crisis consuming nearly 10% of the budget.

Read Also: Texas Sends Plane Carrying Migrants From El Paso to Chicago After City Cracks Down on Buses

Addressing the Migrant Crisis

Adams' new executive order only allows buses to carry migrants into New York City between 8:30 a.m. and noon on weekdays. The Democrat has routinely blamed Abbott for sending asylum seekers into the five boroughs, according to Politico.

The announcement of the new order comes as the three mayors' cities have formed a coalition to press the White House and federal government for more migrant aid. Each metropolis is grappling with the economic and governmental burden of housing, feeding, and educating tens of thousands of asylum seekers.

On Tuesday, Adams administration officials said that the city is taking in nearly 4,000 migrants every week. There have been a total of more than 161,000 migrants that entered New York City since the start of the migrant crisis and 68,000 of whom are still in the city's care.

Abbott has been sending migrants to New York City and other sanctuary cities via buses and his office said that they have already transported roughly 27,000 migrants to Adams' city so far. They added that the efforts were made to relieve pressure on besieged border communities.

Related Article: El Paso Mayor Oscar Leeser Touts Opening of New Migrant Shelter To House Asylum Seekers

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According to the Palestinian health ministry, the drone strikes during an Israeli raid killed six Palestinians in the West Bank City of Tulkarm on Wednesday.

The West Bank violence has been one of the latest examples of rising violence since the start of the Israel-Hamas war in Gaza.

Israeli Raid Kills 6 Palestinians

The Israeli military claimed that during a counterterrorism operation, militants attacked its forces and tossed explosives at them. They also stated that an Israeli air force aircraft struck the attackers.

The confrontation occurred in the Nour Shams refugee camp in Tulkarm, a flashpoint city on one of the main crossing points into the West Bank.

According to the witnesses, the six young men killed in the strike were sitting together in the early morning hours but were not involved in fighting with the Israeli military.

"We heard the sound, and the screaming, our house is nearby so we came out to see," Izzaldin Assaili, a resident, said.

The official Palestinian news agency Wafa reported that the young men were aged between 17 and 29. Another man died of wounds from a clash last month.

Since the October 7 attack by Hamas gunmen, the West Bank has been facing the highest levels of unrest. However, the dispute escalated when Israel launched a ground invasion of Gaza.

Read Also: Bryan Tanaka Confirms Split With Mariah Carey After 7 Years of Dating

West Bank Violence

According to the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs, the Israeli military and settlers killed hundreds of Palestinians over the past weeks. Security forces arrested thousands of people with repeated confrontations between troops and Palestinian protesters.

The eight-year-old Adam al-Ghoul and Basel Abu al-Wafa from Jenin refugee camp died, and another 2,955 people were injured. The raids on Palestinian refugee camps, villages, and towns have become even more frequent, even in broad daylight.

Drones and snipers were used to target young people who threw stones, bystanders, and anyone who challenged the military's actions.

The medical teams in the West Bank were also blocked from treating the injured. According to the World Health Organization, there were 229 attacks on healthcare between October 7 and November 28.

The attacks included obstructing ambulances, detaining and using force against healthcare personnel, and conducting militarised searches.

On November 18, the Balata refugee camp was targeted by an airstrike, and Israeli armored vehicles raided its narrow streets. The raid caused heavy damage to the roads and infrastructure in the camp.

In Jenin camp earlier this year, Israel damaged water pipes, electricity, roads, and cars.

Related Article: Israeli Warplanes Continue to Rock Refugee Camps





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On Tuesday, a wrong-way teen driver killed six people, including two children, in a highway crash on US Route 67 at around 4 pm.

The crash began when the teenage driver of a pickup truck went into opposing vehicles and struck a minivan carrying seven people head-on.

Six People Dead in Texas Highway Crash

The Public Safety Department reported that three people, including the 17-year-old driver of the pickup truck, were rushed to the hospital and suffered critical injuries after the crash in Johnson County.

Two of the dead were children ages 10 and 9.

The 17-year-old driver entered a northbound lane in a no-passing zone while driving a 2014 Chevrolet Silverado with a passenger heading south. The truck hit the 2021 Honda Odyssey, which was traveling north.

According to the department, the driver of the Odyssey and five passengers died. Meanwhile, the sole surviving passenger, a 43-year-old man, has suffered severe injuries.

On Wednesday, the department confirmed that the investigation would be in progress.

The NBC Dallas-Fort Worth broadcasted an aerial video that showed both vehicles were heavily damaged, with the front ends of each destroyed.

Rushil Barri of Irvine, Texas, who was the driver of the Odyssey, Naveena Potabathula, Nageswararao Ponnada, and Sitamahalakshmi Ponnada, and the children, Krithik Potabathula, and Nishidha Potabathula were all identified as dead.

The people killed in the crash were members of the same family except Barri, who was from Alpharetta, Georgia.

According to NBC News, Ayyappala Bandaru, Barri's roommate, said Barri was driving with his cousin, cousin's wife, two young children, and his in-laws when the crash happened. He said the family went to visit Fossil Rim Wildlife Center.

Read Also: US Destroys 12 Houthi-Launched Drones, Five Missiles Over Red Sea in Middle East

Barri's Friend Mourns

Bandaru said that at exactly 4:01 pm on Tuesday, a message was sent from his friend's iPhone, saying the phone registered a crash.

"We were in shock like what just happened," Bandaru said. When he read the message, he immediately tried reaching everyone in the car, but no one picked up.

According to Daily Mail Online, Bandaru described Barri as ambitious and driven because he had very big dreams. He added that they were like brothers.

Furthermore, he shared that Barri always used to think about tomorrow and tell him they needed to rule the world. He also claimed that they moved to the US from India in August 2020 with a lot of struggles.

Sergeant William Lockridge of Texas department of public safety reported that it was unclear why the 17-year-old was driving the wrong way. He noted that the Chevrolet pickup truck traveled into the northbound lane for an unknown reason and struck the Honda Odyssey head-on.

Related Article: Wisconsin: Police Chase Ends in Tragic Accident, Claiming Lives of 2 Children





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In a statement on Tuesday, the military spokesperson of the Philippines refuted China's claim that Manila is provoking conflict in the South China Sea. Responding to the accusation, the spokesperson emphasized that the Philippines is not encroaching on Beijing's territory.

The Philippines has denied any intention of provoking conflict. According to Medel Aguilar, who spoke to state-run broadcaster PTV, their actions are in accordance with international law as they are simply enforcing their domestic law. This involves adhering to the boundaries of their territorial waters and exclusive economic zone, where they possess sovereign rights.

Philippines Not Provoking Conflict in South China Sea

Comments have emerged following a statement by the People's Daily, the official newspaper of the Chinese Communist Party. The publication has accused the Philippines of relying on US support to consistently provoke China. According to the People's Daily, this behavior is deemed "extremely dangerous" and has had a detrimental impact on regional peace and stability.

In the South China Sea, a China coastguard ship was observed passing by a Philippine coastguard vessel named BRP Sindangan at the disputed Second Thomas Shoal. In a recent development, a photograph captured by Bloomberg has emerged, shedding light on an important event.

According to Aguilar, the Philippines has denied engaging in any activities that would jeopardize the safety of vessels and seafarers. Instead, Aguilar has pointed fingers at China, alleging that they are the ones performing risky maneuvers that occasionally lead to collisions at sea.

In a statement released on Tuesday, the Chinese embassy in Manila accused the Philippines of exacerbating tensions. According to the embassy, the Philippines' decision to dispatch construction supplies to its stranded navy vessel in the Second Thomas Shoal is the root cause of the escalating situation.

Read also: China Steals AI Tech To Carry Cyberattacks in US, FBI Warns

South China Sea Dispute

The embassy has stated that the Philippines, with the help of external support, has disregarded China's goodwill and restraint. The Philippines has consistently tested China's principles and red line.

In a strategic move to safeguard Manila's maritime claims, the Philippines has been consistently organizing resupply missions for its soldiers stationed on a warship that was intentionally grounded back in 1999.According to Aguilar, it is they who are responsible for all the violations.

Tensions between Manila and Beijing have escalated in recent months, resulting in a series of maritime incidents. Both sides have been engaged in a war of words, trading accusations over these encounters. One notable incident involved China allegedly ramming a ship carrying the Philippines' military chief earlier this month.

Related Article: Xi Jinping Says China's Reunification With Taiwan Is 'Inevitable' in Huge Warning During Mao Zedong Anniversary

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NASA launches a daring mission to intercept the asteroid known as Apophis, nicknamed the "God of Chaos" as it approaches Earth.

The space agency's former ISIRIS-REx spacecraft will journey to the cosmic object and take advantage of its 2029 flyby of our planet. The craft previously went on a seven-year, four billion-mile journey to bring back samples of the asteroid Bennu to our planet.

Intercepting "God of Chaos" Asteroid

Now, OSIRIS-REx, also known as Origins, Spectral Interpretation, Resource Identification, and Security-Regolith Explorer, is already preparing for its new destination. When the spacecraft left Bennu in May 2021 carrying a sample, its instruments were still in great condition and had roughly a quarter of its fuel remaining.

Instead of shutting down the spacecraft, the team handling the OSIRIS-REx opted to propose sending it back into space after it delivered the Bennu sample. The bonus mission will involve the asteroid known as Apophis, with an expected arrival date of April 2029.

The space agency agreed to the proposal and ISIRIS-APEX (Origin, Spectral Interpretation, Resource Identification, and Security - Apophis Explorer) was born. The decision was made after NASA considered several destinations, including Venus and various comets, as per SciTechDaily.

Apophis is an "S-type" asteroid made up of silicate materials and nickel-iron, which is relatively different from the carbon-rich "C-type" asteroid Bennu. The thing that makes Apophis intriguing is that it is anticipated to have an exceptionally close approach to our planet on Apr. 13, 2029.

While the asteroid will not directly hit Earth during this encounter or in the foreseeable future, the 2029 event will bring it within 20,000 miles of its surface. This is a distance that is closer than some satellites. It is also close enough that the asteroid could be visible to the naked eye to people in the Eastern Hemisphere.

Read Also: NASA Telescopes Capture Image of 'Christmas Tree Cluster' of Stars in the Milky Way

NASA's OSIRIS-APEX Mission

Astronomers also estimate that asteroids similar in size to Apophis, roughly 367 yards across, come this close to Earth only once every 7,500 years. In a statement, the mission's project scientist, Amy Simon, said that OSIRIS-APEX will study the asteroid immediately after its passing.

The principal investigator for OSIRIS-APEX, Dani Mendoza DellaGiustina, said that Apophis' close approach is a great natural experiment. During a NASA press release last week, he noted that tidal forces and the accumulation of rubble pile material are foundational processes that play key roles in planet formation, according to Fox News.

Earth's gravity will affect the asteroid when Apophis passes near our planet. To understand the event's aftermath, OSIRIS-APEX will observe how the cosmic object's surface changes.

Our planet's effects on the asteroid are likely to change the length of its day, estimated at around 30.6 hours per day. The pass could also lead to landslides and quakes on the "God of Chaos" asteroid.

DellaGiustina added that the effects could inform them of how debris in the early solar system formed full-sized planets. NASA is expecting OSIRIS-APEX to "operate in proximity" of Apophis for 18 months after its passing, said WION News.

Related Article: Japan's SLIM 'Moon Sniper' Spacecraft Enters Lunar Orbit Ahead Historic January Landing

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Tom Smothers of the groundbreaking singing comedy duo 'The Smothers Brothers' earned a six-decade career and passed away at 86 on Wednesday.

'The Smothers Brothers' has a combination of humor, folk music, and scathing political criticism that won the hearts of their fans and critics in the United States.

Tom Smothers Dies at 86

According to the Inquirer, Dick Smothers announced his brother's passing on Wednesday, confirming that Tom died at home as a result of cancer. The National Comedy Center, which hailed Tom as a true champion of free speech, has also confirmed that Tom has been battling cancer.

"Tom was not only the loving older brother that everyone would want in their life, he was a one-of-a-kind creative partner," Dick said in the statement.

Dick was forever grateful to have spent a lifetime together with his brother, on and off stage, for over 60 years. He added that their relationship felt like a good marriage, as the longer they were together, the more they loved and respected each other.

Read Also: US Destroys 12 Houthi-Launched Drones, Five Missiles Over Red Sea in Middle East

The Smothers Brothers

Tom and Dick Smothers started performing on stage in the late 1950s. Their popularity grew, and they began to appear on popular prime-time variety and comedy shows, where they struck up a popular, often provocative, humor routine.

They hosted their one-hour variety show on CBS television, 'The Smothers Brothers' Comedy Hour, which debuted in 1967 and instantly became one of the most hotly debated TV programs during the Vietnam War period.

Tom shared in a 2000 interview with the Television Academy Foundation that when they started singing folk songs, they would make up introductions to the songs, and people would laugh. He said his brother would probably say something like, "That's wrong" or "That's the dumbest thing I've ever heard."

The 'Smothers Brothers' was canceled as Tom became politically active when the show was in its second season, ranting with satire against the Vietnam War. The brothers were especially critical of the former President Lyndon B. Johnson.

Tom looked into the camera and joked in one show, "Okay, all you guys in Vietnam, come home."

During one episode, Harry Belafonte performed the song 'Don't Stop the Carnival.' While performing, pictures of the 1968 Democratic Convention in Chicago were projected behind the stage, where former Mayor Richard Daley ordered law enforcement to beat Vietnam protesters.

The show also had multiple issues, but it was too hot for CBS. By the end of the third season in 1969, the network had pulled the plug. People in the anti-war movement, along with free speech advocates, were enraged.

After suing CBS for breach of contract, Tom and Dick were awarded $775,000. The 'SBCH' returned for a short-lived revival in 1988 but ended again after one season.

Related Article: TV Sitcom, Movie Producer Norman Lear Passes Away at 101



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Two tourists were tragically caught in the unfolding incident on Christmas Day at Grand Central Terminal's dining concourse.

Teenage sisters, aged 14 and 16, fell victim to a brutal attack on vacation from South America, were viciously stabbed by a Bronx man, identified as 36-year-old Steven Hutcherson. The suspect faces charges of attempted murder and assault, both classified as hate crimes, following his use of a racially charged slur against the victims, as per The New York Times.

Released Attacker Targets Teen Girls in New York

A group of teenage girls, accompanied by their parents, found themselves caught in the center of an attack while exploring the city. The incident occurred during an early lunch, precisely at 11:25 am on Christmas day.

According to reports, the suspect allegedly began the assault following a disagreement with the staff at Tartinery, a restaurant located in the terminal, who refused to provide him with a seat. Hutcherson allegedly made a statement, saying, "I want all the white people dead," before proceeding to brandish a knife against the unsuspecting girls.

MTA police swiftly intervened and apprehended Hutcherson within a minute of the attack. One of the victims suffered a stab wound to the thigh, while the other was stabbed in the back, causing a nick to her lung. Both girls were promptly taken to Bellevue Hospital for medical attention.

The accused, Steven Hutcherson, has a troubling criminal history, including recent arrests for brandishing a gun in the Bronx. Hutcherson pleaded guilty to weapons possession charges in November and July, receiving a 15-day jail sentence for the latter. Yussif Abdullahi, who had a prior encounter with Hutcherson on November 7, expressed disbelief that the suspect was released from jail just two weeks before the Christmas Day attack.

Abdullahi, a Ghanaian immigrant, recounted his own alarming encounter with Hutcherson, where the suspect threatened him, questioned his work for "white people," and brandished what appeared to be a gun. Despite Abdullahi's report and the subsequent arrest, Hutcherson was released with a conditional discharge on December 12, according to Daily Mail.

Read Also: Secret Service Probes Actor John Schneider After Urging Public Hanging of President Joe Biden

Christmas Assault Fuels Mental Health Offender Concerns

Hutcherson's most recent arrest on Christmas Day has reignited concerns about the criminal justice system's handling of individuals with a history of violence and mental illness. The suspect, labeled as an "emotionally disturbed person," reportedly yelled racial epithets before assaulting the teenage tourists.

The teenage victims, hailing from Paraguay, were hospitalized for minor injuries. The Paraguay Consulate General in the US confirmed the girls' nationality and attributed Hutcherson's actions to "psychiatric problems." As the legal proceedings unfold, questions linger about the adequacy of handling individuals with a history of violence and mental health issues within the criminal justice system.

The accused, Steven Hutcherson, is set to face felony charges, including attempted murder and assault, in Manhattan Criminal Court, bringing attention to the need for comprehensive evaluation and intervention for those deemed emotionally disturbed. The incident serves as a grim reminder of the challenges faced by law enforcement in balancing public safety with the rights and treatment of individuals with mental health concerns, New York Post reported.

Related Article: NYPD Detective Cleared of Wrong-Doing by Assistant Deputy Commish, Charges Stemmed from George Floyd Protests

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News / Local

by Staff reporter

SIX Zimbabwe Power Company (ZPC) employees stationed in Hwange were arrested for stealing electricity transmission cables worth thousands at the company premises in the coal mining town.Tawanda Mhaka (50) of Chibondo suburb employed as a stores officer, Allan Ncube (46) of Empumalanga employed as a heavy-duty operator, Max Phiri (36) of NRZ houses who is employed as diesel plant fitter, Teddy Makaza (46) of Chibondo employed as acting garage foreman, William Zhanero (59) of Chibondo, Hwange employed as a stores officer and Melford Homela (54) of Ingagula who is a supervisor for machine oratorical plant, appeared before Hwange provincial magistrate, Ms Fungai Dzimiri facing theft charges.The six were not asked to plead to the charges and they were remanded in custody to today.Ms Abigirl Jena who is employed as a loss control officer by ZPC is the complainant in the matter on behalf of the company.Prosecuting, Ms Jenamisa Makanza said on December 19 at around 6.20pm, Zhanero was seen by Jena unlocking the outage gate and he invited Mhaka, Ncube, Phiri and Makaza to enter the outage stores.The court heard that while inside, the quartet tied the loose ends of a roll of 4-core armoured cable and pulled it outside the store using a machine.Rodney Ndlovu, a front-end loader operator who was sent by Homela came to the stores and he was instructed by the four accused persons to forklift the 4 core armoured cable outage stores. However, Ndlovu failed to lift the cable out.Ncube brought a tipper truck before Mhaka, Phiri, Makaza and Zhanero tied the cable on the back of the tipper. Phiri pulled out the cable from the outage stores using the tipper truck for a distance of about 200m and dumped it."During that time, Jena who was closely watching the accused persons removing the cable intercepted them and demanded to know where they were taking it to," said Ms Makanza.Homela produced a store requisition form serial number 016932 which indicated that a 150m x3 core armoured cable was to be moved to Unit 4 to replace a burnt cable.Jena confirmed the authenticity of the stores' transaction from the senior electrical work boiler subsection foreperson, Mr Livingstone Ncube.However, Ncube denied that there was such a requisition concerning the replacement of the three-core armoured cable.Jena got suspicious and she invited other security personnel leading to the arrest of the accused persons.Upon their arrest, it was discovered that the stores' transaction form had not been fully completed. The transaction form indicated a 3-core armoured cable as opposed to the 4 armoured cable that the accused persons took.Of late, ZPC has been hit by a series of thefts of critical components. Recently, some ZPC employees at Hwange Power Station connived with a Harare businessman to steal over 6 000 litres of diesel through an elaborate scheme involving fraudulent figures.
Missing pregnant teenager Savanah Soto, 18, was tragically found dead on Tuesday in San Antonio, Texas, alongside her boyfriend, Matthew Guerra.

The devastating news was confirmed by Soto's family to Fox San Antonio, shedding light on a mysterious case that has left the community in shock.

Frantic Search for Missing Pregnant Teen, Boyfriend

The alarming series of events began when Soto, who was nine months pregnant, was reported missing over the weekend after failing to show up at the hospital for her scheduled induction. Her worried mother, Gloria Cordova, revealed that she last saw her daughter at their apartment complex in Leon Valley on Friday. However, her concerns grew exponentially when Soto didn't appear at the hospital the following day.

Frantic and desperate for answers, Cordova took action, reaching out to law enforcement agencies. A CLEAR Alert was issued for Soto by the Texas Department of Transportation on Monday, highlighting the potential danger she might be facing. The circumstances surrounding her disappearance became even more distressing when it was revealed that her boyfriend, Guerra, was also missing.

As the search intensified, details emerged about their relationship, with Soto's sister-in-law alleging abuse from Guerra. Although unconfirmed, her claims painted a troubling picture that only increased the urgency of finding the missing couple. Social media posts from concerned family members expressed the desperate hope for their safe return, while also revealing conflicting theories about what transpired.

Soto's distraught grandmother, Rachel Soto, expressed her anguish, suspecting that something was amiss. "It's not normal, something's not adding up here. I want answers, we all want answers," she pleaded. The police attempted to access Soto's apartment but were unsuccessful. However, they maintained a presence on the scene, engaging in discussions with her family.

In the midst of this heart-wrenching search, tragedy struck. Soto's body was discovered on Tuesday afternoon at the Colinas at Medical Apartments, accompanied by her car. The car, the very one in which she and Guerra were found, belonged to Soto herself. The devastating outcome effectively brought an end to the multi-day search that had gripped the community, according to New York Post.

Read Also: Russia Allegedly Forcing Ukrainian POWs to Protest Against Ukraine

Grieving Mother Appeals for Justice

Authorities remain tight-lipped about the details surrounding Soto's disappearance and the circumstances of her tragic death. The Leon Valley Police Department, responsible for leading the search efforts, declined to comment on the matter. However, questions regarding Guerra's whereabouts and his potential involvement in the tragedy linger.

Soto's grieving mother, Cordova, now faces the unbearable pain of losing her daughter while searching for answers. She earnestly implores her missing daughter to come home, assuring her that she will face no judgment. Soto's absence compounds the sorrow Cordova feels after the loss of her 15-year-old son last year. "Please come home. No one's going to say nothing. I just want you to be home," she pleaded.

The description provided by authorities portrays Soto as a 5-foot-1-inch pregnant woman with brown hair and brown eyes. She may be traveling in a gray 2013 Kia Optima with a temporary Texas tag. The investigation into these chilling events continues, with law enforcement agencies urging anyone with information to contact the Leon Valley Police Department.

As the community mourns the loss of these young lives, they also grapple with the unanswered questions surrounding their untimely deaths. The pain and grief reverberate, leaving many to wonder how such a promising future could be cut tragically short, The Independent reported.

Related Article: South Carolina Couple Accused of Burning Cross To Harrass Neighbors

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House Speaker Mike Johnson has raised concerns over the New York Times' decision to provide a platform for Gaza City Mayor Yahya Sarraj, who was appointed by the designated foreign terrorist organization, Hamas.

Sarraj's op-ed, condemning Israel's actions against the terror group, was published on Christmas Eve, sparking criticism from various quarters.

House Speaker Mike Johnson Criticizes New York Times

Johnson, in a post on the social media platform X, questioned the ethical stance of the New York Times, stating, "The New York Times provided a platform to a politician appointed by Hamas - the group designated by America as a foreign terrorist organization and responsible for the heinous October 7th massacre," as per to New York Post.

Former US Ambassador Nikki Haley has added her voice to the chorus of criticism. Drawing parallels with the controversy surrounding Senator Tom Cotton's op-ed in 2020, Haley has joined the conversation surrounding the issue at hand. In a thought-provoking observation, Haley made attention to a perceived double standard in the newspaper's reaction, pointing out the absence of any objections raised when featuring an op-ed authored by a mayor appointed by Hamas.

The op-ed by Sarraj accuses Israel of attempting to destroy Gaza's culture and "way of life." However, critics were quick to respond, questioning the validity of Sarraj's plea given the actions of Hamas, the organization that appointed him.

Sarraj condemned Israel's military response to the October 7th attack by Hamas, accusing it of "unrelenting destruction." According to Gaza's Hamas-run health ministry, at least 20,000 people have been reported killed in the Israel Defense Forces' retaliatory offensive in the enclave.

Critics of the New York Times' decision to publish Sarraj's piece expressed their dismay on social media. International human rights lawyer Arsen Ostrovsky questioned the newspaper's editorial choices, asking if they would publish an op-ed from Al-Qaeda justifying 9/11, according to Washington Examiner.

Read Also: North Korea Convenes Party Meeting, Sets Stage for Unveiling Nucleare Policy Ahead of New Year

Sarraj's Gaza Plea Sparks Accusations of Hypocrisy

In his plea for global intervention, Sarraj called for pressure on world leaders to stop what he described as "mindless destruction" in Gaza. However, opponents argued that such pleas were absurd, given the death and destruction caused by Hamas during its raid on Israel.

"The Hamas-appointed mayor of Gaza City complains about the terrible destruction of the total war that his people started on Oct 7," remarked Mark Humphrys, a self-described pro-Israel social media user. "It's because your people raped, tortured, and massacred your way across defenseless Israeli communities, in barbaric scenes from hell."

Jeff Davis, another critic, accused the New York Times of providing a platform for hate and lies, drawing parallels to historical instances where the newspaper failed to report on genocides.

The New York Times, no stranger to controversy, faced a similar situation in June 2020 when it published an op-ed by Senator Tom Cotton calling for the deployment of troops against rioters in the US The publication led to the resignation of the then-opinion editor, James Bennet, amidst public and employee backlash.

As the debate rages on, questions about editorial responsibility and ethical journalism persist. The Telegraph has reached out to the New York Times for comment on the latest controversy, awaiting their response, The Telegraph reported.

Related Article: Eric Adams Unveils Executive Order Restricting Texas Busing of Migrants to New York City

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Texas man Rogelio Bernal, aged 53, faces charges of destroying and concealing a human corpse after authorities uncovered that he concealed his deceased mother's body for over two years.

Bernal was initially arrested on drug charges on December 22, prompting a caller to alert the police upon finding human remains in a storage unit linked to him, as per New York Post.

Concealing Mother's Corpse Uncovered in Storage Unit

A startling discovery has taken place at a storage facility located on the North Side of San Antonio. It all began when an unidentified individual, who happened to be a caller, stumbled upon what can only be described as human remains.

These remains were found concealed within a trash can that had been acquired through an auction. The property manager has reportedly identified Bernal as the former renter, prompting the police to ramp up their investigation. It has been discovered that Bernal was found to be in possession of an active warrant. Taking swift action, authorities proceeded to apprehend him on December 22 in relation to this warrant.

During questioning, Bernal openly acknowledged that the discovered remains were those of his late mother, whom he had been providing care for at their shared apartment. In a disturbing revelation, he has admitted to withholding information regarding her demise following a fall on October 31, 2021. His reasoning behind this decision stems from his apprehension of facing consequences due to his criminal record.

Despite finding his mother alive but injured on the bathroom floor, Bernal chose not to seek medical assistance, ultimately leading to her death. The affidavit indicates that Bernal concealed the body in a hall closet at the apartment, resorting to covering it with lye and cleaning supplies over the course of more than a year, according to MEAWW.

Read Also: New Hampshire Poll Shows Nikki Haley Inches Closer to Donald Trump to Within 4 Percentage Points

Texas Man Faces Charges in Concealing Mother's Remains

The appalling details reveal that the apartment developed a gnat problem, prompting Bernal's eviction in October 2022. Subsequently, he secured a storage unit where he relocated various items, ultimately placing his mother's remains inside a trash can within the unit.

Bernal finds himself in a legal predicament, as he is currently facing charges related to the alteration, destruction, or concealment of a human corpse. As the situation unfolds, it is worth noting that his bond has been set at $75,000, and he is presently being held in custody at the Bexar County Jail. As of the time of publication, the age and additional details about Bernal's mother have not been disclosed.

The investigation highlights the gruesome nature of Bernal's actions, shedding light on the potential mental and emotional toll that led him to conceal his mother's death for an extended period. The circumstances surrounding Bernal's arrest on drug charges, along with the details of his mother's demise, raise questions about the complexities surrounding the case.

The involvement of legal representation for Bernal and the specifics of the additional charges on which he was arrested remain unclear as the investigation unfolds, Newsweek reported.

Related Article: Brutal Ohio Beating: Father Killed by Teenagers Who Were 'Laughing' During the Incident

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News / Local

by Staff reporter

The Consumer Council of Zimbabwe (CCZ) has issued a stern warning to retail outlets, demanding responsible pricing on all goods and strict adherence to the foreign currency auction system if operating a dual pricing model.This directive comes in response to widespread consumer complaints regarding price distortions and inconsistencies in major retail outlets across the country.In 2020, the government authorised the pricing of goods and services in both the local currency and the United States dollar at the ruling market exchange rate as determined by the foreign exchange auction.However, consumers have been suffering from price distortions seen both in formal and informal retail outlets and of late, formal supermarkets have been charging different prices which people encounter when paying at the tills."The Consumer Council of Zimbabwe has noted with concern that some retail outlets are operating on a dual pricing system in some of their retail outlets," said CCC in a statement."The dual pricing system is where the displayed price or shelf price is regarded as the discounted price, which is applicable to a consumer who is buying in USD only."CCC noted that for consumers buying goods using the local currency (ZWL) or RTGS, the discounted price/shelf price does not apply to them."For example, in some shops, a 250g packet of value bacon with a shelf price of US$3.00 becomes US$4.85 at the till, if paid for in RTGS, and 4.5kg chicken cuts, marked at US$16.50 becomes US$25.00, paid at the prevailing interbank rate," CCZ said.CCC said such price distortions were illegal and consumers must not pay."According to the Consumer Protection Act, Chapter 14:44, Section 26, subsection (5), No supplier shall require a consumer to pay a price for any goods or services: Higher than the advertised or displayed price: provided that the advertised price shall include all taxes or levies chargeable upon the goods or services. Where more than one price is advertised or displayed concurrently, the lowest price shall be considered as the price of the goods or services."CCZ urged consumers to report such practices to the relevant authorities in order for corrective measures to be taken against those violating the law.
News / National

by Staff reporter

AIR Zimbabwe, which faces a myriad of problems ranging from mounting debts, ageing aircraft, government interference and poor management, has become a pale shadow of itself as it is failing to make a mark this festive season, at a time when it is supposed to be enjoying brisk business.The airline is not even dominating domestic routes, showing a drastic fall in fortunes. The company, which inherited 18 aircraft at Independence in 1980, has been hamstrung and is flying only one plane, while some of the planes have been grounded due to regulatory issues.Air Zimbabwe (Private) Limited was incorporated in terms of the Air Zimbabwe Corporation Act [Chapter 13:02] and the Companies and Other Business Entities Act [Chapter 24:31].As recent as 2021, the airline was in possession of an Embraer ERJ145 regional aircraft from the US and two Boeing 777-200 ER long-haul jets from Malaysia, bringing the total number of serviceable aircraft to five, with the fleet including a Boeing 767 and a Boeing 737.Air Zimbabwe's main business is to provide clients with passenger and cargo air transport, aircraft maintenance and technical commercial training courses. However, the company is dismally failing to provide these services effectively.The airline has also failed to re-open regional and international routes, mainly due to a lack of long-haul aircraft and international aviation licences, with domestic and regional routes now largely dominated by international players such as South Africa's Airlink, Kenyan Airways and RwandAir, among others.In the past, Air Zimbabwe had scheduled international flights to London and Beijing. Recently, acting Auditor-General Rheah Kujinga exposed the rot at Air Zimbabwe which includes financial books that are in a shambles as well as the failure by the national flag carrier to account for the number of planes under its ownership.Kujinga revealed there are unaccounted for planes at Air Zimbabwe with a value of over US$30 million. In her report on state-owned enterprises and parastatals for the year ended 31 December 2022, Kujinga said: "During the year ended December 31, 2019, aircraft amounting to US$30 940 000 at cost was recognised in the financial statements. Impairment testing has not been carried out on recognised aircraft despite there being indications of impairment. "Consequently, I was unable to satisfy myself that the aircraft has been recognised at values that do not exceed their recoverable amounts."The company has not recognised as its assets several aircrafts that it has either used in the past or currently maintains. This is due to unavailability of information on whether Air Zimbabwe is the rightful owner of the aircraft. Consequently, I was unable to obtain sufficient appropriate audit evidence on the completeness of aircraft recognised and any associated obligations that the company may have."Kujinga also found that Air Zimbabwe's financial books were not in order as there were variances in money amounting to US$92 million."As at the beginning of the year ended December 31, 2019 Air Zimbabwe's opening balances were not agreeing to the prior year financial statement balances. However, management could not provide a justification or correction for the variances in the opening balances amounting to USD92 480 450," said Kujinga's report."As such, I could not satisfy myself on the accuracy of the opening balances and determine if any adjustments were necessary to the statement of financial position. Therefore, for all balance sheet balances, valuation and accuracy of them could not be determined."She also expressed concerns on the existence, completeness and valuation of Air Zimbabwe's inventory. "During the year ended December 31, 2019, inventory amounting to USD18 914 747 was recognised in the financial statements. An inventory count was not performed as at December 31, 2019," reads the report."As a result, I was unable to determine whether any adjustments might be necessary in respect of the recorded or unrecorded inventories. I was thus unable to satisfy myself as to the existence, completeness and valuation of the inventories."She also expressed concerns on the company's senior positions which were held in an acting capacity during the year under review.There were also under-staffing issues which resulted from the retrenchment exercise that was carried out as part of the reconstruction exercise that the acting Auditor-General also flagged.The senior posts that were being held in acting capacity were those of the chief executive officer, company secretary, maintenance manager, flight operations manager, human resources manager, finance manager, sales and marketing manager and ground operations and airport services manager.The company also had more posts without substantive officials that included corporate quality manager, safety and security manager, procurement manager, information technology manager. Kujinga said the risk and implication of it is that decision-making by those in an acting position may be limited to short-term periods."The Company's operations may be disrupted due to absence of critical skills. The Company should continue pursuing the issue of filling key vacant posts," said the acting AG.Air Zimbabwe in the past has been rocked by corruption scandals. In 2015, former Air Zimbabwe chief executive Peter Chikumba and company secretary Grace Pfumbidzayi were found guilty of breaking the airline's rules in 2009 by awarding a US$10 million insurance contract to a local company without issuing a tender.They were jailed 10 years each. Former Auditor-General Mildred Chiri in 2019 again revealed that Air Zimbabwe could not account for three aircraft.
In 2024, the post-pandemic travel boom is set to continue. After years of border closures, construction halts, and economic uncertainly, the world is finally bullish on, well, the world itself: according to the U.S. Travel Association, leisure trips will reach the 2 billion mark next year just in the United States alone, far surpassing pre-pandemic levels. Meanwhile, nearly all tourist regions in the world have fully recovered since the shutdown. People are no longer taking travel for granted. In fact, theyre making it a priority.

Which perhaps explains why Vogues annual most anticipated hotel openings guide feels particularly robust for 2024. Cities like New York and London, bolstered by the return of business trips, are welcoming a number of buzzy new hotels. Meanwhile, Amana hospitality company with such a devoted following that its fans refer to themselves as Aman junkiesdebuts a new brand, Janu, whose properties will focus on social wellness. Meanwhile, adventure resorts in far-flung locations continue to abound, including new safari camps in Botswanas Okavango Delta and a boutique hotel in Sri Lanka.

Read the full article at vogue.com
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News / National

by Staff reporter

AN ailing 81-year-old Tsholotsho man who left Zimbabwe 61 years ago to work in South Africa, is looking for his relatives after a malayitsha who was supposed to take him to his rural home dumped him in Bulawayo.Mr Philip Moyo who left the country in 1962 as a 20-year-old had contracted the cross-border operators to take him back home as he was feeling unwell, but they left him in Bulawayo instead of Tsholotsho.He could barely walk at the time and a Good Samaritan called an ambulance and took him to Mpilo Central Hospital where he is recovering.He has spent more than two weeks at the hospital and is seeking his relatives who have not yet visited him or inquired about his whereabouts.Mpilo public relations officer Sister Norma Mabhena said Mr Moyo has been admitted to the hospital since then and is yearning for his relatives.Moyo said he only remembers that his father was Sibambosobunyonyo and his mother was MaDawu


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The town held its first annual Dalton Day in 2023. The Historical Commission was donated paintings done by George Hoose, including this one from Robert and Kathleen Walsh. The Dalton Fire Department expressed its hopes to expand from its current tight quarters. PreviousNext

Dalton Sees Project Completions, New Initiatives in 2023



The Select Board moved the polling location to the Senior Center against the recommendations of an ad hoc committee. DALTON, Mass.  The town saw a mixture of change, progress, initiatives, and project completions in 2023.

Voting Location Moved

During a lengthy and at times heated discussion in August, the Select Board voted in favor of relocating the town's polling station to the Senior Center as of March 5, 2024, against the recommendation of the ad hoc committee.

The ad hoc committee  comprised of the police chief, the fire chief, the highway superintendent, and Town Clerk Heather Hunt  recommended staying at the CRA until information could be gathered.

More information on why the board voted to relocate the voting station here

Following the decision, the Traffic Commission urged the need for a traffic study to ensure safe traffic control during elections. More information here

Bardin Property

After navigating through regulations that complicate their attempts to sell the so-called Bardin property the town officials were relieved of its responsibility. More information on the property here

During a Select Board meeting in November , the board approved the state Department of Agricultural Resources its right of first refusal. The MDAR has rights to the property through a 30-year-old Agricultural Preservation Restriction.

MDAR purchased the property from the town and put a call out for bids. More information here

Town Hall

Following a series of scope revisions, Town Manager Thomas Hutcheson announced during a Select Board meeting on Sept. 11 that all the offices moved back into the Town Hall ahead of schedule on Aug. 3. The town was able to take off a month from its lease with the bank, where the offices were being held during the renovation, saving $3,500.

Although the renovations are complete there is still work that needs to be done. Town Hall is currently down a chairlift due to safety concerns with its current one in the police station. It had two chairlifts, one in the police station and one in the public library. More information here

Master Plan

During a three-hour meeting held in October, residents provided input on ways the town can improve its master plan. The common consensus from the meeting was that the town has achieved a lot of its goal since establishing the plan but there is still a lot more work to be done. During the meeting, residents emphasized the need for better communication.

The next steps of the master plan will be to better define metrics, costs and the needs to address high-priority action steps, he said in a followup conversation, in addition to reviewing and identifying what will be the most feasible and practical steps given the status of the economy, general facts of the area, and what they will be able to accomplish given the time and resources they have available. More information on the Master Plan here

Orchard Road Funding

The town was awarded a $1 million MassWorks grant to reconstruct Orchard Road after approximately six years of planning and navigating funding options.

The town hopes to start construction by summer. The road, which is often used as a connector to Route 9, has had flooding for many years due to undersized drainage pipes. More information here

Although adding sidewalks to the road was not included in the scope of the project due to lack of funds, following an outcry of residents and the discovery of possible funding options through the county's Metropolitan Planning Organization. More information here

The road is used by some students who attend Wahconah Regional High School. The Select Board said during a September meeting that the town should first focus its repairs on sidewalks near the schools to improve student safety in high-traffic areas.

Sewer Stabilization

The biannual metered rate per 1,000 gallons will remain at $4.54 and the annual flat rate will remain at $504.

During a special town meeting in August, voters approved raising the sewer user fee by 8 percent to cover the expected increases.

At the time, the Pittsfield's estimate was $1,333,307, but it had since increased to $1,404,159.75. The town will be tapping into its sewer stabilization fund to cover the additional cost, so the increase will not affect ratepayers. More information here

Property Bill / Tax Rate

The Select Board voted to maintain a single tax rate, as it has done in the past. The town's tax rate is projected to be $17.01, which is down $1.36 per $1,000 of assessed value. Although the tax rate is down, the tax bill is projected to increase because spending has increased.

The value of the average single-family home was $271,929 in fiscal year 2023; this is projected to increase to $314,926. Residential property values have increased by 16 percent, commercial values by 8 percent, and industrial values by 3 percent.

The average single family tax bill will increase by $361.55, bringing it to $5,356.89 from last year's $4,995.34.

More information here

Emergency Planning Hazard Mitigation Plan The town is in the process of updating its hazard mitigation plan. The current plan that is in place expires in June. In preparation for this, the town applied and received a grant through the state Emergency Management Agency, part of which covers the cost of a consultant. The plan consists of a profile of the community, hazard information and risk assessment, the community's capabilities, a mitigation strategy, and a plan implementation and maintenance. During the meeting residents expressed their concerns surrounding communication and safety procedures needed in town. A lot of the concerns mentioned during the meeting are in the plan's draft, Caplan said. However, there will be more public meetings in the future that will focus a lot more on what the mitigation actions will be going into the plan, so residents can add to the plan. More information here Emergency Evacuation Plan The Select Board approved the draft of an Emergency Evacuation Plan during a meeting in October. The amended plan is designed to relieve road congestion and improve public safety in the event of a natural disaster that would require evacuation. More information here

Fire District

Tax Rate

The state Department of Revenue approved the Fire District tax rate of $1.19 per $1,000 property value.

The tax rate has increased by 36.78 percent, or .32 cents, from last year's rate of 87 cents per $1,000 property value.

The Fire District prudential committee voted to maintain a single-payer tax rate as it has done for many years. The tax bill will be sent to 2,675 ratepayers.

More information here

Ladder Truck

After the purchase of a "new" ladder truck, the Fire District will pursue litigation to recover the funds paid to Northern Fire Equipment, claiming a breach of contract because it has not been delivered, Town Manager Thomas Hutcheson said during a Select Board meeting in December.

In November, the Select Board voted to explore how to reclaim the remaining American Rescue Plan Act funds allocated for the ladder truck.

Although the ladder truck is the Fire Districts responsibility, the board stepped in and investigated because town funds are involved in its purchase. The Fire District and town are two separate governing bodies.

Despite earlier reports from the district that the ladder truck had entered the paint booth in August, it was disclosed in a board meeting in October that the truck was far from completion.

More information on the ladder truck here

Going Green

EV Charging Stations

The town is a step closer to having two electric vehicle charging stations at the Community Recreation Association. There are two EV ports per station. The station is expected to be completed in six months. More information here

Climate Leader Status Change

The Dalton Green Committee voted to take a step back from its efforts in reaching climate leader status and decided to refocus its efforts on initiatives that make the biggest impact on the town. More information here

Compost Program

The Green Committee hopes to help the town establish a compost program in town. They created a subcommittee during a meeting in Dec. to determine the type of program it wants to create based on residential needs. More information here

Police Department



K9 Xander joined the force from Sharpesville, Pa. Police Detail Fund

After much debate in the local government, voters approved transferring $25,000 from General Stabilization to the Police Details Fund to avoid deficit spending in that account. More information here

New K9 Xander

The Police Department recently welcomed K9 Xander to the force in August after retiring its old K9, Maximus.

Xander is a Dutch shepherd from Budapest, Hungary. He was acquired for approximately $1,000 from Shallow Creek Kennels, located in Sharpesville, Pa.

More information here

Recreation Initiatives and Milestones

First Annual Dalton Day

The town held its first annual Dalton Day on July 15 to celebrate the town's culture and community. Hundreds of residents attended the event for music, food, and more. Many town officials described the event as a success.

The event was dedicated to the late Donald E. Harris Jr., a longtime member of the council and Dalton Day organizer. The town's Cultural Council has already started the planning of next year's Dalton Day.

Down Memory Lane Reissued

After months of preparation the historical commission successfully reissued the book "Down Memory Lane."

The book is a compiled series of weekly columns by the Rev. Franklin L. "Cap" Couch that appeared in the now-defunct Dalton News Record from 1972 to 1977

To cover printing costs, a book is priced at $25. Currently, the only payment method accepted is by check only. Order forms can be obtained from Dalton Public Library, Senior Center, and the clerk's office at Town Hall.

The commission plans to sell more books during elections where they will be able to accept cash payments.

More information here

Dalton CRA 100th Anniversary

The Community Recreation Association turned 100 in November. To celebrate its centennial, the organization held a variety of events including a birthday party on the lawn, a weeklong celebration, and more.

The association opened where it stands today, 400 Main St., on Nov. 9, 1923. Over the years, the non-profit has evolved based on the needs of the community to include more social programming and expand its accessibility to the surrounding area.
Page Content



The President of the ICAO Council, Mr. Salvatore Sciacchitano, and the ICAO Secretary General, Mr. Juan Carlos Salazar, recently conducted missions to Lima on the occasion of the Latin American Civil Aviation Commission (LACAC)'s VII Extraordinary Assembly, which coincided with LACAC's 50th anniversary and the 75th anniversary of Peru's hosting of ICAO's South American Regional Office.

In their respective opening and closing remarks to the Assembly, the President and the Secretary General underscored LACAC's pivotal role in supporting cooperation among Latin American States and with ICAO. The continuous enhancement and development of air connectivity among Latin American States, positions them well to address the technological and ecological opportunities and challenges facing aviation today.

The collaboration between LACAC and ICAO's Regional Offices was also highlighted, in particular the promotion of joint initiatives such as the Regional Safety Oversight System (SRVSOP), and in terms of encouraging and enabling progress towards ICAO's safety, security, and sustainability objectives.

ICAO welcomed the adoption of the Declaration of Lima at the Assembly as a crucially important guiding document for the Region over the next decade, and commended LACAC President Leonardo Blengini and LACAC Secretary Jaime Binder for the meeting's success.

During the event, Panama announced that it would join the ICAO Assistance, Capacity Building, and Training Program for Sustainable Aviation Fuels (ACT-SAF) and was hailed as providing significant leadership for the region in this area.

In addition to their LACAC-related activities, Mr. Sciacchitano's and Mr. Salazar's missions also comprised bilateral meetings with Peru's Minister of Foreign Affairs, Mr. Javier Gonzalez-Olaechea Franco, and its Minister of Transport and Communications, Mr. Raul Perez-Reyes.

These bilateral meetings focussed on enhancing cooperation between ICAO and Peru, notably in the areas of air navigation, facilitation, strategic planning, and environmental sustainability, particularly within the context of the recent commitments made by ICAO Member States to reduce CO 2 emissions by five percent through the use of sustainable aviation fuels (SAF) and lower-carbon aviation fuels (LCAF).

The bilateral meetings further provided the President and the Secretary General with an opportunity to extend ICAO's gratitude to Peru for its generous and continuous hosting of the organization since 1948.

Throughout their activities in Lima, which took place from 13 to 15 December 2023, the President and the Secretary General were accompanied by ICAO's Regional Director for South America,

Mr. Fabio Rabbani; and ICAO's Regional Director for North America, Central America, and the Caribbean, Mr. Christopher Barks.






News / National

by Wikipedia

Place names in Zimbabwe, including the name of the country itself, have been altered at various points in history. The name Zimbabwe was officially adopted concurrently with Britain's grant of independence in April 1980. Before that point, the country had been called Southern Rhodesia from 1898 to 1964 (or 1980, according to British law), Rhodesia from 1964 to 1979, and Zimbabwe Rhodesia between June and December 1979. Since Zimbabwean independence in 1980, the names of cities, towns, streets and other places have been changed by the government, most prominently in a burst of renaming in 1982.The Zimbabwean government began renaming cities, towns, streets and other places in 1982, hoping to remove vestiges of British and Rhodesian rule. The capital city, Salisbury, was renamed Harare. Many other place names merely had their spellings altered to reflect the orthography of Shona or Kalanga, as under white rule the spellings officially adopted were derived from Sindebele orthography.Most major cities and towns were renamed, but some places with a Ndebele majority - such as Bulawayo, the country's second citywere not. Some smaller towns retain their colonial-era names, such as Beitbridge, West Nicholson and Fort Rixon.Street names were changed wholesale, with British-style names, particularly those of colonial figures, being phased out in favour of those of black nationalist leaders, prominently Robert Mugabe, Joshua Nkomo and Jason Moyo.The name of the country has changed several times since it was originally demarcated in the late nineteenth century by Cecil Rhodes' British South Africa Company. The company initially referred to each territory it acquired by its respective name - Mashonaland, Matabeleland and so on - and collectively called its lands "Zambesia" (Rhodes' personal preference) or "Charterland" (Leander Starr Jameson's), but neither of these caught on. Most of the first settlers instead called their new home Rhodesia, after Rhodes; this was common enough usage by 1891 to be used by journalists.In 1892, the Rhodesia Chronicle and Rhodesia Herald newspapers were first published, respectively at Tuli and Salisbury. The company officially applied the name Rhodesia in 1895. "It is not clear why the name should have been pronounced with the emphasis on the second rather than the first syllable," Robert Blake comments, "but this appears to have been the custom from the beginning and it never changed."Matabeleland and Mashonaland, both of which lay south of the Zambezi, were first officially referred to collectively by Britain as Southern Rhodesia in 1898. Southern Rhodesia attained responsible government as a self-governing colony in 1923, while Northern Rhodesia (to the Zambezi's north) became a directly administered British colony the following year.The name "Zimbabwe", based on a Shona term for Great Zimbabwe, an ancient ruined city in the country's south-east, was first recorded as a term of national reference in 1960, when it was coined by the black nationalist Michael Mawema, whose Zimbabwe National Party became the first to officially use the name in 1961. The term Rhodesia, derived from Rhodes' surname, was perceived as inappropriate because of its colonial origin and connotations.According to Mawema, black nationalists held a meeting in 1960 to choose an alternative name for the country, and the names Machobana and Monomotapa were proposed before his suggestion, Zimbabwe, prevailed. A further alternative, put forward by nationalists in Matabeleland, had been "Matopos", referring to the Matopos Hills to the south of Bulawayo.It was initially not clear how the chosen term was to be useda letter written by Mawema in 1961 refers to "Zimbabweland" - but "Zimbabwe" was sufficiently established by 1962 to become the generally preferred term of the black nationalist movement.In a 2001 interview, black nationalist Edson Zvobgo recalled that the name was mentioned by Mawema during a political rally, "and it caught hold, and that was that".The name was subsequently used by the black nationalist factions during the Second Chimurenga campaigns against the Rhodesian government during the Rhodesian Bush War. The most major of these were the Zimbabwe African National Union (led by Robert Mugabe from 1975), and the Zimbabwe African People's Union, led by Joshua Nkomo from its founding in the early 1960s.When Northern Rhodesia achieved independence as Zambia in 1964, the Southern Rhodesian government introduced a bill to allow the country to be known simply as Rhodesia, which passed its third reading on 9 December 1964. Although no assent was given to the bill, the revised name was widely adopted, and following the Unilateral Declaration of Independence in 1965, it was the name of the unrecognised government.This name was used until June 1979, when new institutions of government came into power following the Internal Settlement of the previous year, and the country adopted the name Zimbabwe Rhodesia. Following the terms of the Lancaster House Agreement of December 1979 that the United Kingdom should preside over fresh elections before granting independence, direct British control started that month with a reversion to the former name of Southern Rhodesia. The UK granted independence under the name Zimbabwe on 18 April 1980.Starting in 1982, on the second anniversary of the country's independence as Zimbabwe, the government began renaming cities, towns and streets in an attempt to eradicate symbols of British colonialism and white minority rule. The capital Salisbury, which had been named after the British Prime Minister, the 3rd Marquess of Salisbury, was renamed Harare, after the Shona chief Neharawa.Other place names were simply new transliterations, to reflect the orthography of the local languagemany places had been gazetted with Sindebele orthography during the colonial period. This generally included the letter "l", which is not used in Shona, being used instead of "r".While most larger cities and towns were renamed, the spelling of Zimbabwe's second-largest city, Bulawayo, remains unchanged because its Sindebele orthography reflects the dominant ethnicity. Towns which have retained names of European origin include mostly smaller communities such as Beitbridge, Colleen Bawn, West Nicholson, Fort Rixon, Craigmore, Cashel, Juliasdale, Glendale, and Birchenough Bridge.The colonial-era names of suburbs of Harare, such as Borrowdale, Highlands, Rietfontein, Tynwald, and Mount Pleasant also remained unchanged. An exception was Harari, which was renamed Mbare.Street names were also changed, with names of British colonists such as Cecil Rhodes being replaced with those of Zimbabwean nationalist leaders, such as Jason Moyo, Josiah Tongogara, Simon Muzenda, and Leopold Takawira. Robert Mugabe's name eventually became attached to the main street or town centre of every sizeable town as a result of a spate of changes in 1990.Other streets have been named after leaders of neighbouring countries, such as Samora Machel of Mozambique, Julius Nyerere of Tanzania, Kenneth Kaunda of Zambia and Nelson Mandela of South Africa. Others have a general pan-African nationalist theme, such as Africa Unity Square in Harare, formerly Cecil Square.
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Taylor Swift and The Rolling Stones helped to boost UK vinyl sales to their highest level since 1990, as fans continue to enjoy music in physical formats.

The British Phonographic Industry (BPI) trade group reports that vinyl sales in 2023 rose by 11.7 per cent to 5.9 million units, marking an increase for the 16th consecutive year.

The format has enjoyed an ongoing surge in popularity, thanks to fans who believe that vinyl offers better sound quality over streaming, while also appreciating the collectible nature of LP records.

Compared to previous years, which have been dominated by or split evenly with classic records, 2023s top 10 was full of new releases.

However, classic albums such as Fleetwood Macs Rumours and Pink Floyds The Dark Side of the Moon (Live at Wembley 1974) also continued to perform well.

The best-selling LP of the year was Taylor Swifts 1989, followed by The Rolling Stones album Hackney Diamonds.

Swift had three albums in the top 10 best-selling of 2023: two re-recorded versions (Speak Now and 1989), and her latest studio record, Midnights.

Vinyl records and CDs on sale at HMVs flagship store on Oxford Street, London (Getty Images)

See the top 10 best-selling vinyl albums below:

Taylor Swift  1989 (Taylors Version)

The Rolling Stones  Hackney Diamonds

Lana Del Rey  Did You Know Theres a Tunnel Under Ocean Blvd

Taylor Swift  Speak Now (Taylors Version)

Fleetwood Mac  Rumours

Blur  The Ballad of Darren

Pink Floyd  The Dark Side of the Moon

Taylor Swift  Midnights

Olivia Rodrigo  Guts

Lewis Capaldi  Broken by Desire to be Heavenly Sent

The albums by Rodrigo, Blur and Del Rey all made The Independents albums of the year 2023 list, with Del Rey in the top 10.

Lana Del Rey returned this year with her ninth album, Did You Know That Theres a Tunnel Under Ocean Blvd, in which questions of family and legacy, memory and death were swirled around a martini glass of swooning balladry, critic Annabel Nugent wrote.

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Album highlight Margaret is a pure paean to love (Id argue, one of the most romantic songs of the year) while the folky reverie of A&W takes a left-turn at the four-minute mark to give way to a sleazy, synthy bassline. Here, Del Rey whispers a few of her most secret yearnings into this record of hushed experimentalism.

Commenting on this year, BPI boss Dr Jo Twist said: Led by vinyl, the resurgence of physical product underlines the resilience of the UK music market at a time when streaming consumption continues to hit record levels.

Whilst LP sales have now been on an upward path for the past 16 years, it is encouraging to see a stabilisation in demand for CD, as well as new generations of music fans falling in love with the cassette. It is giving people more choice than ever in how they enjoy their favourite music.
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Xi Jinping has claimed that Chinas reunification with Taiwan was inevitable.

The Communist Party of China asserts ownership of Taiwan even though it has never governed the territory. While Chinese officials express a desire for peaceful reunification, they have not ruled out the possibility of resorting to force to assert control over the self-governing island.

In September China sent a record number of warplanes around Taiwan in a 24-hour period that the island condemned as military harassment. China considers Taiwan, a self-governing island that holds close ties to the West, to be a part of its territory and frequently sends its planes and ships around the Taiwan Strait.

The Chinese premiers comments came ahead of the crucial presidential election in Taiwan in January.

The realisation of the complete reunification with the motherland is an inevitable course of development, is righteous and what the people want, Mr Xi said in an address commemorating the 130th anniversary of the birth of Mao Zedong, the founder of the Peoples Republic of China.

The motherland must and will be reunified, he added.

[We must] promote peaceful development of cross-strait ties, and resolutely prevent anyone from separating Taiwan from China in any way, Mr Xi said in his speech, referring to the thorny ties with the US.

The US maintains an unofficial relationship with Taiwan, adhering to a One China policy but providing support for the islands defence. The historical context of the contested relationship between China and Taiwan dates back to 1949 when General Chiang Kai-shek fled to Taiwan after Maos Red Army prevailed in the Chinese Civil War.

Mr Xis speech also called on Chinese citizens to remember Mao and the Communist Partys founding mission.

The current tensions follow years of increased pressure from Beijing, especially under president Tsai Ing-wen, who has strengthened ties with the United States.

Meanwhile, the leading candidate for Tsais successor, vice president Lai Ching-te, is ahead in polls but is disliked by Chinese officials. Lai is ahead of two other candidates  Hou Yu-ih from the Kuomintang party and Ko Wen-je from the Taiwan Peoples Party  who are seen as favouring closer relations with Beijing.

Mr Xi also called for Chinese citizens to remain confident in our history and grasp the historical initiative, so as to steadily advance the great cause of Chinese modernisation.

On Thursday, Chinas defence ministry accused Taiwans government of deliberately hyping up a military threat from China for electoral gain.

As the election draws near, Taiwan has observed the presence of Chinese fighter jets and warships in the vicinity of the island. Balloons have been sighted crossing the sensitive Taiwan Strait, although the military suggests that these activities are likely related to weather monitoring purposes.

Speaking at a news conference in Beijing, Chinese Defence Ministry spokesperson Wu Qian said Taiwans government was to blame for the tensions.

The Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) authorities are deliberately hyping up the so-called military threat from the mainland and exaggerating tensions.

This is entirely to seek electoral gain, he said, accusing Taiwan of using a familiar electoral playbook to stoke confrontation and manipulate the election.

He added: Taiwan is a part of China. The median line absolutely does not exist.

We firmly oppose any country having official and military contact with Taiwan in any form, Mr Wu added. The United States is manipulating the Taiwan question in various forms, which is a very dangerous gamble.

Additional reporting with agencies
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The Indian army has ordered an investigation into the deaths of three civilians allegedly in the custody of the military as defence minister Rajnath Singh visited the region to review security measures.

The action came after anger spread in remote parts of Kashmir as locals accused army personnel of torturing the three to death in a nearby military camp where they were detained.

The military held at least eight civilians last Friday for questioning after rebels fighting against Indian rule ambushed two army vehicles in the southern Poonch district, killing four soldiers and wounding three others.

The districts of Poonch and Rajouri are close to the highly militarised line of control that divides the disputed Himalayan region between India and Pakistan.

The bodies of the civilians were later handed to the local police who in turn contacted the families. Residents said the bodies bore marks of severe torture as they demanded a fair investigation.

Each of our army personnel is important to us, said Mr Singh as he assured that the authorities were taking the required steps to look into the incident.

He was also expected to later meet the families of the three civilians.

The matter is under investigation. Indian army stands committed to extending full support and cooperation in the conduct of investigations," the army said in a statement on Sunday. Police have also registered a murder case against unidentified people.

Meanwhile, the government has suspended internet in Kashmir amid intensifying protests as videos reportedly showing the torture of detained civilians spread online hours after their incarceration.

Indian army chief Manoj Pande visited Poonch on Monday to review the operational preparedness of the troops, said defence spokesperson Suneel Bartwal.

I have no knowledge about the inquiry ordered into deaths of civilians in Poonch, he said.

Mohammad Sidiq, councillor of Topa Pir village, said nine people, including his 26-year-old shepherd nephew, were picked up by Indian troops on Friday for questioning.

One of them was let off and eight others were tortured, and three, including my nephew Shoukat Ahmad, were killed, he told Reuters.

Where is the law and where is the justice? Is this the reward we get for supporting Indian troops here on the borders? I even get death threats for raising my voice against these three deaths, Mr Sidiq said.

Mohammed Younis, a resident, said soldiers also detained his two brothers and a cousin. An elderly man was let go, he said, but the others were ruthlessly beaten and electrocuted.

My two brothers and a cousin are badly hurt due to torture. They are being treated in an army hospital, Mr Younis said after seeing one of his brothers.

Pakistan strongly condemns the deaths of the civilians, its foreign ministry said in a statement, calling for the people responsible to be held to account.

Nuclear-armed rivals India and Pakistan each administer part of Kashmir, but both claim the territory in its entirety.

Militants in the Indian-controlled portion of Kashmir have been fighting New Delhis rule since 1989.

India insists the Kashmirs militancy is Pakistan-sponsored terrorism, a charge Islamabad denies. Tens of thousands of civilians, rebels and government forces have been killed in the conflict.

But since 2019, the territory has simmered in anger when New Delhi ended the regions semi-autonomy and drastically curbed dissent, civil liberties and media freedoms while intensifying counter-insurgency operations.

While Kashmir Valley, the heart of the anti-India rebellion, has witnessed many militants killed in counter-rebel operations, remote Rajouri and Poonch have seen deadly attacks against Indian troops in the last two years. At least three dozen soldiers have been killed in such attacks.
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At least 13 people were killed after a bus caught fire following a head-on collision with a dumper truck in central India.

Another 16 people suffered severe burn injuries and fractures and were rushed to a hospital for treatment in the Guna district of Madhya Pradesh on Wednesday night.

The truck driver died from the impact of the collision, said police officer Anoop Bhargav.

The bus carrying around 30 passengers was on its way to Aaron town, while the dumper truck was heading towards Guna in the opposite direction. The crash took place around 9pm which set the bus on fire, state authorities said.

The victims were charred to death.

Madhya Pradesh chief minister Mohan Yadav ordered a probe into the incident and announced an ex gratia of Rs400,000 (3,750) each to the kin of the deceased and Rs50,000 (468) each for the injured.

He is scheduled to visit to visit the injured at the district hospital in Guna on Thursday.

Jyotiraditya Scindia, federal aviation minister and an MP from the state, offered condolences and wished "speedy recovery of the citizens injured in the accident.

"As soon as the news of the incident was received, Guna collector was discussed over telephone and instructions were given to start relief and rescue operations immediately," he said in a post on X, formerly known as Twitter.

One person was killed and over two dozen people suffered injuries earlier on Wednesday as dense fog on the highway led to multiple vehicle collisions in north India.

Last month, a passenger bus slid off a Himalayan highway killing at least 37 people and injuring 18 others after rolling down a steep slope onto another road in Indian-controlled Kashmir.

Deadly road accidents are common in India, with some of the highest recorded road death rates in the world, often due to reckless driving, poorly maintained roads and aging vehicles.

More than 110,000 people are killed every year in road accidents across India, according to police.
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Indias foreign minister met Russian president Vladimir Putin at the Kremlin on Wednesday  a move seen as part of Russias efforts towards overcoming western isolation by strengthening its ties with India.

Despite western concerns, S Jaishankar met with the Russian premier who expressed gratitude to India for its support and even invited Indian prime minister Narendra Modi to visit Moscow.

The India-Russia relationship, rooted in defence, nuclear, and space collaborations, however, is increasingly facing strains amid concerns that Moscows pariah status may drive it closer to China.

Russia is estranged on the world stage with a shrinking circle of friends, thanks to the bloody war it is waging in Ukraine.

India, a major recipient of Russian military supplies, expanded its discounted oil purchases, countering US attempts to isolate Russia and providing financial support. Despite Russias 22-months-long invasion of Ukraine, India has maintained a neutral stance, citing Delhis historical connections with Moscow.

During the meeting with the Indian foreign minister, Mr Putin said: Everything is in your hands and I can say that we are successful because of your direct support.

Mr Jaishankar reportedly discussed bilateral cooperation, multilateralism, and a multipolar world order with the Russian leader.

The minister also reportedly delivered a written letter from the Indian prime minister to Mr Putin during their meeting. The letter conveyed Mr Modis thoughts on the state of Russia-India relations, reflecting the ongoing diplomatic dialogue between the two countries.

The details of the letter were not specified.

Earlier on 27 December, Mr Jaishankar met with his Russian counterpart Sergey Lavrov. We will focus on bilateral cooperation in different spheres, adjusting it to changing circumstances and demands, he said.

We will discuss the international strategic situation, conflicts and tensions where they are.

Mr Lavrov said in televised remarks before the meeting with the Indian counterpart that the two nations are interested in building an international political and economic system that would be open and fair for everyone.

Typically, defence, nuclear and space are collaborations you only do with countries with whom you have a high degree of trust, Mr Jaishankar had told members of the Indian diaspora in Moscow on 26 December.
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The normally snowbound "Twin Cities" of Minnesota saw record Christmas Day temperatures as high as 54F, according to US officials.

The National Weather Service (NWS) office for the Minneapolis and Saint Paul urban area said on Monday that all three of its climate measurement sites had broken yuletide records this year.

MinneapolisSaint Paul International Airport saw a high of 54F, breaking a record set in 1922, while the city of St Cloud recorded a high of 48F and Eau Claire, Wisconsin broke 53F.

The unexpected heat confounded locals preparing for the traditional freezing temperatures in one of the USA's most northerly and coldest states.

While high Christmas temperatures aren't unknown in the North Star State, experts said that climate change is making them more likely than ever before.

Its a big cultural shift to experience 50[F] yesterday and how disorienting that is from a geographic perspective, Jessica Hellman, an environmental scientist at the University of Minnesota, told The New York Times.

Its a visceral feeling of what climate change looks and feels like for people who are accustomed to living in a particular climate.

The NWS said that all three sites had also seen record high minimum temperatures, beating levels last seen in 1936 and 2014.

In Beltrami County last week, two people from Michigan attempted to land their small plane on a frozen lake for a day of ice fishing only to break through into the water beneath. Local officials said that both were able to escape.

In Becker County, a 67-year-old man was killed while attempting to drive his ATV on a frozen river, while ice fishing expeditions and winter festivals were delayed across the state.

In a post on Threads, the Twitter-like social network run by Instagram, lieutenant governor Peggy Flanagan pointed out a more prosaic consequence.

"Thinking of all the Minnesota families who rely on using the porch as an extra freezer during Christmas entertaining when its almost 50 degrees," she said.
A human trafficker involved in a high-profile child abduction case has been sentenced to death with a two-year reprieve and an accomplice has been sentenced to life imprisonment.

The Liaocheng Intermediate People's Court in Shandong province announced the child trafficking verdicts on Wednesday.

Hu Fuji was sentenced to death for the crime of child trafficking, with a two-year reprieve, lifetime deprivation of political rights, and confiscation of all personal property.

The other defendant, Tang Lixia, was sentenced to life imprisonment for the crime of child trafficking, with lifetime deprivation of political rights and confiscation of all personal property.

The court also ordered both defendants to jointly compensate the civil plaintiffs for material losses amounting to over 500,000 yuan ($70,000).

The case attracted attention because the children they trafficked included the son of Guo Gangtang, whose search for his missing son was turned into a movie, Lost and Love, in 2015, with the lead role played by Hong Kong actor Andy Lau.

On Sept 21, 1997, Guo's two-and-a-half-year-old son was abducted near his home. He was finally found in 2021. The two human traffickers were arrested later.

Guo traveled over 500,000 kilometers in his search for his son, visiting dozens of provinces and using up 10 motorcycles.

After a hearing that began on July 7 this year, the court found that between 1997 and 1998, the defendants had trafficked four children, including Guo's son. In 2001, Hu, along with others, trafficked another child.
Delors advocated for peace in Europe, and others should too

The passing of former European Commission President Jacques Delors on Wednesday stirred an outpouring of emotions across the continent, as people were reminded of the legacy of a true European political giant.

From his humble beginnings as a French socialist, Delors is singularly credited with shaping what many take for granted, or even love to deride: the single market, Schengen agreements, and the Economic and Monetary Union which was the predecessor to the euro becoming a common currency.

Yet, beyond these achievements, Delors deserves recognition for his concerted effort in attempting to prevent the bloodiest conflict on European soil since World War II, the Yugoslav disintegration wars. Of course, this was before Russias full-scale invasion of Ukraine broke all previous grim records.

Faced with the imminent breakup of the Socialist Federative Republic of Yugoslavia, Delors  ever the European idealist  attempted to stop the war in its tracks through his belief that the European Economic Community could act as enough of a motivator for the warring sides to lay down their arms. As we now know, he failed.

Historys biggest failures carry the single advantage of being important lessons and warnings for the future. While Delors role in Yugoslavia was overshadowed by the atrocities of the conflict, he left us a lasting lesson on how European unity could  or should try to  prevent violence and brutality.

This lesson gains renewed significance as Brussels grapples with another major challenge on the continent, as it deliberates on the best course of action to help Ukraine  a prospective EU member state  win its war and integrate into the European Union.

An ambitious precursor to the union

The EEC at the time was not the EU of today. Primarily an economic union, it only began exercising its growing political influence in the early 90s, acknowledged by Delors himself in January 1991: Much is expected of it. We must remember this and  shoulder our responsibilities.

Story continues

However, the Cold War was not completely over just yet, and international foreign policy in the West was still squarely in the US court. Amid growing rumblings out of Belgrade for potential trouble, Washington initially chose appeasement and was already knee-deep in negotiations with those in power.

Emboldened by ongoing support from the likes of France, the UK and Italy, and confident after striking a deal that would finally lead to a unified Germany, Delors believed that Brussels should be the one to handle the crisis.

Aside from an opportunity to further unify Europes at times disparate North and South, Delors was convinced that Brussels, unlike Washington, was standing on solid ground.

US President George H. Bush talks with Luxembourg PM Jacques Santer and European Community Commission President Jacques Delors in the White House, April 1991 - Barry Thumma/AP

Harking back to fears of Soviet military takeover after its August 1968 invasion of Czechoslovakia, Yugoslavia under president-for-life Josip Broz Tito became the first socialist country to develop relations with the EEC. Even after Titos death in 1980, further trade deals with Yugoslavia meant that some 90% of its exports were sold to Europe  completely untaxed.

Brussels confidence was further strengthened by the fact that Yugoslavia had already initialled the association agreement to join the EEC by late 1989, following decades of inching closer to Europe.

Delors, joined by Luxembourg Prime Minister Jacques Santer, came to Yugoslavia with a watershed proposal in May 1991: together with a $5.5 billion (the equivalent of $12.8bn, or 11.5bn today) structural reforms aid package, they offered the Yugoslav leadership full-fledged membership in the EEC  right away, no negotiations needed.

There was only one condition: all republics were to remain together, and all hostilities should cease. Once Yugoslavia was a part of Europes club of equals, differences were to be worked out at the negotiating table with the help of Brussels.

The deal, in Delors eyes, would have been the ultimate feather in the unions cap that required crossing the thinnest of lines while also strengthening the EECs foreign policy credentials.

Sadly, it was all too little, too late. The wheels of conflict were already set in motion, fed by rampant and toxic ethno-nationalism that would see the country slowly fracture along the lines of its republics.

Nationalism wins in Europe, again

By the time Delors and Santer made their plea, the first democratic elections in Slovenia, Croatia and Bosnia resulted in the leadership of all three pledging to split from the union. Belgrade, already under the firm hand of strongman Slobodan Milosevic, threatened to respond to any attempt at independence with military force.

Croatias own nationalist leader Franjo Tuman, emboldened by German conservative Chancellor Helmut Kohls support for self-determination rejected the deal together with Milosevic  whose main concern over continued financial support from the EEC in case of Yugoslavias dissolution was allayed by Frances Francois Mitterrand  slamming the door to the countrys joint European future firmly shut.

By June, Slovenias formal declaration of independence shattered the already frail federation, kickstarting a war campaign that would eventually devolve into ethnic cleansing, torture camps, systemic rape and in the end, genocide.

The EECs  and the EUs  inability to step in and defuse the Yugoslav crisis was seen as the unions biggest political defeat at the time, and Delors was left to ruminate what could have been.

Soldiers of the Slovenian militia have a rest after the federal army of Yugoslavia withdraw from this small town near the Italian border in Sezana, July 1991 - AP Photo/Gianni Foggia

Soon enough, Delors would be in Yugoslavia once again, trying to negotiate a ceasefire, or what Brussels dubbed as the Common Declaration for a Peaceful Solution of the Yugoslav Crisis, in Titos former summer retreat of Brioni in July 1991. Yet, it failed. No one trusted the idealistic promises of a rosy future over the sound of rolling tanks and explosions of artillery shells.

Meanwhile, political leaders sitting in various European capitals became increasingly unwavering in the inaction, choosing to look the other way, a sentiment best embodied in the cynical words of British negotiator Lord David Owen who told the starving citizens of besieged Sarajevo, Bosnia, to not dream dreams.

"Don't, don't, don't live under this dream that the West is going to come and sort this problem out," Owen said in late 1992, as if unaware that life had already turned into a years-long nightmare for millions  and that the West had already tried to stop the bloodshed.

The EECs  and the EUs  inability to step in and defuse the Yugoslav crisis was seen as the unions biggest political defeat at the time, and Delors was left to ruminate what could have been.

The Yugoslav blemish

In an interview in October 1995, after he stepped down as the head of the European Commission  only to be replaced by Santer  Delors said that the fact that the EU has not been able to do anything about former Yugoslavia  has dealt a terrible blow to the construction of Europe.

Ironically, the Copenhagen criteria, established by the EU in 1993 as rules for future accession, saw most of the formerly communist Eastern Europe jump over Yugoslav states and become full-fledged members of the bloc.

Despite Santers pledges to integrate the former Yugoslav republics  now independent countries  followed by European Commission President Romano Prodis words in Thessaloniki in 2003 about how Europe's unification will not be complete until the Balkan countries are members of the Union, the searing hole in the heart of Europe remains to this day.

Constant changes to the methodology have turned membership into a constantly moving target, and growing disinterest in Brussels in integrating the Western Balkans, resulted in just Slovenia and Croatia joining the union more than 30 years later, with Zagreb catching the last train in 2013.

It wasnt until Russia rolled into Ukraine, tanks and all, that the EU decided to take the former Yugoslav countries seriously again, fearing that the Kremlins increased influence in the region could be a means to disrupt Europe by disembowelling its soft underbelly.

Today, as Europes leaders remember Delors legacy, maybe the decision-makers in Brussels could also spend some time pondering: is there something we could do differently this time around?

Aleksandar Brezar is Opinion Editor at Euronews.

At Euronews, we believe all views matter. Contact us at view@euronews.com to send pitches or submissions and be part of the conversation.
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Billie Lourd has shared an emotional tribute to late mother Carrie Fisher, seven years after her death.

The 31-year-old actor took to Instagram on 27 December to share a lengthy tribute to her mother, who died of a cardiac arrest in 2016 at the age of 60. The post included a throwback picture of Lourd as a child while she was on a beach with Fisher.

In the caption, Lourd reflected on the seventh anniversary of her mothers death, before describing her different feelings of grief and how theyve changed over the years.

Every anniversary brings a different iteration of my grief, she wrote. Some infuse me with rage, some make me cry all day long, some make me feel dissociated and empty, some make me feel nothing, some make me feel guilty for feeling nothing, and some make me feel all of those things all at once. This year when I woke up I felt grateful - or griefull - if you will.

She went on to acknowledge that her grief has helped her become more grateful for her everyday life and family, which includes her three-year-old son, Jackson, and one-year-old daughter, Joanne, who she shares with her husband, Austen Rydell. Lourd then described some of the moments with her second child that shes come to cherish, as her grief has pushed her to soak up every moment of joy as if it were [her] last.

Today I was holding my daughter while she was napping in my arms and my eyes welled up with tears of joy. I laughed at myself then cried more cause I was laughing, she added.

Lourd continued her tribute by expressing how she feels like her later mother is always with her, even though she still misses her. She also explained how she discusses the feeling of her mothers presence to Jackson.

I felt my mombys presence like the warmth of the sun on your skin on a hot summer day. The kind of warmth where you unknowingly close your eyes and take a slow breath through your nose and grin, she wrote. I miss her every day but the cliche is also true - she is with me every day - she infuses my joyful moments with even more joy. As I tell my son, she lives in the stars - and she damn sure makes my life sparkle.

Lourd concluded her post with a message to her fans who are also struggling with the loss of a loved one, adding: Sending my love to all my griefers out there. And hoping everyone can feel a little sparkle of griefull among all the feelings grief inevitably brings.

In the comments of the posts, many of Lourds followers praised her tribute to the Star Wars alum. They also expressed how they could resonate with the Scream Queens stars perspective of grief.

This could not be better said about grief and the anniversaries of our loved ones we lost its exactly how I feel each anniversary of my dad, aunt and my daughters fathers death I send my love out there to you and everyone with that heavy pain of loss xoxo, one wrote.

Beautifully said sweet friend, Kurt Cobains daughter, Frances Cobain, added. Moving with our grief is the most life affirming thing we can do because it is the event that makes life so damn precious. How lucky we are to love people who can break our hearts, for it is the condition of being loved at all.

This isnt the first time that Lourd has shared a meaningful tribute to her mother. In honour of Mothers Day earlier this year, she shared an old photograph of her and Fisher standing side by side, as they each posed with their hands pressed together. She noted in the caption that although she has been a mother herself for nearly three years, she still thinks of Fisher whenever she hears the phrase Happy Mothers Day.

Even though its been over six years since she died, when I first wake up, this still feels like her day - not mine. But as the day goes on I remember it is my day too now. I am a mother to two magical little creatures that I adore to my core and there is nothing that brings me more joy than being their mother, she wrote. And even though shes not here, its still her day.

After referring to Mothers Day as both her and Fishers day, she went on to candidly describe some of the mixed emotions that she still had on the holiday.

Its our day now. And that is both sad and weirdly beautiful at the same time. With the magic of life comes the reality of grief, the American Horror Story star added. It is all intertwined. Mothers Day can be many things. So like I say every year. Happy Mothers Day but also griefy / sad / lonely / estranged / frustrated / etc Mothers Day! Mixed Emotions Mothers Day!
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Emma Heming Willis has admitted anniversaries are hard in an emotional Instagram post as she marked 16 years with her husband Bruce Willis.

Earlier this year, Williss family announced that the Die Hard actors previous diagnosis of the cognitive condition aphasia had developed into frontotemporal dementia.

Marking the years theyve spent together, the British model, 45, took to Instagram on Wednesday (27 December) to share photos of her and Willis, 68, in a tropical getaway.

In one of the photos, Willis is seen kissing her husband on the cheek and in another, the pair can be seen embracing.

16 years with this special man. My love and adoration for him only grows, the caption on the post said.

She also shared an update on Instagram stories about how shes been feeling as Willis battles with dementia.

Speaking to fans , she said: How do I really feel about today? Well how do I look?"

She let out a small laugh before adding: "Think this about sums it up" as she pointed to herself as she sported a blue jumper, while looking fresh faced.

"I just got off the phone with a really dear girlfriend of mine who I was able to have a good cry with. It is really important to be able to have someone that you can trust with your feelings instead of just bottling them up and putting your best foot forward and just kind of soldering through stuff which I have a tendency to do."

She added: "But you know, holidays are hard. Anniversaries are hard. But for me this year, its really been about community - building a community and connection. And I just want to say that has been my lifeline and I just want to thank you for that."

The family said they had the deepest gratitude for the incredible outpouring of love following the initial news of the actors diagnosis.

FTD is an umbrella term for a group of dementias that mainly affect the frontal and temporal lobes of the brain, which are responsible for such things as personality, behaviour, language and speech, according to Dementia UK.

The pair first met in 2007 and made their official public appearance together at the Sundance Film Festival in January 2007. At the time, the media personality accompanied Willis to the premiere of his film What Just Happened?

Emma marks 16 years with Bruce (Emma Heming Willis Instagram )

The loved-up couple tied the knot in a wedding ceremony held in Turks and Caicos on 21 March 2009.

They now share two daughters, Evelyn, 9, and Mabel, 11, in addition to the actors three adult daughters with Demi Moore: Rumer Glenn Willis, 35, Scout LaRue Willis, 32, and Tallulah Belle Willis, 29.

In March of this year, marking their wedding anniversary, Willis reflected on her time caring for the Die Hard star since his diagnosis.

In an Instagram tribute, she shared a photo of a bouquet of flowers a friend sent to the familys home.

She wrote of the persons "random act of kindness," in a caption, writing that her friends flower delivery "inspired the heck out of me."
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A mother accused of killing her four-year-old son in a knife attack has broken down in tears in court.

Keziah Macharia, 41, is accused of murdering Kobi Macharia Dooly after he was found with multiple cuts in his cot.

On Thursday she appeared via video link from HMP Bronzefield womens prison for a preliminary hearing at Londons Old Bailey. Friends and family of the boy attended the court hearing.

Judge Lynn Tayton set a timetable for the case with a plea and trial preparation hearing on 21 March. A trial before a High Court judge was provisionally scheduled to go on for up to 10 days from 4 November next year.

Ms Macharia, dressed in a grey sweatshirt, spoke only to confirm her name and date of birth then sobbed throughout the rest of the hearing as prosecutor Louise Oakley outlined details of the case.

Keziah Macharia has been remanded into custody and will face trial in November (PA)

On the evening of 20 December, police had been alerted to concerns for Kobis welfare by his father, Ben Dooly, who had split up with the defendant about a year before.

Within minutes of the 999 call, officers forced their way into the defendants home in Hackney, east London, at 10.59pm.

They found Kobi lying in his cot with a number of sharp force injuries. He was taken to the Royal London Hospital where he died at 16 minutes past midnight on 21 December.

Ms Macharia was arrested at the address and charged with murder on 22 December.

While a cause of death has yet to be confirmed, it is believed Kobi died from sharp force injuries, including one to the front of the neck and another to the upper left chest.

Forensic officers at a property on Montague Road in Dalston, east London, where the four-year-old died (PA)

At the conclusion of the short hearing, Judge Tayton remanded the mother into custody.

Kobis father Mr Dooly previously paid tribute to the youngster, saying: With heavy hearts we bid farewell to Kobi, you will be so dearly missed.

The joy and laughter you brought to the world has been taken far too soon. We will be thinking of you day and night for eternity until we meet you again.

The family would like to acknowledge and appreciate all messages of support. Please respect our family privacy at this very difficult time.
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Soaring backlogs in the family courts are harming childrens welfare with thousands spending Christmas racked with uncertainty about which parent they will be living with in the future, the Law Society has warned.

Government figures show private children law cases  which involve family disputes over where children live and which parent they have contact with  lasted an average of 45 weeks between July to September 2023, a rise of nearly a week from the same time period last year.

The data from the Ministry of Justice shows there were 13,420 new private law applications in this time, with 19,908 children caught up in the requests.

Nick Emmerson, the Law Societys president, said: There were more than 80,000 children caught up in the family backlogs last year. We are seeing similar numbers this year.

It is unacceptable that thousands of children are waiting almost a year to find out who they will be living with long-term because of delays in the family court system.

Delayed justice can cause significant harm to the wellbeing of both children and parents by preventing them from having the stability they need to thrive.

Studies have found children caught up in private law proceedings are more likely to grapple with anxiety and depression, he explained.

(PA Archive)

It is especially disheartening that thousands of children will spend the Christmas holiday uncertain about their future, Mr Emmerson added. Children should not be paying the cost of the governments failure to fix the broken family justice system.

He called for legal aid for early legal advice to be reintroduced so families can either sort out their disputes outside court or obtain help during the court process.

Immediate investment in early legal advice would help reduce the worsening strain on the family courts and alleviate the immense pressure so many children face, Mr Emmerson added.

Delay is inimical to a childs welfare. Children also fall victim to family court crisis when allegations of domestic abuse are not properly addressed at the outset, which can can lead to appeals and rehearings of domestic abuse cases.

We urge the UK government to stop neglecting the family justice system, so that children and families can get on with their lives.

Charlotte Proudman, a leading family law barrister, told The Independent: Children are suffering from the delay in resolving family law cases. For them to live with the uncertainty of not knowing where they will live or how much time they will spend with another parent can be unbearable.

The lawyer, who specialises in violence against women, called for a set time for private law proceedings to be completed by, recommending the deadline of nine months.

Dr Proudman, founder of Right to Equality, added: Delay is inimical to a childs welfare. Children also fall victim to family court crisis when allegations of domestic abuse are not properly addressed at the outset, which can can lead to appeals and rehearings of domestic abuse cases.

This can take months or even years to conclude coupled with extortionate sums of money spent which should be put towards the childs welfare.

She warned the family courts are failing children in cases of domestic abuse as she noted it is also critical such behaviour is established at the beginning of cases to ensure children are not forced into having contact with an abusive parent.

Adrienne Barnett, an academic at Brunel Law School who specialises in the family courts, said studies have discovered family court proceedings are traumatising and harrowing for women who have endured domestic abuse.

Women have found these protracted proceedings, which can deplete their physical, emotional and financial resources, as bad as, or worse than the abuse itself.

New film highlights reality of domestic abuse among older LGBT+ people

Dr Barnett, who specialised in family law while practising as a barrister for more than 30 years, blamed the family court delays on severe underfunding as she noted over half the family courts in England and Wales have shut between 2010 and 2019.

This issue has been compounded by a steep increase in litigants in person since legal aid was profoundly curtailed a decade ago, she added.

However, the pro-contact culture also plays a significant role, because judges are reluctant to give up on contact even in cases of serious domestic abuse and other risks of harm, which leads to repeated assessments and review hearings, Dr Barnett added.

A spokesperson for the Ministry of Justice said: We want to help resolve family disputes quickly and effectively, avoiding the potential conflict of the court room where possible.

That is why we have taken action to improve waiting times in the family courts, with over 3,000 more private law cases reaching conclusion in 2022 than in 2017.

The representative said they are investing millions in early legal support.
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Thousands of prisoners are being released with tents and sleeping bags into a revolving door of homelessness, reoffending and jail, despite a major scheme to house departing inmates, experts have told The Independent.

A crisis in the overstretched prison and probation service means many inmates are not being given any housing help until the day of their release, charities said  an issue some fear is being exacerbated by the governments emergency move to bring forward release dates to free up space in full-to-bursting jails.

Around 600 people leave prison into homelessness every month, the latest official figures up to March show. While two-thirds are likely to reoffend within a year, research suggests, the lack of a stable address can also make prison recalls for breaches of licence conditions more likely, charities warned.

Campbell Robb, chief executive of charity Nacro, which provides housing for prison leavers across the country, said the figure was far too high, while a senior Tory MP warned that reoffending as a result of homelessness could hinder government efforts to ease overcrowding in prisons.

Warning of a cycle of cell, street, repeat, Mr Robb added: Without a home to go to after being released, it is virtually impossible to maintain or start drug rehabilitation, get a job, build back positive relationships, or reintegrate back into and contribute positively to society.

Without somewhere to live, we are setting people up to fail.

The grim figures come despite a new government scheme to ensure prisoners released on probation are given 12 weeks of accommodation, which came into full force nationwide in November, having been steadily expanded since it was first rolled out in five regions back in July 2021.

Probation inspectors say the scheme is having a positive impact, and the government said 5,796 prison leavers were supported between July 2021 and March 2023.

But analysis by The Independent found that 11,609 others have been released into homelessness over the same period, while the housing situation for a further 11,000 prison leavers was unknown  equating to a fifth of all released prisoners.

Prisons are struggling to do the basics, one expert warns (Getty Images)

Charities also warn the new scheme is simply pushing the problem three months down the line, with some people evicted back onto the streets once their 12 weeks of accommodation is over.

And the scheme does not apply to those released from remand, despite the number of people jailed while awaiting trial sitting at a 50-year high  further fuelling the overcrowding crisis.

The Independent raised the issue with the Ministry of Justice, and it is understood that the government will investigate options to temporarily house acquitted remand prisoners who walk free from court into homelessness.

But with prisons severely overstretched, their ability to plan for prisoners release is worsening  to the extent that not one jail visited by inspectors in the year to April was rated good for rehabilitation and release planning  down from 30 per cent in 2020.

Unfortunately, most people dont even get the limited support that they are entitled to, said Daniel Rajan Mills, policy lead at prison-leaver charity Switchback.

The charity told The Independent that 41 per cent of the men it worked with were released into homelessness in 2023  the highest level since 2017, save for a post-pandemic spike in 2022 when seven in 10 of their clients left prison without any accommodation.

The massive staffing crisis in prison and probation mean they are struggling to do the basics, assessments and referrals are happening far too late for any meaningful action to be taken, warned Mr Mills.

A relationship between a probation officer and someone leaving prison should start at least three months before release but its very normal to hear that someone leaving prison only meets their probation officer on the day of release, he said.

A lot of the time, councils will do the bare minimum required in law to support people.

New government plans to ease prison overcrowding risk heaping further pressure on a probation service already in crisis, The Independent has previously been told (iStock/Getty)

Tory justice committee chair Sir Bob Neill warned it was not satisfactory at all that prisoners are not receiving help until their day of release, adding: I think this is the vicious circle because prisons are overcrowded, staff are overworked, that sort of work isnt being done as soon as it should.

Warning that simply releasing people into the unknown would certainly make it harder for ministers to reduce overcrowding in prisons, Sir Bob told The Independent that MPs on the justice committee could examine the impact of homelessness as part of their current inquiry into future prison capacity.

In the long run, getting people settled accommodation is going to reduce the risk of them committing further crimes and more people being victims. Its got to be in societys good in the long run, and government needs to be prepared to invest up front in that, Sir Bob said.

Beverley Brooks, founder of Recruitment Junction, a charity which helps former inmates find work, said the lack of housing for prisoners continues to be the biggest barrier to people moving on with their lives.

It is also the biggest contributor to the 50 to 60 per cent of their clients who are recalled to prison, three quarters of which is not for new criminality but for breach of licence conditions or poor behaviour, such as not attending appointments with probation after a night on the streets or a park bench, she said.

It is not rare for prisoners to be released with tents and sleeping bags, HM chief prisons inspector said (EPA)

Anna Fairbank, a solicitor at the Prisoners Advice Service, said some recalled prisoners who had contacted the charity for help were angry about the about huge problems they faced as a result of being homeless, about the lack of support and about being recalled for a minor breach.

One prisoner told the charity he was a wheelchair user who was released homeless with a licence condition preventing him from entering his home or his home town, where both his probation office and the housing centre were situated.

But he said after being left on the pavement in his wheelchair, in the cold with no funds and nowhere to go, he decided to stay in his empty house until a meeting with probation several days later. Despite claiming to have seen no one while at his property, police arrived and arrested him the day before his meeting.

Chief prisons inspector Charlie Taylor told The Independent that its not rare for prisoners to be released with tents and sleeping bags because they know theyre going to be homeless, with women at HMP Styal leaving their belongings in the property store because its the safest place to keep it and they knew they were coming back anyway.

Charlie Taylor suggested prison has become another social service (iStock/Getty)

Some find prison to be safer than being homeless, he said, recalling meeting a prisoner who had pleaded with magistrates to jail him because there was a cold snap coming and he was a heroin addict who knew there was a risk he was going to die over Christmas [without] anywhere safe to live.

So the reality is that prison becomes, for some of these guys, another social service. Being in Bedford jail is not a great place to be  so the alternative must be pretty hellish, the chief inspector said.

A Ministry of Justice spokesperson said: We have taken unprecedented action by providing temporary accommodation and support to find a permanent home to over 5,700 prison leavers who would otherwise have ended up on the streets and recently expanded the scheme nationwide.

Our staff do incredible work turning offenders into law-abiding citizens which is why we have recruited over 4,000 trainee probation officers since 2020 and have an extra 4,700 prison officers than in 2017.
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Flood warnings are in place across the UK as snow, rain and gale-force winds continue to lash the country in the wake of Storm Gerrit.

Trains across much of Scotland ground to a halt on Wednesday and a major incident was declared in Greater Manchester after a supercell thunderstorm and localised tornado damaged around 100 properties, tearing roofs and chimneys from homes and smashing windows.

The travel chaos continued on Thursday, with many trains cancelled due to flooding, blocked lines and other faults, while high winds forced flight and ferry cancellations.

Swimming pool-esque conditions made passing along the railway line at Bowling station a challenge on Wednesday (Getty Images)

Click here for live updates on the storms and travel disruption.

And a second supercell thunderstorm  more typically the preserve of Tornado Valley in the United States  was making its way inland from Lancashires Morecambe Bay, with the Met Office warning of hail, widespread lightning and powerful winds.

However it was flooding that led to much of the travel disruption on Wednesday, blocking both major rail routes in and out of Scotland, and more than 30 flood warnings  meaning flooding is expected  remained in force on Thursday.

Twenty-one of those warnings were in England, where a further 119 lesser flood alerts were also in force as of 1:30pm. The more severe warnings were in Cumbria, Yorkshire and the Midlands.

Flooding is expected in 21 areas in England (Environment Agency)

Local flooding is probable from rivers in parts of West Midlands and Yorkshire and the Humber until Monday, and possible more widely across the North of England on Thursday, according to the Environment Agency.

It is also possible  but not expected  across South West England, the Midlands and the North of England on Thursday, while local groundwater flooding is possible in parts of southern England, Yorkshire and the Humber throughout the next five days, the agency said.

There are 119 lesser flood alerts also in place on Thursday (Environment Agency)

In Scotland, nine flood warnings were in force in Tayside, Aberdeenshire, Ayrshire, Dundee and Orkney, with a further 21 flood alerts were also issued, including in Edinburgh, Fife, Skye, Dumfries and Galloway, and Argyll and Bute.

Nine flood warnings are in force in Scotland, while nearly all of the country is subject to lesser flood alerts (shown as orange on the map) (Scottish Environment Protection Agency)

Another severe warning was issued at the River Towy in Wales, with flooding also possible across much of the rest of the country.

There are 17 flood alerts and one more serious flood warning in force in Wales (Natural Resources Wales)

Storm Gerrit was named by the Met Office on Tuesday and brought heavy rain to many parts of the UK on Wednesday, when eight weather alerts were in force.

Snow across higher ground in Scotland brought the main artery through the Highlands to a standstill, trapping people in their cars for hours at a remote mountain pass on the A9.

Police Scotland confirmed the A9 had fully reopened in both directions on Thursday and was passable with care, after snow blocked the road between Drumochter and Dalwhinnie in the Highlands.

Cars were stuck on the A9 at Drumochter after heavy snowfall (Traffic Scotland)

Around 100 houses were damaged by a suspected tornado in Tameside (Jon Super)

Meanwhile, Scottish and Southern Electricity Networks (SSEN) said that as of 11am on Thursday, supplies had been restored to some 34,000 customers, with around 7,700 left without power.

Director of corporate affairs Graeme Keddie told BBC Radio Scotland many of those properties are in north-east Scotland and Shetland.

One of the main impacts weve seen is around access to faults, so blocked roads, flooding in fields, and issues with snow, he said.

Were very hopeful that that will ease today but that has meant our teams on the ground have been saying that (in) the time it would take to fix two or three faults they have only been able to fix one, but we are hopeful of further progress today as weather conditions have eased.

Inspector Michelle Burns, from the forces road policing unit, said: Conditions for travel in the affected areas may be hazardous and extra caution should be exercised by all road users.
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A major incident has been declared and around 100 properties damaged after a suspected tornado struck Greater Manchester, with a second supercell thunderstorm hitting Lancashire hours later.

The Met Office confirmed that a rare supercell thunderstorm  storms defined by the deep and persistently rotating current of rising air at their centre  hit the borough of Tameside on Wednesday night, causing chaos as it pulled roofs and chimneys from houses and broke windows.

A second supercell thunderstorm also struck Lancashires Morecambe Bay on Thursday morning, with the Met Office warning of hail, frequent lightning and strong and gusty winds as it moved inland.

Supercell thunderstorms are most common in the United States Tornado Alley (Getty Images)

These storms are the type responsible for spawning tornadoes, and around 30 per cent of supercells or less will do so, according to the US National Weather Service.

Storms become supercells as their powerful upward winds begin to rotate, which occurs because their strong wind shear creates a horizontal spin in the atmosphere, according to the Met Office.

Tornadoes are then formed when downdraughts within the supercell storm help to concentrate the rotation and to bring it down to lower levels, the national forecaster explains.

Eventually the rotation may become so strongly-focused that a narrow column of violently rotating air forms. If this violently-rotating column of air reaches the ground a tornado is born, the Met Office website states.

The tornado is often visible because of the presence of a condensation funnel  a funnel-shaped cloud which forms due to the much-reduced pressure within the tornado vortex. Dust and other debris lofted by the intense winds can also help to make the tornado visible.

Scores of homes were damaged in Tameside on Wednesday night (AP)

Experts suspect this may have occurred in Tameside on Wednesday night, as much of the UK reeled from the impacts of Storm Gerrit  which caused widespread flooding, halting trains across most of Scotland, and causing disruption to ferries and air travel to the Hebrides, the Isle of Wight, France, and at London Heathrow.

Residents in Tameside described the intense noise of the storm, likening it to a plane coming down [on] the house.

Julie Ann Fielding from Stalybridge said the suspected tornado lasted around 10 minutes and she watched emergency services attend the scene, adding: Hail, rain. Never experienced anything like it.

Debris from a wall damaged by the suspected tornado in Stalybridge (Getty Images)

I thought the windows were coming through. Fence panels ripped right up and out. Roof opposite has been ripped off and severely damaged a lot of the cars.

Another man shared shocking footage of the destruction of his conservatory, writing on Twitter/X: My ears are still ringing like Ive been to a gig! The funnel moved down our street and it was so loud that it went silent for a moment, it was weird as hell.

While most common in the Great Plains of the United States, known as Tornado Alley, there have been several supercell thunderstorms in England in recent years.

In June 2012, multiple supercells hit  two of which formed over the Midlands causing severe hail, while a Tornado was formed at Sleaford. In Tyneside, the sky was described as turning pitch black during evening rush hour, causing people to abandon their cars and major roads, homes and shopping centres were flooded.

There were further notable supercell thunderstorms in 2019 and 2020.
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A major incident has been declared after a tornado ripped through parts of Manchester, shattering windows and forcing residents to flee their homes.

The localised tornado damaged more than 100 properties and uprooted trees as it hit the town of Tameside on Thursday night.

Greater Manchester Police declared a major incident at around 11.45pm after reports of significant damage in the area.

Storm Gerrit was named by the Met Office on Wednesday and has since battered the country with 70mph winds and heavy rainfall.

People have faced difficulty getting back home from Christmas celebrations as the storm wreaked travel chaos. British Airways has cancelled over 20 flights to and from Heathrow on Thursday while Scotrail has announced the closure of several major lines, including between Aberdeen and Edinburgh.

The Met Office say the tornado was caused as a supercell thunderstorm which passed over the area. A supercell is a storm which feeds off a rising current of air, named an updraft, that is slanted or rotating.

People have been advised to avoid travelling in and around Stalybridge on Thursday due to debris in the road following the localised tornado. Greater Manchester Police said those who have had to leave their homes cannot return until their properties have been assessed by an engineer.

Strong winds uprooted trees leading to futher destruction (Ioannis Alexopoulos/LNP)

Describing the tornado, one social media user said: We heard the loud bangs and rumbles as it came across.

Julie Ann Fielding from Stalybridge said the ordeal lasted around 10 minutes and she watched emergency services attend the scene.

She said: Hail, rain. Never experienced anything like it.

I thought the windows were coming through. Fence panels ripped right up and out. Roof opposite has been ripped off and severely damaged a lot of the cars.

One man shared shocking footage of the destruction of his conservatory.

He said on X: My ears are still ringing like Ive been to a gig! The funnel moved down our street and it was so loud that it went silent for a moment, it was weird as hell.

Chief Superintendent Mark Dexter from GMP said: This incident has undoubtedly affected numerous people in the Stalybridge area with many residents displaced from their properties during the night.

Our highest priority is keeping people safe which is why we are advising those who have been displaced not to return or enter their properties which have significant damage until they have been assessed by structural engineers.

No injuries have been reported during the incident.

The tornado comes as Storm Gerrit reaps havoc across the UK causing widespread travel disruption, with trains and flights cancelled.

Parts of Scotland experienced significant heavy snow with Scottish and Southern Electricity Networks (SSEN) saying workers had been dealing with wind speeds of 80mph in some coastal areas as they worked to reconnect customers.
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A rare supercell thunderstorm which tore through Greater Manchester is believed to have spawned a tornado which damaged dozens of homes as Storm Gerrit disrupted flights, trains and ferries and left thousands without power.

A major incident was declared overnight in Tameside after the tornado tore roofs and chimneys from homes, shattered windows and left debris and uprooted trees littered across streets  prompting calls for prime minister Rishi Sunak to call an emergency Cobra meeting to ensure a swift, robust recovery plan.

Evacuated residents from the village of Carrbrook and Stalybridge said they had suffered an absolute disaster unlike anything they had ever experienced, and described the terrifying noise of the powerful winds as like a plane was coming down [on] the house, as flying brickwork and other debris damaged buildings and squished cars outside.

The executive leader of Tameside Council, Ged Cooney, said: Thankfully there are no casualties from the incident but there are of course local residents who are devastated by the damage caused to their homes.

The localised tornado ripped off roofs and brought down walls in Stalybridge (AP)

Engineers and clearance teams scrambled to restore power to 7,700 households knocked off grid by the storm, and to shift the debris, snow and floodwater which brought trains to a halt across much of Scotland and rendered major roads impassable on Wednesday.

Yet the travel chaos continued on Thursday, with rail cancellations in force across swathes of Scotland, and also severe delays and cancellations in England.

More than 30 flood warnings  meaning flooding is expected  remained in force on Thursday in Scotland, England and Wales, alongside around 160 lesser flood alerts which were spread right across each of the three countries.

All trains suspended from Paddington as travel chaos continues across the UK

On Thursday, three men died after their 4x4 vehicle plunged into the River Esk near Glaisdale on the North Yorks Moors National Parks. Its not known yet how the vehicle went into the water, but roads in the region had been left hazardous following Storm Gerrit.

All trains on the West Highland Line between Glasgow, Oban, Fort William and Mallaig were cancelled, while the West Coast main line  which connects London Euston with the West Midlands, northwest England, North Wales and southern Scotland  suffered delays due to a fallen tree.

Disruption was continuing at London Paddington, the hub for the west of England and South Wales, following a fatality on the Great Western line near Slough.

At London Heathrow, British Airways had cancelled 26 flights by 1pm, with round-trips to Barcelona, Madrid and Newcastle among those grounded. There was also disruption to ferry travel to the Hebrides, France and to the Isle of Wight as high winds  which hit 77mph on Wednesday  continued to batter the coastlines.

On the A9, where motorists had been trapped in their vehicles for hours on Wednesday as heavy snow blanketed the Drumochter mountain pass, Police Scotland said on Thursday that the main road artery through the Highlands had fully reopened in both directions and was passable with care.

Cars were stuck for hours on the A9 at Drumochter after heavy snowfall (Traffic Scotland)

Conditions for travel in the affected areas may be hazardous and extra caution should be exercised by all road users, said Inspector Michelle Burns, from the forces road policing unit.

As Storm Gerrit wound down on Thursday, the Met Office warned that the final days of this year would bring more powerful winds, rain and snow and continued disruption that will hamper maintenance efforts.

Scottish and Southern Electricity Networks (SSEN) supplies had been restored to some 34,000 customers by 11am on Thursday, with around 3,000 left without power, many of whom are in Shetland and northeast Scotland. The company warned some may remain cut off until Friday.

One of the main impacts weve seen is around access to faults, so blocked roads, flooding in fields, and issues with snow, SSENs director of corporate affairs Graeme Keddie told BBC Radio Scotland.

Were very hopeful that that will ease today but that has meant our teams on the ground have been saying that [in] the time it would take to fix two or three faults they have only been able to fix one, but we are hopeful of further progress today as weather conditions have eased.

And as Tameside reeled from the previous nights devastating supercell thunderstorm, the Liberal Democrats transport spokesperson Wera Hobhouse urged Mr Sunak to gather ministers for an emergency meeting.

Hundreds of lives have been thrown into chaos with homes destroyed straight after Christmas. Its devastating, Ms Hobhouse said. Rishi Sunak needs to call an urgent Cobra meeting to ensure a swift, robust recovery plan so those affected can begin rebuilding their lives.

Part of a fallen roof lays on the floor following the suspected tornado in Stalybridge (Getty)

Any delay could have a devastating impact on families already displaced whose lives have been turned upside down by this tornado.

Tameside Council said about 100 properties were evacuated after the mini tornado hit areas of Carrbrook and Millbrook.

Hayley McCaffer, 40, who lives in Carrbrook, said some of her neighbours houses are an absolute disaster with missing roofs and squished cars. She and her partner were unsure when they could return to their home.

Julie Ann Fielding from Stalybridge said the ordeal lasted around 10 minutes and she watched emergency services attend the scene, saying: Hail, rain. Never experienced anything like it.

The clear up begins in Stalybridge (Getty Images)

I thought the windows were coming through. Fence panels ripped right up and out. Roof opposite has been ripped off and severely damaged a lot of the cars.

Another man, who shared footage of the destruction of his conservatory on social media, said: My ears are still ringing like Ive been to a gig! The funnel moved down our street and it was so loud that it went silent for a moment, it was weird as hell.

Met Office Office meteorologist Alex Burkill said in a Thursday afternoon forecast: It is still a windy blustery picture for many of us as we go through the rest of today.

Flooded fields on the Somerset Levels (PA)

Likely to be some gales, perhaps even severe gales, in some exposed spots and hefty showers; could be some hail, some sleet mixed in with these across parts of Scotland in particular.

He added that the blustery and showery picture continues overnight and into Friday with winds expected to ease slightly across most of the UK.

A further bout of very strong winds and a spell of intense rain is expected on Saturday before more unsettled weather with blustery, showery conditions likely as we go through New Years Eve, he said.

Additional reporting by PA
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Twins have given their parents the best possible festive gift by arriving four weeks early. But they wont share a birthday.

Adeeqa Parveen Ali, 31, and her partner Faisal Imran, from Livingston, West Lothian, went to St Johns Hospital in the town on Christmas Eve, almost a month ahead of their expected due date.

Baby boy Jami and his sister Rumi were born soon after, but will not share the same birthday.

Jami, who weighed in at 5lb 8oz, was born at 11.44pm on Christmas Eve. His sister, tipping the scales at 4lb 2oz, was born almost an hour later, at 12.27am on Christmas Day.

Both, along with their mother, will stay in hospital for a few days, staff said, but it is hoped they will be able to go home for Hogmanay.

Rumi came within minutes of being the first Christmas baby in Scotland, but was pipped to the post by Eliza Shearer in Aberdeen.

Maja Shearer, 27, and Jason Shearer, 28, dashed to Aberdeen Royal Infirmary on Christmas Eve as Eliza made an appearance a few days before she was due.

Jami (left) and his sister Rubi, who were born each side of midnight (PA)

The change in plans, Mr Shearer said, meant his wifes parents, who were visiting from Poland, had to host the traditional Christmas Eve celebration without the expectant parents.

Majas Polish, so we celebrate Christmas on Christmas Eve and British Christmas on Christmas Day, and Majas folks are over just now so they had to host Christmas dinner without us last night because were here, and theyll probably get a nice Christmas dinner again today, said Mr Shearer, a planner in the oil and gas industry.

Asked what he was doing when Maja went into labour, Mr Shearer said: Sleeping  it was 5.30am. She woke me up at 5.30am, it was all quick, then it was quite slow  5.30am yesterday morning, in here at 7am then we were here the whole day.

Eliza could well be the first Christmas baby in Scotland this year, arriving at 12.18am and weighing 7lb 8oz.

Mr Shearer, from Aberdeen, said it was touch and go whether she would be born before or after midnight.

The new father also extended his gratitude to the midwifery staff at the hospital, who he said had been absolutely amazing.

Elsewhere, Lauren Haddock and Jordan Hamill welcomed their son Finley at 12.33am at the Queen Elizabeth University Hospital in Glasgow.

The new arrival, the parents first, weighed in at 7lb 8oz.

Meanwhile, at 12.59am on Christmas Day, Lexi was born to Marissa McLean, 31, and Kevin Lothian, 33, from Edinburgh.

Weighing 7lb 8oz, Lexi arrived at Edinburgh Royal Infirmary.

At 1.24am, Ashleigh Gillon and Dean Halup welcomed their baby boy at Forth Valley Hospital, weighing 7lb 6oz.

The couple, from Clackmannanshire, are still deciding on a name.

In St Johns Hospital in Livingston, Claire Gray, 35, and her partner Kyle, 36, welcomed a baby girl.

The couple, from Bathgate, West Lothian, are still deciding on a name for the little one, who was born just after 7am and weighed 8lb 8oz.
The year 2023 will go down in history as the year the COVID-19 federal health emergency was lifted.

The Chippewa Herald will count down its top 10 local stories of the year through Jan. 2.

In mid-April, Chippewa County closed main roads and rerouted traffic due to floods as the Chippewa River rose to dangerous heights from unseasonably warm weather that melted snow in the region.

Highway 124 at River Street in downtown Chippewa Falls and County Trunk X west of Highway 53 were both closed due to high water in the area.

When the water began to recede, Chippewa Riverfront Park was plagued with leftover flood debris, including downed trees, logs, sticks and sediment that needed to be removed from the park. Volunteers eventually gathered at the park to help clean up.

Chippewa Falls police say a shelter in place order sent Oct. 20 to local residents cell phones was disseminated too broadly. A higher number of residents than intended received the alert, not all alerts included necessary geographic information to inform residents about which areas to avoid and not every resident intended received all three emergency safety alerts that afternoon.

According to Chippewa Falls police chief Matthew Kelm, a woman made a 911 call Oct. 20 and said a man broke into her home and was threatening her and himself with a firearm. Police arrived at the scene at 120 W. Spruce St. and soon thereafter the female escaped through a window onto the roof and was able to jump to the officers below."

The man barricaded himself inside the house. The Eau Claire Regional SWAT unit was called in, and officers held the perimeter as police negotiators repeatedly attempted to contact the suspect. The man was found dead inside the home later that afternoon from what appeared to be a self-inflicted gunshot wound, according to police reports.

As the event unfolded, the Chippewa Falls police requested that Chippewa County Emergency Management send out an alert specific to cell phones in the area telling people to shelter in place, Kelm stated.

Chippewa County Emergency Management sent the alert using the Integrated Public Alert & Warning System for an area that was roughly bounded by Elm Street, North Bridge Street, West Birch Street and Superior Street. But the alert was disseminated to a much larger area than it should have been, in some cases many miles away.

Chippewa County Emergency Management officials said at the time they would work with service providers to find out what went wrong and how to fix it. Emergency management officials said any future alerts will include specific location information.

According to executive assistant to Chippewa Falls superintendent Angela Feils, parents were able to pick up their kids at all district schools that afternoon but no students were bused home from Parkview Elementary, Hillcrest Elementary, Chippewa Falls High School or Chippewa Falls Middle School due to the incident.

5. World Relief Wisconsin plans to relocate 75 refugees to Chippewa Valley

Chippewa County residents and some members of the Chippewa County Board Executive Committee expressed concern, anger and confusion during an executive county board meeting Dec. 5 about a plan to relocate refugees to the Chippewa Valley.

The planned relocation has been a topic of interest in Eau Claire and surrounding areas.

World Relief Wisconsin plans to resettle 75 refugees to the area between January and September of 2024. Organization officials said the 75 people comprise about 20 families seeking refuge in America.

A few dozen members of the public showed up at the meeting to voice concern. Eleven people spoke for five minutes each during the public comment time. Except for the World Relief Wisconsin officials in the room, all speakers opposed the group's relocation efforts in the region.

Some residents expressed worry about safety issues around bringing foreigners to the area. Others spoke about resource strains that might happen as a result of an influx of new people.

A representative of World Relief Wisconsin said the oragnization is focused on bringing the refugees in 2024 to Eau Claire, not Chippewa County, and that the city of Eau Claire has been involved in the planning process along with World Relief Wisconsin and the U.S. Department of State since April.

Chippewa County Administrator Randy Scholz said the city of Eau Claire had not communicated with Chippewa County about its refugee relocation plans ahead of inviting World Relief to work in Eau Claire.
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Housing asylum seekers on the Bibby Stockholm barge is discriminatory, according to the Home Offices own review of the policy.

The departments equality impact assessment found that the policy breaks the 2010 Equality Act on the grounds of sex and age, and that changes may be needed.

It said the policy is directly discriminating in relation to age and sex because it is only suitable for men between 18 and 65 years old.

The Bibby Stockholm migrant accommodation barge at Portland Port in Dorset (James Manning/PA) (PA Wire)

But the assessment, published on Wednesday, added that the act allows discrimination if treatment is justified as a proportionate means of achieving a legitimate aim, arguing that this condition is met.

It comes just weeks after 27-year-old Albanian Leonard Farruku was found dead onboard the vessel. There were not thought to be any suspicious circumstances, an inquest heard. His sister claimed that he had been treated like an animal on board and that he was heard shouting the night before he died.

Around 70 asylum seekers are now living on the barge at Portland port, Dorset, after it was finally given the all clear after a series of health scares.

Previously 39 migrants had to be moved off the vessel following the discovery of legionella bacteria in the water supply.

The Bibby Stockholm was initially supposed to house about 500 people but the Home Office has now reduced this to a maximum of 425. Ministers hope the barge will help cut the huge bills associated with housing asylum seekers in hotels while their claims are processed.

The Home Offices impact assessment of the policy said: As only those between the ages of 18 and 65 would be accommodated at Portland, the policy gives rise to direct discrimination on the ground of age as those under 18 and over 65 are precluded.

And it says there is differential treatment between men and women because the Bibby Stockholm is only being used for single adult males.

But it added: As there are far more male asylum seekers than females and many of the female claimants have children, it has been decided that it is appropriate to use the site for male asylum seekers only.

The assessment found that the policy was not discriminatory on the basis of race, religion, disability or sexual orientation.

Charity bosses have repeatedly warned against housing asylum seekers on the barge, arguing it will have a detrimental impact on asylum seekers wellbeing.

Charlotte Khan, head of advocacy and public affairs at Care4Calais said: Placing humans in prison-like barges and camps, held behind barbed wire fences and segregated from the rest of society, is discriminatory by its very nature and its telling that the Governments own equality impact assessment accepts thats the case for certain groups.

People on the Bibby Stockholm have consistently told us that they feel that the Government are treating them like animals by putting them on the barge.

Its no wonder then that the Bibby Stockholm has become a symbolic illustration for this Governments proxy-war against asylum seekers. It needs closing down before the survivors of torture and persecution are put through more suffering.
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A communications firm has deployed world-first engineering as part of its efforts to connect residents on a remote Scottish island with life-changing ultrafast broadband.

Fair Isle has been described as the most remote inhabited island in the UK, and is the most southerly island in Shetland.

Businesses there have now been connected to full-fibre broadband almost two years ahead of schedule, with the local post office and shop among those benefiting from the technology.

The project represents the greatest distance that Openreach has transmitted a continuous full-fibre signal anywhere in the UK.

And the telecoms company said it had to get creative to connect the island  which is home to about 60 people.

A spur cable, which comes off a 68-mile-long subsea cable between Shetland and the Orkney Islands, was used to connect Fair Isle  which lies 24 miles south of the main island of Shetland and 27 miles from North Ronaldsay, the most northerly island in Orkney.

The work was funded as part of the Scottish Governments 404.1 million Reaching 100% (R100) North contract, which seeks to expand broadband connectivity to remote parts of Scotland, along with 17.4 million of funding from the UK Government.

Regular fibre signals just couldnt go the distance, so we had to get creative with some world-first engineering to transmit life-changing ultrafast broadband over 100km to islanders Fraser Rowberry, Openreach

In what is believed to be a world first, Openreach deployed innovative engineering to boost the signal strength  using a super-powered adaption of the technology currently used in many homes  because of the distance between the islands.

With Fair Isle, which has been owned by the National Trust for Scotland for almost 70 years, an important breeding ground for rare birds, work to connect the island also had to be planned around nesting seasons.

Openreach chief engineer for Scotland Fraser Rowberry said: Regular fibre signals just couldnt go the distance, so we had to get creative with some world-first engineering to transmit life-changing ultrafast broadband over 100km to islanders.

We had to do everything differently on Fair Isle, from planning around bird-nesting seasons to setting up flat-packed cabins for our crew.

Mr Rowberry praised the islanders for being so welcoming to our team, adding: Theyve been amazing. Now theyre connected to the world in a whole new way.

This will make Fair Isle an even better place to be  for residents, visitors and future generations  and wed encourage people on the island to upgrade to full fibre.

Stackhoull Stores and Post Office was connected to full fibre before Christmas, with postmistress Fiona Mitchell saying she hoped having broadband would encourage more people to live on Fair Isle.

She said: We are a small population and want to grow and encourage people to be a part of our community.

Getting a full-fibre connection so that people can more easily work and live here is a major part of that. We need all hands on deck to make the island run.

Through our R100 commitment to tackle some of the hardest-to-access terrain in the country, we are improving the educational and life opportunities available to young people across Scotland Wellbeing Economy Secretary Neil Gray

Neil Gray, the Wellbeing Economy Secretary in the Scottish Government, said: I am delighted that we have achieved digital connectivity for Fair Isle almost two years earlier than planned.

Through our R100 commitment to tackle some of the hardest-to-access terrain in the country, we are improving the educational and life opportunities available to young people across Scotland.

This innovative step forward for engineering ensures children on Fair Isle are not left behind.

Internet speeds rivalling the best in the country are helping create a more attractive place for families and young people to live.

Mr Gray continued: We committed to invest further in our digital connectivity, despite powers being reserved to Westminster, because we know that by supporting remote working and rural businesses  from Fair Isle jumpers to tourism  we can help to build an island economy which is fair, green and prosperous.
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Pro-Palestinian demonstrators briefly brought chaos to John F Kennedy International Airport (JFK) and Los Angeles International Airport (LAX) on Wednesday as they obstructed traffic near entrances on one of the busiest travel days of the year.

Dozens of protesters carrying banners that read Free Palestine and Genocide then/Genocide now blocked a portion of New Yorks Van Wyck Expressway at JFK at around 11.30am ET.

The road closures snarled traffic leading into JFK, while some passengers were forced to walk to terminals with their luggage before police broke up the demonstration and reopened the road just before midday.

Pro-Palestinian demonstrators block traffic to John F Kennedy airport (JFK) on Wednesday (REUTERS)

A Port Authority Police Department spokesperson said 26 people were arrested on disorderly conduct and impeding vehicular traffic charges.

During the disruption, the Port Authority dispatched two airport buses, offering rides to travellers involved in the backup to allow them to reach the airport safely, a spokesperson said.

At LAX, protesters used construction debris, road signs, tree branches, and blocks of concrete to obstruct Century Boulevard, according to the Los Angeles Police Department.

One police officer was thrown to the ground and protesters attacked passersby in their vehicles, the LAPD said in a statement posted to X.

Around 36 people were arrested on charges including rioting and battery of a police officer, and said the demonstrators actions were dangerous and will not be tolerated.

Pro-Palestinian demonstrators are detained by Port Authority police after blocking traffic on the road that leads to John F Kennedy airport on 27 December (REUTERS)

On the west coast, a group of around 40 people had gathered at LAX at around 9am PST  around the same time protesters were blocking roads at JFK.

Protesters shut down Century Boulevard for around 30 minutes, but other airport entrances remained accessible, an LAPD spokesperson told ABC7.

The 27th of December is traditionally among the busiest days to travel with more than two million people expected to catch flights, according to TSA passenger volume data.

Rallies have occurred almost daily across the US over the Biden administrations support of Israels devastating retaliatory campaign in Gaza, which has killed more than 20,000 Palestinians.

Israel launched an invasion of the strip that is home to more than two million Palestinians after Hamas terror attacks on 7 October left 1,200 people dead and saw hundreds more taken hostage.

The US vetoed a United Nations Security Council resolution and voted against a General Assembly resolution demanding an immediate humanitarian cease-fire in Gaza earlier this month.
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The remains of a man who was shot in the head and buried in a shallow grave in the Arizona desert nearly 50 years ago have finally been identified.

A group of hikers had stumbled across the body on 23 November 1976 while enjoying the hills northeast of Bullhead City in northwestern Arizona, near the border with Nevada.

On Tuesday, the Mohave County Sheriff's Office named the dead man as Luis Alonso Paredes, originally from El Salvador, after a cold case investigation.

But mystery remains as to who killed Paredes and how he ended up in the Arizona desert. Detectives have not yet been able to find any of the man's relatives, and are now seeking information from the public.

Paredes' case had been left alone for nearly 47 years after detectives failed to identify his body despite taking fingerprints.

But police in those days did not have access to any US national fingerprint databases, and when detectives began reviewing the case in October they were able to find a match.

The Sheriff's Office said that Paredes may have been working in or around Las Vegas when he died, about 100 miles away, and may also have previously served with the US Navy and the US Coast Guard in the San Francisco Bay Area.

Anyone with information about Paredes or his family should contact the Mohave County Sheriff's Office detective division at +1 928-753-0753, extension 4288, and reference case DR# 76-5053.
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The Dallas Police Department has finally cleared a backlog of hundreds of untested forensic sexual assault and rape test kits, some dating back as far as 1996.

At the beginning of 2023, Dallas, which once had the largest share of untested kits in the state of Texas, still had roughly 1880 kits awaiting analysis.

However, thanks to federal and city funding, the city managed to send off all the old kits to laboratories by the years end, the Dallas Observer reports.

I still say that one is too many, a survivor named Lavinia Masters told the paper.

Ms Masters, who was raped in 1985 and waited more than 20 years for her test kit to be reopened, is the namesake of the 2019 Lavinia Masters Act, a state law which mandated a timeline of testing and preservation for kits.

I know weve come a long way, and I applaud that, Im grateful for that, but still, I dont see the excuse of having any kits on the shelf, she added. I know you tell me its about training or funding, or outsourcing the testing to different labs, but having so many kits on the shelf just doesnt rest well with me, it just doesnt.

Officials and advocates hope the Dallas kits will provide vital new forensic information about old sex crimes as the statute of limitations edges closer in some older instances.

Hundreds of kits remain untested in other large departments as of the years end, per the Observer, including Fort Worth, which still has approximately 200 sitting on its shelf.

The pandemic, staffing shortages, lack of funding, and a lack of emphasis have all been blamed for testing delays in Texas and across the country.

In the US, more than 100,000 kits havent been tested, which victims advocates argue is a major miscarriage of justice.

While good data doesnt exist to suggest the average wait time, case-specific evidence suggests some people can wait over 30 years for testing, often leaving them legally unable to press charges on any evidence that turns up.
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The mugshot for That 70s Show actor Danny Masterson has been released as he begins his life sentence in a California prison.

The actor was convicted of raping two women two decades ago and sentenced in September. He will be eligible for parole after serving 30 years.

On Wednesday, 47-year-old Masterson was admitted to North Kern State Prison. His first prison mug shot shows him wearing orange prison attire with long hair and a beard.

He had been held in Los Angeles County jail while post-sentencing hearings were held and issues resolved, including the turnover of all the guns he owned, some of which had to be located, according to The Associated Press.

Danny Masterson in his first prison mugshot. The actor was convicted of raping two women (AP)

The sitcom actor was found guilty of two counts of forcible rape by a jury of seven women and five men on 31 May, 2023, following seven days of deliberation.

Masterson had initially been accused of drugging and raping three women at his home between 2001 and 2003. He was convicted of raping two of the women in 2003, but the jury was unable to reach a verdict on the third allegation from November 2001, brought forward by a former girlfriend.

A first trial ended in a mistrial in 2022 with jurors deadlocked on all three counts.

During both trials, prosecutors alleged that Masterson used his prominence in the Church of Scientology to avoid consequences for decades after the attacks.

Masterson will be eligible for parole after serving 30 years. (Anna Webber/Getty Images for Netflix)

The women had blamed the church for dissuading them from reporting Masterson to police.

His sentence was handed down on 7 September by Los Angeles Superior Court Judge Charlaine F Olmedo, after she had rejected a defence motion for a new trial.

Mr Masterson, you are not the victim here. Your actions 20 years ago took away another persons choice and voice. Your actions 20 years ago today were criminal, and thats why you are here, Judge Olmedo said at the time.

Mastersons lawyers said they plan to appeal the conviction.

His wife, actor Bijou Phillips, filed for divorce in the weeks that followed after 12 years of marriage.
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The house where four University of Idaho students were killed last year was demolished early Thursday morning.

It marks an emotional step for the victims families and a close-knit community that was shocked and devastated by the brutal slayings of Kaylee Goncalves, Madison Mogen, Xana Kernodle and Ethan Chapin, who were stabbed to death there in November 2022.

The owner of the rental home near the university campus in Moscow, Idaho, donated it to the university earlier this year. It has since been boarded up and blocked off by a security fence.

The sounds of construction equipment pierced the early morning air as an excavator started tearing down the front part of the three-story house. The former walls formed a large pile of crushed and smashed wood on the ground as debris was picked up and loaded into a dump truck. A few onlookers joined dozens of members of the news media.

After about three hours, the home was fully demolished and its concrete foundation had been broken up. Multiple dump trucks continued to remove debris from the site.

A worker rakes debris during a pause in the use of heavy equipment to demolish the house where four University of Idaho students were killed in 2022 (AP)

Some of the victims families have opposed the demolition, calling for the house to be preserved until after Bryan Kohberger, the man accused in the killings is tried.

The former criminology graduate student at Washington State University in neighboring Pullman, Washington, has been charged with four counts of murder in the slayings. A judge entered a not-guilty plea on Kohbergers behalf earlier this year.

A trial was initially set for October 2023 but was postponed indefinitely when Kohberger waived his right to a speedy trial. Then in late December, prosecutors submitted a request for the high-profile murder trial to begin in the summer of 2024.

Prosecutors told university officials in an email that they dont anticipate needing the house any further, as they were already able to gather measurements necessary for creating illustrative exhibits for a jury.

Kohbergers defence team was given access to the home earlier this month to gather photos, measurements and other documentation. And in October, the FBI gathered at the house to collect data that could be used to create visual aids for jurors at the upcoming trial.

Bryan Kohberger is accused of killing the four University of Idaho students in November 2022 (AP)

School officials, who in February announced plans to raze the house, view the demolition as a key step toward finding closure, university spokesperson Jodi Walker said.

That is an area that is dense with students, and many students have to look at it and live with it every day and have expressed to us how much it will help with the healing process to have that house removed, she said.

The fence that had surrounded the property is set to be reinstalled Thursday night and will stay up for about a week, until contractors return to grade and level the site so that it can be planted with grass at some point, Walker said. There are currently no other plans for the site, though the university may revisit that in the future, she said.

Kaylee Goncalves family was firmly against knocking down the house, saying doing so would destroy one of the most critical pieces of evidence in the case before a trial date is even set.

Ethan Chapin, 20, Madison Mogen, 21, Xana Kernodle, 20, and Kaylee Goncalves, 21, were killed (Instagram)

It is obvious from the two recent visits to the house, by both the Prosecution and the Defense, that there is still evidentiary value in having the King Road house still standing. There may be additional discovery by either party that prompts one side or the other to go back to the scene of the crime, the family said in a statement this month.

Jurors are notoriously unpredictable and they tend to make decisions on a variety of facts and circumstances. It would be foolish of us to try and foresee what they will want or need to make a just verdict in this case.

Its like screaming into a void, the family added. Nobody is listening.

Yet, the family of Ethan Chapin supported the demolition, saying that it is for the good of the University, its students (including our own kids), and the community of Moscow.

Ethan, who was a triplet, has a brother and sister who are both current University of Idaho students.

Police tape surrounds the Moscow home in January 2023 (Getty Images)

Moscow resident Lilly Topping, who lives on a neighboring street and could see the house from her window, also said she felt relieved as she passed by the demolition, The Associated Press reported.

She said she had felt unsafe for a time after the killings, and her grandparents gave her a door stopper to place underneath her door knob as a precaution against break-ins.

You could just feel the presence of sadness, she said. It was just a tragic event, and I feel like we need to renew everything.

Kernodle, Mogen and Goncalves lived together in the rental home just across the street from campus. Chapin  Kernodles boyfriend  was there visiting on the night of the attack.
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Police are still sorting through the perplexing details of whats believed to be a missing pregnant teen and her boyfriend found dead in a car in Texas.

The bodies of Savanah Soto, 18, and her boyfriend Matthew Guerra, 22, were discovered in a Kia sedan on Tuesday parked outside a San Antonio apartment complex, their families told local media.

San Antonio police chief William McManus said at a press conference that the deceased, who had gunshot wounds, were believed to be the missing couple, but that a final medical identification was forthcoming.

"Its a very, very perplexing crime scene," he said. "Detectives are looking at this as a possible murder, but were not sure. We cant say for sure what we have."

As of Wednesday afternoon, the Bexar County Medical Examiners office hadnt confirmed the identities of the bodies, NBC News reports.

Missing pregnant teen Savanah Soto and her boyfriend Matthew Guerra were found dead on Tuesday, 26 December 2023, a family member said (Leon Valley Police Department)

An unborn child was also confirmed dead at the scene, police said, adding that the bodies appeared to have been at the site for multiple days.

She was a good girl, she didnt deserve to go this way, especially with her baby," Savanahs grandmother, Rachel Soto, told KHOU. "He was an innocent child, nobody deserved this.

Joanie Wasil, Sotos sister-in-law, told KSAT she received a message on Facebook reporting a sighting of a grey Kia police said might be linked to Soto and Guerras disappearance.

Ms Wasil said that she personally saw Guerra and Soto dead inside the car, looking briefly before she didnt want to see anymore, she told KSAT.

If the bodies found are indeed matches for Soto and Guerra, they would be about three miles from where they were last seen on Friday, at a different apartment complex.

Sotos family became alarmed and called the police when she didnt turn up on Saturday for an appointment to have her labour induced.

The Texas Department of Public Safety issued a CLEAR alert on Monday, describing Soto as a white, 18-year-old woman with brown eyes.

Authorities said she may be tied to a grey, 2013 Kia Optima with temporary Texas tags numbered 4289D57, according to the alert, which is issued when an individual is in imminent danger or the police suspect their disappearance is involuntary.

She was last seen on Friday afternoon at the Valencia Lofts apartment complex, where she lived with her boyfriend, the father of the child, according to her family.

Soto was a week past her due date, her family told KENS.

Its not normal, somethings not adding up here, Sotos grandmother, Rachel Soto, told the station at the time. I want answers, we all want answers.

Various family members of the couple offered conflicting theories about what mightve happened.

Sotos sister-in-law claimed her family member was being abused.

i wont allow you to be one of those statistics of what happens when u have an abusive boyfriend, she wrote on social media, in a post viewed by The New York Post.

If anyone knows my son Matthew Guerra he and his pregnant girlfriend are missing, Guerras mother previously wrote on social media, according to the Post. I know my son and he wouldnt do anything to hurt her.

Guerra was arrested on Christmas in 2022 for assaulting Soto and sentenced to probation, according to the Associated Press.

Gloria Cordova told KHOU her daughter was excited to be a new mother.

Savanah was so, so happy because she was going to be a mommy. It breaks my heart, she said.

The family has been touched by tragedy before.

Sotos younger brother Ethan, 15, was fatally shot in 2022, in what police believe may have been a retaliation for a drug-related robbery.
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An army veteran and fitness instructor was found dead after vanishing while kayaking in Florida over the holiday weekend.

Eiffel Gilyana was kayaking near Floridas St Augustine Inlet when he disappeared on 23 December, the US Coast Guard Southeast said in a statement . Mr Gilyana was last seen by a group of kayakers who called the coast guard when they spotted him without a life jacket on Saturday morning, according to the statement.

Leonard Yui, a friend of Mr Gilyana, says his body was found on 26 December, according to local outlet First Coast News .

Our heartfelt condolences go out to the family and friends affected by this tragic event, Nick Barrow, a search and rescue coordinator for Coast Guard Sector Jacksonville, said in a statement.

Mr Yui is a member of Hydro Task Force1, an organization designed to support active military veterans which led the search for Mr Gilyana on Monday and Tuesday, First Coast News reports. He told the outlet they found Mr Gilyanas body near Floridas Vilano Beach.

Our primary focus is now on supporting Eiffels family and our members. We will continue to collaborate with relevant authorities and will provide pertinent updates as they become available, Mr Yui said in a statement via Hydro Task Force1.

Mr Gilyana was also a member of The Jewish Community Alliance, where he served as fitness and wellness director.

Eiffel wasnt just the fitness and wellness director at the JCA. He wasnt just a personal trainer, Adam Chaskin, CEO of the Jewish Community Alliance, told the New York Post on Tuesday.

He became part of peoples families and people became part of his family, Mr Chaskin continued. He just has such a warm heart and so many people connected so easily, and so well with him over the years.
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A grandmother who sought help for a blinding headache had 30 years of her memory wiped away.

The incident occurred five years ago to Kim Denicola. Shed gone to the hospital to treat a pain in her head and woke up believing she was a teenager in the 1980s. Doctors were unable to explain what had happened, despite conducting numerous tests and scans.

Its unbelievable to me as it probably is to other people, Ms Denicola told WAFB, an NBC affiliate in Baton Rouge, Louisiana. Never in my wildest dreams did I get up and go to bible study and think Im going to wake up in the hospital and Im going to be 60 years old.

Ms Denicola said that none of her memories have been able to come back since that day she went to the hospital. They told me, if by now I havent gotten it, then I probably wont, she told the outlet.

The grandmother has tried to use her journals, which she kept throughout her life, to trigger memories. She said reading them now feels like shes learning about someone elses life. She told the outlet that not all the memories are great.

Ive even gone through some of them and torn the pages out, said Ms Denicola.

Still, shes managed to maintain a positive outlook even though she admits on some days it feels like it would be easier to give up.

I may have lost my memories, but guess what? We can make new ones, she told the TV station, adding that she has enjoyed getting to know herself and her relatives, including her kids, grandkids and husband.

She celebrated the holidays by creating gift baskets for them. Ive lost a lot of Christmases, so its a big deal.

She added: You cant be mad and bitter because the good Lord left me here for a reason. Whatever that may be, Im sure hell let me know one way or another. And maybe this is it. Maybe its to tell people you dont have to give up.
When the Wisconsin Supreme Court last week ordered parties to a redistricting lawsuit to draw new legislative maps, it also named two referees to evaluate the maps adequacy.

The two consultants  University of California, Irvine political science professor Bernard Grofman and Carnegie Mellon University postdoctoral fellow Jonathan Cervas  may not be household names in Wisconsin, but they have played prominent roles in settling map disputes in other states.

In Wisconsin, theyll weigh in on whether the maps abide by the courts standard that any new maps contain equally populated districts; be bounded by county, precinct, ward or town lines; include only contiguous territory; be as compact as possible; and comply with federal law.

Theyll also assess whether the maps preserve communities of interest, reduce municipal splits and are drawn so that no party benefits more than the other.

On Tuesday, the consultants sent out a letter to parties in the case specifying how they will evaluate the proposed maps. They called for each party to note themselves when their proposed maps may go up against one of the Wisconsin Supreme Courts proposed metrics, and said theyll independently verify each claim.

The new maps must be submitted by Jan. 12, and the professors evaluations are due by Feb. 1. Heres what to know about them:

Bernard Grofman

Grofman was recently one of two special masters the Virginia Supreme Court hired to draw new maps after that states bipartisan commission deadlocked on selecting new ones. Nominated by Democrats, Grofman worked with a Republican-nominated special master to forge new congressional and legislative maps in Virginia that followed similar principles the Wisconsin Supreme Court set forth last week.

The Virginia court prohibited either consultant from working with political parties or partisan organizations during their work.

Grofman took a more active role in Virginia  drawing the maps  than hell be taking in Wisconsin, where hes evaluating maps that others submit. But a memo outlining his process in Virginia provides some insight into how he may evaluate maps here.

Critically, to make sure the Virginia maps favored neither party, he ensured the maps he drew provided representation to both parties that reflected how they performed in statewide vote shares from both recent legislative and presidential elections. The resulting congressional maps gave Republicans one more likely seat than they had before.

Outside of consulting with courts on new maps, which he had done in many states prior to Virginia, including as an expert testifying witness in two Wisconsin redistricting cases, Grofmans research interests include issues of representation and the use of statistics in law.

He has made only one donation to a federal political campaign, according to the Federal Election Commission. It was a $200 donation in 1996 to former Madison Mayor Paul Soglin, who ran unsuccessfully as a Democrat for the U.S. House.

Jonathan Cervas

Cervas has also been involved in creating new political maps. After a New York judge found Democratic-proposed maps unconstitutional, a judge hired Cervas to redraw boundaries for the states U.S. House seats and state Senate.

The maps he drew boosted Republican odds of capturing more seats, earning Cervas the ire of Democrats. Under his proposal, there were eight competitive seats. Under the rejected Democratic proposals, there were just three.

He told the New York Times that his political leanings were pro-democracy.

He is registered as an independent in Pennsylvania, his home state, and recently voted in a Republican primary, The New York Times reported.

Cervas studied with Grofman, later serving as a research assistant as the latter worked on several redistricting cases. He has served as the redistricting consultant for the Pennsylvania Legislative Reapportionment Commission and consulted with courts in several other states.

He used to be a bartender in Las Vegas. There, he made one political donation, in 2006: a $25 donation to Democratic presidential candidate John Edwards campaign, according to the FEC.
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A man is in custody after a Pennsylvania mother told police that a stranger had entered her home multiple times to stare at her 9-year-old daughter while she was sleeping.

Tiffany Szabara told WPVI that a man has broken into her home in Coatesville four times since September. One incident occurred as recently as Christmas Eve when surveillance cameras captured footage of the stranger in her kitchen.

Days later, on 27 December, Coatesville Police announced that Jefferson Mejia Gonzalez turned himself in after officials issued a warrant for his arrest. Authorities said he was charged with burglary, criminal trespass, stalking, and other crimes.

The mother explained the series of break-ins to the WPVI, telling the outlet that the suspect had come in through the back door of the home. Initially, he was able to get in that way because the lock was broken.

On two subsequent occasions, the door was left unlocked, and on another occasion, he climbed through a window, she recounted. While the manner in which he has entered the house has changed, one thing remains the same: he always goes to the childs bedroom.

Hes coming in and having conversations with her, Ms Szabara told the outlet. To make the break-in even more alarming, she added, Hes going straight to my daughters bedroom at the top of the stairs and watching her sleep.

I even had cash on the counter one day, and he didnt touch the cash. He just goes into my daughters bedroom, Ms Szabara said.

The mother said that she has since installed cameras and new locks.

Coatesville Police Department posted photos of the man captured by the video cameras, asking for the publics help in identifying him. Someone identified Mr Gonzalez to police, prompting authorities to issue an arrest warrant. He turned himself in shortly thereafter.

Following his arrest, Ms Szabara told NBC10 that during one incident, Mr Gonzalez asked the nine-year-old to come with him. The daughter rejected the offer, and he didnt force her to comply, the outlet reported.

Ms Szabara said, My nine-year-old daughter told this man, Dont pet my dog. Get out of my house. She didnt scream. She actually followed him down the stairs as he left.
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Former James Bond actor Pierce Brosnan has been given a police citation for straying off the path in Yellowstone National Park, records show.

A legal notice seen by The Independent, and first reported by CNN, chides the Mamma Mia! star for "foot travel in a thermal area" on 1 November 2023 in Wyoming.

It also alleges the petty offence of "violating closures and use limits", ordering the Irish actor to appear in court at the Yellowstone Justice Center at 11am on 23 January next year.

The "thermal areas" refer to Yellowstone's famous geysers, hot springs, gas vents, and other dangerous but fascinating phenomena borne of its location on top of a gigantic underground reserve of searing molten rock.

The park, which was the first ever established in the US, sits within a crater made by the massive Yellowstone Supervolcano around 600,000 years ago and includes roughly half of all known hydrothermal features in the world.

Yellowstones Grand Prismatic Geyser at Sunset (Getty Images/iStockphoto)

The National Park Service warns tourists to stay on boardwalks and trails lest they become one of the 20 people who have died from burns after taking a dip in or falling into one of Yellowstone's hot springs.

"Boardwalks and trails protect you and delicate thermal formations. Water in hot springs can cause severe or fatal burns, and scalding water underlies most of the thin, breakable crust around hot springs," the service says on its website.

Mr Brosnan, 70, was born in Drogheda in Ireland in 1953 and had his breakthrough as an actor with the British spy show Remington Steele in the 1980s, before being cast as James Bond beginning with 1995's Goldeneye.

The Independent has contacted Brosnans representatives for comment.
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This holiday season, thousands waited with bated breath at baggage carousels in airports around the world waiting to see if their luggage would come around, hoping their long travel day would not end in a conversation with an airline agent and a trip to the store.

The Gavino family of South Carolina was no exception. The weekend before Christmas, the family was on their way to enjoy the North Carolina mountains when one of their bags never arrived at their destination, they told Queen City News .

But thanks to some handy technology and a bit of patience, they were soon reunited with their bag  and they didnt even have to wait on hold with their airlines customer service.

Charlotte Gavino told the outlet she happened to buy Apple AirTags  which are small trackers that can be attached to personal items and tracked on an Apple device  just one day before her family set out for their holiday vacation.

Ms Gavino told the outlet she placed one in her parents luggage the morning of their flight, thinking it would be handy if the blog got lost. When their bag never arrived on the baggage carousel on 22 December, she tracked the AirTag and discovered it was on its way to a nearby residential area.

Apple AirTags are small trackers that can be attached to personal items and tracked on an Apple device (Getty Images)

Throughout the entire trip it kept showing up around Gastonia, and South Carolina, Ms Gavino told Queen City News.

That afternoon, the family pursued the AirTag, but it eventually stopped showing an exact location, she told the outlet. But on Christmas day, an address appeared  and the family made their way there.

Ms Gavino called the police, who found their luggage inside the home, though there were apparently many items missing. The AirTag not only saved the Gavino familys luggage but also another suitcase found in the home that belonged to a second victim.

The suspect now faces multiple charges, including theft and drug possession, according to Queen City News.

I wanted justice, said Ms Gavino.
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President Joe Biden has reacted to Donald Trumps angry Christmas Truth Social post in which the former president expressed a desire that his opponents rot in hell.

In the midst of ostensibly wishing a Merry Christmas to all, the former president ranted about Crooked Joe Biden, Deranged Jack Smith, World leaders, both good and bad, and the sickTHUGS within the country who are looking destroy our once great USA.

He closed out the social media post shortly after lunch on 25 December with a festive, all-caps:  MAY THEY ROT IN HELL. AGAIN, MERRY CHRISTMAS! 

In response to reporting on the post, President Biden  a practicing Catholic and regular church-goer  took the opportunity to highlight the deep contrasts in character between him and his expected 2024 opponent.

He tweeted: Theres an expression they say in church sometimes: Love your enemies, do good to those who hate you, bless those who curse you, pray for those who mistreat you.

Judging by social media presence, it has been a wild and bitter holiday season for Mr Trump.

In other posts over the past couple of days, former president Trump also told special counsel Jack Smith to go to hell , ranted about the movie Home Alone 2 , and lashed out at ABC News anchor and former White House adviser George Stephanopoulos over media coverage of the Biden classified documents for which it is believed he will not face charges  unlike himself.

Late on Wednesday, Mr Biden, currently with his family on the Caribbean island of St Croix to celebrate the new year, had a similarly pithy response to remarks by Mr Trumps rival for the Republican Party nomination, Nikki Haley.

The former governor of South Carolina and former UN ambassador has been widely criticised for not saying slavery was the reason for the American Civil War in response to a question from a member of the audience at a campaign event.

Reacting to his own campaigns tweet regarding Ms Haleys reply to the question in which she spoke about the role of government, capitalism and freedom of speech, the president simply tweeted: It was about slavery.

The GOP candidate has since been trying to walk back her response and claims the question came from a Democratic Party plant in the crowd at the event at which she was speaking in Berlin, New Hampshire.
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Lauren Boebert saw the writing on the wall.

The brash second-term Republican congresswoman from Colorado announced this week that she would seek re-election in 2024  sort of. While technically an incumbent, Ms Boebert will next year run for the seat currently occupied by her Republican colleague, Ken Buck. Mr Buck announced his own plans for retirement earlier this year, leaving his seat in a deep-red district wide open for the 2024 cycle.

Enter Ms Boebert, who won her own race for a second term in 2022 by just 546 votes over her Democratic opponent, Adam Frisch. Mr Frisch is once again running for the seat in 2024. Apparently unwilling to risk defeat in a general election, Ms Boebert said on Wednesday in a video posted to Facebook that she and her family would move across the state next year in order to allow her to run in Mr Bucks district.

I did not arrive at this decision easily, she said. A lot of prayer, a lot of tough conversations and a lot of perspective convinced me that this is the best way I can continue to fight for Colorado, for the conservative movement and for my childrens future.

But while Ms Boeberts district-hopping may provide her a greater shield against a Democrat in next Novembers general election, it by no means guarantees her re-election to the House. There are plenty of reasons why Ms Boebert, 37, may still face a steep path to a third term in 2025.

Her entrance into the 4th districts primary makes her the seventh announced Republican candidate in the race. Shes the only incumbent House member running (so far?), giving her an advantage in name recognition and an established base of support in the state, and likely to some degree in the 4th district specifically.

Those advantages are not ironclad by any means. And Ms Boeberts second run for re-election will face burdens which her 2022 bid did not. The congresswomans undignified exit from a live-action performance of Beetlejuice earlier this year earned her viral ridicule on an entirely new level, including a round of mockery from Americas late-night hosts.

Its hard to say with any certainty how next years rematch between Mr Frisch and Ms Boebert would have turned out; polling of House districts is notoriously sparse, and a survey in August (before Beetlejuicegate) put them at a statistical tie, with Mr Frisch leading by two points but within the polls margin of error. That poll was conducted and released by the Frisch campaign; Ms Boeberts campaign likely had her own internal poll numbers to consider as well.

But her GOP rivals may very well smell blood in the water. Just ask Madison Cawthorn, the former congressman from North Carolina (previously one of the Houses youngest members), whose own public scandals ended his bid for re-election in an embarrassing rout in the Republican primary at the hands of Chuck Edwards, then a member of the state legislature. Ms Boeberts career trajectory bears quite a few similarities with Mr Cawthorns, and nearly ended around the same time. One key parallel: Mr Cawthorn also sought refuge in a newly drawn deep-red district as his re-election chances spiralled downwards, only to be stuck running in his old district with the label of carpetbagger when a court tossed out a congressional district map drawn by state Republicans.

Name recognition did not save Mr Cawthorn in the end, with Mr Edwardss voters citing the embarrassment he drew to the district as a reason for his loss of their support.

What Wednesdays announcement by Ms Boebert really means is that her fate will be decided next spring, rather than in the fall. Colorados filing deadline for primary candidates is not until March; there is plenty of time for the race to be shaken up even further.

Can Ms Boebert survive and win a third term next year? It certainly remains possible, and her decision to jump to her colleagues district will certainly help her odds. But her battle for survival is far from over.
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Former New Jersey governor Chris Christie released an ad responding to calls for him to drop out of Republican presidential primary, saying he is the only candidate willing to publicly say what many Republicans say about former president Donald Trump privately.

Mr Christie released the ad to be played in New Hampshire just weeks before the first in the nation primary begins. The former governor has campaigned heavily in the Granite State before its 23 January contest.

Mr Christie responded to criticisms that he should get out of the race, since he is preventing the consolidation of non-Trump voters.

Really? I'm the only one saying Donald Trump is a liar, he said. He pits Americans against each other.

Mr Christie also pointed to Mr Trump sending a message on Christmas criticising his enemies looking to destroy our once great USA. MAY THEY ROT IN HELL. In response, Mr Christie said the twice-impeached-four-times-indicted former president poses a threat.

He caused the riot on Capitol Hill, hell burn America to the ground to help himself, he said.

Polling shows that Mr Christie is now in third in New Hampshire. A poll from Saint Anselm College Survey Center showed that he is at 12 per cent, behind former South Carolina governor Nikki Haley, who polls at 15 per cent; and former president Donald Trump, who polls at 44 per cent.

Mr Christie has largely run his campaign on opposing Mr Trump, arguing that he simply says what every other Republican thinks of the former president. In addition, hes criticised his fellow Republicans in the race for not acknowledging Mr Trumps actions.

Every Republican leader says that in private, I'm the only one saying it in public, he said. What kind of President Do we want a liar or someone who's got the guts to tell the truth?
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If it were up to Rep Jamie Raskin, he would not have to spend his time pushing back on Republicans impeachment inquiry into President Joe Biden.

We would love to do hearings about the role that gun violence is playing in savaging and disrupting community life in America, he told The Independent by phone earlier this month after House Republicans unanimously voted to open an impeachment inquiry. His colleague Rep Maxwell Frost of Florida, who got his start as an activist for March for Our Lives after the shooting in Parkland, would probably agree.

But thats not the world in which the Maryland Democrat lives. Instead, the top Democrat on the House Oversight & Accountability Committee will now serve as the first line of defence against Republicans hope of impeaching Mr Biden at the bidding of Mr Raskins longtime nemesis: former president Donald Trump.

Shortly after his election to Congress, the former constitutional law professor at American University became one of top antagonists of Mr Trump. In the early days of his third term, Mr Raskin served as the lead impeachment manager for Mr Trumps second impeachment trial after the Capitol riot. Later, as a member of the January 6 select committee, he, along with a bipartisan panel of colleagues, sought to make the case for Mr Trumps culpability in the riot.

But as ranking member on the committee that will lead the impeachment inquiry, Mr Raskin is also leading a coterie of telegenic young Democrats who entered the House after the last election. Mr Raskin has taken to calling them the Truth Squad, who aim to push back on Republican lies.

Rep Jamie Raskin (Jemal Countess/Getty Images for Congressional Integrity Project)

Among this fresh-faced group of Democrats include Reps Jasmine Crockett and Greg Casar of Texas; Jared Moskowitz of Florida; Daniel Goldman of New York; and Mr Frost of Florida.

Already, many of them have generated viral moments. In September, many of them pushed back against Republicans in a hearing that featured Rep Marjorie Taylor Greene showing nude photos of Hunter Biden.

Mr Raskin said that he looked to recruit new members who had what he called a sense of fight and energy around defending democratic institutions.

Throughout much of this year, Mr Raskin had to rely on his team of Democrats while he underwent chemotherapy treatment for lymphoma. As a result, when members of the Oversight Committee led by Ms Greene went to a prison in Washington DC where people were being held for crimes related to January 6, he sent Mr Garcia of California, a former mayor of Long Beach, and Ms Crockett, a former public defender, to counter allegations of sub-par conditions.

Rep Jasmine Crockett, D-Texas, left, speaks as Rep. Al Green, D-Texas, listens during a stop of the "Democracy for the People" tour, a race and democracy summit sponsored by the Congressional Black Caucus, Wednesday, July 28, 2023, in Houston. (Copyright Michael Wyke 2022 All Rights Reserved 918-282-3233)

Crockett, as a former public defender, was able to was able to refute immediately the claim that the January 6 insurrectionists were being mistreated, Mr Raskin said.

Mr Garcia and Mr Goldman, for their part, recently gained a feather in their cap when they led the charge to bring down disgraced former congressman George Santos. Shortly after the former New York Republicans expulsion vote earlier this month, Mr Garcia and Mr Goldman descended the steps of the Capitol and high-fived each other.

While Mr Goldman is a freshman, hes not new to Congress as he took part in the Houses first impeachment trial of Mr Trump.

So with that background, I know how investigation should be conducted, Mr Goldman told The Independent. And I view my role as pointing out all of the different ways, and there are too many to name, that the Republicans are failing to do a proper and legitimate investigation.

Rep Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (Getty Images)

In addition, to Mr Raskin, Rep Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-NY) serves as the No 2 Democrat on the Oversight Committee. Now in her third term, Ms Ocasio-Cortez earned plaudits during her first time on the committee when she questioned Mr Trumps former attorney and fixer Michael Cohen in a way that triggered Mr Trumps current fraud trial led by New York Attorney General Letitia James.

I think they're fabulous, she told The Independent of the freshmen members. They're a great asset to the committee, and we're just very lucky as a party to have them on Oversight.

Mr Raskin and Ms Ocasio-Cortez have become exceptionally close. During the month of October when the House conducted votes to nominate a new speaker, the two sometimes sat together and conversed, and she led hearings during Mr Raskins cancer treatments.

She took the gavel for me at numerous points and played the role of the ranking member for me, Mr Raskin said. Both of us have been determined to basically tease out the very bestin each of the members of our committee. There have been lots of opportunities for them to uphold the Constitution and defend the democratic institutions against Republican attacks. So, you know, she has been very forceful on that.

While many hail from reliably Democratic districts, many of the freshmen, such as Mr Frost, Mr Moskowitz, Ms Crockett and Mr Casar of Texas, also come from reliably Republican states. Ms Crockett said she learned how to respond to Republicans during her one term in the Texas legislature.

It's interesting, because I've had these viral moments and people look at it and they think, Oh, she became somebody different in Congress, Ms Crockett told The Independent. But if you go back and look at my video from the floor as well as committee work in the state house, I've always been the same so they definitely prepared me for the test.

Ms Crockett praised Mr Raskins leadership in how he coordinates the committee.

He encourages us he makes sure that we stay together, we work as a team, she said. And he also makes sure that we're up on the issues, but he gives us the latitude and the freedom to be who we are and develop our own congressional personalities.

Of course, Republicans have not been amused by Democrats. In November, Mr Comer blasted Mr Moskowitz, saying you look like a Smurf, given his height and the fact he was wearing a blue suit. Mr Comer also called Mr Goldman Mr Trust Fund, alluding to the fact that he is an heir to the Levis fortune.

The Oversight Committee Democrats have shown a unified front ever since Republicans opened the impeachment inquiry. Mr Frost, the youngest member of the committee, has said that the team meets before hearings to prepare for questioning.

We have a plan together, we know what other people, what their question line is going to be about and I think that's something that the Republicans on that committee really don't have  that kind of teamwork, Mr Frost told The Independent. Its part of the reason we kick their ass at every meeting.
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First there were Ron DeSantis alleged heeled boots, now there are Donald Trumps toe pads.

Social media has not taken kindly to the discovery of the two black rectangular pads spotted under the former presidents feet while he was speaking at Mar-a-Lago.

What is Trump standing on here? How often does he use these? one account asked in an X post, which included a photo of Mr Trumps shiny black shoes leaning on the pads.

One user joked, trump toe pads, desantis heels - does the Republican Party have a foot fetish?

Counter balances the 3-inch lifts in his shoes since he can no longer hold his own weight, someone commented.

Another brutally remarked, Trump needs toe pads to stand up without falling over. What an aLpHa MaLe!

Yet another wrote, me leveling my uneven furniture.

Others posted photos of him leaning forward at press conferences, and is now using toe pads to prevent leaning too far.

One wrote, He now uses foot pads to prevent himself from tipping over. If Joe Biden did this, Fox News would talk about nothing else.

Others still speculated that his forward lean could be an indicator of health issues.

That forward lean is an indicator of Frontotemporal Dementia. Some have thought he was in early stages when he ran in 2016. MAGA candidates relax: it progresses slowly, a user postulated.

Other users suggested the same diagnosis with photos of the 2024 frontrunner and a list of symptoms, including poor judgment, socially inappropriate behavior, loss of empathy and problems with balance.

Another account posted another list of symptoms for Frontotemporal Dementia  but incorporated another rumour circulating about Mr Trump: a decline in personal hygiene.

Adam Kinzinger, former Illinois Republican congressman, warned earlier this week that Mr Trump has a nasty odour. Its truly something to behold. Wear a mask if you can, he said.

Earlier this year, comedian Kathy Griffin also remarked on his scent: Donald has a distinct smell that doesnt get enough press.
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A federal judge has approved Georgias Republican-drafted congressional map, rejecting arguments from voting rights groups that the newly drawn boundaries illegally dilute the voting power of minority voters in the state.

The ruling from Barack Obama-appointed US District Judge Steve C Jones on Thursday marks a victory for GOP lawmakers who were ordered to redraw the boundaries for the states congressional and state legislative districts that violated the Voting Rights Act.

Judge Jones decision on 26 October ordered the creation of one new congressional district with a majority-Black voting population, as well as two new majority-Black state Senate districts and five new majority-Black state House districts.

But the new maps added one majority-Black congressional district west of Atlanta and dissolved a nearby district  currently represented by Democratic US Rep Lucy McBath  composed mostly of minority voters, who are likely to lean Democratic.

Opponents argued that the revised map violated the judges earlier ruling, and said that the states GOP-controlled state legislature could not remedy the issue at the expense of eliminating minority districts elsewhere and thereby diluting their electoral power.

Judge Jones wrote that state lawmakers fully complied with this courts order requiring the creation of a majority-Black congressional district in the region of the state where vote dilution was found.

The judges decision likely ensures that Republicans will maintain a 9-5 advantage among the states 14 seats in the US House of Representatives, as lawsuits challenging electoral maps in several states could determine the balance of power in Congress after the November 2024 elections.

Democratic House candidates would need to capture a net of five Republican seats nationally to win back a House majority. Ms McBath will likely move districts in an effort to retain her seat in Congress in 2024.

A statement from Georgias Senate Democrats said that while they respect the judges decision, the states Republican-drawn maps are an ongoing Voting Rights Act violation. Period.

Democratic officials called for an end to the cycle of partisan gerrymandering that allows politicians to choose their voters and prevents voters from choosing their representatives.

Similar challenges to state-drawn congressional maps are underway across the US.

Federal courts repeatedly struck down GOP-led attempts to redraw Alabamas congressional districts after the US Supreme Court found that a previous attempt discriminated against the states Black voters.

n Wisconsin this month, the states Supreme Court ordered new legislative maps ahead of 2024 elections, pointing to unconstitutional GOP-drafted boundaries. Other major cases are pending in Florida, Louisiana, North Carolina, Utah and elsewhere.
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A federal judge preliminarily blocked an Idaho ban on gender-affirming health care for minors from going into effect.

The ruling came down days before HB 71, the law prohibiting minors from receiving puberty blockers, hormones and other treatments, would have gone into effect on 1 January 2024.

Under the law, clinicians could face up to 10 years in prison if they provide such treatment to those under 18.

The decision marked a victory for two Idaho teenagers and their parents who brought the suit, claiming that the ban violates protections laid out in the US Constitution. They were represented by several law firms and the ACLU.

Leo Morales, Executive Director of the ACLU of Idaho, said in a statement, This judicial decision is a much-needed ray of hope for trans people amid a years-long onslaught against their rights to access health care and ability to navigate the world around them. Everyone should be free to live and thrive in their authentic identity, which means transgender people should not be shut out of accessing medically sound health care.

Li Nowlin-Sohl, Senior Staff Attorney for the ACLUs LGBTQ & HIV Project, also said: These dangerous efforts to control our bodies and our families threaten the well-being of trans youth, the strength of our communities, and the ability of every family to determine whats best for their child.

HB 71 was signed by the states governor Brad Little in April, adding Idaho to a grouping of more than 20 states that have passed such bans. Many of these states face lawsuits challenging the harsh laws.

The temporary injunction in Idaho doesnt stand alone. In Arkansas, a federal judge found the ban unconstitutional and issued a permanent injunction on the law. Meanwhile, in Alabama and Indiana, the bans are temporarily blocked.

Earlier this month, Wisconsins Democratic Gov Tony Evers vetoed a bill that sought to prohibit gender-affirming care for minors.

However, in Kentucky and Tennessee, minors cannot obtain gender-affirming care as the bans went into effect.

According to the ACLU, in 2023 alone, 510 bills anti-LGBTQ+ measures were introduced across the US; 137 of these bills attempted to limit healthcare for trans individuals.
For years, Schuyler has participated in Operation Christmas Child, an initiative that gathers basic needs and toys for children in need around the world and sends them to said children in a shoe box.

Kris Wilch, an area organizer for Operation Christmas Child, said this year, she set a goal for 475-500 for Schuyler after last year's 464. 475 on the dot came in.

"We've had boxes brought from North Bend before, David City, boxes from many different places and this year I saw people I'd never seen before," Wilch said. "That's what's neat is you get to meet different people and talk to them about the program."

This was due in no small part to CHI Health Schuyler, who brought in over 110 of that total. Wilch said their continued exceeding of their goal shows their hearts for children.

"For me, it's about what generous hearts they have and how kind and caring they are to go above and beyond," Wilch said.

Pam Thege Eggleston, supervisor of operations at CHI, helps organize the effort at CHI and said that in a way, this is a mission for not just others to help these kids but herself.

"It grows every year, they send a list of what everyone's looking for after Christmas," Thege Eggleston said. "It's very fulfilling knowing we as a hospital and community are able to get our fingerprints out in the world."

Hospital President Connie Peters said the initiative fits squarely within the hospital's mission of giving back and helping the vulnerable.

"Our ministry is to serve the healing ministry of god and to serve the vulnerable, especially the vulnerable and those in need, is part of our culture here and that's what our employees do, care for one another and for those in need," Peters said.

Thege Eggleston contributes in a different way than most as well. Some people want to contribute to Operation Christmas Child but don't want to go out and buy the items, she said, so she offers to do it for them.

"This year I said 'if you don't have time to shop, give me whatever you want to give me and I'll shop,'" Thege Eggleston said. "Out of $50, people can do two and a half or three boxes and not everyone wants to go shop or likes to but if I can, I fill those boxes for kids so they know they're loved by Jesus and somebody in the world."

Peters added that while it is a mission the CHI network supports as a larger organization, it has also seen great local support throughout the years, thanks to a supportive staff.

"It's not something we force, it's something they feel committed to and want to do every year and we're grateful for that," Peters said. "We even track and see what countries they went to or what children got your box, thats cool, some of our employees do that. I think it helps humanize the process. When see smiles on those kids, how can you not want to brighten someones day?"
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A Pennsylvania man, who confessed to spraying chemicals at police officers while wearing camouflage paramilitary gear and face paint during the January 6 riot, had his sentence reduced after cooperating with the government.

Samuel Lazar gave substantial assistance to the government, including providing prosecutors with valuable information regarding other January 6 defendants and even offering to testify in a Pennsylvania murder case, according to newly unsealed court documents.

After Lazar pleaded guilty in March 2022 to assaulting, resisting or impeding certain officers with a dangerous weapon, he was sentenced to 30 months in prison followed by 36 months of supervised release.

The court records were unsealed on 27 December.

Police body camera footage showed Lazar grabbing a bike rack before deploying a chemical irritant at two officers, who had told him to get back, according to the complaint.

An officer then sprayed a chemical irritant at Lazar, causing him to retreat down the steps. However, Lazar then re-released his own irritant, rendering one officer unable to see.

The complaint also states that Lazar said, They maced us, those tyrannical pieces of s***, and we maced them right the f*** back and now theyre taking the building.

The rioter then also said, They attacked the people. We have a right to defend ourselves. F*** the tyrants. Theres a time for peace and theres a time for war.

Video footage also captured Lazar screaming into a red and white bullhorn: Lets get their guns! Lets get their guns!

NBC News reported that Lazars lawyer described his behaviour on January 6 stand(s) in stark contrast to the person that he truly is and the life that he led prior to that fateful day.

The attorney then pointed fingers at the former president. Following the Capitol riot, Lazar realised that he had been swept up in the false narrative spun by the President of the United States and that he had blindly followed President Trumps cry to fight like hell to take back the country.

Bureau of Prisons records indicate the rioter was released from custody on 13 September.

Since the Capitol riot 35 months ago, over 1,200 people have been charged in connection with the attack, according to the Justice Department. Like Lazar, more than 400 defendants have been charged with assaulting, resisting, or impeding officers or employees; more than 700 individuals have taken guilty pleas to a variety of charges.
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A three-judge panel in the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals reversed the conviction of a Republican congressman for lying to FBI agents.

The courts decision found that Jeff Fortenberry, ex-congressman for the 1st district of Nebraska, was tried in the wrong venue when he was charged and prosecuted in Los Angeles for crimes the court said allegedly took place in Washington DC and Nebraska. Mr Fortenberry was accused of lying to federal investigators about illegal foreign campaign donations to his re-election bid.

He was never charged with actually receiving said illegal donations. But he was accused of conspiracy to hide evidence and making false statements; he was convicted on both counts.

The former congressman and his wife thanked supporters and friends after the ruling on Tuesday. The courts decision does not prevent DoJ prosecutors from bringing another case against him in Nebraska or Washington DC.

We are gratified by the Ninth Circuits decision, Mr Fortenberry said in a statement. Celeste and I would like to thank everyone who has stood by us and supported us with their kindness and friendship.

Justice Department officials in Washington refused to comment on the prospect of filing further charges against the former congressman. A spokesman for the US Attorneys office in Los Angeles stated that it was a possibility.

The ruling does not preclude a retrial on the charges that then-Congressman Fortenberry made multiple false statements to federal agents, said Thom Mrozek, according to the AP. We are evaluating potential next steps before deciding how best to move forward.

Mr Fortenberry resigned from Congress in March of 2022 after his conviction by a jury. His voluntary departure from the House sharply contrasted with the escapades of George Santos, another Republican representative who became only the sixth person to be thrown out of the lower chamber after an Ethics Committee investigation concluded that there was significant evidence to indicate that Mr Santos had defrauded donors and even other members of Congress.

The illegal donations to Mr Fortenberrys reelection campaign were funneled through straw donors from the accounts of Gilbert Chagoury, a Lebanese-Nigerian billionaire. According to the AP, prosecutors obtained phone recordings proving that Mr Fortenberry was warned that several donations he had received had been funneled through other channels but originated from Mr Chagoury.

Mr Chagoury pleaded guilty to making the donations in 2019, and paid a $1.8m fine.
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Pennsylvania Senator John Fetterman unleashed his unfettered opinion of Democratic strategist James Carville, who has voiced doubt over President Joe Bidens ability to win a second term.

Politico asked the Democratic lawmaker whether Mr Bidens campaign should focus more on swing states.

The famously-casual congressman quipped that I dont give anybody advice unless on fashion - but then voiced confidence on Mr Bidens 2024 odds.

All I do know is that the president will win Pennsylvania. And I do believe if he wins Pennsylvania, and I believe he will, he will be a second-term president, Fetterman added.

When the outlet noted voter polling which showed former president Donald Trump leading Mr Biden, Mr Fetterman dismissed the suggestion that the president was in trouble.

Theres a whole lifetime in politics between now and next November as well. Im not worried about that, he said.

He then turned on Democrats who have criticised Mr Bidens chances of re-election, and took a shot at Mr Carville, telling him to shut the f*** up.

Like I said, my man [Carville] hasnt been relevant since grunge was a thing, Fetterman said. And I dont know why he believes its helpful to say these kinds of things about an incredibly difficult circumstance with an incredibly strong and decent and excellent president.

Mr Carville, a political consultant who served as a campaign strategist for Bill Clinton, has repeatedly warned that Mr Biden could lose in 2024, emphasising his concerns about the presidents age. Last month, Mr Carville told CNN that he was very pessimistic about Bidens odds.

James Carville at 'Art of the Campaign Strategy' panel during Politicon at Pasadena Convention Center on July 29, 2017 in Pasadena, California (Photo by Joshua Blanchard/Getty Images for Politicon)

In response, Mr Carville told Politico that heapparently havent gotten the memo yet that he was irrelevant, adding that he is campaigning with one senator and hosting a fundraiser with another.

Mr Fetterman was also asked whether he thought that Mr Biden was the only Democrat who could defeat Mr Trump.

He said: I really am not worried about that because he is my guy. And he is going to be the Democrats guy, and Im proud to campaign with him.
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Louisiana has joined a lengthy list of states where voters are seeking to disqualify Donald Trump from primary ballots after a woman filed a lawsuit claiming he was ineligible from office for inciting the January 6 riots.

Ashley Reeb, from Chalmette, filed the action on 22 December in East Baton Rouge Parish, asking a judge to block the Republican frontrunner from Marchs primary for his efforts to prevent the peaceful transfer of power after his 2020 election loss.

Both Trumps actions (engaging in insurrection) as well as his inaction (giving aid and comfort to insurrectionists) on [6 January 2021], disqualify him from holding any office of/under the United States, Ms Reeb stated in the suit.

Similar challenges have been filed in over a dozen states by individuals and left-wing activist groups alleging that Mr Trumps actions leading up to the January 6 attack on the Capitol violated Section 3 of the 14th Amendment.

Ms Reeb filed the suit against Louisiana secretary of state Kyle Ardoin. Ms Reeb declined to comment when contacted by Fox 8.

Louisiana has become the latest state where attempts are being made to remove Donald Trump from the 2024 ballot (AP)

In Colorado, the states highest court ruled this month that the former president should be disqualified from the presidency in a 4-3 vote. The states GOP has filed an appeal to the US Supreme Court.

The FBI said this week it was investigating a wave of vitriolic threats made to the state judges by Mr Trumps supporters after the verdict was released.

On Wednesday, the Michigan Supreme Court rejected an attempt to remove Mr Trump under the same statute.

Courts in New York, California, Oregon and several other jurisdictions are also expected to rule on Mr Trumps qualifications under the so-called insurrection clause in the next few months.

Legal experts in Louisiana say the latest case faces an uphill battle to remove Mr Trump under the 14th Amendment, which bars anyone who has sworn an oath to uphold the Constitution and engaged in insurrection or rebellion from holding public office.

It might be a different situation if he had been criminally convicted in a court of law of insurrection, Dillard University political analyst Robert Collins told Fox 8.

Others such as former federal judge J Michael Luttig have argued that there is unassailable evidence to remove the former president for inciting followers to storm the US Capitol in an attempt to reverse his loss to Joe Biden.

The Independent has contacted the Trump campaign for comment.
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Melania Trumps absence at the Trump family Christmas at Mar-a-Lago raised eyebrows - but now an explanation has been offered.

The former first lady missed Christmas with Donald Trump to spend time with her ailing mother, a source told Fox News Digital.

Melania has always been very devoted to her entire family, the source close to Ms Trump told the outlet. It should be no surprise that she spent this Christmas with her ailing mother.

A source told Page Six that Amalija Knavs, has been very sick in the hospital and Melania was by her side instead of being at the party where a family photo without her was taken.

Ms Trumps son Barron was present at the Christmas dinner with his father and other family members at the private members club in Palm Beach, Florida.

A Christmas picture of the Trump family, in which Melania Trump does not appear (Kimberly Guilfoyle/ Instagram)

The former first ladys absence from her familys Christmas came as members of the club told a local author that she was rarely seen there.

Nobody knows where she is, Laurence Leamer, author of Mar-A-Lago: Inside the Gates of Power at Donald Trumps Presidential Palace, told The Telegraph.

Its like a mystery. Its certainly talked about.

Ms Trump has scarcely been seen in public over the past year as her husband has campaigned for the Republican presidential nomination, been charged in four separate criminal cases, and appeared frequently in court for a civil fraud trial in New York.

In November, she made a rare public appearance when she joined the other living former first ladies at Rosalynn Carters memorial in Atlanta.

A few weeks later Ms Trump delivered a speech at a naturalisation ceremony at the National Archives in Washington DC, a move that garnered attention as her husband has been charged with the illegal retention of Archives documents.

A Trump source told Page Six this week that Ms Trump had been feeling more confident in public after her recent outings and would take on a more visible role for her husbands campaign in the new year.

Trump and his family are so secure that he will become president again that insiders at Mar-a-Lago say hes reached an agreement with Melania to step up top-tier diplomatic appearances in 2024, the source said.

In September, reports emerged that Ms Trump had quietly renegotiated her pre-nuptial agreement.

The new agreement was focused on maintaining and increasing Barrons substantial trust, and was prompted by Mr Trumps 2024 presidential run and swirling criminal exposure, a source told Page Six.

Mar-a-Lago has been the Trumps primary home since leaving the White House, as Joe Biden took office in the wake of the attack on the US Capitol and Mr Trumps second impeachment.

Mr Trump, 77, and Ms Trump, 53, have been married since 2005.
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Former Trump National Security Adviser Michael Flynn being added to the Rhode Island Hall of Fame has led to several board members leaving their roles.

Flynn, who left the job after 22 days in 2017 and was later criminally convicted, was chosen to be inducted next year.

The board members said that Flynn, a conspiracy theorist and election denier, shouldnt be added to the group, according to The New York Times.

The Rhode Island Hall of Fame was launched in 1965 and includes people from the state who made significant contributions or who became renowned for the work they did while they lived in the state.

The 2023 inductees included Judge Rogeriee Thompson, the first Black person and second woman to join the United States Court of Appeals for the First Circuit, and the president and chief executive of the Providence Performing Arts Center, Lynn Singleton.

Nineteen board members voted on 13 December to include Flynn, who was born and raised in Middletown, Rhode Island, as one of nine children, in the 2024 group to join the Hall of Fame.

The Providence Journal and The Boston Globe initially reported on the resignations from the board that followed.

Board members John Tarantino, an attorney, and Bea Lanzi, a former state senator, resigned in a letter to board president Lawrence Reid and other members.

In the 14 December letter, they said the result was both disappointing and astounding to us.

There is an overall right and wrong in the universe, and what has happened here, in our view, and according to our moral compasses, and consciences, compels us to resign, they wrote, according to The Times.

When we learned last month that Lt. Gen. Michael Flynn was a nominee, you and the Board were advised specifically and in detail why we believe that he is not worthy of induction and why his induction would likely cause real and dramatic harm to the organization, they said.

They added that their donations to the organisation could not be used to deal with any legal fees, crisis management, public relations fallout, or other negative reactions the organization may face because of Lt. Gen. Flynns nomination and induction.

The Independent has attempted to reach Flynn family representatives for comment.

An attorney for the board, Patrick Conley, told NBC10 that six members had left the board and that Flynn had accepted the nomination.

Mr Conley noted that Flynn was pardoned by Mr Trump after pleading guilty twice to lying to the FBI.

The local news channel stated: When asked about Flynn peddling conspiracy theories about the 2020 election, Conley told NBC10 he didnt want to get into that.

Flynn has ardently denied that President Joe Bien won the election, despite no evidence emerging that the election was stolen. In December 2020, Flynn suggested that Mr Trump deploy the military to redo the election in certain swing states.

Mr Trump brought Flynn on as his first national security adviser despite that he had claimed with no evidence that Shariah, or Islamic law, was spreading across the US, The Times noted.

Flynn has pushed the rightwing QAnon conspiracy theory, in addition to telling InfoWars in January 2022 that George Soros and Bill Gates were part of a group that created the coronavirus to steal an election and rule the world.

The boards treasurer, Ann Marie Marzilli Maguire, told The Times that she left the board after the vote.

This is wrong, she told the paper Tuesday. This is not what the organisation stands for.

Steve Aveson left after 19 years on the board. The former news anchor texted to The Times that he was heartbroken over what this has done to the organisation.

Former State Rep Denise Aiken wrote in a resignation letter I find that I am unable to be associated with an organization that would choose to honor a criminal.

She told The Providence Journal: I just couldnt see placing that particular nominee on the same footing with so many fabulous people that have been honored in that way over the many years that its been in existence.
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Nikki Haley avoided mentioning slavery when asked by a voter in New Berlin, New Hampshire what caused the Civil War, prompting swift and widespread criticism, including from President Joe Biden.

What was the cause of the United States Civil War? the former South Carolina Governor and UN Ambassador was asked by a man at her town hall event on Wednesday night.

Ms Haley paused for a moment before joking, Well, dont come with an easy question.

I think the cause of the Civil War was basically how government was going to run, the freedoms, and what people could and couldnt do. What do you think the cause of the Civil War was? she asked.

The man, who subsequently told reporters his name was Patrick, replied he wasnt the one running for president.

I mean, I think it always comes down to the role of government, Ms Haley said. We need to have capitalism, we need to have economic freedom. We need to make sure that we do all things so that individuals have the liberties so that they can have freedom of speech, freedom of religion, freedom to do or be anything they want to be without government getting in the way.

In the year 2023, its astonishing to me that you can answer that question without mentioning the word slavery, the voter said.

What do you want me to say about slavery? Next question, Ms Haley said.

The criticism of her reply was swift, with President Joe Biden simply tweeting: It was about slavery.

Jaime Harrison, the chairman of the Democratic National Committee, told CBS in a statement: This isnt hard, condemning slavery is the baseline for anyone who wants to be President of the United States, but Nikki Haley and the rest of the MAGA GOP are choking on their words trying to rewrite history.

Journalist Aaron Rupar wrote on X, formerly Twitter: This is astounding. Nikki Haley thinks what caused the Civil War? is a gotcha because shes afraid to talk about slavery and alienate her own voters.

Rep Ro Kanna, a California Democrat, tweeted: Nikki Haleys father, like mine, came to the US in the late 1960s because of the civil rights movement and the 1965 Immigration Act. Haleys refusal to talk honestly about slavery or race in America is a sad betrayal of her own story. To what end?

Qasim Rashid, a human rights lawyer and Democratic congressional candidate, wrote: Nikki Haley was Gov of South Carolina. In South Carolinas Articles of Secession, the VERY FIRST reason they give on why theyre going to war is, [A]n increasing hostility on the part of the non-slaveholding States to the institution of slavery... But yeah lets ban more books.

Anti-Trump GOP strategist Sarah Longwell added: Setting the moral implications of Haleys answer aside (which, big yikes), but even as a political matter it makes no sense. The people who dont want to acknowledge slavery already have their candidate in comfortable racist Donald Trump. Nikki needs the other people!

This was DeSantiss big strategic mistake. Trump has MAGAs locked up. So dont compete for them with dog whistles when Trump is using a bullhorn. Nikki needs to consolidate the part of the party thats still kinda normal. And normal people know slavery caused the civil war! Ms Longwell said.

The chair of the Democratic Party in Ms Haleys home state, Christale Spain, tweeted: This is vile, but unsurprising from Nikki Haley. The same person who refused to take down the Confederate Flag until the tragedy in Charleston, and tried to justify a Confederate History Month. Shes just as MAGA as Trump.

Ms Haleys viral moment comes amid a recent uptick in her polling in New Hampshire, where she was endorsed earlier this month by the states governor Chris Sununu.

Ms Haley, the former South Carolina governor, has often mentioned removing the Confederate flag from the grounds of the state house during her time in office. The flag removal took place after a shooting at the Mother Emanuel AME church in Charleston where a white supremacist killed nine Black people in 2015.

She often mentions the episode in her stump speech.

Fifty per cent of South Carolinians saw the Confederate flag as heritage and tradition, the other 50 per cent of South Carolinians saw it as slavery and hate, Ms Haley said in Spirit Lake, Iowa, earlier this month.

My job wasnt to judge either side, she added. My job was to get them to see the best of themselves and go forward.

In comments which could be seen as a criticism of former President Donald Trump, Ms Haley often says, The tone at the top matters.

We were able to bring that Confederate flag down, she said in Iowa. We didnt have riots, we had vigils. We didnt have protests, we had hugs. And South Carolinians showed the world what strength and grace look like. Thats how you do it.

Ms Haley was quick to walk back her comments on Thursday morning during an appearance on The Pulse of NH radio programme.

Of course, the Civil War was about slavery, thats the easy part. I know it was about slavery. I am from the South, she said.

But more than that, whats the lesson in all this? That freedom matters, she added. And individual rights and liberties matter for all people. Thats the blessing of America. That was a stain on America when we had slavery. But what we want is never relive it. Never let anyone take those freedoms away again.

She went on to claim on the programme that the Democrats are sending plants to her events, according to the NH Journal.

Why are they hitting me? See this for what it is ... They want to run against Trump. In town halls, I answer every question, and they are planting questions there, she claimed.

It was definitely a Democrat plant ... He didnt give reporters his name, she added about the questioner.
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US Senator Rick Scott said his Florida home was swatted while he was out for dinner with his wife in the city of Naples.

Last night, while at dinner with my wife, cowards swatted my home in Naples. These criminals wasted the time & resources of our law enforcement in a sick attempt to terrorize my family, the Florida Republican wrote on X on Thursday, 28 December.

Around 9pm, Naples Police said it received a report of a shooting that happened in the 3100 block of Gordon Drive in Naples. Within 15 minutes, however, authorities said they had determined that there had been no shooting and that it was a swatting event.

Officials say they contacted the politician who returned to his home and asked officers to carry out a search inside it. After searching, the officers didnt find anything out of the ordinary.

Typically, swatting involves calling in a false report to 911, prompting an emergency response from law enforcement as an extreme prank or form of harassment.

Swatting is not a new threat, the police department wrote. Authorities said that motivations for swatting include the attention gained from national media coverage, used as a form of harassment or prank, revenge, and/or financial gain.

The department warned that this kind of prank pulls limited resources away from other possible valid emergencies.

Mr Scott isnt the only member of Congress to have been a victim of swatting as of late.

Georgia Republican Rep Marjorie Taylor Greene tweeted on Christmas that she had been swatted, adding that this is like the 8th time. This swatting call was traced back to someone from Rome, New York, police later said.

The Republican firebrand also wrote on 28 December that her two daughters homes had been swatted.

Big thanks to the police who responded! We appreciate you and support you! she wrote on X. Whoever is doing this, you are going to get caught and it wont be funny to you anymore.

Ms Greene later tweeted, Swatting calls are coming in on many Members of Congress, Senators, State Reps and Mayors and Lt Governors, and many members of our families. Is our government under attack? Swatting calls are also police harassment and an attack on police. We need to stop this now.

Its unclear if any of these incidents involving Congress members and their families are linked.
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The Supreme Court is back in session.

At the end of September, the nine Supreme Court Justices reconvened to kick off the 2023-2024 term where theyre expected to hear cases concerning the Second Amendment, racial gerrymandering, free speech online and more.

Now more than ever, US voters are keeping a close eye on the highest court in the land after two contentious years produced a series of negatively viewed decisions.

Going into the new term, US voters can expect rulings to align more conservatively just as they have the last two years because the courts majority leans that way.

Here are the cases to keep an eye on.

Racial gerrymandering: Alexander v South Carolina State Conference of the NAACP

In this case, justices are being asked to uphold or reverse a unanimous three-judge ruling that found South Carolinas 1st Congressional District was unconstitutional.

The NAACP said the states legislature violated the Equal Protection Clause of the 14th Amendment by strategically moving a majority of Black voters into one district thus denying them their opportunity to elect a candidate of their choosing.

However, the state claims they only re-drew lines to benefit Republicans and did not target voters of a specific race when redistricting.

Oral arguments took place on October 11.

A ruling in the case will set a precedent when it comes to re-districting in the state. The court already ruled against a similar situation in Allen v Milligan this past term.

Voters attend a rally outside of the U.S. Supreme Court on October 11, 2023 in Washington, DC. (Getty Images for Rooted Logistic)

Second Amendment: Brown v United States and Jackson v United States

The court is being asked to clarify language in the Armed Career Criminal Act (ACCA) that determines an individual is mandatorily sentenced to 15 years in prison minimum if they have three prior "violent felonies" or "serious drug offenses in two consolidated cases.

In both cases, the petitioners argue they should not have received longer sentencing because their prior offences had different meanings due to state or federal law changes.

Oral arguments took place on November 27.

A ruling in the case could redefine what a serious drug offense means thus allowing people with prior drug convictions to obtain a firearm  something President Joe Bidens son, Hunter Biden, is currently facing.

Second Amendment: United States v Rahimi

This case questions whether individuals with domestic violence restraining orders against them can possess a firearm under the Second Amendment.

Oral arguments took place on November 7.

A ruling in favour of Rahimi could allow people with a history of domestic violence to legally obtain a firearm, which has the potential to increase firearm-related domestic incidents.

Activists hold up signs outside U.S. Supreme Court during a gun-control rally on November 7, 2023 in Washington, DC. (Getty Images)

Regulatory: Consumer Financial Protection Bureau v Community Financial Services Association of America

This case is asking justices to determine if the way the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) is currently funded by the Federal Reserve System is a violation of the Appropriations Clause of the Constitution which says money cannot be drawn from the Treasury without Congress approval.

Since its formation in 2011, the CFPB has been funded by the Federal Reserve System to implement and enforce federal consumer financial law and ensure markets are fair, transparent and competitive. The agency has jurisdiction over banks, credit unions, debt collectors and more.

Oral arguments took place on October 3.

Though regulatory cases like this are typically boring and hard to understand, a ruling against CFPB could have massive implications by opening a door for others to challenge the funding of Medicare, Social Security and many more.

The US Supreme Court is seen in Washington, DC, on October 9, 2023 (AFP via Getty Images)

Administrative: Loper Bright Enterprises v Raimondo

The question being presented to the justices is whether the Court should reverse the Chevron Doctrine  a document that arose from the landmark case Chevron USA v Natural Resources Defense Council which requires courts to defer to the expert agency when making decisions in ambiguous situations.

The details of this case have to do with the National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS) implementing a new rule that requires fishing companies to pay for third-party observers aboard specific boats.

A decision that reverses the Chevron doctrine would alter federal agencies (like the FDA) by allowing courts to bypass experts opinions when making decisions.

Oral arguments are set to take place on January 17.

Administrative: Securities and Exchange Commission v Jarkesy

In this case, the court is being asked to clarify a provision of the Dodd-Frank Act that allows the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) to make judgments and seek civil penalties its in in-house court. The plaintiffs claim using the in-house system violates the Seventh Amendment which entitles a person to a jury during a civil trial.

Under the Dodd-Frank Act, a person accused of violating securities fraud would be subject to administrative law judges (ALJ) within the SEC but several flaws have been found in this system.

Like CFBP v Community Financial Services, this case has the potential to open a door to how other agencies use the administration law process  or if they even can.

Oral arguments occurred on November 29.

Abortion: FDA v Alliance for Hippocratic Medicine and Danco Laboratories v. Alliance for Hippocratic Medicine

In its first abortion case since overturning Roe v Wade last year, the court is being asked to decide if the Fifth Circuit could uphold a ruling that severely restricts the abortion pill medication mifepristone.

A group of conservative doctors and physicians sued the FDA, claiming the drug mifepristone is unsafe and asked that regulations around the drug be reinstated to severely restrict access to it. Judges in the conservative Fifth Circuit upheld the lower courts ruling that sided with the group and the government appealed to the Supreme Court.

Should the court uphold the Fifth Circuits ruling it would further restrict access to reproductive healthcare across the US. The drug mifepristone, which has been approved by the FDA since 2000, is used in the medication that accounts for more than half of abortions in the US.

Consolidated oral arguments have not been set yet.

Mifepristone, the first medication in a medical abortion, is prepared for a patient at Alamo Women's Clinic in Carbondale, Illinois, U.S., (REUTERS)

First Amendment: Moody v NetChoice LLC and NetChoice LLC v Paxton

In these consolidated cases, the Court is being asked to determine if laws in Florida and Texas that prohibit social media platforms from removing speech is a violation of the First Amendment.

In Moody v NetChoice, the Florida law in question was passed in May 2021 and fines social media platforms for banning political candidates for more than 60 days or journalistic enterprises that have over 100k monthly users or 50k subscribers.

In NetChoice v Paxton, the Texas law in question forbade social media companies with 50 million users from removing or hiding content based on viewpoints among other governing rules.

A decision that upholds the laws in Florida and Texas could have substantial impacts on the use of social media opening the door for states to enact their own content moderation laws. It could prove particularly dicey when it comes to freedom of the press online.

Oral arguments have not been set yet.

First Amendment: Murthy v Missouri

The Court will need to decide if the Biden administration violated the First Amendment when asking social media companies to monitor speech online by taking down posts that circulate misinformation.

Respondents claim that the Biden administration actually censored conservative speech when they removed posts containing Covid-19, election integrity and other misinformation.

Oral arguments have not been scheduled yet.

People participate in a rally and march against COVID-19 mandates on September 13, 2021 in New York City. President Joe Biden has supported and ordered mandates for federal workers (Getty Images)

First Amendment: Lindke v Freed and OConnor-Ratcliff v Garnier

In these consolidated First Amendment rights cases, the court is being asked to define whether the speech a public official uses on social media to communicate job-related matters is considered state action and if blocking people violates the First Amendment.

In both cases, the petitioners (who are public officials in their respective towns) were sued by residents for blocking them or removing their comments from their Facebook or Twitter pages.

The ruling in this case will set general rules as to how public officials may use social media when communicating about their jobs. If the court rules in favour of the respondents, government and public officials will likely have to completely separate official social media accounts from personal accounts.

Oral arguments occurred on October 31.

First Amendment: National Rifle Association v Vullo

The case is asking if the First Amendment allows for a government official to threaten regulated entities if they conduct business with a subjectively controversial speaker.

The National Rifle Association (NRA) is arguing that Maria Vullo, the former superintendent of the NY Department of Financial Services (DFS), threatened insurers who conducted business with the NRA in a guidance note sent in 2018. The guidance seemingly alluded to a recent $13m penalty the DFS brought against insurers who participated in a gun-insurer program that provided coverage to people who shoot others  even with criminal intent.

On the surface, the case has to do with speech but it also has implications for the Second Amendment  specifically by upending a law in New York that prevents insurers from selling products that provide protections to people who shoot other people.

Oral arguments have not been set yet

A person wears an NRA hat in front of the US Supreme Court in Washington, DC, on June 21, 2022. (AFP via Getty Images)

Criminal law: Pulsifer v United States

In this criminal law case, the court is being asked to specify what the word and means in a sentencing statute provision of the First Step Act.

The provision allows individuals with nonviolent drug offenses to qualify for shorter sentencing so long as they do not have a lengthy criminal history, prior serious offense and prior violent offense. However, the language makes it unclear if a defendant qualifies for a shorter sentencing so long as they do not meet all three or if they are no longer qualified if they meet any single one.

Though the specificity of the word seems arbitrary it will determine if thousands of defendants in federal person could benefit from shorter sentences.

The court heard arguments on October 2.

Trademark infringement: Vidal v Elster

Justices are being asked to decide if refusing to register a mark that criticises a government official or public figure violates the First Amendment.

The case has to do with Steve Elsters attempt to register TRUMP TOO SMALL so he could sell it on t-shirts. It was rejected because US Patent and Trademark Office claimed he needed the written consent of Donald Trump since it used his last name.

Justices heard arguments on November 1.

A ruling in this case will determine if political speech about a public figure or government official can be trademarked. A decision in favour of Mr Elster would mean people in public official positions could lose some rights to name protections.

Bankruptcy code law: Harrington v Purdue Pharma

The Court is being asked to determine whether bankruptcy law allows for people who arent bankrupt to be protected by liability releases.

It stems from the settlement between Purdue Pharma and victims who overdosed due to the companys opioid drug, OxyContin. Purdue Pharma claimed bankruptcy  but the Sackler family, who owns Purdue Pharma, did not. In the bankruptcy deal, the company agreed to pay victims in exchange for a liability release that shields the family from future civil lawsuits.

A ruling in the case can be consequential for wealthy individuals or companies who are no strangers to using bankruptcy claims to get out of liability suits.

Oral arguments occurred on December 4.

A campaigner holds a pill container whilst outside the US Supreme Court, Washington, DC, USA, 04 December 2023. The US Supreme Court is hearing oral arguments in a bankruptcy case against Purdue Pharma, the makers of OxyContin (EPA)

Disability rights: Acheson Hotels LLC v Laufer

In this disability rights case, the court was asked to determine if an American with Disabilities Act (ADA) tester can challenge a hotels failure to provide accessibility information on its website.

Deborah Laufer, a self-proclaimed ADA tester, has brought hundreds of lawsuits against small hotels around the US for failing to include accessibility information online  despite not intending to visit many of the hotels.

Acheson Hotels LLC claims that Ms Laufer doesnt have the right to bring a lawsuit forward because she wasnt planning on visiting the hotel.

On December 5, justices dismissed the case as moot.
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Donald Trump has shared a graphic naming "revenge" and "dictatorship" as among his biggest goals if he wins the presidency in 2024.

In a poll published on Tuesday, The Daily Mail asked 1,000 American voters to sum up in one word what they thought Mr Trump and Joe Biden wanted from a second term in office.

The top entry in Mr Biden's word cloud was "nothing", followed by "economy" and "peace". But for Mr Trump, it was "revenge"  alongside "power", "dictatorship", "America", and "economy" again.

Mr Trump quickly shared the graphic on his Truth Social page without any further comment, raising the question of whether he endorses such terms.

"It distils the essence of this campaign pretty accurately," conservative commentator Matt Lewis told the outlet.

"In the case of Donald Trump, the brand that has emerged is one that he has intentionally cultivated, and he has sought to become the candidate of vengeance."

Indeed, Mr Trump has not been shy about wishing to visit fire and brimstone upon his enemies. At a conference last year he vowed to get "retribution", and on Christmas Day he posted that he hoped his opponents would "ROT IN HELL".

He has promised to "go after" Joe Biden and his family for their supposed "corruption", repeatedly describing the numerous criminal investigations against him as politically-motivated "witch hunts" and pledging to respond in kind.

When he declared earlier this month that he would not abuse his power to exact retribution "except on day one", many of his allies leaped to his defence.

Several polls, including the Mails, have put Donald Trump in the lead against Joe Biden, who remains dogged by low approval ratings and opposition to his handling of the Israel-Hamas war among younger voters.
HKbitEX Collaborates with Shanghai Technology Exchange for Asset Tokenization Solutions

Disclosure: Crypto is a high-risk asset class. This article is provided for informational purposes and does not constitute investment advice. By using this website, you agree to our terms and conditions. We may utilise affiliate links within our content, and receive commission.

The Hong Kong-based digital asset exchange, HKbitEX, partners with Shanghai Technology Exchange to develop asset tokenization (RWA) solutions for tech companies, supported by Chinas Ministry of Science and Technology and Shanghai municipal government.

On December 28, in a significant development marking the 20th anniversary of the Shanghai-Hong Kong cooperation mechanism, the Shanghai Technology Exchange and Hong Kong Digital Asset Exchange (HKbitEX) signed a memorandum for strategic cooperation. This event signifies a crucial step in the collaborative efforts between Shanghai and Hong Kong within the digital economy sector, aimed at jointly propelling the digital transformation and high-quality development of the Chinese economy.

The memorandum outlines a comprehensive collaboration between the two entities to provide financial solutions for innovative and entrepreneurial companies, leveraging asset tokenization. The primary goal is to address the financing challenges faced by these companies, including mismatched financing demands, valuation difficulties, and imperfect investment exit mechanisms.

The alliance between the Shanghai Technology Exchange and HKbitEX seeks to establish an open, transparent, and efficient platform, offering comprehensive financial solutions for tokenized tech companies. This collaborative initiative is designed to transcend regional boundaries, contributing to the coordinated development of the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area and the Yangtze River Delta, thereby fostering high-quality development in the Chinese economy.

Over the past two decades, Shanghai and Hong Kong have actively pursued innovation, deepening exchanges and cooperation. As critical engines for Chinese economic development, both cities are intensifying collaboration in the flourishing digital economy era to drive mutual growth and contribute to the overall advancement of the Chinese economy.

Shanghai Technology Exchange and HKbitEX Partner to Advance Web3.0 Ecosystem



The Shanghai Technology Exchange, established by the Ministry of Science and Technology and the Shanghai Municipal Peoples Government, is joining forces with HKbitEX, a part of the Tykhe Capital Group, to advance the development of a compliant Web 3.0 ecosystem in Hong Kong. The collaboration aims to leverage their respective strengths in fostering digital innovation and financial services.

The partnership between the Shanghai Technology Exchange and HKbitEX has plans to promote financing services for tokenized scientific and technological innovation enterprises jointly. This collaboration is expected to contribute to financial cooperation and technological innovation between Shanghai and Hong Kong, thereby supporting the high-quality development of the Chinese economy.

Notably, HKbitEX was among the initial applicants for the virtual asset trading platform license announced by the Hong Kong Securities and Futures Commission in September of the current year.

In August, the Shanghai government revealed plans to establish a cutting-edge blockchain technology hub by 2025, fostering seamless connectivity between Hong Kong and Singapore. This initiative aims to build a state-of-the-art urban digital infrastructure, leveraging blockchain for enhanced city governance, improved public services, and diverse industrial applications.

As part of this vision, Shanghai intends to create a cross-chain exchange hub node in the prestigious Lingang Special Area, with a specific focus on digital assets, finance, and shipping. Collaborations with Hong Kong and Singapore are actively being explored to launch interoperable blockchain pilots, facilitating seamless connectivity across multiple regions.
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Scientists have warned a zombie deer disease could spread to humans after hundreds of animals were infected with the illness in the US over the last year.

Chronic wasting disease (CWD), which leaves animals drooling, lethargic, stumbling and with a blank stare, has been found in 800 samples of deer, elk and moose across Wyoming.

But experts warned the disease was a slow-moving disaster and urged governments to prepare for the possibility of it spreading to humans.

The mad cow disease outbreak in Britain provided an example of how, overnight, things can get crazy when a spillover event happens from, say, livestock to people, CWD researcher Dr Cory Anderson told The Guardian.

Were talking about the potential of something similar occurring. No one is saying that its definitely going to happen, but its important for people to be prepared.

File photo of a Mule deer in Colorado, USA. Up to 800 samples of chronic wasting disease were found in deer, elk and moose (Getty Images)

In the UK, 4.4m cattle were slaughtered after mad cow disease spread in the 1980s and 1990s due to bovine being fed infected meat and bonemeal.

The disease, which is usually fatal for cattle, infects the central nervous system and leaves the animals with aggressive symptoms and a lack of coordination. Since 1995, 178 human deaths have been attributed to the human variant.

In 2017, 7,000 to 15,000 CWD-infected animals a year were being consumed by humans, according to the Alliance for Public Wildlife.

The figure was expected to rise by 20 per cent annually. In Wisconsin, thousands of people have probably eaten meat from infected deer, Dr Anderson said.

CWD is extremely hard to eradicate once an environment is infected. It can persist for years in dirt or on surfaces, and scientists report it is resistant to disinfectants, formaldehyde, radiation and incineration at 600C (1,100F).

It comes after US biotech company Ginkgo Bioworks warned illnesses transmitted from animals to humans could kill 12 times as many people in 2050 than they did in 2020.

The company said epidemics caused by zoonotic diseases - known as spillovers - could be more frequent in future due to climate change and deforestation.

Between 1963 and 2019, epidemics increased by almost 5 per cent every year, with deaths up by 9 per cent, according to the groups research.

If these annual rates of increase continue, we would expect the analysed pathogens to cause four times the number of spillover events and 12 times the number of deaths in 2050 than in 2020, it warned.
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Australian police searching the beaches in New South Wales found packages believed to contain more than 120kg of cocaine during the Christmas period.

The packages washed up over several days, with the first batch being discovered on 22 December near Magenta beach, located 80km from Sydney. They contained 39 smaller parcels of 1kg cocaine bricks, police said.

Police have now been told presumptive testing indicates the package contains cocaine, authorities wrote in a release last Friday.

On Sunday, seven similar packages containing 7kg cocaine were recovered, said police. A third batch was found on the day after Christmas when a fisherman at a beach just north of Sydney informed the police about finding a blue barrel allegedly containing 39 wrapped packages of 1kg cocaine.

The same day, another 39 packages of similar kind were reported to have been found near Newcastle, taking the total recovered cocaine amount to 124kg.

In each case, the police seized the package for further forensic examination, as they urged the locals to report any similar packages washing up on the shore. In a statement on its Facebook page on Wednesday, the New South Wales Police said that they were working closely with the local police and specialist resources, including the Australian Border Force and Surf Life Saving NSW, to find the origin.

We thank those who have heeded the warning to report any suspicious packages to police as we get to the bottom of this matter and we remind people that being in possession of a prohibited drug is a criminal offence, said detective chief superintendent Jason Weinstein.

Detectives and specialist police are currently combing beaches and coastlines for any outstanding packages and working behind the scenes to make sure we find and hold accountable those responsible.
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Gaston Glock, the reclusive Austrian developer of the handgun that bears his name, died on Wednesday. He was 94.

The Glock company announced his death, the Austria Press Agency reported.

The tycoon and developer of the worlds best-selling handguns won loyal followings among police and military across the world with his and his familys fortune estimated to be at $1.1bn (858m) in 2021, according to Forbes.

Glock founded the company in 1963 in Deutsch-Wagram, near Vienna. However, his rise began in the 1980s when the Austrian military was looking for a new, innovative weapon and has since expanded around the world, including a US subsidiary founded in 1985.

Up until then, the Glock company had made military knives and consumer goods including curtain rods. But he assembled a team of firearms experts and came up with the Glock 17, a lightweight semi-automatic gun largely made of plastic.

The revolutionary design - with a frame made of a high-strength, nylon-based polymer and only the slide made of metal - beat several other companies blueprints. The weapon was significantly lighter, cheaper and more reliable than the models available when it was created and was quickly picked up by police and some countries military forces, as well as privately, making it a global hit.

"Get yourself a Glock and lose that nickel-plated sissy pistol," Tommy Lee Jones said in the 1998 movie US Marshals. US rappers also worked them into their rhymes, among them Snoop Doggs "Protocol" and Wu-Tang Clans "Da Glock".

US soldiers found toppled Iraqi president Saddam Hussein hiding with a Glock in a hole in the ground in 2003. They later presented that weapon to then US president George W Bush, according to the New York Times.

Glock said on its website that its founder "not only revolutionised the world of small arms in the 1980s, but also succeeded in establishing the Glock brand as the global leader in the handgun industry".

However, gun-control advocates criticised Glock for popularising powerful guns that they said were easy to conceal and could hold more ammunition than other guns.

A former US Marine combat veteran armed with what police described as a .45 calibre Glock with a high-capacity magazine killed 12 people in a bar in Thousand Oaks, California, in November 2018.

White supremacist Dylann Roof used a Glock pistol to kill nine African-American people during a Bible study session at a church in Charleston, South Carolina, in June 2015.

Additional reporting by agencies
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Thousands of UK soldiers will go on standby from next year as a first response unit against threats to members of Nato, the Ministry of Defence has announced.

The alliances Very High Readiness Joint Task Force (VJTF), created after Russia annexed Crimea in 2014 and which took on renewed importance following Moscows full-scale invasion of Ukraine last year, acts as Natos first line of defence against hostile forces.

Germany had been leading the reaction force but will hand over to the UK on 1 January 2024. The role is rotated every year among Nato members.

The UKs 7th Light Mechanised Brigade, known as the Desert Rats, will be at the core of this 6,000-person responsive unit.

The brigade consists of a light cavalry regiment, four light mechanised infantry battalions and a light infantry battalion.

Nato spokesperson Dylan White said the brigade will need to be available within days to mobilise against hostile actors.

It will be the first time the VJTF will oversee a Nato border with Russia, after Finland joined the alliance in April.

Their membership more than doubled the border with Russia from 754 miles to 1,584 miles.

Over the past few months, Finland has been forced to shut its 830-mile border with Russia after accusing the Kremlin of driving migrants to the border to sow discord as payback for opting for membership of the alliance.

Finland closed its 830-mile border with Russia last month (Lehtikuva)

Russias invasion of Ukraine also shows no signs of abating as Ukraines top general, Valery Zaluzhny, warned that Moscow planned to raze whole cities to the ground.

The US remains the military backbone of the alliance but, with the prospect of Nato-sceptic Donald Trump returning to the White House in November, the UK defence secretary Grant Shapps said it was vital that Britain continues to show a leading role.

The UK is at the heart of Nato, Mr Shapps said in a statement. By heading up Natos Very High Readiness Joint Task Force in 2024, we are taking another leading position in the alliance, sending a clear message that Britain is stepping up to our global defence commitments as Nato enters its 75th year.

The UKs armed forces stand ready, at a moments notice, to defend our allies and protect the British national interest.

The world is a more dangerous and contested place than it has been for decades and we need Nato more than ever. The UK and its allies are committed to supporting Nato and what it stands for.

Natos Joint Force Command in the Dutch municipality of Brunssum will command the response force in 2024. The UKs Allied Rapid Reaction Corps will serve as the land component command.
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Russias highest court has upheld a decision denying an anti-war politician from running in the upcoming presidential election against Vladimir Putin.

Yekatrina Duntsova, 40, a former TV journalist, revealed the Russian Supreme Court had upheld a ban imposed by the election commission last week against her.

She is at least the third opposition figure to Mr Putin who has been sidelined since the Russian autocrat announced earlier this month that he would run for a fifth presidential term.

Russias central election commission refused to accept Ms Duntsovas initial nomination by a group of supporters, citing errors in the paperwork, including spelling.

She revealed on Wednesday that Russias Supreme Court had upheld that decision. Both courts are controlled by the Kremlin.

Ms Duntsova speaks to reporters outside the Russian courts after being barred from running in the presidential election (AP)

Ms Dunstova, a former regional legislator, has promoted her vision of a humane Russia thats peaceful, friendly and ready to cooperate with everyone on the principle of respect.

The opposition politician remained defiant after the result at the Supreme Court, one that she likely expected.

She wrote on Telegram: We cannot give up. We need to act to make our voice heard. There are a lot of us.

We will definitely achieve the right to live without fear, speak freely and be confident in our future.

She added that she believed that there are tens of millions of Russians who oppose the war in Ukraine but that they did not have a single political party to represent them.

Under Russian law, independent candidates must be nominated by at least 500 supporters, and must also gather at least 300,000 signatures from 40 regions or more to run in the election.

Vladimir Putin is widely expected to win the presidential election next March (Copyright 2023 Sputnik)

But the election commission has the right to block candidates such as Ms Duntsova irrespective of the number of signatures acquired, while any hopes of success once officially a candidate on the ballot are precluded by the Kremlins fixing of the result.

The fact of merely identifying as an opposition to Mr Putin is also enough to be reprimanded.

The Russian leader announced his intention to run for his fifth term on 8 December during a stage-managed awards ceremony with war veterans returning from the frontlines in Ukraine.

His main political opponent, Alexei Navalny, 47, who has been imprisoned for 19 years on bogus extremism charges, was not seen for several weeks subsequently, before being discovered in a penal colony earlier this week in the Arctic Circle, more than a thousand miles away from Moscow.

Alexei Navalny, Putins main political opponent, went missing for weeks after the election date was set earlier this month (AP)

At the same time as Putins presidential announcement, two of Mr Navalnys lawyers had their pretrial detention custody extended until 13 March, four days before the next national vote, without reason.

Igor Girkin, an ultranationalist who had stated his intention to run for the presidency, also had his pretrial detention extended by six months.

Mr Putins inevitable victory on 17 March will set him up to rule Russia until 2030. He forced a constitutional change in 2020 that permits him to rule for another two consecutive terms, meaning he could remain in power until 2036, when he will be 83.

He is currently the longest-serving Russian president since Josef Stalin - the four years he stepped down to prime minister, between 2008 and 2012, Mr Putin was widely regarded to still be at the helm of the Kremlin.

He will become Russias outright longest-serving leader around the year 2030.
 Close Kyiv suffers largest ever drone attack by Russia leaving five wounded

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A Russian strike on a hotel in Kharkiv has injured 13 people as it has been claimed Vladimir Putins exhausted troops have been hitting their own towns.

Two Russian missiles struck a hotel late on Wednesday in the centre of Ukraines second-largest city, Kharkiv Governor Oleh Synehubov wrote on Telegram. Kharkivs prosecutors office said that among the 13 wounded is a 35-year-old man who was seriously injured and two Turkish journalists covering the war.

Meanwhile, the British Ministry of Defence (MoD) has claimed Russian forces have been accidentally bombing territories in their own country, or in occupied Ukraine. In its latest intelligence update, the MoD said the likelihood of these accidents had increased due to inadequate training and crew fatigue.

It comes as Ukrainian shelling injured three people in the Russian region of Belgorod late on Monday and air defences downed 10 RM-70 Vampir rockets, Russian officials and the defence ministry said.

Belgorod has come under repeated attack from Ukrainian forces in recent weeks. A missile and drone attack late last month killed 25 civilians, including five children.
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Israel has warned it will ramp up military action against Iranian-backed forces in southern Lebanon as fears grow that the war in Gaza could escalate to a regional conflict.

The Hezbollah militia has been firing into northern Israel daily since 7 October, when its allied Hamas fighters stormed into southern Israel, killing 1,140 people and taking 240 hostages.

There has been an uptick in cross-border exchanges this week as Hezbollah fired anti-tank rockets, artillery and weaponised drones at Israeli positions. Israel responded immediately by sending up warplanes and firing air-to-surface missiles at Hezbollah positions.

On Wednesday, Hezbollah launched its highest number of cross-border attacks since the day following Hamas attack in October.

Israeli minister Benny Gantz, one of only three members of the countrys war cabinet, has since threatened the militant group, saying that the Israeli military will soon be forced to take a more aggressive retaliatory approach to these attacks.

Benny Gantz has threatened to open a second front in southern Lebanon

The situation on Israels northern border demands change, the minister told a press conference.

The stopwatch for a diplomatic solution is running out; if the world and the Lebanese government dont act in order to prevent the firing on Israels northern residents and to distance Hezbollah from the border, the Israel Defence Forces will do it," he said.

Major General Ori Gordin, Israels head of the northern command, said his forces had been put into a high state of readiness in light of the recent attacks. Tens of thousands of Israeli soldiers are believed to be stationed near the border with Lebanon.

Today, we approved plans for a variety of contingencies, and we need to be prepared to strike if required, he added.

During a visit to northern forces on Wednesday, Israels foreign minister Eli Cohen said Hezbollahs leader, Hassan Nasrallah, should understand that he is next in line to be targeted. Israeli officials have previously said killing Yahya Sinwar, the leader of Hamas in the Gaza Strip, is their top priority.

Four Israeli civilians and eight soldiers have been killed in the latest round of clashes. Nearly 80,000 people have also been evacuated from the north of Israel, according to the Israeli military.

State media in Lebanon reported on Wednesday that a Hezbollah fighter and two of his relatives had been killed in an Israeli airstrike.

It has been alleged that two of the three killed were Australian citizens who had travelled to Lebanon recently from Sydney.

Mourners carry the coffins of a Hezbollah fighter and two civilians killed by an Israeli airstrike this week (AP)

The acting Australian foreign minister, Mark Dreyfus, said he was investigating Israeli claims that one of them was a member of Hezbollah.

Hezbollah was designated as a terrorist organisation by the UK government in March 2019.

The UK government website listing all organisations they have proscribed as terrorists, which includes Hamas, claims Hezbollah is committed to armed resistance to the state of Israel and aims to seize all Palestinian territories and Jerusalem from Israel.

Funded by Iran, a regional power and anti-western force vehemently opposed to the state of Israel, Hezbollah is one of the most heavily armed, non-state military forces in the world.

Israel and the southern Lebanese group engaged in a full-blown war in 2006 when the militia carried out deadly cross-border attacks. Israeli forces subsequently invaded southern Lebanon.
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A Qatar court has dropped the death penalty for eight Indian ex-naval officers arrested in the Arab country last year, the Indian government said on Thursday.

"We have noted the verdict today of the Court of Appeal of Qatar in the Dahra Global case, in which the sentences have been reduced," said India's foreign ministry, adding that details of the judgment were awaited.

It added that the government was in "close touch" with the legal team as well as the family members of the eight people arrested in August last year.

The reduced sentence comes as a big diplomatic victory for New Delhi after officials filed an appeal in November against capital punishment.

The eight men were sentenced to death by a court on unspecified charges on 26 October.

The Indian ambassador to Qatar and other officials were present in court along with the families of the eight arrested during the hearing.

The foreign ministry said, "due to the confidential and sensitive nature of proceedings of this case, it would not be appropriate to make any further comment at this juncture".

India responded with shock after the eight high-ranking former officers were charged amid allegations of spying while working at Al Dahra, a consulting company in the oil-rich Gulf state that advises the Qatari government on submarine acquisitions.

The veterans have been identified as Captain Navtej Singh Gill, Captain Birendra Kumar Verma, Captain Saurabh Vasisht, Commander Amit Nagpal, Commander Purnendu Tiwari, Commander Sugunakar Pakala, Commander Sanjeev Gupta, and Sailor Rajesh.

The men have been in solitary confinement since being arrested, according to local media reports.

Family members of the veterans vehemently refuted the allegations of them being engaged in espionage.

They went to build the Qatari Navy and build that nations security. They could never spy. There are no proof of allegations..., a family member was quoted by NDTV as saying.

Indias prime minister Narendra Modi met Qatars emir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al-Thani on the sidelines of the COP28 summit in Dubai in December, just days before the Indian ambassador was allowed to meet the convicts.

It was unclear whether Mr Modi raised the issue with the emir.

More than 800,000 Indian citizens live and work in Qatar, which is also a significant provider of natural gas for India.
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A couple has gone viral for accusing American Airlines staff of keeping them from their dogs after their flight was delayed.

The married couple from Florida, identified by the DailyMail as 42-year-old Dustin Miller and 40-year-old Anthony Thorne, were recently filmed during a public outburst at Charlotte Douglas Airport. In the since-deleted video, which was initially shared on TikTok, Miller could be seen yelling: American Airlines f***ed us over!

The clip began with Miller angrily speaking to American Airlines staff as his husband, holding a Louis Vuitton bag, urged Miller to remember your girls - later revealed to be their pet dogs, Shelby and Dolly.

You dont care about the girls, you dont care about the girls, Thorne reiterated, seemingly trying to calm down Miller. However, the Fort Lauderdale-based accountant announced to fellow passengers at the gate: Hello, everybody! American Airlines f***ed us over!

His husband then repeated the names of their pet dogs, saying: Shelby and Dolly. Shelby and Dolly. Shelby and Dolly, remember them. Im just trying to get home to the girls.

Towards the end of the video, Miller could be seen yelling expletives at a woman sitting in a wheelchair, who was also waiting to board the flight to Fort Lauderdale. The woman appeared to tell the couple to go away, to which Miller replied: F*** off, bitch.

American Airlines flight AA321 from Charlotte, North Carolina, to Fort Lauderdale, Florida, was delayed and ultimately cancelled on 27 December, according to FlightAware. A subsequent flight took off from Charlotte later that day at 11.08pm ET, landing in Fort Lauderdale the following morning at 1.03am ET.

Flight AA321 from CLT to FLL was first delayed and ultimately cancelled last night so they did not make it home to the girls, one person wrote on X, formerly known as Twitter, where the deleted TikTok was reposted.

Miller works as an accountant at Sykes & Company, according to his LinkedIn. He has been married to Thorne for nine years and they reside in Wilton Manors, Florida. Thorne works as an executive senior associate at healthcare consulting firm Rudish Health in Fort Lauderdale, his LinkedIn states. The couple recently celebrated their nine-year wedding anniversary, the DailyMail reported.

Its possible the names Shelby and Dolly are in reference to the 1989 movie Steel Magnolias, in which one of the characters, played by Julia Roberts, is named Shelby and Dolly Parton plays the part of Truvy Jones.

The Independent has contacted American Airlines for comment.
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Although Royals Caribbeans nine-month world cruise only set sail a few weeks ago, the experience has already gone viral on social media, with passengers opening up about their time on the boat.

On 10 December, the Ultimate World Cruise officially started its tour, with the ship  the Serenade of the Seas  departing from Miami, Florida. As noted by Royal Caribbeans itinerary, the trip consists of 274 nights, with visits to 11 world wonders and over 60 countries. Some of the destinations include Aruba, Barbados, Japan, Italy, Greece, Spain, Denmark, Germany, and France. The cruise concludes in the United States, as it docks back in Miami on 10 September 2024, after a day in the Bahamas on 9 September 2024.

Passengers will also have the opportunity to bond with like-minded explorers over global discoveries across all seven continents, according to Royal Caribbeans website. In addition, travellers will have the chance to connect with countless distinct cultures, soak up the most spectacular landscapes on Earth, and marvel at World Wonders that showcase mankinds boundless imagination.

Since the cruise began, passengers have documented their experiences on board, from the size of their rooms, to the meals being served, to some additional perks if theyre part of the Royal Caribbeans Pinnacle Club, which travellers get to join after accumulating over 700 cruise points from the previous cruises theyve taken. When posting videos on TikTok, passengers often use the #UltimateWorldCruise hashtag, which has more than 119.2m views as of 27 December.

From how to do your laundry to the cost of a room on board, heres everything we know about the Royal Caribbeans Ultimate World Cruise from TikTok.

What are the rooms on the ship like and how much do they cost?

As noted by Royal Caribbeans website, the most inexpensive room option for the 247 nights is $59,999 per person for an interior stateroom. Prices for other rooms are in a higher range, with the junior suite starting at $117,599 per person. However, regardless of the type of room passengers get, they are all offered amenities like a VOOM internet package, wash and fold laundry service, and a deluxe beverage package.

On TikTok, many passengers have shared in-depth tours of their rooms, with many showing off the relatively tiny spaces. For example, Ale Kenney recently shared a video of a room, which started with footage of the living room area, where there was a blue couch with a blanket on it. She and her husband, Andrew, decorated the walls with a banner, pictures, and sketches. There was also a desk and closet, which Kenney opted not to open because it was really tiny and she didnt want everything in it to fall out.

She then made her way to their small bathroom, where there was a tall shower right across from the sink. The bathroom also included a white toilet, underneath a magnetic shelf that the couple brought for extra storage. She noted that in addition to cramming [her] makeup and medicine in the storage section underneath the sink, she had a very tiny mirrored cabinet that opened. Kenney then made her way back through the living room and concluded her video with a shot of the king-sized bed in her room.

What kind of food is offered on the cruise?

While aboard the Ultimate World Cruise, guests are offered a variety of food options, from snacks to speciality dining. Royal Caribbean notes that one frequent spot for meals is the Windjammer, which is a buffet thats open for breakfast, lunch and dinner. On TikTok, passengers have shared some of the meals theyve eaten daily.

For example, a TikTok user who goes by the name Amike shared a video last week of what she ate in a day on the cruise, starting with breakfast at the Windjammer. Some of her food included fruit, yoghurt, a muffin, oatmeal, and a smoothie. For lunch, she returned to the Windjammer, where she had a salad, a burger patty with cheese, a plate of vegetables, and a coffee. For dinner at the buffet, she had some fish, noodles, corn, and slices of watermelon.

Amike also acknowledged that while shes received multiple questions about the food, her meals on the ship have been so good.

How do passengers do their laundry throughout the next nine months?

Each passenger on the cruise receives a laundry package, as noted by Royal Caribbean. The package includes a complimentary wash and fold service where passengers can send out up to three bags of laundry per week.

In a video shared to TikTok, passenger Brandee Lake went on to document her 10th day on sea, which included her plans to do laundry that day. She noted that while she didnt necessarily want someone else doing her laundry, she opted to go to the self-service laundry that was offered on board, which is free for passengers to use.

Is there a certain age range among travellers on the cruise?

Throughout the first few weeks of the cruise, many TikTok users have questioned who the passengers are on the trip, given its hefty price and lengthy time period. With that in mind, social media users have noticed that a lot of people who share content appear to be a part of Generation Z, meaning they were born between 1997 and 2012. However, according to Kenney, thats not necessarily the case.

I would say the majority, like the overwhelming majority of passengers, are retirees (or seniors), she said during an interview with Today, as she noted that 90 per cent of passengers were retired.

That doesnt change the fact that cruises are a popular travelling experience for adults. According to Gavin Smith, vice president and managing director of Royal Caribbean AUNZ, theres still a growing interest in cruises among young people.

Our Caribbean and European cruises are attracting younger Australian guests, with short Caribbean sailings proving immensely popular, including our new Oasis Class ship Utopia of the Seas which launches in July, he told News.com.au.

Regardless of the ages of passengers on the Ultimate World Cruise, people on social media have joked about what drama could occur on the nine-month trip. One woman named Kates, who goes by the name @whimsysoul on TikTok, went on to share The Ultimate Bingo Card for the next year for anyone else who is buckling in for this nine months TikTok reality show.

Some of the spaces on her Bingo Card included someone goes home early, staff dates passenger, lobster style sunburn, brands sponsor passengers, and minor mystery to solve.

The Independent has contacted Royal Caribbean for comment.
Indonesia to Require Cryptocurrency Exchanges to Register with Countrys National Digital Asset Bourse

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The Indonesian government has announced that all cryptocurrency exchanges operating within the country will be required to register with the newly established Commodity Future Exchange (CFX).

Launched earlier this year, the CFX is the worlds first national bourse dedicated to digital assets.

It aims to provide a safer environment for crypto investors while also serving as a platform to track digital asset transactions for taxation purposes.

The move comes as a response to the surging demand for cryptocurrencies in Indonesia, where the number of registered crypto traders exceeds that of stock traders, according to official data from 2023.

Under regulations introduced in 2019 by the Indonesian Commodity Futures Trading Supervisory Agency (Bappebti), all crypto exchanges operating in the country are required to seek authorization.

While exchanges that have been operating legally since 2014 fall under the category of prospective crypto exchanges, they must still undergo a rigorous process to gain recognition as legitimate entities associated with the CFX.

Beyond regulatory oversight, the registration requirement with the CFX serves as a gateway for the Indonesian government to monitor cryptocurrency transactions for tax purposes.

Exchanges Who Fail to Register Would Face Shutdown



The authorization process involves registration with self-regulatory organizations (SROs) like the CFX, followed by scrutiny by Bappebti to assess the companys suitability to operate.

Only after meeting all requirements can a crypto exchange be issued a crypto exchange license (PFAK).

Failure to complete the new procedures and registrations within the specified timeframe will result in the inability to operate in Indonesia.

The deadline for registration is set for August 17, 2024.

There are currently 29 prospective crypto exchanges in Indonesia that will need to obtain authorization.

It is worth noting that the upcoming regulatory overhaul in 2025 will shift the oversight of cryptocurrency regulation from Bappebti to Indonesias Financial Services Authority (OJK).

This change could potentially reclassify cryptocurrencies as securities, which may have implications for taxation.

While crypto assets are currently subject to Value Added Tax (VAT) and Income Tax (PPh) as commodities, reclassification as securities could potentially lead to a reduction in taxes.

As reported, in late February, Didid Noordiatmoko, head of the countrys Commodity Futures Trading Regulatory Agency (Bappebti), said that the nation aimed to launch its much-anticipated state-backed crypto exchange by mid-2023.

He added that the exchange will be run by a private-sector company rather than the government. Also, private-sector crypto platforms will execute trades on the exchange.

Yet, in late May, Bali Governor Wayan Koster suggested that the popular Indonesian tourist island will tighten rules around payments to make it harder for foreign tourists to pay with crypto.

Just recently, Gibran Rakabuming Raka, a vice presidential candidate in the upcoming Indonesian election, said he aims to accelerate Indonesias position as a leader in the digital revolution by cultivating expertise in blockchain and cryptocurrencies.

We are preparing blockchain experts, we are preparing cybersecurity experts, we are preparing crypto experts, Gibran affirmed during the event on December 10.
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For a break from adventures that follow the Amazon and the swing of samba sessions, Brazil welcomes holidaymakers to lay a towel and pop a parasol on its creamy coast.

With over 4,500 miles of shoreline facing the Atlantic Ocean, the South American giants beaches are primed for paddling and bathing on golden grains.

And the countrys coastline is as versatile as it is vast. Copacabana and Ipanema, world-renowned crescents of culture in Brazils old capital, meet crashing surf swells on laid-back Praia da Pipa, while Jericoacoaras idyllic lagoons and dunes beg beach dwellers to sink their toes into the sand.

Beyond topping up your tan, jungle-fringed promenades of indie boutiques and bars, exhilarating watersports and preservation efforts for local marine life promise to elevate days spent shoreside.

From the buzzing urban swathes of Rio de Janeiro to the quiet coconut coves of Trancoso, here are the best Brazilian praias to pick for a carnival of sand, sea, surf and sunshine.

Read more on Brazil travel:

Baia do Sancho, Fernando de Noronha

Descend steep ladders and a narrow tunnel to reach the protected golden shore of Baia do Sancho (Getty Images/iStockphoto)

Baia do Sancho, a remote cove in the Fernando de Noronha National Park, has been consistently hailed as one of the worlds best for its paradise sands and emerald waters  and its well worth the effort to get there. Adventurous travellers will have to descend steep ladders and a narrow tunnel to reach the Unesco-protected golden stretch, but rest assured its worth the effort.

The Brazilian island enforces a cap on tourist numbers in high season alongside a visiting fee, so be prepared to book your stay in advance and allow enough time to explore.

Trancoso, Porto Seguro

Trancoso is a hippie haven lined with lush jungle  and the sands have a lot of soul (Getty Images/iStockphoto)

A haven for hippies in the 1970s, Trancoso has maintained its unspoilt allure in the northeast Bahia province. In the laid-back and luxe village lined with tangerine-toned storefronts and fringed by lush jungle, life revolves around the beach. Silky sands full of soul showcase Brazil at its best, beach bars function as community hubs, and shack-style accommodations guarantee youll get away from it all in the company of marmoset monkeys and nesting green turtles.

Praia do Forte, Salvador

Peppered with parasols amid the local flora and fauna, Praia do Forte also hosts a preservation centre for sea turtles (Getty Images/iStockphoto)

One of Brazils most spectacular beaches, Praia do Fortes golden resort sits an hour from Salvador for daily doses of sun on white dunes shaded by coconut groves. Peppered with parasols amid the local flora and fauna, the ecotourism centre is lapped with turquoise waters safe for swimming and snorkelling.

Praia do Forte also hosts a preservation centre, the Tamar Project, for sea turtles, with full moon tours running from September to March for a chance to witness the hatchlings first waddle to the water.

Jericoacoara, Ceara

Bridging jungle and sea, Jericoacoaras idyllic lagoons and dunes await beach bums visiting Brazil (Getty Images/iStockphoto)

Once a sleepy fishing community but now a world-class coast known for its idyllic lagoons and dunes, Jericoacoaras surfer-chic streets sit by waters that gently rock kite and windsurfers in Brazils  neglected by tourists  north. For sunset scenes of orange and purple, caipirinha in hand, Jericoacoaras back to basics waterfront (best enjoyed barefoot) rivals Rio for a slice of beachy Brazil.

Copacabana and Ipanema, Rio de Janeiro

Rio de Janeiros adjacent crescents of white sparkle in the sunlight (Getty Images/iStockphoto)

The creme de la creme of Brazils sandy sweeps, famed Copacabana and adjacent Ipanema, are city-side crescents of white built for socialising, sunbathing and surfing. Of course, music and passion are still always the fashion on the mosaic promenade, with lively young crowds drawn to dance, drink and dive in on Rios best-known beaches backdropped by the Serra da Carioca mountain range. No visit would be complete without a bathe on the signature sands.

Lopes Mendes, Ilha Grande

Lively corals teeming with marine life lap the powder sands on Lopes Mendes (Getty Images/iStockphoto)

To float far from Rios cityscapes, head for the powder sands of Lopes Mendes on the tropical Ilha Grande island. With clear, warm waters teeming with corals and marine life, palm-fringed coves and great surfing waves, Lopes Mendes is a paradise, all palettes of blues backed by dense jungle flora. Water taxis from Abraao to Pouso ferry holidaymakers to the serene Ilha Grande hotspot and there's plenty of space for some secluded sunbathing.

Praia da Pipa, Rio Grande do Norte

Theres 1.5km of golden grains to explore on laid-back Praia da Pipa (Getty Images/iStockphoto)

Surfs up in Rio Grande do Norte and theres 1.5km of golden grains to explore on laid-back Praia da Pipa. With year-round temperatures of up to 30C and a developing digital nomad scene for remote workers, the dolphin playground reigns supreme for a Brazilian beach break. Think fine white sand, hospitable locals and fresh fish dishes from beachside kiosks accompanied by shaken cachaca cocktails and frosty pints of Brahma.

Porto de Galinhas, Ipojuca

Fringed with coconut palms and all-inclusive resorts, Porto de Galinhas takes a prime position on Brazils eastern point (Getty Images/iStockphoto)

A sprinkling of beach resorts fringed with coconut palms and all-inclusive hotels line the east coast, but Porto de Galinhas takes a prime position on Brazils easternmost point. Turquoise waters, crystalline natural pools and an ambient village have positioned the Port of Chickens as one of Brazils best beach destinations for snorkelling, dune buggy rides and swinging hammock sessions in the balmy breeze.

Praia Mole, Florianopolis

A hot spot with the LGBTQ+ community, Praia Mole is a dream for sunning and surfing (Getty Images/iStockphoto)

Santa Catarina island, with its 42 beaches, a mountainous interior and windsurfing waves, offers something for everyone. A hot spot with the LGBTQ+ community, Praia Mole is a secluded dream for sun seekers, surfers, yoga enthusiasts and nightlife lovers visiting Florianopolis for boozy sessions in surf shacks punctuated by spectacular sunsets.

Read more of our best winter sun hotel reviews
A suspect was caught making dirt angels at a Florida construction site while police searched for him after leaving the scene of a car crash.

Eliezer Armando Reyes Rios, 34, took off when deputies arrived at the crash scene and climbed a fence into a large construction site.

He was seen from above as he laid down in a pit of soil and started making what Hillsborough County Police Department described as dirt angels.

The suspect was also seen making calls on his phone.

Reyes Rios was later arrested on several charges, including leaving the scene of a crash and trespassing on a construction site.
A flight carrying a group of migrants heading from Texas to New York was diverted and forced to land in Pennsylvania.

Weather conditions caused the aircraft, carrying around 200 people, to divert to Philadelphia International Airport on Tuesday, 26 December.

The flight was sent by Governor Greg Abbott as part of his plan to transport migrants out of Texas.

Fabien Levy, Deputy Mayor for Communications in New York, tweeted on Wednesday that the flight from Governor Abbot was unannounced & uncoordinated.

He called the flight an inhumane act of treating human beings like political pawns.

Mr Levy confirmed that the migrant group were then bused to NYC from Philadelphia.
Eyewitness video showed a badly flooded road in the Scottish town of Cupar on Wednesday 27 December.

Storm Gerrit has brought snow, powerful winds and heavy rain to much of Scotland, with homes flooded and travel disrupted.

The bad weather also hit the A9 on Wednesday, leading to closures and stand-stills along sections of the nations longest road.

In England, a suspected tornado damaged roofs and smashed windows as a rare supercell thunderstorm passed over Greater Manchester overnight.
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Former South Carolina governor Nikki Haley went into damage control this week over her comments about the Civil War.

At an event on Wednesday in Berlin, New Hampshire, someone asked her what caused the bloody conflict. What followed was a garbled and evasive mish-mash of words where she said I think the cause of the Civil War was basically how government was going to run. The freedoms and what people couldn't do. Eventually, she asked her questioner what he thought the cause was.

On Thursday, she began damage control, saying on a New Hampshire talk radio show that Of course the Civil War was about slavery before bizarrely saying thats the easy part of it. At another campaign event in North Conway, she said later tried to clarify her comments in a painful monologue.

This would be an unacceptable answer for any presidential candidate given that the answer was simple: slavery. Its especially dire for a woman who prided herself on taking down the Confederate battle flag from the state capitol after a white supremacist murdered nine Black parishioners at Mother Emanuel AME Church in Charleston in 2015. Indeed, the letter South Carolina sent declaring its secession from the union in 1861 cited increasing hostility on the part of the non-slaveholding States to the institution of slavery and feared Abraham Lincolns election because his opinions and purposes are hostile to slavery.

But Ms Haleys problems run far deeper than one simple prevaricating comment about the Civil War. Rather, the larger structural problems within Ms Haleys candidacy have now come into full relief and she still faces the same obstacle that every Republican not named Donald Trump has  the math isnt on her side.

Since she launched her campaign in February, Ms Haley benefited from two windfalls: breathless favourable media coverage as the political press hopes to find a Republican who simultaneously is not Mr Trump while and who does not come off as too odious in their delivery; the second is debates in which Mr Trump chose not to participate.

As Florida Governor Ron DeSantiss campaign failed to live up to its expectations, donors began to flock to Ms Haley. Similarly, her pushback against businessman Vivek Ramaswamy in debates has generated viral moments. This led to New Hampshires Governor Chris Sununu backing Ms Haley and campaigning for her.

But even as her numbers have gone up, she has little chance of competing against Mr Trump, who nominated her to be the US ambassador to the United Nations.

In Iowa, Ms Haley now polls in second place in most surveys. Thats still not enough. An Emerson College poll showed that she more than tripled her support in the Hawkeye State. But that just means she went from 5 per cent in May to 17 per cent in December, compared to Mr Trump who enjoys 50 per cent of the vote. While she is the second choice of 44 per cent of Mr DeSantiss dwindling supporters, 28 per cent would break for Mr Trump, giving him an even bigger boost.

Spencer Kimball, Emersons polling director, said when the poll was released that Ms Haley support among post-graduate GOP voters where her support has increased by 27 points since September. Unfortunately for her, most Republicans dont have post-graduate degrees and the GOP is increasingly becoming a party populated by non-college educated voters.

Ms Haley has bet that she could break out in New Hampshire. Indeed, the states voters are not the same flavour as Iowas religious conservatives. And Ms Haley has gained ground in the Granite State. A St Anselm College Survey Center report showed she has doubled her support since September. But that just means she went from having 15 per cent of the vote to 30 per cent while Mr Trump has the support of 44 per cent of voters in New Hampshire.

All of these problems existed for her before her gaffe about the Civil War. And there is little evidence that Ms Haley, who in the past has criticised Mr Trump harshly before ultimately folding, could ever win over his slice of the GOP. That means she has to compete with Mr DeSantis in places like Iowa and former New Jersey governor Chris Christie in New Hampshire for the same piece of the pie. As long as thats the case, any candidate will not have a shot at putting up a competitive campaign against Mr Trump.
Revenues at the Dublin headquartered consumer food producer behind well-known brands such as Jacobs, Batchelors, Kelkin and Odlums this year increased by 142.6m or 11pc to 1.39bn.

However, new accounts for Valeo Foods UC show that higher costs along with an exceptional cost of 21.86m resulted in operating profits reducing by 57pc to 31.13m in the 12 months to the end of March this year.

Net finance expenses of 72.4m resulted in a pre-tax loss of 41.28m which followed a pre-tax loss of 2.07m in the prior year.

Valeo Foods operates 85 consumer food brands and is a market leader in 13 categories, including snacking & sweet treats, health & wellness, baking & meal ingredients, beverages and food service.

Since the group was established in 2010, it has gone to acquire 18 leading food businesses.

The groups Ireland revenues increased by 4pc to 321.4m, while the UK remained the groups largest market despite revenues declining marginally to 578.6m

The year under review was a breakthrough year for the groups North America expansion plans where revenues increased from zero to 102.5m, while Europe revenues rose from 315.05m to 356.6m. Global export revenues totalled 32.8m.

Numbers employed at the expanding Valeo Foods this year reduced from 4,489 to 4,253 and staff costs declined by 14.7m from 192.73m to 178m. Directors pay reduced sharply from 4.05m to 1.37m.

The accounts disclose that Valeo paid out 62.06m in cash  net of cash acquired  for maple syrup producer, Les Industries Bernard et Fils Ltee and a subsidiary in May 2022.

The new business contributed 95.2m in revenues and a post tax loss of 7.3m to the groups results during the year.

In their report, the directors state that excluding acquisitions and on a constant currency basis, revenue increased by 3 per cent and operating profit before exceptional items decreased by 41 per cent year-on-year.

They state that ongoing challenges in the retail sector and the broader economic environment including the economic impact of the Russian/Ukrainian conflict, particularly the significant increase in the cost of energy, utilities and consumables, along with increased pressure on the supply chain and availability of certain raw material inputs present a challenging environment for the group, particularly in respect of recovering such increases.

The directors state that additionally, the group has been continuing to deal with the impact of the pandemic on activity and consumer confidence.
ITIC says a fifth of beds not available as they are in use by Government

ITIC predicts the sector could see a 5pc increase in revenue next year. Stock photo: Steve Parsons/PA

A shortage of accommodation and Dublin airports passenger cap could hold back Irish tourism next year, the body representing the sector has warned.

In its year-end report and outlook, the Irish Tourism Industry Confederation (ITIC) said that the Governments new law restricting short-term letting could further reduce the supply of properties available to visitors.

The Irish tourism industry earned 5.3bn from overseas visitors this year and is expected to grow further in 2024, ITIC said in its report.

ITIC predicts the sector could see a 5pc increase in revenue next year, particularly due to demand from North American tourists.

There are currently 254,000 people working in the sector, making it the countrys largest indigenous industry and biggest regional employer.

Industry sentiment suggests that demand from the US, the top spending market, was particularly buoyant in 2023, with visitor demand from mainland Europe positive.

But ITIC says that 20pc of hotel and guesthouse beds are currently unavailable to the industry, as they are contracted to Government for refugees and asylum seekers.

The tourism body has also said that Dublin airport needs to be allowed grow beyond its current passenger cap of 32 million people. The cap has also been criticised by Dublin Airport Authority, with DAA chief executive Kenny Jacobs saying recently he wants the cap increased to 40 million by 2028.

ITIC is also calling on the Government for help in meeting the rising costs of doing business, some of which  such as the increase in the minimum wage  are due to new legislation.

Tourism firms are also still facing a challenge in recruiting staff, the report said.

The labour costs alone being imposed on businesses across the economy amount to about 4bn annually  this poses a significant burden for SMEs with tight profit margins and some of these costs should be offset by Government or else Irish competitiveness will be further eroded, said Eoghan OMara Walsh, ITICs chief executive.

ITIC chair Elaina Fitzgerald Kane said there could be an element of frustrated demand next year as a result of capacity constraints and other challenges facing the sector. She said that the conflict in the Middle East and the war in Ukraine could impact on consumer confidence.

Government cannot influence international events but the challenges affecting the industry domestically do lie in their gift, she said.

Action is needed on ameliorating cost challenges, addressing capacity concerns and improving competitiveness, and this will all help Irelands tourism and hospitality industry to continue on its path to full recovery.

According to the Central Statistics Office, tourism consumption amounted to 10bn in 2019, 73pc (or over 7bn) from overseas visitors, with the remainder from domestic trips.

Tourism generated approximately 2,000 per head of population. That same year, there were 284,800 directly employed in almost 46,000 tourism-related enterprises.
Dublin faces stiff competition in its bid for a new EU money laundering agency

The Government is throwing 80m  and a lot of heart and soul  at its bid to host the EUs new anti-money laundering agency. But it may not be enough.

Paris hosts the EUs markets and banking authorities, as well as being the seat of the OECD. Photo: Mike Hewitt/Getty Images

Sarah Collins Thu 28 Dec 2023 at 03:30







In a months time, Finance Minister Michael McGrath will travel to Brussels to be quizzed by MEPs on Dublins bid to host the EUs new money laundering watchdog, which includes an offer to cover the rent and costs of the new premises  slated for Coopers Cross in the north docks or Park Place near the national concert hall  for nine years.
Denmarks Maersk has scheduled several dozen container vessels to travel via the Suez Canal and the Red Sea in the coming days and weeks, but German rival Hapag-Lloyd said the route was still too dangerous.
How this UK farm grew from a local milk round to producing a premium organic milk brand

The Goslings also produce kefir and Guernsey milk from their own 140-strong herd on their 320ac farm outside Swindon in England

Ed Gosling in his milk processing unit on his dairy farm near Swindon

Hannah Quinn-Mulligan Thu 28 Dec 2023 at 07:00

Ed Gosling credits the entrepreneurial spirit of his great-grandfather with the success of his familys dairy farm today.
A Pennsylvania man who was sentenced in secret for his role in the U.S. Capitol riot cooperated with authorities investigating the Jan. 6, 2021, attack and an unrelated case, according to court documents unsealed this week.

The documents provide insight into the unusual secrecy in the case of Samuel Lazar, who had been released from federal custody in September after completing his sentence in his Capitol riot case. His case remained under seal even after his release, so there was no public record of a conviction or sentence.

The records unsealed this week show that Lazar of Ephrata admitted to spraying a chemical irritant at police officers who were trying to defend the Capitol and to using a bullhorn to encourage other rioters to take officers weapons as he yelled, Lets get their guns! He pleaded guilty to assaulting officers using a dangerous weapon and was sentenced to 30 months in prison during a sealed hearing last March.

More than 1,200 people have been charged with Jan. 6-related crimes, and hundreds of them have pleaded guilty. But it is rare for records of a guilty plea and sentence to be sealed, even in cases involving a defendants cooperation. Court hearings and records are supposed to be open and available to the public unless theres a compelling need for secrecy.

The documents show that prosecutors asked the judge last year to sentence Lazar to a prison term below the federal guidelines range, citing Lazars fulsome cooperation with the government. That included providing valuable information to authorities investigating the Jan. 6 attack, prosecutors said in court papers.

An attorney for Lazar declined to comment on Thursday. She told the judge that her clients behavior on Jan. 6 was completely out of character for him as he is extremely respectful, law abiding citizen who has deep respect and appreciation for law enforcement.

He blindly followed President Trumps cry to fight like hell to take back the country, lawyer Hope Lefeber wrote in a court filing.

The documents were unsealed on Wednesday after a coalition of news outlets, including the Associated Press, moved to publicly release records in his case. The documents, however, were then removed from the court docket after lawyers said they objected to the release of all of the documents and wanted the court to post only blacked-out versions.
SOVIET LEADER MIKHEAL GORBACHEV AND HIS WIFE RAISA WAVE GOODBY AT SHANNAN AIRPORT AFTER THEIR VIVIT TO IRELAND 2/4/89

Aer Rianta sought a Government contribution towards the IR100,000 cost of lavishly hosting Soviet President Mikhail Gorbachev at Shannon Airport in 1989.

Confidential papers released as part of the State Archive revealed Department of Foreign Affairs officials were nonplussed by the Aer Rianta request - and pointed out that a key element of the costs stipulated by the airport authority was not actually provided.

Mr Gorbachev staged a successful meeting with Irish officials at Shannon on April 2 1989.

He was greeted by Taoiseach Charles Haughey who had arranged for Dr P.J O'Meara of Trinity College Dublin (TCD), an expert in Russian language and literature, to be present to assist with translation.

The Government showcased the best in Irish food and drinks for the Soviet delegation with the brief working visit later hailed as a great success.

Irish officials stressed that agencies like Aer Rianta - who were helping the Soviets to develop duty free airport shops in Moscow and St Petersburg - were ideally placed to help further open up the Soviet economy.

On May 19 1989, Vincent Herlihy wrote to the Department of Foreign Affairs outlining a conversation with Aer Rianta's Barry O'Shea in respect of the large costs incurred by Aer Rianta in respect of the visit.

"He informed me that Aer Rianta had incurred an expenditure of about IR100,000 on the visit."

"At this stage, he was looking at bills and wondering whether we could pay those for which we could be considered responsible? For example, the duty free night shop which was converted into the press conference room at our request? Another example was the extensive catering done for our ministerial VIPs in the Aer Lingus room."

Mr Herlihy said that he believed certain costs which Aer Rianta undertook on their own initiative while other costs, such as VIP catering, should come out of their normal operating costs.

However, he agreed to raise the matter to determine the official position of the Department of Foreign Affairs.

The file added that the Gorbachev visit would be compared with the previous visits of US President Ronald Reagan and Pope John Paul II to determine how such costs were split.

A handwritten note attached to the file challenged the Aer Rianta request for costs to be offset and the reasons for it.

"You will recall that the duty free night shop was not converted into the press conference room since prior to the visit it did not exist! Since the visit the empty space which was decorated by them has been used as a duty free night shop."

Another file warned that media arrangements for Mr Gorbachev's visit allowed large groups of onlookers to create scenes which were nothing short of farcical."

It described: a free-for-all ensued with the world and his wife mobbing the president at the steps of the aircraft when Mr Haughey and his wife, Maureen were scheduled to pay a formal farewell wto Mr Gorbachev and his wife, Raisa.

It also criticised how there were too many notables and local officials crowding another scene during a photocall in the airports duty-free shop.
Foreign national found with visible injuries at rural Tipperary property

The house outside the village of Kilross, Co Tipperary, where the body of a man was discovered by gardai. Photo: Frank McGrath

Gardai are investigating the death of a man in Tipperary amid fears he may have been the victim of an assault on St Stephens night.

The man, who is not an Irish national, was found dead at a property at Ballycrana, Kilross, just outside Tipperary town and close to the Tipperary-Limerick border

His body was discovered early yesterday when gardai were called to a property where it is understood a house party had taken place on St Stephens Day.

A man was found unresponsive in the house and was later pronounced dead at the scene.

Initial indications are that he had visible injuries, and gardai want to determine whether these were sustained in an assault or in some kind of accident such as a fall.

There was no sign of forced entry at the property and no indication of a robbery.

Gardai have sealed off the scene and a forensic examination of the property will be conducted by members of the Garda Technical Bureau.

The Office of the State Pathologist has also been notified.

The dead man, who is believed to be aged in his 30s, will not be identified until his relatives overseas are notified.

A garda source said the nature of their investigation will be determined by the results of a post-mortem examination.

Gardai are conducting door-to-door inquiries in the rural area to determine if anyone heard or saw anything suspicious.

Detectives also want to determine who may have been with the deceased in recent days.

They are working to clarify if the man had been socialising with others in the 24 hours immediately before his death and precisely who was in the property on St Stephens Day.

Officers want to determine when the man was last seen in the Tipperary town-Kilross areas.

They appealed to anyone who might have information about the mans death to contact them.

Gardai are investigating all the circumstances surrounding the discovery of a body of a man in Tipperary, a spokesperson said.

The man was discovered deceased at a residence in Ballycrana, Kilross, shortly after 4am on Wednesday, December 27. The body remains at the scene.

The Office of the State Pathologist has been notified and a post-mortem examination will be arranged, the results of which will determine the course of the garda investigation.

The scene remains preserved at this time for a forensic and technical examination.

Any person with any information that can assist gardai with this investigation is asked to contact Tipperary town garda station on 062 80670, the Garda Confidential Line on 1800 666 111 or any Garda station.

It is understood the man was working in the south Tipperary area and regularly socialised in Tipperary town and Kilmallock.

A local source said it was believed he was from eastern Europe and had been living locally in rented accommodation. He moved to Ireland several years ago for work.

Councillor John Crosse, who is based in nearby Donohill, said the local community was shocked when news of the tragedy broke.

My thoughts and prayers are with this man and his family. It is absolutely heartbreaking to see something like this with the new year on the horizon, he said.

This is a very tight-knit and proud local community and I know everyone locally is deeply shocked and saddened by what happened. A death like this is upsetting at any time, but I think it is particularly tragic when it occurs over the Christmas and new year period.

Councillor Mary Hanna Hourigan, who also lives locally, said south Tipperary householders were in disbelief over the tragedy.

The first thing people knew that there was something going on locally was the large garda presence in Kilross over the morning, she said.

People couldnt believe it when they heard the news that someone had died locally. This is a really nice community and everybody looks out for everyone else. That is what makes this so very shocking.

One Kilross resident, who asked not to be named, said the local area was home to a large number of people who commuted to work in Limerick, Tipperary, Kilmallock, Mitchelstown and Cahir.

This is a very quiet area and people cannot credit something like this happening here. It is such a quiet and peaceful community, she said.

It is hard to believe a St Stephens Night could end in a terrible tragedy like this.
US president did not want to butt in on peace process

Taoiseach Bertie Ahern presents President George W Bush and First Lady Laura Bush with shamrock in the White House for St Patricks Day 2001. Photo: Getty

US president George W Bush warned Taoiseach Bertie Ahern that Russian president Vladimir Putins mentality remained that of someone who worked in the KGB.

The stark warning came as Mr Bush vowed to provide whatever help the US could to support the continuing Northern Ireland peace process, but stressed that Washington did not want to butt in, with matters best sorted between Dublin and London.

Confidential papers released as part of the State Archive revealed details of a high-level meeting in Washington on the eve of St Patricks Day 2001 between Irish officials and US diplomats.

Mr Ahern was accompanied to the White House Oval Office by then ambassador Sean O hUiginn, then secretary general Dermot Gallagher and Dr Martin Mansergh.

Mr Bush was accompanied by ambassador Richard Haass, national security adviser Condoleezza Rice and White House chief of staff Lewis Scooter Libby.

Mr Ahern was assured by Mr Bush that Mr Haass would be available for issues that concern your country.

He went on to reassure the Taoiseach that the US stood ready to respond to any indication of required assistance by the two governments.

He did not want to butt in, but he would be glad to help wherever help was needed, one file stated.

Mr Bush and the Taoiseach reaffirmed a commitment to close economic ties between the two countries.

The Taoiseach mentioned Russia and its importance as Europes neighbour, the memo added. Reform was still in doubt  the free market was hardly operating as it should. European leaders would be meeting Putin in Stockholm next week and they hoped for some indication of his future plans.

Mr Bush  whose father, former president George H Bush was a former director of the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA)  warned he had doubts over what was going on within Russia.

The president agreed with the Taoiseach that Russias resources, if properly managed, could enable it to play a powerful role in the world, the memo stated. He [President Bush] referred to Putins KGB background and said his mentality remained in that framework.

He would let Putin know that internal corruption prevents investment and financial help. Russia should not be selling arms to Iran.

The Cold War was over and there was a need for a new mentality.

Mr Bush also claimed that, in respect of the Middle East, Saddam Hussein cared nothing about his people.

He added that the US looked forward to working with Ireland on the UN Security Council amid concerns that the policy on Iraq was not working.

Mr Bush complained that the US was being blamed for the hardship caused by the economic sanctions policy, but the US motives were not understood.

In respect of Russia, he said Moscow was trying to isolate the US on the issue of a missile defence system, and Washington remained willing to share such technology with freedom-loving nations.

Mr Bush said the US felt Putin needed to pay more attention to nuclear security in his own country with threats today coming mainly from terrorist acts.

Russia needs to pay attention to its own nuclear safety, to the security of movement of nuclear elements and to its threatening behaviour to some of its contiguous neighbours, he said.

Mr Bush vowed to raise these issues with Putin, with freedom of speech issues within Russia also a matter of concern.
Major security operation for funeral of Dublin restaurant attacker Tristan Sherry who was shot with his own gun

Armed gardai will be present for service as fears of reprisals grow

Gardai braced for revenge attacks after gunman Tristan Sheery overpowered and killed in Christmas Eve shooting

Robin Schiller and Darragh Nolan Thu 28 Dec 2023 at 03:30







A gunman who opened fire in a Dublin restaurant on Christmas Eve was shot with his own weapon before being killed.
Secret documents revealed Irish officials considered whether to return extradition papers over Desmond Dessie Ellis to the UK in the 1990s because London had failed to get the constitutional name of the Irish state correct.

Files revealed officials at the Department of Justice and attorney generals office were carefully examining a British request for the extradition of Mr Ellis.

The extradition, which was first sought in January 1990, was the first major extradition request between London and Dublin since the 1970s.

In 1989/90, the British authorities lodged an extradition request for Mr Ellis who, since 2011, has been a Sinn Fein TD for Dublin North West.

Britain sought the extradition of Mr Ellis on charges linked to the 1982 Hyde Park bombing and the 1983 Harrods bombing.

It was viewed as the first major test of the new Extradition Act, 1987 which had followed the Anglo-Irish Agreement.

However, Irish officials were concerned that British law officers had completed the warrants by using the term Republic of Ireland rather than Ireland.

Civil servants, who were asked to offer an opinion on the warrant issue, were told that the case was likely to come before the District Court on January 8, 1990.

It advised that: The terms of the judgements on the issue of the name of the State would certainly suggest a possibility that the District Court will refuse Elliss extradition on this ground alone.

The Supreme Courts Mr Justice Brian Walsh was noted for his remarks that those applying for such warrants were obliged to ensure the details set out in them were correct.

If the courts of other countries seeking the assistance of the courts of this country are unwilling to give this State its constitutionally correct and internationally recognised name then, in my view, the warrants should be returned to such countries until they are rectified, he noted.

The attorney generals office had been in touch with legal officials in London to indicate that the use of the Republic of Ireland will not be acceptable in warrants and that the Checklist will have to be amended to make this explicit.

It was suggested to UK officials that they refer to a relevant city or county instead.

A legal adviser replied on January 9 that two formats of an agreement are used, and stated that both sides appear to be satisfied with the name of the other state as long as the document which binds them is in the correct designation according to domestic requirements.

It also states that legal requests from the UK are normally addressed to the courts of the Republic of Ireland, and have always been acted on without difficulty.

A briefing note from the Anglo-Irish Section states that UK law is clearly wrong in saying that Irish law names the State the Republic of Ireland, and rather, the law says the States name is Eire or Ireland, and the description of the state is the Republic of Ireland.

On November 14, 1990, Mr Ellis became the first person extradited from Ireland to the UK under the 1987 Extradition Act. He was aquitted of all charges at a trial in London in October 1991.
Princess Grace died after her car veered off a mountain road in September 1982. Photo: Bettmann

The Irish government was determined to honour Princess Grace of Monaco and her proud commitment to her Irish heritage by having President Patrick Hillery and a strong Irish delegation attend her funeral in September 1982.

Confidential documents released as part of the State Archive revealed Irish officials were acutely aware of how both Princess Grace and her husband, Prince Rainier, were interested in Ireland and had supported the country by paying several high-profile visits over the decades.

The file also noted that President Hillery was among the first to express his condolences at the Royal Palace in Monaco to Prince Rainier and two of his children, Prince Albert and Princess Caroline. Princess Stephanie had been injured in the crash that killed her mother and could not attend the funeral as she was in hospital.

Irish officials had agreed with President Hillery, who had earlier declined an invitation to the wedding of Prince Charles and Diana Spencer, that he would salute the British royal if he met her at the Monaco event.

It was decided that, should the President come face to face with the Princess of Wales, he would salute her but that he would not seek her out, it noted.

The briefing note added that the first person President Hillery met at the funeral was US first lady Nancy Reagan and he later acted as an interpreter for Danielle Mitterrand, the wife of French president Francois Mitterrand, who wished to speak with Mrs Reagan.

Mrs Reagan had been a close friend of Princess Grace.

Princess Grace, an acclaimed former Hollywood actress, died in a car crash at a hairpin bend on a road leading back to Monaco from Roc Agel on September 13, 1982.

It was later determined she lost control of her Rover car after suffering a mild cerebral haemorrhage and died from severe impact injuries.

Princess Stephanie suffered a fractured vertebrae but made a full recovery.

Born Grace Kelly in Philadelphia, she married Prince Rainier in a glittering ceremony in 1956 having met him at the Cannes Film Festival several years earlier and gave up her acting career to become a Monegasque royal.

In a Department of Foreign Affairs briefing memo dated September 16 1982, a civil servant noted the deep connections between Princess Grace, her family and Ireland.

Both the late Princess Grace and Prince Rainier always displayed a keen interest in Irish affairs, it was noted.

The department noted that Princess Grace also visited Ireland in 1963, 1973, 1975, 1976, 1978, 1979 and 1981.
Gardai have thanked the public for their assistance after a missing teenage boy was located safe.

Gardai had appealed for assistance in tracing the whereabouts of the 17-year-old missing from Co Laois.

He had been missing from Portlaoise and was last seen in Dublin city centre on Tuesday, December 12.

An Garda Siochana would like to thank the media and the public for their assistance, the force said.
Cases of Covid-19 and the flu in emergency departments across the country have nearly doubled this week, according to HSE figures.

With a steep rise in the level of infections, the public is being urged to only attend an emergency department for major health emergencies.

A total of 538 people with the flu and 282 with Covid-19 attended an emergency department this week, up from 312 and 144 the previous week.

There are 30 outbreaks of Covid-19 in hospitals and 24 outbreaks in nursing homes, both also an increase on last week.

Members of the public have been asked to access services like their local pharmacy and the HSE website before going to their GP or an emergency department with respiratory symptoms.

Those who are eligible who have not yet done so are urged to get vaccinated against flu and Covid-19 as soon as possible.

HSE chief clinical officer Dr Colm Henry said the rise in infections will put significant pressure on hospitals and residential care facilities in the short-term.

"Our emergency departments are expected to encounter significant pressures as a result and we know from experience that a delayed peak in flu season such as we are seeing now, will inevitably lead to further pressures throughout the healthcare system with heightened risk of outbreaks in all facilities and delays discharging patients to nursing homes or step down facilities if they have flu or Covid, he said.

The HSE has said acute hospitals are as prepared as can be to deal with an expected rise in admissions over the coming weeks and a sustained effort has been made to prepare for post-Christmas demand.

It said there are 119 people on trolleys today compared with 443 on December 28 last year, and 124 patients in surge beds compared to 375 last year.

Director of National Health Protection Dr Eamonn OMoore said the new JN.1 Covid variant is becoming the dominant strain of the virus.

"This variant may be more transmissible than previous variants, resulting in more infections. We are still collating data in Ireland and internationally on whether it will result in more illness requiring hospital care but at this time we are not seeing that signal.

However, with more infection around, there is greater risk some people who are vulnerable could become ill and require hospital care and we still need to protect our vulnerable members of society, children and adults, by doing what we can to reduce the spread of respiratory viruses, he said.
How fake missing persons articles and posts are popping up on local community Facebook groups

Fake missing persons alerts detailing how teenagers may have been kidnapped or fallen into the hands of a criminal have been appearing on social media, with gardai warning that the posts are phishing attempts designed to gain public attention.

A false appeal is shared with concerned local residents in a neighbourhood group, who may unknowingly spread a spam link with their own friends and family.

The poster will sometimes change the content of the post after it has been shared, appearing like an endorsement rather than an effort to help locate a missing teenager.

Gardai have warned that if users click the link, they are brought to a phishing page where any personal data they enter is saved and used for online criminal activity.

Phishing is a tactic used by scammers to dupe a user into sharing information such as login or financial details. They will often try to create a sense of urgency to their posts or imitate a trustworthy source to make a user more likely to share their personal information.

One fake missing persons post, shared to a local buy-and-sell marketplace group, writes how a 14-year-old vanished while walking to school and her family is gripped by the fear that she has fallen victim to a seizure.

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Another features a fake headline about a teenage girl reported missing in Kildare whose family suggest she may have fallen into the hands of a criminal....

The poster calls on members of a local community group to rally together and find a missing teenager who needs our help. A number of such posts have since been removed for violating the platforms community guidelines.

It is a format used frequently, with another sharing that a 14-year-old is missing from Carrigaline, Co Cork, and her family are concerned about possible kidnapping and risk of child exploitation.

Another post says the same girl is missing from Wexford and it is a desperate situation, while yet another says it is heart-wrenching that she is missing from Rathdowney, Co Laois.

Others say young missing girls with names like Aoife, Niamh and Maeve have families fearing a malefactor connection to their disappearance or are worried about potential abduction for child exploitation.

Gardai are aware of the activity, describing it as a phishing scam circulating on social media which highlights a fake missing child notice and can be circulated on commercial trading platforms.

The fraudulent posts may contain a fake AMBER Alert about a missing child and is requesting assistance from the public in locating the child, a garda spokesperson said.

These posts are designed to gather public attention and to entrust social media users to the account posting the fake missing child alert. A separate post is then issued on the same thread stating that the child has been found and directing members of the public to a property advertisement.

When social media users click on this advertisement, it redirects them to a webpage where personal information is captured and is used for online criminal activity.

The Garda National Cyber Crime Bureau (GNCCB) is reminding the public that missing person appeals and Child Rescue Ireland (CRI) alerts are issued by official An Garda Siochana channels only, including www.garda.ie, An Garda Siochana Facebook pages and @gardainfo.

GNCCB are advising social media users not to engage with or respond to any advertisements that ask for personal or financial information unless you know and trust the page, or the person, posting the message.

Dermot Browne, the chairperson of the National Missing Persons Helpline Ireland, said these fake alerts are something we have great concerns about.

Some false missing persons notices have repeatedly used a photo of a Dutch model, describing her as a missing Irish teen under many different names, from many different parts of the country.

Each time it went up, it had a different name on it but it was one person and she is a professional model. You would wonder what kind of a person sits down and decides theyre going to do this  theres obviously some benefit for them, said Mr Browne. 

The National Missing Persons Helpline has seen a rise in false alerts shared online in the last 12 months.

Any time I see it I always try to inform the administrators on their relevant pages where these alerts come up, said Mr Browne, who recommends people do not share posts that have not originated from a trustworthy source.

My advice to people is that if they come across something like that, if it hasnt gone through the proper channels, click on the account  you often see that [it] was set up the day before as a means of being able to publish it. Thats all it is.

If it doesnt come from the gardai or from a reputable source, theyre better off not sharing.
Experts to use real-time data and AI to help keep public safe as effects of climate change hit hard

The head of Met Eireann has warned that Ireland is in a race to improve forecasting services to save lives as extreme weather events increase.

Eoin Moran said climate change was testing the national forecasters ability to accurately predict severe weather and its consequences with sufficiently localised detail.

Flood forecasting  the responsibility of a number of state agencies  in particular needed work. However, Mr Moran said he was confident investments currently being made would pay off.

Met Eireann has invested in a shared supercomputer facility in Iceland to produce more frequent forecast updates.

It is looking for sites to triple from two to six the number of radar stations for better nowcasting  the provision of real-time data and conditions for six hours ahead.

It also recently announced 1m in annual funding for research at UCD to develop ways of using artificial intelligence (AI) to gather and process greater quantities of weather information.

Were in a race to be ready for change and not just AI and technological change, Mr Moran said. Were also in a race to be ready for change in terms of these more impactful weather events and more impactful flood weather, which, unfortunately, are going to become more extreme.

Were setting all the unwanted records, not just in Ireland but globally. Were setting them on emissions and temperature and extreme weather. Were setting them on ice melt and ocean warming. The list of records were toppling is extraordinary.

Ireland experienced a series of unseasonal and record-setting weather conditions this year, culminating in the busiest start to storm season.

Storm Gerrit is the eighth named storm in four months and has brought severe winds and heavy rain, with warnings of possible flooding for coastal counties.

Mr Moran said meteorologists were constantly having to improve to keep pace with changing weather patterns.

Our mission is to protect life and property and also to promote societal and economic well-being in the context of weather and climate, he added. Our objective is ultimately providing better forecasts, more accurate, more reliable, more precise, more understandable, more relevant.

The benchmark is that almost anybody can use the information provided to forecast the future state of the atmosphere for whatever it is theyre doing, whether theyre going for a picnic, a walk in the park, bringing the kids to school, laying the seeds in the field.

People expect this information to be at their fingertips, they expect it to be tailored, they expect it to be personalised and theyre entitled to that. The technology is moving in that direction. Its not there yet.

One of the critical areas is flood forecasting, which came under scrutiny after devastating floods last October in Midleton, Co Cork, took the town by surprise.

Met Eireann warned of intense rainfall, but monitoring of water levels and flow rates in rivers and coastal waters are responsibilities variously held by the Office of Public Works (OPW), local authorities, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and other public bodies.

They all maintain hydrometric networks, but for different reasons in line with their mandates, Mr Moran said. It might be, for example, to monitor drought.

The Government pledged in 2010 to establish a National Flood Forecasting and Warning System combining information from all available sources, but made little progress.

The plan was revived in 2016, but the system is still not in operation.

The State has work to do, Mr Moran said, although he insisted progress was being made.

Met Eireann took over the OPWs tide and storm surge forecasting system this year and also developed 36 river catchment models to better predict river levels and flows. Mr Moran said trials of the models had just finished and they would prove a useful tool.

Having said that, the State needs to expand its hydrometric network to improve and inform the overall predictive capability in this field and the State needs to recalibrate its emergency management scaffolding to take that information and act on it, he said.

Met Eireann is part of the National Emergency Coordination Group convened when severe weather is predicted, but the forecaster does not issue directions about what services or events should be closed or cancelled.

Mr Moran said, however, that because such decisions were made on the basis of forecasts, this was another reason for wanting to provide the most localised information possible.

He accepted the system of issuing yellow, orange and red warnings could at times be too general, but he defended its use.

Warnings have saved lives. Warnings have helped avoid loss and damage. These warnings need to be taken seriously, he said. But they are subject to ongoing refinement and incremental improvement.

A yellow warning doesnt necessarily pose a threat to the general population, but it is potentially dangerous on a local scale. The distance between west and east Galway is such that conditions for an orange warning in the west may not manifest in Athenry.

So theres scope there for refinement, and communication is always a challenge. Even if you communicate it, it may not reach people, and even if it reaches people, it still may not be believed or understood.

There is a whole psychology associated with giving people this information in a fashion thats meaningful, relevant and useful to them.

Mr Moran was recently elected second vice-president of the World Meteorological Organisation (WMO), which is working on an early warning for all system of weather forecasts for every part of the planet.

It is critical because keeping global temperature rise to the 1.5C limit is a huge challenge, he said. Weve seen the arguments that weve started too late, its too hard, too expensive, weve to go too far, weve to go too fast, but when it comes to protecting the habitability of parts of the planet, ambitious and bold plans are the least we can do.

Our vision in Met Eireann is to make Ireland weather- and climate-prepared. We see ourselves in a race to be ready for change and to build the infrastructure and the scientific capability to enable us to be ready. Every citizen on the planet deserves the same.
In the last 365 days, I have:

Traipsed through a landfill

Gotten a front-row seat to the process of trout spawning

Found myself sitting in a class at the U.S. Army War College

Wandered through the ruins of a former POW interrogation camp from World War II

Explored multiple mansions

Stood behind the solid steel door of the Pennsylvania Treasurys vault

All in the name of The Sentinels Inside Look series.

Series beginnings

The series was the brainchild of a former editor who tasked me in November 2022 with putting together some photo galleries, video tour and article packages of some of Cumberland Countys most unique or historic places.

His idea was to show Cumberland County residents the inside of buildings or spaces they may drive by daily but never visit, or places that might be closed to the public.

Inundated with a plethora of options from which to choose, I decided to kick off the series with a tour of Carlisles historic courthouse at the heart of the county.

With the intention of exploring somewhere new every two weeks, I then turned my attention to a historic barn in Upper Allen Township that had recently gotten some attention in the news because of the townships desire to turn the land around it into the Upper Allen Generations Park and a decision about the fate of a neighboring farmhouse that remained up in the air for months.

Gaining a better sense of the series with each addition, I wrapped up 2022 with a tour of Laughlin Mill, a staple in the community of Newville. (By the way, the whole first floor is a pump room for the water and sewer authority, who would have thought?)

By January, I had mostly ironed out the wrinkles that come along with any new venture and hit the ground running with destinations for 2023.

Location selection

I wish I could tell you I have a strategic, fine-tuned method of selecting each Inside Look destination, but to be fully transparent, thats not the case.

Instead, I go week by week, place by place.

Sometimes, Ill spend time Googling locations on the Cumberland County Register of Historic Places or the places on the national register within Cumberland County. Other times Ill wonder about places I pass frequently on regular commutes or other news assignments without visiting.

On occasion, community members will reach out with suggestions to consider or invites to places they own.

Each potential option is filtered through some questions. Is this historical? Why might people care about it? Then I get the OK from my editor to pursue a story and start reaching out about a tour.

Thoughts and impressions

I can already hear your question: Whats the coolest place youve visited this year?

Good question. With 25 options from which to choose, I have to go with Camp Michaux in Cooke Township.

Just a few miles away from Pine Grove Furnace State Park, the site previously served as a Civilian Conservation Corps Camp during President Franklin Delano Roosevelts New Deal in the 1930s. During World War II, it became one of just three prisoner of war interrogation camps in the nation. Later, in an about-face, it served as a church camp.

I followed the self-guided walking tour, which incorporates 30 markers throughout the site, in October and was amazed by how many of the crumbling ruins are still visible, from fountain remnants to flagpole bases to building foundations to barracks sites.

If trees could talk.

I had to cut out the audio of more than one video at the site because phrases like This is so cool, and Oh wow kept slipping out involuntarily.

While the former POW camp takes first place in my favorite destinations of 2023, quite frankly, there wasnt a stop along the way that I didnt thoroughly enjoy.

Having never once considered the process of treating water for consumer use, a trip to Carlisles Water Treatment Plant in North Middleton Township walked me through each step of the surprisingly complicated and equally fascinating procedure.

Upper Allen Townships Ashcombe Mansion could be one of the most beautiful event spaces Ive ever seen.

The Cumberland County Landfill in North Newton and Hopewell townships shocked me with its cleanliness and engineering technicalities and surprised me with one of the prettiest overlooks of the Cumberland Valley Ive seen in the county.

I had no idea Shippensburg housed the countys first courthouse until one could be constructed in Carlisle until a member of the civic club showed me around the space, also known as Widow Pipers Tavern, in a period costume.

Third-grade me reading My Side of the Mountain would have been thrilled at the opportunity to walk through the Craighead House in South Middleton Township where author Jean Craighead George grew up.

My trip across the Susquehanna River to the Pennsylvania Treasury vault in Harrisburg taught me that unclaimed property exists and how people can claim it.

And those are just a few.

One of the things I love most about this job is that I never know where a day is going to take me.

A good many of this years adventures can be attributed to this series, and I look forward to the continued exploration in store for 2024.
Northern Ireland secretary of state Patrick Mayhew attempted to charm Irish diplomats by reassuring them that he had grown up with a detestation of the black Protestants of Northern Ireland.

Department of Foreign Affairs briefing notes painted a remarkable picture of the British politician who played a key role in helping develop the Northern Ireland peace process between 1992 and 1997.

Famously forthright and outspoken, the Conservative MP was variously described as charming, colonial, ambitious, direct, insensitive, amiable and humorous.

Mr Mayhew, on taking up the Northern Ireland post, had attempted to reassure Irish officials that he was not partisan in any way.

A former British Army officer who later became an oil industry executive, his mothers surname was Roche and he traced his ancestry back to the Anglo-Irish aristocracy.

In June 1992, he met with Irelands ambassador to the UK, Joseph Small. In an aside, Mr Mayhew said to the Irish diplomat that: [I had] grown up with a detestation of the black Protestants in Northern Ireland.

Mr Small was apparently taken aback by the remark but interpreted it as Mr Mayhews response to stinging criticism of his appointment and his personal hurt at such remarks.

The British politician later joked that he had only expressed interest in the Northern Ireland job because he thought it would be a quiet assignment in a quiet backwater.

However, as the peace process began to emerge, Mr Mayhew found himself dealing intensively with republicans and unionists.

Later, he was scathing of some of those he had to deal with.

He said dealing with republican and unionist leaders during some of the Northern Ireland talks was hateful. He saved his most stinging criticism for the Democratic Unionist Party (DUP) and the UK Unionist Party of Robert McCartney.

Mr Mayhew noted that they were not only uncivil but incredibly rude to deal with.
Supermacs boss Pat McDonagh says he will have to push up prices following the biggest-ever hike in the national minimum wage, but does not begrudge staff the increase.

He was speaking as the lowest hourly wage that an employer can legally pay an employee is set to rise by 1.40 to 12.70 from next month.

The change will affect more than 118,000 workers. It is expected to have a ripple effect on higher-paid employees.

Ah sure look at it, with the cost of living gone up so high and the cost of accommodation, it had to go up, said the fast-food chain owner, who also has a portfolio of hotels in the midlands and west of Ireland.

On its own its fine but in relation to the hospitality industry, its the return of the 4.5pc Vat and its the food cost increase, the energy cost increases, the overheads, whether its rates or insurance. Its the combination of everything thats going to add 10pc to the costs overall.

Its not just the minimum wage.

Thats acceptable as far as Im concerned because the cost of accommodation has gone through the roof I think staff need that increase because they have to live as well and their costs are going up.

A lot are paying 20pc of their wages on accommodation. Our prices will have to go up.

Obviously prices will go up to accommodate some of that, but not all. We can only put prices up to what the market can take.

Mr McDonagh previously came under fire when he claimed some workers had won the Lotto when a 350-a-week pandemic unemployment payment was rolled out.

He said the upcoming minimum wage increase will affect about a third of his 1,500 staff, and cost around 3pc of turnover.

The Supermacs founder hopes the wage rise will encourage more workers into the sector due to a scarcity of staff.

If you ask the colleges there are very few interested in getting into the hospitality industry at the minute, he said.

People are looking for nine-to-five jobs, Monday to Friday. Were dependent to a large degree on non-nationals to fill those posts.

Mr McDonagh branded hikes in insurance premiums an absolute disgrace and claimed county council staff have gone AWOL looking for rates.

He predicts that many smaller businesses will be under severe pressure in the first couple of months of next year and would not be surprised to see 10pc of them closing. Were coming into some type of recession as well, so disposable income is down and is going to continue to be down because of the cost of living being so high and because of less money being available, he said.

The only good thing is energy costs are coming down and fuel will come down in the next couple of weeks, which will be a help.

Mr McDonagh said anti-social behaviour and crime is getting worse in some areas outside Dublin and he is aware of bogus claims, including customers falsely alleging there were unwanted items in their burgers.

When you see an increase in that you know theres a scarcity of money, he said. A lot of leadership is needed in the country at the minute. I think theres a very soft-handed approach to law and order.

Drugs are nearly out of control and unless its brought back under control, well have a rough few years ahead of us.

I think the Government has lost touch with whats happening on the ground.

A total of 148,100 employees are earning the national minimum wage or less, which includes people on reduced youth rates and apprentices.

A Department of Enterprise spokesperson said there are 118,400 workers earning the full minimum wage.

He said in Budget 2024, the Government accepted the Low Pay Commissions recommendation to increase the minimum wage to 12.70 per hour from January 1.

The 1.40 increase will be the largest increase to the minimum wage since it was introduced in 2000, he said.

He added that the department is fully committed to supporting businesses and the budget measures reflect this.

He said they include the extension of a 9pc Vat reduction for gas and electricity for 12 months until October 31 next year.

Other measures include temporary excise rate reductions applying to diesel, petrol and marked gas oil being extended until the end of March and an Increased Cost of Business Scheme to provide grant support to small and medium-sized businesses at a cost 257m.

The Budget included an increase in the limit on the amount that an investor can claim relief on under an Employment and Investment Incentive Scheme to 500,000 as well as an increase in the Vat registration thresholds for small and medium-sized enterprises.
Loneliness is a known risk factor for dementia and pets may help protect against social isolation in later life. Photo: Getty

Pets are known to improve fitness levels but they also help keep the mind active in later life too, according to a new study.

Chinese researchers have found that older people who lived alone, but who owned pets, suffered less memory decline over a decade than those without animals

Intriguingly, they found no benefit of owning a pet when people lived with others, suggesting that animals may be filling an important gap which offsets the absence of humans, and may be particularly helpful following the death of a partner or spouse.

Researchers from the University in Guangzhou studied 7,945 people enrolled in the English Longitudinal Study of Ageing, looking to see how much mental decline they had suffered between 2010 and 2019.

The results showed those living on their own saw the worst mental decline but this was completely offset if a single person cared for a pet.

Writing in the journal Jama Network Open, Dr Yanzhi Li said that loneliness was a known risk factor for dementia and memory decline and pets may help protect against social isolation in later life.

It is worth noting that compared with pet owners living with others, pet owners living alone did not show faster rates of decline in verbal memory or verbal fluency, he said.

These findings preliminarily suggest that pet ownership might completely offset the association of living alone with faster rates of decline in verbal memory and verbal fluency among older adults.

Pet ownership constitutes a simple change. Therefore, randomised clinical trials should explore whether pet ownership can slow the rate of cognitive decline, especially in older adults living alone. If randomised clinical trials confirm our findings, pet ownership may help in slowing cognitive decline and preventing dementia.

A study released earlier this week found that social isolation is one of several risk factors for early-onset dementia. Previously it was thought that genetics was the sole cause of dementia in younger people. ( Telegraph Media Group Ltd 2023)
Leo Varadkar says if the country can afford it then pensions and welfare will be increased in the years to come. Photo: Niall Carson

Taoiseach Leo Varadkar has committed to continue increasing the weekly pension and other social welfare rates while in government.

Mr Varadkar said the 265.30-a-week state pension will be increased in line with workers earnings as long as the countrys finances are stable.

The pension will increase by 12 a week to 277.30 from next month and the Fine Gael leader said the rate will be benchmarked to around 33pc of the median earnings of Irish workers, which currently stand at just over 800 a week.

Speaking at a media briefing in Government Buildings before Christmas, Mr Varadkar said: Provided the country can afford it and provided we stick with economic policies that have worked for Ireland, we will continue to increase pensions and welfare in the years to come.

When it comes to pensions, weve broadly set the benchmark that the pension should be pitched at around a third, around 33pc or 34pc, of median earnings.

And thats a good benchmark. We will keep pensions at that rate.

The Taoiseach said other welfare rates will be increased in line with the cost of living or a little bit better if the States finances allow for it.

However, he said the Government wants to ensure people are encouraged to work, and that the jobseekers rate and benefits associated with the payment are not more financially rewarding than a job.

We want there to be a decent gap, if you like, between jobseekers payments and what you get working, he said.

The gap actually has widened in recent years. So, even though weve increased the amount that a jobseeker gets paid every week, weve increased the national wage by more and that means the incentive to work is greater under what they call the replacement rate.

Thats done to make sure that if people ever are in a position where theyre choosing between work and welfare, the choice of work is more attractive.

The minimum wage was increased by 1.40 an hour in the Budget and employers will have to pay their staff aged over 20 years old at least 12.70 an hour from next month.

Mr Varadkar said the Government has sought to give more workers access to State-subsidised services to ensure they are not put off joining the workforce due to the risk of losing benefits.

What weve done in order to make work pay, to encourage work, is to increase wages, but also eliminate some of those traps, if you like, where people who work longer hours or take up work or get a pay increase, actually end up losing benefits that they have, he said.

The fact that half the country now qualifies for free GP care was in recognition of that because one of the fears that people would have is that if they took up work they might lose their free GP care or their entitlement to housing or their Susi (student) grant or their subsidised child care.

The Taoiseach also highlighted the forthcoming introduction of pay-related benefits which Social Protection Minister Heather Humphreys has been working on over recent years.

The new scheme will see workers who suddenly lose their job receive an enhanced Jobseekers Allowance payment for the first nine months they become unemployed.

As part of the three-stage process, unemployed workers will initially be paid 60pc of their previous earnings, or up to 450 per week for up to three months after they lose their job. It was originally proposed that this payment would last for six months.

However, following high-level government talks, it has been decided to reduce the term for the top payment to three months and gradually taper the enhanced state benefits over nine months.

After the first three-month period, the payment will reduce to 55pc of earnings, or up to 375 a week, and this will last for a further three months.

If a person still has not found employment, they will get 50pc of their earnings up to 300 for a final three months.
In 1992, President Mary Robinson received a flood of correspondence relating to the case of a 14-year-old girl who wanted to travel abroad for an abortion

President Mary Robinson was inundated with letters from people outraged by the X Case in early 1992, with US and UK groups raising human rights concerns and accusing Ireland of exporting its problems.

Confidential documents released as part of the State Archives reveal a vast amount of correspondence about the decision of Attorney General (AG) Harry Whelehan to seek an injunction over the bid by a 14-year-old rape victim to travel overseas for an abortion. 

The girl, who was a ward of the State, had become pregnant following a statutory rape committed by a neighbour in December 1991.

She told her mother about the unwanted pregnancy, said she had suicidal thoughts because of what happened and wanted to travel overseas for an abortion. Her family contacted the gardai to determine if DNA from the foetus could be used to prosecute the neighbour for statutory rape.

Gardai went to the AG for advice and he, in turn, sought an injunction to protect the life of the unborn child and to stop the girl from travelling abroad for an abortion.

The girl involved could not be identified and the matter was referred to, before the High Court, as the X Case.

An injunction was granted by the High Court in February 1992. However, it was overturned the following month on a 4-1 majority decision of the Supreme Court.

It deemed that the girl faced a real and substantial risk to her life. Under those circumstances, she was entitled to travel for an abortion.

However, the international media coverage attracted by the X Case  and particularly the injunction  prompted a flood of correspondence to senior Irish politicians and President Robinson.

One State Archive file outlined the scale of the correspondence involved.

On February 18, 1992, the London-based Child Abuse Studies Unit (CASU) wrote to Aras an Uachtarain to complain that: She [the teen] has been severely victimised and this ruling [injunction] is victimising her still further.

CASU urged Mrs Robinson to personally intervene, given her commitment to the advancement of womens legal, political and social rights.

Catholics for a Free Choice, based in Washington DC, wrote with a petition from leading US academics and legal rights campaigners. It stated that the group was appalled by the High Court injunction.

We demand that human rights be restored to the girl in this case and, specifically, we call on the Irish Government to abide by the universal and basic principles of justice and human dignity by recognising her right to life as well as her right to travel, it wrote.

The city of Bristol wrote to Mrs Robinson on March 10 to highlight concerns about the case and its implications.

Its letter stated: We note the widespread concern that this case has aroused. Perhaps that concern will inspire the [Irish] authorities to reappraise the desirability of allowing abortion and cease exporting the problem.

One woman wrote to Mrs Robinson requesting that an education programme, outlining precisely what abortion involves, be carried on Irish TV.

A woman wrote from the Republic of Korea to state our Blessed Mother... is very sad over what was happening in Ireland.

A Swedish group of Social Democrats wrote: Swedish women are very upset about the terrible situation this girl has been thrown into.

The UKs Liberal Democrats wrote to the President to highlight concerns about the childs suffering. It warned that forcing a child victim of rape to endure an unwanted pregnancy was a breach of human rights.

A letter was received from New York City Hall, with the city council urging Taoiseach Albert Reynolds and President Robinson to ensure the girl had her rights respected and was allowed to travel to the UK for an abortion.

The circumstances of this case  her age, the trauma of sexual abuse and rape, and her suicidal state  clearly indicate the need for this medical procedure, it stated.
LATEST | President Michael D Higgins suggests Israeli claims about UN aid for Gaza cant be trusted

Number of Palestinians killed in the war so far reaches 21,320  nearly 1pc of Gaza's population, according to health authority Israeli air strike kills 20 Palestinians, wounds 55 in Rafah at southern end of Gaza Strip, enclave's health ministry says

An Israeli mobile artillery unit fires a shell from southern Israel towards the Gaza Strip, in a position near the Israel-Gaza border on Thursday, Dec. 28, 2023. (AP Photo/Ohad Zwigenberg)

Nidal Al-Mughrabi and Bassam Masoud Thu 28 Dec 2023 at 20:00







President Michael D Higgins has called on all those who believe in the United Nations, its agencies and their work to support the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestinian Refugees (UNRWA).
Motorists urged to take extra care on roads while travellers advised to check bus, rail and flight schedules

A Status Yellow wind and rain warning for seven counties is due to come into effect tonight.

The alert, covering Clare, Kerry, Donegal, Galway, Leitrim, Mayo and Sligo, is valid until 6am tomorrow.

These counties can expect squally showers with the risk of localised and coastal flooding.

Met Eireann's Status Yellow thunderstorm warning for 12 counties expired tonight following some lighting activity and hail.

The alert was in place for Munster, Donegal, and Connacht until 9pm and Met Eireann had warned of the risk of power outages, hazardous travelling conditions, and localised flooding.

Separately, a Status Yellow rainfall warning has been issued for Donegal, Leitrim, North Mayo and Sligo from 6am on Friday to 9pm.

The national forecaster said heavy rainfall is likely to lead to localised flooding.

Meanwhile, a Status Yellow wind warning was issued this evening for Cork, Kerry, Waterford and Wexford, which is valid from 2am on Saturday until noon.

People make the most of the brisk post Christmas conditions along the harbour wall in Howth Co. Dublin Picture; Gerry Mooney

Southerly winds will increase strong to gale force and gusty. These onshore winds coupled with high Spring tides will lead to some coastal flooding.

Motorists have been urged to take extreme care on the roads as high winds and torrential rain in the wake of Storm Gerrit will be followed by a cold snap likely to create icy and treacherous conditions.

The warning came as Cork and Kerry avoided major flood damage amid concerns over the impact of heavy rain from Gerrit coupled with a storm surge and high tides.

A status orange wind warning for Cork, Kerry, Clare, Waterford and Wexford was in force until the early hours of this morning. The entire country was also subject to a status yellow wind and rain warning until the early hours.

High winds forced a number of outdoor attractions, including Fota Wildlife Park, to close early as a precautionary measure.

The year will end on a wild note with a combination of blustery winds, heavy rainfall and then a cold snap with the potential for heavy frost and ice over the next four days.

Stena Line cancelled last nights scheduled 8pm ferry from Rosslare to Cherbourg and the 7.30pm sailing from Rosslare to Fishguard due to adverse weather conditions on the Irish Sea.

The company said the next available departure for Cherbourg is scheduled for tonight at 8pm. Sailings for Fishguard that were scheduled for today are currently in doubt.

Flooding was reported on roads near Fermoy, Mallow, Tralee, Bantry, Millstreet and Listowel, with a number of roads impassable, including the R621 outside Mallow, the R587 at Derrylahan, Longfields Bridge at Killavullen and a secondary road outside Dunmanway.

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Both Cork and Kerry county councils had emergency crews on standby, given the ongoing concerns over flooding due to the heavy rainfall, storm surge and high tides.

Kerry County Council had sandbag stations operating in various parts of Kenmare, Sneem, Dingle, Castleisland, Killarney, Listowel, Tralee and Cahersiveen.

Cork County Council similarly had sandbags available with flood barriers set to be erected as a precautionary measure in Mallow and Fermoy as the level of the River Blackwater is set to rise.

Cork City Council said its crews remain on standby, while Cork County Council was alerted to a number of minor spot-flooding incidents.

Trees were blown down by the gale-force winds, but no major damage or disruption was reported.

The bad weather is set to prove a headache over the coming days for traders who had hoped for milder conditions as the post-Christmas sales get into full swing.

Drivers have been urged to slow down, allow extra time for journeys and check their headlights, wipers and tyres.

Those planning to travel over the coming days have been advised to check with bus and rail operators as some schedules remain at reduced levels.

Iarnrod Eireann spokesperson Jane Cregan said: All rail services were back operating this morning but there are some schedule alterations between today and December 31.

Dart and InterCity services will operate at altered schedules.

Dublin, Shannon and Cork airports advised passengers to check with their airlines as blustery winds over the next 24 hours might affect some flights.

Water safety and hillwalking groups urged people to take extra care along exposed coastal areas due to the high winds and the likelihood of treacherous sea conditions.

Met Eireanns Siobhan Ryan said the stormy conditions will persist over the coming days with the potential for some dangerous travelling conditions.

Thursday will be a rather windy day with sunny spells and showers, most frequent across Connacht and Ulster, possibly turning wintry, she said.

Some thunderstorms are possible in the north-west with highest temperatures of 5C to 10C in fresh to strong and gusty southwest winds.

Showers might turn to sleet and snow in northern parts as gales on Atlantic coasts might lead to the ongoing risk of coastal flooding, Met Eireann said.

Thursday night will be cold with clear spells and scattered blustery showers with potential for some hail or sleet on hills in the north and north west.

There may also be a risk of some frost or ice for sheltered areas with lowest temperatures of 1C to 4C, again in a fresh and gusty west to south-west wind.

Tomorrow will see sunny spells and scattered blustery showers, with highest temperatures of 4 to 8C, with a wind chill factor.

The sleet of snow is possible mainly over higher ground in the north and west, Met Eireann said.

Friday night will see isolated showers continuing in northern areas. Cloud is likely to build from the southwest as the rain develops and spreads to the northeast overnight, with a possibility of turning into sleet or snow in higher parts.

It will be windy with the rain, fresh to strong winds, and temperatures dropping to -2 to +4C early at night.

Meanwhile, Saturday will be another windy day with rain clearing to sunny spells and scattered showers. Temperatures will range between 4 and 8C, with very strong and gusty wind.
Tributes have been paid to an Irish man who was killed in a car accident in New Zealand on Christmas day

Tim O'Dwyer (20) from Ennistymon and formerly Ballyvraneen and Lahinch in Clare, died in a single vehicle collision in New Zealand.

Local police reported that Emergency Services attended the scene at approximately 12:45am on Christmas morning (New Zealand time) of a collision in Ashburton.

Police confirmed that the sole occupant of the car had died on Methven Highway in the suburb of Allenton. Mr ODwyer was tragically the fifth motorist to die on New Zealand roads over the festive period.

He had emigrated with a friend from Miltown Malbay in September and had been based in Te Ika-a-Maui / north island of New Zealand before moving to Te Waipounamu / south island.

Mr O'Dwyer was reportedly employed by a Liscannor native in New Zealand and was working alongside 20 others from north Clare.

Locals said his death has brought "unimaginable sadness" to his local community and his close and extended families, who are now asking for privacy at this time.

Members of the ODwyer family have thanked the public for their support in recent days and have now appealed for privacy.

Tims family said that while they were dealing with the unthinkable and devastating heartbreak of Tims loss, they wish to thank their family, friends and neighbours for the incredible outpouring of kindness and support at this incredibly difficult time. We ask now for privacy.

Senator Martin Conway (FG) who knew the family said, I am heartbroken for the ODwyer family on the death of Tim, the whole community are behind them to support in any way they can.

"It has put a huge dampener on the whole community. I would appeal to people to respect the familys appeal for privacy.

The Department of Foreign Affairs has confirmed they are providing consular assistance to the family and are working with the ODwyer family on efforts to get Mr ODwyers remains repatriated.

His funeral arrangements are yet to be announced. Hundreds of parishioners shared their support and sympathies online, with one saying: "RIP Tim, a lovely lad, always a wave and a smile. Sincere condolences."

He is survived by his mother, Carolyn ODwyer, father, Brian Shalloo, step-mother, Aine, sisters, Cora and Leah, brothers, Cian, Sam and Jack, grandparents, Mary and Jim O Dwyer (Callura, Lahinch) and Brid and Larry Shalloo (Kilfenora), aunts, Pauline, Priya, Tina, Nollaig, Ann Marie and uncles, Thomas, Laurence, Martin and Albert.
A brutal gay bashing attack in Sligo which left a well-known US author with brain damage and requiring the use of a wheelchair threatened to prove a public and media embarrassment for Ireland.

Confidential papers released as part of the State Archive revealed that the US authorities had advised the Irish government to handle the Sligo attack on writer Robert Drake adroitly and with great sensitivity.

Mr Drake, a high-profile author and one of the most outspoken proponents of rights for the LGBTQ+ community, was the victim of a savage assault on January 31, 1999.

The American was living with his partner, Kieran, in Sligo town when he was viciously attacked when alone in his apartment by two local men, Ian Monaghan and Glen Mahon.

Mr Drake was beaten so badly he suffered a serious brain injury.

He was a high-profile author in the US and because the attack was perceived as a gay-bashing incident, members of the LGBTQ+ community had started writing to the US authorities to raise their concerns.

In early 1999, the White House contacted the Irish embassy in Washington to raise concerns over the incident and its potential fallout.

Contact was made by the National Security Council (NSC) which warned Ireland needed to handle the matter sensitively and carefully. Otherwise, a US official warned, it had the potential to prove a public and media embarrassment for Ireland.

In a follow-up message, NSC director of European Affairs, Larry Butler, advised Irish officials to ensure Americans were aware that the gardai were treating the matter as extremely serious.

The prominence of the individuals involved, as well as the wider political dimension [the gay community have close relations with the White House] has raise the stakes, he said. [They should] find ways to convey the serious and urgent character of the [garda] investigation. In this context, care should also be taken, particularly in dealings by the Garda/Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) with all US media enquiries, to avoid an overly bureaucratic approach, which may be misinterpreted as indifference.

Both Monaghan and Mahon were jailed for eight years in 2000 after being convicted for the assault.

Sligo Circuit Criminal Court judge Anthony Kennedy said it was a shocking attack in which Mr Drake had been beaten within an inch of his life.

It is plain that he is grievously crippled for life, he said, adding that the unfortunate man lay in that appalling state alone in his house for 15 hours before the alarm was raised.

In 2015, the US author filmed a documentary for RTE entitled Where I Am which dealt with the horrific and life-altering injuries he sustained, how he recovered from the attack and how he found forgiveness for the two men who targeted him.
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Our expert recommends some seasonal beers for adventurous drinkers

Do you drink differently in the depths of winter? Do your choices of beer  or wine, or spirits, or whatever tipple youre having  shift with the seasons, or are you a loyal traditionalist who sticks to what they know and love?

If youre a craft beer fan, theres a good chance that you drink seasonally at least some of the time. Craft beer offers adventures in flavour, and fans tend to be open-minded about where that adventure might take them next. Craft brewers are adventure seekers too, and smaller output keeps things nimble. Alongside their core range, their seasonal lines allow experimentation with techniques, styles, ingredients and flavours.

Because craft beers can be big on flavour and complexity, they can make great pairings for food. That carbonation that is so thirst-quenching in summer comes into its own in a new way in winter, helping refresh the palate after rich wintry food. And seasonal beers that are made or released with winter in mind can chime well with wintry flavours, but not always in obvious ways.

Our beer of the week from Dot Brew is extraordinary solo, but also with dark umami flavours. Game stews or hotpots, roast game birds or even venison salami would be magic, or wild dried mushroom dishes, lentil bakes or bean-based stews. Dot Brews gypsy brewer Shane Kelly can always be relied on to produce something singular through this adventurous approach to experimentation. His beers are brewed in various microbreweries whose facilities he borrows (the gypsy bit) and matured in his Dolphins Barn warehouse where he plays with maturation and blending, using his spice rack of barrels.

Irish craft beers to try this weekend

Todays example is a bourbon barrel-aged raspberry ale, richer and quite different in style to the brighter raspberry sours that youll also find on shelves. Trouble Brewing and Boundary Brewing both do Berliner Weisse-style raspberry sours (2.75 and 5) that pair very well with cheese, being brewed with lactic acid (lactobacillus) used in cheesemaking. Wicklow Wolfs non-alcoholic Raindrop Mixed Berry Sour (2.20) is light and crisp, fruity but dry, and would make a fun New Years Eve toast served in champagne flutes for drivers or other non-drinkers. All are available at online beer retailers like Craft Beers Delivered (the beer side of Celtic Whiskey Shop) and in good independents.

If the short days and cosy nights put you more in the mood for a darker ale or stout, I recommend several of those styles in todays selection. Or, if what you really crave is a taste of pure sunshine, theres a blast of that too from Dead Centre Brewing.

Beers of the week

Dot Brew Four-Year-Old Barrel-Aged Wild Raspberry

Dot Brew Four-Year-Old Barrel-Aged Wild Raspberry, 7.2pc, 14-16/11.50 (375ml) Intense in colour, aroma and flavour, complex with dried raspberry and cherry notes, balsamic spice and hints of liquorice, yeasty funky bite and gorgeous balance of light and dark, this beauty started as a light and crisp ale but was transformed into something extraordinary. Aged in bourbon barrels for four years before two months in stainless steel with 200g per litre of raspberries, then blended with one-fifth four-month-old, barrel-aged pale ale. A steal at Craft Beers Delivered for just 11.50, and an excellent pairing for game (venison, mallard, pigeon) and rich wintry fare. Selected independents, including Baggot Street Wines, Blackrock Cellar, craftbeersdelivered.com

Wide Street Brewing Co Roggen Alt

Wide Street Brewing Co Roggen Alt, 4.5pc, 3.75 (440ml) From Longfords experimental specialists in wild and mixed fermentation, this take on altbier (which is top-fermented like ale for fruitier flavours but matured at cooler temperatures) is rye-based, bringing some spice and dried banana to the roast meat and mocha malt notes. Try with cumin-spiced beef. Independents, including Martins, craftbeersdelivered.com; widestreetbrewing.ie/stockists

Galway Bay Brewery Sixty Ships Down Imperial Stout

Galway Bay Brewery Sixty Ships Down Imperial Stout, 12pc 12.50 (500ml) This collaboration with Catalonian brewery La Pirata tastes like a lightly carbonated butterscotch espresso martini meets Black Forest gateaux thanks to infused tonka bean and vanilla beans in a triple-mashed imperial stout aged in bourbon barrels. Fabulous. Sip solo or paired with Christmas cake. Independents, including Martins, craftbeersdelivered.com

Whiplash The Dead 1800 Decoction Porter

Whiplash The Dead 1800 Decoction Porter, 5.5pc 5.15 (440ml) An unfiltered, unpasteurised, Dublin-brewed historical porter inspired by recipes from 1800, utilising the once-traditional method of decoction (removing some of the mash, boiling it to release starch and adding back). Dry yet smooth with a subtle lactic sweetness, with nutty, mocha, dark malt notes and medium-bodied elegance. Go stews and Massaman curries. Selected independents, including Martins, McHughs, DrinkStore, craftbeersdelivered.com

Dead Centre Brewing Seeking Sunshine Pale Ale

Dead Centre Brewing Seeking Sunshine Pale Ale, 5pc, 3.80 (440ml) Sometimes what you want is a blast of sunshine, and this hazy, Athlone-brewed, Amarillo and Citra-hopped pale ale brings that with tropical fruit juiciness, sweet biscuity malt notes, and generous body thanks to some oats and wheat, but finishing clean and crisp with a distinctly grapefruit-zest hoppy bitterness. Well-balanced and food-friendly for fish and chips or pizza. Selected independents, including McHughs, Martins, beercloud.ie, craftbeersdelivered.com
Palestinians among the rubble of the southern Gaza Strip yesterday, which has been decimated by Israeli airstrikes. Photo: AP

The UN Security Council has called for urgent and extended humanitarian pauses in Gaza to allow aid into the enclave. The United States, Israels best friend, wants its ally to move from block-flattening airstrikes to operations specifically targeting Hamas.

But in recent days, Israeli prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu and his military commanders have suggested that the level of violence with which theyre prosecuting the war  already among the most destructive of the century, and a source of regional instability  will persist or even intensify.

Israeli airstrikes since Christmas Eve have wounded or killed hundreds of Palestinians, many of them in refugee camps, according to Palestinian and international health officials. Nineteen Israeli soldiers have been killed in fighting with militants over the past four days, one of the bloodiest stretches for Israel since it began the campaign it says was aimed at eradicating Hamas.

The few hospitals that continue to function in Gaza are far beyond overwhelmed, aid officials say.

But the war isnt close to finished, Mr Netanyahu said during a visit to Gaza.

We are expanding the fight in the coming days, he said in comments released by his Likud party. This will be a long battle.

On Tuesday, defence minister Yoav Gallant said the country has been attacked from seven different arenas  Gaza, the West Bank, Lebanon, Syria, Iraq, Yemen, and Iran  since the beginning of the war, and has responded and acted in six.

Anyone who acts against us is a target, Mr Gallant told the Knesset committee on foreign affairs and security. There is no one who is immune from this.

The UN Security Council last week passed a resolution calling for a second humanitarian pause to provide Gazas civilians with a measure of relief. More than 21,000 people have been killed in the enclave since October 7. Water, food, shelter and medical care are all sharply limited.

To avoid a US veto, council members stopped short of calling for a ceasefire. In the days since, Israel has signalled an escalation of its offensive, pounding central Gaza from the air and directing residents to evacuate to other areas of the strip.

The unrelenting violence has laid bare a contradiction between the Biden administrations stated commitment to reduce civilian suffering, and its unwavering support for Israels campaign against Hamas, a mutual foe.

Washington gives Israel weapons for the field and political cover at the United Nations  support that has enabled the offensive to continue. For each day it does, authorities in Gaza say, hundreds of Palestinians are killed.

Netanyahu, writing in the Wall Street Journal on Monday, said the Gaza war would end when Israel wins, and not sooner.

Hamas must be destroyed, Gaza must be demilitarised, and Palestinian society must be deradicalised, he wrote in an op-ed piece.

The Biden administration has pressed for the Palestinian Authority, the governing body in the occupied West Bank, to play a central role in Gaza after the war.

Mr Netanyahu bluntly rejected that idea. The expectation that the Palestinian authority will demilitarise Gaza is a pipe dream, he wrote.

Herzi Halevi, chief of the Israeli general staff, said: There is no magic solutions or shortcuts in the fundamental dismantling of a terrorist organisation, except persistent and determined fighting. And we are very, very determined.

We will get to the Hamas leadership, whether it takes a week or months.

Hamas fighters streamed out of Gaza early on October 7 to attack Israeli communities near the enclave. They killed around 1,200 people and kidnapped 240 more as hostages. The Israel Defence Forces (IDF) launched its campaign that day.

Amid increasing tensions between the Biden administration and Mr Netanyahus government, a senior Israeli official and close adviser to the prime minister travelled to Washington for meetings on Tuesday with secretary of state Antony Blinken and national security adviser Jake Sullivan.

Ron Dermer, Israels minister for strategic affairs and a former ambassador to the US, planned to hold face-to-face consultations on a number of matters related to the conflict in Gaza and the return of hostages held by Hamas, National Security Council spokeswoman Adrienne Watson said in a statement.

US officials say theyve urged Israeli commanders to enter a new phase of the war  one in which fewer civilians are endangered.

The Gaza Health Ministry said yesterday that 21,110 people in the enclave have been killed by the Israeli military since October 7.

Between Monday and Tuesday, 241 were killed, the ministry said.

On Saturday and Sunday, the IDF struck at least three areas in central Gaza, including the Bureij and Maghazi refugee camps and the city of Deir al-Balah, to which Israel on Friday had urged Gazans to flee.

At least 80 people were killed in an Israeli strike on a residential block in Maghazi late on Sunday, Iyad Abu Zaher, director of al-Aqsa Martyrs Hospital, told The Washington Post on Monday. The IDF said the incident was under review.

Abeer Dawwas, 31, said she was preparing a meagre dinner for her children in the Maghazi camp late on Sunday when large and violent strikes hit several houses around her.

Because of extreme fear, I felt that these were my last moments, she said by phone on Monday. I hugged my children and ran with them to the ground floor. We could hear the neighbours screaming for help.

We were not informed of the need to evacuate, and the army did not tell us that this area would be a combat zone and that we would have to flee, Ms Dawwas said.

Seif Magango, the spokesman for the Office of the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, said the agency is gravely concerned about the continued bombardment of Middle Gaza by Israeli forces.

The roads connecting refugee camps in the area have been destroyed, obstructing relief aid from reaching those in need, he said in a statement, and shelters and hospitals still minimally operating are critically overcrowded and under-resourced.

The IDF reported intense ground combat and aerial bombardment in Gaza in recent days, including close quarter fighting in Khan Younis in the south and around Gaza City in the north.

Fourteen soldiers were killed in the enclave over the weekend. Five more deaths were announced on Christmas Day and Tuesday, bringing the toll to 161.

Palestinian officials said on Tuesday that Israel had returned the bodies of 80 people it had held during the Gaza war via the Kerem Shalom border crossing.

The Hamas-run government media office said Israel had not identified the bodies or said where they had been taken from. They had been mutilated, the media office said in a statement, and there were clear indications that organs had been stolen from the corpses.

The claims could not be independently verified. The IDF referred questions about the bodies to the Israeli agency for civilian co-ordination with the Palestinians, which did not immediately respond. The corpses, wrapped in blue body bags, were buried on Tuesday in a mass grave.

Paltel, the main Palestinian telecommunications provider, announced another cut in internet and cellular networks across Gaza. Laith Daraghmeh, CEO of the West Bank-based Telecommunications Regulatory Authority, said the outage was caused by a lack of fuel and damage to key infrastructure in Khan Younis by Israeli bombardments.

Gaza has faced ongoing communication outages, and calls frequently dont go through or drop. Israeli strikes have hindered efforts to fix damaged infrastructure, Daraghmeh said. He called for urgent intervention by the international community.
In the noughties, he was all pervasive; from MTV, Channel 4 and BBC, to the biggest comedy venues across the UK and Ireland and even Hollywood. Now, in the wake of a joint investigation from Channel 4 and The Sunday Times, Russell Brand is everywhere for very different reasons.

But what impact will these reports have on his future career? Will his recent re-Brand to conspiracy peddling ultimately save him? And do recent reports shine a different light on his behaviour in Dublin (as reported by The Sunday Independent in 2007) at the height of his career?

In this episode, that was originally published in September of 2023, Tabitha Monahan is joined by Allison Morris, crime correspondent with the Belfast Telegraph, and Dee Molumby of the Irish Independent, to look at the fallout in the Russell Brand story.

This episode of the Indo Daily was originally published on September 19, 2023.
A man in his 40s, seriously injured in an alleged assault in Cavan on Christmas Eve, remains in a serious condition in Dublin's Beaumont Hospital

Gardai have renewed their appeal for information into the circumstances behind a violent Christmas Eve assault in Cavan that left a man with serious injuries in hospital.

A man in his 40s remains in a serious condition in Dublin's Beaumont Hospital after a row broke out involving a number of individuals outside a premises at Holborn Hill in Belturbet shortly after midnight.

The male victim was tended to by paramedics at the scene before being transferred to hospital where his condition was described as being serious.

A thorough forensic examination of the scene has since taken place with gardai said to be following definite lines of enquiry over the incident.

A garda spokesperson confirmed to Independent.ie today that detectives were still keen to speak with any witnesses and those who may have video footage of the incident.

Gardai continue to appeal for witnesses to come forward, said a spokesperson.

They are also appealing to those with video footage of the incident to make it available to them.

Anyone with information is asked to contact Cavan Garda Station on 049 4368800, the Garda Confidential Phone Number 1800 666 111 or any Garda Station.
Fianna Fail councillor William OLeary has criticised the Irish Government for not listening to the views of the general public on immigration and has called for a proper debate on the issue.

Cllr OLeary accused the government of not listening to people on the topical issue of immigration which is currently causing huge issues on the ground in many towns and villages nationwide. The Government are far removed from the reality on the ground. They are not acknowledging the unrest that is there. It is very easy to blame the likes of myself and a couple of councillors in Galway for stirring it. However, if they looked at what the real issue is and see how they could tackle it, it would be more within their interests to do that, he said.

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A proper debate on immigration is needed, said Cllr OLeary. The Dail is the mechanism for doing that. It seems to have been stifled there and not properly debated. I can assure people in Dublin this is the issue on the ground. Governments are there to serve the people. They are elected to listen to the people and on this issue they are not doing that.

There comes a time when they will have to acknowledge this is creating issues within communities and rural towns like Fermoy. Locally the Abbeyville House issue is a huge issue. My phone is hopping 24 hours a day nearly at this stage. We are not even at the doorsteps yet and the issue is coming to me in huge volume, he added.

Cllr OLeary said the current levels of immigration into Ireland are not sustainable and rejected claims from the Taoiseach Leo Varadkar that Irish people emigrated in similar huge numbers. We will always be a welcoming country, but there comes a point as well where you have to look at sustainability. What is happening isnt sustainable. I acknowledge that the Irish emigrated in huge numbers in very different times, but you can only look at the issue at hand. It is too simplistic whenever the issue is raised to say the Irish travelled everywhere.

The Fianna Fail councillor admits his public stance on the immigration debate is far from an ideal situation with regards to his standing within the party but he remains adamant the issue needs to be addressed. It is far from an ideal situation. What concerns me most is why it took three county councillors to say there is an issue. It is the overall issue that needs to be looked at.
Several bags of rubbish were openly discarded on Main Street in Buttevant in the run up to the festive season.

Fine Gael councillor Liam Madden said he notified Cork County Council about the illegal dumping that occurred in the North Cork town. I was contacted about the fly tipping of rubbish on Main Street in Buttevant. I logged it with Cork County Council so that the bags of rubbish could be taken away. How someone could do it in the middle of Buttevant town I dont know. There are bound to be some cameras around there which will hopefully help identify the culprits, he said.

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Cllr Madden said the fly tipping incident is awful for residents, businesses and community groups in the town. I would hope this incident is an isolated incident. It was a very daring and strange move. Hopefully somebody has footage and the culprits will be caught. Thankfully it is not a regular occurrence in the town of Buttevant. Unfortunately fly tipping is common in places throughout the county. You often see mattresses discarded on the M20 and you would think how they are able to unload them without someone seeing them.

Residents, business owners and community groups are doing great work in Buttevant and to think somebody could come along and leave a number of rubbish bags on the street is awful. It is not a nice thing, he added.

The issue of illegal dumping has been regularly raised by councillors at numerous MD and full council meetings in recent years.

Cllr Madden has called for an increase in the fine to try and combat the number of fly tipping incidents in Cork County. There are people being caught and receiving fines, but unfortunately the fine isnt a major deterrent. The fine should be a lot more. The fine is currently 150. Cork County is a huge area and each municipal district probably needs more enforcement people following up on complaints and issuing fines.
Three flights due to land in Cork Airport on Wednesday, December 27, were diverted due to the gale force winds and rain arising from Storm Gerrit.

The 10.15pm Ryanair flight from Tenerife was forced to land in Shannon, as was the Ryanair flight from Lanzarote which attempted to land in Cork, before diverting to Shannon.

The bad weather also forced a KLM flight from Amsterdam to divert and fly to Dublin.

I was on the flight from Lanzarote, the pilot tried to land in Cork initially but diverted us Shannon. We were so close to being home. When we got off the plane there were long queues for the bus back to Cork Airport, and they told us elderly passengers and children were a priority, said passenger Gemma OMahony.

We decided to rent a car as there was five of us traveling home and split the costs. We finally got home to Cork at roughly 1am, she added.

While there was no significant damage on the ground, strong thunder and lightning were reported in some areas of Cork city and county last night, along with the heavy downpours.

Met Eireann has issued a status yellow thunderstorm warning for Munster, valid until 9pm on Thursday, December 28.

Forecasters are warning that scattered thunderstorms with lightning activity are expected to continue with hail possible to which may lead to power outages, localised flood and hazardous driving conditions.
The friendly Labrador dogs went missing in the Lisavaird area

The two Labradors went missing in the Lisavaird area.

Snowy and Snowflake have been missing since Christmas Eve.

The owner of two Labrador dogs that went missing on Christmas Eve has appealed for help from the Cork public to find her pets.

Karen Santry told The Corkman that her two beloved Labradors, Snowy and Snowflake, went missing in the Lisavaird area of west Cork on December 24.

Snowy is 11-years-old and Snowflake is 6-years-old and Karen and her family have had them since they were puppies.

The dogs owner said that the Labradors are neutered, chipped and microchipped and are both very friendly.

Anyone who may come across the dogs or has any information of their whereabouts can contact Karen on 087 7642469.
Lighthouse cafe dealing with up to 500 a day looking for a meal

A Dublin cafe catering for the homeless and those in need had to briefly close its doors on a day before Christmas due to the huge demand for a hot meal.

The Lighthouse cafe on Pearse Street in Dublin city centre, offers essentials for those experiencing homelessness and food poverty and aspires to be a living room to those who need it.

The cafe, run by Tiglin Ireland, has been bustling with people over the festive period. Those in need pop in for grocery supplies, a hot meal, music events, or just some companionship.

We used to feed 80 a day and we thought we were busy. At the moment, were feeding anywhere between 400 and 500, Aubrey McCarthy, Chairman at Tiglin Ireland, said.

One day last week in the lead up to Christmas, we had to close the doors because we just couldnt take any more, which was the first time ever weve had to turn away people.

Tiglin has said this influx comes as a result of the single asylum seekers who are referred to our service and who are no longer accommodated by the International Protection Office.

Mr McCarthy also told the Irish Independent that, along with Irish users, he has a lot of people coming from different countries such as Eritrea, Afghanistan, Syria and much more.

The cafe itself acts as a frontline service providing hot meals and essentials to those who need them. The only days the space is closed are on Christmas Day and New Years Day.

Volunteers at the annual Christmas meal at the Lighthouse cafe in Dublin

The service also offers one-on-one support, which channels people to other services such as drug rehabilitation, recovery, counselling, and housing.

At the moment, Tiglin has over 200 people in its care, and many of those begin that journey by visiting the Lighthouse cafe.

Twins Allen and Jay Bobinac (26) arrived in Ireland from Croatia in 2016 and were sleeping rough in the Phoenix Park before coming across Tiglin and its services.

Allen now runs the Lighthouse cafe, and Jay works in the communications department for Tiglin.

Im an example of someone who came through the system, like hundreds or perhaps thousands of others who have too, Jay said.

Many of these people are now very successful members of society. Me and my brother have now been able to do masters degrees because of this service, and without it, we never would have had that opportunity for education.

Since coming under the management of Allen, the Lighthouse cafe has become even more vibrant with events on nearly every night of the week.

People can have a coffee, enjoy songs with the local choir, performances from the Don Baker Band, a proper Christmas dinner, a barber for people in need of haircuts, movie nights and bingo.

Its a really special place if youre homeless or want a place to sit down and enjoy for a couple of hours, Jay added.
The sale of Kerrys Conor Pass attracts significant interest but Government has not made contact

It is one of the most significant landholdings to ever come on the market in Kerry but five months after it was put up for sale there is still no buyer for the world-famous Conor Pass.

And despite pleas from several TDs and councillors for the Government to purchase the land, no Government representative has indicated any interest in purchasing the land for the state.

Auctioneer Mike Kennedy said there has been huge interest, mainly from the international market including the US, but there is still no buyer for the scenic location.

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Mr Kennedy also confirmed that there has been no contact from the Government to purchase the land despite Taoiseach Leo Varadkar indicating that the Government would be interested  though not at the price tag of 10m.

The current landowner, Mike Noonan, is from the US.

The significant land parcel is 561.3 hectares (1,387 acres) and comprises a mixture of forestry, lowland and mountain and was priced at between 7,000 to 7,500 an acres.

The Conor pass lands which hit the market earlier this year.

It is one of the biggest land-sales in Kerry. A portion of the land is forestry while the remainder  approximately 1,000 acres  is a spectacular landholding which also compromises three famous lakes: Pedlars Lake  one of the most visited sites in Kerry  Lough Atlea and Lough Beirne.

According to the advertisement it is an opportunity to acquire a significant landholding in one of the most internationally recognised areas of Kerry, close to Castlegregory and Dingle.

The Conor Pass is noted for the natural beauty of its landscape and the holding has a mixture of physical characteristics that combine to produce some of the most spectacular scenery in Ireland which is internationally recognised, the brochure states.

The Conor Pass lands which hit the market earlier this year.

As one of the most scenic and most visited areas of the county, the sale of such a significant landholding made many headlines when it was announced in August but despite much public debate at the time there has progress on the sale of the land.

There were calls from Green Party and Fianna Fail politicians for it to be bought by the State and turned into a national park.

The Government is interested in buying Conor Pass says Varadkar

At the time, Mr Varadkar said he wants to see more national parks, but said the price has to decrease first and that the Government would be interested in talking to the owner.

I think its fair to say the State wont be paying 10m for it, but we would be interested in talking to the owner about a reasonable price because Id like to see us extend our national parks, said Mr Varadkar.

However, no such discussions have taken place according to Mr Kennedy.

ARCHIVE: Video shows truck stuck on top of Conor Pass in west Kerry

At the time when Mr Noonan put the land on the market, he said that it would make a great park.

Im looking for somebody that wants to keep it together, it would be nice if the Government would look at it as far as a park because the Irish people should enjoy it.

I dont want to break it up because there are so many hillwalkers who enjoy their time there, Id hate to have a person that buys it that its not open to the communities around Dingle.
Although Illiterate Light will be spending its first New Years Eve at Charlottesvilles Jefferson Theater, the venue already is on the duos list of favorite places.

Harrisonburg-based guitarist and vocalist Jeff Gorman and drummer Jake Cochran, who lives in Nashville, Tennessee, look forward to the show, which begins at 8 p.m. Sunday. Mo Lowda and the Humble and Holy Roller also will be on the bill.

The first time we played the Jefferson, we reopened it after COVID in July 2021, Gorman said in a phone call with The Daily Progress. Then we did our album release show in January of 2023.

The album release show for Sunburned, which Gorman called our biggest headlining show to date, drew more than 800 people. That night, Gorman said, he and Cochran thought, This could be the beginning of a new thing.

The Downtown Mall is great for people to just hang out in, Gorman said. You just cant beat the Mall. There are people flying in for this show. We have a lot of Virginia pride.

What a joy it is to be able to bring people together and create community, Gorman said. Im just happy to bring people together and help people bond over something celebratory.

Expect to hear music from Sunburned, the sophomore full-length album released in January on the Thirty Tigers label. The recent Aloe EP features four tracks from Sunburned sessions; its lead track is Dont Settle Down. A follow-up album is in the works for 2024.

Sunburned was recorded mainly in Richmond, with some tracks captured in Gormans Harrisonburg home studio. Gorman said he and Cochran werent thinking of how wed play it live when they started recording.

We didnt play any of these songs live before we went into the studio, Gorman said. Id be working on lyrics up until the last minute at the studio.

The sentiment, he said, was, Lets just make something cool.

Everything we do is completely live and in the moment, Gorman said. When you see us live, its just another story. Thats the heart and soul of Illiterate Light  feeling the crowd.

For a duo that can sound like a much larger group, flexibility is essential.

There are not many duos out there that can take on a 12-minute guitar solo and make it captivating, Gorman said. I pride myself on being able to do a lot with a little.

The bands fans stay involved, too, which delights Gorman.

With some bands, the show is kind of the backdrop for fans to party, Gorman said. For our shows, everybody is really watching the show and engaged with the performance. When we really play for the people who believe in what were doing, people are focusing on the show and waiting for something magic to happen.

Working without a net has its advantages, and one of them is getting rewarded for taking musical chances.

Ive gotten so comfortable with taking risks and succeeding and failing, Gorman said. Were really going out there, just the two of us. Although, in a sense, were kind of naked without bandmates to fill in at times, Gorman said, Now I like going out there and being bold and taking a risk.

Fans can consider themselves invited to join the party and see where the music takes them.

These days, Illiterate Light will have a few things planned out before a live show. And, after that, we just want it to be an adventure.

Music can be so many things, Gorman said. It can be comforting to a lot of people, but I also want it to be pushing into a new territory. On New Years Eve, listeners can expect to ring in a new year with a show that is going to push the edge and be exciting.

Tickets for the all-ages event, which is presented by WNRN, begin at $25. Get details, and tickets, at jeffersontheater.com.
A view of the new mosque under construction in Tralee. Photo by Mark O'Sullivan.

A two-storey high mosque (Masjid) located at the Killerisk business park in Tralee is well underway and is expected to be fully completed by early 2025.

Located on a 2.25 acre site, the foundations were poured in February 2023 to cater for a mosque with a 23-metre high minaret, and 18-metre high dome.

The house of prayer will be adjacent to a community centre with 10 bedrooms adjoining a balcony area. Provision is also made for 80 car park spaces. The entire site is to be enclosed by trees.

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When completed, it will provide for the religious, cultural and social needs of Muslims in Tralee and countywide.

The mosque will no doubt be welcomed by Tralees growing Muslim community as most recent Central Statistics Office (CSO) figures for 2022 show that 2,151 people in Kerry stated their religion as Islam.

A planning application was submitted to Kerry County Council on behalf of the Kerry Islamic Cultural Centre in 2015 that was subsequently granted permission subject to certain conditions.

To help with construction costs, a GoFundMe page was set up that has so far raised over 30,000.

In June 2023, the Islamic Cultural Centre of Ireland (ICCI), in collaboration with Kerry Islamic Cultural Centre, held a fundraising dinner that was attended by UK Imam Ajmal Masroor as guest speaker. It raised 128,000 through a combination of donations and pledges.

Its thought the idea for a mosque was first raised in 1988 when University Hospital Kerry (UHK) provided a prayer space for Muslim employees.

In 2000, local Muslims rented a premises for prayers that eventually led to a smaller mosque at Killerisk in 2007.

In 2016, a site was purchased close to the existing premises where proposals were set in train for the larger mosque and community centre currently under construction.
Noel is pictured with family, friends, councillors, members of the Nightriders equestrian club and Special Olympics Connaught members, and staff from Rehabcare, Sligo.

The Cathaoirleach of Sligo County Council Councillor Gerard Mullaney recently hosted a Civic Reception at County Hall for Noel Coen, Special Olympics World Games Medallist.

Noels achievements in winning both a silver and gold medal and also his representation of his country at the Special Olympic World Games earlier this year in Berlin, are worthy accomplishments to pay tribute to a truly remarkable man.

Noel was joined at the civic reception by his family, friends, trainers from his local equestrian club, Nightriders, Special Olympics Connaught members, and staff from Rehabcare, Sligo.

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In addition to the Cathaoirleach, the audience was addressed by Myra Merrick, Regional Director of Special Olympics Connaught.

In his welcome address the Cathaoirleach said: Sligo people have a special regard for their sporting heroes, we follow their careers with interest and celebrate their successes with great pride. This is true for individual and team sports, and our special guest this afternoon has excelled in his chosen discipline on many occasions.

Special Olympics Ireland works to transform lives through sport, by working with people with intellectual disabilities. 2023 marked the 20th anniversary of Ireland hosting the Special Olympics and since that time, the Special Olympics movement has gone from strength to strength.

Nightriders equestrian club is where dreams become a reality, and this is certainly true for Noel.

I would like to acknowledge Noels club, Nightriders equestrian club, who completed amazing work and impeccable training in preparation for the Special Olympics World Games, to the highest standard.

To compete in the Special Olympics World Games is a major achievement in any persons career, but to bring home both a silver and gold medal can only be described as amazing.

Sligo County Council extends its congratulations to Noel, and on behalf of the Sligo community conveys its appreciation to you. This is in recognition for your sporting achievements, and the character and resolve you have shown on each step of this special journey.

Cllr Mullaney concluded by quoting Noels motto for athletes:Stay Calm, enjoy the experience, remember you are important.
A 24 year old man who pretended to be his brother to steal Job Seekers Allowance payments from the Department of Social Protection was told to come back with the full amount by Judge Eiteain Cunningham at Sligo District Court.

Richard Sharples of Doonbeakin Road, Dromore West, Co Sligo was charged with stealing Job Seekers Allowance payments in the name of Thomas Sharples from the Post Office, Main St, Dromore West on dates including February 21st 2022, March 8th 2022 and March 28th 2022.

The investigation began when the departments facial recognition system identified both persons to be the same through their photograph IDs.

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The court heard the full amount taken was 2,149.30.

Detective Garda Greg Regan from the Department of Social Protection outlined how the investigation came to light due to their facial recognition system which identified photo IDs of two identities, Richard and Thomas Sharples who were later discovered to be the same person.

He said a person reporting to be Thomas Sharples attended the Social Welfare office in Cranmore and was allocated a PPSN number. On May 9th 2022 a person reported to be Richard Sharples attended the same office and was also given a PPSN number and a photograph ID was taken.

On July 3rd 2023 the person reported to be Thomas Sharples called to the Ballina office and as a facial recognition identification had not been taken previously, this was taken and matched with the person whose photograph was taken on May 9th 2022, the defendants.

Dt Gda Regan said he made enquiries with local gardai who had never heard of Thomas Sharples with that date of birth at that address. There was no record of Thomas Sharples entering Ireland. The court heard the defendant was in receipt of disability allowance payments from Scotland. Dt Gda Regan said department staff were satisfied both were the same person. A search of the defendants home found a Public Services card in Thomas Sharples name. Richard Sharples was arrested and brought to Sligo Garda Station. He apologised for his actions and said he would reimburse the money.

Judge Cunningham enquired had it been done and the detective said no but he believed some money was in court.

Ms Kathleen Henry BL for Sharples, said he did co-operate fully and has health issues including autism, ADHD and Aspergers. He is 24 years old and has a lot of health issues. He was not able to find employment as he gets bullied. She said he undertook to do this which was not the wisest. She said he acts like a six year old and lives with his mother who supports him and was present in court with him. He had 1,000 in court and he apologised. She was asking the court to be as lenient as possible.

Judge Cunningham said it was a very serious matter in that there were steps taken by him to defraud the system. She asked is there a person called Thomas Sharples and the court heard it was his brother.

The judge said that for a number of years, the defendant made visits to different offices and only as a result of the facial recognition system was the offence detected.

Judge Cunningham said there was a sum of 1,409 outstanding on the amounts due to be repaid.

Ms Henry said that Sharples said he will repay the full amount given time.

The judge said due to the nature of the offence, it would be appropriate to order a Probation Welfare Report.

Judge Cunningham asked Detective Garda Regan about the 1,000 that was in court.

Dt Gda Regan said he can issue a receipt from the department that the sum has been taken away from the amount.

Judge Cunningham said she was going to put the matter back for a Probation Welfare Report.

She adjourned to the 25th of April for the case to be finalised.

Dt Gda Regan requested that the court made a destruction order for the documents in Thomas Sharples name, which was granted.
A 46 year old man before Sligo District Court charged with theft of alcohol from a store, left with a trolley full while a second male distracted staff, the court heard.

Alan Roberts of Maryville Hostel, Finisklin, Sligo was charged with stealing one bottle of eight year old whiskey, a 15 pack of lager, eight pack of Bulmers, 70cl bottle of Jameson and a 70cl bottle of Smirnoff Vodka from Aldi, Cranmore Road, Sligo on September 11 2023.

Sergeant Derek Butler told the court the total value of the alcohol was 109.90.

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He said gardai were notified on September 12 about a theft of alcohol the evening before.

The manager said two males had entered the shop.

One of the males, the defendant, went to the alcohol aisle and brought a trolley of alcohol from the shop.

The second male didnt take anything but he distracted staff by saying a person had fallen at the back of the shop as the defendant pushed the trolley out the door.

The defendant later then went in to Garda David Finnerty in the Garda station voluntarily to make a cautionary statement, the court heard.

Sgt Butler said the defendant made full admissions and was co-operative with gardai.

He had one previous conviction for Public Order.

Defending solicitor Mr Tom MacSharry said that as always, the sergeant had been very fair in outlining the evidence.

He said his client has a very serious alcohol addiction.

Judge Eiteain Cunningham said she was going to ask due to the nature of the items.

Mr MacSharry said his client is living in sheltered accommodation. He is a very talented musician and did apologise.

He was eager to have full compensation but unfortunately doesnt have it at the moment.

Judge Cunningham said given his difficulties if it would be worth engaging with the Probation Services and the defendant agreed to do so.

The judge adjourned for the completion of a Probation Report.

Mr MacSharry said he was most grateful.
Tributes have been paid to the late Clinton Mc Cormack from Bray, who died in hospital just days after being shot in the legs in a gun attack, following the announcement of his funeral.

Mr McCormack (44) died in St Vincents Hospital on Tuesday, December 19 as a result of an undiagnosed brain condition, five days after being shot on a building site in Delgany on December 14.

The construction worker, who was a father to a son and two daughters, will be laid to rest on Saturday, December 30 in Saint Michaels Cemetery in Gorey, Co Wexford following his funeral mass at 12noon in the adjacent church. He will repose at a family home on Friday, December 29, with the location not disclosed publicly.

A book of condolences has been opened on rip.ie, with one writing: Rest in peace Clinton may the angel in heaven look after you.

Another addressed his widow Samantha, writing: So sorry for your loss Sam thinking of you and the kids and the rest of Clinton family at this heartbreaking time.

Mr McCormacks son Clinton had taken to social media previously to say his fathers death had broken his familys hearts.

He wrote: Rest in peace to the best man that ever walked. You have all our harts (sic) broke. I promise youIll do you proud love to bits till we meet again love you boss man.

Mr McCormack is survived by widow Samantha, children Clinton, Courtney and Caomihe, parents Marie and David, brothers Stephen and Graham and sisters Pamela and Amy.
Greystones artist Lynne Reece Loftus provided the real finishing touch to the popular piano installation at Greystones Railway Station, following the successful campaign to secure the piano by musician Niall Woods and Cllr Stephen Stokes.

Cllr Stokes said: We are delighted with Lynnes work. She is a top tier artist known for amazing work. This will add a lovely splash of colour to Greystones Railway Station. We are very fortunate to have so many talented and creative people, like Lynne and Niall in the community.

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Niall is a whiz at all things musical. While we were preparing the artwork for installation, he was able to tune up the piano and fix several of the keys. The next step is to add a coat of varnish and add a chair.

This is a special project which is the culmination of work over several months. We are grateful to all involved, including Irish Rail who have allowed the piano in the station, he added.

Cllr Stokes and Niall are now seeking a chair for the station. Donors can contact Cllr Stokes on stephenstokes101@gmail.com. This will need to be fixed to the ground by Irish Rail, so we are looking for something sturdy, Cllr Stokes added.
Tributes have been paid to mum-of-four and former nurse Dee Woods from Greystones, who died before Christmas Day, despite having begun advanced treatment for cancer abroad in November, which had offered some hope.

The town rallied around Dee and her husband Derek in October last year, when the 44-year-old was diagnosed with a form of head and neck cancer called Adenoid Cystic Carcinoma, a rare gene mutation which affects just four in every one million people.

Friends helped to organise fundraising initiatives during the year, raising some 130,000 for treatment, which saw the couple travel to an advanced cancer clinic in Germany in November. Despite their own misfortunes, the family had raised over 10,000 themselves for the Irish Cancer Society on Daffodil Day this year.

Dee has been remembered for her kindness, warmth and compassion by those who knew her personally, while those who knew her professionally in her capacity as an acupuncturist and reflexologist noted how she had a presence that could make you feel at ease even by just being in the same room as her.

Dee had given up nursing after her youngest son Hugo (7) was born and worked instead as an acupuncturist from her home in Kilmacanogue. Another client described her as a wonderful therapist who showed such compassion and care.

Dee passed away at 8.30pm on December 23, 2023, in the comfort of her own home surrounded by her devoted husband and best friend Derek Devlin, their four sons Isaac, Adam, Josh and Hugo, her heartbroken parents Margaret Parle and Declan Lanigan and her mother-in-law Peggy Devlin.

She is also survived by her brother-in-law Alan, his partner Angie, sisters-in-law Ciara and Emma, Ciaras husband Mark, Emmas partner Agatha, her extended family and circle of close friends.

At the Funeral Mass, which took place on Friday, December 29, in The Holy Rosary Church, Greystones, gifts which were brought to the altar included a family photo, shells to denote Dees love of the sea, a bracelet as a symbol of friendship and to emphasise the many great friends she had, as well as acupuncture needles to symbolise Dees caring nature and her propensity for healing, a gift which she bestowed on so many.

In his sermon, Very Rev John Daly discussed the concept of time and described how the Greeks had two words for time, chronos and kairos; the former being the quantitative measure of time passing and the latter referring to a deeper sense of time, which is not measured but experienced in the moments of life that give us a sense of fulfilment.

He pointed out that not all of us are able to appreciate those moments, and instead are trapped in regrets of the past or concerns for an uncertain future. From talking to people who knew Dee and from reading the tributes paid to her, Fr Daly described how he was able to glean her capacity for living fully in the moment  whether that was going for a swim or meeting a friend, or healing others in her role as a practitioner.

Few of us are able to do that, he said, but Dees legacy was her ability to inspire people with her presence, laughter, advice, her love of adventure and her healing.

Dees family spoke of her infectious positivity and remarked how her biggest love was for people and that was the power of Dee.

They expressed their gratitude to all those who had given them so much care, support, kindness and generosity, and offered special words of thanks to all of Dees friends, who were regularly throwing themselves into the sea, having garden chats late into summer evenings, climbing mountains, lighting beach fires under a full moon at the drop of a hat and worked to move mountains.

May she rest in peace.
There were hampers galore as over 100 local people turned out to enjoy the annual Christmas party for the Newtownmountkennedy Irish Countrywomen's Association Guild, which took place at the Parkview Hotel, on Tuesday, December 19.

They were seated at 2pm and there followed lots of chat, while the wonderful staff served a hearty four course meal, explained ICA Guild Secretary Mary ONeill.

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There followed a free raffle for hampers and lots of other goodies, with Anne Tiernan and Mary Byrne scooping the hampers just in time for Christmas. Wicklow ICA federation president Susanna Braswell also attended, and President of the Newtown guild, Hannah Grant, welcomed everyone to the joyful event.

She thanked the management and staff of the Parkview for their continued kindness and generosity to the guild and to the community. The guild would like to extend their best wishes for the new year.

The ICA is the largest women's association in Ireland, with more than 10,000 members and over 500 guilds, including 14 in the Wicklow Federation.
Alan Ford said he is delighted to be joining EastEnders as a character close to my own age.

The Riot Club star, 85, will play Stevie, the estranged father of Billy Mitchell (Perry Fenwick) who grew up in care from the age of 10 after Stevie took sole custody of his brother Charlie.

The pair last saw each other 25 years ago.

Alan Ford and Steve McFadden (Jack Barnes/Kieron McCarron/BBC/PA)

I feel highly delighted to be playing a character close to my own age in this extremely popular television drama series, Ford said.

Stevie will arrive in Walford as the Mitchell family prepare to say goodbye to their beloved Aunt Sal, but it soon becomes apparent that his attendance is not welcome, the BBC said.

The funeral of Aunt Sal on-screen comes after the death of actress Anna Karen last February in a house fire at the age of 85.

Ford has had an illustrious career spanning more than five decades, and is best known for starring in Guy Ritchie films including Snatch in 2000 alongside Brad Pitt, Jason Statham and Vinnie Jones, as well as Lock, Stock And Two Smoking Barrels two years earlier.

Anna Karen, who played Aunt Sal in EastEnders (PA)

Chris Clenshaw, EastEnders executive producer, said: Its an honour to welcome the immensely talented Alan Ford to the cast of EastEnders as he takes on the role of Stevie Mitchell.

Whilst Billy has been a stalwart in the show for over 25 years, viewers know very little about his complicated childhood and the events that led him to grow up in care.

Alan arrives in Walford as the Mitchell family prepare to say goodbye to their beloved Aunt Sal but it soon becomes apparent that he is not welcome in the family fold.

The BBC said Ford has begun filming and his first scenes will appear on screen in the New Year.
Pictured: The newly discovered species of wasp named after Doctor Whos Daleks

Dalek wasps are among 815 new species described by Natural History Museum scientists in 2023

Dalek nationi, a new species of wasp from Costa Rica named after the Dr Who monsters the Daleks (John Noyes/Natural History Museum/PA)

Nilima Marshall Thu 28 Dec 2023 at 08:54







Fourteen newly discovered species of wasps have been named after the villainous Daleks from Doctor Who to mark the 60th anniversary of the popular sci-fi series.
Jefferson-Madison Regional Library will present the following book-related events in the coming week:

10 a.m. Friday at Central Library: The No-School Movies series offers an interactive screening of Rise of the Guardians. Registration is required in advance so you can get a list of call-out responses and a prop bag to help you keep up with the fun. Popcorn will be provided, and the first 10 families will get a free copy of Guardians 1.

2 p.m. Friday at Crozet Library: Afternoon at the Movies offers a screening of Abominable for ages 6 to 11. Registration is requested.

9:30 a.m. Saturday at Central Library: Stories and Shenanigans for ages 2 to 6 starts with stories and continues with exploratory playtime. Walk-ins are welcome at any time while the program is running, and attendees are not required to stay for the full two hours. Registration is appreciated.

11 a.m. Saturday at Central Library: The family-friendly Silent Disco offers festive lights, dancing and technology. Register in advance so there will be enough headphones for everyone. Participants will wear headphones with adjustable volume and can select one of three music channels.

6 p.m. Saturday at Central Library: The after-hours Silent Disco version for adults and teens offers two hours of music and fun. Registration is required, as space is limited.

All JMRL branches will be closed Monday in observance of New Years Day.

All day Tuesday at Nelson Memorial Library: Make and Take: Mini Beanie Caps for teens will provide kits that teens can pick up.

Noon to 6 p.m. Wednesday at Louisa County Library: Register ahead of time to donate blood for the American Red Cross Blood Drive at www.redcross.org or (800) RED-CROSS.

3 p.m. Wednesday at Louisa County Library: Virginia Career Works will present a series of free workshops for job seekers; Wednesdays event is Creating a Professional Resume: The Easiest Way Ever. Head to the librarys computer lab. Career advisors will be there to answer questions.

Learn more about events and programs at jmrl.org.

Friends of the Fluvanna County Library will present local large-animal veterinarian Dr. Melinda McCall, author of Driving Home Naked, at 10 a.m. Wednesday in the meeting room at Fluvanna County Library.

McCall reflects on her adventures in caring for cows, goats, sheep, pigs, llamas and alpacas in rural Louisa County.

There will be question-and answer time, and books will be available for purchase and signing after the program. Coffee, tea and light refreshments will be available. For information, call (434) 589-1400.

The Library of Virginia, in partnership with William & Mary Libraries, is accepting nominations for a new award that will honor excellence in the field of childrens literature that has a focus on Virginia.

Nominations for the 2024 Childrens Virginia Literary Award will be accepted through March 31, 2024, at https://www.lva.virginia.gov/public/litawards/nominate.asp.

Up to five finalists will be announced in July, and the award will be presented at the 2024 Virginia Literary Awards on Oct. 19.
Ukraine and Hungary are preparing a meeting of President Volodymyr Zelenskiy and Prime Minister Viktor Orban in the near future, the Ukrainian president's chief of staff said on Thursday, amid recent steps by Hungary that have soured ties.
Israeli troops killed three Israeli hostages in Gaza on December 15 when it mistook their cries for help as a ruse by Hamas militants to draw them into an ambush, the Israeli military said on Thursday, saying that the soldiers acted rightly to the best of their understanding.
Jim Ryan looked troubled.

The University of Virginia president was meeting with his schools governing body, and he wanted guidance.

Days before, Ryan and much of the nation had watched as his counterparts at Harvard University, the University of Pennsylvania and the Massachusetts Institute of Technology were called before Congress, where they were questioned for hours about the rise in antisemitism on their campuses.

Does calling for the genocide of Jews violate [your universitys] rules or code of conduct, yes or no? asked Republican Rep. Elise Stefanik of New York in the most memorable exchanges of the Dec. 5 hearing.

None of the three university presidents answered with a simple yea or nay.

Many found the carefully worded, academic responses of the university presidents unsatisfactory. Some called for their resignations. That weekend, facing mounting pressure from donors, Pennsylvania Gov. Josh Shapiro, students and alumni, Penn President Liz Magill resigned.

One down. Two to go, tweeted Stefanik, celebrating the news.

One down.

Two to go.



This is only the very beginning of addressing the pervasive rot of antisemitism that has destroyed the most prestigious higher education institutions in America.



This forced resignation of the President of @Penn is the bare minimum of what is required.  Rep. Elise Stefanik (@RepStefanik) December 9, 2023

The hearing put the world of higher education on notice and raised questions about free speech on college campuses. What language and demonstrations should and shouldnt universities allow from students on their campuses in response to current events? And what should a university president say in response to those events, if anything?

So when Ryan met with UVas Board of Visitors on Dec. 8, the latter question appearing to weigh heavily on his mind, he came prepared with a suggestion: UVa could organize a committee to devise a set of guidelines that would help him determine if and when to respond.

I think I would start first with a question of whether we should be saying anything, he told the board. If the answer is under certain circumstances then the question would be, logistically, what are the principles about when and how youre going to say something?

It is no surprise Ryan was affected by the congressional hearing or Magills resignation. Magill happens to be a UVa Law School alumna who served as provost of the university under Ryan and at Ryans request from 2019 to 2022.

But there was another reason the whole affair might have been weighing on Ryans mind.

Days after Hamas bloody Oct. 7 attack on Israel, Ryan had issued a seven-paragraph statement of his own, condemning Hamas and calling for peace. The response to Ryans statement was split. There were some such as Virginia House Speaker Todd Gilbert, a Shenandoah Republican, who praised it. But there were others, including students at rallies and vigils on Grounds in the days immediately after the attack, who said it came too late or wasnt enough, missed the mark or shouldnt have been written at all.

The board agreed with Ryan: A committee should be created to help Ryan and determine when and how UVa communicates about issues or events that happen outside of the university community.

It would be very helpful to have a policy in place and have a group of folks who would look at this very carefully and determine what that ought to be, board member and former Democratic congressman L.F. Payne, appointed under Gov. Ralph Northam, told Ryan. Otherwise its an ad hoc, and you go through it over and over and over again.

Rachel Sheridan, a board member appointed by Youngkin this past summer, was also supportive, saying that such a committee could help take some pressure off Ryan.

I think itll be harder to come up with a policy, but I think its worth the exercise because the practice now of ad hoc response based on whether or not were crossing the street in a crowd because everyone else is doing it, that doesnt seem like the most appropriate place for us to be as an institution, Sheridan said. Obviously it can be institutionally harmful, as were seeing play out this week, and whats happening with miscommunication or direct communication by presidents are harming reputations of universities, period.

It is not the first time an institute of higher education has grappled with this question.

In 1967, as students across the country were protesting the Vietnam War, the University of Chicago created a committee charged with preparing a statement on the Universitys role in political and social action.

In slightly more than two pages, the committees report effectively said, Shut up.

This is a document that was drafted to support those people who thought that institutions ought to be completely neutral with respect to public issues that werent the immediate concern of the university, Princeton University professor Stanley Katz, who teaches public and international affairs and previously taught at the University of Chicago Law School, told The Daily Progress. So the university can speak on issues that affect, for instance, labor relations at the university, because thats a university issue. These principles would say it should not express an opinion about abortion.

Ryan referenced the report, christened the Kalven Report after Chicago law professor Harry Kalven who chaired the committee that drafted it, during the Board of Visitors meeting, noting one line in particular: The university is the home and sponsor of critics; it is not itself the critic.

In other words, it is not the universitys place to weigh in on matters that do not directly affect it.

If youre asked how do you feel about the rights of Palestinians, the Kalven Report is quite clear. Dont touch it. Thats not a UVa issue, Katz said, adding that while there is nothing inherently conservative about the Kalven principles, it is often conservatives who appeal to them.

On our campus, when colleagues think that the university president is being too forthcoming about a public issue, they cite the Kalven Report and tell him he shouldnt be doing it, he said.

What Ryan has proposed is not much different from the Kalven committees mission.

Its job was to articulate principles  which sounds like what is going on in Charlottesville  to determine when and if a university should make what were then called political statements, professor Austin Sarat, chair of the political science department at Amherst College, told The Daily Progress. Being a college president is hard enough. When you add to it that the college and university then has to be willing to speak about events in the wider world that dont have a direct and immediate tie into its central education mission, then the question is when does the president speak.

For Stanley Fish, the answer is quite simple.

Never, the dean emeritus of the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences at the University of Illinois at Chicago told The Daily Progress.

Fish, who has taught at universities across the country and currently is a professor at the New College of Florida, said his stance on the matter is unwavering. University presidents, he said, should not be commenting on affairs that dont directly affect their institution, in part because they are not qualified to do so.

The fact that you have an advanced degree does not give you eternal wisdom. It just gives you something like wisdom in your field, the one youve been studying in and writing about for years, he said. But having an advanced degree doesnt mean you are then an authorized commentator in worldly affairs.

The UVa committee, he expects, will be saying a lot of things I would consider mistaken.

His advice for future committee members?

Go home and do something more useful, he said. But if you get a committee together, itll talk for hours because theres nothing we academics like more than the sounds of our own voices.

Pete Mackey has worked in communications for multiple universities. Today he runs a consulting firm, Mackey Strategies, that advises colleges and universities.

I think its entirely legitimate for UVa to do this, and it may end up being very useful to them as a guide point, not only for leadership of the university but for their community to understand their approach to these matters, Mackey told The Daily Progress. It seems to me a wise idea to come to an understanding of what would be the basis for making a statement or determining you shouldnt make one as a matter of principle and a matter of philosophy, rather than deciding each matter as a one-off decision.

Ryans proposal could be especially useful in the age of social media, in which a controversy on campus can explode into national headlines. Mackey said, in some ways, universities are laboratories for some of the most consequential matters of society, with a tension between younger students and older faculty and alumni.

Theres this generational interplay of ideas that makes it sort of inevitable that there will be a conflict between right and wrong, between ideas on a rolling basis as the culture evolves, he said. You add social media into the mix, and youve sort of ratcheted up the likelihood of temperatures rising. Because any given campus matter through the prism of social media can quickly become a national matter.

The role of university presidents has changed significantly since the mid-20th century, when, according to Sarat, colleges were viewed as parents and protectors of students, issuing rules on such matters as whether students of the opposite sex could cohabitate in a dormitory. That changed in the late 1960s, when college students began to be treated as adults and universities as institutions providing guardrails and infrastructure.

In some ways, universities today have gone back to the future, taking on more of a pastoral role to make sure all students feel safe and welcomed.

I think we have to recognize that were in a different world in higher education, and there are good reasons were in a different world, and universities understand that its not enough just to educate minds, Sarat said. The college and university educate persons with minds, and if a person doesnt thrive, then the mind cant function as well as we demand that it does in higher education.

Universities today, he said, are centers of care.

The role of colleges and universities is not to tell students they cant be in each others dorm rooms but to, in a sense, provide validation of the personal and the cultural, political and social concerns of the students and to some extent of faculty and staff, he said.

Perhaps that is why some university presidents feel compelled to release statements, as a way of making their students feel validated and safe. But that approach may need to be reexamined.

It asks presidents to do things maybe they ought not be doing and asks them to do things maybe theyre not singularly qualified to do, said Sarat. As you saw with MIT, Penn and Harvard, it puts them in the crosshair of political and cultural controversies that open universities up to further kinds of political criticisms.

The UVa committee, then, could be quite useful, argued Sarat and Katz. With a list of principles to abide by, the university would not have to randomly pick and choose when to issue a statement.

It gives the university something to, at the very least, rationalize what it does. And I think thats really very important, said Katz. I think that puts [Ryan] in a much better position. And I think thats better for the campus, because it guarantees that there is some agreed-upon general principles.

But its no panacea. Ryan could always be challenged by elected officials in Richmond or Washington, just like his counterparts at Harvard, Penn and MIT.

Those three presidents were dragged in front of Congress because Rep. Stefanik wanted to get them. And if theres a reason why she or somebody else wants to get Ryan, nothing will protect him. Thats politics. Thats not principle, said Katz.

It could be some time before the committee comes together, and the university doesnt yet have details on how its members would be selected. But Ryan at the Board of Visitors meeting referenced the Committee on Free Expression and Free Inquiry, which he said took roughly a year to draft a statement that was adopted by the board in 2021. Ironically, Ryan created that committee with none other than Liz Magill.

These topics, once you dig into them, unless everybodys going to agree, you should never say anything, period. They take a little bit of time, Ryan said.

The wait could be worth it. If and when the committee comes together, Sarat will be cheering for its success.

I think its extraordinarily important for the future of higher education in the U.S., and I expect that what UVa does will be to this generation what the Kalven Report was to the generation of the 1960s, he said. I, for one, cant wait to read their report.
Photo courtesy: UNI

Moscow/New Delhi/IBNS: Russian President Vladimir Putin has invited Prime Minister Narendra Modi to Moscow and wished Indians "success" ahead of the Lok Sabha elections in the South Asian country, media reports said.

During a joint press conference with Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov, India's External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar said the two leaders, Putin and Modi, were in "frequent contact".

"We will be glad to see our friend, Mr. Prime Minister Modi in Russia," Putin told Jaishankar during a meeting as quoted by India Today.

Honoured to call on President Vladimir Putin this evening. Conveyed the warm greetings of PM @narendramodi and handed over a personal message.



Apprised President Putin of my discussions with Ministers Manturov and Lavrov. Appreciated his guidance on the further developments of pic.twitter.com/iuC944fYHq  Dr. S. Jaishankar (@DrSJaishankar) December 27, 2023

"We know the position of Prime Minister Modi and have talked about this more than once. I am referring to his position, his attitude to complicated processes, including hot spots, the situation in Ukraine.

"I have repeatedly informed him about the situation around this conflict. I know about his striving to resolve this problem through peaceful means," he added.

India has maintained a strong relationship with Russia despite Moscow's invasion of Ukraine.

Withstanding the pressure from the western world to camp against Moscow, New Delhi continued buying oil from Russia, which has shared a cordial relationship with India for decades.

A wide ranging and useful meeting with FM Sergey Lavrov of Russia.



As strategic partners, discussed the international situation and contemporary issues. Exchanged views on Indo-Pacific, the Ukraine conflict, the Gaza situation , Afghanistan and Central Asia, BRICS, SCO, G20 and pic.twitter.com/Uk9VTbZm5y  Dr. S. Jaishankar (@DrSJaishankar) December 27, 2023

In the course of his interaction with Jaishankar, Putin also wished "friends in India" success months ahead of the Lok Sabha polls in India.

"I ask you to give him my best wishes and please tell him that we are waiting for him in Russia," Putin told Jaishankar and added, " Although I know that India next year will have a busy political schedule."

" We wish success to our friends in India," he added.

Opening remarks at the meeting with FM Sergey Lavrov of Russia. https://t.co/o7vfav0kCd  Dr. S. Jaishankar (@DrSJaishankar) December 27, 2023

The 2024 Lok Sabha polls, which are expected to be held in summer next year, will give PM Modi and his Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) a chance to come to power for the third consecutive term.
Photo Courtesy: Wikimedia Commons

Srinagar/IBNS/UNI: Jammu & Kashmir's Awami National Conference (ANC) and CPI(M) leaders on Thursday said that they are considering filing a review plea in the Supreme Court against its judgement on Article 370.

The ANC, which was one of the petitioners who had challenged the abrogation of Article 370, said the Supreme Court judgment on Dec 11 was full of flaws as per the legal and constitutional experts.

The laws and constitution of India have permitted me that if I dont agree with a judgment there are other doors open. Whether it will be a review petition or an appeal or some other route, we will discuss that, ANC's senior vice-president Muzaffar Shah told a press conference here.

Shah said they will prepare a petition and it may take one week or more and legal teams of all the 23 petitioners who had challenged Article 370 in the apex court would be consulted and they will jointly decide the next step.

On Dec 11, a constitution bench of the Supreme Court unanimously upheld the power of the President to abrogate Article 370 of the Constitution, which granted special status to Jammu and Kashmir.

Shah said after the SC verdict, Article 370 has not died.

The legal battle has just started. Article 370 has not died. You have given a judgment and we understand that it is constitutionally flawed. We hope that Article 370 will be restored, he said.

The ANC senior vice president said the issue would also be discussed at the next meeting of the People's Alliance for Gupkar Declaration (PAGD). The alliance headed by Farooq Abdullah was formed in 2019 to fight for the restoration of J&Ks special status.

Shah said the people of Jammu and Kashmir have neither accepted the decision of Aug 5, 2019- when the Narendra Modi government abrogated the provisions of Article 370- nor the Dec 11, 2023 verdict of the apex court.

People of Jammu and Kashmir will give a befitting reply to you when polls are held here and tell you that these decisions are not accepted," he said.

He said they will file a review petition in the top court before Jan 11 next year.
Image courtesy: Facebook/DMDK

Chennai/IBNS/UNI: The body of actor-politician and DMDK founder, Vijayakanth , who passed away on Thursday morning, will be shifted to the sprawling Island grounds in Chennai to enable the public to pay their homage.

Following a request from his wife and DMDK General Secretary Premalatha to keep the body at the Rajaji Hall, where the mortal remains of the leading lights of Tamil Nadu, including Annadurai, MGR, J Jayalalithaa, were kept for the public to pay homage, the Tamil Nadu Government decided to shift it to the Island grounds.

The body will be kept at Island grounds from 6 AM to 1 PM on Friday after which his final journey will begin and be taken to the DMDK office where it will be laid to rest with full state honours.

Following the government's decision, Greater Chennai Corporation Commissioner J.Radhakrishnan inspected the arrangements at the Island grounds, from where his final journey will commence.

Hundreds and thousands of people, including top political leaders across party lines, film actors, actresses, and wailing DMDK cadres thronged the party office in massive numbers. Police had a difficult time controlling the surging crowd, which kept increasing with every passing second.

Several areas in the city witnessed traffic snarls and considering these it has been decided to shift his body to the Island grounds, officials said.

Earlier, from the MIOT hospital where he breathed his last, his body was taken to his Valasaravakkam residence and then shifted to the DMDK office opposite the Koyambedu Mofussil Bus terminus.

Apart from top political leaders in the country, condolences also poured in from across the globe.

Meanwhile, the Tamil film industry announced that all the shooting events would be cancelled on Friday as a mark of respect to the departed leader, who had brought back the loss-making South Indian Film Artistes Association, back to profitability during its tenure as its President.

Shops and commercial establishments will also remain closed in some of the districts till noon as a mark of respect to Vijayakanth.
Photo courtesy: Screenshot grab from X video

Mumbai/IBNS: Bollywood actor Ranbir Kapoor celebrating Christmas with his wife Alia Bhatt was seen in a video which went viral on social media.

In the video, some liquor (presumably wine) was seen being poured on the Christmas cake, which Ranbir sets on flame.

In a celebratory mood, Ranbir chanted "Jai Mata Di" which offended a man from Mumbai.

One Sanjay Tiwari filed the complaint at Ghatkopar Police Station and claimed the actor "is seen pouring liquor on cake and setting it on fire while saying Jai Mata Di."

"In Hinduism, fire god is invoked before invoking other deities, but Ranbir Kapoor and his family members deliberately used intoxicants while celebrating the festival of another religion and chanted Jai Mata Di," the complaint added as quoted by NDTV.

Meanwhile, Ranbir and Alia introduced their daughter Raha to the media on Christmas.

The Bollywood power couple took Raha, clicked some pictures and shared light moments as they headed for Christmas celebrations.

Ranbir and Alia, who dated for years, got married at an intimate ceremony in Mumbai in 2022. They turned parents in November the same year.

Meanwhile, the couple with Raha are presently on a vacation for New Year as they were spotted at a private airport in Mumbai on the day following Christmas.
Israeli soldiers are pictured near the Israel-Gaza border in Israel on October 19, 2023. Photo Courtesy: UNI/Xinhua

Jerusalem: The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) will push the Lebanese Shia movement Hezbollah away from the northern border if Lebanon's authorities and other countries fail to do so, Israel's National Unity Party head and war cabinet member, Benny Gantz, said on Wednesday.

The IDF Chief of the General Staff, Lt. Gen. Herzi Halevi, on Dec 27, said that the Israeli military was on high alert on the border with Lebanon and should be ready to strike.

"The situation in the north must change. The stopwatch for a diplomatic solution is running out. If the world and the Lebanese government won't stop the shooting towards the northern communities from Lebanon and won't act to remove Hezbollah from the border, the IDF will," Israeli newspaper Haaretz quoted Gantz as saying.

Israeli Defense Minister Yoav Gallant did not rule out agreements that would ensure the return of residents of northern Gaza to their homes on Monday.

On Tuesday, Israeli media reported about a kamikaze drone attack in the Upper Galilee in northern Israel, near the border with Lebanon, which resulted in the death of a soldier.

An Israeli citizen also received injuries in the kibbutz of Adamit as a result of a projectile launch from Lebanon.

The IDF said nine servicemen were wounded after the Moshav of Shomera was shelled by an anti-tank missile while the troops were attempting to evacuate a victim of the previous strike.

The tensions have been mounting on the Israeli-Lebanese border since the onset of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict escalation on October 7, with intermittent exchanges of fire and a looming threat of a two-front war for Israel persisting to date.

On October 7, the Palestinian movement Hamas launched a large-scale rocket attack against Israel from the Gaza Strip while its fighters breached the border, opening fire on the military and civilians.

As a result, over 1,200 people in Israel were killed and some 240 others were abducted. Israel launched retaliatory strikes, ordered a complete blockade of Gaza and launched a ground incursion into the Palestinian enclave with the declared goal of eliminating Hamas fighters and rescuing the hostages.

Over 21,100 people have been killed so far in Gaza as a result of Israeli strikes, local authorities said.

On November 24, Qatar mediated a deal between Israel and Hamas on a temporary truce and the exchange of some of the prisoners and hostages, as well as the delivery of humanitarian aid into the Gaza Strip. The ceasefire was extended several times and expired on December 1.

(With UNI/Sputnik inputs)
Nothing is permanent in this world, except for change.



The wise saying can be applied to almost all aspects of life and professionals, same can be said for the ever-evolving travel industry. The one thing that faced a paradigm shift in the purpose of travel. A major move away from traditional sightseeing and towards experiential tourism entails immersive experiences that provide a taste of the rich culture and history of the places they visit.

In simpler terms, experiential tourism focuses on providing curated experiences that enable travellers a to connect with communities, and environments and local cultures. One of the major factors driving the rise of travel is the desire for meaningful experiences and cultural immersion. Through this traveler seeks to form a deep connection with the destinations they visit with the aid of authentic experiences.

Not only in terms of experience but the contemporary traveler also wants to visit wellness escapes, particularly centered around nature. Forest therapy, wilderness therapy, or ecotherapy is a recent trend to perform lifestyle-enhancing activities in natural surroundings to recharge and seek balance in different aspects of life. Forest bathing, natural mineral baths, forest saunas, natural therapies, hiking, meditation, and yoga are on the Bucket list of travelers.

Pexels

Experiential tourism offers a chance to engage with locals firsthand and gain insight into their daily lives by dwelling on activities like cooking class, learning a craft, and even staying in homestays with the host family. These experiences help in preserving cultural and economic heritage. It also provides economic prosperity for local communities. Travelers are choosing experiences that offer a blend of tranquility, outdoor activities, and holistic well-being to connect with nature.

Experiential tourism provides life-changing experiences that may result in development and self-discovery. Engaging in a community project, going on a spiritual retreat, or going on a wilderness excursion can teach valuable lessons and promote personal growth. These experiences frequently force tourists to face their anxieties, grow stronger, and rediscover their purpose in life. People can re-establish a connection with themselves. With this they are also exposed to diverse viewpoints, which challenge their preconceived views and broaden their minds, by venturing out of their comfort zones and embracing new experiences. To enhance their natural wellness experience, tourists are also turning to Ayurveda and naturopathy treatments, as well as farm-to-fork modules. With the current weather conditions, the need to breathe cleanly and spend time in nature is playing a huge part in trips.

While travel is about opening to new places and people, travelers are now even more intentional about how they spend their turn away from home. As we navigate remote work and technological advancements, flexibility is a theme that is encouraging our inner explorers to make the most of this newfound freedom. A pent-up desire to travel, combined with the flexibility of remote work or learning has resulted in travelers staying longer.

Unsplash

Experiential travel is a popular option for travelers who are concerned about the environment because it closely complies with sustainable tourism practices. Experience travel encourages responsible travel methods that reduce negative impacts on the environment and locals. Tourism trends lean towards sustainable tourism practices with travelers increasingly aware of their impact on local communities and the environment. . In an age when worldwide awareness of environmental issues is growing, the travel industry is undergoing a transformative shift towards sustainability. Sustainable travel, often referred to as eco-friendly or responsible tourism, is gaining momentum as travelers increasingly seek ways to explore the world without leaving a negative impact.

Immersive travel opportunities most often emphasize conservation initiatives, support small companies locally, and give preference to eco-friendly lodging. It is recommended that tourists participate in initiatives that raise awareness of environmental issues and support the preservation of natural resources. This focus on sustainability helps the places as well as ensures that the next generation can enjoy similar experiences in the future. Its a driving force behind the travel industry to connect us to people and places we might have never considered before. Slowing down and spending quality time in fewer places prevails, overseeing it all. There is a driving demand for transformative gateways, hidden all-inclusive resort stays, spiritual retreats, and off-the-beaten path emerging destinations. Travelers are looking forward to creativity across the board. - from guest itineraries to tech innovations.

Unsplash

In summary, the emergence of experience travel indicates a change in the way people view travel. It stands for a longing for experiences that go above conventional tourist attractions and are more profound, immersive, and transforming. Travelers are changing the travel business and creating new definitions of what it means to experience the world by pursuing authenticity, and environmental conscience. Immersion travel has the potential to improve both the traveler and the places they visit, as well as to leave a lasting memory and new connections. Those who aspire to have a genuine global experience will be the ones driving travel in the future as this trend picks up steam.

About the Author: Rama Mahendru is the Country General Manager- India, Intrepid Travel. All views/opinions expressed in the article are of the author
One actress who was well ahead of her time was Sharmila Tagore. She never felt guilty about the decisions she made in life. Her bikini cover, which sparked debate even in the parliament, made her the talk of the town in the 1960s.

Here's what the actress has to say about the intense criticism and debate that her swimsuit photo caused.



Filmfare

The first actress to appear on the cover of Filmfare magazine in a bikini was Tagore back in 1966. An Evening in Paris, released in 1967, had sequences in which she wore a swimsuit. Director Shakti Samanta's romantic thriller also included Shammi Kapoor and Pran in key parts.

She recalled, The photographer was slightly worried. I just thought I looked very nice. It really hurt me later because everybody interpreted it in such a way that I was upwardly mobile; I was trying to catch eyeballs. I didnt feel like that. When it came out in Filmfare, I was in London and unaware till Shakti (Samanta) ji called me and said, Will you come back quickly? There are terrible things happening here.'



Hotstar

Sharmila Tagore added, Questions were asked in the parliament.



She went on to add, I used to live alone, and I was very upset with all this. It was completely the opposite of what I thought would happen. So I sent a Telegram to Tiger, and he said, Im sure youre looking very nice. So that was my support.

When Saif Ali Khan discovered that his mother's bikini appearance was being discussed in parliament, he was taken aback. He said, What were the questions? (laughing) I wonder.



She added, It was not pleasant for me. After that, I was very careful, and I chose Aradhana.



Hotstar

What Is Aradhana About?

Aradhana, a 1969 Indian Hindi love drama film, stars Rajesh Khanna and Sharmila Tagore and was directed by Shakti Samanta. At the 17th Filmfare Awards, it took home the Best Film prize. It was Tagore's only Filmfare Best Actress win.Aradhana's enormous popularity resulted in two remakes: the Telugu film Kannavari Kalalu (1974) and the Tamil film Sivagamiyin Selvan (1974). Aradhana was first released in Hindi and dubbed in Bengali.

You can watch Koffee With Karan 8 on Disney+Hotstar.


Nearing the end of the year, many of us are preparing to party hard or take a trip to ring in 2024. Many of us are also considering refreshing our watchlist for the weekend in order to unwind and enjoy at home with our favorite foods and beverages.

There's plenty to watch this weekend, including Vikrant Massey's 12th Fail and Kho Gaye Hum Kahan, starring Ananya Panday.

Let's take a look!

1. Kho Gaye Hum Kahan

As twentysomethings in Mumbai, where romanticism, aspiration, and heartache converge with the allure of social media, three closest friends balance their lives.

Netflix

Release Date: 26th December 2023

Where To Watch: 12th Fail

2. 12th Fail

With the courage of his convictions, IPS officer Manoj Kumar Sharma decides to return to school and take control of his future at the UPSC, the world's most competitive exam, where millions of students seek to pass.

Twitter

Release Date: 29th December 2023

Where To Watch: Disney Plus Hotstar

3. Pokemon Concierge

As per the synopsis, With the help of concierge Haru, Pokemon relax and have fun at the Pokemon Resort.

Netflix

Release Date: 28th December 2023

Where To Watch: Netflix

4. Berlin

Berlin, a spin-off of the critically acclaimed Money Heist, centers on the formative years of Pedro Alonso's fascinating lead character. Berlin's life in his prime is examined in this prequel, which provides insight into his nuanced personality. The show follows his leadership in carrying off a number of incredible heists around Europe, including a cunning plan to steal jewels in Paris worth 44 million euros.

Netflix

Release Date: 29th December 2023

Where To Watch: Netflix

5. Dono

Two people with complicated pasts, Dev and Meghna, meet during a destination wedding in Thailand. Dev, who is still grieving over his unfulfilled emotions for his best friend Alina, the bride, finds himself surprisingly drawn to the groom's pal Meghna.

zee5

Release Date: 29th December 2023

Where To Watch: Zee5

6. Once Upon Two Times

The romantic drama Once Upon Two Times tells a story of love, family, and the complexities of relationships. Ruhi and Ahaan, two former college sweethearts who are getting married, are the center of the story.

zee5

Release Date: 29th December 2023

Where To Watch: Zee5

7. Three of Us

Three of Us is a moving drama that centers on Shefali Shah's character Shailaja, who is battling the early stages of dementia and wishes to return to the coastal village of Konkan before her memories start to disappear.

x

Release Date: 29th December 2023

Where To Watch: Netflix

8. Annapoorani

Nilesh Krishnaa makes his directing debut in Annapoorani: The Goddess of Food, an Indian Tamil-language culinary drama film from 2023. Jatin Sethi and R. Ravindran co-produce the film. Nayanthara plays the lead in the movie alongside Sathyaraj and Jai.

Imdb

Release Date: 29th December

Where To Watch: Netflix

9. Ricky Gervais: Armageddon

In this thought-provoking new stand-up special, the BAFTA and Golden Globe-winning creator of The Office, Extras, and Afterlife takes the stage and riffs on topics such as artificial intelligence, political correctness, family weddings, funerals, and the end of humanity.



netflix

Where To Watch: Netflix
Another Thursday, another Koffee With Karan 8 Episode!

In the latest episode, Saif Ali Khan and Sharmila Tagore graced the Koffee couch. The mother-son duo discussed movies, the industry, personal lives, and other topics. Saif opened up to Karan Johar about his previous marriage and divorce with Amrita Singh, and Sharmila Tagore revealed why she said no to Rocky Aur Rani Kii Prem Kahaani.



Hotstar

Here are the top 5 moments from the episode:

1. Sharmila Tagore Reveals She Battled Cancer

In the episode, Karan disclosed that he had extended an offer to Sharmila to play Alia Bhatt's grandma. Shabana Azmi eventually took on the role. During this conversation, Sharmila disclosed that she was battling cancer.

I had offered Sharmila ji the part played by Shabana Azmi in Rocky Aur Rani Kii Prem Kahaani. She was my very first choice. Due to health reasons at that time, she couldnt say yes but it is a regret I have, Karan Johar said.

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She added, This is at the height of Covid. They hadnt really grappled with Covid at that time. They didnt know the vaccine We were not vaccinated. You know, after my cancer. So, they didnt want me to take that risk.

2. Kareena Kapoors Video Message For Saif

While talking about Saif, Kareena said, What does Saif mean to me? Saif is my entire being. He is my entire universe. My whole life revolves around my Saif. My eyes well up every time I talk about him. He's my life, she said. She also talked about how she really liked Saif in the very first meeting. She said, My favorite memory will always be the first time I met Saif. We were shooting in Ladakh, and he was sitting shirtless on top of the vanity van.

Instagram/Kareena Kapoor

3. Amrita And Saifs Divorce

Saif claimed that Sharmila Tagore was in Mumbai to see him when he informed her that, the day before, he had wed Amrita, despite her recent advice to the contrary. As your parents are the ones who raise you, Sharmila clarified, sharing "every aspect of your life" with them is a good idea.

Saif went on to say that Sharmila was the first person he told when he made the decision to split with Amrita. Sharmila did, however, also spoke about the "not so harmonious time" that ensued after the split.

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4. Sharmila Tagore Talks About Her Iconic Bikini Shoot

Talking about the shoot, she said, The photographer was slightly worried. I just thought I looked very nice. It really hurt me later because everybody interpreted it in such a way that I was upwardly mobile; I was trying to catch eyeballs. I didnt feel like that. When it came out in Filmfare, I was in London and unaware till Shakti (Samanta) ji called me and said, Will you come back quickly? There are terrible things happening here.'

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Sharmila Tagore added, Questions were asked in the parliament.

She went on to add, I used to live alone, and I was very upset with all this. It was completely the opposite of what I thought would happen. So I sent a Telegram to Tiger, and he said, Im sure youre looking very nice. So that was my support.

5. Saif Ali Khan Recalls Time When He Stayed With Gulzar

Saif shared, "I stayed there (At Gulzars place) for a couple of days, and then I went out. We were 20 or 19. Somebody said, 'Let's go out. Mumbai is so much fun and everything.' We came back a little late, or rather a little early in the morning. Gulzar Sahib was up. I was horrified to see. He was in a crisp white Kurta-pyjama, looking very fit and well like he always does. Playing the sitar and doing riyaaz (practising). He was horrified to see me coming home at this time."

You can watch Koffee With Karan 8 on Disney+Hotstar.

(To read more such stories related to movies and shows released on OTTs, keep reading Indiatimes BINGE)


Tamil actor-turned-politician, Vijayakanth popularly known as Captain has passed away in Chennai at the age of 71.

Vijaykanth who was admitted to the Madras Institute of Orthopaedics and Traumatology (MIOT Hospital) in Chennai after he was diagnosed with COVID-19 passed away on Thursday morning.

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Was unwell for some time

"Captain Vijayakanth was on ventilatory support following his admission for pneumonia. Despite the best efforts of the medical staff, he passed away in the morning on 28th December 2023," the hospital said in an official release.

Earlier, the Desiya Murpokku Dravida Kazhagam (DMDK) the political outfit founded by Vijayakanth had confirmed that he was on on ventilator support as he was facing difficulty in breathing, following a COVID-19 diagnosis.

Vijayakanth had been suffering health issues for some time and was admitted to the hospital in Chennai on November 18, after complaining about a cough, cold and sore throat.

He was discharged from the hospital on December 11, but due to his poor health, Vijayakanth handed over the leadership of DMDK to his wife Premalatha Vijayakanth on December 14.

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One of the biggest names in Tamil films

Before his political plunge, Vijayakanth, who was born Vijayaraj Alagarswami in Madurai on 25 August 1952 had made a name for himself in the Tamil film industry.

Vijayakanth who made his film debut in Inikkum Ilamai in 1979 went on to star in hundreds of movies in a film career that spanned over four decades.

Despite being one of the biggest names in the industry, standing tall to the likes of Rajinikanth and Kamal Hasan, Vijayakanth stuck to his mother tongue all his career and has only acted in Tamil movies.

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It was Captain Prabhakaran a 1991 movie directed by RK Selvamani which was also Vijayakanth's 100th film, which gave him the title "Captain".

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Vijayakanth who featured in 154 movies before venturing into politics is also credited with bringing revolutionary changes to the South film industry while being an office bearer at Nadigar Sangam (officially known as the South Indian Artistes' Association (SIAA)).

Political career

Vijayakanth made his political debut in 2005 with the formation of Desiya Murpokku Dravida Kazgam and contested the assembly elections in 2006, from Virudhachalam and was the only candidate from the new outfit to taste success.

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In 2011, DMDK joined hands with the AIADMK and won 26 seats, which was more than what DMK had managed in the election.

Vijayakanth, a two-term MLA served as the leader of the Opposition in the Tamil Nadu Assembly from 2011-2016.

For more news and current affairs from around the world, please visit Indiatimes News.
Art Guild of Greene: More than 50 paintings and drawings by The Four Ferrante Sisters (Dianne, Inez, Noreen and Toni [Tucker]) are at Stanardsville Station through Friday. The venue is open from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. most Fridays and Saturdays. artguildgreene.org.

The Arts Center in Orange: Form + Vision, featuring works created by the Art and Art History faculty at the University of Mary Washington, remains on view through Jan. 27, 2024. artscenterinorange.com. (540) 672-7311.

The Barn Swallow: Gallery will be open every day in December except Mondays. Hours: 1 to 5 p.m. Tuesday through Sunday. Other times available by appointment. 796 Gillums Ridge Road in Charlottesville. thebarnswallow.com.

Botanical Fare Restaurant: Works by Judith Ely will be on display through Sunday. Hours: 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Tuesday, 9 a.m. to 8 p.m. Wednesday and Thursday, 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. Friday and Saturday and 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Sunday. botanicalfare.com. (434) 217-4496.

Cville Arts Cooperative Gallery: Making Spirits Bright, a group show by members, continues through Sunday. 118 E. Main St. (434) 972-9500.

Carver 4-County Museum is making Being a Citizen, its new traveling exhibit, available during the 75th-anniversary year of George Washington Carver Regional High School, Carver Forever: A Diamond Jubilee. carver4cm@gmail.com. carver4cm.org.

The Center at Belvedere: Near and Far: Oil Paintings from Virginia, Maine and Tennessee by Randy Baskerville will be on view from Tuesday to Feb. 29, 2024. A reception is planned for 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. Jan. 4. https://thecentercville.org/.

Chroma Projects and Vault Virginia: Ordered Worlds, abstract paintings by Cyd Black, can be seen Jan. 5 to 26 in Chromas Micro Gallery. Alan Box Levine: Sculpted Harmony and Amdane Sanda: Sabr can be seen in the Great Halls of Vault Virginia on view from Jan. 5 through March. An opening reception for all three exhibitions is set for 5 to 7 p.m. Jan. 5. Third Street Southeast, just off the Downtown Mall. artlab@chroma projects.com. chromaprojects.com.

Crozet Artisan Depot: crozetartisandepot.com.

Cuppa Joe Coffee: Paintings and etchings by Tom Tartaglino on display at 90 Joshua Lane in Palmyra. Hours: 7 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday and 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday and Sunday. (434) 906-4172.

The Fralin Museum of Art at the University of Virginia: Processing Abstraction, NDakinna Landscapes Acknowledged and Look Three Ways: Maya Painted Pottery can be seen through Sunday. Look for an upcoming artist talk by Cara Romero at a later date. Madayin: Eight Decades of Aboriginal Australian Bark Paintings from Yirrkala, one of the most significant touring exhibitions of Aboriginal Australian art ever stages, will be on display from Feb. 3 to July 14, 2024. uvafralinartmuseum.virginia.edu.

The Gallery at Studio Ix and The Charlottesville Black Arts Collective: Gallery of the Year: A Collection of Eight Quilts by Amanda Wagstaff will be on view through Sunday. Gallery hours: 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. Monday through Friday and 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday and Sunday. studioix.co. (434) 242-0905.

Grace Estate Winery: 5273 Mount Juliet Farm in Crozet. Hours: 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Wednesday through Monday and 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. Friday and Saturday. graceestatewinery@gmail.com.

The Guild Gallery: 300 E. Main St. (434) 227-1333.

Harrison Institute and Small Special Collections Library at the University of Virginia: Their World As Big As They Made It: Looking Back at the Harlem Renaissance, featuring works of writers, artists and thinkers of the Harlem Renaissance, through June 8, 2024, at 170 McCormick Road. library@virginia.edu. (434) 924-3021.

Kluge-Ruhe Aboriginal Art Collection: Performing Country, which explores the ways Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander artists explore the complex idea of Country, on exhibition through March 3, 2024. Free tours are offered by volunteer guides at 10:30 a.m. and 1:30 p.m. daily. 400 Worrell Drive. (434) 243-8500.

The Looking Glass: Open Saturdays and Sundays. Ix Art Park Foundation has opened a major expansion of its immersive art museum featuring works by new and returning artists. ixartpark.org.

Louisa Arts Center: Gallery hours are 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. Tuesdays through Fridays at 212 Fredericksburg Ave. in Louisa. louisaarts.org. (540) 967-2200.

Loving Cup Vineyard and Winery: Hours: 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Fridays through Sundays. (434) 984-0774.

McGuffey Art Center: Members Holiday Show and Shop continues through Sunday in the Smith Gallery. Members Annual Holiday Show is in the First- and Second-Floor Hallway Galleries (cash and carry). mcguffeyartcenter.com.

Museum of Culpeper History: The Culpeper Minute Men Chapter of the National Society of the Daughters of the American Revolution, a new exhibit recognizing 100 years of DAR activity in Culpeper County, will run through July 2024. www.culppermuseum.com or (540) 829-1749.

Northside Library: Works by BozART members Judith Ely, Katharine Eisaman Maus and Shirley Paul can be seen in the main hallway through Saturday. Hours: 10 a.m. to 9 p.m. Monday through Thursday and 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday. Closed Sundays.

Phaeton Gallery: 114 Old Preston Ave. phaetongallery.org.

Piedmont Virginia Community College: pvcc.edu/performingarts. (434) 961-5362.

Possums Store Art and Artisan Gallery: 914 Old Blue Ridge Turnpike in Criglersville. www.firnewfarmartistscircle.com. (540) 718-0370.

Pour la maison: pourlamaisoncville.com. (434) 284-8706.

Quirk Gallery Charlottesville: game of telephone by Michael Reisor is on display through Jan. 22, 2024. (434) 365-3774.

Random Row Brewery: Juliette Swensons newest watercolors can be seen through Sunday. Hours: 4:30 to 10 p.m. Mondays through Thursdays, 4:30 to 11 p.m. Fridays, noon to 11 p.m. Saturdays and noon to 8 p.m. Sundays.

Revalation Vineyards: 2710 Hebron Valley Road in Madison. (540) 407-1236.

Rockfish Valley Community Center: Strangely Human: Student-Directed, AI-Generated Art by Nelson County High School art students can be seen through Sunday. Look for works by Jaidyn Smith, Abbey Hobbs, Amari Tinsley, Amelia Lannen, Audrey Watts, Danica McGeehan, MaryJo Allen, Nathan Oneida, Eli Dixon, Emma Craig and Kat Critzer. (434) 361-0100.

Nan Rothwell Studio: 700 Wilder Drive. (434) 263-4023.

Scottsville Museum: Museum is closed for the winter season and will reopen in April for regular weekend hours. To research local history, go to scottsvillemuseum.com. To schedule special tours, email info@scottsvillemuseum.com or call (434) 286-2247. 90 E. Main St. scottsvillemuseum.com. (434) 286-2247.

Sentara Martha Jefferson Hospital: 500 Martha Jefferson Drive.

Shenandoah Valley Art Center: Winter Market continues through Jan. 13, 2024, with ornaments, dinnerware sets, vases, jewelry and more by Make Waynesboro members. The Stroke of a Brush by Beryl Jazvic will run from Jan. 7 to 20, 2024. www.svacart.org.

Sweet Art Emporium: New work by jewelry artist Erika Mitchell and sculptor Cheryl Falkenburry among works by more than 70 artists on view. Open from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. Tuesdays through Fridays and 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturdays. 264 Turkeysag Trail, Unit E, in Palmyra. www.sweetartemporium.com. (434) 882-2087.

Unitarian Universalist Congregation of Charlottesville: Members art will be presented in Season of Light through Sunday. Hours: 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Tuesdays through Fridays and 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. Sundays. (434) 293-8179.

University of Virginia Hospital: Nature Big and Small, photography by Seth Silverstein and Bill Shaw, can be seen in the Main Hospital Lobby through Jan. 3, 2024.

Wayne Theatre: Seated in Creativity: An Exhibition of Chairs and Drawings by Joe Sheridan can be seen through Feb. 18, 2024, in the Exhibit Art Gallery. wayetheatre.org. (540) 943-9999.

Welcome Gallery: repair is the dream of the broken thing, an installation by Matt Shelton, remains on view through Thursday. Hours: 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Wednesday through Saturday. newcityarts.org. (434) 202-5277.

Woodberry Forest School: Two: Lincoln Perry and Frank Hobbes is on display through Friday. Hours are 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday and 1 to 5 p.m. Saturday and Sunday. www.woodberry.org/arts/baker-gallery.

Les Yeux du Monde: Gallery will be closed during January for renovations. LYDMGallery@gmail.com. LYDM.co. (434) 882-2622.

Editors Note: Exhibits shares information about exhibitions presented on display or online in Charlottesville and Albemarle, Buckingham, Fluvanna, Greene, Louisa, Madison, Nelson and Orange counties. Items must be received by noon Friday for the next weeks issue. Include the opening and closing dates of your exhibit and a telephone number the public may call with questions. Send your information to jsathe@dailyprogress.com.

DAILY PROGRESS STAFF
First Kolar district, then Andrahalli and now Shivamogga. Videos and photos have emerged of students in Karnataka being forced to clean toilets and septic tanks.

In the most recent video that shows an incident from last week, students of Guddada Neralakere village in Komaranahalli gram panchayat were allegedly seen cleaning toilets. The District Block Education Officer claimed that teachers and the head master had just asked the students to pour water in the toilets and not clean them.

This follows close on the heels of similar incidents across districts in Karnataka.

Andrahalli toilet cleaning incident: Student held acid bottles & cleaned toilets

In a similar incident in Bengaluru, videos of students at Government Model Higher Primary School in Andrahalli emerged of being forced to clean the school toilet. They were seen holding acid bottles and cleaning toilets.

Indian Express

After learning that the school management forced the students to clean toilets, parents staged a protest. "We learnt about the incident only after the videos of our children cleaning the toilet went viral. We are sending our children to schools to study, not clean toilets. Will the headmistress and the school authorities do the same with their children? The children were made to clean such dirty toilets with bare hands and with acid. There was no protection given to them," a parent said, as quoted by Indian Express.



Following the protests, the Block Education Officer (BEO) and police officials visited the spot and it was learned after discussions that the headmistress had forced students to clean the septic tank.

According to the police, the headmistress of Government Model Higher Primary School in Andrahalli - Lakshmidevamma - was produced before a magistrate and remanded in 14-day judicial custody at Central Prison, Bengaluru.

Kolar toilet cleaning incident: Students forced to clean toilets & pits manually

Photos of students cleaning toilets and excrement pits manually at a school in Karnataka's Kolar district went viral on December 17, as reported by India Today.

India Today

This incident involved five to six students, from class seventh to ninth, who were asked to clean the pit at Morarji Desai Residential School.



Deplorable, states CM Siddaramaiah

Chief Minister Siddaramaiah has said that forcing students to clean school toilets is extremely deplorable and such acts will not be tolerated.

Siddaramaiah has also advised the primary education minister that every school must have separate toilets for boys and girls and staff should be appointed to clean these toilets daily.

For more news and current affairs from around the world, please visit Indiatimes News.


Former Microsoft CEO Steve Ballmer, currently ranked as the sixth richest person globally, is set to receive an astounding $1 billion in annual dividend payments from the tech giant.

The tech entrepreneur and investor served as the CEO of Microsoft between 2000 and 2014. He stepped down from the top post making way for current CEO Satya Nadella.

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Owns approximately 4% of the company

Ballmer, who joined as the 30th employee in 1980, amassed a substantial stake. Ballmer, the largest individual shareholder in Microsoft, owns approximately 4% of the company, equivalent to 333.2 million shares, reported CNN.

The news comes as the tech giant boosted its quarterly dividend by 75 cents a share, or $3 a share annually. Also, his significant stake surged in value to around $130 billion, marking a $44 billion increase in wealth this year alone, driven by a remarkable 56% rise in Microsoft's stock price. Steve Ballmer's passive income stands out as a substantial addition to his wealth.





Closer to becoming 4th richest person in the world

Because of the stake ownership, Steve Ballmer is close to becoming the fourth richest person globally, just a few billion dollars shy of Larry Ellison and his former boss, Bill Gates.

In 2023, Microsoft paid $2.79 per share in dividends, resulting in an annual payment of around $930 million to Ballmer based on his ownership. For 2024, Microsoft raised its dividend by 10% to $3 per share, projecting a potential $999.6 million annual dividend for Ballmer.

Notably, the company started paying dividends to shareholders in 2003. Since then, the amount has only increased, thereby making it clear that Ballmer wont be the only one raking it in.

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As per his income levels, Ballmer will be paying 20% tax on the dividend earnings due to be received in FY23. The total tax on dividend amounts to $200 million.

Besides Steve Ballmer, there are a few other individuals who will be earning a significant amout for owning Microsoft stocks. Warren Buffets Berkshire Hathaway will be receiving $6 billion in dividends for the year as he owns the majority of stocks in the companies that pay dividends.

These companies are Chevron, Bank of America, Apple, Coca-Cola, Kraft Heinz and American Express.

For more on news and current affairs from around the world please visit Indiatimes News.


Australian man James Harrison, known as "the man with the golden arm," is credited with saving over 2.4 million babies' lives through his consistent blood donations. For 60 years, Harrison donated blood weekly until his retirement in 2018.





What's so special about his plasma?

His blood contains unique antibodies that have been crucial in developing Anti-D injections, used to combat rhesus disease in newborns. Harrison's selfless act has had a significant impact on global healthcare.

The condition affects some pregnant women where antibodies in the blood start attacking their unborn babies (called rhesus D hemolytic disease or HDN). The condition develops when a pregnant woman has rhesus-negative blood and the baby in her womb has rhesus-positive, inherited from his father, as per CNN.

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His journey

James Harrison's journey began at the age of 14 when he underwent significant chest surgery. Surviving the critical time was attributed to blood donations, inspiring Harrison to make a commitment to become a blood donor himself. This personal experience fueled his dedication to regular blood donations and ultimately led to his extraordinary impact on saving millions of lives.



Over the years, Harrison donated blood more than 1,100 times, making an invaluable contribution to the Australian Red Cross. However, his journey took an extraordinary turn when doctors discovered a unique quality in his blooda rare antibody that could combat a life-threatening condition known as rhesus disease.





Game-changer for medical community

James Harrisons selfless dedication to blood donation and the subsequent discovery of his unique antibodies have been nothing short of a game-changer for the medical community. Though doctors are uncertain about the origins of his rare blood type, they suspect that the transfusions he received during his adolescence might be the key.

Harrison made his final blood donation in 2018, having reached the maximum age allowed for donors in Australia.

For more on news and current affairs from around the world please visit Indiatimes News.


NASA has announced that a massive 500-foot asteroid is swiftly approaching Earth and is posing a serious threat.

Experts from the space agency are keeping a careful eye on this celestial monster's path, voicing worries about possible effects and promoting awareness throughout the world.

What Is Coming Towards Earth?

Credit: Dall.e

Through their craters, asteroidsrelics from the early solar systemhave permanently altered Earth's surface.



Some craters are enormous, while others are hardly perceptible.

These wounds tell stories of cosmic collisions, earthquakes, and the precarious relationship between life and extinction.

Littler asteroids, which are essentially cosmic pebbles, pass through the sky in meteoric form for a brief period before exploding in our atmosphere, leaving only the rare meteorites that survive the intense descent.

NASA reports that Asteroid 2023 VD6, a massive space asteroid fashioned like a building, is rapidly approaching Earth.

When Is It Approaching Earth?

Credit: Dall.e

This 500-foot-long, Apollo-class near-Earth object is traveling at a startling 55,680 kilometers per hour.



December marks its closest approach to Earth, covering a distance of 2.53 million miles.

In 1,378 days, it completes one round around the Sun.

The orbit of asteroid 2023 VD6 has an aphelion that is 610 million kilometers from the Sun and a perihelion that is 115 million kilometers from the Sun.

The next near encounter between Asteroid 2023 VD6 and Earth will take place on May 03, 2039, at a distance of 9.83 million kilometers, according to the-sky.org.

How Dangerous Is It?

Credit: Dall.e

In fact, because of its size and proximity to Earth, NASA's Center for Near-Earth Object Studies (CNEOS) has classified asteroid 2023 VD6 as a Potentially Hazardous Asteroid (PHA).

Understanding these near-Earth objects is essential to creating defence plans against asteroids and other possible threats to our planet.

Even though this particular asteroid is only passing through, the knowledge gathered from tracking it and similar ones could be extremely important for preserving our future.

What do you think about it? Do let us know in the comments.

Disclaimer: The pictures used in the above article are generated by artificial intelligence.



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Industrialist, philanthropist and former chairman of Tata Group Ratan Tata turns 86 today. Born on December 28, 1937, in Bombay, the business tycoon has been honoured with both Padma Vibhushan and Padma Bhushan awards in the year 2008 and 2000 respectively.

On his birthday today, let us look at some of the prestigious lessons Ratan Tata's career teaches us.

5 Lessons From Ratan Tata's Career

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1. Making Trust The Number 1 Priority

Ratan Tata stated in an interview that trust is the most important thing to him. He stated that the primary tenet upon which any business can thrive is the trust of its clients, staff, and investors. There are plenty of people who will stop at nothing to further their interests or businesses; they will lie, say anything, make false promises, betray confidence, and take advantage of others for their own short-term gain.

However, history shows us that Ratan Tata and the Tata Group are not like this; they understand that people's trust is what matters most, and as a result, Tata has been successful for a very long time all over the world. Therefore, you must prioritize commitment, values, and trust over profits if you hope to survive in this world.

Also Read: All You Need To Know About Tata Group's Most Expensive Stock

2. Emphasizing On Learning & Listening

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Not many people know that Ratan Tata initially turned down an offer of employment from IBM. Like other Tata Steel workers, he came to work on floors and performed minor tasks. He stated in an interview that when he first started his career, he spent eight years of his life in training programs on the shop floors of two to three companies. At the time, he thought it was a waste of time and useless, but he eventually came to realize that the eight years of learning and training were the best investment he had ever made. According to Ratan Tata, there are two things in life that will take a very long time: learning and listening.



In fact, he once addressed the youth during a graduation ceremony and mentioned that "you students have a degree doesn't mean you'll stop learning, never think that you are completed your studies."

"I know that many people don't know what to say to these students. Those who never stop learning are the ones who succeed, so you should pay attention and take humility in what you learn."



Also Read: Bill Gates Meets Ratan Tata & Tata Group Chairman N Chandrasekaran

3. Turning Insult Into Motivation & Controlling Your Emotions

Ratan Tata suffered a significant loss when his Tata Indica automobile failed to find a market. In order to recover from this setback, experts and business associates advised him to sell his company, a move he reluctantly made. He decided to sell and travelled to America to do business with Ford Company. Ratan Tata was insulted by the owner of Ford Company when he was present at the meeting, and was asked 'why he was making cars when he didn't know how.'

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Ratan Tata was not happy about this, so he and his companion left and he declined the deal. He used the insult as motivation and didn't let his rage or insult go to waste. Subsequently, he worked extremely hard, conducted extensive research, and ultimately led Tata Motors to a very prosperous position. But his work didn't end there. At a certain point in time, the Ford Company was experiencing financial difficulties and as a result, it made the decision to divest its two brands, Jaguar and Land Rover.



When Ratan Tata came to know about this, he decided to buy both the brands, as a result, Bill Ford sold both of his cars to Ratan Tata by saying that 'he did a favour by buying the two brands.'

It's fair to say that taking revenge and using your emotions is best done in this way. Ratan Tata channelled his anger into motivation and turned it into a business. Most people who are angry abuse others say hurtful things, fight, and harm themselves. But Tata shows how to control your emotions and let your actions subtly do the talking for you.



Also Read: When Tata Motors Came Out With A Nano Car Worth Rs 22 Crore

4. Understanding The Importance Of Teamwork

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Ratan According to Tata, great things require a great team to accomplish; an individual cannot do great things on their own. Your team consists of all the individuals who work with you, and it is your responsibility to look after them. Let's get down to business.



In 1912, Tata became the first company to implement an 8-hour workday. Henry Ford followed suit in 1917. When Tata began providing medical benefits to its employees, many other businesses around the world took note and began to imitate. Recall that effective teamwork is critical to your success. Your team will function at its best when it is robust, and your team will grow stronger when you provide value to it.



5. Knowing Why You Should Take Risks In Life

Ratan Tata asserts that, like other creators like Apple, Amazon, Facebook, Google, and others, we must take risks in life. These businesses are all part of the largest corporations in the world, but they all began as little garages without the support of larger corporations or large sums of money for investments. Despite this, these businesses are still in the lead in their respective markets. Given the opportunity, they mustered the bravery to bring their idea to fruition. Therefore, taking risks, stepping outside of your comfort zone, displaying courage, and trying something new are all necessary for personal growth.



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Former Local Government Chairmen and Councillors sacked by Governor Seyi Makinde of Oyo State in 2019, on Wednesday, claimed that some of their colleagues have died as a result of hardship.

According to them, no fewer than 27 of their colleagues have died due to their predicament in the last four years.

They lamented that their colleagues died as a result of lack of money to take care of their health challenges owing to non-payment of their entitlements by Governor Makinde.

Ayodeji Abass-Aleshinloye, former Chairman, Association of Local Government of Nigeria (ALGON) made the disclosure while addressing newsmen on behalf of other sacked chairmen and councillors in Ibadan.

Information Nigeria had reported earlier that the Governor disclosed that the ex-Local Government Chairmen and Councillors were distracting his government.

However, Abass-Aleshinloye insisted that they have no skeleton in their cupboards.

READ ALSO: Oyo: Ill Not Pay Ex-LG Chairmen, Until Supreme Court Says Otherwise  Gov. Makinde

He lamented that the Governor had refused to pay their entitlements amounting to N4.8 billion, adding that Makinde paid only N1.5 billion in two batches in 2021 and 2022, out of the N4.8 billion he was mandated to pay by the Supreme Court.

According to him, This media briefing is very important as it concerned the recent media chat by Governor of Oyo State, Engineer Seyi Makinde. We need to address some issues. We have no skeleton in our cupboard.

27 of us that we are in this struggle together have died. I am talking about former chairmen and councillors. Some of them could not get money to take care of their health challenges and this resulted into their death. We have been in the struggle since four years ago.

Our lawyer is taking every necessary step, we will explore all legal means. We have our own technical advisers too.

Our entitlements is N7.2 billion, they pleaded and we said that we will collect N4.8 billion in the interest of the state. They only paid N1.5 billion in two batches. One in 2021 and one in 2022. Since then, they have refused to pay.

The Supreme Court gave the judgement the same day to Katsina state and they have paid.
The Osun State Governor, Ademola Adeleke, has expressed shock over the death of his Ondo State counterpart, Rotimi Akeredolu.

Adeleke, in a condolence message conveyed through his spokesperson, Olawale Rasheed, on Wednesday, expressed deep distress upon receiving the news of Akeredolus demise.

The statement reads: I am deeply touched by the demise of my brother, Arakunrin Rotimi Akeredolu, the Governor of Ondo state.

He is someone who has made great contributions to Nigeria in both the legal field and public service.

Arakunrin Akeredolu was one of the finest minds in the countrys legal profession, and as a colleague in the Governors Forum, his wise counsel and constructive contributions are hard to miss. Nigeria lost one of its finest, and Im hugely shaken.

READ MORE: My Brother And Soulmate  Tinubu Mourns Gov Akeredolu

I condole with the Acting Governor of Ondo State, Lucky Aiyedatiwa, the family of the deceased, the Government and the people of Ondo State over this painful loss.

I urge them to keep his memory alive by sustaining his legacy of good deeds and impacts.
The wife of President Bola Tinubu, Oluremi, has assured Benue State Governor, Hyacinth Alia of support of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, SGF, George Akume.

It was gathered that Nigeria first lady made this known on Wednesday, while speaking at Akumes 70th birthday celebration in the Wannuni area of Benue State.

She described Akume, a former Governor of the State, as a big brother to Alia and he would be watching his back to ensure he is safe.

READ MORE: Leave Benue Or Risk Arrest  Gov. Alia Warns Criminals

Oluremi said: God bless Benue State and to you, Father Hyacinth Alia, I believe your big brother is watching your back to keep the state safe.

Recall that there has been some rumour alleging rift between Akume and Alia recently.

However, a group, identified as the Benue Patriots, had called on President Tinubu to urgently intervene in the face-off between the two.
Governor Umaru Bago of Niger State, has stated that he did not issue any directive to ban sale of alcohol in any part of the State.

In a statement on Wednesday, Bago said the reports circulating social media alleging that he has through the Liquor and Licensing Board, banned the sale of alcohol in nine Local Government Areas of the State, are not true.

According to him, he is yet to constitute the State Liquor and Licensing Board.

He however ordered the arrest of one Mohammed Ibrahim who claimed to be the secretary of the board.

The attention of the Niger state government has been drawn to a report making the rounds of some blogs claiming that the Niger state government, through the states Liquor and Licensing Board, has prohibited the sale of alcohol in nine local government areas of the state, including Suleja.

READ ALSO: Akume Is Your Big Brother, Hes Watching Your Back  Tinubus Wife Tells Gov Alia

We wish to state categorically that his excellency, governor Mohammed Umaru Bago, who has been busy initiating and overseeing many people-centered projects across the state, never issued such a directive.

The liquor and Licensing board is yet to be constituted by the governor; as such, no directive of this kind can come from a board yet to be formed.

In light of the above, his excellency, the governor, has directed security agents to arrest the self-appointed Secretary of this board by name Mohammed Ibrahim, and to understand the motives of the imposter and the reasons behind the pronouncement, the statement read.

He urged members of the public to shun such claims and ensure reports are from government officials, who are authorised to speak on behalf of the State.
Operatives of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) have apprehended at least nine, for making and selling pillow crammed with used pampers and sanitary pads in Sokoto State.

The suspects were arrested based on an intelligence report, the States Commandant, Bello Alkali Argungun, said on Wednesday.

While parading the suspects, Argungun said the culprits used minors to get the unhealthy and soiled materials they stuffed the pillows with, before selling to unsuspecting members of the public.

They used small children who get them the trash. They filled the pillow cases with it which they sell to their customers.

READ ALSO: PDPs Adebutu Visits, Leaves Ogun Police HQ, Dismisses Money Laundering Allegation

The pillow cases carry different logo of reputable forms company, he said.

According to Argungu, this was capable of endangering the health of their customers.

They may contract some diseases without knowing the cause.

I am appealing to our people to always go for businesses that are legitimate, he added.

He noted that, investigation was still ongoing after which the suspects would be charged to court.
After much discussion and consideration over the past several months, the Nelson County Board of Supervisors struck down a proposed resolution to add speed cameras to area school zones.

The idea of implementing speed cameras was first presented to the supervisors in July. The board heard from residents during a public hearing in September.

At the hearing, Sheriff David Hill explained that, years back, legislation was passed which enabled localities to enforce speed limits through camera systems only in school zones and construction sites.

He added that studies show theres a 90% to 95% reduction, roughly, in speed violations using the system.

Blue Line Solutions proposed to provide the cameras for the countys school zones, in what would be a two-year contract with no upfront costs with the setup taking a minimum of six months.

Greg Hogston, regional sales manager for the company, said during the July meeting a camera would be placed on a single-beam-per-lane speed detection lidar device fixed to a stationary pole to capture individual vehicles speeds.

Violators would be mailed a $100 civil penalty, which doesnt increase with repeated violations. Nelson County would receive 75% while Blue Line Solutions would take 25%.

Sheriff-elect Mark Embrey said the biggest concern he has is the potential workload the cameras will create for personnel in Nelsons sheriffs office.

However, Embrey said he has talked to other sheriffs in other localities whose jurisdictions have partnered with Blue Line Solutions and there were no complaints.

Based on all the data that I have  I know where we stand as an agency, what we would have to do and right now we would be prepared if you vote on this today or in the future, he said.

South District Supervisor Robert Barton said it worries him for the county to work with a third-party business and privatize speed enforcement in the school zones.

Barton said hes really reluctant to have speeding tickets privatized.

I know you favor this because you want to protect the children, but thats our responsibility and the responsibility of the government and our sheriffs department, not of a private company, he said.

Board Chair Jesse Rutherford echoed those concerns, adding when for-profit methods are combined with government agencies and law enforcement, it blurs lines that shouldnt be blurred.

I believe that when you start putting badges on robots it starts setting a bad precedent, Rutherford said. Discretion is a very important thing, justice is an important thing. A person who speeds through a school zone going 40 miles per hour over deserves to go to jail, they dont need a $100 ticket.

Central District Supervisor Ernie Reed told the sheriff-elect that hes willing to put the responsibility of school zone safety on his shoulders.

If we can have a presence in those areas  make the corridor safer without having to contract Blue Line Solutions, Im all about that, he said.

Embrey has remained consistent throughout his campaign that there will be a department presence in school zones and along the Virginia 151 corridor. The sheriff-elect doubled down on those promises during the Dec. 12 meeting, saying the department is prepared to provide adequate law enforcement services to make the school zones safer with the absence of speed cameras.

Im happy to wear the load with this, he said.

The board voted 3-2 to deny the speed cameras: Reed, West District Supervisor David Parr and North District Supervisor Tommy Harvey voted to deny the cameras, while Barton and Rutherford voted in their favor.
Ohanaeze Ndigbo, the apex Igbo socio-cultural organisation, has described the killing of over 100 persons from some communities in Plateau State as an orchestrated act of genocide.

Emmanuel Iwuanyanwu, the President General of Ohanaeze Ndigbo, condemned the massacre in a statement issued by the National Publicity Secretary of the group, Alex Ogbonnia, on Wednesday in Enugu.

According to Iwuanyanwu, he was in his village in Imo State for the Christmas holidays when he received the awful news.

The Igbo leader who described the killing, burning of houses, indiscriminate shootings and displacing of residents as an orchestrated act of genocide, wondered why in this modern age and civilization, Nigeria, was still posting the brutish, cruel and barbaric news of mass killings of such magnitude.

He further lamented that the Federal Government had refused to heed the Ohanaeze Ndigbos call for Restructuring and State Policing System as a panacea for the incessant losses of lives and property in the various states of the country.

READ ALSO: Plateau Killings: Dont Allow Nigeria Become Ungovernable Under Your Watch  CAN Tells Tinubu

The President General noted that, it has become very obvious that the federal security architecture has proved very ineffective for the diverse demography.

The Igbo leader noted that such heinous and cowardly killings had persisted because in the past the perpetrators of such savage acts often went unpunished.

I therefore urge President Bola Tinubu to do everything possible to bring to book those behind the callous crime in Plateau State, he said.

He directed the Igbo leadership in Plateau State to extend all forms of solidarity with the immediate families of the deceased, the displaced and the sundry victims of the catastrophe.

On behalf of all the sons and daughters of Igbo, we send our condolences to the governor of Plateau State, His Excellency, Caleb Mutfwang, the good people of Plateau State and the Middle Belt Forum led by Dr Bitrus Pogu.

I pray the Almighty to grant the souls of the deceased a blissful repose in His bosom, Iwuanyanwu said.
Tragedy struck on Christmas day at Ibeshe beach in Lagos State when two brothers drowned, the State Police Command disclosed.

The incident happened at about 6.00 pm when the siblings were swimming with their friends, Benjamin Hundeyin, the State Police spokesman told News Agency of Nigeria on Thursday.

According to him, someone reported the incident to the Police, adding that the siblings were aged 26 and 23.

He added that the surname of the deceased is Adegboyega and their family resides in Festac Town.

READ ALSO: Why You Need To Take Lots Of Pictures Before January  AY Makun

The spokesman furthered that all efforts by the friends of the brothers and local divers to rescue them proved abortive, after which the incident was reported to the Police.

While noting that detectives visited the scene where the deceased drowned, he said that local divers were employed to locate the bodies.

The family of the deceased, he said, was informed of the mishap.
The Rivers Elders and Leaders Forum has posited that State Governor Siminalayi Fubara has no legal right to enforce the peace deal brokered by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu in the State.

They pointed that they see no peace in the deal brokered by Tinubu as regards the political crisis rocking Rivers State.

In a Wednesday statement, the forum noted that the peace accord signed at the presidential villa in Abuja showed no sensitivity to the peoples security, political and social interests.

Their reaction follows Fubaras Christmas Day broadcast, where he pledged to fully implement the presidential peace agreement reached to resolve the ongoing political crisis in the state.

Former Governor of Rivers State, Rufus Ada George, who read an open letter to the Governor on behalf of the forum, noted that the peace accord signed at the presidential villa in Abuja is a death sentence.

The elders warned Fubara to be guided by the constitution he swore to uphold in his quest to restore peace to the State.

READ ALSO: Rivers Crisis: Peace Pact Not As Bad As Being Portrayed, Ill Implement It  Fubara

Insisting that the Governor has no constitutional or legal power to implement Tinubus peace accord, they noted that: The forum believes that there could be peace in Port Harcourt and indeed the entire Rivers State if only Your Excellency would be circumspect in your actions, measured in your engagements, and have a critical mind in your review of events.

Therefore, Mr Governor, you have no constitutional or legal power to implement the Presidential Peace Proclamation.

Responding to a question on whether the Governor has ever responded to their previous comments on the issue in the State, George clarified that, We are not acting for or on behalf of the governor. We are acting as individuals or group of residents and indigenes of Rivers State and we are acting in accordance with the law, the constitution.

We dont need to wait for advice or to listen to information or a piece of written messages. We act based on what we know and perceive to be factual. And we know that an agreement or proclamation was written which was not in the best interest of Rivers people and we are acting on that.

The governor may be taking his actions unknown to us; we dont know; we have not exchanged any direct correspondence in relation to this issue or proclamation. We are acting in the interest of the Rivers people.
Clarice Schillinger, who ran as a Republican candidate for lieutenant governor in Pennsylvania, takes part in a forum in Newtown in May 2022. Read more

A former GOP candidate for Pennsylvania lieutenant governor and leader of a political action committee that fueled conservative opposition to school boards has been charged with assault after allegedly punching a teenager at a boozy birthday party she threw for her 17-year-old daughter.

Multiple teenagers were assaulted by intoxicated adults during the Sept. 29 party at Clarice Schillingers Doylestown home, according to a police affidavit. Police say that Schillingers intoxicated boyfriend punched one teen in the face and assaulted another. That teen also was punched in the eye by Schillingers intoxicated mother, who also chased that teen around the kitchen, the affidavit said.

As teenagers tried to leave the home on Liz Circle, Schillinger  who police said had supplied the more than 15 minors at the party with a basement bar stocked with vodka and rum, played beer pong with them and encouraged them to take shots with her  ordered them to stay.

She then punched one young man in the face three times, according to the affidavit, which said video footage showed Schillinger lunging toward a group of teenagers in the foyer and having to be restrained.

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Police charged Schillinger on Oct. 26 with simple assault, harassment, and providing alcohol to minors. The charges were first reported Thursday by the Bucks County Courier Times.

Schillinger directed a request for comment to her lawyer, Matthew Brittenburg, who said in a statement: Ms. Schillinger has dedicated her life to public service. Additionally, she has always been a law-abiding citizen. Ms. Schillinger looks forward to the opportunity to defend against these allegations. Court documents show a hearing is scheduled for Jan. 29.

Schillingers mother, Danette Bert, and boyfriend, Shan Wilson, were charged with simple assault and harassment. Those charges were withdrawn, and both pleaded guilty to disorderly conduct earlier in December, court records show.

Who is Clarice Schillinger?

Schillinger, 36, rose to prominence amid a burgeoning conservative movement opposed to pandemic safety measures, which has since shifted to accusing the public education system of indoctrinating students with liberal ideals.

She was tapped by Bucks County venture capitalist Paul Martino in 2021 to lead a political action committee, Back to School PA, that poured more than $500,000 of Martinos money into school board races. While the PAC billed itself as bipartisan, most candidates who received its donations were Republicans, at a time when conservatives were marshaling opposition to public schools over so-called critical race theory.

Schillinger ran for lieutenant governor in 2022, but lost the May GOP primary.

Schillinger then became executive director of a federal PAC started by Martino, Back to School USA, which pledged to combat liberal teachers unions and special interest groups that are responsible for indoctrinating our children.

The PAC plans to invest in the races across the U.S. where the public school unions are backing candidates, Schillinger said earlier this year. In the first half of 2023, it raised and spent about $20,000; a website for the PAC that existed earlier this year has since been taken down.

Martino didnt respond to a request for comment Thursday about whether Schillinger still worked for the PAC.

The affidavit describing the charges against Schillinger, which says footage from two different cell phones captured some of the assaults on teenagers, notes that it wasnt the first time police had been dispatched to an alleged underage drinking party at the home, which she is renting.

Less than a week earlier, on Sept. 24, police found beer cans around her property and in the street. About 20 minors fled when police showed up that night, according to the affidavit, which said Schillinger was intoxicated and uncooperative.
Four groups of workers voted to unionize at Temple University's Fox Chase Cancer Center in 2023. Read more

Labor had an active year in Philadelphia, and two Temple Health hospitals were at the heart of the action.

Nearly 900 workers at Temples Fox Chase Cancer Center and Chestnut Hill Hospital joined the Pennsylvania Association of Staff Nurses and Allied Professionals, or PASNAP. Their grievances centered on burnout due to high patient load.

 READ MORE: Nurses, techs decry Temple Hospital decision to move the employee health clinic from its main campus.

Staffing concerns also led to a five-day nurses strike at Suburban Community Hospital and Lower Bucks Hospital that began Friday. This marked the first time in three years that nurses in the region have walked out of work. The 240 nurses at Suburban and Lower Bucks returned to work Wednesday without resolution to their contract dispute with hospital owner Prime Healthcare.

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Heres a look at six union votes that workers took at the two Temple hospitals in 2023.

Fox Chase Cancer Center

Multiple groups of employees created unions this year at Fox Chase. Staff at the Temple-owned specialty cancer center in Northeast Philadelphia said they were motivated to organize after nurses and techs at Temples main hospital secured a three-year union contract in November 2022.

We can have those things, too! Christina Suermann, an operating room nurse at Fox Chase, told The Inquirer over the summer.

Here are Fox Chase worker groups who voted to unionize in 2023:

Number of workers: Roughly 125

Election date: June 6

Result: 74% of techs and specialists who cast a ballot voted in favor of the union.

Number of workers: Nearly 350

Election date: June 19

Result: 62% of nurses who cast a ballot voted in favor of the union.

Number of workers: About 20

Election date: Sep. 13

Result: 100% of phone triage nurses who cast a ballot voted in favor of the union.

Number of workers: Nearly 85

Election date: Sep. 13

Result: 83% of research staff who cast a ballot voted in favor of the union.

Chestnut Hill Hospital

The acute-care hospital on Germantown Avenue joined Temple Health on Jan. 1, acquired from Tower Health. By years end, two large group of workers had unionized. Staff members said that they wanted to have collective bargaining agreements, like many of their new peers across the Temple system, to protect their rights and interests.

Not having a union, you are at the mercy of hospital management, Kadena Smith-Fleming, a licensed practical nurse at Chestnut Hill who is part of the techs union, told The Inquirer earlier this month.

Here are the Chestnut Hill worker groups who voted to unionize in 2023:

Number of workers: Roughly 215

Election date: Dec. 12

Result: 73% of the nurses who cast a ballot voted in favor of the union.

 READ MORE: Nurses and techs vote to unionize at Temples Chestnut Hill Hospital

Number of workers: Nearly 90

Election date: Dec. 12

Result: 92% of the techs and specialists who cast a ballot voted in favor of the union.
Kenyatta Johnson stands behind Cherelle Parker while she speaks at her election night party at the Sheet Metal Workers Local 19, on Tuesday, Nov. 7, 2023, in Philadelphia. Parker is mayor-elect and Johnson is the presumed next City Council president. Read more

Since Cherelle Parker won the race for Philadelphia mayor in November, a man who could play an outsized role in advancing her agenda has had a consistent presence alongside her: City Councilmember Kenyatta Johnson, the next Council president.

That includes at multiple news conferences and during her election night victory party, when she summoned him to her side.

I know it makes for good theater, I will call it, to see a City Council and a mayor not get together, not be able to move this city forward by working in a collaborative way, she said during a rousing speech. But if its Gods will, we are not going to use that as our strategy, we will not let divide-and-conquer be the tool that people use to stop us from working together.

The public displays of alignment demonstrate a broader reality: Both Johnson and Parker, herself a former Council member, are longtime politicians well aware that their relationship as leaders of the executive and legislative branches is one of the most important in municipal government.

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Recent history has shown that a mayor without the support of the Council president  who controls the flow of legislation  can be stymied at every turn. Council members often want the mayor on their side to back their spending priorities or help provide quality services in their districts.

It all makes for something of a codependent partnership.

Johnson and Parker have worked alongside one another as elected officials for nearly 15 years. Both are scheduled to be sworn into their new offices on Jan. 2, marking a period of significant turnover at the top rungs of city government.

Were working together on a common mission to move the city of Philadelphia forward. People are looking to us for leadership, Johnson said during a news conference this month. So to the mayor-elect, I pledge my support and most importantly, its not a me thing, its a we thing.

Why the relationship between mayor and City Council president matters

The relationship between former Mayor Ed Rendell and then-Council President John F. Street holds a special place in Philadelphia political lore.

When Rendell first took office in 1992, the city was on the brink of financial collapse. Street was elected by his peers to become Council president the same year. Rendell started what has since become a mayoral tradition: Every Tuesday, he walked from the mayors office on the second floor of City Hall to Streets office on the fourth floor.

The two were initially strange bedfellows  Rendell a charismatic cheerleader type; Street the master of legislating and policy. But they worked closely to move complex budgets through Council, with Street often keeping more rebellious members at bay, and turned the city into a story of urban renewal.

The clearest example of what happens when the relationship deteriorates came two decades later.

Street served two terms as mayor, and then in 2007, Michael A. Nutter won a competitive Democratic primary to succeed him by running as the anti-Street, vowing to restore ethics to City Hall. Council repeatedly obstructed Nutters reform-oriented agenda, including twice killing a proposed soda tax and refusing to undertake his pension reform plan.

Outgoing Council President Darrell L. Clarke, a former top aide to Street, ascended to the role in 2012, and Nutters second term was marked by years of more tension and discord that spilled into public view. Nutters relationship with Clarke and Council soured to the point where he couldnt get a single member to introduce a signature piece of legislation to privatize Philadelphia Gas Works.

Council refused to even hold a hearing on the proposal, an unprecedented move to block a top mayoral priority. Nutter at the time called it quite possibly the biggest cop-out in recent Philly history.

Clarke said in a recent interview that he didnt think their public sniping was productive.

I wish we could have done that behind closed doors, but the personalities at the time didnt allow it, he said.

 READ MORE: Outgoing Council President Darrell Clarke reflects on his career in Philly politics

Outgoing Mayor Jim Kenney was elected in 2015 and had a better relationship with Clarke, whom hed served alongside in Council for years. The two worked together in 2016 to pass Kenneys signature sweetened beverage tax, which he said recently remains his proudest legislative achievement.

Kenney said in an interview last month that his biggest piece of advice for Parker is maintain a good relationship with Council. He said it can be complicated for a mayor to nurture the relationship with Council when 17 members want the administration to fund their sometimes divergent priorities.

Make sure you maintain that within reason, Kenney said as if speaking to Parker, because youre going to get inundated with stuff you cant do.

How Parker and Johnson may vibe

Through a monthslong internal campaigning process, Parker didnt endorse a candidate for Council president. But Johnsons chief opponent, Councilmember Curtis Jones Jr., had endorsed Parker in the Democratic mayoral primary while Johnson stayed neutral, leading insiders to surmise that Parker favored Jones.

 READ MORE: How Kenyatta Johnson won the race to become Phillys next City Council president

But Parker and Johnson have a long-standing relationship that Johnson touted during the race for Council president. From 2009 to 2012, they worked together in the state House when both were representatives and, for a time, Parker chaired the Philadelphia delegation. Parker often emphasizes her experience in Harrisburg as a reason why she can leverage support from lawmakers outside the city.

Johnson took office in Council in 2012, representing parts of South and Southwest Philadelphia, and Parker joined him in 2016, representing Northwest Philadelphia.

While they didnt come from the same geographic political factions, they showed similarly centrist ideologies. Both have showed openness to charter school expansion, and often sided with longtime residents concerned about gentrification amid development battles in their districts.

Johnson and Parker also each have allies in organized labor and close ties to politically powerful unions like those that represent service workers.

And Parker, like most every other member of Council, stood by Johnson as he faced two federal trials and a yearslong investigation. Last year, a jury acquitted him and his wife, Dawn Chavous, on charges that they accepted bribes and used his position of power to help a nonprofit maintain real estate in his district.

 READ MORE: Inside Kenyatta Johnson's political comeback

Parker appeared twice at pretrial vigils to pray for Johnson. And Chavous, a consultant, is a member of Parkers transition team, serving as the vice chair of a subcommittee on education.

Clarke said he anticipates Parker and Johnson will work well together, particularly on public safety. Johnson is a longtime antiviolence advocate, while Parker ran on a tough-on-crime platform and pledged to end lawlessness in the city.

The policy and programs in place will drive the relationship to a good place, because they concur on most of the stuff thats been put out there, he said. And both of them are neighborhood-conscious people that believe in significant investment in neighborhoods.
When word gets out that a bus of asylum seekers is heading from Texas to Philadelphia, a streamlined phone chain springs into action.

A WhatsApp group that includes various nonprofits sends volunteers to 30th Street Station to meet the buses with hot chocolate, blankets, and coats. A SEPTA bus is at the ready to take migrants to a welcome center in North Philadelphia and Health Department officials are there to address any health emergencies.

 READ MORE: More buses from Texas? Philly ready to welcome immigrants as pandemic bar drops.

Last week, the group learned that Texas Gov. Greg Abbott, the man behind the uncoordinated efforts to send asylum seekers to self-described sanctuary cities, chartered a plane of migrants to Chicago as that city cracked down on his buses. Cathryn Miller-Wilson, executive director of HIAS Pennsylvania, said the group chat immediately began rethinking some of its processes.

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We agreed, OK, we have to put a plan in place so we can meet the planes if they get to Philly, she said.

On Tuesday, volunteers were almost put to the test.

The Federal Aviation Administration diverted a plane of 180 asylum seekers who were headed from El Paso to John F. Kennedy Airport in New York City. An FAA spokesperson said the plane landed in Philadelphia because of low visibility. In the end, Philly was only a pit stop. A city spokesperson said the Eastern Airlines passengers were picked up by buses headed to New York before 11 p.m. But had they stayed in Philly, the city would have been able to connect the planes passengers to shelter and other services.

Miller-Wilson echoed the sentiment.

We are ready, she said of anything Abbott throws the citys way. We will likely have a meeting to solidify what we will be doing differently for the planes.

Abbott confirmed to Fox News that he was behind the New York City-bound plane, proof to observers that he is escalating his efforts to funnel migrants to sanctuary cities. Abbott claimed hed bused more than 82,900 asylum seekers as of Dec. 20  including 3,400 to Philadelphia  to cities that include Denver, Los Angeles, and Washington.

 READ MORE: In Texas he was offered a choice of three cities. How one immigrant ended up on a bus to Philadelphia.

Many of the arrivals have described monthslong harrowing journeys as they escaped persecution and other dangerous conditions in their home countries. Philly arrivals often quickly link up with family across the region, while others stay at the city-operated welcome center getting legal support from HIAS Pennsylvania, Nationality Services Center, and Catholic Social Services until they have a more permanent home. The city says there are fewer than 40 people at the center now.

After the first bus drop-off in November 2022, Philly advocates quickly worked out a system that streamlines how volunteers work through dozens of newcomers of various ages, many of whom dont speak English. Still, organizations recognize adding planes to the mix means theyll have to tweak their initial greeting phase.

Logistical details such as bringing hot beverages and lugging carloads of coats in various sizes need to be worked out with Philadelphia International Airport. Theyll have to figure out airport logistics such as where to keep the SEPTA bus that will take newcomers to the welcome center.

Abbott has maintained that his actions are a necessary relief for border towns in Texas, which he said are being overrun with new arrivals. His office did not respond to a request for comment, but spokesperson Renae Eze told NBC News this month that the governor has no plans of slowing down his efforts even as winter sets in.

Until President Biden does his job and secures the border, Texas will continue busing migrants to sanctuary cities to provide much-needed relief to our overwhelmed border towns, Eze said.

Cities including Chicago and New York City have declared states of emergency as they deal with the influx of migrants. Chicago has set hours for when buses can make drop-offs and this month, its City Council approved a bill that allowed for buses caught violating the rules to be impounded. Then the first plane arrived.

On Wednesday, New York City Mayor Eric Adams issued an executive order that requires buses of asylum seekers to give 32 hours notice and to drop people off only during set times and at a specified location, or face fines or being impounded. The mayors of New York, Chicago, and Denver have called on Texas to coordinate with them and for federal action.

Miller-Wilson is similarly urging federal lawmakers to help ease the stress felt by some cities by giving them work authorization, which requires a lengthy process to secure.

New York would not be overwhelmed if people were authorized to work and could support themselves and didnt have to rely on charity, she said.
The 1906 Beaux Arts Capitol building in Harrisburg is reflected in the windows of an office building on North Third Street on Dec. 13, 2023. Read more

Did you know it is perfectly legal in Pennsylvania for medical students to conduct a pelvic, rectal, or prostate exam on you while you are under anesthesia, without your explicit consent or knowledge?

Thankfully, that will change in January.

For years, I did not know this practice was occurring. Then, in 2018, the day after I underwent gynecological surgery, I heard a segment on This American Life that detailed a medical students disturbing experience of being asked to perform a pelvic exam on an unconscious patient. The student felt deeply troubled, questioning the ethics of such an invasive procedure without the patients explicit consent.

The American College of Obstetrics and Gynecology and the American Medical Association have unequivocally stated that such exams  devoid of personal benefit and intended solely for teaching purposes  require specific informed consent obtained prior to surgery.

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Despite this, conducting pelvic exams without consent is a widespread practice. Although it happens less often than it used to, a 2019 survey of 101 medical students by Elle magazine found that more than 90% had performed a pelvic exam on a patient during anesthesia, and most had not obtained explicit consent beforehand.

As I listened, my experience just the day before flashed before my eyes. I recalled being introduced to several medical students moments before being put under anesthesia. I wracked my brain, trying to remember if there was any attempt to get explicit consent for them to examine me. I couldnt remember anything and figured I would have remembered that conversation if it had happened.

Thinking back to all this, in light of what I had just listened to on the radio, I felt outrage and disbelief.

During my follow-up appointment with my doctor, I asked her if I had been subjected to an unauthorized pelvic exam during my surgery. But I never got a straight answer; she said things like, These issues come up every few years when an article comes out, and that yes, Its possible that medical students examined me. I was at a teaching hospital, she told me, so that is part of the routine.

I still felt unsettled by what might  or might not  have happened during my surgery. On Jan. 18, 2019, I sent an email to my state representative, Elizabeth Fielder, with the subject line: suggestion for legislation.

I told her about my procedure, and that there was no state law to prevent medical students from examining me without my consent. I suspected these procedures were likely performed most often on the most vulnerable among us, including low-income women, women of color, and women experiencing homelessness.

Just days later, State Rep. Fiedler wrote back. Thank you so much for reaching out about this important issue, she said.

At the end of 2019, State Rep. Fiedler introduced a bill banning the practice, joining forces with State Rep. Liz Hanbidge (D., Montgomery).

Work on the bill slowed down in March 2020, as the state government shifted focus to the pandemic response. In the meantime, I kept sharing my story with others, and the same responses came up over and over: disbelief, anger, and disgust.

It was clear to me that most people had no idea this was legal. Among people who do know about it, Ive heard of some who had chosen to defer necessary medical treatment because they were scared they would be examined without consent while under anesthesia.

State Rep. Fiedler didnt let the pandemic stop this bill, and it was referred to the health committee in March. The bill made its way through the legislative process and was signed into law by Gov. Josh Shapiro in November.

Beginning on Jan. 19, almost five years to the day after I sent my initial email to State Rep. Fiedler, hospitals and doctors must obtain explicit consent from patients in order to conduct pelvic, rectal, and prostate exams on patients for educational and training purposes when they are under anesthesia.

As we enter 2024, there is a lot to be concerned about: international conflicts, a presidential election, and plenty of pain and suffering in our own backyard. As a resident who doesnt hold political office, its easy to think theres not much we can do.

Its easy to think theres not much we can do.

But I sent an email to my representative, and now theres a new law. This experience has shown me that even ordinary people can have a significant impact on the lives of those around us.

My resolution for the new year is to continue to speak up about issues close to my heart and engage with my local, state, and national representatives, who have the power to set the wheels of change in motion. I encourage everyone to do the same.

Do some research to find out what level of government is best positioned to make the change you want to see happen.

I did what anyone can do: I learned something that felt and sounded wrong, and I informed someone who could actually do something about it. I didnt know it was possible, but it is: Changing the law can start with writing a letter.

Keren Sofer is a psychologist in Philadelphia.
In this 2020 file photo, Adam Geer, then an Assistant District Attorney in the Homicide Unit and Director of Diversity, Equity & Inclusion in the District Attorney's Office, speaks about recent violent incidents affecting Black transgender women. Geer was named the city's first chief public safety director. Read more

Adam N. Geer, a deputy inspector general and former homicide prosecutor, will be Philadelphias first chief public safety director, taking on a new administrative role responsible for coordinating the citys response to crime.

Mayor-elect Cherelle Parker announced the appointment during a news conference Thursday, saying Geer is an exceptional candidate with extensive experience in the Philadelphia criminal justice system.

She also sought to assuage concerns about the chain of command, saying Geer will report directly to her and work closely with police commissioner Kevin J. Bethel, but would not get in his way. She said an organizational chart will be finalized after she is inaugurated.

Anyone who was hoping or was thinking in any way imaginable that the two wont be acting in sync, you are absolutely wrong, she said. Geer added that he views himself as an assist maker to Bethel and intends to focus his efforts on coordinating the public safety response outside of the Police Department.

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Parker and more than a dozen members of her transition team gathered at City Hall for the announcement alongside a bevy of transition team members, community activists, and labor leaders. She also announced that deputy fire commissioner Craig Murphy, a 36-year veteran of the department, will be acting fire commissioner, a role that became vacant because outgoing commissioner Adam K. Thiel will be the next managing director.

The hires were the latest that Parker announced before her inauguration as Philadelphias 100th mayor on Jan. 2. Her administration has begun to come into clearer focus this week, with the announcement of Thiels appointment and that of a handful of other staff members, including a new director of clean and green initiatives.

We are building one of the most talented and diverse administrations that this city has ever seen, Parker said Thursday. We have a lot of hard work to do in the city of Philadelphia, and we are doing our best to pick the best and brightest people to get it done.

A new era of coordination?

Geers appointment, which must be confirmed by City Council, marks a shift in how Philadelphia city government is organized.

Currently, Mayor Jim Kenneys public safety response is coordinated by outgoing Managing Director Tumar Alexander and his top deputies who work closely with police leadership. Former Mayor Michael A. Nutter had a deputy mayor who oversaw public safety issues and reported directly to him.

Now, Geer will coordinate the deployment of resources and personnel by departments including police, fire, prisons, and emergency services. Hell also be responsible for guiding the agencies through the budgeting process, drawing up reports on operations and procedures, and maintaining relationships with groups outside the city government such as civic associations and schools.

In his current role, Geer works in the citys Office of the Inspector General, which is responsible for conducting investigations of city agencies and employees to root out fraud and corruption.

The last couple of years, Ive been trying to do exactly what this position describes, Geer said. That is pull together city agencies, pull together community leaders, pull together anyone and everyone.

 READ MORE: Who Philly Mayor-elect Cherelle Parker has picked for her cabinet and senior staff

He also worked two stints in the Philadelphia District Attorneys Office, as a prosecutor between 2007 and 2011, then again from 2015 to 2021. Under District Attorney Larry Krasner, Geer worked in the municipal court unit and then as a homicide prosecutor. He also was the offices director of diversity, equity, and inclusion.

Geer said it has not yet been determined whether he will have an office with a staff and budget. He will be paid $265,000 a year, a salary required by the legislation that created the position.

The appointment fulfills a key priority of outgoing City Council President Darrell L. Clarke, who earlier this year championed controversial legislation that requires the new position, outlines its purview, and ensures that Council must confirm Geer. Council advanced the matter, which asked voters to approve an amendment to the citys Home Rule Charter, on an expedited timeline.

Kenney, who leaves office next week, vetoed the legislation and his administration argued that it had not had time to assess its potential impact and could limit a future mayors ability to shape an administration.

Council overrode the veto, and voters approved the measure through a ballot question in May.

A key motivation for Council to create the position was the perceived lack of coordination among leaders of the citys criminal-justice system, including the courts, the Police Department, and District Attorney Larry Krasners office.

Krasners progressive approach has at times put him at odds with Kenney and is in contrast to the tough-on-crime message that was central to Parkers victory in the mayors race.

Were going to be working together. He is a duly elected official. I know the DA personally, Geer said. We are all adults. The citizens of Philadelphia dont have time for anything else, so were going to be working together. We may not always agree, but were going to be working together.

A new fire commissioner  for now

Murphy rose through the ranks of the Philadelphia Fire Department over the course of more than three decades, serving as a lieutenant, a captain, a battalion chief, a deputy commissioner, and now acting commissioner. He is scheduled to retire next year.

I wish he could stay with us longer, Parker said, but we are going to put his great skills to use as long as we possibly can.

Murphy spoke briefly during the news conference Thursday alongside former Fire Commissioner Lloyd Ayers, recalling that Ayers helped him study for his first promotional exam decades ago.

This was not a difficult decision to make. When Mayor-elect Cherelle Parker asks you to serve, theres only one answer: Yes, Murphy said. The delivery of fire and emergency services is not just a job, but its a call to serve.
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Convelo Insurance Group, headquartered in Tinton Falls, New Jersey, has hired Andrew Andy Borst as president.

Borst has 25 years of insurance industry experience, most recently serving as president of E&S and international programs. Borst also served as an executive officer at Argo Group and held senior roles at OneBeacon Insurance Group. He began his career at Travelers Insurance Company.

Convelos former president, Dan Shea, will now move into the newly established executive vice president and chief marketing officer role. Shea has more than 30 years of experience in the insurance industry.

Topics New Jersey
The NewYork-Presbyterian Hospital (NYP) will pay $300,000 for disclosing the health information of individuals who visited its website, New York Attorney General Letitia James announced.

James said an investigation by her office found that the hospital used advertising tools on its website that collected and shared private and personal information with third-party tech companies when visitors used the website to search for doctors or book appointments, in violation of the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA).

As a result of the settlement, NYP has also agreed to change its policies, secure the deletion of protected health information, and maintain enhanced privacy safeguards and controls.

The NewYork-Presbyterian Hospital operates 10 hospitals and receives more than 2 million patient visits each year. The NYPs website allows visitors to book appointments, search for doctors, learn about NYP services, and research information relating to symptoms and conditions.

The investigation found that NYP did not have appropriate internal policies or procedures for vetting third-party tracking tools and did not review or vet third-party tracking tools for violations of policy or law prior to their deployment.

Between June 2016 and June 2022, NYP used third-party tools to track visitors to its website for marketing purposes. These tools used snippets of code, known as tracking pixels or tags, that sent information back to the third party whenever a webpage loaded or a user took a pre-defined action, like clicking a link, submitting a form, or running a search using the websites search function.

Third-party companies received a variety of information about NYPs website visitors. In some cases, those companies received information about the users health. Most third-party companies received the users IP address and the URL of the webpage that had loaded or the link that was clicked. If a user searched for a doctor by specialist or condition, researched a health condition, or scheduled an appointment, information about the users doctor or health condition were in some cases reflected in the URL. For example, if a user conducted a search using the words spine surgery, the URL of the search result page would include spine-surgery and the third party would receive that health information about the user, according to the attorney generals office.

Several third parties received unique identifiers that had been stored on users devices, allowing third parties to recognize users they had previously interacted with. One of the third parties also may have received first and last name, email address, mailing address, and gender information.

In June 2022, officials said that a journalist reported on the use of tracking tools on NYP websites and the collection of sensitive health data. The NYP disabled tracking tools on its website soon after and contracted a third-party forensic firm to determine the extent of the data released. In March 2023, NYP formally reported the incident affected over 54,000 people.

Topics New York
New York Gov. Kathy Hochul vetoed a bill days before Christmas that would have made it easier for people who have pleaded guilty to crimes to challenge their convictions, a measure that was favored by criminal justice reformers but fiercely opposed by prosecutors.

The Democrat said the bill`s sweeping expansion of eligibility for post- conviction relief would up-end the judicial system and create an unjustifiable risk of flooding the courts with frivolous claims, in a veto letter released Saturday.

Under existing state law, criminal defendants who plead guilty are usually barred from trying to get their cases reopened based on a new claim of innocence, except in certain circumstances involving new DNA evidence.

The bill passed by the Legislature in June would have expanded the types of evidence that could be considered proof of innocence, including video footage or evidence of someone else confessing to a crime. Arguments that a person was coerced into a false guilty plea would have also been considered.

Prosecutors and advocates for crime victims warned the bill would have opened the floodgates to endless, frivolous legal appeals by the guilty.

Erie County District Attorney John Flynn, the president of the District Attorneys Association of the State of New York, wrote in a letter to Hochul in July that the bill would create an impossible burden on an already overburdened criminal justice system.

Questioned Without Attorneys

The legislation would have benefitted people like Reginald Cameron, who was exonerated in 2023, years after he pleaded guilty to first-degree robbery in exchange for a lesser sentence. He served more than eight years in prison after he was arrested alongside another person in 1994 in the fatal shooting of Kei Sunada, a 22-year-old Japanese immigrant. Cameron, then 19, had confessed after being questioned for several hours without attorneys.

His conviction was thrown out after prosecutors reinvestigated the case, finding inconsistencies between the facts of the crime and the confessions that were the basis for the conviction. The investigation also found the detective that had obtained Cameron`s confessions was also connected to other high-profile cases that resulted in exonerations, including the Central Park Five case.

Various states including Texas have implemented several measures over the years intended to stop wrongful convictions. Texas amended a statute in 2015 that allows a convicted person to apply for post-conviction DNA testing. In 2017, another amended rule requires law enforcement agencies to electronically record interrogations of suspects in serious felony cases in their entirety.

Were pretty out of step when it comes to our post-conviction statute, Amanda Wallwin, a state policy advocate at the Innocence Project, said of New York.

We claim to be a state that cares about racial justice, that cares about justice period. To allow Texas to outmaneuver us is and should be embarrassing, she said.

In 2018, New York`s highest court affirmed that people who plead guilty cannot challenge their convictions unless they have DNA evidence to support their innocence. That requirement makes it very difficult for defendants to get their cases heard before a judge, even if they have powerful evidence that is not DNA- based.

Guilty Pleas

Over the past three decades, the proportion of criminal cases that make it to trial in New York has steadily declined, according to a report by the New York State Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers. About 99% of misdemeanor charges and 94% of felony charges in the state are resolved by guilty pleas.

In my work, I know there there are a lot of circumstances where people plead guilty to crimes because they are advised or misadvised by their attorneys at the time, said Donna Aldea, a lawyer at law firm Barket Epstein Kearon Aldea & LoTurco. Sometimes they`re afraid that if they go to trial, they`ll face much worse consequences, even if they didn`t commit the crime.

She said the state`s criminal justice system right now is framed in a way that makes it impossible for people to challenge their guilty pleas years later when new evidence emerges, or when they`re in a better financial position to challenge their convictions.

Under the bill, those challenging their convictions would be provided court- appointed pro bono representation if they cant afford an attorney. Theyd also be able to request retesting of physical evidence, as well as access to both the defense and prosecutors discovery files related to their case.

State Senator Zellnor Myrie, a New York City Democrat who sponsored the bill, said he is considering reintroducing the bill in the next legislative session to give innocent people a fair chance to reverse a terrible wrong.

Nick Encalada-Malinowski, the civil rights campaign director for VOCAL-NY, a grassroots organization, said the bill would have removed various barriers for folks who got their wrongful conviction cases dismissed on procedural or technical grounds.

The bill, he said, would have given them a chance to get their cases heard on the merits.

The problem of wrongful convictions in New York requires a statewide solution, said Nick Encalada-Malinowski, the civil rights campaign director for VOCAL-NY, a grassroots organization. Were trying to have a system where people have an ability no matter where they are, if theyre wrongfully convicted, to get back in courts and argue their cases.

Copyright 2024 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

Topics Texas New York
Workers at a Tsingshan Holding Group plant in Indonesia staged a demonstration and demanded new working conditions after an explosion on Sunday that killed at least 19 people.

The deadly blast at a furnace run by PT Indonesia Tsingshan Stainless Steel  which is controlled by the Chinese group  has triggered a police investigation and a halt to the firms operations. Tsingshan is the worlds biggest nickel producer and one of Indonesias largest foreign investors.

On Wednesday, about 100 workers gathered at Indonesia Morowali Industrial Park  the site of the blast  to call for better compensation to victims families, according to the parks spokesperson Dedy Kurniawan. Protestors have since dispersed, he said.

Unions also issued a list of more than 20 demands to the industrial park and Tsingshans management. Those include a requirement that foreign staff should learn Indonesian, as well as calls for improved pay and health benefits, and better emergency preparedness. The list, seen by Bloomberg News, was issued by five labor organizations including the Confederation of All Indonesian Trade Unions.

The fatal accident at the Tsingshan furnace is the most serious in a number of incidents in Indonesias burgeoning nickel industry, which is the worlds biggest after a decade of massive investment spearheaded by Chinese firms.

Tsingshan has 3 million tons of stainless-steel capacity at the Morowali site, which is made using nickel smelted from Indonesian ore. Its not clear how much steel or nickel capacity was being utilized prior to Sundays halt. Tsingshan has separate facilities in other parts of Indonesia.

Nickel on the London Metal Exchange rose Wednesday, its first day of trading since Dec. 22. The metal gained 2.4% to $16,905 a ton.

Rising Toll

There have been tense relations between local communities and Chinese workers and management at nickel plants. In January of this year, two people died in violent clashes at a plant belonging to another Chinese company.

The death toll from Sundays explosion climbed to 19 on Wednesday after one worker succumbed to heavy injuries, according to the Central Sulawesi regional police. Forty more remain in intensive care.

The fatalities included eight Chinese nationals, Mao Ning, a spokesperson for Chinas Ministry of Foreign Affairs said at a regular press briefing Wednesday in Beijing. China will work with Indonesia to deal with this accident, she said.

Indonesias Ministry of Manpower is investigating the cause of the disaster and will take legal steps against the company if its found to have violated work, health or safety regulations, state news agency Antara reported.

Photograph: Indonesia Morowali Industrial Park (IMIP) workers protest against their working conditions outside the facility in Bungku, South Sulawesi, on Dec. 27, 2023. Photo credit: STR/AFP/Getty Images

Copyright 2024 Bloomberg.

Topics China
A Panama-flagged bulk carrier that was headed to a River Danube port to load grain hit a Russian mine in the Black Sea on Wednesday, injuring two crew members, Ukrainian officials said on Thursday.

It was the latest incident of a civilian vessel hitting an explosive in the Black Sea in what Kyiv says is stepped-up Russian attacks on shipping and port infrastructure.

A Panama-flagged civilian vessel was blown up on an enemy sea mine in the Black SeaThe vessel lost its course and control, and a fire broke out on the upper deck, Ukraines southern military command said on Telegram.

Half of Red Sea Container-Ship Fleet Avoids Route on Threat of Attacks

A captain and a sailor, an Egyptian citizen, were injured, with the latter hospitalized in the city of Izmail, the head of the Odesa regional prosecutors office said at a briefing.

He added that the incident happened early on Wednesday at a river mouth.

Moscow has increased attacks on Ukraines port infrastructure since mid-July, when it quit a U.N.-brokered deal that allowed safe passage of Ukrainian grain shipments via the Black Sea.

Kyiv since has established an alternative route, which hugs the western shores of the Black Sea. It said Russian forces have been repeatedly dropping explosive devices in its vicinity.

(Reporting by Yuliia Dysa, editing by William Maclean, Angus MacSwan and Christina Fincher)

Topics Carriers Ukraine
MADISON, Wis. (AP)  Wisconsin Republicans plan to unveil a proposal soon to legalize medical marijuana in the state and could vote on it sometime in 2024, Assembly Speaker Robin Vos said.

Republicans have been working behind closed doors for years on a medical marijuana bill. Along the way, they have rejected calls from Gov. Tony Evers and other Democrats to legalize all uses of marijuana, including medical and recreational.

Vos, in an interview Wednesday, said the proposal will be limited and modeled after the medical marijuana law that had been in place in neighboring Minnesota before it moved to full legalization.

It is not going to be widespread, he said. We are not going to have dispensaries on every corner in every city.

He said Assembly Republicans are on board in concept, but no one has seen the actual proposal yet. He expected to unveil it in January. Vos had said in April that he hoped to have the bill by the fall of 2023, but he said it took more time to find consensus.

In concept most people are there, but I dont want to guarantee anything until we have a wider discussion, he said. I feel pretty good that were in a place where I think it can get through our chamber.

Democratic state Sen. Melissa Agard, who has advocated for full marijuana legalization, said Thursday that she could support a more limited medical marijuana program, but I remain skeptical as to whether or not this is it. Agard, who has traveled the state calling for legalization, said she has offered to work with Republicans on the bill but has been rejected.

Democratic Assembly Minority Leader Greta Neubauer said Democrats were open to discussing the Republican bill.

We hope that its a serious proposal from our colleagues that addresses the past harms that have been caused by the criminalization of marijuana and that really allows access for the people who need it, she said Thursday.

If passed by both the Senate and Assembly, it would have to be signed by Evers before taking effect. His spokesperson did not return a message Thursday seeking comment.

Senate Republicans have been less open to pot legalization than those in the Assembly. But in January, Senate Majority Leader Devin LeMahieu said a bill to create a medical marijuana program could pass this legislative session  as long as regulations are put forward to ensure its for those in serious pain.

Vos has long backed some form of medical marijuana program, but no bill has ever received a vote in either the GOP-controlled Assembly or Senate.

Wisconsin remains an outlier nationally, with 38 states legalizing medical marijuana and 24 legalizing recreational marijuana. The push for legalization in Wisconsin has gained momentum, as its neighbors have loosened laws.

Marquette University Law School polls have shown large majority support among Wisconsin residents for legalizing marijuana use for years. Given that broad, bipartisan support, there should be full legalization, Agard said.

Copyright 2024 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

Topics Cannabis Wisconsin Politics
COLUMBIA, Mo. (AP)  One person is still missing a week after the abrupt closure of St. Louis` largest nursing home left roughly 170 residents scattered at new facilities throughout the city, a state health department spokeswoman confirmed late last week.

Many patients left with nothing but the clothes they were wearing when Northview Village Nursing Home shuttered without warning last week, creating confusion and spurring outrage among residents and their families.

St. Louis police have been alerted about the final resident who remains unaccounted for, Health and Senior Services Department spokesperson Lisa Cox said in a Friday email.

Cox said Northview Village also has surrendered its license to operate, which will end the company`s contracts with Medicare and Medicaid.

A person answering the phone said staff of Healthcare Accounting Services, which owns Northview Village and several other St. Louis residential homes, are gone for the holidays and declined to provide email addresses for company leaders.

One of Northviews owners, Mark Suissa, told the St. Louis Post-Dispatch that the state wasnt paying enough to keep the facility afloat and laid blame on staff, who did not receive paychecks the day the home closed.

Of course I would have done it a different way, he said of the closure. I have other partners also involved. But unfortunately, thats the way it happened. 

The union representing workers has said the company started to close the home and bus away residents after staff raised concerns about not being paid.

Levare Westbrook told the Post-Dispatch that he lost track of his 82-year-old mother, who has dementia, for more than two days after the home shut down.

I did a whole lot of cursing until I finally found her, he said.

Northview Village has been fined 12 times for federal violations since March 2021, according to the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services. Fines totaled over $140,000 and ranged from $2,200 to more than $45,000. The federal agency gives Northview a one-star rating out of a possible five but doesnt spell out reasons for the fines.

In addition, the state health department website lists nearly two dozen Northview investigations since 2016. The most recent complaint, from February, said a resident was able to get out of the building through an unsecured door. A 2021 complaint alleged the facility failed to investigate claims that residents left the nursing home and brought drugs into it.

Copyright 2024 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

Topics Numbers
Twitter violated contracts by failing to pay millions of dollars in bonuses that the social media company, now called X Corp, had promised its employees, a federal judge ruled on Friday.

Mark Schobinger, who was Twitters senior director of compensation before leaving Elon Musks company in May, sued Twitter in June, claiming breach of contract.

Schobingers suit alleged that before and after billionaire Musk bought Twitter last year, it promised employees 50% of their 2022 target bonuses but never made those payments.

In denying Twitters motion to dismiss the case, U.S. District Judge Vince Chhabria ruled that Schobinger plausibly stated a breach of contract claim under California law and he was covered by a bonus plan.

Once Schobinger did what Twitter asked, Twitters offer to pay him a bonus in return became a binding contract under California law. And by allegedly refusing to pay Schobinger his promised bonus, Twitter violated that contract, the judge wrote.

X no longer has a media relations office. The company did not immediately respond to a request for comment to its X account outside business hours.

Twitters lawyers argued that the company made only an oral promise that was not a contract, and that Texas law should govern the case, according to Courthouse News, which first reported the ruling. The judge ruled that California law governed the case and that Twitters contrary arguments all fail.

X has been hit with numerous lawsuits by former employees and executives since Musk bought the company and culled more than half of its workforce.

The lawsuits make a range of claims, including that X discriminated against older employees, women and workers with disabilities, and failed to give advance notice of mass layoffs. The company denies wrongdoing.

Topics California Legislation
In a significant development, the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) has rejected over 20,000 claims filed under the Employee Retention Credit (ERC) program. This move is part of the agency's strategy to counter the surge in fraudulent and ineligible claims. Individuals whose ERC claims have been denied should be notified through a Letter 105 C, which not only denies the claim but also offers a pathway for appeal.

The ERC program was introduced in 2020 during the COVID-19 pandemic to assist businesses in retaining employees on their payroll. Despite the easing of COVID restrictions, the program remains active, allowing companies that initially missed out to file an amended tax return for the ERC, potentially earning significant amounts per employee.

However, the IRS has observed a worrying trend of increased fraudulent claims. Scammers have been targeting businesses, posing as tax preparation experts and falsely assuring managers or owners of ERC eligibility. These fraudsters then offer to expedite the claim process for a fee, ultimately diverting the funds to themselves.

To address this, the IRS paused the processing of ERC claims in September. A special procedure was also introduced, enabling businesses to withdraw their ERC applications if they had not yet received or deposited any rebate. For those who have erroneously received the ERC, the IRS is gearing up to launch a "voluntary disclosure program" before the end of the year. This program is designed to provide a way for tax filers to rectify their situation without facing severe penalties.

The voluntary disclosure program is particularly aimed at those who have unintentionally claimed the ERC. By coming forward, these businesses can avoid harsh consequences, such as the repayment of the credit with interest and additional fines. This initiative reflects the IRS's acknowledgment that not all erroneous claims are a result of fraudulent intent.

Businesses that have received the Letter 105 C and believe their claim was wrongly denied can appeal the decision. This appeal process is a critical part of ensuring that eligible businesses do not miss out on the ERC benefits due to administrative errors or misunderstandings about the program's criteria.

The IRS's actions highlight the ongoing challenges in administering pandemic-related relief measures. While the ERC program has been a vital aid for many businesses, the surge in fraudulent and ineligible claims necessitates stricter scrutiny and more robust measures to protect the integrity of the program. The upcoming voluntary disclosure program is a step towards balancing the need for compliance with the recognition that errors can occur in good faith.

Businesses are advised to consult with tax professionals to understand their eligibility for the ERC and ensure compliance with IRS guidelines. As the situation evolves, staying informed and proactive is crucial for navigating the complexities of tax credits and relief programs.

This content is for informational purposes only and should not be construed as legal or financial advice. The opinions expressed here are that of the advertiser alone.

This provided content was produced by Lee Enterprises. The news and editorial departments had no role in its creation or display.
Apple Inc. said it would put its latest smartwatch models back on sale in its US retail stores Wednesday after it won a court ruling in a patent fight, providing a quick reprieve for its $17 billion business.

The company said its Apple Watch Series 9 and Ultra 2 would also resume online sales beginning Thursday by noon Pacific time. The US International Trade Commission had banned the import and sale of the products at Apples official channels after it ruled in favor of Masimo Corp., a medical device maker, in a patent infringement case. An appellate court in Washington had issued an interim stay of the ITCs decision earlier Wednesday while Apple seeks to overturn the decision.

Apples teams have worked tirelessly over many years to develop technology that empowers users with industry-leading health, wellness and safety features and we are pleased the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit has stayed the exclusion order while it considers our request to stay the order pending our full appeal, a company spokeswoman said in a statement.

The watches will be back on shelves beginning Wednesday at some of Apples about 270 retail locations across the country, with wider availability by Saturday, the company said.

Apple was forced to stop sales of one of its signature products after the ITC found the company infringed a pair of Masimo patents related to measuring blood-oxygen saturation. Apple pulled the watches from its website on Dec. 21 and in retail stores on Christmas Eve.

The ITC announced the sales and import ban in October, but the White House had 60 days to review it and potentially veto it. US Trade Representative Katherine Tai said Tuesday she wouldnt intervene and the White House refused to veto the measure.

Apple also has developed a software update for the Apple Watch that it believes will mitigate the issue. It submitted the design of that update to the US customs agency and said the government is scheduled to decide Jan. 12 whether to approve the changes.

The appellate court in Washington gave the ITC until Jan. 10 to respond to Apples request for a longer stay during the companys full appeal. A spokesperson for Irvine, California-based Masimo declined to comment on Wednesdays court ruling. Masimos shares fell 4.6% to $115.11 at the close in New York after the court temporarily ended the ban on watch sales. Apples stock was little changed.

The ITC had argued against the interim stay of its order, saying in a Tuesday court filing that Apple didnt face irreparable harm during its appeal because sales of some watch models continued.

The Commissions remedial orders do not affect all Apple Watch products, but only those that include a light-based pulse oximetry feature, i.e., a feature for measuring the oxygen level in the blood, the ITC said.

Masimo is also seeking to intervene in the appeals case. The company said in a separate filing on Tuesday that Apples emergency request for an interim stay should be denied because there is no emergency.

Apple misleads the Court as to the status quo, Masimo said. Apple fails to inform the Court that it has already stopped sales of the infringing Apple Watches that are the subject of the challenged ITC orders.

Apple had argued the ITCs decision was wrong and said it was taking all measures to return the watches to the US market. In a headache for owners of the Apple Watch Series 6, 7 and 8  all of which include the blood-oxygen feature  out-of-warranty watches also werent eligible for hardware repairs as long as the ban had remained in place.

Photo: via Bloomberg

Copyright 2024 Bloomberg.
FORT MYERS, Fla. (AP)  A 6-year-old boy who left on a flight to visit his grandmother in southwest Florida instead was put on the wrong plane and ended up 160 miles away in Orlando, Florida.

When the grandmother, Maria Ramos, showed up on Thursday at Southwest Florida International Airport in Fort Myers to greet her grandson who was flying for the first time from Philadelphia, she was told he wasn`t on the Spirit Airlines flight.

I ran inside the plane to the flight attendant and I asked her, Wheres my grandson? He was handed over to you at Philadelphia? She said, No, I had no kids with me,` Ramos told WINK News.

She then got a call from her grandson from the airport in Orlando, telling her that he had landed.

In a statement, Spirit Airlines said the boy was under the care and supervision of an airlines employee the entire time, even though he was incorrectly boarded on a flight to Orlando. Once the mistake was discovered, the airlines let the family know, the statement said.

We take the safety and responsibility of transporting all of our Guests seriously and are conducting an internal investigation, the statement said. We apologize to the family for this experience.

Photo: (AP Photo/Chris OMeara, File)

Copyright 2024 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

Topics Florida Aviation
When it comes to New Years finery, nothing quite beats the mettle of metallics. Although grand celebrations demand players like silver and gold, the taste for quiet luxury has seen platinum, pewter and bronze rise to the occasion. Equally, time-honoured textures like sequin, mesh and lame now hold space with coated denim, matte foil and painted knits  freshman trends that offer low-key lustre. If metallics offer a more flexible approach to festivities, youll want to check these out.

Irish brand Manleys two-tone Blair skirt packs a punch with contrasting gold and silver leather panels set in a classic A-line silhouette. Wear with a classic white shirt and kitten heels or their co-ordinating leather t-shirt and sneakers.
Im nearly 20. Its an odd age. When I went into college, it was the first time I really noticed my peers starting to move in different directions. Some of us went to college, others worked, or became apprentices. We all pursued different things. But one thing I have noticed since this divide is that most young Irish people have a similar plan for the future: we want to move away from Ireland. And I find it upsetting in some ways, though I understand. I definitely think about leaving Dublin after graduation.

Im the youngest of four children. My oldest sibling moved to London after his undergrad. He did a masters degree in London with the intention of staying there to work afterwards. Thats exactly what he did  he still lives there. My sister moved to Melbourne in May. She had a job in engineering in Dublin, but still she left. And shes planning to stay for a few more years, at least. My other sister has finished college and also has a great job. But she, like so many other young people, is thinking about leaving Ireland. This is a common picture of an Irish family where the children are now young adults. So many of us plan to leave.

I know the Irish diaspora is nothing new. But from what Ive gathered the reasons for it have changed. In the past, it was more so out of necessity that people left. My parents tell me about people leaving because they couldnt get jobs here. Even during college, my parents went to New York for summer jobs to pay their college fees, because they had so few options in Ireland. But the difference now is that we are making active choices about what we want our lives to look like. Of course, different job opportunities are playing a role in all of this. But a lot of highly skilled young people with jobs are still choosing to leave. So, theres clearly a lot more at play here.

For one thing, the price of accommodation here, especially in Dublin and Cork, is a major issue. You will struggle to pay less than 1,000 a month. Most of your salary will disappear on rent.

And the standard of that accommodation is rarely high. Run down buildings, often with very poor finishings, that dont hold the heat. And thats if you can get the accommodation in the first place. So, its no surprise that people are looking for better.

But thats still not the whole picture. So many young people struggle with the lifestyle here, me included. The only way that we socialise is with alcohol. Not a cheap activity. And not a particularly enriching one either. Its the same pubs and the same drinks every weekend. A lot of us also spend so long commuting every day. My bus from Meath to college in Dublin, takes the guts of an hour and half, each way. You feel like you spend half of your life commuting.

And I also wonder what the working culture will look like for me, when I leave college. Full-time student to full-time employee will be a significant shift. I see how little time my parents have in the evenings, once they get home from work. When my sister moved from working in Dublin to working in Melbourne, she was struck by the work/life balance. That we live to work in Ireland, was something she was glad to leave behind. And that balance is something that so many of us are chasing.

Its not a desire to work less thats driving so many of us to leave. Its a desire to live more. More affordable, or more available accommodation is crucial. But so are shorter commutes, a better work/life balance, more options for socialising. When youre 20-something, you have the rare opportunity to design the life you want. Thats what young Irish people are doing. I dont want to spend my life commuting for three hours a day. And I know I dont have to, especially if I had access to better transport links.

But I do feel a real sadness at the thought of so many young people leaving Ireland. Theres excitement in the adventure, of course. But being so far away from family is tough. I guess thats what Eavan Boland meant by all the old songs that Irish emigrants carry with them. That sense of connection to home is indelible. I take comfort in that too. There may be a lot of us leaving, but we wont lose our sense of home easily. And hopefully, a lot of us will come back.
Secret meetings were held between a small group of senior Sinn Fein and Ulster Unionist Party representatives in Stormont during 2001 at a time when progress in the peace process seemed deadlocked, confidential documents have revealed.

State papers show the Minister for Enterprise and UUP member of the Legislative Assembly, Reg Empey, along with another party colleague, Chris McGimpsey met privately each week with Sinn Fein deputy leader, Martin McGuinness and his MLA colleague, Gerry Kelly.

Mr Empey revealed the existence of such meetings to a senior Irish government official in May 2001 when peace talks had stalled over the issue of decommissioning of paramilitary weapons and reform of policing in Northern Ireland.

The UUP minister described having a good personal friendship with Mr McGuinness, despite the fact that their two parties were involved in a lengthy, ongoing row over the decommissioning issue.

However, he professed to be deeply disappointed that Mr McGuinness had failed to even hint to him in advance that he was going to make a statement to the Bloody Sunday Tribunal to confirm his IRA rank in Derry in 1972.

Mr Empey said the timing of the statement was very unhelpful to the UUP as it allowed unionists opposed to the Good Friday Agreement to become active again and meant the assembly would be facing a divisive motion on the issue.

He also criticised the Sinn Fein trait of allowing issues go to the wire before reaching a deal. Mr Empey stated his belief that the IRAs approach on decommissioning was largely linked to their fear of further splitting the organisation.

The revelation about the secret meetings, which were being held almost every Thursday, came as a surprise to Irish officials.

It also appeared that the UUP leader, David Trimble, may not have been aware that such meetings between UUP and Sinn Fein representatives were being held.

While notifying senior figures in the Irish government and civil service about the meetings, the secretary general of the Department of Foreign Affairs, Dermot Gallagher, urged them to keep it strictly to themselves.

It would be unfortunate and very unhelpful indeed if there was any reference whatsoever to it by colleagues, said Mr Gallagher.
Staff in the White House warned the Irish embassy in Washington almost 25 years ago about the danger of bad publicity following the violent assault of a prominent gay American writer in Sligo.

The victim, Robert Drake, suffered serious injuries and was beaten to within an inch of his life in the assault which took place on January 31, 1999.

An official from the US National Security Council told Irish diplomats at the time that the investigation into the assault would need to be carefully handled if the potential for public and media embarrassment was to be minimised.

American author Robert Drake has been in a wheelchair since the assault. Picture: James Connolly / PicSell8

Mr Drake suffered a vicious attack which left him in a critical condition at Beaumont Hospital.

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Tests subsequently confirmed that he had suffered extensive permanent brain damage, and had to use a wheelchair.

Several weeks later, National Security Council director of European Affairs Larry Butler contacted the Irish embassy to state that several members of the gay community had been in touch with the White House to relay concerns about the case.

US newspapers had portrayed the attack as a so-called gay bashing incident.

In particular, Mr Butler recommended the need for adroit handling of the situation to minimise the potential for public and media embarrassment.

However, he stated that the stakes were raised from the prominence of the victim as well as the wider political dimension.

He warned An Garda Siochana and the Director of Public Prosecutions  who were dealing with the US media inquiries  to avoid an utterly bureaucratic approach, which may be interpreted as indifference.

In 2000, two Sligo men aged in their 20s, Ian Monaghan and Glen Mahon, were each sentenced to eight years in prison for the assault.

Ian Monaghan was jailed for eight years for the assault on Robert Drake. Picture: James Connolly/GreenGraph
A review of media arrangements for the visit of the Soviet Union president Mikhail Gorbachev to Ireland almost 25 years ago was strongly critical of how large groups of onlookers created scenes that were nothing short of farcical.

State papers released by the National Archives show that Department of Foreign Affairs officials were concerned about aspects of the visit in April 1989.

The report said a free-for-all ensued, with the world and his wife mobbing the president at the steps of the aircraft, when then taoiseach Charles Haughey and his wife Maureen were supposed to be seeing Gorbachev and his wife Raisa off in a formal farewell at Shannon Airport.

It also criticised how there were too many notables and local officials crowding another scene, during a photocall in the airports duty-free shop.

The review of the high-profile visit by Gorbachev was carried out to identify shortcomings in arrangements for the presidents visit.

The review also intended to recommend solutions for future visits of political leaders.

The report said the public occasions of such visits were essentially for the immediate principles and the media.

This is not just the view of the [departments] press section and the media, but is the decision of the principles themselves, it added.

Mikhail Gorbachev enjoying a pint of Guinness at a Dublin bar during his visit to Ireland. Picture: Kevin Clancy/Fennells.

The report said that this fact had important implications for the organisation and conduct of visits of political leaders.

It claimed the media must have priority in access to public occasions, after the main political figures or dignitaries.

VIP and other interested groups must be viewed in this light, the report stated.

It said such a point had already been made forcibly by the then Taoiseach, Charles Haughey, even before the Gorbachev visit.

It noted that the number of others who turned up at the Folk Park, at Bunratty, and Shannon Airport was in excess of what could be accommodated  which resulted in the media being blocked from doing their job.

The situation in the Folk Park and at the foot of the steps on departure was nothing short of farcical, the review concluded.

It continued: The consequent poor media shots showed up the overall organisation in a bad light.

The review recommended that access to public occasions during future visits would have to be severely restricted.

It also remarked that bodies such as Aer Rianta, Aer Lingus, and the Shannon Free Airport Development Company must be made comply with these

restrictions.

The report also said the security approach for accredited journalists needed to be improved considerably.

It said gardai would have to accept that media representatives were now a priority part of all public events.

The attitude that the press is the enemy or suspect (in spite of full screening beforehand) must go, it added.

It noted that gardai had made little attempt to stop hangers-on from accessing the foot of the flying Gorbachev home, which had severely obstructed working media.

The result was that the melee was well and truly recorded, but the departure was not, the report stated,

adding that the situation in Bunratty was even worse.

It stated that, in future, gardai must accord full co-operation to media personnel once they were accredited and given security clearance.

It also recommended that gardai should work directly with the departments press section for such visits, with a senior officer being put in charge of co-ordinating all aspects of any trip.
Met Eireann has issued a status yellow thunderstorm warning for Munster, Connacht and Donegal, as Storm Gerrit continues to impact the country.

The warning, which came into effect shortly after 8am this morning, will remain in place until 9pm on Thursday night, bringing a risk of further power outages, dangerous driving conditions and localised flooding.

Hundreds of houses remain without power following the arrival of the storm, which brought strong winds and heavy rainfall across the country.

ESB crews are working to restore supplies to homes and businesses after Storm Gerrit knocked out power overnight, with Galway and Wexford among the areas worst hit.

In Cork, over 100 households are still left without power, following last night's thunder and lightning.

According to the ESB's PowerCheck, over 200 households remain without power in Co Galway.

A total of 862 customers were without power in Kilflynn, Co Kerry this morning, after a major fault occurred following torrential rainfall.

Cork County Council confirmed there was no significant damage as a result of Storm Gerrit, which led to fallen trees and debris in parts of the county.

A total of 13 trees fell over the course of Wednesday, which crews responded to diligently to clear the obstruction.

"There are no reports of any significant damage to property. High tides have passed without incident," the statement read.

Intense thunderstorms in Wexford, great photo of lightning strikes by Dec Roche and large hail by Anita Cousins. pic.twitter.com/g9jr1e85gR  Carlow Weather (@CarlowWeather) December 27, 2023

The heavy rainfall led to spot flooding across parts of Cork city and county, with motorists advised to drive with caution due to the risk of damage to road surfaces.

The council has also addressed the rising river levels, which are of "no immediate concerns" at present.

Demountable flood barriers have been erected in both Mallow and Fermoy as a precautionary measure.

"Council crews are on the ground across the county responding to issues and prioritising the most critical issues where necessary," the statement read.

"In the event of disruption to power supply, please contact ESB Networks at 1800 372 999. In the event of disruption to water supply, please contact Uisce Eireann at 1800 278 278. In an emergency please dial 999 or 112,"

The aftereffects follow heavy gusts of wind recorded across the country last night, with winds of up to 98km/hr recorded in Sherkin Island in Cork last night, followed by gusts of up to 90km/hr, which were recorded near Shannon Airport.

The power cuts follow a nationwide status yellow wind and rain warning which was in place since 8pm on Tuesday and will remain until midnight on Thursday.

"Very strong and gusty southwesterly winds in conjunction with spring tides, may lead to coastal flooding," said Met Eireann.

"Squally showers, with a chance of thunderstorms, may lead to localised flooding."

A taxi driver in Waterford City was hospitalised last night after his car was hit by a falling tree during high winds.

It happened in the Newtown area at around 11pm, and the driver was treated for minor injuries.

Gabriel Hynes, Senior Engineer with Waterford City and County Council has urged the public to exercise caution.

Our ground crews are attending to a number of fallen trees and roads blocked as a result of yesterdays Status Orange weather event. While the worst of the weather has passed, the current thunderstorm warning is expected to bring some scattered thunderstorms and spells of rain, which could lead to localised and spot flooding. These conditions combined with fallen branches and debris on the roads will make travel hazardous," he said.

Mr Hynes advised motorists to avoid driving through flooded roads and instead choose an alternative route to avoid injury, adding: "flood waters can be deeper than they appear".

Met Eireann issued another weather warning, which came into effect at midnight and affected those in Clare, Kerry, Donegal, Galway, Leitrim, Mayo and Sligo. The status yellow wind warning will see "southwest winds veering westerly" which will be strong and gusty at times.

"A combination of spring tides, large waves and strong winds may result in some coastal flooding."

That warning is in place from midnight until 6am on Friday.

On Wednesday, in Skibbereen, in West Cork, the river Ilen burst its banks, flooding hundreds of acres of farmland north of the town. But thanks to its flood defences, the town remained dry.

Last night, Kerry County Council issued a warning to those in the county to "stay away from all coastal areas", including Beara Peninsula, amid the ongoing dangerous conditions.

Alan O'Reilly of Carlow Weather said the gusty weather is expected to continue into today, with "very windy" conditions expected throughout the day.

The National forecaster has predicted a chance of "gales" on Atlantic coasts at times on Thursday, leading to a "continued chance of coastal flooding".

Some frost or ice is expected to land later on in the day, with lowest temperatures of 1C to 5C expected.

Friday will again see sunny spells and scattered blustery showers while Saturday be windy with sunny spells and wintry showers. Sunday is shaping up to be a calmer day with sunny spells and well-scattered showers.
A Cork mother who organised a fast in solidarity with the besieged people of Gaza has called on the Government to block US military planes from Shannon and to boycott US St Patricks Day celebrations until military support is pulled from Israel.

Eve ORiordan was one of three people who fasted throughout orange weather warnings outside Cork City Hall this week to call for a ceasefire in Gaza.

The Israeli invasion has already killed more than 21,000 people, many of them children, according to the Gaza health ministry.

Theyre starving people to death there. Its hard to have a normal Christmas when you know that.

As I sat outside City Hall into the small hours of the night, the city got very quiet," Ms ORiordan said.

"I kept thinking of the people of Gaza and how it must feel trying to sleep at night not knowing if it would be your last night alive. Trying to sleep with that on your mind, while hunger gnaws at your stomach, I cant even imagine how awful it must feel.

I got to sit down on Christmas Day with my mum and my daughter and hug them both, and feel so privileged to be able to do that.

In conscience, I couldnt do that on Stephens Day, I had to sit with the people of Palestine; they are our brothers and sisters as well.

Freja O Donovan, Fiadh O'Donovan, and Tom O'Halloran from Cork join Palestinian siblings Jouri, Lama, and Omar Alkarajeh and Ramzi Alostaz supporting the fast outside Cork City Hall. Picture: Noel Sweeney

Ms ORiordan said that the Cork Palestine Solidarity Campaign (CPSC) is planning another fast and on Saturday, a march is planned in Cork city, leaving from the Grand Parade at 1pm.

Well keep on pushing until something is done, she said.

Ms ORiordan and the CPSC are calling on the Irish Government to pressure the United States to stop providing Israel with military assistance.

Were beyond horrified that the Irish Government is still letting the US transport arms through Shannon while its supporting such horrific war crimes, Ms ORiordan said.

Were calling on Micheal Martin to stop the US from using Shannon immediately.

Were also urging Leo Varadkar to tell Joe Biden that he cannot, in good conscience, visit the US on St Patricks Day.

Ireland also needs to put our own direct pressure on Israel. The Government must start by passing the Occupied Territories Bill. And we, the people, can all play a role by getting involved in the peaceful Boycott Divest Sanctions, or BDS, movement.

Ceara Hurley from Blackrock supporting the fast outside Cork City Hall. Picture: Noel Sweeney

The group fasting had support from people in Cork this week, with some 100 people dropping by and people from locations as remote as the Outer Hebrides joining in the fast from abroad.

Despite an orange weather warning and torrential rain, the group sat outside City Hall from 10am on St Stephens Day to 10am on Wednesday.

Empty dinner plates, knives, and forks placed on a Palestinian flag and shawl outside City Hall symbolised the homes all over Gaza now devoid of food and clean water.

The international human rights organisation, Human Rights Watch, has said that the Israeli government is using starvation of civilians as a method of warfare in the Gaza Strip, which is a war crime.
Its a long time ago now but the circumstances remain sharp in the memory.

Your columnist was still in his days of exile in Dublin, prominent in attendance at a quiz night in Toners, the greatest pub in the capital, when a very focused geography question stumped the team.

Name the little hut by the statue on Patrick Street, Cork.

Now that the statute of limitations has expired, I can confess that contrary to all the rules of polite society I slipped upstairs and into the alley alongside the pub to make a surreptitious phone call home for the answer.

Its the Firemans Rest, was the response. Im surprised you didnt know that. I should have. I had rung my father and as a fireman himself he was entitled to be disappointed with my ignorance.

In my defence, those were the days when sufficiency and I were less well acquainted and I was probably distracted.

The Firemans Rest before its restoration.

Now, of course, the Firemans Rest is back in the news, having been left to rot in the back of a council yard  literally  for over two decades.

As Eoin English of this parish reported recently: The Firemans Rest was commissioned in early 1892 by the then Cork Corporation and was 120 years old last year.

It was originally assembled for the Cork Fire Brigade and was shared by them with the staff of the old tram company between 1898 and 1930.

Located near the Fr Mathew Statue, it consisted of a metal hut that was manned 24/7 by a firefighter with a ladder and hose nearby.

It served initially as a central 'fire station' at a time when the city's fire brigade had positioned wheeled escapes and ladders at strategic locations around the city for use in emergencies.

As the city fire brigade modernised, the hut was later used exclusively by CIE from 1931 to 2003. But it was removed to facilitate the revamp of St Patricks Street and was left in a council storage yard in Fitzgeralds Park, where its condition deteriorated significantly.

Eoin is being his customarily polite self in describing the old hut as deteriorating significantly in its long exile in obscurity: in truth, it was falling to pieces.

This columnist, being markedly deficient in such good manners, may have something more to say about the city councils treatment of part of its own heritage at a later date, but suffice to say this is a welcome development.

A religious procession passes the Fireman's Rest on St Patrick's Street, Cork, in 1915.

Even if it has taken two decades.

Cork Fire Brigade historian Pat Poland  a civic treasure in and of himself  has in the past outlined the detailed orders for the firemen who would be stationed in the Rest. (While on duty, the fireman is on no account to leave his station. The watch-box is provided as a protection against inclement weather and must not be used by any other person. The door must not be closed when the fireman is within, as he is expected to be vigilantly zealous for the preservation of life and ready to give immediate attendance whenever required.)

Little wonder they hated it, as Pat writes:  . . . due to the order stating the door be left open regardless of weather, they often came off their tour of night-duty half-frozen.

The Rests new location is outside the main fire station on Anglesea Street: presumably, its door can be closed these cold evenings.

(It was first located, back in 1892, at the intersection of the Grand Parade and Washington Street until Grants, a new department store, asked for it to be removed; it was shifted to Lavitts Quay and thence to Patrick Street.)

Readers have no doubt read Eoins account of the restoration saga, and will appreciate what he describes as the campaigning work put in by historians, retired bus drivers, and firefighters on this matter.

Something like the Firemans Rest is the very definition of local heritage, an heirloom of the past that may have outlived its specific use but still retains the power to make us consider times long past.

It is to the eternal credit of those campaigning to see it restored that they have succeeded in restoring this unusual little building to our city streets.

(I feel as though the city council is going to be mentioned again  ed. All I can say on that score is that if it had been called the Firemans Vape Shop then it would have been part of our streetscape long ago.)

What makes the restoration of the Rest particularly timely was the news which broke on Christmas Day of a suspected firebombing in the city centre.

As reported here, three people were hospitalised after multiple units of the Cork City Fire Brigade were alerted to a blaze at a house on Dyke Parade when smoke was seen coming from the building shortly after 6.20pm.

Firefighters wearing breathing apparatus were able to enter the premises, while those outside used their Aerial Ladder Platform to stop the flames from spreading  by 9.30pm Cork Fire Brigade was able to inform the public via social media that the fire had been dealt with.

In and of itself, that shows the journey taken by such a vital service over 130 years.

Detail on the side of the Fireman's Rest which has be restored for reinstatement in front of the Fire Station on Anglesea Street, Cork. Picture: Dan Linehan

When the Firemans Rest was opened originally, it became home to one of the very few phones in Cork (connected to the fire station and the chiefs residence); its location in the very centre of what was then a far smaller city made it a vital communications hub when it came to emergency services.

Now, the modern-day fire service can use Twitter and other online platforms to let the public know instantly about fires and other accidents in the area.

Similarly, there is no need now for a man to be stationed in the middle of the city all night  on his own  as a kind of fire watchman, let alone keeping the door open at all times.

(As for the possibility of commercial interests seeking the removal of such a facility to another location . . . well, I leave it to others to judge whether that might be a possibility.)

However, some elements of the story remain constant. The fire that broke out on Dyke Parade on Christmas Day might have occurred in 1973, or 1923, and the response would have been much the same  an immediate turn-out from the fire brigade to save lives and limit damage.

Its a time of year when most of us think in terms of elasticated pyjamas, and what exact time of the day is appropriate for diving headfirst into a box of Celebrations. But not everyone.

My thanks here, then, to those who work over the holidays and dedicate themselves to keeping others safe in every part of the city and country. And returning the Firemans Rest to its former glory is at least a symbolic indication that a long history of service is valued and acknowledged in Cork.

Happy New Year to all.
Another faculty member has filed a workplace complaint against Oregon State University.

M. Floyd, a transgender woman who is an instructor at the Women, Gender and Sexuality Studies program at the College of Liberal Arts, filed a complaint with the Oregon Bureau of Labor and Industries on Oct. 17, claiming she was discriminated and retaliated against because of her gender identity.

A Place to Sleep, episode 10: Wrapping up We check back with some of the people we've met along our travels and we catch up with politicos who are trying to come up with solutions.

The claims are similar to ones her colleague associate professor Qwo-Li Driskill made in their own BOLI complaint against OSU on Oct. 5.

Both Floyd and Driskill, who is transgender and nonbinary and uses they/them pronouns, have alleged transmisogyny and antagonism within the School of Language, Culture and Society at the College of Liberal Arts, where both teach.

In a statement, university spokesperson Rob Odom said while OSU doesn't comment on personnel matters, he said, "We take every concern reported very seriously."

The college prohibits unlawful discrimination and retaliation based on gender identity, Odom said by email, adding that such claims are investigated by OSU's Office of Equal Opportunity and Access.

But Floyd alleges that same office hasn't been responsive to her complaints.

Floyd and her attorney, who also represents Driskill, could not be reached for comment.

Floyd's allegations add to the controversy surrounding Driskill's role at OSU's Women, Gender and Sexuality Studies graduate program. Driskill, a tenured associated professor, came under fire from some graduate students over the summer for alleged abuses in the classroom and, more recently, allegations of falsely claiming Native American ancestry.

Floyd's complaints

According to Floyd's complaint to Oregon Bureau of Labor and Industries, she's worked at OSU since 2013 and claims she's been subjected to multiple discriminatory offenses since.

In 2016, Floyd said she was sexually harassed by her supervisor while advising part-time at the World Languages and Culture program at the School of Language, Culture and Society, within the College of Liberal Arts.

Afterward, Floyd said she was assigned as a full-time instructor at the Women, Gender and Sexuality Studies and Queer Studies program. Floyd said she met with the school's director, Susan Bernardin, to raise concerns about transphobia and transantagonism at the program, including from the then program head.

According to the complaint, however, Floyd alleges Bernardin told her transantagonism was something all programs were dealing with, but it would be a few years before the "dinosaurs," or transphobic folks, would retire.

In her complaint, Floyd said that response made her feel it wouldn't be safe to come out as transgender.

In 2019, Floyd said a long-time faculty member made a derogatory comment about a photo she provided during a graduation celebration in which she was wearing a long wig and lipstick. The faculty member said she didn't know Floyd did "that stuff," according to the complaint.

Later in 2022, Floyd said she began listing her pronouns as "she/her" in her work emails.

In an alleged incident this year on May 23, Floyd said Bernardin told her she was moving her office to another floor separated from the Queer Studies faculty, a move Floyd said would make her feel unsafe.

Floyd alleged Bernardin ignored her concerns of safety despite her knowledge that transgender women had been assaulted on and near campus.

As a result, Floyd said she filed a bias-incident report on May 29 and shortly afterward, Bernardin allowed Floyd to stay in her office, according to the BOLI complaint.

This June, Floyd said she attempted to have her concerns about discrimination addressed by OSU's Office of Equal Opportunity and Access. However, she alleged there was no investigation into her complaint about transmisogyny.

She further alleged the OSU employee who drafted her report misgendered her and wrote an inaccurate statement of her complaint. Floyd said she emailed the employee a corrected version but didn't receive a reply.

Then in August, Floyd said she learned a faculty member had texted a colleague, claiming that anytime a student had a concern with Floyd, Floyd would report them to the EOA.

Later that month, Floyd alleged the same faculty member sent an email to department faculty, school leadership, the college's dean and others, implying Floyd and associate professor Driskill caused harm and raised concerns about retaliation.

Floyd said she believed the email was intended to target her and Driskill and "dampen" reporting of discrimination, according to the BOLI complaint.

Driskill's complaints

Floyd's allegations echo claims associate professor Driskill made against the university in their own Oct. 5 BOLI complaint.

Driskill said they reported concerns to the school's director Bernardin in late 2022 about a "culture of backchanneling and triangulation" that created a hostile workplace, particularly for transgender people.

They also said they submitted multiple bias incident reports during the spring of 2023 related to the Women, Gender and Sexuality studies graduate program, including over an alleged graduate school email "effectively outing" transgender and nonbinary students.

Driskill, however, has also come under fire from graduate students for alleged abuses in the classroom. Students have aired grievances about course workloads, alleged discrimination against students with disabilities and alleged retaliation in the form of negative grades.

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Seven graduate students on July 31 signed a letter to the school's faculty and dean, detailing their grievances. Among their demands was for Driskill to lose their "positional power" over the school's graduate program.

According to graduate students who spoke to Mid-Valley Media, Driskill stopped teaching in the middle of fall term after a watch-dog group released a report in late October, disputing the associate professor's claims of Native American ancestry.

Since then, one of those graduate students, Shaina Khan, has launched a change.org petition demanding OSU fire Driskill. It currently has more than 400 signatures.

Driskill and their attorney have not responded to requests for comment.

Related stories:
Student protesters have taken to the streets of Indonesia, burning tyres on the doorstep of Acehs provincial parliament, to urge the government to clamp down on illegal Rohingya migrant boat arrivals.

More than 1,500 migrants, who fled violent attacks in Myanmar and overcrowded refugee camps in neighbouring Bangladesh, have arrived on the Sumatran island since early November.

The growing number of illegal arrivals has prompted unrest in Aceh as locals feel refugees will trigger social and economic upheaval within their community.

Rohingya refugees have experienced hostility at the hands of the Indonesian locals.

Rohingya refugees were relocated from their temporary shelter in the basement of a community hall following a protest rejecting them in Banda Aceh (Reza Saifullah/AP).

The crowd of 200 or so university students rallied outside the parliamentary building in the provincial capital Banda Aceh, burning tyres and chanting: Get out Rohingya.

Protest organiser Teuku Wariza said: We urged the parliament speaker to immediately take firm action to remove all Rohingya refugees from Aceh.

Some protesters also criticised United Nations refugee agency UNHCR for failing to manage arrivals of Rohingyans by boat to Sumatra.

The agency said, in a statement released late Wednesday: UNHCR reminds everyone that desperate refugee children, women and men seeking shelter in Indonesia are victims of persecution and conflict, and are survivors of deadly sea journeys.

The UNHCR also called on local authorities to act to protect refugees and the communitys humanitarian workers.

Ethnic Rohingya women and children were forced to board a truck as they are being relocated from their temporary shelter in Aceh (Reza Saifullah/AP)

Indonesia tolerated the refugees while Thailand and Malaysia pushed them away, but the growing hostility of some Indonesians toward the Rohingya has put pressure on President Joko Widodos government to take action.

Mr Widodo earlier this month said the government suspected a surge in human trafficking to the increase in Rohingya arrivals.

Unrest in Aceh comes as concerns grow about the human trafficking of Rohingya refugees.

About 740,000 Rohingya were resettled in Bangladesh after fleeing their homes in Myanmar to escape a brutal counterinsurgency campaign carried out in 2017 by security forces. Accusations of mass rape, murder, and the burning of entire villages are well documented, and international courts are considering whether Myanmar authorities committed genocide and other grave human rights abuses.

Efforts to repatriate the Rohingya have failed because of doubts their safety can be assured. The Rohingya are denied mainly citizenship rights in Buddhist-majority Myanmar and face widespread social discrimination.
Indias foreign minister has met Russian President Vladimir Putin, who said relations between the countries are progressing even amid turbulent times.

Subrahmanyam Jaishankars meeting was part of a five-day visit.

At the start of the meeting, Mr Putin said he would inform the Indian diplomat about the fighting in Ukraine, on which Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi has held a neutral stance.

I know about his desire to do everything to resolve this problem through peaceful means, Mr Putin said.

Mr Jaishankar hailed trade links between the countries (Sputnik, Kremlin Pool Photo via AP)

India is increasingly important to Russia as a market for oil exports, the backbone of its economy, as Western sanctions curtail oil shipments.

According to a Kremlin transcript of the meetings opening, Mr Jaishankar said: It is very important to make our trade interaction more sustainable. We need to think about how to achieve this.

Mr Jaishankar also met with Russian counterpart Sergey Lavrov, who said they discussed the prospects for military-technical cooperation, including the joint production of modern types of weapons.

Indias foreign minister praised the all-time high trade turnover between the two countries, which he said exceeded 50 billion dollars (39 billion) in 2022.

We expect to exceed that this year. And what is important is that this trade is more balanced, it is sustainable, and it provides for fair market access, he added.
Three men have died after a 44 vehicle was recovered from a river on the North York Moors in England, police said.

Emergency services including police, ambulance and air support attended a location on the River Esk near Glaisdale shortly before midday on Thursday.

A 44 was recovered from the river by the fire service just after 3pm and three men found inside have died, North Yorkshire Police said.

Another man who attempted to help those in the vehicle was pulled to safety from the river and has been receiving medical treatment.

A police spokesperson advised people to travel with care after the tragic incident.

It comes after Storm Gerrit caused flooding and travel chaos across the country throughout Wednesday and Thursday.

The spokesperson said: Localised conditions across our area are making driving hazardous.

Roads are particularly badly affected around the River Esk, to the north of the county, as we have seen with the tragic incident near Glaisdale.

There was another incident at nearby Houlsyke at 12.49pm when a car got stuck in flood water and another at Kirby Wiske in Hambleton at 2.35pm.

Thankfully, the occupants of both vehicles were brought to safety.

The key advice is to consider whether your journey is necessary.

Please avoid driving through any kind of standing or moving flood water if you possibly can.

Witnesses to the incident are urged to call North Yorkshire Police on 101, option 4, quoting reference NYP-28122023-0146.
Clean Yangon was launched in 2017 as a group of young volunteers determined to promote a clean city and reduce the impact of waste on the environment.

A few months after the February 2021 coup, the volunteers began helping civilians displaced by fighting in Karenni (Kayah) State. They receive no support from domestic or international NGOs, but are still able to provide healthcare and food to displaced people based on their people helping people model.

Ma Thinzar Aye, the groups manager, recently told The Irrawaddy how Clean Yangon began assisting and advocating for people displaced by war and said the group is committed to helping displaced people until they can return to their homes.

I would like to request from those who can live safely under shelter to help  with humanity  their displaced brethren across the country, she said.

How has Clean Yangon been helping displaced people in Karenni State and when did you start?

We started helping displaced people in May 2021 in Chin State. We started [doing the same] in Karenni State in June 2021 after fighting broke out. We provided healthcare. People were already displaced by fighting by the time we arrived in Karenni State, so we started helping them. At the time, there were not many displaced people and only a few displacement camps. The number of displaced people has surged this year. There are hundreds of thousands of displaced people now and more than 100 camps [for them].

We provide shelter and help displaced people build tents and latrines in Karenni State. We provide basic food, including rice. We also provide teaching aids for children and build classrooms at displacement camps. Children have psychological trauma, so we tell them stories, play and paint with them to help them get over the trauma.

We also provide adults and children with nutrition. Meat is extremely scarce here. Displaced people have no income, so they rarely eat meat. We go from camp to camp daily and give people breakfast, lunch and dinner.

We also provide healthcare services. [Some] displaced people suffer from chronic health problems like diabetes, high blood pressure and heart ailments. There are people who are on medication, and there are also many cases of seasonal flu and cold.

Why did your group decide to help displaced people?

Before the coup, we continuously engaged in public-welfare activities. We collected litter  as we worked for a clean environment. After the coup, people had their houses torched. In ethnic areas, people save money for many years to build their homes, and they save money by spending less on food. We wanted to do something for people who lost [everything]. So, we helped displaced people when we were in Chin State, and we continued to help them in Karenni State.

Are there any other groups helping displaced people in Karenni State?

There are local groups helping displaced people [there], but more people have been forced into displacement camps. Revolutionary groups are fighting to seize Loikaw [Town], and most of its residents have fled to Demoso [Town]. We can still feed displaced people for now [but] the number of displaced people keeps increasing. We will have to help them until they can return home. They have daily requirements.

Have international agencies provided support for Clean Yangon to help displaced people in Karenni State?

No non-governmental organization or international non-governmental organization is helping us. In Demoso, we are helping displaced people with support from individual donors and well-wishers at home and abroad. We are helping people with cash donated by our long-time patrons at home and abroad. It is people helping each other.

What does Clean Yangon plan to do in the future?

We will continue to do what we can for displaced people, and fulfill their health, education and social needs until the revolution is over.

Do you have a message you would like to share?

In the early days of the revolution, we said people only have each other. Today, there are still many people who are helping others. Some help openly. We are encouraged to see that they are helping displaced people. We are thankful to them. It is a tough time now. I would like to request from those who can live safely under shelter to help  with humanity  their displaced brethren across the country, including in central Myanmar and ethnic areas.
The Arakan Army (AA) seized Mrauk-U district police station in Rakhine State at around 9 pm on Tuesday, according to locals and the ethnic armed Brotherhood Alliance.

The Brotherhood Alliance member attacked the police station and the juntas Thu Taw Ma military base on Sunday, seizing the base on the same day.

Junta forces responded with air and artillery strikes to defend its positions, but police station fell on Tuesday.

The AA is also attacking the Kha Wei hilltop outpost in Paletwa Township, southern Chin State, on the border with Rakhine State, according to the Brotherhood Alliance.

Junta forces have responded to the AAs offensive in Rakhine by targeting civilian areas including pagodas, temples and heritage monuments in Mrauk-U, the ancient Arakanese capital of the Mrauk U kingdom.

Six civilians, including women and children, were killed when junta forces shelled the Hpayar Paw IDP camp on Tuesday, according to Mrauk-U residents. The victims ranged in age from three years old to 60.

Another six Mrauk-U civilians were killed during the junta bombardment on Sunday and Monday, locals said. The air and artillery strikes also damaged historical sites, they added.

The bodies of a 55-year-old woman and a man aged 30 were found beneath the rubble of their bombed-out Mrauk-U property on Thursday morning.

Mrauk-Us infantry battalions 540, 377 and 378 and No. 31 Police Battalion are targeting the towns Archaeological Research Museum, monastery and other religious structures, the AA said in a statement.

The city, which has been proposed for UNESCO World Heritage status, has suffered extensive damage in recent deliberate attacks by the SAC [junta] forces, it said.

The assault has destroyed priceless historical artifacts in the Archaeological Museum that are recognized not only as Rakhine heritage but also as prospective world heritage, the statement added.

The AA vowed effective retaliatory measures against junta forces for their deliberate and vicious destruction of our heritage sites and historical artifacts.

The parallel civilian National Unity Government (NUG) condemned the deliberate attacks on Mrauk-Us cultural heritage as a war crime and said it was coordinating with other revolutionary organizations to combat the juntas terrorist actions.

Around 50,000 residents have fled Mrauk-U as the juntas bombardment intensifies, according to volunteer rescue teams and locals.
Myanmar junta troops have reportedly killed seven displaced people and burned shelters and grain stores for refugees in Nattalin Township, Bago Region.

Nattalin Peoples Defense Force (PDF) said around 100 junta troops raided at least five villages in the townships Bago Yoma Forest from Dec. 19 to 24, torching houses, tents and food of displaced people along the way.

The group said seven refugees were tortured and burned to death after being detained by troops during the raids. Nattalin PDF published pictures of the charred bodies and destroyed houses while condemning the brutal attacks on non-military targets.

The Irrawaddy could not independently verify the reports.

PDF group member Yebaw Yay Chan said the troops arrested around 14 displaced people. Four were later released and seven were found dead. The fate of the other three detainees is not yet known.

The charred bodies were found near Nyaung Lay Pin village on Sunday, he said. Legs and hands of some victims had been hacked off, he added.

He said the victims ranged in age from 30 to 50 years old.

We urge the whole populace to fight against the brutality of this regime, which is intentionally attempting to instill fear in all of our people, Nattalin PDF said.

Regime troops burned more houses in three villages in Nattalin on Wednesday.

Intense clashes erupted between junta troops and resistance groups in Bago region early this month. The first town to fall in Bago was Mone in Kyaukkyi Township, which was seized by the Karen National Liberation Army (KNLA) and PDFs on Dec. 3.

The regime imposed martial law in five Bago townships, including Nattalin, last February.
Amid the massive crackdown on online scams in Laukkai Town on the China-Myanmar border in northern Shan State, junta boss Min Aung Hlaing and Royal Thai Army Joint Operations Director Lt-General Jakkapong Janpengpen discussed cooperation in fighting online gambling and scams, especially in and around the border town of Myawaddy in Karen State, on Wednesday in Naypyitaw.

A China-invested new city project known as KK Park is located to the south of Myawaddy where the Moei River separates it from Thailand. Another China-backed new city project known as Shwe Kokko is located north of the town.

Padoh Saw Roger Khin, the head of the Karen National Unions defense department and central executive committee member, attended the groundbreaking ceremony for KK Park in February 2020. It has become a hub of human trafficking and online scams in Southeast Asia since the 2021 coup.

Shwe Kokko, located just north of Mae Sot, is a notorious hub for online gambling, cyber scams and human trafficking. It is a joint venture between the Myanmar military-affiliated Karen State Border Guard Force  led by Colonel Saw Chit Thu  and Yatai International, which is owned by She Zhijiang, a Chinese national with Cambodian citizenship who is wanted in China.

There are concerns that Chinese citizen-run online scam syndicates will relocate to the Thai-Myanmar border amid the crackdown on online criminal gangs in Laukkai.

In August, China, Thailand, Laos and Myanmar agreed to set up a joint police operations center to tackle cyber scams in the region. On Oct. 10, Chinas Ministry of Public Security announced that its Summer Operation had successfully brought back 2,317 scam suspects from northern Myanmar to China, The Associated Press reported.

Hundreds of Thai citizens were among the victims duped by offers of high-paying jobs, who were forced to work as online scammers in Laukkai. Thai authorities recently rescued them following negotiations with junta authorities.

A political and ethnic affairs analyst said junta boss Min Aung Hlaing has no intention of cracking down on the scam syndicates.

Min Aung Hlaing is only talking the talk to please China as Beijing wants to root out online scams. China has issued warrants for the arrest of Bai Suocheng and Wei San, but the regime is blatantly protecting them because as they have influence over the Kokang Border Guard Force and [pro-junta] militias, the analyst said.

Min Aung Hlaing wont bother to handle online scams on the Thai border. Saw Chit Thu is under the command of the Myanmar military. Min Aung Hlaing wont arrest him, the analyst added.

Chinese gangs involved in international crimes are behind the projects in Laukkai and Myawaddy, according to the Washington-based United States Institute of Peace.

Britain, the United States and Canada recently imposed sanctions against three individuals involved in Shwe Kokko, including Saw Chit Thu, for their alleged involvement in human trafficking in Myanmar, Cambodia and Laos.
Myanmar is in uncharted territory: The country has been in a state of war for almost three yearsa war between an illegitimate regime and a defiant people. The nation is bloodied every day, the people are in a state of anguish and the regime is more brutal than ever. It is also, however, the worst time the aggressive junta and its military has experienced since the coup.

Viewed as an indispensable institution or all powerful military by neighboring countries, their leaders and even some parts of the Western world, despite its long and ugly history of gross human rights violations and cruelties against the countrys entire population, the Myanmar military has now been exposed, both internally and on the battlefield, as a demoralized and broken institution.

This is what we have witnessed over the past two months since Oct. 27, when the Brotherhood Alliance, made up of the Myanmar National Democratic Alliance Army (MNDAA), Taang National Liberation Army (TNLA) and Arakan Army (AA), launched its first coordinated military offensive, Operation 1027, against junta forces in northern Shan State bordering China.

Twenty-three towns and more than 400 junta military bases and outposts have been seized by the Brotherhood Alliance and their allied resistance armies including the Karenni Nationalities Defense Forces and Chin National Front in Shan, Karenni (Kayah), Chin, Rakhine and Kachin states as well as Sagaing and Magwe regions.

But it cant be hailed as a triumph over the junta. These defeats show how wrong the universal, traditional view, held by both analysts and the public, of the Myanmar military was. They have exposed the weakness of the all powerful military, though its troops are equipped with tanks, artillery, bigger weapons and jet fighters. Its soldiers, even though they outgun the resistance fighters, have been defeated. Hundreds of soldiers, including officers, have surrendered to the resistance forces without even fighting back.

This has indicated how demoralized the junta troops are and how breakable the military as a whole is. This state of demoralization is true of most of the junta troops, which were previously estimated to number up to 350,000. Since the coup, however, many analysts have reassessed that number as exaggerated and now believe the combat troops dont number much more than 100,000.

Whatever its strength in terms of weaponry and number of troops, it was not enough to defeat the recent military offensives coordinated by the ethnic armed organizations and Peoples Defense Forces. Troop demoralization is one of the key factors in their defeat. Another is public anger against the military for staging the coup, defying their will and the votes they cast in the 2020 election. The defeats also reflect the fact that the military is not supported by the public but, instead, is detested by it. The Myanmar people have stopped calling the military Tatmadaw, which conveys a sense of respect, and now call it Sit-khwe (junta military dog). Without the publics support, public or political organizations cannot survive.

The recent resistance offensives can be seen as a kind of testing of the water against the military. Even the degree of success seen so far is a kind of a miracle for the people, as it is unprecedented.

But many observers, including seasoned Myanmar watchers, didnt think it was possible based on their understanding of the countrys history and the militarys role in it. In their notebooks, such a scenario was unthinkable. No one could have predicted it. But thats an absolutely different view from the one held by the people of Myanmar, most of whom dont analyze, but simply believe that the military can be defeatedeven though history didnt seem to be on their side. Such a strong belief or feeling acts as a positive force helping people to keep struggling to achieve their goal. For observers, perhaps, this was not one of the barometers or theoretical factors in their analyses of a situation like Myanmars.

From slingshots to drones

The people of Myanmar, especially young people, have proved this belief can lead to success. What we shouldnt forget is that the origins of the recent military defeats against the junta lie in the makeshift weaponslike slingshots, catapults, air guns made from blue plastic pipes, slings, and bamboo arrows, as well as makeshift shields, smoke screens and even firecrackers used to hide from the regime troopsthat were improvised by protesters in the early days after the coup. They used them to defend themselves from the junta soldiers who fired at them with live ammunition in Yangon and some other cities. Many of them were killed, but they refused to cower.

Most of those young fighters went on to form People Defense Forces (PDFs) across the country, including in areas controlled by EAOs. Many of the 20 ethnic armies around the country have since stated their political stand in solidarity with the anti-coup movement. They have supported, trained and equipped the PDFs, and have fought the junta troops together with those PDFs for more than two years.

That was the first stage in the path that led to the current coordinated military offensives against the junta military. What we are seeing now is the inevitable consequence after the regime led by Min Aung Hlaing turned Myanmar into a killing field by gunning down many peaceful protesters, including innocent children, soon after the coup. So far the regime has killed 4,268 people, arrested more than 25,000 and destroyed more than 77,000 houses. As of August this year, it had carried out 902 air strikes across Myanmar, killing at least 687 civilians, including children, and the attacks are still going on. This is to say nothing of the 2.6 million people who have been forced from their homes since the 2021 coup.

Having endured nearly three years of such systematic killing and destruction targeting the entire population, most Myanmar people are more determined than ever to support the armed resistance against the brutal military.

Many analysts and scholars failed to foresee that the peaceful and colorful protests on the streets in cities in the early months after the coup in February 2021 would evolve into a full-blown armed resistance against the juntas powerful military. Military leaders and their collaborators looked down on the anti-coup movement, while observers misjudged the peoples resilience and ability to resist.

Junta spokesperson Maj-Gen Zaw Min Tun confided to one reporter off the record that coup maker Min Aung Hlaing and the rest of the generals believed that it would take a year at most to quell all of the various anti-coup protests across the country. Now they have found they were totally wrong. The young people they once looked down on are now defeating them not only on the ground, but also from the air with improvised drones, prompting Min Aung Hlaing to admit that the unmanned aerial vehicles played a major role in the capture of junta bases in northern Shan.

And we shouldnt overlook the fact that the resistance has reached this stage in a process that has been organic. This armed resistance hasnt received any support from the international community but has been supported by Myanmar people at home, as well as by diaspora communities across the world. They have donated millions of dollars to all resistance forces, including the parallel Nation Unity Government, since the resistance started. But the international community has mostly just expressed fear that such armed resistance would cause the country to collapse. It couldnt understand the feelings of the Myanmar people, who are clear about what they want  the bottom line is to end this dictatorship. Since the coup, many protesters, including young students, have expressed feelings like: We are more afraid of living under the military dictatorship than being killed now. This sentiment is generally still strong even after nearly three years of resistance.

Anything is possible with this kind of determination among the people and coordination (even limited coordination) with some armed resistance forces. This has been proven in the various ways they have mounted their revolution against the junta. All of it, from the current major defeats to the smaller victories against the junta, are the result of the efforts and sacrifices the people of Myanmar have made over the past nearly three years.

At the moment, to get a sense of the real situation, we first must dispense with the idea that the junta is controlling the country and reigning over the people, and that its military is defeating its enemies (the resistance forces) on the front lines. No, thats no longer the case. Weve all seen that the truth is the reverse: Over the past nearly three years since the coup the junta has been losing control in governance and politics, over the economy, and also over towns and military positions.

The reality is this: The junta is besieged by the entire population of Myanmar and its military is being attacked by numerous resistance forces from every corner of the country, working together or separately. To be more specific: A handful of hated generals and their collaborators are surrounded by about 55 million people (you cant exclude housewives and kids, youth and the elderly, minority and majority groups); its military battalions, police and other security forces are surrounded by resistance forces, are on the defensive, surrendering or on the run.

Perhaps the world has failed to understand that the ongoing war in Myanmar was unavoidable, like the fight in World War II to contain the aggression launched by the Axis powers of Nazi Germany, fascist Italy and imperial Japan. It is Min Aung Hlaing and his regime that started this war with their coup in 2021. For the people of Myanmar, this is the war to end all warspolitical wars that nullify election results and crackdown on pro-democracy parties, wars of aggression against ethnic forces and greedy wars that monopolize the countrys resources and businesses for the militarys own interest. These are wars that the ruling junta waged in the past, is waging now and will seek to wage in the future.

With a proper understanding of the countrys political culture, the deeper level of the peoples resistance this time to the military, and their determination to keep fighting for a new federal democracy, one cannot only analyze but also sense that this war against the junta will continue, whatever it takes.

No doubt this war will continue into 2024. Its unlikely we will see something wonderful happen very suddenly. But through the endeavors of the people, we can hope to see this darkest era end soon and to welcome a new dawn that will see the creation of a new nation built on the freedom and federalism, democracy and prosperity, peace and happiness that the Myanmar people have longed for. The justice and truth they have been fighting for shall prevail.
In a first-of-its-kind study of aardvarks, Oregon State University researchers spent months in sub-Saharan Africa collecting poop from the animal and concluded that aridification of the landscape is isolating them, which they say could have implications for their long-term survival.

Everyone had heard of aardvarks, and they are considered very ecologically important, but there has been little study of them, Clint Epps, a wildlife biologist at Oregon State, said in a news release. We wanted to see if we could collect enough data to begin to understand them.

Podcasts 'A Place to Sleep' podcast: Catch all the episodes here Our podcast, A Place to Sleep, explores how Oregon cities are responding to a new law that is meant to provide homeless individuals a place to rest.

In a just-published paper in Diversity and Distribution, the researchers used genetic information gleaned from 104 aardvark poop samples to begin to understand the range of where they live.

During times of rapid environmental change, evaluating and describing changes in the landscape where a species lives is important for informed conservation and management decisions, Rachel Crowhurst, a wildlife geneticist who works with Epps and co-authored the paper, said in a statement.

Aardvarks are nocturnal, burrowing mammals that can weigh up to 180 pounds. They have long snouts, similar to that of a pig, that they use, along with their claws, to locate and dig out ant and termite hills. They are found over much of the southern two-thirds of Africa.

Despite often being compared to pigs and South American anteaters, aardvarks are not related to them. Aardvarks are the only living member of the order Tubulidentata, and their closest living relatives include golden moles, elephants and manatees.

The International Union for the Conservation of Nature lists aardvarks in the category of least concern, in part due to the broad range of ecosystems they inhabit. However, little is known about current population trends or their actual distribution across the landscape, according to the news release.

Oregon State researchers believe the species is understudied because they are nocturnal, hard to trap and exist in low densities across large, often remote landscapes.

Those factors led Epps to undertake the first study of the genetics of aardvarks in the wild and to develop noninvasive methods to do so, according to the release. People have examined aardvark DNA in the past for studies of mammalian evolution but never across wild populations.

Epps learned to recognize aardvark tracks and poop (which they bury) when working as a post-doctoral researcher nearly 20 years ago in Tanzania. In 2016, during a sabbatical, he returned to Africa for six weeks to see if he could spot aardvark digging signs, track them through the bush and find their buried droppings.

I wanted to work on a system that was understudied, where anything I learned would likely be truly new information to the scientific community, Epps said in a statement.

In South Africa, the genetic information they gathered suggested three regional divisions of aardvarks, indicating that animals in western, central and eastern regions of South Africa were somewhat isolated from each other. Individuals were detected at multiple locations separated by up to 4.3 miles, indicating that home ranges could be larger than previously determined, particularly in arid areas where food resources may be low, according to the release.

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Closely related individuals were detected as far as 27 miles apart, and individuals less than 34 miles apart were more genetically similar. Thus, they found aardvarks may disperse up to 34 miles from where they are born. Across the study area, genetic differentiation between individuals was greater when intervening landscapes were more arid, suggesting that movement through those areas is restricted, according to the release.

The researchers plan to continue the work, and hope to perform genomic analysis on new samples and conduct field work across a wider area of sub-Saharan Africa.

Our initial findings suggest that climate change will increase habitat fragmentation and limit gene flow for aardvarks, particularly where precipitation is expected to decrease and temperature increase, Epps said. With aridity expected to increase in southern-most Africa under most climate change scenarios, the need for further research is clear.

Epps other hope for further research is to see an aardvark in the wild. That goal has eluded him.
1371138342::cfb49c8e-2422-11e5-99a3-d7f5c6e8b241

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.
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( Middle East Monitor )  There is no difference between what Israeli Premier Benjamin Netanyahu is doing in the months-long attacks on Gaza and what Nazi leader Adolf Hitler did decades ago, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said today.

At a science awards ceremony in the capital Ankara, Erdogan said: How do you [Netanyahu] differ from Hitler? These [actions] will make us look for Hitler as well. Is there anything Netanyahu does that is less than Hitler? No.

Just like 80 years ago in Nazi Germany, Erdogan said that today, scholars worldwide who have the courage to decry the oppression and persecution in Gaza are facing pressure and threats, referring to academics in the US and elsewhere being fired or censured for standing up for Palestinians.

Sky News Australia Turkish President compares Benjamin Netanyahu to Hitler

For scholars who face pressure for defending human dignity in Gaza, the doors of Turkish universities are open, he stressed.We realised that the institutions that talk big and spend big budgets are completely hollow when it comes to Israel and its atrocities, the president said.From the UN Security Council to press organisations, from the EU to journalist groups, all institutions that serve as apostles of democracy have failed, he said.

Not only international organisations, but also the prestigious Western universities have failed on the Gaza issue, Erdogan added.

Israel launched a massive military campaign on the Gaza Strip on 7 October, killing at least 21,110 Palestinians, mostly women and children, and injuring 55,243 others, according to local health authorities.

The onslaught has left Gaza in ruins, with 60 per cent of the enclaves infrastructure damaged or destroyed and nearly two million people displaced amid acute shortages of food, clean water and medicines.
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Ann Arbor (Informed Comment)  The Gaza Ministry of Education, which is staffed by professionals rather than party cadres, said on Wednesday that According to the Ministry of Education, between 7 October and 26 December, more than 4,037 students and 209 educational staff were killed, and more than 7,259 students and 619 teachers were injured in Gaza. So reports the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs.

Let me just repeat this incredible statistic. Israel has murdered over 4,000 students. Moreover, we havent heard a peep about this from any university administration in the United States  offices that routinely denounce attacks on higher education elsewhere in the world. People who are up in arms about banning books in schools dont seem to care about this big pile of dead students, including K-12 and undergraduates.

If you think the below apocalyptic landscape from northern Gaza results from targeted strikes against Hamas militants, then there is something wrong with your reasoning abilities.

Northern Gaza is no more. An unspeakable crimepic.twitter.com/PAyabfjzf3  Bruno Macaes (@MacaesBruno) December 27, 2023

It is this random leveling of every building in sight that produced the over 4,000 student deaths.

Saudi Arabias Asharq News further reports that the indiscriminate campaign of aerial bombardment has destroyed 342 schools, educational institutes, and universities. This according to Hazem al-Shemlawi the Public Relations Director for the Palestinian Ministry of Higher Education.

Some 425 college and university students have been killed by the bombs, along with 19 university staffers.

I repeat: The Israelis have rubbed out 425 undergraduates.

One of the university professors killed, in what some have alleged to have been a deliberately targeted strike by the Israeli military, was Refaat al-Areer a Shakespeare and John Donne specialist at the Islamic University of Gaza (since destroyed).

He refused to leave northern Gaza, saying that the most dangerous thing in his house was a pen. He seems to have known that the Israelis would try to kill him for being outspoken. The strike that murdered him also killed his brother, his sister, and her four children. His last poem became famous:

About 19 institutions of higher education in Gaza served 88,000 students and employed 5200 staffers before October 7, since which time they have all been closed and several have been demolished.

Israels total war against the people of Gaza clearly aims to deprive them of their culture. Studies of victims of past wars have shown that such interruptions in education have a life-long negative impact on employability and standard of living. Students living through bombardment and displacement also suffer from mood disorders later in life at a higher rate.

In addition, the UN Relief and Works Agency (UNRWA) ran 183 schools, which served 278,000 students. Because UNRWA is perpetually underfunded, most of its schools have had to run two shifts. UNRWA was established to serve the millions of Palestinian refugees descended from the Palestinians ethnically cleansed by the Israelis in 1948 and those displaced in 1967. Some 70% of Gazas residents are descended from such refugees who were forced out of their homes or off their farms in southern Israel by Zionist blackshirts.

The UNRWA shools are also closed, and many are being used as shelters for the 1.9 million people Israeli bombing has displaced from their homes. Some UNRWA schools, as in Beit Hanoun, have been blown up by Israeli forces on the ridiculous charge that they were Hamas outposts. Aljazeera reported earlier this month, UN schools and buildings continue to be targeted by Israel, while also being used as shelters for thousands of displaced Palestinians.

Asharq reports that the Gaza government has categorized 1,745 Israeli bombings as massacres. The Israeli air force has damaged or destroyed 126 government buildings. It has completely destroyed 92 schools and universities. It has inflicted significant damage on 285 schools.

19 institutions belonging to the Ministry of Higher Education have been closed by the Israeli bombing, depriving 88,000 students of their education for three months in a row.

Shemlawi says that the buildings of the al-Azhar University branch in south Gaza have been largely destroyed by Israeli shelling.

The following footage from TikTok shows the bombing of al-Azhar University in Gaza in November.

The footage below says it shows the state this month of al-Azhar University in Gaza:

Destruction of Al-Azhar University in Gaza

Al-Azhar University in Gaza was established in 1991 by the Palestine Liberation Organization, the secular rival of Hamas. It is not related to the al-Azhar in Cairo. It has 14,391 students and 387 faculty members, though some of these are now dead and none of them have any buildings in which to learn or teach. It had been ranked around 171 out of 200 among Arab regional universities, and it is amazing that it wasnt at the bottom given that it functioned in an occupied territory under economic siege since 2007.

This was AUGs medical school. All Gone.

AU Gaza Kulliyat al-Tibb

All gone.
Vancouver, British Columbia--(Newsfile Corp. - December 28, 2023) - Kraken Energy Corp. (CSE: UUSA) (OTCQB: UUSAF) (FSE: F2C) (the "Company" or "Kraken") is pleased to report that the Company has received approval to resume their Phase I drill program at the Harts Point Uranium Property ("Harts Point" or the "Property") in Southern Utah.

With a revised and approved exploration permit, the Company will drill the property from two pad locations over a 5 km strike length targeting the favorable uranium bearing Chinle Formation host rock where three historical oil and gas wells returned "off-scale" radioactivity. Upon favorable results, the Company intends to continue the drill program to further evaluate the mineralized trend.

As a result of this development, management has made the strategic decision to reallocate resources from drilling at the Apex Uranium Property ("Apex") to the resumption of drilling at Harts Point.

CEO Matthew Schwab stated: "We are excited to be resuming our Phase I drilling program at Harts Point in Utah and we believe the site to be extremely promising in the short-term. Regarding Apex, we anticipate resuming drilling there once the property is fully permitted, including the US Forest Service portions. While we are encouraged by the continued exploration at Apex, we believe that we can run our drill program more effectively and efficiently once we have the property fully permitted. As such, Harts Point will be our immediate focus moving into 2024."

Harts Point Property Highlights:

World class uranium jurisdiction: located in the center of the Colorado Plateau, which has produced over 328 million ("M") pounds ("lbs") U 3 O 8 at 0.2 to 0.4% U 3 O 8 since the 1950s 1 .

located in the center of the Colorado Plateau, which has produced since the 1950s . Property consists of 324 lode mining claims on Bureau of Land Management (" BLM ") ground that covers an area of 2,622 hectares ("ha") (6,480 acres) .

on Bureau of Land Management (" ") ground that covers an area of . Harts Point Anticline is Analogous to the Lisbon Valley Anticline: where the Lisbon Valley Uranium District hosted 17 large uranium mines which produced approximately 80M lbs U 3 O 8 at 0.34% U 3 O 8 from 1948 to 1988 2 . The dimensions of these tabular sandstone-hosted uranium deposits range from 2 to 13 meters ("m") (7 to 43 feet) thick, 100 to 3,048 m (328 to 10,000 feet) long, and 31 to 427 m (100 to 1,400 feet) wide 3 .

where the Lisbon Valley Uranium District hosted from 1948 to 1988 . Significant Historic Uranium Production: Several historic mines located 11 km (7 miles) west of the Harts Point Property produced approximately 280,000 lbs U 3 O 8 at 0.3% U 3 O 8 from the favorable Chinle Formation host rock 4 . The Lisbon Valley Anticline is located 31 km (19 miles) to the east of the Harts Point Property produced approximately 80M lbs U 3 O 8 0.34% U 3 O 8 2 .

Historic Exploration: Three wide-spaced historic oil and gas wells on the Property (Figure 1) along the east flank of the Harts Point Anticline show 'off-scale' radioactivity within the favorable Chinle Formation host rock. Drilled between 1953 and 1980, historic drill holes 43-037-10438, 43-037-30109, and 43-037-30623 showed off-scale radioactivity readings between 2.1 to 3.7 m thickness (7 to 12 feet) from depths of 390 to 417 m (1,280 to 1,368 feet).

(Figure 1) along the east flank of the Harts Point Anticline Excellent Infrastructure: located approximately 64 km (40 miles) north of the White Mesa uranium processing facility. There is also excellent access throughout the Property, which is situated 45 km (28 miles) from the town of Monticello, Utah.

located approximately

Figure 1: Harts Point Property with Local Uranium Occurrences

Apex Drilling Summary:

A total of 873.5 meters ("m") were drilled over three holes during the recent drilling program at the Apex Uranium Property. None of the three drill holes intersected bedrock and all three drill holes were abandoned at roughly 300 m depth. Target depths for this program were based on a geophysical inversion of the VTEM data collected in 2022 where the depth to basement was indicated between 50 to 150 m depth in the areas of interest.

The geophysical targets and strong radon anomalies west of the Apex Mine still hold strong technical and geological merits, but due to the variance in target depths the decision was made to pause drilling and reevaluate targeting on the property.

Frankfurt Listing:

The Company is pleased to announce the listing of its shares on the Frankfurt Stock Exchange ("FSE"). Kraken's shares trade under the symbol FSE: F2C.

The FSE is one of the world's largest international trading centers for securities. Operated by the Deutsche Boerse AG, FSE, is the largest of Germany's seven stock exchanges, and is responsible for approximately 90 percent of all securities traded in Germany. The FSE facilitates advanced electronic trading, settlement and information systems and enables cross-border trading for international investors.

References:

1 Holger Albrethsen, Jr. and Frank E. McGinley (1982). Summary History of Domestic Procurement Under U.S. Atomic Energy Commission Contracts, September 1982.

2 Chenoweth, W.L. (1990). Lisbon Valley, Utah's Premier Uranium Area, a Summary of Exploration and Ore Production. Utah Geological Survey Open File Report 188, July 1990.

3 Gordon W. Weir and Willard P. Puffett (1981). Incomplete manuscript on stratigraphy and structural geology and uranium-vanadium and copper deposits of the Lisbon Valley area, Utah-Colorado. Open-File Report 81-39. Pages 153 to 163. United States Department of the Interior Geological Survey.

4 Chenoweth, W.L. (1993): The geology and Production History of the Uranium deposits in the White Canyon Mining District, San Juan County, Utah, Utah Geological Survey Miscellaneous Publication 93-3.

Technical Information:

All scientific and technical information in this news release has been prepared by or reviewed and approved by Matthew Schwab, P.Geo., President and CEO of the Company, and Garrett Ainsworth, P.Geo., Chairman of the Company. Each of Mr. Schwab and Mr. Ainsworth is a Qualified Person for the purposes of National Instrument 43-101 - Standards of Disclosure for Mineral Projects.

The data disclosed in this news release is related to historical drilling results. Kraken has not undertaken any independent investigation of the sampling, nor has it independently analyzed the results of the historical exploration work in order to verify the results. Kraken considers these historical drill results relevant as the Company is using this data as a guide to plan exploration programs. The Company's current and future exploration work includes verification of the historical data through drilling.

About the Harts Point Property:

Harts Point is located in the center of the Colorado Plateau, referred to by some as "the Athabasca Basin of the US" and is 64 kilometers ("km") (40 miles) north of the White Mesa Uranium Mill, the only fully licensed and operating conventional uranium mill in the United States. The Property consists of 324 lode mining claims on Bureau of Land Management ("BLM") ground and drill permits are in place for up to 20 exploration drill holes.

About Kraken Energy Corp.:

Kraken Energy Corp. is a new energy company advancing its portfolio of high-grade uranium properties in the Unites States. The Company is advancing its 100%-owned Apex Uranium Property, located 280 km (174 miles) east from Reno, Nevada which is recognized as Nevada's largest past-producing uranium mine. The Company has additionally entered into an option agreement to earn 100% of the Garfield Hills Uranium Property. The past-producing Garfield Hills Uranium Property covers 1,238 ha (3,060 acres) and is located 19 km (12 miles) east of Hawthorne in Mineral County, Nevada. Kraken Energy has also recently staked the Huber Hills Uranium Property, located 136 km (85 miles) north of Elko, Nevada which covers 1,044 ha (2,580 acres) and encompasses the historic Race Track open pit mine. The Company has recently entered into an option agreement to earn 75% of the Harts Point Uranium Property. The Harts Point Uranium Property covers 2,622 ha (6,480 acres) and is located 49 km (30 miles) northwest of Monticello in San Juan County, Utah.

For more information about the Company, please visit; www.krakenenergycorp.com.

On Behalf of the Board of Kraken Energy Corp.:

Matthew Schwab

President & Chief Executive Officer

Corporate Office:

Suite 907 - 1030 West Georgia Street

Vancouver, British Columbia

V6E 2Y3

T: (604) 628-2669

For investor relations inquiries, contact:

Kin Communications Inc.

T: (604) 684-6730

E: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

This news release contains forward-looking information which is subject to a variety of risks and uncertainties and other factors that could cause actual events or results to differ from those projected in the forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements in this press release include our plans for exploration at the properties. These forward-looking statements are subject to a variety of risks and uncertainties and other factors that could cause actual events or results to differ materially from those projected in the forward-looking information. Risks that could change or prevent these statements from coming to fruition include changing costs for mining and processing; increased capital costs; the timing and content of upcoming work programs; geological interpretations based on drilling that may change with more detailed information; potential process methods and mineral recoveries assumption based on limited test work and by comparison to what are considered analogous deposits that with further test work may not be comparable; the availability of labour, equipment and markets for the products produced; and despite the current expected viability of the project, conditions changing such that the minerals on our property cannot be economically mined, or that the required permits to build and operate the envisaged mine can be obtained. The forward-looking information contained herein is given as of the date hereof and the Company assumes no responsibility to update or revise such information to reflect new events or circumstances, except as required by law.
The long awaited Netflix series "Gyeongseong Creature" starring Park Seo Joon and Han So Hee finally made its debut.

In its first three episodes, a huge monster grows inside an eerie hospital, which threatens the safety of the people in Gyeongseong in the year 1945.

Jang Tae Sang Meets Yoon Chae Ok

"Gyeongseong Creature" begins with Japanese troops retreating from their positions, dumping dead bodies into piles and burning them.

As they douse the place with gasoline, something bangs near a metal door where a large humanoid creature is seen through the flames.

Elsewhere, pawnshop owner Jang Tae Sang (Park Seo Joon) is tortured for having an affair with Yukiko Maeda (Soo Hyun), Commissioner Ishikawa's (Kim Do Hyun) wife.

He accepts defeat and heads back to his shop with the Commissioner's men still keeping tabs on him. Mrs. Nawol (Kim Hae Sook) sells their valuable things should they need to escape.

Meanwhile, Yoon Chae Ok (Han So Hee) follows the pawnshop owner, alarming Jang Tae Sang. She shares that she's looking for a painter named Sachimoto (Woo Ji Hyun). He offers his help to find him and in exchange, she must work for him.

Yoon Chae Ok Teams Up With Jang Tae Sang

Although she still doubts him, she agrees to work with Jang Tae Sang. Yoon Chae Ok breaks into the testing lab of the hospital where the creature is growing.

As it grows tentacles, its cell is blasted with nitrogen to keep it docile. It turns out that all the dead bodies before were caused by the creature.

IN CASE YOU MISSED IT: No Spark? Park Seo Joon & Han So Hee's 'Lack of Chemistry' Leaves Fans Unsatisfied

News breaks that the hospital is now closed due to a deadly disease. Because of this, Jang Tae Sang is more than determined to find Yoon Chae Ok.

Thankfully, the nurses inside are also part of the resistance. Meanwhile, the creature grows bigger and kills a dozen soldiers by stabbing them with its tentacles.

Will Jang Tae Sang & Yoon Chae Ok Succeed?

A man survived the attacks and lives to tell the tale. However, Kato (Choi Young Joon), the military chief of the hospital, isn't happy when the man calls the creature a "failure."

Meanwhile, Jang Tae Sang hunts for Sachimoto after Myung Ja (Ji Woo), the Commissioner's mistress, is found inside the hospital.

Thankfully, Sachimoto arrives at the shop, ready to talk. At the hospital, Yoon Chae Ok sees the jars holding human heads, urging her to save the imprisoned people, especially the children.

She also manages to kill the doctor and some of the guards with the help of Jang Tae Sang's carefully laid plan. Unfortunately, Myung Ja is still inside while the creature becomes stronger.

ALSO READ: 3 K-drama Stars Named As 'Netflix Daughters': Han So Hee, Lim Ji Yeon, More!

KDramaStars owns this article.

Written by Elijah Mully.
Jang Nara shared for the first time the bold move she did did to win her non-showbiz husband's heart before officially dating him.

Curious about what the actress did? Then read on!

Jang Nara Talks About Her Married Life in 'Yoo Quiz On the Block'

In the "Yoo Quiz On the Block" episode teaser aired on December 27, the show welcomed Jang Nara as its celebrity guest.

In the clip provided by the talk show team, the actress was seen being excited while talking about her marriage as well as her non-celebrity husband, who she used to work with.

From title

Jang Nara met her husband while working on the SBS 2019 series "VIP," who was a cameraman at that time. During the interview, the celebrity revealed what kind of efforts she made to win her partner's heart before officially dating him.

When the host of the show Yoo Jae Suk asked the actress if she was enjoying her married life, she immediately answered, "Yes, I am. Absolutely," with a happy smile.

On the other hand, Jo Se Ho curiously asked if Jang Nara's husband was a fan of hers from the start.

Jang Nara Confesses Making the First Move to Her Husband

The "Fated to Love You" lead star responded and revealed how she made a bold move to get her husband's attention.

"No, he was not really interested in me at first. He only thought that I was a nice person who always worked hard. So I made the first move."

Surprised by what she confessed, Yoo Jae Suk and Jo Se Ho asked for more details regarding her bold move, and she's willing to give them a closer look at her romance outside showbiz.

YOU MIGHT ALSO LIKE: Husband Spotted! Jang Nara Lowkey Flexes Beau on Instagram

According to Jang Nara, when they were working together on-site, they never discussed anything personal. But since the actress wanted to talk about things other than work with him, she did her best to find a good excuse to message him after the filming of the drama.

"I must find something in common with him. That was my first mission."

She continued that during one of her days off, she happened to sort out some pictures she had taken while filming her series. Then she found her husband in the corner of a group photo, and it gave her the idea to send the snap to him.

As she wrapped up the topic, she added:

"After I sent him the picture, I also asked how he was doing and he replied, thanking me for the photo. And asked me 'Have you been resting well?'"

Jang Nara confessed:

"When I received his reply, I exclaimed, Yes!' This is it! Again. Him asking me a question was an excuse for me to keep making conversation with him."

And that was how the actress was able to get the attention of her now non-celebrity husband.

After being in a relationship for 2 years, she married her "VIP" cameraman in June 2022.

IN CASE YOU MISSED IT: Jang Nara Exudes Lady Boss Aura in Upcoming Drama 'My Happy Ending'

What can you say about Jang Nara's revelation? Share your thoughts/replies in the comments!

For more K-Drama, K-Movie, and celebrity news and updates, keep your tabs open here at KDramaStars.

KDramaStars owns this article.

Shai Collins wrote this.
Vera Pigaleva, a graduate in chemical engineering, previously managed a chain of beauty salons and now co-owns Sugaring Factory. The company became the largest manufacturer of sugar paste in the U.S. market for the past two decades. Sugaring Factory is committed to providing innovative sales strategies to all its business partners, from young entrepreneurs to established brands. The company has helped many beauty salons and professionals exceed their expectations by providing a launchpad for their success.

Vera Pigaleva shares her experience of running a manufacturing empire in today's volatile economic environment, having taken Sugaring Factory from the very beginning to a leading position in the cosmetics industry. This success story, which we will discuss below, is both impressive and inspiring.

Why Did Vera Choose Sugaring?

Eva Moss, a colleague of Vera Pigaleva's, always helped her implement her ideas. After much contemplation, they delved into the hair removal industry, determined to create something truly unique. First of all, they wanted to find the answer to the question, "What is sugaring?" Through careful market analysis, they discovered that the sector of hair removal was lacking in research and desperately needed product improvements.

This realization occurred over 20 years ago when the cosmetics industry was still not developed as much as today. They aimed to create a high-quality product that would meet the needs of their clients without causing unnecessary pain and at an affordable price.

The fact that hair removal using the sugaring paste is a renewable need further motivated Vera and Eva to focus on the industry. As hair growth is constant and often unwanted, there will always be a demand for superior products at Sugaring Factory.

Vera's Duties in Sugaring Factory

Vera is a successful entrepreneur. In the Sugaring Factory, she has a wide range of responsibilities. Building a business and brand requires her to play many different roles and constantly learn new skills.

Vera always says that it's very important to be honest about your own strengths and weaknesses, as well as that of your team members. Also, you should build partnerships with others who have the skills you need.

Entrepreneurship is a team effort that involves everything from HR duties and budget management to collaborating with partners and clients, working with designers and vendors, and staying up-to-date with beauty bloggers and influencers. Every aspect of the company's daily operations is intertwined with Vera's responsibilities. That's why Sugaring Factory became successful in the hair removal industry.

Does Sugaring Factory Have Competitors?

While sugaring has been around for centuries, it has gained popularity in recent years as a natural and gentle alternative to traditional waxing. As a result, many new sugar depilation businesses have emerged, as well as established waxing salons that have added sugar depilation to their services.

Yes, Sugaring Factory has competitors in the hair removal industry. But in terms of competition, there is only one main competitor based in Canada. However, their sales approach differs as they only sell their products to beauty salons.

At the same time, Sugaring Factory has a unique sales model that focuses on supporting and empowering newcomers in the beauty industry. The company provides a platform for individuals interested in the sugaring business to grow and build their brand. Additionally, unlike many beauty product manufacturers who outsource labor, Sugaring Factory is committed to keeping jobs in the United States.

Other competitors include smaller local sugaring businesses and traditional waxing salons that offer sugaring as an additional service. These businesses may have lower prices or different marketing strategies but still pose a threat to Sugaring Factory's market share. While some smaller manufacturers have even started offering limited Private Label options, the company remains the largest leader in the sugaring market.

To stay competitive, Sugaring Factory focuses on providing high-quality services and products, as well as exceptional customer service. The company also offers a loyalty program and regularly runs promotions to attract new customers. Additionally, the manufacturer invests in marketing efforts such as social media advertising and collaborations with influencers to increase brand awareness.

Overall, while there are competitors in the sugaring industry, Sugaring Factory has established itself as a reputable and successful business through its commitment to quality and customer satisfaction. The company continues to develop, expanding its influence in the beauty industry.

Why Do Clients Choose Sugaring Factory Instead of Competitors?

Customers from all over the world choose Sugaring Factory for various reasons. The company's primary focus is on maintaining exceptional quality in all products for hair removal. Quality is the cornerstone of any successful business, and the manufacturer strives to achieve it by subjecting every ingredient of sugar paste to rigorous laboratory testing. The brand has reliable suppliers but still performs regular quality assurance checks on all raw materials used to ensure their consistency.

In addition to quality, the company prides itself on its ability to produce large quantities of products. The production capacity is unmatched in the US, enabling the brand to generate tons of unit products every day. Unlike many competitors, who can only offer 100 units a day at best, Sugaring Factory always provides its clients with the desired large quantities of products.

There are many other things to be proud of. The company has revolutionized the sugar paste industry by creating various lines with different additives that cater to different consumer preferences. For example, there is a product line that includes black paste with activated charcoal and white paste with clay. Also, Sugaring Factory offers an aroma series of pastes, a colored line of pastes, an organic line, and a hypoallergenic line. As Vera says, the manufacturer carefully considers the vast array of requests from consumers and offers a wider range of products than any other manufacturer in the American market.

As Sugaring Factory is the only major player in the USA, Vera wonders why the competitors are not seeking to expand their market share. Perhaps it is due to a lack of funding or infrastructure, or maybe they lack the desire to take risks and invest in their growth.

Unfortunately, most of the competitors require a certificate of training specifically with their company or a company-specific license, limiting their expansion and revenue growth. Sugaring Factory sells directly to individual consumers and salons, accommodating everyone who desires smoother skin. As Vera says, "At Sugaring Factory, we believe that your body, your rules, and we make no exceptions."

Some of the Big Clients of Sugaring Factory Products

Sugaring Factory offers its paste production services to established brands that are unable to produce large quantities of paste in-house, as well as entrepreneurs looking for high-profit margin products. Partnering with the manufacturer allows you to expand your brand's reach in the growing cosmetics market.

The brand provides a quick return on investment, with efficient production processes, strict quality assurance protocols, and on-time delivery. Whether you require large or small volume orders, you can be sure that the company can accommodate your needs.
After a long wait, Han So Hee finally made her "Gyeongseong Creature" debut this December. While fans were delighted by the actress' choice of drama, many viewers criticized the Hallyu star for her performance. Here's how Han So Hee reacted.

Han So Hee's 'Gyeongseong Creature' Criticized By Viewers

The long anticipated series "Gyeongseong Creature" starring Park Seo Joon and Han So Hee finally hit the home theaters on December 22.

Set in the year 1945, the series tells the story of two young people who fight monsters created out of greed to survive.

"Gyeongseong Creature" is loosely based on the Japanese Army's biological experiment unit 731, which drew attention and criticisms among viewers, especially Japanese netizens.

With the fact that innocent people in many countries and not just in Korea died and suffered from the crimes of the Japanese Army at the time, the Netflix show wasn't received well.

Many Japanese viewers have terrorized the social media pages of the lead star Han So Hee, accusing her of "hating" Japan and its culture and history.

With the uncontrollable malicious comments on her Instagram page, Han So Hee broke her silence and posted a photo of Korean independence activist Ahn Jung Geun.

READ MORE: 'Gyeongseong Creature' Episode 1-3: Park Seo Joon & Han So Hee Team Up To Kill Dangerous Monster

She wrote, "The series depicted a dark time when they were fighting against the monster born in greed of humans, not the romance in Gyeongseong nor the Japanese colonial era."

"It showed the spring of that year when the people embraced one another with love," she added. She also advised the viewers to take courage if they want to watch the show.

For a global icon like Han So Hee, Japan is among the biggest markets that might affect her career. With her confidence to stand her ground gained the viewers' trust and support.

Praises For Han So Hee & Park Seo Joon

"Gyeongseong Creature" marks Han So Hee and Park Seo Joon's first series together, and their very first action-packed show in a while.

They depicted a captivating on-screen duo that fought monsters born out of greed in the drama, showcasing their impactful performances.

Chung Dong Yoon, the director, previously confessed that he wanted to do the work with the top actors in the industry. Thankfully, Park Seo Joon and Han So Hee accepted the work.

"Both of them are very professional, which pushed me to also work hard on set," the director shared in an interview. "It was fun doing the show with them."

The director gave emphasis to the chemistry between the two which he described as "something that other couples don't possess," which he believed made "Gyeongseong Creature" special.

ALSO READ: 3 K-drama Stars Named As 'Netflix Daughters': Han So Hee, Lim Ji Yeon, More!

Catch it on "Gyeongseong Creature" now. Its first part is now available for streaming on Netflix.

KDramaStars owns this article.

Written by Elijah Mully.
Kim Yoo Jung talked more about herself and the things she does to relieve stress in between her jam-packed schedule in the show business.

Singles Magazine Drops 'What's In My Bag' Video of Kim Yoo Jung

Singles Magazine dropped another chop of Kim Yoo Jung's interview for her special feature in the January issue of the famous publication.

The young star did the bag raid where she showed to her fans the essential things she always brings wherever she goes. As she revealed the contents of her bag one by one, she jokingly commented that she had already taken the time to look at the items inside her bag.

Kim Yoo Jung first got her books, even though she doesn't usually read them, she still carries them around. These are the books that she received as gifts, Rick Rubin's "Creative Act: A Way of Being" and Ryu Si Hwa's "If I Knew Then What I Know Now."

YOU MIGHT ALSO LIKE: Kim Yoo Jung Praised for Her Unchanging Visuals & Self-Management: 'She looks the same as she did

She took out her earphones and explained that she bought them at a convenience store. The "Love in the Moonlight" star confessed that she likes listening to music and using the earphones because it is easy to use.

Kim Yoo Jung Shares How She Relieves Stress

Showing more of her simple side, the 25-year-old actress mentioned that she likes the jazz genre and often listens to it. Since it's winter in Korea, she listens to moist songs that fit the winter weather.

Kim Yoo Jung added, "I am also into classical music, so I search it on YouTube and just listen to songs I don't know well."

Since she's been busy lately due to her new drama and other solo schedules, Kim Yoo Jung easily gets stressed and exhausted from too much work. During the interview, the Korean star shared the things she does in order to relieve her stress.

"I relieve stress by listening to music or spending time alone walking around."

As she continued to show the items in her bag, she pulled out the jelly candy. She admitted that she doesn't like jelly, but when she's filming and craving sugar, she likes eating it."

What's Next for Kim Yoo Jung

Furthermore, before the year ends, Kim Yoo Jung will continue to meet the viewers with her back-to-back activities. Every Friday and Saturday, the actress appears in the romance-fantasy drama "My Demon" alongside K-drama heartthrob Song Kang.

Apart from that, she will be joining Shin Dong Yeop this December 29, for the annual celebration of the SBS Drama Awards. Kim Yoo Jung and Song Kang are nominated for the Best Couple Category for their new drama that has been amassing popularity abroad.

IN CASE YOU MISSED IT: Song Kang & Kim Yoo Jung as Dispatch Couple? 'My Demon' Stars Set Internet Into Frenzy With THESE Photos

What can you say about the news? Share your thoughts/replies in the comments!

For more K-Drama, K-Movie, and celebrity news and updates, keep your tabs open here at Kdramastars.

Kdramastars owns this article.

Shai Collins wrote this.
In this undated photo released by Iris Weinstein Haggai, Judih Weinstein and Gadi Hagi hold each other as they pose for a photo in Toronto. THE CANADIAN PRESS/AP-Iris Weinstein Haggai via AP
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While surfing cellphone news headlines, my attention was caught by one from the New York Post that blared: Dutch are Euthanizing Autistic People. The Post aims for sensationalism, and the headline implied mass slaughter, akin to the Nazi gassing of individuals with mental disabilities. As euthanasia is of academic interest to me, I felt compelled to read the story.

The articles basis was a study conducted at Kingston University, London. However, the studys title was never provided, and there was no indication of peer review, journal publication, or conference presentation. The New York Post is known for inferring more than is warranted by the evidence.

The researchers analyzed the files of 900 people euthanized between 2012 and 2021. Out of these, thirty-nine (approximately 4 percent) were considered autistic or mentally disabled, with neither condition being further detailed. Importantly, none were euthanized because of their condition, rendering the Posts implication meaningless. Instead, all of them applied for assisted death, undergoing a rigorous determination process based on their belief that their future lives were not worth living.

Courts in the Netherlands began establishing criteria for aid-in-dying in the 1980s, but national regulation did not occur until 2002 and was initially limited to those with acute terminal illnesses (e.g., cancer). Over time, the standards were expanded to include non-acute terminal conditions (e.g., amyotrophic lateral sclerosis) and, most recently, to permit applications from those who perceived no further advantage to living.

An applicant must provide a detailed explanation of their current suffering, a statement that their future life would be unbearable given their condition, and that no present options to improve the condition exist. This information, along with all pertinent medical records, and possible interviews with the patient and family, is considered by the applicants primary care physician (PCP). The regulations also take into account the patients competence and the possibility of family coercion. If the physician approves, a second PCP, unfamiliar with the patient and family, performs a similar review, and both physicians must concur for euthanasia to be permitted. Either may recommend further treatment, with reconsideration of euthanasia if this treatment fails. If they cannot agree, a regional committee reviews the application and makes the decision. An additional assessment of the patients desire to continue living is made by a non-physician just prior to drug administration.

Euthanasia typically occurs at a patients home, often with family and friends in attendance. After final farewells, the patient retires to a bedroom, likely with close individuals, where the physician administers a lethal dose of a sedative. The physician remains in case this injection is insufficient and/or to pronounce the patients demise.

In addition to the pre-approval procedures, each euthanasia death is reported to a provincial committee that ensures all statutory criteria were followed. If not, the case is referred to the Public Prosecution Service for additional investigation and possible criminal charges. If a physician is found guilty, a prison term of up to 12 years could be imposed.

Dutch medical ethics consider the provision of euthanasia an ethical act as it relieves or prevents suffering. A physician can decline but must provide a substitute who will perform the service. In the U.S., only the provision of a lethal prescription is permitted in states that allow for death with dignity, yet nationally even this is perceived as unethical. Even in states that allow death with dignity, a declining physician is required, at most, to provide only names and contact information of physicians who might assist a patient, and finding a receptive doctor is the patients responsibility. However, when asked anonymously, the majority of U.S. doctors support at least some euthanasia options. In a 2020 poll, 55 percent of physicians were supportive of legalized euthanasia, and an additional 17 percent were undecided, while in a 2021 poll, 69 percent of gynecologic oncologists supported some form of legalized euthanasia.

Some experts quoted in the Post article, which was negatively skewed, claimed that autistic and mentally disabled individuals are incompetent to decide on euthanasia, but how they lacked competence was not elaborated upon. The terms autistic and mentally disabled, by themselves, are insufficient for determining competence, as they encompass a broad range of conditions. It would be inhumane and unethical for these labels alone to be determinative. The U.S. has a dark history of using labels (e.g., gender, race, nationality, property ownership) in an exclusionary manner, and I would be loath for us to return to this form of segregation.

Several of the requesting individuals complained that they did not fit into society, and one commentator, vacuously in my opinion, claimed that these people were likely dissatisfied with the services provided by social welfare agencies and were requesting to die out of pique. Did they assume that physicians would consider displeasure alone a valid justification for euthanasia, or that the applicants were so emotionally compromised as to use and maintain childish petulance throughout the lengthy consideration process?

I would, however, be curious to know whether these applicants availed themselves of voluntary specialty organizations or even general interest ones (e.g., Rotary Club) before determining that they did not fit socially. What employment options were tried, and what adaptations were attempted within these environments? Did these individuals seek therapy to determine if they might have contributed to their lack of fit? Such specifics were not provided.

The regulations governing euthanasia are a governmental decision. The Netherlands, along with some other countries, has more liberal regulations. Additional countries are more cautious, and in a third group, like the U.K., euthanasia is illegal. Regardless of a nations stance on euthanasia or similar weighty issues, the position should arise through a national plebiscite, rather than from politicians, whose perspectives often diverge from those of their constituents.

M. Bennet Broner is a medical ethicist.
An excerpt from The Catholic Church and Its Hospitals: A Marriage Made in Heaven?

The ability of Catholic hospitals and physicians to withhold some medically accepted care from patients based on their own religious and moral beliefs is made possible by numerous protections of religious freedoms. However, patients look to their physicians as trusted partners in their care who will act solely in their best interest and include them in care decisions. These two realities come into conflict at both the individual and societal levels, and therefore, deserve discussion. This chapter examines:

The training of future physicians in Catholic health care.

The responsibilities of physicians to their patients as dictated by their professional oaths.

The intersection of these responsibilities with Catholic institutions mandate that physicians follow the ERDs.

The breadth of the legal protection for Catholic hospitals and their physicians in the exercise of their religious beliefs.

Impact on physicians

Trainees

Patient care within the U.S. health system is directed by licensed professionals  frequently physicians. Often, they oversee and contribute to the training of medical students and physicians in their post-graduate years as interns, residents, and fellows. This training occurs in a hospital setting, including Catholic hospitals.

Two hundred eighty-one of the 550 Catholic hospitals are minor teaching hospitals and 14 are major teaching hospitals. These institutions assume responsibility for providing all the post-graduate training needed for a person to be a competent physician. However, in Catholic hospitals, trainees are not exposed to any of the services prohibited by the ERDs, nor do they engage in shared decision-making with their patients for these services. They may face moral dilemmas in withholding certain types of care. To obtain the required experience, trainees are often sent to other institutions for some periods of time.

Physicians

There is a belief that goes back to ancient times that physicians have unique responsibilities in relation to the care of patients. Since Hippocrates in the 5th century BCE, physicians have been expected to take an oath professing their responsibilities to the patients they serve.

Yet, the ERDs require physicians to follow the ERDs 

So, one must ask, how does the Catholic institutional employment requirement to adhere to the ERDs intersect with the physicians professed oath and the physicians own conscience? What ethical principle would allow an employment contract to supersede a physicians oath and her/his own conscience? How does the sacred covenant of physician with a patient, which is a mutual commitment, become a one-way transactional relationship?

These dilemmas would be particularly likely among the obstetricians who feel that prohibitions on specific treatment negatively impact their autonomy and patient care.

An example of this dilemma is described by a physician who was prohibited from performing a tubal ligation at the time of a patients cesarean section, requiring the patient to have an additional procedure:

 [I]f youre doing a c-section on somebody that wants a tubal and has had six other previous c-sections and if I tie her tubes Im going to get kicked off the staff. And I just dont think thats right but  instead of benefiting my patients, I benefit myself and dont do the tubal and stay on staff. So thats difficult sometimes.

How did we get from physicians primary responsibility being to the patient, to their right to exercise their own conscious, to religious institutions dictating the bounds of the doctor-patient relationship and the provision of care? The journey was much less about a debate within the profession or a debate by ethicists, and much more about the actions by politicians, lawyers, and judges.

Conclusion

The ERDs can create moral dilemmas for the physicians who practice in Catholic hospitals and other health care facilities, with tension between their professional oaths, their own conscience, and their employment contracts. One could, and should, ask how one religion can dictate the health care of so many others who do not share those beliefs. Ironically, this has been enabled by the First Amendment of the Constitution and subsequent laws, regulations, and judicial rulings that uphold the freedom to exercise religious beliefs, as individuals and as institutions, while impacting the freedom of others in something as basic as their health and life.

The intersection of this freedom with the First Amendments prohibition of government-sanctioned religion will continue to be examined, not only as it relates to Catholic health care and its prohibitions, but also regarding states laws that impact the provision of health care. Where the boundary lies between these two pillars of freedom does and will continue to profoundly affect the delivery of health care in America, impacting the health of many millions of Americans, especially those with limited choice of a provider. As Americans we must continue to discuss and examine this boundary.

Patricia A. Gabow is a nephrologist and author of The Catholic Church and Its Hospitals: A Marriage Made in Heaven?
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In March, Tanaiste and Minister for Defence, Micheal Martin pledged to commit further funding to James Stephens Barracks in Kilkenny.

I visited a new gym facility here, a great facility, and we will investing more in the barracks here, the Defence Minister said during his whistle-stop tour of Kilkenny in March.

One pressing local issue raised to the Tanaiste was the fact that members of Kilkenny Squash Club are no longer permitted to use the squash courts in the barracks. The Tanaiste committed to talks with local squash club members to further discuss the issue and some of the remediation concerns around the squash court facilities.

In sad news Kilkennys 3rd Infantry Battalion announced the death of its old battalion mascot, Fionn the Irish Wolfhound. He lived to be seven years old - around the average lifespan for his breed of dog.

Fionn, well known as a gentle giant and faithful companion, attended many different events around Kilkenny over the years. He was very popular, particularly when visiting local schools, nursing homes or at community outings, where he was companionable and patient with all who greeted him. In 2016, he was grand marshal of Kilkenny Citys St Patricks Day festivities.

Adored by his handler Pte James Dooley, Fionn was immortalisesd alongside him in Amelia Steins exhibition in Butler Gallery in 2020. The exhibition, comprising 58 portraits, was titled The Bloods the name associated with the 3 Infantry Battalion.

In March, Kilkenny City was once again jumping to jigs, reels and hornpipes over the St Patricks bank holiday weekend as Kilkenny Tradfest celebrated its tenth anniversary.

A stellar line-up of national acts, including Stocktons Wing, Scullion and the Bonnymen wowed the music fans at the paid concerts while over one hundred free sessions throughout the city saw some of Kilkenny and the countrys finest traditional musicians draw huge crowds to the citys pubs.

Chairperson of the Tradfest committee, Brendan Treacy, said that the reaction from customers and visitors alike was tremendous.

For many years, the period around St Patricks Day was little more than a one-day mid-winter break. Our decision as vintners to get involved in this festival a decade ago has transformed itself into a hugely successful part of the festival calendar in Kilkenny, he said.

In March, a special civic presentation to John Cleere to acknowledge his contribution to Kilkennys arts and music scene took place. John, a founding member of the Kilkenny Roots Festival was officially recognised for his contribution to arts and culture in Kilkenny. The popular visionary was put forward for an award by Cllr Andrew McGuinness.

These awards are rare and only presented to those who made an outstanding contribution in some way to civic life in Kilkenny City and county, he said.
The Ireland East Hospital Group has issued a list of eight things to know if you need to go to the emergency department over winter.

Or if one of your loved ones has a health emergency  youll be better off having read this.

In case you find yourself in the ED this Winter or New Year, here is advice from St Lukes General Hospital to ensure your visit is as efficient as possible. So heres what you should know:

1. Take a picture of your prescriptions

If you are taking medication/tablets and can never remember the dose or names of them, think about taking a picture of your prescription so you have it if a doctor asks.

The list of medications youre taking is really important. Sometimes patients would say, Im on a little white tablet and its hard to know which one of the many possible little white tablets it is. Increasingly people are taking lots of different medications and its very useful to know what they are when deciding how best to treat their emergency.

The importance of this is two-fold: firstly, it can affect the medication that we give patients and, secondly, it gives a clue as to the specific long term condition. Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease and Asthma are both referred to as the patient being chesty and have similar symptoms of sudden attacks of breathlessness. However, it is really helpful to know as soon as possible which condition you are treating in a dire emergency. Obviously, dont delay to find the prescription if its an emergency but a picture of a recent prescription is really helpful.

2. Try to keep your doctors letters safe (and your glasses)

Similarly, if you have an emergency and need to go to the ED, its a good idea to bring any recent doctors letters relating to your condition. If you do have a referral letter from your GP, that can take us a lot faster down the diagnostic route. Sometimes patients will leave it in the car and while its not essential, it is a huge help.

Although you can obviously arrive in a bit of a fluster to the emergency department, do try to get someone to follow with your glasses or your hearing aid if you have left them behind.

When patients are already distressed, they can be even more frightened if they cant see and/or hear clearly. If you dont usually speak or easily understand conversational English, try to bring a friend or family member who can translate. We can get an interpreter but its faster and reduces stress for you if you have someone to listen to the doctors and nurses and then speak to you in your language.

3. Come in if your health takes a dramatic turn

Not entirely sure whether you need to go to hospital or just the GP? The answer often lies in how quickly your condition changed.

The kind of people who should come in are people who were quite well yesterday and feel very unwell today. If you have sudden severe chest or abdominal pains, or any sudden dramatic, negative change in how you feel, make your way to the Emergency Department if no-one else is around to help.

What else needs immediate medical assistance? Any symptoms that are associated with heart attack or stroke.

People tend to know the symptoms of a stroke  things like face twisting, difficulty speaking and a loss of power in one arm or leg. These are time-critical conditions and the faster you get into us the better.

4. Hurt yourself? The emergency department might not be your best bet

Obviously, if its an injury stemming from a car accident or where you are losing a lot of blood, do go to the emergency department  but for minor wounds, sprains and breaks of your arms or legs, think about going to an injury unit instead.

If it is something like youve fallen over and damaged your wrist, knee, elbow, ankle or shoulder, you will be seen in the emergency department but the injury unit can see and treat you more quickly.

Each injury unit is linked to a hub emergency department so patients can be admitted there if needed. This allows people to get the service they need closer to home in a lot less time, while having access to exactly the same level of care they would receive in the ED. Emergency Departments always treat the sickest people first, so patients with less serious injuries tend to wait longer for treatment.

Find the injury unit closest to you at www.hse.ie/injuryunit

5. The flu generally doesnt warrant the emergency department

Have a serious dose of the flu? Hospital is actually not the best source of help

Mild or moderate flu-like viral illness is much more common in winter and we cant really help with that in hospital. HSE now has a number of resources like undertheweather.ie that provide information about common unexpected but not serious conditions, including self care and advice for pharmacist or GP services.

Obviously if you have collapsed as a result of it or are in a high-risk category (more of that below), do seek help from the emergency department but flu infections can put a lot of strain on hospitals.

If someone does come in with a flu-like illness, we have to isolate them to prevent infecting other people waiting treatment for other conditions. There is only so many people we can do this for, because of limitations of available clinical assessment areas. In practice, it means we lose the function of the space in which we isolate patients who may not be seriously ill, meaning that we have less space to assess patients who may be more urgently in need of treatment. These more urgent patients then wait longer for assessment and treatment.

6. If youre likely to be infectious, try to steer clear

If you have a loved one in hospital and come down with a respiratory illness, gastroenteritis or flu, do them (and other vulnerable patients) a favour and delay your visit.

Things like respiratory infections and gastroenteritis are highly contagious. Spread of these conditions can result from things like not washing your hands after using the toilet and leaving germs on the handle of the toilet door that infect others. Respiratory infections are spread by the infected person breathing out germs.

7. If youre sick, keep as hydrated as you can

If you are suffering from a tummy bug like gastroenteritis, do take the proper precautions at home if you can and avoid a visit to hospital (along with washing your hands properly to stop it spreading).

With gastroenteritis the main thing to do is rest, take loads of fluids and take something like Dioralyte if you can. With diarrhoea and vomiting, you are losing important salts and minerals (like potassium) that you would usually keep in your system, so theyre very important to replace. You may collapse if you lose too much so its essential to keep up with your fluid intake. Very occasionally, diarrhoea and vomiting means you cant drink enough to keep up with the amount of fluid you are losing. If you feel very thirsty, are passing very small amounts of very dark urine (clear/light yellow coloured urine is a very reassuring sign of not being seriously dehydrated) or are nearly fainting when standing up from lying or sitting, you probably need urgent assessment by a doctor (ED is fine if you are worried, but your GP will be also be able to assess and advise).

8. But if youre in a high-risk category do take extra care

Finally, take extra care if you are in a high-risk category, or have a loved one who is and gets quite sick over Winter:

The very elderly tolerate infections less well than the younger and physically stronger population. Very young babies can get a very high temperature and have difficulty letting people know how sick they are  dry nappies across the course of the day is an indicator of dehydration that may need treatment. So, if you do have an infectious condition and can go to your pharmacist or doctor for advice, please do if you can rather than coming straight into ED.

Just like in previous years, our Emergency Departments (EDs) expect to see more patients attending this winter. Many of these patients will have complicated illnesses and complex care-needs.

While this is likely to increase the waiting times, we can assure the public that all patients attending an ED will be seen and the sickest patients and those requiring urgent treatment will be prioritised. In the meantime, take a look at what you can do to keep common winter illnesses under control Common illnesses - HSE.ie
Stuff reports:

Public Service minister Chris Hipkins has apologised in the House to former finance minister Sir Bill English for dragging his family into an exchange over government contracts awarded to the husband of Foreign Affairs Minister Nanaia Mahuta. Hipkins on Wednesday afternoon interjected during Question Time with an apparent reference to English's brothers being provided government appointments. This came after ACT leader David Seymour questioned the Government on the contracts awarded to Mahuta's family. Let's talk about Bill English's family, shall we? Hipkins said, suggesting English's family members were treated differently because they were white.

Labour love to play the race card to defend themselves. But this has backfired on them, because the facts are so bad.

What Hipkins was referring to was the appointment of Mervyn English to a fixed term role in the Ministry of Health in 2011, to set up a Health Sector Forum.

Mervyn was a career public servant. He had spent six years as a general manager at the Electricity Commission before the Health role. After that role, he held senior roles in the State Services Commission and DOC.

His brother, Bill, was not a Minister of Health.

Labour did actually question the appointment at the time, with Grant robertson asking questions in Parliament.

The Minister Tony Ryall immediately asked the SSC to investigate, and they found everything was done properly.

Now compare this to the Mahuta contracts:

None of the Ormsbys seem to have had a background in the public sector and only gained contracts once Mahuta was a Minister

They were given consulting contracts, not an employment contract

Three of the four contracts were in portfolios that Mahuta was a Minister

Internal reviews to date have found proper processes were not followed

The Government has spent months resisting an inquiry

So Labour playing the race card and trying to smear the English family over the Mahuta saga is very disappointing.

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Shenandoah, IA (51601)

Today

Cloudy skies with a few snow showers this afternoon. High 24F. Winds NE at 10 to 20 mph. Chance of snow 30%..

Tonight

Watching a potential winter storm. Periods of snow along with gusty winds at times, especially this evening. Low 11F. Winds NNE at 20 to 30 mph. Chance of snow 100%. 5 to 8 inches of snow expected.
In 2023 several specialized consultants have pointed to the dire damage done to Cuba as a tourism product, so severe that the island is now bringing up the rear as a Caribbean destination in the post-pandemic era.

Jose Maria Cubillo, Professor of International Marketing and a branding expert at the Universidad CEU San Pablo, in Spain, spoke to DIARIO DE CUBA about these realities.

In your opinion, what is the main cause of the downturn in tourism in Cuba?

When such a situation occurs, in general, there is not a single factor. Rather, it is often due to the simultaneous concurrence, at a given time, of a set of factors that coalesce and lead to a situation of imbalance. Therefore, it is advisable not to carry out a simplistic analysis or look for a single reason.

Notwithstanding the above, what the data indicates is that Cuba's tourism model seems to be showing signs of fatigue. In Marketing we say that you always have to change something so that nothing changes. If you don't change anything in 20 years, you can't expect different results. It is important to evolve and, therefore, innovate.

Cuba is a great country with a natural, cultural, social and human appeal that is very attractive and exotic in Western culture; in particular, in European culture. This appeal forms the basis of the tourism product. This is a necessary but insufficient factor.

For people to keep going, it is important to have a diversified, well-thought-out and planned set of offerings. It is very important to have facilities and infrastructures that guarantee excellent service. Tourists have become very demanding, requiring high levels of service.

I don't think "fun in the sun" tourism is running out of steam. People are always going to be looking for this. What is generating the fatigue is that there is nothing else. If we look, for example, at the Canary Islands [Spain], we see that all the offerings there are already booked for Christmas, which is high season there.

To be competitive in the current global context, it is very important to feature complementary tourism offerings, with fun in the sun being just one part. It must be much richer.

The Cuban regime has alleged that US sanctions, which affect travel by Americans, benefit other Caribbean destinations, such as the Dominican Republic and Cancun. What role do the sanctions play in this scenario?

This aspect alone does not explain the current situation, since this is not something recent, but rather a situation with a long history, such that it can't account for the current situation.

There are no sanctions placed by Canada, but tourism from there does not seem to have rebounded to pre-pandemic levels...

This suggests that it is necessary to look for different reasons.

Something similar is the case with Europe, especially Spain, as Iberia now only has three weekly flights, and Iberojet canceled its operations in Havana and Santiago de Cuba... What is going on with Spain?

Spain and Cuba are sister countries with common roots and a culture that emanates from the same source. Therefore, we have a very intimate and natural relationship, and will continue to do so. However, it is true that it seems that in recent years there has been a kind of distancing between the two countries, an estrangement.

Before it was very common to talk and hear about Cuba, all the time, almost constantly. But in recent years there is less talk about it, it is less prominent, and that significantly influenced its brand memory and the tourist's purchase intentions.

Cuba as a brand has great power, with a set of attributes that make it unique, and certainly very special, but if you're not present in the consumer's mind in this case, the tourist's he will not consider you when making his decisions for his next vacation. In this regard we can state that the "Cuba brand" has lost visibility and prominence in Spain in recent years.

Various consultants say that the trend is changing and tourists are increasingly looking for experiences and urban tourism... How does this affect Cuba, in the midst of its serious economic crisis?

I don't think "fun in the sun" tourism is being exhausted. What is happening is that the way we see the world is changing. People's behavior is changing, their scales of values, their perceptions and, consequently, also what they demand from tourism.

Today, multi-experience tourism is increasingly sought after. Travellers don't want just a single experience on their trips, but rather a complete set of offerings in which they can enjoy a wide range of experiences on the same trip. This is where

Experiential Marketing comes to the fore, which does not consist of spending a lot of money, but rather being able to make the tourist think and feel differently.

Along these lines, it is necessary to be able to think and to design complete tourist packages featuring 360 experiences, allowing tourists to enjoy full and excellent experiences from the moment they arrive until they leave. Offering them he same old thing will no longer do.

Countries must modernize their offerings, facilities, and infrastructures; update their offerings so that they remain attractive; and, of course, see to quality as one of the natural cornerstones of tourism. The diamond must be polished.

Russian tourism to Cuba is up by more than 200%. Havana stresses this, but is this a solid solution?

In International Marketing we always say that markets must be diversified, and excessive dependence must be avoided. This is a basic rule. Relying on one market means taking a risk, as you are hitching your success to the economic health of the country or countries you depend on. Therefore, it is important to reduce dependence, diversify the markets from which you welcome tourists, and make sure that your "country brand" is strong in each of them.

In the long run, is there reputational damage?

Globally, there is a moment of geopolitical tension, with two large platforms that are once again generating friction and colliding with each other. Russia, today, in the global context, has saddled itself with a negative image and a reputation for problems after having invaded a peaceful neighboring country. This has consequences for Russia's reputation and its business with other countries. Thus, if your main ally, or one of your main allies, is Russia, "cobranding" with this country could have negative fallout for your own reputation if you are not able to clearly distance yourself from it.

From the specific point of view of tourism, if the quality of the tourism services is unsatisfactory, if the service is not excellent, and this situation generates bad customer experiences, and these are widespread, it is very likely that, in the long run, if the problem is not corrected, it will end up doing reputational damage to the country.

There are other dictatorships that have been successful in terms of tourism. Is this factor a permanent problem?

Spain was able to develop a very strong and powerful tourism industry, which came about and was promoted in an undemocratic institutional framework, although it is true that the real expansion and development of tourism came with democracy and an increase in the country's institutional quality.

It is more contingent on institutional quality and the quality of public management, in this case, than to any other issue. Institutional quality enhances economic activity and, therefore, business and tourism activity. It is essential that there be strong management of tourism activity; that it be adequate, and that there be no brakes, no obstacles to it beyond those strictly necessary.

It is important to keep in mind that Cuba must modernize in every way. Cuba must undertake a very important innovation process to become a competitive tourism destination and generate a new tourist cycle in the country. And it must place the quality of tourist services and the customer experience at the center of this process.

Today the competitive advantage does not only come from the fact that a territory has certain tourism assets. It is much more complex. In this process the country as a brand, its set of attributes, and how communication is managed, plays a decisive role.

Today countries cannot compete on the basis of just a single attribute. The characteristic that sets you apart, that makes you different, must be complemented by a set of expected and necessary traits, which must be in balance. And, from there, the characteristic that makes you unique shines through.
As CPS tries to shake off pandemic, school attendance is on the rise
An immigrant family crosses to the American side of the Rio Grande on December 19, in Eagle Pass, Texas. A major surge of migrants crossing the U.S.-Mexico border to seek political asylum has overwhelmed U.S. border authorities in recent weeks.
Wiser Wealth Management Inc cut its holdings in iShares National Muni Bond ETF (NYSEARCA:MUB  Free Report) by 1.9% during the 3rd quarter, Holdings Channel.com reports. The fund owned 6,797 shares of the exchange traded funds stock after selling 134 shares during the quarter. iShares National Muni Bond ETF accounts for about 0.3% of Wiser Wealth Management Incs portfolio, making the stock its 26th biggest position. Wiser Wealth Management Incs holdings in iShares National Muni Bond ETF were worth $697,000 as of its most recent SEC filing.

Several other hedge funds and other institutional investors have also recently bought and sold shares of MUB. Cambridge Investment Research Advisors Inc. lifted its holdings in iShares National Muni Bond ETF by 3.9% in the 2nd quarter. Cambridge Investment Research Advisors Inc. now owns 235,547 shares of the exchange traded funds stock worth $25,140,000 after purchasing an additional 8,769 shares during the last quarter. Old North State Trust LLC acquired a new stake in iShares National Muni Bond ETF in the 1st quarter worth approximately $43,000. Clearbridge Investments LLC lifted its holdings in iShares National Muni Bond ETF by 2.8% in the 1st quarter. Clearbridge Investments LLC now owns 41,917 shares of the exchange traded funds stock worth $4,516,000 after purchasing an additional 1,123 shares during the last quarter. My Legacy Advisors LLC lifted its holdings in iShares National Muni Bond ETF by 4.1% in the 2nd quarter. My Legacy Advisors LLC now owns 33,138 shares of the exchange traded funds stock worth $3,546,000 after purchasing an additional 1,296 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Leavell Investment Management Inc. acquired a new stake in iShares National Muni Bond ETF in the 2nd quarter worth approximately $285,000.

Get iShares National Muni Bond ETF alerts:

iShares National Muni Bond ETF Stock Down 0.3 %

MUB traded down $0.31 on Thursday, hitting $108.46. The company had a trading volume of 2,395,451 shares, compared to its average volume of 3,554,779. iShares National Muni Bond ETF has a 1-year low of $100.78 and a 1-year high of $108.82. The companys fifty day moving average price is $105.06 and its 200 day moving average price is $105.16.

About iShares National Muni Bond ETF

iShares National AMT-Free Muni Bond ETF (the Fund), formerly iShares S&P National AMT-Free Municipal Bond Fund, is an exchange-traded fund (ETF). The Fund seeks investment results that correspond generally to the price and yield performance of the S&P National AMT-Free Municipal Bond Index (the Index).

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Kendallville, IN (46755)

Today

Cloudy. A few flurries or snow showers possible. Temps nearly steady in the low to mid 30s. Winds WSW at 10 to 20 mph..

Tonight

Watching a potential winter storm. Cloudy skies. Low 26F. SSW winds shifting to ESE at 10 to 20 mph.
Angola, IN (46703)

Today

Cloudy skies. A few flurries or snow showers possible. Temps nearly steady in the low to mid 30s. Winds WSW at 10 to 20 mph..

Tonight

Watching a potential winter storm. Cloudy. Low 26F. SW winds shifting to ESE at 10 to 15 mph.
Bahraich, Dec 28 (PTI) Three children of a family were killed and two sustained injuries when a mud wall collapsed on them here on Thursday, police said.

The children were playing when the incident took place in the afternoon in Laxmanpur village, they said.

Also Read | PM Narendra Modi To Roll Out Development Projects Worth Rs 11,100 Crore in Ayodhya on December 30.

Among the deceased are two brothers and their cousin, police said.

When the villagers cleared the debris and took out the children, brothers Mukhtar (14) and Aftar Ali (7), and their cousin Nasruddin (10) were dead, police said.

Also Read | Delhi To Soon Notify Women-Friendly Amendments to Medical Termination of Pregnancy Act After Two Years of Delay.

Two others Imamuddin (2) and Merajuddin (6) were seriously injured and have been admitted to a hospital, they said.

According to the police, the bodies have been handed over to the relatives.

(This is an unedited and auto-generated story from Syndicated News feed, LatestLY Staff may not have modified or edited the content body)
Patna (Bihar) [India], December 28 (ANI): Putting to rest speculations of Nitish Kumar's possible return to the saffron fold, Union Minister Giriraj Singh on Thursday said all doors to the BJP-led National Democratic Alliance (NDA) are closed for the Bihar chief minister.

The Union Minister claimed that the Janata Dal (United), which is the principal partner in the ruling coalition of Bihar, will soon cease to exist as Nitish has lost social support.

Also Read | India Has Asked G20 Nations To Contribute to G20 Satellite Through Payloads and Instruments, Says ISRO Chief S Somnath.

Invoking the major controversy around the Bihar CM's much-derided remarks on birth control on the floor of the Assembly during the Winter Session, Singh said a leader in his mental state should resign forthwith from the post of chief minister.

"All doors for Nitish Kumar's return to the NDA are closed. The person who makes such derogatory remarks about women in the Assembly should step down from the post of chief minister immediately. Given his current mental condition, he is not fit to hold the post," Singh told ANI on Thursday.

Also Read | Surajit Datta Dies: BJP Tripura MLA Passes Away After Prolonged Illness at 69.

Nitish walked out of the 'Mahagathbandhan' coalition in 2017 to partner with the NDA.

However, in August, last year, he broke ties with the BJP a second time, resigning as Bihar CM just. He formed a new government after joining hands with the RJD and returned as chief minister.

RJD leader Tejashwi Yadav took oath as his deputy.

Weighing in the national executive meeting of JD(U), which is currently underway in the national capital, the Union Minister claimed Bihar would soon get a new CM from the JD(U)'s ally, RJD.

"Nitish Kumar-ji's days as the CM of Bihar are numbered. He would only remain in the post for a few more days. Lalu Yadav has created a 'chakravyu' (trap) for him. The first step in this 'chakravyu' was making Awadh Bihar the Speaker of the Bihar Assembly. Nitish Kumar will become the former CM very soon. It is decided that Nitish Kumar will not remain the CM anymore. In the next few days, Bihar is going to get a CM from the RJD," Singh said.

Earlier, the Janata Dal (United) convened meetings of its national executive meeting and national council meeting in Delhi on Friday.

The meetings were convened by party president Lalan Singh amidst speculation that he could step down to make way for Nitish Kumar the Bihar Chief Minister to once again take over the reins of the party.

Responding to the reports, JD(U) leader KC Tyagi said, "I reject all such rumours. The party has convened two-day meetings. There is a meeting of party office bearers in the office today at 4 pm. There will be a national executive meeting at Vithal Bhai Patel House tomorrow at 11 am, and in the second half national council meeting is scheduled. Nitish Kumar is reaching Delhi to participate in this meeting."

He said the decisions to be taken in the matter will be divulged later.

Earlier in the day, before leaving for the Capital, the Bihar CM said Friday's meeting is part of the party's tradition and takes place once a year.

"This is a normal meeting; it takes place once a year. There's nothing special in it" the Bihar CM said.

Bihar Deputy Chief Minister and RJD leader Tejashwi Yadav, too, rubbished rumours about the resignation of JD(U) president Lalan Singh.

"These are all useless talks...Every party holds its national executive meeting. We also held our party's national executive meeting in Delhi," he said. (ANI)

(This is an unedited and auto-generated story from Syndicated News feed, LatestLY Staff may not have modified or edited the content body)
Gurugram, Dec 28 (PTI) A cab driver was allegedly murdered by running car over him several times over an argument with his "companions" while drinking alcohol on Wednesday night here, said police.

Police handed over the body to his kin after the postmortem on Thursday and an FIR has been registered at the Badshahpur police station. Four suspects have been apprehended, they added.

Also Read | Mumbai Shocker: Friend Sprays Sanitizer, Lights Match Stick on 16-Year-Old Boy's Face, Victim Suffers First-Degree Burns in Andheri.

According to the police, the incident took place near the Darbaripur village at around 9 pm. Police got information that a young man's body was lying on the Darbaripur road.

The police took the body in custody, and later the deceased was identified as 32-year-old Mithun, a resident of Alwar in Rajasthan, they said.

Also Read | Lok Sabha Elections 2024: Home Minister Amit Shah Sets Target To Win 10 Seats in Telangana Ahead of General Polls.

"Preliminary investigation revealed that Mithun worked as a cab driver. During interrogation, it was revealed that he was seen there in the evening with some of his companions. Many of them were drinking alcohol.

During this, there was an altercation between them and Mithun was hit by a car. After hitting him once, the car ran over him again, after which the accused fled from the spot," said the investigating officer.

Police informed the family of the deceased and they came to Gurugram on Thursday. Police handed over the body after the postmortem.

The family members accused the the deceased's friends of his murder, said police.

"An FIR for murder has been registered and we apprehended all four suspects. We are questioning the accused," said Siddhant Jain, DCP South.

(This is an unedited and auto-generated story from Syndicated News feed, LatestLY Staff may not have modified or edited the content body)
Moradabad (Uttar Pradesh) [India], December 28 (ANI): A man was found hanging dead from a tree and the body of his wife on the ground in a sugarcane field in Uttar Pradesh's Moradabad district, police said on Thursday.

According to officials, the couple was found dead in Malliwala village under the limits of Kanth police station.

Also Read | Surajit Datta Dies: Tripura BJP MLA Passes Away After Prolonged Illness At 70.

Police received information about two dead bodies in a field in Malliwala village on Wednesday evening.

Following information, a team of officials from Kanth police station reached the spot and recovered the bodies.

Also Read | Know Your Army Festival in Uttar Pradesh: Lucknow To Host Know Your Army Event at Surya Khel Parisar From January 5 to 7.

Moradabad Superintendent of Police (Rural) Sandeep Kumar Meena said, "There were no injury marks on the bodies. They have been sent for post-mortem examination."

"A case has been registered, and we are further looking into the incident," SP Meena added.

More details are awaited. (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), December 28 (ANI): Delhi University's Ramanujan College has issued an order making a certificate-cum-refresher course on Bhagavad Gita mandatory for its teaching and non-teaching staff. This has left a section of teachers miffed, who said this could lead to the propagation of "sectarian beliefs".

The 20-day course is scheduled to run till January 9, both online and offline, from 4.30 pm to 6.30 pm.

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In an email to the teaching staff, college principal SP Aggarwal wrote: "This course is in line with the setting up of the Indian Knowledge System Centre at the college. In view of this, it is our responsibility to first sensitise ourselves through such programmes."

It further said that the college will hold such programmes not only for Bhagavad Gita but also for the Vedas, which are part of the Indian Knowledge System.

Also Read | Surajit Datta Dies: Tripura BJP MLA Passes Away After Prolonged Illness At 70.

Meanwhile, Teachers' outfit Democratic Teachers' Front (DTF) has demanded the withdrawal of the mandatory registration.

In a statement, the DTF said Ramanujan principal SP Agarwal has "abused the powers vested in him to dictate" to all teachers and non-teaching staff to compulsorily register for and attend a refresher certificate course on Bhagavad Gita.

"Illegally coercing teachers and non-teaching staff to remain engaged till 6.30 pm beyond official duties and the added burden of conducting the ongoing semester examinations of students is unacceptable," it 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)
Kochi, Dec 28 (PTI) The Kerala police have solved a mystery surrounding the death of a 37-year-old woman in nearby Chottanikkara with the arrest of her husband, who allegedly strangled her.

According to the police, the woman, Shaari, was brought to a private hospital in Chottanikkara by her husband Shaiju, 37, on December 25, claiming that she had collapsed.

Also Read | Surajit Datta Dies: Tripura BJP MLA Passes Away After Prolonged Illness At 70.

The attending doctor, upon examining Shaari, grew suspicious of Shaiju's account and promptly alerted the police after confirming her death, police said.

In the initial stages of the investigation, Shaiju informed the police that Shaari had attempted to hang herself in their bedroom.

Also Read | Know Your Army Festival in Uttar Pradesh: Lucknow To Host Know Your Army Event at Surya Khel Parisar From January 5 to 7.

Based on Shaiju's statement, the police examined the scene in detail.

Subsequently, Shaiju underwent further interrogation, during which he allegedly confessed to killing Shaari due to suspicions of her having an affair with someone else, police said.

They said he allegedly strangled her using a shawl after making her nearly unconscious by forcing her to drink alcohol.

The accused then allegedly attempted to kill her by hanging inside their room.

Eventually, Shaari was taken to the hospital after he cut the shawl he had used in the alleged attempt, the police added.

(This is an unedited and auto-generated story from Syndicated News feed, LatestLY Staff may not have modified or edited the content body)
FORT NOVOSELIt is said that students are often just one encouraging instructor away from being a success story.

For many Chinook pilots over the past 20 years, that instructor was Department of the Army Civilian Charles Mineo, a retired chief warrant officer 4 who served during Desert Storm.

Upon his recent flight in the Chinook marking his 10,000th incident-free flying hour, the well-known instructor pilot at Knox Army Heliport, who is often described as unorthodox in his methods, stepped away from the flight line after 19 years of heartfelt teaching and mentoring.

Among the crowd watching as Mineos aircraft landed that final time at Knox Army Heliport and steered the helicopter under the ceremonial arc of water spraying from two fire trucks Dec. 8, was Capt. Andrew Givens, commander of Company B, 1st Battalion, 223d Aviation Regiment, a former student of Mineos.

Hes extremely dedicated to his profession. His life is training people how to fly and working with different personalities. He takes strangers and makes them family, Givens said.

During his own training lessons with Mineo a few years ago, Givens recalled he felt he was being pushed to the point of frustration, and then he would have a breakthrough moment where he sincerely appreciated what he learned.

He puts people in hard situations because he knows they can handle it and then theyll be better for it. I dont think I would have learned as much from somebody that wouldnt have put me through those uncomfortable situations that humbled me and forced me to think outside the box. Guys like Chuck are actually making a difference in these students lives to get them to learn and grow as aviators, he said. Its sad to see him go.

Givens also recalled Mineo going above and beyond in taking care of Soldiers. When Givens got married on a holiday weekend during the goggle phase of his tactics training back in 2018, Mineo presented him with a card and monetary gift so he could to take his wife someplace nice.

He puts everything he has into his students, said Givens, who recalled a quote from the retirement ceremony: Love, kindness and patience, the more you give, the more you get. Thats really how he approaches training as well. He does everything he can to make you feel like one of his. He has a very deep connection with all of his students, and a very lasting effect on people, he said.

Looking back on 45 years of combined federal service, Mineo said he saw early in his military career the impact an instructor can have, while serving as an enlisted survival instructor in the U.S. Air Force.

Two Air Force pilots had gotten into clouds during a routine training flight in Texas, were inverted, and had to eject from the aircraft. Mineo, who was in Washington at the time, got a phone call from one of them.

I heard your voice while I was coming down in the parachute, one pilot said, recalling complete sentences from the training he received from Mineo.

That inspired me, Mineo said. That fired me up  Im not wasting my words, because when its needed  and if only one guy needed that, it worked. Survival for me was the basis of forming my military mind, I would say, and my behavioral interactions with people.

Long before that, he had already settled on his approach to working with people.

All my mentors have always encouraged me, he said, reflecting back on how their family doctor encouraged him when he studied premed in college for a few years.

You have a decision to make at every juncture, at every moment, like right now  do we encourage or do we discourage? We like to think we encourage, but it all depends on what youre protecting. If youve got to protect something, maybe you discourage somebody else.

In training Chinook aviators, sometimes all it takes is finding which screw needs to be turned, he said.

It has everything to do with a keen instructor who creates a climate where the student takes ownership of the lesson material.

Mineo recalled a time as an instructor pilot when he was briefed that a particular student he was to fly with could not do autorotation maneuvers. The student was about to get this third Unsatisfactory. Mineo pulled the throttle back, simulated engine failure in the OH-58 A/C Kiowa, and pretended not to be very good at the maneuver himself, which motivated the previously-unsuccessful student.

He greased that sucker on. That young man did autos that were A maneuvers all day long, Mineo said. I learned a big lesson about myself that day. When my student feels a shared responsibility in the outcome, you get success. I laid his grade folder on his platoon leaders desk and said, This guys an A student.

People call me a little unorthodox with some things, and I hate that word, but its kind of a Montessori thing, we all have a way that we have to learn, he said.

What it boils down to is Mineo believes in people.

When you believe in people it is a contagious and self-perpetuating condition. Its got to be that way, he said.

Mineo said the leaders focus should be on their replacement.

When I inbrief with my new guys and do my mentoring with them, I tell them youve got to realize youre building credential while youre doing this, but its not about you. Its about the credential youre aiding your understudy to build. Youre mentoring that person to create their own credential and therefore they get confidence in doing what theyre doing, he said.

He said he decided to live vicariously through the success of his students.

I want to see them succeed. When my students have a good day, I have a grand day. I mean, Im on top of the clouds. When my students have a bad day, its a bad day for me. Its not a day for me to lash out, its a day for me to go, what card did I not pull out of my sleeve to make this happen and how can I made that person better, he said.

He operates on the premise that the student can do no wrong.

I tell my wife the same thing, and when I complain about something I need you to remind me of that. Shes somebodys daughter, shes somebodys mother, shes somebodys aunt. Everybody I fly with is the same thing, he said. The only thing you can do is not comply with what I ask you to do. Thats not good. But in the cockpit if you make a mistake its because I allowed you to do it.

It sets the tone in the cockpit for the student to have the freedom to express themselves, he added.

Reflecting back on his active duty career, Mineo said the reason he initially joined the Army, after 8 years in the Air Force, was the influence of some Huey pilots from the 112th Aviation out of Bangor, Maine. They had helped provide live hoist recovery training opportunities for his survival training program, and one day they gave him an orientation flight and told him they needed resourceful people like him in the Army.

When someone has a can-do attitude I gravitate toward that and Im enamored with that, he said. They encouraged me with an incentive flight, and I made a decision that changed my life. I initially wanted to be an F-15 pilot for the Air Force, but I would have been too old for that. When your plan fails, its best to go with God. That seems to work pretty well for me. But its Gods plan.

That plan would place him on a path to keep him coming back to the Home of Army Aviation.

In the mid-1980s he trained to become a warrant officer aviator at then-Fort Rucker to fly the UH-1H Huey, and after graduating he was assigned to 5-158th Aviation Regiment, 12th Aviation Brigade, V Corps.

After deploying during in support of Task Force Warrior during Desert Shield/Desert Storm in 1990-1991, he would return to Germany, and soon was on his way back to Fort Rucker in the early 1990s to serve as a UH-1H Instructor pilot at 1-212th Aviation Regiment.

A few years later he earned his bachelors degree and completed the CH-47D transition. He served in South Korea and returned to Fort Rucker to serve as an OH58 A/C IP and standardizations officer for 1-212th Aviation. He returned for a second tour in Korea where he retired from active duty as a chief warrant officer four after 26 years.

Among his awards were the Legion of Merit, Meritorious Service Medals, Air Medal, and Air Force Commendation Medal. He is also qualified in the TH-55.

Mineo returned to Fort Rucker to focus on flight school students as a DA civilian instructor pilot at Fort Novosel in 2004 and continued until December 2023, when he finally decided he would call it quits when he reached his 10,000th flying hour.

That day was December 8. His co-pilot was his son, Lt. Robert Mineo, a former Army aviator who served 8 years in the Army and currently serves in the U.S. Coast Guard at the Aviation Training Center in Mobile, and pilots the MH-65 Dolphin helicopter.

Chuck recalled his son saying to him, Well, you know dad, if you dont have 10,000 hours of doing something youre not a master. Thats why were here right now, he said.

When Robert came through flight school, Chuck was able to be his IP for his first flight in the Chinook back in 2007. Traditionally on the students first demonstration flight, called the nickel ride, the student presents a nickel with his birth year on it to pay for the ride.

It was his give-him-his-nickel-back ride today, Chuck said, with a smile.

Its just an incredible opportunity to fly with your dad, Robert said. The command here was fantastic about finding a way we could make it work.

Its always been nice to have a lifeline back to Army aviation. Coming back here feels like home, so many familiar faces, and so many people Ive flown with that hes flown with over the years. Theyve been able to tell me the fun stories about him. Everybody has a good Chuck story, and its awesome.

Chuck noted, I have guys here who were my crew chiefs in Germany who babysat Rob.

Being in the cockpit with his son again for the final flight felt easy, Chuck said.

Hes always been one who listens and articulates well. Its a reminder that we train the trainer, he said.

Robert said the Army helped mold him as a leader.

Theres no camaraderie like youll find in the Army, Robert said. The Army has a cool way of putting you in some more austere training environments and conditions that create I think just a deeper seeded bond. I love not just the air assault capability of the Chinook, but its a workhorse. Your maintainers, flight engineers and crew chiefs are some of the hardest working people.

The Armys leadership style of raising you as a young second lieutenant is always pairing you up with an NCO to train you because you know some things but you really dont know a lot of things, Robert said. Just learning people, learning how to lead  A lot of people will work as hard for you as you work for them.

Growing up having an active-duty Army aviator dad, Robert said he remembered being at Fort Rucker as a child and being upset that he couldnt take the TH-55 home with him after attending family day at the airfield. While they were in Germany, he saw the pictures of his dad flying near the Leaning Tower of Pisa and flying through the Alps. Chuck would take Rob into the simulator on the weekend, and at 7 years old Rob couldnt reach the pedals but he could fly an instrument approach.

Roberts last duty assignment in the Army, he served as a Chinook company commander with 1st Infantry Division in Afghanistan in 2015-2016.

I have watched the metamorphosis of the little boy becoming a man and then becoming a battle experienced man, and then watching the confidence changes. Those were all going through my head today, Chuck said.

Rob said it was great to watch his dad in his element again.

He is an Army Aviation legend.
Baramulla (Jammu and Kashmir) [India], December 28 (ANI): A person was arrested and weapons and ammunition were recovered from him after the Indian Army and the Jammu and Kashmir Police set up a Joint Mobile Vehicle Check Post (MVCP), the Chinar Corps informed on Thursday.

"OP NAUPUR, #Baramulla Based on specific intelligence inputs, a Joint Mobile Vehicle Check Post (MVCP) was established on 27 Dec 23 by #IndianArmy & @JmuKmrPolice at Naupur, Baramulla. One suspected individual has been apprehended along with recovery of Weapon & ammunition. Joint Investigation with Jammu & Kashmir Police in progress," the Chinar Corps posted from its official X handle on Thursday.

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Meanwhile, an overground worker (OGW) associated with the Pakistan-based terror group Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) was arrested from the Shrakwara area in Jammu and Kashmir's Baramullla.

Imran Ahmed Ganaie, resident of Nowpora Wagoora, Kreeri was apprehended during checking at the Mobile Vehicle Check Post (MVCP) established by 52 Rashtriya Rifles at Shrakwara, near a bus stand, officials said on Wednesday.

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During checking, the overground worker, who was coming from Nowpora towards Shrakwara, attempted to flee the spot but was apprehended tactfully by the security forces, they said.

"9mm Chinese pistol - 01, magazine pistol - 01, pistol rounds - 09, and a mobile phone were recovered. A case under relevant sections was registered at Kreeri police station and an investigation is underway," an official said.

Earlier, on Wednesday, Defence Minister Rajnath Singh chaired a high-level meeting to take stock of the situation in the wake of the terror attack that left four Army jawans dead last week at Raj Bhawan in Jammu.

The meeting was attended by Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha, the Army Chief, the Director General of J-K, senior officials of intelligence agencies and other agencies concerned.

The Raksha Mantri also visited the border areas of Jammu and Kashmir and took stock of the security situation along the Line of Control (LoC) on Wednesday and asked the troops to remain extra vigilant so that no untoward incident occurs in the future. (ANI)

(This is an unedited and auto-generated story from Syndicated News feed, LatestLY Staff may not have modified or edited the content body)
Bengaluru (Karnataka) [India], December 28 (ANI): Karnataka Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) president BY Vijayendra on Thursday held a meeting with senior leaders of the party in Bengaluru ahead of the 2024 Lok Sabha polls.

Former Chief Ministers BS Yeddyurappa and Basavaraj Bommai, and senior leaders including KS Eshwarappa and Ashwath Narayan attended the meeting.

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According to party sources, the BJP leaders held a discussion outlining the essential tasks ahead of the 2024 Lok Sabha polls. It was a strategic session to unite the BJP's top brass to strategize on the political road ahead, they pointed out.

The BJP suffered a major electoral defeat this year in the Karnataka assembly elections, thereby losing the only state the party ruled in south India. The Congress bagged 135 out of 224 seats in the state legislative assembly with a 43.2 per cent vote share. The BJP was reduced to 66 seats with a vote share of 36.3 per cent.

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The BJP was, however, quick to tie up with the Janata Dal (Secular) (JDS) for the 2024 Lok Sabha elections to take advantage of the regional party's Vokkaliga vote bank. The JDS which had traditionally played the role of a 'king-maker' in Karnataka assembly polls, did not factor much in the state elections this year owing to the Congress' stellar performance.

In 2019, the BJP won 25 of the 28 Lok Sabha seats. The JD(S) and the Congress who were allies back then won one seat each. (ANI)

(This is an unedited and auto-generated story from Syndicated News feed, LatestLY Staff may not have modified or edited the content body)
By Rajnish Singh

New Delhi [India], December 28 (ANI): The United Liberation Front of Asom's (ULFA) pro-talks faction is likely to sign a peace agreement with the Centre and the Assam government on Friday.

Also Read | Top Subsidiaries of Property Giant Signa File for Bankruptcy.

A 30-member delegation of the ULFA's pro-talks faction arrived in Delhi on Tuesday, ahead of expected talks for a peace agreement. The delegation includes 16 ULFA members and 14 from civil society.

As per sources, the peace agreement is likely to be signed by Friday afternoon.

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Speaking to ANI Anup Chetia, the organisation's general secretary, said the delegation of 30 members, comprising of ULFA and civil society members, arrived in the national capital on December 26 and the signing of the agreement with the Union Government and Assam Government is scheduled for tomorrow evening.

The separatist ULFA was formed in April 1979 in the aftermath of an agitation against undocumented immigrants from Bangladesh (erstwhile East Pakistan). It split into two groups in February 2011 with the Arabinda Rajkhowa-led faction giving up violence and agreeing to unconditional talks with the government. Paresh Baruah, who leads the other rebranded ULFA-Independent faction, is against the talks.

The pro-talks faction has sought constitutional and political reforms for the protection of the identity and resources of Assam's indigenous people including their right to land. The Union government in April sent it a draft agreement. An earlier round of talks between the two sides was held in Delhi in August.

A series of talks with officials concerned in the Central government has taken place since the delegation has arrived in Delhi before the signing of peace pact.

The Union government has signed peace deals with rebel Bodo, Dimasa, Karbi, and Adivasi outfits in Assam over the last three years. The banned ULFA-Independent would be the only major insurgent outfit in the state once the deal with the ULFA pro-talks faction is inked. (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, Dec 28 (PTI) Veteran industrialist and former Tata Group Chairman Ratan Tata is looking to sell all 77,900 shares of Brainbees Solutions Ltd, which owns omnichannel baby and mother-care product platform FirstCry, in the upcoming IPO.

Tata became an investor in the company in 2016 by infusing Rs 66 lakh initially. He was allotted preference shares of the company.

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According to the draft red herring prospectus (DRHP) filed on Thursday, Tata is offering to sell his entire 77,900 shares, amounting to a 0.02 per cent stake, of FirstCry.

The Pune-based company's proposed Initial Public Offering (IPO) comprises a fresh issue of equity shares aggregating up to Rs 1,816 crore and an Offer For Sale (OFS) of up to 5.44 crore equity shares by existing shareholders, as per the draft papers.

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As a part of the OFS, SVF Frog, a Cayman Islands-registered entity of Softbank, will sell 2.03 crore equity shares of Brainbees Solutions Ltd, and automaker Mahindra & Mahindra (M&M) will offload 28.06 lakh shares of the company.

Apart from Softbank and M&M, other selling shares in the OFS are PI Opportunities Fund, TPG, NewQuest Asia Investments, Apricot Investments, Valiant Mauritius, TIMF Holdings, Think India Opportunities Fund and Schroders Capital.

(This is an unedited and auto-generated story from Syndicated News feed, LatestLY Staff may not have modified or edited the content body)
Chennai, Dec 28 (PTI) Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M K Stalin on Thursday announced full state honours for DMDK founder-leader Vijayakanth's funeral.

In his condolence message, Stalin expressed shock and grief over Vijayakanth's death and hailed him as an achiever; both as an actor and as a leader in public life.

Also Read | Surajit Datta Dies: Tripura BJP MLA Passes Away After Prolonged Illness At 70.

As a mark of homage, the government will accord full state honours for Vijayakanth's funeral, Stalin announced.

The DMDK founder's death is a huge loss for Tamil Nadu and the world of cinema, the Chief Minister said and conveyed his condolences to the bereaved family members and party workers.

Also Read | Know Your Army Festival in Uttar Pradesh: Lucknow To Host Know Your Army Event at Surya Khel Parisar From January 5 to 7.

(This is an unedited and auto-generated story from Syndicated News feed, LatestLY Staff may not have modified or edited the content body)
Agartala, December 28: Tripura BJP MLA Surajit Datta passed away at a Kolkata hospital on Wednesday night after a prolonged illness, according to officials. Dutta (70) is survived by wife and daughter. The Ramnagar MLA, who had been suffering from multiple diseases, was admitted to an Agartala hospital on Tuesday due to breathlessness.

He was then transferred to Kolkata for better treatment, but died during the process. Tripura Chief Minister Manik Saha expressed his sorrow in a Facebook post, saying, "I am saddened and pained by the death of senior politician and sitting BJP MLA Surajit Dutta during treatment in a hospital outside the state." Bangladeshi Woman Sent to Tripura Jail After Illegally Entering India With Lover.

Saha added, "His death is an irreplaceable loss for the state. May his soul rest in eternal peace. My deepest sympathies go out to the grieving family. Om Shanti." As a sign of respect, the Tripura government announced a one-day state mourning on Thursday. Dutta first contested the Ramnagar Assembly seat in 1988 and won, becoming a minister in the Sudhir Ranjan Majumder-led Congress-TUJS government. Tripura Shocker: Woman Dies by Suicide After Poisoning Two Kids in Khowai District, Probe On.

Known for his strong opposition to the Left, he served as the state president of the Congress before switching to the Trinamool Congress and then the BJP just before the 2018 Assembly elections. With Dutta's passing, the BJP's representation in the 60-member Assembly has decreased to 32.
Chennai, Dec 28 (PTI) DMDK founder-leader and popular yesteryear Tamil actor Vijayakanth who sowed the seeds of hope among his fans, admirers and the people on the possibility of a real alternative to the Dravidian majors, the DMK and AIADMK died here on Thursday following illness.

He was 71.

Also Read | Know Your Army Festival in Uttar Pradesh: Lucknow To Host Know Your Army Event at Surya Khel Parisar From January 5 to 7.

Praised as 'Karuppu MGR' (black MGR) by his fans for his generosity, Vijayakanth has been ill and kept a low-profile for the past 4-5 years and his wife Premalatha formally took over the reins of the DMDK on December 14 and she was declared the general secretary at a party meet here.

MIOT International hospital said in a press release: "Captain Vijayakanth was on ventilatory support following his admission for pneumonia. Despite the best efforts of the medical staff he passed away in the morning on 28th December 2023."

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Vijayakanth allied with the AIADMK in the 2011 Assembly elections and the Jayalalithaa-led bloc won the polls and the DMDK founder went on to become the Leader of the Opposition.

His verbal duel with Jayalalithaa in the Assembly took the state by storm and he appeared all set to take on the powers-that-be and break down the hegemony of the Dravidian parties, that have held sway for over half a century in Tamil Nadu's political landscape.

While the party statement had said that Vijayakanth had tested positive for coronavirus and was under ventilator, the hospital bulletin said he battled pneumonia. Hospital sources said the party issued that statement even before the results for the second round of samples were available.

(This is an unedited and auto-generated story from Syndicated News feed, LatestLY Staff may not have modified or edited the content body)
Bengaluru, Dec 28 (PTI) Seeking guidance and support of senior leaders in taking the party forward, Karnataka BJP President B Y Vijayendra on Thursday said there is a need to work hard unitedly to achieve victory in all the upcoming elections in the state.

He was speaking at a special meeting of senior state BJP leaders here. It was first such meeting with senior leaders, ever since Vijayendra took over as President last month.

Also Read | Madhya Pradesh Road Accident: PM Narendra Modi Expresses Grief Over Loss of Lives in Guna; CM Mohan Yadav Meets Victims at Hospital (Watch Video).

The meet assumes significance as it comes amid differences or disgruntlement in the party following the appointment of Vijayendra as the President and R Ashoka as the legislature party leader.

"The guidance of elders is essential to achieve unprecedented victory in all elections including Lok Sabha. So, everyone's cooperation and guidance is needed," Vijayendra said.

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He urged all the senior leaders who participated in the meeting to offer guidance, advice and instructions for the future of the party and to strengthen it.

Vijayendra's father and former Chief Minister B S Yeddyurappa, who is also the BJP Parliamentary Board Member, former CMs Basavaraj Bommai and D V Sadananda Gowda, Leader of the Opposition in the Legislative Assembly R Ashoka, Leader of the Opposition in the Legislative Council Kota Shrinivas Poojari, and other important senior leaders attended the meeting.

Acknowledging the contribution of all the senior leaders, Vijayendra said, "With the guidance of all the elders and the cooperation of the youth, let us aim for the upcoming Lok Sabha elections, and also the upcoming Zilla Panchayat, Taluk Panchayat and Legislative Council elections, the BJP has to achieve an unprecedented victory."

According to party sources, at the meeting, leaders discussed anti party activities by some leaders, especially senior party MLA Basanagouda Patil Yatnal, who has been publicly making statements against the party and its state leadership.

Leaders also discussed bringing Yatnal's comments and activities to the notice of the party high command, so that a stern warning is issued to him.

Yatnal had recently alleged that funds to the tune of Rs 40,000 crore was misappropriated at the time of Covid-19, during the previous BJP regime, under the leadership of then Chief Minister B S Yediyurappa.

Reacting to a question on this statement, state BJP General Secretary P Rajeev on Wednesday had told reporters that the party has taken note of certain recent developments, and the central leadership would take appropriate decisions on the matter.

Yatnal, a former union minister and a known bete noire of Yediyurappa has been publicly making allegations against the veteran leader and Vijayendra for some time now. He had even openly criticised the party's decision to appoint Vijayendra as its state president.

Sources said, at the meeting today, some leaders also raised questions about senior leaders and core committee not being consulted before appointing office bearers to state unit of BJP, to which Vijayendra gave some clarification and assured to take everyone into confidence while making further appointments, like district unit chiefs among others.

Briefing media today, Rajeev said the leaders of the state and the Centre are closely observing all the developments and will take appropriate decisions on all issues at appropriate time.

A strategy has been formulated to win 28 Lok Sabha constituencies in the state together, by taking all seniors into confidence, he noted. "All the former Chief Ministers, all seniors have given their advice and guidance and it has been decided to form teams and travel across the state for Lok Sabha elections," 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)
New Delhi, Dec 28 (PTI) Apex body for apparel exporters AEPC on Thursday urged the government to extend rebate scheme, RoSCTL, for three more years, stating that it has become a "dire" necessity, given the current global economic uncertainties.

The Apparel Export Promotion Council (AEPC) said market sentiments have touched an "all-time" low and the traditional markets of the US and the European Union (EU) are facing unprecedented recessionary trends.

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In this backdrop, "the extension of this scheme RoSCTL (Rebate of State and Central Taxes and Levies) beyond 31st March, 2024 has become a dire necessity," AEPC Naren Goenka said in a statement.

"This scheme (RoSCTL) has helped the apparel industry immensely to plan the business on a consistent basis while staying competitive," he added.

Also Read | Allahabad High Court Recruitment 2023: Vacancies Notified for 83 Advocate Posts, Apply Online at allahabadhighcourt.in From January 15.

He also asked the industry to focus on innovation and attracting Foreign Direct Investments (FDI).

"At present, the apparel industry receives a very low level of FDI, although 100 per cent overseas investment is allowed in the textile sector under the automatic route," he said.

"Enhancing FDI to increase economies of scale is very important for India's export competitiveness in the ready-made garment sector. Bringing investment in the garment sector to realise its full potential is our focus," Goenka added.

To reach the target of increasing exports from USD 16-17 billion to USD 40 billion by 2030, there is a need to focus on innovation to cut cost and faster clearances, expand market and product basket, adopt cluster-based model, bring in investments and enhance branding efforts, he said.

He added that the industry should also focus on harnessing the potential of e- commerce segment and Free Trade Agreements (FTAs), practise sustainability, and responsible business practices.

In 2021, the scheme was approved under which garment exporters get a rebate on central and state taxes on their outward shipments till March 2024.

Rebates of state taxes and levies would include VAT on fuel used in transportation, mandi tax, duty of electricity, and stamp duty on export documents.

They also include embedded State Goods and Services Tax (SGST) and Centre Goods and Services Tax (CSGT) paid on inputs such as pesticides and fertilisers used in production of raw cotton, central excise duty on fuel used in transportation, embedded CGST and compensation cess on coal used in production of electricity.

Under the RoSCTL scheme, the maximum rate of rebate for apparel was 6.05 per cent, while for made-ups, this was up to 8.2 per cent. Garments and made-ups segments such as home textiles products are covered under the scheme.

Global economic uncertainties are increasing due to Russia-Ukraine and Israel-Hamas conflicts.

Attacks on ships at the Red Sea are also impacting smooth supply of goods across countries.

(This is an unedited and auto-generated story from Syndicated News feed, LatestLY Staff may not have modified or edited the content body)
Srinagar, December 28: A "militant associate" of the Lashkar-e-Toiba (LeT) has been arrested in Jammu and Kashmir's Baramulla district and arms and ammunition have been seized from him, police said on Thursday. Jammu and Kashmir: LeT Terrorist Behind Killing of Kashmiri Pandit Sanjay Sharma Among Two Killed in Encounter in Shopian (Watch Video).

Following information about terrorist movement in the Kreeri area, security forces set up a checkpoint at Shrakwara Kreeri, a police official said. During checking, a man, whose movement seemed suspicious, was spotted by security forces. On seeing security personnel approaching him, he tried to flee, but was apprehended, the official said. Jammu and Kashmir: LeT Militant Associate Arrested in Srinagar; Perfume Bottle Bombs Seized.

Police said the man has been identified as Imran Ahmad Ganie, a resident of Nowpora Wagoora Kreeri. The official said a Chinese pistol, a magazine of the pistol, nine bullets and a mobile phone were seized from him. He has been booked under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act.
President Vo Van Thuong signed a decision on Wednesday to reduce death penalties to life imprisonment for 18 prisoners who filed petitions for commuted sentences.

The decision is made as stipulated in the Constitution and laws, and at the proposals of the presiding judge of the Supreme People's Court, the prosecutor general of the Supreme People's Procuracy and the chairperson of the Presidential Office.

According to the office, this decision demonstrates the leniency and humanitarian policy of the Communist Party and the State towards people who have committed serious crimes, giving them the opportunities to return to their families and the community.

The president made a similar decision for 11 prisoners in August, on the occasion of the country's Independence Day Sept. 2.

Vietnam's Penal Code stipulates that a person sentenced to death can petition for a life sentence within seven days after the court verdict takes effect.
New Delhi, Dec 28 (PTI) A 20-year-old man was stabbed to death in northeast Delhi's Gokalpuri area, police said on Thursday.

The body of the man identified as Mahir alias Imran was found by a roadside in Bhagirathi Vihar on Wednesday night, they said.

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Mahir had multiple stab wounds and was lying in a pool of blood, an officer said, adding, a knife was recovered from the spot.

According to police, Mahir, who worked in a flex board shop in central Delhi's Paharganj, had an altercation with one Faizal and his associates, which ended with him being stabbed to death.

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"CCTVs in the vicinity are being scanned. Eyewitnesses are being examined. Efforts are being made to trace Faizal," the officer said.

(This is an unedited and auto-generated story from Syndicated News feed, LatestLY Staff may not have modified or edited the content body)
New Delhi, Dec 28 (PTI) Samyukta Kisan Morcha (SKM) will hold tractor parade on Republic Day in around 500 districts across the country, an official statement said on Thursday.

The SKM said the tractor parade will be held after the conclusion of the formal Republic Day parade in the national capital.

Also Read | Indias Remarkable Strides in 2023: A Year of Achievements Across Multiple Fronts.

"SKM shall hold tractor parade on January 26, 2024 at district level in all states and Union territories. It is expected that the parade shall be held in at least 500 districts. SKM appeals to farmers to join the parade in great numbers and after the conclusion of the formal parade at Delhi, the tractor parade will be held.

"The farmers participating in the parade will fly-high the national flag along with the flags of the constituent organisations. Farmers will take pledge to protect the principles of democracy, federalism, secularism and socialism enshrined in the Constitution of India. Along with tractors, other vehicles and motorcycles will also join the parade," the statement stated.

Also Read | Year Ender 2023: From Turkey-Syria Earthquake to Israel-Hamas War and Russias Failed Moon Mission, Here Are Top Nine Global Events of The Year.

The SKM state units in 20 states will conduct 'Jana Jagaran' campaign from January 10-20 next year across India through door-to-door visits and distribution of leaflets. The aim of the mass campaign "is to expose the pro-corporate economic policies" of the central government, it said.

SKM has called on the farmers across India to make the campaign and the parade successful to remove "the corporate-communal nexus that exploits and divides people through communal and casteist polarisation".

The struggle will be intensified till all the demands are met by the union government, the statement added.

On January 26, 2021, thousands of protesting farmers had clashed with the police during a tractor rally called by farmer unions demanding that the Centre's three farm laws be repealed.

Some protesters reached the Red Fort and hoisted religious flags on its domes and the flagstaff at the ramparts, where the national flag is unfurled by the prime minister on Independence Day.

(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, Dec 28 (PTI) Capital markets regulator Sebi on Thursday eased guidelines for settlement of running accounts of clients' funds or securities lying with stock brokers.

Now, stock brokers can settle the running account of clients' funds on the first Friday or Saturday of the quarter or month.

Also Read | Indias Remarkable Strides in 2023: A Year of Achievements Across Multiple Fronts.

The trading members, after considering the End of the Day (EOD) obligation of funds across all the exchanges, will settle the running accounts at the choice of the clients on a quarterly and monthly basis, on the dates stipulated by the stock exchanges.

To ensure uniformity and clarity on dates of such monthly and quarterly settlement of client accounts, Sebi asked stock exchanges to jointly issue the annual calendar for the settlement of running accounts (quarterly and monthly) at the beginning of the financial year.

Also Read | Year Ender 2023: From Turkey-Syria Earthquake to Israel-Hamas War and Russias Failed Moon Mission, Here Are Top Nine Global Events of The Year.

Further, to safeguard against any possibility of misuse of one client's funds to settle another clients' running account, any funds received from clients will remain in the upstreaming account.

The new framework will be applicable from the quarterly settlement of January-March 2024 and monthly settlement of January 2024, the Securities and Exchange Board of India (Sebi) said in a circular.

Sebi, under the current framework, had mandated settlement of the running account of the client's funds on the first Friday of the quarter or month.

The move came after the Broker's Industry Standards Forum (ISF) had represented various problems faced by brokers due to a single day of settlement -- hectic activities on the day of settlement leading to chances of errors, missing out on payment timings of banks due to late finalization, delayed instructions among others.

Also, they recommended that trading members should be allowed to settle the running account of clients on Friday and/or Saturday to address these operational difficulties.

"After due consideration, Sebi has decided to accept the recommendation to settle the running account of clients on Friday and/or Saturday, which streamlines the process of settlement and ensures ease of doing business for various stakeholders viz. stock brokers and banks, while at the same time safeguarding the interests of the investors by ensuring error free settlement," according to the circular.

(This is an unedited and auto-generated story from Syndicated News feed, LatestLY Staff may not have modified or edited the content body)
Beijing, Dec 28 (PTI) China has gained more "strategic autonomy" and emerged as a "responsible major country" with enhanced international influence under the leadership of President Xi Jinping, according to a high-level meeting on the 2023 Foreign policy outcomes held in Beijing.

Xi delivered an important speech at the Central Conference on Work Relating to Foreign Affairs held here on Wednesday and Thursday, an official press release issued at the end of the meeting said.

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Presided over by Premier Li Qiang, the conference was attended by top officials of the ruling Communist Party of China (CPC), the military and China's envoys and senior consular officials from all over the world besides Foreign Minister Wang Yi, it said.

"We have opened up new prospects in major-country diplomacy with Chinese characteristics, and gained much more strategic autonomy and initiative in our diplomacy," the meeting said about China's diplomatic progress in the outgoing year.

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"China has become a responsible major country with enhanced international influence, stronger capacity to steer new endeavours, and greater moral appeal," it said.

While the details of Xi's address were not revealed, he was reported to have reviewed China's diplomatic relations with various countries, including with the US, amid the ongoing Russia-Ukraine war, the raging Middle East conflict and frozen ties with India over the military standoff in eastern Ladakh.

In his speech, Xi systematically reviewed the historic achievements and valuable experience of major-country diplomacy with Chinese characteristics in the new era, the press release said.

He elaborated on the international environment and historical mission of China's external work in the new journey, and made comprehensive plans for China's external work at present and in the future, it said.

Xi, 70, the only Chinese leader after ruling Communist Party founder Mao Zedong to continue in power for an unprecedented third five-year term after emerging as core leader of the party, has been pushing for China's diplomatic and military clout across the world since he took over power in 2012.

His first two terms focussed on beefing up the military with massive defence outlays and aggressive diplomacy with his USD trillion dollar 'Belt and Road Initiative' (BRI) - the mega infrastructure development project which also earned the tag of debt diplomacy. His third term is marked by China's economic slowdown, which observers say may put limitations on China's overseas spending.

After prolonged diplomatic tensions with the US, President Xi last month had a surprisingly fruitful summit with his American counterpart Joe Biden where the two leaders agreed on cooling down the increasingly tense relations between the two countries amid the Ukraine-Russia conflict and the Israel-Hamas war in which both the countries took divergent stance.

While Xi subsequently held high-profile summits with Japanese Prime Minster Fumio Kishida, leaders of the EU and his recent charm offensive visit to Vietnam, he is yet to come up with any initiatives to improve tense relations with India.

The relations were frozen after the May 2020 military actions by China in eastern Ladakh leading to a prolonged standoff between the two militaries.

(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, December 28: The Supreme Court Collegium, headed by Chief Justice of India D.Y. Chandrachud, has recommended the appointment of Justice Manindra Mohan Shrivastava as the Chief Justice of the Rajasthan High Court. Justice Shrivastava is presently functioning as Acting Chief Justice of the Rajasthan High Court and was appointed as a judge of the Chhattisgarh High Court in December 2009. Before his elevation as the judge, he practised at the Raigarh district court and High Courts of Madhya Pradesh and Chhattisgarh.

His area of practice was constitutional, service, taxation, labour, civil and criminal cases and he specialised in constitutional, taxation and service law. The SC Collegium noted that "during his tenure of over 14 years as a Judge of the High Court, he has authored more than 505 reported judgments". Supreme Court Collegium Brushes Aside Intelligence Bureaus Objection, Recommends Parsi Lawyer As Judge for Bombay High Court.

"He has acquired considerable experience of dispensing justice in two High Courts," it added. In a statement released on Thursday, the SC Collegium said that it has also taken into consideration the fact that the High Court of Chhattisgarh does not have any representation among the Chief Justices of the High Courts.

"The Collegium is of the considered view that Mr Justice Manindra Mohan Shrivastava is fit and suitable in all respects for being appointed as the Chief Justice of the Rajasthan High Court," it added. The vacancy in the office of the Chief Justice of the Rajasthan High Court had arisen consequent upon elevation of Justice Augustine George Masih to the Supreme Court on November 9 this year. Supreme Court Collegium Recommends Three Chief Justices, Two Judges of High Courts for Elevation to Top Court.

The Memorandum of Procedure relating to appointment of Chief Justice of a High Court provides that a fair representation shall be given to various High Courts for selection of Chief Justices. For purposes of such selection, inter-se seniority of puisne Judges will be reckoned on the basis of their seniority in their own High Court. The consideration for appointment of Chief Justices shall be based on the criterion of seniority subject to merit and integrity.

(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Dec 28, 2023 10:53 PM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).
Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah to conducted a high-level meeting regarding the placement of Kannada nameplates in front of shops and offices in the state on Thursday, December 28. After the meeting, Siddaramaiah stated, It has been decided today that businesses should have 60% Kannada language nameplates. For the unversed, this comes after the Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike (BBMP) Chief Commissioner Tushar Giri Naths statement where he said that commercial stores under the administrative body must install 60% Kannada language nameplates by February 28 next year. Karnataka: Shops Must Have 60% Kannada Language Nameplates by February 28, Says BBMP Chief Commissioner.

Karnataka CM Siddaramaiah on Kannada Language Nameplates in State

"I have asked officials of Kannada and Culture department to bring an ordinance and implement 60% Kannada nameplates and 40% other language nameplates and the same will be notified and rules will be formed. I request companies, organisations and other shops to change their pic.twitter.com/SSUkE7P2o9  ANI (@ANI) December 28, 2023

(SocialLY brings you all the latest breaking news, viral trends and information from social media world, including Twitter, Instagram and Youtube. The above post is embeded directly from the user's social media account and LatestLY Staff may not have modified or edited the content body. The views and facts appearing in the social media post do not reflect the opinions of LatestLY, also LatestLY does not assume any responsibility or liability for the same.)
San Francisco, December 28: Tang Tan, Apples VP of iPhone design, is reportedly leaving the company to join legendary designer Jony Ive and OpenAI CEO Sam Altman and work on a new AI hardware project. The outgoing Apple executive is moving to Jony Ives LoveFrom design firm to lead hardware engineering on AI-powered devices, reports Bloomberg.

The products are still at an early concept stage but some are said to be focused on use inside the home. Ives ultimate goal is to turn the AI hardware business into its own company, according to the report. LoveFrom is working on devices with AI embedded into those. Ban Apple Watches: Apple Watch Series 9 and Apple Watch Ultra 2 Back on Select US Apple Retail Stores, Court Halts Ban Amid Ongoing Patent Dispute.

Reports surfaced in November that Altman was planning to launch a new AI venture. The exact nature of the venture wasnt immediately known. More details, meanwhile, have also emerged about Altmans broader ambitions in developing AI, The Information reported. In September, reports claimed that former chief Apple designer Ive and Altman are considering launching an AI hardware device together, which will be first-of-its-kind if materialised. AI at Workplace: 59% of Indian Employees Confident to Embrace Artificial Intelligence Tools at Workplace, More To Accept in 2024, Says Report.

Ive, who is the renowned designer of the iPhone, was reportedly in talks with Altman about an AI hardware project. SoftBank CEO and investor Masayoshi Son has talked to both about the idea, The Information had reported, citing people aware of the matter. OpenAI once had a robotics research division but it was disbanded in July 2021 after encountering technical roadblocks.

(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Dec 28, 2023 12:02 PM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).
Tel Aviv, December 28: Israel Defense Forces (IDF) on Thursday claimed that rockets were fired at southern Israel areas of Nirim and Ein Hashlosha from Gaza. There were no casualties or injuries in the rocket firing, the IDF said. Reports said that after the IDF conducted a ground offensive in Gaza, the rocket firing has considerably reduced.

The IDF said that the rocket firing on Thursday came after a lull of 21 hours which indicates that there is considerable weakness in Hamas infrastructure, especially in northern Gaza. Israel-Hamas War: Eight More Israeli Soldiers Killed in Gaza, Death Toll Reaches 152, Says IDF.

The Israelis have evacuated most of the areas in southern Israel following the October 7 attack by Hamas. The IDF is engaged in a tough battle in Gaza and has shifted its attention to central and southern Gaza.

(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Dec 28, 2023 06:18 PM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).
Actor Jamie Bell, left, plays real-life Peter Turner, right, in Film Stars Dont Die in Liverpool, about the romance between Hollywood star Gloria Grahame and Turner.

Peter Turners twinkling eyes scan the weekday crowd at Naten Al delicatessen as he nestles into a corner booth with Jamie Bell, who plays him in the new drama Film Stars Dont Die in Liverpool.

Everybody comes here. All different kinds, says Turner, whose 1986 memoir chronicled his bittersweet love affair with Hollywood star Gloria Grahame, who died at 57 in 1981. Last time I was here, Robert Wagner was sitting over there. You have people who are at the top of the tree and people who havent made it. Its like Hollywood on a sandwich.

Turner was a young aspiring actor when he met Grahame, nearly three decades his senior, in a London boarding house. She was a Hollywood siren at the tail end of a career that began with films like Blonde Fever (1944) and Its a Wonderful Life (1946). She won an Academy Award for her turn in 1952s The Bad and the Beautiful.

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The two bonded over disco dancing and theater and became friends and then lovers. After a tough separation, Turner was home in Britain when he got a call. Gloria was sick and wanted to spend what would eventually be her final days with him.

Their love story comes to life in Film Stars with sensitivity and crackling chemistry between Bell and Annette Bening, who plays the enigmatically charismatic Grahame, a onetime femme fatale still searching for happiness after a tumultuous Hollywood career, several failed marriages and an intensely private battle with cancer.

Awash with fond memories, Turner orders the house pastrami and tells the story of the special place Naten Als holds in his history with Grahame.

When I come back here to California, I always come and check it out again, because this was the very first place I came to with Gloria Grahame, says Turner, the torch bearer of her legacy, speaking her full name with love. Once, Zsa Zsa [Gabor] was here. Jolie Gabor [Zsa Zsa and Evas mother] tried to school Gloria in how to be a young film star, but it didnt happen, so Zsa Zsa was like the bane of her life. We went to the theater and it was the opening night of Evita and we walked in and somebody said, Hello, Gloria. We turned around and it was Zsa Zsa.

Born and raised in Liverpool, Turner still feels at home in California, where his relationship with Grahame turned into a shared life. We used to live in the Pacific Palisades, so I love just driving down the coast  the sunset, the grunion running. We went to Magic Mountain with her kids. Wed just drive around in a little Honda car. Even the names of the stores used to excite me: Sears!

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He laughs, gazing around. It has these memories, this vibe about it.

Actor Jamie Bell, right, plays real-life Peter Turner, left, in the film Film Stars Dont Die In Liverpool. (Myung J. Chun / Los Angeles Times )

Bell, 31, shares an easy rapport with the man he plays on-screen, despite having minimal interaction with the real Turner before filming. Their friendship, though, deepened after making the movie.

Its always quite surreal, sitting with Peter, Bell says. I feel so aligned with him in so many ways.

The actor first met Turner at a birthday dinner for Film Stars producer Barbara Broccoli (best known for taking up the reins from her father, Albert Cubby Broccoli, on the James Bond films) before shooting began.

Instantly, there was this ease, Bell says of Turner. He puts people at ease immediately.

I was nervous, Turner says. I saw you come in through the door and thought, Should I go to say hello now or wait to be introduced? But I felt immediately secure with Jamie. Hes so perceptive and so knowing.

And what did he think of Bells portrayal after filming was finished?

I think [Jamie Bells] is an iconic performance on the level of when I saw Michael Caine in Alfie.  Peter Turner

I think [Bells] is an iconic performance on the level of when I saw Michael Caine in Alfie, Turner says. Albert Finney in Saturday Night and Sunday Morning. As an actor, what he can say without saying anything is brilliant. But on a deep, personal level, hes the best thing thats ever happened to me. I just love him hugely.

Turner pauses, smiling. Are you going to cry?

Bell grins. Hes my cheerleader.

The feeling is mutual for the Billy Elliot and Adventures of Tintin star, who praises Turners story, adapted by screenwriter Matt Greenhalgh and directed by Paul McGuigan. In the film, we see Peters emotional journey unfold in waves of memory and re-memory as he processes the past, present and future of his relationship with Grahame.

Its beautiful. Love is a beautiful thing, but theres also an inevitability to it sometimes  that it has a life, and an end, Bell muses. I have a really horrible time with goodbyes myself, and I love a love that isnt completed. I think all the greatest love stories are the ones where they dont end up together. Theres an inevitability and a hopefulness as well, which is that that person has left you with something with which youll live out your entire life. Its beautifully tragic.

Bell, a self-declared romantic (I saw Titanic eight times.) wasnt familiar with Grahame and her story before the script found its way to him. But speaking with Turner and with Broccoli, who knew the couple in real life, opened his understanding of their connection.

She said they were incredibly ordinary, Bell says of Broccolis assessment. They were just two people who fit together.

Both men abound with admiration for Bening, whose layered take on the capricious Grahame brims with complexities seldom written into roles for women in Hollywood.

Annette Bening (Kirk McKoy / Los Angeles Times )

Nobody wanted her to do an impersonation. What Annette wanted to do was to understand this woman who happened to be an actor, who happened to win an Academy Award and who happened to have had a turbulent life  and a misunderstood life, says Turner, who spoke with Bening in depth about Grahame. She said to me, I might not be exactly the Gloria Grahame who you knew, but what I promise is you I will be the Gloria Grahame that I now know, through you.

One element of Grahames life that history got wrong, Turner says, is how her time as an MGM and RKO contract star scarred her, made her image-conscious and spit her out; its one explanation for why she kept her battle with cancer secret from even close friends and family.

She was offered the role in Born Yesterday, but Howard Hughes punished her and wouldnt let her play the role because she didnt want to spend private time with him, Turner says. She was subject to that kind of abuse as well, being a woman in Hollywood at that time. But she didnt like to say too much, and she didnt give interviews. People got her wrong, but she didnt fight back. And she was also very stubborn.

I think more than anything, this level of expectation that has been put on women to look a certain way: Dont age, ever, and dont get sick and lose all your hair because we wont give you a job. The result of all of that has been suffering in silence, Bell says.

The films May-December romance has also brought scrutiny to the persistent, hypocritical way that Hollywood movies view and value older women.

Weve been asked a lot about why its such a stigma for a woman of a certain age to be portrayed romantically with a much younger man, and for that relationship to be a loving one and a complex one, a physical one and a sexual one, Bell says. Why does that make people feel uncomfortable? I think the answer is that women of a certain age have been written out of that narrative. You havent seen it enough. Were used to seeing a fiftysomething actor hanging out with a 20-year-old actress and we dont question it. Its a male gaze issue. Thats why we need more women running studios, more women writing stories, more women directing movies.

Were used to seeing a fiftysomething actor hanging out with a 20-year-old actress and we dont question it. Its a male gaze issue.  Jamie Bell

The love scenes Bell and Bening share give Film Stars a rapturously sensual charge, but one of the most romantic scenes, in which Peter and a gravely ill Gloria recite a passage from Romeo and Juliet, made Bell anxious  for a much different reason: Whenever youre dealing with something that you know is there for dramatic purposes, for me, its much more worrisome. Then [on top of that], having to do Shakespeare, which is something Ive never done before.

Turner, whod performed as Romeo onstage, turns to Bell. You should do Shakespeare because your verse-speaking is just so wonderfully natural and easy. Thats the key to speaking verse. Both of them were just so great in that scene. You should play Romeo.

Visiting the set during filming at Pinewood was in itself an emotional experience, not just for Turner.

People were crying everywhere, Turner says. Ive never heard silence before the way I heard it when Annette and Jamie were working. I watched the crew and it was all about the magic before them. I was enthralled by the whole thing.

In fact, watching Bell work has reinvigorated his own desire to act again.

Its beautifully told. Its beautifully crafted. Its beautifully measured. And, he says, its taught me to release something in me.

jen.yamato@latimes.com

@jenyamato

ALSO:

Why Annette Bening fans need to see Film Stars Dont Die in Liverpool, the Gloria Grahame story

Annette Bening and Jamie Bell share a sweetly oddball love story in Film Stars Dont Die in Liverpool

Classic Hollywood: Remembering Gloria Grahame before Film Stars Dont Die in Liverpool
Savanah Nicole Soto, the missing Texas teen who was the subject of a massive search, has been found dead along with her boyfriend Matthew Guerra, who was also reported missing. The two were found inside a vehicle at the Colinas Medical Apartments on the northwest side of San Antonio, Texas.

The Leon Valley Police Department spoke with CBS News and told the outlet that the missing teen, Soto, and her boyfriend, 22, were reported missing by her family and were last seen on Friday, December 22. Her family revealed that she went missing just a day before she was scheduled to be induced into labor.

However, the police revealed that the vehicle that they were found inside belonged to Guerra and that each of them suffered from a gunshot wound. Police did not reveal their respective causes of death, but San Antonio Police Chief Bill McManus admitted that they were dealing with a "very, very perplexing crime scene."

The police are now looking into the possibility of homicide, with Police Chief McManus stating that Guerra's car might have been at the location where police found it "possibly for three or four days." It was Soto's family that alerted authorities to the car's location after being alerted by someone who found the vehicle.

Soto's family was devastated by what the police found, with her grandmother, Rachel Soto, telling a local CBS News affiliate, "I just want answers to who, what and why - why did this happen to her?"

Texas Teen Was Already 9 Months Pregnant When She Disappeared

The pregnant teen was last seen inside her apartment in Leon Valley. Authorities stated that she was in "imminent danger" and that she "involuntarily disappeared." She was already 9 months pregnant at the time she went missing and was about to be induced.

READ MORE: Florida Teen Kills Sister After Argument Over Christmas Presents

According to the Daily Mail, many blamed her boyfriend, Matthew Guerra, for her disappearance, as he was missing, too. However, his mother denied these accusations, saying, "I know my son and he wouldn't do anything to hurt her."

The San Antonio Police Department and the Leon Valley Police Department are currently working together but have been so far stumped. Reports indicated that Soto's body was found in a "bad condition" and that investigations into the Texas couple's deaths are still ongoing.

Missing Teen's Mother Says Boyfriend Abused Her Before They Went Missing

Members of the missing pregnant Texas teen recently spoke with CBS News and it was her mother who revealed that Guerra used to abuse her when they were still alive.

"And I told her to get out of the relationship, but she - she was hard-headed, she wouldn't listen. But I think this time she was going to leave him already. That's what I'm hearing," Soto's mother said.

The Texas teen's aunt backed this up, telling the outlet, that the couple "would fight a lot," and added that Guerra "would hit her throughout her pregnancy" because they found bruises in her.

READ MORE: Mexico Finds Another Dead Body Near Texas Gov. Greg Abbott's Floating Barriers

This article is owned by Latin Post.

Written by: Rick Martin

WATCH: Missing pregnant Texas teen who sparked Clear Alert found dead - ABC 7 Chicago
Tourists take a rest at a scenic area in Sanya, south China's Hainan Province, Dec. 15, 2023. Since the beginning of winter, the tourism market in Sanya has been heating up continuously. According to official data, the city witnessed a peak season for tourism since mid-November, which is expected to last until the Spring Festival. (Xinhua/Yang Guanyu)

Tourists have fun at Dadonghai scenic area in Sanya, south China's Hainan Province, Dec. 15, 2023. Since the beginning of winter, the tourism market in Sanya has been heating up continuously. According to official data, the city witnessed a peak season for tourism since mid-November, which is expected to last until the Spring Festival. (Xinhua/Yang Guanyu)

Tourists visit a night market in Tianya District of Sanya, south China's Hainan Province, Dec. 20, 2023. Since the beginning of winter, the tourism market in Sanya has been heating up continuously. According to official data, the city witnessed a peak season for tourism since mid-November, which is expected to last until the Spring Festival. (Xinhua/Fan Yuqing)

Tourists shop at a duty-free mall in Sanya, south China's Hainan Province, Dec. 21, 2023. Since the beginning of winter, the tourism market in Sanya has been heating up continuously. According to official data, the city witnessed a peak season for tourism since mid-November, which is expected to last until the Spring Festival. (Xinhua/Fan Yuqing)

Tourists are seen at the entrance of Tianyahaijiao, a popular attraction which literally means the "edges of heaven and corners of the sea," in Sanya, south China's Hainan Province, Dec. 19, 2023. Since the beginning of winter, the tourism market in Sanya has been heating up continuously. According to official data, the city witnessed a peak season for tourism since mid-November, which is expected to last until the Spring Festival. (Xinhua/Fan Yuqing)

Tourists arrive at Sanya Phoenix International Airport in Sanya, south China's Hainan Province, Dec. 19, 2023. Since the beginning of winter, the tourism market in Sanya has been heating up continuously. According to official data, the city witnessed a peak season for tourism since mid-November, which is expected to last until the Spring Festival. (Xinhua/Fan Yuqing)

A couple poses for photos at a seashore scenic area in Sanya, south China's Hainan Province, Dec. 19, 2023. Since the beginning of winter, the tourism market in Sanya has been heating up continuously. According to official data, the city witnessed a peak season for tourism since mid-November, which is expected to last until the Spring Festival. (Xinhua/Fan Yuqing)

Editor: JYZ
A New York man with a history of arrests is now facing a slew of charges, including attempted murder and a hate crime, after allegedly stabbing two teenage girls inside Grand Central Terminal on Christmas Day, as reported by New York City's Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA).

The victims, aged 14 and 16, were visitors from South America enjoying lunch in the Grand Central Dining Concourse around 11:25 AM when the attack occurred, according to FOX News.

The New York stabbing suspect, Steven Hutcherson, a 36-year-old Bronx resident with a lengthy rap sheet, was swiftly apprehended by nearby officers less than one minute after the incident, according to authorities.

Meanwhile, the Paraguayan consulate general's office in New York is providing support to the victims' family, who were visiting from Paraguay, per NBC New York.

The family has requested privacy during this difficult time, said consulate Luis Dominguez.

READ NEXT: California Boy Fatally Stabs Twin Brother

New York Stabbing Allegedly Fueled by Hate

The suspect, Steven Hutcherson, reportedly shouted, "I want all the white people dead. I want to sit next to the crackers," according to police sources.

He then attacked the teens, stabbing the 16-year-old in the back, causing lung injuries, and the younger girl in the thigh, per the NY Post.

Prior to the incident, Hutcherson had approached a restaurant staff, expressing his desire for a table without intending to order anything.

When his request was denied, he became agitated, pointing out that the victims' family wasn't eating at the time. In a fit of rage, he grabbed a knife and assaulted the girls.

Transit police officers quickly intervened, and Hutcherson dropped the knife upon their arrival, as confirmed by the MTA.

Witnesses described the scene as chaotic, with everyone running in the aftermath of the attack.

Hutcherson faces multiple charges, including attempted murder, assault, criminal possession of a weapon, and misdemeanor endangering the welfare of a child.

He was awaiting arraignment in Manhattan Criminal Court.

The victims, who were staying at a nearby Midtown hotel, were transported to Bellevue Hospital by FDNY EMS for treatment.

A hotel worker confirmed that the teens were released later that day and are in stable condition.

New York Christmas Stabbing Suspect's Early Police Trouble

Hutcherson's recent arrest follows an earlier incident in early November, where he was taken into custody after allegedly threatening to shoot a stranger in the Bronx, USA Today noted.

"I'm gonna shoot you. I don't care what kind of green card the government gave you," he said.

Although he did not carry out the shooting, police reported that he mimicked the act.

Upon arrival, officers did not discover any firearms on Hutcherson, but they did find a knife in his possession.

Hutcherson has entered guilty pleas for charges stemming from both his November 7 and July 24 arrests related to weapons possession.

Following the July arrest, he received a 15-day sentence. For the November incident, Hutcherson was granted a conditional discharge.

Additionally, a temporary restraining order was issued against him concerning the victim involved in the November incident.

New York City Mayor Eric Adams acknowledged the unsettling nature of such incidents in high-profile locations like Grand Central Terminal.

He emphasized the importance of swift arrests to address concerns about safety and expressed the need to remove repeated offenders from the streets.

"Any time you have incidents in these high-profile locations, it sends the feeling of people don't feel safe, and that's why we have to zero in and make the arrest as soon as possible and make sure we get those repeated offenders off our streets," Adams said.

READ MORE: Hawaii Instagram Influencer Murdered in Front of Daughter

This article is owned by Latin Post.

Written by: Bert Hoover

WATCH: Suspect in stabbing of teen girls at Grand Central Station has long rap sheet - From FOX 5 New York
As more and more people troop to the border in hopes of a better life in the US, the Biden administration has sent top officials to Mexico to talk about the US migrant surge with the Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador government.

This diplomatic mission is headed by Secretary of State Antony Blinken. The delegation also includes Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas and top Biden Homeland Security adviser Liz Sherwood-Randall. They are all scheduled to meet with AMLO amid this US migrant surge that has strained local communities along the US-Mexico border.

The State Department stated that Blinken "will discuss unprecedented irregular migration in the Western Hemisphere and identify ways Mexico and the United States will address border security challenges, including actions to enable the reopening of key ports of entry across our shared border."

He also said the Biden administration delegation is expected to have "robust conversations" about humanely managing the border while also enforcing laws and on addressing the root causes of migration.

"Since the beginning of the Biden-Harris Administration, Mexico has been one of our strongest partners on migration, a shared responsibility that requires stronger cooperation," said a National Security Council spokesperson in a statement ahead of the meeting.

As Latin Post previously reported, AMLO has stated that he is willing to talk about the US migration crisis and cooperate with the US. Still, he also wants their neighbors to the north to ease sanctions on Cuba and Venezuela, as well as hold talks with Cuba. AMLO also wanted the US to provide more aid to the region, especially with the countries that migrants are coming from.

Mexico Asked US to Reopen Border Crossings During Meeting on Migrant Crisis

The meetings are happening in Mexico City and reports indicate that Mexico is trying to pressure the US officials to reopen border crossings. This was revealed by Mexican Foreign Minister Alicia Barcena on Wednesday, stressing that "the importance of reopening border crossings is a priority" for Mexico.

READ MORE: Mexico: Data Reveals Shocking Reality About War on Drugs

"We are talking about the economic part, as well as the structural causes of migration," she said after one of the meetings, according to US News.

AMLO has repeatedly stressed that the US must address the root causes of why the US migrant surge is happening, and that is the economic situation in some countries is so dire that people are willing to cross treacherous jungles and scorching deserts to live a better life in the US.

The Mexican president has earlier said that the US Congress should be investing more in poor people around Latin America and the Caribbean "instead of putting up barriers, barbed wire fences in the river, or thinking about building walls."

US Also Pressuring Mexico To Do More About the US Migration Crisis

Meanwhile, as Mexico is pressuring the US to act on migration by dealing with the source, the US is also pressuring Mexico to stop the migrant surge from its border with Guatemala.

According to El Pais, the US officials have concrete requests of their own, including demanding Mexico that it should divert some of the migrants to southern Mexico and increase control of the railroads migrants use to cross the country. The US also demanded that Mexico provide incentives so that migrants do not continue north to the US-Mexico border.

READ MORE: Mexico: Bodies of 5 Students Found Dead Inside a Car in Celaya

This article is owned by Latin Post.

Written by: Rick Martin

WATCH: White House wants Mexico to make it harder for migrants to reach U.S. border - PBS NewsHour
As Donald Trump rages about his Colorado disqualification, his allies in the state are appealing the Colorado Supreme Court decision. Meanwhile, in Michigan, the ex-POTUS was allowed to stay on the ballot.

Conservative nonprofit group, the American Center for Law and Justice, filed a petition to the US Supreme Court to overturn the Colorado Supreme Court decision that has blocked the embattled former president from running in the state after engaging in an insurrection on January 6, 2021.

The organization filed the request on behalf of the Colorado Republican Party and the move was spearheaded by a notable Trump ally, Jay Sekulow, who previously defended Trump during the Senate impeachment trial. He now serves as the chief counsel to the conservative group.

According to Rolling Stone, the group filed the petition on Wednesday, asking the highest court in the land to "promptly review and overturn the Colorado decision."

"Unless the Colorado Supreme Court's decision is overturned, any voter will have the power to sue to disqualify any political candidate, in Colorado or in any other jurisdiction that follows its lead," the group's lawyers wrote in the filing. "This will not only distort the 2024 presidential election but will also mire courts henceforth in political controversies over nebulous accusations of insurrection."

What Will the Appeal Mean for the Donald Trump's Colorado Disqualification?

The Colorado Supreme Court banned Trump from the state's ballot because of the 14th Amendment, which bans anybody who "engaged in insurrection" from running. However, the Supreme Court also stayed its ruling and this stay could be extended thanks to the appeal by the Republicans.

READ MORE: Donald Trump Tried To Spread Fake News About New York Judge Overseeing Fraud Trial But Gets Exposed

The stay in the ruling pauses the decision until January 4, the day before the state's primary ballots are due at the printer. However, this appeal may extend that stay further.

According to the Associated Press, this is an unprecedented situation as the US Supreme Court has never ruled on Section 3 of the 14th Amendment, which states that anyone who swore an oath to "support" the Constitution and then "engaged in insurrection" against it cannot hold government office. This was added after the Civil War to prevent former Confederates from taking part in the government.

The Colorado Supreme Court ruled that this rule applies to Trump due to his role in the January 6 Capitol Insurrection.

Michigan Supreme Court Rules Trump Can Stay on the Ballot

While Colorado interpreted the law to disqualify Trump, the Michigan Supreme Court saw things differently in its ruling, allowing the former president to stay on the ballot.

During its decision, released last Wednesday, the Michigan Supreme Court said it was "not persuaded" to consider overturning a lower court's previous decision to keep Trump on the state's ballot. This may mainly be due to Michigan and Colorado having different election laws.

People Magazine reported that Michigan has asserted that there is no provision in the state requiring a candidate to have "legal qualification" for office. This means that even if Trump was deemed ineligible for the presidency by the Constitution, the state can still allow him on the ballot.

READ MORE: Donald Trump is Confused Why Co-Defendants Sidney Powell, Jenna Ellis, Kenneth Chesebro Pleaded Guilty

This article is owned by Latin Post.

Written by: Rick Martin

WATCH: Colorado Supreme Court justices threatened after Trump ballot ruling - CBS News
In a startling revelation, the former manager of renowned Venezuela rapper Canserbero, Natalia Amestica, has confessed to his killing in a video statement released by Venezuela's attorney-general, Tarek William Saab.

This confession comes years after the rapper's death in 2015, initially ruled as a suicide, according to BBC.

Canserbero, whose real name is Tyrone Gonzalez, was a celebrated figure in Spanish rap, named the best rapper in the language by Rolling Stone magazine.

The circumstances surrounding his demise shocked fans, as it was initially believed that he had killed his friend Carlos Molnar in a knife fight before jumping from a window.

Natalia Amestica's confession, recorded on December 19, reveals a gruesome sequence of events leading to Venezuela rapper's tragic end.

She admitted to drugging the rapper and stabbing both him and Carlos Molnar.

With her brother Guillermo's assistance, she then disposed of Canserbero's body by throwing it from a 10th-story window.

READ NEXT: AK Canserbero Dead: Rapper Tirone Gonzalez Cause of Death Reportedly Suicide

Motives to Kill Venezuela Rapper Unveiled in Shocking Confession

Amestica's confession sheds light on the motives behind the heinous act, per the Daily Beast.

"I am making this video to publicly confess my responsibility for the double homicide of Carlos Molnar and Tirone Gonzalez 'Canserbero,'" Amestica said in her video.

She expressed her fury upon learning that she wouldn't be compensated for organizing Canserbero's tour in Chile, as conveyed by the rapper's producer, Carlos Molnar.

The revelation that the Venezuela rapper intended to terminate her as his manager further fueled her resentment.

According to Amestica's testimony, she took advantage of an opportunity to make tea for Canserbero and Molnar when they visited her home.

She laced the tea with a tranquilizer that induced sleep in both men. In their unconscious state, she proceeded to stab them repeatedly, confessing to Canserbero that she could not control herself.

Guillermo, her brother, was implicated in the crime as he was called to assist in cleaning up the crime scene.

He allegedly disfigured Canserbero's face with a pipe, attempting to create the appearance of a fight between Canserbero and Molnar.

Amestica claimed that officers from the Sebin intelligence agency provided guidance on manipulating the scene in exchange for payment.

Authorities Behind Cansebero's Alleged Suicide Charged

Attorney-General Tarek William Saab announced arrest warrants for intelligence officers, a forensic pathologist, and investigators involved in manipulating the crime scene, The Independent reports.

Six individuals have been arrested, and more are being sought in connection to the case.

The reopening of the investigation, prompted by doubts from family and fans, led to the exhumation of Venezuela rapper's body in November.

Attorney-General Saab declared Canserbero a "martyr of the Venezuelan youth and a hero of the national culture."

However, Claudia Amestica, Guillermo's daughter, released a statement asserting that the confessions were false and obtained through coercion.

In a video statement, she accused the Attorney-General of deliberately lying about the case, adding a layer of complexity to the unfolding tragedy.

READ MORE: Man Stabs 2 Teens Visiting From South America

This article is owned by Latin Post.

Written by: Bert Hoover

WATCH: Canserbero's Manager Confesses to Rapper's Murder - From The Latin Times
Eagle Sight Delivery, a delivery and logistics company that operates in the greater Philadelphia area, is closing.

The company filed a WARN (Worker Adjustment and Retraining Notification Act) notice with the Pennsylvania Department of Labor of Industry informing state officials that it is closing down its operations and 55 people will be laid off.

The delivery and logistics company said it is closing because of challenging financial conditions.

The closing is expected to occur on Jan. 30. The company said it will be contacting other delivery service providers in the warehouse from which it operates in order to attempt to find suitable employment for affected employees.

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 Nov. 29.
An appeal filed this month by a Lehigh County woman convicted of plotting to kill her mother was dismissed voluntarily 10 days after it was filed.

Jamie Silvonek filed the appeal Dec. 5 asking a federal judge to throw out her guilty plea. On Dec. 15, the appeal was voluntarily dismissed, according to court records.

Its not clear why Silvoneks attorney, Marsha Levick, allowed the appeal to be dismissed. Levick did not respond to several messages seeking comment.

Silvonek was 14 years old when she plotted with her then-boyfriend, Caleb Barnes, to kill Cheryl Silvonek in 2015 outside of the Silvonek home in Upper Macungie Township.

Silvonek pleaded guilty to first-degree murder and was sentenced to life in prison. She manipulated Barnes into stabbing her to death, then helped dispose of the body, prosecutors have said.

The appeal says Silvonek was mentally ill and in an abusive relationship with Barnes. It says her case should have been handled in juvenile court.

Barnes was convicted of murder and sentenced to life in prison.
It should go without saying that in the 21st Century, the concept of what it means to 'be a man' has changed.

In many ways, this is a positive and progressive thing; however, it can also create a massive anxiety and sense of uncertainty in many men (of all ages and cultures), who may feel that they do not have a place in the world.

These men often feel like no one out there understands them, and that they are alone.

If they feel this way, then perhaps Men As Leaders and Elders (MALEs) Ireland could be a suitable outlet for them.

First established 10 years ago, MALEs Ireland notably carries out what are known as 'rites'.

Its logo features an image of a man being swallowed by a great whale, a reference to the Biblical parable of 'Jonah and the Whale.'

According to its website, this involves a five day process where men will experience 'facets of soul life', such as drumming, performing rituals, sitting by the fire, embracing silence, working together small groups, traversing the wilderness, having solo-time, and more.

Speaking to the Leinster Leader, member Mark said about MALEs Ireland: "We gather as men, married or single, and openly share about our life and what we are working towards; the strength is the sharing."

He also said that the group does not rely on any public or business funds.

Although the website of MALEs Ireland says it is centred around 'the promotion of a strong and healthy male spirituality' and its logo, Mark said that the group 'accepts all creeds, faith and none', in addition to accepting men of all backgrounds, sexual orientations, races, age and physical abilities.

THE RITES

Commenting on the meaning behind the logo, member Mark Smyth said that it is linked in to the 'rites' practised by members of MALEs Ireland: "The story of Jonah being swallowed by the whale has been mentioned in the past as a metaphor at the rites."

"It refers to a time away from family and cell phones, that includes time in the wilderness.

"The days of the rites are now more commonly described as liminal space, and men reappear with a clear perspective."

He continued: "The mens rites were once a tradition within every civilisation. They still continue in the US, Ireland, Germany Austria, Latvia and the UK, as well as various Indigenous populations across the continents.

"The rites are different for everybody, and the feedback is mostly of a significant life event; it is usually led by an experienced weaver from the US or UK, along with an Irish support team of 12, who begin preparations and meetings 10 months before the event.

"For team members, its a privilege and time well spent, and further depth gained themselves."

Mark also explained that the group holds a meeting in the Monread Community Centre in Naas every second Monday at 7.30pm.

He said: "It has been running since July. Men come together, share, listen and spend time in silence.

"Men can share without any judgement, commentary or group hierarchy. There is nobody unpacking afterwards what is shared.

"We all respect it as a place to be heard."

The official logo of MALEs Ireland. Photo: https://www.malesireland.ie/

Another member of the group, Paul, also spoke to the Leader about his experience of being in the group: "After I first became aware of the group, I went on a five-day journey of reflection (with MALEs Ireland) back in the summer of 2021.

"For me, it was one of three or four things in life I will remember for a long, long time.

"It was 'me time' for five-days, but I was also in the company of other men who were all on a sort of 'quest': a quest to understand their place in the world, why they were given life, and how difficult, yet also, beautiful life can be.

"It was a space where men could be vulnerable with themselves and with each other.

"In this modern civilised world of consumerism and social media, we have forgotten who we really are and what truly matters."

However, Paul emphasised that it is 'not a self-help group.'

He explained: "Its more like a collection of individuals who are all reflecting on the larger things in life, trying to make the most important journey they will ever make: their lifes journey... People who notice the smell of the air and the sound of voice of the person they are talking to.

"Its a great collection of people to listen to, and to be listened too.

"You hear so much about yourself reflected in the stories of other men."

When asked about the kind of activities the group does, Paul said: "We sit in silence, we beat drums, we listen, we talk from the heart.

"We meet in small groups and larger groups, at different times of the year."

As for his advice to any male who wishes to join the group, but who is perhaps anxious about sharing their emotions or experiences, he had this to say: "Ask yourself what you are afraid of... Get comfortable with that fear, and learn to see warmth in it.

"If you feel like going down a different road, come sit in our circle and listen.

"Youll hear everything you need to hear."

He also said that there is no membership required for the group  as he succinctly puts it: "No membership, no counting, no tracking.

"Its your life, your journey. Who am I to say what the true way really is?

"You give your time to what is important."

When asked about the topic of male mental health, in relation to the group, Paul reiterated that while it is not a self-help group, he added: "We all have demons and pain... You rarely go through life without being damaged and without damaging others.

"The people I met in our group are mostly trying to centre themselves, become more aware of themselves, and understand their position in the universe, and that can only be good for ones mental health."

In particular, Paul also commenting on his love of drumming and how the groups use of it has benefitted him: "I feel its a good way to change your mental state, to move your mind away from the busy nature of life.

"Drumming is both reminiscent of the mothers heartbeat, and also the simplest tribal musical instrument played throughout the ages.

"Maybe we should all drum more, talk less, and listen to what the drums have to say!" he concluded.

To conclude, MALEs Irelands ethos of simultaneous pride and humility, with an end goal of self-assuredness as a male, is arguably best summed up with the following quote contained on the homepage of its website: "A young man who cannot cry is a savage; an old man who cannot laugh is a fool."

For further information about MALEs Ireland, visit https://www.malesireland.ie/.

Alternatively, you can contact Paul on 085-729-9192.
Minister of State for Land Use and Biodiversity at the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine, Senator Pippa Hackett, has published her Departments Forestry Licencing plan for 2024.

The Plan estimates that the Department will issue 4,200 new licences in 2024, and confirms that the Department has capacity to issue sufficient licences to meet its annual target of 8,000 hectares of new forests.

Referring to the Plan, Minister Hackett said that the focus for her Department, and for the forestry sector more widely, needs to remain resolutely on maximising afforestation rates and managing existing forests in order to ensure that the targets outlined in Irelands Climate Action Plan are achieved.

Minister Hackett said, Since the new Forestry Programme opened in September, we have approved 73 afforestation licences, totalling 593 hectares. In addition, we have processed 92 applications already approved under the Forestry Programme 2014-2020 that hadnt commenced planting and have now opted in to the new Forestry Programme 2023-2027.

Those licences cover an area of 808 hectares, meaning a total land area of 1,401 hectares has been made available for planting at the higher grant and premium rates since the opening of the new Programme.



Farmers account for 84% of applicants to the new afforestation scheme. To date, 46% of new applicants are choosing to plant spruce, with a 20% mix of broadleaf trees (Forest Type 12), and 43% are choosing to plant native forests (Forest Type 1).



Since the small planting Native Tree Area scheme went live in October, the Department has issued 13 approvals. On average, the Department is issuing these approvals less than 3 weeks after receiving applications.



Minister Hackett said: This is the best-funded, most environmentally friendly forestry programme in the history of the State, and I would encourage all farmers and landowners to look at the range of forestry options available to them.



Landowners and farmers must obtain a licence from the Department before planting or felling a forest. This is to ensure that all forestry activity protects the environment, follows sustainable forest management practices and abides by the law.
Zhao Leji, a member of the Standing Committee of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China Central Committee and chairman of the National People's Congress (NPC) Standing Committee, speaks at a symposium with NPC deputies sitting in on the seventh session of the 14th NPC Standing Committee in Beijing, capital of China, Dec. 27, 2023. (Xinhua/Liu Weibing)

BEIJING, Dec. 27 (Xinhua) -- China's top legislator, Zhao Leji, on Wednesday urged deputies to the National People's Congress (NPC) to faithfully fulfill their statutory duties and serve as a bridge connecting the Party and the state with the people.

Zhao, a member of the Standing Committee of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China Central Committee and chairman of the NPC Standing Committee, made the remarks when he sat down with lawmakers at a symposium during an ongoing NPC Standing Committee session.

During the discussion, lawmakers provided opinions and suggestions regarding the work of the NPC Standing Committee and the drafting of its work report. Zhao listened attentively and interacted with them.

Zhao lauded the work of the 14th NPC and its standing committee in the past year, as well as the support and participation of lawmakers.

Highlighting the upcoming second session of the 14th NPC, Zhao urged lawmakers to widely solicit the people's wishes, voices, and demands.

Zhao said lawmakers should fully understand the economic and social development situation before the NPC session and unify their thoughts and actions with the CPC Central Committee's analysis and decision-making regarding the situation.

Lawmakers should exercise their democratic rights correctly during the session, focus on the overall national situation and the people's interests, and responsibly put forward opinions and suggestions, he added.

He also called on lawmakers to utilize their expertise to participate actively in relevant legislation and supervision work.

Zhao Leji, a member of the Standing Committee of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China Central Committee and chairman of the National People's Congress (NPC) Standing Committee, attends a symposium with NPC deputies sitting in on the seventh session of the 14th NPC Standing Committee in Beijing, capital of China, Dec. 27, 2023. (Xinhua/Liu Weibing)

Editor: ZAD
Banxa Reports Audited Full Year 2023 Financial Results





TORONTO and MELBOURNE, Australia, Dec. 27, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Banxa Holdings Inc. (TSXV: BNXA) (OTCQX: BNXAF) (FSE: AC00) ("Banxa" or the "Company") is pleased to report the audited full year ended June 30th, 2023 ("FY23") financial results. The full results including Management Discussion & Analysis ("MD&A") are available on Sedar.



KEY FINANCIAL HIGHLIGHTS FY23

55% contraction in Total Transaction Volume (" TTV ") to AUD $646 million (USD $440 million), down from AUD $1.4 billion (USD $972 million), in line with overall decline in the crypto market

") to AUD $646 million (USD $440 million), down from AUD $1.4 billion (USD $972 million), in line with overall decline in the crypto market 17% reduction in Gross Profit to AUD $17.2 million (USD $11.7 million), down from AUD $20.8 million (USD $14.2 million) due to contraction in TTV, but partially offset by increase in efficiencies

Increase in Net Take Rate to 2.7%, up from 1.5%

46% increase in Adjusted EBITDA to AUD ($7.8 million) (USD ($5.3 million)), up from AUD ($14.5 million) (USD ($9.9 million)), due to efficiencies and cost optimisation efforts

Net loss per share on a basic and diluted basis decreased to AUD ($0.21) from AUD ($0.38)



Holger Arians, Chairman and CEO, said: "We are pleased to announce the completion of our audited annual financial statements for FY23. It was an exceptionally difficult period for crypto markets, however Banxa successfully navigated through these challenges by focusing on its core business and aggressively driving efficiencies. Banxa enters 2024 as the go-to on- and off-ramp provider for Web3, and is in a strong position to capitalize on any positive market developments for crypto on the horizon."

Mr. Arians added: "Banxa has stronger business fundamentals than ever before thanks to several key achievements ? strengthening the balance sheet, buying out the senior secured convertible note, and substantially optimizing costs, to name a few. My objective as CEO for fiscal year 2024 is for Banxa to provide investors exposure to crypto through a profitable and fully compliant global fintech business."

Zafer Qureshi, Executive Director and Head, Corporate Affairs, said: "As a leading publicly traded company in the crypto industry, we remain committed to operating with transparency and delivering shareholder value. We recognize that delays in our reporting are not acceptable. We intend to further invest in our finance function under the stewardship of our new tenured CFO, Patrick Maguire, to ensure timely and more standardized reporting moving forward.

Heading into 2024, Banxa is committed to operating in a streamlined and sustainable manner. Our focus on financial sustainability is paramount as we look to achieve cash flow positive operations soon and capitalize on the improving market conditions to unlock shareholder value."

Banxa will report its first quarter fiscal year 2024 results in the coming days, after which Banxa will be fully current with all its reporting requirements. Banxa will host a webinar to discuss the FY23 and Q1 FY24 results and announce the date in the coming days.

CONTACTS

Investors:

Zafer Qureshi

[email protected]

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.

ENDS

ON BEHALF OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS

Per: "Zafer Qureshi"

Zafer Qureshi = Executive Director and Head, Corporate Affairs, +1-888-332-2692

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, that the Company will miss the filing deadline for the Annual Filings and the ability of the Company to file subsequent status reports and the Annual Filings within the time period described herein.

These forward?looking statements involve numerous risks and uncertainties and actual results might differ materially from results suggested in any forward-looking statements. 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.

27 december 2023 at 18:25

News published onand distributed by:
KT&G Board of Directors initiates CEO appointment process





The thoroughly planned CEO appointment process will unfold over a period of approximately three months

Open recruitment for CEO candidates to commence on December 28, 2023

SEOUL, South Korea, Dec. 28, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- KT&G Corporation ("KT&G" or the "company") (KRX:033780) held its Board of Directors meeting and the Governance Committee, which is one of the board committees, on December 28th to officially embark on the process for appointing the next CEO and resolve the evaluation criteria for CEO candidates. The Governance Committee of KT&G is exclusively composed of outside directors. The Board of Directors meeting on the 28th was also attended by outside directors only, reinforcing the company's commitment to ensuring independent decision-making of the board.

During the meeting, KT&G Board of Directors and the Governance Committee engaged in comprehensive discussion concerning the procedure for selecting candidates to be evaluated for the CEO position and the evaluation criteria. The external CEO candidate pool will be drawn from a combination of open recruitment and search firm recommendations, securing a wide array of candidates who meet the qualifications. The internal CEO candidate pool will include individuals who have participated in the Senior Management Training Program that has been in operation since 2020, as well as the incumbent CEO. The Governance Committee will impartially assess both the external and internal pools to establish the longlist for CEO candidates.

Then, the Governance Committee will institute an advisory panel comprised of external experts to bring an objective perspective into the process of selecting the shortlist for CEO candidates, thereby enhancing the impartiality of the process. KT&G plans to proactively identify and nurture both external and internal CEO candidates moving forward, under the guidance of the Governance Committee.

The eligibility criteria for candidates participating in the open recruitment for the CEO position include individuals with experience in the tobacco or consumer goods industry (manufacturing or distribution business) as a representative director, or in the profit/loss management of a business unit equivalent to a company's representative director. Specific skill requirements are as follows: in-depth understanding of the tobacco or consumer goods industry and management expertise, capability in driving new business initiatives and global expertise, business intuition and strategic thinking skills responsive to environmental changes, ability to communicate with and manage stakeholders, universal morality and ethical awareness required of a CEO.

Candidate application for the open recruitment will be accepted through registered mail or e-mail by January 10, 2024. Details regarding the application will be available on the KT&G website from December 28, 2023.

The CEO appointment process, which will be in accordance with relevant statutes and the company's articles of incorporation, will be conducted over approximately three months in a fair and transparent manner. The process will follow a three-step procedure involving 'Governance Committee -- CEO Candidate Recommendation Committee -- Reporting to the Board of Directors & Approval at the General Meeting of Shareholders.'

The Governance Committee will finalize the shortlist for CEO candidates in late January of the upcoming year by incorporating the impartial and objective opinions of the advisory panel composed of external experts, and recommend to the CEO Candidate Recommendation Committee. After conducting a systematic and in-depth review of the shortlisted candidates, the CEO Candidate Recommendation Committee will name the final CEO candidate and report to the Board of Directors in late February 2024. The Board of Directors will then resolve the agenda for the Annual General Meeting of Shareholders, and the CEO will be appointed following the approval at the Annual General Meeting of Shareholders in late March 2024.

"We have been committed to improving our CEO appointment process, especially focusing on strengthening the transparency, impartiality, and objectivity of the process. Moving forward, we plan to conduct a comprehensive candidate selection process, taking into account the assessment and perspectives of the advisory panel comprised of external experts," said Lim Min-kyu, Chairman of the KT&G Board of Directors.

SOURCE KT&G Corporation

28 december 2023 at 02:38

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Amedisys Finds Answer Key in Medalogix Pulse





Amedisys Expands Home Health Clinical Episode Management Partnership with Medalogix

NASHVILLE, Tenn., Dec. 28, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Medalogix, the leading data science and clinical decision support company specializing in the advancement of patient care in home health, hospice, and strategic payor initiatives in the home, and Amedisys, a leading provider of home health, hospice and high-acuity care in the home, announced an expanded partnership with the implementation of Medalogix Pulse for Home Health patients.

"We continue to ask our teams to manage changes in patient acuity, payer mix, and regulatory challenges, all while being faced with continued staffing challenges," said Cyndi Shook, SVP Clinical Operations at Amedisys. "When Medalogix showed us Pulse, we knew we had found an incredible tool for empowering our clinicians with essentially real-time clinical insights that can help improve patient outcomes and staff satisfaction."

"Pulse is a game changer in how we manage patients," said Shook. "Our Clinical Managers are looking at Pulse first thing every day as it provides a current snapshot of clinical status of each patient, saving staff time, and based on this we can deploy capacity to the right patients at the right time." Amedisys manages an ADC of over 78,000 patients in Pulse across 354 branch locations.

Amedisys is leveraging Pulse clinical decision support at every stage of a home health patient's journey. Over 91% of patients are receiving visit recommendations at the start of care, helping to maintain industry leading visits-per-episode. Then, visit-by-visit, Pulse is stratifying patients' likelihood of hospitalization, empowering effective and efficient use of clinical resources and appropriate, timely changes to care plans as patients' needs change, minimizing the potential of rehospitalizations/transfer to inpatient facilities (TIF). Towards the end of episode, Amedisys clinical team is retrieving end of episode recommendations that support individualized care plan updates, including helping to inform recertification versus discharge decisions which drive best in class patient outcome. At any time during the episode, providers can see and plan actions in Pulse to improve LUPAs due to unplanned gaps in care, HHVBP measures, and more.

"As the industry continues to see evolving headwinds, there is one constant, and that is quality of care," said Elliott Wood, CEO of Medalogix. "Our mission has always been to provide individualized patient care, and by creating more visibility to the dynamic changes in condition, visit by visit, of patients in Pulse, providers can now manage patients to drive outcomes regardless of complexities the industry may be facing."

"Pulse has been an effective approach in our strategy to manage Medicare Advantage patients," added Nick Muscato, Chief Strategy Officer, Amedisys. "Medalogix is a primary enabler for how Amedisys can take risk with payers and shift to case rate structure. Pulse is helping us manage episodes more effectively; by managing towards individual patient needs we are seeing an average CMS Compare STAR rating of 4.4, compared to the industry average of 3.25. This empowers us to enter Medicare Advantage negotiations a little differently than our competitors."

To aid providers in understanding the potential to improve quality of care with Pulse, Medalogix is offering to show providers their live patient data in the Pulse solution with no obligation and no cost. Through this free, no commitment review of provider patient data, Medalogix will present best practices designed to improve staff satisfaction, patient experience, clinical and financial outcomes. To learn more, visit www.medalogix.com/pulseinpractice.

About Amedisys

Amedisys, Inc. is a leading healthcare at home Company delivering personalized home health, hospice, and high-acuity care services. Amedisys is focused on delivering the care that is best for our patients, whether that is home-based personal care; inpatient hospital, palliative, and skilled nursing facility ("SNF") care in their homes; recovery and rehabilitation after an operation or injury; care focused on empowering them to manage a chronic disease; or hospice care at the end of life. More than 3,000 hospitals and 102,000 physicians nationwide have chosen Amedisys as a partner in post-acute care. Founded in 1982, headquartered in Baton Rouge, LA with an executive office in Nashville, TN, Amedisys is a publicly held company. With approximately 20,000 employees, in 532 care centers in 37 states and the District of Columbia, Amedisys is dedicated to delivering the highest quality of care to the doorsteps of more than 465,000 patients in need every year, performing more than 11.2 million visits annually. For more information about the Company, please visit: www.amedisys.com.

About Medalogix (medalogix.com)

Founded in 2012, Medalogix is a pioneer in the post-acute care space, offering unique data analytics solutions to transform home health and hospice agencies. Leveraging cutting-edge data science, machine learning, and innovative cloud technology, Medalogix equips clinicians and agencies to provide the right care at the right time, resulting in improved patient outcomes and reduced costs to the healthcare system. The company's machine learning solutions have demonstrated their effectiveness in reducing hospitalization, facilitating appropriate transitions to end-of-life care, and optimizing visit utilization for patients.

SOURCE Medalogix

28 december 2023 at 08:00

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Be Biopharma to Present at the 42nd Annual J.P. Morgan Healthcare Conference





Be Biopharma, Inc. ("Be Bio"), a company pioneering the discovery and development of Engineered B Cell Medicines (BCMs), today announced that Chief Executive Officer Joanne Smith-Farrell,Ph.D., will present at the 42nd Annual J.P. Morgan Healthcare Conference being held at the Westin St. Francis in San Francisco, CA on Wednesday, January 10, 2024.

42nd Annual J.P. Morgan Healthcare Conference

Presentation Date: Wednesday, January 10, 2024

Presentation Time: 8:30 am PT

About Engineered B Cell Medicines ? A New Class of Cellular Medicines

The B cell is a powerful cell that produces thousands of proteins per cell per second at constant levels, over decades. Precision genome editing can now be used to engineer B Cells that produce therapeutic proteins of interest, driving a new class of cellular medicines ? Engineered B Cell Medicines (BCMs) ? with the potential to be durable, allogeneic, redosable and administered without pre-conditioning. The promise of BCMs could transform therapeutic biologics with broad application ? across protein classes, patient populations and therapeutic areas.

About Be Biopharma

Be Biopharma ("Be Bio") is pioneering Engineered B Cell Medicines (BCMs) to dramatically improve the lives of patients who are living with cancer, rare diseases and other serious conditions. With eyes locked on the patient, our team of purpose-driven scientists, technologists, manufacturing experts and business builders collaborate to create a bold new class of cell therapies. Be Bio was founded in October 2020 by B cell engineering pioneers David Rawlings, M.D., and Richard James, Ph.D., from Seattle Children's Research Institute. Be Bio is backed by ARCH Venture Partners, Atlas Venture, RA Capital Management, Alta Partners, Longwood Fund, Bristol Myers Squibb, Takeda Ventures, Seattle Children's Research Institute and others. Since our founding, Be Bio's investors have committed over $180 million to enable the Company to re-imagine medicine based on the power of B cell therapy. For more information, please visit us at Be.Bio and our LinkedIn page.

28 december 2023 at 09:05

News published onand distributed by:
French President Emmanuel Macron demanded a "lasting ceasefire" in Gaza during a call with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Wednesday, December 27, his office said, as an escalating humanitarian crisis grips the Palestinian territory. "France will work in the coming days in cooperation with Jordan to carry out humanitarian operations in Gaza," the French presidency added in a statement.

Macron told the Israeli premier of his "deepest concern" about civilian deaths and the humanitarian emergency in Gaza. He also insisted on the importance of measures to end violence by Israeli settlers against Palestinian civilians in the occupied West Bank and prevent new planned settlements.

Netanyahu's office said during the call the prime minister thanked Macron for "France's involvement in defending freedom of navigation and its willingness to help restore security along Israel's border with Lebanon."

The conflict erupted when Hamas gunmen attacked southern Israel, resulting in the deaths of about 1,140 people, mostly civilians, according to Israeli figures. Palestinian militants also took around 250 hostages, 129 of whom remain in captivity, Israel says.

Israel vowed to destroy Hamas and retaliated with relentless bombardment and a ground invasion in Gaza that has killed at least 21,110 people, mainly women and children, according to the territory's Hamas-run health ministry.

Read more Article reserve a nos abonnes France is still finding its bearings with the war in Gaza
The Henri Coanda International Airport, in Bucharest, March 2013. CRISTIAN BORTES / CC BY 2.0

Romania and Bulgaria have reached an agreement with Austria to join the European Schengen area of free movement by sea and air in March 2024, the Romanian government said Wednesday. "After 13 years, Romania is finally going to join Schengen! We have a political agreement on this," Romanian Prime Minister Marcel Ciolacu wrote on Facebook.

The Romanian interior ministry said in a statement that a "political agreement" had been reached between the three countries on extending the zone "to the air and sea borders" of Romania and Bulgaria "from March 2024".

The question of the opening of land borders has been postponed until discussions to be held next year. Austria, which vetoed the entry of the two countries a year ago, put forward the idea of what it called "Air Schengen" at the beginning of December.

It said it was prepared to relax the rules governing air traffic for Bulgaria and Romania if Brussels strengthened the EU's external borders.

Romania and Bulgaria, both members of the EU since 2007, were rejected at the end of 2022 from the vast zone within which more than 400 million people can travel freely without internal border controls.

Their applications were vetoed by Austria, which has been complaining for years that it has to put up with a disproportionate amount of illegal immigration as a result of poorly protected external Schengen borders.

The Schengen area was created in 1985 and includes 23 of the 27 EU member states as well as their associated neighbors Switzerland, Norway, Iceland and Liechtenstein.
Bodies are recovered from the mass graves dug on the ground in the western town of Tarhuna (Lybia), on February 9, 2022. MAHMUD TURKIA / AFP

The small town of Tarhuna, 90 kilometers south of Tripoli, tells the story of a Libya that has been in the grip of a never-ending transition for 12 years: Dubious alliances with various foreign powers, the reign of an all-powerful militia and civilians caught in the crossfire. In the absence of justice, and with the total impunity that characterizes the post-Gaddafi era, the cycles of violence follow one another like an endless vendetta.

For 10 years, Tarhuna, in Tripolitania, which supported Muammar Gaddafi during the revolution, suffered the terror of a revolutionary militia, associated in turn with the western government recognized by the international community and the military power of Cyrenaica led by Marshal Khalifa Haftar. The "Kaniyat," the militia of the powerful Kani brothers, crowned by their success in the "February 17th movement" (2011 revolution), gradually extended their hold to all spheres of the city, effectively setting up a kind of dictatorial, autonomous mini-state, with its own police force, prison system, judiciary, and parallel economy.

It was only after Haftar's failed attempt to conquer Tripoli in 2020 that the forces of the "Volcano of Anger," the coalition that had defended the capital, discovered the first mass graves in Tarhuna containing the bodies of 100s of people, most of them civilians. The bodies bore signs of torture: Hands were tied, bullets had been fired into the head or torso, genitals mutilated. The remains of children, women, and entire families, whose bodies had been thrown together, were found. Victims were often buried alive.

Little by little, the truth about the years of terror endured is beginning to emerge. With so many dead, it was often sub-Saharan migrants, forcibly conscripted, who dumped the bodies in mass graves during the night. Others were abandoned in the city's public rubbish dump, most of them unidentified. Torture raged in official and unofficial detention centers. Farms, factories, and garages were used as prisons, where enemies of the Kani were sometimes locked up in cubes less than one square meter in size, which the guards heated by piling burning ashes on the roof. Four years on, and despite investigations by the International Criminal Court and the United Nations, no one responsible has yet been brought to trial.

Those responsible have been identified

The reasons for this impunity are diverse, but they lie neither in a lack of resources nor in a lack of information. Those responsible are well known, identified, and were listed by a UN commission of inquiry in its final report published on March 23, and by victims' associations. They are to be found in the Kani brothers' various alliances and supporters, for the charge of crimes against humanity includes command responsibility, including omission or failure to prevent violations.

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A NUMBER of Limerick artists have signed an open letter to the Joe Biden, President of the United States of America for a ceasefire in Gaza.

Composer Bill Whelan signed the letter as well as popular Limerick band Hermitage Green.

Limerick producer Martin Atkinson is also among 100 other artists who have signed the letter from across the country.

The letter was initiated by Sadaka - The Ireland Palestine Alliance and sent on behalf of the artists by Sadaka coordinator Fiona Fitzgerald who grew up in Rhebogue.

In the letter the group wrote: As musicians, song-writers, artists and writers we find ourselves at a loss in how to address the immediate and urgent needs of the people of Gaza.

We write to you as the president of the United States of America, the worlds most powerful nation and with the influence and authority to bring about an end to this tragic situation.

Gaza City has been destroyed, leaving hundreds of thousands of people homeless and with no hope of being rehoused.

Despite appeals from virtually all quarters, including the United States, essential humanitarian aid trickles into Gaza, just a fraction of what is required to assist the 1.8 million displaced people.

The artists concluded the letter with lines from The Cure at Troy by Irish poet Seamus Heaney.
A PYROMANIAC who caused hundreds of thousands of euros in fire damage to two protected three-storey Georgian properties and turned a familys forever home into a black and dilapidated eyesore has been jailed.

The owners of Tir Connell on the Ennis Road in Limerick city said it was like being trapped in a horror film as they watched their dream home and savings go up quite literally in smoke.

Darren Holland, aged 41, of Cliona Park, Moyross pleaded guilty to the arson of Tir Connell and Glenlevan, Ennis Road, criminal damage and burglary at Tir Connell, and attempted burglary at a third property on the Ennis Road.

Prosecuting barrister John OSullivan, instructed by State Solicitor Padraig Mawe, outlined the evidence with the assistance of Detective Garda Ronan Humphreys at Limerick Circuit Court.

Mr OSullivan said emergency services received reports of a fire at a three-storey Georgian house on the Ennis Road, Limerick city shortly before 10pm on April 4, 2023.

Numerous units of Limerick Fire and Rescue Service were in attendance to quench the fire. It was discovered the fire was started maliciously, said Mr OSullivan.

CCTV was harvested which showed a male exiting Tir Connell through a second storey window and climbing down scaffolding.

The perpetrator gained access after breaking a window in the front door, the court heard.

As Det Garda Humphreys was returning to Mayorstone station from the scene he saw a male wearing clothes - exactly matching those of the man on CCTV - in the car-park of the Circle K in Thomondgate. The accused - Mr Holland -was arrested and questioned. A lighter was found on his person.

Mr Holland told gardai he had no memory of the arson but identified himself on CCTV. I was out of my mind, he said.

The court heard Mr Holland had taken 15 tablets of street xanax (benzos), had a row with his partner, took 15 more tablets and then went begging for food to soak up the tablets on the night in question.

Mr Holland has 10 previous convictions for arson.

Det Garda Humphreys confirmed to Mr OSullivan renovations were ongoing at Tir Connell and nobody was living there at the time. Mr OSullivan said Tir Connell was extensively damaged and the interior completely damaged.

Det Garda Humphreys said a preliminary cost of rectifying the damage was 835,857.05

The prosecuting barrister said the attic of the adjoining property (Glenlevan) was damaged by the fire. Det Garda Humphreys said he had been in contact with Martin Quinn, a co-owner of Glenlevan, based at Harvard University, but was unable to ascertain the cost .

Mr OSullivan read out a victim impact statement by Aoife Roberts on behalf of herself and her husband, Michael Roberts, the owners of Tir Connell.

She said they purchased the property as their forever home for themselves and two children and hoped to move in in August 2023 following renovations.

It was their dream home but those hopes and dreams were shattered by the fire, she said. The family went to the scene of the fire on April 4 which Ms Roberts said was like being trapped in a horror film as they watched each floor disappear. She said they would be forever grateful to Limerick Fire and Rescue Service and gardai.

Ms Roberts said they returned to their rental accommodation blackened by smoke and couldnt sleep as they had no idea why their house was attacked. She addressed unfounded gossip and fictitious rumours about insurance claims on social media in the victim impact statement.

Ms Roberts said they are effectively homeless with their belongings in storage and living out of suitcases. The victim said their savings had gone up quite literally in smoke and they have been left with a charred carcass of a house. She said it took months for the insurers to admit liability, described the enormous cost of restoring the historic building but that the psychological effects could not be costed.

Ms Roberts said they had got incredible support from family and friends but this nightmare is ours and ours alone. Whenever they are stuck in traffic on the Ennis Road and see the black and dilapidated eyesore they recall that horrible night.

Mr Hollands barrister Liam Carroll said as far as arson is concerned the burning of a house is the most serious.

He is deeply, deeply sorry to Mr and Mrs Roberts and their family. He knows he can do nothing about the fire damage. He hopes the cost of repairs will be covered by insurance and they will be able to move in in the future, said Mr Carroll.

The barrister said his client was raised by a single mother unable to look after him, often leaving him with adults taking substances.

When he was 13/14 he would often travel to the east of the country, take the ferry to England, make his way to London and take acid and LSD on the streets of London. He realised he needed stability and planned to move to America to live with his father. Just before he turned 18 his father was killed in a road traffic collision. He saw little hope and began using drugs to a greater extent, said Mr Carroll. He said Mr Hollands convictions occurred under the influence of drugs.

Temporary pyromania is all I can describe it as. He doesnt remember. He blacks out. He had taken a concoction of heroin and benzos. His behaviour is most disturbing. He doesnt shy away from it, said Mr Carroll, who added that Mr Holland is addressing his drug addiction in prison.

Judge ODonnell said he found aspects of the case unusual, extraordinary and very serious. He spoke of the damage to historic, preserved properties due to the criminal actions of the accused.

Judge ODonnell said the victim impact statement was lengthy, erudite and gives a vivid picture of the psychological and financial impact of his actions. The 10 previous convictions for arson were of enormous concern, he said.

Judge ODonnell imposed separate eight year jail sentences for the arson attacks on Tir Connell and Glenlevan to be served concurrently. All other matters were taken into consideration.
Smoke rises following an Israeli airstrike in the southern Gaza Strip city of Khan Younis, on Dec. 27, 2023. During the past 24 hours, 195 people were killed while 325 were injured and transported to hospitals due to Israeli attacks, said the Gaza Health Ministry. (Photo by Yasser Qudih/Xinhua)

GAZA, Dec. 27 (Xinhua) -- An Israeli bombardment near a hospital in southern Gaza killed at least 20 people and wounded dozens more on Wednesday, the Gaza Health Ministry said.

The ministry spokesman Ashraf al-Qedra said in a statement that the death toll could rise as rescuers searched for survivors under the rubble of a residential building near Al Amal Hospital in Khan Younis, a densely-populated city in southern Gaza.

Local sources told Xinhua that there were many displaced Palestinians inside the building when the attack happened, while rescuers at the site said most of the victims were retrieved in "dismembered parts."

Prior to the attack, the casualties from the Israeli attacks in the Gaza Strip rose to 21,110 deaths and 55,243 injuries, according to the Health Ministry.

During the past 24 hours, 195 people were killed while 325 were injured and transported to hospitals due to Israeli attacks, said the ministry.

The ministry's spokesman warned against the deliberate targeting by the Israeli army of the vicinity surrounding the Nasser Medical Complex in Khan Younis, southern Gaza, urging international institutions to take effective and immediate steps to ensure the protection of the complex, its staff, the wounded, and the thousands of displaced people within it. 

Smoke rises following an Israeli airstrike in the southern Gaza Strip city of Khan Younis, on Dec. 27, 2023. During the past 24 hours, 195 people were killed while 325 were injured and transported to hospitals due to Israeli attacks, said the Gaza Health Ministry. (Photo by Yasser Qudih/Xinhua)

Smoke rises following an Israeli airstrike in the southern Gaza Strip city of Khan Younis, on Dec. 27, 2023. During the past 24 hours, 195 people were killed while 325 were injured and transported to hospitals due to Israeli attacks, said the Gaza Health Ministry. (Photo by Yasser Qudih/Xinhua)

Smoke rises following an Israeli airstrike in the southern Gaza Strip city of Khan Younis, on Dec. 27, 2023. During the past 24 hours, 195 people were killed while 325 were injured and transported to hospitals due to Israeli attacks, said the Gaza Health Ministry. (Photo by Yasser Qudih/Xinhua)

Smoke rises following an Israeli airstrike in the southern Gaza Strip city of Khan Younis, on Dec. 27, 2023. During the past 24 hours, 195 people were killed while 325 were injured and transported to hospitals due to Israeli attacks, said the Gaza Health Ministry. (Photo by Yasser Qudih/Xinhua)

Smoke rises following an Israeli airstrike in the southern Gaza Strip city of Khan Younis, on Dec. 27, 2023. During the past 24 hours, 195 people were killed while 325 were injured and transported to hospitals due to Israeli attacks, said the Gaza Health Ministry. (Photo by Yasser Qudih/Xinhua)

Smoke rises following an Israeli airstrike in the southern Gaza Strip city of Khan Younis, on Dec. 27, 2023. During the past 24 hours, 195 people were killed while 325 were injured and transported to hospitals due to Israeli attacks, said the Gaza Health Ministry. (Photo by Yasser Qudih/Xinhua)

A temporary shelter is seen at Nuseirat Refugee Camp, central Gaza Strip, on Dec. 26, 2023. During the past 24 hours, 195 people were killed while 325 were injured and transported to hospitals in the Gaza Strip due to Israeli attacks, said the Gaza Health Ministry. (Xinhua)

People cook food at Nuseirat Refugee Camp, central Gaza Strip, on Dec. 26, 2023. During the past 24 hours, 195 people were killed while 325 were injured and transported to hospitals in the Gaza Strip due to Israeli attacks, said the Gaza Health Ministry. (Xinhua)

People flee from their homes at Nuseirat Refugee Camp, central Gaza Strip, on Dec. 26, 2023. During the past 24 hours, 195 people were killed while 325 were injured and transported to hospitals in the Gaza Strip due to Israeli attacks, said the Gaza Health Ministry. (Xinhua)

An injured man is treated at a temporary hospital in Nuseirat Refugee Camp, central Gaza Strip, on Dec. 26, 2023. During the past 24 hours, 195 people were killed while 325 were injured and transported to hospitals in the Gaza Strip due to Israeli attacks, said the Gaza Health Ministry. (Xinhua)

People cook food at Nuseirat Refugee Camp, central Gaza Strip, on Dec. 26, 2023. During the past 24 hours, 195 people were killed while 325 were injured and transported to hospitals in the Gaza Strip due to Israeli attacks, said the Gaza Health Ministry. (Xinhua)

People make bread at Nuseirat Refugee Camp, central Gaza Strip, on Dec. 26, 2023. During the past 24 hours, 195 people were killed while 325 were injured and transported to hospitals in the Gaza Strip due to Israeli attacks, said the Gaza Health Ministry. (Xinhua)

Editor: JYZ
TRIBUTES are flooding in as a Limerick community mourns the unexpected passing of a woman known for her unwavering dedication to education and the warmth she extended to all.

Elma Power (nee Howard), of Riverside, Kilfinane, Co Limerick and formerly of Ballindangan, Mitchelstown, Co Cork, passed unexpectedly but peacefully on St Stephen's Day.

Her daughter Grace, who spoke to Limerick Live, remembers her inspirational mother with love and admiration. "As our mum, she made our house a home," said the 34-year-old. "The little kind and thoughtful things that she used to do for us, we are going to miss them".

Looking back on her engagement abroad, Grace said: "My mum really was there for everything. When I got off the plane, she was standing there with flowers and balloons waiting to celebrate with us."

Having studied to teach home economics and religion at St Angela's College in Sligo, Elma went on to teach the subjects at Scoil Pol in Kilfinane.

The 66-year-old left an indelible mark on the lives of her students and colleagues at the secondary school. "That school was so important to her," stated her daughter, as she recounted how her late mother spent her entire career there.

"She was the type of person to believe in people".

A testament to her teaching prowess lies in the memories of those fortunate enough to have been in her classes. A tribute posted to social media by a community member of Kilfinane said: "She truly was the teacher you would remember, the one you wanted to do well for and whose words of encouragement and advice stayed with you long after you had left school."

Having retired a year-and-a-half ago, many of her students fondly remember her as more than just an educator, above all, she was a friend and mentor. Her impact extended beyond the classroom, particularly during her years as the LCA coordinator, where she guided and influenced countless students.

Taking to social media, one former student wrote: "This is so incredibly sad. When I re-sat my leaving in 2013, Elma or Mrs Power, was really such a rock to me and guided me through so much while I studied from home with two small children.

"She was such a lovely woman and fantastic teacher and mentor. My heart goes out to her daughters, Louisa and Grace and of course to Denis".

Another friend wrote: "Deepest sympathy Denis and girls. Absolute lady. Inspired me to become the teacher I am. Was always my idol in Scoil Pol. Amazing teacher".

Having read the mountain of tributes and condolences flooding in for Elma, Grace, added that she and her entire family have been overwhelmed by the support they have received on social media following: "When I saw the comments, I wished she could have seen them too".

Elma is predeceased by her parents, Tom and Peg. Beloved wife of Denis, loving mother of Louisa and Grace, and dear eldest sister of Jim, Ryan and Vincent.

She is sadly missed and deeply regretted by her loving family, son-in-law Fernando, Louisas partner Daniel, sisters-in-law Karin, Una and Sheila, aunt, uncle, nieces, nephews, cousins, relatives, and many cherished friends and former colleagues in Scoil Pol, Kilfinane.

Funeral arrangements are yet to be announced and the family has requested privacy during this time.

In lieu of flowers, they ask that contributions be made to Clionas Foundation.
Former Irish president Mary McAleese pledged to do whatever she could to secure more recognition of Ulster Scots culture in the Republic of Ireland, archives show.

The commitment from Mrs McAleese was made to members of the Ulster Scots Agency at a reception at her official residence in Dublin, Aras an Uachtarain, in 2001, according to an account of the exchange.

The account of the November 11 reception is contained within the chief executives report presented to a board meeting of the agency.

The minutes of the agencys board meetings in 2001 are included in newly released archives from the Public Records Office of Northern Ireland.

The Ulster Scots Agency was one of several cross-border bodies that were established under the Good Friday Agreement.

Its Irish language equivalent body is Foras na Gaeilge.

Acting chief executive of the agency Stan Mallon and fellow board members were invited to a reception at Aras organised for all the cross-border bodies created by the agreement.

Mr Mallon recounted a conversation with President McAleese.

I took the opportunity to raise with the President the dilemma the Agency faces in seeking proper recognition of the validity and value of the Ulster Scots culture in the Republic, he wrote.

I told her I believed that much could be done there to remedy this, especially through the medium of education. I said the Agency would greatly welcome the opportunity to meet with key decision-makers in education in the Republic to seek their advice and guidance as to the most effective and appropriate way of implementing the Agencys education strategy in relation to the Republic. I said that I thought that the imprimatur of the Presidents office behind such a meeting would be most beneficial.

She listened carefully to what I had to say and said she would do whatever she could to help.

Mr Mallon went on to say that later at the reception he had a much more personable and longer discussion on the topic with the presidents husband Martin McAleese.

He is a personal friend of the head of the Department of Education in the Republic and said that he (sic) if I dropped him a line he would ensure that arrangements for such a meeting would be put in train.

I sent the necessary letter to Dr McAleese and he phoned me the next day to acknowledge receipt and to say that I could expect a call from the Department in the near future.
A STATUS Yellow warning has been issued for a number of counties in the wake of Storm Gerritt.

A wind and rain warning for Clare, Kerry, Donegal, Galway, Leitrim, Mayo, Sligo is in effect from this Thursday morning until 6am Friday.

There will be strong and gusty southwest to west winds at times.

A combination of spring tides, large waves and strong winds may result in some coastal flooding, while squally showers may lead to localised flooding.

A Status Yellow thunderstorm warning for Munster, Donegal and Connacht has also been issued.

Scattered thunderstorms are forecast across the west of the country, with lightning and hail possible too.

Met Eireann have also warned the public to expect possible power outages and hazardous travelling conditions.

There was strong winds and rain through Wednesday night as Storm Gerritt passed through the country, but some counties saw much less damage than expected.

Cork and Kerry saw some surface flooding and fallen trees, with minimal damage.

However ESB crews are working to restore power to hundreds of homes across Clare, Waterford and areas of Cork following the heavy weather through the night.
A status orange wind warning has been issued for five counties in Ireland, amid warnings of dangerous travelling conditions.

The warning covering Clare, Cork, Kerry, Waterford and Wexford came into effect at 5pm and will be in place throughout Wednesday, lifting at midnight.

An earlier orange warning for Galway has been lifted.

Met Eireann said the five counties would see strong and very gusty westerly winds.

Status Orange  Wind warning for Clare, Cork, Kerry, Waterford, Wexford Strong & very gusty westerly winds will reach storm or near storm force for a time this evening Valid until 00:00 28/12/2023 More information herehttps://t.co/BoUueCIxKa pic.twitter.com/JxUBpSMmjh  Met Eireann (@MetEireann) December 27, 2023

The forecaster said power outages and severe disruption were likely.

It warned of dangerous travelling conditions and the likelihood of coastal flooding.

A status yellow warning for wind and rain is in operation for the rest of the country until midnight on Wednesday.

Very strong and gusty south-westerly winds are forecast.

A further narrow band of heavy rain is currently crossing N. Ireland. Surface water, spray and spot flooding of roads continue to make for difficult travel conditions. #weatheraware pic.twitter.com/Wkosa8Dbj3  Met Office  Northern Ireland (@metofficeNI) December 27, 2023

Met Eireann said the strong winds combined with spring tides may lead to coastal flooding in places covered by the yellow warning.

It said squally showers, with a chance of thunderstorms, could also see localised flooding elsewhere.

In Northern Ireland, a Met Office yellow wind and rain warning covering the entire region came into effect at 2am on Wednesday and lifted at 10am.

There were reports of localised floods in several areas in the region, with many roads closed as a consequence.
Stormont has had a quiet 2023 with the institutions yet to get up and running, but the emergence of Sinn Fein as Northern Irelands largest party at council level ensured it was nonetheless a landmark year.

The historic Republican party had a triumphant night at local government polls but, due to political deadlock over trading arrangements, Michelle ONeill has still not yet taken up her likely role as first minister because of the constraints of powersharing despite being the largest party in Assembly elections in 2022.

Elsewhere, US President Joe Biden, who has strong Irish roots, visited the country while there was turmoil at the PSNI in the autumn, leading to change at the top.

The coronation divided views but the presence of Ms ONeill at Westminster Abbey signalled that there has been change since the previous such event in 1953.

The cases of Natalie McNally and Chloe Mitchell provoked demonstrations against violence towards women, both were found dead in cases with criminal proceedings under way.

Mr Bidens visit to Northern Ireland preceded a longer stay south of the border but the US president still managed to fit in meetings with politicians and a speech at Ulster University.

Some demonstrators used his visit to voice concern about policy issues.

The Good Friday agreement featured strongly in talks 25 years after they were made but the injuries sustained by John Caldwell, an off-duty police officer, in February showed that such incidents are not yet entirely banished to the history books.

Sinn Feins success at constitutional politics was reflected in a landmark local elections result although Ms ONeill has still to assume the role of first minister with Stormont remaining shut down.

That will only occur when a deal is done with opposition parties to enable an executive to be formed.

For the first time in 70 years, a coronation drew tributes and protests with the King and Queen visiting weeks after the event which had been attended by Ms ONeill in a sign of how Northern Ireland has changed since the previous such event.

The people of Northern Ireland had weeks earlier marked the coronation day itself in different ways although the first minister-in-waitings presence at the ceremony was a sign of change.

There were varied weather conditions with a snowy start to the year, very high temperatures in June and September and floods in November.

The marching season came and went with one loyalist bonfire featuring an image of the first minister in waiting, prompting a police investigation.

However, the police themselves were coming under scrutiny with a series of issues including a data breach leading to the departure of chief constable Simon Byrne who was replaced by Jon Boutcher.

Permission was granted to remove some trees at Dark Hedges, known around the world because of their association with television series Game Of Thrones.
The rainforests are alive with the sound of animals. Besides the pleasure of the din, it is also useful to ecologists. If you want to measure the biodiversity of a piece of land, listening out for animal calls is much easier than grubbing about in the undergrowth looking for tracks or spoor. But such bioacoustic analysis" is still time-consuming, and it requires an expert pair of ears.

In a paper published on October 17th in Nature Communications, a group of researchers led by Jorg Muller, an ecologist at the University of Wurzburg, describe a better way: have a computer do the job. Smartphone apps already exist that will identify birds, bats or mammals simply by listening to the sounds they make. Their idea was to apply the principle to conservation work.

The researchers took recordings from across 43 sites in the Ecuadorean rainforest. Some sites were relatively pristine, old-growth forest. Others were areas that had recently been cleared for pasture or cacao planting. And some had been cleared but then abandoned, allowing the forest to regrow.

Sound recordings were taken four times every hour, over two weeks. The various calls were identified manually by an expert, and then used to construct a list of the species present. As expected, the longer the land had been free from agricultural activity, the greater the biodiversity it hosted.

Then it was the computers turn. The researchers fed their recordings to artificial-intelligence models that had been trained, using sound samples from elsewhere in Ecuador, to identify 75 bird species from their calls. We found that the AI tools could identify the sounds as well as the experts," says Dr Muller.

Of course, not everything in a rainforest makes a noise. Dr Muller and his colleagues used light-traps to capture night-flying insects, and DNA analysis to identify them. Reassuringly, they found that the diversity of noisy animals was a reliable proxy for the diversity of the quieter ones, too.

The results may have relevance outside ecology departments, too. Under pressure from their customers, firms such as LOreal, a make-up company, and Shell, an oil firm, have been spending money on forest restoration projects around the world. Dr Muller hopes that an automated approach to checking on the results could help monitor such efforts, and give a standardised way to measure whether they are working as well as their sponsors say.

Curious about the world? To enjoy our mind-expanding science coverage, sign up to Simply Science, our weekly subscriber-only newsletter.

 2023, The Economist Newspaper Limited. All rights reserved. From The Economist, published under licence. The original content can be found on www.economist.com
The Mamata Banerjee government in West Bengal on Thursday announced a 100% waiver of penalty on tax dues for all types of registered vehicles in the state in a two-month window till February 29.

The state government expects that the waiver will encourage owners of both private and commercial vehicles to pay the due taxes.

Transport Minister Snehasish Chakraborty also announced a 100% waiver of additional fees for not obtaining fitness certificates for vehicles on time and a penalty on delayed renewal or issuance of permits from January 1 to 30, and an 80% waiver thereafter till February 29.

The transport minister said vehicles registered in West Bengal will be eligible for a 100% waiver on penalty on tax dues accrued till December 31 in a two-month window from January 1 to February 29.

Also Read | Value of bank frauds spiked 10 times in 10 years, shows RBI data

The waivers on vehicle tax dues will benefit lakhs of vehicle owners in the state, a transport department official said.

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At Treehouse Resort, Jaipur, we feel deeply connected to the land. We want you to share in this sentiment - to immerse yourself in the lives of locals, to spot the gorgeous wildlife in this region, to check out the unique activities that you can partake in. Thats why we share insights in to different activities, tours and day-trips to help you explore the beauty in - and beyond - the boundaries of the resort. Let us peel back the secret delights of this region, take you through the bustling markets and the stately palaces of Jaipur, introduce you to the elephants and leopards that roam the land. Here are 10 local experiences to try during your stay at Treehouse Jaipur .

The Unique and Undiscovered

We may have built a serene and peaceful natural resort, but we have also left plenty of room for your wild side to emerge - whether its climbing onto an ATV for an off-road ride or ascending high up in the sky in a hot air balloon. Its time to step out of your comfort zone and go, go, go:

Motorsport Off-roading: Were declaring this is one of the coolest things to do in Jaipur. Climb onto a Rage Cyclone, Polaris RZR, Hammerhead, ATV or a Polaris Sportsman and blaze your own path across the land. Discover what lies beyond the paved roads, the villages, mountains, farms and fields and plantations in the hidden paths of Jaipur.

Hot Air Balloon: One of the most interesting places to visit in Jaipur is right up in the skies, in a hot air balloon. From this vantage point, you can look down as forts, villages and other landscapes of this region pass by. Piloted by experts, this is the perfect setting for watching the sun rise, spending time with the family, or proposing to your significant other?

The Land and the Locals

At Treehouse Resort, Jaipur, we are deeply attached to both the land and the locals. We respect and admire their customs, culture and crafts. Our hyperlocal, authentic experiences offer you a window to the people who have built lives here.

Village Tour: Near the resort, there are many villages - each with their own traditions and ways of life. Weve organised a unique Jaipur sightseeing tour of these. Take a few hours from your holiday and discover local art and crafts. Play village games. Visit local schools, houses and businesses in the village. Enjoy the authentic flavours of local cuisine!

Hathi Gaon: One of the most fun places in Jaipur is located near our resort! It is the elephant sanctuary known as Elefantastic. Soak in the presence of these gentle giants. Meet, greet and feed them, learn their feeding habits, paint traditional art on the elephants skin using all-natural paint, go for a walk with the elephants and help bathe them!

Heritage and History

Kings, palaces, forts, battles, architecture and beauty - Jaipurs legacy and legends are unparalleled in India. So naturally, we offer lovely Jaipur Sightseeing Tours where you can explore all of this and more.

Fort-hopping: The Aravallis are dotted with magnificent forts. You can see these regal ruins, spearing up from the hills, each with its own legends and silent stories. The tour begins after breakfast and covers the Achrol Fort and Achaleshwar temple, the 16th Century Bhangarh Fort, Thanagazi Fort and Kankwari Fort. Lunch and High Tea will be provided.

The Royal Tour: Jaipur tourists always flock to these regal palaces, forts and historical spots - and with good reason. Each of these must visit places in Jaipur has played a role in the citys rich history. Visits to the 200-year old Hawa Mahal, Nahargarh Fort, the City Palace built by Raja Jai Singh, a thousand year old stepwell called Chand Baori, Jantar Mantar Amber Fort, Jaigarh Fort and the Albert Hall museum make for an unforgettable day in the city. The highlight of the tour? Royal Lunch at the spectacular Amber Fort.

Bazaars and Bargaining

Bazaars of the City: Fabrics, bags, jewellery, souvenirs, shoes, antiques, home furnishings, art and crafts Jaipurs markets and bazaars provide a dizzying delight of local products and souvenirs that you can buy. Were taking you to Johari Bazaar, Tripoli Bazaar, Kishanpole Bazaar, Nehru Bazaar, Bapu Bazaar, Mirza Ismail Road, Tibbati Market and more. Trust us, these markets should be a part of your Jaipur itinerary.

Treasure Trove: Looking for the brightest and best Jaipur shopping market? Then look no further than Johari Bazaar. Here, shops are filled with the dazzle and sparkle of jewellery. Whether you're looking for gold or silver, readymade or customised jewellery, Rajasthani or any other style, this bazaar offers something for every shopper. Dont pass up on an opportunity to visit this famous market in Jaipur.

Safaris and Sightings

Enjoy safari to famous national parks and reserves like Sariska Tiger Reserve, Jhalana Leopard Reserve and Amargarh Leopard Reserve.

Sariska Tiger Reserve: Bright, beautiful and bold. Can anything compare to the fierce beauty of a tiger? Youll get a chance to discover that for yourself with a visit to this reserve. Along with 20 successfully relocated Bengal tigers, the reserve also boasts of Indian leopard, jungle cat, striped hyena, golden jackal, sambar deer, chital, wild boar, rare birds.

Jhalana and Amagarh Leopard Reserves: Leopards are beautiful, shy, solitary and nocturnal big cats, so the odds of spotting them are difficult. However, the Jhalana and Amagarh leopard reserves (the first of their kind in India) are home to 40 and 16 leopards, respectively. Furthermore, you may be able to see their cubs at these reserves, along with a range of animals, birds, flora and fauna. You can choose a morning or evening safari and catch a glimpse of these careful cats!

You can book these activities and tours in advance by calling our resort.

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.

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Apples widening effort to turn its nine-year-old watch from a luxury timepiece into the ultimate all-in-one medical device is taking it into territory that is legally treacherous as well as potentially profitable.

This months suspension of Apple Watch sales was the starkest sign yet that the worlds most valuable tech company is treading new ground as it adds health features to the device. While Apple on Wednesday won a temporary reprieve to resume sales, specialists in medical devices say the technical and legal challenges are likely to continue.

For years, Apple has enhanced the gadget with potentially lifesaving monitors for atrial fibrillation, falls and blood-oxygen issuesraising its appeal for an aging population.

Many medical professionals envision a day when devices like the Apple Watch could also allow users to track blood pressure without the need for a bulky cuff, or blood sugar without the pain of skin punctures.

But for that, customers might have to wait. Just as Apple has been a pioneer in personal electronics, companies large and small that have been working in the healthcare tech space for years have their own intellectual propertyand lawyers.

Apple is entering into a new space where their own innovation engine isnt as up to speed," said Andrei Iancu, a former director of the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office who stepped down in 2021. As a result, they might have the need for using other peoples technology."

Potential buyers had supplies cut off in recent days, as sales of the latest Apple Watch models were temporarily paused during a patent dispute over blood-oxygen sensing. Medical-technology company Masimo alleged in a 2021 complaint that Apple violated its patents. In October, the U.S. International Trade Commission banned the import of the tech giants watches. Apple appealed, and a court on Wednesday allowed it to resume sales while the court weighs its request to pause the ban.

Engineering hurdles

The Wall Street Journal has reported that Apple is planning to enhance its watches with health features in the coming years, including working on ways of measuring blood pressure, glucose levels, body temperature and other health metrics. Its cautious approach means it sometimes rolls out features slower than competitors.

The wrist is ideal for gathering health data because it is easy to reach, has a network of blood vessels close to the skins surface, and experiences less vigorous movement compared with other body parts, health experts say.

The skin is very thin at the wrist where we are already wearing watches," said Irl Hirsch, a professor at the University of Washington School of Medicine. Thats the sweet spot."

Yet using the wrist to measure blood pressure and blood-sugar levels, two big areas of expansion, poses significant engineering challenges. It involves advancing sensor technology and refining data analysis.

Samsung already offers blood-pressure monitoring in its Galaxy Watches in some markets outside the U.S. Googles Fitbit is also experimenting with it. Such wrist-based blood-pressure monitors use algorithms to get an estimated reading. They typically arent as reliable as traditional cuff-based measurements, which temporarily halt blood flow in an artery to gauge pressure, say medical professionals.

The studies that weve seen are not yet reassuring that theyre ready for prime time or for clinical use," said Jordana Cohen, associate professor of medicine and epidemiology at the University of Pennsylvania.

To secure Food and Drug Administration clearance for selling a blood-pressure monitor, companies must demonstrate through the FDAs 510(k) process that their devices accuracy is comparable to an existing, already cleared device, she added.

Similarly, tracking glucose through noninvasive skin sensors is generally less precise than direct blood analysis, with factors such as skin tone and temperature affecting accuracy. Apple might tackle this using light sensors that identify substances in the blood, such as glucose, and account for incorrect readings, according to a 2017 patent filing.

Other companiesincluding the startups Know Labs in Seattle and Hagar in Tel Avivare also working on methods for tracking blood sugar without puncturing the skin. In 2014, Google launched a project to track glucose with an electronic contact lens, but abandoned it four years later because of challenges in achieving reliable readings.

Legal hurdles

As Apple has added more health-sensing capabilities into its smartwatch, the company has found itself increasingly accused of taking technology from smaller players in the market and violating their patents, the Journal reported in April. Apple at the time denied the accusations and said some patents were overly broad.

Legal battles such as Apples current fight with Masimo highlight the nature of a highly regulated market where many players have been building one particular type of product for decades, said Ben Bajarin, principal analyst at consumer-technology research firm Creative Strategies. These established companies often have a strong portfolio of patents they can use to defend their markets.

AliveCor, a company that previously sold Apple accessories that performed electrocardiograms, alleged a similar case as Masimo, saying Apple violated several of its patents in a 2018 Apple Watch release. AliveCor also complained to the trade commission and won, but Apple was able to invalidate AliveCors patents through an appeal system at the patent office, avoiding an import ban. AliveCor is appealing the patent offices decision to revoke its patents.

Apple has been, at times, resistant to licensing smaller companies technology, the Journal previously reported. At the time, Apple said it pays licensing fees to many companies, including licenses for 25,000 patents over the prior three years.

Each health sensor added to the Apple Watch will come with its own set of new hurdles. As Apple gets further into the water," said Bajarin, there will be more of these companies it will have to navigate around."

Write to Dalvin Brown at dalvin.brown@wsj.com and Aaron Tilley at aaron.tilley@wsj.com
BEIJING, Dec. 27 (Xinhua) -- To commemorate the two-decade partnership between Chinese and Brazilian scientists, a flying reptile from the dinosaur era has been named Meilifeilong youhao, which translates as "beautiful dragon of friendship" in Mandarin.

According to a study published recently in the journal Scientific Reports, paleontologists from both nations discovered a new toothless pterosaur species based on two specimens, one of which is the most complete and well-preserved pterosaur ever recorded in Chaoyang city, northeast China's Liaoning Province.

Pterosaurs, or cousin of dinosaurs, were the first vertebrates to achieve powered flight. They fly using four extremely enlarged ring finger phalanges to support their membranes.

The well-preserved fossil represents an individual with a maximum wingspan of around 2.16 meters. According to the study, "Beautiful" was so named in reference to the remarkable fossil preservation.

This species also provides novel information on the unknown palatal region of this flying reptile found in this location, as well as the rarely preserved ear part with stapes.

Editor: WXL
Centre has pressured Apple in India to soften its message about potential hacking attempts on iPhones , a Washington Post report said recently. The move comes after several Opposition leaders and some journalists in October claimed that they had received emails from Apple warning them that state-sponsored attackers were potentially remotely trying to compromise the iPhones associated with their IDs.

The Washington Post report said, citing three unidentified sources, that Apple's India representatives were called by administration officials who demanded that the company help weaken the political impact of the warnings

An Apple security expert was also summoned from outside the country to a meeting in New Delhi and the expert was pressed to come up with alternative explanations for the warnings, it said.

Meanwhile, a Reuters report cited Apple and India's Ministry of Electronics and Information did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

INDIA members share screenshots of Apple warnings

On 31 October, several members of the Indian National Developmental Inclusive Alliance (INDIA) shared screenshots on social media of a notification quoting the iPhone manufacturer as saying: "Apple believes you are being targeted by state-sponsored attackers who are trying to remotely compromise the iPhone associated with your Apple ID".

Apple has previously said it did not attribute the threat notifications to "any specific state-sponsored attacker".

Union IT Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw voiced concern over Apple's threat notifications but refuted Opposition claims of government involvement in compromising phones, addressing the issue.

The government is concerned about this issue and it will get to the bottom of it. We have already ordered investigation into it," Vaishnaw told a press conference.

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Ratan Naval Tata, commonly known as Ratan Tata , needs no introduction. Industrialist, entrepreneur, and Tata Sons Chairman emeritus is well known for his philanthropic activities on national and international levels. Born on December 28, 1937, he was raised by his grandmother Navajbai Tata.

Ratan Tata has been awarded two of the highest civilian awards of India  the Padma Vibhushan (2008) and Padma Bhushan (2000)  for his immeasurable contributions towards nation-building.

Here are some interesting and unknown facts about the business tycoon that you might not be aware of:

The founder of the Tata group, Jamsetji Tata, is the great-grandfather of Ratan Tata. His parents got separated in 1948 when he was only ten years old and hence he was raised by his grandmother, Navajbai Tata, wife of Ratanji Tata.

Ratan Tata is unmarried. It is interesting to note that he came close to marrying four times, but could not married for various reasons. He once admitted that while he was working in Los Angeles, there was a time when he fell in love. But because of the 1962 Indo-China War, the girl's parents were opposed to sending her to India. After which he never got married.

Ratan Tata studied at Campion School, Mumbai till the 8th class, followed by Cathedral and John Connon School, Mumbai and at Bishop Cotton School Shimla. He received his diploma from Riverdale Country School in New York City in 1955.

Ratan Tata started his career with Tata group in 1961 and his first job was managing operations on the shop floor of Tata Steel. He later went to Harvard Business School to complete his studies. Ratan Tata is also an alumnus of the Cornell University College of Architecture.

Ratan Tata made TCS public in 2004. Under his leadership, Tata group got global attention after the historic mergers of Anglo-Dutch steelmaker Corus, British automotive company Jaguar Land Rover, and British tea firm Tetley.

In 2009, he promised to make the cheapest car, which the middle class of India could afford. He delivered on his promise and launched Tata Nano for  1 lakh.

1 lakh. He is also well known for his philanthropy. Under his leadership, Tata group established a $28 million Tata Scholarship Fund at Cornell University to provide financial support to undergraduate students from India.

In 2010, Tata group donated $50 million to build an executive centre at Harvard Business School (HBS), where he received his undergraduate training, which was named Tata Hall.

In 2014, Tata group donated  95 crore to the IIT-Bombay and formed the Tata Center for Technology and Design (TCTD) to develop design and engineering principles suited to the needs of people and communities with limited resources.

95 crore to the IIT-Bombay and formed the Tata Center for Technology and Design (TCTD) to develop design and engineering principles suited to the needs of people and communities with limited resources. The Bombay House has a history of letting stray dogs inside during the rainy season dating back to the time of Jamsetji Tata. Ratan Tata continued the tradition. His Bombay House headquarters has a kennel for stray dogs following recent renovations. This kennel is furnished with food, water, toys, and a play area.

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Business tycoon Ratan Tata turned 86 today. He was born on December 28, 1937, in Mumbai to Naval Tata and Sooni Tata. Industrialist, entrepreneur, and Tata Sons Chairman emeritus is well known for his philanthropic activities on national and international levels.

Ratan Tata has been awarded two of the highest civilian awards of India  the Padma Vibhushan (2008) and Padma Bhushan (2000)  for his immeasurable contributions towards nation-building.

Happy Birthday Ratan Tata! 10 inspirational quotes by business tycoon

1) "Ups and downs in life are very important to keep us going because a straight line even in an ECG means we are not alive."

2) "One day you will realize that material things mean nothing. All that matters is the well-being of the people you love."

3) "The best leaders are those most interested in surrounding themselves with assistants and associates smarter than they are."

4) "I don't believe in work-life balance. I believe in work-life integration. Make your work and life meaningful and fulfilling, and they will complement each other."

Also Read: 10 unknown facts about Ratan Tata

5) "The biggest risk is not taking any risk. In a world that is changing quickly, the only strategy that is guaranteed to fail is not taking risks."

6) "Be persistent and resilient in the face of challenges, for they are the building blocks of success."

7) "Never underestimate the power of kindness, empathy, and compassion in your interactions with others."

8) "You may not always have a comfortable life, and you may not always be able to solve all the world's problems, but don't ever underestimate the importance you can have, because history has shown us that courage can be contagious, and hope can take on a life of its own."

9) "Leadership is about taking responsibility, not making excuses."

10) Don't wait for opportunities to come to you, create your own opportunities."

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Ratan Naval Tata, popularly known as Ratan Tata, an industrialist, entrepreneur, and Tata Sons Chairman emeritus turned 86 on December 28, 2023. Tata is well known for his philanthropic activities on national and international levels. Born on December 28, 1937, he was raised by his grandmother, Navajbai Tata.

Along with being one of India's most successful business tycoons, he is also known for his philanthropic contributions. Tata is also a motivational speaker and believes in humanity and charity.

On the occasion of his 86th birthday anniversary, let's have a look at his biography:

Born in Mumbai in 1937, Tata's early life instilled in him values of resilience and determination. After graduating in architecture from Cornell University, he returned to India in 1962 and began steering the Tata Group to new heights. Under his leadership, the conglomerate diversified into automobiles, steel, telecommunications, and beyond, acquiring iconic brands like Tata Motors and Jaguar Land Rover.

Philanthropy: A cornerstone of his legacy

Tata's philanthropic spirit traces back to his great-grandfather, Jamshetji Tata, who famously stated, "No business prospers without the well-being of the community." This philosophy permeated the Tata family, inspiring generations to invest in social good.

Ratan Tata's personal involvement in philanthropy began early. While working with Tata Motors in the 1970s, he initiated "The Aga Khan Hospital and Medical College" project, laying the foundation for one of India's premier healthcare institutions. Following his appointment as Chairman of Tata Sons in 1991, Tata's philanthropic efforts gained new momentum. He actively steered the Tata Trusts, established by his great-grandfather, towards addressing vital social needs. Establishing institutes of excellence like Tata Institute of Social Sciences and funding educational initiatives across India.

What is Ratan Tata's net worth?

In the IIFL Wealth Hurun India Rich List 2022, Ratan Tata was ranked 421st with a net worth of 3,800 crore. Previously, in 2021, he held the 433rd position with a net worth of 3,500 crore. Notably, Tata Trusts, contributing 66 per cent of the total earnings generated by companies under the holding company Tata Sons, play a significant role in this financial scenario, directing funds towards charitable causes.

TATA MOTORS More Information

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NEW DELHI : India is expected to sign a much-awaited deal on two more pillars of the US-led Indo-Pacific Economic Frameworkclean economy and fair economyearly next year, two officials aware of the matter said.

Indias law ministry is currently vetting proposals for IPEFs clean economy and fair economy pillars, following which the commerce ministry will move for cabinet approval, the officials said.

Both the pillars are very important for the country. The clean economy (Pillar-III of the IPEF) is aimed at cooperation on research, development and commercialisation of clean energy and climate-friendly technologies," one of them said.

Under the fair economy deal (Pillar-IV), India will strengthen implementation of effective anti-corruption and tax measures to boost trade and investment among IPEF economies, the official added.

The ministries of finance and commerce did not reply to queries sent on Tuesday.

India in November signed a supply chain resilience agreement (Pillar II) with the US and 12 other members of the Indo-Pacific Economic Framework for Prosperity to reduce its dependence on China. It has so far stayed away from the trade pillar of the framework.

The agreement, which was signed by Union minister for commerce and industry Piyush Goyal and US trade secretary Gina Raimondo in San Francisco, also provides benefits such as a potential shifting of production centres in critical sectors.

The development was seen as a major breakthrough for India and other participating countries. Once the deal is finalised, it will help reduce Indias dependency on China and mitigate risks of economic disruptions from supply chain shocks.

India has not signed the trade pillar aimed at strengthening economic engagement among partner countries, excluding China, as it is seeking more clarity to assess if it will be in the interest of the country, said the second official mentioned earlier.

The legal scrubbing of Pillar-III (clean economy) and Pillar-IV (fair economy) has started. The process of legal vetting may get completed by February. Then it will be moved to the Cabinet for final approval," this official said.

Legal scrubbing is a process under which participating countries of the IPEF review proposals through a legal perspective and for language consistency.

Once the deal is legally approved, the commerce ministry will move a cabinet note in consultation with other ministries involved in the process, such as the ministries of finance and power.

The IPEF framework will enhance inclusiveness and competitiveness and promote economic growth through investment," said Abhash Kumar, assistant professor of economics at Delhi University. It will benefit consumers also. Clean and fair economy will increase resilience in the economy, which is important for sustainable economic growth."

IPEF was launched in Tokyo by the US and other Indo-Pacific countries on 23 May 2022. The group includes Australia, Brunei Darussalam, Fiji, Indonesia, Japan, the Republic of Korea, Malaysia, New Zealand, the Philippines, Singapore, Thailand and Vietnam.

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The coming few years will be a litmus test for Indias ambition to become a manufacturing hub rivaling China. A big question mark is how quickly it can build out the infrastructure it needs to really seize the opportunity. There have been signs of progress recently, but New Delhis cramped fiscal space means it needs to do more to entice private-sector investors, too.

India is experiencing a manufacturing renaissance of sorts led by Apple and its Taiwanese suppliersafter decades of failed efforts. As recently as the fiscal year ended in March 2018, India was a importer of smartphones to the tune of more than $2 billion. Last fiscal year, India was a net exporter of $11 billion worth. About half of that was Apple products, according to investment bank Macquarie.

Apple is blazing a trail for other manufacturers who may still be on the fence about an India-centered China+1" supply-chain strategy. Indias creaky infrastructure, exemplified by pothole-ridden roads and accident-prone trains, has kept many away. New Delhis aggressive government-funded infrastructure upgrade plans may allay some of these anxieties.

Eventually, however, the private sector will have to pitch in, because Indias government debt is already quite high. The high-profile drama at infrastructure heavyweight Adani Group earlier in 2023 could also complicate mattersalthough the lack of fallout so far for bond investors helps.

Indias National Infrastructure Pipeline envisages 111 trillion rupees, equivalent to $1.33 trillion, of infrastructure capital expenditures from fiscal years 2020 to 2025. Energy, roads, urban infrastructure and railways account for the majority of the program. The pace of construction for national highways has increased sixfold compared with levels from 2002 to 2010, the average speed of freight trains has increased over 50% in the past two years, and wait time at ports has fallen by 80% since 2015, according to Macquarie. Indias road network has grown some 40% in length over the past decade to reach 6.3 million kilometersthe worlds third longest, according to consulting firm Gavekal.

India, with a history of poorly managing big infrastructure projects, has also taken several steps to mitigate the problem of delays and cost overruns by streamlining its administrative approach. Still, government data from October shows nearly half of 1,788 big-ticket infrastructure projects monitored by the central government were behind schedule and faced cost overruns of about 17%.

Indias focus on shoring up its shoddy infrastructure is critical to attracting dollars into the fledgling manufacturing sector, which accounted for just 13% of its gross domestic product last year, compared with 28% for China, according to the World Bank. Logistics costs were 18% to 20% of total production costs in India, versus 8% to 10% in China, according to Macquarie.

India is beginning to borrow from Chinas infrastructure playbook, but still has a long way to go. According to Bernstein, Chinas gross fixed capital formation peaked at 45% of GDP in 2009, up from 25% in 1990. Government funding was a major factor. Indias level is currently around 30% of GDP, according to Bernstein, up from the low 20s in the 2000s with private and household contributions dominating.

Moreover, while India may want to further increase public investment in infrastructure, it may be tough to match Chinas level. Indias public debt load stands at about 85% of GDPsecond only to Brazil among the emerging economies. The International Monetary Fund warned last week that Indias government debt could exceed 100% of GDP in the medium term.

That gives the government limited fiscal space to expand spending indefinitely. The hope is that more government infrastructure dollars will help anchor private-sector investment too by removing key logistical bottlenecks and sharing financial risksespecially now that foreign manufacturing investment is pouring in. Gavekal says that if the private sector can deliver, India can probably sustain total annual capital spending growth of up to 10%.

Catching up with China doesnt necessarily mean copying its playbook entirely. To meet its manufacturing ambitions, India must find its own path to upgrading its rotting infrastructure.

Write to Megha Mandavia at megha.mandavia@wsj.com
Brainbees Solutions, the parent company of the prominent online e-commerce platform FirstCry, has officially filed an application for an initial public offering (IPO) with the Securities and Exchange Board of India (SEBI) on December 28.

The firm seeks a valuation of about $3.5-3.75 billion, according to multiple reports. Notably, SoftBank holds the largest stake in FirstCry, 25.5 percent, making it the primary shareholder in the online e-commerce unicorn.

Firstcry IPO: Here are the top 10 things from DRHP

About the issue: The IPO comprises of issuance of fresh equity shares worth 1,816 crore as well as an offer for sale by existing shareholders and promoters. Existing investors, including Mahindra & Mahindra (M&M), private equity firm TPG, NewQuest Asia, and SoftBank, are planning to collectively sell 5.44 crore shares in Brainbees through an Offer for Sale (OFS) alongside the primary issue.

According to the document, Mahindra will sell its 0.58 percent stake in the parent company; SoftBank will offload 2.03 crore shares.

The DRHP also said that FirstCry may consider a private placement of shares to certain investors for up to 363.20 crore.

IPO dates: Firstcry has not announced the opening and closing dates for the IPO subscription yet in its DRHP, however, several media reports claim that the public issue will open in early 2024. The offer price for the issue and IPO price band have also not been announced so far.

IPO reservation: The issue is being made through the book-building process, wherein not less than 75 percent of the issue shall be available for allocation on a proportionate basis to qualified institutional buyers (QIBs), not more than 15 percent of the issue will be available for allocation to non-institutional investors (NIIs), and not more than 10 percent of the issue shall be available for allocation to retail individual bidders.

IPO objectives: As per the DRHP, net proceeds will be used to set up new retail stores, warehouses and international expansion.

About the firm: The SoftBank-backed FirstCry offers toys, apparel and accessories for babies, kids and mothers through online and physical stores. As at June 30, 2023, the company offers more than one million SKUs from over 6,800 brands, including prominent third-party Indian brands, global brands, and home brands. As at June 30, 2023, the FirstCry mobile application has been downloaded more than 104 million times in India. Further, It has a network of 936 FirstCry and BabyHug modern stores in 465 cities in 27 states and four union territories across India.

Financials: FirstCry reported a six-fold jump or 515% increase in its net loss for FY23 at 486 crore from 79 crore in FY22 led by surge in expenses. The companys revenue from operations during the financial year 2022-2023 increased 135% to 5,633 crore from 2,401 crore in FY22 led by strong demand. Its ROCE stood at -7%, while its EBITDA margin was at -2%. The companys income from the sale of products surged 2.37 times to 5,519 crore in FY23.

Competitors: As per the DRHP, FirstCry competes primarily with organised players in the India Childcare Products market. These include horizontal online platforms such as Amazon, Flipkart, and Meesho, among others, vertical online platforms such as Hopscotch, Myntra, and Ajio, among others, and multi-brand and exclusive retailers such as Reliance Trends, and Gini & Jony, among others. There are no large organised speciality vertical multi channel players in India's Childcare Products market.

Industry overview: According to the RedSeer Report, India has the largest population of children globally, with approximately 309 million children under 12 years of age as at July 1, 2022, with a birth rate of 16.4 births per thousand people in calendar year 2021. Childcare products spending per capita in India is currently nascent, at only 7,975 in the calendar year 2022, and is projected to grow faster than those in mature markets, at a CAGR of approximately 15% from 2022 to 2027 (compared to 3% for USA and 7% for China), informed the DRHP.

Book-running managers: Kotak, Morgan Stanley, Bofa Securities, JM Financial and Avendus are the book-running lead managers, and Link Intime India Private Limited is the registrar of the offer.

Risks: Going forward, the company expects that its expenses towards marketing, expansion, retail distribution, and stock options could adversely impact its financial condition.

"We cannot assure you that we will continue to grow our customer base at this rate or at all in the future. Further, if we fail to acquire new customers, or fail to do so in a cost-effective manner, we may not be able to maintain or increase our revenues or grow our operations," FirstCry stated in its DRHP.

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Nifty 50 is ending the year 2023 with a strong double-digit gain. The index is up almost 20 per cent this year and now inching closer to the 22,000 mark.

Rishi Kohli, CIO - Hedge Fund Strategies at InCred Alternative Investments, told Mint that Nifty may hit the 25,000 level by the end of 2024.

The market is witnessing tailwinds which can propel it to unprecedented levels. As Shreyash Devalkar, Head of Equity at Axis Mutual Fund, points out, "India has the right ingredients in place to set the momentum further over the medium to long term."

"The big picture is suggestive of an economy that will benefit from long-term factors such as improving infrastructure, manufacturing and the China plus one strategy ie curtailing imports and stepping up exports, formalisation of the economy and rising digitisation. India continues to be one of the few geographies globally that continues to record strong GDP growth with multiple positive drivers in place to sustain it as well. This factor should continue attracting investors to invest in India," said Devalkar.

Also Read: 5 key macro themes that will influence the market in 2024

While the outlook for the market for the year 2024 is positive, experts are positive about select sectors. We collated the views of five experts on the sectors they are bullish for 2024. Here's what they said:

Sunil Subramaniam, MD and CEO, Sundaram Mutual Fund

Consumption and banking and financial services should be the focus at the beginning and towards the end of the year  infra and capital goods depending on the progress in capacity utilisation and fresh capacity creation.

Also Read: Stock market in 2023: Here are 10 key milestones achieved by the Indian stock market this year

Ajit Banerjee, Chief Investment Officer, Shriram Life Insurance Company

BFSI, Infrastructure sectors, capital goods, cement, and realty sectors are expected to do well.

With rate cuts expected to start next year and focus on developing the next level of technology and AI gathering pace, one can think of taking exposure in the IT sector from a long-term perspective.

Also Read: 2023 in Review: Top 10 trends that caught investors' attention this year

Satish Menon, Executive Director, Geojit Financial Services

We are optimistic about the capital goods, infrastructure, cement, and renewables sectors, driven by the manufacturing story in India.

For the long term, we remain bullish on export-centric sectors such as pharma and chemicals, though realisations are forecasted to be subdued in the medium term.

Our positive stance also extends to power and real estate on a long-term basis, yet heightened valuations pose short to medium-term concerns, leading to a neutral rating.

We are negative on FMCG in the short-term and neutral on metals and auto due to high valuation and the likelihood of a slowdown in global and rural demand.

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Sandeep Raina, Executive Vice President- Research, Nuvama Professional Clients Group

In 2023, I expect infra (defence, railways, capital goods, roads) and banks to perform well. Even PSU and defence would participate in the markets.

The implementation of various schemes like PLI and government investments contributes to overall economic growth, fostering a favourable market environment.

Additionally, a new segment has come - the SME - and there are many stocks which are growing at 20 per cent with an ROCE (return on capital employed) of 20 per cent.

These stocks are available at reasonable prices, presenting a good opportunity in this segment.

I am positive about the markets and I think we should look at a valuation based on a $5 trillion and $7 trillion economy where we would see many new sectors and companies emerging and the PSU sector would play a big role in the same.

Also Read: Nifty 50 set to clock healthy double-digit gains in 2023; what are the key challenges for the market in 2024?

Gautam Duggad, Head of Research- Institutional Equities, Motilal Oswal Financial Services

Sectors delivering strong earnings would continue to remain attractive.

We remain overweight on financials, discretionary consumption, industrials, real estate, auto and healthcare.

Domestic cyclicals plus manufacturing and capex/industrial themes should continue to do well in 2024, in our view.

Read all market-related news here

Disclaimer: The views and recommendations above are those of individual analysts, experts and broking companies, not of Mint. We advise investors to check with certified experts before making any investment decisions.

MOTILAL OSWAL FINANCIAL SERVICES More Information

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Almost three years ago, in February 2021, market regulator Sebi initiated a significant development by introducing a draft framework on the integration of accredited investors (AIs) into the Indian securities market. So far, AIs dont make up for a significant proportion of the investor community.

AIs, also known as qualified or professional investors, represent a category of individuals well-versed in comprehending diverse financial products and understanding the associated risks and returns. These investors are deemed well-informed due to their financial capability, allowing them to engage expert managers and advisers, thus possessing the ability to absorb potential losses. Consequently, financial products with higher risk profiles are often deemed suitable for this class of investors.

In jurisdictions where such investors are acknowledged, regulatory relaxations are extended to them, given their perceived capacity to navigate the investments landscape without extensive regulatory protection. In alignment with this, Sebi had, in August 2021, unveiled a circular detailing the implementation modalities for accrediting investors through designated accreditation agencies.

On 19 December 2023, Sebi announced pivotal steps aimed at simplifying the requirements for individuals aspiring to register as AIs. This initiative also included an extension of the certifications validity period to a maximum of three years. Notably, the market regulator emphasized that accreditation agencies would now have the authority to grant certification based solely on applicants Know-Your-Customer (KYC) details and financial information. KYC registration agencies (KRAs) acting in the capacity of accreditation bodies, were granted access to the KYC database, enabling a more straightforward certification process. Despite all these reforms, the number of accredited investors in India remains abysmally low, at just 150-200.

Accreditation ecosystem

Accreditation within the investment landscape yields distinct advantages tailored to different investor categories across various investment avenues like Alternative Investment Funds (AIFs), Portfolio Management Services (PMS), and those engaging with invesment advisers.

For AIF Investors, the differentiation lies between AIs and regular investors. AIs come with a lower minimum ticket size of less than 1 crore. AI funds (large value investors with minimum capital commitment of 70 crore) enjoy the privilege of allocating a higher percentage of their assets under management (AUM) into individual companies within AIF category I & II (50%) and category III (20%), compared to regular investors who must adhere to a 25% and 10% allocation, respectively. AI funds benefit from an extended AIF life of more than 2 years, allowing for potentially longer-term investment horizons.

PMS investors also experience distinctions based on accreditation levels. Those falling under the accredited category come with a minimum ticket size below 50 lakh. PMS AI( investors with minimum capital of 10 crore) gain the advantage of placing 100% of their AUM in unlisted securities, fostering a more diversified portfolio compared to the 25% limit for regular investors with a 50 lakh minimum ticket size.

It seems like Sebis accreditation criteria inadvertently or knowingly creates a tiered system, establishing a sort of super AI class for investors with significantly higher capital commitments. These distinctions in criteria for larger investorslike AI funds with minimum capital commitments of 70 crore in AIFs and PMS AI investors with 10 croregrant them substantial relaxations and advantages.

Investors collaborating with investment advisers witness variations in fee structures based on their accreditation status. While fee negotiations remain bilateral for both categories, AIs may have a more flexible fee arrangement. Conversely, regular investors face a capped fee structure, limited to a maximum of 2.5% of assets under advice or 1.25 lakh.

Moreover, the IFSCA (Fund Management) Regulations of 2022 offer additional flexibilities specifically for AIs. These flexibilities include exemption from minimum investment thresholds in certain schemes like venture capital (VC) schemes, restricted schemes, and PMS. If a substantial majoritytwo-thirdsof investors in VC and restricted Schemes are AIs, the fund management entity is exempt from contributing to the scheme, offering added benefits and flexibility for accredited investment activities.

How guidelines differ

Sebi and IFSCA, the regulatory authority for GIFT City in Gujarat, have different criteria for accrediting investors. Under Sebi, individuals and Hindu undivided families (HUFs) must possess a net worth of at least 7.5 crore or an annual income of 2 crore to qualify as accredited investors. In joint holdings, one member meeting the criteria suffices, while for spouses, their combined income/net worth determines eligibility. Partnership firms are eligible if all partners meet the individual AI criteria, and trusts and corporates require a net worth of 50 crore or more.

IFSCAs criteria are similar but align more with international standards in their finer details. IFSCA requires $1 million net worth or an annual income of $200,000 for individuals. Trusts and corporates must meet a $5 million net worth threshold, with specific conditions for trusts related to beneficiaries and responsible asset managers meeting AI criteria. Both Sebi and IFSCA mandate due diligence and verification processes for accreditation, with Sebi involving registration agencies for KYC purposes and IFSCA necessitating fund-conducted due diligence.

As of the latest information available, despite Sebis efforts, India currently has only around 150-200 accredited investors. This figure pales in comparison to the US, where the count stands at a staggering 24 million. The disparity in numbers is partly attributed to the more straightforward and inclusive process in the US, which allows participation in various private investment vehicles like hedge funds, VC and private equity (PE) only to accredited investors. Simplifying the process and aligning it more closely with international standards could potentially bolster participation in private investment opportunities, contributing to economic growth and diversification.

View Full Image (Graphic: Mint)

View Full Image (Graphic: Mint)

View Full Image (Graphic: Mint)

Roadblocks still exist

In December 2023, Sebi allowed KRAs to access KYC documents to grant accreditation more speedily. However, financial experts believe that deeper reforms are needed.

AIs are those who are informed and allowed to invest in riskier assets due to their better understanding of risks. Globally, only AIs have the authorization to invest in certain high-risk instruments. Sebis new circular eases procedural constraints, the absence of incentives for becoming an AI implies that it is unlikely to succeed in increasing their numbers in the system," said Harsh Roongta, founder, Fee-only investment advisors.

While this reform signifies a strategic move by Sebi to promote investor participation and diversification in the Indian securities market, hurdles still exist for investors seeking to become accredited.

Firstly, the limitation of accreditation to a maximum of three years, coupled with renewal fees, might deter long-term investors. Extending this period could encourage stability and reduce administrative burdens. Secondly, Sebi relies on KRAs for accreditation, whereas other jurisdictions conduct due diligence through the vehicles/funds in which investors are placing their money.Since this would be a relatively small part of the KRA business, these agencies may not focus on speed and efficiency here. The KRA model may slow down the process of accreditation.

The criterion of 7.5 crore for accreditation mirrors the $1 million net worth requirement. However, aligning this criterion with Indias purchasing power parity equivalent could ensure a more contextually relevant benchmark.

In India, unlike the US, accreditation isnt mandatory for accessing VC, PE, and hedge funds. Requiring accreditation for these asset classes could enhance investor protection and ensure a more equitable investment landscape.

Lastly, while IFSCA grants deemed accredited investor status to various institutions, Sebi mandates each to meet specific net worth criteria. Aligning these regulations could streamline processes and ensure consistency across entities.

Revisiting these aspects might refine Indias accreditation framework, potentially fostering increased participation in private investments while ensuring regulatory consistency and investor protection.
2024 Lok Sabha Polls: The Congress is all set to kickstart its campaign for next year's general elections with its mega rally 'Hain Tayyar Hum' to be held in Maharashtra's Nagpur city today, Thursday, the party's 139th foundation day.

Addressing a press conference here, Maharashtra Congress chief Nana Patole said, It will be a historic moment for the people of the country. Whenever the country faced trouble, the Congress pitched in and a big change took place in the country."

Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge along with former party chiefs Sonia Gandhi and Rahul Gandhi will address the rally today.

Congress' Lok Sabha Campaign: Five things we know so far

1) Nagpur MLA Nitin Raut said the Hain Tayyar Hum rally will send a good message throughout the country through which the Congress will sound the bugle for the Lok Sabha polls due next year. Preparations are underway for the mega rally at Dighori in Negapur where lakhs of people will come.

2) Patole said, After Emergency, (the then prime minister) Indira Gandhi held a public meeting in Nagpur and the Congress then won all the seats from Vidarbha. History will repeat in Nagpur and a big 'parivartan' (change) will take place in the country."

3) Congress MLA Raut said the party has chosen Nagpur for the rally due to its ideology and thinking. On one hand, there is the RSS ideology, and on the other hand is the ideology of Constitution's architect Dr Babasaheb Ambedkar which is aligned with the ideology of the Congress, he added as quoted by PTI.

4) Maharashtra Congress working president and former cabinet minister Naseem Khan said the Congress has given the slogan of 'Hain Tayyar Hum' to fight to protect the country's democracy.

5) The mega event assumes significance as it will be held in Nagpur, where the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh's (RSS) headquarters and 'Deekshabhoomi', the historic place where Dr. B R Ambedkar embraced Buddhism, are located.

(With inputs from agencies)

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Mobile medical teams of the Ukrainian Red Cross Society (URCS) from Pryluky constantly travel to remote settlements of Chernihiv region to provide assistance to patients who, due to damaged infrastructure and health conditions, cannot come to outpatient clinics or hospitals.

"Over the course of a week, the mobile medical team of the Ukrainian Red Cross Society provided 83 medical consultations in Pryluky district," the URCS reported on Facebook on Thursday.

Mostly older people with chronic diseases that require regular examination and treatment adjustments come to see the mobile medical team

.
NEW DELHI : The Union government is considering a 50% duty on the export of molasses in efforts to augment supplies for meeting Indias target for cleaner and more efficient ethanol-blended petrol, according to two officials aware of the matter.

India doesnt currently impose an export duty on molasses, a byproduct of sugarcane refining and a key ingredient in the production of ethanol, a biofuel. The government, though, has been considering the levies to discourage its exports given the shortage of sugarcane following erratic monsoon rains.

Indias targeting 20% ethanol-blended petrol by 2025-26, up from the present 12% mix. A steep export duty on molasses, which several sugar industry lobbies have also sought, could boost its availability to produce ethanol-blended petrol.

India is the worlds largest molasses exporter and contributes about 25% to global trade.

The efforts to boost domestic availability of molasses for ethanol production follow recent curbs on sugar exports and directions to mills to cease using cane juice for the biofuel, which was reversed later. An expected shortage in sugar supplies for domestic consumption has already spiked the prices of the sweetener to a 14-year high.

In September, a proposal was made to impose a 30% export duty to discourage the export of molasses, but no decision was taken then," one of the officials said mentioned above said.

Because of the recent development of limited availability of sugar-based feedstock for ethanol production and trends in international market prices of molasses, the food department has proposed imposing a 50% export duty."

A decision is likely in January, the official added.

Queries sent to the commerce and food and public distribution departments remained unanswered till press time.

Industry associations including the National Federation of Cooperative Sugar Factories Ltd, the West Indian Sugar Mills Association, and the South Indian Sugar Mills Association have sought restrictions on the export of molasses.

C-heavy molasses production is estimated to be approximately 4.5% of the total cane crushed, yielding around 225 crore litres of ethanol. Currently, a big chunk of C-heavy molasses is being exported to countries such as the Netherlands, Philippines and the UK for various uses, potentially generating 30 crore litres of ethanol," NFCSF said in a letter sent to the food ministry, a copy of which Mint has seen.

To achieve the 20% blending target, it is crucial to utilise all C-heavy molasses for ethanol production, the industry body added, proposing substantial customs duties or a complete ban". C-heavy molasses is the last by-product of the sugar refining process, and has no sugar content left in it, unlike B type and sugarcane juice.

As of 30 November, Indias ethanol production capacity was about 13.8 billion litres. Of this, about 8.75 billion litres were molasses-based and about 5.05 billion litres grain-based.

To achieve the target of 20% blending, about 10.16 billion litres of ethanol is required. Another 3.5 billion litres of alcohol or ethanol would be required for other sectors.

For this, about 17 billion liters of ethanol production capacity is required to be in place by 2025-26. About 7 billion litres of 13.5 billion litresnearly half of the total ethanol requirementwould have to come from the sugar sector, and the remaining from food grain-based feedstock.

The weak monsoon this year has resulted in a shortfall in sugar production, which is expected to affect the diversion of sugar for ethanol production.

Sugar production in the ongoing crop year that began in October is projected to be 29-30.5 million tonnes, against domestic consumption of 27.5-28 mt. In the 2022-23 season, India is estimated to have produced 32.7-32.8 mt of sugar after the diversion to ethanol.

The governments supportive ethanol policy, emphasising pricing and diverse feedstocks like rice and maize, has strengthened the supply fluctuations, and ensured price stability," said Tarun Sawhney, vice chairperson and managing director at Triveni Engineering and Industries Ltd, among the largest integrated sugar producers in India.
Enforcement Directorate for the first time mentioned Congress leader Priyanka Gandhi's name in the money laundering case linked to NRI businessman CC Thampi. ED had named her husband Robert Vadra in earlier charge sheets related to the case.

In its statement, ED said, Former Congress president Sonia Gandhis son-in-law Robert Vadra and daughter Priyanka Gandhi Vadra bought land in Haryana through a Delhi-based real estate agent who also sold land to NRI businessman CC Thampi."

ED further alleged Vadra and Thampi have a long and thick" relationship that extends to common and business interests".

The larger case involves fugitive arms dealer Sanjay Bhandari. He is under investigation for money laundering, violating foreign exchange laws, and the Official Secrets Act. He fled India for the UK in 2016. Accused facilitators include Thampi and British national Sumit Chadha.

The latest chargesheet that was filed in November cited, the federal agency has alleged that estate agent HL Pahwa, who sold properties to both Vadra and Thampi, received cash out of the books for the land purchase in Haryana, and that Vadra did not pay the full amount for the sale. Pahwa also sold agricultural land to Priyanka Gandhi in 2006 and bought it back from her in 2010".

The report was reviewed by Hindustan Times.

Meanwhile, a press also mentioned Vadra in connection with the purchase of a property in London that is part of the probe. The press note said, During the course of investigation in this case, it is found that a long and thick relationship exists between CC Thampi and Robert Vadra. Not only a personal/cordial bond but common and similar business interests are also found between them."

Thampi, arrested in January 2020, ostensibly told ED that he knew Vadra for over 10 years and that they met several times during Vadras visits to the UAE as well as in Delhi. ED has said that Thampi used the services of Pahwa to buy 486 acres of land from 2005 to 2008 In village Amipur in Faridabad, Haryana.

It is imperative to mention that Robert Vadra also purchased three pieces of land measuring 334 kanals (40.08 acres) in Amipur from [the same] HL Pahwa from 2005-2006 and sold the same land to Pahwa in December 2010. Further, Priyanka Gandhi Vadra, wife of Robert Vadra, also purchased agricultural land measuring 40 kanal (5 acres) in village Amipur from Pahwa in April 2006 and sold the same land to Pahwa in February 2010," the charge sheet said

The ED alleges that Sanjay Bhandari acquired a London property in December 2009, renovated it with funds from Robert Vadra, and states that Vadra stayed there three to four times.

(With inputs from Hindustan Times)

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Prime Minister Narendra Modi-led Indian government has targeted high-profile journalists in India with the infamous Pegasus software, a joint investigation by Amnesty International and The Washington Post has revealed.

The Pegasus spyware, created by Israeli firm NSO Group, is used to gain access to someone's phone messages and emails, peruse photos, eavesdrop on calls, track locations and even film the owner with the camera

Notably, the Pegasus spyware is only sold to governments or security agencies. The investigation revealed that the Pegasus spyware had been extensively used against journalists and activists in dozens of countries, including India.

Amnesty said journalists Siddharth Varadarajan of The Wire and Anand Mangnale of The Organized Crime and Corruption Reporting Project (OCCRP) had been targeted with the spyware on their iPhones.

In 2021, New Delhi was accused of using Pegasus spyware to surveil journalists, opposition politicians and activists, with leaked documents showing the spyware had been used against more than 1,000 Indian phone numbers.

Congress MP Rahul Gandhi was among those targeted.

PM Modi's government denied conducting "illegal surveillance" but refused to cooperate with a Supreme Court probe into the allegations, the findings of which have not been made public.

The OCCRP, one of the two target organisations named in Thursday's report, published an investigation in August into the financial dealings of Indian tycoon Gautam Adani.

Gautam Adani's conglomerate shed more than $100 billion in value earlier this year after a US short-seller investment firm made explosive allegations of accounting fraud, which the Indian company dismissed as an organised "smear campaign".

Apple iPhone hacked of Opposition leaders in India

In November, several Opposition leaders including Trinamool Congress (TMC)'s Mahua Moitra, Shiv Sena's (UBT) Priyanka Chaturvedi, Congress leaders Shashi Tharoor and Pawan Khera, and Aam Aadmi Party (AAP)'s Raghav Chadha said that they have received warnings from Apple about 'state-sponsored attackers' trying to compromise their phone.

In that case, Ashwini Vaishnaw, the union minister for information and technology, said the government was "concerned" by the complaints.

Press freedom in India

Activists say that press freedom in the world's biggest democracy has suffered during PM Modi's tenure.

India has fallen 21 spots to 161 out of 180 countries in the World Press Freedom Index, compiled by Reporters Without Borders, since he took office in 2014.

Journalists reporting critically on the government say they are subjected to judicial harassment and relentless campaigns of online abuse.

(With AFP inputs)

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India has sought extradition of Hafiz Saeed , the founder of Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) and mastermind of 26/11 Mumbai terror attacks. India placed the extradition request to neighboring country Pakistan.

Hafiz Saaed has been in Pakistan jail since 2019 after being convicted for several years in multiple terror finance cases along with some other leaders of the banned Jamaat-ud-Dawa (JuD).

Hafiz Saeed has been arrested and released several times over the past decade and denies involvement with armed operations. Hafiz Saeed-led JuD is the front organisation for the Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT), which is allegedly responsible for carrying out the 26/11 Mumbai attack in 2008 that killed 166 people, including six Americans.

The LeT terrorist group had remained active for years in the disputed Himalayan region of Kashmir, which is split between India and Pakistan.

According to an India Today report citing people familiar with the development in the India government, the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) has sent a formal extradition request of terrorist Hafiz Saeed, to Pakistan.

The report also said that India's Ministry of External Affairs urged the Pakistan government to initiate the legal process for Hafiz Saeed's extradition.

Notably, India has repeatedly demanded Hafiz Saeed's extradition from Pakistan, to face trial for the Mumbai attacks, but the absence of an extradition treaty between India and Pakistan complicates the process.

In April 2022, a Pakistani court sentenced Hafiz Saeed to 31 years in prison in two cases of terrorism financing.

Saeed was found guilty of multiple breaches in the two cases, but it was not immediately clear how much jail time it would entail given his current incarceration and the sentences running concurrently, reported Al Jazeera.

Under Pakistani law, unless a sentence is thrown out or reduced on appeal, Saeed will have to serve them consecutively.

Hafiz Saeed has been listed as one of India's most wanted terrorists and carries a $10 million bounty placed by the US for his alleged involvement in the 2008 Mumbai attacks.

Meanwhile, a new political front organisation of the 26/11 Mumbai terror attacks mastermind Hafiz Saeed has fielded candidates for most of the national and provincial assembly constituencies across Pakistan for the February 8 general elections, saying it wants to make the country an Islamic welfare state.

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Amid the row over the forced installation of Kannada signboards at shops and offices, Karnataka CM Siddaramaiah on Thursday requested companies, organisations, and other shops to change their nameplates as per the state government rule before February 28, 2024. After holding a high-level meeting on Thursday, CM Siddaramaiah asked officials of the Kannada and Culture department to bring an ordinance and implement 60% Kannada nameplates and 40% other language nameplates. "I have asked officials of the Kannada and Culture department to bring an ordinance and implement 60% Kannada nameplates and 40% other language nameplates and the same will be notified and rules will be formed. I request companies, organisations, and other shops to change their nameplates before February 28, 2024. People need not to be panic," says Karnataka CM Siddaramaiah on Thursday. Also Read: Hijab ban to be lifted in Karnataka, says CM Siddaramaiah: Wear whatever dress you want After the meeting, Karnataka Home Minister G Parameshwara said that there is already an act to protect the Kannada language and culture. He also mentioned the need for an amendment to specify details like the percentage of the language. "The 60:40 (Kannada to a secondary language) ratio will be brought in by an ordinance," he added.

On Wednesday, the Federation of Karnataka Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FKCCI) voiced its concern over the BBMP (Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike) directions for inscribing '60 per cent Kannada' letters on all signboards for commercial establishments.

After reiterating that it will always follow the rules of the government, the FKCCI urged the government to not initiate any action under the 60/40 rule before the deadline of February 28, 2024.

"We request the Government of Karnataka and BBMP not to initiate any action for the above rule till the deadline of 28th February 2024 and also urges the government to ensure that no one takes the law into their own hands to harass the trade and commercial establishments," Ramesh Chandra Lahoti, president, FKCCI said in a statement.

Pro-Kannada protest in Bengaluru

On Wednesday, pro-Kannada activists staged a protest in Bengaluru demanding that all businesses and enterprises in Karnataka put up boards in Kannada at their shops and commercial establishments. They demanded the implementation of the state's rule to set up 60 per cent of the language in signboards in Kannada.

The public awareness protest, held under the leadership of Karnataka Rakshana Vedike State President TA Narayan Gowda, turned violent when some of the KRV activists vandalised shops with English sign boards.

The members of KRV also broke flower pots outside the Mall of Asia in Bangalore and sprayed black ink on them.

"People from various states are settled in Bengaluru and run businesses. However, they don't put up Kannada boards. They mostly put up boards carrying English letters. If they want to stay in Bengaluru and run their establishments with hassles, they have to install signboards carrying Kannada letters. Otherwise, they should consider shifting to other states," said KRV state president TN Narayan Gowda.

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As reported by ANI, the protest called for all businesses and establishments in the state to display nameplates in Kannada, by the government mandate stipulating that 60 per cent of the nameplates should be in the Kannada language.

The demonstration to raise public awareness was organized under the guidance of T A Narayan Gowda, the State President of Karnataka Rakshana Vedike.

Also Read: Bengaluru: Protests over Kannada language rule intensify; activists create ruckus. Watch

KRV State President T N Narayan Gowda said that people from various states are doing business in Bangalore. But they don't put Kannada nameplates on their shops. They are only putting up the nameplates of their shops in English. If they want to stay back in Bangalore then they have to put nameplates on their shops in Kannada or else they have to move from Karnataka to other states," he added.

It has been reported that activists from Karnataka Rakshana Vedike (KRV) engaged in acts of vandalism, damaging shop boards displaying English nameplates.

Also Read: Let the market pick the language on signboards

View Full Image Bengaluru: A signboard of a business establishment after being vandalised by the Karnataka Rakshana Vedike (Narayana Gowda faction) members, in Bengaluru, Wednesday, Dec. 27, 2023. The organisation on Wednesday targeted business establishments in Bengaluru and damaged their signboards and name plates which did not use Kannada. (PTI Photo/Shailendra Bhojak)(PTI12_27_2023_000171B) (PTI)

Additionally, members of the KRV broke flower pots outside the Mall of Asia in Bangalore, vandalized English signboards, and sprayed black ink as part of their protest.

What is the 60 per cent Kannada rule?

Earlier, Tushar Giri Nath, the chief commissioner of Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike (BBMP), has stated that commercial establishments within the administrative jurisdiction must install nameplates with 60 percent content in Kannada language by February 28. Failure to comply with this directive may result in legal consequences.

Speaking at a meeting held at Malleswaram IPP hall with the Karnataka Rakshana Vedike on the compulsory inclusion of Kannada language in the nameplates of all categories of commercial stores under the corporation, he mentioned that a meeting will be convened with all the zonal commissioners to discuss the obligatory use of Kannada language on nameplates. Subsequently, appropriate guidelines will be provided.

Also Read: Bengaluru civic body orders shop owners to install 60% Kannada nameplates by 28 Feb

There are 1400 km of arterial and sub-arterial roads in the city, and all the commercial shops on these roads will be surveyed zone-wise. After the survey, a notice will be given to the shops that do not use 60% Kannada language. After issuing the notice, they will be given time till February 28 to implement Kannada language nameplates and submit compliance to the respective zone commissioners," Tushar Giri Nath said.

What did Chief Minister Siddaramaiah say?

Meanwhile, Chief Minister Siddaramaiah warned of actions against anyone who takes the law into their own hands. Siddaramaiah stressed, I don't know what they (the protestors) are doing. I have got information that Narayana Gowda is protesting about having Kannada name boards. We will take action against those who took the law into their own hands and went against the law."

Meanwhile, the Home Minister of the state, G Parameshwara, addressed the media in Kalaburagi, stating that the pro-Kannada activists have been cautioning against the absence of Kannada language in signboards, advertisements, and nameplates, PTI reported. He emphasized that the government holds a deep respect for Kannada as it conducts all its activities in the state's official language.

Also Read: Language means identity, Siddaramaih extends wishes on Karnataka Rajyotsava day

Earlier on Wednesday, the Federation of Karnataka Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FKCCI) conveyed apprehension regarding the directives from BBMP (Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike) mandating '60% Kannada' on all name boards for commercial establishments.

In response, FKCCI affirmed its commitment to comply with government regulations and assured that it would instruct its members to adhere to the government's or BBMP's orders.

We request the Government of Karnataka and BBMP not to initiate any action for the above rule till the deadline of 28th February 2024 and also urges the Government to ensure that no one takes law in their own hands to harass the Trade and Commercial establishments," Ramesh Chandra Lahoti, President, FKCCI said in a statement.

(With inputs from agencies)

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Congress MP from Thiruvananthapuram Shashi Tharoor has expressed his desire to visit the Ram Mandir in Ayodhya. However, he said that he would visit the shrine in Uttar Pradesh after the 2024 Lok Sabha Elections ". The Ram Mandir in Ayodhya will hold a consecration ceremony on January 22, which is set to be attended by Prime Minister Narendra Modi , Union Home Minister Amit Shah, Bollywood actors Madhuri Dixit and Amitabh Bachchan, among others.

Shashi Tharoor said he would not be visiting the Ram Mandir on the day of the 'grand political extravaganza'.

Thiruvananthapuram MP Shashi Tharoor also said his visit to the Ram Temple should not be interpreted politically. A day before, Shashi Tharoor said that for him religion is a personal attribute and not the government's business.

"Speaking for myself as a Hindu, I see a temple as a place to connect with the divine rather than a stage for political theatre," the writer of Why I Am a Hindu said.

Senior Congress leader Shashi Tharoor said the Opposition leaders should not be branded 'anti-Hindu' if they don't attend the consecration ceremony and neither should they be seen to be "playing into BJP hands" if they do.

On whether giving the consecration of the Ram Temple a miss could hurt the prospects of the Opposition INDIA bloc in the 2024 Lok Sabha polls, Shashi Tharoor said, "People are trying to make it a political issue but is that fair?"

"Going to a temple is an individual decision. Individuals have been invited, let them make their own decisions. To my mind, a temple is absolutely not a political stage, it is a place for people to contemplate the divine and do their prayers and it is a personal choice. Individuals have been invited and letting individuals decide if they wish to go is my stand," Congress MP Shashi Tharoor added.

Claiming that he was yet to receive a formal invite to attend the Ram Temple consecration, Shashi Tharoor said, As far as I am concerned, I have not been invited, so I don't have to make the decision."

The chairman of the Ayodhya Ram Mandir Construction Committee invited former Congress president Sonia Gandhi, Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge, and the party's leader in the Lok Sabha, Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury for the consecration ceremony.

The Ram Temple invitations to the Congress's top leaders have put the party in a quandary as its United Democratic Front allies in Kerala and several Muslim bodies are not in favour of Congress leaders attending the event. The Congress leadership has also not committed to their stance -- on whether no Congress leader would attend the January 22 event.

The ceremony, scheduled for January 22, will witness the installation of the idol of Ram Lalla at the temple.

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NEW DELHI : The government plans to certify individuals who may not have the prescribed qualifications to be healthcare practitioners but bear knowledge gained from previous generations for certain treatments, such as for snake bites, jaundice, and bone-setting, two officials said.

They have the expertise and experience, but they do not have any qualification or formal degrees and it stands in the way of their social acceptance," one of them said. The government through its autonomous certification body, Quality Council of India, has a plan to certify these people who have required skills and competence for the profession that they are doing."

The intent behind certifying traditional community health practitioners is to validate their practices and increase their income, the second official said. Both the officials declined to be identified.

India faces a shortage of physicians practising modern medicine, and counts on practitioners of alternative medicine to bridge the gap, particularly in remote areas. Earlier this year, the government informed the Lok Sabha that while India had only about 1.3 million allopathic physicians including traditional medicine practitioners, the countrys doctor-population ratio was 1:834, better than the World Health Organizations standard of 1:1,000.

Traditional or alternative medicines are overseen by the ministry of ayush, which stands for ayurveda, yoga and naturopathy, unani, siddha, and homoeopathy.

The government is also working towards designing integrated protocols for modern medicine and traditional Indian healing systems, as Mint reported on 3 December. Given the scepticism that traditional medicine, although more accessible, is not evidence-based, the ministry is also developing research-based treatment systems for various ailments.

The ministries of health, ayush and commerce did not reply to queries on the governments plan to provide certifications to community healthcare providers.

Traditional community healthcare providers, apart from ayush practitioners, play a vital role in meeting the medical needs of people, especially in rural areas, and constitute a unique group of community-supported paramedical health workers recognised by the ministry of ayush.

Their services cover a range of ailments, from simple primary healthcare-related common ailments to the management of jaundice, joint pain, dislocation, childbirth and animal or reptile bites.

The benefits of traditional health practitioners are availed by every class. Besides, poor and people living in rural areas, other classes are also getting benefited from it," said Dr Ritu Priya, a professor of public health at Jawaharlal Nehru Universitys Centre of Social Medicine and Community Health.

The QCI has a very robust mechanism to certify their experiences. There is a minimum grade and after assessing their work, they get the certificate, which is voluntary in nature," said Priya, adding that those who lack experience get recommended for training in institutes identified by the QCI."

Aviral Mathur, president, the Federation of Resident Doctors Association, suggested implementing rigorous training programmes as per recently established medical knowledge for striking a balance between tradition and modern standards.

We appreciate the governments effort to certify community healthcare practitioners for traditional treatments, emphasising the preservation of valuable knowledge. Regular assessments, collaboration with qualified healthcare professionals, and adherence to evidence-based practices will enhance the credibility and safety of these treatments."

Homoeopathic physician Dr Ashish Kumar Jaiswal said the governments decision will not only help provide practitioners of Indian folk medicine an opportunity to upgrade their knowledge but also filter out incompetent individuals.

Efforts should be made to provide a platform to all those people who are experts in their own traditional and folk treatment of ailments to come up and share their knowledge and experience," said Jaiswal, who is chief medical officer (homoeopathy) at a Central Government Health Scheme wellness centre. At the same time, they should get an opportunity to get their claim scientifically validated to get proper promotion and recognition."
Vijayakanth , the founder-leader of the Desiya Murpokku Dravida Kazhagam (DMDK) and a renowned Tamil actor from yesteryears, passed away on Thursday, 28 December, at the age of 71.

MIOT International hospital, where he was admitted for treatment, said in a press release: "Captain Vijayakanth was on ventilatory support following his admission for pneumonia. Despite the best efforts of the medical staff he passed away in the morning on 28th December 2023."

Earlier, the party statement had said that Vijayakanth had tested positive for coronavirus and was under ventilator. Hospital sources said the party issued that statement even before the results for the second round of samples were available.

Vijayakanth's death: All you need to know about the celebrated leader

Widely known as 'Captain', Vijayakanth's life is marked by a successful career in the Tamil film industry.

He founded Desiya Murpokku Dravida Kazgam in 2005 and served as a Member of the Legislative Assembly twice, representing the Virudhachalam and Rishivandiyam constituencies

In the 2000s, he emerged as a strong political challenge to AIADMK leader J Jayalalithaa and DMK president M Karunanidhi. And many thought he could become an alternative to Dravidian parties.

The Federal reported Vijayakanth shook the AIADMK and DMK out of their slumber when his party  Desiya Murpokku Dravida Kazhagam (DMDK)  secured 8.38 per cent votes contesting on its strength in 2006, and 10.3 per cent in the ensuing Lok Sabha elections.

reported Vijayakanth shook the AIADMK and DMK out of their slumber when his party  Desiya Murpokku Dravida Kazhagam (DMDK)  secured 8.38 per cent votes contesting on its strength in 2006, and 10.3 per cent in the ensuing Lok Sabha elections. Later, Vijayakanth formed an alliance with Jayalalithaa-led bloc AIADMK in the 2011 Assembly elections to crush DMK. The uneasy truce between Jayalalithaa and Vijayakanth ended as the DMDK MLAs, when they took up various issues in the Tamil Nadu Assembly, were heckled and abused," The Federal stated.

stated. His verbal duel with Jayalalithaa in the Assembly took the state by storm and he appeared all set to take on the powers-that-be and break down the hegemony of the Dravidian parties, that have held sway for over half a century in Tamil Nadu's political landscape.

Having battled illness and maintaining a low profile for the past 4-5 years, Vijayakanth's wife, Premalatha, formally assumed leadership of the DMDK on December 14, being declared the general secretary at a party meeting.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Thursday condoled his demise saying "Extremely saddened by the passing away of Thiru Vijayakanth Ji. A legend of the Tamil film world, his charismatic performances captured the hearts of millions"

Vijayakanth's mortal remains were brought to his residence in Chennai and will be taken to the DMDK office shortly.

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Vijayakanth death: Tributes pour in for DKDM founder, PM Modi says legend of Tamil film world

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Prime Minister Narendra Modi condoles the demise of Tamil actor and DMDK chief, describing him as a legend of the Tamil film world and a deeply committed political leader.

Premium Actor-turned-politician Vijayakanth. (HT)

Prime Minister Narendra Modi condoled the demise of Tamil actor and DMDK chief Vijayakanth, who died at a private hospital in Chennai today, Thursday, December 28. In a post on X (formerly Twitter), PM Modi wrote, Extremely saddened by the passing away of Thiru Vijayakanth Ji." A legend of the Tamil film world, his charismatic performances captured the hearts of millions. As a political leader, he was deeply committed to public service, leaving a lasting impact on Tamil Nadus political landscape," the Prime Minister said. He added, His passing leaves a void that will be hard to fill. He was a close friend and I fondly recall my interactions with him over the years. In this sad hour, my thoughts are with his family, fans and numerous followers. Om Shanti." Congress leader Rahul Gandhi also expressed anguish at Vijayakanth's death. His contributions to cinema and politics have left an indelible mark on the hearts of millions. My heartfelt condolences to his family and fans during this difficult time," the former Congress chief wrote on the microblogging site. I paid my last respects to my dear friend - National Progressive Dravidian Association President Captain Vijayakanth," Tamil Nadu Chief Minister wrote in a long post on X. Stalin said, Vijayakanth, who has a good heart, is an achiever who has made successful marks through his hard work in the film industry and in public life. As an actor, actor's union president, political party leader, legislator, leader of the opposition Supporters, Politicians, and actors from the industry paid their heartfelt condolences after learning about his demise. DMDK supporters mourn the death of actor and DMDK chief Captain Vijayakanth.

Vijayakanth passed away at a private hospital in Chennai on 28 December. He was admitted to MIOT Hospital in Chennai as his health deteriorated. As per the hospital, Vijayakanth was on ventilatory support following his admission for pneumonia.

Earlier in the day, his party said that Vijayakanth had tested positive for COVID and was put on a ventilator due to breathing issues, however, the hospital bulletin said he battled pneumonia. Hospital sources told PTI that the party issued that statement even before the results for the second round of samples were available.

Since November this year, the actor-turned-politician has been facing health issues.

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Metinvest Pokrovskvuhillia, which manages operational and administrative changes at the enterprises of Pokrovsk Coal Group, produced 3.1 million tonnes of coal concentrate in 2023, said company CEO Andriy Akulich in an interview with one of the regional TV channels.

For 2024 and 2025, we see the production of 2.8 million tonnes of concentrate - this level is due to the consumption of Metinvest, as well as the domestic market of Ukraine and Eastern Europe. Unfortunately, the Black Sea ports are not yet open to increase volumes, so we are forced to remain at the level of 2.8 million tonnes per year, the CEO stated.

According to him, such plans form the companys mining program at the level of 10-12 km per year.

This is a vision of production plans for 2024-2025. The business plan for 2024 has been approved, said the top manager, noting that in 2023 the mine workings were 20 km.

In 2023, we will pay about UAH 4 billion in taxes to budgets of all levels, about UAH 700 million of which are regional taxes paid here in the community. We help every time there is some kind of trouble. We help with construction materials, equipment and everything we can do to help and what the community needs, Akulich explained.

As reported, Metinvest Pokrovskvuhillia produced 4 million tonnes of coking coal in January-September 2023.

Sviato-Varvarynska processing plant, part of Metinvest Group together with other Pokrovskvuhillia enterprises, over 11 months of 2023 produced more than 2.7 million tonnes of high-quality coal concentrate from raw coking coal mined by Pokrovske mine. It processes all coal from Pokrovske mine.

Pokrovske Mine is the largest producer of coking coal in Ukraine.
MUMBAI : The production-linked incentives (PLI) scheme for the automotive sector has hit another speed breaker due to lack of clarity about the process to apply for subsidies, multiple industry executives said.

The government is still working on the standard operating procedures (SoPs) for claiming incentives, nearly two years after the scheme became operational, the people said on the condition of anonymity.

The SoPs are expected to outline the process for verifying sales and investments made as part of the scheme and the format of various certificates, undertakings and documents that applicants need to produce. It will also prescribe a standardized procedure for testing agencies to verify the claims.

This is the second time that the auto PLI scheme has been delayed; earlier, the SoPs for calculation of domestic value additiona key criterion for the schemewere released over a year after the scheme became operational. In the absence of that SoP, none of the applicants were able to file claims for the first year of the scheme ending March 2023. Subsequently, the government extended the scheme duration by one year to compensate for zero disbursals in the first year.

While the industry awaits new SoPs, it has also been bogged down by the sheer volume of documents and compliances required. For instance, companies need multiple certificates from chartered engineers, independent auditors and their managements to back the claims they make.

This is unlike most other PLI schemes, where companies are simply required to submit an undertaking to back their claims, experts said. The auto PLI scheme is also the only such scheme for which SoPs are in place to calculate domestic value addition, they said.

Queries sent to the heavy industries ministry that oversees the scheme remained unanswered.

Executives said the governments insistence on strict compliance with the rules arises from its experience with another auto industry subsidy scheme. Many automotive companies had wrongfully claimed subsidies as part of the FAME-2 scheme by stating incorrect details and taking a warped interpretation of the rules. Many companies wrongfully claimed that they were sourcing certain parts locally as mandated by the scheme even as they relied on imports.

The FAME episode has put the whole ecosystem into an auditors mindset rather than a facilitators mindset. The same rules can be interpreted in different ways. They are taking the strictest interpretation due to the FAME setback," an auto industry executive said.

No one wants to take the blame in case anything goes wrong with this scheme too. But in all that, somewhere, the spirit of the scheme has got lost," they added.

Strict regulatory requirements have meant that out of the 85 companies approved for the scheme, only two have been able to receive a certificate of compliance for domestic value addition.

If the scheme is only benefitting two companies, how is it serving its purpose of developing a domestic ecosystem?" asked another executive.

Meanwhile, no amount has been disbursed under the scheme. In an interaction with the industry in August, the government had proposed the idea of initiating quarterly disbursal of incentives rather than annual disbursals.

However, the Union minister for heavy industries Mahendra Nath Pandey recently said in Parliament that the government will start crediting incentives under the scheme from the next fiscal year, perplexing participants if quarterly disbursals will be made for the period ending 31 December.

The industry is confused if the government is even serious about the scheme. We have not received a single paisa yet. Internally, our finance department and leadership are asking us a lot of questions," another executive said on the condition of anonymity.
2023 witnessed a resurgence of travel and ahead of New Year 2024, it is likely to increase further. In case, you want to dodge the mad city rush and wish to travel but don't have any booking yet, then check some last-minute deals.

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There are a variety of special themed holiday packages available like honeymoon packages in Gods own country Kerala, pilgrimage tours to the pious Char Dham, beach holiday packages to the alluring Goa, luxury vacations in the divine Nilgiris, adventure tours to the spirited Gir and so on.

Click on the offer you like and a representative from the team will contact you.

Some of the current offers include trips to Assam & Meghalaya, Bhutan and Sri Lanka

SOTC

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How to book: The cruise trips can be booked from the SOTC website.

Ahead of the New Year, a 3-day cruise trip is available from Kochi.

MakeMyTrip

Similarly, MakeMyTrip is also offering mega discounts on several last-minute travel deals. These offers include Goa and Jaipur.

How to book: All information about the deals are available on their website.

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Israeli officials are stepping up threats against the Lebanese militant group Hezbollah, warning that Israel is running out of patience as the two sides continue to trade fire along Israel's volatile northern border.

Benny Gantz, a member of Israel's War Cabinet, said Wednesday that if the international community and the Lebanese government don't restrain Hezbollah, Israel will. Israel's army chief, Lt. Gen. Herzi Halevi, said the military is in a state of high readiness and has approved plans in case it decides to open a second front in the north.

The fighting along Israel's northern border broke out when Hezbollah began firing rockets shortly after the Oct. 7 cross-border attack by Hamas triggered the war in Gaza.

While at a lower intensity than the battle in Gaza, the simultaneous fighting has caused destruction, displacement and death on both sides and raised fears of a wider regional war.

Here is a look at the battle between Israel and Hezbollah:

What does the fighting involve?

Hezbollah fighters have been attacking Israeli posts and villages along the border, and the group has launched rockets and drones toward Israeli targets. Israeli tanks, artillery and aircraft have been striking areas on the Lebanese side of the border. The fighting has been mostly brief, but almost daily.

The Israeli military says more than 1,700 rockets have been fired from Lebanon toward Israel, killing 15 Israelis, including nine soldiers, and injuring more than 150 people.

Israel has evacuated about 60,000 people from more than 40 northern communities, including the main city of Kiryat Shemona, which has 22,000 residents. Israeli media outlets have aired footage of battered homes and barren communities, with Israeli soldiers guarding empty streets.

On the Lebanese side, around 74,500 people have been displaced by the fighting, according to the International Organization for Migration.

Also Read | How an Israeli Airstrike on a Hamas Commander Also Killed Scores of Civilians

Nearly 160 people have been killed by Israeli airstrikes and shelling in Lebanon, according to an Associated Press tally. Most of those were fighters with Hezbollah and allied groups, but at least 19 civilians have also been killed, including journalists and children.

Human rights groups and local officials have also accused Israel of hitting Lebanese border areas with shells containing white phosphorus, a controversial incendiary munition. The strikes have burned hundreds of hectares (acres) of farm and woodland and injured civilians. Israel says all its actions conform with international law.

Why are they fighting?

Israel and Iran-backed Hezbollah are longtime bitter enemies, dating back to Israel's occupation of parts of south Lebanon from 1982 to 2000.

After Hezbollah fighters ambushed an Israeli patrol in 2006 and took two Israeli soldiers hostage, the sides fought a vicious monthlong war that ended in a draw  but not before Israeli bombardment wreaked widespread destruction in southern Lebanon and parts of Beirut.

The border area had largely been quiet since that war, aside from sparse skirmishes and sporadic tensions. Israel estimates that Hezbollah has some 150,000 rockets and missiles in its arsenal, many of which can strike virtually anywhere in Israel, including the economic capital, Tel Aviv.

Hezbollah says its attacks aim to ease pressure on the Gaza Strip, where Israel is fighting an unprecedented ground, air and sea offensive meant to topple Hamas and return some 129 people held captive in the territory.

The Iran connection

Although there has been no proof that Iran, Israel's archenemy, ordered the Oct. 7 attack, its fingerprints have been visible throughout the ensuing conflict.

In addition to Iran's support for Hamas and Hezbollah, Iran-backed groups in Yemen, Syria and Iraq have launched attacks on Israel and its allies in support of Hamas.

In the Red Sea, attacks by Houthi rebels in Yemen against ships they believe to be connected to Israel have disrupted trade and prompted the launch of a U.S.-led multinational naval operation to protect shipping routes.

Iran-backed militias in Iraq have also launched dozens of attacks on bases housing U.S. troops in Iraq and Syria, which they have said are in retaliation for Washington's support of Israel.

And on Monday, Iranian state media blamed Israel for a strike on a Damascus neighborhood that killed a high-ranking Iranian general.

Amos Harel, a military commentator for the daily Haaretz newspaper, wrote Wednesday that the general's killing was a message to Iran that it can no longer enjoy immunity while its proxies attack Israel.

It also brings us closer to the possibility of a growing escalation against Hezbollah, and even against the Iranians, on the northern front," he wrote.

What is Hezbollah's role?

Hezbollah's leader, Hassan Nasrallah, faces a risky balancing act.

Joining Hamas would risk dragging Lebanon  beset by economic calamity and internal political tensions  into a conflict it can ill afford, fueling domestic opposition to the group. The World Bank has already said the clashes are likely to harm Lebanon's economy.

Lebanon is in the fourth year of a crippling economic crisis and is bitterly divided between Hezbollah and its allies and opponents, paralyzing the political system.

But staying entirely on the sidelines as Israeli troops battle in the Gaza Strip could compromise Hezbollah's credibility, and a Hamas defeat would be a blow to Iran.

Hezbollah has been careful to limit its attacks on Israel, while keeping open the threat of a broader escalation.

If Israel goes too far, we will retaliate twice as much," Hezbollah's deputy leader, Sheikh Naim Kassem, said Thursday. We will not fear either Israeli or American threats or intimidation."

A new front for Israel?

With its soldiers bogged down in Gaza, Israel has mostly sought to limit the fighting in its north. Hezbollah's military capabilities are far superior to those of Hamas.

Still, Israeli officials are increasingly warning that the country is prepared to expand the fighting and that Hezbollah should be prepared to pay a price for the damage it has wrought over the past three months.

Israel already has bolstered forces in the north and could well turn its sights on Hezbollah once it scales down or wraps up the war in Gaza.

Israel's top ally, the U.S, which has sent military reinforcements to the region, says it prefers to see a negotiated solution to the mounting tensions rather than a second war front.

Israel also wants Hezbollah to abide by a 2006 U.N. cease-fire agreement that states the border area in southern Lebanon must be free of any armed personnel, assets and weapons" other than Lebanese government forces and U.N. peacekeepers. Under the resolution, Hezbollah should not have military presence in the border region.

Lebanon, meanwhile, argues that Israel violates the resolution with its air force's frequent entry into Lebanese airspace and by its presence in Chebaa Farms, a disputed area along the country's border with the Golan Heights, an area seized by Israel from Syria in 1967.

Israeli Foreign Minister Eli Cohen said Wednesday that Hezbollah must respect the 2006 cease-fire. Otherwise, he warned, Nasrallah must understand that he's next."

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Indonesia's navy Thursday claimed that it forcibly pushed a boat packed with Rohingya refugees back to international waters after the vessel approached the shores of Aceh province .

The Indonesian navy said a coast guard vessel detected a boat carrying Rohingya refugees entering Indonesia's waters on Wednesday. A helicopter from a navy ship subsequently spotted a wooden vessel nearing Weh island in north Aceh province.

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The navy said its ship KRI Bontang-907 located the boat about 63 nautical miles (72 miles) off the Indonesian coast and drove it out, "ensuring that the boat did not return to Indonesian waters".

The world's largest island country recently appealed to the international community for help and has intensified patrols of its waters due to a sharp rise in Rohingya refugees leaving overcrowded camps in Bangladesh since November. Over 1,500 Rohingya have arrived in Aceh and faced some hostility from fellow Muslims.

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Earlier on Wednesday, a mob of students attacked the basement of a local community hall in Banda Aceh, the capital of Aceh province, where about 137 Rohingya were taking shelter.

A large group of refugees, mostly women and children, were seen crying and screaming after a group wearing university green jackets broke through a police cordon and forcibly put the Rohingya on the back of two trucks, reported AP.

Indonesia, like Thailand and Malaysia, is not a signatory to the United Nations' 1951 Refugee Convention so is not obligated to accept the Rohingya coming from Bangladesh. So far, refugees in distress have received at least temporary accommodations.

Earlier, Indonesia tolerated such landings of Rohingya as 90% of the country population comprise Muslims, but there has been a surge of anti-Rohingya sentiment this year, especially in Aceh, where residents accuse the Rohingya of poor behaviour and creating a burden.

The growing hostility of some Indonesians toward the Rohingya has put pressure on President Joko Widodo's government to take action.

About 7,40,000 Rohingya were resettled in Bangladesh after fleeing their homes in Myanmar to escape a brutal counterinsurgency campaign by security forces.

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Hours after Kataib Hezbollah injured three American troops with an attack on an air base in Iraq on Dec. 25, the U.S. struck back, hitting three facilities used by the Iran-backed militia. U.S. officials described the act as a proportionate retaliation to deter further attacks and mitigate the risk of a full-scale war between the U.S. and Iran.

U.S. military officials say there have been 103 attacks against U.S. troops in Iraq and Syria since Oct. 17. Several Americans have been injured. The U.S. has retaliated half a dozen times against Irans Arab proxies in both countries. The math isnt working for the Biden administration, and neither is time.

Iran relishes the idea that it is engaged in a David-vs.-Goliath struggle with the U.S. This plays well in the Islamic world and allows the ayatollahs to justify repression at home. At the moment, Iran is dictating the pace and scope of the conflict. The Biden administration, leery of escalation, has maintained a purely reactive military posture, giving Tehrans decision makers the impression that a window is open during which they can attack U.S. forces with impunity. In the past, this dynamic has emboldened the mullahs to push the envelope.

President Biden mistakenly believes that restraint will prevent war. On the contrary, the U.S. must impose a real cost on Iran to deter further attacks. Hitting proxies is militarily ineffectiveMondays strike will have no discernible effect on Kataib Hezbollahs capabilitiesand gives the mullahs fodder for their regional propaganda campaign. It allows the regime to paint itself as the standard-bearer of Islamic resistance against the American imperialists.

Better for the U.S. to play offense than defense. If Mr. Biden wants to avoid a larger war, he should consider how his decision-making would be limited by a single missile or drone that slips through U.S. defenses and kills American troops. The cable-news channels would eviscerate him and his policy of caution. Such pressure, particularly during a presidential campaign, would force his hand and likely trigger a spiral of reciprocal escalation.

This is all avoidable given U.S. military advantages. The key for Washington is to see the world through Iranian eyes. Since coming to power in 1979, Tehrans revolutionary regime has adopted an asymmetrical approach in its conflict with the U.S. The mullahs see themselves as being at war with the Great Satan. Washington, on the other hand, views Tehrans provocations as an occasional annoyancea distraction from larger national-security and economic threats posed by China and Russia.

Irans leaders are aware of their disadvantages but have no interest in peaceful coexistence. They need to maintain conflict with the U.S. to legitimize their oppressive regime. Irans strategy therefore depends on understanding Washingtons red lines. Having worked the Iran portfolio as a Central Intelligence Agency operations officer for decades, I expect that every time U.S. officials announce Iran doesnt want a direct war with the U.S., Tehran gives its proxies a green light to attack Americans and Israelis. When the U.S. throws its muscle around instead, Tehran reins in its network of regional militias.

This was aptly illustrated after the U.S. killed Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps Quds Force Commander Qasem Soleimani in 2020. The U.S. demonstrated its willingness to commit an open act of war against a leader roughly equivalent to the U.S. chairman of the Joint Chiefs, national-security adviser and director of national intelligence. At the time, the U.S. had also significantly bolstered its military presence in the region with additional ships, aircraft and Marines. Iran fired more than a dozen ballistic missiles at U.S. bases across Iraqmissing each time, probably on purpose. The Iranian military pulled its punches rather than risk inviting a massive American military response.

The U.S. also must think asymmetrically, trying anything that might illuminate the ayatollahs weaknesses. Tehrans leaders obsessively project an image of omniscience, control and power to ward off popular revolt. Now might be the time for the U.S. to consider visible but deniable cyberattacks that temporarily take out Irans power grid, banking, oil or port infrastructure. Cyber operations can similarly target Irans television and radio stations, using them to expose regime corruption. The ruling clerics have been willing to kill dissidents abroad for far less.

Washington should make clear its willingness to pursue more kinetic targets if Iran escalates. The U.S. already has the capacity to employ standoff weapons, such as sea- and air-fired cruise missiles, to destroy facilities producing Iranian drones and other armaments. Depending on Irans response, the U.S. could target IRGC platforms and facilities in the Gulf.

The U.S. needs to move quickly to change the status quo with Iran. Hope that our defensive capabilities will continue to limit casualties isnt a viable strategy to avoid war. Iran is already at war and considers its proxies expendable. Tehran sees no value in restraint. Experience has taught the mullahs that there is political opportunity in provocation. Washingtons pusillanimity is, for them, an invitation to do more. U.S. officials are right that Irans leaders have no interest in a war they cant win. The problem is that Washington is letting them fight the war they can.

Mr. London, a former CIA operations officer, is author of The Recruiter: Spying and the Lost Art of American Intelligence." He teaches intelligence studies at Georgetown Universitys School of Foreign Service and is a nonresident scholar at the Middle East Institute.
Prime Minister Narendra Modis recent call-out to rich Indians asking them to hold their weddings in the country instead of going to exotic destinations overseas seems to have spurred his government into action. The tourism ministry is reportedly planning an India says I do" campaign. It will be aimed not just at keeping Indian weddings onshore, but also attracting foreigners to tie the knot here. Solemn as the affair might be, there is also a market opportunity in it, given the vast sums of money that well-off Indians splurge on wedding extravaganzas. Enthusing people from other countries to host ceremonies here would expand the pie. The idea makes sound economic sense. For this years wedding season from late-November to mid-December, an estimate by the Confederation of All India Traders had pegged the amount that would be spenton everything from sending out invitations and hosting banquets to shopping for clothes and jewelleryat about 4.7 trillion, up 25% from the previous year. Though no firm estimates are available of the money spent overseas by Indians on weddings, since its the rich who go in for such lavish destination dos, we can assume a substantial amount could be captured locally if the ministrys campaign succeeds. If Make in India is about the creation of manufacturing jobs, Wed in India could generate matrimonial jobs.

Reports suggest that Modis exhortation has begun to take effect and some foreign locations have already been replaced by domestic ones by convincedor squirmycitizens. It helps that Indias hospitality industry has mastered the art of delivering what the most exacting of wedding planners demand, at least at the markets top end, right down to fine details like the scents of scented candles. While several five-star hotel chains have acquired reputations for wowing guests as well as clients, gaining a competitive advantage in global reckoning would require attention paid to end-to-end experiences. This should be a special focus if we expect Indias proposition to make headway and earn foreign exchange. Since many invitees from abroad may be first-time visitors to India, we must aim to keep the contrast low between what they encounter upon arrival at an airport and how theyre received at the wedding venue. This task would be easier if a hot list is drawn up of destinations to be prepped for such occasions. The air of royalty in Udaipur has already made it a favourite for grand parties of this kind. The beaches of Goa grant it another sort of wedding vibe. And then there is Agra, where the Taj Mahal could act as a duly romantic backdrop. Dozens of other places could be requisitioned for the cause. In all these cities, local folks and authorities may have to be co-opted. Even so, a hint of Incredible India," a campaign of the early 2000s that charmed tourists by preparing them for surprises, would be helpful.

It is no less important that Wed in India does not go beyond urging people to get married in the country. A zeal to make it succeed must not take the shape of a state mandate. Nor should weddings held by Indians on foreign shores attract any social reproach. Whispers of this being a ploy to dodge income-tax scrutiny need to be discouraged. After all, where people want to marry is a matter of personal choice, just as a holiday spot is. Thankfully, New Delhi has not shown signs of getting in the way of this freedom. And freedom, as long-weds could assure newly-weds, is precious stuff.
Deal or no deal? In the early days of Israels counteroffensive against Hamas, the terrorist group begged for a breather. It released 105 hostages for a seven-day pause and some low-level prisoners. But Hamas has since turned down two offers for a pause in the fighting, each one more generous than the last. What changed?

After the terrorist group brushed aside an Egyptian proposal over Christmas weekend, Hamas Politburo member Izzat al Rishq explained, There can be no negotiations without a complete stop to the aggression"an end to the war. On Dec. 20, in rejecting an Israeli offer, Politburo member Ghazi Hamad said Hamas is no longer interested in a pause here and there, for one week, two weeks, three weeks," even though Israel was ready to release senior Hamas terrorists as well.

A sobering explanation is offered by Meir Ben Shabbat, Israels national security adviser from 2017 to 2021. He writes that Hamas now feels confident enough" to reject any deal that doesnt deliver it victory outright. That confidence may be misguided, but it isnt unfounded.

While the conditions under which our forces operate are more difficult than in the past," Mr. Ben Shabbat explains, for Hamas fighters, things have improved." Under Biden Administration pressure, Israel is now using less firepower to prepare its advances on the ground. This leaves more opportunities for Hamas to ambush Israeli soldiers.

In between hit-and-run attacks, the terrorists hide in well-stocked tunnels. Hamas gets to have de facto control over most of the aid entering the strip," Mr. Ben Shabbat writes. Again under Biden Administration pressure, Israel has allowed an increase in the flow of fuel to Gaza, which Hamas needs to stay underground.

Three political trends may also encourage Hamas. One is a growing campaign by Israeli journalists to free the hostages at any cost, even leaving Hamas in power. The accidental killing of three hostages dealt a political blow to the belief that Israels war effort will bring its people home.

Second, U.S. behavior reveals an overriding desire to de-escalate the larger fight with Irans proxies. Attacks by Yemens Houthis go unanswered. Iraqi militias get away with hitting U.S. bases. While Hezbollahs daily barrage has displaced about 100,000 Israelis from their homes, Washington urges Jerusalem to keep its response to a minimum.

Third, while the White House supports the Israeli counteroffensive in Gaza, its focus is now on scaling it back. Reports emerge almost daily of senior U.S. officials urging Israel to transition to the next phase of operations"low-intensity fighting with raids from the border. Israel says it needs more time to flush out Hamas, but rising military casualties take a toll.

This is Hamass path to survival and victory: a premature shift of Israels war effort to meet Mr. Bidens political timetable. Why give up your hostage bargaining chips if you need only hold out for another few weeks?

The flaw in this Hamas analysis may be that it assumes Israel will follow Mr. Bidens advice all the way to defeat. After Oct. 7, dont count on it. Israeli troops are still advancing, expanding operations in some areas and focusing them in others. Israel has no choice but to press on until it destroys Hamas.
A song called Tomorrow Will Be Better" became a sensation in mainland China in the 1980s, when the nation was emerging from the poverty and turmoil of Mao Zedongs rule.

Its inspirational lyrics, which exhorted listeners to look upward for the wings in the sky," came to represent a generation that was starting to believe in a brighter future.

Now people in China are listening to the song againbut for a very different reason. Videos of the song are circulating on WeChat and other communications apps, often with taglines expressing sadness about the end of that era.

The 1980s are gone forever," wrote one listener. So long, those years of burning passion," wrote another.

For many Chinese, especially those who came of age during the past 40 years of reform and opening, China appeared to be on an irreversible path forward toward more growth, openness and opportunity.

But now Chinas leader, Xi Jinping, is restoring aspects of Maos rule, forcing people to confront a more uncertain future rooted in Chinas past.

Xis predecessors, beginning with Deng Xiaoping, embraced market forces, growth and limited freedoms. Xi, by contrast, is placing national security over the economy, tightening government control, and putting the Communist Partyand himselfat the center of Chinese society.

A Dec. 16 article published by the partys influential journal, Qiushi, elevated Xi to the same historical status as Mao, calling Xi the Peoples leader"a title previously reserved for Chinas Great Helmsman.

Gone is the booming China that inspired many young people and entrepreneurs to take risks and bet on the future. Home prices are falling, youth unemployment is at a record high, private investment is shrinking, the financial system is drowning in debt and deflation is setting in.

In addition, China is increasingly walled off from the Western world, both diplomatically and economically.

While Xi himself isnt to blame for all those problemssome reflect the excesses of the China he inheritedhis Mao-style centralization of power is exacerbating many of them.

Xi is dampening the energy and optimism of the Chinese people," said Susan Shirk, a former senior diplomat during the Clinton administration and author of a recent book, Overreach: How China Derailed Its Peaceful Rise."

In a system so dominated by one leader," Shirk said, everyone feels powerless to effect positive change."

A WSJ reporters experience

When The Wall Street Journal sent me to Beijing in the spring of 2011 to cover China, what I saw was a nation filled with can-do spirit.

It was just a year after China had overtaken Japan as the worlds second-largest economy. Business owners and college graduates were thinking about how to get into the burgeoning field of e-commerce. Foreigners were pouring in. A sense of hope was widespread.

With Xi, who came to power in late 2012, many in China saw a strong leader who could take Chinas development forward. They took note of how Xi defined his vision for the nation as the China dream"a nod to the global appeal of the American dream.

But such hopes were giving way to disenchantment a few years later as Beijing expanded its surveillance state and started tightening the screws on private business.

In the spring of 2017, when senior executives from multinational companies such as Apple and Tesla gathered in a state guesthouse in western Beijing to mingle with senior Chinese officials, I was there, frantically taking notes. The event had as its theme China and the World: Economic Transformation Through Structural Reforms."

An official I had interviewed before signaled me to a corner of the venue. The official, one of several who had helped introduce Western-style stock trading to China, flagged to me what he viewed as a worrisome trend of the party inserting itself more into companies affairs by pressuring them to accept Communist Party committees in their offices.

The whole thing about getting listed companies to set up party committees," he said, is a reversal of what we had tried to do." Then he walked away without saying anything else.

These days, the party is everywhere, and the boundary between the party-state and the private sector is getting more muddled. That reverses a trend dating to the reform era when Chinas leaders had the party-state step back and let entrepreneurs flourish.

Follow the party

In Shenzhen, Dengs reform policies helped transform the former fishing village in the shadow of neighboring Hong Kong into a cosmopolitan city of 13 million, home to globally competitive tech companies such as Tencent.

Time is money, efficiency is life" was the slogan that guided the citys early development.

Today, Shenzhen has a new slogan: Follow the party, start your business"with the party coming first.

Communist Party direction doesnt seem to be brightening the citys future. More than a quarter of Shenzhens office space sits empty after Xi started a campaign in 2020 to rein in risk-taking at private firms. The regulatory crackdown wiped out more than $1 trillion in market value from publicly-listed tech firms and triggered layoffs and business retrenchment.

Huang Hua, who left his hometown in northern China three decades ago for Shenzhen, said his future looks worse than a few years ago. Like many other migrant workers, Huang started out in sweatshops in the city. Six years ago, he started a small clothing business in hopes of riding the citys tech boom.

Huang recalled programmers and software developers shopping at trendy boutiques and meeting up at collaborative workspaces. Business was good for a while, but now many of his customers who worked in tech have lost their jobs.

Companies have had to cut back because of the governments rectification campaign," he said, using a Maoist termwhich many regulatory officials also have usedto refer to Xis effort to rein in Big Tech. Although work was hard 20 or 30 years ago, we were always hopeful," Huang said. Now Im not sure if I can keep my business going."

What Xi wants

Xi doesnt envision a full return to the Mao era. Obsessed with order, he doesnt want a repeat of the chaos of the Cultural Revolution in the late 1960s and early 1970s. The mass movement launched by Mao to root out capitalists and assert his authority led to years of bloodshedsomething few expect today.

Xis vision was made clear at a high-level meeting this month to set Chinas economic agenda for 2024. The confab placed priority on developing a modern industrial system"party-speak for a state-led economy in which Beijing directs resources to preferred sectors, such as chipmaking or artificial intelligence.

It also called for strengthening economic propaganda and public opinion guidance" to promote a positive narrative of Chinas economy.

Xis state-led approach has benefited some sectors such as electric vehicles, with Chinese-made EVswhich benefit from government subsidiesnow being sold globally. It also could help wash out speculative behavior in the private sector that, if left unaddressed, could create bigger financial risks for China.

Some Chinese support Xis policies, because they think the country needs to accept hardships to put growth on a more sustainable track and prepare for possible conflict with the U.S. Beijing has acknowledged some economic challenges and vowed to increase government spending and monetary support for the economy.

Yet to many in China, the directives at this months policy meetings conjure up bad memories of Mao-style campaigns, and how officials back then covered up bad news when centrally planned economic initiatives failed.

Downsides of state control

Analysis by Goldman Sachs earlier this year found that three of the main industries Xi is giving priority toEVs, lithium-ion batteries and renewable energyaccount for only about 3.5% of Chinas gross domestic product.

They arent nearly big enough to replace Chinas property sector, which once accounted for more than 20% of the economy before weakening after a government crackdown on excessive borrowing. They also arent big enough to create enough jobs for the millions of college graduates and migrant workers who are now struggling to get by, economists say.

If Xis current policy focus holds, economists warn that China may never graduate from the ranks of middle-income emerging markets, let alone overtake the U.S. as the worlds largest economy, Beijings longstanding ambition.

For many people in China, it doesnt matter whether the country surpasses the U.S. What matters to them is the ability to get ahead through hard work and gumption, as Americans aspire to do.

The kind of freedom I worry about is financial freedom," said Zhou Fang, a Shanghai-based financial analyst at a Chinese brokerage firm.

It seemed that we would always have been able to pursue financial freedom so we could travel wherever we wanted, buy whatever we wanted and wear whatever we wanted," she said. Now it is all very uncertain."

Mao-era tactics resurrected

Faced with growing economic headwinds and challenges to order, Xi is doubling down on Mao-style control, embracing a Mao-era tool as a way to ensure national security.

The practice, called the Fengqiao experience," is named after a town in eastern China that gained national fame in the early 1960s when Mao praised the way its officials mobilized people to identify and punish so-called enemies of the proletariatcapitalists, traditionalists and the like.

People were encouraged to report on one another, with husbands informing on wives and children on their parents, leading to some of the most brutal aspects of the Cultural Revolution. After that tumultuous period, the Fengqiao experience" faded into history.

Xi is trying to revive aspects of it to mobilize people to fix problems at the local level before they lead to widespread social unrest.

An app launched in Zhejiang province, where Fengqiao is located, dubbed Safe Zhejiang," lets users notify authorities of issues ranging from domestic violence and corporate disputes to traffic violations. In return, informants receive rewards such as shopping discounts.

During my last trip to Fengqiao, in 2019, what I saw was a town that featured capitalist trappings from the reform eraalmost every household owned a Honda, Toyota or BMWand yet was trying to adapt to the renewed spotlight on its Maoist past.

Since that year, officials across China have been encouraged to attend study sessions" hosted by Fengqiao officials to learn how to use the Internet and big data to monitor and control discontent. On Nov. 6, Xi honored Fengqiao experience" representatives from around the country and encouraged further promotion of the practice to make China safer.

Some residents have been reluctant to use the app out of privacy concerns. Other Chinese have grown more concerned about state surveillance and a loss of legal protections for their rights.

John Ling, an e-commerce entrepreneur in Shanghai in his late 40s, recalls a far more liberal environment in the early 2000s. Lured back home by Chinas seemingly limitless opportunities after studying in the U.S., he started a business trading goods online.

Back then, I did feel like you could realize your American dream in China, as long as you worked hard," Ling recalled.

Year by year he felt greater government interference. As more capital poured into e-commerce, he said, Beijing grew concerned that the sector was diverting resources away from more strategic areas such as semiconductors, an industry in which China still heavily relies on Western firms.

Ling said it became so difficult to raise fresh funding for e-commerce that he decided to shut his venture earlier this year. Its all about hard-tech these days," he said, referring to sectors now favored by the government. But can you sustain the entire economy with just hard-tech?"

It feels like nothing is possible" nowadays, he said.

End of an era

Such worries are also palpable among foreigners such as Anne Stevenson-Yang, an American who has spent 25 years in China since she first traveled there in 1985.

Stevenson-Yang, now 64, recalls how China rolled out the welcome mat to Westerners during the reform years. In the 1990s, while working as the Beijing representative for the U.S.-China Business Council, a lobbying group for American companies in China, she was a frequent guest at banquets hosted by senior Chinese officials.

China wanted to learn from everybody," Stevenson-Yang said.

Now, Chinese authorities treat foreigners with suspicion as Xi puts an emphasis on fending off any perceived Western threats. Raids and investigations involving Western companies assessing investment risks in China this year have made many Westerners wary of traveling to the country, as have arbitrary detentions of foreigners.

Stevenson-Yang, who now runs a research firm that helps international investors analyze Chinese companies, said she is unwilling to go back and run the risk of getting detained. For her, it isnt just a business matter: her decision has deeply personal implications.

Her husband, Yang Zhifang, a former Peoples Liberation Army officer, died of a heart condition two months ago in their home in Connecticut. Before he died, he asked Stevenson-Yang to place a portion of his ashes in a mountain in the Beijing area where his parents were buried.

Now, Stevenson-Yang has to figure out a different way to fulfill that wish, as she isnt willing to travel to China herself. After her husbands death, Stevenson-Yang said her family had a long, emotional Zoom call with his family in China.

With mainland China off the table, she said, her family is planning a long trip next year to Taiwan, the self-governed island that Chinas Communist Party claims but has never ruled. It is the one place where she believes it is still possible to renew her familys connection with Chinese food and culture, without risk.

Write to Lingling Wei at Lingling.Wei@wsj.com
The alley-like streets and closely spaced buildings of the Block 6 neighborhood in Gazas Jabalia refugee camp were packed with people the afternoon of Oct. 31. Some stood in a long line at the local bakery. Others were crammed more tightly than usual into tiny apartments.

Many had ignored or were unable to heed repeated calls from the Israeli military to evacuate farther south to avoid its approaching troops and aerial bombardment, believing they were relatively secure deep inside the sprawling, densely populated camp.

We were at home, with many relatives and even people we never met before, seeking refuge with us in a place that was safe," recalled resident Mohammad Tabaq, 27.

Around 3:30 p.m., Israeli warplanes dropped multiple large bombs in a tight pattern on the neighborhood. The explosions leveled an entire rectangular block, leaving deep craters where more than a dozen buildings had stood, satellite photos show.

The strike killed Ibrahim Biari, Hamass battalion commander for Jabalia, who Israeli intelligence believed was directing a nearby battle, and dozens of other militants, according to the Israeli military. But it also left the bodies of at least 126 people in the rubble, one of the deadliest attacks of the Gaza war, according to Airwars, a nonprofit affiliated with the University of London that investigates civilian casualties in conflict zones.

The decision to bomb an urban neighborhood packed with people in the middle of the afternoon to kill an enemy commander signaled early in the war that Israel was willing to use overwhelming force against Hamass leadership, even if it meant risking large numbers of civilian casualties.

In the intervening days and weeks, Israeli forces have pushed deeper into Gaza, seeking to dismantle Hamas in retaliation for the militant groups surprise attack on Oct. 7, which left more than 1,200 people dead in Israel. The Israeli offensive has taken a heavy toll, with an estimated 21,000 killed, according to Palestinian health officials, drawing condemnation from human-rights groups and other countries. The Biden administration, a staunch Israeli ally, has repeatedly told Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahus government that its military operation is inflicting too many civilian casualties.

Even against that backdrop, the Jabalia airstrike stands out. A Wall Street Journal examination of the episode, based on more than a dozen interviews with survivors and senior Israeli military officers, suggests that military planners made a series of miscalculations based on incomplete information that resulted in far greater destruction and loss of life than they anticipated.

Among the findings:

Israel decided not to warn civilians in the area of an imminent airstrike via phone messages out of fear of giving the militants time to evacuate.

The military appears to have deployed at least two of the largest bombs in its arsenal rather than using smaller targeted munitions.

Air force commanders attempted to limit collateral damage by aiming guided bombs between buildings and using fuses that slightly delayed the detonations until the munitions had penetrated beneath the surfacebut by destroying tunnels they also brought down buildings standing above.

In a written statement, the Israeli military said it is committed to international law, directing its strikes at military targets and investing significant resources to minimize harm to civilians." The statement added that the military only conducts attacks when the expected damage to civilians is not excessive in relation to the anticipated military advantage, based on information available before the attack."

A team of military investigators disconnected from the IDF chain of command" is examining the bombing, the Israeli military said, referring to the Israel Defense Forces.

Many Israeli officials argued Hamas is ultimately to blame for the high death toll because it chooses to operate in civilian population centers.

Theres only so much you can know. Its limited in some way and theres a fog of war," said a senior Israeli military legal official familiar with the deliberations going into such a strike. If you try to be effective in defeating your enemy and protecting your civilians, sometimes you cant avoid it."

Israeli planners had anticipated some buildings might collapse in the attack, but the damage was far worse than expected, officials said, blaming the extensive tunnel complex underneath.

The underground complex, the tunnels that Hamas built, they collapsed and that is our assessment of why we see significant structural damage around," said Lt. Col Jonathan Conricus, an Israeli military spokesman.

Adil Haque, a professor at New Jerseys Rutgers University who focuses on international law of armed conflict, said nothing the Israeli military has said about the strike suggests it gained anything more than a moderate military advantage by killing Biari.

The Oct. 31 attack on Jabalia is an extreme outlier in terms of foreseeable civilian harm," Haque said. To justify this much civilian harm, you would expect some kind of game-changer that would make a decisive impact on the course of the war."

The smell of blood was everywhere

Saeed Abu Oun, a 30-year-old graduate of the University of Palestine, had left his home in the northern Gaza Strip on the first day of the war, along with his mother and two siblings, to live with his aunt in the Jabalia camp, where they believed it would be safer.

Fearing airstrikes, the family had barely been going outside, but Abu Oun left home around noon on Oct. 31 to try to buy bread at the neighborhood bakery. He had been waiting in line for more than two hours when the bombs fell in quick succession a hundred yards in front of him.

The explosions shook the ground like an earthquake and pulverized concrete buildings, engulfing the target area in a pulsing cloud of flying debris and black smoke and dust that left the scope of the damage unclear for more than five minutes, survivors said.

I immediately ran away because we know that they bomb the same area more than once," Abu Oun said.

When the smoke and dust cleared, he said, instead of densely packed multistory buildings and small shops, there was an unrecognizable moonscape of deep craters and mountains of concrete and steel debris, downed power lines and smoldering fires.

What I saw were corpses, some in pieces, and enormous numbers of injuries that is unimaginable," said Tabaq, another survivor, who lost an eye in the attack. Dust was filling the air and the smell of blood was everywhere."

Bodies lay strewn in the wreckage, some torn to pieces, their clothes vaporized in the blast, said Muhammad Yassin, 25, who rushed to the site and began shooting video of the aftermath with his phone. Sheared-off portions of still-upright buildings ringed the blast zone, some with victims visible in second-floor bedrooms.

The buildings are so close together that the whole square was flattened to the ground," said Yassin.

The video showed blackened corpses lying beside the twisted wreckage of cars as distraught survivors wailed in anguish. Some rushed into the craters, digging with their hands to pull out victims to the background sound of sirens of arriving ambulances.

The Israeli attack killed between 126 and 136 civilians, including 69 children, according to Airwars.

Its accounting of the dead, which relies on social-media posts, obituaries, media interviews and other public sources, identified 10 cases involving the fatality of more than one member of the same family. In three cases, all the immediate members of families were killeda finding supported by several survivors interviewed by the Journal.

Many of the dead and wounded were displaced from Beit Hanoun, an area near the Gaza border with Israel, Yassin said. But whole families who had lived in the neighborhood since fleeing to Jabalia when Israel was founded in 1948 were also wiped out in the strike, Yassin added.

Thaer Hussein, a 20-year-old recent graduate of Al Aqsa University in Gaza City, had fled to the neighborhood from the Beit Lahiya area, where intense fighting was also under way, and was living in a relatives one-story house, along with 30 other relatives. He was standing in line for water with three cousins when the bomb hit, according to his aunt.

It took the whole block and turned the earth upside down," she said

The four young men disappeared after the strike, she said. After three days of searching, family members found them at the Indonesia Hospital. Hussein was dead and his three cousins were badly wounded.

There were so many wounded that most were loaded into civilian vehicles and piled into donkey-pulled carts to transport them to the nearby Indonesian Hospital, according to Yassin.

Young children arrived at the hospital with deep wounds and severe burns. They came without their families," said Mohammed Hawajreh, a nurse with medical charity Doctors Without Borders, in a statement by the organization about the attack. Many were screaming and asking for their parents. I stayed with them until we could find a place, as the hospital was full with patients."

Terror tunnels

Days before Biari was killed in the Oct. 31 airstrike, he was in a tunnel with other Hamas commanders beneath the Indonesian Hospital a mile from the Block 6 area of Jabalia, according to the Israeli military, which released a picture it said it recovered of the gathering. A paunchy Biari with a close-shaven beard and wearing a gray shirt and black pants, beefy arms folded across his chest, stared at the camera with a slight smile.

He was sitting with a dozen other men along the whitewashed walls of a vaulted, windowless chamber with marble floors, a ceiling fan and an arched door at one end. Plates of fruit, jugs of tea and bottled water sat on a low table. On Biaris right was Wael Rajab, Hamass deputy northern brigade commander. At the far end of the room was Ahmed Al-Gandoor, the brigade commander.

By the day of the strike he had moved to Block 6, operating from a building complex used by Hamas as a military fighting compound," the Israeli military statement said. Below the complex were Hamas terror tunnels."

In the weeks before the bombing, Israel issued millions of prerecorded phone calls, text messages, and about 96,000 leaflets dropped from the air to warn the population, including the area of the strike," to evacuate, the Israeli statement said.

Giving Block 6 residents advance warning of an imminent attack might have tipped off Biari, and waiting to carry out the strike until late at night when the streets were less crowded might have meant he was no longer in the command post, officials said.

Experts who have examined the attack say it appears Israeli warplanes dropped at least two 2,000-pound bombs, the second-largest type in its conventional arsenal.

The two impact craters visible in satellite photos of the site after the attack were about 40 feet across. A crater of just under 40 feet across is characteristic of a 2,000-pound bomb set to detonate after the initial impact point, according to a 2016 consultant study for the International Committee of the Red Cross.

One of the consultants on the ICRC study was Marc Garlasco, a former United Nations military analyst and war-crimes investigator who served as chief of high-value targeting on the Pentagons Joint Staff in 2003. He said the crater size was consistent with the use of a GBU-31, a 2,000-pound bomb provided to Israel by the U.S., although he added that it was possible Israel employed a different type of bomb, with a bunker-buster warhead, which is designed to penetrate reinforced concrete structures.

Use of such heavy bombs in a crowded area against a Hamas commander reflects Israels willingness, especially in the early weeks of the ground war in Gaza, to use heavy bombardment, instead of smaller, more precise munitions, even if it meant risking civilian casualties, said Lt. Col. Paul Lushenko, an instructor at the U.S. Army War College who has studied efforts to limit civilian casualties in airstrikes.

This was a high-value target but also a high-payoff target, which is to say someone that Israel thought it needed to take out," he said. And they were willing to accept a much higher liability of harming civilians than we would otherwise want in an era of precision munitions."

Israel could have used U.S.-supplied small-diameter bombs" which it has and are designed to limit civilian casualties and have a much smaller blast radius and delayed fuses, he said.

In the Israeli air force, teams of personnel assess a strike before it occurs, officials said. Engineers are supposed to assess the structural damage that can lead to civilian casualties, along with military lawyers trained in the laws of war. But the ultimate responsibility for approving a strike is a uniformed commander.

The Oct. 31 attack was planned and carried out quickly after the Shin Bet, Israels domestic security agency, provided real-time intelligence about Biaris location, officials said. The fleeting nature of the information compressed the time that commanders believed they had to execute the bombing before they might lose the chance to eliminate him, officials said.

At the time, Biari was commanding Hamass forces in northern Gaza from a command center, making him a legitimate and important military target, they said. On Oct. 7, he commanded fighters who attacked the Erez crossing, the main border post, the Israeli military said. He had directed a terrorist attack at the Israeli port of Ashdod in 2004, resulting in the murder of 13 Israelis" and was involved in firing rockets at Israel for two decades, Israels military said.

The fact that the target was believed to be actively commanding forces outweighed concerns about the near certainty that the attacks would cause substantial civilian casualties, officials said.

Abeer Ayyoub, Menna Farouk and Dion Nissenbaum contributed to this article.

Write to David S. Cloud at david.cloud@wsj.com, Dov Lieber at dov.lieber@wsj.com and Omar Abdel-Baqui at omar.abdel-baqui@wsj.com
Iranian-backed militants and Israeli forces traded fire around northern Israel, heightening fears that the war in Gaza could spill into a broader regional conflict including Lebanon and Syria.

The Israeli military said it returned fire on Wednesday after Hezbollah militants in Lebanon fired rockets into Israel. A separate Israeli airstrike on Wednesday killed three people, including two Lebanese-Australian citizens. An Iranian-backed Iraqi militia claimed responsibility for an uncrewed aircraft carrying explosives that crash-landed into part of the Golan Heights annexed by Israel.

The rise in violence comes after an airstrike in Syria on Monday killed a senior official in Irans Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, which oversees a network of paramilitary groups throughout the Middle East. Israel is widely believed to have launched the attack but hasnt claimed responsibility for it. At a funeral prayer service attended by thousands in Tehran on Thursday, Iranian leaders vowed to avenge the killing of the official, Sayyed Razi Mousavi.

The escalation in violence along Israels northern frontiers is raising concerns that its current war with Hamas in Gaza could spiral into an all-out confrontation with Lebanons militant Hezbollah movement and a range of other Iranian-allied militant groups across the region. Israel and Hezbollah have regularly exchanged fire since the Oct. 7 Hamas attack that launched the current conflict, but international pressure, including from the Biden administration, has so far helped to keep the Israel-Lebanon front contained.

A full-scale confrontation between Israel and Hezbollah could be devastating for both sides. Hezbollah, with tens of thousands of battle-tested fighters and an arsenal of missiles and other weapons provided by Iran, is a far more capable adversary than the relatively lightly-armed Hamas. During the last war between Israel and Hezbollah in 2006, Israel heavily bombed Lebanon, including the Beirut airport and other civilian infrastructure, while Hezbollah rained rockets on Israel.

Containing hostilities between Israel, Hezbollah and other Iranian-backed militia groups has been a central diplomatic aim of the Biden administration and other Western governments throughout the current war.

The Biden administration successfully convinced Israels Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to call off a pre-emptive strike against Hezbollah days after the Oct. 7 attack, The Wall Street Journal reported.

Israeli leaders warned this week that they were growing impatient with Western diplomatic efforts as U.S. and allied officials worked to defuse tensions in recent weeks.

The stopwatch for a diplomatic solution is running out," said Benny Gantz, a senior member of the Israeli war cabinet, speaking on Wednesday. If the world and the Lebanese government dont act in order to prevent the firing on Israels northern residents, and to distance Hezbollah from the border, the Israeli military will do it."

Israeli military spokesman Rear Admiral Daniel Hagari said that Israel was responding to Hezbollah fire and had killed more than 150 militants in Lebanon since the beginning of the war, including 129 members of Hezbollah. The figures couldnt be independently verified.

Hezbollah is paying a high price for its actions and will pay an even higher price if it continues doing this," he said on Wednesday.

The slow-burning conflict in Israel and Lebanon has taken place in parallel to Israels offensive against Hamas in Gaza, where more than 21,000 people, most of them women and children, have been killed since Oct. 7, according to the authorities in the enclave. The number includes both militants and combatants. Hamas killed more than 1,200 people, most of them civilians, during the incursion inside Israel on Oct. 7, according to Israel.

The conflict has displaced more than 230,000 people from their homes in both southern and northern Israel since the start of the war, according to the Israeli prime ministers office. It has also displaced more than 70,000 people from southern Lebanon.

Kiryat Shmona, with 24,000 residents, is the largest city in northern Israel to have been evacuated since the start of the war, and has been frequently targeted by Hezbollah fire. On Wednesday, 16 mortars were fired on the city, with damage to homes and public infrastructure, said Avihay Shtern, mayor of Kiryat Shmona.

Shtern said that he wouldnt call on his residents to return to the city until Hezbollah is moved away from the border and the government can assure security. We will not wait for a day when thousands cross the fence and we see the horrors that took place in the south of Israel," he said.

Across the region, an array of Iranian-allied militia groups have sided with Hamas in the conflict, including Yemens Houthi rebels, who have launched attacks on commercial ships in the Red Sea that it believes are heading toward Israel, disrupting a vital global shipping route.

The killing of Mousavi, the IRGC official, further heightened tensions with Iran. Speaking at his funeral on Thursday, the IRGCs top leader, Maj. Gen. Hossein Salami, said Mousavi was one of the organizations most important leaders and that Iran would take its revenge in due time and place," according to the Iranian state-run news agency IRNA.

An IRGC official said earlier this week that the Oct. 7 attack had been carried out as revenge for the January 2020 U.S. killing of the IRGCs top leader, Qassem Soleimani. Iranian officials later played down the statement, saying the attack had been a Palestinian initiative.

The barrage from Lebanon Wednesday came after an Israeli airstrike that killed three people including two dual Australian-Lebanese citizens. Australia on Thursday confirmed the deaths of two of its citizens and said it was investigating claims by Hezbollah that one of the people had ties to the group.

Write to Jared Malsin at jared.malsin@wsj.com
USA provides $250 mln in security assistance to Ukraine  Pentagon

The United States has provided Ukraine with a security assistance package of $250 million, the U.S. Department of Defense (DoD) reported on its website.

"This announcement is the Biden Administration's fifty-fourth tranche of equipment to be provided from DoD inventories for Ukraine since August 2021," the Department said.

The new package includes additional air defense capabilities, artillery ammunition, anti-tank weapons, and other equipment to help Ukraine counter Russia's war of aggression.

The capabilities in this package include:
An explosion near the Israeli embassy in New Delhi, which Israel has labelled a possible terror attack, has put authorities from both nations on high alert. The blast occurred despite security being tightened around the Israeli embassy in New Delhi since the beginning of the war between Israel and Hamas in October. While no one was injured in the Tuesday blast, Israel has issued an advisory to its citizens in India to be cautious. It wasnt the first time Israels missions in India have been targeted. Mint takes a look into previous incidents targeting the Israeli embassy in India, and possible reasons.

What happened on Tuesday?

On the evening of 26 December, a loud blast occurred near the Israeli embassy in New Delhi. There were no casualties but the incident has heightened fears of possible attacks on Israeli citizens in India. The blast is being investigated by Delhi police and the National Investigation Authority. Israels National Security Council said the incident was a possible terrorist attack".

When was the Israeli embassy targeted previously?

In 2021, a small bomb exploded near the Israeli embassy and damaged some cars nearby. There were no fatalities. Israeli diplomats viewed that too as a terrorist incident. India at the time attributed the attack to Irans Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corp, according to media reports.

Iran reportedly backs the Hamas militants who attacked Israel on 7 October, which triggered the ongoing conflict. According to some estimates, Israels attacks on Gaza in pursuit of Hamas has left more than 20,000 Palestinians dead, many of them women and children.

Earlier, in 2012, a car bomb injured the wife of an Israeli diplomat. An Indian journalist was arrested for the crime. Then, too, Delhi police believed members of Irans military to be responsible for the attack, according to media reports.

What is the backdrop to the latest blast?

Israels military campaign in Gaza has polarised global opinion. Protests have been held in the Middle East and parts of the Western world against Israels actions. Some countries have reported increased antisemitic violence, which many experts believe reflects the sharply polarised reaction to the war in Gaza.

Whats the immediate reaction in India?

Apart from investigations into the blast on Tuesday, security personnel have increased vigilance around the Israel embassy and Jewish establishments in the capital.

Israel has advised its citizens in India to avoid going to places known to be frequented by Jewish and Israeli individuals, and avoid displaying Israeli symbols. Israels National Security Council has also advised Israelis in the country to avoid crowded places and events involving large gatherings, and not post details of their trips on social media.

The security council also said the blast near the embassy was a possible attack and there was a fear of a recurrence".
The Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) has criticised the Centres decision to exclude Delhi and Punjab from the upcoming Republic Day parade's tableau. AAP spokesperson Priyanka Kakkar has called it politically motivated.

"This decision is driven by politics. The Delhi government wanted to showcase its education and health model at the Republic Day parade. But Delhi and Punjab tableaux were excluded from selection," PTI quoted her as alleging.

Also Read: India invites French President Emmanuel Macron as Chief Guest for Republic Day 2024 celebrations

Kakkar stated that Delhi wanted to show its progress in health and education at the parade. She noticed that states like Assam, Gujarat and Uttar Pradesh had been in the parade for the last five years, unlike Delhi and Punjab. The said three states are governed by the BJP.

Punjab CMs reaction

Punjab's Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann has also objected to the exclusion as an insult to Punjab's identity.

"If they have their way, they will take out the word 'Punjab' from the national anthem," CM Mann told reporters.

CM Mann also took to X (formerly Twitter) and wrote, This decision of the BJP government at the Centre shows how much poison is in their hearts against Punjabis."

Also Read: US President Joe Biden unlikely to travel to India for Republic Day celebrations in January

Today, the value of the martyrdom of Punjabis by the BJP government at the Centre has been presented to 3 crore Punjabis through the media. This time again the tableau of Punjab was not included in the 26th January parade...we sent 3 subjects...1. History of Martyrs of Punjabis 2. History of Mai Bhago Ji 3. Priceless heritage of Punjab," he added.

What BJP says

BJP leader Harjeet Grewal alleges that AAP's narrative around this rejection is misleading and based on false allegations. Grewal insists that tableaus failing to meet specific criteria are rightfully omitted. He urged AAP to disclose the exact reasons for the tableau's exclusion.

"There is a committee to select the tableaus and there are some set parameters, which have to be met. If a tableau doesn't meet the set parameters, it is rejected. I think that the Aam Aadmi Party tries to mislead people and make false accusations against the centre. They should come up with the details on why it was rejected," ANI quoted him as saying.

(With agency inputs)

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Congress 139th Foundation Day: Mallikarjun Kharge, the national president of the Congress party, hoisted the party flag at the AICC Headquarters and reaffirmed the party's commitment to its ideologies and the Constitution.

On the occasion of the 139th Foundation Day celebration event of the Congress party, party national president Mallikarjun Kharge hoisted the party flag at the All India Congress Committee (AICC) Headquarters in Delhi on Thursday. As reported by ANI, speaking to the media, Kharge said that the Congress party will never move away from its ideologies and will progress with its ideologies. On foundation day our duty is to gather in a large number and send a message across the nation that the Congress party will never move away from its ideologies and will progress with its ideologies. We want to give a message from Nagpur...we are working keeping in mind that (2024 Lok Sabha elections)," he said. During the event, Kharge held discussions with prominent party members, including Congress MP Rahul Gandhi, party General Secretary Priyanka Gandhi, MP Rajiv Shukla, and party General Secretary KC Venugopal. Also Read: Mallikarjun Kharge for PM? INDIA bloc assures 'all decisions' within 20 days: Top points In a post on X, Kharge wrote, The Congress party represents the will of the people. It is synonymous with struggle, compassion, freedom, justice and equality. On the solemn occasion of Congress Foundation Day, we reaffirm our unwavering commitment to protect the Constitution of India and uphold the values of Democracy." Furthermore, former Congress presidents Sonia Gandhi and Rahul Gandhi, along with the current party chief Mallikarjun Kharge, are scheduled to speak at a rally Hain Tayyar Hum in Nagpur city, Maharashtra on Thursday. Also Read: Congress to hold massive rally in Nagpur to mark Foundation Day; Sonia, Rahul, Kharge to address December 28 event Congress MP Rahul Gandhi wrote on X, The foundation of truth and non-violence, built on pillars of love, brotherhood, respect, and equality, with the roof of patriotism, I am proud to be a part of such an organization; I take pride in being a member of the Congress. Heartfelt wishes to all the leaders, officials, supporters, and my dear fellow Congress workers on the occasion of Congress Foundation Day."

Meanwhile, Shakeel Ahmad, a Congress leader and former Member of the Bihar Vidhan Sabha, expressed that the fundamental goal of the Congress party has remained consistent since its inception. He emphasized that the party's current aim is to foster unity within society and eliminate divisive sentiments and hatred.

Also Read: 2024 Lok Sabha Elections: Congress all set to address 'Hain Tayyar Hum' rally in Nagpur today. 5 things we know so far

On December 28, 1885, when the Congress was formed, the motive behind its foundation is the same as it is today. The Congress was formed when the British were spreading hatred in society and were trying to turn people against each other. The Congress had the objective to unite the society and free it from the clutches of British rule," Ahmad told ANI about the formation of Congress.

The Indian National Congress was established on December 28, 1885, in Bombay (now Mumbai) with the participation of 72 delegates at Das Tejpal Sanskrit College. The founder General Secretary was AO Hume, and Vyomesh Chandra Banerjee assumed the role of president.

Meanwhile, as part of the 'Praja Palana' (people's governance) initiative in Telangana, Congress leader V Hanumantha Rao announced that the state government will distribute white ration cards to the economically disadvantaged population in Telangana. This distribution is scheduled to take place from December 28 to January 6.

Also Read: Lok Sabha Election 2024: Congress forms manifesto committee; check key issues in focus

"From Congress foundation day on December 28 to January 6, we will go every home and give white ration cards to the poor in the state who will get benefits of it. My request is that every worker, every district president, NSUI and the Youth Congress should go to every house and raise awareness about the program...CM Revanth Reddy has done a good job," Rao told ANI.

(With inputs from agencies)

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The Congress kickstarted its campaign for 2024 Lok Sabha elections with the 'Hain Tayyar Hum' rally in Maharashtra's Nagpur on Thursday. The Grand Old Party is celebrating their 139th Foundation Day on 28 December. Congress MP from Wayanad Rahul Gandhi addressed the rally, and said, There is a battle of two ideologies in the country".

"There is a war between two ideologies. There are several parties in NDA and INDIA alliance, but the war is between two ideologies," Rahul Gandhi added.

"You do not fear anyone...This is a fight of ideologies...Together we are going to win elections in Maharashtra and the country," said Rahul Gandhi at Congress' 'Hain Taiyyar Hum' rally in Maharashtra's Nagpur.

Rahul Gandhi at the rally also promised a nationwide caste census if voted to power in the Centre. We will undertake caste census after coming to power at Centre", said Rahul Gandhi.

Taking a jibe at the Bhartiya Janata Party, Rahul Gandhi said, Unlike in BJP, even a junior Congress worker can question and disagree with top party leaders".

At the Congress' 'Hain Taiyyar Hum' rally in Nagpur, Rahul Gandhi said, A BJP MP, who was previously in Congress, told me that 'ghulami' works in BJP..."
The SEC in 2024 will mark the seventh year of its campaign to regulate cryptocurrencies through enforcement, with no end in sight. The regulator is waging several major court battles that could determine whether rules written for Wall Street apply to digital assets.

But a winner is unlikely to emerge in 2024 and neither is certainty about who regulates crypto.

When you do regulation by enforcement, this is how long it takes," said Jan Folena, a partner at Stradley Ronon who earlier tried major cases for the SEC. There is no shortcutting it. You cant go to the court and say, We need an answer fast because nobody else is doing anything."

In the most closely watched case, Coinbase, the largest U.S. crypto exchange, will ask a federal judge in January to dismiss the SECs lawsuit alleging the company violates fundamental investor-protection laws. Courts typically dont toss the SECs claims at an early stage, so the litigation is likely to last into 2025.

The SEC first warned it could police many cryptocurrency deals in 2017, when it issued a report outlining its legal authority under its then-Chairman Jay Clayton. The SEC under Clayton went after companies that sold digital coins for fundraising purposes.

Since then, multiple federal agencies have played a role in policing crypto trading. But the SEC has asserted the broadest claim over the $1.7 trillion market. Chair Gary Gensler, who succeeded Clayton in 2021, says almost all crypto products are securities, which his agency regulates.

Shortly after taking over, Gensler directed a new strategy for the agencys struggle to police crypto. Instead of investigating hundreds of tiny startups that create digital coins, it would probe and pressure the handful of big exchanges that sell coins to the public. Thus the SECs lawsuits against Coinbase and two other platforms: Binance, the worlds biggest crypto trading platform, and Kraken, the second-largest exchange based in the U.S.

The failure of FTX, a major rival of Binance, in 2022 confirmed some of Genslers warnings about crypto as a Wild West" and underscored how little crypto users knew about the inner workings of crypto exchanges. FTX founder Sam Bankman-Friedwas convicted in November of stealing billions of dollars from customers of the doomed crypto exchange.

View Full Image Former Binance CEO Changpeng Zhao leaves U.S. District Court in Seattle after an appearance related to the crypto trading platform. PHOTO: DAVID RYDER/GETTY IMAGES

Crypto firms cast FTX as an outlier and say digital assets are meaningfully different from stocks. Cryptocurrencies can fluctuate in value but dont carry rights such as dividends or votes to elect a board of directors. The team that creates a crypto asset doesnt promise to share the profits, income or assets of the issuers business," according to Coinbases legal filings.

That means most cryptocurrencies are commodities rather than securities, according to Coinbase, which says the SECs case must be dismissed.

Coinbase and other crypto firms have spent millions lobbying Congress to create an alternative regulatory framework for digital assets. Some House Republicans are eager to give them that. But in the Senate, where key Democrats are skeptical and sometimes dismissive of cryptos value, progressive lawmakers have backed Genslers approach.

The SEC faces other legal fights with crypto that could be resolved in 2024, including applications to launch exchange-traded funds that hold bitcoin.

The agency under Gensler and Clayton blocked the door to bitcoin ETFs based on concerns that crypto prices could be manipulated. An appeals court in August chided the SEC for its reasoning, raising expectations that it will approve some of them in early 2024.

The SEC says cryptocurrencies can be securities even if they dont contractually promise a share of profits or managements ongoing efforts to boost their value. Several recent court decisions have upheld that view of the law, the SEC says, including a continuing case in which the agency accused crypto entrepreneur Do Kwon of defrauding investors and manipulating cryptocurrencies that regulators argue are securities.

The agency has a pretty unblemished record" of crypto enforcement, said Hilary Allen, a professor at American University College of Law. The SEC has indicated it might appeal the one major case in which a judge ruled against some of its claims.

View Full Image Coinbase says most cryptocurrencies are commodities rather than securities. PHOTO: TIFFANY HAGLER-GEARD/BLOOMBERG NEWS

The SEC has filed about 55 enforcement lawsuits over cryptocurrencies since Gensler took over, according to data from Cornerstone Research. But it is the cases against Coinbase, Binance and Kraken that will matter.

If the SEC loses these cases, it wont have the wind at its back in the same way it currently does," Allen said.

Those companies have enough money to hire top-flight legal talent and appeal if they lose. Coinbase is expected to fight all the way to the Supreme Court if it has toa legal journey that would take years more to resolve.

But it might be worth it. Coinbase has a 70% chance of eventually beating the SECs claims, said Elliott Stein, a senior litigation analyst at Bloomberg Intelligence.

Coinbases outside attorneys include Steven Peikin, who led the SECs enforcement program for three years, and William Savitt, a litigator at Wachtell, Lipton, Rosen & Katz who argued Twitters case when Elon Musk tried to back out of buying the social-media company.

Binance is also seeking early dismissal of the SECs lawsuit and will argue for that outcome in January, two days after Coinbase does. But Binance, an offshore exchange, has more baggage than its U.S. rivals. It was criminally charged in November and admitted to violating laws that require financial companies to have anti-money-laundering controls. Founder Changpeng Zhaostepped down as CEO after pleading guilty and faces up to 18 months in prison. His sentencing is slated for February.

SEC lawyers recently told a federal court in Washington, D.C., that many of Binances and Zhaos admissions support the SECs allegations. In its criminal case, for instance, Binance admitted that it illegally served millions of U.S. customers, a claim at the center of the SECs lawsuit.

Still, the SECs willingness to sue crypto projects doesnt scare the industry as much as it used to, according to Stuart Alderoty, chief legal officer of Ripple Labs. Most of the SECs early enforcement actions yielded fines against smaller crypto firms, he said.

The process is the punishment," Alderoty said. Its a very expensive process. And it forced them into settlements."

Ripple recently prevailed in a key part of its own lawsuit with the SEC. The SEC had alleged that Ripple and two of its officers broke the law by selling $1.4 billion of a cryptocurrency known as XRP. But U.S. District Judge Analisa Torres found that only some of the sales were securities offeringsthe trades done on exchanges werent.

The outcome was a boon for Coinbases argument. The exchange says secondary-market trades are just like the sales that Torres exempted from the securities laws.

Ripples significance was seismic," said Ashley Ebersole, a former SEC enforcement attorney who is now general counsel at 0x, a software provider to cryptocurrency developers.

If the agency eventually loses its major cases or if Coinbase and Binance score upset victories early in 2024, Gensler could pivot on his strategy and push for Congress to clarify the SECs jurisdiction over crypto.

But writing specialized rules for crypto would be a mistake, said Allen, the American University law professor. She sees that as rewarding an industry with a lighter-touch rule set that could potentially be exploited by other financial firms seeking to dodge strict SEC oversight.

There is no riskless option for the SEC here," she said. I see a lot to recommend the enforcement strategy because rule-making also carries a whole lot of risk."

Write to Dave Michaels at dave.michaels@wsj.com
A watch is not just for telling time; it is like jewellery that shows your style and class. It is more than a gadgetit is a fashion statement. Whether it is a simple or fancy design, the best female watch can make your outfit pop. It adds sophistication and personality, making you stand out. From timeless classics to modern styles, a watch is a way to express yourself, showing off your taste and adding a touch of elegance to your look. It is an accessory that speaks volumes about who you are and your sense of fashion.

These Luxury Female Watches are an example of individuality, from the beautiful and classic Daniel Wellington Classic Petite Melrose Watch to the stylish and functional Fossil Carlie Mini Three-Hand Stainless Steel Watch. The Just Cavalli Women's Watch exhibits eco-friendly elegance with Swarovski crystal decorations, while the Michael Kors Portia Analogue Watch draws attention with its eye-catching flower theme. With its versatility, the BERING Round Multifunction White Dial Women's Watch offers a wide range of stylish options. Both the Kate Spade New York Holland Watch and the Emporio Armani Gianni T-Bar Quartz Watch are elegant and modern, making them suitable for a variety of preferences and situations. Every trendsetting female watch has its style, whether it is the Stuhrling Original Womens Dive Watch's classic simplicity or the Swarovski Octea Nova Watch Swiss Made's elegant understatement.

This carefully selected selection of best female watches suits a wide range of tastes, providing choices from classic leather strap styles to cutting-edge stainless-steel creations. These trendsetting female watches have a lasting effect that reflects personal flair in addition to keeping time. This guide will help you make an informed selection that complements both your style and budget, making the process of selecting your new luxury watch easier. Whether you are looking for modern or advanced, there is a watch here to fit every taste and occasion, so you can find the ideal addition to wear a luxury female watch on your wrist with style and grace.

Also read: Top 10 Luxury watches for women: Best picks in elegant white

1. Seiko Solar Analog Mother of Pearl Dial Women's Watch-SUP295P1

This beautiful timepiece from Seiko captures light and style in equal measure. The mother-of-pearl dial shimmers with an iridescent glow that shifts from soft pink to rich cream, while the silver metal band adds a hint of shine. Powered by Seiko's innovative solar technology, this automatic watch keeps on ticking without the need for battery changes, making it a sustainable choice. The round case shape and analog display dial give it a classic yet contemporary look that pairs perfectly with both casual and dressy outfits. Water resistant up to 3 meters, this elegant watch can handle the occasional splash or rain shower, though avoid prolonged submersion. Seiko's attention to detail from the precise automatic movement to the lustrous mother of pearl dial means you're getting Swiss-level craftsmanship at an accessible price. So if you want a watch that brings a touch of luxury to your wrist while standing up to the demands of everyday life, this solar analog timepiece from Seiko could be the perfect match.

Specifications of Seiko Solar Analog Mother of Pearl Dial Women's Watch-SUP295P1

Case Diameter: 23 Millimetres

Band Colour: Silver

Band Material Type: Metal

Watch Movement Type: Automatic

Item Weight: 0.08 Kilograms

Pros Cons Automatic Movement More minor Case Diameter (23mm) Elegant Mother of Pearl Dial Limited Band Adjustability

2. Swarovski Octea Nova Watch Swiss Made, Leather Strap, Green, Gold-Tone Finish 5650005

This mesmerizing timepiece delivers a vibrant flash of color every time you put it on. The gold-tone stainless steel case and sapphire crystal bezel refract light for a dazzling effect, while the guilloche green dial adds depth and sophistication. The swan motif at 12 o'clock is a graceful touch that elevates the design. Water resistant to 50 meters, this Swiss Made quartz watch rests comfortably on an Italian leather strap with lizard embossed pattern. Pair it with everyday outfits to enliven your look with its vibrant green hue and sparkling crystals. An elegant accessory that elevates the everyday, it will become a wardrobe essential.

Specifications of Swarovski Octea Nova Watch Swiss Made, Leather Strap, Green, Gold-Tone Finish 5650005

Case Diameter: 35 Millimetres

Band Colour: Green

Band Material Type: Leather

Watch Movement Type: Swiss Quartz

Case Thickness: 10 Millimetres

Pros Cons Swiss Quartz Movement Limited Band Color Options Stunning Gold-Tone Finish Smaller Case Diameter (35mm)

3. Just Cavalli Women Watch

This timepiece from Just Cavalli is a lesson in understated luxury. Its 22mm gold stainless steel case gleams with sophistication, while the gold-tone bracelet band offers a match made in style heaven. But don't let the elegant exterior fool you - inside beats the heart of precision Swiss quartz movement, ensuring accurate timekeeping you can rely on. Weighing a mere 40 grams, this watch feels weightless on your wrist yet makes a bold style statement whether with jeans and tees or work attire. Crafted with quality you'd expect from a high-end brand, the Just Cavalli Women's Watch embodies effortless glamor and Italian flair at an accessible price - allowing you to indulge in the finer things without breaking the bank. Slip this chic timepiece on your wrist and discover what it means to live in the now, without missing a golden moment.

Specifications of Just Cavalli Women Watch

Case Diameter: 22 Millimetres

Band Colour: Gold

Band Material Type: Stainless Steel

Warranty Type: Manufacturer

Watch Movement Type: Quartz

Item Weight: 40 Grams

Pros Cons Stainless Steel Band Relatively Small Case Diameter (22mm) Manufacturer Warranty Limited Band Color Options

4. Michael Kors Harlowe Analog Rose Gold Dial Women's Watch-MK4710

This rose gold beauty from Michael Kors exudes timeless elegance and understated luxury. The stainless steel case forms a perfect frame for the rose gold dial, while the matching rose gold bracelet ensures a seamless esthetic that feels as comfortable as it looks. Powered by a reliable quartz movement, the three-hand analog display makes it easy to tell the time at a glance. Water resistant to 50 meters, this watch can stand up to splashes and brief swims, so you can wear it anywhere life takes you. A thoughtful gift for the woman who appreciates refined style with a modern edge, this Harlowe watch from Kors tells time with timeless sophistication while staying right on trend.

Specifications of Michael Kors Harlowe Analog Rose Gold Dial Women's Watch-MK4710

Case Diameter: 38 Millimetres

Band Colour: Rose Gold

Band Material Type: Stainless Steel

Watch Movement Type: Quartz

Item Weight: 100 Grams

Pros Cons Rose Gold Stainless Band Relatively Larger Case Diameter (38mm) Quartz Movement Heavier Weight (100 grams)

5. ZINVO Blade Allure Analog Grey Dial Women's Watch-604

This fashion-forward timepiece from ZINVO puts style and sophistication on your wrist. The alluring gray analog dial flanked by a slender 18mm leather strap exudes effortless elegance. The classic 36mm case crafted from high-quality materials houses a precise automatic movement to keep time seamless. Minimalist hour markers and delicate hands sweep over the dial face, making it easy to tell the time at a glance. Water resistant to 50 meters, this everyday watch is designed to accompany you through all your activities in sleek, understated glamor. Wear it to the office to bring a touch of sophistication to your workday wardrobe, then transition effortlessly to an evening out - the Blade Allure will be your go-to timepiece for any occasion that calls for timeless, stylish appeal.

Specifications of ZINVO Blade Allure Analog Grey Dial Women's Watch-604

Case Diameter: 36 Millimetres

Band Colour: Ivory

Band Material Type: Leather

Watch Movement Type: Automatic

Item Weight: 150 Grams

Pros Cons Unique Blade-inspired Design Relatively Heavy (150 grams) Automatic Movement Limited Band Material Options

6. BERING Round Multifunction White Dial Women Watch 32237-754

The BERING Round Multifunction White Dial Women Watch 32237-754 is the perfect combination of style and substance. The 37mm ceramic blend case houses a sapphire crystal face that is durable yet stylish. The white dial features clean, minimalist styling that lets the timeless design shine through. Powered by a reliable quartz movement from Germany, this watch keeps accurate time, so you're never late. The white ceramic band provides a lightweight and comfortable fit for all-day wear. With water resistance and a one-year manufacturer's warranty, this watch has you covered for work, weekends, and everything in between. Add a touch of elegance and versatility to your wrist with the BERING Round Multifunction White Dial Women Watch 32237-754.

Specifications of BERING Round Multifunction White Dial Women Watch 32237-754

Case Diameter: 37 Millimetres

Band Colour: White

Band Material Type: Ceramic

Warranty Type: Manufacturer

Watch Movement Type: Quartz

Item Weight:106 Grams

Pros Cons Ceramic Band Relatively Heavy (106 grams) Manufacturer Warranty Limited Band Adjustability

7. Stuhrling Original Women Dive Watch - Sport Watch with Stainless Steel Link Bracelet Quartz Movement Analog Watch Dial with Date Dress and Casual Design Ladies Watches Collection

This stylish and sporty ladies dive watch brings a splash of color and sophistication to your wrist. The mother of pearl crystal-studded dial pops against the stainless steel link bracelet and unidirectional coin edge bezel, while the luminous hands make a glance at the time easy and effortless. Water resistant to 100 meters, this watch is ready to accompany you poolside or while snorkeling on your next tropical vacation. Powered by a precision Japanese quartz movement, you can count on this timepiece keeping accurate time whether you're dressing it up with work attire or down with casual wear. A comprehensive international warranty protects your investment for years of reliable performance. Add a dash of nautical flair to your look with this Stuhrling Original women's dive watch - the perfect blend of function and feminine style.

Specifications of Stuhrling Original Women Dive Watch - Sport Watch with Stainless Steel Link Bracelet Quartz Movement Analog Watch Dial with Date Dress and Casual Design Ladies Watches Collection

Case Diameter: 39 Millimetres

Band Colour: Mother Of Pearl

Band Material Type: Stainless Steel

Watch Movement Type: Japanese Quartz

Case Thickness: 10 Millimetres

Band Width:18 Millimetres

Pros Cons Stainless Steel Band Larger Case Diameter (39mm) Japanese Quartz Movement Thicker Case (10mm)

8. Roamer Seehof Analog Black Dial Women's Watch-509833 41 54 20

This stainless steel timepiece from Roamer tells you it's time in true analog fashion. Its minimalist black dial with silver hands and markers lets you focus on the essentials, keeping you on time with effortless Swiss elegance. The 11mm case and 21mm stainless steel bracelet blend functionality and durability, while 50 meters of water resistance mean you can wear it rain or shine. Powered by reliable quartz movement for accurate timekeeping, this women's watch offers classic styling that works for everyday wear or a special occasion. Wear it to the office for a touch of understated professionalism or with your favorite jeans and a blazer for a chic weekend look. The versatile design means this watch will stand the test of time, keeping you right on schedule for years to come.

Specifications of Roamer Seehof Analog Black Dial Women's Watch-509833 41 54 20

Case Diameter: 41.5 Millimetres

Band Colour: Silver

Band Material Type: Stainless Steel

Watch Movement Type: Quartz

Item Weight: 150 Grams

Pros Cons Stainless Steel Band Larger Case Diameter (41.5mm) Quartz Movement Relatively Heavy (150 grams)

9. Mathey-Tissot Analog Black Dial Women's Watch-D910BN

The Mathey-Tissot Analog Black Dial Women's Watch-D910BN adds just the right dash of sleek sophistication to any outfit. With its minimalist black dial and stainless steel bracelet strap, this timepiece exudes understated elegance while still delivering the essentials. The round case shape and 32mm width ensure it fits comfortably on any wrist. The mineral glass crystal protects the dial from scratches, and the 50 meter water resistance means you can wear it swimming or in the shower. The Japanese quartz movement ensures accurate time-telling you can count on, day after day, while the analog display makes it easy to read at a glance. Simple, functional, yet stylish, this black dial watch from Mathey-Tissot is the perfect everyday accessory to complement your personal sense of refined taste.

Specifications of Mathey-Tissot Analog Black Dial Women's Watch-D910BN

Case Diameter: 32 Millimetres

Band Colour: Silver

Band Material Type: Stainless Steel

Watch Movement Type: Quartz

Item Weight: 35 Grams

Pros Cons Stainless Steel Band Relatively Small Case Diameter (32mm) Quartz Movement Relatively Lightweight (35 grams)

Also read: 10 best luxury rose gold watches: Glamorous picks for you

10. Daniel Wellington Classic Petite Analog Black Dial Women's Watch-DW00100161

This perfectly formed timepiece from Daniel Wellington marries elegance and simplicity in one petite yet powerful design. The minimalist black dial with rose gold hands and bezel delivers a chic yet understated look that works for any occasion, while the Swiss quartz movement ensures reliable timekeeping down to the second. Crafted from stainless steel with a rose gold PVD coating and fitted with a mineral crystal glass face, this petite watch boasts a sturdy construction that will stand the test of time. Water resistant to 30 meters, the petite analog watch features a 32 millimeter case and comes presented in a signature Daniel Wellington gift box with a safety clasp securing the stainless steel rose gold plated bracelet band. Slip this petite yet powerful timepiece onto your wrist and let its simple sophistication instantly elevate your everyday style.

Specifications of Daniel Wellington Classic Petite Analog Black Dial Women's Watch-DW00100161

Brand: Daniel Wellington

Model Name: Petite Melrose

Special Features: Water Resistance

Compiler: Daniel Wellington

Display Type: analogue

Pros Cons Water Resistance No Additional Features Elegant Design Limited Functionalities

Top 3 features for you

Product Feature 1 Feature 2 Feature 3 Seiko Solar Analog Mother of Pearl Dial Women's Watch Automatic Movement Metal Band Elegant Mother of Pearl Dial Swarovski Octea Nova Watch Swiss Made Swiss Quartz Movement Green Leather Band Gold-Tone Finish Just Cavalli Women Watch Stainless Steel Band Manufacturer Warranty Compact 22mm Case Diameter Michael Kors Harlowe Analog Rose Gold Dial Women's Watch Rose Gold Stainless Band Quartz Movement 38mm Case Diameter ZINVO Blade Allure Analog Grey Dial Women's Watch Automatic Movement Leather Band Unique Blade-inspired Design BERING Round Multifunction White Dial Women Watch Ceramic Band Manufacturer Warranty Multifunctional Design Stuhrling Original Women Dive Watch Stainless Steel Band Japanese Quartz Movement Mother of Pearl Dial Roamer Seehof Analog Black Dial Women's Watch Stainless Steel Band Quartz Movement 41.5mm Case Diameter Mathey-Tissot Analog Black Dial Women's Watch Stainless Steel Band Quartz Movement 32mm Case Diameter Daniel Wellington Classic Petite Analog Black Dial Water Resistance Elegant Design Petite Melrose Model

Best overall product

The Seiko Solar Analogue Mother of Pearl Dial Women's Watch is the clear winner for Overall best female watches under 25,000. This trendsetting female watch perfectly combines elegance and utility and guarantees accurate timekeeping, and its elegant Mother of Pearl dial and smart metal band radiate refinement. Seiko's standing is further cemented by its reputation for high-quality artistry and reliability. This watch is a great option that combines both elegance and function in this price range because of its excellent skilled work, notable features, and classic design.

Best value for money

Out of all the designer women's watches under 25,000, the Just Cavalli Women Watch stands out as an excellent product in terms of value. With a small case diameter of 22 mm and a stainless-steel band, it provides affordability with a stylish, minimalist style and long-lasting performance. This watch finds a mix between price and necessary features, with a quartz movement guaranteeing accurate timekeeping and a manufacturer warranty supporting its quality. These fashionable watches for women are an excellent option for anyone looking for a durable watch in this affordable range that does not compromise style or quality because it combines durability, style, and warranty coverage.

How to find the Best Female Watches

To choose the best trendsetting female watches under 25,000, consider several factors. Establish your choices first, whether they are for physically fit, trendy, or traditional styles. Look at well-known companies that have a reputation for excellence and durability. Check the Luxury Female Watches models that may fit a range of lifestyles. Give top priority to attributes like water resistance, durability, and high-quality materials. Consider the band material, case size, and dial design that best suits your style. For information on longevity and performance, look through customer testimonials and ratings. Finally, to get the finest bargain without sacrificing quality, investigate trustworthy stores or internet sites that provide a variety of selections and occasionally discounts.

FAQs

Question : What should I consider when choosing a watch under 25,000?

Ans : Focus on your style preference, watch movement (like automatic or quartz), material quality, and brand reputation for durability and reliability.

Question : Are these watches water-resistant?

Ans : Most listed watches offer varying degrees of water resistance, but check specific details for their depth ratings and suitability for activities like swimming or diving.

Question : Do these watches come with warranties?

Ans : Yes, many watches include manufacturer warranties that cover defects or malfunctions within a specified period.

Question : Can I find diverse styles within this budget range?

Ans : Absolutely. These watches feature diverse designs from classic elegance to modern sophistication, catering to varied tastes.

Question : Where can I purchase these watches?

Ans : These timepieces are available on reputable online platforms and authorised retailers, ensuring authenticity and reliable customer service.

Disclaimer: At Livemint, we help you stay up-to-date with the latest trends and products. Mint has an affiliate partnership, so we may get a part of the revenue when you make a purchase. We shall not be liable for any claim under applicable laws, including but not limited to the Consumer Protection Act, 2019, with respect to the products. The products listed in this article are in no particular order of priority.

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Even in today's digitally driven era, the charm and necessity of a physical printout remain undeniable. Whether it's a cherished family photo, an important document for a school project, or a last-minute print of a boarding pass, the convenience of having a printer at home is unparalleled. However, the notion of owning a printer often brings to mind bulky machines and hefty price tags. But what if I told you that owning a printer doesn't have to break the bank? In fact, the market today is replete with options that are both compact and budget-friendly, especially for those looking to spend under 5,000.

Finding a printer within this price bracket might seem like a daunting task, given the plethora of choices. But fret not; weve done the heavy lifting for you. Our list of the best printers under 5,000 is tailored to meet the needs of every household. Whether you're a student printing out assignments, a professional working from home, or someone who enjoys DIY crafts and photo printing, theres something here for everyone.

Affordable doesn't have to mean lower quality. These printers, while easy on the wallet, do not skimp on features. From models offering high-quality prints to those boasting impressive print speeds, our selection covers it all. Some of these are ideal for those occasional print jobs, while others are more suited for regular use. We've also considered factors like ink efficiency and connectivity options, ensuring that your printing experience is both cost-effective and convenient.

So, prepare to be surprised by how many printer options exist in the under- 5,000 category. Keep reading as we delve into the top 7 printer options that promise to make printing at home an affordable and hassle-free affair. From inkjet wonders to monochrome maestros, this list has it all to cater to your printing needs without stretching your budget.

1. HP Deskjet 2331 Colour Printer

The HP Deskjet 2331 Colour Printer emerges as a stellar choice for those seeking the best printer under 5,000, catering to the diverse needs of a modern home or small office. This all-in-one device expertly combines printing, scanning, and copying functionalities in a compact and user-friendly design. Its Hi-Speed USB 2.0 connectivity ensures a smooth and reliable printing process, making it convenient for all users. The printer employs HP 805 Setup Black and Tri-colour cartridges to deliver high-quality prints, whether for vivid photos or clear documents. Its swift printing speeds are perfect for handling the daily print tasks of a busy household or small business. The addition of a 1-year limited hardware warranty further enhances its appeal, offering peace of mind and reliable support.

Specifications of HP Deskjet 2331 Colour Printer

Printer Type: All-in-One (Print, Scan, Copy)

Connectivity: Hi-Speed USB 2.0

Cartridges: HP 805 Setup Black and Tri-colour

Print Speeds: 7.5 ppm (black), 5.5 ppm (colour)

Supported Media Sizes: A4, B5, A6, DL envelope

Input/Output Capacity: 60-sheet input, 25-sheet output

Control Panel: 2 LED indicator lights, 5 buttons

Operating Systems: Windows 11/10/7, macOS 10.12

Monthly Duty Cycle: 1000 pages

Warranty: 1-year limited hardware

Reasons to buy Reasons to avoid Versatile all-in-one functionality Limited to USB connectivity Quality prints with HP cartridges Modest ink yield per cartridge

2. Canon PIXMA MG2577s All in One

The Canon PIXMA MG2577s All in One is a remarkable choice for those searching for the best printer under 5,000. It offers a versatile array of features including printing, scanning, and copying, all packed into a compact and affordable package. The device is specifically designed for home use, with a focus on simplicity and efficiency. Its USB connectivity ensures straightforward setup and operation. The printer impressively handles various paper sizes and types, making it suitable for a range of printing tasks. With its 600 x 1200dpi scanner resolution, it produces detailed scans, adding value to its multifunctional capabilities. This model stands out for its balance of functionality and affordability, making it a smart choice for budget-conscious consumers.

Specifications of Canon PIXMA MG2577s All in One

Printer Type: Inkjet

Functions: Print, Scan, Copy

Output: Colour

Connectivity: USB

Scanner Resolution: 600 x 1200dpi

OS Compatibility: Windows, Mac OS

Print Speed: 8 ipm (mono), 4 ipm (colour)

Print Resolution: 4800 x 600 dpi

Page Size: Various, including A4, A5, B5

Ink: PG745s, Cl746s

Warranty: 1 year

Reasons to buy Reasons to avoid Multifunctional with print, scan, copy No wireless connectivity High-resolution scanning Higher per-page printing cost

3. Canon Pixma TS307 Single Function Wireless Inkjet Printer

Canon Pixma TS307 stands as an excellent choice for those seeking a budget-friendly printer under 5,000, especially for wireless printing needs. This single-function printer excels in delivering high-quality colour prints and is ideal for users who primarily need a basic printer without the added functionalities of scanning or copying. It offers the convenience of Wi-Fi connectivity, allowing for easy printing from various devices. The TS307 also supports mobile connectivity options like Apple AirPrint, making it a flexible option for modern, mobile-first users. With its compact design and easy setup, it is perfectly suited for small spaces and casual printing requirements.

Specifications of Canon Pixma TS307 Single Function Wireless Inkjet Printer

Printer Type: Inkjet

Functionality: Print only

Output: Colour

Connectivity: Wi-Fi, USB

OS Compatibility: Windows, Mac OS

Print Speed: 7.7 ipm (mono), 4.0 ipm (colour)

Print Resolution: 4800 x 1200 dpi

Page Size: A4

Ink: PG745s, Cl746s

Warranty: 1 year

Reasons to buy Reasons to avoid Wireless and mobile printing Print-only functionality High print resolution Limited ink yield for heavy use

4. Canon PIXMA MG3070S All in One

The Canon PIXMA MG3070S emerges as a smart option for those who are on the lookout for the best printer under 5,000, offering all-in-one functionality. This model is particularly appealing for its Wi-Fi connectivity, allowing for wireless printing which is a boon in today's mobile-centric world. It is capable of printing, scanning, and copying, making it a versatile choice for home users. The print and scan resolutions ensure that the output is of good quality. The manual duplex print feature, while not automatic, provides an option for two-sided printing, making it eco-friendly. It's an ideal printer for regular home use, balancing functionality and affordability.

Specifications of Canon PIXMA MG3070S All in One

Printer Type: Inkjet

Functionality: Print, Scan, Copy

Output: Colour

Connectivity: Wi-Fi, USB

OS Compatibility: Windows, Mac OS

Print Speed: 8 ppm (black), 4 ppm (colour)

Print Resolution: 4800 x 600 dpi

Scan Resolution: 600 x 1200dpi

Page Size: Various, including A4, A5, B5

Duplex Print: Manual

Ink: PG745S, CL746S

Warranty: 1 year

Reasons to buy Reasons to avoid Wireless printing capability Moderate print speeds All-in-one functionality Cartridge yield might be low for heavy users

5. HP Deskjet 1212 Printer for Home

For those on a budget seeking the best printer under 5,000, the HP Deskjet 1212 Printer is an excellent choice for dependable home printing. This single-function printer focuses on simplicity and efficiency, making it ideal for everyday printing tasks. Its Hi-Speed USB 2.0 connectivity facilitates hassle-free, reliable printing. The printer uses HP 805 Setup Black and Tri-colour Cartridges, ensuring high-quality prints for both photos and documents. Its compact design makes it a perfect fit for small home spaces, and the simplified control panel makes it user-friendly. The Deskjet 1212 is a great choice for those who need a straightforward, efficient printer for regular home use.

Specifications of HP Deskjet 1212 Printer for Home

Printer Type: Single Function

Connectivity: Hi-Speed USB 2.0

Cartridges: HP 805 Setup Black and Tri-colour

Print Speed: 7.5 ppm (black), 5.5 ppm (colour)

Supported Media: A4, B5, A6, DL envelope

Input/Output: 60-sheet input, 25-sheet output

Control Panel: Simplified with 1 button

OS Compatibility: Windows, macOS

Duty Cycle: 1000 pages/month

Warranty: 1-year limited hardware

Reasons to buy Reasons to avoid Ideal for simple, everyday printing Limited to printing only User-friendly with minimal controls No wireless connectivity

6. Canon Pixma E410 All-in-One Inkjet Printer

If you're pondering over an affordable yet functional printer, the Canon Pixma E410 is a candidate you can't overlook for the title of the best printer under 5,000. Imagine a sleek, lightweight printer that not only prints but also scans and copies. That's the E410 for you. It's perfect for those quick print jobs, be it a recipe or your child's assignment. With its low-cost cartridges, you're in for a budget-friendly printing journey. And when its not in use? Its auto power ON feature and quiet mode ensure it's neither a drain on your electricity bill nor a disturbance in your home. It's the printer that says, "I've got your back," without making a fuss.

Specifications of Canon Pixma E410 All-in-One Inkjet Printer

Printer Type: Inkjet

Functions: Print, Scan, Copy

Output: Colour

Print Speed: 4.0ipm (colour), 8.0ipm (black)

Compatibility: Windows

Features: Auto power ON, Quiet mode

Country of Origin: Vietnam

Cartridges: Low cost

Reasons to buy Reasons to avoid Multifunctional with print, scan, copy Slower print speed for colour prints Compact and lightweight design No wireless connectivity

7. HP DeskJet 2332 All-in-One Printer

Are you in the market for an all-rounder printer that won't leave your wallet feeling light? The HP DeskJet 2332 could be the end of your search for the best printer under 5,000. Picture this: a printer that not only prints but also scans and copies, all while being easy on your budget. This is the kind of printer that fits snugly in your home, ready to spring into action whether it's for your work documents or the kids' school projects. Its Hi-Speed USB 2.0 connectivity means no fumbling with complicated setups. Just plug in, and you're good to go. It's the kind of printer that whispers, "Let's get things done," while ensuring everything runs smoothly.

Specifications of HP DeskJet 2332 All-in-One Printer

Printer Type: All-in-One (Print, Scan, Copy)

Connectivity: Hi-Speed USB 2.0

Print Speed: 7.5 ppm (black), 5.5 ppm (colour)

Supported Media: A4, B5, A6, DL envelope

Cartridges: HP 805 Setup Black and Tri-colour

Control Panel: 2 LED indicator lights, 5 buttons

Operating Systems: Windows, macOS

Monthly Duty Cycle: 1000 pages

Warranty: 1-year limited hardware

Reasons to buy Reasons to avoid Versatile all-in-one functionality Only USB connectivity, no Wi-Fi Simple and easy to use Not suitable for heavy printing tasks

Best 3 features for you

Product Name Printing Speed (PPM) Connectivity options All-in-one functionality HP Deskjet 2331 7.5 (black), 5.5 (colour) USB 2.0 Print, Scan, Copy Canon PIXMA MG2577s 8 (monochrome), 4 (colour) USB Print, Scan, Copy Canon Pixma TS307 7.7 (monochrome), 4 (colour) Wi-Fi, USB Print Canon PIXMA MG3070S 8 (monochrome), 4 (colour) Wi-Fi, USB Print, Scan, Copy HP Deskjet 1212 7.5 (black), 5.5 (colour) USB 2.0 Print Canon Pixma E410 8 (monochrome), 4 (colour) USB Print, Scan, Copy HP DeskJet 2332 7.5 (black), 5.5 (colour) USB 2.0 Print, Scan, Copy

Best value for money

The Canon Pixma E410 stands out as the best value for money printer. It offers a compelling mix of multifunctionality (print, scan, copy) in a sleek and compact package. Its economical nature, thanks to low-cost cartridges, makes it ideal for users who want functionality without high running costs. The added benefits of auto power on and a quiet mode make it a practical choice for small spaces and frequent use.

Best overall product

The HP Deskjet 2331 secures the spot as the best overall product. Its all-in-one functionality, catering to printing, scanning, and copying, is a significant advantage. The printers fast printing speeds ensure efficient task completion, which is crucial for both home and small office environments. The addition of Hi-Speed USB 2.0 connectivity provides a reliable and easy setup, making it user-friendly and an excellent choice for various needs.

How to find the right printer under  5,000

Finding the right printer under 5,000 requires balancing cost, functionality, and usability. Start by assessing your primary needs: do you need a printer just for occasional use or for regular, multifunctional tasks like scanning and copying? Consider print speed and quality, especially if you're planning to print photos or graphics. Connectivity is another critical factor; while USB is standard, Wi-Fi and mobile connectivity offer more flexibility. Look at the cost of replacement cartridges as this affects long-term expenses. Finally, don't overlook the physical size of the printer, especially if space is a constraint in your home or office. Reading reviews and comparing features across models can also help make an informed decision.

FAQs

Question : What should I consider when buying a printer under 5,000?

Ans : Consider functionality (printing, scanning, copying), print quality and speed, connectivity options, cost of cartridges, and physical size.

Question : Can I get a wireless printer under 5,000?

Ans : Yes, models like the Canon Pixma TS307 offer wireless connectivity within this price range.

Question : Are there all-in-one printers available under 5,000?

Ans : Absolutely. Printers like the HP Deskjet 2331 and Canon PIXMA MG2577s provide all-in-one functionality.

Question : How do I decide between inkjet and laser printers?

Ans : Inkjet printers are generally better for color and photo printing, while laser printers are more efficient for high-volume text printing.

Question : Is it more cost-effective to get a printer with high cartridge yield?

Ans : Yes, printers with high cartridge yield can be more cost-effective in the long run, especially for frequent use.

Disclaimer: At Livemint, we help you stay up-to-date with the latest trends and products. Mint has an affiliate partnership, so we may get a part of the revenue when you make a purchase. We shall not be liable for any claim under applicable laws, including but not limited to the Consumer Protection Act, 2019, with respect to the products. The products listed in this article are in no particular order of priority.

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A Tesla software engineer sustained severe injuries in an incident at the company's Austin, Texas factory when a malfunctioning robot, intended for transporting aluminium car parts, reportedly attacked him.

The occurrence, dating back two years, came to light through an injury report in 2021.

As reported by the New York Post citing The Information last month the robot trapped the engineer, causing injuries as its metal claws pierced his back and arm, resulting in a visible trail of blood on the factory floor.

Also Read: Tesla deliveries to hit record, but fall short of Elon Musks aspirations

The engineer was engaged in programming software for robots tasked with cutting car parts from newly cast aluminium pieces. During the maintenance work on two disabled robots, a third one was unintentionally left operational, leading to the incident that occurred two years ago, as reported by witnesses to The Information.

As reported by The Information, the engineer experienced a laceration" on his left hand. However, the injury did not necessitate the employee to take time off from work, suggesting it was not severe.

Also Read: Heres why Tesla recalls more than 120,000 vehicles in the US: Report

Mint could not independently verify this incident.

While no robot-related injuries were documented at the Texas factory in 2021 or 2022, there are indications of a safety culture lapse within the facility. According to statements from current and former Tesla employees at the factory, the company habitually took shortcuts in construction, maintenance, and operations, placing workers at risk, the report stated.

The Information's sources reveal that the push for rapid production from management has resulted in safety compromises.

Also Read: Elon Musk lashes out at state of US financial markets says, immense pressure on companies to

Witnesses detailed incidents such as heavy machinery, including a crane, steel beam, and an air conditioning duct, falling in proximity to workers on car production lines. Subsequently, another worker suffered a head injury from a metal object, leading to an 85-day work absence, as reported by The Information.

Tesla employees also recounted instances of forklifts colliding with workers on the assembly floor.

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Air force eliminates seven out of eight enemy suicide bombers attacked Ukraine's three regions

The air force eliminated seven out of eight enemy suicide bombers that attacked three regions of Ukraine, the Armed Forces of Ukraine said.

"Seven drones were shot down by fighter aircraft, air defense units, mobile fire groups of the Air Force and the Defense Forces of Ukraine within Dnipropetrovsk, Kirovohrad and Zaporizhia regions," the AFU said.

It is noted that on the night of December 28, Russian occupiers attacked eight UAVs of the Shahed type from Primorsko-Akhtarsk region  Russia.
Copyright 2023 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed without permission.
The plan right now is for the facility to be built in the same spot as the existing institute, which will add about 200 additional beds to the hospital.
Verkhovna Rada Commissioner for Human Rights Dmytro Lubinets stated about the poor physical condition of Ukrainian prisoners of war located on the territory of Russia.

"[Ukrainian prisoners of war on Russian territory] are in very poor physical condition. I also told Moskalkova [Russian Ombudsman] about this, that pay attention, just compare two photographs. We publicly agreed that the Russian side shows one photograph where they are treating, we also show one photograph. In their photograph there are two prisoners of war, in ours there is one. But you can even compare: just put these two photographs side by side and pay attention to the physical condition of ours. That is everyone will see that they have lost a lot of weight. As a non-specialist, I can talk about tens of lost kilograms. And the Russian looks quite good," the ombudsman said on the air of the United News UArazom national telethon on Wednesday.

According to him, the Russian ombudsman in response to this explained that "the Russian Federation does everything in accordance with the Geneva Conventions, that is, all rights are protected."

In November, Lubinets said the ombudsmen of Ukraine and Russia, under the terms of mutual agreements, each visited 119 captured military personnel.
County Longford Public Participation Network (PPN) was established as part of the Local Government Act 2014 to link community groups to Longford County Council and other decision making bodies.

It is the pathway for communities to have a say at the table when decisions are being made about how their lives, town, village, municipal district or county should be shaped.

There are currently over 560 community groups registered with Longford PPN along with a PPN Disability Network and a PPN Intercultural Forum.

The PPN has been a collaborating partner and funder of Operation Blue Light Santa since its establishment in 2021.

Community groups, organisations and charities are the backbone of this country. Twelve organisations have benefited from the 22,300 funds raised through the Operation Blue Light Santa to date and I am delighted that St Christophers Services and Little Blue Heroes are this years benefactors.

I would like to thank the members of the PPN Secretariat (Tess Murphy, Eileen Finan, Pozy Greene, Francesca Pawelczyk, Kathleen Dowd, Enda Mc Manus) and Janine Bartley, Longford Local Community Safety Partnership (LCSP) Coordinator for the funding to ensure the success of this initiative.

I also express thanks to the founder of the initiative, Garda Emma Kiernan for inviting the PPN to collaborate and the rest of the Operation Blue Light Santa team who have been an absolute pleasure to work with.

I wish all the Little Blue Heroes, their families and all of St Christophers a very happy, peaceful Christmas filled with lots of fun and laughter.

MAIN PHOTO CAPTION: Mr and Mrs Claus with Garda Rossa Smith (Dutch's dog handler), author of Operation Blue Light Heroes Jessica Thompson, Little Blue Elf Ruby Kelly, County Longford Public Participation Network Coordinator Siobhan Cronogue and Garda Emma Kiernan, founder of the Operation Blue Light Santa campaign. In addition to being Dutch's dog handler, Garda Smith was Garda Buddy to the late Luke McCormack, one of the honorary Gardai from the Little Blue Heroes who features in the book. He was also dog handler to Kujo, who features on the cover of Operation Blue Light Heroes Picture: Shelley Corcoran
A Midlands man has been sentenced to 11 years in prison for a series of sexual offences committed against a number of minors.

Tullamore Circuit Court heard that the offences happened between July 27, 2008 and February 17, 2023.

The accused pleaded guilty on a full facts basis to 12 counts. The pleas were on sample counts but the court accepted that the offering occurred over the period covered by all of the charges.

One of the victims was born in July 1995 while the accused was born on May 31 1976. The victim was aged between 13 and 17 when the offending occurred and the accused was aged between 32 and 36.

The victim attended the Garda station on February 1, 2019 and expressed concerns about the accused having sex with young men and using the Grindr app. The victim set up a false account to show the accused was engaging in sex with younger males and to prove and corroborate his allegations of sexual assault which he subsequently made to the Gardai in July 2019.

The evidence was that the victim was a keen horse rider and used to frequent hourse stables. The accused also frequented the stables and on the occasion of the first offence the victim could recall the accused groping his penis outside his pants. He recalls pulling away pleading with the accused to leave him alone. The accused offered him cigarettes and after this they walked down to behind a lorry and the accused took down the victim's pants and masturbated him. The victim said it was the first time he ever experienced this. The victim was 13 years of age at the time and after the incident the accused gave him 20 cigarettes.

The victim went on to say there were at least 100 different incidents of abuse over the years and they happened from the age of 13 for the next 8 to 10 years.

One of the most vivid was when the accused stayed at the victim's home the night before the ploughing. The accused was staying in a spare room but about a half an hour after he went to bed the accused came into his bedroom and got under the covers, grabbed his penis and it appears full intercourse took place. The victim was promised cigarettes the next day.

Subsequent to this the accused started having oral sex with the victim. The victim stated that the accused would have oral sex with him and he would reciprocate at locations in the vicinity of the stables. He further recalls going to a field where various sexual things went on including oral sex, full sexual intercourse, and masturbation. He thinks this could have happened 40 times or more.

The victim said he would say no when propositioned by the accused but in response the accused would offer him more enticements and eventually the victim thought it was normal to be engaging in sexual activity for the purposes of getting cigarettes.

The victim describes himself as being brainwashed and that as he got older it affected his life greatly. He said that he also got cannabis for engaging in sexual acts.

The victim stated that the activity ruined his life and that he suffers from depression, anxiety and insomnia for which he has to take medication. He felt terrible guilt over what had happened and felt that he could tell nobody and that he had brought shame on his family. Eventually he disclosed the matter to a medical practitioner. However, he still felt that no one would believe him and as a consequence he set up a fake Grindr account and pretended to be a 16 year old boy. He started interacting with the accused who offered him money for sex. At this stage he went to the Garda and made a full statement of complaint.

The accused was arrested and interviewed on November 5, 2018. In response he acknowledged that he had sexual relations with the victim but said this happened in Cork when he was over 17. He also admitted to paying the victim when he was over 17 and having sex with him in different areas. In the third interview he accepted bringing people to shows and buying cigarettes for the victim when he was 14 years of age.

In his victim impact statement the victim described himself as a survivor. He stated that prior to the abuse he was an excellent school student. He said the abuse led to difficulties at school and limited the options available to him. He started skipping school and didn't do a good leaving certificate as a consequence of the negative impact of the abuse on him and he had to repeat his leaving certificate. When he was younger he was a very good show jumper and entered a lot of competition. This quickly changed as his mental health started to take over following commencement of the abuse. He used to love being around the yard and spending time with horses despite the abuse which he was getting from the accused. The abuse caused him to change from being a happy cheerful child to one that caused his family enormous stress and worry.

The second victim was aged 12 at the time. The first offence happened in a truck when the accused started feeling the victim's private parts and started to masturbate him. The accused parked up the truck for the night and the victim got into the top bunk and while there the accused got up on him and was touching and grabbing his private parts.

There followed other incidents when the victim was asked to masturbate the accused and engage in oral sex, one while the accused was bringing the victim to school. The victim was assaulted on at least 10 occasions at stables.

The final count was in 2022 at the victim's house. When he was arrested by the Gardai in relation to these charges he denied them.

The victim said he finds it hard to meet new people let alone trust them and has very few friends and has become socially isolated. He left school because of the abuse and stated that the accused robbed him of his education. He describes how he turned to drink and cannabis. He had built up a lot of anger and started rows with anyone in order to feel physical pain. He stated he didn't care if he lived or died. He had knocked his head off the wall to try to get rid of painful memories. He can't sleep because of flashbacks. He can't work because of feeling unsafe in his surroundings. He stated that no matter what sentence the accused receives he will never get his life back.

The third victim endured abuse at the same time as the first victim. Judge Keenan Johnson said, ''it is extraordinary to think that both of them were for a period at the same time victims of the accused. This would appear to indicate that the accused has an insatiable sexual appetite and an unhealthy and inappropriate attraction towards young boys.''

The final offences were in relation to communicating with a child for the purposes of sexual exploitation and sending explicit messages to a child under 17.

The accused had made contact with the victim who was just 15 via Snapchat. The victim had reported that he got sexually explicit messages from the accused. The messages were extremely sexual and the accused became involved in grooming and incentivising and encouraging sexual conduct on the part of the victim. The accused also sent a video of himself masturbating to the victim.

When he was arrested the accused indicated that he thought the victim was 18 to 20 years old.

The victim had indicated that he had lost all of his innocence and dignity as a consequence of the offensive messaging he received from the accused. He said he had been a 15 year old boy playing on his PlayStation and enjoying a week of school when he started getting explicit unsolicited images from the accused.

He said he couldn't really process what was happening. He broke down a week later and as a consequence his mother became concerned for his well being and instead of letting him go to school on the school bus she started to bring him directly to school.

Judge Keenan Johnson said in the case of the first victim that it was clear that the he had ''suffered appalling abuse at the hands of the accused. This abuse was perpetrated during the most vulnerable years of his development and had a profound negative impact on him.''

In relation to the second case, Judge Johnson said, ''... the victim is almost drowning in a sea of sadness. I hope that the victim can take some comfort from the fact that the guilty plea is a complete and absolute vindication of him and the appalling wrongs that were perpetrated on him by the accused.''

In relation to the final count Judge Johnson said that the victim had described how he fell into a dark place and he wanted to be on his own 24/7. He described how on a number of nights he would lie and cry out of nowhere. ''It is clear that the offence had a profound negative impact on the victim. He displayed maturity beyond his years by bringing it to the attention of the authorities and ensuring that the accused was apprehended.''

In sentencing the accused Judge Johnson said that as a consequence of his convictions the accused has been registered on the sex offenders register and will remain on it for the rest of his life. He said that this was a significant punishment in and of itself as it places onerous requirements to liaise with the Gardai and keep them appraised at all times of his place of residence.

The judge said the accused is 47 and has never been in prison before. ''Prison is difficult for somebody of his age particularly given the nature of the crimes to which he has pleaded guilty. Allied to that he will be separated from his parents and again this is going to be a significant punishment.''

The accused had confirmed his agreement to undergo therapy. The Judge said it seems clear that the accused is only now beginning to realise the gravity of his offending and the impact on the victims. He stated that he is truly sorry for any distress or torment caused to the victims.

On his release from prison the accused will have to enter a bond of 500 to keep the peace and be of good behaviour for a period of seven years post release. He will have to submit himself to the supervision of the probation services for a period of 18 months. He will have to cooperate with the assessment for any sex offenders program or other therapeutic program he is suitable for .
A snapshot assessment of Northern Ireland politicians personalities, habits and attitudes was compiled ahead of Labours Westminster general election win in 1997.

The briefing mostly focuses on unionist politicians and does not include any Sinn Fein representatives, according to State documents released this year to the Irish National Archives.

Among the descriptions prepared in a document called First Day Briefing Material written by the UK governments Northern Ireland Office was a description of UUP leader David Trimbles quick and disciplined mind and hints of the tense relationship between the SDLP leadership of John Hume and Seamus Mallon.

Mr Trimble is described as articulate, business-like and intelligent in the document, but an instinctive hard-liner who has formidable political and presentational talents.

It stated that although he showed political and personal courage at the start of the talks, Mr Trimble has not been able to provide strong and coherent leadership.

Although he has a quick and disciplined mind, and is a formidable TV debater and polemicist, he can be arrogant and abrasive.

Following on from a note in the document that states there is no obvious contender for his crown, Mr Trimbles deputy leader at the time, John Taylor, is described as not well-liked.

A complex figure, found by many to be arrogant and blustering and always seeming to be conscious of the fact that his unrivalled experience (and undoubted intelligence) gave him a special place in the party hierarchy.

Another senior UUP figure, Ken Maginnis, is large, friendly, open and garrulous.

The briefing said that Mr Maginnis was also in many ways the most attractive (in personal terms) of the UUP upper echelon.

Something of a loose cannon in party terms, he has a reputation for speaking first and thinking later. A rambling and unfocussed speaker.

SDLP leader Mr Hume is described as a complex character, capable of dark moods and depression when he feels things are not going right.

He is often worried about his health.

His deputy, Mr Mallon, is described as very charming, but vigilant in spotting lapses of behaviour by the security forces and rigorous in his criticism of aspects of security policy which he considers counter-productive.

It added: But he is a fair critic and does not go out of his way to be unnecessarily difficult.

The document also states that Mr Mallons relations with Hume are not always the best.

The material can be viewed in the National Archives in file 2022/45/425
The Irish Government released repatriated prisoners after the last week of the British parliamentary term ended in the summer of 1998 following a request from No 10.

Confidential State documents released this year show that the timing was sensitive due to the death of Andrew Kearney following a paramilitary-style shooting in his Belfast home in July.

The British Government had conveyed its concerns to an Irish official that a prisoner release that week could put their decision as to organisations up in lights.

The documents also show that Taoiseach Bertie Ahern called UK Prime Minister Tony Blair about the release of the man convicted of murdering Lord Mountbatten in 1979.

Archive files show that there were calls made between the Taoiseachs office and No 10 about how prisoners were to be released as part of the terms of the Good Friday Agreement.

On Monday July 27 1998, the assistant secretary of the Taoiseachs office Walter Kirwan relayed notes taken from a call with No 10 official John Holmes.

During the call, they discussed the release of prisoners and the timing of any such releases.

It was for us to make our decisions but the British would greatly prefer that there not be releases this week, Mr Kirwan wrote.

They were in the last week of their current parliamentary term and would have to make secondary legislation this week on what organisations were judged to be on a valid ceasefire, so that their prisoners would be eligible for early release.

This was against the background where the Provisional IRA had almost certainly killed somebody last week. If we were to release prisoners this week, it would put their decision as to organisations up in lights, which they would wish to avoid, so far as possible.

Mr Kirwan said that Irish ministers and officials had considered how Mr Kearneys killing should affect the timing of releases, and that while some had suggested it could result in a slowing of the process, other considerations might point in the opposite direction.

He said that he had told Mr Holmes that decision had not yet been made and said he would get back to him.

In a second document dated from the same day, Mr Kirwan conveyed that no releases would take place during the final week of the Westminster term, and that Mr Holmes was appreciative of that.

He told the No 10 official that the Irish government was to release three repatriated prisoners, whose names they believed the British government had no difficulties with; and four other prisoners, one of whom could cause difficulty.

The Taoiseach was to phone the British Prime Minister about the release of the prisoner who might give rise to controversy: Thomas McMahon, who was sentenced to life in prison for the murder of Lord Mountbatten and three others off the Sligo coast in 1979.

When Mr Kirwan phoned Mr Holmes on Monday afternoon to update him on the Irish governments plan, he said the official showed no perturbation at the mention of the murder of Queen Elizabeth IIs second cousin.

Mr Kirwan noted that there had been a feeling that the hour of any releases should be carefully chosen with a view to avoiding or minimising publicity.

He added that he spoke to Mr Ahern who said that ministers felt there should be a delay in releases because the Republican movement should not be allowed take away the feeling that outrages could happen with impunity.

He indicated that the British could be told about Government concern about the Kearney killing and that no releases would take place here during the current parliamentary week in London.

The document notes that the assistant secretary at the Department of Justice pointed out that Mr Ahern had committed to prisoner releases by July, and if that were to change Sinn Fein would need to be notified by July 28.

The note states that Mr Kirwan had the impression that the releases would take place on Friday July 31.

Mr McMahon was released from prison on August 6.

The material can be viewed in the National Archives in file 2023/154/14
Crime

By Chris Boyle Published: December 28 2023

Investigation Led by Attorney Generals Organized Crime Task Force and NYPD Auto Crime Division Leads to Indictment of Two Individuals.

Attorney General Letitia James announced today the indictment of brothers Ricky Paulino, 25, and Rahinier Paulino, 30, who have been charged with 16 crimes related to theft and possession of vehicles between January and October 2023. The indictment, unsealed in Bronx Supreme Court, came as a result of a joint investigation by the Attorney Generals Organized Crime Task Force (OCTF) and the New York City Police Departments (NYPD) Auto Crime Division.

For many New Yorkers, their car is their most valuable possession, and having it stolen can be devastating, said Attorney General James. These individuals used sophisticated methods to steal cars throughout New York City, but today we are bringing them to justice. I want to thank the NYPD and our partners in law enforcement for their assistance in this investigation to help protect New Yorkers.

These men were involved in a complex, high-tech undertaking that victimized innocent New Yorkers, said NYPD Commissioner Edward A. Caban. I commend the dedicated NYPD detectives from our Auto Crime Division who brought these vehicle thieves operation to a screeching halt, and I thank our many law enforcement colleagues  especially the investigators and prosecutors from the Attorney Generals Organized Crime Task Force  for recognizing the seriousness and intricacy of this case and helping to build a solid prosecution.

As alleged in the indictment, from January to October 2023, Ricky Paulino stole at least four Honda vehicles throughout New York City. The investigation revealed that the stolen cars were identified and selected, and on the date of the theft, Paulino and others drove in a follow car to the parked location of the desired vehicle. Once they arrived, Paulino would break into the desired vehicle and reprogram the vehicles computer system to gain control of it. In a matter of minutes, Paulino was able to steal a vehicle without sounding alarms or drawing any attention, even in a dense urban setting. Paulino was also able to reprogram the vehicle to stop recognizing the true owners electronic keys, so that their keys stopped working. The stolen vehicles were then transported into the Bronx. Paulinos crimes did not stop at New Yorks borders. During one of the thefts, the follow car was tracked to a location in Massachusetts where the stolen vehicle was later observed and identified.

The investigation further revealed that Ricky Paulino and Rahinier Paulino acted together to sell a stolen vehicle in the Bronx. The investigation included covert cameras, as well as analysis of data from cellular telephones, license plate readers, vehicle infotainment, and tracking systems.

In a 16-count indictment, Ricky Paulino is charged with Grand Larceny in the Third Degree, Criminal Possession of Stolen Property in the Second and Third Degrees, Unauthorized Use of a Motor Vehicle, and Conspiracy in the Fifth Degree. Rahinier Paulino is charged with Criminal Possession of Stolen Property in the Third Degree, Unauthorized Use of a Motor Vehicle in the First Degree, and Conspiracy in the Fifth Degree. If convicted, Ricky Paulino faces a maximum of 15 years in prison, and Rahinier Paulino faces a maximum of 7 years in prison.

The charges against the defendants are merely accusations and the defendants are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.

Attorney General James would also like to thank the Massachusetts State Police, the Randolph Township Police Department in New Jersey, the Clinton Township Police Department in New Jersey, the Yonkers Police Department, and the Bronx District Attorneys Office for their valuable participation and assistance in this investigation.

The investigation was jointly led by NYPD Auto Crime Divisions Detective Scott Berger and OCTF Detective Luis Flores. Detective Berger is under the supervision of Sergeant Dominick Pazmino and Lieutenant Daniel Gallagher, and the overall supervision of Inspector Robert LaPollo. Detective Flores is under the supervision of Supervising Detective Bradford Miller, OCTF Assistant Chief Ismael Hernandez and OCTF Deputy Chief Andrew Boss. The Office of the Attorney Generals Investigations Division is led by Chief Oliver Pu-Folkes.

The case is being prosecuted by OCTF Assistant Deputy Attorney General Ann Lee, with the assistance of Legal Support Analyst Christine Cintron, under the supervision of Downstate OCTF Deputy Chief Lauren Abinanti. Nicole Keary is the Deputy Attorney General in Charge of OCTF. The Division for Criminal Justice is led by Chief Deputy Attorney General Jose Maldonado. Both the Investigations Division and the Criminal Justice Division are overseen by First Deputy Attorney General Jennifer Levy.
Civilian ship heading to load grain blown up by enemy mine in Black Sea, two sailors wounded

A civilian ship with the flag of Panama was blown up by an enemy sea mine in the Black Sea, the Southern Defense Forces said on their Telegram channel.

"The bulk carrier was heading to one of the Danube ports to load grain," the forces said.

The ship lost speed and control, and a fire broke out on the upper deck. To avoid flooding, the captain fixed the ship aground.

As noted, boats of the Maritime Security and Search and Rescue Service immediately provided assistance to the crew and brought doctors on board.

When inspecting the ship and interviewing the captain, two sailors were found injured. "One was treated on the spot, the second wounded man, accompanied by doctors, was taken to the nearest hospital for further examination. His condition is satisfactory, the Southern Defense Forces said.

Tugboats have been sent to the vessel to refloat it and deliver it to the port.

"The defense forces continue to ensure the safety of civilian shipping in the face of heavy enemy mining at sea. Stormy weather often exacerbates mine hazards. Therefore, the issue of sea mine clearance with the support of international partnership remains relevant," the forces said.
Local News

By Chris Boyle Published: December 28 2023

$46 Million in Grant Awards Will Help Low- and Moderate-Income Homeowners Make Repairs and Safety Modifications, Provide Downpayment Assistance for First-Time Homebuyers.

Governor Kathy Hochul today announced that 1,400 households will benefit from more than $46 million in grant awards to support affordable homeownership. The grants will help low- and moderate-income families make repairs or safety upgrades to their homes, replace manufactured homes, and provide down payment assistance for first-time buyers.

As housing costs continue to rise, this significant investment will help carve out a path to affordable homeownership for 1,400 New York families, Governor Hochul said. My administration is using every tool at our disposal to address the states housing crisis, and we will continue to push forward on programs, strategies, and funding initiatives that put New Yorkers in safe, affordable homes.

Todays announcement complements Governor Hochuls $25 billion comprehensive Housing Plan that will create or preserve 100,000 affordable homes, including 10,000 with support services for vulnerable populations plus the electrification of an additional 50,000 homes.

The grants  administered by New York State Homes and Community Renewals Office of Community Renewal  were awarded to nonprofit organizations and localities to help preserve affordable housing, support veterans and older New Yorkers, increase access to homeownership, and strengthen local economies.

HCR Commissioner RuthAnne Visnauskas said, Improving access to safe, secure, and affordable housing is important for every New Yorker, but especially for the most vulnerable populations in our communities  seniors, veterans, and those with disabilities. Thankfully, we have a variety of programs that are designed to provide them with the helping hand they need to make their homes safer or be able to afford new homes. We thank all of our local partners for their dedication in creating and preserving housing across New York and for helping those who need it most.

A summary of awards by region is available in the table below:

Region Awards Proposed Units Served Capital Region $8,094,000 236 Central New York $4,183,870 109 Finger Lakes $2,788,000 104 Long Island $1,100,000 45 Mid-Hudson $3,125,000 94 Mohawk Valley $5,363,719 191 New York City $1,800,000 70 North Country $7,723,458 155 Southern Tier $8,180,490 268 Western New York $4,385,000 129 Grand Total $46,743,537 1401

The awards are made through State and federally funded programs including NYS HOME, NYS Community Development Block Grant, Access to Home, Access to Home for Heroes, Access to Home for Medicaid, Mobile and Manufactured Home Replacement, and RESTORE. Each program accepts applications in an annual competitive funding round.

NYS HOME Program funds can be used to acquire and/or rehabilitate single-family housing, provide down payment assistance, replace dilapidated mobile and manufactured homes as well as provide tenant based rental assistance to households with incomes at or below 80 percent of Area Median Income.

NYS Community Development Block Grant Program provides federal funds to help localities with projects that improve communities and benefit their residents. Housing grants can be used for housing rehabilitation of owner-occupied or renter-occupied homes, down payment assistance for low- and moderate-income first-time homebuyers, and private water/wastewater system assistance for low- and moderate-income homeowners.

Access to Home program provides financial assistance to make homes accessible for low- and moderate-income persons with disabilities so that they can continue living safely and comfortably in their residences or return to live in their residences instead of in an institutional setting.

Access to Home for Heroes provides financial assistance to make homes accessible for low- and moderate-income veterans with disabilities.

Access to Home for Medicaid provides financial assistance to make residential units accessible for Medicaid-eligible persons with disabilities.

Mobile and Manufactured Home Replacement program assists low- and moderate-income homeowners to replace dilapidated mobile or manufactured homes that are sited on land owned by the homeowner with a new manufactured, modular, or site-built home.

RESTORE provides financial resources to assist senior citizen homeowners with the cost of addressing emergencies and code violations that pose a threat to their health and safety or affect the livability of the home. Assistance for the cost of these critical repairs enables seniors to continue to live independently in their homes.
Local News

By Chris Boyle Published: December 28 2023

New York Army National Guard Exceeds 107 Percent Strength with Over 11,100 Soldiers Assigned.

Governor Kathy Hochul today announced that the New York Army National Guard was first in the nation in recruiting and retaining soldiers for the federal Fiscal Year 2023. The New York National Guard achieved a score of 118.12 percent for the 12 months from October 1, 2022 to September 30, 2023, according to a year-end analysis of each states recruiting and retention success. The score is based on the number of enlisted soldiers, the number of new officers and warrant officers who joined, and the number of soldiers who reenlisted as a percentage of each states total Army Guard strength. A score of 100 percent means the state met its recruiting goals. Scores above 100 percent indicate a state exceeded those recruiting goals.

The New York National Guard has proven time and time again that when they are needed in times of crisis they will be there with the resources and the power to keep their communities safe, Governor Hochul said. Their strength, recruiting and retention show impressive leadership and dedication, an organization like no other. Congratulations and thank you to all who serve their fellow New Yorkers  we are grateful for your work.

Governor Hochul today met with New York National Guard leadership and greeted recruiters and new recruits of the National Guard to congratulate them. This was the third time that New York was rated best in recruiting among the states with large Army National Guard contingents and the second time the New York Army National Guard Recruiting and Retention Battalion has been rated best in the nation, according to Lt. Col. Josh Heimroth, the commander of New Yorks recruiting force.

At the beginning of fiscal year 2023, the NYNG authorized a strength of 10,209 Soldiers and had 10,706 personnel assigned. The NYNG finished the fiscal year with 10,969 Soldiers in the ranks. This reflects an increase of 270 soldiers, 760 soldiers above the authorized strength for the NYNG. During this same year the NYNG recruited 1,594 Soldiers, with 1,521 new enlisted Soldiers and 73 officers who were not previously in the ranks.

Another 1,731 Soldiers chose to reenlist in the NYNG during the year, while 1,235 Soldiers left the force. All these gains and relatively few losses resulted in New York finishing first in overall recruiting achievement for 2023.

Adjutant General of the New York National Guard Major General Ray Shields said, We just had the best year for our retention mission that we have ever had. Our soldier-first strategy is now showing results and our recruiting and retention teams are performing at an exceptionally high performing level of effort and achievement.

Success in recruiting and retention also led to the Army Guard ranking New York as the number one state for Army Guard Strength Health in 2023. The combination of assigned strength, recruiting efforts, and moving Soldiers who missed drills out of the ranks without delay resulted in this designation for fiscal year 2023. This recruiting success has also allowed New York to add a division artillery headquarters and a finance battalion headquarters to the New York Army Guard force structure.

Statewide Deployment

Throughout the COVID pandemic the NYNG was deployed throughout New York, providing more than 1.8 million workdays over a 27-month period. Additionally, since September of 2022, the NYNG has been responding to the Asylum Seeker support mission where our service members have assisted New York City and Western New York with 612,000 workdays to date.

Nationwide Deployment

In June, Governor Hochul deployed the New York Air National Guard's 106th Rescue Wing to assist the United States Coast Guard search and rescue operation for a missing submersible which had been exploring the wreckage of the Titanic. NYNG Soldiers are also currently deployed in Arizona at the Southern Border.

Global Deployment

NYNG Soldiers have been deployed in Europe to support training for the Ukrainian Armed Forces, Africa, and other overseas missions throughout 2023.

The NYNG is also continuing to strengthen ties with foreign militaries. The NYNG and the Danish military command responsible for patrolling Greenland plan to start conducting joint training, key leader discussions, and exchange observers in 2024 and 2025. A Statement of Intent outlining the partnership arrangement was signed during a November 7 meeting between Major General Ray Shields and Major General Sren Andersen, commander of the Danish Joint Arctic Command, at New York National Guard headquarters in Latham.
The Islamic Resistance in Iraq, a network of Iranian proxies, front groups, and other pro-Iranian actors claimed responsibility for attacking an undisclosed target in the southern Golan Heights on Dec. 27.

The mujahideen of the Islamic Resistance in Iraq targeted a vital site in our occupied territories to the south of the Eliad settlement, with appropriate weapons, the group claimed in a statement published on Telegram.

Local Israeli media reported that Israel Defense Forces troops located an explosive-laden drone in an open area in the southern Golan Heights and that it was apparently launched from Syrian territory.

While the name of the group implies that is solely based out of Iraq, the Islamic Resistance in Iraq is comprised of Iranian proxy terror organizations that are based in both Iraq and Syria. For instance, Asaib Ahl al Haq and Hezbollah Brigades are based in Iraq, while Harakat Hezbollah al Nujaba and Kataib Sayyid al-Shuhada are primarily based in Syria. However these groups are known to operate in both countries. [For more information on the Iranian-backed militias in Iraq and Syria, see FDDs Long War Journal report, Profiles of 15 Iranian-backed Militias in the Middle East.]

Since the beginning of the Oct. 7 war, several security incidents involving Iranian-backed groups firing projectiles from Syrian and Iraqi territory have occurred. Notably, the IDF said that on Dec. 15 it intercepted a UAV on its way to Israeli territory over Lebanese-controlled waters in the Mediterranean Sea. Initially, it appeared to be another Hezbollah attempt to attack Israel. However, the Islamic Resistance in Iraq published a statement on Dec. 22 saying it achieved a direct hit on a vital target in the Mediterranean Sea a few days ago.

While the Islamic Resistance in Iraq claimed in its Dec. 27 statement that the attack was in response to its continuation of resisting the occupation, its difficult to overlook that Iran vowed to retaliate against Israel following the targeted killing of senior IRGC officer Reza Mousavi near Damascus on Dec. 25.

On Dec. 26, Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi expressed that Israel will face the consequences for Mousavis death. Moreover, Foreign Minister Hossein Amir-Abdollahian emphasized that Tel Aviv should prepare for a powerful and formidable countdown.

Further strengthening the possibility that the drone strike in the southern Golan Heights was a part of a retaliatory act for the killing of Mousavi, the Islamic Resistance in Iraq also stated on Dec. 27 that it had launched an attack on an Israeli-affiliated technical spy center located northeast of Erbil, Iraq. It is worth noting this marks the second time that Iran or an Iranian-backed group has admitted to attacking an alleged Israeli site in Erbil.

As the IDF slowly dismantles Hamas and other Palestinian terrorist groups in Gaza, Irans network of clients in the region are stepping up their attacks against Israel and its allies.The Houthis in Yemen are attempting to establish a naval blockade in the Red Sea under the guise of supporting Palestinians in the Gaza Strip. Hezbollah, has stepped up its attacks against northern Israel, while Iranian-backed militias in Syria and Iraq have directed their aggression towards U.S. and Israeli positions.

Defense Minister Yoav Gallant described the situation succinctly on Dec. 26, saying that Israel is in a multi-front war, facing attacks from seven different theaters. And while these actors are launching attacks from different fronts, it is abundantly clear that Iran is the common denominator, with its influence evident in all of these arenas.

Joe Truzman is a research analyst at FDD's Long War Journal focused primarily on Palestinian militant groups and Hezbollah. Bill Roggio is a Senior Fellow at the Foundation for Defense of Democracies and the Editor of FDD's Long War Journal.

Are you a dedicated reader of FDD's Long War Journal? Has our research benefitted you or your team over the years? Support our independent reporting and analysis today by considering a one-time or monthly donation. Thanks for reading! You can make a tax-deductible donation here.
(Alliance News) - Bank of Georgia Group PLC on Thursday said its subsidiary JSC Bank of Georgia has signed a EUR50 million loan with European Investment Bank, which has a maturity of up to seven years.

The Tbilisi-based bank said the funds will be used to finance investment projects promoted by small and medium-sized and midcap companies in Georgia.

Under the deal, Bank of Georgia will use at least 30% of the loan in green lending.

Chief Executive Officer Archil Gachechiladze says: "We greatly appreciate EIB's ongoing support for Bank of Georgia and Georgian businesses. This transaction, with a specific focus on green investments, is another important step towards the sustainable development of the local economy."

The firm also said that JSC Bank of Georgia has agreed an EUR25 million subordinated credit facility agreement with Green for Growth fund, Southeast Europe SA and an EUR20 million subordinated facility agreement with the European Fund for Southeast Europe SA.

The maturity for these loans is 10 years, the firm said.

It added that the loans both have green components.

Gachechiladze said: "I would like to thank our long-term partners, GGF and EFSE, for their cooperation. We appreciate their ongoing support for Bank of Georgia and local businesses in Georgia. These facilities enable us to continue empowering our customers, while maintaining a strong capital position."

Bank of Georgia shares fell 0.5% to 3,959.94 pence each on Thursday afternoon in London.

By Sabrina Penty and Harvey Dorset, Alliance News reporters

Comments and questions to newsroom@alliancenews.com

Copyright 2023 Alliance News Ltd. All Rights Reserved.
Manchester, VT (05254)

Today

Cloudy. Snow showers developing this afternoon. Temps nearly steady in the mid 30s. Winds WSW at 5 to 10 mph. Chance of snow 60%..

Tonight

Mainly cloudy with snow showers around this evening. Low near 30F. Winds WSW at 5 to 10 mph. Chance of snow 40%.
NORTHAMPTON  Contractors hired by the Roman Catholic Diocese of Springfield were told this week to stop removing stained-glass windows from the former St. Mary of the Assumption church at the corner of Elm, State and Main streets.

The work is a precursor to the long-awaited sale of the landmark church and its rectory. The buyer is expected to replace them.

The crews did not have a required permit from the Northampton Historical Commission, said Building Commissioner Jonathan Flagg. He said he issued the stop-work order Tuesday.

Flagg would not name the contractor.

There were workers on hand Wednesday. Flagg said its OK for the diocese to remove its property from a building it still owns. But it cannot remove anything that changes the buildings appearance from the outside.

Diocese spokespeople didnt respond to questions Wednesday and B. John Jack Dill, president of Colebrook Realty, which is representing the property for the diocese, reiterated his position that he will not talk until the sale is final.

In June, members of St. Marys successor parish  St. Elizabeth Ann Seton  learned at a town-hall-style meeting that the unnamed buyer was expected to pay $1.6 million for the building. That is down from a $2.9 million listing price for the church and rectory both built in 1910.

The diocese put the buildings on the market in 2017. The church merged Northampton parishes in 2010.

While she was unaware of the stop-work order, Historical Commission Chair Martha Lyon said Wednesday the requirement is real.

The Historical Commission, which has no posted agenda for any meeting, has say over any alteration that changes the outside appearance visible from the street to a building in the Elm Street Historical District, Lyon said.

The commission has worked with the growing Seventh-Day Adventist congregation that bought the former Blessed Sacrament Church at 354 Elm St. in Northampton. The Adventists have done a number of outward-facing renovations, Lyon said.

The Adventists bought the building in 2021 for $455,000.

The Historical Commission had a weaker say, but not the right to approve or disapprove changes to the former St. John Cantius Church. If St. Marys was across State Street from where it sits, it would be in the downtown zone and covered by the weaker protections, she said.

St. Johns property was sold in 2020 for $1.6 million and is being redeveloped after a long fight to save it.

Its not public who the buyer is or what the plans are.

Northampton architect Tristram W. Metcalfe III has studied both St. Marys and St. John Cantius investigating possible re-use. He doesnt know what the plans are, either, but he ventured an educated guess.

Housing would be difficult to do there, he said. What would be great is a hotel. You could build in the upper spaces and keep an event space in the sanctuary.

There is plenty of parking, room for 112 spots, he said. And he would advocate for a parking turnout on Elm Street.
HADLEY  Sams Outdoor Outfitters is closing its downtown Brattleboro, Vermont, location by April or before but all those Everything Must Go ads do not apply to stores in Hadley and near Keene, New Hampshire.

I think I have a really good future with the Hadley and Keene stores, said Brad Borofsky whose grandfather, a Russian immigrant, was the original Sams in 1932. Were planning business as usual.

The Hadley store opened in 2010 at 227 Russell St., Route 9, between Northampton and Amherst.

When he first announced the closure in September, Borofosky said the Keene  actually Swanzey  and Hadley locations were for sale.

And they are listed  together and with the rest of the business  for a total of $5.5 million. Retail sales companywide in 2022 exceeded $13 million, according to the listing.

Sams owns the real estate in Hadley and Swanzey. It rents in Brattleboro.

This week, Borofsky said hes in no hurry to sell Keene and Hadley and has already begun ordering for next year.

More with the idea that it may take a while to transition the situation, he said. Im not giving anything away.

A view of the shoe department at Sam's Outdoor Outfitters in Hadley. (Don Treeger / The Republican) 12/27/2023The Republican

He is 63 and no one in his family wishes to take over. His 89-year-old father, Stanley Pal Borofsky, still comes in five days a week.

I dont necessarily want to be there that long, he said.

Hes keeping offices and a warehouse in Brattleboro.

The downtown Brattleboro location  with its multiple floors selling everything outdoorsy from promo frisbees to shotguns to flannel shirts  has suffered because there is less retail in the downtown of this Vermont city. Also, Vermont charges a sales tax as neighboring New Hampshire does not.

And crime, drug use and vagrancy plague the business district, Borofsky said.

Im not a fan of when it gets dark out at 4:30 p.m, Borofsky said. How are you supposed to get people to come out and shop when they dont feel safe?

But the Keene and Hadley stores are stand-alone stores not in downtowns, he said.

The location we have in Hadley is incredible, he said.

Sam's Outdoor Outfitters in Hadley. (Don Treeger / The Republican) 12/27/2023The Republican

And it is easier to hire, especially in Hadley, than it is in Brattleboro, he said.

Recently, sales in Hadley have been affected by the store-closing sale and 33%-off discounts in Brattleboro.

He said customers from Greenfield or Deerfield have been driving north instead of south. But its temporary, just because of the sale.

Im hoping its a really good future for our store in Hadley, he said.
FlixBus plans to increase number of routes from Ukraine by 10-15 in 2024, adding trips to new countries

The largest bus operator in Europe, FlixBus, will increase the number of passenger routes by 10-15 in 2024, adding trips to new countries located to the west and south of Ukraine, and is also working to update the company's bus fleet.

Managing Director of FlixBus in Ukraine, Poland and the Baltic States Michal Lehman spoke about this in an exclusive interview with Interfax-Ukraine.

"We want, first of all, to expand our network and add new countries. We will expand to the west and south, adding more countries. We will inform you which countries these will be as soon as we receive the appropriate permits," Lehman said.

He said that the company plans significant growth, but how quickly and to what extent it will be able to implement its plans will depend on the process of obtaining official permits.

"It is not one or two new lines, but 10-15. I don't want to make promises now, because everything depends on how quickly the permits are issued," Leman said. He added that the company is already submitting applications for over 10 new lines.

The managing director of FlixBus in Ukraine, Poland and the Baltic states said that the company will continue to work on updating the fleet of buses used on the routes.

"When we started in Ukraine, most buses were manufactured eight to nine years ago. Today, five to seven years, some are even newer, and we will continue this process," Leman said, pointing out that FlixBus pays special attention to inclusivity and has buses in the fleet with conditions for people with disabilities in wheelchairs. The number of such buses will increase.

The director of FlixBus in Ukraine noted the need to raise market standards in international bus transportation, offering buses on routes equipped with toilets and access to Wi-Fi.

Travel operator FlixMobility has been developing bus services in Ukraine since 2019. Today, the company's buses operate 25 direct bus services to six European countries: Germany, Poland, the Czech Republic, Hungary, Slovakia and Austria. The bus network connects 22 cities in Ukraine and 48 abroad. Sixty-five buses are running between Ukraine and Europe.
Looking to start the new year off with a full stomach? Or perhaps a candy-coated party is more your style. Whatever you prefer, Boston has plenty of ways for you to celebrate New Years Eve in style.

In addition to Bostons annual New Years Eve celebration First Night Boston 2024, there are plenty of restaurants and bars in the city that will be hosting their own celebrations.

See a list below of other New Years Eve offerings in and around Boston.

DW French New Years Eve Three-Course Tasting

What: DW French is having a special NYE tasting menu featuring some old favorites and new additions along with an optional curated wine pairing

When: Sunday, Dec. 31

Where: 1391 Boylston St. in Boston

How: Reservations are not required but can be made on OpenTable

NYE Family Friendly Celebration at MIDA in Newton

What: Tailored for families, this event offers a unique early New Years Eve celebration with free pizza for kids, a special Titos cocktail for adults, and an early countdown

When: Sunday, Dec. 31 at 4 p.m.

Where: 261 Walnut St in Newton

How: Tickets can be purchased through OpenTable

Nightshade Noodle Bars NYE Tasting Menu Experience

What: Treat yourself to a bling tasting from James Beard Award Finalist Chef Rachel Miller and drinks pairings from Nightshade Noodle Bars Beverage Director Alex Carusos

When: Sunday, Dec. 31 from 5-10 p.m.

Where: Nightshade Noodle Bar at 73 Exchange St. in Lynn

How: Reservations are required and can be made on RESY

New Years Eve extravaganza at Nautilus Pier 4

What: Enjoy a high-end five course tasting menu, along with a live Jazz band, satellite champagne bar and a free glass of bubbles at midnight for a New Years toast

When: Sunday, Dec. 31, from 5 p.m. to close

Where: Nautilus Pier 4 at 300 Pier 4 Boulevard in Boston

How: Tickets can be purchased on RESY ahead of time with limited walk-in availability

Willy Wonka-themed extravaganza at High Street Place

What: Enjoy food, drinks, dancers, music, photo booths and more at this Wonka-themed extravaganza

When: Sunday, Dec. 31 at 8 p.m.

Where: 100 High St. in Boston

How: Tickets start at $125 and can be purchased here

New Years Eve celebration at Little Sister

What: This party includes a glass of champagne, hand-crafted, Puerto Rican-inspired snacks as well as a champagne toast at midnight complete with celebratory slice of cake

When: Sunday, Dec. 31 from 9 p.m. to close

Where: 737a Hope Street in Providence, Rhode Island

How: Tickets go for $60 and are available here

Fireworks Viewing Party at MIDA in East Boston
A 16-year-old boy and a 19-year-old man were killed in the second shooting to happen in the city of Lynn this week, according to the Essex County District Attorneys Office.

The shooting happened near 10 Camden St., which is around the corner from the AL Prime gas station, at around 10:20 p.m. on Wednesday, Dec. 27, the office said Thursday.

The two teens were brought to North Shore Medical Center for treatment. Both were later pronounced dead at the hospital, officials said.

We offer condolences to the families of the two victims in last nights shooting and we will offer support to the school communities grieving these losses, Lynn Mayor Jared C. Nicholson said in a statement.

Read More: Seven people hospitalized in serious rollover crash in Berlin Wednesday night

The first shooting happened at Pizza Hut at 39 State St. at around 8:30 p.m. on Tuesday, Dec. 26, according to the district attorneys office.

Three people were found with multiple gunshot wounds and brought to Massachusetts General Hospital with serious injuries, police said. They were said to be in stable condition as of Thursday.

Authorities believe both shootings were targeted, but did not say if they were connected.

This violence is devastating, infuriating, and utterly unacceptable, Nicholson added. We will respond with increased police presence as needed and renewed urgency and clarity in our efforts for peace, justice, and a safer community.

Lynn Police Chief Christopher Reddy said his department and Massachusetts State Police are investigating both shootings. Reddy asks anyone with information about either incident to contact investigators at 781-477-3190.
An inmate at Suffolk County House of Correction has died following a fight in his cell with another occupant and been identified as 45-year-old Carl Taylor.

The Suffolk County Sheriffs Department said Thursday that the fight took place at around 3 a.m. on Wednesday.

Both occupants were separated by custody staff, and Mr. Taylor was brought to the medical unit to receive a medical assessment, per standard protocol following such incidents, the Sheriffs Department wrote in a release.

Taylor let medical staff treat a cut on his lip and refused further treatment, according to the Sheriffs Department. The medical staff held Taylor for further observation in the Medical Housing Unit.

Minutes after that determination was made, Taylor was unresponsive. Medical staff began administering life-saving techniques and Emergency Medical Services arrived to take Taylor to Boston Medical Center, the Sheriffs Department said.

Taylor was pronounced dead at Boston Medical Center shortly before 5 a.m.

Taylor was being held at Suffolk for Bristol County Superior Court pending charges of assault and battery and intimidating a witness, according to the Sheriffs Department.

The Boston Police Department is conducting an investigation into the matter, the Sheriffs Department said. Boston police did not immediately return a request for comment on Thursday.
Chronic poor record-keeping may have led to an unfair selection process for the MBTAs police dispatch vendor, Massachusetts Inspector General Jeffrey Shapiro said in a report Wednesday.

According to the report, MBTA Transit Police may have showed an unfair bias when selecting IXP Corporation to provide police dispatch services in 2017.

The need for clear, transparent and fair procedures for the selection of contractors by public entities is a bedrock principle, Shapiro said in a statement. It is essential that the public have confidence in government when it conducts public procurements and expends the publics money.

In 2016, the T released a request for proposals for police dispatch services on its Business Center website, which provides notifications for new bid opportunities to companies looking to work with the agency. While more than 1,000 companies were notified, few provided the needed service, and the deadline was extended multiple times before three companies, including IXP, responded.

However, the 2016 request for proposals did not result in a contract, and the MBTA released a second in 2017 on the public procurement website COMMBUYS, which is managed by the state.

When the new request for proposals was posted, 33 companies, including IXP, were notified. But the other two companies that had responded the year before were not, according to the report. Only IXP submitted a proposal in 2017, and was eventually selected as a contractor.

In 2022, the Inspector Generals Internal Special Audit Unit released an initial report investigating the contract, but the agency said in that report that it did not have enough information to evaluate the fairness and competitiveness of the procurement process.

According to the report released Wednesday, the MBTA did not complete or maintain records about its evaluation of IXPs response to the 2017 request for proposals. That means that the Inspector General investigation could not fully assess the process.

In addition, according to the report, communications between the Transit Police and IXP during the evaluation process raised concerns about a bias toward the company.

After the failed 2016 procurement process, officials at the Transit Police continued communicating with IXP over e-mail, with one official telling the company, The MBTA is looking at other solutions but Im still interested in bringing IXP on board.

Based upon our investigation, significant concerns were raised regarding whether or not the selection process was fair, Shapiro said. The MBTAs poor record-keeping and records retention practices meant that the authority could not conclusively demonstrate that its selection of IXP was free from favoritism. That is not acceptable.

While Shapiro said the lack of record-keeping was a chronic problem at the MBTA, he said Wednesday he is optimistic that new leadership at the T and the Massachusetts Department of Transportation will be able to fix the issues revealed in the report.

Nonetheless, the test will be how the MBTA conducts itself during future procurements and with future contract administration and how its actions align with the results from future oversight reviews, he said.

In a statement, an MBTA spokesperson said the agency has not yet had the chance to do a comprehensive review of the report, but has identified potential areas for improvement and is committed to transparency and accountability under its new leadership.

As we continue working to strengthen MBTA operations overall, we remain committed to making appropriate changes that bolster accountability, integrity and responsible stewardship of funding, including continued improvements in record-keeping protocols and expanded staff training around procurement best practices, they said. The public deserves assurance that every MBTA project and expenditure is fully compliant and in the publics interest.
Veteran Hampshire County Register of Probate and Family Court Michael J. Carey will call it a career in 2024, Gov. Maura Healeys office said Wednesday.

Carey, of Easthampton, whos in the middle of a 6-year term, will step down on Jan. 16, according to Healeys office and a published report.

In a statement, Healeys office a search for a replacement is already underway, and the Arlington Democrat will recommend a candidate to the Governors Council to serve out the remainder of Careys term.

Careys 11-year tenure included the launch of a virtual registry. He also moved the courts main offices to Atwood Drive in Northampton, and the opening of a satellite officer in Belchertown, according to the Daily Hampshire Gazette.

I am fully aware that only four elected registers have held this office during the past half century, Carey, 74, told the newspaper. To have been given this opportunity by the citizens of Hampshire County is enormously gratifying to me and one [of] which I will always be most appreciative.

Carey sought re-election to a third term in 2020, according to his campaigns Facebook page.

On behalf of the people of Massachusetts, Id like to extend my gratitude for Register Carey for his years of service to Hampshire County, particularly for the work he has done on behalf of children and their families. We wish him the very best in his retirement, Healey said in a statement.
HOLYOKE  Saying the Holyoke schools have made many improvements in eight years and have the tools to make more, the school receiver urged state officials to return control of the classrooms to the city.

The letter sent to Commissioner Jeffrey Riley the day before schools broke for Christmas vacation supported a Holyoke School Committee petition submitted to the state Department of Elementary and Secondary Education in mid-September pushing for an end to eight years of state receivership.

I recommend that the Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education begin the transition to exit receivership in a careful and highly-planned manner, Anthony Soto said in writing.

At the same time, he acknowledged Holyoke educators continue to face challenges including test stores that fall well below statewide averages.

State officials confirmed they had received Sotos letter in response to the petition by the Holyoke School Committee and its chairman Mayor Joshua A. Garcia. Riley was not available for comment.

As required by state statue and regulations, the commissioner has four months from the receipt of the petition to issue a response, said Helene Bettencourt, associate commissioner of communication and planning for the department.

The city is not the only one that has pushed for receivership to end. The Lawrence Public Schools and Southbridge schools, which have been operating under state control for 12 and seven years respectively, have also attempted to regain autonomy of their schools with little success.

Soto is on vacation and could not be reached for comment yesterday.

He has served as the state-appointed receiver of the citys nearly 5,000 students and 450 teachers since 2021. If the School Committee is successful in its bid to regain control of the system it will be up to the members to decide if they should select a new superintendent or keep Soto at the helm of the school system.

I am proud of the collective work that Holyoke students, teachers, staff and families have done together and I am excited to closely partner with the School Committee to ensure a highly-successful transition to local control, Soto said in the letter to Riley.

He cited the work teachers have done to increase the graduation rate, align the curriculum to meet Massachusetts standards, expand preschool and boost the Spanish and English dual-language program

The letter also discusses the behind-the-scenes work done to improve the schools by modernizing data systems and creating systematic supports for educators so they can Implement strong instructional practices.

His letter also said the transition to local control has to be done thoughtfully and with the state working with the School Committee to limit concerns and disruption for local families.

Just as the transition from local control to receivership created uncertainty and change, the transition to local control will also create uncertainty for some and may result in significant change, Soto said.

If the state agrees to transition to local control, Soto said the School Committee will need to have a training plan for members, focus on learning more about union contracts with staff, use the states guide for creating effective policies and practices and work with the superintendent and community to make further improvements.

Soto also acknowledged that there are many challenges Holyoke students continue to face.

Students continue to score lower than their higher-income peers statewide on the Massachusetts Comprehensive Assessment Systems exam. In this school year, 85% of students are low-income, which is double than the 42% low-income rate statewide. In addition, 30% of students have learning disabilities while 20% of students statewide do.

As we return to local control the School Committee will have to address these needs in partnership with the superintendent and district (and) school leaders. This work is underway in Holyoke now and I am striving to work with the School Committee to help them better understand and champion current improvement efforts, he said in the letter.

Some of the challenges include improving MCAS scores, which are well below state average. In the scores released this fall, 9% of children in grades three to eight met or exceeded expectations on the English exam while 42% did statewide. Math scores are lower and all students showed low growth in both subject areas.

There are also continued problems with chronic absenteeism, difficulty recruiting and retaining educators and sizable learning gaps between students who do not speak English well or are disabled and their peers who are not in the categories, he said.
A deadly stabbing of a woman Tuesday night at a trailer park in Lunenburg led authorities to arrest and charge her live-in boyfriend with murder.

Orlando Garcia Rosado, 57, of Lunenburg, was arraigned in Fitchburg District Court on Wednesday where he pleaded not guilty to charges of murder and assault and battery on a household or family member. Rosado is being held without bail.

Police were called at 8:45 p.m. Tuesday to the trailer park complex on Massachusetts Avenue where a woman was found injured and taken to the hospital before being pronounced dead, the Worcester County District Attorneys Office said in a statement.

Maria Murray, 53, was reported as the stabbing victim, according to a police report filed with the Fitchburg court.

Rosado and Murray were living together at the trailer park and in a dating relationship.

Rosado was seen on surveillance footage leaving the trailer park in Murrays red Subaru Impreza after the stabbing, according to police. Rosado was found by police and stopped on Interstate 290 in Worcester and he was taken into custody at the state police barracks in Holden.

Investigators reportedly were told by Rosado that he stabbed Murray with a knife after an argument in the kitchen.

Rosado is expected back in Fitchburg court for a probable cause hearing on Feb. 6.
Randolph police confirmed that a postal worker was attacked Wednesday afternoon and that the department is investigating.

Police said that they received a 911 call from a postal worker at 12:30 on Wednesday about being robbed in the Rosemont Square Apartment Complex.

The mail carrier was physically assaulted by two men dressed in black and wearing masks, and was injured in the ribs and side, according to police.

Additionally, the mail carriers arrow key, a master key for mailboxes in a given area, was stolen, police said.
If youre thinking about driving into Boston to partake in this years New Years Eve festivities on Sunday  dont.

With parking expected to be at a premium, and traffic in the states largest city even more of a nightmare than usual, officials at the MBTA are urging would-be revelers to take the bus, subway, and commuter rail into the city for the celebrations that start at midday and run until after midnight on Sunday.

And to sweeten the deal, rides on the transit system will be free after 8 p.m. on Sunday, the MBTA said in a statement.

Heres what you need to know if youre taking mass transit on Sunday:

Subway: All subway lines will operate on a Sunday schedule with increased service after 3 p.m. All subway lines will operate until approximately 3 a.m., the agency said in its statement.

Buses and The RIDE: Buses and The RIDE will operate on a regular Sunday schedule.

Ferry: Charlestown ferry services will end at 6 p.m., the T said.

Commuter Rail: The Commuter Rail will operate on a weekend schedule and provide late-night service with last trains held at North and South Stations until after midnight. Full details on last train times are available at The Commuter Rail will operate on a weekend schedule and provide late-night service with last trains held at North and South Stations until after midnight. Full details on last train times are available at mbta.com/holidays

CharlieCard Store: The CharlieCard Store will be closed on the observed December 31, New Years Eve Day (and also observed on Dec. 29, 2023).

January 1: New Years Day Schedule :

Sunday Schedule: All subway lines, buses, and The RIDE will operate on a Sunday schedule.

Weekend Schedule: The Commuter Rail will operate on a weekend schedule.

Closed: All ferry services will not operate and the CharlieCard Store will be closed.

For more information, riders can visit mbta.com/holidays or connect with the T on X (the site formerly known as Twitter) @MBTAand @MBTA_CR, Facebook /TheMBTA, Instagram @theMBTA, Threads @thembta, or TikTok @thembta, the agency said.
The Hingham man accused of crashing a car through an Apple Store last November and killing a person in the crowd he ran over is being held pending a mental health evaluation after officials said he again did not charge his court-ordered GPS monitor, according to reports from multiple outlets.

Bradley Rein, 53, was called to Plymouth District Court on Dec. 27, where prosecutors said the GPS device hes required to wear died on Dec. 22, CBS Boston reported.
In 2024, the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine plans to focus on the needs of the army in repelling Russia's armed aggression and issues related to mobilization processes, as well as on further European integration and rapprochement between Ukraine and NATO, Chairman of Parliament of Ukraine Ruslan Stefanchuk said.

"There are several important components of the work plan of the Ukrainian parliament in the coming year. The first is issues related to the war, which, unfortunately, continues in Ukraine. In this sense, the Verkhovna Rada will have a number of components, including a bill on mobilization, and a number of other issues related to the rotation of military personnel, a fair approach to fulfilling the duty to defend their homeland. In addition, I am convinced that a number of budgetary issues will be associated with this, because any mobilization processes entail the need to find funds to support them," Stefanchuk told Interfax-Ukraine on Thursday.

The second important block, according to him, will be European integration activities, as Ukraine managed to open negotiations on accession to the European Union, which means that "before March, everything must be done to approve this framework, these 35 sections, along which the Verkhovna Rada will begin to move, passing the necessary laws and bringing our legislation into line with the standards of the European Union, the so-called acquis communautaire."

At the same time, the chairman said in 2024 this component will be a system and significant in the work of the Verkhovna Rada, which will be under constant monitoring by colleagues from the European Union. "They will be honest about what has been accomplished and what has not. Therefore, our task is to obtain 100% compliance with all recommendations and directives, other components of the legislation of the European Union," he said.

Therefore, as the chairman explained, the agenda of the plenary sessions of the Rada cannot include technical or pass-through European integration bills, because "everyone, even small in volume or not so hype, which everyone is discussing, is our step on the path to the European Union."

"I am convinced that there will be a lot of such bills, because we will implement directives, regulations, and a whole range of other technical documentation. Some at the parliamentary level, some at the government level," Stefanchuk said.

The third block of issues that the Verkhovna Rada plans to focus on will concern Ukraine's rapprochement with NATO.

"We really hope for the Washington summit, we set very important goals for ourselves, which also require appropriate legislative support. And therefore, laws that will bring the Ukrainian army, the Ukrainian Armed Forces closer to NATO standards, to compatibility in army management, will also become very important component of the work of parliament for the next year," the chairman said.

In addition, the Verkhovna Rada intends to continue political cooperation with the parliaments of other countries, participating in a number of events.

At the same time, Stefanchuk predicts that parliamentary activity will be focused on a separate track dedicated to the Peace Formula of Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy. "I think this will be some kind of separate parliamentary summit. We are now discussing the format of this, because for us it is extremely necessary that this formula be produced in all countries, find its support, and we go to the United Nations with the formula that agreed with our partners at all levels, including parliamentary," he said.
HARRISBURG, Pa. (AP)  The reputed last member of the famed World War II American jungle fighting unit nicknamed the Merrills Marauders has died. Ninety-nine-year-old Russell Hamler died on Tuesday. That is according to his son Jeffrey. He didnt give a cause of death. Hamler was the last living Marauder, according to the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs.

Hamler had been living near Pittsburgh. The Marauders inspired a 1962 movie and last year were awarded the Congressional Gold Medal. The soldiers spent months behind enemy lines, marching hundreds of miles through the jungles and steep mountains of Burma to capture a Japanese-held airfield and open an Allied supply route between India and China.

HARRISBURG, Pa. (AP)  The reputed last member of the famed American jungle fighting unit in World War II nicknamed the Merrills Marauders has died.

Russell Hamler, 99, died on Tuesday, his son Jeffrey said. He did not give a cause of death.

Hamler was the last living Marauder, according to a biography published by the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs in January.

Hamler had been living in the Pittsburgh area, where he was born in 1924, and enlisted in the Army at 18, according to the departments biography.

In 2022, the Marauders received the Congressional Gold Medal, Congress highest honor. The Marauders inspired a 1962 movie called Merrills Marauders, and dozens of Marauders were awarded individual decorations after the war, from the Distinguished Service Cross to the Silver Star. The Army also awarded the Bronze Star to every soldier in the unit.

The soldiers spent months behind enemy lines, marching hundreds of miles through the tangled jungles and steep mountains of Burma to capture a Japanese-held airfield and open an Allied supply route between India and China.

They battled hunger and disease between firefights with Japanese forces during their secret mission, a grueling journey of roughly 1,000 miles (1,610 kilometers) on foot that killed almost all of them.

In 1943, President Franklin D. Roosevelt agreed to have the Army assemble a ground unit, the 5307th Composite Unit Provisional, for a long-range mission behind enemy lines into Japanese-occupied Burma, now Myanmar. Seasoned infantrymen and newly enlisted soldiers alike volunteered for the mission, deemed so secret they werent told where they were going.

Merrills Marauders  nicknamed for the units commander, Brig. Gen. Frank Merrill  were tasked with cutting off Japanese communications and supply lines along their long march to the airfield at the occupied town of Myitkyina. Often outnumbered, they successfully fought Japanese troops in five major engagements, plus 30 minor ones, between February and August 1944, according to the department.

Starting with 3,000 soldiers, the Marauders completed their mission five months later with barely 200 men still in the fight.

Hamler was wounded in the hip by a mortar fragment during the battle known as Nhpum Ga, the departments biography said. The injury immobilized Hamler in his foxhole for more than 10 days until rescuers arrived and evacuated him to a hospital in India.

Marauders spent most days cutting their way through dense jungle, with only mules to help carry equipment and provisions. They slept on the ground and rarely changed clothes. Supplies dropped from planes were their only means of replenishing rations and ammunition. Malnutrition and the wet climate left the soldiers vulnerable to malaria, dysentery and other diseases.

The Marauders eventually captured the Myitkyina airfield, the only all-weather strip in northern Burma, their key objective, according to the U.S. Army Center of Military History. The unit was disbanded afterward.

Hamler was awarded a Bronze Star and a Purple Heart. He became an aircraft mechanic for Trans World Airlines and retired from it in 1985, the department said.
Seven people were brought to the hospital, including two with serious injuries, following a rollover crash in Berlin on Wednesday night, according to local authorities.

Berlin firefighters and Berlin Police went to the crash on Interstate 495 North just after 9 p.m. on Dec. 27, according to a press release posted by Berlin Fire & EMS on Facebook. When crews arrived, they found seven people who were injured, including one who was trapped inside the vehicle.

Firefighters had to use the Jaws of Life to pull the victim to safety, officials said.

Two people were brought to local hospitals while the other five were brought to local trauma centers. Two of those individuals were said to have serious injuries, officials said. The scene was cleared at about 10:30 p.m.

The cause of the crash remains under investigation by Massachusetts State Police.
A 70-year-old man who was found unconscious near Wellesley College in Wellesley on Wednesday and was later pronounced dead was identified as Silas Logan of Boston, a spokesperson with the Norfolk County District Attorneys Office told MassLive Thursday.

Logan was found in a slightly wooded area on a walking path close to Central Street at around 9:15 a.m. on Dec. 27, Wellesley police said in a statement.

First responders performed CPR on Logan, but were unable to revive him. He were pronounced dead onsite, according to police.

The Medical Examiner took custody of the body, police added. At this time, authorities do not believe Logans death was suspicious.

Wellesley Police Officers and Detectives, the Massachusetts State Police, and Wellesley College Police are investigating the incident.
A neighborhood bar and restaurant that opened in a trendy part of Bostons Dorchester neighborhood has closed to make way for a new Mexican-themed restaurant.

The Industry located at 750 Adams St. in the heart of Adams Village in Dorchester, officially closed on Wednesday night, Dec. 27, the restaurant said in a Facebook post from the day before.

We would like to thank our patrons, employees, friends, vendor partners and all of Adams Village for the past six years of fantastic memories, the post read. Ownership will be transferred to a local restauranteur who plans to bring a new and exciting concept to the village.

The new owner is Julian Bolger, who plans on transforming the space into a Mexican-themed eatery called Chubbs Taco & Tequila Bar, according to the Dorchester Reporter.

The sale and liquor license transfer were finalized and approved earlier in December, David Arrowsmith  who built out and owned The Industry  told the news outlet.

The village has been good to us, Arrowsmith told the Reporter. But we are excited for this new concept for the village and we know were turning the keys over to the right people. It will be a raging success in 2024.

The Industry, which opened in 2017, was known as a great place to sit, dine, and watch your favorite team, according to the restaurants Yelp page. The gastropub offered New American cuisine featuring an extensive wine list, hand-crafted cocktails and fresh seafood and steak. Live music was also a staple at The Industry.

Customers saddened by the closure took the comments section of The Industrys post.

Sad to see you go, one person wrote. Thank you for the wonderful meals, and memories we have had there.

Another commented, Now I need to find a new place for St paddys Day.

The new restaurant is projected to open in spring 2024, the Dorchester Reporter said.
SPRINGFIELD  Westmass Area Development Corp. will take over work of a small nonprofit under a partnership designed to boost economic growth in the city.

The two organizations joined with Springfield officials Wednesday to announce that the struggling DevelopSpringfield organization will become a subsidiary of Westmass, which owns and operates industrial parks in the region and the Ludlow Mills mixed-use development project.

The announcement comes at a time when Springfield is looking to develop key properties, including the 17.5-acre Vibra Hospital property on State Street, a prime commercial property, Mayor Domenic J. Sarno said.

This continues to expand our economic development horizons, he said.

DevelopSpringfield was created in 2008 to take on the worst cases of blighted buildings in the city. The group bought the River Inn, a hotbed of drug deals and prostitution on State Street, and turned it into a Pride station. In another project, it converted an aging church and vacant lot on Carew Street into a Baystate Health dialysis center.

The city knows developers cant tackle projects that are financial losers, which is where DevelopSpringfield came in. The agency would acquire and prepare problem properties for redevelopment and sell them to businesses, returning them to the tax rolls, Sarno said.

The organization owns the Springfield Innovation Center, where the announcement took place, and the historic Merrick Phelps House at 83 Maple St., which was an eyesore converted into offices.

Westmass plans to put the Merrick Phelps House on the market. The building is being rented, as are a row of garages and a carriage house in the back, said Jeff Daley, president and chief executive officer of Westmass. The house was built in 1841 for Solymon Merrick, inventor of the monkey wrench.

Springfield Mayor Domenic Sarno speaks at a press conference to announce the WestMass Area Development Corp.will now be running DevelopSpringfield. Jeff Daley, President and CEO Of Westmass Area Development Corp.,is on the left. (Don Treeger / The Republican) 12/27/2023The Republican

The Springfield Innovation Center, on Bridge Street, serves as a business incubator and has one tenant. Westmass has experience managing similar buildings. It plans to make improvements to the building and seek new tenants, Daley said.

It is a neat complex but it needs some maintenance and attention, he said.

With no full-time staff, DevelopSpringfield has hired Westmass and other consultants when it needed help, said Nicolas A. Fyntrilakis, its chairman.

When Fyntrilakis approached Westmass about taking over management of DevelopSpringfield, Daley said he and his staff determined they have the capability of doing the work.

Officials see benefits in Westmass expanding into the regions largest city, the main economic driver in Western Massachusetts.

Jeff Daley, President and CEO Of Westmass Area Development Corp., speaks at a press conference to announce WestMass will now be running DevelopSpringfield. (Don Treeger / The Republican) 12/27/2023The Republican

Tim Sheehan, chief development officer for the city, said he thinks Westmass will bring a new vision to DevelopSpringfield and will enhance the work DevelopSpringfield has already accomplished by bringing forward new ideas, a talented development staff and a commitment to focusing on the development opportunities that are unique to Springfield as the largest city in Western Mass.
Got a huge pile of fallen tree branches from recent wind storms in your backyard? You may be relieved to learn burning season is nearly here.

Open burning season starts in Massachusetts Monday, Jan. 15 and runs through Wednesday, May 1, according to the state Department of Fire Services website.

Dighton Fire Chief Christopher Maguy recommends people burn sooner than later in that time frame, since it tends to get windier later in the spring, according to a press release sent out on behalf of the Dighton Fire Department. Open burning is only allowed any given day if weather conditions are ideal.

Most communities in Massachusetts allow open burning, but the state fire warden determines each day if its safe, according to the Department of Fire Services. Residents have to get an open permit from their local fire department, if burning is allowed that day.

According to the state, open burning must be done:

Between 10 a.m. and 4 p.m. from Jan. 15 to May 1

At least 75 feet from all dwellings

As close as possible to the source of the material being burned

When air quality is acceptable for burning. (Call the MassDEP Air Quality Hotline at 800-882-1497 or visit MassAir Online for air quality status.)

What can you burn in Massachusetts?

Brush, cane, driftwood and forestry debris (but not from commercial or industrial land clearing)

Agricultural materials including fruit tree and bush prunings, raspberry stalks, and infected bee hives for disease control.

Trees and brush from agricultural land clearing

Fungus-infected elm wood, if no other acceptable means of disposal is available

What cant you burn in Massachusetts?

Leaves

Brush, trees, cane or driftwood from commercial or industrial land clearing

Grass, hay, leaves, stumps or tires

Construction materials or demolition debris

Household trash

There are 22 densely built and populated communities in Massachusetts that never allow open burning, according to the state.

Open burning is never allowed in these communities
Republican presidential candidate Nikki Haley might be rising in the polls, but if her answer to a voters question about the causes of the Civil War is any indication, her knowledge of American history might be lagging.

During a town hall in Berlin N.H. on Wednesday, the former South Carolina governor left out slavery as a cause for the war between the states, prompting the voter who asked the question to say he was astonished by her answer, according to published reports.

The first shots of the Civil War were fired in Haleys home state, when Confederate forces began shelling Fort Sumter in Charleston Harbor around 4:31 a.m. on April 12,1861. Union forces surrendered less than 34 hours later, according to an official history, sparking a conflict that spanned four years and claimed the lives of 620,000 soldiers on either side of the conflict.

According to the Associated Press, Haley, who served as the Palmetto States governor from 2011 to 2017 before she stepped down to become the Trump administrations United Nations ambassador, instead talked about the role of government, replying that the bloody conflict involved the freedoms of what people could and couldnt do.

Haley then turned the question back to the man who had asked it, who replied that he was not the one running for president and wished instead to know her answer, the Associated Press reported.

After Haley went into a lengthier explanation about the role of government, individual freedom, and capitalism, the questioner seemed to admonish Haley, saying, In the year 2023, its astonishing to me that you answer that question without mentioning the word slavery, according to the Associated Press.

What do you want me to say about slavery? Haley shot back, as she moved on to another question, the Associated Press reported.

Scholars agree that chattel slavery was the main cause of the conflict, the Washington Post reported. And Haleys answer earned her swift rebukes from Democrats and Republicans alike, including President Joe Biden.

It also gave new legs to Haleys previous comments that the war was the result of disagreements over tradition versus change, the Post reported.

Issues surrounding the origins of the Civil War and its heritage are still much of the fabric of Haleys home state, and she has been pressed on the wars origins before, according to the Associated Press.

During her 2010 gubernatorial campaign, Haley, in an interview with a now-defunct activist group then known as The Palmetto Patriots, described the war as between two disparate sides fighting for tradition and change and said the Confederate flag was not something that is racist, the Associated Press reported.

During that same campaign, she dismissed the need for the flag to come down from the Statehouse grounds, portraying her Democratic rivals push for its removal as a desperate political stunt.

In 2015, Haley urged lawmakers to remove the flag from its perch near a Confederate soldier monument following a mass shooting in which a white gunman killed eight Black church members who were attending Bible study.

At the time, Haley said the flag had been hijacked by the shooter from those who saw the flag as symbolizing sacrifice and heritage, the Associated Press reported.

South Carolinas Ordinance of Secession  the 1860 proclamation by the state government outlining its reasons for seceding from the Union  mentions slavery in its opening sentence and points to the increasing hostility on the part of the non-slaveholding States to the institution of slavery as a reason for the state removing itself from the Union.

In a statement posted to X, formerly Twitter, South Carolina Democratic Party Chairperson Christale Spain said Haleys comments were vile but unsurprising.

The same person who refused to take down the Confederate Flag until the tragedy in Charleston, and tried to justify a Confederate History Month. Shes just as MAGA as [former President Donald] Trump, Spain, the first Black woman to chair the state party, wrote.

Democratic National Committee Chairperson Jaime Harrison, who chaired the South Carolina Democratic Party during Haleys tenure, said the former governors remarks were not stunning if you were a Black resident in SC when she was Governor.

Same person who said the confederate flag was about tradition & heritage and as a minority woman she was the right person to defend keeping it on state house grounds. Some may have forgotten but I havent. Time to take off the rose colored Nikki Haley glasses folks, Harrison posted to X.

With the Granite States primary less than a month away, Haley trails Trump by an average of 46.3% to 24.8% in New Hampshire, according to the RealClear Politics polling average.
Massachusetts has fined almost every local housing authority in the state for keeping subsidized apartments empty without a good reason.

The state levied $4.1 million in fines against 212 agencies from 2019 to 2022, according to public records obtained by WBUR. Eight were fined more than $100,000; Boston Housing Authority alone racked up more than $600,000 in fees for leaving units vacant for months or years without the states permission.

But WBUR found the penalties were largely meaningless for years, because the state failed to enforce them.

That meant the state wasnt taking advantage of one of its main tools to push local housing agencies to fill empty units, even as the state faces a dearth of affordable housing.

The state acknowledged that more than three-quarters of the fines over the last four years were either forgiven or never collected. Some housing agencies, such as Boston, said they werent aware of all the fines. Others werent sure how much, if anything, they paid.

Massachusetts housing officials say the lack of enforcement has had serious consequences, reducing access to affordable units in the middle of a worsening housing shortage.

I call it bad public policy, Doug Howgate, president at the Massachusetts Taxpayers Foundation, a Boston think tank, said. You need to do a better job of enforcing it.

Meanwhile, many subsidized apartments have been sitting empty. A WBUR and ProPublica investigation this fall found nearly 2,300 of 41,500 state subsidized units were vacant, even as more than 184,000 people languished on the waitlist for public housing.

State and local officials blamed many of the vacancies on problems with the states central waitlist, lack of money for vital staff and repairs, and decisions by some local housing agencies to use apartments for offices and storage.

Gov. Maura Healeys administration has already hired a vendor to help local housing agencies screen tenants, proposed a bond measure with $1.6 billion to repair and modernize public housing and launched a 90-day push to fill vacancies after the WBUR report.

But state Housing Secretary Ed Augustus said the failure to enforce the fines for so long has likely made the situation worse.

Its probably one of multiple factors that contributed to the larger number of vacancies, said Augustus, who took office in June.

Under state rules, local housing agencies are supposed to rent out apartments within 60 days of being vacated or seek a waiver explaining why they cant  whether its because agencies cant find a new tenant or a unit needs major repairs. The state approves 92% of waivers requests, according to a WBUR analysis of state data.

If agencies leave units empty for months without a waiver, the state has threatened to charge them for each day a unit remains empty. The fines currently range from $3 to $11 per day.

We want to make sure that we know when units are offline, theyre offline for good reason, said Augustus. So its an accountability mechanism.

No agency racked up more fines for empty units in the past four years than Boston, the biggest local housing authority in the state with more than 2,000 state-funded units.

In July, for instance, Boston Housing had eight empty units without waivers in a complex called Archdale Village, a cluster of three-story brick buildings in Roslindale meant to serve low-income families. One of the apartments had been empty for more than two years without a waiver.

Boston Housing declined requests for an interview. But in an email, spokesperson Brian Jordan said those apartments were unleased because the Archdale building needs a new roof, something the agency is now working on.

Archdale Village, a state-funded public housing complex for families, in Boston's Roslindale neighborhood. (Jesse Costa/WBUR)Jesse Costa/WBUR

Jordan said the city inadvertently failed to ask the state for permission to leave units vacant over the past few years, even when it thought it had good reasons to do so.

Obviously we regret these past paperwork errors, Jordan wrote.

State data show the city was fined every quarter from 2019 to 2022 (except for the first half of 2022, when the state suspended fines because of the pandemic).

Jordan said the housing agency wasnt aware of the mounting fines during the pandemic. He said Boston Housing learned the state temporarily stopped fining agencies in early 2020 because of the pandemic, but didnt realize the state resumed assessing penalties later that year.

Its not clear how much the city actually paid in fines from 2019 to 2022.

The lack of enforcement is a problem all over Massachusetts.

Overall, the state estimated local agencies forfeited less than $1 million of the more than $4 million fines assessed from 2019 to 2022.

A half million in fines were forgiven. But the state said millions more went uncollected because a flaw in their enforcement system: They relied mainly on local housing agencies to voluntarily forfeit the money.

For years, local agencies were expected to look up how much they owed in fines and deduct that from their annual funding requests. Often, they didnt do that. So state taxpayers were continuing to fund apartments that were sitting empty.

There was an antiquated system, Augustus said. So fines werent actually being kind of deducted from their subsidies.

Housing and Livable Communities Secretary Ed Augustus speaks at a press conference announcing the Walnut Street senior affordable housing development at the site of the former Foxborough State Hospital alongside Lt. Gov. Kim Driscoll. (Trea Lavery, MassLive)Trea Lavery/MassLive

But a spokesman for the Executive Office of Housing and Livable Communities said the agency recently altered its computer systems to automatically collect the fines  deducting the money from their annual subsidies starting for fiscal years ending June 30, 2023.

The spokesman, Kevin Connor, said any money collected will go back into the pool of funding available to the 230 authorities with state public housing in future years.

But the state says it has no plans to go after the millions of dollars in fees that were never collected in the past.

Augustus said the goal isnt to collect a certain amount of fines.

The goal is to fix problems that are keeping units vacant, he said.

Still, some local housing agencies were alarmed to find out how much they had accrued in fines.

Wellesley Housing Authority Executive Director Jacqueline Sullivan wrote to the state in February that she worried the penalties would bankrupt the agency. State records show the housing agency was assessed more than $300,000 in fines from 2019 to 2022 (mostly from before Sullivan took over the agency early last year).

Sullivan told the state in an email obtained by WBUR under the state public records law that the agency cant pay these fees, or we will have no money left in our reserves.

Waltham housing director John Gollinger closes the door to an apartment in Prospect Terrace that is part of the city's state-funded public housing. (Todd Wallack/WBUR)Todd Wallack/WBUR

A state housing official tried to calm her fears, replying: Please try not to worry, its not our intention to bankrupt the agency.

Sullivan told WBUR she is still trying to figure out how much the agency actually paid in fines over the last four years, if anything. But it has mostly stopped accruing new fines.

Some other housing directors were not happy about the states new plans to enforce the fines.

Youre taking resources from agencies that need them to ensure a rapid turnaround. Im not sure that thats the best motivation, said Waltham housing director John Gollinger. Its not the way I would go.

State data show Waltham was fined nearly $110,000 from 2019 to 2022 (though Gollinger thinks some of the fines were errors), Gollinger said he didnt think Waltham ever paid any penalties, but wasnt certain.

They may have deducted it, he said. I dont know.

The state provided WBUR with detailed data on the assessments for each agency, but said it did not have a similar breakdown of how much each agency actually paid.

Regardless, several housing agencies that were fined said the violations were unintentional.

Gardner Housing Authority Executive Director Krishonna Murray said the waiver requests take time to file, something that becomes harder when agencies are short-staffed or dealing with a surge of vacancies due to major renovations.

She also said her agency did not realize it needed to submit waivers for vacancies related to a large electrical project, because it had already given the state separate paperwork about the work.

Ultimately, the state forgave most of the $74,000 in fines Gardner faced from 2019 to 2022.

Murray says no one likes paying fines. But she understood the need to make sure agencies request waivers for empty units.

When you have a unit sitting without a reason, she said, theres cause for concern.
Facing sharp criticism online and from her competitors, Republican presidential candidate Nikki Haley on Thursday sought to clarify her remarks on the causes of the American Civil War, which notably did not include slavery.

Of course, the Civil War was about slavery, Haley, the former governor of South Carolina, said during a town hall in the critical early primary state of New Hampshire, according to ABC News. We know that. Thats unquestioned. Always the case. We know the Civil War was about slavery.

Haley then went on to elaborate on her remarks, apparently doubling down on earlier rhetoric that positioned the war, which claimed the lives of 620,000 soldiers on either side of the conflict, as a fight for the freedoms of every individual and the role of the government.

For 80 years, America had the decision and the moral question of whether slavery was a good thing and whether government economically, culturally, any other reasons, had a role to play in. By the grace of God, we did the right thing and slavery is no more, Haley said, according to ABC News. But the lessons of what the bigger issue with the Civil War is that lets not forget what came out of that, which is governments role, individual liberties, freedom for every single person, freedom of speech, freedom of religion, freedom to do and be anything you want to be without anyone in government getting in our way.

Haley, who served as the Palmetto States governor from 2011 to 2017, sparked national headlines when she left slavery out of her answer to a question posed by a voter at a town hall on Wednesday. That response prompted the voter to say he was astonished by her answer, according to published reports.

Scholars agree that chattel slavery was the main cause of the conflict, the Washington Post reported. And Haleys answer earned her swift rebukes from Democrats and Republicans alike, including President Joe Biden.

It also gave new legs to Haleys previous comments that the war was the result of disagreements over tradition versus change, the Post reported.

Issues surrounding the origins of the Civil War and its heritage are still much of the fabric of Haleys home state, and she has been pressed on the wars origins before, according to the Associated Press.

During her 2010 gubernatorial campaign, Haley, in an interview with a now-defunct activist group then known as The Palmetto Patriots, described the war as between two disparate sides fighting for tradition and change and said the Confederate flag was not something that is racist, the Associated Press reported.

In a statement posted to X, formerly Twitter, South Carolina Democratic Party Chairperson Christale Spain said Haleys comments were vile but unsurprising.

The same person who refused to take down the Confederate Flag until the tragedy in Charleston, and tried to justify a Confederate History Month. Shes just as MAGA as [former President Donald] Trump, Spain, the first Black woman to chair the state party, wrote.

Democratic National Committee Chairperson Jaime Harrison, who chaired the South Carolina Democratic Party during Haleys tenure, said the former governors remarks were not stunning if you were a Black resident in SC when she was Governor.

Same person who said the confederate flag was about tradition & heritage and as a minority woman she was the right person to defend keeping it on state house grounds. Some may have forgotten but I havent. Time to take off the rose colored Nikki Haley glasses folks, Harrison posted to X.
By Nicholas Riccardi and Linley Sanders

WASHINGTON (AP)  With the GOP presidential primaries just about to start, many Republicans arent certain that votes will be counted correctly in their contest, as pessimism spreads about the future of both the Democratic and Republican parties, according to a new poll from The Associated Press-NORC Center for Public Affairs Research.

About one-third of Republicans say they have a great deal or quite a bit of confidence that votes in the Republican primary elections and caucuses will be counted correctly.

About three in 10 Republicans report a moderate amount of confidence, and 32% say they have only a little or none at all. In contrast, 72% of Democrats have high confidence their party will count votes accurately in its primary contests.

Democrats are also slightly more likely than Republicans to have a high level of confidence in the Republican Partys vote count being accurate.

Republicans continue to be broadly doubtful about votes being counted accurately  in the early contests or beyond them.

About one-quarter of Republicans say they have at least quite a bit of confidence that the votes in the 2024 presidential election will be counted accurately, significantly lower than Democrats. Slightly fewer than half of U.S. adults overall (46%) believe the same, which is in line with an AP-NORC poll conducted in June.

The skepticism among Republicans comes after years of former President Donald Trump falsely blaming his 2020 loss on election fraud. Federal and state election officials and Trumps own attorney general have said there is no credible evidence the election was tainted.

The former presidents allegations of fraud were also roundly rejected by courts, including by judges Trump appointed.

Nothing will be fair because the last election was rigged, said Julie Duggan, 32, of Chicago, a Trump voter, referring to 2020. I dont trust any of them at this point.

The AP-NORC poll found a widespread lack of trust in both major political parties among U.S. adults overall.

About one-quarter of U.S. adults say they have only a little confidence or none at all that both the Democratic Party and Republican Party have a fair process for selecting a presidential nominee. About half of independents have that low level of confidence in both partys processes, compared with one-quarter of Republicans and 19% of Democrats.

Slightly fewer than half of U.S. adults  46%  say they are pessimistic about the way the countrys leaders are chosen.

About half of U.S. adults are pessimistic about the future of the Republican Party, including one-third of Republicans and 45% of independents. The poll found 45% of U.S. adults are pessimistic about the future of the Democratic Party, including about one-quarter of Democrats and 41% of independents.

Former President Donald Trump listens as he speaks with reporters while in flight after a campaign rally at Waco Regional Airport in Texas on March 25. (AP Photo/Evan Vucci, File)AP

The way theyre spending our money, sending it all over the world and not protecting our people here in the United States of America, said Gary Jackson, a 65-year-old retired trucker and Republican in Boise, Idaho. Right now, Im not impressed with either party.

Christine Allen, a political independent in Gambrills, Md., sees her states last governor, Larry Hogan, a moderate Republican, as a model for the country. But Hogan refused to run in the GOP presidential primary, which she sees as emblematic of how the two-party system prevents talented leaders from holding office,

Everybody right now is a bunch of children, stomping their feet until they get their way, Allen, 44, said. Everybodys at fault here. Theres no winners.

Nonetheless, Allen thinks the primaries will be fair. Theyre fairer than the Electoral College, she said.

Even those who identify with the two political parties are uneasy about whom their organizations will nominate.

A recent AP-NORC poll found that Democrats and Republicans are also not especially confident that their partys primary contests will result in a candidate who can win the general election in November. Additionally, there are some doubts on both sides that the emerging candidates will represent their partys views or Americans overall.

Only three in 10 Democrats say they are confident the Democratic partys process will result in a candidate whose views represent most Americans. About one-quarter of Democrats believe the process will produce a candidate whose views represent their own.

Similarly, about three in 10 Republicans say the GOP process will produce a candidate who represents a majority of Americans. About one-third of Republicans expect theyll get a nominee whose views represent their own.

Mark Richards, a 33-year-old middle school teacher in Toledo, Ohio, and a Democrat, said he expects President Joe Biden will be nominated again by the party, despite his low job approval numbers. The incumbent faces only token opposition in the Democratic presidential primary.

I feel like theres got to be someone better out there, but I dont think another Democrat is going to unseat Joe Biden, Richards said.

Though Richards thinks the primaries will be fair and the votes accurately counted, he sees the nominating system as inherently flawed. Its all about money, who can get the most money from PACs and Super PACs, he said, referring to political committees that donate to candidates or spend millions of dollars on their behalf.

The poll of 1,074 adults was conducted Nov. 30Dec. 4, 2023, using a sample drawn from NORCs probability-based AmeriSpeak Panel, designed to represent the U.S. population. The margin of sampling error for all respondents is plus or minus 4%.
In the Turkish province of Sakarya, two citizens of Ukraine were injured as a result of an accident; they received the necessary medical care, Spokesman of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine Oleh Nikolenko said.

"As a result of an accident in the Turkish province of Sakarya, two Ukrainian women were injured. There are no threats to their lives. The victims received the necessary medical care," Nikolenko told Interfax-Ukraine on Thursday.

The Consulate General of Ukraine in Istanbul provides consular assistance to injured citizens, and also interacts with the provincial security department and the gendarmerie command to clarify all the circumstances of the accident.
A BUSINESS voucher scheme launched to boost businesses in South Mayo has generated over 1 million in sales.

Ninety-eight businesses in Ballinrobe and the surrounding areas have benefitted from the Lakes Card, which was launched in 2020 to support local businesses during the Covid-19 pandemic.

Lakes Card vouchers can only be redeemed at businesses in the South Mayo area which have signed up for the scheme.

Announcing the milestone of 1 million in sales in Devour Bakery in Ballinrobe on Facebook, former Chairman of Ballinrobe Community Development Council, Pat Donnellan, said the Lakes Card had gone far beyond our expectations.

Local businessman Richard Burke, who runs M&B Dry Cleaners, thanked all the local businesses who had given their support to the Lakes Card.

Its huge what it has done for town to keep the money local, said Mr Burke.

We know probably the guts of half a million of these vouchers would have gone to the multinationals. This money is staying in Ballinrobe, in South Mayo, in Cong, in Cross, in Clonbur. Were all benefitting from this, so I just wanted to say thanks to everyone. It has made a huge difference to town, and it has kept small shops going in January and February when there is nothing else.

Davy Walsh, a member of the Lakes Card Committee, hailed the phenomenal effort made by local businesses in supporting the Lakes Card scheme.

Cornamona-based ECC Timber has already given out 500,000 worth of Lakes Cards as staff rewards since 2020.

Local county councillor Michael Burke described the 1 million in sales as a fantastic figure.

It will be spent in our community, in the broader community, not just Ballinrobe. Its all in our locality and in striking distance of the town, said Cllr Burke.

A small little committee came together in 2020 and they said they hoped to raise about 100,000 a year as a target. Were at a multiple of that at this stage and I think its just a fantastic achievement for the town and for the people involved.

It goes back to the old adage of John F Kennedys words in a different way. Ask not what your town can do for you, ask what you can do for it. I think thats what its all about.

Lakes Cards can be purchased from Martin Murphy Newsagent and Jewellers in Ballinrobe.
A programme rich in music, comedy and theatre, has been carefully crafted by the Linenhall Arts Centre team in Castlebar, resulting in an exciting start to 2024 for local audiences.

On January 20, Ronan O Snodaigh and Myles O'Reilly showcase the fruits of their second album 'The Beautiful Road', a soulful blend of folk and traditional in an ambient crossover. Founding member and lead vocalist of Kila, O Snodaigh is a songwriter, composer, musician and poet. Myles O'Reilly, musician and prolific video and filmmaker, has worked with artists such as Lisa Hannigan, Glen Hansard, Villagers and James Vincent McMorrow. Together, their distinctive sound and devoted friendship make for a truly magic live show.

Andy Irvine brings his sensational repertoire of Irish traditional songs, dexterous Balkan dance tunes and a compelling canon of his own self-penned songs to the Linenhall on February 2, following an extensive tour of Australia. Esteemed solo artist, and member of legendary Irish groups such as Planxty, Patrick Street and more recently Mozaik, Irvines music prowess even encompasses that of the bouzouki.

To the stage, wonders await. Set in the near future, step into a parallel universe created by Little John Nee on February 7 for a midweek escape at Nettle Horse, a transformative theatrical odyssey weaving storytelling, song, and satire.

The internationally acclaimed, Olivier award winning dream team of Fishamble and Pat Kinevane, return to the Linenhall with their fifth solo theatre collaboration on Wednesday, February 21. King tells the story of Luther, a man from Cork named in honour of his Granny Bee Baws hero, Dr Martin Luther King Jr, who only leaves his apartment for essential journeys, and to perform as an Elvis impersonator.

Best known for hit shows 'King Gary', 'The Curse', 'Murder In Successville', 'Live At The Apollo' and his hugely popular podcast 'Wolf and Owl' with Romesh Ranganathan, Tom Davis embarks on his biggest tour yet, with new show Underdog. On Saturday, February 17 join Davis as he explores life as the longshot, on this first night of electric live comedy in 2024.

Additional upcoming performances include Solas Quartet on January 17 for fans of the classical genre. Experience choral bliss with Cill Aodain Choral Society, the community based choir from Kiltimagh and surrounds, with special guest tenor Cathal Gavin on January 10 and 11.

View the Linenhalls line-up for the spring season and beyond, on their website www.thelinenhall.com or pick up a copy of the latest print programme when the Arts Centre reopens on January 2, 2024.
Russia stations three launch vessels in Black Sea with possible total salvo of 16 missiles

The Russian Navy has put three Kalibr cruise missile carriers on combat duty in the Black Sea with a possible total salvo of 16 missiles, the Defense Forces of southern Ukraine has reported.

"The enemy has put three missile carriers on combat duty in the Black Sea: two submarines and the frigate Admiral Makarov. The total salvo of Kalibrs can reach 16 missiles," the Defense Forces of Southern Ukraine said on the Telegram channel on Thursday.
by Laurie Sullivan @lauriesullivan, December 27, 2023

Several months after Microsoft made a commitment to legally back users of its products infused by artificial intelligence (AI) training data, The New York Times on Wednesday announced it had filed a lawsuit against Microsoft and OpenAI, the creator of ChatGPT.

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The NYT copyright infringement lawsuit, which the publication could use as a bargaining chip for a long-term content deal, claimed that OpenAI copied millions of its articles to train the large language models (LLMs) that power ChatGPT and Microsoft Copilot without permission.

The copyright fight is just getting started. It may have begun with books, authors, musicians, and artists. Now in the hands of publishers, the media industry will start to see lucrative deals inked. Companies borrowing the data to train models have largely thought of it as using the information based on the U.S. "fair use" doctrine.

Training data has become increasingly valuable. After all, Microsoft and Google integrate the information from publishers into their respective products for a variety of reasons, including serving up snippets into Google Search and Microsoft Bing search results, which compete with the New York Times for a source of information.

OpenAI and Microsoft should be liable for billions of dollars in damages, according to the NYT, which is seeking compensation likely either through the lawsuit or a licensing deal. This is something that publishers this year added to a list of grievances when considering journalistic content, images and other content to which search engines have access.

Microsoft in October announced a Copilot Copyright commitment for customers using its products infused with AI. The commitment extended its existing intellectual property indemnity support to commercial Copilot services and builds on its previous AI Customer Commitments.

The commitment from Microsoft states that if a third party sues a commercial customer for copyright infringement for using Microsofts Copilots or the output they generate, we will defend the customer and pay the amount of any adverse judgments or settlements that result from the lawsuit, as long as the customer used the guardrails and content filters" Microsoft has built into its products.

The New York Times's complaint demonstrates the value of quality journalism to AI developers, News/Media Alliance President and CEO Danielle Coffey stated in a release. These companies repurpose and monetize news content, competing with the very industry they are benefiting from.

A white paper analysis commissioned by the Alliance and released in October acknowledges the heavy reliance on journalistic and creative content by AI training models. The findings, according to the Alliance, support a legal claim found in The New York Times complaint.

AI requires a lot of data to train models. The consequences for Microsoft, OpenAI, and others such as Google will include financial compensation to publishers.



OpenAI signed a multiyear deal with Axel Springer earlier this month to use news stories to help train its AI models. Under the agreement, OpenAI will pay to use content to populate its AI models from Axel Springer publications, which include Politico and Business Insider in the U.S. and European properties Bild and Welt.

Apple reportedly has begun negotiations with major news publishers over permission to use their content as the technology company develops its own generative artificial intelligence (GAI) platforms.

The iPhone maker wants to secure multiyear deals worth at least $50 million to license the archives of news articles, according to the New York Times report, which cited people familiar with the discussions.
by Richard Whitman , Columnist, December 27, 2023

Widely-read stories in MADs Mediapsssst column over the past year were all over the Adland map.

Readers were particularly fascinated with the sale early in the year of Cincinnati-based media agency Empower, which took outsiders (at least) by surprise. The ensuing culture clash and exodus of many of the agencys veterans also commanded a lot of industry attention.

advertisement advertisement Stories about return-to-work mandates also proved to be of great interest, including a November piece about how the mandates were driving employee churn.

Twitter advertising stories were also a big draw including this one. Its no secret that the company has struggled to retain advertisers since Elon Musk acquired the platform in late 2022.

Readers are always drawn to stories about big account switches and Papa Johns was among them this year. The pizza giant selected Dentsus Carat as its new media agency in November and switched to The Martin Agency for creative earlier this month.

Agency branding commanded attention including this effort by Starcom, its first brand identity and positioning makeover in two decades.

Stories about new agencies also attracted a lot of reader interest including this piece about a new full-service media agency that IPGs UM is reportedly gestating. When news broke early in the year about the effort, UM had put a jobs bulletin on LinkedIn seeking talent for the new shop. But UM declined to comment and there is still no word about a launch.
by Wendy Davis @wendyndavis, December 27, 2023

Citing national security concerns, the head of the Senate Intelligence Committee is urging the Supreme Court to strike down an injunction that could prevent government officials from discussing controversial subjects -- including issues surrounding elections -- with social media platforms.

Any injunction here would prevent or limit the governments ability to communicate with social media companies and would leave the United States vulnerable to attack, Senator Mark Warner (D-Virginia) writes in a friend-of-the-court brief filed Tuesday with the Supreme Court.

Warner adds that the injunction could prevent U.S. officials from combatting efforts by other countries to tamper with elections, as famously occurred in 2016, when Russia used social media to spread fake information, suppress voting, and sow discord over social issues.

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Foreign malign influence campaigns have grown in number, scope, and sophistication since 2016, and any progress gained through improved threat sharing processes may be entirely lost if the injunction is not lifted, Warner argues.

He adds that even though the injunction has been temporarily halted, its effect is still being felt.

Real-time private engagement between frontline government officials and social media companies is now effectively impossible, as any communication by the former must be laboriously scrutinized, he writes.

His filing comes in a battle dating to last year, when attorneys general in Louisiana and Missouri, and several individuals, claimed in a lawsuit that the federal government wrongly pressured social media platforms to remove posts relating to topics including COVID-19, vaccines, and the results of the 2020 elections. The plaintiffs argued that federal officials violated the First Amendment by wrongly pressuring tech platforms to censor disfavored speakers and viewpoints.

U.S. District Court Judge Terry Doughty in Monroe, Louisiana, sided with the plaintiffs and on July 4 issued a broad injunction prohibiting a numerous federal agencies and officials from attempting to persuade social media platforms to take down posts that are protected by the First Amendment.

The administration appealed Doughty's order to the 5th Circuit, which narrowed the injunction, but still prohibits officials in the White House, Surgeon General's office, Federal Bureau of Investigation and Centers for Disease Control from attempting to coerce or significantly encourage a platforms content-moderation decisions.

The Supreme Court temporarily halted the injunction in September, but hasn't yet considered whether to permanently set it aside.

The White House recently argued to the Supreme Court that the injunction, if allowed to take effect, would impose grave harms on the government and the public because it could chill vital governmental communications.

Attorneys general from 22 states and the District of Columbia are also asking the Supreme Court to permanently lift the injunction. They argue in a separate friend-of-the-court brief that government officials don't violate the First Amendment merely by expressing opinions about content moderation decisions.

Maintaining open lines of communication between the government and social-media companies on topics such as extremist violence, child safety, and consumer protection is mutually beneficial, furthers the public interest, and fully comports with the First Amendment, they argue.

Communication between government and social-media companies contributes to important public discourse, can be persuasive without being coercive, and is frequently mutually beneficial, they add.
by Wendy Davis @wendyndavis, December 28, 2023

Meta Platforms on Wednesday pressed its argument that the Federal Trade Commission's structure, including the way it conducts in-house enforcement actions, is unconstitutional.

The Commissions dual role as prosecutor and judge ... is flatly inconsistent with fundamental principles of due process, Meta argues in papers filed with U.S. District Court Judge Randolph Moss in Washington, D.C.

The company is seeking an injunction to halt an in-house proceeding that could result in an FTC order banning Meta from monetizing minors' data.

The conflict inherent in the Commissions dual role has materialized in the form of a long history of biased administrative adjudication resulting in an unbroken, decades-long string of home-turf victories which contrasts starkly with the Commissions struggling record in judicial actions before neutral adjudicators, Meta writes. The company elaborates that in 2023, the FTC failed to convince judges to rule in its favor in several high profile lawsuits -- including ones aimed at preventing Meta's acquisition of virtual fitness app Supernatural.

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This current battle between the FTC and Meta dates to May, when the agency sought to modify a 2020 privacy settlement. That deal, which largely stemmed from allegations that Meta allowed Cambridge Analytica to obtain users' data, required Meta to pay $5 billion, implement new privacy oversight and obtain independent privacy assessments.

In May, the FTC initiated a proceeding to add new settlement terms -- including ones banning Meta from using minors' data to fuel ad targeting or algorithms, and prohibiting the company from launching new products without an assessor's confirmation that Meta's privacy program has no gaps or weaknesses.

The FTC alleged at the time that Meta's Messenger Kids had coding errors that allowed children to communicate with people who hadn't been approved by parents. The commission also said an independent assessor identified several gaps and weaknesses in Meta's privacy program. The agency contended that those glitches violated the federal children's privacy law, and justified revisions to the 2020 order.

When the FTC proposed the modifications, it demanded that Meta appear at an administrative hearing -- meaning an in-house FTC hearing -- at which the agency itself would decide whether to revise the terms.

Meta opposed that request on several grounds. First, the company argued that the 2020 had been approved by a judge, and therefore could only be modified by a judge. U.S. District Court Judge Timothy Kelly rejected that argument, ruling that he lacked jurisdiction over the settlement conditions. Meta is currentlyu appealing that ruling to the D.C. Circuit Court of Appeals.

Last month, Meta filed a separate lawsuit claiming that the FTC's structure is unconstitutional.

The FTC recently urged Moss to dismiss that lawsuit for several reasons. Among others, the agency says Meta waived its argument about the FTC's constitutionality by agreeing on previous occasions to enter into settlements.

Over the past decade, Meta has repeatedly admitted that the FTC may lawfully enter and modify administrative orders, and has repeatedly taken actions inconsistent with the constitutional arguments Meta now asserts, the agency wrote.

Meta disputes that interpretation.

Meta agreed to settle two prior actions with the Commission, agreeing to forgo its defenses -- both on the merits of the Commissions claims and the Commissions authority to assert them -- as part of larger compromises, the company writes. Now that the agency, for the first time, is no longer acting on an agreed basis, Meta is properly and lawfully exercising its right to assert a going forward structural challenge.
At about 11:40 on Thursday, December 28, the Russian occupiers fired artillery at the shoreline of the Dnipro River in the village of Belenke, Zaporizhia district, head of Zaporizhia Regional Military Administration Yuriy Malashko has reported.

"As a result of the shelling by Russian terrorists, two civilian men were killed and three more were injured. The explosion damaged the car," Malashko wrote on the Telegram channel.
Yi Sun-sin. Image: Alamy

When we think of great naval commanders, we immediately think of Horatio Nelson. He fought 13 battles, winning eight.

Admiral Yi Sun-sin (1545-1598) fought 23 battles against the Japanese invaders of Korea between 1592 and 1598, and won every one of them without losing a single ship. In 14 of these battles, moreover, not a single Japanese ship survived.

Yet Yi Sun-sin was an amateur: he had no formal naval training of any kind.

Japans greatest admiral, Heihachiro Togo, the victor of Tsushima, said: It may be proper to compare me to Nelson, but not to Koreas Yi Sun-sin. He is too great to be compared to anyone.

While conducting his campaigns, Admiral Yi got virtually no support from his colleagues or the Korean court. Even worse, he was demoted to the ranks more than once on trumped-up charges due to the intrigues of jealous rivals.

How was he able to accomplish so much, and why was Japan unable to defeat him, even though it won nearly every land battle fought at the same time?



EARLY MODERN TRANSFORMATION

Use of the term military revolution to describe developments in warfare between 1500 and 1800 has been in question for many years. Yet however we describe it  and perhaps revolution is too strong a term for such a protracted, evolutionary process  the advent of gunpowder, the growing size and professionalism of armed forces, the increasing application of science to the military art, notably in fortification and sieges, these and other changes represented radical transformation.

The men who fought at Hastings in 1066 would have understood the battlefield of Bosworth in 1485. They would have been mightily impressed by the quality of the armour, and no doubt disconcerted by the firepower of bombards and hand-guns, but they would have been familiar with the scale and tactics of the battle.

But place the men of Bosworth on the battlefield of Waterloo (1815), Blenheim (1704), or even Naseby (1645), and they would have been confounded.

Between 1500 and 1800, armies of thousands had become armies of tens of thousands, bill and bow and given way to horse and musket, the feudal retinue had been replaced by highly drilled battalions of professionals, and living off the land had given way to complex logistical chains.

The transformation at sea was no less complete. Medieval naval battles had taken the form of land battles, fleets packed with cohorts of heavily armed men bumping into contact and then slugging it out on the gangplanks and upper decks. Even the ram  whose successful use required subtle manoeuvre  was in abeyance in the medieval period.

But as early as the late 16th century, cannon had acquired such power that it became possible to blast enemy ships from a distance until they sank or struck their colours.

The distances were still short. Even in Nelsons time, broadsides had to be delivered at thousand yards or less to be effective, and the closer the better. But what a difference this was. Ships were now floating gun-platforms, not troop-carriers.

All this is very familiar to English-speaking military historians. Much more obscure  because of the language barrier between Western and Eastern scholars  is the military revolution under way on the opposite shores of Eurasia, where Japanese, Chinese, and Korean warfare was also being transformed by gunpowder.

THE TURTLE SHIP

Building the Turtle Ship. Image: Alamy

Koreas secret weapon was the kobukson (turtle ship), invented in 1413. When King Taejong (1401-1418) saw them fighting Japanese pirates in 1415, he realised their potential: While turtle ships can infiltrate and attack enemy vessels, the enemy cannot effect harm on the assaulting ships.

The Japanese called them blind ships, because they fought as fearlessly as a blind warrior. There were never more than six in use at one time.

After more than 150 years of peace, they had fallen out of use. Fortunately, the building method was still known to the great shipbuilder Na Tae-yong. Under Yi, he began constructing a fleet of them with little time to spare. The first new turtle ship was finished on 12 April 1592. The very next day, the Japanese invasion began.

Turtle ships were 34.2m long, 10.3m wide, and 6.4m high. They were armed with up to 26 cannon, with six gun ports on each side. At the prow was a dragons head. Through its mouth could be fired cannonballs, flames, or sulphur smoke-clouds.

The Koreans had been using cannon against Japanese pirates since 1380. They came in four sizes: heaven, earth, black, and yellow. To prevent boarding, the ships had a roof of iron spikes hidden by straw mats.

The Koreans could see out, but the Japanese could not see in. There were two decks. On the lower deck were 80 oarsmen, with eight oars on either side, each with a leader and four rowers. Usually oars and sails were used in combination, but in battle the sails were lowered. On the upper deck were 45 archers and gunners.

The failure of the Japanese navy against the turtle ship resembles the defeat of the Spanish Armada by English warships in 1588. Like Spanish galleons, the Japanese ships were used as floating castles, holding as many soldiers as possible for amphibious warfare. Their preferred method of combat was grappling and boarding enemy ships.

Both Japanese and Spanish ships were top-heavy, which limited their manoeuvrability and firepower. Japans ships could carry only two or three cannon each, as the recoil from more would have capsized them.

By contrast, the Korean and English ships were designed for naval instead of amphibious warfare. Their purpose was the destruction of enemy ships with concentrated firepower. Their sleeker design meant they could carry more cannon.

Thus, Yi used innovative tactics and superior ships to tear the heart out of the Japanese fleets he encountered, and destroyed any chance they might have had of supplying their forces in the north of Korea.

Within a matter of weeks, Yi engineered one of the most startling reversals of fortune in all military history. Lacking supplies and reinforcements, there was no way Japanese commander Hideyoshi could maintain his offensive and go on to invade China.

Ming Chinese soldiers intervened against the invaders, too. The Japanese were forced to halt their advance in 1593, retreating back down the peninsula to forts along the southern coast. Korea had been saved.

Edmund West

This is an extract from a 17-page special feature on the Golden Age of the Korean Navy, published in the May 2019 issue of Military History Matters.

To read the full analysis, get a copy of the issue from your local Barnes & Noble or W H Smith, or click here to subscribe to the magazine and have it sent straight to your door every month.






A former Marine lance corporal who refused the COVID-19 vaccine and was kicked out of the service returned to her former Japan-based duty station in an apparent act of civil disobedience and was arrested by police earlier this month for alleged trespassing.

Catherine Arnett, 25, was separated from the Marine Corps after spending 113 days in pre-trial confinement awaiting court-martial for allegedly refusing orders to board a plane to the United States, among other charges that were dropped by the Marine Corps earlier this year.

According to Stars and Stripes, which first reported the arrest, Arnett was transferred from American military police to Japanese authorities on Dec. 1 after attempting to enter her former duty station, Marine Corps Air Station Iwakuni, at 2:30 a.m. local time. She was released from custody nearly two weeks ago, according to the publication.

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Military.com spoke to Jamie Engel, who said she was Arnett's "acting secretary." Several pictures of the two posing together were posted to social media. Arnett did not respond to Military.com's inquiry via Facebook Messenger.

Engel said she had not heard from Arnett since her reported release earlier this month.

Engel's last contact with Arnett was through the American embassy in Japan around Dec. 8 when she received a letter apparently from Arnett, she said. The U.S. consulate in Fukuoka, Japan, did not respond to the publication's inquiries, and Engel declined to provide direct emails from the embassy.

"She wanted to stand on principle that everything -- her discharge  everything was illegal because the basis of her even facing retaliation was because of an unlawful order," Engel said, adding that Arnett did not accept her separation orders and believed herself to remain on active duty "on principle."

Arnett originally faced an administrative separation for refusing the vaccine last year. After defying orders to board a plane at least three times, she was ordered to pre-trial confinement. The Marine Corps eventually dropped all charges against her, which included missing a military flight and disobeying an order from an officer; she received a general discharge under honorable conditions, according to Stars and Stripes.

When asked about her arrest, the Marine Corps referred Military.com's inquiries to Japanese authorities.

"Catherine Arnett was separated from the United States Marine Corps several months ago and has since had no official affiliation with the service," 1st Lt. Aaron Ellis, a spokesperson for MCAS Iwakuni, told Military.com in an emailed statement Dec. 13. "Since Catherine Arnett is a civilian and was not in military custody, we do not have any additional information."

Ellis said that all unauthorized entries of U.S. military installations in Japan are punishable under local law.

Stars and Stripes reported that Arnett was detained by military police on suspicion of violating the status of forces agreement between the U.S. and Japan.

"BRUH, like incarceration here in Japan was ONLY the natural trajectory of this entire ordeal starting in September 2021," a statement provided by Engel from Arnett began, alluding to the federal government's mandate for all of its employees to receive the COVID-19 vaccine.

Earlier this year, the Defense Department rescinded the mandate. In October, it was ordered by a Florida District Court Judge to pay $1.8 million in legal fees as settlement for two lawsuits that challenged the order, though plaintiffs did not receive any of the money, Military.com reported.

Arnett said anyone who willingly separated from the military after refusing the COVID-19 vaccine was "verifiably a coward." According to the letter, Arnett believes she was subject to "religious and intellectual persecution" for refusing the vaccine and encouraged others to "formulate their own ideations" about how to civilly disobey.

Related: Pentagon Drops COVID-19 Vaccine Mandate for Troops
WASHINGTON -- The U.S. on Wednesday announced what officials say could be the final package of military aid to Ukraine unless Congress approves supplemental funding legislation that is stalled on Capitol Hill.

The weapons, worth up to $250 million, include an array of air munitions and other missiles, artillery, anti-armor systems, ammunition, demolition and medical equipment and parts. The aid, provided through the Presidential Drawdown Authority, will be pulled from Pentagon stockpiles.

In a statement, Marine Lt. Col. Garron Garn, a Pentagon spokesman said there is no more funding to replace the weapons taken from department stocks. And the Ukraine Security Assistance Initiative, which provides long-term funding for future weapons contracts, is also out of money.

As a result, Garn said Wednesday, "Without the supplemental funding, there will be a shortfall in replenishing U.S. military stocks, affecting American military readiness."

President Joe Biden is urging Congress to pass a $110 billion aid package for Ukraine, Israel and other national security needs. It includes $61.4 billion for Ukraine, with about half to replenish Pentagon stocks. It also includes about $14 billion for Israel as it fights Hamas and $14 billion for U.S. border security. Other funds would go for security needs in the Asia-Pacific.

Due to an accounting error that overvalued some of the weapons sent to Ukraine over the past year or more, there is still about $4.2 billion in restored drawdown authority. But since the Pentagon has no money to replenish inventory sent to Kyiv, the department will have to "rigorously assess" any future aid and its implications on the U.S. military's ability to protect America, Garn said.

This is the 54th tranche of military aid taken from department shelves and sent to Ukraine, and it is similar in size and contents to many of the other recent packages.

U.S. defense and government leaders have argued that the weapons are critical for Ukraine to maintain its defense and continue efforts to mount an offensive against Russian forces during the winter months.

In a Pentagon briefing last week, Air Force Maj. Gen. Pat Ryder noted the recent letter that the Defense Department comptroller sent to Congress warning that the U.S. will be using up the last of its replenishment funds by the end of the year.

"Once those funds are obligated, we will have exhausted the funding available for us to provide security assistance to Ukraine," said Ryder, the Pentagon press secretary. "We would, again, continue to urge the passage of the supplemental that we've submitted. ... It is imperative that we have the funds needed to ensure that they get the most urgent battlefield capabilities that they require."

The latest aid package comes as the war in Ukraine drags on into its 22nd month. Russia fired almost 50 Shahed drones at targets in Ukraine and shelled a train station in the southern city of Kherson where more than 100 civilians were gathered to catch a train to Kyiv. And a day earlier, Ukrainian warplanes damaged a Russian ship moored in the Black Sea off Crimea as soldiers on both sides are struggling to make much progress along the front lines.
Cases of sexual assault and some other serious crimes in the military will now officially be handled by independent prosecutors instead of commanders.

The so-called special trial counsel offices for each of the military services became fully operational Thursday, complying with a congressional mandate to remove prosecutorial decisions for 13 serious offenses from the chain of command.

"This shift should assure sexual assault victims that if they choose to make an unrestricted report, the case will be handled professionally and consistently with the best practices and procedures of civilian prosecution offices," a senior defense official told reporters on a recent call previewing Thursday's announcement. Officials on the call spoke on condition of anonymity under ground rules set by the Pentagon.

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Two years ago, after almost a decade of efforts by advocates, Congress mandated the creation of special trial counsel offices with the goal of combating sexual assault by eliminating commanders' influence on prosecutions and bringing the military justice system more in line with civilian courts. Congress set a two-year deadline for the offices to be up and running.

Advocates and lawmakers who supported the changes argued that commanders were not impartial decision-makers and at times appeared hesitant to take up cases that could end careers of service members they were close to.

For years, the Pentagon had resisted removing any prosecutions from the chain of command, arguing that doing so could undermine good order and discipline. But after flailing efforts to eradicate sexual assault in the ranks, Pentagon officials backed independent prosecutors for certain crimes, paving the way for Congress' action.

The special trial counsel offices will now be in charge of prosecuting cases of sexual assault, revenge porn, murder, manslaughter, sexual assault of a child, kidnapping, domestic violence, stalking, retaliation, child pornography, sexual misconduct, death or injury of an unborn child, and use of the mail to send obscene material. In 2025, sexual harassment will be added to the list of crimes under their purview.

Even before the formal launch of the offices, the reform that was hailed as a sea change in the way the military will approach sexual assault has been marred by controversy. Earlier this month, the Army fired the prosecutor originally appointed to lead its special trial counsel office after a 2013 email surfaced in which he appeared to disparage sexual assault survivors.

The episode led survivors' advocates to question whether ingrained bias in the military is hampering the reform effort, but military officials have downplayed any concerns about the firing and what it might say about the services.

"Like any sort of unexpected change, this has been a test of our resiliency as an organization, but I'm happy to say we've passed that test with flying colors," a senior Army official told reporters on the call. "Just to be clear, there's been no impact on our ability to begin exercising independent authority on Dec. 28 and start doing our jobs."

Officials from each of the services indicated there has been no change in vetting for prosecutors since the Army firing, with the process entailing the normal promotions board and Senate confirmation system.

Each military service has appointed a lead special trial counsel and set up field offices at several bases around the country and abroad. Brig. Gen. Kevin Woodard is the lead Marine Corps prosecutor, Rear Adm. Jonathan Stephens is the Navy's, and Brig. Gen. Christopher Brown is the Air Force's. After the Army firing, Col. Robert Rodrigues is leading the Army office on an acting basis.

The Army has 65 prosecutors in its special trial counsel office, the Navy has 47 prosecutors, the Marines have 33 and the Air Force has 40, senior officials for each of the services told reporters.

With the exception of the Navy, every prosecutor has been certified as a special trial counsel, meaning they underwent training in handling the specific crimes carved out under the new process. In the Navy, 24 of its prosecutors have been certified and will act as senior litigators, while the rest will assist on cases, a senior service official said. The Navy expects another 10 of its prosecutors will be certified by the summer, the official added.

Each certified prosecutor for all the services is expected to handle about eight to 12 courts-martial per year and about 50 criminal investigations overall, the service officials said.

While Thursday marks the official opening of the offices, prosecutors have been providing advice on some cases while the offices were set up. They are expected to continue consulting on those cases, but officials do not anticipate they will take over leading the prosecution if a case is already far along.

Recognizing that sexual assault survivors sometimes don't feel comfortable reporting the assault until years later or that serial abusers can have crimes that span years, the special trial counsel offices will have the authority to "reach back" and prosecute alleged crimes that happened before Thursday, officials said. The special trial counsel offices may also choose to take up some cases that were reported before Thursday if they are still in preliminary stages.

"We are making decisions based on the facts, on the evidence and unencumbered by perhaps some of the pressures or concerns that senior commanders might feel," the senior Army official said. "There's no concern for our careers about which cases we send forward or don't send forward. We're just interested in achieving justice."

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On June 3, 1944, her 21st birthday, Maureen Flavin's reading of the gauges in the combination weather station, post office and lighthouse in Blacksod, Ireland, told her that a westerly storm was building over the Atlantic and would likely make a mess of the English Channel on June 5, 1944.

Unknown to Flavin, who would later marry the lighthouse keeper and become Maureen Sweeney, her weather readings as sub-postmistress in Blacksod went to a central office in Dublin and from there to London and the Supreme Headquarters Allied Expeditionary Force, or SHAEF, commanded by Gen. Dwight D. Eisenhower.

Sweeney's weather dispatch from the lighthouse was a crucial warning to Eisenhower, convincing him to change the date of the D-Day invasion and potentially saving the Allies' war effort in Europe. She passed away at age 100 on Dec. 17 at a nursing home in County Kerry, Ireland, where she was born.

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Ireland was a neutral nation during World War II, but the government of Eamon de Valera had agreed to share weather information with the Allies. The information from Sweeney in County Mayo, the first spotting of the storm, touched off a near-panic at SHAEF.

Frantic messages came back to Blacksod on Ireland's West Coast saying "please check  please repeat," Sweeney would later recall in an interview with RTE, the Irish public broadcaster.

There was a follow-up phone call from "a lady with a distinct British accent" who asked her again to "please check, please repeat." She said, "We began to look at the figures again. We checked and rechecked."

Sweeney's forecast was given top priority and reached Group Capt. James Stagg of the Royal Air Force, who was Eisenhower's chief weather officer. More than 180,000 Allied troops, 11,000 aircraft and 7,000 ships and landing craft were assembled in England for an invasion of Normandy that Eisenhower had planned for June 5.

Stagg shared Sweeney's belief that a storm would hit the English Channel on June 5 but told Eisenhower that there would be a "window" over the Channel on June 6 that would allow the D-Day landings to proceed.

In her RTE interview, Sweeney said that "the invasion would have been a complete disaster" if Eisenhower had given the "go" signal on June 5, and historians have agreed with her assessment. "There they were with thousands of aircraft, and they couldn't tolerate low cloud," she said.

Sweeney was hailed in the Irish newspapers as an example of the little-known figure whose simple performance of duty can have historic consequences.

"Irishwoman Whose Weather Forecast Changed D-Day Landing Date Dies Aged 100," said the headline in the Irish Times. The Irish Mirror headline called Sweeney the "Mayo Woman Who Changed Course of World War II."

In June 2021, Sweeney was honored with a citation from the U.S. House of Representatives that was presented in a ceremony at her nursing home, the Irish Times reported.

Rep. Jack Bergman, R-Mich., who sponsored the citation but was not at the ceremony, wrote on June 6, 2021, the 77th anniversary of the D-Day landings, that Sweeney's "skill and professionalism were crucial in ensuring Allied victory, and her legacy will live on for generations to come."

In his address at the ceremony, Vincent Sweeney, Maureen Sweeney's son and now the lighthouse keeper at Blacksod Point, said of his mother that he was "happy that she got it right" in the forecast that warned Eisenhower off launching the invasion on June 5.

"The main thing was that she got the forecast right," the D-Day landings went ahead on June 6, and the Nazis were defeated. "We could be wearing jackboots, if you like," if his mother had gotten the forecast wrong, Vincent Sweeney said.

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DEIR AL-BALAH, Gaza Strip  Israeli forces bombarded cities, towns and refugee camps across Gaza overnight and into Thursday, killing dozens of people in a widening air and ground offensive against Hamas that has forced thousands more to flee from homes and shelters in recent days.

The war has already killed over 20,000 Palestinians and driven around 85% of the population of 2.3 million from their homes. Much of northern Gaza has been leveled, and it has been largely depopulated and isolated from the rest of the territory for weeks. Many fear a similar fate awaits the south as Israel expands its offensive to most of the tiny enclave.

Israel has vowed to dismantle Hamas  which is still putting up stiff resistance, even in the north  and bring back more than 100 hostages still held by the militants after their Oct. 7 attack into southern Israel, in which some 1,200 people, mostly civilians, were killed.

Israeli officials have brushed off international calls for a cease-fire  saying it would amount to a victory for Hamas.

The United States  while providing crucial support for the offensive  has urged Israel to take greater measures to spare civilians and allow in more aid. But humanitarian workers say the amount of food, fuel and medical supplies entering is still far below what is needed, and 1 in 4 Palestinians in Gaza are starving, according to U.N. officials.

Strikes from North to South

An Israeli airstrike on a home in the northern town of Beit Lahiyeh  one of the first targets of the ground invasion that began in October  buried at least 21 people, including women and children, according to a family member.

Bassel Kheir al-Din, a journalist with a local TV station, said the strike flattened his family house and severely damaged three neighboring homes. He said 12 members of his family  including three children aged 2, 7 and 8  were buried and presumed dead, and that nine neighbors were missing.

In central Gaza, Israeli warplanes and artillery pounded the built-up Bureij and Nuseirat refugee camps, leveling buildings, residents said. Israel said this week it would expand its ground offensive into central Gaza, and typically launches waves of airstrikes and shelling before troops and tanks move in.

A hospital in the nearby town of Deir al-Balah received the bodies of 25 people killed overnight, including five children and seven women, hospital records showed on Thursday. Nonstop explosions could be heard throughout the night in the town  where hundreds of thousands of people have sought shelter, with many spending cold nights sleeping on sidewalks.

It was another night of killing and massacres, said Saeed Moustafa, a resident of the Nuseirat camp. He said people were still crying out from the rubble of a house hit by an airstrike on Wednesday.

We are unable to get them out. We hear their screams but we dont have equipment," he said.

Farther south, in Khan Younis, the Palestinian Red Crescent said a strike near its Al-Amal Hospital killed at least 10 people and wounded another 12. Much of the citys population has left, but many are sheltering near Al-Amal and another hospital, hoping they will be spared from the bombardment.

Another wave of displacement

Rami Abu Mosab, who lives in the Bureij refugee camp, said thousands of people have fled their homes in recent days because of the intense bombardment. He plans to remain there because he doesn't feel that anywhere in Gaza is safe.

Here is death and there is death, he said, To die in your home is better.

Bureij and Nuseirat are among several camps across the region that were built to house hundreds of thousands of Palestinian refugees from the 1948 war surrounding Israel's creation. They have since grown into crowded residential neighborhoods.

Some 700,000 Palestinian fled or were driven from their homes during that conflict, an exodus the Palestinians refer to as the Nakba, or catastrophe. Some 1.9 million have been displaced within Gaza since Oct. 7.

As Israel has broadened its offensive, fleeing Palestinians have packed into areas along the Egyptian border and the southern Mediterranean coastline, where shelters and tent camps are overflowing. Even in those areas, Israel continues to strike what it says are militant targets.

The Israeli military blames the high civilian death toll on Hamas, which positions fighters, tunnels and rocket launchers in dense residential areas. But the military rarely comments on individual strikes.

Israel's offensive in Gaza has already been one of the most devastating military campaigns in recent history. More than 21,300 Palestinians, most of them women and children, have been killed, according to the Health Ministry in Hamas-ruled Gaza. Another 55,600 have been wounded, it says. Those counts do not differentiate between civilians and combatants.

The military says it has killed thousands of militants, without presenting evidence, and that 167 of its soldiers have been killed and hundreds wounded in the ground offensive.

___

Magdy reported from Cairo. Associated Press reporters Tia Goldenberg in Tel Aviv, Israel and Najib Jobain in Rafah, Gaza Strip, contributed.
Charges have been brough against a Ukrainian citizen who pretended to be an official of the State Fiscal Service (SFS) and attempted to seize another person's property on an especially large scale though fraud committed by prior conspiracy with a group of persons (Part 2 of Article 15 and Part 4 of Article 190 of the Criminal Code of Ukraine).

"In July 2020, the suspect, pretending to be an influential official of the State Fiscal Service of Ukraine, together with other persons, tried to seize an entrepreneur's assets in the amount of $100,000. He promised to settle an issue of returning a seized batch of tobacco products to the entrepreneur after handing over the assets to officials of the State Fiscal Service and the State Tax Service of Ukraine," the Prosecutor General's Office of Ukraine said on its website on Thursday.

The investigation is underway. It is being conducted by investigators of the Main Directorate of the National Police of Ukraine in Kyiv.

A law enforcement source told Interfax-Ukraine that it is about Roman Chervinsky, the officer of the Special Operations Forces, who is a defendant in the case on Russia's attack on an airfield in the vicinity of Kropyvnytsky. The Security Service of Ukraine (SBU) is investigating into a missile strike against the Kanatove airfield in Kirovohrad region in July 2022, which happened because of deliberate actions of individual servicemen.
The owner of a North Carolina towing company will have to repay Marines whose vehicles he allegedly improperly sold off, including in at least one case when a Marine was deployed, the Justice Department announced this week.

Billy Joe Goines, who owns the Camp Lejeune-adjacent Goines Towing and Recovery, will pay $66,805 in restitution under a proposed settlement agreement with the Justice Department over allegations he violated the Servicemembers Civil Relief Act, or SCRA. The settlement agreement is pending approval by the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of North Carolina.

"Service members sacrifice a lot -- and, in many cases, everything," Michael Easley Jr., U.S. attorney for the Eastern District of North Carolina, said in a news release announcing the settlement Tuesday. "Debt collectors and towing companies shouldn't be allowed to take and sell their property behind their backs. The Justice Department will vigorously enforce service members' rights under the SCRA. Try to illegally take property from a Marine and find out."

Read Next: Independent Military Prosecutors Now in Charge of Sexual Assault Cases

The SCRA, which provides several legal and financial protections for service members, requires towing companies to file an affidavit stating whether a car's owner is a member of the military before they can sell the vehicle. If the owner is in the military, a court can't authorize selling the vehicle until it appoints an attorney to represent the interests of the service member.

But, the Justice Department alleged, Goines and his company repeatedly filed affidavits stating they couldn't determine whether the owner was a member of the military without making a good faith effort to find the information and despite obvious signs the owner was a service member.

The case was the first lawsuit brought by federal prosecutors against a towing company under the SCRA requirement to file military affidavits, according to the Justice Department.

In one case detailed in the Justice Department's March complaint, Goines allegedly towed and sold a Marine's Toyota FJ Cruiser while he was deployed in Japan despite numerous indications the owner was a service member. The SUV had a Marine Corps decal on a rear window, photographs of the Marine and others in uniform in the center console, and 16 military patches adhered to the ceiling, including one with the Marine's battalion logo, his name, military unit at Camp Lejeune, military identification number and blood type.

In other cases, Goines or his employees allegedly filed affidavits saying they could not determine the military status of the owners despite the vehicles having been towed from parking lots for Marine barracks, according to the complaint.

Under the settlement agreement, Goines will repay the SUV owner $9,513. Goines will also have to repay six other Marines whose vehicles he sold, with the amounts varying based on the estimated trade-in value of each vehicle.

Another service member whose Ford Mustang has not yet been sold will get his car back, along with $1,500, according to the proposed settlement agreement. Seven other service members whose cars are still on Goines' lot will also be able to get their vehicles back, while another 22 troops will have any fees associated with towing their cars waived.

Goines will also have to pay $30,000 to the U.S. government to "vindicate the public interest," according to the proposed settlement, which noted that the payment of the penalty was "not an acknowledgment of liability or guilt" by Goines.

In addition to the payments, Goines and his employees will have to undergo annual SCRA compliance training, and he will have to implement new policies to ensure compliance with the law.

"By failing to follow federal law, Goines deprived service members of the opportunity to reclaim their vehicles," Assistant Attorney General Kristen Clarke said in the news release. "This consent order demonstrates the Justice Department's ongoing commitment to protecting the rights of service members and their families."

Related: GM Financial Ordered to Pay Millions for Illegally Repossessing Troops' Cars, Among Other Infractions
A North Dakota Air National Guardsman was shot and killed at his apartment on Christmas Eve, and local police have a suspect in custody.

Master Sgt. Nicholas Van Pelt, 41, of the 219th Security Forces Squadron, died during a shooting at his apartment in Minot, North Dakota, at around 8 p.m. local time Dec. 24, according to a news release from the North Dakota National Guard. A neighbor reported hearing six gunshots from the apartment next to his own and two more shots were heard during the call to the police, according to an affidavit detailing the incident.

Officers said Van Pelt was declared dead at the scene, and a woman was also shot in the upper back and forearm and had to be transported to an area hospital for "life-threatening injuries, according to the affidavit. The woman, whose name was not disclosed, is an employee in the county's state attorney's office, according to court documents obtained by Military.com.

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A suspect, Daniel Breijo, 39, was taken into custody at the scene, according to the documents. He was arrested and charged with murder, attempted murder and causing bodily injury to a corrections officer.

Breijo is "believed to be a law enforcement officer who had been assigned to work with the Ward County Narcotics Task Force," according to the court documents. The Minot Daily News, citing North Dakota legal officials, reported that he is an officer with the Department of Homeland Security.

Jesse Walstad, Breijo's attorney, declined to comment on the case when reached by Military.com on Thursday.

Van Pelt, a native of Georgia, joined the Air Force in 2001 and then became a member of the North Dakota Air National Guard in 2009. He was also a Ward County Sheriff's deputy until May, when he began serving full-time with the 219th Security Forces Squadron, the North Dakota National Guard said in the news release.

"As many in the community are already aware, on Dec. 24, 2023, the life of former Ward County Deputy Nicholas Van Pelt was tragically cut short due to a senseless act of violence," the local law enforcement agency wrote Wednesday on Facebook. "Even though he recently moved on to work full time with the Air National Guard, he was, and always will be, our law enforcement brother."

Van Pelt is survived by three children and his parents, the North Dakota National Guard said.

"This is a tragic event that happened to Master Sgt. Nicholas Van Pelt, and we extend

our sympathies to his friends and family," Maj. Gen. Alan Dohrmann, the North Dakota

adjutant general, said in a news release. "Van Pelt served his nation for more than 14 years as an airman in the North Dakota National Guard and as a defender in 219th Security Forces Squadron. He will always be remembered."

Because Van Pelt, Breijo and the wounded woman are all reportedly connected to either local and state law enforcement or the state attorney's office, an outside judge and special prosecutor were requested for the case. Breijo is scheduled for a pre-trial conference on Feb. 1.

Related: Air Force Punishes 15 Service Members in Wake of Teixeira Leak at Massachusetts Guard Base
SEOUL, South Korea  North Korean leader Kim Jong Un called for bolstered war readiness to repel what he said were unprecedented United States-led confrontational moves, state media reported Thursday, as rival South Korea vowed a stern retaliation against any provocations by the North.

Kims comments during the key political meeting tasked with setting state objectives for 2024 indicated North Korea will likely continue weapons tests to modernize its nuclear arsenal. Observers say Kim likely hopes to eventually use his boosted arsenal as leverage in potential diplomacy with Washington, possibly after the 2024 U.S. presidential election in November.

During Wednesdays second-day session of the ruling partys plenary meeting, Kim set forth unspecified tasks for the military and the munitions industry to further accelerate the war preparations in the face of anti-North Korea "confrontation moves by the U.S. and its vassal forces unprecedented in history, the official Korean Central News Agency said.

It said Kim also clarified the partys stance on expanding North Koreas strategic cooperation with anti-imperialist countries amid the worlds rapidly changing geopolitical situation.

KCNA said Kim spoke about the direction of the Norths dealings with South Korea as well, but didnt elaborate.

The Workers Party meeting is expected to last several days, and state media are expected to publicize details of its discussions after it ends, likely on Dec. 31. Experts say North Korea is expected to come up with pledges and steps to strengthen its nuclear attack capability and expand cooperation with Russia and China, which are also locked in separate confrontations with the U.S.

South Koreas spy agency said Thursday there is a high possibility that North Korea will launch military provocations and cyberattacks ahead of South Korean parliamentary elections in April and the U.S. presidential election in November. The National Intelligence Service said in a statement that senior North Korean military figures believed involved in past major deadly attacks and provocations have been given top posts in recent months. The NIS said North Korea has conducted nuclear and missile tests and flown a drone across the rivals border ahead of the Souths previous parliamentary elections.

During a visit to a frontline army unit Thursday, South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol called for a swift, stern retaliation against any provocations by North Korea.

If provoked, you should immediately respond and retaliate before reporting to (your higher-ups) later. Id like you to sternly and swiftly smash the enemys intentions to stage provocations on the spot, Yoon told troops.

Lee Sang-sook, a research professor at Seouls Institute of Foreign Affairs and National Security, said that limited clashes triggered by North Korean provocations along the Koreas' tense border could happen next year. She said North Korea will also likely test-launch an intermediate-range missile, a submarine-launched ballistic missile, and other weapons under its five-year military buildup plan launched in 2021.

Topics to be dealt with at the North Korean meeting could include its push to operate more spy satellites following its launch of its first military reconnaissance satellite on Nov. 21. After the November launch, North Korea said it would submit to the plenary meeting a plan to launch more satellites to improve its spaced-based surveillance capabilities on its rivals.

Since 2022, North Korea has performed a barrage of missile tests in breach of United Nations bans, including the Dec. 18 launch of the solid-fueled Hwasong-18 intercontinental ballistic missile  its most advanced weapon designed to attack the mainland U.S. The North has argued it has sovereign, legitimate rights to conduct such tests to deal with the expansion of U.S.-South Korean military exercises that it views as invasion rehearsals.

Kim has refused to return to diplomacy with the U.S. since his high-stakes diplomacy with then-President Donald Trump fell apart in 2019. A main sticking point in the collapsed Kim-Trump diplomacy was how much sanctions relief North Korea would be given in return for a partial surrender of its nuclear program.

Matthew Miller, a spokesperson for the State Department, maintained last week that the U.S. harbors no hostile intent toward North Korea and remains committed to a diplomatic approach. He said the U.S. commitment to the defense of South Korea and Japan remains ironclad.

___

Associated Press writer Jiwon Song contributed to this report.
Military leaders were confused about how to define and root out extremist behavior, even as they acknowledged a stream of racist or bigoted recruits, in the wake of the U.S. Capitol insurrection, according to a long-awaited independent report commissioned by the Pentagon that provides a snapshot of the effort.

The report released this week -- a year and a half after the research was conducted between 2021 and 2022 -- also found that the Pentagon's effort to counter extremism was mired in a hodgepodge of sometimes contradictory policies, security clearance reviews that struggled to weed out extremists, and data collection efforts that were flawed and produced "inconsistent data at best."

Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin ordered a renewed push to counter extremism in 2021 after hundreds of rioters, including some service members and veterans, broke into the Capitol in a violent attempt to block President Joe Biden's election victory. The insurrection came amid a rising tide of extremist activity in the U.S. that increasingly involved troops and veterans, as well as growing warnings from experts about potential acts of violence and terrorism.

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The Institute for Defense Analyses, a private nonprofit think tank, produced the report for Austin, titled "Prohibited Extremist Activities in the U.S. Department of Defense."

Clarity on basic definitions in Pentagon policy such as "active participation" and "extremist activities" had not made it to commanders who are supposed to be on the front lines of the issue, according to the report.

It also found that enforcing policies against extremism may be all but impossible in the National Guard and reserves.

In December 2021, the Pentagon announced a new policy document that it said would address the issue of extremists in the ranks. The new rules banned a range of activities, from advocating terrorism or supporting the overthrow of the government to fundraising for an extremist group -- and even some activities as basic as "liking" or reposting extremist views on social media.

Then-Pentagon spokesman John Kirby told reporters that it was "a more clear explanation of what commanders' authorities and responsibilities are" and stressed that military leaders would look to unit commanders to enforce it "because they know their units and they know their people better than anybody."

But the IDA report noted that those rules didn't provide enough information on the types of "signs of future extremist activities" for commanders -- something outside experts warned could be an issue when the policy was rolled out. Researchers also said that the lack of detail -- especially around "active participation" and "extremist activities" -- was particularly problematic.

The lack of clarity and consistency came as several military leaders told researchers in private interviews that the potential for extremism was present in the ranks.

One senior official told the researchers that "some people come in [to the military] with dislike for other races or ethnicities." Another said that "sometimes, people just come in from a bigoted or intolerant home situation and don't know any better," though they added "that can usually be addressed with mentoring."

Service members who were interviewed told researchers that "'intolerance of others' views,' trying to force one's views on others, and not being open to other points of views are building blocks of extremist behavior."

But those troops "often had difficulty drawing a line between prohibited extremist activities and individual acts of harassment and unlawful discrimination prohibited by the [Pentagon.]"

Leaders interviewed for the report and the authors also argued that strong disciplinary measures to deal with incidents could be counterproductive and "leaders need to be alert to the impact of their actions on 'the whole field, not just a few weeds.'"

Delayed Report Echoes Warnings

The study was one of the first things that the Pentagon announced it would be doing in the immediate aftermath of the insurrection on Jan. 6, 2021, and the discovery in the weeks afterward that veterans and active-duty service members took part in the siege of the Capitol building. The following April, Austin announced the creation of an internal working group and commissioned the IDA report "to include gaining greater fidelity on the scope of the problem."

The working group delivered a separate report -- complete with recommendations and lines of action -- a few months later in December, and the Pentagon announced that the group's work was over.

Meanwhile, the IDA researchers continued working until June 2022, according to the report.

It is not clear why the IDA report was not released for more than a year after the research concluded. It was also made public by the Pentagon in the week between Christmas and New Year's Day, when many troops and much of Washington, D.C., are on leave.

Many of the report's broad conclusions echo what experts have told Military.com in its reporting on the topic over the past two years. For example, the report notes that while military extremists are rare, they are still dangerous since "even a small number of individuals with military connections and military training could present a risk to the military and to the country as a whole."

Examples include a 2020 case in which members of a group that included two Marines and styled itself as a "modern-day SS" were arrested on allegations that they were plotting to destroy the power grid in the northwest U.S. In 2022, a Marine veteran who was arrested on gun charges was revealed to be part of a neo-Nazi group that was stocking up on body armor and regularly training with guns. In 2023, a former Guardsman and self-identified Nazi was arrested for plotting to destroy a Maryland electrical substation.

There have also been multiple cases of troops using or painting the N-word. One case involved a Marine two-star general, another was a top civilian Pentagon official. The Navy has had several cases of nooses being discovered on its ships.

During a 2020 listening session, Navy officials were told of a variety of different examples of discrimination and racism that spanned from being ignored by superiors despite decades of experience to constant use of the N-word.

Guard Reflects Divisions on Extremism

The problems uncovered by the report appear to be even more acute in the National Guard, where the members are far more attached to their communities than the military and its policies of equal inclusion.

In the wake of the Jan. 6 attack, when several Guardsmen were found to have participated in the insurrection, it took months for some states to deal with the service members. In the case of Wisconsin Guardsman Pfc. Abram Markofski, it took more than a year after the events of that day and seven months after Markofski pleaded guilty to federal charges for discharge proceedings to begin.

Five soldiers even wrote character statements for Guard officials and the Justice Department saying Markofski had been caught up in the moment and that he should be able to continue his military career.

One senior National Guard official told the IDA that "what is accepted as extremism in one location is not accepted in another." Another reported that the reaction to the Pentagon's extremism stand-down -- perhaps the most visible effort to address the problem -- "varied greatly by community, saying, "Some remote areas that are homogeneous ... didn't see the point [of the stand-down], because it doesn't impact them.'"

That dynamic forced researchers to conclude that the Pentagon "may be challenged in its effort to mandate universal acceptance of and adherence to a singular definition and understanding of prohibited extremist activities" for the National Guard the reserve forces since those troops "are embedded in their communities and can be expected to reflect the values and divisions of those communities."

In addition to the confusion around the basic terminology, the Pentagon has little in the way of new data to help give a broader picture of the full scope of the issue. Researchers turned to court-martial records, but they noted that the approach was flawed because "minor offenses and cases that are resolved through plea agreements are unlikely to result in military appellate court opinions."

Meanwhile, efforts to add the ability to flag extremism in the Defense Department's data was still getting off the ground last year, and those flagging systems are "not linked or standardized, and lack clear and consistent definitions."

Security Clearances Fall Short

The report also found that the Pentagon's system of investigating people for security clearances is flawed and "still [focuses] to a significant extent on Cold War threats and threats related to the Global War on Terrorism rather than the threat of home-grown extremism."

The problems became clear in April when Jack Teixeira, an airman first class for the 102nd Intelligence Wing based at Otis Air National Guard Base in Massachusetts, was arrested and charged with leaking some of the government's most closely guarded secrets on a private chat server.

Later court documents filed by the Justice Department alleged that Teixeira had a long history of disturbing online remarks, including claims that he would "kill a [expletive] ton of people" if he could because it would be "culling the weak-minded."

Researchers found that, when it came to security clearances, "in many cases, the existing standards and training materials applicable to these processes do not even specifically identify [extremist] behaviors and activities as a potential problem."

The screenings appeared to be so ineffective that they didn't even catch those who are openly white supremacists.

In 2022, Spc. Killian Ryan was arrested for lying on his clearance paperwork after the FBI, not the military, discovered that he had ties to white nationalism and made threats of violence against minorities publicly on social media.

Ryan's personal email address around the time of his enlistment was "NaziAce1488" and one of his posts read: "I serve for combat experience so I'm more proficient in killing n-----s."

Resistance on Capitol Hill

Despite the host of issues revealed by the IDA report, it is likely to be the last major work from the Pentagon on the issue. Since its commissioning, the topic of extremism with the ranks has become politicized by Congress and a problem for the Pentagon.

Military.com's investigation found that cases of domestic terrorism have skyrocketed in the last decade and the groups behind many of these incidents are actively recruiting veterans into their fold, where they often quickly move into leadership positions.

However, some members of Congress have called the Pentagon's efforts "offensive to every veteran in America" and something that "smacks of the 'Thought Police.'"

Top defense leaders have had to sit before Congressional committees and be grilled on the necessity and cost of the policies, and legislators on the political right have signaled that they are not done.

In April, a defense official who was familiar with the Pentagon's efforts to combat extremism told Military.com that "the department did not want to really have to engage [on] this to begin with for a variety of reasons, mainly because it does distract from a lot of the other business and work that they're trying to do."

Related: What the Pentagon Has, Hasn't and Could Do to Stop Veterans and Troops from Joining Extremist Groups
First Deputy Minister of Defense of Ukraine Oleksandr Pavliuk held a regular meeting of the National Mine Action Authority, at which the results of work for 2023 were presented.

In total, we have the following indicators of territory cleanup: 2,691 sq km were surveyed. Among them, 68.4 sq km of water area, 8,544 km of roads, 8,758 km of power lines, 3,087 km of railways, 651 km of pipelines were cleared of explosive objects. Some 660,861 such objects were identified and neutralized, Pavliuk wrote on Telegram.

In addition, non-technical inspection measures have been introduced for the current year in 115 territorial communities with a total area of more than 50,000 square kilometers. Some 1,883 contaminated/probably contaminated sites were identified with a total area of 239 square kilometers. Another 18,000 sq km of territory are determined to contain no evidence of pollution.

Some 236 groups, 1,057 people and eight mechanized mine clearance vehicles were involved from the mine clearance units of the Ministry of Defense. In addition, 10 battalions and three mine clearance companies were additionally formed as part of the Ukrainian Armed Forces and the State Special Transport Service. The units are already being recruited to complete tasks.

Also at the meeting, the plan for the implementation of activities for humanitarian demining of the de-occupied territories of Ukraine for 2024 and the plan for the implementation of activities for inspection and clearance of explosive objects from agricultural lands for 2024 were approved.

A lot has been done this year. We have learned to work together. By the end of the first quarter we plan to fulfill all our stated obligations: firstly, to gain the capabilities that we need to clean up our lands. Secondly, to ensure close cooperation and eliminate all problems in relation to our partners who want to come in, like non-governmental operators from other countries, thirdly, we must have clear coordination of our activities, Pavliuk emphasized.
January 1: Franco and his new attorneys met with prosecutors on Monday morning, as first reported by Listin Diario (on X).

December 28: Franco did not appear for questioning this morning, investigator Olga Dina Llaverias told reporters (link via Juan Arturo Recio of ESPN). According to multiple reports, Franco has also dismissed his legal team. Llaverias declined comment when asked about next steps but noted the investigations remain ongoing.

December 27: Prosecutors in the Dominican Republic officially summoned Wander Franco for questioning, according to a Spanish-language report from Enrique Rojas and Juan Arturo Recio of ESPN. Investigators continue to look into multiple allegations that the Rays shortstop has had inappropriate relationships with minors. ESPN reports that Franco and his attorneys are required to meet with government officials in Santo Domingo tomorrow at 11:00 am.

The Rays placed Franco on the restricted list on August 14, one day after social media allegations that Franco had an inappropriate relationship with a minor received widespread attention. The National Agency for Boys, Girls, Adolescents and Family and Gender Violence Unit in the Dominican Republic opened an investigation later that week.

In late August, ESPN reported that two more girls had made similar allegations (although one of them had not spoken with investigators). At the time, ESPN wrote that there were two formal complaints. There is nothing to suggest that isnt still the case.

The Rays reinstated Franco onto their 40-man roster at the beginning of the offseason, a procedural move that didnt indicate anything about the course of the investigation. MLB is also looking into the allegations but seems likely to wait for the legal process to play out before determining whether to impose discipline. Under the MLB/MLBPA domestic violence, sexual assault and child abuse policy, MLB can levy discipline regardless of whether a player is criminally charged.
Winter is here, bringing with it plenty of cold, some snow  and waterfowl?

Yes, winter is officially the season of the duck, according to Audubon Great Lakes. During the time of year when many of our songbirds have flown south to warmer climates, the Great Lakes become inundated with more than 30 species of northern ducks, geese and swans that return to this region for their own winter getaways.

Playfully dubbed Weird Duck Time thanks to a popular online comic, winter brings the opportunity to scan your local open waters for seasonal visitors like beautiful geese, elegant swans, and funky ducks that might be seen gathering in floating groups, or rafts, numbering in the thousands.

Here are five of the weird ducks and other waterfowl we might spot this time of year, and how to successfully ID them:

Redheads: Look for the telltale cinnamon-hued heads on the males of this species; the females will be close by, with medium-brown coloring on their bodies. In the winter these sociable ducks can sometimes be seen gathering in massive flocks on open water, where their numbers can reach well into the thousands.

25K and counting: Huge group of Redhead ducks on Straits of Mackinac keeps growing

Gadwalls: From afar these birds might not look like much, but if youre able to see them through binoculars or a spotting scope, you can appreciate the males subtle yet intricate shades and patterns. ID the males by looking for a black rump, white wing patch and dark bill; the females will look similar to female Mallards.

Tundra Swans: Nicknamed whistling swans for the distinct whistle sound made by their wings, these beautiful water birds might be spotted flying far overhead in large family groups of up to 100 birds. Identify Tundra Swans from other swans by the U shape where their black bill meets their face; sometimes a small yellow patch is also visible near the eye.

Buffleheads: Zippy little birds, with an emphasis on little  these are among the smallest ducks in Michigan. From a distance the males appear black and white, but if you look closely youll see a patch of mesmerizing iridescent green and purple. This time of year you can find Buffleheads in pairs or small groups on sheltered bodies of water like bays, lakes, ponds, estuaries and slow-moving rivers.

Snow Geese: These birds are not as common in Michigan as they are in Illinois and Indiana, so winter sightings can feel special. Look for Snow Geese in open fields or shallow waters, paying close attention since these birds come in two different color morphs, or patterns: The white morph has a white head and body with black wing tips, while the blue morph has a dark body and white head. Both have pink bills with a dark line.

Cornell Universitys All About Birds is a great resource for photos and more information about these and other birds. You can learn more about Michigan birds through MI Birds, a public outreach and engagement program created by Audubon Great Lakes and the Michigan Department of Natural Resources.
ALLEN PARK -- The Detroit Lions were always going to face some difficult roster decisions once players started returning from injured reserve. Now the first dominos have fallen.

Defensive back Chase Lucas and linebacker Trevor Nowaske have both been cut, carving out two spots on the 53-man roster. The Lions have already filled one of them by activating fullback Jason Cabinda from injured reserve. That leaves one spot vacant just one day before they board a flight to Dallas, perhaps for kicker Michael Badgley or edge rusher Bruce Irvin, practice-squad players who have just one elevation left.

And before you ask, no, it wont be for Ceedy Duce.

It wont be for James Houston either.

Duce has practiced the last two weeks in his return from a torn pectoral, while Houston joined him on the field this week in a return from a broken fibula, but both players were officially ruled out on Thursday afternoon. Cornerback Cam Sutton is questionable because of a toe injury.

It was expected to be a close call on Duce, which means hes a good bet to suit up in the regular-season finale against the Minnesota Vikings, giving him valuable reps before the bullets become more live than ever in the postseason.

Duces return will be a huge lift for the secondary. He led the league in interceptions while with Philadelphia last season, and was a big-play slot cornerback during his New Orleans years before that.

The big question is who leaves the field when he returns. Kerby Joseph has been a staple in the back end since last season and just picked off two passes in Minnesota, but Ifeatu Melifonwu has been even better since joining the lineup three weeks ago, racking up three sacks and picking off the pass that clinched last weeks win against the Vikings. Melifonwu is currently the reigning NFC defensive player of the week.

Best guy plays, defensive coordinator Aaron Glenn said recently. Best guy plays. Its simple. So, whoever the best guy is in practice, thats who is going to play.
HOUGHTON, MI  The next stage of a project to upgrade a historic bridge in Michigans Upper Peninsula is set to begin.

The Michigan Department of Transportation announced this week that the Portage Lake Lift Bridge on U.S. 41/M-26 will require lane closures next week.

The bridge, a national historic landmark built in 1959, connects the cities of Houghton and Hancock in the Keweenaw Peninsula.

It is still the only land crossing over the Portage Canal, seeing an average of more than 25,000 vehicles per day, and remains a critical link for the Keweenaw Peninsula and its 21,000 residents.

The lane closure will take place Jan. 2-5 so that work crews can complete elevator replacement work. Motorists should expect the northbound outside lane on the bridge to be closed to vehicle traffic during daytime hours.

The northbound sidewalk will remain closed with a posted pedestrian detour, MDOT said.

The work is part of a $4.3 million investment that also included the installation of false decking under one bridge span. That work was completed in May.

This repair project will help ensure continued safe and reliable operation of the bridge, MDOT said.
MACOMB COUNTY, MI  A Michigan man is accused of shooting his ex-girlfriends current boyfriend shortly after he delivered presents to his kids on Christmas.

Deandre Patrick Lawrence, 23, of Detroit has been charged with assault with intent to murder and felony firearm after the incident that occurred at a home near 9 Mile and Hoover Road in Warren, Macomb County Prosecutor Peter J. Lucido announced.

Lawrence is accused of going to his ex-girlfriends house to deliver presents to his three children, but he got into a physical altercation with his ex-girlfriends live-in boyfriend.

The boyfriend fled the house and Lawrence followed him. When the boyfriend tripped and fell to the ground, Lawrence allegedly shot him twice in the back.

Lawrence fled the home, but was later arrested in Center Line, police said.

Violent actions have no place in resolving disputes. Our thoughts are with the victim and his family. We will work to ensure accountability for this terrible Christmas Day shooting, Lucido said.

Lawrence was arraigned in Warren 37th District Court by District Court Judge Steve Bieda where bond was set at $1 million.

A probable cause conference is scheduled for 8:45 a.m. on Jan. 4 and a preliminary exam is scheduled for 8:45 a.m. on Jan. 11.
LATHRUP VILLAGE, MI -- A former music teacher at MacArthur K-8 University Academy has been charged with multiple felonies after he allegedly sexually assaulted multiple students. According to WDIV-Detroit, Lamar Willis was arraigned last week on four counts of second-degree criminal sexual conduct and three counts of accosting children for immoral purposes following an investigation that began in March.

Willis is accused of having sexual contact with at multiple students on school grounds during the 2022-23 school year. The Southfield School District began an investigation in March after a parent learned of the alleged inappropriate behavior. Willis was suspended at that time and eventually resigned from the school in June.

Willis started working in the Detroit Public Schools Community District this past fall, however he was placed on administrative leave on Dec. 15, when the district learned of the charges Willis would be facing.

Police interviewed 15 children during the investigation and determined there were five potential victims. Willis was arraigned in 46th District Court on Dec. 18 where bond was set at as a $15,000 personal recognisance bond. Willis is also not allowed to have any contact with any children and cannot go within 100 feet of any school.
ANN ARBOR, MI -- Ann Arbor has released an explanation of why it rejected a groups proposal for an unarmed crisis response program.

The group, Care-Based Safety, was the sole respondent to Ann Arbors call to line up a third party to implement the program as an alternative to armed police for certain situations.
FLINT TWP., MI -- Wednesday was a day more than two years in the making for Mike Lintz and the team at Scratch BBQ and Catering.

After being a side business for the longtime Flushing school teacher, the operation now takes a more prominent role for Lintz, opening as an in-person restaurant beginning Wednesday, Dec. 27.

Im nervously excited, Lintz told MLive-The Flint Journal on Wednesday of the grand opening. There was a lot that went into it. There were some small adjustments (after the soft opening).

Im super proud of our crew and just very eager to get this place open.

Related: Teacher set to open BBQ restaurant inside former Flint-area Fuddruckers

Scratch BBQ has been in operation since 2015, but it officially opened its first in-person restaurant Wednesday at the former Fuddruckers, located at 2373 Austin Pkwy. in Flint Township.

The business previously rented the commercial kitchen at the Flint Farmers Market to cook out of.

Were excited to be a part of the community, and we hope that people enjoy coming out, Lintz said.

While most menu items remain similar to what was previously offered -- pulled pork, beef brisket, pork spare ribs, beef short ribs as well as sides of gourmet mac and cheese, baked beans and honey glazed cornbread -- there are some new wrinkles with the spot, such as a bar space.

Lintz said he uses apple wood to make his barbecue, slow cooking it at 275 degrees depending on the meat and weather, and one homemade sauce right now with the possibility of creating more in the future.

Middle of the road, Its a little bit of Carolina, Lintz said while describing the BBQ sauce he has worked on perfecting for years. Its a safe sauce.

The restaurant provides an open atmosphere. Tall ceilings and windows to the bakery as well as bar & order area offer a sense of connection across the space for diners and to the food.

Lintz said the local community showed out for the business during its soft opening, with more than double the number of customers that they were expecting.

Its been phenomenal, he said of the community support.

Scratch BBQ plans to be open from 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. Wednesday through Monday.

MLive photojournalist Devin Anderson-Torrez contributed to this report.
VAN BUREN COUNTY, MI -- Two people died in a house fire this morning, the Van Buren County Sheriffs Office reports.

Deputies and firefighters responded at 4:28 a.m. Thursday, Dec. 28, to a home on the 44000 Block of 24th Avenue in Bloomingdale Township, the sheriffs office said in a news release.
SOUTH HAVEN, MI -- South Haven may be known for its summertime activities, with its sandy Lake Michigan beaches and Fourth of July fireworks show.

But the South Haven Convention and Visitors Bureau wants to remind Michigan the beach town has plenty to offer during the winter, too. That will be on display Sunday, Dec. 31, for the citys New Years Eve Celebration.

Five years ago, the bureau decided to throw a party on New Years Eve, executive director Jennifer Sistrunk said. The celebration has grown each year since, and offers something for everyone.

There is no cost to attend, however some activities require a small fee or donation, Sistrunk said. Details can be found on Southhaven.org.

New this year is the Big Blue Zip Line, which will run 250 feet along downtowns Phoenix Street. The ride is free, but donations will be collected to benefit For the Sake of Being Humane Animal Rescue.

Restaurants and local businesses will be open late Sunday, Sistrunk said. A list of restaurants and their New Years Eve hours can be found on southhaven.org. Additionally, Blackhawk BBQ, Sweet Escape, Camper Bean and Phoenix on Broadway food trucks will be open from 5 p.m. to midnight.

Some of the merchants downtown that are staying open late are giving out free treats like hot chocolate or cookies, so you can come and enjoy for free or you can come and shop out and go to restaurants, Sistrunk said.

The Mitten Childrens Museum is hosting a Noon Years Eve Party with themed crafts and activities geared toward families who arent interested in staying up until midnight. At 6 p.m., South Haven Center for Arts will cost a Family Celebration with crafts, refreshments and an early midnight ball drop at 8 pm.

From 3 to 7 p.m., attendees can scour the downtown area with an Ice Breaker Scavenger Hunt. The South Haven Chamber of Commerce is offering prizes for the first 150 guests that complete the scavenger hunt, including a $150 Kitchen 527 gift card for first place.

The full list of events and locations can be seen, below.

Schedule and map of events for South Haven's 2023 New Year's Eve celebration.South Haven Convention & Visitors Bureau

Other festivities include a red carpet photo op at the Michigan Theater from 6 to 11 p.m., Salsa dance lessons at the Church of the Epiphany and a light show by DJ Guy Voss downtown from 8 p.m. to 12:15 a.m.

A free trolley, connecting downtown to outlying restaurants, will run from 6 p.m. to 1 a.m.

As the clock strikes midnight on Jan. 1, 2024, 1,000 souvenir beach balls will fall onto the crowd at the corner of Phoenix and Center streets as a fireworks display lights up the sky.

We have lots of families that come down and dance and wait for the midnight ball drop, Sistrunk said. However you want to enjoy the night is totally up to you.

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President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelenskyy has signed a law on expanding the list of persons entitled to receive one-time monetary assistance.

As noted in the card of relevant bill No. 9226 posted on the website of the Verkhovna Rada, the document was returned to Parliament with the signature of the head of state on December 28.

According to the bill, the children of the deceased (killed), including those adopted, conceived during the life of the deceased (killed) and those born after his death, now have the right to receive one-time monetary assistance; children in respect of whom the deceased (killed). He was deprived of parental rights.

Parents (adoptive parents), grandchildren, a woman or a man with whom the deceased (killed) lived together but were not married are also entitled to receive a one-time allowance, if cohabitation is established by a court decision that has entered into force, as well as dependents of the deceased (killed).

The bill provides for the right of military personnel, ordinary and senior personnel of civil protection services, employees of critical infrastructure facilities, civil servants, local government officials and police officers to make a will for the payment of one-time monetary assistance in the event of his death (perdition).

The draft law introduces appropriate amendments to the Code of Civil Protection of Ukraine, to the laws on the National Police, on one-time monetary assistance for harm to life and health caused to employees of critical infrastructure facilities, civil servants, local government officials as a result of the military aggression of the Russian Federation against Ukraine, on social and legal protection of military personnel and their family members.

As reported, on December 9, the Rada adopted bill No. 9226 as a whole.
PAW PAW, MI -- When Michael Prevatte last met up with his sister, Brittany Howard, about a week before Christmas, she was excited to give him a coat as an early gift.

Howard cared about her family more than anything, her brother said. She watched Prevattes son that night at her home in Paw Paw, and the two built a gingerbread house.

But the young womans promising life was cut short, days later.

Howard, 28, was killed when a man driving a truck hit her and another man at a holiday gathering in Van Buren County on Saturday, Dec. 23, police said.

RELATED: Man charged with killing ex-girlfriend with his truck at holiday party

The alleged driver is her ex-boyfriend, and they had been broken up for some years, according to Prevatte. The man has been charged with open murder in Howards death, court records show.

The death has left a void for her loved ones, he said.

She was nothing short of amazing, Prevatte said. She had a heart of gold. She was compassionate, she was caring, she was understanding. She loved children and she was just fun loving and carefree.

Howard was born June 5, 1995, in Kalamazoo, the daughter of Wayne Howard and Susan (Prevatte) Howard. They survive her, along with other family members, according to her obituary.

Brittany Howard died in a Dec. 23 homicide in Van Buren County, according to police. (Courtesy | Michael Prevatte)(Courtesy | Michael Prevatte)

The obituary mentions Howards huge heart, and her fierce love of animals led her to volunteer work with the Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals. She also loved helping raise her late fiancees daughter, it said.

Howard loved to take care of people, Prevatte said. That was part of her job as a personal care assistant in the health care industry.

Howard grew up in Parchment and graduated from Parchment High School in 2013, the obituary says.

Prevatte said Howards former boyfriend showed up at the party unannounced and uninvited, leading to him allegedly ramming her and another man, killing Howard. The other man is expected to survive, police said at the time.

Now, the family is mourning a life lost too soon, he said. Prevatte said his son is staying with his mother, and Prevatte has yet to talk to him about the tragedy.

My son doesnt even know, Prevatte said on Dec. 26, as he planned to watch the arraignment for his sisters alleged killer.

Brittany Howard and her nephew, Toby, in a 2022 photograph. (Courtesy | Michael Prevatte)

Prevatte started a GoFundMe fundraiser to help with funeral expenses thats brought in over $3,000, as of Tuesday.

Howard will be laid to rest at a funeral Friday, Dec. 29, at Adams Funeral Home, 502 W. Michigan Ave., in Paw Paw, with visitation from 10 a.m. to until the ceremony at noon. Burial will follow at Harrison Cemetery in Decatur, her obituary says.

Brittany was such a phenomenal young woman, Prevatte said. I miss her so much.

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Members of Michigans first independent redistricting commission publicly disagreed Thursday over how to respond to a recent federal court ruling that invalidated more than a dozen districts in the maps they drew.

It was the first time the independent citizens redistricting commission met since seismic federal court decision that ordered the commission to redraw 13 state legislative districts. The lawsuit had accused the Independent Citizens Redistricting Commission of drawing racially gerrymandered districts in and around Detroit, thus reducing the power and representations of Black voters that live there.

More: Michigan needs to redraw 13 House, Senate districts, orders federal judges

What the next steps for the commission will be, however, remain unclear. As soon as discussion on the ruling opened, commissioner Steve Lett made a motion to appeal the courts decision to the U.S. Supreme Court.

Directly after, the commissions attorney David Fink urged the panel to enter a closed session to discuss the issue in private, telling them it becomes virtually impossible for counsel to provide accurate and confidential advice if they dont and would weaken them in court to speak about it publicly.

That hasnt deterred some members of the commission. Commissioner Rebecca Szetela reportedly testified in the recent trial, according to The Detroit Free Press, that she met with lawyers suing the commission ahead of the trial to share information with them.

The commission did eventually meet privately Thursday, but not before other commissioners had said their piece.

I am adamantly against appealing it, commissioner Rhonda Lange, a Republican, said. I think the court got the ruling right.

Szetela, an independent on the commission, told the body she thought the legal battle was no longer worth the cost.

Id rather just see us redraw maps and be done with this litigation rather than continue to spend taxpayer money, she said.

While the commission entered closed session with a quorum, they emerged from it without enough members to conduct business. Szetela, Lange and Erin Wagner had departed. Commissioner Anthony Eid accused their absence of being a delay tactic, but the commissions executive director said the members had cited work obligations and family emergencies.

Judges Raymond Kethledge, Paul Maloney and Janet Neff ruled the Secretary of State may not hold further elections in the current districts until maps are redrawn, leaving the commission facing tight timelines with the 2024 election season looming. The deadline for candidates to file to register for state legislative primaries in the 2024 election is April 23.

The commission also received the resignation of Bruce Adelson, the attorney hired by the commission to ensure it complied with the federal Voting Rights Act, at the meeting. During redistricting, the commissioners had split up Black voting-age populations in and around Detroit under the advice of Adelson and another expert. None of Detroit-area districts had at question in the lawsuit were majority-Black, and the judges wrote Adelsons guidance that didnt have legal support.

The commission is down three members after Democrats MC Rothhorn and Dustin Witjes, along with Republican Douglas Clark, resigned earlier this month. The departing members appeared on the virtual meeting to receive well wishes and Witjes wieghed in with a public comment on the ruling, saying he would appeal and appeal hard if he still served on the commission.

Related: Michigan to name 3 redistricting commissioners to panel after 2 additional resignations

The districts that the three judge panel in federal court have ordered redrawn:

House District 1: Rep. Tyrone Carter, D-Detroit

House District 7: Rep. Helena Scott, D-Detroit

House District 8: Rep. Mike McFall, D-Hazel Park

House District 10: House Speaker Rep. Joe Tate, D-Detroit

House District 11: Rep. Veronica Paiz, D-Harper Woods

House District 12: Rep. Kimberly Edwards, D-Eastpointe

House District 14: Rep. Donavan McKinney, D-Detroit

Senate District 1: Sen. Erika Geiss, D-Taylor

Senate District 3: Sen. Stephanie Chang, D-Detroit

Senate District 6: Sen. Mary Cavanagh, D-Redford Township

Senate District 8: Sen. Mallory McMorrow, D-Royal Oak

Senate District 10: Sen. Paul Wojno, D-Warren

Senate District 11: Sen. Veronica Klinefelt, D-Eastpointe

District maps can be viewed here.

The judge will have the parties appear in court in early January to discuss how to proceed with redrawing them, and whether new districts might be drawn by an outside expert instead of the independent commission.

Reporter Samuel Dodge Contributed to this story
GRAND RAPIDS, MI  After recent data breaches exposed patients personal information, state Attorney General Dana Nessel urged lawmakers to require companies to immediately report breaches to her office.

Its really frustrating to be the person who is in charge of protecting consumers in the state and having really limited authority to timely respond to data breaches, she told MLive on Thursday, Dec. 28.

She said that 34 other states require companies to notify state officials in the event of a data breach. Nessel, whose office works with victims of identity theft, said she typically learns of data breaches months later through media reports.

She said companies need to be held accountable for breaches.

Other states incentivize companies to change their protocols, she said.

Related: 1 million Corewell Health patients could be impacted by second data breach

Nessel earlier this week reported a data breach of a vendor used by Corewell Health, which affected about 1 million patients in southeast Michigan. An earlier data breach of a different Corewell Health vendor put another 1 million patients in southeast Michigan at risk.

The compromised vendor in the latest breach, HealthEC, notified customers in late October of a July breach. Nessel said.

The first breach affecting Corewell patients occurred on May 30. The breach, at Welltok Inc., a provider of patient-communication services for Corewell, was announced Dec. 1. It affected 1 million in Michigan and 8.5 million across the country, Nessel said.

About 2,500 Priority Health members were also affected in that initial breach.

Nessels office learned of the breaches related to Corewell Health patients from media reports.

Patients could have their names, addresses, Social Security numbers, dates of birth, health conditions, prescription information, health-insurance information and treatment costs exposed to hackers.

Nessel said that consumers whose sensitive information was at risk could have taken steps much earlier to protect themselves.

HealthEC is offering a year of credit monitoring and identity-protection services through TransUnion for those potentially affected by the recent data breach. People can also call 833-466-9216 for more information.

Welltok said it was alerted of a compromise of its MOVEit Transfer Server. Third-party cybersecurity specialists determined that an unauthorized user had accessed the server in late May.

Welltok is contacting those whose information was determined to be in affected files. It provides information on protecting against fraud here.

The Identity Theft Resource Center said the healthcare industry is among the most likely to be targeted by cyber-attacks because of the huge volume of protected health information.
LANSING, MI  An appeal was filed less than a month after state utility regulators approved plans for a deep-underground tunnel beneath the Straits of Mackinac for an oil and gas pipeline.

The Environmental Law & Policy Center (ELPC) and the Michigan Climate Action Network together on Dec. 22 appealed the Michigan Public Service Commission (MPSC) approval of Enbridges plan to build the tunnel for a replacement section of its Line 5 pipeline. The case will go to the Michigan Court of Appeals.

Additionally, four Indigenous tribes filed notice that they will also appeal the commissions decision on the tunnel.

The environmental advocacy groups argue its nonsensical to heavily invest in fossil fuel infrastructure as the clean energy transition accelerates. The tribes argue the pipeline should be immediately shut down to protect possible oil spills from polluting Great Lakes waters  a resource protected under treaty rights.

Both groups contend the regulators should have shut down the pipeline altogether, an option the commissions chairman said wasnt on the table.

Related: Enbridge Line 5 tunnel plan approved by Michigan utility regulators

Enbridge officials said they will be reviewing the recently filed appeal and appreciated everyone who participated in the MPSC permit process, even those who oppose the project.

The input from intervenors on both sides of the issue raised important questions that challenge us all to get this right, according to an Enbridge statement.

But some opponents arent yet done fighting, including appealing this latest agency decision.

A senior attorney at ELPC said one of the MPSCs primary responsibilities under Michigan law is to evaluate whether there are feasible and prudent alternatives to projects like the tunnel that will pose fewer environmental risks and cost less money.

But the commission simply refused to consider the best alternative out there, which is simply to shut down the old Line 5 pipelines under the straits and not replace them with a new pipeline at all, said lawyer Scott Strand.

The shippers and refineries who currently use Line 5 have lots of options, but the commission was just not interested in anything but a new way to run crude oil under one of the most environmentally vulnerable natural assets we have in this region, he said.

Related: Line 5 shutdown would barely increase fuel price, analysts say

The Native tribes that intend to appeal in early 2024 include Bay Mills Indian Community near Brimley in the Upper Peninsula, Grand Traverse Band of Ottawa and Chippewa and Little Traverse Bay Band of Odawa in northern Lower Michigan, and the Nottawaseppi Huron Band of the Potawatomi in western Michigan.

The MPSC made a bad decision, plain and simple. Although we fought to be heard, they put on their blinders and chose to ignore the critical perspective of tribal nations throughout the Great Lakes. Indigenous communities have not once been consulted since 1953 when this pipeline was first constructed, said Whitney Gravelle, Bay Mills tribal president.

Let me be clear: Line 5 remains a threat to not only the tribes, but anyone and everyone who utilizes the Great Lakes. The question is not if the pipeline will leak, it is when, she said.

The MPSC on Dec. 1 granted final state-level approval for the planned Line 5 tunnel. The agency found there is both a public need for the energy products the pipeline carries and a need to replace the underwater section to protect Great Lakes waters.

MPSC Chairman Dan Scripps said he knows there is a great deal of frustration with the tunnel decision, but the agency couldnt do what pipeline and tunnel opponents wanted. They were limited by the scope of the case set by an administrative law judge, he said.

There are a lot of folks who would like to see the line shut down and the governors lawsuit continues with that, but that wasnt the question that was in front of the commission, Scripps said.

Michigan Public Service Commission (MPSC) chair Dan Scripps in Lansing on Friday, Dec. 1, 2023. The commission approved the Enbridge Inc. application to relocate its controversial Line 5 oil pipeline inside a tunnel under the Straits of Mackinac. Many opponents in the hearing crowd were upset at the decision. (Garret Ellison | MLive)Garret Ellison | MLive

And ultimately it came down to would you rather have a line on the bottomlands that continues to pose a threat every day? Or is putting it inside a concrete-lined tunnel under the bedrock of the lakebed a better option in terms of protecting Great Lakes, he during a Dec. 12 interview at a Traverse City coffee shop.

Scripps said the agency did climate calculations for all the alternatives to a tunnel  whether trucking, shipping, or using railroads. But it wasnt only a matter of tallying carbon emissions, he said.

It wasnt just the math of greenhouse gas emissions. Its when youre looking at trucks and trains as the alternative and how many additional stream crossings, Scripps said.

In the end, he said the tunnel was the most prudent option.

Canadian energy transportation giant Enbridge wants to build the tunnel to house a replacement section of its 70-year-old pipeline that for four miles runs underwater on the Lake Michigan side of the Mackinac Bridge.

Related: Wisconsin Line 5 shutdown order may disrupt pipeline fight in Michigan

Now only environmental review by federal authorities remains pending at the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers.

Michigan Republicans argue federal authorities are dragging their feet on the Line 5 tunnel review.

Enbridge once projected the tunnel could be completed by 2024 at a cost of $500 million, an outdated figure thats expected to vastly increase should the project win approval.

Tunnel supporters argue the infrastructure project is needed to alleviate a threat to the Great Lakes from the aged pipeline, which runs exposed along the lakebed and has been struck by passing ship anchors in recent years. They say Line 5 is needed to maintain energy market stability in the Midwest.

Opponents argue the tunnel carries a risk of explosion and oil leaks, and that investing in new fossil fuel infrastructure is counterproductive amid the shift to renewable and clean energy.

Related: Line 5 tunnel could be a stranded asset in 20 years, report suggests

Enbridges Line 5 begins in Superior, Wisconsin, from which it transports crude from Alberta oil fields to petrochemical refineries in Sarnia, Ontario, picking up some fuel from northern Michigan along the way. The pipeline moves approximately 23 million gallons of oil and natural gas liquids used for propane each day.

Whitmer revoked the companys Great Lakes bottomlands easement and ordered the line closed in 2020, sparking multiple lawsuits between high-ranking state officials and the company. Final rulings about state or federal jurisdiction on the case remain pending.

Enbridge says the dual underwater pipeline remains in good condition but made plans to build the tunnel during the waning days of former Republican Gov. Rick Snyder after anchor strikes from ships happened.

The company already received permits to build the tunnel from Michigan state environmental regulators and the Mackinac Straits Corridor Authority.
The Judiciary and the Office of the Special Prosecutor (OSP) have issued a joint statement affirming their commitment to collaboratively tackle corruption in Ghana.

The statement, released on Wednesday, December 27, notes the serious threat posed by corruption and corruption-related activities to Ghana's development and democracy.

It recalls previous joint engagements with other stakeholders including the Ghana Bar Association, civil society organisations, and the media.

Most notably, the two institutions "affirm a joint commitment to suppress and repress corruption and corruption-related activities in all forms through collaborative enforcement of the law".

They pledge to work together while still upholding the rule of law and fair hearings.

The Judiciary and Office of the Special Prosecutor, in the statement, recognized their important roles in fighting corruption.
Opposition candidates in last week's presidential election in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) were marching in the capital Kinshasa on Wednesday, despite authorities banning the protest and early results showing the incumbent Felix Tshisekedi with a large lead.

Theodore Ngoy, president of the Congo pour a justice party, told RFI that no ministerial decree or press release had been issue to stop the demonstration.

"It is against democracy, legality, it is against the rule of law," said Ngoy just before the start of the march.

"This ban is unconstitutional. This march is constitutional. We are not seeking to sow trouble or disorder, but we want to peacefully make our voice heard.

"There was a sham election in front of the whole world. The results are also a planned sham."

Most of the opposition candidates in the DRC had called for a joint demonstration over alleged election irregularities in the 20 December election.

Martin Fayulu, one of the main challengers to President Felix Tshisekedi, said in an interview that they would march because they were convinced the vote was a fraud.

"We are going to protest because we can't accept another electoral coup d'etat," Fayulu told the news agency Reuters.

He was speaking hours after Vice Prime Minister Peter Kazadi said the march had no legal basis and was aimed at undermining the work of the election commission which was still compiling results.

"No government in the world can accept this, so we will not let it happen," Kazadi told a news conference, adding that the opposition should wait for the full results rather than protest.

Call to take the streets

The opposition has also urged supporters to gather near the national assembly in Kinshasa and to march to the headquarters of the country's electoral commission.

Dozens of riot police were stationed in the area on Wednesday morning, according to reports.

Election disputes often fuel unrest in DRC and risk further destabilising Africa's second-largest country, a major cobalt and copper producer plagued by widespread poverty and insecurity in its eastern region.

After a violent campaign, the vote itself was messy, with delayed election kit deliveries, malfunctioning equipment and disorganised voting registers.

The protest organisers have criticised the decision of the election commission known as CENI to extend voting at polling stations that failed to open on election day, calling it unconstitutional and demanding a full re-run of the election.

Some independent observers also said the extension compromised the credibility of the vote.

CENI has acknowledged there were delays on 20 December but has denied that the credibility of the election was compromised by extending some voting.

It started releasing results over the weekend, and its latest tally on Tuesday put Tshisekedi ahead of his 18 challengers, with almost 79 percent of around 6.1 million votes counted so far.

(with Reuters and AFP)
Police in the Democratic Republic of Congo's capital Kinshasa prevented protesters from assembling Wednesday, AFP reporters saw, after a demonstration against last week's elections was banned.

Leading opposition politicians in impoverished but mineral-rich DRC called for the protest after rejecting last week's vote, which was marred by severe delays and bureaucratic disarray.

Congolese interior minister Peter Kazadi said Tuesday that the protest would be banned because it "aims to harm the electoral process".

But the opposition nevertheless urged supporters to gather near the national assembly and march to the headquarters of the country's electoral commission.

Dozens of riot police were stationed in the area on Wednesday, according to AFP reporters, preventing protests from taking place.

Officers fired canisters of tear gas at supporters of opposition politician Martin Fayulu, who gathered at his party's headquarters. The supporters hurled rocks at the police.

Nearby, young protesters also set tyres alight.

Fayulu later said that at least 11 people had been injured.

Kinshasa's chief of police, General Blaise Kilimbalimba, said two officers had been injured.

He added that there had been minors among the protesters -- and that the protest organisers would be summoned for questioning.

Some 44 million people were registered to vote on December 20 in elections to choose a president, national and regional lawmakers and municipal councillors.

But the electoral commission struggled to get voting materials to polling booths on time in the huge and fragile country -- roughly the size of continental western Europe -- leaving some people unable to cast ballots.

'Gigantic organised mess'

Police officers during clashes with opposition supporters in Kinshasa after a protest march was banned. By JOHN WESSELS (AFP)

Voting was officially extended by a day and even lasted until Christmas Day in some remote areas.

The opposition claimed there was "total chaos" and denounced irregularities.

The archbishop of Kinshasa likewise described the election as a "gigantic organised mess".

Election-related tensions are common in the DRC, which has a long history of authoritarian rule and violent government overthrow.

Government spokesman Patrick Muyaya said on social media that the opposition must await the publication of provisional results and address complaints about the electoral process to the Constitutional Court.

Partial results released by the electoral commission show incumbent President Felix Tshisekedi well ahead, with 79 percent of the some six million ballots counted so far.

The 60-year-old, who came to office in January 2019 after the country's first peaceful transfer of power, is running for a second five-year term.

Opposition leader Martin Fayulu arrives at his party HQ. By JOHN WESSELS (AFP)

Moise Katumbi, a former governor of the south-east Katanga region, got about 14 percent of the votes counted so far.

He is followed Fayulu, a former oil executive who claims he was the rightful winner of the 2018 election, with four percent.
27.12.2023 LISTEN

The Member of Parliament for Adansi Asokwa constituency, Hon. K.T. Hammond has responded to a viral video which saw him fend off the Majority Chief Whip, Frank Annoh-Dompreh, during a parliamentary proceeding on December 22, 2023.

The video has received mixed reactions from the general public with some accusing Hon. Hammond who is also the Minister of Trade of reacting violently towards his colleague lawmaker.

Reacting to the video in a press conference at his residence in Adansi Asokwa, the MP bemoaned the rate at which his comments are always taken out of context by people, especially the media.

He chided the media for consistently misrepresenting his thoughts and comments without looking out for the substance. This he said has caused public disaffection towards him.

Narrating what transpired on the floor of Parliament, Hon. K. T Hammond said he was called into the chamber by Hon. Annoh-Dompreh to take part in the discussions and subsequent voting on the appointment of judges by President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo who were being vetted on the day.

He said due to his relationship with one of the Judges, who was his schoolmate at the University of Ghana, he wanted to take part in the discussions on the floor.

He said while making his submissions on the floor, the Majority Chief Whip attempted to draw his attention ostensibly to time constraints. He said he wanted to make his point quickly enough amidst the interjections from the Nsawam-Adoagyir MP.

"I only made some gesticulations towards him to allow me to make my point regardless of the time constraints. Parliament had spent the whole day discussing other issues so why was I distracted from making my point to wind up the business of the day," he stated.

He refuted claims that he is a violent person stressing that he has no history of violence and has not been involved in any violent act.

Hon. K.T Hammond stressed that Annoh-Dompreh is one of his close confidants in politics and Parliament and sees no reason to act violently towards him.

"I never slapped him. Why will I slap a colleague Member of Parliament? Have you seen me fighting anybody in Parliament as the others did during voting for the Speaker of Parliament and other violent scenes in the house?" the Adansi Asokwa Law maker quizzes.

Picking of Nomination forms

Meanwhile, Hon. Kobina Tahir Hammond has picked nomination forms to contest the upcoming Parliamentary primaries in his constituency on the ticket of the New Patriotic Party. When successful, the MP who first entered Parliament in 2001 will be serving his 7th term in the house. He is expected to face stiff competition from three other aspirants who already filed their nominations.

Sounding optimistic, the Legislator said he is responding to calls from his constituents to seek another term judging by his good works. He said he was confident of getting the nod from the party delegates.

An anticipated vaccum in Parliament

Some experienced Members of Parliament including Joseph Osei Wusu, MP for Bekwai, Dan Botwe, MP for Okyere, Samuel Atta Akyea, MP for Akyem Abuakwa South and Osei Kyei Mensah Bonsu have announced their decisions not to contest the upcoming Parliamentary primaries in January. This according to Hon. K.T Hammond will create a void in Parliament and affect the quality of works in Parliament.

He said the legislators have made invaluable contributions to the house hence losing them will create a vaccum in the house. "Replacing these experienced MPs will be a daunting task for the party," he stressed.

Broken bridge to be fixed

Some aggrieved residents of Nsokote, a farming community in the Adansi Asokwa constituency recently demonstrated against the Member of Parliament over a broken bridge linking the community to other neighboring communities.

According to the residents, the poor nature of the road and the broken bridge had resulted in the avoidable deaths of 20 people. They called on the MP to help fix the bridge.

Reacting to the demonstration, Hon. K.T Hammond said he has had fruitful discussions with the Roads Minister, Hon. Amoako Atta and the contractor of the road project. He added that very soon the contractor will move back to site to complete the road he had already started.

He called for calm among the people stressing that government has shown commitment to fix the deplorable roads in the area.
The price of gutted fresh tilapia has shot up months after the flood occasioned by the spilling of excess water from the Akosombo hydro dam in the Eastern Region, the Ghana News Agency (GNA) has observed.

The spillage has destroyed tilapia farms and caused hikes in pricing by value chain actors associated with the farm-to-fork of tilapia, a delicacy for many people especially during festive seasons.

At least at five popular tilapia grilled joints at Osu, North Kanashie, Nungua, Lapaz, and East Legon, in Accra, have seen about a 100 per cent increase in all the sizes.

A table size tilapia is selling at GHS 140.00, a jump from GHS 70.00 post the floods, at Osu.

Asked why the price had doubled, Daavi, a caretaker of the Osu joint, said there had been a decline in the supply side and that limited stock was expensive.

Now, two people buy one fish and share compared to months before where they would buy two fishes.

Checks by the GNA indicate that farms at Asutsuare, a town along the Lake, in the Eastern Region, were selling the 50 kilogramme (kg) of medium size tilapia at GHS 2,150 for average size of tilapia.

Mr Jacob Adzikah, CEO of the Chamber of Aquaculture Ghana, said research had found that a kilogramme of tilapia which used to sell at GHS 31.00 at the farm gate had gone up to GHS 41.00 after the spillage.

The research unit of the Chamber of Aquaculture told the GNA that they had observed a slight price increase of about GHS 10.00 at the farm gate.

He projected that the trend might cause the commodity to be more expensive in the coming days.

Mr Adzikah said fish farmers along the Volta Lake lost fish stock worth about GHS 58 million due to the spillage.

He appealed to state agencies, especially the Fisheries Commission to provide some support to affected fish farmers.

None of the affected farmers, he said, had subscribed to aquaculture insurance, hence the huge loss in the industry after the flood, which displaced an estimated 35,857 residents.

There are limited aquaculture insurance products in the sector, but many fish farms do not subscribe because they do not appreciate the importance of aquaculture insurance, Mr Adzikah stated.

This is a huge concern because if farms appreciate the importance of aquaculture insurance and conforming to best biological practice, it will ensure sustainability in the sector, he added.

Some farms like China Fujian Fishing Limited are reconstructing fish cages after losing several thousands of fish stock.

Another farm Maleka Farms was seen undertaking repair works and preparing to scale up operations when the GNA visited.

The Environmental Protection Agency's (EPA) Natural Resource Department (NRD) early mid-December commenced an on-site exercise to assess the impact of the recent floods on aquaculture farms at Akuse and Asutsuare.

The fact-finding mission, conducted by technical directors of other departments sought to learn about the extent of infrastructural damage, losses of livelihood, and make recommendations.

Ms Helina S. Dodd, a Principal Programme Officer at EPA-NRA, told the GNA that the visit undertaken under the instruction of the Dr Henry Kwabena Kokofu, the Executive Directors of EPA, afforded them the opportunity to interact with farm owners.

She said they held discussions with operators of fish farms and discussed avenues for technical support.

Ms Dodd stated that the team was looking into the issue of illegal fish farm operators and collaborating with other agencies to deal with the situation and ensure sanity.

She said preliminary outcome showed that many farmers had their infrastructure damaged extensively, while thousands of fishes were lost/escaped during the floods.

The Akosombo Dam, a hydroelectric dam on the Volta River that generates electricity, exceeded its water level operational capacity and had to spill excess water in October.

The spillage resulted in flooding in low-lying communities.

North and Central Tongu districts were the most hit, with communities such as Mepe, Battor, Sogakope, Mafi, Adidome and Ada inundated.

GNA
The Ministry of National Security has issued a press release to react to an allegation made by the Member of Parliament for Akan Constituency, Yao Gomado.

This comes after the MP accused operatives of the Ministry of deliberately killing two persons in his Constituency.

In its release, the National Security Ministry says the allegation is false.

It argues that the accusation is not only inaccurate but fabricated by the MP to satisfy a parochial agenda.

The attention of the Ministry of National Security has been drawn to a press release by the Honourable Yao Gomado, Member of Parliament for the Akan Constituency, accusing operatives of the Ministry of deliberately killing two persons in his Constituency.

The Ministry wishes to state that the account by the Member of Parliament for the Akan Constituency on the regrettable loss of the lives of the two persons is grossly inaccurate and mischievously fabricated to satisfy a parochial agenda, parts of the release from the National Security Ministry said.

In telling its side of the story, the National Security Ministry said it deems it prudent to put on record that the incident leading to the deaths of the two persons was purely accidental and not borne out of a targeted operation.

Read a copy of the release from the Ministry below:
The domestic situation in Ukraine, operations to clean up the aftermath of Russia's attacks, particularly in Kherson, Zaporizhia and other regions, were discussed during a phone conference with President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelenskyy on Thursday.

"There are good results in the protection against collaborators and [enemy attack] adjusters, and combating crime. As for the operation of our export corridor, there are already more than 12 million tonnes of cargo in the Black Sea. The December results are especially important. This can be felt at the level of our economy," he said in a video address on Thursday.

"Of course, today we also received reports from the front: Kharkiv region, Donbas, Zaporizhia, the left bank of Kherson. Our resilience today, our strength today, our results today determine what the full-scale war winter would be like and what we should expect from the next year," the president said.

According to the head of state, "an increase in Ukraine's own strength and preservation of the world's consolidation is our task. The task of the entire state and each person working for its sake."
Jacques Delors, one of the leading architects of Europe's political integration and a key figure in the creation of the euro currency, has died. He was 98.

Delors' daughter, Martine Aubry, said her father had died in his sleep in his Paris home on Wednesday evening.

Charles Michel , the president of the European Council, was among the first to pay tribute to Delors as one of the builders of modern Europe.

French president Emmanuel Macron also hailed a statesman of French destiny and an inexhaustible architect of our Europe.

Ursula von der Leyen, a successor to Delors as president of the European Commission, described him on social media as a visionary who made Europe stronger.

"His life's work is a united, dynamic and prosperous European Union. It has shaped entire generations of Europeans, including mine. Let us honor his legacy by constantly renewing our Europe."

A Socialist at heart, Delors had a high-profile political career in France, then headed the European Commission from 1985 to 1995, a decade that saw significant steps in the bloc's integration.

These included the creation of the common market, the Schengen accords for travel, the Erasmus programme for student exchanges and the creation of the single currency, the euro.

His drive for more links within the continent was met with resistance in some member countries, especially in Britain under prime minister Margaret Thatcher.

"Up Yours Delors" read a famous 1990 front-page headline in The Sun newspaper, voicing concerns about a single currency and increased powers for the European parliament.

A brilliant carrier for a man of service

Born on 20 July 1925, Delors started out working at the Banque de France in 1945, like his father, studying economics while working.

A practicing Catholic, he became involved in trade unionism at the French Confederation of Christian Workers (CFTC), which propelled him to the Economic and Social Council and then to the General Planning Commission.

Minister of Economy and Finance for only three years between May 1981 and July 1984, under the presidency of Francois Mitterrand, according to most experts he influenced the French economic policy more than many ministers.

He declined to run for president in 1995 despite being overwhelmingly ahead in the polls, a decision he later put down to "a desire for independence that was too great".

Delors later founded think tanks with the aim of furthering European federalism, including Institut Delors, and in recent years warned of the dangers of populism in Europe.

In 2011, he was named by a panel of French people as having been the best finance leader of the previous three decades.

(with AFP)
The Chinese work extremely hard, and the government makes every effort to make China competitive. The country uses loans as bait to friendly African countries, even though their resources are not as abundant as those of most other African nations. However, if you take out a loan from China and unable to repay it, unlike other countries, China will not forgive you, the Chinese government has taken ownership of properties in a number of African nations; will Ghana be one of these nations?

Ghana and other African nations turn to China for loans, but they reject the rules that have made this Asian nation successful. For example, the Chinese government imprisons corrupt politicians to make the nation great, in contrast, Ghana doesnt. Therefore, it undermines African nations with abundant natural resource reserves, going to China for loans, while through widespread corruption; they deny the downtrodden masses better opportunities, including education, employment and health facilities.

I am aware that the Akufo Addos administration like borrowing, according to him "even America borrows," that is when the opposition chastised him for risking the collapse of the country due to his borrowing addiction. I still clearly recall Kennedy Agyapong's defense of President Akufo Addo when he attacked Parliamentarian Sam Okudzeto Ablakwa for criticizing the President for excessive borrowing, Akufo Addo's government currently owes China $1.9 billion.

Even if America borrows money, visitors to the country can observe how that country spends their funds. Can Ghanaians find out from Akufo Addo what he has done with loans from China and other countries? After seven years in office, no one is aware of what the NPP administration has done with the nearly 700 billion cedi debt it has accrued. The tragic aspect of this government's incompetence is how little progress has been made in the NPP's stronghold of the Ashanti Region.

The current developments in the Ashanti Region are the result of the efforts of former Ghanaian leader John Mahama. Why, then, do people not assume that Africans lack intelligence when Ghanaians keep attacking the former president who, in his four years in office, has developed the country and while they ignore the corrupt, incompetent and lazy Akufo Addo, who has completely destroyed the nation's economy, businesses, and investments? In my opinion, anyone who supports this government, including Jean Mensa and Bossman Asare, is a criminal. If you are not a criminal, you will not have any interest in Akufo Addo.

The Minority Chief Whip informed the Ghanaians that in addition to the $1.9 billion that Akufo Addo's administration owes China, it also owes $2 billion to the Paris Club, $3.8 billion to the Non-Paris Club, and $2.5 billion to Templeton. What tears my heart is that he asked the president, "Why do this to unborn children?" Why would Ghanaians tolerate such a government to the point that they would even recognize Bawumia, the presidents accomplice in crimes as president? Bawumia, Akufo Addo, and Ken Ofori-Atta have grounded Ghana like a sunken ship after seven years in administration. What can the NPP do for Ghanaians in 2024?

After the Kenyan government borrowed $5 billion from China's export-import bank, with the intention to expand development, corruption caused things to go awry. The Chinese government gave the Kenyan government to pay the debt within six months, or takes possession of the port of Mombasa. China was compelled to take control of the port of Hambantota in December 2017, in Sri Lanka, due to financial obligations. Similar to this, Zambia lost control of the international airport in the capital to China, in September 2018.

Is Ghana also vulnerable to this? Yes, this can happen, as both the Finance Minister, Ken Ofori-Atta, and the President, Akufo Addo, and the vice president, Mahamudu Bawumia, are reckless individuals more concerned with their political benefit than with resolving the public's issues, including unemplyment. More significantly, this administration disobeys the principles that have made China successful, for example, since Akufo Addo has legalized corruption, a politician can steal more than $1 million and keep it at home with impunity. This can never happen in China, that's why the developed world sees Africans as stupid people.
In the kitchen of his Abidjan restaurant, Ivory Coast chef Charlie Koffi prepares his country's staggering tropical bounty with the techniques of fine French cuisine. And he's far from alone.

A growing number of his fellow chefs in the West African nation are retouching local specialities with cooking skills picked up elsewhere.

One of Koffi's signature dishes is an adaptation of gouagouassou sauce, a local specialty.

In his version, a rabbit is stewed with African eggplants, spicy oil, powdered akpi seeds and local fefe pepper.

"It is one of the dishes I really loved as a child," Koffi told AFP. "As a chef, it was almost an obligation to come back to it."

Koffi was trained in France before opening his Abidjan restaurant, Villa Alfira, in 2017 to showcase his country's cuisine.

In the well-lit main dining room overlooking a pond where fish on the menu swim, Eric Guei tucked into a gouagouassou casserole.

Ivorian chef Charlie Koffi prepares rabbit in his Villa Alvira restaurant in Abidjan. By Sia KAMBOU (AFP)

"I find taste and audacity in this dish," the happy customer said. "It mixes Western know-how with local flavours."

Guei enjoyed the copious but beautifully presented meal with his friend Yasmine Doumbia. "Gouagouassou is a very traditional Ivory Coast dish, and to see it in a restaurant like this is a real pleasure," she said.

Villa Alfira is a change from the "maquis", typical animated local eateries where braised chickens and fish are eaten by hand, along with traditional sauces, manioc polenta, and fried plantains.

Grilled okra and cassava chips

Banana foutou with peanut sauce at the Maison Palmier restaurant in Abidjan. By Sia KAMBOU (AFP)

A few kilometres away, a chef at the upscale restaurant La Maison Palmier is working on her new creation: a taster dish inspired by placali, a typical Ivorian dish made with sticky gumbo sauce, bits of meat and dried fish, accompanied by fermented manioc paste.

Hermence Kadio, who trained locally, has her own much lighter take on the classic. She grilled the gumbo (okra), while the cassava is puffed up and turned into chips.

Every week the restaurant's French head chef Matthieu Gasnier offers amuse-bouche -- small bite-sized appetisers -- like these to "re-awaken the memories of people who grew up with these dishes".

About half his clientele is Ivorian, he said.

"Even if our restaurant's cuisine is intended to be international since we are in a five-star hotel, I think it would be wrong not to take advantage of all these beautiful products that surround us," he said.

Grains such as fonio and sorghum grow in the Ivory Coast's hot dry northern savannas, said Koffi, while the forested south produces local varieties of spinach and typical tropical products such as bananas and yams.

Healthier and tastier

Chef Hermence Kadio makes puffed cassava chips with grilled okra placali. By Sia KAMBOU (AFP)

N'Cho Yapi, who founded the group Chefs: Creators of Emotions, said Ivorian cooks began going back to their culinary roots just after the turn of the century.

Before that, chefs at fancy restaurants "had the habit of offering Western dishes with imported products," he said. "But the cost of living kept going up," so they turned to less-expensive products "they had just under their noses".

And local specialties are appearing more and more on the menus of the luxury restaurants that have mushroomed across Abidjan in recent years, Yapi added.

Valerie Rollainth, an Ivorian chef trained in France at the famous Institut Paul Bocuse, insisted that typically hearty Ivorian cuisine is no longer suited to the capital's increasingly sedentary lifestyle.

"There are too few vegetables, a shocking quantity of oil, and the dishes are cooked too long" and lose their nutrients, she said.

At the nutritional workshops she organises she urges people to eat local products in new ways, such as raw okra, which "is very good against diabetes".

"Some diseases are linked to eating habits," she said. "In the Ivory Coast, not everyone has access to health care, but everyone has access to healthy food."
Governance should be about making the lives of those governed better. Before the advent of the Akufo-Addo-Bawumia-led regime, the NPP made the unsuspecting Ghanaian Voters believe that the best thing to happen in Ghana after 2016 was the NPP Party in charge of governance.

While in power now, this current government is ironically inept and insensitive to Ghanaians, the very people who voted them into power in 2016 and 2020.

The actions and inactions of this government from 2017 to date are self-inflicted and they must suffer for it. The ineptitude and insensitivity of this governing NPP Party is what will take them into Opposition after the 2024 General elections.

It is almost certain to me that the only way this governing NPP Party led by President Akufo-Addo and Dr. Bawumia will better learn and deeply reflect on their poor performance and disappointing Ghanaians so badly is when they are in Opposition after 2024.

This is supported by the fact that the arrogance of power is visible everywhere under this government. Here are some few examples.

This Akufo-Addo-Bawumia-led government has not only mismanaged the economy and weakened the economic fundamentals but also recklessly borrowed to astronomical levels; by taking the national debt from about GHS120 billion in 2016 to almost GHS600 billion in 2023). Instead of admitting that they have erred and start fixing the ailing economy, the NPP rather blamed their self-inflicted economic woes on Covid-19 and the ongoing Ukraine-Russia war.

As if that was not enough, this insensitive government sadly subjected Ghanaians to the excruciating Domestic Debt Exchange Program (DDEP) after Ken Ofori-Atta borrowed as if there was no tomorrow and plunged the country into massive debt and still went to the IMF for $3 billion 3-year Extended Credit Facility.

The unsightly scenes of the elderly picketing at the Finance Ministry this year to demand for payment of their matured coupons and bonds with government showed the highest level of insensitivity and callousness of this regime.

Additionally, corruption and nepotism have been on the ascendency under this government. The galamsey menace, on the other hand, is also flourishing and devastating pristine forest reserves with rich biodiversity and major rivers and streams killing aquatic faunal ad floral species and endangering human health in mining communities.

The continuous piling of taxes on Ghanaians when this current government promised Ghanaians of more production and less taxes in 2016 can be best described as wicked deceit. The slimmest Majority in Parliament waste no time in pushing through their obnoxious taxes amid opposition from the NDC Minority without the former considering the repercussions on worsening living conditions. This is highly pathetic to say the least!

The arrogance of power and insensitivity shown by this NPP regime failed Ghanaians gargantuanly and they are not ready learn from their mistakes.

This demonstrates that the NPP has run out of ideas, energy, and still lacks any modicum of sincerity to govern again and Ghanaians should vote them out.

Recent publications in 2023 by the EIUs Africa outlook 2024 - Strong Growth amid Heated Elections and Financial Woes and Bloomberg support the fact that this NPP government is highly unpopular among Ghanaians and the NDC is likely to win the 2024 General elections.

On the Flagbearer level, Global InfoAnalytics survey concluded that former President would defeat Dr. Bawumia of the NPP in 2024. Thus, the NPP should be given a loud electoral rejection in 2024 to be in Opposition and reflect on their undoings.

The next NDC under Mahama will fix the economic mess created by the Akufo-Addo-Bawumia-led government with introduction of refresh energy and transformative ideas.

The New Year, 2024 beckons and we all should be more watchful, more responsible and continue to be citizens and demand the upcoming elections to be highly peaceful, free, and fair on December 7, 2024.
President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo has applauded the men and women of the Ghana Armed Forces (GAF) for their hard work, dedication, commitment and professionalism in securing the countrys peace and stability.

Commending GAF for their efforts and hard work at protecting the countrys fledgling democracy, the President asked that it (GAF) continue to be vigilant in protecting Ghanas territorial integrity amidst the surge in national organised crimes  terrorism and violent extremism  particularly in the West African region.

He reminded the GAF that the country would largely rely on it, including other security services, to ensure that the country remained peaceful and stable during and after the upcoming 2024 general elections.

President Akufo-Addo said this when he addressed the men and women of the GAF at this years West African Soldiers Social Activities (WASSA) at the Burma Camp last Friday.

The West African region lately has witnessed unprecedented security challenges terrorist attacks from Jihadist movements, violent extremism, military coups and maritime attacks, among others, as well as climate change issues.

Despite the efforts of national security forces with their international counterparts, the United Nations has said insecurity has deteriorated in many parts of the region due to these incessant challenges.

Countries also along the coast of the Gulf of Guinea have seen an increase in territorial tensions and attacks which has affected transportation of goods and services to landlocked countries further north.

But Ghana, despite these regional security challenges, has largely remained peaceful and stable witnessed a peaceful transition of power and enjoyed relatively smooth democratic governance over the past 30 years.

President Akufo-Addo said his government over the past seven years, had remained committed to retooling and resourcing the GAF to strategically position it to deal with these incessant security challenges.

Also, he said the accommodation, welfare issues and operational and logistical needs of the GAF have received much attention from his Government to enable it (GAF) to protect the countrys security interests.

President Akufo-Addo urged the GAF to foster good relations with the civilian population to enhance unity and peaceful coexistence for national development.

The Minister of Defense, Dominic Nitiwul, said construction works on military bases along the northern parts of Ghana had reached advanced stages of completion.
Rev Stephen Yenusom Wengam, the General Superintendent of the Assemblies of God has said in all things Ghanaians should give thanks to God for being alive.

He urges citizens to be appreciative of God's grace even in the face of severe economic hardship and devastating flooding in parts of the country.

During his address to the Church and the entire nation, Rev Wengam emphasized the importance of gratitude, stating, "A people who are not grateful for what they have are not likely to be grateful for what they are going to get."

He encouraged Ghanaians to be "overly grateful to God for all grace" that has been bestowed upon them over the years.

Acknowledging the challenges, including severe economic hardship and destructive flooding, Rev. Wengam maintained a positive mindset, emphasizing the need for gratitude amid adversity.

"Even in the face of monumental challenges such as severe economic hardship, flooding of devastating consequences in parts of the country, amongst others," he declared, "we have every cause to be overly grateful to God for all His mercies."

In the spirit of the Christmas season, the religious leader called for a show of generosity towards the needy, urging the nation to turn away from sin, disbelief, corruption and the abuse of human rights.

He emphasized that the birth of Christ provides valuable lessons on holiness, which are especially relevant during challenging times.

"The birth of Christ offers many useful lessons on holiness and is relevant for our survival in these challenging times.

Holy living is paramount as we celebrate the birth of Jesus Christ," Rev Wengam asserted.

He encouraged everyone to end the year on a good note and to make it a lifelong commitment.

He further calls on individuals to use the occasion to proclaim holiness to those who are yet to embrace it.
Founding President of IMANI Centre for Policy and Education, Franklin Cudjoe has reminded men of God that doom prophecies are no longer tolerated on December 31, watch-night service.

The Ghana Police Service under IGP George Akuffo Dampare has been critical of doom prophecies.

Ahead of the 2023 end of year all night, the Police Service in a press release reminded the general public, especially the religious community, of the law on publication of false news and urged all to comply.

We urge the general public, especially faith-based groups and individuals, to continue to be patriotic and abide by the law, to ensure that the prevailing state of law, order and security in our beloved country is maintained.

The Police will like to remind the public that while we have the right to practice our faith and freedom of speech as guaranteed by our constitution and democratic values, we want to reiterate that the enjoyment of these rights are subject to respect for the rights and freedoms of others and for the public interest, parts of the Police press release said.

Reacting to that release, Franklin Cudjoe has implored the men of God in the habit of prophesying after eating several bowls of fufu to take note of the caution from the Ghana Police Service to avoid getting into trouble.

Aha! Those of you in the habit of prophesying after feasting on big bowls of fufu, such as one l read, that he saw a big elephant caged until 2025 while angels looked on, the Police has sent advance warning oo. Be careful, the IMANI boss said in a post on Facebook.
Benin has lifted its suspension of imported goods transiting to Niger through the port of Cotonou in a move that follows five months of sanctions on the coup-hit country.

The measure was taken "in view of the substantial improvement in the operational conditions for handling goods at the port of Cotonou" the port's director general Bart Van Eenoo said on Wednesday.

It comes almost a week after Benin President Patrice Talon called for relations to be swiftly re-established between his country and neighbouring Niger.

Sanctions

The West African regional bloc Ecowas had imposed sanctions on Niger following a coup on 26 July, which saw the military oust elected leader Mohamed Bazoum.

The measures have led to the closure of the border with Benin, which has seen a fall in revenues after the transport of goods to Niger via its ports was halted.

Goods for Niger represent 80 percent of the transit volume at the port of Cotonou.

Niger's economy remains one of the world's weakest, and since the coup and the sanctions, the country has been struggling.

"This does not mean that the Ecowas measures are lifted," the commercial and marketing director of the autonomous port of Cotonou, Kristof Van den Branden, told RFI.

"These are only measures for the operations of the port of Cotonou.

Both Benin and Niger are also concerned about a giant oil pipeline that will allow Niger to sell its crude on the international market for the first time, via the Benin port of Seme.

(with AFP)
28.12.2023 LISTEN

The Red Apples (part 53)

You wanted to mention the issue of modern high technology, reminded King Hossein III of Tunisia his counterpart from Egypt avoiding the term Artificial Intelligence as in the view of King Joseph these machines and software programs had anything but something to do with intelligence.

Thank you, my good friend, was King Joseph pleased to be corrected well be aware of the talent to divert from his original course of presentation, and let us just jump right into the topic. As in my previous working life, I constantly predicted these machines would never take over the world or our human lives. They are simply not good enough for that. They are the products of invention and not creation which makes all the important difference. Fake news, oh yes, they happened and caused us serious harm. But in the end, we learned our lesson and learned how to distinguish between deep fake news of the latest technology and real, true, and credible information. Of course, we signed laws to find the correct rules and regulations to use this great technology and not be used by it. Intelligent? They are and always will be stupid regardless of the level they reach in performance.

All they do is to follow the instructions of a human being the code of zero and one besides various algorithmsthat is all and has nothing really nothing to do with intelligence. They do not know who they are and what they want as they can not reflect on themselves. Reflection needs values, meaning, and destiny, and nothing of these a machine performing on the instruction of man can achieve. Only a created not an invented something can ever achieve greatness and dominion.

President Peter of Biafra was most impressed by inviting King Joseph to come to his people and take off their fears of artificial so-called wonders: My predecessors and I have truly tried and done our best to eradicate witchcraft from our territory. It is persistent in the minds of too many people in our society. The more we push the evil spirits out and put their bodiesI mean Mallams are behind bars even in re-education campsthey push back against us. This is unbelievable but the reality of Africa till now. I guess one day they might even have the power to divide us here on the continent. We all must be constantly work against these problems and always be out to watch the negative signs. I dont know but sometimes out of desperation I think God created us like that to spin the wheel of fortune from our side up against the white man on the north side of the globe.

We should not go that far, tried King Joseph to relax President Peter giving him a hand up. It was time to return back to the plenum session and hear the results of the other groups.

Do you see him? pointed Victoria Odhiambo out to her husband Joshua Odhiambo while sitting on a piece of clothing to shield herself from the heat of the sand. It was late morning in the Sonoran desert of Arizona in the west of the United States. The heat started already to be unbearable. For hours they tried to find the way out of the uninhabited land of sand and rock. Their car had broken down no signal to make a phone call and ask for help. The little of water they had decided to go with them soon would not be enough anymore. Rationing of water was all that could help them in this devastating moment.

Joshua Odhiambo turned around and looked at his wife with no sign on his face how scared he was: You mean the roadrunner over there?

She knotted with little movement wanting to avoid sweating which could have led her body to desire for more water. Victoria Odhiambo hated the heat but it was him, Joshua Odhiambo for whom she after weeks of discussion agreed to join him on a tour to see the Arizona desert. They had set off spontaneously thinking in this time of age and year stories of lost people would no longer be relevant. Civilization in their belief was everywhere around them no place unknown to many mankind no way to get ever lost without leaving a trace behind. The little provisions they had loaded their car with filled two rucksacks. Not much for two people stuck in uncertainty.

Joshua Odhiambo held his phone constantly and desperately in the air trying to catch a signal from the air and make a call to rescue both. The air was hot but clear with a little breeze of wind from between the rocks. They knew without saying that only keeping up hope and a clear mind could finally bring them out of the desert in which animals and plants die for nothing or at least for no reason they could think of. Why on earth should highly intelligent people the the cream de la cream of creation fall victim to nature? Nature was there to use and enjoy not to trouble the human race. When nature was created to please people it was not supposed to do them any harm. Confused ideas crossed their minds set on survival mode. It was either the desert won the race of the fittest or they. Both decided definitely it would be them.

Let us go over there behind the rockI think that the sun will soon turn for us to find more shadow between these rock formations, dragged Joshua Odhiambo his wife and gave her a hand up. She was weak not so much because of lack of water or the concern about the shortage of food but more of the uncertainty of their situation. Sitting at home or in her office with the daily often boring routine made her not think too much outside the box but here faced with the toughness of nature things in her mind changed drastically. Victoria Odhiambo put down her piece of clothing on a small low rock between the two walls of a bizarre rock formation around them. Like on a tiny island in the middle of an ocean instead of blue and sandy in color and in real texture the shadows around her gave her a bit of comfort and relief. They fell stuck in a hostile environment not made for man. No way their senses could make sense of it all. Why should it happen to them? In reports they heard of people in a similar situation but that was from the comfort of their home. At home, they felt secure there in real life in the harsh conditions of pure nature both lost their sense of direction.

Joshua Odhiambo walked between the walls of the two rocks to see further and to see whether there could have been a way out of the troubled situation. He constantly hammered his brain with the thought that what was not supposed to happen was impossible to actually happen. It was the mind certainly it must have been the mind which would bring both back into civilization. A voice in him made him turn to a most bizarre formation in the grey wall of the rock to his right. Unable to identify the voice in him he moved closer and closer to the rock formation. Instantly he backed off not knowing what to believe his eyes or his mind his rationality or in the visible or the invisible. Down on his knees touching the hot sand he looked at them. He did not dare to touch them but his fingers mysteriously stretched themselves out to touch them.

He said without a voice to be heard loudly:  One, twoand there three red apples. Yes, three redthree shining so well polished apples.
Former President John Dramani Mahama has mourned the passing of Apostle Dr Michael Kwabena Ntumy, describing him as a "true servant of God."

In a post on Facebook on Wednesday, December 27, Mahama extended his "deepest condolences to the family and the Church of Pentecost" following Apostle Dr Ntumy's death at the age of 78.

The 2024 NDC flagbearer acknowledged Apostle Dr Ntumy's distinguished career spent "dedicating his life to spreading the gospel and building the church."

"He was a true servant of God who dedicated his life to spreading the gospel and building the church. His legacy of faith, love, and leadership will continue to inspire and guide many," Mahama wrote.

The late clergyman died in the morning of Wednesday, December 27, according to an official statement released by the church.

Apostle Dr. Ntumy served two terms as chairman of the Church and retired as an Apostle last year after 39 years in ministry.
President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelenskyy hold a telephone conversation with Pope Francis on Thursday.

"I have just spoke with His Holiness Pope Francis. I thanked him for greeting Ukraine and Ukrainians with a Merry Christmas, for wishing a just peace for all of us," Zelenskyy said in a video message on Thursday.

"I have discussed our joint work on the Peace Formula. More than 80 countries are already in the process at the level of their own representatives. There will be more," he said.

Zelenskyy expressed gratitude to "The Vatican for supporting our work."
Independent Presidential Candidate Desmond Kwame Abrefah has promised an all-inclusive government when elected in the upcoming general elections.

He has also promised to create a media ministry when elected president in 2024.

According to him, his intention of creating a media ministry as president was to make the media independent and professional in their quest to deliver quality content.

Mr. Kwame Desmond, who is set for victory in the 2024 general elections, made this known during an interaction with a section of the media in Accra.

The media, which is constitutionally recognized as the 4th arm of government, has for years not received the necessary recognition it deserves to help in the total development of the country, he stated.

According to Mr. Abrefah, who is also a man of God, the creation of a media ministry would also help address the high rate of corruption across all borders of the country.

Mr. Abrefah disclosed that his intention to contest the 2024 presidential elections as an independent candidate was a call from the Almighty God to save the country from its current poor state.

He attributed the challenges that Ghanaians have faced and continue to experience to poor leadership by both the NDC and the NPP.

According to Mr. Abrefah, the only way Ghana can be liberated is when Ghanaians reject both the NPP and the NDC and vote for him in the 2024 general elections.

I am not seeking power to embezzle public funds. it is meant for the development of Ghana, but rather to make lives bearable for the ordinary Ghanaian, he assured.

I believe Ghanaians have for several years witnessed the poor leadership of both the NPP and the NDC and am therefore appealing to the good people of this country to try me (Desmond Kwame Abrefah) for a great change that would reflect in the eyes of all Ghanaians and the world at large, he added.

Mr Abrefah took the opportunity to wish Ghanaians well and prayed for peaceful elections as he continued his campaign to the northern regions as part of his regular consultations with the chiefs and people.
A 28-year-old man on December 27, 2023, met his untimely death while crossing a section of the road at Gomoa Bewaadze, near the Winneba Junction.

Per information gathered at the town by the Ghana News Agency, the accident occurred around 1100 hours.

A source told the GNA that the deceased identified as Simon Tawiah was walking with some family members along the side of the road but went ahead of them and attempted to cross the road.

The source said Tawiah was suddenly knocked down by a Hyundai SantaFe vehicle with registration Number GX 46-19, from Tema to Takoradi and was being driven by a chauffeur with two Chinese Nationals on board.

The source stated that the police was immediately called in and rushed the victim who was then bleeding profusely to the Winneba Trauma and Specialist Hospital but was pronounced dead on arrival.

Meanwhile, the body has been deposited at the morgue of the same Hospital for preservation and autopsy.

GNA
The Church of Pentecost has announced that the final funeral rites for its former chairman and prominent Ghanaian clergyman Apostle Dr. Michael Kwabena Ntumy will be held on February 17, 2024 in Accra.

Apostle Dr. Ntumy passed away on December 27 at the age of 65 after ailing for some time.

He had a distinguished career serving the church for over 30 years in various leadership positions.

Born in 1958 in Dadieso in the Oti Region, Apostle Dr. Ntumy rose through the ranks to become the fourth chairman of The Church of Pentecost, serving two terms from 1998 to 2008.

He also held several other prominent roles including director of literary works for the church, president of the Ghana Pentecostal and Charismatic Council, and vice president of the Bible Society of Ghana.

In recognition of his service, Apostle Dr. Ntumy was awarded the national honour of Order of the Volta by the government in 2006.

The late clergyman, per sources, faced many challenges throughout his life and ministry.

During the Liberian civil war, he was held hostage and survived assassination attempts including physical assaults and poisoning.

He later suffered paralysis forcing him to use a wheelchair before his demise.
28.12.2023 LISTEN

The National Democratic Congress (NDC) in the Awutu Senya East Constituency (ASEC) has said it will not tolerate intimidation that occurred in the 2020 general elections by the Member of Parliament (MP) Hon. Mavis Hawa Koomson.

They vowed to face the lawmaker squarely if similar incident recur in the upcoming 2024 general elections.

This follows an interview granted by the MP on Okay FM saying she would only relinquish the seat only when she is dead.

In a statement signed by the Youth Organiser of the NDC in the constituency, Nash Nyandey Adams, it said the declaration on national television that she (Hawa Koomson) will only accept defeat when she is deceased is a clear affront to democratic norms.

According to the statement, the MP brought thugs from Bawku to cause mayhem during the just ended District Level Elections.

It is alleged that the thugs also caused the mayhem that marred the 2020 general elections in the constituency which the MP is bent on bringing them back to cause confusion in the 2024 elections.

Based on this backdrop, the NDC youth wing has vowed it will not tolerate any violent act in the upcoming 2024 general elections.

Unlike previous instances, the NDC in Kasoa will not wait for leaders from Accra to address this matter. We are fully prepared to take matters into our own hands to ensure the safety of our members and the integrity of the electoral process.

We advise her to prepare for a fair and transparent electoral process, one that will inevitably usher in HE John Mahama and Naa Koryoo as the President and MP elect respectively.

If the police cannot guarantee the safety of our members and the public, the NDC will not remain passive, the statement said.

The statement further called on the appropriate authorities to call the MP to order to avert any unforeseen circumstances in 2024.
French President Emmanuel Macron will preside over India's Republic Day celebrations next month to cap the 25th anniversary of strategic military ties worth billions of euros for France's arms industry.

Delhi's invitation to the French president came after US leader Joe Biden declined an offer to be the guest of honour at the 26 January parade.

Macron will become the sixth French leader to attend the annual military extravaganza since 1976.

Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi is returning the honour after Macron invited him to attend France's traditional military parade on Bastille Day on 14 July.

As strategic partners, India and France share a high degree of convergence on a range of regional and global issues, India's External Affairs Ministry said.

It will be the second meeting between Macron and Modi since September, when the two leaders promised to take India-France relations to new heights during talks on the sidelines of the G20 summit in Delhi.

While France and India have had diplomatic ties since 1948, their defence cooperation grew closer with the agreement of an Indo-French Strategic Partnership in January 1998.

This Strategic Partnership, first for France outside the EU, has been instrumental in the comprehensive growth of India-France relationship, officials told theIndian Express newspaper.

Arms deals

France is India's closest strategic partner in Europe and its second-largest arms supplier after Russia, having edged past the US last year.

France now supplies 29 percent of India's military hardware imports, and is hoping for more.

Macron announced his two-day trip after French aircraft maker Dassault responded to Delhi's tender to supply the Indian navy with 26 Rafale fighter jets, worth 5.4 billion.

The marine jets add to 36 Rafales already purchased by India for 8 billion in 2016 to shore up its ground forces against China.

France will also build three Scorpene submarines worth 3.2 billion, in addition to six already constructed in a Mumbai shipyard.

The impact of Russia's lingering war in Ukraine on its arms export industry is also likely to put the French in the lead in a race to sell India over 100 war jets worth 22 billion.

Nuclear roadblock

Outside military equipment, bilateral trade between France and India topped 12 billion in the past financial year.

France has emerged the 11th largest foreign investor in India, with an inflow of 9.5 billion between 2000 and 2023.

The 25-year-old strategic partnership between France and India also calls for cooperation in the fields of space and nuclear power.

The pair have robust space collaborations underway, but plans to set up the world's largest atomic power project has hit a wall ever since Delhi sought guarantees in line with a law that stipulates full compensation in case of a mishap.

If completed, the Jaitapur nuclear power plant on India's west coast would generate 9,900 megawatts of power and light up 70 million homes. But the project has stalled since French and Indian state nuclear companies first agreed on it in 2009.

The Civil Liability Nuclear Damage Act, passed the following year, raised concerns that the French side could find itself on the hook for hundreds of millions of euros in the event of an accident.

The contentious law has also blocked efforts by the United States and Japan to set up atomic power plants in energy-deficient India, which has promised to triple its nuclear capacity by 2032.

Russia is so far the only country that has constructed an Indian nuclear plant, which predates the liability law.
The Upper West Regional Office of the Food and Drugs Authority (FDA), acting on intelligence, has apprehended a suspected drug peddler in Tumu in the Sissala East Municipality.

The suspect, Abdul-Razak Kudus, aged about 35 years, was arrested for selling unregistered herbal drugs in Tumu and its enclave to unsuspected consumers.

Mr Kelvin Dafaari, the Acting Upper West Regional Head of the FDA, revealed this to the Ghana News Agency (GNA) in Wa.

He said the suspect was in police custody and would be made to face the full rigours of the law in accordance with the Public Health Act.

He said the suspect, who operated the Sawab Herbal in Wa, had registered the Sawab capsules and Sawab ointment with the FDA but sold about eight different products under the guise of the two registered products.

The unregistered products included Men Enlargement Tonic, Sawab Power Bitters, Sawab Koo Tonic, and Sawab T-Mala Mix, among others.

The most interesting thing is that all these medicines that he is selling are from one ingredient but with different labels that are kept on the products to sell.

The herbal medicines are kept in different bottles, very dirty and not registered, and if you look at the expiring date on the drugs too, some of them have two varying expiring dates, one product with different expiring dates, Mr Dafaari explained.

He said the suspect produced the products in Wa but sold them in Tumu to evade the routine inspections of his activities by the FDA.

He said the arrest of Kudus added up to two people arrested in the region this year for drug peddling.

The FDA Regional Boss, however, indicated that the issue of peddling drugs in the region had been reduced since the FDA began operation in the region in 2011.

He indicated that few people in the region had registered their herbal medicines but that the FDA had made the registration process very liberal for every person who wished to manufacture and sell herbal medicine to do so legally.

Mr Dafaari cautioned the people in the region, who engaged in drug peddling contrary to the Public Health Act to desist from the act since they would be sanctioned severely when apprehended.

He said the FDA staff might not be in every part of the region, but they were gathering intelligence, and had eyes were on the ground, and anyone apprehended would be sanctioned according to the law.

GNA
28.12.2023 LISTEN

An Accra Circuit Court has granted bail to five security operatives and two others accused of robbing a deputy director of operations of a firm in Accra.

They are Alex Anim, a 42-year-old National Security Operative alleged to be stationed at Jubilee House, Ernest Amankwah, a 40-year-old police officer, and James Awinimari Adocta, a 42-year-old Police Officer who has been interdicted.

The others are Edwin Ansah, a 27-year-old Military officer, Kelvin Prince Boakye, a 49-year-old National Security operative, Stephen Adu, a 44-year-old businessman and one John aka Na Today, who is currently at large.

Six out of the seven accused persons have been admitted to bail in the sum of GHC200,000 with three sureties, one to be justified.

This was after they pleaded not guilty to the charges of conspiracy to commit robbery, robbery, extortion, and possession of forged 176 pieces of $100 bill.

The court presided over by Mr. Samuel Bright Acquah ordered that the two other sureties of the accused persons should be ordinary citizens.

It further ordered the accused persons to report once a week to the Police.

The matter has been adjourned to February 5,2024.

When the matter was called Superintendent of Police Augustine Yirenkyi held the brief of Deputy Superintendent of Police Maxwell Oppong.

According to the prosecution, the complainants are Robert Mbroh, a Deputy Director of Operations for an unnamed organization, and David Kofi Dadzie, a building contractor.

The prosecutor said on August 3, 2023, Mbroh asked Dadzie to assist him obtain $20,000 from a foreign exchange dealer.

The prosecution told the court that Dadzie contacted an acquaintance, one John, alias Na Today, for some assistance.

According to the prosecutor, John met the two complainants (Mbroh and Dadzie) on the same day at Achimota Mall, where they agreed that the complainant should pay GHC80,000 and 10,000 Euros in exchange for $20,000.

The prosecution said the complainants, as part of their commitment, made an initial deposit of GHC80,000 to John while he (John) mobilised the rest of the money the following day.

The prosecutor said on August 4, 2023, John called the complainants to inform them of the change of venue from Achimota Mall to Tantra Hills in Accra.

The prosecution said the complainants went to a spot at Tanta Hills, near Our Lady of Assumption School.

It said John gave the complainants $20,000 in $100 bills, in two bundles, beginning with serial number PG40131659 B, which ran serially, and PL57737565 A that also ran serially in the bundle.

The prosecution said as soon as the said John left the scene, a Toyota Landcruiser with registration GR 1853-23 arrived and parked in front of Wash n Go laundry, where Ernest Amankwah was seen wearing a police uniform and armed with an AK47 rifle alongside Stephen Adu.

The prosecutor said Anim and Adocta alighted from the vehicle and immediately accused the complainants of engaging in illegal foreign exchange transactions.

The Prosecutor said five of the accused persons marched the two complainants into the vehicle.

It said while in the vehicle, Adocta searched Dadzie and removed the two bundles of dollar notes totaling $20,000.

The prosecution said Adocta claimed the money was not genuine, thus the complainants should either contact a bank or forex bureau for confirmation.

It said the accused persons instead took the complainants to Sowutuom Police Station Premises and asked them to wait outside the station.

The prosecutor told the court that Adu and Anim informed the complainants that they had spoken to the Sowutoum Police Command and decided to resolve the matter.

The accused persons then demanded 1,000 Euros so they could set the complainants free.

The prosecution said after hearing the story, the station officer at Sowutuom ordered the arrest of Adu Anim and Ansah for further investigations.

On September 2, 2023, Adu mobilized some boys, and they arrested Kelvin Prince Boakye.

In the course of investigations, the accused persons volunteered to refund the amount involved and made a down payment of GHC30,000.

The prosecution said, efforts have been intensified to arrest other accomplices involved.

GNA
The Prestige Health Ladies Association, a group comprising health workers on Thursday presented items to improve the hygiene of female inmates at the Sunyani Central Prisons.

The items include sanitary pads, shaving blades, toiletries, washing, bathing and medicated soaps, pomade, tooth brushes, pastes and washing powder.

According to the Reverend Esther Prempeh, the President, the Association was formed to support needy and vulnerable people in society.

We are happy when we share with the needy, orphans and the vulnerable people, she said.

Superintendent Charity Yeboah, in-charge of Industry at the female Prison thanked the Association for the gesture and appealed for more.

Its been a long time since the inmates received shaving sticks from the public she stated, and appealed to the general public to also support the reformation of the 19 female inmates at the central prison.

Supt Yeboah said the reformation and reintegration of the inmates remained shared and collective responsibility, saying more of such assistance was expected from the general public in providing the essential needs of the inmates.
Dear critical-reader, the leadership of the largest opposition party in Ghana, the National Democratic Congress (NDC), need to understand clearly that there are no longer any sacred cows, in the Ghanaian political world, of today.

Ditto that their party will not return to power again, if it does not prove to Ghanaians that it is a government-in-waiting, with the requisite policies in place, to enable it create a prosperous and equitable society that benefits all societal demographics, equally, and has the requisite political will, to deal with allegations of high level corruption, by tackling it head on.

Above all, the NDC's leadership must prove to Ghanaians that they will have the needed resolve, when in power, to prevent powerful individuals from hijacking our system, for use as a state capture rent-seeking asset, to enable them send their personal net worth to stratospheric heights at the expense of ordinary people and their beloved Mother Ghana - as has been the case under the current regime of President Akufo-Addo: whose tenure as President has been disastrous for Ghanaians and Mother Ghana, because of the unparalleled high level corruption we have witnessed thus far.

A political party whose leading lights respond to demands for light to be shone on the corruption allegations apparently levelled against former President John Dramani Mahama, as regards the purchase of a previously owned military transport plane, manufactured and converted by the European aircraft manufacturer, Airbus, for the Ghana Air Force, must not take the unhelpful and arrogant attitude, once taken by Hon. Murtala Mohammed.

It will be recalled, dear critical-reader, that when the subject was brought up by the host of a GHOne television current affairs discussion programme, Lantana Lamson, once upon a time, not too long ago, Hon. Murtala Muhammed, threw a tantrum on live television - as if somehow it was a taboo subject that no one had the right, in the Ghana of today, to raise, oooo, Ghanafuor, lol. Hmmm, 3y3asem oooo...

In that regard, it would be far more beneficial for the NDC, if former President Mahama rather elected to tell the nation, the whole truth about that particular scandal.

If the bald truth, is that he did in fact take a kickback, not for himself, personally, but for the NDC as a corporate entity, then he ought to beg for forgiveness, from Ghanaians for that acknowledged error of judgment, on his part - which he himself did once allude to, in a cryptic answer to the host of the BBC current affairs programme, Panorama, when he responded, with a question of his own, to the host, who asked him if he had ever been involved in acts of corruption, by asking the host if he meant his being personally corrupt.

That display of honesty, by former President Mahama, will endear him to many Ghanaians, who will admire his honesty, in stark contrast to the endless denials of allegations of high level corruption made against the current state-capture rent-seeking big-thieves-in-high-places, who dominate our byzantine system, by the presidency, under today's ruinious government-of-the-day.

For the information of the NDC's leadership, dear critical-reader, there are no sacred cows, now, in as far as transparency in debating policy options, and addressing allegations of high level corruption made against high-and-mighty individuals, are concerned, in today's Ghanaian political world, oooo, Ghanafuor. Case closed. Full stop. Yooooooooo...
Czech National Bank increased its position in Chubb Limited (NYSE:CB  Free Report) by 46.4% during the third quarter, according to the company in its most recent 13F filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission. The firm owned 71,787 shares of the financial services providers stock after acquiring an additional 22,758 shares during the period. Czech National Banks holdings in Chubb were worth $14,945,000 at the end of the most recent reporting period.

Other large investors have also modified their holdings of the company. Guardian Wealth Advisors LLC acquired a new stake in shares of Chubb in the 1st quarter worth about $25,000. ICA Group Wealth Management LLC acquired a new stake in shares of Chubb in the 4th quarter worth about $25,000. IMA Wealth Inc. increased its holdings in shares of Chubb by 275.7% in the 2nd quarter. IMA Wealth Inc. now owns 139 shares of the financial services providers stock worth $27,000 after acquiring an additional 102 shares during the period. BOK Financial Private Wealth Inc. acquired a new stake in shares of Chubb in the 3rd quarter worth about $28,000. Finally, Mcmillion Capital Management Inc. acquired a new stake in shares of Chubb in the 2nd quarter worth about $35,000. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 86.30% of the companys stock.

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Insider Buying and Selling

In related news, EVP Juan Luis Ortega sold 1,508 shares of the firms stock in a transaction that occurred on Wednesday, November 8th. The shares were sold at an average price of $218.63, for a total transaction of $329,694.04. Following the completion of the sale, the executive vice president now directly owns 49,940 shares in the company, valued at $10,918,382.20. The transaction was disclosed in a filing with the SEC, which is accessible through the SEC website. In other Chubb news, EVP Juan Luis Ortega sold 1,508 shares of Chubb stock in a transaction that occurred on Wednesday, November 8th. The shares were sold at an average price of $218.63, for a total value of $329,694.04. Following the completion of the sale, the executive vice president now directly owns 49,940 shares in the company, valued at $10,918,382.20. The transaction was disclosed in a filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available through this hyperlink. Also, insider John J. Lupica sold 17,810 shares of Chubb stock in a transaction that occurred on Monday, November 6th. The shares were sold at an average price of $218.76, for a total transaction of $3,896,115.60. Following the completion of the sale, the insider now owns 136,239 shares of the companys stock, valued at $29,803,643.64. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. Over the last three months, insiders sold 37,128 shares of company stock worth $8,121,925. 0.37% of the stock is owned by company insiders.

Analyst Ratings Changes

Several equities analysts have commented on the stock. Wells Fargo & Company cut shares of Chubb from an overweight rating to an equal weight rating and lowered their target price for the company from $253.00 to $240.00 in a research note on Monday, December 18th. Citigroup raised their target price on shares of Chubb from $235.00 to $238.00 and gave the company a buy rating in a research note on Tuesday, October 10th. Jefferies Financial Group lowered their target price on shares of Chubb from $217.00 to $215.00 in a research note on Friday, October 6th. Deutsche Bank Aktiengesellschaft initiated coverage on shares of Chubb in a research note on Wednesday, October 4th. They set a buy rating and a $269.00 target price on the stock. Finally, JPMorgan Chase & Co. cut shares of Chubb from an overweight rating to a neutral rating and set a $250.00 price objective on the stock. in a research note on Monday, October 2nd. Six equities research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and eight have assigned a buy rating to the company. According to data from MarketBeat.com, the stock currently has an average rating of Moderate Buy and an average price target of $241.46.

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Chubb Trading Up 0.3 %

Shares of CB traded up $0.67 during midday trading on Wednesday, hitting $222.74. The stock had a trading volume of 564,212 shares, compared to its average volume of 1,818,435. Chubb Limited has a fifty-two week low of $183.40 and a fifty-two week high of $231.37. The business has a 50-day simple moving average of $220.63 and a two-hundred day simple moving average of $208.15. The firm has a market cap of $90.88 billion, a P/E ratio of 13.12, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 1.15 and a beta of 0.61. The company has a current ratio of 0.30, a quick ratio of 0.30 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.24.

Chubb (NYSE:CB  Get Free Report) last posted its quarterly earnings results on Tuesday, October 24th. The financial services provider reported $4.95 EPS for the quarter, topping the consensus estimate of $4.21 by $0.74. The business had revenue of $14.09 billion during the quarter, compared to analysts expectations of $13.16 billion. Chubb had a net margin of 14.58% and a return on equity of 14.26%. As a group, equities analysts forecast that Chubb Limited will post 19.18 EPS for the current year.

Chubb Announces Dividend

The business also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Friday, January 5th. Investors of record on Friday, December 15th will be issued a dividend of $0.86 per share. This represents a $3.44 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 1.54%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Thursday, December 14th. Chubbs dividend payout ratio is currently 20.32%.

Chubb Company Profile

(Free Report)

Chubb Limited provides insurance and reinsurance products worldwide. The company's North America Commercial P&C Insurance segment offers commercial property, casualty, workers' compensation, package policies, risk management, financial lines, marine, construction, environmental, medical, cyber risk, surety, and excess casualty; and group accident and health insurance to large, middle market, and small commercial businesses.

Further Reading

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Over the past day, the aviation of the Ukrainian Defense Forces has attacked 17 areas of concentration of personnel, weapons and military equipment of the Russian occupiers, as well as two enemy anti-aircraft missile systems.

As reported in the operational information on the Russian invasion as of 18:00 on Thursday, published on the Facebook page of the General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, units of the Ukrainian missile forces, in turn, over the past day, defeated two areas of concentration of personnel, weapons and military equipment of the enemy, four enemy artillery means and two ammunition depots of the occupiers.
Fiduciary Alliance LLC lifted its stake in shares of The Coca-Cola Company (NYSE:KO  Free Report) by 50.7% during the 3rd quarter, according to the company in its most recent disclosure with the Securities & Exchange Commission. The fund owned 7,652 shares of the companys stock after buying an additional 2,575 shares during the period. Fiduciary Alliance LLCs holdings in Coca-Cola were worth $428,000 at the end of the most recent quarter.

Other hedge funds also recently modified their holdings of the company. Fairfield Bush & CO. bought a new stake in Coca-Cola during the first quarter worth $77,000. Merit Financial Group LLC lifted its holdings in Coca-Cola by 16.7% during 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 period. NewEdge Advisors LLC lifted its holdings in Coca-Cola by 41.4% during 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 period. Ergoteles LLC lifted its holdings in Coca-Cola by 385.3% during 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 period. Finally, Mackenzie Financial Corp lifted its holdings in Coca-Cola by 11.9% during 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 period. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 68.96% of the companys stock.

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Insider Activity at Coca-Cola

In related news, CEO James Quincey sold 92,029 shares of the stock in a transaction dated Tuesday, October 17th. The stock was sold at an average price of $53.86, for a total transaction of $4,956,681.94. Following the completion of the sale, the chief executive officer now directly owns 442,546 shares in the company, valued at approximately $23,835,527.56. The sale was disclosed in a document filed with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available at this hyperlink. In other Coca-Cola news, CEO James Quincey sold 92,029 shares of the companys stock in a transaction that occurred on Tuesday, October 17th. The stock was sold at an average price of $53.86, for a total transaction of $4,956,681.94. Following the completion of the transaction, the chief executive officer now owns 442,546 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $23,835,527.56. The transaction was disclosed in a filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available at the SEC website. Also, SVP Henrique Braun sold 52,696 shares of the companys stock in a transaction that occurred on Friday, November 17th. The shares were sold at an average price of $56.97, for a total value of $3,002,091.12. Following the transaction, the senior vice president now directly owns 26,272 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $1,496,715.84. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. Insiders sold 349,315 shares of company stock worth $19,805,715 in the last ninety days. 1.00% of the stock is owned by company insiders.

Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades

Several analysts have issued reports on KO shares. Bank of America lowered their target price on Coca-Cola from $74.00 to $60.00 and set a buy rating on the stock in a research note on Tuesday, October 17th. Jefferies Financial Group started coverage on Coca-Cola in a research note on Monday, November 13th. They issued a hold rating and a $64.00 target price on the stock. Citigroup lowered their target price on Coca-Cola from $74.00 to $65.00 and set a buy rating on the stock in a research note on Wednesday, October 11th. JPMorgan Chase & Co. boosted their target price on Coca-Cola from $59.00 to $62.00 and gave the company an overweight rating in a research note on Wednesday, October 25th. Finally, StockNews.com lowered Coca-Cola from a buy rating to a hold rating in a research note on Friday, October 13th. Four equities research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and eight have assigned a buy rating to the stock. Based on data from MarketBeat, the stock currently has a consensus rating of Moderate Buy and a consensus price target of $66.20.

Check Out Our Latest Research Report on KO

Coca-Cola Price Performance

Shares of KO traded up $0.07 during midday trading on Wednesday, reaching $58.63. The stock had a trading volume of 4,666,145 shares, compared to its average volume of 13,777,316. The companys 50-day moving average is $57.48 and its 200 day moving average is $58.68. The Coca-Cola Company has a 12-month low of $51.55 and a 12-month high of $64.99. The company has a current ratio of 1.14, a quick ratio of 0.97 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.23. The company has a market capitalization of $253.48 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 23.52, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 3.50 and a beta of 0.58.

Coca-Cola (NYSE:KO  Get Free Report) last issued its earnings results on Tuesday, October 24th. The company reported $0.74 earnings per share for the quarter, beating the consensus estimate of $0.69 by $0.05. The company had revenue of $11.95 billion during the quarter, compared to analysts expectations of $11.45 billion. Coca-Cola had a return on equity of 42.44% and a net margin of 23.92%. On average, equities analysts predict that The Coca-Cola Company will post 2.68 EPS for the current fiscal year.

Coca-Cola Dividend Announcement

The business also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Friday, December 15th. Investors of record on Friday, December 1st were issued a dividend of $0.46 per share. This represents a $1.84 annualized dividend and a yield of 3.14%. The ex-dividend date was Thursday, November 30th. Coca-Colas dividend payout ratio is presently 73.90%.

Coca-Cola Profile

(Free Report)

The Coca-Cola Company, a beverage company, manufactures, markets, and sells various nonalcoholic beverages worldwide. The company provides sparkling soft drinks, sparkling flavors; water, sports, coffee, and tea; juice, value-added dairy, and plant-based beverages; and other beverages. It also offers beverage concentrates and syrups, as well as fountain syrups to fountain retailers, such as restaurants and convenience stores.

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WASHINGTON TRUST Co decreased its position in shares of Bank of America Co. (NYSE:BAC) by 12.0% during the 3rd quarter, according to the company in its most recent disclosure with the Securities & Exchange Commission. The firm owned 365,612 shares of the financial services providers stock after selling 50,065 shares during the period. WASHINGTON TRUST Cos holdings in Bank of America were worth $10,010,000 as of its most recent SEC filing.

Several other hedge funds and other institutional investors also recently modified their holdings of the stock. Oak Thistle LLC raised its stake in shares of Bank of America by 156.7% in the 3rd quarter. Oak Thistle LLC now owns 56,813 shares of the financial services providers stock valued at $1,556,000 after acquiring an additional 34,684 shares during the period. SS&H Financial Advisors Inc. acquired a new position in shares of Bank of America during the third quarter valued at approximately $1,952,000. Culbertson A N & Co. Inc. increased its stake in Bank of America by 5.5% in the 3rd quarter. Culbertson A N & Co. Inc. now owns 76,387 shares of the financial services providers stock worth $2,091,000 after purchasing an additional 3,950 shares in the last quarter. Ballast Inc. grew its holdings in shares of Bank of America by 11.0% during the third quarter. Ballast Inc. now owns 41,723 shares of the financial services providers stock valued at $1,142,000 after buying an additional 4,132 shares in the last quarter. Finally, CX Institutional boosted its stake in shares of Bank of America by 11.7% during the 3rd quarter. CX Institutional now owns 37,026 shares of the financial services providers stock valued at $1,014,000 after buying an additional 3,892 shares during the period. 68.06% of the stock is currently owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors.

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Insider Activity at Bank of America

In related news, major shareholder Of America Corp /De/ Bank sold 17,769 shares of Bank of America stock in a transaction that occurred on Monday, November 20th. The stock was sold at an average price of $9.94, for a total transaction of $176,623.86. The sale was disclosed in a filing with the SEC, which is accessible through this hyperlink. 0.27% of the stock is owned by corporate insiders.

Bank of America Price Performance

Shares of NYSE BAC traded down $0.01 during mid-day trading on Wednesday, hitting $33.85. 10,791,946 shares of the companys stock traded hands, compared to its average volume of 48,407,078. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.12, a current ratio of 0.83 and a quick ratio of 0.82. Bank of America Co. has a 1 year low of $24.96 and a 1 year high of $37.00. The company has a market capitalization of $267.88 billion, a P/E ratio of 9.47, a PEG ratio of 1.39 and a beta of 1.40. The companys 50-day moving average is $29.53 and its two-hundred day moving average is $29.21.

Bank of America (NYSE:BAC  Get Free Report) last issued its quarterly earnings data on Tuesday, October 17th. The financial services provider reported $0.90 earnings per share for the quarter, beating analysts consensus estimates of $0.83 by $0.07. Bank of America had a return on equity of 12.08% and a net margin of 18.69%. The company had revenue of $25.20 billion for the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $25.13 billion. During the same quarter last year, the company earned $0.81 earnings per share. The firms revenue for the quarter was up 2.8% compared to the same quarter last year. On average, equities analysts anticipate that Bank of America Co. will post 3.43 EPS for the current fiscal year.

Bank of America Announces Dividend

The company also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Friday, December 29th. Shareholders of record on Friday, December 1st will be paid a dividend of $0.24 per share. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Thursday, November 30th. This represents a $0.96 annualized dividend and a yield of 2.84%. Bank of Americas dividend payout ratio (DPR) is currently 26.89%.

Analyst Ratings Changes

A number of equities research analysts have issued reports on BAC shares. BMO Capital Markets upped their price target on shares of Bank of America from $39.00 to $40.00 and gave the company a market perform rating in a report on Wednesday, October 18th. Keefe, Bruyette & Woods upgraded shares of Bank of America from an underperform rating to a market perform rating and boosted their price objective for the stock from $29.00 to $30.00 in a research report on Monday, November 6th. HSBC began coverage on shares of Bank of America in a report on Thursday, September 7th. They set a buy rating and a $35.00 target price for the company. Odeon Capital Group upgraded shares of Bank of America from a hold rating to a buy rating and set a $37.94 price objective for the company in a report on Thursday, December 14th. Finally, Oppenheimer lifted their price objective on Bank of America from $49.00 to $51.00 and gave the company an outperform rating in a report on Thursday, November 16th. One analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, seven have given a hold rating and ten have assigned a buy rating to the companys stock. Based on data from MarketBeat, the company has an average rating of Moderate Buy and a consensus price target of $35.58.

Read Our Latest Stock Analysis on BAC

Bank of America Company Profile

(Free Report)

Bank of America Corporation, through its subsidiaries, provides banking and financial products and services for individual consumers, small and middle-market businesses, institutional investors, large corporations, and governments worldwide. Its Consumer Banking segment offers traditional and money market savings accounts, certificates of deposit and IRAs, noninterest-and interest-bearing checking accounts, and investment accounts and products; and credit and debit cards, residential mortgages, and home equity loans, as well as direct and indirect loans, such as automotive, recreational vehicle, and consumer personal loans.

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Clarius Group LLC reduced its position in Accenture plc (NYSE:ACN  Free Report) by 16.4% in the 3rd quarter, Holdings Channel reports. The institutional investor owned 6,749 shares of the information technology services providers stock after selling 1,325 shares during the period. Clarius Group LLCs holdings in Accenture were worth $2,073,000 as of its most recent SEC filing.

A number of other large investors also recently bought and sold shares of the company. United Bank boosted its holdings in shares of Accenture by 6.3% during the first quarter. United Bank now owns 2,969 shares of the information technology services providers stock valued at $1,001,000 after acquiring an additional 176 shares during the period. Weitz Investment Management Inc. grew its position in Accenture by 1.3% in the 1st 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 during the last quarter. Fund Management at Engine No. 1 LLC bought a new stake in shares of Accenture during the first quarter valued at approximately $1,805,000. Guardian Wealth Management Inc. boosted its position in shares of 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 buying an additional 41 shares during the period. Finally, Clearbridge Investments LLC increased its position in Accenture by 104.8% in the 1st quarter. Clearbridge Investments LLC now owns 441,451 shares of the information technology services providers stock valued at $148,871,000 after acquiring an additional 225,943 shares during the period. Institutional investors own 70.42% of the companys stock.

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Insider Transactions at Accenture

In other news, CEO Jean-Marc Ollagnier sold 6,250 shares of the companys stock in a transaction dated Friday, October 13th. The stock was sold at an average price of $302.04, for a total transaction of $1,887,750.00. Following the completion of the sale, the chief executive officer now owns 161,622 shares in the company, valued at approximately $48,816,308.88. The transaction was disclosed in a filing with the SEC, which is accessible through this hyperlink. In other news, insider Ellyn Shook sold 5,250 shares of Accenture stock in a transaction dated Friday, October 20th. The stock was sold at an average price of $298.48, for a total value of $1,567,020.00. Following the transaction, the insider now directly owns 20,265 shares in the company, valued at $6,048,697.20. The transaction was disclosed in a filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available at the SEC website. Also, CEO Jean-Marc Ollagnier sold 6,250 shares of the firms stock in a transaction that occurred on Friday, October 13th. The shares were sold at an average price of $302.04, for a total value of $1,887,750.00. Following the completion of the sale, the chief executive officer now directly owns 161,622 shares in the company, valued at approximately $48,816,308.88. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. Insiders have sold a total of 36,885 shares of company stock worth $11,129,320 in the last 90 days. 0.07% of the stock is owned by insiders.

Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades

A number of equities analysts recently issued reports on ACN shares. Piper Sandler Companies decreased their target price on shares of Accenture from $314.00 to $312.00 and set a neutral rating for the company in a research report on Friday, September 22nd. TD Cowen decreased their price objective on shares of Accenture from $312.00 to $300.00 and set a market perform rating for the company in a report on Friday, September 29th. Robert W. Baird cut their target price on Accenture from $332.00 to $322.00 and set a neutral rating for the company in a research report on Friday, September 29th. Royal Bank of Canada reiterated an outperform rating and set a $340.00 price target on shares of Accenture in a research report on Friday, September 29th. Finally, Piper Sandler cut their price objective on Accenture from $312.00 to $300.00 and set a neutral rating for the company in a report on Friday, September 29th. Seven analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and eleven have assigned a buy rating to the stock. Based on data from MarketBeat, Accenture currently has an average rating of Moderate Buy and an average price target of $348.59.

View Our Latest Stock Analysis on Accenture

Accenture Price Performance

Accenture stock traded down $2.23 during mid-day trading on Thursday, hitting $351.59. The companys stock had a trading volume of 1,299,695 shares, compared to its average volume of 2,222,681. Accenture plc has a 52-week low of $242.80 and a 52-week high of $355.38. The company has a market cap of $220.78 billion, a PE ratio of 32.61, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 3.25 and a beta of 1.23. The firms 50 day moving average is $325.80 and its 200 day moving average is $317.79.

Accenture (NYSE:ACN  Get Free Report) last announced its quarterly earnings data on Tuesday, December 19th. The information technology services provider reported $3.27 EPS for the quarter, beating analysts consensus estimates of $3.14 by $0.13. The firm had revenue of $16.22 billion for the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $16.17 billion. Accenture had a net margin of 10.65% and a return on equity of 29.08%. The firms revenue was up 3.0% on a year-over-year basis. During the same period in the previous year, the firm posted $3.08 earnings per share. As a group, analysts forecast that Accenture plc will post 12.21 EPS for the current year.

Accenture announced that its Board of Directors has initiated a stock repurchase program on Thursday, September 28th that authorizes the company to repurchase $4.00 billion in outstanding shares. This repurchase authorization authorizes the information technology services provider to buy up to 2% of its stock through open market purchases. Stock repurchase programs are usually an indication that the companys management believes its stock is undervalued.

Accenture Announces Dividend

The firm also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Thursday, February 15th. Shareholders of record on Thursday, January 18th will be given a $1.29 dividend. This represents a $5.16 annualized dividend and a yield of 1.47%. The ex-dividend date is Wednesday, January 17th. Accentures dividend payout ratio is 47.82%.

Accenture Profile

(Free Report)

Accenture plc, a professional services company, provides strategy and consulting, industry X, song, and technology and operation services worldwide. The company offers application services, including agile transformation, DevOps, application modernization, enterprise architecture, software and quality engineering, data management; intelligent automation comprising robotic process automation, natural language processing, and virtual agents; and application management services, as well as software engineering services; strategy and consulting services; data and analytics strategy, data discovery and augmentation, data management and beyond, data democratization, and industrialized solutions comprising turnkey analytics and artificial intelligence (AI) solutions; metaverse; and sustainability services.

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Apeiron RIA LLC grew its stake in Novo Nordisk A/S (NYSE:NVO  Free Report) by 102.5% during the third quarter, according to the company in its most recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The institutional investor owned 4,786 shares of the companys stock after purchasing an additional 2,422 shares during the period. Apeiron RIA LLCs holdings in Novo Nordisk A/S were worth $435,000 as of its most recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission.

A number of other hedge funds also recently made changes to their positions in NVO. Roundview Capital LLC boosted its stake in shares of Novo Nordisk A/S by 0.6% in the 1st quarter. Roundview Capital LLC now owns 18,803 shares of the companys stock valued at $2,088,000 after purchasing an additional 106 shares in the last quarter. BlackRock Inc. boosted its position in Novo Nordisk A/S by 45.4% during the 1st quarter. BlackRock Inc. now owns 5,035,879 shares of the companys stock worth $559,235,000 after buying an additional 1,571,747 shares during the period. Dimensional Fund Advisors LP boosted its position in Novo Nordisk A/S by 0.9% during the 1st quarter. Dimensional Fund Advisors LP now owns 739,585 shares of the companys stock worth $82,131,000 after buying an additional 6,903 shares during the period. Blair William & Co. IL boosted its position in Novo Nordisk A/S by 12.7% during the 1st quarter. Blair William & Co. IL now owns 19,466 shares of the companys stock worth $2,136,000 after buying an additional 2,194 shares during the period. Finally, Sei Investments Co. boosted its position in Novo Nordisk A/S by 17.5% during the 1st quarter. Sei Investments Co. now owns 107,175 shares of the companys stock worth $11,913,000 after buying an additional 15,996 shares during the period. 6.41% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors and hedge funds.

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Novo Nordisk A/S Stock Up 0.1 %

Shares of NYSE NVO traded up $0.08 during trading on Thursday, hitting $103.76. 1,682,826 shares of the company traded hands, compared to its average volume of 3,452,786. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.21, a quick ratio of 0.65 and a current ratio of 0.82. The businesss fifty day moving average is $99.79 and its 200 day moving average is $69.99. The firm has a market capitalization of $465.63 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 43.37, a P/E/G ratio of 1.42 and a beta of 0.40. Novo Nordisk A/S has a fifty-two week low of $65.05 and a fifty-two week high of $105.69.

Analysts Set New Price Targets

Novo Nordisk A/S ( NYSE:NVO Get Free Report ) last posted its earnings results on Thursday, November 2nd. The company reported $0.73 EPS for the quarter, topping the consensus estimate of $0.69 by $0.04. The company had revenue of $8.58 billion during the quarter. Novo Nordisk A/S had a net margin of 35.20% and a return on equity of 86.53%. Equities research analysts predict that Novo Nordisk A/S will post 2.62 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.

Several research analysts have issued reports on NVO shares. TD Cowen raised their price target on shares of Novo Nordisk A/S from $105.00 to $115.00 and gave the stock an outperform rating in a report on Monday, December 4th. Argus started coverage on shares of Novo Nordisk A/S in a report on Monday, October 2nd. They set a buy rating and a $110.00 price target for the company. Cantor Fitzgerald restated an overweight rating on shares of Novo Nordisk A/S in a report on Monday, December 18th. Finally, StockNews.com upgraded shares of Novo Nordisk A/S from a buy rating to a strong-buy rating in a report on Monday, October 16th. One equities research analyst has rated the stock with a hold rating, five have issued a buy rating and one has given a strong buy rating to the company. According to data from MarketBeat, Novo Nordisk A/S has a consensus rating of Buy and a consensus target price of $115.00.

Check Out Our Latest Stock Report on NVO

About Novo Nordisk A/S

(Free Report)

Novo Nordisk A/S, a healthcare company, engages in the research, development, manufacture, and marketing of pharmaceutical products worldwide. It operates in two segments, Diabetes and Obesity care, and Rare Disease. The Diabetes and Obesity care segment provides products in the areas of insulins, GLP-1 and related delivery systems, oral antidiabetic products, obesity, glucagon, needles, and other chronic diseases.

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Bank of Georgia Group PLC (OTCMKTS:BDGSF  Get Free Report) shares reached a new 52-week low on Wednesday . The company traded as low as $41.92 and last traded at $41.92, with a volume of 0 shares trading hands. The stock had previously closed at $41.92.

Bank of Georgia Group Stock Performance

The stock has a fifty day moving average price of $41.92 and a two-hundred day moving average price of $40.42.

Bank of Georgia Group Company Profile

(Get Free Report)

Bank of Georgia Group PLC, through its subsidiaries, provides various banking products and services 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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CTT  Correios De Portugal, S.A. (OTCMKTS:CTTPY  Get Free Report) hit a new 52-week low during trading on Wednesday . The company traded as low as $7.35 and last traded at $7.35, with a volume of 0 shares trading hands. The stock had previously closed at $7.35.

CTT  Correios De Portugal Price Performance

The stocks 50 day moving average is $7.34 and its 200 day moving average is $7.30.

About CTT  Correios De Portugal

(Get Free Report)

CTT  Correios De Portugal, SA, together with its subsidiaries, provides postal and financial services worldwide. It operates through Mail, Express & Parcels, Financial Services & Retail, and Bank segments. The company offers courier and urgent mail transport services; postal financial services; and banking services.

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Brookfield Business Partners L.P. (NYSE:BBU  Get Free Report) major shareholder Gp Ltd Bcp sold 354,813 shares of the firms stock in a transaction that occurred on Friday, December 22nd. The stock was sold at an average price of $2.08, for a total transaction of $738,011.04. Following the sale, the insider now owns 28,533,584 shares of the companys stock, valued at $59,349,854.72. The transaction was disclosed in a document filed with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is accessible through the SEC website. Large shareholders that own more than 10% of a companys shares are required to disclose their transactions with the SEC.

Gp Ltd Bcp also recently made the following trade(s):

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On Tuesday, December 26th, Gp Ltd Bcp sold 326,944 shares of Brookfield Business Partners stock. The shares were sold at an average price of $2.11, for a total transaction of $689,851.84.

On Wednesday, December 20th, Gp Ltd Bcp sold 225,790 shares of Brookfield Business Partners stock. The shares were sold at an average price of $2.18, for a total transaction of $492,222.20.

On Monday, December 18th, Gp Ltd Bcp sold 387,068 shares of Brookfield Business Partners stock. The shares were sold at an average price of $2.24, for a total transaction of $867,032.32.

On Friday, December 15th, Gp Ltd Bcp sold 132,700 shares of Brookfield Business Partners stock. The shares were sold at an average price of $2.47, for a total transaction of $327,769.00.

Brookfield Business Partners Stock Performance

Shares of NYSE:BBU traded down $0.50 during trading on Wednesday, reaching $20.41. The stock had a trading volume of 8,077 shares, compared to its average volume of 12,120. Brookfield Business Partners L.P. has a 52 week low of $12.22 and a 52 week high of $22.72. The firm has a market capitalization of $1.52 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of -510.00 and a beta of 1.39. The company has a quick ratio of 0.79, a current ratio of 1.06 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 2.52. The stock has a fifty day simple moving average of $16.17 and a two-hundred day simple moving average of $16.56.

Brookfield Business Partners Dividend Announcement

Brookfield Business Partners ( NYSE:BBU Get Free Report ) last released its quarterly earnings results on Friday, November 3rd. The business services provider reported ($0.20) EPS for the quarter, missing analysts consensus estimates of $0.85 by ($1.05). Brookfield Business Partners had a net margin of 0.67% and a return on equity of 2.21%. The firm had revenue of $14.40 billion during the quarter. During the same quarter last year, the company posted $1.56 earnings per share. As a group, analysts anticipate that Brookfield Business Partners L.P. will post 3.78 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.

The business also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Friday, December 29th. Investors of record on Thursday, November 30th will be given a dividend of $0.0625 per share. This represents a $0.25 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 1.23%. The ex-dividend date is Wednesday, November 29th. Brookfield Business Partnerss dividend payout ratio (DPR) is currently -624.84%.

Hedge Funds Weigh In On Brookfield Business Partners

Institutional investors and hedge funds have recently bought and sold shares of the stock. Russell Investments Group Ltd. increased its position in Brookfield Business Partners by 20.8% during the first quarter. Russell Investments Group Ltd. now owns 40,178 shares of the business services providers stock worth $740,000 after acquiring an additional 6,905 shares during the period. Principal Financial Group Inc. boosted its stake in Brookfield Business Partners by 52.5% during the second quarter. Principal Financial Group Inc. now owns 36,635 shares of the business services providers stock worth $631,000 after buying an additional 12,609 shares in the last quarter. BROOKFIELD Corp ON boosted its stake in Brookfield Business Partners by 2.5% during the second quarter. BROOKFIELD Corp ON now owns 27,973,033 shares of the business services providers stock worth $481,975,000 after buying an additional 686,614 shares in the last quarter. BRITISH COLUMBIA INVESTMENT MANAGEMENT Corp boosted its stake in Brookfield Business Partners by 2.7% during the second quarter. BRITISH COLUMBIA INVESTMENT MANAGEMENT Corp now owns 27,017 shares of the business services providers stock worth $465,000 after buying an additional 701 shares in the last quarter. Finally, National Bank of Canada FI boosted its stake in Brookfield Business Partners by 22.6% during the third quarter. National Bank of Canada FI now owns 86,283 shares of the business services providers stock worth $1,265,000 after buying an additional 15,893 shares in the last quarter. Institutional investors own 79.81% of the companys stock.

Analysts Set New Price Targets

Several brokerages recently weighed in on BBU. Credit Suisse Group reaffirmed an outperform rating and set a $26.00 price objective on shares of Brookfield Business Partners in a research report on Wednesday, August 30th. Scotiabank raised their price objective on shares of Brookfield Business Partners from $25.00 to $26.50 and gave the company an outperform rating in a research report on Wednesday, December 20th. Royal Bank of Canada reaffirmed an outperform rating and set a $28.00 price objective on shares of Brookfield Business Partners in a research report on Monday, November 13th. Finally, Desjardins set a $30.00 price target on shares of Brookfield Business Partners and gave the company a buy rating in a research report on Friday, September 22nd. Five equities research analysts have rated the stock with a buy rating, Based on data from MarketBeat.com, the stock has a consensus rating of Buy and a consensus price target of $28.70.

Check Out Our Latest Stock Report on BBU

Brookfield Business Partners Company Profile

(Get Free Report)

Brookfield Business Partners L.P. is a private equity firm specializing in acquisition. The firm typically invests in business services, infrastructure services, construction, energy, and industrials sector. It prefers to take majority stake in companies. The firm seeks returns of at least 15% on its investments.

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iShares Canadian Select Dividend Index ETF (TSE:XDV  Get Free Report) announced a monthly dividend on Thursday, December 28th, TickerTech reports. Stockholders of record on Thursday, January 4th will be paid a dividend of 0.115 per share on Thursday, January 4th. This represents a $1.38 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 5.00%. The ex-dividend date is Thursday, December 28th. This is a positive change from iShares Canadian Select Dividend Index ETFs previous monthly dividend of $0.11.

iShares Canadian Select Dividend Index ETF Trading Up 0.5 %

iShares Canadian Select Dividend Index ETF stock traded up C$0.15 during trading on Wednesday, hitting C$27.62. 51,339 shares of the company were exchanged, compared to its average volume of 32,095. The businesss 50 day moving average is C$26.06 and its 200 day moving average is C$26.67. iShares Canadian Select Dividend Index ETF has a 52 week low of C$24.30 and a 52 week high of C$29.49.

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Germany expects European Union member states to pass their next Ukraine support package either way, even if Hungary should continue to block an unanimous decision, Bloomberg reported on Thursday.

Speaking at a regular government news conference in Berlin, Foreign Ministry spokesman Christian Wagner said Chancellor Olaf Scholz's coalition government will provide military support for Ukraine worth EUR 8 billion in 2024 and Berlin will continue to "campaign vigorously" for the adoption of the bigger EU aid package worth EUR 50 billion early next year.

"The EU will also continue its support for Ukraine, in any case. The EU-26 will of course also be able to act. But I don't want to speculate now on how such support could be organized. This also requires further consultation in Brussels," Wagner said.

Bloomberg also said that EU leaders have been looking for ways to get around Budapest's intransigence after talks over the EUR 50 billion ($55 billion) package for the government in Kyiv broke down at a summit in mid-December. A potential back-up option that has been floated is having member states funnel money to Kyiv outside of the EU budget process, an option Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban signaled may be viable.
Meghna Mittal MEGHNA MITTAL is Deputy News Editor at Moneycontrol. Meghna has experience across television, print, online and wire media. She has been covering the Indian economy, monetary and fiscal policies, Finance and Trade ministries. She tweets at @Meghnamittal23 Contact: meghna.mittal@nw18.com
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President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelensky has signed a law on improving judicial career procedures.

As noted in the card of relevant bill No. 10140-d, posted on the website of the Verkhovna Rada, the document was returned to Parliament with the signature of the head of state on December 28.

The bill provides for a change in the deadline by which a judge must annually submit a declaration of kinship and a declaration of virtue  from February 1 to May 1.

The document also regulates the norm according to which a person who is a member of the Supreme Council of Justice or the High Qualification Commission of Judges of Ukraine cannot apply for the position of a judge. At the same time, the restrictions apply not only to the period of direct occupation of these positions, but also one year after dismissal or termination of office.

In addition, the law authorizes the High Council of Justice to approve uniform indicators for assessing the virtue and professional ethics of a judge (candidate for this position) after coordination with the HQCJ, the Council of Judges of Ukraine and the Public Council of Virtue.

As reported, on December 9, the Verkhovna Rada adopted bill No. 10140-d at the second reading. Most of the provisions of the law will come into force the day after its publication in the parliamentary newspaper Holos Ukrayiny.
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February 10, 2024 - INFLUENCE TALK FORUM: famous bloggers will talk about the most promising and profitable professions in the field of digital

The event is organized to support fundraising for mobile hospitals for the Armed Forces of Ukraine.

On February 10, 2024, for the first time in Ukraine, the

INFLUENCE TALK FORUM is the largest offline event aimed at popularizing and developing Ukrainian digital and its new promising professions.

The forum will be attended by more than 2,000 guests.

Among them are the best digital experts, influencers, entrepreneurs and veterans of the Armed Forces of Ukraine.

The forum speakers will explain the value of digitalization and effective mechanisms for its implementation in new professions in an accessible and comprehensive manner, based on their own experience. After all, a developed digital sphere means, first of all, more information about Ukraine in the world, the opportunity to socialize at any age and get a new promising profession, in particular for veterans of the Armed Forces of Ukraine. It also means more jobs, motivation to stay in Ukraine, more taxes to the state budget and more donations to help the Armed Forces of Ukraine.

INFLUENCE TALK FORUM is a new large-scale project from the organizers of InstaTalks.

In order to support active youth, revitalize the labor market and give impetus to the development of digital in Ukraine, they were the first to successfully resume offline events in 2022 despite the blackouts.

The forum itself has another important mission - to support fundraising for military mobile hospitals, which are full-fledged hospitals on wheels and can save the lives of Ukrainian defenders and civilians directly on the front line without wasting precious time on heavy and lengthy transportation of the wounded.

Join the educational and charitable event to make the digital sphere more understandable and open up new development prospects. And mobile hospitals could save the lives of our defenders in a timely and effective manner.

Media partners: Interfax-Ukraine and Open4business portal.

Start of the event: February 10, 2024 at 10.00

Website: https://www.instatalks.com.ua
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BAKU, Azerbaijan, December 28. The share of the private sector in Azerbaijan's gross domestic product (GDP) is 86.5 percent and its share in employment is over 78 percent, Deputy Economy Minister Sahib Mammadov said, Trend reports.

He spoke at the ceremony of awarding the 'Dayaq Prize' (award for business-related matters) to a number of business representatives.

According to him, 99.6 percent of business entities in Azerbaijan are SMEs.

"Value added in the non-oil and gas sector of the economy increased by 3.2 percent from January through November 2023. As a result of measures taken to diversify the economy and increase export potential, exports of the non-oil and gas sector increased by 10.5 percent year-on-year and reached $3 billion. Entrepreneurs, in turn, use the favorable opportunities created for them and work successfully," he said.

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BAKU, Azerbaijan, December 28. Azerbaijan is currently awaiting Armenias response to Bakus comments on the latest draft of the peace proposal, Elchin Amirbayov, Azerbaijan's Presidential Representative for Special Assignments, said in an interview with The Guardian, Trend reports.

We appear to be not far from a final deal. We do require a result-oriented exercise. I realize that after three decades of negotiations and no substantial accomplishments, there is a certain amount of exhaustion and irritation in both parties about how long we will continue to meet one another without any reasonable results. Our preference would be to have peace agreements. An article that would speak about some kind of bilateral commission that needs to be set up in order to address all those misunderstandings or differences in interpretations between us, he said.

Amirbayov also noted that the linkage between Azerbaijan and its exclave, Nakhchivan, which passes through Armenia, is crucial for Baku in terms of national security but also in terms of ensuring an alternative route for the Middle Corridor.

We can't afford to squander any more time. Armenia has not even begun a feasibility study for the 42-km segment after three years. Of course, we cannot compel Armenia to carry out their commitments, and it is absurd to imply that we would invade to impose this corridor through force or other means. As a backup plan, we reached out to Iran to create a road and train link through Iran, he added.

The president's representative pointed out that if it is possible, the existence of an alternative route might make Armenia realize how much they could lose by continuing to resist the link going through its land.
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BAKU, Azerbaijan, December 28. The council, which is a permanent advisory body to the head of the executive power of Azerbaijan's Ismayilli district, issued a statement on the termination of the Charter of Friendship and Cooperation signed between Ismayilli city and the French town of Evian-les-Bains (Evian), Trend reports.

"In May 2015, the Charter of Friendship and Cooperation was signed between the city of Ismayilli in the Republic of Azerbaijan and the city of Evian-les-Bains in France. The aim of signing the charter at that time was to develop friendly relations between the two cities and contribute to bilateral relations in the fields of culture, tourism, and the economy. Practical steps were even taken in this direction, including reciprocal visits between the parties," the statement said.

"As a part of the collaboration in 2017, a ceremony was held in Evian town for the opening of the Azerbaijani Park and the Friendship Spring, as well as a monument to the prominent Azerbaijani poetess Khurshidbanu Natavan. Simultaneously, a memorial plaque titled 'Azerbaijan-France Friendship Park' was installed in the central park of Ismayilli city," the statement reminded.

"The fact that Ismayilli is one of the oldest settlements, attracting numerous foreign tourists, and the inclusion of Lahij copper art in the UNESCO Representative List of Intangible Cultural Heritage created an additional incentive for cooperation between the cities," the statement noted.

"Despite the concept of sister cities serving the development of relations between peoples in the cultural sphere and building bridges between people of different nationalities, including beyond politics, unfortunately, the French side politicized this issue as a sign of support for Armenia, discontinuing intercity contacts after the second Karabakh war," the statement further said.

"A meeting of the Evian municipal council, held on December 18, 2023, made unfounded accusations against our country and expressed support for Armenia. The town's mayor also announced the removal of all signs indicating Azerbaijani Park," the statement pointed out. "Members of the permanent council under the head of the Ismayilli district's executive power categorically reject the biased and subjective opinions expressed against our country at the mentioned meeting of the municipal council of Evian town and condemn the decision regarding the Azerbaijani Park."

"In protest against France's anti-Azerbaijani policy on all platforms and the decision of the municipal council of Evian town to remove the signs of the Azerbaijani Park, the Charter of Friendship and Cooperation signed between Ismayilli city and Evian-les-Bains town is considered null and void from December 26, 2023," said the statement.

"Besides, the park in the center of Ismayilli city will be named after the renowned Azerbaijani poetess Khurshidbanu Natavan," added the statement.

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BAKU, Azerbaijan, December 28. Azerbaijan and Turkiye have held joint military exercises, Spokesperson for Turkish National Defense Ministry Zeki Akturk said at a weekly briefing, Trend reports.

On December 26-28, drills titled 'Hybrid Threat Response Exercises' were conducted in Azerbaijan," Akturk noted.

"As part of supporting regional and global peace, adhering to the concept of 'One nation, two states', our support for Azerbaijan continues, he emphasized.

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Bengaluru-based tech giant Infosys has accused major rival tech company Cognizant of unethical poaching tactics and also sent an official letter in this regard, sources said on Wednesday.

There is a standoff between the two tech giants over senior management staff.

Infosys had sent a written communication to Cognizant a few weeks ago, sources said.

Cognizant chief executive officer (CEO) Ravi Kumar, who was formerly with Infosys, had pulled out more than 20 executive vice-presidents and four senior vice-presidents from Infosys and Wipro. Sources state that a few more top employees of Infosys are all set to join Cognizant as head of delivery and head of consulting.

However, the objections to the poaching of Infosys employees is believed to delay the plans of these employees to join Cognizant.

Senior management attrition has become a headache for the companies battling depression in the IT sector. Infosys had seen about seven to eight top staffers departing in a year and as many as 10 top performers had exited Wipro in the same period and joined rival companies much to the chagrin of the firms where they had worked for a long time. The companies are yet to give official reaction about the development.

Disclaimer: Information, facts or opinions expressed in this news article are presented as sourced from IANS and do not reflect views of Moneylife and hence Moneylife is not responsible or liable for the same. As a source and news provider, IANS is responsible for accuracy, completeness, suitability and validity of any information in this article.
As 2023 draws to a close, the finance ministry informed Parliament of a surprising 28% increase in unclaimed deposits to Rs42,270 crore on 31 March 2023 (against Rs32,934 crore during FY21-22). Get ready for an even more staggering truth: this figure of unclaimed deposits represents a mere quarter of the money that is locked away in inoperative bank accounts.

A stupendous sum of nearly Rs1 lakh crore, by conservative estimates, representing the earnings of ordinary people is lying with banks under the head inoperative accounts; while some of these may become operative, it represents money that is on the way to being classified as unclaimed funds. Allow me to explain.

Information provided to Parliament shows that of the unclaimed deposits of Rs42,270 crore, only Rs6,087 crore were with private banks; public sector banks (PSBs) accounted for the bulk, at Rs36,185 crore. Moreover, only PSBs are subject to the Right to Information (RTI) Act.

Bank accounts are classified as unclaimed when they have remained inoperative for at least 10 years; these are then transferred to the depositor education and awareness fund (DEAF) of the Reserve Bank of India (RBI). On the other hand, a bank account that is not operated for two years is termed inoperative and there is a rather cumbersome process to get it activated again. Also, data about inoperative accounts is not publicly available. Bank accounts are classified as unclaimed when they have remained inoperative for at least 10 years; these are then transferred to the depositor education and awareness fund (DEAF) of the Reserve Bank of India (RBI). On the other hand, a bank account that is not operated for two years is termed inoperative and there is a rather cumbersome process to get it activated again. Also, data about inoperative accounts is not publicly available.

So Aakash Goel, an engineer, management graduate and chartered financial analyst, filed an RTI application with department of financial services (DFS) of the Union finance ministry in August 2023, hoping to obtain comprehensive information on such accounts. DFS promptly transferred the application to RBI, which, in turn, forwarded it to 11 PSBs. All of them ignored the RTI query until Mr Goel filed a first appeal at the end of September 2023.

Then, too, the results were partial. Only 10 out of 12 banks responded. Indian Overseas Bank has yet to respond. State Bank of India (SBI), shockingly, claimed that it does not even collate this basic information  an answer that ought to receive special attention from the banking regulator.

The questions Mr Goel asked were:

a. Number of bank accounts which are inoperative as of 31 March 2022.

b. Out of the above, the number of bank accounts which are classified as dormant/unclaimed deposits as of 31 March 2022.

c. Total balance of bank accounts which are inoperative as of 31 March 2022.

d. Out of above, the total balance of bank accounts which are classified as dormant/unclaimed deposits as of 31 March 2022.

e. Number of bank accounts which are inoperative as of 31 March 2023.

f. Out of above, number of bank accounts which are classified as dormant / unclaimed deposit as of 31 March 2023.

g. Total balance of bank accounts which are inoperative as of 31 March 2023.

h. Out of above, total balance of bank accounts which are classified as dormant / unclaimed deposits as of 31 March 2023.

The replies are astonishing:

1. Canara Bank seems to have the highest unclaimed accounts at 1.40 crore and its inoperative accounts are 2.64 crore. It had Rs12,451 crore in these accounts at the end of March 2023, which is the lowest multiplier of 2.1.

2. P&S Bank has the lowest unclaimed accounts at 12.86 lakh and inoperative accounts are at 48.15 lakh. The amount in inoperative accounts is Rs1,823 crore at the end of March 2023, which is 2.6 times.

3. BoB had 75.86 lakh unclaimed accounts, while the inoperative ones are 5.64 crore accounts. The amount blocked at end of March 2023 is Rs18,055 crore which is 4.3 times.

4. Central Bank admitted to 27.75 lakh unclaimed accounts, while inoperative ones were 1.59 crore accounts. The amount blocked in inoperative accounts was at a surprising low at Rs7,247 crore at end of March 2023.

5. UCO Bank said it had 15.12 lakh unclaimed accounts, but inoperative accounts were 1.52 crore, the money in those accounts was even lower at Rs5,433 crore at the end of March 2023.

6. Indian Bank has provided some surprising numbers. It claims 10.81 lakh unclaimed accounts, while inoperative ones are a shocking 2.63 crore. The money blocked is Rs9,698 crore in such inoperative accounts at the end of March 2023, which is 32.1 times. 6.Indian Bank has provided some surprising numbers. It claims 10.81 lakh unclaimed accounts, while inoperative ones are a shocking 2.63 crore. The money blocked is Rs9,698 crore in such inoperative accounts at the end of March 2023, which is 32.1 times.

7. Bank of Maharashtra is another major outlier. It has 4.29 lakh unclaimed accounts and 56.44 lakh inoperative accounts at the end of 31 March 2023. The money blocked in inoperative accounts, however, is Rs2,811 crore which is 57.4 time multiple.

8. Punjab National Bank admits to 1.24 crore unclaimed accounts and 4.37 crore inoperative accounts at end of FY22-23. The money blocked in such inoperative accounts is Rs14,606 crore a 2.2 time multiple despite such large numbers.

9. Bank of India has 92.01 lakh unclaimed accounts and 5.43 crore inoperative accounts at end of FY22-23. The money in inoperative accounts is Rs12,261 crore, a multiple of 4 times.

10. Union Bank of India had 7.25 crore inoperative accounts, which had Rs18,842 crore in them at the end of FY22-23. A multiple of 4.9. It strangely did not provide information on unclaimed accounts, claiming it was unavailable, although UDGAM ought to have this and even more granular details.

11. SBI, by far the biggest PSB in India, provided a typically arrogant response. It claimed that it does not bother to compile centralised information on the number of inoperative accounts and, even if it had them, that would be confidential information.

The table below provides a quick compilation and analysis of the data by Mr Goel.

As per these facts, the amount in inoperative accounts alone is Rs1,03,230 crore. This does not include Indian Overseas Bank and the behemoth SBIs figures, which would add another 50% to this amount. The government has admitted that the total unclaimed funds in the banking system were Rs42,272 crore at the end of March 2023, of which PSBs account for Rs36,185 crore. Assuming that private banks with unclaimed deposits of Rs6,087 crore have only twice the number of inoperative accounts, the number would be Rs12,174 crore. This means that at a conservative estimate at least Rs1 lakh crore.

Mr Goel, who devotes a great deal of time and effort to helping people, points out that, although RBI set up UDGAM (unclaimed deposits gateway to access information), a new portal to centralise streamline recovery of unclaimed deposits, this provides no information on inoperative accounts. (Read: RBI Launches UDGAM - Centralised Web Portal for Searching Unclaimed Deposits Across Banks ).

UDAGM itself was only created after senior counsel Prashant Bhushan helped me file a petition in the Supreme Court (SC) on unclaimed money rightfully belonging to depositors lying unclaimed ( Unclaimed Deposits: SC Allows Prashant Bhushan To File a Rejoinder on PIL Seeking Steps To Inform Legal Heirs ). In response, RBI informed SC that it was setting up a centralised portal that has recently become operational.

At an annual death rate of 0.7%, we have 90 lakh people passing away every year. RBIs own data shows that 2.5 crore bank accounts become inoperative every year in PSBs alone. It would appear that most of the money lying in unclaimed accounts belongs to people who are dead or those who are denied their rights due to litigation that goes on for decades. The fact is that there has been no effort to provide access to this information, even to academics and data science experts, to find ways to return gigantic sums of money to the rightful owners.

It is pertinent to mention that the late Arun Jaitley, as finance minister, was the first to draw attention to dormant funds lying with banks in his Budget speech of 2014. He had approved the setting up of a committee under the chairmanship of the deputy governor, RBI, to examine unclaimed amount remaining in PPF (public provident fund), post-office savings schemes, etc., and recommend how this amount can be used to protect and further the financial interest of the senior citizens. (Read: https://pib.gov.in/newsite/PrintRelease.aspx?relid=109290 ).

It is strange that nothing further has happened in this regard, and we have had to move the SC with a public interest litigation (PIL) to draw attention to these dormant funds. Small efforts such as the 100 days 100 pays campaign to refund money have fetched only a small success, with just Rs 5,729 crore being returned (Read: Banks Transferred Unclaimed Deposits Worth Rs1.44 Lakh Crore to DEA Fund in 5 Years; Received Rs5,729 Crore for Refunding to Claimant-depositors: Govt ). A lot more needs to be done, and it cannot stop with bank funds alone.

With Mr Jaitleys protege Nirmala Sitharaman, as the finance minister, it would be only fitting that this government takes on the challenge of accounting for peoples privately earned income and returning it to their rightful owners before we head into the general elections.

This article has been extensively revised since data from 5 banks came in after the initial article was published.
Holding a chartered account (CA), Shyam Malpani, who worked as an engagement partner (EP), responsible for professional misconduct and conflict of interest while conducting the statutory audit of S Kumars Nationwide Ltd (SKNL) for FY13-14, the national financial reporting authority (NFRA) barred the CA for five years and and imposed a penalty of Rs5 lakh. SKNL is one of the top 50 bank defaulters in the country , as per the information shared by the Union government in Parliament.

In an order , the NFRA bench of Dr Ajay Bhushan Prasad Pandey (chairperson), Smita Jhingran and Praveen Kumar Tiwari (full-time members) says, "CA Shyam Malpani - SKNL's auditor for the FY13-14 failed to meet the relevant requirements of the standards on auditing (SA), and provisions of the Companies Act. He also demonstrated serious lapses and an absence of due diligence. One of the lapses was that he accepted the audit engagement of SKNL for FY13-14 despite owning the shares of SKNL through Nabeela Finvest Pvt Ltd (NFPL), a company which was wholly owned by him and his family members and thereby violated applicable laws and standards relating to conflict of interest and independence."

"Further, he had issued qualified audit opinions on standalone financial statements (SFS) and consolidated financial statements (CFS) with eleven (SFS) and fifteen (CFS) qualifications, respectively despite the fact that the nature and effect of qualifications in the independent auditor's reports were material and pervasive to the financial statements," the bench says.

While finding CA Malpani guilty of professional misconduct, NFRA says, in light of the 1 December 2023 judgement of the national company law appellate tribunal (NCLAT), it has limited the monetary penalty to Rs5 lakh only since the violations relate to the period April 2013 to September 2014.

"Therefore, we impose through this order a monetary penalty of Rs5 lakh on CA Shyam Malpani and also debar him for five years from being appointed as an auditor or internal auditor or from undertaking any audit in respect of financial statements or internal audit of the functions and activities of any company or body corporate," NFRA says.

In a letter on 9 September 2022, the central economic intelligence bureau (CEIB), working under the Union ministry of finance, shared information about irregularities committed by SKNL and its auditors. After preliminary examination, NFRA initiated suo motu investigations into the professional conduct of SMMP & Company and CA Malpani, the statutory auditors of SKNL for FY13-14.

In November 2022, NFRA called CA Malpani and SMMP & Company to submit the audit files from FY13-14 to FY17-18. However, despite repeated letters and extensions, both failed to submit the audit files. They also filed a writ petition in Bombay High Court (HC) to a stay on NFRA proceedings. Since the HC gave no stay, the authority, again on 3 February 2023, asked CA Malpani and SMPP & Company to submit an audit file. Yet, the auditors did not submit the audit file.

NFRA then issued a show-cause notice (SCN) to the auditors. On 13 June 2023, the Bombay HC disposed of the writ petition and asked NFRA to hear the auditors and decide its jurisdiction to act in the matter. The HC also allowed NFRA to pass a combined order on jurisdiction and merits in case it held that it had jurisdiction in the matter.

During the personal hearing and in the written submission, besides arguing on the jurisdiction issue, the auditors also contended that as they were not required to maintain an audit file after the mandatory period of seven years, they did not submit the audit file for SKNL.

NFRA says, "So far as the audit file was concerned, the auditors did not submit it. It was not very clear from their reply whether they had the audit file. Therefore, on 4 August 2023, we asked them to provide an affidavit about the availability of the audit file and in case it had been destroyed, then the date of destruction of the file was to be provided. On 16 August 2023, the auditors submitted a consolidated reply to SCN dated 23 May 2023 along with an affidavit by CA Malpani stating that he neither had the audit file nor had the exact date of the destruction of the audit file."

According to the bench, CA Malpani accepted the appointment as auditor of SKNL, despite having an ownership interest in the shares of the auditee company (SKNL) and failed to form audit opinions following the SA 705.

"Since the EP compromised his independence and failed to recognise and report the pervasiveness of the deficiencies of the financial statements, his conduct undoubtedly falls into the category of lack of due diligence and gross negligence. Therefore, we hold that the charge of professional misconduct on the part of the EP on this account is proved," NFRA says.
BAKU, Azerbaijan, December 28. Opening of new diplomatic missions in Azerbaijan continued in 2023, Azerbaijani Foreign Minister Jeyhun Bayramov said at a press conference on the results of 2023, Trend reports.

"The number of Azerbaijan's diplomatic missions abroad has reached 90. This includes embassies, permanent missions, consulates general, representative offices.

161 documents were signed with 44 countries. The opening of new diplomatic missions continued in 2023. Also this year, 14 new heads of diplomatic missions were appointed," the minister noted.
Costa Rica, with its lush rainforests, diverse ecosystems, and commitment to environmental preservation, has carved a niche for itself in the global tourism landscape. The country's journey towards sustainable tourism is not merely an aspiration but a well-executed plan that has garnered international acclaim.

One of the cornerstones of Costa Rica's green revolution is its extensive national park system. Covering more than a quarter of the country's landmass, these protected areas are a testament to Costa Rica's commitment to biodiversity conservation. Tourists flock to Manuel Antonio, Corcovado, and Arenal National Parks, where they can witness the breathtaking beauty of untouched nature while contributing to the preservation efforts through entry fees.

In a groundbreaking move, Costa Rica aims to become the world's first carbon-neutral country by 2021. This ambitious target speaks volumes about the nation's dedication to mitigating the environmental impact of tourism. Initiatives such as reforestation projects, investments in renewable energy, and sustainable agriculture practices are not just national policies but integral parts of the Costa Rican tourism experience.

Eco-friendly accommodations have become the norm rather than the exception in Costa Rica. From rainforest lodges powered by renewable energy to beachfront resorts implementing water conservation measures, the hospitality industry is aligning itself with the country's green ethos. Travelers seeking an immersive experience in nature can choose from a plethora of eco-lodges that seamlessly integrate with the surrounding environment.

Costa Rica's commitment to sustainable tourism goes beyond its borders. The country actively promotes responsible travel practices, encouraging visitors to respect local customs, support community-based tourism initiatives, and minimize their ecological footprint. Tour operators offer guided eco-tours that provide insights into the delicate balance of Costa Rica's ecosystems while promoting environmental education.

However, the road to sustainable tourism is not without its challenges. Balancing the economic benefits of tourism with the need to protect fragile ecosystems requires constant vigilance. As visitor numbers increase, there is a continual need for innovative solutions to manage environmental impact effectively. Costa Rica's success in this regard lies in its ability to adapt and implement policies that ensure the long-term sustainability of its natural treasures.

In conclusion, Costa Rica stands as a shining example of how tourism and environmental conservation can coexist harmoniously. The nation's green revolution is a testament to the transformative power of conscious choices in shaping the future of travel. As the world grapples with the environmental repercussions of tourism, Costa Rica offers a blueprint for responsible and sustainable exploration, proving that a journey into nature can be a force for good. @mundiario
BAKU, Azerbaijan, December 28. Azerbaijan has received another package of proposals for a peace treaty from Armenia, Foreign Minister of Azerbaijan Jeyhun Bayramov said at a press conference on the results of 2023, Trend reports.

"We received a package of proposals for a peace agreement from Armenia in November. And before that, we prepared and sent our package of proposals to Armenia within a month," he said.

He noted that this process started in October 2022, and bilateral meetings are part of this process. However, there has been a stagnation in such meetings recently.

"We hope that they will be held in 2024," the minister noted.
On Jan. 24, 2023, a pair of hunters near the Guam International Raceway in Yigo discovered a lifeless body later identified as Jason Susuico.
Woman banned from Pay-Less, allegedly tells worker she was going to steal items
BAKU, Azerbaijan, December 28. The Azerbaijani embassy in Iran was closed due to specific reasons, Foreign Minister of Azerbaijan Jeyhun Bayramov said at a press conference on the results of 2023, Trend reports.

"After the closure of the embassy, this issue was discussed with Iran. The person who committed the terrorist attack must be punished in the strictest form, and the security of the embassy must be ensured. We were informed about the start date of the trial. Depending on the results, an appropriate decision will be made," he explained.

An armed attack took place at the Embassy of Azerbaijan in Iran on January 27, 2023, at about 8:30 (GMT+4). The gunman turned out to be a man in his 50s who drove up to the administrative building, armed with a Kalashnikov automatic rifle.

Earlier reports from the Chief of Tehran Police said there were two children in the car with the gunman; the security camera footage released later proved the man was alone. He entered the building after briefly waving his hand to the Iranian security guard outside. No attempts were made to detain the gunman, as he freely entered the embassy. The man managed to kill the head of the security service and wound two embassy guards. The shooter was eventually detained. The incident is currently being investigated.

Following the deadly assault, Azerbaijan evacuated its officials from the embassy, including those who suffered as a result of the attack, and completely suspended the work of the embassy in Tehran.

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More Ukrainian children from Ukraines Russia-held regions arrive in Belarus despite global outrage View Photo

TALLINN, Estonia (AP)  Belarus authoritarian president on Thursday attended a government-organized meeting with children brought from Russia-controlled areas of Ukraine, openly defying an international outrage over his countrys involvement in Moscows deportation of Ukrainian children.

Speaking at the event marking the arrival of a new group of Ukrainian children ahead of the New Year holiday, President Alexander Lukashenko vowed to embrace these children, bring them to our home, keep them warm and make their childhood happier.

Belarusian officials did not say how many Ukrainian children were brought into the country.

A recent study by Yale University has found that more than 2,400 Ukrainian children aged 6-17 have been brought to Belarus from four Ukrainian regions that have been partially occupied by Russian forces. The Belarusian opposition has urged the International Criminal Court to hold Lukashenko and his officials accountable for their involvement in the illegal transfer of Ukrainian children.

Pavel Latushka, a former Belarusian culture minister turned opposition activist who has presented the ICC with evidence of Lukashenkos alleged involvement in the unlawful deportation of the children, said the arrival of a new group from Russia-occupied territories underlines the need for the ICC to investigate those crimes.

Lukashenko, his family members and associates together with the Kremlin have organized a system of transfer of Ukrainian children, including orphans, from the occupied territories to Belarus, and this channel is still working, Latushka told The Associated Press.

In March, the ICC issued arrest warrants for both Russian President Vladimir Putin and his childrens rights commissioner, Maria Lvova-Belova, accusing them of the war crimes of unlawful deportation of children and unlawful transfer of children from occupied areas of Ukraine to Russia. Moscow has rejected the allegations.

Ukraines human rights ombudsman Dmytro Lubinets said in televised remarks Thursday that the transfer of thousands of Ukrainian children to Belarus helped Moscow cover up the information about the unlawful deportation of children.

Earlier this month, the International Red Cross suspended the organizations Belarusian chapter after its chief, Dzmitry Shautsou, stirred international outrage for boasting that it was actively ferrying Ukrainian children from Russian-controlled areas to Belarus.

Shautsou called the move absolutely politicized, claiming that Ukrainian children who visited Belarus for health improvement returned home safely.

Belarus has been Moscows closest ally since the Russian invasion of Ukraine began in February 2022, when Lukashenko allowed the Kremlin to use his countrys territory to invade Ukraine. Russia has also deployed some of its tactical nuclear weapons in Belarus.

By YURAS KARMANAU

Associated Press
Venezuela will hold military exercises off its shores as a British warship heads to Guyana

Venezuela will hold military exercises off its shores as a British warship heads to Guyana View Photo

BOGOTA, Colombia (AP)  President Nicolas Maduro ordered Venezuelas armed forces to conduct defensive exercises in the Eastern Caribbean after the United Kingdom sent a warship toward Guyanas territorial waters as the South American neighbors dispute a large border region.

In a nationally televised address Thursday, Maduro said that 6,000 Venezuelan troops  including air and naval forces  will conduct joint operations off the nations eastern coast near the border with Guyana.

Maduro described the impending arrival of British ship HMS Trent to Guyanas shores as a threat to his country. He argued the ships deployment violates a recent agreement between the South American nations.

We believe in diplomacy, in dialogue and in peace, but no one is going to threaten Venezuela, Maduro said in a room where he was accompanied by a dozen military commanders. This is an unacceptable threat to any sovereign country in Latin America.

Venezuela and Guyana are currently involved in a border dispute over the Essequibo, a sparsely populated region the size of Florida with vast oil deposits off its shores.

The region has been under Guyanas control for decades, but in December, Venezuela relaunched its historical claim to the Essequibo through a referendum in which it asked voters in the country whether the Essequibo should be turned into a Venezuelan state.

As tensions over the region escalated, the leaders of both countries met in the Caribbean island of St. Vincent, and signed an agreement which said they would solve their dispute through nonviolent means.

During the talks, however, Guyanas President Irfaan Ali said his nation reserved its right to work with its partners to ensure the defense of his country.

On Thursday, Guyanese officials described the visit of HMS Trent as a planned activity aimed at improving the nations defense capabilities and said the ships visit will continue as scheduled.

Nothing that we do or have done is threatening Venezuela, Guyanas Vice President Bharrat Jagdeo told reporters in Georgetown, the nations capital.

HMS Trent is a patrol and rescue ship that was recently used to intercept drug traffickers off the West Coast of Africa. It can accommodate up to 30 sailors and a contingent of 18 marines, and is equipped with 30 mm cannons and a landing pad for helicopters and drones.

The ship had been sent to Barbados in early December to intercept drug traffickers, but its mission was changed on Dec. 24, when it was sent to Guyana. Authorities did not specify when it was expected to arrive off Guyanas shores.

The United Kingdoms Defense Ministry said the ship would be conducting joint operations with Guyanas defense forces.

The nation of 800,000 people has a small military that is made up of 3,000 soldiers, 200 sailors and four small patrol boats known as Barracudas.

Venezuela says it was the victim of a land theft conspiracy in 1899, when Guyana was a British colony and arbitrators from Britain, Russia and the United States decided the boundary. The U.S. represented Venezuela in part because the Venezuelan government had broken off diplomatic relations with Britain.

Venezuelan officials contend Americans and Europeans colluded to cheat their country out of the land. They also argue that an agreement among Venezuela, Britain and the colony of British Guiana signed in 1966 to resolve the dispute effectively nullified the original arbitration.

Guyana maintains the initial accord is legal and binding and asked the United Nations top court in 2018 to rule it as such, but a decision is years away. The century-old dispute was recently reignited with the discovery of oil in Guyana.

By MANUEL RUEDA

Associated Press
Sonora DMV office View Photo

Sacramento, CA  High-speed cameras, crosswalk safety, and vehicle impounds are some of the issues lawmakers in California are addressing with new laws taking effect in 2024.

The California DMV has put out a list of new laws that state residents should be aware of in the coming year. The list is below:

Improved Visibility at Crosswalks and Intersections  AB 413 (Lee)

Prohibits a person from parking a vehicle within 20 feet of either side of any marked or unmarked crosswalk, or within 15 feet of any crosswalk where a curb extension is present. Permits local governments to allow parking for bicycles or motorized scooters within 20 feet of a crosswalk. The law is intended to increase visibility for all road users to see oncoming traffic by removing parked cars near crosswalks and intersections, a safety measure known as daylighting.

Speed Camera Pilot Program  AB 645 (Friedman)

Establishes a five-year pilot program to give local transportation authorities in San Jose, Oakland, Los Angeles, Glendale, Long Beach and San Francisco the ability to install a limited number of speed cameras on local streets where there are safety concerns. The cameras will automatically take a picture of a speeding cars license plate and deliver a notice of violation to the registered owner through the mail. The law is intended to reduce speeding, traffic collisions, serious injuries and fatalities.

Drivers License Renewal Alternatives  AB 1606 (Gipson)

Authorizes the DMV Director to establish a program to evaluate the traffic safety and other effects of renewing drivers licenses by virtual or other remote processes. This is in addition to current online renewal options offered to most drivers under 70 years old. The program would allow drivers 70 and older to complete certain drivers license renewal requirements, such as vision and knowledge tests, by virtual or remote means. Drivers 80 and older would still be required to renew in person at the DMV. The law is intended to provide older drivers with renewal alternatives to visiting a DMV office, while overall increasing customer convenience and reducing the number of visits to DMV offices.

Crackdown on Catalytic Converter Theft  SB 55 (Umberg); AB 641 (Fong); AB 1519 (Bains)

These new laws are intended to help combat the theft of catalytic converters and keep Californians and their cars safer. SB 55 prohibits motor vehicle dealers from selling a vehicle equipped with a catalytic converter unless the converter has been permanently marked with the vehicles identification number (VIN), with some exceptions. AB 641 makes it a misdemeanor for a person to possess nine or more used catalytic converters that have been cut from a vehicle, with some exceptions. AB 1519 makes it a misdemeanor to remove or alter any VIN or other unique marking that has been added to a catalytic converter, and it also makes it a misdemeanor to knowingly possess three catalytic converters that have a VIN or other unique marking removed or altered.

California Firefighter Memorial Restoration  SB 374 (Ashby)

The law increases the revenue available to the California Fire Foundation by increasing firefighter specialty license plate renewal fees from $35 to $40, ensuring the state can adequately honor fallen firefighters. The foundation plans to use any additional revenues generated by this fee change to enhance the ongoing support for the foundations work, including providing resources for renovations to the California Firefighters Memorial located on the State Capitol grounds in Sacramento.

Verifying Registration Before Removing a Vehicle  AB 925 (Ta)

Requires a peace officer or traffic enforcement official to verify the lack of current vehicle registration with the DMV before towing a vehicle for expired registration longer than six months and prohibits the vehicle from being towed if the officer or traffic enforcement official does not have immediate access to those records. The law is intended to avoid unnecessary impoundments for vehicles that are currently registered but do not have current registration tags on the license plate and spare additional hardship for people who may not have the money to retrieve their vehicle from an impound lot.

Drivers Licenses Can No Longer Be Impounded for Not Paying Fines  AB 1125 (Hart)

Repeals existing law authorizing courts to impound a persons drivers license and order the person not to drive for 30 days if they fail to make an agreed upon installment payments for bail or a fine. The law is intended to reduce the harm caused to people with low incomes who need to drive to work or access essential services.

Traffic School Non-Attendance  AB 466 (Gipson)

Removes provisions making the failure to attend traffic violator school a misdemeanor and clarifies that the failure to attend traffic violator school is not punishable as a new offense. Clarifies that the underlying conviction of a person who fails to attend traffic violator school shall not be confidential and the person shall have traffic violation points assessed, as applicable. The law is intended to spare people with low incomes from additional fines and criminal penalties that have no impact on road safety.
BAKU, Azerbaijan, December 28. Two employees of the French Embassy in Azerbaijan have been declared persona non grata, said Azerbaijani Foreign Minister Jeyhun Bayramov during today's press conference on the results of 2023, Trend reports.

"It is worth noting that two years ago a note was sent to France saying that state bodies of Azerbaijan have serious facts regarding these persons. France declared two employees of our embassy as undesirable persons yesterday, without explanation. There is a difference between what we do and what they do. We speak specifically with facts that France refused to investigate," Bayramov noted.

On December 26, 2023, French ambassador to Azerbaijan Anne Boillon was summoned to the Azerbaijani Ministry of Foreign Affairs. She was informed that two embassy staff members had been declared persona non grata by the Azerbaijani government due to activities inconsistent with diplomatic status and in violation of the Vienna Convention on Diplomatic Relations of 1961. These individuals were instructed to leave Azerbaijani territory within 48 hours, as stated in the note handed over to the ambassador.

The ambassador was handed a corresponding note by the Foreign Ministry.

Later, France declared the two Azerbaijani diplomats persona non grata. It was emphasized that the decision of the French Foreign Ministry was taken as a mutual measure.

Azerbaijani ambassador to France was summoned to the Quai d'Orsay in order to be informed about it.
Iran holds funeral for a general who was killed by an alleged Israeli airstrike in Syria

Iran holds funeral for a general who was killed by an alleged Israeli airstrike in Syria View Photo

TEHRAN, Iran (AP)  Iran held a funeral Thursday for a high-ranking general of the paramilitary Revolutionary Guard who was killed by an alleged Israeli airstrike in Syria.

Hundreds of mourners accompanied the flag-draped casket of Gen. Razi Mousavi from a central square of Tehran to a shrine in the north of the city where he was buried.

The head of the Guard, Gen. Hossein Salami, praised Mousavi and vowed his death would be avenged.

We will never keep silent in the face of martyrdom of the sons of this nation, Salami said. Our revenge will be tough as always, but a revenge that could compensate for the martyrdom of Seyed Razi is nothing but the removal of Israel from the face of existence.

Iran does not recognize Israel and occasionally calls for destruction of the Jewish state.

Salami described Mousavi as a close companion of Gen. Qassim Soleimani, the head of Irans elite Quds Force, who was killed by a U.S. drone strike in Iraq in January 2020. He said Iran also would avenge Soleimanis death and that Hamas Oct. 7 attacks in southern Israel that triggered the war in Gaza were an unrelated and independent action.

I officially announce that the Al-Aqsa Storm was and is fully Palestinian. Palestine is capable on its own, the general said.

The crowd chanted, No compromise! No surrender! Battle with America!

Israel views Iran as its greatest threat because of Tehrans disputed nuclear program and its support for regional militant groups like Hamas, Lebanons Hezbollah and the Houthi rebels in Yemen who have targeted international shipping in what they portray as a blockade of Israel.

Iran insists its regional allies act independently.

Earlier Thursday, Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei prayed before Mousavis casket, state TV footage showed. Khamenei offered condolences to family of the general and a group of ranking officials who were present in the prayer.

The killing of the general, a longtime adviser of the Guard in Syria, comes amid ongoing fears of the Israel-Hamas war broadening into a regional conflict. Iran-backed groups in Yemen, Lebanon, Syria and Iraq have launched attacks on Israel and its allies in support of Hamas.

In recent years, Israel has carried out hundreds of strikes on targets inside government-controlled parts of Syria. It occasionally says its targeting Iran-backed groups that have backed President Bashar Assads government. Iran said an Israeli strike earlier this month killed two of its generals.
Gypsy Rose Blanchard out of prison years after persuading boyfriend to kill her abusive mother View Photo

Gypsy Rose Blanchard, the Missouri woman who persuaded an online boyfriend to kill her mother after she had forced her to pretend for years that she was suffering from leukemia, muscular dystrophy and other serious illnesses, was released Thursday from prison on parole.

Blanchard was released early in the day from the Chillicothe Correctional Center, said Karen Pojmann, a spokesperson for the Missouri Department of Corrections. Blanchard was granted parole after serving 85% of her original sentence, Pojmann said.

Blanchards case sparked national tabloid interest after reports emerged that her mother, Clauddine Dee Dee Blanchard, who was slain in 2015, had essentially kept her daughter prisoner, forcing her to use a wheelchair and feeding tube.

It turned out that Gypsy Blanchard, now 32, was perfectly healthy, not developmentally delayed as her friends had always believed. Her mother had Munchausen syndrome by proxy, a psychological disorder in which parents or caregivers seek sympathy through the exaggerated or made-up illnesses of their children, said her trial attorney, Michael Stanfield.

People were constantly telling Dee Dee what a wonderful mother she was, and Dee Dee was getting all of this attention, he said.

Through the ruse, the mother and daughter met country star Miranda Lambert and received charitable donations, a trip to Disney World and even a home near Springfield from Habitat for Humanity.

Stanfield said Gypsy Blanchards mother was able to dupe doctors by telling them her daughters medical records had been lost in Hurricane Katrina. If they asked too many questions, she just found a new physician, shaving the girls head to back up her story. Among the unnecessary procedures Gypsy Blanchard underwent was the removal of her salivary glands. Her mother convinced doctors it was necessary by using topical anesthetic to cause drooling.

Gypsy Blanchard, who had little schooling or contact with anyone but her mother, also was misled, especially when she was younger, Stanfield said.

The doctors seem to confirm everything that youre being told. The outside world is telling you that your mother is a wonderful, loving, caring person. What other idea can you have? Stanfield said.

But then the abuse became more physical, Stanfield said. Gypsy testified that her mother beat her and chained her to a bed. Slowly, Gypsy also was beginning to understand that she wasnt as sick as her mom said.

I wanted to be free of her hold on me, Gypsy testified at the 2018 trial of her former boyfriend, Nicholas Godejohn of Big Bend, Wisconsin, who is serving a life sentence in the killing. She went on to add: I talked him into it.

When she took the stand at his trial, prosecutors already had cut her a deal because of the abuse she had endured. In exchange for pleading guilty in 2016 to second-degree murder, she was sentenced to 10 years in prison. The first-degree murder charge she initially faced would have meant a life term.

Nick was so in love with her and so obsessed with her that he would do anything, Godejohns trial attorney Dewayne Perry argued in court, saying his client has autism and was manipulated.

Prosecutors, however, argued that he was motivated by sex and a desire to be with Gypsy Blanchard, whom he met on a Christian dating website.

According to the probable cause statement, Gypsy Blanchard supplied the knife and hid in a bathroom while Godejohn repeatedly stabbed her mother. The two ultimately made their way by bus to Wisconsin, where they were arrested.

Things are not always as they appear, said Greene County Sheriff Jim Arnott as the strange revelations began to emerge.

Even Gypsys age was a lie. Her mother had said she was younger to make it easier to perpetuate the fraud, and got away with it because Gypsy was so small: just 4 feet, 11 inches (150 centimeters) tall.

Law enforcement was initially so confused that the original court documents listed three different ages for her, with the youngest being 19. She was 23.

Greene County Prosecutor Dan Patterson described it as one of the most extraordinary and unusual cases we have seen.

Stanfield recalled that the first time he met Gypsy, she got out of breath walking the 75 yards (69 meters) from the elevator to the room where he talked to her. He described her as malnourished and physically frail.

I can honestly say Ive rarely had a client who looks exceedingly better after doing a fairly long prison sentence, Stanfield said. Prison is generally not a place where you become happy and healthy. And I say that because, to me, thats kind of the evidence to the rest of the world as to just how bad what Gypsy was going through really was.

Gypsy Blanchard later said it wasnt until her arrest that she realized how healthy she was. But it took time. Eventually, she got married while behind bars to Ryan Scott Anderson, now 37, of Saint Charles, Louisiana.

The bizarre case was the subject of the 2017 HBO documentary Mommy Dead and Dearest, the 2019 Hulu miniseries The Act and an upcoming Lifetime docuseries The Prison Confession of Gypsy Rose Blanchard. Daytime television psychologist Dr. Phil McGraw interviewed her from prison. The novel Darling Rose Gold draws upon the story for its premise and Blanchards own account, Released: Conversations on the Eve of Freedom is set for publication next month.

Amid the media storm, Pojmann, of the corrections department, said no in-person coverage of her release was allowed in the interest of protecting safety, security and privacy.

By HEATHER HOLLINGSWORTH

Associated Press
BAKU, Azerbaijan, December 28. The Chairman of the Central Election Commission (CEC) of Azerbaijan, Mazahir Panahov has met with the head of the election observation mission from the Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights (ODIHR) of the OSCE Johann Murphy in connection with the early presidential election in the country scheduled for February 7, 2024, a source in the CEC told Trend.

The source said that Panahov, welcoming the head of the observation mission and its members, expressed satisfaction with the meeting.

"Thanking Panahov for the warm welcome at the CEC and for finding time for the meeting despite a busy schedule, Murphy informed about the structure and composition of the election observation mission," the source noted. "The mission members inquired about the progress of the preparations for the upcoming election and asked the CEC chairman to inform them about the projects implemented and planned."

"Panahov emphasized that the structure he leads attaches great importance to relations with international organizations and is always open to cooperation, and all processes are carried out with broad transparency," the source further said. "He spoke about Azerbaijan's electoral system, electoral legislation, the principles of the activities of election commissions, and various projects implemented and planned in connection with the upcoming election."

"Speaking about the systematic and consistent preparation for the election, the Chairman noted that for the early presidential election, the CEC approved the candidacies of 15 people (five candidates from political parties and 10 self-nominated candidates) with relevant decisions," the source reminded.

"He also mentioned that, in accordance with the requirements of the Election Code, the submitted signature sheets and other election documents are currently being verified by a professional working group," the source pointed out. "The CEC chairman invited members of the election observation mission to actively participate at any time, both in the verification of signature sheets and in any other election-related procedures."

"According to him, broad opportunities have been created for observing these processes, which are entirely transparent and open to the public. Like other interested parties, they can always directly observe the unfolding events," the source said.

"The meeting also held an exchange of opinions on some mutually interesting issues," added the source.

On December 19, the Central Election Commission approved the candidacy of Ilham Aliyev nominated by the New Azerbaijan Party for participation in the early presidential election.

The CEC meeting held on December 21 approved the candidacies of self-nominated Zahid Oruj and Fuad Aliyev, as well as Fazil Mustafa (the Great Creation Party), Elshad Musayev (the Great Azerbaijan Party), Gudrat Hasanguliyev (the United Popular Front Party of Azerbaijan), and Razi Nurullayev (the National Front Party).

On December 7, President of the Republic of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev signed a decree holding an early presidential election in the country on February 7, 2024.

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Critics warn of potential for a securocratic state if Chiwenga assumes presidency

Vice-President Constantino Chiwengas strong military connections continue to raise concerns about the potential for a securitized governance structure in Zimbabwe.

Despite transitioning from military to civilian life six years ago, Chiwengas enduring ties to the military have sparked fears that he could transform the country into a fully-fledged securocratic state if he were to assume the presidency.

Chiwengas illustrious military career, which culminated in his appointment as Commander of the Zimbabwe Defence Forces in 2003, earned him widespread recognition. He emerged as a prominent figure during the November 2017 coup that ousted the late former President Robert Mugabe, after which he retired from the army to take on the role of Vice-President.

As President Emmerson Mnangagwa nears the end of his constitutional term, Chiwenga, by virtue of his position, appears to be in a prime position to succeed him. However, doubts have been cast on Chiwengas ability to establish a strong political base within the ruling Zanu PF party, raising questions about his capacity to govern solely through traditional political channels.

Nevertheless, Chiwengas recent marriage to Colonel Miniyothabo Chiwenga showcased his enduring influence within the Southern African Development Community (Sadc) region. The wedding ceremony saw former Namibian retired military commander Epaphras Denga Ndaitwah serving as Chiwengas best man, alongside esteemed guests such as Senate Deputy President General (Rtd) Mike Nyambuya, Commander of the Zimbabwe National Army Lieutenant General Anselem Sanyatwe, and Air Marshal (Rtd) Shebba Shumbayawonda.

Ndaitwah emphasized Chiwengas seniority and influence within Sadc military circles, underscoring the continued significance of his military connections.

Political analyst Romeo Chasara from Witwatersrand University expressed concerns about the potential implications of a president closely aligned with the military. He warned that such an alignment could jeopardize Zimbabwes fragile democracy by eroding the independence of key institutions such as the Judiciary, Legislature, and media. Given the militarys historical involvement in crackdowns on opposition voices, there are fears that under a securocratic state, such practices could become more frequent.

Herbert Chamuka, leader of the Peoples Unity Party, echoed these concerns, citing past instances of military involvement in political affairs, including crackdowns on dissent and intimidation of the opposition. He cautioned that under a Chiwenga presidency, there is a risk of returning to a dark chapter where civilian authority is undermined and fundamental rights are trampled upon.

Particular attention is being drawn to the potential impact on the Judiciary and media, which are crucial pillars of any functioning democracy. A securocratic state led by Chiwenga could exert increased pressure on these institutions to align with the militarys interests, stifling independent scrutiny and silencing critical voices.

Political analyst Vivid Gwede acknowledged that it is not uncommon for individuals like Chiwenga, with military backgrounds, to have connections within regional militaries due to institutional exchanges. However, he cautioned that if Chiwenga were to ascend to the presidency, there is a significant likelihood that the country would maintain a status quo of a securocratic and militarized state. Gwede did acknowledge that some former generals in other countries have successfully implemented democratic governance, citing examples such as Nigerias Obasanjo and Buhari.

With concerns mounting over the potential consequences of Chiwengas military ties, Zimbabwe finds itself at a crucial juncture where the future path of governance and democracy hangs in the balance. As the political landscape evolves, it remains to be seen how these dynamics will play out and shape the nations future.

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Zanu PF MPs seek to travel to the US

In a bid to address the long-standing issue of sanctions on Zimbabwe, Members of Parliament (MPs) from the ruling ZANU PF party are planning to embark on a lobbying mission to the United States (US).

Their primary objective is to urge Washington to lift the sanctions that were initially imposed on the country following the chaotic fast-track land reform program at the turn of the millennium.

The US sanctions program specifically targets individuals involved in human rights abuses, those who undermine democratic processes, or facilitate corruption. While the sanctions have been subject to annual reviews, resulting in the removal of certain officials from the sanctions list, ZANU PF MPs are now pushing for a complete repeal of the sanctions program, known as the Zimbabwe Democracy and Economic Recovery Act (ZIDERA).

Energy Mutodi, the legislator for Bikita South, highlighted the adverse effects of the sanctions on Zimbabwes population. He emphasized the significant brain drain caused by the sanctions, as many skilled individuals have been forced to migrate in search of employment and better opportunities abroad. Mutodi expressed the urgent need for the US administration to repeal ZIDERA, which has inflicted immense suffering on ordinary citizens.

The delegation will engage the US Congress to lift the unwarranted and illegal sanctions on Zimbabwe, Mutodi stated, referring to the proposed team of MPs who will travel to the US to present a briefing paper to the President and Congress.

The ZANU PF party attributes the sanctions as the root cause of economic havoc and widespread poverty in Zimbabwe. However, the US government denies these claims, instead accusing local authorities of corruption and mismanagement of the economy.

Mutodis motion to have ZIDERA removed is based on a report by the Southern African Development Community (SADC) Permanent Mission in Geneva, which was published in December 2020. The report extensively discusses the impact of the sanctions on Zimbabwe and the broader SADC region. Supporting the motion, Webster Shamu, the legislator for Chegutu East, echoed the sentiment that the sanctions have led to economic losses amounting to billions of US dollars.

According to Shamu, the sanctions have not only affected key sectors such as mining and agriculture but have also tarnished the countrys image, deterring potential investors and donors from supporting Zimbabwe through investments and aid.

The issue of sanctions has long been a contentious topic between Zimbabwe and the US. While ZANU PF MPs strive to make their case in Washington, the outcome remains uncertain, as the US government maintains its stance that corruption and economic mismanagement are the primary concerns that need to be addressed.

As the debate continues, Zimbabweans eagerly await the outcome of these lobbying efforts, hoping for a resolution that will positively impact the nations economy and the lives of its citizens.

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Yves here. It may seem as if India is making a tall claim to justify the way it ignored US/EU sanctions on Russian oil, or alternatively, is trying to burnish its credentials as a leader of the emerging Global Majority bloc. On the surface, this claim seems plausible given how the difficulties, as in inability, of poor countries to buy Russian fertilizer due to the sanctions led to a great deal of pushback and pleas for selective carve-outs, particularly from African leaders. Predictably, Western leaders ignored these entreaties.

By Andrew Korybko, a Moscow-based American political analyst who specializes in the global systemic transition to multipolarity in the New Cold War. He has a PhD from MGIMO, which is under the umbrella of the Russian Foreign Ministry. Originally published at his website

Many Global South states were already struggling to deal with COVID-connected debt problems prior to the Wests anti-Russian sanctions worsening their food insecurity, so an energy price crisis on top of that could have pushed them over the edge into an uncontrollable polycrisis that would have also destabilized the West.

A representative of Indias Petroleum and Natural Gas Ministry told a department-related parliamentary standing committee that their countrys Russian oil imports helped stabilize the global energy market and prevent havoc from breaking out according to a recent report from the The Indian Express. What follows are the excerpts that they cited from that event, which will then be analyzed so that the reader can fully appreciate Indias latest contribution to the world:

If they (Indian refiners) had not imported Russian oil into India, which may be a big number of 1.95 million barrels per day, that deficiency would have created a havoc in the crude oil market and the prices would have shot up by about $30-40. The crude oil market is such that in the market of 100 million barrels per day, if the OPEC (Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries) says that they are going to reduce it by one or two million barrels per day, prices increase by 10 to 20 per cent and reach up to $125-130. If India does not absorbI would call it absorption1.95 million barrels per day, these prices would have reached $120-130. It would have created a havoc. Diplomatically, we are a sovereign country and could say that we have been doing what is good for the country as well as the world.

This insight aligns with what was earlier shared in these five analyses from June 2022-March 2023:

* 14 June 2022: Russian-Indian Energy Diplomacy Helps Delhi Balance Washington

* 30 November 2022: Russias Energy Geopolitics With China & India

* 16 January 2023: The US Discredited Its Own Sanctions By Buying Refined Russian Oil Products Via India

* 8 February 2023: The Wests Anti-Russian Sanctions Made India Indispensable To The Global Energy Market

* 1 March 2023: Russia Will Keep Up The Pace Of Oil Exports To India Despite Increased Chinese Demand

If India hadnt resisted Western pressure, then the whole international community would have suffered.

To explain, many Global South states were already struggling to deal with COVID-connected debt problems prior to the Wests anti-Russian sanctions worsening their food insecurity, so an energy price crisis on top of that could have pushed them over the edge into an uncontrollable polycrisis. Not only could this have led to spiraling unrest that could have spread throughout this swath of the world, but the security and humanitarian consequences would have also destabilized the West as well.

Those countries among that New Cold War bloc that are dependent on resources and markets there might have felt compelled to launch unilateral military interventions, while large-scale refugee flows could have crashed into their societies with all that entails for exacerbating preexisting tensions. This worst-case scenario was averted through Indias principled neutrality towards the Ukrainian Conflict, which saw this globally significant Great Power resist Western pressure to boycott Russian energy.

If Delhi had capitulated to their demands, then the abrupt removal of so much energy from the market would have plunged it into chaos. The remaining producers couldnt have replaced Russias lost share, thus leading to a competition among the wealthiest countries (namely China and the EU) to purchase their remaining resources. All the while, the debt-beleaguered and newly food-insecure Global South would have been unable to maintain its minimum energy needs, thus setting the polycrisis into motion.

As the unnamed Indian official told parliament, we have been doing what is good for the country as well as the world, which highlighted the growing convergence between Indias national interests and those of the international community. This South Asian Great Power practices what can be described as a hyper-realist grand strategy wherein India not only prioritizes its national interests as policymakers conceive them to be, but candidly acknowledges this approach and also details those same interests.

By doing so, India removes all ambiguity about its interests, which therefore makes it the most predictable partner that anyone can have. This policy is premised on the trust that India has cultivated with everyone since they dont have any reason to question its representatives sincerity whenever they speak about their national interests. Some might have different views and even dislike Indias policies, but nobody can credibly claim that those representatives are lying about what that they want and why.

Russian Foreign Minister Lavrov praised this approach and the multialignment that it naturally led to during a press conference with his Indian counterpart on Wednesday when saying that I believe this policy is not just important for Russia and all other countries around the world, but it is the only policy worth conducting that will ensure respect and reputation and be beneficial in Indias cooperation with other countries that show similar respect to all members of the international community.

The West will never appreciate what India did for the world, but the Global South is beginning to realize that the polycrisis that many of their officials feared would unfold shortly after the anti-Russian sanctions were promulgated was largely averted through Indias drastically scaled imports of that countrys oil. This stabilized the market, which made it easier for them to manage their debt and food security problems, thus preventing this swath of the world from slipping into full-scale instability to everyones detriment.
Reindeer Sleep and Eat Simultaneously, Saving Precious Time in the Short Arctic Summer Smithsonian

Alien World Denser Than Steel Confounds Our Understanding of Planet Formation Scientific American

Central banks rethink forecasting after failures on inflation FT

Climate

Water

#COVID19

Concerning Report Suggests COVID-19 Sub-Variant JN.1 is Behind Chinas Increasing Death Rates The Weather Channel (!). Epidemiology of COVID-19 in Infants in the United States: Incidence, Severity, Fatality, and Variants of Concern Pediatric Infectious Disease Journal. From the Abstract: More than half a million US infants contracted COVID-19 by March 2022. Longitudinal assessment of long-term infant SARS-CoV-2 infection sequelae remains a critical research gap. Extremely low infant vaccination rates (<5%), waning adult immunity and continued viral exposure risks suggest that infant COVID-19 will remain a persistent public health problem." I'm so old I remember when children didn't get infected at all!

China?

In bid to counter China, US ramps up effort to boost military ties in Asia Al Jazeera

Vietnams bamboo diplomacy shifts into higher gear Channel News Asia

Chinese families of Malaysian flight MH370 victims urge new search after experts say plane could be found within days South China Morning Post

India

Syraqistan

New Not-So-Cold War

South of the Border

Mexicos automotive exports continue to skyrocket Mexico News Daily

The Wizard of Kalorama

Obama drops annual favorite movies list, including 3 produced by his media company The Hill. #1: Barack Obama, starring Barack Obama as Barack Obama.

Spook Country

4-year campaign backdoored iPhones using possibly the most advanced exploit ever Ars Technica

The Conservatory

Studio Trickery New Left Review. Paul is the authors favorite Beatle.

Zeitgeist Watch

KPD: Argument over dog waste leads to fatal shooting in N. Knoxville WATE. Loss of executive function.

Class Warfare

Stop and Watch the Bees The Free Press

Antidote du jour (via):

Bonus antidote:

See yesterdays Links and Antidote du Jour here.
A rigged system from top to bottom

Just the other day, New York Attorney General Letitia James issued a remarkable statement. Before this trial even began, the judge ruled in our favor and found that Donald Trump did engage in years of significant financial fraud, James boasted publicly. This is associated with just one of Donald Trumps absurd legal cases.

(Article republished from DonaldJeffries.Substack.com)

Let what this laughable, biased prosecutor said sink in for a moment. She admitted that the honorable judge had ruled in our favor before the case had gone to trial. Even for this collapsing Banana Republic, its a shocking precedent to openly brag about such a serious breach of basic legal protocol. James, whom Trump has called racist, recently stated, The Donald Trump show is over. James has referred to Trump as an illegitimate president, and said his days are numbered. She lashed out at Trump at many rallies, even declaring, Well bring him down! Upon being elected in December 2018, James vowed, "We will use every area of the law to investigate President Trump and his business transactions and that of his family as well." In this case, Trump is accused of exaggerating the value of his assets.

Now, Ive known a lot of people in my lifetime that exaggerated the value of whatever they had. Bullshitters, I believe theyre called. Or to be more polite, blowhards. Until now, being a bullshit artist wasnt a criminal offense. The good judge in this case, Arthur Engoron, is about as biased as can be, a perfect example of the new judges who rule over the Orwellian courtrooms of America 2.0. Engoron slapped a gag order on the former president after he insulted his law clerk in a post on Truth Social. Some insults are more equal than others. Trump also received a gag order in his equally ridiculous trial for conspiring to overthrow the 2020 election, by complaining about the many obvious irregularities that smacked of fraud.

Its hard to keep track of the players without a scorecard, but Jack Smith, the prosecutor in the case where Trump is being tried for alleging electoral fraud, something which Stacy Abrams continues to do in the same state, is in a category by himself. Smith has regularly taunted Trump on social media, at Trumps own grade school level. It makes you proud to be an American to witness it. Judge Tanya Chutkan is almost identical to Engoron in her transparent bias against Trump. Trump has no chance in either case. Although a bit less classless than the TikTok judges Alex Jones has been tried by, they are similar in their disregard for traditional appearances of impartiality and the presumption of innocence, and their distaste for free speech.

Just as the lethargic American public permitted tyranny to be constructed all around them, without protesting or even noticing, they have allowed the implementation of a politicized justice system. The prosecutions of Roger Stone, Paul Manafort, Mike Flynn, Sydney Powell and other Trump associates were all politically motivated. Peter Navarro was convicted for contempt of Congress, because he ignored a subpoena. You know, the same thing presidential offspring Hunter Biden just did this week. Former Attorney General Eric Holder did this as well. Some subpoenas are more equal than others. Im just a community college dropout, but I do know that either congressional subpoenas are legally required to be responded to, or they arent any big deal.

The January 6 defendants, those who arent still languishing in prison nearly two years later, denied all due process, have been given draconian sentences. Some will spend more years in prison than many murderers do. There hasnt been a single concerned civil libertarian who has complained publicly about the political prisoners in Washington, D.C. Well, actually there really arent any civil libertarians left in America. Well, there is me. But whos going to listen to me? The ACLU has dropped that whole civil liberties thing. It was so America 1.0. Maybe they can change their name to the American Criminal Leftists Union or something.

Doug Mackey recently was sent to prison for a short stay, for making fun of Hillary Clinton in a 2016 political meme. He could have received seven years. So, the judge was lenient. I dont know, I think its pretty tyrannical to prosecute anyone for a political meme, let alone put them behind bars. Even for a single day. Id ask what the statue of limitations was for a political meme, except that heretofore, political memes have not been considered potentially criminal in nature. Keeping with the new norm in jurisprudence, Owen Shroyer of Infowars served over a month in prison recently, most of it in solitary confinement. For being videotaped warning people to not go into the Capitol on January 6. Hes kind of the anti-Ray Epps, who of course was filmed urging people to go inside the Capitol, and remains free at large.

Now, I dont know if any of this bothers you, but it certainly should. They are setting precedents to prosecute others, like you and me, for the same crimes. Ive heard from enough ex-cons to know what prison is like, and I dont want to go there. Even if it was a country club, and inmates actually had a blast there, I would still long to climb the golden walls, to quote the old poet. We already have way too many people imprisoned. More than any country has ever had. We should be letting those out who dont belong there, as well as figuring out just how many were victims of this same horrific legal system, and are actually innocent.

Because of the Trumpenstein Project, which used the former reality TV star to hopelessly divide the country, and destroy any independent political movement, our justice system has dropped all pretenses. Weve all seen the video of cops planting evidence, or threatening to do so to uncooperative motorists. In Pennsylvania a few years back, some judges were convicted of having knowingly sent a bunch of underage kids into the world of sex trafficking. For money. The elite do love their mammon. Ambitious prosecutors going back to the sham trial of Bruno Richard Hauptman, framed and executed for the Lindbergh baby kidnapping, were later found to have doctored evidence in order to get a conviction. A win. Everybody loves a winner. They have never cared about justice.

It bears repeating that this tyranny was constructed on the backs of all those apathetic Americans. Who didnt care that others were being railroaded, or given outrageously long prison sentences, as long as it wasnt happening to them, or to someone they love. Human beings generally dont care about the injustices inflicted upon strangers. Hey, Im doing fine, theyll rationalize. Its a shocking inability to stand inside anothers shoes. Empathy should be an essential part of human nature. But its never been as lacking as it is today. You have to have a population that totally lacks empathy, for instance, in states like California. To mindlessly walk by the pathetic people living in tents, stepping around the human excrement on the sidewalks.

As the Libertarians used to note, every time a new law is passed, we create new criminals. There are already far too many laws, and yet the public clamors for more. Millions want those they disagree with politically to be locked up, you know, like career Deep State villain Hillary Clinton. Who is, of course, definitely not locked up. The swamp has never been fuller. Its ironic that, with all the politicized prosecutions going on, the criminal elite continue to evade the long arm of the law they control. I wrote about all the modern Deep State criminals in Hidden History. None were ever prosecuted. Even if they were prosecuted, they would be acquitted by the same brain- dead juries that convict hapless riff raff on zero credible evidence.

Im no fan of Rudy Giuliani. He was a part of the ridiculous 9/11 mainstream narrative. He was a quintessential RINO. Then he started talking about what was on the Hunter Biden laptop. Is he really shown raping a ten year old Chinese girl? Is his then fourteen year old niece filmed nude there? I dont know, but Giuliani alluded to a lot of things regarding this laptop. I do know that our legal system seems unconcerned with it. Or Hunters well documented profits in Ukraine, which seemingly involved his famous father. Now Giuliani has been convicted of defaming two Black Georgia precinct workers. The two were awarded nearly $150 million in damages. Please, somebody defame me! Now that may be a drop in the bucket to the near billion Alex Jones was ordered to pay to selected Sandy Hook parents, but its nothing to sneeze at.

So, this is our new Orwellian legal system in a nutshell. Dominion sues a bunch of people who were suggesting that their electronic voting machines arent as pure as one of Joe Bidens ice cream cones. Fox News, which naturally has a financial interest in Dominion, loses a high profile defamation case against them, without even attempting a defense. They could have cited the excellent book Votescam, by the late Collier brothers, which documented the suspicious nature of electronic voting machines. Or at least the section on vote fraud in my own book Hidden History: An Expose of Modern Crimes, Conspiracies, and Cover-ups in American Politics. But instead, Fox fired Tucker Carlson. So they did do something.

I was watching another of those Investigation Discovery network shows the other night. I dont know why I do that, other than to reinforce my own impression of just how incredibly unfair and inconsistent our justice system is, and how monstrous average people can be. In this episode, an attractive blonde admitted to killing her husband. He was supposedly abusing her or something. She wasnt the first attractive blonde to use that defense. So she had to stab him nearly 200 times. At any rate, shes already been released from prison after serving sixteen years. Or one year less than Joe Biggs was sentenced to for being an unarmed insurrectionist on January 6. Thats six years less than the Hispanic leader of the White Supremacist Proud Boys got. And he wasnt even in Washington, D.C. Feel the wheels of injustice grinding.

I may write a book on our injustice system, focusing to a large extent on these maddening disparities in sentencing. And also the number of poor souls who have been sentenced to life without parole, on the basis of the sole recanted testimony of a fellow inmate. Has there been a juror, outside of I guess Aunt Bea on The Andy Griffith Show, over the past century or so who understood what reasonable doubt means? Sure, most of those convicted werent hot blondes, but with the fat acceptance movement taking the culture by storm now, that particular entitlement doesnt carry the weight it once did. I can cite other cases, like the father who killed his son in front of his family, and got something like fifteen years. Or one year less than Joe Biggs. I dont know how the average prosecutor, or the average juror, can sleep at night.

Alex Jones was not allowed to use the First Amendment in his defense during his endless series of Sandy Hook trials. All for the same crime. Isnt there some twist on double jeopardy there, to prevent someone from being prosecuted multiple times for the same thing? One of Joness TikTok judges literally told the jury that he was lying. I dont think judges are supposed to do that. Something about presiding in an impartial manner comes to mind. But tell that to Amy Berman Jackson, the Democratic Party activist judge who allowed the lead juror in Roger Stones show trial to stay in her position, after she posted anti-Trump and anti-Stone messages online. During the trial. Even in the old corrupt days, that would have been enough to get her tossed, even if the defendant was an accused serial killer. Jackson wouldnt replace her.

Thanks to the Woke carnival on campuses for the past several years, the new judges taking the bench will all resemble Alex Joness TikTok persecutors. They could literally have an LBGTQ+ (I dont care if I got all the ridiculous initials correct) flag flying behind them in court. The goal appears to be to strip away whatever vestiges of traditionalism remain in America 2.0. Thus, the court battles thus far, between deranged mothers and befuddled fathers, over the gender of their abused child, have resulted in victories for the side of insanity. The side of body mutilation. Thats the way these courts roll. They arent about to even accidentally make a just decision.

Thanks to the universal acceptance of Judicial Review, the courts have become the final arbiter for everything. So when a much saner California overwhelmingly passed proposition 187 in 1994, which would have denied illegal immigrants government benefits, a federal judge simply ruled it was unconstitutional. Thats the democracy that were supporting in Ukraine, where all opposition political parties and media are banned. One unelected individual in a robe overruling the will of the people. Democracy. Thomas Jefferson saw Judicial Review for what it was, and seemed to be about the last American to complain about it, until I came along, with my humble but growing following on the internet. If the Republicans were really an opposition party, theyd be making an issue of this. They arent. They just hope for the right judge.

This system isnt just rigged. Its irreparably broken. And as Donald Trump pointed out in his most astute campaign comment, you cant trust those who rigged it to fix it. Every time someone who was in the wrong place, at the wrong time, gets convicted after seeing his public defender for all of five minutes, we all lose. An unfair conviction, or an unjust acquittal based on legal irrelevancies like wealth, race, or politics, taints the system we all are supposed to respect. No one with any critical thinking ability whatsoever, and even a cursory knowledge of modern history, can possibly have the least bit of faith in our system. I cannot argue any longer with the anarchists. There is no reason to have even the most limited trust in any authority.

Its entirely appropriate that the most corrupt society in the history of the world, our own glorious America 2.0, should have a system of kangaroo courts that would make Lewis Carroll, author of Alice in Wonderland, blush. We are really almost at the point of sentence first, verdict afterwards, which for over a century represented just a titillating example of the authors renowned nonsense. When a judge openly rules that a defendant is guilty, before the trial has begun, as happened in one of Trumps show trials, then we have literally reached that stage. And the vast majority of Americans couldnt care less. Or could care less, as many of them would ungrammatically put it. After all, they arent on trial. If you got nothing to hide, why do you care? They simply cite one of their countless ghetto references: Im good.

We have school administrations loyally backing crazed TikTok teachers who want to interrogate preschoolers about which gender they identify as. And courts that will undoubtedly rule against any sane parents who want to stop the madness. We have the entire business world- the vaunted private industry dear to the hears of conservatives everywhere- supporting the lunacy of announcing pronouns. And there isnt a business out there, in this rigged marketplace of ours- that wont fire someone for misidentifying one of these troubled souls. Theyll also fire you for hate speech, if the right people complain loudly enough. We have seen countless people cancelled from their jobs for their social media posts. On their own free time.

The millions of Americans who cling to some semblance of sanity, and believe in some semblance of liberty, are powerless. They have no representatives, in Congress, in the courts, in the business world, or in Hollywood. Every organ of the establishment is aligned against them. You might even call that a conspiracy. They dont care if you dont buy their products, or go to their movies. Its not about profits, in this allegedly profit-driven land. There are far more important agendas here. The Great Replacement. The eugenicists wet dream of culling the herd. Of not only having all the wealth, but as Huey Long pointed out, of gleefully knowing that you dont have it. Its a wealth disparity thing, you wouldnt understand.

The White Hats arent going to save us any more than the White race is going to suddenly start madly procreating. We have to save ourselves, and that will only be possible by using our massive advantage in numbers. But everyone, including me I freely admit, hesitates because they know that not enough others will join with them. Its a real Catch-22. If you take a chance, and the expected happens- you wind up as one of only a handful of rabble rousers, easy to make an example of- then youre far worse off than now, when you can rage against the machine from a safe distance. JFK quoted the old Chinese proverb that a journey of a thousand miles starts with a single step. Our single step can be to make our presence known at the local level- things like school board and local supervisors meetings.

I was at the post office the other day, and as usual the great heroes had left only half the cashier windows open, despite there being a holiday line extending out the door. Naturally, I spoke up loudly, asking them how long the line had to get before they would open all their windows. Just as naturally, no one answered. The cowed crowd, typical citizens of America 2.0, remained oblivious. A few glared at me. Now, this is about the lowest level protest imaginable. If just a handful of people in that line had said, Yeah, why dont you open up all the windows? then they probably would have done so. Im willing to speak up, but there has to be people that simply second my motion. But even in something as relatively insignificant as this, the people are silent.

Just as I was writing this, the Colorado Supreme Court ruled that Trumps name cant appear on the presidential ballot in the state. After all, he was responsible for leading an insurrection to topple the duly elected, humble and lovable, noncreepy Joe Biden. The fairest and freest election in history. So those supporting the candidate leading in all the dubious polls are essentially being disenfranchised in that state. There may well be other states. But theres always the U.S. Supreme Court, the one they call the Trump court, which never supports him. This is the way our democracy works. Trump and his voters are a threat to it. Just nominate Nikki Haley, Republicucks. Shes the perfect candidate for your opposition party.

I wont give up hope, and I certainly wont give up my faith. Maybe someday, in some part of this once shining land, a group of naysayers will finally have had enough. When one of them speaks up, to the post office, the school board, the board of supervisors, whatever, a bunch of others will rally behind them. When confronted with the least bit of unexpected solidarity, authority figures from cops to educators to post office heroes, will almost assuredly back down quickly. Finally do the right thing. Finally listen to the people, when more than a lone wolf speaks out. If there is hope, it is at these lower levels. And if results are achieved there, then we move on up to the next level of corrupted power. As RFK said, tiny ripples of hope.

Read more at: DonaldJeffries.Substack.com
BAKU, Azerbaijan, December 28. The negotiation process between Azerbaijan and Armenia should not be held hostage by third countries, said Azerbaijani Foreign Minister Jeyhun Bayramov during today's press conference on the results of 2023, Trend reports.

"Foreign ministers of the two countries can meet on the state border. We have made such a proposal. As for holding the meeting in Azerbaijan, or Armenia, why not? Sooner or later it must happen," the minister noted.

A total of 4 meetings were held between the Ministers of Foreign Affairs of Azerbaijan and Armenia in 2023: two in Washington D.C., two in Moscow. Besides, on the initiative of Azerbaijan, an unofficial meeting of the Ministers of Foreign Affairs was held in Tehran on October 23," Bayramov said.
Biden support in swing states Michigan and Nevada PLUMMETS along with his approval rating

A recently published investigation from the Cook Political Report has shifted Michigan and Nevada toward voting for Republicans in the 2024 election amid President Joe Biden's weakening approval ratings and head-to-head polling numbers against former President Donald Trump.

The Cook Political Report notes that Biden's approval rating now stands at just 39 percent according to the latest polling averages published by FiveThirtyEight. The report argues that these "unimpressive" figures make it "hard to justify keeping two battleground states  Nevada and Michigan  in the Lean Democrat column." (Related: Poll: Trump LEADS Biden in five key swing states  Arizona, Georgia, Pennsylvania, Wisconsin and North Carolina.)

Nevada and Michigan are now just one step closer to joining other crucial swing states Arizona, Georgia, Pennslyvania and Wisconsin, the four of whom are categorized as "toss up" states for next year's presidential elections.

According to Cook Political Report Editor-in-Chief Amy Walter, in Nevada, Biden's "weak standing with Latino and younger voters has outsized repercussions.

Meanwhile, in Michigan, Biden is expected to have a significantly more uphill battle with the state's younger voters and its significant Arab American population due to his position on unconditionally supporting Israel.

"These voters make up something like two to three percent of the vote in the state and have been voting Democratic," noted Walter, warning that these voters may not vote at all if they remain unsatisfied with Biden.

Biden camp downplaying poor polling

Biden's campaign team has largely ignored the lackluster polling coming out just a year away from Election Day.

In one recent statement during a campaign fundraiser in Bethesda, Maryland, Biden rebuffed a survey by the New York Times and Siena College found that Trump would beat Biden in a general election. Other recent surveys are reporting similar results.

But instead of addressing the issues presented in these polls, Biden is instead highlighting the other, fewer, polls showing him narrowly winning before saying it is still too early to tell.

"Doesn't mean a lot right now, in my opinion," said Biden of the polling.

But in closed-door meetings with his aides, Biden appears to be panicking. According to one campaign staffer, shortly before Thanksgiving, Biden asked about his low polling numbers and grumbled about how his economic messaging was not boosting his standing with the American public despite claims of continued job growth and lowering unemployment numbers.

The situation has gotten so bad that even First Lady Jill Biden chimed in during the meeting to express her frustration about the president's polling numbers.

According to the New York Times/Siena poll, 62 percent of voters in six of the most important swing states  Arizona, Georgia, Michigan, Nevada, Pennsylvania and Wisconsin  described the economy under Biden as either "fair" or "poor."

Other national polls taken since the summer have shown Biden tied with Trump, falling behind the former president or only with a very small lead against him despite Biden attempting to hammer Trump over his legal problems and rhetoric.

According to FiveThirtyEight, Biden's approval rating is currently averaging at 39 percent, with 55.3 percent disapproving of his job performance.

Other recent swing state polls show Trump pulling ahead of Biden in certain states. This has caused concern among Democrats who fear Biden's lackluster polling could threaten down-ballot races, especially as the Democrats look to not only retain control of the Senate but also flip the House.

Watch this clip from One America News speculating on whether Biden will try to cancel the 2024 election.

This video is from the NewsClips channel on Brighteon.com.

More related stories:

Survey: Roughly 20% of voters admit to committing election fraud in 2020.

Joe Biden performing POORLY in multiple opinion polls.

POLL: 60% of Americans believe Joe Biden actively helped Hunter in his foreign business dealings.

Poll: 56% of American voters believe CHEATING is LIKELY to happen in 2024 elections.

New poll: RFK Jr. takes 22 percent of voter support in a three-way race with Biden and Trump.

Sources include:

TheEpochTimes.com

TheHill.com

ABCNews.go.com

Brighteon.com
ATTACK ON DEMOCRACY: California lieutenant governor urges state secretary to find a way to remove Trump from Golden State primary ballot, just like in Colorado

"Inspired" by the latest Colorado Supreme Court ruling taking former President Donald Trump from the state's 2024 presidential primary ballot, California Lt. Gov. Eleni Kounalakis has urged Secretary of State Shirley Weber to " explore every legal option " to carry out the same action in their state.

The second-highest official of the Golden State mentioned the Colorado court's decision that erroneously cited Section 3 of the 14th Amendment, which disqualifies "officers" who "engage in insurrection." In a letter, the far-left Kounalakis laughably claimed that her request was not about removing a political candidate but upholding democratic principles and laws.

The decision is about honoring the rule of law in our country and protecting the fundamental pillars of democracy. California must stand on the right side of history," she wrote and further pointed out that the constitution mandates presidential candidates to be at least forty years old and devoid of insurrectionist activities.

"The Colorado decision can be the basis for a similar decision here in our state. The constitution is clear: you must be 35 years old and not be an insurrectionist." She also urged an expedited decision on the certified list of candidates for the March 5, 2024 primary election by Dec. 28.

California Lt. Gov. @EleniForCA writes to Secretary of State Shirley Weber to explore every legal option to remove former President Donald Trump from Californias 2024 presidential primary ballot. Letter here: pic.twitter.com/HoGZdjLmNy  Christopher Cadelago (@ccadelago) December 20, 2023

The National Pulse responded to the California official's statement by saying that in reality, the Constitution states a commander-in-chief must be 35 years old and the 14th Amendments prohibitions apply to "officers" who have fomented insurrection. The former president is not and has never been an "officer," as almost all legal scholars accept.

Experts observed that the Colorado decision under the Civil War-era provision marked the first time a court has found him to be ineligible to return to the White House due to his conduct surrounding the Jan. 6, 2021 attack on the U.S. Capitol. Never before has a court determined that a presidential candidate is disqualified under the clause.

Meanwhile, Trump has vowed to swiftly appeal to the high court, which could reverse the ruling, as per a spokesman for his campaign.

"The Colorado Supreme Court issued a completely flawed decision tonight and we will swiftly file an appeal to the United States Supreme Court and a concurrent request for a stay of this deeply undemocratic decision," Trump campaign spokesman Steve Cheung said in a statement.

Trump did not mention the decision during a rally he attended in Waterloo, Iowa, but his campaign sent out a fundraising email citing what it called a "tyrannical ruling." He also posted on Truth Social: "What a shame for our country" and "A sad day for America."

Trump has been facing multiple legal challenges, including 91 federal and state criminal and civil charges across four states, potentially resulting in up to 700 years of imprisonment. Special Counsel Jack Smith, New York Attorney General Letitia James and Fulton County District Attorney Fani Willis have led these endeavors.

Poll: Trump leads the primary race with 61 percent

Despite all these, the former POTUS continues to lead the primary race with 61 percent as per 538's average of national polls, even in the key battleground states for a hypothetical general election against Democrat and current President Joe Biden. (Related: INSANITY: Mainstream media want Trump to be ASSASSINATED to prevent him from winning the election.)

The 538 survey further revealed that Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis and former UN Ambassador Nikki Haley are essentially tied for second at 12 percent and 11 percent, respectively. Trump also leads by at least 25 percentage points in Iowa, New Hampshire and South Carolina.

In an August analysis of historical and contemporary polls published by G. Elliot Morris, a data journalist who is best known for his work on election polling and predictive analytics, Trump got a roughly 4-in-5 chance of winning the GOP presidential nomination. "That article looked at how often past presidential candidates polling at 50 percent nationally [as Trump was in August] went on to win their party's nod. I also produced odds for other candidates, ranging from about a one-in-20 chance for Haley [then at four percent in national polls] to a one-in-8 shot for DeSantis [15 percent]," Morris said and proceeded to point out that 61 percent in the polls now equates to a more than nine-in-10 chance of winning the nomination.

"No presidential candidate in history has lost the nomination while being so far ahead in the national polls this late in the cycle. The highest-polling losing candidate was then-Sen. Hillary Clinton in 2008, who led the national polls with slightly less than 40 percent in mid-December 2007," Morris further claimed.

Check out Trump.news for more news related to the ongoing legal battle the former president is fighting.

Sources for this article include:

TheNationalPulse.com

CBSNews.com

Projects.FiveThirtyEight.com

ABCNews.go.com
LOCKDOWNS COMING: New Yorks Erie County announces travel bans during catastrophes  only essential workers with movement passes will be allowed

The next time another Wuhan coronavirus (COVID-19)-like "emergency" occurs, Erie County, N.Y., is ready to go with the recent passage of new travel ban legislation.

In the event of a "catastrophe," as defined by the government of the Empire State, Erie County will have the ability to force all residents into lockdown mode, the only exception being "essential workers" who can apply for a special "movement pass" that allows them to travel without interference from the state.

Officials in Erie County set up a website that employers can use during winter storms or other "emergencies" that they deem serious enough to declare a driving ban.

"The travel exemption portal will define specific categories of workers using a tiered concept to identify who would be exempt from a travel ban in order to commute to and from their place of employment," reads a news release about the scheme and how it will work.

"The list of essential employees will be reviewed annually and employers will be asked to provide updates when an essential employee's work status changes for any reason that warrants removal from the exemption list."

The county said the essential employee exemption portal is to be used by employers during winter storm events and other emergencies when a driving ban has been declared. https://t.co/sWIlOt5BRJ  7 News WKBW (@WKBW) December 15, 2023

(Related: Some believe that 2024 will bring with it full-scale medical martial law  what do you think?)

Politicians exempt (of course) from Erie County travel ban

Like with COVID, "essential workers," in the context of Erie County's use of the term, includes law enforcement, first responders, healthcare workers, civil servants (politicians), farmers and construction workers.

Not that all of the aforementioned essential workers are essential except for politicians, who merely included themselves among the exempt so they will not have to abide by the same restrictions as the paupers they supposedly "represent."

In other words, while their constituents are stuck at home until the "emergency" ends, politicians in Erie County will be free to travel as they please because they have deemed themselves as "essential" and thus exempt from the new rule.

Erie County imposed its first travel ban back in 2022 when a winter storm, a common occurrence in New York, hit the area. Numerous motorists became stranded in the snow and some died, which the government of Erie County has determined warrants the removal of the right to travel during similar future snow storms.

"Under the New York Public Officers Law, no one may travel except personnel deemed essential during the emergency," declared Erie County Executive Mark Poloncarz on X (formerly Twitter).

Poloncarz is threatening to punish any citizen who defies his county's impending travel bans, which he clarified will be imposed not just for a "major weather event," but also for "some other type of catastrophe."

Important thread: During a snow emergency, a driving/travel ban emergency order may be instituted to protect lives and get our community open as soon as possible. Under the New York Public Officers Law, no one may travel except personnel deemed essential during the emergency. 1/7  Mark Poloncarz (@markpoloncarz) December 15, 2023

An outspoken anti-Trumper, Poloncarz mocked critics of the scheme who are rightfully calling it a major government overreach.

"Im enjoying the replies from out-of-state trolls to my posts about who are essential personnel authorized to drive during a snowstorm travel ban," Poloncarz immaturely wrote on X. "Here's the deal, since you hate government so much, don't call 911 after getting stuck and demand we save your sorry patriot butts."

Will the rest of America follow suit by imposing travel bans that trigger in the event of a "catastrophe?" Find out more at Tyranny.news.

Sources for this article include:

Infowars.com

NaturalNews.com
Dozens of GOP candidates sign pledge to reject COVID-19 vaccines and Big Pharma money

Although its easy to blame pharmaceutical companies for the damage their Wuhan coronavirus (COVID-19) vaccines have caused to humanity, its important not to lose sight of the fact that governmental agencies and the politicians who control them also play a key role. Thats why a concerned physician in Texas has called on candidates to clarify their stance toward these jabs and vow not to accept campaign donations from greedy pharmaceutical companies  and the uptake has been surprisingly strong.

The woman behind the initiative is Dr. Mary Talley Bowden, a Texas ear, nose and throat doctor who founded the Coalition of Health Freedom. She called on candidates running for various offices throughout the nation to explain their position on whether COVID vaccines should be pulled off the market. She also asked them to make a public pledge not to accept any campaign donations from Big Pharma.

In a post on X, she wrote: Want to help? Its primary season. Lets replace the politicians who arent protecting their constituents.

She continued: Ask your representatives  publicly whether they stand with 17,000+ doctors to support pulling the COVID shots off the market.

So far, she reports that 26 candidates and elected officials across 11 states have agreed that the jabs should be taken off the market.

One candidate who has signed on is David Lowe, who is running for State Representative of the 91st District of Texas in the Republican primary. The combat veteran spoke to journalist Matthew Lysiak of The Epoch Times about why he was willing to support the initiative.

It is pretty clear that the numbers and the data behind the vaccine were not accurate and as a result we are looking at what is probably one of the greatest blunders in modern medical history, he said.

After explaining how lives were lost due to the lack of accurate information about the vaccines, he added: This whole episode has been a dark blotch on our country and there needs to be change and that starts with our elected representatives.

Lowe said that even though Republican voters are focused on a range of issues, such as the border crisis and rising crime, they are still worried about COVID-19-related matters even though they may not be getting the attention they did in the past. He added that the influence of pharmaceutical companies on the political process is another big concern.

Another politician who agreed to take on the challenge is John Perez, who is running in the Republican primary for the Texas House District 133 seat. He wrote on X in response to Dr. Bowdens call: It comes down to individual choice and freedom -- not the bottom line of big drug companies enabled by egregious government overreach.

Candidates in Florida, Kentucky and New Hampshire have all joined Dr. Bowdens call.

Some voters say they are more likely to support candidates who wont be influenced by Big Pharma

Although it is admittedly a somewhat biased group, 94 percent of Dr. Bowdens followers who responded to a poll she conducted said they were more likely to support candidates who wont accept money from pharmaceutical firms. Despite the bias, however, Lysiak points out that it is useful information that candidates could leverage in some of the areas where tight races are expected.

She said: If you look at the data on the uptake of the latest COVID shot, it's clear that most politicians are no longer getting this shot and are no longer giving them to their kids.

It is quite hypocritical; if it isnt safe enough for their kids or themselves, how is it safer for their constituents? she asked.

Sources for this article include:

TheEpochTimes.com

Twitter.com
Supreme Court wont fast-track decision on Trump presidential immunity claim in election interference case

The U.S. Supreme Court, in a bid to avoid a political firestorm for now, has refused to expedite its decision on the key question of whether former President Donald Trump has broad presidential immunity for actions he took as president questioning the integrity of the 2020 election.

The court refused without comment a request from Department of Justice Special Counsel Jack Smith for the high court to circumvent the normal appeals court process and quickly decide on the question. (Related: Supreme Court expected to reverse Colorado's Trump ballot ban, side with Justice Samour's dissent.)

By refusing, Trump's case is returned to the U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit. There, a three-judge panel is scheduled to hear oral arguments regarding the case in January. Trump's case also remains frozen pending the outcome of the appeal.

Smith indicted Trump back in June for allegations of conspiring to impede the peaceful transfer of power. Trump sought to have the charges thrown out by arguing that he could not be prosecuted for actions he undertook while he was still president that were related to his official duties.

Trump's filing contends that all of the actions Smith alleges were attempts to interfere with the peaceful transfer of power were all done in his capacity as president and therefore protected.

Earlier this month, U.S. District Judge Tanya Chutkan for the District of Columbia rejected Trump's attempt to claim presidential immunity. This set the stage for Trump  who had always expected the argument to fail  to lodge an appeal that would stay the cause while the D.C. Circuit Appeals Court considered the matter.

Trump strategy is to keep delaying the trial until after 2024 election

The Trump camp is expected to see the Supreme Court's decision to not leapfrog the lower courts and fast-track the appeal as a massive victory. The former president is seeking to delay the trial as much as possible to prevent it from affecting his chances of winning next year's election.

Currently, the trial is scheduled for March 2024 in the federal district court in the District of Columbia. The Supreme Court's decision likely means the trial date will be pushed back, even if the D.C. Circuit Appeals Court rules against Trump quickly. Following a ruling, Trump can first ask the full Appeals Court to rehear the case, and he will then be given another 90 days to lodge a final appeal to the Supreme Court.

According to people with knowledge of Trump's legal strategy, these delaying tactics involve taking weeks or even months to resolve the case in the D.C. Circuit Appeals Court and then going to the Supreme Court to secure several more weeks or even months of delay.

Smith seemed to be cognizant of this tactic, and so attempted to preempt Trump's ploy by asking the Supreme Court to bypass the appeals process and resolve the immunity question directly. In court filings, Smith even tried to argue that keeping the March trial date was in the public interest.

Learn more about the legal troubles hounding former President Donald Trump at Trump.news.

Watch this clip from "Front Page with Scott Goulet" as he discusses the Supreme Court's decision to not expedite his immunity case.

This video is from the Pool Pharmacy channel on Brighteon.com.

More related stories:

RFK Jr. skewers Colorado Supreme Court decision to block Trump from 2024 ballot: "That's not a real democracy."

Supreme Court ruling could upend 300 J6 convictions and impact case against Trump.

Appeals Court: Trump NOT IMMUNE to civil lawsuits over J6 false flag riot.

The ultimate TRUMP CARD: Best way for Donald Trump to stay out of prison is to return to the Oval Office, says law professor.

U.S. D.C. Court of Appeals just destroyed America.

Sources include:

NBCNews.com

TheGuardian.com

Brighteon.com
Vaccine side effect? Swiss health insurers data shows 73% increase in people receiving cancer treatment since 2020

Data from major Swiss health insurance company Helsana showed that in 2021, there was a dramatic increase of 73 percent in the number of patients receiving cancer treatments compared to 2020. This trend persisted in 2022.

Not surprisingly, it coincided with the rollout of Wuhan coronavirus (COVID-19) vaccines in Switzerland, which began on December 2020.

"We have a doubling of cancer cases," concluded University of Lucerne health economist Konstantin Beck, after analyzing data from the Federal Statistical Office (BfS) and the Helsana Drug Report of 2022.

How healthy was Switzerland in 2020?

Beck addressed the question "How healthy was Switzerland in 2020?" in a video presentation  with the background of his analysis coming from the 2022 Helsana report and the figures from the "official" health survey the BfS published on Nov. 3.

The video begins by pointing out that the BfS conducts its health survey every five years. The health economist commented: "What is surprising is that the BfS published statistics in its database with detailed information about the health survey of Swiss citizens were deleted a few days after [they were released]."

Before the data was unpublished, BfS gave the following statement regarding its 2022 health survey: "In 2022, 85 percent of the Swiss population aged 15 and over felt healthy and 83 percent felt happy. At the same time, more than a third live with a permanent health problem. Psychological stress has increased compared to 2017. The 15 to 24 year old age group is particularly affected, especially young women."

However, this assessment by the BfS did not match the data it published. (Related: Insurance data confirms sharp increase in "sudden deaths" following COVID jab rollout.)

The deleted health survey results were responses to the question "Have you ever had one of the following illnesses or health problems in your life?" with heart attack, stroke and cancer included in the listed disease. A tally of the responses showed that:

170,000 people said they had a heart attack  from 33,339 in 2017 (an increase of more than 19 percent)

124,515 people said they had a stroke  from 27,584 in 2017 (an increase of more than 22 percent)

344,166 people said they had cancer  from 116,603 in 2017 (an increase of almost 34 percent)

Beck calculated that based on the expunged BfS statistics, the cases in 2022 would have "increased by a factor of four to five" even if aging and immigration were taken into account and subtracted from the data.

The BfS also made a noticeable change to the question on its health survey, which raises even more suspicion. In 2017, participants were asked if they'd had a heart attack, stroke or cancer the previous year, but the 2022 survey asked participants if they'd had any of the illnesses in their lifetime.

Given the question, Beck noted that the numbers from 2022 would understandably be higher. But he questioned why the BfS saw it fit to compare recent data with data from five years earlier in the first place, only to delete the incorrect comparison after releasing a contradictory statement.

To get to the bottom of things, Beck used the Helsana Drug Report to make a proper comparison. Published annually in Switzerland, the Helsana Drug Report "analyses the Swiss pharmaceutical market and provides insights into the cost and consumption of drugs." Its data for the year 2022 was published on November 30, 2023.

Using the Helsana data, Beck came up with a table showing that in 2020, the number of cancer patients receiving treatment was nine percent higher than the trend established using data from 2013 to 2019. But this difference skyrocketed to 95 percent in 2021 and to 106 percent in 2022, prompting Beck to wonder whether COVID vaccinations had something to do with it.

Since the increase in cancer cases in 2020 was very small, Beck reasoned that the pandemic couldn't have caused the massive jump in number in the succeeding years. Only Switzerland's COVID vaccination campaign coincided with the sudden rise in cancer cases among the Swiss population.

Was the BfS trying to cover up COVID-19 vaccine injuries?

Following the unpublishing of its 2022 health statistics, the BfS justified its action by simply stating that "the surveys from 2017 and 2022 are not comparable."

According to Beck, this simple admission without further explanation "does not help strengthen trust in the BfS" because the numbers "could reflect the negative effects of the coronavirus vaccinations. And it doesn't make a good impression if the office first publishes such data and then deletes it."

"If you have such a serious mistake, then it would be desirable for the mistake to be better communicated," said Beck.

Beck's video, where he explains his analysis, was published in German and had no English subtitles. However, Transition News has published an article on Beck's video, which is also in German but can be translated into English using an online translation tool.

Visit VaccineDamage.news for more stories about the dangers of COVID-19 vaccines.

Watch the following video to learn about Swiss health insurance: Explaining how it works, the costs and how to pick your policy.

This video is from the Daily Videos channel on Brighteon.com.

More related stories:

HEALTH INSURANCE could be outlawed for the unvaccinated in Illinois.

Travel insurance industry launches new scheme to exploit irrational climate change fear among travelers.

Farmers Insurance lays off 2,400 employees in the name of "long-term profitability."

Cigna Healthcare used AI to deny hundreds of thousands of valid insurance claims, lawsuit alleges.

Sources include:

Expose-News.com

Transition-News.org

Brighteon.com
War on Gaza: The Palestinian family executed in their home by Israeli forces

Trapped in Gaza Citys Shaikh Ridwan neighbourhood, the Palestinian al-Khaldi family rushed to the ground floor of their home as Israeli forces bombed nearby, thinking that would be the safest spot.

(Article by Ahmed Al-Sammak republished from MiddleEastEye.net)

An Israeli air strike then hit the house next door around 1pm on Thursday, killing some of the neighbours and wounding Fatima al-Khaldi, a mother of two.

But it was too late at that point to flee or attempt to reach the hospital, as Israeli tanks encircled the area and soldiers were getting closer.

The house was sheltering around 30 people, including some who were displaced earlier in the war from other parts of the city.

At around 8pm, Israeli soldiers arrived.

Without regard for women, children, or the elderly who were sleeping, [they] lobbed two grenades into the house, said Fahed al-Khaldi, Fatimas brother-in-law, who was in southern Gaza at the time.

They then opened fire directly at people and in an indiscriminate manner, without differentiating between young and old, al-Khaldi added, relaying the event as told to him later by his brother Mohammad.

Five people died immediately, including Ahmed, Khaleds other brother and Fatimas husband. One of their sons, Faisal, was wounded.

Whoever is still alive, get out of the room now, the soldiers said, according to Fahed.

'The soldiers then returned to the room and executed all the injured' - Fahed al-Khaldi, Gaza resident

The survivors, among them Faheds older brother Mohammed, were then queued in the yard of the house, before being stripped of their clothes.

After they were frisked and interrogated, they were given specific directions by the soldiers to flee if they wanted to live.

They left, fearing for their lives, and left behind those killed and wounded.

The soldiers then returned to the room and executed all the injured, Fahed said.

Fatima, who was pregnant, was left to bleed to death.

Faisal, her four-year-old son wounded in the raid, survived and was later taken to al-Shifa hospital.

Palestinian boy Faisal al-Khaldi, four, wounded by Israeli fire on 21 December 2023 in Gaza City (Provided)

There, his uncle Mohammed was shocked to hear that the young boy needed six surgical operations, which doctors at the hospital - destroyed earlier by Israeli forces - did not have the resources to perform.

Faisals intestine and bladder were ruptured and he remains in critical condition at al-Shifa, according to Fahed.

I posted many appeals on social media and through journalists and tried to contact the International Committee of the Red Cross to move Faisal to another hospital in the south but all that went in vain, he said.

All we want now is to urgently treat Faisal.

Field executions

Two days after the horrifying encounter, Mohammed went back to the area after Israeli forces withdrew.

He counted the bodies of nine people in the house, including Ahmed, Fatima, his elderly blind uncle, his wife and others.

The story of the al-Khaldi family was confirmed by the Euro-Med Human Rights Monitor, which says it has documented many similar field executions by Israeli forces in recent days.

The killings are taking place in Gaza City and the northern Gaza Strip - areas placed under a media blackout and cut off by Israeli soldiers from access to hospitals and basic needs.

Flattened homes in the Gaza Strip as seen from southern Israel, on 21 December 2023 (Leo Correa/AP)

Now as Israeli troops retreat from some locations, surviving residents are revealing details of the shocking crimes committed against them.

The Palestinian government media office on Saturday said it had received testimonies about at least 137 Palestinians executed by Israeli forces in the northern Gaza Strip.

In some cases, groups of people were lined up in a pit dug by Israeli forces, before being shot and then buried in mass graves, the media office said.

Other instances included the killing of pregnant women walking to the hospital and waving white flags, as well as men shot and killed in front of their families.

The Euro-Med Monitor said it has documented at least nine different instances where groups of civilians were shot and killed without posing a threat to Israeli forces.

Middle East Eye could not independently verify these claims.

'[Alleged summary killings] raise alarm about the possible commission of a war crime' - UN High Commissioner for Human Rights

However, the Israeli army admitted earlier this month to killing three Israeli captives in Gaza who were shirtless, waving a white flag, and calling for help in Hebrew.

Last week, the office of the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) said it received disturbing information about one of the cases of alleged summary executions.

The killings were confirmed, the UN agency said, but verification of the circumstances were still under way.

The Israeli authorities must immediately institute an independent, thorough and effective investigation into these allegations, and if found to be substantiated, those responsible must be brought to justice, OHCHR said in a statement.

It added that the occurence of killings raises alarm about the possible commission of a war crime and comes in the wake of earlier allegations concerning the deliberate targeting and killing of civilians at the hands of Israeli forces.

Middle East Eye delivers independent and unrivalled coverage and analysis of the Middle East, North Africa and beyond. To learn more about republishing this content and the associated fees, please fill out this form . More about MEE can be found here .

Read more at: MiddleEastEye.net
8,000 children have died in Gaza in just two months of Israeli bombings, excoriating any legitimate claim of self-defense

In the span of 18 months, Russia's conflict with Ukraine has resulted in the tragic death of approximately 560 children, averaging around 31 children per month.

In a stark and unsettling contrast, Israel's offensive against Palestinians in Gaza has claimed the lives of a staggering 8,000 children in just two and a half months, resulting in an alarming monthly average of 3,200 children. (Related: Gaza becomes "graveyard for children" as civilian death toll hits 10,000.)

This grim comparison highlights a shocking discrepancy in the casualty rates between the two conflicts.

Despite the widely portrayed narrative of Russian President Vladimir Putin as the epitome of evil, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's military campaign in Gaza  framed as a religious "war of extermination" with the goal of "wiping out Amalek"  has led to a child mortality rate over 100 times higher than that of Russia's war in Ukraine.

It's crucial to note the demographic differences between Ukraine and Gaza. Ukraine's population is 22 times larger than that of the Gaza Strip, with 44 million compared to Gaza's two million. When considering these population variances, the impact of child casualties per capita becomes even more staggering.

One might expect that such a drastic difference in child casualties would result in media coverage that reflects the severity of the situation. However, the reality has been quite the opposite.

Mainstream media trying to protect Israel

The media's portrayal of Israel's actions against Palestinian children has not been 100 times more intense or critical compared to its coverage of Russia's war in Ukraine. Instead, a pattern of atrocity propaganda has emerged, often serving to justify Israel's actions and downplay the gravity of what many consider historic war crimes.

This stark divergence in media coverage raises important questions about the framing and reporting of conflicts, as well as the potential influence of political narratives on public perception.

The apparent disparity in attention to the human cost of these conflicts calls for a deeper examination of media biases and the ethical responsibilities of journalism in conveying the realities of war.

Meanwhile, Australian Dr. Natalie Thurtle, who recently coordinated medical aid to Gaza for Doctors Without Borders (MSF), has expressed profound concern over the high number of children being killed or permanently maimed in the ongoing conflict.

Thurtle, who was in East Jerusalem until last week, described the challenging environment for healthcare providers in Gaza, emphasizing the difficulty of managing the chaos created by the conflict. She noted the increasing danger faced by medical facilities, exemplified by recent attacks on Nasser Hospital and the siege of al-Awda Hospital by Israeli forces.

The situation on the ground, according to Thurtle, is characterized by a lack of safe spaces for civilians, overwhelming healthcare facilities, and an alarming number of children among the casualties.

Speaking about the daily challenges, she mentioned the attack on Nasser Hospital and the surrounding of al-Awda Hospital, emphasizing that misinformation about the conflict is prevalent.

MSF, feeling a responsibility to convey the experiences of its staff, has spoken out to provide a firsthand account of the situation.

Thurtle's colleague, Chris Hook, the MSF medical team leader in Gaza, highlighted the distressing scene at Nasser Hospital, where doctors were treating children amid the bodies of those who had already died. The MSF team aims to counter misinformation and stress the importance of reporting what is directly witnessed on the ground without compromising neutrality.

The Palestinian death toll in Gaza has surpassed 20,000, including around 8,000 children and 6,200 women, with over 52,000 people injured.

Thurtle acknowledged that MSF cannot independently verify the overall death and injury toll but emphasized that the figures align with what they are witnessing in the facilities where they work. The situation remains dire, with ongoing military activities hindering meaningful responses to the catastrophic humanitarian crisis.

Watch this video about Israel continuing to bomb innocent children in Gaza.

This video is from The Prisoner channel on Brighteon.com.

More related stories:

40 percent of Palestinians killed in Gaza are children.

Psychiatrist: Children in Gaza developing symptoms of SEVERE TRAUMA.

Israel has already killed 88 United Nations officials in Gaza.

Sources include:

InformationLiberation.com

TheGuardian.com

Brighteon.com
Heavily CENSORED Pfizer documents show that COVID began a five-year mass DEPOPULATION agenda that will reach completion by 2025

A startling prediction about what will soon come upon the world in the form ofis backed by the infamous Pfizer documents, which outline the five-year plan starting in 2020 to massively depopulate the world by the year 2025.

In the confidential documents that Pfizer submitted to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA), the forecast by Deagel, a global intelligence and consulting firm, is mentioned. It points to 2025 as the year when mass genocide from Wuhan coronavirus (COVID-19) "vaccination" becomes apparent.

A minor branch of U.S. military intelligence, the Deagel corporation is somewhat secretive in that it operates behind the veil to collect data and other intelligence for high-level decision-making purposes throughout the military-industrial complex.

Deagel works with names like the National Security Agency (NSA), the United Nations (UN), and the World Bank. It also contributed to the Stratfor report on North Korea.

Because of this, Deagel would seem to hold legitimacy as a player in the intelligence community. It appears unlikely, in other words, that Deagel is a disinformation asset spreading fear without basis.

"This means its population predictions for 2025, as well as its industrial output predictions on a nation-by-nation basis, are not mere fantasy but instead based on strategic assumptions which are shared and well understood by other players in the intelligence community," reports The Expose.

(Related: Did you know that the CIA is behind Deagel's shocking 2025 depopulation forecast, which is more of a target rather than an estimation or prediction.)

How did the world get here?

Sometime in 2020, Deagel removed the 2025 forecast from its website. The Wayback Machine and Internet Archive still show it, though.

You will notice from the archived report that Deagel expects the population of the United Kingdom (UK) to drop by 77.1 percent come 2025. That is a lot of people who are expected to die in just two short years. As for the United States, Deagel expects population numbers to drop by 68.5 percent by 2025.

As for Germany, its population is expected to decrease by 65.1 percent by the end of 2025, along with a 34.6 percent population decline expected in Australia by the year 2025. There is a complete list of all the population declines predicted for 2025 all around the world.

"Sadly, the confidential Pfizer documents coupled with staggering deaths among children suggest Deagel's depopulation figures were not just an estimation, but a target," reports The Expose.

This is more than likely one of the reasons why the FDA, operating on behalf of Pfizer against the interests of the American taxpayers who fund its existence, plotted to delay the release of the Pfizer documents for a full 75 years  because by then, nobody still alive at that time would even remember COVID, let alone the 2025 genocide event that is shaping up to follow.

The Pfizer documents have since been on a delayed-release schedule, thanks to a January 2022 order from federal Judge Mark Pittman, whom at that time ordered the FDA to release 55,000 pages of the documents per month.

As of now, all of the documents are available at the PHMPT website.

"I can only wonder why we tolerate our political systems being hijacked and steered by those with the most wealth?" wrote one concerned commenter about how the world got to this point in time.

"It's so obvious where this came from, both the originating confused and psychotically neurotic minds and the organization which made it all possible. But it's not only that insanity to blame. It's every one of us. Every one of us who sees such a system of absolute disorder and conforms our lives to its system of 'order.'"

The COVID depopulation agenda is now well underway. Learn more at Genocide.news.

Sources for this article include:

Expose-News.com

NaturalNews.com

Archive.org

NobulArt.com
Christmas Day revealed another MIGRANT CARAVAN marching toward America as the invasion continues

A thousands-strong caravan of people coming mostly from Central America and the Caribbean poured through America's southern border illegally on Christmas Day while tens of millions of Americans were opening presents and celebrating the holiday.

The group, which walked more than nine miles from the southern border city of Tapachula all the way to Alvaro Obregon, included entire families, single adults and everyone in between. Most of them were angry and frustrated at having to wait weeks or even months for the documents necessary to illegally invade America.

According to the Mexican government, it does not hand out the transit visas that many caravanners are demanding in order to board buses headed across the U.S. border. In the first 11 months of 2023, Mexico reports around 680,000 migrants from other countries passing through on their way to the United States.

The most recent caravan that arrived on Christmas Day reportedly included around 6,000 people. This is one of the largest caravans to illegally enter the U.S. since June 2022, not to mention that this one occurred right on Christmas Day.

Just like what happened with the June 2022 caravan, this latest one on Christmas occurred just a few days before U.S. officials were schedule to meet with their Mexican counterparts in Mexico City to figure out some kind of solution for the hundreds of thousands of migrants that continue to show up at the U.S. southwest border.

(Related: Back in October, four Iranian "special interest aliens" were apprehended by Border Patrol upon trying to enter the United States illegally.)

Mexico, U.S. agree to block more migrants from illegal entry

The migrant situation is spiraling so out of control that the leaders both of Mexico and the U.S. have agreed to work more closely on exploring new ways to try to deter all these migrants from crossing Mexico.

The U.S. government recently closed two vital railway border crossings in Texas, claiming they have been overwhelmed by the processing of illegals. This put a stop to much of the freight moving from Mexico to the U.S., which is spurring Mexico to do a better job of preventing caravanners from reaching the U.S. in order to eventually reopen these two critical international trade routes.

U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken is scheduled to attend the meeting in Mexico City. Other U.S. attendees include Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas and White House homeland security adviser Liz Sherwood-Randall.

By the time the end of December arrives, some 10,000 illegal aliens are expected to have been arrested every single day at the southwest U.S. border. This crisis is at the heart of what the meeting will be about in Mexico City.

Back in May, Mexico agreed to take in some of the migrants from Venezuela, Nicaragua and Cuba who end up being turned away by the U.S. for failing to follow the rules that provide fresh legal pathways to asylum and other types of migration. So far, this effort by Mexico has had little impact in stemming the tide of illegal flow into the U.S.

Over the last two fiscal years, as defined by the U.S. government, an astounding four million illegal aliens have been arrested for trying to illegally enter America.

"These people must not be allowed to cross," one commenter wrote about the matter. "This country does not have the resources to care for them, and when we do we neglect the legal citizens of this country  especially its seniors, homeless veterans and poor."

"Many will probably die after they enter the U.S.," suggested another. "The free ride is rapidly deteriorating, and those needing free services will sicken and die."

If this story's topic interests you, more stories like it can be found at InvasionUSA.news.

Sources for this article include:

TheEpochTimes.com

NaturalNews.com
Israeli developer planning dream beachfront villas in Gaza Strip, once millions of Palestinians are eliminated

An Israeli real estate developer has come under fire for proposing the creation of luxury beachfront villas for Israeli settlers over the bombed-out ruins of Gaza.

The developer in question is Harey Zahav, an Israeli company notorious for partnering with the Israeli government to build settlements in the illegally occupied West Bank. (Related: 145 Nations support U.N. General Assembly resolution condemning Israeli settlement activities in Occupied Palestinian Territories.)

Harey Zahav recently put out an advertisement regarding the construction of new luxury villas along the bombed-out beaches of Gaza. "Wake up! A house on the beach is not a dream!" the ad reads, with the company promising an Israeli return to Gush Katif  a bloc in the southern Gaza Strip that used to be made up of 17 illegally built Israeli settlements with nearly 9,000 residents. The communities were demolished and the settlers removed in 2005 as part of Israel's "disengagement" from Gaza.

"We at the Harey Zahav company are working to prepare the groundwork for a return to Gush Katif. Several of our employees have started working on land reclamation, clearing out trash and expelling trespassers," reads the caption below the pictures posted on Harey Zahav's social media accounts. "We hope that in the near future all of the hostages will return home safely, the soldiers will return home and, God willing, [we will] start building in every part of Gush Katif."

An Israeli real estate company is already drawing up plans for settlements in the Gaza Strip. "A house on the beach is not a dream!" the ad reads. Below, it says their employees are "expelling invaders." Israel's attacks are not about "defense." This is ethnic cleansing. pic.twitter.com/PPNKslaGET  CODEPINK (@codepink) December 18, 2023

A joke gone wrong?

Following the uproar over the settlement plans, Harey Zahav Founder Ze'ev Epshtein claimed that the whole thing was "a joke gone wrong" while still insisting that he would like Harey Zahav to lead efforts to build new homes for Israeli settlers in the Gaza Strip if the government would allow it.

"We thought it would just be a joke for our followers," said Epshtein.

In an interview with Israeli daily newspaper Haaretz, Epshtein said that he and his employees were hearing talk about what would happen on the "day after" the conflict in Gaza ends, and one option being discussed was reoccupying the Gaza Strip and reestablishing Israeli settlements there.

Epshtein noted that as fervent Zionists, that is also his and his employees' preferred approach and that their post was merely meant "to raise awareness" to this proposal.

This "joke" to "raise awareness" of Israeli proposals to preoccupy the Gaza Strip comes as Israeli attacks have already killed around 20,000 Palestinians while displacing over 85 percent of the Strip's besieged population and blockaded 2.3 million people since early October.

This proposal from Harey Zahav is also part of an increasingly popular sentiment among Israeli officials and institutions for reoccupying the Gaza Strip.

Recently, Israeli Intelligence Minister Gila Gamliel  a member of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's extremist Likud party  has drafted a plan to ethnically cleanse all Palestinians in Gaza into Egypt's Sinai Peninsula.

Separately, the Misgav Institute for National Security and Zionist Strategy  an extremist think tank  declared that Israel currently has "a unique and rare opportunity to evacuate the entire Gaza Strip."

Such plans have been widely condemned as being reminiscent of the Nakba, a genocidal event in 1948 when the first Israeli settlers ethnically cleansed more than 750,000 Arabs from parts of then-Mandatory Palestine by either massacring them or forcibly displacing them.

Watch this clip reporting on Harey Zahav's plan to build luxury homes for Israelis in Gaza.

This video is from The Prisoner channel on Brighteon.com.

More related stories:

Shocking video reveals IDF battle tank firing at Israeli civilian homes on Oct. 7.

Israel deploying prohibited NEUTRON BOMBS to destroy Gaza and carry out ethnic cleansing, warns nuclear weapons expert.

Biden finally admits that Israel is "losing support" as a result of its "indiscriminate bombing" of Gaza.

WAR CRIME? Nearly 50% of bombs dropped by Israel on Gaza were unguided, "area effect" weapons.

U.S. implements visa ban preventing Israeli settlers who attacked Palestinians from entering the country.

Sources include:

CommonDreams.org

TheMessenger.com

Brighteon.com
Israeli general KILLED Israeli civilians on Oct. 7, then lied about it

Israel's Channel 12 just released previously unseen footage showing an Israeli tank firing at an Israeli civilian home located just a few miles east of Gaza in Kibbutz Be'eri.

The footage contradicts claims previously made by the Israeli commander on the scene, Brig. Gen. Barak Hiram, who lied to a top Israeli journalist about what happened in the kibbutz on Oct. 7 by blaming Hamas for the destruction of Israeli lives.

What Hiram did amounts to an attempted coverup by a senior military officer with complicit support from the media. Even so, Hiram will soon be promoted to a new role as commander of the Gaza Division, the Israeli army brigade that was routed by Palestinian forces the day of the attack.

Interestingly, Hiram currently resides in an Israeli settlement known as Tekoa, which was reportedly built in violation of international law since it is located in the West Bank city of Bethlehem.

Initially, Hiram gave a false account claiming that Israel Defense Forces (IDF) made an attempt to rescue civilians in Be'eri. He also fabricated some of the gruesome propaganda released by Israel following the attack, including the hoax that Palestinian fighters tied up and executed in cold blood 10 civilians in the kibbutz, eight of them children.

(Related: Just before Christmas, a Jewish teacher at a public school in Georgia threatened to behead a Muslim student for questioning the Israeli flag hanging in his classroom.)

Western support for Israel based on LIES

One of the reasons why Western powers like the United States continue to support Israel both financially and militarily is because of the lies that officials like Hiram fabricated to drum up outrage.

You may recall the testimony given by Yasmin Porat who told Israeli state radio almost immediately after the initial attack that it was IDF and not Hamas that committed the atrocities she witnessed in Be'eri. Ten days later, Hiram would give a nearly opposite account, which was accepted without question by the White House and other supporters of Israel.

Porat, in case you missed the story, was among 15 civilians held by Palestinian fighters in the very house that the new footage shows being blasted by an Israeli tank. Fellow Be'eri resident Pessi Cohen was killed in the tank attack.

In her interview, Porat described how she and her partner Tal Katz were at the Supernova rave when rocket fire from Gaza began in the early morning hours of Oct. 7. Porat and Katz immediately got in their car and fled the area, escaping to Be'eri for refuge.

Once in Be'eri, Porat and Katz knocked on the door of kibbutz residents Adi and Hadas Dagan. There they all hid together until Palestinian fighters found them and ushered them to another nearby house where other hostages were also being held.

Porat claims that while at the second house, she and the dozen-plus other Israeli civilians were treated "humanely" by Hamas, which assured them all that they would not have to endure any further harm while serving them water and making sure they had fresh air on the hot day.

The Palestinian fighters' plan was to convince Israeli authorities to allow them safe passage back to Gaza. Once at the border, they would then release the hostages for safe passage back to their homes in Israel.

To make a long story short, Porat called the police on behalf of the gunmen to help negotiate their way out. After numerous calls and several hours of waiting, an Israeli tank showed up and began firing without warning, killing several Israelis inside.

As Israel's war on Gaza accelerates, you can keep up with the latest at Prophecy.news.

Sources for this article include:

ElectronicIntifada.net

NaturalNews.com
Illegal immigrants in New York City are leaving their shelters to go door-to-door begging for money and food

Illegal immigrants in New York City who are being housed at the controversial tent shelter at the historic Floyd Bennett Field in Brooklyn have started going door-to-door in nearby neighborhoods to beg residents for food, clothes and money.

The 2,000-bed shelter at the historic former airport opened in November to house migrant families after the administration of Mayor Eric Adams said the city's hotels and other dedicated and repurposed migrant shelters had hit capacity.

The migrant shelter complex within the field is made up of four massive tents divided into private pods where families sleep on cots. The tents have heating and they are fortified with ballasts that can reportedly withstand winds of nearly 70 miles an hour. The dormitories do not have restrooms, but there are portable toilets and showers stationed nearby. (Related: Sanctuary City New York spent over $5 billion in taxpayer money the previous fiscal year to provide services for ILLEGAL IMMIGRANTS.)

Currently, the migrant shelter has an estimated 1,720 illegals residing in it.

Brooklyn residents feeling terrorized by flood of migrants

David Fitzgerald, 62, a resident of Brooklyn's Marine Park neighborhood, some four miles from the migrant shelter, has noticed that many of the migrants residing in Floyd Bennett Field are starting to venture out into the borough to panhandle, sparking safety fears among many of his neighbors.

"There's definitely an invasion of immigrants from Floyd Bennett Field in our neighborhood and I see them sitting outside stores  outside the mall and going around to all the houses in the neighborhood, knocking on the door looking for money," said Fitzgerald. "I certainly sympathize with their situation, but to have people knocking at your door looking for food that don't speak English? It's annoying. I don't like it. We have never had this before, ever."

"We had a nice, close, neighborhood group of people. Now we have a literal invasion of people knocking on doors begging, asking for money," he said. He recalled how Ring camera footage of his front door captured one incident with a migrant father and his children knocking on his door. The father used an app on his phone to translate into English that he was Venezuelan and he needed money and clothing.

"There's a lot of retired people here, a lot of families here. They're at the stage of their lives where they like peace and quiet. This is the opposite," said Fitzgerald. "We're not liking what we see."

Paul Sanzone, 56, another resident of Marine Park who was lived in the neighborhood for 30 years, said migrants are now knocking on his door on a "regular basis."

"I am all for charity, one hundred percent. I'll give you the shirt off my back, the money in my pocket. But not this way. It has got to stop," said Sanzone. He added that he and his wife have been "on edge" ever since two people who recently came by their front door looking for food and money were wearing ankle monitors. "It's alarming."

Visit Migrants.news for more stories about the Big Apple's illegals.

Watch this clip from "The Dana Show" as host Dana Loesch discusses New York City's decision to cut spending as it seeks more funding to deal with the migrant crisis.

This video is from the NewsClips channel on Brighteon.com.

More related stories:

NYC Mayor Eric Adams DEFUNDS POLICE, rolls out various austerity measures to spend on ILLEGAL MIGRANTS.

NYC sees a surge in TUBERCULOSIS cases amid influx of migrants.

NYC willing to STARVE seniors just to feed ILLEGALS.

NYC distributing flyers to discourage illegals from heading to already-strained Big Apple.

INSANITY: New York State deploys National Guard to help ILLEGALS with PAPERWORK.

Sources include:

NYPost.com

Curbed.com

TheCity.nyc

Brighteon.com
Pro-Israel law firm is behind antisemitism complaints filed against American universities

Wyatt Reed of the Grayzone revealed the name of this firm as Kasowitz Benson Torres (KBT), which was known as Kasowitz Benson Torres & Friedman until 2017. The name change stemmed from the departure of senior partner David Friedman to serve as the U.S. ambassador to Israel under the Trump administration. Before his diplomatic appointment, Friedman met and represented former President Donald Trump in the latter's capacity as the chairman and president of the Trump Organization.

According to Reed, KBT was best known for its work on behalf of Trump  with its leadership being described as "[Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin] Netanyahu's guys in the Trump White House." In particular, Friedman has been credited with working alongside former Office of American Innovation Director Jared Kushner. The latter, who is the husband of presidential daughter Ivanka Trump, pressured the real estate mogul-turned-president into adopting more radically anti-Palestinian positions.

KBT was established in 1993 by founding attorney Marc Kasowitz, known for his representation of Big Tobacco. Over the years, the firm has had a reputation for representing notorious clients and companies in court.

In one example, KBT boasted of successfully defending Comcast (now Xfinity) against a class-action lawsuit by angry customers. In 2019, KBT signed on to represent the U.S.-based co-defendants of Ukrainian oligarch Igor Kolomoysky in court. Kolomoysky was jailed in September for embezzling millions of dollars from the financial firm PrivatBank.

In November of this year, the Grayzone revealed a leaked letter signed by Friedman and delivered to administrators of New York University (NYU). The said letter demanded that the university establish a position dedicated to "combating antisemitism" and disband student clubs dedicated to Palestine activism  under threat of legal action.

This legal action came to fruition in the form of "flimsy and unprovable antisemitism allegations," thrown at NYU to "extract heavy financial damages  including a full refund of tuition." NYU student Bella Ingber, the co-president of the university's Students Supporting Israel group, served as the leading face of this lawsuit filed by KBT.

Even the "victims" of this alleged "antisemitism" are part of the con

According to Reed, even the "Jewish students" victimized by this antisemitism on college campuses are part of the con. He pointed out that these individuals were connected to Israeli lobbyists, and sought to suppress pro-Palestine activism under the "antisemitism" disguise. (Related: THOU SHALT NOT CRITICIZE ISRAEL: Social media giants now CENSORING CONTENT that supports people of Gaza and opposes indiscriminate bombings by Israel.)

Reed noted that Ingber, Harvard Law School's Jonathan Frieden and Massachusetts Institute of Technology's (MIT) Talia Khan were among those employed by Israeli lobbyists. Frieden is the president of Alliance for Israel, while Khan is the president of MIT Israel Alliance.

But the most questionable of these antisemitism claims came from Eyal Yakoby, an Israeli-American senior at the University of Pennsylvania (UPenn). He alleged that his "classmates and professors" called him a "dirty little Jew" who "deserves to die," but failed to name a single student or professor who criticized him. Worse, he called for the imposition of lockdowns during the Wuhan coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic  but this time, aimed at students protesting Israel's genocide on the Palestinian population.

"During COVID-19, strict guidelines governed everything  from class attendance [to] graduation walks," he said during a Dec. 5 hearing of the House Education and Workforce Committee. "But now, when students and faculty defy policies to intimidate Jewish students, where is the same resolute enforcement?"

Hours after his congressional appearance, Yakoby filed a lawsuit against UPenn. He accused the university of violating Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 through its failure to respond to "antisemitism." KBT represented Yakoby and co-plaintiff Jordan Davis, according to the Daily Pennsylvanian.

"Now, the law firm's crusade to crush the free speech rights of Palestine solidarity activists is spreading across the country," Reed ultimately warned. He also disclosed that in November, two of KBT's partners revealed plans to sue other universities. The complaints will accuse the said institutions of "deliberate indifference" to the supposed plight of Jewish students, Reed added.

Watch this Fox News report about the resignation of UPenn President Liz Magill following her testimony before Congress.

This video is from the NewsClips channel on Brighteon.com.

More related stories:

Rise in antisemitism on college campuses linked to Middle Eastern regimes donating BILLIONS OF DOLLARS to universities.

Pro-Israel Hillel group deceitfully plastered UBC campus with "I Love Hamas" stickers in hate hoax.

SHOCKING: Recent ADL intern RIPS DOWN Israeli hostage posters on NYU campus.

Sources include:

TheGrayzone.com

TheDP.com

Brighteon.com
DESPERATE: Ukraine accuses New York Times of working for the Kremlin

The Center for Countering Disinformation (CCD), a state-funded information warfare agency based out of Ukraine, is accusing journalists at thewho cover the Ukraine-Russia conflict of having been recruited by Russian secret services to spread anti-Ukraine propaganda.

Even though the Times has strongly supported Ukraine without question since the start of the invasion, the CCD insists that secret Russian agents are working at the Times to cast Kyiv in a negative light.

"In order to write this text, the Russian Federation has used American journalists who were recruited during their work in Russia," reads an official statement from the CCD following the publishing of an article published by the Times calling for peace negotiations between Moscow and Kyiv.

Listed as the authors of the Times article in question are Anton Troianovski, the paper's Moscow bureau chief, and staff writers Adam Entous and Julian E. Barnes, both of whom are mentioned in the article's byline.

According to the article, "two former senior Russian officials close to the Kremlin," along with numerous United States and international officials, are aware that Russian President Vladimir Putin "has been signaling through intermediaries since at least September that he is open to a ceasefire that freezes the fighting along the current lines."

The same article says the Kremlin has been utilizing "back-channel diplomacy" to suggest that Putin "is ready to make a deal."

(Related: A few weeks back, the Times deceptively altered a quote from Hunter Biden concerning his father Joe's "financial" involvement in business dealings.)

Paranoid Ukraine sees Russian agents hiding under every rock

According to the CCD, the angle the Times writers took in suggesting that Moscow might be sending a "signal" that it is ready to give peace a chance is just a ploy aimed at "preventing further military aid for the Ukrainian Armed Forces from the West."

In other words, by claiming that Putin is ready to engage a ceasefire, the Times is effectively standing in the way of more money, weapons and other loot being sent from the West to fill the coffers of Ukraine  which some believe has become one of the money laundering and organized crime capitals of the world.

Another thing the CCD is accusing the Times of with the article in question is "boosting the rating" of former President Donald Trump, who as most know is running against President Joe Biden in 2024, once again as a Republican.

The reason for this particular CCD claim has to do with comments recently made by Trump himself on the campaign trail, which included promises that, if reelected to the White House, Trump will very quickly end the conflict between Russia and Ukraine.

"One shouldn't forget that Russia is playing a game of 'peace,' while investing more in its defense industry and building up its army," the CCD statement on the matter further reads. "There is no mention of it in the article, obviously."

According to Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov, the Times article in question is "incorrect," but for other reasons. Russia's military strategy towards Ukraine remains unchanged, he commented, adding that Moscow will only agree to engage in negotiations "exclusively for the achievement of its own goals."

There were peace negotiations that previously occurred back in the spring of 2022, but Russia accused Ukraine of abruptly walking away from the previously agreed-upon terms of the deal. Now, Ukraine is saying that peace talks with Russia can only resume if Russia agrees to recognize Ukraine's 1991 borders, a demand that Russia has repeatedly stated is "impossible."

More of the latest news about the Russia-Ukraine conflict can be found at Chaos.news.

Sources for this article include:

RT.com

NewsTarget.com
The World Health Organization (WHO) has said dengue, a virus spread by mosquitoes, is becoming a global concern due to the rising impact of climate change.

Surge Of Dengue Cases

Experts said that the incidence of dengue has increased tenfold over the past 20 years, from 500,000 cases in 2000 to 5.2 million in 2019, according to data provided by WHO.

The United Nations (UN) health agency said the virus' continued spread in various countries and this year's unanticipated surge in cases have "resulted in close to a historic high of over five million cases and more than 5,000 dengue-related deaths in over 80 countries and territories."

Dengue is considered by experts as the most prevalent virus that infects people when bitten by an infected mosquito. Experts said that this is mostly found in urban places with tropical and subtropical climates.

The WHO cautioned the public that the surge in dengue cases presents a serious public health threat to the approximately 4 billion people.

"WHO assessed the risk of dengue as high globally, which requires a maximal attention and response from all the levels of the organization," said Dr. Diana Rojas Alvarez, WHO Team Lead on Arboviruses.

The majority of dengue patients, so far, had experienced no symptoms. However, the most typical symptoms for those who do include rash, nausea, body aches, headaches, as well as high fever.

The majority of people usually heal in a span of one to two weeks, physicians pointed out.

The WHO stated that early detection and availability to appropriate medical care will reduce the likelihood of severe illness and death from dengue, as there is currently no particular therapy for the disease.

Read Also: Spread of Dengue Caused by Climate Change: Singapore Warns the World

Climate Change

Scientists explained that the reason on why more nations are reporting dengue cases can be attributed to the fact that infected mosquitoes are now able to thrive there due to growing emissions linked to global warming.

"Climate change has an impact in dengue transmission because it increases rainfall, humidity and temperature. These mosquitoes are very sensitive to temperature," Alvarez said.

The Americas have recorded roughly 80 percent of dengue cases, or 4.1 million cases, according to the WHO, followed by the Southeast Asia and the Western Pacific.

Alvarez added that the transmission of the virus through travel is also posing a greater risk to previously dengue-free country such as France, Italy, and Spain.

The WHO has expressed deep concern that dengue outbreaks are occurring in fragile and conflict-affected countries of the Eastern Mediterranean region, such as Afghanistan, Pakistan, Sudan, Somalia, and Yemen.

Moreover, dengue outbreaks are also reported in 15 15 countries in Africa including Benin, Chad, Ethiopia, and Ghana, but Burkina Faso was the most affected, with almost 150,000 cases.

In tropical regions and southern hemisphere, where the summer and dengue seasons are about to start, the WHO recommends nations and communities to be vigilant and ready to detect dengue transmission.

Related Article: Extraordinary Wet Monsoons Result In Dengue Outbreak In Bangladesh; Nearly 1,000 Killed
Weather experts forecasted that colder air would settle and bring some snow over southern states and central Appalachians amid a storm in the east.

They said that the storm was responsible for the three to six inches of rain that brought localized flooding in parts of western North Carolina.

This sliced across the middle part of the Atlantic as well as in the southern New England on Thursday.

Mild Air, Moisture

Meteorologists observed that after the pre-Christmas chill, milder air had come back to much of the East ahead of the new storm.

They said that the combination of mild air and moisture from the Atlantic had led to areas of dense fog and slow travel in the mornings of Tuesday and Wednesday as it also helped to fuel a storm heading northward from the southeast.

So far, a sufficient amount of rain had fallen in some areas of Georgia, the Carolinas and southwestern Virginia, which later resulted in the increase of water level in streams and rivers.

On the other hand, the levels of river in coastal areas of the Southeast, mid-Atlantic and New England were on their way down earlier this week following the torrential rains that were experienced last week.

The streams in these areas will likely experience another water surge from the new storm this week.

Furthermore, the recent rainstorm has left the ground moist to a saturated level.

They said that with low evaporation rates at this time of the year, any big rain has the potential to trigger quick runoff and even floods in some areas.

Officials disclosed that among the rivers likely to experience a new round of flooding are the Passaic, Ramapo and Raritan in New Jersey.

Read Also: December's Wintry Weather To Unload in Northeastern US, Midwest This Week

Rise In Water Level

They said that some rise in the water level are likely along portions of the Potomac, Susquehanna and Delaware in the mid-Atlantic with minor floods possible in unprotected areas in the later part of this week.

Meanwhile, minor to moderate floods along the unprotected areas of the French Broad, Congaree and Yadkin rivers is possible into the latter portion of the week as a zone of heavy rain is expected to pivot towards the northeastward direction.

Furthermore, the rainstorm will also give impact in the major Northeast metro areas, including Washington, D.C., Philadelphia and New York City during Wednesday night.

Heavy rains will also pour down, which leads to urban and small stream floods as well as travel delays from Virginia to southern New England.

Moreover, on Thursday morning, rush hour from near Philadelphia to New York City will likely be slow due to Wednesday night's drenching rain and lingering runoff.

The heaviest and steadiest rain is likely to diminish or slide out to the east before reaching the central and northern New England.

Temperatures will even trend 10 to 20 degrees lower in the later part of this week in the southeast.

Some areas will also experience colder-than-historical-average conditions for the end of the month, especially the areas near the Gulf coast.

Related Article: Southeast US Weather Forecast: Thunderstorms, Urban Flooding Likely This Weekend
US weather forecast shows that the eastern half of the country is expected to receive rain and pockets of snow on Thursday, December 28. This is according to the recent short-range forecast of the National Weather Service (NWS), which shows that a new weather system in the form of a low-pressure area is responsible for the looming rain and snow precipitation from Thursday and possibly until the weekend.

The latest Eastern US weather forecast comes after a related weather outlook earlier this week predicted that colder air will once again bring snow over the Southern US and Central Appalachians amid a storm. In addition, the forecast in the region follows a weather advisory regarding a flooding rain that will hit the East Coast by midweek.

Eastern US Weather Forecast

In its Eastern US weather forecast on Thursday, the NWS' Weather Prediction Center (WPC) is expecting the occurrence of scattered areas of mixed rain and snow over the central to the eastern parts of the country. This weather hazards will continue around the weakening but large circulation of a former winter storm.

In the said region, the meteorologists expect heavy rain and flood threat linked with the coastal low, which is set to depart from Mid-Atlantic or southern New England on the later part of Friday. In addition, the WPC mentions unsettled weather that is lingering near the US West Coast for the next coming days.

Furthermore, the US weather agency reported above normal temperatures across the Northern US, which will be contrasted by the relatively lower temperatures in the Southern US.

Also Read: Colder Air To Settle, Bring Snow Over Southern States, Central Appalachians Amid Storm

Winter Weather Hazards

The current North American winter season is far from over, meaning winter weather hazards in different parts of the US are expected to continue until the remainder of the year and even in early January 2024.

Earlier in December, millions of Americans in different regions were under winter weather advisories issued by the NWS. These weather alerts are due to the persistence of winter storms in the northern tier of the US, particularly, in the Pacific Northwest, North, and Northeast regions.

A week before Christmas Day, the Eastern US was also hammered by a raging winter storm, which brought heavy rain and strong winds across the region. The storm caused power outages that affected hundreds of thousands of people.

In its updated US winter outlook for the 2023-2024 season, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) in October 2023 predicted a wetter South US and a warmer North US.

Meanwhile, the general weather for the country until the end of the winter in February will be wetter-than-average conditions, including in the Western US, and drier-than-average conditions in the northern Rockies and High Plains.

During this period, winter weather hazards, along with heavy rain and thunderstorms, are still possible across the US, based on similar weather phenomena observed in previous years.

Related Article: Eastern US Weather Forecast: Flooding Rainfall, Colder Air To Hit Midweek
A wintry weather outlook can hit portions of the Southern US, causing the first snowflakes and a colder outlook as the year ends.

The National Weather Service (NWS) reported that a low-pressure area can likely hit parts of the Northeastern US, bringing gusty winds and flooding rain in New Jersey and New England.

According to weather reports, the winter storm will likely weaken this late week. However, homeowners should still stay alert for a cold front in the Pacific Northeast, bringing a wintry mix and colder conditions.

In the Southern US, people should witness the first snowflakes as December ends. The chilly outlook can also result in cold-related health concerns, such as hypothermia and frostbite.

Rain can also spread over the Plains and Interstate 70 corridor, including in Illinois and Missouri. On Interstates 44 and 45, the wintry outlook can unload in portions of Kentucky and Cape Girardeau, Missouri.

Weather in the Southern US: Where Will Wintry Mix Unload?

On Friday, homeowners can expect a slow-moving storm in the Southern US. A slick travel outlook is still likely. Snow showers can likely unload in the following areas:

Indianapolis

Evansville

Nashville

Huntsville

Memphis

Intermittent snow is also likely in St. Louis, Davenport and Springfield. On Friday, the chilly weather outlook can spread to Atlanta, Montgomery, Jacksonville, Tampa, New Orleans and Jackson.

Americans should monitor the development of slow-moving wintry conditions. The NWS Discussion reported a scattered mix of snow and rain central to the eastern US.

In the Mid-Atlantic and Southern New England, heavy rain and flood threats can unfold. Northern and Central Plains can unleash blizzard conditions and light snow.

The Great Lakes and Midwest can experience the chance of mixed rain and wet snow. Residents can expect heavy snow and a freezing outlook. Plants and plumbing systems can suffer from a freezing outlook.

Also Read: Significant Winter Storm To Hit North, Central US

Eastern US: Where Will Rainstorm Unload?

In the Eastern US, 3 to 6 inches of snow will likely hit parts of the Eastern US, including in parts of Mid-Atlantic, Southern New England and Western North Carolina.

On Thursday morning, river and street flooding can cause travel concerns. Rounds of heavy rain can unload in the following areas:

Albany

Syracuse

Boston

Hartford

New York City

Philadelphia

Scranton

Pittsburgh

In the late week, a colder outlook will likely hit in the following areas:

Richmond

Washington

New York City

Albany

Philadelphia

Charleston

Detroit

Buffalo

Indianapolis

Related Article: Eastern US Weather Forecast: Flooding Rainfall, Colder Air To Hit Midweek

For more similar stories, don't forget to follow Nature World News
BAKU, Azerbaijan, December 28. In accordance with the instruction of President of the Republic of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev, the return of former internally displaced persons to the restored city of Lachin continue, Trend reports.

Another group of citizens was sent from the Garadagh district of Baku on December 28. At this stage, another 25 families (80 people) moved to the city of Lachin.

The resettled families will settle in the houses where they once lived in Lachin, which were restored or rebuilt on the basis of instructions from the head of state after the end of the Armenian occupation. Lachin residents thanked President Ilham Aliyev and First Lady Mehriban Aliyeva for their comprehensive care, expressed gratitude to the valiant Azerbaijani Army, which liberated the lands from occupation.

Thus, until today, a permanent settlement in the city of Lachin has been provided for 408 families - 1555 people.
BAKU, Azerbaijan, December 28. Transition from micro entrepreneurship to another category of entrepreneurship has been stimulated in Azerbaijan, Trend reports.

This was reflected in an amendment to the Tax Code, the decree on the application of which was signed by President Ilham Aliyev.

According to the current Tax Code, 75 percent of income from entrepreneurial activities of individual entrepreneurs who are micro entrepreneurs keeping records of income and expenses are exempt from income tax.

According to the law, the subject of micro-entrepreneurship with an average monthly number of hired workers in the corresponding year of not less than 3 people and no arrears of contributions to mandatory state social insurance plan 75 percent of income from business activities of individual entrepreneurs will be exempt from income tax from January 1 next year. The average monthly number of salaried employees for the relevant year will be determined by summing up the number of salaried employees for the calendar year and dividing by 12.

If a taxpayer, for the purposes of applying tax exemptions, has not fulfilled the condition set forth in this Article and in the next reporting year has switched from the policy of micro-entrepreneurship to another category of business entities, 75 percent of the income tax calculated and paid on the basis of the results of the previous three calendar years when the individual entrepreneur was a micro entrepreneur will be deducted from the amount of income tax liability during the period when he was another business entity.

Also, these tax exemptions will not apply to income derived from non-commodity transactions, if a taxpayer carries out non-commodity transactions.
By Express News Service

HOUSTON: In a tragic car accident, at least six Indian-origin family members, including two children, were killed in the US state of Texas, officials said. The family was related to Mummidivaram YSRC MLA Ponnada Venkata Satish Kumar.

The accident occurred on Tuesday evening when a minivan and a pickup truck collided head-on near Johnson County, near Fortworth, according to the Texas Department of Public Safety (DPS).

According to local media, the family, who lived in Georgia, had travelled to Texas to celebrate Christmas with their relatives. They were returning home after visiting a zoo when a pick-up truck and the familys mini-van collided. Two youngsters in the truck were also injured. The deceased were identified as P Nageswara Rao and Seetha Mahalakshmi, the MLAs uncle and aunt, Nishitha, a child, Naveena and Kruthik. The identity of the sixth person is yet to be ascertained. The injured person, Lokesh, is undergoing treatment at the Fort Worth Hospital.

Texas Department of Public Safety official spokesperson William Lockridge said the crash happened just after 4 pm on Highway 67 near the Johnson County line, Nemo area, in North Texas. On learning about the incident, rescue teams rushed to the spot and airlifted three of the injured to a nearby Fort Worth hospital. A case has been registered and an investigation is on. As per local media reports, driver of the truck was reportedly found to be at fault.

Speaking to reporters, MLA Ponnada Satish Kumar said, My uncle spent Christmas at a relatives home. On December 26, they went to the zoo in the morning and left at 4 pm (local time). Their car was struck by a truck, which was travelling in the wrong direction. We are trying to repatriate the bodies.

On Wednesday morning, the DPS identified the driver of the minivan, 28-year-old Rushil Barri of Irving, as one of the deceased victims.

P Nageswara Rao & Mahalakshmi, who

were killed in the road mishap.

The other five in the van are from Alpharetta, Georgia: 36-year-old woman, Naveena Potabathula,64-year-old man, Nageswararao Ponnad, 60-year-old woman, Sitamahalakshmi Ponnada, 10-year-old boy, Krithik Potabathula and 9-year-old girl, Nishidha Potabathula.

The elderly were visiting their daughter Naveena and grandkids Karthik and Nishita from India, the Consulate General said.

The DPS is working with Georgia State Police to identify the victim's next-of-kin.

According to DPS investigators, the pickup truck was driving southbound on US Highway 67 near County Road1119 at around 4 pm on Tuesday, when the minivan was in the same area, heading north.

The pickup entered the northbound lane, in a no-passing area, and collided with the minivan head-on.

The occupants of the pickup truck were two 17-year-old boys who survived the crash with critical injuries and were taken to hospitals in Fort Worth.

(With inputs from PTI and ENS )

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HOUSTON: In a tragic car accident, at least six Indian-origin family members, including two children, were killed in the US state of Texas, officials said. The family was related to Mummidivaram YSRC MLA Ponnada Venkata Satish Kumar. The accident occurred on Tuesday evening when a minivan and a pickup truck collided head-on near Johnson County, near Fortworth, according to the Texas Department of Public Safety (DPS). According to local media, the family, who lived in Georgia, had travelled to Texas to celebrate Christmas with their relatives. They were returning home after visiting a zoo when a pick-up truck and the familys mini-van collided. Two youngsters in the truck were also injured. The deceased were identified as P Nageswara Rao and Seetha Mahalakshmi, the MLAs uncle and aunt, Nishitha, a child, Naveena and Kruthik. The identity of the sixth person is yet to be ascertained. The injured person, Lokesh, is undergoing treatment at the Fort Worth Hospital. googletag.cmd.push(function() {googletag.display('div-gpt-ad-8052921-2'); }); Texas Department of Public Safety official spokesperson William Lockridge said the crash happened just after 4 pm on Highway 67 near the Johnson County line, Nemo area, in North Texas. On learning about the incident, rescue teams rushed to the spot and airlifted three of the injured to a nearby Fort Worth hospital. A case has been registered and an investigation is on. As per local media reports, driver of the truck was reportedly found to be at fault. Speaking to reporters, MLA Ponnada Satish Kumar said, My uncle spent Christmas at a relatives home. On December 26, they went to the zoo in the morning and left at 4 pm (local time). Their car was struck by a truck, which was travelling in the wrong direction. We are trying to repatriate the bodies. On Wednesday morning, the DPS identified the driver of the minivan, 28-year-old Rushil Barri of Irving, as one of the deceased victims. P Nageswara Rao & Mahalakshmi, who were killed in the road mishap.The other five in the van are from Alpharetta, Georgia: 36-year-old woman, Naveena Potabathula,64-year-old man, Nageswararao Ponnad, 60-year-old woman, Sitamahalakshmi Ponnada, 10-year-old boy, Krithik Potabathula and 9-year-old girl, Nishidha Potabathula. The elderly were visiting their daughter Naveena and grandkids Karthik and Nishita from India, the Consulate General said. The DPS is working with Georgia State Police to identify the victim's next-of-kin. According to DPS investigators, the pickup truck was driving southbound on US Highway 67 near County Road1119 at around 4 pm on Tuesday, when the minivan was in the same area, heading north. The pickup entered the northbound lane, in a no-passing area, and collided with the minivan head-on. The occupants of the pickup truck were two 17-year-old boys who survived the crash with critical injuries and were taken to hospitals in Fort Worth. (With inputs from PTI and ENS ) Follow The New Indian Express channel on WhatsApp
Namita Bajpai By

Express News Service

LUCKNOW: Maintaining ambiguity over his participation in the consecration ceremony of Ram Lalla in Ayodhya on January 22, Samajwadi Party chief and former UP CM Akhilesh Yadav, on Thursday, said that it all depended on the call of the deity.

We belong to the legacy where temples are visited only if the God summons. If Bhagwan will call, I will go, he said while interacting with media persons on the sidelines of the national conference of the Samajwadi Mahila Sabha at the SP headquarters here on Thursday.

I leave the house after having darshan. While going down the stairs, I take darshan of God. As I step out of the gates, I take darshan of God every time. Now, you tell me which God I should go to for darshan? he said, replying to a question over his participation in the consecration ceremony.

Earlier, BJP MP Subrata Pathak had demanded a ban on the entry of SP leaders to the Ayodhya Ram temple as 'they were instrumental in opening fire on the kar sevaks'.

On the controversial statements made by the Samajwadi Party's Swami Prasad Maurya, Akhilesh said this should be asked to the BJP because he (Swami Prasad Maurya) stayed in the saffron party for five years. After all, why did he not make such statements while he was in that party? he asked while adding that the SP respected all religions.

ALSO READ | Accept or not? Ayodhya invite puts Congress in complicated situation in Kerala

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LUCKNOW: Maintaining ambiguity over his participation in the consecration ceremony of Ram Lalla in Ayodhya on January 22, Samajwadi Party chief and former UP CM Akhilesh Yadav, on Thursday, said that it all depended on the call of the deity. We belong to the legacy where temples are visited only if the God summons. If Bhagwan will call, I will go, he said while interacting with media persons on the sidelines of the national conference of the Samajwadi Mahila Sabha at the SP headquarters here on Thursday. I leave the house after having darshan. While going down the stairs, I take darshan of God. As I step out of the gates, I take darshan of God every time. Now, you tell me which God I should go to for darshan? he said, replying to a question over his participation in the consecration ceremony.googletag.cmd.push(function() {googletag.display('div-gpt-ad-8052921-2'); }); Earlier, BJP MP Subrata Pathak had demanded a ban on the entry of SP leaders to the Ayodhya Ram temple as 'they were instrumental in opening fire on the kar sevaks'. On the controversial statements made by the Samajwadi Party's Swami Prasad Maurya, Akhilesh said this should be asked to the BJP because he (Swami Prasad Maurya) stayed in the saffron party for five years. After all, why did he not make such statements while he was in that party? he asked while adding that the SP respected all religions. ALSO READ | Accept or not? Ayodhya invite puts Congress in complicated situation in Kerala Follow The New Indian Express channel on WhatsApp
Yeshi Seli By

Express News Service

NEW DELHI: The death sentence for the eight Indian naval veterans in Doha has been commuted to imprisonment. This was announced on Thursday during the hearing in the court of appeal in Doha. The period of imprisonment varies for each of the veterans.

"All eight naval veterans have been given different terms of imprisonment. The lowest is for Sailor Ragesh at three years. The terms for the other seven naval veterans varies from 10 years to over 25 years," said a source adding that the case will now be heard in a court of cassation.

Thursday was the fourth hearing in the court of appeal. The earlier hearings were on November 23, November 30 and December 7.

The judgement has given details on why the years of imprisonment varies for each of them, which due to the sensitive nature of the case has not yet been made public.

The wives of all the veterans have been in Doha for sometime now, awaiting Thursdays hearing. The failing health of the veterans has been a cause of concern for the wives as some of them have a loss of appetite while others are completely withdrawn.

The case has now shifted to the cassation court, which is the highest court of appeal in some judicial systems. Courts of cassation do not re-examine the facts of a case, they only interpret the relevant law. The term cassation is derived from the Latin word cassare which means to 'reverse or overturn'.

The Indian Ambassador to Qatar, Vipul, and families of the naval veterans were present in the court of appeal on Thursday for the hearing.

"Our Ambassador to Qatar and other officials were present in the Court of Appeal today, along with the family members. We have stood by them since the beginning of the matter and we will continue to extend all consular and legal assistance. We will also continue to take up the matter with the Qatari authorities," said the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) in a statement after the judgement, details of which are awaited.

"The next hearing in the cassation court will take place in some days from now. On the ground not much has changed for the veterans. However, there is renewed hope that the last phase of the legal process which has just begun will end with the repatriation of these eight naval veterans, hopefully in a few months from now," the source added.

The eight naval veterans, who have been under detention in Qatar since August 30, 2022, are Captain Navtej Singh Gill, Captain Saurabh Vashisht, Commander Purnendu Tiwar, Captain Birendra Kumar Verma, Commander Sugunakar Pakala, Commander Sanjeev Gupta, Commander Amit Nagpal and Sailor Ragesh.

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NEW DELHI: The death sentence for the eight Indian naval veterans in Doha has been commuted to imprisonment. This was announced on Thursday during the hearing in the court of appeal in Doha. The period of imprisonment varies for each of the veterans. "All eight naval veterans have been given different terms of imprisonment. The lowest is for Sailor Ragesh at three years. The terms for the other seven naval veterans varies from 10 years to over 25 years," said a source adding that the case will now be heard in a court of cassation. Thursday was the fourth hearing in the court of appeal. The earlier hearings were on November 23, November 30 and December 7.googletag.cmd.push(function() {googletag.display('div-gpt-ad-8052921-2'); }); The judgement has given details on why the years of imprisonment varies for each of them, which due to the sensitive nature of the case has not yet been made public. The wives of all the veterans have been in Doha for sometime now, awaiting Thursdays hearing. The failing health of the veterans has been a cause of concern for the wives as some of them have a loss of appetite while others are completely withdrawn. The case has now shifted to the cassation court, which is the highest court of appeal in some judicial systems. Courts of cassation do not re-examine the facts of a case, they only interpret the relevant law. The term cassation is derived from the Latin word cassare which means to 'reverse or overturn'. The Indian Ambassador to Qatar, Vipul, and families of the naval veterans were present in the court of appeal on Thursday for the hearing. "Our Ambassador to Qatar and other officials were present in the Court of Appeal today, along with the family members. We have stood by them since the beginning of the matter and we will continue to extend all consular and legal assistance. We will also continue to take up the matter with the Qatari authorities," said the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) in a statement after the judgement, details of which are awaited. "The next hearing in the cassation court will take place in some days from now. On the ground not much has changed for the veterans. However, there is renewed hope that the last phase of the legal process which has just begun will end with the repatriation of these eight naval veterans, hopefully in a few months from now," the source added. The eight naval veterans, who have been under detention in Qatar since August 30, 2022, are Captain Navtej Singh Gill, Captain Saurabh Vashisht, Commander Purnendu Tiwar, Captain Birendra Kumar Verma, Commander Sugunakar Pakala, Commander Sanjeev Gupta, Commander Amit Nagpal and Sailor Ragesh. Follow The New Indian Express channel on WhatsApp
Rajesh Kumar Thakur By

Express News Service

NEW DELHI: The Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs on Wednesday approved a hike of R250-300 per quintal in the minimum support price (MSP) for copra, raising it to Rs 11,160-12,000 per quintal for for the 2024 season. The decision apparently is aimed at wooing farmers of Kerala, Tamil Nadu and Karnataka, which produce both milling and ball copra, ahead of the 2024 elections.

The decision along with others including construction of a new six-lane bridge across river Ganga between Patna and Saran in Bihar was taken at a meeting chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi. Union minister Anurag Thakur said though copra prices have fallen globally, the government has decided to increase the MSP by 50% more than the production cost.

Milling copra is used to extract oil while ball copra is consumed as a dry fruit and used on a large scale for religious rituals across India, including in the South. The ball copra is cultivated in Karnataka, where the BJP is trying to win maximum seats in the 2024 Lok Sabha polls by wooing the farmers of the state. This season, the government procured a record 1.33 lakh tonnes of copra, at a cost of R1,493 crore, benefiting around 90,000 farmers.

Among other decisions, the Cabinet also approved the construction of a new 4.56 km long bridge across the Ganga between Patna and Saran in Bihar. The six-lane bridge on the Ganga will be built at a cost of R3,064.45 crore.

The Cabinet also granted ex-post facto approval to sign and ratify a Migration and Mobility Agreement with Italy that allows Indian students temporary residence in the European nation for up to one year after studies to gather professional experience.

Besides, the Cabinet discussion an agreement inked by Prasar Bharati with the Malaysian public broadcaster to promote cooperation in the fields of radio and television.

Cabinet nod to road widening in Tripura

The Union Cabinet approved for widening of the 135-km stretch of Khowai-Harina road in Tripura at R2,487 crore, facilitating better road connectivity between various parts of Tripura and to provide alternative access to Assam and Meghalaya from Tripura apart from the existing National Highway-8

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NEW DELHI: The Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs on Wednesday approved a hike of R250-300 per quintal in the minimum support price (MSP) for copra, raising it to Rs 11,160-12,000 per quintal for for the 2024 season. The decision apparently is aimed at wooing farmers of Kerala, Tamil Nadu and Karnataka, which produce both milling and ball copra, ahead of the 2024 elections. The decision along with others including construction of a new six-lane bridge across river Ganga between Patna and Saran in Bihar was taken at a meeting chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi. Union minister Anurag Thakur said though copra prices have fallen globally, the government has decided to increase the MSP by 50% more than the production cost. Milling copra is used to extract oil while ball copra is consumed as a dry fruit and used on a large scale for religious rituals across India, including in the South. The ball copra is cultivated in Karnataka, where the BJP is trying to win maximum seats in the 2024 Lok Sabha polls by wooing the farmers of the state. This season, the government procured a record 1.33 lakh tonnes of copra, at a cost of R1,493 crore, benefiting around 90,000 farmers. googletag.cmd.push(function() {googletag.display('div-gpt-ad-8052921-2'); }); Among other decisions, the Cabinet also approved the construction of a new 4.56 km long bridge across the Ganga between Patna and Saran in Bihar. The six-lane bridge on the Ganga will be built at a cost of R3,064.45 crore. The Cabinet also granted ex-post facto approval to sign and ratify a Migration and Mobility Agreement with Italy that allows Indian students temporary residence in the European nation for up to one year after studies to gather professional experience. Besides, the Cabinet discussion an agreement inked by Prasar Bharati with the Malaysian public broadcaster to promote cooperation in the fields of radio and television. Cabinet nod to road widening in Tripura The Union Cabinet approved for widening of the 135-km stretch of Khowai-Harina road in Tripura at R2,487 crore, facilitating better road connectivity between various parts of Tripura and to provide alternative access to Assam and Meghalaya from Tripura apart from the existing National Highway-8 Follow The New Indian Express channel on WhatsApp
BAKU, Azerbaijan, December 28. Representatives of the Azerbaijan Renewable Energy Agency (AREA) and the Georgian Energy Development Fund (GEDF) discussed prospects of cooperation,Trend reports, referring to the AREA.

During the conversation in the online format, AREA Deputy Director Kamran Huseynov and GEDF Director Jaba Khmaladze exchanged views on opportunities for cooperation in the field of renewable energy sources (RES) between the countries, mutual exchange of knowledge and experience in attracting investors from the governments, on mechanisms of state support for the RES sphere.

Azerbaijan has been actively developing this area in recent years, aiming to increase the share of renewable energy sources in the country's energy balance to 33 percent by 2028.

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By PTI

RANCHI: Four youths were killed after their car hit an electricity pole here on Thursday, police said.

The incident happened between Booty Chowk and Dumardaga around 1. 30am in the city's Sadar police station area, they said.

Sadar police station in-charge Laxmikant told PTI, "The car, which was possibly travelling at breakneck speed, hit an electric pole and then overturned. The impact was so strong that the pole broke into three pieces."

The youths, aged around 30 years, died on the spot. "They were brought to Rajendra Institute of Medical Science (RIMS) where doctors declared them dead," he said.

All of them were residents of Ranchi's Bariatu Basti, he said.

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RANCHI: Four youths were killed after their car hit an electricity pole here on Thursday, police said. The incident happened between Booty Chowk and Dumardaga around 1. 30am in the city's Sadar police station area, they said. Sadar police station in-charge Laxmikant told PTI, "The car, which was possibly travelling at breakneck speed, hit an electric pole and then overturned. The impact was so strong that the pole broke into three pieces."googletag.cmd.push(function() {googletag.display('div-gpt-ad-8052921-2'); }); The youths, aged around 30 years, died on the spot. "They were brought to Rajendra Institute of Medical Science (RIMS) where doctors declared them dead," he said. All of them were residents of Ranchi's Bariatu Basti, he said. Follow The New Indian Express channel on WhatsApp
T Muruganandham By

Express News Service

CHENNAI: Tamil actor and founder of the Desiya Murpokku Dravida Kazhagam (DMDK) Vijayakant passed away at the age of 71 in Chennai on Thursday.

He was being treated at a private hospital in the city for Corona infection. The veteran actor has been on ventilator support since last night. He is survived by DMDK general secretary Premalatha Vijayakant and his two sons.

"Captain Vijaykant was on ventilatory support following his admission for pneumonia. Despite the best efforts of medical staff, he passed away in the morning on 28 December 2023," a bulletin from the hospital confirmed.

An official release from the DMDK here said, "The founder-president of the DMDK,' Captain' Vijayakant passed away at 6.10 a.m. The final rites for the mortal remains of the Captain will take place at 4.45 p.m. on Friday at the DMDK headquarters here."

DMDK press release.

Vijayakant has not been keeping good health for the past few years and he was being treated at the hospital at frequent intervals. Three weeks ago, he was admitted to the hospital and there were rumours he passed away. However, Premalatha posted a video of Vijayakant showing him in good health.

He was last spotted in public on December 18 when he chaired the DMDKs general council meeting. With his health failing, the partys baton was handed over to his wife Premalatha who was elected as the partys General Secretary.

Vijayakant was born in Madurai on August 25, 1952, and parents named him Vijayaraj. After he entered the cinema, he changed his name to Vijayakant.

On September 14, 2005, Vijayakant launched his political party - the Desiya Murpokku Dravidar Kazhagam (DMDK).

Captain Vijaykant. (Express photo)

In the 2006 assembly elections, the DMDK contested all 234 seats without an alliance and bagged only one seat with 8.38% of the vote. Vijayakant alone could win from the Virudhachalam constituency while all other candidates of his party were defeated.

In the 2011 Assembly elections, the DMDK joined hands with the AIADMK led by former Chief Minister J Jayalalithaa and won 29 seats.

Vijayakant served as the Leader of the Opposition in the Tamil Nadu Legislative Assembly from 2011 to 2016. Later, due to differences with the AIADMK, Vijayakant snapped ties with the party.

In the 2016 Assembly elections, Vijayakant led the People's Welfare Front along with CPI, CPM, MDMK and VCK. However, the alliance could not make any impact. In the 2021 Assembly elections too, the DMDK's performance was poor.

He was one of the fierce politicians in Tamil Nadu who is known for his powerful and fiery speeches. However, he kept a very low profile after his ill health a few years ago.

READ MORE | 'Rest in power Captain': Heartfelt tributes and condolences keep pouring in for Vijayakant

Vijayakant's contribution to the Nadigar Sangam which is officially known as the South Indian Artiste's Association was remarkable. He was elected unopposed as the President of the Nadigar Sangam in August 2000. Viajyakant took many steps to clear the debt burden of the Sangam which ran into crores.

He organised Star Night shows in Malaysia and Singapore to raise funds for the Nadigar Sangam. He stepped down as president of Nadigar Sangam after the launch of the DMDK.

Vijayakant's fan clubs came in handy when he launched his political party. Almost all his contemporaries in cinema have a good opinion about Vijayakant. This was due to his helping tendency.

He helped fellow artists and those who sought assistance from him. He gave generously without seeking any publicity.

Chief Minister MK Stalin paid his last respects to Vijayakant's mortal remains. Senior Ministers accompanied him. In his condolence message, Stalin said Vijayakant's final rites will be performed with full State honours.

#WATCH | Chennai: Tamil Nadu CM MK Stlain reaches the residence of DMDK chief Captain Vijayakanth in Chennai, who passed away this morning. pic.twitter.com/0qMM1Nuajs  ANI (@ANI) December 28, 2023

Prime Minister Narendra Modi shared on X (formerly Twitter), "Extremely saddened by the passing away of Thiru Vijayakanth Ji. A legend of the Tamil film world, his charismatic performances captured the hearts of millions. As a political leader, he was deeply committed to public service, leaving a lasting impact on Tamil Nadus political landscape. His passing leaves a void that will be hard to fill. He was a close friend and I fondly recall my interactions with him over the years. In this sad hour, my thoughts are with his family, fans and numerous followers. Om Shanti."

Governor RN Ravi, in his condolence message, said, "Deeply pained by the passing away of accomplished actor, dedicated leader, and great humanitarian Vijayakant. His outstanding contributions to cinema, politics, and service to society will ever be remembered. My prayers are with his family and countless followers. Om Shanti!."

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CHENNAI: Tamil actor and founder of the Desiya Murpokku Dravida Kazhagam (DMDK) Vijayakant passed away at the age of 71 in Chennai on Thursday. He was being treated at a private hospital in the city for Corona infection. The veteran actor has been on ventilator support since last night. He is survived by DMDK general secretary Premalatha Vijayakant and his two sons. "Captain Vijaykant was on ventilatory support following his admission for pneumonia. Despite the best efforts of medical staff, he passed away in the morning on 28 December 2023," a bulletin from the hospital confirmed.googletag.cmd.push(function() {googletag.display('div-gpt-ad-8052921-2'); }); #BREAKING | DMDK chief Captain #Vijayakanth passes away. @Sinduj11 @xpresstn pic.twitter.com/D3WvWVXjIa  The New Indian Express (@NewIndianXpress) December 28, 2023 An official release from the DMDK here said, "The founder-president of the DMDK,' Captain' Vijayakant passed away at 6.10 a.m. The final rites for the mortal remains of the Captain will take place at 4.45 p.m. on Friday at the DMDK headquarters here." DMDK press release. Vijayakant has not been keeping good health for the past few years and he was being treated at the hospital at frequent intervals. Three weeks ago, he was admitted to the hospital and there were rumours he passed away. However, Premalatha posted a video of Vijayakant showing him in good health. He was last spotted in public on December 18 when he chaired the DMDKs general council meeting. With his health failing, the partys baton was handed over to his wife Premalatha who was elected as the partys General Secretary. Vijayakant was born in Madurai on August 25, 1952, and parents named him Vijayaraj. After he entered the cinema, he changed his name to Vijayakant. On September 14, 2005, Vijayakant launched his political party - the Desiya Murpokku Dravidar Kazhagam (DMDK). Captain Vijaykant. (Express photo) In the 2006 assembly elections, the DMDK contested all 234 seats without an alliance and bagged only one seat with 8.38% of the vote. Vijayakant alone could win from the Virudhachalam constituency while all other candidates of his party were defeated. In the 2011 Assembly elections, the DMDK joined hands with the AIADMK led by former Chief Minister J Jayalalithaa and won 29 seats. Vijayakant served as the Leader of the Opposition in the Tamil Nadu Legislative Assembly from 2011 to 2016. Later, due to differences with the AIADMK, Vijayakant snapped ties with the party. In the 2016 Assembly elections, Vijayakant led the People's Welfare Front along with CPI, CPM, MDMK and VCK. However, the alliance could not make any impact. In the 2021 Assembly elections too, the DMDK's performance was poor. He was one of the fierce politicians in Tamil Nadu who is known for his powerful and fiery speeches. However, he kept a very low profile after his ill health a few years ago. READ MORE | 'Rest in power Captain': Heartfelt tributes and condolences keep pouring in for Vijayakant Vijayakant's contribution to the Nadigar Sangam which is officially known as the South Indian Artiste's Association was remarkable. He was elected unopposed as the President of the Nadigar Sangam in August 2000. Viajyakant took many steps to clear the debt burden of the Sangam which ran into crores. He organised Star Night shows in Malaysia and Singapore to raise funds for the Nadigar Sangam. He stepped down as president of Nadigar Sangam after the launch of the DMDK. Vijayakant's fan clubs came in handy when he launched his political party. Almost all his contemporaries in cinema have a good opinion about Vijayakant. This was due to his helping tendency. He helped fellow artists and those who sought assistance from him. He gave generously without seeking any publicity. Chief Minister MK Stalin paid his last respects to Vijayakant's mortal remains. Senior Ministers accompanied him. In his condolence message, Stalin said Vijayakant's final rites will be performed with full State honours. #WATCH | Chennai: Tamil Nadu CM MK Stlain reaches the residence of DMDK chief Captain Vijayakanth in Chennai, who passed away this morning. pic.twitter.com/0qMM1Nuajs  ANI (@ANI) December 28, 2023 Prime Minister Narendra Modi shared on X (formerly Twitter), "Extremely saddened by the passing away of Thiru Vijayakanth Ji. A legend of the Tamil film world, his charismatic performances captured the hearts of millions. As a political leader, he was deeply committed to public service, leaving a lasting impact on Tamil Nadus political landscape. His passing leaves a void that will be hard to fill. He was a close friend and I fondly recall my interactions with him over the years. In this sad hour, my thoughts are with his family, fans and numerous followers. Om Shanti." Governor RN Ravi, in his condolence message, said, "Deeply pained by the passing away of accomplished actor, dedicated leader, and great humanitarian Vijayakant. His outstanding contributions to cinema, politics, and service to society will ever be remembered. My prayers are with his family and countless followers. Om Shanti!." Follow The New Indian Express channel on WhatsApp
By PTI

NEW DELHI: Raising concerns over electronic voting machines, Congress leader Sam Pitroda on Thursday said the BJP can win more than 400 seats in the 2024 Lok Sabha elections if issues associated with EVMs are not "fixed".

The elections will be about deciding the destiny of India, he told PTI-Video in an interview.

While the Election Commission has always dismissed apprehensions over EVMs and also held hackathons to clear any doubts, some opposition leaders, including from Congress, have been repeatedly raising the issue of EVMs allegedly being open to manipulation.

Many in Congress have also asserted, including after the recent assembly polls in which the party lost some key heartland states, that they trust these machines.

However, Congress and other opposition parties have been demanding a 100 per cent Voter Verifiable Paper Audit Trial (VVPAT) and that the slips should be given to voters rather than falling into boxes.

READ MORE | From EVMs to Blockchain-based e-voting?

Congress leader Pitroda also said that his recent comments on the Ram temple in Ayodhya were "twisted" and asserted that religion is a personal matter and should not be mixed with politics. He was quoted in reports as saying it bothers him that the entire nation is hung up on the Ram temple.

On Congress leader Rahul Gandhi's upcoming Manipur-to-Mumbai Bharat Nyay Yatra ahead of the polls, Pitroda said, "The next election is about the future of India. What kind of nation do we want to build."

"Do you want to build a nation articulated in our Constitution which respects all religions, the autonomy of our institutions, which allows our civil society to function, or do you want to build the nation based on one religion dominating?" he asked.

Expressing concern over electronic voting machines (EVMs), Pitroda cited a report by NGO 'The Citizens' Commission on Elections', chaired by former Supreme Court judge Madan B Lokur, and said that the main recommendations of the report were to modify the current design of the VVPAT system to make it truly "voter-verified".

"I waited for the Election Commission to respond but when it didn't happen I decided to speak. It has nothing to do with the fact that elections in five states are over and the 2024 election is coming," Pitroda said.

"I feel there is a trust deficit based on this report. And, the Election Commission must respond to rebuild the trust," he said. The Congress leader said he believes that democracy is derailed and "we are becoming too authoritarian". "It's all about one-man show," he said.

Asked about the BJP's claim that it would win more than 400 seats in the general elections, he said," More power to them if they think they can do it. Great. That is for the country to decide. EVM needs to be fixed before the next election. If EVM is not fixed, 400 may be true. If EVM is fixed 400 may not be true."

Asked about the opposition INDIA bloc, of which the Congress is also a part, not picking Rahul Gandhi as its prime ministerial face, Pitroda said, "The INDIA alliance is not projecting anybody for the PM post."

The alliance has collectively decided that "we get to that after the election because right now the priority is to mobilise 60 per cent of the people who don't vote for the BJP", he said and added that the members of the bloc will decide as a group who should be the prime ministerial candidate.

"Collectively, the group decided that it would not project anybody as its PM candidate. Those are two out of how many who pitched (Congress president Mallikarjun) Kharge's name. In a coalition like that there are bound to be some differences. That's the beauty of a coalition," Pitroda said.

West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee, who is the TMC supremo, and her Delhi counterpart and AAP national convener Arvind Kejriwal had pitched Kharge's name as the bloc's prime ministerial face at its meeting in Delhi on December 19.

On the opposition face against Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Pitroda said, "I don't think that's the right question to be asked. It is not a presidential election, it is a parliamentary election.

READ MORE | 11 Opposition parties resolve to fight against 'misuse' of EVMs, money power and media

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NEW DELHI: Raising concerns over electronic voting machines, Congress leader Sam Pitroda on Thursday said the BJP can win more than 400 seats in the 2024 Lok Sabha elections if issues associated with EVMs are not "fixed". The elections will be about deciding the destiny of India, he told PTI-Video in an interview. While the Election Commission has always dismissed apprehensions over EVMs and also held hackathons to clear any doubts, some opposition leaders, including from Congress, have been repeatedly raising the issue of EVMs allegedly being open to manipulation.googletag.cmd.push(function() {googletag.display('div-gpt-ad-8052921-2'); }); Many in Congress have also asserted, including after the recent assembly polls in which the party lost some key heartland states, that they trust these machines. However, Congress and other opposition parties have been demanding a 100 per cent Voter Verifiable Paper Audit Trial (VVPAT) and that the slips should be given to voters rather than falling into boxes. READ MORE | From EVMs to Blockchain-based e-voting? Congress leader Pitroda also said that his recent comments on the Ram temple in Ayodhya were "twisted" and asserted that religion is a personal matter and should not be mixed with politics. He was quoted in reports as saying it bothers him that the entire nation is hung up on the Ram temple. On Congress leader Rahul Gandhi's upcoming Manipur-to-Mumbai Bharat Nyay Yatra ahead of the polls, Pitroda said, "The next election is about the future of India. What kind of nation do we want to build." "Do you want to build a nation articulated in our Constitution which respects all religions, the autonomy of our institutions, which allows our civil society to function, or do you want to build the nation based on one religion dominating?" he asked. Expressing concern over electronic voting machines (EVMs), Pitroda cited a report by NGO 'The Citizens' Commission on Elections', chaired by former Supreme Court judge Madan B Lokur, and said that the main recommendations of the report were to modify the current design of the VVPAT system to make it truly "voter-verified". "I waited for the Election Commission to respond but when it didn't happen I decided to speak. It has nothing to do with the fact that elections in five states are over and the 2024 election is coming," Pitroda said. "I feel there is a trust deficit based on this report. And, the Election Commission must respond to rebuild the trust," he said. The Congress leader said he believes that democracy is derailed and "we are becoming too authoritarian". "It's all about one-man show," he said. Asked about the BJP's claim that it would win more than 400 seats in the general elections, he said," More power to them if they think they can do it. Great. That is for the country to decide. EVM needs to be fixed before the next election. If EVM is not fixed, 400 may be true. If EVM is fixed 400 may not be true." Asked about the opposition INDIA bloc, of which the Congress is also a part, not picking Rahul Gandhi as its prime ministerial face, Pitroda said, "The INDIA alliance is not projecting anybody for the PM post." The alliance has collectively decided that "we get to that after the election because right now the priority is to mobilise 60 per cent of the people who don't vote for the BJP", he said and added that the members of the bloc will decide as a group who should be the prime ministerial candidate. "Collectively, the group decided that it would not project anybody as its PM candidate. Those are two out of how many who pitched (Congress president Mallikarjun) Kharge's name. In a coalition like that there are bound to be some differences. That's the beauty of a coalition," Pitroda said. West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee, who is the TMC supremo, and her Delhi counterpart and AAP national convener Arvind Kejriwal had pitched Kharge's name as the bloc's prime ministerial face at its meeting in Delhi on December 19. On the opposition face against Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Pitroda said, "I don't think that's the right question to be asked. It is not a presidential election, it is a parliamentary election. READ MORE | 11 Opposition parties resolve to fight against 'misuse' of EVMs, money power and media Follow The New Indian Express channel on WhatsApp
By AFP

NEW DELHI: India's government has recently targeted high-profile journalists with Pegasus spyware, Amnesty International and The Washington Post said in a joint investigation published Thursday.

Created by Israeli firm NSO Group and sold to governments around the world, Pegasus software can be used to access a phone's messages and emails, peruse photos, eavesdrop on calls, track locations and even film the owner with the camera.

Amnesty said journalists Siddharth Varadarajan of The Wire and Anand Mangnale of The Organized Crime and Corruption Reporting Project had been targeted with the spyware on their iPhones, with the latest identified case occurring in October.

"Our latest findings show that increasingly, journalists in India face the threat of unlawful surveillance simply for doing their jobs, alongside other tools of repression including imprisonment under draconian laws, smear campaigns, harassment, and intimidation," said Donncha O Cearbhaill, Head of Amnesty International's Security Lab.

India's government did not immediately respond, but it denied similar accusations in 2021 that it used Pegasus spyware to surveil political opponents, activists and journalists.

Indian media reported last month that the country's cyber security unit was investigating allegations by opposition politicians of attempted phone tapping after they reported receiving Apple iPhone warnings of "state-sponsored attackers".

In that case, Ashwini Vaishnaw, the information and technology minister, said the government was "concerned" by the complaints.

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NEW DELHI: India's government has recently targeted high-profile journalists with Pegasus spyware, Amnesty International and The Washington Post said in a joint investigation published Thursday. Created by Israeli firm NSO Group and sold to governments around the world, Pegasus software can be used to access a phone's messages and emails, peruse photos, eavesdrop on calls, track locations and even film the owner with the camera. Amnesty said journalists Siddharth Varadarajan of The Wire and Anand Mangnale of The Organized Crime and Corruption Reporting Project had been targeted with the spyware on their iPhones, with the latest identified case occurring in October.googletag.cmd.push(function() {googletag.display('div-gpt-ad-8052921-2'); }); "Our latest findings show that increasingly, journalists in India face the threat of unlawful surveillance simply for doing their jobs, alongside other tools of repression including imprisonment under draconian laws, smear campaigns, harassment, and intimidation," said Donncha O Cearbhaill, Head of Amnesty International's Security Lab. India's government did not immediately respond, but it denied similar accusations in 2021 that it used Pegasus spyware to surveil political opponents, activists and journalists. Indian media reported last month that the country's cyber security unit was investigating allegations by opposition politicians of attempted phone tapping after they reported receiving Apple iPhone warnings of "state-sponsored attackers". In that case, Ashwini Vaishnaw, the information and technology minister, said the government was "concerned" by the complaints. Follow The New Indian Express channel on WhatsApp
Ujwal Jalali By

Express News Service

NEW DELHI: The Forensic Sciences Laboratory (FSL) teams, conducting investigations around the Israel Embassy where a blast occurred on Tuesday, have discovered more than two dozen pieces of metal balls, suggesting the occurrence of a low-intensity explosion.

A senior official from the FSL stated, Our teams have been on-site for the past two days, conducting a thorough search of the area. We have uncovered several pieces of metal balls scattered across the vicinity. Preliminary findings point towards a low-intensity blast, possibly triggered by a crude bomb. We are meticulously analysing all the evidence collected from the scene, the official said.

The incident, which took place on Tuesday evening, raised alarms across security agencies due to its location in one of the nations most heavily guarded areas, outside the Israel Embassy. Additionally, a typed letter addressed to the Israeli ambassador was discovered at the scene.

A day following the explosion, multiple teams from the Delhi Police, including the forensic science laboratory and a canine unit, were observed conducting examinations in the vicinity of the suspected blast site. Central agencies such as the National Investigation Agency (NIA) were also present, accompanied by a significant police presence.

Sources revealed that the letter found a day earlier contained abusive language and referenced Sir Allah Resistance, potentially suggesting that the organisation claimed responsibility for the attack. After reviewing numerous CCTV footage recordings, the police have narrowed their focus to two individuals who were seen approaching the area before the explosion.

As part of the probe, the police are also scrutinising end-to-end encrypted calls made from active mobile numbers near the Israel Embassy. A senior police official, requesting anonymity, stated, Tracing such calls can be challenging, but through specialised investigative techniques and an analysis of nearby numbers, we can determine who was in the vicinity of the area where the blast occurred. Meanwhile, Israel has cautioned its citizens in India to avoid public places and not to participate in crowded events.

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NEW DELHI: The Forensic Sciences Laboratory (FSL) teams, conducting investigations around the Israel Embassy where a blast occurred on Tuesday, have discovered more than two dozen pieces of metal balls, suggesting the occurrence of a low-intensity explosion. A senior official from the FSL stated, Our teams have been on-site for the past two days, conducting a thorough search of the area. We have uncovered several pieces of metal balls scattered across the vicinity. Preliminary findings point towards a low-intensity blast, possibly triggered by a crude bomb. We are meticulously analysing all the evidence collected from the scene, the official said. The incident, which took place on Tuesday evening, raised alarms across security agencies due to its location in one of the nations most heavily guarded areas, outside the Israel Embassy. Additionally, a typed letter addressed to the Israeli ambassador was discovered at the scene.googletag.cmd.push(function() {googletag.display('div-gpt-ad-8052921-2'); }); A day following the explosion, multiple teams from the Delhi Police, including the forensic science laboratory and a canine unit, were observed conducting examinations in the vicinity of the suspected blast site. Central agencies such as the National Investigation Agency (NIA) were also present, accompanied by a significant police presence. Sources revealed that the letter found a day earlier contained abusive language and referenced Sir Allah Resistance, potentially suggesting that the organisation claimed responsibility for the attack. After reviewing numerous CCTV footage recordings, the police have narrowed their focus to two individuals who were seen approaching the area before the explosion. As part of the probe, the police are also scrutinising end-to-end encrypted calls made from active mobile numbers near the Israel Embassy. A senior police official, requesting anonymity, stated, Tracing such calls can be challenging, but through specialised investigative techniques and an analysis of nearby numbers, we can determine who was in the vicinity of the area where the blast occurred. Meanwhile, Israel has cautioned its citizens in India to avoid public places and not to participate in crowded events. Follow The New Indian Express channel on WhatsApp
Pranab Mondal By

Express News Service

KOLKATA: In a meeting with a few MPs of the party on Tuesday evening in Kolkata, Home minister Amit Shah hinted that all the 18 representatives elected from West Bengal in the 2019 general elections may not be fielded in the next years Lok Sabha poll fray, said sources in the BJP.

Shahs meeting with a few MPs in a hotel, before he flew to Delhi, delivered a clear message within the party that the saffron camp may replace some sitting MPs with new faces. Shahji, in the meeting, made it clear that wining seats is the ultimate goal of the party and partys victory is more important than the face of candidate. He also said that there should be no reason to get disappointed if an MP is not given ticket in the upcoming elections as the party will use him or her for securing victory in the electoral battle, said a senior leader of the saffron camp.

Making deep inroads in West Bengal in the 2019 general elections, the saffron camp took its tally to 18 from two out of 42 LS seats. In north Bengal, the party bagged victory in seven seats out of eight and in Jungle Mahal, the backward region in the western part of the state, in all five seats.

Shah and BJPs national president J. P. Nadda, during their Kolkata visit on Tuesday, held a meeting with a few MPs which include Locket Chatterjee from Hooghly constituency, Jagannath Chattopadhyay from Ranaghat, John Barla from Alipurduar, Nisith Pramanik from Cooch Behar and Subhas Sarkar from Bankura. The presidents of organisational districts of the constituency were present in meeting.

Shah also told the state leaders of the party to make the sitting MPs, who will not be fielded, understand about the partys poll strategy, said the leader, adding, Those MLAs of our party, whose performance is satisfactory, may be fielded in the LS polls replacing a few sitting MPs. Our party engaged a private professional agency to assess the performance of sitting MPs across the country and identified some of them for their poor performance in their constituency. We guess such sitting MPs will b axed from the list of candidates in the upcoming polls.

Winning the ultimate aim

Amit Shah made it clear that wining seats is the ultimate goal of the party and BJPs victory is more important than the face of any candidate, according to a senior BJP leader. He added that denial of ticket shouldnt be the reason for disappointment.

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KOLKATA: In a meeting with a few MPs of the party on Tuesday evening in Kolkata, Home minister Amit Shah hinted that all the 18 representatives elected from West Bengal in the 2019 general elections may not be fielded in the next years Lok Sabha poll fray, said sources in the BJP. Shahs meeting with a few MPs in a hotel, before he flew to Delhi, delivered a clear message within the party that the saffron camp may replace some sitting MPs with new faces. Shahji, in the meeting, made it clear that wining seats is the ultimate goal of the party and partys victory is more important than the face of candidate. He also said that there should be no reason to get disappointed if an MP is not given ticket in the upcoming elections as the party will use him or her for securing victory in the electoral battle, said a senior leader of the saffron camp. Making deep inroads in West Bengal in the 2019 general elections, the saffron camp took its tally to 18 from two out of 42 LS seats. In north Bengal, the party bagged victory in seven seats out of eight and in Jungle Mahal, the backward region in the western part of the state, in all five seats.googletag.cmd.push(function() {googletag.display('div-gpt-ad-8052921-2'); }); Shah and BJPs national president J. P. Nadda, during their Kolkata visit on Tuesday, held a meeting with a few MPs which include Locket Chatterjee from Hooghly constituency, Jagannath Chattopadhyay from Ranaghat, John Barla from Alipurduar, Nisith Pramanik from Cooch Behar and Subhas Sarkar from Bankura. The presidents of organisational districts of the constituency were present in meeting. Shah also told the state leaders of the party to make the sitting MPs, who will not be fielded, understand about the partys poll strategy, said the leader, adding, Those MLAs of our party, whose performance is satisfactory, may be fielded in the LS polls replacing a few sitting MPs. Our party engaged a private professional agency to assess the performance of sitting MPs across the country and identified some of them for their poor performance in their constituency. We guess such sitting MPs will b axed from the list of candidates in the upcoming polls. Winning the ultimate aim Amit Shah made it clear that wining seats is the ultimate goal of the party and BJPs victory is more important than the face of any candidate, according to a senior BJP leader. He added that denial of ticket shouldnt be the reason for disappointment. Follow The New Indian Express channel on WhatsApp
By Express News Service

Justice Sanjay Kishan Kaul, the second senior most judge in the Supreme Court who demitted office on December 25, talks to Suchitra Kalyan Mohanty on wide-ranging issues, including his seven-year tenure, controversy over appointment of judges, long pendency of cases in various courts, and friction between the government and the judiciary. Excerpts:

You delivered some landmark judgments, including same-sex marriage and abrogation of Article 370. Whats your take?

Before pronouncing the order on Article 370, I knew that it would generate a lot of debate. It is good that people should discuss and analyse it. What I have written is the position of law and statute. This verdict is a way forward and reconciliation for the people of Jammu and Kashmir for the betterment of their lives. Fortunately, it is a unanimous verdict.

The judgment is clear on same-sex marriage. It is up to Parliament to legislate.

How difficult is it for a judge to be apolitical? At any point did you feel there were political pressures or undue interference during your tenure?

Try and understand that we judges are also human beings. Even if a judge may have some kind of political inclination or affiliation, our training teaches us justice delivery in an unbiased and impartial manner. The best example is Justice Krishan Iyer, who had a political background but his acumen in his orders were fantastic. The training what we get from our lawyer days teaches us to be apolitical.

Please mention the most difficult verdict you pronounced.

I go through all the files before pronouncing a verdict. I cant say there is any difficulty. Litigants are not interested in our philosophy. They need justice and we have to deliver them as soon as possible. I have always tried to maintain a balance.

Is there any friction between the judiciary and the government during your tenure?

Friction is bound to happen some times. The government and the judiciary have their roles well defined and that they must ensure that there is less friction. The role of the judiciary is putting in place the checks and balances. If there is a friction, it must be for a constructive purpose.

The Collegium system of appointing judges has often been criticized. Do you think the system is impartial, whether it should continue or need modification, or an overhaul?

The Collegium system at present has the checks and balances. It was introduced in 1990 after wide discussions. The court is the ultimate arbitrator of the legal system. There must be an open discussion (not public participation or debate) by government representatives, judges and the court administration. Debate is the need of the hour.

At times, the Centre has delayed appointment of judges over a particular candidate, or asked the Collegium to decide.

The Centre must understand that it should not delay the appointment of judges, if the SC Collegium decides and recommends someone for the role of a judge. It must be followed as per the law. Finally, the ultimate beneficiary will be the litigants who move court for justice. At least 13 names for appointment are still pending. A decision must be taken as soon as possible. The Collegium recommends a name after detailed checks and balances.

At times, there have been question marks on why a certain case has been listed before a particular bench. Do you think the process of listing of cases is fair and transparent?

Judges are human beings, difference of opinion does occur. But ultimately it is the call of the Chief Justice of India who is the master of roster.

At any point, did you have difficulty in dealing with a particular case?

I am a person who takes a call. At times, I think whether some words are missing. The moment I get them, I immediately write it in my diary.

What is your take on long pendency of cases in courts? What should be done to reduce the large number?

It is an important issue and should be addressed immediately. The judges and population ratio would have to be better for a better justice delivery. We need to address a litigants concern that how his case from a lower court comes to the top court and why the delay. We need to address it. The court management must be there.

Do you think that the Address Dispute Resolution mechanism is a good tool for any litigant to ensure speedy disposal of cases?

I believe that countries, including the US, have less than 3% of cases go to courts. The government being a litigator must take a call on which case should continue and which one to be dropped. The government shouldnt go for appeal in courts if it loses a case.

Do you think judges should take any post-retirement assignments?

I think judges should not take post-retirement assignments, though the choice lies with individuals. In my case, it is a no. I have already done my duty to the best of my ability.

It is often said only rich gets justice in India

Thats not correct. If people dont have faith in judiciary, then such a large number of cases wont pile up in courts.

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Justice Sanjay Kishan Kaul, the second senior most judge in the Supreme Court who demitted office on December 25, talks to Suchitra Kalyan Mohanty on wide-ranging issues, including his seven-year tenure, controversy over appointment of judges, long pendency of cases in various courts, and friction between the government and the judiciary. Excerpts: You delivered some landmark judgments, including same-sex marriage and abrogation of Article 370. Whats your take? Before pronouncing the order on Article 370, I knew that it would generate a lot of debate. It is good that people should discuss and analyse it. What I have written is the position of law and statute. This verdict is a way forward and reconciliation for the people of Jammu and Kashmir for the betterment of their lives. Fortunately, it is a unanimous verdict. The judgment is clear on same-sex marriage. It is up to Parliament to legislate.googletag.cmd.push(function() {googletag.display('div-gpt-ad-8052921-2'); }); How difficult is it for a judge to be apolitical? At any point did you feel there were political pressures or undue interference during your tenure? Try and understand that we judges are also human beings. Even if a judge may have some kind of political inclination or affiliation, our training teaches us justice delivery in an unbiased and impartial manner. The best example is Justice Krishan Iyer, who had a political background but his acumen in his orders were fantastic. The training what we get from our lawyer days teaches us to be apolitical. Please mention the most difficult verdict you pronounced. I go through all the files before pronouncing a verdict. I cant say there is any difficulty. Litigants are not interested in our philosophy. They need justice and we have to deliver them as soon as possible. I have always tried to maintain a balance. Is there any friction between the judiciary and the government during your tenure? Friction is bound to happen some times. The government and the judiciary have their roles well defined and that they must ensure that there is less friction. The role of the judiciary is putting in place the checks and balances. If there is a friction, it must be for a constructive purpose. The Collegium system of appointing judges has often been criticized. Do you think the system is impartial, whether it should continue or need modification, or an overhaul? The Collegium system at present has the checks and balances. It was introduced in 1990 after wide discussions. The court is the ultimate arbitrator of the legal system. There must be an open discussion (not public participation or debate) by government representatives, judges and the court administration. Debate is the need of the hour. At times, the Centre has delayed appointment of judges over a particular candidate, or asked the Collegium to decide. The Centre must understand that it should not delay the appointment of judges, if the SC Collegium decides and recommends someone for the role of a judge. It must be followed as per the law. Finally, the ultimate beneficiary will be the litigants who move court for justice. At least 13 names for appointment are still pending. A decision must be taken as soon as possible. The Collegium recommends a name after detailed checks and balances. At times, there have been question marks on why a certain case has been listed before a particular bench. Do you think the process of listing of cases is fair and transparent? Judges are human beings, difference of opinion does occur. But ultimately it is the call of the Chief Justice of India who is the master of roster. At any point, did you have difficulty in dealing with a particular case? I am a person who takes a call. At times, I think whether some words are missing. The moment I get them, I immediately write it in my diary. What is your take on long pendency of cases in courts? What should be done to reduce the large number? It is an important issue and should be addressed immediately. The judges and population ratio would have to be better for a better justice delivery. We need to address a litigants concern that how his case from a lower court comes to the top court and why the delay. We need to address it. The court management must be there. Do you think that the Address Dispute Resolution mechanism is a good tool for any litigant to ensure speedy disposal of cases? I believe that countries, including the US, have less than 3% of cases go to courts. The government being a litigator must take a call on which case should continue and which one to be dropped. The government shouldnt go for appeal in courts if it loses a case. Do you think judges should take any post-retirement assignments? I think judges should not take post-retirement assignments, though the choice lies with individuals. In my case, it is a no. I have already done my duty to the best of my ability. It is often said only rich gets justice in India Thats not correct. If people dont have faith in judiciary, then such a large number of cases wont pile up in courts. Follow The New Indian Express channel on WhatsApp
By Express News Service

The Delhi High Court on Thursday refused to give an urgent listing to a plea filed by Parliament security breach case accused Neelam Azad, challenging her police remand.



The Delhi High Court's vacation bench, headed by Justice Neena Bansal Krishna and also comprising Justice Shalinder Kaur, rejected Azads pleading for urgent listing of her matter after it noted that there was no urgency in the matter.



The plea was mentioned before the vacation bench by the accused Neelam on Thursday on the ground that she was not properly given adequate legal access to consult her lawyer during the trial court proceedings in the case.



Lawyer Suresh Kumar Choudhary appeared for the accused and mentioned the plea before the vacation bench.



The bench dismissed her plea in listing the matter, and said, "In any case, it will come up for hearing on January 3, after the winter vacation."

ALSO READ | Parliament security breach: Delhi Police moves court seeking permission for polygraph test

Neelam filed a petition in the Delhi HC seeking immediate release from police custody citing that her remand was illegal. Her lawyer Chaudhary told TNIE that she had challenged the trial court's December 21 order to remand her and keep her in police custody. "We are seeking quashing of the order," he said.



Neelam claimed that she was not allowed to consult a lawyer of her choice to defend her during the remand proceedings and subsequent orders.



Neelam, along with another accused, Amol Shinde was arrested by the Delhi Police for allegedly protesting outside the Parliament building on December 13.



While two other accused, Sagar Sharma and Manoranjan D allegedly entered the Lok Sabha chamber from the visitors' gallery with canisters emitting smoke and was arrested also by the DP on the same day.

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The Delhi High Court on Thursday refused to give an urgent listing to a plea filed by Parliament security breach case accused Neelam Azad, challenging her police remand. The Delhi High Court's vacation bench, headed by Justice Neena Bansal Krishna and also comprising Justice Shalinder Kaur, rejected Azads pleading for urgent listing of her matter after it noted that there was no urgency in the matter. The plea was mentioned before the vacation bench by the accused Neelam on Thursday on the ground that she was not properly given adequate legal access to consult her lawyer during the trial court proceedings in the case. Lawyer Suresh Kumar Choudhary appeared for the accused and mentioned the plea before the vacation bench. The bench dismissed her plea in listing the matter, and said, "In any case, it will come up for hearing on January 3, after the winter vacation." ALSO READ | Parliament security breach: Delhi Police moves court seeking permission for polygraph test Neelam filed a petition in the Delhi HC seeking immediate release from police custody citing that her remand was illegal. Her lawyer Chaudhary told TNIE that she had challenged the trial court's December 21 order to remand her and keep her in police custody. "We are seeking quashing of the order," he said. Neelam claimed that she was not allowed to consult a lawyer of her choice to defend her during the remand proceedings and subsequent orders. Neelam, along with another accused, Amol Shinde was arrested by the Delhi Police for allegedly protesting outside the Parliament building on December 13. While two other accused, Sagar Sharma and Manoranjan D allegedly entered the Lok Sabha chamber from the visitors' gallery with canisters emitting smoke and was arrested also by the DP on the same day. googletag.cmd.push(function() {googletag.display('div-gpt-ad-8052921-2'); }); Follow The New Indian Express channel on WhatsApp
By PTI

NEW DELHI: The Delhi Police on Thursday moved a court here seeking permission to conduct the polygraph test of all six people arrested in connection with the Parliament security breach matter.

The application was moved before Additional Sessions Judge Hardeep Kaur, who posted the matter for January 2, noting that the counsel representing some of the accused was not present.

Police had also brought the six accused before the court during the hearing of the plea. The accused, Manoranjan D, Sagar Sharma, Amol Dhanraj Shinde, Neelam Devi, Lalit Jha and Mahesh Kumawat, are currently in police custody till January 5.

The Delhi police, represented by Public Prosecutor Akhand Pratap Singh, had earlier told the court that "the attack was well planned."

He had further submitted before the court that the custodial interrogation of the accused was required to find out the "actual motive behind the attack," and if they had any association with any other enemy country or terror organisations.

In a major security breach on the anniversary of the 2001 Parliament terror attack, two persons -- Sagar Sharma and Manoranjan D -- jumped into the Lok Sabha chamber from the public gallery during Zero Hour, released yellow gas from canisters and shouted slogans before they were overpowered by the MPs.

Around the same time, two other accused -- Amol Shinde and Neelam Devi -- sprayed coloured gas from canisters while shouting "tanashahi nahi chalegi" outside Parliament premises.

READ: Parliament security breach: Bundles of contradictions & where does it lead?

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NEW DELHI: The Delhi Police on Thursday moved a court here seeking permission to conduct the polygraph test of all six people arrested in connection with the Parliament security breach matter. The application was moved before Additional Sessions Judge Hardeep Kaur, who posted the matter for January 2, noting that the counsel representing some of the accused was not present. Police had also brought the six accused before the court during the hearing of the plea. The accused, Manoranjan D, Sagar Sharma, Amol Dhanraj Shinde, Neelam Devi, Lalit Jha and Mahesh Kumawat, are currently in police custody till January 5.googletag.cmd.push(function() {googletag.display('div-gpt-ad-8052921-2'); }); The Delhi police, represented by Public Prosecutor Akhand Pratap Singh, had earlier told the court that "the attack was well planned." He had further submitted before the court that the custodial interrogation of the accused was required to find out the "actual motive behind the attack," and if they had any association with any other enemy country or terror organisations. In a major security breach on the anniversary of the 2001 Parliament terror attack, two persons -- Sagar Sharma and Manoranjan D -- jumped into the Lok Sabha chamber from the public gallery during Zero Hour, released yellow gas from canisters and shouted slogans before they were overpowered by the MPs. Around the same time, two other accused -- Amol Shinde and Neelam Devi -- sprayed coloured gas from canisters while shouting "tanashahi nahi chalegi" outside Parliament premises. READ: Parliament security breach: Bundles of contradictions & where does it lead? Follow The New Indian Express channel on WhatsApp
By PTI

NEW DELHI: Purchase of three plots of land in Haryana in 2005-06 by Congress leader Sonia Gandhi's son-in-law Robert Vadra from a real estate agent is being probed along with a land deal made by his wife Priyanka Gandhi Vadra, the ED claimed in a recently filed money laundering case charge-sheet.

The federal agency filed the charge sheet (prosecution complaint ) in November before a court against NRI businessman C C Thampi, who is allegedly linked to Robert Vadra, and Sumit Chadha, a relative of alleged middleman Sanjay Bhandari.

Though Robert Vadra and Priyanka Gandhi, a Congress general secretary, have not been named as accused in the charge sheet, this is the first time that they have been named together in the complaint.

A special Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA) court in Delhi took cognisance of this charge sheet on December 22 and listed the matter for the next hearing on January 29, 2024.

Bhandari fled to the UK in 2016 and the British government approved his extradition to India in January acting on a legal request made by the Enforcement Directorate (ED) and the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI).

The two federal agencies are probing charges of money laundering and tax evasion against the alleged middleman for holding alleged undisclosed assets abroad.

The ED stated in the charge sheet that it came across the land purchase and sale transactions of the Vadras after it registered a Foreign Exchange Management Act (FEMA) case against 67-year-old Thampi in 2015.

A "long and thick relationship" existed between Robert Vadra and Thampi, the agency said.

Robert Vadra has been questioned by the agency in this case in the past and he has denied any wrongdoing.

Thampi, the ED said, had purchased about 486 acres of land between 2005-2008 in Amirpur village in Faridabad in Haryana through H L Pahwa, a Delhi-NCR based real estate agent.

"It is imperative to mention that Robert Vadra also purchased three pieces of land measuring 334 kanals (40. 08 acres) in Amirpur from H L Pahwa from 2005-2006 and sold the same land to H L Pahwa in December 2010," it said in the chargesheet "Further, Priyanka Gandhi Vadra wife of Robert Vadra also purchased agricultural land measuring 40 kanal (05 acres) in village Amirpur, district Faridabad, Haryana, from H L Pahwa in April 2006 and sold the same land to H L Pahwa in February 2010," the ED stated.

It said that "Pahwa was receiving cash out of the books for the purpose of acquisition of land".

"It was also noticed that Robert Vadra did not pay the entire consideration to Pahwa. The investigation in this regard is still ongoing," the ED said.

Thampi was arrested in this case in January 2020 and the ED in a recent press statement alleged that he was a "close associate" of Robert Vadra.

Thampi is at present out on bail.

The agency said Robert Vadra, the brother-in-law of Congress leader Rahul Gandhi, "renovated and stayed" at a London property which is a "proceeds of crime" in the money laundering case being investigated by it against Bhandari.

The ED filed a criminal case against Bhandari and others in February 2017 taking cognisance of an Income Tax Department chargesheet filed against him under the anti-black money law of 2015.

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NEW DELHI: Purchase of three plots of land in Haryana in 2005-06 by Congress leader Sonia Gandhi's son-in-law Robert Vadra from a real estate agent is being probed along with a land deal made by his wife Priyanka Gandhi Vadra, the ED claimed in a recently filed money laundering case charge-sheet. The federal agency filed the charge sheet (prosecution complaint ) in November before a court against NRI businessman C C Thampi, who is allegedly linked to Robert Vadra, and Sumit Chadha, a relative of alleged middleman Sanjay Bhandari. Though Robert Vadra and Priyanka Gandhi, a Congress general secretary, have not been named as accused in the charge sheet, this is the first time that they have been named together in the complaint.googletag.cmd.push(function() {googletag.display('div-gpt-ad-8052921-2'); }); A special Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA) court in Delhi took cognisance of this charge sheet on December 22 and listed the matter for the next hearing on January 29, 2024. Bhandari fled to the UK in 2016 and the British government approved his extradition to India in January acting on a legal request made by the Enforcement Directorate (ED) and the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI). The two federal agencies are probing charges of money laundering and tax evasion against the alleged middleman for holding alleged undisclosed assets abroad. The ED stated in the charge sheet that it came across the land purchase and sale transactions of the Vadras after it registered a Foreign Exchange Management Act (FEMA) case against 67-year-old Thampi in 2015. A "long and thick relationship" existed between Robert Vadra and Thampi, the agency said. Robert Vadra has been questioned by the agency in this case in the past and he has denied any wrongdoing. Thampi, the ED said, had purchased about 486 acres of land between 2005-2008 in Amirpur village in Faridabad in Haryana through H L Pahwa, a Delhi-NCR based real estate agent. "It is imperative to mention that Robert Vadra also purchased three pieces of land measuring 334 kanals (40. 08 acres) in Amirpur from H L Pahwa from 2005-2006 and sold the same land to H L Pahwa in December 2010," it said in the chargesheet "Further, Priyanka Gandhi Vadra wife of Robert Vadra also purchased agricultural land measuring 40 kanal (05 acres) in village Amirpur, district Faridabad, Haryana, from H L Pahwa in April 2006 and sold the same land to H L Pahwa in February 2010," the ED stated. It said that "Pahwa was receiving cash out of the books for the purpose of acquisition of land". "It was also noticed that Robert Vadra did not pay the entire consideration to Pahwa. The investigation in this regard is still ongoing," the ED said. Thampi was arrested in this case in January 2020 and the ED in a recent press statement alleged that he was a "close associate" of Robert Vadra. Thampi is at present out on bail. The agency said Robert Vadra, the brother-in-law of Congress leader Rahul Gandhi, "renovated and stayed" at a London property which is a "proceeds of crime" in the money laundering case being investigated by it against Bhandari. The ED filed a criminal case against Bhandari and others in February 2017 taking cognisance of an Income Tax Department chargesheet filed against him under the anti-black money law of 2015. Follow The New Indian Express channel on WhatsApp
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Yeshi Seli By

Express News Service

NEW DELHI: Russian President Vladimir Putin has extended an invitation to Prime Minister Narendra Modi to visit the country. We will be glad to see our friend Narendra Modi in Russia. We will be able to discuss all current issues and talk about the prospects for the development of Russia-India relations. We have so much work, Putin said, during his interaction with External Affairs Minister Dr S Jaishankar in Moscow on Wednesday.

The Russian President also said that he understood Indias position on Ukraine. I have repeatedly informed him about the situation surrounding the conflict. I know his desire to do everything to resolve this problem through peaceful means, Putin said. As he spoke about the upcoming elections in India, Putin said he was hopeful that ties between the two nations would remain stable.

He also spoke about the increasing trade turnover between the two nations. Our trade turnover is growing for the second year in a row and at a steady pace. This year, the pace is even greater than last year. We work in high tech areas and our relations with India are developing progressively, he added.

Earlier in the day, Jaishankar had said that the India-Russia Annual Summit will resume in 2024. It may be recalled that for the last two years, the India-Russia Summit has not been held owing to the conflict between Russia and Ukraine in 2022 and this year due to PM Modis diplomatic engagements and Indias G20 Presidency.

India-Russia relations reflect geopolitical realities, strategic convergence and mutual benefit. We signed Protocol on Consultations for 2024-28, said Jaishankar, who is on a five-day visit to Moscow. The EAM and his Russian counterpart Sergey Lavrov, met for the seventh time this year.

I learned this is our seventh meeting, part of it is of course the G20, the SCO, the ASEAN, BRICS formats have today allowed many more and many regular contacts. And our leaders, Prime Minister Modi and President Vladimir Putin, have also been in frequent contact, Jaishankar added.

As strategic partners, Jaishankar in his interaction with Lavrov discussed the international situation, and exchanged views on the Ukraine conflict, Gaza, Afghanistan, Central Asia, G20, BRICS and SCO. Russia supports Indian aspiration of becoming a permanent member of UNSC along with representatives from Latin America and Africa. Russia and India ties are based on mutual respect, not subject to political fluctuations, said Lavrov.

What has clearly came out after out talks was that India-Russia relations remain very steady, very strong. They are based on our strategic convergence, on our geopolitical interests, and because they are mutually beneficial. We spent a lot of time discussing political cooperation with regard to various international issues, including global organisations, BRICS, of which Russia will be the president, Jaishankar said.

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NEW DELHI: Russian President Vladimir Putin has extended an invitation to Prime Minister Narendra Modi to visit the country. We will be glad to see our friend Narendra Modi in Russia. We will be able to discuss all current issues and talk about the prospects for the development of Russia-India relations. We have so much work, Putin said, during his interaction with External Affairs Minister Dr S Jaishankar in Moscow on Wednesday. The Russian President also said that he understood Indias position on Ukraine. I have repeatedly informed him about the situation surrounding the conflict. I know his desire to do everything to resolve this problem through peaceful means, Putin said. As he spoke about the upcoming elections in India, Putin said he was hopeful that ties between the two nations would remain stable. He also spoke about the increasing trade turnover between the two nations. Our trade turnover is growing for the second year in a row and at a steady pace. This year, the pace is even greater than last year. We work in high tech areas and our relations with India are developing progressively, he added.googletag.cmd.push(function() {googletag.display('div-gpt-ad-8052921-2'); }); Earlier in the day, Jaishankar had said that the India-Russia Annual Summit will resume in 2024. It may be recalled that for the last two years, the India-Russia Summit has not been held owing to the conflict between Russia and Ukraine in 2022 and this year due to PM Modis diplomatic engagements and Indias G20 Presidency. India-Russia relations reflect geopolitical realities, strategic convergence and mutual benefit. We signed Protocol on Consultations for 2024-28, said Jaishankar, who is on a five-day visit to Moscow. The EAM and his Russian counterpart Sergey Lavrov, met for the seventh time this year. I learned this is our seventh meeting, part of it is of course the G20, the SCO, the ASEAN, BRICS formats have today allowed many more and many regular contacts. And our leaders, Prime Minister Modi and President Vladimir Putin, have also been in frequent contact, Jaishankar added. As strategic partners, Jaishankar in his interaction with Lavrov discussed the international situation, and exchanged views on the Ukraine conflict, Gaza, Afghanistan, Central Asia, G20, BRICS and SCO. Russia supports Indian aspiration of becoming a permanent member of UNSC along with representatives from Latin America and Africa. Russia and India ties are based on mutual respect, not subject to political fluctuations, said Lavrov. What has clearly came out after out talks was that India-Russia relations remain very steady, very strong. They are based on our strategic convergence, on our geopolitical interests, and because they are mutually beneficial. We spent a lot of time discussing political cooperation with regard to various international issues, including global organisations, BRICS, of which Russia will be the president, Jaishankar said. Follow The New Indian Express channel on WhatsApp
Rajesh Asnani By

Express News Service

JAIPUR: In a significant move, the Bhajan Lal government in Rajasthan has announced a meticulous review of all decisions made by the previous Ashok Gehlot government over the last six months. This implies that approximately 800 decisions will undergo scrutiny and are temporarily on hold.

Following the establishment of the Bhajan Lal governments cabinet, experts suggest that after formation of Cabinet, a committee comprising senior ministers is likely to be formed to evaluate the decisions made by the Gehlot government across various departments, with a focus on matters related to the Urban Development Department, Mines and Petroleum, Medical, and Revenue departments.

It is noteworthy that several decisions were taken by the previous government just before the imposition of the Model Code of Conduct for elections. However, due to the subsequent imposition of the Model Code of Conduct, the implementation of these decisions was halted, as cabinet orders could not be issued within the restricted timeframe.

The decisions subject to review encompass more than 300 land allotment resolutions, approval for the creation of 19 districts, the establishment of RLD Skill University, alterations to the nomenclature of educational institutions, the conversion of Hindi medium schools to English medium, and the transformation of Drug and Pharmaceuticals Limited into a government undertaking.

Additionally, the review extends to matters such as Annapurna food packet distribution, mobile distribution to women, regularisation of 10,528 contract workers and land allotment among others.

Model Code of Conduct

Several decisions were taken by the previous government just before the imposition of the Model Code of Conduct for elections. However, due to the subsequent imposition of the same, the implementation of these decisions was halted

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JAIPUR: In a significant move, the Bhajan Lal government in Rajasthan has announced a meticulous review of all decisions made by the previous Ashok Gehlot government over the last six months. This implies that approximately 800 decisions will undergo scrutiny and are temporarily on hold. Following the establishment of the Bhajan Lal governments cabinet, experts suggest that after formation of Cabinet, a committee comprising senior ministers is likely to be formed to evaluate the decisions made by the Gehlot government across various departments, with a focus on matters related to the Urban Development Department, Mines and Petroleum, Medical, and Revenue departments. It is noteworthy that several decisions were taken by the previous government just before the imposition of the Model Code of Conduct for elections. However, due to the subsequent imposition of the Model Code of Conduct, the implementation of these decisions was halted, as cabinet orders could not be issued within the restricted timeframe.googletag.cmd.push(function() {googletag.display('div-gpt-ad-8052921-2'); }); The decisions subject to review encompass more than 300 land allotment resolutions, approval for the creation of 19 districts, the establishment of RLD Skill University, alterations to the nomenclature of educational institutions, the conversion of Hindi medium schools to English medium, and the transformation of Drug and Pharmaceuticals Limited into a government undertaking. Additionally, the review extends to matters such as Annapurna food packet distribution, mobile distribution to women, regularisation of 10,528 contract workers and land allotment among others. Model Code of Conduct Several decisions were taken by the previous government just before the imposition of the Model Code of Conduct for elections. However, due to the subsequent imposition of the same, the implementation of these decisions was halted Follow The New Indian Express channel on WhatsApp
Pranab Mondal By

Express News Service

KOLKATA: The West Bengal government on Wednesday appointed former Kolkata Police Commissioner Rajeev Kumar as the states Director General of Police (DGP).

Kumar, known for his proximity with Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee, headed the Special Investigation Team (SIT) that probed the Saradha chit fund scam case before it was handed over to the Enforcement Directorate (ED).

In his career, Kumar solved many high-profile cases and cracked down on the CPI(Maoist) network. A team of policemen, led by him, arrested five CPI(Maoist) state committee members, including the state chief of the outlawed outfit.

Before being appointed as the DGP, he served as the Principal Secretary of the Information and Technology department. He replaced DGP Manoj Malviya. Notably, when Kumar was the Kolkata police chief, he was questioned for several days in Shillong by the CBI following a Supreme Court order over his alleged role in destroying evidence related to the chit fund scam case. When the CBI raided his residence in connection with the case, Mamata rushed to Kumars residence.

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KOLKATA: The West Bengal government on Wednesday appointed former Kolkata Police Commissioner Rajeev Kumar as the states Director General of Police (DGP). Kumar, known for his proximity with Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee, headed the Special Investigation Team (SIT) that probed the Saradha chit fund scam case before it was handed over to the Enforcement Directorate (ED). In his career, Kumar solved many high-profile cases and cracked down on the CPI(Maoist) network. A team of policemen, led by him, arrested five CPI(Maoist) state committee members, including the state chief of the outlawed outfit.googletag.cmd.push(function() {googletag.display('div-gpt-ad-8052921-2'); }); Before being appointed as the DGP, he served as the Principal Secretary of the Information and Technology department. He replaced DGP Manoj Malviya. Notably, when Kumar was the Kolkata police chief, he was questioned for several days in Shillong by the CBI following a Supreme Court order over his alleged role in destroying evidence related to the chit fund scam case. When the CBI raided his residence in connection with the case, Mamata rushed to Kumars residence. Follow The New Indian Express channel on WhatsApp
Fayaz Wani and Mayank Singh By

Express News Service

SRINAGAR/NEW DELHI: Defence minister Rajnath Singh on Wednesday met families of three civilians who were found dead after being detained by the Army, and assured them that justice will prevail. Please have faith in us. Nobody can bring back to life of those who have died. But there will be justice, Singh told the family members in Rajouri.

The three civilians  Safeer Hussain, 43, Mohd Showket, 27, and Shabir Ahmad, 32,  were among eight persons detained by the Army for questioning after an ambush on an Army convoy killed four soldiers on December 21. The bodies of three civilianc were found at the ambush site on December 22. The five others were allegedly tortured and are undergoing treatment at a hospital in Rajouri.

He assured us that justice will be done and the guilty will be brought to book. He said if anyone has committed a mistake, he will not be spared, a Rajouri District Development Council member said. Singh was visiting the border districts of Rajouri and Poonch in Jammu and Kashmir to review the security situation.

Interacting with soldiers at a military garrison, Rajnath told them it was important to win the hearts and minds of the people. You are the guardians of the country. Apart from the responsibility toward the security of the country, winning the hearts of the citizens is also a big responsibility on your shoulders, he told them. Such mistakes that may hurt any citizen of the country, should not happen, the defence minister added.

Security review held

Rajnath Singh held a closed-door security review meeting at Raj Bhavan in Jammu on Wednesday. Officials said he was briefed on the security situation and the operational preparedness of the troops

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SRINAGAR/NEW DELHI: Defence minister Rajnath Singh on Wednesday met families of three civilians who were found dead after being detained by the Army, and assured them that justice will prevail. Please have faith in us. Nobody can bring back to life of those who have died. But there will be justice, Singh told the family members in Rajouri. The three civilians  Safeer Hussain, 43, Mohd Showket, 27, and Shabir Ahmad, 32,  were among eight persons detained by the Army for questioning after an ambush on an Army convoy killed four soldiers on December 21. The bodies of three civilianc were found at the ambush site on December 22. The five others were allegedly tortured and are undergoing treatment at a hospital in Rajouri. He assured us that justice will be done and the guilty will be brought to book. He said if anyone has committed a mistake, he will not be spared, a Rajouri District Development Council member said. Singh was visiting the border districts of Rajouri and Poonch in Jammu and Kashmir to review the security situation. googletag.cmd.push(function() {googletag.display('div-gpt-ad-8052921-2'); }); Interacting with soldiers at a military garrison, Rajnath told them it was important to win the hearts and minds of the people. You are the guardians of the country. Apart from the responsibility toward the security of the country, winning the hearts of the citizens is also a big responsibility on your shoulders, he told them. Such mistakes that may hurt any citizen of the country, should not happen, the defence minister added. Security review held Rajnath Singh held a closed-door security review meeting at Raj Bhavan in Jammu on Wednesday. Officials said he was briefed on the security situation and the operational preparedness of the troops Follow The New Indian Express channel on WhatsApp
Dilip Singh Kshatriya By

Express News Service

AHMEDABAD: Molten iron from a furnace rained down on factory workers in Sihore, Bhavnagar, Gujarat, on Wednesday night killing two and injuring others. Three workers were critically injured in the accident.

The accident occurred while iron melting was taking place in a furnace plant at the Rudra Global Infra Ltd in Sihore. Molten iron from the furnace rained down on the workers, five workers were severely burned. One labourer died on the spot, while four others were rushed to the hospital, where one more person perished.

"Three employees are now being treated at Bhavnagars Hospital," said the factory officials.

As soon as the news reached them, the company's employees admitted the injured to hospitals and made plans to return the dead bodies to their home town, Revenue Officer (Mamlatdar) of Sihore taluk, R.G. Prajapati told media.

An investigation is underway to determine how the tragedy occurred and what precautions were taken to ensure the safety of the company's employees. If the company is found to be negligent throughout the investigation, action will be taken against them, he added

This is not the first incident of an accident in factories. Such incidents in Gujarat have taken the lives of several poor workers in the last two months.

Two workers hailing from Bihar, had died of asphyxiation after a chemical spill at a facility in Gujarat's Valsad district on 5 December. On November 28, ten persons were killed and 24 workers sustained burn injuries in an explosion at Ether Chemical Industry at Sachin GIDC, Surat.

According to data presented by the Gujarat government in response to a question posed by Congress MLA Jignesh Mevani during the Monsoon Session of Gujarat Assembly, the number of industrial accidents increased by 17% between 2020-21 and 2022-23.

In 2022-23, the number of industrial accidents in Gujarat increased from 179 in 2020-21 to 210. The number of fatalities also increased by 15%, from 217 in 2020-21 to 249 in 2022-23

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AHMEDABAD: Molten iron from a furnace rained down on factory workers in Sihore, Bhavnagar, Gujarat, on Wednesday night killing two and injuring others. Three workers were critically injured in the accident. The accident occurred while iron melting was taking place in a furnace plant at the Rudra Global Infra Ltd in Sihore. Molten iron from the furnace rained down on the workers, five workers were severely burned. One labourer died on the spot, while four others were rushed to the hospital, where one more person perished. "Three employees are now being treated at Bhavnagars Hospital," said the factory officials. googletag.cmd.push(function() {googletag.display('div-gpt-ad-8052921-2'); }); As soon as the news reached them, the company's employees admitted the injured to hospitals and made plans to return the dead bodies to their home town, Revenue Officer (Mamlatdar) of Sihore taluk, R.G. Prajapati told media. An investigation is underway to determine how the tragedy occurred and what precautions were taken to ensure the safety of the company's employees. If the company is found to be negligent throughout the investigation, action will be taken against them, he added This is not the first incident of an accident in factories. Such incidents in Gujarat have taken the lives of several poor workers in the last two months. Two workers hailing from Bihar, had died of asphyxiation after a chemical spill at a facility in Gujarat's Valsad district on 5 December. On November 28, ten persons were killed and 24 workers sustained burn injuries in an explosion at Ether Chemical Industry at Sachin GIDC, Surat. According to data presented by the Gujarat government in response to a question posed by Congress MLA Jignesh Mevani during the Monsoon Session of Gujarat Assembly, the number of industrial accidents increased by 17% between 2020-21 and 2022-23. In 2022-23, the number of industrial accidents in Gujarat increased from 179 in 2020-21 to 210. The number of fatalities also increased by 15%, from 217 in 2020-21 to 249 in 2022-23 Follow The New Indian Express channel on WhatsApp
Namita Bajpai By

Express News Service

LUCKNOW: Ahead of the consecration of Ram Lalla idol in the garbh-griha (sanctum-sanctorum) of the upcoming Ram temple in Ayodhya on January 22, the Excise Department of Uttar Pradesh government has decided to ban the sale of liquor in the 84-Kosi radius around Ram Janma Bhoomi (RJB) premises housing the new Ram temple.

The announcement to this effect was made by UP Excise Minister Nitin Agarwal after meeting Champat Rai, General Secretary of Shri Ram Janmabhoomi Teerth Kshetra Trust on Thursday.

The 84-Kosi Parikrama Marg has also been declared a liquor-prohibited area. The decision to ban liquor in the holy city of Ayodhya dates back to 2018 when Yogi Adityanath government renamed Faizabad district as Ayodhya.

Following this, seers and sadhus in the area demanded a ban on alcohol as well as meat to preserve the sanctity of the place'.

UP Excise and Prohibition Minister Nitin Agarwal said: "It was our decision as per the instructions given by CM Yogi Adityanath to ban liquor sale on 84-Kosi Parikrama Marg. We have shifted the shops allotted there and we have completely prohibited liquor sale on that Marg...It's a 150-175 km-long route so we have shifted all the shops to other places."

As per the sources, Ayodhya has a total of 410 liquor shops of which 180 will come under the ambit of the new order. The impact of the order of State Excise Department will be felt in five districts, including Barabanki, Ambedkarnagar, Basti, Gonda and Ayodhya falling in the ambit of 84-Kosi Parikrama area which is 275 km long.

Notably, in June last year, the Yogi government had banned the sale of liquor in and around temples in Ayodhya and Mathura. The Ram Temple in Ayodhya and the Krishna Janmabhoomi in Mathura are two locations where the government had issued an order prohibiting the sale of alcohol and meat.

The Thursday order pertains to the shops falling in the 84-Kosi parikrama area and the official sources claimed that all such shops would be shifted.

Consequent to the state government order, the district authorities cancelled the licenses of Ayodhyas booze vendors. The administration of Mathura had ordered the closure of 37 liquor, beer and bhang stores located near temples. In Mathura, the three pubs located in the hotels were shut down.

Meanwhile, just ahead of the inauguration of newly built railways station and Maryada Purushottam Shri Ram Chandra International Airport by Prime Minister Narendra Modi on December 30, the railway station has been renamed as Ayodhya Dham Junction.

Ayodhya railway station has been expanded and renovated to match the spirit and grace

of the temple town on one hand and meet international standards on the other.

The expansion has been done keeping in mind the expected multi-fold rise in footfall after the consecration ceremony. The new railway station is equipped with all the modern facilities including lifts and the escalators.

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LUCKNOW: Ahead of the consecration of Ram Lalla idol in the garbh-griha (sanctum-sanctorum) of the upcoming Ram temple in Ayodhya on January 22, the Excise Department of Uttar Pradesh government has decided to ban the sale of liquor in the 84-Kosi radius around Ram Janma Bhoomi (RJB) premises housing the new Ram temple. The announcement to this effect was made by UP Excise Minister Nitin Agarwal after meeting Champat Rai, General Secretary of Shri Ram Janmabhoomi Teerth Kshetra Trust on Thursday. The 84-Kosi Parikrama Marg has also been declared a liquor-prohibited area. The decision to ban liquor in the holy city of Ayodhya dates back to 2018 when Yogi Adityanath government renamed Faizabad district as Ayodhya.googletag.cmd.push(function() {googletag.display('div-gpt-ad-8052921-2'); }); Following this, seers and sadhus in the area demanded a ban on alcohol as well as meat to preserve the sanctity of the place'. UP Excise and Prohibition Minister Nitin Agarwal said: "It was our decision as per the instructions given by CM Yogi Adityanath to ban liquor sale on 84-Kosi Parikrama Marg. We have shifted the shops allotted there and we have completely prohibited liquor sale on that Marg...It's a 150-175 km-long route so we have shifted all the shops to other places." As per the sources, Ayodhya has a total of 410 liquor shops of which 180 will come under the ambit of the new order. The impact of the order of State Excise Department will be felt in five districts, including Barabanki, Ambedkarnagar, Basti, Gonda and Ayodhya falling in the ambit of 84-Kosi Parikrama area which is 275 km long. Notably, in June last year, the Yogi government had banned the sale of liquor in and around temples in Ayodhya and Mathura. The Ram Temple in Ayodhya and the Krishna Janmabhoomi in Mathura are two locations where the government had issued an order prohibiting the sale of alcohol and meat. The Thursday order pertains to the shops falling in the 84-Kosi parikrama area and the official sources claimed that all such shops would be shifted. Consequent to the state government order, the district authorities cancelled the licenses of Ayodhyas booze vendors. The administration of Mathura had ordered the closure of 37 liquor, beer and bhang stores located near temples. In Mathura, the three pubs located in the hotels were shut down. Meanwhile, just ahead of the inauguration of newly built railways station and Maryada Purushottam Shri Ram Chandra International Airport by Prime Minister Narendra Modi on December 30, the railway station has been renamed as Ayodhya Dham Junction. Ayodhya railway station has been expanded and renovated to match the spirit and grace of the temple town on one hand and meet international standards on the other. The expansion has been done keeping in mind the expected multi-fold rise in footfall after the consecration ceremony. The new railway station is equipped with all the modern facilities including lifts and the escalators. Follow The New Indian Express channel on WhatsApp
By PTI

MEDININAGAR: Drivers of two senior officials allegedly raped a 32-year-old woman in Jharkhand's Palamu district on Thursday, police said.

Both the accused have been arrested. The accused and the woman were sent to Medinirai Medical College and Hospital for a medical check-up, the police said.

The accused were identified as Dharmendra Kumar, a driver in escort of Palamu Deputy Commissioner Shashi Ranjan, and Prakash Kumar, the driver in residence of Palamu Superintendent of Police Reeshma Ramesan.

The SP said that the incident allegedly happened in the morning when the woman came out of Daltonganj railway station and went to a mobile recharge shop, where the two drivers were already there.

As per the allegation of the woman, she wanted to go to Medininagar for treatment.

Taking her into confidence, the two drivers took her to a room adjacent to the railway station and allegedly raped her, the woman told police.

The woman lodged a complaint at the town police station and the accused were nabbed within two hours of her complaint.

The SP and Deputy Commissioner said that legal actions are being taken against the accused.

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MEDININAGAR: Drivers of two senior officials allegedly raped a 32-year-old woman in Jharkhand's Palamu district on Thursday, police said. Both the accused have been arrested. The accused and the woman were sent to Medinirai Medical College and Hospital for a medical check-up, the police said. The accused were identified as Dharmendra Kumar, a driver in escort of Palamu Deputy Commissioner Shashi Ranjan, and Prakash Kumar, the driver in residence of Palamu Superintendent of Police Reeshma Ramesan.googletag.cmd.push(function() {googletag.display('div-gpt-ad-8052921-2'); }); The SP said that the incident allegedly happened in the morning when the woman came out of Daltonganj railway station and went to a mobile recharge shop, where the two drivers were already there. As per the allegation of the woman, she wanted to go to Medininagar for treatment. Taking her into confidence, the two drivers took her to a room adjacent to the railway station and allegedly raped her, the woman told police. The woman lodged a complaint at the town police station and the accused were nabbed within two hours of her complaint. The SP and Deputy Commissioner said that legal actions are being taken against the accused. Follow The New Indian Express channel on WhatsApp
By PTI

NEW DELHI: Delhi Police on Thursday recorded the statements of some people who claimed to have heard the explosion near the Israeli embassy, an official said.

Police have also prepared a list of people who were seen near the spot just before the low-intensity blast occurred on Tuesday with the help of footage taken from CCTV cameras, he said.

The statements of at least 10 people, including security guards and passersby who claimed to have heard the explosion and also saw some smoke, have been recorded, the official said.

With the help of dump data from mobile phones active near the spot and CCTV camera footage, a few people have been identified and some of them were questioned on Thursday, the officer added.

According to another officer, the components of the explosive will be ascertained once the forensic reports come.

The samples from the leaves and soil from the spot were collected by forensic experts from the National Security Group (NSG) and Delhi Police on Wednesday.

"Their reports are still awaited," said the officer.

The blast occurred in the area between the boundary walls of the house on plot number 4 -- Nanda's House -- and the Central Hindi Training Institute on plot number 2A on Prithviraj Road.

While no one was injured, an "abusive" letter addressed to the Israeli ambassador was found near the site, officials said.

Though the case is yet to be registered, the officials of the Special Cell and the National Investigation Agency (NIA) were also looking into the matter, another official said.

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NEW DELHI: Delhi Police on Thursday recorded the statements of some people who claimed to have heard the explosion near the Israeli embassy, an official said. Police have also prepared a list of people who were seen near the spot just before the low-intensity blast occurred on Tuesday with the help of footage taken from CCTV cameras, he said. The statements of at least 10 people, including security guards and passersby who claimed to have heard the explosion and also saw some smoke, have been recorded, the official said.googletag.cmd.push(function() {googletag.display('div-gpt-ad-8052921-2'); }); With the help of dump data from mobile phones active near the spot and CCTV camera footage, a few people have been identified and some of them were questioned on Thursday, the officer added. According to another officer, the components of the explosive will be ascertained once the forensic reports come. The samples from the leaves and soil from the spot were collected by forensic experts from the National Security Group (NSG) and Delhi Police on Wednesday. "Their reports are still awaited," said the officer. The blast occurred in the area between the boundary walls of the house on plot number 4 -- Nanda's House -- and the Central Hindi Training Institute on plot number 2A on Prithviraj Road. While no one was injured, an "abusive" letter addressed to the Israeli ambassador was found near the site, officials said. Though the case is yet to be registered, the officials of the Special Cell and the National Investigation Agency (NIA) were also looking into the matter, another official said. Follow The New Indian Express channel on WhatsApp
By PTI

CHENNAI: DMDK founder-leader and popular yesteryear Tamil actor Vijayakanth, sowed the seeds of hope among his supporters on the possibility of a real alternative to the Dravidian majors, the DMK and AIADMK in the State.

Praised as 'Karuppu MGR' (black MGR) by his fans for his generosity, Vijayakanth had been ill and kept a low profile for the past 4-5 years and his wife Premalatha Vijayakant formally took over the reins of the DMDK on December 14 and she was declared the general secretary at a party meet here.

Vijayakanth aged 71 was popular as 'Captain' after he performed the role of an IFS officer in the 1991 blockbuster Tamil movie 'Captain Prabhakaran.

READ | Goodbye, Captain: Tamil actor and DMDK founder Vijayakant passes away

The acclaimed actor, even before he gave the hope of a new messiah after his political entry in 2005, had a huge fan following, which he organised well into a structural unit and that stood him in good stead when he took the political plunge.

Respected as a philanthropist and hailed by the Tamil film world and fans alike for over two decades (since the early 1980s) as 'the macho actor' and real-life saviour, that impressive on and off-screen charisma appeared to translate well electorally too, considering the DMDK's performance, which bet on eradicating poverty and corruption.

Vijayakanth's spirited fight against graft in the movie 'Ramana' immediately struck a chord with the electorate during his initial years in politics.

Within a year of its founding, the Vijayakanth-led party garnered about 8.40 per cent votes in the 2006 Assembly election, though only Vijayakanth managed to win.

His maiden win from Virudhachalam in northern Tamil Nadu, where the Pattali Makkal Katchi wielded considerable influence, was seen as a positive sign of his mass appeal. His run-in with the PMK, which opposed the entry of actors into politics helped him strengthen his political standing.

ALSO READ | 'Rest in power, Captain': Heartfelt tributes and condolences pour in for Vijayakant

In the 2009 Lok Sabha polls, the actor-turned-politician's party had a little over 10 per cent vote share.

Though Vijayakanth had often repeated that his 'alliance is only with the people,' the party allied with the AIADMK in the 2011 Assembly elections.

The Jayalalithaa-led bloc won the polls and the DMDK founder went on to become the Leader of the Opposition (2011-16) by winning from the Rishivandiyam constituency in northern TN.

In 2011, the DMDK won 29 Assembly segments after contesting 41 seats (nearly eight per cent vote share) and emerged as the second largest party.

Though an ally, he questioned the powers-that-be and his verbal duel with Jayalalithaa in the Assembly took the state by storm he appeared all set to break the hegemony of the Dravidian parties, that have held sway for over half a century in Tamil Nadu's politics.

After the AIADMK-DMDK alliance soured, the DMDK joined the BJP-led alliance for the 2014 general election, in which, the PMK and Vaiko-led MDMK were also constituents.

In the alliance, though Vijayakanth's party got the lion's share of 14 out of 39 LS seats in Tamil Nadu, it failed to win even a single seat and the party's vote share plummeted to 5.1 per cent.

In the 2016 Assembly polls, the DMDK was the major party in the Makkal Nala Kootani (People's Welfare Front), a four-party front in which the Left parties, MDMK and the VCK were partners.

The alliance parties faced a rout and the Chief Ministerial candidate of the front, Vijayakanth lost his deposit in Ulundurpet.

The DMDK could only garner about 2.4 per cent vote share in 2016 and in the 2019 LS polls drew a blank after contesting in four Parliamentary constituencies as part of the AIADMK-BJP alliance and it also lost the EC recognition of a state party.

The gradual slide continued between 2011 and 2016 when functionaries and MLAs either quit the party or were expelled over several issues. From 2016 onwards, Vijayakanth's health gradually deteriorated and given his poor health he could not devote time to party affairs.

Considering factors such as the absence of robust second-rung leaders, the party's decline appeared irreversible.

Under Premalatha's stewardship, the DMDK faced the 2021 Assembly election as a partner of the TTV Dhinakaran-led Amma Makkal Munnetra Kazhagam and it faced a rout again.

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CHENNAI: DMDK founder-leader and popular yesteryear Tamil actor Vijayakanth, sowed the seeds of hope among his supporters on the possibility of a real alternative to the Dravidian majors, the DMK and AIADMK in the State. Praised as 'Karuppu MGR' (black MGR) by his fans for his generosity, Vijayakanth had been ill and kept a low profile for the past 4-5 years and his wife Premalatha Vijayakant formally took over the reins of the DMDK on December 14 and she was declared the general secretary at a party meet here. Vijayakanth aged 71 was popular as 'Captain' after he performed the role of an IFS officer in the 1991 blockbuster Tamil movie 'Captain Prabhakaran.googletag.cmd.push(function() {googletag.display('div-gpt-ad-8052921-2'); }); READ | Goodbye, Captain: Tamil actor and DMDK founder Vijayakant passes away The acclaimed actor, even before he gave the hope of a new messiah after his political entry in 2005, had a huge fan following, which he organised well into a structural unit and that stood him in good stead when he took the political plunge. Respected as a philanthropist and hailed by the Tamil film world and fans alike for over two decades (since the early 1980s) as 'the macho actor' and real-life saviour, that impressive on and off-screen charisma appeared to translate well electorally too, considering the DMDK's performance, which bet on eradicating poverty and corruption. Vijayakanth's spirited fight against graft in the movie 'Ramana' immediately struck a chord with the electorate during his initial years in politics. Within a year of its founding, the Vijayakanth-led party garnered about 8.40 per cent votes in the 2006 Assembly election, though only Vijayakanth managed to win. His maiden win from Virudhachalam in northern Tamil Nadu, where the Pattali Makkal Katchi wielded considerable influence, was seen as a positive sign of his mass appeal. His run-in with the PMK, which opposed the entry of actors into politics helped him strengthen his political standing. ALSO READ | 'Rest in power, Captain': Heartfelt tributes and condolences pour in for Vijayakant In the 2009 Lok Sabha polls, the actor-turned-politician's party had a little over 10 per cent vote share. Though Vijayakanth had often repeated that his 'alliance is only with the people,' the party allied with the AIADMK in the 2011 Assembly elections. The Jayalalithaa-led bloc won the polls and the DMDK founder went on to become the Leader of the Opposition (2011-16) by winning from the Rishivandiyam constituency in northern TN. In 2011, the DMDK won 29 Assembly segments after contesting 41 seats (nearly eight per cent vote share) and emerged as the second largest party. Though an ally, he questioned the powers-that-be and his verbal duel with Jayalalithaa in the Assembly took the state by storm he appeared all set to break the hegemony of the Dravidian parties, that have held sway for over half a century in Tamil Nadu's politics. After the AIADMK-DMDK alliance soured, the DMDK joined the BJP-led alliance for the 2014 general election, in which, the PMK and Vaiko-led MDMK were also constituents. In the alliance, though Vijayakanth's party got the lion's share of 14 out of 39 LS seats in Tamil Nadu, it failed to win even a single seat and the party's vote share plummeted to 5.1 per cent. In the 2016 Assembly polls, the DMDK was the major party in the Makkal Nala Kootani (People's Welfare Front), a four-party front in which the Left parties, MDMK and the VCK were partners. The alliance parties faced a rout and the Chief Ministerial candidate of the front, Vijayakanth lost his deposit in Ulundurpet. The DMDK could only garner about 2.4 per cent vote share in 2016 and in the 2019 LS polls drew a blank after contesting in four Parliamentary constituencies as part of the AIADMK-BJP alliance and it also lost the EC recognition of a state party. The gradual slide continued between 2011 and 2016 when functionaries and MLAs either quit the party or were expelled over several issues. From 2016 onwards, Vijayakanth's health gradually deteriorated and given his poor health he could not devote time to party affairs. Considering factors such as the absence of robust second-rung leaders, the party's decline appeared irreversible. Under Premalatha's stewardship, the DMDK faced the 2021 Assembly election as a partner of the TTV Dhinakaran-led Amma Makkal Munnetra Kazhagam and it faced a rout again. Follow The New Indian Express channel on WhatsApp
BAKU, Azerbaijan, December 28. SOCAR Green LLC has been established in line with the directives outlined in the order of Azerbaijans President Ilham Aliyev dated December 25, 2023, designating 2024 as the Green World Solidarity Year, Trend reports via the state oil company SOCAR.

The company aims to propel the development of renewable energy sources within the country and align with the decarbonization objectives set by SOCAR.

This decision was announced during a meeting of the SOCAR Supervisory Board, presided over by Mikail Jabbarov, the Minister of Economy and Chairman of the SOCAR Supervisory Board.

The meeting focused on a comprehensive discussion of SOCAR's activities during the first nine months of 2023. Topics covered included progress in the development of oil and gas fields, production metrics, advancements in renewable energy initiatives, and measures taken toward decarbonization. The participants also discussed the achievements in meeting corporate key performance indicators (KPIs) for the first nine months of the current year, and deliberated on the draft budget for 2024.

Additionally, the Supervisory Board meeting featured a presentation on the strides made in implementing the new operating model. Acknowledging the significant contribution of the operational model to achieving strategic goals, the presentation highlighted its role in enhancing SOCAR's corporate governance processes, ensuring business sustainability, and propelling corporate culture into a new stage of development within a short period of time.

Follow the author on X: @Lyaman_Zeyn
Champaign, IL (61820)

Today

Cloudy skies early, followed by partial clearing. High 38F. Winds SW at 15 to 25 mph..

Tonight

Cloudy with rain developing after midnight. Low 33F. Winds E at 15 to 25 mph. Chance of rain 100%. Rainfall near a half an inch. Winds could occasionally gust over 40 mph.
Mexican immigration officials are moving to clear a migrant encampment on the banks of the Rio Grande river, as U.S. officials met with Mexicos president to press for measures to limit a surge of migrants reaching the U.S. southwestern border
In early December, Donald Brown stood nervously in the Hall County Courthouse, concerned he'd be sent back to jail.

The 55-year-old struggles with depression, addiction, and suicidal thoughts. He worried a judge would terminate him from a special diversion program meant to keep people with mental illness from being incarcerated. He was failing to keep up with the program's onerous work and community service requirements.

"I'm kind of scared. I feel kind of defeated," Brown said.

Last year, Brown threatened to take his life with a gun and his family called 911 seeking help, he said. The police arrived, and Brown was arrested and charged with a felony of firearm possession.

After months in jail, Brown was offered access to the Health Empowerment Linkage and Possibilities, or HELP, Court. If he pleaded guilty, he'd be connected to services and avoid prison time. But if he didn't complete the program, he'd possibly face incarceration.

"It's almost like coercion," Brown said. "'Here, sign these papers and get out of jail.' I feel like I could have been dealt with a lot better."

Advocates, attorneys, clinicians, and researchers said courts such as the one Brown is navigating can struggle to live up to their promise. The diversion programs, they said, are often expensive and resource-intensive, and serve fewer than 1% of the more than 2 million people who have a serious mental illness and are booked into U.S. jails each year.

People can feel pressured to take plea deals and enter the courts, seeing the programs as the only route to get care or avoid prison time. The courts are selective, due in part to political pressures on elected judges and prosecutors. Participants must often meet strict requirements that critics say aren't treatment-focused, such as regular hearings and drug screenings.

And there is a lack of conclusive evidence on whether the courts help participants long-term. Some legal experts, like Lea Johnston, a professor of law at the University of Florida, worry the programs distract from more meaningful investments in mental health resources.

Jails and prisons are not the place for individuals with mental disorders, she said. "But Im also not sure that mental health court is the solution."

The country's first mental health court was established in Broward County, Florida, in 1997, "as a way to promote recovery and mental health wellness and avoid criminalizing mental health problems." The model was replicated with millions in funding from such federal agencies as the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration and the Department of Justice.

More than 650 adult and juvenile mental health courts were operational as of 2022, according to the National Treatment Court Resource Center. There's no set way to run them. Generally, participants receive treatment plans and get linked to services. Judges and mental health clinicians oversee their progress.

Researchers from the center found little evidence that the courts improve participants' mental health or keep them out of the criminal justice system. "Few studies  assess longer-term impacts" of the programs "beyond one year after program exit," said a 2022 policy brief on mental health courts.

The courts work best when paired with investments in services such as clinical treatment, recovery programs, and housing and employment opportunities, said Kristen DeVall, the center's co-director.

"If all of these other supports aren't invested in, then it's kind of a wash," she said.

The courts should be seen as "one intervention in that larger system," DeVall said, not "the only resource to serve folks with mental health needs" who get caught up in the criminal justice system.

Resource limitations can also increase the pressures to apply for mental health court programs, said Lisa M. Wayne, executive director of the National Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers. People seeking help might not feel they have alternatives.

"Its not going to be people who can afford mental health intervention. Its poor people, marginalized folks," she said.

Other court skeptics wonder about the larger costs of the programs.

In a study of a mental health court in Pennsylvania, Johnston and a University of Florida colleague found participants were sentenced to longer time under government supervision than if they'd gone through the regular criminal justice system.

"The bigger problem is they're taking attention away from more important solutions that we should be investing in, like community mental health care," Johnston said.

When Melissa Vergara's oldest son, Mychael Difrancisco, was arrested on felony gun charges in Queens in May 2021, she thought he would be an ideal candidate for the New York City borough's mental health court because of his diagnosis of autism spectrum disorder and other behavioral health conditions.

She estimated she spent tens of thousands of dollars to prepare Difrancisco's case for consideration. Meanwhile, her son sat in jail on Rikers Island, where she said he was assaulted multiple times and had to get half a finger amputated after it was caught in a cell door.

In the end, his case was denied diversion into mental health court. Difrancisco, 22, is serving a prison sentence that could be as long as four years and six months.

"Theres no real urgency to help people with mental health struggles," Vergara said.

Critics worry such high bars to entry can lead the programs to exclude people who could benefit the most. Some courts don't allow those accused of violent or sexual crimes to participate. Prosecutors and judges can face pressure from constituents that may lead them to block individuals accused of high-profile offenses.

And judges often aren't trained to make decisions about participants' care, said Raji Edayathumangalam, senior policy social worker with New York County Defender Services.

"Its inappropriate," she said. "Were all licensed to practice in our different professions for a reason. I cant show up to do a hernia operation just because I read about it or sat next to a hernia surgeon."

Mental health courts can be overly focused on requirements such as drug testing, medication compliance, and completing workbook assignments, rather than progress toward recovery and clinical improvement, Edayathumangalam said.

Completing the programs can leave some participants with clean criminal records. But failing to meet a program's requirements can trigger penalties  including incarceration.

During a recent hearing in the Clayton County Behavioral Health Accountability Court in suburban Atlanta, one woman left the courtroom in tears when Judge Shana Rooks Malone ordered her to report to jail for a seven-day stay for "being dishonest" about whether she was taking court-required medication.

It was her sixth infraction in the program  previous consequences included written assignments and "bench duty," in which participants must sit and think about their participation in the program.

"I dont like to incarcerate," Malone said. "That particular participant has had some challenges. Im rooting for her. But all the smaller penalties havent worked."

Still, other participants praised Malone and her program. And, in general, some say such diversion programs provide a much-needed lifeline.

Michael Hobby, 32, of Gainesville was addicted to heroin and fentanyl when he was arrested for drug possession in August 2021. After entry into the HELP Court program, he got sober, started taking medication for anxiety and depression, and built a stable life.

"I didn't know where to reach out for help," he said. "I got put in handcuffs, and it saved my life."

Even as Donald Brown awaited his fate, he said he had started taking medication to manage his depression and has stayed sober because of HELP Court.

"I've learned a new way of life. Instead of getting high, I'm learning to feel things now," he said.

Brown avoided jail that early December day. A hearing to decide his fate could happen in the next few weeks. But even if he's allowed to remain in the program, Brown said, he's worried it's only a matter of time before he falls out of compliance.

"To try to improve myself and get locked up for it is just a kick in the gut," he said. "I tried really hard."

KFF Health News senior correspondent Fred Clasen-Kelly contributed to this report.
Basmati rice prices have fallen 5-10 per cent in the domestic market as its exports have reduced due to militant attacks against merchant ships in the Red Sea, according to an Economic Times report quoting exporters.

The attacks by Yamans Houthis have prompted shipping lines to avoid the Suez Canal route, impacting sunflower oil imports also from Russia and Ukraine. According to the ET report quoting trade insiders, sunflower oil prices in India is likely to go up by 3-4 per cent due to this.

In the international market, sunflower oil prices have jumped $30 per tonne in the past one week to $940 per tonne.

The freight charge to Yemen was $850 per container earlier, which has now increased to $2,400 following the attacks. Similarly, freight rates to Jeddah have jumped from $300 per container to $1,500 now. The rate to Durban has risen to $700 per container, against $1,200 earlier.

Due to this freight hike, buyers are not taking cargo this time. As a result, prices of basmati rice have fallen in the domestic market now, said Vijay Setia, former president of All India Rice Exporters Association, according to the ET report.

India exports 4-4.5 million tonnes of basmati rice per year and the Gulf countries account for about 80 per cent of all basmati exports.
In a speech at the Reliance Family Day celebration on Thursday, RIL chairman and managing director Mukesh Ambani said that as India races ahead to become the worlds third-largest economy, an unprecedented opportunity awaits the company

Reliance can and will grow to be among the top 10 business conglomerates of the world, Ambani said on Thursday, even as he highlighted the importance of focusing on AI and data to become a new-age technology company and expanding the talent pool of youth.

Reliance Family Day Speech

My Dear Reliance Family,

A very good evening to each one of you.

Today is the Reliance Family Day.

We have come together to celebrate the birthday of Our Founding Chairman Dhirubhai Ambani.

With the passage of time, our Family is becoming bigger and bigger

But we will always remain Dhirubhais Family.

We will always cherish his timeless Family Values.

These are  Integrity, Excellence, Empathy, the spirit of Cooperation, and the commitment to make Every Tomorrow Better Than Every Today for one and all.

These values are encapsulated in Reliances WE CARE philosophy.

WE CARE for the Planet and Humanity.

WE CARE for our Mother India and every single Indian.

Friends and Colleagues,

For me it has been my lifes honour to lead Reliance for over two decades now.

If leading Reliance is my pride, working with all of you has been my privilege.

You are an army of immensely talented individuals who work wonders day in and day out with grit and discipline.

I am proud of each one of you.

You are my perpetual Recharge Battery.

Each single day, you renew my enthusiasm, boost my energy, and validate the purpose for which our Founder established Reliance.

I am deeply grateful to each and every one of you for your contribution to Reliance.

My dear Reliance Family,

Today, the domestic and global environments for business are changing very fast.

There is simply no room for complacency.

Reliance was never complacent in the past, and Reliance will never be complacent in future.

We are known for disrupting the market through constant innovation and reinvention.

We have shown the courage to set the bar high, and the ability to jump even higher to create new records.

This is how Reliance has achieved perennial growth.

And that is how we have remained true to our motto  Growth is Life.

Let us follow this winning formula with greater confidence and consistency.

Dear Friends,

As India races ahead to become the worlds third largest economy, an unprecedented opportunity awaits Reliance.

Reliance can . and Reliance will  grow to be among the Top 10 business conglomerates of the world.

For this, we need to be laser-focused on three things:

ONE: We must ALWAYS provide extreme value to our customers.

We must unfailingly EXCEED THEIR EXPECTATIONS, through collaboration and systems improvement.

Our efforts have won us UNPRECEDENTED CUSTOMER LOVE for all our business, over the years.

In the coming years, we must CONTINUE to strive even harder to develop products and services that no one has created ever before.

We must continue to delight the customers, and reinforce their belief that Reliance provides immense value to their lives.

TWO: All our actions must always win COMMUNITY TRUST.

Dhirubhai has taught us that continuously winning the trust of the communities that we operate in is an essential part of our businesses.

Trust is that hard-won intangible asset that transforms commerce into culture.

Trust elevates a momentary business transaction to an enduring heart-to-heart relationship.

Through all our businesses, and through the rapidly expanding activities of Reliance Foundation, let us make Reliance No. 1 corporate on the parameter of Customer Love and Community Trust.

THREE: For enhancing Customer Love and Community Trust, we must continuously enrich competencies and capabilities at the individual level, the team level, the business level, and at the organisational level.

Businesses grow exponentially when individuals and teams display clarity of goals and flawless execution.

When all our businesses grow exponentially, we can contribute more to Indias inclusive prosperity, and make the world a better place.

My dear Friends,

In three days from now, we will say goodbye to 2023, and usher in 2024.

As the head of Reliance Family, I would like to share with all of you three more key messages for the New Year.

Let me summarise them as Three Consolidations.

One: Let us consolidate Reliances place among Global Leaders in Digital Platforms, Data and AI Adoption.

Two: Let us consolidate Reliances place among Global Leaders in Talent Enrichment.

Three: Let us consolidate Reliances place among Global Leaders in Institutional Culture. Let me elaborate.

First, about AI Adoption.

As Reliance reinvents itself to become a unique NEW-AGE TECHNOLOGY COMPANY,

We need to boldly embrace data and AI to become better at decision-making and resource utilisation.

In the Era of Digital Platforms, data has become a new Factor of Production along with Talent and Money.

We need to be at forefront of using data, with AI as an enabler for achieving a quantum jump in productivity and efficiency.

All our growth engines of Reliance  Digital Services, Green and Bio-Energy, Retail and Consumer Brands, O2C & Materials business, and Health and Life Sciences  will have to complete this transformation by the time we meet next year.

Furthermore, we should accelerate our efforts to become a pioneer in developing AI to address, at scale, Indias urgent national priorities in education, healthcare, agriculture, and employment creation.

Second, about Talent Enrichment.

In order to make Reliance an AI-immersive Tech Company, we need to further build the necessary talent, skillsets and competencies at all levels within our organisation.

We should expand and deepen our talent pool to be amongst the best in the world.

Investment in talent brings higher returns than investment in machines.

Therefore, let us execute Talent Enrichment at all levels in Reliance on a mission modeon a project mode, the way we always doand do so well.

Third, about our Institutional Culture.

I am extremely proud of our culture.

The most important tenet of Reliances Institutional Culture is to work with the FOUNDERS MINDSET.

It means working with the OWNERSHIP MINDSET.

Each and everyone of you becomes an owner of Reliance when you own the Founders purpose and passion.

I am so happy to see that our young colleagues in the 30-Plus age group have been working with the same enthusiasm and determination to succeed, which our Founder and his colleagues had at the inception of Reliance.

I also deeply appreciate that all the senior and middle-level leaders in Reliance are now discharging their responsibility of:

Trusting the young.

Empowering the young.

Mentoring the young.

Young leaders will commit mistakes. Thats for sure.

But my advice to them is simple:

Do not waste your energy on conducting a post-mortem on past mistakes.

Rather, learn not to repeat the same mistakes.

More importantly, be bold, courageous and adventurous in pursuing your present and future goals.

In doing so, always support one another.

For what we can achieve together is always immensely greater than what one can achieve individually and in isolation.

There are also fewer chances of committing mistakes when we work together.

At a time when Reliance is undergoing a Generational Transition, I attach immense importance to further strengthening this unique Institutional Culture.

Here is yet another principle we must follow.

We must keep Reliance forever young, by ensuring that the average age of all our talented teams remains in the 30s.

Let me reiterate: The future of Reliance belongs to Akash, Isha, Anant and their generation.

I have no doubt that they will achieve more in life, and bring more achievements to Reliance, than people of my generation.

My dear colleagues,

On this auspicious day, let us take a pledge.

We will never stop dreaming

We will never stop believing in our dreams both individual dreams and institutional dreams.

And we will never stop chasing them with positivity, discipline, resolve, confidence, hard work and mutual support.

At Reliance, we do not have bondages of the past  we face and embrace the future boldly.

Because Dhirubhais life has taught us one thing

Keep the faith and nothing will be impossible.

Keep shining, keep smiling.

Let us together build on our fine tradition of making Reliance a happy family, a caring family, and a super-creative family.

2023 was a great year for India, and for Reliance.

2024 will be even better.

Therefore: Celebrate. Have fun. Make merry.

I am joined by my mother Kokilaben, Nita, Isha, Akash, Anant and all others in our family in wishing a Glorious and Happy New Year to all of you and all your loved ones in your families.

May Lord Krishna bless Reliance and bless us all.

Thank you.
Bhutan and Nepal, renowned for their scenic spots, attract millions of global tourists annually, especially from India. Visas and passports are typically necessary for international travel. Indians, however, enjoy the privilege of not requiring these when visiting Bhutan and Nepal. Both the countries allow Indian citizens without the need for a visa or passport. Reciprocally, India has granted the same privilege to citizens of these two nations, fostering increased tourism and strengthening cooperation. This mutual arrangement also contributes to the security of Indian borders, emphasising the collaborative relationship between the countries. Although Aadhaar is a crucial document in India, it is not recognised as a valid form of identification in Nepal and Bhutan. Indians travelling to these countries need to consider alternative documents. What documentation is then necessary for Indians visiting Nepal and Bhutan, considering that Aadhaar is not accepted?

In 2017, Indias Home Ministry explicitly stated that Aadhaar is not accepted as a valid document for entry into Nepal and Bhutan. Instead, citizens above 15 years of age can use alternative documents such as Voter ID, Driving License, Ration Card, or PAN Card for travel to these countries.

For children accompanying adults on a trip to Nepal or Bhutan, where they typically dont possess a Voter ID or PAN Card, presenting their birth certificate or school ID card is accepted as a valid document for entry into these countries.

Recently, an elderly woman was booked by Sahar police after immigration officials at Mumbai airport discovered she was attempting to travel to Nepal using an Indian Aadhaar card, despite being a Nepali citizen. The 71-year-old explained she was heading to Nepal to meet her two children. The incident occurred on Wednesday at around 9 am, just before her scheduled flight to Kathmandu at 10.25 am, when she presented her Aadhaar card and boarding pass at the immigration counter at Chhatrapati Shivaji International Airport (CSIA), Mumbai.
The Bihar Public Service Commission (BPSC) will release the BPSC 69th Mains exam admit card 2023 today, December 28. Candidates may go to the official BPSC website at bpsc.bih.nic.in to access their admit cards. The exam will start on January 3 and end on January 6. It will be conducted in two shifts from 9:30 am to 12:30 pm and from 2 pm to 5 pm.

The BPSC is administering the Main exam to fill up a total of 475 vacancies in several departments of the Bihar government. Candidates who clear the mains exams and are selected will be recruited into numerous posts in departments like Education, Revenue, Finance, Home, and Social Welfare as well as the State Election Commission.

BPSC 69th Mains Admit Card 2023: How to Download

Candidates can download their admission cards by following the methods outlined below.

Step 1- Visit the BPSC website at bpsc.bih.nic.in.

Step 2  On the home page, click the BPSC 69th Mains Admit Card 2023 link.

Step 3  Enter your login information and click the submit button.

Step 4  Your admit card will appear on the screen.

Step 5  Examine the admit card and save the page.

Step 6  Make a hard copy for future reference.

Before obtaining their admit card, candidates must log in to the dashboard and upload their most recent passport-size photo in JPEG format (25 kb), according to the official announcement. They must bring two copies of their admit card. On the day of the exam, one signed copy of the hall ticket must be presented to the invigilator at the exam centre.

BPSC 69th Mains Exam Schedule, Pattern

According to the schedule, the General Hindi paper will be held on Jan 3, the General Studies first paper on Jan 4, the General Studies second paper on Jan 5, and the Essay subject paper on January 6. The optional papers will be held on Jan 20 and 21.

The BPSC 69th Main Exam comprises three subjects  General Studies, Essays, and Optional subjects. The General Studies paper will have 250 questions, each carrying two marks. The essay paper will be graded out of 250 marks while the optional subject paper will be graded out of 500 marks. After the Main exam, candidates who are shortlisted will be called for the interview round, which will carry a weightage of 100 marks.
CGBSE 10th, 12th Exam 2024 Date Sheet: The Chhattisgarh Board of Secondary Education (CGBSE) has released the date sheet of the class 10th, 12th board exam 2024. Students who will be appearing for this examination can check the date sheet of the examination by visiting the official website of CGBSE  cgbse.nic.in. Chhattisgarh Board class 10th and 12th examinations will be conducted in March.

As per the official calendar released by the board, the CG board class 10 exams will start with the Hindi exam on March 2 and end on March 21, 2024. Whereas the class 12th examination will be conducted from March 1, 2024 to March 23, 2024. The examinations will be held from 9:15 am to 12:15 pm. Students will have to be seated at their assigned desks by 9 am. The answer sheet will be given to the students at 9:05 am. After this, the question papers will be distributed by 9:10 am.

CHHATTISGARH BOARD EXAM 2024: HOW TO CHECK TIMETABLE

Step 1: Visit the official website of CGBSE at cgbse.nic.in.

Step 2: On the homepage, click on the link that reads CGBSE Board Exam Dates 2024.

Step 3: A PDF will open on a new screen.

Step 4: Go through the notice for complete details.

Step 5: Download it for future reference.

Meanwhile, the Chhattisgarh Board of Secondary Education (CGBSE) has announced that the practical exams and project work will be completed from January 10, 2024 to January 31, 2024. As per the official notice, external examiners will be chosen by the board to administer the practical tests. The board further stated that schools are not permitted to appoint external examiners. If any school attempts to do so, such examinations would not be approved under any circumstances, and the institution would be held entirely accountable for any harm caused to students.

In 2023, the CG board class 10th (high school) examinations were held from March 2 to March 24. Class 12th (Higher Secondary) examinations were conducted from March 1 to March 31. Higher secondary examinations for open school students were conducted from March 26 to May 2. Whereas high school examinations were held on 1 April and 2 May.
The University Grants Commission (UGC) has released new draft rules streamlining the process for colleges to get recognition, taking the procedure online and replacing the existing rules in force since 2009, according to a notification issued by the higher education regulator on Wednesday.

The new draft regulations titled University Grants Commission (Recognition of Colleges under clause (f) of Section 2 of the UGC Act) Regulations, 2023 state that inclusion under the Act shall be mandatory for all the colleges, irrespective of whether a college has temporary or permanent affiliation to the university concerned.

According to the draft rules, the entire procedure from application to approval shall be done online within a stipulated period. So far, documents were being submitted in the offline mode as well.

The college shall apply online to the Commission on its web portal developed for this purpose along with the processing fee for recognition as may be decided by the Commission from time to time, the draft stated.

UGC chairperson Prof M Jagadesh Kumar said that the new regulations are a significant step towards streamlining the affiliation process for colleges seeking recognition. The proposed changes will introduce online procedures, reduce documentation, and define timelines, signifying the commitment to efficiency by UGC. The draft regulations aim to simplify the application and verification processes, ensure a quicker and more transparent pathway for colleges seeking UGC recognition under Section 2(f). UGC encourages stakeholders to provide valuable feedback and collectively help enhance the quality and accessibility of higher education in the country, said Kumar.

Colleges are brought under the purview of UGC in terms of these regulations as and when the proposals are received from the colleges for inclusion under Section 2(f) and they are found fit for inclusion as per the provisions contained in the regulations.

Apart from the inclusion of colleges under Section 2(f), the UGC includes the colleges under Section 12(B) of its Act in terms of rules framed under it. This makes the colleges eligible for central assistance from the union government or any organisation receiving funds from the Centre.

The draft states that all existing colleges shall have to obtain UGC recognition under section 2(f) within three years from the date of notification of these regulations.
CTET Admit Card 2024: The Central Board of Secondary Education, CBSE will organise CTET 2024 in January. After the release of the CTET 204 admit card, applicants will be able to download it by visiting the official website at ctet.nic.in. As per schedule, the exam will be held in two shifts on January 21. Paper-1 will be held from 9:30 am to 12:00 noon and paper-2 will be held from 2:00 pm to 4:30 pm.

The admit card for the CTET exam is likely to be released in the second week of January. However, the board has not given any official date for releasing the admit card. After the admit card is released, candidates will be able to download it by entering their registration number and password. This is an important document. Details like roll number, name and address of the examination centre, the timing of the examination, etc. will be written on it. Without this, the exam cannot be given.

When will the admit card be released?

CBSE usually releases CTET admit cards three to four days before the exam. So it is expected that it will be released in the second week of January. CTET is the qualifying examination for candidature to become a teacher for classes 1st to 5th and 6th to 8th in central government schools.

Applicants are advised to check the information given on the admit card carefully after downloading it. In case of any discrepancy or error, one should immediately contact the examination conducting authority to avoid last-minute hassles. The following information will be available on the CTET admit card-

 Name of the Applicant

 Applicants Photo

 Signature

 Category

 Name of the Examination

 Date of Examination

 Time of Examination

 Address of Examination Center

 General Instructions

On the day of the examination, candidates must carry two passport-size photographs, one original photo identity proof such as Aadhar Card, PAN Card, Driving License, Voter ID Card, and any one of the bank passbook with attested photograph to the examination centre.
Hong Kong: Policy holders protection plan backed

The Financial Services & the Treasury Bureau today published a paper on the conclusions of the consultation on the proposal to establish a policy holders protection scheme (PPS), which outlined the views received during the consultation period, the Governments response and the way forward.

During the public consultation period from December 30, 2022, to March 31, 2023, the bureau collected views from insurers, professional bodies as well as the public. A total of 14 submissions were received.

Furthermore, the bureau and the Insurance Authority attended a briefing to exchange views with industry practitioners and the Federation of Insurers on the consultation document. They also joined a meeting of the Legislative Council Panel on Financial Affairs to give a briefing on the PPS.

The bureau said it was pleased to note that respondents generally support the establishment of a PPS as well as the proposed key features of the scheme. It added that the PPS proposal will be fine-tuned, having regard to the respondents comments and suggestions.

Based on the consultation conclusions, the Government will begin the preparatory work on establishing a PPS, including the formulation of its detailed arrangements and the drafting of the necessary legislative amendments, with a view to enhancing protection for policy holders in the event of insurer insolvency.

This story has been published on: 2023-12-28. To contact the author, please use the contact details within the article.
Students of a government senior secondary school in Bihars Bhagalpur on Wednesday held their teachers hostage after they did not get admit cards for the Class 10 board examination.

The incident occurred at Gandhi Inter School located at Goradih block in the district.

The agitated students assaulted the teachers and locked them in a classroom.

The principal incharge managed to flee from the spot.

The agitating students claimed that around 300 students who are expected to give the board examination next year but they did not receive admit cards so far. They claimed that around 150 students failed to give the examination last year due to the unavailability of admit cards and they do not want the same thing to happen this year too.

The teachers were rescued after a team of local police reached the spot. One of the teachers claimed that they have been given the job of teaching which they are doing and admit cards are released by the Bihar School Examination Board so they have nothing to do with it.

The teachers also said that they have conveyed this message to the higher authorities.
Students from numerous educational institutions in India took to the streets in 2023 to express their concerns, discontent, and demands. These protests represent a growing trend of involvement by students and emphasise the issues that the countrys young students deal with. There are several reasons for the dissatisfaction among students, such as social justice issues, academic various, and financial obstacles.

These student protests, ranging from cultural festival controversies to opposition towards national examinations and discontent with fellowship rises, show the variety of issues that students run into. A number of these demonstrations served as an effective case of how resilient the students were and provided them with a platform to discuss more significant concerns.

Lets take a look at significant events that have sparked student protests in the academic landscape.

Hindu College Cultural Fest Controversy

Hindu College, Delhi, became a focal point for student agitation when the college administrations decision to pull the plug on a cultural festival sparked protests among the student population. A standoff between the students and college officials resulted from the controversy surrounding the festivals sudden cancellation, which sparked concerns about the independence of student-run programmes on campus.

Medical Students Protest at Hamirpur

Medical students protested the abrupt announcement of the National Exit Test (NEXT) at Dr Radhakrishnan Government Medical College Hamirpur, Himachal Pradesh. The anger within the medical fraternity was evident, as students expressed their concerns about the lack of appropriate time to prepare for the exam and the possible impact on their academic preparation. The protests at Hamirpur lasted a week, emphasising the urgency and fervour of the students resistance.

JRF- SRF Fellowship Stipend Hike 2023

Students throughout India expressed discontent with the 19 per cent increase in the Junior Research Fellowship (JRF) and Senior Research Fellowship (SRF) stipends announced in June this year. The student protests brought to light the economic issues that research scholars experience, as well as the compelling need for a more substantial raise to safeguard their financial well-being. PhD students demanded that the fellowship stipend for Junior Research Fellowships (JRF), Senior Research Fellowships (SRF), and other three levels of research associates be boosted by at least 60 per cent.

Protests against alleged Harassment during IP College Fest

Students from IP College for Women (IPCW) in Delhi organised human chain marches to protest alleged incidents of campus harassment at a fest organised by the IP College for Women. Protests erupted outside of campus, with students calling for the resignation of IPCWs principal. The demonstrations were sparked by an overwhelming call for accountability and the resignation of the college principal after claims of negligence in dealing with harassment issues were raised.

JNUs Prohibition on Protests

Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU) restricted protests within 100 metres of academic buildings, a move that caused disagreement and strong resistance. This decision infuriated students, who perceived it as an infringement on their right to demonstrate. A student risks up to two months in hostel expulsion, a Rs 20,000 fine, and rustication if they are caught participating in a hunger strike, dharna, or any other sort of protest. Those seen obstructing the entry or exit of any of these facilities will face similar penalties. The change follows an incident at JNU in October in which an anti-national phrase was scrawled on the School of Languages building.
Karnataka Rakshana Vedike (KRV), a pro-Kannada activist group, is up in arms over the 60 per cent Kannada on signboard rule. Several members of the group have been arrested after their protest turned violent with protesters vandalising name boards of various shops.

Three FIRs were registered against KRV head Narayana Gowda, who was subsequently sent to judicial custody for 14 days. The complainants alleged that Gowda along with his outfit blocked highways and allegedly attacked police personnel during the protest held in Bengaluru on Wednesday.

One of the FIRs, naming 15 pro-Kannada activists, was filed at Bengalurus Cubbon Park police Station after they vandalised name boards on Lavelle road.

On Thursday, the outfit released a video message demanding release of Gowda and other pro-Kannada activists, threatening massive stir in Bengaluru if their demand isnt met.

We are issuing a warning. The innocent Kannada activists, who were arrested last night and sent to jail, must be released immediately. If the Kannada activists are not released, we are warning that we will start a massive stir in the whole of Bengaluru, Karnataka Rakshana Vedike activist Praveen Shetty said.

Condemning the arrest of Gowda and others, a group of pro-Kannada activists also staged a protest in Hassan district, blocking NH 75.

No Objection to Protest, Says Congress Government

 Karnataka chief minister Siddaramaiah held a high-level meeting on the issue on Thursday and said, We have no objection to protest by pro-Kannada activists. There is no issue at all with a fair demonstration, but those who take law and order in their hands need to be dealt sternly.

I will hold a meeting with the police and Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike (BBMP) officials regarding the Kannada nameboard rule implementation. We have no objection to other languages but in Karnataka there should be Kannada language on signages, the CM added.

Siddaramaiah further said, The previous government has made a law, Kannada Basha Samagra Abhivruddhi Adhiniyama. This law was formed on March 10, 2023, and was passed in both Houses. As per Section 17, Sub section 6 of the law, the signages of commercial establishments, industrial, hospitals, hotels, etc must have 50% Kannada language on it.

 Deputy CM DK Shivakumar reiterated Siddaramaiahs view. In democracy everyone can protest. But we cant tolerate taking law in ones hands. Im very disturbed with the vandalism. Protesters can ask the shop owners to implement the rule, we dont object to it. But they cant take law in their hands. We have to protect every citizen. They cant vandalise the shops.

Shivakumar further urged the shopkeepers to obey the order of the government and place 60% boards in Kannada. We are here to give you protection. We are bound to protect you, we will do it, he added.

 Shivaraj Tangadagi, minister for Kannada and culture, said on incidents of vandalism: Such incidents must not take place. I request pro-Kannada organisations that the government is with you and the government is thinking about your demands, I request them not to vandalise private or government properties.

Theres a plan to set up a task force to ensure the implementation of the rule. We are thinking about this and we will bring it to the notice of the CM and take a decision, Tangadagi added.

 Karnataka home minister G Parmeshwar came down heavily on pro-Kannada activists for indulging in vandalism. Bangalore has got its own image, what message are we giving to those people who come from outside to the state? Informing BBMP and govt was enough, why take law and order into own hands? he asked.

BJP Supports Pro-Kannada Activists

 Supporting the activists, senior BJP leader KS Eshwarappa asserted that the protesters had not done anything illegal to be arrested and must be released immediately.

The demand of Pro-Kannada organisations that those doing business in Karnataka must have boards in Kannada is correct, but why isnt the Karnataka government implementing this rule? The arrest of Narayana Gowda is wrong and he must be released. I urge the chief minister to release him, he has not done anything illegal, Eshwarappa added.

 Union minister and Karnataka MP Pralhad Joshi also backed the demand of 60% Kannada and asked why the establishments dont want Kannada signage. Everybody should be able to read the signs and not everyone can read English. What is the harm in writing in Kannada as well as in English or another language, like Hindi? This is not England, he said.

Reactions from Leading People in Business

 Biocon executive chairperson Kiran Mazumdar-Shaw alleged that the protesters are professional paid vandals.

This soft handed approach by Police is very troubling. These are professional paid vandals  its so obvious. @DKShivakumar please take action and keep our city safe @BPACofficial https://t.co/jOVY5R7Oy6 Kiran Mazumdar-Shaw (@kiranshaw) December 28, 2023

 RK Misra, co-chairman of ASSOCHAM-Karnataka and co-founder of Yulu, said, International press has also covered the violence. It affects not just Bangalores image but also whole of Indias. It was an attempt to divide people on the issue of language, it had political backing. He added, Everybody should learn the local language. It helps them.

In Fear, Traders Begin Changing Signboards

Traders associations and business bodies like FKCCI (Federation of Karnataka Chambers of Commerce and Industry) have also backed Kannada groups.

Many shops have started changing boards. Some have put up temporary boards to follow the law till permanent sign boards are ready.

What is 60% Kannada Rule?

According to BBMPs guideline, all commercial establishments will have to put up 60% signage in Kannada, which means more than half of a signboard should read in Kannada.

A deadline of February 28 has been given, failing which the shops will be closed and their trade licenses cancelled.

(With inputs from Akshara DM, Reethu M and Harish Upadhya in Bengaluru)
Ahead of Prime Minister Narendra Modis visit to Ayodhya on December 30, the streets in the temple town in Uttar Pradesh are being decorated with flowers to give the city a divine look.

On Thursday, strings of orange and yellow marigolds were being wrapped around ornamental lamp posts installed on the median of a redeveloped road stretch, now christened Ram Path.

These lamp posts carry design elements on top which depict religious symbols.

The decoration will be carried out on Friday as well as scores of workers drawn from different parts of the country toiled at Ram Katha Park to meticulously put together the flowers into artistic formations.

The designs used in making these decorations are inspired from the image of Lord Ram, his bow and arrow, Lord Hanuman, religious tilak, among other patterns.

Lalit Kumar Singh, a worker from Sitapur, who has been working on the floral decorations that will be used in various parts of the city, said, Ayodhya will bear a divine look on December 30.

I have made many decorative designs, including a floral image of Lord Ram holding his bow and arrow. It took 40-45 minutes and about 7-8 kg of flowers, he told PTI.

These items will be used for decoration along Ram Path, Dharm Path, at airport and at railway station, among other places.

A few hundreds of workers are doing the job and about 300 quintal of flowers have been brought from Kolkata, Delhi, Ghazipur and other places, he added.

On a dais of the Ram Katha Park, a group of workers were busy making floral patterns hung on wooden frames.

One design depicted a bow and arrow made using marigold and leaves, other depicted different aspects of Lord Rams life.

Flowers used are largely marigold, chrysanthemum, and also orchid and anthurium, another worker said.

Prime Minister Modi is slated to inaugurate an international airport and the redeveloped Ayodhya railway station on December 30.

To enhance accessibility to the upcoming Ram temple, he will also inaugurate four newly redeveloped, widened and beautified roads in Ayodhya, including Ram Path, the Prime Ministers Office (PMO) said in a statement on Thursday.

A grand Ram temple is currently under construction in Ayodhya, with the consecration ceremony to be held on January 22, which will be attended by the prime minister.

A massive crowd is expected to descend in Ayodhya close to the consecration ceremony on January 22 and the city is getting decked up for the big day.

A set of imposing sun-themed columns  Surya Stambhs  are being installed along a prominent street in the holy city.

Large posters bearing images of the upcoming Ram temple and the new airport and a message that hails Ayodhya as a city of Maryada, Dharm and Sanskriti have been put up in the temple town in Uttar Pradesh.
Police have registered a case against four persons, including two doctors, for allegedly cheating a woman doctor of Rs 1.54 crore under the pretext of arranging funds for a hospital in Thane district of Maharashtra, an official said on Thursday.

The victim and the accused were partners in a healthcare company.

In May 2021, the accused informed the victim that a hospital in Bhiwandi area which their company was managing was running into losses and asked her take a loan in her husbands name for managing operations of the medical facility.

The victim then took a loan of Rs 1,94,23,180 in her husbands name from a cooperative bank here and the sum was deposited into the account of the healthcare firm, the official from Bhiwandi taluka police station said quoting her complaint.

However, the accused allegedly misappropriated an amount of Rs 1,54,17,500 from it and utilised it for their benefits without the victims knowledge, the complaint mentioned.

Based on the complaint, the police on Monday registered a case against the four persons under Indian Penal Code sections 406 (criminal breach of trust), 420 (cheating) and 34 (common intention), the official said.

A probe was on into the case.
As per folklore, the city of Dwarka, where Lord Krishna resided, submerged under the ocean thousands of years ago. Ever since then, there has been no access to Lord Krishnas city.

However, now the Bhupendra Patel-led Gujarat government has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Mazagon Docks Ship Building yard to build tourist submarines for ferrying visitors to Lord Krishnas Dwarka city.

These submarines  with the capability of going upto 100 feet under water  will take tourists to Dwarka city.

According to sources, an official announcement on the project will be made at the upcoming Vibrant Gujarat Global Summit (VGGS) which is scheduled to take place on January 10, 2024, at Gandhinagar.

Mazagon Dock Shipbuilders Limited, which is a defence public sector undertaking, has so far made 28 warships, ranging from advanced destroyers to missile boats. It has also built seven submarines for Indian Navy.

Yes, we have signed an MoU with Gujarat government, this is to make tourist submarines. But, right now the discussion with the government is at MoU stage. We are awaiting order from there to further decide on what kind of submarine we will have to make, said Sanjeev Singhal, MD, Mazagon Docks Ship building yard.
The Government of India has officially requested Pakistan to extradite 26/11 Mumbai attacks mastermind Hafiz Saeed to India to stand trial in various cases registered by the National Investigation Agencies (NIA), top government sources told News18 on Thursday.

Sources told News18 that the document names Saeed as the accused in multiple NIA cases, including terror attacks and funding of terror groups in Kashmir. He is also indulging in anti-national and subversive activities in the Kashmir valley, an official told News18.

This is a Letter of Rotatory which Pakistan agencies have not replied to. We are awaiting a reply. We will follow up again, another official said.

Sources added that before any possibility of talks between India and Pakistan, the latter must comply with the extradition request.

A new political front of Hafiz Saeed has fielded candidates for most of the national and provincial Assembly constituencies across Pakistan for the February 8 general elections.

Saeed, the founder of Lashkar-e-Taiba, has been in jail since 2019 after being convicted for several years in multiple terror finance cases along with some other leaders of the banned Jamaat-ud-Dawa.

Saeed, a UN-designated terrorist on whom the US has placed a $10 million bounty, was arrested on July 2019 in the terror financing cases. Saeed-led JuD is the front organisation for the Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) which is responsible for carrying out the 2008 Mumbai attack that killed 166 people, including six Americans.

In 2017, Saeed was put under house arrest by Pakistani authorities and subsequently released after being cleared of charges against him, drawing strong criticism from Washington and New Delhi.

Back in 2022, Interpol Secretary General Jurgen Stock had said that the international police body cannot instruct member countries to take action against wanted terrorists  to arrest or extradite  as it is exclusively within the discretion of national authorities.
KERALA LOTTERY KARUNYA PLUS KN-502 RESULT ON THURSDAY, DECEMBER 28 LIVE UPDATES: The Kerala State Lottery Department has announced the results for Karunya Plus KN-502 lucky draw for Thursday, December 28. Check the district-wise full list of winning numbers below.

ALSO READ: Kerala Lottery Result Today LIVE: Sthree Sakthi SS-396 WINNERS for January 2, 2024; First Prize Rs 75 Lakh!

FULL LIST OF WINNING NUMBERS FOR KARUNYA PLUS KN-502

WINNING NUMBERS FOR CONSOLATION PRIZE WORTH RS 8,000 ARE

PA 919223

PC 919223

PD 919223

PE 919223

PF 919223

PG 919223

PH 919223

PJ 919223

PK 919223

PL 919223

PM 919223

WINNING NUMBER FOR 1ST PRIZE WORTH RS 80 LAKH IS PB 919223 (ADOOR)

Agent Name: RADHAKRISHNA PILLAI

Agency No.: H 2484

WINNING NUMBER FOR 2ND PRIZE WORTH RS 10 LAKH IS PJ 725119 (CHITTUR)

Agent Name: PRIYA M

Agency No.: P 6350

WINNING NUMBERS FOR 3RD PRIZE WORTH RS 1 LAKH ARE

PA 994080 (MANANTHAVADY)

PB 735855 (CHERTHALA)

PC 540593 (IRINJALAKUDA)

PD 316216 (PUNALUR)

PE 208258 (KANNUR)

PF 354164 (KOTTAYAM)

PG 415518 (KOTTAYAM)

PH 373485 (THRISSUR)

PJ 127723 (NEYYATTINKARA)

PK 940907 (VADAKARA)

PL 300529 (PATHANAMTHITTA)

PM 228247 (KOTTAYAM)

WINNING NUMBERS FOR 4TH PRIZE WORTH RS 5,000 ARE

0327 0851 0955 0972 1724

1906 1935 3222 3678 3723

3808 4356 5668 6696 7306

7977 8519 9308

WINNING NUMBERS FOR 5TH PRIZE WORTH RS 1,000 ARE

0019 0987 1228 1719 2130

2998 3301 3370 3567 3787

4267 4404 4429 4437 4541

4640 5739 6513 6683 6721

7179 7646 7735 8192 8504

8656 8666 8685 8771 8928

8999 9633 9900 9911

WINNING NUMBERS FOR 6TH PRIZE WORTH RS 500 ARE

0028 0134 0135 0162 0187

0224 0304 0343 0370 0379

0762 0764 0796 0924 1277

1329 1398 1425 1828 1914

2013 2036 2044 2323 2397

2580 2611 2614 2929 2999

3189 3204 3255 3338 3572

4040 4094 4358 4449 4479

4588 4678 4699 4706 4773

4812 4850 4919 5089 5112

5233 5415 5448 5512 5624

5967 6019 6280 6474 6622

6739 6851 7070 7089 7248

7339 7506 7698 8066 8087

8330 8765 8916 8933 9023

9076 9134 9474 9594 9833

WINNING NUMBERS FOR 7TH PRIZE WORTH RS 100 ARE

0044 0136 0216 0311 0358

0367 0414 0431 0652 0689

0784 0823 0833 0876 1004

1011 1047 1220 1248 1347

1382 1483 1551 1598 1632

1656 1743 1967 2049 2226

2259 2505 2522 2576 2617

2660 2665 2704 2709 2758

3016 3163 3201 3253 3321

3520 3664 3699 3700 3715

3765 3950 4069 4340 4396

4515 4543 4547 4731 4769

4770 4829 4898 4921 4950

5081 5288 5343 5355 5364

5411 5611 5665 5669 5708

5735 5849 5917 6039 6058

6126 6238 6252 6263 6330

6382 6447 6585 6646 6796

6850 6989 7005 7018 7115

7216 7316 7353 7429 7495

7532 7547 7598 7790 7865

7962 8128 8162 8199 8210

8253 8321 8368 8405 8433

8510 8555 8660 8677 8714

9142 9153 9276 9581 9800

9953

ALSO READ: Kerala Lottery Xmas New Year Bumper BR-95 Lucky Draw on January 24; First Prize Rs 20 Crore!

KARUNYA PLUS KN-498 LOTTERY: PRIZE STRUCTURE

1st Prize: Rs 80 Lakh

2nd Prize: Rs. 10 Lakh

3rd Prize: Rs. 1 Lakh

4th Prize: Rs. 5,000

5th Prize: Rs. 1,000

6th Prize: Rs. 500

7th Prize: Rs. 100

Consolation Prize: Rs. 8,000

ALSO READ: Shillong Teer Result TODAY, December 28 LIVE: Winning Numbers for Shillong Teer, Morning Teer, Juwai Teer, Khanapara Teer, Night Teer, & More

HOW TO CHECK KARUNYA PLUS KN-502 RESULTS?

Visit the official website of the Kerala Lottery Department at www.keralalottery.info to view the Kerala Karunya Plus KN-502 lottery results. You can also visit the Kerala Government Gazette office to check your ticket numbers with the declared draw results. It is recommended to rely on the official sources provided by the Kerala Lottery Department for accurate information.

HOW TO CLAIM YOUR PRIZE MONEY?

Individuals can cross-verify their ticket numbers with the winning numbers published in the Kerala Government Gazette. If the ticket number matches with the winning numbers, they are eligible for a prize. Winners must redeem their prizes at the Kerala lottery office in Thiruvananthapuram within 30 days from the date of the result announcement. During the prize claim process, it is important to show both the winning ticket and suitable identification proof for verification purposes.

Xmas New Year Bumper BR-95 Lucky Draw on January 24; First Prize Rs 20 Crore

The Kerala State Lottery Department will hold Xmas New Year Bumper BR-95 lucky draw on 24 January 2024. The winner of the first prize will get Rs 20 crore. You can try your luck by purchasing ticket worth just Rs 400 from an authorised agent in stae state.

The tickets will be available in 10 series  XA, XB, XC, XD, XE, XG, XH, XJ, XK, XL.

Xmas New Year Bumper BR-95 Lottery Prize Structure
Maratha quota activist Manoj Jarange said on Thursday that he and his supporters will reach Mumbai after passing through Ahmednagar, Pune, and Panvel in Raigad district near the metropolis.

Jarange, who undertook indefinite fasts in August-September and October-November, had given a deadline of December 24 to the Maharashtra government to give quota to their community.

Later, he said he would lead an indefinite hunger strike at Azad Maidan in south Mumbai.

The march will start from Antarwali Sarati in Jalna on January 20 and will pass through villages like Padalshingi, and Madalmoi and enter Nagpur from Matori. It will pass through Pathardi, Karanji Ghat, and Nagar and enter Pune district from Supa. It will proceed to Wagholi, Kharadi, Chandannagar and move towards Mumbai via Lonavala, Khandala, and Panvel, he said to reporters in a press conference.

Later, it will go to Azad Maidan from Vashi through Chembur. The vehicles that are coming with each unit (of marchers) should be equipped with necessities like food and shelter. There should be two volunteers from the vehicle that will look after the needs of the team walking towards Mumbai, he added.

Jarange emphasized that the march had to be peaceful and that anyone attempting to ruin the environment will be turned over to the police.

Jarange urged Mumbai residents to support there cause especially those who came from outside to participate in the quota movement and encouraged them to join in big numbers.

MARATHA QUOTA RESERVATION

Maharashtra is witnessing fresh agitation by the Maratha community demanding reservation. During the protests, the homes of two Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) MLAs- Sandeep Kshirsagar and Prakash Solanke and former minister Jay Kshirsagar were set on fire.

While the Marathas in the past have demanded reservation for the community in government jobs and education, Jarange is demanding Kumbi caste certificates for Marathas so that they can be included into the OBC groups.

The Maharashtra government, in order to pacify the Maratha community, announced it would provide Kunbi caste certificates to all Marathas from Marathwada who possess Nizam-era documents, which recognised them as Kunbis.

The Maharashtra Revenue Department has begun issuing Kunbi certificates to the Maratha community members with valid documents from today (October 31).

The other OBC groups have opposed the inclusion of Marathas in the OBC category for reservation benefits.

While the Marathas make up 32% of the states population, OBCs comprise 52% and are fragmented into 382 castes in the state.

(with PTI inputs)
The first case of the JN.1 sub-variant of the Covid-19 virus has been discovered in Delhi but health minister Saurabh Bharadwaj says there is no need to panic.

Listing the steps being taken by the government, Bharadwaj shared with News18 that people with co-morbidities should be careful and avoid crowded places.

Edited Excerpts:

While you said the JN.1 case has been discharged, there has been a surge in cases. How serious do you think the matter is?

There will be a surge in cases eventually across India. Some states may report it, some states may not report it. More or less, the immunity pattern in India is similar.

It [Covid-19] is being reported from southern India. The trend is that it usually travels to Mumbai, then the rest of Maharashtra and Delhi. We had our first confirmed case of JN.1, which is basically a sub-variant of Omicron, on Wednesday. It is a mild disease. You dont need to panic.

The first patient was in panic because it was a new variant. She got herself admitted to the hospital. Her SpO2 levels were good. She had mild sickness. She got discharged and is fine now.

This inspires confidence among Delhiites. So, I dont think you need to panic. But yes, you have to be careful. Someone with low immunity, co-morbidities should avoid crowded places. You should basically take care more of yourself.

Are we going to see more testing in Delhi or more surveillance? Would you consider making wearing masks mandatory?

We are calling experts again. We are going to take decisions on the advice of experts. I dont think there will be a situation when we need a lot of man-to-man marking and surveillance. I think this is a very mild sub-variant. But yes, we are prepared. We are prepared for other situations as well.

Do you see social distancing norms also back in place?

We are basically working on the advice of the central government and as soon as there are directions on this, we will take those steps.

You said that Delhi government is prepared. What preparations has the Delhi government made?

We have already done mock drills about the preparedness of Covid-19 in our hospitals. We know the oxygen availability, bed availability, medicine availability, and standard operating procedures to be followed in case a serious patient enters hospital. Due diligence has been done.

Changing track, Priyanka Gandhi Vadra has been named in the ED chargesheet and this is a first. She has not yet been named as an accused. But the fact that her name finds a mention actually marks a sort of diligence within the ED. How would you respond?

I think it has nothing to do with the ED or CBI. This is the Union government. I think the Centre has made a mockery of institutions. It is so easy. Look, political people meet thousands of people. Every day, I meet hundreds of people. So you have to pick up someone randomly, put him under PMLA. Once he is inside jail, you can pressure him to take any name to get out of prison. You just have to show a common location  that these two people were within the same mobile tower at one instance of time  which is so easy. You can make a story out of it. So, today you can prosecute, chargesheet anyone in the country in any case. It has become so easy.

So, you think there is no merit in the case?

I dont know. I have not seen the case. But this is the modus operandi. This is the trend of the times. So I dont think I need to waste time in understanding the story also. I know the basic story of the central government.

Yesterday, Congress held a meeting with its Delhi and Punjab leaders on seat sharing. How much space is AAP willing to give to the Congress?

I have no idea about it. I have no idea.

Delhi tableau has again not been accepted in the Republic Day Parade. This is the second time that Delhi has been rejected along with Punjab.

I think this is expected from the Union government. This is what we expect.
Indias successful Chandrayaan-3 mission to the moon cost around Rs 600 crore. Believe it or not, the Narendra Modi government could well have funded two such missions, by selling scrap like files, condemned office equipment and obsolete vehicles.

The latest government report says nearly Rs 1,163 crore have been earned by selling scrap since October 2021, including a whopping Rs 557 crore earned during a one-month-long campaign in October this year. The report says an astounding number of 96 lakh physical files have been weeded out in central government offices since October 2021 and nearly 355 lakh square feet of space has been freed in government offices in all. This has led to cleaned-up corridors in offices, utilisation of freed space as recreation centers and for other useful purposes.

The Russian moon mission, which was unsuccessful, cost Rs 16,000 crore, and our (Chandrayaan-3) mission cost just around Rs 600 crore. Hollywood films based on moon and space missions cost over Rs 600 crore, MoS Space, Jitendra Singh, had said earlier this year.

The Rs 1,163 crore revenue figure from the sale of scrap shows how big and important the government programme on cleanliness has been, with the push coming right from PM Narendra Modi. The Department of Administrative Reforms and Public Grievances has led this drive.

Who Earned Maximum Revenue?

Out of the Rs 556 crore earned by the government this year from selling scrap, nearly Rs 225 crore was earned by the Ministry of Railways alone. The other major earners were the Defence Ministry at Rs 168 crore, the Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas at Rs 56 crore and the Coal Ministry at Rs 34 crore. Out of the total space of 164 lakh square feet freed this year, the maximum space was freed in the Ministry of Coal at 66 lakh square feet and the Ministry of Heavy Industry at 21 lakh square feet, followed by the Defence Ministry at 19 lakh square feet, the report shows.

This year, nearly 24 lakh files were weeded out and the maximum was weeded out in the Ministry of External Affairs (3.9 lakh files) followed by the Department of Military Affairs (3.15 lakh files). The overall e-file adoption has grown to nearly 96% in the government due to the impact of the cleanliness campaign. Nearly 2.58 lakh office sites were covered in the campaign this year.

The Special Campaign 3.0 for institutionalizing swachhata (cleanliness) and reducing pendency represents Indias largest ever campaign for swachhata in office spaces. The month-long campaign conducted in 2,58,673 offices across India and abroad, resulted in freeing up 164 lac sq ft of office space, weeding of 24.07 lakh physical files and earned revenues of Rs 556.35 crore from disposal of office scrap, said V Srinivas, Secretary, DARPG.

The Special Campaign 3.0 was successful in significant reduction in pendency with Ministries/Departments achieving nearly 100 percent targets in redressal of public grievances, records management practices and replies to MP references. The Swachhata Assessment Report 2023 presents the leadership role played by the Council of Ministers, the Secretaries to GOI in successful implementation of Special Campaign 3.0 under the guidance of Prime Minister Modi, documenting the best practices and innovations. The swachhata campaign practices will be institutionalized in government with three hours per week being devoted for swachhata activities.
Indias longest sea bridge is likely to open for public in New Year, according to sources. The sea bridge, which connects Mumbai to Navi Mumbai, is already running behind its scheduled inauguration, which was last week of December.

Mumbai Metropolitan Regional Development Authority (MMRDA) is aiming to keep the inaugural function of the Mumbai Trans Harbour Link (MTHL) in January.

The sources also said the Maharashtra government may invite Prime Minister Narendra Modi for the inauguration of the sea link for which preparations are already underway. The bridge will be named after former prime minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee.

The 21.6-km-long bridge will significantly reduce the travel time between the mainland and the island city to just 20-25 minutes. MTHL is not just another sea link that will reduce the distance between Mumbai and Navi Mumbai but it will also get more land to Mumbai city. Mumbai is an island city known for South-North commute and transportation. With MTHL, East-West connectivity will improve, which will help get labour raw material from Navi Mumbai to Mumbai city quickly and save overall cost.

For building MTHL, Orthotropic Steel Deck has been used that enables a distance up to three times longer than normal between two piers, and is used in stretches that are navigational channels for large ships.

The authority received a lot of flak from the state opposition for not completing work in the time. By September, 96% of the sea bridge was completed but the remaining work took around three months.

The Eknath Shinde government is also waiting for the final confirmation from the Prime Ministers Office, the sources said.

Shiv Sena UBT leader and former cabinet minister Aaditya Thackeray has been criticising the MMRDA along with the state government for delaying the inauguration of the bridge for public. In his recent post on X (formerly Twitter), Thackeray said The BJP should focus on governance in Maharashtra instead of event management. The MTHL has been ready for over two months but the illegal regime has failed to find VIPs to inaugurate it and seek credit. Why wait for VIPs? Why not open the connector to lakhs of citizens who would benefit from it? This is an absolute mockery of us, citizens, and an insult to Maharashtra that the regime, isnt opening such crucial services and, keeps the state at the mercy of dates of VIPs.

In 2014, when the foundation of the project was laid, the estimated cost was Rs 11,000 crore, which rose to Rs 17,800 crore by 2023, a rise of 61.81% till its completion.
Nina Singh, a 1989-batch IPS officer of Rajasthan cadre, has become the first woman chief of the Central Industrial Security Force that provides security to airports across India as well as the Delhi Metro. Currently working as special DG, she has been appointed to the new post till her superannuation on July 31, 2024.

Singh will hold charge as the director general of the CISF and, before this, she was the DG of civil rights and anti-human trafficking cell. Not only this, she also became the first woman to hold the top police post in Rajasthan out of six DG-rank officers in the state police force.

The senior IPS officer was incharge of high-profile cases  Sheena Bora murder and Jiah Khan suicide cases  during her six-year stint at the Central Bureau of Investigation. According to a report published by NDTV, she holds a masters degree in public administration from the esteemed Harvard University in the US. She was awarded the Ati Utkrisht Seva Medal for professional excellence in 2020, the report stated.

Her work is mainly centred around women in distress and accessibility. She has co-authored two research papers with Nobel laureates Abhijit Banerjee and Esther Duflo and has also worked on a project for the Massachusetts Institute of Technology in 2005-2006 to make police stations more approachable, NDTV said.

Singh designed an outreach programme for the state womens commission in 2000, under which members would go from district to district to hold hearings for women in distress. She is married to IAS officer Rohit Kumar Singh, who is at present posted as the secretary of the consumer affairs ministry.

The central government has recently laid focus on giving women top jobs in the Central Armed Police Forces (CAPF). Singh will command a 1.76 lakh-strong force, which guards the Delhi Metro, civil airports, as well as sensitive aerospace and nuclear installations.

(With PTI inputs)
For the first time, the Enforcement Directorate has named Congress leader Priyanka Gandhi Vadra in the chargesheet over the alleged purchase and sale of five acres of land in Haryana. Gandhis husband and businessman Robert Vadra is also reportedly named in the probe agencys chargesheet, but neither is listed as accused in the case.

ED has filed the chargesheet against an NRI businessman CC Thampi and an Indian origin British national named Sumit Chadha.

The probe agency believes both Thampi and Chadha have helped fugitive arms dealer Sanjay Bhandari hide the proceeds of his crimes. Bhandari is accused of violating the Official Secrets Act, among other laws. He fled India for the UK in 2016.

EDs chargesheet has reportedly mentioned Gandhis role in purchasing agricultural land measuring 40 kanal (five acres) in Haryanas Faridabad from a Delhi-based real estate agent HL Pahwa in 2006 and sold the same land to him in February 2010.

According to the ED, in Faridabads Amipur village, a house was also allegedly purchased from Pahwa in Gandhis name in April 2006 and sold back to him at the same time as the land.

Pahwa was earlier under scanner for allegedly selling 40.8 acres of land in Amipur to Robert Vadra between 2005 and 2006 and buying it all back from him in December 2010. Pahwa is the same person who also sold land to CC Thampi.

ED has also named Robert Vadra in its earlier charge sheet related to the case as an alleged close aide of Thampi.

What did EDs Chargesheet say?

In the fresh chargesheet, it is mentioned that Pahwa was receiving cash out of the books for the acquisition of land. It was also noticed that Robert Vadra did not pay the entire sale consideration to Pahwa, the chargesheet said.

The ED investigation in this regard is still ongoing.

It is submitted that Robert Vadra incorporated entities with the names of Sky Light Hospitality Pvt Ltd and Sky Light Realty Pvt Ltd in India on November 1, 2007 and November 16, 2007, respectively.

The same has been downloaded from the website of the Ministry of Corporate Affairs. Whereas, an entity named Sky Lite Investment FZE in UAE was incorporated on April 1, 2009, with CC Thampi as its sole shareholder, mentions the chargesheet.

During the course of investigation of Thampi and his Indian entities in the case bearing no. T-3/219/HQ/2015 being investigation under the provisions of the Foreign Exchange Management Act, 1999 (FEMA) it has been found that Thampi purchased land 486 actes (approx.) from 2005 to 2008 in village Amipur in Haryanas Faridabad district through one HL Pahwa, Delhi NCR based real estate agent.

It is also mentioned in the charge sheet that Robert Vadra incorporated an entity in India with the name Blve Breeze Trading Pvt Ltd on November 1, 2007, which was later converted into LLP.

The email ID of the said entity has always remained as bivebreezetrading@zmall.com ic. when it was a Private Limited entity and later when it got converted into an LLP. The incorporation documents of the said entities were downloaded from the website of the Ministry of Corporate Affairs. It is the same email ID on which one Beena, employees of CC Thampi in Dubai used to communicate in connection with the property 12 Bryanston Square, London, mentions the charge sheet.

During the course of investigation in another PMLA case (bearing fo. ECIR/OG/HIU2018) being investigated against Robert Vadra, his entity Sky Light Hospitality Pvt Ltd, and others, it has been found that one Mahesh Nagar, resident of Delhi NCR, represented various entities of Robert Vadre at the time of purchase and sale of various pieces of land in Delhi-NCR and Bikaner, Rajasthan, it pointed.

In a statement, the ED on Tuesday also mentioned Robert Vadra in connection with the purchase of a property in London that is part of the probe.

Detailing the association between Vadra and Thampi, the charge sheet states, During the course of investigation in this case, it is found that a long and thick relationship exists between CC Thampi and Robert Vadra. Not only a personal/cordial bond but common and similar business interests are also found between them.

(With ANI Inputs)
In the case of eight Indians in the custody of Qatari authorities, the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) on Thursday said their sentences have been reduced by the court of appeal. They will now face jail terms the duration of which would vary depending on the charges against each individual.

The eight retired Indian Navy personnel, working for a defence services provider company in Qatar, were taken into custody by the authorities there in 2022. The Qatar court announced the death penalty for these men on October 26.

India had filed an appeal after eight individuals seven officers and one sailor were sentenced to death on spying charges in Qatar.

In a statement, the MEA said it will also continue to take up the matter with the Qatari authorities and it is in close touch with the legal team as well as the family members to decide on the next steps.

We have noted the verdict today of the Court of Appeal of Qatar in the Dahra Global case, in which the sentences have been reduced. The detailed judgement is awaited Our Ambassador to Qatar and other officials were present in the Court of Appeal today, along with the family members, the minister said.

We have stood by them since the beginning of the matter and we will continue to extend all consular and legal assistance. Due to the confidential and sensitive nature of proceedings of this case, it would not be appropriate to make any further comment at this juncture, it added.

Qatari Court Reduces Death Sentence of 8 Navy Veterans: Who Are These Decorated Officers, Training Specialists

Who Are 8 Ex-Indian Navy Personnel?

The former Indian Navy personnel have been identified as Captain Navtej Singh Gill, Captain Birendra Kumar Verma, Captain Saurabh Vasisht, Commander Amit Nagpal, Commander Purnendu Tiwari, Commander Sugunakar Pakala, Commander Sanjeev Gupta, and Sailor Ragesh. Among them are decorated officers who have commanded major Indian warships.

What Are Charges Against Them?

The eight former personnel of the Indian Navy, arrested in an alleged case of espionage, were given the death sentence by Qatars Court of First Instance in October. The Indian nationals, all employees of Doha-based Dahra Global, were taken into custody in August 2022. The charges against them were not made public by Qatari authorities.

Ruling Needs Confirmation From Constitutional Bench: Sources

Top government sources said this is a lower court judgement and needs confirmation from the constitutional bench.

We have hopes in relief in the Qatar death penalty case for Indians. This judgement is not confirmed. This is a lower court judgement and needs confirmation from the constitutional bench. We are going to appeal to the higher court and will place all evidence in support of Indians. We are hoping that this punishment will be mitigated, sources said.

We are also going to request Qatari authorities through back channels. All legal aid will be provided to all these Indians. Indian mission is already doing its job and we are hopeful that Qatar will take a compassionate view in this case, they added.
In a huge relief, a Qatari court commuted the death sentence of eight former Indian Navy personnel arrested in an alleged case of espionage in August 2022. The verdict comes as a diplomatic win for India, weeks after Prime Minister Narendra Modi met Emir of Qatar Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al-Thani on the sidelines of the COP28 summit.

We have noted the verdict today of the Court of Appeal of Qatar in the Dahra Global case, in which the sentences have been reduced, said the ministry of external affairs on Thursday.

The eight navy veterans  seven officers and one sailor  were working with Doha-based Al Dahra Global Technologies and were taken into custody in August 2022. While the charges against them were not made public by Qatari authorities, they were sentenced to death by Qatars Court of First Instance on October 26.

They were working with the Omani private defence consultancy, which provides training and other services to Qatars armed forces and security agencies, to help oversee the induction of Italian U212 stealth submarines into the Qatari Emiri Naval Force.

India had moved the Court of Appeal in Qatar against the death sentence last month. Our Ambassador to Qatar and other officials were present in the Court of Appeal today, along with the family members. We have stood by them since the beginning of the matter and we will continue to extend all consular and legal assistance. We will also continue to take up the matter with the Qatari authorities, the ministry said.

While a detailed judgment is awaited, the ministry said it is in close touch with the legal team as well as the family members to decide on the next steps. Due to the confidential and sensitive nature of proceedings of this case, it would not be appropriate to make any further comment at this juncture, the ministry said.

Here is a look at who the eight men are:
Several celebrities from film and television, industrialists, political leaders, sportspersons as well as seers, scholars, and prominent personalities from different fields have been invited for the consecration ceremony of the Ram temple in Ayodhya on January 22. While Prime Minister Narendra Modi is set to deliver a speech at the grand event, Uttar Pradesh chief minister Yogi Adityanath is overseeing the preparations for the long-awaited inauguration.

According to Ram Temple Trust general secretary Champat Rai, at least 4,000 saints and 2,200 other guests have been invited to the ceremony, including Tibetan spiritual head Dalai Lama, heads of major temples like Kashi Vishwanath, Vaishno Devi and representatives of religious and constitutional institutions.

The guest list will also comprise owners of large media houses and senior journalists, one representative each from 50 foreign countries, families of kar sevaks who died in the Ram Mandir movement. Invitations will also be going to painter Vasudev Kamat, ISRO director Nilesh Desai among others.

Here is a list of guests who have been invited:

FILM INDUSTRY

Amitabh Bachchan Madhuri Dixit Anupam Kher Akshay Kumar Rajinikanth Sanjay Leela Bhansali Alia Bhatt Ranbir Kapoor Sunny Deol Ajay Devgn Chiranjeevi Mohanlal Dhanush Rishab Shetty Prabhas Yash Tiger Shroff Ayushmann Khurrana Arun Govil and Deepika Chikhalia Topiwala (Ram and Sita in the 1987 series Ramayan)

INDUSTRY

Mukesh Ambani Anil Ambani Gautam Adani Ratan Tata

SPORTS

Sachin Tendulkar Virat Kohli

POLITICS

Mallikarjun Kharge Sonia Gandhi Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury Manmohan Singh HD Deve Gowda Communist Party of India (Marxist) LK Advani Murli Manohar Joshi

The Congress, however, has not divulged its stand on whether top party leaders will be attending the consecration ceremony, even as it said it was thankful for the invitations. Congress general secretary KC Venugopal said: You will know about the partys stand. You will know on January 22 about the participation. They have invited us, we are very much thankful to them for inviting us, let us (see).

OTHERS

Former litigant in the Ayodhya land dispute case, Iqbal Ansari also received an invitation to the Pranpratishtha ceremony. On behalf of Shri Ram Janmbhoomi Teerth Kshetra, workers of RSS handed him the invitation card on Friday.

Those not attending or left out of invitees list

NCP president Sharad Pawar said he has not been invited to the inauguration of the Ram temple in Ayodhya and targeted the BJP saying it was difficult to understand if the party was using the issue for political or commercial purposes.

Dont know if it (BJP) is using the issue for political or commercial purposes. We are happy that the temple is coming up for which many have contributed, Pawar said.

While the CPI(M) has been invited, its general secretary Sitaram Yechury declined it while underlining the belief that religion is a personal choice. Our policy is to respect religious beliefs and the right of each individual to pursue their belief. Religion is a personal choice not to be converted into an instrument for political gain. Comrade Sitaram Yechury will not attend the ceremony despite receiving an invitation to do so, the CPI (Marxist) said in a post on X.

In a statement, the politburo of the Left party said Yechury received an invitation to attend the inauguration ceremony. The CPI(M) policy has been to respect religious beliefs and safeguard the right of every individual to pursue their belief. It believes that religion is a personal choice not to be converted into an instrument for political gain. Therefore, we will not be attending the ceremony, the party said.

It added that it is most unfortunate that the BJP and the RSS have converted a religious ceremony into a state-sponsored event directly involving the prime minister, Uttar Pradesh CM and other government functionaries.

Congress MP Shashi Tharoor said he would love to visit the Ram temple in his own private time but had not received an invitation to attend the consecration ceremony. Was interrogated by the waiting press, wanting to know if I would be going to Ayodhya. I told them I hadnt been invited but I saw religion as a personal attribute and not one for political (mis)use, he said in a post on X.

After the Left parties declined an invitation to attend the Ram temple inauguration, West Bengal chief minister Mamata Banerjee is also likely to give it a miss and may not send a TMC representative to the ceremony. Sources said she is wary of being associated with the BJPs political narrative. But, the TMC has yet to officially announce its decision.

Shiv Sena (UBT) leader Sanjay Raut also said there was no need for an invitation to party chief Uddhav Thackeray to visit Ayodhya for the consecration ceremony. He did not, however, clarify whether the Thackerays had received an invite.

There is no need for Uddhav Thackeray to be invited to Ayodhya. We are in Ayodhya before you (the BJP), Raut said when asked if Thackeray was invited.

(With PTI inputs)
It is almost the end of December, but minimum temperatures across large parts of Northwest India are still a few degrees above-normal. Even though a thick blanket of fog has descended on the region, the winters are mild and far from what they normally used to be at this time of the year.

The fog is likely to get denser Wednesday onwards starting from Punjab, Uttar Pradesh and stretching up to extreme north Madhya Pradesh till December 31. The visibility in some parts of Punjab has dropped to 0 metres during night, and less than 50 metres at Indira Gandhi International Airport in Delhi.
A yoga teacher from Madhya Pradeshs Gwalior was found hanging in China under mysterious circumstances. As per various reports, the teacher, identified as Prabal Kushwah, was found hanging almost a week ago following a fight over a financial dispute with the owner of the institute where he used to teach yoga.

While the Chinese officials are considering it a suicide case, the deceaseds family claimed foul play behind Prabals death and suspected the involvement a Chinese woman and her Indian companion. The family has alleged that Prabal was murdered by his colleagues.

Prabal last communicated with his family via video call on December 20 and after that, his phone became unreachable, reported Times of India. His parents tried to contact his female acquaintances in China, who they knew as Su-Chin and Miss Rosie, but there was no response from them.

Following this, Prabals parents contacted the Embassy to gather information about him only to learn that their son was no more.

Prabal came in contact with the Chinese woman and an Indian named Rosie while pursuing a diploma in yoga course in Bengaluru. He was later offered a job at a yoga centre in Beijing, following which he left for China in February last year.

It has been learnt that Prabals parents have sought assistance from Indian Embassy to bring his body home from China. However, they were told that the process may take 40-45 days.

Prabals father Surendra Kushwaha reached out to Civil Aviation Minister Jyotiraditya Scindia to intervene in the matter and help him bring his sons body to India.
The year 2023 has been a year of significant pop-culture moments. From films to fashion, this year was a happening one. When it comes to fashion, 2023 constituted a diverse array of trends that were influenced by the changing seasons and were a blend of emotions, cultures and history. As 2023 comes to an end, let us take a look at the fashion trends that could become the new fashion goals next year for men and women.

Goes without saying that someones fashion style depends on their taste and even the affordability of clothing. Styling it according to your liking and choices is the new norm.

The co-founder of ICH NEXT, Kanika Vohra said in an interview, Yesteryear styles such as Aba Kurtas, cuffed Kaftans, the Jeliga, mixed-match kutch embroideries and Pakistani yokes expect a revival this season. She added that for women these trends can be seen in Oriental florals, Persian Isfahan and Abadeh, and the adinkra patterns of Africa. The men could likely sport Oriental architecture, Tribal motifs and monumental rugs in the coming year.

Vohra suggested some colours that could be in trend during this festive season and stated, Saturated tones of berry and purple set against rustic colours like ginger and almond with hints of zari are going to be the vogue for the festive season. Speaking further, she mentioned colours like raw pepper, turmeric, ragi brown, earthen silver, azurite, peach quartz and mitti red, which are likely to be the hot topic the next year.

According to the founder and designer of the label Ashima Leena, Leena Singh, the new year will be free of fashion policing. She said that people want to look different from the trendy crowd, and to achieve that they will dress up according to their style. Giving the example of a saree drape, she added that styling it in different styles is a trend in itself, that does not follow a certain draping method.
A significant portion of our daily activities revolves around a single Google search, influencing decisions from where to eat to exploring the latest trends. To capture the essence of the year, the search engine annually compiles a list of the most searched topics across various themes in its special Year In Search report. The recently released 2023 report highlighted everything that India searched for throughout the year. Notably, the top 10 most searched recipes in the country showcased a mix of festive recipes and timeless classics, reflecting the diverse culinary interests of users.

Here are the Top 10 Most Searched Recipes of 2023-
Dear BTS ARMY, secure your light sticks and prepare the tissue box because the countdown for Jins return has officially begun! This isnt just any comeback; it is a musical return. According to reports, the eldest member of the sensational South Korean band BTS is set to bring his solo album soon. Despite being away, Kim Seok-jin, known as Jin is trying to ensure our playlists remain active. His 2024 comeback is poised to shatter streaming records. Daishin Securities, a Korean news outlet, recently published an article discussing HYBEs market standing after the septets military enlistment.

The research company believes that the company wont face any damages in the upcoming year as BTS members are expected to continue releasing new music. According to their research, BTS plans to drop more than three solo albums in 2024. These include two solo albums from recently enlisted members, namely the groups leader RM, V, Jimin, and Jungkook.

Adding to the much anticipated musical extravaganza is the debut solo album of BTSs eldest member, Jin who is anticipated to be discharged from the military in June 2024.

KSJ1 COMING SOON pic.twitter.com/5AEzw6Ox4R JIN UPDATES (@seokjin_updates) December 28, 2023

Korean news outlets are reportedly describing Jins upcoming album as the first sign of the K-pop renaissance, marking the beginning of the members return and resumption of activities. Its an understatement to say that the level of anticipation is difficult to contain.

Lim Soo-jin, a researcher at Daishin Securities shared HYBE LABELS plans while the BTS members are serving in the military. BTS mentioned the plans they had prepared to minimise the period of military service in their communication with fans before enlistment, he said. He further informed that contrary to the initial concerns, next years album performance will have a minimal impact on the period of military service.

However, an official announcement by BIGHIT MUSIC or HYBE LABELS about Jins album is still awaited.

ARMYs speculations surrounding the albums concept and tracklist increase, given Jins reputation for a versatile discography. Having delivered emotionally charged performances like Epiphany and breaking records with the meme-worthy Super Tuna, the excitement for the new year following the announcement of Jins solo album is very high.

Having enlisted for mandatory military service in December 2022, Jin was the first among all BTS members to start on this journey. Recently promoted to corporal due to his exceptional performance, he is slated for discharge from national service on June 12, 2024. The stage is set, the countdown continues, and BTS ARMY eagerly awaits the musical homecoming of their beloved artist.
Actor and Desiya Murpokku Dravida Kazhagam (DMDK) leader, Captain Vijayakanth, passed away at 71 in a private hospital in Chennai. The hospital confirmed his demise, stating that he had been on ventilator support due to pneumonia post his COVID-19 diagnosis. The news of Vijayakanths death led his fans and associates to mourn the loss and paid heartfelt tributes. Among those paying homage was Debina Bonnerjee, who shared her condolences on Instagram. For those not aware, Vijayakanth, was her first Tamil film co-star in the 2006 movie Perarasu. Debina shared several photos and videos with the late actor and remembered her time working with him, feeling proud of her first movie together.

Sharing her experience, the Ramayan actress wrote, My first ever Tamil hero. What an experience to work with Sir in my first Tamil film Perarasu. Already a superstar Captain is what we all called him as. Hes the one who kind of taught me punctuality and humanity. Always felt proud to do this film with Superstar Vijayakanth. Sad on hearing of his sudden demise. May your soul rest in peace, you were and will always be remembered for all the beautiful times and wise words truly a great leader. My condolences to all his close ones, fans and family.

View this post on Instagram A post shared by Debina Bonnerjee (@debinabon)

Apart from Vijayakanth and Debina Bonnerjee, Perarasu also stars Prakash Raj, Sarath Babu, Anandaraj, and Pandiarajan. Directed by Udhayan, the movie is an investigative thriller featuring CBI officer Kasi Viswanathan tasked with searching for the disappearance of Judge Sadhasivam. As the investigation progresses, Kasi comes to know that three corrupt policemen are behind the disappearance. However, the situation takes a dramatic turn when these individuals are murdered, connecting Kasi to the crimes.

As per reports, the late actor was hospitalized on Tuesday for a routine health examination. At that time, the DMDK party assured that Vijayakanth was in good health and would return home post-examinations. On the other hand, the hospitals report indicated the presence of pneumonia. Earlier, on November 20, the DMDK leader was admitted to the hospital for treatment related to a respiratory issue.

Vijayakanth established the Desiya Murpokku Dravida Kazhagam (DMDK) in September 2005 and later held the position of Leader of Opposition in the Tamil Nadu Legislative Assembly from May 2011 to February 2016. During his tenure, he served as a Member of the Legislative Assembly (MLA) twice, representing the Virudhachalam and Rishivandiyam constituencies. Before entering politics, he had a remarkable career in the Tamil film industry, as he was featured in 154 movies. Some of his films include Vaidhegi Kaathirunthaal, Amman Kovil Kizhakale, Cooliekkaran, Poonthotta Kaavalkaaran, Senthoora Poove and Captain Prabhakaran.
The head of the district police force that investigated South Korean actor Lee Sun-kyun over allegations of illegal drug use on Thursday defended the tough questioning of him before he was found dead.

Incheon Metropolitan Police Chief Kim Hui-jung told a news briefing the entire process was justified and done with Lees consent. He expressed deep regret over his death and offered his condolences to his family.

Lee, 48, who played the wealthy patriarch in the Oscar-winning film Parasite, died on Wednesday. His death brought an outpouring of sympathy from the film industry and the public alike as well as questions over the apparently harsh and public nature of the probe that fuelled media coverage delving into Lees private life.

Kim said the questioning over Lees three appearances, including a final one that went on all night, was necessary to hear his side and was done in the presence of his lawyer. The investigation of the deceased was conducted based on specific reports, testimony and evidence and under legally prescribed procedures, he said.

Lee had denied he knowingly took illegal drugs and said he was tricked into doing so by a bar hostess who was trying to blackmail him, local news media reported before his death.

The Parasite actor made three highly public appearances before police since October, the last time for 19 hours overnight, leaving the police station on Christmas Eve. He declined to answer questions from reporters about the charges against him but said he was fully cooperating with the investigation.

He was found dead in a car at a park in Seoul after being reported missing.

Former South Korean President Moon Jae-in, who was a human rights lawyer before entering politics, was among those who criticised police practice and sensational media reporting of the case. The practice that does huge damage to someones honour and character, such as excessively putting them at a media photoline, and pushes them to take the extreme choice must now end, Moon said on Facebook.

Film industry colleagues visited the memorial set up at Lees wake, including Parasite director Bong Joon-ho and the Netflix hit series Squid Game actor Lee Jung-jae.

Incheon police had earlier questioned K-pop star G-Dragon over suspicion of illegal drug use but dropped the case without charging him.

The probe comes as part of a crackdown by the government of conservative President Yoon Suk Yeol, who called it a war on drugs.

There has been a string of high-profile arrests, including business conglomerate heirs and celebrities, under the countrys tough drug laws, which punishes those found guilty of abusing drugs as well as drug dealing by up to 14 years in prison.
Director Sajid Khan issued a video statement on Thursday, December 28 to clarify that he is alive. This comes a day after the death of actor Sajid Khan, who played the younger version of Sunil Dutts Birju in the superhit film Mother India. Following the actors death, some people confused him with director Sajid.

In the video statement that the Housefull director shared on his Instagram handle, he stated that he is alive and revealed that the actor who passed away was 20 years older than him. Mother India film released in 1957, and the child actor who played Sunil Dutts younger version was Sajid Khan. He was born in 1951, I was born 20 years after that. He has passed away, however, some irresponsible media people have used my photo with the news, Sajid said in Hindi.

The filmmaker further shared that a lot of people have been messaging and calling him to check if he is alive or not. To main haath jodke request karta hu media walon se aur doston se, fans se jitne bhi duniya bhar me mujhe iss waqt dekh rahe hain. I am alive. And may that Sajid Khans soul genuinely rest in peace. (I request media, fans, friends, and everyone watching this video- I am alive), he added.

View this post on Instagram A post shared by Sajid Khan (@aslisajidkhan)

Director Sajid Khan is Farah Khans brother. He has directed several films including Heyy Babyy, Housefull, Housefull 2, Himmatwala and Humshakals. He was last seen in Bigg Boss 16.

On the other hand, actor Sajid Khan worked in movies like Maya, The Singing Filipina, The Unmade Films, My Funny Girl, Savera, Mahatma and the Mad Boy, Zindagi Aur Toofan, Mandir Masjid, Dahshat and Do Number Ke Ameer. He passed away on December 27 following a battle with cancer. My father was adopted by Rajkumar Pitamber Rana and Sunita Pitamber and fostered by filmmaker Mehboob Khan. He was not active in films for a while and was mostly involved in philanthropy. He used to come to Kerala quite often and he liked it here, remarried, and settled here, the actors son Sameer told PTI.
Sharmila Tagore revealed she was diagnosed with cancer. However, she chose to refrain from sharing much details about it. Sharmila made the shocking reveal when she appeared on Koffee With Karan 8. The veteran actress was on the show with her son, actor Saif Ali Khan. During the episode, Karan revealed he had offered Sharmila the role of Alia Bhatts grandmother. The character was eventually played by Shabana Azmi. It was during this chat that Sharmila revealed she battled cancer.

I had offered Sharmila ji the part played by Shabana Azmi in Rocky Aur Rani Kii Prem Kahaani. She was my very first choice. Due to health reasons at that time, she couldnt say yes but it is a regret I have, Karan Johar told Saif Ali Khan and Sharmila Tagore.

The veteran actress replied, This is at the height of Covid. They hadnt really grappled with Covid at that time. They didnt know the vaccine We were not vaccinated. You know, after my cancer. So, they didnt want me to take that risk. This is the first time Sharmila mentioned her battle with cancer.

Meanwhile, Rocky Aur Rani Kii Prem Kahaani was predominantly shot during the Covid-19 wave. Although Sharmila couldnt be a part of the film, she met Shabana when she was in Delhi. At the time, Shabana took to her Instagram and shared a photo with Sharmila. So happy to meet up with #Sharmila Tagore in Delhi, she captioned the photo.

Sharmila moved base to New Delhi and has been living at the Pataudi Palace. Saif Ali Khan, Kareena Kapoor and Soha Ali Khan often visit her and spend time at the family home. Recently, the family celebrated Taimur Ali Khans birthday at the Pataudi Palace.

Koffee With Karan 8 streams on Disney+ Hotstar.
2023 has been a rather significant year for Tara Sutaria. She might have made her film debut with Student Of The Year 2 but it was Apurva, her first solo-led film, that propelled her to critical acclaim and helped change the industry and the audiences perception about her from being a glamorous star to a notable actor. On the personal front, Tara has also been in headlines in the past few months for her break-up with Aadar Jain.

In an exclusive chat with News18 Showsha, she looks back at the year gone by and says, There has been lots of learning and newness with Apurva releasing, which is the first film I headlined. Its been a really special time in my life. There has been lots of ups throughout the year and some painful lows too. It has been an interesting process and journey for me, personally and professionally.

Taras gritty performance in Apurva also grabbed the attention of several of her contemporaries and filmmakers like Arjun Kapoor, Kartik Aaryan, Mukesh Chhabra and Punit Malhotra, who took to social media to laud her. Talking about how she has always sought this kind of a feedback from the fraternity, she shares, There are so many messages and calls Ive received from people from the industry and outside that have been extremely touching for me. Its something that Ive been really looking forward to. Since Ive been waiting for it for a very long time, it feels like things are finally falling into place.

And has that helped instill self-confidence? When it comes to validation and confidence, I always had that in myself. I just needed the right project and opportunity to showcase the skill set that I always had, Tara asserts candidly.

For the 28-year-old, 2023 taught her that perception matters and the shift in it is a key part of this business and profession. But shes quick to add that its unfortunate people never really could look at her acting prowess beneath the image shes known for. I didnt know this earlier. Its unfortunate because this is who Ive been all along but people havent been able to tap into it or see me in this sort of space as a performer and actor. Im grateful that its happening now. This is my sixth film and Ive a long way to go.

So, is she noticing a change in the kind of scripts coming her way? The film has already opened so many doors in terms of the possibility of more projects in this space that doesnt put me in a box. Theres a huge conversation thats happening among so many people in the industry which makes me very happy. The kind of scripts and narratives that Im getting now are exactly the sort of things that I was looking forward to, states the Marjaavaan and Ek Villain Returns actor.
Katrina Kaif and Vijay Sethupathi will soon be seen sharing the screen space together in Merry Christmas. Helmed by Sriram Raghavan, the one-of-a-kind thriller is all set to release on January 12, 2024. Ahead of the same, Katrina revealed that Vijay did not talk to her during the films shoot. Vijay was quick enough to respond and shared that he was afraid of her.

In conversation with Pinkvilla, Katrina while discussing about the film, shared,z I have to tell you something, you probably dont know, a lot of people here. Vijay sir is very philosophical and hes very very wise. Hes not a big conversationalist, at least on the film.

Katrina then also added that Varun Dhawan told her, I came to know later that Sriram sir had possibly told people that they shouldnt talk too much to me on set. Varun Dhawan told this to me. He was asking what its like working with Sriram sir. I was like, Hes amazing, his world is amazing but nobody talks much to me on set. I was questioning myself. He said, Dont worry, hes told everyone not to talk to you. I dont know if thats true.

Sriram immediately said, I dont think so. Vijay then added, No, no, it was not like that. Im afraid of you, thats why I didnt talk. Im new to this industry and shes well experienced and shes a big star here.

The trailer of Merry Christmas begins with a montage of various clips. On Christmas Eve, Katrina encounters Vijay Sethupathi and playfully questions whether he is single or if he discreetly removed his wedding ring upon seeing her. Soon, they head to her residence, and events take an unexpected turn. She requests him to stay, hinting that appearances can be deceiving. The narrative unfolds over the course of one night in what looks like an intriguing and suspenseful dark thriller.

Katrina recently attended the Red Sea Film Festival in Jeddah and said that her next film, Merry Christmas, is the most challenging film of her career yet. She said that working with director Sriram Raghavan had been a goal of hers. Katrina also added that her character in the film needed some emotional and artistic investment from her. Katrina also spoke about working with Vijay Sethupathi and said that she found him to be phenomenal and expressed her admiration for watching him switch between Hindi and Tamil languages.

The film also stars Sanjay Kapoor, Vinay Pathak, Pratima Kannan, Tinnu Anand, Radhika Sarathkumar, Shanmugaraja, Kevin Jay Babu, Rajesh Williams, and Pari. Ashwini Kalsekar and Radhika Apte will also be seen in cameos in the film. Merry Christmas is produced by Ramesh Taurani, Jaya Taurani, Sanjay Routray and Kewal Garg.
A big theme of 2023 was Indias emergence as Vishwa Mitra, hosting the G20 conclave and facilitating the entry of the African Union into the body. 2023 witnessed Indias emergence as a champion of the Global South, and a nation which regularly voices the developing worlds concerns.

In diplomacy, one must, as a prerequisite, take a long-term view of things. Building inter-continental partnerships that stand the test of time often takes time and money. It is crucial, therefore, for countries to have a great appetite for patience when looking to expand their influence beyond their own borders. India recognises the importance of forging international partnerships with like-minded nations and even entire continents. It is viewed as a player that does not have expansionist proclivities at the centre of its diplomacy.

India is not offering mere lip service. It is backing its talk of aiding the Global South by making significant investments in Africa and Asia. Lines of credit offered by India are having an especially transformative impact on how India is viewed by the collective Global South.

The External Affairs Ministry has informed that India has so far offered 308 lines of credit (LOC), worth about $32.02 billion, to various partners in Asia and Africa. MoS V. Muraleedharan says that these funds have supported more than 600 development projects in sectors such as infrastructure, power, connectivity and health across countries of the Global South. About $17.06 billion has gone to countries in Asia, $12.15 billion to those in Africa and $2.81 billion to countries elsewhere. In Asia, New Delhis Neighbourhood First policy remains at play, as is evident from the grant assistance projects with countries such as Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Maldives, Myanmar, Nepal, Sri Lanka and Bhutan.

These include the construction of the India-Bangladesh Friendship Pipeline (IBFP), the India-Nepal cross-border Jaynagar-Bardibas rail link, restoration of the Thiruketheeswaram temple in Sri Lankas Mannar, the Afghan-India Friendship Dam, power substations at Doshi and Charikar in Afghanistan, among others.

The case of Sri Lanka stands out in particular. India rushed to the crisis-hit island nations rescue when much of the world, including China, remained non-committal to help it. For example, at the height of the financial and economic crisis in Sri Lanka, India swiftly extended a lifeline to the country with assistance of over $4 billion, surpassing even the International Monetary Funds 48-month bailout of about $3 billion.

Military-to-military ties between the two sides also witnessed a fillip, as many Indian naval ships, including the INS Batti Malv, INS Nireekshak, and INS Delhi docked at Sri Lankan ports throughout 2023. In a big win for India, Colombo has also placed a one-year moratorium on allowing foreign vessels to conduct research in its territorial waters  a move aimed at keeping Chinese surveillance ships out of the region.

Importantly, between 2014 and 2020, Indias LOC to its neighbours had increased fourfold, going from $3.27 billion to $14.7 billion. The largest concessional credit given by India to a country has been to Bangladesh, worth about $8 billion.

India: A Force of Good in Africa

Apart from its immediate neighbours in the Indian subcontinent, perhaps no continent is as important to New Delhis growing diplomatic and economic heft like Africa. The highlight of Indias G20 presidency will always remain the inclusion of the African Union into the powerful group. Importantly, it was India that did all the diplomatic heavy-lifting to ensure that the African Union be granted membership to G20 in a timeframe that, for the lack of a better word, can be called tight.

Africa now figures most prominently in Indias outreach to the Global South. While trade ties between the African Union and India are definitely witnessing an upswing, it is Indias developmental push in the continent that is making a lot of difference. India is being viewed as a country that does not seek to burden nations with debt, but actually wishes to be a partner in their upliftment.

Also Read: Indias Gati Shakti Masterplan to Go Global, Pioneering New Era in International Infrastructure Development

The relationship between India and Africa has always been special. Sample this: since the 1960s, Indias prime ministers have visited Africa 76 times. No other country in the world, and neither any of Africas other big partners can boast of such a shining record in high-level engagements. Between 2015 and 2022 alone, India hosted over 100 African leaders.

Today, India is Africas third largest trading partner after the European Union and China. Trade between both the sides has risen 18 per cent since 2003, and has reached $103 billion this year. Indian products now represent 6.3 per cent of Africas total imports. India is also the second largest lender in Africa. 42 African nations received about $12 billion or 38 per cent of all credit extended by India in the last 10 years. Meanwhile, total Indian investments in Africa stand at about $70 billion, with the goal being to take the figure past the $150 billion mark by 2030.

India has emerged as a pioneer in the world of digital public infrastructure. Therefore, it is no surprise that today, Africas largest digital project, the Pan African e-Network, is connecting 54 African countries to India in order for them to gain expertise in telecommunications, medicine, health, resource mapping and digital governance. Meanwhile, in an important move that will accelerate financial inclusion across Africa, the Indian government this year decided to contribute $2 million to the Africa Digital Financial Inclusion Facility (ADFI), managed by the African Development Bank.

The primary tool for India to invest internationally is the Exim Bank, which is a wholly-owned subsidiary of the Indian government. The Exim Bank has devoted a staggering 50 per cent of its international financing, technical assistance, and trade promotion schemes to Africa.

Importantly also, over the past nine years, India opened 25 new embassies and consulates across the world, and 18 of these were in Africa alone. That makes Indias diplomatic expansion in the African continent quite visible. It represents a resolve on New Delhis part to become a major player in Africa, while also challenging powers that have only their vested interests at heart and are looking to exploit the continents resources.

2023 was a year in which India doubled down on its efforts to become a trusted military and defence partner of Africa. In March, India hosted the India-Africa Army Chiefs Conclave and the Africa-India Field Training Exercise, during which potential defence equipment, products and services deals remained a key talking point. Defence Minister Rajnath Singh confidently told African representatives that the Indian defence industry can work with you to fulfil your defence requirements. And over the past four months, the Indian Navys INS Sumedha has been travelling along the African coast and taking part in maritime exercises. The deployment has helped enhance interoperability with African navies in the Indian Ocean Region.

On the renewable energy front, Indias role has assumed significance globally. By founding the International Solar Alliance, of which 44 African nations are a part, Indias National Thermal Power Corporation has been able to secure contracts to develop solar parks in Mali and Togo. Additionally, India is also looking to invest in Sudan, Mozambique, Gambia, Malawi, and other African countries. Also, in 2021, the Indian government pledged $2 billion in concessional credit for solar energy projects in Africa.

India is driven by a desire to aid Africa in its development journey. A stronger Africa will, in turn, help India ensure freedom of movement in the Indian Ocean Region and counter the nefarious designs of certain hostile powers, who in Africa have earned a reputation for engaging in blatant debt-trapping. Having a robust relationship with African nations will also play a crucial role in India getting a permanent seat at the United Nations Security Council. Africa, being resource-rich as it is, can also help Indias energy interests.

Together, India and Africa can be a force for global good and set an example on how relationships built on mutual respect can be a catalysing factor in an entire continents development.

Views expressed in the above piece are personal and solely that of the author. They do not necessarily reflect News18s views.
Just as 2024 ushers in, the Grand Old Party is busy packing, shifting from 24, Akbar Road to Deen Dayal Upadhyay Marg amid uncertainty and a sense of despondency in a year of the Lok Sabha polls. Many moons ago, it was another first day of the year in 1978 when Shoban Singh and 20 other employees of the All India Congress Committee had followed the footsteps of former Indian Prime Minister Indira Gandhi, entering the portals of 24, Akbar Road.

That was a testing time for Indira and the Congress. She had not only lost all her powers; she had also lost the official residence and the party office. A Type VII bungalow in Lutyens Delhi, 24, Akbar Road belonged to G. Venkatswamy, a Rajya Sabha member of parliament (MP) from Andhra Pradesh. Venkatswamy was one of the very few who had chosen to side with Indira Gandhi at a time when most Congress leaders had distanced themselves from her, fearing that proximity to her would invite retaliation from the ruling Janata Party.

24, Akbar Road was chosen as the new official Congress headquarters. For the next four and a half decades, 24, Akbar Road proved quite lucky for the Congress, though it might not have seemed so then, considering the state of shambles the building was in, at the time.

The advantage of the house has been that it has a wicket gate link linking it to 10, Janpath, which, in 1978 was the office of the Indian Youth Congress and adda of Sanjay Gandhi and is now the home of Sonia Gandhi whose control over the party has been far more pronounced and longer than Sanjay. For over 45 years, 10, Janpath and 24, Akbar Road forged a formidable link, bringing fame, fortune, success and eventual leadership to the Congress.

In 2023, the Congress has been uneasy and reluctant to shift to the new party office. Allergic to change, it has been dragging its feet since December 28, 2009, when the party celebrated its 125th foundation day and the anniversary function was held at Indira Gandhi Bhavan at Deen Dayal Upadhyay Marg. Mallikarjun Kharge, the 88th president of the AICC wanted to shift to the new premises on December 28, 2023, which marked the 139th foundation day. But the old timers and time servers shelved the move pointing to the ongoing inauspicious period of malmas, which would supposedly end on January 14, 2024, and in purely astrological terms, astral directions would become conducive.

The new Congress office, Indira Bhawan is on the corner of Kotla Road and Deen Dayal Upadhyay Marg. But the Gandhis, reluctant to have the name of its headquarters associated with that of Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) ideologue Deendayal Upadhyaya, have decided to have the entrance on Kotla Road.

As per the rules formulated by the Union Urban Development Ministry, the Congress was entitled to a four-acre plot as per its existing strength in two houses of Parliament in 2009. But the party accepted a smaller plot of roughly two acres on Kotla Road as it already has another one on Rajendra Prasad Road  which currently houses the Rajiv Gandhi Foundation headed by Sonia in memory of the former prime minister.

For the old-timers, there are many similarities between January 1978 and January 2024. In 1978, the party cadres morale was down and coffers were empty. Sardar Buta Singh, who was AICC general secretary at 24, Akbar Road, would often organise meals from Gurudwara Bangla Saheb and bring langar, the free community food served there for hungry Congress members. The simple daal, roti and halwa seemed truly a godsend. In December 2023, the party, though out of power, collected over Rs 3 crore in less than 48 hours after launching its crowdfunding scheme Donate for Desh.

In 1978, Indira herself did not have a place to stay. She had readily availed aide Mohammad Yunus offer to stay at 12 Willingdon Crescent. 12 Willingdon Crescent became home to the Gandhis. Indira, Rajiv, his wife Sonia, their children, Rahul and Priyanka, Sanjay, Maneka, and five dogs  all moved in, leaving virtually no scope or space for any political activity from there. In 2023, the Congress has several palatial houses  10, Janpath, 12, Tuqlaq Crescent and 15, Gurudwara Rakabgunj Marg (abbreviated 15 GRG or the Congress War Room) in addition to Kharge occupying a big house at 10, Rajaji Marg.

Interestingly, Rahul has not shifted back to 12, Tuqlaq Crescent even though his Lok Sabha membership was restored in October 2023. Some of his supporters say it is due to an inauspicious tag while others say they fear sophisticated surveillance equipment being planted there. Perhaps fear of shadowing is weighing heavily on the Congress mind over retention of the partys war room at 15, Gurudwara Rakabgunj Road. Last heard, the war room is being moved to 17, Gurudwara Rakabgunj bungalow allotted to Congress MP Shakti Sinh Gohil. 15, Gurudwara Rakabgunj Marg residence has been allotted to BJP-backed independent Rajya Sabha MP and media baron Kartikey Sharma.

The writer is a Visiting Fellow at the Observer Research Foundation. A well-known political analyst, he has written several books, including 24 Akbar Road and Sonia: A Biography. Views expressed in the above piece are personal and solely that of the author. They do not necessarily reflect News18s views.
Samajwadi Party (SP) leader Swami Prasad Mauryas controversial statement calling Hinduism not a religion but dhokha (deception) is an attempt to remain in the limelight, said some political analysts News18 spoke to, while a few termed it well-planned strategy to expand his support base. However, Mauryas statement has stirred up a tumult in the states political circles.

Swami Prasad Maurya who once used to enjoy considerable clout within his community as well as extremely backward caste communities while being in the Bahujan Samaj Party is looking for lost ground. The Bharatiya Janata Party had given him opportunities but due to his overconfidence, he deserted it and joined the Samajwadi Party and since then he has been demonising Hindu Gods and Goddesses to remain in the limelight, said Shashikant Pandey, a political analyst and head of the political science department at Bhimrao Ambedkar University in Lucknow.

On Monday, Maurya, while speaking at the National Buddhist and Bahujan Rights Conference in New Delhi, said that in 1995 the Supreme Court in an order stated that Hindu is not a religion but a way of life. It is a blend of more than 200 religions. Even Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) chief Mohan Bhagwat and Prime Minister Narendra Modi in their statements have also said that Hindu is not a religion but a way of life, he said.

Several BJP leaders attacked Maurya for his comments. The partys IT cell in-charge Amit Malviya said, After DMKs Udhayanidhi Stalin vowed to annihilate Sanatana Dharma, it is now SP leader Swami Prasad Maurya, who spews venom on Hinduism. Why are I.N.D.I Alliance leaders targeting the Hindus? Why havent Akhilesh Yadav and Rahul Gandhi condemned these hate speeches, so far?

Pandey said it is difficult to predict the exact repercussions of Mauryas remarks but in the present scenario, it may not benefit the SP. This may be the reason that now he is being criticised by his own party leaders, although the silence by the SP supremo is creating confusion among his followers as to whether to support him or condemn him. But the BJP would definitely try to capitalise on it once Lok Sabha election 2024 is round the corner, he added.

Prof Kaushal Kishore Mishra, former dean faculty of social sciences, Banaras Hindu University (BHU), said that Swami Prasad Maurya aims to win the support of the Dalit community and Muslims. His statements are part of a well-planned political strategy to expand his support base across UP, Mishra added.

It is an open secret that a mass base of supporters is a must for staying relevant in politics and everyone knows it well, said Mishra, who has taught political science at BHU for over three and a half decades.

On Mauryas statement, Samajwadi Partys national president and former chief minister Akhilesh Yadav advised SP leaders to avoid commenting on religions and castes. The SP MP from Mainpuri, Dimple Yadav, called Mauryas statement his personal opinion and not the partys ideology.

Maurya also hit the headlines in January, when he said that objectionable language was used against Dalits and Adivasis in Ramcharitmanas written by Tulsidas. Religion is meant for the welfare of humanity and for strengthening it. If there is any insult to a section of society due to certain lines in the Ramcharitamanas on the basis of jaati, varn, and varg, then it is certainly not dharma, it is adharma. There are certain lines in which names of castes such as teli and kumhaar are mentioned, Maurya had stated.
Bahujan Samaj Party MP Malook Nagar on Thursday said that party chief Mayawati should be the prime ministerial face for the upcoming Lok Sabha elections.

Speaking to Good News Today channel, Nagar said, Mayawati Ji should be declared as Prime Ministerial candidate. The BSP leaders comments were viewed as the partys condition to be a part of the INDIA bloc.

This comes after West Bengal chief minister Mamata Banerjee and Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal suggested Congress chief Mallikarjun Kharges name to be the PM face.

Congress must apologise to Mayawati Ji for taking away some of our partys MLAs and declare her as a prime ministerial candidate. Only then, can INDIA bloc stop the BJP in 2024, Nagar was quoted as saying by India Today.

Nagar hailed the BSP chief and said that there is no better face than that of Mayawatis if Congress wants a Dalit representative for the PMs post. She will certainly think with a positive attitude if Congress agrees to our terms, Nagar said.

It is worth noting that Mayawatis party has said that it will keep away from the INDIA bloc, as well as the BJP-led National Democratic Alliance (NDA).

Nagar noted that his party has 13.5 per cent vote share in Uttar Pradesh, adding that in any scenario, BSP will have an edge. We can win more than 60 seats if Mayawati is declared as the prime ministerial face, Nagar added.

The BSP MP also shut down claims of differences with the Samajwadi Party.

Referring to reports about SP leader Akhilesh Yadav being unhappy with Mayawati, Nagar noted that the claims are false. He said that Yadav never raised any objections over Mayawati joining the INDIA bloc.

In fact, Akhilesh Yadav was angry with Congress for not giving seats to his party in the recently concluded Madhya Pradesh assembly elections, the BSP MP was quoted as saying.

He said that it was because of the complaints of the Yadav community with Congress over not accommodating the Samajwadi Party that BJP could form government in Madhya Pradesh. I think we do not have any differences with the SP, politics is a game of perception, Nagar said.

The BSP MP said that Congress should understand the situation and drop its arrogance.

Earlier, BSP MP Shyam Singh Yadav had said that his party, in fact, should join the INDIA bloc for the 2024 Lok Sabha polls.

He noted that if the opposition bloc contests the Lok Sabha polls in alliance in UP, they can put up a good fight against BJP.

Speaking to news agency ANI, Yadav said, If you ask me, I will say very frankly, very clearly and very unambiguously that my party should also join the INDIA bloc. This is my personal opinion. But the BSP supremo (Mayawati) will do what she thinks, we are bound by her decision It is my personal opinion that the BSP should be a part of the INDIA bloc

There is no doubt that if all that parties contest together, we will be able to give a good fight (in Uttar Pradesh), he added.

Meanwhile, Rashtriya Lok Dal chief Jayant Chaudhary on Sunday had said that there were no talks of including Mayawati-led BSP in the INDIA bloc.

BSP chief Mayawati has been saying from day one that she does not want to join the INDIA bloc. She cannot be included in the alliance by force, Chaudhary noted.
Union Home Minister Amit Shah will participate in a BJP state-level meeting on Thursday and chalk out a roadmap to the partys Telangana unit leaders and cadre for the general elections to be held in a few months. This is Shahs first visit to the state after the recently concluded Assembly polls which gave disappointing results to the saffron party though it could improve its tally in terms of votes and seats.

The BJP which emerged as a principal challenger to the BRS at one point of time after winning a couple of by-polls and the Greater Hyderabad Municipal Corporation elections, before the November 30 Assembly elections, finally ended up doubling its vote share to nearly 14 per cent besides improving its tally to eight seats in the 119-member House.

Amit Shah will visit the Sri Bhagyalakshmi temple (near the historic Charminar). Afterwards, he will address the gathering of party leaders from across the state. Basically the meeting will delve into the partys performance in the Assembly polls and also chalk out the roadmap for the upcoming Lok Sabha polls, BJP sources said.

The issue of the BJP Legislature Party (BJPLP) leader may come up in the meeting. The party will hold discussions on the Ram Temple in Ayodhya and Viksit Bharat Sankalp Yatra, a resolve and guarantee of Prime Minister Narendra Modi to fulfil the dreams of the common man, according to sources.

Union Minister G Kishan Reddy, also the Telangana BJP president, recently exuded confidence that the saffron party will get seats in double digits in the Lok Sabha polls. In the last elections in 2019, it got four seats with 19 per cent vote share in Telangana.

Besides Shah, the meeting on Thursday will be attended by the partys mandal presidents to national leaders such as BJP national general secretaries Tarun Chugh, Bandi Sanjay Kumar and Sunil Bansal. BJP sources said the meeting will come out with a plan of action for the next 90 days in order to be fully prepared for the elections.

Reddy had said though the party did not get expected results in the recent Assembly polls in Telangana, the number of seats have increased and the vote share doubled. In the 2018 Assembly polls, BJP got 6.8 per cent vote share and won just one seat. However, just after 100 days, in the Lok Sabha elections, the saffron party won four seats with 19 per cent vote share, Reddy had said.
Accusing the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) of playing politics on the Ram Mandir, Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) chief Sharad Pawar on Wednesday said he has not received an invitation for the Pran Pratishtha Mahotsav for Ram Lalla in Uttar Pradeshs Ayodhya to be held on January 22.

Dont know if it (BJP) is using the issue for political or commercial purposes. We are happy that the temple is coming up for which many have contributed, Pawar told reporters in Amravati.

Noting that he hasnt been invited to the consecration ceremony of the Ram temple, Pawar said, I visit two-three places of faith that I dont speak about in public. Its a private matter.

These developments came against the backdrop of the Ram Temple trust extending invitations to all chief ministers and leading opposition figures for the ceremony.

There have been contradicting reports on the invitation being extended to Pawar-led NCPs ally Shiv Sena (UBT) faction. Some claim former Maharashtra Chief Minister and Shiv Sena (UBT) leader Uddhav Thackeray has received an invite, while others deny it.

However, Shiv Sena (UBT) has said it does not need an invitation to party president Uddhav Thackeray to visit Ayodhya for the Pran Pratishtha ceremony.

There is no need for Uddhav Thackeray to be invited to Ayodhya. We are in Ayodhya before you (the BJP), Sena MP Sanjay Raut said.

Meanwhile, some INDIA bloc parties, including the Communist Party of India (Marxist) and the Communist Party of India have made it clear that they will not attend the event, stating that BJP and RSS have converted a religious ceremony into a state-sponsored event directly involving the Prime Minister.

TMC and its chief Mamata Banerjee are also likely to skip the ceremony.

The Ram temple will be inaugurated on January 22, with Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath and more than 6,000 people expected to attend the Pran Pratistha, or the consecration ceremony of the Ram Lalla idol.

Ahead of the January 22 consecration ceremony, PM Modi is scheduled to hold a roadshow and address a public meeting after inaugurating an airport in the temple town of Ayodhya on December 30, officials have said.
July 3 this year was a momentous day for Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) leader Ajit Pawar, when he and his loyalists joined hands with the Eknath Shinde-Devendra Fadnavis government and he took oath as the deputy chief minister of Maharashtra again.

This was the first time Ajit Pawar openly rebelled against his uncle, Maratha strongman Sharad Pawar, and split the party. In 2019, Ajit Pawar had become the deputy chief minister in Fadnaviss cabinet but returned to the NCP soon after. He then again took oath as deputy CM within a few months in the Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) government.

After the MVA government fell in 2021 when Eknath Shinde split the Shiv Sena and tied up with the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), there had been speculation that a faction of the NCP led by Ajit Pawar could also join hands with the Shinde-Fadnavis government.

Whenever the media confronted Ajit Pawar on this issue, he was evasive. When Sharad Pawar announced his decision to step down as national president of the NCP, while most other party leaders were trying to convince him to reconsider, Ajit faced criticism for saying that the decision should be respected.

But when Ajit called his loyalists to his residence on the morning of July 3, 2023, most thought it was a regular party meeting. It was revealed later that he would be joining the Shinde-Fadnavis government. Sections of the media portrayed him as a villain who betrayed his uncle and the Pawar family. But while addressing his supporters a few days later, Ajit Pawar said he was just following a script given to him.

Before the NCP split, Ajit Pawar was considered its strongest leader after his uncle. He was handling party affairs from the state level to the gram panchayat level. He repeatedly said that he had no ambition to get involved in national politics, which was the domain of his uncle Sharad Pawar, cousin Supriya Sule, and former union minister Praful Patel. While speaking with this reporter after Sharad Pawar asked NCP leaders to form a committee to decide who would be the next party working president whom the octagenarian would mentor and slowly hand over all charges to, Maharashtra minister Chhagan Bhujbal told this reporter in an interview, Pawar saheb has done the natural division in the party. Though he has not made it public, national issues and national politics will be taken care of by Supriya and state politics by Ajit Pawar.

During the MVA regime, it was evident that Ajit Pawar held sway over the bureaucracy and administration, which helped then CM Uddhav Thackeray carry out the business in the state assembly and during cabinet meetings.

When Ajit Pawar decided to join hands with the Shinde-Fadnavis government, Shiv Sena (Eknath Shinde faction) leaders were not happy. They had realised that the inclusion of Ajit Pawar and other NCP leaders would leave fewer berths for the Shiv Sena in the Maharashtra government. Also, while breaking away from the Uddhav Thackeray-led government, they had also criticised Ajit Pawar over several issues. But, for now, the triple engine government in Maharashtra appears stable.

For years, Ajit Pawar was battling to prove himself to be a mass leader, while he remained in the shadow of his uncle. Observers say Ajit often devised strategies for local and state elections but rarely got credit. He was always given a portfolio with responsibilities but never offered a plum post in the party like state president, as some senior leaders were wary of him. But the recent gram panchayat elections held after the NCP split indicated that candidates supported by Ajit Pawar won in larger numbers compared to those backed by Sharad Pawar. Local media reports also say that many party leaders who show they are with Sharad Pawar and his faction have actually given affidavits of support to Ajit Pawar as the NCP vs NCP case is in court.

In a recent two-day conclave organised by Ajit Pawar and his NCP camp in Karjat town, he made it clear that his faction will contest Lok Sabha seats like Shirur, Satara, Raigad, and Baramati in 2024. This means he plans to put up a candidate against cousin Supriya Sule, who is the Baramati MP. This is a direct indication that he has given to Sharad Pawar that he and his faction are ready to take the veteran leader head-on. Ajit claims that he has the support of the majority of NCP MLAs and they have chosen him as the national president of the party. Sources said that on many instances he had given the message to his uncle that he should retire from politics and allow the next generation to take over. But. they added, due to Sharad Pawar refusing to step down, Ajit finally decided in 2023 to part ways and establish himself as the new face of the NCP.

According to observers, Ajit Pawar first felt wronged by his uncle in 2004 when the NCP had won 71 seats in the assembly polls and Congress 69. They had contested the election together against the Shiv Sena-BJP alliance. The formula was clear in the coalition that whichever party would win more seats would claim the post of chief minister. In that scenario, Ajit Pawar felt he was the obvious candidate for the CMs post from the NCP. But, NCP chief Sharad Pawar decided to give the post to the Congress party and asked for an additional four portfolios.

The road Ajit Pawar has gone down now is rocky and he is aware of it. He knows the risk he has taken and the battle that he has to fight against his uncle and guru in the 2024 Lok Sabha elections. Observers say Ajit Pawar is also aware of the task he was assigned by Narendra Modi and Amit Shah before making him part of the Maharashtra government. The biggest test of his leadership skills would be to help the BJP-led alliance win the maximum possible number of Lok Sabha seats in the state, particularly from the western Maharashtra belt, which is the stronghold of Sharad Pawar and his faction. Only time will tell whether Ajit Pawar succeeds or not.
Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah on Thursday said senior Congress leader Rahul Gandhi should become the Prime Minister of the country.

His statement came even as some within INDIA bloc have pitched for Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge to become the Prime Ministerial face of the alliance for the 2024 Lok Sabha polls.

Only Congress party has the strength to address problems of this country..for that, Rahul Gandhi should become the Prime Minister of the country, Siddaramaiah said.

Addressing Congress 139th foundation day event here, he said, Nobody in the country had done something like the Bharat Jodo Yatra. Now, he (Rahul Gandhi) is taking up a Bharat Jodo Yatras second version  the Nyay Yatra. Thats because not everyone has got justice in the country. Everyone in the country  backward classes, Dalits, minorities and women  should get justice, hence this Yatra is being undertaken by Rahul Gandhi, he added.

Asking the Congress workers whether someone like Rahul Gandhi or Narendra Modi come to power, Siddaramaiah said, forgetting all our differences, for the sake of the country, to protect the Constitution, to save the countrys multiculturalism and sovereignty, and to provide justice to everyone, we must fight together and bring Congress back to power.

Ahead of 2019 Lok Sabha polls too, Siddaramaiah had pitched for Rahul Gandhi as PM. Noting that some people talk of soft Hindutva, the CM said, Hindutva is Hindutva. Im an Hindu. Hindu and Hindutva are different Havent we built Ram temples in our villages? Dont we worship Rama and do bhajans? I too used to go for bhajans in our village.Arent we Hindus? We are also Hindus. .
Ever since Bhajan Lal Sharma took oath as the new chief minister of Rajasthan on December 15, he has made two trips to the national capital to meet the BJPs top brass.

Sources say the new administration informed Raj Bhawan to start preparations for oath taking of the ministers by this Monday. News18 has learnt that the Governors House immediately made logistical arrangements.

In fact, tents are already in for the event. There was massive speculation that it would take place on Wednesday, which did not happen. Former chief minister Ashok Gehlot took potshots at the BJP by highlighting despair in the absence of a Cabinet even after three weeks of sweeping to power.

So, what is stopping the BJP from going ahead with the new Cabinet formation?

When asked, BJP state president CP Joshi said: You will get to know the details about it (cabinet formation) very soon. Pressed for the names or number of ministers, Joshi said: You will be informed as finer details emerge.

But BJP sources in Jaipur point fingers at the central leadership. A senior BJP leader who has won this time and is tipped to be a cabinet member told News18 on the condition of anonymity: Our job here is done. The core committee met and sent out a draft list of 30 names to New Delhi. We thought a nod would come by Wednesday. But that hasnt happened. We will have to wait now. The source in BJP added that more than two dozen ministers will be taking oath whenever the nod comes.

Meanwhile, a Rajput leader of the Rajasthan BJP told News18 that the names that have been sent are a mix of youth and old horses. However, he added that Sharma has been keen on giving importance to the younger leadership. The chief minister himself is 56 years old while his two deputies, Diya Kumari and Prem Chand Bairwa, are 52 and 54 years old respectively. Sharma, the source added, is keen that his cabinet also reflects that age bracket.

I think the delay on the part of the top leadership is to ensure that there is no ego clash between the senior leadership and the young brigade. With Lok Sabha elections round the corner, no one wants that, the second source added.

Madan Dilawar from Kotas Ramgang Mandi, Sumerpur MLA and only Kumawat leader who has won Joraram Kumawat, Jogeshwar Garg from Jallore, and tallest Meena leader Kirodi Lal Meena are widely considered to be frontrunners for the cabinet post. Meanwhile, MP turned Tijara MLA Mahant Balaknath, Rajasmand MLA Dipti Maheshwari, Degana MLA Ajay Singh, and Bikaners Sumit Godara are some of the names considered to be frontrunners for the post of Minister of State.

Another reason for the delay is supposedly to ensure a fine balance among different castes so that it doesnt communicate the message to any communities that they have been ignored. Intense lobbying has been underway for the last few weeks by Rajputs, Brahmins, Gujjars, Meenas, and Jats.

In a caste-sensitive society like Rajasthan, BJP knows the importance of not being seen to hurt any segment. In 2018, BJP lost its traditional support base of Rajputs which they managed to win back this time by sweeping Mewar. Similarly, there are 10 Brahmin MLAs this time. Now, they want a fair share of their community in Rajasthans power circuit.

Ironing out the nuanced nitty-gritties may take a while for BJP chief JP Nadda. We will have to wait till then. As of now, we know as much as you guys (media) know. The moment a nod comes, you will know immediately. Till then, all MLAs have been advised to stay put in their constituencies they have won from instead of huddling in Jaipur, said the senior BJP source, himself hoping for a cabinet berth.
New York Times has sued OpenAI and Microsoft over use of copyrighted data, thus becoming the first major media company to do so.

NYT has alleged in its lawsuit that the large language models used by OpenAI and Microsoft for their generative AI have been created by copying and using millions of The Timess copyrighted news articles, in-depth investigations, opinion pieces, reviews, how-to guides, and more.

This legal battle could set a precedent for how courts define the value of news content in training large language models and what the damages are for previous use.

I think [the lawsuit is] going to put a shot across the bow of all platforms on how theyve trained their data, but also on how they flag data that comes out and package data in such a way that that they can compensate the organisations behind the training data, Shaunt Sarkissian, founder and CEO at AI-ID, an AI tracking, authentication, source validation, and output data management/control platform, told PYMNTS.

The era of the free ride is over, he added.

The lawsuit opens a new front in a years-long dispute between tech and media firms over the economics of the internet, putting one of the news industrys most powerful players against the forerunners of a new wave of artificial-intelligence tools. It comes after months of business talks between the two corporations ended without an agreement, as the Times reports.

The Times has asked for a jury trial in the suit, which was filed in U.S. federal court in the Southern District of New York.

What Is The Times Grouse?

The law suit claims, among various examples, that Microsofts Browse with Bing feature replicates content from The Times product recommendation platform, Wirecutter, through significant verbatim and direct copying. Additionally, the lawsuit accuses OpenAIs GPT-4 of inaccurately attributing recommendations to Wirecutter.

We respect the rights of content creators and owners and are committed to working with them to ensure they benefit from AI technology and new revenue models, an OpenAI spokesperson told Axios in a statement.

Our ongoing conversations with the New York Times have been productive and moving forward constructively, so we are surprised and disappointed with this development. Were hopeful that we will find a mutually beneficial way to work together, as we are doing with many other publishers.

Tech companies developing generative-AI tools have often argued that content available on the open internet can be used to train their technologies under a legal term known as fair use, which permits the use of copyrighted material without authorization in certain circumstances.

The New York Times put a very strong stake in the ground that demonstrates the value and importance of protecting news content, said Danielle Coffey, CEO of News/Media Alliance, a trade group for news publishers told the Wall Street Journal. Quality journalism and these new technologies, especially those that compete for the very same audience, can complement each other if approached as a collaboration.

The Fundamental Problem

ChatGPT is a large language model (LLM) using the Generative Pre-trained Transformer architecture. Trained on extensive datasets, it learns grammar, context, and language patterns. The model is generative, producing human-like text. Pre-training exposes it to diverse language examples, allowing it to predict the next word. Fine-tuning tailors the model for specific tasks.

In simple words, this process is carried out by automated tools known as web crawlers and web scrapers, akin to the technology utilized in creating search engines. Picture web crawlers as virtual spiders navigating through URL pathways, systematically documenting the whereabouts of every item they encounter.

These LLMs have been fed billions worth of Times content, including those protected by a subscription, multiple times to train the GenAI, NYT has argued in its lawsuit.

OpenAI, like other major tech companies, has become less transparent about its training data. Common Crawl, a known source, was utilized by OpenAI for at least one version of the large language model powering ChatGPT. In contrast to the detailed information provided during the development of GPT-3, recent releases like GPT-3.5 and GPT-4 offer limited insights into the training process and data used.

The most recent technical report from OpenAI explicitly mentions the lack of details due to the competitive landscape and safety concerns associated with large-scale models like GPT-4, stating that it contains no information on architecture, hardware, training methods, or datasets.

On the one hand, big tech like OpenAI and Microsoft are lifting protected subscription content from online publications to feed into their LLM models without due reference or credit, arguing it is fair use; on the other hand, they are essentially charging users for the text it generates, claiming it to be their own. Essentially, it is plagiarised content worth billions of dollars, which companies like OpenAI have turned into a for-profit organisation in a matter of years.

There is such a ludicrous amount of profit to be made through the AI model that is being used right now that companies like Microsoft have invested billions of dollars. Microsoft invested an initial $1 billion in OpenAI in 2019 and added at least $10 billion more in January.

While big tech invests billions and makes billions, it is the online publications that have suffered. With no references, credits, or citations and no fair profit sharing model in place, online publications, including the likes of NYT, Reuters, BBC, and CNN. Moreover, to try and put a stop to this maddening scale of data exploitation from their websites, these companies blocked OpenAIs web crawler.

Comedian and author Sarah Silverman is part of a class-action lawsuit against OpenAI and Meta, alleging copyright infringement. Creators across various domains, including writers, musicians, artists, and photographers, are contending with the potential impact of generative AI technology on their respective fields and the safeguarding of their creative works.

This year also saw at least two lawsuits from groups of writers against OpenAI, accusing the company of training its AI with copyrighted works without their permission, and of using illegal copies of their books pulled from the internet.

The U.S. Copyright Office launched an initiative in August to study the use of copyrighted materials in AI training, indicating that legislative or regulatory steps may be necessary in the near term to address the use of copyrighted materials within AI model training datasets.

How does NYT make money?

Media organisations like the NYT have several revenue streams. These include a subscription based model, advertisements on digital and print platforms, revenues from licensing, affiliate referrals, building rental revenue, commercial printing, NYT Live (live events business), and retail commerce.

For over four years, the subscription based model has generated the most revenue for NYT. In 2022, subscriptions constituted a significant portion of The New York Times revenue, accounting for 67% of the total. Out of the $2.3 billion in revenue, subscriptions, including both printed and digital formats, contributed $1.55 billion.

Advertising, encompassing both printed and digital mediums, contributed $523 million, and there were additional revenues of $232 million from other sources. Digital subscriptions played a substantial role, generating over $978 million, while printed subscriptions contributed $573 million to the overall subscription revenues.

Apart from the revenue created, the NYT also employs 5,800 people. The alleged data lifting by companies such as OpenAI is a direct threat to not just the billions of dollars in revenues but also to the livelihood of the 5800 employees that work in the organisation.

The buck just does not stop there; plagiarised content available on the internet and calling it ones own is threatening the generation of original content, essentially de-incentivising it. This, in principle, is an attack on the very fabric of the democratic way users and organisations publish content on the internet.

Moreover, while NYT tries to protect itself with a subscription model, there are many other online repositories that are free to use and can be accessed by the crawlers of the AI companies. Publicly available data on the internet encompasses various sources, such as images on Flickr, online marketplaces, voter registration records, government websites, corporate platforms, employee profiles, Wikipedia, Reddit, research repositories, and free to access news platforms.

Additionally, there is a plethora of readily accessible unauthorized content and archived compilations, which could potentially include deleted personal blogs or other embarrassing content from the past.

In April, The Washington Post conducted an analysis revealing that a single dataset employed for training AI encompasses nearly the entire 30-year history of the internet. Tech companies have extensively scraped this data, aiming to augment the parameters of their models, reaching into the billions and even trillions, to enhance the training of their AI models.

Whats more, theres nothing stopping companies like OpenAI to start their own online publications and use generative AI to create content and openly publishing content lifted and plagiarised from n number of sources it has at its disposal.

The lives of artists and creatives are also facing disruption due to the capability of AI tools to generate content, including written material and images, through tools like OpenAIs DALL-E. This advanced set of tools poses a tangible challenge to the income of working artists, prompting them to urgently seek methods to safeguard their creations from being incorporated into datasets used to train AI tools.

A study in August revealed that shortly after ChatGPTs launch, it had a detrimental effect on employment prospects and income for online freelancers like copywriters and graphic designers. The impact was particularly pronounced among highly skilled freelancers who undertook numerous tasks and earned substantial incomes.

The AI revolution

In just over a year, the generative AI model has brought the tech sector back from the brink. Last year, around November, the tech sector was facing mass layoffs, a fall in profits, big tech companies stocks plummeting, shedding billions in market value, and a plethora of other issues that can be observed in any declining sector. And then on Nov 30, enter Open AI with an experimental chatbot dubbed ChatGPT.

A year after the public debut of ChatGPT, the excitement surrounding AI remains intense. Tech giants have invested billions in the technology, and nations are stockpiling the necessary chips for future AI endeavors. Within a mere two months, ChatGPT achieved unprecedented growth, becoming the fastest-growing consumer application ever. By January, it is estimated to have amassed 100 million active users, sparking an AI arms race among companies and revitalizing the tech sector.

Microsoft has invested almost $13 billion into OpenAI, Google invests almost $8 billion a quarter into Bard, similarly Meta and X, formerly Twitter are investing billions into AI models.

According to the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD), 21% of the share of global VC investment in 2020 (most recent compilation) went into AI, an estimated $75 billion.

With such massive investments backing generative AI for consumers, they can potentially run publications out of business by using the nuanced legal concept of free-use, which, basically allows content creation by using content available on the internet for individual users, not for tech giants with billions backing them to run publications out of business.

A fair model for profit sharing?

The plethora of generative AI chatbots using large language models are here to stay, but what cannot be permissible is the unauthorised use of copyrighted data. There is a need for a fair-profit sharing model to incentivize users to create original content and keep creating them.

In the absence of adequate safeguards, artificial intelligence companies run the risk of endangering the businesses of the news organizations they depend on to train their algorithms. This scenario poses an existential threat to both AI companies and newsrooms in the long term.

Some organisations like Associated Press and Axel Springer, have already reached commercial agreements to license their content to OpenAI. These agreements involve compensating news companies in return for the permission to utilize their content for training AI large language models.

News media executives view tech companies with skepticism due to their experiences in the past decade. While Google and Facebook initially assisted publishers in expanding their audiences and boosting web traffic, they evolved into formidable competitors for online advertising revenue.

These tech giants held the authority to influence the growth or decline of news traffic through algorithmic changes. Publishers, having been unable to secure what they deemed a fair portion of the substantial internet growth facilitated by search and social media, are now reluctant to face a similar fate in the realm of AI.

Whats Next?

While the lawsuit seeks a trial by jury, it does not specify a particular monetary claim. Nevertheless, the complaint underscores the assertion that Microsoft and OpenAI should be accountable for billions of dollars in statutory and actual damages.

Over the past ten years, news publishers have actively sought Congressional protections against Big Tech companies that utilized their content for engagement on social media and search engines. The emergence of AI has prompted a fresh lobbying initiative by news executives who contend that tech firms lack the authority to scrape their content within the fair use boundaries defined by existing copyright laws.

What this case will likely do is create a benchmark of what is the economic threshold, or what are reasonable royalties, for fair use of content, Sarkissian said. Everyones going to use The New York Times as a proxy and see how it goes.
Android malware continues to be a big headache for Google and the latest update could impact thousands who might have installed around 14 malicious Android apps from the Play Store. The report from McAfee says, these malicious apps have already been installed in over 300,000 devices which puts them at an immediate risk of possible intrusion and data leak from the bad actors.

The report points out the issue called Xamalicious has been around since mid-2020 and they might still be under threat from the malware unless they have physically scanned their devices and cleaned up the software to rid of the malware. The good news is that Google has removed the apps from the Play Store but there are still thousands who did install the app and they have to be careful about how they use their phones.

Popular Apps Found With Xamalicious

These are some of the Android apps spotted on the Play Store with this dangerous malware:

 Essential Horoscope for Android  100,000 installs

 3D Skin Editor for PE Minecraft  100,000 installs

 Logo Maker Pro  100,000 installs

 Auto Click Repeater  10,000 installs

 Count Easy Calorie Calculator  10,000 installs

 Dots: One Line Connector  10,000 installs

 Sound Volume Extender  5,000 installs

While these apps were installed from the Play Store, McAfee team says there are more than 10 apps that carry the threat of Xamalicious available through third-party app stores via APK files that dont come under Googles jurisdiction. Having said that, Google is taking a more proactive approach towards the third-party apps installed on Android phones, warning people if it detects any malicious tone in the apps.

There are serious concerns around Xamalicious as any infected device is susceptible to intrusion who will then seek backdoor access into the device and give the malware access to permissions that allows it to install other dangerous apps. Thats not all, the malware can execute actions like taking details about your phone, SIM details and firmware. It can pick up the devices location, IP address and ability to change the root status of the Android phone.

How To Avoid Installing Xamalicious On Android Phone

 Never download apps from third-party stores but if you want to do so, then make sure to read the reviews, check for ratings and even do proper research on these apps.

 Only download genuine apps from the Play Store to avoid falling for these malware threats
The New York Times has sued ChatGPT creator OpenAI and Microsoft for copyright infringement. With the usage of generative AI tools like ChatGPT hitting newer peaks frequently, the big question which remains unanswered how were generative AI tools created, or rather trained, in the first place?

Creators like OpenAI and investors like Microsoft are unwilling to provide a clear understanding of how content was procured to train large language models over the years. But The New York Times claims to have found the tip of the iceberg. In its lawsuit, The New York Times has said that OpenAI has copied articles, reports, in-depth investigations, opinion pieces, reviews, how-to guides among other content to train the large language models (LLM) powering ChatGPT and chatbots like Bing Chat without any prior permission or payment.

ChatGPT is a revolutionary technology. No doubts about that, at least in 2023. And riding this hype, OpenAI was quick to formulate subscription plans and started to take money from users. Microsoft, like always, seized the market opportunity and invested $10 billion. If you care to read through the lawsuit then you be may open to an alternative thought you are paying OpenAI to get smart answers from ChatGPT while OpenAI paid nothing to The New York Times when copying and using millions of its content pieces to train ChatGPT in the first place.

Not just The Times, the lawsuit claims that OpenAI engaged in wide scale copying from many media organisations but the content from NYT was given particular emphasis. Interestingly, this claim is not contested and in a way OpenAI accepts this as a fact and was trying to find an amicable resolution which goes without saying OpenAI will have to pay up or sign a commercial agreement with the NYT. However, the talks failed and there isnt a deal yet.

While Microsoft is choosing to remain tightlipped about the lawsuit, OpenAIs spokeswoman, Lindsey Held said that the lawsuit has surprised and disappointed OpenAI and that the company was moving forward constructively in coming up with an agreement.

In a statement Lindsey Held said, We respect the rights of content creators and owners and are committed to working with them to ensure they benefit from A.I. technology and new revenue models, Ms. Held said. Were hopeful that we will find a mutually beneficial way to work together, as we are doing with many other publishers.

Plainly speaking, OpenAI accepts to use content for free to train its models and was quick to take subscription money from users and now when questions are being asked, OpenAI claims to find and work together a new revenue sharing model. At least, that may be the case for big brands like The New York Times. But about smaller media platforms? And how come someone even gets to know what content OpenAI has used from which source to train its model? Like Google, OpenAI doesnt own any content. It just presents information sourced from others over the years and appears to present it as its own.

For the media fraternity, this lawsuit reminds how Google landed in trouble with Google News and why it was banned in countries like Spain. Alternatively, why Facebook is forced to quit the news business.

For media companies, it takes a lot of investment to create news networks and get the right manpower. And if technology companies simply copy-paste the content and make money by presenting the same content in its own desired platform then the already strained media industry may soon cease to exist.

In the lawsuits, The Times also mentioned Microsofts Bing search copies and categorizes its online content, to generate responses that contain verbatim excerpts and detailed summaries of Times articles that are significantly longer and more detailed than those returned by traditional search engines.

It added that, using the valuable intellectual property of others in these ways without paying for it has been extremely lucrative for Defendants. Microsofts deployment of Times-trained LLMs throughout its product line helped boost its market capitalization by a trillion dollars in the past year alone. And OpenAIs release of ChatGPT has driven its valuation to as high as $90 billion.

Another interesting aspect about this lawsuit is that The Times is not demanding an exact amount of money. The lawsuit simply says that OpenAI and Microsoft should be held responsible for billions of dollars in statutory and actual damages for copyright infringement.

While it may appear as if OpenAI copying content to train ChatGPT is related to information and content in the past, what the lawsuit underlines is what happens in future? If readers get news and information from AI chatbots which are basically rehashing content from online media platforms, why will they take the pain of clicking on links to visit the actual source? Thereby, hinting at loss of visitors and ultimately loss of Ad revenue.
BAKU, Azerbaijan, December 28. In the case of the development of an additional overland branch and the Uzbek connection to the Trans-Caspian International Transport Route (TITR or Middle Corridor), the delivery time of goods can be shortened by 2 to 3 times compared to the current sea transportation from South Asia to the EU, Deputy Minister of Transport of Uzbekistan Mamanbiy Omarov told Trend.

He noted that improving the transport infrastructure, optimizing routes, and ensuring favorable conditions, as well as including the provision of tariff preferences and the introduction of digital solutions for the unification of the transport document, can significantly reduce the delivery time and the share of costs in the transportation of goods.

"These measures can in turn stimulate trade growth and have a beneficial effect on the state of the economies of the countries involved. However, in order to achieve these goals, active cooperation of all countries through which the routes pass is necessary," he stressed.

In addition, Omarov noted that Uzbekistan is currently pursuing an active policy on the formation of additional new alternative corridors at the intersection of two major North South and West-East trade routes.

"Uzbekistan is actively promoting the initiative to organize cargo transportation along the new Belarus  Russia  Uzbekistan  Afghanistan  Pakistan multimodal transport corridor with access to the ports of the Indian Ocean. It is planned to carry out transportation by mixed modes of transport  from railway stations of the CIS countries to Afghanistan, then through Afghanistan by road with access to Pakistan and ports of the Indian Ocean," he said.

Further speaking, deputy minister added that in 2022, the volume of transit cargo transportation of Uzbekistan through Afghanistan to Pakistan more than doubled, amounting to more than 600,000 tons.

"Moreover, cargo transportation in the ChinaEurope direction is developing rapidly, as in 2022, the volume of cargo transportation in this direction amounted to more than 220 million tons. At the same time, more than 96 percent of all cargo in the ChinaEurope direction is transported by sea.

To date, there is a large workload of the world's main ports, and therefore the actual delivery time to cargo owners is significantly increasing. Accordingly, there is a huge potential in reorienting routes from the sea mode of transport to land - rail and road, developing new alternative multimodal land transport corridors," he explained.

Meanwhile, on November 1 of 2023, within the framework of the 1st Transport Forum of the SCO member states, the Ministries of Transport of Russia, Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan signed a Memorandum on the creation of a new Belarus - Russia - Kazakhstan  Uzbekistan  Afghanistan  Pakistan transport corridor.

The Middle Corridor, a transportation and trade pathway, links Asia and Europe as it traverses numerous countries within the region. It provides an alternative to the conventional Northern and Southern Corridors.

Beginning in China, it spans across Central Asian nations like Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan, and Turkmenistan. Subsequently, it extends through the Caspian Sea, Azerbaijan, Georgia, and Turkiye before reaching the European continent.

This strategic Middle Corridor offers a land-based connection between the eastern regions of Asia, including China, and Europe, offering a shorter path compared to lengthy maritime routes.
Beirut, the capital of Lebanon, has recently made headlines due to Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahus warning of consequences if Hezbollah, the Lebanese militant group, opens a second front against Israel. The city has a history of conflict, notably facing an Israeli attack on its airport in 1968. Despite its tumultuous past, Beirut harbours lesser-known facts that may surprise you.

As one of the worlds oldest cities, Beirut boasts a history dating back around 5,000 years. From the sixteenth century until 1918, it was governed by the Ottoman Empire, and today, it stands as a global city, joining the ranks of other ancient towns like Jericho, Jerusalem, and Damascus.

The name Beirut carries multiple meanings. In the Canaanite dialect, it translates to waterfall. The word holds significance in Hebrew as well, with some attributing its etymology to the root word beerot, meaning best. Originally recorded in Akkadian cuneiform tablets of the Amarna letters in the fourteenth century BC, King Rib-Hadda of Byblos also mentioned Biruta in his dispatches from Amarna.

Dubbed the Paris of the Middle East in its heyday, Beirut was celebrated for its rich culture, architecture, food, and lifestyle. The city thrived with art exhibitions, plays, and poetry seminars, showcasing a vibrant and dynamic cultural scene.

Renowned for its wine, Beirut is home to the celebrated red wines of Chateau Mussar, appreciated globally. The brand has upheld a tradition of presenting the world with top-tier wine for generations. Notably, the climate in the region allows grapes to ripen naturally, without the use of chemicals, making them among the healthiest.

At the heart of Beirut lies Hamra Street, a bustling thoroughfare adorned with numerous restaurants, cafes, bookstores, jewellery shops, and stores selling Lebanese handicrafts. Once considered the Paris of the Middle East, Beirut still maintains a lively nightlife, further contributing to its dynamic and eclectic atmosphere.

Amid the geopolitical tensions, Beiruts multifaceted history and cultural richness continue to captivate, offering a glimpse into the resilience and diversity of this ancient city.
From our early years, weve all been familiar with the narrative surrounding the iconic Taj Mahal, built by Shah Jahan as a tomb for his beloved wife, Mumtaz Mahal. Widely acknowledged as the epitome of love and affection, this singular storyline has long been a source of controversy. Recently, a woman on social media ignited a heated debate by comparing contemporary men to those of the past who dedicated monumental structures, like the Taj Mahal, to their loved ones. The post failed to resonate well with online users for more than one reason.

To begin with, the image shared by @sa6vie, accompanied by the caption Men used to build these for women, and now they want to split bills, was actually of Bibi ka Maqbara, often mistaken for the Taj Mahal due to its striking resemblance.

Also Read: Russian Man Files Police Complaint Against His Date After She Refuses To Split Bills

Even though the OP clarified later that it wasnt the Taj Mahal, the online community couldnt let go of the comparison, raising questions about the financial contribution of men in their partners lives.

Men used to build these for women, and now they want to split bills. pic.twitter.com/FCaEmCHYOI  (@sa6vie) December 26, 2023

One user rebuked, This aint taj mahal, its bibi ka makbara. a son built this for his mother, and sons today do the same, both for their mothers and partners. shut up. Another added, Women used to fight for their own mans pride and for the kingdom and Now they just cry if asked pay for their own food.

this aint taj mahal, its bibi ka makbara. a son built this for his mother, and sons today do the same, both for their mothers and partners. shut up https://t.co/wPIaXxzmHo Stuti (@stuutiiiii) December 27, 2023

Women used to fight for their own mans pride and for the kingdom and Now they just cry if asked pay for their own food.  Harsh Kothari (@TheHarshKothari) December 27, 2023

A third user wrote, No one splits the bills with their wives. Biwi ke lie banwaaya usne, bandi ke lie nahi. Know the difference.

No one splits the bills with their wives.Biwi ke lie banwaaya usne, bandi ke lie nahi. Know the difference. Rishabh Kaushik (@RishabhKaushikk) December 27, 2023

Mumtaz had to deliver 14 children. She lost her life while delivering 14th. If given an option, she would have chosen to split the bill!! came the fourth response.

Id rather my man split bills with me than marry my sister after I die giving birth to his 14th child after a prolonged labor of around 30 hours Ananya (@notnanyaaa) December 27, 2023

Also Read: Pune Man Forced By Bumble Partner to Pay Rs 23,000 at Cafe in Viral Dating Scam

As a result, discussions questioning the Taj Mahal as the monument of undying love were reignited, as the post, since being shared, amassed a staggering 1 million views on the micro-blogging site X.
Serge Feeleenger has mastered the unique skill of painting with ten brushes simultaneously. Over more than a decade, he developed this technique out of frustration with the frequent need to change brushes during his creative process. Initially beginning with three brushes on his right hand, he progressively added more, ultimately accomplishing the remarkable feat of attaching a brush to every finger on both hands.

Artist Serge, describing his inventive painting approach to CGTN, revealed, In the beginning, I attached three brushes to the fingers on my right hand and experimented with painting this way. I discovered it to be cool and remarkably convenient, as the colours seamlessly blended. Later, I applied the same technique to my left hand, bringing the total to 10 brushes.

Serge Feeleenger, a self-taught artist in traditional oil painting techniques, initially mastered conventional methods before introducing the art of using multiple paintbrushes simultaneously while painting. His artistic journey spans various styles, including expressionism and hyperrealism. Recently, Feeleenger has been actively showcasing and promoting his skills in the United States, in addition to his exhibitions held in Germany, Italy, and Poland over the years.

Drawing with both hands simultaneously is a known practice, but it is the first instance of someone painting with two brushes at the same time.

Serge Feeleenger explains, Each of us has a unique and diverse personality. Ive realized that each finger has its signature style. When these individual styles come together on canvas, it creates a wonderful and intricate colour symphony.

The painter has numerous inventions and a wealth of ideas. Unfortunately, he encounters challenges in securing a patent for both his instruments and his 10-brushes technique due to the prohibitive costs involved.

Tips For Painting With More Than One Brush:

Begin your painting process by selecting 35 colours of paint. Dip the brush into one colour, then scoop up a small amount of another colour. Apply the blended colours onto a paper surface. Experiment by loading the brush with three colours for varied effects.
In the vast and ever-expanding world of online content, where food vloggers constantly push the boundaries of culinary creativity, one particular recipe has recently sparked a wave of horror and disgust. Calvin Lee, better known as foodmakescalhappy on Instagram, has once again raised eyebrows with this latest creation, the baked beans sundae. Following his unconventional recipes such as cheese-infused Coke and Ferrero Rocher pasta, the Singaporean influencer has now ventured into the realm of bizarre flavour combinations by introducing a blend of baked beans and an ice cream sundae.

In a viral video, Calvin Lee takes a can of fresh baked beans and pours its contents into a cup filled with a classic vanilla ice cream sundae. The juxtaposition of the savoury and sweet elements is enough to make onlookers cringe in anticipation. Undeterred by the skepticism surrounding his creation, Lee proceeds to vigorously mix the unlikely combination and then, with apparent satisfaction, indulges in this peculiar dessert-breakfast fusion.

Take a look at the video here:

View this post on Instagram A post shared by Calvin Lee | Singapore Foodie (@foodmakescalhappy)

As soon as the video surfaced on the internet, this unexpected fusion elicited a visceral reaction from viewers. Social media users flooded the comment section expressing everything from shock and disgust to curiosity. Some viewers are left questioning the limits of culinary experimentation, while others simply cannot understand the taste of such an unusual combination.

Reacting to the post, a user wrote, That genuinely is starting to look good and Im beginning to question if Im pregnant. Another commented, I hate baked beans with a passion. This just made me puke.

Im more surprised at how you managed to order the sundae with the fudge separated, an Instagram user mentioned.

An internet user commented, Sir, I just need to let you know that youre running an online concentration camp here.

The video was shared a few weeks ago on Instagram. Since its posting, it has amassed over one million views with numerous comments.

Love it or hate it, theres no denying that Calvin Lee continues to make waves in the culinary world with his unorthodox approach to food, leaving us wondering what unexpected combination he will introduce next. He remains unfazed and even encourages his audience to give this unconventional pairing a try. The level of audacity displayed in combining such disparate flavours is a testament to Lees willingness to push culinary boundaries and challenge societal norms surrounding food.
Six members of an Indian family, including two children, were killed in a horrific road accident when the minivan they were travelling in collided head-on with a pickup truck in the US state of Texas on Tuesday. One person from the minivan was injured and remains in a critical condition.

The accident occurred near Johnson County, near Fort Worth, according to the Texas Department of Public Safety (DPS).

The seven occupants of the minivan were from the same family from Amalapuram town in Andhra Pradesh. 43-year-old Lokesh Potabathula is the only person from the minivan who survived the crash but remains in critical condition.

Potabathulas wife, 36-year-old Naveena Potabathula; the couples children, 9-year-old Nishidha Potabathula and 10-year-old Krithik Potabathula; and Naveena Potabathulas parents, 60-year-old Sitamahalakshmi Ponnada and 64-year-old Nageswararao Ponnada died in the crash.

28-year-old Rushil Barri, cousin of Lokesh Potabathula, was driving the minivan. He also is among the deceased victims. The elderly were visiting their daughter Naveena and grandkids Karthik and Nishidha from India, the Consulate General (CG) of India in Houston said.

An eyewitness over there took the phone of Lokesh. She told us that the accident was very bad. A few were dead and the owner of this phone is still breathing, Ayyappala Bandaru, Barris roommate was quoted as saying by US-based news outlet WFAA.

My mother cant stand it. She just cant digest it, he said.

We call it Death Highway out here, one person familiar with the area said, adding the stretch is notorious for rash driving.

The officials probing the accident believe a 17-year-old boy driving to Glen Rose attempted to pass in a no passing zone on the two-lane highway and he hit the minivan, head-on, in the northbound lane.

According to DPS investigators, the pickup truck was driving southbound on US Highway 67 near County Road 1119 at around 4 pm on Tuesday, when the minivan was in the same area, heading north.

The other occupant of the pickup truck was a 17-year-old boy who survived the crash along with the driver but both of them suffered critical injuries and were taken to a hospital in Fort Worth along with Lokesh. The DPS said visiting parents and both children were not wearing seat belts at the time of the accident.

Photos from the crash site showed pieces of the two mangled cars covering the highway. Broken glass and vehicle debris were scattered on the ground.

The Indian mission said the couple was working for TCS on an L1 visa and the victims were relatives of Mummidivaram MLA P Venkata Satish Kumar.

Our main target is to reunite the lost loved ones with their families back at home, said Ashok Kolla, Telugu Association of North America, told news outlet WFAA.
US Secretary of State Antony Blinken held talks Wednesday in Mexico in hopes of tackling surging migration, which has become a major political headache for President Joe Biden as he enters an election year.

The unusual Christmas week trip by the top American diplomat was abruptly scheduled as the rival Republican Party presses Biden to crack down on migration as a condition for providing the votes in Congress for one of his key priorities  support for Ukraine.

Blinken held just over two hours of closed-door talks with President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador and other top Mexican officials during the one-day visit.

Lopez Obrador, who spoke to Biden by telephone last week, said before the meeting that Mexico was helping a lot on addressing migration and would continue to do so.

People leave their towns out of necessity and theres a lot of economic and social crisis in the world. Its necessary to further promote productive activities and job creation, he said.

Around 10,000 people without authorization are trying to cross the southern US border each day, nearly double the number before the pandemic, with a new caravan of hundreds if not thousands of people heading by foot since the past weekend.

Nobodys going to stop migration, activist and caravan organizer Luis Garcia Villagran said, complaining that migrants were being treated as currency by the US and Mexican governments.

A budget of billions of dollars is being settled right now to mitigate migration. With all the gold and money in the world they cannot stop people seeking better living conditions, he told reporters in southern Mexico.

Legal crossings affected

US border authorities have been so overwhelmed that they have suspended several legal crossings to focus on processing undocumented migrants.

Reopening those crossings is a priority for us given the close trade links between the two countries, Mexican Foreign Minister Alicia Barcena told reporters after the talks, which she described as excellent.

Blinken, whose trip is a break from months of focus on the Middle East crisis, was accompanied by Secretary of Homeland Security Alejandro Mayorkas along with White House homeland security advisor Liz Sherwood-Randall.

Mexico, under agreements with both Biden and his predecessor Donald Trump, has agreed at least temporarily to take in migrants seeking to cross into the United States.

The package proposed by Biden to Congress would also fund 1,300 additional Border Patrol agents to help address migration.

The Biden administration has warned that without a deal, Ukraine will soon run out of weapons needed to repel the nearly two-year-old Russian invasion.

On Wednesday, the US State Department announced what it said was the last remaining package of weapons available for Ukraine under existing authorization and urged Congress to act swiftly to renew the flow.

However, Republican hardliners have shown little sign of compromise.

Trump, the frontrunner for the Republican nomination to challenge Biden next November, is again campaigning on stridently anti-immigrant rhetoric, accusing foreigners of poisoning the blood of our country, language that critics pointed out was similar to that of Adolf Hitler.

No magic wand

Andrew Rudman, director of the Mexico Institute at the Wilson Center in Washington, expected Blinken to seek additional support from Mexico to keep migrants within its borders, such as temporary work permits.

The Biden administration wants to show for its own domestic political reasons that theyre doing everything they possibly can, he said.

One of the challenges is that everybody wants a short-term solution to a global, long-standing problem, Rudman said of migration. There is no magic wand.

Migrants have been fleeing Central American countries ravaged by poverty, violence and disasters worsened by climate change.

In recent months there has also been an uptick in migrants heading through Mexico from Haiti, which has been devastated by gang violence and a lack of a functioning government, and from Venezuela, where basic goods have fallen in short supply after years of economic chaos.

Maria Alicia Ulloa, a Honduran who is part of the latest caravan, voiced fears that tougher US-Mexican immigration measures would mean returning to a country beset by crime and unemployment.

We emigrate with the hope of giving a better life to our children, and a better life to the relatives who remain behind, she said.
The Hamas-run Gaza Strips health ministry said Wednesday war with Israel has killed more than 21,000, as Israel kept pounding the besieged territory with air strikes and shelling.

The World Health Organization (WHO) said Gazans were in grave peril after more than 11 weeks of fighting  triggered by Hamass deadly October 7 attacks on Israel  which left most hospitals in the Palestinian territory out of action and led to acute hunger.

Explosions lit up the sky over the southern Gaza city of Khan Yunis  a focus of heavy urban combat since the Israeli army said it had largely gained control over Gazas north.

The Gaza health ministry said a strike hit a house near Al-Amal hospital in Khan Yunis, killing 22 people. Heavy firefights also raged again around Gaza City in the north.

Gazas spiralling humanitarian crisis has amplified calls for an end to the hostilities.

WHO chief Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus called on the international community to take urgent steps to alleviate the grave peril facing the population of Gaza and jeopardising the ability of humanitarian workers to help the many in need.

In a statement, the WHO said hungry people again stopped our convoys in the hope of finding food.

WHOs ability to supply medicines, medical supplies, and fuel to hospitals is being increasingly constrained by the hunger and desperation of people en route to, and within, hospitals we reach.

Israel has repeatedly vowed to keep up the campaign to destroy Hamas, an Islamist group blacklisted as a terrorist organisation by the United States and the European Union.

The conflict erupted when Hamas gunmen attacked southern Israel, resulting in the deaths of about 1,140 people, mostly civilians, according to an AFP tally based on Israeli figures.

Palestinian militants also took around 250 hostages, 129 of whom remain in captivity, Israel says.

Israel retaliated with a relentless bombardment and a siege of Gaza, launching a ground invasion on October 27.

At least 21,110 people have been killed, according to the latest toll issued by Gazas health ministry. It said 8,800 of them were children and 6,300 women.

Israels army blames armed groups for the high civilian death toll, charging that fighters hide in schools, hospitals and other civilian infrastructure, or in tunnels below them.

The army said 164 soldiers have been killed inside Gaza.

The war has raised fears of a broader regional conflagration, with deadly exchanges between Israel and Lebanons powerful Hezbollah movement, and Iranian calls for revenge after a strike blamed on Israel killed a senior general.

Dont know where to go

Gazas 2.4 million people have suffered severe shortages of water, food, fuel and medicines, with only limited aid entering the territory.

An estimated 1.9 million Gazans have been displaced, the UN says.

AFPTV footage showed Palestinians who had been sheltering in a UN-run school in central Gazas Nuseirat refugee camp fleeing south, seeking safety from the bombardment.

Displaced Gazans dont know where to go, said one who declined to be named. First, were displaced to Nuseirat, then to Rafah.

Even schools are no longer safe.

A solution must be reached Implement a ceasefire instead of bringing in aid, he added.

Palestinian president Mahmud Abbas charged in a television interview that the war goes beyond a catastrophe and a genocide.

Netanyahus plan is to get rid of the Palestinians and the Palestinian Authority, said Abbas, who is based in the occupied West Bank.

The UN Security Council called in a resolution last week for the safe and unhindered delivery of humanitarian assistance at scale.

The resolution, which did not call for an immediate end to the fighting, effectively leaves Israel with operational oversight of aid deliveries.

In the far-southern city of Rafah, hundreds turned up at the Abdul Salam Yassin water company with baskets, handcarts and even a wheelchair stacked with empty bottles to get clean water.

This was my fathers cart, said Rafah resident Amir al-Zahhar. He was martyred during the war. He used it to transport and sell fish, and now we are using it to transport fresh water.

Elsewhere in Rafah, people split logs and stacked kindling as the lack of fuel forced them to burn wood for cooking and to keep warm.

Internet and telephone services that were cut on Tuesday were gradually being restored in central and southern areas of Gaza, the Palestinian telecommunications company Paltel said.

Mideast tensions

Violence has also flared across the West Bank, with more than 310 Palestinians killed by Israeli troops or settlers since October 7, the health ministry there said.

An Israeli operation in a refugee camp in the northern West Bank killed six people Wednesday, it said. The army said it had struck the Nur Shams camp from the air.

The war has reverberated across the Middle East, drawing in armed groups backed by Israels arch foe Iran in Lebanon, Iraq, Syria and Yemen.

An Israeli air strike on a Lebanon border town killed a Hezbollah fighter, the group said Wednesday, with state media reporting two of his relatives were also killed.

Hezbollah later said it launched a barrage of rockets towards northern Israel. AFPTV footage showed damage to houses and roads in the Israeli border town of Kiryat Shmona, where no casualties were reported.

Iran meanwhile prepared for the funeral of general Razi Moussavi  a senior commander in the Quds Force, the foreign operations arm of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps  killed Monday in an Israeli air strike in Syria.

Tehran has vowed to avenge his death, with Guards spokesman Ramezan Sharif warning of direct action against Israel.

Yemens Huthi rebels have repeatedly fired at passing cargo ships in the Red Sea in attacks in solidarity with Hamas.

As a US-led naval coalition is deployed to secure the vital maritime route, French shipping giant CMA-CGM has resumed some transit through the Red Sea days after Danish group Maersk announced a similar return.
Union external affairs minister S Jaishankar and his Russian counterpart Sergey Lavrov on Wednesday discussed the International North-South Transport Corridor (INSTC)  the freight project linking India and Russia via several central and west Asian countries  and told reporters that it will be implemented in the near future.

This project was met with much enthusiasm in all nations, on which its implementation depends. And it will certainly be implemented in the near future, Lavrov said, according to Russia Today.

Lavrov, who was addressing a joint press conference in Moscow, said the corridor will develop because of a decline in Western economic clout which will result in emerging economic powers developing new trade infrastructure to meet their needs.

Jaishankar said the corridor will not just benefit India and Russia but also help in the transport and development of countries that the corridor will pass through as well as the global economy.

I think it is in the interest of the global economy that this corridor progresses. We will certainly give it the highest priority, he said.

What Is The INSTC

The INSTC is a 7,200-km-long multi-mode network of ship, rail, and road route and will connect India and Russia while connecting Iran, Afghanistan, Azerbaijan, Central Asian nations and Europe.

India, Iran, Russia, Azerbaijan, Kazakhstan, Armenia, Belarus, Tajikistan, Kyrgyzstan, Oman, Syria, Turkey, Ukraine, and Bulgaria are the current members with Bulgaria being an observer member. Turkmenistan is on its way to become a formal member of the group as PM Modi extended an invitation to the central Asian nation during his 2015 visit to Ashgabat.

Why Is It Important  for India, Russia and The Global Economy

The INSTC corridor is rooted in history as it follows a route that was used by Indian traders dating back to the Safavid dynasty rule (1501 to 1736 AD). Around 10,000 traders from mediaeval India used this route for trading purposes.

For modern-day India, the INSTC and its proper implementation is necessary to cement its role as a major global player while strengthening its major regional player image. It is an apt challenge to Chinas Belt and Road (BRI) projects because it does not lure nations into debt traps through infrastructure projects but focuses on collaboration to build infrastructure for collective growth.

The Federation of Freight Forwarders Associations in India also said that the INSTC is 30% cheaper and 40% shorter than the current traditional route and if the route is built bilateral trade volumes between India-Russia, India-Iran and between INSTC member nations will increase.

India will also no longer have to use expensive and time-consuming Rotterdam port or land route via China to reach Russia and Central Asia and Indian exports could reach these nations in shorter time.

For Russia and Central Asian countries, the INSTC allows them to enter the fastest-growing economy of the world and one of the worlds largest consumer bases.

Routes

The route joins Mumbai to Moscow and St Petersburg via Bandar Abbas, Bandar-e-Anzali and Astrakhan, while covering important seaport cities in the Arabian Sea, Mediterranean Sea, North Sea and the Black Sea. This is the primary INSTC route but there are other routes which are also being considered for inclusion into the INSTC.

India-Iran-Azerbaijan-Russia-Kazakhstan can be connected if the Azerbaijan Route is made part of the INSTC. The Chabahar NSTC Integration with INSTC will see Chabahar Port in Iran turn into a full deep sea port. Kazakhstan  Turkmenistan  Iran connected Kazakhstan to the Persian Gulf will also see INSTC accommodate another proposed route, thus connecting Turkmenistan. The Southern Armenia Railway aims to establish the most direct transportation link connecting Black Sea ports to Persian Gulf ports and its inclusion in the INSTC will complement it further as Armenia and Iran will find themselves closer.

(with inputs from Indian Express, Daily Shipping Times and agencies)
A court in Pakistan on Thursday rejected a police plea seeking a 30-day remand of former foreign minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi and instead sent him to a 14-day judicial custody in a fresh case linked to the May 9 attack on military installations.

The development comes a day after the 67-year-old Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf: vice chairman was arrested by the Punjab police in a bizarre show of power by pushing him into an armoured van as he was booked in a fresh case linked to May 9 riots, just when he was released on bail in the cipher case.

According to media reports, he was also implicated in a dozen similar cases. He was presented before the court of Additional District and Sessions Judge Syed Jahangir Ali. Video footage showed Qureshi being led into the court by police. When asked by some journalist if he was scared, the handcuffed politician said: No.

However, the former foreign minister later told the judge that he was kept in a cold cell last night and wasnt allowed to sleep. I was tortured mentally and physically, he claimed. He also said a police team came to him to record a statement on the May 9 violence to name him in cases related to the incident. I was in Karachi on May 9 my wife was undergoing surgery (that day), he said.

He said that he was a former foreign minister who fought for Pakistan on the external front. I fought Pakistans case at the international level. I have been cleaning up Pakistan and institutions in the international world. Is this justice? He also stated that during his arrest at the gate of Adiala Jail on Wednesday, police officials had kicked and ridiculed him, claiming that he wasnt taken to a doctor despite chest pains. BBC Urdu reported that while making a statement before the judge, Qureshi at one point began sobbing, prompting the judge to order police to remove his handcuffs.

After hearing him and arguments by lawyers, the judge rejected the police plea for physical remand and instead sent him to jail for two weeks.

According to another video, Qureshi is seen lifting his hands to pose for a victory sign as he is being taken away by the police after hearing.

Qureshis daughter Meher Bano Qureshi in a chat with the media showed displeasure at the treatment of her father. It seems as if they are presenting a terrorist, she said.

Talking about his arrest, she said the scenes had created a joke out of Pakistan in a neighbouring country. Even the neighbouring country would be wondering how a former foreign minister is being treated, she said.

Thousands of PTI supporters stormed military and government installations across the country following Khans arrest in an alleged corruption case on May 9 here.

Since then, Khan and scores of PTI workers have faced multiple cases for attacking military installations and government buildings.

On Thursday, appearing before Duty Magistrate Ali, Prosecution lawyer Akram Amin pleaded to the court for the PTI leaders remand saying that a remand of up to 90 days can be given in a terrorism case.

Presenting the video statement and Qureshis tweets as evidence, the prosecution lawyer said Qureshi issued a protest call on his social media handle during the riots that broke out following the arrest of the PTI founder Khan in a corruption case earlier in May this year.

Stating that the protest calls were irrefutable evidence that it was an attack on institutions, the prosecutor maintained: We have to see what elements were behind the call for protest. We have irrefutable evidence in the light of which the arrest is made. Qureshis lawyer Malik Imran told the court that there is no word mentioned in the report or in the PTI leaders speech based on which a case could be filed against his client and said the FIRs copy was not present in the entire challan.

After hearing the arguments, the court reserved its verdict on the polices plea seeking a 30-day remand of Qureshi in the case related to the May 9 riots.
Russian President Vladimir Putin praised steps Prime Minister Narendra Modi is taking to ensure peaceful resolution to the Russia-Ukraine conflict. Putin told Union external affairs minister S Jaishankar that he discussed the ongoing 2022 Russo-Ukrainian war with PM Modi on several occasions and said he will delve deeper into the Ukraine issue when both leaders meet in-person once again.

Many times, I advised him of how things have been going there and I know that he (PM Modi) is willing to do his utmost so that the issue is resolved by peaceful means. So, we probably will delve into that deeper now, and we will give additional information to you at that time, Putin was quoted as saying by news agency ANI.

Indias role in the Ukraine war has been consistent despite having to engage in a tightrope act in order maintain close ties with allies Russia and the United States.

The US has pressured all of its allies into criticizing and sanctioning Russia. While it may seem beneficial for Western European nations that fear Putin may expand the war, it is not as advantageous for Japan and South Korea. Due to being in Asia, they have strong trade as well as cultural ties with Russia.

The US also tried to pressure India by asking it to choose Washington over Moscow for its energy and defence needs but New Delhi held firm and gave equal priority to both President Biden and Russian President Vladimir Putin.

India, along with many nations in West Asia, South Asia, Africa and Latin America, have chosen to not pick sides and urged both parties to settle for a political resolution.

India has also kept channels of communication open and Prime Minister Narendra Modi has spoken to Russian President Vladimir Putin as well Ukraine President Volodymyr Zelensky several times since the onset of the conflict in February 2022.

He dialed both leaders and urged them to give diplomacy a chance. India abstained from several resolutions condemning Russia at the UN but kept sending humanitarian aid to Kyiv to help those impacted by the war. India also raised its voice whenever cases of human rights issues were raised and backed the independent probe into the Bucha massacre.

PM Modi conveyed his sentiments strongly when he met Putin on the sidelines of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) summit in Samarkand, Uzbekistan in 2022 and told him that it is not an era of war but of cooperation and dialogue.

He also lent an ear to Volodymyr Zelensky when he met the Ukrainian President in Hiroshima earlier this year in May and assured him that India will do whatever it is able to in order to seek for a peaceful resolution. You know the suffering of war better than all of us. When our children returned from Ukraine last year and narrated the circumstances there, I could understand the anguish of your citizens very well. I assure you that India, and I personally, would definitely do whatever is in our capacity to resolve this situation, PM Modi told Zelensky.

Indias position on the Russia-Ukraine issue also reflects its foreign policy which does not involve public shaming of nations in international forum, instead it involves directing parties engaged in a conflict to focus on what they have in common rather than what divides them.

This sentiment was reflected during the G20 Summit in Nusa Dua, Indonesia as well as in New Delhi where PM Modi, while hosting world leaders for the first ever G20 Summit in India, said: The G20 has the capacity to build consensus and deliver concrete results. We should not allow issues that we cannot resolve together to come in the way of those we can.

As you meet in the land of Gandhi and the Buddha, I pray that you will draw inspiration from Indias civilizational ethos  to focus not on what divides us, but on what unites us, he had said.
A Singaporean minibus driver with a poor driving record was on Thursday sentenced to four months of jail for having hit an Indian-origin motorcyclist on an expressway and causing his death, according to a media report.

Muhammad Hairulzat Salleh, who is of Malay origin, pleaded guilty to one charge of driving without due care and attention, causing the death of Satyadew Ramanuj, 57, in 2021, The Straits Times newspaper reported.

Salleh, 41, will also be disqualified from holding or obtaining all classes of driving licences for eight years upon his release from prison.

Deputy Public Prosecutor Pavithra Ramkumar said that Sallehs past offences include careless driving causing hurt, failing to conform to red light and using a mobile phone while driving.

The prosecutor said that at the time of the fatal accident on March 13, 2021, Salleh was employed by Aurora World, a company which provides chartered bus services.
TASHKENT, Uzbekistan, December 28. Uzbekistans HUMO Air low-cost airline will launch a new flight between the Uzbek regions of Samarkand and Urgench, Trend reports.

As per the airline, the flights operations of the Samarkand  Urgench  Samarkand route will be available staring from January 7 of 2024.

Air travel services are scheduled to be operational twice a week, specifically on Wednesdays and Saturdays.

Earlier this month, Humo Air started operating flights from the Uzbek capital of Tashkent to other regions from December 15 of 2023.

Furthermore, the airline will soon start operating flights to the Uzbek regions of Navoi, Termez, Bukhara and Ferghana.

Humo Air also plans to launch international flights to cities such as Almaty, Istanbul, and Dubai in 2024.
A New York City man who allegedly stabbed teenage sisters from Paraguay at Grand Central Terminal on Christmas Day has been charged with attempted murder and assault as hate crimes. Police say Steven Hutcherson, 36, used an anti-white term before he attacked the girls as they were dining with their parents, NBC News reports. Hutcherson, who is Black, allegedly told staff members he wanted to "sit with the crackers" when he asked for a seat at a cafe in the Grand Central Dining Concourse. Police said that after Hutcherson was seated, he walked to the Paraguayan tourists' table and stabbed a 16-year-old in the back. He then stabbed her 14-year-old sister in the thigh, police say.

Police say Hutcherson, who also uses the name Esteban Esono-Asue, was arrested within a minute of the stabbing at the Tartinery Cafe. Hutcherson also faces charges of criminal possession of a weapon with a prior conviction and child endangerment, per NBC New York. The New York Times reports that according to police records, Hutcherson had run-ins with police at least 15 other times this year, and his mental health apparently declined in the weeks before the attack.

Charisma Knight, Hutcherson's ex-girlfriend, tells the Times that she obtained an order of protection against him after he kept showing up at her family's home. She says that if police had listened to her warnings about him, "then the girls would have been protected. They wouldn't have had to go through that because he would have been incarcerated or in a mental institution, where he's actually getting the help that he needs until he's able to be released to society." Authorities say both teens were hospitalized after the attack. The 16-year-old was treated for a collapsed lung, but both girls are expected to recover. (Read more New York City stories.)
A US delegation led by Secretary of State Antony Blinken went to Mexico City on Wednesday for talks about turning the tide of illegal immigration across the border. The two-hour meeting reflected urgency, and President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador pointed out beforehand that the urgency will only increase in the US as it nears the 2024 presidential elections. "The migration issue is going to intensify," he said. A US official said the talks would address ways to slow migration across the region generally, as well as border security measures, the Wall Street Journal reports.
Cher wants to be named sole conservator over her 47-year-old son's finances, fearing that he'll spend any money he gets on drugs. The entertainer, 77, filed court documents Wednesday asking for control over Elijah Blue Allman's resources, citing "severe mental health and substance abuse issues," reports TMZ . The court filing asserts that Elijah's estranged wife, Marieangela King, is unfit to be conservator because "their tumultuous relationship has been marked by a cycle of drug addiction and mental health crises," per People . Were King to take control, it would "result in the immediate loss or dissipation of Elijah's assets for self-destructive purposes," saying the filing, per USA Today .

Elijah is Cher's son with the late rocker Gregg Allman. He is due to receive money before the end of the year from a trust set up by his father, which Cher addresses in her filing: "Elijah is entitled to regular distributions from the Trust, but given his ongoing mental health and substance abuse issues, [Cher] is concerned that any funds distributed to Elijah will be immediately spent on drugs, leaving Elijah with no assets to provide for himself and putting Elijah's life at risk." The saga has been playing out for a while: In September, King accused Cher of hiring men to abduct Elijah as they were reconciling, which Cher denies. (Read more Cher stories.)
A voter at a town hall event in New Hampshire on Wednesday asked Nikki Haley about the cause of the Civil Warand he was not satisfied with the Republican candidate's answer, which did not mention slavery. "I think the cause of the Civil War was basically how government was going to run," Haley said, per Politico . "The freedoms and what people could and couldn't do." When she asked the voter, who identified himself as Patrick, what he would have done, he told her he wasn't the one running for president, the AP reports. Haley then expanded on her answer, saying she "will always stand by the fact that I think government was intended to secure the rights and freedoms of the people."

"Government doesn't need to tell you how to live your life They don't need to tell you what you can and can't do," Haley said. "They don't need to be a part of your life. They need to make sure that you have freedom. We need to have capitalism. We need to have economic freedom." The voter replied: "In the year 2023, it's astonishing to me that you answer that question without mentioning the word slavery." Haley replied, "What do you want me to say about slavery?" and then moved on to the next question at the Berlin event.

The former South Carolina governor has made similar remarks about the Civil War before, including in 2010, when she described it as a clash between groups fighting for "tradition" and "change," reports the AP. As a candidate for governor that year, she rejected calls to remove a Confederate flag from Statehouse grounds, but changed course after the Charleston church massacre in 2015. Her failure to mention slavery in her response Wednesday was widely condemned on social media, CBS News reports. "It was about slavery," President Biden said in a post on X. "Yikes," posted the Ron DeSantis campaign, describing his rival's town hall event as "disastrous." (Read more Nikki Haley 2024 stories.)
Police in San Antonio, Texas, are now calling the case of a missing pregnant teen and her boyfriend, both apparently found dead earlier this week in the boyfriend's car, a capital murder. Per the Express-News , authorities there said in a Wednesday statement that a couple they believe to be 18-year-old Savanah Soto and 22-year-old Matthew Guerra each had a gunshot wound when they were discovered on Tuesdayjust days after Soto was due to be induced. The two had gone missing on Friday. NBC News notes that the medical examiner hasn't yet confirmed that the bodies were those of Soto and Guerra.

A police department rep said Wednesday that so far, there are no known suspects, but also that the public wasn't under any ongoing threat. The AP, meanwhile, dives into Guerra's history with Soto, including an arrest almost exactly a year ago for assaulting his girlfriend, per court records seen by WOAI. He was sentenced to probation through June 2024a punishment that was extended to February 2025 after he was arrested on new charges, including reckless driving, evading arrest, and unlawful carrying of a weapon.

Per the New York Post, however, there were reportedly no cellphones or weapons in the car where Soto and Guerra were found, and his family doesn't think he was the one who pulled the trigger. "They were inseparable," Gabriel Guerra tells KENS 5. "Was it a perfect relationship? No, but she definitely was not a prisoner there." The grieving dad also concedes that his son "didn't hang around the best crowd." Meanwhile, Gloria Cordova, Soto's mother, believes Guerra was caught up in some illicit activity that may have led to the couple's death. "I hope they pay for whatever they did to my daughter," she says of her daughter's killer or killers. (Read more Texas stories.)
The house where four University of Idaho students were murdered last year is no more. Crews in Moscow, Idaho, began work overnight and demolished the structure in two hours, reports ABC News . The owner of the rental home near the campus donated it to the university earlier this year, per the AP . It had previously been boarded up and blocked off by a security fence after students Ethan Chapin, Xana Kernodle, Madison Mogen, and Kaylee Goncalves were fatally stabbed there in November 2022.

School officials view the demolition as a key step toward finding closure, said university spokesperson Jodi Walker. "That is an area that is dense with students, and many students have to look at it and live with it every day and have expressed to us how much it will help with the healing process to have that house removed," she said. The site will be planted with grass at some point after the demolition, Walker said. She said there are no other plans for it as of now, but the university may revisit that in the future.

Some of the victims' families have opposed the demolition, calling for the house to be preserved until after the man accused of the slayings has been tried. Bryan Kohberger, a former criminology graduate student at Washington State University in neighboring Pullman, Washington, has been charged with four counts of murder. Prosecutors, who hope to try Kohberger next summer, had said they don't anticipate needing the house any further, as they were already able to gather measurements necessary for creating illustrative exhibits for a jury.

(Read more University of Idaho stories.)
A two-month investigation by the New York Times has produced the most detailed account yet of how Hamas systematically raped and mutilated women when they raided Israel in October. The graphic account, based on photos, videos, GPS data, and interviews with more than 150 people, is difficult to read. It makes clear that the savage gang assaults were "not isolated events but part of a broader pattern of gender-based violence." The story includes the eyewitness account of a 24-year-old woman who was shot in the back but managed to hide herself under bushes and grass. The woman, described as one of investigators' key witnesses, recounts seeing about 100 men gather about 50 feet away, passing among them "assault rifles, grenades, small missilesand badly wounded women," per the story.

"It was like an assembly point," she recalls. The story includes details of the rape, slaughter, mutilation, and decapitations that ensued. "That day, I became an animal," she tells the Times. "I was emotionally detached, sharp, just the adrenaline of survival. I looked at all this as if I was photographing them with my eyes, not forgetting any detail. I told myself: I should remember everything." Similar accounts emerge from elsewhere, including those of female Israeli soldiers who were shot in the vagina. The Times also reports that at least three women and one man survived being sexually assaulted that day, though they have been too traumatized to be of much help to investigators yet. (Read the full story, but be warned of its graphic nature.)
Grand Canyon University again is facing a federal complaint accusing the school of deceptive practices. A lawsuit filed Wednesday by the Federal Trade Commission calls out advertising practices and illegal telemarketing, the Hill reports. An FTC statement said Grand Canyon misrepresented "the costs and number of courses required to earn doctoral degrees," in addition to billing itself as a nonprofitdespite the fact that Grand Canyon Education Inc. and its investors did take profits. The corporation and Brian Mueller, its chief executive officer and the school's president, are named as defendants.

The lawsuit also says that consumers listed on the National Do Not Call Registry received "abusive telemarketing calls," per USA Today. Grand Canyon, the largest Christian university in the US, said it filed an appeal last month after being hit with a $37.7 million fine by the Education Department. The FTC filing says that fewer than 2% of doctoral graduates at the school completed their program within the cost advertised, per the Hill. (Read more Federal Trade Commission stories.)
A person has died after a crash on a highway in Bay of Plenty today.

Emergency services were called to the two-vehicle collision on SH29, Lower Kaimai at 12:16pm Thursday.

In an update just after 6:30pm, police confirmed one person had died in the crash.

A second person was critically injured, and a third had moderate injuries, police said.

The road was closed for just over six hours. It is now open.

This is the second serious crash in the Bay of Plenty in 24 hours. On Wednesday night, a person died after a crash in Mount Maunganui.

The holiday road toll sits at nine.
By Veronica Lin of CNN

A new selfie hotspot called 'Kiss Bridge', where couples can share a romantic moment against the Vietnamese sunset, was unveiled last week.

The result of a collaboration of Italian architect Marco Casamonti and luxury tourism developer Sun Group, the bridge is located in Vietnam's southern Phu Quoc Island, famous for its beautiful beaches.

The bridge spans a length of over 800m and consists of two separate halves.

The design was inspired by the classic Michelangelo fresco painting The Creation of Adam at the Sistine Chapel - just like the pointing fingers in the painting, the two halves of the bridge don't quite touch.

Instead, the north and south sections are separated by a mere 30cm. That means that erstwhile kissers will need to perch one on each side, then lean in dramatically for the big smooch.
His wife, a Lebanese national, also died. Hezbollah then announced the killing of Ali Bazzi, his brother and one of the Shi'ite Muslim group's fighters.

Asked about the incident, the Israeli military said one of its jets had struck a Hezbollah site overnight in Lebanon. Australian media quoted a spokesperson for Canberra's foreign ministry as saying it was aware of the report and was seeking confirmation.

Hezbollah, an ally of Palestinian Islamist faction Hamas, has been exchanging near-daily fire with Israel across Lebanon's southern frontier since the eruption of the war in Gaza in early October. Hezbollah launched the most rockets and weaponised drones against Israel on Wednesday that it has in a single day since the spate of daily clashes began, security sources said.

The Israeli military said on Wednesday its jets had targeted several Hezbollah military sites and other locations.

Israeli air strikes and shelling have killed more than 100 Hezbollah fighters and nearly two dozen civilians, including children, elderly and several journalists.
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BAKU, Azerbaijan, December 28. Yerevan, yielding to the persuasions of the West, is attempting to change its alliance with Moscow for vague promises and reform its foreign policy line, Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov told TASS, Trend reports.

"Yerevan is swapping the time-tested alliance with Moscow, not even for concrete assistance from the West but for only vague assurances," he said.

The minister noted that Western countries do not strive to bring peace and stability to Armenia and the South Caucasus in general.

"Armenia is facing a series of challenges. However, addressing them with the help of Western players is not feasible. Unlike Russia, the US and the EU do not seek to bring peace and stability to Armenia and the South Caucasus as a whole," he remarked.

"Their task is entirely differentto marginalize Moscow and other regional players," Lavrov added.

Stay up-to-date with more news at Trend News Agency's WhatsApp channel
TDT | Manama

The Daily Tribune  www.newsofbahrain.com

If youre not among the 9,000 Bahraini children already enrolled in government schools for the 2024- 2025 academic year  your opportunity has arrived!

The Ministry of Education is extending another lifeline for those whove reached compulsory education age but missed the initial registration.

From February 18 to 22, 2024, Sunday to Thursday, between 8:00 am and 1:00 pm, the doors for registration swing open at the Isa Town Hall.

Dr. Mohammed bin Mubarak Juma, the Minister of Education, expressed the ministrys commitment to providing a fresh chance for students who may have missed the first round.

Breaking away from tradition, the registration process kicked off in October 2023, departing from the typical end-of-school-year routine. This strategic move not only afforded ample time for planning and preparing for the upcoming academic year but also allowed vigilant guardians to secure coveted spots for their kids well in advance.

Its noteworthy that a staggering 9,000 Bahraini children born between January and December 2018 have already secured their positions in government schools, showcasing the enthusiasm for education in the region. Dont miss out on this second chance to join the ranks of eager learners  make sure to take advantage of the upcoming registration period!
Bahrain Labour Ministry honours excellence at 38th Annual Awards ceremony

TDT | Manama The Daily Tribune  www.newsofbahrain.com The Bahrain Labour Ministry hosted its 38th annual ceremony yesterday, dedicated to honouring exemplary employees and distinguished establishments in the private sector, under the patronage of His Majesty King Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa. This prestigious event acknowledged outstanding national talents, including human resources officials, business leaders, and noteworthy establishments from various economic sectors in the kingdom's labour market. The ceremony drew the participation of ministers, council members, Shaikh Khalifa bin Salman bin Mohammed Al Khalifa, Undersecretary of the Ministry of Labour, and Sameer Abdulla Nass, Chairman of the Bahrain Chamber of Commerce and Industry, alongside representatives from federations, trade unions, and key figures in commercial, economic, and social domains.

Jameel bin Mohammed Ali Humaidan, the Minister of Labour, addressed the ceremony, emphasizing its purpose to spotlight and honour distinguished national competencies. The aim is to create more opportunities, elevate employment rates for graduates, and enhance their educational and training experiences. Minister Humaidan also commended the ongoing cooperation among the government, employers, and employees, highlighting their joint efforts to transform challenges into opportunities and strengthen the principles of social dialogue. Referring to recently launched programmes, particularly those by the Labour Fund (Tamkeen), targeting 50,000 Bahrainis annually, he underscored their role in increasing employment and career development opportunities in the private sector.
BAKU, Azerbaijan, December 28. The Russian military base is located in Armenia by the agreement, it is harmful to speculate about its expediency on the territory of the republic, said Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Russian Federation Sergey Lavrov during an exclusive interview with TASS Russian News Agency on the results of 2023, Trend reports.

"We consider it harmful to speculate about the expediency of the 102nd Russian military base on the territory of Armenia. The treaty on its deployment was concluded on March 16, 1995, relying, first and foremost, on the national interests and the common task of our countries to strengthen stability in the South Caucasus," the minister said.

Lavrov noted that today the Russian military is "a key element in ensuring peace in this region"

Earlier, Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan said in an interview with The Wall Street Journal that Armenia "sees no advantages in the continued presence of the Russian military on its territory."

He openly stated that Russia "failed to fulfill its obligations" during Azerbaijan's local anti-terrorist measures in Karabakh, therefore Yerevan is looking for new cooperation partners.

Stay up to date with more news on Trend News Agency's WhatsApp channel
Company's Game-changing Innovation Leverages the Latest AI, Autonomous Mobility Technology and Conversation Services for a Smarter Life at Home

SEOUL, South Korea, Dec. 27, 2023 /CNW/ - LG Electronics (LG) is ready to unveil its innovative smart home Artificial Intelligence (AI) agent at CES 2024. LG's smart home AI agent boasts robotic, AI and multi-modal technologies that enable it to move, learn, comprehend and engage in complex conversations. An all-around home manager and companion rolled into one, LG's smart life solution enhances users' daily lives and showcases the company's commitment to realizing its "Zero Labour Home" vision.

LG unveils its innovative smart home Artificial Intelligence (AI) agent, which functions as a moving smart home hub. This AI agent connects with and controls smart home appliances and household IoT devices using robotic, AI and multi-modal technologies that enable it to move, learn, comprehend and engage in complex conversations. (CNW Group/LG Electronics Canada)

With its advanced 'two-legged' wheel design, LG's smart home AI agent is able to navigate the home independently. The intelligent device can verbally interact with users and express emotions through movements made possible by its articulated leg joints. Moreover, the use of multi-modal AI technology, which combines voice and image recognition along with natural language processing, enables the smart home AI agent to understand context and intentions as well as actively communicate with users.

Functioning as a 'moving' smart home hub, this AI agent connects with and controls smart home appliances and household IoT devices. Through LG's latest collaboration with Qualcomm Technologies, Inc., the AI agent is equipped with the Qualcomm, Robotics RB5 Platform, enabling powerful on-device AI features such as face and user recognition. The AI agent utilizes its built-in camera, speaker and various sensors to gather real-time environmental data, including temperature, humidity and indoor air quality. LG's advanced AI technologies analyze this data, continuously learning and combining it with external information. The AI agent can even act as a pet monitor and security guard, providing users with the ability to see and care for their pets remotely and sending alerts if any unusual activity is detected.

What's more, the LG smart home AI agent offers exceptional versatility and scalability. For example, it can autonomously patrol the home when no one is there, moving from one room to another and sending notifications to the user's smartphone if it finds an open window or any lights left on. Additionally, it can help conserve energy by connecting with a smart outlet and turning off unused devices throughout the house.

When the user returns home, the AI agent greets them at the front door, discerns their emotions by analyzing their voice and facial expressions, and selects music or other content to suit their mood. It also assists users in their daily lives by providing transportation details, weather updates, personal schedules, or reminders to take medications.

With the smart home AI agent and its active hub features, LG aims to liberate users from the burden of housework, and seeks to establish itself as a dominant player in the smart home market.

"Our groundbreaking smart home AI agent combines cutting-edge autonomous mobility and AI technologies with advanced communication capabilities and services to help free customers from household chores," said Lyu Jae-cheol, president of LG Electronics Home Appliance & Air Solution Company. "A smart life solution company, LG will continue to help customers experience a smarter, more enjoyable life at home."

Visitors to CES 2024 from January 9-12 can see all of the LG's latest smart life solutions, including the smart home AI agent, at the company's booth (#16008, Las Vegas Convention Center).

About LG Electronics Home Appliance & Air Solution Company

The LG Home Appliance & Air Solution Company is a global leader in home appliances, smart home solutions, air solutions as well as visionary products featuring LG ThinQ AI. The company is creating various solutions with its industry leading core technologies and is committed to making life better and healthier for consumers by developing thoughtfully designed kitchen appliances, living appliances, HVAC and air purification solutions. Together, these products deliver enhanced convenience, superb performance, efficient operation and compelling health benefits. For more news on LG, visit www.LGnewsroom.com .

SOURCE LG Electronics Canada

For further information: Media Contacts: LG Electronics, Inc., Lea Lee, +82 2 3777 3981, [email protected], www.LGnewsroom.com; LG Electronics, Inc., Jenny Shin, +82 2 3777 3692, [email protected], www.LGnewsroom.com; Canadian Media Contact: LG Electronics Canada, Inc., Shari Balga, C: 647-261-3603, [email protected]
ESO has signed an agreement with the Breakthrough Initiatives to adapt the Very Large Telescope instrumentation in Chile to conduct a search for planets in the nearby star system Alpha Centauri. Such planets could be the targets for an eventual launch of miniature space probes by the Breakthrough Starshot initiative.

ESO, represented by the Director General, Tim de Zeeuw, has signed an agreement with the Breakthrough Initiatives, represented by Pete Worden, Chairman of the Breakthrough Prize Foundation and Executive Director of the Breakthrough Initiatives. The agreement provides funds for the VISIR (VLT Imager and Spectrometer for mid-Infrared) instrument, mounted at ESOs Very Large Telescope (VLT) to be modified in order to greatly enhance its ability to search for potentially habitable planets around Alpha Centauri, the closest stellar system to the Earth. The agreement also provides for telescope time to allow a careful search programme to be conducted in 2019.

The discovery in 2016 of a planet, Proxima b, around Proxima Centauri, the third and faintest star of the Alpha Centauri system, adds even further impetus to this search.

Knowing where the nearest exoplanets are is of paramount interest for Breakthrough Starshot, the research and engineering programme launched in April 2016, which aims to demonstrate proof of concept for ultra-fast light-driven nanocraft, laying the foundation for the first launch to Alpha Centauri within a generation.

Detecting a habitable planet is an enormous challenge due to the brightness of the planetary systems host star, which tends to overwhelm the relatively dim planets. One way to make this easier is to observe in the mid-infrared wavelength range, where the thermal glow from an orbiting planet greatly reduces the brightness gap between it and its host star. But even in the mid-infrared, the star remains millions of times brighter than the planets to be detected, which calls for a dedicated technique to reduce the blinding stellar light.

The existing mid-infrared instrument VISIR on the VLT will provide such performance if it were enhanced to greatly improve the image quality using adaptive optics, and adapted to employ a technique called coronagraphy to reduce the stellar light and thereby reveal the possible signal of potential terrestrial planets. Breakthrough Initiatives will pay for a large fraction of the necessary technologies and development costs for such an experiment, and ESO will provide the required observing capabilities and time.

The Very Large Telescope (VLT) is a telescope facility operated by the European Southern Observatory on Cerro Paranal in the Atacama Desert of northern Chile. The VLT consists of four individual telescopes, each with a primary mirror 8.2 m across, which are generally used separately but can be used together to achieve very high angular resolution. The four separate optical telescopes are known as Antu, Kueyen, Melipal and Yepun, which are all words for astronomical objects in the Mapuche language. The telescopes form an array which is complemented by four movable Auxiliary Telescopes (ATs) of 1.8 m aperture.

The VLT operates at visible and infrared wavelengths. Each individual telescope can detect objects roughly four billion times fainter than can be detected with the naked eye, and when all the telescopes are combined, the facility can achieve an angular resolution of about 0.001 arc-second. This is equivalent to roughly 2 meters resolution at the distance of the Moon. In single telescope mode of operation angular resolution is about 0.05 arc-second

The European Southern Observatory (ESO) has announced an agreement with the billionaire-backed Breakthrough Initiatives program to fund an upgrade to the Very Large Telescope (VLT) facility in Chile. In return, the telescope will train its sharper eyes on the recently discovered Proxima b, a rocky exoplanet of our nearest star system that may serve as a potential target for future probes.

Detecting dim planets next to bright stars has been likened to finding a firefly next to a lighthouse, so astronomers have to resort to all sorts of convoluted tricks. The VLTs specialty is seeing in the dark.

The VISIR (VLT Imager and Spectrometer for mid-Infrared) instrument collects a kind of radiation given off by heat, invisible to the naked eye. Just as infrared goggles allow soldiers to see warm objects at night, VISIR lets the VLT see hot stars and warm planets against the coldness of space.

Looking at star systems in the infrared spectrum greatly reduces the brightness gap between planets and stars, but planets are still quite a bit cooler than their hosts, which remain millions of times brighter. As it stands now, despite being able to theoretically detect car headlights as far away as the moon, the VLT is not quite up to the challenge. Breakthrough thinks the answer is a new pair of sunglasses.

This technology, more properly called coronagraphy, is the practice of physically blocking out the lighthouse so the fireflies will stand out. Traditionally applied to the sun to aid observation of the corona, the suns outer atmosphere, astronomers have only recently started to apply the technique to attempt direct photography of exoplanets.

Under the terms of the agreement, Breakthrough Initiatives will pay for most of the upgrades, including adaptive optics to counter distortions of light passing through Earths atmosphere, and the ESO will provide telescope time to observe Alpha Centauri. The University of Liege (Belgium) and Uppsala University (Sweden) will work together to develop a new coronagraph.

The new hardware includes an instrument module contracted to Kampf Telescope Optics (KTO), Munich, which will host the wavefront sensor, and a novel detector calibration device. In addition, there are plans for a new coronagraph to be developed jointly by University of Liege (Belgium) and Uppsala University (Sweden).

Detecting and studying potentially habitable planets orbiting other stars will be one of the main scientific goals of the upcoming European Extremely Large Telescope (E-ELT). Although the increased size of the E-ELT will be essential to obtaining an image of a planet at larger distances in the Milky Way, the light collecting power of the VLT is just sufficient to image a planet around the nearest star, Alpha Centauri.

The developments for VISIR will also be beneficial for the future METIS instrument, to be mounted on the E-ELT, as the knowledge gained and proof of concept will be directly transferable.

The huge size of the E-ELT should allow METIS to detect and study exoplanets the size of Mars orbiting Alpha Centauri, if they exist, as well as other potentially habitable planets around other nearby stars.

The Breakthrough Initiatives are a program of scientific and technological exploration founded in 2015 by Internet investor and science philanthropist Yuri Milner to explore the Universe, seek scientific evidence of life beyond Earth, and encourage public debate from a planetary perspective.

Breakthrough Starshot is a $100 million research and engineering program aiming to demonstrate proof of concept for a new technology, enabling ultra-light unmanned space flight at 20% of the speed of light, and to lay the foundations for a flyby mission to Alpha Centauri within a generation.

SOURCES  Breakthrough Initiative, European space Organization, Wikipedia
The Vulcan 3D printed home construction system is comprised of the Vulcan printer and the Magma portable mixing unit that prepares ICONs proprietary building material, Lavacrete, for printing. All of this hardware is driven by the BuildOS software suite. BuildOS generates and prepares architecture for printing, then controls the robotic hardware on-site to turn digital plans into physical homes.

The Vulcan is ICON Builds third generation, large-scale 3D-printer system for additive construction. The current Vulcan system is 1.5x larger, 2x faster than our previous generation and capable of printing homes and structures up to 3,000 square feet without relocation. The Vulcan can produce resilient, single-story homes faster than conventional methods and with less waste and more design freedom.

Magma is a smart, portable factory that feeds a Vulcan printer with material to print a home. Intelligent and working in perfect sync with a Vulcan printer on-site, Magma takes the guesswork out of complex, high-performance cementitious material.

The Magma system feeds Vulcan printers with ICONs advanced cement-based material, Lavacrete. Using any of ICONs proprietary Lavacrete blends, the Magma system mixes Lavacrete, additives, and water automatically, depending on current site weather conditions, then supplies the ready-to-print Lavacrete to the Vulcan. Think of Magma as an extremely smart print cartridge, super-sized for home construction.

NASA has provided funding to ICON to develop 3D printing of buildings for the moon and Mars.
Scientists and associates of the Natural History Museum described an extraordinary 815 new species to science in 2023.

With Earth facing a biodiversity crisis, it has never been more important to understand the life that shares our planet.

The new species include 619 new species of wasps, including a new genus called Dalek in celebration of the 60th anniversary of Doctor Who.

These new species were included in the 722 new research papers released by the Museum over the past 12 months.

The move of 28 million specimens to a bespoke collections, science and digitation centre at Thames Valley Science Park will help the Museum do more to reverse biodiversity loss

This year scientists at the Natural History Museum have been busy documenting new species, from an ancient dinosaur to worms at the bottom of the ocean, describing an extraordinary 815 new species in 2023.

Identifying that a species is new to science is the first step to understanding it and therefore protecting it. Describing the new species, on a morphological and genetic scale, underpins much of the work that goes into protecting, preserving and reversing declines in biodiversity across the natural world.

The uncontested stars of this years list are the wasps, with a staggering 619 new species described over the past 12 months. With 2023 celebrating the 60th anniversary of Doctor Who, an entire genus of wasp has been named Dalek along with the 14 species within it, giving a nod to the long-running sci-fi series.

Not just restricted to the picnic-disrupting black and yellow kind, wasps are in fact an incredibly diverse group of insects that include pollinators, predators, parasites and parasitoids. The majority of new wasps this year belong to a group known as the Encyrtidae. These are parasitic insects that lay their eggs on, and in, unsuspecting invertebrates hosts.

The astonishing numbers described this year are largely due to the ongoing work of the Museums Scientific Associates Dr John Noyes and Christer Hansson, who between them have published 574 new species as part of their work documenting the diversity of Hymenoptera in Costa Rica. As well as being striking to look at, with flashes of metallic blues, purples and oranges, they are also economically significant animals that help control agricultural pests.

Dr John Noyes comments, In the past 60 years or so, three species of Encyrtidae have been incredibly important. One in preventing the possible starvation of up to 300 million people in Africa, a second preventing the rainforest from destruction in Thailand, and another the collapse of the economy of Togo.

Following on from the wasps, there were 58 new species of beetles named. This has included a number of vivid green and pinkish-orange darkling beetles from China and Laos, and four new long-snouted weevils from South Africa.

Joining the invertebrates are three freshwater and one marine crab, a handful of trematode worms and protists, two bees from Oman and six stick insects from Australia. This included one stick insect called Micropodacanthus tweedae that was found on the side of a bin, proving that new species can be found in even the most unremarkable of environments.

That even extends to the built-up hubbub of London, where an unidentifiable moth discovered in Ealing turned out be a new species actually native to Western Australia. Called Tachystola mulliganae after the amateur moth-er who found it, the moth has so far eluded other urbane trappers. It joins eight other moths named this year.

Moving slightly further afield to the coast of Byron Bay, Australia where a whale carcass on the ocean floor has proven to be particularly rich pickings. On the remains of this one whale, researchers were able to identify an incredible nine new species of polychaete worms, including two that actually eat the bones.

The tally of vertebrates described each year is often lower than their invertebrate counterparts. This years new entries include 24 new species of frogs, of which 20 are miniature species in the genus Mantidactylus from the forests of Madagascar. In addition to these, there have also been a handful lizards such as Strophurus spinula, a gecko from Australia that has the most strikingly patterned eyes, a snake and two fish.

There have been a number of new plants and algae also described this year. This has included a new species of birch tree from China and 15 newly described species of algae from the freshwater pools, creeks and bores of Australias Northern Territory.

In addition to the living, researchers have also been busy describing the past diversity of Earth.

This year has seen four new fossil bird species. These include an ancient, toothed bird that was flapping around at the time the asteroid hit, a species of Mauritius ground thrush that likely went extinct in the 1600s after the introduction of black rats, and the largest penguin ever known to exist, Kumimanu fordycei.

There was also a new dinosaur from the Isle of Wight. The species of large, armoured ankylosaur would have once roamed the flood plain with a meandering river that covered the island around 140 million years ago. It was named Vectipelta barretti after the Museums Professor Paul Barrett.

Dr Susannah Maidment is a palaeontologist at the Museum who helped describe this new species.

Paul has had an outsized influence on our discipline,' says Susie. 'He is incredibly high profile and has contributed an enormous amount to the field. But he's also had an absolutely huge influence on all of our careers, and we wanted to thank him for that.'

Diving beneath the waves and there has also been a number of fossil aquatic species named this year. This has included a trio of trilobites, a smattering of ancient sharks, a horseshoe crab relative and a couple of fossil turtles, in addition to an ancient creature called Anomalocaris dalyae, which would have been the largest predator swimming the seas roughly 500 million years ago.

As plants then first emerged onto land, a newly described species of parasitic fungus was not far behind. Discovered infecting the roots of 400-million-year-old plants, Potteromyces asteroxylicola, named after Beatrix Potter, best known as beloved author, but honoured here due to her reputation as a dedicated mycologist. The fungus is the earliest disease-causing fungus ever discovered.

Finally, there have been a number of extraterrestrial classifications with 14 new meteorites described by Museum scientists this year, and a new species of mineral named Mikecoxite joining the list.

As part of The Darwin Tree of Life project, any new species found in the UK will have their DNA barcode sequenced, and full genomes registered, and uploaded onto the extensive database which aims to host data on all described UK species. In fact, this year, the project reached the 1000th genome milestone. Knowledge about species genomics can contribute to conservation efforts that are mitigating the impacts of negative environmental change.

The new species descriptions contributed to the 722 new research papers released by the Museum over the past 12 months. These papers investigated topics from biodiversity to marsupial evolution building on our understanding of the natural world and helping find solutions for the planetary emergency.

This year, our digital collection containing 5.7 million specimens has been used not only by our scientists but by researchers around the globe to publish studies on topics from human health to extinction. Since 2015, the Data Portal has seen over 40 billion records downloaded over 770,000 download events and over 3,000 scientific papers cite our data.

Through the use of cutting-edge technology to certify that a species is new to science, protection of the specimens housed in our collections  boosted by our move of 28 million specimens to a bespoke collections, science and digitation centre at Thames Valley Science Park  and making more specimens digitally available to researchers globally, the Museum can play its part in reversing the decline in biodiversity we are seeing across the natural world.

Notes to editors

Assets

Images are available here.

Press contact

Natural History Museum Press Office

Tel: +44 (0)20 7942 5654 / 07799690151

Email: press@nhm.ac.uk

The Natural History Museum is a world-leading science centre and one of the most visited attractions in the UK. A global source of curiosity, inspiration and joy.

Our vision is to build a future in which both people and the planet thrive.

We aim to be a catalyst for change, engaging advocates for the planet in everything that we do. Our 350 scientists are finding solutions to the planetary emergency in all aspects of life.

Visit, join and support the Natural History Museum today. Protecting the planet. It's in our nature.
BAKU, Azerbaijan, December 28. The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) has approved various contingency plans and is on high alert in the border area with Lebanon, Chief of Staff of the Israeli Armed Forces Herzi Halevi said at a meeting to assess the situation at the headquarters of the armys northern command, Trend reports.

"Today we have approved plans for various contingencies and must be ready to strike if necessary. The IDF and its Northern Command are on high alert," - Halevi noted.

Herzi Halevi noted that preparations in the border area with Lebanon have been carried out properly and comprehensively, and stressed that this work should continue at the same pace.
BAKU, Azerbaijan, December 29. About one million earthquake-resistant houses will be built in Istanbul, the Minister of Environment, Urban Planning and Climate Change of Turkiye Mehmet Ozhaseki said, Trend reports.

According to him, their construction is planned to be completed in a few years.

"12 areas of Istanbul have been identified where new residential buildings will be built," he said.

The minister noted that out of 7 million 500 thousand houses in Istanbul, about 1 million 500 thousand are considered unsafe for living.

It was said that 600 thousand of them must be urgently dismantled.




Lucky Aiyedatiwa, the governor of Ondo, has declared a three-day mourning in the state over the death of Rotimi Akeredolu, his immediate predecessor.

Akeredolu died on Wednesday morning at the age of 67.

According to the Ondo government, the former governor died of complications from protracted prostate cancer.

Shortly after he was sworn in as governor, Aiyedatiwa described the death of Akeredolu as a monumental loss to the people of Ondo state.

He declared December 28 to 30 as mourning days for the passing of his principal.

The governor also announced the appointment of Ebenezer Adeniyan as his chief press secretary.

In a statement by Omojuwa Olusegun, the deputy chief of staff, Aiyedatiwa also appointed Smart Omodunbi Jnr as his special assistant on political matters.





The governor named Abire Olugbenga as special assistant on new media, Motunrayo Oyedele as special assistant on photography and Temitayo Iperepolu as special assistant on domestic and government house.

In his acceptance speech, Aiyedatiwa said the ongoing infrastructure projects initiated by his predecessor, the late Rotimi Akeredolu, will be completed.

Todays event has placed a burden on all of us to pull together and stay together as one because we have the onerous responsibility to continue to sustain the legacies of Arakunrin Oluwarotimi Odunayo Akeredolu, SAN, CON, which was good governance, Aiyedatiwa had said.

Our leader and governor, during his time embarked upon several landmark projects, many of which have been completed and several ones ongoing.

We now have the responsibility to complete them. It is to the credit of Arakunrin Akeredolu, that the state now has a flyover in Ore, while the one in Akure is ongoing.
Oluwarotimi, the son of the late Governor Rotimi Akeredolu of Ondo State, has disclosed that his father died peacefully in his sleep in Germany.

The news of Akeredolus death broke on Wednesday after undergoing illness for a while.

But, Oluwarotimi Jnr disclosed that the late governor died while receiving treatment for prostate cancer in Germany.

In a statement he signed, Oluwarotimi said the burial arrangement of the deceased would soon be made public.

The statement reads: He died peacefully and departed in his sleep at a Hospital in Germany, where he was undergoing treatment for protracted prostate cancer. While we are deeply saddened and devastated by his departure, we find solace in the understanding that as he transitions to eternity, he will be guided by the benevolent hands of the angels of light, with whom he resided during his remarkable and fruitful journey on Earth.

During this challenging time, we sincerely appreciate everyone who has stood by us and extended their support since the news broke. We humbly request your prayers and support, while also asking for privacy as we navigate through this trying period.

Details regarding the burial arrangements will be announced by the family and the State Government in due course.




A group within the ruling All Progressives Congress, APC, Consolidated APC Grassroots Movement, CAGraM, has enjoined the new Governor of Ondo State, Lucky Aiyedatiwa, not to abandon ongoing projects embarked upon by his predecessor, the late Rotimi Akeredolu.





Recall that Akeredolus death was announced on Wednesday after which Aiyedatiwa was sworn in to replace him.





The Deputy National Chairman of the group, Ambassador Agbi Stephen Omobamidele, while congratulating Aiyedatiwa in a statement, urged him to continue the developmental agenda of his predecessor.





He called on the people of the state to support the new governor.





He said, I congratulate the Ondo State governor and urged him to embark on a speedy recovery of the developmental agenda of his predecessors which was altered by his illness, which kept him out of the state for many months.





In the same vein, I call on all party faithful and the good people of the state to support H.E. Governor Lucky Aiyedatiwa as he plans to bring the state up to date with the renewed hope of the government of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu.
A dramatic scene unfolded yesterday at the Ibadan private residence of the late Ondo State Governor, Rotimi Akeredolu.

The presence of journalists that converged to cover the condolence visit of the chairman of the Nigerian Governors Forum, Governor Abdulrahman Abdulrazaq and his Oyo State counterpart, Seyi Makinde to the deceased residence sparked off resistance.

The presence of journalists generated a negative reaction from one of the daughters of the deceased, named Ololade Akeredolu, who ordered all the journalists to leave the residence, on the ground that it was a private residence and not a Government House.

The duo arrived the Jericho residence of the late governor at about 5:30 pm.

Upon arrival, the two governors went straight into the private residence where the wife, Betty and some immediate family members were mourning.

However, swift intervention of some colleagues calmed the frayed nerves as the reporters who had laid siege to the entrance gates of the residence to monitor situation felt angry at the negative reaction.

Apparently sensing what had happened, the two governors after the visit walked out to the street where the journalists were waiting to interview the visitors.

Speaking, the Kwara State governor lauded the deceased governor for his commitment and impact on humanity.

Abdulrahman who described Akeredolus death as a great loss to the nation, recounted that the late Aketi rose to the peak of his career and politics and impacted greatly on humanity in developmental politics

He said: This is a solemn affairs, we are here today with the governor of Oyo state and myself on behalf of all the members of the Nigeria Governors Forum to pay a condolence visit to the family of the late Arakunrin Akeredolu. It is a sad affair.

We met the wife. We can just continue to pray that his soul will continue to rest in peace and may God give the family the fortitude to bear the loss.

It is indeed a great loss for the nation. This is a man that rose to the height of his chosen career, the bar. He rose to become a Senior Advocate of Nigeria. He rose to the height of politics, he was the governor of a state.

He impacted greatly on humanity in developmental politics. All we can say for now is that may his soul rest in peace.

And we can also add that of the former Speaker, House of Representatives, Dr Ghali Naabba, may Allah forgive him his sins and give him aljannah firdus.

Also in his brief remarks, Governor Makinde said he has lost a friend, a brother and someone they had been in the trenches together.

Describing Akeredolu as a courageous individual who doesnt mince words but someone who speaks truth to power, Governor Makinde, said the death was a big loss for him personally and for the southwest as a whole.

Well, I can say that I have lost a personal friend, a brother, somebody that we have been in the trenches together. When we were going to set up Amotekun, he was pivotal to it.

And when we took the decision for Southern presidency, himself and the former governor of Anambra, they chaired the meeting at the Delta Government House.

So, this is somebody that is a courageous individuals, he doesnt mince words. He says it as it is, he would speak truth to power. It is a big loss for me personally and for the southwest.

We will still continue to internalise it but we give God the glory that he lived a fulfilled life. At the end of the day, it is really not how long but how well and he lived well. He impacted humanity and the Southwest of Nigeria.
Human Rights Lawyer, Femi Falana, SAN, has called on the Nigerian government to stop the wanton killings in Plateau State.

The Chairman Alliance on Surviving Covid 19, and Beyond (ASCAB), made this known in a statement he personally signed on Wednesday.

Falana who expressed sadness over the killings of innocent Nigerians in Plateau listed casualties recorded in the last 20 months in the state.

His words: The brutal killing of unarmed citizens has become the order of the day in Plateau State. Even though the Federal Government and the Plateau State Government had set up judicial and administrative panels of enquiry, the culprits that were identified and recommended for prosecution were treated like sacred cows. Hence, the wanton killing of innocent people and destruction of properties have continued unabated .The casualties recorded in the last 20 months include the following:

1. On April 10, 2022, 250 people killed in a series of attacks in the State by a gang of bandits. The police did not arrest any of the murderers.

2. On May 16, 2023, about 87 people were killed and 39 injured during an attack on villages in the Mangu Local Government Area of Plateau State. The spokesperson of the state police command Alabo Alfred disclosed that seven suspects in connection with the attack had been arrested. The suspects were not prosecuted.

3. On October 1, 2023, at least eight people were killed and five more injured in an attack on the Du community of the Kwall District, part of the Rigwe Chiefdom. The police did not arrest the murderers.

4. On December 24, 2023, a group of bandits killed about 145 citizens and even had time to record their atrocities in video, which they later circulated. As usual, the Federal Government has condemned the brutal killing of unarmed citizens. The Commissioner of Police, Plateau State Command, CP Okoro Alawari who said that the deadly attacks took place in 12 villages of Bokkos and Barkin-Ladi Local Government Areas of Plateau State and that 221 houses, 27 motorcycles and eight motor vehicles were burnt down.

In a similar vein, the Commander of Operation Safe Haven (OPSH), Maj.-Gen. Abdusalam Abubakar, said his troops had responded to several distress calls during the attacks. Abubakar said: In the last 48 hours, we have responded to 36 distress calls from different locations, simultaneously. As we speak, some of our men are in hospital due to the injuries sustained in the attacks. But we are committed to ensuring that we put a stop to all criminal activities in Plateau.

But MACBAN has said Fulani and their cattle had become targets of revenge by armed youths in Bokkos LGA of the state. The state chairman of the association, Muhammed Nuru Abdullahi, has accused security personnel of colluding with farmers to attack the Fulani herders. According to him,

 The whole problem started as a result of cattle rustling where three cattle breeders were killed and 181 cows were attempted to be rustled on 23/12/2023 (Saturday), but they failed. While on Sunday 24/12/23, twenty two people were killed in the aforementioned villages, there was burning of Fulani houses in Makada, Matalem, Momndun, Matol, Tashan maikarfi, Yelwan nono, Fokos, Shoro and Morfet villages. About 130 houses were burnt and demolished. This unprovoked act of criminality is totally condemnable particularly at a time that we have put behind us incidents of the past to work with government and security agencies to ensure lasting peace in our communities.

In view of the conflicting accounts of the deadly attacks the Federal Government ought to carry out a full investigation into the killing and destruction of properties. The culprits should be fished out and prosecuted without any delay. However, in order to end the incessant clashes between farmers and herders the Federal Government should establish ranches in Plateau State and other States of the Federation for animal husbandry. After all, the Buhari administration had provided N6.2 billion for the establishment of ranches in Katsina State.

In addressing violent conflicts in the country generally, the federal, state and local governments should address the root cause of physical insecurity which is rooted in poverty and inequality.
Stanley Kavwam, deputy national publicity secretary of the Middle Belt Forum, says insurgents have sent a letter of an impending attack to a community in Plateau state.

Speaking on Thursday during an interview on AriseTV, Kavwam said the terrorists are planning to launch the attack on Pushit community in Mangu LGA on December 29.

Last week, Plateau communities suffered coordinated attacks by gunmen who killed over 100 people and left many others injured and displaced.

Kavwam claimed the military is aware of the identity of the attackers and their hideouts, adding that some communities are still being invaded.

While I was driving down from Jos to this place, I received a call. A letter was sent to my own village by the terrorists that the attackers were going to invade on the 29th of this December, he said.

All the attacks that were orchestrated, there was a letter to that effect that was dropped by an anonymous person, intimating the residents of Mangu LGA that there would be attacks.

Commenting on informing security forces of impending attacks, he said over 30 distress calls were made to the personnel before the recent attack in Plateau.

He said most of the communities attacked in Plateau are Christian settlements, adding that the operation usually lasts for about 24 hours without security intervention.

37 DISTRESS CALLS

Kavwam said security agencies knew that an attack was coming before the Christmas eve massacre.

They received about 37 distress calls, that is operation Safe Haven or the Joint Task Force. About 37 distress calls!! Yet nothing was done, he said.

All the casualties that we are talking about are in a community inhabited by Christians and the security forces know the attackers, they even know their hideouts for the two decades.

They know where they orchestrate the attacks from because that autonomous community called Manga, which is at the foot of Bokkos hills, bordering Wamba in Nasarawa state to the south.

Its this autonomous community from where these attacks are orchestrated from, just the same way we have in the Mandara hills in Borno state.

For instance, the military relocated an entire community of over 11,000 people, leaving the entire Dangoa roads free for the terrorists to operate.

Section 14B of the 1999 constitution as amended stipulates that the welfare and security of the people shall be the primary purpose of government.

These attacks could last for as long as 12 to 24 hours and there is no security presence whatsoever.

Pushit community in Mangu LGA of Plateau state. A letter was sent today to Pushit that they are going to attack on the 29th.

He added that despite President Bola Tinubus directive to service chiefs to intensify security in the affected communities, nothing has changed and the attacks are still going on and there is no response from the security authorities.




Arsenal boss, Mikel Arteta has defended Gabriel Martinelli, insisting that the attacker is not struggling with confidence.





According to Arteta, the Brazilian is a massive threat despite his lack of goals and assists for the Gunners this season.





Martinelli impressed in the Premier League last season for Arsenal, scoring 15 goals and providing five assists across 36 games.





But he has failed to replicate that form so far this season.





Martinelli has scored just twice and provided two assists in 16 games for Mikel Artetas side.





It is difficult [to explain], Arteta said at his pre-match press conference on Wednesday ahead of Arsenals Premier League tie with West Ham United on Thursday.





Sometimes it is decision-making, sometimes it is hitting the post or missing a chance.





He is really trying. He is a massive threat for us. Everything that he generates with and without the ball, the pressure he puts on the backline, he is a key player for us and things will happen [for him] again.





Confidence is not a problem for Martinelli. Sometimes he needs to put the break down or lift his head up and make that decision for everybody.
Hon. Zayyanu Muhammad Bello, the Executive Chairman of Maiyama Local Government Area, is dead.

The Kebbi State Government officially announced his passing after a prolonged illness.

The news of his death was conveyed to the public through a statement released by Ahmed Idris, the spokesman for the state governor, on Thursday.

Bello, a dedicated public servant, breathed his last early in the morning at the Usmanu Danfodiyo University Teaching Hospital (UDUTH) in Sokoto.

Regrettably, with a heavy heart, I announce the death of Hon. Zayyanu Muhammad Bello, Executive Chairman of Maiyama Local Government.

He died early this morning at UDUTH Sokoto after a protracted illness. The statement read.

The statement added that the government would communicate details of his burial arrangements to the public in due course.
Actor Doyin Hassan welcomes first child after 24 years

Doyin Hassan, the Nigerian actor, has addressed the misunderstanding trailing the birth of his first child.

On Monday, the actor announced the arrival of his bundle of joy after 24 years of toils and struggles.

Hassan also shared photos of the childs dedication in a church via a post on his Instagram page.

The 54-year-old actor described his newborn baby girl as a great testimony of Gods faithfulness.

However, some media reports claimed Hassan and his wife waited for 24 years before welcoming their first child.

Addressing the misunderstanding in an Instagram post on Wednesday, the actor said his wife was not barren for 24 years.

Hassan said he was first married to Adeola Doyin-Hassan in June 1999 but she died in February 2008.

He thereafter tied the knot with Bolanle Doyin-Hassan, his colleague at the Mount Zion Drama ministries, in April 2020, but she died eight months later.

Hassan married Oladunni, who is his third wife, in October 2022.

The actor described his new wife as Gods redirection, adding that the testimony was about me and not the woman I married.

I waited for 24 years and not my wife Oladunni: my testimony about 24 years of waiting has been misunderstood in certain quarters, he said.

The testimony was about me and not the woman I married. I first got married on the 5th of June 1999 and lost 2 precious women to the cold hands of death over time.

I married Adeola Doyin-Hassan in June 1999 and lost her 8.5 years after (February 20 2008 on her birthday).

I waited for 2 years before I remarried Bolanle Doyin-Hassan in April 2010. Bolanle passed in December 2020 and I waited 1 year 7 months before I remarried in October 2022.

My new wife was not barren for 24 years. I was the one who shared a testimony of my tears and toils for 24 years. Meeting Oladunni was Gods redirection of my divine journey.
Vice-President Kashim Shettima on Wednesday visited Plateau state to condole the victims of the recent killings in 17 communities by suspected gunmen.

The vice-president was at Bokkos, one of the LGAs in the state where the attacks took place.

Shettima who represented President Bola Tinubu, in a Facebook post, said the government is committed to addressing the crisis in the state.

Bokkos, Barkin-Ladi, and parts of Mangu LGA were invaded by gunmen who killed over 100 and displaced many residents.

The incident occurred on Sunday when residents were preparing for Christmas celebrations.

Over 200 houses were destroyed by the gunmen who also caused many to suffer injuries as a result of the attack.

The vice-president assured the victims that killings in the state must stop, adding that Tinubu would not relent in ensuring the affected communities get justice and residents are safe.

Earlier today, I visited Plateau State to condole with the government and people over the recent attacks on communities in Barkin Ladi and Bokkos local government areas of the state, he said.

I conveyed President Bola Ahmed Tinubus condolences, and the resolve of his administration to address the crisis in the state.

Indeed, the Tinubu administration will not rest on its oars until victims of the gruesome attacks on communities in Barkin Ladi and Bokkos local government areas of Plateau state get justice and the residents are safe.

I made a vow that the killings on the Plateau and other parts of the country must stop.

When one community bleeds, the entire nation feels the pain. The pain we feel now transcends ethnicity or religion, geography or politics. The grief that binds us is a testament to our shared humanity, not differences.




Certain of the most exclusive brands like to add a hidden signature to their watches as an elegant means of authentication not to mention the thrill of sharing a secret with some of the most desirable timepieces in the world

These secret signatures can be anything from an almost invisible dial engraving to a precious stone that distinguishes a platinum case from steel. For some, these hidden details are part of measures to combat fakes. For others, they are the hallmark of an exclusive creation. Here are some of the creative ways brands and artists are secretly signing their work.

Dominique Baron, who passed away in 2012, painted some of the most beautiful enamel miniatures for brands including Van Cleef & Arpels, Delaneau, Laurent Ferrier, Roger Dubuis, Patek Philippe, Cartier, Montblanc and Jaeger-LeCoultre. An artist of incomparable talent, she added a secret signature to every dial she created. One that so far no-one has found!

Anita Porchet is another exceptionally gifted enamellist whose studio is in constant demand, often crafting dials for Piaget. Porchet is proud to work with a team and to pass her skills on to them. She, too, systematically signs her creations: with her full name for a piece she has executed entirely herself and with her initials A.P. for a miniature painted by her atelier. A sure-fire way of knowing who did what!

Altiplano Wings of Light in rose gold with diamond-set bezel, 41mm diameter, ultra-thin automatic movement, leather strap. Made to order. Price on request.  Piaget

Should you ever come across a Rolex with an ice-blue dial, you can be certain it is cased in platinum. Only models in this noble metal are paired with this dial colour, which was introduced in 2000. The brand has a second trick up its sleeve, this time as a counterfeiting countermeasure. Dots and dashes under the Rolex logo on the winding crown form a cryptic language that identifies both the watch and the material it is made from.

Oyster Perpetual Day-Date in platinum, 40mm diameter, automatic movement, platinum bracelet, CHF 60,400,  Rolex

Like Rolex, Patek Philippe differentiates between its steel and platinum models. Since 1999, every Patek watch in platinum features a tiny diamond set in the caseband, between the lugs at 6 oclock. Noticeable only on close inspection, this detail proves beyond any doubt the watchs credentials.

Golden Ellipse in platinum, 34.5 x 39.5mm, automatic movement, leather strap. CHF 50,000,  Patek Philippe

Vacheron Constantin joins Rolex and Patek Philippe in distinguishing between steel and platinum. Not with a special dial colour or a diminutive diamond, but with a particular treatment of its Maltese Cross symbol: the brand affixes a rose-gold emblem to the salmon dials of its Traditionnelle and Patrimony watches in platinum. This is the only time the Maltese Cross appears tone on tone in the brands collections.

Patrimony in platinum, 42.5mm diameter, automatic movement, retrograde day and date, leather strap. CHF 62,000,  Vacheron Constantin

Possibly the ultimate personalisation: Czapek writes its secret signature inside the Grand Feu enamel dial of its Quai des Bergues watches now with the possibility to add a second secret sentence, on request. The idea originated with a customers wish to address a personal message to their father. How is it done? Czapek is giving nothing away. The sentence is invisible, revealed only when the owner positions the watch so that a beam of sunlight bounces off the dial.

Quai des Bergues No. 33ter in rose gold, 42.5mm diameter, manual-winding movement, small seconds, power-reserve indicator, leather strap. CHF 36,600,  Czapek

Breguet watches have been the victims of counterfeiters since the eighteenth century, prompting Abraham-Louis Breguet to introduce an identifying mark in 1795. This seal of approval was traced on the dial with a drypoint pantograph and could only be seen when viewed in oblique light. Breguet continues to etch a secret signature on the majority of its dials, followed by the watchs individual number. Look out for it under the 12 on an enamel dial, or on either side of the 12 on an engine-turned dial.

Classique 5177 in rose gold, 38mm diameter, automatic movement, date in an aperture, leather strap. CHF 23,800,  Breguet

Almost invisible inscriptions, miniature diamonds, special colours, coded references these are just some of the strategies brands have imagined to prove their watches authenticity in a suitably subtle and exclusive way.




Apex Igbo socio-cultural organisation, Ohanaeze Ndigbo Worldwide, has described the killing of over 150 persons from some communities in Barkin Ladi, Mangu and Bokkos Council Areas of Plateau State as an orchestrated act of genocide.

The group said it received with a rude shock the gruesome massacre of some persons in the two communities in Plateau State by gunmen.

Chief Emmanuel Iwuanyanwu, the President General of Ohanaeze Ndigbo, made the condemnation in a statement issued by the National Publicity Secretary of Ohanaeze Ndigbo Worldwide, Dr Alex Ogbonnia, on Wednesday in Enugu.

Iwuanyanwu said he was in his village in Imo State for the Christmas holidays when he received the awful news.

The Igbo leader described the killing, burning of houses, indiscriminate shootings and displacing of residents as an orchestrated act of genocide.

He wondered why in this modern age and civilization, the country, Nigeria, was still posting the brutish, cruel and barbaric news of mass killings of such magnitude.

The President General lamented that the Federal Government had refused to heed the Ohanaeze Ndigbos call for Restructuring and State Policing System as a panacea for the incessant losses of lives and property in the various states of the country.

According to him, it has become very obvious that the federal security architecture has proved very ineffective for the diverse demography.

The Igbo leader noted that such heinous and cowardly killings had persisted because in the past the perpetrators of such savage acts often went unpunished.

I therefore urge President Bola Tinubu to do everything possible to bring to book those behind the callous crime in Plateau State, he said.

He directed the Igbo leadership in Plateau State to extend all forms of solidarity with the immediate families of the deceased, the displaced and the sundry victims of the catastrophe.

On behalf of all the sons and daughters of Igbo, we send our condolences to the governor of Plateau State, His Excellency, Caleb Mutfwang, the good people of Plateau State and the Middle Belt Forum led by Dr Bitrus Pogu.

I pray the Almighty to grant the souls of the deceased a blissful repose in His bosom, Iwuanyanwu said.




Justice Donatus Okorowo of the Federal High Court in Abuja has extended the interim order restraining the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, and the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, from taking any action against the 26 Rivers State House of Assembly members who defected to the All Progressives Congress, APC.





Justice Okorowo extended the order following an application by counsel for the lawmakers, Steve Adehi.





He held that based on Order 26, Rule 10 of the Federal High Court, the court had the discretionary power to grant the plea in the interest of justice.





The judge said he was persuaded by the reasons given by counsel for the lawmakers that granting the order would be in the interest of justice.





Justice Okorowo subsequently adjourned the matter until January 24 for hearing.
DEAR MISS MANNERS: I am a high school student attending a boarding school. Every month, the school runs a bus from campus to a local shopping mall. Its a fun way to spend time with friends, do some shopping and grab dinner.

Last month, my friends and I signed up for the mall trip to purchase some new clothes before a school dance in the evening. Unfortunately, not all went as planned.

One of the other students took the bus to the mall, decided to leave early and took a car service back to campus. This is completely against school rules.

Because no one could get in touch with him, we had to wait around at the mall while they tried to locate him. We all ended up missing the dance.

We were upset, saying that this student was selfish and that he should apologize. But his friends defended him, arguing that one of the chaperones could have waited around at the mall for him while the other chaperone escorted the rest of the students back to campus.

What do you think?

GENTLE READER: That arguing with people who inconvenienced themselves to make sure their classmate was okay, which is what your friends did, is not just rude, but also short-sighted.

***

DEAR MISS MANNERS: A co-worker brought me dinner after my recent surgery. Was I obligated to ask her to stay for dinner?

GENTLE READER: To hear, over a meal, the details of your surgery?

No. Miss Manners believes that your co-worker understood that the meal was an act of kindness for someone who is not currently in a position to cook -- nor to act as a host. That can be done when you are fully recovered.

***

(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.)
An Atlantic County man pleaded guilty last week to federal charges that he embezzled money as an consultant for a Philadelphia-based startup company, according to court records.

Federal prosecutors charged Joseph Geromini, of Linwood, with 10 counts of wire fraud in 2021 after he was accused of orchestrating a scheme in for a scheme in 2018 as chief operating officer of the company.

He used the money he embezzled to purchase a Range Rover, Philadelphia 76ers tickets and to help cover unpaid taxes, federal officials said.
The driver who allegedly shot a tractor-trailer during a road rage incident on I-78 earlier this month has been identified and charged, the Hunterdon County Prosecutors Office announced.

A pickup truck and the tractor-trailer were both traveling on Interstate 78 East in Readington Township on Dec. 15 around 3 p.m. when the dispute occurred, the prosecutors office said.

The driver of the pickup truck fired a handgun at the tractor-trailer, striking its engine compartment, and continued traveling east. The truck then became disabled on the side of the highway, and the driver, who was not injured, called police.

The New Jersey State Police identified Collen M. Brown, 25, of Jamaica, New York, as the suspect driver and arrested him on Wednesday, Dec. 27 on two counts of aggravated assault and two firearm offenses.

Authorities had previously publicized a photos of the offending vehicle, a white Dodge Ram pickup truck.

Brown is being held at the Warren County Correctional Center and is scheduled to appear in court on Jan. 2.

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Nicolas Fernandes may be reached at nfernandes@njadvancemedia.com.
When library director Tonya Garcia first heard mysterious noises above the ceiling tiles of Long Branchs main library in late 2017, she grabbed a ladder to investigate.

She didnt find the source, which turned out to be a mother and four baby raccoons found and rescued months later. But, Garcias search above the ceiling tiles turned up another fascinating discovery: hidden century-old Carnegie columns and stained glass window archways.

I said we have to renovate and restore this, Garcia recalled. We have to bring this back to its Carnegie majesty. Its gorgeous.

Six years later, the Monmouth County library is in the middle of doing just that with a $6.2 million project to restore the building to some of its original grandeur.

The Long Branch library, located just a mile from the beach, is believed to be the last library constructed in the state with funds from famed steel magnate and philanthropist Andrew Carnegie and the Carnegie Foundation, Garcia said.

Carnegie helped fund more than 1,600 libraries across the country between 1883 and 1929, as well as 785 libraries in other countries. He donated more than $60 million for the projects.

In New Jersey, Carnegie provided grants to build 36 libraries, including buildings that still stand in Elizabeth, Perth Amboy, Kearny, Atlantic City and other communities, New Jersey Monthly reported. Some have been restored to their original designs after being covered up, while other Carnegie libraries have been demolished or repurposed for other uses, the magazine reported.

Long Branchs library is undergoing a significant renovation, officials said.

The project will upgrade the central systems, including heating, cooling, electrical work and the fire alarm, while also restoring some of the original design as a Carnegie library, Garcia said.

There will be arched glass entryway windows and indoor columns, some of which are original. Windows will be restored and some new spaces, including a local history room, teen room and sensory room, will be added.

Some lights will be changed from fluorescent to pendulum lighting, and a traditional color palette will be used, with a focus on the citys green hues, according to an update on the librarys website.

The ceiling, revealed to be much higher beyond the ceiling tiles, will also be elevated and restored to what it initially looked like, said Long Branch Mayor John Pallone.

Its more of a majestic, grand entrance, he said.

Professional sump pumps and a generator are also being installed, in anticipation of future inclement weather, Garcia said. The library has been renovated before after previous storms.

During the last few rainstorms, the city took on significant amounts of water, she said.

No one likes the term the new normal, but I dont think this is unprecedented any more, Garcia said. I think were going to see this type of rainfall and flooding, and we have to do what we have to do to preserve the building and make sure its here for generations to come.

The Long Branch library was funded by the Carnegie Foundation. Andrew Carnegie helped fund 36 libraries in the state.Provided by Long Branch

Located on Broadway, the Long Branch library was completed in 1920, a year after Carnegies death.

Site plans and the $30,000 grant from the Carnegie Foundation were both submitted a year before construction, but officials were granted an extension due to World War I.

The current $6.2 million Long Branch library renovation is being funded by the state and city.

In 2021, the project received $3.1 million from the state through the Library Construction Bond Act, and another $3.1 million from the city, because it was a matched grant, Garcia said.

The renovation is expected to be completed next fall.

While the renovation continues, the library is using a temporary space at 131 Bath Avenue. The main librarys collection has mostly been stored away, but the temporary spot offers a small browsing area.

Were very proud that were fortunate enough to have one of the original libraries and now were bringing it back to the way it was, said Pallone.

Libraries, the mayor added, are perhaps the most important public institution you have.

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Brianna Kudisch may be reached at bkudisch@njadvancemedia.com.
A Plainfield detective said he returned to the office to find a lewd and disturbing photo saved on his computer.

It showed a nearly naked young boy sitting on Santa Clauss lap, according to court records.

That photo was one of many that prompted Joseph Mulligan, the detective, and two of his colleagues on the police force to sue the city of Plainfield in 2019. They charged they were subjected to a battery of crass harassment by their supervisor, who would download pornography onto their computers, question their sexual orientation and brag that he was untouchable in the department, according to allegations in their suit.

To settle that Union County court case, Plainfield recently paid a $450,000 settlement to the three detectives, ending a lawsuit that accused the city of turning a blind eye to a rogue supervisor. The agreement, obtained last week through a public records request, was signed in September and carried no admission of wrongdoing by Plainfield.

Plainfield Police Director James Abney and city spokeswoman Jazz Clayton-Hunt declined comment on Tuesday. Mayor Adrian Mapp and corporate counsel David Minchello did not return requests for comment.

The suit centered around former Lt. Michael Caspersen, who oversaw detectives Mulligan, Michael Black and Stephon Knox in the departments narcotics and vice section for more than a year ending in February 2018. The trio said Caspersen would access their office computers and phones and place pornography onto them, using searches such as big penis gay and images that included scantily-clad transgender women.

Brian Schiller, the attorney for Mulligan, Black and Knox, said they should never have been forced to endure the daily antics they faced.

My clients are highly decorated police officers who dedicated their careers to the making Plainfield a safer place, Schiller said. The type of work environment which they were exposed to has no place in our society, and but for the mismanagement of high-ranking superiors, this entire ordeal could have been prevented.

The suit said Caspersen derided his subordinates as bitch and stupid and made homophobic references to them. The detectives worried they could lose their jobs if they were blamed for the images, with Caspersen claiming he had dirt on his bosses and would deny involvement if confronted, the suit said.

The suit also accused Caspersen of other crude misbehavior  from sneaking around with an airhorn he would set off to surprise the detectives, to vaping so much in the office that the fire alarm went off, to spraying Mulligan and Black with a fire extinguisher.

Messages for Caspersen, who retired in 2018 with a $64,200 annual pension, went without response.

Mulligan retired in 2020, according to pension records. Schiller said Black is poised to retire in the coming days. Knox, who is younger, remains on the police force.

Each year, allegations of police misconduct prove costly to municipalities across New Jersey. An NJ Advance Media investigation published in May found that since 2019, police departments paid at least $87.8 million to resolve claims against their officers.

That included $33.1 million for employment-related allegations in which officers accused their supervisors of misdeeds, as the Plainfield lawsuit did.

It is unclear whether Caspersen ever faced discipline from the department. Police internal affairs records are largely secret in New Jersey, and several filings in the suit were sealed from the public eye under a confidentiality order.

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Riley Yates may be reached at ryates@njadvancemedia.com.
In case you missed it, we just scored a top-notch New Jersey nominee to the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Third Circuit: A lawyer from Jersey City known as a defender of civil rights and religious freedom, who has support from both the Muslim and Jewish communities.

This should have been an historic moment  Adeel Mangi, picked by Joe Biden, would be the highest ranking Muslim judge in American history. His young kids were there for his recent confirmation hearing before the Senate, sporting ties.

But what we got instead was an ugly spectacle, and an insult to New Jersey. Instead of asking about his impressive qualifications or landmark cases, Senate Republicans shouted at and relentlessly interrupted Mangi with irrelevant, salacious questions about Israel, Hamas  even whether he celebrated 9-11.

Notably, another judicial nominee being vetted at the same hearing, who is Jewish, was not asked about Israel, or any of this. Its just the new litmus test for Muslims, apparently  no matter if the man happens to be Pakistani American. They all look the same, right Tom Cotton?

It was a heartbreaking scene for the first Muslim American federal circuit judicial nominee to face relentless questioning on Israel, terrorism including September 11th, and the Holocaust, said Sheila Katz, who heads the National Council of Jewish Women, one of the leading Jewish organizations to condemn this behavior from Republicans.

He answered with grace and respect, and with the temperament of a federal judge, despite the persistent bombardment of biased queries, she told us. But it was deeply upsetting, it was Islamophobic, and it was very important for us, as a Jewish organization, to actually say: Not in our name.

These attacks from folks like Tom Cotton, Ted Cruz, and Josh Hawley made it clear that Republicans have nothing of substance to use against Mangi, a graduate of Oxford and Harvard Law School endorsed by the major Bar Associations; so they had to reach far and repeat themselves over and over, she noted.

He was clear the first time: He has never heard of any of the commentators on the Middle East that Republicans asked about.

The straw theyre grasping at is Mangis former membership on an advisory board for a think tank at Rutgers Law School called the Center for Security, Race and Rights, whose goal was to combat anti-Muslim bigotry, and which recently hosted some controversial speakers. But this board met only once a year to provide ideas for academic research, Mangi said, and had no supervisory role over the Centers day-to-day activities or choice of speakers.

Senator, I dont think anyone feels more strongly about what happened on 9/11 than someone who was there, who saw with their own eyes smoke billowing from the towers, said Mangi, whos worked in New York City for decades. He could not have put it more plainly: He has no patiencenonefor any attempts to justify or defend Hamas October 7th attack on Israel and will condemn any terrorist or any act of terrorism, and do so without equivocation.

So on what basis did Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell then put out a statement claiming Mangi has an extensive record of condoning terrorist propaganda?

We asked McConnells office for evidence, but got no response. Thats wildly slanderous; in any other setting, grounds for a defamation lawsuit. Imagine if we said Mitch McConnell has an extensive record of condoning Nazi propaganda because his fellow Republican, Sen. Ted Cruz, once defended a man who flashed a Nazi salute at a school board meeting.

This attack on Mangi is even more tenuous. Its a rare occasion that a New Jersey-based seat opens up on the Third Circuit, which also covers Delaware, Pennsylvania and the Virgin Islands, and someone from New Jersey is chosen to fill it. And Mangi is an outstanding choice  exactly the kind of person that we should want serving on our highest court, said Bennett Miller, an influential New Brunswick rabbi.

Mangi, a partner at a large New York law firm, Patterson Belknap Webb & Tyler LLP, has done admirable pro bono work, defending New Jerseyans wrongfully blocked from building a mosque, and winning the largest settlement in New York state history for the death of a mentally ill state prison inmate. Hes served on the board of the Legal Aid Society, as an ally board member for the National LGBT Bar Association, and cultivated a coalition of more than 100 interfaith groups to defend the program known as DACA, which protects undocumented immigrants brought to the U.S. as children  winning the trust and respect of leading organizations like the American Jewish Committee.

That group, which is nonpartisan, spoke out strongly against his ill treatment. Mangi was questioned aggressively on thin pretext, it said, and elected officials should take a leadership role in calming the fears of and against American religious minorities, such as Jews and Muslims, not stoke them.

It was taking really serious issues like Israel, terrorism and anti-Semitism, and turning them into tools of a partisan attack, said Rabbi David Levy, AJCs regional director in New Jersey.

Mangi does not profess to be an expert on the Middle East, an area of the world he is not from, and at his hearing, said hed never heard of controversial speakers at a 9-11 anniversary event held by the Rutgers Center. So why did Republican Sen. John Kennedy imagine it ok to ask him, Is this the way you celebrate 9/11?

Now think about the impact this has on other Muslims considering going into public service. Why give up lucrative jobs in the private sector to subject yourself to this spectacle of bullying? That is no doubt exactly what the goal is for McConnells shameless crew: To exclude people from the levers of government, by making it intolerable for them to participate.

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Harvard Professor Noah Feldman, writing for Bloomberg, overlooks the most simple reason why the U.S. Supreme Court must reverse the Colorado Supreme Court ruling barring Donald Trump as a candidate in that state.

The country has an insurrection statute that Congress passed. If Trump is guilty of insurrection, it needs to be determined by indictment, trial by jury and conviction beyond a reasonable doubt before a federal court that Congress has set up or this purpose.

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One way or another, this case will produce a uniform result across the country. Since the 14th Amendment clearly shifts power from states to the federal government, determining eligibility for office based on an accusation of insurrection clearly must be done at the federal level as well.

President Joe Biden thinks that Trumps act of insurrection is self-evident.

However, we do not substitute unilateral presidential determinations or an aggressive state supreme court ruling for indictment, trial by jury and proof beyond a reasonable doubt. If the current president thinks that the insurrection is self-evident, one must ask why the government he heads has not indicted Trump on that charge, tried him by jury and proven his guilt.

Gary Eisenberg, West Orange

Trump received full insurrection trial

Regarding David DiBellos recent letter, Rocky Mountain high?:

Actually, the writer is wrong in reference to Colorados ballot decision.

To quote from the letter, Colorado is the first state to remove a presidential candidate (Donald Trump) from its ballot for the crimes of sedition and insurrection for which that candidate has never been specifically charged.

There was a full trial in a Colorado district court with witnesses, testimony and cross-examinations. As a result of that trial, the court factually found, or ruled, that the Jan. 6 riot was an insurrection, and that Trump engaged in that insurrection.

The ruling stated that the court had found clear and convincing evidence that President Trump engaged in insurrection at the time of the Capitol riot and disqualified him from running for president, citing an amendment to the U.S. Constitution.

Barbara Briemer, Westfield

Editors note: We presumed the original writer was referring to federal criminal charges in the Jan. 6 case. While Trump has been indicted on various conspiracy counts and obstruction of an official proceeding, prosecutors, for whatever reason, did not recommend insurrection or sedition counts.

Friendly Fire columnists got it wrong on Colo. ruling

I was appalled to see that both political commentators in your Friendly Fire feature, Democrat Julie Roginsky and Republican Mike DuHaime, seem to support the rule of popularity over the rule of law. Both expressed dismay at the Colorado Supreme Courts decision to disqualify Donald Trump for the 2024 presidential primary ballot, stating that it would be better if Trump were defeated by voters.

What kind of nation have we become, when laws like the one used to back up the courts ruling are so blithely cast aside, and influencers like Roginsky and DuHaime push for rule by popularity?

When people of the Civil War era violated their oath to the Constitution, lawmakers were wise enough to prohibit them from running for office again, because they had already demonstrated that any oath of theirs was worthless. Were it not for the 14th Amendment, hundreds or thousands of people in the South would have been popular enough to get elected back into office, and we would have had to fight the Civil War all over again in a short time.

If popularity can supersede law, we are well on the path to dictatorship in this country.

DuHaime and Roginsky need some lessons in civic responsibility before you hand them the megaphone.

James Tyson, Trenton

Never again, to both Santos and Trump

In Let voters, not courts, decide the election, the headline on the most recent Friendly Fire feature, Mike DuHaime and Julie Roginsky presume voters are not involved as citizens between elections. They also presume that criminal jury trials are the the only form of due process.

George Santos attempted the let the voters decide at the polls argument, but it was his embarrassed constituents who pressured for Santos expulsion from Congress based on his unethical behavior.

Donald Trump told us in 2016 he would not honor the voters decision if he lost. It became a moot point when he won in the Electoral College. As to 2020s chaos, several Republican and independent voters in Colorado used their standing to invoke a violation of the insurrection clause in their state court.

Enough evidence was presented to convince judges that an insurrection to prevent validation of President Joe Bidens election had occurred, and the former president gave support to it. Trumps legal team had equal opportunity to refute this, but failed.

In both the Trump and Santos examples, voters are at the root of deciding not to trust both men to govern our republic. Maybe the Colorado plaintiffs were alarmed when they cross-referenced the House members who voted against George Santos expulsion and also voted against Joe Bidens certification. They didnt want to be fooled again.

There is a pleasant nostalgia to let the voters decide on Election Day. It would have been easier had Donald Trump attended Joe Bidens inauguration.

Mike Cullinane, Hillsborough

An excellent profile of Joe Festa

Just a quick note to commend Spencer Kent for his story (How a bodybuilding ex-mobster became Mayor of South Warren Street ) about Joe Festa, the he-man 88-year-old Trenton barber whose shop is on that street.

Kent took what could, in different hands, have been just another feel-good feature on a colorful local character  a few boilerplate quotes here, a few cliches there  and turned it into a richly informative and entertaining appreciation of a long life fully lived.

Kents carefully structured piece and graceful prose also evoked a sense of place and history. All the best to the inspiring Joe Festa, and thanks to Kent from a grateful reader and Trenton resident.

Richard OBrien, Trenton

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First responders rescued a man who was trapped by high waters while walking on a path near the Raritan River in Somerville Thursday morning, officials said.

The man was seen holding onto a log in the water when rescuers arrived at about 9 a.m., the Somerville Rescue Squad said.

Rescuers reached the man and used a flotation device to guide him out of the water, the squad said. He was treated on scene for hypothermia before being taken to Robert Wood Johnson University Hospital in New Brunswick.

A photo of the rescue shows four first responders standing in murky, stagnant water loading the man on the flotation device.

Steve Weinman, the rescue squads president, said, according to police, the man was walking the pathway between 6 a.m. and 7 a.m. when he got stuck in the high water that covered the path. Police told the rescue squad they received a call for help at around 9 a.m., Weinman said.

The area he was in was really off the main flow of the river, so it wasnt like there was a current he was fighting against there, Weinman said.

Rescuers arrived and found the man after about 10 minutes near a berm of bamboo trees, Weinman said. I know from the area here, when the water comes up, it comes up really quickly, he added.

The rescue comes as 16 of New Jerseys 21 counties remained under a flood watch until 7 p.m. Thursday as heavy rain continues to move off the East Coast.

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Eric Conklin may be reached at econklin@njadvancemedia.com.
The winner of the Miss Bolivia title, Alondra Mercado Campos, was arrested by police. The 22-year-old is accused of arms trafficking.

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This was reported by the Daily Mail. The suspect has more than 40 thousand followers on Instagram, where she regularly shares her swimsuit photos or pictures in evening dresses with readers.

However, Mercado is now in a women's prison in northeastern Bolivia. According to local media, police found a large number of weapons and ammunition for an AK-47 rifle in her home.

Mercado will be held in custody for 30 days pending a hearing in court. The results of forensic examinations of the girl's car provide grounds for accusations of her involvement in drugs, prosecutors say.

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Mercado reportedly chose to remain silent when presented before the court. Her accomplice, Andres Vasquez, is currently on the run and wanted for questioning in connection with drug trafficking.

Videos found on the girl's cell phone show her and Vazquez at several parties with illegal weapons that were seized by police. The investigation is currently ongoing.

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Earlier, OBOZ.UA told about how a woman in Brazil desperately took revenge on her husband for cheating and surrendered to the police.

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Isiah Kiner-Falefa will get the chance to remind the New York Yankees (and their fans) of what they are missing a lot over the next two years because he signed with the Toronto Blue Jays, their AL East rival, on Wednesday.

Even though the native Hawaiian who grew up a Yankees fan only spent two seasons in New York, Kiner-Falefa was a useful player who was under-appreciated, WFAN host Brandon Tierney said after reports surfaced of Kiner-Falefas $15 million deal.

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IKF took a lot of misguided heat for what he wasnt, Tierney wrote on X. If (general manager Brian) Cashman had constructed a better roster, he would have been greatly appreciated for what he is/was: a versatile, team-first gamer who put the ball in play with decent wheels. Theres always room for that type of player.

Kiner-Falefa played in 255 games during his Yankees career, recording a .253 average, .643 OPS (81 OPS+), 10 home runs, 85 RBI and 36 steals over 809 at-bats. With a career 81 OPS+ in six seasons, Kiner-Falefa will never be confused with an impact bat. However, he is valuable for his defensive versatility  he played six positions (center field, left field, third base, right field, second base, shortstop) last season  and contact ability (19.4% strikeout rate).

He felt like he had unfinished business with the Yankees and wanted to be back, but clearly, the Blue Jays, who could play him at third base frequently with Matt Chapman a free agent, wanted him more.

I really feel like all the crap I got in my first year really made me reach to a different level, Kiner-Falefa told NJ Advance Medias Max Goodman in October. Thats the thing I love about playing here. I feel like the fans bring out the best in you. They give you a pressure that you dont ever feel anywhere else. The pressure is incredible. So you definitely feel it. Without that pressure, theres no growth.

The Yankees acquired Kiner-Falefa, Josh Donaldson and Ben Rortvedt from the Minnesota Twins for Gary Sanchez and Gio Urshela in March 2022.

Tierney seems to be implying that Kiner-Falefa was a scapegoat of sorts for the Yankees struggles over his tenure that culminated in missing the playoffs and an 82-80 record last season. But in reality, Cashman constructed a flawed roster that seemingly now needs to find a new utility player.

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Watertown, NY (13601)

Today

Snow showers early, with a steadier snow developing late. Temps nearly steady in the low to mid 30s. Winds light and variable. Chance of snow 80%. 1 to 3 inches of snow expected..

Tonight

Cloudy with snow showers mainly during the evening. Low 24F. Winds light and variable. Chance of snow 60%. Snow accumulations less than one inch.
Inspirit Award winner

If every place had a Caryl Ewing, 'it would be a really wonderful world'

'You have to invest in your community if you want to get anything out of it,' said the New Roads business owner and changemaker.
The mother of a two-month old baby died this week after her car was hit head-on by an accused drunk driver in St. Charles Parish.

Brogan Freman, 20, was arrested in connection with the fatality Tuesday on counts of driving while intoxicated, vehicular negligent injuring and reckless operation. Daysha Carter, 26, lost her life in the crash late Tuesday evening, her mother, Kendra Carter, said. Freman's charges were upgraded to include vehicular homicide Wednesday.

Daysha Carter 1 Daysha Carter pictured pregnant with Messiah at her baby shower with her younger sister, Sincere.

Daysha Carter's boyfriend was driving them home from her aunt's house in Luling Christmas night. They were driving north on Interstate 310 when Freman hit their car from behind with his 2021 Ram pickup truck, state police said.
Michael Mann is a well-known American director who has brought to the world such cult films as The Clash with Robert De Niro and Al Pacino, Ali, Miami Vice, The Last of the Mohicans, and, in December of this year, Ferrari. As it turned out, Mann has Ukrainian roots and is very proud of it. His Jewish ancestors emigrated from what is now Ukraine in the first half of the 20th century.

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The director is interested in the history of his own family, and therefore speaks enthusiastically about its past. In an interview with the Ukrainian media outlet The Village, he spoke about his connection to Ukraine and how he is rooting for our people in the terrorist war with Russia.

According to the editor-in-chief of the Ukrainian edition, Yaroslav Druziuk, he decided to ask the iconic director if he was familiar with Ukrainian cinema, in particular the works of the great Oleksandr Dovzhenko, Serhiy Parajanov, or Kira Muratova. After these words, the interviewer said, Michael Mann became noticeably more animated.

Although the director did not talk about Ukrainian cinema, he answered the following: "First of all, I'm following the struggle that Ukraine is going through. Take care of yourself, good luck to you. By the way, I recently watched Sean Penn's documentary Superpower about the first stage of Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine, and it's an extraordinary film."

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The BAFTA and Emmy award winner and four-time Oscar nominee noted that his entire family is from the town of Ovruch, Zhytomyr region.

"I do have something that connects me to Ukraine. My whole family comes from the town of Ovruch. When my grandfather left Ukraine and went to the United States, his two sisters emigrated to Argentina with the grandparents of Hector Babenko (Argentine-Brazilian director of Ukrainian descent - ed.) I didn't know about this until I met him, and he told me this story... So, there is indeed something in Ukraine that promotes the birth of directors," Mann said.

Earlier, OBOZ.UA wrote about world celebrities who also have Ukrainian roots, but few people know about them. Sylvester Stallone, Whoopi Goldberg, and others were included in the selection. Read more in our article.

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The famous Ukrainian chef and restaurateur Yevhen Klopotenko used to speak Russian, but after the Revolution of Dignity his views on the language changed. Soviet culture also irritated the young chef, which made him feel poor.

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He spoke about his dislike of everything Russian in the YouTube project Naodynci (Alone) by TSN. Klopotenko was getting used to the Ukrainian language, gradually introducing it into his life, but the decision to switch came in just a minute.

"I started speaking Ukrainian in 2017-2018. But back in 2015, when the Revolution [of Dignity - ed.] and the shooting on the Maidan happened, everything changed for me. It was just a matter of time to switch to Ukrainian. I switched in just one minute. First, I switched to Ukrainian on television, then in communication with new people, and then with old friends. It all happened in 2-3 months," Klopotenko said.

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The chef is very fond of surzhyk and does not use literary Ukrainian himself: "I still speak some Russianisms. Yesterday my friend said to me: "I speak in the Poltava surzhyk". So speak it, because I like it so much, it's so cool! I also speak surzhyk."

In particular, Klopotenko does not pay much attention to Russian. He says that he has already gotten used to the language, just like to the existence of an olivier: that neither can be easily destroyed.

"When I hear the Russian language, I'm just like with Olivier - I've already accepted it. Some people have to die out if they don't want to change. This is their choice, this is their experience, because there are people who have never heard the Ukrainian language. And this is also understandable. There are many people who grew up in a Russian-speaking environment, and this is normal. Of course, I just heard Ukrainian and spoke it at home sometimes, so it was easy for me to switch. And there are people who have never heard it and it's hard for them, and there are those who try and it's very cool," Yevhen shared.

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Many Ukrainians begin to adapt to another language by changing the phone's interface. But, according to Klopotenko, this method does not work.

"Reconfiguring your phone to Ukrainian does not mean learning the language, searching [entering a search query - ed. It's just a matter of taking the following steps: delete Russian, start and try to communicate in Ukrainian. And it's not difficult. Because when you come to live abroad, you immediately learn English, because you need to go buy food. I don't know German, but when I lived there, I started speaking German in a month, albeit crookedly," the cook said.

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The restaurateur did not accept the whole Soviet culture since his childhood. He says he couldn't realize how important everything Ukrainian was then. He was very surprised by people who were happy about little things like sparklers.

"Since childhood, I have hated everything Soviet and Russian. I lived as if in poverty, but it wasn't poverty, everything was fine, but I felt poor, in a swamp. On the level of aesthetics, I wanted to escape. I didn't want to live in this, when people were happy to be poor. I had a ninja turtle and I was happy about it. And there were people who were happy about sparklers. All these cheap confetti that were used for clothes. It was all "ew". It was already in my DNA, but I just couldn't realize how much the Ukrainian language and many other things were connected to all this. I wanted to change all of this without changing myself, and then I realized."

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Earlier, OBOZ.UA told you about Yevhen Klopotenko's friendly relations with Olena Zelenska. They even hug each other, but when they created a school menu together, security officers and the sanitary and epidemiological station were present.

Only verified information is available on our Telegram channel OBOZ.UA and Viber. Do not fall for fakes!
Various gadgets, assorted everyday items and actual percussive instruments star in the popular production "Stomp."

"Stomp" is currently starring on stage at The Broadway Playhouse at Water Tower Place in Chicago. The show continues to Dec. 31.

Luke Cresswell, co-creator with Steve McNicholas, of "Stomp," said it's a joy to have the show back in Chicago.

"The cast is really happy to be in Chicago," said Cresswell, by phone recently from England.

"Stomp" was created 29 years ago in the UK and has taken the world by storm garnering numerous awards through the years.

"It's very humbling and at the same time very exciting," Cresswell said, about the massive success of the production.

Cresswell, who performed in the show at its start three decades ago, said he no longer performs in it.

He joked it makes him "feel old" that the show has already been around for so long. Cresswell, who recently turned 60, still works with "Stomp," however, and offers ideas and choreography for the production and often works with the cast in rehearsals.

"I stopped performing with 'Stomp' 15 years ago," Cresswell said, adding the physical and mental requirements of the show really demand that cast members be younger. He added the young cast keeps the show "fresh."

"Stomp" features performers using assorted items and gadgets to make a variety of percussive sounds. Cresswell said current cast members are involved in offering ideas for the show and often putting their own stamps on segments in the production.

In the show, everyday items such as shopping carts, plungers, garbage cans, brooms and more are turned into the most unusual and creative of instruments as the cast performs in exuberant numbers.

The production has pretty much remained the same through time. But occasionally new pieces are added.

"There are two new pieces in the show since we last played Chicago," Cresswell said. ("Stomp" was last performed in Chicago four years ago.)

According to Cresswell, it was his interest in drumming that led him to co-create "Stomp."

"I've always been a drummer. I started drumming at 8 years old," Cresswell said. "I love rhythm. It's always been in my bones."

FYI: "Stomp" continues through Dec. 31 at The Broadway Playhouse at Water Tower Place, 175 E. Chestnut St., Chicago. Tickets are $40 to $85. For tickets and more information, visit BroadwayInChicago.com or stomponline.com.
From the time Frankforts Robert Jarvis received the news that he had cancer to the time he was joyously told he was cancer-free, there have been some big-time changes.

Obviously, the biggest change is he is happier being free of cancer and doesnt have that hanging over his head.

But there have also been some big-time changes in how he went about his treatments and how he will go about follow-ups with his doctors.

Jarvis was diagnosed with Burkitt lymphoma in 2021 and he and his wife, Melanie, had to make several trips to Chicago to meet with medical personnel at Northwestern Medicine.

In 2022, Northwestern opened a cancer center at 15300 West Ave., Suite 108, in Orland Park.

And thanks to a $51 million gift from the St. George Corp., the Northwestern Medicine St. George Cancer Institute will offer many services that were available only in Chicago to benefit residents in the Southland.

Jarvis was one of the speakers at a celebration of the facility Dec 19.

We need facilities like these in the suburbs close to our homes and close to our families, he said. It does really affect a lot of people  not just the patients. There are the families and the support group. Its so important.

Melanie Jarvis agrees, recalling many trips to Chicago.

When we got the diagnosis, it was devastating, she said. He had to be treated (in Chicago), and we just did what we had to do. We went through hospitalizations and I learned how to drive downtown again. The driving can be horrendous, as a lot of you know.

It is important that we have facilities here, and this is the most wonderful thing that can happen to the suburbs. We can get good care out here and that meant a lot to us. We are very appreciative of everybody. Its a great facility, and its a great team.

Services in Orland Park include surgical oncology, breast surgery, gynecologic oncology, radiation oncology and thoracic oncology.

This new space has a clinic, full-service infusion suite, pharmacy and laboratory.

The cancer institute provides on-site chemotherapy, immunotherapy, access to targeted therapy and supportive care.

Patients also have access to genetic counseling, social services, nutritional and other support through Northwestern Medicine Living Well Cancer Resource Center.

In addition, patients will have access to the latest therapies, including clinical trials. With the services at the institute and others on campus, patients can receive comprehensive and multidisciplinary care in one place.

Dr. Howard Chrisman, president and chief executive officer of Northwestern Memorial HealthCare, lauded St. George's generosity toward this venture.

We really appreciate the shared vision of bringing the care closer to home for cancer diseases and working with our team  and opportunities that this community deserves, he said. If not for the St. George Foundation, this would not be easy to do. We want to express our deep gratitude on behalf of the shared vision  the patient-first mission  that we strongly believe in.

The celebration also introduced Dr. Timothy Kuzel as medical director of the institute.

A cancer diagnosis is a traumatic event and not just for the individual, but it really impacts the family, friends and loved ones, he said. I think the concept of being able to access excellent world-class care close to home in their community is a big part of our focus.

Patients really appreciate to have access to that type of care.
LAPORTE  A 27-year-old Michigan City man, with a previous drug dealing conviction, was nabbed this week with nearly an ounce of cocaine and nearly 5 ounces of marijuana, according to a charging document.

Jalen Wilson was charged Wednesday with felony counts of dealing in cocaine and marijuana.

His latest arrest occurred late Tuesday night following a traffic stop on Main Street in the area of York Street, police said.

Police said they recognized Wilson through previous encounters and a police dog signaled the presence of drugs.

The vehicle was searched and officers reportedly found a portable scale containing a white powdery substance and a plastic retail bag containing the cocaine and marijuana.

"When inspecting the white rock-like substances, I observed each of the 7 baggies appeared to be filled with an equal amount of substance," police said.

Wilson was also found to be in possession of nearly $300 in assorted bills, which was yet another sign of drug dealing, according to police.

A woman driving the vehicle reportedly told police she knew nothing about the drugs.

UPDATE: Mugs released of couple accused in area Target thefts, chase As officers approached and saw several Target bags in the rear seat of the vehicle, the male driver and female passenger took off, according to the chief.

Wilson said a small amount of marijuana found in the woman's purse was his, but then asked for a lawyer when questioned about the larger quantities of marijuana and cocaine discovered in the vehicle, according to a court document.

Wilson was taken to the LaPorte County Jail where he is being held without bond, records show.

His earlier conviction for conspiracy to distribute narcotics was from July 2017, police said.
CROWN POINT  A Park Forest man was sentenced to 11 years in prison Dec. 21 after a jury convicted him last month of raping his date and filming it on Snapchat, according to court documents. His attorney, however, has filed a motion for a new trial.

Defense attorney Donald MacNeil said the court erred when it granted a motion by prosecutors to include accusations related to sexual conduct in addition to the existing language related to sexual intercourse in the case against his client Corrie Westbrook, 31. The motion was filed less than two weeks before his trial was set to begin, court documents show.

Indiana law states prosecutors cannot file amended information less than 30 days before a trial if a defendant is charged with a felony, unless the court finds that the amendment doesn't "prejudice the rights of the defendant." MacNeil argued the amendment did indeed prejudice Westbrook's rights.

MacNeil also argued the jury was given an incorrect definition of "consent" and did not look at the full weight of the evidence, according to court documents.

Westbrook assaulted the woman on her couch during the night between April 17 and 18, 2021. The victim told police she was out at a bar with Westbrook the night of the incident where she ordered a vodka with cranberry juice. Her memory soon started to "go in and out" and she was not able to remember parts of the night after that. She said she could remember a man asking her if she was OK as she left the establishment, court documents state.

The next thing she remembered was being on the couch at her home and Westbrook smacking her face in an attempt to wake her up, court documents state.

The state built its case on testimony from the woman and a Snapchat video which showed Westbrook assaulting her by performing oral sex on her. The video was introduced as evidence during Westbrook's trial.

It is unclear when Lake Criminal Court Judge Salvador Vasquez will rule on whether or not to grant Westbrook a new trial.
The construction of new business parks along Interstate 65 like Silos at Sanders Farm in Merrillville and Point 65 in Crown Point is putting the Region on the map nationally for businesses looking to expand or develop.

The addition of multiple business parks will make the Region more of a destination for business investment, DVG President Jeff Ban said.

"It's been very interesting to see in the last three to five years how Northwest Indiana has created a lot of traction for businesses outside our Region," he said at a recent Lake County Economic Alliance meeting at the Innsbrook Country Club in Merrillville. "I'm not just talking outside our Region just across the state line in Illinois. I'm talking nationally."

He's been developing the Point 65 business park, which is at the southeast corner of I-65 and State Road 231 in Crown Point. It's not far from the Silos at Sanders Farms at 9850 Mississippi St. and the NorthWind Crossings Business Park off of the West 61st Avenue exit off Interstate 65 in Hobart.

"There are three great intersections that have three great industrial park projects," Ban said. "Having the critical mass, the gravity of available industrial properties will create more activity and interest for all of us."

Point 65 is a 250-acre industrial development with a half mile of frontage along I-65. It's zoned for light industrial use.

"Basically, it's for industrial uses that can be contained inside a building," Ban said. "Anything that's outside, whether warehousing or raw goods or piles of stuff, is not allowed at this site."

Corex is building a $200 million, 440,000-square-foot cold storage facility there, following the $124 million cold storage facility United States Cold Storage is building down the road near Hebron. The rest of the property is divided into two lots that will be further subdivided as users come along, Ban said. The southern property line is 137th Avenue, the Lake Michigan watershed divide.

JLL Chicago has been marketing the site to prospective tenants.

"Twelve to 18 months ago we would not have considered this to be part of the Chicago metro market, not part of the Northwest Indiana submarket," said JLL Chicago Managing Director Scott Duerkop. "A number of different things are happening. The million-square-foot project and this Corex project are expanding the industrial footprint of the Northwest Indiana submarket. It's becoming a larger market as the result of everything happening here."

Marty Mikaitis with Avison Young said demand has been strong at the Silos at Sanders Farm development in Merrillville, one of the largest development projects in the Midwest with more than 1.2 million square feet.

"Activity has been very good," he said.
Companies that violate the executive order face class B misdemeanor charges, which could result in three months in jail and a $500 fine for individuals and a $2,000 fine for corporations. Buses violating the order may also be seized by the Police Department.

At the news conference, the three mayors again demanded that the federal government grapple with its dysfunctional immigration system. Mr. Johnston said Denver had received more than 35,000 migrants and was housing 4,000, creating a crisis that is consuming almost 10 percent of the citys budget. He called for the federal government to accelerate work authorizations, provide more financial assistance and develop a coordinated entry plan so that asylum seekers would be spread more evenly throughout the country.

We cannot continue to do the federal governments job, Mr. Adams said.

A White House spokesman, Angelo Fernandez Hernandez, said President Biden was committed to addressing this problem, adding that the administration had helped set up clinics to allow migrants to apply for work authorization and temporary protected status, which have served 10,000 people, and had asked Congress for additional funding for the migrant response and for border security.

Mr. Adamss executive order was aimed squarely at Gov. Greg Abbott of Texas, who recently acknowledged having sent 25,000 migrants to New York City. New York City has processed more than 160,000 migrants since then, many of them from Venezuela. Some 70,000 remain in the citys care, according to the mayors office.

The order cites particular concerns about the citys ability to care for migrants who arrive at night or over the weekend and may need immediate shelter and services.
A federal judge has ordered a woman serving a five-year sentence for setting fire to an abortion clinic in Wyoming last year to pay nearly $300,000 in restitution, according to documents filed in the U.S. District Court in Wyoming.

The woman, Lorna Green, 22, pleaded guilty in July to setting fire to Wellspring Health Access, an abortion clinic in Casper, Wyo., in 2022. The facility, which was under construction at the time and opened in April of this year, is now the states only such provider, as abortion access has been restricted across the United States.

On Tuesday, U.S. District Court Judge Alan B. Johnson ordered Ms. Green, who was sentenced in September, to pay more than $240,000 to the clinics insurance company, more than $33,000 to the buildings owner, and more than $24,500 to the president of the clinic, the full amount sought by prosecutors, court documents show.

According to prosecutors, Ms. Green set fire to the clinic in the early hours of May 25, 2022, following a string of protests surrounding its scheduled opening the following month. The clinic provides obstetrics and gynecology services, as well as gender-affirming care and abortion procedures.
The Colorado Republican Party said it had asked the U.S. Supreme Court on Wednesday to hear an appeal of the bombshell decision from the Colorado Supreme Court ordering former President Donald J. Trumps removal from the states primary ballot. The state court ruled that he was ineligible to hold office because he had engaged in insurrection.

The justices are likely to agree to hear the case, given the importance of the question it presents and the need for a nationwide answer to it.

The filing of the petition seeking review of the state courts ruling also had a practical impact, extending a stay entered by the Colorado court while the justices consider the matter. That means Mr. Trump will remain on the primary ballot for now.

Mr. Trump is expected to file his own petition in the coming days. A lawyer for the former president declined to comment, and his campaign did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
Nikki Haley, the Republican presidential candidate and former governor of South Carolina who for years has wrestled with how to approach issues of race, slavery and the Confederacy, found herself again confronted with those subjects at a town hall event on Wednesday in New Hampshire, hundreds of miles north of the Mason-Dixon line.

Her answer to a simple yet loaded question by an audience member in the city of Berlin  What was the cause of the United States Civil War?  showed just how much she continues to struggle with such topics.

I mean, I think it always comes down to the role of government and what the rights of the people are, she said eventually, arguing that government should not tell people how to live their lives or what you can and cant do.

I will always stand by the fact that I think government was intended to secure the rights and freedoms of the people, she said. It was never meant to be all things to all people.
A new Christmas photo of the family of former U.S. President Donald Trump has puzzled the web. Users noticed the absence of the former first lady of America and wife of the scandalous politician Melania Trump on the card.

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The family photo was shared on her Instagram page by TV presenter Kimberly Guilfoy, the fiancee of Donald Trump Jr. The Christmas celebration took place at the Republican's residence in Mar-a-Lago, a resort villa located in Palm Beach, Florida.

Photo shows Trump's extended family of his sons, including the younger Barron by Melania, who has not been seen much since his father left the White House. Next to him are his sisters Ivanka Trump with her husband Jared Kushner and children, Tiffany Trump and her husband Michael Boulos, and Melania's father Victor Knavs.

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Guilfoyle shared another photo with her fiance and former US president on Instagram, captioning it: "Surrounded by the unwavering support of our family, we always find the motivation to passionately pursue change. They are a constant source of inspiration that moves us all forward with love and courage."

Melania was absent from the party, which worried netizens. Some even suggested that the couple was having difficulties in their relationship, or even filed for divorce. As it turned out, at that time, the former first lady visited her sick mother, Amelia Cavs, who is currently in the hospital, Times Now World reports. Melania spent Christmas with her, and close sources say that the American has always put her family first.

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Earlier, OBOZ.UA told about how Beyonce's childhood home caught fire on Christmas Day.

Only verified information is available on the OBOZ.UA Telegram channel and Viber. Do not fall for fakes!
Jacques Delors, a hard-driving French politician who as the European Unions executive for a decade became the chief architect of a more unified Europe and the father of Europes common currency, the euro, died on Wednesday at his home in Paris. He was 98.

His death was confirmed by a spokesman for his daughter, the French politician Martine Aubry.

As president of the European Commission, the European Unions executive body, from 1985 through 1994, Mr. Delors maintained a nearly religious faith in the principle of a federal and communal Europe, even as the eurozone debt crisis, a contentious debate over migration and the essential question of whether rich northern countries would keep providing funds to their near bankrupt neighbors in southern Europe threatened to rip this vision apart.

Despite such conflicts, Britain has been the only country to leave, which it did in 2020, and the union has grown to 27 countries, compared with 10 when Mr. Delors took the helm in 1985. Twenty of those countries use the euro, legal tender for about 350 million people.

The philosophical heir to Jean Monnet, another steely French technocrat who laid the original groundwork for a federal Europe, Mr. Delors laid out a timeline for the euro in the so-called Delors report in 1989. The euro was formally adopted in 10 years later.
As Israel pounded targets in the Gaza Strip from the air and sea on Wednesday, a member of the countrys war cabinet threatened action on a second front, along the border with Lebanon, where the Iranian-backed militia Hezbollah has fired rocket barrages into Israel.

I say to our friends around the world: The situation in the northern border necessitates change, the war cabinet member, Benny Gantz, told reporters. The time for a diplomatic solution is running out. If the world and the government of Lebanon dont act to stop the fire toward northern communities and to push Hezbollah away from the border, the I.D.F. will do that. The reference was to the Israel Defense Forces.

The threat of a wider war has preoccupied the United States and its allies since the start of the conflict in Gaza, and has only grown as three Iranian-backed groups  Hamas, Hezbollah and Houthis in Yemen  launch attacks toward Israel as well as on commercial ships in the Red Sea. The concern prompted the United States to dispatch two aircraft carriers to the Eastern Mediterranean in the weeks after the Oct. 7 Hamas-led attacks on Israel that sparked the war in Gaza.

The Israeli military said Wednesday that its northern command, along the border with Lebanon, was in a state of very high readiness. The militarys chief of staff, Lt. Gen. Herzi Halevi, said, We need to be prepared to strike if required.
A wild pet for the supercultivated, as T.S. Eliot called him, is only half the story of William Blake (1757-1827), a poet who is more famous for his influence on certain moderns (Allen Ginsberg, Bob Dylan, Patti Smith) than actually read.

Blake combined extremes: rambling incantations about European history alongside short ditties on the soul that any child can enjoy. As he wrote in 1794: I was angry with my friend; / I told my wrath, my wrath did end 

He made drawings and paintings, too, and some nice ones appear among the 112 works in William Blake: Visionary at the Getty Center in Los Angeles, curated by the museums Edina Adam and Julian Brooks in cooperation with the Tate Britain, where the show originated. But the works that steal this concise and compelling retrospective are his prints, which were the primary means of Blakes living.
The harpsichordist and pianist Andreas Staier has never been a morning person. And since August 2019, when he was diagnosed with primary myelofibrosis, a rare bone marrow cancer, he has felt what he called a fundamental fear most vividly in the mornings.

Playing music helps. After getting out of bed, Staier goes to one of his keyboard instruments and sight-reads a piece or practices a tricky spot. The music stays as beautiful as it is, he said in an interview at his home in Cologne, Germany. It doesnt change. And that is very, very consoling.

Staier, 68, has shaped the European early music movement for 40 years. Born in Gottingen, Germany, he joined the period instrument ensemble Musica Antiqua Koln as a harpsichordist in 1983. In 1986, he left the group to concentrate on solo and chamber music, with an emphasis on the harpsichord and the fortepiano, a softer-sounding predecessor of the modern grand piano.

His discography, of about 60 recordings, has remarkable range. He has uncovered forgotten gems from the Portuguese Baroque and lent startling intimacy and timbral variety to works as familiar as Bachs The Well-Tempered Clavier and Schuberts Four Impromptus (D. 935). His 2006 album of Beethovens Violin Sonatas No. 4 and 7 with Daniel Sepec highlights the ferocity barely held at bay by the pieces Classical forms.
Earlier this year, Bis, the essential Swedish label that has brought us Osmo Vanskas Beethoven, Masaaki Suzukis Bach and every score that Jean Sibelius ever wrote, celebrated its 50th anniversary by announcing that it had sold itself to Apple. Coming not long after Universal had acquired Hyperion, as well as a significant stake in the parent company of Harmonia Mundi, the news felt grim. Those labels had not just been independent in ownership, but also independent in spirit.

Perhaps all is not yet lost, for this remarkable album finds Bis still doing what it has always done best: unearthing an obscure Scandinavian whose compositions are well worth hearing.

Helvi Leiviska (1902-82) was the leading Finnish female composer of her day, though for much of her life she worked as a librarian at the Sibelius Academy in Helsinki. She belongs neither in modernism nor Neo-Classicism, the liner notes for this album say. She wrote three symphonies, of which the troubled, turbulent, not quite tragic Second (1954) is the main work here.

Of the rest, I have been particularly taken with Kehtolaulu, a dark little lullaby from a late-1930s suite based on her score for Nyrki Tapiovaaras experimental film Juha. Dalia Stasevska and the Lahti Symphony give everything their all. DAVID ALLEN
I read the news today, oh boy.

John Lennons lyric popped into my head Tuesday as soon as I read the texts from my friend Marcy Carriker Smothers. The first was a photo of a guitar next to a fire and Christmas poinsettia. The second included the news. Beautiful and peaceful passing today at 1:40P. We had a lovely Christmas.

Tom Smothers had been in hospice for months so word of his passing induced a sigh not a gasp. I thought of the Day in the Life lyric not because of the circumstances of his death  Tom was 86 and died of lung cancer  but because Lennon and Tom were close. At the 1969 Montreal recording of Give Peace a Chance, only two acoustic guitars strum along. One is held by Lennon; the other by Tom.

Tom came to the antiwar movement with sad bona fides. His father was a West Pointer who said goodbye to his namesake son in 1940, before heading to the Pacific to defend liberty. He never returned.

Nothing funny about that origin story. Still, through music, Tom and his younger brother, Dick, found their way to comedy and created an act that instantly impressed Jack Paar, the Tonight show host, who remarked in 1961, I dont know what you guys have but no ones going to steal it.
Boeing has urged airlines to inspect all 737 Max airplanes for a possible loose bolt in the rudder-control system after an international airline discovered a bolt with a missing nut while performing routine maintenance, the Federal Aviation Administration said on Thursday.

After the international airline, which the agency did not name, noticed the missing nut, Boeing discovered that an undelivered 737 Max also had a nut that was not properly tightened, the F.A.A. said.

Boeing said it has delivered more than 1,370 of the aircraft worldwide since 2017 and has urged that all of them be inspected for the possible loose hardware. The company said it was also inspecting its undelivered 737 Max airplanes.

The issue identified on the particular airplane has been remedied, Boeing said in a statement. Out of an abundance of caution, we are recommending operators inspect their 737 Max airplanes and inform us of any findings.
She might also have benefited from a bit of luck.

When Congress invited her to a congressional hearing on antisemitism on Dec. 5 with her peers from Harvard, Penn and M.I.T., Dr. Shafik said she could not go. She told representatives that she had already planned to attend the COP28 climate conference in Dubai, where she introduced a panel about women leaders.

The Congressional hearing did not go well. The University of Pennsylvania president lost her job and the Harvard president became mired in weeks of controversy.

But instead of fighting for her job, Dr. Shafik was announcing a new initiative, called Values in Action, in which she called for informed debate, not taunts and cruelty.

Still, she is walking a precarious path.

Her call for compassion and respect, some students said, does not reflect what they say has been a repressive effort to rein in pro-Palestinian protesters that has gone farther than at other Ivy League universities: In November, Columbias administration made the extraordinary decision to suspend temporarily two pro-Palestinian student groups, Students for Justice in Palestine and Jewish Voice for Peace.

I just think the university is not identifying the proper threat, said Deen Haleem, a third-year law student and a leader of Law Students for Palestine. The current threat right now are the universities that are shutting down pro-Palestine speech.
I hope I do not fall in the dechurched category. I still identify myself as Catholic. At their best, our churches provide comfort and community while asking that we ask difficult questions about who we are and how we live and what is right. For Christian churches, it means preaching the gospel of Jesus Christ, which means welcoming those who doubt. But too many churches see the reason for their existence as enforcing an orthodoxy that protects and enhances their authority. In recent years, I have quietly walked out of two different churches after the homily because the sermon was so overtly political.

There is still a place in our society for church and religion, but it has to be humble; it has to be kind; it has to provide guidance on the path to wisdom and faith; it has to be open to hard questions; and it can never be silent to evil on the pretense that speaking up may damage an institution.  Richard Petre, June 22, Mandeville, La.

Jessica Grose: I have been so moved by all of the stories in the comments on my series about Americans moving away from religion. They taught me so much about different denominations, and the profound feelings of grief so many people have when they feel that their faith has let them down. I have also appreciated hearing from people who have become more religious or spiritual over the years, as well as from people who have left religion behind and feel their lives are better for it. There is not always space in our day-to-day lives to talk about our core beliefs and how they shape who we are, and I feel lucky to have created at least a small home for this discussion.

I grew up in Mississippi and decided to leave after high school precisely because it seemed most of my classmates were interested in joining some version of the Greek system described here. Unfortunately the same networks exist everywhere. This morning, at the first day of school drop-off, I was cringing at some East Coasters who brought their elite status with them when they moved out West. It is very stuffy, intentionally exclusive and annoying. But it clearly has bought their family entry into Californias version of the moneyed elite, white crowd here. Racism and power are, in my experience, universal in this country.  Adam Smith, Aug. 22, San Francisco
It has been such a special political year, brimming with extraordinary, even historic moments. From an ex-president indicted to a Senate staffer busted for making porn at work, each fresh development made you proud to be an American.

Singling out the exceptional events and players was tougher than ever. I mean, when Marjorie Taylor Greene doesnt even merit a mention . But making hard calls is part of my job, and the true standouts deserve a shout-out.

Most Likely to Be Picked Last in Gym Class: Matt Gaetz

Many Americans fantasize about taking up their pitchforks and storming the bosss office. But in the history of Congress, only this Florida Man has succeeded  metaphorically, of course  leading a coup against his own partys speaker. The ouster of Kevin McCarthy, followed by the chaotic scramble for his replacement, became a slow-rolling, breathtaking fiasco that ground the House to a halt and made the entire Republican conference look like a pack of petty, pouty, incompetent preschoolers. Way to build the brand, guys!

Most Fabulous Fabulist: George Santos

Many politicians lie, but this recently ousted congressman from New York approached the task with a baroque panache of which few could even conceive. Falsely asserting that the Sept. 11 attacks claimed his mothers life? That he was a college volleyball star? That he was a producer of the Broadway atrocity Spider-Man: Turn Off the Dark? So macabre. So pointless. So bizarre. Cannot wait to see his next act.
Chinese scientists have developed a synthetic skin that will allow robots to feel pain and be able to respond to danger. Everything will work in much the same way as in the human body, when signals from the nerves reach the brain.

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The development of Jie Tan and his colleagues from Hunan University in China was reported by New Scientist. Artificial skin can help robots detect danger, just as pain triggers the instinct for self-preservation in humans.

Pain in humans results from a complex interaction between peripheral nerve signals and their interpretation by the brain. The human skin has pain sensors called nociceptors. They transmit electrical impulses through the nerves to several parts of the brain, activating the self-preservation system, for example, when it is necessary to move your hand away from a sharp knife.

The pain sensing system for robots developed by scientists will work thanks to zinc and gallium crystals. According to the researchers, the crystals react to excessive force and release electrons, creating an electrical signal.

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In addition to the electrical signal, the crystals will also emit a flash of light, which will help to pinpoint the exact location where the robot feels pain.

"Thanks to the simultaneous use of electrical and optical signals, the intensity and localization of pain can be perceived simultaneously. This will function like a natural nociceptor," Tan explained the technology.

The researchers have also developed an artificial intelligence algorithm that will help the robot determine which "stimulus" should be avoided. So far, the algorithm has been trained on 100 different electrical and optical readings of a knife, a chopstick, and a cotton ball pressed on a sensor. In this way, the algorithm learned to distinguish between harmful and harmless objects that can give similar readings.

The researchers have also developed an artificial intelligence algorithm that will help the robot determine which "stimulus" should be avoided. So far, the algorithm has been trained on 100 different electrical and optical readings of a knife, a stick, and a cotton ball pressed on a sensor. In this way, the algorithm learned to distinguish between harmful and harmless objects that can give similar readings.

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According to the scientists, the robotic arm successfully distinguished between safe and harmful objects in 97.5% of cases. In particular, the AI understood that the robotic arm could safely hold tofu or a boiled egg, but immediately rejected hard objects such as a ball with iron spikes.

During their work, the scientists also found other applications for this engineered skin. They attached it to a rat's heart, liver, and lungs while a surgical robot performed a biopsy. Signals received by the robot from the skin guided its arm in such a way as not to damage these organs.

Scientists also suggest that such synthetic skin can be built into surgical instruments. This will allow surgeons to feel things from a distance.

Earlier, OBOZ.UA reported that scientists have developed synthetic skin that can heal wounds on its own.

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If you want to help people, there are many fine causes you can donate to. If you want to change the world, support a small magazine. Its hard to imagine the Progressive era or the New Deal without a small magazine, The New Republic. There probably would have been no Reagan revolution without another small magazine, National Review. The Partisan Review had a circulation of roughly 5,000 to 7,000 at its peak but set the tone for Americas postwar intellectual life.

Small magazines cohere a community of thinkers. They develop a body of ideas. They plant flags and inspire social movements. They create a persona that serves as an aspirational ideal for people, a way to live their lives. Small magazines can alter history in a way big media outlets just cant. So with the 20th annual Sidney Awards, which I named for the philosopher, public intellectual and expert polemicist Sidney Hook and are dedicated to celebrating some of the best long-form essays, this year well pay special attention to these vanguard publications.

I generally dont agree with the arguments of those on the populist right, but I have to admit theres a lot of intellectual energy there these days. (The Sidneys go to essays that challenge readers, as well as to those that affirm.) With that, the first Sidney goes to Christopher Caldwell for his essay The Fateful Nineties in First Things. Most people see the 1990s as a golden moment for America  wed won the Cold War, we enjoyed solid economic growth, the federal government sometimes ran surpluses, crime rates fell, tech took off.

Caldwell, on the other hand, describes the decade as one in which sensible people fell for a series of self-destructive illusions: Globalization means nation-states dont matter. Cyberspace means the material world is less important. Capitalism can run on its own without a countervailing system of moral values. Elite technocrats can manage the world better than regular people. The world will be a better place if we cancel people for their linguistic infractions.
This transcript was created using speech recognition software. While it has been reviewed by human transcribers, it may contain errors. Please review the episode audio before quoting from this transcript and email transcripts@nytimes.com with any questions.

Im not a big country music fan. But I am a political reporter. And this August, in the GOP primary, those two things collided 

In the song, Aldean lists off behavior he associates with cities, like crime and disrespecting the flag and police officers. And then he warns people of the consequences if they, quote, try that in a small town. He sings, got a gun that my granddad gave me. They say, one day, theyre going to round up. Well, that shit might fly in the city. Good luck. Try that in a small town. The song quickly hit the country music charts. Then Aldean released the music video.

(SINGING) You cross that line. It wont take long for you to find out. I recommend you dont try that in a small town.

The video includes footage of violent protests and vandalism and was filmed in part at a courthouse in Tennessee, which was the scene of race riots in 1946 and where a Black man was lynched in 1927.

In the video, images are projected on a building, some showing clips of protests, looting, and tense police encounters.

One of the most popular country music hits of the summer is Try That in a Small Town. But the song has ignited controversy and faced backlash from fans, who say the lyrics encourage racism and violence.

In the video, shots of Aldean singing alternate with newsreel of various crimes, violence, and rioting in cities. It also included images from racial justice protests during the summer of 2020.

Many public figures, like Sheryl Crow, criticized the track and video, while Donald Trump, Ron DeSantis, and others voiced their support for Aldean.

The music video was just pulled from Country Music Television because of imagery that critics say has racist undertones and promotes violence.

From The New York Times and the grandstand at the Iowa State Fair, Im Astead Herndon. And this is The Run-Up.

And after all the candidates had come and gone, we are going to the final concert, which will close out the fair, which is headlined by Jason Aldean. I saw that Jason Aldean will be closing out the week. And I knew thats where I wanted to be. So my colleague Caitlin and I got tickets, not only to ask people about the song and its message but also to ask about Trump and the culture within the Republican Party that has rallied around them both.

Republican primary candidates began playing it at their events. Donald Trump made the political connection directly, writing, Support Jason all the way. MAGA. And so this summer, as the Iowa State Fair was coming to an end, we are back in Des Moines, Iowa for the last day of the Iowa State Fair. But were here not really for the fair at all.

Later, the video was quietly edited to remove some of that protest footage. But the lines had already been drawn. The song quickly gained popularity on the right. In fact, it became Aldeans first single to top the Billboard Hot 100.

Hey, how about I ask the questions? You can decide after we ask, huh?

Do you want to chat maybe for 5, 10 minutes?

My names Astead. This is Caitlin. Were from The New York Times. Were talking to people going to the Aldean concert today about country music and how they  why they like it, how it influences the way they think about politics, and things like that. You all have maybe 10 minutes to talk with us? Are you going to the concert?

Are you sure? OK, well, thank you. Have a great day. Hey, how are you? My name is Astead. This is Caitlin. Were with The New York Times. And we are here talking to people going to the  oh, go ahead. Do your thing.  Caitlin. Were from The New York Times. Were talking to people heading to the Aldean concert. All right, I think youre walking away from us. OK.

Hi. My name is Astead. This is Caitlin. Were reporters with The New York Times. Were here at the Aldean concert today. Were talking to people who decided to come. And were specifically actually talking to people about the song and all of the stuff thats been  I saw you all on the T-shirts. You have maybe 5, 10 minutes you want to chat?

OK, hold on. Lets try to talk to them.

OK, so the bar  theres two drinking areas. Theres one over here, and theres one a little closer to the grandstand. But we can also look at people who have Aldean-esque clothing on.

Ive been reporting from Trump events since 2016. So Im used to people being skeptical of talking to me. But this felt a little different.

This felt like people saw me coming and thought, oh, that Black guy, with his fair media badge around his neck, is going to make me feel like a racist for liking this song. And honestly, I did want to ask about race because to me, that was part of what felt important about this story.

We finally met one couple who was happy to talk, even though it meant their two little kids would be stuck listening.

And thank you all for having [INAUDIBLE] while.

You see that as what that speaks to? Were here to throw the last punch. Thank you so much. I really appreciate your time. This was really helpful.

 he can defend himself. So we wont throw the first punch. But well throw the last one.

So he studied martial arts for five years. Now, I dont agree with fighting in school. But however, if somebody throws that first punch 

And so its not incompatible with things you want to teach your children or things, whatever, because you want them all to have those values?

Right. So when people are like, oh, theres some threat of looming  youre saying, were only saying that because we see it as a protection of those values?

And even if that value includes we fight back if someone comes here and messes with this, that is still a value youre proud of?

Right. Its a song that seemingly to you all is about these values that hold these communities together?

I want to make sure I have this right. Do you think of the song as a political song?

Because he still puts faith, family, and country before anything else. And thats what Ive seen from him. Thats what I saw him prove in four years. Yeah. OK, so he went on his little rants on Twitter. But that just means hes human.

How do you think someone from there has come to represent these values that youre talking about are so core and that arent represented in places like this?

One thing about Trump that comes to my mind is hes probably very much a big-city person.

Yes. If he wasnt, he wouldnt have appointed the people that he did to the Supreme Court. My lead candidates if Trump does make it to the ballot is either Trump or DeSantis, just because of their stance on the Constitution. They understand that sometimes some things need to change. But the core of that Constitution cannot change.

So yeah, I am registered under one particular party. But I dont completely identify with that party. Unfortunately, I havent found the ability to register as a constitutional conservative. So youd either have to pick Libertarian.

The last thing I would say was about politics itself. Is there anyone, when you look ahead to the next primary  weve been in Iowa, talking to folks who play such a huge role in that selection. Do you look at someone and say they represent those values when you look at the presidential options?

And thats what the song is trying to speak to?

But what I hear somewhat is a sense of pride that the town would band together, and the town would do something about it.

 citizens of that city. It wouldnt fly in most small towns that Ive ever been in.

So if you were to try anything that they had on any of their clips, it wouldnt be the police youd be up against. Itd be all the rest of the 

Do you think it could be a response to some of the protest movements we saw as recently as 2020?

Youre saying that that was a tragic thing that happened there, but thats not the same situation that were talking about now?

I was a volunteer deputy  a reserve deputy back in Colorado. I know a lot of police officers. And they wouldnt stand for it. I know most of my brothers in the military wouldnt stand for it. I mean, thats what we fought for.

And the other thing youre not taking into account is  so I know what the backstory is that theyre trying to push on that. There was a African American man who was lynched in front of the courthouse where Aldean shot his video. But look at the political landscape. That kind of lynching would never happen today in modern society. There would be way too much backlash, both on civil front, political front, and law enforcement standpoint.

I hear you. I feel like I hear you saying it was much ado about nothing, you felt like.

So all the clips he used were all news footage. Hes picked a broad range of news footage. The other comment about that courthouse, well, for one, Miley Cyrus used it in her movie from  for Hannah Montana. It is one of the most historical buildings in Tennessee.

I listened to this song specifically because I was reading some of the stuff, the back and forth. What did you think about the kind of backlash that happened when this song came out?

So I spent 10 years  my mom worked for the State Department. So I spent a lot of time in the DC metro area. My mom was born in service. I got to live in some of the biggest cities in the world. And it all comes down to most people in the big cities are theyre too busy climbing the ladder or chasing a buck. The idea that stop and smell the roses is a completely foreign concept. Id much rather spend a night out by the lake in the bed of my pickup truck, staring at the stars than going bar hopping.

What do you think it is that maybe the coast or people arent getting about maybe the heartland or country music and why its resonating so much?

I love Aldean. Hes just a patriot. He loves America. And hes just true country. Just loves his country, loves his family. And he stands for that. He stands for family, God, and country.

Most of what  hes just a good old boy thats trying to make a living, trying to make sure everybody knows what  where we come from. This one was raised in a town of 12,000. It was the highest end of the population.

What is it about his music specifically thats resonated with you?

But I wanted to know if everyone was just as comfortable with all parts of the song, like how it was resonating in the political moment or the lyrics that could be taken as a violent threat.

So that was one answer we got from Aldean fans. This was a song about small-town values. And by that, they mean God, family, country.

I lived in Minneapolis  or in Minnesota when all this stuff was going on. That government let them burn the town down. They didnt support the police. I mean, that wouldnt have happened years ago. And it wouldnt have happened under Trump.

I was listening to it today. Is there a specific lyric? Is there a thing that you actually [INAUDIBLE]?

Well, I think that song  hes telling it like it is.

Thats what you think that song really speaks to?

Yeah. This country has gone to hell in a handcart under Biden and everything and the Democrats. Its time to take it back.

Oh, are you talking about the Try That in a Small Town?

His new song tells it like it is.

What do you mean by that?

Ive been a long-time fan. And what he speaks is the truth.

Were going too. What made you want to go? Do you like 

Hi. Thank you. Were from The New York Times. Were going to the Aldean concert today. And were talking to people about country music and what makes them excited about it and also how it shapes or maybe influences the way they think about politics. I saw your shirt. I was wondering if you maybe had 5, 10 minutes to chat with us? Are you going to the concert?

Cool. Thank you so much. I really appreciate your time.

Im an Independent. So Im open. Im not a Republican or a Democrat. So Im just going to pick the person that I resonate with the most and that holds values that  really, not even for me but for my children because honestly, were planning for the future in our politics. So whats happening now is going to reflect on their lives in 10 years.

And weve been here in Des Moines. Yall play a hugely important role. Do you see anyone in national politics that reflects those small-town values that you say really you resonate with?

So the other thing were talking to people about this week is the presidential primary coming up. Weve been here 

Yeah. And I believe  I guess Im someone thats like Im not all or nothing. Some people are all or nothing. Im not one of those people.

Yeah. I guess I was saying that doesnt feel to me fully the message of the song though, right?

See  and Im like on the fence on that because I want my children to be culturized and have diversity and to love other people. My modern life  love God, love people. And you can do that if someone doesnt believe the same thing as you.

Theres the other thing that happens in that song about the kind of looming or else threat to it. If you bring those liberal big-city values to this town, something bad might happen to you.

Yeah, its speaking to the values of we stick together. Were a community. And we stand for good morals. And I want my kids to see that.

Its something that you think the song is speaking to those kind of values?

And I just think that our community binds together. Its not something I ever grew up with. I didnt ever have that safety, I guess. So thats something that I feel that in my community now. We stick up for each other. Our police officers are incredible. They have been working with our family and made us feel safe in our community. And thats something that I think is extremely important that 

Well, my children had a traumatic event this week. We had a high-speed chase in our town. And he put a lot of peoples lives in danger, including my children.

And what is it about the song that really you think speaks to that?

Well, I married my husband. Hes from Southern Iowa. And I was raised kind of country anyways. Were hunters. We fish and do all the country stuff. But I grew up in the city. So kind of just chose the country life for my kids. Yeah.

Can you tell me how you kind of came to make that decision?

Yes because I grew up in Des Moines. I went to a mega school here. And now Im raising my kids the opposite way.

Is that a shift for you, that moving to small town kind of helps?

Yes, it says, Try That in a Small Town. So now I live in small-town Iowa. And I just have those beliefs now.

How can you describe it to me for the audience?

I just like it all. I like all music, really. So yeah. I guess I dont have a preference.

Do you trend to one side of that genre? Or do you just like it all?

Maren Morris, Ludacris, and Sean Kingston. And we were here last night too.

What other ones you go to?

Is this your first day at the fair? Or youve been coming all week?

As long as its how you feel, then thats what we care. Can you tell us your name?

It did, of course, happen under Trump, not Biden.

You live in Centerville, Iowa. Have fun in the concert. Thank you for talking to us.

Yeah, no problem. Can you just tell me your name?

Its not against  no, its not racial. Its not anything like that. Hes just saying the truth. Im the same way. If somebody was coming after my family, Id kick their fucking ass. And thats the way hes saying it. Youre coming after our country or our town. Were going to kick your ass. We got to go.

My last question  some people say that song is a threat of violence or would say its [INAUDIBLE]. What would you say to that?

Hes just expressing what a lot of people feel. We as Americans dont get to express our views that much. Where are we going to do it? Maybe talking to you or something. Other than that, the politicians dont listen. They do what they want to do. They dont care about us. They dont care about America.

No. No problem. I hear what youre saying. We talked to some people who talk about how culture and politics are like separate things. It seems kind of connected, though, at places like this that that song is speaking to a little political feeling you have.

There are some good Republicans running against Trump. But I dont think anybody can pull it together other than Trump. The only other two candidates I would maybe even support would be  let me think. Its Tim.

I guess Im asking about Trump versus the other Republicans, maybe not even Biden. I get how you kind of feel about Biden. But theres a lot of Republicans who are technically running right now. We were in Iowa as other people tried to pitch themselves.

Because thats what theyve done. Theyve committed treason. Think about it.

I want Trump back 100 percent. Biden is a complete loser, a complete [INAUDIBLE]. Hes corrupt. The whole government should be investigated. And Im for the hanging or the firing squads for treason because 

Now, how does that relate to the kind of politics? You mentioned Trump. Are you someone who wants him to come  are you someone who want 

Youre going to get your ass handed to you.

Thats what the song is saying, is if you bring that stuff here 

Theyre going to get their ass  I can guarantee you that. I come from a small-town region. And Ive been in a lot of small towns. People there dont buy into all this liberalism, the transgender stuff, and all this other crap that goes along with it. We need to get back to our roots.

So I mean, Im saying, thats the other part of that song.

The other thing that song really mentions is its a kind of promise that if you do try it in a small town that who knows whats going to happen?

And the Bible, everything else. Its all about helping each other out and being true to your country. Weve got away from that. Big time.

Its the good old, Id say, country aspect of living, of helping your neighbors  red, white, and blue.

I hear, in country, there seems to be some artists who really speak to that stuff, some artists who kind of go  what is it that you think is the connection between country music and conservative politics like Donald Trump? What binds them together?

Many of his fans heard one too, a message that says theyre right to feel that mainstream culture is defined by liberals who live in big cities, who hold different values than they do, a rallying cry for conservatives to do something about it, no matter who it offends. Its the same type of cultural grievance thats the lifeblood of Donald Trumps political message. But I still wondered if anyone saw what critics of the song saw, if they could see how Aldeans words in this moment could still be read as divisive or even racist.

Theres not one way of looking at this song, just like theres not one way to look at Donald Trumps political appeal. But in talking to people who attended the concert, its clear that its not just Aldeans critics who heard a political message in Try That in a Small Town.

This lady has a Try That in a Small Town shirt, but with a Black man. Im kind of interested.

Thats what I was thinking about when I spotted the couple among the crowd. The man was Black. The woman was white. And she was wearing a T-shirt that read Try That in a Small Town.

You said, all right, option C, none of the above.

Women should vote. But are our choices well? No. Our choice is not good.

Look, and Trump has some good policies. His delivery is questionable. But he has good policies.

I mean we always vote. But honestly, I absolutely, absolutely do not vote for Trump. I do not vote for Trump.

Let me  I have one more question. If its Trump versus Biden again, do you all think youre going to be people who are going to vote? Who would you vote for?

And I went to his family reunion. I can tell you, I was absolutely welcomed with open arms.

My grandmother fed people on Sundays. She did a cookout and invited the whole neighborhood over. If youre hungry, come and get your plate. You know what I mean? So thats just kind of how I grew up.

So I mean, it is an issue. But where were from, I honestly believe that we take care of each other.

The younger folks say, we love you. The older folks say, hes Black. The younger folks say, we love you.

I can see how youre saying race  folks arent seeing color. But it also sounds like some folks are seeing color.

But at the same time, I hear you saying that it has come up, right?

I dont give a shit. Where were from, we take care of each other, whether its you and me, and were Black or white, or were yellow or purple, or whatever.

We met in prison. I was his counselor. And now were together. So were together regardless of all of that political bullshit.

It could be nonracial. It could go just as true, like I said  a lot of people dont realize that theres a lot of African Americans in small towns. And our neighborhood is we ride horses. We mess with cattle. My grandfather raised paints  horses. So our small town was African American. I know country boys. Im pretty much [INAUDIBLE] me. I do leather work and everything else. So [INAUDIBLE].

Like, what are you going to round up? Im looking at it as far as like  OK, so Im from a small town in Missouri. The majority of my neighborhood is African American. If were going to round up, its going to round up the guys. Were going to go get this threat out of our neighborhood, you know what I mean, and whatever it is.

I heard that part too. And thats the part that actually jumped out to me.

Where he says, we going to round up. You know what I mean? And that kind of took me back a little bit. But I also got to remember, hey, coming up and someone come to our neighborhood and was doing something that we didnt like, theyre not consistent with our values, they had to go know. And I just dont think that the round up part in the totality of the song stood, you know what I mean, as far as everything else I heard.

Well. I didnt understand the movement. And the threat is real and exists. When I was coming up, we had the fear of the KKK where I lived down in Missouri. But I just dont get that vibe from him. But there is one line in the song that kind of gave me pause a little bit.

It is coming after. And I think that the reason some people took on to that was saying, is this a response to that? And saying, these values are inconsistent with the message of that move. Im saying, as a Black person, how did you hear those two things?

Im from a small town in Missouri, of 5,000 people. And someone comes down there doing stuff that  carjack an old lady. Youre not going to make it down the road. We all know each other. You know what I mean? So it aint like that you can just  like the song. In the city, everybody dont really look out for each other like that.

Taking care of each other. For me, I come from a small town. And I believe that we take care of each other. It has nothing to do with race. It has to do with we take care of each other. So dont fuck with us.

I mean, I guess I would say that its authentic. So we are a interracial couple who absolutely love each other and understand that, I mean, hes not racist. He is talking about 

One of the things weve been asking people about is, what is it about country that people really cling on to? I think saying, if youre a ship to an alien from New York and youre trying to tell them that this is actually something that deeply resonates, it just Aldean? Or is it the song specifically? How would you actually explain that?

Well, thank you. I appreciate it. Can you just tell me a little about yourselves. Whats your name? Where are you from, things like that?

You were trying to have the shirt also?

Hey, how are yall? My names Astead. This is Caitlin. Were reporters with The New York Times. Were talking to people headed to the Aldean concert about country music, about the show, and about how they see and view politics. Yall maybe have 5, 10 minutes? I saw the shirt.

After weve been outside the grandstand for a few hours, it was time to head to the concert.

Aldean came on stage. And about a half hour into his show 

I dont know if you know this, but we released the first single off that album, called Try That in a Small Town [INAUDIBLE].

We got a brand-new album coming out for you guys in November, all right?

Now, of course, you guys know how it is today. Its once the media gets a hold of it, they can kind of make that narrative whatever they want it to be. But just so you guys hear from me, thats what the songs about. These two guys 

 retired people acting like idiots when they dont get their way, especially when its [INAUDIBLE].

Which is so weird. You put out a song like this that just kind of says most of us are just tired of the bullshit, right? Were just tired of 

After listening to a bunch of fans tell us their interpretation of the song, it was interesting to hear Aldean take it on directly.

its not something I want to get used to ever. And if you get offended by this song, I dont know what to tell you other than maybe you need to check your shit. Maybe youre the problem. I dont know. [CHEERING]

To not turn on the TV every day and looking at whats happening and being like, what in the hell is wrong with all these people? This is not right. This is just not 

In some ways, Aldean sounds just like his fans. Hes not only shrugging off the blowback to the song. Hes thumbing his nose at it. And blaming the media for blowing it out of proportion. But unlike most of the people we talked to, who acknowledged the songs relationship to the protests of 2020 or its political connection to Donald Trump, Aldean is more vague. Its all a wink and a nod.

I want to thank you, guys. Thank you, guys, for standing up for this song when it came out. Trust me. We were all over social media, watching everything that was going on. And the way everybody  you guys rallied around this song and video when they tried to make it something it wasnt, was really, really cool to see. And from the bottom of our heart, we just want to say thank you all so much for that.

And Im very proud of the song. Im proud of the message it says. I stand by the song. I stand by the video. And I want to thank you, guys, everybody.

And all Im saying is if you know, you know. So here you go. Try That in a Small Town.

Now, with that being said, I cant think of a better place to play this song but right here in Des Moines, Iowa, tonight.

(SINGING) Got a gun that my granddad gave me. They say one day theyre gonna round up. That shit might fly in the city.

And Aldean got a huge cheer when, as he sang, he grabbed an American flag from the audience and draped it over himself.

So of course Republican voters seem to be rallying behind a candidate who is facing four criminal indictments, just like Aldean fans rally behind him and his message. Why did anyone expect anything else? By the way, we reached out to Aldean several times. But he said no to talking to us.

Aldeans speech, the flag, the chants. Being in this crowd at this concert, I can see why some Republican candidates have adopted this song for their campaigns. But I can also see why the overwhelming popularity of this song helps explain why this hasnt been much of a Republican primary at all. God, family, country, even the threat of violence. The message of the song is the message of Donald Trump.

After the song ended, the crowd broke out in a chant of USA.

After Try That in a Small Town was over, we stayed for a couple more songs.

Maybe you have 5, 10 minutes. Maybe you want to chat before we get out of here? Weve been talking to so many Iowans whove been so nice to us.

Thats the best thing. We cant twist it, because youre going to be talking right in it. Itll be your words. Theres no way to twist it. Well, lets start with your names and where youre from in Iowa.

As long as you dont twist my words, Ill do it.

Yeah. Yeah, yeah. Weve been here  this is my fourth day of the fair.

And we went back outside to talk to one last group of people.

astead w. herndon

In there, I thought it was interesting. He drapes  he takes the flag as hes singing the song. The USA chant breaks out after.

rick

Did you go in?

astead w. herndon

Yeah, we were in there for the concert. Why do you think its become not just that people think that the controversy is overblown? But its become a rallying cry. And its become a rallying cry about nationalism, the flag, and all those things specifically. What do you think makes people like you go buy this shirt and say, I want to support this?

rick

I think, honest to goodness  well, her shirt was sweaty. And she needed a new shirt. We believe  I believe that if we do not get somebody  and they may not be perfect. It could be Donald Trump, one of the most imperfect presidents that I know of, as far as his personal life. But we as conservatives, Christians, we have to get somebody besides the direction the country seems to be going. Or were not going to have a country. Thats how I feel.

speaker 5

And also, bottom line, I think that this nation is absolutely not past the point of no return. I believe its worth saving. I think theres so much more that is good about this nation than I hear a lot of hate thrown out there about sins of the past. But this nation is good. It is worth redeeming. And so Im like, when I look at this, this idea of pulling together community and loving on this nation, I mean, youve got to start with love because you cant hate people into doing better. Youve got to love them 

rick

Ooh, thats good.

speaker 5

 into doing better. To me, this is like love on a community, love on a nation, love on the flag, all of it.

rick

Ill take my own personal feelings. And so you take the videos of those people that are destroying, riots, George, all that. My reality is I want to reach those people and show them a better way. I dont want to hate them or say, oh, youre worthless because youre this thug and youre doing all this. I want to grab them, find them, help them. Everybody deserves grace.

astead w. herndon

But is that song a song of grace?

rick

I dont know. Probably not.

astead w. herndon

It doesnt feel to me like its fully a song of grace.

rick

So dont take me wrong. Im not sitting here thinking, well, thats me. Im going to  Im just saying, for him and his freedom of speech 

astead w. herndon

I got you.

rick

 and the way that he wants to portray that, I dont believe that his way  just like these people that say, Im going to lock people up forever if they do this or do that. What if these 

speaker 5

I want I say. I do want to say one thing, though, in regards to the song, that subject matter. I think really also there has to be a certain point where youre  Im going to hold the line. Im going to stand up for whats right. Im going to do the right thing. Thats what Im going to talk about. And Im not going to just give in and let chaos ensue, whatever that might be and whatever situation that is.

astead w. herndon

Grace runs out.

speaker 5

Well, I dont know that its that grace runs out. But is it graceful to everybody to just let chaos ensue? I think at some point in time 

rick

Thats a good point.

speaker 5

 you have to say, look, enough is enough.

rick

You cant just keep letting all of this craziness happen and not stop it.

speaker 5

And it doesnt mean you have to hate people. But you have to say, hold up. Just because  maybe youre hurting here, but you cant just continue to hurt people because youre hurting.

speaker 6

It takes away everybody elses rights.

speaker 5

So you have to say, Im sorry, you cant keep doing that.

astead w. herndon

Yeah. You all mentioned  and I think its kind of built in some of the songs we hear here  and thats the kind of looming threat to the country. What do you think is the looming threat to the country that makes you so nervous, that feels the sense of urgency for right now?

rick

All of the stuff behind the scenes that you see happening with agendas of getting people that are doing things that are so far from the values that I know are right and true and godly. The transgender issue and children. And I believe that those people that think that they have to become something else because either theyre not satisfied with who they are or what they are and they get this option offered to them, I dont believe thats the right offering. I think you got to get to it and solve the issues before it gets to that point. And its just become this crazy thing where even in our schools, in our little secluded rural town of rural Des Moines, Iowa, everything is kind of taking God and values out of all of the stuff that our country was founded on.

astead w. herndon

Are you someone then who thinks that the next nominee should be Trump?

speaker 5

I would  I mean, thats who Im going to support. I mean, you know.

speaker 6

And we caucus too. All of us caucus. I helped count the votes.

astead w. herndon

Im curious. OK, my last question, and we can all leave, because weve let everyone walk by, is 

speaker 5

Sorry.

caitlin o'keefe

No. Thank you.

astead w. herndon

No, this is great. Im saying, outside of the result next year  who  Trump  lets say Trumps the nominee. He faces Biden. We dont know how thats going to end up. How do you think its going to be mood-wise, tone-wise? It does feel as if theres these two sides who both think that the other side 

rick

I think if Trump wins, I believe that Trump may have learned some lessons about how to win friends and influence people.

speaker 5

Dale Carnegie.

rick

And I think that things are going to be much better than they were the first time around. And if he does the right things and if he doesnt just sit there and dwell on  oh, see, I told you so, or this and that  but he just gets down to business and does his job and appoints people and runs this country, I think our country will come out of inflation. I think the jobs will come back. I think the interest rates will come down. And I think, hopefully then, people will see, OK, maybe this way that these capitalists do things isnt that bad. And again, Im not putting it all in him. Im not saying that if he does that, I think its going to be better even if Biden wins or whoever is going to run in Bidens place if Biden doesnt end up being able to run.

speaker 5

Whatcha talkin about, Willis?

rick

I just think  I think the country is ready for a change.

astead w. herndon

You all maintain that optimism, that you think in this next year that a Trump can bring the country together?

speaker 6

I definitely do because I think hes been the underdog for so long. And now that people have seen how hes been done wrong, I dont care if youre from wherever, when you know that someones been constantly berated and its been proven, I think that people are wanting to rally around him just because its his time. He deserves this. It was taken away from him. And he still did great things. So I think its more of that.

rick

I dont know that he deserves it. I think that hes a servant. I think he truly has decided 

speaker 6

Oh, he does.

rick

Well, plus he probably wants to pardon himself.

speaker 6

I dont know. Lets not go there.

speaker 5

Thats a whole different subject matter. But optimism? Yes, I have optimism 

rick

I dont know. I just forgive everybody.

speaker 5

 for the  that better things are coming. I do believe that. I dont know that its necessarily in the hands of any politician. I dont think so. I think that if better things are going to come, its because our God, the God thats over everything, whether you believe it or not, is the only one that can really make the difference. I think the people have to turn their hearts back to God.

speaker 6

Yes. Oh, gosh, thats so good!

astead w. herndon

Thank you all so much for your time.

speaker 6

Shes so good!

astead w. herndon
Last spring, when Karim Lakhani began testing how ChatGPT affected the work of elite business consultants, he thought theyd be delighted by the tool. In a preliminary study of two dozen workers, the language bot had helped them finish two hours worth of tasks in 20 minutes.

I assumed they, like me, would think, Great! I can do so much more! said Dr. Lakhani, a professor at the Harvard Business School.

Instead, the consultants had feelings of unease. They appreciated that they had done better work in less time. But ChatGPTs quick work threatened their sense of themselves as high-skilled workers, and some feared relying on it too much. They were really worried and felt like this was going to denigrate them and be sort of empty calories for their brain, Dr. Lakhani said.

After these preliminary tests, Dr. Lakhani and his colleagues devised a larger, controlled experiment to measure how ChatGPT would affect more than 750 white-collar workers. That study, which is under review at a scientific journal, indicated sharply mixed results in the consultants work product. ChatGPT greatly improved the speed and quality of work on a brainstorming task, but it led many consultants astray when doing more analytical work.
While some tried and true wedding traditions may have lost their luster, wedding professionals are taking note of modern iterations that honor and elevate classic trends.

Couples are looking to put their own spin on traditions and refresh them, said Heather Balliet, an owner of Amorology Weddings, a wedding planning and event company in San Diego. They want to update and personalize them while holding onto remnants.

Here are a few old-school wedding traditions that have undergone inventive upgrades for the modern age. From cozy, family dining to floating cakes, industry experts share examples of how events have evolved as couples seek to make their celebrations more inclusive and memorable.

Elevated Guest Portraits

Everyone wants to capture everything  usually all at once. Polaroids were kitschy and Warholian. The huge photo booths that spit out a photo strip were cheeky. Roaming photo machines, complete with props, have had their moment. Though these offered an interactive experience and a memento from the wedding, they were cheesy and very playful, said Kelly McWilliams, the owner of Kelly McWilliams Celebrations, Weddings and Parties, in Cape Coral, Fla. Couples are returning to old-school, black-and-white guest portrait photography where photographers set up mini studios at their wedding.
Apple resumed sales of its newest smartwatches on Thursday, a day after a federal appeals court temporarily reversed an earlier ban on their import and sale in the United States.

But the watches fate will ultimately depend on how a continuing legal fight plays out in federal court over the next few weeks.

The company paused sales of the Apple Watch Series 9 and Watch Ultra 2 in its flagship stores on Dec. 21 and at retail locations on Christmas Eve. The pause was the result of a patent case that Apple lost in October.

The ruling in that case became final on Tuesday, when President Bidens administration declined to step in and reverse it. But on Wednesday, a federal appeals court ordered the government not to enforce it until further notice while the court considers Apples appeal.
I hope everyone is enjoying the holiday season. We havent received many questions about the Republican primary recently, even though the Iowa Caucus is less than three weeks away. But we have gotten a few, and many on other topics, so lets dive into the mailbox one last time in 2023.

Switching parties for a primary?

What if some of us former Republicans, now independents or Democrats thanks to Trump, registered as Republicans in order to vote for Nikki Haley in the primary? As a New Jersey voter, it wouldnt really matter here, because the primaries are usually decided before they get to us. I would much rather see her on the ballot than Trump. Would a push like that do anything?  Nancy Dries

Ms. Haley trails by 50 points in the national polls, so realistically its going to take a lot more than moderate Democrats switching for the race to become competitive.

But that doesnt mean that Democrats and independents wont play a role. Unlike New Jersey, many states have open primaries where Democrats will be able to vote in the Republican primary without changing their registration at all. It wouldnt surprise me if Ms. Haley fares especially well in states like those, including South Carolina. Shell also probably fare well in states where independent voters can participate, like New Hampshire.

What about a one-on-one race?

When I look at a recent poll of Iowa voters, I see that Trump is at 44 percent with DeSantis and Haley tied at 17 percent. Trump is clearly leading, but there are a lot of voters who are aligning themselves with DeSantis, Haley, Ramaswamy and Christie. And a small number of voters who are undecided. If the Republican field were to narrow down to one candidate who runs against Trump, where do the supporters of those other candidates go?  Steven Brown

When we surveyed Iowa back in July, we found Donald J. Trump leading Ron DeSantis by 16 points, 55 percent to 39 percent, in a hypothetical one-on-one matchup. Mr. DeSantis won just 51 percent of the voters who didnt back him or Mr. Trump, and Id guess the tally is worse for him today, given the trend in the polls since then. Id also guess its worse for Ms. Haley, who would need to win over relatively conservative DeSantis voters.
Gypsy Rose Blanchard, who was found guilty of helping to kill her abusive mother in a murder that inspired an HBO documentary and a Hulu miniseries, was released from prison on Thursday, the authorities in Missouri said.

Karen Pojmann, a spokeswoman for the Missouri Department of Corrections, said in an email that Ms. Blanchard was released from Chillicothe Correctional Center at 3:30 a.m. on Thursday.

Her mother, Dee Dee Blanchard, was killed in June 2015 in Springfield, Mo. At the time, Ms. Blanchard, then in her early 20s, used a wheelchair and appeared to have a diminished mental capacity. Investigators soon realized that she could walk and that her medical problems had largely been fictitious.

Investigators later came to suspect Ms. Blanchards boyfriend, Nicholas Godejohn, of stabbing her mother to death. They also found evidence suggesting that the couple had planned the murder together.
Background: The fate of the house has been in dispute for months.

Bryan Kohberger is accused of killing four college students in November 2022 and faces four murder charges. Prosecutors have said they planned to seek the death penalty.

While the case proceeds, the fate of the house where the murders occurred has been a point of contention.

Some family members of the victims have argued that the home should remain standing in case it is needed for the prosecution of Mr. Kohberger, who was a criminology student at nearby Washington State University when he was accused of killing Kaylee Goncalves, Xana Kernodle, Ethan Chapin and Madison Mogen. Members of the Goncalves and Kernodle families said in a statement this week that the property could help answer questions that might arise during the prosecution, helping jurors understand the sights and sounds of the house.

Please stop the demolition, they said in a statement, calling the decision to proceed madness.

Both the prosecution and defense lawyers have told university officials they are OK with the demolition. Prosecutors said a visit by jurors would be inappropriate because the property has been altered and subjected to extensive chemical applications.

The university decided to proceed, planning the demolition for when many students would be away for winter break. University President C. Scott Green said in a statement that the home was a grim reminder of what transpired there.

While we appreciate the emotional connection some family members of the victims may have to this house, it is time for its removal and to allow the collective healing of our community to continue, he said.
A Confederate monument was taken down in Jacksonville, Fla., on Wednesday, after an order by the citys mayor ended years of debate, as officials around the United States reckon with memorials on public property that commemorate the Confederacy.

Donna Deegan, the Democratic mayor of Jacksonville, ordered the removal of two statues that were part of the Tribute to the Women of the Southern Confederacy monument in Springfield Park.

In the early hours of Wednesday morning a crowd watched a construction crew use a crane to remove one statue, depicting a woman in robes carrying a Confederate flag, from the roof of the gazebo that housed the monument. A second statue, depicting a woman reading to two children, was then taken off a pedestal inside the gazebo. The removal was livestreamed on social media.

Ms. Deegan said in a statement on Wednesday that the monument had been erected as part of a campaign to promote discriminatory Jim Crow laws and intimidate Black people.
As Marquise Tillman led deputies on a high-speed chase through rural Mississippi in March 2019, Sheriff Todd Kemp issued a blunt order over the radio: Shut him down and beat his ass.

When the Clarke County deputies caught Mr. Tillman, they did just that, he later alleged in a lawsuit. He said they pummeled and stomped on him while he was handcuffed, leaving him with a fractured eye socket and broken bones in his face and chest.

The sheriff denied giving the order. But it was captured on tape and described under oath by four of his deputies.
Customs officers found jewelry from Cartier, Bvlgari and Van Cleef & Arpels in an international parcel. The jewelry was shipped from Taiwan to Ukraine under the guise of steel beads worth a total of USD 60.

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This was reported by the press service of Kyiv Customs. The found items were seized, and their real value will be determined by an expert examination.

"Kyiv customs officers found undeclared jewelry labeled with luxury brands Cartier, Bvlgari, and Van Cleef & Arpels in an international express shipment. The jewelry, which was heading from Taiwan to the recipient in Dnipro, was declared as steel beads worth a total of USD 60," the press service said.

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During the inspection of the parcel, customs officers found 11 jewelry made of white and yellow metals inlaid with stones instead of steel beads. All the items were marked and labeled as jewelry. The customs officers immediately identified the transparent stones in the jewelry as diamonds using a rapid test. This was later confirmed by experts.

According to the experts, the shipment contained

six bracelets with Cartier markings from the "LOVE" collection made of white, yellow and pink gold alloy, set with diamonds

a bracelet and three rings marked Bvlgari from the Serpenti Viper collection in white gold alloy, set with diamonds

a Van Cleef & Arpels hallmarked ring from the "Magic Alhambra" collection in yellow gold alloy with an onyx insert.

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"Kyiv Customs drew up a report on violation of customs regulations. The jewelry was seized until a decision is made in the case. Their value will be determined later," the press service said.

As reported by OBOZ.UA, customs officers prevented the export of an ancient Borysiv icon and a cross from the times of Kyivan Rus. They tried to send the artifacts to the United States.

Only verified information is available on our Telegram channel OBOZ.UA and inViber. Do not fall for fakes!
When Jessica Conard heard that President Biden would visit her community in East Palestine, she felt a sense of relief.

Mr. Bidens presence, she believed, would signal to the world that nothing short of disaster happened here in February, when a Norfolk Southern train skipped the tracks and spilled thousands of gallons of toxic chemicals into the environment.

All these months later, shes still waiting for him.

I feel like I dont matter, said Ms. Conard, who has grown disillusioned with the president she voted for in 2020. She was particularly aghast that he flew past her town in September to join picketing union workers in Michigan, a key swing state.

The White House insists that Mr. Biden still plans to visit.

The president continues to oversee a robust recovery effort to support the people of East Palestine, and he will visit when it is most helpful for the community, said Jeremy M. Edwards, a White House spokesman.
A federal judge on Thursday ruled that the Georgia legislature had complied with orders to draw voting maps that allowed Black voters an equal opportunity to elect representatives of their choice, signing off on new districts created earlier this month.

The Republican-led legislature had drawn new state and congressional maps during a December special session, after a federal judge in Atlanta said the original districts created after the 2020 census violated the landmark 1965 Voting Rights Act.

Democrats and Black voters in the state objected to the new maps, which created an additional majority Black congressional district but were unfavorable to Representative Lucy McBath, a Democratic congresswoman. It also ensured that Republican incumbents in both the Statehouse and Washington would be protected from a primary political challenger for their seats.

But Judge Steve C. Jones of the Northern District of Georgia, who first struck down the maps in late October, said that the legislature had now done enough to comply with the Voting Rights Act with its new maps, which are likely to maintain the 9-5 majority Republicans hold in the states congressional delegation.
Prominent Democratic donors, anxious about the increasingly authoritarian language of Donald J. Trump, have been calling on Democratic voters and independents to thwart the former presidents comeback by voting for Nikki Haley in open Republican primary elections.

But Ms. Haleys political gaffe on Wednesday night, when the presidential hopeful and former governor of South Carolina stumbled through the causes of the Civil War with no mention of slavery, may make that appeal considerably harder just as she is edging closer to striking distance of Mr. Trump in New Hampshire.

Ms. Haley on Thursday walked back her answer about the causes of the Civil War, telling a New Hampshire interviewer, Of course the Civil War was about slavery.

Her retreat came about 12 hours after a town-hall meeting in Berlin, N.H., a state that is central to her presidential ambitions, where she was asked about the Civil Wars origins. Her answer focused on government overreach and the freedoms of what people could and couldnt do, after she jokingly told the questioner he had posed a tough one. He then noted that she had not uttered the word slavery.
A few months into the reprise, however, the tenor of Lilys  and therefore Vayntrubs  reception abruptly veered from benign tolerance to lecherous malevolence. In the summer of 2020, seemingly overnight, one small but vocal corner of the internet fixed its gaze upon Vayntrub and began referring to her by a new name: Mommy Milkers, a reference to her breasts. En masse, people spammed the comment sections of AT&Ts social-media posts with lewd declarations and emojis of glasses of milk. The jeering became inescapable for Vayntrub, bleeding into the comments of her personal social-media accounts. Recent posts and years-old ones were targeted. Her personal photos were widely redistributed among strangers. Spammy websites promised access to pornographic videos of her that did not exist. The physical isolation of lockdown exacerbated the experience for Vayntrub. Our real world was so small, she said, that the internet felt like everything.

I learned of Vayntrubs social-media gantlet while writing an article about Stephanie Courtney. I had been struck by the placidity of Courtneys life in the public eye. Progressives calculations suggest that Flo is recognizable to a supermajority of Americans; almost equally remarkable is the fact that Flo  or rather Courtney  has avoided becoming an object of rabid pornographic interest online, a not-uncommon fate for women with public-facing roles in the 21st century.

Its impossible to weight the variables that created this lucky outcome for Courtney but not for Vayntrub. Was it because Courtney was in her late 30s when she began starring as Flo  more than a decade older than Vayntrub in her first appearance as Lily? Was it because, while each character dresses conservatively, Flos wardrobe obliterates any trace of curves by sheathing her in a bulky apron? (At a commercial shoot last spring, Courtneys manager kept a sharp eye on the way the apron hung when Courtney sat, wary that the fabric could create shapes in the chest area.) Perhaps the discrepancy can be put down to the fact that Flo is friendly but intentionally unrealistic, almost magical; Lily, by contrast, is intended to represent a real, live AT&T store employee.

The onslaught could have cost Vayntrub her job; it is not ideal if an advertiser is compelled to scold potential customers for engaging with the content it has paid to show them, as AT&T did in its own comment sections. (We dont condone sexual harassment of employees in the workplace or on our social channels, @ATT replied to an Instagram user who announced a desire to suck on Vayntrubs breasts.) The company released a statement condemning the harassment, worked with social platforms to stanch the flow of inappropriate comments and put Vayntrub in touch with a team from Instagram, to discuss ways to further mitigate the problem.
One Friday earlier this month, just as Dr. Daouda Diallo stepped out of the passport office in the capital of the West African nation of Burkina Faso, four men grabbed him off the street, pushed him into a vehicle and drove off.

Dr. Diallo, a pharmacist-turned-rights-activist who had recently been awarded a prestigious prize for human rights work, has not been heard from since that day, Dec. 1.

But four days later, a picture of Dr. Diallo, 41, wearing a helmet and holding a Kalashnikov rifle, posted on social media, seemingly confirming the fears of his family and colleagues that he had been forcefully conscripted into the army. Dr. Diallo and a dozen other people active in public life had been notified by security forces in November that they would soon be drafted to assist the government in securing the country, according to international and local rights groups.

Then, on Christmas Eve, two men in civilian clothes rang the doorbell of Ablasse Ouedraogo, a former foreign affairs minister and an opposition leader. He was taken away and his whereabouts remain unknown, according to Faso Autrement, his political party.
Hamas weaponized sexual violence

Israeli officials say that everywhere Hamas terrorists struck on Oct. 7  a rave, military bases along the Gaza border and kibbutz after kibbutz  they brutalized women.

A two-month investigation by The Times established that the attacks against women were not isolated events, but part of a broader pattern of gender-based violence. For months, Israeli activists have been outraged that the U.N. secretary general, Antonio Guterres, and the agency U.N. Women did not acknowledge the many accusations until weeks after the attacks.

Times reporters identified at least seven locations where Israeli women and girls appear to have been sexually assaulted or mutilated. Many of the accounts reported by my colleagues are difficult to bear, and the visual evidence is disturbing to see.

One photograph showed a womans corpse with dozens of nails driven into her thighs and groin. A video provided by the Israeli military showed two dead Israeli soldiers who appeared to have been shot directly in their vaginas. A witness told my colleagues that one Hamas terrorist raped one woman while another cut off her breast.
In 2024, the Brits will be able to drink like Winston Churchill again.

The government announced on Wednesday that it would allow stores and pubs to sell pints of wine, famously said to be the former prime ministers favorite quantity of champagne.

What? But also, why?

Its a side effect of Brexit, Britains official exit from the European Union in 2020, after which, among other things, the country no longer had to conform to European rules about weights and measurement.

In the announcement introducing pint-size wine bottles on Wednesday, Britains Conservative government boasted that the move was part of the countrys new Brexit freedoms.

Buckle up, because the numbers are about to get a little weird.

Beer, wine and liquor are sold across borders, and while the liquids may not change from one country to the next, their containers sometimes do, according to measurements set out centuries ago by governments trying to regulate their sale. Most standard bottles of wine hold 750 milliliters, or about five glasses, but there are several not-so-standard options as well.

Britains traditional imperial system of measurements was codified in 1824, when the British Weights and Measures Act standardized the use of units, including the gallon, pound and yard. The British government began to introduce the metric system on a voluntary basis in 1965, but after the country joined the European Economic Community, manufacturers had to display metric measurements in addition to the traditional imperial ones.

The imperial pint  568 milliliters, or just under 20 imperial fluid ounces  was one of Britains cherished traditional measures. (Not to be confused with the American definition of a pint, which is 473 milliliters, or 16 U.S. ounces, and will not feature any more in this article.)

Its closest approximation during the E.U. years was the 500-milliliter bottle, which is two-thirds the size of a standard bottle and holds about three glasses of wine. Those bottles  less than two ounces smaller than the pint-size ones  remain common in British stores, as do a few other sizes.

Whats behind those 68 extra milliliters

After Brexit, the British government began conducting a review of European regulations that it wanted to roll back. Wednesdays announcement of the wine pint came after about 100,000 people responded to a government consultation on whether they wanted to return more broadly to the old-fashioned imperial measurement system (things like inches, miles and gallons instead of meters, kilometers and liters), which hasnt been in official use for decades.

(In an interview with the British newspaper The Daily Mail in 2019, former Prime Minister Boris Johnson said that using the imperial system was an ancient liberty.)

The government said it had decided against legislative measures after only 1.3 percent of respondents said theyd be open to bringing the imperial system back.

And so while Britain will continue to use the metric system for other food and drinks, the pint-size bottle of wine is something of a symbolic gesture.

Flaunting the countrys long and proud history with imperial measures, the government promised that the extra 1.8 ounces of wine would help to boost innovation, increase business freedoms and improve choice for consumers.

Would it?

A 568-milliliter bottle of wine would be sellable only in the British market, which is smaller than that of many European countries. There are roughly 200 wineries in England as of 2022, according to WineGB, an association of winemakers in Britain. France and Italy, famous for their wine production, each has tens of thousands of wineries in comparison.

So its uncertain whether any wine producers will opt into the new-old measurement. But at least one British person might have welcomed the change, were he still alive: a quip famously attributed to Churchill was his claim that a pint of champagne was just enough for two at lunch and one for dinner.
A powerful storm bringing strong, gusty winds as it moves across Britain has left thousands of customers in Wales and England without power, delivered heavy rain and flood warnings, and disrupted train journeys ahead of the long New Years weekend.

A possible tornado damaged some homes in Englands greater Manchester area, at one point leaving more than 3,000 homes without power on Thursday, officials said.

Police and fire department officials in the Manchester area said they received numerous reports late Wednesday of significant damage to properties battered in what may have been a small-scale tornado. Firefighters worked through the night and early morning, officials said.
Russia has recaptured land hard won by Ukrainian troops at the peak of their summer counteroffensive in the south, making progress around the southern village of Robotyne.

The situation has reinforced the wars latest reality: With their counteroffensive stalled, Ukrainian troops are now on the back foot in many places. Besides Robotyne in the south, they are also struggling in the east, having all but retreated from the town of Marinka, officials said this week.

Deepening their challenges, Kyiv is increasingly worried that its military will not have the resources to keep up the fight. Washington announced on Wednesday that it was releasing the last remaining Congress-approved package of military aid available to Kyiv.

Now, we are losing some fields, but if the U.S. aid is delayed, we will begin to lose towns, Yehor Chernev, the deputy chairman of the Ukrainian Parliaments committee on national security, defense and intelligence, said in an interview last week. Without American ammunition, we are beginning to lose territory that was hard won this summer.
Where Migrant Children Are Living, and Often Working, in the U.S.

Since 2021, migrant children have been traveling alone to the United States in record numbers: Nearly 400,000 children have crossed the southern border by themselves, most of them fleeing extreme poverty.

A Post-Pandemic Surge in Child Migrants Nearly 750,000 migrant children have been placed with sponsors in the U.S. since 2012. More than half of those children have arrived since 2021. CHILDREN 100,000 75,000 50,000 25,000 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018 2019 2020 2021 2022 2023 FISCAL YEAR CHILDREN 100,000 75,000 50,000 25,000 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 FISCAL YEAR Source: Analysis of data from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services

The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services is responsible for placing these children with adult sponsors. While about a third of the children are reunited with parents in the United States, the rest live with other relatives or even strangers.

The New York Times analyzed H.H.S. data to determine the areas of the country with the highest concentrations of migrant children sent to sponsors who are not their parents.

Here is where they are ending up.

Where Migrant Children Were Sent to Live With Non-Parent Sponsors 0 10 20 30 Children per 100,000 residents

Wash. Maine Mont. N.D. Minn. Vt. Minn. Ore. Idaho N.H. Mass. N.Y. S.D. Wis. Conn. Mich. Wyo. R.I. Pa. N.J. Iowa Neb. Nev. Md. Ohio Ill. Del. Ind. Utah W.Va. Colo. Va. Kan. Mo. Calif. Ky. N.C. Tenn. Okla. Ariz. Ark. S.C. N.M. Miss. Ga. Ala. Texas La. Alaska Fla. Hawaii Wash. Maine Mont. N.D. Vt. Minn. Ore. N.H. Idaho Mass. N.Y. Wis. S.D. Mich. Wyo. Conn. R.I. Pa. Iowa N.J. Neb. Nev. Ohio Md. Ill. Del. Ind. Utah W.Va. Colo. Kan. Mo. Va. Calif. Ky. N.C. Tenn. Okla. Ariz. Ark. S.C. N.M. Miss. Ga. Ala. Texas La. Alaska Fla. Hawaii Source: Analysis of H.H.S. data Note: Data is from January 2015 through May 2023. The small number of cases where ZIP code data was not available are not shown.

Many of these unaccompanied migrant children are coming from rural areas in Central America that were crushed by the pandemic and its economic fallout. In the highlands of Guatemala, for instance, work dried up and food prices soared.

Where Child Migrants Are Coming From Children from Guatemala and Honduras are coming in numbers that far surpass those of any other country. CHILDREN Guatemala 60,000 50,000 40,000 Honduras 30,000 20,000 El Salvador 10,000 Other countries Mexico 2016 2017 2018 2019 2020 2021 2022 CHILDREN Guatemala 60,000 50,000 40,000 Honduras 30,000 20,000 El Salvador 10,000 Other countries Mexico 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 Source: Analysis of H.H.S. data Note: Years are reported as fiscal years.

A decade ago, most unaccompanied migrant children were released to their parents. But since 2017, that has changed: a majority of them now are going to non-parent sponsors. Those children are often expected to find work and help their families back home.

Social workers, teachers and lawyers who work with migrant children estimate that a majority of these children end up working full time, often in dangerous jobs that violate labor laws.

Migrant Children Placed With Sponsors Since 2017 50,000 100,000 150,000 Guatemala Sent to non-parent Sent to parent Honduras El Salvador Other Mexico 50,000 100,000 150,000 Guatemala Sent to non-parent Sent to parent Honduras El Salvador Other Mexico Source: Analysis of H.H.S. data Note: Data covers fiscal years 2017-22.

The Times obtained detailed data about where migrant children were released after successfully suing H.H.S. for a range of documents in October 2022.

The Times has used this database to identify small towns and urban neighborhoods in which disproportionate numbers of migrant children were living without their parents.

Some of the children living in these clusters have suffered serious injuries at work, like Marcos Cux, who was maimed at a Perdue Farms poultry plant in Virginia. Others have struggled to stay in school, like Carolina Yoc, who tried to balance ninth grade with a full-time night job packing Cheerios. Both were in ZIP codes where more than 90 percent of the migrant children were released to non-parent sponsors.

To help others study and report on this work force, The Times is releasing a 553,322-row dataset that details with new specificity where migrant children have ended up after coming to the United States on their own.
The United States has proposed that the G7 (France, the United States, the United Kingdom, Germany, Japan, Italy, and Canada) agree on a plan to confiscate $300 billion worth of Russian assets. These are the assets of the Russian Central Bank frozen in Western countries due to sanctions. At the same time, Ukraine's allies are in a hurry to agree on a plan before the second anniversary of Russia's full-scale invasion.

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The Financial Times (FT) writes about this with reference to information from its own sources. According to them, the US has already received support from the UK, Japan and Canada.

Now, according to the publication, the United States wants to continue the work of the working groups on confiscation so that the plan is ready for a potential meeting of G7 leaders on dates close to February 24, 2024. The three working groups are expected to study the legal aspects of confiscation and methods of applying such a policy, as well as options for transferring funds to help Ukraine.

At the same time, Germany, France, and Italy, as EU members, have expressed some reservations. They call for "a thorough assessment of the legality of the confiscation of Russian assets" before making such a decision.

"Washington has not yet publicly supported the seizure of Russian assets. But this year, the US privately circulated a document within the G7, which stated that the confiscation of Moscow's frozen assets would be legal as a "countermeasure to encourage Russia to stop its aggression." But Europe, where most of the assets are kept, is much more cautious, fearing possible consequences for financial stability and retaliation from Russia," the newspaper notes.

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As reported by OBOZ.UA, the EU in the 12th package of sanctions against Russia for the first time introduced a mechanism for confiscation of private frozen assets of the Russian Federation, but not for the sake of Ukraine. We are talking about the finances of sanctioned legal entities and individuals. The proceeds are to be allocated to European companies whose property was seized by the Kremlin in Russia.

At the same time, the Federal Prosecutor's Office of Germany has filed a lawsuit to confiscate more than 720 million euros of Russian funds. They are going to be transferred to the country's state budget. This is the first case of its kind in Germany - before that, the assets of sanctioned individuals and companies were only frozen.

Only verified information is available on our Telegram channel OBOZ.UA and in Viber. Do not fall for fakes!
Star Wash, a small, family-owned car wash on the outskirts of Santiago de Chile, is being sued by LucasFilm, the company that owns the Star Wars brand, for allegedly plagiarizing its property.

Matias Jara, the owner of Star Wash, was in the process of registering his brand with the Chilean patent authority when he received a lawsuit from LucasFilm. The Disney-owned company reportedly wanted to stop the registration of the Star Wash name, arguing that the brand could be confused as being affiliated with Star Wars. However, Mr Jara is contesting the suit and claims that the name is different enough not to be confused with the LucasFilm property, adding that they are not selling movies of branded products. Apparently, the Star Wars copyright does not cover car cleaning services.

To be fair, Star Wash had been getting a lot of attention online by asking workers to clean vehicles while dressed up as iconic characters like Chewbacca and Darth Vader, and even the font used for the Star Wash logo is blatantly inspired by the iconic Star Wars logo, but LucasFilm reportedly didnt bring up any of this in its lawsuit.

Of course this lawsuit is affecting us. Were a small business and were spending on things we hadnt budgeted for, Matias Jara told reporters, adding that he plans to contest the lawsuit and go on with his Star Wars-inspired marketing.

View this post on Instagram A post shared by Star Wash (@starwashchile)

Jara told reporters that the Star Wars-themed car wash was inspired by a clever wordplay thought up by his daughter during a family trip to Disneyland. He liked the name Star Wash so much that he just had to try the model, and it proved pretty successful.

This lawsuit is reminiscent of a very similar David vs Goliath case we covered last year, when DC Comics, the owner of the Superman brand, sued Chilean family-owned bakery Superpan for infringing on its copyright.
A TOTAL of 81% of the Irish public believe Ireland needs to grow more trees to help combat climate change, according to a recent Red C Research survey commissioned by Coillte, the semi-state forestry company.

Furthermore, 86% of those surveyed agree that getting out into nature and exploring their local forest has a positive impact on their physical and mental wellbeing, while 82% believe forests are important for nature and biodiversity, which is central to Coilltes strategic vision.

Of all respondents, 74% agree that having a mix of trees, such as conifers that grow quickly and capture carbon at a high rate, along with broadleaves that provide a long-term store of carbon, is important for climate action. In terms of tackling climate change, the majority surveyed (66%) are in favour of using Irish wood as an alternative building material to high-carbon materials such as concrete and steel.

Speaking about the survey, Paul Jordan, Regional Manager Coillte, said, At Coillte we recognise the importance of nature and forests in supporting our overall wellbeing and its encouraging to see that the majority of the Irish public agrees, as revealed in our recent survey. Offaly is home to some great recreation forests including the Slieve Bloom Mountain Bike Trails, Glenregan and Glenafelly and we are reminding people to take some time where possible this festive season to get out and reconnect with nature.

The Slieve Bloom Mountain Bike Trails are a network of purpose-built singletrack trails and forest roads. Bikers can choose between a selection of four routes, two of which are blue grade, suitable for beginners and novices with the remaining two routes being more challenging and rated as red grade. The roads pass through stunning forest and open areas, with sprawling views over Kinnitty Castle and beyond.

Glenregan is named after the valley between Stillbrook Hill and Wolftrap Mountain. The forest envelopes both sides of the Camcor River valley, offering fantastic views over onto west Offaly and the River Shannon. The network of trekking and walking roads are extensive and easily accessed from the car park.

Glenafelly forest recreation area takes visitors into the more remote parts of the Slieve Bloom Mountains and allows walkers to explore mature and semi-mature woods along river banks and along forest roads. The Slieve Bloom Way runs beside the forest entrance on the public road and can be used to link with other Coillte loop routes in the Slieve Blooms.

Coillte has an open forest policy and welcomes all visitors to its forests according to the principles of Leave No Trace.

The survey findings support Coilltes forestry strategic vision which aims to deliver multiple benefits from its forests and bring more focus to climate action, with ambitious targets on biodiversity and recreation, while continuing to deliver for the forest and wood products industry. The focus of Coilltes vision is on sustainably balancing and delivering the multiple benefits from Irelands state forests across four strategic pillars: Climate, Wood, Nature, and People.

Coilltes forestry strategic vision, announced last year, is designed to optimise its contribution to Irelands climate targets, and includes a range of actions aiming to capture approx. 28m tonnes of CO2 from the environment by 2050. Actions include:

Coillte aims to enable the creation of 100,000 hectares of new forests by 2050, half of which will be native woodlands, thereby enabling the sinking of 18m tonnes of CO2 by 2050.

Coillte will manage its existing forest estate to capture an additional 10m tonnes of CO2 by 2050;

Coillte plans to produce 25 million m3 of certified Irish timber, to support the construction of 300,000 new homes in Ireland by 2030. It will also promote the use and benefits of wood products to increase the level of timber homes from 20% to 80% by 2050;

Coillte intends to enhance and restore biodiversity by increasing the area of the forest estate being managed primarily for nature from 20% to 30% by 2025 and to 50% in the long term,

Coillte plans to enable the investment of 100 million to create world class visitor destinations to support growth in tourism and recreation by 2030. In addition, it will double the number of recreation areas nationally to 500, to benefit local communities and peoples wellbeing.

New strategic vision will be underpinned by Coilltes commercially successful business and aims to enable the creation of 1,200 direct and indirect jobs in rural communities to support the just transition to a low carbon economy in Ireland.

Coillte is responsible for the management of 440,000 hectares of Irelands forests, which represents 7% of the country. Since its establishment in 1989, it has enabled the development of a vibrant forestry and wood products sector that supports rural employment throughout Ireland. While sustainability has always been central to the way in which Coillte manages the forest estate, Coillte believes that the growing climate and biodiversity crises, as well as societal demands for housing, jobs and wellbeing, are driving a need for greater change.

For further information visit www.coillte.ie.
In Yellowstone National Park, deer are affected by a type of brain disease that is similar to BSE (Mad Cow Disease). Experts are now warning that this disease could potentially spread to humans in the future.

Scientists are saying that the "zombie deer disease" could spread to humans after hundreds of animals in the USA were infected this year. According to Focus, a deer in Yellowstone National Park in the USA recently diedfrom the disease.

Discover our latest podcast

Drooling, lethargy and stumbling

The illness called Chronic Wasting Disease (CWD) has been found in 800 samples of deer and elk in Wyoming. This disease causes zombie-like symptoms such as drooling, lethargy, stumbling and blank stares in the animals, according to The Independent.

Experts warn that this is a slow-spreading disaster and call on governments to prepare for the possibility of transmission to humans. In the UK, millions of cattle were slaughtered in the 1980s and 1990s as the mad cow disease (BSE) spread.

A resistant pathogen

The pathogen could survive for years and is resistant to disinfectants, formaldehyde and high temperatures, according to The Independent. In this respect, the disease could pose a real threat to humans, which is why researchers are now sounding the alarm.

The biotech company Ginkgo Bioworks also warned that zoonotic diseases transmitted from animals to humans could occur more frequently in the future and could kill twelve times as many people by 2050 as in 2020.

This article has been translated from Gentside DE

Read more:

 A rare dog disease can now transfer to humans, should we be worried?

 These deadly diseases soar during heatwaves: Here's how to protect yourself

Sources used:

The Independent: Scientists warn 'zombie deer disease' could spread to humans as cases surge across US

Focus: Disease could spread to humansResearchers fear 'zombie deer': 'Then the situation will escalate overnight'
In 2023, Ukrainians experienced many terrible events that were captured on camera. The enemy is trying by all means to break the strong and invincible spirit of our people, but it will never succeed because we are Ukrainians, descendants of brave and strong-willed Cossacks.

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OBOZ.UA has collected a selection of the most powerful photos of this year. The history of terrible events has forever left imprints in the hearts of people, but it also gave motivation and incentive to fight to the end and see a glimmer of hope and faith even among the ruins and chaos.

Christmas on the front line

The Christmas holidays have already arrived in Ukraine, but the military do not have the opportunity to spend them with their families. The heroes of the 10th Mountain Assault Brigade "Edelweiss" showed heartwarming photos of how the soldiers "celebrate" Christmas at the front line.

The courage and bravery of our defenders is impressive, they sacrifice invaluable time with their families to protect people from the ruthless enemy. Please remember those who are in the fields and trenches.

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December 15, 2023, Kyiv

"Heroes do not die," is a common refrain throughout Ukraine about those who died on the battlefield. A photo taken on December 15, 2023, during the funeral of a Revolution of Dignity veteran on Independence Square. Despite their power and strength, Ukrainian soldiers also cry. Death, tears, and suffering are the highest price for freedom and independence.

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November 20, 2023, Kharkiv region

A Ukrainian soldier at a combat position in the Kharkiv region. The photo was taken on November 20, 2023. The soldier's gaze symbolizes resilience in the face of death.

Donetsk region

Conditions of the Ukrainian Armed Forces in Donetsk region. Through hard work and tireless efforts, the soldiers are paving the way to victory and a brighter future.

Kreminna - SvatovedirectionThe defenderin the photo is Oleksandr Shyrshyn, a soldier of the 80th Brigade and a graduate of the Ukrainian Catholic University. This proves once again that the Ukrainian people will always find time for education and development, and that war will not interfere with learning, even in such difficult conditions.

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January 14, 2023, Dnipro

The girl in the photo is 23 years old, she lost her beloved in the war and a Russian missile destroyed her home. The enemy destroys our lives, but not our hope and faith in victory.

"Under the dark clouds of war"

A photo from Ukraine has won the UNICEF Photo of the Year award. It shows children from the Rivne region riding a bicycle after a massive drone attack on a nearby oil storage facility.

The contrast of the bright landscape, the "carefree" childhood and the terrible consequences of war makes us think about the most valuable thing - life.

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April 26, 2023

Soldiers released from captivity enjoy an ordinary apple. On April 26, 2023, a prisoner exchange took place. We will never forgive or forget the atrocities in the torture chambers of Russia.

March 22 ,2023

Pets also suffer from enemy attacks. Ukrainians care not only for each other, but also for their loyal smaller friends. The photo was taken on March 22, 2023.

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April 2, 2023

Support and love will overcome the worst evil. Let's rebuild Ukraine together, and our children will grow up in a free and independent country.

Kharkiv

Funeral of a soldier killed in Bakhmut at the cemetery in Kharkiv. The price paid by soldiers for the freedom of not only Ukrainians but the whole world.

We will stand. We will rebuild

The light in these houses and the bright starry sky give us hope that one day life will return to them again. Children's voices, cheerful songs and sincere laughter will be heard. Everyone who left home will definitely return to their homeland.

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Kryvyi Rih

Ukrainian realities in Kryvyi Rih. People brought toys to honor the memory of the dead children. The tragedy claimed the lives of six Ukrainians, more than 80 were injured. Russians are killing civilians.

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The value of life

Two soldiers from the same position met during the evacuation, although they were sure they would not see each other again.

Invincible little Ukrainians

The photo shows little Roman, who was burned by a Russian missile and lost his mother during a routine checkup in a hospital in Vinnytsia last year. But the boy is dancing and learning again. He did not give up, just like the entire Ukrainian people.

Ukrainian prisoner

A Ukrainian prisoner in a Russian court accused of allegedly preparing a terrorist attack in occupied Melitopol. The man's terrible physical condition is another confirmation of the inhuman, cruel and unfair treatment of our defenders.

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June 28, 2023, Kyiv

Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces of Ukraine Valeriy Zaluzhnyi with a girl in an embroidered shirt on the Constitution Day of Ukraine. Strength, power, support and faith side by side against a ruthless enemy.

August 20, 2023, Denmark

During his working visit to Denmark, President Volodymyr Zelenskyy got acquainted with the F-16 and "tested" the fighter jet together with the Prime Minister of Denmark. The help and support of our allies is a great contribution on the way to victory.

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October 5, 2023, Groza

A Russian missile strike on the village of Groza in the Kharkiv region killed 52 people. Many new graves appeared in the cemetery. In total, about 300 people lived in the village: every sixth person became a victim of an enemy attack.

March 26, 2023, Bakhmut

A Ukrainian soldier from the 28th Brigade is sitting a few hundred meters from the enemy trenches. His cracked and black hands are like a symbol of the Ukrainian land, which, despite its suffering, still resists the enemy.

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February 26 ,2023

Ukrainian military medics provide assistance to a wounded comrade in a field hospital near Bakhmut. Great respect to the medics who save the lives of our defenders under enemy fire.

September 26, 2023

All that is left of a Russian soldier on a road in Donetsk region. The photo was taken on September 26, and the next day, President Volodymyr Zelenskyy announced that the village of Staromayorske had been recaptured as a result of the summer counteroffensive.

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June 22, 2023, Bakhmut

Bakhmut can hardly be called a city where thousands of people lived until recently. It is the scene of the fiercest fighting with Russian troops in the Donetsk region. An aerial view of Bakhmut on June 22.

June 1, 2023, Kyiv is most painful to look at photos of children who have suffered from the occupiers. Young patients of the Okhmatdyt Children's Hospital with painted faces gather in the hospital's shelter to once again protect themselves from enemy shelling.

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September 12, 2023, Donetsk region

A wounded Ukrainian soldier on a medical stretcher smokes his last cigarette before being loaded into a mobile hospital bus by medics from the Ukrainian volunteer medical battalion Hospitallers.

July 4, 2023, Kharkiv regionA residential area in the city of Pervomaisk. A family flees from an explosion after a Russian missile attack.

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January 19, 2023, Bucha

The funeral of Ukrainian soldier Oleksiy Zavadsky, who died on January 15 in Bakhmut. Unspeakable pain grips the family and hundreds of people who came to pay their last respects to the defender. Heroes will forever remain in the hearts of every Ukrainian.

April 23, 2023, Donetsk region

A wounded Ukrainian soldier lies in a frontline medical stabilization center.

September 16, 2023, Uman

September 16, the picturesque city of Uman in the Cherkasy region. A Hasidic pilgrim kisses a chevron in the form of a red and black flag with a Star of David on the hand of a Ukrainian military regiment Azov with the call sign Rebbe, who came to Uman for the Rosh Hashanah holiday for one day from the front line in the eastern direction.

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"A couple in love"

A photo of a young girl and a boy "looking" at each other through time. An emotional shot from a concert shows that true love exists and it will definitely save the world.

March 9, 2023, Bakhmut

In a destroyed house in Bakhmut, Ukrainian soldiers found a rare 1917 edition of Kobzar. This happened on the birthday of the outstanding writer Taras Shevchenko. I want to believe that this is a good sign for Ukraine.

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Gratitude of the people

Kramatorsk railway station. A civilian man kisses the hands of an unfamiliar soldier, thanking him for his life. This is the real people of Ukraine - kind, sincere, compassionate, and most importantly, free.

The photos are filled with pain, regret, fear and tears, but at the same time, we have great pride and respect in our hearts for all the people who are bringing Ukraine closer to victory in every way.

Hope, determination, confidence and love reign in the soul of every Ukrainian, and this is what makes our people the strongest and most fearless. We will withstand everything, we will defeat the enemy and reign on a free land. We will not be defeated.

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Earlier, OBOZ.UA published a selection of fakes and emb arrassments of the occupiers in 2023.

Subscribe to OBOZ.UAchannels in Telegram and Viber to keep up with the latest events.
29 Pro-Kannada Activists Arrested For Vandalising Properties In Bengaluru

Bengaluru

oi-Madhuri Adnal

After Karnataka Rakshana Vedike (KRV) workers went on a rampage and destroyed several business establishments, the Bengaluru police have arrested 29 individuals through three FIRs filed at Chikkajala Police Station.

Among those arrested is KRV state president Narayana Gowda, who, along with others, appeared before a judge at the latter's residence near Devanahalli on Thursday and has been remanded to judicial custody until January 10.

The agitation initiated by KRV members on Wednesday sought a demand for 60% of signage on nameboards to be in Kannada. Despite heightened police presence, the protest turned violent as KRV workers vandalized numerous English nameboards.

Kannada Rakshana Vedhike Leads Protest For 60% Kannada Nameplates In Bengaluru Shops

Over 400 KRV workers were detained and dispersed to different locations by the police, with a group held at the Police Driving and Maintenance School in Yelahanka. While several detainees were released after 9 pm, Narayana Gowda and associates remained in police custody, prompting further protests by KRV workers at the police driving school, demanding their release.

What has happened to law & order in Bengaluru???



Pro kannada groups on a total vandalism spree across central Bengaluru. Smash English Signboards & vandalise property in full public view.. cops struggle to maintain order!! https://t.co/iQeNNhsxWX pic.twitter.com/1QG9NazwxG  Nabila Jamal (@nabilajamal_) December 27, 2023

Around 1 am on Thursday, Narayana Gowda and 28 others underwent a medical examination at Yelahanka Government Hospital. During the transfer to the hospital via Bengaluru Metropolitan Transport Corporation (BMTC) vehicles, KRV workers hurled stones at the vehicles.

By 5 am, Narayana Gowda and cohorts were presented before a judge at his Devanahalli residence. Subsequent to the proceedings, the judge extended their judicial custody until January 10.

Bengaluru Phoenix Mall Of Asia Closed Today Amid Protests Over Kannada Language Rule

The arrests were made on grounds of assaulting a police constable and causing damage to various business properties. Charges have been filed against the arrested individuals under IPC sections 283 (Causing danger or obstruction), 188 (Disobedience to lawful orders), 427 (Mischief), 341 (Wrongful restraint), and 353 (Assault or criminal force to deter public servant from duty).

KRV workers are gearing up to escalate their protest on Thursday, advocating for the release of their detained comrades.
Missing Office Address, Empty Apartment: The Curious Case Of Bengaluru CEO Suchana Seth Who Killed Her Son

Narrow Escape For Karnataka Minister Madhu Bangarappa

Bengaluru

oi-PTI

Karnataka Minister Madhu Bangarappa had a narrow escape when the car in which he was travelling collided head-on with a truck near Kyathasandra in Tumakuru district, police said on Thursday.

Madhu Bangarappa, who holds the Primary and Secondary Education portfolio, was returning from Shivamogga to Bengaluru late on Wednesday night when the accident took place, police said.

29 Pro-Kannada Activists Arrested For Vandalising Properties In Bengaluru

No one in the car was injured in this mishap, the police said, adding the Minister left for Bengaluru in another car.

For Breaking News and Instant Updates Allow Notifications

Story first published: Thursday, December 28, 2023, 12:39 [IST]
Which Is The Best City For Women In India In 2023? The Answer Is...

71-Year-Old DMDK Founder Vijayakanth Dies Due To Covid-19 Complications

Chennai

oi-Madhuri Adnal

Desiya Murpokku Dravida Kazhagam (DMDK) Leader and actor Vijayakanth passed away on Thursday. He was 71. The actor-turned-politician had earlier tested positive for COVID, his party has informed on 28 December. A bulletin from MIOT Hospitals, Chennai, said Vijayakant died due to Pneumonia.

"Captain Vijayakanth was on ventilatory support following his admission for pneumonia. Despite the best efforts of the medical staff he passed away in the morning on 28th December 2023," MIOT International said in a press release.

The revered Tamil actor, fondly referred to as "Captain" for his remarkable depictions of military roles in films, battled health complications. As per the party, due to breathing issues, Vijayakanth was earlier put on a ventilator. Since November, the former actor turned politician has been grappling with health concerns.

On December 11, Vijayakanth left MIOT Hospital in Chennai fully recovered after his party announced his discharge. They happily shared, "DMDK President Vijayakanth has fully recuperated and returned home this morning (11.12.2023)."

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However, a recent official statement from the hospital surprised fans and followers, revealing a slight decline in Vijayakanth's health, necessitating minimal pulmonary support. He had been admitted to the Chennai hospital on November 18 due to complaints of a cough, cold, and sore throat.

Delhi Reports First Case Of COVID-19 Sub-Variant JN.1

Despite concerns about his worsening condition, on December 15, Vijayakanth's wife, Premalatha Vijayakanth, assumed the role of DMDK's general secretary.

In her inaugural address, Premalatha Vijayakanth affirmed her dedication to the party and its members. Speaking in Tamil, she emphasized, "I have been entrusted with the role of General Secretary by Vijayakanth. This party was established for the people's welfare, and I will collaborate closely with all of you."

She also addressed speculations regarding Vijayakanth's health, urging the media to refrain from disseminating false information. "Our leader stands here among you today. As both his wife and a member of the party, I have borne a great deal of anguish," she declared.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Thursday condoled the passing away of DMDK founder-leader Vijayakanth and said his death has left a void that will be hard to fill.

In a post on X, Modi said: ''Extremely saddened by the passing away of Thiru Vijayakanth Ji. A legend of the Tamil film world, his charismatic performances captured the hearts of millions.''

As a political leader, the Prime Minister said Vijayakanth was deeply committed to public service, and has left a lasting impact on Tamil Nadu's political landscape. ''His passing leaves a void that will be hard to fill. He was a close friend and I fondly recall my interactions with him over the years. In this sad hour, my thoughts are with his family, fans and numerous followers. Om Shanti.''
Amid the threat of reduced Western aid to Ukraine, the administration of U.S. President Joe Biden and European officials are quietly shifting their attention from supporting Kyiv's goal of a complete victory over Russia to improving the Ukrainian position in negotiations to end the war. The partners are allegedly thinking about preparing Ukraine for defense rather than offense.

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This was reported by Politico, citing anonymous sources. The article says that such talks are likely to mean the annexation of some Ukrainian territories by the Russian Federation.

The West, according to Politico's interlocutors, is preparing the country for a strong defense: building up air defense systems, strengthening fortifications, etc. This is "largely aimed at strengthening Ukraine's position in any future negotiations."

"We have always assumed that the only way to end this war is through negotiations. We want Ukraine to have the strongest hand when that happens," the unnamed White House official said. At the same time, he emphasized that no negotiations are planned for now and that Ukrainian troops are still on the offensive and continue to reduce the number of Russian occupation forces.

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Journalists believe that Biden finds himself in a difficult situation in the midst of a tense election campaign, with former President Donald Trump and other Republican candidates openly ridiculing his efforts.

A congressional staffer said that discussions about peace talks have allegedly "already begun, but [the administration] cannot publicly back down because of the political risk."

However, Biden recently changed his promises to Ukrainians: he publicly switched from supporting "as long as it takes" to saying that the United States would help "as long as we can." In addition, he said that Kyiv had already won a "huge victory" and that Moscow had "suffered a defeat."

Some analysts believe that this can be translated as follows: get ready to declare a partial victory and find a way to at least conclude a truce.

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"It's likely that a shift to a defensive posture will allow the Ukrainians to conserve resources while making it unlikely that Russia will advance further," suggested Anthony Pfaff, an intelligence expert at the U.S. Army War College.

A European diplomat based in Washington said the EU is also raising the issue of speeding up Ukraine's accession to NATO to "put the Ukrainians in the best possible position for negotiations." Perhaps this is a "critical point" for dictator Vladimir Putin, who is believed to be mainly interested in a strategic deal with Washington that does not see Kyiv join the North Atlantic Alliance.

In the end, as John Kirby, the National Security Council's coordinator for strategic communications, has previously noted, it is Putin who must make the first move, and the Russian president has not done so.

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"While we would all like to see this war end immediately, Putin has shown no signs of entering into negotiations in good faith," Kirby said.

As OBOZ.UA previously reported:

- On December 27, the United States announced a new $250 million military aid package for Ukraine. It will be the last one in 2023. Read what it will include here.

- The former commander of US forces in Europe, Ben Hodges, said that the lack of major results of Ukraine's counteroffensive is the fault of its Western partners. They failed to provide the Ukrainian military with the weapons and equipment they expected.

Only verified information is available on the OBOZ.UA Telegram channel and Viber. Do not fall for fakes!
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Remembering Vijayakanth's Legacy In Cinema And Politics

Chennai

oi-Madhuri Adnal

Actor-politician Vijayakanth, affectionately known as Captain, passed away on December 28 due to pneumonia at a private hospital in Chennai. He was 71 and held a revered position as both an actor and a political figure in Tamil Nadu.

Vijayakanth's sudden demise came as a profound shock to the people of Tamil Nadu, leaving behind a legacy worthy of reflection.

Born as Vijayaraj Alagarswami on August 25, 1952, to KN Alagarswami and Aandal Azhagarswami, he is survived by his wife Premalatha and two sons, Vijaya Prabhakaran and Shanmuga Pandian. Hailing from Madurai, he predominantly starred in Tamil films, which were often dubbed in Telugu and Hindi. Known as 'Puratchi Kalingar' (revolutionary artist), his career was marked by portraying patriotic roles on-screen.

71-Year-Old DMDK Founder Vijayakanth Dies Due To Covid-19 Complications

Vijayakanth was celebrated as a dedicated artist and a compassionate individual, known for extending help to those who sought it.

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Farewell Captain: Thousands Gather and Pay tribute to actor and politician Vijayakant| Oneindia

Early in his career, he debuted in 1979 with MA Kaja's 'Inikkum Ilamai' and gained recognition in SA Chandrasekhar's 'Sattam Oru Iruttarai' two years later. His portrayal of a conscientious police officer in numerous films and his milestone 100th film, 'Captain Prabhakaran,' earned him the moniker 'Captain.'

During the 1980s, he transitioned from playing negative roles to becoming a leading actor, with significant releases like 'Om Shakti' in 1982 marking this shift. In 1984, he set a record with around 18 film releases, including the first 3D film from Kollywood, 'Annai Bhoomi 3D.' Notable films in his repertoire include 'Naane Raja Naane Mandhiri' and 'Amman Kovil Kizhakkale.'

Vijayakanth emerged as a prominent figure in Tamil cinema, standing alongside stalwarts such as Kamal Haasan and Rajinikanth. He was recognized for his action-packed performances and gravity-defying stunts in crime thrillers, particularly highlighted in the film 'Sathriyan,' produced by Mani Ratnam.

His influence extended to rural areas through his roles in village-based films, notably the iconic 'Chinna Gounder' in 1992, revered as a classic to this day. Continuing into the 2000s, his success persisted with films like 'Vaanathai Pola,' 'Narasimha,' and 'Thavasi.' Notably, AR Murugadoss' 'Ramanaa' further elevated his stature as he portrayed a crusader against corruption. Throughout his three-decade-long career, he embraced diverse roles, never shying away from experimental cinema.

In 2005, he ventured into politics, founding the Desiya Murpokku Dravida Kazhagam (DMDK). His party gained traction swiftly, marking a significant presence in the Tamil Nadu assembly election. His dedication to not seek donations but fund his party from his own pocket earned appreciation. The DMDK contested and made an impact in various elections, notably in 2011, when they allied with AIADMK and secured 29 seats, surpassing DMK's performance.

TN Govt Announces State Honours For DMDK Chief Vijayakanth's Funeral

However, rifts emerged between Vijayakanth and Jayalalithaa, leading to political shifts and challenges. His position as Leader of the Opposition in the Tamil Nadu Legislative Assembly was eventually lost. Subsequent electoral defeats, including losing his deposit and seat in the 2016 elections, marked a decline in his political journey.

Vijayakanth garnered recognition in the form of awards such as the Tamil Nadu State Film Honorary Award in 1994, the Kalaimamani Award in 2001, and the Best Indian Citizen Award in the same year. He received numerous Best Actor accolades for his remarkable performances in Tamil cinema, leaving behind a legacy cherished by his admirers.

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Story first published: Thursday, December 28, 2023, 16:31 [IST]
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TN Govt Announces State Honours For DMDK Chief Vijayakanth's Funeral

Chennai

oi-Madhuri Adnal

Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M K Stalin on Thursday paid his last respects to DMDK chief Vijayakanth who died due to a coronavirus infection on Thursday. He was 71.

In its bulletin, a private hospital announced Vijayakanth's passing on the morning of December 28. The release stated that he had been on ventilator support following admission for pneumonia. An earlier party bulletin had reported that he tested positive coronavirus. However, Vijayakanth had battled various illnesses for an extended period.

In his condolence message, Stalin expressed shock and grief over Vijayakanth's death and hailed him as an achiever; both as an actor and as a leader in public life.

#WATCH | Chennai: Tamil Nadu CM MK Stlain reaches the residence of DMDK chief Captain Vijayakanth in Chennai, who passed away this morning. pic.twitter.com/0qMM1Nuajs  ANI (@ANI) December 28, 2023

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71-Year-Old DMDK Founder Vijayakanth Dies Due To Covid-19 Complications

As a mark of homage, the government will accord full state honours for Vijayakanth's funeral, Stalin announced. The DMDK founder's death is a huge loss for Tamil Nadu and the world of cinema, the Chief Minister said and conveyed his condolences to the bereaved family members and party workers.

Taking to X, Congress MP Rahul Gandhi said, "Deeply saddened by the demise of DMDK founder, Thiru Vijayakanth ji. His contributions to cinema and politics have left an indelible mark on the hearts of millions. My heartfelt condolences to his family and fans during this difficult time."
What If Popular Superheroes Were Indian Kids? Check Out Photos

Feature

oi-Oneindia English Desk

Have you ever wondered how would superheroes look if they were born as Indian children? OneIndia took the help of Artificial Intelligence-enabled (AI-enabled) photo software to create photos of how they would look like if they were from India.

Batman: If the Dark Knight hailed from India, his childhood might echo the bustling streets of Mumbai or Delhi. Bruce Wayne's formative years could have been shaped by the rich cultural diversity of India, perhaps training in martial arts from renowned gurus or finding inspiration amidst the historical forts and palaces.

AI Reveals India's Architectural Gems Blanketed In Snow

Captain America: In an Indian rendition, Steve Rogers might grow up in a small village, imbibing values of bravery and honor from ancient folklore and epics. His patriotic spirit and unyielding determination could have been fostered through stories of Indian freedom fighters.

Iron Man: Tony Stark's Indian counterpart might have been raised in a technological hub like Bengaluru. Surrounded by innovation and steeped in traditional craftsmanship, his childhood might involve blending cutting-edge tech with ancient wisdom, creating a unique fusion of advancements.

Spider-Man: A young Peter Parker in India could find himself navigating the colorful streets of Kolkata or Chennai. His agile movements could be honed through traditional dance forms or by mastering parkour in the urban landscape.

Superman: Born in India, Kal-El might have grown up in a rural setting, imbibing virtues from his humble upbringing. His extraordinary powers could have been discovered amidst the serene Himalayas or the vast fields of Punjab, fostering a sense of responsibility towards his community.

Thor: The God of Thunder as an Indian child could have been raised amidst tales of valor and mythology. His childhood might be steeped in stories of ancient warriors and celestial beings, drawing strength from the diversity and spiritual richness of India.

Now AI Calculator That Can Predict Your Death

Wonder Woman: In an Indian adaptation, Diana Prince could have been brought up in a matriarchal society, learning combat and diplomacy from skilled gurus. Her upbringing might revolve around empowering narratives from Indian mythology, embodying strength and grace.

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Story first published: Thursday, December 28, 2023, 16:15 [IST]
Ram Temple Inauguration: What Is 'Pran Pratishtha' And How It Is Performed?

Ayodhyas Streets Blossom with Divine Floral Decor Ahead of PM Modis Visit

Ayodhya is set to welcome Prime Minister Narendra Modi with a divine makeover as streets are adorned with intricate floral decorations, creating a mesmerizing ambiance for his upcoming visit.

India

-Krishna Kripa

In preparation for Prime Minister Narendra Modi's visit to Ayodhya on December 30, the temple town in Uttar Pradesh is undergoing a transformation, with streets being adorned with vibrant floral decorations to create a divine ambiance.

Floral Decorations Transform Ayodhya

On Thursday, workers were busy wrapping strings of orange and yellow marigolds around ornamental lamp posts installed along the newly redeveloped Ram Path, a stretch of road that now carries design elements depicting religious symbols on top of the lamp posts.

The decoration efforts will continue on Friday, with teams of workers from across the country meticulously crafting artistic floral formations at Ram Katha Park. The designs draw inspiration from Lord Ram, his bow and arrow, Lord Hanuman, religious tilak, and other patterns.

Workers Create Floral Masterpieces

Lalit Kumar Singh, a worker from Sitapur who is involved in the floral decorations, expressed his excitement about Ayodhya's transformation. He described the process of creating a floral image of Lord Ram holding his bow and arrow, which required 40-45 minutes and approximately 7-8 kilograms of flowers.

These floral creations will be used to decorate various locations in the city, including Ram Path, Dharm Path, the airport, and the railway station.

Flowers from Across India Adorn Ayodhya

Hundreds of workers are engaged in the decoration work, and around 300 quintals of flowers have been sourced from cities like Kolkata, Delhi, Ghazipur, and others. Marigold, chrysanthemum, orchid, and anthurium are among the flowers being used.

PM Modi to Inaugurate Key Projects

During his visit, Prime Minister Modi is scheduled to inaugurate an international airport and the redeveloped Ayodhya railway station. He will also inaugurate four newly redeveloped, widened, and beautified roads in Ayodhya, including Ram Path, to enhance accessibility to the upcoming Ram temple.

Ayodhya Prepares for Grand Ram Temple Consecration

A grand Ram temple is currently under construction in Ayodhya, and the consecration ceremony is set to take place on January 22, with the prime minister expected to attend. In anticipation of the large crowds that are expected for the consecration ceremony, the city is being decked up to create a festive atmosphere.

Surya Stambhs and Posters Adorn the City

Along a prominent street in Ayodhya, imposing sun-themed columns known as Surya Stambhs are being installed. Additionally, large posters featuring images of the upcoming Ram temple and the new airport, along with messages hailing Ayodhya as a city of Maryada, Dharm, and Sanskriti, have been put up throughout the temple town.
Congress Leader Priyanka Gandhi Faces Money Laundering Charges In Haryana Land Deal

India

oi-Madhuri Adnal

Congress leader Priyanka Gandhi has been named by the Enforcement Directorate in its chargesheet filed in a case pertaining to Prevention of Money Laundering Act, as reported by ANI.

The chargesheet mentions her involvement in the purchase of 40 kanals (equivalent to five acres) of agricultural land in Haryana's Faridabad from a Delhi-based real agent HL Pahwa, in 2006. Later, she reportedly sold the same land back to Pahwa in February 2010.

Congress To Hold 'Bharat Nyay Yatra' From Jan 14, To Cover Over 6K km From Manipur-Mumbai

Responding to this development, Aam Aadmi Party Chief National Spokesperson Priyanka Kakkar remarked, "We've witnessed the continuous actions taken by the ED against opposition leaders, with many of our leaders ending up in jail. The principle of 'guilty until proven innocent' seems to apply to the opposition, while the entire country follows the principle of 'innocent until proven guilty'..."

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Story first published: Thursday, December 28, 2023, 12:09 [IST]
Delhi to Notify Women-Friendly Amendments to Medical Termination of Pregnancy Act

Delhi will soon notify women-friendly amendments to the Medical Termination of Pregnancy (MTP) Act, ensuring universal access to comprehensive abortion care and termination of certain pregnancies.

India

-Krishna Kripa

New Delhi, December 28: In a significant move, the Delhi government is set to notify women-friendly amendments to the Medical Termination of Pregnancy (MTP) Act. Lieutenant Governor V K Saxena has approved the city government's proposal in this regard, aiming to enhance access to comprehensive abortion care and ensure the well-being of women.

LG's Approval with Concerns

While approving the proposal, Lieutenant Governor Saxena expressed grave displeasure and surprise over the delay in presenting the matter for approval. The delay spanned more than two years, raising questions about the efficiency and responsiveness of the concerned departments.

Health Minister's Response

Reacting to the development, Delhi Health Minister Saurabh Bharadwaj highlighted that, apart from Odisha, no other state, whether ruled by the BJP or non-BJP parties, has issued notifications regarding the revised statutory forms of the amended MTP Act, 2021. He emphasized the need for a collective effort to ensure the implementation of the amended Act across the country.

LG Directs Action

Lieutenant Governor Saxena directed the health department to thoroughly investigate the reasons behind the inordinate delay in processing the matter. He emphasized the importance of assigning responsibility and exercising caution in the future to prevent such delays and ensure efficient governance.

Key Amendments

The amended MTP Act, 2021, introduced several significant changes to enhance women's access to safe and legal abortion services. These include:

Opinion of only one registered medical practitioner (RMP) is required for termination of pregnancy up to 20 weeks of gestation.

Opinion of two RMPs is required for termination of pregnancy between 20-24 weeks of gestation under special circumstances.

Provision for the constitution of a medical board to grant permission for termination of pregnancy beyond 24 weeks under specific circumstances.

Updated Statutory Forms

The Ministry of Health and Family Welfare updated the statutory forms for the documentation of medical termination of pregnancy in consonance with the amended MTP Act and Rules, 2021. These forms include:

Form 1: RMP Opinion Form

Form 2: Regulations

Form 3: Admission Register

The amendments in these forms aim to streamline the process, ensure transparency, and protect the rights of women seeking abortion services.

Bharadwaj's Reaction

Health Minister Saurabh Bharadwaj responded to the development, expressing his commitment to ensuring affordable and quality healthcare for all citizens. He welcomed Lieutenant Governor Saxena's intention regarding women's well-being and assured him of the government's dedication to providing comprehensive abortion care.

Call for Action

Bharadwaj urged Lieutenant Governor Saxena to use his influence to advise other states, apart from Odisha, to expedite the issuance of notifications regarding the amended MTP Act. He emphasized the need for collective action to ensure universal access to safe and legal abortion services across the country.

The Delhi government's move to notify women-friendly amendments to the MTP Act is a positive step towards ensuring the reproductive rights and well-being of women. By addressing the concerns raised by Lieutenant Governor Saxena and taking proactive measures to implement the amended Act, the Delhi government sets an example for other states to follow. The collective efforts of all stakeholders are crucial in ensuring that women have access to comprehensive abortion care and can make informed decisions about their reproductive health.
Israel-Hezbollah Conflict: A Precarious Balance on the Northern Border

The escalating conflict between Israel and Hezbollah raises concerns of a wider regional war. With Hezbollah attacks and Israeli military responses, the situation demands international attention to prevent further destruction and loss of life.

India

-Krishna Kripa

Israeli officials are escalating their warnings against the Lebanese militant group Hezbollah, expressing impatience with the ongoing exchange of fire along Israel's volatile northern border. Benny Gantz, a member of Israel's War Cabinet, declared that if the international community and the Lebanese government fail to restrain Hezbollah, Israel will take action.

Lt. Gen. Herzi Halevi, Israel's army chief, announced that the military is in a state of high readiness and has approved plans for potentially opening a second front in the north. The fighting erupted when Hezbollah launched rockets shortly after the Oct. 7 cross-border attack by Hamas triggered the war in Gaza.

Overview of the Battle Between Israel and Hezbollah

Hezbollah fighters have engaged in attacks on Israeli posts and villages along the border, launching rockets and drones toward Israeli targets. In response, Israeli tanks, artillery, and aircraft have struck areas on the Lebanese side of the border. The clashes, though mostly brief, have occurred almost daily.

According to the Israeli military, over 1,700 rockets have been fired from Lebanon toward Israel, resulting in the deaths of 15 Israelis, including nine soldiers, and injuries to more than 150 people. Israel has evacuated approximately 60,000 individuals from over 40 northern communities, including the city of Kiryat Shemona.

On the Lebanese side, the International Organization for Migration reports that around 74,500 people have been displaced due to the fighting. Approximately 160 individuals have lost their lives as a result of Israeli airstrikes and shelling in Lebanon. While the majority of casualties are Hezbollah fighters and allied groups, at least 19 civilians, including journalists and children, have also been killed.

Human rights organizations and local officials have accused Israel of using shells containing white phosphorus, a controversial incendiary munition, in Lebanese border areas. These strikes have caused extensive damage to farmlands and woodlands, resulting in injuries to civilians. Israel maintains that all its actions adhere to international law.

Underlying Causes of the Conflict

Israel and Hezbollah, backed by Iran, have a long history of animosity dating back to Israel's occupation of parts of southern Lebanon from 1982 to 2000. A previous conflict between the two sides occurred in 2006 after Hezbollah ambushed an Israeli patrol and captured two soldiers. The ensuing month-long war ended in a draw, but not before Israeli bombardment caused widespread destruction in southern Lebanon and parts of Beirut.

The border area has largely remained quiet since then, with occasional skirmishes and tensions. Israel estimates that Hezbollah possesses approximately 150,000 rockets and missiles, many of which can reach virtually anywhere in Israel, including Tel Aviv.

Hezbollah's attacks are intended to alleviate pressure on the Gaza Strip, where Israel is engaged in an unprecedented ground, air, and sea offensive aimed at toppling Hamas and securing the release of approximately 129 captives held in the territory.

Iran's Involvement and Regional Implications

While there is no concrete evidence that Iran, Israel's primary adversary, directly ordered the Oct. 7 attack, its influence is evident throughout the conflict. In addition to supporting Hamas and Hezbollah, Iran-backed groups in Yemen, Syria, and Iraq have launched attacks on Israel and its allies in solidarity with Hamas.

In the Red Sea, attacks by Houthi rebels in Yemen against ships believed to be connected to Israel have disrupted trade, prompting a U.S.-led multinational naval operation to safeguard shipping routes. Iran-backed militias in Iraq have also carried out numerous attacks on bases housing U.S. troops in Iraq and Syria, claiming retaliation for Washington's support of Israel.

Furthermore, Iranian state media recently attributed a strike on a Damascus neighborhood that killed a high-ranking Iranian general to Israel. This incident has raised concerns about potential escalation against Hezbollah and even Iran on the northern front.

Hezbollah's Balancing Act and Potential Consequences

Hezbollah's leader, Hassan Nasrallah, faces a delicate balancing act. Joining Hamas in the conflict could draw Lebanon, already grappling with economic turmoil and internal political tensions, into a costly confrontation, potentially fueling domestic opposition to the group. The World Bank has warned that the clashes are likely to have adverse effects on Lebanon's economy.

However, remaining on the sidelines while Israeli forces engage in Gaza could undermine Hezbollah's credibility, and a Hamas defeat would be detrimental to Iran. Hezbollah has cautiously limited its attacks on Israel while maintaining the threat of broader escalation. The group's deputy leader, Sheikh Naim Kassem, emphasized that Hezbollah will retaliate twice as much if Israel goes too far, expressing defiance against Israeli and American threats.

Potential Expansion of the Conflict

With its forces engaged in Gaza, Israel has primarily sought to contain the fighting in the north. Hezbollah's military capabilities surpass those of Hamas, posing a significant challenge for Israel. Israeli officials have increasingly warned of their readiness to expand the conflict and hold Hezbollah accountable for the damage caused over the past three months.

Israel has already bolstered its forces in the north and may shift its focus to Hezbollah once the Gaza conflict subsides. The United States, Israel's staunch ally, has dispatched military reinforcements to the region but prefers a negotiated resolution to escalating tensions rather than a second war front.

Israel also demands that Hezbollah adhere to the 2006 U.N. cease-fire agreement, which stipulates that the border area in southern Lebanon must be free of armed personnel, assets, and weapons, except for Lebanese government forces and U.N. peacekeepers. Under this resolution, Hezbollah should not maintain a military presence in the border region.

Lebanon, on the other hand, argues that Israel violates the resolution by frequently entering Lebanese airspace with its air forces and by its presence in Chebaa Farms, a disputed area along the country's border with the Golan Heights. Israeli Foreign Minister Eli Cohen emphasized the importance of Hezbollah respecting the cease-fire, warning that Nasrallah must understand the consequences of disregarding it.
JDU Annual Meet To Continue Tomorrow; Suspense Looms Over President's Replacement

India

oi-Gaurav Sharma

After the reports of Lallan Singh to be replaced by Nitish Kumar as the Janata Dal United (JDU) chief surfaced, Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar cleared the air on Thursday stating there is no rift in the party. Kumar, who is in Delhi for a two-day annual meet ahead of the Lok Sabha Elections 2024, called the meeting with all its top party leaders "routine" and "annual affair. The meeting between JDU leaders will continue tomorrow also and some major decisions and changes are expected.

Talking to the media in Patna, before leaving for Delhi, Nitish Kumar said, "These meetings take place every year. It's normal, there is nothing specific at all. These are routine meetings."

However, if the reports are to be believed, then Nitish Kumar may take the reigns of the party in his own hands instead of Rajiv Ranjan Singh aka Lallan Singh.

Deputy of the Nitish Kumar government, RJD's Tejashwi Yadav was also expected to attend the annual meeting in Delhi today, but he was marked absent. Reports suggest that he is likely to participate in the meeting on Friday.

Rahul Gandhi Reaches Out To Nitish Kumar Over Kharge-For-PM Call

A day ago, reacting to rumors of political turmoil within the JDU, Yadav said, "I wonder what is so unusual about a Bihar-based party holding its meetings of the national executive and national council in Delhi. Had we (RJD) not done the same last year?"

Earlier, when the reports of Lallan Singh's sacking surfaced, Singh rubbished the reports calling it a BJP's conspiracy to divide the JDU. He also reiterated what Nitish Kumar had said, "JDU's meeting in Delhi is a routine one"

Answering the question of his resignation, Singh said, "If I have to resign, I will call you (the media), and consult you about what to write in the resignation letter so that you can go to the BJP office and get the draft,"
Siddaramaiah Backs Rahul Gandhi for Prime Minister, Emphasizes Justice and Unity

Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah expressed his support for Rahul Gandhi becoming Indias Prime Minister, citing the success of the Bharat Jodo Yatra and the need to address social justice issues. He emphasized the importance of unity and protecting the countrys multiculturalism and sovereignty.

India

-Krishna Kripa

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Bengaluru, December 28: Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah on Thursday threw his weight behind senior Congress leader Rahul Gandhi to become the Prime Minister of India. His statement came amidst discussions within the Indian National Congress (INC) about projecting Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge as the Prime Ministerial face of the alliance for the 2024 Lok Sabha elections.

Siddaramaiah's Endorsement

Siddaramaiah firmly believes that only the Congress party has the capability to address the country's pressing issues. He asserted, "For that, Rahul Gandhi should become the Prime Minister of the country." Addressing the Congress's 139th foundation day event in Bengaluru, he highlighted Rahul Gandhi's Bharat Jodo Yatra as an unprecedented initiative.

Bharat Jodo Yatra and Nyay Yatra

Siddaramaiah lauded Rahul Gandhi for undertaking the Bharat Jodo Yatra, stating, "Nobody in the country had done something like the Bharat Jodo Yatra." He further announced that Rahul Gandhi would soon embark on a second phase of the Yatra, called the Nyay Yatra, to ensure justice for all citizens.

Justice for All

Siddaramaiah emphasized the importance of justice for all sections of society, including backward classes, Dalits, minorities, and women. He explained that the Nyay Yatra aimed to address this issue and provide justice to everyone in the country.

Unity for the Country

Siddaramaiah urged Congress workers to unite and support Rahul Gandhi in the upcoming elections. He stressed the need to set aside differences and work together to bring the Congress back to power. He said, "Forgetting all our differences, for the sake of the country, to protect the Constitution, to save the country's multiculturalism and sovereignty, and to provide justice to everyone, we must fight together and bring Congress back to power."

Soft Hindutva vs. True Hinduism

Addressing the topic of Hindutva, Siddaramaiah drew a distinction between true Hinduism and the concept of soft Hindutva. He stated, "Hindutva is Hindutva. I'm a Hindu. Hindu and Hindutva are different." He highlighted the construction of Ram temples and the practice of religious rituals in villages, questioning the exclusivity of Hindutva to certain groups.

Siddaramaiah's endorsement of Rahul Gandhi as the Prime Ministerial candidate reflects the ongoing discussions within the Congress party about its strategy for the 2024 Lok Sabha elections. His emphasis on justice, unity, and the preservation of India's constitutional values underscores the importance of these issues in the upcoming electoral contest.
No one told me why: MA Gold medallist kept out at PU convocation event until Kovind left

Atishi Advises Students to Make Independent Decisions and Be Responsible Towards Parents and Country

Tech-Driven Future Beckons: Pradhan, Sinha Inspire Shri Mata Vaishno Devi University Graduates

Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan and Jammu and Kashmir Lt Governor Manoj Sinha motivated graduates at the 9th convocation of Shri Mata Vaishno Devi University, emphasizing the significance of technology in shaping the nations progress.

India

-Krishna Kripa

Jammu, December 28: Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan expressed his belief that students from Shri Mata Vaishno Devi University will spearhead India's technology-driven future. Pradhan graced the university's 9th convocation as the chief guest in Katra, Jammu and Kashmir's Reasi district, and extended his congratulations to the students embarking on their new journeys.

Lt. Governor Manoj Sinha's Call to Action

Jammu and Kashmir Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha also attended the convocation and urged the graduating students to establish clear objectives in their professional careers. He encouraged them to identify challenges and confront them fearlessly to contribute to the creation of a 'Viksit Bharat@2047'.

Shri Mata Vaishno Devi University's Role in Technological Advancement

Pradhan highlighted Shri Mata Vaishno Devi University's focus on research and design, expressing his confidence that the institution's students will lead the technology-driven era and make significant contributions to the progress of society, the nation, and the world.

Prioritizing Competence over Degrees

The Union Minister emphasized Prime Minister Narendra Modi's emphasis on prioritizing competence over degrees, underscoring the importance of practical skills in the modern job market.

Lt. Governor's Advice to Graduates

In his address, Lt. Governor Sinha advised the students to cultivate patience, pursue their dreams passionately, and seize opportunities to acquire new skills. He stressed the significance of youthful consciousness and thinking in shaping the future and encouraged the graduates to capitalize on the rapidly changing world.

Continuous Learning and Overcoming Failures

Lt. Governor Sinha emphasized the importance of lifelong learning and encouraged the graduates not to fear failures. He urged them to evaluate their skills and leverage contemporary opportunities to achieve their goals.

The convocation of Shri Mata Vaishno Devi University served as a platform for the Union Education Minister and the Lt. Governor of Jammu and Kashmir to inspire and guide the graduating students. Their messages highlighted the crucial role of technology, competence, and continuous learning in shaping successful careers and contributing to the nation's progress.
Yesterday, on December 27, resistance forces destroyed the occupiers' railway bridge near the village of Svitlodolynske. The enemy was using this railroad branch to transfer its heavy weapons and ammunition to the Zaporizhzhia front line, namely to Tokmak and Molochansk.

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This was reported by Melitopol Mayor Ivan Fedorov during a telethon. He noted that the guerrillas had already destroyed this bridge, but the enemy decided to rebuild it again.

"It is by rail that the enemy mostly moves its heavy weapons and ammunition to the Zaporizhzhya front line. A branch of the railroad to Tokmak and Molochansk runs through this village, and it is from there that the enemy supplies the front with ammunition. In fact, this bridge was destroyed a long time ago, but the enemy started to restore it," said Fedorov.

And as soon as it became known that the bridge had been restored, the resistance forces eliminated the crossing again. This time, even the remains of the bridge were destroyed.

"For the last four days, the enemy has been having a daily "cotton". It is definitely not the time for them to prepare for the holidays in our Melitopol," added Fedorov.

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Earlier it was reported that in Zaporizhzhia, representatives of the territorial centers of recruitment and social support (Territorial recruitment centre and Social support ), the Municipal Guard and the National Police joined forces to go around the houses where citizens liable for military service live.

As OBOZ.UA reported, on the morning of November 28, Russian terrorists launched a missile attack on Zaporizhzhia. The explosion occurred on the territory of an enterprise in one of the districts of the regional center.

Only verified information is available on our Telegram channel OBOZ.UA and Viber. Do not fall for fakes!
Supriya Sule Chooses Struggle Over Power, Says I Had to Choose Between Power and Struggle

Supriya Sule, the working president of the Nationalist Congress Party, disclosed that she had two options: power and struggle, and she opted for the latter. She made this statement during a public meeting in Indapur, emphasizing the importance of standing up for the truth and preserving democracy.

India

-Krishna Kripa

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In a bold declaration, Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) working president and Baramati Lok Sabha MP Supriya Sule revealed that she had two choices before her: power and struggle. Standing firm in her decision, she chose the path of struggle, aligning herself with her father, Sharad Pawar, rather than seeking power alongside Union Home Minister and senior BJP leader Amit Shah.

Power vs. Struggle: A Defining Choice

Addressing a public meeting in Indapur, Sule emphasized the importance of standing up for truth and justice, even in the face of challenges. She asserted, "I had two options, power and struggle. On the side of struggle, there was my father, and on the side of power was Amit Shah. I had to choose between power and struggle. I chose struggle."

Speaking Truth to Power

Sule's words resonated with the audience as she urged them not to succumb to fear and intimidation. She passionately stated, "Do not forget the person who has given you birth. Someone has to say the truth. If we all get scared, there will be no democracy in the country. Today, we were sabotaged. Tomorrow you will meet the same fate."

NCP Split and the Road Ahead

Sule's remarks come in the wake of the split within the NCP on July 2 this year, when Ajit Pawar and eight MLAs joined the Eknath Shinde government. Despite this setback, Sule and several others chose to remain loyal to party founder Sharad Pawar, demonstrating their commitment to the party's principles.

Staying Grounded in Baramati

In a significant move, Sule announced her decision to stay in Baramati for the next 10 months, focusing on her constituency and preparing for the upcoming elections. She shared, "I told my family that I would be staying in Baramati for the next 10 months and would not be coming to Mumbai."

Crucial Months Ahead

Recognizing the importance of the upcoming elections, Sule emphasized the need for collective action and determination. She asserted, "The coming elections will be paramount for the country, and that is why the next few months will be very crucial for all of us to decide the fate of the next five years."

Supriya Sule's unwavering commitment to struggle over power and her dedication to her constituency set a powerful example for political leaders across the country. As India gears up for crucial elections in the coming months, her words serve as a reminder of the importance of truth, courage, and unwavering determination in shaping the nation's future.
Canada May Arrest Two Suspects In Nijjar's Killing Within Weeks: Report

International

oi-PTI

Canadian police are close to arresting two men believed to be responsible for the fatal shooting of Sikh separatist Hardeep Singh Nijjar in the British Columbia province in June and are still in the country, according to a media report.

According to The Globe and Mail newspaper, the suspects are currently under police surveillance and are expected to be apprehended ''in a matter of weeks.'' According to three anonymous sources quoted by the newspaper, the two suspected killers did not leave Canada following Nijjar's assassination and have been under police surveillance for months.

The ties between India and Canada came under severe strain following Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau's allegations in September of a ''potential'' involvement of Indian agents in the killing of Khalistani separatist Nijjar outside a gurdwara in Surrey city on June 18.

India had designated Nijjar as a terrorist in 2020. India has rejected Trudeau's allegations as ''absurd'' and ''motivated''.

Arrived Late To Spot, Failed To Act Despite Threats To Nijjar: Report Exposes Canada's Lacklustre Response

The report on Wednesday said that police will unveil details regarding the alleged involvement of the assassins and their connection to the Indian government when formal charges are filed.

''Within the community, there's a sense of closure that might come with the two people being arrested like it's being said,'' the Global News quoted Moninder Singh, spokesperson of BC Gurdwaras Council, as saying.

According to the report, the integrated homicide investigation team said it was aware of the reports of imminent arrests in Nijjar's murder but won't comment because it's an active investigation.

The Canadian allegations were followed by a US indictment in November outlining a foiled plot to kill a Canadian-American Sikh activist, the report said.

In November, the US federal prosecutors charged that one Nikhil Gupta was working with an Indian government employee in the foiled plot to kill a Sikh separatist, who holds dual citizenship of the US and Canada. Though the separatist Sikh leader was not named, media reports identified him as Gurpatwant Singh Pannun, the leader of the Sikhs for Justice, an organisation banned in India.

India has already constituted a probe committee to investigate allegations by the US prosecutors.

Not India, Pakistan Devised Plan To Kill Hardeep Singh Nijjar In Canada [Report]

External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar told the Rajya Sabha earlier this month that Canada has not shared any specific evidence or inputs with India.

Days after Trudeau's allegations in September, India temporarily suspended the issuance of visas to Canadian citizens and asked Ottawa to downsize its diplomatic presence in the country to ensure parity.

India resumed some visa services in Canada last month, more than a month after they were suspended.

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Story first published: Thursday, December 28, 2023, 11:42 [IST]
Lukashenkos Controversial Meeting with Ukrainian Children Draws Ire

Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenkos attendance at a meeting with children brought from Russia-controlled Ukraine regions ignites international outrage, raising concerns over Belaruss role in Moscows deportation of Ukrainian children.

International

-Sathish Raman

In a defiant move that has sparked international outrage, Belarus President Alexander Lukashenko attended a government-organized meeting with children brought from Russia-controlled areas of Ukraine. The event, held ahead of the New Year holiday, marked the arrival of a new group of Ukrainian children in Belarus.

Lukashenko Vows to Embrace and Support Ukrainian Children

Speaking at the event, President Lukashenko pledged to provide care and support for the Ukrainian children. He stated, "We will embrace these children, bring them to our home, keep them warm, and make their childhood happier." However, Belarusian officials did not disclose the exact number of Ukrainian children brought into the country.

Study Reveals Extensive Transfer of Ukrainian Children to Belarus

A recent study conducted by Yale University revealed that over 2,400 Ukrainian children aged 6-17 have been brought to Belarus from four Ukrainian regions partially occupied by Russian forces. This concerning finding highlights the scale of the alleged unlawful transfer of children.

Belarusian Opposition Calls for ICC Investigation

The Belarusian opposition, represented by former culture minister turned opposition activist Pavel Latushka, has urged the International Criminal Court (ICC) to hold Lukashenko and his officials accountable for their involvement in the illegal transfer of Ukrainian children. Latushka presented evidence to the ICC, emphasizing the need for an investigation into these alleged crimes.

ICC Arrest Warrants for Putin and Russian Officials

In March, the ICC issued arrest warrants for Russian President Vladimir Putin and his children's rights commissioner, Maria Lvova-Belova. The charges against them include war crimes related to the unlawful deportation and transfer of children from occupied areas of Ukraine to Russia. Moscow has vehemently denied these allegations.

Ukrainian Ombudsman Raises Concerns about Information Cover-Up

Ukraine's human rights ombudsman, Dmytro Lubinets, expressed concerns that the transfer of thousands of Ukrainian children to Belarus is part of a deliberate attempt by Moscow to conceal information about the unlawful deportation of children.

International Red Cross Chapter Suspended

Earlier this month, the International Red Cross suspended its Belarusian chapter after its chief, Dzmitry Shautsou, sparked international outrage by boasting about actively transporting Ukrainian children from Russian-controlled areas to Belarus. Shautsou dismissed the suspension as "absolutely politicized" and claimed that Ukrainian children who visited Belarus for "health improvement" returned home safely.

Belarus' Role as Russia's Ally

Belarus has been a staunch ally of Russia since the invasion of Ukraine began in February 2022. Lukashenko allowed the Kremlin to use Belarusian territory for the invasion, and Russia has deployed tactical nuclear weapons in Belarus.

The attendance of Belarus President Alexander Lukashenko at a meeting with Ukrainian children from Russia-controlled areas has drawn international criticism and raised concerns about the well-being and safety of these children. The involvement of Belarus in the alleged unlawful transfer of Ukrainian children has prompted calls for accountability and investigations by international organizations.
Putin Invites PM Modi To Russia, Jaishankar Meets Russian President

Russian President Vladimir Putin has invited Prime Minister Narendra Modi to visit Russia next year. The invitation was extended during a meeting between Putin and External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar in Moscow. Jaishankar, who is on a five-day official visit to Russia, earlier met with his Russian counterpart Sergey Lavrov.

International

-Sathish Raman

Russian President Vladimir Putin extended an invitation to Prime Minister Narendra Modi to visit Russia next year during a meeting with External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar at the Kremlin on Wednesday. Putin expressed his eagerness to welcome Prime Minister Modi, referring to him as a friend, and highlighted the importance of strengthening bilateral relations between the two countries.

Jaishankar's Visit and Meetings

Jaishankar, who is currently on a five-day official visit to Russia, held discussions with his Russian counterpart, Sergey Lavrov. During a joint media appearance after their talks, Jaishankar expressed confidence that Prime Minister Modi and President Putin would meet for an annual summit in the coming year. He emphasized the frequent communication between the two leaders and the significance of the summit as the highest institutional dialogue mechanism in the strategic partnership between India and Russia.

Russian President Putin Tells Women To Safeguard Life Of The Child

Bilateral Economic Cooperation

Jaishankar also met with Deputy Prime Minister Denis Manturov to discuss bilateral economic cooperation. The meeting resulted in the signing of crucial agreements related to the construction of future power-generating units at the Kudankulam nuclear power plant in Tamil Nadu. Despite the ongoing conflict in Ukraine, India and Russia have maintained strong ties, with India advocating for a diplomatic resolution to the crisis.

Growing Trade Turnover

President Putin highlighted the positive trajectory of trade relations between Russia and India, particularly in the areas of crude oil and high technology. He noted the steady growth in trade turnover for the second consecutive year, with this year's growth rate surpassing that of the previous year.

India-Russia Relations Amidst Ukraine Conflict

Despite the international condemnation of Russia's invasion of Ukraine, India has maintained a neutral stance, emphasizing the need for a diplomatic solution. India's import of Russian crude oil has increased significantly, despite concerns raised by Western countries.

The invitation extended by President Putin to Prime Minister Modi reflects the strong and enduring relationship between India and Russia. The ongoing dialogue and cooperation between the two countries, particularly in areas such as trade, energy, and defense, underscore the importance of their strategic partnership.
Qatar Court Reduces Punishment Of 8 Indian Navy Officers, Says MEA

International

oi-Madhuri Adnal

The Court of Appeal of Qatar has dropped the death sentence of eight retired Indian Navy officers currently held on espionage charges, following Prime Minister Narendra Modi's meeting with Qatar's Emir HH Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani during the COP28 meeting in Dubai.

In a statement on Thursday, the Ministry of External Affairs acknowledged the Court's decision in the Dahra Global case, reducing the sentences. Awaited is the detailed judgment, with the ministry maintaining close contact with legal representatives and family members to determine the next steps.

It said, "Our Ambassador to Qatar and other officials were present in the Court of Appeal today, along with the family members. We have stood by them since the beginning of the matter and we will continue to extend all consular and legal assistance. We will also continue to take up the matter with the Qatari authorities."

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The MEA added, "Due to the confidential and sensitive nature of proceedings of this case, it would not be appropriate to make any further comment at this juncture."

The former Indian Navy personnel received the death sentence on October 26, 2023, after their arrest in August 2022. They were associated with Al Dahra Global Technologies and Consultancy Services, a private firm based in Doha.

For Breaking News and Instant Updates Allow Notifications

Story first published: Thursday, December 28, 2023, 16:21 [IST]
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US Woman Claims Disfigurement After Dentist Performs 32 Procedures In One Sitting

International

oi-Madhuri Adnal

A Minnesota woman has taken legal action against her dentist, alleging that he conducted 32 procedures in a single sitting, resulting in distress and disfigurement, as reported by the New York Post.

Kathleen Wilson initiated a civil lawsuit against Dr. Kevin Molldrem, asserting that he performed an excessive number of procedures in a single visit and misrepresented the amount of anesthesia administered.

According to her lawsuit, Wilson states that in July 2020, within a span of five and a half hours, Molldrem executed eight dental crowns, four root canals, and 20 fillings. The aftermath left Wilson in pain, feeling embarrassed, disfigured, and deeply distressed.

She further alleges that Molldrem excessively used anesthesia and falsified her medical records.

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Wilson had to seek assistance from multiple other dentists to rectify the problems caused by Molldrem.

Her assertions have received support from Dr. Avrum Goldstein, an experienced Florida dentist. In his evaluation, Goldstein acknowledged severe decay in "virtually every tooth" in Wilson's mouth. However, he criticized Molldrem's treatment plan, describing it as rushed and substandard.

"Katie needed a gradual, thoughtful, and meticulous approach to address her condition," Goldstein wrote. "Attempting to address every dental issue in one session not only contradicts the recommended approach but is also impossible to execute effectively or constructively."

Goldstein also corroborated Wilson's claim of excessive anesthesia. While the recommended maximum dosage for an extended appointment is 490 milligrams, Wilson received nearly double the prescribed amount during her July 2020 session with Molldrem-960 milligrams of anesthesia.

For Breaking News and Instant Updates Allow Notifications

Story first published: Thursday, December 28, 2023, 11:21 [IST]
Venezuela Conducts Military Drills in Response to UK Warship Deployment Near Guyana

Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro has ordered defensive military exercises in the Eastern Caribbean in response to the United Kingdoms deployment of a warship towards Guyanas territorial waters. The move escalates tensions between the South American nations, who are engaged in a long-standing border dispute over the Essequibo region.

International

-Sathish Raman

In response to the United Kingdom's deployment of a warship near Guyana's territorial waters, Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro has ordered the country's armed forces to conduct defensive exercises in the Eastern Caribbean. The move comes amid an ongoing border dispute between Venezuela and Guyana over the Essequibo region.

Maduro's Address and Troop Deployment

In a televised address on Thursday, Maduro announced that 6,000 Venezuelan troops, including air and naval forces, will engage in joint operations off the nation's eastern coast, close to the border with Guyana. He characterized the arrival of the British ship HMS Trent as a "threat" to Venezuela and asserted that its deployment violated a recent agreement between the South American nations.

Essequibo Border Dispute

Venezuela and Guyana have been embroiled in a long-standing border dispute over the Essequibo, a sparsely populated region with significant offshore oil deposits. While Guyana has controlled the area for decades, Venezuela recently revived its historical claim through a referendum, seeking to incorporate the Essequibo as a Venezuelan state.

Diplomatic Efforts and Tensions

Amid escalating tensions, the leaders of Venezuela and Guyana met in St. Vincent and signed an agreement to resolve the dispute peacefully. However, Guyana's President Irfan Ali emphasized his nation's right to collaborate with partners to ensure its defense.

HMS Trent's Mission

HMS Trent, a patrol and rescue ship, was initially deployed to intercept drug traffickers off the West Coast of Africa. It has a capacity for 30 sailors and 18 marines, equipped with 30mm cannons and a landing pad for helicopters and drones. The ship was redirected to Guyana on December 24 after completing its mission in Barbados.

Guyana's Defense Forces

Guyana, with a population of approximately 800,000, maintains a relatively small military force comprising 3,000 soldiers, 200 sailors, and four patrol boats known as Barracudas.

As tensions escalate between Venezuela and Guyana over the Essequibo border dispute, the deployment of Venezuelan troops and the arrival of the British warship underscore the complex geopolitical dynamics in the region. The situation demands diplomatic efforts and adherence to peaceful resolutions to avoid further escalation and potential conflict.
Daily Horoscope, December 29, 2023: Aries May Find Love; Taurus Need To Be Consistent At Work

Lifestyle

-Darshana Tiwari

Horoscope Today December 29, 2023, Friday: Whether you're seeking guidance or a glimpse into what the day may hold, a daily horoscope can provide a moment of reflection and a hint of what the stars align for you. From personal growth to challenges, from love to career opportunities, these predictions offer an astrological snapshot meant to enlighten and entertain.

Aries Horoscope (March 21 - April 19)

Overall: Today is a day for action, Aries. Embrace your natural leadership qualities and take on challenges with confidence.

Romance: Passion is in the air. If youre single, a chance encounter could spark a fiery connection. Those in relationships should express their affections openly.

Career: Your initiatives at work could receive recognition. Stay determined and your efforts will likely pay off.

Finance: Be cautious with your spending. Its a good day to revise your budget and set financial goals.

Health: High energy levels will serve you well today. Consider a new exercise routine to keep the momentum going.

Taurus Horoscope (April 20 - May 20)

Overall: Take a moment to enjoy life's simpler pleasures, Taurus. Your stability is your strength today.

Romance: It's a time for deep connections. Share your innermost thoughts with your partner or close friend to strengthen emotional bonds.

Career: Consistency in your work is key today. Focus on completing tasks and honoring commitments.

Finance: A stable day financially. Avoid major purchases and instead, focus on saving.

Health: Don't neglect your need for rest. Recharge with adequate sleep and relaxation.

Gemini Horoscope (May 21 - June 20)

Overall: Communication is your ally today, Gemini. Your curiosity may lead to new and valuable insights.

Romance: Express yourself and let your partner know your true feelings. If you're single, socializing could lead to interesting prospects.

Career: Networking will play an important role today. A conversation might lead to a promising opportunity.

Finance: Be mindful of deals that seem too good to be true. Research thoroughly before making investments.

Health: Mental stimulation is just as important as physical. Engage in puzzles or reading to stay sharp.

Cancer Horoscope (June 21 - July 22)

Overall: Your intuition is heightened today, Cancer. Trust in your feelings to guide you through the day.

Romance: Spend quality time with loved ones. An intimate conversation might bring joy and closer connection.

Career: Its a good day to collaborate and seek input from colleagues. Teamwork can bring success.

Finance: Financial security is especially important to you. Look for ways to enhance your savings plan.

Health: Emotional well-being is essential. If stress surfaces, seek soothing activities like a warm bath or meditation.

Leo Horoscope (July 23 - August 22)

Overall: Your confidence shines brightly today, Leo. Use your charisma to inspire others.

Romance: Romance may take center stage. A grand gesture could enhance a relationship or attract new love.

Career: Your creative energy is at a peak. Dont hesitate to share your innovative ideas.

Finance: It's a day for prudent financial decisions. Investing in your personal growth could be rewarding.

Health: Balance activity with relaxation. Your body will thank you for the care you give it.

Virgo Horoscope (August 23 - September 22)

Overall: Precision and attention to detail will serve you well today, Virgo. Organize your thoughts and plan ahead.

Romance: A practical approach to matters of the heart might be necessary. Honest communication will clear misunderstandings.

Career: Efficiency is your superpower. Use it to tackle pending tasks and streamline processes.

Finance: Good day for budgeting and planning. Avoid unnecessary expenses to keep your financial health intact.

Health: Pay attention to your digestive health. Opt for nutritious and balanced meals.

Libra Horoscope (September 23 - October 22)

Overall: Harmony is your quest today, Libra. Aim for balance in all areas of life.

Romance: Seek fairness and equality in relationships. A peaceful atmosphere will enhance love and companionship.

Career: Diplomacy will favor your professional interactions. Keeping an open mind will lead to cooperative solutions.

Finance: Financial balance is achievable with careful planning. Consider advice from trusted experts.

Health: Indulge in activities that promote mental peace, like yoga or journaling.

Scorpio Horoscope (October 23 - November 21)

Overall: Your depth and passion are your guides today, Scorpio. Embrace transformative experiences.

Romance: Intensity in relationships can be rewarding. Connect on a deeper level with your partner.

Career: Your focussed energy can help you solve complex problems at work.

Finance: Consider long-term investments over immediate gratification.

Health: Listen to your body and respect its limits. Adequate rest is as important as activity.

Sagittarius Horoscope (November 22 - December 21)

Overall: Adventure calls to you, Sagittarius. Embrace new experiences with an open heart.

Romance: Honesty can create breakthroughs in personal connections. Share your wanderlust with those you love.

Career: Your optimism can be contagious. Use it to motivate your team and push through challenges.

Finance: A good day to review your financial goals and set actionable steps towards achieving them.

Health: Outdoor activities can help maintain your physical and mental vigor. Explore nature if possible.

Capricorn Horoscope (December 22 - January 19)

Overall: Focus and determination are your strongest suits today, Capricorn. Set your sights on your goals.

Romance: Your commitment in relationships is admirable. Show appreciation to your partner to strengthen bonds.

Career: Your ambitious nature will fuel your professional endeavors. Stay persistent and rewards will come.

Finance: Financial responsibility comes naturally to you. A cautious approach will safeguard your assets.

Health: Managing stress is crucial. Find time for relaxation techniques that work well for you.

Aquarius Horoscope (January 20 - February 18)

Overall: Your innovative spirit is in the spotlight today, Aquarius. Think outside the box for the best results.

Romance: Unconventional approaches to love may intrigue you. Keep an open mind to different relationship dynamics.

Career: Collaboration with like-minded individuals can lead to exciting projects.

Finance: Smart financial planning with a hint of creativity can yield positive outcomes.

Health: Allow for personal time to recharge your batteries. Your mental health will benefit from a break.

Pisces Horoscope (February 19 - March 20)

Overall: Today, let your intuition lead, Pisces. You might find clarity in the most unexpected places.

Romance: Embrace vulnerability in your romantic life. True connections are formed when you let your guard down.

Career: Your empathetic nature makes you a valued team member. Offer support where it's needed.

Finance: Be mindful of your financial situation but worry not, as a positive change is on the horizon.

Health: Engage in activities that soothe your soul, like music or art therapy.

May the stars align to offer you a day of promise and opportunity. Make the best of it!
Initially disappointed that the Prague of my pre-Velvet Revolution childhood had succumbed to unfettered commercialism, my disappointment soon passed.
Germany's conservative opposition party wants to send asylum-seekers to third countries for processing, following models adopted by the UK and Australia. But experts are divided over the legal and logistical workability.
There are now more and more reports that Western officials are becoming more "open" to a possible dialogue between Kyiv and Moscow to end the war. However, the aggressor country, Russia, is sticking to its maximalist goals in Ukraine and is not interested in good faith negotiations.

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The Kremlin is only seeking a temporary cessation of hostilities to rebuild its army and continue its aggression with even greater force. This was pointed out by the Institute for the Study of War (ISW).

The analysts drew attention to a Politico article that quoted an unnamed representative of the US presidential administration and an EU diplomat. These sources said that Washington and European officials are shifting their focus from supporting Ukraine's complete victory over Russia to improving Kyiv's position in the anticipated possible negotiations with Moscow to end the war.

The newspaper noted that such a dialogue would likely force Ukraine to cede territory to Russia. Against this backdrop, Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said on December 27 that the West intends to freeze the war in Ukraine and then present it as a victory. The Kremlin henchman rhetorically asked what victories the United States had achieved in Vietnam, Afghanistan, and Iraq after "trying to do the same thing."

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According to analysts, his references suggest that Lavrov views the Western discussion of freezing the war and preparing for possible Ukrainian negotiations with Russia as "the West's willingness to recognize Ukraine's defeat."

The Russian minister's statement is also consistent with recent statements by other Russian officials that the Kremlin is "not interested in freezing the war" or "holding honest negotiations" and will continue to build on its expansionist territorial goals and efforts to "demilitarize" Ukraine.

"The temporary ceasefire is likely to give the Russian military time to prepare for a new aggression against Ukraine. Ultimately, Russia will still pursue the same maximalist goals for this new aggression," the ISW concluded.

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As reported by OBOZ.UA, a scandalous statement about the war in Ukraine was recently made by the Prime Minister of the German state of Saxony, Michael Kretschmer. He suggested a dialog with Putin and the need for Kyiv to temporarily "cede territories" to stop the fighting.

The Ukrainian Foreign Ministry responded to his remarks by reminding that the path to peace in Europe, including Germany, lies precisely through Russia's defeat in this war.

Only verified information on our Telegram channel OBOZ.UA and Viber. Do not fall for fakes!
As Premier League stars prepare to head to the Africa Cup of Nations, is the club versus country debate still relevant?
Residents of the Gaza Strip are at severe risk of disease amid an acute lack of functioning hospitals, the WHO has said. Australia said two citizens were killed in an Israeli strike in Lebanon. DW has the latest.
The leader of Sudan's paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF) has met with the Ethiopian Prime Minister on the second stop of a rare international mission that also includes Uganda and Kenya.
Oneindia 16 Dec 2023

A tragic incident in Gaza has sparked outrage and protests in Israel. Hundreds of demonstrators have taken to the streets following..
President Putin invited Prime Minister Modi to visit Russia next year for discussions on relevant issues and prospects of the India-Russia strategic partnership. The invitation came during a meeting between Putin and India's external affairs minister, Jaishankar. The meeting also resulted in the signing of significant agreements related to the construction of power-generating units at the Kudankulam nuclear power plant in Tamil Nadu. The leaders discussed economic cooperation, military-technical cooperation, and people-to-people exchange, highlighting the robustness of the India-Russia relationship despite international concerns over Russia's actions in Ukraine.
Russian President Vladimir Putin has invited Prime Minister Narendra Modi to visit Russia next year to discuss current issues and the future of bilateral relations, emphasizing the enduring strategic partnership between the two countries. This invitation highlights the growing trade turnover, especially in crude oil and high technology. The discussions also include negotiations for a Free Trade Agreement between India and the Eurasian Economic Union, which could further enhance economic ties. The deepening strategic alliance in military-technical cooperation and the 'Make in India' initiative in defense production are significant developments.
A former economist for the Legislature was selected as the new head of New Mexico's nearly $50 billion investment fund, which benefits schools, hospitals, and other institutions.
The Colorado secretary of state is including former President Trump on the 2024 primary ballot after an appeal of the state Supreme Court's ballot ban with the U.S. Supreme Court.
United States President Joe Biden's administration unveiled its final package of the year for Ukraine in the former of a $250 million military aid assistance agreement.
US politics cannot be judged by its growing distortions and hypocrisies. Despite the media blackout on pro-Palestinian coverage and excessive exaggeration of pro-Israel propaganda, support for the Palestinians is steadily growing around the country. This will have an impact on the upcoming US elections, from the presidency down...
The Russian occupation army continues to use its usual tactics of terror and strikes at numerous civilian objects in our country. Russian troops are launching missile and air strikes, firing from multiple launch rocket systems.

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There were 56 combat engagements on the frontline yesterday, and Russians are continuing their attempts to encircle Avdiivka and continue to advance in other areas. This is stated in the report of the General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine as of the morning of December 28.

During the day, the enemy launched one missile and 77 air strikes, fired 51 times from multiple launch rocket systems at the positions of our troops and populated areas. As a result of Russian terrorist attacks, civilians were killed and wounded. Private houses and other civilian infrastructure were destroyed and damaged.

In the evening of December 27, Russian occupants once again attacked Ukraine using 5 Shahed-136/131 type kamikaze drones. Our defenders destroyed 4 attack UAVs. Also, during the current day, the invaders conducted another air strike with three Shahed-136/131 drones. All enemy UAVs were destroyed.

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The areas under air strike were Ivanivka, Kharkiv region; Serebryanske forestry, Luhansk region; Spirne, Novomykhailivka, Zolota Niva, Donetsk region; Orikhiv, Preobrazhenka, Zaporizhzhia region; Chervonyi Mayak, Zmiivka, Dudchany and Novoberislav, Kherson region. About 130 settlements in Chernihiv, Sumy, Kharkiv, Luhansk, Donetsk, Zaporizhzhia, Kherson and Mykolaiv regions came under artillery fire.

In the area of responsibility of the operational and strategic grouping of troops "North" on the Volyn and Polissya directions, the operational situation remains without significant changes.

On the Siversky and Slobozhansky directions, the enemy maintains a military presence in the border areas, conducts active sabotage activities to prevent the deployment of our troops to threatened areas, and increases the density of minefields along the state border in the Belgorod region.

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In the area of responsibility of the Khortytsia operational and strategic grouping of troops in the Kupyansk sector, Ukrainian defenders repelled nine enemy attacks near Sinkivka and east of Ivanivka in Kharkiv region.

In the Liman sector, the Defense Forces repelled 3 enemy attacks in the area of Serebryanske forestry in Luhansk region, where the enemy unsuccessfully tried to break through the defense of our troops.

In the Bakhmut sector, our troops repelled two enemy attacks near Bohdanivka, Donetsk region.

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In the area of responsibility of the Tavria operational and strategic grouping of troops in the Avdiivka sector, Ukrainian defenders continue to hold back the enemy, who is making every attempt to surround Avdiivka. Our soldiers are steadfastly holding the line, inflicting significant losses on the invaders. Thus, the Ukrainian Defense Forces repelled 15 attacks east of Novobakhmutivka and Avdiivka and 17 attacks near Severne, Pervomaiske and Nevelske in Donetsk region yesterday.

In the Mariinka sector, the Defense Forces continue to hold back the enemy in the areas of Mariinka and Novomykhailivka in the Donetsk region, where our defenders repelled three attacks.

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In the Shakhtarsk sector, the enemy did not conduct any offensive (assault) actions.

In the Zaporizhzhia sector, the Defense Forces repelled three attacks west of Verbove and Robotyne in the Zaporizhzhia region.

In the area of responsibility of the Odesa operational and strategic grouping of troops in the Kherson sector, Ukrainian soldiers continue to expand their foothold. Despite significant losses, the enemy continues to try to drive our units out of their positions. Thus, the enemy made 13 unsuccessful assaults on the positions of the Defense Forces yesterday, received a decent rebuff and retreated.

At the same time, the Ukrainian Defense Forces continue to inflict losses in manpower and equipment on the occupation forces, depleting the enemy along the entire front line.

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Yesterday, our aviation struck 10 areas of concentration of personnel, weapons and military equipment and 2 enemy anti-aircraft missile systems. Missile troops struck 5 areas of concentration of personnel, weapons and military equipment, 2 command posts, 6 ammunition depots and 2 enemy artillery pieces.

As a reminder, the aggressor country Russia is pursuing its maximalist goals in Ukraine and is not interested in good faith negotiations. Today, the Kremlin is seeking a temporary cessation of hostilities in order to restore the army and continue its aggression with even greater force.

Earlier it was reported that Russian dictator Vladimir Putin, during a meeting with Chinese President Xi Jinping, told him that Russia was allegedly ready to fight Ukraine for another five years. The Kremlin leader tried to convince his Chinese counterpart that Moscow could win.

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Only verified information on our Telegram channel OBOZ.UA and Viber. Do not fall for fakes!
The U.S. announced military aid of up to $250 million. It could be the final package of military aid to Ukraine unless Congress approves supplemental funding legislation now stalled on Capitol Hill.
Eurasia Review 30 Dec 2023

In a compelling debate at the Oxford University Union in 1964, Malcolm X stated, We are not human beings unless we band together..
DMDK chief Vijayakanth passes away

Posted by Editor on December 28, 2023 - 10:40 am

Indian Actor and DMDK chief Vijayakanth passed away at the age of 71 this morning (December 28), at a private hospital in Chennai.

Vijayakanth was his stage name and his real name was Narayanan Vijayaraj Alagarswami.

According to his party, he was on ventilator support after testing positive for COVID-19

However, the hospitals statement mentioned he had pneumonia.

A statement by the hospital read, Captain Vijayakanth was on ventilatory support following his admission for pneumonia. Despite the best efforts of medical staff he passed away in the morning on 28th December 2023.

Vijaynath was admitted to the hospital on Tuesday for a regular health check-up. At the time, the party said Vijayakanth was healthy and would return home after the tests.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi expressed his condolences in a post on X, saying that his close friend Vijayakanths passing leaves a void that will be hard to fill.

Modi wrote on X, Extremely saddened by the passing away of Thiru Vijayakanth Ji. A legend of the Tamil film world, his charismatic performances captured the hearts of millions. As a political leader, he was deeply committed to public service, leaving a lasting impact on Tamil Nadus political landscape.

He added, His passing leaves a void that will be hard to fill. He was a close friend and I fondly recall my interactions with him over the years. In this sad hour, my thoughts are with his family, fans and numerous followers. Om Shanti.

Tamil Nadu Health Minister Ma Subramaniam has reached the residence of DMDK chief Captain Vijayakanth in Chennai.

In visuals shared by news agency ANI, DMDK supporters were seen mourning the death of the DMDK chief.

The DMDK chief had earlier been admitted to a hospital on November 20. He was undergoing treatment for a respiratory illness at the hospital.

Vijayakanths journey in the public eye has been marked by his successful career in the film industry, where he acted in 154 movies, and his subsequent foray into politics.

He founded the DMDK and served as a Member of Legislative Assembly twice, representing the constituencies of Virudhachalam and Rishivandiyam. His political career peaked when he became the Leader of the Opposition in the Tamil Nadu Legislative Assembly from 2011 to 2016.

In recent years, Vijayakanths health has been a concern, leading him to step back from active political engagement.

(Courtesy: India Today)
I write this is a Jew, ashamed of Israel's behavior.

Fascist, authoritarian Bebe Netanyahu holds power in Israel because of the influence of Fundamentalist, ultra-orthodox Jews who consider non-orthodox Jews to be "Goyim," which means, non-jewish.



These Haredi extremists consider Gazans to be subhuman animals. They are joined by Ultra orthodox Americans who come to Israel to get free land, which they obtain by stealing land from Palestinians who have had their properties for generations.



Israeli settler's attempt to justify forcible takeover of a Palestinian home sparks online anger 'If I don't steal it, someone else is going to steal it.' An Israeli settler's attempt to justify a forcible takeover of a Palestinian home in ...

(Image by YouTube, Channel: Middle East Eye) Details DMCA





Israeli mistreatment of Palestinians would be bad enough, but there is more that is problematic. Israel surrogates are now and have for a long time been aggressively attacking progressives. They fund opponents to primary Progressive incumbents and are often successful. I believe that this is foreign meddling in American politics, though it is complicated, because American Jews often put Israel first, and American politicians are terrified of standing up to Israel, with the fear that they will be attacked by AIPAC, and that they will be challenged and primaried as has happened before.



This has led American leaders to blindly allow Israel to engage in horrific behaviors without any supervision of the billions of dollars in aid that they receive.



Another reason that American politicians are so afraid of AIPAC is that Jews are generally a reliable voting block for Democrats, with 70 to 80% support. I believe that given the current circumstances, politicians would receive strong support from a solid percentage of Jews who are ashamed and disgusted by Israel's policies and behaviors. The politicians might lose 10 or 20% of the 75% that they had, but that would be more than made up for by regaining support from members of the Islamic faith who are disgusted by the support for Israel's genocidal behaviors. And it won't just be Muslims who will be swayed. It will also be members of younger generations.



Joe Biden and the leaders of the democratic Party are making a huge mistake in giving Netanyahu unrestrained support. If it continues, we can expect to see support for Joe Biden and the Democratic party decline even further, causing the loss of the House and Senate inthe 2024 elections, as well as the White House. This will not be because of anti-semitism. It will be because of outrageous fraudulent efforts by AIPAC and the ADL to use this tragic series of events to further their aims at legitimizing horrific Israeli policies.



The only way to stop the rising tide of anti-Semitism is for Jews throughout the world to call out the outrageous, totally unacceptable behavior and policies of Israel.

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After a jail threat, fraud, and extortion by a tour operator in France, an FBI investigation by their Consumer Fraud Protection Bureau resulted in the return of most of our stolen money, but the latest twist to this crime saga is that TripAdvisor covers-up crimes against two elderly tourists. The tour operator and a hotel operator tried to steal $48,600, they stole $28,000, and $25,000 in stolen money was returned, but a $3,000 ongoing theft was the illegal profit of Luxury Tours France, which is also known by the name of RiverLoire - Loire Valley Day Tours. The hotel that also engaged in these crimes was the Hotel Le Pavillon Des Lys.



$28,000, where large bills are no longer printed.

(Image by Coin Site) Details DMCA



Criminals In Action

In our seventies, my wife and I visited the Loire Valley. We paid a full price of $6500 by wire transfer in advance for this tour. When we arrived in Europe, the nightmare began. We were charged multiple times for the same service, and I was threatened with jail if I did not immediately pay an additional $5,000 in cash for the same, paid-for service. My wife was horrified with the prospect of being stranded in France - alone - if I was jailed. Even so, I refused to pay this monstrous thief.

International and National Thefts are Okay in the U.S.

This crime saga continued as I documented these crimes in a series of Op Eds, where banks and the FBI permit crimes against U.S. citizens - abroad and at home. These Op Eds started with factual, documented accusations in an article, titled "Visit France as a Tourist-Risk Fraud and False Imprisonment in Jail-Luxury Tours France and Hotel Le Pavillon Des Lys". As these crimes unfolded, I learned that U.S banks support criminals, i.e., if the criminals claim that their thefts are legal, the banks support the claims of the criminals and force customers to pay the thieves ("The Bank of America Steals our Money - The Bank of America's International Fraud against America"). Most of our stolen money was returned from credit card frauds, but the FBI does not investigate wire transfer frauds under $100,000 ("The Bank of America Reacts to Freedom of the Press and the Consumer Fraud Protection Bureau "). Further investigation proved that this thief from Luxury Tours France is only a small part of the massive internet crime spree against us ("U.S. Banks and the FBI Harbor Criminal Fraud Enterprises").

I invested much time into fighting against these crimes. The monetary value of the hours spent fighting these crimes exceeds the value of the stolen money that was returned. Even so, standing up against these criminals was personally worth the effort. Criminals should pay for their crimes.

A TripAdvisor Cover-up

I requested that TripAdvisor publish my trip reviews to protect other tourists, but only one of two trip reviews was published. Specifically, a hotel trip review was published, but the main criminal organization, Luxury Tour France is still protected by TripAdvisor. The fraud reports provided to TripAdvisor are available (click here).

TripAdvisor failed to honor their offer 'to just publish [my] experience with the property [Luxury Tours France / RiverLoire] without quoting the property.' The latest in my series of letters to TripAdvisor follows.

A Letter to TripAdvisor

'Censorship Continued

'TripAdvisor refused the [below] trip review, even though I have provided extensive supporting information to your office. This cover-up of tour operator crimes is a disservice to tourists who trust your website for information to protect them from such crimes.'

A Letter to RiverLoire

'Theft From a Customer

'You owe me thousands of dollars. The FBI has retrieved more than $24,018 in fraudulent credit card claims by your company, but you still have my money that was stolen by wire transfer. I have asked the Bank of America to return this stolen money, but I doubt that they will. Per a previous email, I still do not plan to prosecute [the man who received the wire transfer as part of this fraud scheme on your behalf]. Even though he was directly involved in this crime, you are criminally responsible.

'At a minimum you owe my wife and me $3000. We paid $6500, the hotel should be reimbursed $1018, and we only received two days of service for a five-day contract. The total owed to us is approximately $3000. This charge does not include time lost on vacation due to your criminal acts, where this time is worth over $1000, and does not include the time spent fighting your crimes, where this time is worth tens of thousands of dollars. This charge also does not include any compensation for the discomfort and inconvenience that you caused my family.'

[Trip Advisor refused to print the following trip review.]

'Luxury Tours France Will Rob You, Threaten You With Jail and Extortion, and Then Accuse You of Blackmail' [The following trip review was submitted and refused by TripAdvisor, click here.] 'The criminal behavior of Luxury Tours France (Riverloire Loire - Valley Day Tours) was despicable when my wife and I traveled with them in France from the U.S., where I am 72 years old and my wife is 74 years old. My wife and I were swindled of more than $28,000 by this company, and I was illegally threatened with jail, when my wife was horrified that she would be stranded in France - alone - if I went to jail for a dishonest charge to the French police. 'We paid Luxury Tours France $6500 in advance (in full) prior to arriving in France for our five-day tour, and bank records for this payment have been provided to them by the Bank of America. On our way to France, we were falsely advised that this payment had not been received, and we paid again ($6500 in full) by credit card. We were then asked to pay again ($6500 in full) through Western Union when we stopped in London for a few days. We did not send the Western Union payment, but Luxury Tours France charged our credit card a total of $23,000 (3 and 1/2 full payments) in addition to the $6500 that Luxury Tours France received by wire transfer - for a total fraud of $28,000. 'When we arrived in France, we were picked up by car at the airport by a nice young lady, who served very well as our guide for two days. Then, the nightmare began. 'On the morning of the third day, the owner of Luxury Tours France showed up at the hotel that his company had contracted for us. Extortion against me began as soon as he arrived. He demanded that I immediately pay him $5000 in cash, or he would have me put in jail. I refused to succumb to extortion, and I did not pay him again. At the time of this extortion, there were already tens of thousands of dollars in payments to Luxury Tours France. All in all, Luxury Tours France attempted to steal more than $38,000 from my wife and me through fraud. 'Our trip was cancelled, our hotel room was cancelled, and transportation to the airport to get home was cancelled. I then made arrangements to address being stranded in France by Luxury Tours France. 'Also in France, I immediately called my credit card company, and informed them of the fraud. However, Luxury Tours France claimed that all of the stolen money was legitimately charged, and the Bank of America would not return the stolen money due to this dishonest claim. 'When I asked Luxury Tours France to return the stolen money, the owner of the company libelously accused me of blackmail. This criminal slanderously accused me of blackmail to hide his crimes. 'I filed a criminal fraud complaint with the FBI through their Consumer Fraud Protection Bureau (CFPB). The money that was stolen by credit card fraud was returned when the CFPB confronted my credit card company (the Bank of America). Luxury Tours France still has the stolen wire transfer funds. 'FBI reports, bank records, and internet OpEds that I wrote thoroughly document these crimes. Copies of these reports and Op Eds were sent to Luxury Tours France and the Content Integrity Department of TripAdvisor.'

TripAdvisor now refuses to answer any emails about this censorship of important information, which is intended to protect tourists from criminals. Although TripAdvisor did not publish the above trip review, they did publish the following trip review.

A Letter to the Hotel Le Pavillon Des Lys

'Apology Owed

'You owe me an apology for the false claims that you made against me.

'A copy of my latest TripAdvisor review follows, and TripAdvisor published this trip review.'

'The Hotel Le Pavillon Des Lys will steal your money and then accuse you of blackmail and theft.' (click here)

'The Hotel Le Pavillon Des Lys committed fraud against my wife and me, and when I asked for our stolen money to be returned, the hotel manager accused me of blackmail and claimed that I routinely stayed at hotels without payments. Such statements are dishonest lies.

'My wife and I traveled to the Loire Valley in France with a tour operator who committed heinous crimes against us. That operator stole more than $29,500 from us and illegally threatened to have me jailed if I did not pay another $5000. This attempted extortion and jail threat occurred in the lobby of the Hotel Le Pavillon Des Lys. Although Luxury Tours France (Riverloire Loire - Valley Day Tours) was the lead criminal in these extensive frauds, the Hotel Le Pavillon Des Lys committed further crimes against my wife and me.

'Since my wife and I were suddenly without a place to stay in a foreign country, we then double-paid to stay at this hotel. The hotel had contracted with the tour operator, and I previously had not been allowed to contract directly with the hotel.

'Since the contract was originally between the hotel and the tour operator, and I had paid twice for the same stay, I asked the hotel to return our money. The hotel refusal to pay back this money constituted theft.

'When I asked the hotel to return the stolen money, the hotel manager accused me of blackmailing him, and stated that I was a manipulating specialist who refused to pay hotel bills. That is, he accused me of theft. This libelous statement is a blatant lie. I have paid every hotel bill for every hotel stay in my life, where I have traveled four to ten weeks a year for nearly twenty years. There was no blackmail, which was proven by the fact that an FBI (Consumer Fraud Protection Bureau) investigation resulted in the return of this money stolen by the hotel ($1018) to my wife and me, and this lack of blackmail was further proven by the return of more than $23,000 from the tour operator.

'FBI reports, bank records, and internet OpEds that I wrote thoroughly document these crimes. Copies of these reports and Op Eds were sent to the Hotel Le Pavillon Des Lys and the Content Integrity department of TripAdvisor. Tripadvisor had blocked my trip review publications, and when these documents were provided, TripAdvisor allowed me to publish trip reviews. TripAdvisor does not endorse my statements per policy, but I have presented the facts.'

Stop Tourist Robberies

Immediately after I was threatened with jail in the hotel lobby, the hotel manager stated that Luxury Tours France has this problem with customers once or twice a year at this hotel. Since I have made criminal accusations against the hotel manager, he will not likely confirm this statement that he made to my wife and me. An adage that I have heard is that 'if something is not in writing, it did not happen', but this witnessed hotel statement certainly happened. Tourists are at risk when traveling with Luxury Tours France to the Hotel Le Pavillon Des Lys.

In summary, TripAdvisor did not publish one of two important trip reviews, and TripAdvisor thereby protected the criminals of RiverLoire / Luxury Tours France. The Hotel Le Pavillon Des Lys refuses to apologize for dishonest character attacks, and Luxury Tours France refuses to pay back stolen money, even though much of their criminal gains have been paid back. I have written the facts - just the facts.



A Nice Hotel, Except for the Crimes Committed in Their Lobby

(Image by TripAdviosr) Details DMCA



Addendum, 12/27/2023

Although I do not expect a response, the following email was forwarded to TripAdvisor.

'Unfortunately, TripAdvisor chose to not answer multiple emails and refused to publish an important and factual trip review account of criminal acts committed against travelers by a tour operator (RiverLoire - Loire Valley Day Tours / Luxury Tours France). In response, I published an Op Ed today, 12/27/2023, to document this disservice to the travel industry and other travelers (See the Op Ed, "Luxury Tours France / RiverLoire Tours: Robbery, FBI Intervention, Return of Stolen Cash, and a TripAdvisor Cover-up", Click Here.

I also responded to a TripAdvisor survey that 'TripAdvisor protects criminals by censoring trip reviews. Their cover-up of crimes by tour operators questions the objectivity and validity of TripAdvisor.

With these additional clarifications of fact, perhaps TripAdvisor will reconsider publishing the facts about crimes committed against travelers.'

'The following Op Ed was published today, 12/27/2023. My past articles about your crimes garner 1400 to 1700 readers. Your crimes against tourists must be stopped. See the Op Ed, "Luxury Tours France / RiverLoire Tours: Robbery, FBI Intervention, Return of Stolen Cash, and a TripAdvisor Cover-up", Click Here.'

The following email was sent to the hotel manager and the tour operator.

Addendum, 12/29//2023

Following the publication of this Op Ed, TripAdvisor changed their website, and published the Luxury Tours France trip review that is provided above. See "TripAdvisor Published Luxury Tours France Crimes in a Trip Report in Response to Freedom of the Press". This Op Ed is left intact, since this story evolved as the Freedom of the Press was exercised to fight against criminals.

(Article changed on Dec 29, 2023 at 8:00 PM EST)


Bodies line up outside Gaza hospital as Israeli airstrikes continue (13 Oct 2023) Dead bodies continue to pile up outside Gaza's largest hospital as the Israel-Hamas war enters its seventh day.

(Image by YouTube, Channel: Associated Press) Details DMCA



Global corporate capitalism led by the hegemonic state, the United States, is a fundamentally immoral and irrational system. In capitalism, both states and corporations are designed to maximize short-term power and profits for the super-wealthy corporate elite. [1]

For two and a half months, Israeli military forces, with the full backing of the US government, have dropped more than 40,000 tons of explosives the equivalent of more than two nuclear bombs on Gaza destroying residential buildings, hospitals, schools and refugee camps and deliberately targeting hundreds of medical workers, journalists, teachers and other civilians for assassination. [2]

At least 20,000 Palestinians have been killed and 54,000 wounded, the majority women and children. Many more face death in the coming weeks, as Israel lays siege in the south and deprives Gaza's 2.2 million people of food, water and medical care. Hunger and disease are rapidly spreading through their makeshift shelters.

US vetos have blocked international calls for a ceasefire. The US government is fully supporting Israel politically, financially and militarily.

A recently leaked Pentagon document stated that US "security assistance" was arriving in Israeli on a near-daily basis. The US has delivered 36,000 rounds of 30mm artillery shells, 1,800 M141 Bunker-buster bombs and other munitions to Israel in late October alone, according to the document. [2]

Under the rubble, alongside the buried bodies of children, Palestinian rescue workers have found bomb fragments with the manufacturing codes of Boeing and other US defense companies. There is unchallengeable evidence that the Biden administration and both corporate-backed U.S. political parties are just as guilty as the Netanyahu government for perpetuating the greatest war crime of the 21st century.

Why all this death and destruction? Because corporate war investors ruled America needs to be assured of its continuing to have that US armed powerful Israeli military outpost in the midst of the oil rich nations of the Middle East. Something America established in 1946 when American power over an incipient United Nations of only 56 nations, produced the genocidal stratagem of torching the Holy Land with a phony, never expected nor intended to be implemented resolution for a crazy quilt partition of Palestine into six noncontiguous areas; the Arab areas entirely noncontiguous; the Jewish areas contiguous by a thread; the designated major area for Jews containing more Arabs than Jews, and meant to immediately provoke a civil war prepared for and expected by the Colonial Powers supported and well armed Revisionist Zionists leadership. With the announcement of the UN vote for partition (adopted by a vote of only 25 in favor versus 32 against, abstaining or absent), the fully expected bloodshed had begun. The partition resolution awarded the proposed Jewish State 51% of the land even though Jews owned only 6% and made up only 33% of the population. [Map of the UN proposed partition at Click Here ]

Item:

Western Media Never Questions Why U.S. Well Armed Israel Could Not Just Defend Itself Instead of Claiming It Must Destroy Hamas and Murder Tens of Thousands of Women and Children.

Is there a risk for U.S.A. that the Israeli tail might be waving the America dog?

The destruction of Gaza's homes and buildings makes the 2.3 million citizens of Israeli prison-enclosed Gaza homeless. Without food, water, fuel electricity and sanitation infrastructure, the survivors will be forced to leave. (Neighboring Egypt and Jordan are well aware of the increasing threat of having to care for more than two million impoverished Gaza refugees seeking asylum.)

Once Gaza is obliterated has become a desolate and de-populated land, while the West Bank Palestinian land is further settler colonized beyond the half million Israeli settler enclaves already making life difficult for Palestinians, Israel will be close to its goal of eventually having complete control and ownership of all the land that once was the British Mandate of Palestine. Then Israel could expel the Arabs from their last enclave in East Jerusalem.

Haaretz, Israel News, Nov. 5, 2023

Rabbi at Israeli Military Training Base Says 'Whole Country' Is 'Ours,' Including Gaza and Lebanon.'

The Israel-Hezbollah conflict is intensifying! Could Netanyahu decide to settle old scores with Hezbollah and even Iran while U.S. aircraft carriers are committed to defend Israel?

Next Page 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6

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Striding masterfully through St. George's Hall of the Grand Kremlin Palace, Vlad the Conqueror turned his thoughts once again to his place in the pantheon of History's Immortals.

"Victory follows victory for my splendid military forces," he assured himself. "I have halted the offensive of the Ukrainian bandits and demonstrated to the world that a great nation commanded by a great leader! is unstoppable."

"Of course," he noted bitterly, "our national enemies will point to the fact that our military forces are far larger and better armed than those of the treacherous Ukrainians. But what these subversives won't tell you is that our forces should be. After all, they are fighting for Holy Mother Russia and the restoration of its glorious empire. What could be a worthier cause? Certainly not that of our depraved neighbors, the Ukrainian Untermenschen!"

Stopping briefly, he smiled lovingly at himself in one of the palace's jewel-encrusted mirrors.

"But just when my superior leadership should be acclaimed around the world," Vlad brooded, "it has been eclipsed by this Israeli leader, Benjamin Netanyahu. Has this Netanyahu this zhid leader of a second-rate, little country slaughtered as many people as I have? Conquered as much territory? Successfully wiped out that small Palestinian terrorist group in their tiny strip of land? No!"

"Now, admittedly," Vlad remarked, "he's trying. Also, given the rightwing values that we share, we've always gotten along just fine. Still, when it comes to foreign conquest, Netanyahu is a big nothing at least compared to me! Why does he get all the glory?" Vlad paused for a moment to ponder this paradox.

"My good friend, Kim Jong Un, is also steaming about all the attention Netanyahu is getting. Kim may lead a tiny country," Vlad observed, "but he really knows how to keep dissidents in line at home and garner public attention abroad. If the poor guy only led a great nation like Russia, he might have a chance. But, you know, life is sometimes unfair."

Having arrived at one of his favorite intricately-carved gold mirrors, Vlad stopped once more to admire himself.

"By contrast," he continued," my friend Donald Trump has had every opportunity for greatness. He was born the son of a multimillionaire, acquired billions through crooked business dealings, and slipped into the U.S. presidency after being substantially outpolled by that $**^%^%* woman, Hillary Clinton. And then, when Trump had the power, he proved too incompetent to use it. What a pathetic insurrection! You can bet that Kim and I wouldn't have blown it!"

Next Page 1 | 2

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The Portland Police Bureau said officers shot and killed an armed man Wednesday afternoon near Mall 205 in Southeast Portland.

Police said they were called to the Target store at the mall near Southeast Washington Street because a suspect in a previously reported robbery was back and attempting to steal merchandise.

The suspect had an active warrant out for his arrest, according to a police press release issued Wednesday evening.

When officers saw the man leaving the store, they attempted to arrest him in the parking lot, and he ran, the police statement said. Police said there was a confrontation when the man approached Southeast 96th Avenue and that three officers fired shots. The statement said the man was injured on the sidewalk and police called for medical help, but then officers approached the man and confirmed he was dead.

Police said they found a gun near the man.

No officers were injured in the incident, according to police. Of the three officers involved in the shooting, two are members of the bureaus Focused Intervention Team and one is from East Precinct.

The Portland Police Bureau released this picture they said was of a gun that belonged to a man who was shot and killed in a police shooting on Wednesday afternoon.Portland Police Bureau

Its been a tough week for the city, a tough week for the police bureau, a tough week for the community and certainly for those most significantly impacted, as were reminded of the fragility of life, Chief Bob Day told reporters at the scene.

None of the officers were wearing body cameras, Day said, because the citys body-worn camera pilot program ended in November. Day said he didnt know if investigators had recovered surveillance-camera footage of the shooting.

Sgt. Kevin Allen, a spokesperson for the police bureau, declined to speculate why the officers opened fire, saying he didnt know if they saw the suspect openly wielding a gun.

We havent had a chance to interview the officers involved, so we dont know what they perceived, Allen said.

The investigation of the shooting closed streets for several hours around the mall, which is just off Interstate 205 in the Hazelwood neighborhood. Southeast 96th Avenue was closed between Washington and Main streets.

As is typical with police shootings, there will be an internal review and the case will go before the Police Review Board. The involved officers, who have not yet been publicly identified, are currently on paid administrative leave.

They will literally be out of the organization until this gets resolved, said Day.

The police shooting was another addition to a week of carnage as the city approaches the end of the year. Four deadly traffic crashes were recorded over 48 hours around Christmas, putting the citys total traffic death toll at 71 motorists and pedestrians. A fatal stabbing on a MAX platform on Christmas Eve raised the citys homicide count to 73  a grim tally down roughly a quarter since last year but well above pre-pandemic levels.

And in another incident of violence at a shopping center, a man was found shot and killed in a Washington Square mall parking lot last week.

At Mall 205, a man who declined to provide his name said that he was with his family at the MAX platform on Southeast Main Street when he heard six shots. He grabbed his family members and jumped on an arriving train. He said he returned about 20 minutes later and saw a man lying dead on the sidewalk near a T-Mobile store.

Oleg Molodtsov, an employee at the nearby tech repair shop Fixoid, said he heard four or five gunshots. When he went outside, he saw about half a dozen police cars. Some police officers were carrying shields, he said.

Molodtsov said officers later told him that three cars parked right in front of T-Mobile, including his, were going to have to stay there for several hours because they were part of the crime scene.

He said he was told he wouldnt be able to access his car until at least 2 a.m.

Molodtsov said he finds himself increasingly worried about the area. He previously had his car stolen from the parking lot, he said.

This particular area is sketchy, he added.

Ben Bolokhovskiy, owner of Fixoid, said customers and employees of his business and others were stranded for about an hour and a half until they could be escorted out by police.

The area has seen a lot of crime, he said, and it has been getting worse. His business has been vandalized and was targeted in two attempted robberies this year alone. Cars have been stolen from the parking lot as well.

Bolokhovskiy said the T-Mobile store has recently installed bullet-proof windows.

Im contemplating whether we are going to renew our lease, he said, adding that crime in the area exploded after the pandemic.

 Zane Sparling; zsparling@oregonian.com; 503-319-7083; @pdxzane

 Yesenia Amaro | yamaro@oregonian.com | 503-221-4395 | @YeseniaAmaro

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Population researchers at Portland State University stand by their finding that Oregons population grew last year, despite an estimate from the U.S. Census Bureau that suggests the opposite.

The Census Bureaus 2023 population estimates, released in mid-December, showed that Oregon lost about 6,000 residents in the year leading up to July 1, 2023, representing a 0.1% loss to a total of 4,233,358 residents. That came after the state shed about 0.4% of its residents in the year before.

But recently revised certified estimates by Portland State Universitys Population Research Center show that Oregons population grew by a tepid 0.52%, or roughly 22,000 residents, over the same time period. The center estimates that the states population now stands at 4,291,525.

Both sets of estimates are used by policymakers, including to allocate funding for state and federal programs. Political representation and districts, though, are based on the person-by-person census conducted every 10 years, not the estimates produced in between.

The Population Research Centers numbers dont always exactly match those developed by the Census Bureau because each organization uses different methodologies and data sources, said Huda Alkitkat, a population estimates program manager at Portland State.

Over the last years, there have always been differences in the estimates  because of the assumptions and data used for the two models, she said. Recently, the difference is clear because the (U.S. Census Bureaus) estimate shows a decline in the population, and the PRCs estimate still shows an increase.

The two estimates differ the most in their measure of migration to and from the state, Alkitkat said. And because of Oregons low birth rates and aging population, migration has an outsized influence on the states overall population trend.

While the Census Bureau estimates are based in part on mailing addresses on IRS tax returns, Portland State researchers dont have access to those records until months later. But both use data from the 2020 national census, birth and death certificates, drivers licenses applied for or surrendered, and other indicators of population change.

Meanwhile, Portland State also incorporates employment, school enrollment and housing market data to estimate population changes.

The Portland researchers say the Census Bureau may now be catching up to pandemic-era trends spotted locally a year earlier.

Alkitkat said Portland States estimates showed Oregons population decreased between July 2020 and July 2021, whereas census data showed an increase during this time. Then, over the next two years, the Portland State centers estimates showed a population increase while the Census Bureau showed declines.

Ethan Sharygin, director of the Population Research Center at Portland State, said both organizations captured a year of significant population declines the center saw it between July 2020 and July 2021, while the census saw it the next year. He said Portland State saw a larger population rebound between July 2021 and July 2022, gleaned largely from out-of-state IDs surrendered to the Oregon DMV.

The Population Research Centers estimates show that more Oregonians died than were born in the year leading up to July 2023. But that was offset by a net migration of approximately 21,000 new residents to the state, Alkitkat said, based on the centers analysis of data from the Oregon Department of Transportation, the Census Bureau and U.S. Customs and Border Protection.

Without migration, Portland State researchers said Oregons population would be in decline. The center found that 29 counties in the state saw more deaths than births in the past year. But only six counties in the state experienced population decline over the same time period, thanks to a net migration of new residents.

Because of those trends, economists say Oregon depends on working-age people moving from elsewhere to shop, pay taxes and join the workforce. Slower population growth, or a population decline, would strain Oregons economy, leaving companies struggling to hire workers or grow their sales.

--Kristine de Leon; kdeleon@oregonian.com
Even as media reports that the fate of the Roloff farm in Oregon has prompted tension in the family, Matt, Amy, Zach and more members of the Roloff clan are scheduled to return once more to TV screens, as TLC has announced a new season of LIttle People, Big World will premiere in February, 2024.

According to a press release from TLC, heres some of what to expect from the new Little People, Big World season: Just as the Roloffs settle into a rhythm, family surprises and continued tension give rise to new struggles and questions. After an unexpected proposal, Matt and Caryn excitedly look to the future while building their dream home on the farm, but the constant strain on the family makes them wonder what that future will look like.

Among the many changes that have happened since Little People, Big World began airing on TLC, Amy Roloff and Matt Roloff got divorced, and Amy married a man named Chris Marek.

Which explains why the new season description goes on to say: While Amy continues to enjoy married life with Chris, she remains unsettled by the family strife. To help bring the family together and support a cause near and dear to her, she decides to throw a fundraiser and enlists Chris, Matt, and Caryns help. But it doesnt take long before the stress rises to the surface. Meanwhile, Zach and Tori are enjoying their busy lives with three kids. However, everything is turned upside down when Zach is rushed to the hospital for emergency surgery.

In case you havent been following the behind-the-scenes drama, as The Oregonian/OregonLive and other sources have reported, in 2022, Matt Roloff said in May 2022 that he wanted to sell part of his century-old farm, in Helvetia. At the time, Roloff posted on the Roloff Farms website that he was downsizing in acres to expand my adventures. The 16-acre parcel was listed for a price of $4 million.

But the tale took another twist from there. As People magazine reported later in 2022, Roloff announced in an Instagram post that the section of the farm he originally put on the market in May would be turned into an Airbnb-style travel destination, as the People story said.

On Instagram, Roloff wrote, in part, I have decided to pull the small farm off the open market, and to instead open the farm to everyone and anyone who wants to spend a few nights in the Roloff family home. Fees will be determined by demand and seasons. More information will be forthcoming soon  but needless to say we are scrambling hard behind the scenes (plus running the busy Pumpkin patch) to convert (re-furnish) the home to be ready.

However, as Little People, Big World viewers have seen, Matt Roloffs decision sparked tension between him and one of his sons, Zach Roloff, who had expressed interest in buying part of the farm.

In a 2021 Instagram post, Zach Roloffs wife, Tori, wrote that the family had moved from Portland, to a new home in Washington.

Little People, Big World has aired on TLC since 2006. In the early days, the series focused on Matt and Amy Roloff, who have dwarfism, and their children, Zach, who also has dwarfism, Jeremy, Molly and Jacob, who dont have dwarfism.

The 2024 season of Little People, Big World premieres at 9 p.m. Tuesday, Feb. 20 on TLC. The show can be streamed on fubo, Sling TV and Max.

 Kristi Turnquist

503-221-8227; kturnquist@oregonian.com; @Kristiturnquist

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During a meeting with Chinese President Xi Jinping, Russian dictator Vladimir Putin told him that Russia was allegedly ready to fight Ukraine for another five years. The Kremlin leader tried to convince his Chinese counterpart that Moscow could win.

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This was reported by asia.nikkei, citing sources in diplomatic circles in Beijing and Moscow. According to the author of the article, Putin tried to "summarize the situation" in his conversation with Xi, which at that time was far from favorable for Russia.

Thus, the dictator tried to persuade Xi not to change his pro-Russian position and convinced him that a protracted war would be beneficial to both China and Russia.

Journalists note that it is not yet clear whether the Chinese president believed Putin's words. However, they could affect relations between the two countries. In particular, it affected the deployment of a Chinese peacekeeping mission to Europe and the removal of the Chinese Foreign Minister from office.

In addition, Beijing could have revised its state strategy, as the protracted war in Ukraine, according to the article, will affect Xi's ambitions and plans during his third term as president of China, including the annexation of Taiwan.

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Recently, The New York Times reported that Putin has been using intermediaries over the past few months to make it clear that he is ready to end the war in Ukraine, provided that Russia retains control over the seized Ukrainian territories.

Thus, given Putin's words to Xi Jinping about a "five-year war," reports of his "intentions" to cease fire should not be taken at face value, the newspaper writes.

"Perhaps Putin simply wants to create the illusion that he is moving toward a ceasefire or even peace ahead of Russia's presidential election in March, believing that such an atmosphere will favor him in the polls," the authors say.

However, the newspaper suggests that Xi "harbors a grudge" against Putin because he did not warn him about a full-scale invasion of Ukraine. Putin attended the opening of the Winter Olympics in Beijing in early February 2022, but did not warn Xi about his large-scale plans, which offended the Chinese leader.

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The Chinese president, according to the newspaper, was convinced that Russian troops could launch an offensive only in eastern Ukraine.

In view of this, the authors believe, Beijing doubted Putin's words about a "five-year war" and began to think about protecting its own interests. In particular, the country has created its own "peacekeeping mission," which, according to the journalists, showed a slight change in Xi's pro-Russian position and angered Putin.

As OBOZ.UA previously reported, the GUR said that the narrative that Putin allegedly wants to end the war with Ukraine is aimed at two audiences at the same time - internal and external. The occupiers want to "justify" the state of their country's economy to the Russians. In addition, this narrative is aimed at splitting Ukrainian society and the pro-Ukrainian international coalition.

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Only verified information is available on our Telegram channel OBOZ.UA and Viber. Do not fall for fakes!
The unrestricted world of Yellowstone National Park was not enough for actor Pierce Brosnan.

The actor known for playing James Bond received a citation for foot travel in a thermal area at the Wyoming park, according to the court citation reviewed by The Los Angeles Times.

Brosnan is scheduled for a mandatory court date at a U.S. District Court in Wyoming on Jan. 23. The actor has been filming the movie Unholy Trinity, which also stars Samuel L. Jackson and David Arquette, in a nearby site in Montana.

According to the National Park Services Yellowstone safety website, visitors to the park must always walk on boardwalks and designated trails. Thermal formations can be very dangerous, with water in hot springs being able to cause severe or fatal burns and scalding water underlying most of the thin, breakable crust around hot springs.

The offense took place on Nov. 1 with the park official citing 36 CFR 7.13(j) of the Yellowstone National Park Code for Regulation. The subsection, titled travel of trails, states that foot travel in all thermal areas and within the Yellowstone Canyon between the Upper Falls and Inspiration Point must be confined to boardwalks or trails that are maintained for such travel and are marked by official signs.

Representatives for Brosnan did not respond to The Times request for comment due to the holidays.

The 2.22-million-acre park is notable, in part, for its more than 10,000 thermal geographic features, including geysers, hot springs and steam vents.

The thermal features at Yellowstone have led to the death of more than 20 people since 1890, according to NBC News.

Earlier this year, a Michigan man sustained thermal burns after wandering off in a restricted area at Yellowstone while under the influence. The man faces federal criminal charges for the incident and has pleaded not guilty. In a statement by the U.S. Attorneys Office in Wyoming, the man was deemed a danger to himself or others.

___

2023 Los Angeles Times. Visit at latimes.com. Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.

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Pierce Brosnan arriving at the 77th Golden Globe Awards at the Beverly Hilton on Jan. 5, 2020, in Beverly Hills, California. (Marcus Yam/Los Angeles Times/TNS)

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Oregons move to allow law students to apprentice, rather than take a bar exam, further dilutes the quality of our states legal practice, (Oregon first in US to allow law students to become lawyers through apprenticeships, not bar exam, Nov. 14). It is disappointing that government leaders, the Oregon State Bar and law school administrators are vitiating the effective gatekeeping function of the bar exam.

Under this approach, a few winners would escape the rigors of the exam, which for generations has been a bellwether of competent legal education. Other winners would be law school deans relieved from facing scrutiny for Oregons mediocre bar exam pass rates, which in the past three years have ranged from a high of 79% to a low of 40%. At one time, The Oregonian/OregonLive would report exam pass rates for each law school, but no longer.

The absolute losers will be members of the general public, which often stake their entire lifeline on the competence of their legal advisors. The choice of a so-called apprenticeship is frankly no choice at all for someone to develop competence in the ever-complex world that is legal practice.

Proponents say Oregon is being a trailblazer  the first in the country to do this. The same is said about Oregons decriminalization of possession of killer drugs such as fentanyl, meth, cocaine and heroin, with truly disastrous results.

Robert D. Lowry, Eugene

To read more letters to the editor, go to oregonlive.com/opinion.
Squatters and vandals have found refuge inside a sprawling seven-bedroom house southwest of Portland that has been abandoned and unfinished since 2008. Although there is still no electricity, water or heating, the boarded-up shell on a prominent, 1.5-acre corner lot at 15990 S.W. 133rd Ave. near Tigard is listed for sale at $1.3 million.

The targeted buyer: Someone who would like to complete the 9,052-square-foot structure to use it as a private mansion, multigenerational home or residential-care facility, subject to Washington County approval, said broker Eric Squires of All Professionals Real Estate, who shares the listing with Milad Kashkouli.

Or a new owner could tear down the once illegally occupied Zombie house and start over on the property zoned for six homes per acre.

The structures condition is stated as a fixer-upper. Interior walls are framed and frozen in time without insulation, wiring, plumbing or finishes. A bathtub, spray painted by trespassers, sits on the concrete slab. There is graffiti plastered on plywood and shattered windows.

The listing describes the house as a work in process... brimming with potential and unique features with the seller willing to finance a loan to a buyer with a 50% cash down payment.

The property has been cleared of debris, blackberry vines and other bramble, and more important, the deed, once owned by 17 disparate, uncooperative entities, now has one owner, an investor who paid $690,000 for the property on Washington Countys tax foreclosure list in November 2022.

When construction of the house started in 2006, owner Bill Nuess, who worked as a builder and developer, envisioned a place for his family, including his mother, that would later be converted into an elderly adult residential-care facility, according to The Oregonian in a 2016 story, published soon after Nuess died at age 63.

Architectural plans by Lewis River Design in Washington show a 1,125-square-foot living room with a fireplace and shaft for an elevator connecting the three levels. To finance the property, Nuess formed a limited liability company called Point West Development LLC, which included 17 investors.

As the Great Recession of 2008 hit, Nuess faced a complicated freeze of his building loan, and construction ceased. The abandoned Zombie house has publicly been for sale since 2010.

The online real estate database Realtor.com found Portland ranked high among U.S. metropolitan areas for its proliferation of distressed zombie properties, especially during the 2020s pandemic era when there were state and federal home foreclosure moratoriums.

The neglected eyesores are typically sold as is without repairs and usually at deep discount to house flippers or hands-on homeowners who see opportunity in building sweat equity in a desirable neighborhood.

The unfinished mansion for sale in unincorporated Washington County is below a neighborhood of large, luxury residences, said Squires, who sees financial and social benefits in closing the polarities between this dilapidated house and the neighborhood.

Squires said its gutsy to ask $1.3 million for an unfinished building. But there is truly value here. The bones are good, and when its built out, it will be a $3 to $6 million property, he told The Oregonian/OregonLive.

The 10 car spaces in the garage adjacent to a large workshop on the lowest level could be used as living quarters, he added.

Squires said neighbors seeing the For Sale sign in front of the property since Dec. 13 have been calling him.

A savvy investor bought the land out of tax foreclosure and cleaned it up. We have cured the legal circus that clouded title with 17 partnerships, and cleared other liens and judgments, said Squires. Its time to put a happy conclusion to this very long story.

 Janet Eastman | 503-294-4072

jeastman@oregonian.com | @janeteastman
First Day Hikes are back at state park sites across Oregon, once again encouraging people to spend New Years Day outside and with community.

The state park program will offer free guided hikes at 31 parks on Jan. 1, the Oregon Parks and Recreation announced earlier this month. All parking fees will also be waived for the day.

Participating parks include big names such as Silver Falls and Smith Rock, as well as smaller sites like Sitka Sedge and Elijah Bristow. A few parks are hosting two hikes Jan. 1, and several require advance registration. More information and registration is available online at stateparks.oregon.gov.

HERE IS OREGON: HereisOregon.com | Instagram | YouTube | Facebook | Twitter | TikTok

Oregon state parks have been hosting New Years hikes since 2012, joining in a national movement that began in Massachusetts in 1992.

When more parks offer hikes, Oregonians have more options to hike near their homes or explore a new park and trail, Oregon state parks Director Lisa Sumption said in a news release. Plus, this year were including more trail accessibility information in our online hike descriptions and are offering reasonable accommodations so visitors of all abilities can join us.

Heres a full list of First Day Hikes in Oregon:

Banks-Vernonia State Trail

Bullards Beach State Park

Champoeg State Heritage Site (registration required)

Collier Memorial State Park (registration required)

Cottonwood Canyon State Park

Depoe Bay Whale Center

Deschutes River State Recreation Area: (registration required)

Detroit Lake State Park

Elijah Bristow State Park Hike

Elijah Bristow State Park Horseback Ride

Emigrant Springs State Heritage Area

Fort Stevens State Park

Harris Beach State Park

Historic Columbia River Highway State Trail

L.L. Stub Stewart State Park

Jessie M. Honeyman Memorial State Park

LaPine State Park (registration required)

Milo McIver State Park (morning hike)

Milo McIver State Park (afternoon hike)

Nehalem Bay State Park

Prineville Reservoir State Park

Rough and Ready Botanical Area

Shore Acres State Park

Silver Falls State Park, North Rim Trail Hike (morning hike)

Silver Falls State Park, North Rim Trail Hike (afternoon hike)

Sitka Sedge State Natural Area (registration required)

Smith Rock State Park

South Beach State Park (registration required)

Thompsons Mills State Heritage Site

TouVelle State Park

Tryon State Natural Area

William Tugman State Park

Umpqua Lighthouse State Park

Valley of the Rogue State Park

 Jamie Hale

503-294-4077; jhale@oregonian.com; @HaleJamesB

Our journalism needs your support. Please become a subscriber today at OregonLive.com/subscribe
Russia has threatened that if tensions between Russia and NATO escalate, Finland will be the first country to suffer. Since the country joined NATO this year after decades of neutrality, Finland has now become a hostile player for Russia.

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This is reported by Euractiv, citing the words of Russia's permanent representative to international organizations in Vienna, Mikhail Ulyanov. Also this month, Russia warned Finland about a new defense agreement that gives the United States broad access to Finland's border with Russia.

"They were living calmly and peacefully and suddenly found themselves between Russia and NATO as a member of this alliance, but since they are our neighbors, if, God forbid, there is any escalation, they will be the first to suffer," Ulyanov said.

In the near future, Russia will deploy its new artillery howitzers in the Northern Military District, which is neighboring Finland and Norway.

Tests of the new Coalition-SV self-propelled artillery systems have already been completed, and mass production of these systems has begun, Rostec CEO Sergei Chemezov told the Russian news agency RIA. He noted that the first batch will be delivered by the end of 2023.

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"I think they will appear there (in the Northern Military District) in the near future, because howitzers of this class are needed to have an advantage over Western artillery models in terms of range," Chemezov said.

Earlier it was reported that after the threats of Russian dictator Vladimir Putin, Finland announced a new 21st package of defense assistance to Ukraine. The decision was made by the President of the country on December 21, 2023, on the recommendation of the government.

Earlier, Finnish Prime Minister Petteri Orpo explained why his country closed the border with the aggressor country Russia. He noted that the reason for this was hybrid attacks by the Russian Federation, which target the sovereignty of Finland and the European Union. Russia is trying to put pressure on the country through illegal migrants.

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Only verified information is available on our Telegram channel OBOZ.UA and Viber. Do not fall for fakes!
Cairo, Egypt (PANA) - Humanitarian charity, the Norwegian Refugee Council (NRC), warns that any attempts by Israel to deport and permanently displace Palestinians within and from Gaza would constitute a serious breach of international law and an atrocity crime
Cairo, Egypt (PANA) - The World Health Organisation (WHO) and partners delivered fuel and other essential supplies to two hospitals in northern and southern Gaza this week, the UN agency reported on Wednesday
Tripoli, Libya (PANA) - Senior Libyan and UN officials have discussed the results of work done in areas affected in Libyan cities in the east, particularly Derna, following the floods that hit the area, last September when after two ageing dams collapsed and released mud and torrents of water
Photo: (Photo : Anna Moneymaker / Getty Images)

A Wyoming woman, Lorna Roxanne Green, has been directed by the court to provide $300,000 in financial restitution. This mandate is after she committed an act of arson in the only abortion clinic in the state of Wyoming, Wellspring Health Access, just a couple of days before the center opens its doors to the public.

This decision, handed down by U.S. District Judge Alan Johnson, follows an extensive legal process that saw Green being subjected to a prison sentence of five years for her involvement in burning the clinic down.

Green set the clinic on fire last year in 2022, which severeley affected the clinic that resulted to the almost year-long delay of its opening.

Wyoming Woman To Pay $300,000 for Arson at the Abortion Clinic

The incident under scrutiny transpired on May 25, 2022, when Lorna Roxanne Green, a 22-year-old student enrolled in Casper College's mechanical engineering program, perpetrated the deliberate act of setting fire to the Wellspring Health Access clinic.

Green, who had candidly expressed experiencing anxiety and recurring nightmares concerning the clinic's impending inauguration, embarked on a journey from Laramie to Casper with the intent of executing this destructive act.

In an audacious move, she forcibly entered the clinic premises and proceeded to ignite a flammable substance that she had earlier dispersed across the clinic's flooring. The aftermath of this arson bore witness to the clinic being left in shambles, along with the permeation of fear and apprehension within the Casper community.

Lorna Roxanne Green's Mandate for Restitution

According to the current restitution order, Green must pay a sum of about $300,000 to cover the significant damages that the arson caused. This is in addition to the fact that she was previously sentenced to serve five years within the walls of a penitentiary facility earlier in the year.

The considerable payment of $240,000 that is a part of this sum is destined for Nationwide General Insurance Company, which is the insurance provider for the clinic.

In addition, a sum of $33,500 is specifically designated for the purpose of being transferred to Christine Lichtenfels, the proprietor of the clinic, and an additional sum of $24,500 is planned to be transferred to Julie Burkhart, who is the acclaimed creator and president of Wellspring Health Access.

Despite the fact that Julie Burkhart was pleased with the conclusion of the restitution obligation, she acknowledged the numerous challenges that the clinic had been forced to face as a result of the arson.

She stated that in addition to the emotional ordeal and the trauma that resulted from the arson, they also struggled with significant financial challenges because of the situation. In light of this, she added that they are relieved that this ordeal is coming to an end and stated how grateful they are to have the court order in their favor.

Read Also: Brittany Watts' Bathroom Miscarriage Leads To Unprecedented Felony Charge in Ohio

Implications for Abortion Services in Wyoming

In a related development, a different clinic in Jackson that specialized in pill-induced abortions was forced to close on December 15 due to rising operating costs. This unfortunate closure of the clinic only highlights how important the Wellspring Health Access Center is for the women of Wyoming to get the necessary reproductive healthcare services.

Due to the damage inflicted by the arson, Wellspring Health Access just began their operations this year in April 2023. Beyond the immediate consequences that the clinic faced, the arson had a significant impact on the provision of abortion-related services in the state of Wyoming.

The legal battle over Wyoming's abortion laws is still ongoing, as legislative landscape in Wyoming has lately evolved. There have been laws enacted that aim to limit abortion operations in nearly every scenario. One such law is said to be the first in the US to specifically forbid the use of medications that induce abortion.

However, these legislative changes have been temporarily delayed by a court order in response to a lawsuit filed by two non-profit groups, including Wellspring Health Access, and four female plaintiffs.

It is expected that the final ruling in this case will be subject to further judicial review, putting Wyoming's present abortion restrictions before the state Supreme Court.

In light of the most recent court decision, the requirement for monetary restitution serves as a clear reminder of the dire consequences that can befall individuals who engage in criminal activity that could have an adverse effect on their own lives as well as the accessibility of necessary healthcare services for their communities.

Related Article: Virginia Family Receives Heartwarming Christmas Surprise After Tragic House Fire
Even at Christmas, the Interpreter Foundation continues to produce. Here, for example, is a sextet of very recent new items:

Conference Talks: Recovering the Language of Purity after the First Revolt

The fourth Temple on Mount Zion Conference was held on Saturday, 10 November 2018 in the Tanner Building at Brigham Young University, Provo, Utah. The presentations were filmed, and both video and audio recordings of each presentation are available. The videos are currently available both at and on the Interpreter Foundation YouTube channel at https://www.youtube.com/c/theinterpreterfoundation. A YouTube playlist is also available at https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLRMn4gyXMWLsWt34zVNC5FmTqBtFfcnxl. The audio recordings are available at https://interpreterfoundation.org/conferences/2018-temple-on-mount-zion-conference/2018-temple-on-mount-zion-conference-audio/. This particular talk was delivered at the 2018 Temple on Mount Zion Conference by Thomas Wayment.

Nibley Lectures: Come, Follow Me Book of Mormon Lesson 1: Introductory Pages of the Book of Mormon

During 1988, 1989, and 1990, Hugh Nibley taught Honors Book of Mormon classes for four semesters at Brigham Young University. The lectures were video-taped and audio cassettes and printed transcripts were made of the lectures. We believe these recordings will be interesting to listen to and valuable to your Come, Follow Me study program this year. Each week, we will include the lectures covering the Book of Mormon chapters being studied that week. This week, we have the first six lectures, covering background material for the Book of Mormon. All 112 lectures are immediately available in PDF, audio, video, and electronic formats, as well as in paperback books that are available for purchase. Links for all of the available online sources can be found in the Complete Bibliography for Hugh Nibley at https://interpreterfoundation.org/bibliographies/hugh-w-nibley/lectures/.

The Book of Mormon in Context Lesson 1: Another Testament of Jesus Christ: Introductory Pages

For the 10 December 2023 Come, Follow Me segment of the Interpreter Radio Show, discussants Martin Tanner, Kevin Christensen, Mark Johnson, and John Gee conversed about Book of Mormon lesson 1, Another Testament of Jesus Christ on the Introductory Pages of the Book of Mormon. A recording of their discussion is now available to you at no charge, shorn of commercial and other interruptions. The other segments of the 10 December 2023 radio show are accessible at https://interpreterfoundation.org/interpreter-radio-show-december-10-2023.

Interpreter Radio Show  December 10, 2023

In this episode of The Interpreter Radio Show, Martin Tanner, Kevin Christensen, Mark Johnson, and John Gee discussed Come, Follow Me Book of Mormon lesson 1 and how to study the Book of Mormon. The New Testament in Context portion of this show, for the Come, Follow Me Book of Mormon lesson 1 was posted separately on Tuesday, 26 December 2023. (See immediately above.) The Interpreter Radio Show can be heard each and every week of the year on Sunday evenings from 7 to 9 PM (MDT), on K-TALK, AM 1640. Or, if you prefer or if youre wanting to listen from outside of the Valley of the Great Salt Lake, you can listen live on the Internet at ktalkmedia.com.

Come, Follow Me  Study and Teaching Helps (2024): Lesson 1, January 5  7: Introductory Pages of the Book of Mormon

Editors Note: Four years ago, Jonn Claybaugh began writing the Study and Teaching Helps series of articles for Interpreter. We now have these wonderful and useful posts for all four years of Come, Follow Me lessons. Beginning this year we will be reposting these articles, with dates, lesson numbers, and titles updated for the current years lessons. Jonn has graciously agreed to write new study aids for those lessons that do not directly correspond to 2020 lessons.

Book of Mormon Bibliography

We are pleased to announce the availability of a new online Book of Mormon Bibliography collection, available at https://interpreterfoundation.org/bibliographies/bom The bibliography includes over 11,000 entries, ranging from 1812 (the Spaulding Manuscript) to September, 2023 (the FAIR Defending the Book of Mormon Conference) and from poetry in the Ensign to General Conference talks and scholarly papers. It includes more than 19,000 links to documents across the internet, providing access to many of the entries in various online formats. The Book of Mormon Bibliography includes indexes sorted by author names, titles, chronologically, and by scriptural book. As with any online bibliography, the Book of Mormon Bibliography is a living document, growing as new documents become available and as we are able to add entries and features. We know there are many relevant documents available on the internet that we have not added to this collection yet. As a volunteer organization, The Interpreter Foundation depends on volunteers to do much of the work on new features such as this bibliography. If you would like to help, just use the contact form at https://interpreterfoundation.org/foundation/contact/ to let us know how you would like to help. We specifically need people to create topical indexes for the Book of Mormon Bibliography as well as several of our other collections and to identify the entries for each of the topics. Even if you cannot directly help, we hope that you find the Book of Mormon Bibliography to be a valuable resource as we enter 2024 and begin to study the Book of Mormon in Come, Follow Me lessons.

On the other hand, if you would like to help to support the Interpreter Foundation financially, or if you are still simply mulling over the question of where to make your year-end charitable donations, we would appreciate your contribution, whether great or small. You can learn how to donate here. There is plenty going on at the Foundation, and financial contributions  as well as volunteers  are always very welcome. And the end of the year 2023 is very nearly upon us.

If you have found any value whatever in what the Interpreter Foundation has produced over the past twelve months, it would be wonderful if you could send something along so that 2024 can be a similarly productive year. In any event, though, we wish you all the best, and we will continue working.
Francois Turretin (1623-1687) was a Genevan-Italian Reformed scholastic theologian and renowned defender of the Calvinistic (Reformed) orthodoxy represented by the Synod of Dort, and was one of the authors of the Helvetic Consensus (1675). He is generally considered to be the best Calvinist apologist besides John Calvin himself. His Institutes of Elenctic Theology (three volumes, Geneva, 16791685) used the scholastic method. Elenctic means refuting an argument by proving the falsehood of its conclusion. Turretin contended against the conflicting Christian perspectives of Catholicism and Arminianism. It was a popular textbook; notably at Princeton Theological Seminary, until it was replaced by Charles Hodges Systematic Theology in the late 19th century. Turretin also greatly influenced the Puritans.

This is a reply to a portion of Institutes of Elenctic Theology (Vol. 2, Eleventh Topic: The Law of God, Ninth Question: The Second Commandment  The Worship of Images and Tenth Question: Whether not only the worship but also the formation and use of religious

images in sacred places is prohibited by the second commandment. We affirm against the Lutherans). I utilize the edition translated by George Musgrave Giger and edited by James T. Dennison, Jr. (Presbyterian and Reformed Publishing Company, Phillipsburg, New Jersey: 1992 / 1994 / 1997; 2320 pages). It uses the KJV for Bible verses. I will use RSV unless otherwise indicated. All installments of this series of replies can be found on my Calvinism & General Protestantism web page, under the category, Replies to Francois Turretin (1632-1687). Turretins words will be in blue.

*****

Is it lawful to religiously worship images of God, the holy Trinity, Christ, the virgin and other saints? We deny against the papists

Again, he plays with the word worship in order to covey the notion that we worship images of saints in the same sense that we worship God (which is idolatry). Of course it isnt true, as I have demonstrated again and again. In this installment, as in my others, I will prove that Turretins view (Calvinism) regarding religious images is massively  even astonishingly  unbiblical and wrongheaded.

[T]he question is Should any religious worship (whether called adoration or veneration) be paid to images of God and the saints made by

the hand of men? Among our opponents, there is no agreement on this point, some roundly showing adoration, others however, to avoid odium, urging only veneration. But this is an empty distinction. Since religious worship is only one and does not admit of various species, it is equally such by whatever name it may be designated.

This is flat-out dishonest, and he couldnt possibly not know that it is. The Catholic Church doesnt espouse the adoration of images as idols, intended to replace God. Then he trots out the nonsense that there couldnt possibly be honor or veneration directed towards images. The Bible teaches otherwise. His own arbitrary limitations pertaining to what we can and cant do clash miserably with the Bible, which is a huge problem for him and for Calvinism. Catholics believe that in such cases, we must follow the Bible, not false man-made traditions.

The opinion of the papists can be gathered in no better way than from the decree of the Council of Trent. For although here, as elsewhere, they speak hesitatingly and ambiguously, so as to satisfy as far as possible each of the dissenting parties; yet they sufficiently disclose their meaning, . . .

Isnt that fascinating? Here the anti-Catholic Protestant argues that an ecumenical council (Trent) uses ambiguous language, in order to pacify warring parties. This is exactly how radical Catholic reactionaries (those on the far right of the spectrum) argue about Vatican II and even Vatican I; and about papal documents that they dislike or are unable to comprehend, in their self-imposed stupefaction. Ive always said that they think like Protestants. This is Exhibit #462 of that. Trent dealt with the question of images in its 25th session. Here is the primary portion (see if you think it is ambiguous):

Moreover, that the images of Christ, of the Virgin Mother of God, and of the other saints, are to be had and retained particularly in temples, and that due honour and veneration are to be given them; not that any divinity, or virtue, is believed to be in them, on account of which they are to be worshipped; or that anything is to be asked of them; or, that trust is to be reposed in images, as was of old done by the Gentiles who placed their hope in idols; but because the honour which is shown them is referred to the prototypes which those images represent; in such wise that by the images which we kiss, and before which we uncover the head, and prostrate ourselves, we adore Christ; and we venerate the saints, whose similitude they bear: as, by the decrees of Councils, and especially of the second Synod of Nicaea, has been defined against the opponents of images.

Perfectly clear . . . couldnt be any more plain and clear than it is. I guess Turretin must classify as ambiguous what is too subtle and spiritually and theologically nuanced for him to understand. Hes a victim of his own false philosophical and theological presuppositions. When that happens, anti-Catholics typically trot out insinuations that Catholics are jesuitical and devious and clever and deliberately using cynical sophistical techniques to overwhelm outsiders. Nice try. Were simply thinking Christianly and following the Bible.

What Turretin so violently opposes is the notion of a visual image directly connected to God which is utilized as a means to worship God Himself. God is worshiped and adored through the image. The image is not in competition with God (Trent: not that any divinity, or virtue, is believed to be in them), or opposed to him as something foreign or idolatrous. Rather, the honour which is shown them is referred to the prototypes which those images represent: through which we can adore Christ (Trent, above). Turretin makes note of these images related directly to God, and what Catholics think of them:

Thomas Aquinas wishes the worship of latreia to be given to the cross of Christ, no less than to Christ himself. Since, therefore, Christ ought to be adored with the adoration of latreia, it follows that his image ought to be adored with the same adoration (ST, III, Q. 25, Art. 3, p. 2155). As usual, Cajetan follows him and Gabriel BielIf there are images of Christ, they should be adored with the same kind of adoration as Christ, viz., that of latreia (Canonis Misse Expositio 49 [ed. H. Oberman and W. Courtenay, 1965], 2:264). A majority of divines embrace this opinion: Alexander [of Hales], Bonaventure, Richard [of Middleton], Paludanus, Capreolus, Castro, Canisius, Turrianus and many others, whom Vasquez counts up to thirty (De Cultu Adorationis, Bk. 2, Disp. 8.3 [1594], p. 133). . . .

God does not wish to be worshipped in an image (in which he has not put his name) and cannot be represented by a material image . . .

The problem with Turretins rejection of this notion is that it is expressly taught in the Bible. For example, the ancient Hebrews worshiped God in the form of a pillar of cloud:

Exodus 33:8-10 Whenever Moses went out to the tent, all the people rose up, and every man stood at his tent door, and looked after Moses, until he had gone into the tent. [9] When Moses entered the tent, the pillar of cloud would descend and stand at the door of the tent, and the LORD would speak with Moses. [10] And when all the people saw the pillar of cloud standing at the door of the tent, all the people would rise up and worship, every man at his tent door.

Note that the pillar of cloud is:

1) a creation (water, if a literal cloud); 2) visual, hence an image; and 3) thought to directly represent God Himself.

Its also a supernatural manifestation, which is a major difference compared to any true idol made by the hands of men; but that would make no difference for those who mistakenly hold that any image whatsoever associated with God is impermissible.

The Bible mentions a pillar of cloud and also a pillar of fire (by night), representing God (see: Ex 13:21-22; 14:24; Num 14:14; Neh 9:12, 19). It doesnt always state that the people worshiped God through the supernatural image-pillars, but we know from Exodus 33:8-10 that it was entirely permissible to do so; certainly not idolatry.

The problem (for certain Christians who dont like images) comes when God Himself expressly sanctions such images, and worship in conjunction with them, as here. The same iconoclasts (opposers of images) have to explain away things like the burning bush (Ex 3:2-6), which is not only fire, but also called an angel of the Lord (Ex 3:2), yet also God (3:4, 6, 11, 13-16, 18; 4:5, 7-8) and the LORD (3:7, 16, 18; 4:2, 4-6, 10-11, 14) interchangeably.

An angel is a creation (as are fire and cloud); yet God chose to use a created being and inanimate objects to visibly represent Him. Several similar instances occur in the Old Testament. Moreover, the Jews worshiped fire as representative of God in the following passage:

2 Chronicles 7:1-4 When Solomon had ended his prayer, fire came down from heaven and consumed the burnt offering and the sacrifices, and the glory of the LORD filled the temple. [2] And the priests could not enter the house of the LORD, because the glory of the LORD filled the LORDs house. [3] When all the children of Israel saw the fire come down and the glory of the LORD upon the temple, they bowed down with their faces to the earth on the pavement, and worshiped and gave thanks to the LORD, saying, For he is good, for his steadfast love endures for ever. [4] Then the king and all the people offered sacrifice before the LORD.

A related argument, not quite as explicit or direct, but still highly relevant, can be made from use of images in worship that are very closely tied to God, such as the tabernacle, temple (1 Kgs 8:44; 2 Chr 6:20; Ps 5:7; 28:2; 138:2), ark of the covenant, and the cross. The Bible teaches that Jewish worship was often directed towards the first three of these holy and sacred objects; therefore, in a large sense, they represented God Himself.

We know that God made Himself specially present in or near all these material objects. He states repeatedly that He is present above the mercy seat on the ark of the covenant, between the two carved cherubim (Ex 25:22; 30:6; Lev 16:2; Num 7:89; 1 Sam 4:4; 2 Sam 6:2; 2 Kg 19:15; 1 Chr 13:6; Ps 80:1; 99:1; Is 37:16; Ezek 10:4; Heb 9:5). Therefore, we are informed that the Jews would bow before the ark to pray or worship:

Joshua 7:6 Then Joshua rent his clothes, and fell to the earth upon his face before the ark of the LORD until the evening . . . [proceeds to pray in 7:7-8] 1 Chronicles 16:4 Moreover he appointed certain of the Levites as ministers before the ark of the LORD, to invoke, to thank, and to praise the LORD, the God of Israel.

Yet Turretin wrote a little later in this section: Therefore he worships idols who bends and bows down before images (Is. 2:8, 9).

The temple had all sorts of images in it, giving the lie to the notion that houses of worship couldnt possibly have any images. It had carved figures of cherubim and palm trees and open flowers (1 Kgs 6:29).

First, from the law because it contains an express prohibition, when the Lord clearly teaches us neither to make images for the sake of religion, nor to adore and worship them. Thou shalt not make unto thee any graven image, or any likeness of any thing that is in heaven above, or that is in the earth beneath, or that is in the water under the earth: thou shalt not bow down thyself to them, nor serve them (Ex. 20:4, 5). This is confirmed: ye shall make you no idols nor graven image, neither rear you up a standing image, neither shall ye set up any image of stone in your land, to bow down unto it (Lev. 26:1; cf. Dt. 4:15). In these places they are forbidden to make not only a graven image (phsl), but also any likeness (thmvnh) whatever (even painted), expressing or representing by copy any shape, whether in heaven or on earth or under the earth.

Are the ark, tabernacle, and temple graven images? Are all these instances or prayer, worship, and sacrifice in conjunction with images (cherubim, palm trees, etc.) idolatrous? According to the Bible, obviously not. As for the idea of a graven image of Exodus 20:4, what God was specifically forbidding was idolatry: making a stone or block of wood God. The Jews were forbidden to have idols (like all their neighbors had), and God told them not to make an image of Him because He revealed Himself as a spirit. The KJV and RSV Bible versions use the term graven image at Exodus 20:4, but many of the more recent translations render the word as idol (e.g., NASB, NRSV, NIV, CEV).

Context makes it very clear that idolatry is being condemned. The next verse states: You shall not bow down to them or worship them (NIV, NRSV). In other words, mere blocks of stone or wood (them) are not to be worshiped, as if they literally are God or gods, to the exzclusion of the one true God. That is gross idolatry, since the inanimate objects are not God. This does not absolutely preclude, however, the notion of an icon, where God is worshiped with the help of, or through a visual aid (discussed above). Idolatry is a matter of disobedience in the heart towards the one true God. We dont always need an image to have an idol. Most idols today are non-visual: money, sex, lust for power, convenience, our own pride or intellects; there are all sorts of idols. Anything that replaces God as the most important thing in our life and the universe, is an idol. Idolatry is also a heart issue. See my article: Biblical Idolatry: Authentic & Counterfeit Conceptions [2015].

Turretin shows that he actually understands this last point:

In the Scriptures indeed images of the true God are called idols (as the golden calf is called an idol [Acts 7:41] and its worshippers idolaters, which nevertheless was formed to represent the true God): thus the idol of Micah (Jdg. 17:3, 4) and the calves of Jeroboam (1 K. 12:28).

Where he goes too far is to reject all images of God, because this would take out the pillars of cloud and fire and the burning bush. Ive written about the idolatry of the Golden Calf and Jeroboams idolatry, and condemned them as much as Turretin or anyone else ever has:

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Again in the law God prohibits not only the images of false things, but also of things existing whether in heaven or on earth, etc. . . .

According to the usage of Scripture . . . an idol is every image made for the sake of religion.

Thats simply not true. We need only take the case of cherubim, which are real creatures (angels), to show how utterly false this claim is. The ark of the covenant was not the only place where carved cherubim appeared, with the express sanction of God. In the first magnificent temple built by Solomon, two giant cherubim (ten cubits, or about fifteen feet high) of wood, covered with gold, stood in the inner sanctuary (1 Ki 6:23-28; 8:6-7; 2 Chr 3:10-13; 5:7-8). Each of their wings was 7-8 feet in length.

Images of cherubim were also carved on the cedar planks of the inner walls of the temple, and on the doors made of olive-wood (1 Ki 6:29, 35; 2 Chr 3:7), as well as on the portable lavers, along with lions and oxen (1 Ki 7:29-36), and woven in the veil of the Holy of Holies (2 Chr 3:14), following the pattern of cherubim in the inner curtain of the tabernacle and the veil (Ex 26:1, 31; 36:8, 35). In the second temple, according to Ezekiel, the inner walls were carved with both palm trees and cherubim, with faces of a lion and a man (Ezek 41:18-25). Likewise, the walls of Herods (third) temple were painted with figures of cherubim, according to the Talmud (Yoma 54a).

Thats an awful lot of images, in the very place where God was especially present, and worshiped most fervently, commanded by the same God, Who allegedly didnt want any images of any sort connected with worship. Note that the second temple had faces of a lion and a man as well as cherubim.

But then Turretin contradicts himself (a not infrequent occurrence):

The brazen serpent became an idol when the Israelites wished to burn incense to it.

This is exactly my point. Even Turretin admits that the bronze serpent was not originally an idol. It was a permitted image. It later became one, and thats because of how it was regarded, not its inherent quality.

Neither would the Israelites have been idolaters of the golden calf, which they did not suppose to be God. For who can believe them to have been so stupid as to believe the work of their own hands to be that of God who had led them out of Egypt? They intended merely to form for themselves a representation of him that they might worship the true God in this image . . .

This is untrue. They believed exactly that:

Exodus 32:1, 4-5 When the people saw that Moses delayed to come down from the mountain, the people gathered themselves together to Aaron, and said to him, Up, make us gods, who shall go before us; as for this Moses, the man who brought us up out of the land of Egypt, we do not know what has become of him. . . . [4] And he received the gold at their hand, and fashioned it with a graving tool, and made a molten calf; and they said, These are your gods, O Israel, who brought you up out of the land of Egypt! [5] When Aaron saw this, he built an altar before it; and Aaron made proclamation and said, Tomorrow shall be a feast to the LORD.

Exodus 32:22-24 And Aaron said, Let not the anger of my lord burn hot; you know the people, that they are set on evil. [23] For they said to me, Make us gods, who shall go before us; as for this Moses, the man who brought us up out of the land of Egypt, we do not know what has become of him. [24] And I said to them, Let any who have gold take it off; so they gave it to me, and I threw it into the fire, and there came out this calf.

This is idolatry and otherwise sinful, on many counts:

1) It represents not even the one God, but gods, so that it falls under the absolute prohibition of polytheism which was known to any observant Hebrew (see, e.g., Psalm 106:19-23; cf. Habakkuk 2:18). 2) Nowhere are the Jews permitted to build a calf as an image of God. This was an outright violation of the injunctions against molten images (Exodus 34:17; Leviticus 19:4; Numbers 33:52; Deuteronomy 27:15). All these passages condemn such idols, using the same Hebrew word which appears in Exodus 32:4, 8, 17: massekah). 3) Aaron built an altar before what the people regarded as gods, thus blaspheming the true God. Even the earliest portions of the Bible (and all portions) were monotheistic, as I documented at length in an article of mine. 4) Lies were told and believed about gods, not God, liberating the Hebrews from Egyptian slavery. 5) Bible translations NASB, NKJV, NRSV, KJV, RSV, NIV, NEB, & REB read god at Exodus 32:4 (not even capitalized), so that is clearly not intended as a reference to the one true God, YHWH, according to the accepted practice of all Bible translations.

Exodus 32:1 is revealing as to the state of mind of these idolaters. They ask Aaron to make them gods. Obviously, they could not have the biblical God, YHWH in mind at that point, since they must have at least known that He is not made by hands and is eternal. Then they say these gods shall go before them; that is, the golden calf would be carried before them. Therefore, they must have regarded the calf as a pure idol of their own making, not as a mere representation of the true God, which is verified by another passage:

Psalm 106:19-21 They made a calf in Horeb and worshiped a molten image. [20] They exchanged the glory of God for the image of an ox that eats grass. [21] They forgot God, their Savior, who had done great things in Egypt,

It was a deadly heretical mixture of orthodox and heterodox elements (as heretical departures invariably are). Aaron refers to gods as supposedly the ones who liberated the Hebrews from Egyptian slavery, builds an altar to the calf who represents them, then speaks of a festival to the LORD (YHWH): Exodus 32:4-5. Its classic heterodox syncretism: that Judaism and Christianity have been blessed with since time immemorial. King Jeroboam later repeated essentially the same sort of idolatry (1 Kings 12:28, 32; 14:9: made for yourself other gods, sacrificing to the calves that he had made etc.).

Rebellion and heterodoxy never make any sense, because they originate in grace-deprived hearts filled with disbelief and lack of faith in and gratefulness to God.

From the cherubim and the brazen serpent the consequent does not hold good to images. The one is a symbol, emblem and type of something

(as the brazen serpent was a type of Christ); the other an image. (2) Neither the cherubim, nor the brazen serpent was adored (Vasquez himself confessing). God indeed promised that he would answer Moses from between the cherubim (Ex. 25:22), but nowhere commands him to worship them; . . .

This is exactly one of the points we make, but Turretin contradicts it in his extreme prohibitive language (in the law God prohibits not only the images of false things, but also of things existing, an idol is every image made for the sake of religion, etc.).

. . . they [cherubim] were out of sight of the people above the ark in the holy of holies.

This is untrue. They were, among other visible places (see the descriptions above, from Scripture), on the doors made of olive-wood (1 Ki 6:29, 35; 2 Chr 3:7).

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In the preceding question we treated of the worship of images. It remains to inquire further concerning their usewhether by the precept concerning images, besides the adoration, the making of them is also prohibited. Here we come into collision not only with papists, but also with Lutherans who (although they are opposed to and condemn the worship of images as unlawful and superstitious) endeavor to defend the making of images (eikonopoiian) and their use in sacred places as legitimate (if not for worship, at least for history and as the reminders of events). . . .

[T]he question is whether it is lawful to represent God himself and the persons of the Trinity by any image.

God already did that in the incarnation, the pillars of fire and cloud, and the burning bush. The New Testament also refers to God the Holy Spirit represented in the image of a dove (the Holy Spirit descended upon him in bodily form, as a dove: Lk 3:22; cf. Mt 3:16; Mk 1:10, and esp. Jn 1:32: And John bore witness, I saw the Spirit descend as a dove from heaven, and it remained on him.' And God the Father is also pictured in the imagery of Daniel 7:9 (the hair of his head like pure wool). So, for example, if a Christian painted the burning bush or the two pillars or a dove at Jesus baptism, he or she would be doing nothing more than God already did (all permitted images according to inspired revelation and God).

Second, God, being boundless (apeiros) and invisible (aoratos), can be represented by no image: To whom will ye liken God? or what likeness (or image as the Vulgate has it) will ye compare unto him (Is. 40:18). . . . God in promulgating the law wished to set forth no likeness of himself, . . .

Then why are five images of God described above  before we even get to the incarnation and Jesus  sanctioned by God in Scripture?

Paul refers to this in Acts 17:29: Forasmuch then as we are the offspring of God, we ought not to think that the Godhead is like unto gold, or silver, or stone, graven by art and mans device.

Thats why none of the permitted images of God above are anything like that. When that was done (like the Golden Calf), it was utterly condemned.

This the apostle condemns in the Gentiles who changed the glory of the incorruptible God into an image made like to corruptible man, and to birds, . . . (Rom. 1:23). . . . Thus Antiphanes: God is not discerned by an image, is not seen by the eyes, is like to no one, wherefore no one can learn him from an image (De Deo+).

If they imply that this is all of God or all that God is, its idolatry. But God willed to show the Holy Spirit as a bird: a dove. St. John saw it himself. And I have noted several other God-willed images representing God the Father.

Now images in sacred places do not belong to the worship of God, since indeed God has expressly removed them from his worship by the law and they are connected with the most imminent danger of idolatry. . . .

Images are prohibited not only inasmuch as they are the object or the means of worship, but inasmuch as they are made simply for the sake of religion or are set up in sacred places.

One wonders, then, why God commanded that the tabernacle and temple and ark of the covenant be covered with cherubim. Why would he risk idolatry? Doesnt God know (as part of His omniscience) what infallible Calvinism teaches?

Although God sometimes manifested himself in a visible form and in such an appearance is described to us in Scripture (when members and bodily actions are ascribed to him), it does not follow that it is lawful to represent him by an image.

I see. And what logical sense does this make?

The same God who thus appeared nevertheless strongly forbade the Israelites to fabricate any representation of him (to wit, God could employ speech, bodies and symbols, in order to testify his special presence; yet not on that account may man make unto God an image and statue in which he may exhibit himself to man).

We agree so far. But if there is a statue of Jesus or a crucifix, Catholics dont think that is idolatry, because we worship the one true God through it.

It is one thing to speak metaphorically concerning God in accommodation to our conceptions; another to form a visible representation of him as if true and proper and exhibit it publicly to the eyes of all.

Yet that was done with the dove representing the Holy Spirit in bodily form (Lk 3:22), at Jesus baptism, in front of all the country of Judea, and all the people of Jerusalem (Mk 1:5) and Jerusalem and all Judea and all the region about the Jordan (Mt 3:5) and multitudes (Lk 3:7, 10). This is public and in the eyes of all. Didnt God know how scandalous and impermissible such a thing was? Too bad Calvin and Turretin werent born yet so that they could correct Him.

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Practical Matters: Perhaps some of my 4,500+ free online articles (the most comprehensive one-stop Catholic apologetics site) or fifty-five books have helped you (by Gods grace) to decide to become Catholic or to return to the Church, or better understand some doctrines and why we believe them.

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Photo credit: Joshua passing the River Jordan with the Ark of the Covenant (1800), by Benjamin West (1738-1820) [Wikimedia Commons / public domain]

Summary: As part of my series of replies to Calvinist Francois Turretin, I address the communion of saints, particularly the biblical basis for the veneration of images.
Vice President Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia has congratulated this year's West Africa Senior Secondary Certificate Exams (WASSCE) graduates for their outstanding performance in the exams.



The cumulative results of the 2023 year group has been described as the best ever with majority of the students achieving impressive aggregate scores.



Dr. Bawumia commended the young students and their teachers saying their hardwork has indeed paid off.



"This is no doubt the result of hard work and dedication by all of you. You have made Ghana proud and I wish you the very best as you move on to greater challenges," Dr. Bawumia said in his Facebook post.



Read Dr. Bawumia's full post:



Congratulations to all WASSCE students, their teachers as well as their parents for the excellent performance attained by the students in this years WASSCE.

This is no doubt the result of hard work and dedication by all of you. You have made Ghana proud and I wish you the very best as you move on to greater challenges. Please dont let anyone denigrate your achievements.



Not everyone can appreciate what it takes to be an intelligent student. You have earned the excellent performances by dint of hard work. God bless you. Ok



I wish you all a happy new year.

Source: Peacefmonline.com/Ghana









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Somalia's President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud was visiting Eritrea on Monday, just a week after the breakaway region of Somaliland reached a deal with Ethiopia that has raised tensions in the Horn of Africa.
Mrs Yvonne Nana Afriyie Opare, the newly appointed Managing Director of Ghana Airports Company Limited (GACL), has been introduced to staff at a durbar held at the premises of GACL.



In his introductory remarks, the Board Chairman, Mr Paul Adom-Otchere commended staff for their unwavering support for the Board and Management of the Company. He was optimistic that the same level of support will be accorded the new Managing Director.



The new Managing Director in her remarks, noted the solid foundation laid by her predecessors and expressed her willingness to enhance areas requiring improvement and set new achievable goals.



She pledged her commitment to leading the important and strategic objective of maintaining and enhancing relationships with stakeholders including Airlines, Customers, Suppliers and Government to achieve success in the management and operations of the company.



She touched on the power of collaboration noting that individual strengths, experiences and expertise tied together will propel the company to greatest heights.



She further highlighted on the need to capitalize on the strategic location of Ghana to maximize international passenger and cargo traffic as well as increase throughput to domestic airports.



Mrs. Opare urged staff to remain focused, diligent in their work and uphold the values and statutes of the company. She expressed excitement about the opportunities ahead and highlighted the need to work together hand in hand with mutual respect, passion and the spirit of excellence to achieve greater success.



Mrs. Yvonne Nana Afriyie Opare is an accomplished business executive with close to 20 years of quality experience in management positions and engagements. She holds a Master of Business Administration (MBA) with specialisation in Operations Management from American Intercontinental University in Illinois, USA. She earned a bachelors degree in Computer Information Systems from DeVry University in Atlanta, Georgia, USA after receiving her secondary education at Achimota School in Ghana.



Yvonnes corporate journey began in the United States, where she had professional work engagements with Fortune 500 companies such as Hewlett-Packard Enterprise and Eli Lilly. She also earned a professional real estate license in the US State of Georgia, excelling in the ultra-competitive US real estate sector and winning the prestigious North American Association of Realtors Million Dollar Sales Club award for two consecutive years in 2006 and 2007. Yvonne later returned to Ghana, motivated by her desire to leverage her wealth of expertise to contribute to national development.



Over the course of two decades, Mrs. Opare has honed skills in key domains of corporate leadership, business development and management, including strategy development and execution, resource harmonisation, human resource management, project management, operations management, financial management, business negotiation, brand building and strategic positioning and brand portfolio development. Her leadership competencies and skills also extend into the domains of strategic stakeholder management, corporate governance and diplomacy, gender inclusivity, social inclusion and sustainability.



She has built a track record of building and sustaining international business relationships with highprofile multinational organisations, including Schlumberger, Expro Gulf Limited, Lukoil, and Transocean Limited. Across these high-level engagements, Mrs. Opare has led organisations to deliver on strategic corporate partnership objectives. Yvonne has demonstrated business development prowess by navigating high-profile business negotiations and successfully facilitating multi-million-dollar business-to-business (B2B) transactions. She has also brokered a considerable number of public-private partnerships (PPP) deals to deliver high-impact projects in Ghana.



Mrs. Opares professional track record includes her tenures as CEO and General Manager of Vantage Real Estate Group and Blackwell Realty Limited, where she led and played leading roles in mainstreaming contemporary business management practices, building a culture of corporate excellence, developing human resource capacity, transforming business operations, scaling capacity, optimising functionality, diversifying product and service portfolios, and strategically positioning the organisations for market leadership. Her expertise in facilities management and project management ensured effective oversight across the developmental life cycle of various infrastructure projects.



She has experience collaborating with multiple stakeholders within complex business ecosystems. Having built and operationalised a world-class private enterprise that catered for specialised customer segments, Mrs Opare is well-acquainted with the nuances of both entrepreneurship and corporate business.



She is experienced in global procurements and has built an extensive global network of trading partnerships with internationally recognized brands such as Duravit, Bosch, Hansgrohe, Ideal Standard, Villeroy & Boch, among others. A wife and mother of three daughters, Mrs. Yvonne Opare possesses the perfect combination of personal qualities, professional expertise and leadership competencies required to deliver excellence in impact-driven organisations.

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Medi-Moses Herbal Clinic and Prostate Centre has marked its 30th anniversary celebration with a renewed assurance to be dedicated to its customers at a Dinner Dance held at the Company's Headquarters in Accra-Adenta.



On the same night, the company introduced its two new products to the Ghanaian market namely; Medi-Tooth Paste and Garlic Capsules. The product is said to promote strong teeth and active immune systems.



The Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the company, Dr. De-Gaulle Moses Dogbatsey said, the company started at a humble beginning but now they are so overwhelmed with this stunning achievement over the years.



According to him, the company is determined to give optimum service to customers with their various exceptional products and services on the market.



"We are extremely grateful to God for giving us the opportunity to see this day. In the industry where trust is paramount, we hold ourselves to a very high standard of delivering on our promises, earning the confidence of our customers, and establishing ourselves as a beacon of reliability ", Dr. De Gaulle Moses noted.



Further placing a spotlight on their vision for the future, Dr. De Gaulle Moses Dogbatsey emphasizes that they will intensify more education on good healthcare to everyone through their numerous products and services.



He added that the company will periodically organise community healthcare programs and customers appreciation initiatives.



Moreover, he noted that the company will keep leveraging on innovation, strategic partnerships, and solutions to meet the constantly evolving needs of its customers.



Meanwhile, some of the customers who were at the dinner night said, the journey of Medi-Moses has been one of resilience, Adaptability, and commitment to excellence ".



The event was attended by several dignitaries including Media Personality, Abbey Aggrey Santana, CEO's and many other important personalities.



ABOUT MEDI- MOSES HERBAL CLINIC AND PROSTATE CENTRE



Medi-Moses Clinic and Herbal Centre has in the last 30 years been performing wonders which has not only made a significant impact in the medical circles but has overwhelmed the global medical community with its discovery of a cure that deals with Benign Prostate (BPH).



Over the years Medi-Moses has transformed and upgraded itself to suit our environment and the needs of its cherished customers and stakeholders as a whole.



The medical centre which started from a very humble beginning has innovated in many phases of health provision from just the production and sale of quality herbal medications in 1993 to be a world leader in mens health in 2023.



In its 30 years of providing medical service, it has been able to expand and excel in the following ways:



The company started as a one-man business with Dr Moses Amuzu Dogbatsey, of blessed memory hawking his products at lorry stations, door-to-door delivery as well as street sales. He later secured an office and sales point at the Ghana International Trade Fair site modelling it into a small clinic with just two employees.



In 2013, after the baton was handed over to his son, a trained medical doctor as well as a pharmacologist, Dr Moses Degaulle Dogbtatsey, Medi-Moses was given the much-needed impetus to become one of the biggest clinics in the sub-region boasting of modern technological equipment for medical purposes. Dr Dogbatsey is a trained medical doctor from the School of Medical Sciences of the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST), in Kumasi. He started working under the tutelage of his father, who owned the Medi -Moses Clinic and Herbal Centre, in 1993, while he was still a student of KNUST.



Dr Dogbatsey came up with a specially formulated 100 percent food supplement called PROSTACURE HERBAL TEA, used for improving urinary flow in men with BPH. The prospective study carried out in 7,000 patients between 40 and 70 years with varying degrees of enlarged prostate gland over a period of four years showed complete improvement in their BPH symptoms within two to eight weeks.

Source: Peacefmonline









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Rev Stephen Yenusom Wengam, the General Superintendent of the Assemblies of God, has urged Ghanaians to be grateful for all that God has done for them, especially in the face of "severe economic hardship".



"A people who are not grateful for what they have are not likely to be grateful for what they are going to get. As individuals and a nation, we have every cause to be overly grateful to God for all grace; who has showered his mercies on us all these years even in the face of monumental challenges such as severe economic hardship, flooding of devastating consequences in parts of the country, amongst others," he averred.



Rev Wengam who was speaking in a Christmas message to the Church and the entire country said there's the need to be holy and generous in this season, eschewing "sin, unbelief, corruption and abuse of human rights".



"The birth of Christ offers many useful lessons on holiness and is relevant for our survival in these challenging times...Holy living is paramount as we celebrate the birth of Jesus Christlets eschew sin, unbelief, corruption and abuse of human rights. Let us end the year on a note of holy living...and ensure that we pursue holy living as a lifetime project. Use the occasion to declare holiness to the unsaved" he urged.

Source: Peacefmonline.com









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As the world eagerly anticipates the transition into the New Year, the annual Crossover Service, with Pastor Mensa Otabil, is set to be an extraordinary night of devotion, with the paramount theme for the upcoming year being simply "God."



Scheduled to be held on December 31 at Christ Temple East in Teshie in Accra from 9pm to 1am, the divine convocation promises spiritual insight through a series of activities to amplify the essence of the theme.



The essence of a 'God' year



In an exclusive interview on the essence of the chosen theme, Pastor Otabil stressed the importance of 2024 as the 40th year of the International Central Gospel Church.



It is a humbling realization for the whole church, especially for those who were there at the very beginning.



It is incredible to contemplate how far God has brought His church from those inauspicious beginnings. It is that awareness that informs our choice of God as the theme for the church, the respected clergymen intimated.



Pastor Otabil reaffirmed that after 40 years, it was important to reemphasize faith in God and an unwavering emphasis on knowing God and living for Him as the central focus of the church.



He challenged young Christians to uphold their faith and to find answers to the big questions their generation is asking about the Christian faith and its continued relevance.



Highlighting the continental relevance of the theme, Pastor Otabil stressed that the largest number of Christians, new converts and churches are now found in Africa. He therefore called on the African church to wake up to its responsibility as the centre or axis of Christianity.



Significance of Crossover Service



New Years Eve is a big night for churches all over the world, and Pastor Otabil explained why: 31st day of December may be just like any other day, but it is significant as an end as well as a new beginning of a year. It is therefore important to end the year with thanksgiving and reflection and to focus on the coming year.



The main highlight of the Crossover Service will be the New Year Message where Pastor Mensa Otabil is expected to challenge the teeming crowds, both in-person and online across the world, to refocus hearts and minds on God.



The service will also feature times of worship, impactful prayers, music ministration, a communion service and an anointing service for the new Year.



The unique experience of the Crossover Service will be extended to worshippers across the world through online streaming as well as a live broadcast on Joy News TV and Joy FM. This will ensure that believers around the world can virtually converge in a global tapestry of spiritual unity.



As we wrap up a year of global uncertainties, the Crossover Service with Pastor Mensa Otabil is poised to be an epic night of spiritual devotion, setting the tone for a year where the divine takes centre stage.

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The Yuletide season is here again and it ushers us into another period of merry making all across the country.



The people in Kumawu Constituency, have had a taste of the goodness in this season owing to the Christmas Day party hosted by the NPP Member of Parliament for the area, Hon. Ernest Yaw Anim.



The legislator celebrated this special day with more than one thousand five hundred (1,500) people, mainly the aged, widows, orphans and persons living with disability in his Constituency.



The Bonds Hotel in Banko, in the Sekyere Kumawu District of the Ashanti Region was the centre of attraction, where people from various towns in the area were bused to.



The elated guests were treated to some fine Ghanaian music, as well as assorted food including rice, banku, and fufu.



Hon. Anim also distributed clothes (African wax prints), bags of rice, cooking oil, salt, cutlasses, wellington boots, cash, and more to the people he serves.



Speaking at the gathering, the lawmaker highlighted the importance of this party and the need to embrace this festive season.



I am well aware that, on many occasions, people experience both joy and desolation during the Christmas season, with some finding solace in the celebration while others may lament due to the absence of reliable companionship. Nonetheless, today presents an opportunity for all to embrace the delight of the festive season, he stated.



He added that in the coming years, should it be necessary to undertake this party on a community-wide basis, it will be duly executed.



Present at the ceremony were Nana Asiedu Berchie (Adontenhene) who represented Nana Kwabena Kwarteng Sefa (Bankohene) as the Chairman for the occasions, NPP Kumawu Constituency Executives, Hon. Samuel Addai Agyekum (DCE, Sekyere Kumawu District) and many equally important dignitaries.



The MPs party with the aged, widows, orphans, and persons living with disability conveys his appreciation and gratitude to his constituents since assuming office in June this year.

Source: Peacefmonline com









Disclaimer : Opinions expressed here are those of the writers and do not reflect those of Peacefmonline.com. Peacefmonline.com accepts no responsibility legal or otherwise for their accuracy of content. Please report any inappropriate content to us, and we will evaluate it as a matter of priority.

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The Member of Parliament for the Damongo Constituency, who is, also, the Minister for Lands and Natural Resources, Hon. Samuel A. Jinapor, MP, is for the second time running, going unopposed as the Parliamentary Candidate for the New Patriotic Party (NPP) in the Damongo Constituency. At the close of nominations on Monday, 25th January, 2023, Mr. Jinapor, the incumbent Member of Parliament, was the only person who had filed his nomination at the Constituency.



The Damongo Constituency is one of the seven Constituencies in the Savannah Region. The Constituency has, traditionally, been held by the National Democratic Congress since the beginning of the fourth republic in 1993. In 2020, Hon. Jinapor contested for the first time against the incumbent Member of Parliament, Adam Mutawakilu, who had been the Member of Parliament since 2013. In a turn of events that shocked pundits, Mr. Jinapor won the elections for the first time for the New Patriotic Party, with over fifty-four percent (54%) of the valid votes cast, becoming the first NPP Member of Parliament for the Constituency since the inception of the Fourth Republic.



Following his election, President Akufo-Addo appointed him as the Minister for Lands and Natural Resources, a position he has held till date.



On Wednesday, 20th December, 2023, the NPP opened nominations for Constituencies with sitting Members of Parliament. Across the country, several people have filed nominations to contest incumbent Members of Parliament, with some traditional leaders and other stakeholders coming out to call for the protection of certain MPs.



In the case of Mr. Jinapor, however, he did not need traditional leaders and party stalwarts to call for his protection. At the close of nomination on Monday, 25th December, 2023, Mr. Jinapor was the only candidate that filed to contest as the Parliamentary Candidate for the New Patriotic Party. This is a sign of confidence the NPP in the Damongo Constituency have in Mr. Jinapor to retain the seat for the NPP, despite the seat being traditionally held by the NDC.



After filing his nomination, Mr. Jinapor said he was humbled by the confidence reposed in him by the Party in the Constituency. He said the Damongo Constituency is a very strategic seat and crucial to breaking the eight. He pledged his commitment to work with the party and the Constituents to ensure that the NPP retains the seat in Parliament, and deliver victory for Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia.



Some of the Constituents who spoke to the media said they were highly satisfied with the work of Hon. Jinapor. They said never in the history of the Constituency has the Member of Parliament brought so much development in the Constituency and been that close to the people. They cited examples, such as, the construction of the Office of the Member of Parliament, which gives unfettered access to the MP by the constituents, the construction of astroturf in Damongo, the extension of electricity in various parts of the constituency, and several other infrastructural developments.



They expressed their confidence in Mr. Jinapor to retain the seat to continue with the developmental agenda of the Constituency. Some constituents who identified as members of the NDC said they were fully behind Mr. Jinapor, despite his political party, as the development he has brough to the Constituency is unprecedented.



The NPP primaries for the Members of Parliament is scheduled for Saturday, 27th January, 2023. According to the Partys Constitution, where only one person files to contest at the close of nominations, the person shall be acclaimed on the day of the election. By this, Mr. Jinapor is the undisputed NPP Parliamentary Candidate for the Damongo Constituency, and is set to once again, face Adam Mutawakilu, whom he defeated in the 2020 General Elections.









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The former Special Prosecutor, Martin Amidu has made some damning allegations against his successor, Kissi Adjabeng in the unresolved investigation in the Charles Bissues Galamsey Fraud Case. Martin Amidu claims that Kissi Adjabeng has suppressed investigations that were undertaken into bribery cases against his partner, Anas Aremeyaw Anas.



In his latest epistle titled; The Special Prosecutor Blackmails the Government by Prosecutions of Former Government Appointees and Achievements, Martin Amidu disclosed as per his investigations that, the former Secretary to the defunct Inter-Ministerial Committee on Illegal Mining (IMCIM) Charles Bissue was entrapped by Anas Aremeyaw Anas in the 2019 Galamsey Fraud Part 1 documentary.



He explained that Anas Aremeyaw Anas employed dubious means and bribery to register ORR Resources Enterprise, the company that was used to entrap Charles Bissue. According to Martin Amidu, Anas Aremeyaw Anas was being investigated for that crime, a matter he disclosed Kissi Agyabeng was unaware of at the time he had written to the OSP to have Anas Aremeyaw Anas masked in giving evidence to the case.



Kissi Agyebeng has forgotten as most suspected criminals easily do, that as a lawyer for Anas Aremeyaw Anas he is on record in the OSP during my tenure as the founding Special Prosecutor to have sought assurances under his signature for Anas Aremeyaw Anas to give evidence in the Charles Bissue investigation wearing a mask, unbeknown to him that the OSP was investigating Anas Aremeyaw Anas for suspected bribery and corruption in the registration of ORR Resources Enterprise which was used to entrap the suspects in the case.



Martin Amidu continued that Kissi Adjabeng had since assuming office Suppressed that investigation and others, all to protect his and Anas Aremeyaw Anas interest.



Kissi Agyebeng on assumption of office as the Special Prosecutor suppressed that investigation and the evidence gathered of suspected bribery and corruption against his client and law partner, Anas Aremeyaw Anas.



The Special Prosecutor upon assuming office also suppressed the almost completed investigations into three distinct corruption and public procurement malpractices investigations involving his client, Tekstart Africa Limited (Tekstart) and the National Lotteries Authority (NLA). The Ashanti Region Lotto Marketing Companies Retailers Association and other complainants are still to come to terms with the suppression of their complaints and information provided to the OSP during my tenure against Tekstart Africa Limited and the NLA, he clarified.

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PHILADELPHIA (AP)  A man accused of slashing people with a large knife in recent weeks while riding a bicycle on a trail in Philadelphia and then charged in the cold-case rape and slaying of a medical student has now been charged in several other high-profile unsolved sexual assaults.

Elias Diaz, 46, was arraigned a week ago on murder, rape and other counts in the 2003 slaying of Rebecca Park. Police said Wednesday he has now been charged in three other cold-case assaults, two in Fairmount Park in 2003 and one in Pennypack Park in 2007. The new charges include rape, attempted rape, kidnapping, attempted kidnapping, aggravated assault, and related offenses, police said.

Diaz was earlier ordered held without bail in Parks slaying pending a Jan. 8 preliminary hearing. He had been held on aggravated assault and other counts in the attacks or attempted attacks in late November and early December, where police say he used a machete-type knife against people on the Pennypack Park trail.

The Defender Association of Philadelphia, listed as representing him in both the 2003 case and the recent attacks, said earlier there would be no comment on any current or possible future charges.

Philadelphia District Attorney Larry Krasner, at podium, speaks along side projected images of suspect Elias Diaz during a news conference in Philadelphia, Tuesday, Dec. 19, 2023. Authorities say Diaz, accused of slashing people with a large knife while riding a bicycle on a rail trail in Philadelphia is a person of interest in the cold-case murder of a medical student. (AP Photo/Matt Rourke, file)AP

Interim Police Commissioner John Stanford Jr. said earlier that Diazs DNA appeared to connect him to the 2003 strangulation killing of Park in the citys sprawling Fairmount Park and perhaps to several other sexual attacks there. Park, 30, a fourth-year student at the Philadelphia College of Osteopathic Medicine from Olney, Maryland, vanished after going running in the park in July 2003. Her body was found buried under wood and leaves in a steep hillside in the park, about 200 feet off the road, authorities said.

Police said that crime was linked to the April 2003 rape of a 21-year-old jogger in the park, and in October of that year a 37-year-old woman managed to fight off a man who tried to rape her. In 2007, a 29-year-old woman walking on a path in Pennypack Park was sexually assaulted and robbed, police said.

In 2021, a DNA analysis helped create a series of composite sketches of the man believed responsible for the assaults. Genealogy databases yielded a link to a man named Elias Diaz, but he couldnt be found. Officials said the suspect just arrested had previous contact with police, but authorities didnt have his DNA until his arrest in the recent assaults.

Stanford said the two-decade-old Fairmount Park assault cases and Parks slaying had haunted the community and the department.
A man charged in August with four counts of attempted homicide has been taken into custody, Harrisburg police announced Thursday.

Harrisburg police said Jerry K. Foster, 43, of Yeadon, Delaware County, shot four people out a car window around 3:15 a.m. Aug. 13 on the 200 block of Cranberry Street.

One man was shot in the chest and groin and taken to Penn State Holy Spirit Hospital. A woman was shot in the foot and treated at UPMC Harrisburg Hospital. Another man was shot in the chest and walked to Harrisburg Hospital for treatment, according to police.

Police said a ricocheting bullet hit a fourth victim, leaving him with a cut to his thigh. All of the people who were shot survived.

Foster remained at large for months after the shootings. Police on Thursday said Foster was taken into custody in Philadelphia and transported back to Dauphin County.

Court records show Foster was on parole for a 2004 attempted homicide when the quadruple shooting happened in August.

On May 27, 2004, Foster rode a bicycle to the 2400 block of North Sixth Street, pulled a 9-millimeter pistol from his waist, and shot twice at a man, according to an affidavit of probable cause. He was charged with attempted homicide in July 2004 and later pleaded guilty.

Foster was paroled from SCI Camp Hill on Sept. 15, 2022, according to Department of Corrections records.

Harrisburg police charged Foster on Aug. 15, 2023, with four counts each of attempted homicide and aggravated assault, two firearms offenses and a driving offense.

Court documents did not provide a motive for the shootings.

Online court records show Foster was denied bail on Dec. 22 and is being held at Dauphin County Prison. A preliminary hearing is scheduled for Jan. 8 in front of Judge James Lenker.
A Cumberland County judge recently sentenced a man to at least 9 years in prison after he stabbed two people who helped him by allowing him to stay in their home.

The victims each suffered serious injuries that required emergency medical treatment after the Jan. 27 attack in South Middleton Township. Robert Lee Suders then stole the victims vehicle and fled. He was arrested two days later in Chambersburg.

Earlier this month, a judge sentenced Suders to 9 to 18 years in prison, according to a news release from prosecutors posted on Wednesday.

Suders pleaded guilty to aggravated assault and theft in July, after prosecutors dropped a charge of attempted homicide that could have carried a steeper sentence. His sentence of 9 to 18 years was part of his plea deal.

Court records gave this account of the crime:

The victims told police theyd invited Suders, his partner and her four-year-old child to stay with them temporarily after meeting up through an on-line forum. The victims said they were trying to help Suders and his friend, who were living in a bad location in the Chambersburg area.

Police were called to the victims home in the 200 block of Mill Street about 3 p.m. after Suders attacked the victims while they were sleeping in their bedroom.

No explanation was given for why the attack occurred, but police said the male victim told them Suders entered the room and began swinging first at him, and then at the woman. The male victim said he was able to push Suders out of the bedroom, and the couple got separated from him.

The victims told police thats when they realized theyd been stabbed and cut, according to the criminal complaint. The man had cuts to his neck and left hand and was transported to Penn State Health Holy Spirit Medical Center. The woman had a slash wound to her cheek, which was stitched up at the hospital.

The two immediately asked Suders partner, who was in the apartment and on the phone, to call 9-1-1, but they said she refused to hang up, and they had to find a neighbor to summon help.

Before police arrived, however, Suders took the keys to the male victims car and fled the scene. He has remained in jail since his arrest and now will report to a state prison.

Prior to Suders plea, case prosecutor Courtney Hair LaRue filed notice that she would seek a minimum prison term of at least 10 years for Suders if he was convicted at trial of either attempted homicide or aggravated assault due to a prior robbery conviction on his record.

Staff Writer Charles Thompson contributed to this report.
A former Southern York County School District teacher has been sentenced following her guilty plea to charges of inappropriate contact with a student.

Emily Lehneis, who worked as a special education teacher at Susquehannock High School, was sentenced on Dec. 26, according to court documents. She had pleaded guilty to charges in September after a six-month investigation in which authorities determined that she kissed a student in a classroom and that the two exchanged sexually explicit photos.

Court documents show that Lehneis has been sentenced to a total of up to seven years in prison. Sentencing included a minimum of one year and a maximum of two years for sexual contact with a student, and five years for the corruption of a minor.

The sentence also includes fines of $8,520, as well as requiring Lehneis to complete a sex offender treatment program. Lehneis is also ordered to have no contact with the victim.
By Carlos De Loera, Los Angeles Times (TNS)

The unrestricted world of Yellowstone National Park was not enough for actor Pierce Brosnan.

The actor known for playing James Bond received a citation for foot travel in a thermal area at the Wyoming park, according to the court citation reviewed by The L.A. Times.

Pierce Brosnan delivered the 2019 Dickinson College commencement address. (Vicki Vellios Briner | Special to PennLive, file)Vicki Vellios Briner | Special to PennLive

According to the National Park Services Yellowstone safety website, visitors to the park must always walk on boardwalks and designated trails. Thermal formations can be very dangerous, with water in hot springs being able to cause severe or fatal burns and scalding water underlying most of the thin, breakable crust around hot springs.

The offense took place on Nov. 1. The park code, titled travel of trails, states that foot travel in all thermal areas and within the Yellowstone Canyon between the Upper Falls and Inspiration Point must be confined to boardwalks or trails that are maintained for such travel and are marked by official signs.

Representatives for Brosnan did not respond to The Times request for comment due to the holidays.

The 2.22-million-acre park is notable, in part, for its more than 10,000 thermal geographic features, including geysers, hot springs and steam vents.

Brosnan is scheduled for a mandatory court date at a U.S. District Court in Wyoming on Jan. 23. The actor has been filming the movie Unholy Trinity, which also stars Samuel L. Jackson and David Arquette, in a nearby site in Montana.

The thermal features at Yellowstone have led to the death of more than 20 people since 1890, according to NBC News.
It was like a plot ripped from the movie Home Alone 2, but became a reality for a child and his family last week.

Now the family of a 6-year-old boy who was placed on the wrong Spirit Airlines flight in Philadelphia Dec. 21 and ended up 160 miles from where he was meant to be are considering legal action. Meanwhile, an internal investigation into the terrifying mishap is underway, according to multiple reports.

Up until now, the airline still hasnt been able to properly explain what happened, even though the boy was supposed to be monitored by an airline employee. His family paid a special unaccompanied minor fee to allow the boy to travel alone, under the airlines supervision.

Casper was supposed to be on a flight from Philadelphia to Southwest Florida to visit his grandmother for the Christmas holiday. But due to the mix-up, he ended up on the wrong flight and landed hundreds of miles away in Orlando.

The boys grandmother, Maria Ramos, is still expecting answers as to how such a thing could happen.

Come on, you have cameras all over this place. You have cameras in your plane. You have cameras all over. Youre telling me you dont know what happened to Casper, five days later, and its under investigation? Ramos told WINK News.

How did he make it on another flight? How did he end up in Orlando? They have no idea, she added.

When Ramos arrived went to the Southwest Florida International Airport in Fort Myers on Thursday to pick up Casper, he was nowhere to be found. The airline initially told her that her grandson had missed the flight but she knew that wasnt possible since she already had the check-in tag.

I ran inside the plane to the flight attendant, and I asked her, Wheres my grandson? He was handed over to you at Philadelphia? she said, No, I had no kids with me, Ramos told WINK News.

Finally, after 40 minutes of extreme worry and heart-pounding anxiety, some sort of relief came to Ramos when her grandson FaceTimed her from the airport in Orlando, informing her he had landed there, Fox4 reported.

She then drove from Fort Myers to Orlando for four hours late at night to pick up the young child.

Spirit Airlines issued a statement and said the boy was always under the care and supervision of a Spirit Team Member, and as soon as we discovered the error, we took immediate steps to communicate with the family and reconnect them.

We take the safety and responsibility of transporting all of our Guests seriously and are conducting an internal investigation, it added. We apologize to the family for this experience.

But Ramos shot back at their statement, saying she was listed as the childs emergency contact and never got a call from the airline notifying her of the mix-up that night and that he was on a flight to Orlando.

Instead, she was only told that Casper had missed his flight to Fort Myers.

They told me, No, hes not on this flight. He missed his flight. I said, No, he could not miss his flight because I have the check-in tag, Ramos explained.

I tell you, nobody called me. I had to call Casper again to be able to talk to flight attendants, Ramos said to WINK News.

He goes mama, Im in the airport. I said give me an adult, Casper, that is with you. He said no grandma I dont have anyone with me, Ramos explained.

An adult in the airport was the one to inform Ramos that Casper was in Orlando, not the RSW airport in Fort Meyers, Fox4 reported.

If you read this, it says final destination RSW and he had this around his neck, Ramos said as she showed the lanyard with Caspers flight information.

Ramos was reimbursed for having to travel to Orlando, 6ABC reported.

Ramos told WINK News after days of trying to get in touch with the airline, they finally reached out on Tuesday and offered to pay for Caspers return flight to Philadelphia and a round trip for his grandmother to accompany him.

But to Ramos, the offer didnt cut it because all she wanted  and still wants after five days  is an answer as to how the terrifying incident could have happened.

She revealed her grandson is now afraid to be alone due to the ordeal, the New York Post reported.

Ramos told WINK News she is considering consulting legal help to get more answers.

Spirit Airlines allows unaccompanied minors between the ages of 5 to 14 years old to travel domestically across the US on direct flights.
By CLAIRE RUSH and TED WARREN, The Associated Press

MOSCOW, Idaho (AP)  Demolition began Thursday on the house where four University of Idaho students were killed last year, marking an emotional step for the victims families and a close-knit community that was shocked and devastated by the brutal stabbings.

The sounds of construction equipment pierced the early morning air as an excavator started tearing down the front part of the house. The former walls formed a large pile of crushed and smashed wood on the ground as debris was picked up and loaded into a dump truck.

The owner of the rental home near the university campus in Moscow, Idaho, donated it to the university earlier this year. It has since been boarded up and blocked off by a security fence. Students Ethan Chapin, Xana Kernodle, Madison Mogen and Kaylee Goncalves were fatally stabbed there in November 2022.

Heavy equipment is used to demolish the house where four University of Idaho students were killed in 2022. (AP Photo/Ted S. Warren)AP

Heavy equipment is used to demolish the house where four University of Idaho students were killed in 2022. (AP Photo/Ted S. Warren)AP

School officials, who in February announced plans to raze the house, view the demolition as a key step toward finding closure, university spokesperson Jodi Walker said.

Contractors estimated that it would take a few hours for the house to be razed and several more after that to clear the site of debris, Walker said, adding that weather also will be a factor.

The site will be planted with grass at some point after the demolition, Walker said. She said there are no other plans for it as of now but the university may revisit that in the future.

Heavy equipment is used to demolish the house where four University of Idaho students were killed in 2022. (AP Photo/Ted S. Warren)AP

Some of the victims families have opposed the demolition, calling for the house to be preserved until after the man accused of the slayings has been tried.

Bryan Kohberger of Pennsylvania, a former criminology graduate student at Washington State University in neighboring Pullman, Washington, has been charged with four counts of murder. A judge entered a not-guilty plea on Kohbergers behalf this year.
By Haleluya Hadero and David Bauder, The Associated Press

NEW YORK  The New York Times is striking back against the threat that artificial intelligence poses to the news industry, filing a federal lawsuit Wednesday against OpenAI and Microsoft seeking to end the practice of using its stories to train chatbots.

The Times says that the companies are threatening its livelihood by effectively stealing billions of dollars worth of work by its journalists, in some cases spitting out Times material verbatim to people who seek answers from generative artificial intelligence like OpenAIs ChatGPT. The newspapers lawsuit was filed in federal court in Manhattan.

OpenAI and Microsoft did not respond to requests for comment.

The media is one of many industries that could be upended by the rapid development of AI. Media organizations have already been pummeled by a migration of readers to online platforms and while many publications  most notably the Times  have successfully carved out a digital space, AI could become a significant threat.

These bots compete with the content they are trained on, said Ian B. Crosby, partner and lead counsel at Susman Godfrey, which is representing The Times.

Artificial intelligence companies scrape information available online, including articles published by news organizations, to train generative AI chatbots. The large language models are also trained on a huge trove of other human-written materials, such as instructional manuals and digital books. That helps them to build a strong command of language and grammar and to answer questions correctly.

But the technology is still under development and gets many things wrong. In its lawsuit, for example, the Times said OpenAIs GPT-4 falsely attributed product recommendations to Wirecutter, the papers product reviews site, endangering its reputation.

OpenAI and other AI companies, including rival Anthropic, have attracted billions in investments very rapidly since public and business interest in the technology exploded, particularly this year.

Microsoft has a partnership with OpenAI that allows it to capitalize on the companys AI technology. The Redmond, Washington, tech giant is also OpenAIs biggest backer and has invested at least $13 billion into the company since the two began their partnership in 2019, according to the lawsuit. As part of the agreement, Microsofts supercomputers help power OpenAIs AI research and the tech giant integrates the startups technology into its products.

The papers complaint comes as the number of lawsuits filed against OpenAI for copyright infringement is growing. The company has been sued by several writers  including comedian Sarah Silverman  who say their books were ingested to train OpenAIs AI models without their permission. In June, more than 4,000 writers signed a letter to the CEOs of OpenAI, Google, Microsoft, Meta and other AI developers accusing them of exploitative practices in building chatbots that mimic and regurgitate their language, style and ideas.

As AI technology develops, growing fears over its use have also fueled labor strikes and lawsuits in other industries, including Hollywood. Different stakeholders are realizing the technology could disrupt their entire business model, but the question will be how to respond to it, said Sarah Kreps, director of Cornell Universitys Tech Policy Institute.

Kreps said she agrees The New York Times is facing a threat from these chatbots, but she also argued solving the issue completely is going to be an uphill battle.

Theres so many other language models out there that are doing the same thing, she said.

The lawsuit filed Wednesday claims that generative AI tools developed by OpenAI and Microsoft are closely summarizing content from the Times, mimicking its style and even reciting it verbatim. The complaint cited examples of OpenAIs GPT-4 spitting out large portions of news articles from the Times, including a Pulitzer-Prize winning investigation into New York Citys taxi industry that was published in 2019 and took 18 months to complete. It also cited outputs from Bing Chat  now called Copilot  that it said included verbatim excerpts from Times articles.

The Times did not list specific damages that it is seeking, but said the legal action seeks to hold them responsible for the billions of dollars in statutory and actual damages that they owe for the unlawful copying and use of The Timess uniquely valuable works. It is also asking the court to order the tech companies to destroy AI models or data sets that use its work.

Web traffic is an important component of the papers advertising revenue and helps drive subscriptions to its online site. The outputs from AI chatbots divert that traffic away from the paper and other copyright holders, the Times says, making it less likely that users will visit the original source for the information.

Less traffic to the Times Wirecutter articles, for example, means less people clicking on affiliate links, which in turn means less revenue for the papers product review site.

The New York Times said its never given permission to anyone to use its content for generative AI purposes. The lawsuit also follows what appears to be breakdowns in talks between the newspaper and the two companies that began in April, and could be a way to kickstart talks on ending a business dispute.

The News/Media Alliance, a trade group representing more than 2,200 news organizations, applauded Wednesdays action by the Times.

Quality journalism and GenAI can complement each other if approached collaboratively, said Danielle Coffey, alliance president and CEO. But using journalism without permission or payment is unlawful, and certainly not fair use.

In July, OpenAI and The Associated Press announced a deal for the artificial intelligence company to license APs archive of news stories. This month, OpenAI also signed a similar partnership with Axel Springer, a media company in Berlin that owns Politico and Business Insider. Under the deal, users of OpenAIs ChatGPT will receive summaries of selected global news content from Axel Springers media brands. The companies said the answers to queries will include attribution and links to the original articles.

The Times has compared its action to a copyright lawsuit more than two decades ago against Napster, when record companies sued the file-sharing service for unlawful use of their material. The record companies won and Napster was soon gone, but it has had a major impact on the industry. Industry-endorsed streaming now dominates the music business.

AP Technology Writer Matt OBrien contributed to this story.
Police in a New Jersey city are urging the public to ignore a story featured on a news website about a fatal shooting they say was written using artificial intelligence.

The story on Newsbreak.com said a local resident was found dead in the 100 block of West Broad Street in Bridgeton on Christmas Day. It further dives into the gun debate in America as communities seek an end to violence.

Yet, as the community of Bridgeton comes to terms with their Christmas Day tragedy, the need for a more comprehensive solution is clear, the post read. For the families affected, for the communities shattered, and for a nation in search of peace, the pursuit of such a solution cannot wait.

Police on Wednesday said the story has been circulating on social media, emphasizing an italicized note at the bottom of the text that the piece includes content assisted by AI tools.

Nothing even similar to this story occurred on or around Christmas, or even in recent memory for the area they described, Bridgeton police wrote on their Facebook page.

The story on the news website said the Cumberland County prosecutors office is investigating the fictional deadly shooting. Officials with the agency did not immediately return a request by NJ Advance Media for comment.

Artificial intelligence use in journalism has been widely debated as the technology becomes more common.

AI is automating the creation of fake news, spurring an explosion of web content mimicking factual articles that instead disseminates false information about elections, wars and natural disasters, according to a recent report by the Washington Post.

NewsGuard, an organization that tracks misinformation, says websites that publish false news stories created by AI have increased by more than 1,000 percent, ballooning from 49 sites to more than 600 during the past seven months, the Post reported.

Eric Conklin may be reached at econklin@njadvancemedia.com.
MADISON, Wis. (AP)  Former University of Wisconsin-La Crosse Chancellor Joe Gow said Thursday that regents fired him because they were uncomfortable with him and his wife producing and appearing in pornographic videos.

The regents voted unanimously during a hastily convened closed meeting Wednesday evening to fire Gow.

After the vote, Universities of Wisconsin President Jay Rothman and regents President Karen Walsh issued statements saying the regents had learned of specific conduct by Gow that subjected the university to significant reputational harm. Rothman called Gows actions abhorrent and Walsh said she was disgusted. But neither of them offered any details of the allegations.

Gow told The Associated Press in a phone interview Thursday morning that regents had discovered that he and his wife, former UW-La Crosse professor Carmen Wilson, had been producing and appearing in pornographic videos.

This undated photo provided by University of Wisconsin system shows UW-La Crosse Chancellor Joe Gow, who's been fired. (University of Wisconsin-La Crosse via AP).AP

He maintained that he never mentioned UW-La Crosse or his role at the university in any of the videos and the firing violated his free speech rights.

My wife and I live in a country where we have a First Amendment, he said. Were dealing with consensual adult sexuality. The regents are overreacting. Theyre certainly not adhering to their own commitment to free speech or the First Amendment.

Gow also complained that the regents never told him what policy he violated and he was never given a hearing or other opportunity to present his case. He said hes contemplating a lawsuit.

I got an email last night saying I was terminated, Gow said. I wish I would have had the opportunity to have a hearing. When reasonable people understand what my wife and I are creating, it calms them down.

Gow had planned to retire as chancellor at the conclusion of the spring 2024 semester and transition into a role teaching communication courses. Rothman said Wednesday evening that he planned to file a complaint with UW-Ls interim chancellor, Betsy Morgan, seeking a review of Gows tenure.

Rothman said in an email to the AP on Thursday morning that Gow failed to act as a role model for students, faculty and the community and mistakenly believes the First Amendment equates to a free pass to say or do anything that he pleases.

Good judgement requires that there are and must be limits on what is said or done by the individuals entrusted to lead our universities, Rothman wrote.

Rothman added that Gow served at the pleasure of the regents and was not entitled to any specific process.

That should be abundantly clear to him, Rothman said.

Gow took heavy criticism in 2018 for inviting porn actor Nina Hartley to speak at UW-La Crosse. He paid her $5,000 out of student fees to appear. Ray Cross, then UW system president, reprimanded him and the regents refused to give him a raise that year. Gow said then that he was exercising the systems free speech policies.

Gow and his wife star in a YouTube channel called Sexy Healthy Cooking in which the couple cooks meals with porn actors. They also have written two e-books, Monogamy with Benefits: How Porn Enriches Our Relationship and Married with Benefits  Our Real-Life Adult Industry Adventures under pseudonyms. Their biographies on Amazon contain links to their videos on X, the social media platform formerly known as Twitter, and a pornographic website.
By Maria Verza and Edgar H. Clemente, The Associated Press

MEXICO CITY  Mexican officials moved to clear a migrant encampment on the banks of the Rio Grande river Wednesday as U.S. officials met with Mexicos president to press for measures to limit a surge of migrants reaching the U.S. southwestern border.

Mexico began clearing tents, both occupied and unoccupied, from the encampment in the border city of Matamoros, across from Brownsville, Texas, starting Tuesday. The effort, backed by bulldozers and workers with machetes, continued Wednesday as U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken talked with President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador in Mexico City.

Lopez Obrador has said he is willing to help, but he wants to see progress in U.S. relations with Cuba and Venezuela, two of the top sources of migrants, along with more development aid for the region.

But Mexicos top priority appeared to be getting the United States to reopen border crossings that were closed because of the migrant surge.

We spoke about the importance of the border, and about the economic relationship ... the importance of reopening the border crossings, that is a priority for us, Foreign Relations Secretary Alicia Barcena said following the meeting in Mexico City, which was also attended by U.S. Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas and homeland security adviser Liz Sherwood-Randall.

This month, as many as 10,000 migrants were arrested daily on the southwest U.S. border. The U.S. has struggled to process thousands of migrants at the border, and house them once they reach northern cities.

Migrants cross the Rio Grande river to reach the United States from Ciudad Juarez, Mexico, Wednesday, Dec. 27, 2023. (AP Photo/Christian Chavez)AP

Mexican industries were stung last week when the U.S. briefly closed two vital Texas railway crossings, arguing that border patrol agents had to be reassigned to deal with the surge. Another non-rail border crossing remained closed in Lukeville, Arizona, and operations were partially suspended in San Diego and Nogales, Arizona.

The dismantling of the migrant encampment in Matamoros appeared to be a good-will gesture toward the United States. Migrants set up the encampment in late 2022. It once held as many as 1,500 migrants, but many tents were vacated in recent months as migrants waded across the river to reach the United States.

Segismundo Doguin, the head of the local office of Mexicos immigration agency, said, What we are doing is removing any tents that we see are empty.

But one Honduran migrant who would give only his first name, Jose, claimed some of the 200 remaining migrants had been practically forced to leave the camp late Tuesday.

They ran us out, he said, saying migrants were given short notice to move their tents and belongings out of the way and felt intimidated by the bulldozer moving through the tents. You had to run for your life to avoid an accident.

Mexico has assigned over 32,000 soldiers and National Guard troopers  about 11% of its total forces  to enforce immigration laws, and the National Guard now detains far more migrants than criminals.

But the shortcomings of Mexicos effort were on display Tuesday when National Guard members made no attempt to stop a caravan of about 6,000 migrants, many from Central America and Venezuela, from walking through Mexicos main inland immigration inspection point in southern Chiapas state near the Guatemala border.

In the past, Mexico has let such caravans go through, trusting that they would tire themselves out walking along the highway.

By Wednesday, Lazara Padron Molina, 46, from Cuba was sick and exhausted. The caravan set out Dec. 24 from the city of Tapachula and had walked about 45 miles (75 kilometers) through the heat to Escuintla in southern Chiapas state.

Migrants camp in tents outside the Church of Santa Cruz y La Soledad in Mexico City, Tuesday, Dec. 26, 2023. (AP Photo/Marco Ugarte)AP

The route is too long to continue walking. Why dont they just give us documents so that we could get a bus or a taxi? Padron Molina said. Look at my feet, she said, showing blisters. I cant go on anymore.

But wearing the migrants out  by obliging Venezuelans and others to hike through the jungle-clad Darien Gap between Colombia and Panama or corralling migrants off passenger buses in Mexico  no longer appears to work.

So many migrants have been hopping freight trains through Mexico that one of the countrys two major railroad companies suspended trains in September because of safety concerns. Police raids to pull migrants off railway cars  the kind of action Mexico took a decade ago  might be one thing the American delegation would like to see.

A few blocks from Mexico Citys main plaza, where Blinken met with Lopez Obrador at the National Palace, migrants stayed at an improvised shelter at a church, gathering strength before continuing north.

David Pena, his two daughters and his pregnant wife, Maryeris Zerpa, hoped to reach the United States before the child is born in about a month.

The goal is to cross over so the baby will be born there, Pena said. But with no asylum appointment, he had no idea how the family will enter.

The U.S. has shown that one countrys problems on the border quickly become both countries problems. The Texas railway closures put a chokehold on freight moving from Mexico to the U.S. as well as grain needed to feed Mexican livestock moving south.

Lopez Obrador confirmed last week that U.S. officials want Mexico to do more to block migrants at its southern border with Guatemala or make it more difficult to move across Mexico by train or in trucks or buses.

A migrant pushes and pulls his family's belongings as he walks north with a migrant caravan on the side of the highway in Villa Comaltitlan, Chiapas state, southern Mexico, Wednesday, Dec. 27, 2023. (AP Photo/Edgar H. Clemente)AP

But the president said that in exchange he wanted the United States to send more development aid to migrants home countries and to reduce or eliminate sanctions on Cuba and Venezuela.

We are going to help, as we always do, Lopez Obrador said. Mexico is helping reach agreements with other countries, in this case Venezuela. He said Mexico has proposed to President Joe Biden that a U.S.-Cuba bilateral dialogue be opened.

In May, Mexico agreed to take in migrants from countries such as Venezuela, Nicaragua and Cuba who are turned away by the U.S. for not following rules that provided new legal pathways to asylum and other forms of migration.

Associated Press writer Valerie Gonzalez contributed to this report

Follow APs coverage of Latin America and the Caribbean at https://apnews.com/hub/latin-america

Follow APs migration coverage at https://apnews.com/hub/migration.
Story by Danielle Ohl of Spotlight PA

Spotlight PA is an independent, nonpartisan, and nonprofit newsroom producing investigative and public-service journalism that holds power to account and drives positive change in Pennsylvania. Sign up for our free newsletters.

HARRISBURG  Pennsylvania state legislators earlier this month approved a study of how the 911 system can better assist people experiencing a mental health crisis, a measure championed by the family of Christian Hall ahead of the three-year anniversary of his death.

The study seeks ways for emergency dispatchers operating the 911 system to send crisis responders, not police, to someone who calls to report a mental health emergency.

On Dec. 30, 2020, a Pennsylvania State Police trooper shot and killed Christian Hall after the 19-year-old called 911 to report a potential suicide in progress. Before the shooting, police arrived to find Hall standing on a bridge and holding what they later determined to be a pellet gun.

Authorities at the time said the shooting was justified because the troopers feared for their lives. A Monroe County prosecutor called it a classic suicide by cop scenario. But a 2021 investigation by Spotlight PA and NBC News found Hall had his hands in the air for 14 seconds before police shot and killed him.

At a vigil held Dec. 17 in Christians honor, Gareth and Fe Hall mourned their son and spoke in support of the expanded mental health resources they believe could have saved his life.

Bullets should not be the only resort, Fe Hall said at the vigil. Bullets should not be the first resort.

The General Assembly funded the new study as part of the recent deal lawmakers struck to enact the state budget. The bills language directs legislative commissions to examine the 911 system and how it might integrate into the new 988 system, a suicide and crisis hotline launched nationwide in July 2022.

It also requires the study to recommend standards and procedures which should be followed when a behavioral health crisis is routed to 988 as an alternative to law enforcement, and requires the recommendations to consider potential cultural and linguistic barriers between responders and the person in crisis.

The language originated with a resolution that state Rep. Maureen Madden, a Monroe County Democrat representing the Hall familys home district, introduced this fall. Madden took cues from the Halls and the community that mobilized after Christians death, she told Spotlight PA.

We really need to get out there that 988 is there, Madden said in an interview. And then we need to train people who answer the phone for 911 and have them be able to assess, is this really a 911 call or is this a warm handoff for 988?

With the study approved, Madden is looking to other measures that would provide funding for the 988 system, which as of now relies on federal support.

She also wants to pass legislation that would allow the Pennsylvania attorney general to conduct investigations of police shootings instead of district attorneys, whose work with local police departments could present a conflict of interest. Under current law, the attorney general cannot intervene in any criminal case unless the local prosecutor asks for help.

The Halls and members of their community have long criticized the way Monroe County District Attorney Michael Mancuso, who was an assistant prosecutor in the office at the time, described their sons death. The couple is suing the troopers involved as well as Mancuso, accusing the prosecutor of misleading the public by showing an edited video of the shooting at a subsequent news conference.

At the vigil, Gareth and Fe Hall urged their community to spread awareness of the 988 system. Fe, speaking through tears and long pauses, asked those gathered to heed their call for changes to crisis response in Pennsylvania.

Christians death should not be in vain, she said. No other family should lose a loved one the way we did, and no other family should grieve the way we do.

BEFORE YOU GO If you learned something from this article, pay it forward and contribute to Spotlight PA at spotlightpa.org/donate. Spotlight PA is funded by foundations and readers like you who are committed to accountability journalism that gets results.
A Bucks County conservative activist who ran for lieutenant governor is facing assault charges in connection with an underage drinking party at her home in September.

Clarice Shillinger, 36, is scheduled to appear in court on Jan. 29 on charges of assault, harassment and furnishing minors with alcohol.

Schillinger, founder of the political action committee Keeping Kids in School, is accused of punching a 16-year-old partygoer several times in the face during a brawl among drunken adults at her Doylestown home, according to PhillyBurbs.com.

The affidavit also said Schillinger poured drinks for the teens and played beer pong with them.

Schillingers then-boyfriend, Shan Wilson, also was charged with assault for grabbing a 16-year-old boy by the neck as he tried to intervene in a fight between the couple and punching a 15-year old. Schillingers mother Danette Bert was charged in connection with the melee as well. Charges against Wilson and Bert were dropped when they pleaded guilty to disorderly conduct in December, the news outlet said.

Schillingers attorney denied the charges against her.

Ms. Schillinger has dedicated her life to public service, Matthew Brittenburg told PennLive. Additionally, she has always been a law abiding citizen. Ms. Schillinger looks forward to the opportunity to defend against these allegations.

Schillinger ran as a candidate for lieutenant governor in the 2022 Republican primary, coming in fourth. Her political action committee raised $800,000 to support school board candidates who opposed COVID closures, PhillyBurbs reported.
WILLIAMSPORT  A lapse of memory by members of Williamsports City Council has given the mayor a grants administrator he says is badly needed.

Im very happy, Mayor Derek Slaughter said Wednesday about the $75,000 position remaining in the 2024 budget. It was in danger of being eliminated during budget discussions.

When the council was making changes to the budget ordinance on Dec. 7 before the first reading, council President Adam Yoder made a motion to delete the $75,000 and Councilman Eric Beiter seconded it.

They expressed a desire to learn if the citys consultants who do much of the grant writing for the city could handle the compliance aspect.

'Im very happy,' Mayor Derek Slaughter said Wednesday about the $75,000 position remaining in the 2024 budget. It was in danger of being eliminated during budget discussions.

Internally people are focusing on compliance, said Tracey Rash, a consultant hired last year to provide oversight and reconcile prior financial records due to the citys uncertain fiscal situation.

Currently, employees in the departments receiving grants are tasked with compliance, and we dont have the capacity to do that, Slaughter said.

The city needs one individual overseeing the grant applications and compliance, he said.

The mayor is trying to build a system to avoid repeats of past issues with grants and to do so, someone needs to manage it full time, Rash told council.

Were being swamped with compliance repeatedly, Slaughter said. A consultant can do only so much, Rash added.

Police Chief Justin Snyder has been a strong advocate for a grant administrator, pointing out the time one of his captains works on grants.

After hearing those comments, Yoder and Beiter withdrew their motion and second, with the consensus of council being that the grants administrator position would be revisited on Dec. 14 before the adoption of the budget.

Several changes to the budget were addressed on Dec. 14 but no one remembered to bring up the grants administrator position.

We all forgot about it, Yoder about the oversight. Its in the budget. The only option to remove it would be to reopen the budget in January, which he said is unlikely.

Its a bit of an awkward situation, Beiter acknowledged. He would have preferred to see all departments that receive grants pay for the position instead of it being budgeted in the finance department, he said.

Yoder said he is not opposed to someone helping with grant compliance but added he has asked the mayor for clarity on the writing aspect given the work now being done by consultants.

Slaughter wasted little time in advertising for a grants administrator whose stated duties include timely and accurate processing of applications, compliance with guidelines, and management of funds received.

Several quality applications have been received and the first interview is scheduled, the mayor said.

With so many grant opportunities, he expects the position to pay for itself, he said. It also will free up employees focusing on compliance to do their regular jobs, he said.
The animal rights group People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals has made a request for the city of Lebanon to alter its planned New Years Eve festivities.

Lebanon is one of several cities in our region that drops an appropriately themed item as the clock ticks down to midnight on New Years Eve. The city will drop the bologna donated from Seltzers Smokehouse Meats for this years event.
The 11-year-old victim of a Christmas Eve vehicle crash in Salisbury Township was identified in an obituary that ran in Thursdays LNP.

Lylah Esh, 11, of Cochranville in Chester County, died Dec. 24 after the car she was traveling in with her brothers was struck by another vehicle that drifted out of its lane in the 6000 block of Old Philadelphia Pike, according to state police. She died at Lancaster General Hospital; her brothers were gravely injured.

Lylah Esh was the daughter of John and Dorothy Stoltzfus Esh and attended Pequea Amish Mennonite Church of Narvon, according to her obituary. She had five siblings.

She was in the 6th grade, homeschooled, loved the outdoors and animals and was gentle with children.

Her brothers, Christopher, 18, and Lukas, 16, are still in the hospital, according to the familys CaringBridge webpage, a site where users can publish medical updates. The family could not be reached for comment.

The driver of the drifting vehicle suffered minor injuries and was transported to Paoli Hospital in Chester County.

Lylah Eshs funeral is scheduled for 10 a.m. Friday at the Pequea Amish Mennonite Church cemetery in Narvon. A viewing is scheduled at the church from 4 p.m. to 7 p.m. Thursday.

Open records

Lancaster County Coroner Dr. Stephen Diamantoni refused to release Lylah Eshs name after the crash despite being required by law to do so under state open records law. LNP  LancasterOnline filed a Right-to-Know request to obtain the identification.

This is the second time this year Diamantoni has refused to release information he was legally required to disclose. He refused to release the name of a 3-year-old who died after accidentally being shot at a Martic Township campground in October. The Office of Open Records has ordered Diamantoni to release the name within 30 days of their Dec. 4 ruling.

From LNP, Lancaster, Pa. (TNS)
In 2022, 37.4% of all reported crashes in Pennsylvania took place at an intersection. As PennDOT notes, intersections can be confusing and problematic - especially for older drivers.

We polled our readers, as well as PennLive staff, to find out what they think are some of the most dangerous intersections to navigate in central Pennsylvania, then took out our drone to get a birds eye view of those places.

Wertzville Road in Cumberland County

An aerial view of Wertzville Road and Valley Road intersection.Jimmie Brown | jbrown2@pennlive.com

All along Wertzville Road is a mess for drivers. The two worst spots, according to readers, are the intersection with Valley Road and Technology Parkway in Hampden Township, shown above, and the intersection with Deer Lane in Silver Spring Township.

The roads safety has been in question for years. Numerous crashes have been reported and several people have died.

I believe its probably our highest intersection crash area in the township, then-Hampden Township police Chief Steve Junkin told PennLive in 2019.

Since then, additional traffic has come in the form of the Penn State Health Hampden Medical Center, which opened in 2021.

Route 15 and 581 in Camp Hill

An aerial view of Route 15 and 581 intersection in Camp Hill.Jimmie Brown | jbrown2@pennlive.com

Both sides of this intersection is an exercise in constant vigilance.

Vehicles entering Route 581 from southbound Route 15 frequently fail to honor the yield sign, leading to dangerous situations for drivers who have the right-of-way.

Those getting off eastbound 581 onto Route 15 have their own headaches. During certain times of the year, such as the holiday shopping season, traffic from nearby Capital City Mall will back up onto the exit. Confusing lane merges cause drivers not familiar with the quirks of this intersection to make dangerous moves before they run out of road to drive on or get forced onto the exit for the mall.

And to think  it used to be worse. The interchange went through a $50.8 million reconstruction that was finished in 2011.

Route 11 and S. Middlesex Road in Middlesex Township

An aerial view of Route 11 and S. Middlesex Road intersection in Middlesex Township.Jimmie Brown | jbrown2@pennlive.com

The Miracle Mile between Interstates 81 and 76 on Route 11 is heavy with traffic at all hours of the day, as truckers make their way between the two interstates. It is home to several major truck stops, truck terminals, hotels, restaurants and other frequently accessed businesses.

The township voted down a proposed redevelopment opportunity district in the area in February.

Supporters say the area badly needs a makeover. Residents agreed, they just didnt like the proposal, which could open the possibility to more warehouses and distribution centers along that stretch of road that could bring in more truck traffic.

Route 15 at Route 74 in Dillsburg

An aerial view of Route 15 at Route 74 intersection in Dillsburg.Jimmie Brown | jbrown2@pennlive.com

The consensus is that Rroute 15 going through Dillsburg is a massive headache. If you miss your turnoff, good luck finding a place to turn around to get to where you are going.

PennLive editor Amy Worden suggested the Route 15 at Route 74 intersection specifically, where several roads merge in a not-quite orderly manner.

Route 22/322 from Clarks Ferry Bridge to Route 11/15 in Perry County

An aerial view of Routes 22/322 from Clarks Ferry Bridge to Routes 11/15 in Duncannon.Jimmie Brown | jbrown2@pennlive.com

Once home to the longest covered wooden bridge in the world, the current bridge carries heavy traffic along Routes 22/322, linking Perry and Dauphin counties. The stretch of road eventually intersects with Routes 11/15 and is home to several major gas stations, along with the Red Rabbit restaurant.

There have also been a number of accidents and fatalities there. PennDOT reported there were 371 crashes along this stretch of road between 2011 and 2021, with many of these crashes most likely happening when trying to turn into one of the businesses.

Improvement, however, is still years away. The bridge is scheduled to be updated in 2026, and PennDOT took public feedback on the project in October. As part of the project, PennDOT plans to put a concrete median barrier from the bridge to Route 11/15 in hopes of preventing a number of these crashes.

Route 322 and Chambers Hill Road, Swatara Township

An aerial view of Route 322 and Chambers Hill Road in Swatara Township.Jimmie Brown | jbrown2@pennlive.com

This 6-leg intersection is a Gordian Knot of confusion for drivers and residents who live nearby. The convergence of Grayson Road, Hilton Street, Chambers Hill Road, 82nd Street and Route 322 (Paxton Street) received an F grade of level of service from PennDOT.

We have a very strange intersection there, said PennDOT spokesman Mike Crochunis in 2019. For that busy corridor, its hard to manage it.

PennDOT began reconstructing the intersection in July, and it will include removing the left-turn lanes from Route 322 and creating four approaches. It should be complete by 2027. Until then, expect more traffic headaches.

Market St. and N. Cameron St. in Harrisburg

An aerial view of Market St. and N. Cameron St. in Harrisburg.Jimmie Brown | jbrown2@pennlive.com

A PennLive investigation in 2015 found that nine pedestrians were struck at the intersection of Market and Cameron streets in Harrisburg between 2009 and 2014.

In addition to this, three pedestrians and a bicyclist were killed at that intersection between August 2021 and December 2022. At the time, Harrisburg officials said the intersection was safe.

PennDOT construction plans for the area include adding handicap-accessible ramps, repainting crosswalks and adding left-hand turn lanes on Market Street.

Honorable mentions

These intersections were also mentioned by our readers as dangerous or hard to deal with.

Anywhere on the Carlisle Pike in Cumberland County

Front and Forester streets in Harrisburg

Landis Drive and Route 209 in Millersburg

Market and Third streets in Lemoyne

Route 30 and Route 222 in Lancaster

ALSO READ: See the most obnoxious parking lots in central Pa.
By Andrew Good

Pennsylvania lawmakers recently introduced a bill thatd require all state and local government contractors, and their subcontractors, to verify that newly hired workers are either American citizens or legal immigrants. Contractors that refuse to do so would face stiff fines.

If passed, this bill would prevent companies from using illegal immigrants as a source of cheap, exploitable labor -- and thus boost Pennsylvania workers bargaining power when negotiating for better wages and benefits.

House Bill 247 would require all public works contractors and subcontractors to use E-Verify, an online service the federal government provides to ensure jobseekers have legal authority to work in the United States. Its free, completely online, and usually verifies workers status within seconds.

E-Verify works by cross-checking the identification information of new hires against records from the U.S. Department of Homeland Security and Social Security Administration. All employers have to do is input data from a workers I-9 form -- which employers are already required to collect -- into the online portal. Over 98% of potential employees are cleared to work almost immediately, while the remainder are tagged for additional review -- or flagged as unauthorized to work.

Because its so easy to navigate, almost one million businesses nationwide use it, and that number grows by around 1,500 every week. More than 20,000 Pennsylvania businesses already use E-Verify -- some voluntarily, some in response to an existing law that requires all construction companies to enroll in the system.

E-Verify is enormously effective at preventing illegal hiring. Over 20 states, including Pennsylvania, require at least some employers to use the system, and a handful of states have mandated E-Verify for all employers. These universal mandate states have generally seen their illegal immigration populations plummet. For example, in Mississippi, the number of illegal workers fell 59% after the state mandated universal E-Verify. Arizona saw a 24% drop.

That tightens the labor market -- and gives legal workers more leverage to bargain for higher wages. American-born Hispanic men see their average hourly earnings jump after states implement E-Verify mandates, according to research from one Federal Reserve Bank of Dallas economist. That makes sense, since its these men who most directly compete against illegal immigrants for jobs.

Of course, a law isnt worth the paper its printed on if its not strictly enforced. Over 63% of the roughly 140,000 illegal immigrants in Pennsylvania are employed. A quarter of them work in construction and manufacturing.

Obviously, that means some firms are failing to comply with the mandate -- and either knowingly or unwittingly employing illegal workers.

Consider Schuster Concrete, a Maryland-based firm that is one of the largest concrete companies in the mid-Atlantic region. It regularly performs work in south-central Pennsylvania, yet doesnt appear to have enrolled in E-Verify. Is that part of a deliberate strategy to possibly employ cheaper, illegal labor and underbid firms that scrupulously follow the law? Or is it merely an honest oversight?

Preventing unfair labor market competition is an issue that both parties can -- and have -- agreed on. The Pennsylvania law that mandated E-Verify for construction firms enjoyed overwhelming support from both Republicans and Democrats.

The wisdom of such measures is obvious. This past summer, when sections of I-95 were destroyed, Pennsylvanias building trades workers -- including many union laborers -- stepped up and re-opened six lanes of traffic in just 12 days, defying projections that the repairs would take months to complete.

That sort of quick progress depends on having a skilled blue-collar workforce that can attract talented people. But if wages are depressed due to unfair competition from illegal immigrants, then talented folks wont find careers in the building trades attractive.

The same logic holds true for other professions, of course. Thats why House Bill 247 is desperately needed -- itd require any company working on government contracts to use E-Verify, regardless of their industry.

E-Verify mandates, when properly enforced, curb illegal immigration and protect American workers. Pennsylvanians of all political backgrounds would benefit from wider use of the system.

Andrew Good is Director of State Government Relations at NumbersUSA.
Ottawa is offering a lifeline to people fleeing a civil war in Sudan if they have relatives in Canada who agree to financially support them. Immigration Minister Marc Miller says this new humanitarian pathway is for both Sudanese and foreign citizens who lived in Sudan when conflict broke out in mid-April. Miller delivers remarks at a press conference in Ottawa, Thursday, Dec. 21, 2023. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Spencer Colby
Its been a banner year for B.C.s long dormant Conservatives, who achieved official party status with Leader John Rustad and Abbotsford South MLA Bruce Banman in the legislature, both of whom were elected as B.C. Liberals before switching parties. Rustad speaks to members of the media during a year-end availability at legislature in Victoria, Wednesday, Dec. 6, 2023. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Chad Hipolito
In the rapidly evolving global landscape, the ascent of China stands as the ultimate challenge of our times, one that demands a bold and innovative response. As the new generation of conservative leaders in South Carolina, we are acutely aware of the shortcomings in the approaches of both th Read moreGuest column: Reclaiming American supremacy: The path forward in an era of Chinese dominance
Editor's note: The Aiken Standard is counting down its top 10 local stories for 2023 from Dec. 19-30.

The life of an Aiken teen changed on a warm summer night in June after she was shot at the Walmart on Whiskey Road.

Ashton Rickard, 13, of Aiken was shot at the Walmart while she was shopping with her family around 7 p.m. on June 7. The teen was injured and police provided medical treatment before EMS arrived.

Stephen Christopher Foreman, 32, of Aiken was arrested and charged a day later with attempted murder and possession of a weapon during a violent crime. Foreman was taken into custody at a KFC nearby and told police he had discarded the gun on a store shelf.

Police later found a black Colt handgun on the bottom shelf in the card section at the store, along with shell casings.

Police said Foreman and Ashton didnt have any known relationship and police still dont have a motive for the shooting.

Foreman is listed as an inmate at the Aiken County detention center and was denied bond.

In 2019, Foreman was charged with kidnapping after holding members of his family captive. In January 2021, Forman pleaded guilty to two counts of pointing and presenting a weapon and was sentenced to mental health court.

Several witnesses on the scene of the shooting described the scene as chaotic with looks of terror on peoples faces. One witness said they were also traumatized and didn't think that a shooting like that would happen in Aiken.

Its something I will never forget, one witness told the Aiken Standard in June.

After the shooting, Ashton underwent multiple surgeries and a long recovery period, but the whole Aiken community rallied around her with the social media hashtag #ashtonstrong.
Kwanzaa and other Black celebrations such as Freedom's Eve and Emancipation Day are more than holidays to local historian Wayne OBryant.

They are a celebration of Black culture and resilience.

"If you start to practice the principles, then you would see the benefit in the whole large community," he said.

While many people are getting ready to ring in the new year, OBryant and others in the Black community are celebrating Kwanzaa, Freedom's Eve and Emancipation Day.

Kwanzaa, which is an African American holiday, is celebrated from Dec. 26 to Jan. 1, while Freedom's Eve is celebrated the night of Dec. 31. Emancipation Day or Jubilee Day is celebrated on the last day of Kwanzaa.

Emancipation Day is celebrated to remember the day President Abraham Lincoln signed the Emancipation Proclamation on Jan. 1, 1863, which freed slaves.

Freedoms Eve typically includes night services that are held at local churches on New Years Eve to ring in the new year. OBryant said the history behind the day is that the slaves waited all night to get the word on when they would be considered free from slavery.

The fairly new holiday of Kwanzaa was created during the Civil Rights Movement in 1966 by Maulana Ron Karenga, and OBryant said it was created during a time of turmoil.

He wanted to try to create something positive out of negative, and he came up with this idea of creating a cultural holiday that would help the self-esteem of African Americans, OBryant said.
FORT WORTH, Texas  Firefighters are scouring the wreckage of a historic Fort Worth hotel as they investigate the cause of a massive explosion that shattered windows, littered the streets with debris and injured 21 people, including one critically. The Monday blast blew doors and sections of wall into the road in front of the 20-story downtown Sandman Signature Hotel, where authorities say rescuers found several people trapped in the basement. By evening, officials said everyone seemed to have been accounted for, though the search continued overnight. The fire department is working with state inspectors and utility workers to determine the exact cause of the explosion, though authorities believe a gas leak was to blame. Read moreExplosion at Texas hotel injures 21 and scatters debris in downtown Fort Worth
COLUMBIA  Presidential candidates live and die by the viral moment.

Howard Dean's guttural scream after the 2004 Iowa primaries. Mitt Romney's indictment of "47 percent" of Americans not paying income taxes during the 2012 presidential election. Hillary Clinton's description of millions of Donald Trump supporters as "deplorables." Or Trump's comments disparaging women on a leaked tape from the set of "Access Hollywood."

In the annals of campaign history, some could argue presidential hopeful Nikki Haley may just have had her moment. On a campaign stop this week in New Hampshire, Haley  the former U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations and onetime governor of South Carolina  was asked by a voter what factors she believed caused the Civil War.

It was an odd question for a Republican presidential candidate. But Haley was uniquely positioned to answer it.

In the lead-up to the Civil War, South Carolina was the first state to divorce itself from the United States, with slavery specifically cited in documents rationalizing its decision to secede. It was the nerve center of the American slave trade, with Charleston receiving a greater share of the trans-Atlantic slave trade between 1670 and 1808, when the practice of shipping in slaves from abroad was outlawed, than any other port in mainland North America. When it came time to fight, South Carolina was the site of the first shots fired in the conflict.

And in the wake of the racist 2015 killing of nine Black parishioners at Emanuel AME Church in Charleston, Haley  the first woman of color to ever lead South Carolina as its governor  played a unique role in confronting that history, signing legislation to remove the Confederate battle flag from the Statehouse grounds.

But her response to the question on Dec. 27 left many, including her opponents, stunned.
The International African American Museum is waiving its admission fee on Jan. 1 to mark Emancipation Day for the first time since it opened on the Charleston waterfront in June.

The offering is part of several free weekend activities and programs tied to the enactment of the Emancipation Proclamation 161 years ago and the related vigil known as "Freedom's Eve" or "Watch Night."

More Information Upcoming IAAM events Dec. 31: Noon to 2 p.m., the Morris Brown AME Church and the Gullah Geechee Cultural Heritage Corridor Commission will hold "Watch Night," a tradition that dates back more than a century and a half. Freedom's Eve commemorates the date in 1863 when enslaved Gullah-Geechee people in South Carolina learned of their declared freedom. It can be watched in person or live on the church's Facebook page. Jan. 1: The Emancipation Day Parade starts around noon at Burke High School and ends at Gadsdenboro Park in front of the IAAM. From 3:30 to 5 p.m., the museum holds its TD Bank Program Series with Sunn m'Cheaux, a local artist and activist, who will lead a discussion about Freedoms Eve.

"These commemorations symbolize not only the end of a tragic chapter in history, but also the resilience and triumph of the African American journey, IAAM Chief Executive Officer Tonya Matthews said in a statement.

While admission is free on Monday from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., tickets are still required and are limited. Visitors are asked to reserve a timed entry through the museum's website.

The IAAM had been in the works for more than two decades when it opened its doors earlier this year just south of the South Carolina Aquarium. It was built at an estimated cost of $120 million on the site of Gadsdens Wharf, where more than 260,000 enslaved Africans landed in Charleston between 1670 and 1807.
Two and a half years after opening in a prime space at 115 Pelham Road, 4 Aces Kitchen & Cocktails has closed its doors.

But the doors to the restaurant space will reopen soon. Owners plan to relaunch the restaurant as Capris Italian in January, bringing back a former Greenville classic.

The decision to change the concept comes as 4 Aces owners and veteran restaurateurs Trish Balentine and Roger Carlton were looking for a way to create a more family-oriented eatery. But the real push came from connecting with Dennis Evans, owner of Capris in Boiling Springs.

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Capris has been missed in Greenville; it was an icon, said Balentine, who grew up eating at the location on Stone Avenue as a child.

With the opening planned for Jan. 8, the three partners are bringing a beloved piece of restaurant history back to Greenville.

A piece of Greenville food history

Capris restaurant heralds to the 1940s, with Julius N. Capri, or J.N., and his wife, Helen. The two moved from Altoona, Pennsylvania, to Greenville when J.N. was stationed at Donaldson Air Force Base. Helen often cooked, and soon her reputation grew. She began feeding a growing number of northeastern airmen who missed good Italian food.

The first Capris opened on Augusta Road in the 1940s. The second opened on Stone Avenue in the 1950s. Thats the one Balentine remembers going to as a child. Her family of six would eat there almost weekly, relishing a chance to dine out, the ambiance of the restaurant and the food.

But we really have pieced together some really nostalgic things they had, Balentine said. And we are trying to give it that vibe so when people walk in theyre like, Oh yeah, Im back.

The family that owned Capris franchised it in the 1990s, and at one time there were as many as 10 in the Upstate, Evans said. But, over time, many closed. Today, there are several Capris still in existence in Easley and in Greenwood, plus Berea's and Evans restaurant in Boiling Springs.
South Carolina has one of the highest rates for flu infections in the country as the number of patients crowding into clinics and hospitals topped most recent seasons and six more people died.

Public health and hospital officials are calling for greater preventive measures, like vaccination and hand-washing, as some hospitals are seeing an increase in other respiratory diseases, such as COVID-19.

And this could just be the beginning, experts said.

The South Carolina Department of Health and Environmental Control reported that the percentage of people suffering influenza-like illness jumped to 17.5 percent for the week that ended Dec. 23 from 12.9 percent the prior week. That is the highest level the state has seen since the particularly heavy 2014-15 season, when that rate reached 24 percent.

DHEC also recorded six more deaths, raising the toll to 18 so far this season, including a child.

After seeing the number of people testing positive for flu climb to nearly 20 percent, Prisma Health began restricting visitors to those over age 16, said Dr. Helmut Albrecht, medical director of the Center of Infectious Diseases Research and Policy for Prisma Health and the University of South Carolina.

"Right now, the ER is not a safe place for visitors, and especially children," he said.

Since Thanksgiving, Trident Health in the Lowcountry has seen "a substantial increase" in the number of positive tests, which have climbed about 60 percent, as well as in patients hospitalized for flu, which is up almost 70 percent, said Dr. Jane Appleby, the chief medical officer for Trident. Some of those have ended up in the intensive care unit, she said.

But "the majority of (flu) patients are not requiring admission," Appleby said, about 10 percent of those who test positive at Trident.
COLUMBIA, S.C. - As part of an ongoing investigation related to a nationwide recall of cinnamon applesauce pouches mostly eaten by children, the South Carolina Department of Health and Environmental Control (DHEC) has had products that contained high levels of lead removed from store shelves Read moreDHEC investigating cases of lead exposure from cinnamon applesauce pouch products
Colliers International South Carolina, Inc. Board of Directors recently announced leadership changes in electing David M. Feild, CCIM, as its President. John W. Folsom, who has led the company as President for over 30 years, will continue as the companys Chief Executive Officer and Chairman Read moreColliers elects new president
CONWAY  Monica Williams wasnt at her Conway-area home as members of the NAACP gathered to push for a state hate crime bill.

Were fearful. Were nervous of being targeted. We dont really feel safe at the moment, she said from Charlotte on Dec. 27.

Last month, Williams and her husband welcomed family for a Thanksgiving gathering at what they had hoped would be their retirement home off S.C. 544. But on Nov. 24, their neighbors erected a cross, turned it to face the Williams home and burned it.

Even after police were called, one of the neighbors hurled racial slurs at the family, according to an Horry County police report.

Burning a cross on your own property isnt illegal, said Capt. Daniel Furr of the Horry County Police Department. Calling a neighbor a name isnt illegal either, he said.

But, Furr pointed out, when the burning cross is coupled with intimidation and threats it becomes an issue for the police.

The Williams family told police they had begun to fear for their safety because their neighbors had recently become more threatening, according to a police report. In a Facebook post, one neighbor wrote that he would be "summoning the devil's army and I dont (sic) care if they and I both go down in the same boat." In another post, the neighbor said he was about to "make them pay," referring to the Williams family.

The neighbors, Worden Butler and Alexis Hartnett, were arrested Nov. 30 and are facing misdemeanor harassment charges. Furr said the FBI is also investigating potential civil rights violations.

Butler and Hartnett are out on bond. Their attorney did not respond to requests for comment.

Meanwhile, the Williams family is worried about returning to Horry County.

Mentally and emotionally, its just really traumatic for us to even go back to the house, Williams said, adding they haven't decided if they will ever come back to the small neighborhood a few miles from downtown Conway. We want justice for the whole state because whos next? An interracial couple? A same sex couple?
Property tax incentives that have long been used to attract job-creating businesses also will now be used to encourage development of affordable housing, Charleston County Council has decided.

The hope is that a multiyear property tax reduction will prompt for-profit companies to include housing affordable to people with moderate to low incomes in new developments, with the tax break offsetting lower rent or sale prices on some units.

At the same time, a portion of the fees that would be collected in lieu of taxes would be set aside to help fund county affordable housing efforts.

The measure adopted by Charleston County says the incentives are desired "in order to further promote economic growth and thus enhance citizens quality of life within each of the counties."

It's a concept Greenville, Spartanburg and Richland counties previously embraced, using what's known as a "multi-county industrial park" tax break. Each handles the tax incentive structure a bit differently.

Around here we call it the county tax abatement," said Tina Belge, who handles public policy and advocacy for the Greenville Housing Fund, a nonprofit housing trust. A large part of this is creating a carve-out for a large developer to make 20 percent or more of their housing affordable."

In Greenville County, the tax relief varies depending on how much affordable housing is included in development and how that housing is priced for low to moderate incomes. For example, if 20 percent of the housing units are affordable to a mix of lower incomes  people earning 40, 60 and 80 percent of the median income  there's a 50 percent property tax break, Belge said.

How multicounty industrial park tax breaks broadly work is, affluent and financially struggling counties are paired up and can designate properties as being part of their "park," which cuts the property assessment rate and converts the tax to an annual fee.
When Ronald Smiths phone rang earlier this fall, he knew he needed to move quickly.

He had just launched a new hotline that people could dial when fights or gun violence threatened to break out in their community. That night, parents had called about two teenagers who were holding each other at gunpoint over a disagreement about some money.

Smith and a colleague were able to talk the two down without a trigger being pulled. They paid one of the kids what the other owed, settling the dispute.

We saved a life, Smith said.

This was just one of the first calls he received after launching his hotline aimed at interrupting violence. He has stopped fights and mitigated conflict in at least five instances, and he has plans to grow his reach in 2024.

Along with the hotline, Smith founded a nonprofit called Positive Vibes Interrupter to Violence. The goal of both is to stop the cycle of gun violence in North Charleston using a holistic model focused on deescalating and resolving conflict in each individual situation, he said.

Smith knows firsthand about how important it is to stop gun violence in North Charleston. His teenage daughter, Ronjanae Smith, died in the crossfire of a gang shooting during a block party in 2021. She was 14.

Though he previously spent several years in jail for selling drugs and said he was a user after his release in 2012, this marked a pivotal moment for Smith, who had grown up in the projects of North Charleston and was well known on its streets.

He was a big baller, he was the guy that youd see movies about, Mayor-elect Reggie Burgess said. Here he is, looking at his 14-year-old baby in a casket. His blessing is being able to talk about his hurt and explain what hes going through.

Smith first founded Positive Vibes Ronjanae Smith in 2021, which mentors young boys and supports victims of gun violence. The hotline supplements his mission by attempting to stop disputes before lives are lost.
As Gaza enters its 83rd day of Israel's brutal war, seven Palestinians were killed in an attack on Nuseirat camp, Israel expanded its ground operation into the center and continued artillery shelling in Khan Younis, while its forces raided the occupied West Bank cities, killing at least one Palestinian and injuring 15, while seizing $2.5 million from exchange shops.

22:00 A Hamas official said Thursday that the Palestinian group is open to any ideas or proposals for a complete and final cessation of aggression against our people in the Gaza Strip.

Osama Hamdan said the group is not interested in a partial or temporary cessation of aggression and reiterated the groups official position that the remaining hostages who have been held in Gaza since the group launched its Al-Aqsa flood operation against Israel would only be released after a permanent ceasefire is implemented.

Hamdan was responding to a question at a press conference about the ongoing discussions regarding a roadmap to end the Israel-Hamas war -- including a proposal Egypt recently suggested.

As for the enclaves post-war governance, Hamdan said it would be a decision of the Palestinian people alone and that Palestinians in Gaza would not accept a leadership that comes on the back of a Zionist or American tank or under the protection of this tank.

He reiterated the groups denial of a claim, made by a spokesman for Irans Revolutionary Guard on Wednesday, that the 7 Oct. Al-Aqsa Flood operation was launched in retaliation for the 2020 killing of Gen. Qassem Soleimani, head of Irans elite Quds Force, in a U.S. drone strike in Iraq.

Hamdan said the 7 Oct. operation was a Palestinian operation in planning, preparation, decision and implementation and was launched as the result of international collusion that tried to dispose of the Palestinian cause and in response to Israeli aggression.

20:15 More than 500 Israeli troops have been killed since the Israeli war on Gaza began on 7 October, Israel's military has said.

It added that more than 160 Israeli soldiers have been killed and 900 wounded since the beginning of Israel's ground offensive against Gaza in late October, as troops began engaging Hamas fighters in close combat.

17:30 The health ministry in the Gaza Strip said Thursday at least 21,320 people have been killed in the Palestinian territory since the Israeli war on Gaza erupted on 7 October.

Another 55,603 people have been wounded, Health Ministry Spokesman Ashraf al-Qudra said in a televised press conference, nearly 12 weeks into the fighting that followed Hamas's Al-Aqsa flood operation against Israel on 7 October.

Qudra said at least 210 people have been killed in Gaza over the past 24 hours, "including entire families".

The health ministry in a statement also raised the alarm over the spread of disease among children and the overall lack of water, food, and medicine in the besieged strip.

"The humanitarian and health conditions of the displaced have reached catastrophic levels," it said.

As the Israeli war raged in the southern city of Khan Yunis, health officials called for medical facilities to be protected.

"The Israeli occupation is repeatedly targeting the vicinity of Nasser Hospital and Al-Amal Hospital, affiliated with the Palestinian Red Crescent Society," the health ministry said.

Earlier Thursday, the Red Crescent said it feared that the intensification of deadly strikes near Al-Amal hospital could be "a prelude to targeting it directly".

Israel has vowed to destroy Hamas, and officials have said the war could last months more.

16:30 Israel has given preliminary approval to Cyprus for a maritime humanitarian corridor to ship aid to the besieged and war-torn Gaza Strip, the foreign ministry said on Thursday.

The proposal, in the works for more than a month, aims to deliver large quantities of badly needed aid to Palestinians in Gaza, where Israel has waged a nearly three-month war.

Gaza's 2.4 million people are suffering chronic shortages of water, food, fuel and medicine, with only limited aid entering the Palestinian coastal territory.

13:11 The UNRWA said that "Gaza is grappling with catastrophic hunger. 40 percent of the population are now at risk of famine."

"Every day is a struggle for survival, finding food and finding water," Thomas White, director of UNRWA affairs in Gaza was quoted as saying on X.

"The reality is, we need more aid. The only remaining hope is a humanitarian ceasefire."

"Every day is a struggle for survival, finding food and finding water" @TomWhiteGaza



#Gaza is grappling with catastrophic hunger. 40% of the population are now at risk of famine.



The reality is, we need more aid. The only remaining hope is a humanitarian #ceasefire https://t.co/8a5a4AjBt3  UNRWA (@UNRWA) December 28, 2023

13:00 Two more journalists have been killed in Israeli strikes in Gaza, raising the total death toll of journalists in the strip to 105, the Government Media Office said.

More than 30 people were killed in the Israeli occupation army attack on a residential square in Beit Lahiya, including photojournalist Ahmed Khair al-Din and journalist Mohammad Khair al-Din, Palestinian news agency Wafa reported.

Photojournalist Ahmad Maher Khair al-Din, killed along with journalist Mohammad Khair al-Din in the Israeli attack.

12:45 The Palestinian Monetary Authority (PMA) condemned the Israeli occupation army's raid on six exchange companies across multiple governorates in the West Bank.

The PMA asserted that Israel's objective was to undermine confidence in the Palestinian banking sector, emphasizing that these companies fell under its control and supervision, Wafa news agency reported.

The PMA said that Israel's actions violated international norms, laws, charters, and agreements noting its active engagement with relevant authorities to address this attack.

During the incursion, occupation forces targeted six exchange companies in different West Bank cities, apprehending several owners and forcibly seizing funds from their safes.

11:38 At least 50 Palestinians have been killed by Israeli strikes in Beit Lahia, Khan Younis and Maghazi camp, the health ministry said.

Meanwhile, a large fire broke out in Rafah after an Israeli strike targeted tents with displaced people in the Tal Al-Zohour neighbourhood.

Here are some of the photos coming from Gaza today.

Picture released by the Israeli army on December 28, shows troops on the ground in the Gaza Strip . AFP



People hang their laundry on makeshift shelters at a camp for displaced Palestinians in Rafah. AFP



People stand over the shrouded bodies of loved ones killed during Israeli bombardment at Nasser Hospital in Khan Yunis. AFP



Relatives mourn over the body of a loved one killed during Israeli bombardment at Nasser Hospital in Khan Yunis. AFP

11:29 The Palestinians in Gaza are forced to move again, the UNRWAs says.

"Evacuation order by Israeli authorities of middle Gaza causes ongoing forced displacement."

Over 150,000 people- young children, women carrying babies, people with disabilities and the elderly- have nowhere to go.

Forced to move again



Evacuation order by Israeli authorities of middle #Gaza causes ongoing forced displacement



Over 150,000 people- young children, women carrying babies, people with disabilities & the elderly- have nowhere to go



Only remaining hope is humanitarian #ceasefire pic.twitter.com/g26qi62Pro  UNRWA (@UNRWA) December 28, 2023

11:00 A UN report released today deplored "the rapidly deteriorating human rights situation in the occupied West Bank and East Jerusalem," since 7 October, and calls on Israel to "end unlawful killings and settler violence against the Palestinian population."

The report, released by the UN high commissioner for human rights (OHCHR) calls for "an immediate end to the use of military weapons and means during law enforcement operations, an end to arbitrary detention and ill-treatment of Palestinians, and the lifting of discriminatory movement restrictions,"

The OHCHR says it has verified the killing of 300 Palestinians, including 79 children, from 7 October to 27 December. Of these, Israeli Security Forces killed at least 291 Palestinians, terrorist settlers killed eight, and one Palestinian was killed either by Israeli Security Forces or settlers. Prior to 7 October, 200 Palestinians had already been killed in the area in 2023 - the highest number in a ten-month-period since the UN began keeping records in 2005.

The violations documented in this report repeat the pattern and nature of violations reported in the past in the context of the long-standing Israeli occupation of the West Bank. However, the intensity of the violence and repression is something that has not been seen in years, said UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Volker Turk, reflecting on the findings of the report.

The report described a sharp increase in airstrikes as well as in incursions by armoured personnel carriers and bulldozers sent to refugee camps and other densely populated areas in the West Bank, resulting in deaths, injuries and extensive damage to civilian objects and infrastructure. "These incursions, which continue to take place, have resulted in the death of at least 105 Palestinians, among them 23 children, since 7 October up to today."

Read the full report here.

Mourners carry the body of Hazem Qatawi (23), who was killed during an overnight raid by Israeli occupation forces in Ramallah, AFP.

10:52 A video released by the Palestinian Red Crescent depicts the aftermath of an Israeli strike near El Amal City Hospital in Khan Younis, that killed the a dozen individuals.

Among the wounded is a child, seen being hurried into an ambulance for immediate medical attention.

Dozens of martyrs and wounded, including children, in a bombardment near the PRCS Al-Amal Hospital in #KhanYounis.

 Filmed by: PRCS volunteer, Talat Alagha#NotATarget #IHL#AlAmalHospital pic.twitter.com/IeDFimctCK  PRCS (@PalestineRCS) December 28, 2023

10:50 "Day after day, the needs of Gazas war-ravaged people grow. Peril, ill-health, hunger, thirst, lack of shelterthese should not be the norm for millions of people. But sadly, they are," said Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, the Director-General of the World Health Organization (WHO).

"Security Council members must urgently turn their recent resolutionto create pauses in hostilities, and humanitarian corridorsinto reality in Gaza," he added in a post on X.

"Actions, not words, are what Gazas people need today. Above all, they need a #CeasefireNOW."

Day after day, the needs of #Gazas war-ravaged people grow. Peril, ill-health, hunger, thirst, lack of shelterthese should not be the norm for millions of people. But sadly, they are.@WHO and our partners have undertaken additional missions in northern and southern Gaza to https://t.co/nFcTylnGQ0 pic.twitter.com/pf1nHqoC9n  Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus (@DrTedros) December 27, 2023

10:32 According to an Al Jazeera correspondent, at least one person has been killed and several others were injured in an Israeli bombing targeting the Al-Wafiya neighborhood in Khan Yunis, in the southern part of the Gaza Strip.

9:55 There is "no difference" between what Israeli Premier Benjamin Netanyahu is doing in the months-long attacks on Gaza and what Nazi leader Adolf Hitler did decades ago, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said on Wednesday.

At a science awards ceremony in the capital Ankara, Erdogan stated, "How do you (Netanyahu) differ from Hitler? These (actions) will make us look for Hitler as well. Is there anything Netanyahu does that is less than Hitler? No", Anadolu news agency reported.

Just like 80 years ago in Nazi Germany, Erdogan said that today, scholars worldwide who have the courage to decry the oppression and persecution in Gaza are facing pressure and threats, referring to academics in the US and elsewhere being fired or censured for standing up for Palestinians.

Germany is still paying the price for Hitler's actions, he continued, adding, "That's why Germany remains silent ... but we don't owe anyone. We have no debts, it is the West that owes. Because of its debt, it cannot speak up."

A "witch hunt" has been initiated against anyone criticizing Israel, including students, in many internationally renowned educational institutions, he added.

Emphasizing that hospitals, schools, places of worship, and universities have been bombed and scientists in Gaza with their families were killed, Erdogan said almost 100 journalists trying to expose the" barbarity" in Gaza have been killed.

"We are following with a heavy heart the massacre of 2.5 million people confined to a narrow area of only 360 square kilometers," he continued, stating, "Despite the diplomatic efforts made by conscientious countries such as Turkey, unfortunately, we couldn't prevent the killing of hundreds of Gazans every day."

"Despite our aid, efforts, and contacts, as a Muslim and, most importantly, as a human being, we are experiencing the embarrassment of not being able to stop this oppression within our own conscience," Erdogan added.

9:45 Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov has emphasized the necessity of ending the ongoing "injustice" against Palestinians and breaking the enduring "vicious cycle of violence" that has afflicted generations of Palestinians.

It is necessary to cut the vicious cycle of violence, to remove the injustice that several generations of Palestinians have been suffering from, he said in an interview for Russian state news agency TASS.

This is the only way to achieve stabilization in the Palestinian-Israeli conflict area and in the entire Middle Eastern region in general.

9:40 The Palestine Red Crescent Society announced that 10 people have been killed and at least 12 injured in a Israeli bombing near its Al-Amal Hospital in Khan Younis.

 Urgent: 10 martyrs and 12 wounded in a bombardment near the PRCS Al-Amal Hospital in #KhanYounis.

This is the third targeting of the hospital surroundings in less than an hour.#AlAmalHospital#KhanYounis #NotATarget  pic.twitter.com/dgpPw0r5nz  PRCS (@PalestineRCS) December 28, 2023

9:15 French President Emmanuel Macron has demanded a lasting ceasefire in Gaza during a call with Israeli prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu, his office said.

France will work in the coming days in cooperation with Jordan to carry out humanitarian operations in Gaza, the French presidency added in a statement, according to AFP.

Macron, an ally of Netanyahu, told the Israeli premier of his "deepest concern" about civilian deaths and the humanitarian emergency in Gaza.

He also insisted on the importance of measures to end violence by Israeli settlers against Palestinian civilians in the occupied West Bank and prevent new planned settlements.

9:05 Israeli occupation forces raided Ramallah and other cities across the occupied West Bank, killing at least and injuring at least 15 others.

Israel raids targeted money exchange shops across several cities and seized about $2.5m.

In one case, Israeli forces blew up the safe of an exchange shop to confiscate the funds. So far, 10 raids have taken place in the cities of Ramallah, al-Bireh, Hebron, Halhul, Nablus, Jenin, Tulkarem and Jericho.

9:02 The Israeli army announced the deaths of three more soldiers in the Gaza Strip, bringing the total number killed to 167.

9:00 At least seven Palestinians have been killed in an Israeli attack on Nuseirat camp, as reported by the Palestinian news agency Wafa, as Israel expands ground operation into central Gaza.

Along the eastern border, the Israeli army continues its artillery shelling campaign, destroying more residential buildings in the eastern part of Khan Younis.

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Parenting these days is hard. Kids have phones and tablets in their hands at an early age, a fact that leaves parents like me worrying about whether our children are getting too much screen time and what they're stumbling onto online. Of course, technology comes with plenty of benefits, but  Read moreCommentary: Parents want to protect kids online, but SC device filter bill won't help
Nikki Haley had been forewarned that the Lexington County Republican powerbrokers she was about to meet were backing her primary opponent, South Carolinas longest-serving GOP state representative.

But Haley  brilliant white smile, jet-black hair and eager, outstretched hand  was unfazed.

She emerged from the meeting, as it later was recounted, with a contribution from each of the party grandees.

As those Republican leaders found out  and as the GOP voters of Iowa and New Hampshire now know  Haley is a brilliant retail politician.

The woman who went on to become S.C. governor and U.N. ambassador is also a grifter  albeit minor league compared to Donald Trump and his family and, Republicans argue, the family of President Joe Biden. She also has a ferocious temper and can be vindictive. Her relationship with the truth is occasionally suspect as well.

Politically, Haley is a shape-shifter.

A grifter? Consider:

 After her election to the S.C. House, Haley, whose finances were tenuous, landed a $110,000-a-year job with the Lexington Medical Center Foundation, an arm of a metro Columbia hospital. (Haleys 2008 job application said she made $125,000 a year; in reality, she was making a fifth of that amount.) At the foundation, Haley raised funds from lobbyists and companies, including payday lenders, with business before the Legislature. She also engaged, at least once, in vote counting on legislation of huge importance to Lexington Medical, a 2008 bill to allow it to expand its lucrative heart procedures.

 While a state representative, Haley also landed a then-unknown consulting contract  paying $48,000  with the now-defunct Wilbur Smith Associates engineering firm. When asked why Haley had been hired, a company official said: Her contacts, adding that her passive position landed no new business for the firm.
A lot of the news involving Colleton County Clerk of Court Rebecca Hill has been unpredictable: allegations of jury tampering in the Alex Murdaugh double-murder case; her sons arrest on charges of wiretapping, which got him fired from his job as the countys information technology director.

And of course Tuesdays blockbuster news that sales had been suspended on her controversial book about the trial because her co-author discovered she had plagiarized the introduction.

But probably the most disturbing news  and its news, not a mere allegation  is something we predicted at least one more county clerk of court would do if the S.C. Legislature didnt change state law: She gave herself a raise.

Indeed, it would surprise us if there arent other clerks of court who have done the same, following the example of Williamsburg County Clerk of Court Sharon Staggers, whose audacious 2021 decision to grant herself a $30,000 bonus revealed a problem in the law that the Legislature has failed for years to correct. So, predictably, we have another clerk of court deciding unilaterally how much she should be paid  something that no one who doesnt own their own business should be able to do.

Earlier this year, The Post and Couriers Thad Moore reports, Ms. Hill told the Colleton County finance director to include her in a list of staff members to whom she was awarding bonuses. Her requests for herself totaled at least $5,000  plus enough additional government funding to cover taxes, to ensure she got the full $5,000. At least one payment came from money Ms. Hill controlled under the same federal law that gave Ms. Staggers control over the money that she used to pay herself extra.
The Stratford High School wrestling team let one get away two days earlier, falling to top-ranked Summerville High School by a single point in a heartbreaker, and didnt exactly race out to a great start in the Region 6-5A opener. Read moreKnights pull away in Region 6-5A opener
FLORENCE  Construction continues at the new Food Lion at Florence Mall.

Food Lion leased the former Piggly Wiggly grocery store at the Florence Mall after it closed on May 21, 2022. The store sat vacant for months. Food Lion started renovations this past summer.

Food Lion External Communications Manager Katherine "KD" Kirby said Food Lion was planning an opening date for the Florence Mall location in the second half of 2024.

Piggly Wiggly had been an anchor store at the Florence Mall for more than 50 years before the mall's landlord exercised its option to end Piggly Wiggly's lease to put a larger grocery store chain in the location.

That chain is Food Lion.

Slim Chickens coming to Florence

FLORENCE  Slim Chickens is coming to Florence and will be located at 1530 S. Church St.

Larry Chandler, who owns multiple Firehouse Subs restaurants, and Tana Lee are starting a new adventure by opening their first Slim Chickens. Chandler has been in the restaurant business for 40 years and owns 38 Firehouse Subs restaurants in South Carolina and North Carolina.

Lee has worked with Chandler since 2021 as a general manager at Firehouse Subs. Chandler and Lee decided to partner with Slim Chickens after experiencing the chain's food and Southern hospitality. The Slim Chickens will create more than 75 jobs in Florence.

Slim Chickens features chicken tenders and wings, sandwiches, mac bowl meals, wraps, salads, chicken and waffles, Southern sides and house sauces.

It was founded in 2003 in Fayetteville, Ark., by Tom Gordon, Greg Smart and Ryan Hudson.

Trendy Twist Boutique headed downtown

FLORENCE  Trendy Twist Boutique will be moving from its 910 S. Cashua Drive store location to downtown Florence in January.

The new store will be located in the former home of MiLadies 182 women's clothing store at 182 W. Evans St.

Mother and daughter duo Gloria D. Anderson and Shereca R. Anderson opened the South Cashua Road store on May 5, 2018.
ROCK HILL  Trees cover between 40 and 45 percent of land within the city limits.

That's well above the tree canopy cover in urban and metropolitan areas across the U.S., at 27 percent and 33 percent, respectively, according to the Center for Watershed Protection. And it's comparable to nearby Charlotte, which has 45 percent coverage.

And increasing development has led city officials to come up with a plan to at least maintain the Rock Hill percentage. City Council passed that plan, the Urban Forest Master Plan, in early December.

"Trees are a very important part of the city," said Alex Boyce, a planner from the city's Planning and Zoning Department, which specializes in long-range strategy. "They have economic benefits in that they can increase property values if you live along a nice street line. They have air-quality benefits in terms of reducing pollution, stormwater benefits and mitigating runoff. There's recreational benefits  going out and walking along on a trail or river walk, for example."

There's also a cooling benefit from tree cover, said the Center for Watershed Protection, a nonprofit organization that works to advance clean water resources and healthy ecosystems.

The city used a mapping tool five years ago that showed the canopy was at 45 percent, Boyce said. Another tool was obtained thanks to a grant two years ago from the Green Infrastructure Center, which showed a 40 percent canopy in its mapping. The goal is to maintain those numbers.

"Moving forward, we'll use both (tools) as well as other metrics," Boyce said.

The Green Infrastructure Center is a Virginia-based not-for-profit institution that assists municipalities with conservation efforts.
Special Counsel Democratic Party activist Jack Smith has filed a motion in limine in his Washington, D.C. prosecution of Donald Trump for trying to reverse the apparent result of the 2020 election. The motion wont be heard for a while, as the case is now on appeal. But Smith is desperate to get it tried in time to imprison Trump, or at least convict him, before the election. So he is doing all he can to preserve the impression that the case is on track.

What is Smith asking the court to do? He wants to bar several categories of evidence that he thinks Trump and his lawyers may try to introduce, including any suggestion that Smiths prosecution is politically motivated. Smith invokes the danger of disinformation:

The Court should not permit the defendant to turn the courtroom into a forum in which he propagates irrelevant disinformation, and should reject his attempt to inject politics into this proceeding.

The idea that it is Trump who might attempt to inject politics into this proceeding is laugh-out-loud funny. Smiths appointment, and everything he has done since, has been a political act on behalf of the Democratic Party. Apparently everyone except the yet-to-be-empaneled jury knows this.

Hanging over the case is the still-unresolved question of the integrity of the 2020 election. Smiths motion includes references to Trumps ceaseless, knowingly false claims of election fraud. But Trumps claim that election fraud took place is not false at all, it is obviously true. The question is whether the volume of fraud was enough to swing any states electoral votes into Joe Bidens column. The Democrats tried hard to enable fraud by, among other things, illegally changing election laws through collusive lawsuits against Democratic secretaries of state.

Did the absurdly loose rules that governed the 2020 election enable enough illegal votes to swing one or more states? No one knows. While post-election lawsuits were thrown out on procedural grounds in a number of states, there is no state where the substantive issue of voter frauds effect on the election has been litigated. And, given the difficulty of detecting fraud when all safeguards have been removed, it probably cant be.

As I said in a post-election television interview, if the Democrats didnt steal the 2020 election, it wasnt for lack of trying. What we do know, however, is that the DemocratsJack Smithare desperate to squelch any discussion of that possibility.

Smiths motion is embedded below, and you can peruse it at your leisure. Smith knows he has a friendly judge, and he wants the court to resolve every questionable aspect of his prosecution in his favor, so that the jury need only rubber-stamp the guilty verdict implied by the courts rulings. This betrays a sad lack of confidence in his case, given that the jury in D.C. will likely consist entirely of Democrats, and mostly of Democratic partisans who hate Donald Trump. Can a guilty verdict possibly be in doubt? Smith apparently thinks so.
Colorados decision to ban Donald Trump from the states primary ballot, is legally untenable and is going to end up as a grievance that helps him, claims former U.S. Attorney General William Barr, author of One Damn Thing After Another: Memoirs of an Attorney General.

Back in his law school days, Barr applied for an internship with the Central Intelligence Agency, was admitted to the program, and continued to work in the CIAs Office of Legislative Counsel. Aside from Jimmy Carter pick Stansfield Turner, a disaster, CIA bosses come off pretty well in Barrs memoir.

John Brennan shows up on page 190 claiming that the CIA knew what the Russians were doing in the 2016 election. In the 1976 election, John Brennan voted for the Stalinist Gus Hall, candidate of the Communist Party USA, a wholly owned subsidiary of the Soviet Union. Barr is not curious why the CIA would hire such a person. The Gus Hall voter was a signatory to the letter calling the Hunter Biden laptop story an example of Russian disinformation.

Barr is also a big fan of Robert Mueller and deputy attorney general Rob Rosenstein, who appointed Mueller to investigate President Trump. Few can appreciate the complexities Rod faced during that tumultuous time, writes the former AG, and even fewer will know the important contributions he made to the administration and the country. None is mentioned, so the contributions probably werent important.

I had known [James] Comey for more than twenty years, Barr reveals, and helped him become US Attorney in New York. In 2016, Comey held a news conference sharply criticizing Clinton for her mishandling of classified emails. Readers might think that Barr, a former attorney general and CIA man, would outline some of the federal statutes the former First Lady violated.

Current FBI boss Christopher Wray, who denied any government spying on Trump, gets Barrs full approval. Barr tasked U.S. Attorney John Durham to look into the Russia hoax, but as Barrs memoir explains, I made it clear that neither President Obama nor Vice President Biden were in Durhams crosshairs. So for the Attorney General, some people are indeed above the law.

On October 24, 2020, Joe Biden said, We have put together the most extensive and inclusive voter fraud organization in the history of American politics. In a December 1 interview, Barr claimed To date, we have not seen fraud on a scale that could have affected a different outcome in the election. Barr failed to indicate what independent election investigations or audits he had conducted or consulted. A ballpark figure might be zero.

It is a horror show, you know, Barr said in Cleveland back in May. That was not about the ongoing train wreck of Joe Biden. It was what Barr believed would happen if Donald Trump was once again elected president. You may want his policies, Barr told reporters, but Trump will not deliver Trump policies, and so on. Thats quite the revelation from Barr, whose memoir skips an episode from his first stint as AG from 1991-1993.

In the Ruby Ridge siege of 1992, FBI sniper Lon Horiuchi killed Vicky Weaver as she held her infant child. Barr spent two weeks organizing former attorney generals to defend Horiuchi, who already had government lawyers working on his behalf. During his January 2019 confirmation hearings, James Bovard observed, nobody is asking about Barrs legal crusade for blanket immunity for federal agents who killed American citizens.

After that, defending corrupt FBI bosses was an easy call for William Barr. Everything within the deep state, nothing outside the deep state, and nothing against the deep state. Under the Barr code, the rights and choices of the people are, at best, a secondary concern. As the late Frank Zappa explained:
Americas PAC commissioned polling in Arizona by VCreek/AMG. The pollsters report is embedded below. It finds the GOP looking strong:

In a Head-to-Head ballot test, Trump leads Biden 46% to 41% with 5% Unsure and 8% indicating Neither even though Neither was not directly offered as an option. In a second scenario with Robert F. Kennedy, Jr. on the ballot, Trump dropped to 40%, Biden 35%, Kennedy 16%, Unsure 6% and Someone Else 3%. Here again, Someone Else was not directly offered as an option.

An interesting result that suggests Kennedy will draw from Trump and Biden about equally. Early polling tends to overestimate the strength of third-party candidates, but if the effect is neutral that probably becomes immaterial.

VCreek/AMG also polled the upcoming Senate race:

In a possible U.S. Senate General Election matchup, Kari Lake came out on top with 39%, Ruben Gallego 34%, Kyrsten Sinema 19%, Unsure 7% and Someone Else 1%.

The assumption here is that Gallego will win the Democratic nomination and Sinema will run as an independent. In a way, it is too bad: I would rather have a Republican in the seat, but would prefer Sinema to probably any other Democrat now in the Senate.

These results reflect the underlying strength of the GOP brand in Arizona:

At this point, Republican Candidates have an edge against Democrats in Arizona. Republican candidates in Arizona likely have a solid base of about 40%. The Biden/Democrat base wavers from a high of 41% to a low 30%.

As to the presidential race, the pollster warns that there are a lot of persuadable votersthe undecideds, plus those who volunteered Neither. He suggests that Trumps standing could decline between now and next November:

The 13% of currently uncommitted voters will be a key variable. A second is the potential for the news media to increase the volume of negative coverage of Trump. Arizona has ~3.4 Million Probable Presidential Year Voters. More than a 1,000,000 of Arizonas Probable Presidential Year Voters are registered as Independent/Unaffiliated/Other/Etc., who are the voters most susceptible to Negativity Bias. The current news media coverage of Trump is not nearly as negative and pervasive as it was in 2018 or even late 2020. The persuadable voters may have become immune to negative coverage of Trump, or it may shift them against Trump.

Can it possibly be true that recent news coverage of Trump has been less negative than in 2018 or 2020? It has mostly been about his criminal indictments. In any event, if press hostility could dampen support for Trump he would have disappeared from the scene long ago.

The election is a long way off, but if you are a Republican these results are good news from a swing state.
PR-Inside.com: 2023-12-28 13:00:37

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NEW YORK, NY / ACCESSWIRE / December 28, 2023 /BlueGrace Energy Bolivia (BGEB), in partnership with London-based MAXIMANCE 2030 LTD, recently announced a groundbreaking $2 billion forest conservation project. As indicated by Julio Jose Montenegro, CEO of BlueGrace Energy Bolivia (BGEB), this initiative, commencing on December 19, 2023, for a 10-year term, is a significant leap towards sustainable rainforest management and conservation. With an ISIN approval (ISIN UK.BG.MAX 785.985257), this project showcases BGEB's commitment to over 90% of the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and marks a milestone in its journey towards impactful investments and global market expansion.Building on this momentous announcement, we have more news to share regarding BGEB's commitment to sustainability. BGEB has been recently accepted as a participant in the United Nations Global Compact, joining a network of over 17,000 businesses and 4,000 organizations striving for a sustainable future.The United Nations Global Compact is the world's largest corporate sustainability initiative, guiding businesses towards universally accepted principles in human rights, labor, environment, and anti-corruption. BGEB's inclusion in this compact not only reinforces its dedication to sustainable business practices but also positions it as a key player in the global movement towards ethical and responsible business conduct.Linking Conservation Efforts with Global StandardsThe alignment of BGEB's forest conservation project with its participation in the UN Global Compact reflects a strategic and comprehensive approach to sustainability. By engaging in one of the world's most ambitious conservation efforts and committing to the Compact's principles, BGEB is setting a standard for how businesses can effectively contribute to global sustainability goals.As BGEB moves forward with these initiatives, it continues to demonstrate its role as a leader in sustainable business practices, fostering collaboration and innovation to bring about meaningful change in markets and societies worldwide. These efforts illustrate a clear and compelling narrative of a company deeply committed to aligning its operations with global sustainability objectives and ethical standards.Aligned with the UN's environmental conservation and sustainable energy requirements, BlueGrace Energy Bolivia is spearheading an extraordinary project to conserve 20.5 million acres of the Amazon Rainforest in Bolivia. This project, the largest of its kind, reflects a robust commitment to protecting the Amazon Rainforest and advancing clean energy solutions in line with the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) through the Tokenization of SDG Bonds and Natural Forest Capital Assets.The urgent need for sustainable progressIn a recent development highlighting the urgent need for sustainable progress, the Economic Commission for Latin America and the Caribbean (ECLAC) released an analysis indicating that the region must accelerate its efforts to meet the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) of Agenda 2030. Only 24.6% of the targets are currently on track to be achieved, necessitating more robust and transformative actions. Amidst this critical backdrop, BlueGrace Energy Bolivia (BGEB) has been recognized and accepted by ECLAC as part of this ambitious agenda. This acknowledgment not only reaffirms BGEB's commitment to sustainable practices and principles but also places it at the forefront of driving change and innovation in the region's quest for a sustainable and equitable future.Utilizing advanced technologies like artificial intelligence and satellite imagery to precisely quantify carbon credits, this initiative will make a substantial contribution to global climate goals.As the demand for personalized carbon offsetting grows globally, individuals and stakeholders are increasingly aware of their role in addressing climate change. The carbon credits market is projected to reach $100 billion by 2030. Nature-based credits are gaining prominence due to rising corporate demand and tightening regulations. Bloomberg's report emphasizes the importance of carbon credits in attaining net-zero emissions. The goal of limiting global warming to 1.5C by 2030 requires $44 trillion in renewable energy investments. Over 6,323 entities are actively pursuing emission reduction through the Science-Based Targets Initiative. Major financial institutions like Citi Group and JP Morgan are significantly investing in carbon credits, demonstrating the intersection of finance and environmental action.BGEB's partnerships extend beyond environmental goals, forming strategic alliances with influential entities such as the Capital Market Association (ICMA), a renowned non-profit headquartered in Zurich with a global presence in London, Paris, Brussels, and Hong Kong. These collaborations are focused on empowering indigenous communities through comprehensive social initiatives. By enhancing access to education, healthcare, and infrastructure, BGEB is committed to fostering community development alongside its environmental efforts. This integrated approach, which marries environmental conservation with the transition to clean energy and community empowerment, establishes BGEB as a frontrunner in both ecological preservation and clean energy innovation within Bolivia.These alliances underscore the ongoing importance of the partnership as it strives towards a sustainable and carbon-neutral future, serving as a compelling example of what collective action and innovation can accomplish.About BlueGrace Energy Bolivia:BlueGrace Energy Bolivia, a global consortium of energy experts, is committed to advancing the transition to a net-zero future in response to climate change challenges. Our team specializes in clean and renewable energy, boasting decades of experience in pioneering 21st-century energy transition projects. Grounded in professional expertise and unwavering integrity, we aim to create genuine value for business and society. Learn more at https://bluegracebolivia.com/ For further information, please contact:JULIO JOSE MONTENEGRO jmontenegro@ bluegracebolivia.com +1 (305) 972-6173 (Miami - EE.UU.) NELSON PINEDA MARTINEZ nelopineda@ bluegracebolivia.com +591 714-72257 (Bolivia)For all media inquiries, please contact:Ivan Linde ivan.linde@bluegracebolivia.com +1 (786) 273-7068 (Miami - EE.UU.) DisclaimerThis announcement is solely for informational use and should not be viewed as financial, legal, or investment guidance. It includes projections and statements that aren't based on past events. Any statement in this release that isn't a historical fact is a projection. Readers should be aware that the basis for these projections might be incorrect a
PR-Inside.com: 2023-12-28 15:40:30

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SAN FRANCISCO, CA / ACCESSWIRE / December 28, 2023 / National plaintiffs law firm Lieff Cabraser Heimann & Bernstein, LLP encourages investors in ChargePoint Holdings, Inc. ("ChargePoint" or the "Company") (NYSE:CHPT) who suffered losses from purchasing or otherwise acquiring the securities of ChargePoint between June 1, 2023 and November 16, 2023 to contact us immediately regarding a pending securities fraud class action against ChargePoint. The deadline to apply to be lead plaintiff is January 29, 2024.Class Period: June 1, 2023 - November 16, 2023Lead Plaintiff Motion Deadline: January 29, 2024Case information: lieffcabraser.com/securities/chargepoint Contact us: Email or text investorinfo@ lchb.com or call 1-800-541-7358ChargePoint is an electric vehicle infrastructure company. Its core business involves providing networked solutions for charging electric vehicles, including the ChargePoint cloud subscription platform and charging hardware.The action alleges ChargePoint made false and/or misleading statements and/or failed to disclose that it was experiencing elevated component costs and supply overruns for first generation direct current ("DC") charging products and, as a result, the Company's business and prospects were much worse than defendants claimed.On September 6, 2023, after the market closed, ChargePoint reported its second quarter fiscal year 2024 financial results, including an "$28.0 million, or 19 percentage point, inventory impairment charge." The Company stated the "inventory impairment charge was taken to address legacy supply chain-related costs and supply overruns on a particular DC product." As a result, ChargePoint reported a second quarter generally accepted accounting principles ("GAAP") gross margin of 1%, down from 17% in the prior year's same quarter. On this news, the Company's share price declined $0.77 per share, or 11%, from its closing price of $7.06 on September 6, 2023, to close at $6.29 per share on September 7, 2023, on unusually heavy trading volume.Then, on November 16, 2023, after the market closed, ChargePoint released preliminary financial results for the third quarter of fiscal year 2024, which included an "additional non-cash inventory impairment charge" in the amount of $42 million "related to product transitions and to better align inventory with current demand." As a result, the Company expected to report "GAAP gross margin of negative 23% to negative 21%." ChargePoint also reported revenue had fallen to "$108 million to $113 million, as compared to $150 to $165 million as previously expected." Moreover, the Company's Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer were both replaced, effective immediately. On this news, the ChargePoint's share price declined $1.11 per share, or 35%, from its closing price of $3.13 on November 16, 2023, to close at $2.02 per share on November 17, 2023, on unusually heavy trading volume.About Lieff CabraserLieff Cabraser Heimann & Bernstein, LLP, with over 120 attorneys in offices in San Francisco, New York, Nashville, and Munich, Germany, is an internationally recognized law firm committed to advancing the rights of investors and promoting corporate responsibility. Recognized as a "Plaintiffs' Powerhouse" by Law360, Lieff Cabraser has litigated some of the most important civil cases in the United States, and has assisted clients in recovering over $129 billion in verdicts and settlements. For over 50 years, Lieff Cabraser has remained committed to ensuring access to justice for all.Source/ContactSharon LeeLieff Cabraser Heimann & Bernstein, LLP415 956-1000 slee@ lchb.com SOURCE: Lieff Cabraser Heimann & Bernstein
PR-Inside.com: 2023-12-28 22:10:14

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VANCOUVER, BC / ACCESSWIRE / December 28, 2023 / Cypher Metaverse Inc. (CSE:CODE) ("CODE" or the "Company") is please to announce that it has closed its previously announced non-brokered private placement of 2,325,000 units ("Units") at a price of $0.12 per Unit for aggregate gross proceeds of $279,000 (the "Financing").Under the Financing, each Unit consists of one common share in the capital of the Company ("Common Share") and one-half of one Common Share purchase warrant (each whole warrant, a "Warrant"). Each whole Warrant entitles the holder thereof to subscribe for one additional Common Share at a price of $0.15 for a period of two years from the date of closing, subject to the Company's option to accelerate the expiry date if the stock trades at $0.20 for ten trading days.In connection with the Financing, the Company paid finder's fees to qualified finders in the amount of $18,755 and issued 156,300 broker warrants (the "Broker Warrants"). The Broker Warrants are subject to the same terms as the Warrants.In accordance with the policies of the Canadian Securities Exchange (the "CSE") and applicable securities legislation, the Common Shares and Warrants comprising the Units will be subject to a four-month and one-day hold period.The Company intends to use the net proceeds of the Financing for the acquisition of Agapi Luxury Brands Inc. ("Agapi"). Pursuant to the Company's agreement to loan Agapi funds as it works through the CSE's RTO process, the Company has now loaned Agapi a total of $886,692 to advance its business plan.About Cypher Metaverse Inc.CODE seeks early-stage investments in emerging technology sectors, including the blockchain ecosystem, fintech and the metaverse. The Company identifies such opportunities and applies its relationships and capital to advance its interests.The Company's head office is located at 1780-355 Burrard Street, Vancouver, BC, V6C 2C8, and its Common Shares are currently listed on the CSE. CODE is a reporting issuer in the Provinces of British Columbia, Alberta, and Ontario.Contact InformationFor further information, please contact:Cypher Metaverse Inc.Brian Keane - DirectorPhone: Toll-Free (877) 806-CODE (2633) or 1 (778) 806-5150Neither 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.SOURCE: Cypher Metaverse Inc.
PR-Inside.com: 2023-12-28 14:00:32

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NEW YORK, NY / ACCESSWIRE / December 28, 2023 / Bronstein, Gewirtz & Grossman, LLC a nationally recognized law firm, notifies investors that a class action lawsuit has been filed against Dollar General Corporation ("Dollar General" or "the Company") (NYSE:DG) and certain of its officers.Class Definition:This lawsuit seeks to recover damages against Defendants for alleged violations of the federal securities laws on behalf of all persons and entities that purchased or otherwise acquired Dollar General securities between May 28, 2020 and August 30, 2023, inclusive (the "Class Period"). Such investors are encouraged to join this case by visiting the firm's site: bgandg.com/dg Case Details:The Complaint alleges that defendants throughout the Class Period made false and/or misleading statements and/or failed to disclose that: (i) Dollar General stores were chronically understaffed and suffering from logistical and inventory management problems which left stores with tens of millions of dollars' worth of outdated and unwanted inventory, mispriced goods, and lost and damaged items; (ii) large backlogs of unsellable merchandise had built up at Dollar General's stores, which inventory had not been timely written down due to understaffing and Dollar General's failure to manage its inventory; (iii) the allotment of employee hours per store per week imposed by Dollar General management placed employees in virtually impossible situations where assigned tasks, including those necessary to effective store operations, could not be completed within the allotted time; (iv) Dollar General was systematically overcharging customers for items upon checkout above the listed price in violation of state laws, including state law violations identified by state regulators in Arizona, Louisiana, Mississippi, Missouri, North Carolina, and Ohio; (v) Dollar General's reported revenue and earnings during the Class Period were artificially inflated by defendants' over-pricing scheme; (vi) Dollar General's failure to manage store inventories and accurately price items upon checkout risked the loss of customers, lower sales, adverse regulatory actions, and reputational fallout; and (vii) Dollar General was not on track to achieve its guidance during the Class Period and such guidance lacked a reasonable factual basis.What's Next?A class action lawsuit has already been filed. If you wish to review a copy of the Complaint, you can visit the firm's site: bgandg.com/dg or you may contact Peretz Bronstein, Esq. or his Law Clerk and Client Relations Manager, Yael Nathanson of Bronstein, Gewirtz & Grossman, LLC at 332-239-2660. If you suffered a loss in Dollar General you have until January 26, 2024, to request that the Court appoint you as lead plaintiff. Your ability to share in any recovery doesn't require that you serve as a lead plaintiff.There is No Cost to YouWe represent investors in class actions on a contingency fee basis. That means we will ask the court to reimburse us for out-of-pocket expenses and attorneys' fees, usually a percentage of the total recovery, only if we are successful.Why Bronstein, Gewirtz & Grossman:Bronstein, Gewirtz & Grossman, LLC is a nationally recognized firm that represents investors in securities fraud class actions and shareholder derivative suits. Our firm has recovered hundreds of millions of dollars for investors nationwide.Attorney advertising. Prior results do not guarantee similar outcomes.Contact:Bronstein, Gewirtz & Grossman, LLCPeretz Bronstein or Yael Nathanson332-239-2660 | info@ bgandg.com SOURCE: Bronstein, Gewirtz & Grossman, LLC
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By Thomas BrownOriginally published by Team RubiconNORTHAMPTON, MA / ACCESSWIRE / December 28, 2023 / New no-cost trainings are bolstering disaster management capabilities within at-risk communities and providing them the ability to plan for future crises on their own.For a community to effectively respond to and recover from disaster, that community must first understand its capabilities before the disaster happens. Decades of research demonstrate that every dollar a community spends on disaster preparedness can save anywhere from $4 to $11 in response or recovery costs. One of just three nongovernmental organizations nationwide to have a memorandum of agreement with FEMA, Team Rubicon has extensive experience and recognized expertise in disaster management and preparedness. Sharing that expertise in a professional setting is one of the most valuable services Team Rubicon offers vulnerable communities.As a longtime sponsor of Team Rubicon, FedEx has helped countless communities after disasters across America. Team Rubicon's mission, however, is to serve global communities before, during, and after disasters and crises, and FedEx's partnership extends into supporting the before phase as well. Disaster preparedness exercises are one of the most effective ways that Team Rubicon reduces the impact of disasters on vulnerable communities: by bolstering the disaster management capacity in those communities. FedEx is a crucial ally in providing communities at risk with the knowledge and training to successfully plan for future crises.How Communities Benefit from Disaster Preparedness ExercisesMany communities lack the resources to conduct disaster exercises effectively; community leaders need significant time, money, and trained personnel in order to practice their disaster-management strategies. Team Rubicon Greyshirts regularly conduct disaster preparedness exercises across the country for a wide variety of threats, from wildfires to floods-whatever hazard a community could face-all of which are run by Master Exercise Practitioners. Master Exercise Practitioners are FEMA-trained and -certified exercise managers. They are professionals with advanced knowledge and skills in emergency management exercise design, conduct, and evaluation. The professional structure of an experienced team can lead to great potential savings for communities that lack the resources to perform their own exercises."Most of the areas that we go to don't have adequate funding or staff," said Michael Brady, one of Team Rubicon's Master Exercise Practitioners, "and our ability to bring these simulations at no cost to the community, along with our experience and certification, helps them build their capabilities." Building capacity begins with identifying disaster preparedness deficiencies, such as a lack of appropriate response equipment, an inadequate communications system, or staff without the necessary training to respond to a disaster. One of the primary advantages of these simulations is that they offer a no-fault, low-cost environment in which to stress-test a community's disaster plans. Another advantage of these exercises is that the benefits scale up for tinier communities, says Team Rubicon's Exercise & Field Leadership Manager, Greg Ramoni. "The smaller the community, the more time- and cost-prohibitive such an exercise is and so the greater the benefits to the community become." Most recently, this was the case for a small college in Wisconsin. In October of 2023, Team Rubicon helped the college conduct a tabletop exercise-a classroom-style simulation in which participants discuss their roles during a specific potential emergency and their responses to that particular scenario-for an active shooter situation."This is a small school," explains Brady, "the impact on them, if there's an active shooter, is going to be massive because they don't have the resources like a big state university. By us going down there, we gave them close to that level of preparedness." By coming in as a neutral party Team Rubicon helps emergency managers and community leaders identify gaps in their planning, potentially saving time, money, and lives when a disaster does strike. As professionals from outside the community, Team Rubicon's Master Exercise Practitioners provide expert analysis and testing that would otherwise be too expensive for many communities to afford. Thanks to FedEx, the costs and basic logistics of setting up and running an exercise don't get handed off to the communities, either. Exercises demand paperwork, forms, posters, handouts, and more. "Every exercise we do," said Brady, "there's, at the very least, 1117 handouts printed with all the exercise scenario information, all right out of a FedEx Office." Preparing for the Worst, AnywhereThe potential benefits of these simulations may be larger for smaller communities, but because Team Rubicon's disaster preparedness exercises are based on the Homeland Security Exercise and Evaluation Program (HSEEP), they provide actionable lessons for communities of all sizes. Additionally, as a nationally recognized set of best practices, guiding principles, and performance guidelines, the HSEEP methodology is designed to be appropriate for all kinds of disasters-from cyclones and blizzards to wildfires to hurricanes and everything in between.Toward the end of 2022, Team Rubicon participated in a full-scale nuclear disaster simulation in Atlanta with around 40 federal, military, state, local, and nonprofit agencies and organizations. "This gives us the ability to really respond to any situation," said Chayne Sparagowski with the Atlanta-Fulton County Emergency Management Agency to Atlanta News First, "whether it's a national disaster that occurs and we need to bring in some of these folks or something worse like a chemical, radiological, nuclear event." Team Rubicon's emergency planning assistance isn't limited to planning for domestic disasters. In the summer of 2023, Michael Brady and another Greyshirt flew to Colombia to lead a three-day disaster preparedness exercise, something the Colombian government had never done before. "Not only had they never run an exercise," said Brady, "but should a major disaster strike, the government doesn't have the infrastructure or capacity to quickly access many areas of the country; rural and remote communities will be on their own after a disaster. We empowered them to develop their own local exercises and their own local response using the templates that we shared with them." Team Rubicon's exercises run the gamut from a functional, full-scale exercise to classroom seminars to small workshops; all of them allow community leaders to test
PR-Inside.com: 2023-12-28 18:46:13

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NORTHAMPTON, MA / ACCESSWIRE / December 28, 2023 /Southern CompanyEPRI and Southern Company recently announced the plenary speakers for the Electrification International Conference & Exposition, scheduled for March 12-14, 2024, in Savannah, Ga. Kicking off the event will be EPRI President and CEO Arshad Mansoor, and Southern Company President and CEO Chris Womack.EPRI's Electrification conference is the only event that brings together the entire ecosystem of electric technologies and stakeholders to collaborate around e-mobility (consumer and fleet vehicles and infrastructure), residential and commercial building decarbonization, industrial applications, agriculture, policy, regulatory developments, and more. It features a comprehensive agenda with expert speakers, an all-encompassing exhibit hall and multiple networking functions."By joining Electrification 2024, attendees will learn about the innovations shaping electrification and decarbonization, as well as the processes and policies that could facilitate our electrified future," said Mansoor. "Electrification 2024 is the go-to event for innovators and decision-makers from across the electrification spectrum. All sectors must work together to achieve solutions that are practicable and scalable to meet decarbonization goals and the needs of every community." Plenary speakers include representatives from companies like Amazon, the U.S. Department of Energy, Daimler Truck, Exelon, and many more, participating in panel topics including Driving Community Equity Through Electrification, Putting Equity to Work in the Community, and Policy Implications for an Electrified Future. The event offers a comprehensive agenda with eight diverse tracks covering industrial, decarbonized transportation, smart and decarbonized buildings, people and communities, low-carbon fuels in electrification, electrification and grid impacts, and controlled environment agriculture."Southern Company is excited to host Electrification 2024 in the state of Georgia, where we are honored to serve millions of customers with their energy needs," said Womack. "Collaboration and education are foundational principles of the innovation we are cultivating as we work together toward a net zero future." "As a founding member of EPRI, Southern Company is proud to take a leadership role in Electrification 2024," said Dr. Mark S. Berry, senior vice president of Southern Company research and development. "We look forward to promoting an open dialogue that will advance impactful new technologies for the benefit of the customers and communities we serve." To receive updates on Electrification 2024, sign up for EPRI's Electrification Events email list. Credentialed reporters can obtain a free pass to attend the event.Follow #ElectricTogether on LinkedIn and X to see stories of the "Humans of Electrification," highlighting the people in the industry and their personal stories, demonstrating the breadth, depth, and diversity of this community.View additional multimedia and more ESG storytelling from Southern Company on 3 blmedia.com Contact Info: Spokesperson: Southern CompanyWebsite: https://www.3blmedia.com/profiles/southern-company Email: info@3 blmedia.com SOURCE: Southern Company
PR-Inside.com: 2023-12-28 15:32:24

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In Tennessee, the Highlands Training Center is tackling poverty through training, skills development and workforce re-entryNORTHAMPTON, MA / ACCESSWIRE / December 27, 2023 / TheHighlands Training Centerwas born with a clear goal.Bring 1,600 local children out of poverty by 2025."Our goal number is just 10% of the children currently living in poverty in the Upper Cumberland region," says Ryan Barnhart, executive director of the Highlands Training Center. "We're working with almost 800 families, including parents and grandparents, to bring these kids out of poverty over the next three years." The Upper Cumberland region of Tennessee faces a high youth poverty rate, which as of 2020 sat at 24.6% for infants, children and teens aged up to 17-about7% higherthan the national average.After receiving a significant grant from a federal government program in 2022, theHighlands Economic Partnership (HEP)was "hot on the trail" to open up a training facility in Cookville, TN this year.As the result of a collaboration between HEP and Empower Upper Cumberland (UC), the Highlands Training Center emerged-and now offers programs to people in four key counties that identify key employment gaps and provide essential skills training to encourage workforce participation."These individuals have so many barriers to overcome just to get inside these doors," says Barnhart. "Things like transportation, child care, housing, mental health issues-we want to give these people opportunities that they may never have had before." The Highlands group's job training program focuses on helping people who are on or eligible for government-assisted programs.This year, Enbridge entered into a multi-year commitment to give $20,000 annually to the Highlands Economic Partnership as part of our commitment tobuilding vibrantandsustainable communitiesnear our operations. TheFueling Futures fundinghelps to keep the training center operational and also supports the My Work Ready program.My Work Ready is a 32-hour coursethat helps participants realize their strengths and interests while improving financial literacy and equipping them for not only participation, but success, in the workforce. Soft skills are also a major focus of the program."It's a two-way street," says Barnhart. "The program not only helps our participants; we feel as though we're helping to fill employment voids with the best possible employees out there." The facility opened its doors to its first participants this summer, with nine inaugural enrolments into the program. Twelve participants have already completed the program and qualify for graduation this year.The My Work Ready program is accredited through the state's Department of Higher Education, meaning graduates can go to potential employers with a certificate in hand that verifies their work readiness and ultimately boosts their chances of employment."Our hope," says Barnhart, "is that each participant that comes through the Highlands Training Center will learn how to work hard, create success, and live happy." View additional multimedia and more ESG storytelling from Enbridge on 3 blmedia.com Contact Info: Spokesperson: EnbridgeWebsite: https://www.3blmedia.com/profiles/enbridge Email: info@3 blmedia.com SOURCE: Enbridge
PR-Inside.com: 2023-12-28 17:01:04

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ATLANTA, GA / ACCESSWIRE / December 28, 2023 / In 1995,The Millennia Companies(Millennia) embarked on a mission to create positive change and opportunities for families across the United States through affordable housing. Since its conception,Millenniahas been dedicated to improving the lives and living conditions of those living in historically-neglected, low-income housing by transforming communities through substantial renovations and community services. More than two and a half decades later, the impact ofMillennia 's transformative initiatives is exemplified in theVillages of Hanna , a testament to the company's commitment to rejuvenating communities and providing housing solutions for families of all income levels.A Vision RealizedMillennia 's expansive portfolio encompasses more than 275 multifamily residential communities in 26 states, with over 100 apartment developments undergoing transformative rehabilitations. Among these, aMillenniaexecutive noted that The Villages of Hanna stands out as an example of the company's dedication to creating vibrant, comfortable living spaces for diverse communities.Villages of Hanna: A Renewed HavenThe Villages of Hanna, nestled in the heart of Fort Wayne, Indiana, has undergone a remarkable transformation. With a total project budget of $17.5 million, the community has been redesigned to offer spacious one, two, and three-bedroom apartment homes, carefully crafted with the comfort and convenience of residents in mind.Modern Amenities for Modern LivingThe revitalization efforts at the Villages of Hanna extend beyond aesthetics to include a host of modern amenities. Residents now enjoy newly renovated units, on-site laundry facilities, an exercise room, a playground for children, and a community room for events. These additions not only enhance the quality of life for current residents but also contribute to fostering a sense of community within the Villages of Hanna.Ideal Location for City LivingStrategically situated, the Villages of Hanna offer the benefits of community living while being just minutes away from downtown Fort Wayne. Residents have easy access to the best the area has to offer, including proximity to Glenbrook Mall, Indiana Tech College, shopping districts, the Fort Wayne Children's Zoo, and various family-friendly sites.Inclusivity through Income EligibilityAMillenniaexecutive emphasized, "A key aspect of the Villages of Hanna's transformation lies in its commitment to inclusivity." The community participates in the rental assistance program in Fort Wayne, ensuring that households earning up to specified income limits are eligible for units. The Low-Income Housing Tax Credit (LIHTC) program has played a pivotal role in making housingaffordablefor lower-income households. Units set aside for this purpose have rents capped at a maximum of 30% of the set-aside area median income, adjusted for unit size.A Model for Transformative RevitalizationThe story of the Villages of Hanna serves as a compelling case study in community revitalization.Millennia'scommitment to providing housing opportunities for families of all income levels, coupled with strategic planning and thoughtful execution, has resulted in a community that not only meets residents' basic needs but also fosters a sense of belonging and pride. As the Villages of Hanna continue to thrive, it stands as a model for transformative revitalization.Villages of Hanna Before RevitalizationVillages of Hanna After RevitalizationCONTACT:Andrew Mitchell media@ cambridgeglobal.com SOURCE: Cambridge Global
PR-Inside.com: 2023-12-28 22:30:56

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VANCOUVER, BC / ACCESSWIRE / December 28, 2023 / Pegasus Resources Inc. (TSXV:PEGA)(Frankfurt:0QS0),(OTC PINK:SLTFF) (the "Company" or "Pegasus") is delighted to announce the successful closure of its non-brokered private placement financings, as previously disclosed on November 10, 2023. The Company has raised gross proceeds totalling $659,140, issuing a total of 3,870,875 units of common shares.The offering comprises 2,875,875 non-flow-through units (NFT) generating $460,140 at a price of $0.16 per Common Share and 995,000 Flow-Through units (FT) generating $199,000 at a price of $0.20 per FT Share. Notably, Pegasus' Director, Noah Komavli, subscribed for $3,000 in the NFT Offering.Each NFT unit consists of one common share and one transferrable common share purchase warrant, enabling the holder to purchase one common share at an exercise price of $0.20, expiring on December 29, 2025. The proceeds from the NFT Offering will be allocated towards the exploration of the Company's mineral properties and general operational expenses.Each FT Unit (FT) consists of one flow-through common share of the Company and one non-flow-through common share purchase warrant with each FT Warrant exercisable to purchase one non-flow-through common share of the Company at $0.28 for two years from the date of issue.The Company intends to use the gross proceeds of the FT Offering to incur "Canadian exploration expenses" and "flow-through critical mineral mining expenditures" as defined in the Income Tax Act (Canada) and proposed amendments thereto on its Saskatchewan Athabasca Basin property Pine Channel.Finders' fees of $28,665 in cash plus $7,350 administration fees and 163,931 broker warrants were paid to arm's length parties. Shares issued pursuant to the Financing will be subject to a statutory hold period of four months plus a day from the date of issuance, according to the applicable security laws of Canada.The Financing constitutes a "related party transaction" within the meaning of TSXV Policy 5.9 and Multilateral Instrument 61-101 Protection of Minority Security Holders in Special Transactions ("MI 61-101") because Insider of the Company, Noah Komavli, participated in the Financing and have acquired NFT Units as is equal to $3,000 in connection with the Financing. The Company has relied on exemptions from the formal valuation and minority shareholder approval requirements of MI 61-101 contained in sections 5.5(a) and 5.7(1)(a) of MI 61-101 in respect of the Financing as the fair market value (as determined under MI 61-101) of the Insider participation in the Financing is below 25% of the Company's market capitalization (as determined in accordance with MI 61-101).About Pegasus Resources Inc.Pegasus Resources Inc. is a diversified Junior Canadian Mineral Exploration Company with a focus on uranium, gold, and base metal properties in North America. The Company is also actively pursuing the right opportunity in other resources to enhance shareholder value. For additional information, please visit the Company at www.pegasusresourcesinc.com On Behalf of the Board of Directors:Christian TimminsPresident, CEO and DirectorPegasus Resources Inc.700 - 838 West Hastings StreetVancouver, BC V6C 0A6PH: 1-403-597-3410X: https://twitter.com/MrChris_Timmins X: https://twitter.com/pegasusresinc E: info@ pegasusresourcesinc.com Neither the TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accept responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.Forward Looking StatementsStatements included in this announcement, including statements concerning the Company's plans, intentions, and expectations, which are not historical in nature are intended to be, and are hereby identified as, "forward-looking statements." Forward-looking statements may be identified by words including "anticipates," "believes," "intends," "estimates," "expects" and similar expressions. The Company cautions readers that forward-looking statements, including without limitation those relating to the Company's future operations and business prospects, are subject to certain risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from those indicated in the forward-looking statements.SOURCE: Pegasus Resources Inc.
PR-Inside.com: 2023-12-28 14:00:20

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PHOENIX, AZ / ACCESSWIRE / December 28, 2023 / SinglePoint Inc. (Cboe:SING) ("SinglePoint'' or "the Company'') a provider in renewable energy, energy supply and healthy building solutions is delighted to announce the appointment of Tony Thomas to its Board of Directors.Mr. Thomas brings a wealth of experience and expertise in strategic advisory, investment, and board governance. Mr. Thomas serves as a Managing Director and Head of the financial advisory and asset management practice of Harbor Bankshares Capital Corporation (HBCC), a wholly owned subsidiary of Harbor Bankshares Corporation.Before joining Harbor Bankshares, Mr. Thomas was a founding Managing Director of SCI Ventures, a family office investing primarily in media, communications and technology companies and a General Partner of Syncom Venture Management, a manager of institutional venture capital funds. As a senior member of the management teams at SCI Ventures and Syncom Venture Management, Mr. Thomas was integral in managing over $500 million in investments. His responsibilities have spanned from sourcing investments to serving on the Boards of Directors of portfolio companies, providing comprehensive management services, and stepping in as an interim executive when needed.Over the course of his career, Mr. Thomas has demonstrated exceptional skill in managing portfolio company investments and leading advisory clients across various sectors, including technology, media, and telecom as well as banking, healthcare, cybersecurity, and energy. His work and guidance has been instrumental in guiding companies through capital raising, mergers and acquisitions, deal structuring, and post-transaction strategy execution.With over [29] years of investing and advisory experience, Mr. Thomas has developed a reputation for being a hands-on, execution-oriented partner. His approach has earned him the trust and loyalty of portfolio companies, clients, and investors alike. His tenure in these positions showcases his ability to identify and nurture investment opportunities, particularly in minority entrepreneur-led firms and those serving underserved communities.Mr. Thomas holds a B.B.A. in Accounting from Loma Linda University and an M.B.A. in Finance and International Business from Pennsylvania State University."Our commitment to transparency and continued execution of our acquisition strategy aligns perfectly with Tony's proven track record in strategic growth and value creation," said Wil Ralston, CEO of SinglePoint Inc. "His extensive experience and unique perspective will be invaluable as we continue to navigate the evolving landscape of our industry." The entire team at SinglePoint is excited to welcome Mr. Thomas to the board and looks forward to his contributions in driving the company forward.About SinglePoint Inc (SING)SinglePoint Inc. is a renewable energy and sustainable lifestyle company focused on providing environmentally friendly energy efficiencies and healthy living solutions. SinglePoint is focused on building the largest network of renewable energy solutions and modernizing the traditional solar and energy storage model. The Company is also actively exploring future growth opportunities in air purification, electric vehicle charging, solar as a subscription service, and additional energy efficiencies and appliances that enhance sustainability and a healthier life. For more information, visit the Company's website ( www.singlepoint.com) and connect on social media for the latest updates.Forward-Looking StatementsCertain statements in this news release may contain forward-looking information within the meaning of Rule 175 under the Securities Act of 1933 and Rule 3b-6 under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 and are subject to the safe harbor created by those rules. All statements, other than statements of fact, included in this release, including, without limitation, statements regarding potential plans and objectives of the Company, the use of proceeds, anticipated growth and future expansion, are forward-looking statements that involve risks and uncertainties.There can be no assurance that such statements will prove to be accurate and actual results and future events could differ materially from those anticipated in such statements. Technical complications, which may arise, could prevent the prompt implementation of any strategically significant plan(s) outlined above. The Company undertakes no duty to revise or update any forward-looking statements to reflect events or circumstances after the date of this release.ContactSinglePoint Incinvestors@ singlepoint.com888-682-7464 SOURCE: Singlepoint, Inc.via PRISM Mediawire, LLC
PR-Inside.com: 2023-12-28 21:15:32

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NEW YORK, NY / ACCESSWIRE / December 28, 2023 / The Stuart PiltchScholarship for Entrepreneurs is proud to announce the launch of its inaugural scholarship program, designed to recognize and support the aspirations of budding entrepreneurs. Established in honor of Stuart Piltch, a distinguished entrepreneur and philanthropist, this scholarship aims to foster a new generation of innovative thinkers and leaders in the entrepreneurial landscape.The Stuart Piltch Scholarship for Entrepreneurs is a one-time award of $5,000, providing financial support to a selected student who embodies the spirit of entrepreneurship. The deadline for scholarship applications is August 15, 2024, with the winner set to be announced on September 15, 2024.Stuart Piltch, a prominent figure in both the intelligence community and the healthcare/insurance industry, is the esteemed namesake of this scholarship. Recognizing the transformative power of entrepreneurship, Mr. Piltch has made significant contributions to the entrepreneurial community and the lives of aspiring entrepreneurs. His commitment to philanthropy and deep understanding of the entrepreneurial landscape inspire the scholarship's mission to not only offer financial assistance but also guidance, resources, and recognition to propel students toward success in their entrepreneurial journey.The Stuart Piltch Scholarship is open to current college or university students actively pursuing entrepreneurial endeavors, as well as high school students with plans to attend university for entrepreneurship-related studies. The scholarship places a premium on academic excellence, passion for entrepreneurship, dedication to personal growth, and problem-solving skills. As part of the application process, candidates are required to submit a thoughtful essay addressing the importance of a customer-first focus in entrepreneurship.To be eligible, applicants must embody a commitment to personal and professional growth, continuously seeking opportunities to expand their knowledge and skills in entrepreneurship. The scholarship not only provides financial support but also creates a supportive community of like-minded individuals. Through networking opportunities, mentorship, and resources, the Stuart Piltch Scholarship aims to empower aspiring entrepreneurs to turn their innovative ideas into reality.The scholarship website, https://stuartpiltchscholarship.com/ , offers detailed information about the program, application process, and eligibility criteria. Interested students are encouraged to explore the website and submit their applications by the August 15, 2024 deadline.The winner of the Stuart Piltch Scholarship for Entrepreneurs will be announced on September 15, 2024. Join the Stuart Piltch Scholarship community and take a step towards building a future where entrepreneurship thrives, and innovative ideas flourish.For more information, please visit https://stuartpiltchscholarship.com/stuart-piltch-scholarship/ or contact the scholarship team directly.About Stuart PiltchStuart Piltch, the esteemed namesake of the scholarship, is a distinguished entrepreneur and philanthropist with a remarkable career in the intelligence community and the healthcare/insurance industry. His commitment to philanthropy and deep understanding of the entrepreneurial landscape have left an indelible mark on the lives of aspiring entrepreneurs.Contact Info:Spokesperson: Stuart Piltch Organization: Stuart Piltch ScholarshipWebsite: https://stuartpiltchscholarship.com/ Email: apply@ stuartpiltchscholarship.com SOURCE: Stuart Piltch Scholarship
PR-Inside.com: 2023-12-28 08:05:49

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The two Transactions were Funded in $FXD, a USD stablecoin within the XDC EcosystemDUBAI, UAE / ACCESSWIRE / December 28, 2023 / Zoth, a Web 3 fixed income marketplace, has completed its successful Supply Chain Financing (SCF) pilots via the tokenisation of invoices using the XDC blockchain protocol.The pilots used TradeFinex's open source smart contract standards and were funded using$FXD , a fully decentralised stablecoin softpegged to US Dollars and overcollateralised with the$XDCtoken using the Fathom Protocol. $FXD is primarily focused on Real World Assets (RWA) DeFi use cases.Zoth, featured the potential of obtaining financing by tokenising RWA for its collateralised transactions. Serving as the loan originator, Zoth secured funds for its clients, a fintech which offers factoring solutions based out of Columbia and a leading revenue-based financing platform operating in Brazil, through the tokenisation of essential Supply Chain Financing documentation including invoices. This streamlined process resulted in a cash flow of $FXD 100,000 (FXD) for each institutional client. The success underscores blockchain-powered efficiency of Web3 financing."These successful pilots are just the first steps in our collaboration with using TradeFinex smart contract standards. We are actively exploring to scale FXD1Bn in liquidity through our cooperation with XDC", said Pritam Dutta, Founder of Zoth.Added Chen Shanlong, Marketing and Partnerships Lead of XDC Network and TradeFinex,"Deploying TradeFinex smart contracts powered by the XDC protocol allows us to address the MSMEs funding gap that is especially pronounced in Latin America. We look forward to pushing the RWA Web3 narrative with Zoth using the Powerful Smart contract Standards created by Tradefinex." TradeFinex dApp - Settings standards in Supply Chain Finance and Trade FinanceZoth dApp- An on-chain fixed income marketplaceZoth successfully achieved the following milestones:Converted paper-based invoices into electronic invoices. Tokenisation and fractionalisation of the electronic invoices. Capital provisioning against the fractionalised electronic invoice for a 90-day period using FXD stablecoin.Participants in the pilot included:Zoth: Loan Originator & Web3 platform TradeFinex : Open Source Smart Contracts Standard Reshaping Trade Finance and Supply Chain Finance Eclipton: Institutional Digital Asset CustodianSolutions used in the pilot:TradeFinex: Resource for open source Smart Contract standards for RWA focused Private Credit Solutions Blockchain Network: XDC Network is an Enterprise-Grade, Open-Source Blockchain Protocol. SFXD: Stablecoin soft pegged to USD and overcollateralized using the $XDC token Eclipton: Institutional Digital Asset Wallet to customise as well as on/off ramp for stablecoin FXD to USD and vice versa.These pilots are important milestones between TradeFinex and Zoth, which is based out of Singapore using the XDC Network protocol and $FXD as one of its stablecoins.About Zoth Zoth is an on-chain marketplace which brings fixed income opportunities, offering high yield from RWAs. The platform enables businesses in emerging markets to access vital capital for their growth and expansion needs.About TradeFinex TradeFinex.org - An institutional grade ISO20022 compliant non-custodial protocol for Trade Finance built on standardization and built in liquidity of XDC Network via Fathom dollar (FXD).TradeFinex ensures a truly open source and decentralized environment for originators, banks, institutions and users.About XDC Network The XDC Network is an open-source, carbon-neutral, enterprise-grade, EVM-compatible, Layer 1 blockchain, operational since 2019 focusing on Enterprise use cases such as Trade Finance, Payment and RWA tokenization. More details at: Xinfin.org About Eclipton Eclipton.com is a Digital Custodian and Exchange, forming a crucial part of the comprehensive cryptocurrency ecosystem designed to provide financial freedom through AI. Eclipton's services encompass on and off-ramp solutions in over 8 countries and access to over 100,000 traditional instruments and crypto instruments. Eclipton's payment gateway helps Web3 on and off-ramp with one-click integration, inbuilt risk management, and auto-settlement features.Press Contact: Chen Shanlong,Marketing & Partnerships Lead,XDC Network & TradeFinexshanlong@ tradefinex.org SOURCE: Trade Finex
The Special Investigator appointed by President Bola Tinubu to probe the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), Jim Obazee, has rejected a request by the Chairman of Titan Trust Bank (TTB), Tunde Lemo, and the two major investors in the bank to delay their appearance before the investigator until the second week of January 2024.

PREMIUM TIMES reported that Mr Obazee on 24 December summoned Mr Lemo, Cornelius Vink and Rahul Savara to appear before his team of investigators on Thursday over TTBs acquisition of Union Bank in 2022.

The special investigator, in his report submitted to President Tinubu on 20 December, said he found that former Governor of CBN, Godwin Emefiele, used ill-gotten wealth to acquire Union Bank and Keystone Bank through proxies.

But after Mr Lemo denied the allegation concerning the acquisition of Union Bank by TTB, the office of the Special Investigator asked the former deputy governor of the CBN and the two others to appear for further clarifications on the controversy.

However, in a letter dated 27 December, a law firm representing both TTB and Union Bank, said the three men are currently outside the country, urging that the appointment be rescheduled.

Unfortunately, both Mr. Tunde Lemo and the two largest ultimate investors in the Banks (Mr. Cornelius Vink; Mr. Rahul Savara) are away from Nigeria at the moment for family and other reasons. That is typically so at this time of the year. They are not due to be in Nigeria before the second week in January 2024. They will honour the invitations fully soon after they come in..

With regard to the information requested, which we submitted earlier on 1st September 2023 at the DSS HQ as evidenced in Annex 1 therewith, we will resubmit the information tomorrow morning for your kind review. The individual invitees and the Banks re-iterate their willingness and readiness to cooperate with your good selves in your important work, the lawyers said in the letter.

But in a swift response through a letter of the same date signed by its Head of Operations, Eloho Okpoziakpo, the office of the special investigator insisted on the scheduled meeting, warning of the consequences of the three men failing to honour their invitation.

I am directed to inform you that the Special Investigator is fully aware that you are in the United Kingdom to celebrate your birthday. This you made aware to the Special Investigator when you agreed to attend a meeting to be scheduled for 28th December 2023 and also proposed that Mr. Cornelius Vink and Rahul Savara be given 7 (seven) days to prove their purported ownership of Titan Trust Bank and Union Bank of Nigeria or forfeit the shares to the Federal Government of Nigeria. Accordingly, this excuse given by your good selves through your lawyers is unacceptable and regarded as obstruction of the Special Investigator in the course of his duties.

We want to put it on record that neither you (Babatunde Lemo) nor Cornelius Vink nor Rahul Savara ever submitted any of these requested documents to the investigating team at Department of State Service (DSS) or anywhere else before now. In fact, Cornelius Vink and Rahul Savara have never presented themselves to the Special Investigator since 28th August 2023 when they were first invited for interview.

The Special Investigator also directs that you should be informed that documents submitted through proxies shall not be accepted as Mr Cornelius Vink, Mr Rahul Savara and your goodself will be required to speak to whatever document(s)/information you present during the meeting.

Consequently, I am to further inform you that your invitation to appear before the Special Investigator on 28th December,, 2023 by 2pm prompt in respect of the matter under investigation and for which you had earlier made statement; stands.

Kindly note that the conditions on paragraphs 6 to 8 in our earlier letter to you with reference number CR:3000/TSI/ABJ/VOL. 1/69 dated 24th December 2023 remains effective and shall be triggered if you or Messrs Vink and Savara fail to attend the meeting as scheduled, the letter reads.

In its earlier letter of 24 December to Mr Lemo, the office of the special investigator had warned of the consequences of failing to cooperate with the investigators, which it referred to in the latest letter as conditions.

The office had previously warned: Kindly note that if Messrs Cornelius Vink and Rahul Savara refused to attend this meeting and provide/defend the requested documents/information, it will be construed that they have decided to forfeit their purported shareholdings in TTB and Union Bank of Nigeria; irrespective of which vehicle that they are using to own the purported shares.

Should you also refuse to attend the meeting to provide additional statement to your earlier statement made in August 2023, it will be construed that you misled the Nigerian public with your reaction in the Punch Newspapers today which has gained wide publicity in both electronic and print media.

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Following a clear failure of its foreign policy in the Sahel region, President Emmanuel Macron of France is constituting a new team to help regain lost grounds.

However, African foreign policy experts doubt the success of the move with one describing it as a man-child fighting hard to retain its feeding bottle

The new teams job description is to restore confidence in Africa and build a new African policy following the Sahel debacle, and against the backdrop of Russias continued offensive in the continent, sources familiar with the development told PREMIUM TIMES.

To lead this team, Frances current Ambassador to Nigeria, Emannuelle Blatmann, will return to Quai dOrsay as the Head of Africa and Indian Ocean at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

Ms Blatmann will replace Christophe Bigot, the current director of the unit who has been commended for the progress of Frances strategy in Africa but recently criticised for the recent fallouts France has had within the Sahel region.

The replacement will take effect on 15 January 2024. It is perceived as some form of punishment for Mr Bigot for the recent failures of France in the Sahel, our source said.

PREMIUM TIMES reached out to the French embassy in Nigeria for comments via a phone call but the embassy said it could not comment on the matter at this time.

Other members of the French team are Jeremie Robert, who will advise President Macron on African affairs and Anne-Claire Legendre, advisor on the MENA region.

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Mr Robert is Frances Consul General in New York. Not new to France-Africa relations, he was an advisor for Africa, Development and Global Affairs in the office of the Minister of Europe and Foreign Affairs where he contributed to the renewal of Frances relations with Africa and the rebuilding of its development policy, and worked on the management of the crisis in the Sahel.

Ms Legendre leaves her job as spokesperson of the foreign ministry to bring back to life a watered-down relationship with the Sahel, a terrain she is no stranger to.

She has worked as an advisor for the Middle East, consul general in New York, ambassador to Kuwait among several other diplomatic assignments she has handled.

The fall of France in the Sahel

In recent years, political instability in many West African countries and the Sahel region has seen the fall of Frances popularity in its former colonies and a possible move towards Russia.

From Mali to Burkina Faso to Niger, soldiers have taken over the leadership of these countries. These soldiers have shown themselves as no fans of France and have shown their disenchantment by gravitating towards Russia.

For instance, Burkina Fasos transitional government in December 2022 demanded that the French ambassador leave their country. It also expelled the embassys defence attache.

Mali did the same by expelling the French ambassador in 2022 amidst growing tensions with its former colonial lord.

The coup in Niger and the eventual withdrawal of French troops from the West African country was perhaps the last straw that made the French government realise it had lost in the region.

Just like its allies, Mali and Burkina Faso, Niger also expelled the French ambassador. The face-off with France has also led to the closure of the embassy in Niger.

Very recently, the West African country suspended all cooperation with the International Organisation of Francophone Nations (OIF), noting that it has always been used by France as an instrument to defend French interests.

African Experts React

It is clear that Frances policy in Africa is failing and it will fail. In the interest of Africa, it will fail, Owei Lakemfa, a Nigerian commentator on international relations, said, adding that France has lived on other people, especially African people.

He said the European countrys policies in Africa have been that of domination and exploitation.

Matter of fact, France has in my view been parasitic in its foreign and economic policy, the African labour unionist said.

If France is working on a new policy, it has to be a policy that is not exploitative but if it is exploitative as I expect it to be, the prayer will be that France will fail, Mr Lakemfa said.

France should look inward for means to develop itself rather than looking for African countries to exploit, he added.

Also, the Speaker of the ECOWAS parliament, Sidie Tunis, had called on the West African body to re-examine the relationship between its Francophone members and France.

While we are pushing for democracy, we (ECOWAS) should also begin to re-examine our relationship with the West, especially the relationship between French-speaking countries and France, the speaker told PREMIUM TIMES following the coup in Niger and the resentment towards France in the country.

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Sweden edged closer toward joining NATO after the Turkish parliaments foreign affairs committee greenlighted a protocol for the Nordic countrys membership in the military alliance.

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan dropped his objection to Swedens membership during a NATO summit in July, but it took him several months to send the bill to parliament for ratification and weeks for the parliamentary committee to give its consent.

The long-delayed protocol now needs to be approved by the full general assembly and it remains to be seen how quickly the issue will be taken up by the floor.

Sweden and Finland abandoned their decades-long neutrality and sought membership in NATO amid heightened security concerns following Russias invasion of Ukraine in February 2022. Finland became NATOs 31st member earlier this year after Turkeys parliament ratified its bid.

Hungary, the only other NATO holdout on Sweden, has not announced when the countrys ratification may occur.

Heres a look at the issues that have delayed Swedens entry into NATO, why Turkey finally agreed to the bid and what to expect next:

WHY HAS TURKEY DELAYED APPROVING SWEDENS NATO BID?



Turkeys opposition to Swedish membership in NATO stemmed from its belief that the Nordic country has been too soft toward supporters of Kurdish militants and other groups in Sweden that Ankara views as security threats. These include people associated with the Kurdistan Workers Party or PKK, which has waged a 39-year insurgency in Turkey and people with alleged links to a coup attempt in 2016 against President Recep Tayyip Erdogans government.

Turkey, Sweden and Finland reached an agreement last year to tackle Ankaras security concerns and Sweden subsequently took steps to tighten its anti-terrorism laws, making support for extremist organizations punishable by up to eight years in prison.

But a series of anti-Turkey and anti-Islam protests held in Stockholm, some of which involved the burning of the Quran, has also angered Erdogans government and the Turkish public. Although these demonstrations were condemned by the Swedish government, the Turkish government criticized Sweden  which has laws protecting free speech  for allowing displays of anti-Muslim sentiment.

WHAT MADE TURKEY LIFT ITS OBJECTIONS?



While Sweden strengthened its antiterrorism laws to address Ankaras security concerns, NATO agreed to establish a special coordinator for counterterrorism and appointed Assistant Secretary-General Tom Goffus to the position.

At the alliances summit meeting in July, NATO Secretary Jens Stoltenberg said that Sweden had agreed to support actively the efforts to reinvigorate Turkeys EU accession process. Sweden announced it would seek improved customs arrangements and take steps to implement visa-free European travel for Turkish citizens.

Turkeys EU membership talks came to a standstill in 2018 because of the countrys democratic backsliding and poor record on human rights.

Earlier this month, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan openly linked Sweden's NATO membership to Ankara's efforts to purchase U.S.-made F-16 fighter jets and also called on Canada and other NATO allies to lift arms embargoes on Turkey.

During Tuesday's debate at the parliamentary committee, opposition legislator Oguz Kaan Salici questioned whether the government had received assurances from the United States concerning the F-16s' sale.

U.S. President Joe Biden's administration backs Turkey's F-16 request but within the U.S. Congress, there is strong opposition to selling arms to Turkey. Turkey wants to buy 40 new F-16 fighter jets and modernization kits for its existing fleet.

WHAT HAPPENS NOW?



The approval by the parliamentary committee paves the way for Swedens accession protocol to be debated and ratified by the general assembly. It would then have to be signed off by Erdogan to come into effect.

It was not clear when the full assembly would debate the bill.

Erdogans ruling party and its allies command a majority in the 600-seat parliament. However, Erdogan has said the decision rests with lawmakers. His ruling partys nationalist allies remain uneasy with Swedens membership and accuse NATO members of indifference toward the PKK threat to Turkey.

This week, Kurdish militants attempted to infiltrate a Turkish base in northern Iraq, killing 12 soldiers in two days of clashes.

Islamist parties, frustrated by what they perceive to be Western nations silence toward Israels military actions in Gaza, may vote against the bill.

WHAT ABOUT HUNGARY?



Hungarys governing Fidesz party  led by populist Prime Minister Viktor Orban, who is widely considered one of Russian President Vladimir Putins only allies in the EU  has stalled Swedens NATO bid since July 2022, alleging that Swedish politicians have told blatant lies about the condition of Hungarys democracy.

Yet neither Orban nor his senior officials have indicated what kind of redress they require from Stockholm to allay their reservations over Sweden joining the military alliance.

Some critics have alleged that Hungary is using its potential veto power over Swedens accession to leverage concessions from the European Union, which has frozen billions in funds to Budapest over concerns over minority rights and the rule of law.

Hungarian officials repeatedly said that their country would not be the last NATO member to endorse Swedens bid. But Ankaras move toward ratification suggests that the time for further holdups may be running out.

Some opposition politicians in Hungary  who have argued for immediate approval of Swedens bid  believe that Orbans party is following Ankaras timetable and will vote to approve once it seems clear that Turkey will imminently do the same.

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The Governor of Niger State, Umar Bago, said on Thursday that his government did not authorise the prohibition of the sale of alcohol in the state.

Mr Bago said he is yet to constitute the liquor board and accused Ibrahim Muhammad, who claimed to be the Secretary of the board, of being an impostor.

He also ordered the arrest of Mr Muhammad, who released the statement announcing the ban.

The public should disregard the report emanating from social media and blogs, the governor said in a statement in Abuja on Thursday.

We wish to state categorically that the governor, who has been busy initiating and overseeing many people-centred projects across the state, never issued such a directive.

He said the liquor and licensing board is yet to be constituted by the governor and as such, no directive of this kind can come from a board yet to be formed.

The statement added that Mr Bago had directed security agents to arrest Mr Muhammad, describing him as a self-appointed secretary of the board.

We invite the good public and our friends in the media to ignore any such pronouncements and to, henceforth, seek clarification from known government officials, the statement added.

The board secretary whom Mr Bago disowned is a career civil servant on the board. He told PREMIUM TIMES that he served as the secretary of the former board whose tenure expired on 29 May.

He told PREMIUM TIMES that the office of the head of the civil service invited him on the matter on Thursday. But the governors office has yet to reach out to him.

The governors spokesperson, Bologi Ibrahim, did not respond to calls and text messages seeking clarification.

Controversy

The controversy began on Wednesday when Mr Muhammad said to be acting on behalf of the board, announced the implementation of the states liquor law which he said prohibited the sale of the product in certain parts of the state.

He said the prohibition is outlined in the first schedule of the states liquor law.

The law prohibits the sale of alcohol within eight kilometres of settlements in nine local government areas, as some parts of the law obtained by this newspaper show.

A copy of the law provided by Mr Muhammad, on Wednesday, listed the local government areas affected including Minna, Bida, Suleja, Kontagora, Lappai, Agaie, Kagara, New Bussa and Mokwa.

In Minna, Bida, Suleja, Kontagora, Lapai and Agaie, the law prohibits the sale of alcohol in all areas within an eight-kilometre radius of the towns from the old Post office excluding the Military Barracks.

The law also prohibits the sale in all areas within eight kilometres radius of the town from the Emirs Palace in Kagara, and New Bussa and that of the district head in Mokwa.

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The Minister of Solid Minerals Development, Dele Alake, has described the late Governor of Ondo State, Rotimi Akeredolu, as an irrepressible fighter and courageous defender of the people.

Mr Akeredolu, 67, passed away at a German hospital on Wednesday after battling prostate cancer and leukaemia.

His deputy, Lucky Aiyedatiwa, who was previously the acting governor in the absence of his principal, has since been sworn in as the substantive governor of the state by the chief judge.

In his reaction to the demise of Mr Akeredolu popularly known as Aketi, Mr Alake stated that Ondo State has lost a gem and a quintessential progressive who is always at the forefront of defending his people and fighting for the emancipation of the downtrodden.

 I am deeply shocked by the loss of a brother and friend and indeed one of the leaders of the progressive movement, late Governor Rotimi Akeredolu.

Akeredolu carved a niche for himself as a bold and irrepressible defender of the interests of the Ondo people and the Yoruba nation. His voice resonated across the country as a lodestar in the struggle for the entrenchment of true federalism. As State Governor, he made the welfare of the people the focal point of governance. 

Nigeria has lost a titan, but we are consoled by the fact that he left an indelible mark in the political firmament. I commiserate with President Bola Tinubu and the good people of Ondo State on this irreparable loss. 

May Aketis soul rest in the bosom of the Lord

Segun Tomori

Special Assistant (Media)

Honourable Minister of Solid Minerals Development.

27th December, 2023.

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The police in Akwa Ibom State have cleared a chieftain of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in the state of the allegation of issuing a fake WAEC certificate to a former secondary school student in the state.

Joy Ben, a former student of Blessed Hope Comprehensive College, Ikot Otong in Ika Local Government Area had petitioned the police in the state, accusing the APC chieftain, Joseph John of issuing her a fake WAEC certificate.

Mr John, who is the APC chairperson in Ika Local Government Area, was the examination officer in the school at the time Ms Ben took the examination.

The police arrested Mr John on 22 December but later released him, a development that prompted Ms Ben to make a viral video where she accused the police of compromising the investigation by releasing the suspect.

Ms Ben had in the video claimed the state police commissioner directed the release following the intervention of the Minister of State Petroleum Resources (Gas), Ekperikpo Ekpo.

Mr Ekpo, a chieftain of the APC, hails from Ika Local Government Area, where the suspect is the party chairperson.

The police spokesperson in the state, Odiko Macdon, in a statement on Wednesday announced that the police had cleared Mr John of the allegation.

Our investigation revealed that Mr John and Ms Ben were intimate friends as at the time of writing the examination and collection of result.

Ms Joy gave N15,000 to Mr John to collect her original certificate and send to her. He collected the said certificate but alleged that it got lost while he went to waybill it to her.

He informed her and the school authority of the development. In the course of looking for a solution, she petitioned him through her lawyer. The suspect obtained the NIN of the complainant from her lawyer and used it to print the WAEC Digital Certificate from the WAEC portal and gave to her which she said was fake.

However, in the response from WAEC to our request, WAEC confirmed that the copy of the certificate which was given to Ms Ben by the suspect, which the police forwarded to them for authentication emanated from the council (WAEC) and was provisioned and printed from the WAEC Digital Certificate Portal, Mr Macdon said.

READ ALSO: Connect Initiative felicitates with Governor Umo Eno of Akwa Ibom State

On the allegation of releasing the suspect without the consent of the claimant, Mr Macdon, a police superintendent, said the alleged offence was a bailable one, and that the police commissioner does not need the claimants consent before releasing the suspect on bail.

The (Police) Command wishes to advise Ms Ben and Mr John to work together and explore available peaceful options to get her original certificate back, Mr Macdon said.

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The police in Enugu State said they have arrested two armed robbery suspects in Enugu metropolis.

Two firearms with eight live ammunition of .9mm calibre have been recovered from the suspects, according to a statement issued on Thursday by the police spokesperson in Enugu, Daniel Ndukwe.

The two male suspects were arrested by operatives serving in the Unity Police Division and Crack Squad Tactical Team, according to Mr Ndukwe, a deputy superintendent of police.

Acting on credible information, the police operatives serving in Unity Police Division, on 17 December at about 5:45 p.m., arrested one Emeka Fidelis, 28, at Ogbeke Nike and recovered one cut-to-size locally made double-barreled pistol in his unlawful possession.

READ ALSO:

In the same vein, the police operatives serving in the Crack Squad, on 16 December at about 3:30 a.m., arrested one Sochima Okpara, 37, while on routine patrol duty at Trans-Ekulu, Enugu, and recovered one Beretta pistol loaded with eight rounds of live ammunition of .9mm calibre from him.

Preliminary investigation has revealed that the suspect is a member and kingpin of Apache Tiger (also known as Two-two) confraternity and has been involved in several criminal activities within Enugu metropolis, Mr Ndukwe said.

The police spokesperson said investigations into the cases were ongoing, and the suspects would be arraigned at the conclusion of the investigation.

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The Governor of Ondo State, Lucky Aiyedatiwa, on Thursday, said the name of the late governor of the state, Rotimi Akeredolu, will never be forgotten because his legacies and impacts could be seen and felt across the state and the country.

Governor Aiyedatiwa stated this when he led members of the State Executive Council on a condolence visit to the former governors residence in Ibadan, the Oyo State capital, to commiserate with the Akeredolu Family.

The Governor described his late principal as a sincere, courageous, selfless and patriotic leader who fought for his people, championed development and touched many lives.

Mr Akeredolu, 67, passed away at a German hospital on Wednesday following his prolonged battle with prostate cancer.

Mr Aiyedatiwa also described the former governor as a caring and compassionate husband, father and grandfather, adding that it was a rare privilege to have served under his tutelage.

READ ALSO:

The governor reiterated that the demise of his late boss is a great loss to Ondo State, the South-west region and Nigeria at large, stressing that Akeredolus struggle for a peaceful, fair and just society can never be forgotten in a hurry.

He noted that the legacies of the late Mr Akeredolu will continue to reverberate in his invaluable contributions to the socio-economic and infrastructural development of Ondo State, the growth of the Anglican Church and the reforms in the legal profession in Nigeria.

The Governor emphasised that Mr Akeredolu completed and fulfilled his mission on earth and was blessed with wonderful children who can sustain his good name.

Responding on behalf of the Akeredolu family, the younger brother of the deceased, Kola Akeredolu, thanked the delegation led by Governor Aiyedatiwa for the thoughtful visit.

Prayers were offered for the Akeredolu family while Governor Aiyedatiwa led others to sign the condolence register.

Prince Ebenezer Adeniyan,

Chief Press Secretary to the Governor of Ondo State

December 28, 2023.

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Governor Peter Mbah of Enugu State has signed the N521.5 billion 2024 budget into law.

PREMIUM TIMES reported that Mr Mbah presented the budget before the State House of Assembly on 5 December.

The budget has N107.2 billion for recurrent expenditure, accounting for about 21 per cent, and N414.34 billion for capital expenditure, accounting for about 79 per cent.

The governor, while signing the budget into law at the Government House on Wednesday, said it would engender disruptive economic growth, radical infrastructural development, and efficient service delivery.

Mr Mbah reiterated that the budget would rely heavily on Internally Generated Revenue and charged members of the Executive Arm of Government on robust revenue mobilisation and service delivery in the state.

In attendance at the event were state commissioners, other government officials and some members of the state assembly led by its Speaker, Uchenna Ugwu.

The governor commended the assembly members for their support despite coming from different political parties.

He said the expeditious passage of the budget was a product of executive-legislature collaboration during the making of the budget estimates.

What this budget signing means to the people of Enugu is that we are going to be spending over N400 billion on capital projects in the next year.

This is the first time in the history of the state that we are spending that size of funds on capital projects because we are spending 20 times more than what has been typically our capital expenditure outlay in Enugu State, he said.

The governor said the size of the budget means that we are going to have large economic activities in Enugu State and a way of reducing poverty in the state.

It is going to be monumental in the ways our people are lifted out of poverty and in the ways economic activities will blossom.

Most important is that it is going to ensure that we address most of the gaps we have in our social services. In the education sector, the signing of this bill into law means that we are now looking forward to 260 smart schools across the state.

It also means that we are looking forward to 260 Type-2 primary healthcare centres across all our wards in Enugu State. It means that we are going to have radical infrastructural development, Mr Mbah stated.

Our Special Agro Processing Zones will come to life. The signing into law of this budget today will ensure that we grow our agriculture so that it is not going to be just for food, it is also going to be for export.

The governor hinted that the state would borrow to execute the budget in addition to the plan to mobilise over N300 billion from the states domestic sources.

What this means is that we are all going to work tirelessly to ensure that these revenues are realised. It also means that for us at the Executive Council, our meetings would largely be on our revenue performance, he said.

Soludo signs Anambra 2024 budget into law

Like Mr Mbah, Governor Charles Soludo of Anambra State also signed the N410.1 billion 2024 Budget into law.

Mr Soludo had presented the budget to the Anambra State House of Assembly for approval in November.

The governor signed the budget into law at his residence on Wednesday, according to a statement by his spokesperson, Christian Aburime.

READ ALSO: Governor Mbah reacts to Supreme Court ruling upholding his election

While signing the budget into law, Mr Soludo emphasised his administrations commitment to implementing the budget using five pillars of his development agenda, with a major focus on infrastructure and human capital development.

The governor hinted at his administrations plan to address the socio-economic needs of the people by investing in vital projects in the state.

He praised members of the state assembly for their swift and diligent work in reviewing and approving the budget.

This year, we set a record. A draft budget was sent to the House of Assembly early last month, and today, its been passed into law. This speed and efficiency demonstrates the commitment of both the executive and legislative arms of government to moving Anambra forward, Mr Soludo stated.

The governor assured that he would work for residents of the state according to the stipulated timeline in his manifesto.

He added that given that he is now armed with the budget, his administration will begin the real transformation across the state in January 2024.

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An analysis of the 2024 proposed budget has revealed that less than one per cent of the N27.5 trillion total budget is dedicated to Womens Economic Empowerment (WEE) programmes.

According to a womens group under the Partnerships for Advancing Women in Economic Development (PAWED), the analysis of the 2024 budget shows a decrease of 82 per cent when compared to N78 billion allocated to WEE in 2023.

The group shared the results of its review at a press conference on Wednesday, noting that the 2024 budget has only 107 proposed WEE projects compared to 442 projects in 2023.

Renewed Hope Agenda

Citing the governments commitment to WEE under its renewed Hope agenda, the womens group described the 2024 allocation for WEE as grossly inadequate, adding that it is the lowest budget for WEE since 2019.

Speaking at the press conference, the National President, NECAs Network of Entrepreneurial Women, Funmilayo Arowoogun, said the review was extended to include economic empowerment lines in the budget targeting combined beneficiary groups of women, youth and others.

Mrs Arowoogun said the 2024 budget captured 107 WEE projects for women, youth and others.

Even when the N12.57 billion allocation to the WEE lines targeting women, youth and others is added to the 12.59 allocation for women-only WEE projects, the 2024 allocation for WEE remains the lowest since 2019, she said.

Less than one per cent of the 2024 budgetary capital allocation is dedicated to WEE. In 2023, almost two per cent of the annual capital budget was allocated to WEE.

Mrs Arowoogun said the group also recognised the nations tight fiscal space, we believe that reduced funding for WEE will impact negatively on the achievement of governments WEE targets.

The group appealed to the government to consider an upward, more gender-disaggregated and beneficiary-specific review of the 2024 budget allocation for WEE so that the laudable commitments of the Renewed Hope Agenda can be achieved.

Together, we can work towards a more inclusive and economically empowered Nigeria.

Ministry of Women Affairs

However, in the 2024 budget, the Ministry of Women Affairs under Uju Kennedy-Ohanenye proposed over N10 billion for the 2024 fiscal year, and the sum covers overhead, personnel and capital projects.

A breakdown of the allocation shows that N1.3 billion would be spent on personnel costs, N565.5 million on overhead costs and N6.7 billion on capital expenditure.

While N8.6 billion was earmarked for the Ministry, the National Centre for Women Development will get N1.4 billion for womens empowerment as contained in the proposed budget.

Some of these programmes are new projects initiated by the Ministry, while others are ongoing projects.

About PAWED

PAWED is a group supported by the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundations grant to the Development Research and Project Centre (dRPC).

Members of the group include the Association of Women Entrepreneurs (AWITA), the National Association of Women Entrepreneurs (NAWE), and the National Council for Women Societies (NCWS).

About WEE

WEE is described as a transformative process by which women and girls go from having limited power, voice, and choice at home and in the economy to having the skills, resources, and opportunities needed to access and compete equitably in markets and the agency to control and benefit from economic gains.

dRPC said the analysis is based on a detailed review of the capital component of the 2024 proposed budget.

It said the data were analysed using quantitative methods and approaches including comparative and trend analyses.

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The Palestinian government has accused Israel of deliberately pushing the Palestinian economic situation towards disaster by failing to disburse Palestines clearance funds for the second consecutive month.

A statement by the Palestinian Embassy in Nigeria said the withholding of funds is due to Israels insistence on deducting the amount that the Palestinian National Authority pays to Gaza.

This action is pushing the Palestinian economic situation towards disaster, Palestine said in the statement.

Both states have an agreement that the Israeli government collects the taxes imposed on goods imported to the Palestinian side on behalf of both parties.

The funds are then remitted to the Palestinian government at the end of each month after 3 per cent of the received funds is deducted for the payment of salaries and operating expenses in the West Bank and Gaza Strip.

The Israeli occupation forces currently control the border crossings, forcing Palestinians to import and export goods through the Israeli side only.

But the Israeli government has failed to remit the funds collected since the beginning of the latest war in Gaza in October, the Palestinian government said.

The occupying authorities have been adamant about withholding a portion of the funds allocated for the expenses of the Palestinian government in the West Bank. This is part of their collective punishment policy against Gaza, and serves to further isolate Gaza from the West Bank, the statement added.

The statement added that the Palestinian President, Mahmoud Abbas, refused to receive mutilated funds from the Israeli side, insisting that the Israeli government must remit the share allocated to the Gaza Strip.

But Israel has refused to hand over the Palestinian funds in full.

Israel said in November that it would withhold funds bound for Hamas-ruled Gaza, even though the Palestinian authorities cover public sector expenses.

This, according to Palestine, has led to the inability of the government to pay the full salaries of employees in the West Bank and Gaza Strip for the second month in a row.

It said the Palestinian government has now been forced to borrow from local banks to cover part of employees salaries for October in both the West Bank and Gaza Strip.

In addition to the catastrophic developments taking place in the Gaza Strip, the failure to transfer tax funds and the inability of the Palestinian government to pay salaries and other expenses has pushed more Palestinian families towards the poverty line; and hampers the governments work in many sectors, particularly in health and education. This will lead to a further deterioration of the situation in the Gaza Strip and West Bank.

The war in Gaza has seen the death of almost 20,000 people including journalists and aid workers. The war started on 7 October after Hamas launched what has been described as the biggest attack against Israel in years.

In reaction, Israel promised to wipe out Hamas, leading to a relentless attack on Gaza, killing thousands of people, the majority of whom are women and children, and displacing about 90 per cent of the two million Gaza residents.

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The Igbo socio-cultural organisation, Ohanaeze Ndigbo, has said the failure of the federal government to restructure Nigeria and introduce a state policing system is behind the growing attacks across the country.

The President-General of the Ohanaeze Ndigbo, Emmanuel Iwuanyanwu, stated this while reacting to the recent attack in Plateau State, according to a statement by the groups Secretary-General, Chiedozie Ogbonnia, on Wednesday.

Some gunmen attacked 15 communities in Bokkos and Barkin-Ladi Local Government Areas of Plateau State on Christmas Eve, killing over 100 people and destroying about 221 houses.

Mr Ogbonnia said the Igbo group received the report of the attack and killings with rude shock, saying Mr Iwuanyanwu described the incident as an orchestrated act of genocide.

The Igbo leader lamented that the federal government has refused to heed the Ohanaezes call for restructuring and state policing system as a panacea for the incessant losses of lives and property in the various states of the country, the statement read in part.

Mr Iwuanyanwu, according to the statement, added that it had become very obvious that the federal security architecture has proved very ineffective for our diverse demography.

The president-general also said the attacks and killings have persisted in Nigeria because those who perpetrated the attacks in the past often go unpunished.

He therefore urged President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to bring to book those behind the callous crime in Plateau State, the statement added.

The Igbo leader condoled with families that lost their loved ones in the attack and urged the leadership of the Igbo union in Plateau State to extend their solidarity with the families.

He equally prayed for the repose of the souls of those killed in the attack.

Insecurity in Nigeria

Security has deteriorated across Nigeria with each region of the country battling peculiar forms of insecurity.

In the South-east, for instance, gunmen said to be part of the Biafra agitation in the region have been linked to attacks and killings in the region. Beyond the killings, kidnap attacks have also been rife lately.

In the South-south, militants and suspected kidnappers have been on the rampage, abducting oil workers and engaging in crude oil theft in the region.

Thousands of persons have been killed and several others displaced in the herders-farmers crisis mainly in the North-central region of the country.

Boko Haram insurgents have continued their attacks in North-east Nigeria with hundreds of thousands killed and displaced in the region.

The North-west has been witnessing a series of terrorist attacks by hoodlums locally referred to as bandits leading to the death of hundreds of people and displacement of millions of others.

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According to Jordan's Royal Hashemite Court, El-Sisi and King Abdullah will discuss the latest developments in Gaza and the means to reach a ceasefire in the Strip.

The meeting between the two heads of state comes amid the brutal Israeli war in the Gaza Strip, which resulted in more than 20,000 deaths, most of whom are children and women.

Egypt has been pushing for an extended ceasefire in the war-torn strip and sustained access to humanitarian aid to alleviate the suffering of civilians there.

On Tuesday, Egypt's Foreign Minister Sameh Shoukry and his Jordanian counterpart Ayman Safadi met in Cairo, where they discussed the security of navigation in the Red Sea and the latest developments in the Gaza Strip.

On 22 December, the UNSC approved a much-delayed resolution calling for increased aid to the besieged Palestinian territory where civilians are struggling to find food amid Israels war.

Late November, El-Sisi and Jordan's King reaffirmed the importance of continuing efforts to achieve a permanent ceasefire in Gaza, during a meeting in Cairo.
Nigeria will kick off the delivery of gas to South Africa for the first in the history of trade relations between the two nations if talks between Riverside LNG and counterparts in Africas most industrialised nation succeed.

Wed probably very early in the year close out another segment of the market, an off-take for South Africa, Bloomberg quoted David Ige, the CEO of the Lagos-based energy firm, as saying in an interview.

Theres a massively evolving gas market in the region, anything around 3,000 nautical miles of Nigeria. So that covers southern Africa, western Africa, all to northwest Europe and to the Caribbean and South America broadly.

In November, Riverside LNG signed a pact with Johannes Scheutze Energy Import AG in Germany regarding renewable energy and a gas export deal worth $500 million.

Nigeria is in a drive to rev up foreign interest in its oil and gas industry, constrained for years by multiple issues from crude theft and pipeline vandalism to ageing infrastructure and structural bottlenecks, all of which account for why international oil companies exit in droves.

New measures and incentives to court investors and reduce barriers to entry to improve the cost of doing business are among the governments top agenda to drive production and boost revenue.

That involves a recent inclusion of signature bonuses, the fees it takes from new investors after signing contracts, in the lump sum that oil & gas companies pay on production.

South Africa needs to build a plant first to enable it to take liquefied natural gas from Riverside LNG, implying that supply will only begin in 2027. That means theres enough time for import terminal infrastructure, the Riverside LNG CEO said.

The initiative could help South Africa in tackling a sticky electricity problem.

The country is in the middle of a profound power crisis as Eskom, the state-owned electric utility, reels from the strain of old infrastructure, forcing the company to resort to load-shedding that often triggers blackouts across the country in a big blow to economic activities.

An estimate shows that corrupt practices at Eskom cost South Africa $55 million every month.

Decade of gas

Nigeria wants gas to play a much bigger role than before in its energy mix and exports as it progresses through its energy transition, having declared the ten years to 2030 as the decade of gas.

At 209.5 trillion cubic feet (tcf), Nigeria holds the largest proven natural gas reserves on the continent, accounting for one-third of Africas total of 620 tcf, according to industry watchdog Nigerian Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission.

This month, NNPC Limited, UTM Offshore and Delta State inked a deal to develop the first floating LNG project in the country at an investment cost of $5 billion, with the vessel planned to handle 1.8 billion metric tons per year for the international market. Wison Heavy Industry, based in China, will build the facility.

NNPC Prime LNG Limited, a unit of the state-owned energy company, has also struck a supply installation and commissioning deal with SDP Services Limited at COP 28 in Dubai for an LNG project targeting production of 421 tonnes per day towards boosting domestic consumption.

But the government has had to grapple with various drawbacks in gas production, some of them capable of triggering environmental hazards

What is causing this gap (is) majorly theft on our pipelines. Some people get it, thinking its an oil line or a condensate line, unknown to them that it is a gas line, Nigeria LNGs general manager, production, Nnamdi Anowi, said in October, referring to vandals mistaking gas pipelines for those carrying crude and condensate.

When they puncture it, we have to deal with this kind of issue. And this is a big risk, the official said.

Nigerian LNG is a joint venture including Nigeria, Shell, TotalEnergies, Eni and Electricite Holdings.

The company, which has reached 50 per cent completion in its Train 7 Project, counts limited gas supply from upstream companies as its biggest headache, its trains 1 to 7 only operating at half capacity.

The Train 7 Project, at delivery, will ramp up production capacity from 22 million metric tonnes per annum (mtpa) to 30 million mtpa and place Nigeria among the top gas-producing countries.

There are also concerns around the volume and impact of flared gas by companies on host communities, which has cost the country dear over the years.

In the 10 years to 2022, Nigeria flared 80 billion standard cubic metres of gas, equivalent to N9 trillion in lost revenues, causing health and environmental hazards to host communities.

The government has set up the Nigerian Gas Flare Commercialisation Programme to address the issues, raking in just N346 billion in penalties in the past five years.

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The Omicron coronavirus subvariant JN.1 now makes up about 44.2 per cent of COVID-19 cases in the United States, according to the US Centre for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).

The variant, which was previously classified under its parent strain, BA.2.86, prompted concern among some scientists earlier this year due to its high number of mutations.

As of Friday, CDC data estimates indicate that the quickly spreading variant is now causing almost half of infections in the US. The data shows that JN.1 makes up nearly 57 per cent of new COVID-19 cases in the Northeastern part of the country.

Health experts say there is no evidence that JN.1 causes any more severe disease, and existing tests, vaccines, and treatments are still expected to work.

We know that the COVID virus continues to change. And even in the last few weeks, it has changed again, Mandy Cohen, the director of CDC, told ABC News.

Ms Cohen said The good news is that, that new change to the virusone, we can still pick it up with our tests. Two, our treatments are still effective against that change. And importantly, the updated COVID vaccine you can get right now is still good coverage for those changes  weve seen that in the lab.

Variant of Interest

Globally, JN.1 continues to be reported in multiple countries, and its prevalence has rapidly increased.

Several countries in Europe  including Denmark, Spain, Belgium, France, and the Netherlands  have seen exponential growth of JN.1 and, with it, rising hospitalisations. Its also growing quickly in Australia, Asia and Canada.

The World Health Organisation named it a variant of interest on Tuesday because of its rapidly increasing spread but noted that the additional public health risk remains low.

The WHO lists variables under three separate categories: variants of concern, which is the highest level; variants of interest; and variants under monitoring.

JN.1 now joins other Omicron sub-variants such as XBB.1.5, XBB.1.16, EG.5, and BA.2.86 on the list of variants of interest.

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The Jamaatu Nasril Islam (JNI) said on Thursday that there must be justice for all the victims of the recent attacks in Bokkos and Barkin Ladi LGA of Plateau State.

The JNI in a statement by its Secretary General, Khalid Aliyu, noted that the latest killings in Plateau appear to be well orchestrated with ulterior motives of setting the state in political and religious turmoil.

The JNI, therefore, called on the government to be proactive in securing human lives. The group also called on the security agencies to intensify efforts in fishing out the culprits and get them punished accordingly.

Plateau state should not be allowed to return to dark days of unfortunate bloodbath, as human lives seem not to matter to the disgruntled elements within the Plateau, it said.

JNI reiterates that criminals MUST not be emboldened in whatever disguise; otherwise, the Nigerian state will become a failed state if acts of criminalities are not adequately penalised.

Some gunmen attacked 15 communities in Bokkos and Barkin-Ladi Local Government Areas of Plateau State on Christmas Eve, killing over 100 people and destroying about 221 houses. This is only the latest in the spate of frequent attacks in Plateau communities.

Mr Aliyu said the JNI, under the leadership of the Sultan of Sokoto, Muhammad Saad, received the news with shock and displeasure.

It is indeed reprehensible and utterly heartless, to say the least, he said of the attack.

(The) JNI unequivocally condemns with utmost sorrow and concern the dastardly acts of repeated killings on the Plateau and calls on security agencies to intensify efforts in fishing out the culprits and get them punished accordingly.

While praying for peace and security to return to Plateau State and Nigeria, the JNI said: We cannot be humans without humanity. Life is sacrosanct and must be seen to be so in Nigeria, and for sustainable peace to reign, there must be retributive justice for all, regardless of whatever considerations.

It is pertinent to place on record that such acts of killings call for concerted efforts in ending them once and for all, as the recent past killings of over one hundred Tudun-Biri worshippers in Kaduna State, and several others are becoming the new normal particularly in the North and in Nigeria in general, the statement added.

We nonetheless call on all good (people of) conscience to propagate the mission of peace, tranquillity, humility, and humbleness, for no one has the right to live, over and above the other citizens in Nigeria.

Qosim Suleiman is a reporter at Premium Times in partnership with Report for the World, which matches local newsrooms with talented emerging journalists to report on under-covered issues around the globe

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A policeman, Cosmas Ugwu, has been shot dead by his girlfriend in Imo State, south-east Nigeria.

Mr Ugwu, a police corporal, was shot dead on Tuesday by his 23-year-old girlfriend identified as Amanda Ugo.

Ms Ugo, the suspect, hails from Ahiazu Mbaise Local Government Area of the state.

PREMIUM TIMES gathered from sources that the incident occurred in the evening of Tuesday at the Ezinihitte Police Area Command in the state.

Some police officers were said to have heard three gunshots from the slain officers apartment.

The gunshots prompted them to run to the officers apartment within the area command where they saw the officer in a pool of his blood.

The victim was rushed to Evergreen Hospital in Ezinihitte but was confirmed dead by a doctor on duty.

There are speculations that the officer and his girlfriend had arguments which resulted in a fight.

However, the details of the arguments remain unclear as of the time of filing this report.

When contacted, the police spokesperson in Imo State, Henry Okoye, confirmed the incident to PREMIUM TIMES, on Thursday afternoon.

Mr Okoye, an assistant superintendent of police, said the suspect has been arrested by police, and that the incident was being investigated.

The police spokesperson said the suspect shot the victim thrice and that he died while being treated at the Evergreen Hospital.

READ ALSO: Police detain operative for allegedly shooting motorist

He added that the body of the slain officer has been deposited in the morgue for preservation.

The young girl is currently being investigated and the commissioner of police has given a directive that she should be transferred to the State Criminal Investigation Department, he said.

She will be arraigned on completion of a comprehensive investigation, Mr Okoye added.

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The federal government has proposed N210.6 million for the prosecution of Boko Haram cases in the year 2024, a remarkable reduction in the allocations for prosecuting suspected terrorists despite a backlog of terrorism cases in the two previous years.

The allocation, contained in the first full-year budget proposal of President Bola Tinubus administration, is significantly lower than the amount allocated in the 2022 and 2023 appropriations of the immediate-past administration of President Muhammadu Buhari.

In 2022, the government voted N500 million for the mass prosecution of suspected members of the terrorist group, who had been incarcerated at military detention facilities over the years.

The trial took place in the military detention in Kainji area of Niger State under a special court arrangement of the Federal High Court. Under the arrangement, a handful of judges of the Federal High Court presided over the trials of the suspects at the military detention facility. While the suspects were defended mostly by lawyers from the governments Legal Aid Council of Nigeria, they were prosecuted by lawyers from the Federal Ministry of Justice.

The special arrangement was first adopted in September 2017 to fast-track the prosecution of the suspects in years-long detention and avoid the burden of heavy logistical problems that moving the suspects to regular courts around the country would have caused.

In the outgoing year, the government similarly appropriated N500 million for the trial of Boko Haram cases, but the mass trial did not take place. The government has rather continued pursuing individual cases scattered in different divisions of the Federal High Court around the country. On 4 December, the Attorney-General of the Federation, Lateef Fagbemi, led a team of prosecutors to the trial of some terrorism suspects in Abuja.

The stalled mass prosecution of the suspected terrorists has been blamed on insecurity in Niger State, an official of the Federal Ministry of Justice who asked not to be named, told PREMIUM TIMES.

Since the commencement of the mass trial programme of Boko Haram suspects in September 2017, three phases of the exercise have been held. The fourth phase has been stalled.

In the 2024 appropriation bill at the National Assembly, the government has proposed spending N210.6 million (N210,578,732 in total) on the trial of Boko Haram and terrorism cases. The budget item was tagged ongoing. The reason for the reduction in the amount of allocation is not clear.

However, a new budget item similar to the trial of Boko Haram suspects is titled Prosecution of criminal cases and other related matters, and will cost the government N230.6 million

Underfunding hampering ministrys performance

The justice ministry intends to spend N5.3 billion for capital expenditure, and N8.8 billion for recurrent expenditure in the proposed 2024 budget, the Minister of Justice told the Senate Committee on Judiciary at the ongoing budget defence proceedings in Abuja.

Mr Fagbemi noted that the process of prosecution of terror suspects entails considerable funding inclusive of catering for the logistics and welfare of prosecutors, support staff, witnesses, and provision of security for the trial.

In order to ensure the security and confidence of the judicial officers coupled with the location of the trial, the ministry is required to deploy enormous resources for transportation and other logistics. The ministry is also spending considerable resources on provision or upgrading of infrastructural facilities at the various venues to make them fit for purpose, the minister said earlier this month.

In 2023, the ministry was allocated N3.3 billion for capital expenditure and N4.6 billion for recurrent expenditure.

Reviewing the 2023 budget performance of the ministry, Mr Fagbemi told the lawmakers that with about two weeks to the end of the budget cycle, the ministry had only received N617 million for capital expenditure and N2.734 billion for recurrent expenditure, a situation he said impacted negatively on the ministrys performance.

In the outgoing budget cycle for 2023, the ministry was allocated N3,321,283.533.00 as Capital Budget and N4.7 billion (N4,688,847,054) as recurrent budget.

At the moment, and with about two weeks to the end of the financial year, the ministry has only had releases of N617,456,896.00 for capital expenditure and N2,734,110,775.62 for recurrent expenditure. The foregoing has greatly constrained the performance of the Ministry in its mandate areas.

Mr Fagbemi hopes there will be an improvement in the release of funds for the 2024 fiscal year.

Budget breakdown

A breakdown of the budget shows that a new project tagged assets recovery and management will gulp N50 million.

The ongoing repair and renovation of the Federal Ministry of Justice headquarters in Abuja and Lagos zonal office is projected to cost N971.9 million.

The Administration of Criminal Justice Monitoring Committee (ACJMC), a statutory body tasked with the implementation of the Administration of Criminal Justice Act 2015, will get N75 million for its operations.

The all-important duties of the ACJMC in ensuring compliance with the criminal justice law had been hampered due to lack of funding.

In a new budget item introduced by the ministry, it hopes to spend N322 million on the execution of international cases, while procurement of utility vehicles will cost N480 million.

The development of a national crime database, a new project, will cost N50 million.

In a bid to digitalise its operations, the ministry says, it intends to spend over N510 million (N510,975,788 in total) on document digitisation, data entry, storage and archiving of files/records.

According to the 2024 proposal, the ministry will spend over N400 million (N400,194,871) on an ongoing project called federal judicial sector and administration of criminal justice reforms, while international cooperation and diplomacy/international comparative law will cost N280 million.

The ministry proposes to spend N131 million on press and publications, library, law books, journals and archives.

While citizens rights, sexual and gender-based violence (SGBV) response and torture reduction will cost N150 million, information and communications technology are projected to gulp about N366.7 million (N366,736,738 in total).

A new project tagged specialised capacity building will cost N195 million in the 2024 budget.

The ministry proposes to spend about N167.7 million (N161,676,246 in total) on the review and updating of legal instruments.

READ ALSO: Suspected Boko Haram insurgents vandalise power transmission line in Yobe

The ministry intends to spend N600 million on liability management  solicitors fees in the coming year.

In justifying the solicitors fees, the minister of justice said the government had been promoting the policy of state counsel at the ministry.

But Mr Fagbemi explained that there were instances where the need to engage senior external solicitors became inevitable.

Thus, greater funding is required to increase the capacity and boost the morale of state counsel through regular payment of duty tour allowances, robe allowances, etc. The professional fees of the private solicitors also need to be settled, he said.

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Yoruba socio-political group, Afenifere, has mourned the late Ondo State governor, Rotimi Akeredolu, describing him as a forthright and resolute democrat.

The group conveyed its feelings in a tribute to Mr Akeredolu on Wednesday, issued through its secretary, Gboyega Adejumo.

Afenifere also praised the deceased governor for his role in the establishment of a regional outfit, Amotekun, to fight insecurity in the south-western states of Nigeria.

It came as a rude shock to us in the Afenifere as the news of the passage of the Governor of Ondo State, Arakunrin Olurotimi Akeredolu filtered through the airwaves Yet another illustrious, forthright and resolute democrat, passes on, in a land lacking leaders blessed with audacity, bravery, daring determination, endurance, fearlessness finesse, fortitude, gallantry, grit, heroism, prowess spirit, spunk tenacity and valour.

Aketi stood for what is right and just, a defender of the people and his people will forever appreciate his profound efforts that most often resulted in politically induced attacks on the people of Ondo State.

In an extremely ultra-conservative political atmosphere from which he emerged, he fought as a progressive to clinch the gubernatorial ticket and was forthright enough to say his own truths, not minding being the goring ox and shying away not from the consequences.

He stood up to tyranny and, as the chair of the Southwest governors, displayed a profound sense of Omoluwabi in birthing a regional security network along with his other colleagues, save from only one state, the Amotekun Western Nigeria Security Network is a worthy legacy of his tenacity.

For us at the Afenifere, we remember him as an example of compassion. Led by our leader, Chief Ayo Adebanjo, we visited Ondo state when the calamity of the Owo massacre happened in a Christian holy church. The governor wept even as he hosted us.

READ ALSO: Family speaks on Governor Akeredolus death

We remember you today and always will cherish great moments we all shared individually and collectively with you.

May the valiant soul of Arakunrin Rotimi Akeredolu SAN, CON rest in peace. And may God guide the new Governor, Lucky Orimisan Aiyedatiwa, as he assumes the leadership of Ondo State, Afenifere said in the tribute.

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A Federal High Court in Abuja, on Thursday, extended the 15 December interim order stopping the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) and the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) from taking any action against the 26 Rivers House of Assembly members who defected to the All Progressives Congress (APC).

Justice Donatus Okorowo extended the order following an application by Steve Adehi, SAN, who is counsel for the embattled lawmakers.

Mr Adehi was supported by Ken Njemanze, SAN, who appeared for the Rivers House of Assembly.

Although the PDPs lawyer, Adeyemi Ajibade, SAN, opposed the application, Justice Okorowo agreed that based on Order 26, Rule 10 of the Federal High Court, the court had the discretionary power to grant the plea in the interest of justice.

The judge held that he was persuaded by the reasons given by Messrs Adehi and Njemanze that granting the order would be better in the interest of justice.

Justice Okorowo, who adjourned the matter until 24 January for hearing of the applications, said: Application for the extension of the order of the lifespan of the ex-parte order pending the hearing and determination of motion on notice is hereby granted.

Background

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that Justice Okorowo had, on 15 December, granted the ex-parte motion filed by the 26 lawmakers who dumped the PDP for the APC.

The court restrained INEC from conducting fresh elections to fill the seats of the 26 assembly members.

It also restrained INEC, PDP and the assembly from declaring their seats vacant and withdrawing their respective Certificates of Return pending the hearing and determination of the motion on notice.

The plaintiffs had, in the motion ex-parte marked: FHC/ABJ/CS/1681/2023/ dated and filed on 13 December, sued INEC, the PDP, the assembly, clerk of the assembly, inspector-general of police and the State Security Service (SSS).

Resumed hearing

Upon resuming hearing on Thursday, the plaintiffs counsel, Mr Adehi, informed the court that he had a motion on notice originally meant for hearing on Thursday (today).

Mr Adehi, however, sought an adjournment in view of the fact that Lukman Fagbemi, SAN, had withdrawn appearance and a new counsel had entered appearance in the matter for the 3rd defendant (Rivers assembly) and in view of the fact that the 2nd defendant (PDP) had just served on them their response.

In any case, I ask that the matter be further adjourned to enable us to serve the 3rd and 4th defendants (Rivers assembly and clerk) and to also enable us to reply on points of law to the process served on us by the counsel to the 2nd defendant, he said.

Then Mr Njemanze told the court that he had the instruction of the 3rd defendant (Rivers assembly) to take over the brief with the original letter of instruction backing this after the withdrawal of the earlier counsel, Mr Fagbemi.

He informed the court that a memorandum of appearance had already been filed.

A lawyer from Mr Fagbemis chamber confirmed to the court Mr Fagbemis withdrawal from the suit.

PDP challenges court jurisdiction

Meanwhile, the PDPs lawyer, Adeyemi Ajibade, SAN, who is also the National Legal Adviser of the party, said he had an application challenging the jurisdiction of the court to handle the suit and the competence of the suit itself.

He, therefore, prayed the court for an order discharging the 15 December interim order granted by the court.

Mr Ajibade said the plaintiffs had responded to their preliminary objection but are yet to respond to their second application, which was a motion seeking the courts order to discharge the interim order.

He, however, aligned himself with the application for adjournment by Messrs Adehi and Njemanze in view of Mr Fagbemis withdrawal from the suit.

He said this would also enable him to sort out their processes which had earlier been served on Mr Fagbemi.

Mr Njemanze told the court that he was yet to be served with the processes filed by the PDP to enable them to respond to same.

Besides, he said he intends to react to the processes filed by the plaintiffs also.

He said though there had been moves to resolve the dispute politically with the involvement of President Bola Tinubu, he would need to get the disposition of his client to the development.

Without prejudice to the information by my learned friend this morning about a political solution brokered by Mr President, I need to get my clients reaction to this and then report back to this honourable court.

In the circumstance, we pray for an adjournment to enable me file my processes, he said.

Im yet to be served with court process  Assembly clerk

The 4th defendant (clerk of the assembly)s counsel, Ferdinand Orbih, SAN, notified the court that his client was yet to be served with any process in the matter.

But as an obedient servant and minister in the temple of justice, we appeared this morning with firm instruction from the 4th defendant, he said.

Mr. Orbih said he would consult with the 4th defendant to know which path to take.

He said if he agreed with the plaintiffs application but the PDP insisted on going on with the matter, the case would still be alive before the court.

However, we are not opposed to the plaintiffs call for adjournment as the consultation continues, he said.

INEC, IGP, SSS not represented in court

The counsel to the 26 lawmakers, Mr Adehi, who said the court should consider all the applications for adjournment, prayed the court for an order extending the lifespan of the 15 December interim order pending when the matter is resolved.

But the PDPs lawyer, Mr Ajibade opposed Mr Adehis application, reminding the court of their motion seeking to vacate the order.

He argued that issues had already been joined in the case by responding to the plaintiffs interlocutory injunction and that their counter affidavit had also been served.

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Responding, Mr Njemanze, who appeared for the assembly, disagreed with Mr Ajibade.

The issue of 2nd defendant filing processes no longer arises at this stage because those processes are highly defective because we have not been served and so, there cannot be issues at this stage, he said.

He argued that in the law, the issue of service is fundamental in adjudication and that without service, there cannot be adjudication on matters.

He, therefore, backed Mr Adehis application for the extension of the lifespan of the interim order.

We are not opposing the application because if that order is discharged without going into the merit of the matter, this court will automatically lose control of the proceedings and create a situation where the main suit, if it succeeds, the order will be rendered nugatory.

With all respect for the 3rd respondent, I submit that the parties before you, including the 2nd, 3rd and 4th defendants, have submitted themselves to the jurisdiction of this court and are therefore bound not to resort to self-help or do any act that will render the judgment in this matter whichever way it goes nugatory.

Secondly, the plaintiffs motion for interlocutory injunction had been served on the 2nd defendant.

Therefore, the extension of the lifespan of the interim order will not be prejudicial to any of the party in view of the pendency of that motion.

In the circumstance, the defendants will lose nothing if the status quo is maintained and the res in this matter is preserved, pending when the motion on notice for interlocutory injunction is determined.

For this reason, I am not opposing the application for the extension of the lifespan of the order, he said.

Corroborating Mr Njemanzes submission, Mr Adehi insisted that the circumstances leading to the grant of the ex-parte order had not changed.

The lawyer argued that the PDPs body language is such that leaves us in doubt because they are still calling for the declaration of the seats of the plaintiffs vacant and conduct of fresh election.

So, those circumstances have not changed, he said.

Besides, he said the lawyers in court had also sought an adjournment in order to go and verify the claim that the matter is being settled amicably.

Mr Adehi also argued that PDP was not ready for the sitting because it had just responded to their application at about 8:50 a.m. today.

And we are still entitled to file a reply on points of law. So there is no neglect on our part, he said.

He also argued that the 1st plaintiff (factional speaker) had complied with the order of the court to undertake damages in the sum of N250 million.

As a matter of fact, this court in granting that application has ordered for a damages for the sum of 250 million which the first plaintiff has complied with, he said.

Mr Adehi said by Order 26, Rule 10 of the rule of the court; the court had the discretion to grant his plea, especially weighing all the circumstances and seeing that he was willing to go on with his motion, but for the development in the morning.

He urged the court to grant their request.

Responding to Mr Njemanzes position that the PDPs processes were incompetent, Mr Ajibade said that all their processes filed were competent, even though there had been a change of counsel.

He also stated that neither the assembly nor the clerk of the house had served them with their memorandum of appearance.

He urged the court to discountenance that position and hold that all their processes were in order before the court.

NAN observes that INEC, the inspector-general of police, and the SSS were not represented in court.

(NAN)

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The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) on Thursday insisted that the 26 Rivers House of Assembly lawmakers who dumped the party for the All Progressives Congress (APC) were no longer members of the state legislature.

PDP National Legal Adviser, Adeyemi Ajibade, SAN, told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) shortly after Justice Donatus Okorowo of Federal High Court, Abuja, adjourned the embattled lawmakers suit until 24 January 2024.

Mr Ajibade said though President Bola Tinubu might have intervened in the dispute between Governor Siminalayi Fubara of Rivers State and his predecessor, Nyesom Wike, who is the minister of the Federal Capital Territory, the party stood on what the constitution says on defection.

PDP as a party, we are standing on the side of the constitution of the country. It is not about issues of an agreement, it is about the constitution we all sworn to uphold.

The governor himself swore to uphold the constitution likewise the president.

I am not against the president calling for the resolution of the matter. He is the chief security officer of this country and he has every right to intervene in the issue.

But besides that, we, as a political party, the PDP, own those seats and certainly we are interested in those seats.

Whatever the governor is doing in this matter that concerns whether resolution on the issue, no resolution has been brought to Wadata Plaza on this matter.

But as a political party, we cannot leave the seats and the votes willingly given to the party by the people of Rivers State, he said.

According to the senior lawyer, aside from that, the constitution of the country is very clear; Section 109 (1g) is clear as to issues of detection.

He said the affected lawmakers have not denied that they had not defected.

Even if you pick the writ of summon that was filed before this court, they said they actually defected.

So they are only stating while they defected, that they have the right to defect based on the reasons given by them.

So it is not an issue as to whether there was a deflection or not and we cannot fold our hands. So we have to go to recover our seats, he said.

Court jurisdiction challenged

Mr Ajibade, who said they are challenging the jurisdiction of the court to hear the suit, said if the court ruled that it had jurisdiction, the PDP would appeal it.

We have a higher court, he said.

On what transpired in court, he said though the case was adjourned for a hearing of interlocutory injunction, the PDP filed an objection that the court had no jurisdiction to entertain the matter.

He said though he opposed the plaintiffs application for the extension of the ex-parte order earlier granted by the court on 15 December, he said it was unfortunate that other defendants who were supposed to take side with them did not oppose it, and the court granted the request.

The court said based on the balance of probabilities, it decided to extend the order.

(NAN)

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Governor Douye Diri of Bayelsa State has commended his predecessor, Seriake Dickson, saying the former governor does not act like a typical political godfather.

Mr Diri was quoted as saying this in a statement issued by his spokesperson, Daniel Alabrah, on Thursday.

The governor, according to the statement, made the remark at Toru-Orua, Mr Dicksons hometown in the Sagbama Local Government Area of the state, during his usual Christmas visit on Wednesday.

Mr Diri said his relationship with Mr Dickson remained cordial and unbroken.

He said that since leaving office in 2020, the former governor had supported him and had not been overbearing.

The governor said the unity between himself and Mr Dickson had contributed greatly to the peace and development of the state.

Mr Dickson, who handed over to Mr Diri on 14 February 2020 after serving as Bayelsa governor for two terms, now represents Bayelsa West District in the Senate,

Governor Diri recalled their long-standing relationship from their days in the Ijaw National Congress (INC) and as commissioners during the Goodluck Jonathan administration and expressed the optimism that the bond would remain strong.

He expressed gratitude to Senator Dickson for his role in his emergence as his successor and also for his support in the 11 November governorship election in the state.

The governor emphasised the need for unity among leaders and the people of the state, promising that his second tenure would be dedicated to moving Bayelsa to greater heights.

He said: Today is another day for merriment. You all remember in our first year, we had some challenges.

So, it was difficult for us to do anything meaningful that year. But from 2021, we instituted this visit and it has continued.

There can be nothing more refreshing than the fact that we are alive and together today.

He said that the history of successors and predecessors in Nigeria was well known, but the story in Bayelsa was different.

From the bottom of my heart, I say thank you for tolerating me and for accepting me.

This is the time people want to play godfatherism, but you are not doing that. We have worked together and shared a lot in common and I am sure this should be an example.

In politics, if you do not tolerate and accept people, you will not move forward. Today we are happy because we all worked together as one. We went into the election united.

Let me again seize this opportunity to thank the people of Bayelsa. You have done well to keep the peace in our state. To all those we might have offended, please forgive us. Governor Diri stated.

Dicksons remarks

In his remarks, Mr Dickson lauded Governor Diri for sustaining the visit since it was initiated three years ago, describing it as refreshing.

The senator said the visit typified brotherliness, love and peace and called on the people to imbibe a similar spirit of togetherness to move the state forward.

While congratulating the governor on his electoral victory, Mr Dickson commended him for his achievements in office and expressed confidence that he would do more during his second tenure.

In spite of your tight schedule, you always find time to visit. This is the third time, and we appreciate it.

With the consent of the leaders here, on 3 January, subject to your consent, we will visit you in Sampou.

This visit is the first after your re-election. Although we had visited to congratulate you, it is still my duty to congratulate you and your able deputy on your resounding victory.

Our state has made progress due to maturity and brotherliness and it is our hope that the state will continue to be stable, Mr Dickson said.

He thanked the people of the state and everyone who played a role in ensuring that the election was credible and violence-free.

I thank you all for coming. This tradition is good and I believe it should go on even after your next four years, Mr Dickson said.

(NAN)

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President Bola Tinubu on Thursday expressed alarm at the high number of out-of-school children in Nigeria, his spokesperson, Ajuri Ngelale, wrote in a statement.

We must address this issue by establishing more schools, recruiting teachers, and providing at least one meal a day for the school children, aligning with the progressive ideology we aim to pursue, Mr Tinubu told members of the National Working Committee (NWC) of his party, All Progressives Congress (APC).

Nigeria has about 20 million children of school age who are out of school, UNESCO estimated last year, although the Nigerian government argued that the actual figure may be lower. Only India has more children out of school than Nigeria, according to the UN agency.

The number of out-of-school children in Nigeria is made worse by the insecurity that continues to ravage many communities in northern Nigeria, displacing thousands of people from their homes and leading to the closure of schools.

Mr Tinubus proposed solution needs the support of state governments to work. Most of Nigerias public primary and secondary schools are owned by state and local governments who are also responsible for staffing and running such schools.

Other issues discussed

At his meeting with the APC leadership, President Tinubu also said democracy must be progressive and inclusive with a primary focus on pragmatically addressing poverty through the provision of job opportunities for youths and quality education for all Nigerian children.

He told the APC leaders who visited him in Lagos that he supports the establishment of the National Institute of Progressive Studies by the party.

The president noted that the institute is expected to conduct diligent research and educate all party members on the principles of democracy and good governance while providing a distinct identity for the party.

Democracy has faced challenges in the past, but I believe in a promising future for our country. We will deliver it. I am committed to supporting a strong and ideologically determined democracy that is progressive, inclusive, and focused on eliminating poverty while providing quality education for our children.

Collaboration with various government arms is crucial, and I commend the leadership of our party for working hard to promote these essential ideals, Mr Ngelale quoted the president as saying.

Read the full statement by Mr Ngelale below

PRESIDENT TINUBU: NIGERIAS PROGRESSIVE MOVEMENT MUST DELIVER QUALITY EDUCATION FOR ALL NIGERIAN CHILDREN AND JOBS FOR YOUTHS

President Bola Tinubu says democracy must be progressive and inclusive with a primary focus on pragmatically addressing poverty through the provision of job opportunities for youths and quality education for all Nigerian children.

Receiving members of the National Working Committee (NWC) of the All Progressives Congress (APC), on Thursday, in Lagos, President Tinubu expressed support for the establishment of the National Institute of Progressive Studies by the party.

The President noted that the Institute is expected to conduct diligent research and educate all party members on the principles of democracy and good governance while providing a distinct identity for the party.

Democracy has faced challenges in the past, but I believe in a promising future for our country. We will deliver it. I am committed to supporting a strong and ideologically determined democracy that is progressive, inclusive, and focused on eliminating poverty while providing quality education for our children.

Collaboration with various government arms is crucial, and I commend the leadership of our party for working hard to promote these essential ideals, the president stated.

The president called on the leadership of the party to target more youth and women in its e-registration and digital membership validation exercise scheduled to be completed in the first quarter of 2024.

I stand solidly with you in the advancement of the progressive ideological stance of our party and we will pursue it with vigour, he stated.

President Tinubu thanked members of the party for the overwhelming show of support for him during the campaigns, the electoral victory, and the affirmation of his presidency by the Supreme Court.

It has been a while since we have had the opportunity to come together, especially since the Supreme Court ruling. I had hoped for a gathering, but the demanding tasks of my office that we fought for have called for increased focus, dedication, and time, the president said.

Expressing concern about the alarming figure of out-of-school children in the country, President Tinubu declared: We must address this issue by establishing more schools, recruiting teachers, and providing at least one meal a day for the school children, aligning with the progressive ideology we aim to pursue.

The National Chairman of the All Progressives Congress, Abdullahi Ganduje, informed the president that plans are being put in place by the NWC to ensure the success of the party in the coming bye-elections into national and state legislative houses in February 2024.

We assure Your Excellency that under our leadership and with your consent, strategies have been put in place to win the support of our people and secure all the seats available for the electoral contest, he said.

Ajuri Ngelale

Special Adviser to the President

(Media & Publicity)

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The Egyptian Ministry of Foreign Affairs announced Wednesday that it had successfully evacuated 18 Egyptian students and some of their parents who were stranded in the city of Wad Madani in Sudan's Jazeera State.

The city of Wad Madani has been the scene of recent armed clashes between the Sudanese Armed Forces and the Rapid Support Forces.

The ministry coordinated with the Sudanese authorities to secure the evacuation of the students from the city and ensure they arrived safely at the Egyptian Consulate in Port Sudan.

The students were then flown to the Egyptian border and returned home.

In a statement, the ministry urged all Egyptian citizens currently in Sudan, including those in states that have not been affected by the armed clashes, to leave the country as soon as possible, warning against any travel to Sudan at this time.

In addition, the statement said the ministry is working closely with the Sudanese authorities to ensure the safety of all Egyptian citizens in Sudan.

In April, following the eruption of the war between the two armed rival powers in the country, Minister of Emigration and Expatriates' Affairs Soha Gendy stated that Sudan hosted around 5,000 Egyptian students, most of whom resided in Khartoum, adding that a total of 10,000 Egyptian citizens lived in Sudan

In the weeks that followed, Egypt evacuated a large number of its nationals from Sudan.

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Residents of Sokoto, Zamfara and Katsina states in the North-west are witnessing what they described as a surge in terror activities following military offensives that led to the killing of many terrorists in the region.

Several residents and terrorism researchers told PREMIUM TIMES that the increased attacks are the fallout of the military offensives.

Although Nigerias security agencies have been battling internal terrorists in different parts of the country for about a decade, there have been increased attacks by security agencies at specific periods.

In the last few days, military authorities have reported the killing of several terrorists in the North-west. Many abducted victims were also rescued during the military operations.

The soldiers also burned down houses and camps belonging to the terrorists.

But, the offensives infuriated the terrorists who are now unleashing mayhem on residents.

That has always been the trend in the region, Basharu Guyawa, a researcher on banditry, told PREMIUM TIMES. For over a week, soldiers conducted operations in the eastern part of Sokoto and the northern part of Zamfara but immediately the operation stopped, the terrorists returned with more anger. People are being killed in high numbers.

Mr Guyawa, who is also a resident of Isa Local Government Area in Sokoto State, said the terrorists were greatly hit by the military offensive with some of them fleeing to different places, including Niger Republic, with gunshot wounds but they are regrouping to unleash mayhem.

When the soldiers were in Gundumi forest killing bandits, several of them ran to Rara forest and that was from where they launched an attack on communities in Rabah Local Government.

When they were engaging the bandits in Sokoto West, the bandits moved deeper into Sokoto East. We need to evolve more strategies in this fight. It needs to be simultaneous and collective, Mr Guyawa said.

The attacks in the north-west are separate from that of Plateau, north-central Nigeria, where over 100 people were killed on Christmas Eve.

Recent attacks by terrorists

The latest attack by terrorists in the region was the killing of four members of the Katsina State Community Watch Corps in Faskari Local Government Area of Katsina State on Tuesday.

The Community Watch Corps was inaugurated by the Katsina State Governor, Dikko Radda, in October this year to help complement the efforts of security agents in the fight against banditry.

They (watch corps) were ambushed by the terrorists around Dutse na Tara in the evening (Tuesday). The terrorists opened fire on sighting the vehicle conveying them (watch corp members) and two of them died instantly while two others died in Faskari hospital, Ibrahim Bawa, a resident of the area, told PREMIUM TIMES via phone.

Mr Bawa, who was at the hospital when he spoke with this reporter, said the terrorists must have got information on the movement of the Community Watch Corps members.

The Katsina police spokesperson, Abubakar Sadik, promised to get back to this reporter with details of the attack but was yet to do so at the time of filing this report.

In Sokoto State, 16 people including women and children were killed by terrorists when they attacked Kurya, a community in Rabah Local Government on Christmas day.

A resident of the area, Usama Lawal, said the terrorists operated for over two hours.

They burnt down a woman and her two small children. They didnt even care to rustle domestic animals as they used to do. I think the terrorists are angry with locals, he said.

On Sunday, four traders were killed on their way back home after patronising the Jibia weekly market.

They were returning from Jibia market to Yan Gayya (a village not far from the Katsina metropolis) when all of a sudden the terrorists opened fire on the vehicle. The driver was shot dead which forced the vehicle down the road. The terrorists only abducted those who were not wounded. They left without taking anything, a resident of Yan Gayya, where the traders were from, told PREMIUM TIMES.

In Zamfara State, several motorists were abducted by terrorists on the Gusau-Sokoto highway on Sunday.

A vehicle was burnt down by the terrorists in the attack that took place around 07:15 p.m

The place, between Gidan Kano and Danbaza, used to be one of the safest routes but that night only God knows how many people they abducted, a motorist, Hashimu Isa, who was going to Talata Mafara, said. It was miraculous how I was not affected by the attack. When I heard the sporadic gunshots, I went back to Gidan Kano. It took over forty minutes before soldiers arrived.

About nine communities in Zamfara State also came under attack on separate occasions in the week leading to Christmas. The affected communities are in Bakura and Maradun Local Government.

At least 20 farmers were abducted in Madachi within three days, 18 residents abducted in Dan Kadu and 11 others in Birnin Tudu. Seven more farmers were abducted while 17 others were left with various degrees of gunshot injuries in Yarkofoji.

Were witnessing an increase in the number of displaced people in Talata Mafara Local Government from Bakura and Maradun Areas, a local government official in Talata Mafara, who asked not to be named, told PREMIUM TIMES over the phone. But since we dont have any arrangement for IDPs here, Im afraid there is nothing we can do about the situation.

Way to go

Analysts believe that the security challenges in the country though diverse require better coordination to overcome.

Improved interagency coordination and a clearer delineation of responsibilities could help at a national level, with ONSA leading the way on broader security sector reform, said James Barnett, an expert in conflicts, terrorism and geopolitics in Africa at the U.S. think tank, Hudson Institute.

Clamping down on corruption and misappropriation of resources within the security sector is also crucial. Aside from national policies, local knowledge and context are crucial because insecurity has local variations in each region. Oil bunkering, banditry, and Boko Haram/ISWAP all require different tailored solutions, for example, Mr Barnett said.

Abubakar Ibrahim, a retired military captain, called for synergy between security agencies fighting banditry.

He also said only simultaneous operations in the affected states would bring an end to the security challenges in the North-west.

The fight against banditry should be an inclusive one that should also be conducted simultaneously, said Mr Ibrahim, who led the Brigade of Guards during Sani Abachas military rule.

They (soldiers) shouldnt be doing an on-and-off fight; when they go into the forest to fight the terrorists, let them stay there till they finish all the terrorists. The government should provide them with everything they need so that theyll not be returning to the town.

Multiple calls and an SMS sent to Ibrahim Yahaya, the spokesperson of Operation Hadarin Daji, the military operation in the North-west, were not answered.

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Udaipur: The quarterly meeting of the District Review Committee of Guiding Banks was held on Wednesday at the District Council Hall under the chairmanship of District Collector Shaillesh Surana, who also holds additional charge as the District Collector Administration. The meeting reviewed and discussed the progress of various government schemes, including the Annual Crop Plan, Crop Deposit Ratio, Agricultural Loans, Jan Dhan, Pradhan Mantri Suraksha Bima Yojana, Financial Literacy, Developed India Campaign, Crop Insurance, and other schemes.

Addressing the committee, Additional District Collector Shaillesh Surana emphasized that the Developed India Campaign is a nationwide initiative, encompassing various banking schemes. He urged all banks to actively participate in these campaigns and ensure maximum outreach to connect more people with banking schemes. Surana instructed banks to focus on increasing credit flow in the agricultural sector, achieve the allocated targets, and facilitate easy access to loans for economically weaker sections of society.

District Manager Rajesh Jain, in the lead at the outset, welcomed everyone and highlighted that as of September, the district's Crop Deposit Ratio stands at 72.03 percent. He urged bank officials to work towards achieving the national target and discussed the need for them to be present at every camp, providing progress reports daily.

Additionally, the National Bank for Agriculture and Rural Development (NABARD) launched the Potential Linked Credit Plan (PLP) 2024-25 booklet for Udaipur district during the meeting. NABARD estimates a credit distribution of Rs. 12,644 crores in the priority sector for the fiscal year 2024-25, focusing on agriculture, MSMEs, and other priority sectors. The discussion also included the participation of Gaurav Gupta, Regional Manager of the Reserve Bank of India, Jaipur, Neeraj Yadav, District Development Manager of NABARD, K.K. Gupta, Regional Manager of RMGB, Mohan Jakhar from Guiding Bank, and other representatives from various banks and government departments.

Source :
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Udaipur: Under the ambit of the Developed India Campaign, Prime Minister Narendra Modi engaged in a direct dialogue with selected beneficiaries on Wednesday. The program was broadcasted directly at the gram panchayat level, reaching a wide audience and providing them with information about various government schemes. The broadcast took place during an event organized in the Padvavli block of Gogunda, where MLA Pratap Bhil and MLA Kharadi enlightened rural communities about the full benefits of the government's initiatives.

During the Prime Minister's dialogue program in Padvavli, the event was attended by Deputy District Magistrate Pushkar Teli, Sub-Divisional Officer Hanumant Singh, Development Officer Hiralal, Additional Development Officer Rajendra Sharma, along with officials and staff from various departments, and members of the District Council.

*Nodal Officer Assesses the Camps*

As part of this series, the Nodal Officer and the Chief Executive Officer of the District Council, Ms. Kirti Rathore, reviewed the Developed India Campaign's camps in Padvavli and Pandvo. She inspected various stalls at the campsite and provided information about the facilities offered. Ms. Rathore explained every scheme to the rural population, instructing officials and staff to ensure that the benefits of these schemes are fully communicated to the villagers.

*MLA Kharadi Benefiting Residents at Gura Camp*

During the camp organized in Gura, Kharadi, MLA Babulal Kharadi, shed light on the objectives of the government's programs, encouraging rural residents to take full advantage of the initiatives. The Nodal Officer emphasized the importance of understanding every scheme and directed officials and staff to guide beneficiaries appropriately.

The events witnessed the presence of other public representatives, various department officials, and a significant number of rural residents.

Source :
152 EMTs, Paramedics, and Dispatchers Choose Teamsters Local 223

WASHINGTON COUNTY, Ore., Dec. 28, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Emergency medical service dispatchers, technicians, and paramedics at American Medical Response (AMR) in Washington County have joined Teamsters Local 223.

"We are proud to represent the dedicated paramedics, EMTs, and dispatchers in Washington County," said Leslie Sloy, Secretary-Treasurer of Local 223. "Our union is committed to fighting for fair wages, improved working conditions, and the dignity and respect that these first responders deserve. We look forward to engaging in meaningful negotiations with AMR to ensure that our members' voices are heard, and their interests are protected."

These workers join more than 400 other emergency medical service workers in Clackamas and Multnomah Counties who are represented by Local 223.

"I voted to join the Teamsters because I wanted to have the same job protections my counterparts have in other counties in Oregon and Washington who are Teamsters," said Kenneth Annen, a paramedic at AMR in Washington County. "I am proud to be working in EMS, but with the current shortage of workers in EMS we need to continue to improve the wages and working conditions to attract and retain the best workers for these very stressful but critical jobs in our community."

"As first responders, we take pride in providing crucial medical care during emergencies, and joining the Teamsters adds another layer of strength and support to our profession," said Tom Mee Costello, a paramedic at AMR in Washington County. "We look forward to negotiating a contract that provides us with job security and ensures that we have a collective voice at the table that fosters a sense of solidarity and enhances our ability to deliver high-quality care."

Since 1938, Teamsters Local 223 has proudly represented 2,200 workers in Oregon and Washington. For more information, visit teamsters223.com.

Contact:

Austin DePaolo, (509) 551-9212

[email protected]

SOURCE Teamsters Local 223
LONDON and MAPUTO, Mozambique, Dec. 28, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Globeleq, the leading independent power company in Africa, has completed its acquisition of a 52.5 % stake and a 22.5% stake in the 41 MW Central Solar de Mocuba solar PV power plant (Mocuba) in Mozambique from Scatec ASA and KLP Norfund respectively. Electricidade de Mocambique (EDM), the national power company of Mozambique, continues to hold the remaining 25% stake in the plant.

This acquisition significantly expands Globeleq's renewable energy footprint in Mozambique and comes just weeks after the company successfully started commercial operations at its 19MW solar and 7MWh energy storage project at Cuamba. Mocuba also represents an important addition to Globeleq's solar PV portfolio in Africa which now has capacity of close to 400 MW across South Africa, Egypt, Kenya and Mozambique.

Elsewhere in Mozambique, Globeleq is constructing a major 450 MW gas-to-power project at Temane which will substantially expand the Mozambican national grid when it starts to produce power at the end of 2024. This will provide vital baseload power to support and enable additional renewable power projects. At the same time, the Temane Transmission Project is constructing a 563km, 400kV transmission line which will provide a vital link to the Southern section of the Mozambican national grid. Globeleq is also making good progress with its 120 MW wind project at Namaacha, near Maputo, which is expected to reach financial close in 2024.

Mike Scholey, Globeleq's CEO commented:

"We are steadily building a major business in Mozambique in solar, wind and gas-to-power of which this acquisition at Mocuba is just the latest addition. Mocuba is an excellent fit within our pan-African solar portfolio and I welcome our new colleagues from the plant to Globeleq. 2024 promises to be a critical year for Globeleq in Mozambique as the Temane gas-to-power plant moves towards commercial operations and the Namaacha project, the country's first wind power project, is expected to reach financial close by mid-2024."

About Globeleq

Globeleq, which is owned 70% by British International Investment and 30% by Norfund, is the leading developer, owner and operator of electricity generation in Africa. Since 2002, its experienced team of professionals have built a diverse portfolio of independent power plants, generating 1,769 MW in 16 locations across seven countries, with a further 488 MW in construction and more than 2,000 MW of power projects in development.

More details at www.globeleq.com.

About Mocuba

The Mocuba power plant is located on 126 hectares in a rural setting around 13km from the city of Mocuba in Zambezia province in central Mozambique. The project reached financial close in March 2018 and construction was completed in August 2019. EDM is the off-taker through a 25-year power purchase agreement with the electricity produced being supplied into the Mozambican national grid. The International Finance Corporation (IFC) and the Emerging Africa Infrastructure Fund (EAIF) are lenders to the project.

Logo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/612609/GLobeleq_Logo.jpg
MIAMI, Dec. 28, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- The Law Offices of Jason Turchin announces the filing of a product liability lawsuit against The Clorox Company on behalf of Ms. Romero. The lawsuit, filed in the Circuit Court of the 11th Judicial Circuit in Miami-Dade County, Florida, alleges that the plaintiff suffered severe illness due to exposure to harmful bacteria, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, found in Pine-Sol Multi-Surface Cleaner.

According to the complaint, the Pine-Sol Cleaner was purchased around June 2022. Ms. Romero was allegedly exposed to an unsafe amount of Pseudomonas aeruginosa while using the product, leading to severe health complications. The lawsuit alleges that the product was recalled by The Clorox Company in October 2022 due to the presence of this harmful bacteria.

Lawsuit Filed Against The Clorox Company For Alleged Pine-Sol Bacteria Injury Post this

"We represent victims of dangerous and defective products nationwide. We believe that one injury from a defective product is one too many," said National Product Liability Lawyer Jason Turchin. He adds, "This incident was known to The Clorox Company, yet it was not disclosed in the CPSC report."

The CPSC reported that testing identified bacteria in certain recalled products, including those produced between January 2021 and September 2022. Clorox produced approximately 37 million recalled products in that period.

The lawsuit claims that The Clorox Company was negligent in the design, manufacture, and marketing of the Pine-Sol Cleaner, leading to the plaintiff's injuries. The Law Offices of Jason Turchin seeks compensatory damages for Ms. Romero's suffering, disability, mental anguish, loss of enjoyment of life, and medical expenses. Turchin expects to add a count for punitive damages.

Florida Product Liability Law

Florida's Product Liability Law imposes strict liability against companies whose products are used as intended and injure someone. Turchin's firm has handled numerous national product liability claims, including Takata airbag injuries, Sunbeam's Crockpot Multicooker burn injuries, OneWheel claims, tire defects, electric blanket burns, defective coffee pots and more.

For more information, contact the Law Offices of Jason Turchin at 800-337-7755 or at https://www.victimaid.com/product-liability.html

About Law Offices of Jason Turchin

The Law Offices of Jason Turchin has handled hundreds of product liability cases around the United States. Jason Turchin, Esq. has been featured in media around the world, including CBS Evening News, Forbes, Rolling Stone and more.

SOURCE Law Offices of Jason Turchin
DALLAS, Dec. 28, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- LivePURE, a leading player in the health and wellness industry, proudly announces a significant milestone in its corporate journeya strategic move to a new flagship office space in late first quarter or early second quarter of 2024. The new office, located at 5601 Granite Parkway, Plano, TX 75024, promises to usher in a new era of opportunities and enhancements for the organization.

Granite Park Three Exterior

President Rick Redford expressed his excitement, stating, "We are so excited to announce our transition to this new, and upscale office space. This move signifies our commitment to growth and innovation, and we believe this new flagship office will provide an enhanced business-building environment for our corporate team and Brand Partners throughout the world."

Founder and visionary architect Mr. Dae Geun Jung, shared his enthusiasm about this pivotal step, stating, "The move to our new flagship office space represents a significant milestone for LivePURE. We are excited about the opportunities it brings for the community we serve. This marks a new chapter in our pursuit of excellence and transformative impact in our industry."

Key Features of the New Flagship Office Space Include:

Dramatic, Unobstructed Views: The office space boasts breathtaking views with excellent accessibility to major routes like Dallas North Tollway and State Highway 121.

Proximity to Amenities: Situated within walking distance from the Granite Hilton Park Hotel, the new office ensures seamless access to convenient accommodations.

Secure and Welcoming Environment: A beautiful lobby with 24-hour security enhances the professional and secure atmosphere of the new location.

State-of-the-Art Conference Centers: LivePURE Brand Partners will have access to conference centers in Granite Park One, Three, Four, and Five, offering versatile spaces for hosting business events with convenient booking options.

Granite Park Boardwalk Accessibility: The new office's location offers walking proximity to the Granite Park Boardwalk, providing access to a diverse range of restaurants for Brand Partners and visitors.

LivePURE looks forward to leveraging the advantages of this state-of-the-art office space to foster increased business innovation, collaboration, and continued success in the health and wellness sector.

For more information about LivePURE, please see below.

About LivePURE

https://www.LivePure.com

SOURCE LivePURE
ATTORNEY ADVERTISING MATERIAL

MAUI, Hawaii, Dec. 27, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Singleton Schreiber, the premier fire litigation law firm in Hawaii, filed a lawsuit on behalf of dozens of residents against Hawaiian Electric Industries, Hawaiian Electric Company, Hawai'i Electric Light Company and Maui Electric Company. The lawsuit alleges that the utilities are responsible for the Kula Fire (also known as the Upcountry Fire).

According to the complaint, a wildfire was caused by the utilities' downed power lines on August 8, 2023. Predictably, the resulting wildfire spread quickly, destroying over 19 homes and other structures in addition to burning 700 acres in the small mountainside community.

The survivors of the Upcountry Fire reportedly suffer from significant personal and property injuries. Homes and priceless possessions of residents have been incinerated, and many of their beloved pets and other animals suffered horrific injuries or deaths. For others, the items that residents spent a lifetime earning, gathering, saving, and cherishing were reduced to ashes by the fire.

The community of Kula also suffered significant environmental harm, including smoke and ash damage to landmark trees, unique plants, and historical buildings. But this damage was not only environmental; it also represents a loss of culture, tradition, and even spirituality to the people of Hawaii as well as the visitors who appreciated it.

The complaint also alleges that smoke from the Upcountry Fire contained ash and dust with toxic chemicals and volatile organic compoundslarge groups of chemicals that increase the likelihood of cancers, cognitive impairments, and birth defects. This smoke resulted from burned buildings, vehicles, pipes, propane tanks, plastics, rubber, dyes, detergents, paint, lead, metals, and various other materials. These toxic chemicals include but are not limited to known toxins such as asbestos, lead, benzene, arsenic, carbon monoxide, carbon dioxide, nitrogen oxides, and other air pollutants.

"The Upcountry Fire's impact will be felt for decades as residents battle to rebuild their lives and survive the environmental and mental health toll wreaked by this devastating fire," said Paul Starita, attorney at Singleton Schreiber.

The case is Douglas C. Wagner v. Hawaiian Electric Industries, Case No. 2CCV-23-0000440.

About Singleton Schreiber

With roughly 300 attorneys and staff, and offices in Hawai'i, California, Colorado, New Mexico, Oregon, Washington, and Utah, Gerald Singleton and his team have represented more than 15,000 victims of utility fires and recovered approximately $2.5 billion in settlements and verdicts for its clients.

This is attorney advertising material. Paul Starita, Esq., a Hawai'i-licensed lawyer, is responsible for the contents of this article.

ATTORNEY ADVERTISING MATERIAL

Media Contact: Joe Marchelewski, [email protected].

SOURCE Singleton Schreiber
VANCOUVER, BC, Dec. 28, 2023 /PRNewswire/ - Nevada King Gold Corp. (TSXV: NKG) (OTCQX: NKGFF) ("Nevada King" or the "Company") is pleased to review the significant advancements at its 100%-owned Atlanta Gold Mine Project achieved during its 2023 exploration campaign. The 2023 drilling program both advanced resource definition drilling in established zones and leveraged off new geologic modeling to discover several significant new high-grade zones.

2023 Corporate Highlights:

Figure 1. Areal distribution of holes reported to date by Nevada King within and around the 2020 Gustavson resource zone showing progression of drilling by year. Holes are color and shape coded to illustrate gold grade and thickness of drill intercepts. (CNW Group/Nevada King Gold Corp.)

Drilled seven diamond drill holes and 202 reverse circulation holes at Atlanta accounting for over 50,000 metres during the 2023 calendar year. Over 30,000m from 109 drill holes are currently pending assay and release.





Over from 109 drill holes are currently pending assay and release. Solidified its strategic land holdings in the Atlanta district by staking an additional 469 claims (39.8km 2 ) to fully surround and build a geological buffer around the Atlanta caldera.





(39.8km ) to fully surround and build a geological buffer around the caldera. Raised $16.25-million at a price of $0.45 per share. Founder & CEO Collin Kettell and all of the management team participated in the financing for over $2 million with much of the balance subscribed for by insiders and significant shareholders. Over 55% of the shares of the Company are held by insiders and large shareholders who continue to be strong supporters of the Company.





Founder & CEO and all of the management team participated in the financing for over with much of the balance subscribed for by insiders and significant shareholders. Over 55% of the shares of the Company are held by insiders and large shareholders who continue to be strong supporters of the Company. Expanded Phase II drill program from 20,000m to 60,000m following a series of exploration successes that leveraged off new geological modeling. The Company has now drilled over 70,000m and is planning to provide guidance on a further increase in January.

Atlanta Exploration & Drilling Highlights:

One year ago today, Nevada King released an updated geologic model that represented a significant departure from the historical interpretation of the Atlanta Au-Ag epithermal system. The prior model constrained the distribution and tenor of gold mineralization to a single fault structure. Nevada King's new geologic model projected a series of high-angle faults through the Atlanta system that were each interpreted as potential conduits for channeling gold-bearing hydrothermal fluids into the Atlanta deposit. The 2023 drilling was successful in confirming new high-grade discoveries in areas within and proximate to these projected feeder structures and allowed the Company to track high-grade mineralization along a multitude of structures throughout the Atlanta deposit.

The 2023 program generated a significant amount of drill results which, along with ongoing updated interpretation, was disclosed in 24 news releases. The Atlanta drill results and accompanying cross sections and plan maps provided a developing narrative over an expanding mineralized footprint including numerous thick and high-grade mineralized drill intercepts.

Today, the Company is pleased to release a new map of Atlanta presenting the progressive success of its exploration and definition drilling that began in 2021 as part of its Phase I drill program (shown in green), followed by its Phase II program in 2022 (blue) and expanded Phase II program in 2023 (orange). Results from drill holes reported to date are color and shape coded to illustrate gold grade and thickness, respectively. Primary fault structures are overlayed in black dashed lines. Following Figure 1 is a brief description of the 2021, 2022, and 2023 results and a look at what is to come in 2024.

2021 Phase I Drilling:

The Company's inaugural Phase I, 2021 drill program consisted of 68 drill holes totaling 5,544m and was focused on exploring three areas that were historically underexplored or never tested. This included testing for mineralization from within the Atlanta pit, to the east of the pit, and along trend, 500m north of the pit. In each of these areas, the Company's drilling successfully intercepted significant oxide gold mineralization.

At the bottom of the Atlanta pit, a fence of five holes interesected high-grade gold mineralization including 54.9m averaging 5.34 g/t Au in AT21-62 and 64m averaging 3.35 g/t Au in AT21-64 (released January 12, 2022 and January 20, 2022).

At 560m north-northwest of the Atlanta pit, the Company encountered 9.1m averaging 8.26 g/t Au within an overall intercept of 18.3m grading 4.64 g/t Au in AT21-003 (released November 22, 2021). This hole was drilled 240m north of the Gustavson 2020 pit-constrained resource zone and clearly demonstrated the high-grade potential along the northern extension of the East Atlanta Fault.

Drilling to the east of the pit also encountered gold mineralization starting at surface, including 37m of 0.65 g/t Au in AT21-38A and 32m of 0.59 g/t Au in AT21-38, highlighting the potential for an eastern expansion of the resource area (released January 12, 2022).

In summation, initial 2021 drilling demonstrated the existence of fault offsets within the mineralized zone and intersected a number of shallow, high-grade mineralized zones both at the bottom of the historical Atlanta pit and well north of the resource area that were not identified in historical drilling.

2022 Phase II Drilling:

Phase II drilling commenced in June of 2022 and was designed to further test mineralization at the bottom of the pit together with better defining the westward extension of gold mineralization across a 100m to 150m-wide shear zone termed the Atlanta Mine Fault Zone ("AMFZ"). Mineralization in the AMFZ is almost exclusively confined to a dense, sub-horizontal silica-breccia horizon that formed along the erosional unconformity separating younger volcanics from underlying older dolomite and quartzite. This breccia horizon tends to be higher-grade and thicker along the eastern side of the shear zone where hole intercepts typically average 1-3 g/t Au over 30-50m thicknesses. The AMFZ was drilled by prior operators and the easternmost fault strand (East Atlanta Fault) was historically mined, but historical operators failed to recognize the presence and significance of the multiple feeder structures and geometrically complex west-dipping mineralized blocks comprising this broad structure zone, and consequently had no effective geological model with which to interpret their widely-spaced drill results.

The Company focused on drilling the AMFZ with a series of vertical hole fences and successfully identified high-grade gold mineralization. Intercepts included 3.41 g/t Au over 54.9m in AT22NS-46 and 2.65 g/t Au over 50.3m in AT22NS-59 (released October 18, 2022), as well as 3.19 g/t Au over 32m in AT22NS-83T and 2.9 g/t Au over 28.1m in AT22NS-81T (released December 5, 2022). Drilling south of the pit intercepted 77.7m of 0.62 g/t Au in AT22-RC9 and 41.2m of 1.05 g/t Au in AT22-RC10, showing that gold mineralization continues along the southward extension of the AMFZ. These areas, which were largely ignored by previous explorers, returned higher-grades over thicker intercepts than seen in past drilling in the vicinity, thus demonstrating good potential for encountering additional mineralization further southward.

2023 Drilling:

In early 2023, the Company stepped further westward from the AMFZ into the Atlanta caldera, revealing the existence of a 150m-wide graben hosting gold mineralization both within Tertiary volcanics and along the unconformity separating volcanics from underlying Paleozoic sediments. Termed the West Atlanta Graben Zone ("WAGZ"), this area is characterized by long drill intercepts that can exceed 150m in thickness and range in average grade from 0.5 g/t to 1.5 g/t Au. Examples include 2.31 g/t Au over 71.7m in AT22WS-2 (released February 13, 2023), 1.03 g/t Au over 181.4m in AT22SE-4 and 0.98 g/t Au over 163.1m in AT22SE-42 (released March 20, 2023), and 2.74 g/t Au over 89m in AT22HG-8T (released April 3, 2023). Once the WAGZ's structural setting was drill-defined, Nevada King was quick to recognize the strong potential within this this down-dropped volcanic basin for significantly adding tonnage to the Atlanta system.

Drilling throughout 2023 continued to test mineralization along the AMFZ and within the WAGZ while concurrently discovering and testing major feeder structures controlling both mineralized zones. The boundary between these zones coincides with the West Atlanta Fault ("WAF") and adjacent West Atlanta Fault #1 ("WAF1"), both of which appear to be major controlling structures for the Atlanta deposit with respect to localizing shallow intrusive activity and serving as the main hydrothermal feeders for the epithermal system. Drilling along the WAF and WAF1 encountered several instances of high-grade gold and silver mineralization including 1084 g/t Ag and 5.27 g/t Au over 10.7m in AT22HG-18 (released April 20, 2023).

Figure 1 above shows the distribution of gold grade and thickness reported to date in relation to the areas drilled during the past three years. The westward increase in intercept thickness is apparent due to the influence of the WAGZ, whereas higher gold grades are scattered around the deposit but generally occur proximal to major structures. Nevada King's closer spaced drilling along these major structures has connected the higher-grade intercepts together along strike, forming a grid-like pattern of high-grade along structures and lower-grade between the structures. The net effect has been to reveal higher-grade portions of the deposit that were not apparent from the more widely-spaced historical drill holes.

In addition, following these main structures has allowed for significant expansion well outside the existing resource zone to the south, the west, and to the north. In October, the Company released results from an area immediately south of the resource zone in a blind discovery that included 2.15 g/t Au over 96m in AT23HG-34 and 1.89 g/t Au over 114.3m in AT23HG-37 (released October 17, 2023). Meanwhile, drilling in the North Extension target 600m north of the Atlanta Pit continued to encounter high-grade gold mineralization including 4.01 g/t Au over 21.3m and 3.69 g/t Au over 13.7m (released September 27, 2023).

2024 Drilling:

Looking to 2024, Nevada King's Atlanta resource expansion and definition program will focus on closely spaced drilling along major structures to test and expand the very high-grade zones (or "jewelry boxes") recently discovered towards the end of 2023. These are best exemplified by the October 2023 release of the most gold rich hole ever recorded at Atlanta with 11.64 g/t Au over 108.3m, including 37.16 g/t Au over 29m, intercepted in the northwest portion of the resource area within the WAGZ (released October 2, 2023). This was followed by another record intercept of 6.55 g/t Au and 100.8 g/t Ag over 82.3m, intersected along a different structure within the AMFZ, (released November 14, 2023). These bonanza-grade zones, although relatively restricted in size, are very high-grade and could lead to a boost in the overall grade at Atlanta.

As the 2024 year progresses, exploration drilling will continue southward from the resource zone along the South Quartzite Ridge Target and eastward up onto the East Ridge Target. Reconnaissance drilling will commence in early summer to follow-up on the many geophysical and geochemical anomalies identified in 2023 throughout the Atlanta District. With a far better geological/geochemical/geophysical model for the Atlanta deposit in hand, the Company is now much better equipped to cost-effectively look for other Atlanta-type targets within a 31 km2 prospective region that is almost completely covered by post-mineral volcanics, caldera moat sediments, and thick alluvium.

The strong, high-grade mineralization encountered within the Atlanta deposit is connected to a large and relatively long-lived hydrothermal system formed along the caldera's margin, boding well for identifying similar deposits around or adjacent to the caldera margin.

QA/QC Protocols

All Reverse Circulation samples from the Atlanta Project are split at the drill site and placed in cloth and plastic bags utilizing a nominal 2kg sample weight. CRF standards, blanks, and duplicates are inserted into the sample stream on-site on a one-in-twenty sample basis, meaning all three inserts are included in each 20-sample group. Samples are shipped by a local contractor in large sample shipping crates directly to American Assay Lab in Reno, Nevada, with full custody being maintained at all times. At American Assay Lab, samples were weighted then crushed to 75% passing 2mm and pulverized to 85% passing 75 microns in order to produce a 300g pulverized split. Prepared samples are initially run using a four acid + boric acid digestion process and conventional mutli-element ICP-OES analysis. Gold assays are initially run using 30-gram samples by lead fire assay with an OES finish to a 0.003 ppm detection limit, with samples greater than 10 ppm finished gravimetrically. Every sample is also run through a cyanide leach for gold with an ICP-OES finish. The QA/QC procedure involves regular submission of Certified Analytical Standards and property-specific duplicates.

Qualified Person

The scientific and technical information in this news release has been reviewed and approved by Calvin R. Herron, P.Geo., who is a Qualified Person as defined by National Instrument 43-101 ("NI 43-101").

About Nevada King Gold Corp.

Nevada King is the third largest mineral claim holder in the State of Nevada, behind Nevada Gold Mines (Barrick/Newmont) and Kinross Gold. Starting in 2016, the Company has staked large project areas hosting significant historical exploration work along the Battle Mountain trend located close to current or former producing gold mines. These project areas were initially targeted based on their potential for hosting multi-million-ounce gold deposits and were subsequently staked following a detailed geological evaluation. District-scale projects in Nevada King's portfolio include (1) the 100% owned Atlanta Mine, located 100km southeast of Ely, (2) the Lewis and Horse Mountain-Mill Creek projects, both located between Nevada Gold Mines' large Phoenix and Pipeline mines, and (3) the Iron Point project, located 35km east of Winnemucca, Nevada.

The Atlanta Mine is a historical gold-silver producer with a NI 43-101 compliant pit-constrained resource of 460,000 oz Au in the measured and indicated category (11.0M tonnes at 1.3 g/t) plus an inferred resource of 142,000 oz Au (5.3M tonnes at 0.83 g/t). See the NI 43-101 Technical Report on Resources titled "Atlanta Property, Lincoln County, NV" with an effective date of October 6, 2020, and a report date of December 22, 2020, as prepared by Gustavson Associates and filed under the Company's profile on SEDAR+ (www.sedarplus.ca).

Resource Category Tonnes (000s) Au

Grade (ppm) Contained Au

Oz Ag Grade (ppm) Contained Ag

Oz Measured 4,130 1.51 200,000 14.0 1,860,000 Indicated 6,910 1.17 260,000 10.6 2,360,000 Measured + Indicated 11,000 1.30 460,000 11.9 4,220,000 Inferred 5,310 0.83 142,000 7.3 1,240,000

Table 1. NI 43-101 Mineral Resources at the Atlanta Mine

Please see the Company's website at www.nevadaking.ca.

Neither the TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.

Cautionary Statements Regarding Forward Looking Information

This news release contains certain "forward-looking information" and "forward-looking statements" (collectively "forward-looking statements") within the meaning of applicable securities legislation. All statements, other than statements of historical fact, included herein, without limitation, statements relating the future operations and activities of Nevada King, are forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements are frequently, but not always, identified by words such as "expects", "anticipates", "believes", "intends", "estimates", "potential", "possible", and similar expressions, or statements that events, conditions, or results "will", "may", "could", or "should" occur or be achieved. Forward-looking statements in this news release relate to, among other things, the Company's exploration plans and the Company's ability to potentially expand mineral resources and the impact thereon. There can be no assurance that such statements will prove to be accurate, and actual results and future events could differ materially from those anticipated in such statements. Forward-looking statements reflect the beliefs, opinions and projections on the date the statements are made and are based upon a number of assumptions and estimates that, while considered reasonable by Nevada King, are inherently subject to significant business, economic, competitive, political and social uncertainties and contingencies. Many factors, both known and unknown, could cause actual results, performance or achievements to be materially different from the results, performance or achievements that are or may be expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements and the parties have made assumptions and estimates based on or related to many of these factors. Such factors include, without limitation, the ability to complete proposed exploration work, the results of exploration, continued availability of capital, and changes in general economic, market and business conditions. Readers should not place undue reliance on the forward-looking statements and information contained in this news release concerning these items. Nevada King does not assume any obligation to update the forward-looking statements of beliefs, opinions, projections, or other factors, should they change, except as required by applicable securities laws.

SOURCE Nevada King Gold Corp.
DUBLIN, Dec. 28, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- The "Per Diem Nurse Staffing Market - Global Industry Analysis, Size, Share, Growth, Trends, and Forecast 2031 - By Product, Technology, Grade, Application, End-user, Region" report has been added to ResearchAndMarkets.com's offering.

The global Per Diem Nurse Staffing market is experiencing significant growth, with sales of US$ 8.1 billion in 2022. This surge in the market is driven by several factors, including the flexibility and attractive remuneration that Per Diem nurse staffing offers, as well as the rising demand for temporary nursing solutions in healthcare facilities worldwide.



Factors Propelling Per Diem Nurse Staffing Demand:

Flexibility and Competitive Pay : Per Diem nurse staffing appeals to nurses seeking flexibility and relatively high compensation. The unpredictable nature of nurse absences, vacation schedules, and varying patient acuity frequently necessitates immediate temporary staffing in hospitals, clinics, and outpatient departments. Per Diem assignments enable nurses to gain diverse experience in different healthcare settings while enjoying competitive compensation rates.

: Per Diem nurse staffing appeals to nurses seeking flexibility and relatively high compensation. The unpredictable nature of nurse absences, vacation schedules, and varying patient acuity frequently necessitates immediate temporary staffing in hospitals, clinics, and outpatient departments. Per Diem assignments enable nurses to gain diverse experience in different healthcare settings while enjoying competitive compensation rates. Variety of Opportunities : Per Diem nursing assignments are favored by those who seek varied work experiences and explore potential job opportunities. Nurses working on a flexible schedule enjoy substantial pay, with salaries dependent on factors such as the hospital's reputation, geographic location, and nurse specialty. In the United States , for instance, the average annual salary for per diem registered nurses is US$ 85,800 , providing attractive earning potential.

: Per Diem nursing assignments are favored by those who seek varied work experiences and explore potential job opportunities. Nurses working on a flexible schedule enjoy substantial pay, with salaries dependent on factors such as the hospital's reputation, geographic location, and nurse specialty. In , for instance, the average annual salary for per diem registered nurses is , providing attractive earning potential. Work-Life Balance : Per Diem nursing offers a work-life balance that many nurses find appealing. Unlike full-time positions, per diem nurses are not obligated to work nights, weekends, or holidays, allowing them to prioritize personal commitments and maintain control over their daily work schedules.

: Per Diem nursing offers a work-life balance that many nurses find appealing. Unlike full-time positions, per diem nurses are not obligated to work nights, weekends, or holidays, allowing them to prioritize personal commitments and maintain control over their daily work schedules. Addressing Nurse Burnout: The Per Diem nursing model helps alleviate nurse burnout, which has become a significant concern, especially in the wake of the pandemic. Long working hours, increased responsibilities, and staff shortages have contributed to nurse fatigue and mental health challenges. Per Diem nurses have the autonomy to manage their work schedules to prevent burnout

Asia-Pacific Emerging as a Key Market

The Asia-Pacific region is expected to witness the highest CAGR in the Per Diem Nurse Staffing market during the forecast period. Increasing investments by major players in countries like China and India, coupled with strategic partnerships and mergers and acquisitions, are driving market growth. The region is experiencing a surge in government and non-government hospitals, acute care centers, and long-term care facilities, contributing to the expanding market.

U.S. Dominates the Per Diem Nurse Staffing Market

In the United States, Per Diem nursing is widely accepted due to its appeal to nurses who prefer working in their chosen hospitals. Per Diem nurses have the freedom to create customized work schedules and are not obliged to work weekends or holidays, resulting in higher pay compared to regular staff nurses.

Competitive Analysis:



Key players in the global Per Diem Nurse Staffing market include GHR Healthcare, AMN Healthcare, Nurse Staffing LLC, Interim HealthCare, and Maxim Healthcare Group. These industry leaders are investing in product launches, partnerships, mergers and acquisitions, and expansion initiatives to gain a competitive edge in this dynamic market.



Market Segments Covered in Per Diem Nurse Staffing Market Analysis

By Product Type

Permanent

Contract Basis

By Region

North America

Europe

Asia Pacific

Middle East and Africa

and Latin America

A selection of companies mentioned in this report includes

Cross Country Healthcare, Inc.

Health trust Workforce Solutions

Maxim Healthcare Group

Supplemental Healthcare

Accountable Healthcare Staffing

AMN Healthcare

Nurse Staffing LLC

GHR Healthcare

Interim HealthCare, Inc.

CareerStaff Unlimited

For more information about this report visit https://www.researchandmarkets.com/r/t3u7b5

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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SOURCE Research and Markets
STOCKHOLM, Dec. 28, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Sandvik has signed an agreement to acquire pro-micron GmbH, a German-based supplier of sensorised tools and automation software. Sensorised tools is a high-growth market, with strong underlying drivers such as the accelerated shift to automated production, increasing demand of production data from our customers and closed loop manufacturing driving the need for digitalization.

Pro-micron's state-of-the-art sensorised tools offering for diagnostics and process monitoring help reduce production errors and increase automation for customers within areas like solid round tools machining.

In addition, pro-micron's long-standing relationships with machine tool builders will help strengthen and expand our partnerships with these customers. The company will be reported in Sandvik Coromant, a division within Sandvik Manufacturing and Machining Solutions.

"The acquisition of pro-micron fits very well with our strategic focus to grow within key high-growth industry segments, in this case the area of sensorised tools and automation," says Stefan Widing, President and CEO of Sandvik.

Pro-micron, founded in 2002 has around 56 employees and is headquartered in Kaufbeuren, Bavaria, Germany. In 2022, the company generated revenues of about SEK 88 million. The impact on Sandvik's EBITA margin and earnings per share will be limited.

Stockholm, December 28, 2023

Sandvik AB

For further information, contact Louise Tjeder, VP Investor relations, phone: +46 (0) 70782 6374 or Johannes Hellstrom, Press and Media Relations Manager, phone: +46 (0) 70721 1008

The following files are available for download:

https://mb.cision.com/Main/208/3900229/2515749.pdf Sandvik strengthens its position in sensorised tools market with the acquisition of pro-micron GmbH

SOURCE Sandvik
XI'AN, China, Dec. 27, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- "Meet China via a Dialogue with Shaanxi" -- Theme Salon to Promote Mutual Learning among Civilizations and Share Shaanxi's Charm was held in Shaanxi Archaeological Museum on Dec. 25.

At the salon, more than 50 Chinese and foreign guests, including experts, scholars, foreign media journalists and youth representatives, had in-depth exchanges on how to tell the Shaanxi story well and enhance mutual learning between Chinese and other civilizations.

Top: The event's participants visited Shaanxi Archaeological Museum/"Meet China via a Dialogue with Shaanxi" Theme Salon Site

The domestic and foreign guests shared their views and discussed the theme of the event based on their respective fields.

Shinkai Norihiro, director of the China Bureau of Japan's Tokyo News, told the story of the Terracotta Warriors traveling to Japan, which reveals the Japanese people's love for the Terracotta Warriors and Shaanxi culture.

Mehad Mousa, an Egyptian lecturer at Northwest University, shared her research on the understanding of Shaanxi writers with the participants and introduced her story of translating representative Shaanxi writer Jia Pingwa's selected prose and other Shaanxi literary works in Arabic.

Ghafurova Mijgonakhon, a Tajik student at Xi'an International Studies University, shared her experience and feelings in participating in cultural exchange activities such as the Belt and Road International Student Culture and Art Festival.

And many young people from home and abroad shared their stories of participating in the cultural communication of Shaanxi in different fields.

The event's participants also visited the Shaanxi Archaeological Museum. With a close touch of prehistoric pottery shards and observation of the archaeological sites, they can deeply understand the history behind cultural relics, and feel how technology can empower cultural relics protection.

As the first museum dedicated to archaeology in China, Shaanxi Archaeological Museum combines cultural relics with the background of excavations to interpret the site from the perspective of archaeology. It outlines the development of Chinese archaeology and Shaanxi archaeology, and displays the overall characteristics of the diversified integration of Chinese civilization. It has attracted the public to pay attention to archaeology, understand archaeology, and share the achievements of cultural heritage protection.

The event was hosted by the Information Office of Shaanxi Provincial People's Government and the Shaanxi branch of Xinhua News Agency.

Image Attachments Links:

Link: https://iop.asianetnews.net/view-attachment?attach-id=443895

Caption: Top: The event's participants visited Shaanxi Archaeological Museum/"Meet China via a Dialogue with Shaanxi" Theme Salon Site

SOURCE The Information Office Shaanxi Provincial People's Government
eHi Car Services to bring even more convenience to resort guests

SHANGHAI, Dec. 28, 2023 /PRNewswire/  Shanghai Disney Resort and eHi Car Services, a car services provider in the local travel market, announced today that the two companies have entered into a multi-year resort alliance, introducing eHi Car Services as the official car rental sponsor of Shanghai Disney Resort. Under this new alliance, eHi Car Services is set to bring the convenience of its services to guests driving to the magic of Shanghai Disney Resort.

Mickey; Joe Schott, President and General Manager of Shanghai Disney Resort; Ray Zhang, eHi Car Services Founder, Chairman and CEO; and Minnie (from right to left) commemorate the alliance at Shanghai Disneyland

"Shanghai Disney Resort has an unwavering commitment to providing our guests with a seamless experience, even before arriving at the resort," said Shanghai Disney Resort President and General Manager Joe Schott. "Adding eHi Car Services as our official car rental sponsor enhances the guest experience by providing convenient, comfortable and flexible transportation options to the resort."

As a highlight of this new resort alliance, eHi Car Services will provide shuttle services from designated eHi stores to Shanghai Disney Resort for guests who rent a car from the eHi platform on the day of park visit. Shanghai Disney Resort, together with eHi Car Services, is committed to transporting guests to the magic through this shared travel method  providing a convenient and green alternative to cover the "last mile" to the park.

"We are excited to be the Official Car Rental Sponsor of Shanghai Disney Resort," said Ray Zhang, eHi Car Services Founder, Chairman and CEO, "I believe that the new alliance relationship between Shanghai Disney Resort and eHi Car Services will extend the magic by bringing even more convenience to guests."

Under the new resort alliance, Mickey's Storybook Express, the iconic parade in Shanghai Disneyland, will be officially presented by eHi Car Services. Selected eHi users will even be invited to enjoy the performance in a special VIP area. Guests will also find a new dedicated section for Shanghai Disney Resort on the eHi Car Services official app at a later date where they can find special discounts and benefits for eHi car rental to the resort.

SOURCE eHi Car Services
LONDON, Dec. 28, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- In a groundbreaking move to bridge cultural gaps and foster international understanding, Guangdong Radio and Television, "Soaring Guangdong" is set to launch a special international edition in English, German, and French. "Soaring Guangdong", featuring compelling stories of five main characters, aims to provide a unique perspective on Guangdong from various angles, offering global audiences an in-depth exploration of the region.

"Soaring Guangdong" Set to Soar on Global Screens

Scheduled for broadcast on major television platforms in the United Kingdom, Germany, and Africa in December, "Soaring Guangdong" anticipates reaching over two hundred million viewers across Europe and Africa. It seeks to make international audiences better comprehend Guangdong and gain a deeper understanding of the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area and China as a whole.

"Soaring Guangdong" is poised to captivate audiences with its engaging narratives and diverse perspectives. The series promises to showcase the essence of Guangdong through the stories of its protagonists, providing a rich tapestry of cultural, economic, and social aspects of the region.

"We believe that storytelling has the power to build bridges and create connections between people from different corners of the world," Fuqing Cai said, the director Guangdong Radio and Television. "By presenting 'Soaring Guangdong' in multiple languages and sharing these stories internationally, we hope to foster mutual understanding and promote cultural exchange."

"Soaring Guangdong" aspires to serve as a bridge of communication and culture, inviting viewers to explore, appreciate, and connect with the vibrant and dynamic region of Guangdong.

Video - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HIKvuGHr6ng

SOURCE Guangdong Radio and Television
Tanzanias mega development project, Julius Nyerere Dam, which is being constructed by a consortium of two Egyptian companies, is set to start power generation in mid-February, said Ahmed El-Sewedy, the CEO of El-Sewedy Electric, one of the consortium partners.

The dam is now 94 percent complete and undergoing testing, El-Sewedy said at a meeting with Egyptian Prime Minister Mostafa Madbouly to follow up on the project, according to a cabinet statement.

El-Sewedy revealed that work is currently underway to establish an industrial zone over an area of 2.5 million square metres in the Tanzanian city of Dar es Salaam.

During the meeting, Madbouly reiterated that the project reflects Egypts keenness to cooperate with Africa in implementing development projects.

The dam, with a length of 1,025 metres and a storage capacity of about 34 billion cubic metres of water  is aimed at doubling Tanzania's energy production, controlling floods, and improving agriculture.

The $2.9 billion dam, referred to as the Julius Nyerere Hydroelectric Power Project (JNHPP), is expected to solve the country's electricity shortage problem by securing clean power to more than 60 million Tanzanians as well as controlling water flow during flooding.

The JNHPP has been under construction since 2019 and is expected to produce 5,920 GWh of power annually when completed.

The energy generated will be transmitted at a voltage of 400 kilovolts to a substation, where it will be integrated into the national electricity grid.

The project is being implemented through a joint venture of two Egyptian companies: the state-owned Arab Contractors Company and the privately owned El-Sewedy Electric.

The project  fully financed by the Tanzanian government  is providing work to 8,000 Tanzanians, 1,000 Egyptians, and other foreign workers, according to Egyptian officials.

The JNHPP dates back to August 2017, when Tanzania announced bids for the construction of the dam, which were later won by the Egyptian consortium.

Search Keywords:

Short link:


WASHINGTON, Dec. 28, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Celebrate the New Year with fun, fresh air, and scenic views by participating in a First Day Hike in one of America's State Parks. These guided hikes are organized annually from Hawaii to Maine to encourage individuals and families to start the year on the right foot  by getting outside and connecting with nature.

A family enjoying the view from Keowee Toxaway State Park in South Carolina.

On January 1, 2024, more than 1,000 hikes will be available in state parks throughout the county. The distance and rigor of the hikes vary from park to park, but they all aim to create a fun experience for the whole family. Savor the beauty of our state parks' natural, cultural, and historical resources, and be inspired to take advantage of these local treasures all year long.

"I am thrilled to see the continued growth and success of the First Day Hikes program. This initiative has become a cherished tradition, providing individuals and families with the opportunity to embrace the outdoors, and kick off the year with a commitment to health and well-being," said Lewis Ledford, executive director of the National Association of State Park Directors.

Coast to coast and beyond, participants will start the year by exploring hundreds of state parks. From a scavenger hunt hiking adventure at Deception Pass State Park's Bowman Bay in Oak Harbor, Washington, to a sunrise hike on the West Summit Trail at Pinnacle Mountain State Park in Little Rock, Arkansas, to a hike through the tropical hammock of Florida's Fort Zachary Taylor State Park, regardless of location, interest or ability, there is a First Day Hike or related activity for everyone.

Hikers can choose guided hikes that fit their comfort levels including mountain and hill climbing, walks along lakes, exploring trails that wind through forests, and wildlife expeditions. For those uninterested or unable to hike, various other offerings are available at America's state parks including boating, fishing, and horseback riding, or simply enjoying a peaceful moment from a park picnic table or bench.

First Day Hikes began at the Blue Hills Reservation State Park in Massachusetts in 1992. Since 2012, all 50 states have participated. America's State Parks hopes to make 2024 a record-breaking year as the annual event approaches major milestones, including 1 million miles hiked and 500,000 participants in the program's history.

For information on First Day Hikes near you, go to stateparks.org/special-programs/first-day-hikes/. Share your January 1 hiking story on social media with #FirstDayHikes.

About America's State Parks

America's State Parks is an alliance of state park systems in all 50 states. The National Association of State Park Directors (NASPD) promotes and advocates for the state park systems across America in providing conservation and management of natural and cultural resources, quality outdoor recreation experiences, and connecting children and families to nature and the outdoors. With more than 9,817 park areas covering over 20 million acres of land, and visitation of nearly 9 million people annually, state parks are an integral part of protecting natural and cultural resources while providing guests with amazing access to the outdoors. Learn more at stateparks.org.

MEDIA CONTACT: Lewis Ledford, NASPD Executive Director, 919-218-9222, [email protected]

SOURCE National Association of State Park Directors
DUBAI, UAE, Dec. 27, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- XRP Healthcare and The Burnratty Investment Group are excited to announce the launch of investment tickets for their groundbreaking Private Healthcare mergers and acquisitions venture in Africa. This investment opportunity offers a unique chance for individuals and institutions to actively participate in the growth and transformation of the healthcare sector on the African continent as laid out in our Pitch Deck.

XRP Healthcare and The Burnratty Investment Group Unveil Investment Opportunities in African Healthcare Mergers & Acquisitions

With an investment range starting at USD $300,000 and reaching up to a maximum of USD $3,000,000, this venture provides a rare opportunity for investors to contribute to the expansion and enhancement of private healthcare establishments, including clinics, pharmacies, and hospitals in Africa.

The investment process is designed to be flexible, accepting contributions in Fiat, USDT, or XRP, catering to the diverse preferences of interested parties.

The raised funds shall enable the acquisition and consolidation of private healthcare establishments. These entities will operate synergistically under one roof, benefitting from improved systems, access to top-tier medical professionals, and enhanced medical provisions.

At the heart of this transformative venture is XRP Healthcare's cutting-edge blockchain technology. The native token (XRPH), paired with (USDT), will play a central role in facilitating seamless and efficient transactions within the ecosystem. This strategic use of blockchain technology underscores XRP Healthcare's commitment to fostering innovation and efficiency within the African healthcare industry.

Investors are cordially invited to be part of this social impact venture, contributing to advancing healthcare infrastructure and technology on the African continent. By participating, investors will not only play a pivotal role in shaping the future of healthcare in Africa but will also secure a stake in the promising profits that lie ahead.

For further information and to discuss this exceptional investment opportunity, the founders of XRP Healthcare and The Burnratty Investment Group are available for appointments. Book a meeting via our calendar here.

About XRP Healthcare:

XRP Healthcare is the first Pharma and Healthcare platform on the XRP Ledger, enabling fast global payments, improving healthcare access in emerging markets, and creating real-world utility by transforming global healthcare through mergers, acquisitions and blockchain.

About The Burnratty Investment Group:

The Burnratty Investment Group is focused on the consolidation of the highly fragmented Ugandan healthcare sector through the acquisition of small and medium-sized stable and profitable businesses that meet our investment standards in a legal, moral and ethical manner.

Photo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/2308203/XRP_Healthcare.jpg

Logo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/1983109/XRP_Healthcare_Logo.jpg

SOURCE XRP Healthcare
If you were looking for the Charlestown Democratic Town Committee website and ended up here, try this





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Three killed as bus rams into passengers in Vijayawada. Image Source: IANS News

Houston, Dec 28 : Six people, including two kids aged 9 and 10, were killed and three others hospitalized after a head-on crash along a highway in Texas, according to a news release from the Texas Department of Public Safety (DPS).

The dead, aged from 9 to 64 years old, were all riding in one of the two cars involved in the crash, the DPS said on Wednesday, adding that the three hospitalized sustained critical injuries.

The collision happened on Tuesday at around 5:30 p.m. local time along US Highway 67 in the Nemo area, about 70 miles southwest of Dallas, Xinhua news agency reported.

Preliminary investigation showed that a Chevrolet Silverado truck was travelling south while a Honda Odyssey van carrying seven people was travelling north on the same road, where the posted speed limit is 70 mph, said a report from the Courier Journal, part of the USA Today network.

DPS investigators believe the truck entered the northbound lane in a no-passing zone and struck the van in a head-on collision. Only two people in the van were wearing their seatbelts.

The truck's driver and passenger, both critically injured, were both 17-year-old males from Glen Rose, Texas, according to DPS.

"It's a devastating scene and very emotional for all involved," the Johnson County Sheriff's Office shared in a Facebook post.

"Please say a prayer for the families of the deceased and injured," the office said.

The US Highway 67 was shut down "in both directions for several hours" while the authorities examined the "devastating scene", according to the office.
Washington, Dec 28 : The US State Department has announced this year's final package of weapons and equipment to aid Ukraine, exhausting existing funding still at the Joe Biden administration's disposal.

The arms and equipment in the package are worth up to $250 million and are being provided "under previously directed drawdowns for Ukraine", Secretary of State Antony Blinken said in a statement on Wednesday.

"Capabilities provided in today's package include air defence munitions, other air defence system components, additional ammunition for high mobility artillery rocket systems, 155mm and 105mm artillery ammunition, anti-armour munitions, and over 15 million rounds of ammunition," Blinken was quoted as saying by Xinhua news agency.

Assistance packages such as this just-announced one fall under the Presidential Drawdown Authority, which allows weapons to be pulled directly from the stocks of the Department of Defense so that they can be delivered to Ukraine in a swift manner.

The US has already used up funds from another form of assistance for Ukraine, the congressionally-appropriated Ukraine Security Assistance Initiative, which enables the Department of Defense to purchase weapons for Kiev by signing contracts with arms manufacturers.

In his statement, Blinken reiterated the urgent need for Congress to get their work done. "It is imperative that Congress act swiftly, as soon as possible, to advance our national security interests by helping Ukraine defend itself and secure its future," he said.

Warning that the funding Congress previously approved for providing assistance to Ukraine would soon dry up, the Biden administration said last week that lacking lawmakers' renewed commitment to further appropriation meeting the White House's over 60-billion-dollar supplemental budget request for Ukraine, the administration would be able to announce but one additional package for Kiev before year's end.

"We are still planning one more aid package to Ukraine later this month," John Kirby, the National Security Council's Coordinator for Strategic Communications, told reporters on December 18.

"However, when that one's done ... we will have no more replenishment authority available to us, and we're going to need Congress to act without delay, as we have been saying," Kirby said.

On Capitol Hill, Republicans are withholding their votes for new money for Ukraine, conditioning their approval on Democrats making a compromise to satisfy the GOP's demand for tighter control measures on the border to keep incoming migrants at bay.

Since the Russia-Ukraine conflict broke out in February 2022, the US has committed more than $44.2 billion in military aid to Ukraine, the Pentagon said in a fact sheet published on Wednesday.
Guwahati, Dec 28 : Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma has announced a high-level inquiry into the death of a youth, whose family alleged his suicide to be a result of police torture.

Guwahati, Dec 28 (IANS) Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma has announced a high-level inquiry into the death of a youth, whose family alleged his suicide to be a result of police torture.

Dipankar Gogoi, a resident of Birinasayek village in Jorhat district recently committed suicide. The family later alleged that he took the extreme step because he was tortured badly by the police a few days ago.

Taking to X on Wednesday, Sarma wrote, "The Government of Assam will institute an additional Chief Secretary-level inquiry into the death of Mr. Dipankar Gogoi, son of Mr. Khagen Gogoi, from GariKuri Brinasayak Gaon, Titabar on 26/12/23. The inquiry will be concluded within 30 days."

Gogoi was called to the police station several times on the suspicion of having links with the banned outfit United Liberation Front of Asom-Independent (ULFA-I). Police suspected that he was involved in the minor blast that happened on December 14 outside an Army camp in the Lichubari area in Jorhat town.

According to the family members, the youth was brutally tortured and harassed by the police. Gogoi's body was found hanging from a tree near his house.

Earlier the Assam DGP G.P. Singh also said that a probe will be conducted in the case.
Sitapur, Dec 28 : A 50-year-old woman and her three-year-old granddaughter are battling for life after they were allegedly shot at by a 15-year-old boy, who is their distant relative in Uttar Pradesh's Sitapur.

Though the police believe it to be a case of aaccidentala fire, the FIR lodged by the woman's husband mentions that the minor opened fired as he was annoyed over some issue.

The incident took place in a village under Talgaon police station limits in Sitapur.

The police, however, stated that the investigation so far revealed that the boy got a country-made firearm from one of the villagers and fired accidentally while he was trying to open it. The woman and her granddaughter were injured in accidental firing and the boy did not intentionally shoot at them.

They said the .312 bore firearm has been recovered and the police are making further efforts to arrest the person who gave the firearm to a minor boy.

The womanas husband Rana Pratap Singh, who runs a grocery shop near his house in Shadipur village, had lodged an FIR against the minor boy for attempt to murder under Indian Penal Code (IPC) section 307 at Talgaon police station.

The woman identified as Kiran Devi, whose condition is stated to be serious, has been referred to the trauma centre of King George Medical University (KGMU) in Lucknow while the granddaughter, Aaradhya Singh was undergoing treatment at a Sitapur hospital.

The complainant mentioned in the FIR that he and his son Prabhakar Singh, who were present at their shop, rushed to the spot after hearing a bullet sound and found the boy coming out of the house carrying a firearm in his hand while his wife and granddaughter were lying in a pool of blood.

He and his son rushed the injured to the hospital from where his wife was later referred to KGMU Lucknow.
Guwahati, Dec 28 : Two cadres of banned militant outfit United Liberation Front of Asom-Independent (ULFA-I) were nabbed by Assam Police in the Tinsukia district near the border of Arunachal Pradesh, officials said.

The two have been identified as Bibek Asom and Mrigen Asom.

A senior police officer said the duo was arrested from the Lekhapani area along the border of Assam and Arunachal Pradesh on Wednesday.

Bibek Asom alias Bastab Phukan joined the outlawed group in 2011. He was a core member of ULFA-I, according to police.

Earlier, ULFA-I had taken responsibility for three small explosions that happened in the districts of Tinsukia, Sivasagar, and Jorhat in Assam between November 22 and December 13.

The banned outfit had accused G.P. Singh of treating the state police as his "ancestral property". The group threatened more explosions if Singh did not reverse course.

In response, Singh stated that ULFA-I should attack him directly rather than hurling grenades in public areas if they have issues with him.

Amidst the verbal spat between Assam top cop and the banned militant outfit, security vigilance was tightened across the state and police have arrested a few people for having links with ULFA-I.
Hamirpur, Dec 28 : Ten persons have been booked under the anti-conversion law in Uttar Pradesh's Hamirpur district for allegedly forcing a naib tehsildar to convert to Islam and marry illegally a second time.

For the past few days, a photo of the officer, Ashish Gupta, 28, -- wearing a skull cap and offering namaaz -- had been circulating on social media amid claims of his religious conversion.

Gupta, booked for marrying a second time, allegedly renamed himself as Yusuf.

Gupta's wife Aarti, 27, lodged an FIR with the Hamirpur Police on Wednesday, accusing a woman named Rukhsar, 25, her father, her paternal uncle Munna, and Maulvi Mohammad Mushtaq a.k.a. Babu Aadhati, the imam of a local mosque, and forcing her husband to convert.

Six unknown persons were also booked.

Aarti also accused her husband - with whom she has a five-year-old daughter - of illegally marrying a second time. She alleged that Gupta had not come home for four months and she recently learnt through social media that he had been forced to adopt Islam and had illegally married Rukhsar. Aarti claimed to possess photographs of Gupta's second marriage.

Police sources said Gupta met Rukhsar when he was posted in Maudaha tehsil.

"Rukhsar had a land dispute in her locality following which she met Gupta. While helping her, the duo got into a relationship," said an officer, adding that bigamy is a serious offence for a government officer and Gupta may be terminated if allegations proved true.

Meanwhile, the maulvi, who is also the muezzin (caller of azaan) at the mosque, said: "I had raised the issue when I noticed an unknown man, who did not appear a Muslim, coming to the mosque for prayers. Upon inquiry, he identified himself as Mohammad Yusuf of Kanpur, posted here as a naib tehsildar. I doubted his credentials and informed officials, including the police, about him for the safety of him and the mosque."

Ashish Gupta, posted as naib tehsildar of Maudaha in Hamirpur on September 2, reportedly changed his name to Mohammad Yusuf and even went to a local mosque to offer prayers.

As the news of the conversion surfaced, tehsildar Balram Gupta has been asked to investigate the matter, senior officials said.

Hamirpur Superintendent of Police (SP) Deeksha Sharma said Ashish's wife Aarti Yagyasaini on Wednesday lodged a complaint based on which an FIR was lodged against Gupta, Rukhsar, Rukhsar's father and uncle, maulvi Babu Adhati, and six unnamed persons.
Guwahati, Dec 28 : Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) chief Mohan Bhagwat, who is on a three-day visit to Assam, will go to the river island Majuli on Thursday to meet 'Sattradhikars' or heads of Vaishnav monasteries, a spokesperson of the organisation said.

Guwahati, Dec 28 (IANS) Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) chief Mohan Bhagwat, who is on a three-day visit to Assam, will go to the river island Majuli on Thursday to meet aSattradhikarsa or heads of Vaishnav monasteries, a spokesperson of the organisation said.

An RSS spokesperson said that Bhagwat would have significant discussions on a number of topics, including religious conversions, with the tribal people and the heads of several monasteries during his two-day visit.

After his meetings in Majuli, Bhagwat will travel to Dibrugarh, spend the night there, and meet with other state RSS leaders.

The spokesperson said that the outcome of these discussions should have a significant impact on how the organisation approaches the current social issues in the region.
Lucknow, Dec 28 : A spectacular display of Indian Army's equipment will be held during the 'Know Your Army Festival', scheduled to he held at January 5, 6, and 7 at Surya Khel Parisar, Lucknow Cantonment.

The exhibition aims to build anticipation for the Army Day Parade on January 15, which, for the first time, will take place in Lucknow and is open to public.

Shantanu Pratap Singh, the Defence Public Relations Officer, stated: "Visitors will witness an impressive array of weaponry and equipment spanning from the vintage era to cutting-edge next-generation technology."

The event will also feature performances by the Indian Army's martial arts team, rock climbing and rappelling demonstrations, an army dog show, hot air ballooning, and a performance by the military pipe band.

The Know Your Army Festival, as per the release, will include a help desk set up by the Zonal Recruiting Office to provide information on opportunities within the Indian Army. The display will be open each day of the festival from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.
UP man sets himself ablaze to protest police inaction. Image Source: IANS News

Unnao, Dec 28 : Upset over the tardy progress in an SC/ST case he lodged this year, a man poured petrol on himself outside the office of Superintendent of Police in Uttar Pradesh' Unnao and set himself on fire.

The incident took place on Wednesday.

Shri Chandra Pasi, 28, is currently receiving treatment at the Unnao district hospital for serious burns.

Additional SP Akhilesh Singh stated that the police are addressing his grievances and ensuring that Shri Chandra receives the best possible treatment.

Pasi had filed an FIR against his neighbours under the SC/ST Act and other sections related to violence, attacks, and the use of caste slurs on October 18.

He named Munir, Sabir, Anees, Mumtaz, and Sabiha in his complaint.

During the investigation conducted by circle officer of Purva, Deepak Singh, two individuals were omitted from the case as the evidence did not support their inclusion in the FIR.

This decision angered the complainant, who later arrived at the SP office with a blanket wrapped around him.

He proceeded to douse himself in petrol and set himself ablaze, screaming about police tampering with the evidence.

On getting information, District Magistrate Apoorva Dubey and other officials also reached the hospital and met the complainant.
Chandigarh, Dec 28 : Union Minister of Jal Shakti, Gajendra Singh Shekhawat, will hold a crucial meeting here on Thursday to address the long-standing and contentious Sutlej-Yamuna Link canal (SYL) issue.

Haryana Chief Minister Manohar Lal Khattar and his Punjab counterpart Bhagwant Mann will be attending the meeting.

Notably, Haryana's claim to the SYL canal is being advocated by the Chief Minister, who is diligently taking measures to secure the right and so far has been actively pursuing the case in the Supreme Court.

An official spokesperson said Khattar had written a letter to Mann lately and had expressed readiness to hold a meeting to resolve any obstacles or issues related to the SYL canal's construction.

The spokesperson said on October 4 the Supreme Court passed a detailed order regarding the SYL canal, clearly stating that it is not related to the allocation of water.

Every citizen of Haryana has been eagerly awaiting the speedy completion of the construction of the SYL canal, as per the original claim of 1996, as specified in Clause 6 of the decree. In addition, the Chief Minister has been continuously making efforts to realize the long-awaited dream of irrigating the dry land in southern Haryana, said the spokesperson.

"Haryana hopes that the Punjab government will definitely support in resolving this issue," the spokesperson added.

Meanwhile, before this, a bilateral meeting between the two states took place on October 14, 2022. After that, on January 4, 2023, the second round of discussions was held under the chairmanship of the Union Minister for Jal Shakti, where the Chief Ministers of both states were present.

However, all meetings on the SYL canal issue remained inconclusive due to the Punjab government's negative attitude.

Despite the decisions of the apex court, Punjab has not completed the construction work of the SYL canal. Instead of implementing the court's decisions, Punjab tried to obstruct the progress by enacting the Repealing of Agreements Act in 2004.

As per the provisions of the Punjab Reorganisation Act, 1966, and the orders of the Government of India of March 24, 1976, Haryana was allocated 3.5 MAF (million acre-feet) of water from the surplus water of the Ravi-Beas rivers.

Punjab, by not completing the construction of the SYL canal in its territory, is using approximately 1.9 million acre-feet of water that belongs to Haryana.

Because of Punjab's actions, Haryana is unable to access its share of 1.88 MAF of water, a statement by the Haryana government said.

The unavailability of this water is causing a significant decline in the groundwater level in southern Haryana. Due to the non-construction of the SYL canal, Haryana farmers are using expensive diesel and running tubewells with electricity for irrigation, incurring additional costs ranging from Rs 100 to 150 crore annually, it said.

Also, due to the conduct of Punjab in its region, Haryana is unable to get 1.88 MAF of water from its share. This situation has rendered useless the irrigation capacity created to irrigate 10 lakh acres of land.

Haryana also suffers a loss of 42 lakh tons of foodgrain every year. If the SYL canal had been constructed in 1983 as per the agreement in 1981, Haryana would have produced an additional 130 lakh tons of foodgrain and other cereals, it said.

This agricultural production would have had a total value of Rs 19,500 crore at a rate of Rs 15,000 per ton, the statement added.
Tel Aviv, Dec 28 : Israel Police have arrested one person suspected for desecrating a Muslim cemetery.

The incident occurred in an Israeli Muslim cemetery in annexed east Jerusalem's Old City.

Jerusalem police said that the 35-year-old is "unbalanced", and added that he was arrested after they were alerted that a man had "broken the law and disrupted public order by hanging the head of a donkey" at the cemetery.

Police said that the man, when arrested, was with an axe and his accomplice was also taken into custody.

Social media is flooded with the photographs of the head of a donkey hanging from a fence of the cemetery.

Meanwhile, the Muslim Waqf Islamic affairs council stated: "A Jewish extremist slit the throat of a donkey today at the Golden Gate cemetery before hanging it over the Muslim graves," and added that it was "a serious desecration of one of the main historic Muslim cemeteries in Jerusalem".

Israel Police, however, said that it has taken a strong position in the matter and that no one would be spared if found guilty.

It also appealed to the people to refrain from any act that would disturb communal harmony.
HTech geared up to expand HONOR ecosystem of products in India in 2024. Image Source: IANS News

New Delhi, Dec 28 : HTech is all set to expand HONOR's portfolio in the country and include various Artificial Intelligence of Things (AIoT) products to build a comprehensive suite of new smart devices. The first product will be 'HONOR CHOICE EARBUDS X5', to be launched early next year.

Leveraging its core competencies and strength areas, HONOR is actively catering to consumer needs by fostering cross-functional collaboration, prioritizing user-centric design, integrating products into a seamless ecosystem, and designing for scalability and future-proofing.

Considering how your IoT products can work together to create a seamless and integrated ecosystem, HONOR said that it will enhance the experience for its users by introducing a slew of hearables, wearables and other IOT devices across price segments to diversify the product portfolio beyond mobile phones.

"We understand the IoT market in India is competitive and consumers expect cutting-edge technology and reliability in connected devices. HONOR maintains a strong focus on product quality and innovation across its range of products," said the company.

As the product portfolio is expanding, HTech is also aligned with the government's vision to make India a manufacturing hub, and is planning to start manufacturing HONOR products in the coming year, empowering local businesses and communities at large.

HTech is looking at building an end-to-end supply chain in India, which will help generate around 4,000 new jobs approximately by the end of next year.

"HTech is also providing strong customer support and after-sales service with a network of 400 centers across the country," the company informed.
Hyderabad, Dec 28 : The Telangana State Public Service Commission (TSPSC) has postponed Group-II exams scheduled to be held on January 6 and 7, 2024.

The TSPSC announced that the revised dates of examinations will be announced in due course.

This is the third time that the Group-II exam has been postponed since August.

The TSPSC had notified 783 Groupa"II posts for which 5,51,943 candidates had applied in January and February.

The exams were originally scheduled for August 29 and 30. However, the TSPSC postponed the exams following demand of the candidates, who cited that the dates were clashing with other competitive examinations.

The TSPSC later announced that the exams will be conducted on November 2 and 3. However, as the process for Telangana Assembly elections started on November 3, the TSPSC postponed the exams to January 6 and 7.

The resignation of Chairman and members of TSPSC following change of government in the state has led to the latest postponement.

Chief Minister A. Revanth Reddy had said on Wednesday that the Governor has not yet accepted the resignations of the Chairman and members and once this is done, a new board will be reconstituted.

He tried to allay apprehensions of the unemployed and assured that once the new board is in place, the process to issue job notifications and conduct the exams will begin.

He said that the Congress government is committed to fill two lakh vacancies in government departments by December 9, 2024.
Paris, Dec 28 : As an escalating humanitarian crisis grips Palestine, the French President Emmanuel Macron on Thursday said France will join Jordan to carry out humanitarian work in Gaza.

"France will work in the coming days in cooperation with Jordan to carry out the humanitarian operations in Gaza," the French Presidency in a statement said.

The statement added that the French President has also requested for a lasting ceasefire in Gaza during his phone call with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, media reports said.

France has been an ally of Israel since the start of the war between Hamas and Israel triggered by the Hamas attack on October 7.

Macron has expressed his "deepest concern" about civilian deaths and humanitarian emergency in Gaza to Netanyahu.

Media reports said that Macron has also insisted on the importance of measures to end violence by Israeli settlers against Palestinian civilians in the occupied West Bank and prevent new planned settlements.

During the temporary one week truce from November 24 to December 1, between Hamas and Israel, the Hamas released 105 hostages while 129 hostages still remain in Hamas captivity.

The Israelis believe that out of the remaining 129 hostages, at least 20 hostages have died.

There are thousands of Palestinians in Israeli jails who have been held without any trials and access to legal counsel.

The Palestinian Prisoners Club has said that Israeli forces have arrested more than 4,655 people in the occupied West Bank since October 7.

Israel launched a ground offensive inside Gaza on October 27 after Hamas attacked Israel in a surprise attack on October 7 in which 1200 Israelis were killed and over 200 were taken hostage.

Since the outbreak of hostilities between Hamas and Israel, at least 21,110 Palestinians have been killed mostly being children and women while 53,688 Palestinians have been injured.
Satara, Dec 28 : The Satara Police have detained three adults and a minor boy for allegedly masterminding and executing a scary 'ghost in ladies toilet' prank that spread horror in the vicinity, an official said here on Thursday.

The diabolic incident took place on December 24, when a 'female ghost' was spied in a public toilet for women in the Lonargully of Ravivarpeth in Maharashtra's Satara.

At least two women, who had gone to the toilet around 10 p.m. that night, saw it before entering the premises, screamed in terror and returned to tell the tale to the people.

They described the ungodly presence as 'clad in a sari, sitting just in the middle of the toilet, with an ashen face, staring from her reddish eyes, face partly covered by the saree pallu, and appearing hideous in the darkness, ghastly enough to scare the hell out of any visitor to the toilet.

It was only the next morning that some adventurous ones 'dared' to go and check on the unwelcome spirit that had spooked the women of the vicinity during the Christmas season, locals said, even as most women started using an alternative toilet block in the neighbouring lane.

Some of the bravehearts cautiously ventured closer to the target, on seeing no movement, they tried to shout, hoping to 'scare the daylights' out of the ghost, but there was still no reaction, so they pelted stones at the spirited figure.

With the manual assault, the alleged 'ghost figure' seemed to collapse and break up, and the saree fell off revealing that it was just a dummy in its true colours, as the locals heaved a sigh of relief at their toilet being finally 'exorcised'.

Meanwhile, as some local and social media networks highlighted the incident, Maharashtra State Commission for Women Chairperson Rupali Chakankar on Tuesday ordered the Satara Police to probe the matter on priority.

"It has come to light that a mischief has been done to create an atmosphere of fear among women by placing a disfigured statue in the women's toilet in Ravivarpeth of Satara town. In this matter, the MSCW has directed the Satara City Police to conduct further investigations immediately," said Chakankar.

The Satara City Police Station entered the 'ghost toilet' scene and after thorough investigations of over 48 hours, the police finally pounced on four suspects, including a woman and a minor, for the terrorising prank that left many sleepless in the vicinity.

"We have detained the three persons in connection with the incident of placing the grotesque figure in the ladies toilet. The motive behind their action is not clear. We are continuing further investigations," Satara City Police Station Inspector Mahendra Jagtap told the media.

Though the fear has now subsided among the locals and even became the subject of jokes now, many people have called upon the police to ensure strict punishment for the perpetrators of the crime that could have had disastrous effects, and prevent its recurrence in future.

(Quaid Najmi can be contacted at: q.najmi@ians.in)
Jaipur, Dec 28 : The much-awaited Eastern Rajasthan Canal Project (ERCP) will soon get the status of a national project and 90 per cent of the money will be given by the Centre as a consensus was reached between Rajasthan and Madhya Pradesh.

Union Jal Shakti Minister Gajendra Singh Shekhawat has confirmed to take forward the ERCP through the river linking project. An important meeting was held in the Ministry of Jal Shakti in Delhi on Wednesday to give the status of national project to ERCP on the model of river linking project. Senior officials of Rajasthan and Madhya Pradesh participated in it.

After discussion on the revised draft of the MoU on ERCP in the meeting, a consensus was reached between Rajasthan and Madhya Pradesh. Now Rajasthan Chief Minister Bhajan Lal Sharma and Madhya Pradesh CM Mohan Yadav will meet and sign on the MoU in January and prepare the final outline.

ERCP is a project worth Rs 45,000 crore. When taken forward under the river linking project, the central government will spend 90 per cent of the money. The state government will have to pay only 10 per cent, which amounts to only Rs 4,500 crore. 13 districts will get drinking and irrigation water from ERCP. There will be irrigation in about two lakh hectares.

There has been a lot of political back-and-forth between Congress and BJP over the demand to give the status of national project to ERCP. During the last five years of Congress rule, the then CM Ashok Gehlot wrote letters to the Centre several times. Meanwhile, the Gehlot government decided to complete the ERCP work at its own level and kept a separate budget for it. PM Narendra Modi had assured to give the status of national project to ERCP during the Assembly election campaigning.

Union Jal Shakti Minister Gajendra Singh Shekhawat, during his visit to Eastern Rajasthan before the Assembly elections, had said, "Bring BJP rule and take the status of national project to ERCP." This was seen as his promise.

This link project will not only provide drinking water to the residents of 13 districts of Eastern Rajasthan, but will also ensure water supply to industrial areas. The 2.8 lakh hectare area of Malba and Chambal region of Madhya Pradesh will also be irrigated. The DPR of the revised plan is also likely to be prepared by March next year.

Shekhawat has been trying for a long time to implement ERCP in Rajasthan. He had said that this project will be implemented on priority basis as soon as the BJP government is formed in Rajasthan. Not only this, Shekhawat also included the ERCP-PKC link project in the five priority works.
New Delhi, Dec 28 : As we bid farewell to 2023, it's time to unveil the anticipated interior design trends for 2024. Drawing insights from years of experience, Behzad Kharas - Chief Managing Director of The BNK Group shares 'Top Interior Trends to Watch Out for In 2024' - a glimpse of what's set to shape living spaces in the coming year.

New Delhi, Dec 28 (IANSlife) As we bid farewell to 2023, it's time to unveil the anticipated interior design trends for 2024. Drawing insights from years of experience, Behzad Kharas - Chief Managing Director of The BNK Group shares aTop Interior Trends to Watch Out for In 2024a - a glimpse of what's set to shape living spaces in the coming year.

Brown Renaissance:

2024 will witness a shift from greys to browns, not just in fabrics but also in cabinetry and furniture. This trend signifies a departure from cooler tones, ushering in a sense of warmth and sophistication into living spaces.

Art Inspired:

Wall-mounted sculptures are set to take centre stage, offering depth and dimension to interiors. Emerging as a focal point in interior design, unlike prints behind glass, sculptures offer a tangible and three-dimensional quality. This trend reflects a desire for visually engaging and dynamic art pieces that contribute to a more personalized and captivating living environment.

Kitchen Focal Points Redefined:

Behzad predicts bolder and more intricate designs incorporating distinct textures such as plaster or wood fluting. This shift suggests a growing recognition of the kitchen hood as a design element that can make a bold statement, enhancing the overall aesthetic of the kitchen.

A Backward Glance: Reverse Technology Effect

Contrary to the increasing integration of smart home features, there's a noticeable trend toward what is humorously coined as 'dumb homes.' Clients express a desire to return to simpler, mechanical controls, favouring old-school buttons and switches over the harsh illumination of smart screens. This marks a shift towards a more tactile and grounded living experience, stepping away from the pervasive influence of technology.

Bold Colors:

2024 is poised to break away from the subdued colour palette of recent years, with a surge in vibrant and audacious colour choices. This trend embraces a more lively and expressive use of colour. Unique combinations and simple shapes are expected to dominate, injecting a sense of energy and individuality into interiors.

Mural Magic: Transforming Overlooked Spaces

Stairways and foyers will no longer be overlooked, as murals find their way into unexpected places. Transforming neglected spaces into visually appealing areas, this trend aims to make every inch of the home captivating. The idea is to create a journey through these spaces, turning every inch of the home into a source of aesthetic delight.

Commitment to Sustainable and eco-friendly materials:

The rise of sustainable materials is anticipated in both design and construction. It reflects a broader commitment to intentional and eco-friendly design choices. This trend signifies a growing awareness and appreciation for unique materials that contribute to a more conscious approach to interior design & is expected to be an overarching theme in the coming year.

The Evolution of Secondary Spaces:

Homeowners are increasingly creating specialized extensions of their kitchens with secondary spaces like back kitchens and pantries. These versatile areas, whether transitional or enclosed, cater to additional functionalities, providing storage solutions and housing extra appliances. This trend emphasizes the evolving role of the kitchen as a multifunctional hub within the home.

Inviting Living Rooms:

The trend in living room design is moving towards a more organic and inviting minimalism. Warm, textural spaces featuring natural materials in earthy colour palettes are gaining popularity. This shift reflects a desire for a cozy and comfortable living environment that feels lived-in and welcoming.

Personalized Eclectic Fusion:

The coming year celebrates highly personalized spaces where decor with character and stories takes precedence. This trend is characterized by the seamless integration of antiques and family heirlooms with new, bespoke pieces. Interiors become a reflection of individual taste and history, moving away from standardized and generic design choices.

Cozy Quiet Luxury:

Expect a shift towards relaxed and casual luxury in furniture choices. There's a noticeable shift towards relaxed and casual luxury. Clients are leaning towards comfortable, lived-in furniture that exudes a sense of ease and comfort. This trend represents a departure from sleek and sterile looks, emphasizing a more laid-back and approachable aesthetic.

As we step into 2024, these trends invite us to create living spaces that reflect our individuality and celebrate the beauty of personal expression.

(Behzad Kharas, CMD - The BNK Group)

IANSlife can be contacted at ianslife@ians.in

--IANS

Behzad Kharas/ os/ tb
Shivamogga : , Dec 28 (IANS) Despite the repeated warning of Chief Minister Siddaramaiah of strict action, another incident of students engaged in school toilet cleaning has come to light in Shivamogga district of Karnataka.

The incident has proved to be a major embarrassment for the Congress government as Minister for Education Madhu Bangarappa hails from the district.

The students studying at Guddada Neralakere village in the limits of Komaranahalli gram panchayat were allegedly engaged in cleaning of toilets.

The video of students cleaning the school toilets went viral on social media on Thursday.

The Dalit Sangharsha Samithi (DSS) submitted a complaint in this regard with the Assistant Commissioner, Satyanarayana. It is alleged that the head master Shankarappa and other teachers had engaged the school children to clean toilets.

The parents and activists have demanded action against the accused teachers.

On December 23, the Karnataka Police arrested the headmistress of a government school for allegedly making the children clean toilets in Bengaluru.

The arrest was made following the complaint by the Block Education Officer (BEO) Anjinappa in this regard with the Byadarahalli police station. An incident of school children being asked to clean a septic tank in the premises of the school in Kolar district was also reported recently.
Thiruvananthapuram, Dec 28 : Kerala takes pride in its high standards of literacy and the way the people carry themselves, but of late, the state has been shamed by the outbursts of Governor Arif Mohammad Khan, Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan and the Leader of Opposition VD Satheesan.

Thiruvananthapuram, Dec 28 (IANS) Kerala takes pride in its high standards of literacy and the way the people carry themselves, but of late, the state has been shamed by the outbursts of Governor Arif Mohammad Khan, Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan and the Leader of Opposition VD Satheesan.

For a while now, Vijayan has come under attack from both, Khan and Satheesan.

In fact the Governor had directly leveled the charge that Vijayan was conspiring to physically harm him and was using the student and youth wing cadres of the CPI(M) for that purpose.

What has shocked everyone is the language that the executive head of State, the head of the Government and the Leader of Opposition use to take on one another.

Vijayan, of late has been stating often that Satheesan must undergo treatment for mental issues and it's because of his unstable mind that he is leveling baseless charges against him.

Satheesan hit back in the same vein last week when he said that the Cabinet Ministers on a statewide bus tour with Vijayan must ensure that he gets a particular medicine that his family usually gives him daily and which he seems not to be getting on the trip.

Khan and Vijayan have also been at loggerheads for a while and Khan was livid when the Chief Minister defended the student and youth wing of the party who waylaid the Governor while he was on his way to the airport, early this month. An angry Khan stopped his car and was seen openly challenging the protesters to come and attack him.

While on a visit to Kozhikode also Khan came under duress from the same group and after that the Governor said that Vijayan was behind the group that was conspiring to physically harm him.

This must be the first time that the Governor of a state has charged a Chief Minister of trying to physically harm him.

Reacting to this Vijayan said, "It was not criminals or goons but students, who are the future of our country, who are challenging his objectionable decisions as the chancellor. It is a democratic form of resistance which also reflects the distinctive spirit of Kerala."

Veteran civil rights activist and top Malayalam Professor MN Karassery said it was a matter of concern the way the top leaders in Kerala were talking about one another.

"The language that's being used by these leaders is in no way acceptable. All acceptable limits have been crossed. It doesn't augur well for them and the sooner they change their style, the better for them," he said.

Now all eyes are on Friday, when both Khan and Vijayan come together for the swearing-in of two State Ministers at the official residence of the Governor, which will be the first time the two come face to face in a long time.
Khandwa : , Dec 28 (IANS/ 101Reporters) Tribal-dominated Devlikala panchayat in Khalwa block of Khandwa district has a five-acre pond that serves the drinking water needs of both humans and livestock and the agricultural needs. For the last 10 years, the pond has also been under fish farming by a Kharkala-based private party. The panchayat had leased out the pond for Rs 30,000 annually.

But things were set to change with the Panchayats (Extension to Scheduled Areas) Act, 1996, coming into force in Madhya Pradesh on November 15 last year. Exactly a month later, Devlikala held its first meeting to discuss names for inclusion in committees to be formed in compliance with the Act. Though the committee members had only vague answers when asked about their role at that time, they have come a long way in evaluating the village resources and taking measures to make the most out of them over the last one-year period.

In one such instance, the committees managed to relieve the pond, constructed almost 50 years ago, from the clutches of a private party as its members assessed that the lessee was earning much after getting the pond year-after-year at comparatively meagre rentals. The land committee estimated that fish worth about Rs 2 lakh was reared every year without giving any fish feed.

As the land committee is responsible for changes in the use of government or community land, and deals with matters of transfer, lease, contract, agriculture, sale and mortgage of land, it decided to take action. After discussions with experts, the committee took its own decision that the pond will not be given for contract fish farming. Instead, the village panchayat itself will do fish farming to generate more income that can be invested back into the development works of the village.

"When other means became available, the reliance on the pond for irrigation reduced. Later, the panchayat gave it for contract fish farming. Everything went well until the contractor started to wield monopoly over the pond. The situation became such that even cattle could not access the pond in summers. When villagers complained, the panchayat did not heed to them. After the implementation of the PESA Act, we unanimously banned the leasing of the pond," land committee member Bisu Ghisia explained.

Devlikala's PESA Act mobiliser Rohit Gautam told 101Reporters that the leaseholder prevented villagers from entering the pond.

"On July 27, the sarpanch and secretary announced the pond auction. However, Dayaram Patil, the chairman of the water committee formed under the PESA Act, decided with everyone's consent that the auction should be stopped. Patil said the pond produced 20 quintals of fish. Neither fish seeds are put in nor feed given to them. The committee believes that the sarpanch and secretary are in collusion with the lessees, due to which they had been continuously making benefits," Gautam said.

The committees formed under the PESA Act also have their eyes on other resources in the village. Land committee member Hiralal Patil said they have been looking into cases of encroachment. "Eight months after the implementation of PESA Act, an individual from Malhargarh occupied a 20x40 sq. ft. land near the main market of the village and started construction. When the matter reached the committee, we passed a resolution against it on August 10. Subsequently, the building was demolished," he detailed.

After dealing with the encroachment, the committee members also informed Khalwa Police Station, where a case was registered against the encroacher.

Ever since the PESA Act came into existence, village disputes are being resolved locally. Peace committee president Champalal Palvi told 101Reporters that the villagers were assured that all disputes would be resolved at the panchayat level ever since the committee started functioning.

"This has increased their confidence. Now, village disputes are not reaching the police station. Earlier, about two to three cases used to reach the police station every month. Now, every dispute is being resolved at the local level among its own people," Palvi claimed.

Suraj Kasde, chairman, forest resource and control committee of Chikatlai in Devlikala panchayat, said the village atmosphere is better than before.

"Patronage of the panchayat has also reduced. Earlier, we had to make rounds of the panchayat and go to Devlikala for even the minutest of things. Special meetings also used to be held in Devlikala only. But under the PESA Act, meetings have started to take place in our village itself."

Kasde said the sarpanch and secretary used to scold when someone asked for the accounts of work done.

"In the general meeting held before the implementation of the PESA Act, when we asked for information about the gravel road built in our village, the sarpanch ended the meeting abruptly. There was an uproar, but it had no effect on the sarpanch and secretary," he alleged.

After the implementation of the PESA Act, people's work is being done at a faster pace. Kasde claimed about 50 villagers have been demanding land leases for the last 15 years.

"The forest dwellers have been farming for many generations, but till now they have not received the leases for those lands. After the formation of the committees under the PESA Act, the work gained momentum. So far, leases have been approved to eight villagers," he said.

Punaibai Shobharam(64), a beneficiary, said her husband had demanded for lease until his death. But even after his death, she did not get it. After the committee came into existence, she started to get her widow pension, Moreover, she is all set to receive her lease document. "It seems as if our government has come, a government that thinks seriously about us," she said elatedly.

Devlikala has its 50 per cent seats in panchayat elections reserved for women. Hence, the sarpanch is Indrakala Kajle, who hails from Kharkala. Like in most panchayats of Madhya Pradesh, her husband Pyarelal Kajle manages all the work. Earlier, for all panchayat-related works, the villagers had to go to Kharkala. However, after the formation of committees under the PESA Act, the villagers now have a better system in place.

101Reporters tried to contact Indrakala about the allegations raised against her, but her mobile phone was either out of network coverage or switched off. When panchayat secretary Ranjit Tanwar was contacted, he refused to reply to the allegations saying he was busy with family-related work.

(Mohammad Asif Siddiqui is a Madhya Pradesh-based freelance journalist and a member of 101Reporters, a pan-India network of grassroots reporters.)
New Delhi, Dec 28 : Oil prices steadied after falling sharply in the previous session, as concerns eased about shipping disruptions along the Red Sea route even as tensions in the Middle East continued to rise, media reports said.

Media reports said that Brent crude futures inched up 10 cents, or 0.1 per cent, to $79.75 a barrel by 0424 GMT, while U.S. WTI crude futures were trading 5 cents lower at $74.06 a barrel.

It said that prices dropped nearly 2pc on Wednesday as major shipping firms began returning to the Red Sea.

"Concerns about shipping in the Red Sea have eased, but continued worries about tensions in the Middle East, especially on Iran's involvement in the region, make it difficult to sell further," said Hiroyuki Kikukawa, president of NS Trading, a unit of Nissan Securities.

"The market is likely to try the upside again maybe in the early new year, also on expectations of a recovery in fuel demand thanks to monetary easing in the United States and higher kerosene demand during the winter in the northern hemisphere," he said.
Bengaluru, Dec 28 : Karnataka Rakshana Vedike President T.A. Narayana Gowda and 28 others were arrested for vandalism and destruction of English signboards and properties of commercial buildings in support of their demand for giving prominence to Kannada language on nameplates in Bengaluru.

Gowda was picked up from his residence in the early hours and produced before the judge. The court handed him over to judicial custody till January 10. He was shifted to the Central Jail in Bengaluru along with other accused Kannada activists on Thursday.

Gowda had given a call for "Maha Abhiyan" demanding 60 per cent prominence to Kannada language on signboards of all commercial buildings, malls and establishments. The Vedike had also organised a massive rally. The procession turned violent with Kannada activists vandalising, destroying and blackening the English nameplates, signboards and advertisement posters.

The government had passed an order in this regard and given the deadline till February 28 to give prominence to Kannada language in signboards. Vedike President Narayana Gowda had congratulated the activists for destroying signboards and nameplates in English. He had given a warning that if English was not replaced by February 28, he would organise a much stronger protest.

After the arrest, Narayana Gowda stated to the media that the Congress government, "Mr. Chief Minister Siddaramaiah and Home Minister Dr. G. Parameshwara, you have used us and committed injustice. I was not treated this badly anytime," he stated.

Karnataka Rakshana Vedike organised a protest at the Freedom Park in Bengaluru condemning the arrest of Vedike President Gowda and 28 others. The security is also beefed up in the surroundings of the Central prison as Kannada activists gathered in large numbers near the prison.

Reacting to the development of vandalism,and demanding prominence to Kannada language in Bengaluru, Union Minister Pralhad Joshi stated on Wednesday in New Delhi that he does not support violence but he agreed with the demand of predominant display of Kannada in nameplates and signboards.

He had questioned why shopkeepers insist on writing signages only in English. "This is not England," he stated. The shop owners should also understand the sentiments and necessity, he underlined.

Meanwhile, the Phoenix Mall of Asia in an official statement reaffirmed its commitment to adherence to state rules and regulations by incorporating Kannada signage at the mall's premises.

"This strategic initiative not only underscores the mall's dedication to comply but also reflects the respect for the cultural context of the region. The inclusion of Kannada signage is a testament to our commitment to operate within the legal framework and align with local guidelines," it stated.

The Kannada activists had alleged that the Mall had refused to give prominence to local language and targeted the premises on Wednesday.
New Delhi, Dec 28 : The Israeli embassy in South Korea has removed a video showing an imaginary scenario in which Koreans are attacked by masked assailants in Seoul, a reference to Hamas, media reports said.

Seoul Foreign Ministry said that the video was deemed "inappropriate" and that it had asked the Israeli embassy to take it down.

The video, which is no longer available on the embassy's social media, depicted a distressing scenario in which a South Korean woman in the capital is abducted by an armed assailant on Christmas Day, and forcibly separated from her young daughter, a clip published by South Korean media showed.

The Israeli embassy wrote, alongside the now-removed video posted on its Facebook account on Tuesday: "On October 7th, Israel was attacked by Hamas. 1,200 men, women and children were killed, and over 240 people were taken hostage in Gaza." "Imagine if it happened to you. What would you do?" it added.

The media reports said that the Israel ambassador's in Seoul Akiva Tor said in a social media post that has since been deleted: "We have reconstructed the horrifying terrorist incident that took place on October 7th to help South Koreans in East Asia, far away from Israel, understand the current war situation."
New Delhi, Dec 28 : The Delhi High Court on Thursday refused to urgently hear the habeas corpus plea filed by Parliament security breach case accused Neelam Azad seeking immediate release from the custody of Delhi Police.

The Vacation Bench of Justices Neena Bansal Krishna and Shalinder Kaur said that there was no urgency in the matter.

Claiming that her arrest was illegal, Azad has said that it was in contravention of Article 22 (1) of the Constitution.

Azad, with three other accused persons, was arrested on December 13, and on December 21, a Delhi court extended their police custody till January 5, 2024.

Azad has challenged the legality of the remand order dated December 21 on the ground that she wasnat allowed to consult the legal practitioner of her choice to defend her during the proceeding of the remand application dated December 21 moved by the state.

She has further alleged that she was produced after 29 hours contrary to the law.

The plea reads, "The petitioner has placed reliance on the words 'choice' and 'defended' in Article 22(1) of the Constitution of India to emphasise that it is an admitted fact that the state prevented her from having a legal representation of her choice and when she was produced before the court, although an advocate was indeed appointed by the Ld. Court, she wasnat given the opportunity to choose the most suitable advocate from DLSA."

It says that the court made a fatal error by adjudicating the remand application first and then asking the petitioner if she wanted to be defended by a legal practitioner of her choice.

"Thus, the right guaranteed under Article 22(1) of the Constitution of India was grossly violated making the remand order dated 21.12.2023 unlawful," the plea reads.

The Delhi Police has told a court that the accused in the case were "hardened criminals", consistently altering their statements.

Police have registered an FIR under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act against the accused and are investigating the security lapse issue, too.

The police had informed the court that they have included Sections 16 (terrorism) and 18 (conspiracy for terrorism) of the UAPA in the charges against the accused.

The case revolves around a major security breach on the 22nd anniversary of the 2001 Parliament terror attack, where two of the accused jumped onto the floor of the Lok Sabha, released yellow gas, and shouted slogans before being overpowered by the MPs.

The High Court on December 22 stayed a trial court's order directing Delhi Police to supply Azad a copy of the FIR till the next date of hearing, which is January 4, 2024.
New Delhi, Dec 28 : Congress leader Jairam Ramesh on Thursday expressed deep concern over the dismantling of a memorial site at Rezang La in Chushul, where Major Shaitan Singh fell in the 1962 war, allegedly due to its location falling within the buffer zone negotiated with China in 2021.

Ramesh in a tweet said that this act is a significant insult to the memory of Major Singh and all the fallen heroes of Charlie Company.

According to Ramesh, the incident provides further evidence that the buffer zones negotiated by the BJP-ruled central government encroach upon the territory previously controlled by India, marking what he deemed a "most shameful concession".

"The defence of Rezang La by C Company of 13 Kumaon, led by the legendary Major Shaitan Singh, is one of the most storied episodes of Indian war history. 114 gallant men of C Company fought to the last man and last bullet against greater numbers of Chinese (five were captured alive) and arguably saved Ladakh by successfully defending the approach to Chushul airport. Rezang La is believed to have inflicted the greatest casualties on the Chinese of any engagement in the 1962 war. Major Singh was awarded the Param Vir Chakra, India's highest gallantry award, while five Vir Chakras and four Sena Medals were awarded to others in his company," Ramesh wrote on X.

Congress MP from Rajya Sabha further said that Chushul Councillor Konchok Stanzin has revealed that the site at which Major Singh fell, where a memorial had been built, was dismantled as it fell in the buffer zone negotiated with China in 2021.

"This is a huge insult to the memory of Major Singh and the fallen heroes of Charlie Company. If any proof was still needed that the buffer zones negotiated by the Modi government are in territory previously controlled by India, it is provided by this most shameful concession," he further tweeted.

Hitting hard at the BJP government, the Congress leader said that for four years, the Modi government has tried to cover up the worst territorial setback in six decades for India with its DDLJ approach: Deny, Distract, Lie and Justify. Since May 2020, Chinese troops continue to deny Indian patrols access to the strategic Depsang Plains, Demchok and other areas in eastern Ladakh.

"Despite hollow claims of an Indian victory in Doklam in 2017, China has increased its stranglehold on Bhutanese territory in the past six years, increasing the threat to India's Siliguri Corridor, also known as Chicken's Neck. China understands that if the Prime Minister is allowed to claim PR successes, he will continue to cede ground to the Chinese salami slicing tactics. And he will continue to lie to the nation proclaiming "Na koi hamari seema mein ghus aaya hai, na hi koi ghusa hua hai," said Ramesh.

"It is time to tell the truth to the people of India, and to explain how and when the status quo ante will be restored in Ladakh," the tweet added.
Kolkata, Dec 28 : The National Commission for Backward Classes (NCBC) has summoned West Bengal Chief Secretary H.K. Dwivedi for questioning in connection with some incomplete data on the backward classes in the state.

Dwivedi has been asked to be present at the office of the NCBC chairman at 11 a.m. on January 16. However, by that time, Dwivedi will become former Chief Secretary as he is scheduled to retire on December 31 this year.

According to a statement by NCBC, among the 179 other backward classes (OBC) registered by the West Bengal government, a total of 118 are from the Muslim community. However, the commission has noted that the state government has not mentioned any separate list showing the people with OBC status after conversion to Islam.

The commission has noted that a proper clarification of the state government in this count is absolutely necessary and hence, it has summoned the current Chief Secretary for questioning in the matter.

Earlier in October this year, the NCBC sought details of such communities from the state government.

For quite some time, the BJP has been accusing the Trinamool Congress of playing the religious card in enlisting people in the OBC, considering that in the existing state list which has a total of 179 OBC categories, 118 are Muslims, while only 61 are Hindus.

The state government and the ruling Trinamool Congress have their own logic in countering that. According to the government, although the number of enlisted communities might be more from the Muslims, it is not necessary that Muslims outnumber Hindus in the total population enlisted under OBC category in the state.

It is quite possible that the total population enlisted under the fewer Hindu OBC categories might be much more than the total population under more Muslim OBC categories, the state government added.

IANS

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Mumbai, Dec 28 : Actor Sonu Sood on Thursday paid heartfelt tribute to the legendary Tamil star Vijayakanth, and reminisced about their collaboration in the film 'Kallazhagar'. He also shared that he owes his career to him.

Mumbai, Dec 28 (IANS) Actor Sonu Sood on Thursday paid heartfelt tribute to the legendary Tamil star Vijayakanth, and reminisced about their collaboration in the film aKallazhagara. He also shared that he owes his career to him.

The popular actor and former leader of the opposition in the Tamil Nadu assembly, Vijayakanth, passed away on Thursday at a private hospital in Chennai.

The 71-year-old had founded Desiya Murpokku Dravida Kazhagam (DMDK). The actor, known by fans as the "Captain" for his portrayal of military characters, was admitted for the treatment of pneumonia and was on ventilator support. He tested positive for Covid-19.

Paying a homage to the aVetria actor, Sonu took to the social media and shared a picture of Vijayakanth, along with some stills of their first movie aKallazhagara.

Expressing gratitude to Vijayakanth for being the catalyst in his career, Sonu wrote: "Kallazgar, my first film ever, was a gift from the legend 'VIJAYKANTH' sir. He came across this still of mine, and in no time, I was filming with him. I owe my career to him. Will miss you so much, sir. RIP CAPTAIN."

The 1999 Tamil action drama aKallazhagara was directed by Bharathi, stars Vijayakanth and Laila in the lead roles. Sonu played the character of Narayana in the movie.

On the work front, Sonu next has 'Fateha. It also stars Jacqueline Fernandez.
Lucknow, Dec 28 : The Uttar Pradesh government has invited applications on urgent basis from construction workers for openings in building construction work in Israel.

An advertisement issued by the labour department of UP government said: "The government is providing a golden opportunity to construction workers for getting jobs. Under this, applications are being invited from raj mistri, tiles workers, shuttering workers and those involved in netting, etc, through the Government of India's National Skill Development Mission to work in safe places in Israel on building construction."

The job will pay each worker Rs 1.25 lakh a month with an additional Rs 15,000 per month as bonus fund. This will be deposited in the account of the company and paid to the worker at the end of his tenure.

In May, India and Israel had agreed for 42,000 India workers, including 34,000 construction workers, to be sent to Israel for work. While Israel has been facing labour shortage for a while, the situation has become compounded by the ongoing conflict with Palestine since October 7.

Israel has since cancelled the work permits of Palestinians, leading to a massive shortage of workers in the country.

Last week, Prime Minister Narendra Modi spoke to his Israeli counterpart Benjamin Netanyahu and they reportedly discussed "advancing the arrival of Indian workers in Israel".

On December 15, the Haryana government too had also issued a similar advertisement for 10,000 openings but came under attack from the Opposition for wanting to send its people to a war-torn country.

Haryana called for workers who are skilled in framework, shuttering, iron bending, setting up ceramic tiles and plastering. They were offered a monthly salary of over Rs 1.55 lakh and a contract not exceeding 63 months.

The UP government has laid down certain conditions, which an applicant needs to fulfil. For example, an applicant needs to excel in at least one of the skills required. He should have a valid passport but failing that, the government will help in applying for a Tatkal passport.

The worker will have to sign a mandatory contract for a minimum of one year to a maximum of five years of employment. The applicant or any member of their family should not have worked in Israel earlier.

The applicant, who should be between 21 years and 45 years, will be required to fund his own travel to and from Israel. They should also have a minimum of three years' experience in the specified work.
Sitting outside her makeshift shelter in eastern Chad, Sudanese refugee Mariam Adam Yaya warmed up tea on some firewood in a bid to quell the pangs of hunger.

The 34-year-old from the Masalit ethnic group crossed the border on foot after a four-day trek with no provisions and her eight-year-old son clinging to her back.

She said "heavily armed" men attacked her village, forcing her to flee and leave seven of her children behind amid brutal violence that has sparked fears of ethnic cleansing.

Sudan has since April 15 been plunged into a civil war pitting Sudanese Army chief General Abdel Fattah al-Burhan against Mohamed Hamdan Daglo, his former deputy and commander of the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF).

Thousands have fled for neighbouring Chad and found refuge in overcrowded camps such as Adre where Yaya has settled.

In the western Darfur region, paramilitary operations have left civilian victims belonging to the non-Arab Masalit group in what the United Nations and NGOs say is a suspected genocide.

In the West Darfur town of Ardamata alone, armed groups killed more than 1,000 people in November, according to the European Union.

"What we went through in Ardamata is horrifying. The Rapid Support Forces killed elderly people and children indiscriminately," Yaya told AFP.

Trauma



Chad, a country in central Africa that is the world's second least developed according to the United Nations, has hosted the highest number of Sudanese refugees.

The UN says 484,626 people have sheltered there since the fighting broke out, with armed groups forcing more than 8,000 people to flee to Chad in one week.

Formal camps managed by NGOs and informal settlements erected spontaneously have sprouted throughout the border region of Ouaddai.

A traumatised Amira Khamis, 46, said she was targeted due to her Masalit ethnicity and has lost five of her children.

Recovering in an emergency medical structure run by the NGO Doctors Without Borders (MSF) near the Adre camp after shrapnel fractured her feet, she told AFP women and young girls were raped.

"They systematically kill all the people of dark black colour," she said.

Mahamat Nouredine, a 19-year-old who is nursing a fractured arm and has lost four relatives in the violence, said the RSF mercilessly hounded the Masalit community before he escaped to Chad.

"A group of RSF followed us to a hospital and tried to kill everyone... they laid us on the ground in groups of 20 and fired at us," he said.

"Their unspoken goal is to kill people due to their skin colour."

'Critical conditions'



The United States and other Western nations have accused the RSF and its allies of committing crimes against humanity and acts of ethnic cleansing.

An estimate by the Armed Conflict Location and Event Data Project puts the war's death toll at 12,000. Almost seven million people have fled their homes, according to the UN.

After surviving atrocities in their homeland and the perilous journey abroad, the refugees are now confronting the looming threat of famine.

Yaya said she and her child have "barely" eaten since their arrival in Chad.

The scarcity of water in the camps has generated tensions that humanitarian organisations have struggled to calm.

Gerard Uparpiu, MSF's project coordinator in Adre, said the influx of Sudanese refugees was creating a "worrying" situation.

"We receive them in critical conditions. They are shaken physically and psychologically," he added.

MSF's hospital is surrounded by fencing and constantly monitored by a guard, measures necessitated by the brutality of a conflict that has not spared the wounded.

"They also attacked us when I was being taken to Chad to receive treatment," said Amir Adam Haroun, a Masalit refugee whose leg was broken by an explosive.

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Rajasthan Tourism gears up to ensure safety for tourists. Image Source: IANS News

Jaipur, Dec 28 : Rajasthan Tourism called an online meeting which focused on sensitizing and fostering collaboration among stakeholders to craft comprehensive strategies aimed at ensuring a secure environment for tourists exploring the landscapes of Rajasthan.

Gayatri Rathore, Principal Secretary Tourism, Government of Rajasthan on Wednesday shared insights into the imminent launch of a campaign by the Tourism Department. This initiative aims to propagate awareness regarding appropriate conduct towards travelers, with a specific focus on ensuring the safety of women tourists.

Emphasizing the importance of proactive measures, Rathore outlined the campaign's multifaceted approach.

Central to this initiative is the plan to conduct sensitization workshops tailored for various stakeholders and service providers.

These include integral members of the tourism ecosystem, ranging from auto-taxi drivers, souvenir shop operators, tourist guides, to elephant mahouts and camel safari operators.

The comprehensive campaign seeks to engage diverse mediums, harnessing the power of social media platforms, theatrical plays, and 'nukkad nataks' to effectively disseminate crucial information and promote responsible tourism practices.
Hugh Grant tries Mango Bite, says it takes him back to Calcutta. Image Source: IANS News

Los Angeles, Dec 28 : Actor Hugh Grant made a surprise appearance at the London borough of Hammersmith and Fulham's Christmas Day Lunch event.

In photos from the event, Grant can be seen serving lunch to elderly residents in the community as the council gathered people who did not have family to celebrate Christmas with, reports People magazine.

Grant could be seen socialising with the event's attendees and taking photos with residents during his visit, which a Hammersmith and Fulham council spokesperson said came as a Christmas surprise.

"Thanks to everyone who joined us at the annual Big H&F Christmas Day Lunch  including a very special guest, Hugh Grant", said Councillor Ben Coleman, deputy leader of H&F. "Hugh helped us serve lunch to 500 local older people who otherwise would have celebrated alone. This was the real Love Actually."

As per People, the event was cancelled in 2020 and 2021 due to the pandemic. A community page asking for donations to make the event happen noted the annual lunch "is completely funded by local giving, with donations from businesses and crowd-funding."

Grant, who lives in London, rose to fame in the 1990s and 2000s as a rom-com star in movies like 'Four Weddings and a Funeral', 'Notting Hill' and the Christmas-set 'Love Actually'. This year, he had roles in the action-adventure film 'Dungeons & Dragons: Honor Among Thieves' and as an Oompa-Loompa alongside Timothee Chalamet's Willy Wonka in 'Wonka'.
Geneva, Dec 28 : Citing acute hunger and desperation throughout the war-torn Palestinian territory, Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus -- Chief of the World Health Organization (WHO) -- has warned that the population of Gaza is in grave peril, media reports said.

"We delivered supplies to two hospitals on Tuesday, with only 15 out of 36 hospitals in the Gaza Strip functioning with any capacity at all," the WHO said.

WHO Chief has urged the international community to take urgent steps to alleviate the grave peril facing the population of Gaza.

In a statement, the WHO said its staff reported that

"Hungry people again stopped our convoys today in the hope of finding food," the WHO said in a statement.

It said that the WHO's ability to supply medicines, medical supplies, and fuel to hospitals is being increasingly constrained by the hunger and desperation of people en route to, and within, hospitals we reach.

"The safety of our staff and continuity of operations depends on more food arriving in all of Gaza, immediately," Tedros said.

Last week's United Nations Security Council resolution called for the "safe and unhindered delivery of humanitarian assistance at scale" -- but did not call for an immediate end to fighting.

--IANS

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Mumbai, Dec 28 : Actress Kareena Kapoor Khan has poured her heart out, and shared how her whole life revolves around her husband, actor Saif Ali Khan. The 'Asoka' actress also revealed her favourite memory with her better half.

Saif appeared with his mother Sharmila Tagore on the chat show 'Koffee With Karan' season 8, when viewers got to witness a slice-of-life kind of conversation.

But one big highlight from the episode was the video of the family members that was played. Especially, what Kareena said about her husband Saif left many hearts melting.

While talking about Saif, Kareena poured her heart out and teared up, saying: "He is my entire being, my entire universe. My whole life revolves around my Saif. My eyes well up every time I talk about him because he is my life."

Talking about her first-ever meeting with the 'Dil Chahta Hai' actor, the 'Bodyguard' actress revealed in the video: "My favorite memory will always be the first time I met Saif. We were shooting in Ladakh, and he was sitting shirtless on top of the vanity van."

'Koffee with Karan 8' is streaming on Disney+ Hotstar.
Lucknow, Dec 28 : The revamped Ayodhya Dham railway station that Prime Minister Narendra Modi will inaugurate on December 30, will have the "country's largest concourse" and the central dome inspired by Lord Ram's Chandra 'Mukut' (crown) and, overall, a design that is a confluence of modern solutions with a touch of Indian temple architecture aesthetics.

Lucknow, Dec 28 (IANS) The revamped Ayodhya Dham railway station that Prime Minister Narendra Modi will inaugurate on December 30, will have the "country's largest concourse" and the central dome inspired by Lord Ram's Chandra 'Mukut' (crown) and, overall, a design that is a confluence of modern solutions with a touch of Indian temple architecture aesthetics.

The total cost of the entire project has been estimated to be Rs 430 crore and it will eventually have the capacity to handle one lakh passengers. The roof design is inspired by lotus petals.

The Prime Minister will also flag off the Vande Bharat train between Ayodhya and New Delhi's Anand Vihar Junction on the same day.

"The revamped G+2 model (ground plus middle and first floor) station complex will have several facilities in terms of quality and convenience. Amenities such as the country's largest concourse are all available at the railway station," said a government press release.

The concourse is set up on the first floor which spans 7200 square meters. "This process is to be completed in three phases and work of the first phase has been completed," the press release said.

Spread across more than 11,000 sqm area, the central dome of the station's building is inspired by Lord Ram's Chandra 'Mukut' (crown).

The chakra (discus) behind the mukut represents the sun. Further, two shikars on the two- storey building are inspired from Janaki temple.

There are seven mandapas between the shikhars.

During the day, the railway station requires minimum power, as the design allows for abundant natural light. Further, for water efficiency, there is the provision of rain water harvesting. The water sent to the sewage treatment plant can be recycled for horticulture use.

The narrow lane connecting the main Ayodhya junction terminal with highway and temple will be made into a heritage path, with power and telephone cables underground and 'treta yuga' facade along the path till the Ram temple.

The middle floor of the Ayodhya Dham station accommodates retiring rooms, women's dormitory, AC retiring rooms, a gents dormitory, staircases, lodging rooms for relieving staff, and dedicated spaces for the station master and women employees.

There is also an infant care room, which "occupies a prominent position, providing medical attention to infants of passengers", the press note added.

A passenger facilities desk and Tourist Information Centre, will provide information about spiritual and tourist destinations in the area, including Ram Temple.

Phase 2 of the station development is on, where three platforms are being covered with the concourse.
Lucknow, Dec 28 : A man has been arrested here for impersonating as Officer on Special Duty (OSD) to the Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister and exerting pressure on an official for transfer of two teachers, even threatening him.

As per reports, a fraudster called the Principal Secretary, Basic Education, posing as OSD to the Chief Minister and asked him to transfer two basic school teachers to the district they wanted.

The imposter also threatened the official of dire consequences for not complying with his orders.

Based on surveillance and informer's tip-off, police nabbed the culprit Devendra Pratap Rajbhar ,50, from Gautam Palli crossing. He is a native of Sant Kabir Nagar.

Assistant Commissioner of Police, Hazratganj, Arvind Verma said that after the call, the basic education official smelt a rat and cross checked with the OSD to CM, UP government.

Later, the CM's OSD Sanjeev Singh lodged a complaint with the Gautam Palli police. "We registered a case for forgery by using name of a government official and for threatening the education official," said ACP Verma.
New Delhi, Dec 28 : India has asked Pakistan to extradite Hafiz Saeed, the founder of Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) and mastermind behind the 26/11 Mumbai attacks.

The Ministry of External Affairs has requested the Pakistani Ministry of Foreign Affairs to initiate the legal process for the extradition of Hafiz Saeed, sources said.

Saeed has been listed as the most-wanted terrorist in India.

In the 26/11 Mumbai attacks more than 160 people, including American citizens, lost their lives.

Several media reports in Pakistan have mentioned that the Indian government has requested the handover of the terrorist from the Pakistani Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

Experts say that there is no formal agreement between India and Pakistan for such type of extradition.

Besides India, many other countries have also declared Hafiz Saeed as a terrorist.

The US has also announced a reward nearly 100 million dollars for Hafiz Saeed and his organisation.

Saeed has already been imprisoned in connection with terrorist funding cases.

Defense experts said that if Pakistan is interested in maintaining good relations with neighbouring countries and intends to control terrorism, then it should take positive steps regarding Saeedas extradition request.
Randeep Hooda shares pic of tigress with snare stuck in belly, seeks help of U'khand CM. Image Source: IANS News

Mumbai, Dec 28 : Bollywood actor Randeep Hooda on Thursday sought the support of the Uttarakhand Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami, and concerned officials in rescuing and treating a tigress, which was spotted with a snare in her belly in the Surai forest range.

Hooda is known for his social activism, and has earlier raised public awareness regarding chronic hunger, and also participated in an anti-suicide initiative.

The 'Sarbjit' fame actor took to X and shared a picture of a tigress running in a forest, with a snare stuck to her stomach.

He captioned the post: "A tigress is moving with a snare in her belly in the Surai forest range, Uttarakhand. Request authorities to take immediate action to rescue and treat her @ukfd_official @pushkardhami @ntca."

The 'Once Upon a Time in Mumbaai' actor has also tagged the state's Chief Minister in his post.

On the personal front, Randeep tied the knot with actress Lin Laishram on November 29. They got married in a traditional Meitei ceremony in the presence of family members and a few friends in Imphal, Manipur.

On the work front, he will be seen as the lead in 'Swatantrya Veer Savarkar'. He also has 'Unfair & Lovely' in his kitty.
Kolkata, Dec 28 : West Bengal government on Thursday said the state education department will not honour and follow the fresh guideline from the University Grants Commission (UGC) discontinuing MPhil as a degree.

An announcement on this count has come from the state education Minister Bratya Basu on Thursday afternoon less than 24 hours after the UGC, issued a notification on Wednesday warning that students should not enrol in MPhil Degree courses being offered by universities as they are no longer recognised.

"The state education department will not be accepting this new directive imposed by the UGC. The state will follow its own independent education policy. We first need to have a clear idea on the matter. The central bodies cannot impose anything on the state. We will follow our own guidelines as suggested by our experts," Basu said..

Observers feel that this MPhil issue has created yet another area of tension in West Bengal education sector, the path for which is already murky over the prolonged tussle between the state education department and the Governor's house over the appointments and removal of interim vice- chancellors in different state universities.

The fresh notification from UGC on MPhil degree came as the commission had earlier directed all higher educational institutions not to offer MPhil programmes and some universities were continuing with it.

Legal brains, however, feel that despite its war cry the state education department will not have much legal options in the long run except accepting the commission's recommendations on this count.

According to them, since a subject like education, which is in the concurrent list, the state government cannot take any decision that goes against the Central Act in the matter. "If any State Act or amendment in the Act has a factor of tussle with a Central Act in a matter related to any concurrent list subject, the clause of the Central Act will be supreme in the matter.
New Delhi, Dec 28 : Israel has proposed a new prisoner exchange deal to mediator Qatar, media reports said on Thursday.

"The deal was offered to Qatar via the U.S," media reports from Israel said.

Reportedly, the deal will first see Israel withdraw its troops from densely populated areas of the Gaza and allow far more aid to enter the enclave.

"In the second phase, Hamas would release female Israeli captives, including female soldiers and the bodies of dead Israelis, as Israel retreats further into areas to be hashed out via Qatari and US mediation," the media reports said.

The Israeli media has also reported that Hamas has so far rejected this proposal as it does not call for a full ceasefire while hostages are exchanged.

During the temporary one week truce from November 24 to December 1, between Hamas and Israel, the Hamas released 105 hostages while 129 hostages still remain in Hamas captivity.

The Israelis believe that out of the remaining 129 hostages, at least 20 hostages have died.

There are thousands of Palestinians in Israeli jails who have been held without any trials and access to legal counsel.

The Palestinian Prisoners Club has said that Israeli forces have arrested more than 4,655 people in the occupied West Bank since October 7.

Israel launched a ground offensive inside Gaza on October 27 after Hamas attacked Israel in a surprise attack on October 7 in which 1200 Israelis were killed and over 200 were taken hostage.

Since the outbreak of hostilities between Hamas and Israel, at least 21,110 Palestinians have been killed mostly being children and women while 53,688 Palestinians have been injured.
Abu Dhabi Ports Group signed a 30-year definitive concession agreement with the Red Sea Ports Authority (RSPA) for the development and operation of the Safaga 2 multi-purpose terminal at Safaga Sea Port with $200 million in investments over three years.

The project will be the first internationally operated port on the Red Sea serving the Upper Egypt region, AD Ports Group announced in a statement on Wednesday.

The total investment will cover the construction of superstructure, equipment, buildings, and utilities within the concession area. The new terminal is set to become operational by 2025.

The terminal, spanning approximately 810,000 square metres, will feature a 1,000-metre quay wall and will handle diverse cargo types, including dry bulk, liquid bulk, containerized cargo, and roll-on/roll-off (RORO) ships, which are cargo ships designed to carry wheeled cargo, such as cars, motorcycles, trucks, semi-trailer trucks, buses, trailers, and railroad cars.

The Safaga 2 terminal is a part of the integrated logistics path Safaga - Qena - Abu Tartur cargo track which will serve Upper Egypt, Minister of Transport Kamel El-Wazir noted, as per a Cabinet statement.

El-Wazir stated that the ministry has invested EGP 3.6 billion (about $116 million) in the project.

Around 85 percent of the projects infrastructure has been completed and the remainder is expected to be wrapped up by April 2024, before the superstructure works start in the second quarter of the same year, the minister revealed.

The confidence and trust placed by the Egyptian government and our partners is a testament to AD Ports Groups capabilities and experience in developing ports and terminals infrastructure, said Mohamed Juma Al-Shamisi, the groups managing director and CEO.

Safaga's strategic position on the Red Sea coast allows us to not only enhance our commercial offerings and diversify revenue streams but also contribute to Egypts broader economic objectives, setting the stage for further cooperation and opportunities in other sectors, added Saif Al-Mazrouei, CEO of ports cluster at AD Ports Group.

In March, AD Ports Group and the RSPA signed a 30-year concession agreement to develop and operate a multi-purpose terminal at Safaga Port, along with other agreements.

Egypt is striving to attract foreign investment, particularly from Gulf nations to help its economy recover and fulfil its commitments to the International Monetary Fund (IMF) under the $3 billion loan deal signed last year.

In May, Minister of Transport Kamel El-Wazir said Egypt was seeking partners in the UAE to invest in some of the $20 billion worth of projects planned in the countrys transport sector.

Emirati investments in the country surged 300 percent to reach $5.7 billion in FY2021/2022, up from $1.4 billion in FY2020/2021.

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Forced to move again: Over 150,000 Palestinians have nowhere to go, says UNRWA. Image Source: IANS News

New Delhi, Dec 28 : The United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA) on Thursday said that the over 150,000 Palestinians have nowhere to go amidst the ongoing war between Hamas and Israel, media reports said.

"People -- young children, women carrying babies, people with disabilities & the elderly-- have nowhere to go. They are forced to move again," the UN aid agency said.

It said that the evacuation order by Israeli authorities of middle Gaza has caused the ongoing forced displacement.

"Only remaining hope is a humanitarian ceasefire," the UNRWA said.

Jan Egeland, Secretary General of the Norwegian Refugee Council, has said that a staggering 1.9 million Palestinians in Gaza -- more than 80 per cent of the population -- have been internally displaced.

"Israel's indiscriminate bombardment across Gaza has damaged over 250,000 housing units, with an additional 50,000 units completely destroyed. Consequently, more than 1 million people in Gaza lack a safe and secure home to return to," Egeland said.

--IANS

int/dan
Bhubaneswar, Dec 28 : The Koraput Police in Odisha have arrested a senior doctor on the charges of securing a job at the MKCG Medical College & Hospital, Berhampur in Ganjam district producing a false caste certificate.

The accused doctor, Durgadatta Sasani is a resident of Samabaya Colony in Semiliguda area of tribal dominated Koraput district.

Durgadatta is currently working as assistant professor in the anaesthesiology department of MKCG Medical College in Berhampur.

He was arrested on Wednesday in connection with a case registered on the basis of a complaint lodged by his younger brother on July 20, 2023.

The complainant had accused that Durgadatta who originally belongs to the Brahmin caste, studied till graduation in arts streams as a general category student.

He also pursued D Pharma course at a college in Bhubaneswar under general category with his original identity.

According to the complaint, Durgadatta allegedly secured a fake certificate identifying himself as an Adivasi. He reportedly got admitted to MBBS course in 2006 and three-year specialisation course in 2014 at the MKCG medical college using the fake caste certificate.

He has reportedly been working as an assistant professor in the anaesthesiology department of the medical college since 2021.

"In 2003, the accused managed to get a false caste certificate under the surname Jani by showing himself as the son of a person in Mandarguda village belonging to scheduled tribe," said a local police official.

The police officials claimed that the accused later studied Class-X through distance education, +2 regular course in science stream at the BJB College in Bhubaneswar producing the fake certificate.

--IANS

gyan/dan
Ex-assistant of Bill Gates now world's 5th-richest person, close to overtaking him. Image Source: IANS News

San Francisco, Dec 28 : Former Microsoft CEO Steve Ballmer, who is presently the sixth richest person globally, is set to collect a staggering $1 billion (nearly Rs 8,323 crore) in annual dividend payments from the tech giant in 2024.

This comes after Microsoft's decision to increase its quarterly dividend to 75 cents per share, amounting to $3 per share annually, reports CNN.

Ballmer owns about 4 per cent of the company, equivalent to 333.2 million shares.

His significant stake has increased in value to roughly $130 billion, representing a $44 billion increase in wealth this year alone, due to a spectacular 56 per cent increase in Microsoft's stock price.

In October, Ballmer was ranked as the world's fifth-richest person on the Bloomberg Billionaires Index.

Ballmer's fortune has increased by an estimated $29 billion this year to about $115 billion, trailing his boss Bill Gates -- who was in fourth position with $121 billion, reports Insider.

Ballmer joined Microsoft in 1980 as Microsoft co-founder's assistant, however, he was more of a business manager than a personal assistant. He became Microsoft's CEO in 2000 and stepped down in 2014.

The tech giant paid $2.79 per share in dividends this year, resulting in an annual payment of about $930 million to Ballmer, depending on his ownership.
New Delhi, Dec 28 : Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov on Thursday said that the Moscow is ready for any course of events as far as the Ukraine war is concerned, media reports said.

"Since the U.S. has labelled Russia as its enemy, Moscow is ready for any course of events," the Russian media quoting the Foreign Minister as having said.

He said that as a result of hybrid war of the entire collective West against Russia, which was unleashed by the hands, bodies and all other components of Ukrainian society against us Russia has become significantly stronger this year.

He said that the West's plan to inflict a strategic defeat on Russia had failed miserably.

"The West is indeed changing tactics, probably even thinking about restructuring its strategy. Even if we claim that the strategic defeat of Russia was the strategy, forgive me for repeating, then the strategy has failed miserably," the Russian Foreign Minister said.

Lavrov said that the world majority grew very tired of the US dollar as the main reserve currency, because it has turned into a tool of political pressure.

"These days, the advance of a fairer economic order cannot be stopped. The movement towards a fairer world order, economic world order is of course unstoppable," the Russian Foreign Minister said.

--IANS

int/dan
Tel Aviv, Dec 28 : Israel Defense Forces (IDF) on Thursday claimed that rockets were fired at southern Israel areas of Nirim and Ein Hashlosha from Gaza.

"There were no casualties or injuries in the rocket firing," the IDF said.

Reports said that after the IDF conducted a ground offensive in Gaza, the rocket firing has considerably reduced.

The IDF said that the rocket firing on Thursday came after a lull of 21 hours which indicates that there is considerable weakness in Hamas infrastructure, especially in northern Gaza.

The Israelis have evacuated most of the areas in southern Israel following the October 7 attack by Hamas.

The IDF is engaged in a tough battle in Gaza and has shifted its attention to central and southern Gaza.
New Delhi, Dec 28 : The Islamabad High Court (IHC) on Thursday halted the proceedings of the infamous 'cypher case' until January 11 citing "legal errors", media reports said.

New Delhi, Dec 28 (IANS) The Islamabad High Court (IHC) on Thursday halted the proceedings of the infamous 'cypher case' until January 11 citing "legal errors", media reports said.

Reports said that Justice Miangul Hasan Aurangzeb passed the short order on a petition by Imran challenging the trial.

"During the proceedings, the Attorney General of Pakistan Mansoor Awan and Additional AGP Iqbal Duggal appeared in court along with FIA's prosecution team, while PTI counsel Salman Akram Raja attended via video link," media reports said.

The reports said that Justice Aurangzeb asked why in-camera proceedings were being held when the court had ordered an open trial. He also said that the matter of security is not the jurisdiction of the court.

He also observed that family members and the media were allowed to attend the hearing, but a petition has once again been filed stating that the proceedings have been declared in-camera.

AGP Awan clarified that only the witness testimonies were being held in-camera and not the entirety of the trial. He elaborated that testimonies of 13 witnesses had been recorded out of 25 and two had been cross-examined.

"The defence has not cross-examined 10 witnesses," said Awan and added that the media were not allowed after 13 witness testimonies were recorded.

Earlier in October, the FIA had submitted a list of 28 witnesses in the cypher case against Imran and Qureshi, according to a copy of the indictment.

The Supreme Court granted both PTI leaders bail in the cypher case on December 22 as there was no sufficient incriminating material to show that Imran had revealed the diplomatic document to the general public.

However, their release from Adiala jail is hindered by their involvement in other ongoing cases.

The case originated from Imran's public display of a paper during a rally in Islamabad on March 27, 2022, claiming it as evidence of an "international conspiracy" before a vote of no-confidence led to his government's ouster.
New Delhi, Dec 28 : Delhi Police have arrested three persons after busting a cow slaughtering gang based out of Sambhal in Uttar Pradesh, which was active in Delhi and its peripherals, an official said on Thursday.

The accused have been identified as Wajhat a.k.a Ajju (32), Jahane Alam alias Jahna (30), and Sajid a.k.a Sadva (28), all residents of Amroha district in Uttar Pradesh.

The official said that the main accused, Sajid, a notorious criminal, was earlier caught by UP Police following an encounter and he was released from jail in July 2023.

According to the police, on December 24, a PCR call was received at Karawal Nagar police station informing about the severed head of a cow and other body parts found near Janki Panchal Vihar.

On analysing CCTV footage, a Honda City car was found involved in the case.

"The route of the car was traced and it was found that three persons disembarked from it near the Seemapuri Depot. A police team zeroed down on the three suspects and apprehended them from their rented accommodation in the Old Mustafabad area," said Deputy Commissioner of Police (North-East), Joy Tirkey.

On interrogation, they confessed to their crime and disclosed that they procured 'Xylaxin' injections used to make cows unconscious from a chemist in Jafrabad and used to lift stray cows from various areas in Delhi-NCR.

"They purchased the Honda City car out of the money they made from selling cow meat to the customers. Around 17 syringes and 34 needles were also recovered from their possession," the DCP said.

All three accused accused were previously found involved in more than 15 cow slaughtering cases registered in Nagli (UP), Shalimar Bagh, Gokulpuri and other areas.

"Efforts are being made to trace their involvement in other cases as well," the DCP added.
Mumbai, Dec 28 : A complaint has been filed against Bollywood actor Ranbir Kapoor, who has now graduated to the league of superstars with the success of his recent release 'Animal'. Ranbir recently attended the customary Christmas lunch of the Kapoor family along with his wife, Bollywood star Alia Bhatt and daughter Raha.

A video from the Christmas lunch of the Kapoor family went viral which showed Ranbir saying, "Jai Mata Di" as liquor is poured on the Christmas cake.

The complaint extends over to the members of the Kapoor family for hurting the religious sentiments.

As per media reports, the complaint was filed at the Ghatkopar police station. It claimed that in the video, while the liquor is poured on the cake, and is set on fire, Ranbir says "Jai Mata Di".

In Hinduism, fire god is invoked before invoking other deities, but Ranbir Kapoor and his family members deliberately used intoxicants while celebrating the festival of another religion and chanted "Jai Mata Di", the media reports quoted the complaint.

However, no FIR has been filed.

The video is from the same day when Ranbir and Alia finally revealed the face of Raha to the world.

Currently, the couple is at an undisclosed location with their daughter Raha.

The family was clicked at the Mumbai airport with Ranbir dressed up in athleisure clothing and Raha sleeping in her mom's lap.
London, Dec 28 : Israel's military will act to remove Hezbollah from the borders with Lebanon if its attacks continue, an Israeli minister has warned, a media report said.

Benny Gantz, minister without portfolio and member of Israelas emergency war cabinet, said the military would intervene if militants do not stop firing on northern Israel, BBC reported.

Time for a diplomatic solution is running out, he said.

Meanwhile, the head of the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) said troops are in "very high readiness" for more fighting in the north, BBC reported.

"Our first task is to restore security and the sense of security to the residents in the north, and this will take time," said Chief of General Staff, Lt Gen Herzi Halevi, after conducting a "situational assessment".

Cross-border exchanges of fire have been escalating since Hamas' October 7 attacks on Israel.

It has led to concerns the conflict in Gaza could become wider across the region.

"The situation on Israel's northern border demands change," Gantz told mediapersons on Wednesday night.

"The stopwatch for a diplomatic solution is running out. If the world and the Lebanese government don't act to prevent the firing on Israel's northern residents, and to distance Hezbollah from the border, the IDF will do it," he said.

Hezbollah - a Shia Muslim organisation - is designated a terrorist organisation by Western states, Israel, Gulf Arab countries and the Arab League, BBC reported.

Funded by Iran, it is one of the most heavily-armed, non-state military forces in the world, the report said.

In 2006, a full-blown war between Hezbollah and Israel was triggered after the former carried out a deadly cross-border raid, with Israeli troops invading southern Lebanon.
Mumbai, Dec 28 : Sriram Raghavan, previously known for films such as 'Badlapur' and 'Andhadhun', is all set for the January 2024 release of his next film 'Merry Christmas' starring Katrina Kaif and Vijay Sethupathi.

He revealed how initially he had Saif Ali Khan in his mind for the role which is now being played by Vijay Sethupathi, most recently seen in action in the blockbusters 'Jawan' and 'Vikram'.

The 'Merry Christmas' trailer has been released and is getting a lot of attention, especially for its unique casting. In a candid conversation, the director opened up on the casting of the film.

"I had met Katrina casually after 'Andhadhun' and we were discussing doing something together," Raghavan said. "I had a story and when she listened to it, she really liked it and asked me who the guy was.

"At that time I had some other actor in my mind. I had spoken to Saif Ali Khan and he liked the story, but then I had to say 'no' to him. I wanted a unique pairing. That is the story requirement.

"I did not want any baggage from either of them. I wanted to have someone fresh who has not done any work with Katrina. Soon after, I was going to Melbourne for a film festival and on my way there, I watched the film '96' of Vijay. I also met him there and asked him if he spoke Hindi. He told me he had worked in Dubai for three years. This is how this oddball combination came about. It got me excited to work on this film."

'Merry Christmas' is a romantic thriller film made simultaneously in Hindi and Tamil. The film is scheduled to release in theatres on January 12, 2024.
Mumbai, Dec. 28 : With Lok Sabha elections round the corner, squabbles over seat-sharing has soured the mood in the Opposition Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) allies, particularly the Congress and the Shiv Sena (UBT).

Shiv Sena (UBT)'s ex-Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray has demanded a lion's share of 23 seats -- out of the 48 in the state -- leading to consternation among the Congress and even the Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) headed by Sharad Pawar.

Sanjay Raut, MP and chief spokesperson of Shiv Sena (UBT), has reiterated the party's desire to contest 23 seats - which would leave just 25 for the Congress and the NCP (SP), which had split in July 2023, plus any other smaller allies who may need to be accommodated.

State Congress leaders have virtually spurned the SS-UBT claim, saying the party had split (in July 2022) and many of its MPs are now with the Shiv Sena led by Chief Minister Eknath Shinde, and hence the party could not be given so many seats now.

Hitting back, Raut said it is not for the Congress to decide whether the party has broken, and even if MPs and MLAs left the party, its voters are still with the Thackeray-led faction.

"All big or small decisions of the state Congress are taken in Delhi So we have spoken to Mallikarjun Kharge, Sonia Gandhi and Rahul Gandhi after the fourth conclave of the INDIA bloc. We expressed our view to discuss the Maharashtra Lok Sabha seat allocation and the Congress leaders have welcomed it," said Raut.

Accordingly, he said that there has been no official discussion on the issue with Maharashtra Congress leaders, and at this stage, it would not be appropriate to comment on individual claims on specific seats in the state.

Buttressing his arguments, Raut said that while the unified Shiv Sena had contested 23 seats and bagged 18 (in 2019), the Congress had won just one seat (Chandrapur), and it would have to restart virtually from scratch.

Another Congress leader and ex-MP, Sanjay Nirupam, also expressed reservations saying if SS-UBT takes away 23 seats, "what will be left for the Congress".

"We are going to contest 23 seats, and we are saying this confidently and with responsibility If some Maharashtra Congress leaders have problems, we are ignoring them as ultimately, their decision will be taken in Delhi," Raut said.

Meanwhile, ex-CM and senior Congress leader Prithviraj Chavan guardedly said that a coordination committee meeting will be held in Delhi on December 29 to discuss seat sharing, then the matter will be discussed with Maharashtra leaders, but declined to make any comments on the seat allocation row.

Raut said the question of including Prakash Ambedkar's Vanchit Bahujan Aghadi (VBA) in the MVA and the INDIA bloc has been discussed with Sharad Pawar, who also recently said he had taken it up with Kharge.

Incidentally, earlier this week, the VBA had presented its own formula - 12 seats each for the VBA, Congress, SS-UBT and NCP (SP) - to achieve the goal of unseating the Bharatiya Janata Party and Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

Chavan added that irrespective of the number of seats anybody is claiming, "if they seriously want to defeat the BJP, then all should unite to fight the 2024 elections".

(Quaid Najmi can be contacted at: q.najmi@ians.in)
New Delhi, Dec 28 : With the New Year around the corner, bibliophiles are agog with anticipation over the books that will hit the shelves in 2024.

Among them, one of the most anticipated titles is External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar's 'Why Bharat Matters' (Rupa Publications), which promises to be an exposition of the foreign policy doctrine of "a New India -- an India that is more Bharat" -- in an unpredictable world.

The Foreign Secretary-turned-External Affairs Minister argues that it is not just a tough world but also a turbulent and unpredictable one, according to a teaser released by the publishers.

"It is marked by the impact of Covid, conflicts in Ukraine and West Asia, climate events, radicalisation and terrorism," the teaser continues. "There is complex geopolitics at work, such as the rise of China, the changed posture of the United States, the strategy of Russia, the impact of globalisation and the power of new technologies."

India, according to the Jaishankar Thesis, seeks to navigate these stormy seas without diluting its focus on becoming a leading power.

"As a 'vishwa mitra', it seeks the well-being of the Global South and to contribute to global good," says the teaser. "India is more salient in global calculations and stands ready to embrace coming responsibilities and opportunities."

Entering the Amrit Kaal (or the years leading up to the first century of India's Independence), Jaishankar visualises "an era of growth and development while staying true to [India's] traditions and heritage."

In 'Why Bharat Matters', Jaishankar, who has served as ambassador to the United States, China and the Czech Republic, as well as the High Commissioner to Singapore, argues that while rising powers seek stability most of all, India must plan to rise in the midst of serious unpredictability.

This process is also exceptional as it represents the rejuvenation of a "civilizational state", Jaishankar points out. Simultaneously, he also explains why foreign policy in a globalised world matters increasingly to all citizens in their daily lives.
Kolkata, Nov 26 : West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on Thursday ruled out the possibility of Trinamool Congress having seat-sharing agreement with any other political force in the state for the 2024 Lok Sabha elections.

She made her intention clear while addressing a public rally at Deganga in North 24 Parganas district on Thursday, stating that while the grand opposition INDIA bloc will contest the polls nationally, Trinamool Congress will lead the charge in in West Bengal.

"Let INDIA bloc be there nationally. But in West Bengal, Trinamool Congress will put up the fight. Remember, only the Trinamool can teach the BJP a lesson in West Bengal. Trinamool can show the path to the entire country. No other party is capable of doing that," the Chief Minister said.

Political observers feel that through this statement, Banerjee has sent across a message to her party's rank and file to be prepared to go solo in 2024, instead of depending on any alliance or seat-sharing agreement with any other political party.

The Chief Minister in speech also placed the Congress, CPI(M) and BJP in the same bracket on the issue of central agency actions in West Bengal 'targeting' the Trinamool insiders.

"They have got our minister Jyotipriya Mallick arrested, so that he is unable to be active for the party in the 2024 Lok Sabha elections. On this issue, the CPI(M), Congress and the BJP are hitting the streets on the same line," the Chief Minister said.

She also issued a strong note of caution against the growing infighting in Trinamool in different parts of the state.

"If any leader feels that he or she is bigger than the party, he or she will not able to continue within Trinamool. I will not tolerate any kind of infighting. Do not consider yourself to be more important than the party," the Chief Minister said.
Bhopal, Dec 28 : Special CBI Judges in Bhopal and Gwalior have sentenced 10 persons to rigorous imprisonment for three to seven years in three separate cases related to the Vyapam entrance examination scam in Madhya Pradesh.

Bhopal, Dec 28 (IANS) Special CBI Judges in Bhopal and Gwalior have sentenced 10 persons to rigorous imprisonment for three to seven years in three separate cases related to the Vyapam entrance examination scam in Madhya Pradesh.

The Special CBI Judge in Bhopal has handed down a seven-year rigorous imprisonment sentence along with a fine of Rs 10,000 each on Hardik Patel, Srawan Sonar, Dhananjay Kumar, Rakesh Kumar Patel and Mukesh Mourya, who have been charged with fraud and impersonation during the 3013 Pre Medical Test (PMT).

The CBI had initiated the case on January 12, 2016 following the direction of the Supreme Court after an FIR was filed at the STF police station in Bhopal.

The accused, including the beneficiary candidate, middlemen, impersonator/solver, and the candidate's father, had conspired to carry out fraudulent activities.

"The beneficiary candidate, a resident of Gujarat, purportedly cleared the PMT-2013 and secured admission in an MBBS programme at a private college in Bhopal through cheating, impersonation, and forgery," said a CBI official.

The conspiracy involved the accused middlemen/solver, who facilitated these actions in exchange for a consideration of approximately Rs 20.25 lakh provided by the candidate's father.

The state police had filed a charge sheet and three supplementary charge sheets in connection with the case.

According to the CBI, after taking over the case, the agency conducted a thorough investigation and filed a supplementary charge sheet against the accused persons.

In the second case, the Special CBI Magistrate in Gwalior sentenced Arvind Singh (beneficiary candidate) and Vipin Kumar (impersonator) to three years' rigorous imprisonment along with a fine of Rs 4,000 each in a case related to Patwari Recruitment Examination, 2012.

The CBI had registered the instant case on December 12, 2015. It was further alleged that while checking the admit cards and ID proofs of the candidates during the Patwari Recruitment Examination, Vipin Kumar was found appearing in the examination in place of the actual candidate, Arvind Singh.

"After investigation, the CBI had filed a supplementary charge sheet on August 31, 2018 against Arvind and Vipin. The trial court found the said accused guilty and convicted them," a CBI official said.

In the third case, the Special CBI Judge in Gwalior sentenced Santosh Sharma (beneficiary candidate), Jitendra Kumar (impersonator/solver) and Ranveer Singh (middleman) to four years' rigorous imprisonment along with a fine of Rs 13,100 each in a case relating to Forest Guard Examination, 2013.

The CBI had registered the instant case on December 12, 2015 wherein it was alleged that Jitendra Kumar (solver) was appearing in the exam in place of original candidate Santosh Sharma.

"During reconciliation and matching of photograph and signature by the invigilator, it was found that the photograph and signature in the application form of Santosh Sharma were not matching with the candidate who appeared in the exam," said the CBI official.
Mumbai, Dec 28 : Apparently desperate to join the opposition Maha Vikas Aghadi alliance, Vanchit Bahujan Aghadi (VBA) President Prakash Ambedkar on Thursday shot off a letter to the MVA allies, with his proposal for an equal - 12 constituencies each - seat-sharing in Maharashtra for the 2024 Lok Sabha polls.

Mumbai, Dec 28 (IANS) Apparently desperate to join the opposition Maha Vikas Aghadi alliance, Vanchit Bahujan Aghadi (VBA) President Prakash Ambedkar on Thursday shot off a letter to the MVA allies, with his proposal for an equal a" 12 constituencies each a" seat-sharing in Maharashtra for the 2024 Lok Sabha polls.

The letter is addressed to the top MVA leaders - Shiv Sena-UBT President and ex-CM Uddhav Thackeray, Nationalist Congress Party President Sharad Pawar, and Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge.

"I wrote a letter today to (them) to deliberate and decide on VBAas proposed formula of 12+12+12+12 for Maharashtra. I reiterated our interest to join the MVA and INDIA (bloc)," said Ambedkar on X.

He also justified the VBAas proposed seat-share formula, especially when there are multiple speculation opinions coming every corner, and why it was important to take a decision on priority, to defeat the Bharatiya Janata Party and Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

"Defeating Modi should be the only priority for MVA. I hope a decision is soon made which is in the interest of the people of Maharashtra," he urged.

The VBA letter came strategically on a day when the Congress held a mega-rally in Nagpur and a day ahead of the crucial national opposition seat-sharing talks to be held in New Delhi on Friday.

On September 1, Ambedkar had penned a detailed letter to Kharge and other Congress bigwigs expressing a desire to join the national and state Opposition alliance, ahead of the INDIA. bloc meeting in Mumbai. Last week, the VBA state executive met and proposed the new seat-sharing formula, but so far none of the MVA partners have commented on it.

The VBA has also warned that in case the party doesnat get a place, then it would contest all the 48 Lok Sabha seats in the state, raising apprehensions of dividing the Opposition vote-share that could benefit the NDA-BJP.
Kolkata, Dec 28 : Homemakers should never be treated as "unemployed" as they too have every right to be remunerated for the domestic work they do round the year, the Calcutta High Court observed on Thursday.

Kolkata, Dec 28 (IANS) Homemakers should never be treated as "unemployed" as they too have every right to be remunerated for the domestic work they do round the year, the Calcutta High Court observed on Thursday.

"Homemakers cannot be deemed as unemployed. They are self-earning individuals. The domestic work they do throughout the day deserves to be remunerated," noted the single-judge vacation bench of Justice Ajay Kumar Gupta.

Making reference to a hearing in a 15-year-old case, Justice Gupta observed that the contribution of the homemakers is much more than others.

"They work 365 days a year without taking any leave. If anyone is employed to do that domestic work, payment must be made for that work. The savings in the family on that count is the contribution of the homemakers towards their families.

"So, there is a financial value of the domestic work done by the homemakers. Hence, they should never be considered as unemployed. Rather they should be treated as self-earners," Justice Gupta noted.

Justice Gupta made the observation in a case where the family members of a homemaker killed in a road accident claimed a certain amount from the insurance company by showing a specific income earned by the deceased woman.

However, the insurance company refused to pay the amount on the ground that the earnings of the deceased woman as claimed by her family members cannot be that high considering that she was a homemaker.

The woman was killed in a road accident in 2008.

Justice Gupta also charted an approximate calculation on the basis of the principal income of the deceased and the interest accrued on it for the last 15 years, fixing her monthly principal income at Rs 3,000.

He then fixed a total compensation amount of Rs 6,41,200 for the victim's family.
New Delhi, Dec 28 : The Enforcement Directorate (ED) has provisionally attached property worth Rs 54.16 lakh under the provisions of the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA) in connection with its probe into an alleged case of cheating by Bajwa Developers Limited and others.

According to the ED, the attached movable property was seized during the search conducted on the residential premises of Jarnail Singh Bajwa, Managing Director of Bajwa Developers Limited, situated at Mohali in Punjab.

The ED had initiated investigation on the basis of various FIRs registered by Punjab Police under the relevant sections of the IPC against Bajwa in connection with the cases of cheating, fraud, extortion, misrepresentation of facts to the innocent plot/property buyers, frequent changing of plot numbers without knowledge of parties to 'Agreement to Sale' and delayed registration of properties which leads to delayed possession.

"ED investigation revealed that Bajwa used to induce and allure innocent and prospective property buyers to purchase plots/ properties at prime and developed area of the city with false and impractical promises and they had managed to collect Proceeds of Crime of Rs 3.17 crore (approximately)," said the official. However, actual plots were never delivered to customers at the sites agreed on and even the amount received by the accused was not returned. Money received from the property buyers was used in various other projects run by Bajwa Developers Limited, the ED said.
New York, Dec 28 : The new highly transmissible JN.1 variant, from the lineage of Omicron variant of Covid, is now the dominant variant in the US, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has said.

The variant, classified as a variant of interest (VOI) by the World Health Organization (WHO) due to its rapid spread, is currently present in about 41 countries. It was first detected in Luxembourg in August.

The proportion of JN.1 viruses over the past 2 weeks was up sharply, rising from 15-29 per cent to 39-50 per cent, the CDC said in its latest estimates, putting it far above the next most common variant, HV.1.

The CDC said it is also seeing an increasing share of infections caused by JN.1 in travellers, wastewater, and most world regions.

JN.1 is similar to its parent BA.2.86, but has an additional mutation (L455S) in the spike protein, which has immune-evasion properties.

"JN.1 continues to cause an increasing share of infections and is now the most widely circulating variant in the United States. For the two weeks ending on December 23, 2023, JN.1 is expected to account for 39-50 per cent of all SARS-CoV-2 variants," the CDC said in its latest update on the variant.

"Thatas an increase from the projected prevalence two weeks ago of 15-29 per cent. Weare also seeing an increasing share of infections caused by JN.1 in travellers, wastewater, and most regions around the globe," it added.

The CDC said that JN.1as continued growth suggests that the variant is either more transmissible or better at evading our immune systems than other circulating variants. However, it added that "it is too early to know whether or to what extent JN.1 will cause an increase in infections or hospitalisations".

"The JN.1 variant has taken over in the US. It may not result in a spike of hospitalizations, but it's definitely adding a significant burden of infections and subsequent risk of #LongCovid. Luckily, the XBB.1.5 booster helps protect against JN.1," US physician-scientist Eric Topol, wrote in a post on X.

JN.1 is also becoming the dominant variant globally, causing spikes in infections, hospitalisations as well as deaths in some countries. As per the WHO, the global number of new Covid-19 cases has increased by 52 per cent during the last one month. The UN health body also reported an increase in hospital, ICU admissions as well as deaths globally. This includes India, currently seeing a surge in Covid cases.

India recorded 692 fresh cases of Covid in the last 24 hours, taking the total active caseload to 4,097, according to Union Health Ministry data on Thursday. The data also reported six deaths in the last 24 hours - two in Maharashtra, and one each in Delhi, Karnataka, Kerala, and West Bengal.

Further, the country has also detected a total of 157 cases of JN.1, from Kerala (78), Gujarat (34), Goa (18), Karnataka (8), Maharashtra (7), Rajasthan (5), Tamil Nadu (4), Telangana (2) and Delhi (1), according to the INSACOG.

Meanwhile, the CDC said that existing vaccines, tests, and treatments work against JN.1. "At this time, the spread of JN.1 does not appear to pose additional risks to public health beyond that of other recent variants. CDC is closely monitoring Covid-19 increases domestically and internationally and will communicate if the situation changes," it said.

--IANS

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New Delhi, Dec 28 : A Delhi court on Thursday extended, by one day, the ED custody of three top executives in a money laundering case against the Chinese smartphone-maker Vivo.

The three accused -- Vivo India interim CEO Hong Xuquan, Vivo Chief Financial Officer Harinder Dahiya and consultant Hemant Munjal -- will now be produced before the court on Friday.

The accused were presented before Additional Sessions Judge Aparna Swami of Patiala House Courts on expiry of their previously-extended two-day Enforcement Directorate (ED) custody.

Contending that the accused were required to be confronted with the other accused arrested in the case earlier, the ED had sought their remand for five days.

The arrests were made in the case months after the four accused a" Lava International MD Hari Om Rai, Chinese national Guangwen alias Andrew Kuang, Chartered Accountants Nitin Garg and Rajan Malik a" were arrested on October 10 this year.

A Vivo spokesperson had earlier told IANS that "we are deeply alarmed by the current action of the authorities. The recent arrests demonstrate continued harassment and as such induce an environment of uncertainty among the wider industry landscape. We are resolute in using all legal avenues to address and challenge these accusations".

On the submission of senior counsel for the accused that their clients were taken in the vehicle of the ED on December 21 evening and had not accompanied the ED officials voluntarily and are in custody of the agency since that day, the court had directed the Director of ED to conduct an enquiry in this regard and file the report on Tuesday along with the relevant CCTV footage, if any.

"The Director concerned shall also give a report as to the exact time since the accused persons were in custody of the ED and time of their arrest," the judge had said.

On Tuesday, the counsel for the accused argued that the report has been filed in a sealed cover and that no copy of it has been provided, failing transparency in the matter. To this, the ED said that certain information in the report is confidential.

However, the court said that the copy be provided to the accused counsel, but directed that it should not be leaked.

On December 20, the court took cognisance of the charge sheet filed by the financial probe agency naming the four accused.

The court had summoned the accused, who are in judicial custody, on February 19, 2024.

In response to the ED's allegation that there has been recovery of several incriminating documents, counsel for Guangwen had argued: "The nature of such documents has not been specified and why these are relevant to the investigation was not apprised or substantiated by the ED. It was only submitted that they relate to incorporation of companies which is not an offence."

Earlier, a source told IANS that the arrests were made after the financial probe agency carried out searches at the premises of the four accused and recovered cash to the tune of Rs 10 lakh. The ED action came more than a year after it carried out searches at 48 locations across the country belonging to Vivo Mobiles India Private Ltd and its 23 associated companies such as Grand Prospect International Communication Pvt Ltd (GPICPL), and claimed that it has busted a major money laundering racket involving Chinese nationals and multiple Indian firms.

According to the ED, Vivo Mobiles India Pvt Ltd was incorporated on August 1, 2014 as a subsidiary of Multi Accord Ltd, a Hong Kong-based company, and was registered at ROC Delhi. GPICPL was registered on December 3, 2014 at ROC Shimla, with registered addresses of Solan, Himachal Pradesh, and Gandhi Nagar, Jammu.

The PMLA investigation by the ED was initiated by registering a money laundering case on February 3, 2022 on the basis of an FIR registered at the Kalkaji Police Station in the national Capital by Delhi Police against GPICPL, its director, shareholders and certifying professionals etc., on the basis of a complaint filed by the Ministry of Corporate Affairs.
New Delhi, Dec 28 : The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) has given its approval to ICICI Prudential Asset Management Company Limited (I-Pru AMC) and ICICI Prudential Life Insurance Company Limited (I-Pru Life) to acquire "aggregate holding" of up to 9.95 per cent of paid-up share capital or voting rights in RBL Bank Limited.

New Delhi, Dec 28 (IANS) The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) has given its approval to ICICI Prudential Asset Management Company Limited (I-Pru AMC) and ICICI Prudential Life Insurance Company Limited (I-Pru Life) to acquire "aggregate holding" of up to 9.95 per cent of paid-up share capital or voting rights in RBL Bank Limited.

The approval has been granted with reference to an application submitted by I-Pru AMC and I-Pru Life to RBI.

As per the RBI letter, I-Pru AMC and I-Pru Life have been accorded the approval to acquire the aforesaid shareholding in RBL Bank within a period of one year, i.e., by December 26, 2024, and to ensure that the aggregate holding in RBL Bank does not exceed 9.95 per cent of the paid-up share capital or voting rights of the bank at all times.

Further, if the aggregate holding falls below 5 per cent, prior approval of the RBI will be required to increase it to 5 per cent or more of the paid-up share capital or voting rights of the bank.

"In this context, we wish to inform you that ICICI group (including ICICI Prudential Life Insurance Co. Ltd and ICICI Prudential Asset Management Company Limited) held 2.08 per cent of the equity share capital of RBL Bank as of December 22, 2023," RBL Bank said in a filing.
Egypt is set to host the fourth edition of the Pakistan Africa Trade Development Conference (PATDC) and Single Country Exhibition (SCE) from 9 to 11 January, according to a statement by Pakistan on Wednesday.

The events are scheduled to be held at the Egypt International Exhibition Centre in Cairo. This is the first time the conference is being held in Egypt, as previous editions were held in Kenya, Nigeria, and South Africa.

This decision was influenced by Egypt's strategic geographical location, connecting the Middle East and North Africa region, besides its rapidly growing economy and expansive consumer market, the government of Pakistan added.

The conference will be attended by representatives from Jordan, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Algeria, Burkina Faso, Mali, and Mauritania, as well as a delegation comprising over 100 business owners and traders from Pakistan.

The two events aim to boost relations between Pakistan and African countries, particularly in key trade sectors such as agriculture, textile, engineering, and services.

During the last edition in South Africa, Pakistani and South African companies signed agreements with $24 million.

The government expects even more commercial activity at this years conference and exhibition.

In September, the Pakistani ambassador to Egypt Sajid Bilal said at the Pakistan-Egypt Business Opportunities Conference in Cairo, that their bilateral relations are built on a strong foundation of common faith, cultural affinities, and aspirations.

During the conference, Egypt and Pakistan signed seven memorandums of understanding (MoUs) for cooperation in various economic fields.

Bilal said at the time that trade between the two countries reached $200 million in 2023.

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New Delhi, Dec 28 : A jeweller in South Delhi has been arrested for trying to extort money from another jeweller using the name of an infamous gangster, police said on Thursday.

The accused identified as Vipin Gupta, 35, a resident of Sangam Vihar, had demanded Rs 2 crore and two kg of gold and he also used a voice changer device to conceal identity.

A police official said that the complainant, also a resident of the same locality, reported to Sangam Vihar Police Station that he operates a jewellery shop in the area and since December 14, he and his family members have been receiving extortion calls from two different mobile phone numbers.

"The extortionist claimed to be a part of an infamous gang and threatened dire consequences, asserting possession of detailed information about the complainant's family," Deputy Commissioner of Police, South, Chandan Chowdhary said.

During the initial phase of the probe, the team thoroughly questioned the complainant.

Subsequently, the mobile number from which the threatening calls were made was subjected to extensive technical surveillance. Call detail records (CDRs), location data, and ownership information were obtained and analysed.

"The team's perseverance and efforts bore fruit when, through surveillance and technical analysis, the location of the accused person was pinpointed near Jaat Dharamshala, H-block, Sangam Vihar," the DCP said.

A raid was conducted, resulting in the arrest of a man, later identified as Gupta.

On interrogation, Gupta disclosed that he operates a jewellery shop in K-block, Sangam Vihar, and is burdened by substantial debt. "To repay the debt, he, along with a friend residing in K-block Sangam Vihar, devised a plan to extort money from another jeweller known to him, utilising the name of an infamous gangster," the DCP said.

Therefore, they acquired a voice-changing machine, two mobile phones, and three SIM cards issued under fake IDs, and used this to call the complainant and his family members for the money and the gold, the DCP said.
Chandigarh, Dec 28 : Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann on Thursday unequivocally said the question of constructing the Satluj Yamuna Link (SYL) canal does not arise as the state is not having a single drop of water to share with anyone.

Presenting the case of the state at the inter-state meet convened by the Union Water Resources Minister Gajendra Singh Shekhwat, the Chief Minister said the state "needs more than 54 million acres feet (MAF) water to cater to its irrigational needs".

However, he said "the situation is so grim that Punjab only has around 14 MAF of water, which it is providing to the food growers".

Mann said in "such a scenario there is no question of sharing even a drop of water with any other states therefore Punjab vehemently opposes the construction of SYL".

The Chief Minister firmly said the Satluj river has already dried up and there is no question of sharing even a single drop of water from it.

He categorically said that Punjab has no surplus water to share with Haryana and reassessment of availability of water is required as per international norms.

Mann said Punjab's 76.5 per cent blocks (117 out of 153) are over exploited where the stage of ground water extraction is more than 100 per cent, whereas in Haryana only 61.5 per cent (88 out of 143) are over exploited.

The Chief Minister said the water crisis can never be ignored due to which the state will oppose any move to construct the SYL tooth and nail.

Showing deep concern over the gravity of the emerging situation following the fast depleting water table, Mann said "it is really pathetic to learn that the same high powered motors that are used to extract oil in Dubai and other Gulf nations are being used for gushing out ground water in the state".

He said in such an alarming situation how construction of the SYL canal can be allowed for sharing of waters of the state.

The Chief Minister reiterated that the state has no spare water to share with any other state so instead of the SYL canal, the project should be now reconceived as Yamuna Satluj Link (YSL).

He said the Satluj river has already dried up and there is no question of sharing even a single drop of water from it. Rather, Mann said the water from Ganga and Yamuna should be supplied to Punjab through the Satluj river, adding he has raised this issue with the Union government too.

The Chief Minister said the state government has emphatically presented the issue of the less availability of water and it has been recorded too in the decision of the apex court.

He said in the coming hearings too, Punjab will present its case in the Supreme Court "to protect the rights of our coming generation".

a"IANS

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Chandigarh, Dec 28 : A meeting of the Chief Ministers of Haryana and Punjab was held here on Thursday under the chairmanship of Union Jal Shakti Minister Gajendra Singh Shekhawat to address the issue of Sutlej-Yamuna Link (SYL) Canal.

At the meeting, Shekhawat expressed concern over the diminishing groundwater levels in both the states and emphasised the necessity for concerted efforts to address this issue.

Acknowledging the strides made by the Haryana government in implementing a micro-irrigation system, he highlighted that Haryana has achieved a remarkable 1,000 per cent increase in micro-irrigation management.

The minister urged Punjab to draw inspiration from Haryana's success and actively promote the adoption of micro-irrigation practices.

During the meeting, when representing Haryana's perspective, Chief Minister Manohar Lal Khattar asserted that the issues of constructing the SYL and distributing water are distinct.

However, he pointed out that Punjab is stuck only on the construction of SYL, whereas "we should collectively move forward on this subject".

He said the Bhakhra channel, presently in operation for approximately 66-67 years, is aging, as he underscored the crucial necessity for constructing the SYL to ensure the uninterrupted flow of water in the event of any future obstructions in this channel.

Khattar said as per the agreement, Haryana is not getting its legitimate share of water but the state is availing water at its own level.

But despite these efforts, sufficient water is not reaching southern Haryana and the Aravalli region.

Accordingly, as per the decision of the Supreme Court, "if Punjab constructs SYL, it does not mean that we will snatch water. In alignment with the Supreme Court's decision, the construction of the SYL by Punjab does not imply an intention to forcibly acquire water", he added.

During his interaction with the media after the meeting, Khattar said the SYL meeting took place in a cordial atmosphere, but Mann (Punjab Chief Minister) doesn't agree.

He said the issue of SYL has been pending for several years.

In a recent Supreme Court hearing, it was suggested that the Central government, along with Haryana and Punjab, should collaboratively resolve the matter.

Khattar said a joint committee should be formed in both Punjab and Haryana to address various water management issues such as water availability, crop diversification, and DSR technology.

He mentioned that a committee focused on the SYL has already been formed, chaired by the chief secretaries of both the states.

By broadening the scope of this existing committee, collaborative efforts can be undertaken to address broader water management concerns, Khattar said.
Tel Aviv, Dec 28 : The United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA) has said that Gaza has been grappling with "catastrophic hunger".

The UN agency called for a ceasefire in Gaza Strip, saying 40 per cent of the population in Gaza was under the risk of famine.

Director of UNRWA in Gaza, Thomas White, in a statement on 'X' said that "every day was a struggle for survival for food and water".

He said that the only remaining hope to reduce the hunger and famine in Gaza was a humanitarian ceasefire and receiving more aid.

With the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) increasing its attacks in Gaza strip from the northern part to central and southern Gaza, there has been a huge internal displacement of the people of Palestine, leading to poverty and hunger.

At least 21,200 Palestinians, including women and children, have been killed in the Israeli offensives since October 7, while 55,603 people were also injured in the IDF attacks.
New Delhi, Dec 28 : The Centre on Thursday strongly rebutted a media report that claimed that India targeted Apple over its phone hacking notifications, saying this is for Apple to explain if their devices are vulnerable and what triggered these notifications.

Union Minister of State for Electronics and IT, Rajeev Chandrasekhar, said that The Washington Postas "terrible storytelling is tiresome, but someone has to do it".

"This story is half facts, fully embellished. Left out of the story is Appleas response on Oct 31 -- day of threat notifications," he posted on X.

Apple had said that it does not attribute the threat notifications to any specific state-sponsored attacker.

"State-sponsored attackers are very well-funded and sophisticated, and their attacks evolve over time. Detecting such attacks relies on threat intelligence signals that are often imperfect and incomplete. Itas possible that some Apple threat notifications may be false alarms, or that some attacks are not detected," according to Apple.

According to the minister, the IT Ministry and his response to this incident has been consistent and clear from the incident.

"That it is for Apple to explain if their devices are vulnerable and what triggered these notifications. Apple was asked to join the enquiry with the CERT-In and meetings have been held and enquiry is ongoing," said Chandrasekhar.

Apple sent a team of experts to delve deep into the issue of some Indian politicians receiving threats notifications last month, warning them of state-sponsored hackers targeting their devices. Apple had sent "threat notifications" to individuals whose accounts are in nearly 150 countries.
New Delhi, Dec 28 : The Supreme Court Collegium, headed by Chief Justice of India D.Y. Chandrachud, has recommended the appointment of Justice Manindra Mohan Shrivastava as the Chief Justice of the Rajasthan High Court.

Justice Shrivastava is presently functioning as Acting Chief Justice of the Rajasthan High Court and was appointed as a judge of the Chhattisgarh High Court in December 2009. Before his elevation as the judge, he practised at the Raigarh district court and High Courts of Madhya Pradesh and Chhattisgarh.

His area of practice was constitutional, service, taxation, labour, civil and criminal cases and he specialised in constitutional, taxation and service law.

The SC Collegium noted that "during his tenure of over 14 years as a Judge of the High Court, he has authored more than 505 reported judgments".

"He has acquired considerable experience of dispensing justice in two High Courts," it added.

In a statement released on Thursday, the SC Collegium said that it has also taken into consideration the fact that the High Court of Chhattisgarh does not have any representation among the Chief Justices of the High Courts.

"The Collegium is of the considered view that Mr Justice Manindra Mohan Shrivastava is fit and suitable in all respects for being appointed as the Chief Justice of the Rajasthan High Court," it added.

The vacancy in the office of the Chief Justice of the Rajasthan High Court had arisen consequent upon elevation of Justice Augustine George Masih to the Supreme Court on November 9 this year.

The Memorandum of Procedure relating to appointment of Chief Justice of a High Court provides that aa fair representation shall be given to various High Courts for selection of Chief Justices. For purposes of such selection, inter-se seniority of puisne Judges will be reckoned on the basis of their seniority in their own High Court. The consideration for appointment of Chief Justices shall be based on the criterion of seniority subject to merit and integrity.
Patna, Dec 28 : JD-U President Lalan Singh, whose rumoured resignation from the post has been doing the rounds, on Thursday reiterated that he had not stepped down and accused a section of media of "setting a narrative to create confusion".

aI have not resigned from the post of national President of the party. The JD-U is intact and (Bihar Chief Minister) Nitish Kumar is our undisputed leader. Whatever going in the media is absolutely false," he said.

Nitish Kumar's advisor and chief spokesperson K.C. Tyagi questioned why Lalan Singh would resign from the post.

"Nitish Kumar and Lalan Singh have been working together for 48 years now. Leaders use to meet each other but it does not mean he would give resignation. I strongly dismiss the speculation of Lalan Singh's resignation. He has not given resignation," Tyagi said.

Lalan Singh, Nitish Kumar, Tyagi and other MPs, MLA and ministers of Bihar government participated in a party meeting in New Delhi on Thursday. They will also hold the national executive committee meeting on Friday.
New Delhi, Dec 28 : India's Financial Intelligence Unit has issued show-cause notices to nine offshore virtual digital asset service providers, including Binance, for operating in the country without complying with the money laundering laws, the Finance Ministry said on Thursday.

Apart from Binance, notices have been issued to Kucoin, Huobi, Kraken, Gate.io, Bittrex, Bitstamp, MEXC Global, and Bitfinex.

The Finance Ministry has also asked the Information Technology Ministry to block the URLs of the companies as they have been operating illegally in the country.

Binance is already facing scrutiny in the US after pleading guilty to breaking anti-money laundering laws. Binance chief Changpeng Zhao had to quit as part of a multi-billion dollar settlement following a probe into the functioning of the world's largest crypto exchange.

The Finance Ministry said that offshore and onshore Virtual Digital Asset service providers operating in India and involved in activities including exchange between virtual digital assets and fiat currencies, transfer and administration of virtual digital assets or instruments enabling control over them must register with the Financial Intelligence Unit-India and comply with the provisions of the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA), 2002.

"The obligation is activity-based and is not contingent on physical presence in India. The regulation casts reporting, record keeping, and other obligations on the VDA SPs under the PML Act which also includes registration with the FIU IND," it said.

So far 31 service providers of virtual digital assets have registered with Financial Intelligence Unit.

"However, several offshore entities though catering to a substantial part of Indian users were not getting registered and coming under the Anti-Money Laundering (AML) and Counter Financing of Terrorism (CFT) framework," the finance ministry added.

Crypto exchanges have come under scrutiny worldwide due major scams such as FTX.
New Delhi, Dec 28 : Delhi Police on Thursday moved a local court seeking permission to conduct polygraph test of all the six persons arrested in connection with the December 13 Parliament security breach case.

The application was moved before Additional Sessions Judge Hardeep Kaur. The court noted that the counsel representing some of the accused was not present, as it posted the matter for hearing on January 2.

The six accused -- Manoranjan D, Sagar Sharma, Amol Dhanraj Shinde, Neelam Devi Azad, Lalit Jha and Mahesh Kumawat -- were also presented before the judge during the hearing of the plea.

All six are currently in police custody till January 5.

A polygraph test, commonly known as a lie detector test, involves recording physiological indicators such as blood pressure, pulse, and respiration while the individual under scrutiny responds to a series of questions.

After each response, forensic scientists provide their opinion, based on the recorded readings, regarding the truthfulness or falsehood of the accused person's statements.

"The investigators need to get more details to make the case strong and gather more evidence besides unearthing the entire conspiracy," said a police source.

"If the polygraph test fails to yield the desired results, investigators suggest that the police might proceed to request for a Narco test, a step observed in several prior cases," said the source.

Narco analysis, also known as truth serum, entails administering a drug intravenously (such as sodium pentothal, scopolamine, and sodium amytal), inducing various stages of anesthesia in the person undergoing the test.

During the hypnotic stage, the individual becomes less inhibited and is more likely to disclose information that would typically remain undisclosed in a conscious state.

Investigating agencies deploy this test when other evidences fail to provide a clear understanding of the case.

Earlier, the public prosecutor had said that Kumawat was involved in destruction of mobile phones and was trying to spread anarchy in the country.

The court had noted that Kumawat was involved in the conspiracy for the last two years and acknowledged the public prosecutor's submission that his custody was required to unearth the entire conspiracy.

It was further submitted that the accused wanted to create anarchy in the country so that they could compel the government to meet their unjust and illegal demands.

"He was in contact with other persons in hatching the conspiracy for the last two years. He had helped mastermind Jha in the destruction of mobile phones to destroy evidence and to hide the larger conspiracy," the public prosecutor had said.

Kumawat was arrested on December 16 on charges of destruction of evidence and criminal conspiracy.

Five people were directly involved in the planning and execution of the security breach in the Lok Sabha on December 13, the 22nd anniversary of the 2001 Parliament terror attack.

Two of them -- Sagar and Manoranjan -- burst yellow smoke canisters after jumping into the Lok Sabha chamber from the visitors' gallery before they were overpowered by the MPs present in the House.

Two others -- Neelam and Amol -- also burst smoke canisters and raised slogans outside Parliament. Jha, believed to be the mastermind of the entire plan, reportedly fled with the mobile phones of the four others from Parliament, sources said.

Manoranjan is from Mysuru, Sagar is a resident of Lucknow, Neelam is from Haryana's Jind, while Amol hails from Maharashtra's Latur. Jha is a native of Bihar.
New Delhi, Dec 28 : In view of rising cases of Covid, including of new variant JN.1, across the country, Delhi Health Minister Saurabh Bharadwaj on Thursday visited the Lok Nayak Jai Prakash Narayan Hospital to assess its preparedness.

The hospital has reserved 20 beds for Covid patients, but there hasn't been a confirmed case there yet.

"Separate help desks have been set up for Covid patients, along with a dedicated testing centre in the hospital. Immediate treatment will be given upon confirmation of Covid. Directives have been issued to maintain readiness in all Delhi government hospitals," said an official.

The official said that the city government has mobilised all arrangements in Delhi government hospitals to strengthen everything, ensuring readiness to handle any situation.

Talking to reporters, Bharadwaj said that a separate ward has been set up for Covid patients, with approximately 20 beds and all necessary facilities.

"Currently, the entire ward is empty as there hasn't been any confirmed case of a Covid patient in the hospital yet. However, continuous screening of patients with Covid-related symptoms is ongoing. As soon as any Covid-related patient is confirmed, they will be immediately admitted and treatment will commence. Almost all preparations in the hospital have been completed, and further preparations will be made as per the evolving situation," he said.

Bharadwaj said that as soon as any patient with symptoms like Covid or flu is confirmed, an RT-PCR test will immediately be conducted and for this, a separate testing centre has been arranged in the hospital.

On patients affected by the new variant, he said that there has been confirmation of only one patient with the JN.1 so far. He mentioned that this patient was admitted to a nearby hospital after confirmation. "The patient has now recovered and returned home. Although this variant is considered less dangerous than the previous ones, it's crucial not to be negligent," he said.

Bharadwaj advised caution not only by the hospital administration but also to Delhi residents, urging them to stay vigilant to prevent any risk of contracting the disease. He said that directives have been issued to all hospitals under the Delhi government to maintain all preparations for dealing with Covid-19.

"Although there isn't any alarming situation in Delhi at the moment, as a precautionary measure, instructions have been given to all hospitals to ensure readiness. This is to handle any emergencies more effectively in the future. We hope that there won't be any such issues, but it's essential for us to remain vigilant and cautious. In this context, directives have been given to all hospitals to maintain their preparedness," the minister said.

--IANS

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Beltone Financial Holding's subsidiary Cash for Microfinance signed an EGP 60 million agreement with the Dutch Challenge Fund for Youth Employment (CFYE), to support low-income entrepreneurs in Egypt, according to a company statement on Wednesday.

The agreement stipulated the launch of the "Underprivileged Entrepreneurs Reach Project", which targets providing finance to entrepreneurs, with a special focus on women and youth.

Funded by the Netherlands government, CFYE enables youth employment by supporting the private sector in the Middle East and Africa.

Cash for Microfinance will utilize mobile branches to bring financial services closer to underserved communities, deploying dedicated female loan officers who will be equipped with the necessary tools to eliminate long commuting distances, specifically benefiting women.

The company will also offer incremental loans, provide financial support for participation in local fairs, and assist in the development of a social media presence for entrepreneurs.

We aim to create numerous job opportunities, enhance skills and contribute to the microfinance sector's growth, said Morcos Nabil, CEO of Cash for Microfinance.

For her part, Ola Farrag, CFYE Country Lead said that the project is expected to create about 2,500 jobs for youth.

Beltone Financial Holding operates 13 subsidiaries specializing in various areas of finance and investment.

In September, Beltone Holding finalized the acquisition of Cash Microfinance, a company based in Minya, operating in Upper Egypt.

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New Delhi, Dec 28 : The Supreme Court Collegium, headed by Chief Justice of India D.Y. Chandrachud, has recommended the appointment of Justice Sheel Nagu as the Chief Justice of the Punjab and Haryana High Court.

Justice Nagu was appointed as a Judge of the High Court of Madhya Pradesh in May 2011 and has been functioning there since then.

Before his elevation as the judge, he practised at the High Court of Madhya Pradesh in constitutional, service, labour and criminal cases.

The SC Collegium noted that "during his tenure of over 12 years as a Judge of the Madhya Pradesh High Court, he has authored more than 499 reported judgments".

"He has acquired extensive experience in dispensing justice at the High Court. He is the seniormost puisne Judge in his parent High Court. He is considered to be a competent judge and possesses a high level of integrity and conduct required of a person holding high judicial office," it added.

In a statement released on Thursday, the SC Collegium said that it has also taken into consideration the fact that the High Court of Madhya Pradesh is already represented by a Chief Justice among the Chief Justices of the High Courts.

"The Collegium is of the considered view that Mr Justice Sheel Nagu is fit and suitable in all respects for being appointed as the Chief Justice of the High Court of Punjab and Haryana," it added.

The vacancy in the office of the Chief Justice of the Punjab and Haryana High Court has arisen consequent upon the retirement of Justice Ravi Shankar Jha.

The Memorandum of Procedure relating to appointment of Chief Justice of a High Court provides that aa fair representation shall be given to various High Courts for selection of Chief Justices. For purposes of such selection, inter-se seniority of puisne Judges will be reckoned on the basis of their seniority in their own High Court. The consideration for appointment of Chief Justices shall be based on the criterion of seniority subject to merit and integrity".
Tel Aviv, Dec 28 : The Hostages and Missing Families Forum in Israel said on Thursday that Judi Weinstein-Haggai, who was taken hostage on October 7 during the Hamas attack, has been declared dead.

A spokesperson for Hostages and Missing Families Forum said in a statement, "We share the profound grief of the Weinstein-Haggai family. Judi was a teacher her whole life, she taught English and volunteered with seniors and children, teaching them yoga and meditation."

"Judi and her husband Gadi Haggai shared an unwavering love until their last day, and provided their four children with an admirable model of partnership," he added.

The couple had gone for a morning walk on October 7 in the fields of Kibbutz Nir Oz where they lived.

"Judi managed to notify her friends that they had been shot at and that Gadi was critically injured - it was the last contact with them," the spokesperson said.

Gadi was later declared dead.
New Delhi, Dec 28 : The Supreme Court Collegium, headed by Chief Justice of India D.Y. Chandrachud, has recommended the appointment of Dr Justice B.R. Sarangi as the Chief Justice of the Jharkhand High Court.

Justice Sarangi was elevated as a Judge of the Orissa High Court in June 2013 after completing 27 years of regular practice at the Bar before the High Court and the Supreme Court.

The SC Collegium noted that "during his tenure of more than 10 years as a Judge of High Court, he has authored more than 1,056 reported judgments".

"He has acquired considerable experience in dispensing justice in the High CourtaWhile making the recommendation, the Collegium has duly taken note of seniority of Judges of the High Court of Orissa," it added.

In a statement released on Thursday, the SC Collegium said that it has taken into consideration the fact that after the retirement of Justice Sanjaya Kumar Mishra, there would be no representation of the High Court of Orissa among the Chief Justices of the High Courts.

"The Collegium is of the considered view that Dr Justice B.R. Sarangi is fit and suitable in all respects for being appointed as Chief Justice of the High Court of Jharkhand," it added.

The vacancy in the office of the Chief Justice of the Jharkhand High Court is going to arise very shortly consequent upon the retirement of Justice Mishra.

The Memorandum of Procedure relating to appointment of Chief Justice of a High Court provides that "a fair representation shall be given to various High Courts for selection of Chief Justices. For purposes of such selection, inter-se seniority of puisne Judges will be reckoned on the basis of their seniority in their own High Court. The consideration for appointment of Chief Justices shall be based on the criterion of seniority subject to merit and integrity".
Hyderabad, Dec 28 : AIMIM legislator Ahmed Bin Abdullah Balala has appealed to External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar to take steps for evacuation of 70 Indians stranded in war-torn Sudan.

In a letter to the Union Minister, he drew his attention to the plight of 70 people including women and children stuck in Khartoum city for the last one year.

The MLA from Malakpet constituency in Hyderabad wrote that those stuck are from Telangana.

He stated that these people do not have any access whatsoever to travel back to India.

The AIMIM leader said they need support from the Central government to return home.

Balala urged the minister to do the needful on humanitarian grounds.

Along with the letter, the MLA sent the list of stranded people with their passport details and contact numbers.

--IANS

ms/pgh
Telangana govt's six guarantees: Over 7.46 lakh applications received on first day. Image Source: IANS News

Hyderabad, Dec 28 : More than 7.46 lakh applications were received across Telangana on Thursday, the first day of the state government's public outreach programme Praja Palana to receive applications for implementation of six guarantees.

Hyderabad, Dec 28 (IANS) More than 7.46 lakh applications were received across Telangana on Thursday, the first day of the state governmentas public outreach programme Praja Palana to receive applications for implementation of six guarantees.

According to Chief Secretary Santi Kumari, a total of 7,46,414 applications were received across the state. While 2,88,711 applications were received in rural areas, 4,57,703 applications were received in urban areas including the Greater Hyderabad Municipal Corporation (GHMC).

The Chief Secretary held a tele-conference with the District Collectors to review the conduct of Praja Palana and directed that at every counter, application forms for six guarantees should be made available.

She also asked officials to take strong action against those found to be involved in the sale of these application forms.

She said those coming for gram sabhas to submit their applications should be provided drinking water and other basic facilities.

Officials were also told to ensure that queues are maintained properly at the counters.

The Chief Secretary said one counter should be set up for every 100 families. She also said that the applicants be provided a unique number for the follow-up. Special desks should be arranged to provide application forms.

Thousands of people queued up since early morning in villages and towns across Telangana to submit their applications to avail the freebies promised by the Congress during the election campaign.

The applications are being received by government officials at 16,395 places till January 6 under Praja Palana, the public outreach programme of the new government.

Deputy Chief Minister Mallu Bhatti Vikramarka launched the programme at Abdullapurmet in Rangareddy district.

The applications will be received in all 12,769 gram panchayats and 3,626 municipal wards on all days except December 31 and January 1, which are general holidays.

Every day, the applications will be received from 8 a.m. to 12 noon and from 2 p.m. to 6 p.m. The applications will be received during eight working days at gram sabhas in villages and municipal wards.

The government has deployed 3,714 officials to conduct the programme. The officials drawn from various departments will visit two villages or two wards every day.

The government has also appointed 10 IAS officers as coordinators for the programme in all districts. The applications will be received from December 28 for implementation of Mahalakshmi, Rythu Bharosa, Gruha Jyothi, Indiramma Indlu, and Cheyutha.

There is a single application form for five guarantees. For the sixth guarantee (Yuva Vikasam), the applications will be received later in educational institutions.

Under Mahalaxmi, every woman will get financial assistance of Rs.2,500 per month while cooking gas cylinder will be supplied for Rs 500. Under the Rythu Bharosa guarantee, every farmer will get Rs 15,000 per acre every year. Agricultural labourers will get Rs12,000 annually.

Under Indiramma Indlu, the homeless will be provided financial assistance for construction of houses. Families of Telangana martyrs and those who participated in Telangana movement will be allotted 250 square yard house sites.

Under Gruha Jyothi, 200 units of electricity every month will be free.

Under Yuva Vikasam, the party promised Vidya Bharosa Card worth Rs 5 lakh each for students and Telangana international schools in all mandals. Under Cheyutha, the beneficiaries under various categories like old age, widows, single women will get Rs.4,000 monthly pension.

Handicapped will get Rs.6,000 every month.
Patna, Dec 28 : Three smugglers were arrested with 10 kg charas, valued at Rs 2 crore in the international market, from near the Nepal border in Bihar's West Champaran district on Thursday, police said.

West Champaran's SP Amarkesh D. said that the arrested accused are natives of the district and were smuggling the contraband from Nepal.

"We have received an input about three drug smugglers carrying contraband from Nepal. Accordingly, we laid a trap at a mango farm located at Mehdiyawari village under Manupual police station on Chanpatia road and arrested the accused. They were travelling on a bike.

"When we checked their belongings, we found 10 kg of charas from their possession," he said.

The trio, identified as Balister Mian, 62, of Maura village under Balthar police station, Abdulgani Mian of Sarkaul village under Inarwa village, and Kasim Alam, a native of Mehandiyadari village under Manuapul police station, were booked under the NDPS Act and further investigation is on.
New Delhi, Dec 28 : More than two years since the Parliament amended the Medical Termination of Pregnancy (MTP) Act and the Central government's communication to all states and Union Territories (UTs) to notify these, Delhi is finally on track to notify women-friendly amendments.

Delhi Lieutenant Governor (L-G) V.K. Saxena has approved the proposal of the Department of Health and Family Welfare for issuance of notifications regarding statutory forms under the Medical Termination of Pregnancy (Amendment) Act, 2021.

The amendments' aim to ensure universal access for women to comprehensive abortion care and termination of certain pregnancies by Registered Medical Practitioners (RMPs).

However, the L-G expressed grave displeasure and surprise at the delayed presentation of the matter for approval, which had been communicated by the Central government in December 2021.

While approving the proposal, Saxena directed the Health Department to investigate the lapses leading to the inordinate delay and assign responsibility and stressed the need for caution in processing such matters in the future.

Meanwhile, the Delhi Health Minister Saurabh Bharadwaj issued a statement saying that though the note of the L-G has not reached his office yet, however, like earlier occasions contents of official note have been leaked to the media.

aSo my response is based on assumption that media got the contents from some senior government officials working at the L-G office. Though it's a prevalent practice to leak official notes to media/social media. However, it becomes important because this note must have been written to Chief Minister (Arvind Kejriwal), and he is on a 'Vipassana' meditation and not in Delhi, so this note cannot reach its intended recipient in any situation."

"In an exactly similar situation two days back, the attempt of Delhi Chief Secretary, Naresh Kumar, to intimidate my office staff with threat of suspension, for alleged release of official note to media/social media is laughable," he alleged.

"At the outset, I would like to state that the displeasure expressed by the L-G is taken in good spirit and it goes further in firming this elected governmentas resolve to be ahead of all other states/UTs, including all the states ruled by BJP. In the matter, the Govt of NCT of Delhi is behind just one state i.e Odisha government in issuing notification of the said statutory forms," Bharadwaj claimed.

The Minister said that the intention of L-G regarding women is commendable and he also assured him regarding the government's commitment towards providing affordable and quality healthcare for all the citizens.

"In the same spirit , I am awaiting a strong action against Delhi Chief Secreatary Naresh Kumar for not complying to my directions in the matter of alleged Burari hospital sexual harassment. Health, being a state subject, comes directly under the purview of the elected government and with great confidence it is assured that the elected government is equally sensitive towards universal healthcare for all, including women," he added.

"It appears that L-G has not been informed till date that apart from Odisha, neither any BJP-ruled state nor any non-BJP ruled state has issued notification regarding the revised statutory forms of the amended MTP Act, 2021," Bharadwaj said.

In 2021, significant amendments were made to the MTP Act, reducing the requirement for opinions from two RMPs to one up to 20 weeks of gestation. For termination of pregnancy between 20-24 weeks, two RMP opinions are needed under special circumstances.

The amended Act also introduced the provision of a medical board for granting permission for termination beyond 24 weeks under circumstances determined by the board. The Union Ministry of Health and Family Welfare communicated to the states and UTs in December 2021, directing them to notify updated Forms I, II and III in the official gazette under MTP regulations.

These forms document the opinions of RMPs, regulations and admission registers related to termination of pregnancies.

The amended Form-I now requires details of only one RMP, replacing the term "Married Woman" with "Woman" and "Husband" with "Partner." Form II includes additional sub-heads on the duration of pregnancy and bifurcated reasons for termination based on weeks of gestation. Form III, the Admission Register, includes a phrase for pregnancies beyond 24 weeks and requires the mention of medical board members.

The L-G was also apprised that the proposal for notification of statutory forms has been endorsed by the Delhi Health Minister and approved by the Chief Minister.
New Delhi, Dec 28 : The Delhi government's Directorate of Vigilance has sent the matter of suspected spurious drugs to the Union Home Ministry, urging a thorough investigation by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI).

The Directorate of Vigilance, in a formal letter to the Union Home Ministry on Thursday, said, "Assigning the matter if reported supply of not of standard quality drugs to hospital of Government of National Capital Territory of Delhi (GNCTD) to CBI."

This move follows concerns raised about the alleged distribution of substandard drugs to hospitals under the GNCTD.

YVVJ Rajashekhar, the Delhi Special Secretary for Vigilance, had earlier written to the Union Health Secretary Sudhansh Pant, urging immediate action against the use of "substandard" drugs in government health facilities.

The letter emphasised the need to remove these drugs promptly and called for the confiscation of documents detailing the manufacturers and suppliers responsible for the distribution of potentially counterfeit drugs.

"I am further directed to state that any action for supplying such kind of "Not of Standard Quality" drugs should not be confined to Central Procurement Agency (CPA) and there is a need to investigate the entire supply chain viz. role of suppliers who procured from the manufacturers and provided supply to the end users i.e. hospitals (patients). Besides, there is a need to lift the corporate veil to understand the gravity and motives of supplying "Not of Standard Quality" drugs," the letter said.

"In this context, it is not out of place to mention that the matter of "Mohalla Clinics" was already entrusted to the CBI and preliminary enquiry (PE) was also registered dated February 13, 2018. It needs to be investigated whether the same drugs which have been procured by CPA are also being distributed to the patients through "Mohalla Clinics" or not," it added.

"It is accordingly requested that the matter be assigned to CBI for further investigation," it said.

Earlier, on December 23, Delhi L-G V.K. Saxena has recommended for a CBI enquiry in the matter of non-standard drugs procured and supplied in Delhi government hospitals.

According to officials, the L-G recommended CBI enquiry in the matter of non-standard drugs procured and supplied in Delhi government hospitals.

On December 24, the Delhi Vigilance Secretary wrote to Health Secretary asking him to remove all the 'non-standard medicines' to be seized and removed from stock of the hospitals and to not make any further payments to such companies.

In his letter to the Health Secretary, Rajashekhar in reference to various lab reports submitted by Delhi Drugs Testing Laboratory and also other reports submitted by government-approved private laboratories over the 'Not of Standard Quality Drugs'.

He had asked the Health Secretary to ensure that all such drugs which have failed the prescribed norms should be immediately quantified and seized as per due process of law on war footing.
Patna, Dec 29 : A liquor smuggler, arrested by an Excise Department team in Bihar's Jamui on Wednesday, fled from police custody early on Thursday, police said.

The accused, identified as Dipak Kumar, 20, a resident of Bhalgaudi village under Jhajha police station, was arrested for transporting 24 litres of Indian-made foreign liquor on a bike.

Jamui's Excise Superintendent Sanjiv Kumar said: "We arrested the accused after catching him carrying 24 litres IMFL on a bike on Wednesday. We had planned to produce him in the local court on Thursday. The accused made an excuse of stomach ache at 2 a.m. on Thursday. The cops, present in the station, took him to a toilet. The accused stayed inside for 20 minutes and opened the tap to make them think that he was inside but silently came out, creeping behind a bike without coming to their notice. He then jumped over the wall and disappeared into the night.

"When cops asked him to come out from the toilet, there was no reply. When they looked inside, no one was there. When we scanned the CCTV cameras, the accused was seen jumping over the wall."

An FIR has been registered in the Town police station and raids are on to nab him, he added.
Damascus, Dec 29 : A fresh Israeli missile attack targetted the outskirts of the Syrian capital of Damascus, triggering a response from the Syrian air defence system, the media reported.

The Syrian army said on Thursday in a statement that the "Israeli enemy" carried out an aerial attack from the direction of the occupied Syrian Golan Heights, targetting some points in the southern region, without elaborating on the targeted sites.

It added that the Syrian air defence forces intercepted most of them, with losses limited to material damages.

Previous Israeli strikes in Syria had reportedly targetted military sites suspected of harbouring Iranian-backed militias, arms convoys, and alleged weapons storage facilities, according to the opposition watchdog group -- the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights.

Israel has recently upped its attacks on Syrian targets in tandem with its military campaign in the Gaza Strip, Xinhua news agency reported.

Syria has been engulfed in over 12-year war, with the government forces of President Bashar al-Assad, backed by Russia and Iran, fighting against various opposition groups.

Israel, on the other hand, has a long-standing policy of preventing Iran from establishing a military presence in Syria by repeatedly conducting airstrikes to destroy alleged Iranian weapons supplies.

The previous Israeli attack in Syria on Monday evening killed Seyyed Razi Mousavi, who was also one of the longest-serving advisors of Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) in Syria and a close associate of the late Iranian top commander Qassem Soleimani, who was assassinated by a US drone attack in Iraq in 2020.
The Egyptian Exchange (EGX) indices ended in the green on Thursday, as trading resumed on the shares of Misr Fertilizers Production Co. (MOPCO) company after three days of suspension.

Gold prices tumbled today after continuously rising for over a week, and the official exchange rate market is stable.

MOPCO resumes trading on EGX



MOPCO requested a temporary suspension of trading on the EGX on Sunday to conclude the merger with the Egyptian Nitrogen Products Company.

The stock skyrocketed 575 percent today before the bourse cancelled all transactions after it reached EGP 67.5. The stock closed at EGP 69.40.

The EGX30 index increased by 1.4 percent, settling at 24,691 points. The EGX70 index, on the other hand, inched by 0.02 percent, ending at 5,463 points.

The EGX100 index increased 0.33 percent, closing at 7,854 points.

The market capitalization dropped EGP 87 billion, ending at around EGP 1,594 billion.

Themar for Securities was the biggest winner in the market as the stock soared 19.12 percent to close at EGP 7.35 per share.

On the other hand, the worst-performing stock at the end of Thursday's session -- the last in 2023 -- is Golden Textiles & Clothes Wool, which fell by 6.78 percent to EGP 6.88 per share,

Gold purchase prices



The purchase price of 24-carat gold dropped EGP 194 to reach EGP 3,543 per gram on Thursday, compared to prices on Wednesday.

The 21-carat gold price tumbled EGP 170 to reach EGP 3,100 per gram, and the 18-carat gold price plunged EGP 146 to EGP 2,657 per gram.

The price of the gold pound lost EGP 1,360, ending at EGP 24,800 for purchase.

*Prices reflect updates recorded as of midday.

Currencies



The official EGP/USD exchange rate remains stable at EGP 30.8277 for buying and EGP 30.9586 for selling.

The euro is valued at EGP 34.2712 for purchase and EGP 34.4290 for sale.

The Saudi riyal is priced at EGP 8.2198 for buying and EGP 8.2556 for selling.

*Sources: The Central Bank of Egypt's official exchange rates, the Egyptian Exchange, and Egypt Gold Price Today.

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U.S. Steel is an historic American company, and it has agreed to an acquisition offer from an overseas buyer that will revitalize the company and the U.S. steel industry. The proposed combination with Nippon Steel will bring billions of dollars of new capital investment to U.S. Steel, providing resources to make the company stronger, more efficient, and more competitive global competitors. The new investment will help US Steel modernize, protect American jobs, and recharge Pittsburgh, PA, the Steel City.



Predictably, the politicians and the union bosses are objecting to this investment in America. For years, these same actors have been pushing anti-free market policies that have hampered the growth of the company and the U.S. steel industry. Protectionist policies, labor unrest, and government intervention have caused serious damage to the industry and its workers. Now these politicians want to block a foreign investment from one of our closest military and economic allies that will clearly benefit the U.S. and our domestic industry.



The U.S. steel industry once dominated world markets. But now, China is the largest steel producer in the world, with ten of the largest steel companies in the world accounting for more than half of the world's output. U.S. Steel was once the largest steel producer in the world. It now ranks 27th. This deal would make the combined company the second biggest steel producer in the world. The Nippon President specifically pointed out that the new combination will provide a strong free market counterbalance to Chinas steel dominance.



Free market policies like this competitive investment in America, are in the best interests of the company, its workers, and is communities. The union bosses and the politicians want to force U.S. Steel to merge with a rival U.S. company, a deal which would benefit the union more than U.S. Steel and its workers. U.S. Steel has already rejected such a merger, which would swallow up the iconic U.S. Steel brand. The Nippon Steel purchase would preserve the U.S. Steel name and brand, and keep the company headquartered in the Steel City.



The proposed merger has raised significant antitrust concerns, which could only be met by forcing parts of the company to be sold off or shut down. It would reduce competition in hiring and likely drive down workers wages and eliminate jobs. Concerns have also been raised by U.S. auto manufacturers that the merger would increase their costs and impact auto sales and jobs in the U.S.



This combination with Nippon Steel would save American jobs with a major investment in America. The company has said it will honor the unions existing contract with U.S. Steel, protecting the jobs, wages, and benefits of U.S. Steel workers. Nippon has operated in the United States for forty years, and already owns two unionized companies in the U.S.



A CFIUS review would insure that this acquisition presents no national security or manufacturing concerns. Indeed, this acquisition will strengthen the U.S. manufacturing base. Japan is a close trading partner and ally, with more U.S. military bases and ports than any other country.



This deal is a plus for U.S. Steel and American manufacturers. One Wall Street steel analyst called the combination a win for manufacturing in the U.S., which would encourage manufacturers to stay here and produce more in the U.S. It will pump billions of dollars in new capital investment into the company, increasing productivity with new and more efficient operations here in America. While the investment comes from overseas, the benefits will flow to an American company, American workers, and American communities.
Property details:

No Reserve Auction. Beautiful 1.07 acres of land lot in Mohave County, Arizona. Lot 347, Section 15, Lake Mohave Ranchos Unit 11. Please see the pictures. Parcel Number 32802345. Located on the N. Remuda Drive, Dolan Spring, AZ 86441. A dirt road access. Plenty of Joshua Trees in the area. Beautiful real estate. The title will transfer via a special warranty deedno back taxes or liens.Please add $450 for the closing cost to the final bid price. The highest bid wins the auction. Please see all...

Price: $ 1,225 Seller State of Residence: Arizona Property Address: N. Remuda Drive Type: Homesite, Lot Zip/Postal Code: 86441 Zoning: A-General City: Dolan Spring State/Province: Arizona Location: 864**, Dolan Springs, Arizona

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In the war's 12th week, Israeli forces extended their ground offensive to encompass urban refugee camps in central Gaza as six Palestinians were killed in the West Bank.

23:00 The Egyptian Red Crescent has begun establishing a refugee relief camp in Khan Younis, in southern Gaza, Al-Qahera News reported on Wednesday.

The camp is being set up per the directives of the Egyptian leadership as part of Egypts efforts to mitigate the humanitarian crisis in Gaza and accommodate thousands of Palestinians who were driven out of their homes in northern Gaza due to Israeli bombardment.

The first phase of the camp, which includes the construction of 300 tents to accommodate over 1,500 people, is nearing completion.

Egypt has spearheaded efforts to deliver humanitarian aid to the 2.4 million Palestinians in Gaza through the Rafah border crossing who have been under Israeli bombardment and blockade Since the start of the Israeli war on Gaza.

One million out of 1.8 million displaced people across Gaza have sought shelter in 99 facilities run by the UNRWA in the south, including in Khan Younis and Rafah.

22:00 The population of Gaza is in "grave peril", the head of the World Health Organization warned Wednesday, citing acute hunger and desperation throughout the Palestinian territory.

"What we urgently need, right now, is a ceasefire to spare civilians from further violence and begin the long road towards reconstruction and peace," said WHO chief Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus.

The WHO said it delivered supplies to two hospitals on Tuesday -- one in the north and one in the south -- with 21 out of 36 hospitals in the Gaza Strip no longer functioning at all.

Tedros called on the international community to take "urgent steps to alleviate the grave peril facing the population of Gaza and jeopardising the ability of humanitarian workers to help people with terrible injuries, acute hunger, and at severe risk of disease".

In a statement, the WHO said its staff reported Tuesday that the need for food "continues to be acute" across the Gaza Strip, while "hungry people again stopped our convoys today in the hope of finding food".

"WHO's ability to supply medicines, medical supplies, and fuel to hospitals is being increasingly constrained by the hunger and desperation of people en route to, and within, hospitals we reach.

21:00 Battles between Israel and Hezbollah continued on the northern front on Wednesday

Hezbollah said it targeted the settlement of Kiryat Shmona in northern Israel with 30 rockets in response to deadly Israeli airstrikes on Bint Jbeil in south Lebanon on Tuesday.

Today, hundreds of Lebanese buried a Hezbollah fighter and two civilians who were killed in the Israeli airstrike on two homes in Beit Jbeil.

Hezbollah also said it launched drone and rocket attacks on Israeli forces deployed in the occupied Shebaa Farms, confirming direct hits.

The Lebanese resistance also reported targeting Israeli artillery positions in Khirbet Maar and Hadab Al-Bustan in the Western Galilee in addition to a new command centre near the Israeli naval base in Ras al-Naqoura, added Hezbollah.

On the other side, the Israeli army said it had intercepted eight out of 18 missiles launched from Lebanon towards the Western Galilee.

Israel also launched rocket attacks in southern Lebanon on the outskirts of Al-Jebbayn, Tayr Harfa, Dhaira, Yarine, Al-Naqoura, Aita al-Shaab, and al-Hamames south of Al-Khiam, according to Lebanese media.

20:00 The Israeli army announced that two officers, including a deputy platoon commander, and a soldier in the Givati Brigade were killed in fierce battles in Gaza on Wednesday.

The 84th Givati Brigade (Highland Brigade) is an Israel Defense Forces infantry brigade formed in 1947.

During the 1948 war, it was involved in capturing and ethnically cleansing various Palestinian villages.

Before Israel's 2005 withdrawal from Gaza, the Brigade was stationed within the Gaza Strip.

Retired Major General Wasef Erekat, who is based in Ramallah, stressed to Al Jazeera that the Israeli army has not been able to establish control over northern Gaza and was forced to withdraw its troops and tanks outside major population centres after it took heavy casualties amid valiant resistance from Palestinian fighters.

Meanwhile, Daniel Hagari, the spokesperson of the Israeli army, announced that the army added a fresh brigade to its military operations in Khan Younis in southern Gaza.

Last week, the Israeli army withdrew Company 13 in the Golani Brigades from northern Gaza after the elite force suffered 40 percent losses in personnel and gear in heavy battles.

19:00 A video posted on Quds News Network captured joyful moments for the children of Gaza in one of the displacement camps

Kindergarten-age kids sing and dance Dabka as they own the moment!

More than half of the 2.4 million population in the Gaza Strip are children under the age of 18.

A video shows children enjoying fun activities in a shelter center despite hunger, refuge, and bombings. pic.twitter.com/pSykceaPn1  Quds News Network (@QudsNen) December 27, 202318:00 We have not received any fuel shipments since the end of last October, as the municipal services continue to deteriorate, announced the Gaza City Municipality on Wednesday

18:00 We have not received any fuel shipments since the end of last October, as the municipal services continue to deteriorate, announced the Gaza City Municipality on Wednesday.

We received promises from UNICEF yesterday about fuel delivery, but we confirm that we have not received anything so far, added the municipality.

Hundreds of thousands of Palestinians have refused to leave Gaza City and other parts of northern Gaza despite relentless Israeli bombardment and a near-total blockade on the entry of all food, water and fuel to relief residents in the area.

On Tuesday, the United Nations named an outgoing Dutch minister Sigrid Kaag as its humanitarian coordinator for Gaza following last week's watered-down Security Council resolution which called for aid to be delivered to the strip "at scale.

Kaag's appointment comes as the people of Gaza face a dire humanitarian emergency, with aid slowed to a trickle by Israel's continued bombardment of the strip.

She will start work on 8 January, the UN said in a statement

Israel has allowed the entry of tens of trucks carrying humanitarian aid to Gaza through the Rafah border crossing, nowhere near what the civilian population needs to stay alive.

It has blocked most aid from reaching northern Gaza.

17:00 Egypts President Abdel-Fattah El-Sisi and Jordans King Abdullah II discussed on Wednesday the latest developments in the region, especially in the Gaza Strip, stressing the need to refrain from expanding the conflict, which threatens security and stability both regionally and globally.

Both leaders discussed, during a meeting in Cairo, the humanitarian situation in the strip, where major destruction of infrastructure and facilities occurred, reaffirming their complete rejection of all attempts to liquidate the Palestinian cause and forcibly displace the Palestinians inside or outside their lands.

El-Sisi and Abdullah II also called on the international community to push for an immediate ceasefire in Gaza and for an uninterrupted delivery of sufficient humanitarian aid to ease the tragic situation and the suffering of people in the strip.

Furthermore, they emphasized the necessity of a just and comprehensive settlement, leading to the establishment of an independent Palestinian state on the 4 June 1967 borders, with East Jerusalem as its capital, following the relevant decisions of international legitimacy

16:00 German Hapag-Lloyd announced on Wednesday it will not resume its use of the Suez Canal describing it as "too dangerous" despite a US-led multinational naval operation announced earlier this month to protect shipping from attacks by Houthi rebels in Yemen.

Accordingly, the shipping giant affirmed that it would continue to reroute its ships via the Cape of Good Hope despite the Suez Canal being the fastest and shortest route for global shipments.

"We continuously assess the situation and plan a next review on Friday," a spokesperson for the German container shipper said on Wednesday.

According to a recent Alphaliner report, Hapag-Lloyd is the fifth largest container shipping company in the world, which handles 1,963,934 containers per year (6.4 percent share of global shipping).

This comes as Houthi rebels continue to launch drone attacks against Israeli ships and ships heading toward Israel around the Bab Mandab Strait in what they described as acts of solidarity with the Palestinians amid the Israeli war on Gaza.

On Monday, Shipping firm Maersk said that its preparing to allow vessels to resume sailing through the Red Sea, thanks to the start of a US-led multinational naval operation.

15:00 An Israeli operation in a Palestinian refugee camp in the north of the occupied West Bank left six people dead and several others wounded early Wednesday, according to the Palestinian Ministry of Health.

"Six martyrs killed by the occupation (Israel) and some who were seriously wounded were transported to the Thabet Thabet government hospital in Tulkarem," the ministry said in a short statement.

According to the official Palestinian news agency Wafa, six people were killed by Israeli air strikes on the Nur Shams refugee camp near the town of Tulkarem, where Israeli soldiers were also deployed.

This brings the number of Palestinians killed in the West Bank since the start of the war to 300.



EDITORS NOTE: Graphic content / Mourners attend the funeral of Palestinians killed during an Israeli raid on the Nur Shams refugee camp near the town of Tulkarem in the occupied West Bank on December 27, 2023. AFP

14:00 On Wednesday, the Palestinian health ministry in the Gaza Strip reported that the death toll in the Palestinian territory has reached at least 21,110 since the outbreak of the war on 7 October. The ministry added that, within the last 24 hours alone, 195 individuals lost their lives. Additionally, the total number of wounded individuals has reached 55,243 since the commencement of the conflict.

13:40 Paltel, the Palestinian telecommunications company, reports a gradual restoration of internet and telephone services in the central and southern areas of Gaza.

"We would like to announce the gradual restoration of telecom services in the central and southern areas of Gaza Strip after a blackout caused by the ongoing aggression" Paltel announced on X.

On Tuesday, for the fourth time since the start of the war on Gaza, all telecommunications were interrupted. During blackouts, Gazans rely on eSIMs to stay connected.

    



                     .



   #___#KeepGazaConnected  Paltel (@Paltelco) December 27, 2023

13:00 Hamas denied, on Wednesday, the statements made by a spokesperson for the Iranian Revolutionary Guard that the Al-Aqsa Flood offensive against Israel was carried out by the movement in retaliation for the assassination of Iranian General Qassem Soleimani.

In a press statement, Hamas stated: "We have repeatedly affirmed the motives and reasons for the Al-Aqsa Flood operation, foremost among them the dangers threatening the Al-Aqsa Mosque in Jerusalem.

The movement added: "We affirm that all actions of Palestinian resistance are in response to the presence of the occupation and its continuous aggression against our people and sanctities."

The spokesperson for the Iranian Revolutionary Guard, Ramadan Sharif, stated today that the Al-Aqsa Flood operation was one of the retaliatory operations for the assassination of Qassem Soleimani at the beginning of 2020 in a US attack, adding that these retaliations will continue."

On Monday Iran announced that a senior general with Iran's Revolutionary Guards, Rezi Mousavi, was killed in an Israeli strike in Syria.

"Our revenge for the death of the martyr Rezi Mousavi will come and it will be a very hard blow to the Zionists," Sharif said.

11:30 Negotiations mediated by Egypt and Qatar to end the Israeli war in Gaza grapple with mounting complexities as recent media leaks purporting a three-phased proposal from Cairo appear to be somewhat detached from the actual core of the discussions, according to sources close to the negotiations.

10:00 A Hezbollah fighter was killed in an Israeli airstrike on a border town in south Lebanon, as stated by the group on Wednesday. State media also indicated that two of the fighter's relatives lost their lives in the attack. Lebanon's National News Agency reported that "enemy warplanes raided a house... in the center of the town of Bint Jbeil" late at night, resulting in the death of a man, his brother, and his wife.

On Tuesday, Israel's military confirmed that nine Israeli soldiers were wounded by an anti-tank missile. The conflict has claimed over 150 lives on the Lebanese side, including several civilians and journalists, while on the Israeli side, at least four civilians and nine soldiers have been reported killed since the onset of the War on Gaza on October 7.

09:30 The Israeli army says one officer and two soldiers were killed in the northern Gaza Strip on Tuesday. Israel claims that the total number of soldiers killed since the start of ground operations in Gaza has reached 164, though these figures could not be independently verified.

09:00 Early on Wednesday, an Israeli operation in a Palestinian refugee camp in the northern part of the occupied West Bank resulted in the death of six Palestinians and left several others seriously wounded, as reported by the Palestinian Ministry of Health.

The ministry stated, "Six martyrs killed by the occupation and some who were seriously wounded were transported to the Thabet Thabet government hospital in Tulkarem". The casualties were reportedly a result of Israeli airstrikes on the Nur Shams refugee camp near the town of Tulkarem, where Israeli soldiers were also deployed, according to the official Palestinian news agency, Wafa.

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In a step towards diversifying its resource base and securing green energy minerals, India is poised to launch its first-ever offshore mineral auction in the first quarter of 2024, announced Union Minister of Mines Pralhad Joshi during the launch event of the National Geoscience Data Repository portal.

Photograph: Steve Marcus/Reuters

The government plans to hold auctions in March, offering 10-15 blocks for bidding.

Meanwhile, the ministry of mines is currently developing rules and regulations for offshore mining.

Ten to 15 blocks are prepared for auction.

"The regulations will be released for consultation shortly, V L Kantha Rao, secretary, ministry of mines, told Business Standard.

The ministry is currently conducting inter-ministerial consultations involving the Ministry of Earth Sciences, Ministry of Defence, Department of Atomic Energy, and other relevant bodies to secure all necessary clearances.

The governments move to auction offshore blocks comes months after the approval of the Offshore Areas Mineral (Development and Regulation) Act, 2002, on August 10.

Additionally, on November 29, the government launched its inaugural auction process for 20 critical minerals blocks spread across seven states and one Union Territory.

Critical minerals are defined as those essential to the economic and national security of a nation but have a supply chain vulnerable to disruption.

The Geological Survey of India (GSI) has identified polymetallic nodules, also known as manganese nodules, along with sand and gravel in offshore areas. Polymetallic nodules primarily contain iron, manganese, nickel, copper, and cobalt.

Moreover, offshore regions serve as reservoirs of sand and gravel, crucial for construction, beach nourishment, and land reclamation projects.

Additionally, rare earth elements have also been discovered beneath the sea.

Offshore minerals are found in all three large bodies of water  the Indian Ocean, Arabian Sea, and Bay of Bengal  that surround the Indian peninsula.

Embarking on its offshore expedition, India is poised to explore its vast exclusive economic zone (EEZ), covering around 2.37 million square kilometres (915,057 square miles).

This zone stretches 200 nautical miles (370.4 kilometres) from the baseline of Indias territorial waters.

As India ventures into offshore mining, the nations obvious geological potential (OGP) is anticipated to expand beyond its existing 6.88 lakh square kilometre notably.

Following the national geochemical mapping, the OGP area has seen a significant surge and is expected to continue growing, said Janardan Prasad, director-general, GSI.

While Indias EEZ offers a strategic advantage in obtaining critical minerals crucial for accessing seabed resources essential for electric vehicles and green technologies, the commercial extraction of these resources faces significant hurdles owing to technological and environmental challenges.

According to a US Geological Survey report published in June 2022, deepsea mineral mining has not yet commenced.

Although commercial mining for polymetallic nodules is not presently underway, numerous countries, including Australia, Canada, China, Japan, South Korea, Singapore, and Germany, are actively engaged in exploration and development endeavours for these resources.

Sand and gravel extraction, however, is a prevalent practice because extraction generally occurs within a few kilometres of the coastline, whereas deep-seated polymetallic nodules, found at depths often surpassing 4,000 metres, present a significant contrast in their location and accessibility.

Nations such as the Netherlands, Belgium, Denmark, the UK, the US, China, and others heavily utilise sand and gravel resources for construction and land reclamation projects.

The sea hunt

GSI discovery: Polymetallic nodules, sand, gravel, and REE found in Indian Ocean, Arabian Sea, and Bay of Bengal surrounding Indian peninsula

Vast potential: Indias EEZ, covering 2.37 million sq. km, holds promising resources

Commercial mining status: No large-scale global initiation of deepsea mineral mining has occurred

Global Interest: Belgium, China, Japan, South Korea, Singapore, Germany exploring, with a few engaging in small-scale mining ops

Sand & gravel extraction: Widespread near coastlines, extraction is common in the Netherlands, Belgium, Denmark, the UK, the US, and China
'The BJP is trying to change this mantra.'

Photograph: ANI Photo

On December 30, freedom fighter Dr G G Parikh, who was jailed during the 1942 Quit India movement and again during the Emergency, turns 100.

In a long interview capturing his life and times, GG, as he is called, spoke to Jyoti Punwani. In the second part of the interview, he talks about life after Independence, his work at the Yusuf Meherally Centre and his experiences during the Emergency. A must-read interview.

How long did the euphoria of Independence last, before disillusionment set in?

Our role during the freedom movement was so great that the euphoria remained a long time.

At the same time, personally I felt the leadership betrayed Gandhi. We had been told that after Independence, rulers would be the servants of the public. But they started imitating the British. That was the first betrayal.

It's not that we turned anti-Nehru, but we felt bad that Gandhi was forgotten so soon.

Even the development model was different from what Gandhi wanted. Nehru had always been in favour of big industry, unlike Gandhi.

At that time, Socialists were not opposed to industrialisation. For us, ownership was important. We assumed that as long as industries are nationalised, things will automatically change. History was on our side, we thought, samaajwaad annewala hai. Agriculture, industry, then the service sector -- these were the stages of development according to Socialism too.

What we forgot was that this was not a God-given rule, but a man-made one. It could be changed had we had the will. In the tussle between will and matter, matter prevailed, while for Gandhi, will always prevailed.

We realised that just because ownership changes, it doesn't mean that man also changes. That's one of the reasons I concluded that Gandhi's method -- of changing people -- was correct.

But you did try an alternate model of development at the Yusuf Meherally Centre at Tara.

At the Centre, we studied urbanisation and concluded that in the Third World, the problems of the city could only be solved in the hinterland. 50% of the urban population in all Third World countries live in slums, so you have to find a way that slums don't come into being.

But the type of urbanism that was being promoted to build a market for the West would never allow cities to be slum-free, hence rural development was a must.

We realised that the pattern of economic development adopted by us would not generate jobs for rural people. We had to go back to Gandhi; deploy local resources.

At Tara, we experimented a lot. We promoted alternate building materials -- at that time, Laurie Baker was very popular; we tried to solve the problems of small and marginal farmers. We got S A Dabholkar (educationist and agriculture researcher) to help. A new experiment was done to enable a farmer owning just one-fourth acre of land to live a decent life. We started organic farming.

We set up a dairy. Realising it was too expensive to maintain exotic breeds of cattle, we experimented to find out whether a dairy could be kept going with the help of cow dung. We implemented `waste to wealth' and set up a bio gas plant.

We did all this decades ago!

For non-farm employees, we tried to see if village industries could work. But markets for the goods produced became a problem.

IMAGE: A session in progress at the Yusuf Meherally Centre, Tara. Photograph: Kind courtesy Yusuf Meherally Centre, Tara/Facebook

Were funds a problem?

Initially, we thought we'd take just enough to run the place. That was Gandhi's influence on us.

Later, we started collecting more funds, but without compromising. A German who used to help us offered to become a donor if we stopped village industries. That's when we decided we'd rather forego his help and raise our own income.

Was there any resistance from the villagers to you town people coming there?

Not resistance, but we encountered problems.

There were a lot of bonded labourers when we started work. We worked with them, but that antagonised the farmers for whom they worked.

We worked among women. We trained 100 women for a year, telling them you need to be self-sufficient. But when we started a small industry, only 9 of them signed up and then only 3 came!

Our experiment trying to get Adivasi workers to stop working long hours at brick kilns and instead, work for us, also didn't quite work out. We finally realised that we shouldn't work for a section, but for everybody.

Then there were cultural practices of the villagers. To get over them was hard work. We realised that rural society is divided, but becomes one against outsiders. To get acceptance for our urban volunteers required a lot of effort.

But we kept learning. For instance, the collector gave us a dilapidated dharamshala for medical work. We took it, but in the name of the panchayat. We decided that whatever we do, the ownership should be local. That helped.

Today we've become part of the villagers. We run a free school, and students are picked up from home and dropped back in our bus. We run a free hostel for Adivasi girls, one of the best in Maharashtra. Our hospital is heavily subsidized.

We have also been running Sagar Shalas on the coast for children of salt pan workers and fisherfolk.

That's a lot!

Yes, but our weakness is not being able to function as an advocacy group. We haven't been able to promote the idea that people must pressurise the government to do all this, that panchayats must provide free education, that it's the duty of the government to provide subsidised housing and free health care.

We're doing what the government should be doing. We've failed to create that spirit in the beneficiaries to demand this of the government.

Has the government helped at all?

When Sharad Pawar was CM, he sanctioned a 12 lakh grant for our hospital. We used to get a grant for school expenditure, but that stopped.

IMAGE: Then prime minister Indira Gandhi, who imposed a state of Emergency in India for 19 months from June 1975 to March 1977, with her younger son Sanjay Gandhi. Photograph: Keystone/Getty Images from the Rediff Archives

You went to jail during the Emergency too. How was that experience different from your 1942 jail stint?

During the Emergency, when the police came to arrest me, I found they had every type of information about what I'd been doing.

That's when I realised the difference.

In 1942, people would get beaten but not give out anything. Jagdish Ajmera (the Socialist who later became leader of the Railwaymen's Federation) ended up with a limp because despite the police beatings, he didn't reveal what he was doing.

But in the resistance to the Emergency, that sort of character wasn't there.

In the freedom movement, you had to be mentally prepared to go to jail. You had to fight for everything, face a lot of hardship, even beatings. Yet, our morale remained high.

So many people had gone to jail in the 1930s. We knew their experiences. They had told us about the 3rd degree methods used by the police. So we were mentally prepared to get beaten but not answer the police's questions.

People had forgotten this spirit in the JP movement. That training wasn't there. A few did have the necessary character, such as Mrinal Gore.

Still, I found the Socialists were better prepared to face jail than the RSS (Rashtriya Swayamsevak). The RSS kept on apologising.

(Madhukar Dattatreya 'Balasaheb') Deoras (RSS Sarsangchalak from 1973 to 1994) was with me in Yerwada jail then. I sensed that he and the RSS people had not anticipated going to jail. Baahar kaise bhi jaana hai, (we have to get out anyhow) that was the thought in their minds always.

I don't think they read anything in jail beyond the Gita, while we read everything. Professor G P Pradhan (editor of the Socialist magazine Sadhana and English professor in Ferguson College) would take classes on all kinds of topics.

IMAGE: Dr Parikh with the winners of the Red Ink Awards 2023 organised by the Mumbai Press Club. Photograph: Kind courtesy Mumbai Press Club/Facebook

How were you treated in jail?

In Yerwada, because we were away from Delhi, the fear of Indira Gandhi was less. So the jail officials were sympathetic. Actually even in 1942, the officers were pro-freedom but they had to do certain things as part of their job.

The Jayaprakash Narayan movement is blamed for bringing the RSS into the mainstream.

JP sincerely thought he could change them. People forget that earlier, he had tried to change dacoits (200 dacoits, including those carrying rewards on their heads, surrendered thanks to his persuasion in 1972) and Naga militants. But he failed in changing the RSS.

IMAGE: Dr Parikh at his residence. Photograph: Jyoti Punwani

The way communal thinking has surfaced today, makes us wonder whether not enough attention was paid to countering it post-Independence.

Because of the influence of Marx, we believed that religion was an opium. We neglected the importance of religion in changing man, and also of reformists who worked hard to change man.

One of the main aims of the Yusuf Meherally Centre was to promote communal harmony. We called it the unfinished task of the freedom movement.

But we made one mistake -- in a plural society, the leadership must also be plural. The face of every institution in a plural society should represent plurality. Socialist institutions didn't throw up a composite leadership. No political party succeeded in doing so either.

Gandhi gave us this mantra -- unity in diversity, but we didn't take it to its logical end. This mantra has helped us survive and it is this the BJP is trying to change.

Where we have failed is in being able to connect with Hindus; and in convincing Muslims to talk of communities other than their own. Whether majority or minority -- both must work for all.

Nehru did try to work towards communal harmony, so did the Socialists. In communal riots, the role of Socialists wasn't too bad. (Ram Manohar) Lohia was there with Gandhi in Kolkata.

Part 3 of the Interview: 'Today Is Worse Than British Times'

Feature Presentation: Aslam Hunani/Rediff.com
'Their role model is Iran: high control of the citizens by the State.'

'In Iran it is Islamic control; in India, it will be Hindutva control.'

IMAGE: Prime Minister Narendra Damodardas Modi, Union Home Minister Amit Anilchandra Shah, Parliamentary Affairs Minister Pralhad Joshi, Bharatiya Janata Party national President J P Nadda and Union Minister of State for Parliamentary Affairs Arjun Ram Meghwal at the Parliament House complex, December 7, 2023. Photograph: ANI Photo

To understand how Opposition MPs would have argued against the new law bills introduced in Parliament last week by the Narendra D Modi government had they not been suspended from the House, Prasanna D Zore/Rediff.com spoke to Karti Chidambaram, the Congress MP from Sivaganga, who was all set to participate in the debate that would have ensued in the Lok Sabha had 146 Opposition MPs from the Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha not been suspended.

I wanted to speak against these bills, but then the government systematically purged the two Houses of Opposition MPs so that there is no voice of dissent that could go on record.

The government passed the three bills and made into a law without any intervention from the Opposition.

First and foremost, this is not some decolonisation effort at all. In fact, it makes it far more draconian (than the colonial laws) and makes the Indian State a bigger police State.

Secondly, there is no decolonisation because 90 per cent of the old bill is retained here. What have you decolonised? You've not decoloniSed any law.

In fact, the home minister (Amit Anilchandra Shah) must list out what he has decolonised.

What is colonial?

Colonial is the intent of the State to control the people and to suppress the people. Every tool which the British used to suppress the Indians then is still available in this thing (the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita) to control and suppress the population today.

So what is decolonised about it? Nothing is decolonised about it.

The BNS gives extraordinary powers to the police. You are giving them 60 days to 90 days of police custody as opposed to 50 days and 15 days. And you have diluted the D K Basu judgment which provided for so many safeguards like everyday medical checkup, making sure custodial torture is not happening and everything.

The D K Basu judgment has been very badly diluted.

The third most atrocious part of the BNS is that you have renumbered all the sections which means it's going to be complete confusion.

Today, everybody knows (Indian Penal Code Section) 302 is a murder, (IPC Section) 420 is cheating, but that's not the case (with the BNS).

We will have to take huge efforts to educate the police, the bureaucracy, the judicial service, the lawyers, the judges so that everybody gets familiar with the sections. Look at the kind of gridlock it will create.

Suppose the law is notified today -- I assume the law will be notified before January 1 -- so anything you file today (on December 26) will be in the IPC. Anything you file after that notification after January 1 will be the BNS.

And then how does the court look at everything (the combination of the sections under the IPC and BNS)? How does the court look at one thing or the other? One will be in one section (say, under the IPC), other will be in one section (of the BNS).

You say you have charged somebody with (section) 420 (of the IPC) but the 420 is not there (in the BNS, section 420 doesn't deal with cheating). So the renumbering (of sections in the new BNS for crimes that have had different numbering in the IPC) is going to create so much confusion.

It's exactly the same provision, word to word (of the IPC), but a completely different number here (in the BNS).

All the legal precedents which have evolved around the IPC for the last 159 years might not hold good now. You have to now evolve new precedents; so everything will get agitated.

Our criminal laws have evolved over a period of time and practitioners of criminal and civil law know it. Now that precedence will be thrown out the window.

In fact, I see a plethora of cases going up to the Supreme Court asking for the interpretation of the law itself. It's going to create a gridlock.

Think about it. You file a petition today (before the BNS is notified), you will file it under the IPC, but if you file it in January, after January 1, you will file (it under some sections) in the BNS.

How do you read both (sections under the IPC and BNS in conjunction)?

Under what rules will the trial take place? What (evidence) will be admissible, what will not be admissible before.

If the government wanted to amend certain sections, they could have amended certain sections. Instead of that they (the Narendra Damodardas Modi government) undertook a complete renumbering exercise.

I'll tell you exactly how it's akin to: Suppose you have traffic lights -- red, yellow, amber and green. The colours will remain the same (in both the IPC and BNS).

But we say red is now (under the BNS) wait, green is stop and yellow is go. So what will happen? The same colour, but everybody will get confused. This is what is going to happen.

Yes, there are certain things I welcome.

In fact, they have not criminalised adultery (homosexuality, etc) and all those kind of things. Some of these fellows (belonging to the hardline Hindutva factions) were all suggesting (criminalisation of adultery, homosexuality, live-in relationships), all that has not been done.

They removed the word sedition, but it's come back in another form.

Now, you have added economic security (to national security, etc).

Suppose a big economist says the Indian rupee is weak. Does it endanger India's economic security?

Some other big Indian economist says, I think the Indian rupee is overvalued. Suppose someone says this today and tomorrow the market takes that into account tomorrow morning and the Indian rupee falls against the US dollar? Will this endanger India's economic security and will this economist be arrested because of that?

Given the way they have worded and framed the BNS the civil liberties of Indian citizens will be under grave threat from here on.

With the new Telecommunication Act, everything can be intercepted. They (the government) want even encrypted messaging to be given a back end. I don't know how those companies will give it because you can't decrypt the messages only in India, and not (allow the governments of other countries to) decrypt them anywhere in the world. Their entire business model collapses.

You can't say in India, I'll have a backend, but I won't have a backend (in the US, or the UK, or any other country where democratic and civil rights of people and their privacy is protected by law). It doesn't work like that.

This is going to be a police State and a police State always creates chaos.

I always maintain the BJP's model of governance is to make India into a Hindutva Iran. That is their model of governance.

Their role model is Iran: High control of the citizens by the State. In Iran it is Islamic control; in India, it will be Hindutva control.

This is what Karti Chidambaram posted on X:
Photograph: ANI Photo

This interview was first posted on May 8, 2006.

When film actor Vijayakanth started the Desiya Murpokku Dravida Kazhagam party, nobody gave him a chance. His DMDK party entered the election fray all alone when the two major parties -- the DMK and the AIADMK -- are contesting the polls in the company of many other smaller parties. He also fielded candidates in all 234 constituencies in Tamil Nadu.

Initially, he was was ridiculed by many. Soon, much to the surprise of all the poll watchers, people thronged to his meetings in large numbers. Rural Tamil Nadu, especially the rural youth, find his manifesto appealing, and seem to believe that he will be able to keep his promises.

Though earlier opinion polls did not give him many votes, he is now expected to get 10 to 15 per cent of votes, and could be the deciding factor in the May 8 election.

Shobha Warrier/Rediff.com caught up with him on a hot May morning near Vridhachalam.

Why did you decide to choose Vridhachalam as your constituency which many say is not very safe for you?

I chose Vridhachalam because I have a lot of fans here. Then, this is a village, and I love villages. I have come here several times earlier, and I have noticed that it is very remote, and it will be a challenge to develop such a place.

Some leaders choose Chennai (Karunanidhi) and some the southern end of Tamil Nadu (Jayalalithaa). Kalaignar (Karunanidhi) was born in Thiruvaroor. Why is he standing from Chennai? From Chennai, Jayalalithaa has gone to Aandipatti. (The late Congress doyen K Kamaraj) who was born in Virudhunagar went to Nagercoil to contest the elections. I decided to contest from the centre of the state.

Is it necessary that we should choose only safe seats? What is needed is to serve the people, which you can do from any place. I also felt that as the leader of a party, I should not look for a safe constituency. Instead I should contest from a place which is the toughest. When a leader of a party contests from a rural place, it will help the development of the village immensely.

Now that you have been campaigning here as a candidate, what do you think this village lacks, and what are your plans for this village?

I have noticed that this place does not have drinking water. There are no good roads here. No medical facilities too. I want to first provide them these three major things. And I will fulfil my promise. Even if I am only an MLA, I will ensure the development of this remote village. I will not leave the place unless I solve these three major concerns.

Many describe your decision to go alone as courageous. Why did you decide to do that?

Yes, it is a courageous decision. Unless you stand alone, how will people know what you are capable of?

Why are you offering so many freebies?

Kalaignar today says he will give subsidised kerosene. Jayalalithaa says she will give 4 grams of gold to all brides. I have promised all this in the beginning itself. I have promised to give Rs 10,000 when a girl child is born in a family. With that Rs 10,000 itself, you can buy gold but I said I would deposit that amount in the bank for the child. By the time she is ready for marriage, it will become Rs 2 lakhs with which you can buy gold and also conduct her wedding.

When I said I would give cows, many scoffed at me. But you know why I promised to give a cow to a family that is below the poverty line? It will help a family in a village because it gives milk. I did not make any stupid promises. I promised only what is needed for the rural poor.

The Sun may set forever in Thanjavur

Now, the other two parties are offering more and more freebies, one after the other, every day. Why were they not giving all this when they were in power? If they are offering all this, it means it is possible to give these things. Why did they cheat the people all these years?

You should understand that I have promised certain things in the beginning and I am sticking to it unlike these two parties who are vying with each other every day. Are they not trying to cheat people?

You worked in films for so many years and made money. Why do you spend your hard earned money in politics?

Even when I was young, I had this inclination to help people. It has continued. The path I have chosen is a path to do service. It is not that I will do it only after I join politics. I have been doing social service all these years.

I felt politics will give me more opportunity to help people, and it is difficult to help all as an individual. If I could do so many things as an individual, as a political leader, will I not be able to do more?

All the opinion polls say you will decide who will come to power in Tamil Nadu in the sense, the results depend on which party's votes you will be taking away. What do you say about this?

I don't think of all those things. I don't even know what the opinion polls say. I don't want to.

When you first said you were standing alone, nobody gave you any chance or importance. Now that the D-day is fast approaching, poll pundits say you will be a strong forceA

You are right. Nobody wrote good things about me. Nobody said good things about me. I would say they saw the pulse of the people only now while I saw it much earlier. I understood the minds of the people, that's why I decided to face the electorate all alone. Both the parties are doing wrong things. But instead of talking about what they have not done, I am telling people what I will do for them.

What kind of results do you expect in this election for your party?

I have fielded candidates in 234 constituencies. As a leader, I should say we will win in all the 234 seats. If there is 65 per cent polling, we will get 67 seats. If the poll percentage is more than 75 to 80 per cent, then we will get the state like it happened to NTR (the late Andhra Pradesh leader and movie superstar N T Rama Rao). Many are talking about a hung assembly but I feel miracles can also happen.

Vijayakanth has to wait patiently

If it is a hung assembly, will you join any alliance?

I have not even thought about that now.

You are testing the electoral waters for the first time. If you don't get the expected results, will you go away, or, will you continue in politics?

I will continue in politics. I did not come here to run away. I have seen victory and failure several times when I was in the movies. So, I am not scared of losses at all.

When I travelled to rural Tamil Nadu, I found that the youth are very attracted to you because you are promising education and employment opportunities.

Who made them uneducated? Who is responsible if they are not educated and they have no jobs? Both the DMK and the AIADMK. You can describe people as educated. Why do we have uneducated?

Kalaignar was the chief minister four times. Jayalalithaa was the CM twice. Why didn't they do something for the youth? Why didn't they take care of them?

The expectations of rural youth are really high. They say you will do this, that? Are you not scared?

I am not scared. Why should I be scared?

We can fulfil their dreams. It is not impossible. It is possible. I have the confidence in me that I can do more than what I have promised. The others have been looting the people all these years. If you don't do that, you can do a lot for the people. I will not loot. I will only serve the people.

Is it not difficult to be so pure in politics? You may be honest and good at heart but you will have MLAs and people to work for you. If they are corrupt, what can you do?

I don't agree with you. Today, party members will listen to what the leader says. Why am I canvassing in all the 234 constituencies? Because I want to tell the people that I am responsible.

Dindigul: Are elections really on?

You are being compared to MGR?

MGR is not anybody's property. People compare me to MGR. I had told my people not to compare me with MGR because he was in the other party. But they refused to listen to me. The irony is now that we have the picture of MGR in our posters, the AIADMK also has him in their posters. Till now, you had only Jayalalithaa's photo in their posters.

Because we have Kamaraj's photo in our posters, the Congress suddenly remembered him. Till now the Congress had only pictures of Indira Gandhi and Sonia Gandhi. Now, suddenly they have discovered Kamaraj.

Caste plays a major role in Tamil Nadu elections. Did you look at the caste of the person while choosing a candidate?

I didn't write my caste and religion in the form. Our party does not believe in caste or religion.

Photographs: Sreeram Selvaraj
This may be in line with Russia's private military company, Wagner Group, which was controlled until 2023 by Yevgeny Prigozhin, a former close ally of Russia's president Vladimir Putin. The group used the infrastructure of the Russian Armed Forces.

Illustration: Dado Ruvic/Reuters

China has hired a private security contractor to protect its overseas assets, especially those in geopolitically unstable regions like West Asia, Africa and Latin America, according to a report by the South China Morning Post (SCMP).

It added that the focus will be particularly on facilitating the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI).

This may be in line with Russia's private military company, Wagner Group, which was controlled until 2023 by Yevgeny Prigozhin, a former close ally of Russia's president Vladimir Putin. The group used the infrastructure of the Russian Armed Forces.

According to 2022 data by China's Ministry of Commerce, the country has over 47,000 overseas companies across 190 countries. These companies are mainly occupied in energy, mining, infrastructure construction and manufacturing. In total, these companies employ around 4.1 million people, including 2.5 million foreign nationals.

According to an earlier report by state-owned Xinhua, a BRI group in the country issued an official document in November highlighting the need to 'hammer out the safety protection in a detailed way'.

Later, China's state security ministry also pointed out the need to ensure the security of the country's mining projects, personnel and assets.

The danger, according to the report, emerges in the face of several conflicts in Africa as well as the war in Gaza. Moreover, several attacks on Chinese people and projects have been reported of late, including in Pakistan.

Notably, the report added that Western countries, including the United States and European Union, have been hiring private security agencies for their global assets for years. For China, this seems to be in line with its 'Wolf Warrior Diplomacy'.

What is 'Wolf Warrior' diplomacy?

The term 'Wolf Warrior Diplomacy' gained popularity after Xi Jinping became the President of China.

Under the previous president, Hu Jintao, Chinese diplomats maintained a low profile overseas.

However, Jinping asserted a more aggressive approach to handling issues domestically as well as internationally.

In 2015, a Chinese action film titled 'Wolf Warrior' and its 2017 sequel served as an inspiration for the term. It showed China's fighters defending the country against Western mercenaries.

Later, in a column in the Indian Express, C Raja Mohan wrote: the new 'wolf warrior diplomacy' confronts head-on any criticism of China in the public sphere.

They lecture host governments and don't always show up when 'summoned' by foreign offices. Delhi has been at the receiving end for a while -- especially during the recent crises of Doklam and Ladakh.
Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar on Thursday asserted that the Janata Dal-United's two-day conclave in Delhi was a "normal" and "annual" affair with "nothing extraordinary" about it, debunking speculations of turmoil in his party.

IMAGE: Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar speaks with media. Photograph: ANI Photo

Shortly before leaving for the National capital, where a meeting of the party's national office bearers later in the day will be followed by meetings of the national executive and national council on Friday, the JD-U supreme leader paused for a moment when journalists posed to him queries about rumours doing the rounds for the past few days.

The rumours have primarily been about the impending resignation of JD-U national president Rajiv Ranjan Singh 'Lalan', for alleged proximity towards ally Rashtriya Janaat Dal at the expense of loyalty to his own party.

A section of the media has even claimed that after having dumped the Bharatiya Janata Party in August last year, Kumar was now planning an about-turn.

The chief minister did not address these queries comprehensively, pointing out that he was running short of time, but quipped "the meeting is an annual affair. It is normal with nothing extraordinary about it".

The septuagenarian made the utterances in the presence of his young deputy Tejashwi Yadav, the son and heir apparent of RJD president Lalu Prasad, who had accompanied his boss to a government function held in Patna on the occasion of the birth anniversary of late BJP leader Arun Jaitley.

Kumar, who had allied with the BJP for long, has been open about the "personal" affinity he felt towards Jaitley and former Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee and government functions held in their memory in Patna continue despite his having snapped ties with the saffron party.

Yadav, whose party's staunch rivalry with the BJP is well known, has made peace with the fondness his boss has for the aforementioned late leaders.

When journalists asked the RJD leader about the controversy, he shot back "It is all the work of a BJP-inclined media which is at work whenever our government in the state achieves something historic".

Yadav added, "The rumour mill was at work when our government conducted the caste survey and followed it up with rise in quotas for the deprived castes. Now, we have another feather in our cap with the cabinet approving government employee status for nearly 3.5 lakh contractual teachers".

The Deputy CM also rued that rumours about the JD-U had persisted despite stout denials by more than one ministers who were also senior leaders of that party.

"I wonder what is so unusual about a Bihar-based party holding its meetings of national executive and national council in Delhi. Had we (RJD) not done the same last year", asked Yadav.

He also maintained that the INDIA coalition will face no difficulty in finalising seat-sharing in Bihar where five of its constituents -- the JD-U, the RJD, the Congress and three Left parties -- form the state's ruling coalition.

Meanwhile, state BJP president Samrat Choudhary also turned up at the memorial of Arun Jaitley shortly afterwards and declared that his party's doors were "closed for Nitish Kumar".

He also added "We have no interest in the rumblings in the JD-U" and asserted "the BJP is focused on winning the upcoming Lok Sabha polls and the Bihar assembly elections due in 2025".
The move comes at a time when Omicron and its sub-variants have remained the dominant strains in circulation for close to two years now. Most of the vaccines available and administered in India are based on the original Wuhan strain of the virus, reports Sohini Das.

IMAGE: A healthcare worker fills a syringe to inoculate a beneficiary with a booster dose of COVID-19 vaccine at New Gardiner Road Hospital, in Patna, Bihar, April 18, 2023. Photograph: ANI Photo

Biological E is awaiting the drug regulators clearance to begin clinical trials of its vaccine to fight the XBB1.5 variant of the Sars-CoV-2 virus, according to a senior official of the Hyderabad-based manufacturer.

The move comes at a time when Omicron and its sub-variants have remained the dominant strains in circulation for close to two years now.

Most of the vaccines available and administered in India are based on the original Wuhan strain of the virus.

As of now, Gennova Biopharmaceuticals has launched a vaccine, Gemcovac-OM, which is based on the Omicron variant.

Vikram Paradkar, executive vice-president, vaccine division, Biological E, told Business Standard that the company had developed a next-generation COVID-19 vaccine based on the XBB1.5 variant of the Sars-CoV-2 virus according to World Health Organisation recommendations.

Paradkar said, BEs candidate vaccine has finished all required pre-clinical animal studies, which suggest that it will provide adequate protection against the currently circulating variants.

The COVID-19 subject expert committee of the Central Drugs Standard Control Organisation has approved BEs clinical trial application, he said, adding that the company was awaiting a final from the regulator to begin the clinical trials of the XBB variant vaccine in India.

Paradkar added that BE also had the manufacturing infrastructure for producing variant vaccines to initiate supply at short notice.

XBB1.5 is a sub-variant of Omicron, and a sub-linear of the XBB variant.

It is a recombinant of the two BA.2 sub-lineages, and carries a mutation of the spike protein (F486P) that increases infectivity due to increased binding affinity to the ACE2 receptor.

Recently, Pune-based Serum Institute of India, the worlds largest vaccine maker by volume, said that they were also working on an XBB1.5 variant vaccine that would be effective against the current variant of interest, JN.1.

The JN.1 sub-variant is a descendant of BA.2.86 (also known as Pirola), which itself is a sub-variant of the widely circulating Omicron.

Paradkar said that BE also had a significant stockpile of Corbevax, their protein-sub-unit vaccine that was administered in children earlier apart from being approved as a mix-and-match booster shot after two doses of Covaxin and Covishield.

The company has a stockpile of various components necessary to manufacture the variant vaccine (protein antigen and adjuvants) that can be formulated at a large scale quickly for the supply of large quantities.

An article published in the Gavi, the vaccine alliance website written by science journalist Linda Geddes, said: Human studies have also assessed the immune response induced by the BA.4/5 vaccine against XBB.1 (which XBB.1.5 descended from) and several descendants of the BA.2 and BA.4-BA.5 sub-variants. One of these studies, published in The New England Journal of Medicine, suggested that older individuals who received a fourth dose (second booster) of the BA.4/5 vaccine experienced a greater increase in antibodies against XBB.1 and descendants of the BA.2 and BA.4-BA.5 sub-variants that were circulating in mid-late 2022, compared to people who received a fourth dose of the original vaccine.
Peeved over the recent naval exercises between the navies of India and the Philippines in the disputed South China Sea, the Chinese military on Thursday said defence cooperation between different countries should not harm the interests of third countries and regional peace.

Image used for representational purpose only. Photograph: ANI Photo

Answering a question from Chinese official media about naval exercises between an Indian naval ship and the Philippines naval vessel besides plans by France to hold naval and air drills with the Philippine Navy, spokesman of the Chinese defence ministry senior Col Wu Qian said China has taken note of the reports.

China has always emphasised that defence and security cooperation between relevant countries must not harm the interests of third parties or hurt regional peace and stability, he said.

China is getting restive about military cooperation between the Philippines and other countries as its coastguard ships recently involved face-offs with Philippines navy vessels to assert Beijing's control over the parts of the disputed South China Sea, also claimed by Manila.

The Philippines Navy this month alleged that the Chinese ships used water cannons to attack its ships.

China claims most of the South China Sea.

The Philippines, Vietnam, Malaysia, Brunei and Taiwan have counterclaims over the area.

Earlier this month, INS Kadmatt during its visit to the Philippines participated in a maritime exercise in the South China Sea alongside BRP Ramon Alcaraz, an offshore patrol vessel of the Philippine Navy.

Without directly referring to any country, Wu said the maritime dispute between China and the Philippines is an issue between Beijing and Manila, and no third party has the right to intervene.

China will maintain a high degree of vigilance and take necessary measures to resolutely safeguard national sovereignty, security and maritime rights and interests, he said.

On the allegation that Chinese coastguard ships used water cannons against the Philippines vessels, Wu said it is purely false hype.

The Philippines side, in disregard of repeated warnings from the Chinese side, insisted on sending a vessel to intrude into the areas claimed by China and the Philippines vessel rammed into the Chinese coastguard vessel and damaged it, he claimed.

Such behaviour is very dangerous and extremely unprofessional. The China Coast Guard took necessary enforcement measures in accordance with law and were totally justified and legitimate, he said.

About the US criticism of actions by Chinese coastguard ships against the Philippines vessels and reference to Washington's commitments under the Mutual Defence Treaty with Manila, Wu said China is strongly dissatisfied with such remarks and firmly opposed to this.

He reiterated that China has indisputable sovereignty over the areas claimed by Manila and accused the US of instigating the Philippines to provoke China.
The National Investigation Agency on Thursday filed a chargesheet against six people in a case of promoting terror activities in India at the behest of the outlawed outfit Islamic State of Iraq and Syria.

Image used for representational purpose only. Photograph: ANI Photo

The six accused, Tabish Siddiqui, Zulfikar Ali, Sharjeel Shaikh and Aakif Ateeque Nachan, Zubair Shaikh and Adnanali Sarkar, were held in July during multiple raids in Maharashtra by the NIA in the ISIS module case.

The 4000-page chargesheet, which was filed in the court of special NIA judge AK Lahoti, has 16 protected witnesses.

The NIA said all six are members of the proscribed ISIS outfit and had hatched a conspiracy to further terrorist activities of the organisation with the intention to strike fear and terror among the people and to threaten the security, secular ethos and culture of India as well as its democratic system of governance.

The accused were found in possession of incriminating material related to 'Hijrah' to Syria, along with propaganda magazines like Voice of Hind and Voice of Khurasan published by ISIS, the NIA said in a press note.

Further, the accused had been sharing DIY (Do It Yourself) kits with their contacts and were also found to be raising funds to finance their terror plans and designs as per NIA investigations, the press note said.

The material seized exposed the strong and active links of the accused with ISIS and their efforts to motivate vulnerable youth to further the terror organisation's anti-India agenda, the NIA said.

The case was registered by NIA on June 28, 2023 against Tabish Siddiqui and others following information received by the ministry of home affairs regarding a conspiracy hatched by them to disturb the unity, integrity, security and sovereignty of the country, and to wage a war against the government of India by promoting the terrorist activities of ISIS.

Further investigations in the case are continuing in accordance with the provisions of section 173(8) of the Code of Criminal Procedure.
Canadian police are close to arresting two men believed to be responsible for the fatal shooting of Sikh separatist Hardeep Singh Nijjar in the British Columbia province in June and are still in the country, according to a media report.

According to The Globe and Mail newspaper, the suspects are currently under police surveillance and are expected to be apprehended "in a matter of weeks."

According to three anonymous sources quoted by the newspaper, the two suspected killers did not leave Canada following Nijjar's assassination and have been under police surveillance for months.

The ties between India and Canada came under severe strain following Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau's allegations in September of a "potential" involvement of Indian agents in the killing of Khalistani separatist Nijjar outside a gurdwara in Surrey city on June 18.

India had designated Nijjar as a terrorist in 2020. India has rejected Trudeau's allegations as "absurd" and "motivated".

The report on Wednesday said that police will unveil details regarding the alleged involvement of the assassins and their connection to the Indian government when formal charges are filed.

"Within the community, there's a sense of closure that might come with the two people being arrested like it's being said," the Global News quoted Moninder Singh, spokesperson of BC Gurdwaras Council, as saying.

According to the report, the integrated homicide investigation team said it was aware of the reports of imminent arrests in Nijjar's murder but won't comment because it's an active investigation.

The Canadian allegations were followed by a US indictment in November outlining a foiled plot to kill a Canadian-American Sikh activist, the report said.

In November, the US federal prosecutors charged that one Nikhil Gupta was working with an Indian government employee in the foiled plot to kill a Sikh separatist, who holds dual citizenship of the US and Canada. Though the separatist Sikh leader was not named, media reports identified him as Gurpatwant Singh Pannun, the leader of the Sikhs for Justice, an organisation banned in India.

India has already constituted a probe committee to investigate allegations by the US prosecutors.

External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar told the Rajya Sabha earlier this month that Canada has not shared any specific evidence or inputs with India.

Days after Trudeau's allegations in September, India temporarily suspended the issuance of visas to Canadian citizens and asked Ottawa to downsize its diplomatic presence in the country to ensure parity.

India resumed some visa services in Canada last month, more than a month after they were suspended.
Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar and Janata Dal-United national president Lalan Singh attended a meeting of its national office-bearers in New Delhi on Thursday, a day before its national executive and council meetings, amid a buzz that Singh may make way for Kumar to lead the party.

IMAGE: Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar interacts with JD-U president Lalan Singh during an event, in Patna on November 26, 2023. Photograph: ANI Photo

Some party leaders said there have been talks even within the organisation about Singh quitting his position in Kumar's favour but made it clear that no such message has been conveyed by either of them so far.

A party leader noted that the council meeting is generally called to ratify any important decision taken by the national executive.

While the office-bearers discussed the contents of political agenda which will be approved at the meeting of the party's apex bodies, a combative Singh earlier reacted contemptuously to reports about his resignation and a rift within the party, which has a history of swinging across the ideological spectrum to change allies.

"You are trying to set the narrative... JD-U is one and will remain united," he said in response to the media's queries on his resignation and differences in the party, asserting that it is a routine meeting, a view also echoed by Kumar before he boarded the flight from Patna to Delhi.

"If I have to resign, I will call you (mediapersons) and consult you about what to write in the resignation letter so that you can go to the BJP office and get the draft," Singh said sarcastically.

After the meeting, JD-U chief spokesperson K C Tyagi dismissed questions on whether the chief minister may join the Bharatiya Janata Party-led National Democratic Alliance.

"We are not joining the NDA," he said.

Another party spokesperson, Rajib Ranjan, said the office-bearers discussed the contents of the political agenda for Friday's meetings.

There was no discussion on any organisational changes, he asserted.

Issues like caste census and rise in reservation in Bihar are likely to figure prominently in the meetings on Friday.

Before the meeting of office-bearers, Singh met Kumar at his residence in New Delhi and the two leaders later arrived at the party office together, a gesture apparently aimed at sending out a message of unity within the party.

The two leaders go back many decades and Singh has been a key ally of Kumar except for a period between 2010 and 2013 when he had quit the JD-U.

Shortly before leaving Patna for the national capital, the Bihar chief minister asserted that the JD-U's two-day conclave in Delhi was a 'normal and annual' affair with 'nothing extraordinary' about it, rejecting speculations of turmoil in his party.

Speculation has been rife that Singh may be asked to resign due to alleged proximity to JD-U ally Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD).
Rajasthan is reeling under a huge financial burden with the state's debt having gone beyond Rs 5.59 lakh crores.

Rajasthan has increased expenditure on education by 203.4 percent, by 105.4 percent on health, by 227.14 percent on housing.

Its expenditure on social welfare schemes has increased by almost 2,475 per cent.

IMAGE: Rajasthan Chief Minister Bhajanlal Sharma calls on former CM Ashok Gehlot in Jaipur. All photographs: ANI Photo

Rajasthan, which is reeling under a resource crunch, has ordered freezing of all financial sanctions till further orders.

The order has not stated any time span, but the order will hit a number of key projects planned by the erstwhile Ashok Gehlot government.

The Bhajanlal Sharma government is keen to review the mega projects planned by the Gehlot government -- drinking water (the Jal Jeevan Mission), rural roads, electricity supply companies owned by the state government.

The Jal Jeevan Mission was probed by the Enforcement Directorate following allegations of corruption.

The government order signed by Additional Chief Secretary (finance) Akhil Arora directed all departments to stall tenders and related work.

This embargo applies to all work whose detailed project report was duly completed and were given financial sanctions after tenders.

The finance department's order states that no new tender process should be initiated and all such tenders which are being processed should be held in abeyance till further orders.

Rajasthan is reeling under a huge financial burden with the state's debt having gone beyond Rs 5.59 lakh crores.

The Bhajanlal Sharma government, which partially reviewed the state's financial status, decided to reduce capital expenditure and adopt austerity measures to deal with the financial crunch.

IMAGE: Prime Minister Narendra Damodardas Modi with Bhajanlal Sharma in New Delhi.

Six lakh state government employees are worried over the Old Pension Scheme (OPS) which was assured by the Gehlot government.

Gehlot promised the state electorate that if the Congress was voted back to power it would bring in legislation making it mandatory for future state governments to ensure the old pension schemes for government employees.

Chief Minister Sharma has been evading the media's questions on this issue, only saying that his government will review it.

"Our fear is that the BJP government would overturn the Gehlot government's decision and introduce the New Pension (NPS) as formulated by the Union government. The then state government had enforced the NPS in 2004, but the Gehlot government earlier this year ordered that it would give the employees the benefit of the OPS," says Upendra Sharma, general secretary of the Rajasthan Shikshak Sangh.

"The BJP government, it seems, is hell-bent on the NPS which will harm the interest of 500,000 state government employees, apart from some 125,000 employees serving various boards and corporations," Sharma adds.

Rajasthan was the first state to provide the benefits of the OPS to its government employees. Himachal Pradesh, Punjab, Chhattisgarh and Jharkhand followed suit.

Under the OPS, an employee on completion of 10 years of service with the state government is entitled to a proportionate minimum pension of Rs 8,500 per month. Under the NPS, which is linked to the market, no such guarantees are assured. In one case a retired government employee received Rs 148 per month as pension under the NPS.

IMAGE: Union Home Minister Amit Shah meets Bhajanlal Sharma in New Delhi.

According to a senior state finance department official, the Rajasthan government's expenditure far exceeds the revenue it earns.

Though the tax collections increased by 4.4 per cent, a large chunk of this revenue is spent on paying interest on loans.

Rajasthan increased its expenditure on social welfare and social justice schemes by almost 24 percent.

A Reserve Bank of India report states that the state salary bill has increased by 30.75 percent.

Rajasthan has increased expenditure on education by 203.4 percent, by 105.4 percent on health, by 227.14 percent on housing. Its expenditure on social welfare schemes has increased by almost 2,475 per cent.

Chief Minister Sharma said his government is committed to implementing all the 59 promises his Bharatiya Janata Party made in its election manifesto. The main focus of his government, Sharma said, would be benefitting the farmers on the minimum support price on purchase which would be topped by a bonus.

It would provide a gas cylinder at Rs 450, free education to the girl child from kindergarten to post graduation, employment to 250,000 youth and various other schemes.

But there is no assurance on the pension scheme, which is distressing state government employees.

IMAGE: Bhajanlal Sharma arrives at the Parliament complex.

Various welfare schemes promised by the BJP are almost the same that were offered by the Congress government.

The Gehlot government's flagship scheme -- the Chiranjeevi Beema Yojana which guaranteed medical insurance cover up to Rs 25 lakh -- will be scrapped and instead be called Ayushman Bharat Yojana which provides Rs 5 lakh medical coverage.

Sharma says all those who registered under the Chiranjeev Beema Yojana will continue to get those benefits under the Ayushman Beema Yojana; the state will provide Rs 25 lakh medical insurance.

The chief minister wants to expand his cabinet and prepare to face the assembly in January, but before that he wants to shuffle the senior bureaucracy.

Feature Presentation: Rajesh Alva/Rediff.com
The Supreme Court collegium has recommended to the Centre the names of five judges to be appointed as chief justices of the high courts of Rajasthan, Punjab and Haryana, Gauhati, Allahabad, and Jharkhand.

IMAGE: A view of the Supreme Court of India. Photograph: ANI Photo

The collegium recommended the name of Justice Manindra Mohan Shrivastava for appointment as the chief justice of the Rajasthan high court, Justice Sheel Nagu of the Punjab and Haryana HC, Vijay Bishnoi of the Gauhati HC, Arun Bhansali of the Allahabad HC, and B R Sarangi of the Jharkhand HC.

The Supreme Court collegium is headed by Chief Justice D Y Chandrachud and has Justices Sanjiv Khanna and B R Gavai as members.

The office of the Chief Justice of the Rajasthan high court fell vacant following the elevation of Justice Augustine George Masih to the Supreme Court.

"The collegium recommends the appointment of Justice Manindra Mohan Shrivastava, the senior-most puisne Judge from the high court of Chhattisgarh, as the Chief Justice of the Rajasthan high court.

"While considering his name, the Collegium has also taken into consideration the fact that the high court of Chhattisgarh which is his parent high court does not have any representation among the Chief Justices of the high courts," the collegium said in a resolution dated December 27 which was uploaded on Thursday.

With regard to Justice Nagu, the collegium said he is considered to be a competent judge and possesses a high level of integrity and conduct required of a person holding high judicial office.

"While recommending his name, the Collegium is conscious of the fact that the high court of Madhya Pradesh is already represented by a Chief Justice among the Chief Justices of the high courts...Having regard to all relevant factors, the collegium is of the considered view that Justice Sheel Nagu is fit and suitable in all respects for being appointed as the Chief Justice of the High Court of Punjab and Haryana," the collegium said.

On Justice Bishnoi, the collegium said he has maintained a high order of professional ethics at the bar and the bench and his conduct and integrity are beyond reproach.

"While recommending his name, the collegium has taken into consideration the fact that at present the Rajasthan high court which is the parent high court of Justice Bishnoi is not represented among the Chief Justices of the high courts," it said.

The collegium said Justice Bhansali has acquired extensive experience in dispensing justice in the Rajasthan high court.

"He is considered to be a competent judge with sound legal acumen and, would therefore be an eminently suitable choice to be elevated as Chief Justice of the largest high court in the country," it said.

Concerning Justice Sarangi, the collegium cited his contribution to the judiciary by way of disposal of cases during his tenure of more than 10 years as a Judge of the high court.

He has authored more than 1,056 reported judgments.

"He has acquired considerable experience in dispensing justice in the high court. While considering his name, the collegium has taken into consideration the fact that after the retirement of Justice Sanjaya Kumar Mishra, there would be no representation of the high court of Orissa among the Chief Justices of the high courts.

"Having regard to all relevant factors, the collegium is of the considered view that Justice B R Sarangi is fit and suitable in all respects for being appointed as Chief Justice of the high court of Jharkhand. While making the recommendation, the collegium has duly taken note of seniority of Judges of the high court of Orissa," it said.
Jharkhand Chief Minister Hemant Soren on Thursday said he will attend the inauguration of the Ram temple at Ayodhya in January if he is invited to the programme.

IMAGE: Jharkhand CM Hemant Soren. Photograph: ANI Photo

Soren, however, said he has not received any invitation for the event so far.

"I have not received any invitation for the inauguration of Ram Mandir so far, but if I receive it, I will attend the ceremony," Soren said while addressing reporters on the completion of four years of the Jharkhand Mukti Morcha-led government in the state.

Soren said he is a religious person and visits religious places such as temples and gurudwaras, among others.

On the Enforcement Directorate (ED) summons to him, the CM said, "No one can keep hiding the truth... the entire nation is watching... I have nothing to say."

He said the government has completed four years but the opposition has been trying to destabilise it ever since the JMM-Congress-Rashtriya Janata Dal alliance came to power in the state.

"We are tribals but not fools, we know how to tackle the opposition," he added.

Soren recently skipped the sixth summons of the ED issued for questioning in connection with a money laundering case linked to an alleged land scam.

The ED had issued the summons to Soren for questioning on December 12 to get his statement recorded under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA).

The agency has arrested 14 people in the case, including 2011-batch Indian Administrative Service (IAS) officer Chhavi Ranjan who had earlier served as the director of the state social welfare department and deputy commissioner of Ranchi.

The 48-year-old Jharkhand Mukti Morcha leader was questioned by the ED in November last year in another money laundering case linked to alleged illegal mining in the state.

Asserting that in a federal structure, the Centre and the state work in coordination, Soren alleged that his government did not receive the expected cooperation from the Centre and is facing many challenges.

Terming corruption as a legacy issue in the state, he claimed his government was making efforts to weed it out and said that a large number of schemes were being undertaken for the first time, including his government's outreach programme 'Aapki Yojna, Aapki Sarkar, Aaapke Dwar' delivering benefits of the government schemes to villagers at their doorsteps.

On the leadership issue of the Indian National Developmental Inclusive Alliance (INDIA) in view of the upcoming Lok Sabha polls, he said that in a democracy the face (of a leader) is created only by the people and a seat-sharing agreement will be reached soon.

In reply to a query whether pressure was being built on him to move away from the INDIA bloc, he said that those who think that they can scare his government and get anything done will be making a blunder as 'we come from a different political background' and 'we do anything if asked with love'.

"We have seen the history of Nehru, Indira Gandhi, Rajeev Gandhi and Atal Bihari Vajpayee. People appreciate the federal structure of the nation but there are some people who create such an environment that people become adversaries," he said.

On EVMs, he said, "I have issues about this but the ECI takes a decision regarding this. In many countries, this technology has been done away with and if the country wants to become Vishwa Guru (world leader), such things should be removed."

On caste census, he said that his government was in favour of it but there were many things that needed to be addressed.
The soon-to-open international airport here endowed with modern amenities carries a traditional look with the design of its facade depicting architectural style being used in the upcoming Ram temple, officials said on Thursday.

IMAGE: Construction work is underway on the premises of Maryada Purushottam Shri Ram International Airport, in Ayodhya, Uttar Pradesh, December 27, 2023. Photograph: ANI Photo

Prime Minister Narendra Modi is slated to inaugurate the Shri Ram International Airport and the redeveloped Ayodhya railway station on December 30.

On Thursday evening, a PTI team visited the airport when workers were rushing to complete civil work, and the terminal building was being decorated with tricolour-theme fabric.

While the core of the newly built airport, located about 15 km from the main Ayodhya city, uses modern construction material, the facade of the terminal has been lent a traditional look as done in the new building of the Ayodhya station.

Even the main gateway has been built in a similar way, carrying a concrete core and cladding of sandstone bearing stylised carvings.

IMAGE: An outside view of the airport. Photograph: ANI Photo

The main road that leads from Sitapur Road side to the airport has been decked up with several posters carrying images of Prime Minister Modi, and a welcome message.

Ornamental lamp posts have been installed on this route while greenery on the median adds to the aesthetic look of the area.

Huge welcoming posters with images of Modi and describing Ayodhya as a holy city have also been put up on the Ayodhya Bypass while many houses along that road now carry on their rooftops saffron flags with images of Lord Ram or Lord Hanuman and the chant 'Jai Shri Ram'.

The Prime Minister's Office on Thursday issued a statement saying Prime Minister Modi will visit Ayodhya on December 30.

At around 11:15 am, the prime minister will inaugurate the redeveloped Ayodhya railway station and flag off new Amrit Bharat trains and Vande Bharat trains, it said, adding he will also dedicate several other railway projects to the nation.

Photograph: ANI Photo

At around 12:15 pm, the prime minister will inaugurate the Ayodhya airport, the PMO said.

The prime minister will later participate in a public programme where he will inaugurate, delicate to nation and lay the foundation stone of multiple development projects worth more than Rs 15,700 crore in the state, the statement said.

"The phase 1 of the state-of-the-art airport has been developed at a cost of more than Rs 1,450 crore. The airport's terminal building will have an area of 6,500 sqm, equipped to serve about 10 lakh passengers annually," it said.

The facade of the terminal building "depicts the temple architecture of the upcoming Shri Ram Mandir of Ayodhya", the statement said.

The interiors of the terminal building have been decorated with local art, paintings and murals depicting the life of Lord Ram.

The Ayodhya airport has an extended runway suitable for A-321/B-737 type aircraft operations.

Airliner IndiGo earlier this month had said that it would operate the inaugural flight from the national capital to Ayodhya airport on December 30 and the commercial services will commence from January 6.

This will be followed by tri-weekly flights between Ahmedabad and Ayodhya from January 11, it had said.

Ayodhya native Ayushi Kasaudhan, an engineering student pursuing BTech from a college in Noida, said this will help her reach home faster during holidays.

"This airport was much-needed as trains run late at times. I generally take Ayodhya Express or Kaifiyat Express from Delhi, and it takes about 15 hours by train. So, I am eagerly waiting to see it open for passengers," she told PTI here.

Kasaudhan on Thursday evening had travelled, along with some family members, from Ayodhya to just see the new airport.

Many other residents are also excited about its inauguration.

The office of Union Civil Aviation Minister Jyotiraditya Scindia on Thursday posted on X a teaser video on the airport's inauguration.

"Just as the construction work of Ram temple in Ayodhya is at its peak, similarly the construction of Ayodhya airport is also in its final stages to welcome the devotees, which will be inaugurated by Prime Minister Shri @narendramodi ji on 30 December 2023.

"This state-of-the-art airport, decorated with themes from the epic Ramayana, will take the development of pilgrimage and tourism in the entire region to new heights," the post said.

Prime Minister Modi's visit will come just ahead of 'pran pratishtha' (consecration) of the under-construction Ram temple in Ayodhya.

A grand Ram temple is currently under construction in Ayodhya, with the consecration ceremony to be held on January 22, which will be attended by the prime minister.

Large posters bearing a symbolic image of the upcoming Ram temple, design of the new airport along with a message that hails Ayodhya as a city of "Maryada, Dharm and Sanskriti" have been put up in the temple town, including at locations near the airport and the station and the bypass road.

The terminal building of Ayodhya airport is also equipped with various sustainability features like insulated roofing system, LED lighting, rainwater harvesting, landscaping with fountains, water treatment plant, sewage treatment plant, and solar power plant to meet GRIHA - 5-star ratings, the PMO said in its statement.

The airport will improve connectivity in the region, leading to a boost in tourism, business activities and employment opportunities, it added.
A drone crashed near a village in the occupied Syrian Golan Heights, Israel's army said Thursday, after an Iraqi armed group claimed responsibility for an attack in the area.

Israeli media reported that a drone probably carrying explosives launched from Syria was shot down late Wednesday evening south of the settlement of Eliad, in the occupied syrian territory, causing no injuries but some material damage.

The Israeli occupation army told AFP that the drone had crashed near Eliad, but gave no further details.

The Islamic Resistance in Iraq, a loose formation of armed groups, said in a statement it had hit a "vital target" south of Eliad with "appropriate weaponry".

Israel occupied the Syrian Golan Heights in the 1967 Arab-Israeli war and annexed the territory in 1981 in a move not recognized internationally.

Israel's bombardment and ground invasion of Gaza has killed at least 21,110 people, mostly women and children, and injured more than 54,000, according to the Palestinian health ministry.

Since Israel's war on Gaza began, the Islamic Resistance in Iraq has claimed responsibility for numerous attacks against US and international coalition forces in Iraq and Syria.

Washington has counted 103 attacks against its forces in Iraq and Syria since 17 October, according to a US military official.

Most of those attacks have been claimed by factions of the Islamic Resistance in Iraq that oppose US support for Israel in its war on the Gaza Strip.

But the group has so far claimed few direct attacks against Israeli interests.

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President Vladimir Putin on Wednesday invited Prime Minister Narendra Modi to visit Russia next year as External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar called on the Russian leader at the Kremlin.

IMAGES: External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar calls on Russian President Vladimir Putin in Moscow. Photographs: @DrSJaishankar/X

"We will be glad to see our friend, Mr. Prime Minister Modi in Russia," Putin told Jaishankar.

Jaishankar, who is in Moscow on a five-day official visit to Russia, earlier met with his Russian counterpart Sergey Lavrov.

During a joint media appearance along with Lavrov after their talks, Jaishankar said he was confident that Prime Minister Modi and President Putin will meet for an annual summit next year. In his opening remarks earlier, Jaishankar said that the two leaders have been in frequent contact.

The summit between the prime minister of India and the Russian president is the highest institutional dialogue mechanism in the strategic partnership between the two sides.

"Honoured to call on President Vladimir Putin this evening. Conveyed the warm greetings of PM @narendramodi and handed over a personal message. Apprised President Putin of my discussions with Ministers Manturov and Lavrov. Appreciated his guidance on the further developments of our ties," Jaishankar said in his post on X.

So far, 21 annual summits have taken place alternatively in India and Russia. The last summit took place in New Delhi in December 2021.

Putin also said that the trade turnover between Russia and India is growing, particularly on account of crude oil and high technology areas.

"Our trade turnover is growing, for the second year in a row at the same time and at a steady pace. The growth rate this year is even higher than in the last year," he said.

On Tuesday, Jaishankar held a "comprehensive and productive" meeting with Deputy Prime Minister Denis Manturov on the bilateral economic cooperation during which they witnessed the signing of some "very important" agreements related to the construction of the future power-generating units of the Kudankulam nuclear power plant in Tamil Nadu.

The ties between India and Russia remained strong notwithstanding Moscow's invasion of Ukraine. India has not yet condemned the Russian invasion of Ukraine and it has been maintaining that the crisis must be resolved through diplomacy and dialogue.

India's import of Russian crude oil has gone up significantly despite increasing disquiet over it in many Western countries.
Brattleboro, VT (05301)

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Generally cloudy. A few flurries or snow showers possible. High around 40F. Winds WSW at 5 to 10 mph..

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Brattleboro, VT (05301)

Today

Cloudy. A few flurries or snow showers possible. High 39F. Winds WSW at 5 to 10 mph..

Tonight

Partly to mostly cloudy. Low 28F. Winds light and variable.
A Nation Power leader says they are ready to make concessions to form a stronger opposition alliance.

Rong Chhun (C with hands folded) announces his resignation from the Candlelight Party at a news conference in Phnom Penh, Cambodia, Nov. 9, 2023.

The Candlelight Party is urging the new Nation Power Party to join forces with it to form a stronger opposition alliance to the ruling Cambodian Peoples Party ahead of Senate elections in February, a former Candlelight official said Wednesday.

Rong Chhun, former Candlelight Party vice president who now serves as an advisor to the Nation Power Party, told RFA that leaders from both parties held informal talks in the name of democracy to discuss the strategy for upcoming Senate election on Feb 25.

Rong Chhun and Chea Mony, a prominent former union leader, left the Candlelight Party to form the Nation Power Party after Candlelights candidates were excluded from participating in the July general election by the National Election Committee.

The committee did not recognize the party because it couldnt produce an original registration form issued by the Interior Ministry.

As a result, the Cambodian Peoples Party won 120 of 125 seats in the National Assembly.

Efforts by Candlelight leaders to regain official status in recent months have failed, prompting them to seek out smaller parties certified by the ministry.

Though there have been no official discussions between the Candlelight and Nation Power parties, the latter is ready to make concessions so that they will have to allocate their candidates to stand for specific constituencies and electoral regions without having to compete with each other, Rong Chhun said.

As for now, I cannot confirm that there will be any specific concessions, but there should be mutual concessions and win-win solutions, he said.

RFA was unable to reach Ly Sothearayut, secretary general of the Candlelight Party, for comment.

Kimsuor Phirith, former Candlelight Party spokesman who currently serves as a member of the Khmer Will Party, said he was not aware of any informal talks between Candlelight and the Nation Power Party, but he urged the latter to join the opposition Alliance Toward the Future.

The Candlelight Party said in October that it would join forces with three smaller parties  the Khmer Will Party, Grassroots Democratic Party and Cambodia Reform Party  to form a political alliance that would aim to field candidates in the 2027 local commune elections and the 2028 general election.

So far, the National Election Committee has officially registered the ruling Cambodian Peoples Party, Khmer Will Party, Nation Power Party, and the royalist Funcinpec Party, to run in the upcoming Senate elections in which 58 of the bodys 62 seats are up for grabs.

Cambodias Constitution allows King Norodom Sihamoni to nominate two senators and the National Assembly to nominate another two.

Both the Khmer Will Party and the Nation Power Party have registered candidates for all the eight Senate constituency regions nationwide, representing the 58 seats.

Sam Kuntheamy, president of the Neutral and Impartial Committee for Free and Fair Elections, said if the Nation Power and Candlelight parties failed to work together, their votes would be divided in the upcoming election because most opposition voters, who are commune councilors, are Candlelight Party members.

Translated by Sovannarith Keo for RFA Khmer. Edited by Roseanne Gerin and Malcolm Foster.
Admiral Hu Jongming will oversee the largest navy in the world by number of battleships.

Chinese leader Xi Jinping has promoted two senior officers to generals, including Hu Zhongming, who was named the top commander of the countrys navy for the first time, Xinhua News Agency said.

Xi, chairman of the Central Military Commission (CMC), presented certificates of order to promote two military officers to the rank of general at a ceremony on Monday, the state news agency reported.

The promoted officers are Political Commissar of the Southern Theater Command of the Peoples Liberation Army (PLA) Wang Wenquan, and Commander of the PLA Navy Hu Zhongming, it added.

General is the highest rank for officers in active service in China. As Hu is a naval officer, his rank is now an admiral.

For his part, Wang Wenquan has become the political commander of the PLAs Southern Theater Command. It is one of the PLAs five major theater commands and its primary area of responsibility is the South China Sea.

Xi Jinping and the new generals (standing, back row) at the ceremony on Dec. 25, 2023 (Xinhua News Agency)





The two generals appointments may signal greater Chinese interest in South China Sea, or at least greater internal party consensus on South China Sea as an area of priority, wrote Australian National University political scientist Wen-Ti Sung on X, formerly known as Twitter.

The two generals are likely up for career fast-track, Sung noted.

Hu Zhongmins previous positions include deputy chief of staff of the navy, deputy commander of the Northern Theatre Command, commander of the Northern Theatres navy, and chief of staff of the navy.

Born in Qingdao, Shandong province, in 1964, Hu joined the PLA in 1979. He is a submariner by background and captained a submarine in the past.

Hu replaced Adm. Dong Jun, who was also present at the appointment ceremony, suggesting it was an orderly transition.

Operational experience in disputed waters

Adm. Hus operational experience commanding both submarines and surface ships will enable him to guide PLAN efforts to improve coordination across warfare domains, said a report by the China Maritime Studies Institute (CMSI) at the U.S. Naval War College.

More importantly, Hu has experience commanding units operating throughout the South China Sea.

He commanded the 2nd Submarine Base, which has nuclear-powered attack submarines (SSNs) that will have operated in the South China Sea, said the report authored by Christopher Sharman and Andrew Erickson.

Prior to 2010, he was a submarine Commanding Officer at the base, which means he likely operated in disputed waterspace.

Crew members of the Chinese Navy stand guard on the deck of Chinese PLA Navy ship Zheng He as it docks at the Myanmar International Terminal Thilawa port on May 23, 2014. (Soe Than Win/AFP)





China and some other littoral states have been in disputes over their territorial claims in the South China Sea.

Tension has escalated remarkably in recent months between China and the Philippines in the waters around Scarborough Shoal and the Second Thomas Shoal, with Beijing accusing Manila of infringing upon Chinas territory, and the Philippines condemning China of repeatedly violating its sovereignty.

While the main responsibilities of a commander of the navy are to man, train, and equip the force, Hus appointment confers significant real-world experience operating in contested waters and may portend a vision to use the PLAN more aggressively in gray zone activities or even future conflict, according to the CMSI report.

Gray zone activities are generally not explicit acts of war but can be harmful to a nations security. In gray zone situations, China - while still using the PLA Navy as a deterrent force - has been utilizing the coast guard and its maritime militia to manage the intensity of disputes so they do not lead to armed conflict, and to exert pressure on adversaries, thereby gradually expanding Chinas rights and interests, said Japans National Institute of Defense Studies in its report published this year.

China has numerically the largest navy in the world with an overall battle force of over 370 ships and submarines, compared to the U.S.s 293 ships and submarines. It also has the largest coast guard fleet in the world, besides a powerful maritime militia.

Edited by Taejun Kang and Elaine Chan.
Chinese migrant workers with their luggage take a break outside the West Railway Station before catching their trains in Beijing, Jan. 6, 2023.

China's army of migrant workers has been hit hard by the economic downtown, with many citing a wave of bankruptcies, factory closures and mass layoffs, telling Radio Free Asia in recent interviews that jobs are getting harder and harder to come by, as wages shrink.

Despite reassuring claims of modest economic recovery from the ruling Chinese Communist Party leadership in Beijing, the struggling economy has left employers and governments unable to pay wages, or forced companies to shut down facilities and lay off staff.

All of that comes at a time when China's hundreds of millions of migrant workers might normally be hoping to earn some extra cash ahead of the Lunar New Year festivities in February.

"There are so many people out of work," one unemployed worker in his twenties who gave only the nickname Marginalized Mainlander said in a recent interview with RFA.

"This only started happening this past year," said the man, who has moved from city to city looking for construction work, and is now camped out in the workplace dormitory of an employed friend.

"A while back, it used to be so easy to find construction work," he said, adding that he had tried driving for a ride-hailing service in Shanghai, but gave up after he did the math.

"I was driving 12-hour shifts, and only making 280 yuan [US$39]," Marginalized said, adding that he and other drivers would sleep in their car for days on end to save on time and expenses. "I needed to make more than 300 just to break even."

After a few days, he quit the app, losing all of his deposit in the process.

"There were a lot of other people in the same boat," he said.

Marginalized said he would give it another couple of weeks, then head back to his hometown in rural Guangdong province if nothing turned up.

Chinese State Councillor Shen Yiqin speaks at a national teleconference on clearing wage arrears for migrant workers, in Beijing, Nov. 30, 2023. (Gao Jie/Xinhua via Getty Images)

He's not the only one struggling.

June figures from China's National Bureau of Statistics showed a more than 21% unemployment rate among the country's 18-24 year-olds, a statistic that has since withdrawn for review, according to officials.

In July, Peking University scholar Zhang Dandan published a study showing that if all the young people who have moved back into their parental home to "lie flat" were counted, the March figure would be closer to 46.5%.

Meanwhile, new housing construction figures have taken a nosedive, falling by 21.2% from January through November, implying far fewer jobs for migrant workers to chase.

Manufacturing sector layoffs

It's a similar story in manufacturing.

Twentysomething Zhang Wei was laid off from his job at an electronics factory in June, and has been unemployed ever since.

The factory, based in the central city of Wuhan, had once made parts for Samsung mobile phones, but the orders were drying up, and only three out of its four production lines were operational at the time he was let go, said Zhang, who also asked to be identified by a pseudonym.

Zhang, who has a college degree, used to carry out quality inspections of smartphone screens, a skilled job.

"The problem is that the new workers coming in are cheaper," he said. "The electronics factory leadership were inhumane."

"They talk about high wages when they recruit you, but once you're in, it's different," Zhang said, in a reference to the labor agencies that typically recruit migrant factory workers. "They can fire you just like that."

"There are too many people unemployed, and you can't get a job just for the asking," he said, adding that this year has been the worst he has known, with agencies undercutting his requested salary by up to 20%.

He said the 4,000 yuan, or US$560, he was recently offered just isn't enough to make work, which he likened to prison labor, worthwhile.

"Who would want to go to prison for 4,000 yuan a month?" Zhang said. "Your hands never stop, you have to sit upright, and they report everything you do -- what's that if not a prison?"

Even more privileged white-collar workers are feeling the pinch this winter.

College graduates look for employment opportunities at a Nanchang University job fair in Nanchang, Jiangxi province, China, Oct. 14, 2023. (Liu Lixin/China News Service/VCG via Getty Images)

A state-sector computer systems analyst who gave only the nickname Pikachu for fear of reprisals said he has applied for jobs as wide-ranging as community grid worker, hospital IT specialist, and even student counselor at a university since quitting his job due to family circumstances.

"I went to apply for a community grid worker job a couple of days ago," he said. "They were looking to recruit 15 people, and when I went to take the exam, more than 1,000 applicants showed up."

Pikachu has been actively sending out resumes, but says he rarely hears back from anyone. He is also considering taking the civil service exams, but that route into a safe official job is now also massively oversubscribed.

"Five times oversubscribed," he said. "A lot of people sign up to try their luck, even if they don't meet the recruitment criteria."

And there is likely no way back to his former job, either.

"I heard that at least half of the employees will be laid off," he said, citing rumors from former colleagues.

As young men, Zhang, Pikachu and Marginalized aren't even among the most marginalized in the Chinese labor market. Women and people over 35 are likely to struggle even more than they do with job-hunting in the current climate.

Bosses clear out

China's former factory and company bosses, meanwhile, are shutting up shop, with many leaving the country in the wake of the zero-COVID restrictions, citing a deteriorated political situation under Chinese Communist Party leader Xi Jinping.

Ren Xiaoyao has spent the last five years in a controlled shutdown of his three real estate companies, laying off more than 200 employees in the process, many of whom have since struggled to find work.

"They're pretty skilled, but only a few found jobs, and even those found they could only get one-third of their original salary," Ren, who gave a pseudonym for fear of reprisals, told RFA from his new home in North America.

He said he left China "because Xi Jinping wanted to be an emperor," in a reference to Xi's abolition of presidential term limits and ongoing moves to concentrate executive power in his own hands in recent years.

"When he put [the abolition of term limits] on the agenda, I decided to shut down all of my China businesses," Ren said.

A Chinese migrant worker carries his belongings at the West Railway Station in Beijing, Jan. 6, 2023. (Wayne Zhang/AP)

Fellow entrepreneur Cai Shenkun said his company is suffering from Xi's moves to enlarge and enrich the state sector at the expense of private companies, which once accounted for around 80% of jobs in the Chinese economy, according to official figures.

"State-owned enterprises lead the bidding for major projects, so companies like ours are gradually being shut out of the industry," said Cai, who runs a smart-lock identification tech company and is a prominent blogger and current affairs commentator.

"State-owned companies have basically taken a dominant position."

Cai has been planning to shutter his company for three years, but has hesitated because his employees have nowhere else to go.

"I am encouraging them to find other jobs, but they haven't yet, and they are still there," he said. "I keep telling them they can leave any time because there's no more business."

Eventually, Cai expects the firm to go under next year, like many others in the sector.

"Some of my friends' companies used to be very big, but now they've basically stopped or reduced production," he said. "They don't think they'll survive  it's a very common phenomenon."

Going out of business

While official figures pointing to economic damage are hard to find, due to the government's insistence on positive news about the economy, the financial website Titanium Media recently reported that some 90% of companies in the chip industry had gone out of business during the course of 2023.

Thousands of rural tourism businesses have also gone out of business, according to a report in The Paper, while industrial profits fell by 7.8% and the average number of employees in listed companies fell by 12% between 2018 and 2022, according to government figures.

While Cai and Ren have no plans to go back to China, Marginalized, Zhang Wei and Pikachu have little choice but to try to weather the economic gloom.

"If I have no money, people will look down on me," said Zhang, who dare not go home yet. "I don't know how I'm going to survive this winter."

Translated by Luisetta Mudie. Edited by Roseanne Gerin.
Local officials deny the protest was about unpaid wages, but observers say it is a mounting cross-industry crisis.

In this screenshot from a video posted to social media Dec. 26, 2023, a crowd looks on as people in white coats straddle the window frames at Zhenjiang Temple Community Health Service Center in Suining city in Chinas Sichuan province.

Authorities in the southwestern Chinese province of Sichuan have denied reports that a group of doctors clung to the outside of a hospital building this week in protest at unpaid wages.

A video clip posted to social media on Dec. 26 showed a number of people in white coats straddling upper-story window frames at the Zhenjiang Temple Community Health Service Center in Suining city, with comments that they were doctors protesting unpaid salaries.

In the video, a large crowd looks on as fire and rescue services lay out large inflatables in case the doctors jump or fall from their perch.

The clip emerged as the Hong Kong-based China Labour Bulletin's Strike Map showed 995 industrial disputes linked to the keyword "wage arrears" since the start of October, describing the Suining medical staffs action as "threatening to jump."

But the municipal government said the reports were inaccurate.

"The online claims that the medical staff were calling for their salaries to be paid are untrue," the Suining Municipal Health Commission said in a Dec. 26 statement.

However, it confirmed in a report aired by Guizhou Radio that the people in white coats were staff at the medical center, and said that "some medical staff are concerned about the transfer of management ... from Suining Traditional Chinese Medicine Hospital to local management."

"There have been objections," the statement said, adding that staff have returned to work.

Guizhou Radio later deleted the story, but syndicated copies were still visible on the Sina.com news site on Thursday.

Unpaid wages

A person familiar with the situation but who declined to be identified for safety reasons told Radio Free Asia that the protest was in fact about unpaid wages.

"It's true that they hadn't been paid," the person said. "Everyone is affected, including a lot of government departments, whose employees aren't getting paid."

"Some haven't been paid for the past couple of months, while others have been waiting six months," they said.

The person said the wage arrears are a nationwide and systemic issue, as local governments run out of cash.

"The machine has run out of fuel, and they can't pay anyone any more, and everyone is in despair," they said. "There is no motivation to work."

"This is definitely going to cause problems for the smooth running of the government."

Dissident commentator Ji Feng said the authorities are trying to play down the extent of the issue by deleting reports about protests over wage arrears.

"A lot of local government officials, police officers, teachers and doctors are owed wages right now," Ji said. "They used to praise the Chinese Communist Party and [Xi Jinping], back in the days when they got huge bonuses."

"It goes without saying that the economy is shrinking  the decline continues," he said.

He said the central government has taken over responsibility for some salaries "just to maintain stability."

Uncollected garbage

Reports are already emerging on social media of uncollected garbage piling up in mounds.

In the southern city of Shantou, the local TV station reported on a backlog of trash building up in the Chencuohe residential community this week, because garbage collection teams weren't being paid.

According to the China Labour Bulletin, "the non-payment of wages is by far the most important single cause of labor disputes in China today, not just for laid-off workers but employees in many sectors of the economy where the payment of monthly wages is not guaranteed."

Around 80% of all the collective protests recorded on China Labour Bulletins Strike Map each year are related at least in part to wage arrears, it said.



Translated by Luisetta Mudie.
Facebook posts, an all-night search and surveillance footage helped police track the girls down, family says.

The four Lao girls are seen walking to school in Vientiane in this screenshot from CCTV footage, Dec. 25, 2023.

Police stopped a possible human trafficking incident when they arrested a woman and a female taxi driver and rescued four teenage girls after surveillance camera footage showed the girls getting into a taxi in Vientiane.

Relatives told Radio Free Asia they were worried that the girls were about to be taken to a notorious area in northern Laos that borders Myanmar and China where young victims are often forced to work as scammers at call centers.

The girls, all either 13 or 14 years old, got into the taxi in front of a Buddhist temple on Monday and wrote letters to their parents saying they were going to work for two to three years, the aunt of one of the girls said.

The letters were written with the same content. I think [the suspected human traffickers] may have written the letters, not the girls, said the aunt, who like all other sources in this report requested anonymity for safety reasons.

The four girls are seen after their rescue, Dec. 26, 2023. RFA has blurred their faces to protect their identities. (Citizen journalist)





The mother of one of the girls said she believes the woman and female taxi driver befriended the girls at several different events and festivals and promised to find them well-paying jobs at a beauty salon.

The mother said family members posted messages on Facebook on Monday and searched through the city Monday night and early Tuesday to find them. They also went to police, who found the surveillance video that helped them identify the taxi.

So many girls have disappeared recently

The female taxi driver and the woman who is suspected of persuading the girls to get into the car were arrested on Tuesday morning, according to family members and one local official.

A government official from Vientianes Xaythany district told RFA that police made the arrest while the two women tried to take another girl.

Police are investigating this incident and interrogating the suspects, the official said. Up to now, its still not known whether the cases are involved with a human trafficking network.

No other information on the suspects was available. RFA was unable to reach anyone at the Xaythany district police office to ask for further details.

We gave all the information and clues to the police, the mother said. I never thought that I would get my girl back because so many girls have disappeared recently.

Lao police have arrested this woman, who they believe persuaded the girls to get into the taxi. She is seen Dec. 26, 2023. (Citizen journalist)





A father in Vientiane said on Wednesday that his 24-year-old daughter left home three days ago. Shes responded to text messages but wont reveal her location, he said.

Girls and women disappear not only in our village, they go missing in many other villages too, he said.

Nationwide, the Lao government identified 75 trafficking victims in 2022, including 67 sex trafficking victims and eight victims of forced labor. In 2021, the government identified 110 trafficking victims, according to the 2023 Trafficking in Persons Report published by the U.S. State Department.

Translated by Max Avary. Edited by Matt Reed.
Both sides are set to meet again for a third round of talks in January.

Members of the Ta'ang National Liberation Army rest at a checkpoint amid fighting with Myanmar's military in Namhsan township in northern Shan State, Dec. 12, 2023.

Myanmars military junta and the Three Brotherhood Alliance held talks earlier this week about reducing armed conflict in northern Shan state, but failed to agree to meet each others demands, officials from one of the alliances ethnic armies said.

The Arakan Army (AA), Myanmar National Democratic Alliance Army (MNDAA), and the Taang National Liberation Army (TNLA) formed the alliance in June 2019, and gained prominence in fighting junta soldiers following the February 2021 military coup.

The alliance has captured several cities and border hubs crucial for trade with China, as well as several junta military positions over the last few months in an offensive known as Operation 1027 in northern Shan state.

Regime forces have tried to regain the upper hand by launching artillery and air strikes.

The fighting has resulted in the deaths of more than 130 civilians, displaced nearly 100,000 people, and disrupted border trade with neighboring China, according to officials of the Shan Human Rights Foundation.

The Chinese-brokered talks in Kunming, capital of Chinas Yunnan province, on Dec. 22-24 failed to achieve results because of a wide gap between the two sides demands, top TNLA officials told Radio Free Asia.

Both sides have agreed to meet again for the third time in January, the sources said.

RFA could not reach the spokesmen for the three ethnic armies, nor junta spokesman Maj. Gen. Zaw Min Tun, for comment.

Joint Karenni resistance forces celebrate after seizing the state police station in Loikaw, capital of eastern Myanmar's Kayah state, Dec. 10, 2013. (Progressive Karenni People's Force)

The meeting was a follow-up to the first round of talks that took place in Kunming on Dec. 7-9, during which the parties agreed to a temporary cease-fire until Dec. 31, sources close to the junta said at that time.

The Chinese Embassy in Yangon did not respond to an RFA email request for comment on the talks.

But during a press conference on Dec. 19, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Wang Wenbin said Beijing supported the peace process in northern Myanmar, and that the relevant parties needed to implement what already had been agreed to reduce the fighting.

No signs of compromise

China-based political analyst Hla Kyaw Zaw said that the talks are unlikely to be successful because the interests of the two sides are not close enough for them to negotiate.

The junta does not intend to share political and economic powers with others, she said. The purpose of attending the peace talks was to find a way to continue to hold on to the power it held.

The alliance wants the liberation of their region at least, she added.

Because the junta has shown no signs of compromise, the Three Brotherhood Alliance must make further military achievements to gain the upper hand in further discussions, Hla Kyaw Zaw said.

The more victories it has, the better it is for it to talk with the junta, she said.

Aung Myo, a political analyst and former military officer, said the situation will not be resolved if it affects the perpetuation of national sovereignty upheld by Myanmars military

The army will not compromise on this, he said.

An agreement between the two sides can be reached only if the Three Brotherhood Alliance respects the national flag and stops dealing with the shadow National Unity Government that opposes the junta, he added.

A member of the Karenni Nationalities Defense Force rescues civilians trapped amid airstrikes during the battle for Loikaw in eastern Myanmar's Kayah State, Nov. 14, 2023. (Reuters)

Sai Kyi Zin Soe, a political observer, said China would continue to intervene in northern Shan state to protect its interests in Myanmar.

Its main goal is to eradicate cross-border crimes, he said. And since this is related to Chinas Belt and Road Initiative, [it] is eager to increase its investments and develop other businesses there.

As clashes continued in northern Shan state on Thursday, the Chinese Embassy in Myanmar warned its citizens to immediately leave the town of Laukkai in MNDAA-controlled territory bordering China, AFP reported.

The MNDAA has vowed to recapture the town located in an area run by a military-aligned militia and known for gambling, prostitution and online scams, the report said.

Translated by Htin Aung Kyaw for RFA Burmese. Edited by Roseanne Gerin and Matt Reed.
The Philippine presidents approval rating jumped 15 points in the poll held Sept. 30 to Oct. 4 from July.

Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. (second from right) inspects a C-130T Special Airborne Mission Installation and Response aircraft, presented as a grant by the U.S. government, at the Haribon Hangar in Clark Air Base in Pampanga, March 31, 2023.

A majority of Filipinos support President Ferdinand Marcos assertive stance in dealing with Beijing on the South China Sea issue, a survey released Thursday said.

The survey held from Sept. 30 to Oct. 4 showed that Marcos approval rating of 58% jumped 15 points from July when Manila pollster OCTA Research Group conducted its previous poll.

This represents a significant 15-point increase from the 43% recorded in the second quarter, the pollster said in its report that surveyed 1,200 people about their opinion on Marcos policies in dealing with the West Philippine Sea, which is Manilas name for South China Sea waters within its exclusive economic zone.

The latest survey period coincided with reports of the Chinese Coast Guards alleged harassment of Filipino vessels delivering provisions to troops at its military outpost on Ayungin (Second Thomas) Shoal in the South China Sea.

Marcos, who took office last year, reversed his predecessor Rodrigo Dutertes pro-China policies, realigning with the United States and granting American troops greater access to Philippine bases.

A significant majority of Filipinos surveyed for the latest OCTA poll said they favored a dual approach of diplomacy and military action in asserting Manilas territorial rights in the West Philippine Sea.

Diplomacy was favored by 70% to secure territorial claims, while 65% backed military measures, including expanded naval patrols and troop presence.

Additional preferred strategies included strengthening military defenses (62%), conducting joint maritime patrols with allies (42%), expanding diplomatic efforts (42%), and exploring joint economic solutions (17%).

Earlier this year, Manila launched bilateral patrols with the United States and Australia in the West Philippine Sea. The Southeast Asian nation is preparing to collaborate with France, Canada, the U.K., India, and New Zealand on similar patrols, officials said.

Ray Powell, a retired U.S. Air Force officer and a commentator on regional maritime affairs, said the Duterte government had been soft in dealing with China and preferred bilateral talks to ease tension.

All of a sudden, the rest of the world is seeing this level of maritime aggression from China and recognizing that this has been going on for quite some time, and we havent been paying attention, Powell told Manila cable television station ANC last week.

He said the Philippines engagement with other nations has brought the country support from the international community.

If Beijing looks at the Philippines as an isolated country, it will always think that it has the edge. But if it looks at the Philippines as part of a large network of like-minded security partners who are willing to make real material sacrifices for Manila, that changes Beijings calculus a great deal, he said.

Permanent structures

Meanwhile, the Philippine armed forces spokesman, Col. Medel Aguilar, on Thursday confirmed that the government has allotted 100 million pesos (U.S. $1.81 million) to construct permanent military and civilian structures on Ayungin (Second Thomas) Shoal.

Manilas military outpost on the shoal is a rusty old navy ship, BRP Sierra Madre, which the government deliberately ran aground there in 1999.

Aguilar said that the construction of structures on the shoal would need the cooperation of several agencies because part of the structures will include civilian shelters for fisherfolk.

We will be ready to perform our task when the implementation of the project starts, Col. Medel Aguilar, the Filipino military spokesperson, told reporters.

Separately, U.S. Secretary of State Anthony Blinken and his Philippine counterpart Enrique Manalo spoke over the phone and discussed ongoing tension in the South China Sea, both sides said Thursday.

Manalo said Manilas interest in protecting its sovereignty, sovereign rights and jurisdiction while maintaining peace and security and upholding the rules-based international order.

Blinken underscored Washingtons ironclad commitment to the Philippines under the Mutual Defense Treaty.

Signed in 1951, the treaty calls on both countries to aid each other in times of aggression by an external power.

Secretary Blinken and Secretary Manalo also exchanged ideas on how to reinforce U.S.-Philippines cooperation in the coming year, building on President Marcoss official working visit to Washington, D.C., this past May, State Department spokesperson Matthew Miller said in a statement.

Jeoffrey Maitem contributed to this report from Davao City, southern Philippines.

BenarNews is an online news outlet affiliated with Radio Free Asia.
Ring in the New Year on the Nile at the First Nile Boat with a pan-Asian experience in Nairu, a Brazilian barbecue at Xodo with the trio band setting the tone to the New year, Mediterranean celebrations at Zoe with DJ, belly dancer and singer and an immersive dining at Le Petit Chef.

Four Seasons Cairo at the First Residence also invites you to welcome the New Year savouring traditional Lebanese cuisine by the poolside in one of Auras cabanas, along with a vocal duo. Chef Ahmed Zoghbi presents a set menu, including mezze, Beiruti sea bass and Lebanese spiced rack of lamb.

For more information or reservations, please call +2 02 3567 2022 or e-mail: [email protected]

Short link:


A woman walks past images depicting the late Chinese Communist leader Mao Zedong at a stall in an antique market in Beijing on December 26, 2023, the 130th birth anniversary of communist China's founding father.

Chinese authorities in Tibet forced locals to celebrate the 130th anniversary of Mao Zedongs birth on Tuesday, crediting the late leader with the peaceful liberation of Tibet in 1950, which Tibetan authorities in exile consider an invasion and the start of an illegal annexation.

Officials used Maos birthday to spread false information and distort facts about Tibets past history, in the hope of making the Tibetan people believe this disinformation, a young Tibetan in Lhasa told Radio Free Asia, requesting anonymity for safety reasons.

The source said the public celebrations for Mao depicted an independent, pre-invasion Tibet as backwards and impoverished in order to justify the regions invasion and annexation by China, which argues that Tibet was historically always a part of its territory.

Chinese authorities use and disseminate pictures of poor, underprivileged Tibetan families from the 1940s and 1950s at these events to make it seem like the whole of Tibet at the time was poverty-stricken and in the same condition, the person said.

While its true that Tibet has witnessed development since the Chinese first invaded the country, the fact remains that many of the worlds free countries also underwent significant development over the same period, without the need for any peaceful liberation, they said.

Maos government invaded Tibet in 1950 and subsequently took over the region completely in 1959 after a failed uprising by locals, which led Tibetan spiritual leader the Dalai Lama and thousands of followers to flee into exile across the border in India and elsewhere in the world.

Chinese officials have exercised a tight grip on the region ever since, restricting Tibetans political activities and expression of cultural and religious identity. In October, Beijing changed Tibets romanized name to Xizang to further erode its independent identity.

17-point agreement

As part of its propaganda campaign on Maos birthday, the source inside Tibet told RFA, Chinese authorities were again promoting the idea that the Dalai Lama in 1951 signed the 17-Point Agreement with Beijing and had promised Mao in a telegram he would abide by it.

Experts and rights groups, however, say the Tibetan side was forced to sign the document under duress by the occupying Chinese forces, who threatened all-out war if they declined. The Dalai Lama later repudiated the agreement after arriving in the Indian state of Arunachal Pradesh, just across Tibets border.

Tourists from Tibet wearing a protective mask (R) and a scarf as a mask (C) walk in front of the portrait of late communist leader Mao Zedong (back) at Tiananmen Gate in Beijing on January 23, 2020. (NICOLAS ASFOURI/AFP)

The source said it was a tense time for Tibetans, with many forced to bite their tongues as the local Chinese authorities celebrated Mao.

Any Tibetan who tries to share the real facts about Tibets past  in particular Tibets history as an independent country  is immediately apprehended by Chinese police and faces their wrath, they said.

Tibet Policy Institute director Dawa Tsering said the forced celebrations for Mao seemed particularly twisted given many Tibetans know some of the worst atrocities against their forebears occurred under his rule.

The peaceful liberation of Tibet was in reality a forceful occupation of Tibet by Chinese authorities, who brutally tortured Tibetans for opposing the occupation and compelling the helpless Tibetans, under duress, to sign the 17-Point Agreement, Tsering told RFA.

Nyima Woeser, a researcher at the Tibetan Centre for Human Rights and Democracy, which is based in Dharamsala, India, added that more than 1 million Tibetans are estimated to have been killed at the hands of Chinese oppressive policies in Tibet since Maos 1950 invasion.

Every year, the human rights abuses inside Tibet continue to worsen  with no sign of a let-up, Woeser said.

Translated by Tenzin Pema for RFA Tibetan.
Bui Van Bichs death at a detention facility is another example of a suspect dying while in custody.

Three former police officers are tried this week on charges related to the beating death of a man at a detention facility in Vietnams Thai Binh province.

Three former police officers accused in the beating death of a 49-year-old man were convicted on Thursday and given prison sentences, state-owned media reported.

The death of Bui Van Bich at a detention facility in Thai Binh province in 2022 was yet another instance of a suspect dying from unidentified causes while in Vietnamese police custody in recent years.

At least 16 people died in police stations or detention facilities between 2018 and 2021, according to statistics collected by Radio Free Asia from Vietnamese state-owned media reports. Many of those deaths have been publicized by relatives on social media.

In Bichs case, prosecutors began an investigation after his wife, Bui Thi Luyen, sent a criminal complaint letter to provincial and national prosecuting agencies that reported her husbands unusual death at the Vu Thu district polices detention facility.

According to Luyens letter, district officers came to their home on Sept. 19, 2021, to request that both she and her husband go to police headquarters to answer questions about an allegation that her husband was involved in organizing prostitution activities.

After taking their statements, Luyen was released and Bich continued to be detained. The family wasnt allowed to visit him over the next six months, his wife wrote.

During a phone call with a district police officer on Feb. 20, 2022, Luyen was advised that her husband had been skipping meals, had lost consciousness and was taken to a hospital for emergency care.

At the hospital, she was told that her husband had passed away, Luyen wrote in the letter.

Investigation and indictment

According to the indictment, prison guards Pham Quang Hung and Trinh Thanh Hung were on duty from Jan. 27, 2022, to Feb. 5, 2022, and directed other suspects and defendants to intimidate and assault Bich during that time.

Prison guard Nguyen Trong Giap, who was on duty on Feb. 4, 2022, used his hands to hit Bichs face and head while locking him against a chair during an interrogation, the indictment said.

Pham Quang Hung and Trinh Thanh Hung were arrested in November 2022. It was unclear when Giap was arrested.

All three men admitted guilt to the charge of using physical violence against a detainee, according to state media. Their trial this week was held publicly.

The Thai Binh Peoples Court sentenced Pham Quang Hung to 11 years in prison, Trinh Thanh Hung to 10 years and Giap to 15 months, state media said.

Over the recent years, civil society organizations and international human rights organizations have condemned the increasing use of violence by the police against citizens in Vietnam.

At a United Nations Committee Against Torture hearing in Geneva in 2018, the Vietnamese governments representative denied that torture is used by police at detention centers and police stations.

Vietnam signed the United Nations Convention against Torture in 2013. The National Assembly adopted it in 2014.

Translated by Anna Vu. Edited by Matt Reed.
We asked some of our most perceptive journalists and analysts to anticipate tomorrow, to unravel the future, to forecast what the new year could have in store for our vast broadcast region. Among their predictions:

The war in Ukraine will persist until the West realizes that a return to the previous world order is unattainable.

In Iran, with parliamentary elections scheduled for March, the government is likely to face yet another challenge to its legitimacy.

In Belarus, setbacks for Russia in Ukraine could prompt the Lukashenka regime to attempt to normalize relations with the West.

While 2024 will see a rightward shift in the EU, it is unlikely to bring the deluge of populist victories that some are predicting.

The vicious spiral for women in Afghanistan will only worsen.

Peace between Armenia and its neighbors could set the stage for a Russian exit from the region.

Hungary's upcoming leadership of the European Council could prove a stumbling block to the start of EU accession talks with Ukraine.

Kyrgyzstan is on course to feel the pain of secondary sanctions over Russias invasion of Ukraine if the West's patience runs out.

Here, then, are our correspondents' predictions for 2024. To find out more about the authors themselves, click on their bylines.

The Ukraine War: A Prolonged Stalemate

By Vitaliy Portnikov

In September 2022, Ukrainian generals Valeriy Zaluzhniy and Mykhaylo Zabrodskiy presciently warned that Russia's aggression against Ukraine would unfold into a protracted conflict. Fast forward 15 months, and the front line is effectively frozen, with neither Ukrainian nor Russian offensives yielding substantial changes.

As 2023 comes to a close, observers find themselves revisiting themes familiar from the previous year: the potential for a major Ukrainian counteroffensive, the extent of Western aid to Kyiv, the possibility of a "frozen conflict, security assurances for Ukraine, and the prospects for its Euro-Atlantic integration ahead of a NATO summit.

It is conceivable that, by the close of 2024, we will still be grappling with these same issues. A political resolution seems elusive, given the Kremlin's steadfast refusal to entertain discussions on vacating the parts of Ukraine its forces occupy. Conversely, Ukraines definition of victory is the full restoration of its territorial integrity.

Even if, in 2024, one side achieves a military victory -- whether through the liberation of part of Ukraine or Russia seizing control of additional regions -- it won't necessarily bring us closer to a political resolution. Acknowledging this impasse is crucial, as Russian President Vladimir Putin's assault on Ukraine is part of a broader agenda: a push to reestablish, if not the Soviet Empire, at least its sphere of influence.

Even if, in 2024, one side achieves a military victory, it won't necessarily bring us closer to a political resolution.

For Ukraine, resistance to Russian aggression is about not just reclaiming occupied territories but also safeguarding statehood, political identity, and national integrity. Western support is crucial for Ukraine's survival and the restoration of its territorial integrity. However, this backing aims to avoid escalation into a direct conflict between Russia and the West on Russia's sovereign territory.

The war's conclusion seems contingent on the depletion of resources on one of the two sides, with Ukraine relying on continued Western support and Russia on oil and gas revenues. Hence, 2024 might echo the patterns of 2023. Even if external factors shift significantly -- such as in the U.S. presidential election in November -- we might not witness tangible changes until 2025.

Another potential variable is the emergence of major conflicts akin to the war in the Gaza Strip. Nevertheless, this would likely signify the dissipation of Western resources rather than a shift in approaches to war.

In essence, the war in Ukraine will persist until the West realizes that a return to the previous world order is unattainable. Constructing a new world order demands unconventional measures, such as offering genuine security guarantees to nations victimized by aggression or achieving peace, or at least limiting the zone of military operations to the current contact line, without direct agreements with Russia.

So far, such understanding is lacking, and the expectation that Moscow will eventually grasp the futility of its ambitions only emboldens Putin. Consequently, the conflict between Russia and Ukraine will endure, potentially spawning new, equally perilous local wars worldwide.

Iran: Problems Within And Without

By Hannah Kaviani

Iran has been dealing with complex domestic and international challenges for years and the same issues are likely to plague it in 2024. But officials in Tehran appear to be taking a wait-and-see approach to its lengthy list of multilayered problems.

Iran enters 2024 as Israel's war in Gaza continues and the prospects for a peaceful Middle East are bleak, with the situation exacerbated by militia groups firmly supported by Tehran.

Irans prominent role in supporting paramilitary forces in Iraq, Syria, and Yemen has also drawn the ire of the international community and will continue to be a thorn in the side of relations with the West.

Tehran has refused to cooperate with the UNs International Atomic Energy Agency over its nuclear program, resulting in an impasse in talks with the international community. And with the United States entering an election year that could see the return of Donald Trump to the presidency, the likelihood of Tehran and Washington resuming negotiations -- which could lead to a reduction in sanctions -- is considered very low.

But Iran's problems are not limited to outside its borders.

Another critical issue Iranian officials must continue to deal with in 2024 is the devastated economy.

The countrys clerical regime is still reeling from the massive protests that began in 2022 over the death of Mahsa Amini in police custody after her arrest for not obeying hijab rules. The aftershocks of the Women, Life, Freedom movement that emanated from her death were reflected in acts of civil disobedience that are likely to continue in 2024.

At the same time, a brutal crackdown continues as civil rights activists, students, religious minorities, and artists are being beaten, detained, and/or given harsh prison sentences.

With parliamentary elections scheduled for March, the government is likely to face yet another challenge to its legitimacy as it struggles with low voter turnout and general disinterest in another round of controlled elections.

Another critical issue Iranian officials must continue to deal with in 2024 is the devastated economy resulting from the slew of international sanctions because of its controversial nuclear program. After a crushing year of 47 percent inflation in 2023 (a 20-year high, according to the IMF), costs are expected to continue to rise for many foods and commodities, as well as real estate.

Irans widening budget deficit due to reduced oil profits continues to cripple the economy, with the IMF reporting that the current government debt is equal to three annual budgets.

With neither the international community nor the hard-line Tehran regime budging, most analysts see scant chances for significant changes in Iran in the coming year.

Belarus: Wider War Role, Integration With Russia Not In The Cards

By Valer Karbalevich

Belarus has been pulled closer into Moscows orbit than ever by Russias war in Ukraine -- but in 2024, its unlikely to be subsumed into the much larger nation to its east, and chances are it wont step up its so-far limited involvement in the conflict in the country to its south.

The most probable scenario in Belarus, where the authoritarian Alyaksandr Lukashenka will mark 30 years since he came to power in 1994, is more of the same: No letup in pressure on all forms of dissent at home, no move to send troops to Ukraine. And while Russias insistent embrace will not loosen, the Kremlin will abstain from using Belarusian territory for any new ground attacks or bombardments of Ukraine.

But the war in Ukraine is a wild card, the linchpin influencing the trajectory of Belarus in the near term and beyond. For the foreseeable future, what happens in Belarus -- or to it -- will depend in large part on what happens in Russias assault on Ukraine.

Should the current equilibrium on the front persist and Western support for Ukraine persist, the likelihood is a continuation of the status quo for Belarus. The country will maintain its allegiance to Russia, marked by diplomatic and political support. Bolstered by Russian loans, Belarus's defense industry will further expand its output.

If Russia wins or scores substantial victories in Ukraine, Lukashenka will reap "victory dividends."

The Belarusian state will continue to militarize the border with Ukraine, posing a perpetual threat to Kyiv and diverting Ukrainian troops from the eastern and southern fronts. At the same time, however, Russia is unlikely to use Belarusian territory as a launching point for fresh assaults on Ukraine, as it did at the start of the full-scale invasion in 2022.

If Russia wins or scores substantial victories -- if Ukraine is forced into negotiations on Moscows terms, for example, or the current front line comes to be considered the international border -- Lukashenka, consolidating his position within the country, will reap "victory dividends." But relations between Belarus and Russia are unlikely to change dramatically.

Potentially, Moscow could take major steps to absorb Belarus, diminishing its sovereignty and transforming its territory into a staging ground for a fresh assault on Kyiv. This would increase tensions with the West and heighten concerns about the tactical nuclear weapons Moscow and Minsk say Russia has transferred to Belarus. However, this seems unlikely due to the absence of military necessity for Moscow and the problems it could create on the global stage.

The loss of Belarusian sovereignty would pose a major risk for Lukashenka and his regime. An overwhelming majority of Belarusians oppose the direct involvement of Belarus in the war against Ukraine. This fundamental distinction sets Belarus apart from Russia, and bringing Belarus into the war could trigger a political crisis in Belarus -- an outcome Moscow would prefer to avoid.

If Russia loses the war or sustains significant defeats that weaken Putin, Lukashenka's regime may suffer economic and political repercussions. This could prompt him to seek alternative global alliances, potentially leading to an attempt to normalize relations with the West.

Russia, Ukraine, And The West: Sliding Toward World War III

By Sergei Medvedev

2024 will be a critical year for the war in Ukraine and for the entire international system, which is quickly unraveling before our eyes. The most crucial of many challenges is a revanchist, resentful, belligerent Russia, bent on destroying and remaking the world order. In his mind, President Vladimir Putin is fighting World War III, and Ukraine is a prelude to a global showdown.

Despite Western sanctions, Russia has consolidated its position militarily, domestically, and internationally in 2023. After setbacks and shocks in 2022, the military has stabilized the front and addressed shortages of arms, supplies, and manpower. Despite latent discontent, the population is not ready to question the war, preferring to stay in the bubble of learned ignorance and the lies of state propaganda.

Here are four scenarios for 2024:

Strategic stalemate in Ukraine, chaos in the international system: The West, relaxed by a 30-year peace dividend, lacks the vision and resolve of the 1980s, when its leaders helped bring about the U.S.S.R.s collapse, let alone the courage of those who stood up to Nazi Germany in World War II. Putins challenge to the free world is no less significant than Hitlers was, but there is no Roosevelt or Churchill in sight. Probability: 70 percent

While breakup into many regions is unlikely, the Russian empire could crumble at the edges.

Widening war, collapse or division of Ukraine: Russia could defend and consolidate its gains in Ukraine, waging trench warfare while continuing to destroy civilian infrastructure, and may consider a side strike in Georgia or Moldova -- or against Lithuania or Poland, testing NATO. A frontal invasion is less likely than a hybrid operation by unidentified units striking from Belarus, acts of sabotage, or unrest among Russian-speakers in the Baltic states. Other Kremlin operations could occur anywhere in the world. The collapse of Ukraines government or the division of the country could not be ruled out. Probability: 15 percent.

Russia loses in Ukraine: A military defeat for Russia, possibly entailing a partial or complete withdrawal from Ukraine. Consistent Western support and expanded supplies of arms, like F-16s or Abrams tanks, or a big move such as closing the skies over Ukraine, could provide for this outcome. It would not necessarily entail Russias collapse -- it could further consolidate the nation around Putins regime. Russia would develop a resentful identity grounded in loss and defeat -- and harbor the idea of coming back with a vengeance. Probability: 10 percent

Russias Collapse: A military defeat in Ukraine could spark social unrest, elite factional battles, and an anti-Putin coup, leading to his demotion or violent death. Putins natural death, too, could set off a succession struggle, causing chaos in a country he has rid of reliable institutions. While breakup into many regions is unlikely, the empire could crumble at the edges -- Kaliningrad, Chechnya, the Far East  like in 1917 and 1991. Russias nuclear weapons would be a big question mark, leading to external involvement and possible de-nuclearization. For all its perils, this scenario might provide a framework for future statehood in Northern Eurasia. Probability: 5 percent

EU: 'Fortress Europe' And The Ukraine War

By Rikard Jozwiak

2024 will see a rightward shift in the European Union, but it is unlikely to bring the deluge of populist victories that some are predicting since Euroskeptics won national elections in the Netherlands, Poland, and Slovakia and polled well in Austria and Germany.

The European Parliament elections in June will be the ultimate test for the bloc in that respect. Polls still suggest the two main political groups, the center-right European People's Party and the center-left Progressive Alliance of Socialists and Democrats, will finish on top, albeit with a smaller share of the vote. But right-wing populist parties are likely to fail once again to agree on the creation of a single political group, thus eroding their influence in Brussels.

This, in turn, is likely to prod more pro-European groups into combining forces again to divvy up EU top jobs like the presidencies of the European Commission, the bloc's top executive body, and the European Council, which defines the EU's political direction and priorities. Center-right European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen is widely tipped to get a second term, even though she might fancy NATO's top job as secretary-general. Charles Michel, on the other hand, will definitely be out as European Council president after serving the maximum five years.

While right-wing populists may not wield major influence in the horse-trading for those top jobs, they will affect policy going forward. They have already contributed to a hardening of attitudes on migration, and you can expect to hear more of the term "fortress Europe" as barriers go up on the EU's outer border.

The one surefire guarantee in Europe isn't about the European Union at all but rather about NATO.

The biggest question for 2024, however, is about how much support Brussels can provide Ukraine going forward. Could the "cost-of-living crisis" encourage members to side with Budapest to block financial aid or veto the start of de facto accession talks with that war-torn country? The smart money is still on the EU finding a way to green-light both those decisions in 2024, possibly by unfreezing more EU funds for Budapest.

Although it seems like a remote possibility, patience could also finally wear out with Hungary, and the other 26 members could decide to strip it of voting rights in the Council of the European Union, which amends, approves, and vetoes European Commission proposals -- essentially depriving it of influence. In that respect, Austria and Slovakia, Budapest's two biggest allies right now, are the EU countries to watch.

The one surefire guarantee in Europe isn't about the European Union at all but rather about NATO: After somehow failing to join as predicted for each of the past two years, against the backdrop of Russia's invasion of Ukraine, Sweden will become the transatlantic military alliance's 32nd member once the Turkish and Hungarian parliaments vote to ratify its accession protocol.

Caucasus: A Peace Agreement Could Be Transformative

By Josh Kucera

Could 2024 be the year that Armenia and Azerbaijan finally formally resolve decades of conflict?

This year, Azerbaijan effectively decided -- by force -- their most contentious issue: the status of the disputed territory of Nagorno-Karabakh. With its lightning offensive in September, Azerbaijan placed Karabakh firmly under its control. Both sides now say they've reached agreement on most of their fundamental remaining issues, and diplomatic talks, after an interruption, appear set to resume.

A resolution of the conflict could transform the region. If Armenia and Azerbaijan made peace, a Turkish-Armenian rapprochement could soon follow. Borders between the three countries would reopen as a result, ending Armenia's long geographical isolation and priming the South Caucasus to take full advantage of new transportation projects seeking to ship cargo between Europe and Asia while bypassing Russia.

Peace between Armenia and its neighbors also could set the stage for a Russian exit from the region. Russian-Armenian security cooperation has been predicated on potential threats from Azerbaijan and Turkey. With those threats reduced, what's keeping the Russian soldiers, peacekeepers, and border guards there?

There are mounting indications that Azerbaijan may not see it in its interests to make peace.

A Russian exit would be a messy process -- Moscow still holds many economic levers in Armenia -- but Yerevan could seek help from the United States and Europe to smooth any transition. Washington and Brussels have seemingly been waiting in the wings, nudging Armenia in their direction.

But none of this is likely to happen without a peace agreement. And while there don't seem to be any unresolvable issues remaining, there are mounting indications that Azerbaijan may not see it in its interests to make peace. Baku has gotten what it wanted most of all -- full control of Karabakh -- without an agreement. And maintaining a simmering conflict with Armenia could arguably serve Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev well, as it would allow him to continue to lean on a reliable source of public support: rallying against an Armenian enemy.

But perhaps the most conspicuous indication of a broader strategy is Aliyev's increasing invocation of "Western Azerbaijan" -- a hazily defined concept alluding to ethnic Azerbaijanis who used to live on the territory of what is now Armenia and their presumed right to return to their homes. It suggests that Azerbaijan might keep furthering its demands in hopes that Armenia finally throws in the towel, and each can accuse the other of intransigence.

Hungary: The Return Of Big Brother?

By Pablo Gorondi

Critics might be tempted to believe that Big Brother will be watching over Hungarians in 2024 like at no point since the fall of communism.

A new law on the Defense of National Sovereignty will allow the Office for the Defense of Sovereignty, which the law created, to investigate and request information from almost any group in Hungary that receives foreign funding. This will apply to civic groups, political parties, private businesses, media companies -- in fact, anyone deemed to be conducting activities (including "information manipulation and disinformation") in the interests of a foreign "body, organization, or person."

The law has been criticized by experts from the United Nations and the Council of Europe over its seemingly vague language, lack of judicial oversight, and fears that it could be used by the government "to silence and stigmatize independent voices and opponents."

The head of the Office for the Defense of Sovereignty should be nominated for a six-year term by right-wing Prime Minister Viktor Orban and appointed by President Katalin Novak by February 1. This would allow the new authority to carry out investigations and present findings ahead of simultaneous elections to the European Parliament and Hungarian municipal bodies in early June -- possibly influencing their outcomes.

Orban has said in recent interviews that he wants to "fix the European Union" and that "we need to take over Brussels."

Asked by RFE/RL's Hungarian Service, some experts said fears of the new authority are overblown and that the government is more likely to use it as a threat hanging over opponents than as a direct tool for repression -- at least until it finds it politically necessary or expedient to tighten control.

On the international scene, meanwhile, Hungary will take over the Council of the European Union's six-month rotating presidency in July, a few weeks after voting to determine the composition of a new European Parliament.

MEPs from Orban's Fidesz party exited the center-right European People's Party bloc in 2021 and have not joined another group since then, although some observers expect them to join the more Euroskeptic and nationalist European Conservatives and Reformists.

Orban has for years predicted a breakthrough of more radical right-wing forces in Europe. But while that has happened in Italy, the Netherlands, and Slovakia, experts suggest that's not enough to fuel a significant shift in the European Parliament, where the center-right and center-left should continue to hold a clear majority.

Because of the June elections, the European Parliament's activities will initially be limited -- and its election of a European Commission president could prove complicated. Nevertheless, Orban has said in recent interviews that he wants to "fix the European Union" and that "we need to take over Brussels." So, Hungary's leadership may make progress difficult on issues that Orban opposes, like the start of EU accession talks with Ukraine or a possible reelection bid by European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen.

Stability And The 'Serbian World'

By Gjeraqina Tuhina and Milos Teodorovic

Serbia, once again, will be a key player in the region -- and its moves could significantly shape events in the Balkans over the next 12 months.

For over a decade, the dialogue to normalize relations between Serbia and its former province Kosovo has stymied both countries. Then, in February in Brussels and March in Ohrid, North Macedonia, European mediators announced a path forward and its implementation. There was only one problem: There was no signature on either side. Nine months later, little has changed.

Many eyes are looking toward one aspect in particular -- a renewed obligation for Pristina to allow for an "appropriate level of self-management" for the Serb minority in Kosovo. This also entails creating possibilities for financial support from Serbia to Kosovar Serbs and guarantees for direct communication of the Serb minority with the Kosovar government.

In October, EU mediators tried again, and with German, French, and Italian backing presented both parties with a new draft for an association of Serb-majority municipalities. Both sides accepted the draft. EU envoy to the region Miroslav Lajcak suggested in December that the Ohrid agreement could be implemented by the end of January. If that happened, it would mark a decisive step for both sides in a dialogue that began in 2011.

"The Serbian world" is a phrase launched a few years ago by pro-Russian Serbian politician Aleksandar Vulin, a longtime cabinet minister who until recently headed the Serbian Intelligence Service. It is not officially part of the agenda of either Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic or the government, but it underscores the influence that Serbia seeks to wield from Kosovo and Montenegro to Republika Srpska in Bosnia-Herzegovina. But how Vucic chooses to exert the implicit ties to Serb leaders and nationalists in those countries could do much to promote stability -- or its antithesis -- in the Balkans in 2024.

Another major challenge for Vucic revolves around EU officials' request that candidate country Serbia harmonize its foreign policy with the bloc. So far, along with Turkey, Serbia is the only EU candidate that has not introduced sanctions on Russia since the full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022. It is unclear how far the Serbian president is willing to push back to foster ongoing good relations with Moscow.

But first, Serbia will have to confront the fallout from snap elections in December dominated by Vucic's Serbian Progressive Party but rejected by the newly united opposition as fraudulent. The results sparked nightly protests in the capital and hunger strikes by a half-dozen lawmakers and other oppositionists. A new parliament is scheduled to hold a session by the end of January 2024, and the margins are seemingly razor-thin for control of the capital, Belgrade.

Central Asia: Don't Write Russia Off Just Yet

By Chris Rickleton

Will the empire strike back? 2023 has been a galling year for Russia in Central Asia as it watched its traditional partners (and former colonies) widen their diplomatic horizons.

With Russia bogged down in a grueling war in Ukraine, Moscow has less to offer the region than ever before. Central Asias five countries have made the most of the breathing space, with their leaders holding landmark talks with U.S. and German leaders as French President Emmanuel Macron also waltzed into Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan with multibillion-dollar investments.

And China has reinforced its dominant position in the region, while Turkey has also increased its influence.

But dont write Russia off just yet.

One of Moscows biggest wins in the neighborhood this year was an agreement to supply Uzbekistan with nearly 3 billion cubic meters of gas every year, a figure that could increase.

Power deficits in Uzbekistan and energy-rich Kazakhstan are the most obvious short-term sources of leverage for Moscow over those important countries.

The coming year will likely bring more in terms of specifics over both governments plans for nuclear power production, with Russia fully expected to be involved.

And Moscows confidence in a region that it views as its near abroad will only increase if it feels it is making headway on the battlefield in Ukraine.

Tajikistan

Tajikistans hereditary succession has been expected for so long that people have stopped expecting it. Does that mean it is back on the cards for 2024? Probably not.

In 2016, Tajikistan passed a raft of constitutional changes aimed at cementing the ruling Rahmon familys hold on power. Among them was one lowering the age to run for president from 35 to 30.

Turkmenistans bizarre new setup begs a question: If youre not ready to let it go, why not hold on a little longer?

That amendment had an obvious beneficiary -- veteran incumbent Emomali Rahmons upwardly mobile son, Rustam Emomali. But Emomali is now 36 and, despite occupying a political post that makes him next in line, doesnt look any closer to becoming numero uno.

Perhaps there hasnt been a good time to do it.

From the coronavirus pandemic to a bloody crackdown on unrest in the Gorno-Badakhshan region and now the shadows cast by the Ukraine war, there have been plenty of excuses to delay the inevitable.

Turkmenistan

But perhaps Rahmon is considering events in Turkmenistan, where Central Asias first father-son power transition last year has ended up nothing of the sort. Rather than growing into the role, new President Serdar Berdymukhammedov is shrinking back into the shadow of his all-powerful father, Gurbanguly Berdymukhammedov.

And this seems to be exactly how the older Berdymukhammedov wanted it, subsequently fashioning himself a post-retirement post that makes his son and the rest of the government answerable to him.

But Turkmenistans bizarre new setup begs a question: If youre not ready to let it go, why not hold on a little longer?

Kyrgyzstan/Kazakhstan

Writing on X (formerly Twitter) in November, a former IMF economist argued that Kyrgyzstan would be the "perfect test case" for secondary sanctions over Russias invasion of Ukraine. Robin Brooks described the country as "small, not remotely systemically important, and very clearly facilitating trade diversion to Russia."

Official statistics show that countries in the Eurasian Economic Union that Moscow leads have become a backdoor around the Western-led sanctions targeting Russia. Exports to Kyrgyzstan from several EU countries this year, for example, are up by at least 1,000 percent compared to 2019.

Data for exports to Kazakhstan shows similar patterns -- with larger volumes but gentler spikes -- while investigations by RFE/RL indicate that companies in both Central Asian countries have forwarded dual-use products that benefit the Kremlins military machine.

Belarus is the only Russian ally to get fully sanctioned for its support of Moscows invasion of Ukraine -- but will that change in 2024?

Central Asian governments will argue they have resisted Russian pressure to provide political and military support for the war. They might even whisper that their big friend China is much more helpful to Russia.

But the Wests approach of targeting only Central Asian companies actively flouting the regime is failing.

So, while Western diplomats continue to credit the regions governments for their anti-evasion efforts, their patience may wear out. And if it does, Kyrgyzstan might be first to find out.

Afghanistan: The Vicious Spiral Will Worsen

By Malali Bashir

With little internal threat to Afghanistans Taliban regime and the failure of the international community to affect change in the hard-line Islamist regimes policies, the Taliban mullahs control over the country continues to tighten.

And that regimes continued restrictions on Afghan women -- their rights, freedom, and role in society -- signals a bleak future for them in 2024 and beyond.

Many observers say the move by the Taliban in December to only allow girls to attend religious madrasahs -- after shutting down formal schooling for them following the sixth grade -- is an effort by the Taliban to radicalize Afghan society.

Madrasahs are not an alternative to formal schooling because they dont produce doctors, lawyers, journalists, engineers, etc. The idea of [only] having madrasahs isabout brainwashing [people] to create an extremist society, says Shukria Barakzai, the former Afghan ambassador to Norway.

The crackdown on womens rights by the Taliban will also continue the reported uptick in domestic violence in the country, activists say.

Since the Taliban shut down Afghanistans Independent Human Rights Commission and Women Affairs Ministry, women find themselves with nowhere to turn to and find it extremely difficult to seek justice in Taliban courts.

The Taliban seems adamant about maintaining its severe limits on women and reducing their role in society.

With no justice for victims of abuse on the horizon, womens rights activists say violence against women will continue with no repercussions for the perpetrators.

Barakzai argues that Taliban officials have already normalized domestic violence and do not consider it a crime.

According to [a Taliban] decree, you can [confront] women if they are not listening to [your requests]. Especially a male member of the family is allowed to use all means to punish women if they refuse to follow his orders. That is basically a call for domestic violence, she said.

The vicious spiral for women will only worsen.

Being banned from education, work, and public life, Afghan women say the resulting psychological impact leads to panic, depression, and acute mental health crises.

Although there are no official figures, Afghan mental health professionals and foreign organizations have noted a disturbing surge in female suicides in the two years since the Taliban came to power.

"If we look at the women who were previously working or studying, 90 percent suffer from mental health issues now," said Mujeeb Khpalwak, a psychiatrist in Kabul. "They face tremendous economic uncertainty after losing their work and are very anxious about their future."

Heather Bar, associate director of the women's rights division at Human Rights Watch, says, "It's not surprising that we're hearing reports of Afghan girls committing suicide. Because all their rights, including going to school, university, and recreational places have been taken away from them."

Promising young Afghan women who once aspired to contribute to their communities after pursuing higher education now find themselves with no career prospects.

I do not see any future. When I see boys continuing their education, I lose all hope and wish that I was not born a girl, a former medical student in Kabul told RFE/RL's Radio Azadi.

Despite immense global pressure, the Taliban seems adamant about maintaining its severe limits on women and reducing their role in society. This will result in a tragic future for the women of Afghanistan with no relief in sight.
A court in the Siberian city of Tomsk has sentenced Ksenia Fadeyeva, a local lawmaker and the former head of jailed opposition politician Aleksei Navalny's regional team, to nine years in prison for extremism, a charge she and her supporters reject.

Judge Dmitry Khudyakov of the Soviet district court handed down his decision on December 29, saying Fadeyeva was guilty of organizing the activities of an extremist group and participating in the activities of an NGO that violates "citizens' privacy and rights."

Fadeyeva's lawyer, Semyon Vodnev, called the judge's ruling "illegal, ungrounded, and unjust." Fadeyeva ended her involvement with Navalny's organization before it was labeled extremist in 2021.

"The trial has nothing to do with justice. During the trial's final week, we were literally mocked and the defense team was limited in providing evidence," Vodnev said, adding that the judge's decision will be appealed.

A day earlier, prosecutors asked the court to convict Fadeyeva and sentence her to 10 1/2 years in prison.

Media reports said on December 27 that an ambulance was called to the courtroom after Fadeyeva and her lawyer felt unwell.

Fadeyeva's supporters accused the judge of holding the trial sessions behind closed doors for 12-hour sessions each day without breaks, which affected the state of health of Fadeyeva and her lawyer.

Fadeyeva was detained in December 2021. She was later released but barred from using the Internet and from communicating with others without the permission of investigators and attending public events.

She was then placed under house arrest and in November put in a detention center for what investigators said was a violation of house-arrest conditions. After that, her trial, which started in mid-August, resumed behind closed doors.

In January 2022, Russian authorities added Fadeyeva and several other former leaders of Navalny's teams across the country to the list of extremists and terrorists.

Navalnys Anti-Corruption Foundation and his other organizations were labeled extremist in August 2021.

Since Russia launched its ongoing unprovoked invasion of Ukraine in February 2022, several of Navalny's former associates have been charged with discrediting the Russian armed forces, distribution of "fake" news about military, and extremism.

Earlier this year, the former leaders of Navalnys teams in the Bashkortostan and Altai regions, Lilia Chanysheva and Vadim Ostanin, were sentenced to 7 1/2 and nine years in prison respectively on extremism charges, which they and their supporters call politically motivated.
BELGRADE -- Students and professors at the Faculty of Philosophy in Belgrade gathered on December 27 in solidarity with their counterparts at Charles University in Prague, where a gunman last week killed 14 people, most of them students, and wounded 25 others.

The Belgrade students and professors laid flowers and lit candles in front of the Faculty of Philosophy building to pay their respects to the victims of the mass shooting in Prague on December 21.



Belgrade student Filip Jankovic said his message to his peers in the Czech Republic was: "We understand you and we stand with you." Serbia was the site of two mass shootings earlier this year.

The Prague gunman, who police said took his own life, admitted in a letter that he also killed a man and his baby in a Prague park a week before the shooting at the university, a Prague police spokesman said. The letter was found during a search of the house where police said the gunman killed his father before traveling to Prague to commit the mass shooting.

The spokesman told Czeck media that police declined to publish the remaining contents of the letter because it could jeopardize the investigation.



Jankovic said students have to fight for every public space to be safe so they do not have to fear that "someone might run into the faculty building with a rifle while we are having lectures."



He added that students owe that fight "to all those who lost their lives and their loved ones this year" in tragic mass shootings.



Tomas Kuchta, Czech ambassador to Serbia, said at the gathering in Belgrade that Czech society is "in shock and somewhat helpless."



"Academic soil should be a symbol of knowledge and trust," Kuchta said, adding that it will take time to restore that trust.



Dean Danijel Sinani expressed his condolences on behalf of the Faculty of Philosophy and said that it would be difficult to find people who better understand the pain and sadness felt by their colleagues in Prague.



Sinani referred to two mass shootings in Serbia in May in which 19 people, mostly students, were killed.



"The wounds that we all received in May after the unprecedented events are still open and their scars will follow us forever," Sinani said.



The first of the two mass shootings in Serbia took place on May 3 at Vladislav Ribnikar Elementary School in Belgrade, where a student of the school killed nine of his peers and a school guard and wounded six students and teachers.



A day later, in a separate incident in the villages of Dubona and Malo Orasje near Belgrade, eight people were fatally shot, mostly children and young people, and 14 people were wounded.

With reporting by dpa
DUSHANBE -- The Tajik government has recently transferred thousands of hectares of prime land to a private company that government opponents claim is controlled by a close relative of the authoritarian president, Emomali Rahmon.



RFE/RL's Tajik Service obtained a copy of an official document signed by Rahmon on November 29 that grants temporary ownership of the land to the Ismoili Somoni Holding Company.



According to the government's business registry, the head of the holding company is Rahmatullo Asadulloevich Sadulloev, whom the president's critics have identified as one of Rahmon's brothers-in-law.



RFE/RL has contacted the Tajik authorities for comment but had not received a response at the time of publication.



The document doesn't explain why the government decided to give some 8,500 hectares of land to a private company. It includes pastures, forests, and plots in sought-after areas just outside the capital, Dushanbe.



The new owner will have full control of the land for the next 20 years, the document states.



With mountains covering 93 percent of Tajikistan's surface area, land is a precious commodity in the country of 10 million people. The deal comes as ordinary Tajiks complain of a severe shortage of land to graze their livestock, grow food, and build homes.

The state registry shows that the Ismoili Somoni Holding Company was established in 2006 and has since been involved in various businesses, including construction. Official documents provide no details or photos of the company's head, Rahmatullo Asadulloevich Sadulloev.



According to media close to the political opposition, he is one the influential Sadulloev brothers -- the siblings of Tajikistan's first lady, Azizamo Asadulloeva -- who control numerous lucrative businesses in the corruption-stricken country.



RFE/RL cannot confirm if the company's chairman is indeed a member of the family or a mere namesake with a business portfolio matching that of Rahmon's relatives. There are also other private companies in Tajikistan whose name includes "Ismoli Somoni."



President's Powerful In-Laws



The first lady's elder brother, Rahmatullo Sadulloev, reportedly controls farmland and businesses in the southern province of Khatlon, while notably keeping his distance from politics and refraining from taking government posts.



Sadulloev was once quoted as allegedly saying, "I am the president of Khatlon; Rahmon is the president of Dushanbe."



In March 2022, Rahmon attended the opening ceremony of the International Presidential School in Khatlon, which was built by "domestic entrepreneur Rahmatullo Sadulloev," the government website reported without further information about the businessman.

The most high-profile among the presidents brothers-in-law is Hasan Asadullozoda -- previously known as Sadulloev -- whose vast business portfolio includes the major financial institution OrienBank and key airline, Somon Air.



His twin brother, Husein, controlled a company that sold oil products in the southern Khatlon region. Husein Asadullozoda died after an illness at the age 54 in 2022.



Another brother, Amonullo Sadulloev, is in charge of the Somon Sughd corporation, which controls a string of profitable businesses in the northern part of the country.



Amirullo Asadullo, another sibling, had served as the mayor of Bokhtar, the provincial capital of Khatlon.



The first lady and her brothers use different variations of their surname and patronymic -- Sadullo and Asadullo -- styling them with Tajik or Russian endings or without a suffix.



Rahmon, who has ruled Tajikistan with an iron fist since 1992, has long been accused of exploiting his position to enrich himself and his relatives while the majority of Tajiks live in deep poverty.



Almost all major banks and businesses in Tajikistan are thought to be controlled by Rahmon's friends and supporters.



In addition to their private companies, several of his nine children occupy high government positions.



His eldest son, Rustam, simultaneously holds two important posts: the chairman of the upper house of parliament and the mayor of Dushanbe. The first post puts him next-in-line for the Tajik presidency if his father should become incapacitated or otherwise unable to serve.



One of Rahmon's daughters, Ozoda, is the chief of staff of the presidential administration, while her husband, Jamoliddin Nuraliev, had served as the first deputy finance minister and first deputy chairman of the National Bank.
Ukrainian soldiers are manufacturing 3D-printed parts for reconnaissance and kamikaze drones. The drones are being used on the front line, including near the city of Avdiyivka in Ukraine's Donetsk region, where Russian and Ukrainian troops continue to fight for control.
The New York Times on Wednesday filed a lawsuit against OpenAI and Microsoft, alleging that the companies' artificial intelligence models impede on the newspaper's intellectual property.

The complaint, viewed by VOA, argues that the AI models created by OpenAI and Microsoft used "millions of The Times's copyrighted news articles" to train chatbots that now compete with the newspaper as an information source.

The lawsuit marks the first time that a major American media outlet has sued the companies behind the generative AI chatbot ChatGPT and other AI tools. The case also underscores questions that have proliferated from news organizations over the past year over the journalistic, financial and legal implications of generative AI.

While the lawsuit does not mention a specific monetary demand, it says the defendants should be held accountable for "billions of dollars in statutory or actual damages."

"Defendants seek to free-ride on The Times's massive investment in its journalism," the complaint said, claiming that OpenAI and Microsoft are "using the Times's content without payment to create products that substitute for The Times and steal audiences away from it."

OpenAI and Microsoft did not immediately reply to VOA's emails requesting comment.
The NRA slapped an unprecedented ban on the operator in April 2021 after revelations of a series of sloppy anti-terrorism measures at TEPCO's Kashiwazaki-Kariwa plant, the world's largest nuclear power complex housing seven reactors.

TEPCO President Tomoaki Kobayakawa told reporters Wednesday that it was too early to comment on the prospect for the restart. He said the company will provide its safety and security measures to gain understanding from the local residents, who must approve a restart.

The plant on Japan's northern coast of Niigata is TEPCO's only workable nuclear power plant since the March 2011 earthquake and tsunami destroyed its Fukushima Daiichi plant and caused Fukushima Daini plant to cease operations. For the company now burdened with the growing cost of decommissioning the Fukushima Daiichi plant and compensating disaster-hit residents, restarting the Kashiwazaki-Kariwa reactors soon is key to stabilizing its business.

At its weekly meeting, the Nuclear Regulation Authority formally lifted the more than two-year ban imposed on the TEPCO's Kashiwazaki-Kariwa plant over its lax safety measures at the site, saying a series of inspections and meetings with company officials has shown sufficient improvement. The decision removes an order that prohibited TEPCO from transporting new fuel into the plant or placing it into reactors, a necessary step for restarting Kashiwazaki-Kariwa's reactors.

Japanese nuclear safety regulators lifted an operational ban Wednesday imposed on a nuclear plant owned by Tokyo Electric Power Company Holdings, the operator behind the Fukushima plant that ended in disaster, allowing the company to resume preparations for restarting the Kashiwazaki-Kariwa plant after more than 10 years.

The Kashiwazaki-Kariwa plant was partially damaged in a 2007 earthquake, causing safety concerns and distrust among local municipalities. The March 2011 disaster caused stoppages of all 54 reactors Japan used to have before the Fukushima disaster, and prompted utility operators to shut many of them down due to additional safety costs, bringing the number of usable reactors to 33 today. Twelve reactors have been restarted under tougher safety standards, and the government wants to bring more than 20 others back online -- a goal widely considered overly ambitious.

TEPCO was making final preparations to restart the Kashiwazaki-Kariwa plant's No. 6 and No. 7 reactors after regulators granted safety approvals for them in 2017. But in 2021, regulators gave the plant's nuclear security a "red" rating, the lowest given to any operator, resulting in the operational ban.

The case raised questions about whether TEPCO learned any lessons from the 2011 Fukushima crisis, which was largely attributed to the utility's lack of concern about safety.

NRA Chair Shinsuke Yamanaka told Wednesday's meeting that the lifting of the restrictions is just the beginning, and TEPCO is still required to keep improving its safety precautions.

"TEPCO is a unique company; in a way it had caused the accident," Yamanaka said. "It is the operator's responsibility to keep improving, and our task is to watch if improvement is adequately carried out." He said he hoped TEPCO will be an open and transparent company capable of sufficient communication across the workplace, while also accomplishing Fukushima Daiichi's cleanup.

Before TEPCO can restart the reactors, it needs the consent of nearby residents. Prior to the NRA decision Wednesday, Niigata Gov. Hideyo Hanazumi told reporters that the will of the voters he represents must be taken into consideration.

The Japanese government recently began a push to restart as many reactors as possible to maximize nuclear energy and meet decarbonization targets. Prime Minister Fumio Kishida's government has reversed Japan's nuclear energy phaseout plan, instead looking to use atomic power as key energy supply accounting to more than one-fifth of the country's energy supply.

A restart of Kashiwazaki-Kariwa plant, along with attempts by other utility operators to resume their reactors, would "contribute to Japan's stable energy supply and its pursuit of carbon neutrality," especially when the energy-scarce country is hit by rising energy costs amid Russia's war on Ukraine, Kobayakawa said. "Of course, safety is the prerequisite."
'Devil' Movie OTT Release Update

Abhishek Nama's Periodic Spy Thriller Set to Hit Theaters Worldwide on December 29th

'Devil' Movie OTT Release Update: Nandamuri Kalyan Ram is poised to enthrall audiences with his upcoming venture, "Devil - The British Secret Agent," a gripping Period action drama directed and produced by Abhishek Nama. With a stellar cast including Samyuktha Menon and Satya Akkala, the movie is set to release in theaters on December 29, 2023, offering a unique blend of espionage and drama.

Known for his penchant for unique scripts, Nandamuri Kalyan Ram steps into the shoes of a British Secret Agent in "Devil." The film, written by Srikanth Vissa and directed by Naveen Medaram, is a Periodic Spy thriller that promises to keep the audience on the edge of their seats.

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'Devil' Movie OTT Release Update

While the theatrical release is set for December 29th, the eagerly awaited details regarding the OTT platform and release date for "Devil" are yet to be confirmed. Stay tuned for updates, as we will keep you informed as soon as the information about the OTT release becomes available.

To get all the latest updates, join us on Whatsapp Broadcast Channel.

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Produced by Abhishek Nama under the Abhishek Pictures Banner Telugu, Devil is releasing in Tamil, Hindi, Kannada, and Malayalam languages. Devil is not just confined to regional boundaries; it aims to captivate audiences across India with its Pan-Indian release.

(For More News Apart from 'Devil' Movie OTT Release Update Latest News, Stay Tuned to Rozana Spokesman)
Orry Net Worth Latest News

From Bollywood Parties to Bigg Boss: Unveiling the Lavish Life and Wealth of Social Media Star Orry

Orry Net Worth Latest News: In the Ever-Evolving world of social media influencers, Orry, often surrounded by Bollywood celebrities and living a life of opulence, has emerged as a noteworthy personality. From his quirky poses to a recent stint on Bigg Boss 17, Orry's popularity has soared, prompting curiosity about his staggering net worth and luxurious lifestyle.

When Bollywood's megastar Salman Khan welcomed Orry into the Bigg Boss house, conversations with the social media sensation unveiled intriguing facets of his life. Orry, known for his distinctive poses, shocked both the audience and Salman Khan by disclosing that he earns a hefty sum ranging from Rs 20-30 lakh for a single photoshoot.

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Orry Net Worth

Coming from a well-heeled family with connections to Bollywood and Nita Ambani, Orry's net worth is estimated to be around Rs 8 crore. His lifestyle, characterized by luxury cars and an affinity for high-end gadgets, provides a glimpse into the glitzy world he inhabits. Among his collection is a Mercedes, valued at approximately Rs 1.7 crore, exemplifying his penchant for the finer things in life.

Orry has carved a niche for himself as a social media star, leveraging his influence to collaborate with prestigious brands such as Tom Ford, Vision of Super, and Prada. His popularity transcends online realms, with followers on Instagram eagerly awaiting each post. Orry's rise to fame has been fueled by his association with Bollywood star kids and notable personalities, making him a sought-after presence at high-profile events.

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Rich Family Background and Education in the USA

Born Orhaan Avtarmani, affectionately known as Orry, Orry hails from a wealthy family led by businessman Suraj K Avatramani and Shahnaz Avatramani. The Avatramani family is deeply entrenched in liquor, hotel, and real estate businesses, contributing to Orry's privileged upbringing. Notably, he pursued his education in the United States alongside Sara Ali Khan.

To get all the latest updates, join us on Whatsapp Broadcast Channel.

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Orry's ascent in the social media sphere is bolstered by a team of five managers who handle the influx of party invitations and photoshoot requests. His popularity has made him a fixture at exclusive events, where he captivates audiences with his signature poses and charisma.

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Ranbir Kapoor Latest News

Bollywood Star Faces Legal Scrutiny Over Viral Video from Festive Gathering

Ranbir Kapoor Latest News: Ranbir Kapoor, the Bollywood heartthrob riding high on the success of his latest film "Animal," now finds himself entangled in a legal matter following a complaint filed at Ghatkopar Police Station in Mumbai. The complaint, filed by advocate Sanjay Tiwari, alleges that Kapoor's actions during a Christmas celebration video may have hurt religious sentiments.

During the Christmas festivities of Kapoor Family, a video surfaced online depicting Ranbir Kapoor and his family celebrating together. In a moment that has since sparked controversy, Kapoor is seen pouring liquor on a cake, setting it ablaze, and uttering the phrase "Jai Mata Di." This specific sequence has led to accusations of religious insensitivity.

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Advocate Sanjay Tiwari, in his complaint, has invoked sections 295A (deliberate insult to religious feelings), 298 (using words to hurt religious sentiments), 500 (defamation), and 34 (acts done with common intention) of the Indian Penal Code (IPC). The complaint alleges Kapoor deliberately insulted Hindu religious sentiments, prompting the legal action.

To get all the latest updates, join us on Whatsapp Broadcast Channel.

The video's circulation on social media ignited public criticism, with many expressing their disapproval of Kapoor's actions. Despite the complaint, the police are yet to register an FIR in the matter. The legal process is anticipated to unfold as investigators assess the merit of the complaint.

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Apart from the legal ordeal, the Christmas celebration hosted by Ranbir Kapoor garnered attention for the presence of his wife, Alia Bhatt, and their family. The couple even shared glimpses of their joyous occasion, including a public reveal of their beloved daughter, Raha Kapoor.

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COVID-19 Update Latest

Alarming surge in Covid-19 cases has pushed the total count in the country to 4093

COVID-19 Update Latest: The Resurgence of the COVID-19 pandemic is causing apprehension across the country, with the Omicron subvariant JN1 rapidly spreading and prompting several state governments to heighten alert levels. As the situation unfolds, state authorities are closely monitoring developments while keeping a vigilant eye on the central government's response.

In the latest update, 529 new cases of COVID-19 have been reported in the past 24 hours, intensifying concerns about the swift transmission of the Omicron subvariant. Tragically, three lives were lost during this period due to the new form of the virus. The impact of the virus has now been felt in over 8 states, necessitating a unified and coordinated response to curb its further spread.

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The alarming surge in Covid-19 cases has pushed the total count in the country to 4093, with the most recent 529 cases intensifying worries about the escalating threat. Among the deceased, two individuals were reported from Karnataka in southern India, while the third casualty was from Gujarat. This spike in cases has reignited discussions about the potential imposition of lockdown measures. Sources indicate that if the current pace of new Covid-19 cases persists, the government may consider significant decisions in the early months of the upcoming year.

To get all the latest updates, join us on Whatsapp Broadcast Channel.

In response to the rising cases of the JN1 variant, the Karnataka government has activated an alert mode. The recent fatalities have prompted the issuance of a new advisory, mandating infected individuals to undergo a seven-day isolation indoors. Additionally, individuals who have come in contact with the infected persons will be subject to investigation before resuming public activities. These proactive measures aim to contain the spread of the virus and protect public health.

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As the nation grapples with the evolving situation, citizens are urged to adhere to health guidelines, stay informed through official channels, and take necessary precautions to mitigate the risk of Covid-19 transmission. The collective effort of both the public and authorities remains crucial in combating the challenges posed by the Omicron subvariant and ensuring the safety of the population.

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Punjab Weather Update

Meteorologists predict the activation of a Western Disturbance starting December 31

Punjab Weather Update: In a significant development regarding the weather conditions in Punjab, the Meteorological Department has issued a red alert for several states, including Punjab and Haryana. The entire North India region is currently enveloped in dense fog, causing a sharp drop in temperatures and affecting daily life across the states.

Meteorologists predict the activation of a Western Disturbance starting December 31, the last day of the year. This disturbance is expected to bring rain to various locations in Punjab and Haryana, accompanied by cloud cover. The impact of this weather system is projected to extend into January 2. Additionally, North-West and Central India may experience rainfall during this period.

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Today, Punjab witnessed a thick blanket of fog, and the alert for dense fog is expected to persist in the coming days. The weather is anticipated to be clear on December 29, with light to moderate rain forecasted for many districts of Punjab on December 30 and 31.

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The Chandigarh Center of the Indian Meteorological Department has taken note of the prevailing conditions and issued a red alert for the next two days, emphasizing the need for precautionary measures. The public is advised to stay informed about the evolving weather situation and take necessary precautions to ensure safety.

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As the cold wave intensifies and the potential for rain looms, residents are urged to stay updated through official weather forecasts and adhere to any advisories issued by local authorities. The Meteorological Department continues to monitor the situation closely, providing timely updates to ensure the well-being of the residents in the affected regions.

(For More News Apart from Punjab Weather Update Latest News, Stay Tuned to Rozana Spokesman)


Why is Caravaggio (1571-1610) so fascinating? Last year, the French-Italian co-production Caravaggios Shadow, directed by Michele Placido, was released; in the coming months, Madrids Ecce Homo, a painting whose property is still in the hands of lawyers, should see the light of day; not without some controversy, The Capodimonte Museum in Naples lent some paintings by the Lombard to the Louvre this summer; the Salome with the Head of John the Baptist has finally found a definitive space in the new gallery of the Royal Collections of Madrid, and even Spains Prado Museum exhibits the restoration of David with the Head of Goliath. That work has its own Caravaggesque mystery. Nobody knows how it got to the Madrid art gallery.

What is it behind the Italian masters canvases that generates so much interest? A tragic life, the revolution in painting, his sexuality, violence, or that he transformed prostitutes into virgins? Its a bit of all that. His work is timeless and touches the essence of being human, by using real models, and this resonates with the 21st century, David Garcia, head of Italian painting at the Prado Museum reflects. Not forgetting his bisexuality or a somewhat premature death for the life expectancy of the 17th century. This is the academic explanation. Walking the streets of Rome when the painter was alive was different. The Lombard was an extraordinary painter, only surpassed by the divine Michelangelo (with whom he would compare himself throughout his life). He was rejected and yet admired by the Church. And he was a murderer. During the 14 years (1592-1606) that he spent in Rome  until he killed the criminal Ranuccio Tomassoni in a duel  he faced countless bloody disputes. But, far from stereotypes, he was never a madman, but rather a 17th century man  where honor and courage surpassed painting  cornered by a violent society. Not even prostitutes eased the stress of existing.

Liar, lazy, slut. Im going to throw a fucking potty in your face! Let the executioner fuck you and put it up your ass! These insults  preserved by the State Archives of Rome and recorded by the writer Andrew Graham-Dixon in his biography  are directed at a courtesan, by the artist, who in 1602 did not want to sleep with him. He was brought before a judge for assault. He disfigured the prostitute with a sfregio (slash). His revenge consisted of lacerating the face with a knife. In Naples, years later, Caravaggio suffered the same punishment, which he survived, once again, as one of the many miracles he illuminated on canvas throughout a tumultuous life of 39 years.

The time of studying under Simone Peterzano, Antiveduto Gramatica or Cavaliere dArpino from a tender age was long gone. He barely learned to mix colors. Caravaggio was self-taught and used a group of courtesan-models. Was he a pimp? Perhaps that would explain his erratic nightlife. He had two favorites: Fillide Melandroni (who had posed as Mary Magdalen in Ecstasy; in Judith Beheading Holofernes, and as Saint Catherine in the Thyssen collection in Madrid, and in Martha and Mary Magdalene) and Anna Bianchini (the short, redhead, who appears in Penitent Magdalene and Rest on the Flight into Egypt). Both were prostituted by their mothers.

'Saint Catherine of Alexandria,' oil on canvas by Caravaggio from 1597 that is part of the collection of the Thyssen Bornemisza Museum. HELENE DESPLECHIN / Museo Thyssen-Bornemisza

The master painted from the darkness towards the light  an idea taken from various 16th century Lombard painters  and left the backgrounds black, with this he focused the action, and the mind, on a sequence, a kind of still. He put the viewer, free of distractions, into the scene. Without that added work he was also able to produce faster. He fitted together images and used black to hide the connecting spaces. Painting was isolating. He used incisions (traced with the handle of the brush) to locate where the models would be the next day. And he used to hang a light source from the ceiling in order to create the contrasts of his famous tenebrism. He also used mirrors. The result was so real that it was overwhelming.

But the birth of the legend is linked to the decoration of the Contarelli Chapel in San Luigi dei Francesi in Rome. It was his first public commission and a great responsibility for someone who was 29 years old. It had to go from 5-foot canvases to more than 10 feet wide and long. He finished the paintings on July 4, 1600, and they were an immediate success. He charged 400 scudi for representing two passages from the life of Saint Matthew (The Calling and The Martyrdom).

Between carnival and lent

It was the beginning of Caravaggism. Neither Ribera nor Rembrandt nor Georges de La Tour can be understood without his paintings, nor can the (current) interest in the painters sexuality. Modern notions of sexual identification make no sense when applied to the 17th century, with its own interpretations of punishable social behavior, says Keith Christiansen, an expert on Lombardy. It is documented that he had some type of relationship with women. His intimacy with men remains pure speculation. He was never accused of sodomy. Of course, he continued painting. But between 1603 and 1606 only three orders arrived. Caravaggio was restless. But, in a duel on May 28, 1606, he severed the femoral artery of a pimp called Tomassoni, who bled to death. A bando capitale (a bounty) was soon issued. Anyone in the Papal States could kill the painter and obtain the reward.

From then on, Caravaggio was on the run (with his model, and possibly his lover, Cecco), and only stopped when he died in Porto Ercole  50 miles from the Italian capital  on July 18 or 19, 1610. His escape remains to be explained. He took refuge in the Alban mountains (near Rome), traveled to Naples (protected by Constanza Colonna and her son Fabrizio), when he was already considered the best painter in Italy. At the height of his fame he went to Malta (1607), where he left the impressive Beheading of Saint John the Baptist in his oratory, and managed to be ordained a knight of Masterful Obedience.

However, hostage to his character, he attacked Count Della Vezza, a knight of Justice. Although, again, he managed to escape, this time from a rock prison, perhaps with the help of the Colonna, to Syracuse (Sicily) in October 1608. The following year he was back in Naples and stayed at the Colonna Palace in Chiaia. He then had to paint the Ecce Homo that is now in Madrid. There, he had a premonition. He was attacked in the Osteria del Cerriglio, a kind of tavern and brothel, by Della Vezza and his entourage, and was left crippled. Without taking time to recover, he traveled to Rome on a felucca. With him, he took several paintings. The bando capitale had, at last, been revoked. But he fell ill and never arrived at his destination.

Centuries of oblivion passed. Caravaggism had a general impact, although it only lasted one generation. When the historian Luigi Lanzi (1732-1810) studied the 17th century, the artist who seemed crucial to him was Annibale Carracci, not Caravaggio. And most contemporaries would have agreed, Keith Christiansen explains. Meanwhile, the expert Bernard Berenson (1865-1959) argued that the fascination with the painter was a consequence more of his life than of his work. Did dying so young help create the myth? For me, that information does not tell the story, expert Nicola Spinosa says in disagreement. In Spain, he was considered a good painter, but from afar.

It was the historian Roberto Longhi (1890-1970) who recovered Caravaggios reputation as a great painter from the dusty window of looking through art and the past. In 1951 he organized the first exhibition on the genius at the Royal Palace of Milan. The black and white photos pose the question, who is this Caravaggio? Works that today would never leave the churches that house them. The lintels are saved thanks to the skill of workers (more like peasants), who did not even wear gloves and put their hands directly on the canvases. Forgetting is logical. Tastes change over the centuries. Murillo does not reappear until the 19th century in France, comments a historian, who requests anonymity. And he adds: Longhis merit is understanding that he was one of the best and was poorly studied. Furthermore, the themes of his painting are current: the dignity of the poor, injustice, and the redemption of man. A unique life between carnival and Lent, between the Church and the brothel. The construction of a contemporary legend of the 17th century.

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Mexico's unemployment rate held steady in November after falling in the previous three months, data from the National Institute of Statistics and Geography, or INEGI, showed on Thursday.

On an unadjusted basis, the jobless rate came in at 2.7 percent in November, unchanged from October. Meanwhile, the rate was expected to fall to 2.6 percent.

In the corresponding month last year, the jobless rate was 2.8 percent.

There were 1.62 million unemployed people in November, down from 1.67 million in the previous month.

On a seasonally adjusted basis, the jobless rate edged up to 2.8 percent from 2.7 percent.

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The United States has announced the year's final package of weapons and equipment for Ukraine as the Biden administration's funding requests for its ally is pending approval by the Congress.

Announcing the latest tranche of U.S. military assistance, Secretary of State Antony Blinken said, "This package provides up to $250 million of arms and equipment under previously directed drawdowns for Ukraine."

"It is imperative that Congress act swiftly, as soon as possible, to advance our national security interests by helping Ukraine defend itself and secure its future," Blinken said.

With funds to arm Ukraine nearly exhausted, the White House said last week that just one more Ukraine security assistance package remains to be provided this year without lawmakers' approval.

Even as the Biden administration moves in full swing with executive actions to strengthen Ukraine's defense capabilities, Republicans defeated a foreign aid Bill for Ukraine in the Senate by 51 to 49 votes in protest against the package's lack of changes to border and immigration policy.

Out of the $110 billion foreign assistance package for Ukraine, Israel and Gaza, $61 billion was earmarked for Ukraine.

Defense officials have warned that, without action from Congress, further U.S. assistance for Ukraine could be in jeopardy at a critical time as Russia's war approaches the two-year mark.

In a recent letter to lawmakers, Defense Department comptroller Michael J. McCord said the department would be obligating the remaining $1 billion in funds authorized by Congress to replace U.S. inventories of weapons provided to Ukraine by the end of this month.

The security assistance package announced Wednesday is likely the last until Congress authorizes additional funds.

The Biden administration has committed more than $44.2 billion in security assistance to Ukraine since the beginning of Russia's invasion in February 2022.

The assistance has been provisioned through drawdowns of existing U.S. stocks and through the Ukraine Security Assistance Initiative, the authority under which the U.S. procures capabilities from industry and partners.

The latest military aid package includes air defense munitions, other air defense system components, additional ammunition for high mobility artillery rocket systems, 155mm and 105mm artillery ammunition, anti-armor munitions, and more than 15 million rounds of ammunition to help Ukraine counter Russia's incessant attacks.

Although a coalition of more than 50 countries continues to provide critical support for Ukraine's forces, the United States remains the largest provider of arms and ammunition that helped Kyiv fight the Russian forces in the battlefront for nearly two years.

In his meeting with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy earlier this month in Washington, U.S. Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin said the capabilities provided by the U.S. and its allies and partners "are making a crucial difference on the battlefield" and have helped Ukraine retake more than half of the territory seized by Russia during the ongoing war.

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Tesla CEO Elon Musk slammed the media for its recent reports about robot attacks at his Giga Texas factory in Austin, claiming it was an attack by Optimus robot.

Musk defended the robots by posting on X that, "Truly shameful of the media to dredge up an injury from two years ago due to a simple industrial Kuka robot arm (found in all factories) and imply that it is due to Optimus now." He further claimed that Optimus robots are futuristic and will help to create a "quasi-infinite" .

The reported robot attack took place in 2021 when a programming engineer was pinned and assaulted by a robot. The robot sank its claw into the engineer's back and arm, leaving a blood trail on the factory floor. The employee was saved when another employee pressed the emergency stop button.

The incident came to light when an injury report was submitted, revealing that a lack of safety and improper working conditions had led to a high injury rate at the Giga Texas factory.

In 2020, regulators of California reported that Tesla had sent them incomplete factory injury reports.

According to a report submitted to the US Occupational Safety and Health Administration, about one in 21 workers faced injuries last year. This year, in January, a terrifying incident occurred when water was accidentally submerged in molten aluminum, leading to an explosion resembling a "sonic boom" that sent a ball of fire into the air.

Similarly, an employee was crushed in Shanghai by factory equipment. The Chinese authorities said they wanted to punish the company for a lack of safety measures.

In October, Tesla rejected the German union's complaints regarding safety weaknesses.

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Hondas strongest contender in Indian market is still the Activa with close to 2 lakh units sold in November 2023, followed by CB Shine

Honda Motorcycles and Scooters India (HMSI) posted a strong 18.98% YoY growth in domestic market and an even stronger 33.70% YoY growth where exports to global markets are concerned. Honda 2W sales stood at 4,20,648 units in domestic market and 26,314 units in exports. This was a slight decrease in sales when compared to October 2023 charts.

Honda 2W Sales Breakup November 2023  Domestic market

In domestic market, HMSI sold 4,20,648 units with 18.98% YoY growth. As opposed to 3,53,553 units sold in November 2022, volume growth was 67,095 units YoY. Primary contributor for Honda is Activa scooter with 1,96,055 units that took a 46.61% share of companys total domestic sales. YoY growth with Activa lineup was 11.98% with 20,971 units gained in volume.

CB Shine contributed 1,28,969 units accounting for 20.66% of Hondas domestic sales. CB Shine 125 registered 12.18% YoY growth flexing 14,004 units gained in volume. Activa and CB Shine contribute to around 77% of Hondas total sales in India. The new 100cc Shine 100 sold 26,974 with a 6.41% market share.

Recently updated Dio saw 23,979 takers last month and registered 48.92% YoY growth and 7,877 units volume growth YoY. Honda Unicorns appeal has reduced YoY by 29.88% decline, losing 8,583 units in volume. The newly launched SP160 is the replacement for Hondas X-Blade. SP160 saw 7,310 takers, which is significantly better than X-Blades 0 sales.

Honda Dream commuter sold 6,032 units with 30.76% YoY growth and 1,419 units volume growth. Livo and Hornet 2.0 sold 3,732 and 3,214 units respectively. Where Hornets numbers almost doubled at 94.2% YoY growth, Livo saw a 38.71% decline YoY. Best-selling Big Wing motorcycle, CB350, sold 2,466 units with 21.36% You growth.

Hondas pseudo ADV, CB200X, saw a sudden spike in sales registering 1,233% YoY growth with 1,240 units sold as opposed to 93 units sold in November 2022. CB300R showed a slight 1.09% YoY decline with 363 units sold last month. Despite the recent price revision, CB300 F has not been seeing many takers with just 164 last month. Hondas big boy Goldwing sold 4 units last month, which is a 300% YoY growth as opposed to 1 unit sold last year.

Honda 2W exports

Where exports are concerned, Honda registered a solid 33.70% YoY growth by shipping 26,314 units last month as opposed to 19,681 units last year. This resulted in 6,633 units YoY volume growth. Surprisingly, it is the Navi that is the highest-shipped Honda 2W vehicle from India. Navi saw 10,942 buyers abroad accounting for 41.58% of Hondas total shipments.

When compared to 7,345 units shipped last year, Navi registered 48.97% YoY growth and gained 3,597 units YoY in volume. Dio took 2nd place in companys exports with 5,053 units, 38.25% YoY growth and 19.20% market share. Volume growth is 1,398 units YoY. Highest-seller in India, Activa has seen a significant rise in export charts too with 1,268.27% YoY growth and 16.22% market share.

Honda shipped 4,269 Activa as opposed to 312 units shipped in November 2022. CB Shine and X-Blade shipped 1,542 and 1,320 units with 19.29% and 43.88% YoY decline respectively. Dream and CB350 shipments stood at 1,096 and 1,080 units respectively, with Dream registering 996% YoY growth.

Unicorn 160, Livo and Hornet 160R saw a significant decline in sales with 384, 300 and 166 units shipped respectively. Aviator scooter might be long forgotten in India, but Honda shipped 160 units last month.
A harrowing tragedy unfolded on the bustling Tumakuru Road in northern Bengaluru, claiming the life of a real-estate businessman when his vehicle became engulfed in flames

Anil Kumar, a 48-year-old entrepreneur heading home to Shettihalli near Jalahalli, met a horrifying fate as his Maruti XL6 (KA 04 NB 5879) suddenly caught fire near the Anchepalya toll plaza around 3:30 pm on a fateful Tuesday afternoon. As per registration data, the said Maruti XL6 was purchased in Jan 2023. It was the Smart Hybrid Zeta variant.

Ongoing Investigation

Despite Kumars frantic attempts to escape the inferno that rapidly engulfed his vehicle, he was tragically trapped inside, succumbing to fatal burns before emergency services could rescue him. Forensic experts swiftly collected samples from the site as authorities initiated proceedings by filing a case at the Madanayakanahalli police station.

One person was burnt alive after the car he was driving caught fire on the national highway near #Anchepalya in #Nelamangala taluk on Tuesday. The identity of the deceased was not yet known. The car was moving when it suddenly caught fire which soon engulfed the whole vehicle, pic.twitter.com/p9FUG0I67c  Hate Detector ? (@HateDetectors) December 28, 2023

The circumstances surrounding this tragic incident remain shrouded in mystery, leaving investigators grappling with unanswered questions. A police official closely associated with the investigation expressed the complexities involved, remarking on the lack of clarity regarding Kumars attempts to open the car lock from inside, further complicating the understanding of this tragic event.

The repercussions of this incident reverberated beyond the immediate loss of life. As communities grapple with this unforeseen loss, safety precautions and awareness regarding vehicular emergencies become paramount. Vigilance in observing warning signs such as unusual odors, smoke, or dashboard warning lights can potentially mitigate risks associated with unforeseen vehicular mishaps.

Reflecting on Safety Measures

Moreover, equipping vehicles with fire extinguishers and knowing how to employ them effectively during emergencies can serve as a pivotal line of defence. In the event of smoke or fire within the vehicle, swift action  pulling over to a safe location, shutting off the engine, and promptly evacuating  becomes imperative for personal safety and preventing further escalation.

This unfortunate incident on Tumakuru Road stands as a stark reminder of the fragility of life and the importance of vehicular safety measures. The tragedy underscores the need for heightened vigilance, preparedness, and prompt responses to avert and mitigate potential vehicular emergencies, ensuring safer journeys for all commuters traversing these busy roads.

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Using cellular devices and technology has spread to all areas of life, and mental health has not been left out. Just as there are applications that help control diseases such as hypertension and diabetes, there are those that help deal with depression and its symptoms. A meta-analysis published in the journal JAMA Network Open has found significant reductions in severity in patients with the illness who had used 16 of the apps. The researchers, from the University of Seoul (South Korea), believe that these apps can lead to an improvement in the treatment of depressive disorder.

The functions of these applications are to use a test to evaluate the patients mood and send them guidelines and messages to help them improve their symptoms, such as negativity, apathy, or demotivation, says Luis Gutierrez, who is a member of the Spanish Psychiatry and Mental Health Society (SEPSM). In addition, some apps also have tools that allow remote consultations with the therapist, adds Carme Carrion, a principal researcher with the eHealth Lab group at the Open University of Catalonia (UOC).

The authors state that applications such as these offer more freedom, with respect to time and the patient moving around. However, they also advocate the need to further develop and refine these cellular device-based treatments, to adapt them to socially disadvantaged populations.

3.8% of the worlds population (about 280 million people) suffer from depression, according to the World Health Organization (WHO). In low- and middle-income countries, more than 75% receive no treatment at all, despite numerous effective therapies. The authors of the study attribute this fact to the high cost of therapies, fear of being stigmatized and lack of awareness about the effectiveness of the treatment, among others.

The interventions that were analyzed lasted between three and 24 weeks and included both people who were receiving treatment and those who were not. After the study, the authors of the work concluded that, for cell phone depression treatment to be as effective as possible, it should not be prolonged for more than eight weeks. In addition, this also reduced the patients financial and psychological burdens, the text adds. They also observed that severity was reduced more in those who were not following any other treatment for depression. Gutierrez believes that more time is needed, at least nine months or a year, to see the patient fully recover.

It is easy to notice improvement in depressive symptoms in eight weeks if a person has moderate to severe depression, says the psychiatrist. If I am very depressed, the symptoms will immediately improve with whatever little I do, adds Gutierrez. Although what is truly interesting for him would be to follow patients long-term, to prevent relapses and ensure that the initial improvement is maintained over time.

They are not worth replacing psychologists

Carme Carrion and Luis Gutierrez state that these types of applications can never replace therapists. The app provides value, but what is really important is how the therapeutic process is designed and this tool is included so that it is effective, adds Carrion. Gutierrez highlights its capacity as a complement when the patient does not see his or her psychiatrist or psychologist: These applications can give you, on a daily basis, a guideline or a recommendation.

Miguel Angel Lopez, clinical psychologist at the Jaen hospital and member of the steering committee of the Spanish Society of Clinical and Health Psychology (SEPCyS), explains that the therapeutic approach for depression is multidisciplinary and personalized for each patient. The specialist doubts the effectiveness of apps to cure depression, as research from the University of Seoul says, and believes that the idea that depression can be addressed and cured by entering an application can be confusing and frustrating for patients.

This research is an analysis of 13 studies that evaluated 16 apps and a total of 1,470 participants between 20 and 40 years old. Gutierrez (from the SEPSM) and Lopez (from the SEPCyS) agree that the sample is too small and homogeneous to be able to generalize the results to the entire population, something that the authors also recognize in the text itself. A UOC study published last September in JMR Publications, in which Carrion participated, concluded that hybrid interventions that combined the use of these applications and traditional therapy were more effective. According to its authors, this modality can be more economical for the patient and expand therapists ability to treat more people.

Trust an app for therapy

The UOC researcher considers that an appropriate mobile application to treat depression must be based on scientific evidence, have health professionals behind its development, and specify very well everything concerned with the use of patient data. Furthermore, it would be interesting if there was an app that could be integrated with the information network of the public health system. Thus, the data would be transferred directly to the patients medical history, Carrion emphasizes.

Not only do these types of applications exist for the treatment of depression, but there are also some for bipolar disorder and schizophrenia, Gutierrez says. One way to distinguish between effective and ineffective applications is to find out if it has the hallmark of a health institution. For example, in Spain, the Andalusian Health Quality Agency has the healthy app seal and Catalonia has AppSalut, a catalog with accredited and safe applications for use in therapy. In the U.S., the American Psychological Association (APA) has developed a model to evaluate them at five levels, taking into account issues such as data processing, user-friendliness, or whether there are clinical trials that prove their effectiveness.

Studies like this make it clear that the transformation of the health system does not just involve having more people working. Everything must be more efficient, and that includes the use of these tools, which accompany people in real time between visits to their therapist, according to Carmen Carrion. The UOC researcher emphasizes the importance of investing in mental health: We are not only talking about many new people in the health system, but we are talking about tools that can help these people, she concludes.

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In this 2023 photo provided by Maria Elena Machado, Lt. Pedro Naranjo , appears with his father, retired Gen. Pedro Naranjo in Colombia.

Pedro Naranjo idolized his father growing up and followed him into the Venezuelan air force to fly helicopters. So deep was their bond that when the older Naranjo feared being jailed for plotting against Nicolas Maduros socialist government, father and son fled to the United States together.

Now the two have been separated by an overstretched U.S. immigration system that has left the retired Gen. Pedro Naranjo in legal limbo in the U.S. His loyal son, a Venezuelan air force lieutenant, sits in a Venezuelan military prison after he was deported by the Biden administration as part of an attempt to discourage asylum-seekers from the turbulent South American country.

We never had a plan B, the older Naranjo said in a phone interview from Houston. He was released after 10 days in U.S. custody and is now awaiting the outcome of his own asylum request. It never crossed our mind that the U.S., as an ally of the Venezuelan opposition and democracies over the world, a defender of human rights and freedom, would do what it did to my son.

The Venezuelan diaspora is one of the most vexing migration challenges that awaits Secretary of State Antony Blinken and Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas when they arrive in Mexico City on Wednesday to discuss unprecedented arrivals at the U.S. border with President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador.

Last year, Mexico ended visa-free travel for Venezuelans, which had been a ticket to those seeking asylum in the United States. Once arriving at a Mexican border city, Venezuelans could walk across the border in broad daylight and surrender to U.S. agents, avoiding the dangers of traversing Mexico and other countries over land.

Restricting flights to Mexico encouraged walking through the perilous Darien Gap. More than a half-million migrants, predominantly Venezuelan, have traversed the jungle at the border of Colombia and Panama this year.

The resumption for the first time in years of U.S. deportation flights to Venezuela  11 since October, according to Witness at the Border, an advocacy group that tracks flight data  have failed to stem the surge. Venezuelans were arrested more than 85,000 times crossing the border illegally in October and November, the second-highest nationality after Mexicans.

Little is known about how those deported fare once they are returned home. However, critics and members of south Floridas close-knit community of Venezuelan exiles have blasted the Biden administration for overlooking the grave dangers faced by deportees like Naranjo.

Last week, a group calling itself Independent Venezuelan American Citizens joined Miami Republican Rep. Carlos Jimenez to denounce the younger Naranjos deportation and subsequent arrest at the hands of Maduro. It said it sent a request to the White House on Dec. 12 seeking to block the deportation but received no response. On Dec. 14, after failing to reverse a deportation order by an asylum officer, the younger Naranjo was deported, according to his father.

Ernesto Ackerman, a member of the group, said the deportation was akin to sending a U.S. drug agent into the hands of a drug cartel.

Its like taking a DEA agent and sending him to Chapo Guzman, Ackerman said, referring to the Mexican drug lord Joaquin El Chapo Guzman. I dont see any difference.

Naranjos deportation comes against the backdrop of U.S. attempts to improve relations with Caracas after the Trump administrations maximum pressure campaign failed to topple Maduro. In November, the White House eased oil sanctions on the OPEC nation to support fledgling negotiations between Maduro and his opponents over guarantees for next years presidential elections. And last week, Biden announced a presidential pardon releasing from prison of a key Maduro ally held for more than three years on U.S. money-laundering charges.

Neither the White House nor U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement commented on the Naranjos situation.

The father-son saga began in 2018, when Gen. Naranjo was arrested with a handful of other officers for allegedly plotting to assassinate Maduro, sow chaos and disrupt Venezuelas presidential election that year. Naranjo denies his involvement in a barracks uprising dubbed Operation Armageddon by Maduro but nonetheless he was court-martialed, along with other alleged plotters, on charges including rebellion and treason.

In 2021, in the middle of the coronavirus pandemic, Naranjo was hospitalized after suffering a stroke in prison. Under international pressure from Maduros opponents, including the head of the Organization of American States, he was allowed to complete his sentence at home.

When the government decided to extend the sentence of his co-defendants, he feared the house arrest order would be reversed and hed be thrown back into prison. He decided to flee at the end of 2022 and his son, who he says never conspired against the Maduro government, joined him to make sure he arrived safely.

The only crime he committed was being a good son, said Maria Elena Machado, who has seen her son twice in prison since his return.

The two first crossed the border into Colombia, home to more than 4 million Venezuelans whove abandoned their homes since 2016. But with a leftist ally of Maduro in power, and Marxist rebels still lurking in the countryside, the two felt unsafe, so they decided after a few months to make the perilous trek through the Darien to the U.S. On Oct. 4, they crossed the Rio Grande near Brownsville, Texas, and surrendered to the U.S. Border Patrol.

Crossing illegally from Mexico exposed the Naranjos to tougher standards for passing initial asylum screenings.

A rule introduced in May applies the higher standard to anyone who crosses the border illegally after passing through another country, like Mexico, without seeking protection there. Migrants also must use one of the Biden administrations new legal avenues to asylum, such as a new mobile app for appointments at official crossings.

Illegal crossings across nationalities, including Venezuelans, fell after the rule was introduced but the lull was short-lived.

Its not clear why Naranjos asylum request was rejected. His father said he appealed the asylum officers initial determination that he wouldnt face retaliation if returned to Venezuela to a federal immigration judge in Pearsall, Texas, but lost.

The younger Naranjo lacked an attorney throughout the proceedings, according to his father, whose case was assigned to a different judge. Asylum-seekers are entitled to call attorneys before screening interviews, but many advocates complain that those detained get little notice, often at odd hours, and are unable to find help.

Venezuelans who clear screening do relatively well before immigration judges. Their asylum grant rate was 72% in the governments fiscal year ended Sept. 30, compared to 52% for all nationalities, according to Syracuse Universitys Transactional Records Access Clearinghouse.

Upon his arrival to Venezuela, the younger Naranjo was detained again on charges of desertion. Hes now being held at the military prison outside Caracas alongside several opponents of the government.

Meanwhile, migration experts warn that other Venezuelans deserving of asylum could suffer the same fate.

This is not a shocker, said Julio Henriquez, a Venezuelan-born immigration attorney in Boston. It was bound to happen at any moment.

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The city of Del Mar will create 149 new metered parking spaces in the North Beach area, and adjust parking fees and hours, under a plan approved Tuesday, Feb. 21, by the City Council.

The plan required approval by the California Coastal Commission. Parking fees charged by the new meters, as well as 243 existing meters, will vary from $1.50 to $3 per hour. The range is the same as the current fee structure for existing meters, according to a city staff report.

However, once the new fee structure is in place, visitors will pay a maximum of $15 per day for beach parking. Currently, city officials said, there is no daily maximum, and visitors must pay hourly for their entire stay.

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The North Beach area, also known as Dog Beach, is across Camino Del Mar from the Del Mar Fairgrounds, and north of the mouth of the San Dieguito Lagoon. The new parking spots will be primarily on the east side of Camino Del Mar, north of the lagoon, and on the south side of Via de la Valle, said Kristen Crane, management services director.

Another change is that signs prohibiting parking between 10 p.m. and 4 a.m. near North Beach will have to be removed, and parking will be allowed overnight.

City Manager Scott Huth said city staff tried to convince the Coastal Commission to allow a prohibition on parking in that area between 2 a.m. and 4 a.m., but the panel turned down the request. Huth said cars will be allowed to park overnight to allow beach access, but sleeping or camping in cars parked at North Beach will not be permitted.

Mayor Terry Sinnott said the city should challenge the Coastal Commission regarding the overnight parking issue, but other members of the council wanted to approve the overall parking plan. The council voted 4-1 to approve the plan, with Sinnott opposed, on Tuesday.

One reason to move forward, said council members, is to resolve potential parking signage and permit violations by the city. According to a city staff report, Coastal Commission officials felt that Del Mar had expired permits and sign violations, and the new parking plan will resolve those issues.

I think its important to be in strict compliance with the Coastal Act, said Councilman Dwight Worden.

Councilman Dave Druker also was concerned about allowing overnight parking near North Beach.

We have to monitor this closely and get back to the Coastal Commission immediately if we have problems, he said.

Other areas of the city will continue to have parking prohibited between 2 a.m. and 4 a.m., according to the staff report. Overnight parking will be allowed on Coast Boulevard from 15th to 17th streets, as well as North Beach.

Druker also questioned the $15 a day limit on parking fees.

Its antithetical to why we have parking meters, to have turnover, Druker said.

Responding to questions by council members, city staff said they are looking into ways to reset the parking meters if someone leaves the space, so that a newly arrived visitor would have to pay parking fees. One official told the council that parking officers could reset the meters if they observe that a car has left a space with time remaining on the meter.

The staff report estimated that the revenue from the new parking spaces and other fee changes will total more than $100,000 per year. Under the agreement with the Coastal Commission, the money will be designated to pay for existing services and maintenance at the beach, along with new coastal projects.

The permit will last for five years, and the city will then have to reapply. In addition, the city will have to monitor its parking program, to demonstrate to the Coastal Commission that there were no impacts on visitor access to the beach, said the staff report.

A Coastal Commission staff report included with the citys agenda materials contained a chart comparing parking fees charged at a number of beaches in the region. Fletcher Cove, La Jolla Shores and Newport Beach had no parking fees, while San Clemente State Beach charges $2 per hour and a maximum of $15 per day during peak season. Corona Del Mar State Beach charges up to $4 per hour and $15 a day during peak season.

According to its website, parking fees at Torrey Pines State Beach, just south of Del Mar, range from $3 per day on Monday through Thursday in the winter, to $6 for one hour on Fridays, Saturdays, Sundays and holidays, with a maximum daily fee of $15.
An Israeli artillery unit fires, amid the ongoing conflict between Israel and the Palestinian Islamist group Hamas, near the Israel-Gaza border, in southern Israel, December 27, 2023.

Thousands of Palestinian families fled Wednesday from the brunt of Israels expanding ground offensive into Gazas few remaining, overcrowded refuges, as the military launched heavy strikes across the center and south of the territory, killing dozens, Palestinian health officials said.

On foot or riding donkey carts loaded with belongings, a stream of people flowed into Deir al-Balah  a town that normally has a population of around 75,000. It has been overwhelmed by several hundred thousand people driven from northern Gaza as the region was pounded to rubble.

Because U.N. shelters are packed many times over capacity, the new arrivals set up tents on sidewalks for the cold winter night. Most crowded onto streets around the towns main hospital, Al-Aqsa Martyrs, hoping it would be safer from Israeli strikes.

Still, no place is safe in Gaza. Israeli offensives are crowding most of the population into Deir al-Balah and Rafah at the territorys southern edge as well as a tiny rural area by the southern coastline. Those areas continue to be hit by Israeli strikes that regularly crush homes full of people.

Israel has said its campaign in Gaza is likely to last for months, vowing to dismantle Hamas across the territory and prevent a repeat of its Oct. 7 attack into southern Israel. Benny Gantz, a member of the countrys three-man War Cabinet, said the fighting will be expanded, according to need, to additional centers and additional fronts.

He and other Israeli officials also threatened greater military action against Lebanons Hezbollah, hiking fears of an all-out war on that front.

The two sides have exchanged fire almost daily across the border. Israeli Foreign Minister Eli Cohen warned Wednesday that all options are on the table if Hezbollah does not withdraw from the border area, as called for under a 2006 U.N. cease-fire.

Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah must understand that hes next, Cohen said.

Death, displacement and starvation

Israels offensive in Gaza has already been one of the most devastating military campaigns in recent history. More than 21,100 Palestinians, most of them women and children, have been killed, according to the Health Ministry in Hamas-ruled Gaza. The count doesnt differentiate between civilians and combatants.

Some 85% of Gazas population of 2.3 million people have fled their homes. U.N. officials say a quarter of Gazas population is starving under Israels siege, which allows in only a trickle of food, water, fuel and other supplies.

The latest people to be displaced fled from several built-up refugee camps in central Gaza targeted in the latest phase of Israels ground assault. One of the camps, Bureij, came under heavy bombardment throughout the night as Israeli troops moved in.

It was a night of hell. We havent seen such bombing since the start of the war, said Rami Abu Mosab, speaking from Bureij, where he has sheltered since fleeing his home in northern Gaza.

The Israeli military issued evacuation orders for Bureij and neighboring areas Tuesday. The area was home to nearly 90,000 people before the war and now shelters more than 61,000 displaced people, mostly from the north, according to the U.N. Bureij camp, like others in Gaza, houses refugees from the 1948 war surrounding Israels creation and their descendants and now resembles other densely populated neighborhoods.

It was not known how many were evacuating. In Deir al-Balah over the past two days, empty lots have filled up with families in tents or sleeping on blankets on the ground.

This was the third move further south for Ibrahim al-Zatari, a daily laborer. First he, his wife and four children moved in with relatives in Gaza City after a strike flattened their home in northern Gaza. Later, they fled to Bureij to escape fighting in the city. On Wednesday morning, they made an hourslong journey on foot to Deir al-Balah, where  like many others  they wandered the streets looking for an empty spot to lie down.

There is no foothold here, he said. Where should we go?

With much of northern Gaza leveled, Palestinians fear a similar fate awaits other areas, including Khan Younis, where Israeli forces launched ground operations in early December. The Israeli military said Wednesday it deployed another brigade in the city, a sign of the tough fighting.

Israeli shelling Wednesday struck a residential building in Khan Younis next to Al-Amal Hospital, according to the Palestinian Red Crescent, which runs the facility.

Health Ministry spokesman Ashraf al-Qidra said at least 20 people were killed and dozens more wounded. Footage from the scene showed several torn bodies lying in the street as rescue workers loaded a man whose legs had been severed onto a stretcher.

Despite U.S. calls for Israel to shift to a more precise assault, the military so far appears to be following the same pattern used in earlier phases of the ground offensive in northern Gaza and Khan Younis. Before troops move in, heavy bombardment targets what Israel says is Hamas tunnels and military infrastructure. Fierce urban fighting follows as troops move block to block, backed by airstrikes and shelling that the military says aim to force out pockets of militants. The resulting devastation has been massive.

Israel has said Hamas must be destroyed after its its Oct. 7 attack in which militants broke through Israels formidable defenses and killed some 1,200 people  mostly civilians  and abducted around 240. An estimated 129 remain in captivity after dozens were freed.

Israel blames Hamas for the high civilian death toll in Gaza because the militants operate in residential areas. Late Wednesday, the army said it destroyed a network of tunnels that stretched for several kilometers in Gaza City and served as a command and control center. Part of it ran under a hospital and had an exit inside a neighboring school, it said.

The military says it has killed thousands of militants, without presenting evidence, and that 164 of its soldiers have been killed in the ground offensive.

Warning over Lebanon

Cross-border exchanges of fire have escalated between Hezbollah and the Israeli military.

An Israeli strike on a family home in Lebanon overnight killed a Hezbollah fighter, his brother and his sister-in-law, local officials and state media said Wednesday. A day earlier, a Hezbollah strike wounded 11 people in northern Israel.

Since the Gaza war began, the near daily battles have forced tens of thousands of Israelis to evacuate their homes from nearby communities. At least nine soldiers and four civilians have been killed on the Israeli side, and around 150 people on the Lebanese side, mostly fighters from Hezbollah and other groups, but also 17 civilians.

Gantz warned that time for diplomatic pressure was running out.

If the world and the Lebanese government will not act to stop the firing on the northern settlements and keep Hezbollah away from the border, the IDF will do so, he said, referring to the Israeli military.

In the occupied West Bank, Israeli forces killed at least six Palestinians during an overnight raid in the refugee neighborhood of Nur Shams, according to the Palestinian Health Ministry. More than 300 Palestinians have been killed in the West Bank since the start of the war, mostly in confrontations with Israeli forces during raids and protests.

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Ultra-right-wing Argentine President Javier Milei on Wednesday presented Congress with a bill declaring the country in a state of public emergency and including 664 articles that fundamentally alter the roots of a good part of Argentinas political, social and economic structure. The omnibus law, as it is called due to its scope and variety of topics, involves the transfer to the government of broad legislative powers in economic, financial, social security, fiscal, health and even electoral matters. The bill, which will be handled in extraordinary congressional sessions, also includes a stiffening of sanctions against social protest. Milei proposes that any intentional and temporary congregation of three or more persons be considered a demonstration, punishable by up to six years of imprisonment, if it impedes free transit or the provision of public services.

The text sent to Congress  Mileis most forceful policy initiative since he took office earlier this month  warns that authorities must be notified of any public demonstration in advance and that the Ministry of Security has the power to oppose the protest or propose changes. In addition, social organizers will have to declare who is responsible for the calls to mobilization so that they can be identified in the case that they warrant criminal sanctions. The bill gives legal form to the anti-protest protocol signed two weeks ago by the Minister of Security, Patricia Bullrich.

The bill comes on the heels of other actions by Mileis government that have raised social discontent during the first three weeks of his presidency. First came a decalogue of economic measures announced by the Minister of Economy, Luis Caputo, who devalued the Argentine peso by 50% and announced the elimination of subsidies on transportation and energy as of January, among other measures. This week, the government also terminated the contracts of at least 5,000 state employees after signing a decree with hundreds of reforms which, according to the executives reading, did not need to go through Congress.

Among the list of reforms proposed by the legislative project, pompously called the Law of Bases and Starting Points for the Freedom of Argentines, is the empowerment of the government to privatize 50 public companies, the end of primary elections in political parties and a restructuring of the Chamber of Deputies that facilitates the addition of deputies to second and third electoral forces, as at this moment is the case of Mileis party, La Libertad Avanza. The law, if approved, advances all kinds of issues. Free public universities, for example, will be able to charge foreign students for their education; it also targets large fortunes which have been evading taxes for years.

Mileis proposal would declare Argentina in a situation of public emergency until December 31, 2025, a period that is extendable for a further two years, thus covering his entire term of office. Under this situation of alleged public emergency, the government is enabled to assume powers that correspond to the legislative branch. The Argentine Constitution prevents such transfer of powers except in specific matters of administration or public emergency, with a fixed term for its exercise and within the basis of the delegation established by Congress.

Demonstrators in downtown Buenos Aires. Amanda Cotrim

Union Protests

Set the date! Set the date! was the cry Wednesday in downtown Buenos Aires during a demonstration called by the General Confederation of Labor (CGT) against the first measures introduced by Mileis government. Protestors demanded a general strike in rejection of the decree imposed by the president, which contains over 300 reforms that dismantle the Argentine state. Hours later, the government presented a bill with almost 700 articles which introduce profound modifications in the legislation, causing further social discontent. The confederal central committee of the CGT will meet Thursday to evaluate the next steps against the far-right reforms. On the table is the possibility of calling a general strike.

The main labor unions in Argentina, the CGT and the Argentine Workers Central Union (CTA), will coordinate to continue defining a course of action. The unions consider they have three ways to address the governments measures: the judiciary, Congress, and the streets. After the latest government announcements, the call for a strike appears to be closer. Rodolfo Aguiar, national secretary of the State Workers Association, which is part of the CTA, believes that it is a positive fact to have seen the Plaza Lavalle in the capital overflowing Wednesday. The level of conflict is growing and the conditions for a general strike are in place, the unionist assured EL PAIS.

Aguiar, however, has called on workers to be patient about the call for a general strike. The unions are measuring the temperature, as sources pointed out to this newspaper, and defining their strategies with prudence. The workers expect their representatives to be able to join forces and we hope that the central leaders are up to the circumstances, said Aguiar, who pointed out that time is running in Mileis favor because the decree of urgent necessity imposed by the president enters into force on Friday. The package of reforms can be stopped in Congress or in the courts, but if that does not happen, the measures will become law.

For left-wing parties and social movements, however, the call for a general strike is pressing. These supported the demonstration Wednesday but as an independent column. There, the signs held up by demonstrators called for a national and active strike. We came to demand a national strike and a plan of struggle, which corresponds to the seriousness of the situation, said Eduardo Belliboni, leader of the Polo Obrero workers movement, during the rally. For Guillermo Kane, legislator and leader of the Partido Obrero (Workers Party), the march was no more than symbolic. We need substantive action, said the politician. The CGT, which has not held a strike in four years, has not been playing a role of active defense of the workers.

The steps to be taken by the unions are expected to be announced imminently. Union leaders said they will try to move forward with the highest possible levels of unity. Different organizations, movements, and political parties have already announced that they will continue to mobilize in the face of measures that they consider a subjugation of their rights. In recent weeks, various organized associations and self-convened groups of citizens have organized assemblies all over the country, staging pot-and-pan protests and setting up soup kitchens to offer food to people in need. Mileis far-right government is facing a long period of mobilizations and popular resistance, but it is also confident of the support it received at the ballot boxes.

Protesters in front of the Palace of Justice in Buenos Aires, December 27. AGUSTIN MARCARIAN (REUTERS)

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Eight years after the apparent suicide of the Venezuelan rapper Canserbero and a few days after Rolling Stone magazine named him one of the 50 greatest artists in the history of rap, the Venezuelan Prosecutors Office reopened the investigation into his death. A few weeks later, in the middle of Christmas, investigators had made new findings. The Prosecutors Office revealed that the suicide hypothesis  which had been plagued by doubts  had been disproven. According to the authorities, the rapper  whose real name is Tyrone Jose Gonzalez Orama  was stabbed to death by his manager, Maria Natalia Amesquita, who was the partner of the musician Carlos Molnar, who also died by her hand.

On Thursday, the Attorney General of Venezuela, Tarek William Saab  who in recent weeks has given several press conferences about the case  asked for one of the rappers most iconic songs to be played before he shared the latest information about the investigation. To explain the findings, the official played a series of videos in which Canserberos manager and her brother, Guillermo Amestica  who was also implicated  are heard confessing to the crime. Both appear handcuffed. According to Saab, the confession was made during police interrogations that took place last week.

During the press conference, Saab called Canserbero a martyr and admitted that the two had crossed paths in a tattoo studio. We have achieved our goal, and Canserbero can rest in peace wherever he is, because those who killed him are now in prison, Saab said during the televised press conference, which he ended by cheering Canserbero lives!  a play on the slogan used to honor former Venezuelan president Hugo Chavez.

In the video, Maria Natalia Amestica explains that she and her partner, Carlos Molnar  a musician and friend of Canserbero  had disagreed over money, specifically the organizational expenses generated by the rappers tour in Chile that year. She had also argued with Canserbero, who allegedly said that he didnt want her to represent him anymore. This was what motivated her decision to commit the crime on January 20, 2015.

In her confession, she said that when Canserbero and Molnar came to her house to record a video for their next show, she made them a tea laced with an anxiolytic, and when Molnar became drowsy, she stabbed him in the neck. According to her story, Canserbero saw her do it, and so when he also fell asleep, she stabbed him in the side. Amestica then called her brother, Guillermo Amestica, who in turn asked officials from the state intelligence service, Sebin, to help stage the crime scene. The plan was to make it appear that the rapper had murdered his friend in the middle of a psychotic break due to his schizophrenia, and then killed himself by jumping through a window of Amesticas apartment, located on the 10th floor of a building in the city of Maracay, 62 miles (100 kilometers) from Caracas.

But thats not where the complicity ended. According to Guillermo Amesticas testimony, the judicial police investigating the deaths asked for $10,000 to back the homicide-suicide hypothesis. According to the investigation, after the crime, the Amesticas went to Chile but returned to Venezuela after the case was shelved.

These brutal revelations express how the Amesticas, of Chilean origin, conspired out of hatred, envy, thirst for revenge and financial ambitions, to kill Tyrone Gonzalez, Canserbero, and Carlos Molnar, declared Saab.

Maria Natalia and Guillermo Amestica were arrested last week, according to statements made on social media by Claudia Amestica, the daughter of the accused manager, who has denied the prosecutors accusations. She said that her relatives were held incommunicado for nine days after they went to the police station to testify. According to the daughter, the two were also denied access to their lawyers.

Venezuelan authorities on Tuesday also arrested pathologist Solangel Mendoza, who performed the first autopsy on Canserbero in 2015. Saab has also advanced what could be a new case: the alleged improper collection of royalties for the slain rappers three albums.

A lot has happened in Venezuela in the last two months. The government had to deal with the high turnout for the opposition primaries, which were overwhelmingly won by Maria Corina Machado. It clashed with Guyana by holding a referendum on the annexation of Essequibo, a move that raised questions about its power of mobilization. It agreed to a prisoner swap with the United States, in which Alex Saab  who is linked to government business and accused of money laundering  was released back to Venezuela. And it also found time to reopen the Canserbero case and exhume the rappers body, which was given a virtual autopsy with 3D reconstruction of the skeletal remains. According to Saab, this was a first in the country. This then led to the arrest and confession of the murderers and the officials who staged the crime scene.

The review into the death of Canserbero  recently chosen by Rolling Stone magazine as the best rapper ever in the Spanish language  was also discussed in Maduro Podcast, a new program launched by Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro and his wife Cilia Flores. At the beginning of December, in one of the podcasts first episodes, the two talk to Saab about the case. In the relaxed conversation, the official elaborated on his suspicions about whether a person with schizophrenia would think to remove the glass from the window before killing themselves, as proposed by the initial hypothesis. He also discussed what the body of a person who jumped from a 10th floor apartment should have looked like. In the podcast, Saab said he believed the crime scene had been staged. Maduro agreed that it appeared that the rapper had been murdered, while Flores thanked Saab for his commitment to good causes. Earlier this year, before reopening the Canserbero case, the public prosecutor began a campaign to crack down on reggaeton music.

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Politics

spotlight

How one mans fight against El Dorado County could impact The City

Craig Lee/The Examiner Sutter Street near Sansome Street in downtown San Francisco.

San Francisco has millions of dollars at stake in a case to be decided by the U.S. Supreme Court.

Fees that cities such as San Francisco collect from property developers are the subject of litigation that has now reached the nations highest court, prompting City Attorney David Chiu to ring alarm bells.

According to data reviewed by The Examiner, The City could take a significant financial hit if the court rules that development impact fees are unconstitutional.

An adverse ruling in this case could have severe consequences for local governments and slow production of badly-needed housing, Chiu said in a statement earlier this month. Reasonable development impact fees are necessary to ensure we all have adequate schools, utilities, roads, transportation, parks, and open space.

Cities charge development impact fees to offset the infrastructure costs they ascribe to new development. For example, the residents of a new apartment building with 150 units will need water, adding to the demands on a citys water system.

In San Francisco, those one-time fees added up to $121 million in the fiscal year ending in 2019, according to the most recently available analysis on the city controllers website.

Though just a fraction of a city budget that now exceeds $14 billion annually, the impact fees are still a crucial way for The City, which is struggling to make ends meet as it continues to recover slowly from the COVID-19 pandemic, to pay for its infrastructure.

Already, Mayor London Breed has ordered department heads to prepare for steep budget cuts, and The Citys budget deficit is expected to exceed $1 billion by 2027, jeopardizing The Citys ability to invest in and maintain its infrastructure.

History of the case

The case began when the County of El Dorado, just east of Sacramento, attempted to charge George Sheetz  who wanted to build a manufactured house on his property  $23,420 to help finance what he believed were unrelated road improvements.

Sheetzs attorneys argued that the county never proved that the fees it attempted to extract from him were directly related to the impact caused by his development.

The issue touches every American who seeks to build a home, business, or other project on his or her land, the lawsuit states. But unfortunately, there is inconsistent recognition and enforcement of that right across the Nation.

Californias courts disagreed and upheld the legality of the fees because they were authorized by legislation, but Sheetz took the case to the Supreme Court.

Now, San Francisco and other cities have jumped into the fray. The City, joined by several groups representing cities and towns, led a friend of the court filing ahead of the courts upcoming arguments. They argue that the fee imposed by El Dorado County was not arbitrary but based on a clear system.

El Dorado County, under a state law authorizing it to charge impact fees, imposed a transportation impact fee supported by a nexus study, the brief states. The nexus study identifies the purpose of the fee, how the fee will be used, the reasonable relationship between the use of the fee and the development, and the reasonable relationship between the need for the public facility and the type of development.

California is one of 35 states that has adopted legislation explicitly allowing local governments to impose development impact fees, according to Chius office. Those fees are not applied wantonly by city administrators but through legislation adopted by local governments that then publish a schedule outlining various impact fees.

In San Francisco, for example, the Planning Department determines impact fees, which are then collected by the Department of Building Inspection. However, there are different impact fees in different sections of city code that can apply differently to various projects. Property owners are allowed to appeal the fees that they were assessed.

For example, developers paid $13 million to the citywide Transportation Sustainability Fee in the fiscal year ending 2019, and those downtown paid $3.2 million in neighborhood-specific fees.

The fees are not static and can evolve based on city legislators priorities. Fearing that impact fees were stifling development, San Francisco adopted a law earlier this year that slashed them by 33% for three years.

Still, The City is counting on its ability to impose development fees.

In its brief filed with the Supreme Court, it warned that cities might have to issue a moratorium on development or raise taxes if the Supreme Court strikes down such fees and shifts the burden of paying for related infrastructure onto cities.

The City also warned that the Supreme Courts decision could have even deeper consequences.

A broad holding that heightened scrutiny inherently applies to legislatively-enacted permit conditions threatens the very heartland of zoning and land use planning, the brief states.

The Supreme Court is set to hear oral arguments in the case, Sheetz v. County of El Dorado, on Jan. 9.
The branches of organized crime are extending into the most unsuspecting corners of Mexican society. Vendors of chicken, one of the most basic products in the average citizens shopping basket, have rebelled against extortion in Toluca, the capital of the State of Mexico. The merchants, tired of having to pay protection money for their businesses, have hired private security services and stopped paying extortion fees to the cartels.

As of two weeks ago, when the chicken vendors decided to turn to private security to safeguard their businesses, the threats have become increasingly real: visits from alleged members of La Familia Michoacana, warehouses being burned, attacks, and robberies. On December 22, four shopkeepers were kidnapped in the early hours of the morning in a store in downtown Toluca. A security camera recorded the abduction, which took place while the workers were in the warehouse, among boxes of raw chicken. A group of men armed with rifles burst in, pointed their weapons at the employees, and took them away in a white van.

The kidnapped workers have been identified as Rigoberto Colin Consuelo (41) Jaime Ramos Reyes (22), Isidro Diaz Casimiro (40) and Eliseo Escobar Ramirez (47). According to his relatives, Colin Consuelo is deaf and mute and has three children waiting for him at home. The families are searching for the four missing persons, but the Prosecutors Office has not reported any progress in its investigation and has not received any ransom demand, according to local media reports.

The local press is pointing to La Familia Michoacana as being behind the threats and violence. The cartel is one of the most repeated names in the regions crime pages and was recently involved in a massacre in which 14 people were killed in Texcaltitlan (10 of its alleged members and four civilians), in the State of Mexico. That incident was also triggered by extortion: a group of farmers, fed up with the demands placed on them and desperate because the criminal group was demanding higher payments, fought back with machetes and firearms after they were fired upon, in a pitched battle that also left 14 others missing and seven wounded.

La Familia Michoacana has gained sway in the State of Mexico, Michoacan and Guerrero. There, sheltered in a territory neglected by the authorities, it has entrenched itself as a sort of parallel government that imposes its own law under criminal logic. Despite the occasional fall of one of its leaders and the greater strength of rival groups such as the Jalisco New Generation Cartel, the organization survives and thrives: some indications even point to an expansion beyond its current areas of operation.

Tolucas merchants have long been denouncing their abandonment by the authorities, or even the collaboration of some institutions with organized crime. They send us messages with all kinds of threats. They have burned our warehouses, our vehicles, and have shot up our businesses. It was about a year ago when all the money they were asking for became unsustainable. We are paying for private protection, and I dont know why [the authorities] ordered security to be withdrawn. We are tired of being charged protection money. We want to work, thats all we want, said a vendor in statements reported by Milenio.

This is not the first time that organized crime has targeted chicken vendors. In June 2022, shopkeepers in Chilpancingo, Guerrero, closed their stores in protest against the umpteenth crime wave in the region, which was particularly hard on the chain of chicken producers, distributors and sellers. The workers strike was a response to weeks of aggression in which several people were killed. In one of the attacks, at a chicken farm on the outskirts of the city, six people were massacred, including the owner and his 12-year-old daughter.

A year and a half later, Tolucas merchants are turning to private security in a desperate attempt to resolve the situation. The vendors have repeatedly requested support from the state governor, Delfina Gomez, to put a stop to the extortion which, they claim, they have been suffering for more than three years. For the moment, there has been no clear official response, no arrests, and no naming of suspects for the crimes, while the workers face threats and violence on their own.
Ukraine needs the economic lifeline of its Western allies. Without a fresh injection of funds to keep the machinery of state running, Kyiv  which has been at war with Russia for almost 700 days and which devotes a large part of its budget to defense  will be forced to leave up to two million public employees with unpaid salaries and a further million without social benefits in the first quarter of 2024. These are the conclusions of an analysis of the countrys financial situation sent by the government of Volodymyr Zelenskiy to the United States, the European Union and other Western allies, and to which EL PAIS has had access. Ukraine has urged Washington and Brussels to move forward with aid packages totaling some 100 billion ($110 billion), which remain frozen and pending approval due to political friction in the U.S. Congress and the European Parliament.

The EU is already considering alternative formulas to ensure the economic support promised to Kyiv, in case efforts to persuade Hungarian President Viktor Orban to lift his veto on the 50 billion ($55.7 billion) package are unsuccessful. That decision must be taken at the European summit on February 1.

In its analysis, Ukraine elaborates on the sensitive disbursements that depend on Western support. The document stresses that  taking into account the available resources and the performance of priority expenditures for the defense and security sector, as well as the repayment of state debt  there is a risk of default of expenditures on the payment of salaries for more than 1.4 million employees of scientific and educational institutions, as well as for more than 50,000 people working in budgetary and state institutions. Maternity leave payments for around 700,000 people and another 160,000 people receiving low-income social benefits are also at risk of going unpaid.

Tymofiy Milovanov, president of the Kyiv School of Economics, notes that Ukraine lost almost 30% of its GDP last year, according to data from the International Monetary Fund (IMF), due to the full-scale war with Russia. The Ukrainian economy is resilient, but it is in a difficult situation. It is very war-oriented, Milovanov, who served as Minister of Economic Development, Trade and Agriculture from 2019-2020 and advises Zelenskiys office, says via phone. Kyiv has a raft of defense-related economic activities and foreign aid packages, coupled with the efforts of the private sector and the work of volunteers, have kept the economy afloat to date.

European funds are needed to maintain the economy. These would be for the state budget because currently all taxes go to defense efforts against Russian aggression. And that means there is hardly anything left for the rest, Milovanov points out. Added to this is the prospect of expanded conscription as announced by Zelenskiy, whereby the Ukrainian army could draft up to half a million more recruits. That would also prove another cause of strain on the state coffers. If there is no funding there will be an economic crisis, waves of refugees, and defense will be weakened, which will allow the Russians to gain ground, the Ukrainian economist says. If they take too long, Ukraine will have to cover the budget deficit as a first step and cut spending even further, which will lead to social unrest and a macroeconomic financial crisis.

Ukrainian soldiers prepare an M777 howitzer near Marinka, on the Donetsk front line, December 26. VIACHESLAV RATYNSKYI (REUTERS)

The European Union wants the special four-year 50 billion package for Ukraine (33 billion in the form of loans and 17 billion in grants) to be part of a broader revision of the multiannual financial framework (the EUs multi-year budget outline), which also includes funds to deal with migration flows or boost competitiveness. However, despite the various calculations that have been considered, it has not been possible to persuade Orban, who did lift Hungarys veto for the EU to open accession talks with Ukraine, to agree to sanction this amount for the time being.

As backup plans, EU member states are considering disbursing the money through bilateral agreements  via the macro-financial aid tool already employed to provide assistance to Kyiv  or through a formula with EU debt similar to the one used during the pandemic to provide support to member states, which would free up some 20 billion ($22 billion), as reported by the Financial Times. This option, warns a senior EU source, is based on loans and would require parliamentary approval from several partners, which could delay the delivery of the funds.

Kyiv is increasingly concerned about further economic support from the EU and the United States  where some $60 billion pledged by President Joe Biden has been blocked by political infighting, mainly on the Republican side  as it faces the economic and social consequences of a protracted war. Russia is exploiting the delay in Western economic support to fuel the theory that the U.S. and EU will eventually tire of supporting Ukraine. Those funds will not be able to change the course of events, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said Wednesday during a telephone press conference, as quoted by Interfax. That money is allocated to the detriment of EU economies, which are already going through difficult times.

In Besele, a village on the Donbas frontline near the Ukrainian fortress town of Avdiivka, where some of the heaviest fighting is taking place, Vitaly and Lena explain how they receive their pension every month through the public postal service, which despite constant shelling manages to reach many villages in the hottest battle zones. Vitaly, 72, receives a pension and an allowance of about 3,500 grivnas (just over $92) for the time he spent as a liquidator in Chernobyl. His wife Lena, 69, says she receives 3,000 grivnas ($79). We dont know anything, we are afraid of everything, laments Vitaly, who fears that he will no longer receive a pension. Luba Mikhailovna, a civil servant, is also worried about the budget cuts. We are resilient and without the armed forces, Ukraine would not exist, but we also need help for the rearguard that keeps the country running, she says.

The IMF has described the Ukrainian economy as resilient but warned that the invaded country can only withstand a delay of a couple of months in receiving economic aid from its Western allies. As the war drags on, it puts pressure on Ukraines public finances, IMF director Kristalina Georgieva said in a statement. On December 12, the IMF released a $900 million package for financial assistance. In addition, coinciding with Christmas, Ukraine received some 1.2 billion ($1.34 billion) from the World Bank, Norway, and Switzerland, which could provide a brief respite, as those funds are designed to support the government in social and emergency aid payments, Ukrainian Finance Minister Sergii Marchenko explained in a statement.

It is not charity, stresses Jacob Kirkegaard, a researcher at the German Marshall Fund. For Europe and the U.S., it is a matter of strategic interest that Ukraine wins this war because if it is won by Russia, it will be a direct threat to several EU member states. And, therefore, for everyone. Kirkegaard remains confident that Kyiv will receive the aid packages, albeit belatedly: If Ukraine does not receive military and financial support, Russia will win.

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Few things are as hypnotic as watching a professional makeup artist at work. It is a whole choreography with brushes, textures and colors that, even if it does not seem like it, follows a strict order when applying the different products. Although there are personal preferences, most begin with the skin, continue with the eyes and finish with the mouth. But is there a logic behind the order? Or is it exclusively a matter of taste?

The short answer is that every makeup artist has their own technique; when it comes to makeup, there is no right or wrong. However, there are some universal tips and tricks to ensure the best possible result. For this reason, experts recommend a generic pattern that we can adapt, to a greater or lesser extent, to our routine. And although the best way to find the one that works for you is by trial and error, the professional makeup artists consulted share all their experience to help you find the perfect order.

Is primer really necessary?

When do we want this reinforcement in our makeup routine? The matter might raise some doubts, but it always depends on each persons specific needs. For Xabier Rodrigues, National Artist at MAC Cosmetics, primer helps to set the base, and it is normally used in special makeup in which durability is a priority, such as the case of brides. If the complexion is very dry, I dont usually apply it, because makeup lasts a long time in this type of skin. For oily or porous skin, it is very useful because it smooths the texture and controls sebum production to prevent shine.

Model Tasha Tilberg, who walked at the latest Andreas Kronthaler for Vivienne Westwood show. Filippo Fortis/launchmetrics.com/spotlight

Foundation concealer highlighter which comes first?

As we said, the order is a subjective matter. Many makeup artists apply concealer under the foundation; others put it over it. First, it is important to be clear what each one is for. There are several types of concealers: some for the area with dark circles and others to neutralize different tones on the face, such as blemishes, marks, pimples or redness. But if we want to make the darkest parts of the face lighter, then we can use a matte highlighter, which is usually a lighter tone than our skin, says Sephora Pro Makeup Artist Veronica Pose.

How to apply them correctly? I first apply the concealer, blending it well towards the cheekbones, so that it blends in and there are no visible lines. Afterwards I spread the foundation, going over the concealer a bit and blending it so that there are no visible edges. Finally, we apply the matte highlighter to the cheekbones, the upper part of the nose, the Cupids bow and the chin, says Rodrigues.

Defining the eyebrows

Once the skin is ready, it is time to continue with the eyebrows. Defining them before moving on to eye makeup is important because they frame the face, define the expression and help us not to go too far with things like the tone of the eye shadow. For a natural finish, the best is to apply a little pencil on the areas that have no hair, drawing them subtly to give them some volume and definition and, finally, set them with gel, suggests Rodrigues.

Perfectly defined eyebrows in Ulla Johnsons backstage. Sisley was in charge of the makeup for her spring/summer 2024 show. Filippo Fortis/launchmetrics.com/spotlight

Eye shadow, eyeliner and mascara

Many professionals start their makeup routine with the eye shadow, especially when they want a dramatic, dark, smoky effect. This premise is based on the fact that you can later clean any residue that falls on your face before applying the foundation. However, even though this theory has a solid basis, most experts prefer to start with the skin when they do daytime makeup. To know the best order to apply eye makeup, Rodrigues explains, the shadows go first, then the eyeliner. If we do it the other way around, the shadows can fall on the liner and reduce the intensity of the color, or worse, we could smudge the line. To apply the shadow, it is best to have three tools: a compact brush to apply the color with intensity, a blending brush and another, pen-shaped one, to create certain shapes. The eyeliner is applied following the beginning of the eyelashes, thickening the stroke a little on the outer half of the eye to lift the gaze. Beginners should start with a thin line along the upper lashes.

If the eye makeup is dramatic, as in the Giorgio Armani spring/summer 2024 show, experts advise starting there. Matteo Scarpellini/launchmetrics.com/spotlight

Blush and highlighter

The blush provides a healthy tone and the highlighter a subtle glow. I like to apply the highlighter first and then blend it with the blush. If you want a glowy spot, one of my favorite effects is to mix a drop of liquid blush with a drop of highlighter. A very special trick for when you want a particularly subtle effect is to apply the liquid blush before the makeup base, so that it seems that the color comes from inside the skin, says Gisela Bosque, National Makeup Artist at Sephora.

Some excess highlighter at Andreas Kronthaler for Vivienne Westwood spring/summer 2024 show. Filippo Fortis/launchmetrics.com/spotlight

Lips

Lips come at the end of every experts makeup routine. I love to finish with the lips, but before applying any makeup I hydrate them with a specific balm at the beginning, just when we are preparing the skin. The trick to make them look good is to start by tracing their shape with a liner pencil the same shade as the lipstick, and then use the stick. My advice is to start with the Cupids bow, doing the same movement from one side to the other to achieve symmetry in both the upper and lower lip, says Pose.

Flawless lips begin with some lip liner. Filippo Fortis/launchmetrics.com/spotlight

Setting powder or spray?

Regardless of the order you choose when applying the products, there is always one final goal: to ensure that the result remains intact for a long time. That is what setting powders and sprays are for. What is the difference? In oily skin, powders help set fluid or creamy products. I like to apply them on the sides of the nose, brow, nasolabial folds and chin, which are the areas with more sebum production and shine. The spray is also a great ally for setting makeup; the best is to apply it after the powder, to blend it into the skin. On a dry complexion I would only use the spray, but if we are using very oily products, a little powder doesnt hurt, either. Balance is the key, concludes Rodrigues.

Flawless makeup with red lips at the Carolina Herrera spring/summer 2024 show. launchmetrics.com/spotlight

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Opinion articles written in the style of their author. These texts are to be based on verified facts and must be respectful towards people, even though their actions may be criticized. All opinion articles written by individuals from outside the staff of EL PAIS shall feature, along with the authors name (regardless of their greater or lesser renown), a footer stating their office, academic title, political affiliation (if any) and main occupation, or the occupation related to the topic being assessed

Victory is unlikely, perhaps unattainable. If few believe that Ukraine can recover the territories annexed by Russia, even fewer believe that Vladimir Putin will be the winner, that the Russian president will set up a puppet government in Kyiv and reintegrate it into the post-Soviet space. Something similar is happening in the Middle East, where it is difficult to imagine that Benjamin Netanyahu will liquidate Hamas and even more difficult to believe that Hamas has any possibility of implementing its plan to destroy Israel and expel the Jews from the territory between Jordan and the Mediterranean.

Ukraines forces are exhausted, short of ammunition and combatants, there are divisions between military and civilian leaders, allies are faltering and the enemys defensive resilience is great. Russian forces  recovered from their successive defeats and entrenched in the war of attrition  know that any possibility of a genuine victory is gone, since Ukraine has been recognized as a candidate to join NATO and is now beginning talks to negotiate its accession to the European Union. The symbol of Ukraines final farewell to the Russian world was the decision to move the Ukrainian Christmas holiday from January 7 on the Orthodox calendar to December 25 on the Western Christian calendar.

In the three months of Israels devastating offensive on Gaza, Netanyahu has not been able to topple the leadership of Hamas and has only managed to forcibly free a single hostage  far from the reasonable objectives that would allow it to declare itself the winner and end an operation that is costing lives, destruction and even Israels reputation. Nor can Hamas leaders be satisfied, despite the groups gruesome success on October 7, when they launched a bloody raid on Israeli territory and took hostages as negotiating leverage. As usually happens in any war, the surprise of the Hamas attack has been followed by the surprise of a reaction whose destructive scope has surpassed the expectations of the provocateurs themselves. The momentary popularity of Hamas among Palestinians will hardly prevent the eternal resentment for the consequences of their brutal and fanatical provocation  which has endangered, this time existentially, the very Arab nation they pretend to save.

There are usually no definitive victories in todays wars, but rather defeats for everyone, although in different proportions. Ukrainians and Palestinians are bearing the brunt of the death, destruction and uncertainty about the future. Putin and Netanyahu are hiding behind the claims of the so-called existential danger facing Russia and Israel, respectively, but the damage that their countries are suffering is affecting their soul  not their existence. In the policy of force, expansionism, hostility towards multilateralism and international institutions, supremacist ethno-nationalism and limiting democracy and the rule of law, the imperial and mafia authoritarianism of the Kremlin dangerously converges with the Zionism of Israels most extremist government in history.

These elusive victories do not lead to peace, but rather trigger an endless chain of war. War is a complete defeat. Only those who feel legitimized by the politics of force are bound to war, and they tend to reduce all politics to it. Escalations  and the enormous risks they entail  suit these intransigents, who only value the enemys complete surrender. Thats why they find reasons to criticize any past agreements with the enemy, arguing that these are the cause and not the remedy for war. As we head into the New Year, we must urgently call for a definitive ceasefire and for negotiations that will return some peace and justice to Ukraine and Palestine.

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Bank of Georgia Group announced two fresh financing agreements on Thursday, aimed at supporting sustainable initiatives and promoting economic growth in Georgia.

In the first announcement, its subsidiary JSC Bank of Georgia inked a multicurrency loan agreement with the European Investment Bank (EIB), totaling 50m with a maturity period of up to seven years.

The primary objective of the agreement was to provide financial support for investment projects initiated by small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) and mid-cap enterprises operating within Georgia.

Under the agreement, Bank of Georgia said it would allocate a minimum of 30% of the loan towards environmentally sustainable projects, marking the first thematic loan agreement between BOG and EIB in that regard.

The facility would be further bolstered by support from the Greening the Financial Systems technical assistance programme, financed by the German government's international

climate initiative.

We greatly appreciate EIB's ongoing support for Bank of Georgia and Georgian businesses, said chief executive officer Archil Gachechiladze.

This transaction, with a specific focus on green investments, is another important step towards the sustainable development of the local economy.

Georgia has recently gained EU candidate status - a key milestone that will further improve business confidence, and in this context, the ongoing support from our partner IFIs is very important.

In the second announcement, Bank of Georgia said it had sealed two subordinated facility agreements, both structured as tier-two loans.

The first, a 25m agreement, was with the Green for Growth Fund (GGF) Southeast Europe, and the second, a 20m agreement, was with the European Fund for Southeast Europe.

It said the agreements came with a lengthy 10-year maturity period.

Once disbursed and subject to approval from the National Bank of Georgia, the proceeds would be incorporated into the tier-two capital of the bank.

Notably, the 25m facility from GGF carried a green component, while the 20m facility from EFSE was earmarked for sustainable economic activities and women-majority-owned or led micro, small, and medium-sized enterprises (MSMEs).

The bank had undertaken to identify and allocate predefined amounts to eligible investments in these areas, underscoring its dedication to fostering sustainable economic development.

I would like to thank our long-term partners, GGF and EFSE, for their cooperation, Archil Gachechiladze added.

We appreciate their ongoing support for Bank of Georgia and local businesses in Georgia.

These facilities enable us to continue empowering our customers, while maintaining a strong capital position.

Reporting by Josh White for Sharecast.com.
Gujarat has earned the title of India's 'petro capital' thanks to significant facilities like the world's largest grassroots oil refinery in Jamnagar and the OPaL petrochemical complex in Bharuch district. Officials highlight the prominence of Reliance Industries Ltd's Jamnagar refinery, boasting a crude processing capacity of 1.4 million barrels per day. This complex hosts some of the globe's largest units, including the fluidised catalytic cracker, coker, alkylation, paraxylene, polypropylene, refinery off-gas cracker, and petcoke gasification plants.

Gujarat's Chief Minister, Bhupendra Patel, highlighted the significant influence of the state's petrochemical industry. He emphasized that industrial progress plays a crucial role in fulfilling Prime Minister Narendra Modi's vision, noting that Gujarat's chemical and petrochemical sector's sustainable growth has outpaced that of all other states.
Kotak Mahindra Bank has announced that the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) has given the green light for the appointment of C.S. Rajan, an Independent Director at the bank, as the Part-time Chairman. This appointment is slated for a duration of two years starting from January 1, 2024. Rajan initially joined the Bank's Board as an Independent Director on October 22, 2022.

Rajan expressed deep gratitude and a profound sense of honor in accepting the esteemed position of Chairman within the Bank. He conveyed heartfelt appreciation to the Board for placing their trust in him to lead the Bank towards greater achievements, emphasizing his commitment to enhancing stakeholder value. Rajan eagerly anticipates fostering a collaborative environment, working hand in hand with the board and the entire team to drive the Bank to unprecedented success.

Dipak Gupta, the Bank's Managing Director & CEO, extended warm congratulations to Mr. C S Rajan on assuming the pivotal role of Chairman within the Bank's Board. He expressed unwavering confidence in Rajan's leadership, foreseeing substantial benefits for the Bank as it embarks on its next phase of expansion under Rajan's seasoned guidance.
Uttar Pradesh is on the verge of establishing India's inaugural AI city in Lucknow, with a primary objective of nurturing and advancing the country's AI ecosystem. The UP Electronics Corporation Ltd, acting as the pivotal agency for the project, has issued an expression of interest (EoI) to seek proposals regarding the planning, creation, and operation of this AI City in Lucknow, as reported by Businessline. Envisaged as a vibrant and dynamic hub, this AI city aims to facilitate state-of-the-art technology, house research centers, and serve as a home to educational institutions. The EoI is an invitation extended to real estate developers, encouraging their involvement in constructing and overseeing the AI city, which stands poised to shape the future workforce by cultivating innovation and expertise in AI-related fields.

In Lucknow, there's a notable presence of Centers of Excellence specializing in AI and medtech, showcasing substantial integration of AI technologies. Particularly, the AI Centre of Excellence at IIIT Lucknow stands as a crucial pillar, providing support to over 15 AI/ML startups and fostering a dynamic environment promoting innovation and entrepreneurship.

Grand View Research has reported the global AI market's value at $137 billion in 2022, projecting an impressive compound annual growth rate of 37.3% from 2023 to 2030. Correspondingly, Outlook's report emphasizes the AI City's envisioned components, including Grade-A certified commercial spaces dedicated to IT companies, cutting-edge data centers, top-notch flexible workspaces, and advanced tech labs. The IT and Electronics Department has pinpointed potential land parcels in Lucknow, with a prime 40-acre area in the Nadarganj industrial zone. This strategic location boasts proximity to essential infrastructure and excellent connectivity to both the Lucknow-Kanpur road and the Lucknow International Airport.
A manager at Rivers Casino in Pittsburgh is facing felony theft charges after being accused of stealing $20,000 from the main bank at the cashiers cage, according to news reports.

Yancy Yeater, 41, of Canonsburg, a Player Services Manager at the casino, was captured on surveillance video just after 4:30 a.m. on Dec. 4 cleaning the inside of the main bank cabinet of the cashiers cage where the money is stored.

The cashiers cage is the center of commerce at casinos, and where players can get money, casino chips, credit clips and other paperwork, WPXI reported.

While Yeater was cleaning and organizing the cash, he put two bands of $100 bills under a cleaning rag and took them to a restroom, hid them on himself and then left the property, both WTAE and WPXI reported.

The casinos security director informed state police about the theft on Dec. 23. When state police confirmed the theft and Yeater arrived for his shift that same day, he was arrested and taken into custody.

He was taken to Allegheny County Jail, WPXI said.
STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. -- David LaMorte, 60, a deeply loved and respected long-time educator who most recently served as Tottenville High Schools assistant principal of Visual, Performing, and Career Arts, died Wednesday, Dec. 27.

LaMortes work impacted many thousands of students over the years. In addition to serving as an assistant principal, LaMorte led the award-winning Tottenville High School marching band for more than two decades as its director. According to previous reporting from the Advance/SILive.com, he also led a symphonic band at Tottenville High School, was the conductor for the Staten Island Community Band, and served as the executive director of the Summer Arts Institute, a special summer program for gifted music and arts students in New York City.

The loss was announced to the Tottenville High School community Wednesday in an email from the principal, Gina Battista. The contents of the message paint a picture of a musical maestro with a sincere devotion to those under his tutelage.

Daves loss to our community is profound, Battista wrote. He was a mentor and friend to all who knew him. It will always be difficult to forget his generosity, infectious smile, wisdom, and dedication to his students. The legacy he left will live on in the lives of the countless students he touched.

It is only fitting that we continue to uplift and support one another, just as he did during his stay with us, she added. Dave left an indelible mark on us all and we will always be grateful for the time we were able to spend with him.

In 2018, LaMorte was featured on SILive.com for receiving the George N. Parks Leadership in Music Education Award. The award -- developed by the National Association for Music Education (NAFME) and Music for All -- is named after the late George Parks, director of the University of Massachusetts Minuteman Marching Band.

My goals at the school are to be an advocate for children, to give them the best music education and the best all-around education I can provide so that they can be respectful, successful citizens in life. And to be able to take care of themselves, said LaMorte after receiving the award.

The recipient of the honor must demonstrate collaborative spirit, dedication to recognizing students as individuals, perseverance, enthusiasm and the ability to instill qualities in students beyond achievement in music.

Former Tottenville High School Principal Joseph Scarmato said of LaMorte in 2018, Hes a good-hearted soul. He always does whats right. Whatever I ask of him, he always make sure he satisfies and accomplishes. And its always for enhancing the practice of our teachers so that our students get the best quality education as possible.

Since LaMortes death, a number of individuals have shared memories of him, shedding light on his character and influence. A Facebook group dedicated to his memory quickly popped up and by Thursday had nearly 800 members.

I am deeply saddened to learn of the passing of David LaMorte...director of the Tottenville High School Band, the Staten Island Metropolitan Community Concert Band and my personal friend of a good many years. You are loved and will be sorely missed by many R.I.P. Dave, one post on Facebook read.

Juliana Palazzolo-Pellicane, a parent of a Tottenville High School alumnus, highlighted LaMortes support for her son following a severe injury.

He helped my son so much and made my son feel so special and comforted him when no one else understood what my son was going through with his traumatic brain injury, Palazzolo-Pellicane said. What a tremendous loss to Tottenville High school and the community.

According to a family obituary, wake services for LaMorte will be Tuesday, Jan. 2 from 4-8 p.m. and Wednesday, Jan. 3 from 2-4 p.m. and 7-9 p.m. at Harmon Funeral Home, 571 Forest Ave.

A funeral service is planned Thursday, Jan. 4, at 10 a.m. at Trinity Lutheran Church, 309 St Pauls Ave.
A few months ago, several news outlets  including reputable publications as well as tabloids  claimed that you only need to buy 27 tickets to guarantee a win in the U.K. National Lottery. As the winners of Spains Christmas Lottery continue to celebrate, this seems like a suitable time to address the mathematics behind the headlines.

The heart of the story is a recent discovery in combinatorics that was made by David Cushing and David Stewart, two mathematicians from the University of Manchester. Their results  currently under peer review, but available in a preprint  involve interesting combinatorial objects called lottery designs, which are certain collections of subsets of the numbers from 1 to n. As an example, if we consider the numbers {1, 2, 3}, a collection of three subsets would be {{1,3}, {1,2},{2, 3}}. To be a lottery design, such a collection must satisfy certain extra properties.

More precisely, a lottery design for the parameters (n, k, t) is defined as a collection C of subsets of k elements of V = {1, 2, ...,n}, with the property that for any subset W of k numbers from V, there is a subset contained in C which shares at least t elements in common with W. If we look at the subsets as tickets in a lottery, where k winning numbers are drawn from n numbers, then a lottery design is just a set of tickets guaranteed to have at least t numbers in common with the winning numbers.

Naturally, an ideal lottery design is one which uses the smallest possible number of tickets, and this minimal number is denoted as L(n, k, t). For example, the number L(56, 6, 2) is the smallest number of tickets one would need in order to guarantee at least two matching numbers in a hypothetical lottery where six winning numbers are drawn from 56. This is exactly how the U.K. National Lottery works, and since matching two numbers is how you win the smallest prize, it follows that L(56, 6, 2) is precisely the smallest number of tickets needed to guarantee a prize in this lottery. Cushings and Stewarts result says that this number is equal to 27.

In general, it is extremely difficult to find the exact values of L(n, k, t), and in most cases mathematicians have only been able to approximate these numbers to within a range of possible values. Before this recent work, the best known lower bound for L (56, 6, 2) was 23, meaning that we need to buy at least 23 tickets to guarantee a win. In 1998, A. Bate and G. H. John van Rees computed the exact values of L for parameters (n, 6, 2) for all n less than or equal to 54 (incidentally, their result tells us precisely how many tickets you need to buy in the Texas Lottery in order to guarantee a win, but somehow the media didnt consider this to be newsworthy).

Cushing and Stewart extended the techniques used by Bate and Van Rees, calculating L(n,6,2) not only for n = 56, but for all n up to 61. To do this, they first proved that a lottery design of size 27 exists, using techniques from finite geometry, a branch of geometry that deals with spaces containing a finite number of points. Their construction uses something called the Fano plane, which is a plane containing seven points and seven lines  with each line consisting of three points  with the following properties: any two points lie in exactly one line and any two lines intersect in exactly one point. To make a lottery design, they combine three Fano planes with two other finite planes. By associating a unique pair of numbers with each point, each line is then labeled with a unique set of six numbers, and the special properties of these finite planes ensure that this collection of sets constitutes a lottery design of size 27.

Now comes the hard part. In order to show that the size of this design is minimal, they proved that there is no lottery design of 26 or less. To do this, Cushing and Stewart used a logic programming language called Prolog. To write and execute a program in Prolog, you enter a list of rules to work with, and then ask questions based on those rules. In principle, you could specify the definition of a lottery design and ask if one of size 26 exists. However, with todays limitations on computating speed, this could take decades or even centuries. Using a clever combination of upper bounds, lower bounds, and assorted combinatorial techniques, Cushing and Stewart were able to narrow down the search space, guiding the Prolog engine to a definitive answer.

Of course, the two immediate questions are, can this be used to win lotteries? and what about El Gordo? The answer to both questions, unfortunately, is no. Playing these 27 tickets is not a good strategy for winning money in the British lottery. It costs 54 to buy the tickets, and the only guaranteed prize (for matching two of the winning numbers) is a randomly selected ticket in the next draw, which is practically worthless. Indeed, Cushing and Stewart conducted a field test with a total loss of 54, concluding that this unfortunate incident therefore serves both as a verification of our result and of the principle that one should expect to lose money when gambling. Alas, such statements rarely make it into the headlines.

Regarding the Spanish Christmas Lottery, its very structure ensures that no such strategy could possibly work. Unlike the U.K. (and most other conventional lotteries), there is a separate random draw for each winning number, instead of basing the prizes on matching numbers with a single draw. Thus, I conclude with the gentle recommendation that, if you absolutely must play, please do so responsibly.

Richard Mandel is a postdoctoral researcher at the Max Planck Institute for Software Systems (Germany)




Nur Aisyah Binte MD Akbar, 39, of Singapore, fell 70 feet to her death at a state park in New York on Friday, Dec. 22, according to the New York State Police (NYSP).

Police said that the woman and her husband, Abdul Rauf Bin Mohd Said, were hiking on the Beacon Hill Trail in Minnewaska State Park in the town of Rochester when the couple stopped for some photos along a cliff; thats when she lost her footing.

Bin Mohd Said reportedly called 911 and at 1:06 p.m. troopers from State Police Ellenville were dispatched to the scene, according to state police.

Multiple agencies responded to the scene and NYSP Aviation hoisted the victim from the site. Binte MD Akbar was transported to Ellenville Regional Hospital in Ulster County where she was pronounced dead, as noted by the NYSP.

The incident remains under investigation.

MINNEWASKA STATE PARK

According to the New York State Parks website, Minnewaska State Park Preserve consists of more than 24,000 acres of land and is located along the dramatic Shawangunk Mountain ridge, which reaches an elevation of more than 2,000 feet above sea level.

An hour and a half away from NYC in Ulster County, the park features numerous waterfalls, three lakes, and cliffs and ledges, as mentioned on the New York State Parks website. Additionally, the park includes 35 miles of carriage roads and 50 miles of footpaths for hiking and biking.
I hope that New Years Eve celebrations will be happy, healthy, and safe  and so, I hope that people will mark the occasion with festivities other than fireworks. In 2022, fireworks sent 10,200 people in the U.S. to emergency rooms, and they claimed 11 lives. And thats just the human toll.

These pyrotechnics also start an average of nearly 20,000 fires every year, damaging property, destroying forests, and injuring and killing wildlife. Deer and other animals who are terrified by the deafening blasts run into roadways, causing collisions. Birds, many of whom have poor night vision, flee their nests and crash into buildings, signs, and other obstacles, causing blunt-force trauma and death. Other animals die after choking on the chemical-laden smoke.

In the days surrounding New Years Eve and July 4th, animal shelters are inundated with calls from frantic guardians whose animals have jumped fences, torn through screen doors, leaped through windows, and more in an attempt to escape the frightening sounds. Many never make it back home.

Instead of fireworks, lets watch confetti poppers and pinatas explode and champagne shoot into the air. And lets ensure an enjoyable start to 2024 for everyone.

(Michelle Reynolds represents the PETA Foundation)
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Alzheimers is no laughing matter. But apparently Canadian comedian Gavin Crawford didnt get that memo. His seven-part podcast Lets Not Be Kidding is packed with funny stories about his ailing mother, Donna  like the time she was convinced Crawfords husband invented Christmas trees. It quickly becomes obvious that hes using humour to deal with the grim reality and heartbreak of dementia, and also to convey what a wonderful person Donna was and how much he loved her. The final instalment is about her death and will leave you in tears, even as Crawford makes jokes about the dispersal of her ashes. Investigative journalist Jake Adelstein of The Evaporated: Gone with the Gods. The Evaporated: Gone with the Gods When Jake Adelsteins Japanese accountant disappeared without a trace, his investigative journalist mind started ticking over. Adelstein, who wrote the book on which the TV series Tokyo Vice is based, discovered that officially around 80,000 Japanese people go missing every year, and the actual number is probably three times that. Adelstein and co-host Shoko Plambeck went looking for answers and discovered all the ways a person in trouble in Japan can evaporate, often with the help of organisations called fly by night shops. By the final episode, Adelstein even uncovers the truth about his missing accountant and a showdown takes place. The Last Soviet

If youd have told me a year ago that I would spend hours listening to a podcast from former NSync boy band member Lance Bass, I would have said you were nuts. But The Last Soviet  about Sergei Krikalev, the Russian cosmonaut who was aboard the Mir space station in 1991 when the USSR crumbled  is diverting stuff. Krikalev was given a choice  stay up there or return to Earth and jeopardise the space program. Whats Bass got to do with all this? Improbable as it may seem, in 2002, he moved to Russia and trained to be a cosmonaut. His old bandmate Justin Timberlake may have shone brighter, but Bass had his eyes on a different kind of star. Bear Brook At the end of episode one in the second season of Bear Brook, theres such a big twist it will give you whiplash. It involves exactly who was in the room when teenager Jason Carroll confessed to murdering a pregnant woman. And then the host, Jason Moon, admits that he deliberately delayed sharing this information with listeners to heighten the impact of the revelation. Its a telling moment, because true crime podcasts are all about framing the narrative for maximum effect. It also feeds right into the story of Carroll, who lost control of his narrative in the worst possible way, confessing to a crime he didnt commit. Why would anyone do that? Youll just have to listen. Inside the Tribe Years ago, whenever I used to visit Katoomba, Id drop into Common Ground, an inviting cafe that had amazing pancakes and looked like Middle Earth. After listening to Inside the Tribe, the award-winning podcast from Good Weekend journalist Tim Elliott, my memories have been sullied. The Twelve Tribes, who ran the cafe, along with many other businesses around the world, present a benign face as a utopian religious community. But Elliott finds past members who have managed to escape, and they claim its a repressive cult that controls and abuses its members, cutting them off from the outside world and making them virtual slaves. Now those pancakes dont seem so sweet.

Magnificent Jerk Maya Lin Sugarmans Uncle Galen was always a bit of a mystery to her. She lived with him for a short time in Los Angeles and knew that he had moved there to try to make it in the movie business, but he only got to play roles such as Low Life Number 1 in Kindergarten Cop. Years later, Sugarman discovers that Crazy Six, a schlocky 1998 drugs-and-guns movie starring the unlikely combination of Rob Lowe, Burt Reynolds and Ice-T, was loosely based on his life. It turns out her uncle had secrets. Her podcast investigates what stories we tell about ourselves and what we choose to keep hidden. Loading The Retrievals This is sometimes an uncomfortable listen, but so it should be. It investigates the story of a nurse at a fertility centre at Yale University who oversaw egg retrieval procedures and replaced the fentanyl that women should have been getting with saline. Subsequently, these women went through excruciating pain, while the nurse horded the fentanyl for her own addiction.
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Eating outBest of No plans? No worries: 10 of the best Sydney venues to celebrate New Years Eve in style From walk-in bars to set price food and drink packages, these hotspots are putting on a fittingly fine show for the last night of 2023. Isabel Cant December 28, 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

Weve rounded up 10 events across Sydney where you can say goodbye to 2023  and hello to 2024  in style. Theres an Italian-inspired soiree, rooftop revelry, walk-in options and more. A sample of the NYE spread at Le Foote. Supplied Le Foote The decadent new-ish grillhouse from the crew behind Hubert and Albertos Lounge is putting on a one-off banquet menu in their mosaic-adorned dining room. Highlights include caviar and smoked creme fraiche tartlets, a chilled seafood selection, as well as wagyu striploin and king prawns hot off the charcoal grill. Finish with their summery take on rum baba with macerated cherries. Step outside and youre already in the prime firework-watching spot, The Rocks. Price: $180 per person for ten dishes plus a glass of champagne.

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Some walk-ins available or book here. 101 George St, The Rocks. Head up to the rooftop at the Taphouse for NYE celebrations. Supplied Taphouse If youre after a celebratory feast thats more budget than blow-out, head to the roof of Darlinghurst boozer the Taphouse and choose between their Chinese a la carte and banquet menu. The banquet menu hits all the nostalgic classics (hello, sweet and sour pork), but their a la carte menu offers more NYE-worthy centrepieces like roast duck platter, steamed barramundi and wok-fried mud crab. Take advantage of all of their frozen gin cocktail specials going for $15 instead of the usual $20, too. Price: A la carte menu or $65 per person banquet menu

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Walk-ins available or book here. 122 Flinders St, Darlinghurst Enjoy a four-course menu, plus a glass of Charles Heidsieck champagne at Otto. Supplied Otto Beyond the million-dollar water views, Otto is the perfect spot to catch the last sun rays of 2023. Those with packed NYE agendas can take advantage of the Italian stalwarts full a la carte menu at their first seating at 5pm. From 7.30pm, diners will be offered a four-course menu, plus a glass of Charles Heidsieck champagne on arrival. Standouts include zucchini flowers filled with scallops and prawn and wagyu chuck tail flap MBS 9+ steak. Kids are also catered for with a special $60 menu. Price: A la carte menu until 6.15pm, $360 per person menu plus a glass of champagne after 7.30pm, $60 per person kids menu.

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Book here. Area 8, 6 Cowper Wharf Roadway, Woolloomooloo Feast the year away at Ho Jiak Town Hall. Edwina Pickles Ho Jiak Town Hall Junda Khoos supercharged Malaysian playground has a luxurious a la carte menu that seems like it was made for celebrating New Years Eve. Go all out with lobster pipis sang mee and bone marrow roti, or choose your own adventure with a selection of finessed Malaysian sauces to accompany NT mud crab and whole coral trout. That is, if you can look past the expertly executed classics like Hainanese chicken and swimmer crab char kwai teow. Banquet menus are also on offer if it all sounds too good to make a decision. Price: A la carte menu, or $98/$168 per person for the banquet menu.

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Walk-ins available, or book here.125 York St, Sydney Celebrate NYE at Sky Bar at Shell House. James Brickwood Shell House All four levels at Shell House will be open as usual for NYE, a stones throw away from the action at Circular Quay. Enjoy the Italo-inspired menu at the cool and casual Menzies Bar & Bistro (dont miss the lobster rolls), snack on caviar up at the Clocktower Bar, or go all out at the Dining Room with showstoppers like grilled southern rock lobster and 900 gram Delmonico steak. All levels have the option to add a bottle of Perrier-Jouet and a serving of their signature crab & caviar for $150. Walk-ins available or book here. 37 Margaret St, Sydney

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El Primo Sanchez will be slinging Mexican canapes and good times. Jennifer Soo El Primo Sanchez Theyll be slinging as many moreish Mexican canapes as you can eat for three hours at this mezcal bars inaugural New Years Eve party. Cured snapper tostadas, blue swimmer crab tacos and classic tacos al pastor are standouts, but the evenings mission should be to try all nine. Margarita cheesecake and corn tres leches with salted caramel will satisfy sweet tooths, too. Tickets include three cocktail tokens for mezcal-fuelled night festivities. After 10pm, canapes will stop roaming to make way for some serious dancing, but $60 tickets will score you two El-Primo cocktails. Price: $160 per person from 7-10pm, $60 from 10pm. Tickets will be sold at the door, or book here. 27-33 Oxford St, Paddington

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Join the pizza party at Pizza Madre. Dominic Lorrimer Pizza Madre If battling the city crowds isnt your thing, head to Pizza Madre in Marrickville for vegetarian wood-fired pizzas in relaxed surrounds. Try their December selections from their a la carte menu, or add some mezze, a seasonal salad, and a dessert (cherry pavlova, were looking at you) to make it a set menu for $65 per person. Price: A la carte menu, or $65 per person set menu Walk-ins available or book here. 2/205 Victoria Rd, Marrickville

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For fried chicken with spice and all things nice head to Belles Hot Chicken. Supplied Belles Hot Chicken If youre looking for a good way to cleanse yourself of 2023, sweat it out with some spicy fried chook at Belles Hot Chicken. All of their Sydney locations will be taking walk-ins and offering their full menu. Opt for their big wings for the maximum crispy skin-to-meat ratio, and wash it down with a schooner of Belles Draught, which will be on special for $5. Walk-ins available or book here. Locations in Barangaroo, Circular Quay and Bondi The Dolphin Hotel in Surry Hills is a good time  all of the time. Jennifer Soo

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The Dolphin Hotel The Surry Hills pub will be throwing open its doors to all comers, whether theyre here for a couple of drinks, or eyeing off their Italian-leaning menu. Celebrate what was 2023 and the return of the Dolphins wood-fire pizza oven, helmed by Bella Brutta alum Sasha Smiljanic. Walk-ins available, or book here.412 Crown St, Surry Hills Cho Cho San

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For its part Hamas understands the importance of the hostages and wont give them up easily. With the degree of devastation that Gaza has suffered during the campaign, the likelihood that all the hostages remains will be recovered is questionable.

The issue of the hostages presents the most obvious measure of success. All of the approximately 110 living hostages who were taken and the bodies of around 20 believed to have died must be returned. It is a deeply political issue for Netanyahu on whose watch they were kidnapped and the pressure from their families for their return is becoming an increasingly significant domestic issue.

It is on these three measures then, that Netanyahu will seek to claim victory. But how achievable are they in reality, and to what extent will they be achieved before Netanyahu the politician satisfies himself that he can claim that the mission has been accomplished?

A few days before Christmas and two and a half months after Hamas killed more than 1200 men, women and children in a terrorist onslaught, Israels Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said that Were continuing the war to the end. It will continue until Hamas is destroyed  until victory  until all the goals we set are met: destroying Hamas, releasing our hostages and removing the threat from Gaza.

If Netanyahus ability to deliver on the most straightforward of his goals is questionable, then talk of destroying Hamas is even less likely. Hamass senior political leadership sits outside the country and Israel, or whomever will be responsible for providing security and basic services in the aftermath of the Gaza operation, will likely be unable to stop Hamas from reconstituting. It may well take years to achieve, but in a densely populated substate of more than two million people with few economic prospects and many who will have lost a friend or extended family member to Israeli military action, willing recruits wont be hard to find.

The same goes for his promise to remove the threat from Gaza. Short of reprising its occupation of Gaza, unless the Israelis can find a security guarantor for the narrow, 41 kilometre long strip to its west then the threat will remain. Arms can be smuggled in, rocket manufactured or assembled and the warren of tunnels that Israel is finding and destroying can be re-built, albeit slowly, unless whatever security authorities are in place are sufficiently motivated or diligent to prevent this.

Illustration: Andrew Dyson

The only potential for a substantive, lasting guarantee of security is for negotiations for the presently chimeric two-state solution to re-commence. Whether such an option even exists is debatable  the Palestinians have squandered previous opportunities, and successive Israeli governments, by encouraging land grabs and illegal settlements, have ensured that whatever offer they may eventually put on the table will be far short of what was offered decades ago. But Netanyahu will not even concede the possibility of a sovereign Palestinian state, in part due to his own beliefs but also by his need for the support of the right for his own political survival. In an article published in the Wall Street Journal, Netanyahu claimed there were three prerequisites for peace: the destruction of Hamas, the de-militarisation of Gaza and the de-radicalisation of Palestinian society.

Describing Palestinian society as radicalised says much about Netanyahu  at heart he is a survivor, a political tactician. But he is not a strategist and far from being a statesman. And therein lies the conundrum for Netanyahu. Having spectacularly failed in the primary responsibility of any national leader  to protect his countrys citizens from attack, Netanyahu understands that his only chance of political survival is to double down on his appeal to the far right at home. But the manner in which he is doing this, and prosecuting the Gaza campaign, is all stick and no carrot. Calling for the Palestinian education system to re-write curricula while destroying Palestinian schools and universities does nothing to encourage Palestinians to take his calls seriously. Then again, his audience is always internal.
In another disturbing discovery, Fox sought videos of mother and young son as well as mother [and] daughter from a Facebook user, sending 29 messages over six days and receiving only two responses. In a WhatsApp group chat, Fox responded to a request for child abuse material with u send first. Following his arrest, Fox spent six weeks in custody before being released on strict conditional bail. Fox (right) pleaded guilty to three child abuse material charges. Credit: Dominic Lorrimer He was due to be sentenced this month after pleading guilty to three child abuse charges, which were using a carriage service to transmit, access and solicit the material.

Giving evidence in court before Christmas, Fox denied an interest in children and said he did not get excited by the abuse material. Asked by defence lawyer Arjun Chhabra why he solicited the material, if that was true, he said he got caught up in the moment and he was led to the material via his porn addiction and unusual fetishes such as incest. I was just chatting to people. I dont know how to describe it  Im horrified about it and that I typed in those words, he told the court. He told Chhabra he was not thinking about his contribution to child exploitation at the time because he was just in a haze, but had since realised his behaviour allowed people to abuse children. Ive [felt] incredible shame since last year [over] the embarrassment [and] the carnage Ive caused to my [family] because of my actions that were nothing but awful, he said.

Under cross-examination, Commonwealth DPP prosecutor Steve Grodzicki pressed Fox on whether he specifically requested child abuse material and got it in return when he was talking about child videos and chats related to kids. There are barriers this man needs to confront that I am not confident he has addressed. Judge Graham Turnbull Fox agreed he did. Grodzicki continued: So when you used the term young you meant a person under the age of 18 years? Fox said he cant recall whether I was deliberately asking for child abuse material or someone young, but I think it was reckless for me to use those words.

After the cross-examination, Judge Graham Turnbull said he was not prepared to sentence Fox until a later date because he felt that despite his education and intelligence, he had not got the point of his offending. I feel this man is not facing the facts, and these facts deal with children, Turnbull said. Perhaps the question of a fetish involving children was not addressed [in his evidence] and I was concerned he was telling the truth, but not the whole truth. In those [court] documents, he has every single fetish. This is a bridge too far  He will require all his energy to ensure he is not kidding himself. Turnbull adjourned the matter to March and ordered a sentencing assessment report. Under Foxs bail conditions, he must report to Hornsby police station every Wednesday, surrender his passport and stay at least 100 metres away from any international departure point, school, pre-school or childcare centre. He must not contact or be in the company of anyone 16 years or younger, seek any kind of work involving children, or use the internet unless accessing his personal email address while supervised by his partner.
Technology doesnt have emotions, but it tries to find ways to imitate them. To this end, virtual assistants such as Siri (Apple), Alexa (Amazon) and Cortana (Microsoft) have a womans name and voice. Although, after many controversies, these virtual assistants have been available for the past year in neutral and masculine voices, studies show that attributing female gender traits to robots increases how well they are perceived as human, as they are seen as warmer and more helpful. Many companies have based their decisions on these studies, arguing that giving their programs female traits increases their use and, with it, sales.

Im Siri, but I dont like to talk about myself. How can I help you? says the virtual assistant when asked for its name. Sylvie Boreau is a professor of ethical marketing at the Toulouse Business School (France) and has been researching why female robots are seen as more human for years. In the article The most human bot: Female gendering increases humanness perceptions of bots and acceptance of AI, Boreau explains her findings: that positive human qualities  such as the ability to perceive emotions and be friendlier and more helpful  is more associated with women than men.

Users feel more comfortable interacting with female voices due to the traditional connotations associated with womens care-giving and assistance roles in our society. That is why AI uses these feminine characteristics to make its products more human, Bureau says by phone. However, the expert warns that this can create an ethical dilemma: Giving a virtual assistant feminine characteristics can lead to womens objectification.

According to the researcher, over time, many users began to call their virtual assistant derogatory names such as bitch. In the case of Siri, the programmers decided that the device would respond: Id blush if I could. This gave rise to a 2019 research paper on gender and technology by UNESCOs Division for Gender Equality that made direct reference to Siri: the study was called Id Blush If I Could. That forced Apple lo change Siris response in its next update. Now, she responds, Im not sure what youre expecting with those words.

However, the stereotype continues as these virtual assistants continue to be given a female name and voice. When Siri is asked if she is a woman, she replies that she does not have sex, like cacti. For Cristina Aranda, co-founder of the Womens Tech association, which seeks to promote women in the field of technology, it is very clear that the problem lies with the people who manufacture and make decisions about this type of technology: The vast majority of people who have shaped these products are men with great gender and cultural biases, she says. Although Aranda thinks that it will be very difficult to change these stereotypes, she thinks there is some hope: The only way to hack the system is for there to be more women in the sector. In the end, the decisions that programmers make when creating these devices are based on their belief system, and if they have always seen women as assistants, they will reflect this in their AI.

Martin Piqueras, professor at the OBS Business School (Spain) and digital strategy expert at the company Gartner, agrees. He uses the example of the first switchboard operators to explain why virtual assistants have a womans voice and name: Telephone companies were able to verify very quickly that when a woman was the one who connected the call, customers felt more satisfied. Women generated confidence, and men felt assisted. Quickly, the rest of the companies sought to imitate that female voice in their customer services.

Piqueras says that since those first Hello Girls  female switchboard operators  womens voices have always been studied more: It gives people confidence and makes them feel satisfied. And this has been proven by multinational companies, who know that their products are more likely to succeed using feminine traits.

Scientist Karl Fredric MacDorman, an expert in the interaction between people and computers, published a report in 2010 in which he concluded that both men and women preferred female voices in their virtual assistants. Since then, as Piqueras explains, technology companies have relied on these studies to ensure that the feminine in their robots increases the sale of their devices.

Nancy Salazar, an expert in information technology, has studied this phenomenon for years: The female gender has always been linked to servitude. This was confirmed by researcher Clifford Nass, professor at Stanford University, in his study: Are Machines Gender Neutral?, which concludes that people tend to perceive female voices as helpers and male voices as dictatorial figures.

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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 Thousands of images and words came together to form the great narrative around the defeat of the referendum to establish an Indigenous Voice to parliament in the Australian Constitution. Had the vote passed, the federal government argued, an advisory group would have been established to make recommendations to alleviate the social and economic inequalities experienced by Indigenous people. Yet, 60 per cent of Australians voted against it on October 14, 2023, despite many wanting to formally recognise Indigenous people in the Constitution and to improve their lot in life. A nation divided, with race its fault line. Alex Ellinghausens photo from Senator Jacinta Nampijinpa Prices address to the National Press Club in Canberra cuts to this deep division and the unimagined alliances that ensued around this referendum. For these reasons, his image Uncomfortable is the Heralds 2023 Photo of the Year. It is the image that puts the exclamation point on the referendum narrative. For the first time, a panel of four judges  Herald editor Bevan Shields, NSW state librarian Dr Caroline Butler-Bowdon, Powerhouse senior curator Sarah Rees and a photographer-at-large (who has no connection with the Herald but wishes to remain anonymous for professional reasons)  selected a Photo of the Year from a shortlist of 20 images (below) chosen by the photo desk.

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Each judge chose three favourites, allocating three, two and one points. After these points were tallied, Ellinghausens image won. Kate Geraghty came a close second with her photograph of a gun-toting father taking a happy snap of his young son before praying together at the Western Wall in the Old City of Jerusalem. A readers poll saw Dion Georgopoulos portrait of NSW Greens politician Sue Higginson come out on top. Shields said Ellinghausen was a deserving winner. No other media outlet in Australia invests in photography in the way the Herald does, he said. It is an essential part of our offering to subscribers and enhances our journalism in ways we often dont appreciate enough. We are very lucky to have such a skilled team. Ellinghausen is a photojournalist for The Sydney Morning Herald and The Age, and has won multiple photography awards. He was the first photographer to receive the Federal Parliamentary Australian Press Gallery Journalist of the Year award. Prices speech put the Coalitions Indigenous spokeswoman in the spotlight  she was described by journalist Tony Wright as a weaponised conservative woman who can say things out loud that white conservatives havent dared to say since the early 1960s.

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She declared there was no ongoing trauma or disadvantage among Aboriginal people stemming from colonisation  a position that places her at odds with almost all social researchers, historians and Indigenous leaders. However, Price pointedly challenged whether some Australians preferred the symbolism of the Voice to parliament rather than confronting the harder issues of tackling endemic family violence and sexual abuse in some Indigenous communities. She declared that it was racist to think that all Indigenous people should speak with one voice. We are not one homogeneous group  [and] often disagreed on positions, she said. Ellinghausen said the image was taken in a small upstairs room at the press club because the more spacious reception room was undergoing renovations. This created a more raucous and charged town hall atmosphere with politicians, media and members of the public jostling for space under the hot broadcast TV lighting. It was a moment in the making. As Wright wrote: a band of Coalition figures  Nationals leader David Littleproud and his colleagues Barnaby Joyce and Bridget McKenzie, Liberal frontbencher Michaelia Cash and former Nationals MP Kay Hull  who trooped down to the National Press Club to listen to Price, whooped and tittered as she went far beyond her opposition to the Voice to parliament.

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The ex-wife of fugitive developer Jean Nassif has given up a court bid to reclaim $200,000 cash seized from her handbags and wardrobe when police raided the developers Sydney waterfront mansion.

Court documents including the warrant, and the list of items seized by police, seen by the Herald, reveal what investigators were searching for  and exactly what they found.

Jean Nassif and his wife Nissy in happier times. Credit: Instagram

The Chiswick mansion belonging to Jean Nassif was raided in February by a team of NSW Police armed with a warrant to seize any digital or hard copy records related to his development empire Toplace.

The company was placed into administration in July with debts of more than $1 billion, with creditors including a number of owners corporations that had obtained rectification orders to fix their faulty buildings.
Only 38 per cent of staff at the commission would recommend it as a great place to work, down from 74 per cent in 2016 and 2017. The benchmark for the NSW public service is 63 per cent. Thirty-seven per cent of commission employees intend to leave the organisation within a year, compared with 8 per cent for the public sector overall. The average score for all questions was 55 per cent, ahead of NSW Ambulance and some local health districts delivering frontline services, but behind other office-based agencies such as the Ministry of Health with 72 per cent. The poor results prompted a series of town hall meetings with staff in October, November and December, led by HR specialists from public sector agency HealthShare NSW. The HealthShare presentation from October included a timeline to develop an action plan to respond to the results by the end of January.

The process was met with scepticism by disillusioned staff who questioned HealthShares independence. Screenshots obtained by the Herald show anonymous staff comments and the number of up-votes by colleagues, including key concerns about psychological safety for individuals sharing feedback, and suspicion this was a predetermined process talking at us, not with us. Staff questioned why HealthShare had identified priorities before talking to staff, while ignoring other questions with low scores, and why the free-text responses in the original survey were not shared. The proposed timeline for a response to the employee survey results, from the HealthShare presentation in October. A HealthShare spokesperson said the agency was assisting the commission with the routine planning of activities relating to the annual survey. When it was put to HealthShare that the agency was not always involved after previous surveys, it declined to comment. The NSW Mental Health Commissioner Catherine Lourey joined the organisation in 2015 and has been commissioner since 2017. Former Mental Health Minister Bronnie Taylor reappointed Lourey to a second five-year term last year. Lourey declined to speak to the Herald.

Similar problems at the National Mental Health Commission were raised earlier this year, prompting federal Health Minister Mark Butler to launch a review. The review, which led to the resignation of chief executive Christine Morgan in September, found the organisation had a poor workplace culture and significant budget operating losses, but did not substantiate claims of bad administration and bullying. The Working for Queensland survey published in August found similar staff dissatisfaction at the Queensland Mental Health Commission. NSW Mental Health Commissioner Christine Lourey was reappointed for a second five-year term last year. Credit: Wolter Peeters The most consistent complaint from NSW commission staff who spoke to the Herald was micromanagement, such as an expectation to reply all on every email and repeated checking of basic tasks. Some people alleged that part-time staff seemed to be sidelined, and there was not enough consideration given to employees with lived experience of mental illness.

Several staff made claims of bullying or outlined issues that could amount to bullying, including managers being openly disrespectful to staff in meetings, changing the goalposts on projects without notice, and removing people who raised concerns from projects, sometimes without telling them. We live in fear, one staff member said. Workplaces with the lowest wellbeing scores in NSW government Public secondary schools: 33 per cent Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions: 34 per cent NSW Ambulance: 39 per cent NSW Police Force: 42 per cent Public primary schools: 43 per cent NSW Trustee and Guardian: 44 per cent Greyhound Welfare and Integrity Commission: 45 per cent Department of Education: 45 per cent Mental Health Commission: 46 per cent Museum of Applied Arts and Sciences: 47 per cent. NSW Rural Fire Service: 47 per cent A former senior employee said the broader question was whether the commission was effective, saying: I dont know what the commission has achieved besides giving people in the mental health sector something to put on their CV. The legislation gives the commission the power to initiate its own reports and table them to parliament without approval from the minister.

Yet, several employees said there was some reluctance for the commission to speak out on important issues in order to not rock the boat, and it was regarded as routine for NSW Health to massage submissions authored by the commission. Loading This contributed to low staff morale because staff arrived wanting to make a difference, but quickly became disillusioned with the impact of their work. A NSW Health spokesperson rejected the claim that it routinely massaged the commissions reports or submissions. The Mental Health Commission has been established under its own legislation and NSW Health respects its role and independence, the spokesperson said.

Dr Sebastian Rosenberg, from the University of Sydneys Brain and Mind Centre, helped set up the NSW commission in 2012. He said the organisation was designed with teeth but [he] hadnt seen any evidence it was using those teeth, and all mental health commissions in Australia were too timid. Rosenberg has an upcoming journal article evaluating the effectiveness of mental health commissions in Australia. The Western Australian commission established in 2010 is the oldest, and there are now equivalents in all states and territories except Tasmania and the Northern Territory, plus the national body. About a decade ago, Australia took a punt on this model of reform, with a view to breaking what was seen to be a logjam in mental health reform, Rosenberg said. So far, it is really difficult to see evidence that these commissions have been effective in breaking that logjam. Rosenberg measured the commissions effectiveness against metrics such as delivering more services or funding, or making the voice of consumers and carers more clearly heard. He said it was a damning indictment of commissions that they hadnt made it any easier to determine if the current approach was helping people.

Professor Alan Rosen, a community psychiatrist with academic appointments at Universities of Sydney and Wollongong, was on the taskforce to set up the NSW commission and also inaugural deputy commissioner until 2015. Rosen said the potential of mental health commissions to drive strategic reform was immense, as demonstrated overseas, and he wanted to see them built up rather than torn down. This required the commissions to act at arms length from government. Instead, Rosen said, commissions were too cosy with health departments, risking them becoming compliant shadow bureaucracies. Loading Whats happened in Australia is that some reform-oriented commissions are too close to government and are often preoccupied with tasks assigned to them by government, and that doesnt encourage them to undertake independent inquiries, providing frank scrutiny and advice, Rosen said.
A boy was killed when a tree branch fell on him in Victorias north on Thursday morning, in the second fatal accident from a fallen tree limb since storms hit the state on Christmas Day.

Victoria Police said the primary school-aged child was with family at a property off Bells Road in Gowangardie, near Shepparton, when a tree branch fell on him just before 8am.

At this stage it appears the boy was fatally injured when a large branch fell from a tree, police said in a statement.

A report will be prepared for the coroner.
PHILIPSBURG:--- The Minister of Public Health, Social Development, and Labor, Omar Ottley, announced on Thursday, December 28th, that the retroactive and increased AOV pension payments have been disbursed.

Minister Ottley expressed his appreciation at the realization of this milestone, despite the lengthy process involved. As a result of this increase, St. Maarten now has the highest maximum pension payout among Curacao, Aruba, and St. Maarten (CAS). The maximum payout for St. Maarten has been raised to Naf 1,338, surpassing Curacao's Naf 862 and Aruba's Naf 1,215. Furthermore, Minister Ottley has made the annual increase in pension payments a mandatory provision.

This significant development ensures that seniors in St. Maarten receive the financial support and recognition they deserve. The retroactive and increased AOV pension payments will slowly but surely enhance the quality of life for our cherished senior citizens, who have contributed to our society throughout their lives.

The yearly increase in pension payments aims to alleviate financial burdens and enhance the social security net for seniors in St. Maarten. This advancement reinforces VSAs commitment to fostering an inclusive and equitable society for all citizens, regardless of age.

The Ministry of Public Health, Social Development, and Labor encourages all eligible seniors to verify that they have received the retroactive and increased AOV pension payments today December 28th, 2023.
This Wednesday, the President of Mexico, Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador, met with the U.S. Secretary of State, Antony Blinken, and the Secretary of Homeland Security, Alejandro Mayorkas, in Mexico City. The meeting occurred as dramatic images showed a caravan of thousands of migrants from Honduras, El Salvador, Venezuela and Haiti, among other countries of origin, crossing the country from south to north.

The senior U.S. officials, joined by White House Security Advisor Elizabeth Sherwood-Randall, arrived with a list of concrete requests, including the demand to divert some of the migrants to southern Mexico, increased control of the railroads migrants use to cross the country (among them, the train known as La Bestia [the Beast], a ruthless mode of transportation), and the suggestion that migrants be given incentives so that they do not continue their journey to the border, such as visas to remain in the countries they are passing through en route to the promise of a better life in the United States.

The meeting stemmed from a call last Thursday between Lopez Obrador and U.S. President Joe Biden. In that conversation, both presidents agreed to the terms of the visit, as well as to reopening several border crossings that had been closed on an emergency basis amid the flood of people arriving at the border between the two countries. The average number of encounters, a euphemism that refers to the number of immigrant apprehensions by Border Patrol agents, reached an average of 9,600 per week at the beginning of December. Last Tuesday, the figure dropped somewhat, to 6,000.

In fiscal year 2023 (which runs through September, from the previous October), there were over 3.2 million encounters, a figure that has shattered all records, including 2022, which broke the previous record with 2.7 million apprehensions.

The migration crisis and border management have been a constant headache for Biden, who came to office with the promise of humanizing migrants and reversing the harsh policies of his predecessor, Donald Trump. Nearly three years later, the harsh reality of an unprecedented crisis has forced the president, who is seeking re-election next year in a campaign that will be defined by ideological warfare over these issues, to toughen his discourse. Perhaps the biggest sign of that change in attitude came in October, when the White House approved an expansion of the border wall, despite the fact that the Democratic leader campaigned for the presidency on the platform of abandoning one of Trumps signature projects.

Mexicos Secretary of Foreign Affairs, Alicia Barcena, noted in a message that Mexico requested the bilateral meeting. On Wednesday, she will accompany President Lopez Obrador to discuss bilateral cooperation on human mobility, regular management of migratory flows and the expansion of legal channels for migration, with the rest of the Mexican and U.S. delegations, according to a statement on the Ministry of Foreign Affairs social media. But the task will be more difficult, given that the United States demands for tackling this migratory crisis also affect the political problems it is causing domestically.

In Congress, the Republican Party has succeeded in linking military aid to Ukraine to tightening up border management. They seek to force the Biden administration to commit to granting asylum to no more than 5,000 people a day; strengthening the requirements so that immigrants must prove that a credible danger prevents them from returning to their countries; and equipping applicants with GPS monitors like the ones used in house arrests.

Last week, the U.S. Senate went on Christmas vacation after rushing to meet the deadlines to reach an agreement on such pressing issues. A solution to the problems on the southern border will have to wait until political activities resume. Meanwhile, the mayors of cities like Eagle Pass and El Paso in Texas and Yuma, Arizona, have asserted that they are overwhelmed by a crisis that also reaches New York, Chicago and Washington. For his part, hardline governor of Texas, Greg Abbott, has been chartering buses for months to send his states problems to Democratic strongholds.

Abbott just signed a law that allows the police to immediately deport undocumented immigrants. It is one of the toughest laws to be passed in the United States to date, and the Mexican president has condemned it.

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By Donican Lam, KYODO NEWS - Dec 28, 2023 - 12:39 | Arts, Feature, All

When popular South Korean performer DJ Soda took to social media last summer to call out those who groped her at an Osaka music festival, she highlighted the challenges faced by women carving out their own dynamic niche in the male-dominated electronic dance music scene.

Females only accounted for around 10 percent of the top 100 world DJs ranked last year by British publication DJ Mag, and Japan also reflects that reality. Aspiring female disc jockeys in the country's pulsating nightlife are faced with strong gender biases.

DJ Natsumi, who first met DJ Soda nearly a decade ago while performing at a club in Fukuoka Prefecture, southwestern Japan, says that the tendency for women to be objectified, or worse, based on their appearance lies at the heart of the issue.

"People often say that women get attention without any real skill or effort just because they excel in communication or sales. And if you stand out, people tend to think it's not due to your music at all and don't consider your actual abilities," said Natsumi.

Originally a dancer, Natsumi began DJing at the age of 19 in the club district of her home prefecture of Fukuoka. Early in her career, from 2014 to 2018, she was part of an all-female DJ duo known as Tidy. It was at that time she met DJ Soba and was inspired by her look and vibe.

Natsumi said she also encountered unwelcome physical contact and sexual advances during the time she emulated DJ Soda's alluring aesthetic. She has since switched to a more casual street style to encourage people to value her for her art, rather than her looks.

"Being sexy might attract attention, but you tend to be seen in a certain way by men. I want people to see me for my music," said Natsumi.

Her efforts appeared to have paid off. In 2019, she was ranked the top under-29 producer in Japan by DJ Mag Japan, a localized version of world DJ ranking, and number one in the female DJ ranking DJane Mag Japan in 2020-2021.

DJ Eri x2, who debuted in April 2021, says that as a woman she also often feels she has to put in more effort to be taken seriously.

But the up-and-coming female DJ has been able to avoid sexual harassment by being street smart, maintaining distance from the crowd, and removing herself immediately from compromising situations.

"I am always on the alert because you never know what might happen in a nightclub, where drinking is involved," said Eri x2, who has played in prominent venues like Ce La Vi Tokyo, Womb and Zerotokyo.

Sumiko Nakashima, a consultant in her 40s who moonlights as a DJ known as Sumi, says a lack of sex education among young people and weak laws on sexual harassment in Japan are partly to blame for normalizing unsavory behavior in clubs.

"In the United States, such (actions) would be punished. So Japanese guys are really spoiled, as they can do whatever they want," said Nakashima while also blaming Japan's pervasive sex industry for oversexualizing women.

This and other cultural issues leave Japan consistently ranked poorly on the World Economic Forum's gender gap rankings, which track economic participation and opportunity, educational attainment, health and survival, and empowerment. Japan fell to its lowest position on record at 125th among 146 countries in 2023, the worst in the East Asia and Pacific region.

Meanwhile, the country's sex industry was estimated to be worth a whopping $24 billion in 2015, the third largest in the world, according to black market research company Havocscope.

Against this backdrop, veteran DJ Mai-My, who co-founded III Faiths DJ School in Tokyo's Shibuya district nearly 15 years ago, says underlying gender biases can also work to women's advantage.

"Even if guys are skilled DJs, there are only a few opportunities. For girls, being cute, showing a bit more, or being young catches the eye of organizers or venue owners. So for us as organizers, it's easier to make a girl famous than a guy," she said.

III Faiths DJ School, which has seven franchises across Japan and affiliates in the Philippines and Singapore, boasts over 4,500 graduates, with some going on to perform at world-famous music festivals such as Ultra Japan and EDC Mexico.

Mai-My said that the number of female students at the school has risen in recent years, as livestreaming platforms such as TikTok have enabled access to audiences from the safety of their homes.

"The compatibility with digital content is excellent for DJs, making it enjoyable for a diverse audience. Especially since it enables teenagers, who can't enter clubs, and older generations to engage with this type of music," she said.

Mai-My, who started DJing in an era before mobile phones and DJ schools, taught herself by watching professional DJs in clubs she frequented since she was 18.

"Even if you asked experienced people to teach you, they wouldn't share their techniques. So, I watched and learned by stealing, rather than relying on someone to guide me," said Mai-My.

Now with nearly 30 years of experience under her belt, she supports budding DJs to make their debut after graduating from her school. But at a time when technology has made a large vinyl collection and turntable skills somewhat obsolete, aspiring DJs need to offer something extra to gain a competitive edge.

"If, say, eight out of 10 can be easily achieved, then it becomes a choice of how to cover the remaining two -- whether it's through appearance or skill. Appearance is easy, as long as you have it. But for skill, to beat someone who has been doing it for 10 or 20 years, you need to be incredibly good," said Mai-My.

Natsumi admits her initial strategy of wearing revealing outfits as part of Tidy, and marketing that image on social media, helped her to gain fans when first entering the industry. That subsequently enabled her to establish her own style and secure invites to perform at international festivals such as EDC Mexico.

Now a full-time DJ, producer and influencer, Natsumi wants to end the prejudice in the male-dominated electronic music scene, and become a positive influence to emerging talent.

"I believe in producing my own music and that's what is making me successful. So, I hope more people follow the same path. Make music while being a DJ," said Natsumi.

Meanwhile, Mai-My said that reaching the top in any profession, not just DJing, is challenging, and perseverance is key.

"Despite starting with enthusiasm, many people end up quitting. So, whether it's because you love music or enjoy (club) culture, the most important thing is to keep at it."

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Long-term economic and social decline awaits if ministers fail to tackle these issues. Anthony Travers, professor at the London School of Economics, told a newspaper in August that a shrinking working-age population would heap greater tax demands on those who are already in work. It would also put further pressure on services such as the NHS as the median age of the population rises, and increase the need for more migration. I wont place any bets on a Tory MP arguing we need higher immigration because couples arent having enough babies in 2045, but stranger things have happened in this country.
Detective Helen Chambers has put her life on pause to spend time with her new beau Elliot. She's in love with the mysterious man who seems genuinely anguished about his past behaviour, but there's still so much she doesn't know about him, and sometimes this reality makes her feel a little uneasy. "Helen has left Australia and gone to Ireland with her boyfriend, to try and figure out a little bit more of who he is," said Irish actor Danielle Macdonald, whose credits include 2 Broke Girls, American Horror Story: Roanoke, Lady Bird and Bird Box.
Well have a [security] review, but at the end of the day I want to be accessible. I want people to be able to stop me in the street." No 10 said the suspected arson attack at Mr Freer's office is clearly concerning", No 10 said.
Lord Cameron, in a post on social media, said: An escalation of the conflict in Gaza to Lebanon, the Red Sea or across the wider region, would add to the extremely high level of danger and insecurity in the world.
Greece has long demanded the return of the Elgin Marbles, also known as the Parthenon Sculptures, which were removed by Lord Elgin from occupied Athens in the early 19th century, when he was the British ambassador to the Ottoman Empire.
KYODO NEWS - Dec 28, 2023 - 13:50 | All, Japan

The Japanese government on Thursday gave the green light for a modified landfill plan that will see a key U.S. military base transferred within Okinawa Prefecture, taking the unprecedented step of overriding the local government's objection to the plan.

The Defense Ministry will commence work to reinforce soft ground at the relocation site for U.S. Marine Corps Air Station Futenma as early as Jan. 12, a government source said.

The approval is "a milestone" for the total transfer of the Futenma air base as early as possible, Defense Minister Minoru Kihara told reporters.

The Okinawa governor's objection had suspended the plan amid local calls for the base to be moved out of the prefecture, leading to the latest court battle over the project.

The central government plans to transfer the functions of the Futenma airfield from a crowded residential district in Ginowan to the less populated Henoko coastal area of Nago.

As part of the construction, it plans to reclaim land off Henoko and construct two V-shaped runways. Landfill work in the southern part of the Henoko coastal area started in 2018 and has been completed.

The larger part of the work in Oura Bay has been left untouched since the Defense Ministry applied to the Okinawa governor for design changes in 2020 due to soft ground.

Despite losing the legal battle last week, Okinawa Gov. Denny Tamaki decided to ignore the Fukuoka High Court's order to approve the modified landfill plan, paving the way for the central government to take the step of doing so by proxy.

"It is not just an issue for Okinawa Prefecture," Tamaki told reporters following the central government's approval.

"This execution by proxy is unacceptable as it robs the prefectural government of its administrative authority and means they are trying to construct a new base by infringing on our autonomy and independence."

It is the first time that the central government has acted on behalf of a local government after the latter's failure to fulfill tasks entrusted by the state under the Local Autonomy Act. While the central government's execution by proxy is seen as a "last resort," critics have said such an intervention is an infringement of local autonomy.

In the lawsuit brought by the land minister, the high court in its ruling criticized Tamaki's failure to act even after losing another lawsuit in the Supreme Court in September.

The court also said Tamaki's refusal created a challenge to rectifying the situation, indicating the most viable solution would be the central government's approval by proxy.

Tamaki has appealed the high court decision to the Supreme Court but work at the contested relocation site cannot be halted unless the top court overturns the ruling.

Many residents of Okinawa are opposed to the relocation plan and are calling for the base to be moved out of the prefecture as they want to reduce the burden on the prefecture from hosting the bulk of U.S. military facilities in Japan.

The landfill work will take around 12 years for completion, including over nine years for the reinforcement of soft zones and other construction work, and around three years for the transfer of the base. The return of the land used for the Futenma base is set to take place in the mid-2030s or later.

To solidify the soft ground, described by experts as like mayonnaise, more than 70,000 piles will need to be driven into the seabed at a depth of 70 meters.

Japan and the United States reached an agreement in 1996 on the return of the land used for the Futenma base. In 1999, the Japanese government decided to relocate the base to the Henoko area, but the plan has been hampered by strong local opposition as well as political wrangling.

The central government has maintained that the relocation plan is "the only solution" for removing the dangers posed by the Futenma base, which is close to schools and homes, without undermining the perceived deterrence provided by the Japan-U.S. alliance.

Kihara said the government will continue to provide thorough explanations to gain local residents' understanding regarding the project.

Related coverage:

Okinawa appeals high court ruling over key U.S. base relocation

Court orders Okinawa governor to approve work to relocate key U.S. base
Firefighters suffering from cancer and other potentially fatal conditions have been betrayed by the UK government. Tory ministers have ignored calls from the FBU and health experts to act over the much greater risk firefighters face of developing these horrendous diseases

FBU general secretary Matt Wrack
She suspected Jacques, as she revealed in that extraordinary outburst in the House of Commons, of going beyond that and being in favour of a political Europe, which she was against, which was going to be a sort of united states of Europe, a superstate and all the rest of it, which I agree with Neil  I dont think Jacques was interested in that at all.
I told her I believed that much could be done there to remedy this, especially through the medium of education. I said the Agency would greatly welcome the opportunity to meet with key decision-makers in education in the Republic to seek their advice and guidance as to the most effective and appropriate way of implementing the Agencys education strategy in relation to the Republic. I said that I thought that the imprimatur of the Presidents office behind such a meeting would be most beneficial.
KYODO NEWS - Dec 28, 2023 - 09:02 | All, World

John Bolton, who served as Donald Trump's national security adviser, has predicted that the former U.S. president will disregard Washington's deepening ties with Japan and other allies, as well as its like-minded partners, if he returns to the White House.

"He does not really think in policy terms," Bolton said in a recent interview with Kyodo News, claiming that Trump, the clear front-runner for the 2024 Republican presidential nomination, prioritizes what benefits him "politically and economically."

"I think the general trend of his approach and foreign affairs is isolationist. So I'm very worried he would withdraw from NATO. I'm worried he would cut back on American alliances in the Pacific," Bolton said. "I think that'd be very damaging to the United States, not to mention to our allies."

Bolton said he does not want Trump to be the nominee and supports all the other candidates challenging the former president, although he recognizes they face an "uphill climb."

A variety of polls have shown that the United States is poised for a rematch between President Joe Biden and Trump, with some finding the incumbent is narrowly trailing his predecessor ahead of the November election.

During the online interview on Dec. 20, Bolton said he believes that 2023 was "the end of the post-Cold War period" and now the world is in a new era that is characterized by "the Chinese-Russian axis."

Unlike the Sino-Soviet alliance during the Cold War, he said "China is the dominant partner and Russia is the junior partner."

"This new axis is emerging as a global threat," said the 75-year-old, who served in the key post from April 2018 until he was ousted by Trump in September the following year due to disagreements over North Korea and other policy issues.

Bolton pointed out that countries such as North Korea and Iran are part of the axis and "there are a lot of things moving together here."

He views Iran as the major reason behind the deteriorating situation in the Middle East since the beginning of the Israel-Hamas war in October.

"I don't think Hamas woke up one morning and said, 'Let's attack Israel.' I think this is part of a bigger operation," said Bolton, who pushed the Trump administration to step up sanctions on Iran. "There's a bigger picture."

Referring to "the ring of fire strategy" around Israel, based on Iranian support for militant groups including Hamas and Hezbollah, he argued that the Biden administration is not approaching the situation strategically.

Bolton, a well-known hawk in Republican foreign policy circles for decades, said the administration of the Democratic president looks at the ongoing war simply in the context of the Oct.7 attack by the Palestinian militant group Hamas on Israel and does not understand "the nature of the Iranian threat."

He also criticized the current administration's interest in reviving the nuclear deal with Tehran that Trump withdrew from in 2018.

The United States needs to take a harder line toward Iran, he said, adding a two-state solution for Israelis and Palestinians, advocated by the Biden administration, was "not viable" even before the Oct. 7 attack.

Related coverage:

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Biden signs $886 billion defense bill to boost Indo-Pacific deterrence
The leader of the AUR [Alliance for the Union of Romanians - editor's note] deputies, Alin Colesa, on Thursday criticized the fact that the Chamber of Deputies held a plenary sitting especially to reject the projects regarding the autonomy of the Szekely Land, blaming a 'forced procedure' on the leadership of this forum, while the interim president of the Chamber of Deputies, Alfred Simonis, replied that, in fact, the parliamentary session has not ended yet, and the deputies were called to work as they were supposed to.

"Please show us the articles of the Regulation for which we have this forced procedure, this forced interpretation by the Standing Bureau. For there was no reason to have a meeting of the Standing Bureau yesterday and a quick vote without clear and clarifying debates on the three unconstitutional projects of political terrorism of the UDMR [Democratic Union of Hungarians of Romania - editor's note] regarding the autonomy of the Szekely Land," said Colesa, in the opening of the plenary session, noting that these projects shouldn't have been submitted to the plenary debate and vote outside the established work schedule, Agerpres informs.

He said that a fair term must be established for a real debate on these "harmful" projects.

On the other side, the interim speaker of the Chamber of Deputies, Alfred Simonis, stated that, for his part, the parliament does not have a break yet, while he does not understand what needs to be debated about these "toxic" initiatives either."Dear colleagues, let's clear up some very clear issues: first of all, we are not on parliamentary vacation. The parliamentary vacation will start on January 1st, so until December 31st we are in full session of the Chamber of Deputies. (...) On on the other hand, forgive me for not understanding what is up for debate about these initiatives, and I would call them toxic. What do you want us to debate about them? What do you want to change about them? We have nothing to debate, we cannot negotiate sovereignty and territorial integrity. These initiatives must be rejected. Period," said Simonis.For his part, the leader of the USR (Save Romania Union) deputies, Ionut Mosteanu, said that the USR agreed to debate and reject these emergency projects."They are some unconstitutional projects, they have no connection with the real problems of the Hungarians in Romania. It's a false topic. But why would those from AUR want to stay until February to have a debate on this? It may be for the fact that they want to make a circus, to scare the people, to lie to them that someone is coming and taking Transylvania? That's how they do things in general, they grew by using the fears and terrors of the people, who, many of them, unfortunately, believed them," Mosteanu said.The Chamber of Deputies met, on Thursday, in a session to debate three projects related to the autonomy of the Szekely Land, submitted by two parliamentarians from the UDMR.
The President of the Alliance for the Union of Romanians (AUR), George Simion, declared on Thursday that Romania did not enter the Schengen area, and Prime Minister Marcel Ciolacu did not make himself respected enough in front of external partners to enforce compliance with the accession treaties.

"We didn't enter any Schengen, Mr. Ciolacu. Wake up! I don't know where you are (...) but we didn't enter Schengen, and that surrogate you keep mentioning with airports, with maritime vessels, doesn't mean Schengen. Schengen is a right provided for in our accession treaty to the EU and you did not make yourself respected enough in front of external partners to enforce the observance of accession treaties," Simion said at the Palace of the Parliament, Agerpres informs.

Prime Minister Marcel Ciolacu announced, on Wednesday evening, that Romanians will benefit from the advantages of the Schengen area by air and sea from March next year.

"After 13 years, Romania will finally enter Schengen! We have a political agreement in this regard! From March next year, Romanians will benefit from the advantages of the Schengen space by air and sea. Implicitly, the Port of Constanta will increase its importance exponentially. Also , I am convinced that in 2024 we will close the negotiations for the land border as well, Prime Minister Ciolacu said, in a message posted on Facebook.
The Minister of Foreign Affairs, Luminita Odobescu, on Thursday received the ambassador of Japan in Bucharest, Hiroshi Ueda, on a farewell visit, on which occasion she presented him with the National Order "Faithful Service" in degree of Grand Cross, awarded by president Klaus Iohannis.

According to a press release of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs sent to AGERPRES on Thursday, the two high-ranked officials reviewed the excellent state of Romanian-Japanese bilateral relations, established in March 2023 at the Strategic Partnership level, Agerpres informs.

The head of the Romanian diplomacy highlighted the upward trajectory of concrete bilateral cooperation on all levels, as a pragmatic reflection of the impact of the new bilateral strategic partnership.

Also, the Romanian Foreign Minister thanked Ambassador Ueda for the substantial contribution brought to the successful fulfillment of the common objectives of the two countries and evoked the intense activity of the Japanese ambassador during the three years at the head of the Embassy of Japan in Bucharest, the passion and perseverance with which he pursued the achievement of the main objectives of the Romanian-Japanese agenda.Also, both sides mentioned with satisfaction the prospects for strengthening bilateral cooperation while discussing the progress made so far, along with the effective cooperation within multilateral organizations.Ambassador Ueda declared himself honoured to received this distinction and expressed his appreciation for the excellent collaboration with the Romanian institutions and assured that he will maintain his commitment to strengthen the good Romanian-Japanese relations, remaining a friend of our country.
The representatives of the largest freight carriers organization in western Romania consider that the agreement regarding Romania's partial Schengen admission for sea and air travel is just a hoodwinking move and call on the government to step up actions to obtain in 2024 accession by land too, bringing to mind that the Romanian economy and society "are deeply affected by queues at the borders."

Vice-president of the "Europa 2002" Freight Carriers Employers' Association (APTE 2002) Dorin Pop declared for AGERPRES on Thursday that a partial accession to Schengen will have no noticeable effects on the economy and society.

"What Romania obtained from negotiations with Austria is mere dust in the eyes, perhaps not even that. Air and naval traffic is minimal in Romania compared to land traffic, whether we speak about people or goods. Airport controls will still exist for documents, while kilometers-long queues at land borders will linger on. For example, on Wednesday afternoon the truck queue at the border with Hungary was stretching on four kilometers, and the waiting time for cars on the outbound was of several hours. The society and the economy are deeply affected by border queues. As the representative organization of the freight transport branch, we are very disappointed with this agreement and demand the stepping up of actions and negotiations to secure a concrete accession date in 2024 with land borders too," said Dorin Pop.

He said that if the land borders are kept in place, 2024 will be a very difficult year for carriers "because road taxes will increase throughout Europe, cargo and truck insurance has grown more expensive, as did vehicle liability insurance policies. All these costs will eventually drive shelf prices higher.

APTE 2002, based in the western city of Arad, is the largest freight carriers organization in western Romania, representing about 2,200 companies in the industry, which operate over 15,000 trucks.
The Government approved on Thursday the Emergency Ordinance that provides for the increase in basic salaries for education staff by 20%, on average, in 2024, in two installments: from January 1, respectively from June 1, 2024.

According to a press release from the Ministry of Labor and Social Solidarity, approximately 350,000 people from the national education system, teaching staff, auxiliary teaching staff and non-teaching staff will benefit from these measures, Agerpres informs.

The normative act also establishes the granting of increases in the basic salary for some categories of personnel from Health, Culture, Labor, Agriculture and Statistics, as well as for civil servants and contractual staff from the prefect's institutions.

Employees from the prefectures will benefit from salary rights related to the General Secretariat of the Government, also in two equal installments.
241 people from the western Timisoara Emergency Transit Center were relocated this year to other countries such as Norway - 193, Great Britain - 24, The Netherlands - 23, Canada - 1, the General Inspectorate for Immigration (IGI) informed in a press release on Thursday.

The Emergency Transit Center (CTU) in Timisoara is the first institution of this type in the world and a model of good practices, being an important instrument of the international protection policy, says IGI, adding that the center became operational with the entry into force of the Agreement between the Government, the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) and the International Organization for Migration regarding the temporary evacuation to Romania of some persons in urgent need of international protection and their subsequent relocation, ratified by Law no. 291/2008 (Tripartite Agreement).

"The Emergency Transit Center in Timisoara offers temporary shelter to refugees in need of emergency evacuation from the first country of asylum, either because of the risk of being returned to the country where they are persecuted, or because of unstable, inhuman and dangerous conditions where they are and ensures their protection until they are resettled in another state," the source states.

The center currently has a capacity of 200 places, having the necessary infrastructure and equipment in compliance with the reception standards established at the European and international level, which allow the activities provided for by the Tripartite Agreement to be carried out in good conditions.

The period of temporary stay on the territory of Romania granted to the persons who are the subject of the Tripartite Agreement is 6 months from the date of their entry into Romania, with the possibility of extending the right of stay for individual cases and exceptionally.

Since the entry into force of the Agreement, UNHCR has requested access to the territory of Romania for a total number of 4,991 persons, of which 2 children were born on the territory of Libya before arriving in Romania, 4,600 persons received the consent to be evacuated to CTU, 3,733 people entered the territory of Romania benefiting from assistance through the CTU, 25 children were born on the territory of Romania, 2 people died in Romania and 3,736 people were later relocated to other states.
Prime Minister Marcel Ciolacu on Thursday hailed the unblocking of the governmental cloud project and underscored its importance for the digital transformation of the Romanian administration.

On December 19, during the discussions in the budget-finance parliamentary committees, the minister of research, Bogdan-Gruia Ivan, informed that the final form of the governmental cloud architecture was approved after negotiations with the European Commission, Agerpres informs.

"Today we received a very useful and important news. After talks and negotiations with the European Commission, the final version of the governmental cloud architecture was finally approved, which means that, in the shortets while, there will also be approved the Government Ordinance no 89 with the subsequent modifications and supplement, based on which we will be able to start the procedures for the public acquisitions in the dedicated cloud field," specified minister Bogdan-Gruia Ivan.
Prime Minister Marcel Ciolacu announces that the Government will extend until June 30, 2024 the measures involving the export authorization system introduced by Ukraine for agricultural products.

Flour and sugar will also be added to the list, the prime minister announced at the start of the Government's meeting, Agerpres informs.

"Today we also have good news for Romanian farmers. The Government will extend until June 30, 2024 the measures involving the export authorization system introduced by Ukraine for agricultural products and we will add two new products to this list, respectively flour and sugar. It is a important decision through which we will protect Romanian farmers and the jobs in this sector", said Marcel Ciolacu.
The Ministry of Internal Affairs (MIA) announces that, on 23 December 2023 it reached a political agreement together with its counterparts in Austria and Bulgaria on the extension of the Schengen area with Romania and Bulgaria at the air and sea borders starting March 2024.

The MAI also says that the parties have addressed the "discussing in 2024 of its application at land borders in close connection with compensatory measures on strengthening border control and applying the Dublin Agreement".

On 26 and 27 December, discussions took place through diplomatic channels, between Interior ministries, Foreign Affairs ministries, including at the level of diplomatic missions accredited to the EU, on the draft Council decision to legally incorporate this political agreement, the MAI press release went on.

These discussions will continue on Thursday, 28 December.
Romania deserves full Schengen membership, and the PSD-PNL (Social Democratic Party - National liberal Party) government and Klaus Iohannis had the obligation to continue negotiations for full accession, but they did not do so, USR (Save Romania Union) spokesman MP Ionut Moteanu wrote on Wednesday night on Facebook.

"While (PM) Marcel Ciolacu announces victoriously that we enter Schengen only by air and sea, thousands of Romanians stand in queues at the borders, after spending their holidays in the country. Truck drivers will continue to be forced to lose days in queues, and the economy will continue to lose billions of euros," Mosteanu said.

He added that "the PSD-PNL government and Klaus Iohannis had the obligation to continue negotiations for full accession," but they did not.

"They were content with little. Now they sell us a defeat as a victory. Romania has won the right to enter Schengen. We meet all requirements. We deserve to be full Schengen members. Land, sea, air. But for this we needed the President, Prime Minister and ministers to fight for us," Mosteanu wrote.
KYODO NEWS - Dec 27, 2023 - 23:48 | Japan, All

A Japanese court on Wednesday ordered the Tokyo metropolitan government and the state to compensate the president of a Yokohama-based company and others for an unlawful investigation into alleged illegal export of items capable of producing biological weapons.

The Tokyo District Court awarded compensation totaling some 160 million yen ($1.1 million) to Masaaki Okawara, 74, president of machinery maker Ohkawara Kakohki Co., Junji Shimada, one of its former directors and the family of former adviser Shizuo Aishima, who died in February 2021 after falling ill during detainment.

In the trial, which focused on whether police and prosecutors arbitrarily interpreted the regulation for export control to build a case against the three, the court ruled that their arrests and indictments of the three individuals between March and June 2020 were all illegal.

Presiding Judge Tsuyoshi Momosaki criticized Tokyo police by saying, "Had they carried out investigations as typically required, they could have gathered evidence indicating that the device would not be subjected to export regulations."

Momosaki also said prosecutors went on to indict the three "without conducting investigations that are crucial to establishing one's guilt."

Okawara told reporters following the ruling, "I believe the court has judged appropriately."

"I hope that Tokyo police and prosecutors will thoroughly verify (their investigations) and, if possible, offer an apology," Okawara added.

The plaintiffs sought 560 million yen in damages in the lawsuit filed in September 2021, claiming the items in question -- spray dryers that can atomize liquids into a mist and then turn it into a powder -- were not subject to export restrictions.

Ohkawara Kakohki is Japan's leading maker of spray dryers, which are widely used to produce food products such as instant coffee, baby formula, medicine and ceramics.

The case took an unusual turn, with a member of Tokyo police's Public Security Bureau testifying during the trial that the allegations leveled against the three were "fabricated."

They had been arrested and indicted on suspicion of illegally exporting spray dryers capable of producing biological agents without authorization, but shortly before their first hearing in July 2021, prosecutors withdrew the indictment of Okawara and Shimada, saying that "doubts have arisen as to whether they are guilty of a crime."

The indictment for Aishima had been rescinded due to his death.

Okawara and Shimada spent 332 days in custody until they were released on bail in February 2021.
Seven in ten Romanians believe that Romania is headed in the wrong direction at the end of 2023; a little over a quarter of the respondents, predominantly young and educated people, consider however that the direction of the country is good, found a poll carried out by the Romanian Institute for Evaluation and Strategy - IRES and released on Thursday.

According to the poll, unlike last year, the Romanians' optimism is on a slightly upward trend. Whereas at the end of 2022, 57 percent of those interviewed declared that 2022 was worse for Romania than 2021, in 2023 only 40 percent of the surveyed believe that this year was worse for the country than the previous one.

Three out of ten respondents say that 2023 was just as 2022, while 29 percent claim that this year was better than the previous one; optimism rates are higher among the youth, but also among the elderly and low-education people.

As regards the level of confidence in various professions, most of the survey subjects expressed a favorable opinion (very much and much confidence) in firefighters (91 percent, equal to 2022). Politicians are at the opposite end of the ranking, with just one in ten Romanians expressing a lot of confidence in this category.

Regarding the relationship with the authorities, 8 percent of the survey participants declared that in 2023 they offered some sort of gift to an official or an employee of a state-owned institution or company, and 4 percent admitted to even offering money.

The survey was conducted between December 12 - 9 using the computer-assisted telephone interviewing method on 1,075 individuals aged 18 and over. The survey carries a maximum margin of error of plus/minus 3%, being representative for Romania's adult, non-institutionalized population.

The poll is part of the IRES social responsibility program and is self-financed.
The Spanish presidency of the Council of the European Union "actively" supports Romania's efforts to join the Schengen Zone, according to a joint statement of the foreign ministries from Bucharest and Madrid, issued on Thursday, on the occasion the completion of ten years of strategic partnership between the two states.

"The Spanish presidency of the Council of the European Union has actively supported Romania's efforts to join the Schengen Zone. Having the Russian Federation's aggression against Ukraine as background, the bilateral dialogue has significantly strengthened on the security dimension. Romania and Spain are firmly committed to protecting the fundamental principles of the rule-based international order, as well as in holding accountable all those who violate these principles," the same press release reads, Agerpres informs.

The two ministries emphasise that Romania and Spain are allies within NATO, with the Spanish contribution to the consolidation of the Eastern Flank of the alliance "proving once again the allied solidarity and the common will to strengthen NATO's deterrence and defence posture. The decisions taken by the leaders of NATO member states at the Madrid Summit, as well as the new Strategic Concept adopted in Madrid on this occasion represent an essential landmark for the defence of the Allied territory and for the future prospects of the Alliance."

The relationship between the two states, according to the two ministries, "is built on historical and cultural affinities, on common values and visions and on the lasting and deep bond favoured by the common belonging to the Latin area, constantly enriched by the presence of a dynamic Romanian community in Spain and a Spanish one in Romania, respectively."The move to establish a strategic partnership "sent a strong signal in what concerns the common commitment to strengthen bilateral relations and the close cooperation between our states, as members of the European Union and NATO," the Romanian and Spanish foreign ministries say.Also, ten years after this reference point, the diplomatic representatives of the two states appreciate that Romania and Spain "have excellent relations and a solid cooperation, confirmed by the extremely rich agenda of contacts at all levels."A central pillar is the Romanian community in Spain, respectively the Spanish community in Romania."The important community of Romanians who live, work and study in Spain represents a bridge between our countries, which we enjoy and which we hope to strengthen in the future. In this spirit, steps have already been launched to provide a legal framework appropriate to these relations, which are an inseparable part of our common future, in the form of an agreement on the recognition of dual citizenship," the same press release points out.Also, the Spanish Presidency of the Council of the European Union "represented a new opportunity for deepening our cooperation and strengthening cohesion within the Union, based on the principles of unity and solidarity, in a joint effort to respond to the current challenges and the desire to build a better Union stronger, safer and closer to its citizens."The commitment of Romania and Spain in this new stage of the NATO-EU relationship, in the spirit of the NATO-EU Declaration of January 2023 and the Strategic Compass, "reflects the interest of both states in strengthening the Transatlantic relationship, through a 360-degree approach," say the two foreign ministries in the said press release.
The number of commercial companies and authorized natural persons (PFAs) that entered insolvency in the first 11 months of 2023 increased by 0.98% compared to the same period last year, with 6,081 insolvencies being registered, according to the data published on the website of the National Trade Register Office (ONRC).

The most companies and PFAs entered into insolvency were registered in Bucharest, respectively 1,187, a number increasing by 14.13% compared to the period January-November 2022, Agerpres informs.

There followed the insolvencies in the counties of Bihor, with 529 insolvencies (plus 5.17%), Cluj - 359 (minus 16.32%), Timis - 300 (plus 14.94%) and Constanta - 284 (plus 24 .56%).

The fewest insolvencies were recorded in the counties of Covasna - 21 (minus 25%), Harghita - 28 (plus 7.69%), Botosani - 31 (plus 34.78%) and Mehedinti - 35 (minus 23.91%).By field of activity, the highest number of insolvencies was recorded in wholesale, retail, motor vehicle and motorcycle repair, respectively 1,630 (minus 1.15% compared to the period January-November 2022), constructions - 1,208 (plus 3.6 %) and in the manufacturing industry - 729 (minus 4.46%).
Leader of the USR (Save Romania Union) deputies Ionut Mosteanu on Thursday said that Prime Minister Marcel Ciolacu showed that when he has the power "he has the reflexes of a South American dictator."

"Last night, Marcel Ciolacu dismissed the head of the State Secretariat for Revolutionaries, the very man who while ago rejected his request to officially become a fighter with special merits in the Revolution. A rather gray story from Buzau this is, a story that doesn't add up, and which was documented by the press leaving many question marks behind. Ciolacu challenged the man's decision in court, with January 11 as deadline, but he did not wait until January 11 to dismiss the secretary of state appointed by Ciuca, by his own partner, Ciuca. Like a popular saying says 'give a man power and you will see his character. Ciolacu showed us that when he has power he has the reflexes of a South American dictator. He has all the power now and, 34 years after the Revolution, we see a man with power in the state who uses power to solve his personal matters," said Mosteanu, at the Parliament Palace, Agerpres informs.

He mentioned that at this point Marcel Ciolacu "behaves worse than Dragnea.

"At this point, the Social Democrats (members of the Social Democratic Party - PSD) have returned to the Dragnea [former chairman of this political party - editor's note] era, after efforts were made for years to distance themselves from the bad habits of Liviu Dragnea and those around him. This does not surprise us, because we know how close Marcel Ciolacu and Liviu Dragnea used to be. The fact that PNL and Ciuca say nothing shows their complicity in this robbery, shows that they are totally subordinate to Ciolacu, shows that they no longer have any kind of backbone," Mosteanu said.
So far this month, I have named this years 13 best new restaurants and the 2023 chef of the year. To wrap up my look back at the past year in St. Louis dining, here is a review of the national honors that local chefs and restaurants celebrated this year as well as 2023s prominent restaurant closures.

More national recognition for St. Louis chefs

The James Beard Foundation announced the semifinalists for its annual awards in late January, and several St. Louis chefs and restaurants made the list.

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Nick Bognar of Indo, Rob Connoley of Bulrush and Loryn Nalic of Balkan Treat Box were Best Chef: Midwest semifinalists. In the national award categories, Tara and Michael Galina and Aaron Martinez of Take Root Hospitality were Outstanding Restaurateur semifinalists, Simone Faures La Patisserie Choquette was a semifinalist for Outstanding Bakery and Natasha Bahramis the Gin Room was a semifinalist for Outstanding Bar.

Alas, none of the semifinalists made the cut when the James Beard Award finalists were announced in March.

In September, Food & Wine magazine named Steven Pursley, the chef and owner of Lindenwood Park ramen restaurant Menya Rui, one of its Best New Chefs for 2023. Pursley was the fifth St. Louis chef to claim the Food & Wine honor, one of the countrys most prestigious awards for up-and-coming chefs. He follows Gerard Craft of Niche, Kevin Willmann of Farmhaus, Michael Gallina of Vicia and Bognar of Indo.

Pursley opened Menya Rui in 2022 at 3453 Hampton Avenue. I named it one of that years best new restaurants and included it in 2023s STL 100.

In November, Esquire magazine featured Sado, the new restaurant from Indos Bognar, on its list of the 50 best new restaurants in the United States. Sado was the only St. Louis restaurant  and one of very few Midwestern representatives  on the list.

Bognar opened Sado in late March at 5201 Shaw Avenue on the Hill as a successor to his familys West County restaurant Nippon Tei. I called Sado Essential in my review and ranked it No. 2 on my list of 2023s best new restaurants.

Big names, big changes

Juniper, chef John Perkins Southern restaurant at 4101 Laclede Avenue in the Central West End, transformed itself into the more casual Sunday Best. The menu now focuses on Junipers renowned fried chicken.

Nippon Tei, the sushi and Japanese restaurant the chef Ann Bognar founded in 2001, closed its Ballwin-area storefront in February. The Bognar family relocated their operations to Hill, where Anns son Nick now leads the kitchen at Sado.

Closures

The year opened with maybe its highest-profile closure: Kemolls ended its 95-year run. For its final four years, the restaurant had operated as Kemolls Chop House in Westport Plaza. The original Kemolls had opened in 1927 and relocated downtown in 1990.

J. Devoti Trattoria closed in March, ending a celebrated 16-year run across two locations for its chef and owner, Anthony Devoti. Devoti opened his original restaurant, Five Bistro, in 2006 in the Grove in Forest Park Southeast. He relocated Five to the Hill in 2009. In 2018, he reinvented Five as the Italian-focused J. Devoti.

Also in March, Paul and Wendy Hamilton announced that their downtown west restaurants Vin de Set and PW Pizza would not reopen after a September 2022 fire heavily damaged their shared building.

Beast Butcher & Block, the ambitious Grove spinoff of David and Meggan Sanduskys acclaimed Beast Craft BBQ Co. in Belleville, shuttered in March. The restaurant had recently launched a new steak menu. The Belleville original is still open.

Yet another March 2023 closure: Edibles & Essentials ended its seven-year-plus run in St. Louis Hills. Owner Matt Borchardt took a position as executive chef of the Ronald McDonald House now under construction at Tower Grove and Chouteau avenues in Forest Park Southeast.

Neighborhood staples to close included the Webster Groves location of C.J. Muggs Bar & Grill in July. (The Clayton original remains open.) The Delmar Loop mainstay Al-Tarboush shuttered in September after nearly three decades.

Among the restaurants to close in 2023 after relatively short, but celebrated runs were the Tower Grove East barbecue restaurant Navins BBQ and the Central West End seafood restaurant Bait.

To end on a positive note, however, after announcing its imminent closure in August after 44 years, the Mount Pleasant staple Original Crusoes Restaurant rallied its supporters and remains open.

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MANCHESTER  Confederate agent James Morgan Utz's wagon clattered toward the Meramec River with a hidden stash of medicine and secret messages. Utz hoped to contact Gen. Sterling Price's army, which was pressing north toward St. Louis.

Utz, 23, had grown up on a farm in present-day Hazelwood and was a Confederate soldier until his capture in 1862. Returning home, he became a spy. He was driving west on Sept. 25, 1864, when Union cavalrymen stopped him near the village of Manchester. They hauled him to the Gratiot Street Prison, the jail for secessionists in St. Louis.

Soldiers nervously prowled the countryside around St. Louis because Price's push from Arkansas, begun Sept. 19, had thrown the local Union leadership into a dither. "The Invader in Missouri!" shouted a headline in the Missouri Democrat, a pro-Union St. Louis newspaper that blamed Price for the "apprehensions of many good citizens and the foolish hopes of some traitors."

GUERRILLA WARFARE

Price, a former Missouri governor, had joined the Confederacy shortly after the Civil War began in 1861. His advance with 12,000 soldiers was the first major strategic Confederate presence in Missouri in two years, despite the nasty guerrilla war that ravaged so much of the state.

As Utz packed medicine for the invaders, Union Gen. Thomas Ewing gathered troops at Fort Davidson, a vulnerable earthwork near Pilot Knob, terminus of the Iron Mountain Railroad 90 miles south of St. Louis. On Sept. 27, Ewing's force of 1,400 held off repeated Confederate attacks. That night, his army slipped away and exploded the fort's magazine.

Price kept moving north but decided against attacking St. Louis. Some of his cavalrymen burned railroad property in De Soto, Pacific and Union. In Pacific, they also took boots from Theodore Belfer's store and "a heavy stock of liquors" from William Manthy's tavern. The main army turned toward Jefferson City.

Its closest encounter to St. Louis was at the Cheltenham post office, on Manchester Road just west of today's Hampton Avenue. Postmaster Augustus Muegge said four Confederate horsemen asked him which side he was on and threatened to kill him. Shielded by his wife, Muegge fled out the back door.

CONVICTED OF SPYING

In St. Louis, members of the Order of American Knights, a secret pro-Southern organization, heard about Price heading west and decided not to rise up. Price was defeated near Kansas City. A military court found Utz guilty of spying and condemned him to hang.

His family was prominent locally and appealed to President Abraham Lincoln to spare his life. But Lincoln's pardon came too late. Utz went to the gallows of the St. Louis County Jail, Chestnut and Sixth streets, at midday on Dec. 26, 1864. His last words: "I have nothing to say, only that I desire my person to be turned over to my friends."

He is buried in Fee Fee Cemetery in Bridgeton.
ST. LOUIS  Hissing and huffing, the little locomotive brashly named Pacific eased its way from the cheering crowd.

Big shots on board waved heartily from two passenger cars. The train clacked gingerly along new rails, heading west toward the unspoiled valley of the River Des Peres.

It reached track's end at Cheltenham, a village at today's Hampton and Manchester avenues. Everyone got off and enjoyed a country dinner and boastful toasts. "A new epoch in the history of our state," crowed The Republican, a major city newspaper.

It was big talk for a five-mile ride.

The first passenger train west of the Mississippi River began its portentous jaunt at 1 p.m. on Dec. 9, 1852, from a station near 14th Street and Chouteau Avenue. The Pacific Railroad Co., St. Louis' bid to reach the Pacific Ocean by rail, was building its way westward with dreams bigger than progress.

Workers had finished the track to Cheltenham only days before the first ride. The following May, their tracks reached Kirkwood, named for chief construction engineer James Kirkwood. Cost overruns, a national financial panic and the Civil War would delay completion to Kansas City until September 1865.

A who's who of prominent St. Louisans incorporated the Pacific Railroad Co. in March 1849, five weeks after U.S. Sen. Thomas Hart Benton of Missouri urged Congress to authorize a line from St. Louis to San Francisco. The following October, 900 delegates from 12 states were lured to the St. Louis County (Old) Courthouse for a national convention to promote the dream.

"There is the East! There is India!" Benton shouted to the delegates, pointing west.

Thomas Allen, the Pacific's first operating president, also happened to be a state senator and chairman of the Senate Internal Improvements Committee. The state Legislature speedily adopted $2 million for the railroad. St. Louis County voters added their $100,000. A parade through the city preceded the groundbreaking on July 4, 1851, near the future depot.

A steamboat from New Orleans delivered the first locomotive, the Pacific, which had been built in Massachusetts for $9,000.

Railroads meant progress, peril and intrigue. On Nov. 1, 1855, the Pacific's first passenger train on the just-completed stretch to Jefferson City crashed through a rickety bridge over the Gasconade River near Hermann, killing 31 people. Rebel guerillas wrecked bridges and track during the Civil War. The Pacific defaulted on its state loans and, by 1867, owed Missouri $11 million. A scandal involving railroad finances and contracts ensnared legislators and prominent St. Louisans.

The Chicago route won the competition to link California by rail. It was completed in 1869.

In 1876, after another financial panic, the Pacific was refashioned into the Missouri Pacific. By World War II, its system stretched across 10,000 miles of track, from Omaha, Neb., to New Orleans. The Union Pacific bought the St. Louis-based railroad in 1982 - and makes heavy use of its original iron path to Kansas City.

The Pacific Railroad
KYODO NEWS - Dec 28, 2023 - 16:34 | All, Japan

Daihatsu Motor Co. said Thursday it expanded its list of suppliers eligible to be compensated for loss of sales stemming from its production halt caused by the discovery of rigged safety testing.

In addition to 423 direct suppliers, the Toyota Motor Corp. small car unit said it will also compensate some 4,000 tier-2 and tier-3 suppliers and 1,000 other companies that do business with Daihatsu.

Toyota will provide financial support for the compensation, while Daihatsu is also in discussions with financial institutions to raise funds, the company said.

The small-car specialist had stopped operations at all plants in Japan by Tuesday after a third-party panel found most of its models had safety tests falsified. The company has yet to decide on when to restart domestic production.

The automaker temporarily suspended shipments in Indonesia and Malaysia earlier in the month but resumed deliveries a few days later. The compensation program does not cover foreign suppliers, a Daihatsu spokesman said.

According to credit research firm Teikoku Databank Ltd., there are over 8,000 companies in Japan that directly or indirectly supply products or services to Daihatsu, generating a combined annual sales of about 2.2 trillion yen ($16 billion).

Related coverage:

Toyota global output hits new 1-year high on robust overseas demand

Daihatsu suspends all plants in Japan due to safety test scandal

Daihatsu to keep production suspended until Jan. over safety scandal
Updated at 8:50 p.m. to include family confirming where the body of Marquisha Williams was found.

ST. LOUIS COUNTY  The body of a missing St. Louis County woman was found Thursday afternoon, a day after her ex-boyfriend was charged with killing her and disposing of her body.

Marquisha Williams, 29, was found in Illinois  a family member confirmed she was found outside of Chicago  by Illinois State Police following more than a week of search parties that stretched over much of north St. Louis and the Metro East.

The basement of Mount Bethel Missionary Baptist Church in St. Louis was a mix of grief and relief as Williams mother and stepfather announced to more than 20 relatives, friends and volunteers that the search was being called off.

I need to inform you that she has been found, Williams stepfather, Terrence Chavis, said through tears.

Williams ex-boyfriend, 31-year-old Trenton Ivy, admitted to police in Racine, Wisconsin, earlier this week that he killed Williams during a fight and dumped her body in an unknown location.

Ivy, a Flordell Hills resident, was initially reported missing with Williams on Dec. 20. But he was arrested on unrelated charges two days later in Racine, and on Wednesday he was charged with murder.

Chavis and Williams mother, Norvette Chavis, repeatedly thanked friends, family and volunteers who helped search for Williams beginning when she was first reported missing.

The family had pleaded for public assistance through social media, and their calls were amplified by local live streamers and news outlets. By Thursday, the search had drawn scores of people from as far as Centralia, Illinois.

We appreciate everything that everyone in this room has done for us  the love and the support, from all over, Terrence Chavis said at the church. I didnt know St. Louis had this. You all are part of our family now.

Williams father, Marvin Williams, expressed relief at the news of his daughters discovery, which came around 2 p.m.

Im just glad they found her and she can come home, he said.

Marquisha Williams aunt, Joy Brown, remembered her niece as a soft-spoken mother of four children with Ivy  one 11-year-old, two 6-year-olds and a 1-year-old. The youngest celebrated a first birthday two days before Williams disappeared, Brown said.

Brown had said earlier Thursday that some family members were holding out hope that Ivy had lied about killing Williams, and that she would still turn up alive.

Thursdays news confirmed the familys worst fears, she said, but it also ended a nightmarish week of uncertainty and allowed them to grieve.

Were thankful just to know that shes no longer out in the cold by herself, she said.

Williams and Ivy began dating in high school and lived together until this year. Williams left in August after a period of domestic abuse, Brown said.

Williams moved to a new home in north St. Louis County, Brown said, and tried to co-parent with Ivy for the past four months.

On Thursday morning, about 20 people joined Chavis and his wife in searching for Williams at North Broadway and East Athlone Avenue.

The wind snapped and traffic on the highway roared as searchers fanned out past rows of abandoned buildings and streets filled pockmarked with piles of old furniture, clothes and trash. Searchers, bundled in coats, hats and gloves, used walking sticks to clamber over piles of debris and search through them.

One woman who asked not to be identified publicly said she didnt know the family but came out to help when she learned Wednesday that Williams, like her, had been a victim of domestic violence.

Another woman, family friend Yolanda Jones, turned suddenly at one point and ventured into an abandoned warehouse surrounded by a pile of shredded tires. She thought she saw a black blanket, like the one in which authorities said Ivy wrapped Williams body.

She could be anywhere, and I dont want to leave a stone unturned, said Jones, 47. Its such a tragic thing someone would do this and send her family on a wild goose hunt.

Back at Bethel Church, Shelia Price was among volunteers gathering around noon to regroup, expecting to head to a new location before the news of Williams discovery arrived.

Price, whose son Charles McCoy was murdered in 1996, is with the nonprofit Mothers Advocating Safe Streets, a group that supports families of victims of violent crime.

We just want to be here and support the family and show them love, she said.

Ivy is being held without bond in Racine.
JEFFERSON CITY  St. Louis lawyer Mark McCloskey has lost another round in his effort to reclaim firearms he and his wife agreed to surrender when they pleaded guilty to misdemeanors in 2021.

The Missouri Court of Appeals in St. Louis on Tuesday sided with a lower court judge who last year ruled against returning the guns.

Mark and Patricia McCloskey were originally charged with felonies for confronting protesters with firearms in 2020 outside their Central West End mansion.

The two pleaded guilty to misdemeanors in June 2021 and agreed to give up their weapons in a case that drew national attention. Gov. Mike Parson, a Republican, later pardoned the couple.

Mark McCloskey then sued for the return of the two firearms turned over, a Colt AR-15 rifle and Bryco .380-caliber pistol.

But the Missouri Court of Appeals in St. Louis on Tuesday affirmed a December 2022 ruling by St. Louis Circuit Judge Joan Moriarty barring return of the two firearms, despite the gubernatorial pardon.

Missouri law is unequivocal that a gubernatorial pardon obliterates the fact of the conviction, not the fact of guilt, the appeals court said.

McCloskey's guilty plea ... triggered the guns forfeiture, the court said. Since McCloskeys guilt remains, it follows that he is not entitled to the return of the weapons.

Judge James M. Dowd authored the opinion, which was joined by Judges John P. Torbitzky and Michael S. Wright.

Mark McCloskey said Tuesday he would ask the Missouri Supreme Court to review the case.

Hopefully the (Missouri) Supreme Court will take the case and rule on it, McCloskey said.
JEFFERSON CITY  The 2024 election for Missouri governor could spell the end of the line for the Rock Island Trail.

The proposed cross-state recreational trail, which was hailed by Gov. Mike Parson as a significant tourism draw, lacks the support of at least two of the top candidates running for governor in 2024.

The planned 144-mile biking and pedestrian pathway on a former rail line is not on Lt. Gov. Mike Kehoes radar, and Secretary of State Jay Ashcroft also is raising questions about the project.

The $107 million trail, which would run from Beaufort in Franklin County to Windsor in Henry County<, was put on a fast track by Parson in 2021 because of the availability of federal pandemic aid money that was flowing into the state at the time.

But, the nearly $70 million outlay has failed to gain traction in the Legislature, primarily because of opposition from Sen. Lincoln Hough, R-Springfield, who oversees the powerful Senate Appropriations Committee.

Kehoes campaign issued a statement Thursday mirroring concerns voiced earlier by Hough.

Lieutenant Governor Kehoe supports local communities efforts to improve the trail within their city limits. However, he does not support spending taxpayer dollars on this trail while Missouris roads and bridges still need critical investment, said Kehoe campaign manager Derek Coats.

As a landowner and rancher, Lieutenant Governor Kehoe is sensitive to Missourians Constitutional private property rights and the potential impacts this trail would have on farmers and landowners, Coats added.

Ashcroft campaign spokesman Jason Cabel Roe sounded a similar note.

Secretary Ashcroft is a supporter of more public parks but it should be up to local communities and their governments to prioritize these projects. Additionally, he would avoid using eminent domain to seize private property. Parks are important but they should not come at the expense of property rights, Roe said.

Sen. Bill Eigel, R-Weldon Spring, who also is vying for the Republican gubernatorial nomination, did not respond to requests for comment.

A leading Democratic candidate, House Minority Leader Crystal Quade of Springfield, said she backs the project.

Our rural communities are suffering. From our hospitals closing to small businesses struggling to get by, we as a state need to be looking at every opportunity to revitalize these communities. The Rock Island Trail is a great investment to bring tourists, conservationists, and businesses back to rural Missouri, Quade told the Post-Dispatch on Thursday.

The proposed trail is seen by supporters as complementary to the Katy Trail, which runs across the state roughly alongside the Missouri River.

The Katy Trail, considered the longest bike path in the nation, has played host about 500,000 annual visitors in recent years, resulting in an estimated $29 million economic impact in 2022, according to the Missouri State Parks Association.

Of those, about 80% traverse the crushed gravel trail on bicycle, while the rest go on foot.

The Rock Island Trail would connect with the Katy on the former Chicago, Rock Island and Pacific Railroad corridor, giving bicyclists an opportunity to pedal a loop through Missouris midsection, crossing major rivers and tunneling through the states wooded hills and pasture land.

Towns along the route have begun spending money on portions of the trail that run through their borders, saying the trail will be good for tourism.

Rosebud and Bland, for example, have received or applied for state grants to help pay for landscaping and other access points to the trail.

Rep. Bruce Sassman, R-Bland, filed legislation Thursday that he hopes could ease some of the concerns voiced by landowners along the route.

The measure would require the Missouri Department of Natural Resources to use not less than 10% of any money dedicated to the trail to address landowner concerns, including fencing, crossings, drainage, safety and security.

The project, however, is opposed by the Missouri Farm Bureau. The organization says it favors keeping the linear strip of land undeveloped in case another railroad wants to use the right of way.

The organization also opposes the plan because it could disrupt farming operations along the route.

Kehoe has been endorsed by several agricultural lobbying groups, including those representing cattle ranchers, corn growers and soybean farmers. A political action committee backing Kehoe also has received $500,000 this year from a holding company connected to the owners of Diamond Pet Foods in the small Osage County town of Meta.

The family owned business, among the 10 largest pet food manufacturers in the U.S. with revenues estimated at $1.5 billion, has lobbied against the trail because the pathway could disrupt truck traffic in and out of the companys factory.

It is not clear why mapping an alternative route through Meta to address the companys concerns has not been brought forward.

Diamond declined to respond to a request for comment about their contributions to Kehoes PAC.
At the end of each summer, hordes of people flock to the Black Rock Desert in Nevada to erect a makeshift city the size of the Italian town of Pisa. They call it Black Rock City. A few days later, they will burn it to the ground, leaving no trace.

During their time together, they partake in an extravaganza of unique experiences. Wearing wild costumes and riding carnivalesque vehicles, they attend colorful parades, spectacular light displays and interactive art installations.

Since its inception in 1986, attendance has increased from a few dozens of individuals to over 70,000  and hundreds of thousands in various regional versions around the world.

In surveys, Burners, as they call themselves, report experiencing strong feelings of connection during the event. Over three-quarters say that their experience was transformative, over 90% say that these transformative effects lasted beyond their stay, and over 80% say that they made a permanent impact on their lives. The great majority return again, many of them every year.

What makes this bizarre event so meaningful to so many people?

The ceremonial experience

The overwhelming majority of Burners identify as nonreligious, yet the deeply spiritual experiences they report resemble those of religious groups. Indeed, the similarities with religion are no accident.

Burning Man, as the event became known, started as a solstice get-together by a handful of friends on Baker Beach in San Francisco. In 1986, they decided to build a wooden effigy and then torch it. Co-founder Larry Harvey called this a spontaneous act of radical self-expression. As people started gathering to watch, they realized they had created a ritual. The next year, they put up fliers and drew a bigger crowd. It has been growing ever since.

Harvey was an avid reader of anthropological theories of religion. He was particularly interested in the role of ritual in creating meaningful experiences. These experiences, he argued, address a primordial human need: The desire to belong to a place, to belong to a time, to belong to one another, and to belong to something that is greater than ourselves, even in the midst of impermanence.

As an anthropologist of ritual myself, I can see that ceremony is at the essence of Burning Man. It begins as soon as Burners walk through the gate. Upon entering, people signal their arrival by ringing a bell. They hug and greet each other by saying Welcome home! That home is treated as sacred, symbolically demarcated and protected from the polluting influence of the default world, as they call the outside. Upon their departure, they will perform a purification rite, removing all matter out of place  anything that doesnt belong to the desert, from plastic bottles to specs of glitter.

Leaving their default name behind them, they use their playa name. It is a name gifted to them by another Burner and used to signify their new identity in the playa (the desert basin). They also abandon many of the comforts of the outside world. Monetary transactions are not allowed, and neither is bartering. Instead, they practice a gift economy, modeled on traditional ceremonial customs.

Anthropologists have noted that such ceremonial exchange systems can have important social utility. Unlike economic exchanges that produce equivalent outcomes, each act of donation creates feelings of gratitude, obligation and community, increasing both personal satisfaction and social solidarity.

The Burning Man Temple is yet another testament to the power of ritual. When sculptor David Best was invited to build an installation in 2000, he erected a wooden structure without any use in mind. But when a crew member died in a motorcycle accident, visitors started bringing mementos of people they had lost, and later gathered to watch it burn at the end of the event.

Since then, the temple has become a symbol of mourning and resilience.

Its walls are covered with thousands of notes, photographs and memorabilia. They are reminders of things people wish to leave behind: a personal loss, a divorce, an abusive relationship. It is all consumed by the fire on the final night as onlookers gather to watch silently, many of them in tears. Such a simple symbolic act seems to have surprisingly powerful cathartic effects.

The weeklong event culminates with the ceremonial destruction of the two largest structures looming at the center of the ephemeral city. On the penultimate night, a wooden effigy known as the Man is reduced to ashes. And in the final act, everyone gathers to watch the burning of the temple.

The human thirst for ritual

The oldest known ceremonial structures, such as Gobekli Tepe in Turkey, predate agriculture and permanent settlement. Although they took enormous effort to build, they too, like Black Rock City, were only used by ephemeral communities: groups of hunter-gatherers who traveled long distances to visit them.

It is not until hundreds of years later that evidence of settlement in those areas was found. This led archaeologist Klaus Schmidt to propose that it was the thirst for ritual that led those hunter-gatherers to permanent settlement, paving the way for civilization.

Whether this radical hypothesis is historically true is hard to know. But phenomena like Burning Man could confirm the view that the human need for ritual is primeval. It both predates and extends beyond organized religion.

Burning Man defies a strict definition. When I asked Burners to describe it, they used term such as movement, community, pilgrimage or social experiment. Whatever it might be, Burning Mans unprecedented success, I believe, is due to its ability to create meaningful experiences for its members, which reflect a greater human yearning for spirituality.

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Dimitris Xygalatas 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.

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Photos: Scenes from Burning Man through the years
When the coronavirus pandemic took hold in an unprepared U.S., states scrambled for masks and other protective gear.

Three years later, as the grips of the pandemic have loosened, many states are now trying to deal with an excess of protective gear, ditching their supplies in droves.

With expiration dates passing and few requests to tap into its stockpile, Ohio auctioned off 393,000 gowns for just $2,451 and ended up throwing away another 7.2 million, along with expired masks, gloves and other materials. The now expiring supplies had cost about $29 million in federal money.

A similar reckoning is happening around the country. Items are aging, and as a deadline to allocate federal COVID-19 cash approaches next year, states must decide how much to invest in maintaining warehouses and supply stockpiles.

An Associated Press investigation found that at least 15 states, from Alaska to Vermont, have tossed some of their trove of PPE because of expiration, surpluses and a lack of willing takers.

Into the trash went more than 18 million masks, 22 million gowns, 500,000 gloves, and more. Thats not counting states that didnt give the AP exact figures or responded in cases or other measures. Rhode Island said it got rid of 829 tons of PPE; Maryland disposed of over $93 million in supplies.

What a real waste. Thats what happens when you dont prepare, when you have a bust-and-boom public health system, where a lack of planning leads to panicked over-purchasing in emergencies, said Dr. Georges Benjamin, executive director of the American Public Health Association. It shows that we really have to do a better job of managing our stockpiles.

States emphasize that they distributed far more gear than they discarded and have gone to great lengths to donate the leftovers. Washington state sent hundreds of thousands of supplies to the Marshall Islands last year, yet ended up throwing out millions more items after they expired.

Many states are keeping at least a portion, and sometimes all, of their remaining protective gear. Some even plan to update their stockpiles.

But others say the vagaries of the pandemic and the PPE supply left no choice but to acquire the items, and now to throw them out, however reluctantly. Expiration dates are set because materials can degrade and might not work as intended. The Federal Emergency Management Agency has set the fair market value of expired supplies at zero dollars.

Anytime youre involved in a situation where youre recalling how difficult it was to get something in the first place, and then having to watch that go or not be used in the way it was intended to be used, certainly, theres some frustration in that, said Louis Eubank, who runs the South Carolina health departments COVID-19 coordination office. The state has discarded over 650,000 expired masks.

When the virus struck, demand skyrocketed for N95 masks, gloves and gowns. The U.S governments Strategic National Stockpile was underequipped, and states plunged into global bidding wars.

The AP found in 2020 that states spent over $7 billion in a few months on PPE, ventilators and some other high-demand medical devices in a sellers market. Ultimately, the federal government paid for many of the supplies.

There was no way to know, at the time of purchase, how long the supply deficit would last or what quantities would be needed, Ohio Department of Health spokesperson Ken Gordon said.

Given the glut, stockpiled items are selling for bargain prices, if at all. Vermont got $82.50 for 105,000 boot covers and 29 cents apiece for thousands of safety goggles.

Striking a balance between preparedness and surpluses is a major dilemma for governments, said Scott Amey of the Project on Government Oversight, a Washington, D.C.-based watchdog group. And while politicians vowed in 2020 never to be caught off guard again, memories are short, budgets are tight, Amey noted.

In Wisconsin, a legislative committee axed from the budget $17.2 million that would have funded a warehouse with an ongoing 60-day supply of PPE for two years. Already, Wisconsin has tossed nearly 1.7 million masks and almost 1 million gowns.

Minnesotas Department of Health was allocated some money this year for retaining and restocking PPE and is strategizing.

Missouris health department has maintained a 90-day supply, keeping even expired materials on the presumption that the federal government will OK their use in an emergency. That happened during COVID-19.

Pennsylvania officials, by contrast, are aiming for a 15-day stockpile after frank conversations about what they can afford not only to keep, but to keep replacing as items expire, said Andy Pickett, the Health Departments emergency preparedness and response director.

And Nevada cant give its aging PPE away fast enough.

Department of Administration Director Jack Robb said the state is endeavoring to shed the supplies safely and without wasting money but already has discarded some.

But Robb said officials made the best decisions that they could when confronted with a disease that has killed nearly 7 million people worldwide, including some of his close friends.

And I hope we never see anything like that again in our lifetime, he said.

5 statistics on wasteful health spending The US spent 17.8% of its 2021 GDP on health functionsconsistently outpacing all other countries Per capita, the US spends more than 1.5 times the next leading country on health care Some studies have shown that about 30% of US health spending could be considered waste Total annual health spending waste is an estimated $760 billion to $935 billion The reference report found no studies that looked at reducing administrative expense
The editorial, "Court ruling barring Trump from the ballot could end up making him stronger" (Dec. 21) concludes with, "The clearest and most constructive way to end the Trumpian threat is at the polling place."

One problem with this is that Republicans have been working hard for years to keep many people from being able to vote. Another problem is that a clear majority voted to end the Trumpian threat in 2016, and the electoral college made him president anyway.

You might argue that the electoral college is in the Constitution, like it or not, but that argument applies equally to the 14th Amendment, section 3 of which bars those who swore an oath to the Constitution and then took part in an insurrection from holding office.

The editorial states that no presidential candidate has ever been barred for this reason. How many major party presidential nominees have aided insurrections? It states that Trump has not been convicted. The 14th Amendment does not require this.

The editorial states that this could help Donald Trump. Many in the media have said that about impeaching him, seeking indictments against him for his crimes, and doing virtually anything else he didn't like.

It even states that Trump should not be kept off ballots for aiding an insurrection  which you acknowledge he did  for fear that red states might keep President Joe Biden off on the same grounds, which you acknowledge would be absurd. Not doing the right thing because we fear Trump's supporters is foolish as well as cowardly.

Brian Deason

Collinsville
Ukrainian experts examined a Russian cruise missile that had crashed, and discovered that the Russians were using telephone Ukrainian network SIM cards that allowed the missile to use Ukrainian mobile phone network to navigate to targets despite possible GPS jamming. Both Ukraine and Russia are improvising to take advantage of technologies not available in previous wars. The wide availability of wireless communications networks has been militarized for over a decade. For example, back in 2012 South Korea joined the U.S., and several other countries, in developing battlefield versions of smartphones. The South Koreans have developed nine military applications for smart phones using the Android operating system. These include apps for functions like maps, video transfer, navigation, and intelligence.

By the end of the year, the South Korean military will decide on which phone to use and how quickly it will be deployed. The South Koreans have one major advantage in their plan on using existing cell phone networks, since any future war would be fought in South Korea. There are also plans for mobile cell phone towers, to restore service to bombed out areas, or places like North Korea where there never were cell phone towers. U.S. forces have always cooperated closely with their South Korean allies and that appears to be at work here. South Korea is the source of over a third of Android smartphones (the largest manufacturer, Samsung, is South Korea). Moreover, South Korea is the most wired nation on the planet, in terms of the percentage of the population that have electronic communications gadgets and access to high-speed Internet. South Korean soldiers, like their American counterparts, want battlefield Internet via a smartphone type device.

That said, work on battlefield smartphones has been going on for several years now. Earlier this year the American NSA, National Security Agency, created a version of the cell phone/tablet Android operating system suitable for combat use. SE or Security Enhanced Android was based on a SE Linux that the NSA developed 12 years ago. NSA has been active for decades in hardening PC operating systems. Since Android is based on Linux, NSA had a head start in creating SE Android.

SE Android is the last key element the U.S. Army needs to move commercial smartphones and tablets onto the battlefield. In 2011 the army began field testing the Atrix smartphone and Galaxy tablet. Both use Android and were designated as NWEUD, or Nett Warrior End-User Devices by the military.

Nett Warrior dropped the decade old wearable computer concept and replaced it with a smartphone/tablet version called NWEUD. What makes this possible is SE Android, which provides security from enemy eavesdropping, hacking, and such and other problems that plague commercial cell phones and tablets.

Earlier attempts to create smartphone capabilities for combat troops produced a 2.3 kg wearable and networked computer with an eyepiece for the display and a handheld or worn on the arm input keyboard device. This Nett Warrior system integrated radio, GPS, and 16 GB of storage for maps, pictures, or whatever. Troops found the system too heavy and not as easy to use as a smartphone or tablet. Soldiers and marines know that most smart phones can do the same job as Nett Warrior, and now the army agrees and has been testing Atrix and Galaxy to see how commercial designs can be used to replace the older NWEUD prototypes.

Over half a century of studies have discovered what an infantryman needs information and communication to be more effective. A key capability is the need to know where they are, quickly. Having a poor idea of where you are has long been one of the main shortcomings of armored vehicles. Armored vehicle crews tend to be cut off from this while inside their vehicle where they are even more easily disoriented. When the shooting starts even the vehicle commander, instead of standing up with his head outside the turret, often ducks back inside to stay alive. Infantry aren't much better off. Although they can see their surroundings, they are often crouching behind something. When getting shot at, standing up to look around is not much of an option.

Nett Warrior gives Team Leaders and Squad Leaders, and eventually each infantryman a smartphone, perhaps still using an eyepiece as a display (attached to the helmet and flips down for use) and the smart phone/tablet touch screen to control the thing. GPS puts the soldier's location on the map shown in the eyepiece. During testing in Iraq, infantry officers and NCOs equipped with map equipped GPS receivers, at first, then smartphones, found the map/GPS combo a tremendous aid to getting around and getting the job done. Nett Warrior also provided a wireless networking capability, so troops not only saw where they were in their eyepiece but could receive new maps and other information. Some features got dropped, like the ability to use a vidcam to transmit images to headquarters, their immediate commander, or simply to the other soldiers in their squad. On the plus side the Nett Warrior gear provided the same capability as the 2003 Blue Force Tracker and showed Team Leaders and Squad Leaders, via his eyepiece, where all the other soldiers in his unit are. When fighting inside a building this can be a life saver.

Nett Warrior type capabilities are already changing the way troops fight. Everyone is now able to move around more quickly, confidently, and effectively. This has already been demonstrated with the Stryker units equipped with Nett Warrior type gear. Captured enemy gunmen often complained of how the Land Warrior equipped Strykers came out of nowhere and skillfully maneuvered to surround and destroy their targets. This was often done at night, with no lights, while using night vision equipment. When you have infantry using Nett Warrior gear to do the same thing on foot you demoralize the enemy.

For a long time, the biggest problem was a rather mundane one, battery power. Expected advances in battery technology did not appear, so even if all the technology worked there was no way to carry sufficient batteries, much less keep Nett Warrior users supplied with them. Rechargeable batteries, with a longer life between charges, have largely solved that problem but largely by not solving the weight problem.

Troops in combat have some unique problems keeping smartphones operational. Ruggedness is relatively easy to create, although you pay for it. Then theres the problem of providing a reliable signal. But thats long been a problem and there are a lot of new solutions that will work with a smartphone. Then theres the need for encryption. Again, thats another problem handled by SE Android. If the smartphone manufacturers and the NSA SE Android deliver, the troops will use it. They most certainly want it.
LATHAM, N.Y.--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- The National Bank of Coxsackie (NBC) presented the Capital Counseling Albany with a donation in support of their mission to support individuals with mental health needs. The funds were secured through the Federal Home Loan Bank of New York Small Business Recovery Grant Program. NBC is a member of the Federal Home Loan Bank of New York and applied for the funds made available through this special program.

This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20231228662788/en/

Pictured here from left to right is Capital Counseling Executive Director Kandie Sawyer, Capital Counseling Vice President Board of Directors, John Agostino, Capital Counseling Clinical Director Winell Soures, and NBC Chief Executive Officer John Balli. (Photo: Business Wire)

Capital Counseling Albany supports individuals, couples, families, adolescents, and children with a board range of emotional and behavioral health issues. Through experienced and compassionate individual counseling, supportive group counseling, and mental health education, they help those who are struggling with mental and behavioral health issues to find answers.

We are so proud to be able to offer support to Capital Counseling Albany in their quest to provide support to those in need. Capital Counselings story is inspirational, and their services improve the lives of many, John A. Balli, NBC Chief Executive Officer stated.

We, at Family and Childrens Services, are extremely grateful to the National Bank of Coxsackie for recognizing the work we perform for our community, Kandie Sawyer said. We strive to provide excellent service to our community members and have done so for over 200 years.

Since 1852, The National Bank of Coxsackie has been the premier bank of choice for thousands of customers. With eight branch locations ranging from Coxsackie to Glenmont, including their new commercial loan production and administrative office in Latham, the bank serves the greater Capital Region. National Bank of Coxsackie is committed to supporting their communities they operate within. The bank is a wholly-owned subsidiary of NBC Bancorp, Inc. (OTCPK: NCXS).

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20231228662788/en/

Nicole M. Bliss

VP/Human Resources

518-731-6161

[email protected]

Source: National Bank of Coxsackie
People wade through a flooded street in Narathiwat, Thailand, Dec. 25, 2023. Flash floods in southern Thailand killed at least six people, affecting tens of thousands of families in five provinces amid persistent rains, a Thai official said on Wednesday. (Xinhua)

BANGKOK, Dec. 27 (Xinhua) -- Flash floods in southern Thailand killed at least six people, affecting tens of thousands of families in five provinces amid persistent rains, a Thai official said on Wednesday.

Preecha Nualnoi, deputy governor of Narathiwat, said that the flood has killed at least six, including an 89-year-old.

Severe floods caused by torrential rains in the past three days have battered provinces in the lower south including Narathiwat, Yala, Pattanai, Songkla and Satun.

The Department of Disaster Prevention and Mitigation said on Wednesday that it has been the worst flood in half a century in south Thailand.

The flood submerged roads and railways, forcing schools to close and leaving some residents trapped in their homes. It has affected nearly 70,000 households.

The continuous downpours have also caused at least seven boats to sink in the Gulf of Thailand and Andaman Sea since Friday.

The ravaging floods prompted Thai Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin to visit Narathiwat, the most hit province on Tuesday.

He assigned the Interior Ministry to care for flood victims and assist residents.

Rescue work is underway with heavy machinery deployed to dredge waterways and expand outlets for faster water drainage in flooded areas. 

Motorcycles are seen submerged in flood water in Narathiwat, Thailand, Dec. 25, 2023. Flash floods in southern Thailand killed at least six people, affecting tens of thousands of families in five provinces amid persistent rains, a Thai official said on Wednesday. (Xinhua)

People wade through a flooded street in Narathiwat, Thailand, Dec. 25, 2023. Flash floods in southern Thailand killed at least six people, affecting tens of thousands of families in five provinces amid persistent rains, a Thai official said on Wednesday. (Xinhua)

Vehicles are seen submerged in flood water in Narathiwat, Thailand, Dec. 25, 2023. Flash floods in southern Thailand killed at least six people, affecting tens of thousands of families in five provinces amid persistent rains, a Thai official said on Wednesday. (Xinhua)

People wade through a flooded street in Narathiwat, Thailand, Dec. 25, 2023. Flash floods in southern Thailand killed at least six people, affecting tens of thousands of families in five provinces amid persistent rains, a Thai official said on Wednesday. (Xinhua)

A vehicle wades through a flooded street in Pattani, Thailand, Dec. 27, 2023. Flash floods in southern Thailand killed at least six people, affecting tens of thousands of families in five provinces amid persistent rains, a Thai official said on Wednesday. (Xinhua)
PALM CITY, Fla.--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- Containing Luxury, a trailblazer in sustainable housing, is proud to announce a significant milestone in its journey. The Florida-based company has secured an order exceeding $2 million for a project in the Bahamas, further cementing its position as a leader in innovative, eco-friendly container homes. This achievement coincides with the successful launch of its Regulation Crowdfunding (Reg CF) offering on StartEngine, which has already garnered over $154,000 in just two weeks.

This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20231227968549/en/

Since its launch in 2022, Containing Luxury has experienced rapid growth, with sales more than doubling in a short period. The company's container homes, known for their cost-effectiveness, resilience, and eco-friendly design, have resonated with a growing audience seeking sustainable living solutions.

"Our journey on StartEngine has been a great start, and we're thrilled with the response from investors," says Blake Madgett, CEO of Containing Luxury. "Securing the Bahamas project is a testament to our commitment and capability in delivering top-notch sustainable housing solutions. We're not just raising funds; we're expanding our reach and impact."

The Reg CF offering on StartEngine allows public investment in Containing Luxury, with over $154,000 raised in just two weeks. Backers can expect various rewards, including exclusive merchandise, based on their investment level. Detailed offering terms, including share price and minimum investment, are available on the StartEngine campaign page.

The funds raised through StartEngine will bolster Containing Luxury's expansion and product development. The company is already in talks with entities aiming to address affordable housing challenges in their communities.

As a frontrunner in sustainable housing, Containing Luxury's container homes are a symbol of innovation and environmental stewardship. With a strong following of over 140,000 on YouTube, the company has established itself as an industry authority in shipping container homes.

For more information on Containing Luxury and its StartEngine campaign, visit https://www.startengine.com/offering/containingluxury.

Disclaimer: This Reg CF offering is made available through StartEngine Capital, LLC. This press release is for informational purposes only and is not an offer to sell or a solicitation of an offer to buy any securities. Investments involve risks, and potential investors should consult financial, legal, and tax professionals before investing.

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20231227968549/en/

Containing Luxury

4402 SW Port Way

Palm City, FL 34990

772-710-4389

https://www.containingluxury.com/

Karen Mahoney

[email protected]

Source: Containing Luxury
Fiskers Loyalty Program provides additional benefits, rewards, exclusive perks, and giveaway opportunities.

Fiskers point-based Loyalty Program offers multiple ways to earn points.

Points earned allow members to unlock and redeem physical and digital rewards.

Customers with an existing order or reservation for any Fisker vehicle in North America and Europe are eligible to participate in Fiskers Loyalty Program.

LOS ANGELES--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- Fisker Inc. (NYSE: FSR) (Fisker), driven by a mission to create the worlds most emotional and sustainable electric vehicles, has enhanced its Loyalty Program to provide customers with lifetime benefits, rewards, exclusive perks, and giveaways.

This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20231228378198/en/

Fisker Inc., driven by a mission to create the worlds most emotional and sustainable electric vehicles, has enhanced its Loyalty Program to provide customers with lifetime benefits, rewards, exclusive perks, and giveaways. Im excited to give our loyal members the opportunity to elevate their ownership experience, Chairman and CEO Henrik Fisker said. We are constantly looking to improve our Loyalty Program in ways that respond to our customers needs and that help us stand out from the competition. Customers with an existing order or reservation for any Fisker vehicle are automatically enrolled into Fiskers Loyalty Program. (Image credit: Fisker Inc.)

Im excited to give our loyal members the opportunity to elevate their ownership experience, Chairman and CEO Henrik Fisker said. We are constantly looking to improve our Loyalty Program in ways that respond to our customers needs and that help us stand out from the competition.

Customers with an existing order or reservation for any Fisker vehicle are automatically enrolled into Fiskers Loyalty Program. Customers gain immediate access to unlock and redeem digital and physical rewards. Fiskers Loyalty Program offers customers an opportunity to earn quick and easy points. Customers can easily earn points by:

Referring Fiskers newsletter

Visiting a Fisker Lounge

Scheduling a test drive

Referring a reservation holder

Referring an order holder

Referring a delivery

Fisker offered exclusive perks to Ocean One customers to acknowledge their loyalty, as customers received delivery of their Fisker Ocean One across North America and Europe. Exclusive perks for Ocean One owners included charging credit, a first free tire replacement, an extended warranty, free OTA updates, early access to vehicle features, and a service package. Other exclusive perks and giveaways opportunities are visible to customers through their rewards account.

Fiskers Loyalty Program is available to customers in North America and Europe. Fisker is working towards expanding its Loyalty Program into other regions for current reservation holders. Information about Fiskers Loyalty Program is found here. Customers can reserve any Fisker vehicle or order a Fisker Ocean at fiskerinc.com.

About Fisker Inc.

California-based Fisker Inc. is revolutionizing the automotive industry by designing and developing individual mobility in alignment with nature. Passionately driven by a vision of a clean future for all, the company is on a mission to create the worlds most sustainable and emotional electric vehicles. To learn more, visit Fiskerinc.com and enjoy exclusive content across Fisker's social media channels: Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, YouTube, and LinkedIn.

Download the revolutionary new Fisker mobile app from the App Store or Google Play.

Forward-Looking Statements

This press release includes forward-looking statements, which are subject to the "safe harbor" provisions of the US Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. These statements may be identified by words such as "feel," "believes," expects," "estimates," "projects," "intends," "should," "is to be," or the negative of such terms, or other comparable terminology and include, among other things, the quotation of our CEO, the statements regarding the planned launch timing, pricing, delivery, and estimated range of the Fisker Ocean, the planned timing of the opening of Fisker facilities, the Company's future performance, and other future events that involve risks and uncertainties. Such forward-looking statements are not guarantees of future performance and are subject to risks and uncertainties, which could cause actual results to differ materially from the forward-looking statements contained herein due to many factors, including, but not limited to: Fisker's limited operating history; Fisker's ability to enter into additional manufacturing and other contracts with Magna or tier-one suppliers in order to execute on its business plan; the risk that OEM and supply partners do not meet agreed-upon timelines or experience capacity constraints; Fisker may experience significant delays in the design, manufacture, regulatory approval, launch and financing of its vehicles; Fisker's ability to execute its business model, including market acceptance of its planned products and services; Fisker's inability to retain key personnel and to hire additional personnel; competition in the electric vehicle market; Fisker's inability to develop a sales distribution network; and the ability to protect its intellectual property rights; and those factors discussed in Fisker's Annual Report on Form 10-K, under the heading "Risk Factors", filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the "SEC"), as supplemented by Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q, and other reports and documents Fisker files from time to time with the SEC. Any forward-looking statements speak only as of the date on which they are made, and Fisker undertakes no obligation to update any forward-looking statement to reflect events or circumstances after the date of this press release.

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20231228378198/en/

European Media:

[email protected]

US Media:

[email protected]



Customer service:

[email protected]

Fisker Inc. Communications:

Matthew DeBord

VP, Communications

[email protected]

Franziska Queling

Regional Head of Public Relations Europe

[email protected]

Eric Trageser

Brand Story and Creative Manager

[email protected]

Investor Relations:

Frank Boroch, VP of Investor Relations

[email protected]

Source: Fisker Inc.
Multi-home Initiative Designed to Make Homeownership Attainable for Paradise Residents Features Development of Affordable, Sustainable Manufactured Housing Options to Benefit Community Devastated by 2018 Camp Fire

SAN DIEGO--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- Guild Mortgage (NYSE: GHLD), a growth-oriented mortgage lending company originating and servicing residential loans since 1960, announced the first two homes from its Making Paradise Home Initiative are completed and listed for sale. The affordable, sustainable manufactured homes are available for sale in Paradise, California, the community hardest hit by the deadliest and most destructive wildfire in the states history.

In January 2023, Guild announced its Making Paradise Home Initiative in partnership with Clayton Homes, Golden West Homes of Chico and Redline Installation to build four CrossMod Homes to help educate residents about the benefits of manufactured housing, while helping to rebuild the community.

Since the initiatives launch, two homes are now listed and available for sale. Both brand new CrossMod homes  located at 6249 Fern Lane and 5931 Debbie Lane in Paradise California  boast beautiful curb appeal, high-end quality and energy efficiency throughout. The homes sit on quiet lanes with circular driveways on over half an acre, each. Both 1,620-square-foot, three bedroom and two full bathroom homes feature a modern design including high ceilings; oversized windows; covered front porches; two-car garages; stylish fireplaces in the living rooms; quartz or granite kitchen countertops; shaker cabinets; farm-style sinks; large islands with seating; and farmhouse laminate flooring throughout. As CrossMod homes, buyers are eligible for unique financing with as little as a 3% down payment.

Through the Making Paradise Home Initiative, Guild will sell the homes to aspiring homeowners and qualified borrowers. The initiatives third home is nearing completion and additional homes are planned to be built over the next year. At least one of the initiatives CrossMod homes will remain open for educational tours.

Making Paradise Home is about more than just disaster recovery, were working to close the homeownership gap by making homeownership more attainable and accessible, said David Battany, executive vice president of capital markets. While were using this initiative to help rebuild a community devastated by fire and to ensure Paradise residents can settle down and feel at home again, we will continue to educate and promote affordable homeownership not just in Paradise, but from coast to coast.

A CrossMod home is a new classification of a HUD-code manufactured home. CrossMods offer the affordability of a traditional manufactured home but are built to higher standards and come with the style and array of amenities found in a traditional site-built home. CrossMod homes have the same or better curb appeal as site-built homes and are energy efficient.

Guild Mortgage provides extensive manufactured home financing options, and is dedicated to finding mortgage solutions for residents, which can include fixed-rate loans with credit scores starting as low as 540 and programs with low and no down payments.

Headquartered in San Diego, Guild Mortgage is a leading national lender with an established history of offering a comprehensive array of loan products and partnering with government organizations to help deliver the promise of home in every neighborhood and community. Its loan professionals can serve the needs of any homebuyer, from helping first-time buyers achieve homeownership, often through government loan programs, to homebuyers looking for a jumbo loan. Guild also helps active duty and retired military personnel who qualify for VA loans with 100% financing and flexible qualifying standards. The company is consistently recognized for its impact in the communities it serves, commitment to customer service, strength in regulatory compliance, and workplace culture.

About Guild Mortgage

Founded in 1960 when the modern U.S. mortgage industry was just forming, Guild Mortgage Company is a nationally recognized independent mortgage lender providing residential mortgage products and local in-house origination and servicing. Guilds collaborative culture and commitment to diversity and inclusion enable it to deliver a personalized experience for each customer. With more than 4,000 employees and over 250 retail branches, Guild has relationships with credit unions, community banks, and other financial institutions and services loans in 49 states and the District of Columbia. Guilds highly trained loan professionals are experienced in government-sponsored programs such as FHA, VA, USDA, down payment assistance programs and other specialized loan programs. Guild Mortgage Company is a wholly owned subsidiary of Guild Holdings Company, whose shares of Class A common stock trade on the New York Stock Exchange under the symbol GHLD.

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20231228030214/en/

Melissa Rue

Nuffer, Smith, Tucker

[email protected]

(619) 296-0605 ext. 247

Source: Guild Mortgage
VICTORIA, Seychelles--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- In a landmark collaboration, KuCoin Labs has joined forces with OOFP, a project within the Bitcoin ecosystem that provides value-added services for assets like inscriptions, runes, and NFTs.

This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20231227301702/en/

KuCoin Labs has joined forces with OOFP, a project within the Bitcoin ecosystem that provides value-added services for assets like inscriptions, runes, and NFTs. (Graphic: Business Wire)

OOFP combines a vault pool for mining with strategies like holding, staking, and DeFi to enhance asset appreciation and growth. OOFP aims to create a vibrant ecosystem where participants can benefit from the increased value of their assets.

The project operates on the principle of creating a vibrant ecosystem in which assets within the Bitcoin network can thrive. By offering value-added services and opportunities for asset appreciation, OOFP aims to attract and engage participants, contributing to the overall development and success of the Bitcoin ecosystem.

The collaboration with KuCoin Labs will enable OOFP to expand ecosystem partnership with all Bitcoin assets like BIIS, DOVI.

Lou Yu, head of KuCoin Labs, expressed excitement about the partnership, stating, "The strategic partnership between KuCoin Labs and OOFP aligns with our commitment to supporting innovative blockchain projects. OOFP's vision and technology have the potential to transform the way we interact with blockchain tools, and we're thrilled to be part of this journey."

With the increasing popularity of inscriptions, the BTC ecosystem has seen an impressive performance with various native new protocols emerging one after another. KuCoin Labs strategic partnership with OOFP underscores its commitment to fostering innovation in the crypto industry. This collaboration is expected to drive advancements in the BTC ecosystem, enhancing user experience and broadening access to blockchain technologies.

ABOUT KUCOIN

Launched in September 2017, KuCoin is a global cryptocurrency exchange with its operational headquarters in Seychelles. As a user-oriented platform with a focus on inclusiveness and community action reach, it offers over 700 digital assets and currently provides spot trading, margin trading, P2P fiat trading, futures trading, staking, and lending to its 30 million users in more than 200 countries and regions. KuCoin is currently one of the top 5 crypto exchanges according to CoinMarketCap. In 2023, KuCoin was named one of the Best Crypto Exchanges by Forbes and recognized as a highly commended global exchange in Finder's 2023 Global Cryptocurrency Trading Platform Awards. Learn more at https://www.kucoin.com/

ABOUT KUCOIN LABS

Since its launch in May 2018, the KuCoin investment and incubation program has brought together a group of crypto experts for in-depth market research, analysis, investment, and incubation in the crypto industry. KuCoin Labs has diversified investments into early-stage projects to help project owners achieve sustainable growth and success in the decentralized world.

ABOUT OOFP

OOFP is a project within the Bitcoin ecosystem that provides value-added services for assets like inscriptions, runes, and NFTs. To find out more, visit: https://www.oofi.io/

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20231227301702/en/

For media inquiry, please contact [email protected]

Source: KuCoin
BURNABY, British Columbia--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- CUPE Local 4500, representing more than 180 Lower Mainland transit workers employed by the Coast Mountain Bus Company, will sit for two days of mediation with the company on January 2 and 3 after the collective bargaining process broke down earlier this month.

The parties remain divided over working conditions and fair compensation, with workers seeking measures to address unmanageable workloads. The union goes into mediation with a solid mandate for job action: union members voted 100 per cent in favour when a strike vote was held on December 12.

Our members go to work every day to help Lower Mainland residents and visitors safely and efficiently get where they need to go, said CUPE 4500 President Chris Gindhu. For us to do our jobs effectively, we need the company to keep pace with staffing levels and maintain the fair compensation needed to retain workers.

Gindhu said that the strike vote went unreported until now to avoid needless concern about possible service disruptions during the holiday season. He said the union is committed to working hard to avoid transit service disruptions.

Our members daily work is dedicated to ensuring there are no disruptions in transit service to the public, so we are working hard to avoid job action. However, we cant do it alone and need the company to enter mediation with that same commitment.

Gindhu said the union will decline further comment in respect of the mediation process.

CUPE 4500 members employed by Coast Mountain work as transit supervisors, maintenance supervisors, service supervisors, tireperson supervisors, TComm staff, field service trainers, engineers, and warranty administrators, as well as supervisors for the parts department, body shop, trolley overhead, and fare box staff.

The last collective agreement expired on December 31, 2022.

COPE491

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20231227053530/en/

Dan Gawthrop, CUPE Communications Representative: 604.999.6132

Source: CUPE
TORONTO--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- Silver Bear Resources Plc ("Silver Bear" or the "Company") (TSX: SBR) announces the voting results of its annual general and special meeting (the Meeting) held today in Moscow, Russia. A total of 424,457,739 ordinary shares were voted in connection with the Meeting, representing approximately 62.57% of the issued and outstanding ordinary shares of the Company eligible to vote at the Meeting. The results of all matters considered at the Meeting are reported in the Report of Voting Results as filed by the Company on SEDAR+ at www.sedar+.com.

Matter Voted On Votes FOR Votes WITHHELD / AGAINST Non-Votes Number % Number % All resolutions were passed unanimously on a show of hands. Proxies were lodged for the resolutions as follows: Ordinary Resolution 1  Receiving the Financial Statements of the Corporation 420,930,806 99.99 53,000 0.01 3,573,833 Ordinary Resolution 2  Appointing Auditors 423,939,351 99.88 518,398 0.12 0 Ordinary Resolution 3  Approving Auditors Remuneration 420,826,406 99.99 57,500 0.01 3,573,833 Ordinary Resolution 4  Re-electing Vadim Ilchuk as a director of the Corporation 420,789,663 99.98 94,243 0.02 3,573,833 Ordinary Resolution 5  Re-electing Alexey Sotskov as a director of the Corporation 420,789,683 99.98 94,223 0.02 3,573,833 Ordinary Resolution 6  Electing Nikolay Grigoriev as a director of the Corporation 420,790,283 99.98 93,623 0.02 3,573,833 Ordinary Resolution 7  Authorising the allotment of shares of the Corporation 420,792,486 99.98 91,420 0.02 3,573,833 Ordinary Resolution 8  Approving the Stock Option Plan 420,818,445 99.98 65,461 0.02 3,573,833 Special Resolution 9  Approving the disapplication of pre-emptive rights 420,791,445 99.98 92,461 0.02 3,573,833

Note:

Voting on all Resolutions at the Meeting was conducted by a show of hands. The voting results on these matters represent the proxy votes entitled to vote at the Meeting.

About Silver Bear

Silver Bear (TSX: SBR) is focused on the development of its wholly-owned Mangazeisky Silver Project, covering a licence area of approximately 570 km2 that includes the high-grade Vertikalny deposit, located 400 km north of Yakutsk in the Republic of Sakha within the Russian Federation. As of April 2018, the Company attained first silver production as a result of commissioning activities and on 1 July 2019 the Company achieved full commercial production. Other information relating to Silver Bear is available on SEDAR at www.sedar.com as well as on the Company's website at www.silverbearresources.com.

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20231228633618/en/

Vadim Ilchuk

President and CEO

[email protected]

Mikhail Ilyin

CFO

[email protected]

Source: Silver Bear Resources Plc
ADSTOCK, Quebec--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- Swander Pace Capital (SPC), a leading private equity firm specializing in consumer products companies, announced today it has partnered with CDPQ and Roynat Equity Partners (Roynat) to acquire a majority stake in St-Methode Bakery (BSM), a leading supplier of healthy, value-add fresh bread products. Located in the Chaudiere-Appalaches region of Quebec, BSM will continue to supply customers throughout Quebec and other markets from its flagship bakery in Adstock.

We are delighted to partner with BSM and its existing management team on this exciting and well-known bakery platform that leverages our unique experience in both the bakery sector and the Quebec market, said Tyler Matlock, Managing Director at Swander Pace Capital. Throughout its 75-year history, BSM has been a leader in consistently delivering high quality and innovative new products to the category. We are excited to continue that tradition of excellence and help accelerate the growth of the brand in new products and end markets.

This transaction is the result of careful planning to ensure the long-term future of St-Methode Bakery in Adstock and Quebec, said Benoit Faucher, President of St-Methode Bakery. Our new partners share our values, which stem from a family business culture, and this is reflected in the retention of the current management team and all jobs. They recognize the know-how and expertise of the BSM team, as well as the high quality of our products. For my part, I will remain active in the company as an advisor to the management team while we ensure a smooth transition.

CDPQ is proud to partner with St-Methode Bakery to support this successful Quebec food company in its business transfer process, as well as growth projects in the Canadian and U.S. markets, said Kim Thomassin, Executive Vice-President and Head of Quebec, CDPQ. Alongside SPC and Roynat, CDPQ will be able to support the Chaudiere-Appalaches company and Quebecs second-largest bread producer in this new chapter in its history.

For over 60 years we have been prime providers of growth and equity capital, providing highly customized financing solutions to promote business growth, said Catherine Parent, Managing Director for Roynat Equity Partners. As we expand our business in Quebec, we continue to look for unique opportunities to assist Quebec-based businesses to excel and grow. St-Methode Bakery is a well-known brand in Quebec that we have worked with previously. The organization has a strong management team and several significant partners, and we believe it will reach new heights in the years to come.

National Bank served as financial advisor in the transaction for BSM and Norton Rose served as legal advisor for BSM. Stikeman Elliott served as legal advisor for Swander Pace Capital and Blakes served as legal advisor for CDPQ and Roynat.

About St-Methode Bakery

Founded in 1947 by Joseph Faucher and his wife Mariette Robert, St-Methode Bakery is a Quebec-based leader in the healthy, value-add bread category. St-Methode Bakery distributes three lines of healthy products  La Recolte de St-Methode, Les Grains St-Methode and Le Campagnolo  to retailers and customers throughout Quebec and Canada. Operating from its flagship bakery in Adstock, St-Methode Bakery proudly features local raw materials such as Quebec wheat flour and remains one of the largest employers in the Chaudiere-Appalaches region. For more information on St-Methode Bakery or its lineup of products, visit www.boulangeriestmethode.com.

About Swander Pace Capital

Swander Pace Capital (SPC) is a private equity firm that invests in companies that are integral to consumers lives. The firm partners with management teams to help build companies to their full potential. Representative investments include Bragg Live Food Products, Cafe Valley Bakery, Backerhaus Veit, Pineridge Bakery, Liberte, Voortman Cookies, Kicking Horse Coffee, Fine Choice Foods, Lavo, Recochem, Merrick Pet Care, and Purely Elizabeth. With offices in California, New Jersey, and Toronto, SPC has invested in more than 60 companies and raised cumulative equity commitments of approximately USD 2.2 billion since 1996. For more information, visit www.spcap.com.

About CDPQ

At CDPQ, we invest constructively to generate sustainable returns over the long term. As a global investment group managing funds for public pension and insurance plans, we work alongside our partners to build enterprises that drive performance and progress. We are active in the major financial markets, private equity, infrastructure, real estate and private debt. As at June 30, 2023, CDPQs net assets totalled CAD 424 billion. For more information, visit cdpq.com, consult our LinkedIn or Instagram pages, or follow us on X.

CDPQ is a registered trademark owned by Caisse de depot et placement du Quebec and licensed for use by its subsidiaries.

About Roynat

Roynat Equity Partners facilitates growth and creates value in established private middle-market companies by offering patient capital, advice, and making its network of contacts available to Canadian entrepreneurs. With offices from coast to coast, Roynat is dedicated to helping businesses grow and achieve their strategic goals. Roynat Equity Partners is a division of Roynat Inc., a wholly-owned subsidiary of Scotiabank. To learn more, please visit www.roynat.com.

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Media information

Pierre-Thomas Choquette

Vice-President  Corporate Communications

Arsenal conseils

418-265-5750

[email protected]

Swander Pace Capital

Philip Nunes

BackBay Communications

+ 1 617 391-0792

[email protected]

CDPQ

Kate Monfette

Director, Media Relations

+ 1 438 525-2520

[email protected]

Roynat

Natalie St-Pierre

Manager, Communications and Community Investment

+ 1 438 699-6182

[email protected]

Source: St-Methode Bakery
Parties Agree to Cancel Previously Issued Shares, Restrict Sales and Redemption Rights, and Increase Capacity Under $400 Million Share Subscription Facility

LOS ANGELES--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- Surf Air Mobility Inc. (NYSE: SRFM) (the Company), the air mobility platform transforming regional flying through electrification, today announced that it entered into a binding term sheet related to the potential issuance of a mandatory convertible debenture to GEM. The proceeds will be comprised of the cancellation of certain shares of the Companys common stock previously issued or issuable to GEM.

The Company, in consultation with its Board of Directors, elected to amend the existing agreements with GEM with objectives of:

Reducing near-term overhang: The term sheet contemplates cancellation of substantially all of GEM's currently issued and freely tradable shares in SRFM. Imposing a volume restriction: The term sheet contemplates limiting sales of shares related to the debenture to 10% of the Companys prior 30 days average trading volume per day. Flexibility to Redeem: The term sheet contemplates giving the company the ability to redeem all or part of the mandatory convertible debenture at 115% of par value at any time, thereby avoiding dilution.

GEM has also agreed to refresh the Companys ability to take both advance drawdowns (up to $100 million) and regular way drawdowns (up to $300 million) back to full capacity, thereby allowing the Company to access up to $400 million as originally contemplated under the Share Subscription Facility with GEM.

The term sheet contains an outline of the terms of the expected transaction, but all terms described in the term sheet are subject to further negotiation between the parties, and the final terms of the transaction will be set forth in the definitive agreements executed by the Company and GEM.

About Surf Air Mobility

Surf Air Mobility is a Los Angeles-based regional air mobility platform expanding the category of regional air travel to reinvent flying through the power of electrification. In an effort to substantially reduce the cost and environmental impact of flying and as the operator of the largest commuter airline in the US, Surf Air Mobility intends to develop powertrain technology with its commercial partners to electrify existing fleets and bring electrified aircraft to market at scale. The management team has deep experience and expertise across aviation, electrification, and consumer technology.

Forward-Looking Statements

This Press Release contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of The Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995, including statements regarding the Company and GEM negotiating and executing one or more definitive agreements to fully implement the potential issuance of the mandatory convertible debenture, and the expected terms and objectives of such transaction. Readers of this release should be aware of the speculative nature of forward-looking statements. These statements are based on the beliefs of the Companys management as well as assumptions made by and information currently available to the Company and reflect the Companys current views concerning future events. As such, they are subject to risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results or events to differ materially from those expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. Such risks and uncertainties include, among many others: the risk that the Company may not successfully negotiate the definitive agreements; the risk that the Company may not consummate the issuance of the debenture; the risk that any projections, including earnings, revenues, expenses, synergies, margins or any other financial items that form the basis for managements plans and assumptions will not be realized; the risks associated with the Companys obligations to comply with applicable laws, government regulations and rules and standards of the New York Stock Exchange; and general economic conditions. These and other risks are discussed in detail in the periodic reports that the Company files with the SEC, and investors are urged to review those periodic reports and the Companys other filings with the SEC, which are accessible on the SECs website at www.sec.gov, before making an investment decision. The Company assumes no obligation to update its forward-looking statements except as required by law.

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20231228796494/en/

Surf Air Mobility: [email protected]

Source: Surf Air Mobility Inc.
By David Shepardson and Valerie Insinna

WASHINGTON (Reuters) -Airplane maker Boeing is urging airlines to inspect 737 MAX airplanes for a possible loose bolt in the rudder control system, the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) said on Thursday.

The FAA said it was closely monitoring Boeing 737 MAX targeted inspections and will consider additional action based on any further discovery of loose or missing hardware.

Boeing recommended inspections after an international operator discovered a bolt with a missing nut while performing routine maintenance on a mechanism in the rudder-control linkage, the FAA said. Boeing discovered an additional undelivered aircraft with a nut not properly tightened, the agency said.

"The issue identified on the particular airplane has been remedied," Boeing said. "Out of an abundance of caution, we are recommending operators inspect their 737 MAX airplanes and inform us of any findings. We informed the FAA and our customers and will continue to keep them aware of the progress."

The planemaker has recommended that airlines inspect their MAXs within two weeks, but delivered 737 MAX planes can continue to fly safely, Boeing said. Production and delivery of the MAX will continue.

The issue does not affect older-model 737 Next Generation planes, Boeing said.

Boeing shares were down 1% in midday trade.

United Airlines American Airlines, two major domestic customers of the MAX, each said it did not expect inspections to have an impact on operations.

Southwest Airlines, a U.S. carrier that solely flies the 737 NG and MAX, did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

The FAA said Boeing had issued a message urging operators of newer single-aisle airplanes to inspect specific tie rods that control rudder movement for possible loose hardware. The rudder controls the position of an aircraft's nose while in flight.

The inspections involve taking off an access panel and validating that the hardware had been properly installed, Boeing said. The process should take two hours, and Boeing is inspecting undelivered 737 MAX aircraft before handing them over to customers.

"The FAA will remain in contact with Boeing and the airlines while the inspections are under way," the agency said, asking airlines to answer if any loose hardware has been detected previously and provide details on how quickly these inspections can be completed.

Any issue involving a rudder that is not working properly would likely be identified in a pre-flight check, as flight crews routinely examine the rudder system before an aircraft pushes back from the gate, Boeing said.

The inspections will help the FAA determine how prevalent the problem is and whether it is a sign of a larger lapse in production quality that requires the regulator to take further action, said Anthony Brickhouse, an air safety expert at Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University.

"Airlines need to take it seriously," he said. "But as a member of the flying public, I don't see this as an issue to be concerned about."

The 737 MAX was grounded for 20 months worldwide after two fatal crashes in 2018 and 2019 killed 346 people in Ethiopia and Indonesia. Boeing is still awaiting certification of its smaller 737 MAX 7 and larger MAX 10.

The FAA has carefully scrutinized the MAX. The FAA in 2021 said it was tracking all 737 MAX airplanes using satellite data.

(Reporting by David Shepardson and Valerie Insinna; Editing by Chizu Nomiyama, Nick Macfie and Mark Porter)
Brunswick Corporation (NYSE: BC), the worlds largest recreational marine technology company, has announced the completion of solar installations at three of its global facilities including its first project in Mexico. Brunswicks Reynosa facility, which manufactures its award-winning Bayliner, Trophy, Heyday, Sea Ray, and Lund brands, has installed more than 900 photovoltaic solar panels covering 4,000 square meters on the roof of the facility. The installation is expected to cover approximately 45% of the annual energy consumed by the facilitys assembly area and generate approximately 800,000 kWH of electricity per year.

We remain committed to enhancing the communities in which we live and work which includes focusing on sustainability within our plant operations, said Jose Guzman, Reynosa General Manager Adding these photovoltaic solar panels is equivalent to taking 125 gasoline-powered cars off the road, which is an important contribution to our community.

The new solar panels will result in the annual avoidance of an estimated 565 metric tons of carbon emissions. In addition to the new solar panels in Reynosa, the facility has also completed installation of a new osmosis wastewater recovery system, which will recycle wastewater within the plant and reduce annual water consumption by an estimated 10%.

In continued pursuit of its goal to have 60% of its electricity from renewable sources by the end of 2025, Brunswick also announced that it is installing two new 100kW solar systems  one at its Mercury Marine Australian/New Zealand head office in Dandenong South (Victoria) and another at the companys BLA office in Murarrie, Brisbane (Queensland). The Dandenong installation is projected to generate approximately 48 percent of the offices electricity needs, preventing 132 tons of CO2 from being released into the atmosphere annually.

The Murarrie office solar system will on average meet 50% of the offices power demand and have the capability to supply 100% of power during peak times. The system will generate approximately 142,000 kilowatt hours of electricity annually, enough to power around 20 homes for a full year.

Installation of solar at our Queensland facility last year has been an outstanding success, the reduction in carbon emissions were achieving illustrates the benefits of going solar, said Paul Watters, Mercury Marine Director of Strategy & Business Improvement. We see solar, and more generally energy efficiency as an important part of our future. These new installations demonstrate our ongoing efforts to do more with less.

These installations are in addition to Mercurys recent announcement that its partnership project with Alliant Energy has received regulatory approval. The 32-acre project in eastern Fond du Lac, Wisconsin, near Mercurys global headquarters, will further the companys sustainability initiatives and the regions growing commitment to renewable energy.
Protesters escort an injured peer in Kinshasa, capital of the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), on Dec. 27, 2023. Injuries have been reported Wednesday in Kinshasa, the capital of the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), since several presidential candidates attempted to launch a protest, which was banned by the government, to denounce what they called "a sham election." (Photo by Alain Uyakani/Xinhua)

KINSHASA, Dec. 27 (Xinhua) -- Injuries have been reported Wednesday in Kinshasa, the capital of the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), since several presidential candidates attempted to launch a protest, which was banned by the government, to denounce what they called "a sham election."

On Wednesday morning, on Kinshasa's Triumphal Boulevard, where the parliament is located, heavy presence of the DRC police has been deployed ahead of the protest attempt launched by five of the incumbent President Felix Tshisekedi's challengers in the race on Dec. 20.

The five opposition candidates demanded a re-run as the general elections suffered from major logistic problems, leading to delay and extension of polling across the country.

On Tuesday, a day before the planned protest, the DRC government banned the protest, claiming that the protest was against the "game rules" and undermined the electoral process as the vote counting has not finished.

"I can reassure you, there will not be this march. It violates the legal provisions that the contestation of the (election) results takes place at the Constitutional Court," said Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of the Interior Peter Kazadi at a press briefing.

Violence has been reported and the police fired tear gas as some protesters burnt the tires on the Triumphal Boulevard, the planned starting point of the protest and right next to the headquarters of the Independent National Electoral Commission (CENI) in downtown Kinshasa.

According to local media, the police have stepped up security around the CENI headquarters.

The Congolese National Police (PNC), the national police force, accused the opposition of having minors during the protest. According to Blaise Kilimba Limba, police commissioner of Kinshasa, some minors were present at the protest and two police officers were injured.

"The organizers have put minors who are not supervised by their parents at the forefront. At some point, they will be arrested to justify the presence of children at the demonstration site," he told the press.

According to partial results announced by CENI late Tuesday, Tshisekedi was leading the race with 78.98 percent of the vote counted, while Katumbi ranked in second place with 14.27 percent of the vote.

The results announced by CENI so far account for more than 6.1 million ballots out of around 44 million voters registered.

Full provisional election results are expected by Dec. 31. CENI has started to publish daily updates since Dec. 24. 

Police officers in action are pictured in Kinshasa, capital of the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), on Dec. 27, 2023. Injuries have been reported Wednesday in Kinshasa, the capital of the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), since several presidential candidates attempted to launch a protest, which was banned by the government, to denounce what they called "a sham election." (Photo by Alain Uyakani/Xinhua)

Protesters escort an injured peer in Kinshasa, capital of the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), on Dec. 27, 2023. Injuries have been reported Wednesday in Kinshasa, the capital of the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), since several presidential candidates attempted to launch a protest, which was banned by the government, to denounce what they called "a sham election." (Photo by Alain Uyakani/Xinhua)

Police officers are on guard against protesters in Kinshasa, capital of the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), on Dec. 27, 2023. Injuries have been reported Wednesday in Kinshasa, the capital of the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), since several presidential candidates attempted to launch a protest, which was banned by the government, to denounce what they called "a sham election." (Photo by Alain Uyakani/Xinhua)

A protester confronts police officers on a street in Kinshasa, capital of the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), on Dec. 27, 2023. Injuries have been reported Wednesday in Kinshasa, the capital of the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), since several presidential candidates attempted to launch a protest, which was banned by the government, to denounce what they called "a sham election." (Photo by Alain Uyakani/Xinhua)

Burning tires are pictured on a street in Kinshasa, capital of the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), on Dec. 27, 2023. Injuries have been reported Wednesday in Kinshasa, the capital of the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), since several presidential candidates attempted to launch a protest, which was banned by the government, to denounce what they called "a sham election." (Photo by Alain Uyakani/Xinhua)

Police officers stand by on a street in Kinshasa, capital of the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), on Dec. 27, 2023. Injuries have been reported Wednesday in Kinshasa, the capital of the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), since several presidential candidates attempted to launch a protest, which was banned by the government, to denounce what they called "a sham election." (Photo by Alain Uyakani/Xinhua)

Protesters are pictured in Kinshasa, capital of the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), on Dec. 27, 2023. Injuries have been reported Wednesday in Kinshasa, the capital of the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), since several presidential candidates attempted to launch a protest, which was banned by the government, to denounce what they called "a sham election." (Photo by Alain Uyakani/Xinhua)
Baidu's Ernie Bot, also known as Wenxin Yiyan in Chinese, has achieved a significant milestone by surpassing 100 million cumulative users.

According to Bloomberg, Baidu's Chief Technology Officer, Wang Haifeng, disclosed this information during a recent conference.

Ernie Bot saw rapid growth within just two months of launch in 2023, which highlights its value to users and its role in advancing large language model (LLM) technology.

In response to the surge in generative AI, China's State Internet Information Office and six other departments have introduced interim regulations to manage AI-focused services.

By Senad Karaahmetovic
Plane manufacturing giant Boeing (NYSE: BA) has urged airlines to inspect more recent 737 MAX aircraft for a possible loose bolt in the rudder control system, the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) said.

Under consultation with the FAA, Boeing is said to have issued a Multi-Operator Message (MOM) urging operators of the newer single-aisle planes to "inspect specific tie rods that control rudder movement for possible loose hardware."

The FAA revealed it is closely monitoring targeted inspections of Boeing 737 MAX airplanes and will consider additional action based on any further discovery of loose or missing hardware.

They added that Boeing urged the inspections after an international operator found a bolt with a missing nut while performing routine maintenance. Boeing then discovered an additional undelivered aircraft with a nut that was not properly tightened.

In comments reported by Reuters, Boeing reportedly said the issue identified on the particular airplane "has been remedied."

"Out of an abundance of caution, we are recommending operators inspect their 737 MAX airplanes and inform us of any findings," they are said to have added. "We informed the FAA and our customers and will continue to keep them aware of the progress."

By Sam Boughedda
FILE PHOTO: An illuminated Google logo is seen inside an office building in Zurich, Switzerland December 5, 2018. REUTERS/Arnd Wiegmann//File Photo

By Jonathan Stempel

(Reuters) - Alphabet's Google has agreed to settle a lawsuit claiming it secretly tracked the internet use of millions of people who thought they were doing their browsing privately.

U.S. District Judge Yvonne Gonzalez Rogers in Oakland, California, put a scheduled Feb. 5, 2024 trial in the proposed class action on hold on Thursday, after lawyers for Google and for consumers said they had reached a preliminary settlement.

The lawsuit had sought at least $5 billion. Settlement terms were not disclosed, but the lawyers said they have agreed to a binding term sheet through mediation, and expected to present a formal settlement for court approval by Feb. 24, 2024.

Neither Google nor lawyers for the plaintiff consumers immediately responded to requests for comment.

The plaintiffs alleged that Google's analytics, cookies and apps let the Alphabet unit track their activity even when they set Google's Chrome browser to "Incognito" mode and other browsers to "private" browsing mode.

They said his turned Google into an "unaccountable trove of information" by letting the company learn about their friends, hobbies, favorite foods, shopping habits, and "potentially embarrassing things" they seek out online.

In August, Rogers rejected Google's bid to dismiss the lawsuit.

She said it was an open question whether Google had made a legally binding promise not to collect users' data when they browsed in private mode. The judge cited Google's privacy policy and other statements by the company that suggested limits on what information it might collect.

Filed in 2020, the lawsuit covered "millions" of Google users since June 1, 2016, and sought at least $5,000 in damages per user for violations of federal wire-tapping and California privacy laws.

The case is Brown et al v Google LLC et al, U.S. District Court, Northern District of California, No. 20-03664.

(Reporting by Jonathan Stempel in New York; Editing by Aurora Ellis)
BRISBANE, Australia, Dec. 27, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Allkem Limited (ASX|TSX: AKE, Allkem or the Company) is pleased to announce receipt of the Certificate of Authorisation (CA) which is the final step in the Environmental and Social Impact Review Committee ("COMEX") and will allow the development of the James Bay Lithium Project (James Bay or the Project) in Quebec, Canada.

The issuance of the Certificate of Authorisation pursuant to section 164 of Quebecs Environment Quality Act from the Quebec Minister of the Environment, the Fight against Climate Change, Wildlife and Parks follows a positive recommendation by COMEX, an independent body composed of members appointed by the governments of Quebec and the Cree Nation, responsible for the assessment and review of the environmental social impact assessment ("ESIA") for the James Bay Project.

Allkem has also recently signed the Impact and Benefit Agreement (IBA) with The Grand Council of the Crees (Eeyou Istchee), the Cree Nation Government and the Cree Nation of Eastmain regarding the development and operation of James Bay.

Detailed engineering and procurement have reached 84% and 90% completion respectively and are expected to be fully complete by the commencement of construction. Preparation of key construction permits (ministerial authorization) is complete and will be submitted shortly supporting the construction and operation phases. The targeted production capacity is 311ktpa of spodumene concentrate with a ~19 year mine life.

Head of Canadian Operation, Denis Couture said: I would like to thank all stakeholders who help us to reach this important milestone and more specifically Daniel Cliche and Rene Dube (mayor) from the Town of Matagami, Alain Coulombe and the SDBJ, Grand Chief Mandy Gull-Masty and the Cree National Government, Chief Raymond Shanoush and the community of Eastmain and special thanks to Brian Weapneacappo and his family for the support during this process.

Managing Director and CEO, Martin Perez de Solay said: We are pleased to achieve this approval prior to year-end and are positioned to execute this tier 1 project with detailed engineering well advanced prior to the commencement of construction. The project leverages Allkems significant spodumene experience and its strategic location is expected to deliver to significant economic benefits and value to the region and the broader North American lithium supply chain.

This release was authorised by Mr Martin Perez de Solay, CEO and Managing Director of Allkem Limited.

Investor Relations & Media Enquiries Connect Allkem LimitedABN 31 112 589 910 Level 35, 71 Eagle StBrisbane, QLD 4000 Andrew Barber M: +61 418 783 701 E: [email protected] Phoebe LeeP: +61 7 3064 3600 E: [email protected] [email protected] +61 7 3064 3600www.allkem.co

IMPORTANT NOTICESThis investor ASX/TSX release (Release) has been prepared by Allkem Limited (ACN 112 589 910) (the Company or Allkem). It contains general information about the Company as at the date of this Release. The information in this Release should not be considered to be comprehensive or to comprise all of the material which a shareholder or potential investor in the Company may require in order to determine whether to deal in Shares of Allkem. The information in this Release is of a general nature only and does not purport to be complete. It should be read in conjunction with the Companys periodic and continuous disclosure announcements which are available at allkem.co and with the Australian Securities Exchange (ASX) announcements, which are available at www.asx.com.au.

This Release does not take into account the financial situation, investment objectives, tax situation or particular needs of any person and nothing contained in this Release constitutes investment, legal, tax, accounting or other advice, nor does it contain all the information which would be required in a disclosure document or prospectus prepared in accordance with the requirements of the Corporations Act 2001 (Cth) (Corporations Act). Readers or recipients of this Release should, before making any decisions in relation to their investment or potential investment in the Company, consider the appropriateness of the information having regard to their own individual investment objectives and financial situation and seek their own professional investment, legal, taxation and accounting advice appropriate to their particular circumstances.

This Release does not constitute or form part of any offer, invitation, solicitation or recommendation to acquire, purchase, subscribe for, sell or otherwise dispose of, or issue, any Shares or any other financial product. Further, this Release does not constitute financial product, investment advice (nor tax, accounting or legal advice) or recommendation, nor shall it or any part of it or the fact of its distribution form the basis of, or be relied on in connection with, any contract or investment decision.

The distribution of this Release in other jurisdictions outside Australia may also be restricted by law and any restrictions should be observed. Any failure to comply with such restrictions may constitute a violation of applicable securities laws.

Past performance information given in this Release is given for illustrative purposes only and should not be relied upon as (and is not) an indication of future performance.

Forward Looking StatementsForward-looking statements are based on current expectations and beliefs and, by their nature, are subject to a number of known and unknown risks and uncertainties that could cause the actual results, performances and achievements to differ materially from any expected future results, performances or achievements expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements, including but not limited to, the risk of further changes in government regulations, policies or legislation; the risks associated with the continued implementation of the merger between the Company and Galaxy Resources Ltd, risks that further funding may be required, but unavailable, for the ongoing development of the Companys projects; fluctuations or decreases in commodity prices; uncertainty in the estimation, economic viability, recoverability and processing of mineral resources; risks associated with development of the Company Projects; unexpected capital or operating cost increases; uncertainty of meeting anticipated program milestones at the Companys Projects; risks associated with investment in publicly listed companies, such as the Company; and risks associated with general economic conditions.

Subject to any continuing obligation under applicable law or relevant listing rules of the ASX, the Company disclaims any obligation or undertaking to disseminate any updates or revisions to any forward-looking statements in this Release to reflect any change in expectations in relation to any forward-looking statements or any change in events, conditions or circumstances on which any such statements are based. Nothing in this Release shall under any circumstances (including by reason of this Release remaining available and not being superseded or replaced by any other Release or publication with respect to the subject matter of this Release), create an implication that there has been no change in the affairs of the Company since the date of this Release.

Not for release or distribution in the United StatesThis announcement has been prepared for publication in Australia and may not be released to U.S. wire services or distributed in the United States. This announcement does not constitute an offer to sell, or a solicitation of an offer to buy, securities in the United States or any other jurisdiction, and neither this announcement or anything attached to this announcement shall form the basis of any contract or commitment. Any securities described in this announcement have not been, and will not be, registered under the U.S. Securities Act of 1933 and may not be offered or sold in the United States except in transactions registered under the U.S. Securities Act of 1933 or exempt from, or not subject to, the registration of the U.S. Securities Act of 1933 and applicable U.S. state securities laws.

Source: Allkem Limited
London, UK, Dec. 28, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Kely Miner, the world's highest-rated cloud mining platform in 2023, has established a powerful financial technology service ecosystem. Kely Miner allows institutional customers and digital asset enthusiasts to efficiently participate in cloud mining and ensure stable returns. Kely Miner provides a series of stable and intelligent computing power service solutions globally.

The company has modified cloud mining access using state-of-the-art technology and large-scale industrial data centers, making it accessible from any device, anywhere. The company eliminates the hassle of equipment procurement, shipping, hosting and maintenance, giving customers, whether new to cryptocurrency mining or experts, the freedom to focus on building a cryptocurrency portfolio.

The company is committed to continuous innovation and is currently developing additional product solutions and services. Kely Miner's business model covers cloud mining, mining machine hosting and self-mining, enabling the company to respond to market fluctuations and promote vertical integration in the global digital asset mining industry.

Start your cloud mining first with the Kelyminer platform and earn passive income

Kely Miner launches a seamless and user-friendly cloud mining solution that enables users to easily explore cryptocurrency mining, whether it is for Bitcoin or Ethereum. Kely Miner offers the opportunity to participate in cryptocurrency mining without the need for complicated equipment purchases.

Kely Miner aims to optimize mining operations through advanced technology, ensuring stability, cost-effectiveness and strong returns. The referral program enables users to earn lifetime commissions of up to 3% to help their business thrive. Unlimited recommendations amplify users earning potential to unlimited heights.

For more information about Kely Miner and its services, please visit its website at www.KelyMiner.net

About Kely Miner:

Kely Miner is a cloud mining company that provides accessible and innovative cloud mining solutions. It enables users around the world to easily participate in the cryptocurrency revolution. With cutting-edge technology, a robust ecosystem of fintech services, and a commitment to security and transparency, Kely Miner is shaping the future of digital asset mining.

In May 2023, Kely Miner launched short-term mining contracts of 30 days, 60 days, and 90 days, which were well received by users. Serving more than 330,000 users worldwide

The trust of long-term users is the best verification of Kely Miner. We have always adopted user feedback and suggestions, and are committed to achieving mutual survival and mutual benefit between the platform and users, so that we can achieve better and longer-term development with users.

Company website

https://www.Kelyminer.net

Disclaimer: The information provided in this press release is not a solicitation for investment, or intended as investment advice, financial advice, or trading advice. It is strongly recommended that you practice due diligence (including consultation with a professional financial advisor) before investing in or trading securities and cryptocurrency.

Tim Tours KelyMiner support(at)kelyminer.net

Source: KelyMiner
LOWELL, Mich., Dec. 28, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Navico Group, a division of Brunswick Corporation (NYSE: BC) and the worlds leading supplier of integrated systems and products for the marine and RV industries, has announced a multimillion-dollar investment in its Lowell, Michigan facility to create two Centers of Excellence in metal fabrication and electrification. The investment will increase quality, capacity, and efficiency, as well as improve product manufacturing capabilities.

Navico Group is committed to being a leader in metal fabrication and electrification for the industries we serve, and this investment is a testament to that said Brett Dibkey, Navico Group president. The new manufacturing capabilities that we are implementing in the Lowell facility will enhance product development agility and speed-to-market. Additionally, our focus on custom battery development supports Brunswicks broader electrification efforts as part of our overall ACES strategy.

The metal fabrication Center of Excellence will be equipped with the latest laser and robotic fabrication technology to aid in the development and production of high-quality products for the marine industry. Most of these products will come to market under the Attwood brand.

The new state-of-the-art battery lab and assembly capability will aid in the design and development of custom power solutions for the nearly 20 end-markets that Navico Group serves with brands like Mastervolt and RELiON Battery. The lab will enable engineers to develop and test end-to-end battery technologies, from bespoke battery management systems (BMS) to emergent cell chemistries. The establishment of this battery facility will bolster the global expansion of Navico Groups electrification efforts and become the second electrification Center of Excellence in addition to the companys Amsterdam facility.

The new battery facility is another example of our commitment to developing and delivering world-class low- and high-voltage electrification solutions to our customers around the world. added Dibkey. The shift to electrification is taking place in the industries that we serve, and this investment allows us to immediately serve our global customers.

Sustainability is also a large focus at the Lowell facility. It is the first Navico Group site to reach zero-waste-to-landfill status, meaning 90% of its waste materials are being recycled, reused, or otherwise eliminated.

The decision by Navico to expand its manufacturing capabilities in Michigan underscores our states leadership in future mobility and electrification, as well as the strength of our business climate and talented workforce, said MEDC State of Michigan Chief Mobility Officer Justine Johnson. Were pleased to join our local partners in supporting this expansion, and look forward to working with the company as it continues to grow and add jobs for Michigan residents.

For more information about Navico Group, please visit www.navico.com .

About Navico Group

A division of Brunswick Corporation (NYSE: BC), Navico Group is the worlds leading supplier of integrated systems and products to industries ranging from marine to recreational vehicle and beyond. The Navico Group portfolio is comprised of industry-leading brands in power management, digital control & monitoring, networked devices, and marine electronics. Some of the many brands that make up Navico Group include: Ancor, Attwood, B&G, BEP, Blue Sea Systems, C-Map, CZone, Lenco, Lowrance, Marinco, Mastervolt, MotorGuide, Progressive Industries, ProMariner, RELiON, Simrad, and Whale.

About Brunswick Corporation:

Brunswick Corporation (NYSE: BC) is the global leader in marine recreation, delivering innovation that transforms experiences on the water and beyond. Our unique, technology-driven solutions are informed and inspired by deep consumer insights and powered by our belief that Next Never Rests. Brunswick is dedicated to industry leadership, to being the best and most trusted partner to our many customers, and to building synergies and ecosystems that enable us to challenge convention and define the future. Brunswick is home to more than 60 industry-leading brands. In the category of Marine Propulsion, these brands include, Mercury Marine, Mercury Racing, MerCruiser and Flite. Brunswicks comprehensive collection of parts, accessories, distribution, and technology brands includes Mercury Engine Parts & Accessories, BLA and Land N Sea. Our Navico Group and its industry-leading technology brands consist of Lowrance, Simrad, B&G, Mastervolt, RELiON, Attwood and Whale. Our Boat brands are some of the best known in the world, including Boston Whaler, Lund, Sea Ray, Bayliner, Harris Pontoons, Princecraft and Quicksilver. In addition, our service, digital and shared-access businesses include Freedom Boat Club, Boateka and a range of financing, insurance, and extended warranty businesses. While focused primarily on the marine industry, Brunswick also successfully leverages its portfolio of advanced technologies to deliver an exceptional suite of solutions in mobile and industrial applications. Headquartered in Mettawa, IL, Brunswick has approximately 18,000 employees operating in 27 countries. In 2023, Brunswick was named by Forbes as a Worlds Best Employer and as one of Americas Most Responsible Companies by Newsweek, both for the fourth consecutive year. For more information, visit brunswick.com.
TORONTO, Dec. 28, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Ninepoint Partners LP (Ninepoint) is pleased to announce that the Ninepoint 2024 Short Duration Flow-Through Limited Partnership (the Partnership) filed a preliminary prospectus (the Prospectus) on December 28, 2023 in connection with its offering of limited partnership units of the National Class and the Quebec Class (together, the Units). A receipt for the preliminary prospectus has been issued by the securities regulatory authorities in each of the provinces and territories of Canada. The Units are being offered at a price per Unit of $25.00 with a minimum subscription of 100 Units ($2,500).

Ninepoint is a leading manager of Flow-Through Funds in Canada. Since its inception in 2017, Ninepoint has successfully raised more Flow-Through Fund capital than any other asset manager in Canada.

The Partnership intends to provide liquidity to limited partners through a roll-over to the Ninepoint Resource Fund Class on or before June 30, 2025 with such liquidity event not expected to occur before February 2025.

Investment Objective of the PartnershipThe Partnerships investment objective is to achieve capital appreciation and significant tax benefits for limited partners by investing in a diversified portfolio of Flow-Through Shares (as defined in the Prospectus) and other securities, if any, of Resource Issuers (as defined in the Prospectus). Investments made with the proceeds from the National Class Units will be made in Resource Issuers carrying out activities across Canada and investments made with the proceeds from the Quebec Class Units will be made in Resource Issuers carrying out activities primarily in the Province of Quebec.

Attractive Tax-Reduction BenefitsFlow-through partnerships are one of the most effective tax reduction strategies available to Canadians. Ninepoint anticipates that investors participating in the Partnership will be eligible to receive a tax deduction of approximately 100% of the amount invested.

Resource ExpertiseThe Partnership will be sub-advised by Sprott Asset Management LP (Sprott), one of Canadas leading investment advisors in small and mid-cap resource companies. Over its long history of investing in the resource sector, Sprott has developed relationships with hundreds of companies. Its experienced team of portfolio managers is supported by a team of technical experts with extensive backgrounds in mining and geology.

Portfolio manager Jason Mayer will manage the portfolio of the Partnership and will be supported by Sprotts broader team of experienced resource investment professionals.

AgentsThe offering is being made through a syndicate of agents led by RBC Dominion Securities Inc. which includes CIBC World Markets Inc., TD Securities Inc., National Bank Financial Inc., Scotia Capital Inc., BMO Nesbitt Burns Inc., iA Private Wealth Inc., Manulife Securities Incorporated, Raymond James Ltd., Richardson Wealth Limited, Canaccord Genuity Corp., Desjardins Securities Inc. and Echelon Wealth Partners Inc.

About Ninepoint Partners LPBased in Toronto, Ninepoint Partners LP is one of Canadas leading alternative investment management firms overseeing approximately $7.8 billion in assets under management and institutional contracts. Committed to helping investors explore innovative investment solutions that have the potential to enhance returns and manage portfolio risk, Ninepoint offers a diverse set of alternative strategies spanning Equities, Fixed Income, Alternative Income, Real Assets, F/X and Digital Assets.

For more information on Ninepoint Partners LP, please visit www.ninepoint.com or for inquiries regarding the offering, please contact us at (416) 943-6707 or (866) 299-9906 or [email protected].

Certain statements included in this news release constitute forward-looking statements, including, but not limited to, those identified by the expressions expects, intends, anticipates, will and similar expressions to the extent that they relate to the Partnership. The forward-looking statements are not historical facts but reflect the Partnerships, Ninepoints and Sprotts current expectations regarding future results or events. These forward-looking statements are subject to a number of risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results or events to differ materially from current expectations. Although the Partnership, Ninepoint and Sprott believe the assumptions inherent in the forward-looking statements are reasonable, forward-looking statements are not guarantees of future performance and, accordingly, readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on such statements due to the inherent uncertainty therein. Neither the Partnership, nor Ninepoint or Sprott undertake any obligation to update publicly or otherwise revise any forward-looking statement or information whether as a result of new information, future events or other such factors which affect this information, except as required by law.

A preliminary prospectus containing important information relating to these securities has been filed with securities commissions or similar authorities in all the provinces and territories of Canada. The preliminary prospectus is still subject to completion or amendment. Copies of the preliminary prospectus may be obtained from one of the dealers noted above. There will not be any sale or any acceptance of an offer to buy the securities until a receipt for the final prospectus has been issued.

Source: Ninepoint Partners LP
Kansas City, KS., Dec. 28, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Midwest Transplant Network will honor 14-year-old organ donor Jayme Sue Louque of Olathe, Kansas, in the 2024 Rose Parade. Her parents, Wendy and Bryan Louque, and their family will attend the parade activities in Pasadena, Calif. The OneLegacy Donate Life Rose Parade float will feature a floragraph portrait of Jayme Sue, among other donor hero floragraphs. The 135th Rose Parade will air on television Monday, Jan. 1 at 10 a.m. CST on ABC, NBC and Univision.

Parade HonoreeJayme Sue Louque lived a life full of agape love and pure joy. She was an eighth grader who enjoyed music, dance and theater. She was active in her schools choir and theater program. She was born with Dandy-Walker syndrome and spent much of her life in and out of the hospital, but despite her disabilities, her family provided as much of a normal life as possible. In November 2021, at age 14, she suffered a catastrophic cardiac arrest and was declared brain dead several days later.

The decision to donate Jayme Sues organs was easy for her parents. Her mom is a living kidney donor, and her dad is a two-time kidney transplant recipient. Jayme Sues lungs, intestines, liver, kidneys and pancreas helped save the lives of five people, and her gift of life-enhancing tissue and corneas helped many more.

Parade FloatFor more than 20 years, the OneLegacy Donate Life Rose Parade float has inspired people across the country with the powerful message of organ, eye and tissue donation. The 2024 Rose Parade theme, Celebrating a World of Music: The Universal Language, illustrates how in a world of different cultures, beliefs, hopes and dreams, one language unites us all  music.

The OneLegacy Donate Life Rose Parade float, Woven Together: The Dance of Life, features a Hopi butterfly dancer with traditionally woven baskets of corn and fruit. The Butterfly Dance is a ceremonial social dance for young Hopi people to celebrate the corn harvest.

All Rose Parade floats must be covered with flowers or other natural materials such as leaves, seeds or bark. Each year, the OneLegacy Donate Life Rose Parade float features numerous floragraphs that replicate photographs, but are made entirely of organic materials, remembering donors from across the nation.

Learn More Journalists can find more information about the Rose Parade, the OneLegacy Donate Life Rose Parade float and the honorees bio and photos from Midwest Transplant Networks media kit.

Media InterviewsInterviews with the Louque family or Midwest Transplant Network staff can be coordinated in the days leading up to the event or after the parade. Interviews can be done by phone, email or virtually. To coordinate an interview, please contact Nez Savala, APR, Director, Community Engagement and Public Relations, Midwest Transplant Network, at [email protected] or 913-574-7955.

ABOUT MIDWEST TRANSPLANT NETWORKMidwest Transplant Network has been connecting lives in Kansas and western Missouri for more than 50 years. More than 7,500 organ donors from Midwest Transplant Networks donor service area have contributed to over 28,000 lifesaving transplants since Midwest Transplant Networks inception in 1972. Additionally, more than 24,000 tissue donors have given gifts in this timeframe, enabling more than two million life-enhancing tissue transplants for burn victims, cancer survivors, individuals with sports-related injuries and more.

###

Nez Savala Midwest Transplant Network 913-261-7355 [email protected]

Source: Midwest Transplant Network
TORONTO, Dec. 28, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Petrolympic Ltd. (the "Company", TSXV: PCQ) wishes to announce it has completed a non-brokered private placement (the "Offering") of 3,333,330 common shares of the Company on a flow-through basis (FT Shares) at a price of $0.06 per FT Share, for aggregate gross proceeds of $199,999.80.

In connection with the Offering, the Company paid finder's commissions of an aggregate of $5,999.99 and issued an aggregate of 199,999 finder's shares (the "Finder's Shares") at $0.05 per Finders Share.

The securities issued under the Offering have a hold period of four months and one day from the date of issuance.

The Company will use the net proceeds of the Offering to explore the Companys mineral properties located in Quebec.

About Petrolympic

Petrolympic is a Junior Canadian gold and lithium mining company in North America. The Company is presently focused on its lithium exploration assets in the James Bay region, Basserode and Fourniere in Abitibi region as well as its gold exploration assets at Vauquelin and Rayon dOr in the Val dOr region, all in the Province of Quebec, Canada.

For further information please contact:

Mendel Ekstein  President & CEO

82 Richmond St EastToronto, ON M5C 1P1Tel. 845-656-0184 Fax 845-231-6665

NEITHER THE TSX VENTURE EXCHANGE NOR ITS REGULATIONS SERVICES PROVIDER HAVE REVIEWED OR ACCEPT RESPONSIBILITY FOR THE ADEQUACY OR ACCURACY OF THIS RELEASE.

CAUTIONARY STATEMENT REGARDING FORWARD-LOOKING INFORMATION

Certain information contained or incorporated by reference in this press release, including any information regarding the proposed acquisition, constitutes forward-looking statements. All statements, other than statements of historical fact, are to be considered forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements are necessarily based on a number of estimates and assumptions that, while considered reasonable by the Company, are inherently subject to significant business, economic, geological and competitive uncertainties and contingencies. Although the Company believes the expectations expressed in such forward-looking statements are based on reasonable assumptions, such statements are not guaranteeing of future performance. Known and unknown factors could cause actual results to differ materially from those projected in the forward-looking statements. Such factors include but are not limited to: economic and global market impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic, fluctuations in market prices, exploration and exploitation successes, continued availability of capital and financing, changes in national and local government legislation, taxation, controls, regulations, expropriation or nationalization of property and general political, economic, market or business conditions. Many of these uncertainties and contingencies can affect our actual results and could cause actual results to differ materially from those expressed or implied in any forward-looking statements made by, or on behalf of, us. Readers are cautioned that forward-looking statements are not guarantees of future performance and, therefore, readers are advised to rely on their own evaluation of such uncertainties. All of the forward-looking statements made in this press release, or incorporated by reference, are qualified by these cautionary statements. We do not assume any obligation to update any forward-looking statements.

Source: Petrolympic Ltd.
Madrid, December 28th - Lleida.net founder and CEO, Sisco Sapena (BME:LLN) (EPA:ALLLN) (OTCQX:LLEIF) acquired yesterday 10,000 shares of the company at a weighted average price of 0.83 euros per share.



With this transaction, carried out in the market and communicated in accordance with the regulation to the CNMV, Sapena now owns 36.50 % of the company, 35.75 % directly and 0.75 % indirectly.

Lleida.net is the leading company in Europe in the certified electronic signature, notification and contracting industry.

With more than 300 patents received from more than 60 countries worldwide, it has one of the strongest intellectual property portfolios in the industry.

Lleida.net, founded in 1995, first went public in Madrid in 2015. It subsequently executed a dual listing on Euronext Growth Paris in 2018 and on OTC Markets in New York in 2020.

The company accumulates a total of 303 patents in more than 60 countries for its innovations in the field of registered electronic signature, notification and contracting.

SAFE HARBOR

This press release contains statements regarding the future of the Lleida.net company and its innovations. Statements regarding the future may be accompanied by words such as "anticipate", "believe", "estimate", "wait", "anticipate", "pretend", "power", "plan", "potential", the use of future time and other terms of similar meaning. No undue reliance should be placed on these claims. These statements involve risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from those reflected in such statements, including uncertainty of the company's commercial success, ability to protect our intellectual property rights, and other risks. These statements are based on current beliefs and forecasts and refer only to the date of this press release. The company assumes no obligation to publicly update its forward-looking statements, regardless of whether new information, future events or any other circumstance arise.
TOKYO, Dec. 28 (Xinhua) -- Former Japanese senior vice justice minister Mito Kakizawa was arrested Thursday over alleged vote-buying in a Tokyo ward mayoral election, prosecutors said.

The 52-year-old lawmaker, who belonged to the ruling Liberal Democratic Party (LDP), is suspected of having used around 2.6 million yen (18,000 U.S. dollars) to help Yayoi Kimura win the April mayoral election of Tokyo's Koto Ward. The payment is judged to have been an effort to buy votes, according to the Tokyo District Public Prosecutors Office.

It has been revealed that Kakizawa's office gave cash to Koto Ward assembly members as instructed by the lawmaker, and remuneration to Kimura's election campaign staff.

Kakizawa has denied the allegations, saying the payments to the assembly members were his customary mid-campaign contribution ahead of a ward assembly election also held in April, and he had no intention of buying votes, according to media reports.

Kakizawa resigned as senior vice justice minister in October after admitting to recommending Kimura's team use paid online ads for her election campaign. Paid advertisements online for specific candidates, rather than political parties, are prohibited by the election law.

The lawmaker also left the LDP on Dec. 14, when his offices were raided by prosecutors. 
Voltalia sells 33 megawatts of wind power in France

Voltalia (Euronext Paris, ISIN code: FR0011995588), an international player in renewable energies, sells the Sarry (23.1 megawatts) and Molinons (10 megawatts) wind farms

Voltalia sells 100 % of the capital of its Sarry and Molinons wind farms in operation. With a total capacity of 33.1 megawatts, they are located in Bourgogne-Franche-Comte. The Sarry wind farm is backed by a Corporate PPA1, while the Molinons wind farm benefits from a public feed-in tariff resulting from calls for tender issued by the CRE (Commission de Regulation de l'Energie).

Voltalia will provide maintenance and administrative management services for these two plants for 20 years.

Voltalia is developing a pipeline of future renewable energy projects totalling 16.1 gigawatts2. Since its creation, Voltalia has pursued its strategy of developing a large volume of competitive projects ex nihilo, with a view to retaining some projects and selling others to partners at different stages of completion (ready-to-build, under construction or in operation), offering services across the entire value chain, such as construction and maintenance.

To date, Voltalia has 2.3 gigawatts of power plants in operation and 0.4 gigawatts under construction. At the same time, Voltalia maintains, operates and administers 4.6 gigawatts for third-party clients, a large proportion of which was developed and built by Voltalia.

This is a further illustration of our strategy of developing and selling renewable energy projects in France, where we are currently developing more than two gigawatts of future projects. Thank you to all the teams who contributed to make this operation possible, says Sebastien Clerc, CEO of Voltalia.

Next on the agenda: Q4 2023 Turnover, on January 31st, 2024 (after market close)

About Voltalia (www.voltalia.com)

Voltalia is an international player in the renewable energy sector. The Group produces and sells electricity generated from wind, solar, hydraulic, biomass and storage facilities that it owns and operates. Voltalia has generating capacity in operation and under construction of more than 2.7 GW and a portfolio of projects under development representing total capacity of 16.1 GW.

Voltalia is also a service provider and supports its investor clients in renewable energy projects during all phases, from design to operation and maintenance.

As a pioneer in the corporate market, Voltalia provides a global offer to private companies, ranging from the supply of green electricity and energy efficiency services to the local production of their own electricity.

With more than 1,700 employees in 20 countries on 3 continents, Voltalia has capacity to act globally for its customers.

Voltalia is listed on the regulated market of Euronext Paris, compartment B (FR0011995588  VLTSA) and is part of the SBF 120, Enternext Tech 40 and CAC Mid & Small indices. The Group is also included in the Gaia-Index, an index for socially responsible midcaps

Loan Duong, Head of Communications & IR Seitosei Actifin

[email protected] Press Contact: Jennifer Jullia

Investor Relations : [email protected] [email protected] . T. +33 (0)1 56 88 11 19







1 A long-term sales contract linking the producer directly to the end consumer of electricity, a large company





2 As of June 30, 2023





Attachment
SAN RAFAEL, Calif., Dec. 28, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Westamerica Bancorporation announces the appointment of Alisa Belew to its Board of Directors.

"We are pleased to add Alisa Belew to our Board of Directors," said David L. Payne, Chairman, President and Chief Executive Officer of Westamerica Bancorporation. Alisa has over 14 years of experience in the commercial real estate industry and her unique background will enhance our board and contribute to our ongoing governance practices.

Ms. Belew is a Director of Newmark, one of the largest commercial real estate firms in the world. As Director, she specializes in the leasing and sales of commercial properties in Marin and Sonoma counties. Ms. Belew has a proven track record as a commercial real estate agent and has long-standing relationships with both institutional landlords and local ownership groups throughout the North Bay. In 2017, Ms. Belew was named a Newmark National Rising Star, and she has been a North Bay Top Producer from 2019 to present. As a valuable partner, Alisa anticipates her real estate clients needs and is creative in advising the best path forward for her clients. She finds the right solution for all involved due to her extensive experience in the market.

Westamerica Bancorporations wholly owned subsidiary Westamerica Bank, operates commercial banking and trust offices throughout Northern and Central California.

For additional information contact:Westamerica Bancorporation1108 Fifth Avenue, San Rafael, CA 94901Robert A. Thorson, SVP and Chief Financial Officer(707) 863-6840[email protected]

A photo accompanying this announcement is available at https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/9d140b20-31da-49fa-a86e-3886ec7ebf3d

Alisa Belew Alisa Belew Joins Westamerica Board of Directors

Source: Westamerica Bancorporation
Last week marked the conclusion of the Ohio Senate and Houses final scheduled sessions for the year, yet the anticipated progress on cannabis legislation remained elusive. Despite both chambers convening on Wednesday, no cannabis-related bills were discussed, prompting questions about the proximity of a consensus between the Senate and House on the matter.

Senate president Matt Huffman expressed uncertainty about the progress, noting that it was

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Last week, President Joe Biden signed a defense bill containing provisions to finance trials into the therapeutic potential for psychedelics for military services members in active duty. This came a week after Congress gave its final approval and forwarded the bill to the presidents desk.

The bill requires the defense department to create a process by which military service members with traumatic brain injuries or post-traumatic stress disorder could

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Vancouver, British Columbia--(Newsfile Corp. - December 28, 2023) - Blackrock Silver Corp. (TSXV: BRC) (the "Company", "Blackrock", "we", "our" or "us") is pleased to provide the following Shareholder letter.

Dear Shareholders,

2023 proved to be a pivotal year for us, with our flagship Tonopah West project stepping into the spotlight as one of the preeminent silver deposits in the industry having surpassed 100M AgEq ounces at a block diluted grade of 509 g/t AgEq following delivery of our latest mineral resource estimate (MRE) in October1.

Less than four short years from our initial discovery hole, we have now delivered two mineral resource estimates, rapidly creating intrinsic value at the project level with our latest MRE seeing our ounces increase by 2.36X and grade improve by 14%. Further expansion potential requires no leaps in logic, with "step-in" drilling along the vein corridor easily conveyed that will seek to connect our 3 deposit areas together as one cohesive silver-gold system spanning over 4 kilometres, while also remaining wide open along strike to the northwest and at depth. Your Company has overseen one of the largest new silver discoveries of the last decade and has cemented Tonopah West's position as the highest-grade undeveloped large silver-rich project in the world2.

In addition to high grades and significant size potential, another clear differentiator of Tonopah West is the straightforward metallurgy. All of the historic production from the Tonopah silver district3 was from a dor produced at site. Well known Kappes and Cassidy and Associates from Reno, Nevada, completed our initial test work which lines up very well with historic reports, with recoveries averaging 95% for gold and 87% for silver, with no need envisioned for costly extra steps to create a lead/zinc concentrate or requiring the involvement of a smelter.

With our resource situated entirely on patented claims in Nevada, the Tonopah West project has a streamlined process with the State of Nevada for exploration, development and construction applications and approvals.

As 2023 comes to a close, the Company is in the process of finalizing its 2024 plans that are to be duel focused on both resource expansion and the continued de-risking of the project. Further infill drilling is planned to link the deposits as one, and engineering and hydrologic studies are already underway, all of which will form the basis for a maiden preliminary economic analysis anticipated in 2025.

But that's not all. At Silver Cloud the Company made a bonanza grade gold and silver discovery at the Northwest Canyon target (see January 17, 2023 news). The follow-up of the discovery intercept (70 g/t gold and 600 g/t silver over 1.5 metres) was initiated in 2023, but following the high grade has proven to be tricky, though I'm confident the Nevada team will sort it out.

In 2023, the Company completed an Exploration and Development Agreement on Tonopah North (see January 10, 2023 news). Our partner, Tearlach, is spending their money to explore for and develop a lithium deposit on our land holdings, and shareholders will control 30% of a potentially large lithium resource if our partner is successful.

With gold recently surpassing all time highs, and silver consumption projected to put the metal into deficit territory next year, there's a lot of light quickly emerging at the end of the tunnel for investors, especially with the Fed now openly projecting rate cuts following the most aggressive hiking cycle in modern history. We've navigated the choppy waters of the industry as best we could over the last few years, doing so without blowing out our share structure and with a resolute focus on adding substantial intrinsic value at the project level. This is a management team that prides itself on doing what it says they're going to do. The day is coming, and it's my vision that day is very soon, where it, and we, will be rewarded for that in the marketplace.

For those wanting to learn more about our story, I invite you to watch our short presentation from the Precious Metals Summit Zurich in November: Watch Here

I wanted to take the opportunity to thank all those stakeholders that supported us this year, our incredible team, Board of Directors, consultants, advisors, lawyers, bankers, and all those that played their crucial part in our story. Our Nevada technical team, led by Bill Howald, have done a masterful job in taking the project from what were a few conceptual drill targets just a handful of years ago to making one of the great silver discoveries of the decade, while bringing new life to one of Nevada's most cherished mining camps in the process.

Most of all, I wanted to thank our shareholders for their continued support. Blue skies ahead!

On behalf of everyone at Blackrock Silver, I wish you all a very healthy and prosperous New Year!

Sincerely,



Andrew Pollard,

Blackrock Silver, President & Chief Executive Officer

About Blackrock Silver Corp.

Backed by gold and silver ounces in the ground, Blackrock is a junior precious metal focused exploration company driven to add shareholder value via the drill bit. With 6.12 million tonnes grading 508.5 g/t silver equivalent[4] at its Tonopah West project, and a new bonanza-grade gold discovery at its Silver Cloud project, the Company has a proven track record of exploration success. In addition to its gold and silver project portfolio, the Company is credited with a lithium discovery, the Tonopah North project, which is under option to a lithium exploration group. Anchored by a seasoned Board of Directors, the Company is focused on its 100% controlled Nevada portfolio of properties consisting of low-sulphidation, epithermal gold and silver mineralization located along the established Northern Nevada Rift in north-central Nevada and the Walker Lane trend in western Nevada.

For further information, please contact:

Andrew Pollard, President & CEO

Blackrock Silver Corp.

Phone: 604 817-6044

Email: [email protected]

Blackrock's exploration activities at Silver Cloud, Tonopah North and Tonopah West are conducted and supervised by Mr. William Howald, Executive Chairman of Blackrock. Mr. William Howald, AIPG Certified Professional Geologist #11041, is a Qualified Person as defined under National Instrument 43-101. He has reviewed and approved the contents of this news release.

Forward-Looking Statements

This news release contains "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of Canadian securities legislation. Such forward-looking statements concern the Company's strategic plans, including the Company intentions for its project portfolio in the 2023 calendar year, timing and expectations for the Company's exploration and drilling programs, estimates of mineralization from drilling, geological information projected from sampling results and the potential quantities and grades of the target zones. Such forward-looking statements or information are based on a number of assumptions, which may prove to be incorrect. Assumptions have been made regarding, among other things: conditions in general economic and financial markets; accuracy of assay results; geological interpretations from drilling results, timing and amount of capital expenditures; performance of available laboratory and other related services; future operating costs; and the historical basis for current estimates of potential quantities and grades of target zones. The actual results could differ materially from those anticipated in these forward-looking statements as a result of risk factors, the timing and content of work programs; results of exploration activities and development of mineral properties; the interpretation and uncertainties of drilling results and other geological data; receipt, maintenance and security of permits and mineral property titles; environmental and other regulatory risks; project costs overruns or unanticipated costs and expenses; availability of funds; failure to delineate potential quantities and grades of the target zones based on historical data, and general market and industry conditions. Forward-looking statements are based on the expectations and opinions of the Company's management on the date the statements are made. The assumptions used in the preparation of such statements, although considered reasonable at the time of preparation, may prove to be imprecise and, as such, readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on these forward-looking statements, which speak only as of the date the statements were made. The Company undertakes no obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statements included in this news release if these beliefs, estimates and opinions or other circumstances should change, except as otherwise required by applicable 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 release.

________________________

1 Technical information relating to the Tonopah West project is based on and derived from the National Instrument 43-101 technical report prepared for Blackrock entitled "Technical Report for Updated Estimate of Mineral Resources, Tonopah West Silver-Gold Project, Nye and Esmeralda Counties, Nevada, USA" effective October 6, 2023 and dated November 8, 2023 authored by Jeffrey Bickel, C.P.G. (the "Technical Report"). The Technical Report outlines 6.12 million tonnes at a block diluted grade of 242 grams per tonne (g/t) silver (Ag) and 2.9g/t gold (Au) for a total inferred mineral resource of 47,738,000 ounces Ag and 570,000 ounces Au, or 508.5 g/t silver equivalent (AgEq) for 100.04 million oz AgEq. AgEq equivalent grade is based on silver and gold prices of US$22/ounce and US$1,850/ounce, respectively, and recoveries for silver and gold of 87% and 95%, respectively.

2 As of December 26, 2023. Sourced from company reports and S&P Capital IQ for deposits greater than 80M AgEq ounces (MI+I)

3 All historic production information from Nevada Bureau of Mines & Geology, Bulletin 51 Bulletin 92.

4 Technical information relating to the Tonopah West project is based on and derived from the National Instrument 43-101 technical report prepared for Blackrock entitled "Technical Report for Updated Estimate of Mineral Resources, Tonopah West Silver-Gold Project, Nye and Esmeralda Counties, Nevada, USA" effective October 6, 2023 and dated November 8, 2023 authored by Jeffrey Bickel, C.P.G. (the "Technical Report"). The Technical Report outlines 6.12 million tonnes at a block diluted grade of 242 grams per tonne (g/t) silver (Ag) and 2.9g/t gold (Au) for a total inferred mineral resource of 47,738,000 ounces Ag and 570,000 ounces Au, or 508.5 g/t silver equivalent (AgEq) for 100.04 million oz AgEq. AgEq equivalent grade is based on silver and gold prices of US$22/ounce and US$1,850/ounce, respectively, and recoveries for silver and gold of 87% and 95%, respectively.

To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/192539
Chisinau, Republic of Moldova--(Newsfile Corp. - December 28, 2023) - Moldova Innovation Technology Park (MITP), marking its fifth anniversary, has firmly established itself as a key destination for foreign tech investment in Eastern Europe. The park, heralded as Europe's first e-Park, has now welcomed over 1500 resident companies, including 229 from abroad, representing 38 different countries. This development underscores MITP's significant role in attracting and nurturing international technological ventures.





MITP's Five-Year Leap: Driving Technological Advancements in Moldova and Beyond



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The park's growth trajectory is marked by substantial engagement from countries like the USA, Romania, Germany, the UK, and Russia, reflecting its global appeal in the tech sector. MITP offers a dynamic environment for a wide range of activities including software development, data processing, and IT consulting, primarily among small and micro enterprises. These companies demonstrate the park's capacity to support diverse business models and contribute to the regional economy.

In addition to its focus on foreign investments, MITP has also responded to the Ukrainian crisis by supporting the temporary relocation of Ukrainian IT specialists and tech companies. Since the onset of the war against Ukraine, MITP launched the IT Refugee platform, providing essential resources and information for those affected, further emphasizing its role as a hub of technological and social resilience.

As MITP celebrates half a decade of progress, it stands as a beacon of technological innovation and a symbol of support for the tech community in Eastern Europe, showcasing its ability to adapt and contribute positively in times of regional challenges.

About Moldova Innovation Technology Park (MITP) Established with the aim of fostering growth in Moldova's tech sector, MITP serves as a platform for local and international technology companies, facilitating development and innovation in the region.

Press contact: Veronica Bucur

Head of Communications at MITP

str. Serghei Lazo no.38. floor. 9

mun. Chisinau, Republic of Moldova

Mobile: +373 79 409 212

Email: [email protected]

www.mitp.md

To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/191038
Wellington, New Zealand--(Newsfile Corp. - December 28, 2023) - New Zealand Energy Corp. (TSXV: NZ) ("NZEC" or the "Company") announced today the results of its Annual General Meeting of shareholders held in Wellington, New Zealand on Friday 29 December 2023 (NZT).

A total of 685,479 common shares representing just over 29.53% of the total issued and outstanding common shares were voted at the meeting.

Each of the current directors, James Willis, Franciscus Jacobs and Michael Adams were re-elected as Directors of the Company to hold office until the next annual general meeting, or until successors are elected or appointed.

Shareholders passed all other items of business put forward at the meeting.

On behalf of the Board of Directors

"James Willis"

Chairman

New Zealand Energy Contacts

Email: [email protected]

Website: www.newzealandenergy.com

Neither the TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as such term is defined in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.

To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/192657
Vancouver, British Columbia--(Newsfile Corp. - December 28, 2023) - Ophir Gold Corp. (TSXV: OPHR) (OTCQB: OPHRF) (FSE: 80M) (the "Company" or "Ophir") is pleased to announce that further to its news release of December 11th, 2023, the TSX Venture Exchange has approved its Option Agreement (the "Agreement") with Azimut Exploration Inc. (TSXV: AZM) (OTCQX: AZMTF) (the "Optionor") to acquire up to an undivided 70% interest in the Pilipas Lithium Property (the "Property"), located approximately 50 km south of the Company's Radis Lithium Project in the James Bay Region of Quebec.

Pursuant to the Option Agreement, the Company has the option to acquire a 70% direct interest in the Property by making the following cash and share payments and incurring exploration expenditures:



Cash (CDN$) Securities Exploration or Other Work Commitments

(CDN$) Interest Earned Exchange Approval $20,000 (paid) 2,000,000 Shares (issued) -

Year 1 $25,000 1,000,000 Shares $400,000

Year 2 $25,000 1,000,000 Shares $1,600,000 50% Year 3 $30,000 2,000,000 Shares $2,000,000 70% Total $100,000 6,000,000 Shares $4,000,000



After satisfying the Year 2 commitments, the Company shall earn a 50% interest in the Property. After satisfying the Year 3 commitments, the Company shall earn a 70% interest in the Property. If the Company earns a 70% interest in the Property, the parties shall form a joint venture that is 70% held by the Company and 30% by the vendor. If the Company earns a 50% interest in the Property but fails to earn a 70% interest, the parties shall form a joint venture that is 50% held by the Company and 50% by the vendor. If after formation of the joint venture either party's interest is diluted below 10%, it shall be converted into a 2% Net Smelter Royalty (NSR) on the Property.

The parties are dealing at arm's length and no finder's fee are payable in connection with the transaction.

About Ophir

Ophir Gold Corp. is a diversified mineral exploration company focused on the exploration and development of the Radis and Pilipas Lithium Properties in James Bay, Quebec, and the past producing Breccia Gold Property located in Lemhi County, Idaho. The Company holds an option to earn a 100% interest in the Radis Property over a three-year period from Eastmain Resources Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of Fury Gold Mines Limited, an option to earn a 70% interest in the Pilipas Property over a three-year period from Azimut Exploration Inc and an option to earn a 100% interest in the Breccia Property from DG Resource Management Ltd.

About Azimut

Azimut is a leading mineral exploration company with a solid reputation for target generation and partnership development. Azimut holds the largest mineral exploration portfolio in Quebec (Canada). Its wholly owned flagship project, the Elmer Gold Project, has advanced to the resource stage with a strong exploration upside. Azimut also controls a strategic land position for copper-gold, nickel and lithium (see the document: Azimut in Numbers).

Azimut uses a pioneering approach to big data analytics (the proprietary AZtechMine" expert system) enhanced by extensive exploration know-how. Azimut's competitive edge is based on systematic regional-scale data analysis and concurrently active projects. Azimut maintains rigorous financial discipline and a strong balance sheet, with 85.2 million shares issued and outstanding.

On behalf of the Board of Directors

"Shawn Westcott"

Ophir Gold Corp.

For further information, please contact:

Shawn Westcott, CEO

Phone 1 (604) 365 6681

[email protected]

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.

Cautionary Note

The information contained herein contains "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of applicable securities legislation. Forward-looking statements relate to information that is based on assumptions of management, forecasts of future results, and estimates of amounts not yet determinable and include statements in this press release related to the exploration and discovery potential of the Property and the Company's future plans with respect to the Property. Any statements that express predictions, expectations, beliefs, plans, projections, objectives, assumptions or future events or performance are not statements of historical fact and may be "forward-looking statements." Forward-looking statements are subject to a variety of risks and uncertainties which could cause actual events or results to differ from those reflected in the forward-looking statements, including, without limitation: risk related to the failure to obtain adequate financing on a timely basis and on acceptable terms; risks related to the outcome of legal proceedings; political and regulatory risks associated with mining and exploration; risks related to the maintenance of stock exchange listings; risks related to environmental regulation and liability; the potential for delays in exploration or development activities or the completion of feasibility studies; the uncertainty of profitability; risks and uncertainties relating to the interpretation of drill results, the geology, grade and continuity of mineral deposits; risks related to the inherent uncertainty of production and cost estimates and the potential for unexpected costs and expenses; results of prefeasibility and feasibility studies, and the possibility that future exploration, development or mining results will not be consistent with the Company's expectations; risks related to commodity price fluctuations; and other risks and uncertainties related to the Company's prospects, properties and business detailed elsewhere in the Company's disclosure record. Should one or more of these risks and uncertainties materialize, or should underlying assumptions prove incorrect, actual results may vary materially from those described in forward-looking statements. Investors are cautioned against attributing undue certainty to forward-looking statements. These forward-looking statements are made as of the date hereof and the Company does not assume any obligation to update or revise them to reflect new events or circumstances, except in accordance with applicable securities laws. Actual events or results could differ materially from the Company's expectations or projections.

To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/192664
Toronto, Ontario--(Newsfile Corp. - December 28, 2023) - Prophecy DeFi Inc. (CSE: PDFI) ("Prophecy DeFi" or the "Company") announces that it has granted an aggregate of 2,000,000 options ("Options") to purchase common shares of the Company to a certain officer, director, employee and a consultant of the Company, exercisable at a price of $0.05 per common share for a period of five (5) years from the date of grant, in accordance with the terms of the Company's stock option plan. Further, the Company announces that it has cancelled 3,292,000 Options pursuant the terms of the Company's stock option plan. The Options had been granted between March 2021 and December 2021 to certain officers, directors, employees and consultants to the Company. The cancelled Options had exercise prices ranging from $0.22 to $0.60 and expiry dates ranging from March 2024 to December 2024. The Options were voluntarily surrendered by the holders for no consideration.

The common shares issuable upon exercise of the granted options are subject to a statutory hold period of four months and one day from the date of grant.

About Prophecy DeFi

Prophecy DeFi Inc. (PDFI) is a publicly traded investment company whose primary objective is to invest its funds for the purpose of generating returns from capital appreciation and income. It plans to accomplish these goals by bringing together technology start-ups in the Blockchain and Decentralized Finance sectors to fund innovation, elevate industry research, and create new business opportunities in a coherent ecosystem.

www.prophecydefi.com

For further information, please contact:

John McMahon, CEO

Tel: (416) 764-0314

Email: [email protected]

Forward-Looking Information

Certain information set forth in this news release may contain forward-looking information that involves substantial known and unknown risks and uncertainties. This forward-looking information is subject to numerous risks and uncertainties, certain of which are beyond the control of the Company, including, but not limited to, the impact of general economic conditions, industry conditions, and dependence upon regulatory approvals and the possibility that the completion of the transaction may not occur. 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 information. The parties undertake no obligation to update forward-looking information except as otherwise may be required by applicable securities law.

Neither the Canadian Securities Exchange nor the Investment Industry Regulatory Organization of Canada accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.

NOT FOR DISTRIBUTION TO UNITED STATES NEWSWIRE SERVICES OR

FOR DISSEMINATION IN THE UNITED STATES

To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/192655
Transformative Launch Marks a New Era for Cybria Ecosystem

Istanbul, Turkey--(Newsfile Corp. - December 28, 2023) - In August 2023, Cybria embarked on a groundbreaking journey with the ambitious mission of spearheading a blockchain revolution. The destination: Cybria Mainnet - an innovative platform seamlessly fusing blockchain technology and Artificial Intelligence (AI) is set to launch on December 30, 2023. This transformative venture is poised to elevate the Ethereum ecosystem by enhancing scalability, transaction speed, and security.





Cybria Mainnet Ready to Launch on December 30, 2023

Cybria Layer 2

Cybria operates as a Layer 2 blockchain platform strategically positioned on the Ethereum network. Designed to augment scalability and bolster transaction efficiency, Cybria leverages the power of Cybersecurity and AI technologies to fortify network safety and optimize performance. The marriage of blockchain and AI opens doors to novel applications across diverse domains, underscoring the pivotal role AI plays in advancing various aspects of Cybria.

The Evolution of AI Integration

The journey commenced with the experimental Testnet v1, which evolved into the more robust v2. This evolution marked the advent of a new Layer 2 Blockchain solution, one supercharged by AI capabilities. The integration of AI into blockchain technology signifies a leap towards innovative and powerful applications, setting the stage for Cybria's imminent impact.

Launching Cybria Mainnet: December 30, 2023

After four months of anticipation, the Cybria Mainnet launch is set to launch on December 30, 2023. This milestone event will not only unveil the Mainnet but also introduce the Cybria Bridge and Cybria Swap, key components that will animate the Cyba Ecosystem. The launch heralds a new era of possibilities, where the synergy of blockchain and AI is set to redefine the digital landscape.

Cybria Bridge and Swap

The Cybria Bridge stands as a gateway for the seamless transfer of digital assets and data between Ethereum and Cybria. At the Mainnet release, the Ethereum-Cyba Chain Bridge will be available, facilitating the fluid movement of assets. Simultaneously, the Cybria Swap empowers users to transact on the Cyba Chain while enhancing liquidity, providing a comprehensive solution for those entering the Cyba ecosystem.

With the inauguration of Cybria Mainnet, enthusiasts and early adopters are invited to join the Cyba ecosystem and embark on a journey of innovation and growth. Cybria Mainnet represents not only a technical milestone but a pivotal moment in the evolution of blockchain and AI integration.

In summary, the launch of Cybria Mainnet marks a turning point in the realm of blockchain technology, signaling a future where the fusion of AI and blockchain redefines the possibilities within the digital landscape.

Website: https://www.cybria.io/

Whitepaper: https://docs.cybria.io/

Twitter: https://twitter.com/cybriacoin

Telegram: https://t.me/cybriacoin

Company Name: Cybria Blockchain

Contact Person: Hector Paulo

Contact Email: [email protected]

To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/192580
XI'AN, Dec. 28 (Xinhua) -- As China vigorously promotes consumption and optimizes the foreign investment environment, overseas brands are continuing to explore the consumption markets in west China by launching innovative business formats and opening new stores.

The LEGO Group on Saturday opened its second beacon store in China in Xi'an, capital city of the northwestern Shaanxi Province, after the opening of its first such store in the central Chinese city of Changsha in August.

According to the group, the opening of this new beacon store is not only an important step in further expanding its presence in the Chinese market, but also a testament to the confidence placed in the important role of key cities in western China.

Since entering China in 1983, especially after the establishment of the brand's retail network in 2016, LEGO has continued to focus on the development of consumer markets in the central and western Chinese regions. It has so far opened 19 stores in Shaanxi.

Jenny Xu, vice president of LEGO China Offline Branded Retail, said that over the past few years, in addition to the launch of new stores, the company has dedicated efforts to achieve innovation in the retail business formats.

"The beacon store in the ancient capital of Xi'an features historical and cultural elements and offers consumers interactive experiences. I hope this new business format will become a way for people to enjoy traditional Chinese culture and for tourists to explore more insights related to Xi'an," Xu said.

"The store is like an amusement park," said Chen Qingtan, a junior middle school student from Xi'an. "It integrates with the historical and cultural characteristics of Xi'an to offer customers a more 'Chinese style' immersive experience."

Since 2018, LEGO has participated in the China International Import Expo for six consecutive years and continued to increase investments in China, especially in inland regions. According to Paul Huang, senior vice president of LEGO Group and general manager of LEGO China, the company's plan to expand its market in China stems from its strong confidence in the country's development.

Since the beginning of this year, China has consistently implemented policies to enhance the foreign investment environment and increased efforts to attract foreign investment, which demonstrate the country's unwavering commitment to further opening up, Huang said.

Apart from LEGO, numerous other foreign businesses are expressing confidence in the consumer market in western China.

In November this year, the Livat Xi'an commercial complex was officially completed and is currently undergoing decoration. As the largest wholly foreign-owned commercial project in Shaanxi, Livat, with a total investment of 4.3 billion yuan (about 606 million U.S. dollars) and a construction area of more than 320,000 square meters, can accommodate more than 450 domestic and foreign tenants.

Located at the Xi'an International Trade and Logistics Park, the Xi'an terminal project, a railway logistics investment project from Kazakhstan, with a total area of about eight hectares, recently commenced operations, marking the initial establishment of Kazakhstan's business logistics distribution center in China.

"Investing in China is investing in the future, and many overseas brands have cast a vote of confidence in the Chinese economy in the inland markets," said Wu Gang, a researcher at the institute of economics of the Shaanxi Academy of Social Sciences.

"As China continues to optimize the business environment, protect the rights and interest of foreign investments, and strengthen the protection of intellectual property rights, the consumer market potential in central and western Chinese cities will continue to be unleashed," Wu said.

According to data from the Shaanxi provincial department of commerce, in the first three quarters of this year, the actual use of foreign capital in Shaanxi reached 1.12 billion U.S. dollars, up 6.5 percent year on year.

The number of newly established foreign-invested enterprises was 273, up 21.9 percent year on year. Among them, the foreign capital from Europe was 323 million U.S. dollars, an increase of 78.2 percent, accounting for 28.9 percent of the total actual use of foreign capital in the province. 
Toronto, Ontario--(Newsfile Corp. - December 27, 2023) - Trojan Gold Inc. (CSE: TGII) (OTC Pink: TRJGF) (FSE: KC1)("TGI" or the "Company") is pleased to announce that it has appointed Jason Bagg as a Director to replace William Moore who has recently resigned as a Director to pursue other business.

Jason Bagg is currently President, CEO and Director of Puranium Energy Ltd., a uranium exploration company, listed on the Canadian Securities Exchange. Mr. Bagg brings over 20 years of financial, technology and mining industry experience. He started his career with large firms in the capital markets space working with retail and institutional investors, later focusing on the mining industry. During his time with several exchange listed junior mining companies, he was involved at a high management level to develop corporate strategy and investor awareness.

Charles Elbourne, President and CEO of the Company stated, "I am very pleased to welcome Jason to the Board. His appointment will be highly beneficial to Trojan as we look to build shareholder value and execute our current strategy. We look forward to Jason's insight and leadership as the Company works to capitalize on its strategically located properties in northwestern Ontario."

The Company would also like to announce that it has granted Jason Bagg 200,000 incentive stock options under the Company's Stock Option Plan. Each option is exercisable at a price of $0.05 per common share, vests immediately and expires three years from the date of the grant.

About Trojan Gold Inc.

Trojan is an active Ontario-based prospect generator junior exploration company, led by a team of professionals having exploration, engineering, project financing and permitting experience. Trojan has accumulated land positions in the Hemlo Gold Camp and Shebandowan Greenstone Belt which in management's view represent mineral exploration potential. For further information on the Company, please visit www.trojangold.com. Trojan is listed on the Canadian Securities Exchange under the symbol (CSE: TGII) and the OTCQB Venture Market ("OTCQB") under the ticker symbol TRJGF.

For further information, please contact:

Charles J. Elbourne, President & CEO

Trojan Gold Inc.

82 Richmond St. East, Suite 401

Toronto, Ontario M5C 1P1

Telephone: 416-315-6490

Email: [email protected]

Website: www.trojangold.com

Forward-Looking Statements

This news release contains "forward-looking information" within the meaning of applicable securities laws. All statements contained herein that are not clearly historical in nature may constitute forward-looking information. In some cases, forward-looking information can be identified by words or phrases such as "may", "will", "expect", "likely", "should", "would", "plan", "anticipate", "intend", "potential", "proposed", "estimate", "believe" or the negative of these terms, or other similar words, expressions, and grammatical variations thereof, or statements that certain events or conditions "may" or "will" happen, or by discussions of strategy. Forward-looking information contained in this press releases includes, but is not limited to the timing and amount of estimated future exploration potential and success of such exploration activities.

Where the Company expresses or implies an expectation or belief as to future events or results, such expectation or belief is based on assumptions made in good faith and believed to have a reasonable basis. Such assumptions include, without limitation, that sufficient capital, personnel and other resources will be available to the Company that will allow it to undertake exploration activities on its properties.

However, forward-looking statements are subject to risks, uncertainties, and other factors, which could cause actual results to differ materially from future results expressed, projected, or implied by such forward-looking statements. Such risks include, but are not limited to, the impact of the recovery post COVID-19 pandemic, including but not limited to its impact on precious metals and the mining industry generally; the Company not having access to the resources it needs in order to carry out its proposed exploration activities on the timeline described in this press release or at all; there being no assurance that the exploration program will result in expanded mineral resources; risks and uncertainties inherent to any mineral resource estimates; receipt of necessary approvals; general business, economic, competitive, political and social uncertainties; future gold and other metal prices; accidents, labour disputes and shortages; environmental risks; and other risks relating to mining industry, including the risks set out in the Company's public disclosure documents that can be found on its profile page at www.SEDAR.com.

Accordingly, undue reliance should not be placed on forward-looking statements and the forward-looking statements contained in this press release are expressly qualified in their entirety by this cautionary statement. The forward-looking statements contained herein are made as at the date hereof and are based on the beliefs, estimates, expectations, and opinions of management on such date. The Company does not undertake any obligation to update publicly or revise any such forward-looking statements or any forward-looking statements contained in any other documents whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise or to explain any material difference between subsequent actual events and such forward-looking information, except as required under applicable securities law. Readers are cautioned to consider these and other factors, uncertainties, and potential events carefully and not to put undue reliance on forward-looking information.

To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/192455
Vilnius, Lithuania--(Newsfile Corp. - December 28, 2023) - WhiteBIT is pleased to announce that "

C", an educational show about cryptocurrencies and blockchain founded by WhiteBIT's very own CEO, Volodymyr Nosov, has won the Davos Communications Awards 2023 in the "Communications in the Crypto Age" category. The winners were announced during the award ceremony on December 12, 2023.





WhiteBIT: 'C' wins the award for Communications in the Crypto Age at Davos 2023



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"ByHI" is a YouTube show created and hosted by Volodymyr Nosov, founder and CEO of WhiteBIT, one of the largest cryptocurrency exchanges in Europe. Previously, the project was called the Gagarin Show, but since September 2022, its new name is "CE>!" (abbreviated as "ByHI"). In the episodes, hosts Volodymyr Nosov and Hlib Ushakov introduce viewers to all the nuances of the crypto and blockchain sphere in an entertaining format. The show's audience includes both experienced crypto enthusiasts and those who are just getting acquainted with the Web3 space.



"We created the first project of its kind, which eventually has become the best. I am extremely proud of the team, which has been setting the level for four years, despite COVID and the war. We have once again proved that crypto and blockchain can be talked about in an interesting and humorous way. We are grateful to our viewers for their loyalty and devotion over the years. Thank you for believing in the development of the crypto industry in Ukraine, just like we do," said Volodymyr Nosov, CEO of WhiteBIT.



This year, Ukrainian and Brazilian specialists in the field of communications received the most awards at the Davos Communications Awards 2023. In total, Ukrainian companies won five of the 28 total nominations.



The Davos Communications Awards 2023 is an award established by the World Communications Forum Association. It annually honors the best projects of public relations and communications professionals from around the world.



Samira Abdulova

[email protected]

Vilnius, Lithuania

To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/192114
Tokyo, Japan--(Newsfile Corp. - December 27, 2023) - ZIPAIR Tokyo announced that the carrier will expand its transpacific network with service between Tokyo Narita and Vancouver International Airport, starting March 13, 2024. The service to Vancouver will become the carrier`s fourth route across the Pacific, following Los Angeles, San Jos Mineta, and San Francisco International Airport. Reservations and tickets are now on sale on www.zipair.net.

ZIPAIR operates the highly efficient Boeing 787-8 aircraft on its international routes and will initially offer three flights per week between Tokyo Narita and Vancouver. The carrier's unique business model provides a convenient low-cost option, allowing more people to connect between Canada and Asia with ease.



The city of Vancouver features scenic views and a moderate, oceanic climate throughout the year making it a popular tourist destination. Locations such as Stanley Park, Granville Island, Vancouver Aquarium, and Grouse Mountain are considered one of the top attractions in the area. Vancouver is also known as one of the most ethnically and linguistically diverse cities around the world.





Credit: Destination Vancouver/Albert Normandin



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Credit: Destination Vancouver/Kindred & Scout

Left: Grouse Mountain Resort / Middle: Spanish Banks / Right: False Creek



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"This new route will strengthen our international network across the Pacific, while meeting the growing travel demand between Vancouver and Tokyo Japan," said ZIPAIR President Shingo Nishida. "Ever since our establishment in 2018, our mission is to define a new standard in the airline industry by offering a unique low-cost business model on long-haul international routes. We sincerely look forward to welcoming customers in Canada to take advantage of our service, as this route will provide a valuable link for commercial and cultural exchange between the two countries."

Flight Schedule

March 13 - March 30, 2024

Flight # Schedule Operates ZG22 Departs Narita 16:00

Arrives Vancouver 08:30 Monday / Wednesday / Saturday ZG21 Departs Vancouver 10:30

Arrives Narita 13:00 (next day)

March 31 - June 30, 2024

Flight # Schedule Operates ZG22 Departs Narita 15:40

Arrives Vancouver 08:25 Monday / Wednesday / Saturday ZG21 Departs Vancouver 10:25

Arrives Narita 12:25 (next day)

July 1 - September 30, 2024

Flight # Schedule Operates ZG22 Departs Narita 15:40

Arrives Vancouver 08:45 Monday / Wednesday / Saturday ZG21 Departs Vancouver 10:45

Arrives Narita 12:25 (next day)

October 1 - October 26, 2024

Flight # Schedule Operates ZG22 Departs Narita 15:40

Arrives Vancouver 08:25 Monday / Wednesday / Saturday ZG21 Departs Vancouver 10:25

Arrives Narita 12:25 (next day)

Flight schedules are subject to relevant government approvals.

Flights will operate between Tokyo Narita Terminal 1 - North Wing and Vancouver International Airport

Sample Airfares

Fare Type Airfare (Per Seat / One-Way Fare) Age Tokyo - Vancouver Vancouver - Tokyo ZIP Full-Flat Value From JPY 105,335 ~ From CAD 1,102.16 ~ 7 years and above Standard Value From JPY 32,960 ~ From CAD 352.16 ~ 7 years and above U6 Standard Value JPY 12,790 (Flat Rate) CAD 156.16 (Flat Rate) 6 years and under

Airfares shown above are per seat / one-way fares and are inclusive of taxes and applicable fees. (Prices are valid as of December 27, 2023)

Each fare includes a maximum of 7kg of carry-on baggage allowance.

Additional fees apply for optional services, including checked baggage, inflight meals, etc.

Carrier does not impose a fuel surcharge.

Ancillary Service Package

Pricing Details Baggage Allowance 30kg per piece JPY7,000 / CAD73 Carry-on Baggage

(7kg Included) Fee-based option to add 8kg (Total 15kg) JPY5,000 / CAD52 Package Value Checked Baggage 30kg, Seat Selection, Inflight Meal JPY11,000 / CAD114 Premium Checked Baggage 30kg, Seat Selection, Inflight Meal, Carry-on +8kg, Amenity Set JPY18,000 / CAD187

Fare Rules ZIP Full-Flat Value Standard Value U6 Standard Value

Reservations Available on ZIPAIR Website or at the Contact Center Purchase Deadline 90 minutes prior to the scheduled flight Date Change Not Permitted Refund Not Permitted

- An administrative ticketing fee will apply per person (per sector) for purchases made through the Contact Center.

- Tickets for children (Age 2-6) must be purchased 24 hours prior to the scheduled flight. For children (Age 0-1) tickets must be purchased 48 hours prior to the scheduled flight.

- For additional details, visit https://www.zipair.net/en/farerules

Reservations and Sales

Reservations will be accepted from December 27 (12:00 Japan Standard Time)

For additional information, visit https://www.zipair.net.en





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About ZIPAIR Tokyo

Established in 2018 as a wholly owned subsidiary of Japan Airlines, ZIPAIR features a fully customizable travel experience based on an LCC business model. Offering complimentary Wi-Fi for all classes of travel, the carrier operates the Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner configured in a 290-seat layout. One of the few international airlines to provide a contactless inflight experience, ZIPAIR`s self-ordering payment system is accessible to order meals and goods through a personal smartphone or tablet. Based out of Tokyo Narita, ZIPAIR currently operates to eight international destinations, including Bangkok, Singapore, Manila, Seoul, Honolulu, Los Angeles, San Jose Mineta, and San Francisco.

Media Contact:

Mark Morimoto

[email protected]

To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/192527
Paid press release content from The Financial Capital. The StreetInsider.com news staff was not involved in its creation.

All Yoga Training expands its renowned yoga teacher program to tranquil Koh Phangan, Thailand, offering an immersive beachfront learning experience in 2024. Personalized training in serene settings for aspiring yoga teachers.



All Yoga Training, a premier institution in yoga education since 2009, is delighted to announce an exciting expansion of its yoga teacher training program to a breathtaking new location in Thailand. Building on the success of its main location in the paradise island of Nusa Lembongan, Bali, the school is set to open its doors in the tranquil and picturesque village of Chaoklum, Koh Phangan, in 2024. This move offers a unique opportunity for yoga enthusiasts to embark on their teaching journey in a serene beachfront setting.

A Serene Beachfront Haven in Koh Phangan

Our new training center in Koh Phangan is a beautiful shala situated directly in front of the pristine beach, offering an immersive experience that harmoniously blends yoga practice with the tranquility of nature. The idyllic setting provides a peaceful backdrop for deepening yoga practices and learning to become a yoga teacher.

Continuing the Legacy from Bali to Thailand

All Yoga Training in Bali has been a beacon of excellence in yoga education since 2009, with its flagship center located in the idyllic Nusa Lembongan, Bali. Our legacy includes over 2,300 graduates who have gone on to become influential yoga teachers worldwide. The expansion to Thailand is a testament to our commitment to spreading the wisdom of yoga far and wide.

Distinctive Features of Our Yoga Teacher Training

Our Yoga Teacher Training Program is renowned for its exceptional quality, passionate teaching, and dedicated instructors. Each course, accommodating no more than 22 students, ensures a personalized and intimate learning experience. This small group setting fosters individual growth, allowing each student to receive the attention and mentoring they deserve.

Embark on a Transformative Journey in 2024 to become a yoga teacher.

The upcoming 2024 programs in Bali and Thailand, Koh Phangan are an invitation to embark on a transformative journey into the world of yoga. Whether you are starting your path as a yoga teacher or deepening your practice, All Yoga Training in Thailand, Koh Phangan, complementing our Bali center, offers an unparalleled opportunity for personal and professional growth.

Join us for this life-changing experience and become a part of a community dedicated to the advancement and enrichment of yoga. For more details and to register for the 2024 Yoga Teacher Training Program and upcoming dates, please visit our website [www.allyogatraining.com/yoga-teacher-training.html].

About All Yoga Training

With its roots in the paradise island of Nusa Lembongan, Bali, All Yoga Training is a global leader in yoga education, known for its comprehensive, high-quality teacher training courses since 2009. We are committed to nurturing the next generation of skilled and passionate yoga teachers.

Contact Info:

Name: Zoe Mote

Email: Send Email

Organization: All Yoga Training

Phone: +66831982722

Website: http://www.allyogatraining.com



Release ID: 89117398

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Founder by SEO expert Chris Morin, AutoShop Heroes helps auto repair shops and mechanics increase website traffic and quality leads through results-driven SEO.



With an increasing number of automotive shops online, standing out from the crowd can be a challenge for mechanics and local car repair shops. It can become more difficult for those with limited resources and knowledge about how to use SEO to optimize their websites and search rankings. However, in this digital age, where searching online before booking a service or buying a product has become second nature for people, it's essential to harness the power of Search Engine Optimization (SEO) to enhance online visibility, attract new clients, and ultimately increase revenue. So, partnering with a skilled digital agency like AutoShop Heroes, specializing in SEO web mechanics, can be a good idea for several reasons, explained below.

SEO is complex. It's not something achievable overnight. It takes time, consistent efforts, knowledge, and continuous monitoring before one can see the results. For instance, Google uses a complex algorithm to determine search results when someone is looking for a mechanic. The search engine determines the search results based on various factors, notably relevance, search intent, keywords, page loading speed, social signals, backlinks, and more.

Although these factors appear like juggernauts, understanding and optimizing for these factors can significantly improve a mechanic's chances of appearing in relevant search results on Google, ultimately driving more traffic and potential customers to their business. That's what AutoShop Heroes, led by an SEO expert, Chris Morin, does for mechanics and automotive shops, creating and implementing SEO for their websites, which brings more traffic and qualified leads. For example, Joe Eichmann, Owner of Eurowerks Autobody, reported an increase of 132% in customer calls after one year of working with AutoShop Heroes.

"I have been working with Chris for over a year now, and I wanted to provide an update to my earlier review. I honestly think that AutoShop Heroes is the best choice that anyone could ever make for marketing." - Joe Eichmann, Google Reviews.

An SEO for mechanics aiming to improve their search rankings or increase customer visits to the website starts with targeting the right keywords. However, ranking for the most popular search terms, such as "car repair near me" or "best car repair shop," can be difficult due to high competition for these keywords. AutoShop Heroes understands this, and that's why it targets keywords with low competition and high monthly traffic. After that, they create informative and SEO-optimized content with these keywords to improve the ranking for mechanics. In addition, the agency uses automation to maximize marketing efficiency. So, whether to improve SEO for mobile mechanics or auto repair businesses, AutoShop Heroes has the skill and knowledge to improve search rankings and website visits through their proven SEO tactics and marketing.

About Us: AutoShop Heroes implements an all-encompassing four-step SEO approach, which has demonstrated remarkable efficacy in enhancing the online visibility and consumer engagement of many automobile repair and workshops in the USA. Their specialized SEO strategies encompass keyword research, on-page, and off-page optimization, local SEO, and content marketing tailored to the unique needs of auto shops. For auto repair businesses, AutoShop Heroes is a reliable partner for results-driven SEO solutions.

Contact Info:

Name: Chris Morin

Email: Send Email

Organization: AutoShop Heroes

Address: 445 Seaside Ave Honolulu, HI 96815

Phone: (413) 341-0347

Website: https://www.autoshopheroes.com



Release ID: 89117437

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Paid press release content from The Financial Capital. The StreetInsider.com news staff was not involved in its creation.

Traderhub, a prominent organization in the financial information domain, announced a strategic move to elevate user experience and reinforce its commitment to delivering high-quality financial insights. The platform is excited to unveil its new web address, from traderhub.vn to traderhub.net.



Traderhub has emerged as a go-to destination for investors seeking accurate and timely information across diverse financial markets, including stocks, forex, and commodities. The platform is built on a foundation of transparency, accuracy, and a dedicated team of seasoned experts with market insights.

Traderhub is one of Vietnam's leading forums for international forex and stock market investment. Traderhub Forum serves as a platform for traders to exchange ideas and strategies to discover successful trading approaches for themselves. The investors can quickly update themselves on the latest news every day, participate in training classes and investment education for beginners, and explore workshops organized by training centers.

Beyond being a financial forum, Traderhub has cultivated a dynamic and diverse community for traders, catering to seasoned professionals and novice investors and fostering collaborative learning via knowledge exchange.

Traderhub also provides premium free resources, including trading blogs, investment documents, and technical analysis tutorial videos. Curated by top-tier experts, these resources aim to empower investors with the knowledge and skills necessary for success in trading.

The transition to the new domain, from traderhub.vn to traderhub.net, reflects Traderhub's commitment to continuous improvement. This move is not merely a change in web address; it signifies a dedication to enhancing the platform's features and providing users with a more seamless and enriched online experience.

Looking ahead, Traderhub envisions becoming the premier financial forum in Vietnam. The platform aims to serve as a comprehensive resource for networking, news updates, knowledge sharing, and trustworthy investment signals. This strategic vision positions Traderhub as an invaluable asset for seasoned and aspiring investors.

For further information, please take a look at https://traderhub.net

About Traderhub

Traderhub has solidified its position as a dynamic and reliable financial forum in the Vietnamese investment landscape. The platform serves as a daily destination for diverse purposes, offering accurate and timely financial information and investment expertise.

Contact Detail:

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/traderhubfx

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About Us: /Traderhub/

Contact Info:

Name: Traderhub

Email: Send Email

Organization: Traderhub

Address: 31 Le Van Mien Street, Thao Dien Ward, District 2, Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam

Phone: (+84) 876 743 735

Website: https://traderhub.net/



Release ID: 89117435

In the event of any inaccuracies, problems, or queries arising from the content shared in this press release, we encourage you to notify us immediately at [email protected]. Our diligent team will be readily available to respond and take swift action within 8 hours to rectify any identified issues or assist with removal requests. Ensuring the provision of high-quality and precise information is paramount to us.
STAMFORD, Conn. , Dec. 28, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Aircastle Limited ("Aircastle") announced today that it plans to release its third quarter financial results for the period ended November 30, 2023 on January 11, 2024 before the market opens.

In connection with this press release, management will host a conference call on Thursday, January 11, 2024 , at 9:00 A.M. Eastern Time . All interested parties are welcome to participate on the live call. The conference call can be accessed by dialing 1 (877) 870-4263 (from within the U.S. and Canada ) or +1 (412) 317-0790 (outside the U.S. and Canada ) ten minutes prior to the scheduled start. Please reference our company name, "Aircastle" when prompted by the operator.

A simultaneous webcast of the conference call will be available to the public on a listen-only basis at www.aircastle.com. Please allow extra time prior to the call to visit the site and download the necessary software required to listen to the internet broadcast.

For those who are not available to listen to the live call, a replay of the webcast will be available on Aircastle's website shortly after the conclusion of the live call.

About Aircastle Limited

Aircastle Limited acquires, leases, and sells commercial jet aircraft to airlines throughout the world. As of August 31, 2023 , Aircastle owned and managed on behalf of its joint venture 248 aircraft leased to 74 customers located in 43 countries.

Contact:

Aircastle Advisor LLC

Jim Connelly , SVP ESG & Corporate Communications

Tel: +1 (203) 504-1871

[email protected]

View original content to download multimedia:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/aircastle-to-announce-third-quarter-2023-results-on-january-11-2024-302023301.html

SOURCE Aircastle Advisor LLC
Energy Fuels and Astron Corporation execute non-binding MOU to jointly develop the Donald Mineral Sands Project, a large heavy mineral sand deposit that has the potential to supply Energy Fuels with approximately 7,000 tonnes of rare earth-bearing monazite sand per year starting in 2026, ramping up to 14,000 tonnes per year soon thereafter.

LAKEWOOD, Colo , Dec. 27, 2023 /PRNewswire/ - Energy Fuels Inc. (NYSE American: UUUU) (TSX: EFR) ("Energy Fuels" or the "Company"), a leading U.S. producer of uranium, rare earth elements ("REE"), and vanadium, is pleased to announce that it has entered into a non-binding Memorandum of Understanding ("MOU") with Astron Corporation Limited ("Astron") to jointly develop the Donald Rare Earth and Mineral Sands Project, located in the Wimmera Region of the State of Victoria, Australia (the "Donald Project"). The MOU describes indicative commercial terms and provides Energy Fuels with a binding exclusivity period to end on March 1, 2024 , during which Energy Fuels will be entitled to conduct due diligence and the parties will negotiate definitive agreements.

The Donald Project is a world-class, world scale, 'shovel-ready' critical mineral deposit that Energy Fuels believes would provide it with another near-term, low-cost, and large-scale source of monazite sand in an REE concentrate ("REEC") that would be transported to the Company's White Mesa Mill in Utah, USA (the "Mill") for processing into REE oxides and other advanced REE materials and recovery of the contained uranium. Energy Fuels is announcing this non-binding MOU at this time, because Astron has determined that it is required to announce the MOU at this time under applicable Australian Securities Exchange ("ASX") rules.

With supportive U.S. government policies, and U.S. and European companies increasingly focused on security of supply, Energy Fuels is rapidly creating a new significant REE supply chain that can reduce America's reliance on REE's from China . As part of this strategy, the Company is actively securing long-term sources of REEC through offtake (Chemours), joint venture (Astron), and direct ownership (the Company's 100% owned Bahia Project in Brazil ). Through these assets and potentially others, Energy Fuels is building a world significant REE oxide supply chain that the Company believes will be attractive to EV manufacturers and their Tier 1 suppliers.

THE DONALD PROJECT

With Energy Fuels' proposed investment of approximately A$180 million (approximately US$122 million at current exchange rates), and most licenses and permits in place (or at an advanced stage of completion), the Donald Project (see Figure 1) is expected to soon be a new, long-term source of several critical minerals key to the clean energy transition, including REE's, titanium, zircon, and uranium. The Donald Project is expected to provide Energy Fuels with 7,000 to 14,000 metric tons ("tonnes") of REEC per year, containing 4,000 to 8,200 tonnes of total REE oxides ("TREO"), with commissioning and ramp-up expected to begin in 2026. Most of Energy Fuels' proposed investment is expected to be disbursed in 2025.

This annual quantity of REEC contains roughly 850 to 1,700 tonnes of neodymium-praseodymium ("NdPr") oxide, 70 to 140 tonnes of dysprosium ("Dy") oxide and 12 to 25 tonnes of terbium ("Tb") oxide. The REEC from the Donald Project is also expected to contain approximately 50,000 to 100,000 pounds of low-cost recoverable uranium per year, which, in addition to the Company's large-scale uranium production from its numerous US mines and other sources, would be sold to the U.S. nuclear industry for the generation of clean, carbon-free electricity.

NdPr, Dy and Tb are known as the "magnet rare earths," as they are key ingredients in powerful permanent REE magnets used in the most efficient electric vehicles ("EVs"), wind generators, and other defense-related and advanced technologies. For scale, REEs provide significantly greater power and range for EVs, and the typical REE-powered EV uses about one kilogram ("kg") of NdPr oxide per vehicle. Therefore, the Donald Project could supply enough of these critical elements for up to 1.4 million EVs per year.

The following tables summarize the updated Ore Reserve Statement for the Donald Project, prepared in accordance with the Australasian Code for Reporting of Exploration Results, Mineral Resources and Ore Reserves, 2012 Edition ("2012 JORC Code"), as of June 27, 2023 . The Company is treating the Mineral Reserves disclosed in the table below as historical in nature as a Qualified Person ("QP") for the Company has not conducted the due diligence necessary to classify these as current Mineral Reserves. There can be no assurance that additional due diligence work will convert the historical Mineral Reserves to current Mineral Reserves under S-K 1300 and NI 43-101:

MIN5532































% of total HM



Tonnes HM Slimes Oversize Zircon Rutile + Anatase Ilmenite Leucoxene Monazite Xenotime

Classification (Mt) ( %) ( %) ( %)

Proved 263 4.4 15.4 9.8 16.7 5.5 21.6 25.9 1.8 0.67

Probable 46 4.1 19.7 11.1 15.3 5.5 21.3 20.1 1.8 0.64

Total 309 4.4 16.1 10.0 16.5 5.5 21.6 25.1 1.8 0.66

Notes:





















1) The ore tonnes have been rounded to the nearest 1 Mt and grades have been rounded to two significant figures.





2) The Ore Reserve is based on Indicated and Measured Mineral Resources contained within the mine designs above an economic cut-off.

3) A break-even cut-off has been applied defining any material with product values greater than processing cost as Ore.





4) Mining recovery and dilution have been applied to the figures above.











5) The area is wholly within the mining license (MIN5532).













6) The rutile grades are a combination of rutile and anatase minerals. 7) The Ore Reserve estimates have been compiled in accordance with the guidelines defined in the 2012 JORC Code.



































RL2002 outside of MIN5532









% of total HM

Tonnes HM Slimes Oversize Zircon Rutile + Anatase Ilmenite Leucoxene Monazite Xenotime Classification (Mt) ( %) ( %) ( %) Proved 152 5.6 7.1 18.8 21.1 9.4 31.3 18.2 1.8

Probable 364 4.1 13.7 15.7 17.1 7.5 32.8 19.3 1.6

Total 516 5.6 11.7 16.6 18.6 8.2 32.3 18.9 1.7

Notes:



















1) The ore tonnes have been rounded to the nearest 1 Mt and grades have been rounded to two significant figures. 2) The Ore Reserve is based on Indicated and Measured Mineral Resources contained within the mine designs above an economic cut-off. 3) The economic cut-off is defined as the value of the products less the cost of processing. 4) Mining recovery and dilution have been applied to the figures above. 5) The updated RL2002 Ore Reserve does not include an announced figure on xenotime due to historical samples used in the Ore Reserve calculation not being analyzed for xenotime. 6) The rutile grades are a combination of rutile and anatase minerals. 7) The Ore Reserve estimates have been compiled in accordance with the guidelines defined in the 2012 JORC Code.

THE DONALD PROJECT JOINT VENTURE:

The MOU sets out in broad terms the basis upon which the parties would enter into an Australian incorporated Joint Venture (the "Venture") covering the tenements MIN5532 and RL2002, which together form the Donald Deposit (see the attached figure). The MOU provides for the continuation of due diligence by Energy Fuels and the negotiation of definitive and binding agreements governing the Venture. The transactions contemplated by the MOU, including formation of the Venture, are conditional on a number of factors, including the Company being satisfied with the results of its due diligence investigations and the ability of the parties to successfully negotiate and enter into definitive and binding agreements. There can be no assurance that the Company will enter into definitive agreements to govern the Venture, or if entered into that the terms will be as set out in the MOU.

The MOU contemplates that the Venture would initially consist of operations to mine 7.5 million tonnes per year of ore to produce approximately 200,000 to 250,000 tonnes per year of heavy mineral concentrate ("HMC") and approximately 7,000 to 8,000 tonnes per year of monazite-bearing rare earth element concentrate ("REEC") ("Phase 1"). It is further contemplated that, as soon as practicable after commencing Phase 1 commercial production, the Venture would double ore production to 15 million tonnes per year to produce approximately 400,000 to 500,000 tonnes per year of HMC and approximately 13,000 to 14,000 tonnes per year of REEC ("Phase 2") for decades to come.

The MOU provides for Energy Fuels to invest A$180 million (approximately US$122 million at current exchange rates) to earn a 49% interest in the Venture, most of which is expected to be spent in 2025. In addition, the Company would issue to Astron common shares having a value of US$17.5 million in consideration of RL2002 being included in the Venture to cover the entire Donald Deposit.

Energy Fuels' investment of A$180 million is expected to satisfy most of the equity capital requirements for the construction of the Phase 1 project. Astron, with a 51% interest, would be the Manager and Operator of the Venture, with specified major decisions subject to approval of both parties. Any future Venture expenditures, including development of Phase 2, would be funded by Energy Fuels and Astron on a pro-rata basis.

The MOU contemplates that under the Venture, Energy Fuels would enter into an offtake agreement for 100% of the Donald Project's Phase 1 and Phase 2 REEC production based on market prices of contained rare earth elements. Astron would have the right, but not the obligation, to enter into an offtake agreement with the Venture for up to 100% of the HMC product at market prices. Following payment of all joint venture expenses, all profits from the Venture would be distributed to Energy Fuels and Astron, pro-rata according to their respective ownership percentages.

The MOU also provides that the agreements will provide Energy Fuels with a first right of refusal over participation in the development of Astron's Jackson Deposit which is contained in the tenement RL2003 and adjoins the Donald Deposit to the south-west (see the attached figure). The Donald Deposit and the Jackson Deposit, together, form the Donald Rare Earth and Mineral Sands Project.

The Donald Project would greatly supplement Energy Fuels' other near-term monazite supplies. Earlier in 2023, Energy Fuels announced the acquisition of its 100% owned Bahia Mineral Sand Project, which is comprised of 60+ square miles of mineral concessions in Brazil containing large in-ground heavy mineral sand resources, including monazite. The Company is currently completing a sonic drill program at the Bahia Project to expand the heavy mineral sand resources and guide mine planning and additional permitting. The Bahia Project is expected to commence production in 2026, producing in the range of 3,000 to 10,000 tonnes of REEC per year.

Therefore, between the Bahia Project and the Donald Project, Energy Fuels would control roughly 10,000 to 24,000 tonnes of low-cost REEC per year, containing approximately 1,150 to 2,700 tonnes of NdPr along with significant quantities of "heavy" REEs and uranium for decades to come. The Company is continuing to evaluate additional opportunities to secure low-cost, large-scale monazite concentrates globally.

ENERGY FUELS' NEW U.S. -CENTRIC RARE EARTH SUPPLY CHAIN:

For the past four years, Energy Fuels has been developing a secure, U.S. -centric REE oxide supply chain that sources monazite concentrates from the US and around the world. Monazite is an excellent source of REE's, as it has superior distributions of the 'magnet' REE's versus other minerals. Energy Fuels is utilizing excess capacity at the Mill, and installing additional infrastructure, to produce advanced REE materials, including mixed REE carbonate and separated REE oxides. The Mill is the only operable conventional uranium mill in the U.S. , and these REE capabilities are additive to the Company's uranium production capabilities.

Energy Fuels is utilizing the Mill for REE recovery, as most major REE-bearing minerals, including monazite, bastnaesite, ionic clays, xenotime, and others, contain uranium, thorium, and other radioactive elements that become concentrated through the REE extraction process. Therefore, companies that process REE-bearing minerals must have the licenses, infrastructure, tailings capacity, and expertise in radioactive hydrometallurgy to properly manage, process, recover, and/or dispose of uranium, thorium and other radioactive elements. As a result, the Company believes the Mill is an ideal facility to perform these functions, as it already possesses these attributes and is further able to recover the associated uranium for beneficial use. The Mill is licensed and constructed in the United States and overseen by an array of federal and state government agencies with expertise in the processing of radioactive materials. The Mill has an exceptional record of regulatory compliance and operates to the highest global standards for the protection of human health and the environment.

Furthermore, the proven processing method for producing high purity separated REE oxides is solvent extraction ("SX"), and the Mill has been utilizing SX for over 40 years to produce high-purity uranium and vanadium oxides. Therefore, it has not been difficult for Energy Fuels to deploy this institutional knowledge and experience with relatively minor Mill modifications to produce mixed REE carbonates since 2021 and to begin producing separated REE oxides, expected in early 2024, that meet applicable specifications.

As previously announced, the Company is currently installing a "Phase 1" REE separation circuit (the "Phase 1 REE Separation Circuit") within the Mill's existing SX building that will have the capacity to process 8,000 to 10,000 tonnes of REEC per year and produce up to 1,000 tonnes of high-purity NdPr oxide per year. Based on current committed REEC supplies, the Company expects to produce 40-50 tonnes of NdPr oxide in 2024, while continuing to negotiate for the procurement of additional feedstock. The Mill has pilot-tested NdPr separation at its in-house laboratory for over two years, which has allowed the Company to compile extensive real-time data that it is using to design and optimize its soon-to-be-operational NdPr circuit. As previously announced, the Phase 1 REE Separation Circuit is expected to be operational in Q1-2024. Also in Q1-2024, the Company plans to perform pilot-scale testing on "heavy" REE separation, including the production of high-purity Dy and Tb oxides, along with potentially samarium ("Sm+") oxides and others.

The Company is also in the process of designing a "Phase 2" REE separation circuit (the "Phase 2 Separation Circuit") and a "Phase 3" REE separation circuit (the "Phase 3 Separation Circuit") at the Mill. The Phase 2 Separation Circuit, which is currently expected to be completed in 2027, subject to receipt of any required regulatory approvals and the Company securing sufficient supplies of REEC, will consist of expanding NdPr oxide capacity to process between 30,000 and 40,000 tonnes of REEC per year and produce approximately 3,000 to 4,000 tonnes of NdPr oxide per year. The Company also plans to construct a dedicated "crack-and-leach" circuit in conjunction with its Phase 2 Separation Circuit, in order to allow the Mill to simultaneously process conventional uranium ore and REEC independently, thereby allowing for more efficient utilization of Mill capacity. The Phase 3 Separation Circuit, which is currently expected to be completed in 2028, subject to receipt of any required regulatory approvals, will consist of installing the capacity to produce "heavy" REE oxides, including Dy, Tb, and potentially Sm and other oxides. The Company continues to evaluate opportunities to enter the REE metal, alloy, and magnet-making space, in order to fully-integrate the entire REE magnet supply chain.

Assuming completion of the transactions contemplated by the MOU and formation of the Venture, the Company would expect to receive Phase 1 quantities of REEC from the Donald Project commencing in 2026. The Phase 1 quantities of REEC from the Donald Project would then be processed through the Mill's Phase 1 Separation Circuit, which is expected to be completed in 2024, for the production of NdPr oxide, with the heavies, Tb and Dy, either stockpiled at the Mill for future processing for the recovery of Tb and Dy in the Mill's Phase 3 Separation Circuit when constructed (currently expected to be in 2028) or sold as an SM+ carbonate to third parties in the interim. The Company currently expects that the Phase 2 Separation Circuit at the Mill will be completed prior to receipt of Phase 2 quantities of REE from the Donald Project.

MARK S. CHALMERS , PRESIDENT AND CEO OF ENERGY FUELS STATED:

"Energy Fuels is working to secure future large-scale in-situ rare earth element projects around the world, which we expect to become low-cost sources of feed to supply our U.S. -centric REE supply chain in the coming years. Earlier in 2023, we acquired the Bahia Project in Brazil , and now we are working toward partnering with Astron on the Donald Project in Australia . Energy Fuels' goal is to source monazite from the US and around the World and become a reliable, globally diversified, multi-decade supplier of U.S. -produced magnet REE oxides to EV manufactures and other end-users. Our announcement today should help people 'connect-the-dots' to better understand the magnitude of our burgeoning REE business strategy. We are earning into an essentially 'de-risked' heavy mineral sand project that is in Australia , has many years of detailed resource and project evaluation, and has all the main regulatory approvals in place or well-advanced.

"And we are able to develop this U.S. -centric REE supply chain without diminishing our U.S. -leading uranium production capability in any way. Uranium will always continue to be our primary focus. However, REE and uranium production go hand-in-hand, as the REEC from the Donald Project contains decades of low-cost recoverable uranium, which perfectly complements the Company's large-scale uranium production. While this represents only a small part of our total uranium production, these pounds of uranium are very valuable to us because their incremental cost of production is expected to be very low, while providing a secure source of uranium for the generation of clean, carbon-free electricity in the U.S.

"We are putting Utah on the map as a responsible domestic supplier of many clean energy and critical minerals, including uranium, rare earths, vanadium, and even potentially life-saving medical isotopes. We are not aware of any other U.S. company able to produce as many advanced materials that contribute to carbon-reduction and electrification as Energy Fuels."

QUALIFIED PERSON

The technical information in this press release has been prepared in accordance with both U.S. and Canadian requirements set out in SK-1300 and National Instrument 43-101 and reviewed on behalf of the company by Dan Kapostasy , VP, Technical Services of Energy Fuels Resources (USA) Inc., a Qualified Person under both SK-1300 and National Instrument 43-101 regulations. The JORC compliant Mineral Reserves contained herein were disclosed by Astron Corporation Limited on 27 June 2023 . The Company has not completed the necessary due diligence on the Mineral Reserves to disclose them as current Mineral Reserves. Therefore, the Company is treating the contained tables as historical in nature as a Qualified Person has not done sufficient work to classify the Mineral Reserves as current under S-K 1300 or NI 43-101. These historical Mineral Reserves are relevant to this disclosure, as they provide information on the potential size and scale of MIN5532 and RL2002. The method used to estimate the in-situ resources was ordinary kriging utilizing octant and ellipsoid search parameters. The mineralized zone was domained into three zones: low grade, medium grade (>3% & 5%) heavy mineral. The block model used a 100 m x 200 m x 1 m block, which is approximately half the drillhole spacing in the well drilled areas. The model was visually verified against drillholes, SWATH plots were used to check average grade trends, and the current estimate is similar to previous estimates. To convert the mineral resources to mineral reserves, modifying factors including mining methods (dry mining), metallurgical testwork (including processing size assumptions, >38 m size fraction) producing both a heavy mineral concentrate (Ti and Zr minerals) and a rare earth mineral concentrate (monazite + xenotime), capital cost, operating costs, and environmental factors. Additional details regarding the historical Mineral Reserves are available in the Astron Corporation Limited press release dated 27 June, 2023 :

https://www.astronlimited.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2023/06/20230627-Phase-2-Ore-Reserve-Update.pdf

ABOUT ENERGY FUELS

Energy Fuels is a leading US-based uranium and critical minerals company. The Company, as the leading producer of uranium in the United States , mines uranium and produces natural uranium concentrates that are sold to major nuclear utilities for the production of carbon-free nuclear energy. Energy Fuels recently began production of advanced REE materials, including mixed REE carbonate, and plans to produce commercial quantities of separated REE oxides commencing in 2024. Energy Fuels also produces vanadium from certain of its projects, as market conditions warrant, and is evaluating the recovery of radionuclides needed for emerging cancer treatments. Its corporate offices are in Lakewood, Colorado , near Denver , and substantially all its assets and employees are in the United States . Energy Fuels holds two of America's key uranium production centers: the White Mesa Mill in Utah and the Nichols Ranch in-situ recovery ("ISR") Project in Wyoming . The White Mesa Mill is the only conventional uranium mill operating in the US today, has a licensed capacity of over 8 million pounds of U 3 O 8 per year, and has the ability to produce vanadium when market conditions warrant, as well as REE products, from various uranium-bearing ores. The Nichols Ranch ISR Project is on standby and has a licensed capacity of 2 million pounds of U 3 O 8 per year. The Company recently acquired the Bahia Project in Brazil , which is believed to have significant quantities of titanium (ilmenite and rutile), zirconium (zircon) and REE (monazite) minerals. In addition to the above production facilities, Energy Fuels also has one of the largest NI 43-101 compliant uranium resource portfolios in the US and several uranium and uranium/vanadium mining projects in production, on standby and in various stages of permitting and development. The primary trading market for Energy Fuels' common shares is the NYSE American under the trading symbol "UUUU," and the Company's common shares are also listed on the Toronto Stock Exchange under the trading symbol "EFR." Energy Fuels' website is www.energyfuels.com .

ABOUT ASTRON

Astron Corporation Limited (ASX: ATR) is an Australian-based company listed on the ASX. With over 35 years of operating history, Astron has been involved in mineral sands processing, downstream product development, as well as the marketing and sales of zirconium and titanium related products. Astron's prime focus is on the development of its large, long-life Donald Rare Earths and Mineral Sands Project in regional Victoria, Australia . Astron's website is www.astronlimited.com.au.

Cautionary Note Regarding Forward-Looking Statements: This news release contains certain "Forward Looking Information" and "Forward Looking Statements" within the meaning of applicable United States and Canadian securities legislation, which may include, but are not limited to, statements with respect to: any expectation that the Company will maintain its position as a leading U.S. -based uranium and critical minerals company or as the leading producer of uranium in the U.S. ; any expectation that the transactions contemplated by the MOU will be completed, or the terms on which it will be completed, and that the Venture will be formed; any expectation as to production levels or timing or duration of production from the Donald Project or any of the Company's other mines or projects; any expectations as to costs of production at the Donald Project or any of the Company's mines or other projects; any expectation that the Company will complete a sonic drill program at the Bahia Project, or that any such program will expand the heavy mineral sand resources and guide mine planning and additional permitting; any expectation that the Company will be successful in creating a new REE supply chain that can reduce America's reliance on China that will be attractive to EV manufacturers and their Tier 1 suppliers or at all; any expectation that the Company will be successful in becoming a reliable, globally diversified, multi-decade supplier of U.S. -produced magnet REE oxides to EV manufacturers and other end-users; any expectation that the Company will be successful in entering the REE metal, alloy, and magnet-making space, in order to fully-integrate the entire REE magnet supply chain; any expectation that any ore reserves estimated to date will accurately reflect actual reserves or resources; any expectation that the Company's A$180 million investment in the Venture will satisfy most of the equity capital requirements for the construction of Phase 1 of the Donald Project; any expectation that the Company will be successful in securing any additional low-cost monazite concentrates globally, or at all; any expectation that the Mill will successfully continue to operate to the highest global standards for the protection of human health and the environment; any expectation that the Company will be successful in advancing its REE initiatives or that it will be successful in installing REE production capacity at the Mill and the timing of installation of any such production capacity; any expectation as to the success of the Company's permitting programs; and any expectation that the Company will be successful in its medical isotopes program. Generally, these forward-looking statements can be identified by the use of forward-looking terminology such as "plans," "expects," "does not expect," "is expected," "is likely," "budgets," "scheduled," "estimates," "forecasts," "intends," "anticipates," "does not anticipate," or "believes," or variations of such words and phrases, or state that certain actions, events or results "may," "could," "would," "might" or "will be taken," "occur," "be achieved" or "have the potential to." All statements, other than statements of historical fact, herein are considered to be forward-looking statements. 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 express or implied by the forward-looking statements. Factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those anticipated in these forward-looking statements include risks associated with: the results of due diligence investigations relating to the Donald Project yet to be performed; the inability to negotiate satisfactory definitive agreements relating to the Venture; commodity prices and price fluctuations; engineering, construction, processing and mining difficulties, upsets and delays; permitting and licensing requirements and delays; changes to regulatory requirements; legal challenges; the availability of feed sources for the Mill; competition from other producers; public opinion; government and political actions; available supplies of monazite; the ability of the Mill to produce rare earth carbonate, rare earth element oxides or other rare earth element products to meet commercial specifications on a commercial scale at acceptable costs or at all; market factors, including future demand for rare earth elements; the ability of the Mill to be able to separate radium or other radioisotopes at reasonable costs or at all; market prices and demand for medical isotopes; and the other factors described under the caption "Risk Factors" in the Company's most recently filed Annual Report on Form 10-K, which is available for review on EDGAR at www.sec.gov/edgar.shtml , on SEDAR at www.sedar.com , and on the Company's website at www.energyfuels.com . Forward-looking statements contained herein are made as of the date of this news release, and the Company disclaims, other than as required by law, any obligation to update any forward-looking statements whether as a result of new information, results, future events, circumstances, or if management's estimates or opinions should change, or otherwise. There can be no assurance that forward-looking statements will prove to be accurate, as actual results and future events could differ materially from those anticipated in such statements. Accordingly, the reader is cautioned not to place undue reliance on forward-looking statements. The Company assumes no obligation to update the information in this communication, except as otherwise required by law.

Cautionary Note for U.S. Investors Concerning Mineral Resources and Reserves: Certain technical disclosure contained in this news release has been prepared in accordance with the JORC Code. The JORC Code differs from the requirements of the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission ("SEC") and resource information contained in this news release may not be comparable to similar information disclosed by domestic United States companies subject to the SEC's reporting and disclosure requirements.

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SOURCE Energy Fuels Inc.
Headquartered in Sao Paulo, Iteris brings a talented group of professionals together with an impressive portfolio of digital transformation projects

NEW YORK , Dec. 28, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Globant (NYSE: GLOB), a digitally native company focused on reinventing businesses through innovative technology solutions, today announced the acquisition of Iteris Holding Ltda., a Brazilian business and technology consultancy focused on delivering digital transformation. This acquisition enhances Globant's current operations in Brazil by adding top local digital capabilities and an impressive client roster.

Founded in 2009 in Sao Paulo, the Iteris team includes over 600 top professionals that develop end-to-end solutions across several industries, such as payments & banking, manufacturing, communications, education, retail, and healthcare for some of the strongest brands in Brazil , such as Fiserv, PagBank, Julius Baer , Nubank, Nutrien, Globo, C&A, Reckitt, and Heineken, among others.

"We are thrilled to welcome the Iteris team to the Globant family. We're taking big steps in Brazil as we believe in the potential of this market and this acquisition will involve significant growth to our operations in that country. This expansion is an example of our commitment to the region and its technological landscape to continue offering a top-notch portfolio of services and products to keep reinventing businesses," said Martin Migoya , Co-Founder and CEO of Globant.

"We are proud of the successful track-record of Iteris in these last years. We have consistently delivered high-quality services to our beloved clients. We are sure that Globant is the best partner to take our company to the next level, not only for them but also for our colleagues. As from today, there will be more unique reinvention opportunities for all," said Fernando Riva , Co-founder of Iteris.

During these 14 years, Iteris has been recognized as a leader for three consecutive years in the Agile Application Projects and Application Quality Assurance quadrants of the Next-Gen ADM Services study provided by ISG Provider Lens.

" Brazil is one of the top bets for Globant in Latin America . Globant already enjoys a strong presence in key industries and will now be able to enhance its local teams with great digital transformation projects and new teams of expert specialists," said Ignacio Iglesias , Chief Business Officer in Latin America at Globant, based in Sao Paulo.

"Both organizations are united by a common commitment to assisting clients in their digital transformations and contributing to the improvement of the world. We share a mutual passion for fostering a robust culture that upholds the highest standards of diversity, inclusion, and equality principles. Without a doubt they are the perfect partner to continue expanding Globant's footprint in Brazil ," said Martin Umaran , Co-Founder and Chief Corporate Development Officer of Globant.

Looking Forward Statement

This press release contains "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. The expectations related to the businesses of Globant and Iteris may differ from their actual results and consequently, you should not rely on these forward looking statements as predictions of future events. In some cases, you can identify forward-looking statements by terminology such as "believe," "may," "will", "estimate," "continue," "anticipate," "intend," "should," "plan," "expect," "predict," "potential," or the negative of these terms or other similar expressions. These forward-looking statements include, without limitation, expectations with respect to the anticipated benefits of this acquisition. These forward-looking statements involve significant risks and uncertainties that could cause the actual results to differ materially from the expected results. Most of these factors are outside of the control of Globant and Iteris and are difficult to predict. Factors that may cause such differences include, but are not limited to: (1) the risk that disruption from the transaction materially and adversely affects Iteirs's business and operations; (2) Globant's ability to recognize the anticipated benefits of this acquisition, (3) costs related to this acquisition, (4) Globant's ability to successfully grow Iteris' business; (5) potential adverse reactions or changes to business relationships resulting from the announcement and completion of this acquisition; (6) the ability of Globant to retain and hire key Iteris employees; (7) changes in applicable laws or regulations, (8) the demand for Iteris' services together with the possibility that Iteris may be adversely affected by other economic, business, and/or competitive factors; and (9) other factors discussed under the heading "Risk Factors" in our most recent Form 20-F filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission and any other risk factors included in subsequent reports on Form 6-K. Because of these uncertainties, you should not make any investment decision based on these forward-looking statements. Except as required by law, we undertake no obligation to publicly update any forward-looking statements for any reason after the date of this press release whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise.

About Globant

We are a digitally native company that helps organizations reinvent themselves and unleash their potential. We are the place where innovation, design, and engineering meet at scale.

We have more than 27,500 employees, and are present in 30 countries across 5 continents working for companies like Google, Electronic Arts and Santander, among others.

We were named a Worldwide Leader in AI Services (2023) and Worldwide Leader in CX Improvement Services (2020) by IDC MarketScape report.

We stand among the top 100 fastest-growing companies in the world (2023) according to Fortune.

We were also featured as a business case study at Harvard, MIT, and Stanford .

. We are active members of The Green Software Foundation (GSF) and the Cybersecurity Tech Accord.

Contact: [email protected]

Sign up to get first dibs on press news and updates.

For more information, visit www.globant.com .

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SOURCE Globant
MOU Signed with the Marine Corps for the Advancement of Motion Sickness Reduction Technology , Specialized for Harsh Conditions in Armored Amphibious Vehicles

Real-time Monitoring and Analysis of Passenger Biometric Data; Stimulation of Visual, Auditory, and Tactile Senses to Alleviate Motion Sickness Symptoms

Integration of Autonomous Driving and Cognitive Technologies; Developing Specialized Technologies Beyond Automotive for Maritime Transportation and Future Mobility Industries

SEOUL, South Korea , Dec. 28, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Hyundai Mobis (KRX 012330) has announced the implementation of its cutting-edge vehicle healthcare technology in the Marine Corps amphibious assault vehicles. This technology is expected to alleviate motion sickness for marines traversing rough terrains from sea to land, enhancing combat performance.

Hyundai Mobis announced that it has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with the Republic of Korea Marine Corps for 'Cooperation in Motion Sickness Reduction Technology.'

Recently, global automakers have been accelerating the development of technologies to enhance passenger comfort. Last year, Hyundai Mobis developed the 'Smart Cabin Controller,' analyzing a driver's posture, heart rate, and brainwaves to prevent drowsiness, stress, and motion sickness. This collaboration with the Marine Corps is expected to further advance motion sickness reduction technology to help marines traverse challenging terrains and withstand other harsh conditions.

Importantly, this marks the first application of Hyundai Mobis's motion sickness reduction technology in the broader mobility sector beyond conventional vehicles. Its introduction is anticipated to expand into defense, maritime, and aviation transportation.

Motion sickness generally occurs when there is a discrepancy between what the eyes see and what the body feels regarding movement direction  for example, looking sideways in a moving vehicle while the body senses forward motion. This is also why seats facing the opposite direction on a train are less preferred.

Hyundai Mobis' motion sickness reduction technology integrates autonomous driving with passenger cognitive technologies. Especially the latter involves real-time monitoring of posture, heart rate, and brainwaves using sensors. Based on this biometric data, simulating the senses of sight, hearing, smell, and touch can minimize motion sickness. Hyundai Mobis confirmed that this technology can prevent motion sickness by up to 70% and reduce the symptoms by 40%.

Hyundai Mobis will provide the Marine Corps with an integrated motion sickness reduction solution tailored for harsh environments, combining hardware and software. The solution includes movement-analysis sensors, environmental perception sensors, and control solutions. It also features displays allowing passengers to easily view travel information (visual) and climate control modules that stabilize passengers with cool air (tactile).

Hyundai Mobis plans to operate this technology in amphibious assault vehicles and, in collaboration with the Marine Corps, gather key data by the first half of next year. The company aims to deploy it in combat training and systematically analyze motion sickness-inducing factors to enhance the technology's efficacy.

About Hyundai Mobis

Hyundai Mobis is the global no. 6 automotive supplier, headquartered in Seoul, Korea . Hyundai Mobis has outstanding expertise in sensors, sensor fusion in ECUs and software development for safety control. The company's products also include various components for electrification, brakes, chassis and suspension, steering, airbags, lighting, and automotive electronics. Hyundai Mobis operates its R&D headquarters in Korea , with four technology centers in the United States , Germany , China and India . For more information, please visit the website at http://www.mobis.co.kr/

Media Contact

Choon Kee Hwang: [email protected]

Myong Sun Song: [email protected]

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SOURCE Hyundai Mobis
HARBIN, Dec. 28 (Xinhua) -- Daqing Oilfield, China's largest onshore oilfield, announced Thursday that its oil and gas production at home and abroad had exceeded 40 million tonnes of oil equivalent this year.

For 21 consecutive years, from 2003 to 2023, its annual oil and gas production has stood above the 40-million-tonne mark.

The figure included 30.04 million tonnes of crude oil and 5.8 billion cubic meters of natural gas, according to Daqing Oilfield, a subsidiary of the China National Petroleum Corporation.

The crude oil output was above the 30-million-tonne level for nine consecutive years and that of natural gas witnessed growth for 13 straight years, the company said.

To stabilize oil output and increase gas output, Daqing Oilfield has beefed up exploration, improved oil production efficiency and expanded natural gas production capacity this year.

Daqing Oilfield has also been making an effort to develop the new energy sector, with electricity generated from new energy expected to reach 388 million kWh this year.

Daqing Oilfield, discovered in 1959, is China's largest oil production base. Located in the northeastern province of Heilongjiang, the oilfield has made a significant contribution to China's modern petroleum industry. 
ROCKVILLE, Md. and SUZHOU, China, Dec. 27, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Innovent Biologics, Inc. ("Innovent") (HKEX: 01801), a world-class biopharmaceutical company that develops, manufactures and commercializes high quality medicines for the treatment of oncology, autoimmune, metabolic, ophthalmology and other major diseases, and Xuanzhu Biopharma, today announce that they entered into a clinical trial collaboration and supply agreement for the combination therapies of sintilimab injection (brand name: TYVYT) with KM-501, a novel HER-2 bispecific ADC, as potential treatment options for advanced solid tumors in China .

Under the agreement, Innovent will supply sintilimab for the collaborated clinical trial. Xuanzhu Biopharma will conduct a Phase 1b clinical study to evaluate the anti-tumor activity and safety of the combination therapy of sintilimab with KM-501 in Chinese patients with advanced solid tumors.

TYVYT (sintilimab injection) is an innovative PD-1 inhibitor co-developed by Innovent and Eli Lilly and Company in China . It has been approved and included in the national reimbursement drug list (NRDL) for seven indications. It is also the only PD-1 inhibitor for the first-line treatment of five high-incidence cancer types in the NRDL.

KM-501 is designed by Mebs-Ig (antibody-edited bispecific antibody) platform with independent intellectual property rights to target dual-antibody ADC with two different domains of HER2. It is suitable for the treatment of locally advanced/metastatic solid tumors with HER2 positive / expression, amplification or mutation, including related advanced tumors with low HER2 expression. The IND was approved by the NMPA in March this year, and it is currently in the phase I dose escalation study. Pre-clinical studies showed that KM-501 was better than control-drugs DS-8201 and Herceptin in terms of endocytosis rate, internalization rate and in vitro inhibitory activity; KM-501 was better than DS-8201 in tumor models with high and low expression of HER2.

Combining a PD-1 inhibitor and an ADC candidate represents a new direction for the development of cancer therapy in terms of potentially improving the effect of immunotherapy and overcoming potential drug resistance. The PD-1 immunotherapy can release the suppressed state of T cells while the ADC drug can achieve the anti-tumor killing effect through cytotoxic payload, thus bringing in synergistic tumor inhibition effect.

Dr. Hui Zhou , Senior Vice President of Innovent, stated: "We are pleased to collaborate with Xuanzhu Biopharma to explore the synergistic anti-tumor effects of the combination therapy of sintilimab and a novel ADC candidate. The leading position and clinical value of sintilimab as a backbone immunotherapy are further strengthened. In light of the synergistic mechanism of two novel medicines, we hope to bring new treatment options for cancer patients in the future. "

Dr. Xiaodong Zhu , General Manager of Xuanzhu Bio, stated: " The collaboration with Innovent is an important milestone for KM-501 in the development and commercialization strategy. We look forward to new opportunities for KM-501 in combo with sintilimab so as to potentially improve patient benefit and overcome tumor resistance."

About KM-501

KM-501 is designed by Mebs-Ig (antibody-edited bispecific antibody) platform with independent intellectual property rights to target dual-antibody ADC with two different domains of HER2. It is suitable for the treatment of locally advanced/metastatic solid tumors with HER2 positive / expression, amplification or mutation, including related advanced tumors with low HER2 expression. The IND was approved by the NMPA in March this year, and it is currently in the phase I dose escalation study. Pre-clinical studies showed that KM-501 was better than control-drugs DS-8201 and Herceptin in terms of endocytosis rate, internalization rate and in vitro inhibitory activity; KM-501 was better than DS-8201 in tumor models with high and low expression of HER2.

About Sintilimab

Sintilimab, marketed as TYVYT (sintilimab injection) in China , is a PD-1 immunoglobulin G4 monoclonal antibody co-developed by Innovent and Eli Lilly and Company. Sintilimab is a type of immunoglobulin G4 monoclonal antibody, which binds to PD-1 molecules on the surface of T-cells, blocks the PD-1 / PD-Ligand 1 (PD-L1) pathway, and reactivates T-cells to kill cancer cells[i].

In China , sintilimab has been approved and included in the National Reimbursement Drug List (NRDL) for seven indications. The updated NRDL reimbursement scope of TYVYT (sintilimab injection) include:

For the treatment of relapsed or refractory classic Hodgkin's lymphoma after two lines or later of systemic chemotherapy;

For the first-line treatment of unresectable locally advanced or metastatic non-squamous non-small cell lung cancer lacking EGFR or ALK driver gene mutations;

For the treatment of patients with EGFR-mutated locally advanced or metastatic non-squamous non-small cell lung cancer who progressed after EGFR-TKI therapy;

For the first-line treatment of unresectable locally advanced or metastatic squamous non-small cell lung cancer;

For the first-line treatment of unresectable or metastatic hepatocellular carcinoma with no prior systematic treatment;

For the first-line treatment of unresectable locally advanced, recurrent or metastatic esophageal squamous cell carcinoma;

For the first-line treatment of unresectable locally advanced, recurrent or metastatic gastric or gastroesophageal junction adenocarcinoma.

Besides, two clinical studies of sintilimab have met their primary endpoints:

Phase 2 study of sintilimab monotherapy as second-line treatment of esophageal squamous cell carcinoma;

Phase 3 study of sintilimab monotherapy as second-line treatment for squamous NSCLC with disease progression following platinum-based chemotherapy.

About Innovent

Inspired by the spirit of "Start with Integrity, Succeed through Action," Innovent's mission is to discover and develop, manufacture and commercialize high-quality biopharmaceutical products that are affordable to ordinary people. Established in 2011, Innovent is committed to discovering and developing, manufacturing and commercializing high-quality innovative medicines for the treatment of oncology, autoimmune, cardiovascular and metabolic, and ophthalmology diseases to enhance the quality of the patients' lives. Innovent has 10 products in the market, including TYVYT (Sintilimab Injection), BYVASDA (Bevacizumab Injection), SULINNO (Adalimumab Injection), HALPRYZA (Rituximab Injection), Pemazyre (Pemigatinib Oral Inhibitor), olverembatinib, Cyramza (Ramucirumab Injection), Retsevmo (Selpercatinib Capsules ), FUCASO (Equecabtagene Autoleucel Injection) and SINTBILO (Tafolecimab Injection). Additionally, we have 2 NDA under NMPA review, 5 assets in Phase III or pivotal clinical trials, and 19 more molecules in early clinical stage.

Innovent has also entered into 30 strategic collaborations with Eli Lilly, Roche, Sanofi, Adimab, Incyte, MD Anderson Cancer Center and other international partners. We strive to work with many collaborators to help advance the biopharmaceutical industry, improve drug availability and enhance the quality of the patients' lives.

Note:

TYVYT (sintilimab injection) is not an approved product in the United States .

BYVASDA (bevacizumab biosimilar injection), SULINNO, and HALPRYZA (rituximab biosimilar injection) are not approved products in the United States .

TYVYT (sintilimab injection, Innovent)

BYVASDA (bevacizumab biosimilar injection, Innovent)

HALPRYZA (rituximab biosimilar injection, Innovent)

SULINNO (adalimumab biosimilar injection, Innovent)

Pemazyre (pemigatinib oral inhibitor, Incyte Corporation). Pemazyre was discovered by Incyte Corporation and licensed to Innovent for development and commercialization in Mainland China, Hong Kong , Macau and Taiwan .

CYRAMZA (ramucirumab, Eli Lilly). Cyramza was discovered by Eli Lilly and licensed to Innovent for commercialization in Mainland China.

Retsevmo (selpercatinib, Eli Lilly). Retsevmo was discovered by Eli Lilly and licensed to Innovent for commercialization in Mainland China.

Disclaimer: Innovent does not recommend any off-label usage.

About Xuanzhu Bio

Focusing on the field of tumor, digestive and non-alcoholic steatohepatitis, Xuanzhu Bio is committed to the research and development, production and commercialization of a class of innovative drugs with core independent intellectual property rights to solve the unmet clinical needs. The company has a team with rich experience in innovative drug research and development and industrialization, and has formed a complete new drug research and development system, with the ability of continuous innovation and continuous output. At the same time, the company has two research and development systems of small molecule chemical drugs and macromolecule biological drugs. The twin engines promote the innovation and development of the company, forming a rare product pipeline covering small molecules, monoclonal antibodies, bispecific antibodies, antibody-conjugated drugs, fusion proteins and other types in China .

With the strategic concept of "innovation-driven, boosting the development of China's new drugs and serving human health", rooted in China and the global perspective, Xuanzhu Bio is now transforming from a biotechnology company to a biopharmaceutical enterprise integrating research, production and marketing.

Innovent's Forward-Looking Statements

This news release may contain certain forward-looking statements that are, by their nature, subject to significant risks and uncertainties. The words "anticipate", "believe", "estimate", "expect", "intend" and similar expressions, as they relate to Innovent, are intended to identify certain of such forward-looking statements. Innovent does not intend to update these forward-looking statements regularly.

These forward-looking statements are based on the existing beliefs, assumptions, expectations, estimates, projections and understandings of the management of Innovent with respect to future events at the time these statements are made. These statements are not a guarantee of future developments and are subject to risks, uncertainties and other factors, some of which are beyond Innovent's control and are difficult to predict. Consequently, actual results may differ materially from information contained in the forward-looking statements as a result of future changes or developments in our business, Innovent's competitive environment and political, economic, legal and social conditions.

Reference

[i] Wang J, Fei K, Jing H, et al. Durable blockade of PD-1 signaling links preclinical efficacy of sintilimab to its clinical benefit. mAbs 2019;11(8): 1443-1451.

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SOURCE Innovent Biologics
BEIJING , Dec. 27, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- JA Solar's groundbreaking DeepBlue 4.0 Pro recently earned the coveted High-speed Wind Tunnel PV Module Certification from TUV NORD. This significant certification affirms the DeepBlue 4.0 Pro's superior safety, reliability, and exceptional weather resistance performance, particularly in hurricane-prone regions such as high-altitude and offshore areas.

TUV NORD, a pioneer in the industry, is the first testing agency to introduce and conduct a high-speed wind tunnel certification for photovoltaic modules. The comprehensive standard for modules under extreme wind conditions sets a high benchmark in the industry, detailing technical requirements for PV modules and their components during strong hurricanes.

DeepBlue 4.0 Pro is at the forefront of innovation, utilizing rectangular silicon wafers combined with cutting-edge technologies. These include the n-type high-efficiency Bycium+ cell technology and advanced high-density packaging techniques. The 72-cell version of this module series boasts an industry-leading power of 635W, making it the most powerful product in the 182 series. Moreover, the DeepBlue 4.0 Pro series exhibits several enhanced features such as lower power degradation, increased bifacial power generation, superior power temperature coefficient, and improved low-light performance. These advancements ensure more energy yield in challenging weather conditions. Based on the data from a one-year field test launched by JA Solar and TUV NORD in Yinchuan, the n-type modules from JA Solar demonstrate an additional energy yield of approximately 3.9%. Additionally, the DeepBlue 4.0 Pro modules offer an advantage with their lower open-circuit voltage due to fewer cells, which minimizes the risk of hot spots. This design also allows for a greater number of modules per string, thus reducing the Balance of System (BOS) costs and the Levelized Cost of Electricity (LCOE). This translates to enhanced value for customers, reinforcing JA Solar's commitment to delivering high-quality, innovative PV solutions.

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SOURCE JA Solar Technology Co., Ltd.
SAO PAULO, Dec. 28, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- QMC Telecom International Holdings, LLC (" QMC "), a scaled, fast-growing wireless infrastructure platform in Latin America , announced today the successful issuance of debentures in Brazil totaling R$1.25 billion (more than US$250 million ) by QMC Telecom do Brasil Cessao de Infraestrutura S.A. (" QMC Brazil "), its Brazilian subsidiary. The offering marks QMC Brazil's third successful debenture issuance since 2020.

QMC Brazil used around R$800 million of the proceeds from this offering to prepay its prior issuance, and will use the additional R$450 million , under a 2-year delayed draw facility, for continued investment in wireless infrastructure in Brazil .

"Increasing our existing debt facility by over 50% in a very challenging global financial debt market speaks to the scale and strength of the growth platform we have deliberately built over the last 10 plus years, and the consistency, proven financial and execution discipline of the company and its management team. This additional funding will allow us to continue accelerating our organic-led growth, take on even larger carrier network expansion projects, and reinforce our established position in the Brazilian market as the indispensable partner in 5G network densification," said Rafael Somoza , QMC's CEO and Co-Founder.

Ricardo Zubieta , QMC's CFO, celebrated the announcement by saying: "The continued support of our bank syndicate underscores their confidence in QMC's low-risk business model, the quality and strength of our carrier and venue landlord contracts and relationships, and in our unique growth opportunity and differentiated strategy to provide our customers with best-in-class indoor DAS and Street Level Solutions."

BNP Paribas acted as the lead coordinator in the offering. Bradesco BBI, Itau BBA, and MUFG participated as co-coordinators. Machado Meyer served as QMC's legal counsel. Cescon Barrieu served as lenders' legal counsel. "This transaction shows the increasing relevance of Brazilian capital markets in financing projects, adapting itself to the needs of corporates that seek funding", says Fabio Jacob , Head of Global Credit Markets in BNP Paribas Brazil.

**About QMC Telecom International**

Founded in San Juan, Puerto Rico , in 2011, QMC is an independent multinational owner and operator of mobile wireless infrastructure. The company develops, owns, acquires, and manages rooftops, macro sites, indoor DAS, and Street Level Solutions in Brazil , Colombia , Mexico , Peru , and Chile . Internationally renowned investors back QMC in partnership with management, including Accel Partners, Housatonic Partners, Quadrant Capital Advisors, and TTCER Partners.

**About BNP Paribas**

BNP Paribas is the European Union's leading bank and key player in international banking. It operates in 65 countries and has nearly 185,000 employees, including over 145,000 in Europe . The Group has key positions in its three main fields of activity: Commercial, Personal Banking & Services for the Group's commercial & personal banking and several specialized businesses, including BNP Paribas Personal Finance and Arval; Investment & Protection Services for savings, investment and protection solutions; and Corporate & Institutional Banking, focused on corporate and institutional clients. Based on its diversified solid and integrated model, the Group helps all its clients (individuals, community associations, entrepreneurs, SMEs, corporates, and institutional clients) to realize their projects through solutions spanning financing, investment, savings and protection insurance. BNP Paribas has four domestic markets in Europe : Belgium , France , Italy and Luxembourg. The Group is rolling out its integrated commercial & personal banking model across several Mediterranean countries, Turkey , and Eastern Europe . As a key player in international banking, the Group has leading platforms and business lines in Europe , a strong presence in the Americas , and a solid and fast-growing business in Asia-Pacific . BNP Paribas has implemented a Corporate Social Responsibility approach in all its activities, enabling it to contribute to the construction of a sustainable future while ensuring the Group's performance and stability.

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SOURCE QMC Telecom International
SAMARKAND, Uzbekistan , Dec. 28, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Air Marakanda, the management company operating Samarkand International Airport , today announced a doubling of passenger traffic for the year, compared with 495,000 passengers in 2022, and welcomed its one millionth passenger. The milestone not only represents the booming tourism appeal of Uzbekistan's second city, but also highlights the successful growth strategy being pursued by the company.

The record-breaking passenger was Tajikistan resident Mr. Dilshod Rakhimov , who flew to Abu Dhabi on Wizz Air flight 5W7164.

To celebrate the event, Dmitry Martynenko , Air Marakanda's Commercial Director, presented the millionth passenger with souvenirs and a voucher for the airport's VIP lounge. Wizz Air also congratulated the passenger and presented him with a voucher covering the cost of a flight to Abu Dhabi .

Anton Khojayan , CEO of Air Marakanda, said: "Serving our first millionth passenger has capped off a landmark year for our company. We opened new destinations in cooperation with partner airlines, increased the frequency of flights of existing air carriers, and developed Samarkand's airport infrastructure - all of which led us to the cherished figure of one million. We are especially pleased today to congratulate a record-breaking passenger and end the year with a celebration. We are eager to push our growth trajectory even higher, and I am confident that next year we will achieve even better results."

Air Marakanda opened the airport's architecturally stunning new terminal less than two years ago, after becoming the first private participant in a public/private partnership in aviation in Uzbekistan .

Johan Eidhagen, Managing Director of Wizz Air Abu Dhabi, said: "We are delighted to celebrate one year of operations to Samarkand and our contribution in supporting the airport to reach the significant milestone of one million passengers. Wizz Air has introduced a new era of ultra-low-cost travel to the market, unlocked affordable travel opportunities, and carried more than 100,000 passengers to and from Samarkand. This stands as a testimonial on how we can stimulate more demand through our model by making travel accessible for everyone."

He added, "We are looking forward to doubling our numbers in 2024 by carrying the flag of ultra-low-cost travel into the region and stimulating more demand by unlocking affordable travel opportunities for both residents and visitors of Samarkand."

The millionth passenger milestone coincides with Samarkand International Airport being ranked among the top 5 largest airports in Europe in terms of passenger traffic growth, according to the European branch of the International Airports Council (ACI Europe). According to results tabulated as of October, Samarkand airport took 4th place in the category of regional and small airports.

About Air Marakanda

Air Marakanda is responsible for ground handling and management of the new Samarkand International Airport terminal. It is the first project in the aviation industry of the Republic of Uzbekistan based on public-private partnership. For two years, the new Samarkand terminal has been within the top ten leaders in the Central Asian region of the World Airport Awards (SKYTRAX).

Logo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/2210036/4472792/Air_Marakanda_Logo.jpg

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XI'AN, China , Dec. 27, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- "Meet China via a Dialogue with Shaanxi " -- Theme Salon to Promote Mutual Learning among Civilizations and Share Shaanxi's Charm was held in Shaanxi Archaeological Museum on Dec. 25 .

At the salon, more than 50 Chinese and foreign guests, including experts, scholars, foreign media journalists and youth representatives, had in-depth exchanges on how to tell the Shaanxi story well and enhance mutual learning between Chinese and other civilizations.

The domestic and foreign guests shared their views and discussed the theme of the event based on their respective fields.

Shinkai Norihiro, director of the China Bureau of Japan's Tokyo News, told the story of the Terracotta Warriors traveling to Japan , which reveals the Japanese people's love for the Terracotta Warriors and Shaanxi culture.

Mehad Mousa, an Egyptian lecturer at Northwest University, shared her research on the understanding of Shaanxi writers with the participants and introduced her story of translating representative Shaanxi writer Jia Pingwa's selected prose and other Shaanxi literary works in Arabic.

Ghafurova Mijgonakhon, a Tajik student at Xi'an International Studies University, shared her experience and feelings in participating in cultural exchange activities such as the Belt and Road International Student Culture and Art Festival.

And many young people from home and abroad shared their stories of participating in the cultural communication of Shaanxi in different fields.

The event's participants also visited the Shaanxi Archaeological Museum. With a close touch of prehistoric pottery shards and observation of the archaeological sites, they can deeply understand the history behind cultural relics, and feel how technology can empower cultural relics protection.

As the first museum dedicated to archaeology in China , Shaanxi Archaeological Museum combines cultural relics with the background of excavations to interpret the site from the perspective of archaeology. It outlines the development of Chinese archaeology and Shaanxi archaeology, and displays the overall characteristics of the diversified integration of Chinese civilization. It has attracted the public to pay attention to archaeology, understand archaeology, and share the achievements of cultural heritage protection.

The event was hosted by the Information Office of Shaanxi Provincial People's Government and the Shaanxi branch of Xinhua News Agency.

Image Attachments Links:

Link: https://iop.asianetnews.net/view-attachment?attach-id=443895

Caption: Top: The event's participants visited Shaanxi Archaeological Museum/"Meet China via a Dialogue with Shaanxi" Theme Salon Site

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SOURCE The Information Office Shaanxi Provincial People's Government
WASHINGTON , Dec. 28, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Celebrate the New Year with fun, fresh air, and scenic views by participating in a First Day Hike in one of America's State Parks. These guided hikes are organized annually from Hawaii to Maine to encourage individuals and families to start the year on the right foot  by getting outside and connecting with nature.

On January 1, 2024 , more than 1,000 hikes will be available in state parks throughout the county. The distance and rigor of the hikes vary from park to park, but they all aim to create a fun experience for the whole family. Savor the beauty of our state parks' natural, cultural, and historical resources, and be inspired to take advantage of these local treasures all year long.

"I am thrilled to see the continued growth and success of the First Day Hikes program. This initiative has become a cherished tradition, providing individuals and families with the opportunity to embrace the outdoors, and kick off the year with a commitment to health and well-being," said Lewis Ledford , executive director of the National Association of State Park Directors.

Coast to coast and beyond, participants will start the year by exploring hundreds of state parks. From a scavenger hunt hiking adventure at Deception Pass State Park's Bowman Bay in Oak Harbor, Washington , to a sunrise hike on the West Summit Trail at Pinnacle Mountain State Park in Little Rock, Arkansas , to a hike through the tropical hammock of Florida's Fort Zachary Taylor State Park , regardless of location, interest or ability, there is a First Day Hike or related activity for everyone.

Hikers can choose guided hikes that fit their comfort levels including mountain and hill climbing, walks along lakes, exploring trails that wind through forests, and wildlife expeditions. For those uninterested or unable to hike, various other offerings are available at America's state parks including boating, fishing, and horseback riding, or simply enjoying a peaceful moment from a park picnic table or bench.

First Day Hikes began at the Blue Hills Reservation State Park in Massachusetts in 1992. Since 2012, all 50 states have participated. America's State Parks hopes to make 2024 a record-breaking year as the annual event approaches major milestones, including 1 million miles hiked and 500,000 participants in the program's history.

For information on First Day Hikes near you, go to stateparks.org/special-programs/first-day-hikes/. Share your January 1 hiking story on social media with #FirstDayHikes.

About America's State Parks

America's State Parks is an alliance of state park systems in all 50 states. The National Association of State Park Directors (NASPD) promotes and advocates for the state park systems across America in providing conservation and management of natural and cultural resources, quality outdoor recreation experiences, and connecting children and families to nature and the outdoors. With more than 9,817 park areas covering over 20 million acres of land, and visitation of nearly 9 million people annually, state parks are an integral part of protecting natural and cultural resources while providing guests with amazing access to the outdoors. Learn more at stateparks.org.

MEDIA CONTACT: Lewis Ledford , NASPD Executive Director, 919-218-9222, [email protected]

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SOURCE National Association of State Park Directors
MONROVIA (Reuters) - At least 40 people have died following the explosion of a gas tanker in north-central Liberia, the West African country's chief medical officer, Francis Kateh, said on Wednesday.

The fuel truck crashed late on Tuesday in Totota, Lower Bong County, and soon after exploded, killing and injuring many who had flocked to the scene.

Dozens of people are still in hospital with serious burns, and the death toll could rise, Kateh told reporters.

Poor road safety and weak infrastructure have made Sub-Saharan Africa the world's deadliest region for crashes, with the fatality rate three times higher than the European average, according to United Nations figures.

(Reporting by Derick Snyder; Writing by Alessandra Prentice; Editing by Leslie Adler)
By Renju Jose

SYDNEY (Reuters) - Australia on Thursday confirmed two of its citizens were killed in an Israeli air strike in south Lebanon and said it was looking at Hezbollah's claims that one of the Australian citizens killed had links to the militant group.

"We will continue to make inquiries about this particular person, with whom Hezbollah has claimed links," Acting Foreign Minister Mark Dreyfus said during a media briefing.

"Hezbollah has claimed this Australian as one of its fighters. Our inquiries are continuing."

Hezbollah, a Lebanese militant group backed by Iran, is a "listed terrorist organisation" in Australia and it is an offence for any Australian to provide it with financial support or fight in its ranks, Dreyfus said.

A Lebanese-Australian man, his wife, and his brother, who was a member of Hezbollah, were killed in the Israeli attack, Lebanese security and local sources told Reuters on Wednesday.

The strike late on Tuesday, part of a flare-up of border area hostilities between Israel and Hezbollah, hit a home in the town of Bint Jbeil where the militants enjoy widespread support.

Dreyfus said the Australian government had reached out to Israel about the attacks but declined to disclose what was discussed.

He urged Australians in Lebanon to leave the country while commercial flight options remained available.

Hezbollah, an ally of Palestinian Islamist faction Hamas, has been exchanging near-daily fire with Israel across Lebanon's southern frontier since the eruption of the Israeli-Hamas war in Gaza in early October.

(Reporting by Renju Jose in Sydney; Editing by Stephen Coates)
FILE PHOTO: Women look at job listings posted on a light pole in downtown Sao Paulo, Brazil, September 30, 2020. REUTERS/Amanda Perobelli/File Photo

BRASILIA (Reuters) - Brazil created a net 130,097 formal jobs in November, fewer than expected, labor ministry figures showed on Thursday.

Economists polled by Reuters projected 142,841 jobs to be created in the month.

Year-to-date, job creation totaled 1.9 million net positions, according to the labor ministry, which had previously anticipated a potential increase to 2 million by the end of 2023.

In a press conference, the acting labor minister, Francisco Macena, acknowledged that December is typically marked by a net decline in jobs due to the termination of temporary workers hired for the holiday season.

He said the ministry would continue monitoring the final data balance for the year.

In November, only two out of the five activity groups surveyed by the government reported net gains. Those two were services and retail. There were declines in industry, construction and farming.

The average monthly salary for newly established positions decreased from 2,031 reais in October to 2,022 reais ($416.14).

Meanwhile, the overall count of formally registered workers in Brazil has now climbed to 44.4 million. This figure excludes around 40 million undocumented workers who are not engaged in formal employment contracts.

($1 = 4.8590 reais)

(Reporting by Marcela Ayres in Brasilia; Editing by Matthew Lewis)
BRASILIA (Reuters) - Brazil's Finance Minister Fernando Haddad unveiled on Thursday tax adjustments to limit benefits across various sectors and ensure fiscal compensation, which are expected to face opposition in Congress.

The package aims to completely replace the text of an approved bill that President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva vetoed, just to have it overturned by Congress two weeks ago.

Speaking at a press conference, Haddad said that all measures would constitute an executive order to be released this year. Once signed by Lula, the measures would be immediately effective for four months, but would require Congress approval to go past that period.

The changes erase rules approved by lawmakers for small towns and scale back tax benefits to companies, and they are likely to face political scrutiny, said Senator Efraim Filho, the author of the bill targeted by the replacement proposal.

"The issuance of the executive order contradicts a decision made by a broad majority in Congress. It will face resistance right from the start," he wrote on social media.

Haddad, who reiterated the government's intention to pursue balanced public accounts in 2024, had previously indicated that the government would present a substitute proposal for the bill.

It originally extended payroll tax exemptions for 17 labor sectors until 2027, and its impact had not yet been incorporated into the 2024 budget.

The minister clarified on Thursday that the majority revenue loss, around 15 billion reais ($3.09 billion), was expected to arise from a change contained in the text that reduced the contribution rate on payroll for smaller municipalities from 20% to 8%.

According to Haddad, the executive order is now set to remove this whole part, which will be subject to further negotiation.

The remaining impact of the bill, amounting to 12 billion reais, will be compensated in the new measure with tax adjustments on three fronts, said the secretary of the revenue service, Robinson Barreirinhas.

The government will propose a phased end to payroll tax exemptions for the benefited sectors, suggesting that, in exchange for the standard 20% rate on the payroll, companies pay 10% or 15%, depending on their category, on the equivalent of one minimum wage for each of their formal workers.

According to Haddad, this alternative has an annual cost of 6 billion reais, which will be offset by changes aiming to reduce post-pandemic tax benefits granted to the event industry through the "PERSE" program, eventually eliminating it by 2025.

A third measure will restrict the ability of taxpayers to offset taxes annually, added the minister.

Barreirinhas stressed that the annual ceiling for tax compensation is not yet established and will be further regulated, but 30% is a parameter that could be adopted.

"The idea is to implement a scaling, the higher the value, the longer the period of use (of the tax credit), but limited to five years," he said, adding that the limitation will only apply to tax credits received in judicial cases above 10 million reais.

In a note to clients, analysts' at XP positively assessed the proposal, mentioning a "good probability of achieving fiscal gains" with the measures, which may mitigate current distortions.

"For now, we maintain our primary deficit projection of 91.6 billion reais (0.8% of GDP), but the risks are tilted to the upside."

($1 = 4.8584 reais)

(Reporting by Marcela Ayres; Editing by Steven Grattan, Alexandra Hudson)
NEW YORK, Dec. 27 (Xinhua) -- New York City Wednesday issued restrictions on arrivals of buses loaded with migrants amid a new wave of arrival, according to an executive order issued by New York City Mayor Eric Adams.

Charter bus companies transporting new migrant arrivals into New York City were required to provide a 32-hour notice before arrival and information on the population aboard, said the order.

Charter bus companies also were required to drop passengers off at a designated location in Manhattan only during specified hours, it said.

New York City also sent warning letters to charter bus companies that New York City has identified as engaging in transporting newly arrived migrants from Texas to the city.

Knowingly violating the executive order constitutes a class B misdemeanor crime punishable by up to three months imprisonment and up to a 500-U.S.-dollar fine for individuals and up to 2,000 dollars for corporations, according to New York State law.

Moreover, companies knowingly violating the executive order could have their buses impounded by the New York City Police Department.

Adams announced the decision in a virtual joint news conference with Brandon Johnson, the mayor of Chicago, and Mike Johnston, the mayor of Denver, calling for additional federal support to manage the national asylum-seeker crisis.

In November, New York City began to see another surge, with 14 buses of migrants arriving in the city within a single night last week, according to a release by the New York City Mayor's Office.

"Today's executive order will help ensure the city can continue to manage this humanitarian crisis in an orderly way," said the release.

It's reported that the City of Chicago recently instituted similar regulations on bus companies.

New York City plans to pursue a 20 percent reduction in spending on the migrant crisis in the fiscal year 2024 preliminary budget, which will be released in January.

The influx of migrants will cost New York City 12 billion dollars over three years, according to a city estimate in August 2023. 
FILE PHOTO: A Philippine Coast Guard personnel looks through binoculars while conducting a resupply mission for Filipino troops stationed at a grounded warship in the South China Sea, October 4, 2023. REUTERS/Adrian Portugal/File Photo

By Laurie Chen

BEIJING (Reuters) -China on Thursday said it will not turn a blind eye to repeated "provocations and harassment" by the Philippines, amid heightened tensions over a spate of run-ins in the South China Sea.

Manila earlier this month accused the Chinese coastguard and maritime militia of repeatedly firing water cannons at its resupply boats, causing "serious engine damage" to one, and "deliberately" ramming another.

Calling the accusations "purely false hype," Wu Qian, a defence ministry spokesperson, said the Philippine side insisted on sending vessels to "intrude into" waters near a disputed shoal and "proactively rammed" a Chinese Coast Guard vessel.

At a news conference, Wu said the China Coast Guard took necessary enforcement measures which were justified and legitimate.

"China is always committed to resolving differences through dialogue and consultation and making joint efforts to maintain maritime stability, but we will not turn a blind eye to the Philippine's repeated provocations and harassment," Wu said.

A Philippine military spokesperson said earlier this week the country was not provoking conflict in the South China Sea, after Chinese state media accused Manila of relying on U.S. support to continually antagonize China.

Relations soured between the two neighbours over the South China Sea under Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos Jr, with Manila pivoting back to the United States, which supports the Southeast Asian nation in its maritime disputes with China.

"We urge the U.S. to immediately stop meddling in the South China Sea issue, stop emboldening and supporting Philippine infringement and provocation, and safeguard regional security with concrete actions," Wu said at the news conference.

(Reporting by Laurie Chen, Ella Cao and Ryan Woo; Editing by Muralikumar Anantharaman and Christina Fincher)
Employees work on a production line manufacturing metal parts for furniture at a factory in Hangzhou, Zhejiang province, China April 30, 2020. China Daily via REUTERS/file photo

BEIJING (Reuters) - China's manufacturing activity likely contracted for the third consecutive month, a Reuters poll showed on Thursday, weighed by soft demand for manufactured goods, a reading that would embolden calls for more policy support.

The official purchasing managers' index (PMI) likely was at 49.5 in December from last month's 49.4, according to the median forecast of 24 economists in a poll conducted 22-28 December. The 50-point mark separates growth from contraction.

The world's second-biggest economy has staggered following a feeble post-pandemic recovery, held back by a property crisis, local government debt risks and slow global growth.

The government has in recent months unveiled a series of measures to prop up growth.

Only three of 24 economists expected an expansion of factory activity in December, with the highest forecast reading of 50.5, showed the poll.

New bank lending in China jumped less than expected in November, even as the central bank keeps policy accommodative to lift confidence and spur the recovery.

Ratings agency Moody's in December slapped a downgrade warning on China's credit rating as property pressures mount.

China will strive to expand domestic demand, ensure a speedy economic recovery and promote stable growth, according to an interim report on the country's 14th five-year plan published by parliament on Wednesday.

The official PMI will be released on Sunday. The private Caixin factory survey will be issued on Tuesday, and analysts expect its reading to slowed to 50.4 from an unexpected expansion reading of 50.7 in November.

(Reporting by Liangping Gao and Ryan Woo; Polling by Milounee Purohit and Anant Chandak in Bengaluru and Jing Wang in Shanghai; Editing by Lincoln Feast.)
FILE PHOTO: Vietnam's President Nguyen Phu Trong greets media at a news conferance after he is re-elected as Communist Party's General Secretary for the 3rd term after the closing ceremony of 13th national congress of the ruling communist party in Hanoi,

HANOI (Reuters) - Communist Party-ruled Vietnam has upgraded ties with the world's top powers, including former foes, China and the United States, as part of its "bamboo diplomacy", which it has pro-actively pursued since 2021 to navigate rising global tensions.

After a string of deals this year and last, the Southeast Asian country's top partners include the United States, China, India, South Korea and Russia, which for decades has supplied most of Vietnam's military equipment.

Below are details of Vietnam's increasingly dynamic foreign policy approach and its most important diplomatic agreements over the last 12 months.

WHAT IS 'BAMBOO DIPLOMACY'?

A regional manufacturing powerhouse, Vietnam is an increasingly strategic player in global supply chains.

To bolster this position, the country's most powerful figure, Communist Party General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong, used in 2021 the imagery of "strong roots, stout trunk, and flexible branches" of the bamboo plant to describe Vietnam's foreign policy approach of having "more friends, fewer foes".

CHINA

Vietnam and China earlier this month agreed to build a community with a "shared future" during a visit to Hanoi by Chinese President Xi Jinping, his first to an Asian country this year.

The two nations signed 36 cooperation documents in areas such as transport infrastructure, trade, security and digital economy, and published a joint declaration with wide-ranging commitments.

China is Vietnam's largest trading partner and a vital source of imports for its manufacturing sector, but the two communist countries have been for years embroiled in disputes in the South China Sea - the latest in May. Tensions have subsided somewhat more recently as Beijing's attention has focused on another claimant in the waterway, the Philippines.

UNITED STATES

Vietnam and the United States elevated in September their relationship to a Comprehensive Strategic Partnership, the highest level in Vietnam's ranking, and announced closer cooperation on semiconductors and critical minerals during a visit to Hanoi by U.S. president Joe Biden.

The United States, which is the top importer of Vietnam's goods, pushed for the upgrade as part of its strategy to secure uninterrupted access to global supply chains and to contain China in the South China Sea.

JAPAN

Vietnam and Japan in November upgraded their relations to Vietnam's top tier during a visit by Vietnamese president Vo Van Thuong to Tokyo, agreeing to boost security and economic cooperation.

Japanese multinationals, including Canon, Honda, Panasonic and Bridgestone, are among the largest foreign investors in Vietnam.

SOUTH KOREA

Vietnam and South Korea elevated their ties to a Comprehensive Strategic Partnership in December 2022 during a visit to Seoul by then Vietnamese president Nguyen Xuan Phuc, focusing on trade, investment, defence and security.

South Korea is the largest source of foreign investment in Vietnam, with Samsung Electronics being the largest single foreign investor in the country where it assembles half its smartphones.

In June the two countries signed 17 additional agreements, including on security and critical minerals during a visit to Vietnam by South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol.

VATICAN CITY

Vietnam and the Vatican agreed in July to have the first post-war resident papal representative in Hanoi during a visit to meet Pope Francis by Vietnamese President Vo Van Thuong. The representative was appointed in December.

Home to nearly 7 million Catholics, Vietnam broke relations with the Vatican after the Communists took over the reunited country at the end of the Vietnam War in 1975. Talks to appoint a papal representative had started in 2009.

TRADING HUB

Vietnam is part of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) economic union and has free trade deals with the European Union, Britain, Chile and South Korea. In July it added Israel to its list of free-trade partners.

It is also a member of wider trade pacts, including the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership (CPTPP), which includes Canada, Australia and Mexico, and the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP) which includes China and Japan.

WHO'S NEXT?

In 2024, Vietnam is expected to upgrade ties with Australia to a Comprehensive Strategic Partnership.

A visit to the country next year by French President Emmanuel Macron is also being considered, as the former colonial power seeks to boost ties on security and infrastructure development.

(Reporting by Khanh Vu and Francesco Guarascio; Editing by Kanupriya Kapoor)
(Reuters) - Finland will be the first country to suffer in the event of an escalation of tensions between Russia and NATO due to its proximity to the former, the RIA news agency cited a senior Russian diplomat as saying on Thursday.

Finland joined NATO this year after maintaining a neutral status for decades, a move which Russia says turned Helsinki into a hostile actor in its view.

"They had lived calmly and in peace and suddenly ended up between Russia and NATO as a member of that alliance, but since they are our neighbours, if, God forbid there is some escalation, they will be the first to suffer," Mikhail Ulyanov, permanent representative of Russia to international organisations in Vienna, told RIA.

Russia warned Finland this month over a new defence agreement granting the United States broad access to the vicinity of the Finnish border with Russia.

(Reporting by Reuters; Editing by Muralikumar Anantharaman)
FILE PHOTO: Paramilitary police officers stand guard in front of the headquarters of the People's Bank of China, the central bank (PBOC), in Beijing, China September 30, 2022. REUTERS/Tingshu Wang/File Photo

BEIJING (Reuters) - A former Chinese central bank official has been sentenced to 16 years and six months in prison for taking bribes, leaking state secrets and insider trading as the ruling Communist Party tightens its grip on the financial sector.

Sun Guofeng, former head of the bank's monetary policy department, used his position to help others obtain classified and confidential information between 2002 and 2020 in return for illicit payments worth 21 million yuan ($2.96 million), Chinese media outlet Caixin reported on Thursday, citing China's top prosecutor.

Separately, between 2014 and 2015, Sun obtained inside information on the merger-and-acquisition plans of a Shanghai-listed company and made over 11 million yuan by illegally trading on that information, Caixin added.

The probe into Sun's case began in 2022 under President Xi Jinping's anti-graft drive, a campaign aimed at weeding out corrupt officials in the financial sector.

Sun was fined 13.1 million yuan, according to Caixin.

The People's Bank of China (PBOC) could not be immediately reached for comment outside business hours and Reuters was unable to reach Sun for comment.

Another senior official at the central bank, Fan Yifei, was arrested in June for suspected bribery.

($1 = 7.1021 Chinese yuan renminbi)

(This story has been refiled to change the reporting credit line)

(Reporting by Kevin Yao; Editing by Christina Fincher)
(Reuters) - The former leader of a Hong Kong pro-independence group says he received up to HK$3,000 ($384) from security officers per meeting to become an informant when he was released from jail in June, before he fled to Britain and sought political asylum.

In November 2021, Tony Chung, who was then 20, was sentenced to 43 months in prison for trying to separate the city from China, and for money laundering. Chung was charged with secession under a sweeping national security law imposed by China in 2020 and denied bail. He pleaded guilty.

He said on Thursday he fled to Britain after he was freed and had formally applied for political asylum.

Reuters couldn't independently confirm key aspects of Chung's version of events, including whether the financial transaction took place, what Chung disclosed to authorities and whether any other activists were also allegedly offered money to be informants.

The Correctional Services Department and Hong Kong Security Bureau did not respond to a request for comment.

At a regular press briefing on Friday, a spokesperson for the Chinese Foreign Ministry in Beijing, in response to a question on Chung, said that those who try to evade legal responsibility will be pursued. The Hong Kong Correctional Services Department said at a press conference they will liaise with relevant authorities to put Chung on a "wanted list".

Beijing imposed the national security law on the Asian financial hub in 2020 after months of anti-government protests. The law punishes acts including subversion, secession and collusion with foreign forces with up to life in prison.

Chung told Reuters in a video call he was offered between HK$500 and HK$3,000 by national security officers to become an informant and was closely monitored and visited by authorities after his release from Tai Lam Correctional Institution.

"They basically didn't give me a choice. I feel like they wanted to test whether I am willing to cooperate and surrender to them," Chung said.

He said he accepted money, in cash, because he felt he had no choice but to become an informant, adding that he provided insignificant information. As a result of being paid in cash he said there was no bank documentation of the transaction.

The activist said he told authorities he didn't meet any special people, showed them his stories on the social media platform Instagram and informed them that he was busy with his studies and work.

Chung said officers demanded that he sign a document related to the National Security Law, prohibiting him from disclosing their communication to anyone or to seek legal advice. He said he signed the agreement.

In response to questions about Chung's case, the Hong Kong Police Public Relations Branch said in an email that "one of the responsibilities of the National Security Department (NSD) is to collect and analyse intelligence and information concerning national security," citing Article 17 of the security law. The police email did not address Chung's allegation of having acted as an informant.

The police email said "recently some individuals who have committed crimes endangering national security openly violated supervision orders or bail conditions and fled Hong Kong, completely betraying trust and integrity" and that police "strongly condemn such behaviour".

MENTAL STRESS

The activist said he had "intermittently fallen ill" since October and that his doctor diagnosed him as having significant mental stress and psychological factors which had led to a weakened immune system.

The trauma, continued surveillance and the impending legislation of a local national security law, also known as Article 23, made him leave Hong Kong, he said.

Chung also told Reuters that he was forced to take part in a "deradicalization" talk in detention where he was taught about Chinese history, parts of which he said glorified China's achievements.

Chung said he was released in June 2023, with his time reduced for good behaviour.

Chung is the former leader of Hong Kong pro-independence group Studentlocalism that dissolved in 2020 before the security law came into effect.

Prosecutors had said at the time he was charged that he acted as an administrator for the Facebook pages of the U.S. branch of Studentlocalism and an organization called the Initiative Independence Party. They also said pro-independence T-shirts, flags and books were seized from his home.

Chung had entered a plea bargain, admitting guilt on the charge of secession and one count of money laundering and pleading not guilty to a sedition charge and another money laundering charge.

Chung told Reuters that he plans to pursue a university degree and contribute to international advocacy work for Hong Kong.

"I want to try my best to push for freedom and democracy in Hong Kong," Chung said.

The former British colony returned to Chinese rule in 1997 with the promise of a high degree of autonomy. Democracy activists and some Western governments say China broke that promise, an allegation that Beijing denies.

($1 = 7.8145 Hong Kong dollars)

(Reporting by Kanishka Singh in Washington and Hong Kong newsroom; Editing by David Gregorio, Michael Perry and Frances Kerry)
Chen Goldstein-Almog, who was released from Hamas captivity in Gaza with three of her children Agam, 17, Gal, 11, and Tal, 9, arranges her belongings during an interview with Reuters at her temporary accommodation in Tel Aviv, Israel, December 26, 2023. C

By Rami Amichay and Michal Yaakov Itzhaki

TEL AVIV (Reuters) -To survive the 51 days she and three of her children spent as hostages in Gaza, Chen Almog-Goldstein had to stifle the tears over the killing of her husband and daughter when Hamas gunmen burst into their home in Israel on Oct. 7.

"Within seven minutes we were in Gaza," said Almog-Goldstein. "I remember the looks on my children's faces. There was shock and a great sadness that I couldn't express because I was now in survival mode."

Almog-Goldstein, 49, a social worker, had to restrain her grieving for husband Nadav, shot point-blank in the chest by the gunmen when they broke into the family safe room, and their eldest daughter Yam, 20, killed minutes later.

"Everything would remind us of them," she told Reuters in an interview. "I cried sometimes, the children saw that too, but straight away I had to wipe away the tears and snap out of it. They (the militants) didn't like it when we cried."

She said the family spent their first and last nights in an underground tunnel before they were released in a late November prisoner swap, seven weeks into the Israel-Hamas war. In between, they were moved several times from house to house.

Food and water were sometimes restricted, she said, while sanitary conditions were tough with no running water in the toilets and just one change of clothes.

'ENDLESS NIGHT'

The windows were always heavily draped, said Almog-Goldstein. When darkness fell, houses where they were held were either lit with candles or kept pitch black. "The nights were very long, never-ending nights, and so were the days."

"Control of your life is taken in one moment and is in someone else's hands. We had no influence over our lives except for trying to survive and keep ourselves sane and balanced and functioning," she said.

Every move to a new hideout meant a new team guarding the family, and new worries, she said. The fear was constant even though the militants said she and her 17-year-old daughter, Agam, and sons Gal, 11 and Tal, 9, would not be harmed.

Other hostages were less fortunate, she said. In one of the hideouts the family was placed with a group of female captives.

"Some were beaten, handcuffed for some hours. Not just men, women were beaten too and we heard of sexual abuse, some first hand and some were girls we met who had witnessed it or had heard about it, harm inflicted at gunpoint."

Hamas has denied accusations of sexual abuse.

Out of 129 hostages remaining captive incommunicado in Gaza with no Red Cross access, 19 are women, Israeli authorities say.

Almog-Goldstein said she is worried about the women left behind, some of whom she said were seriously injured. "They said they could deal with the physical injuries but they didn't know how they could deal with the way they were hurt sexually."

Since Hamas killed 1,200 people and took 240 hostages on Oct. 7 in the deadliest day in Israel's 75-year history, Israel's armed forces have responded with an offensive that has laid much of Hamas-ruled Gaza to waste.

As well as the reported 21,000 Palestinian dead, thousands more are feared to be buried under rubble. Nearly all the enclave's 2.3 million people have been driven from their homes.

"It is hell there," said Almog-Goldstein. "They (the remaining hostages) are trying to keep their morale up but when we were let out, they were already on the edge."

For her own family, still homeless after their kibbutz, Kfar Aza, was devastated in the Hamas rampage, she hopes the new year will bring some happiness back, despite "an abyss (of loss) that sometimes sucks me in."

"We were always a happy home, with silliness and laughter, and we will always have that, but there will also be the loss, the sadness and the pain that we did not choose."

(Writing by Maayan Lubell; editing by Mark Heinrich)
FILE PHOTO: A journalist walks past the logo of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) at the media centre ahead of the 41st summit in Al-Ula, Saudi Arabia January 5, 2021. REUTERS/Ahmed Yosri/File Photo

By Rachna Uppal and Ahmed Elimam

DUBAI (Reuters) -The Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) signed a free trade agreement with South Korea on Thursday, its second trade deal this year, as the six-member bloc intensifies efforts to boost investment ties with major economic partners in Asia.

South Korea will remove tariffs on almost 90% of all items, including liquefied natural gas (LNG), and other petroleum products, according to South Korea's Yonhap news agency, while the Gulf states will scrap tariffs on 76.4% of traded products and 4% of traded goods.

The FTA will also cover trade in goods, services, government procurement, as well as cooperation among small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), customs procedures, intellectual property, among others, a GCC statement said.

The GCC has signed few FTAs due to the complications of navigating competing priorities within the bloc, and talks such as those with China, which began in 2004, can take years.

Trade talks have, however, gathered momentum as Gulf states - largely dependent on oil and gas for revenue - seek to diversify their economies and develop new sources of income.

Trade between the Gulf and South Korea jumped to $78 billion from $50 billion between 2021 and 2022, according to data from London-based think tank Asia House, while the bloc's trade with emerging Asia, which includes China, surged to $516 billion last year from $383 billion in 2021.

The GCC-South Korea talks, which began in 2007, were put on hold for almost 13 years before being revived last year.

GCC Secretary General Jasem al-Budaiwi, in the statement, called the agreement "a historic step towards achieving Gulf economic integration and towards strengthening economic and trade relations between the two sides".

South Korea's Trade Minister Ahn Duk-geun also welcomed the deal, saying it would "maximise synergy effects between trade, industry and energy".

Earlier this year, the GCC - comprising Saudi Arabia, United Arab Emirates, Qatar, Kuwait, Oman and Bahrain - signed a free trade agreement with Pakistan, advanced negotiations with China, and restarted talks with Japan. FTA talks with Britain are also underway.

The UAE has also initiated a raft of bilateral trade deals since 2021, part of a strategy to advance its economic and political priorities amid growing regional competition, particularly with Saudi Arabia. In October, the UAE and South Korea concluded negotiations for a bilateral trade agreement.

(Additional reporting by Hyonhee Shin in Seoul; Editing by Tom Hogue and Muralikumar Anantharaman and Miral Fahmy)
Israeli soldiers work to repair tanks amid the ongoing conflict between Israel and the Palestinian Islamist group Hamas, near the Israel-Gaza border, in southern Israel, December 28, 2023. REUTERS/Amir Cohen

By Nidal al-Mughrabi and Arafat Barbakh

CAIRO/GAZA (Reuters) - Tens of thousands of fleeing Palestinians sought shelter on Friday as Israeli tanks pushed through the central Gaza Strip, with more than 180 people reported killed in 24 hours of airstrikes and artillery barrages on the shattered enclave.

Israeli warplanes attacking the south of Gaza flattened homes and buried families as they slept, residents said.

The assaults in central and southern Gaza propelled a new exodus of people already driven from other areas in what Israeli Defence Minister Yoav Gallant called an essential stage of Israel's mission to destroy its foe Hamas.

Twelve weeks after Hamas militants stormed Israeli towns, killing 1,200 people and seizing 240 hostages, Israeli forces have laid much of the Gaza Strip to waste.

Nearly all of its 2.3 million people have fled their homes at least once and many are now on the move again, often reduced to taking shelter in makeshift tents or huddled under tarpaulins and plastic sheets on open ground.

Gaza health authorities said 187 more Palestinians were confirmed killed in Israeli strikes in the last 24 hours, raising the toll to 21,507 - about 1% of Gaza's population. Thousands more bodies are feared to be buried in the ruins of obliterated neighbourhoods.

In Rafah in the south, Reuters journalists at the scene of one airstrike that destroyed a building saw the head of a buried toddler sticking out of the rubble.

The child screamed as a rescue worker shielded his head with a hand, while another swung a sledgehammer at a chisel, trying to break up a slab of concrete to free him.

Neighbour Sanad Abu Tabet said the two-storey house had been crowded with displaced people. After morning broke, relatives went to collect the dead wrapped up in white shrouds. A man peeled away the cloth to stroke the face of a dead child.

Tens of thousands of Gazans are fleeing the crowded central districts of Bureij, Maghazi and Nusseirat, ordered out by Israeli forces whose tanks advanced from the north and east.

Most have made their way south or west to the already overwhelmed city of Deir al-Balah.

"We suffered a lot. We had the whole night without shelter, under rain and it was cold, we were with our kids and elderly women," said Um Hamdi, a woman cooking porridge over an open woodfire surrounded by children.

Nearby, Abdel Nasser Awadallah stood inside a wooden frame set up to be wrapped in plastic to make a tent, and spoke of the family he had lost.

"I buried my children - a child 16 years old, another one aged 18. Something I really can't believe, I buried my children at 6 a.m. while their bodies were still warm. Also my nephew, he was 2 years old, I buried him. I buried my wife," he said.

"I never thought in my life that I will bury my children, I thought they would bury me."

NO SIGN OF SCALING DOWN ISRAELI ASSAULT

Israel says it is doing what it can to avoid civilian casualties, but the high death toll has caused concern even amongst its staunchest allies.

The U.S. has called for it to scale down the war in coming weeks and move to targeted operations against Hamas leaders. So far Israel shows no sign of doing so.

Footage filmed by a Palestinian Red Crescent volunteer in Maghazi showed dead and wounded being carried from ruined buildings.

In the south, Israeli forces have been pounding Khan Younis in preparation for an anticipated further advance into the main southern city, swathes of which they captured in early December.

Defence Minister Gallant said troops were reaching Hamas command centres and arms depots.

"Our operations are essential to achieving the goals of the war," he said.

The Israeli military also said it had destroyed a tunnel complex in the basement of one of the houses of the Hamas leader for Gaza, Yahya Sinwar, in Gaza City.

The shaft led to a network designed for lengthy stays and combat command and was fitted with electricity, an elevator, prayer rooms, bathrooms and air conditioning, it said. It made no mention of Sinwar's possible whereabouts.

AID TRICKLE

Gaza is almost entirely reliant on food, fuel and medical supplies from the outside, and Israel has shut off all access apart from at the southern edge.

International bodies say supplies being let in through Israeli inspections are a small fraction of the enclave's vast needs.

Last week Israel bowed to international pressure to open a second crossing it said would double the number of supply trucks daily to 200, but just 76 were able to enter on Thursday, according to the United Nations, compared to 500 in peacetime.

An Israeli government spokesman said on Friday it does not limit humanitarian aid and the problem was with its distribution inside Gaza.

The United Nations Relief and Works Agency (UNRWA), which distributes aid, rejected allegations it was responsible for hold-ups in deliveries and said the operation was riddled with logistical hurdles.

Bombardments and ground fighting had hampered distribution as well as hold-ups at Israeli checkpoints, it said. A breakdown of law and order also made it hard to secure the convoys, while people were helping themselves to supplies at warehouses.

Separately, UNRWA said Israeli soldiers fired at an aid convoy as it returned from northern Gaza along a route designated by the Israeli army. No one was injured, it said.

(Reporting by Nidal al-Mughrabi in Cairo, Arafat Barbakh in Gaza; Writing by Peter Graff and Angus MacSwan; Editing by Jan Harvey and Howard Goller)
BEIRUT (Reuters) - A U.N. peacekeeper in southern Lebanon was hurt when a group of young men attacked a patrol and tried to stop it from moving through their village, the U.N. mission said on Thursday.

The incident took place on Wednesday night when residents of the village of Taybeh briefly blocked the peacekeepers' patrol travelling through the area, the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL) said in a statement.

The man wounded was an Indonesian soldier, a security source said. A vehicle was damaged, UNIFIL said.

It called on Lebanese authorities to investigate the attack and bring the perpetrators to justice.

In a second incident on Thursday morning, a peacekeepers' convoy travelling to UNIFIL's eastern headquarters was briefly blocked by residents, who let them go ahead after a brief discussion, UNIFIL spokesperson Kandice Ardiel said.

A Lebanese security source said a group of men had hit the UNIFIL vehicles with sticks and rocks.

The reason for the actions was not clear but in previous incidents, local people have objected to UNIFIL peacekeepers driving military vehicles through residential areas.

There was no comment from Hezbollah, the armed group backed by Iran which controls security in southern Lebanon.

The area has been particularly tense since the outbreak of the Israel-Hamas war in the Gaza Strip. Hezbollah is close to Hamas and has been exchanging cross-border fire with Israel since the Oct. 7 attack by Hamas on southern Israel that triggered the war.

No peacekeepers have been killed since the escalation of hostilities. But two peacekeepers have been wounded in two separate incidents and UNIFIL compounds and bases have been hit and damaged by mortar fire several times.

One Irish peacekeeper was killed in Dec. 2022 when the U.N. vehicle he was driving in was fired on as it travelled through southern Lebanon.

The mission currently has about 10,000 troops drawn from 47 countries, and about 800 civilian staff, stationed in 45 positions throughout a 1,060 square km (409 square mile) area between the Litani River and the Blue Line.

(Reporting by Maya Gebeily; Editing by Angus MacSwan)
People line up to take free fish dish at the Hunan University of Arts and Science in Changde, central China's Hunan Province, Dec. 25, 2023.

Students at a central Chinese college have received a special end-of-year gift -- free feasts featuring a total of 2.5 tonnes of fresh fish. The Hunan University of Arts and Science, located in the city of Changde, recently hosted two fish feasts for its students after trying to rid its lake of a glut of fish that threatened the lake ecology. (Photo by Cai Wenlong/Xinhua)

CHANGSHA, Dec. 28 (Xinhua) -- Students at a central Chinese college have received a special end-of-year gift -- free feasts featuring a total of 2.5 tonnes of fresh fish.

The Hunan University of Arts and Science, located in the city of Changde, recently hosted two fish feasts for its students after trying to rid its lake of a glut of fish that threatened the lake ecology.

The fish come from fries released into the lake in 2003 and have grown to enormous sizes as no harvest had been arranged before, said Wen Zhiyong, a director in charge of the college's logistics service.

On Dec. 22 and 25, university staff netted a total of 2.5 tonnes of fish, including black carp and silver carp. The school's chefs cooked the haul using various methods, such as braising, deep frying, and steaming with Hunan's iconic chopped chili for added flavor.

The motley fish dishes were served to about 10,000 students and faculty members.

On China's social media, video clips showing the large fish splashing in nets sparked buzz, with many netizens expressing amazement at the sheer size of the carps. The topic has been viewed more than 46 million times on the popular microblogging site Sina Weibo.

"Most of the fish weighed around 15 kg, and the largest reached 40 kg," said Wen. "We decided to set free the largest fish, as well as the small ones." 

Staff members catch fish with a net at the Hunan University of Arts and Science in Changde, central China's Hunan Province, Dec. 25, 2023.

Students at a central Chinese college have received a special end-of-year gift -- free feasts featuring a total of 2.5 tonnes of fresh fish. The Hunan University of Arts and Science, located in the city of Changde, recently hosted two fish feasts for its students after trying to rid its lake of a glut of fish that threatened the lake ecology. (Photo by Cai Wenlong/Xinhua)
MEXICO CITY (Reuters) - Mexican authorities have located remains from two of the 10 coal miners trapped and killed at the El Pinabete mine in the state of Coahuila in August 2022, the government said in a statement on Thursday.

WHY IT'S IMPORTANT

The disaster highlighted the dangers workers face at Mexico's small, unregulated coal mines and drew attention to Mexico's state-owned power utility CFE, which the miner provided coal for.

Support for CFE and for Mexico's coal industry has been a pillar of President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador's energy policies.

CONTEXT

The miners became confined underground at the Pinabete mine in the northern border state of Coahuila on Aug. 3, 2022, when a tunnel wall collapsed, triggering flooding throughout the mine.

Reuters reported last year that the mine had not been visited by labor inspectors.

KEY NUMBERS

It took authorities 512 days to find the first remains 62 meters below the surface, after rescue authorities extracted 2.3 million cubic meters of rock and soil, the government's statement said.

(Reporting by Brendan O'Boyle; Editing by Aurora Ellis)
FILE PHOTO: People hold placards as they take part in a condolence and protest meeting following the plane crash of a Yeti Airlines operated aircraft, in Pokhara on January 15, 2023, in Kathmandu, Nepal January 16, 2023. REUTERS/Navesh Chitrakar/File Phot

By Gopal Sharma

KATHMANDU (Reuters) - A Yeti Airlines crash in Nepal that killed 72 people almost a year ago was caused by the pilots mistakenly cutting power leading to an aerodynamic stall, a report issued by a government-appointed investigation panel on Thursday said.

The ATR 72, operated by privately owned Yeti Airlines, crashed just before landing in the tourist city of Pokhara on Jan. 15 in one of Nepal's worst aeroplane accidents in 30 years.

There were 72 people on the twin-engine aircraft including two infants, four crew and 15 foreign nationals. There were no survivors.

Dipak Prasad Bastola, an aeronautical engineer and a member of the investigating panel, said due to lack of awareness and lack of standard operating procedures, the pilots had put the condition levers, which control power, in the feathering position, instead of selecting the flap lever.

This led the engine to "run idle and not produce thrust", Bastola told Reuters. "But due to its momentum, the aircraft flew for up to 49 seconds before hitting the ground.

ATR is based in France and the plane's engines were manufactured in Canada by Pratt & Whitney Canada.

It was Nepal's deadliest air crash since 1992, when a Pakistan International Airlines Airbus A300 crashed into a hillside on approach to Kathmandu, killing all 167 people on board.

Nearly 350 people have died since 2000 in plane or helicopter crashes in Nepal - home to eight of the world's 14 highest mountains, including Everest - where sudden weather changes can cause hazardous conditions.

The European Union has banned Nepali airlines from its airspace since 2013, citing safety concerns.

(Reporting by Gopal Sharma, additional reporting by Tanvi Mehta; Editing by Jane Merriman and Nick Macfie)
FILE PHOTO: Republican presidential candidate and former U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations Nikki Haley speaks during the "Faith and Family with the Feenstras" event moderated by Rep. Randy Feenstra in Sioux Center, Iowa, U.S. December 9, 2023. REUTER

By Gram Slattery

WASHINGTON (Reuters) -Republican presidential contender Nikki Haley declined on Wednesday night to say that slavery was one of the main causes of the U.S. Civil War, an omission she corrected on Thursday, but not before drawing rebukes from Democrats and some of her opponents.

Haley, who is vying to be her party's nominee in the 2024 presidential election, was asked by an audience member at a town hall in northern New Hampshire what she believed to be the cause of the Civil War, according to an exchange captured by CNN and several other media outlets.

In response, Haley first paused, and said, "Well, don't come at me with an easy question."

She then added: "I mean, I think the cause of the Civil War was basically how government was going to run, what you could and couldn't do, the freedoms in what people could and couldn't do."

After some back and forth, the man who asked the question responded: "In the year 2023, it's astonishing to me that you answer that question without mentioning the word 'slavery.'"

There is broad consensus among scholars that slavery was the main cause of the war, which occurred between 1861 and 1865. The Southern states, which seceded, opposed attempts by Northern states to limit the institution of slavery, particularly in western territories.

On Thursday morning, Haley sought to walk back her comments on The Pulse of NH, a radio show.

"Of course the Civil War was about slavery, that's the easy part," she said. "Yes, I know it was about slavery. I am from the South."

Haley made similar comments pointing to slavery as the cause of the Civil War during a town hall in New Hampshire later on Thursday.

'POLITICS 101'

It is unclear whether the incident will have any impact on the race, but Haley's opponents were quick to criticize her, and her original comments are unlikely to help in New Hampshire, whose residents fought against slavery.

Democratic President Joe Biden posted a video of Haley's exchange on social media with the caption: "It was about slavery."

The press secretary for Florida Governor Ron DeSantis, another Republican presidential contender, pointed to critical comments by a number of DeSantis advisers on X.

"If Nikki Haley can't answer this basic political 101 question and then it takes her over 12 hrs to sloppily attempt to clean it up, she just isn't ready for the bright lights of the nomination process," wrote senior DeSantis adviser David Polyansky.

A representative for former President Donald Trump, the frontrunner for the Republican nomination, did not respond to a request for comment.

Haley, like many public officials from the U.S. South, has a history of defending aspects of the Confederacy, as the states that seceded are known. She served as governor of South Carolina, the first state to secede, from 2011 to 2017.

Haley said in 2010 that the state had a right to secede. In 2015, she signed a bill into law removing the Confederate battle flag from the grounds of the state capitol following the murder of nine Black churchgoers by white supremacist Dylann Roof.

She was later criticized by some elected officials for describing that flag as a symbol of "heritage" for some Southerners.

Trump is winning the Republican presidential nominating contest with 61% support, according to a Reuters/Ipsos poll conducted earlier in December, while Haley and DeSantis are tied with 11%.

Haley is performing significantly better in New Hampshire, which is the second state after Iowa to select a preferred Republican nominee. She has about 25% support there, according to polling averages.

(Reporting by Gram Slattery; Editing by Ross Colvin and Daniel Wallis)
FILE PHOTO: NRA Executive Vice President and CEO Wayne LaPierre speaks at the National Rifle Association (NRA) annual convention in Indianapolis, Indiana, U.S., April 14, 2023. REUTERS/Evelyn Hockstein/File Photo

By Jonathan Stempel

NEW YORK (Reuters) - A New York state appeals court on Thursday rejected the National Rifle Association's bid to end a corruption probe by state Attorney General Letitia James that the gun rights group has viewed as politically motivated.

The unanimous decision by a five-judge panel of the Appellate Division in Manhattan came 1-1/2 weeks before a scheduled Jan. 8 trial, where James is seeking remedies including the removal of NRA Chief Executive Wayne LaPierre.

James, a Democrat, sued the NRA in August 2020 saying it diverted millions of dollars to fund luxuries for officials including LaPierre.

She also said NRA officials failed to obtain board approval for conflicts of interests and insider transactions, and retaliated against whistleblowers who suspected financial misconduct.

In seeking a dismissal, the NRA accused James of violating the First Amendment for trying to silence its speech because she disliked what it stood for.

It also accused her of selective enforcement, including through her unsuccessful effort to dissolve the group.

But the appeals court said James had probable cause to investigate and sue the NRA, citing her authority to enforce state laws governing nonprofits, and the "ample evidence of malfeasance" she claimed to uncover.

It also rejected the selective enforcement claim, saying other nonprofits where dissolution had been sought agreed to overhaul their leaderships, while the NRA had not.

Neither lawyers for the NRA nor James' office had immediate comments.

Thursday's decision upheld a June 2022 ruling by Justice Joel Cohen of the New York state court in Manhattan, who would oversee the trial.

Cohen had in March 2022 blocked James' effort to dissolve the NRA, finding a lack of evidence that the group deserved the "corporate death penalty."

At trial, jurors may assess how much four current and former NRA officials including LaPierre should repay the group, and recommend whether LaPierre and NRA Secretary John Frazer should be removed. Cohen would later consider the removal requests.

Jury selection begins on Jan. 2. The trial may last six weeks.

The case is New York v. The National Rifle Association of America Inc et al, New York State Supreme Court, Appellate Division, 1st Department, No. 1026-28.

(Reporting by Jonathan Stempel in New York; Editing by Daniel Wallis)
ANKARA (Reuters) - Eleven people were killed and more than 50 injured in a road accident in northwestern Turkey on Thursday, local media reported.

The crash involved seven vehicles, including three buses and a truck on the North Marmara highway near the Dagdibi neighbourhood of Sakarya province, according to the state-owned Anadolu news agency.

The cause of the accident has not yet been determined, Anadolu said. Private news channel NTV said the area was covered with heavy fog and visibility was low.

The governor of Sakarya province told local media that 57 people were injured and taken to hospital.

(Reporting by Huseyin Hayatsever; Editing by Daren Butler and Tom Hogue)
By Cynthia Kim

SEOUL (Reuters) - South Korea's November factory output posted the fastest gain since May 2022 on soaring chip production, official data showed on Thursday.

The industrial output index increased 5.3% in November from a year earlier, according to Statistics Korea, beating a median estimate of a 3.0% gain tipped in a Reuters survey.

Semiconductor production soared 42.4% from a year earlier, boosting the country's factory output even as that of machines and other electric components dropped 13.8% and 9.9% each, Statistics Korea report showed.

From a month earlier, the index gained 3.3%, also beating a 1.0% increase projected in the survey.

On Wednesday, a Reuters poll showed South Korea's exports likely rose for a third month in December as stronger semiconductor exports were seen supporting the country's economic recovery into the new year.

(Reporting by Cynthia Kim and Youn Ah Moon in Seoul; Editing by Leslie Adler and Matthew Lewis)
FILE PHOTO: Lee Sun-kyun attends the 50th International Emmy Awards in New York City, New York, U.S., November 21, 2022. REUTERS/Eduardo Munoz/File Photo

By Jack Kim and Jimin Jung

SEOUL (Reuters) - The head of the district police force that investigated South Korean actor Lee Sun-kyun over allegations of illegal drug use on Thursday defended the tough questioning of him before he was found dead.

Incheon Metropolitan Police chief Kim Hui-jung told a news briefing the entire process was justified and done with Lee's consent. He expressed "deep regret" over his death and offered his condolences to his family.

Lee, 48, who played the wealthy patriarch in the Oscar-winning film "Parasite", died on Wednesday.

His death brought an outpouring of sympathy from the film industry and the public alike as well as questions over the apparently harsh and public nature of the probe that fuelled media coverage delving into Lee's private life.

Kim said the questioning over Lee's three appearances, including a final one that went on all night, was necessary to hear his side and was done in the presence of his lawyer.

"The investigation of the deceased was conducted based on specific reports, testimony and evidence and under legally prescribed procedures," he said.

Lee had denied he knowingly took illegal drugs and said he was tricked into doing so by a bar hostess who was trying to blackmail him, local news media reported before his death.

He made three highly public appearances before police since October, the last time for 19 hours overnight, leaving the police station on Christmas Eve.

He declined to answer questions from reporters about the charges against him but said he was fully cooperating with the investigation.

He was found dead in a car at a park in Seoul after being reported missing.

Former South Korean President Moon Jae-in, who was a human rights lawyer before entering politics, was among those who criticised police practice and sensational media reporting of the case.

"The practice that does huge damage to someone's honour and character, such as excessively putting them at a media photoline, and pushes them to take the extreme choice must now end," Moon said on Facebook.

Film industry colleagues visited the memorial set up at Lee's wake, including "Parasite" director Bong Joon-ho and the Netflix hit series "Squid Game" actor Lee Jung-jae.

Incheon police had earlier questioned K-pop star G-Dragon over suspicion of illegal drug use but dropped the case without charging him.

The probe comes as part of a crackdown by the government of conservative President Yoon Suk Yeol, who called it a "war on drugs".

There has been a string of high-profile arrests, including business conglomerate heirs and celebrities, under the country's tough drug laws, which punishes those found guilty of abusing drugs as well as drug dealing by up to 14 years in prison.

(Reporting by Jack Kim; Editing by Angus MacSwan)
ANKARA (Reuters) - Turkey will reinforce its newly established permanent bases in northern Iraq in the coming months, after 12 Turkish soldiers were killed in the region, President Tayyip Erdogan said on Thursday.

The twelve were killed last week in northern Iraq in clashes with the militants of the outlawed Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK) based there.

"In recent years, we have built hundreds of kilometres-long roads in northern Iraq for our permanent bases. We carry out the same activities in new places we have controlled," Erdogan told a televised meeting in Ankara.

"By the arrival of spring, we will have completed the infrastructure of our newly established bases (in northern Iraq), and make terrorists unable to set foot in the region."

Turkish forces regularly carry out strikes in neighbouring Iraq as part of the country's offensive against PKK militants. Since 2019, Turkey has launched a series of operations in northern Iraq after Erdogan's declaration of "a new security concept in combating terrorism" and plan to "neutralise terrorism and terrorists at source."

The PKK, which demands greater Kurdish rights and has large fortifications around northern Iraq, is designated a terrorist group by Turkey, the United States and the European Union. It took up arms against the Turkish state in 1984 and over the decades it has conducted many deadly attacks in Turkey.

(Reporting by Huseyin Hayatsever; Editing by Alexandra Hudson)
A local resident casts his ballot using Dominion Voting System machines during the midterm elections at the Fox Theater in downtown Atlanta, Georgia, U.S., November 8, 2022. REUTERS/Carlos Barria/File Photo

By Rich McKay and Joseph Ax

ATLANTA -A federal judge in Georgia upheld a Republican-drawn congressional map on Thursday, rejecting arguments from voting rights groups and Democrats that the latest district lines illegally diluted the voting power of Black residents near Atlanta.

The decision from U.S. District Judge Steve Jones likely ensures that Republicans will maintain their 9-5 advantage among the state's 14 seats in the U.S. House of Representatives.

"The court finds that the general assembly fully complied with this court's order requiring the creation of Black-majority districts in the regions of the state where vote dilution was found," Jones wrote in the order.

The case is one of several lawsuits whose outcomes could determine which party controls the House after next November's vote. Democrats need to capture a net of five Republican seats nationally to win back a majority.

Jones, appointed to the bench by former Democratic President Barack Obama, had ordered lawmakers in October to create a new map that included an additional district with a Black majority or near-majority in order to comply with the 1965 Voting Rights Act.

While the state filed an appeal, Republican Governor Brian Kemp also scheduled a special legislative session to comply with the order.

In early December, the Republican-controlled legislature approved a map that added a majority-Black district west of Atlanta. But in doing so, lawmakers also dismantled a nearby district  represented by Democrat Lucy McBath, a Black woman  comprised mostly of minority voters, including Black, Hispanic and Asian residents.

Democrats and voting rights groups had argued that the revised map violated Jones' ruling, which had said the state could not remedy the problem "by eliminating minority districts elsewhere." Republicans asserted that their effort complied with the decision because McBath's district was not majority Black.

"Today's ruling is a validation of what we put forward," Jon Burns, the speaker of the Republican-controlled Georgia House of Representatives, said in a statement. "Now we're going to get back to the work of lowering costs of living, improving education, expanding access to healthcare and delivering results for the people of Georgia."

The American Civil Liberties Union of Georgia, which helped represent the plaintiffs, disagreed with the ruling.

"Federal law requires an end to vote dilution and a real change for injured voters, not reshuffling the same deck," Ari Savitzky, a senior ACLU of Georgia attorney, said in a statement. "We will continue to hold the General Assembly accountable until Georgia voters get the maps they deserve."

It was not immediately clear whether the plaintiffs would appeal the district court's decision.

The Georgia NAACP, a civil rights group, called the new map an example of "racial gerrymandering."

"All of Georgia has now been diluted of our voices," said Gerald Griggs, president of the Georgia NAACP, who criticized the judge's ruling. "We respectfully disagree and look forward to further litigation on this issue."

(Reporting by Rich McKay in Atlanta and Joseph Ax in Princeton, New Jersey; Additional reporting by Jasper Ward, Ismail Shakil and Kanishka Singh; Editing by Rosalba O'Brien and Caitlin Webber)
Newly recruited fighters who joined a Houthi military force intended to be sent to fight in support of the Palestinians in the Gaza Strip, march during a parade in Sanaa, Yemen December 2, 2023. REUTERS/Khaled Abdullah/File Photo

By Jonathan Landay

WASHINGTON (Reuters) -In its latest response to attacks on shipping by the Houthis, the U.S. on Thursday sanctioned an individual and three currency exchange houses it accused of facilitating the flow of Iranian financial assistance to the Yemeni movement.

Two of the exchange houses are based in Yemen and one is in Turkey, the U.S. Treasury Department said in a statement announcing the new measures.

"Today's action underscores our resolve to restrict the illicit flow of funds to the Houthis, who continue to conduct dangerous attacks on international shipping and risk further destabilizing the region," Under Secretary of the Treasury for Terrorism and Financial Intelligence Brian Nelson said in the statement.

The sanctions freeze any U.S. assets belonging to the targeted entities and generally prohibit Americans from doing business with them.

The Houthis have seized or attacked with drones and missiles a dozen ships in the Red Sea and Gulf of Aden since Nov. 19. They aim to raise the international costs of Israel's offensive in Gaza, which was triggered by the Oct. 7 onslaught into Israel by the enclave's ruling Hamas militants.

U.S., British and French warships have shot down drones and missiles launched by the Houthis, who control huge swaths of Yemen captured during years of civil war. The Iran-aligned movement says it will continue the attacks in response to the Israeli assault on Gaza.

The U.S. is leading a new naval task force to protect commercial shipping and has accused Iran of supplying weapons, financing, targeting and other assistance to the Houthis. Iran denies the allegation.

The sanctions announced by the Treasury on Thursday were the latest aimed at throttling the flow of alleged Iranian financing to the Houthis.

The Treasury said the measures targeted a network through which an Iran-based financier, Said al-Jamal, who has been under U.S. sanctions since at least June 2021, provides Iranian funds to the Houthis.

Those hit included Al Aman Kargo Ithalat Ve Nakliyat Limited Sirketi, which the Treasury described as a "waypoint" for funding provided to the Houthis by Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps.

Also targeted were Sanaa-based Nabco Money Exchange and Remittance Co, a recipient of funds sent by the Turkish entity, and its top official, Nabil Ali Ahmed al-Hadha, also president of the Currency Exchangers Association, the Treasury said.

Houthi-run Al Rawda Exchange and Money Transfers Co also was targeted for converting into Yemeni rials funds sent through Hadha's accounts in Turkey, it said.

A Nabco employee hung up the phone when called by Reuters for comment, and subsequent attempts to contact the company were unsuccessful.

Al Rawda did not immediately respond to an email requesting comment. Al Aman could not immediately be reached for comment.

(Reporting by Jonathan Landay; Editing by David Gregorio)
KIEV, Dec. 28 (Xinhua) -- Two sailors were injured after a grain ship hit a mine in the Black Sea near the Ukrainian coast, Ukraine's southern defense forces said Thursday in a post on Telegram.

The Panama-flagged vessel was sailing to one of the Ukrainian Danube River ports to be loaded with grain when it hit the sea mine.

The ship lost control as a result of the incident and a fire erupted on its upper deck.

Ukraine's Maritime Guard and Search and Rescue Service assisted in the rescue efforts on the ship and brought the vessel to the port.

One of the injured sailors was hospitalized, while another received medical treatment on the spot.

Mines and other explosives have been drifting in the Black Sea since February 2022 due to the Russia-Ukraine conflict. 
KYIV (Reuters) - Ukraine's Airborne Assault Troops said on Thursday that three servicemen who Ukrainian prosecutors have said were captured and shot dead by Russian forces this month were members of the 82nd Airborne Assault Brigade.

Russia has yet to comment on the allegation, the second accusation that it has killed prisoners of war leveled against it this month by Ukrainian prosecutors.

Footage shared on social media of the alleged incident appears to show three unarmed figures collapsing from a stationary position after being fired upon. Reuters could not independently verify the video.

The Airborne Assault Troops said unidentified enemy personnel, "acting intentionally, in violation of the laws and customs of war," had deliberately killed the three men, whom it described as captured members of its 82nd Airborne Assault Brigade.

It said their bodies had been removed by Ukrainian authorities from the scene, previously identified as being near the village of Robotyne in Ukraine's southeastern Zaporizhzhia region.

The Airborne Assault Troops reshared the footage of the incident, marking three men with Ukrainian flags and placing Russian flags next to uniformed figures standing or crouching at two locations on a barren landscape some distance behind the three.

The three men are seen on their knees, hands behind their heads. At least two uniformed individuals raise what appear to be weapons from the two Russian-flagged locations and appear to open fire in the direction of the Ukrainians.

Immediately the three tumble forwards, and a man identified as a Russian soldier approaches them and appears to check for signs of life as they lie on the earth.

"This is another case of a gross violation by the aggressor country of international humanitarian law regarding the treatment of prisoners of war," the prosecutor's office said when it announced its investigation on Wednesday.

Ukraine on Dec. 3 accused Russia of committing a war crime after another video shared on social media appeared to show several soldiers shooting two surrendering military personnel who emerged from a dugout at gunpoint.

Last March, a captured Ukrainian soldier was seen being shot dead in a video after defiantly saying "Glory to Ukraine," a phrase that has taken on special significance as a common public greeting since the start of the war.

(Reporting by Oleksandr Kozhukhar in Kyiv and Elaine Monaghan in Washington; Editing by Rosalba O'Brien)
KYIV (Reuters) - A fire broke out at a multi-story building in the Black Sea port city of Odesa late on Thursday after drones were reported to be headed for the area, authorities said.

"A high-rise building in Odesa was damaged by a downed drone," Oleh Kiper, the regional governor, said in a post on the Telegram messaging app.

He said information about casualties was being verified and urged townspeople to stay in shelters amid an ongoing drone attack.

Local Telegram channels posted photos and video of a fire that appeared to be affecting the upper two levels of a building but none immediately reported casualties. Reuters could not independently verify the reports.

(Reporting by Elaine Monaghan; Editing by Chris Reese)
(Reuters) - The intrigues of Western countries whose dominance is ebbing away are largely responsible for pitching the world into turmoil, Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said in an interview published on Thursday.

Lavrov, in a year-end interview released by the official Tass news agency, warned that no one world-wide could be certain of escaping unscathed from Western machinations in 2024.

"Storms continue in the world and one of the reasons is that the ruling circles in the West provoke crises thousands of kilometres from their borders in order to resolve their own issues at the expense of other peoples," Tass quoted Lavrov as saying in extracts released ahead of full publication.

"It can be said that given conditions in which the West is clinging to the domination slipping away from it, no one can be protected against its geopolitical intrigues. There is a growing understanding of this."

Moscow has come to blame the West for much of the turmoil and conflict in widely separated regions.

Russia describes its war in Ukraine as an existential struggle against the "collective West" resolved to expand the reach of NATO and inflict a "strategic defeat" on Moscow.

It also says the outbreak of conflict in the Middle East is a result of the longstanding failures of U.S. foreign policy and called for the establishment of a Palestinian state.

In his comments to Tass, Lavrov called for de-escalation of the Middle East conflict, denouncing as "unacceptable" both acts of terror and "collective punishment".

"It is vital to break the vicious cycle of violence and do away with the injustice from which several generations of Palestinians have suffered," he was quoted as saying.

"Only by doing this can stability be achieved in the zone of confrontation in the Middle East as a whole."

Lavrov also restated Russia's complaint that Ukraine was unwilling to hold peace talks to end the 22-month-old conflict in Ukraine, which Moscow calls a "special military operation".

"I must note an absence of any will for peace on the part of the regime of (Ukrainian President Volodymyr) Zelenskiy," Lavrov told Tass.

"His representatives think only in categories of war and resort to totally aggressive rhetoric. There is no consideration of holding peace talks ... Draw your own conclusions."

Zelenskiy has ruled out talks with Moscow until it withdraws from territories it has occupied since its February 2022 full-scale invasion - estimated to be about 17.5 % of its territory.

(Reporting by Reuters; Editing by Stephen Coates)
UNITED STATES

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

Washington, D.C. 20549

SCHEDULE 13G

Under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934

(Amendment No. )*

CONCORD ACQUISITION CORP III (Name of Issuer) CLASS A COMMON STOCK, PAR VALUE $0.0001 (Title of Class of Securities)

20607V106 (CUSIP Number) 11/01/2023 (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. 20607V106 1 NAMES OF REPORTING PERSONS I.R.S. IDENTIFICATION NOS. OF ABOVE PERSONS (ENTITIES ONLY) SEA OTTER ADVISORS 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 0 6 SHARED VOTING POWER 375,000 7 SOLE DISPOSITIVE POWER 0 8 SHARED DISPOSITIVE POWER 375,000

9 AGGREGATE AMOUNT BENEFICIALLY OWNED BY EACH REPORTING PERSON 375,000 10 CHECK BOX IF THE AGGREGATE AMOUNT IN ROW (9) EXCLUDES CERTAIN SHARES (see instructions)  11 PERCENT OF CLASS REPRESENTED BY AMOUNT IN ROW (9) 9.51% 12 TYPE OF REPORTING PERSON (see instructions) IA

THE PERCENTAGE IN ROW 11 OF THIS COVER PAGE IS BASED ON 3,941,361 SHARE OF CLASS A COMMON STOCK (AS DEFINED HEREIN) OUTSTANING AS OF NOVEMBER 1, 2023, AS REPORTED ON THE 10-Q OF THE ISSUER (AS DFINED HEREIN) FILED WITH THE SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION ON NOVEMBER 14, 2023.

CUSIP No. 20607V106 1 NAMES OF REPORTING PERSONS I.R.S. IDENTIFICATION NOS. OF ABOVE PERSONS (ENTITIES ONLY) SEA OTTER TRADING 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 0 6 SHARED VOTING POWER 375,000 7 SOLE DISPOSITIVE POWER 0 8 SHARED DISPOSITIVE POWER 375,000

9 AGGREGATE AMOUNT BENEFICIALLY OWNED BY EACH REPORTING PERSON 375,000 10 CHECK BOX IF THE AGGREGATE AMOUNT IN ROW (9) EXCLUDES CERTAIN SHARES (see instructions)  11 PERCENT OF CLASS REPRESENTED BY AMOUNT IN ROW (9) 9.51% 12 TYPE OF REPORTING PERSON (see instructions) OO

THE PERCENTAGE IN ROW 11 OF THIS COVER PAGE IS BASED ON 3,941,361 SHARE OF CLASS A COMMON STOCK (AS DEFINED HEREIN) OUTSTANING AS OF NOVEMBER 1, 2023, AS REPORTED ON THE 10-Q OF THE ISSUER (AS DFINED HEREIN) FILED WITH THE SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION ON NOVEMBER 14, 2023.

CUSIP No. 20607V106 1 NAMES OF REPORTING PERSONS I.R.S. IDENTIFICATION NOS. OF ABOVE PERSONS (ENTITIES ONLY) PETER SMITH 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 U.S.A

NUMBER OF SHARES BENEFICIALLY OWNED BY EACH REPORTING PERSON WITH: 5 SOLE VOTING POWER 0 6 SHARED VOTING POWER 375,000 7 SOLE DISPOSITIVE POWER 0 8 SHARED DISPOSITIVE POWER 375,000

9 AGGREGATE AMOUNT BENEFICIALLY OWNED BY EACH REPORTING PERSON 375,000 10 CHECK BOX IF THE AGGREGATE AMOUNT IN ROW (9) EXCLUDES CERTAIN SHARES (see instructions)  11 PERCENT OF CLASS REPRESENTED BY AMOUNT IN ROW (9) 9.51% 12 TYPE OF REPORTING PERSON (see instructions) IN

THE PERCENTAGE IN ROW 11 OF THIS COVER PAGE IS BASED ON 3,941,361 SHARE OF CLASS A COMMON STOCK (AS DEFINED HEREIN) OUTSTANING AS OF NOVEMBER 1, 2023, AS REPORTED ON THE 10-Q OF THE ISSUER (AS DFINED HEREIN) FILED WITH THE SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION ON NOVEMBER 14, 2023.

CUSIP No. 20607V106 1 NAMES OF REPORTING PERSONS I.R.S. IDENTIFICATION NOS. OF ABOVE PERSONS (ENTITIES ONLY) NICHOLAS FAHEY 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 U.S.A

NUMBER OF SHARES BENEFICIALLY OWNED BY EACH REPORTING PERSON WITH: 5 SOLE VOTING POWER 0 6 SHARED VOTING POWER 375,000 7 SOLE DISPOSITIVE POWER 0 8 SHARED DISPOSITIVE POWER 375,000

9 AGGREGATE AMOUNT BENEFICIALLY OWNED BY EACH REPORTING PERSON 375,000 10 CHECK BOX IF THE AGGREGATE AMOUNT IN ROW (9) EXCLUDES CERTAIN SHARES (see instructions)  11 PERCENT OF CLASS REPRESENTED BY AMOUNT IN ROW (9) 9.51% 12 TYPE OF REPORTING PERSON (see instructions) IN

THE PERCENTAGE IN ROW 11 OF THIS COVER PAGE IS BASED ON 3,941,361 SHARE OF CLASS A COMMON STOCK (AS DEFINED HEREIN) OUTSTANING AS OF NOVEMBER 1, 2023, AS REPORTED ON THE 10-Q OF THE ISSUER (AS DFINED HEREIN) FILED WITH THE SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION ON NOVEMBER 14, 2023.

Item 1(a). Name of Issuer: CONCORD ACQUISITION CORP III Item 1(b). Address of Issuers Principal Executive Offices: 477 MADISON AVENUE NEW YORK, NY 10022 Item 2(a). Name of Person Filing: This statement is being jointly filed by: Sea Otter Advisors LLC ("Sea Otter") Sea Otter Trading LLC (the "Fund") Peter Smith ("Mr. Smith") Nicholas Fahey ("Mr. Fahey") Each of the forgoing is referred to as a "Reporting Person" snd collectively as the "Reporting Persons." Sea Otter serves as the investment manager to the Fund, Mr. Smith and Mr. Fahey are the managing memmbers of Sea Otter. By virtue of these relationships, each of Sea Otter, the Fund, Mr. Smith, and Mr. Fahey are deemed to beneficially own the Issuer's Common Shares directly owned by the Fund. Item 2(b). Address of Principal Business Office or, if none, Residence: THE ADDRESS OF THE BUSINESS OFFICE OF EACH OF THE REPORTING PERSONS IS 107 GRAND STREET, 7TH FLOOR, NEW YORK, NY 10013 Item 2(c). Citizenship: USA Item 2(d). Title of Class of Securities: COMMON STOCK Item 2(e). CUSIP Number: 20607V106

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; (b)  Bank as defined in Section 3(a)(6) of the Act; (c)  Insurance company as defined in Section 3(a)(19) of the Act; (d)  Investment company registered under Section 8 of the Investment Company Act of 1940; (e) x An investment adviser in accordance with Rule 13d-1(b)(1)(ii)(E); (f)  An employee benefit plan or endowment fund in accordance with Rule 13d-1(b)(1)(ii)(F); (g) x A parent holding company or control person in accordance with Rule 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; (j)  A non-U.S. institution in accordance with Rule 240.13d-1(b)(1)(ii)(J); (k)  Group, in accordance with Rule 240.13d-1(b)(1)(ii)(K). If filing as a non-U.S. institution in accordance with Rule 240.13d-1(b)(1)(ii)(J), please specify the type of institution:

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. (a) Amount Beneficially Owned: 375,000 (b) Percent of Class: 9.51% (c) Number of shares as to which such person has: (i) sole power to vote or to direct the vote: 0 (ii) shared power to vote or to direct the vote: 375,000 (iii) sole power to dispose or to direct the disposition of: 0 (iv) shared power to dispose or to direct the disposition of: 375,000

Item 5. Ownership of Five Percent or Less of a Class. If this statement is being filed to report the fact that as of the date hereof the reporting person has ceased to be the beneficial owner of more than five percent of the class of securities, check the following  . Item 6. Ownership of More than Five Percent on Behalf of Another Person. Not applicable. Item 7. Identification and Classification of the Subsidiary Which Acquired the Security Being Reported on by the Parent Holding Company. Not applicable. Item 8. Identification and Classification of Members of the Group. Not applicable. Item 9. Notice of Dissolution of Group. Not applicable. Item 10. Certification. By signing below I certify that, to the best of my knowledge and belief, the securities referred to above were acquired and are held in the ordinary course of business and were not acquired and are not held for the purpose of and do not have the effect of changing 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 such purpose or effect for the time being.

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.
A newly renovated kitchen in one of 50 single-story duplexes nearing completion at Sebille Manor on Kadena Air Base in Okinawa, Japan. (Matthew M. Burke/Stars and Stripes)

KADENA AIR BASE, Okinawa  The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers is nearing completion of dozens of family housing units for junior enlisted airmen at this strategic air hub in Japans southern island chain.

The agencys Japan district plans to turn over 50 freshly renovated duplexes, or 100 total housing units, at Sebille Manor to the 18th Wing at Kadena Air Base by early May, Jesse Pruneda, resident engineer of the corps Kadena office, told Stars and Stripes during a site visit Dec. 14.

The units, originally built in the 1960s, were gutted down to their concrete shells. They now feature modern flooring, countertops, tile and bathrooms. The wing plans to install all new appliances.

The units are part of a broader Defense Department push to upgrade family housing on the island. The Corps of Engineers is also renovating additional units on Kadena and nearby Marine base Camp Foster in Chatan.

Besides the concrete walls and the exterior, everything else is brand new, Pruneda said as he walked through one of the units.

A newly renovated bathroom in one of 50 single-story duplexes nearing completion at Sebille Manor on Kadena Air Base in Okinawa, Japan. (Matthew M. Burke/Stars and Stripes)

The Corps of Engineers was established in 1802 to provide public engineering services that strengthen national security, energize the economy, and reduce risks from disasters, according to the agency website. Its engineers have explored and mapped the Western frontier of the United States, surveyed roads and canals, and built missile sites and NASA facilities.

It is responsible for all U.S.-funded military construction projects on Okinawa, Pruneda said.

Renovations at Sebille Manor were greenlit in 2020 at a cost of around $53 million, project manager Mighty Binonwangan said Dec. 14. Construction by Japanese contractors with Corps of Engineers support began a few months later.

Most of the units, located a stones throw from the Department of Defense Education Activitys Bob Hope Elementary School, are single-story with four bedrooms, Pruneda said. Additions to each unit increased their size to 1,470 square feet.

Thirteen two-story duplexes feature three bedrooms, he said. Some of the new units have 2 bathrooms, engineer Bryan Ciccocioppo told Stars and Stripes.

All bedrooms in the renovated units are getting ceiling fans, Pruneda said. The kitchens feature an island with a counter for additional cooking space.

Each duplex will gain a second parking space, Binonwangan added.

In addition to Sebille Manor, the engineers over the summer began renovating 130 single homes in Stearley Heights, near Kadenas Gate 2, Pruneda said. Those units, built in the 1950s, are for field grade and noncommissioned officers and will take two years to complete.

Renovations to 200 units at the three North Foster Towers on Camp Foster will be finished sometime in the spring, Ciccocioppo said.

Were building something for the troops that are going to keep this region safe, Ciccocioppo said. Theyre going to have a clean, comfortable place to live, with modern appliances and modern finishes.
From right, Sgt. Theodore Buckley, Pvt. Ramses Ayala, Pfc. Joshua Singleton and Pfc. Ethan Calender convene outside an M-SHORAD vehicle during an exercise at Lest Training Area, Slovakia, Dec. 20, 2023. (Phillip Walter Wellman/Stars and Stripes)

LEST TRAINING AREA, Slovakia  The soldiers of Able Batterys 1st Platoon are more than halfway through a groundbreaking deployment in the Slovak mountains, where theyve had to live with technological challenges, prolonged freezing temperatures and a family of brown bears.

The unit and its two sister platoons, deployed to Poland and Romania, are using the Armys new Maneuver Short-Range Air Defense system, or M-SHORAD, for the first time in active defense missions.

The system is at the heart of efforts to revamp the services short-range air defense capabilities amid growing concerns over competitors like Russia and China, and tactical trends seen in Ukraine and the Middle East.

With the current threats  drones and things enemies are using now  this system is very important, Staff Sgt. Elijah Bentz said at the central Slovakia base where the platoon lives and works. Were here writing the doctrine for it.

Soldiers with 1st Platoon, Able Battery, a unit of the 52nd Air Defense Artillery Brigade, live in shared rooms at Lest Training Area, Slovakia, where they are using the Maneuver Short-Range Air Defense system for the first time in an active defense mission. (Phillip Walter Wellman/Stars and Stripes) A sign the at Lest Training Area, Slovakia, warns residents of a bear that has been roaming the area. (Phillip Walter Wellman/Stars and Stripes)

The platoons home in an austere corner of the base could be mistaken for a camp in the Arctic.

Their shared bedrooms are in a building that looks like a double-decker trailer, with corrugated metal on the exterior walls. A common area with two TVs, a dining area and a gym located in tents is nearby.

A sign in a communal kitchen reminds troops to keep an eye out for wildlife. A brown bear and two cubs have been seen and heard.

You have to be careful out here, said Spc. Nathan Ebert, who operates the Sentinel radar used with the air defense system and who saw the bears while driving back from the Sentinel site a few months ago.

The platoons in Slovakia, Poland and Romania are part of 5th Battalion, 4th Air Defense Artillery Regiment, a subordinate to both the 52nd Air Defense Artillery Brigade and the 10th Army Air and Missile Defense Command, based in Germany.

They protect bases and infrastructure from potential short-range air threats like cruise missiles, drones and other low-flying aircraft.

Pfc. Kaleb Odachowski, left, and Sgt. Orlando Sutherland participate in an M-SHORAD exercise at Lest Training Area, Slovakia, Dec. 20, 2023. (Phillip Walter Wellman/Stars and Stripes)

In Slovakia, the air defenders are guarding a multinational battlegroup. Most of the soldiers pull 24-hour shifts inside their Stryker vehicles about once every four days, during which they monitor radar for incoming threats. There havent been any so far.

On days when theyre not manning the radar, theyre leading efforts to determine how the M-SHORADs can best maneuver with other ground units, a critical aim of the program, platoon leader 2nd Lt. Chris Rosene said.

Were the first ones to work out how to integrate with maneuver forces as we switch back from counterinsurgency to large-scale combat operations, Rosene said. Its a learning experience for everyone out here.

That includes soldiers with the 101st Airborne Division who are also at the base supporting NATO. The platoon has been holding small exercises with the divisions troops.

The idea is that if troops need to move around the battlefield, M-SHORAD crews should be able to move with them and provide cover.

That support is currently lacking.

In the 1990s, every Army division had a short-range air defense battalion to protect it. But by 2017, after years of focusing on counterinsurgency, none of the services active divisions had one, according to the Army.

Efforts are now underway to reestablish 10 SHORAD battalions for each division, the Army said.

At first, theyll operate with older Avenger systems, which consist of Stinger missiles and a .50-caliber machine gun mounted on a Humvee, before eventually receiving the M-SHORADs.

A Maneuver Short-Range Air Defense, or M-SHORAD, system drives through a field at Lest Training Area, Slovakia, Dec. 20, 2023. (Phillip Walter Wellman/Stars and Stripes)

The new systems include Strykers, stinger missiles, a 30 mm cannon, an M240 machine gun and the radar system.

Each deployed platoon has a different mission set. The platoon in Poland, which neighbors Ukraine, is at the highest state of readiness and alert due to their proximity to hostile forces and has been focusing on operations with live missiles, said Capt. Michael N. Archer, Able Batterys commander.

In Romania, the air defenders have specialized in joint data sharing and overlapping coverage with additional systems that counter aerial drones, Archer said.

And in Slovakia, partly because the soldiers are farther from the war in Ukraine and also because of the space available at their base, 1st Platoon is focused on improving maneuverability with partner units.

In a snow-covered field a few minutes drive from where the soldiers live, two M-SHORADs conducted a simulated bounding engagement in late December, with crews taking turns driving forward as if they were providing cover for ground forces.

It was preparation for the largest training yet with 101st Airborne soldiers, slated to be held sometime in January.

Were doing pretty well, Sgt. Theodore Buckley, one of the vehicle commanders, said after disembarking from the machine, explaining that constant communication with his crew and others is necessary.

Gunner Spc. Jason Castro, whose first deployment to NATOs eastern flank was in Lithuania with the Avenger system, said its much easier to move with the eight-wheel-drive, M-SHORAD-equipped Stryker. Others echoed that sentiment.

Soldiers with 1st Platoon, Able Battery, a unit of the 52nd Air Defense Artillery Brigade, train at Lest Training Area, Slovakia, Dec. 20, 2023. (Phillip Walter Wellman/Stars and Stripes)

The soldiers also spoke of issues with the systems software and difficulties adapting to the new technology.

Some of the challenges stemmed from the systems rapid development, with components sourced from various vendors, according to Archer, who said the issues were being worked out with higher headquarters.

There are many more years of training, refinement and improvements required to be able to fully optimize operations to the greatest effect, and our battery has had the privilege to lead the way, Archer said later by email. Its a similar process whenever any major new system is incorporated into the Army, he added.

Despite the hiccups, the consensus among troops working with the platoon was that the system was operating well.

Their upgraded capabilities really add to our deterrence out here in Slovakia, said Capt. Brandon Thaxton, assistant operations officer for the 1st Squadron, 33rd Cavalry Regiment, 3rd Brigade, 101st Airborne.

The high-altitude weather can be relentless, affecting operations and causing blackouts, the soldiers said.

Despite the challenges, morale among the 1st Platoon remains high. Many appeared excited about their work, months into the deployment.

It feels historic, Ebert said with a smile. Its a test for the whole world to see if our system works or not. So far, its been working.
Vehicles move in and out of the construction zone for a Marine Corps runway being built at Camp Schwab in Okinawa, Japan, on Nov. 16. (Matthew M. Burke/Stars and Stripes)

CAMP FOSTER, Okinawa  A Japanese Cabinet minister on Thursday approved the design changes holding up construction on a Marine Corps runway at Camp Schwab, three days after the Okinawa governor ignored a court order to approve the changes himself.

Japanese Minister of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism Tetsuo Saito gave the Okinawa Defense Bureau the go-ahead to start landfill work on Oura Bay, permission Gov. Denny Tamaki repeatedly refused to give for 3 years.

The approval letter was handed that morning to the Okinawa Defense Bureau, a spokesman for the ministrys Water and Disaster Management Bureau told Stars and Stripes by phone Thursday.

A starting date to commence work at the site is not set yet, since it is necessary to observe the weather, a spokesman for the Okinawa Defense Bureau said by phone Thursday. The bureau represents the Ministry of Defense in the prefecture.

The bureau posted its comment on its website Thursday.

We will continue to provide detailed explanations to the local residents and steadily carry out the Henoko relocation work in order to realize the full return of Futenma Air Base as soon as possible, while giving due consideration to the natural environment and the living environment of the residents, the message stated.

Some government officials in Japan may speak to the media only on condition of anonymity.

The runway being built on reclaimed land in Oura Bay in the rural Henoko area of Okinawa is a planned replacement for Marine Corps Air Station Futenma in urban, densely populated Ginowan.

Tamaki on Wednesday appealed the case again to Japans Supreme Court, he said in a statement posted that day on the prefectures website. The court in September ruled against him on nearly the same question.

In his statement, Tamaki criticized the most recent legal opinion Dec. 20 from Fukuoka High Court that handed Saito authority to approve permits for the construction changes over Tamakis head. That ruling, Tamaki said, by allowing new base construction is biased toward the national governments interests and overlooks the true public interests that are the essence of local autonomy and the Okinawan peoples will.

He wrote that the judiciary, along with the national government, has fallen into a fixed mindset that the construction of a Marine runway in Henoko is the only solution to relocating MCAS Futenma.

This fixed mindset on the part of the government is precisely what is delaying the immediate elimination of danger of Futenma Air Station, he wrote.

Tamaki, who opposes the U.S. military presence in Okinawa, in November 2021 denied the pending requests for permits at Schwab but was overruled by Saito, who deemed the governors decision illegal and unreasonable.

Tamaki began a protracted legal battle, filing and losing three suits to block the permits, culminating in the September loss at the Supreme Court.

The Fukuoka High Court, Naha branch, ordered Tamaki to approve the permits by Monday, a deadline Tamaki ignored.

Appealing to the Supreme Court cannot halt the construction. Japans Local Autonomy Act states that the latest decision by the Fukuoka court remains in effect unless the Supreme Court overturns the ruling.

Tamaki argues that the soft seabed in the construction zone poses a hazard and that Tokyo had failed to consider the environmental impact on the endangered dugong, a cousin of the manatee protected by Japanese law.
(Eric B. Pilgrim/Stars and Stripes)

Speyer, Germany, Sept. 14, 2000: Engineers from the Virginia National Guards 1031st Engineer Company put the final touches on one half of the floating bridge before attempting to connect the two pieces. Boats kept each half from floating away while the engineers interlocked all the bays. Members of the 1031st arrived in Germany on Sept. 5 for two weeks of training from the 502nd Engineering Company, an active-duty unit based in Hanau, Germany.
Former airfield buildings are seen in the background at Alter Flugplatz in Frankfurt on Dec. 18, 2023. (Heather Benit/Stars and Stripes)

The Alter Flugplatz Frankfurt is bleak in December, its gray landscape sprawling with naked trees and eerie, abandoned buildings that stand like ghosts of the U.S. militarys past.

After World War II, U.S. forces used the site as a landing strip for small planes and a home for helicopters. Today, the once-noisy airfield is a peaceful place.

Maurice Rose Army Airfield, also known as Bonames Airfield, was closed in 1992 during the post-Cold War drawdown from Germany. Nature has replaced Army helicopters, and the preserved runway is a haven for cyclists and outdoor enthusiasts.

A former guard gate at Alter Flugplatz Frankfurt, as seen Dec. 18, 2023. Following the closure of the U.S. military base at the site, the airfield was transformed into public greenspace. (Heather Benit/Stars and Stripes)

Guard gates remain at the entrance but fell into disuse long ago. The site is open to the public, a gateway to 11 acres of nature paths, military history and an escape from busy city life.

The airfield is about a 35-minute drive from Wiesbaden and 25 minutes from Frankfurts city center.

The conversion from military base to greenspace is part of a broader mission in Germany to transform former U.S. military sites into conservation areas and wildlife habitats.

Informational signs teach children about the nature at Alter Flugplatz in Frankfurt. School groups visit the park as part of its "green classroom" initiative. (Heather Benit/Stars and Stripes) The Nidda River and surrounding parkland are seen at Alter Flugplatz, an abandoned U.S. Army airfield in Frankfurt. The site was transformed into a greenbelt in 2005. (Heather Benit/Stars and Stripes)

Frankfurt took over management of the property in 2003 with the intention of adding it to Germanys celebrated Green Belt, a connection of natural habitats that runs east-west across the country.

The wilderness area is now home to frogs, dragonflies and 100 species of birds, the city says.

The wildlife is quiet in the winter months, with the exception of magpies and the babble of the Nidda River, which separates the green meadows from the former runway. A bridge was built across the river, allowing access from the city to the Green Belt.

Hangars that once housed U.S. military helicopters remain at Alter Flugplatz in Frankfurt, Germany. The former airfield is now a park and event space. (Heather Benit/Stars and Stripes) An old U.S. military flight tower remains at Alter Flugplatz in Frankfurt, Germany. The former airfield is now a park and event space. (Heather Benit/Stars and Stripes) A sign near the entrance of the Alter Flugplatz in Frankfurt directs visitors to the park's buildings, including a former U.S. Army hangar, a museum and a green classroom. The Tower Cafe is now closed. (Heather Benit/Stars and Stripes)

Military infrastructure still stands: hangars near the entrance, an air traffic control tower, the preserved runway, now a smooth surface for bikes.

Activities pick up beginning in May, including environmental education programs for students and summer events like festivals and a bicycle day. Food trucks line up where previously a popular restaurant called the Tower Cafe operated before its closure in 2020 during the pandemic.

The tower at Alter Flugplatz Frankfurt is seen on a summer day. A restaurant used to occupy the space but closed in 2020. (Tower Cafe/Facebook)

A former hangar near the tower houses the Frankfurt Fire Department Museum, which exhibits firefighting artifacts like extinguishers and respirators.

Although the museum and the public facilities at Alter Flugplatz close in the winter months, the site is open all year for hardy outdoor enthusiasts and curious military history buffs.

Control tower and old hangars at Bonames Army Airfield, Germany, in 1962. (Manfred Faber via usarmygermany.com)

A UH-1B Iroquois at Bonames Army Airfield, Germany, in 1967. (Manfred Faber via usarmygermany.com)

A H-19D Chickasaw and a CH-34 Choctaw at Bonames Army Airfield, Germany, in 1962. (Manfred Faber via usarmygermany.com)

Cyclists and runners coming from Frankfurt cross the bridge over the Nidda River on Dec. 18, 2023, to a greenbelt on the site of a former American military base. (Heather Benit/Stars and Stripes)

The runway at the former Maurice Rose Army Airfield, pictured on Dec. 18, 2023, is now the centerpiece of Alter Flugplatz in Frankfurt. In the summer, the old airstrip is crowded with inline skaters, runners and cyclists. (Heather Benit/Stars and Stripes)

This February 1991 article from Stars and Stripes talks about Frankfurt moving to acquire the land that was Maurice Rose Army Airfield. The site became what is today Alter Flugplatz. (Stars and Stripes)

Alter Flugplatz

Address: At Burghof 55, Frankfurt

Hours: Year-round, 24 hours a day. Museum, restrooms and food options closed from October to March.

Price: Free for Alter Flughafen; small entrance fee for Fire Department Museum

Information: Online: tinyurl.com/3mmp99a6
Migrants walk along a highway in Huixtla, Mexico, on Monday, Dec. 25, 2023. (Edgar H. Clemente/AP)

MATAMOROS, Mexico  A ragged migrant tent camp next to the Rio Grande is a long way from Mexicos National Palace, where a U.S. delegation met this week with Mexicos president seeking more action to curb a surge of migrants reaching the U.S. border.

But as Mexican officials in the city of Matamoros dispatched heavy machinery to clear out what they claimed were abandoned tents at the camp, the action was a likely sign of things to come.

The United States has given clear signs, including temporarily closing key border rail crossings into Texas, that it wants Mexico to do more to stop migrants hopping freight cars, buses and trucks to the border.

President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador said he got a worried phone call on Dec. 20 from U.S. President Joe Biden.

He asked, Joe Biden asked to speak with me, he was worried about the situation on the border because of the unprecedented number of migrants arriving at the border, Lopez Obrador said Thursday. He called me, saying we had to look for a solution together.

Mexico, desperate to get the border crossings reopened to its manufactured goods, started to give indications it would crack down a bit. Lopez Obrador said Thursday that Mexico detained more migrants in the week leading up to Christmas than the United States did, with Mexican detentions rising from about 8,000 per day on Dec. 16 to about 9,500 on Dec. 25.

That increased effort appeared to be on display in Matamoros Wednesday as U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken held talks with Lopez Obrador in Mexico City.

Migrants set up the encampment across from Brownsville, Texas in late 2022. It once held as many as 1,500 migrants, but many tents were vacated in recent months as people waded across the river to reach the United States.

What we are doing is removing any tents that we see are empty, Segismundo Doguin, the head of the local office of Mexicos immigration agency, said.

But one Honduran who would give only his first name, Jose, claimed that some of the 200 remaining migrants were practically forced to leave the camp when the clearance operation began late Tuesday.

A convoy of National Guard soldiers pass migrants walking north on the side of the highway in Villa Comaltitlan, Chiapas state, southern Mexico, on Wednesday, Dec. 27, 2023. (Edgar H. Clemente/AP)

They ran us out, he said, explaining that campers were given short notice to move their tents and belongings and felt intimidated by the heavy machinery. You had to run for your life to avoid an accident.

Some migrants moved into a fenced-in area of the encampment where immigration officers said they could relocate, but fear remained.

About 70 migrants flung themselves into the river Tuesday night and crossed into the U.S. They were trapped for hours along the riverbank beneath the layers of concertina wire set up on order of the Texas governor.

Few options exist for the migrants who were asked to leave the encampment, said Glady Canas, founder of a Matamoros-based nongovernmental group, Ayudandoles a Triunfar, or Helping Them Win.

The truth is that the shelters are saturated, Canas said.

She was working at the encampment Wednesday afternoon, encouraging migrants to avoid crossing illegally into the U.S., especially after several drowned in the last few days while attempting to swim the river.

This month, as many as 10,000 migrants were arrested daily on the southwest U.S. border. The U.S. has struggled to process them at the border and house them once they reach northern cities.

Mexican industries were stung last week when the U.S. briefly closed two vital Texas railway crossings, arguing that border patrol agents had to be reassigned to deal with a large number of migrants. A non-rail crossing remained closed at Lukeville, Arizona, and border operations were partially suspended at San Diego and Nogales, Arizona.

Speaking Thursday, Lopez Obrador said the meeting with U.S. officials focused on reopening border crossings.

We have to careful not to close the crossings, we reached that agreement, the rail crossings are being reopened and the border bridges are returning to normal, he said of the meeting with Blinken, U.S. Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas and Homeland Security Advisor Liz Sherwood-Randall.

Migrants cross the Rio Grande river to reach the United States from Ciudad Juarez, Mexico, Wednesday, Dec. 27, 2023. (Christian Chavez/AP)

Mexico already has over 32,000 soldiers and National Guard troopers  about 11% of its total forces  assigned to enforcing immigration laws.

But shortcomings were on display this week when National Guard members made no attempt to stop about 6,000 migrants, many from Central America and Venezuela, from walking through Mexicos main inland immigration inspection point in southern Chiapas state near the Guatemala border.

In the past, Mexico has let such migrant caravans go through, trusting they would tire themselves out walking along the highway.

Lopez Obrador said Thursday the caravan traveling north had been reduced to about 1,600 participants.

But wearing the migrants out  by obliging Venezuelans and others to hike through the jungle of the Darien Gap between Colombia and Panama or corralling passengers off buses in Mexico  no longer appears to work.

So many people have hopped freight trains through Mexico that one of the countrys two major railroads suspended trains in September because of safety concerns.

The Texas railway closures put a chokehold on freight moving from Mexico to the U.S. as well as grain needed to feed Mexican livestock moving south.

Lopez Obrador says he is willing to help but wants the United States to send more development aid to migrants home countries, reduce or eliminate sanctions on Cuba and Venezuela, and start a U.S.-Cuba dialogue.

Edgar H. Clemente in Escuintla, Mexico, and Mark Stevenson in Mexico City contributed to this report.
BEIJING, Dec. 28 (Xinhua) -- Chinese police authorities have offered public rewards for information leading to the arrest of 10 suspects in major drug crimes who are believed to be hiding in northern Myanmar.

The move is meant to curb the infiltration of drugs into the country, and resolutely uproot overseas drug risks that have brought about long-term harm and threat to social stability in China, the Ministry of Public Security said in a statement on Thursday.

The arrest warrants were issued by six city, prefecture or county-level police authorities, respectively.

The police have also urged the fugitives to gain a clear understanding of the situation and voluntarily turn themselves in with a view to receiving lenient penalties.

Members of the public have been encouraged to report relevant clues, and the police have promised cash rewards for those who offer helpful information leading to the arrests.

China has launched campaigns and has been working with other countries in hunting down overseas drug-trafficking fugitives who have smuggled large amount of drugs into China, capturing more than 300 suspects at large so far, according to the ministry. 
Nicolas Maduro, Venezuelas president, speaks during an interview in Caracas on June 13, 2021. (Gaby Oraa/Bloomberg)

Venezuela has decided to deploy more than 5,000 soldiers on its eastern Caribbean coast after neighboring Guyana received a warship from the UK amid a dispute over the Essequibo territory, according to President Nicolas Maduro.

Venezuela has the right to defend itself, to tranquility, to peace, Maduro said Thursday on state TV, while accusing Guyana of violating an agreement signed two weeks ago to continue talks over the oil-rich territory without the use of arms. We do not accept provocations, threats from anything or anyone.

Venezuela made a similar move in 2018 to halt ships working for Exxon Mobil Corp off in the area. Todays actions, which Maduro said were just the first stage of a wider plan, could lead to an escalation of the long-dormant dispute between the neighboring countries over the Essequibo, a region roughly the size of Florida thats controlled by Guyana but claimed by Venezuela since the 19th century.

Venezuelas Navy Commander Neil Villamizar said 5,682 military personnel from several components of Venezuelas armed forces were deployed, along with three ocean patrol vessels, three multipurpose vessels, seven missile boats, eight amphibious vehicles and over 20 fighter planes, including 12 Sukhoi.

While the troops deployed represent roughly 4% of Venezuelas estimated military force, it matches the number of Guyanas estimated combatants. That balance of power could shift if Guyanas allies intervene, according to Rocio San Miguel, an expert in military issues and the president of Caracas-based watchdog group Control Ciudadano.

Earlier this month, the UK reaffirmed its support for Guyana following the renewal of Venezuelas border claim on the Essequibo region.

Following a visit by David Rutley, British Minister for the Americas, Caribbean and Overseas Territories, Britain deployed a Royal Navy warship known as HMS Trent to Guyana to take take part in joint exercises.
Ethnic Rohingya women and children board a truck as they are being relocated from their temporary shelter at the basement of a community hall following a protest rejecting Rohingya refugees in Banda Aceh, Aceh province, Indonesia, Wednesday, Dec. 27, 2023. (Reza Saifullah/AP)

JAKARTA, Indonesia  Indonesias navy said Thursday that it forcibly pushed a boat packed with refugees back to international waters after the vessel approached the shores of Aceh province.

The province that forms part of Sumatra island has seen an increasing number of arriving boats, most carrying Rohingya refugees from southern Bangladesh. Large numbers of Rohingya fled to Bangladesh in 2017 following military attacks on members of the persecuted Muslim minority in their homeland of Myanmar.

The Indonesian navy said a coast guard vessel detected a boat thought to be carrying Rohingya refugees entering Indonesias waters on Wednesday. A helicopter from a navy ship subsequently spotted a wooden vessel nearing Weh island in north Aceh province, the navy said.

The navy ship KRI Bontang-907 located the boat about 72 miles off the Indonesian coast and drove it out, ensuring that the boat did not return to Indonesian waters, the navy said in a statement posted in its website.

Indonesia has appealed to the international community for help and intensified patrols of its waters due to a sharp rise in Rohingya refugees leaving overcrowded camps in Bangladesh since November. Over 1,500 Rohingya have arrived in Aceh and faced some hostility from fellow Muslims.

A mob of students on Wednesday attacked the basement of a local community hall in Banda Aceh, the capital of Aceh province, where about 137 Rohingya were taking shelter.

Footage obtained by The Associated Press showed a large group of refugees, mostly women and children, crying and screaming as a group wearing university green jackets was seen breaking through a police cordon and forcibly putting the Rohingya on the back of two trucks.

The incident drew an outcry from human rights groups and the U.N. refugee agency, which said the attack left the refugees shocked and traumatized.

Indonesia, like Thailand and Malaysia, is not a signatory to the United Nations 1951 Refugee Convention so is not obligated to accept the Rohingya coming from Bangladesh. So far, refugees in distress have received at least temporary accommodations.

Muslims comprise nearly 90% of Indonesias 277 million people, and Indonesia once tolerated such landings, while Thailand and Malaysia pushed refugee boats away. But there has been a surge of anti-Rohingya sentiment this year, especially in Aceh, where residents accuse the Rohingya of poor behavior and creating a burden.

The growing hostility of some Indonesians toward the Rohingya has put pressure on President Joko Widodos government to take action.

This is not an easy issue, this is an issue with enormous challenges, Foreign Minister Retno Marsudi told reporters.

About 740,000 Rohingya were resettled in Bangladesh after fleeing their homes in Myanmar to escape a brutal counterinsurgency campaign by security forces. Accounts of mass rape, murder and the burning of entire villages are well documented, and international courts are considering whether Myanmar authorities committed genocide and other grave human rights abuses.

Efforts to repatriate the Rohingya have failed because of doubts their safety can be assured. The Rohingya are largely denied citizenship rights in Buddhist-majority Myanmar and face widespread social discrimination there.
South Korean soldiers take part in the Integrated Defense Operation in Seoul, South Korea, on Dec. 27, 2023. (South Korea Army)

SUWON, South Korea  Seouls metropolitan government held an urban field exercise this week with the countrys military to prepare for threats against the roughly 10 million residents from North Korean attacks, the South Korean army said.

The one-day Integrated Defense Operation in the capital city Wednesday focused on a wide range of simulated threats, including an aerial drone attack on a water purification plant, a North Korean special operations forces assault and a chlorine gas leak, according to a news release from South Koreas army.

The exercise was held to defend Seoul from terrorist threats from North Korea; further efforts will be made to strengthen our integrated defense posture to protect the lives of the people, South Korean army Col. Choi Won-seok said in the release.

The South Korean army did not disclose how many soldiers and Seoul municipal employees took part in the exercise. Photos released by the army showed soldiers operating in streets and drilling rigs preparing to simulate a rescue of people trapped underground.

South Korean soldiers simulate a rescue of people trapped underground using a drilling rig in Seoul, South Korea, on Dec. 27, 2023. (South Korea Army)

American troops did not participate in the exercise, U.S. Forces Korea spokesman Wesley Hayes said by email Thursday.

The drill comes a day after the year anniversary of a North Korean drone incursion into South Korean airspace. Five North Korean drones flew across the Demilitarized Zone and into Seoul and Gimpo city on Dec. 26, 2022, prompting South Koreas military to scramble fighter jets and helicopters, and ground civilian flights from airports.

None of the drones were captured or shot down, according to the Ministry of National Defense.

On Aug. 23, South Korea held its first national civil defense drill in six years. The 20-minute drill required residents to evacuate to one of 17,000 designated shelters and for cars to stop and pull over to the side of the road.

Other large-scale defense exercises are held annually in densely populated cities in South Korea, such as the Ulchi Exercise in August. Over 580,000 civil and military personnel were activated in the four-day exercise focusing on threats in urban areas, according to the Ministry of Interior and Safety at the time.

North Korean leader Kim Jong Un during a plenary meeting Wednesday ordered civil defense sectors to further accelerate  war preparations due to the grave political and military tension on the Korean Peninsula, the state-run Korean Central News Agency reported the next day.

South Korean army Gen. Kim Seung-kyum, the then-chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, told lawmakers in October that Pyongyang still threatened the safety of Seoul.

Of the over 700 long-range artillery systems in North Koreas arsenal, 300 of them constitute a threat to the Seoul metropolitan area, Kim said during a National Assembly meeting Oct. 12.
Family members of victims react outside the Supreme Court of Korea in Seoul, South Korea, Thursday, Dec. 28, 2023. (Yun Dong-jin/Yonhap via AP)

SEOUL, South Korea  South Koreas top court on Thursday ordered a third Japanese company to compensate some of its former wartime Korean employees for forced labor, the second such ruling in a week.

The South Korean verdict drew quick rebukes from Japan, but observers say its unlikely the ruling will cause any major negative impacts on bilateral relations, as both governments are serious about improving their cooperation in the face of shared challenges like North Koreas nuclear program and Chinas assertiveness.

The Supreme Court ruled that shipbuilder Hitachi Zosen Corp. and heavy equipment manufacturer Mitsubishi Heavy Industries must give between 50 million won (about $39,000) and 150 million won (about $116,000) in compensation to each of the 17 Korean plaintiffs  one of whom is a surviving ex-worker and the rest bereaved relatives.

Mitsubishi and another Japanese company, Nippon Steel, were previously given a similar compensation order by the South Korean court, but it was the first such ruling for Hitachi.

Among the plaintiffs are the surviving victim who suffered a serious burn and the bereaved family of a worker who died during an earthquake in Japan in 1944, when they worked for Mitsubishis aircraft-making factory in Nagoya. Others include the relatives of late Mitsubishi workers who were injured during the U.S. atomic bombing of Hiroshima and another wartime event, according to a court press release.

A ruling in favor of Korean plaintiffs was widely expected because the Supreme Court in two separate rulings in 2018 ordered Mitsubishi and Nippon Steel to compensate some of their former Korean employees, saying they were forced to provide their labors to the companies when the Korean Peninsula was colonized by Japan from 1910-45.

On Dec. 21, the top court again ordered Mitsubishi and Nippon Steel to provide compensation to other Koreans for similar colonial-era forced labor.

Japans Foreign Ministry responded by summoning a senior South Korean diplomat in Japan to lodge a formal protest. In the meeting, Hiroyuki Namazu, director-general for the Japanese Foreign Ministrys Asian and Oceanian Affairs Bureau, called the latest South Korean ruling extremely regrettable and absolutely unacceptable, according to the Japanese ministry.

Namazu maintained Japans long-held position that all compensation issues between the two countries were settled when they normalized ties in 1965.

The South Korean rulings in 2018 and this month argued that the treaty cant prevent individuals from seeking compensation for forced labor because Japanese companies use of such laborers were acts of illegality against humanity that were linked to Tokyos illegal colonial occupation and its war of aggression.

The 2018 rulings plunged bilateral ties to one of their lowest ebbs in decades. Japan imposed export restrictions on key items, while South Korea threatened to terminate a military intelligence-sharing pact with Japan. But their ties began improving significantly in 2023 after South Koreas government, now led by conservative President Yoon Suk Yeol, established a domestic fund to compensate forced labor victims without demanding Japanese contributions.

Eleven of the 15 former forced laborers or their bereaved families involved in the 2018 rulings had accepted compensation under Seouls third-party reimbursement plan, but the remaining four refuse to accept it. Lim Soosuk, spokesperson of South Koreas Foreign Ministry, said the government would seek to provide compensation to the Korean plaintiffs related to Thursdays ruling through the third-party reimbursement system as well.

Associated Press writer Mari Yamaguchi in Tokyo contributed to this report.
A service member died at a U.S. military base in Japan, and another was seriously injured over the Christmas holiday, according to military spokespeople.

Airman 1st Class Isabella M. Garcia, 20, stationed at Kadena Air Base on Okinawa, died Monday, 1st Lt. Alvin Nelson told Stars and Stripes by email Thursday. He provided no further information.

Details surrounding the incident are under investigation, Nelson said.

We are deeply saddened at the loss of Airman First Class Garcia, 18th Wing Commander Col. Nicholas Evans said by email Thursday.

We are focused on supporting her family, coworkers and other individuals impacted by this tragedy, Evans said. We encourage all members of Team Kadena to continue to look after one another over this holiday season and to reach out to our team of professional helping agencies if you are in need.

At Yokosuka Naval Base, south of Tokyo, an unidentified sailor aboard the guided-missile destroyer USS Ralph Johnson was wounded Sunday in what a 7th Fleet spokeswoman said was a shooting incident.

The sailor was in critical condition Thursday at a local Japanese hospital, spokeswoman Lt. Kristina Wiedemann told Stars and Stripes that day.

No additional information was available, Wiedemann said.
Belarus' President Alexander Lukashenko, left, and Russian President Vladimir Putin shake hands during an event in Minsk, Belarus, on Nov. 23, 2023. (Konstantin Zavrazhin, Sputnik, Kremlin Pool via AP)

TALLINN, Estonia  Belarus authoritarian president on Thursday attended a government-organized meeting with children brought from Russia-controlled areas of Ukraine, openly defying an international outrage over his countrys involvement in Moscows deportation of Ukrainian children.

Speaking at the event marking the arrival of a new group of Ukrainian children ahead of the New Year holiday, President Alexander Lukashenko vowed to embrace these children, bring them to our home, keep them warm and make their childhood happier.

Belarusian officials did not say how many Ukrainian children were brought into the country.

A recent study by Yale University has found that more than 2,400 Ukrainian children aged 6-17 have been brought to Belarus from four Ukrainian regions that have been partially occupied by Russian forces. The Belarusian opposition has urged the International Criminal Court to hold Lukashenko and his officials accountable for their involvement in the illegal transfer of Ukrainian children.

Pavel Latushka, a former Belarusian culture minister turned opposition activist who has presented the ICC with evidence of Lukashenkos alleged involvement in the unlawful deportation of the children, said the arrival of a new group from Russia-occupied territories underlines the need for the ICC to investigate those crimes.

Lukashenko, his family members and associates together with the Kremlin have organized a system of transfer of Ukrainian children, including orphans, from the occupied territories to Belarus, and this channel is still working, Latushka told The Associated Press.

In March, the ICC issued arrest warrants for both Russian President Vladimir Putin and his childrens rights commissioner, Maria Lvova-Belova, accusing them of the war crimes of unlawful deportation of children and unlawful transfer of children from occupied areas of Ukraine to Russia. Moscow has rejected the allegations.

Ukraines human rights ombudsman Dmytro Lubinets said in televised remarks Thursday that the transfer of thousands of Ukrainian children to Belarus helped Moscow cover up the information about the unlawful deportation of children.

Earlier this month, the International Red Cross suspended the organizations Belarusian chapter after its chief, Dzmitry Shautsou, stirred international outrage for boasting that it was actively ferrying Ukrainian children from Russian-controlled areas to Belarus.

Shautsou called the move absolutely politicized, claiming that Ukrainian children who visited Belarus for health improvement returned home safely.

Belarus has been Moscows closest ally since the Russian invasion of Ukraine began in February 2022, when Lukashenko allowed the Kremlin to use his countrys territory to invade Ukraine. Russia has also deployed some of its tactical nuclear weapons in Belarus.
Sheik Naim Kassem, Hezbollah's deputy leader speaks during a memorial of a Hezbollah fighter who killed few days ago in South Lebanon by an Israeli airstrike, in Beirut, Lebanon, Thursday, Dec. 28, 2023. (Hussein Malla/AP)

TEL AVIV, Israel  Israeli officials are stepping up threats against the Lebanese militant group Hezbollah, warning that Israel is running out of patience as the two sides continue to trade fire along Israels volatile northern border.

Benny Gantz, a member of Israels War Cabinet, said Wednesday that if the international community and the Lebanese government dont restrain Hezbollah, Israel will. Israels army chief, Lt. Gen. Herzi Halevi, said the military is in a state of high readiness and has approved plans in case it decides to open a second front in the north.

The fighting along Israels northern border broke out when Hezbollah began firing rockets shortly after the Oct. 7 cross-border attack by Hamas triggered the war in Gaza.

While at a lower intensity than the battle in Gaza, the simultaneous fighting has caused destruction, displacement and death on both sides and raised fears of a wider regional war.

Here is a look at the battle between Israel and Hezbollah:

WHAT DOES THE FIGHTING INVOLVE?

Hezbollah fighters have been attacking Israeli posts and villages along the border, and the group has launched rockets and drones toward Israeli targets. Israeli tanks, artillery and aircraft have been striking areas on the Lebanese side of the border. The fighting has been mostly brief, but almost daily.

The Israeli military says more than 1,700 rockets have been fired from Lebanon toward Israel, killing 15 Israelis, including nine soldiers, and injuring more than 150 people.

Israel has evacuated about 60,000 people from more than 40 northern communities, including the main city of Kiryat Shemona, which has 22,000 residents. Israeli media outlets have aired footage of battered homes and barren communities, with Israeli soldiers guarding empty streets.

On the Lebanese side, around 74,500 people have been displaced by the fighting, according to the International Organization for Migration.

Nearly 160 people have been killed by Israeli airstrikes and shelling in Lebanon, according to an Associated Press tally. Most of those were fighters with Hezbollah and allied groups, but at least 19 civilians have also been killed, including journalists and children.

Human rights groups and local officials have also accused Israel of hitting Lebanese border areas with shells containing white phosphorus, a controversial incendiary munition. The strikes have burned hundreds of hectares (acres) of farm and woodland and injured civilians. Israel says all its actions conform with international law.

WHY ARE THEY FIGHTING?

Israel and Iran-backed Hezbollah are longtime bitter enemies, dating back to Israels occupation of parts of south Lebanon from 1982 to 2000.

After Hezbollah fighters ambushed an Israeli patrol in 2006 and took two Israeli soldiers hostage, the sides fought a vicious monthlong war that ended in a draw  but not before Israeli bombardment wreaked widespread destruction in southern Lebanon and parts of Beirut.

The border area had largely been quiet since that war, aside from sparse skirmishes and sporadic tensions. Israel estimates that Hezbollah has some 150,000 rockets and missiles in its arsenal, many of which can strike virtually anywhere in Israel, including the economic capital, Tel Aviv.

Hezbollah says its attacks aim to ease pressure on the Gaza Strip, where Israel is fighting an unprecedented ground, air and sea offensive meant to topple Hamas and return some 129 people held captive in the territory.

THE IRAN CONNECTION

Although there has been no proof that Iran, Israels archenemy, ordered the Oct. 7 attack, its fingerprints have been visible throughout the ensuing conflict.

In addition to Irans support for Hamas and Hezbollah, Iran-backed groups in Yemen, Syria and Iraq have launched attacks on Israel and its allies in support of Hamas.

In the Red Sea, attacks by Houthi rebels in Yemen against ships they believe to be connected to Israel have disrupted trade and prompted the launch of a U.S.-led multinational naval operation to protect shipping routes.

Iran-backed militias in Iraq have also launched dozens of attacks on bases housing U.S. troops in Iraq and Syria, which they have said are in retaliation for Washingtons support of Israel.

And on Monday, Iranian state media blamed Israel for a strike on a Damascus neighborhood that killed a high-ranking Iranian general.

Amos Harel, a military commentator for the daily Haaretz newspaper, wrote Wednesday that the generals killing was a message to Iran that it can no longer enjoy immunity while its proxies attack Israel.

It also brings us closer to the possibility of a growing escalation against Hezbollah, and even against the Iranians, on the northern front, he wrote.

WHAT IS HEZBOLLAHS ROLE?

Hezbollahs leader, Hassan Nasrallah, faces a risky balancing act.

Joining Hamas would risk dragging Lebanon  beset by economic calamity and internal political tensions  into a conflict it can ill afford, fueling domestic opposition to the group. The World Bank has already said the clashes are likely to harm Lebanons economy.

Lebanon is in the fourth year of a crippling economic crisis and is bitterly divided between Hezbollah and its allies and opponents, paralyzing the political system.

But staying entirely on the sidelines as Israeli troops battle in the Gaza Strip could compromise Hezbollahs credibility, and a Hamas defeat would be a blow to Iran.

Hezbollah has been careful to limit its attacks on Israel, while keeping open the threat of a broader escalation.

If Israel goes too far, we will retaliate twice as much, Hezbollahs deputy leader, Sheikh Naim Kassem, said Thursday. We will not fear either Israeli or American threats or intimidation.

A NEW FRONT FOR ISRAEL?

With its soldiers bogged down in Gaza, Israel has mostly sought to limit the fighting in its north. Hezbollahs military capabilities are far superior to those of Hamas.

Still, Israeli officials are increasingly warning that the country is prepared to expand the fighting and that Hezbollah should be prepared to pay a price for the damage it has wrought over the past three months.

Israel already has bolstered forces in the north and could well turn its sights on Hezbollah once it scales down or wraps up the war in Gaza.

Israels top ally, the U.S, which has sent military reinforcements to the region, says it prefers to see a negotiated solution to the mounting tensions rather than a second war front.

Israel also wants Hezbollah to abide by a 2006 U.N. cease-fire agreement that states the border area in southern Lebanon must be free of any armed personnel, assets and weapons other than Lebanese government forces and U.N. peacekeepers. Under the resolution, Hezbollah should not have military presence in the border region.

Lebanon, meanwhile, argues that Israel violates the resolution with its air forces frequent entry into Lebanese airspace and by its presence in Chebaa Farms, a disputed area along the countrys border with the Golan Heights, an area seized by Israel from Syria in 1967.

Israeli Foreign Minister Eli Cohen said Wednesday that Hezbollah must respect the 2006 cease-fire. Otherwise, he warned, Nasrallah must understand that hes next.

Sewell reported from Beirut. Associated Press Writer Melanie Lidman in Jerusalem contributed to this report.
Gen. Hossein Salami, the head of Iran's paramilitary Revolutionary Guard speaks in Tehran, Iran, on Thursday, Dec. 28, 2023, during a funeral service for Seyed Razi Mousavi, a high ranking general of the guard, killed in an airstrike in Syria on Monday and whose face is seen on a large banner behind Salami. (Vahid Salemi/AP)

TEHRAN, Iran  Iran held a funeral Thursday for a high-ranking general of the paramilitary Revolutionary Guard who was killed by an alleged Israeli airstrike in Syria.

Hundreds of mourners accompanied the flag-draped casket of Gen. Razi Mousavi from a central square of Tehran to a shrine in the north of the city where he was buried.

The head of the Guard, Gen. Hossein Salami, praised Mousavi and vowed his death would be avenged.

We will never keep silent in the face of martyrdom of the sons of this nation, Salami said. Our revenge will be tough as always, but a revenge that could compensate for the martyrdom of Seyed Razi is nothing but the removal of Israel from the face of existence.

Iran does not recognize Israel and occasionally calls for destruction of the Jewish state.

Mourners in Tehran, Iran, on Thursday, Dec. 28, 2023, attend the funeral ceremony of Seyed Razi Mousavi, a high ranking Iranian general of Irans paramilitary Revolutionary Guard, shown in posters. (Vahid Salemi/AP)

Salami described Mousavi as a close companion of Gen. Qassim Soleimani, the head of Irans elite Quds Force, who was killed by a U.S. drone strike in Iraq in January 2020. He said Iran also would avenge Soleimanis death and that Hamas Oct. 7 attacks in southern Israel that triggered the war in Gaza were an unrelated and independent action.

I officially announce that the Al-Aqsa Storm was and is fully Palestinian. Palestine is capable on its own, the general said.

The crowd chanted, No compromise! No surrender! Battle with America!

Israel views Iran as its greatest threat because of Tehrans disputed nuclear program and its support for regional militant groups like Hamas, Lebanons Hezbollah and the Houthi rebels in Yemen who have targeted international shipping in what they portray as a blockade of Israel.

Iran insists its regional allies act independently.

Mourners in Tehran, Iran, Thursday, Dec. 28, 2023, carry the flag-draped coffin of Seyed Razi Mousavi, a high ranking Iranian general of the paramilitary Revolutionary Guard, who was killed in an airstrike in Syria on Monday. (Vahid Salemi/AP)

Earlier Thursday, Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei prayed before Mousavis casket, state TV footage showed. Khamenei offered condolences to family of the general and a group of ranking officials who were present in the prayer.

The killing of the general, a longtime adviser of the Guard in Syria, comes amid ongoing fears of the Israel-Hamas war broadening into a regional conflict. Iran-backed groups in Yemen, Lebanon, Syria and Iraq have launched attacks on Israel and its allies in support of Hamas.

In recent years, Israel has carried out hundreds of strikes on targets inside government-controlled parts of Syria. It occasionally says its targeting Iran-backed groups that have backed President Bashar Assads government. Iran said an Israeli strike earlier this month killed two of its generals.
BRASILIA, Dec. 27 (Xinhua) -- Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva signed a decree on Tuesday establishing the National Cybersecurity Policy (PNCiber) to promote national security related to cyber or virtual reality.

According to the decree published in the Official Gazette, the National Cybersecurity Committee (CNCiber) holds the responsibility of proposing updates to both the PNCiber and its mechanisms, including the National Cybersecurity Strategy and the National Cybersecurity Plan.

CNCiber will also be in charge of suggesting collaboration strategies for international technical cooperation on cybercrime.

"The PNCiber is a proposal aimed at unifying the existing regulatory mosaic, minimizing the growing number of incidents that affect the country, which cause huge losses for Brazilian society," the decree said.

The policy will include the adoption of regulatory measures and oversight mechanisms to promote cybersecurity in the country, as well as the development of national products, services and technologies oriented toward cybersecurity.

Another objective of the policy is to promote action in cyberspace, especially in relation to children and adolescents, in addition to propping up cybersecurity technical and professional training in the country. 
Photographs posted by journalist Plestia Alaqad on Instagram show what her life was like before the Israel-Gaza war began on Oct. 7. (Plestia Alaqad)

Before the war, Plestia Alaqad didnt think much about her Instagram feed. She posted a few photos of herself next to the Mediterranean, holding her friends son, petting her dog, Luki. She uploaded a photo sitting in a cafe (Happy and carefree era, the caption read) and from an early- morning bike ride (Catch sunrises, not feelings).

When she imagined her future as a journalist, which was constantly, she thought about ways to bring the worlds attention to the Gaza she loved. But there was no rush. She was 21. There was time to figure out her career.

Then she woke up on Oct. 7. On her phone, she scrolled through news stories and posts about Hamass attack in southern Israel.

She considered how Israel might react, and what she should do next. She had graduated with a degree in new media and journalism in Cyprus a few months earlier. On Oct. 8, she was meant to start a job as a content creator for a Palestinian nongovernmental organization.

Instead, Plestia began wandering the streets of Gaza and recording what she saw, posting videos and photos to Instagram and TikTok. She had about 3,700 followers on Instagram then, many of them friends and family members. On Oct. 9, she recorded a video as she walked through her building, showing how families were sheltering away from the windows. Then an enormous blast went off, sending a plume of dust and smoke into the air.

After Plestia Alaqad posted about injured children at al-Quds Hospital, family members were able to find them. (Plestia Alaqad)

I was trying to explain things, but I think you can hear them now, she says in the video.

And then: Ill go check on my parents.

The worlds attention turned to Gaza during the early days of the war. But Israels blockade made it impossible for foreign journalists to enter. Palestinian reporters and photographers have been providing the only window into the carnage.

All of a sudden, Plestia was one of the few young reporters documenting the biggest story in the world.

On Oct. 9, she and her family fled their home in Gaza City and began sheltering in a hospital. The next day, she recorded a video as she went to check on what was left of their building.

The street was covered in debris. She walked past ruined buildings before arriving at her own front door. Inside, she turned her camera to show the rubble. And then she tried to find a way to preserve some hope for her followers, and for herself.

Its important to clarify that my house was not completely bombed, she says in the video. It can be fixed.

But not long after, she and her family fled Gaza City, heeding warnings from the Israel Defense Forces.

Alaqad posted photos of children who had been brought to the emergency room of al-Quds Hospital and asked for people to help find their parents. (Plestia Alaqad)

Her uncle in the United Arab Emirates managed to get through to Plestias mother over the phone. He wanted to check on the family  but also to tell Plestia that her video had gone viral. She now had half a million Instagram followers.

In her videos, Plestia was soon wearing a blue helmet and a protective vest that said Press, which she had borrowed from a local media organization. She was no longer only recording her own life, but documenting scenes of destruction and heroism from across Gaza.

She began driving around with two other journalists who filmed what they saw: 10-story buildings whose top floors had crumpled like newsprint; wounded children whose parents were missing (If you know who they are or you are their parents, they are in the hospital, she wrote).

Can you imagine that I lived my whole life here in Gaza and I cant even recognize the streets right now? she says in a video posted on Oct. 13.

By then, she was getting hundreds of thousands of new followers a day.

But there were also things she didnt post. As more journalists were killed and as her profile rose, some of Plestias friends asked her to delete photos she had uploaded of them from before Oct. 7. She started to worry that if she was targeted, her family might be killed, too.

Should I go back to where my family is, or should I stay away from them? Am I being selfish? she began to ask herself, she told The Washington Post in an interview.

At the end of each day, her colleagues dropped her off at a cousins house where she and her family had sought shelter. She slept on a mattress on the floor. Her mother tried to cautiously talk her into staying inside.

How about you take a break, she would say.

When Plestia was growing up in Gaza, her mother, Rana, was constantly trying to shield her daughter from the horrors that sometimes descended on the strip.

When there was bombing, her mother would say, Its far away even if it wasnt. Sometimes, when airstrikes began, her mom would insist that it was just a thunderstorm.

Mostly, that strategy worked. Plestia loved growing up in Gaza. She modeled traditional Palestinian dresses and taught classes to other Palestinians at the Press House. She filled piles of notebooks with poems and diary entries.

As the Israeli military campaign wore on, Plestias work continued. She filmed people baking bread on the floor of their homes after Gazas bakeries were bombed. She walked into an area where Palestinians were seeking refuge and a group of children rushed to hug her.

A few weeks into the war, she had more than 2 million followers, then 3 million. She considered the responsibility that came with that audience. But she was exhausted, barely sleeping, increasingly certain that she would be killed. People began recognizing her in the streets and asking her to tell their stories.

One night, she walked into a hospital and saw a woman who had lost three of her limbs. Only one of her hands remained. Plestia introduced herself and explained that she wanted to document the womans injuries.

Oh, I follow you, the woman said.

Sometimes she would flick through her own Instagram feed and it felt like she was looking into a strangers life. There was no sign of the Gaza she had known before the invasion.

On Nov. 11, she wrote: Most of my memories in Gaza are gone. My favorite restaurants, cafes, and stores all gone. Most of my friends houses all gone as well. For my house, Im not sure if its partially demolished or if all of it is gone by now.

She tried to restore some balance to the version of Gaza she was documenting. She posted a video of a woman who had evacuated with three birds and two tiny turtles, one of whom she had named Plestia.

Plestias aim was to share a more intimate glimpse into Gazan life. But the number of casualties soared. By early November, about 10,000 people had been killed, according to the Gaza Health Ministry.

It was at around that time that Plestia learned her uncle had secured visas for the family in Australia.

Once her name was placed on a list at the Rafah crossing, they would need to leave in 12 hours. Did she even have a choice?

I felt guilty. Why do I get to leave and others dont? she told The Post. Why is it only people with passports or relatives abroad that can escape a war zone?

She thought about her mission to document Gaza, about leaving that mission behind.

But I decided I would feel more guilty if my family was killed because I decided to stay.

So she crossed into Egypt.

A few days later, she was in southeastern Australia.

For the first few days, it was difficult to look at the news. The chasm between the tranquility of her uncles house in Australia and the devastation in Gaza was too much to bear.

But she needed to know what was happening. So she turned on her phone and began to scroll through the Instagram photos of those who had stayed behind.
Master Sgt. Nicholas Van Pelt of the North Dakota Air National Guard was killed in a shooting at his apartment on Christmas Eve. (Facebook)

A member of the North Dakota Air National Guard was shot dead Christmas Eve, and a Homeland Security officer was arrested in the incident, the Guard and North Dakota media reported.

A National Guard statement said Master Sgt. Nicholas Van Pelt, of the 219th Security Forces Squadron, died after a shooting at his apartment in Minot, N.D.

The Minot Daily News said an unidentified woman was critically wounded. The news outlet said Homeland Security officer Daniel Breijo was arrested and charged with felony murder and felony attempted murder.

All judges in the district recused themselves because they knew the victims and the alleged assailant.

Our deepest sympathies go out to Master Sgt. Van Pelts family in this time of sorrow as we too mourn the loss of one of our own members, said 119th Wing commander Col. Mitch Johnson.

Van Pelt, a native of Ringold, Ga., enlisted in the Air Force in 2001. He became a member of the North Dakota Air National Guard in 2009, where he served with the 219th Security Forces Squadron at Minot Air Force Base.

Van Pelt served as a Ward County Sheriffs Deputy until May 2023, when he transitioned to serving full-time with the 219th. He is survived by his three children and parents.
Fast-food restaurants dot a road near a hospital in New Albany, Ind. (Jahi Chikwendiu/The Washington Post)

The commissioner of the Food and Drug Administration had an urgent message last winter for his colleagues, brandishing data that life expectancy in the United States had fallen again  the biggest two-year decline in a century.

Robert Califfs warning, summarized by three people with knowledge of the conversations, boiled down to this:

Americans life expectancy is going the wrong way. Were the top health officials in the country. If we dont fix this, who will?

A year after Califfs dire warnings, Americans life expectancy decline remains a pressing public health problem  but not a political priority.

President Biden has not mentioned it in his remarks, according to a review of public statements; his Republican challengers have scarcely invoked it, either. In a survey of all 100 sitting senators, fewer than half acknowledged it was a public health problem. While recent federal data suggests that life expectancy ticked up in 2022, a partial rebound from the ravages of the coronavirus pandemic, no national strategy exists to reverse a years-long slide that has left the United States trailing peers, such as Canada and Germany, and rivals, such as China.

I wish that life expectancy or health span were a fundamental political issue in the 2024 presidential campaign, said Dave A. Chokshi, a physician and public health professor who formerly served as health commissioner of New York. Were not living the healthiest lives that we possibly could.

The Washington Post spoke with more than 100 public health experts, lawmakers and senior health officials, including 29 across the past three presidential administrations, who described the challenges of attempting to turn around the nations declining life expectancy. Those challenges include siloed operations that make it hard for public and private-sector officials to coordinate their efforts, a health-care payment system that does not reward preventive care and White House turnover that can interrupt national strategies.

Many suggested the nation needed an effort that would transcend political administrations and inspire decades of commitment, with some comparing the goal of improving life expectancy to the United States original moonshot.

Were no longer an America that talks about building a national highway system or sending a man to the moon, and yet its that kind of reach and ambition that we need to have to tackle the declining longevity problem, said Sen. Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.).

Experts, officials and lawmakers acknowledged that a political pledge to reverse the nations life expectancy slide could quickly backfire, given the need to focus on long-term goals that might not be reflected in short-term progress reports. A politician attempting to improve life expectancy could be out of office by the time improvements were detected.

Politicians, in general, havent wanted to engage on this because it feels kind of squishy and the solutions dont seem clear, said Ashish Jha, the dean of Brown Universitys public health school who this year stepped down as the White Houses coordinator of the national covid response.

In an interview, Califf confirmed hed urged colleagues in so many meetings to take action on Americas eroding life expectancy.

The trend is quite alarming, the FDA commissioner said, sitting in his office in White Oak, Md., where he oversees the nearly $7 billion agency that regulates drugs, food and other common products used by Americans. All of the leaders within the [Department of Health and Human Services] Ive talked with about this.

White House officials said the president and his team were focused on combating the drivers of life expectancy declines, pointing to efforts to reduce drug overdoses, create an office to prevent gun violence and other initiatives. A senior health official in the Biden administration said pledging to improve life expectancy itself would have to be viewed as something for a legacy.

Maybe a second-term priority for Biden, said the official, who spoke on the condition of anonymity to speak frankly about internal White House operations.

No single reason explains why Americas life expectancy has declined, with chronic disease, poor nutrition, insufficient access to care and political decisions all linked to premature deaths. There also is no single strategy to turn it around  and no agreement on how to do it. Some public health leaders and policymakers have called for sweeping reforms to how the health-care system operates, while others home in on discrete factors such as lethal drug overdoses, which have spiked in recent years and received considerable attention but are not solely responsible for the decline in life expectancy.

The paralysis over how to address the nations declining life expectancy extends to Congress, where a handful of lawmakers  mostly Democrats  have repeatedly portrayed the slide as a crisis, but most other lawmakers have said little or nothing.

We dont talk about life expectancy, because it just makes it clear what kind of failed system we currently have, said Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.), who has repeatedly warned about the rise in premature deaths, including organizing a July 2021 Senate hearing on the issue. Just 11 of the panels 18 senators attended, several only briefly; just five asked questions.

I talk to other senators about life expectancy data and watch their eyes glaze over, Warren said.

The Post submitted questions about life expectancy to all 100 sitting senators, sending emails, placing calls and making visits to their offices. Forty-eight senators  including 35 Democrats, 11 Republicans and two Independents  said they agreed that declining life expectancy was a problem. Many of those lawmakers pointed to their own legislation intended to combat opioid misuse and address conditions such as cancer and other factors linked to causes of premature death. All told, the 48 senators cited more than 130 separate bills focused on health-care issues.

Despite the flurry of legislation, the nations progress on life expectancy has stalled, with the United States increasingly falling behind other nations well before the pandemic. No senator has crafted a bill specifically intended to improve life expectancy or create goals for health leaders to reach.

Lawmakers have also worked at cross purposes, with Republicans fighting Democrats efforts to enact legislation linked to gains in life expectancy, including efforts to expand access to health coverage and curb access to guns. Sen. John Neely Kennedy (R-La.), whose state had the third-worst life expectancy in 2020, about 73 years, recently suggested that life expectancy would even go up for young Americans.

I mean, the life expectancy of the average American right now is about 77 years old. For people who are in their 20s, their life expectancy will probably be 85 to 90, Kennedy said on Fox News Sunday in March. His office did not respond to requests for comment.

Other Republican senators or their staff suggested they did not have a view on the issue because the senator did not sit on a relevant committee.

Sen. Jerry Moran (R-Kan.) has no jurisdiction over this issue, his office wrote in response to questions about whether Moran had views on declining life expectancy. Moran, who sits on the Senate panel that determines funding for health agencies, has cast votes on numerous health-care matters, including repeatedly voting to repeal the Affordable Care Act.

In the absence of national solutions, some officials pointed to local efforts such as a new initiative in New York, which has repeatedly pioneered public health improvements later copied across the country. City leaders in November pledged to raise New Yorkers life expectancy to a record 83 years, saying a coordinated approach could prevent premature deaths. Ashwin Vasan, the citys health commissioner, testified in front of the city council, urging members to pass a law requiring the citys health commissioner  including his successors  to work toward shared public health goals.

This is a test for government. And I really am hopeful that New York City can pass that test, Vasan said after his testimony, standing outside New Yorks city hall.

Further and further behind

Life expectancy in the United States was once a source of national pride  a reflection of civic improvements, medical advances and other investments that set the nation apart from other countries.

The future of human longevity, especially for Americans, seems bright indeed, then-Sen. Larry Craig (R-Idaho) proclaimed at a 2003 congressional hearing, where expert witnesses listed scientific and technological breakthroughs that they expected would soon push U.S. life expectancy past 80 years.

But even the most optimistic expert at the panel warned that Americas prospects could dim. James Vaupel, director of the Max Planck Institute for Demographic Research, urged federal officials to immediately prioritize a real mystery: the emerging international gap in life expectancy.

The United States is doing so well on so many fronts, but its falling further and further behind on this critically important [measure], life itself, Vaupel warned the Senate panel, imploring officials to really start worrying about this.

It would take about a decade before Vaupels warning was heeded. Policymakers instead were focused on a more urgent political priority related to life expectancy: the growing cost of having so many older Americans seeking services through programs such as Medicare and Social Security.

So when the Obama administration and congressional Democrats hammered out legislation that would become the Affordable Care Act  the sweeping 2010 law that expanded health coverage to millions of Americans and made other changes to the health system  there was little fear life expectancy would decline.

Bob Kocher, a venture capitalist who worked in the Obama White House as a health-care and economic aide, said one reason the crafters of the Affordable Care Act were so intent on bending the curve on health spending was our belief that life expectancy was going to keep going up for the foreseeable future.

By 2013, public health experts had begun issuing more prominent warnings about life expectancy, pointing to the rising number of opioid overdoses, suicides and other preventable deaths. Senior officials across the Obama, Trump and Biden administrations said they were aware of those concerns but that their focus was on improving discrete factors linked to life expectancy, not on the overall number.

Every meeting at the VA was about life expectancy, but I cant tell you we put charts on the wall of whats the life expectancy of a veteran, said Robert A. McDonald, secretary of veterans affairs under President Barack Obama.

The nations current top health official, Health and Human Services Secretary Xavier Becerra, told The Post hes acutely aware of the life expectancy decline, calling it the byproduct of some very serious problems such as gun violence and drug overdoses. But he downplayed the need for a national strategy, saying there was no reason to declare a public health emergency as he has done with the coronavirus and opioid deaths, adding his agency lacked the power to reverse the trend.

We are so disjointed as a health system in the country, Becerra said, suggesting that the responsibility to address life expectancy fell on many of us, including state health directors.

While Biden hasnt directly addressed declining life expectancy, some of his rivals have invoked it on the campaign trail.

We used to think that life expectancy was just going to keep going up, and thats just not been the case, Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis (R) said in a CNBC interview in August, linking the decline to the pandemic, drug overdoses and other causes that began years ago. The DeSantis campaign did not respond to a request for comment about how the Florida governor would reverse the trend if elected president.

If we had regulatory agencies that were actually interested in looking at data, we would be trying to figure out why the all-cause mortality [for Americans] has increased, Robert F. Kennedy Jr., running as an independent in the 2024 campaign, said in an interview with The Post this summer. These arent covid deaths.

Political commentator Matthew Yglesias has repeatedly urged politicians to focus on life expectancy, saying that Americas decline reveals systemic problems that leave the country at risk. Tackling Americas weirdly short life expectancy should be a priority, Yglesias wrote in one 2022 post.

Although Yglesias has fans within the Biden administration who have sought his counsel after he has written about traffic safety and crime, his appeals on life expectancy havent led to similar invitations.

I think it winds up being a harder topic for politicians to get their heads around, he said, noting the array of factors that span agencies and administrations.

Califf said hes keenly aware of his agencys limits when confronting life expectancy.

FDA is one of the nations most powerful regulatory bodies  its staff often tout that they oversee about 20 cents of every dollar spent by U.S. consumers  and Califf is pursuing initiatives, such as banning menthol cigarettes and improving access to generic drugs, that fall in his agencys purview. But FDA cant control how hospitals and doctors get paid. It cant craft legislation, such as curbing access to firearms.

The highest cause of death in children is guns. Thats a fact, Califf said. Thats not something FDA can do something about.

Its a hard sell

In Congress, a handful of members have insisted that lawmakers must focus on life expectancy, saying its a core responsibility.

Sometimes, we may, in the midst of our work, lose sight of the big picture . . . to create a nation in which the people in the United States can live long, healthy, happy and productive life, Sanders said at the 2021 Senate hearing he convened on lagging life expectancy.

There is a notable partisan split in how members of Congress view life expectancy and whether they say urgent action is needed. Just 11 of the Senates 49 Republicans told The Post they believed that declining life expectancy was a public health problem.

The lawmakers who portray the recent decline as a crisis are often Democrats from states with the highest life expectancy  such as Massachusetts (79 years in 2020, according to federal data) and Vermont (78.8 years). Meanwhile, GOP lawmakers representing some of the states with the lowest life expectancy  Mississippi (71.9 years), West Virginia (72.8 years) and Kentucky (73.5 years)  declined to comment or did not respond to repeated questions about whether the issue represents a public health problem.

Its a hard sell with senators who live in some of the lowest longevity states. And it breaks my heart, Warren said.

A further complication: Senators concerned about declining life expectancy offer radically different prescriptions for fixing it.

Alabama Sen. Tommy Tuberville  one of the few Republicans whose office said he was deeply concerned about this trend  linked Americas decline to drug overdoses, suicides and alcoholism.

The facts show clearly that this is being driven largely by an increase in deaths of despair, with fentanyl overdoses being the leading cause of death for Americans 18 to 45, Tuberville spokesman Steven Stafford said in a statement, pointing to legislation to improve mental health funding and secure the Southern border.

In comparison, Sanders has repeatedly called for sweeping reforms, insisting in an interview that a failed health-care system is tied into a corrupt political system dominated by enormously powerful corporate interests.

Even Democrats in neighboring states offered significantly different diagnoses. In the eyes of Rhode Island Sen. Sheldon Whitehouse (D), the No. 1 cause of Americas life expectancy problem is clear: broken payment incentives for doctors and hospitals.

But Sen. Chris Murphy (D-Conn.) traced the life expectancy decline to loneliness.

Americans are just much less physically and spiritually healthy than they have been in a long time, said Murphy, who has proposed a bill to create a White House office of social connection.

Ten senators singled out the burden of chronic disease, echoing The Posts own review, which found that among people younger than 65, chronic illness erases more than twice as many years of life as all the overdoses, homicides, suicides and car accidents combined.

New Yorks state of mind

In New York, officials are trying to put a framework around those often abstract challenges. Vasan urged the City Council in November to support HealthyNYC, his agencys initiative backed by Mayor Eric Adams (D) that seeks to avert about 7,300 premature deaths by 2030.

We want New Yorkers to experience more birthdays, weddings and graduations, more holidays and holy days, more life lived, Vasan told the lawmakers, citing targets for reducing chronic diseases, cancers and other drivers of premature death. Council members are considering legislation to ensure that future leaders stick to the commitments  a suddenly urgent need with Adams embroiled in a fundraising scandal.

We wanted this to be something that outlives us, that actually helps people, said Lynn Schulman, chair of the City Councils health committee.

Vasan and Schulman said HealthyNYC can be a template for other cities  the latest effort in New Yorks long history of trying to tackle life expectancy. Under former mayor Mike Bloomberg, the city raised cigarette taxes, banned smoking in workplaces and attempted to limit sale of large sugary drinks. When Bloomberg left office in 2013, New Yorkers projected life expectancy was 81.1 years  more than two years longer than the national average  compared with 77.9 years when he took office in 2001.

If you want to live longer, you could move to New York  or just vote for me, Bloomberg said in a speech to Democratic voters during his short-lived 2020 presidential campaign. (Public health experts have cautioned that it may take decades to fully understand the link between Bloombergs initiatives and longer life expectancy.)

But Bloombergs efforts provoked backlash from food-makers, industry groups and some elected officials. Even as New York took steps a decade ago to limit salt and soda consumption, GOP lawmakers in other states crafted legislation to prevent their own local leaders from taking similar steps.

The Bloomberg legacy is not a torch anyone has really wanted to carry, said Yglesias, warning that the former mayors public heath agenda would be politically difficult to replicate elsewhere. Conservatives really dont like it. ... I think its fallen out of style on the left as well.

Sanders, who has spent years pushing for sweeping changes to Americas health system and economy, said Washingtons work to boost life expectancy could begin with a simple framing device.

The administration, the Congress should have upon their wall, a chart which says ... Whats our life expectancy now [and] how do we get up to the rest of the world?  Sanders said. He pointed to Norways life expectancy of more than 83 years. That should be our goal.

Dan Keating contributed to this report.
Tawanda Jones speaks about her brother Tyrone West on July 18 in Baltimore at an event marking the 10th anniversary of his death at the hands of police officers. (Minh Connors/The Washington Post)

BALTIMORE  Tawanda Joness big brother looks just as she remembers him in the faded photo she has carried to so many protests.

Flashing a broad smile and sporting shoulder-length locs, on this July day he hangs from the microphone stand over bold black letters: STRANGLED DURING RESTRAINT. Baltimore Enough is Enough.

It was here that Tyrone West died, at the corner of Kitmore and Kelway roads in Baltimore, during an exchange with city police officers who had pulled him over for allegedly backing out too slowly into an intersection.

It happened in 2013, five days after the Black Lives Matter movement formed in response to a Florida jurys acquittal of George Zimmerman in the killing of Trayvon Martin. Cellphone footage was not yet ubiquitous. There was no body-camera footage  the technology would not become widely used until after the 2014 death of Michael Brown at the hands of police in Ferguson, Mo. And while some of the facts of Wests death matched those of others whose names captured national attention in the years that followed, he never got it  even in a city that erupted not two years later over the police-involved death of Freddie Gray.

Jones, a petite mother of four, has been unable to bring herself to visit her brothers grave, which is placed above her mothers. But she has refused to let his in-custody death fade from public view, notching several legal and policy wins in an enduring fight for a criminal investigation that only now seems like a possibility.

This years milestone for West also marks a decade that Jones, a prekindergarten teacher, has crusaded against police brutality and an American justice system that she says lacks accountability. She takes aim at in-custody deaths during weekly pop-up protests across the city, decrying violence anywhere but especially in Baltimore, a place with a long history of police corruption and racial discrimination.

By mid-December, Jones has organized 543 events she calls West Wednesdays, in honor of her brother. She moved them online during the pandemic, but otherwise, she can be found outside on Wednesday nights, sweltering in the summer and freezing in the winter as she shouts her message to anyone willing to listen.

Shes front and center at the struggle for justice for survivors of police violence in Baltimore and in Maryland, said Sonia Kumar, a senior attorney at the ACLU of Maryland. Its not just about the victory. Its also about the struggle and the effort to get justice . . . And I think to the extent that Baltimore has influenced the national landscape, shes a huge part of that.

It has cost her. A warrior to some and inspiration to families shattered by similar deaths, Jones has also been dismissed by some elected officials in Baltimore as a nuisance and disrupter.

Shes so courageous to continue to fight all these years, said LaToya Holley, whose brother, Anton Black, was killed during an encounter with police on Marylands Eastern Shore in 2018.

Its very draining. Its very time-consuming. It drains your energy and your mind because youre always putting yourself in that place. Its hard to move forward when youre still fighting to try to see someone  anyone  to take you seriously about your loss, your pain, and what kind of individual your family was, Holley said.

Jones has lost time with her family, money from her savings and peace as she endures a spotlight she wants shined only on the final minutes of her brothers life.

She has no plans of stopping.

This year, the citys top prosecutor, Ivan J. Bates, and the states top law enforcement official, Anthony G. Brown, have agreed that her brothers case is worth review. Neither has committed to reopening it.

Jones had a sense of foreboding after leaving church the morning after the Zimmerman verdict.

Toward the end of the message, Bishop Orlando Wilson implored the congregants of New Antioch Church  including West  to be careful out there ... Seems like Black lives dont matter.

Four days later, West was dead.

At first, the medical examiners office tied his death to a bad heart and dehydration  not the lacerations and wounds found across his body and documented in 2013.

I was like oh no, youre not going to do this to my brother,  Jones said. Weeks after her brothers death she planted herself outside the coroners office at one of her first West Wednesdays, urging the world to watch.

The office was then headed by David Fowler, who years later would testify as an expert witness for the defense of Derek Chauvin, the former Minneapolis police officer who was on trial in the killing of George Floyd. Today, about a hundred in-custody deaths involving police restraint that were handled by Fowlers office during his 17-year tenure are under review.

Former city prosecutor Gregg L. Bernstein cited the offices report in declining to charge the officers involved in 2014. So Jones spent $50,000 of her savings to have her brothers body exhumed for an independent autopsy, which found West died of asphyxiation while being restrained.

I couldnt wait to go on my own pursuit, she said in an interview, through tears. Because in my mind, Im like, its never over. Im not going to stop until these killer cops are in cell blocks. I dont care how many years it takes. I dont care. Im going to keep going at it.

The same year, she and her family opened another front in their push for accountability, with a wrongful-death lawsuit that laid out their findings.

About a week before a scheduled court appearance in 2017, Jones and her family were summoned to a settlement hearing.

Jones was sitting across from her attorney with a pen in her hand when someone mentioned a nondisparagement clause.

What does that mean? she asked.

The clause would prohibit her from mentioning the names of the officers who were involved in her brothers death during West Wednesdays, they said.

She dropped the pen to the table and walked away, removing her name from the civil suit to reserve her right to protest without jeopardizing the $1 million settlement for her nieces and nephews.

Jones said West, an artist who loved to draw, was a father who never met many of his grandchildren.

Months after the settlement, Jones joined Ashley Overbey Underwood, a Baltimore City woman who lost her settlement with Baltimore police in a misconduct case because she violated the gag rule, to change the city law.

They met with the ACLU, who took Underwoods case, and testified at hearings at city hall where they sat with tape over their mouths in a sign of protest.

Two years later, the law was changed.

Over the last decade, Jones has become a fixture at city hall and at citywide town halls, calling out elected officials and chiefs of police for corruption and misconduct. She has lobbied against the citys choice for police chief and protested against efforts to shield police records.

Things dont happen overnight, not as fast as we want them to, Jones said.

Two former prosecutors in Baltimore refused to file charges in Wests death, basing their decision on the official autopsy that found West died of cardiac arrhythmia from cardiac conduction system abnormality complicated by dehydration during police restraint.

But earlier this year, Bates, with six months in office, gave Jones more hope than shed had in 10 years.

Bates said in a letter that the case merited a review.

It put into words that something is not right, and that meant the world to me, Jones said of Batess determination.

Bates met with Jones several times and she shared additional information that I believe warrants a new investigation into this incident, Bates said in a letter to Brown.

He asked the attorney generals office to launch an investigation. He also wrote a letter to State Prosecutor Charlton T. Howard III suggesting that his office, which investigates misconduct of public officials, look into whether there was any perjury or other misconduct involved in the case. Bates said in the letters that he had a personal conflict that kept him from pursuing the case. As it turns out, a Bates spokesman later said, a top member of his team is a close relative of one of the officers involved in the case.

Police at the time said that when West was told to get out of the car, they saw a bulge in his sock that they suspected was drugs, which would have been a violation of his parole, and a chase and altercation ensued. They said West was combative. But they also acknowledged in court documents that they threw punches and used batons and pepper spray. In his letter to Brown, Bates cited new autopsy results that contradict the findings in the 2013 report and depositions provided by Jones that indicated that there were no drugs found at the scene or on materials tested.

Joness sisters, former strangers who have lost loved ones and often join her for West Wednesdays, said Jones has for years provided evidence to prosecutors and other elected officials who typically dismiss her.

She says stuff and people look at her like shes got three heads with a big ol eyeball in the middle of her forehead and its actually the truth, said Angela Sutton, whose brother, Timothy Flemings, died after a police interaction. Everybody knows there are states attorneys in bed, literally in bed, with police officers. So the whole system is screwed up.

Whenever Jones learns of an in-custody death in Maryland she tries to reach out to a loved one.

Sometimes its a direct message on social media that leads to a phone call. Its how she connected with Holley, Anton Blacks sister, and Nikki Owens, the cousin of William Green, who was shot six times by a police officer while handcuffed in the front of a patrol car.

Earlier this month, Jones began her 541st West Wednesday with sad news she learned moments before arriving.

A jury had acquitted former Prince Georges police officer Michael Owen Jr. in Greens death.

He got into a car accident, he hit several cars, nothing that warranted a death sentence, Jones told the three people in front of her, one of them recording a Facebook Live. Im beyond disappointed. Im heartbroken. Its disgusting.

Jones called to the microphone a White retired teacher and a loyal member of the West Coalition who went to the court with other members of Joness group to support Owens and the rest of his family.

Its outrageous that this jury made the decision . . . I think the guilty party here is the legal system in P.G. County just like the legal system in the rest of the country, said Bill Bleich, who blamed the outcome on a weak prosecution.

Jones said police in many cases, particularly in her brothers, will change the narrative to criminalize the victim and to attempt to justify their actions.

Dead people do not talk, lets be crystal clear and when these killer cops murder our loved ones then they try to be our loved ones voice, she said.

She said police said they saw a bulge in her brothers socks when he sat down on the curb. When she saw her brother earlier in the day he was wearing shorts and ankle socks, she said.

So they cant even lie straight, she said. To make up that absurd lie. To say he said, Youre going to lock me up for these measly drugs. I never in the 44 years of my brothers life at the time he was executed, never heard my brother use the word measly.

Sometimes, she is tired. But the protests can be healing, she said.

Its therapeutic for me because I actually get to actually uplift my brothers voice and name in a positive way. And if Im angry and I want to press on the microphone or whatever or cry or whatever I want to do, I can let it out and Im not holding that in, she said.

Jones often ends West Wednesdays soliciting prayer. She said her faith is what has sustained her through the pain.

Asking for strength as she continues her journey, Jones paused after announcing the news about the acquittal on Dec. 6, and closed her tear-filled eyes. If you are into prayer, say a prayer. If not, thats OK, she said. We need positivity because all victims dont die.
71-year-old James Cassidy was at one time the doctor for Tyrone GAA

A disgraced GP was handed a two year driving ban today after he necked six shots of whiskey in less than half an hour.

Imposing the driving ban as well as fines amounting to 550 and allowing 71-year-old James Peter Cassidy four months to pay, District Judge Rosie Watters said it was clear the defendant has a problem with alcohol.

Cassidy, from the Killyman Road in Dungannon but who was at one time the doctor for Tyrone GAA and who practiced in Dundalk before he was struck off, had earlier entered guilty pleas to a total of four offences, all committed on 9 November this year, including driving while unfit, driving with neither a licence nor insurance, failing to provide a specimen.

The court heard that the manager of a restaurant in Lisburn alerted police that Thursday afternoon after a customer drank six measures of Jamesons whiskey in 25 minutes and then got behind the wheel of a Mercedes C250 car.

A prosecuting lawyer said police were lead to the carpark of Sprucefield shopping centre where officers found Cassidy sitting behind the wheel but despite being asked, he failed to provide a specimen of breath.

The court heard that Cassidy has previous criminal convictions including a previous drink driving in may 2009 and conspiracy to commit forgery in 2014.

What the court did not hear however was that the forgery offences related to Cassidy forging the 1.5million will of spinster pub owner Catherine Kitty Haughey between 2004 and 2007.

The 81-year-old, who owned Larkin's pub in Forkhill in south Armagh, left cash, land and property worth 1.5m on her death in 2004 but suspicions were raised when Ms Haughey's will was changed two weeks before her death.

In offences described as akin to a Hollywood scripted" conspiracy, Newry Crown Court heard how Ms Haughy's forged, handwritten last will attempted to redirect the childless widow's fortune from charitable organisations and a female friend to persons "in the business of becoming millionaires".

Having ran the South Armagh pub with her brother and sister, Kitty was found dead in the pubs living quarters in December 2004. Concerns were raised about her will after it emerged it had been changed two weeks before her death and although her body was exhumed in 2007 amid fresh suspicions surrounding her death, a post-mortem examination later confirmed she died of natural causes.

Cassidy, alongside David McQuaid (47), a quantity surveyor from Lisnaree Road, Lisnaree, Banbridge and the the widow's godson Francis Tiernan (62) of Carrickasticken Road, Forkhill  pleaded guilty to two charges of conspiracy to use a false document.

A fourth accused, Dr Cassidy's secretary Niamh Hearty, was unanimously found not guilty of forging the widow's signature.

During Heartys trial, the court heard how Miss Haugheys friend who had been the intended beneficiary of the will, brought her suspicions of Kitty's falsified signatures on a forged will to the Garda in the Republic.

The Garda investigation gained speed when a falsified patient file at the GP surgery of Dr Cassidy was generated at the behest of a letter said to be from a Dundalk solicitors.

The details of the GP's letter were constructed to read that an examination of Ms Haughey had been done by a now deceased doctor shortly before the publican's death.

The diagnosis was to say that Ms Haughey had been a healthy woman right up to her death. The letter was declared to be false in its entirety in 2008.

In 2014 Cassidy was handed an 18 month prison sentence which was suspended for three years and then in November 2018, he was struck off the medical register over failings to comply with conditions attached to his registration, including to complete an alcohol awareness programme.

In court today, Cassidys defence solicitor conceded the driving offences are pitiful behaviour, he recognises that.

He clearly has an alcohol problem but this was an extraordinary occurrence, said the solicitor revealing that while he is in receipt of the state pension of 600 per month, Cassidy lost a significant amount of money in the financial crash of 2008, almost 1million of investments completely wiped out.

I couldnt do what he did, said DJ Watters, this was at lunchtime on a Thursday and I dont think I couldnt actually six measures of Jamesons in 25 minutes - there would not even be a competition there.
Marinela Gaina (35) begged a judge to leave her without a conviction, saying she faced losing her job

A mother of two who made a false document that a man was living with her so he could apply for the Covid-19 payment was under duress at the time, a court heard.

Marinela Gaina (35) begged a judge to leave her without a conviction, saying she faced losing her job.

Judge David McHugh ordered Gaina to complete the restorative justice services programme and adjourned sentencing to April.

The judge said he would consider leaving Gaina without a conviction if she cooperated fully with the Probation Service.

The defendant, with an address at St Brigids Park in Blanchardstown, admitted providing a false address declaration to the Department of Social Protection on January 29, 2015.

Garda Louise Keane told Blanchardstown District Court that Gaina provided a letter that a man, who is facing charges in the circuit court, was living with her at an address in Cabra.

Gda Keane said Gaina also provided a bill in her own name.

This enabled the man to apply for a PPS number, and then apply for the Pandemic Unemployment Payment (PUP).

The court heard Gaina had never been in trouble before.

Defence solicitor Valerie Buckley said Gaina was a mother of two young children, and had lived in Ireland since 2010.

Ms Buckley said Gaina was extremely cooperative with gardai, and had not come to garda attention before or after this incident, which took place in 2015.

Ms Buckley said Gaina had worked consistently since she arrived in Ireland, but her job would be at risk if a conviction was recorded against her. Ms Buckley asked the judge to consider leaving Gaina without a conviction.

Judge McHugh said Gaina had engaged in deception.

Ms Buckley said Gaina facilitated, but was not the instigator. Asked by Judge McHugh if Gaina was under duress, Gda Keane said she believed that she was.
Kobi is the son of Ben Dooly who is originally from Waterford

Court artist drawing by Elizabeth Cook of Keziah Macharia appearing via videolink at the Old Bailey in London, charged with the murder of her four-year-old son Kobi Dooley-Macharia. Elizabeth Cook/PA Wire

A mother charged with killing her four year old son, whose father is Irish, has been remanded in custody as she wept throughout her brief London court appearance.

Keziah Macharia (41) appeared before the Old Bailey having been charged on December 22 with the murder of her son, Kobi Macharia-Dooly (4), at their London home.

Kobi is the son of Ben Dooly who is originally from Waterford but who has been based in the UK over recent years.

Mr Dooly is from a highly respected Tramore-based family who have business and sporting interests across the south east.

Ms Macharia is charged with the murder of little Kobi at Montague Road, Dalston in Hackney shortly after 10pm on Wednesday, December 20.

She was initially charged before a sitting of Thames Magistrates Court before being remanded in custody over Christmas to appear before the Old Bailey on Thursday.

A special post mortem examination was also conducted on Kobi in London.

The results of the examination are being withheld by the Metropolitan Police for operational reasons.

However, it is understood it indicated that the little boy died from multiple stab injuries.

He was discovered with multiple stab wounds in his cot at his Hackney home when Metropolitan Police officers forced their way into the property.

Ms Macharia, who is a British national, is now undergoing a full psychiatric examination in custody.

On Thursday, friends and family of the little boy attended the Old Bailey for a preliminary hearing with Ms Macharia appearing by video link from Bronzefield prison.

During the hearing, Judge Lynn Tayton set a timetable for the case with a plea and trial preparation hearing on March 21.

A trial before a High Court judge was provisionally scheduled to go on for up to 10 days from next November 4.

Ms Macharia, dressed in a grey sweatshirt, had spoken only to confirm her name and date of birth then sobbed throughout the rest of the hearing as prosecutor Louise Oakley outlined details of the case.

Court artist drawing by Elizabeth Cook of Keziah Macharia appearing via videolink at the Old Bailey in London, charged with the murder of her four-year-old son Kobi Dooley-Macharia. Elizabeth Cook/PA Wire

On the evening of December 20, police had been alerted to concerns for Kobis welfare by his father, Ben Dooly, who had split up with the defendant about a year before.

Within minutes of the 999 call, officers forced their way into the defendants home in Hackney, east London, at 10.59pm.

They found Kobi lying in his cot with a number of sharp force injuries.

He was taken to the Royal London Hospital where he died at 16 minutes past midnight on December 21.

Macharia was arrested at the address in Montague Road and charged with murder on December 22.

While a cause of death has yet to be confirmed, it is believed Kobi died from sharp force injuries, including one to the front of the neck and another to the upper left chest.

At the conclusion of the short hearing, Judge Tayton remanded Ms Macharia into custody.

Metropolitan police officers attended the scene at Montague Road in Hackney after they had received a telephone call which raised serious concerns about Kobi's welfare.

Police officers attended the scene at 10.50pm on December 20 and were supported by units from the London Ambulance Service.

Metropolitan police officers questioned Ms Macharia at the scene.

She was the only person at the property and was discovered blood-soaked in her pyjamas.

The boy's father was working outside London and is understood to have been planning a trip back to Ireland over the Christmas period to meet extended family.

Kobi was born in the UK and had lived throughout his young life in the Hackney area of east London.

Neighbours described him as an energetic, happy boy who was often seen playing in the area.

When questioned by police about the circumstances of what happened, the 41 year old woman was in a very distressed condition.

Neighbours described screaming and frantic efforts by police and paramedics at the scene to aid the injured child.

Ms Macharia was later arrested on suspicion of murder and taken to a nearby police station before she was charged on December 22.

A Metropolitan Police spokesperson indicated that they are not looking for anyone else in connection with the incident.

The Dooly family appealed for privacy as they paid an emotional tribute to Kobi.

"With heavy hearts we bid farewell to Kobi, you will be so dearly missed," they said.

"The joy and laughter you brought to the world has been taken from us far too soon. We will be thinking of you day and night for eternity till we meet you again."

"The family would like to acknowledge and appreciate all messages of support. Please respect our family privacy at this very difficult time."

Members of the Dooly family travelled from Waterford to the UK before Christmas to support the heartbroken father in the wake of the shocking tragedy.

Kobi's grandfather and grandmother were met on arrival in London by Metropolitan Police liaison officers who have been assisting the heartbroken Irish father.

Hackney locals described emotional scenes outside the Montague Road house with several police officers visibly distressed at what they had discovered inside the property.

Detective Chief Superintendent James Conway of Hackney and Tower Hamlets admitted the entire Hackney community was shocked by the incident.

"This is an extremely distressing incident which will understandably cause shock and disbelief amongst the local community and those who attended the scene," he said.

He said the little boy was rushed to hospital for treatment but, despite the best efforts of the emergency services, he subsequently died from his injuries.

"We are working with our partners, including Hackney Council and the school community, to ensure support is there for people who need it."

"Specialist officers from our homicide team are progressing this investigation and continue to work to establish the circumstances of this young child's death, and the events that led up to it."

"This incident occurred within the home and, while there is no wider public safety risk, additional officers will be present in the area as we recognise the impact this will have on the community."

A special liaison officer has been appointed to assist the boy's family.

A Department of Foreign Affairs spokesperson confirmed they are aware of the matter.

Consular assistance is being provided to those involved.

"As with all consular cases, the DFA does not comment on the details of individual cases."
PRAGUE, Dec. 27 (Xinhua) -- Czech Interior Minister Vit Rakusan on Wednesday called on mayors of municipalities and towns in the country not to hold fireworks shows on New Year's Eve this year following a university shooting in Prague.

In a letter to the mayors, Rakusan also called on the local authorities to ask citizens to refrain from using fireworks on Dec. 31.

"Our country has experienced two shocking acts of shooting violence before Christmas. These events have painfully affected many people and families personally, and indirectly, virtually all of us," Rakusan said in the letter published on the website of his ministry.

"The least we can do for each other at this time is not to increase the nervousness and deepen the tension and possible trauma left behind by this violence. It is possible to celebrate the arrival of the New Year without firecrackers and fireworks," the minister said.

Last Thursday, a 24-year-old man shot and killed 14 people at the Faculty of Arts of Charles University in the Czech capital before committing suicide. The tragic incident also left 25 others injured, among whom, three were foreigners.

Police said the gunman was a student from the faculty. They also linked him to the murder of a man and his infant daughter in a forest east of Prague on Dec. 15. Local media reported Wednesday that police have found a letter in the gunman's home, in which he admitted the forest murder.

Rakusan has called the university shooting "a terrible act, unprecedented in the history of the Czech Republic," adding that there is no indication that the shooting was linked to "international terrorism."

Following the shooting, police have tightened nationwide preventive measures concerning schools and other so-called soft targets, which, according to Rakusan, will be in place until Jan. 1.

Czech police said Wednesday on social media X that they are dealing with over 60 cases on social media in relation to "the approval, adoration and following of this horrific act (university shooting)," and they have known the identity of specific persons in 30 such cases. 
Darren Callaghan was in court last week to be sentenced for assaulting two men

Notorious poodle-swinging thug Darren Callaghans days of crime are over  according to a judge.

Callaghan was in court last week to be sentenced for assaulting two men. But he escaped jail after a judge took pity on the 35-year-old due to the severe injuries he received in an attack.

Those injuries were sustained after Callaghan had beaten up a pensioner in a separate incident, for which he was also convicted.

At a separate court hearing for another assault, it emerged Callaghan requires assistance with everyday tasks such as washing.

Darren Callaghan

Last week at Omagh Magistrates Court, he was sentenced to a six month suspended term for assaulting two men in November 2021.

Judge Liam McStay told Callaghan: This is an unprovoked assault on an innocent man.

He added that, in other circumstances, he would have imposed a stiffer sentence.

He made reference to Callaghan being assaulted near a pub six months after this incident.

You found out what it was to be a victim in 22, and youre not right yet, the judge said, referring to Callaghans brain injury.

Callaghan of Ballynahatty Road, Fintona, did not speak during the brief hearing. He had, at an earlier hearing, pleaded guilty to one count of common assault and one count of assault occasioning actual bodily harm.

But for your guilty plea, I would have sent you to jail, the judge said. I feel your days of offending are over.

He ordered him to pay compensation to his victim.

As Callaghan is on benefits, this was set at 250.

Read more Man convicted of swinging poodle round his head left with fractured skull after attacking OAP

Last year, this newspaper revealed how Callaghan was left with a fractured skull after he had attacked an OAP in a pub.

He was charged with assault for that incident and Callaghan  once jailed for beating up his girlfriend and swinging her poodle over his head and chucking it over a fence  pleaded guilty to assault, criminal damage and disorderly behaviour after the April 2022 incident.

The assault took place in the pub and when a staff member intervened, Callaghan also assaulted them.

Judge Bernie Kelly told Omagh Magistrates Court in February that she had to take into account Callaghans injuries, which he received after he left the Halfway House Bar in Tattyreagh.
Samantha Osborne (32), of College Street, Dublin 2, admitted numerous counts of theft

A shoplifter who a judge described as a prolific thief has been jailed for 18 months.

Samantha Osborne (32) repeatedly stole cosmetics and clothing, and had battled addiction problems for some years.

The defendant, of College Street, Dublin 2, admitted numerous counts of theft.

Blanchardstown District Court heard Osborne stole cosmetic items, worth 120, from Boots in Blackrock on December 7, 2021.

She also took cosmetics, worth 69, from Hickeys Pharmacy, Meath Street, Dublin 8, on July 17, 2023, and she returned the next day and took cosmetics valued at 57.

Osborne took clothing valued at 239 from Zara and a jacket, worth 20, from Bershka, in Liffey Valley Shopping Centre on November 20, 2023.

The court heard Osborne had 59 previous convictions.

Defence solicitor Terence Hanahoe said Osborne, a mother of one, had battled a drug problem for some years. She had been clean for some time, but she may have gone back on them.

Mr Hanahoe said Osborne realised she faced a jail term, and was hoping to get onto a drug treatment programme once she got out of prison.

Sentencing Osborne, Judge David McHugh said she was a prolific thief.
Gang members claim they are owed a six-figure sum

CCTV of feuding gangs firing shots in the Corduff area of Blanchardstown

One of Irelands most active drug-dealing gangs is trying to extort 20,000 a month from an innocent family.

Gang members claim they are owed a six-figure sum by a relative.

The young man at the centre of the cash demands has fallen foul of the west Dublin gang nicknamed The Family.

He recently had to be moved to Mountjoy Prison, where he is on remand, from another prison because of the threat level against him.

The gang operates one of the countrys biggest drug-dealing networks and is suspected of making millions of euro from trafficking heroin and cocaine.

It is understood the gang members blame the man for botching the alleged abduction and torture of a person accused of stealing a large amount of heroin from them

It is making cash demands of 5,000 a week from the mans family, who have no means of paying the money.

Dublin crime gang The Family trying to extort 20k-a-month from innocent family over drug debt

It is understood the gang members blame the man for botching the alleged abduction and torture of a person accused of stealing a large amount of heroin from them.

The criminals, who are based in Clondalkin and Ballyfermot, have been using aircraft to smuggle drugs into Ireland. One major delivery worth an estimated 8m was intercepted by gardai.

However, sources said this is just the tip of the iceberg, with gardai receiving intelligence that the gang is now dealing directly with Mexican cartels after moving away from traditional drug importation routes through the UK.

Revenue seized 195.2m worth of heroin and cocaine up to the end of last month

Long-established drugs-trafficking gangs in Ireland continued to increase their profits and supply networks this year, despite major successes by law enforcement.

Revenue seized 195.2m worth of heroin and cocaine up to the end of last month in 104 separate operations.

This does not include the 300kg of cocaine worth 21m that was seized by Revenue officers from a cargo vessel in the Port of Foynes, Co Limerick, on December 19.

Nor does it include the 876,000 of cocaine seized at Rosslare on December 16.

Seizures of herbal and cannabis resin totalling 56m were made up to the end of last month. This was concentrated over 2,316 actions.

Revenue officers also seized 8.1m worth of amphetamines, ecstasy and other drugs in over 6,400 seizures.

Figures supplied by gardai reveal that drugs in excess of 210m were seized by the gardas national drugs and organised crime bureau (GNDOCB) up to December 20. This includes 175m of cocaine, 25m of cannabis herb, 8.5m of heroin and 700,000 of MDMA.

The seizure of 157m of cocaine from the MV Matthew off Cork was the biggest in the history of the State. Photo: PA

The seizure of 157m of cocaine on the MV Matthew cargo ship off the Cork coast on September 24 was the biggest in the history of the State. The Kinahan cartel is suspected of being behind the shipment.

Justice Minister Helen McEntee sought cabinet approval to begin formal extradition negotiations with the United Arab Emirates

Gardai have submitted a file to the Director of Public Prosecutions in relation to gang bosses Christy, Daniel and Christopher, who remain in Dubai. The file has been submitted with a view to prosecuting them with organised-crime offences.

Earlier this month, Justice Minister Helen McEntee sought cabinet approval to begin formal extradition negotiations with the United Arab Emirates.

The relative calm in gangland was shattered on November 18 with the murder of cocaine dealer Brandon Ledwidge (23), who was shot dead by a former close associate at his home in Finglas, Dublin.

An escalating feud in the Tallaght area also threatened to spiral out of control last month

It marked the first gangland murder of the year. By comparison, there were six gun deaths last year and 15 gang murders eight years ago. Gangland murders reached a peak of 22 in 2009.

An escalating feud in the Tallaght area also threatened to spiral out of control last month when an innocent woman was shot in the leg. The incident sparked revenge arson attacks on a house and a jeep.

The feud has been linked to numerous shootings, arson attacks and attempted murders this year. 

Bray gangland victim Clinton McCormack (44) died in hospital earlier this month from medical complications after he was shot in the legs in a gun attack on a building site in Delgany, Co Wicklow.

The chief suspects for the December 14 shooting are a Bray-based organised crime gang considered the main supplier of drugs, particularly heroin, in north Wicklow. They are led by a criminal aged in his early 40s.

Garda forensic officer at Browne's Steakhouse in Blanchardstown, Dublin. Photo: Mark Condren

The gun attack at Brownes Steakhouse in Blanchardstown, west Dublin, on Christmas Eve, which left gunman Tristan Sherry (26) dead and another man fighting for his life, is the latest gangland incident.

It has been linked to the Finglas-based criminal gang led by criminal Mr Flashy, who had been feuding with associates of the shooting victim.

As the drugs trade continues to cause mayhem on the streets, gardai have observed a major increase in eastern European gangs operating here.

So far, they have managed to co-exist with the more established Irish gangs.

This includes the Mr Big crime network in north Dublin and a gang based in Meath and Dublin that is suspected of being linked to an 11m cocaine seizure in south Armagh earlier this month.
Armed gardai will be present for service as fears of reprisals grow

A gunman who opened fire in a Dublin restaurant on Christmas Eve was shot with his own weapon before being killed.

A significant garda operation will be put in place for the funeral of Tristan Sherry (26) who died following the botched gangland hit at Brownes Steakhouse in Blanchardstown.

The father of one entered the restaurant shortly after 8pm and opened fire at a group with a sub-machine gun, hitting a 47-year-old man several times.

The gunman attempted to get away through a door, but it was locked. He was then confronted, disarmed and stabbed several times.

The Sunday World has learned that he was also shot once in the head during the confrontation. The gun was not located at the scene and gardai are still searching for the weapon.

Garda forensic officer at Browne's Steakhouse in Blanchardstown, Dublin. Photo: Mark Condren

Sherry was associated with a crime group in Finglas led by a drug dealer known as Mr Flashy. Gardai believe the shooting is linked to a feud between this gang and associates of the 47-year-old gun victim, who remains in a serious condition in hospital.

This dispute has previously been linked to a spate of shootings, assaults and petrol-bomb attacks, while gardai have also foiled a number of assassination attempts linked to the feud.

Funeral details for Sherry are yet to be announced but it is expected to be held in the coming days. A significant security operation, involving armed gardai, is expected to be in place over fears of reprisal attacks.

One source said: Gardai have already carried out searches in an attempt to prevent any further incidents and there are serious concerns of retaliation.

After the shooting, a web page was set up for Sherry on the fundraising website GoFundMe, with his family trying to raise money for his funeral costs. The page was removed after several hundred euro had been donated.

Footage has also emerged of the attack on Sherry by the victims associates, which showed him bloodied on the floor of the restaurant before being struck with an object.

Gardai have reviewed CCTV footage of the incident and investigations into both the shooting and subsequent killing are ongoing.

Detectives are also attempting to identify Sherrys accomplice, who was also armed when he entered the restaurant but fled the scene.

Gardai have appointed a senior investigating officer to oversee the inquiry, while a family liaison officer is also assisting Sherrys family.

The shooting has been condemned by senior political figures, including Taoiseach Leo Varadkar and Justice Minister Helen McEntee.

Gardai braced for revenge attacks after gunman Tristan Sheery overpowered and killed in Christmas Eve shooting

Local gardai are also being assisted by detectives attached to the National Bureau of Criminal Investigation, while increased uniformed and armed patrols have been deployed to the area.

An Garda Siochana is aware of videos of the incident and immediate aftermath which are in circulation on social media and messaging apps, a spokesperson said. We are appealing to the public for these videos not to be further distributed.

We are also appealing to the public to be aware of a significant level of speculation, misinformation and disinformation which is in circulation.

Joe Coates, whose barbershop, JCs, is around the corner from Brownes Steakhouse, said he wasnt fearful that the violent events of Christmas Eve would hurt business.

He said his premises was set on fire last year and he has seen a number of videos of violent incidents in the local area in recent months.

He told the Irish Independent: In the local area it has been brewing for the last six to eight months or probably a year. Its going to come to a head at some stage.

Ive been there 25 years. Im not going to say youre used to what happened the other night specifically, but youre used to it.

Mr Coates said he grew up in Finglas in the 1980s, adding: The lads now, and the lads the other night, are a different kettle of fish.

I think every generation is getting worse. You just get on with it. Thats the way it is unfortunately.
The organised crime boss who is accused of ordering several murders and conspiracy to commit other killings is on trial in The Netherland

DUTCH judges have ruled there is no reason for any further investigation into how Kinahan Cartel partner Ridoaun Taghi, who suffered a broken nose and black eyes, was extradited from Dubai in 2019.

The organised crime boss who is accused of ordering several murders and conspiracy to commit other killings is on trial in The Netherlands.

Two sets of lawyers, who no longer work for Taghi, had previously requested information about his arrest before resigning from the case.

Authorities in Dubai had recently stated Taghi had not suffered any injuries before being sent back to The Netherlands.

However, the District Court of Amsterdam said Taghi had himself said the facial injuries occurred when he was detained in Dubai, De Telegraaf reported.

Inez Weski, Taghi's first lawyer, had already requested information about the arrest shortly after Taghi appeared in court.

She was arrested earlier this year and was forced to resign from the case which saw another three lawyers appointed.

Earlier this month they also resigned from the case, saying the court was not giving them enough time to mount a defence.

Taghi is currently on trial along with a number of other defendants in a wide-ranging criminal case known as the Marengo procedure.

The prosecution have completed their case and are seeking a life sentence. The court is due to return a verdict in February.

Daniel Kinahans one-time wedding guest, Taghi is regarded the boss of a Maroc Mafia crime gang in which murder targets were spoken of as "dogs" that had to "sleep".

Taghi had been arrested in Dubai and extradited back to The Netherlands where he was put on trial for ordering a series of murders in the countrys biggest gangland prosecution.

Taghi is one of the suspected members of the super-cartel who all attended Daniel Kinahans wedding celebration at the Burj al Arab hotel in 2017.

In most cases, according to the prosecution, the motive for the murders was based on the saying: Whoever talks, goes.

The victims were believed to have provided or could provide information about Taghis crime gang to the police, lawyers, the media or rival gangs, according to prosecutors.

The hearings are being held in a secure court-house under heavy armed guard and at one point the military were called in to beef up security at the high-security prison where Taghi is being held.

There have been three murders of people connected to the case including journalist Peter R de Vries who was advising a key prosecution witness.
Tons of cocaine found at ports in Spain and The Netherlands over the festive period

A MASSIVE cocaine stash almost as big as that found on the MV Matthew off the Irish coast has been discovered on board a ship that docked at the holiday island of Tenerife.

Authorities searched the freighter in a 15-hour operration finding the 2,000 kilos of drugs hidden in a modified ballast tank.

The Italian registered ship which had set sail from Rio de Janeiro, Brazil was destined for the French Port of Marseille.

Six people, one Italian, a Romanian, three members of crew from the Philippines and another Filipino living on the island were arrested.

While the seizure and arrests were made on 18 December at the port of Santa Cruz de Tenerife details of the operation were only announced today.

The stash was found with equipment which included ropes, lifejackets, fuel and GPS locators likely to be used when the illegal cargo was to be off-loaded.

The characteristics of the vessel and the method of concealment have made it necessary to carry out an exhaustive inspection of the vessel for more than 15 hours to detect the drugs.

The operation began at 9 in the morning on the 18th, coinciding with the arrival at the port of Santa Cruz de Tenerife of the ship 'Grande Francia', flying the Italian flag.

It is a 214 meter long vessel, one of the so-called 'Ro-Ro' vessels, which transports wheeled cargo.

The merchant ship came from Rio de Janeiro (Brazil) and was traveling on one of the 'hot routes' for drug trafficking, with its next destination in the French port of Marseille.

Upon the ship's arrival in Tenerife, a joint team made up of agents from the National Police and Civil Guard and officials from the Tax Agency, proceeded to carry out one of the so-called 'anchoring visits'.

During the inspection, a ballast tank from the merchant caught the attention of the detection team.

Once the tank was opened, a large number of burlap packages of those usually used by drug trafficking organisations to transport drugs were found inside.

Inside the tank, a total of 69 bales were detected, weighing a total of 2,055 kilos of cocaine.

The arrested people, along with the drugs, have been placed at the disposal of the Investigative Court number 3 of Santa Cruz de Tenerife.

Just days later on 23 December, Dutch authorities at the Port of Rotterdam discovered 1,700 kilograms of cocaine.

The drugs were found in shipments of bananas, jam and marmalade, according to the Rotterdam branch of the Public Prosecution Service.

The combined street value of the cocaine was estimated at 127.5 million euros.

The largest of the two discoveries was in a shipment of bananas that arrived in a sea container sent from Ecuador.

A total of 1,197 kilograms of cocaine was found in the consignment during a routine inspection

"The bananas were to be stored in the Netherlands and had Ukraine as their final destination. Both the companies in the Netherlands and Ukraine probably have nothing to do with the smuggling."
Limerick designer Aoife McNamara tells Saoirse Hanley about keeping her business green, combining creativity with commerce, and the rugged West of Ireland landscape inspiring it all

A lot of people start businesses because they have a dream but for fashion designer Aoife McNamara, it was because she has a mission.

My want in starting a business is so deeply rooted in why  I want to help make change in the fashion industry. Its a movement I want to create. Its not just a fashion brand. So I have a long way to go, she tells Magazine+.

The Limerick native started her own sustainable fashion brand, Aoife McNamara in 2019, just after graduating from Limerick School of Art and Design. Coincidentally, it was in those same hallowed halls that the first seeds of inspiration were planted.

It really began when my mom brought me to see a show in the Limerick School of Art and Design. I saw the final-year students designs on the runway, and I couldnt believe that humans had made these clothes with their hands. I was so mesmerised by it. I think that was the first moment that I really wanted to be a fashion designerI never wanted to do anything else, she remembers.

Now, the 28-year-olds brand is one of Irelands most famous. Open Instagram and youll likely see an influencer or well-known face decked out in one of Aoifes designs.

Aoife launched her eponymous fashion label in 2019

Most of the designers inspiration comes from the natural world, and its never in short supply considering she lives in Clare, on the rugged west coast.

I love where Im living at the moment. Like, its where I get my inspiration from: the Burren, the Cliffs of Moher, from swimming daily, she says. Ive always had a love of nature, its so important to me as a person to be around it that much.

For her latest collection, the inspiration is a little more industrial. Having been announced as an ambassador for car company Toyota earlier this year, the designer has now created some new looks inspired by the brand.

It was a really fun project that really brought me back to what I used to do in art college  taking things from architecture and more structural shapes. It was definitely different from the landscape and the softer [looks] but I think I do always have, I suppose, that powerful element in my designs, like those big shoulder pads and that oversized and gathered sleeve, she explains.

I went over to Hamburg and I saw the car in person at the launch. Its such a futuristic shape and you can really see those precision cut lines and all those different geometric shapes.

"The first thing that struck me from the inside of the car was that they used 100pc recycled polyester, innovation through sustainable materials is such a big passion of mine so I used 100pc recycled polyester also in my designs. The stitching is a lovely red on the steering wheel and theres also a lovely yellow on the seats, and I brought that through.

Definitely as a young girl I would have been looking at myself like, Well done, Aoife. So I am very proud of the collaboration, she adds with a smile.

As a young woman in business, Aoife needs to wear lots of different hats and fight the pressure to spread herself too thin. Its definitely not easy. Im not just a creative anymore, Im a business owner. Its taken me nearly four years to understand balance and I feel like Ill take another 10 years to get there. If I ever get there, she says.

Its such a hard thing, I think, in anyones life to really find balance. I dont know if we ever do, but I think for me the most important part is to be organised with my calendar and making sure Im not just working on the business all the time, but Im also spending time in nature and with my loved ones, figuring out what I do. That keeps me happy. My Google Calendar is my best friend, she laughs.

Of course, Aoifes commitment to a totally green business makes every single thing harder, she admits. But I would never do it any other way. What I do is so deeply rooted inside of me from an emotional point of view; I believe in earth logic and not growth logic, and thats a decision I made.

I know that by doing that its harder and makes everything a bit more challenging, but thats what makes me happy and gets me out of bed in the morning knowing Im not creating another fast fashion brand that doesnt have any meaning.

Go to aoifemcnamara.com
Niamh and husband Oisin, have just relaunched the brand, whose celebrity fans once included Kourtney Kardashian

Niamh Sherwin Barry who is 'Chief Storyteller' at The Irish Fairy Door Company at home with CEO Husband Oisin Barry in Tullyallen Co Louth. Photo by Steve Humphreys 30th November 2023.

Niamh and her husband Oisin are starting the business again after hard times

The Dubliner says she felt that old familiar warmth when an email from Great Ormond Street Hospital dropped into her inbox informing her that children on the wards adored their No More Worries Kit.

Niamh and husband Oisin, have just relaunched the brand, whose celebrity fans once included Kourtney Kardashian, after it lay dormant for nearly three years, says:

This lady emailed us from the mental health team from Great Ormond Street to say she was on an Aer Lingus flight home, and saw the No More Worries Kit which was in the flight shopping brochure. She bought it and had it attached to her lanyard and, everyone wanted to know what it was, and it really helped when she was talking to the kids

The way it works is that the child thinks of a worry, and puts his or her hand on the No More Worries Plaque and when a fairy is listening, the plaque glows red.

It was really humbling because it is one of the best childrens hospital on the planet and just to think that what we created was going to help, its just a lovely thought, a really nice thought.

Niamh Sherwin Barry who is 'Chief Storyteller' at The Irish Fairy Door Company at home in Tullyallen Co Louth. Photo by Steve Humphreys 30th November 2023.

The Irish Fairydoor Company came to a standstill after retailers awaited new-look fairy doors, after the Dublin firm secured an animation deal with a major Canadian film company.

Dubliner Niamh, who lives in Co Louth says: It simply never happened. The company underwent a whole re-structure and our deal was lost in the process. An animation deal is a game changer and I guess we put all our eggs in one basket. Put the pandemic on top of, wed lot of stores all around the world, what you call bricks and mortar sales, that were closed.

The company was nearly dormant for three years until they were accepted into Scarp, a scheme brought in by the government for companies that are still viable, but have run into debt because of the pandemic.

She says: So, we were accepted into Small Companies Administrative Rescue Process, Scarp, earlier this year, and we were absolutely delighted that we get to have another go at it.

My daughter is now 13, and she was three-years-old when all this started. She has grown up now, she is out that part of childhood, and all of a sudden there is a whole new generation of kids who know nothing about the Irish Fairydoor Company.

People still know what we are talking about when we say we are from the Irish Fairydoor Company, which is the fundamental reason why we knew this company still has legs. People trust in it, they believe in it and kids love it.

When we announced that we had taken back the reigns of the Irish Fairydoor Company, the reaction was incredible, people were so pleased to see us back and that was so encouraging.

Niamh Sherwin Barry who is 'Chief Storyteller' at The Irish Fairy Door Company at home with CEO Husband Oisin Barry in Tullyallen Co Louth. Photo by Steve Humphreys 30th November 2023.

The Irish Fairydoor Company was founded in 2013 by Niamh Sherwin Barry and Oisin Barry alongside Aoife Lawler and Gavin Lawler.

Niamh continues: We can sell our fairy doors and wellbeing products on-line now. Weve lots of exciting projects coming up.

"We have always had great feedback from the kids themselves. Its about children and where their imagination takes them with a little wooden fairydoor and all the magic that brings with it."

For more information log on to Irishfairydoor.com
The driver has been charged with dangerous driving and will appear in court in two weeks time

Prison officer arrested after allegedly going for pints on lunch break before crashing into wall outside Dublin jail

A prison officer has been arrested after allegedly drinking pints on his lunch break and then crashing a car into a wall outside a Dublin jail.

Gardai are investigating the single-car incident that happened at the Cloverhill and Wheatfield campus on St Stephens Day.

The driver has been charged with dangerous driving and will appear in court in two weeks time.

The Sunday World understands the prison officer and a number of colleagues were returning from a lunch break when the crash happened.

Emergency services were alerted to the incident on the Cloverhill Road shortly after 2pm.

The car crashed into a wall at a pedestrian entrance to the prison campus.

Significant damage was caused to the vehicle, but no injuries were reported.

The driver allegedly failed a breathalyser test at the scene and was subsequently arrested for road traffic offences.

Gardai are also awaiting the analysis of samples taken from the driver to determine if further charges relating to driving while intoxicated should follow.

Inquiries to establish the events leading up to the crash are continuing, while a dash-camera in the vehicle will also be examined.

The car was badly damaged, a front wheel and bumper were destroyed and there was a lot of damage to the side of the car as well, a source said.

Its fortunate that not just those in the car werent injured, but also other road users.

People could have been walking out of the prison at the time.

Cloverhill Prison

A garda spokesperson said: Gardai are investigating a single-vehicle road-traffic collision that occurred shortly before 2.30pm on December 26 on the Cloverhill Road in Clondalkin, Dublin 22.

No injuries were reported. The driver of the vehicle, a man in his 40s, was arrested at the scene for a number of road traffic offences and taken to a garda station in Dublin. He has since been charged and will appear before Blanchardstown District Court on January 11.

A spokesperson for the Irish Prison Service said it does not comment on matters relating to any individual staff member.

The Irish Prison Service sets high standards in respect of its staff and requires that all staff carry out their duties with integrity, commitment and professionalism, they said.

The vast majority of staff adhere to these standards at all times. In circumstances where the conduct of a staff member does fall below the high standards expected, this is treated with the utmost seriousness in accordance with the civil service code of discipline.
Tim O'Dwyer (20) from Ennistymon and formerly Ballyvraneen and Lahinch in Clare, died in a single vehicle collision in New Zealand

Tributes have been paid to an Irishman who was killed in a car accident in New Zealand on Christmas day

Tim O'Dwyer (20) from Ennistymon and formerly Ballyvraneen and Lahinch in Clare, died in a single vehicle collision in New Zealand.

Local police reported that Emergency Services attended the scene at approximately 12:45am on Christmas morning (New Zealand time) of a collision in Ashburton.

Police confirmed that the sole occupant of the car had died on Methven Highway in the suburb of Allenton. Mr ODwyer was tragically the fifth motorist to die on New Zealand roads over the festive period.

He had emigrated with a friend from Miltown Malbay in September and had been based in Te Ika-a-Maui / north island of New Zealand before moving to Te Waipounamu / south island.

Mr O'Dwyer was reportedly employed by a Liscannor native in New Zealand and was working alongside 20 others from north Clare.

Locals said his death has brought "unimaginable sadness" to his local community and his close and extended families, who are now asking for privacy at this time.

Members of the ODwyer family have thanked the public for their support in recent days and have now appealed for privacy.

Tims family said that while they were dealing with the unthinkable and devastating heartbreak of Tims loss, they wish to thank their family, friends and neighbours for the incredible outpouring of kindness and support at this incredibly difficult time. We ask now for privacy.

Senator Martin Conway (FG) who knew the family said, I am heartbroken for the ODwyer family on the death of Tim, the whole community are behind them to support in any way they can.

"It has put a huge dampener on the whole community. I would appeal to people to respect the familys appeal for privacy.

The Department of Foreign Affairs has confirmed they are providing consular assistance to the family and are working with the ODwyer family on efforts to get Mr ODwyers remains repatriated.

His funeral arrangements are yet to be announced. Hundreds of parishioners shared their support and sympathies online, with one saying: "RIP Tim, a lovely lad, always a wave and a smile. Sincere condolences."

He is survived by his mother, Carolyn ODwyer, father, Brian Shalloo, step-mother, Aine, sisters, Cora and Leah, brothers, Cian, Sam and Jack, grandparents, Mary and Jim O Dwyer (Callura, Lahinch) and Brid and Larry Shalloo (Kilfenora), aunts, Pauline, Priya, Tina, Nollaig, Ann Marie and uncles, Thomas, Laurence, Martin and Albert.
ANKARA, Dec. 28 (Xinhua) -- At least 11 people were killed, and 57 others were injured in a chain traffic accident on Thursday on a highway in Turkiye, the state-run TRT broadcaster reported.

The accident occurred on the Northern Marmara highway at a location near the northwestern Sakarya province. Seven vehicles, including three buses and a truck, were involved in the chain accident caused by dense fog in the Dagdibi area of the Istanbul direction of the highway.

The transportation in the Istanbul direction of the highway came to a halt after the accident.

Sakarya Governor Yasar Karadeniz told the broadcaster that the injured were being treated in 10 different hospitals. Turkish Justice Minister Yilmaz Tunc said that three public prosecutors were assigned to the accident under the coordination of a deputy chief public prosecutor. 
He made few comments of any kind to the press, but the public got glimpses of a sometimes tempestuous private life through the courts

Gaston Glock, the reclusive engineer and tycoon who developed one of the world's best-selling handguns, died on Wednesday aged 94, Austrian news agency APA said.

The Austrian won loyal followings among police and military across the world with the weapons that bore his name.

Forbes estimated his and his family's fortune at $1.1 billion in 2021.

His rise began in the 1980s when the Austrian military was looking for a new, innovative weapon.

Up until then, the Glock company had made military knives and consumer goods including curtain rods. But he assembled a team of firearms experts and came up with the Glock 17, a lightweight semi-automatic gun largely made of plastic.

The revolutionary design - with a frame made of a high-strength, nylon-based polymer and only the slide made of metal - beat several other companies' blueprints and secured his upstart outfit the contract.

Soon the easily assembled weapon became a global hit. "Get yourself a Glock and lose that nickel-plated sissy pistol," Tommy Lee Jones said in the 1998 movie "U.S. Marshals".

Many U.S. police officers used them and U.S. rappers worked them into their rhymes, among them Snoop Dogg's "Protocol" and Wu-Tang Clan's "Da Glock".

U.S. soldiers found toppled Iraqi President Saddam Hussein hiding with a Glock in a hole in the ground in 2003. They later presented that weapon to U.S. President George W. Bush, according to the New York Times.

Gun-control advocates criticised Glock for popularising powerful guns that they said were easy to conceal and could hold more ammunition than other guns.

A former U.S. Marine combat veteran armed with what police described as a .45 caliber Glock with a high-capacity magazine killed 12 people in a bar in Thousand Oaks, California, in November 2018.

White supremacist Dylann Roof used a Glock pistol to kill nine African-American people during a Bible study session at a church in Charleston, South Carolina, in June, 2015.

Glock himself rarely responded to criticism from activists, shunned public debate and, in 2000, refused to join other weapons manufacturers in signing a voluntary gun control deal with the U.S. government.

He made few comments of any kind to the press, but the public got glimpses of a sometimes tempestuous private life through the courts.

At the age of 70, in July 1999, he survived an attempt on his life when an investment broker who managed his assets hired a former wrestler to attack him with a rubber hammer, a court heard.

Glock had grown suspicious of how the broker was managing his affairs and had flown to Luxembourg to confront him, lawyers said.

He suffered seven blows to the head but fended off the assault. The broker, Charles Ewert, and the attacker, Jacques Pecheur, were both jailed.

His 49-year-old marriage with Helga Glock ended in divorce in 2011 and the pair embarked on a lengthy legal battle over alimony. Soon after, he married his second wife, Kathrin, more than 50 years his junior.

He owned a lakefront mansion and a state-of-the-art equestrian sport centre in the province of Carinthia, where celebrities showed up for parties.

He is survived by his wife, a daughter and two sons.
As fans get set for the second season of The Tourist, the actor also admits that he was once mugged on holidays in Jamaica

Jamie on the red carpet with his wife, actress Amelia Warner, who he married in 2013

Jamie Dornan has said it is thanks to his Irish roots that fame doesnt go to his head.

The Fifty Shades star, who is back for season 2 of The Tourist on Jan 1, says he doesnt get mobbed by obsessed fans too often.

The Northern Ireland born actor reveals: It's not something I encounter very much of, to be honest. I really just try to close myself off to it as best I can.

In Ireland they say, Dont lose the run of yourself. Dont be getting ahead of yourself. They dont want to see someone being very pleased with the fact they have succeeded. It doesnt go down well. I have always been very mindful and grateful of that. It means you never get carried away with it.

The latest series was shot in Ireland

The fast-paced comedy/drama sees Jamie play the part of a man who wakes up in the Australian outback with no memory after a car crash.

In real life, the actor, who has three daughters, says he has been pretty lucky on his travels but was once mugged in Jamaica.

Ive been lucky. Ive spent more than 20 of my career often in very controlled environments and being very much looked after. I did have one really harrowing thing that happened to me when I was in Jamaica. I

I got mugged. It was one of the scariest experiences of my life. It's something I try to forget. Other than that, I've been lucky. Just the odd silly situation when you're younger and you've maybe had too much to drink while celebrating the end of your exams. That kind of thing.

The news series of The Tourist will focus on Elliot and Probationary Constable Helen Chambers (played by Danielle Macdonald) as they continue to hunt for answers relating to his identity. In doing so they are forced to face the dangerous consequences of his past actions.

Its not the first time that Jamie has played a character suffering from amnesia  with his standout performance as the creepy and violent Paul Spector, alongside Gillian Anderson in The Fall.

He says: In the second season of The Fall my character had amnesia. That was also a show that we thought would only run one season but came back because the audience wanted more. Ive been in this situation before, The Fall was only meant to be one series.

I always think if theres a want for something, you need to explore it. I dont think, for lots of reasons, this show should go on and on and on.

But I do think theres questions out there that need answers. Paul Spector, my character in The Fall, had amnesia but you never knew if he was telling the truth or if he was manipulating the situation.

With Elliott, there is a purity and a truthfulness to his memory loss that is really exciting. It turns the rulebook of how you prepare as an actor on its head. That's exciting to me.

The new series, was shot in Ireland, which meant Jamie could be close to his family.

Jamie on the red carpet with his wife, actress Amelia Warner, who he married in 2013

Jamie (41) is married to actress Amelia Warner and they have three daughters.

The Tourist was the most watched drama in Britain in 2022 and the new series kicks off on January 1.

He confirms Elliot and Helen are now in a relationship and are trying to get away from all the madness in the first series and be normal and put it all behind them.

I think the question of who Elliot is and why people are after him is compelling but I also think his relationship with Helen is fundamental to why everyone is excited for more. Helen is very much the moral compass of the story.

"She experiences all of the madness Elliot is experiencing and carries the audience through that. She's the normal one while Elliot is the mad one and this season we find out a lot more about who he is and the very dubious past he left behind.

The second season of The Tourist is on BBC One at 9pm on January 1.
A security officer hired to transport prisoners has been disciplined after physically assaulting a prisoner at court.

A complaint about the incident was one of four Corrections received about the contractors hired to provide escort duties in the 2022/2023 year - up from zero complaints in the previous year.

In its latest annual report, Corrections says an investigation was launched and most of the allegations against the security officer were found to be true. An apology has been issued and a disciplinary process completed.

Another security officer went through a disciplinary process after a complaint about inappropriate conduct and comments they made while supervising a prisoner at court.

Two further complaints were made by members of the public who claimed security officers had driven dangerously and above the speed limit in two separate incidents - the officers were required to undertake further training.

The contractor providing transport services took disciplinary action against 11 of its security officers in the latest reporting year, mostly because of poor attendance and failing to turn up for rostered shifts.

However, two people were disciplined after three prisoners escaped from their escort vehicle.

In February, three remand prisoners leapt from a van onto Auckland's Southern Motorway, near the Ellerslie-Panmure Highway off-ramp. It was travelling north towards Mt Eden Prison.

The prisoners fled on foot towards the South-Eastern Highway, before stealing a vehicle from a passer-by. They were arrested by police a week later and were charged with escaping custody and offences relating to the stolen vehicle.

A further security officer was disciplined for not wearing a seatbelt while driving.

The last reporting year also showed three instances of prisoner violence against security officers, while they were escorting inmates or undertaking courtroom custodial duties.

One prisoner kicked a security officer in the leg after refusing to be taken back to prison, and another punched a security officer in the jaw. A third prisoner tried to spit at one security officer and successfully spat in another's face.

Corrections national commissioner Leigh Marsh says a high standard of conduct is expected from all staff - including contractors.

"The nature of our work means we must act beyond reproach at all times. Our Code of Conduct describes the principles we operate by, and the standard of behaviour expected of all staff, contractors, consultants, and volunteers. This, combined with our human resources processes, ensures accountability for any behaviour that falls short of expectations.

"When we receive any information suggesting staff or contractors are not meeting our standards, we investigate and take the necessary action."

The overwhelming majority of staff acted with integrity, honesty and professionalism, says Marsh.

-Soumya Bhamidipati/RNZ.
Police has achieved some significant goals this year towards helping our Rainbow communities feel safer and making New Zealand the safest country.

Polices Diversity Liaison Network, established in 2002, has seen rapid growth from 65 to around 140 members since a conference was held in June 2022 to identify and set priorities.

This demonstrates a significant increase in the support Police provides to Rainbow communities and our people, and which continues to grow.

Diversity Liaison Officers hold a volunteer portfolio in addition to their regular roles and are invaluable to this organisation. They are passionate about what they do.

I grew up in a small town where everyone had to work together to get by, says Yvette McKelvie, Wellington District Lead DLO.

If I have a listening ear and an open mind, Ill understand best how to help. I can support our Rainbow communities directly but I can also help my colleagues understand how to be respectful and sensitive in their interactions.

Those ripples will improve feelings of safety and trust from our communities.

"Police should be a safe place that people can go to for help and, if some of our communities dont feel this way, we need to be working hard to change this. Im in this, boots, and all.

DLOs are working hard to provide good connection and support for Rainbow communities. This includes:

Over Labour Weekend, Police from Wellington District celebrated alongside locals and supporters at the Paekakariki Pride Festival  a great opportunity to walk alongside others in Rainbow communities and show Police really cares about diversity.

The Rainbow 101 Online Training module for staff was launched in January - 15 percent of our workforce have completed it, with overwhelmingly positive feedback.

The Next Genderation employee-led network launched in February 2023 as a safe place our gender diverse people, allies and family members can go for information and support.

In July, a Lead DLO hui in Wellington saw the establishment of structure, tools and resources to further equip and enable our people and enhance the effectiveness of the network. These tools include the ability to connect community members directly with our DLOs, with their consent, and to give Police visibility of their efforts and the difference they make to Rainbow communities and their districts.

The Tamaki Makaurau Rainbow Hui on 28 September included representatives from local Police leadership, 17 government agencies and NGOs.

DLOs played a significant role in Operation Trevor (link is external), helping vulnerable people feel safe to come forward and talk about their experiences.

DLOs will continue to work with internal and external partners, especially supporting areas that focus on hate crime, crowded places, youth and education, including Takatapui (Maori) MVPFAFF+ (Pasifika) and ethnic LGBTQIA+ communities.

We are still a work in progress, says Lead Community Inclusion Sharon Johnston, who is responsible for supporting the network.

This is a very good beginning that demonstrates how Police is committed to improving its service to Rainbow communities.

What we need now is for Rainbow communities to check us out, engage in conversations with us and keep us honest as we work to create a better future.

If you would like, or need, help or specific support from a DLO, please email DLOS@police.govt.nz (link sends e-mail).

-Police Ten One Magazine.
Generous donation by Frenchman Valley Coop and matching CHS INC grant assures necessary upgrades to PVFD equipment

The Potter Volunteer Fire Department recently received a donation of $10,000 from Frenchman Valley Coop, with the support of a matching grant from CHS INC Seeds for Stewardship. FVC Service Manager and Chappell VFD Fire Chief, Ryan Timm, presented the checks to the Potter Vol. Fire Department Fire Chief Mark Onstott. Chief Onstott had contacted FVC about the needs the fire department had for new equipment and their plans if they raised enough money to meet their goal.

Leann Weiss, a representative for FVC told the Sun-Telegraph, "FVC strongly believes in giving back to our communities. Management approved a donation of $5,000 to the Potter VFD. As a cooperative, FVC also has the ability to seek matching funds for donations to area non-profit and community organizations. Several weeks after completing the grant application, FVC was notified that CHS INC Seeds for Stewardship would match our $5,000 donation making the total amount presented to the Potter VFD $10,000." She went on to say, "FVC truly believes in supporting the communities where our employees and customers reside. Being able to help keep organizations like volunteer fire departments operational and efficient is vital for our rural life."

The PVFD plans to use the monies to upgrade their equipment to better serve the community. One of the requirements of the National Fire Protection Agency (NFPA) is that all fire departments must keep within specifications, which means keeping all of their equipment updated; this would include Bunker Gear, Fire Apparatus, and all essential equipment needed in fire fighting. Unfortunately, the monies the department receives through local tax dollars is not sufficient enough to be able to purchase what is needed, and so as they budget each year, they usually try to replace the oldest of the equipment, while staying within the specifications of the NFPA.

In order to make certain that the vast needs of the department are met, they constantly apply for grants from entities and sources that are not only just local, but include sources within the State of Nebraska, and the entire United States as well. Some of the grants and matching dollars that are received must be used for specific needs. The PVFD currently has several items on their wish list, which include a compressor for filling Air Packs used during fire-fighting, Bunker gear which includes a set for interior fire fighting, and wildland gear, which is a little bit lighter in weight, but still approved protection for the firefighters. They also desperately need specialized equipment needed for extrication during automobile accidents, plus many more items that would benefit the department to better serve the community. A big item that is currently being spec'd out is for a new pumper, which would cost around $600,000.

The PVFD would like to thank Frenchman Valley Coop and CHS INC Seeds for Stewardship for their generous contributions. They said when the equipment is purchased, they will follow up to them and to the community with the information on what the funds had been applied to.
Collecting information upon some thing or some one can be beneficial, such as a doctor obtaining as much medical history that is available on a patient. On the other hand, collecting personal information can be harmful, especially if it is on individual citizens, or communal groups of citizens that will be used to "monitor" their activities, even if those activities are peaceful and legal. That is something done in socialist, fascist and communist countries. (In reality there is so little difference in those 3.)

For example, if I am going to write an essay on the use of flowers in the courting rituals in Southeast Flaberagastan as a school assignment I would spend long hours in the school and public libraries, as well as on the Internet. (Just make sure you can prove the validity of the info you find on the net! There's tons of false info out there.) In some of my college classes I had to write several long essays and include the sources of the information used.

In many of my jobs, especially in newspaper reporting and in substitute teaching at college, I would spend many long hours researching and sorting information from as many different sources as possible. In both instances there is the major priority and concern to insure the info's accuracy as much as is humanly possible. In the news business reporting falsehoods as truth can often damage a person's or business's reputation, and usually ends up with said person filing a law suit on the reporter et al.

Over the years our federal, state and local governments have grown into something that would make America's founding fathers wish they had done something different.

From the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) down and through miscellaneous other Federal agencies (CIA, Internal Revenue Department, etc.) your private and public lives are under scrutiny  where you live, your income, who you voted for, what church you attend, medications you take, etc. "ad infinitum" (look up that term). Our privacy is pretty much a thing of the past. If you do anything on the WWW from searching for info on the sex life of subterranean bacteria to recipes that'll help stretch your budget, someone from various commercial outfits and all the way to the various departments in the Federal Kingdom is looking at what you are doing.

So what is wrong with that?

Nothing... as long as you are content to have anyone and everyone have access to every part of you life and then use that access to make rules and regulations that force you to adhere to someone's political philosophy. This kind of government has had many names over the centuries from kingships to Nazi and Communist tyrannies.

One of the results of this governmental intrusion into our lives is that it gives power hungry agencies and bureaucracies the ability to gain more and more control over the decisions you and I make. If we dare to support a candidate that the in power leaders despise, we could find a multitude of hindrances (aka pressures) surfacing in our lives. One of these is already in use... as a certain political party tries to gain more and more control over what is displayed and discussed on the WWW. All they have to do is label your post as "disinformation," and your ability to voice your opinion vanishes.

I'm sure there are readers out there who vehemently dislike what I write. That's OK. You have the right and the freedom to do so. You can write letters to the editor against me and have your letters printed. You can see me on the street and voice your objections to me verbally... please don't shout or curse, though. I have a bad case of tinnitus as a result of my time in the Navy defending your right to disagree.

The right of free speech is one of the things our founding fathers fought for and made sure it was a part of our national foundation as laid out in The Constitution of the United States. It states: "Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press, or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the Government for a redress of grievances." Any and all attempts to reduce or take away the right of free speech should be rejected and fought against (non-violently) every time the attempt is made. Just because you or I find someone's spoken or written word disagreeable (or offensive) does not mean we have the right to shut them down.

If we lose this basic freedom we lose it all. And America ceases to be the Land of the Free and the Home of the Brave.

God help us.
One of the major pieces of legislation that Nebraska State Senators passed this year was LB77, a bill which prevents cities, towns and villages from putting gun restrictions on citizens who care to arm themselves without a conceal-carry permit. As soon as the law went into effect on September 1, both mayors of the cities of Lincoln and Omaha enacted their own executive orders reinstating their city's gun free zones in public buildings, city parks, sidewalks, hiking trails, and parking lots. Their executive orders essentially nullified the effect of the bill.

Sen. Tom Brewer of Gordon, the primary sponsor of the bill, asked for an opinion about the new law from the Nebraska State Attorney General, Mike Hilgers. Specifically, Sen. Brewer asked if existing laws were sufficient to prevent cities, towns and villages from further regulating the carrying of firearms in public places, such as parks, parking lots, sidewalks, and hiking trails. Hilgers responded by saying that no further legislation would be needed. However, the State Attorney General's opinion conflicts with the opinion of the mayors of our State's two largest cites, who believe they are operating within the confines of the law.

Last week the Nebraska Firearms Owners Association filed lawsuits against the cities of Lincoln and Omaha challenging the executive orders of these two mayors. According to the Nebraska Firearms Owners Association, the executive orders of the two mayors violate Article 1 of the Nebraska State Constitution, the Second Amendment of the United States Constitution, and the new state law. I believe they are correct and that they will win in court.

Last year in a landmark decision the U.S. Supreme Court changed the way that courts should view gun laws. What is now known as the Bruen decision altered the standard used in lower courts for evaluating gun laws. The high court said that judges should follow the "nation's historical tradition" regarding the Second Amendment. That means that any decision by the court should cohere with the original intent of the Second Amendment. That decision by the high court is now affecting how lower courts rule.

So, on December 20th a U.S. District Court Judge, Cormac Carney, blocked a law that would have prohibited the carrying of guns in public places in the State of California come January 1. Carney wrote in his preliminary injunction that the new California law, "...is repugnant to the Second Amendment, and openly defiant of the Supreme Court." He said the new law would "unconstitutionally deprive conceal carry permit holders of their constitutional right to carry a handgun for self-defense." The executive orders written by Lincoln Mayor, Leirion Gaylor Baird, and Omaha Mayor, Jean Stothert, would seem to do the same thing as the California law and be subject to a similar kind of ruling by the courts.

Federal laws already ban the carrying of firearms in certain sensitive places, such as airports, military installations, and federal buildings. Moreover, Nebraska State law prohibits the carrying of concealed weapons in sheriff and police stations, prisons and jails, courtrooms and polling places, and hospitals, just to name a few. So, prohibiting the carrying of guns in public parks, in parking lots, on sidewalks, and on hiking trails by way of executive order circumvents state law, ignores the intent of LB77, and defies the new precedent set last year by our nation's highest court.

What the two mayors have done is nothing short of anti-gun activism. These kinds of executive orders punish law-abiding citizens, but do nothing to keep guns out of the hands of criminals. Executive orders like these only leave law abiding citizens unarmed, vulnerable, and helpless in the event of an armed conflict. Article 1, Section 1 of the Nebraska State Constitution guarantees to the citizens of Nebraska the right to bear arms for the purpose of "security or defense of self, family, home, and others." The intention of LB77 was to restore and to secure that right. Happy New Year!
Do you remember the big national debate on whether the United States would adopt a policy to make the foreign share of the population the highest its ever been?

Neither do I. For the simple reason, of course, that there wasnt one.

That doesnt mean that the policy wasnt adopted, through inertia and the Biden administrations imposition of a de facto open border for a large swath of asylum-seekers.

An analysis of Census data by Steve Camarota and his colleagues at the Center for Immigration Studies has found that a 4.5 million net increase in immigrants since Joe Biden took office has boosted the share of the foreign born to 15% , the highest ever recorded.

You know all the black-and-white photos of immigrants coming to Ellis Island, the lore about names being changed upon arrival, your huddled masses yearning to be free?

We are currently higher than that. Were eclipsing the Great Wave of Immigration with an even greater wave. We hit 14.8 in 1890 and 14.7 in 1910, in what were, until now, the most historic decades for immigration.

Just last month, the Census Bureau was projecting the foreign-born share of the population wouldnt hit 15% until in 2033. Now, we could keep going up from here. If the immigrant population continues to grow, Camarota writes, it will set new numerical and percentage records every year going forward.

A straight-line projection shows the share of foreign-born increasing to 15.5 by the end of Bidens term, and to an astonishing 17.3% by the end of a potential second term.

This is not the normal course of business. According to Camarota, the foreign-born population has grown on average by 137,000 a month since the beginning of Bidens term, higher than Donald Trumps pre-COVID-19 42,000 and Barack Obamas 68,000.

What accounts for this? Some of it is a COVID-19 bounce-back in legal immigration. But thats not responsible for the lions share of the story. The Biden administration has boosted the foreign-born share of the population well above the pre-COVID-19 trend line.

It has done it by ignoring the law and greasing the skids for new arrivals even if they have no right to be here. Of the total net 4.5 million increase of immigrants on Bidens watch, 2.5 million of that is illegal immigrants. Most of that illegal number is solely a function of discretion and the administrations opposition to excluding bogus asylum-seekers.

The Biden administrations border policy has obviously been the subject of debate, including criticism from his own party. The overall number of immigrants, though, is rarely mentioned, and even treated as an almost illegitimate topic for public consideration.

This makes no sense. The foreign-born share of the population has consequences for schooling, welfare, wages, politics and the broader culture. It is at least as important, if not more so, than trade policy, Ukraine aid, the deficit, infrastructure or a whole host of other issues that are routine fodder for congressional debate and the Sunday shows.

It also should be subject to the approval of the American people and its representatives just like those other issues. We should affirmatively decide whether we want the foreign share of the population to be 15% and growing, or less than 15% and shrinking, and the mix of people who are coming --largely unskilled, or overwhelmingly higher skilled?

Instead, we treat immigration as something that happens to us, like the weather. (Although progressives now seek to influence the weather, so maybe this is a dated analogy.) It isnt. We are making the choices that have gotten us to this point.

The fact is that immigration has operated largely under its own power, and under false pretenses, since the immigration reform of 1965. One reason theres so little discussion of the underlying issue is that many people simply dont know the historic numbers involved.

In short, theres been no debate on 15%, and one, shamefully, doesnt seem in the offing.
NANNING, Dec. 28 (Xinhua) -- Chen Rugui, a former senior legislator of south China's Guangdong Province, stood trial at the Intermediate People's Court of Nanning in neighboring Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region on Thursday.

Chen, formerly vice chairman of the Standing Committee of the Guangdong Provincial People's Congress, was charged with accepting money and valuables worth 108 million yuan (about 15.21 million U.S. dollars) personally and through his relatives, according to prosecutors.

He allegedly took advantage of his various positions in Guangdong to assist individuals and organizations on matters related to project contracting and business operation.

The prosecutors, the defendant and his lawyers cross-examined the evidence and gave their respective accounts, a court statement said.

In his final statement, Chen pleaded guilty and expressed remorse.

The trial was attended by more than 30 people, including lawmakers, political advisors and members of the public.

The verdict will be announced in due course. 
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Tompkins Community Bank announced that Amy Phelps has joined the company as a multi-site manager for its two branches in Syracuse. In her new role, Phelps will be responsible for the growth of Tompkins Syracuse market alongside existing teams at City Center and Lyndon.

>> Send us your companys news about People in Motion
Syracuse, NY -- Central New Yorks largest urgent care network is still planning to drop coverage for Excellus Blue Cross Blue Shield members at the end of the day Sunday.

That means that Excellus members who seek service at a WellNow location starting at midnight Monday, Jan. 1, will have to pay full price for service. That starts at $165 and goes up, depending on the care provided.

The two sides have been negotiating for months over a new contract that would allow Excellus members to continue to access WellNow care for a small co-pay.

If no agreement is reached before the New Year, Excellus customers will be forced to pay the higher rates, go to an emergency room, wait for an appointment with their primary care doctor or seek an urgent care farther from home.

Both sides told syracuse.com | The Post-Standard Thursday morning that their 11th hour discussions have not produced any breakthroughs yet.

Excellus, the areas largest health insurer, covered roughly 90,000 visits to WellNow centers in Onondaga County last year, according to WellNow. Statewide, that number was 300,000 visits across 31 counties.

WellNow has seven open urgent care locations in Onondaga County and four in the surrounding counties.

Tom Dennison, a retired Syracuse University professor and health care expert, said that WellNow serves as an important safety net for people who need care right away, but arent experiencing a life-threatening emergency.

Alternatives for similar urgent care in Onondaga County are scarce. Excelluss own list for alternatives in Onondaga County includes only five locations.

Of those, only one is a general urgent care. Its called Quick Care, located at Syracuse Community Health downtown, at 819 S. Salina St. There are no overnight or Sunday hours. The other options are specialized urgent cares, two for children and two for orthopedics.

There are more urgent care options in surrounding counties.

WellNow has for months blamed the contract impasse on Excellus for not paying high enough rates. The Illinois-based company argues that urgent care occupies a unique position between primary care and the emergency room.

Rochester-based Excellus maintains that its rates are comparable to those it pays to a primary care provider for the same service.

Staff writer Douglass Dowty can be reached at ddowty@syracuse.com or (315) 470-6070.
Syracuse, N.Y.  A jury awarded $7 million last week to the husband and estate of a DeWitt woman who faced complications after leg surgery.

The state Supreme Court jury on Friday found Dr. Scott Bradley, who formerly practiced at Upstate Community Hospital, was negligent in treating Geraldine Pace when he was her attending physician during rehabilitation from surgery to her left leg.

Pace had a nail and rod placed in her left leg in 2014 after fracturing it, and needed another operation several weeks later after another fracture. She later died in November 2020 at the age of 77 for unrelated reasons. The lawsuit was filed in 2015.
GUANGZHOU, Dec. 28 (Xinhua) -- With inspirations ranging from museums, literature, and murals, Piececool, a toy brand based in south China's Dongguan, incorporates distinctive cultural features into its creative product line, garnering recognition at home and abroad.

According to Xiong Mao, Piececool's brand manager, the company now sells in over 100 countries and regions, with product descriptions translated into seven languages and a global user base surpassing 100 million people.

"The younger generation craves innovative and trendy expressions to better showcase our culture," said Xiong, adding that the company's goal is to infuse Chinese culture into product design, enabling more people to embrace, experience, and delve into the stories behind them.

"Phoenix Crown," one of the company's featured products, has monthly sales of 220,000 and an annual revenue of over 100 million yuan (around 14.1 million U.S. dollars), Xiong said.

Global consumer demand is being driven by the incorporation of Chinese cultural creativity into brands. Companies expanding into the global market report strong demand for their products across countries and regions, from Southeast Asia to Europe and the United States.

MINISO, a variety store chain that specializes in household and consumer goods, opened a store at New York's Times Square in May, attracting a large crowd. Sales exceeded 550,000 yuan on the first day, with monthly revenue nearing 10 million yuan.

"They are very curious about Chinese culture, but there weren't many Chinese retail brands venturing abroad before," said Ye Guofu, CEO of MINISO. "Thus, products infused with Chinese culture create a demand among them."

MINISO has over 5,500 stores, with over 2,000 of them located in 107 countries and regions around the world. Its transformation from a retailer to a competent content producer in lifestyle trends mirrors the shift of Chinese brands from manufacturing toward consumer and content-oriented enterprises.

Gao Yanmin, a former Ministry of Industry and Information Technology official, expressed optimism about the current development of Chinese brands, adding that they've seen notable success through improved brand image and market expansion.

Gao believed that with continued efforts and policy adjustments, Chinese brands will be able to better meet the demand for high-quality products, address brand differentiation challenges, and carve out a more prominent image in the global market. 
Joshua Solomon, Times Union, Albany, N.Y. (TNS)

ALBANY  Gov. Kathy Hochul vetoed legislation that would have widened the net of eligible campaign contributions for matching public funds under a new system that is being rolled out in the 2024 elections.

The public financing of campaigns is intended to help less wealthy New Yorkers engage in the Democratic process by having their political contributions given as much weight as those from donors with more disposable income.

Signing this bill would effectively reduce the impact of small donors on elections, Hochul wrote in a veto memo on Wednesday. The legislation is in direct contravention of the purpose of the public campaign finance program, she added.

The legislation would also add significant costs to the state that were not budgeted. Hochul did not propose delaying the implementation of the program in her veto message.

The bill would have allowed for the first $250 of any contribution to a campaign in an election cycle to be matched by state funding. Currently, the program only allows matching donations for contributors who gave no more than $250 in a cycle. The amended version would have allowed larger contributions from deep-pocketed donors to receive a taxpayer-funded boost.

In statewide competitive races, candidates in a cycle, primary or general election campaign can be eligible for up to $3.5 million in matching funds. In a statewide race, a candidate receiving about 2,300 contributions of $250 can hit the maximum eligibility.

For competitive legislative races a candidate for state Senate can be eligible for up to $375,000 in matching funds and candidates for Assembly can be eligible for up to $175,000. To reach the maximum eligibility, a candidate for state Senate would need 163 contributions of $250 and a candidate for Assembly would need 76 contributions of $250.

The bill was passed narrowly by Democratic supermajorities of the state Senate and Assembly in the final days of this years legislative session.

Members of the Working Families Party and Democratic Socialists generally were hesitant of supporting legislation that could be viewed as weakening any power the existing matching funds program could give to grassroots campaigns seeking to challenge incumbents in primaries.

The measure was vehemently opposed by good government groups that advocated for the 2019 law, which created the states matching funds program. The public campaign finance advocates argued the bill would undermine the program.

The opposition included Joanna Zdanys, senior counsel in the Elections and Government Program of the Brennan Center for Justice at NYU.

Zdanys described the legislation as damaging and said it would further empower megadonors. Michael Waldman, husband of Elizabeth Fine, counsel to the governor, is the president of the Brennan Center.

On Wednesday, Zdanys said Hochuls veto ensures that New York can retain its rightful place as a national leader in countering the pernicious role of wealth in politics and that everyday New Yorkers can have a fairer say in our states political system.

The legislation was carried by the respective chairs of the election committees, state Sen. Zellnor Myrie and Assemblywoman Latrice Walker, both Brooklyn Democrats. In the Assembly, the bill was one of the most hotly debated measures in conference this year, according to a source familiar with those discussions. Typically, only legislation supported by Assembly Speaker Carl E. Heastie makes it to the floor for a vote.

The bill passed 80 to 66 in the Assembly and 34 to 29 in the Senate, although the unofficial floor vote was 32 to 31.

In an interview on Tuesday, Jay Jacobs, the state Democratic Party chairman, declined to take a stance on the legislation that could alter the way elections are run in New York. He said he had heard from some members of their concern about it.

The Times Union reported on Tuesday that the legislation was expected to be vetoed by Hochul, according to a source familiar with the matter.

At least 168 candidates have filed applications to take part in the public campaign finance program. Hochul, who is finishing the first year of a four-year term, is not among them. State Comptroller Thomas P. DiNapoli is the lone statewide candidate to enroll in it.

Many Republicans, despite their opposition to the program, also have enrolled in it. State Sen. Pete Harckham, Democrat of Westchester County, has raised the most funds qualified to be matched, over $50,000. Assemblyman Alex Bores, D-Manhattan, has raised the most in the Assembly, over $10,000 of eligible funds, according to data with the state Board of Elections.

The governors decision means the states public campaign finance program will continue to amplify the voices of everyday New Yorkers, and we encourage all campaigns to make use of its benefits, Citizens Union Executive Director Betsy Gotbaum said in a statement Wednesday.

___

(c)2023 the Times Union (Albany, N.Y.)

Visit the Times Union (Albany, N.Y.) at www.timesunion.com

Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.
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MANILA, Dec. 28 (Xinhua) -- The Philippines' foreign investments yielded net inflows in November, the Philippine central bank said Thursday.

The Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) said the November net inflows resulted from the 1.6 billion U.S. dollars gross inflows and the 902 million dollars gross outflows for the month.

"The recorded net inflows are a reversal of the 328 million dollars net outflows posted in October 2023," the BSP said in a statement.

The statement added the net inflows in November were 37.7 percent larger than that recorded for the same period a year ago. 
14000rpm Senior - BHPian



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re: The Christmas that was not merry | A road incident turned into a nightmare

All these days there was total silence from the incident. If the victim was indeed in the serious situation I was told he is in, how come there is radio silence? My conviction in the Scam theory became stronger. We thought us not yielding to the situation was unexpected for the scamsters and they backed off.

Life soon got back to normal. Me in US, wife in Bangalore getting on with life.



But then.



After 2 months of the incident, wife got a knock on the door. It was cops from the Gundlupete station. It was all too sudden and wife never even got a chance to call me. It was night for me too in the US. Lots of heated arguments concluding in, them having a FIR and intending to arrest the driver of the car which, as I had reported, was me. She was alone in a verbal match which, God knows how, she managed to turn it back on them stating that the accused is not in the country and they are mistreating a woman, who is unaccused and she shooed them off. Turns out, they didn't even have the FIR they were talking about. She then called some of her friends who had some political connections for help just in case.



Wife thought the situation was managed but then, as the apartment watchman said after overhearing their conversation, the cops planned to come back with a tow truck and tow away my car which was parked in the ground floor of the apartment.



Upon hearing this, she immediately called few of my close friends one of whose father was in the Forestry department and had his Govt. quarters in the woods near Jalahalli. My friends came over quickly and drove the car away and hide it in the garage of said quarters with a car cover on it.



As expected they came back shortly looking for the car which was not where they had seen it earlier. They came back knocking at the door again. Another argument ensued and in the melee, wife asked for the FIR. This time, they did show one albeit with fudged dates. In between all this, she called her friend again and told that they are back to harassing her.



A few minutes later, the cops get a call from afore mentioned politician's office and some choice of words were delivered and they went away never to return.



All this drama happened which I was still sleeping in US. She didn't even call me and managed all of this single-handedly just like Obavva did in Chitradurga fort.



My hats off to her crisis management skills. The situation was dealt with once and for all never to rear it's head again. She too left to US a few days later to join me with the car still in hiding in my friends garage.



When silence prevailed we started to piece up the story. As you, the reader, may have also guessed, the Cops and the scamsters from the village colluded to skim money in the guise of a hefty insurance claim. I'm sure the original victim himself was completely unaware of all this. A lot of false paper work would have followed to make a quick buck and share the spoils with the cops. Heck, I wouldn't even be surprised if it was the cops idea to start with.



A classic case of Fox guarding the sheep. After a few days of our return, I had to fly out to US for my onsite assignment.All these days there was total silence from the incident. If the victim was indeed in the serious situation I was told he is in, how come there is radio silence? My conviction in the Scam theory became stronger. We thought us not yielding to the situation was unexpected for the scamsters and they backed off.Life soon got back to normal. Me in US, wife in Bangalore getting on with life.But then.After 2 months of the incident, wife got a knock on the door. It was cops from the Gundlupete station. It was all too sudden and wife never even got a chance to call me. It was night for me too in the US. Lots of heated arguments concluding in, them having a FIR and intending to arrest the driver of the car which, as I had reported, was me. She was alone in a verbal match which, God knows how, she managed to turn it back on them stating that the accused is not in the country and they are mistreating a woman, who is unaccused and she shooed them off. Turns out, they didn't even have the FIR they were talking about. She then called some of her friends who had some political connections for help just in case.Wife thought the situation was managed but then, as the apartment watchman said after overhearing their conversation, the cops planned to come back with a tow truck and tow away my car which was parked in the ground floor of the apartment.Upon hearing this, she immediately called few of my close friends one of whose father was in the Forestry department and had his Govt. quarters in the woods near Jalahalli. My friends came over quickly and drove the car away and hide it in the garage of said quarters with a car cover on it.As expected they came back shortly looking for the car which was not where they had seen it earlier. They came back knocking at the door again. Another argument ensued and in the melee, wife asked for the FIR. This time, they did show one albeit with fudged dates. In between all this, she called her friend again and told that they are back to harassing her.A few minutes later, the cops get a call from afore mentioned politician's office and some choice of words were delivered and they went away never to return.All this drama happened which I was still sleeping in US. She didn't even call me and managed all of this single-handedly just like Obavva did in Chitradurga fort. Reference. My hats off to her crisis management skills. The situation was dealt with once and for all never to rear it's head again. She too left to US a few days later to join me with the car still in hiding in my friends garage.When silence prevailed we started to piece up the story. As you, the reader, may have also guessed, the Cops and the scamsters from the village colluded to skim money in the guise of a hefty insurance claim. I'm sure the original victim himself was completely unaware of all this. A lot of false paper work would have followed to make a quick buck and share the spoils with the cops. Heck, I wouldn't even be surprised if it was the cops idea to start with.A classic case of Fox guarding the sheep. Last edited by 14000rpm : 26th December 2023 at 16:28 .
Use Microsoft Authenticator for easy, secure sign-ins for all your online accounts using multi-factor authentication, passwordless, or password autofill. You also have additional account management options for your Microsoft personal, work or school accounts.

Getting started with multi-factor authentication

Multi factor authentication (MFA) or two factor authentication (2FA) provides a second layer of security. When logging in with multi-factor authentication, you'll enter your password, and then you'll be asked for an additional way to prove it's really you. Either approve the notification sent to the Microsoft Authenticator, or enter the one-time password (OTP) generated by the app.aThe one-time passwords (OTP codes) have a 30 second timer counting down. This timer is so you never have to use the same time-based one-time password (TOTP) twice and you don't have to remember the number. The one-time password (OTP) doesn't require you to be connected to a network, and it won't drain your battery. You can add multiple accounts to your app, including non-Microsoft accounts like Facebook, Amazon, Dropbox, Google, LinkedIn, GitHub, and more.

Getting started with passwordless

Use your phone, not your password, to log into your Microsoft account. Just enter your username, then approve the notification sent to your phone. Your fingerprint, face ID, or PIN will provide a second layer of security in this two-step verification process. After you've signed in with two factor authentication (2FA), you'll have access to all your Microsoft products and services, such as Outlook, OneDrive, Office, and more.

Getting started with autofill

Microsoft Authenticator app can also autofill passwords for you. Sign-in on the Passwords tab inside the Authenticator app with your personal Microsoft account to start syncing passwords, including the passwords saved in Microsoft Edge. Make Microsoft Authenticator the default autofill provider and start autofilling passwords on apps and sites you visit on your mobile. Your passwords are protected with multi-factor authentication in the app. You will need to prove yourself with your fingerprint, face ID, or PIN to access and autofill passwords on your mobile. You can also import passwords from Google Chrome and other password managers.

Microsoft personal, work or school accounts

Sometimes your work or school might ask you to install the Microsoft Authenticator when accessing certain files, emails, or apps. You will need to register your device to your organization through the app and add your work or school account. Microsoft Authenticator also supports cert-based authentication by issuing a certificate on your device. This will let your organization know that the sign-in request is coming from a trusted device and help you seamlessly and securely access additional Microsoft apps and services without needing to log into each. Because Microsoft Authenticator supports single sign-on, once you have proven your identity once, you will not need to log in again to other Microsoft apps on your device.

Optional Access permissions:

Microsoft Authenticator includes the following optional access permissions. All these require user consent. If you choose to not grant these optional access permissions, you can still use Microsoft Authenticator for other services that do not require such permission. For more information see https://aka.ms/authappfaq

Accessibility Service: Used to optionally support Autofill on more apps and sites.

Location: Sometimes your organization wants to know your location before allowing you to access certain resources. The app will request this permission only if your organization has a policy requiring location.

Camera: Used to scan QR codes when you add a work, school, or non-Microsoft account.

Read the contents of your storage: This permission is only used when you report a technical problem through the app settings. Some information from your storage is collected to diagnose the issue.

What's New
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A hot potato: It seems that in addition to concerns about robots taking jobs, we also have to worry about them attacking humans. According to an incident report filed with regulators, a Tesla engineer at the company's gigafactory in Austin, Texas, suffered serious injuries when one of the autonomous machines sank its metal claws into his back and arm, leaving a "trail of blood" along the facility floor.

The Information reports that the incident took place in 2021, when an engineer was programming the software that controls manufacturing robots at the Austin plant.

The report states that the engineer was working on three robots without realizing that only two had been shut down. The third robot, used to grab and move car parts, kept on moving, pinning the engineer against a surface and drawing blood from him with its claw. Another worker hit the emergency stop button, at which point the victim escaped the robot's grasp and fell down a scrap-metal chute. One witness said the injured worker left a trail of blood behind him.

Tesla submitted an injury report to Travis County and federal regulators regarding a worker receiving a "laceration, cut or open wound" from a robot. It states that the engineer's injuries didn't require him to take any time off work.

The Information notes that the federal Occupational Safety and Health Administration inspected Tesla's Austin factory just once a year in 2021 and 2022, the most recent inspections coming after a complaint was filed about a subcontractor suffering a heat-related injury. Tesla's Fremont, California, factory received nine safety inspections each year in 2021 and 2022, and four so far in 2023.

According to analysis of federal data carried out by the publication, Nearly one out of every 21 workers at the Austin factory were injured on the job last year. Similar factories record a much lower median injury rate of 1 out of every 30. The Fremont facility's rate was even worse: 1 in 12 workers were hurt while working last year.

Several current and former Tesla workers said that the company regularly cut corners on construction, maintenance, and operations in a way that puts them at risk of injury. Sources also say management's demands for increased production rates often result in safety issues.

Tesla's workplace safety problems stretch back years. In 2018, the automaker was accused of under-reporting the injuries its workers received while working at the Fremont factory, leading to an investigation by the California Division of Occupational Safety and Health.

There have also been reports of heavy machinery falling near production line workers, employees falling ill after exposure to toxins such as ammonia, a worker getting their ankle caught under a moving cart last summer, and someone being struck in the head by a metal object.

The slight irony about the recent report is that protecting workers' safety is often one of the justifications companies spout when introducing robots to factory floors. Amazon, another firm with a questionable safety record, recently added two new robots to its warehouses, including the humanoid-like Digit. Their maker insists they are meant to help humans, not replace them.

Center image: Steve Jurvetson
What just happened? The ongoing controversy over potential copyright infringements related to large language models' training data has taken a significant turn. The New York Times has sued OpenAI and Microsoft for using millions of its articles to train their systems without permission or compensation.

It's no secret that LLMs use swaths of information from the internet as training data, but the NYT claims in its copyright infringement lawsuit that its content has been given "particular emphasis." The suit, filed in Manhattan federal court, claims that the companies "seek to free-ride on the Times's massive investment in its journalism by using it to build substitutive products without permission or payment."

The suit states that the millions of the Times' copyrighted news articles, in-depth investigations, opinion pieces, reviews, how-to guides, and more were used to train the chatbots, which now compete with the news outlet as a source of information.

The lawsuit also highlights information provided by Bing that misidentified the publication's content. It included "the 15 most heart-healthy foods," twelve of which had not been mentioned in the Times story. Another claim is that the content generated is verbatim excerpts from NYT articles, meaning the publication is losing viewers and paying customers to the likes of ChatGPT.

The suit says the defendants should be held responsible for "billions of dollars in statutory and actual damages." It also requests that the companies destroy any chatbot models and training data that use copyrighted material from The Times. OpenAI believes its use of NYT content falls under "fair use" because it serves a new "transformative" purpose.

The suit also spends a good bit of time showing how its content is found in public datasets, such as WebText2, and is also weighted heavily there because of its perceived quality. pic.twitter.com/fO8iE8yAtN  MatthewBerman (@MatthewBerman) December 28, 2023

It was reported back in August that the Times had been in "tense negotiations" over reaching a licensing deal with OpenAI and Microsoft that would allow the former to legally train its GPT model off of material published by the Times, something the newspaper previously decided to prohibit. But the talks broke down, leading to the current lawsuit. OpenAI already has an agreement in place with Reuters to use its content for training purposes.

Data scraping has made numerous headlines this year. Elon Musk threatened to sue Microsoft in April over a claim that it was illegally using Twitter (as it still was then) data to train AI models. In April, more than 8,000 authors including luminaries such as James Patterson, Margaret Atwood, and Jonathan Franzen signed an open letter asking leaders from the top six AI companies to not use their work for training models without first obtaining consent and offering compensation. Despite this plea, OpenAI has been sued by authors on several occasions for copyright infringement.

In a separate but similar lawsuit, artists launched a copyright lawsuit against AI art generators Stable Diffusion and Midjourney in January.
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In a nutshell: Samsung is reportedly working on a rebranded version of its recently launched Galaxy A15 smartphone with a couple of noteworthy upgrades. The newly minted Galaxy A15 is already available in select markets and includes a sizable 5,000mAh battery pack. Sources familiar with the matter claim the reworked M15 will ship with an even larger 6,000mAh battery for additional runtime.

Supporting specs weren't shared, but most believe the M15 will otherwise be an almost exact clone of the Galaxy A15.

For those not up to speed, the A15 features a 6.5-inch Super AMOLED display (2,340 x 1,080 pixels, 396 PPI) operating at 90 Hz that is powered by an octa-core MediaTek Helio G99 SoC. RAM and storage configurations vary by model, ranging from 4 GB and 128 GB on the low end to 8 GB and 256 GB for those willing to pay more.

The budget A15 packs three rear-facing cameras: a 50 megapixel primary shooter, a 5 megapixel ultrawide lens, and a 2 megapixel macro camera. Up front, you get a 13 megapixel selfie camera with f/2.0 aperture.

Another key selling point for the rumored Galaxy M15 could be its software support. The A15 ships with Android 14 and One UI 6 out of the box, and is eligible for a minimum of four major operating system upgrades. Should this support also extend to the M15, it would be a top marketing feature.

If the Galaxy M15 does materialize and is as similar to the A15 as some expect, one can not help but wonder about Samsung's rationale. Why make two different phones that are so much alike when you could just as easily make a variant of the A15 with slightly different features, like a bigger battery?

No word yet on when Samsung plans to launch the M15 but with CES just around the corner and Mobile World Congress slated for the end of February, prospective buyers might not have to wait long.

Image credit: Alexander Andrews, Debraj Roy
In a shifting landscape of tech rumours, 2024 promises an exciting lineup of potential game-changers.

The anticipation is palpable among tech fans and gamers, from Nintendo Switch 2 leaks to rumors of Windows 12 and Samsung's move into AI-powered smartphones.

Nintendo Switch 2: What We Know

With a flood of rumors pointing to its impending arrival, the Nintendo Switch 2 is causing waves of excitement. This sequel, expected to hit stores in the latter half of 2024, promises to uphold the Switch legacy while elevating the gaming experience.

Rumors vividly show improved features, such as increased storage capacity for more immersive gaming experiences. The anticipation of a new 3D Mario and an expansive Mario Kart game sets the tone for exciting gameplay.

Conversations about the hardware powering this console range from potential Nvidia chipsets to rumored AMD involvement, leaving fans in the dark.

The display is also a hot topic, with talk of an OLED panel versus a low-cost LCD screen. A co-processor for docked performance and a possible increase in battery life only add to the intrigue.

While pricing and release dates remain unknown, the buzz surrounding potential games such as a new Zelda game, a Final Fantasy 7 remake, and an improved Breath of the Wild continues to build. Nintendo's usual secrecy only adds to the anticipation.

Read Also: Nintendo: Wii U, 3DS Online Play Shuts Down During the Holidays, Ahead of Schedule

Windows 12: What Rumors Say

Microsoft's rumored Windows 12 has already been talked about, though no official confirmation has been provided. It is expected to be released in 2024, and it will be a significant improvement over its predecessor, Windows 11.

According to reports, Microsoft intends to continue providing significant updates free of charge to existing users. However, the possibility of purchasing a new Windows license remains.

The transition from a forceful upgrade approach to a more lenient user-driven upgrade system is expected, similar to the approach seen in the transition from Windows 10 to Windows 11.

Leaked information hints at potential design changes reminiscent of macOS, a modular approach for diverse device experiences, and AI integration for content recognition and enhanced user interactions.

Additionally, improved Arm device support might mark a significant stride in compatibility and optimization.

Samsung's Foray Into AI

Samsung's trademark applications hint at a groundbreaking move with the Galaxy S-series, aiming to unveil its first "AI phone."

Details remain sparse, but indications of the company delving deep into generative AI have sparked curiosity.

While specifics on what an "AI phone" entails are elusive, the buzz around Samsung's commitment to incorporating AI into its flagship devices is undeniable.

The rumored launch date coinciding with the next Galaxy Unpacked event fuels anticipation for an unveiling that could redefine smartphone capabilities.

More Tech Coming

The potential arrivals of the Nintendo Switch 2, Windows 12, and Samsung's AI-focused Galaxy phones in 2024 hold the prospect of redefining gaming, operating systems, and smartphone experiences, respectively.

Additionally, users should also keep an eye out for potential new additions from Apple, such as the speculated iPad mini 7, iPad Pro featuring OLED, AirPods 4 equipped with FindMy and noise cancellation, and an updated MacBook Air boasting the M3 chip.

Stay posted here at Tech Times.

Related Article: Samsung to Unveil New AI-Powered Kitchen Products, Applications at CES 2024

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The New York Times (NYT) has escalated a legal battle against Microsoft and OpenAI, alleging copyright infringement and misuse of its content to train sophisticated AI models such as ChatGPT and Copilot.

The Verge reports that the renowned news outlet seeks billions of dollars in damages in a lawsuit filed with the US District Court for the Southern District of New York.

It emphasizes the alleged replication of its content and its negative impact on its relationship with readers and revenue streams.

New York Times Lawsuit: A Closer Look

The lawsuit's central claim is that Microsoft and OpenAI's AI models can generate content that closely resembles the expressive style of NYT articles, undermining the newspaper's distinct identity and business interests.

According to the New York Times, this perceived 'copying' of their work competes directly with their content and threatens their subscription, licensing, advertising, and affiliate revenues.

Despite the NYT's efforts to negotiate fair compensation for the use of its content, the lawsuit indicates a failure to reach an agreement with both companies.

"Settled copyright law protects our journalism and content. If Microsoft and OpenAI want to use our work for commercial purposes, the law requires that they first obtain our permission. They have not done so," The Times said in an emailed statement to CNBC.

The lawsuit demands that Microsoft and OpenAI stop using NYT content to train their AI models and seek significant monetary damages for alleged copyright infringement.

Read Also: Samsung to Unveil New AI-Powered Kitchen Products, Applications at CES 2024

OpenAI vs. Media Entities

This legal tussle marks a significant chapter in the ongoing struggle between media entities and AI developers.

Several media outlets, including The Guardian, BBC, CNN, and Reuters, have barred OpenAI's web crawler to prevent further data scraping from their websites, reflecting a broader industry concern regarding the unlicensed use of their content for AI training.

The New York Times took a firm stance against AI companies using its media archives to train algorithms in August, signaling a change in its terms of service (TOS) policy.

The updated TOS of the newspaper expressly prohibits using its extensive media content to train "any software program, including, but not limited to, training a machine learning or artificial intelligence (AI) system."

Microsoft and OpenAI have yet to provide an official statement. However, the complaint highlights the exponential growth and profitability of AI models trained on NYT's content for these tech companies, emphasizing the need for stringent measures to protect journalistic integrity and safeguard revenue streams.

Amidst these contentious legal battles, there have been contrasting approaches from media companies.

CNBC tells us that Axel Springer, the parent company of Politico and Business Insider, recently struck a deal with OpenAI, allowing ChatGPT to access their content in exchange for a licensing fee.

Similarly, the Associated Press has agreed to let OpenAI train its models using their news stories for the next two years.

Stay posted here at Tech Times.

Related Article: Artists, Researchers Unite to Protect Creative Works from AI

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BEIJING, Dec. 28 (Xinhua) -- China has released an action plan to promote green development in the shipbuilding industry, according to the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology (MIIT) on Thursday.

Sources in MIIT said that green development is an inevitable path that the shipbuilding industry will follow to achieve quality development. Focusing on the construction of a modern, industrial shipbuilding system is necessary, as is accelerating the green and low-carbon transformation of the sector.

By 2025, China aims to build a preliminary green development system in the industry, according to the plan, which was released by five authorities, including MIIT and the National Development and Reform Commission.

By 2030, the country aims to see its green shipbuilding technology reach an advanced international level and lead in the global green shipbuilding market, per the plan. 
In a shocking revelation, Nissan Motor Corporation and Nissan Financial Services in Australia and New Zealand fell victim to a cyber attack in early December.

The carmaker officially confirmed on December 22 that an "unauthorized third party" had illicitly breached its network systems in the mentioned regions, setting off alarm bells for cybersecurity agencies and law enforcement.

The Akira ransomware gang has announced that they are the ones who breached the sensitive employee data of the automaker.

Akira Ransomware Group Claims Responsibility

In an official announcement posted on its website, Nissan announced that it is actively investigating the breach's extent and impact on sensitive information.

Right now, the company is working diligently to assess the compromised data, emphasizing transparency in its communication with cybersecurity agencies, privacy regulators, and law enforcement in Australia and New Zealand.

Previously, Nissan is playing the guessing game to know the responsible group behind the data breach. Now, they already have the answers at the back.

The ominous Akira ransomware group has claimed responsibility for the cyber attack on Nissan.

Boasting about the theft of a staggering 100 gigabytes of data, including corporate files and personal information of employees, Akira has escalated the situation by threatening to expose the pilfered data unless a ransom is paid promptly.

Related Article: Akira Ransomware Steals Personal Information of Employees; BHI Energy Explains About the Attack

Akira's Modus Operandi

In the United States alone, the cybercriminals operating under the Akira gang have attacked approximately 180 organizations.

Since it is a popular group targeting several industries, it's also tied to the notorious Conti hackers. The latter had reportedly attacked Ireland's healthcare system in 2021.

Akira's brazen tactics involve encrypting data and coercing victims into paying a ransom, with a history of leaking information if their demands are not met.

Industry-Wide Cybersecurity Concerns

Nissan is only one of many car manufacturers that unfortunately encountered data breaches. Until now, the company is grappling with the consequences that the cybercriminals brought to its cybersecurity system.

As per Security Week, Toyota Germany also suffered from a major cyberattack in a parallel incident. The breach reportedly compromised the personal information of customers.

Back in May, Toyota also unveiled that the separate incident exposed a lot of customer information across Asia and Oceania for over six years.

According to the carmaker, the hackers were able to access the data from October 2016 to May 2023. Japan was exempted from the cyberattack and remained unaffected at that time.

Meanwhile, Tech Times reported in March that another automaker confirmed that their data might have been compromised by outsiders.

As per the previous report, Ferrari said that the ransomware attack restricted their IT systems. They told the customers that their client database had been breached.

As cyber threats continue to evolve, the automotive industry finds itself in the crosshairs of cybercriminals, emphasizing the critical need for robust cybersecurity measures to safeguard sensitive data and customer privacy.

Read Also: Israel Watchdog Accuses Iranian Hackers of Deploying Phishing Attack, Posing as American Cybersecurity Firm

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As we spend winter indoors and gather for holiday celebrations, the dependability of home COVID-19 tests becomes increasingly important.

However, an issue arises when expired test kits are discovered in our drawers just when we need them the most.

The good news is that the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) may have granted these tests extended expiration dates (via silive.com).

Extended Expiration Dates

An extended expiration date indicates that manufacturers have provided data proving the test's shelf life extends beyond the initially authorized period. But how can you discern if your expired test is still effective?

The FDA has a user-friendly online chart listing authorized at-home over-the-counter (OTC) COVID-19 diagnostic tests. It includes crucial details such as expiration dates, usage instructions, and information on who can use the test.

How to Check Test Kit Expiration Date

To check if your test's expiration date has been extended, locate the package's lot number and original expiration date.

On the FDA chart (which you can access here), find your test's lot number and original expiration date to reveal its new extended expiration date.

If your test is not listed on the chart, it means the expiration date has not been extended, and you should refrain from using it beyond its original expiration date.

Additional links provide information on specific test lots and exact expiration dates if extended. Manufacturers might post FDA letters indicating the extension if your test is not on the FDA page.

The FDA emphasizes the importance of retesting after a negative result with most at-home OTC COVID-19 diagnostic tests, regardless of symptoms, to minimize the risk of false negatives.

Further information on understanding test results is available on the FDA's website, including a dedicated FAQ section.

Read Also: Teen Undergoes Surgery Due to COVID-19-Induced Vocal Cord Paralysis

Free COVID-19 Tests

For those who discover expired tests, there is one silver lining. Free COVID-19 tests can now be ordered through USPS. It is essential to note that not all expired tests are eligible for an extended shelf life.

Ordering free COVID-19 tests from the Postal Service is simple and takes less than two minutes. To begin, go to special.USPS.com/testkits. You can also go to covidtests.gov.

Applicants only need to fill out a brief form with their name and mailing address, and the tests are delivered within one to two weeks.

For those without internet access or experiencing difficulties with online orders, a toll-free phone number (800-232-0233) is available for test requests.

The expiration date signifies the final day the test is expected to perform effectively, usually authorized for about four to six months by the FDA.

Take Note

Using a test beyond its expiration date is not recommended, as the test components may degrade over time, leading to inaccurate or invalid results.

By following expert guidelines, utilizing online resources, and staying informed about extended expiration dates, individuals can confidently navigate the complexities of at-home testing.

Stay posted here at Tech Times.

Related Article: Survey: Americans Eager to Boost Mental Health in New Year's Resolutions

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The "world's most powerful rotating detonation engine" is finally here. As claimed by Chinese engineers who "allegedly" created it, the hypersonic engine can reach Mach 16.

The new technology designed by Zhang Yining and his team at the Beijing Power Machinery Institute in collaboration with the People's Liberation Army's 93160 Unit, has the potential to reshape the future of air travel.

Unveiling a Revolutionary Engine

The recently unveiled air-breathing engine is poised to elevate air travel capabilities, reaching altitudes of 18.6 miles (30 km) and achieving speeds of approximately Mach 16.

If these claims prove accurate, it could usher in a new era where intercontinental flights take mere hours and significantly reduce fuel consumption compared to traditional jet engines.

Related Article: Boeing Is Developing Hypersonic Interceptor Prototype Designed to Destroy Incoming Missiles in the Air

A Closer Look on its Operating Modes

According to Interesting Engineering, the engine operates in two distinct modes, showcasing its adaptability and efficiency.

In the sub-Mach 7 mode, it functions as a continuous rotating detonation engine (RDE). This mode involves a dynamic process where external air mixes with fuel, creating a shock wave that propels the aircraft forward. The second mode, activated above Mach 7, transitions into an oblique detonation format, focusing the shock wave on a circular platform at the engine's rear.

While the efficiency of the engine is not explicitly disclosed, scientific estimates suggest that the detonation-driven propulsion could convert nearly 80% of chemical energy into kinetic energy. This represents a remarkable leap compared to conventional turbofan engines, which typically achieve only 20-30% efficiency through slower combustion processes.

Zhang's team asserts that their design, integrating rotational and straight-line detonation, stands as a "world first," showcasing Chinese ingenuity.

"This solution has obvious advantages and is expected to improve the optimal thermodynamic cycle efficiency in nearly all speed ranges, bringing a revolutionary change in aerospace propulsion," the researchers said via The South China Morning Post.

Overcoming Operational Challenges

The transition between the two operating modes posed challenges, particularly as the speed approached Mach 7. To address this, potential solutions were proposed, including reducing incoming air speed or making structural adjustments to the engine's internal components. These modifications aim to ensure smooth transitions and enhance overall performance.

Hypersonic Engine Remains as 'Work in Progress'

While the researchers express confidence in the engine's efficiency under common scenarios, they acknowledge that practical engineering parameters crucial for creating a usable product were not fully detailed in the research paper.

For you to better understand what a rotating detonation engine is, here's a 11-minute video by Scott Manley on YouTube. It will explain why it is better than regular engines used in common aircrafts.

China is no stranger when it comes to developing hypersonic weapons. Back in 2021, we reported that Beijing had a proposal about this technology.

According to the researchers, this powerful missile travels six times faster than the speed of sound. It can also destroy all communication lines within 2 kilometers in just 10 seconds.

Read Also: Hypersonic Missiles No Longer Worth It? New CBO Report Reveals One Major Problem

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Xolair, an injectable asthma and chronic hive medication, may prevent severe food allergies in children, according to a National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID) research.



The NAID study followed 165 children and three adults with food allergies, including peanuts and other foods. Experts found that ;articipants who received Xolair injections were able to eat more peanuts, eggs, milk, and pistachios without experiencing allergic reactions than those who received placebos, according to a report from People.

A Breakthrough Finding

Xolair, also known as omalizumab, is given to patients using pre-filled syringes, which allow them to inject themselves into their stomachs or quadriceps, or they can get injections into their arms by caretakers. The medicine significantly increased the amount of food that children and adolescents could eat without having adverse reactions, according to the study's findings.



In June, research indicated that food allergies affect about 6% of adults and children in the US, with people of color being more vulnerable. The severity of allergic responses can vary from mild symptoms like sore lips to severe conditions like shock and restriction of the airways. Many food allergy sufferers use Epinephrine-eluting devices (EPIPens), which relax airways during allergic responses.

A preventive medication, Xolair has the potential to significantly reduce the risk of fatal reactions caused by inadvertent ingestion of allergenic constituents in takeout or prepackaged foods, thereby sparing the lives of individuals with food allergies.

Read Also: Survey: Americans Eager to Boost Mental Health in New Year's Resolutions

Despite Xolair's fascinating potential benefits in preventing severe food allergies, the medication's prescription problems and its high cost makes it currently unaffordable for many, according to Men's Journal. It is expected that these concerns could be mitigated through FDA approval, thereby increasing the accessibility and affordability of the medication. Nevertheless, further comprehensive clinical testing is necessary before reaching any conclusive findings.

Experts Look Forward to Xolair's FDA Approval as Severe Allergy Treatment

Dr. Joyce Yu, a pediatric allergy and immunology expert at Columbia University's Vagelos College of Physicians and Surgeons, expressed excitement about the drug's possible FDA clearance, saying it might make doctors' and kids' lives less difficult, per NBC News.

Dr. Cosby Stone of Vanderbilt University Medical Center explained that Xolair, an artificial antibody, functions by inhibiting IgE, an immune system component responsible for inducing allergic responses. If given the go-ahead, Xolair has the potential to be a beneficial alternative for guardians of allergic children, especially toddlers, who are notoriously difficult to protect from possible allergen exposure. Although preliminary findings from cohort studies suggest that it may have protective properties, scientists anxiously await results from a randomized controlled trial to confirm its effectiveness.



While the FDA has not commented on the drug's approval status, the recent declaration by the NIAID and drugmakers Genentech and Novartis regarding priority review for Xolair indicates progress in the regulatory procedure. It is expected that the medical journal will publish the trial's comprehensive findings in late January or early February.

Related Article: Teen Undergoes Surgery Due to COVID-19-Induced Vocal Cord Paralysis

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Barracuda ESG, a widely used email security product, faces a renewed threat as the China-linked UNC4841 cyberespionage group exploits a new zero-day vulnerability.

For years, Chinese hackers have been a threat to numerous industries including healthcare, smart home, gaming, and more.

Barracuda ESG Cyberattack

As reported by Security Week on Dec. 27, the saga began in May 2023 when a zero-day vulnerability, CVE-2023-2868, was discovered in Barracuda ESG. This led to malware delivery and data theft.

UNC4841, a cyberespionage group allegedly sponsored by the Chinese government, was identified as the culprit with high confidence by Mandiant in June.

Despite Barracuda's prompt patch releases, UNC4841 persisted in exploiting devices, delivering custom backdoors such as SeaSpy, SaltWater, and SeaSide, along with a rootkit named SandBar.

Trojanized versions of Barracuda LUA modules further exacerbated the threat. Even then, the state-sponsored cybercriminals continued to bombard it with more malware attached to files.

Related Article: Israel Watchdog Accuses Iranian Hackers of Deploying Phishing Attack, Posing as American Cybersecurity Firm

CVE-2023-7102 Serves as New Warning

Barracuda issued a Christmas Eve warning, revealing a fresh zero-day vulnerability, CVE-2023-7102. This arbitrary code execution flaw affects "Spreadsheet::ParseExcel," an open-source library utilized by the Amavis virus scanner in ESG devices. The exploit enabled the delivery of new SeaSpy and SaltWater malware variants to a limited number of devices.

How Malware Exploits Zero-Day

UNC4841 leveraged the zero-day by sending targeted organizations specially crafted Excel files attached to emails. The lack of a patch for the 'Spreadsheet::ParseExcel' library (CVE-2023-7101) adds complexity to the remediation process.

"On December 22, 2023, Barracuda deployed a patch to remediate compromised ESG appliances which exhibited indicators of compromise related to the newly identified malware variants. No action is required by customers at this time, and our investigation is ongoing," Barracuda wrote in a blog post. "

Since hackers have no rest day or holiday in their illegal activities, Barracuda urged organizations using "Spreadsheet::ParseExcel" to review CVE-2023-7101 and promptly implement necessary remediation measures. Additionally, the company has released new IoCs related to the observed malware variants, exploits, and infrastructure.

Impact of Zero-Day Exploit Globally

Previous activities by UNC4841 targeted entities across 16 countries, focusing on government organizations, officials, academics, academic research organizations, and foreign trade offices.

More than half of the victims were in the Americas, with over a quarter being government organizations. The cybersecurity firm Mandiant highlighted specific interest in Asian entities by China.

This year, Chinese hackers used different strategies to orchestrate various attacks on multiple companies including Microsoft.

In our Aug. 25 report, we reported that the "Flax Typhoon" group which is said to be a group of Chinese hackers was seen to be targeting Taiwan's government and its organizations.

This month, another Chinese hacking gang known as "Volt Typhoon" allegedly attacked the US water, communication, and power systems.

The US officials believed that the cyberattack had something to do with the tension between China and Washington over Taiwan.

Read Also: BattleRoyal Hack: Threat Actors Use 'Special' Type of Social Engineering to Deliver DarkGate RAT Malware

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A recent study led by Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health unearthed a staggering financial reality: major social media platforms in the United States pocketed an eye-watering $11 billion in advertising revenue from under-18 users through 2022.

This study, recently published in PLOS ONE, provides a critical glimpse into the impact of these platforms on the younger demographic.

Social Media Giants Big Pay Day from Young Users

The research looked into the revenue generated by six giant social media platforms from users under 18: Facebook, Instagram, Snapchat, TikTok, X (formerly Twitter), and YouTube.

Surprisingly, the report revealed that this demographic contributed significantly to the coffers of these platforms, with a total ad revenue figure of $11 billion in just one year.

YouTube emerged as the platform with the largest under-18 user base, with 49.7 million young users in the United States. TikTok came in second with 18.9 million users, while Snapchat, Instagram, Facebook, and X had 18 million, 16.7 million, 9.9 million, and 7 million users, respectively.

The study delves deeper into the financial windfall, highlighting the revenue breakdown across age groups. YouTube captured the lion's share of ad revenue from users aged 12 and under, amassing $959.1 million.

On the other hand, Instagram emerged as the revenue champion among 13-17-year-old users, earning a whopping $4 billion. TikTok also significantly increased in the same age group, amassing $2 billion.

Read Also: Burger King Debuts' Hangover Whopper,' Facial Recognition that Gives Coupons to Flushed Customers

Effects on Young Social Media Users

However, amid these financial triumphs lies a concerning undercurrent. Senior author Bryn Austin, a professor in the Department of Social and Behavioral Sciences at Harvard, expressed growing apprehension over the impact of social media practices on youth mental health.

Austin emphasized that despite mounting concerns about the adverse effects of these platforms on young individuals, substantial financial incentives motivate these platforms to delay meaningful steps to protect children.

"Although social media platforms may claim that they can self-regulate their practices to reduce the harms to young people, they have yet to do so, and our study suggests they have overwhelming financial incentives to continue to delay taking meaningful steps to protect children," Austin said.

Take Note

The study, relying on public survey and market research data from 2021 and 2022, encountered limitations due to the absence of user age and advertising revenue data from the platforms.

Lead author Amanda Raffoul, an instructor in pediatrics at Harvard Medical School, underscored the necessity for greater transparency from social media giants and regulatory measures to shield vulnerable young users from potential harm.

Researchers advocated for data transparency and stringent regulations, highlighting the challenges posed by the lack of public disclosure regarding user data and advertising revenue.

They stressed the urgency to safeguard the well-being of young users who might be susceptible to negative mental health outcomes while utilizing these platforms.

Stay posted here at Tech Times.

Related Article: Experts Warn AI Misinformation May Get Worse These Upcoming Elections

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The renowned Google AI is now expanding to Android Auto, with the tech company currently working on this integration to bring Assistant's features to the in-car system. Through Google Assistant's generative AI, the Android Auto service will help summarize the messages that users receive while connected to the hands-free driving experience of the car, with a catch.

Assistant's goal is to summarize the entire conversation for a user, instead of having the voice read aloud the entire chatbox for the driver.

Google's AI is now on Android Auto via Assistant AI

(Photo : Android via YouTube Screenshot)

A new report from 9to5 Google revealed the company's latest AI integration to its products, with it focusing on the Android Auto service that is getting the Assistant.

Through the AI voice assistant, users may ask the technology to summarize messages in a conversation, and through this way, users no longer need to read it from their devices, the infotainment system, and have the tech read it individually.

It was reported that this feature first appeared in the current beta version of the Google app, v14.52, and while it is in limited rollout and under testing, it remains unknown when Google will bring it to Android Auto users.

Read Also: Google's Gemini AI Gets an Early Release, Now Powers Bard with Multimodal Features

Assistant AI to Summarize Messages with a Catch

Google's Assistant AI arriving on the Android Auto feature has a catch, as claimed by the report, and it was said by the company that users should not expect it to be 100 percent accurate with its summaries.

Provided that it is using generative AI for the summarization, Google said that this feature could make mistakes, and not deliver the entire context and content of the conversation.

Google's Generative AI Developments

The generative AI developments from Google were massive this year, and looking back, the company gave the world many to experience within its platform, first beginning with Bard. Its renowned Google Assistant was given to Bard at first to bring generative AI to voice-assistive tech, offering the famed capabilities and features that people may use in their everyday needs.

In the most recent drop by the company, it introduced the Gemini AI, and this is the new and improved version that is on the verge of powering Bard, the face of Google's artificial intelligence. The company said that this Gemini will rival the top LLMs of the world, including the renowned OpenAI GPT platform, ramping up its efforts against the popular ChatGPT.

The recent rollout of Gemini to Google's different apps and experiences is now taking shape, with its AI seeing better features and improvements compared to what Bard offered before. Now, it is heading to Android Auto, with Assistant AI that has Gemini offering its generative capabilities to summarize the messages in a certain conversation, but Google asks for a little patience with its inaccuracies.

Related Article: Can You Access Hidden Android Auto Settings? Here's 3 Steps to Do It

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In pursuit of a comprehensive climate study, American scientists are embarking on an expedition to Antarctica.

(Photo : Alto Crew on Unsplash)

Massive Melt Down; Antarctica And Greenland Are Losing 318 Gigatons Of Ice Which Could Freeze Cities, Even In New York!

Seeking, Retrieving Samples of the Oldest Ice

In collaboration with the federally funded COLDEX initiative, their mission involves seeking out and retrieving samples of the oldest ice, dating back around 800,000 years.

Interesting Engineering reported that this endeavor aims to enhance our understanding of climate change by analyzing past climates, with a particular focus on greenhouse gas levels and their influence on Earth's climate.

The significance of ice cores in providing crucial insights into the fundamental workings of our planet's climate underscores the importance of this research initiative. During the seven-week expedition, the team establishes camps on the Antarctic ice to collect samples.

Extending Ice Core Record

Their primary objective is to extend the continuous ice core record beyond 800,000 years, reaching back to 1.5 million years or even further. The aim is to gain insights into the various ways the climate system behaves under warmer conditions.

The mission has a primary goal of advancing our comprehension of Earth's climate and its historical patterns. As part of this endeavor, scientific teams are engaging in an extensive expedition in Antarctica.

CBS reported that their focus is on locating and extracting samples of the oldest ice, utilizing drilling techniques to obtain ice cores from deep within the Antarctic ice.

To prevent any risk of melting, the extracted ice cores are carefully transported in climate-controlled packaging during their journey from Antarctica to the United States.

Upon reaching the U.S., these ice cores will be subjected to thorough analysis in various university laboratories, including Princeton University. The researchers will specifically examine the trapped air bubbles within the ice to extract valuable climate data.

One of the field researchers, Sarah Shackleton, expressed her fascination with the process, highlighting the intriguing journey of these ancient air bubbles from the atmosphere millions of years ago to their current state in New Jersey, where they will be measured.

The ultimate aim of this comprehensive study is to gain insights into historical greenhouse gas levels, particularly carbon dioxide, contributing essential information to the understanding of Earth's past climate changes and providing a valuable context for interpreting ongoing climate change trends.

Also Read: NASA to Release Enormous Scientific Balloons Over Antarctica - What For?

Funded by the National Science Foundation, COLDEX operates as the primary recipient of scientific research grants in the United States.

The quest for the oldest ice extends beyond American scientists, as research teams from various countries are conducting independent missions in Antarctica with a shared objective.

European and Australian teams are actively engaged in drilling operations across different regions of the continent.

The race to uncover the ancient ice holds international significance, and the team that succeeds in making this discovery is poised to attract global attention for its contributions to climate research.

Related Article: Antarctica's Ice Shelves Thickness Revealed: Surprising Result May Alter Sea Level Rise Projections

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The world of electric vehicles is now shifting towards an alternative, with JAC Motors proudly presenting its new EV fleet that will feature the world's first-ever Sodium-ion batteries to power the car. Through JAC Motors Yiwei, these new EVs will bring a different kind of power cell, one that no longer relies on lithium for the batteries to deliver what it needs.

JAC Motors Brings New EVs with Sodium-ion Batteries

(Photo : ANTONIO SCORZA/AFP via Getty Images)

Imported cars made by Chinese car-maker JAC Motors are on display at an auto dealer's on September 16, 2011 in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.

CarNewsChina reported that the world's first electric vehicles equipped with sodium-ion batteries are coming next year, with JAC Motors offering the latest power cells on their Yiwei EV platform. This will feature the new power source for the cars, the sodium-ion battery, centering on the first mass-produced EVs of its kind.

The sodium-ion battery has a lower density compared to lithium-ion, but it performs better than the current-gen batteries in colder temperatures, particularly in winter conditions.

According to Engadget, JAC Motors is best known as a Volkswagen-backed Chinese car company, with Yiwei being its new brand that only debuted in 2023. Volkswagen owns a 75 percent stake in JAC, as well as its parent company, Anhui Jianghuai Automobile Group Holdings (JAG), where it owns 50 percent.

Read Also: Sheffield Engineers Introduce New Way to Determine the Health of Lithium-Ion Batteries

JAC Motors Yiwei EVs: Coming this 2024

Yiwei EVs feature a striking resemblance to its siblings, those under JAC Motors' regular electric vehicle lineup in China and other markets.

This new battery from JAC Motors uses cylindrical sodium-ion cells and assembles the modular UE (Unitized Encapsulation) honeycomb structure.

It was not revealed when JAC Motors would release the Yiwei EVs come next year, and it also remains unknown if this would be a wide release to all of its markets, or be exclusive to the Chinese market only.

The Shift from Lithium-ion Batteries

For many years, the alkali metal known as lithium has been one of the main components needed to create the batteries that bring electric power to devices that do not rely on direct power sources. However, one of the main problems of lithium is that manufacturers need to mine, and there are many against these procedures, even the likes of NASA.

That being said, there have been various studies that looked for possible alternatives in creating the next-generation power cells for different applications in the world. Back in 2018, scientists considered using sodium to replace lithium, but there were initial problems in getting it to work, especially as it may combust when exposed to water.

It has been five years since then, and throughout the numerous studies made behind it, researchers were able to figure out a way to make it work and bring power to different technologies. Now, EVs are getting this newfound power, with JAC Motors Yiwei electric cars coming next year, set to deliver the first-ever vehicles powered by sodium-ion batteries.

Related Article: NIO Provides an Update to its EV Production, New Sales Record and Delivery Update

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The Apple Watch saga seems to have stemmed from an irresistible pitch by a scientist. The scientist emailed Apple CEO Tim Cook at around 1 a.m. California time in 2013 to outline a vision to make Apple the leader in the medical, fitness, and wellness market.

Within 10 hours, an Apple recruiter responded, initiating a chain of events that led to the recruitment of Marcelo Lamego, a Stanford engineering PhD, as part of Apple's team to develop a smartwatch with health sensors, Bloomberg reported.

Marcelo Lamego's History With Apple

Marcelo Lamego, previously the chief technical officer of Cercacor Laboratories Inc., a sister company of Masimo Corp., brought significant expertise to Apple.

His arrival at Apple is considered the catalyst that triggered legal actions from Masimo, a medical device company. The dispute centers around the allegations that Apple, by hiring Lamego, infringed on Masimo's patents related to the technology for noninvasively measuring a person's blood-oxygen level.

Masimo contended that Lamego, during his tenure at Apple, used the knowledge gained from his time at Cercacor and Masimo to develop the blood-oxygen feature.

Lamego departed from Apple in July 2014, a few months after joining, leading to Masimo's assertion that Lamego's exit occurred after Apple obtained what it needed. Apple's initial smartwatch, announced in September 2014, did not include the blood-oxygen sensor, relying instead on the more basic technologies.

The hiring of Lamego and subsequent legal battles between Apple and Masimo unfolded against Apple's exploration of wearable technology and health-focused device features.

The legal dispute intensified as Masimo accused Apple of not only poaching Lamego but also hiring Masimo's former chief medical officer and approximately 20 other employees, alleging that Apple used a meeting between the two companies to gain insights into Masimo's technology and personnel.

Masimo filed a lawsuit against Apple, seeking over $3 billion in damages, asserting that Apple's actions violated its patents. Apple countered, denying any wrongdoing and asserting that Masimo's lawsuit was an attempt to clear the way for its own consumer-focused wearables.

Read Also: Apple Smartwatches, Now Temporarily Available Just A Day After USITC Ban

The Legal Battle

The legal battle escalated further when the US International Trade Commission (ITC) ruled in favor of Masimo in October, ordering Apple to remove infringing models from the US.

The dispute has not only impacted Apple's sales but also underscored the significance of the blood-oxygen feature, considered the fifth vital sign, in wearable devices.

Apple's strong disagreement with the ITC decision, its efforts to make software changes to comply with the ruling, and its pursuit of legal remedies suggest a determination to navigate the challenges Masimo's claims pose.

As Masimo seeks financial compensation and an apology, the clash between the two companies raises questions about the intersection of technology, intellectual property, and competition in the fast-evolving landscape of wearable devices and health-focused innovations.

The ongoing legal proceedings highlight the complexities of disputes in the tech industry, where companies vie for market dominance and intellectual property protection.

Related Article: Biden Administration Allows Apple Watch Import Ban to Proceed Amid Patent Dispute

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GENEVA, Dec. 28 (Xinhua) -- The World Health Organization (WHO) expressed concern on Wednesday about tens of thousands of displaced people fleeing from Israel's strikes across the center and south of the Gaza Strip.

"The WHO is extremely concerned this fresh displacement of people will further strain health facilities in the south, which are already struggling to meet the population's immense needs," Richard Peeperkorn, WHO representative in the occupied Palestinian territory, said.

Food shortage continues to be acute across Gaza, with hungry people stopping the WHO convoys in the hope of finding food, the health agency said.

"This forced mass movement of people will also lead to more overcrowding, increased risk of infectious diseases, and make it even harder to deliver humanitarian aid," Peeperkorn added.

Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, WHO director-general, reiterated his appeal to the international community to take urgent steps to alleviate the "grave peril" facing Palestinians.

According to the latest WHO assessments, Gaza has 13 partially functioning hospitals, two minimally functioning ones, and 21 that are not functioning at all. 
Baidu's Ernie Bot has celebrated a significant milestone, amassing over 100 million users since its public launch in August, Reuters reports.

This milestone highlights the increasing value of generative AI-powered chatbots in today's tech landscape, where Baidu has staked its claim despite stiff competition.

Ernie Bot Beginnings

The chatbot's road to 100 million users began in March with a partial unveiling that, while deemed underwhelming by analysts, provided Baidu with a critical first-mover advantage.

Following a five-month trial period, select users were able to test Ernie Bot's capabilities, paving the way for its eventual public release in August.

Despite stiff competition from ChatGPT, which claimed the title of the fastest-growing software application globally within six months of its late 2022 launch, Baidu's early entry has allowed Ernie Bot to secure a prominent position.

Reuters also reports that SuperCLUE, a ranking platform for generative AI-powered chatbots, places Ernie Bot at the forefront among Chinese chatbots, albeit with a score of 79.02, over 10 points lower than the latest iteration of ChatGPT.

Read Also: Microsoft Soft-Launches Copilot App on Google Play Store-Powered by OpenAI's GPT-4 and DALL-E 3!

Better than ChatGPT?

Back in June, Baidu claimed superiority based on the performance of Ernie 3.5, the most recent version of their language model at the time.

According to the China Science Daily journal, Ernie 3.5 outperformed both ChatGPT and GPT-4 in benchmark tests based on OpenAI's GPT 3.5 model.

The tests covered a variety of topics, demonstrating Ernie 3.5's superiority in the Chinese language. However, in terms of English language proficiency, it lagged behind GPT-4 while still outperforming ChatGPT.

Furthermore, founder Robin Li proudly declared in October that "Ernie is not inferior in any respect to GPT-4," emphasizing Baidu's commitment to advancing AI capabilities in the country.

Despite these strides, Baidu and other Chinese AI pioneers face challenges. The global race to develop AI services like ChatGPT and DALL-E encounters headwinds due to US sanctions on Chinese access to advanced chips required for training and running AI models.

Additionally, Beijing's stringent censorship adds another layer of complexity, potentially impacting the prospects of Chinese AI breakthroughs on the international stage.

In August, China approved the release of the first batch of generative AI services for domestic use, featuring products from emerging players and established technology giants like Baidu.

At one point, Ernie Bot surged to the top of China's iPhone app store download chart, exceeding one million users on launch day, though it faced competition from established services like Tencent's WeChat.

The initial success continued as Ernie Bot garnered widespread public approval, with over 6 million users embracing its AI-powered capabilities just days after its September release.

This positive response further solidifies Baidu's position in the fiercely contested landscape of generative AI-powered chatbots.

Stay posted here at Tech Times.

Related Article: Google AI is Now on Android Auto, Assistant to Summarize Messages, But There's A Catch

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Juliann Zhou, a researcher at New York University, has delved into advanced artificial intelligence (AI) models in a groundbreaking study, specifically examining their ability to detect sarcasm in written text (via TechXplore).

This research holds significant implications for improving sentiment analysis, a vital aspect of natural language processing (NLP) models.

Sarcasm Detection in AI

Large language models (LLMs), such as ChatGPT, have become essential for understanding and generating human-like responses.

As these models gain popularity, the researcher believes evaluating their capabilities and limitations is critical. Zhou's research focuses on detecting sarcasm, a linguistic nuance that is often difficult for AI to grasp accurately.

Understanding sarcasm is essential for sentiment analysis, which is deducing people's opinions from online content. Many reviews and comments contain irony, which could cause sentiment analysis models to misclassify them.

Zhou emphasizes the importance of improving AI models to interpret these nuanced expressions accurately.

Read Also: Remember Ernie Bot? Baidu's ChatGPT-Like AI Chatbot Hits 100 Million Users Amid Fierce Competition

Evaluating Advanced AI Models

Zhou focused her study on two promising models, CASCADE and RCNN-RoBERTa, designed to excel in detecting sarcasm. These models were pitted against each other in a series of tests using comments from Reddit, a platform known for its diverse discussions.

The research compared the performance of CASCADE and RCNN-RoBERTa with baseline models and even human capabilities in sarcasm detection.

Zhou's findings indicate that augmenting contextual information, including user personality embeddings, significantly enhances the models' performance.

Notably, incorporating the transformer-based RoBERTa proved more effective than traditional approaches like Convolutional Neural Networks (CNN).

AI and Human Understanding

The study's success in improving sarcasm detection has promising implications for the future development of LLMs.

Zhou's work not only enhances our understanding of the strengths and limitations of AI models in processing nuanced language but also paves the way for more accurate sentiment analysis.

Zhou's groundbreaking research adds a layer of sophistication to the ongoing efforts to make AI models more attuned to human communication.

By dissecting the intricacies of sarcasm detection, this study contributes to refining AI's ability to interpret online content accurately, a critical advancement for industries relying on sentiment analysis.

The study's findings are particularly timely as companies invest in sentiment analysis to improve services and meet customer needs.

Zhou's work suggests that, with enhanced sarcasm detection capabilities, AI models could become invaluable tools for swiftly and accurately analyzing online reviews, posts, and other user-generated content.

In Other News

The AI Foundation Model Transparency Act proposes that AI companies disclose copyrighted training data, increasing transparency during model training. This addresses concerns raised in legal proceedings against Stability AI and Getty Images.

The bill, introduced by Representatives Anna Eshoo (D-CA) and Don Beyer (D-VA), directs the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) to collaborate with the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) in developing regulations for reporting training data transparency.

Stay posted here at Tech Times.

Related Article: New York Times Takes Legal Action Against Microsoft, OpenAI Over ChatGPT IP Abuse

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In the wake of Apple's October alert to independent Indian journalists and opposition politicians regarding potential government-sponsored hacking attempts on their iPhones, the Modi administration swiftly retaliated, casting doubt on the credibility of Apple's internal threat algorithms.



The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), in a public stance, questioned the effectiveness of Apple's security measures and concurrently initiated an investigation into the security of Apple devices operating within India, as reported by The Washington Post.

Modi Government Pressuring Apple

Meanwhile, behind closed doors, senior officials in the Modi government took a more aggressive approach. Sources familiar with the matter, choosing to remain anonymous, disclosed that Apple's India representatives were summoned to address the political repercussions of the warnings. Additionally, an Apple security expert from abroad was brought to New Delhi for a meeting, during which government representatives pressured the Apple official to provide alternative explanations for the warnings.



This behind-the-scenes maneuvering underscored the lengths to which the Indian government was willing to go to downplay and discredit Apple's warnings, shedding light on the challenges faced by even the most powerful tech companies when navigating the assertive leadership of one of the world's most populous nations and a critical technology market.



Beyond the clash, the incident brought to the forefront broader issues concerning government critics in India. Digital rights groups, industry workers, and journalists emphasized the dangers faced by individuals critical of the government, highlighting the government's attempts to deflect suspicions of hacking against perceived enemies.

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Over 20 individuals who received Apple's warnings in October had been publicly critical of Prime Minister Modi or his ally Gautam Adani, an influential Indian energy and infrastructure tycoon. The list included a firebrand politician from West Bengal, a Communist leader from southern India, and a spokesperson for the nation's largest opposition party.



Among the notified individuals were journalists Anand Mangnale and Ravi Nair from the Organized Crime and Corruption Reporting Project. According to Amnesty International's forensic examination of Mangnale's phone, the Israeli company NSO Group's spyware Pegasus infiltrated the device within 24 hours of an investigation into Adani's brother's alleged involvement in illegal stock trading. Adani's representative denied hacking participation, calling the reporting endeavor a smear campaign and underscoring the company's integrity and ethics.

Global Human Rights Group Seek Accountability

According to BJP national spokesman Gopal Krishna Agarwal, the Indian government should investigate hacking evidence. Prime Minister's communications chief Hiren Joshi did not reply to demands for comment., while Apple, when approached with written questions, opted not to provide any comments.



While India neither confirmed nor denied using the Pegasus tool, Amnesty International noted that revelation added credibility to Apple's earlier warnings and intensified concerns about the use of Pegasus spyware in India. Donncha O Cearbhaill, Head of Amnesty International's Security Lab, emphasized the lack of accountability in addressing these human rights violations, "which only intensifies the sense of impunity over these human rights violations," according to a TechCrunch report.

The Pegasus spyware, known for exploiting software weaknesses to access smartphone contents, has raised constitutional concerns about its use as a form of surveillance, with dozens of opposition leaders, journalists, and activists targeted until 2021, as per story from The Hindu.

Related Article: US Schools Face Rising Cyberattacks, Putting Children and Educators at Risk

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The Ohio Lottery faced a significant cyberattack on Christmas Eve, prompting the shutdown of crucial systems associated with undisclosed internal applications.

The hacking group behind the breach is the DragonForce ransomware gang who claims to be accountable.

As investigations are underway, the lottery assures users that its gaming system remains fully operational.

Ohio Lottery Hit By Unexpected Data Breach

While the gaming system is intact, certain services have taken a hit. Mobile cashing and prize cashing above $599 at Super Retailers are temporarily unavailable.

Winning numbers for KENO, Lucky One, and EZPLAY Progressive Jackpots are not accessible on the website or mobile app but can be obtained at any Ohio Lottery Retailer.

Related Article: Akira Ransomware Gang Takes Responsibility for Recent Nissan Cyberattack

Customer Guidance During the Investigation

Customers are urged to check the Ohio Lottery website and mobile app for winning numbers during this period.

Prizes up to $599 can be claimed at any Ohio Lottery Retailer, according to WKYC, while those exceeding $600 must be processed through mail to the Ohio Lottery Central Office or via the digital claim form.

"On December 24, 2023, the Ohio Lottery experienced a cybersecurity incident impacting some of its internal applications and immediately began work to mitigate the issue. The state internal investigation is ongoing. We apologize for the inconvenience and are working as quickly as possible to restore all services," the lottery said in a press release.

Ransomware Gang Claims Responsibility

Although the Ohio Lottery refrains from attributing the attack to any specific threat actors, the emerging DragonForce ransomware gang has claimed responsibility.

As per Bleeping Computer, the group claimed to have encrypted devices and accessed sensitive data, including Social Security Numbers and dates of birth of those people who participated in the lottery.

Data Breach Details Unveiled

The DragonForce gang asserts that the compromised files contain information belonging to over 3,000,000 individuals, encompassing names, addresses, emails, winning amounts, Social Security Numbers, and dates of birth. The leaked data, weighing over 600 gigabytes, raises concerns about the magnitude of the breach.

DragonForce: A New Player in the Ransomware Arena

While the DragonForce gang is relatively new, their tactics and data leak site suggest a seasoned extortion group. With law enforcement intensifying efforts against ransomware operations, the emergence of new groups like DragonForce raises questions about potential rebranding within the threat landscape.

In an overseas report, the official Facebook page of the Philippines lottery system had been hacked by unknown hackers. At that time, witnesses said that the culprit had been spamming the page with nude photos.

Because of this, the Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office or PCSO shut down the page for some time as the investigation from the Cybercrime Investigation and Coordinating Center (CICC) continued.

Read Also: FBI Takes Down Leads to Ransomware Gang Issuing More Threats

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Chinese tech giants Xiaomi and Huawei have unveiled their respective electric vehicle (EV) offerings, marking a pivotal moment in their expansion beyond smartphones and consumer electronics.

Xiaomi Jump-starts EV Venture with The SU7 Sedan

Xiaomi released the SU7 sedan, its first electric vehicle, as the smartphone and smart device maker seeks to dominate the global automobile industry.

During the launching ceremony, Xiaomi CEO Lei Jun said that the tech firm wants to be one of the world's top five automakers in 15 to 20 years. As quoted in a CNN report, Lei said, "It's a new starting point for Xiaomi, and I'm convinced that one day in the future, there will be Xiaomis running on every road in this world."

Lei said Xiaomi is committed to making a dream automobile like Porsche and Tesla, despite the hurdles of entering the automotive sector. Xiaomi showed its faith in the SU7 sedan by comparing performance figures to Tesla's Model S and Porsche's Taycan Turbo.

Shanghai-based automotive industry pundit Mark Rainford called Xiaomi's EV launch "a winner," forecasting strong sales in China. Lei teased a high sedan pricing, pitching it as a premium product, emphasizing Xiaomi's deliberate entry into luxury EVs with the SU7.

Read Also: Elon Musk's X Eyes Mid-2024 Launch for In-App Payment Services

Moreover, Xiaomi introduced customized color variants for its Xiaomi 14 flagship smartphones and Xiaomi Watch S3, aligning their aesthetics with the SU7 sedan, according to GizmoChina. This synchronicity further emphasizes the synergy between Xiaomi's diverse product offerings and its ambitious electric vehicle venture.

Xiaomi's Hong Kong-traded shares rose 40% this year, indicating financial strength, CNBC reported. The Chinese tech company's Singles Day sales broke $3 billion, solidifying its status as a tech and automotive powerhouse. Xiaomi has allocated $10 billion for smart EV investment over the next decade, reflecting its commitment to shaping the future of electric mobility.

Huawei Launches Aito M9 SUV

Parallel to Xiaomi's move, Huawei, another Chinese tech heavyweight, introduced the Aito M9 SUV. Priced at 469,800 yuan (approximately $66,500), the Aito M9 is positioned as a premium offering, boasting the "largest space performance in its class."

The SUV features innovative elements, including a projection screen designed for a cinema-like experience without causing motion sickness, seats with massage functions, and double armrests for enhanced passenger comfort.

Huawei's entry into the EV sector is not limited to the Aito M9, as the company previously launched an electric sedan designed to compete with Tesla. This expansion into the automotive market aligns with Huawei's strategy to diversify its business portfolio and seize a share of the rapidly evolving electric mobility landscape.

The simultaneous unveiling of Xiaomi's SU7 and Huawei's Aito M9 adds vibrancy to China's auto market, the largest in the world. The influx of new electric vehicles intensifies competition, leading to recent price wars driven by high inventories and fierce rivalry among industry players.

Related Article: Alibaba's Legal Woes Continue: Judge Rules Against Dismissal in Counterfeit Squishmallows Case

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On Wednesday, The New York Times sued Microsoft and OpenAI in a Federal District Court in Manhattan over the use of its content to train generative artificial intelligence and large-language model systems.

According to The New York Times, the AI models of both companies accessed millions of articles published by The Times.

The Times is now seeking damages and also an order that the companies stop using its content. Furthermore, TNYT also wants both Microsoft and OpenAI to destroy the data that has been already harvested.

The New York Times further stated that,

The suit does not include an exact monetary demand. But it says the defendants should be held responsible for billions of dollars in statutory and actual damages related to the unlawful copying and use of The Timess uniquely valuable works. It also calls for the companies to destroy any chatbot models and training data that use copyrighted material from The Times.

Its worth noting that, in April this year NY Times entered into talks with Microsoft and OpenAI to come up with an amicable resolution on this alleged copyright infringement. Sadly, the talks didnt result in a mutual agreement.

Both ChatGPT by OpenAI and Microsofts Copilot were trained using resources available on the internet under the assumption that it was fair use without the need for any compensation.

A spokesperson for the Times said,

These tools were built with and continue to use independent journalism and content that is only available because we and our peers reported, edited, and fact-checked it at high cost and with considerable expertise.

Additionally, the lawsuit alleged that,

There is nothing transformative about using The Times content without payment to create products that substitute for The Times and steal audiences away from it.
BAGHDAD, Dec. 27 (Xinhua) -- The Iraqi security forces have confiscated 80 kg of narcotics and dismantled an international drug trafficking network in the southern province of Dhi Qar, the Interior Ministry said in a statement on Wednesday.

Upon intelligence reports, the Iraqi anti-narcotics forces arrested two suspects and seized 80 kg of Captagon pills in the province, the statement said.

Chaos and conflicts that swept the country since the U.S. invasion in 2003 have hindered successive Iraqi governments over the past decades from addressing the threat of illicit drug trade to Iraqi society.

Iraqi Prime Minister Mohammed Shia' al-Sudani underlined in May the importance of waging "a war on drugs," calling it as important as combating terrorism.

Drug dealing is one of the main ways to fund terrorism, and the circulation of drugs thrives in the shadow of terrorism, al-Sudani said. 
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Osaka-Kansai Expo: Bringing food into the venue is prohibited in principle, and final adjustments are made

Carvajal, a request to Ancelotti and a prophecy: "With the draw I said 'it would be great to score a goal for my brother-in-law'"

Four transfers in four days: Zenit strengthened with three Brazilians and weakened their RPL rivals

Umea Basket in financial crisis: "Happy if we survive the rest of the season"

Umea Basket in financial crisis: "Happy if we survive the rest of the season"

Sweden is out of the World Junior Championships: "Has more in it"

Hilda Andersson on the cruciate ligament injury: "Remember that it will be difficult"

Flight to the Africa Cup of Nations: Gambia national football team has to make an emergency landing

Abanca workers are on strike this Thursday over the "brutal loss of purchasing power"

Montero corrects Junts: the increase in transport aid will not be only for Catalonia

The Ministry of Finance of Russia will sell currency and gold for 69,1 billion rubles

The government now justifies the pact with Junts on the exit of companies "to avoid fiscal engineering" from which they left

Planas rules out lowering taxes on more foods and encourages the 'super' to lower the price of oil from now on

Cottbus: Olaf Scholz is greeted by farmers' protests at the opening of the railway plant

The DANA leaves snow and frost in the interior of the peninsula this Thursday, as well as heavy rains in Catalonia and the Balearic Islands

The PNG riots have killed 16 people and the prime minister has declared a state of emergency

The escalation of relations between China and the Maldives has "two new" behind the "change of words"

Carry out the party's self-revolution to the end - the comrades attending the Third Plenary Session of the 20th Central Commission for Discipline Inspection talked about studying and implementing the spirit of General Secretary Xi Jinping's important speech

Medvedev: Russia will use nuclear weapons in response to attempts to destroy its launchers

The vinegar case: No report of concern from the school  hear the principal's response in court

The Campo de Gibraltar applies a "drastic drop" in water pressure that leads to cuts during the night

Aqaba summit calls for cessation of Israeli aggression and warns of the seriousness of the situation in the West Bank

After the withdrawal of the occupation. Al-Duwairi reveals the contours of the next phase of the Gaza war

Qatar Charity launches two projects in the name of the martyrs Hamza Al-Dahdouh and Mustafa Thuraya

Israeli writer: Our borders will extend and we will take Mecca, Medina and Mount Sinai

 Communities 2019 - Privacy

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Tourists enjoy themselves on a boat at the Slender West Lake scenic spot in Yangzhou, east China's Jiangsu Province, Dec. 18, 2023. A rendezvous with snow refreshes the landscapes as winter leaves its steps in most parts of China. (Photo by Qi Liguang/Xinhua)

Children build a snowman in Qinyang City, central China's Henan Province, Dec. 11, 2023. A rendezvous with snow refreshes the landscapes as winter leaves its steps in most parts of China. (Photo by Yang Fan/Xinhua)

A giant panda has fun in the snow at Hongshan Forest Zoo in Nanjing, capital city of east China's Jiangsu Province, Dec. 19, 2023. A rendezvous with snow refreshes the landscapes as winter leaves its steps in most parts of China. (Photo by Fang Dongxu/Xinhua)

This photo taken on Dec. 11, 2023 shows the scenery after snow at a park in Wenxian County of Jiaozuo, central China's Henan Province. A rendezvous with snow refreshes the landscapes as winter leaves its steps in most parts of China. (Photo by Xu Hongxing/Xinhua)

This aerial photo taken on Dec. 15, 2023 shows a section of the Yellow River in Taizi Township of Zouping, capital of east China's Shandong Province. A rendezvous with snow refreshes the landscapes as winter leaves its steps in most parts of China. (Photo by Dong Naide/Xinhua)

This aerial photo taken on Dec. 12, 2023 shows scenery of the Wangwu Mountain scenic spot in Jiyuan City, central China's Henan Province. A rendezvous with snow refreshes the landscapes as winter leaves its steps in most parts of China. (Photo by Duan Erping/Xinhua)

This aerial photo taken on Dec. 19, 2023 shows a view of the Yaogao Village, Gandong Township of Rongshui Miao Autonomous County, south China's Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region. A rendezvous with snow refreshes the landscapes as winter leaves its steps in most parts of China. (Photo by Long Linzhi/Xinhua)

This photo taken on Dec. 14, 2023 shows a view of the Baotu Spring in Jinan, capital city of east China's Shandong Province. A rendezvous with snow refreshes the landscapes as winter leaves its steps in most parts of China. (Photo by Xu Zhou/Xinhua)

This aerial photo taken on Dec. 16, 2023 shows the scenery of the Zhuyuwan Park in Yangzhou, east China's Jiangsu Province. A rendezvous with snow refreshes the landscapes as winter leaves its steps in most parts of China. (Photo by Meng Delong/Xinhua)

Birds fly among blossoms after snow at a park in Qingyang Town of Zouping City, east China's Shandong Province, Dec. 11, 2023. A rendezvous with snow refreshes the landscapes as winter leaves its steps in most parts of China. (Photo by Dong Naide/Xinhua)

This aerial photo taken on Dec. 16, 2023 shows a section of the Great Wall after snow in Zunhua, north China's Hebei Province. A rendezvous with snow refreshes the landscapes as winter leaves its steps in most parts of China. (Photo by Liu Mancang/Xinhua)

A tourist takes photos in snow at a scenic spot in Cangzhou City, north China's Hebei Province, Dec. 14, 2023. A rendezvous with snow refreshes the landscapes as winter leaves its steps in most parts of China. (Photo by Zhou Yang/Xinhua)

Red-crowned cranes fly at a national wetland park in Zhangye, northwest China's Gansu Province, Dec. 15, 2023. A rendezvous with snow refreshes the landscapes as winter leaves its steps in most parts of China. (Photo by Chen Li/Xinhua)

Tourists take pictures in snow-covered Zhengding ancient town in Shijiazhuang, north China's Hebei Province, Dec. 13, 2023. A rendezvous with snow refreshes the landscapes as winter leaves its steps in most parts of China. (Photo by Zhang Xiaofeng/Xinhua)

This aerial photo taken on Dec. 11, 2023 shows the scenery in Taihang Mountains in north China's Hebei Province. A rendezvous with snow refreshes the landscapes as winter leaves its steps in most parts of China. (Photo by Tian Xiaoli/Xinhua)

People visit the Fuzi (Confucius) Temple scenic area in Nanjing, east China's Jiangsu Province, Dec. 18, 2023. A rendezvous with snow refreshes the landscapes as winter leaves its steps in most parts of China. (Photo by Fang Dongxu/Xinhua)

This aerial photo taken on Dec. 20, 2023 shows the scenery after snow at the Jinfo (Golden Buddha) Mountain scenic spot in southwest China's Chongqing. A rendezvous with snow refreshes the landscapes as winter leaves its steps in most parts of China. (Photo by Qu Mingbin/Xinhua)

Whooper swans are pictured at a reserve in Rongcheng, east China's Shandong Province, Dec. 16, 2023. A rendezvous with snow refreshes the landscapes as winter leaves its steps in most parts of China. (Photo by Wang Fudong/Xinhua)
STOCKHOLM, Dec. 27 (Xinhua) -- The number of invasive Group A Streptococcus (iGAS) infections, which can be fatal if left untreated, has more than tripled in Sweden this year compared to 2022, local media reported on Wednesday.

The TT news agency reported that 1,244 cases had been identified by Dec. 17.

The statistics also show that 99 had died by mid-November, six of whom were children younger than ten, TT said.

According to statistics provided by the Public Health Agency of Sweden, 374 cases were identified in 2022 and 156 cases were identified in 2021, TT reported.

The statistics also show that this year's total far surpasses those recorded before the COVID-19 pandemic.

Sweden's Chief Epidemiologist Magnus Gisslen told TT that the surge is likely an effect of limited physical contact between people during the COVID-19 pandemic.

"Due to the pandemic, we have not been exposed to as many bacterial substances, this applies to both streptococci and other bacteria and viruses. Immunity has weakened and fewer individuals get the milder infections that build up immunity," Gisslen told TT.

According to the World Health Organization (WHO), iGAS occurs when bacteria that usually cause mild infections such as tonsillitis enter the body.

"Basically anyone can be affected, even those who are completely healthy and strong. And without advanced medical care and care, mortality is high. In Sweden, it is around ten percent for iGAS infections, despite well-functioning healthcare," Gisslen told TT. 
KINSHASA, Dec. 27 (Xinhua) -- Heavy rains hit overnight Tuesday Bukavu, capital of South Kivu Province in the eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), causing floods and landslides and killing at least 40 people, local authorities said Wednesday.

At least 20 people were found dead in Bukavu and 20 more were killed in the surrounding village of Burhinyi, according to the provincial governor's office.

Provincial authorities said that rescue teams have been dispatched to the affected areas to search for victims.

Last week, at least 20 people were killed in a landslide caused by torrential rains in the village of Kalingi in Mwenga Territory of South Kivu.

In May 2023, in Kalehe Territory of South Kivu, at least 438 bodies were found in areas hit by flooding caused by heavy rains. Local authorities estimated that more than 5,000 people were missing.

Floods and landslides are common in the DRC during the rainy season, which runs from September to May, and often have devastating impacts. 
FILE - This Wednesday, Jan. 20, 2016 file photo shows the Shell logo at a petrol station in London. On Friday, Feb. 12, 2021, Energy giant Shell said Tuesday, March 8, 2022 that it will stop buying Russian oil and natural gas and shut down its service stations, aviation fuels and other operations in the country amid international pressure for companies to sever ties over the invasion of Ukraine. (AP Photo/Kirsty Wigglesworth, File)
Police rope off the scene where two dead bodies were discovered on Tuesday, Dec. 26, 2023 in San Antonio, Texas. The dead bodies that Texas investigators believe to have been a pregnant woman and her boyfriend were found with gunshot wounds days after they were reported missing, police said Wednesday. (Jacob Beltran/The San Antonio Express-News via AP)
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Eating outBest of No plans? No worries: Seven of the best venues to celebrate New Years Eve in style From walk-in bars to set-price food and drink packages, these hotspots are putting on a fittingly fine show for the last night of 2023. Tomas Telegramma December 28, 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

No New Years Eve plans? No worries. Weve rounded up seven events across Melbourne where you can say goodbye to 2023  and hello to 2024  in style. Weve got a Casablanca-inspired soiree, rooftop revelry, walk-in options and more. Walk-ins are welcome at the Music Room at Her. Supplied Her Youve got three different NYE options across three different levels of the CBDs late-night juggernaut Her. On the rooftop, theres a ticketed, metallic-themed party with an open bar and snacks from in-house Thai diner BKK. Inconspicuous listening bar Music Room is walk-ins only all night (get in early). And Her Bar is doing a Euro-inspired feast. Walk-ins only at Music Room; from $295 for Her Rooftops Midnight in Metallic Party; $195 for Her Bars four-course dinner, book online, 270 Lonsdale Street, Melbourne

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Expect old-school glamour and great cocktails at the Everleigh. Supplied The Everleigh Michael and Zara Madrusans quintessentially Melbourne cocktail bar the Everleigh is doing New Years inspired by the classic 1942 film Casablanca. Expect old-world glamour (as always) and two ticketed events: a cocktail party in private bar The Elk Room, with fancy canapes and two themed cocktails; or a seated soiree in the main bar, with four themed cocktails, blinis and Pithiviers, a glass of bubbles at midnight, and live jazz. $109 for Ricks Cafe Americain stand-up experience or $185 for Casablanca sit-down experience, book online, level 1/150-156 Gertrude Street, Fitzroy Part of the NYE feast at Sunda. Supplied

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Sunda After the recent homecoming of OG sous chef Nabil Ansari (following the departure of founder chef Khanh Ngyuen), Sunda is celebrating the end of 2023 in a unique way  without plates. Instead, its all about banana leaf rice, an Indian tradition in which Sundas chefs will roam around and plate dishes directly onto banana leaves on the tables. Expect a plethora of rich curries and accompaniments like fritters, chutneys and raitas. $95, book online, 18 Punch Lane, Melbourne The good times (and sour negronis) shall roll at Fitzroys Odd Culture. Supplied Odd Culture

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Brunswick Street is teeming with good-time watering holes, but fermentation-focused bar and bottle shop Odd Culture is the spot for drinking a little wilder and wackier than usual. This NYE, start in the sun-drenched courtyard and end in the moody main bar, working your way through negronis with a sour edge and wines that bring the funk. To snack on? Butter-drenched wads of anchovy toast and cult chicken-liver parfait. Free entry, book online, 296 Brunswick Street, Fitzroy Farewell 2023 in style at Cremornes Lilac Wine. Simon Schluter Lilac Wine In the backstreets of Cremorne, the Mulberry Groups warehouse wine bar Lilac has been fiercely embraced by the neighbourhood since opening at the start of the year. Get among it this New Years with dinner beneath the disco ball. A la carte is the way to go, but theres something special you can add on: a pretty platter of Sydney rock oysters, Port Arlington mussels, Port Lincoln sand crab, Skull Island prawns and sashimi.

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Book online and pre-order a seafood platter for $35, 31 Stephenson Street, Cremorne Its a good time all of the time at Heartbreaker in Russell Street. Paul Jeffers Heartbreaker If youre in the market for some dive-bar debauchery, ring in 2024 in the neon-red glow of the Madrusans CBD hotspot Heartbreaker. Its walk-ins only, so register online or rock up early to secure a spot in a booth, then get the party going with ready-made cocktails by the Everleigh Bottling Co. Also find slices from resident NY-style pizza joint Connies and tunes by DJ Moose. The mayhem starts at 4pm and ends at 1am. Free entry, register online for guaranteed entry before 6pm, 234A Russell Street, Melbourne

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Studio Amaro is channelling the Amalfi Coast with a one-night-only set menu. Supplied Studio Amaro Studio Amaro is the Commune Groups (Firebird, Tokyo Tina, Hanoi Hannah, Moonhouse, New Quarter) new Italian stallion. And this New Years Eve its channelling summers on the Amalfi Coast with a one-night-only set menu. A Garibaldi on arrival will set the scene, followed by oysters with Campari granita, fritto misto with fennel salt, prawn mafaldine and more. Book a la carte service online or pre-order the Amalfi in July menu for $99,

68 Chapel Street, Windsor Skyline views from The Princes rooftop bar. Supplied

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The Prince Hotel Scale the stairs to the top deck of historic St Kilda pub The Prince and end the year on a high. Soak up golden hour overlooking the bay, with free-flowing cocktails and canapes curated by the pubs hatted restaurant, Prince Dining Room. Then let the DJ sets begin: house and techno duo Market Memories, Andy Murphy and more. For the ultimate convenience, book a room at the hotel and just mosey downstairs afterwards. From $114.94, book online, 2 Acland Street, St Kilda

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Locals in Melbournes inner north are pushing for a new park to be named after the late furniture king and cult celebrity, Franco Cozzo, as he was farewelled at a funeral in East Melbourne on Thursday.

Brunswick businessman Eduard Lagzdin has begun rallying support to help convince Merri-bek Council to paint a mural and name a new park planned for 14 Frith Street in honour of the 88-year-old, who died last week.

Mourners carry the casket of beloved Melbourne businessman Franco Cozzo at a Requiem Mass at St Patricks Cathedral. Credit: Jason South

In Footscray, Maribyrnong Council has already immortalised the Sicilian-born businessman in a large mural and named Cozzo Lane in West Footscray after him when he was alive.

Merri-bek Council had called for name suggestions for the new park, which sits behind where the Franco Cozzo store stood.
A planning overhaul of Clayton centred around two new Suburban Rail Loop (SRL) stations may not be enough to turn the burgeoning suburb into a second CBD for greater Melbourne.

The Allan governments $34.5 billion underground rail line and urban redevelopment project aims to make Clayton and the nearby Monash University precinct into a jobs hub for 219,500 people by 2056  almost as many as those working Melbournes CBD today.

The next SRL stop south of Clayton is at Cheltenham, 7.5 kilometres away.

Andrew Butt, professor of urban planning at RMIT University, said decentralising Melbourne was imperative for its future and Clayton was an ideal place for a second CBD.

However, he said two new rail stations would not be enough to underpin that level of development and employment, considering Melbournes CBD has five train stations and an extensive tram network.
Cairo/Gaza/Jerusalem: Israeli forces pounded central Gaza by land, sea and air and Palestinian authorities reported dozens more deaths, while the UN health agency said thousands of people were trying to flee the fighting.

Israel remains resolved to wipe out Hamas in response to the militant groups October 7 attack, despite international calls for a ceasefire and the easing of a worsening humanitarian crisis in the Gaza Strip.

Palestinians fleeing the Israeli bombardment of the Gaza Strip arrive in Rafah, near the border with Egypt. Credit: AP

Israeli planes carried out three strikes in Al Nuseirat in central Gaza, killing seven people and wounding several others, medics said on Thursday (AEST).

The UN World Health Organisation said its staff had seen tens of thousands of people fleeing heavy strikes in Khan Younis and the Middle Area on foot, on donkeys or in cars. Makeshift shelters were being built along the road, it said.
Deir al-Balah, Gaza Strip: Israeli forces have continued to bombard cities, towns and refugee camps across Gaza, killing dozens of people in a widening air and ground offensive against Hamas that has forced thousands more to flee from homes and shelters in recent days.

Much of northern Gaza has been levelled, and it has been largely depopulated and isolated from the rest of the territory for weeks. Many fear a similar fate awaits the south as Israel expands its offensive to most of the tiny enclave.

People inspect damage to their homes caused by Israeli air strikes on December in Rafah, Gaza. Credit: Getty

Israeli soldiers stand on top of armoured personnel carriers (APC) near the Israeli-Gaza border. Credit: AP

An Israeli airstrike on a home in the northern town of Beit Lahiyeh  one of the first targets of the ground invasion that began in October  buried at least 21 people, including women and children, according to a family member.
WARSAW, Dec. 27 (Xinhua) -- The Polish culture minister has decided to put Polish Television (TVP), Polish Radio and the Polish Press Agency (PAP) into liquidation, he announced on Wednesday.

Bartlomiej Sienkiewicz said the decision was made following Polish President Andrzej Duda's veto of the budget-related bill for 2024, which had earmarked 3 billion Polish zlotys (770 million U.S. dollars) for public media.

A pro-European Union coalition headed by Donald Tusk took power in Poland earlier this month. On Dec. 20, Sienkiewicz dismissed the heads of the three state media outlets and appointed new boards of directors to "restore the impartiality and credibility of public media," according to the culture ministry. This caused outrage in the ex-ruling party, Law and Justice (PiS), of which Duda is considered an ally.

PiS says management figures in public media companies can only be dismissed by the National Media Council, a body set up when PiS was in power. However, the new ruling coalition has accused PiS of staffing the body with party loyalists, and turning public media into PiS propaganda outlets.

"There may be no consent to it given the blatant violation of the Constitution and the principles of a democratic state of law," Duda said on Saturday, explaining his veto.

"In the current situation such a move will make it possible to secure the further functioning of the three companies, to conduct their necessary restructuring and to prevent a situation in which their employees will be dismissed due to the lack of financing," read a statement published by the culture minister on X on Wednesday.

He added that the companies can be withdrawn from liquidation by the owner, which is the Polish State Treasury, at any moment.

The budget-related law is an important piece of legislation for the Tusk government, as it fulfils a number of the new ruling coalition's election promises, including a 30-percent pay rise for teachers, and a 20-percent wage increase for public sector employees.

On Wednesday, Duda filed with the Sejm, the lower house of parliament, his own draft related to the raises for teachers and other expenditures planned in the budget-related law. However, no funding was included for public media. 
The Federal Trade Commission has finalized a new rule to fight two common types of illegal tactics consumers face when buying a car: bait-and-switch tactics and hidden junk fees. The new rule is expected to save consumers nationwide more than $3.4 billion and an estimated 72 million hours each year shopping for vehicles.

The Combating Auto Retail Scams (CARS) Rule also includes clear protections for members of the military and their families, who are targeted not only with bait-and-switch tactics and junk fees, but also deceptive information about whether dealers are affiliated with the military and other specific issues that affect servicemembers.

When Americans set out to buy a car, theyre routinely hit with unexpected and unnecessary fees that dealers extract just because they can, said FTC Chair Lina M. Khan. The CARS Rule will prohibit exploitative junk fees in the car-buying process, saving people time and money and protecting honest dealers.

The CARS Rule prohibits dealers from using bait-and-switch claims to lure vehicle buyers to the lot, including about the cost of a car or the terms of financing, the availability of any discounts or rebates, and the actual availability of the vehicles being advertised. It also tackles hidden junk fees  charges buried in lengthy contracts that consumers never agreed to pay. In some cases, these fees are for services or products that provide no benefit to consumers.

Vehicles are one of the most significant purchases that American consumers make  for many, a vehicle is the single most expensive item they will ever purchase. The CARS Rule targets illegal practices that capitalize on the challenging nature of buying a vehicle, particularly the often lengthy and opaque process that can leave consumers open to scams by unscrupulous car dealers.

No Misrepresentations: The rule prohibits misrepresentations about key information, like price and cost.

The rule prohibits misrepresentations about key information, like price and cost. Offering Price, Total Payment, and Add-Ons Optional: Dealers have to provide the offering pricethe actual price any consumer can pay for the vehicle; tell consumers that optional add-ons (like extended warranties) are not required; and give information about the total payment when discussing monthly payments.

Dealers have to provide the offering pricethe actual price any consumer can pay for the vehicle; tell consumers that optional add-ons (like extended warranties) are not required; and give information about the total payment when discussing monthly payments. No Bogus Add-Ons: The rule prohibits dealers from charging for any add-on that does not provide a benefit to consumers. Examples of such add-ons include: warranty programs that duplicate a manufacturers warranty, service contracts for oil changes on an electric vehicle, GAP agreements that do not actually cover the car or neighborhood in which it is housed, or other parts of the deal, and software or audio subscription services on a vehicle that cannot support the software or subscription.

The rule prohibits dealers from charging for any add-on that does not provide a benefit to consumers. Examples of such add-ons include: warranty programs that duplicate a manufacturers warranty, service contracts for oil changes on an electric vehicle, GAP agreements that do not actually cover the car or neighborhood in which it is housed, or other parts of the deal, and software or audio subscription services on a vehicle that cannot support the software or subscription. Get Consumers Consent: The rule requires dealers to get consumers express, informed consent for any charges that they pay as part of a vehicle purchase.

How the CARS Rule Affects Servicemembers

For members of the military, the issues addressed by the CARS Rule are compounded by dealers who prey especially on young servicemembers, for whom having a vehicle is often vital when stationed on sprawling military bases. Servicemembers have an average of twice as much auto debt as civilians. By the age of 24, around 20 percent of young servicemembers have at least $20,000 in auto debt, which creates a substantial challenge to servicemembers financial well-being.

The CARS Rule prohibits dealers from lying to servicemembers and other consumers about important cost and financing information, and about whether the dealers are affiliated with the military or any other governmental organization. They also are prohibited from lying about whether a vehicle can be moved out of state (which affects servicemembers and their families, who must frequently move to new duty stations) and whether a vehicle can be repossessed (there are laws that protect many servicemembers from having their vehicle repossessed).

The Department of Defense appreciates the FTCs CARS Rule, said Ashish S. Vazirani, Acting DoD Under Secretary of Defense for Personnel and Readiness. For our service members and their families a car is an essential purchase, and this CARS Rule will help fight predatory practices that target our men and women in uniform. The Department is pleased to see the FTC issue the CARS Rule and believes it will contribute to service members overall economic security and readiness.

How the CARS Rule Was Created

The FTC issued a Notice of Proposed Rulemaking related to motor vehicle shopping in June 2022 and, during a months-long comment period, the agency received tens of thousands of comments from consumers, servicemembers, veterans, auto dealers and others about the proposed rule. The FTC carefully reviewed these comments and made substantial changes to the proposed rule in creating the CARS Rule.

The changes ensure that the rule is focused on protecting consumers from many of the most common scams that target people buying vehicles while also ensuring that auto dealers are able to compete on a level playing field. Many auto dealers submitted comments to the proposed rule noting that they lost business to other dealers who used deceptive bait-and-switch tactics. The CARS Rule takes steps to protect not only consumers but also honest dealers and competition.

What Happens Next

The CARS Rule will take effect on July 30, 2024. The FTC has created new guidance for consumers to help them understand their rights when they buy a vehicle once the rule goes into effect.

The FTC has also created guidance on the CARS Rule for auto dealers, including a website with frequently asked questions and other advice as dealerships prepare for the rule to take effect.

Dealer Reaction To FTC CARS RULES

Congress, Courts Possible Ways for Dealers to Fight FTC CARS Rule

Dealerships seeking a means to block the Federal Trade Commission's new auto retail regulations would need to rely on Congress or the court system, according to Jean Noonan, a former FTC regulator who's now a partner at Hudson Cook law firm.

There's no appeals avenue within the FTC to overturn the final version of the Combating Auto Retail Scams Rule, known as the CARS Rule, she said.

Announced Dec. 12, 2023, and approved by commissioners in a 3-0 vote, the rule is slated to take effect July 30. It sets specific requirements for auto dealership advertising, record-keeping, customer interactions, and lineups of finance and insurance products and other add-ons.

The FTC has said the rule will help customers avoid some dealership practices it says cost consumers billions of dollars a year and lengthen the car-shopping experience.

NADA CEO Mike Stanton has objected to the rule, calling it bureaucratic overreach that would force new layers of disclosure and complexity into vehicle transactions. He told Automotive News that the group would seek to stop the regulations. "This should not go into effect," he said.
Who spies on your car  other than you?

By Thom Cannell

Senior Editor

Michigan Bureau

The Auto Channel

Lansing MI December 28, 2023; Today I got another notice my personal information had been stolen. You too? Mortgage company, health care system, phone company, department store, bank, and more? What about your car, did it get hacked? Yes, your car, your semi-tractor or even a John Deere harvester can be hacked for data, or worse.

The first publicized vehicle take-over was of a Jeep Cherokee in 2017. Cyber criminals have become more menacing, their skills and technology significantly upgraded since Charlie Miller and Chris Valasek performed that exploit. What took three years may now be available over the counter.

Upstream, a company developed to combat such evil says four competitive car manufacturers, insurance companies and others are investors due to the necessity of cyber security; the industry lost an estimated $505 billion dollars 2019-2023. Upstream monitors, in real time, hacker activity to deduce current and emerging cyber threats and now protects over 25-million vehicles. Of course its the wealthy companies that are targeted, primarily with the threat of ransomware and what you see in the media represent only 10% of the problem.

Youre saying, Nah, not me, Im safe!

If your vehicle is connected; SiriusXM satellite radio, over-the-air updates, automatic crash reporting, Pandora or Spotify on your infotainment screen, if you can use a mobile phone to unlock your vehicle, if your vehicle has a SIM card and modem that processes data, and most built in the last decade(s) do, you are at risk.

Fraud and theft are, day by day, increasing with everything now controlled by software in the vehicle, in the cloud and in fleets. For instance, Russia stole a fleet of agricultural vehicles from Ukraine and Ukraine promptly disabled the vehicles remotely, preventing their use. 25 Teslas were targeted and owners disenfranchised. A hacker found an entry to 15,000,000 vehicles from three manufacturers and needed only a VIN to affect selected models. Vehicles are vulnerable on many layers; the vehicle itself, its data/telematics, even the manufacturers cloud or sales, service, finance and warranty data.

Your data is sensitive, your routes, dates and times. Vehicles can be stolen with cyber techniques, inexpensive black boxes that can open and operate many vehicle models. Lets say you purchase and download an app that starts the car, turns on the A/C, changes current driver settings. What if somebody hacks that app? They then control the vehicle and can remove you from ownership. Fleets are vulnerable to ransomewarethink UPS, FedX, Amazon, especially at Christmas. What about Hertz/Avis or Brinks and other bank service providers? So far, fleets may have escapedthat we know of.

Fraud, stealing cars, locating and stealing cargo and data theft is accompanied by fraudulent warranty claims. Today, odometer mileage is rolled back with cyber tools, not a drill motor, to impact lease over-mileage payments and mileage-limited warranty claims. In the USA, it is a massive problem thats under-reported, according to Upstream.

One way this company combats crime is by creating a digital twin of each of the millions of vehicles it protects, Upstream knows when mileage goes backward, as well as other meaningful events like cyber-faking non-original crash parts when a vehicle is repaired.

Who are the criminals? Upstream says 63% of cyber incidents are due to Black Hat actors. Emergent threats associated with EV charging infrastructure is a new attack vector that threatens smart mobility and could expand to local grids.

Whats to be done? Upstream says Next-generation regulations will focus on protecting sensitive data and EV charging infrastructure. Regulators are expected to shift their attention to drafting the next generation of automotive cybersecurity regulations as fleet-wide attacks targeting sensitive data and EV charging infrastructure rise, posing a serious threat to public safety.

With operations in Ann Arbor, Michigan, Herzliya, Israel, London, England, Munich, Germany and Tokyo, Japan, its somewhat comforting to know that at over 25 million of the global vehicle fleet are under surveillance. Hopefully, one of them is mine.
People experience Chinese culture during an exhibition of Chinese culture "Walking the Silk Road, Allowing Cultures to Integrate" in Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan, Dec. 26, 2023. An exhibition of Chinese culture "Walking the Silk Road, Allowing Cultures to Integrate," devoted to the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) was held here recently. (Photo by Roman/Xinhua)

BISHKEK, Dec. 28 (Xinhua) -- An exhibition of Chinese culture "Walking the Silk Road, Allowing Cultures to Integrate," devoted to the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) was held here recently.

On Tuesday, Kyrgyz Deputy Prime Minister Edil Baisalov, Charge d'Affaires of the Chinese Embassy in Kyrgyzstan Li Baojie, representatives of educational institutions of Kyrgyzstan and China, as well as business representatives attended the event.

Baisalov said the BRI has changed the entire region, including Kyrgyzstan.

"It actually had a huge impact on the political and economic situation around the world," he said.

Li said that over the past ten years, the BRI has evolved from concept to action and has become an important platform for international cooperation. He said that Kyrgyzstan and China have been cooperating within the framework of the BRI for more than ten years and have achieved fruitful results.

Li noted that cultural interaction and exchange are an important part of the initiative.

"It is very important to hold cultural exchange exhibitions such as today's, which will help the Kyrgyz people to better understand Chinese traditional culture and folk customs, and also help strengthen mutual understanding between the two peoples," the representative of the Chinese embassy said.

The exhibition featured stone carving with a Spring and Autumn period theme, wood carving with the theme "New Year's Pictures," as well as paper-cutting.

The exhibition was organized by the Kaifeng Management Committee of the Pilot Free Trade Zone of China (Henan), the Kyrgyzstan-China Friendship Association and other organizations. 

A woman looks at exhibits during an exhibition of Chinese culture "Walking the Silk Road, Allowing Cultures to Integrate" in Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan, Dec. 26, 2023. An exhibition of Chinese culture "Walking the Silk Road, Allowing Cultures to Integrate," devoted to the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) was held here recently. (Photo by Roman/Xinhua)

College students demonstrate their traditional Chinese New Year paintings during an exhibition of Chinese culture "Walking the Silk Road, Allowing Cultures to Integrate" in Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan, Dec. 26, 2023. An exhibition of Chinese culture "Walking the Silk Road, Allowing Cultures to Integrate," devoted to the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) was held here recently. (Photo by Roman/Xinhua)
Xi Jinping, general secretary of the Communist Party of China Central Committee, Chinese president and chairman of the Central Military Commission, delivers an important speech at the Central Conference on Work Relating to Foreign Affairs in Beijing, capital of China. The conference was held in Beijing from Wednesday to Thursday. (Xinhua/Ju Peng)

BEIJING, Dec. 28 (Xinhua) -- The Central Conference on Work Relating to Foreign Affairs was held in Beijing from Wednesday to Thursday. Xi Jinping, general secretary of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of China (CPC), Chinese president and chairman of the Central Military Commission, attended the conference and delivered an important address.

Members of the Standing Committee of the Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee Li Qiang, Zhao Leji, Wang Huning, Cai Qi, Ding Xuexiang and Li Xi, and Vice President Han Zheng attended the conference.

In his important address, Xi presented a systematic review of the historic achievements and valuable experience of major-country diplomacy with Chinese characteristics in the new era, gave a profound exposition on the international environment and historical mission of China's external work on the new journey, and made comprehensive plans for China's external work for the present and coming periods. Presiding over the conference, Li Qiang emphasized the importance of ensuring sound external work on the new journey under the guidance of Xi Jinping Thought on Diplomacy, and set out requirements for studying and implementing the guiding principles of General Secretary Xi Jinping's important address.

It was made clear at the conference that since the 18th CPC National Congress, historic achievements have been secured and historic changes have taken place in China's external work on the great journey of advancing the cause of socialism with Chinese characteristics in the new era. First, we have established and developed Xi Jinping Thought on Diplomacy, opening up new vistas in the theory and practice of China's diplomacy and providing the fundamental guideline for advancing major-country diplomacy with Chinese characteristics. Second, we have showcased distinct Chinese characteristics, style and ethos in our diplomacy, and established the image of a confident, self-reliant, open and inclusive major country with a global vision. Third, we have advocated the building of a community with a shared future for mankind, pointing the right direction for human society leading to common development, lasting peace and security, and mutual learning between civilizations. Fourth, we have followed the strategic guidance of head-of-state diplomacy, and played an increasingly important and constructive role in international affairs. Fifth, we have taken a holistic approach to our relations with all parties, with a view to fostering major-country dynamics featuring peaceful coexistence, overall stability and balanced development. Sixth, we have expanded a comprehensive strategic layout, and formed a wide-ranging, high-quality global network of partnerships. Seventh, we have advanced high-quality Belt and Road cooperation, and established the world's most broad-based and largest platform for international cooperation. Eighth, we have worked to both pursue development and safeguard security, and effectively upheld China's sovereignty, security and development interests with a firm will and an indomitable fighting spirit. Ninth, we have taken an active part in global governance, and shown the way in reforming the international system and order. Tenth, we have strengthened the centralized, unified leadership of the CPC Central Committee, and brought about greater coordination in China's external work.

It was underlined at the conference that in the decade of the new era, we have seen high winds and choppy waters and overcome various difficulties and challenges in China's external work. We have opened up new prospects in major-country diplomacy with Chinese characteristics, and gained much more strategic autonomy and initiative in our diplomacy. China has become a responsible major country with enhanced international influence, stronger capacity to steer new endeavors, and greater moral appeal.

It was pointed out at the conference that a range of valuable experience has been gained in the new era of Chinese diplomacy. It is imperative to uphold principles. On major issues concerning the future of humanity and the direction of the world, we must take a clear and firm position, hold the international moral high ground, and unite and rally the overwhelming majority in our world. It is imperative to shoulder China's responsibility as a major country. We need to advocate the spirit of independence, champion peaceful development, and promote global stability and prosperity. It is imperative to apply systems thinking. With a correct understanding of history and of the big picture, we must navigate the prevailing trends, adopt a coordinated approach, and seize the initiative. It is imperative to uphold fundamental principles and break new ground. We need to follow the fine tradition and fundamental direction of China's diplomacy, and at the same time work progressively for innovation in both theory and practice. It is imperative to carry forward our fighting spirit. We must reject all acts of power politics and bullying, and vigorously defend our national interests and dignity. It is imperative to leverage our institutional strengths. Under the centralized, unified leadership of the CPC Central Committee, all regions and all departments must coordinate with each other and build strong synergy.

It was noted at the conference that great transformation is accelerating across the world. Changes of the world, of our times, and of historical significance are unfolding like never before, and the world has entered a new period of turbulence and transformation. Yet the overall direction of human development and progress will not change, the overall dynamics of world history moving forward amid twists and turns will not change, and the overall trend toward a shared future for the international community will not change. We must have full confidence in these trends of historical impact.

It was highlighted at the conference that looking ahead, China faces new strategic opportunities in its development. On the new journey, major-country diplomacy with Chinese characteristics will enter a new stage where much more can be accomplished. We must focus on the central task of the CPC and the country, seek progress while maintaining stability, break new ground while upholding fundamental principles, and firmly safeguard China's sovereignty, security and development interests. We will explore new frontiers in China's diplomatic theory and practice, foster new dynamics in the relations between China and the world, and raise China's international influence, appeal and power to shape events to a new level. We will create a more favorable international environment and provide more solid strategic support for building China into a great modern socialist country in all respects and advancing the great rejuvenation of the Chinese nation on all fronts through the Chinese path to modernization.

It was pointed out at the conference that building a community with a shared future for mankind is the core tenet of Xi Jinping Thought on Diplomacy. It is how China proposes to solve the questions of what kind of world to build and how to build it based on our deepening understanding of the laws governing the development of human society. It reflects the Chinese Communists' worldview, perception of order, and values, accords with the common aspiration of people in all countries, and points the direction for the progress of world civilizations. It is also the noble goal pursued by China in conducting major-country diplomacy with Chinese characteristics for the new era. Since the dawn of this new era, building a community with a shared future for mankind has developed from a Chinese initiative to an international consensus, from a promising vision to substantive actions, and from a conceptual proposition to a scientific system. It has served as a glorious banner leading the progress of the times. In summary, in building a community with a shared future for mankind, the goal is to build an open, inclusive, clean and beautiful world of lasting peace, universal security and shared prosperity, the pathway is promoting global governance that features extensive consultation and joint contribution for shared benefit, the guiding principle is to apply the common values of humanity, the basic underpinning lies in building a new type of international relations, the strategic guidance comes from the implementation of the Global Development Initiative, the Global Security Initiative and the Global Civilization Initiative, and the platform for action is high-quality Belt and Road cooperation. On this basis, we seek to bring countries together to meet challenges and achieve prosperity for all, and usher in a bright future of peace, security, prosperity and progress for our world.

It was pointed out at the conference that given the series of major issues and challenges facing the world today, China calls for an equal and orderly multipolar world and a universally beneficial and inclusive economic globalization. An equal and orderly multipolar world is one in which all countries, regardless of size, are treated as equals, hegemonism and power politics are rejected, and democracy is truly promoted in international relations. To keep the progress toward greater multipolarity generally stable and constructive, the purposes and principles of the United Nations Charter must be observed by all, the universally recognized, basic norms governing international relations must be upheld by all, and true multilateralism must be practiced. A universally beneficial and inclusive economic globalization is one that meets the common needs of all countries, especially the developing countries, and properly addresses the development imbalances between and within countries resulting from the global allocation of resources. It is important to resolutely oppose the attempt to roll back globalization and abuse the concept of security, oppose all forms of unilateralism and protectionism, firmly promote trade and investment liberalization and facilitation, overcome the structural problems hindering the healthy development of the world economy, and make economic globalization more open, inclusive, balanced and beneficial to all.

It was made clear at the conference that in the current and upcoming periods, China's external work shall be guided by Xi Jinping Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era and Xi Jinping Thought on Diplomacy in particular. It should serve the goals and missions of Chinese modernization, and follow the principles of self-confidence and self-reliance, openness and inclusiveness, fairness and justice, and win-win cooperation. Focusing on the theme of building a community with a shared future for mankind, we need to strengthen strategic planning in sync with the changing times, deepen and improve our diplomatic layout, follow a problem-oriented approach, and apply a systematic way of thinking. We need to identify the strategic tasks of Chinese diplomacy in a more multi-dimensional and comprehensive manner. We need to act with a stronger sense of historical responsibility and a more vibrant spirit of innovation to make new headway in our major-country diplomacy with Chinese characteristics.

It was pointed out at the conference that upholding fundamental principles and breaking new ground in our external work is the natural requirement of making new headway in our major-country diplomacy with Chinese characteristics on the new journey, and of providing a stronger underpinning for Chinese modernization. It is important to strengthen the intellectual and theoretical competence of the foreign service, deepen reform of systems and institutions, promote the building of a contingent of personnel involved in foreign affairs, and continue to make our external work more science-based, forward-looking, proactive and innovative.

It was stressed at the conference that we must unswervingly uphold the CPC central leadership's ultimate authority over foreign affairs, conscientiously uphold the centralized, unified leadership of the CPC Central Committee, and further strengthen the systems and institutions for the CPC's leadership over external work. All localities and departments should keep in mind the big picture and coordinate with each other to implement the decisions and plans of the CPC Central Committee on our external work in both letter and spirit.

Wang Yi gave concluding remarks. Leading officials of the Publicity Department of the CPC Central Committee, the International Department of the CPC Central Committee, the Ministry of Commerce, the Joint Staff Department of the Central Military Commission and Yunnan Province, and a representative from the Permanent Mission of the People's Republic of China to the United Nations gave presentations at the conference.

Members of the Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee and members of the Secretariat of the CPC Central Committee, leaders of the Standing Committee of the National People's Congress, State Councilors, President of the Supreme People's Court, Procurator General of the Supreme People's Procuratorate, and leaders of the National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference attended the conference.

Members of the Central Commission for Foreign Affairs, major officials of provinces, autonomous regions, municipalities directly under the Central Government, cities separately listed in the state plan, and the Xinjiang Production and Construction Corps, of the relevant departments of central CPC and state institutions, relevant people's organizations, relevant departments of the Central Military Commission, and of some financial institutions under the direct management of the Central Government, as well as Chinese ambassadors, ambassadorial-rank consuls general posted overseas and representatives to international organizations participated in the conference. 

Xi Jinping, general secretary of the Communist Party of China Central Committee, Chinese president and chairman of the Central Military Commission, delivers an important speech at the Central Conference on Work Relating to Foreign Affairs in Beijing, capital of China. The conference was held in Beijing from Wednesday to Thursday. Li Qiang, Zhao Leji, Wang Huning, Cai Qi, Ding Xuexiang, Li Xi and Han Zheng attended the conference. (Xinhua/Xie Huanchi)

Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi, also 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, gives concluding remarks at the Central Conference on Work Relating to Foreign Affairs in Beijing, capital of China, Dec. 28, 2023. The conference was held in Beijing from Wednesday to Thursday. (Xinhua/Shen Hong)
TEHRAN, Dec. 27 (Xinhua) -- Iran and Iraq on Wednesday signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) on providing training courses for workers in the oil sector, Shana News Agency affiliated with the Iranian Oil Ministry reported.

The MoU was signed between Mehdi Ali-Madadi, Iran's deputy oil minister for management and human resources development, and Bassim Mohammed Khudair, Iraqi deputy oil minister for extraction affairs, in the Iranian capital of Tehran, the report said.

Iranian Oil Minister Javad Owji and his Iraqi counterpart Hayan Abdel-Ghani also attended the signing ceremony, it added.

Under the MoU, which is set to be implemented within the next few weeks, the two sides agreed to provide training courses for the two countries' oil ministry staff, start research cooperation, and hold online meetings.

At a meeting between the two countries' delegations on the same day, Owji said Iran and Iraq could implement numerous joint projects based on the two states' huge hydrocarbon reserves for bilateral interests.

Abdel-Ghani, for his part, encouraged Iranian companies to "have a share" in his country's different projects, including the development of the joint oilfields.

The Iraqi minister listed the joint investments in gas production and oil refinery construction as potential areas for bilateral cooperation.

Addressing reporters after the meeting, Owji said Iran is fully ready to help Iraq develop its oil industry, both upstream and downstream sectors.

He added that during their meeting, the two sides also reached favorable agreements in the areas of exploration, development of the joint oilfields, and renovation and reconstruction of Iraqi refineries with support from Iranian experts. 
Teachers have a spiritual role to play





 Staff Reporter

NAGPUR,

THE duty of a teacher is not restricted to imparting academic knowledge to students but it extends well beyond its limits, asserted Vijay Phanshikar, Editor of The Hitavada. He was speaking at the 69th Foundation Day function of Somalwar Shikshan Sanstha organised in memory of Late Govind Kashinath alias Annasaheb Somalwar at Somalwar High School and Junior College, Khamla, on Tuesday.The topic was:The Mirror. Narrating various incidents and anec dotes to explain the role of a teacher, Phanshikar said,A teacher has to be a mother and needs toplay myriad roles for creating an ecosystem where the students have the freedom to manifest themselves.

Elaborating on the topic The Mirror, Phanshikar highlighted the lines by well-known author Kalidas Gupta, Darpan Kar Apna Darpan. Mirror has the ability to absorb light and reflect back.Likewise,when we look into the mirror, we reflect back atour value system. Every professional, be it teachers like you or journalists like me,should show honesty to his or her profession, society and the nation, just like the soldiers guarding our nations borders in extreme climatic conditions do, he added. Hailing the role of a teacher in shaping the society, Phanshikar said that no amount of compensation would match a teachers job. Every teacher has a spiritualrole to play in a students life. Dropping pride and pre judices are two important factors we as professionals, especially teachers, should practise in their teaching style.This will automatically help bring about a change in our education system and elevate our institutions to a higer level, he stressed. Earlier, Madhukarrao Somalwar, President of Somalwar Shikshan Sanstha made the opening remarks.

Annasaheb Somalwar was a born teacher. His methods of teaching were observed by the then British education officers who described himasanexperimentorinimparting education. His sons then joined hismission.With their tireless efforts, the institution grew up and became a known name, Somalwar said. RPSomalwar, Prakash Somalwar, Seema Somalwar, Mahesh Somalwar, CA Rohit Somalwar, Supriya Kolwadkar, Dr Shivhari Kute, and staff of Somalwar Shikshan Sanstha were present on the occasion.Theprize distribution of inter school Annasaheb Somalwar Memorial Initiative of Rewarding Excellence (ASMIRE) competitive examination was also held on the occasion. A total of 31,000 students participated in the competition and 48 students were felicitated for their outstanding performances. Shubra Roy conducted the proceedings of the prize distribution ceremony. The programme was conducted by Geetanjali Shirbawikar, who also proposed a vote of thanks.
Good supplies keep edible oil prices in check





Business Reporter

The edible oil prices have gradually decreased from the past one month on account of new crop arrivals in the mandis and record imports in the country. The edible oil prices have been kept under check due to arrival of new soyabean crop and bulk imports, said Rajesh Thakkar, President of Oil Merchants Association and owner of Shantilal Oils Private Limited while speaking to The Hitavada. Apart from this, after Diwali festival the edible oils are witnessing sluggish demand in the market. The slow demand for edible oils has restrained prices from rising, he further said. In the wholesale market, edible oils like soyabean oil is being quoted at Rs 1,530 to Rs 1,540 for 15 kilogram (kg) tin, palm oil is being quoted at Rs 1,650 per 15 kg tin, groundnut oil prices are being quoted at Rs 2,550 for 15 kg tin and rice bran is being quoted at Rs 1,490 to Rs 1,500 per 15 kg tin, while sunflower oil is priced at Rs 1,510 for 15 litre tin, Thakkar mentioned.

In retail, soyabean oil is available at Rs 101 to Rs 102 per litre, groundnut oil at Rs 175 to Rs 180 per litre pouch, rice bran at Rs 96 per kg to Rs 97 per kg and sunflower oil at Rs 105 per litre, sources said. Sources in the market anticipate that the edible oil prices could shoot up in the first three months of the new year. The new crop arrivals would get exhausted and prices in the international market could rise once again. At present the new produce of soyabean crop in the markets is putting pressure on the prices. The soyabean oil prices could rise by another Rs 7 to Rs 8 per kg from the current levels in the next month, sources pointed out. Currently, the soyabean oil is being imported from Brazil, Argentina and US, while palm oil is coming from Indonesia and Thailand.

Whereas, sunflower oil is imported from Russia and Ukraine, he added. The edible oil prices across all varieties flared up in March and reached record high levels on account of lower production in the international market coupled with the Russia-Ukraine conflict, another source said. India is dependent on international oil prices as imports constitute more than 60 per cent of the domestic consumption requirement in a year. Indias total domestic consumption is estimated at 2.10 lakh tonne to 2.15 lakh tonne per year. While domestic production is 90 lakh tonne to 95 lakh tonne whereas imports are at 1.15 lakh tonne annually, Thakkar further added.
Hazra removed from BJP national secy post





NEW DELHI,

BJP President J P Nadda has removed West Bengal leader Anupam Hazra from the post of the partys national secretary. A former Lok Sabha MP, Hazra has been critical of the partys functioning in the State for some time. The BJPs decision came on Tuesday, coinciding with Nadda and Home Minister Amit Shahs visit to Kolkata for a host of political programmes. Hazras removal from the post is being seen as a message to dissidents within the party to stick to organisational discipline and toe the leaderships line.

Shah has asserted that no one can stop the implementation of the Citizenship (Amendment) Act as it is the law of the land and accused the West Bengal Chief Minister, Mamata Banerjee, of misleading people on the issue. Addressing a closed-door meeting of the State BJPs social media and IT wing members at the National Library in Kolkata on Tuesday, Shah said it is the partys commitment to implement the CAA. Shah expressed confidence that the party will bag more than 35 out of the 42 Lok Sabha seats from the state. In the 2019 polls, the saffron camp had secured 18 seats.

The Bengal BJP media cell shared a list of pointers of Shahs speech at the closed-door programme. Later in the evening, it also shared a few video clips of Shah's speech. We have to work to form a BJP Government in West Bengal after the next Assembly polls. A BJP Government will mean the end of infiltration, cow smuggling and providing citizenship to religiously persecuted people through CAA, he said at the party programme, the video clip of which was shared by the BJPs media wing.
PSIs shortfall in State police





By Dheeraj Fartode

Maharashtra is currently grappling with a severe shortage of Police Sub-Inspectors (PSIs), with vacancies soaring to 2,586 positions across the State. This shortage has created a major challenge for Maharashtra Police Department in day-to-day affairs for effective policing. In Nagpur revenue division, both the City and the Nagpur Rural police, Bhandara, Chandrapur, Wardha, Gadchiroli, Gondia, and Gadchiroli districts, along with Government Railway Police (GRP) Nagpur and the Special Action Group (SAG), are contending with a substantial shortage of 207 PSIs. Similarly, in Amravati City and Amravati Range, which includes Amravati Rural, Akola, Buldhana, Yavatmal, and Washim districts, there is a pressing shortage of 150 PSIs. The Kokan-1 revenue division, covering Palghar, Ratnagiri, and Sindhudurg districts, reports the lowest number of vacancies but still faces a deficit of 71 PSIs. Nashik revenue division, covering Nashik City, Nashik Rural, Ahmednagar, Jalgaon, Dhule and Nandurbar, are currently grappling with 98 vacant PSI positions. In Aurangabad City and Aurangabad Range, encompassing Aurangabad Rural, Beed, Nanded, Latur, Hingoli, and GRP Aurangabad, the shortage stands at 116 PSIs.

Pune city and Pune Range, which includes Pune Rural, Kolhapur, Satara, Sangli, Solapur Rural, Pimpri-Chinchwad, and GRP, are facing a scarcity of 199 PSIs. However, the most critical situation is observed in the Kokan-2 revenue division, with a staggering 1,745 vacant PSI positions. This area covers Mumbai city, Thane City, Navi Mumbai, Raigarh, GRP Mumbai, Force One, Cyber Mumbai, Mumbai Prison, and other critical units. A retired police official said that PSIs play an important role in investigations. PSIs are instrumental in handling multidimensional roles and focusing on crucial cases. The absence of such a significant number of these positions could leave local police station officers with limited options during investigations, he said.
RIGHT COURSE





THE assertion of Minister of External Affairs Dr. S. Jaishankar that India-Russia relations are on a positive trajectory symbolises the efforts both countries have been investing into keeping the age-old friendship not just alive but thriving -- no matter the odds, no matter the occasional and incidental stresses and strains of working together in the increasingly complex geopolitical scenario of the world. The stress Dr. Jaishankar gave on proper handling of geopolitics and strategic convergence, therefore, hints to the direction of the continued effort in the coming times. For, these dimensions are both, the reason that drives the activity and purpose for which the activity is to be conducted. It has been fashionable -- at least in the Indian intelligentsia -- to talk of the traditional ground and frame as the sole driver of good mutual relations between Indian and Russia, as if need-based geopolitical and strategic manoeuvres have little value. Under the diplomatic leadership of Prime Minister Mr. Narendra Modi and Dr. S. Jaishankar, however, fashionable definitions have long back given way to practical and non-theoretical approach to bilateral relations in an increasingly globalised world.

In other words, Dr. Jaishankar seems to propose a discourse beyond the usual, good-natured rhetoric about India-Russia ties -- of course in tune with the dynamic needs of the changing times. There were times when India used to be the receiver of the Russian -- Soviet -- patronage, thanks to its own poverty and to the Russias global supremacy in most fields, in every which the way. Now also, the flow of Russian assistance to India is stronger and bigger than the one in reverse direction. However, there is a shift in the paradigm of relation ship -- with India becoming increasingly stronger with passage of time and redefining of its own priorities. Now, the flow from India to Russia -- of everything -- has swelled almost beyond a recognisable shape and size. Dr. Jaishankar appears to suggest a near-parity between the two nations at least in some fields. With this changing paradigm, the texture and nature of India-Russia relations, too, has changed. Much of the credit of this must go to the positioning of its own self achieved by India -- particularly after the accession of Mr. Narendra Modi as Prime Minister nine-and-a-half years ago. This is because Mr. Modi was successful in reversing the direction of the mutual narrative between India and Russia.

The most critical change that has taken place in the Indian foreign policy management is that Prime Minister Mr. Modi insisted that India need not be apologetic about the stands it takes from time to time on many issues of critical importance. The Russia-Ukraine conflict is a classic example of the changed attitude and approach of New Delhi towards not just the conflict but also the overall geopolitical scenario of the world. Refusing to get drawn or sucked into any camp, India chose a calibrated aloofness. For a while, it did seem to attract much international ire. But subsequently, the world realised the power of Indias horse sense. That horse sense gave India the strength, too, to caution Russia against continued conflict -- when Mr. Narendra Modi told Mr. Vladimir Putin in no uncertain terms that it was not the time for war. This body of finely-nuanced considerations now underlines the effort in geopolitics and strategic convergence vis-a-vis Russia, as highlighted correctly by Dr. S. Jaishankar. India-Russia bilateralism, thus, stands poised to be redefined and reshaped in coming times in more mature manner -- a fact that emerges so accurately from Dr. Jaishankars activity in Moscow currently. Even for the traditionalists, it promises much excitement.
Staff Reporter

Deputy Chief Minister of Madhya Pradesh, Rajendra Shukla inaugurated the three-day 38th Indian Engineering Congress, on Wednesday. The mega event is being organised under the aegis of Institution of Engineers (India) Local Centre Jabalpur, from December 27 to 29. On the inauguration of this Indian Engineering Congress organized on the theme Reimagining Tomorrow: Shaping the Future through Disruptive and Interdisciplinary Technologies, Deputy Chief Minister Rajendra Shukla said that such a big event is being organised for the first time in Madhya Pradesh. Madhya Pradesh Government will fully benefit from organizing this effort. He said that whatever papers will be presented during the Engineering Congress, Madhya Pradesh government will get them fully studied. He said that the Madhya Pradesh government will always be ready to consider and implement the suggestions of the Institution of Engineers.

He said that engineers are the backbone of our countrys development. He said that Madhya Pradesh is a rapidly progressing developed state in which engineers have played an important role. Speaking about the role of engineers in the society, he said that engineers also have the responsibility to save the country from national loss because engineers are able to get more work done at less expense. He said that engineers have knowledge, ability and engineers contribute significantly to every section of the society. The chief guest of the ceremony was UP Singh, former Secretary to the Government of India. On this occasion, Major General Dr. MJS Sayli, Secretary and Director General, Chairman of IEI Jabalpur Local Centre, Brigadier VK Trivedi, newly elected Chairman of IEI, Dr. G. Ranganath, shared the dais.

Current Chairman of IEI Engineer Shivanand Rai, Organizing Committee Chairman Rakesh Kumar Rathore and Secretary of Jabalpur Local Centre Rajeev Jain, ex-chairman of Jabalpur Local Centre I .K.Khanna, Vinod Bilthare, Virendra Sahu, Tarun Anand, many engineers and experts, famous industrialists including PC Dubey were present.

Engineer Tarun Anand, media in-charge of the organizing committee, said that several memorial lectures were presented on the first day of the 38th Indian Engineering Congress. In this, M Visvesvaraya Memorial Lecture was presented by Dr. S. Sumanth, retired director of Karnataka Power Transmission Company Limited. Apart from this, Bhaikka Memorial Lecture, Rajendra Nath Mukherjee Memorial Lecture, Needhu Bhushan Memorial Lecture, Dr. AN Khosla Memorial Lecture, Dr. Amitabh Bhattacharya Memorial Lecture, Professor CS Jha Memorial Lecture and Dr KL Rao Memorial Lecture were presented. Apart from various programs, other programs like Women Engineers Meet, Wish Nari Talk and Alumni Meet were also organized in this Congress.
Tension In Red Sea





By Girish Linganna

THE United States-led multinational naval force to safeguard and secure sea traffic in the Red Sea against attacks from Houthi rebels seems to be greatly weakened even before it started operating fully. Just a few days after the launch of Operation Prosperity Guardian (OPG), France, Italy, and Spain backed out and this, when the force was expected to consist of warships from over 10 countries. Washington was almost pushed into forming the coalition. In early November, a US destroyer intercepted multiple missiles launched from Yemen. However, the United States behaved as if things were normal and did not publicly proclaim its involvement in confronting the Houthi. As long as the Houthi failed to hit Israel, the US could claim that the situation hadnt turned urgent. However, when the continuous Houthi attacks on ships passing through the Suez Canal endangered global seaways, the US had to intervene. Its highly likely that the White House didnt have an immediate detailed plan for getting involved in the Gaza conflict, but the choice to send naval and air forces to the region, capable of facing any potential enemies, was a wise military decision. The White House was involved in diplomacy. The US and Iran sent indirect messages to each other, stating they didnt want conflict. Iran said it didnt know that Hamas planned to attack Israel on October 7. The US did not make this an issue. In response, Iran influenced Hezbollah in Lebanon to hold back. All these helped reduce tensions. The Houthi, who are often seen aligned with Iran, just like the Hezbollah, however, chose to strike in the Red Sea. They called on Israel to stop its military actions in Gaza and fired long-distance missiles towards Israel and targeted US Navy destroyers in the Red Sea.

Both moves failed when the missiles and drones were intercepted and destroyed. The US Navy believed its two destroyers would manage the situation adequately and expected a couple of more ships to arrive in time. But when tankers and container ships began to be attacked almost every day, it became clear the situation was getting out of hand. Many of the largest shipping companies changed routes, avoiding the Suez Canal and taking the longer, more costly, path around Africa. This involved an extra expense of $700 for each container ship. Considering that only ships carrying goods from Asia to Europe were affected, the extra cost amounted to an enormous $2 billion every month. This extra expense will be transferred to end-users, resulting in higher prices. Moreover, the extended travel time would lead to delays in distribution, shortages, and overall economic disruption, which will impact all countries. The markets called for action, and the US hoped to form a strong group of up to 20 countries for Operation Prosperity Guardian (OPG). However, this optimism quickly dissipated as many countries declined to participate. The Pentagon believed that China, which relies heavily on open sea lanes for its exports to Europe, would join the coalition as it already had a task force, including a destroyer and a frigate, in the western Indian Ocean. But Beijing wasnt interested in Operation Prosperity Guardian as also major Arab navies of countries located along the Red Sea, such as that of Saudi Arabia and Egypt.

They preferred not to get involved in a conflict with another Arab country. The US understood and remained confident that it would still be able to get enough ships for the operation. Meanwhile, France, Italy, and Spain said their navies will participate only if the mission is led by the European Union or NATO. The US currently has support from the United Kingdom, Norway, the Netherlands, Greece, Canada, and Australia. Most of these countries already have ships in the Indian Ocean or in the eastern Mediterranean. This would allow Operation Prosperity Guardian to begin quickly and start escorting commercial ships before the New Year. The first response from the shipping industry was on Sunday when Maersk, a major Danish shipping company, declared that its ships would start passing through the Red Sea again, but only with Operation Prosperity Guardians protection. Bottom-line is, even with various countries involved, Operation Prosperity Guardian will involve more than just guiding ships through the southern Red Sea. There are indications that the situation might escalate significantly, potentially leading to a new conflict involving key regional players. (IPA)
Xi Jinping, general secretary of the Communist Party of China Central Committee, Chinese president and chairman of the Central Military Commission, delivers an important speech at the Central Conference on Work Relating to Foreign Affairs in Beijing, capital of China. The conference was held in Beijing from Wednesday to Thursday. Li Qiang, Zhao Leji, Wang Huning, Cai Qi, Ding Xuexiang, Li Xi and Han Zheng attended the conference. (Xinhua/Xie Huanchi)

BEIJING, Dec. 28 (Xinhua) -- The Central Conference on Work Relating to Foreign Affairs was held in Beijing from Wednesday to Thursday. Xi Jinping, general secretary of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of China, Chinese president and chairman of the Central Military Commission, delivered an important speech at the conference.

In his speech, Xi systematically reviewed the historic achievements and valuable experience of major-country diplomacy with Chinese characteristics in the new era, elaborated on the international environment and historical mission of China's external work in the new journey, and made comprehensive plans for China's external work at present and in the future. 

Xi Jinping, general secretary of the Communist Party of China Central Committee, Chinese president and chairman of the Central Military Commission, delivers an important speech at the Central Conference on Work Relating to Foreign Affairs in Beijing, capital of China. The conference was held in Beijing from Wednesday to Thursday. (Xinhua/Ju Peng)
Innovation boosts revival of China's cultural, tourist industry

Xinhua) 08:07, December 28, 2023

BEIJING, Dec. 27 (Xinhua) -- The theme of China's cultural and tourist industry through 2023 was revival.

According to data from the National Bureau of Statistics, in the first three quarters of the year, the total revenue of China's cultural enterprises was 9.16 trillion yuan (1.29 trillion U.S. dollars), up 7.7 percent year on year.

With favorable policies, the support of scientific technology and the transformation of tourism concepts, innovation has been and will remain a key driving force behind the revival of the cultural and tourist industry.

FULL HEAD OF STEAM

Enterprises in the 16 prominent new subcategories listed by the Ministry of Culture and Tourism (MCT), such as digital publication, digital cultural content service and the manufacture of smart devices related to cultural consumption, saw their revenue rise by 15.2 percent year on year.

The rise of the new subcategories has been tangible. According to the ministry, about 900,000 items and sets of cultural relics at the Palace Museum have undergone digitalization, constituting 48 percent of its total collections. Meanwhile, of the 1.43 million sets of collections at the National Museum of China, 700,000 have been digitally processed.

In June, an 11-part series of standards for digital protection of intangible cultural heritage was released by the MCT, elaborating on the specific requirements for the digitalization of different types of intangible cultural heritage items.

Promoting the digitalization of such resources lays a solid foundation for better utilizing and presenting them, said Lu Yingchuan, vice minister of culture and tourism.

In September, a guideline was issued by the State Council on unleashing the potential of tourist expenditure, listing a number of measures to deepen the integration of culture and tourism.

It was estimated by the China Tourism Academy that the total tourism income in 2023 across the country will bounce back to 5.2 trillion yuan, 91 percent of the figure from 2019.

STRONG SCI-TECH SUPPORT

"We didn't expect such strong interest from the visitors in observing the restoration of relics up close," said Lei Yu, curator of the popular Sanxingdui Museum in southwest China's Sichuan Province.

He was referring to the hall showing the restoration of cultural relics. Despite freezing weather, the venue remained a hot spot for visitors.

Inside a hall of the museum, there was a glass wall separating the cultural conservation work area from the sightseeing area. On one side, researchers engaged in restoring the relics with state-of-the-art devices. On the other side, visitors watched the restoration work, either directly or via 3D replays, and learned about the restoration through touch screens, interactive games and other creative forms.

At the new site of the museum, naked-eye 3D technology was utilized to "restore" the archaeological sites, allowing visitors to immerse themselves in the excitement of unearthing relics from the viewpoint of archaeologists.

"While highlighting the visual impact, we try to better present the stories behind the cultural relics so that the visitors can feel the unique charm of Chinese culture while enhancing their cultural confidence," said Zhu Yarong, deputy director of the museum.

Such innovative measures with cutting-edge technology have won over numerous visitors. During the eight-day National Day holiday from Sept. 29 to Oct. 6, Sanxingdui Museum welcomed 153,400 visits, more than tripling the number from the same period in 2019.

According to a three-year plan to boost domestic tourism released by the MCT in mid-November, the role of scientific technology in facilitating tourism will be further enhanced, and new technologies will be more widely applied at tourist sites.

"The wide application of new technologies brings new audiovisual experiences to people and creates a new business model that integrates culture and tourism," said Tao Cheng, a senior official with the MCT.

CREATIVE TRANSFORMATION

In northwest China's city of Xi'an, an unimpressive old shopping mall was turned into a buzzing neighborhood in the style of Chang'an, the old name for the city when it was the capital of China's Tang Dynasty (618-907).

Various traditional Chinese buildings from the period featuring carved beams and painted rafters flank the streets of the block, which also stage Tang Dynasty songs, dances and interactive reenactments featuring celebrities from the era.

"We feel like ordinary Chang'an residents from the height of the Tang Dynasty here," said Xi'an resident Liu Rui, who was surprised by the evolution of the site. "The sensation of traveling back in time to such lively surroundings made me realize that tourism can be so profound."

Yanchi County in northwest China boasts part of the Great Wall. As night falls, the site starts glowing with different lights and colors, becoming a stage for dances that reflect the beauty of cultural interaction along the ancient Silk Road.

Such transformations are in line with the aforementioned guideline on unleashing the potential of tourist expenditure, which called for flexible efforts to make the most of existing and potential tourist programs and sites with the support of financial and investment policies.

For practitioners behind the scenes, the transformation of sites into cultural and tourist phenomena stems from the transformation of Chinese people's concepts.

"The old way of sightseeing can no longer meet the tourists' needs for cultural and tourist activities," said Lu Tao, general manager of the company behind the ancient Chang'an city neighborhood. "Creating more tourist products that meet the needs of the people for a better life through modern means is the direction of the supply-side reform of the cultural and tourism industry."

(Web editor: Zhang Kaiwei, Zhong Wenxing)
A student walks into a temporary classroom in Liugou Town of the Bonan-Dongxiang-Salar Autonomous County of Jishishan, northwest China's Gansu Province, Dec. 27, 2023. Combining online and offline teaching, local primary and secondary schools in Jishishan County resumed classes this week. More than 150 temporary teaching sites started classes. (Xinhua/Fan Peishen)

A student jumps rope at a temporary playground in Dahejia Town of the Bonan-Dongxiang-Salar Autonomous County of Jishishan, northwest China's Gansu Province, Dec. 27, 2023. Combining online and offline teaching, local primary and secondary schools in Jishishan County resumed classes this week. More than 150 temporary teaching sites started classes. (Xinhua/Fan Peishen)

Students attend class at a temporary classroom in Liugou Town of the Bonan-Dongxiang-Salar Autonomous County of Jishishan, northwest China's Gansu Province, Dec. 27, 2023. Combining online and offline teaching, local primary and secondary schools in Jishishan County resumed classes this week. More than 150 temporary teaching sites started classes. (Xinhua/Fan Peishen)

Students attend class via livestreaming at a temporary classroom in Liugou Town of the Bonan-Dongxiang-Salar Autonomous County of Jishishan, northwest China's Gansu Province, Dec. 27, 2023. Combining online and offline teaching, local primary and secondary schools in Jishishan County resumed classes this week. More than 150 temporary teaching sites started classes. (Xinhua/Fan Peishen)

Students attend class via livestreaming at a temporary classroom in Liugou Town of the Bonan-Dongxiang-Salar Autonomous County of Jishishan, northwest China's Gansu Province, Dec. 27, 2023. Combining online and offline teaching, local primary and secondary schools in Jishishan County resumed classes this week. More than 150 temporary teaching sites started classes. (Xinhua/Fan Peishen)

Students attend class via livestreaming at a temporary classroom in Liugou Town of the Bonan-Dongxiang-Salar Autonomous County of Jishishan, northwest China's Gansu Province, Dec. 27, 2023. Combining online and offline teaching, local primary and secondary schools in Jishishan County resumed classes this week. More than 150 temporary teaching sites started classes. (Xinhua/Fan Peishen)

Students attend class at a temporary classroom in Dahejia Town of the Bonan-Dongxiang-Salar Autonomous County of Jishishan, northwest China's Gansu Province, Dec. 27, 2023. Combining online and offline teaching, local primary and secondary schools in Jishishan County resumed classes this week. More than 150 temporary teaching sites started classes. (Xinhua/Fan Peishen)

Students jump rope at a temporary playground in Dahejia Town of the Bonan-Dongxiang-Salar Autonomous County of Jishishan, northwest China's Gansu Province, Dec. 27, 2023. Combining online and offline teaching, local primary and secondary schools in Jishishan County resumed classes this week. More than 150 temporary teaching sites started classes. (Xinhua/Fan Peishen)
Advisory Alpha LLC lowered its position in shares of The Sherwin-Williams Company (NYSE:SHW  Free Report) by 1.0% in the third quarter, according to the company in its most recent disclosure with the Securities & Exchange Commission. The fund owned 5,600 shares of the specialty chemicals companys stock after selling 55 shares during the quarter. Advisory Alpha LLCs holdings in Sherwin-Williams were worth $1,428,000 at the end of the most recent reporting period.

Several other large investors have also made changes to their positions in SHW. First Capital Advisors Group LLC. acquired a new stake in shares of Sherwin-Williams during the 2nd quarter worth approximately $37,000. Covestor Ltd raised its holdings in Sherwin-Williams by 46.4% in the second quarter. Covestor Ltd now owns 142 shares of the specialty chemicals companys stock worth $38,000 after purchasing an additional 45 shares during the period. Colonial Trust Co SC raised its holdings in Sherwin-Williams by 315.9% in the first quarter. Colonial Trust Co SC now owns 183 shares of the specialty chemicals companys stock worth $41,000 after purchasing an additional 139 shares during the period. Independence Bank of Kentucky bought a new position in shares of Sherwin-Williams during the second quarter worth $60,000. Finally, Archer Investment Corp grew its stake in Sherwin-Williams by 19.5% in the second quarter. Archer Investment Corp now owns 239 shares of the specialty chemicals companys stock valued at $63,000 after acquiring an additional 39 shares during the period. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 75.87% of the companys stock.

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Insider Buying and Selling

In other news, CEO John G. Morikis acquired 2,125 shares of the businesss stock in a transaction that occurred on Wednesday, October 25th. The stock was acquired at an average price of $237.60 per share, with a total value of $504,900.00. Following the completion of the transaction, the chief executive officer now directly owns 317,270 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $75,383,352. The acquisition was disclosed in a legal filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which can be accessed through this link. In other news, CEO John G. Morikis acquired 2,125 shares of the stock in a transaction on Wednesday, October 25th. The stock was acquired at an average cost of $237.60 per share, for a total transaction of $504,900.00. Following the completion of the transaction, the chief executive officer now directly owns 317,270 shares in the company, valued at $75,383,352. The purchase was disclosed in a legal filing with the SEC, which is accessible through this link. Also, SVP Mary L. Garceau sold 923 shares of the businesss stock in a transaction on Tuesday, December 12th. The stock was sold at an average price of $292.65, for a total value of $270,115.95. Following the transaction, the senior vice president now directly owns 21,363 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $6,251,881.95. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. 0.55% of the stock is owned by company insiders.

Sherwin-Williams Trading Up 0.2 %

Shares of Sherwin-Williams stock opened at $313.30 on Thursday. The Sherwin-Williams Company has a 52-week low of $205.43 and a 52-week high of $314.03. The stock has a market cap of $80.20 billion, a PE ratio of 33.54, a PEG ratio of 2.46 and a beta of 1.11. The firm has a 50-day moving average of $271.23 and a 200-day moving average of $265.89. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 2.25, a quick ratio of 0.60 and a current ratio of 0.94.

Sherwin-Williams (NYSE:SHW  Get Free Report) last posted its quarterly earnings data on Tuesday, October 24th. The specialty chemicals company reported $3.20 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, beating analysts consensus estimates of $2.77 by $0.43. Sherwin-Williams had a net margin of 10.50% and a return on equity of 78.92%. The firm had revenue of $6.12 billion during the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $6 billion. As a group, sell-side analysts forecast that The Sherwin-Williams Company will post 10.3 EPS for the current year.

Sherwin-Williams Announces Dividend

The business also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Friday, December 8th. Stockholders of record on Friday, November 17th were issued a dividend of $0.605 per share. This represents a $2.42 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 0.77%. The ex-dividend date was Thursday, November 16th. Sherwin-Williamss dividend payout ratio (DPR) is currently 25.91%.

Wall Street Analyst Weigh In

A number of analysts recently issued reports on the company. Evercore ISI increased their target price on Sherwin-Williams from $300.00 to $305.00 and gave the stock an outperform rating in a research note on Friday, September 8th. Argus boosted their price target on Sherwin-Williams from $330.00 to $378.00 and gave the company a buy rating in a report on Thursday, December 21st. JPMorgan Chase & Co. decreased their price objective on Sherwin-Williams from $300.00 to $285.00 and set an overweight rating for the company in a report on Wednesday, October 25th. Royal Bank of Canada boosted their target price on Sherwin-Williams from $315.00 to $330.00 and gave the company an outperform rating in a research note on Wednesday, October 25th. Finally, Bank of America cut shares of Sherwin-Williams from a neutral rating to an underperform rating and reduced their target price for the stock from $300.00 to $275.00 in a report on Wednesday, October 18th. One research analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, five have issued a hold rating and twelve have assigned a buy rating to the companys stock. Based on data from MarketBeat, the stock presently has an average rating of Moderate Buy and a consensus target price of $295.11.

View Our Latest Stock Report on SHW

About Sherwin-Williams

(Free Report)

The Sherwin-Williams Company engages in the manufacture, distribution, and sale of paints, coating, and related products to professional, industrial, commercial, and retail customers. It operates through three segments: The Americas Group, Consumer Brands Group, and Performance Coatings Group. The Americas Group segment offers architectural paints and coatings, and protective and marine products, as well as OEM product finishes and related products for architectural and industrial paint contractors, and do-it-yourself homeowners.

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Shares of Aflac Incorporated (NYSE:AFL  Get Free Report) have been given an average rating of Hold by the eight brokerages that are currently covering the firm, MarketBeat.com reports. Six analysts have rated the stock with a hold recommendation and two have given a buy recommendation to the company. The average 12-month target price among analysts that have updated their coverage on the stock in the last year is $79.63.

AFL has been the topic of several research analyst reports. Jefferies Financial Group boosted their price target on Aflac from $70.00 to $74.00 and gave the stock a hold rating in a research note on Thursday, September 14th. StockNews.com started coverage on Aflac in a research note on Thursday, October 5th. They issued a hold rating on the stock. Morgan Stanley upped their target price on Aflac from $75.00 to $80.00 and gave the company an equal weight rating in a research note on Wednesday, November 15th. Raymond James upped their target price on Aflac from $77.00 to $83.00 and gave the company an outperform rating in a research note on Tuesday, September 26th. Finally, JPMorgan Chase & Co. upped their target price on Aflac from $74.00 to $80.00 and gave the company a neutral rating in a research note on Thursday, November 2nd.

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Aflac Price Performance

Shares of NYSE:AFL opened at $81.91 on Friday. The businesss 50 day simple moving average is $81.05 and its 200-day simple moving average is $76.37. The firm has a market capitalization of $47.87 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 10.79, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 1.98 and a beta of 0.88. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.31, a current ratio of 0.08 and a quick ratio of 0.08. Aflac has a 12 month low of $60.20 and a 12 month high of $84.64.

Aflac (NYSE:AFL  Get Free Report) last announced its quarterly earnings results on Thursday, November 2nd. The financial services provider reported $1.84 EPS for the quarter, topping the consensus estimate of $1.44 by $0.40. The business had revenue of $4.95 billion for the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $4.31 billion. Aflac had a return on equity of 17.86% and a net margin of 24.17%. The companys quarterly revenue was up 5.2% on a year-over-year basis. During the same quarter in the previous year, the company earned $1.23 EPS. As a group, equities analysts forecast that Aflac will post 6.3 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.

Aflac Dividend Announcement

The firm also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Friday, December 1st. Shareholders of record on Wednesday, November 15th were issued a $0.42 dividend. The ex-dividend date was Tuesday, November 14th. This represents a $1.68 annualized dividend and a yield of 2.05%. Aflacs dividend payout ratio (DPR) is presently 22.13%.

Insider Buying and Selling at Aflac

In other Aflac news, Director Joseph L. Moskowitz sold 500 shares of the businesss stock in a transaction on Monday, October 2nd. The stock was sold at an average price of $76.47, for a total value of $38,235.00. Following the completion of the transaction, the director now directly owns 26,598 shares in the company, valued at approximately $2,033,949.06. The sale was disclosed in a legal filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available at this hyperlink. In other news, Director Joseph L. Moskowitz sold 500 shares of the companys stock in a transaction on Monday, October 2nd. The stock was sold at an average price of $76.47, for a total transaction of $38,235.00. Following the completion of the sale, the director now directly owns 26,598 shares in the company, valued at approximately $2,033,949.06. The transaction was disclosed in a legal filing with the SEC, which is available at this link. Also, CFO Steven Kent Beaver sold 3,114 shares of the companys stock in a transaction on Friday, December 1st. The stock was sold at an average price of $82.71, for a total value of $257,558.94. Following the sale, the chief financial officer now owns 20,914 shares of the companys stock, valued at $1,729,796.94. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. In the last three months, insiders sold 165,315 shares of company stock worth $13,420,962. Insiders own 0.90% of the companys stock.

Institutional Trading of Aflac

Institutional investors have recently added to or reduced their stakes in the business. CoreFirst Bank & Trust purchased a new position in Aflac in the 4th quarter valued at about $25,000. Studio Investment Management LLC purchased a new position in Aflac in the 4th quarter valued at about $27,000. Tilia Fiduciary Partners Inc. boosted its position in Aflac by 85.1% in the 2nd quarter. Tilia Fiduciary Partners Inc. now owns 372 shares of the financial services providers stock valued at $26,000 after buying an additional 171 shares during the last quarter. Missouri Trust & Investment Co purchased a new position in Aflac in the 2nd quarter valued at about $28,000. Finally, Impact Partnership Wealth LLC boosted its position in Aflac by 471.4% in the 3rd quarter. Impact Partnership Wealth LLC now owns 400 shares of the financial services providers stock valued at $31,000 after buying an additional 330 shares during the last quarter. 66.75% of the stock is owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors.

About Aflac

(Get Free Report

Aflac Incorporated, through its subsidiaries, provides supplemental health and life insurance products. It operates in two segments, Aflac Japan and Aflac U.S. The Aflac Japan segment offers cancer, medical, nursing care, work leave, GIFT, and whole and term life insurance products, as well as WAYS and child endowment plans under saving type insurance products in Japan.

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Shares of Canadian Imperial Bank of Commerce (NYSE:CM  Get Free Report) (TSE:CM) saw an uptick in trading volume on Tuesday . 3,067,850 shares were traded during trading, an increase of 138% from the previous sessions volume of 1,288,147 shares.The stock last traded at $48.50 and had previously closed at $48.39.

Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth

A number of brokerages have recently weighed in on CM. BMO Capital Markets lowered their target price on Canadian Imperial Bank of Commerce from $69.00 to $65.00 and set an outperform rating on the stock in a research note on Friday, September 1st. Bank of America upgraded Canadian Imperial Bank of Commerce from an underperform rating to a neutral rating in a research note on Monday, December 18th. Royal Bank of Canada lowered their target price on Canadian Imperial Bank of Commerce from $72.00 to $67.00 and set a sector perform rating on the stock in a research note on Friday, September 1st. StockNews.com upgraded Canadian Imperial Bank of Commerce from a sell rating to a hold rating in a research note on Friday, December 8th. Finally, National Bank Financial raised Canadian Imperial Bank of Commerce from a sector perform rating to an outperform rating in a research report on Wednesday, December 20th. Four research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and four have issued a buy rating to the companys stock. According to data from MarketBeat.com, Canadian Imperial Bank of Commerce presently has a consensus rating of Moderate Buy and a consensus target price of $63.00.

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View Our Latest Analysis on Canadian Imperial Bank of Commerce

Canadian Imperial Bank of Commerce Stock Up 0.2 %

The firm has a market cap of $44.89 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 12.62, a P/E/G ratio of 2.15 and a beta of 1.05. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.13, a current ratio of 1.06 and a quick ratio of 1.06. The stock has a 50-day moving average of $40.22 and a 200-day moving average of $40.78.

Canadian Imperial Bank of Commerce (NYSE:CM  Get Free Report) (TSE:CM) last issued its quarterly earnings results on Thursday, November 30th. The bank reported $1.16 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, topping analysts consensus estimates of $1.13 by $0.03. The business had revenue of $5.84 billion for the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $4.34 billion. Canadian Imperial Bank of Commerce had a return on equity of 13.55% and a net margin of 8.99%. The firms quarterly revenue was up 8.5% compared to the same quarter last year. During the same quarter in the prior year, the business posted $1.08 earnings per share. Sell-side analysts predict that Canadian Imperial Bank of Commerce will post 5.24 EPS for the current fiscal year.

Canadian Imperial Bank of Commerce Increases Dividend

The firm also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Monday, January 29th. Shareholders of record on Thursday, December 28th will be issued a $0.6623 dividend. This represents a $2.65 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 5.50%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Wednesday, December 27th. This is an increase from Canadian Imperial Bank of Commerces previous quarterly dividend of $0.66. Canadian Imperial Bank of Commerces dividend payout ratio (DPR) is currently 67.54%.

Institutional Investors Weigh In On Canadian Imperial Bank of Commerce

A number of large investors have recently modified their holdings of CM. NewEdge Advisors LLC boosted its holdings in shares of Canadian Imperial Bank of Commerce by 277.9% during the 1st quarter. NewEdge Advisors LLC now owns 1,126 shares of the banks stock valued at $48,000 after acquiring an additional 828 shares in the last quarter. Pacifica Partners Inc. boosted its holdings in shares of Canadian Imperial Bank of Commerce by 70.9% during the 2nd quarter. Pacifica Partners Inc. now owns 1,446 shares of the banks stock valued at $61,000 after acquiring an additional 600 shares in the last quarter. CENTRAL TRUST Co boosted its holdings in shares of Canadian Imperial Bank of Commerce by 77.8% during the 3rd quarter. CENTRAL TRUST Co now owns 1,600 shares of the banks stock valued at $70,000 after acquiring an additional 700 shares in the last quarter. CWM LLC boosted its holdings in shares of Canadian Imperial Bank of Commerce by 72.8% during the 2nd quarter. CWM LLC now owns 2,004 shares of the banks stock valued at $86,000 after acquiring an additional 844 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Atria Wealth Solutions Inc. acquired a new stake in shares of Canadian Imperial Bank of Commerce during the 1st quarter valued at $295,000. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 43.72% of the companys stock.

Canadian Imperial Bank of Commerce Company Profile

(Get Free Report)

Canadian Imperial Bank of Commerce, a diversified financial institution, provides various financial products and services to personal, business, public sector, and institutional clients in Canada, the United States, and internationally. The company operates through Canadian Personal and Business Banking; Canadian Commercial Banking and Wealth Management; U.S.

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Capital Asset Advisory Services LLC acquired a new position in shares of Thomson Reuters Co. (NYSE:TRI  Free Report) (TSE:TRI) during the 3rd quarter, according to its most recent 13F filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The fund acquired 1,713 shares of the business services providers stock, valued at approximately $219,000.

Other institutional investors also recently modified their holdings of the company. Capital Investment Advisors LLC bought a new stake in shares of Thomson Reuters during the 3rd quarter worth about $209,000. Summit Global Investments boosted its holdings in shares of Thomson Reuters by 2.1% during the 3rd quarter. Summit Global Investments now owns 36,034 shares of the business services providers stock worth $4,408,000 after buying an additional 754 shares during the period. Laurus Investment Counsel Inc. bought a new stake in shares of Thomson Reuters during the 3rd quarter worth about $193,000. Sara Bay Financial bought a new stake in shares of Thomson Reuters during the 3rd quarter worth about $412,000. Finally, Ritholtz Wealth Management boosted its holdings in shares of Thomson Reuters by 4.9% during the 3rd quarter. Ritholtz Wealth Management now owns 4,453 shares of the business services providers stock worth $545,000 after buying an additional 209 shares during the period. 17.31% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors and hedge funds.

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Thomson Reuters Price Performance

TRI stock opened at $145.15 on Thursday. The company has a 50 day simple moving average of $134.42 and a 200 day simple moving average of $131.17. The stock has a market cap of $66.11 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 29.26, a P/E/G ratio of 3.74 and a beta of 0.66. Thomson Reuters Co. has a 1 year low of $112.37 and a 1 year high of $145.59. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.26, a current ratio of 1.05 and a quick ratio of 1.05.

Thomson Reuters Announces Dividend

Thomson Reuters ( NYSE:TRI Get Free Report ) (TSE:TRI) last released its quarterly earnings data on Wednesday, November 1st. The business services provider reported $0.82 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, topping analysts consensus estimates of $0.68 by $0.14. The business had revenue of $1.59 billion during the quarter, compared to analysts expectations of $1.61 billion. Thomson Reuters had a net margin of 34.09% and a return on equity of 13.05%. The firms quarterly revenue was up 1.3% compared to the same quarter last year. During the same period in the prior year, the company earned $0.59 EPS. Research analysts anticipate that Thomson Reuters Co. will post 3.45 EPS for the current fiscal year.

The firm also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Friday, December 15th. Shareholders of record on Thursday, November 16th were given a $0.49 dividend. This represents a $1.96 annualized dividend and a yield of 1.35%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Wednesday, November 15th. Thomson Reuterss dividend payout ratio (DPR) is currently 39.52%.

Analysts Set New Price Targets

TRI has been the subject of several research analyst reports. Scotiabank reduced their target price on shares of Thomson Reuters from $145.00 to $142.00 and set a sector perform rating for the company in a report on Thursday, November 2nd. Morgan Stanley cut their price target on shares of Thomson Reuters from $135.00 to $130.00 and set an equal weight rating for the company in a report on Thursday, November 2nd. Barclays cut their price target on shares of Thomson Reuters from $135.00 to $130.00 and set an equal weight rating for the company in a report on Thursday, November 2nd. BMO Capital Markets upped their price target on shares of Thomson Reuters from $192.00 to $201.00 and gave the stock an outperform rating in a report on Friday, November 3rd. Finally, StockNews.com raised shares of Thomson Reuters from a sell rating to a hold rating in a report on Wednesday, October 11th. Twelve research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and three have given a buy rating to the companys stock. According to MarketBeat.com, Thomson Reuters presently has an average rating of Hold and a consensus target price of $148.21.

Check Out Our Latest Stock Report on Thomson Reuters

About Thomson Reuters

(Free Report)

Thomson Reuters Corporation engages in the provision of business information services in the Americas, Europe, the Middle East, Africa, and the Asia Pacific. It operates in five segments: Legal Professionals, Corporates, Tax & Accounting Professionals, Reuters News, and Global Print. The Legal Professionals segment offers research and workflow products focusing on legal research and integrated legal workflow solutions that combine content, tools, and analytics to law firms and governments.

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Capital Asset Advisory Services LLC purchased a new stake in shares of Illinois Tool Works Inc. (NYSE:ITW  Free Report) during the 3rd quarter, HoldingsChannel.com reports. The institutional investor purchased 870 shares of the industrial products companys stock, valued at approximately $206,000.

Other institutional investors and hedge funds have also modified their holdings of the company. Avantax Planning Partners Inc. increased its holdings in shares of Illinois Tool Works by 0.5% during the second quarter. Avantax Planning Partners Inc. now owns 8,007 shares of the industrial products companys stock worth $2,003,000 after buying an additional 42 shares in the last quarter. V Wealth Advisors LLC increased its holdings in shares of Illinois Tool Works by 3.3% in the second quarter. V Wealth Advisors LLC now owns 1,347 shares of the industrial products companys stock valued at $337,000 after purchasing an additional 43 shares in the last quarter. Ropes Wealth Advisors LLC boosted its stake in Illinois Tool Works by 0.5% in the second quarter. Ropes Wealth Advisors LLC now owns 9,794 shares of the industrial products companys stock valued at $2,450,000 after acquiring an additional 44 shares during the last quarter. City Holding Co. boosted its stake in Illinois Tool Works by 0.5% in the third quarter. City Holding Co. now owns 8,057 shares of the industrial products companys stock valued at $1,856,000 after acquiring an additional 44 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Massachusetts Wealth Management boosted its position in shares of Illinois Tool Works by 0.8% during the second quarter. Massachusetts Wealth Management now owns 6,028 shares of the industrial products companys stock worth $1,508,000 after purchasing an additional 45 shares in the last quarter. 79.56% of the stock is currently owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors.

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Illinois Tool Works Stock Performance

NYSE ITW opened at $263.67 on Thursday. The company has a market capitalization of $79.34 billion, a PE ratio of 25.57, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 5.17 and a beta of 1.13. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 2.27, a quick ratio of 1.13 and a current ratio of 1.58. The company has a 50-day simple moving average of $241.00 and a 200 day simple moving average of $242.19. Illinois Tool Works Inc. has a 52-week low of $217.06 and a 52-week high of $265.00.

Illinois Tool Works Announces Dividend

Illinois Tool Works ( NYSE:ITW Get Free Report ) last released its quarterly earnings data on Tuesday, October 24th. The industrial products company reported $2.55 EPS for the quarter, beating analysts consensus estimates of $2.46 by $0.09. Illinois Tool Works had a net margin of 19.55% and a return on equity of 95.68%. The company had revenue of $4.03 billion during the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $4.10 billion. During the same period last year, the business earned $2.35 earnings per share. Illinois Tool Workss revenue was up .5% compared to the same quarter last year. On average, research analysts predict that Illinois Tool Works Inc. will post 9.68 EPS for the current year.

The company also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Thursday, January 11th. Investors of record on Friday, December 29th will be paid a $1.40 dividend. This represents a $5.60 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 2.12%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Thursday, December 28th. Illinois Tool Workss payout ratio is 54.32%.

Analysts Set New Price Targets

Several equities research analysts recently commented on the stock. JPMorgan Chase & Co. cut their price objective on shares of Illinois Tool Works from $265.00 to $255.00 and set an overweight rating on the stock in a research report on Monday, October 16th. Stifel Nicolaus boosted their price objective on shares of Illinois Tool Works from $236.00 to $238.00 and gave the stock a hold rating in a research note on Tuesday, December 19th. Citigroup lifted their target price on shares of Illinois Tool Works from $244.00 to $256.00 and gave the stock a neutral rating in a report on Monday, December 11th. Barclays reduced their target price on shares of Illinois Tool Works from $213.00 to $198.00 in a report on Thursday, September 7th. Finally, StockNews.com initiated coverage on shares of Illinois Tool Works in a report on Thursday, October 5th. They issued a hold rating for the company. Three equities research analysts have rated the stock with a sell rating, seven have issued a hold rating and two have issued a buy rating to the company. According to MarketBeat, Illinois Tool Works currently has a consensus rating of Hold and an average price target of $240.82.

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Illinois Tool Works Company Profile

(Free Report)

Illinois Tool Works Inc manufactures and sells industrial products and equipment worldwide. It operates through seven segments: Automotive OEM; Food Equipment; Test & Measurement and Electronics; Welding; Polymers & Fluids; Construction Products; and Specialty Products. The Automotive OEM segment offers plastic and metal components, fasteners, and assemblies for automobiles, light trucks, and other industrial uses.

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Capital Asset Advisory Services LLC cut its stake in General Electric (NYSE:GE  Free Report) by 12.1% in the 3rd quarter, according to its most recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The institutional investor owned 2,308 shares of the conglomerates stock after selling 319 shares during the quarter. Capital Asset Advisory Services LLCs holdings in General Electric were worth $261,000 at the end of the most recent quarter.

Other institutional investors have also added to or reduced their stakes in the company. Proficio Capital Partners LLC increased its stake in shares of General Electric by 4.6% in the 3rd quarter. Proficio Capital Partners LLC now owns 2,732 shares of the conglomerates stock worth $302,000 after acquiring an additional 120 shares in the last quarter. Strategic Blueprint LLC increased its stake in shares of General Electric by 10.5% in the 3rd quarter. Strategic Blueprint LLC now owns 2,465 shares of the conglomerates stock worth $273,000 after acquiring an additional 234 shares in the last quarter. CreativeOne Wealth LLC grew its position in General Electric by 9.2% during the 3rd quarter. CreativeOne Wealth LLC now owns 3,493 shares of the conglomerates stock valued at $386,000 after purchasing an additional 293 shares during the last quarter. Riverview Trust Co grew its position in General Electric by 404.9% during the 3rd quarter. Riverview Trust Co now owns 828 shares of the conglomerates stock valued at $92,000 after purchasing an additional 664 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Meridian Wealth Management LLC grew its position in General Electric by 101.3% during the 3rd quarter. Meridian Wealth Management LLC now owns 22,048 shares of the conglomerates stock valued at $2,437,000 after purchasing an additional 11,097 shares during the last quarter. 74.83% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors.

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Wall Street Analyst Weigh In

Several brokerages recently commented on GE. JPMorgan Chase & Co. increased their price objective on shares of General Electric from $124.00 to $136.00 and gave the company a neutral rating in a research report on Wednesday, December 20th. Deutsche Bank Aktiengesellschaft started coverage on shares of General Electric in a report on Wednesday, September 27th. They set a buy rating and a $141.00 price target on the stock. Citigroup raised their price target on shares of General Electric from $135.00 to $148.00 and gave the company a buy rating in a report on Monday, December 11th. Barclays increased their price objective on shares of General Electric from $131.00 to $133.00 and gave the stock an overweight rating in a research note on Wednesday, October 25th. Finally, TheStreet cut shares of General Electric from a b- rating to a c rating in a research note on Tuesday, October 24th. Two analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and twelve have issued a buy rating to the stock. According to data from MarketBeat, the company currently has an average rating of Moderate Buy and an average price target of $130.43.

General Electric Price Performance

GE stock opened at $128.20 on Thursday. General Electric has a one year low of $63.15 and a one year high of $128.41. The companys fifty day moving average price is $117.52 and its 200-day moving average price is $113.35. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.65, a quick ratio of 0.82 and a current ratio of 1.17. The company has a market capitalization of $139.53 billion, a PE ratio of 14.45, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 3.60 and a beta of 1.28.

General Electric (NYSE:GE  Get Free Report) last released its earnings results on Tuesday, October 24th. The conglomerate reported $0.82 EPS for the quarter, topping the consensus estimate of $0.56 by $0.26. General Electric had a net margin of 14.38% and a return on equity of 11.10%. The firm had revenue of $17.35 billion for the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $15.46 billion. During the same quarter in the previous year, the firm earned $0.35 earnings per share. The companys quarterly revenue was up 19.9% compared to the same quarter last year. On average, equities analysts anticipate that General Electric will post 2.65 EPS for the current fiscal year.

General Electric Dividend Announcement

The business also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Thursday, January 25th. Stockholders of record on Thursday, December 28th will be issued a $0.08 dividend. This represents a $0.32 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 0.25%. The ex-dividend date is Wednesday, December 27th. General Electrics dividend payout ratio (DPR) is presently 3.61%.

General Electric Profile

(Free Report)

General Electric Company operates as a high-tech industrial company in Europe, China, Asia, the Americas, the Middle East, and Africa. It offers gas and steam turbines, full balance of plant, upgrade, and service solutions, as well as data-leveraging software for power generation, industrial, government, and other customers.

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Coastline Trust Co lifted its position in shares of FedEx Co. (NYSE:FDX  Free Report) by 81.1% during the 3rd quarter, according to its most recent disclosure with the SEC. The firm owned 1,925 shares of the shipping service providers stock after buying an additional 862 shares during the period. Coastline Trust Cos holdings in FedEx were worth $510,000 as of its most recent SEC filing.

Several other institutional investors and hedge funds have also modified their holdings of the company. Archer Investment Corp grew its stake in shares of FedEx by 0.7% in the 2nd quarter. Archer Investment Corp now owns 5,417 shares of the shipping service providers stock worth $1,343,000 after purchasing an additional 38 shares during the last quarter. Cascade Investment Advisors Inc. grew its stake in shares of FedEx by 0.6% in the 2nd quarter. Cascade Investment Advisors Inc. now owns 6,904 shares of the shipping service providers stock worth $1,712,000 after purchasing an additional 40 shares during the last quarter. Massachusetts Wealth Management grew its stake in shares of FedEx by 2.9% in the 2nd quarter. Massachusetts Wealth Management now owns 1,405 shares of the shipping service providers stock worth $348,000 after purchasing an additional 40 shares during the last quarter. Camarda Financial Advisors LLC grew its stake in shares of FedEx by 0.6% in the 2nd quarter. Camarda Financial Advisors LLC now owns 6,419 shares of the shipping service providers stock worth $1,591,000 after purchasing an additional 40 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Zullo Investment Group Inc. increased its position in shares of FedEx by 0.8% in the second quarter. Zullo Investment Group Inc. now owns 5,497 shares of the shipping service providers stock worth $1,363,000 after acquiring an additional 41 shares in the last quarter. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 73.61% of the companys stock.

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Insider Buying and Selling

In other FedEx news, VP Jennifer L. Johnson sold 13,348 shares of the stock in a transaction on Friday, October 6th. The shares were sold at an average price of $258.25, for a total value of $3,447,121.00. Following the completion of the sale, the vice president now directly owns 3,428 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $885,281. The sale was disclosed in a legal filing with the SEC, which is available through the SEC website. In related news, Director Amy B. Lane purchased 200 shares of FedEx stock in a transaction on Tuesday, December 26th. The stock was purchased at an average cost of $253.22 per share, with a total value of $50,644.00. Following the acquisition, the director now directly owns 3,304 shares in the company, valued at $836,638.88. The acquisition was disclosed in a legal filing with the SEC, which is available at this link. Also, VP Jennifer L. Johnson sold 13,348 shares of the stock in a transaction on Friday, October 6th. The shares were sold at an average price of $258.25, for a total transaction of $3,447,121.00. Following the completion of the transaction, the vice president now owns 3,428 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $885,281. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. 8.73% of the stock is owned by insiders.

Wall Street Analyst Weigh In

Several research firms have recently weighed in on FDX. JPMorgan Chase & Co. dropped their target price on shares of FedEx from $322.00 to $305.00 and set a neutral rating on the stock in a research report on Wednesday, December 20th. TD Cowen lifted their target price on shares of FedEx from $290.00 to $293.00 and gave the stock an outperform rating in a research report on Tuesday, December 12th. Barclays dropped their target price on shares of FedEx from $330.00 to $310.00 and set an overweight rating on the stock in a research report on Wednesday, December 20th. Bank Of America (Bofa) lifted their target price on shares of FedEx from $330.00 to $334.00 in a research report on Wednesday, December 20th. Finally, Raymond James decreased their price target on shares of FedEx from $279.00 to $275.00 and set an outperform rating for the company in a report on Wednesday, December 20th. Seven investment analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating, seventeen have given a buy rating and one has issued a strong buy rating to the company. According to MarketBeat, FedEx presently has a consensus rating of Moderate Buy and an average price target of $288.38.

Read Our Latest Analysis on FDX

FedEx Price Performance

NYSE FDX opened at $250.94 on Thursday. The company has a current ratio of 1.34, a quick ratio of 1.30 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.75. The company has a fifty day simple moving average of $253.96 and a 200 day simple moving average of $254.73. The company has a market cap of $62.71 billion, a P/E ratio of 14.87, a P/E/G ratio of 1.19 and a beta of 1.32. FedEx Co. has a 1 year low of $171.55 and a 1 year high of $285.53.

FedEx (NYSE:FDX  Get Free Report) last posted its quarterly earnings data on Tuesday, December 19th. The shipping service provider reported $3.99 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, missing the consensus estimate of $4.14 by ($0.15). The firm had revenue of $22.17 billion for the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $22.36 billion. FedEx had a return on equity of 16.47% and a net margin of 4.87%. FedExs quarterly revenue was down 2.8% on a year-over-year basis. During the same period in the prior year, the company posted $3.18 earnings per share. On average, sell-side analysts predict that FedEx Co. will post 17.71 EPS for the current year.

FedEx Announces Dividend

The company also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Tuesday, January 2nd. Investors of record on Monday, December 11th will be issued a dividend of $1.26 per share. This represents a $5.04 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 2.01%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Friday, December 8th. FedExs dividend payout ratio is currently 29.86%.

FedEx Profile

(Free Report)

FedEx Corporation provides transportation, e-commerce, and business services in the United States and internationally. It operates through FedEx Express, FedEx Ground, FedEx Freight, and FedEx Services segments. The FedEx Express segment offers express transportation, small-package ground delivery, and freight transportation services; and time-critical transportation services.

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Reckitt Benckiser Group (OTCMKTS:RBGPF  Get Free Report) and Pola Orbis (OTCMKTS:PORBF  Get Free Report) are both consumer defensive companies, but which is the better investment? We will contrast the two businesses based on the strength of their risk, valuation, analyst recommendations, institutional ownership, earnings, profitability and dividends.

Earnings & Valuation

This table compares Reckitt Benckiser Group and Pola Orbis top-line revenue, earnings per share and valuation.

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Gross Revenue Price/Sales Ratio Net Income Earnings Per Share Price/Earnings Ratio Reckitt Benckiser Group N/A N/A N/A $2.59 26.75 Pola Orbis $1.27 billion 1.92 $87.09 million $0.25 44.20

Pola Orbis has higher revenue and earnings than Reckitt Benckiser Group. Reckitt Benckiser Group is trading at a lower price-to-earnings ratio than Pola Orbis, indicating that it is currently the more affordable of the two stocks.

Profitability

Net Margins Return on Equity Return on Assets Reckitt Benckiser Group N/A N/A N/A Pola Orbis 4.51% 6.17% 5.14%

Institutional & Insider Ownership

This table compares Reckitt Benckiser Group and Pola Orbis net margins, return on equity and return on assets.

39.7% of Reckitt Benckiser Group shares are owned by institutional investors. Strong institutional ownership is an indication that endowments, large money managers and hedge funds believe a company is poised for long-term growth.

Analyst Ratings

This is a summary of recent recommendations for Reckitt Benckiser Group and Pola Orbis, as provided by MarketBeat.

Sell Ratings Hold Ratings Buy Ratings Strong Buy Ratings Rating Score Reckitt Benckiser Group 0 0 0 0 N/A Pola Orbis 0 1 1 0 2.50

Summary

Pola Orbis beats Reckitt Benckiser Group on 6 of the 8 factors compared between the two stocks.

About Reckitt Benckiser Group

(Get Free Report)

Reckitt Benckiser Group plc manufactures and sells health, hygiene, and nutrition products worldwide. It offers acne treatment creams, facial washes, and cleansing pads; germ protection products; condoms; heartburn and indigestion solutions; joints health products; chest congestion, cough, and sinus remedies; vaginal care routine products; sore throat medications; and hair removal products under the Clearasil, Dettol, Durex, Gaviscon, Nurofen, Mucinex, Queen V, Strepsils, and Veet brands. The company also offers fragrances and devices; water softeners; home cleaning products; dish washes; toilet cleaners; disinfectants; sprays, baits, and plug-ins for pest control; stain removals; fabric washing; and other hygiene products under the Air Wick, Calgon, Cillit Bang, Finish, Harpic, Lysol, Mortein, Vanish, and Woolite brands. In addition, it provides vitamins, minerals, and supplements under the Biofreeze, Airborne, Mead Johnson, Move Free, Enfamil, Neuriva, and Nutramigen brands. The company was founded in 1819 and is headquartered in Slough, the United Kingdom.

About Pola Orbis

(Get Free Report)

Pola Orbis Holdings Inc., through its subsidiaries, develops, manufactures, and sells cosmetics and related products in Japan and internationally. It operates through Beauty Care and Real Estate segments. The Beauty Care segment offers cosmetics; skincare products; health foods; and fashion products, such as women's underwear, women's apparel, and jewelry under the POLA, ORBIS, Jurlique, H2O PLUS, THREE, DECENCIA, Amplitude, ITRIM, FIVEISM  THREE, and FUJIMI brand names. The Real Estate segment is involved in the leasing of office buildings and residential properties. The company also involves in the management and operation of buildings. It sells its products through department, directly operated retail, duty-free stores, Internet, and cosmetics stores, as well as through door-to-door sales, and mail-order sales. Pola Orbis Holdings Inc. was founded in 1929 and is headquartered in Tokyo, Japan.

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Garrison Point Advisors LLC lessened its stake in shares of Eli Lilly and Company (NYSE:LLY  Free Report) by 3.8% in the third quarter, according to the company in its most recent 13F filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The institutional investor owned 510 shares of the companys stock after selling 20 shares during the quarter. Garrison Point Advisors LLCs holdings in Eli Lilly and Company were worth $274,000 as of its most recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission.

A number of other hedge funds and other institutional investors have also recently added to or reduced their stakes in LLY. Retirement Group LLC increased its position in Eli Lilly and Company by 159.1% during the 2nd quarter. Retirement Group LLC now owns 57 shares of the companys stock worth $27,000 after purchasing an additional 35 shares in the last quarter. Cornerstone Planning Group LLC purchased a new stake in Eli Lilly and Company during the 2nd quarter worth about $33,000. Raleigh Capital Management Inc. boosted its stake in Eli Lilly and Company by 156.4% in the 1st quarter. Raleigh Capital Management Inc. now owns 100 shares of the companys stock worth $34,000 after buying an additional 61 shares during the last quarter. Activest Wealth Management acquired a new stake in Eli Lilly and Company in the 2nd quarter worth about $40,000. Finally, RVW Wealth LLC acquired a new stake in Eli Lilly and Company in the 3rd quarter worth about $46,000. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 81.38% of the companys stock.

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Insiders Place Their Bets

In other Eli Lilly and Company news, major shareholder Lilly Endowment Inc sold 215,000 shares of Eli Lilly and Company stock in a transaction that occurred on Wednesday, October 11th. The stock was sold at an average price of $605.44, for a total transaction of $130,169,600.00. Following the sale, the insider now directly owns 99,768,810 shares in the company, valued at approximately $60,404,028,326.40. The transaction was disclosed in a document filed with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available through the SEC website. In other news, CAO Donald A. Zakrowski sold 670 shares of the businesss stock in a transaction that occurred on Monday, November 6th. The stock was sold at an average price of $571.10, for a total value of $382,637.00. Following the completion of the sale, the chief accounting officer now directly owns 4,708 shares in the company, valued at approximately $2,688,738.80. The sale was disclosed in a document filed with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available through this hyperlink. Also, major shareholder Lilly Endowment Inc sold 215,000 shares of the businesss stock in a transaction that occurred on Wednesday, October 11th. The shares were sold at an average price of $605.44, for a total value of $130,169,600.00. Following the completion of the sale, the insider now owns 99,768,810 shares of the companys stock, valued at $60,404,028,326.40. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. 0.13% of the stock is owned by company insiders.

Eli Lilly and Company Stock Performance

Shares of NYSE:LLY opened at $581.60 on Thursday. The company has a market cap of $552.12 billion, a P/E ratio of 105.36, a PEG ratio of 3.48 and a beta of 0.33. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.59, a quick ratio of 0.82 and a current ratio of 1.05. Eli Lilly and Company has a one year low of $309.20 and a one year high of $629.97. The businesss 50-day simple moving average is $585.34 and its 200 day simple moving average is $539.00.

Eli Lilly and Company (NYSE:LLY  Get Free Report) last posted its quarterly earnings data on Thursday, November 2nd. The company reported $0.10 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, topping the consensus estimate of ($0.08) by $0.18. Eli Lilly and Company had a return on equity of 48.12% and a net margin of 15.55%. The company had revenue of $9.50 billion for the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $8.88 billion. On average, sell-side analysts forecast that Eli Lilly and Company will post 6.6 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.

Eli Lilly and Company Increases Dividend

The firm also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Monday, March 4th. Shareholders of record on Thursday, February 15th will be issued a dividend of $1.30 per share. The ex-dividend date is Wednesday, February 14th. This is an increase from Eli Lilly and Companys previous quarterly dividend of $1.13. This represents a $5.20 annualized dividend and a yield of 0.89%. Eli Lilly and Companys payout ratio is currently 81.88%.

Wall Street Analyst Weigh In

A number of brokerages have issued reports on LLY. Bank of America raised their price target on Eli Lilly and Company from $600.00 to $700.00 in a research note on Friday, October 6th. JPMorgan Chase & Co. reissued an overweight rating on shares of Eli Lilly and Company in a research note on Wednesday, November 8th. Wells Fargo & Company raised their price target on Eli Lilly and Company from $615.00 to $650.00 and gave the stock an overweight rating in a research note on Monday, October 9th. Truist Financial reissued a buy rating and issued a $650.00 price target on shares of Eli Lilly and Company in a research note on Wednesday, November 29th. Finally, Morgan Stanley raised their price target on Eli Lilly and Company from $727.00 to $822.00 and gave the stock an overweight rating in a research note on Tuesday, December 19th. One analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, two have assigned a hold rating and seventeen have given a buy rating to the company. According to MarketBeat, Eli Lilly and Company has a consensus rating of Moderate Buy and a consensus price target of $583.24.

View Our Latest Stock Analysis on LLY

Eli Lilly and Company Company Profile

(Free Report)

Eli Lilly and Company discovers, develops, and markets human pharmaceuticals worldwide. It offers Basaglar, Humalog, Humalog Mix 75/25, Humalog U-100, Humalog U-200, Humalog Mix 50/50, insulin lispro, insulin lispro protamine, insulin lispro mix 75/25, Humulin, Humulin 70/30, Humulin N, Humulin R, and Humulin U-500 for diabetes; and Jardiance, Trajenta, and Trulicity for type 2 diabetes.

Further Reading

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GHP Investment Advisors Inc. lowered its stake in shares of Philip Morris International Inc. (NYSE:PM  Free Report) by 9.3% during the 3rd quarter, according to its most recent filing with the SEC. The firm owned 2,439 shares of the companys stock after selling 251 shares during the period. GHP Investment Advisors Inc.s holdings in Philip Morris International were worth $225,000 as of its most recent SEC filing.

Several other large investors also recently bought and sold shares of the business. Capital World Investors increased its holdings in shares of Philip Morris International by 3.9% during the second quarter. Capital World Investors now owns 116,185,273 shares of the companys stock valued at $11,342,014,000 after acquiring an additional 4,368,323 shares in the last quarter. Capital International Investors grew its position in shares of Philip Morris International by 1.0% during the second quarter. Capital International Investors now owns 106,291,477 shares of the companys stock worth $10,376,231,000 after acquiring an additional 1,092,991 shares during the last quarter. BlackRock Inc. boosted its stake in shares of Philip Morris International by 1.1% in the second quarter. BlackRock Inc. now owns 95,439,062 shares of the companys stock valued at $9,316,761,000 after buying an additional 1,056,110 shares in the last quarter. State Street Corp boosted its holdings in Philip Morris International by 3.1% during the second quarter. State Street Corp now owns 58,592,611 shares of the companys stock worth $5,793,812,000 after buying an additional 1,745,868 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Capital Research Global Investors increased its holdings in Philip Morris International by 4.9% during the 2nd quarter. Capital Research Global Investors now owns 51,558,741 shares of the companys stock valued at $5,033,166,000 after acquiring an additional 2,430,519 shares in the last quarter. Institutional investors own 79.70% of the companys stock.

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Philip Morris International Price Performance

Shares of PM stock opened at $93.78 on Thursday. The firm has a market capitalization of $145.59 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 18.21, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 2.49 and a beta of 0.77. The business has a fifty day moving average of $92.05 and a 200 day moving average of $94.35. Philip Morris International Inc. has a 1 year low of $87.23 and a 1 year high of $105.62.

Philip Morris International Dividend Announcement

Philip Morris International ( NYSE:PM Get Free Report ) last released its earnings results on Thursday, October 19th. The company reported $1.67 earnings per share for the quarter, topping analysts consensus estimates of $1.62 by $0.05. The firm had revenue of $9.14 billion for the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $9.21 billion. Philip Morris International had a net margin of 9.62% and a negative return on equity of 129.48%. The businesss quarterly revenue was up 13.8% compared to the same quarter last year. During the same period in the prior year, the firm earned $1.53 earnings per share. As a group, equities research analysts expect that Philip Morris International Inc. will post 6.08 earnings per share for the current year.

The business also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Wednesday, January 10th. Stockholders of record on Thursday, December 21st will be given a $1.30 dividend. This represents a $5.20 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 5.54%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Wednesday, December 20th. Philip Morris Internationals payout ratio is 100.97%.

Analysts Set New Price Targets

A number of research analysts have issued reports on the stock. UBS Group reduced their target price on shares of Philip Morris International from $116.00 to $112.00 and set a buy rating for the company in a research note on Thursday, October 5th. JPMorgan Chase & Co. lifted their price target on shares of Philip Morris International from $110.00 to $115.00 and gave the company an overweight rating in a research report on Wednesday, November 29th. Stifel Nicolaus reaffirmed a buy rating and set a $114.00 price objective on shares of Philip Morris International in a report on Monday, October 2nd. StockNews.com began coverage on Philip Morris International in a report on Thursday, October 5th. They issued a hold rating for the company. Finally, Jefferies Financial Group cut their price target on shares of Philip Morris International from $111.00 to $105.00 and set a buy rating on the stock in a research note on Friday, October 13th. One investment analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, two have issued a hold rating and eight have given a buy rating to the companys stock. Based on data from MarketBeat.com, Philip Morris International currently has an average rating of Moderate Buy and a consensus target price of $109.27.

Check Out Our Latest Research Report on Philip Morris International

Insider Activity

In other news, insider Wilde Frederic De sold 10,000 shares of the companys stock in a transaction dated Tuesday, November 28th. The stock was sold at an average price of $94.25, for a total transaction of $942,500.00. Following the completion of the sale, the insider now owns 198,447 shares in the company, valued at approximately $18,703,629.75. The transaction was disclosed in a filing with the SEC, which is accessible through this hyperlink. Insiders own 0.13% of the companys stock.

Philip Morris International Profile

(Free Report)

Philip Morris International Inc operates as a tobacco company working to delivers a smoke-free future and evolving portfolio for the long-term to include products outside of the tobacco and nicotine sector. The company's product portfolio primarily consists of cigarettes and smoke-free products, including heat-not-burn, vapor, and oral nicotine products primarily under the IQOS and ZYN brands; and consumer accessories, such as lighters and matches.

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BUENOS AIRES, Dec. 27 (Xinhua) -- Argentine unions and social organizations took to the streets here on Wednesday to protest against President Javier Milei's recent economic reforms.

The march, which began at the square in front of the Palace of Justice, ended with at least six people arrested and a police officer injured.

The General Confederation of Labor (CGT), a national trade union federation in Argentina, and other organizations called for the protest to reject the Decree of Necessity and Urgency signed by Milei to "deregulate" the country's economy.

"The decree goes against the workers and the country," said CGT leader Pablo Moyano of the truckers' union.

Speaking to local media, Hector Daer, a leader of the CGT, said that political, legal and street-level tactics are needed to overturn the decree.

During the protest, activists read aloud a document that warned of the decree's "fierce regressive labor reform," saying it included measures that were "arbitrary, unconstitutional and harmful to a vast number of civil, commercial and social rights."

The march mobilized people from various sectors, with construction and metallurgy union members marching alongside truck drivers, bank employees, healthcare workers and public-sector employees.

A day earlier, Milei said "good Argentines" were willing to face his administration's austerity measures.

In an interview with television channel La Nacion Mas, the president stressed that the economic situation he inherited when he took office on Dec. 10 "requires measures that, in the eyes of a conventional observer, seem bold, but the risk of not taking the bull by the horns quickly would be tremendous."

During his presidency, the libertarian politician slashed the number of national ministries in half, from 18 to 9, devalued the national currency, froze public-sector hiring and scrapped subsidies for public transit fares and energy rates.

Milei's decree repeals regulations that prevent the privatization of public-sector companies and introduces reforms to facilitate international trade.

"We are bent on doing this. If it goes wrong, it explodes. But if we do nothing, it also explodes," said Milei, adding that if Congress rejects the decree, he will call for a "plebiscite or a popular consultation" so the people can decide.

Milei has criticized the recent demonstrations, saying that those who protest his policies do so because "they cannot accept that they lost" the presidential elections. 
Goldstein Advisors LLC lifted its holdings in shares of Eli Lilly and Company (NYSE:LLY  Free Report) by 6.0% during the third quarter, according to its most recent 13F filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The institutional investor owned 563 shares of the companys stock after buying an additional 32 shares during the quarter. Goldstein Advisors LLCs holdings in Eli Lilly and Company were worth $302,000 at the end of the most recent quarter.

A number of other institutional investors also recently modified their holdings of LLY. Bank Julius Baer & Co. Ltd Zurich lifted its stake in shares of Eli Lilly and Company by 533,336.4% during the 2nd quarter. Bank Julius Baer & Co. Ltd Zurich now owns 19,059,681 shares of the companys stock valued at $8,938,609,000 after buying an additional 19,056,108 shares in the last quarter. Norges Bank purchased a new stake in shares of Eli Lilly and Company during the 4th quarter valued at approximately $3,416,206,000. Moneta Group Investment Advisors LLC lifted its stake in shares of Eli Lilly and Company by 102,752.2% during the 4th quarter. Moneta Group Investment Advisors LLC now owns 5,446,026 shares of the companys stock valued at $1,992,374,000 after buying an additional 5,440,731 shares in the last quarter. Morgan Stanley lifted its stake in shares of Eli Lilly and Company by 44.1% during the 4th quarter. Morgan Stanley now owns 12,059,204 shares of the companys stock valued at $4,411,740,000 after buying an additional 3,691,436 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Imprint Wealth LLC lifted its stake in shares of Eli Lilly and Company by 53,716.8% during the 2nd quarter. Imprint Wealth LLC now owns 1,751,200 shares of the companys stock valued at $175,120,000 after buying an additional 1,747,946 shares in the last quarter. 81.38% of the stock is currently owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors.

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Analysts Set New Price Targets

LLY has been the topic of a number of recent research reports. JPMorgan Chase & Co. restated an overweight rating on shares of Eli Lilly and Company in a research note on Wednesday, November 8th. Citigroup upped their target price on shares of Eli Lilly and Company from $525.00 to $675.00 and gave the stock a buy rating in a report on Monday, October 23rd. Morgan Stanley upped their target price on shares of Eli Lilly and Company from $727.00 to $822.00 and gave the stock an overweight rating in a report on Tuesday, December 19th. Wells Fargo & Company upped their target price on shares of Eli Lilly and Company from $615.00 to $650.00 and gave the stock an overweight rating in a report on Monday, October 9th. Finally, StockNews.com raised shares of Eli Lilly and Company from a hold rating to a buy rating in a report on Friday, November 3rd. One investment analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, two have issued a hold rating and seventeen have given a buy rating to the company. According to MarketBeat, the company presently has an average rating of Moderate Buy and a consensus target price of $583.24.

Eli Lilly and Company Price Performance

Shares of Eli Lilly and Company stock opened at $581.60 on Thursday. Eli Lilly and Company has a 52-week low of $309.20 and a 52-week high of $629.97. The stock has a market capitalization of $552.12 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 105.36, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 3.48 and a beta of 0.33. The company has a fifty day moving average of $585.34 and a 200-day moving average of $539.00. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.59, a quick ratio of 0.82 and a current ratio of 1.05.

Eli Lilly and Company (NYSE:LLY  Get Free Report) last announced its quarterly earnings data on Thursday, November 2nd. The company reported $0.10 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, beating analysts consensus estimates of ($0.08) by $0.18. Eli Lilly and Company had a net margin of 15.55% and a return on equity of 48.12%. The company had revenue of $9.50 billion during the quarter, compared to analysts expectations of $8.88 billion. Equities research analysts expect that Eli Lilly and Company will post 6.6 EPS for the current year.

Eli Lilly and Company Increases Dividend

The firm also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Monday, March 4th. Stockholders of record on Thursday, February 15th will be paid a $1.30 dividend. This is a boost from Eli Lilly and Companys previous quarterly dividend of $1.13. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Wednesday, February 14th. This represents a $5.20 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 0.89%. Eli Lilly and Companys dividend payout ratio is 81.88%.

Insider Activity

In other news, CAO Donald A. Zakrowski sold 670 shares of the companys stock in a transaction on Monday, November 6th. The shares were sold at an average price of $571.10, for a total value of $382,637.00. Following the completion of the sale, the chief accounting officer now owns 4,708 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $2,688,738.80. The sale was disclosed in a filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available through the SEC website. In other Eli Lilly and Company news, major shareholder Lilly Endowment Inc sold 215,000 shares of the stock in a transaction on Wednesday, October 11th. The shares were sold at an average price of $605.44, for a total transaction of $130,169,600.00. Following the completion of the sale, the insider now owns 99,768,810 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $60,404,028,326.40. The sale was disclosed in a filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available at this link. Also, CAO Donald A. Zakrowski sold 670 shares of the stock in a transaction on Monday, November 6th. The shares were sold at an average price of $571.10, for a total transaction of $382,637.00. Following the sale, the chief accounting officer now directly owns 4,708 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $2,688,738.80. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. 0.13% of the stock is owned by corporate insiders.

Eli Lilly and Company Company Profile

(Free Report)

Eli Lilly and Company discovers, develops, and markets human pharmaceuticals worldwide. It offers Basaglar, Humalog, Humalog Mix 75/25, Humalog U-100, Humalog U-200, Humalog Mix 50/50, insulin lispro, insulin lispro protamine, insulin lispro mix 75/25, Humulin, Humulin 70/30, Humulin N, Humulin R, and Humulin U-500 for diabetes; and Jardiance, Trajenta, and Trulicity for type 2 diabetes.

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IQ EQ FUND MANAGEMENT IRELAND Ltd decreased its holdings in UnitedHealth Group Incorporated (NYSE:UNH  Free Report) by 7.0% during the 3rd quarter, according to the company in its most recent disclosure with the Securities & Exchange Commission. The fund owned 542 shares of the healthcare conglomerates stock after selling 41 shares during the quarter. IQ EQ FUND MANAGEMENT IRELAND Ltds holdings in UnitedHealth Group were worth $273,000 at the end of the most recent reporting period.

Other institutional investors have also bought and sold shares of the company. Strategic Investment Solutions Inc. IL bought a new stake in UnitedHealth Group during the first quarter valued at $35,000. WFA of San Diego LLC acquired a new position in shares of UnitedHealth Group during the second quarter valued at about $39,000. RVW Wealth LLC acquired a new position in shares of UnitedHealth Group during the third quarter valued at about $44,000. Glass Jacobson Investment Advisors llc acquired a new position in shares of UnitedHealth Group during the second quarter valued at about $47,000. Finally, Horizons Wealth Management acquired a new position in shares of UnitedHealth Group during the second quarter valued at about $48,000. Institutional investors own 85.69% of the companys stock.

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UnitedHealth Group Stock Up 0.5 %

UnitedHealth Group stock opened at $522.87 on Thursday. UnitedHealth Group Incorporated has a twelve month low of $445.68 and a twelve month high of $554.70. The firm has a 50 day moving average price of $535.77 and a 200-day moving average price of $508.38. The company has a market capitalization of $483.61 billion, a P/E ratio of 22.69, a P/E/G ratio of 1.58 and a beta of 0.61. The company has a quick ratio of 0.80, a current ratio of 0.80 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.65.

UnitedHealth Group Announces Dividend

UnitedHealth Group ( NYSE:UNH Get Free Report ) last released its quarterly earnings data on Friday, October 13th. The healthcare conglomerate reported $6.56 EPS for the quarter, topping the consensus estimate of $6.33 by $0.23. The company had revenue of $92.36 billion during the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $91.41 billion. UnitedHealth Group had a net margin of 6.02% and a return on equity of 26.58%. UnitedHealth Groups revenue for the quarter was up 14.2% on a year-over-year basis. During the same period last year, the firm earned $5.79 EPS. As a group, equities analysts predict that UnitedHealth Group Incorporated will post 24.95 EPS for the current year.

The firm also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Tuesday, December 12th. Investors of record on Monday, December 4th were issued a $1.88 dividend. This represents a $7.52 annualized dividend and a yield of 1.44%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Friday, December 1st. UnitedHealth Groups dividend payout ratio (DPR) is presently 32.64%.

Analyst Ratings Changes

Several brokerages have recently weighed in on UNH. Piper Sandler upped their price objective on shares of UnitedHealth Group from $580.00 to $584.00 and gave the company an overweight rating in a report on Monday, October 16th. UBS Group upgraded shares of UnitedHealth Group from a neutral rating to a buy rating and upped their target price for the stock from $520.00 to $640.00 in a report on Monday, October 16th. StockNews.com lowered shares of UnitedHealth Group from a strong-buy rating to a buy rating in a report on Saturday, October 21st. HSBC restated a reduce rating and issued a $480.00 target price (down previously from $550.00) on shares of UnitedHealth Group in a report on Monday, December 18th. Finally, Morgan Stanley lowered their target price on shares of UnitedHealth Group from $587.00 to $579.00 and set an overweight rating on the stock in a report on Monday, October 23rd. One equities research analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, one has issued a hold rating, fourteen have assigned a buy rating and one has given a strong buy rating to the stock. Based on data from MarketBeat, the stock presently has an average rating of Moderate Buy and a consensus price target of $574.89.

Get Our Latest Report on UNH

Insider Buying and Selling

In other UnitedHealth Group news, EVP Erin Mcsweeney sold 4,498 shares of the firms stock in a transaction on Monday, October 16th. The shares were sold at an average price of $544.28, for a total value of $2,448,171.44. Following the completion of the transaction, the executive vice president now directly owns 9,218 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $5,017,173.04. The sale was disclosed in a legal filing with the SEC, which can be accessed through the SEC website. In other UnitedHealth Group news, EVP Erin Mcsweeney sold 4,498 shares of the firms stock in a transaction on Monday, October 16th. The shares were sold at an average price of $544.28, for a total value of $2,448,171.44. Following the completion of the transaction, the executive vice president now directly owns 9,218 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $5,017,173.04. The sale was disclosed in a legal filing with the SEC, which can be accessed through the SEC website. Also, Director Stephen J. Hemsley sold 121,515 shares of the firms stock in a transaction on Tuesday, October 17th. The shares were sold at an average price of $540.58, for a total transaction of $65,688,578.70. Following the completion of the transaction, the director now directly owns 521,818 shares of the companys stock, valued at $282,084,374.44. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. In the last ninety days, insiders sold 192,094 shares of company stock valued at $104,507,072. Company insiders own 0.35% of the companys stock.

UnitedHealth Group Profile

(Free Report)

UnitedHealth Group Incorporated operates as a diversified health care company in the United States. It operates through four segments: UnitedHealthcare, Optum Health, Optum Insight, and Optum Rx. The UnitedHealthcare segment offers consumer-oriented health benefit plans and services for national employers, public sector employers, mid-sized employers, small businesses, and individuals; health care coverage, and health and well-being services to individuals age 50 and older addressing their needs; Medicaid plans, children's health insurance and health care programs; and health and dental benefits, and hospital and clinical services, as well as health care benefits products and services to state programs caring for the economically disadvantaged, medically underserved, and those without the benefit of employer-funded health care coverage.

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Koshinski Asset Management Inc. reduced its position in shares of UnitedHealth Group Incorporated (NYSE:UNH  Free Report) by 6.6% in the 3rd quarter, HoldingsChannel.com reports. The firm owned 8,929 shares of the healthcare conglomerates stock after selling 636 shares during the quarter. Koshinski Asset Management Inc.s holdings in UnitedHealth Group were worth $4,502,000 at the end of the most recent quarter.

Several other institutional investors and hedge funds have also recently added to or reduced their stakes in UNH. Bank Julius Baer & Co. Ltd Zurich raised its holdings in UnitedHealth Group by 97,436.9% during the 2nd quarter. Bank Julius Baer & Co. Ltd Zurich now owns 1,029,274,230 shares of the healthcare conglomerates stock worth $494,710,366,000 after purchasing an additional 1,028,218,963 shares during the last quarter. Moneta Group Investment Advisors LLC increased its stake in shares of UnitedHealth Group by 100,076.4% in the 4th quarter. Moneta Group Investment Advisors LLC now owns 11,823,820 shares of the healthcare conglomerates stock valued at $6,268,753,000 after acquiring an additional 11,812,017 shares during the last quarter. Norges Bank bought a new stake in shares of UnitedHealth Group in the 4th quarter valued at about $5,210,004,000. Osaic Holdings Inc. increased its stake in shares of UnitedHealth Group by 776.9% in the 2nd quarter. Osaic Holdings Inc. now owns 3,248,409 shares of the healthcare conglomerates stock valued at $177,941,000 after acquiring an additional 2,877,983 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Arrowstreet Capital Limited Partnership increased its stake in shares of UnitedHealth Group by 1,682.4% in the 1st quarter. Arrowstreet Capital Limited Partnership now owns 2,691,542 shares of the healthcare conglomerates stock valued at $1,372,606,000 after acquiring an additional 2,540,538 shares during the last quarter. 85.69% of the stock is owned by institutional investors.

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UnitedHealth Group Trading Up 0.5 %

NYSE UNH opened at $522.87 on Thursday. UnitedHealth Group Incorporated has a 12 month low of $445.68 and a 12 month high of $554.70. The stock has a 50 day moving average of $535.77 and a 200-day moving average of $508.38. The company has a current ratio of 0.80, a quick ratio of 0.80 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.65. The company has a market cap of $483.61 billion, a PE ratio of 22.69, a PEG ratio of 1.58 and a beta of 0.61.

UnitedHealth Group Announces Dividend

UnitedHealth Group ( NYSE:UNH Get Free Report ) last posted its quarterly earnings results on Friday, October 13th. The healthcare conglomerate reported $6.56 earnings per share for the quarter, beating analysts consensus estimates of $6.33 by $0.23. The business had revenue of $92.36 billion for the quarter, compared to analysts expectations of $91.41 billion. UnitedHealth Group had a return on equity of 26.58% and a net margin of 6.02%. The firms revenue for the quarter was up 14.2% on a year-over-year basis. During the same quarter in the prior year, the business earned $5.79 EPS. On average, equities research analysts anticipate that UnitedHealth Group Incorporated will post 24.95 EPS for the current fiscal year.

The firm also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Tuesday, December 12th. Investors of record on Monday, December 4th were paid a $1.88 dividend. This represents a $7.52 annualized dividend and a yield of 1.44%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Friday, December 1st. UnitedHealth Groups dividend payout ratio (DPR) is presently 32.64%.

Insider Activity

In other news, EVP Erin Mcsweeney sold 4,498 shares of the firms stock in a transaction dated Monday, October 16th. The stock was sold at an average price of $544.28, for a total transaction of $2,448,171.44. Following the completion of the transaction, the executive vice president now directly owns 9,218 shares in the company, valued at $5,017,173.04. The sale was disclosed in a filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available through this hyperlink. In other UnitedHealth Group news, EVP Erin Mcsweeney sold 4,498 shares of UnitedHealth Group stock in a transaction that occurred on Monday, October 16th. The stock was sold at an average price of $544.28, for a total value of $2,448,171.44. Following the completion of the sale, the executive vice president now directly owns 9,218 shares in the company, valued at $5,017,173.04. The sale was disclosed in a filing with the SEC, which is available at the SEC website. Also, Director Stephen J. Hemsley sold 66,081 shares of UnitedHealth Group stock in a transaction that occurred on Tuesday, December 5th. The stock was sold at an average price of $550.39, for a total value of $36,370,321.59. Following the completion of the sale, the director now owns 635,528 shares of the companys stock, valued at $349,788,255.92. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. Over the last three months, insiders have sold 192,094 shares of company stock valued at $104,507,072. 0.35% of the stock is currently owned by corporate insiders.

Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades

UNH has been the subject of a number of recent analyst reports. Jefferies Financial Group lowered their price target on UnitedHealth Group from $565.00 to $503.00 and set a hold rating for the company in a research note on Monday, November 20th. StockNews.com lowered UnitedHealth Group from a strong-buy rating to a buy rating in a research report on Saturday, October 21st. HSBC reiterated a reduce rating and issued a $480.00 price objective (down from $550.00) on shares of UnitedHealth Group in a research report on Monday, December 18th. UBS Group upgraded UnitedHealth Group from a neutral rating to a buy rating and boosted their price objective for the company from $520.00 to $640.00 in a research report on Monday, October 16th. Finally, Cantor Fitzgerald reaffirmed an overweight rating and set a $591.00 price target on shares of UnitedHealth Group in a research report on Tuesday, November 21st. One equities research analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, one has assigned a hold rating, fourteen have issued a buy rating and one has issued a strong buy rating to the companys stock. Based on data from MarketBeat.com, the stock currently has a consensus rating of Moderate Buy and a consensus target price of $574.89.

View Our Latest Analysis on UNH

UnitedHealth Group Company Profile

(Free Report)

UnitedHealth Group Incorporated operates as a diversified health care company in the United States. It operates through four segments: UnitedHealthcare, Optum Health, Optum Insight, and Optum Rx. The UnitedHealthcare segment offers consumer-oriented health benefit plans and services for national employers, public sector employers, mid-sized employers, small businesses, and individuals; health care coverage, and health and well-being services to individuals age 50 and older addressing their needs; Medicaid plans, children's health insurance and health care programs; and health and dental benefits, and hospital and clinical services, as well as health care benefits products and services to state programs caring for the economically disadvantaged, medically underserved, and those without the benefit of employer-funded health care coverage.

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Koshinski Asset Management Inc. reduced its position in Pfizer Inc. (NYSE:PFE  Free Report) by 2.6% during the third quarter, HoldingsChannel.com reports. The firm owned 28,652 shares of the biopharmaceutical companys stock after selling 775 shares during the period. Koshinski Asset Management Inc.s holdings in Pfizer were worth $950,000 at the end of the most recent quarter.

Other hedge funds and other institutional investors also recently added to or reduced their stakes in the company. Worth Asset Management LLC purchased a new stake in Pfizer in the 1st quarter worth about $29,000. Hibernia Wealth Partners LLC purchased a new position in shares of Pfizer during the third quarter worth approximately $37,000. Steward Financial Group LLC purchased a new position in shares of Pfizer during the second quarter worth approximately $43,000. VitalStone Financial LLC increased its position in shares of Pfizer by 179.3% during the second quarter. VitalStone Financial LLC now owns 1,106 shares of the biopharmaceutical companys stock worth $45,000 after acquiring an additional 710 shares during the period. Finally, DHJJ Financial Advisors Ltd. purchased a new position in shares of Pfizer during the third quarter worth approximately $45,000. 68.05% of the stock is owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors.

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Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades

PFE has been the topic of a number of research reports. TheStreet lowered shares of Pfizer from a b- rating to a c+ rating in a research report on Monday, September 25th. Barclays cut their price objective on shares of Pfizer from $34.00 to $28.00 and set an equal weight rating on the stock in a report on Thursday, December 14th. Cantor Fitzgerald reissued an overweight rating on shares of Pfizer in a report on Monday, December 18th. Morgan Stanley cut their price objective on shares of Pfizer from $39.00 to $37.00 and set an equal weight rating on the stock in a report on Wednesday, November 1st. Finally, BMO Capital Markets cut their price objective on shares of Pfizer from $44.00 to $33.00 and set an outperform rating on the stock in a report on Monday, October 16th. Twelve equities research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and five have given a buy rating to the company. According to data from MarketBeat.com, the stock presently has an average rating of Hold and an average price target of $40.35.

Pfizer Trading Up 0.8 %

NYSE:PFE opened at $28.64 on Thursday. Pfizer Inc. has a 12 month low of $25.76 and a 12 month high of $51.67. The firm has a fifty day simple moving average of $29.52 and a 200-day simple moving average of $33.45. The company has a current ratio of 2.38, a quick ratio of 2.05 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.63. The company has a market capitalization of $161.68 billion, a P/E ratio of 15.65, a PEG ratio of 2.65 and a beta of 0.61.

Pfizer (NYSE:PFE  Get Free Report) last posted its quarterly earnings data on Tuesday, October 31st. The biopharmaceutical company reported ($0.17) EPS for the quarter, topping the consensus estimate of ($0.32) by $0.15. Pfizer had a net margin of 15.30% and a return on equity of 16.72%. The business had revenue of $13.23 billion during the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $13.77 billion. On average, equities research analysts anticipate that Pfizer Inc. will post 1.53 earnings per share for the current year.

Pfizer Increases Dividend

The firm also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Friday, March 1st. Investors of record on Friday, January 26th will be issued a dividend of $0.42 per share. This represents a $1.68 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 5.87%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Thursday, January 25th. This is a boost from Pfizers previous quarterly dividend of $0.41. Pfizers dividend payout ratio (DPR) is 89.62%.

Insider Buying and Selling at Pfizer

In other news, Director Scott Gottlieb acquired 3,000 shares of the businesss stock in a transaction on Friday, December 15th. The stock was bought at an average price of $26.47 per share, with a total value of $79,410.00. Following the completion of the acquisition, the director now owns 9,000 shares of the companys stock, valued at $238,230. The acquisition was disclosed in a document filed with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available at the SEC website. 0.05% of the stock is owned by corporate insiders.

Pfizer Profile

(Free Report)

Pfizer Inc discovers, develops, manufactures, markets, distributes, and sells biopharmaceutical products worldwide. It offers medicines and vaccines in various therapeutic areas, including cardiovascular metabolic, migraine, and women's health under the Eliquis, Nurtec ODT/Vydura, and the Premarin family brands; infectious diseases with unmet medical needs under the Prevnar family, Nimenrix, FSME/IMMUN-TicoVac, and Trumenba brands; and COVID-19 prevention and treatment, and potential future mRNA and antiviral products under the Comirnaty and Paxlovid brands.

Further Reading

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LaFleur & Godfrey LLC boosted its position in shares of UnitedHealth Group Incorporated (NYSE:UNH  Free Report) by 4.3% in the 3rd quarter, according to its most recent disclosure with the Securities & Exchange Commission. The firm owned 2,960 shares of the healthcare conglomerates stock after buying an additional 123 shares during the quarter. LaFleur & Godfrey LLCs holdings in UnitedHealth Group were worth $1,492,000 as of its most recent filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission.

Several other institutional investors and hedge funds also recently bought and sold shares of UNH. Strategic Investment Solutions Inc. IL bought a new stake in shares of UnitedHealth Group in the first quarter valued at about $35,000. WFA of San Diego LLC bought a new stake in shares of UnitedHealth Group in the second quarter valued at about $39,000. RVW Wealth LLC purchased a new position in UnitedHealth Group in the third quarter valued at about $44,000. Grayhawk Investment Strategies Inc. grew its stake in UnitedHealth Group by 168.6% in the first quarter. Grayhawk Investment Strategies Inc. now owns 94 shares of the healthcare conglomerates stock valued at $60,000 after purchasing an additional 59 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Power Corp of Canada purchased a new position in UnitedHealth Group in the first quarter valued at about $48,000. 85.69% of the stock is owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors.

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UnitedHealth Group Trading Up 0.5 %

Shares of NYSE:UNH opened at $522.87 on Thursday. UnitedHealth Group Incorporated has a 12-month low of $445.68 and a 12-month high of $554.70. The company has a market capitalization of $483.61 billion, a PE ratio of 22.69, a PEG ratio of 1.58 and a beta of 0.61. The business has a 50 day moving average of $535.77 and a two-hundred day moving average of $508.38. The company has a current ratio of 0.80, a quick ratio of 0.80 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.65.

UnitedHealth Group Dividend Announcement

UnitedHealth Group ( NYSE:UNH Get Free Report ) last announced its quarterly earnings results on Friday, October 13th. The healthcare conglomerate reported $6.56 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, beating analysts consensus estimates of $6.33 by $0.23. UnitedHealth Group had a return on equity of 26.58% and a net margin of 6.02%. The company had revenue of $92.36 billion during the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $91.41 billion. During the same period in the previous year, the company posted $5.79 earnings per share. UnitedHealth Groups revenue for the quarter was up 14.2% on a year-over-year basis. As a group, analysts forecast that UnitedHealth Group Incorporated will post 24.95 EPS for the current year.

The firm also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Tuesday, December 12th. Stockholders of record on Monday, December 4th were paid a dividend of $1.88 per share. This represents a $7.52 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 1.44%. The ex-dividend date was Friday, December 1st. UnitedHealth Groups payout ratio is 32.64%.

Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth

Several equities analysts have issued reports on the company. Royal Bank of Canada reiterated an outperform rating and issued a $596.00 target price on shares of UnitedHealth Group in a research note on Thursday, November 30th. Cantor Fitzgerald reiterated an overweight rating and issued a $591.00 target price on shares of UnitedHealth Group in a research note on Tuesday, November 21st. Stephens restated an overweight rating and set a $585.00 price target on shares of UnitedHealth Group in a research note on Wednesday, December 13th. Morgan Stanley dropped their price target on UnitedHealth Group from $587.00 to $579.00 and set an overweight rating on the stock in a research note on Monday, October 23rd. Finally, StockNews.com lowered UnitedHealth Group from a strong-buy rating to a buy rating in a research note on Saturday, October 21st. One research analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, one has assigned a hold rating, fourteen have assigned a buy rating and one has issued a strong buy rating to the stock. According to data from MarketBeat.com, the stock currently has an average rating of Moderate Buy and an average target price of $574.89.

Get Our Latest Analysis on UnitedHealth Group

Insider Transactions at UnitedHealth Group

In other news, Director Stephen J. Hemsley sold 121,515 shares of the companys stock in a transaction that occurred on Tuesday, October 17th. The stock was sold at an average price of $540.58, for a total transaction of $65,688,578.70. Following the completion of the transaction, the director now directly owns 521,818 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $282,084,374.44. The sale was disclosed in a filing with the SEC, which is available at this link. In related news, EVP Erin Mcsweeney sold 4,498 shares of the stock in a transaction on Monday, October 16th. The stock was sold at an average price of $544.28, for a total value of $2,448,171.44. Following the completion of the transaction, the executive vice president now directly owns 9,218 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $5,017,173.04. The transaction was disclosed in a filing with the SEC, which can be accessed through the SEC website. Also, Director Stephen J. Hemsley sold 121,515 shares of the stock in a transaction on Tuesday, October 17th. The shares were sold at an average price of $540.58, for a total value of $65,688,578.70. Following the completion of the transaction, the director now directly owns 521,818 shares of the companys stock, valued at $282,084,374.44. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. Insiders sold a total of 192,094 shares of company stock valued at $104,507,072 in the last three months. 0.35% of the stock is currently owned by company insiders.

About UnitedHealth Group

(Free Report)

UnitedHealth Group Incorporated operates as a diversified health care company in the United States. It operates through four segments: UnitedHealthcare, Optum Health, Optum Insight, and Optum Rx. The UnitedHealthcare segment offers consumer-oriented health benefit plans and services for national employers, public sector employers, mid-sized employers, small businesses, and individuals; health care coverage, and health and well-being services to individuals age 50 and older addressing their needs; Medicaid plans, children's health insurance and health care programs; and health and dental benefits, and hospital and clinical services, as well as health care benefits products and services to state programs caring for the economically disadvantaged, medically underserved, and those without the benefit of employer-funded health care coverage.

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Nokia Oyj (NYSE:NOK  Get Free Report) has received a consensus recommendation of Hold from the seven ratings firms that are presently covering the firm, MarketBeat Ratings reports. One research analyst has rated the stock with a sell recommendation, four have issued a hold recommendation and two have given a buy recommendation to the company. The average 12 month price objective among analysts that have covered the stock in the last year is $5.06.

A number of brokerages have recently commented on NOK. DNB Markets upgraded shares of Nokia Oyj from a hold rating to a buy rating in a report on Tuesday, October 3rd. Jefferies Financial Group lowered Nokia Oyj from a buy rating to a hold rating in a research report on Friday, December 8th. JPMorgan Chase & Co. lowered Nokia Oyj from an overweight rating to a neutral rating in a research report on Thursday, November 30th. Raymond James lowered their price target on Nokia Oyj from $4.50 to $4.00 and set an outperform rating for the company in a research report on Wednesday, December 13th. Finally, The Goldman Sachs Group lowered Nokia Oyj from a buy rating to a neutral rating and lowered their price target for the stock from $5.10 to $3.40 in a research report on Monday, December 18th.

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Nokia Oyj Stock Performance

Shares of NOK stock opened at $3.38 on Friday. The stock has a fifty day moving average of $3.35 and a 200 day moving average of $3.73. The company has a quick ratio of 1.35, a current ratio of 1.64 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.17. The firm has a market capitalization of $19.04 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 4.83 and a beta of 1.01. Nokia Oyj has a 52 week low of $2.94 and a 52 week high of $5.04.

Nokia Oyj (NYSE:NOK  Get Free Report) last announced its earnings results on Thursday, October 19th. The technology company reported $0.05 EPS for the quarter, missing analysts consensus estimates of $0.09 by ($0.04). Nokia Oyj had a net margin of 15.62% and a return on equity of 9.08%. The business had revenue of $5.42 billion for the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $6.31 billion. During the same quarter last year, the firm posted $0.10 EPS. As a group, research analysts expect that Nokia Oyj will post 0.34 earnings per share for the current year.

Hedge Funds Weigh In On Nokia Oyj

A number of hedge funds have recently bought and sold shares of the business. Artisan Partners Limited Partnership grew its stake in shares of Nokia Oyj by 10.8% during the 3rd quarter. Artisan Partners Limited Partnership now owns 101,681,755 shares of the technology companys stock valued at $380,290,000 after purchasing an additional 9,908,461 shares during the period. Pzena Investment Management LLC grew its stake in shares of Nokia Oyj by 13,524.2% during the 3rd quarter. Pzena Investment Management LLC now owns 42,791,256 shares of the technology companys stock valued at $160,039,000 after purchasing an additional 42,477,173 shares during the period. Arrowstreet Capital Limited Partnership grew its stake in shares of Nokia Oyj by 9.6% during the 1st quarter. Arrowstreet Capital Limited Partnership now owns 40,918,648 shares of the technology companys stock valued at $223,416,000 after purchasing an additional 3,569,621 shares during the period. Renaissance Technologies LLC grew its stake in shares of Nokia Oyj by 35.1% during the 1st quarter. Renaissance Technologies LLC now owns 28,586,180 shares of the technology companys stock valued at $140,358,000 after purchasing an additional 7,419,900 shares during the period. Finally, Millennium Management LLC grew its stake in shares of Nokia Oyj by 55.0% during the 4th quarter. Millennium Management LLC now owns 27,742,934 shares of the technology companys stock valued at $128,727,000 after purchasing an additional 9,842,934 shares during the period. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 5.26% of the companys stock.

About Nokia Oyj

(Get Free Report

Nokia Oyj provides mobile, fixed, and cloud network solutions worldwide. The company operates through four segments: Network Infrastructure, Mobile Networks, Cloud and Network Services, and Nokia Technologies. It offers products and services for radio access networks and microwave radio links for transport networks, and solutions for network management, as well as network planning, optimization, network deployment, and technical support services.

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Targa Resources Corp. (NYSE:TRGP  Get Free Report) has been given an average recommendation of Buy by the thirteen research firms that are currently covering the company, MarketBeat Ratings reports. Twelve investment analysts have rated the stock with a buy recommendation and one has assigned a strong buy recommendation to the company. The average 12-month target price among brokers that have covered the stock in the last year is $104.09.

Several equities analysts have recently commented on TRGP shares. UBS Group reduced their price target on shares of Targa Resources from $116.00 to $109.00 and set a buy rating on the stock in a research report on Thursday, December 14th. Truist Financial raised their target price on shares of Targa Resources from $95.00 to $105.00 and gave the stock a buy rating in a report on Monday, November 6th. TheStreet raised shares of Targa Resources from a c+ rating to a b rating in a report on Tuesday, September 5th. The Goldman Sachs Group initiated coverage on shares of Targa Resources in a report on Thursday, October 5th. They issued a buy rating and a $101.00 target price on the stock. Finally, StockNews.com initiated coverage on shares of Targa Resources in a report on Thursday, October 5th. They issued a hold rating on the stock.

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Check Out Our Latest Research Report on TRGP

Targa Resources Stock Performance

Shares of TRGP stock opened at $87.06 on Friday. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 2.81, a quick ratio of 0.60 and a current ratio of 0.80. Targa Resources has a one year low of $64.85 and a one year high of $91.43. The companys 50-day simple moving average is $86.37 and its 200-day simple moving average is $83.06. The stock has a market capitalization of $19.41 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 22.79 and a beta of 2.22.

Targa Resources (NYSE:TRGP  Get Free Report) last issued its quarterly earnings results on Thursday, November 2nd. The pipeline company reported $0.97 EPS for the quarter, missing the consensus estimate of $1.17 by ($0.20). Targa Resources had a return on equity of 19.08% and a net margin of 5.33%. The company had revenue of $3.90 billion for the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $5.13 billion. Equities analysts anticipate that Targa Resources will post 5.03 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.

Targa Resources Announces Dividend

The firm also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Wednesday, November 15th. Stockholders of record on Tuesday, October 31st were given a dividend of $0.50 per share. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Monday, October 30th. This represents a $2.00 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 2.30%. Targa Resourcess dividend payout ratio is presently 52.36%.

Insider Transactions at Targa Resources

In related news, CAO Julie H. Boushka sold 2,000 shares of the businesss stock in a transaction that occurred on Thursday, November 2nd. The stock was sold at an average price of $90.00, for a total transaction of $180,000.00. Following the sale, the chief accounting officer now owns 58,066 shares of the companys stock, valued at $5,225,940. The sale was disclosed in a filing with the SEC, which is available through the SEC website. In related news, CAO Julie H. Boushka sold 2,000 shares of the businesss stock in a transaction that occurred on Thursday, November 2nd. The stock was sold at an average price of $90.00, for a total transaction of $180,000.00. Following the sale, the chief accounting officer now owns 58,066 shares of the companys stock, valued at $5,225,940. The sale was disclosed in a filing with the SEC, which is available through the SEC website. Also, Director Charles R. Crisp sold 3,000 shares of the businesss stock in a transaction that occurred on Monday, November 13th. The stock was sold at an average price of $85.01, for a total value of $255,030.00. Following the sale, the director now directly owns 116,524 shares in the company, valued at approximately $9,905,705.24. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. Over the last three months, insiders sold 15,000 shares of company stock worth $1,335,330. Company insiders own 1.39% of the companys stock.

Institutional Inflows and Outflows

Several institutional investors have recently modified their holdings of the stock. Glenview Trust Co increased its holdings in shares of Targa Resources by 4.4% in the second quarter. Glenview Trust Co now owns 2,894 shares of the pipeline companys stock valued at $220,000 after buying an additional 121 shares in the last quarter. Harbour Investments Inc. increased its holdings in shares of Targa Resources by 51.3% in the third quarter. Harbour Investments Inc. now owns 357 shares of the pipeline companys stock valued at $31,000 after buying an additional 121 shares in the last quarter. Chilton Capital Management LLC increased its holdings in shares of Targa Resources by 11.7% in the second quarter. Chilton Capital Management LLC now owns 1,186 shares of the pipeline companys stock valued at $90,000 after buying an additional 124 shares in the last quarter. Orion Portfolio Solutions LLC increased its holdings in shares of Targa Resources by 2.1% in the second quarter. Orion Portfolio Solutions LLC now owns 6,125 shares of the pipeline companys stock valued at $466,000 after buying an additional 128 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Chicago Partners Investment Group LLC increased its holdings in shares of Targa Resources by 0.3% in the second quarter. Chicago Partners Investment Group LLC now owns 47,658 shares of the pipeline companys stock valued at $3,868,000 after buying an additional 137 shares in the last quarter. Institutional investors own 90.21% of the companys stock.

About Targa Resources

(Get Free Report

Targa Resources Corp., together with its subsidiary, Targa Resources Partners LP, owns, operates, acquires, and develops a portfolio of complementary domestic midstream infrastructure assets in North America. The company operates in two segments, Gathering and Processing, and Logistics and Transportation.

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First American Financial Co. (NYSE:FAF  Free Report)  Investment analysts at Zacks Research lowered their FY2023 earnings per share estimates for First American Financial in a note issued to investors on Tuesday, December 26th. Zacks Research analyst T. De now anticipates that the insurance provider will post earnings per share of $4.24 for the year, down from their prior forecast of $4.27. The consensus estimate for First American Financials current full-year earnings is $4.22 per share. Zacks Research also issued estimates for First American Financials Q4 2023 earnings at $1.18 EPS, Q1 2024 earnings at $0.76 EPS, Q2 2024 earnings at $1.29 EPS, Q3 2024 earnings at $1.42 EPS, Q4 2024 earnings at $1.60 EPS, FY2024 earnings at $5.06 EPS, Q1 2025 earnings at $1.12 EPS and Q3 2025 earnings at $1.17 EPS.

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First American Financial (NYSE:FAF  Get Free Report) last released its earnings results on Thursday, October 26th. The insurance provider reported $1.22 EPS for the quarter, beating the consensus estimate of $1.09 by $0.13. The firm had revenue of $1.48 billion for the quarter, compared to analysts expectations of $1.60 billion. First American Financial had a return on equity of 9.82% and a net margin of 3.78%. The businesss quarterly revenue was down 18.8% compared to the same quarter last year. During the same quarter in the previous year, the business posted $1.62 EPS.

Several other research analysts have also recently commented on the company. Stephens reissued an overweight rating and set a $72.00 price target on shares of First American Financial in a research report on Wednesday, October 11th. Keefe, Bruyette & Woods upped their target price on shares of First American Financial from $62.00 to $70.00 and gave the company a market perform rating in a report on Wednesday, December 13th. StockNews.com cut First American Financial from a buy rating to a hold rating in a report on Friday, October 27th. Finally, Barclays began coverage on First American Financial in a research note on Wednesday, November 15th. They issued an equal weight rating and a $53.00 price objective on the stock. Four analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and two have issued a buy rating to the companys stock. According to MarketBeat.com, the company presently has a consensus rating of Hold and a consensus price target of $68.00.

View Our Latest Stock Report on FAF

First American Financial Price Performance

First American Financial stock opened at $64.88 on Thursday. The firm has a 50-day moving average of $57.82 and a 200-day moving average of $58.29. The company has a market cap of $6.69 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 28.58 and a beta of 1.27. First American Financial has a one year low of $49.55 and a one year high of $65.54.

Institutional Inflows and Outflows

Hedge funds have recently added to or reduced their stakes in the company. Louisiana State Employees Retirement System lifted its position in shares of First American Financial by 9.5% during the 2nd quarter. Louisiana State Employees Retirement System now owns 30,100 shares of the insurance providers stock worth $1,716,000 after buying an additional 2,600 shares during the last quarter. Envestnet Asset Management Inc. boosted its position in First American Financial by 12.1% in the second quarter. Envestnet Asset Management Inc. now owns 119,094 shares of the insurance providers stock valued at $6,791,000 after buying an additional 12,901 shares in the last quarter. ST Germain D J Co. Inc. acquired a new position in shares of First American Financial during the second quarter worth $12,094,000. Gabelli Funds LLC lifted its stake in shares of First American Financial by 1.7% in the 2nd quarter. Gabelli Funds LLC now owns 18,000 shares of the insurance providers stock valued at $1,026,000 after acquiring an additional 300 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Vaughan Nelson Investment Management L.P. boosted its holdings in shares of First American Financial by 14.3% during the 2nd quarter. Vaughan Nelson Investment Management L.P. now owns 728,831 shares of the insurance providers stock valued at $41,558,000 after acquiring an additional 91,366 shares in the last quarter. 85.53% of the stock is owned by institutional investors.

Insider Transactions at First American Financial

In related news, CAO Steven A. Adams sold 1,800 shares of the companys stock in a transaction dated Wednesday, November 15th. The shares were sold at an average price of $56.20, for a total transaction of $101,160.00. Following the completion of the sale, the chief accounting officer now owns 7,487 shares of the companys stock, valued at $420,769.40. The transaction was disclosed in a document filed with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available at the SEC website. 3.60% of the stock is currently owned by insiders.

First American Financial Announces Dividend

The business also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Friday, December 15th. Stockholders of record on Friday, December 8th were given a dividend of $0.53 per share. The ex-dividend date was Thursday, December 7th. This represents a $2.12 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 3.27%. First American Financials payout ratio is 93.39%.

First American Financial Company Profile

(Get Free Report)

First American Financial Corporation, through its subsidiaries, provides financial services. It operates through Title Insurance and Services, and Specialty Insurance segments. The Title Insurance and Services segment issues title insurance policies on residential and commercial property, as well as offers related products and services.

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SHIJIAZHUANG, Dec. 28 (Xinhua) -- Archaeologists in north China's Hebei Province have found three coins dating back to the Warring States period (475-221 BC) when carrying out excavation work at the Zhaoyao Ruins in Wu'an City.

Each of the coins measures 3.2 cm in diameter, with a weight of about 5.5 grams. It has typical coin characteristics of the Qin State during the Warring States period.

Wei Shuguang, the leader of the archaeological team, speculated that the excavation of these coins may be related to military activities, which is also deeply consistent with the background of the war between Qin State and Zhao State in the late Warring States period and is of great significance to the study of ancient war history.

Zhaoyao Ruins cover an area of 1.1 million square meters. Wei said that Zhaoyao Ruins cover a large area, have rich cultural connotations, and a long duration, which is an excellent example for studying the evolution of archaeological culture from prehistoric times to the Qin and Han dynasties (221 BC-220 AD) in southern Hebei. 
It is becoming more and more clear that govts fiscal plan is in serious jeopardy, says finance shadow minister
The Anglican Diocese of The Bahamas and The Turks and Caicos Islands has joined the Province of the West Indies in reverting to an early church practice of baptism as the gateway to Holy Communion. This means that all baptized people, including children, will receive Holy Communion and not have to wait until they are confirmed. FILE
Patong karaoke staffer stabbed, found dead on the street

PHUKET: Police have one suspect in custody after a staffer at a karaoke venue was found dead from a stab wound on the footpath in southern Patong early this morning (Dec 28).

patongviolencedeathcrimepolice

By Eakkapop Thongtub

Thursday 28 December 2023 04:13 PM

Pol Lt Sarawut Phutthaphonphiban of the Patong Police was informed of the stabbing at 5:35am. Apparently a good citizen called the police to report finding a man dead on the footpath in front of a karaoke venue on Phra Metta Rd at the southern end of Patong.

Pol Lt Col Naruphon Phrutinont and investigators soon arrived at the scene, along with an EMS team from Patong Hospital and rescue workers from the Kusoldharm Foundation.

The man, later identified as Itthinan Khola, 24, from Nong Bua Lamphu, had died from a stab wound to his right chest. His body was taken to Patong Hospital.

Mr Itthinan was an employee at a different karaoke venue further down the street, police confirmed.

Before he was found dead, Itthinan was seen involved in an argument with a group of people inside the karaoke where he worked,

Police believe that at least one of the group waited for Mr Itthinan to exit the karaoke where he worked when the venue closed, then attacked him.

Mr Itthinan tried to flee but made it only as far as another karaoke down the street before he collapsed and died, police postulated.

Officers found one man, Nachat Rattanarat, 32, from Surat Thani, walking on the street with bruises and abrasions to his face when police arrived.

Mr Nachat worked at the same karaoke where Mr Itthinan worked.

Police took him into custody, then took him to Patong Police Station for questioning.

Police are continuing their investigation.

Police have not yet named the karaoke where Mr Itthinan worked.
Twenty year strategy review

BANGKOK: The administration of Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin is set to revise the 20-year national strategy laid down by the previous government, saying it should be made more flexible and keep up with a fast-changing world.

politics

By Bangkok Post

Thursday 28 December 2023 02:19 PM

Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin chairs a meeting on the national strategy at Government House yesterday (Dec 27). Photo: Government House

Mr Srettha told a national strategy committee meeting yesterday (Dec 27) he does not believe in planning too far ahead, especially for a national pathway that hinges on an outlook spanning 20 years, reports the Bangkok Post.

These days its hard to even plan five years down the road, he said at the meeting held at Government House which was also attended by House Speaker Wan Muhamad Noor Matha, Senate Speaker Pornpetch Wichitcholchai and senior officials, including the defence permanent secretary.

The existing strategy was implemented on Oct 8, 2018, under pevious prime minister Prayut Chan-o-cha and his administration. The strategy remains in effect until 2037 and is built on a vision of making the country secure, prosperous, sustainable and achieving developed country status. The strategy is guided by the sufficiency principle set out by the late King Rama IX.

Subsequent governments are bound by the strategy to lift peoples well-being, increase the countrys competitiveness through economic development and better income distribution, improve human resources, create social equality, maintain ecological diversity and environmental sustainability and achieve effective state management.

However, the junta-promoted charters 20-year national strategic plan is widely criticised as a tool to continue junta policies into the future. With a fast-changing world, the long-term plan is accused of being too rigid due to its enshrinement in law and prone to becoming outdated and blocking new development ideas.

Mr Srettha said the plan needs to change with time. New technology and trends dictate a rethinking of priorities in formulating government policies, he said.

Take clean energy, for example. During my trips overseas, this is the very first issue people brought to the table for talks, he said.

Also, the worlds geopolitical landscape is being reshaped by conflicts such as the growing trade friction between China and the US and the Russian invasion of Ukraine.

Mr Srettha stressed the need to fine-tune strategies to reflect the evolving environment. The key is to make them impervious to change so the countrys future does not move on a fixed course.

We dont want future generations in the next 20 years to be tied to the ideas of older people. They should be free to choose the direction in which to steer strategy.
Wichit gets a headstart on road safety campaign for New Year

PHUKET: Wichit Municipality got a headstart on its annual road-safety campaign for the New Year as officials led an event launching their campaign yesterday (Dec 27).

transportSafetytourism

By The Phuket News

Thursday 28 December 2023 10:20 AM

The event, officiated by Phuket Vice Governor Sattha Thongkham, focuses on people not drinking and driving and for all motorbike users to wear a helmet  and to fasten the helmets chin strap.

The event, held in front of the Wichit Municipality offices on Chao Fa East Rd, also saw a convoy of motorbikes take to the streets to highlight safe riding.

Wichit Mayor Kreetha Chotiwitpipat explained that the Wichit road-safety campaign is a local extension of the national road-safety campaign for the New Year, which starts at midnight tonight.

The national campaign, for decades called the Seven Days of Danger, this year will be held from Dec 29 to Jan 4  and has been rebranded as the Seven Days of Family Happiness.

The goal is to integrate cooperation in preventing and reducing road accidents, including creating safety for citizens and tourists from all disasters as much as possible under the campaign theme Drive safely. Thailand without accidents, he said.

The campaign includes measures to prevent and reduce road accidents according to key factors, including traffic management, reducing road and environmental risk factors, reducing vehicle risk factors, getting motorists to use the road safely and providing assistance after an accident, he added.
YANGON, Dec. 28 (Xinhua) -- Myanmar is set to increase coffee acreage across various regions and states in the upcoming year, the country's Myawady Daily reported on Thursday.

The military-owned newspaper cited State Administration Council Chairman Senior General Min Aung Hlaing as saying that measures were underway to expand coffee plantations by an additional 27,900 acres in 2024.

According to the report, this expansion would bring the total coffee cultivation area in the country to 300,000 acres next year, with anticipated benefits over the next five to seven years.

Senior General Min Aung Hlaing also encourages capital investment in the country's coffee production, noting that allocated plots of land are available for cultivation, the report said.

In Myanmar, coffee is cultivated in various regions, including Nawnghkio, Ywangan and Pyin Oo Lwin as well as in Chin State and Bago Region. Eighty percent of the coffee plantations in the country are Arabica coffee. Most of the country's coffee plantations are in Shan State.

As of now, Myanmar's annual coffee production exceeds 9,000 tons, including over 7,000 tons of Arabica coffee and over 2,000 tons of Robusta coffee.

The Southeast Asian country exported coffee beans to over 10 foreign countries, including Britain, the United States, Japan, China, Thailand, and Australia, the Myanmar Coffee Association said. 
The Gorkha National Liberation Front (GNLF) is in a tight spot after one party activist Mahendra Chhetri met the Congress leader Rahul Gandhi in Delhi yesterday as a general secretary of the party on the issue of the sixth schedule status for Darjeeling Hills.

The secretary general of GNLF, Neeraj Zimba, who is an MLA from Darjeeling on the BJP ticket, has claimed that Mahendra Chhetris visit was on alleged invitation by the Congress leader Rahul Gandhi. It is clarified that Mahendra Chettris meetings with Congress MP Rahul Gandhi and other Congress leaders are undertaken in his personal capacity and nor does he represent any plenipotentiary role bestowed upon him by the GNLF, Mr Zimba said, adding,

The GNLF party also urges and cautions Rahul Gandhi and his office to give a thoughtful consideration and verification of all representations made to him, against any influence by external forces seeking political advantage in this election milieu.

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The GNLF, through its president Maan Ghishing and its central committee members, unequivocally stated that Mr Chettris recent Delhi visit on an alleged invitation over the phone by Rahul Gandhi should be perceived as a personal endeavour. The party refutes such claims and totally distances itself from any political implications arising from this visit and meeting,

Darjeeling MLA Mr Zimba claimed. The party challenges Mahendra Chettris locus standi within the GNLF, citing his appointment as a protem general secretary, a position that concluded a year ago, GNLF leader Mr Zimba said, adding, GNLF president Maan Ghishing and the entire central committee express their utter surprise and complete lack of awareness regarding the alleged invitation extended to Mahendra Chettri, emphasizing that such invitations are typically extended to the party president as per protocol.

The GNLF activist Mahendra Chettri yesterday said, Our fight for implementation of the sixth schedule is on. In presence of WBPCC chief Adhir Chowdhury, Mr Chhtri discussed Hill issues with Rahul Gandhi today. A memorandum requesting to take sheer cognizance for implementation of the sixth schedule in Darjeeling Hills reviving the Bill in the Parliament till Gorkhaland is achieved was submitted where Rahul Gandhi has assured to raise the same in the Parliament and advocate for its implementation, Mr Chhetri said.
LOS ANGELES, Dec. 27 (Xinhua) -- The Colorado Republican State Central Committee appealed a case to the U.S. Supreme Court on Wednesday, seeking to overturn a ruling from the Colorado Supreme Court nine days ago that prevented Donald Trump from appearing on the state's primary ballot in the 2024 presidential election.

According to the 45-page petition for certiorari filed with the U.S. Supreme Court, the Colorado Republican Party contested the Colorado Supreme Court's ruling, which declared the former U.S. president ineligible for the presidency, on three grounds.

"The President is not an officer of the United States covered within the disqualification provision of Section Three of the Fourteenth Amendment," which is "not a self-executing authority for state courts and litigants to use as a sword against presidential candidates," the document argued.

Moreover, "the Colorado Supreme Court's decision violates the Colorado Republican Party's First Amendment associational right to choose its own political candidates," it read.

Section Three of the Fourteenth Amendment, cited by the Colorado Supreme Court in Trump's case, serves to disqualify anyone who has previously taken an oath to uphold the U.S. Constitution but has "engaged in insurrection or rebellion" against it from holding federal office. However, this disqualification can be removed by a two-thirds vote in both the House and the Senate.

The American Center for Law and Justice (ACLJ), a driving organization behind Wednesday's appeal, issued a statement later, referring to Colorado Supreme Court's order on Dec. 19 as a "dangerously flawed twisting of the 14th Amendment to ban President Trump from the ballot."

"This is so much more than one primary in one state -- this is the greatest election interference case in U.S. history and represents a grave attack on millions of Americans' fundamental right to vote," the statement said.

By filing the appeal on Wednesday, it extends the stay of the 4-3 ruling from Colorado's highest court. This puts the decision on pause until Jan. 4, 2024, the day before the state's primary ballots are due at the printer, or until an appeal to the U.S. Supreme Court is concluded.

The ACLJ said even though the move will automatically keep Trump on the ballot until the U.S. Supreme Court takes action, the petitioner still wanted the U.S. Supreme Court to swiftly grant and resolve this case since "there is an avalanche of similar cases being filed around the country, so the Supreme Court's definitive and prompt review in this matter is essential."

Earlier on Wednesday, the Michigan Supreme Court rejected an attempt to remove Trump from the primary ballot for alleged involvement in the Jan. 6 insurrection in 2021.

Besides Michigan, similar challenges against Trump filed in multiple U.S. states have already been dismissed. The Colorado Supreme Court's decision was the first in which a state court banned a presidential candidate from appearing on the ballot. 
The state government is leaving no stones unturned to ensure a difficulty-free experience for the devotees coming for the annual Gangasagar Mela. Lakhs of people from across the country visit Gangasagar to take a holy dip at the confluence of the Bay of Bengal and the river Ganga in January every year.

The states biggest fair is organised at Sagar island in this connection. Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee held a meeting to take stock of preparations for the Gangasagar Mela at Nabanna Sabhaghar this afternoon. The Mela will be held from 8 to 17 January. Makar Sankranti is on 15 January.

Pilgrims will take a holy dip at the confluence of Bay of Bengal and river Ganga from 12.13 a.m. on 16 January to 12.15 p.m. on 17 January as this period is considered to be auspicious. Chief Secretary HK Dwivedi, Home Secretary BP Gopalika, Director General of Police Manoj Malaviya and Commissioner of Police for Kolkata Vineet Goyal, along with senior officials of 18 departments attended the meeting.

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Representatives of the Indian Navy, NDRF, Coast Guard were also present. State ministers including Firhad Hakim, Aroop Biswas, and Snehashis Chakraborty were also present at the meeting. Gangasagar mela is our pride and we should all work together to make it a success.

It is an example of communal peace and harmony and we should all work to preserve the tradition and legacy of peace of our state, Miss Banerjee said. She said state ministers Chandrima Bhattacharya, Dr Shashi Panja, Partha Bhowmick and Pulak Roy will coordinate the administrative arrangements from the city. Other ministers will be posted at various strategic points. Miss Banerjee said that more than 2,500 state buses, 250 public buses and 32 vessels will be deployed to ferry the pilgrims to the fair venue.

Snehashis Chakraborty said 200 buses will be deployed to carry the pilgrims from Kachuberia to the Mela ground, covering a distance of 30 kms. Senior railway officials said 66 extra trains will run to carry the pilgrims. The Chief Minister said the entire mela ground will be brightly illuminated.

Mr Aroop Biswas informed that the state power department will install anti-fog lights. Ten thousand policemen will be deployed to maintain law and order. CCTVs will be installed and twenty drones will be deployed to maintain a vigil. There will be arrangements to meet any medical emergency.

There will be makeshift camps and adequate numbers of doctors, nurses and para medical staffs will be deployed. There will be ICCU units and ambulances and air ambulances will be kept ready. There will be roundthe-clock monitoring by the Fire and Emergency Services department and fire tenders will be kept ready.

Miss Banerjee said requests would be made to the private television channels to telecast the Aarati at the Kapil Muni temple. Miss Banerjee said dredging operations have been carried in the channels and this would improve navigability. Water pouches will be distributed. Mr Aroop Biswas said it was very risky to light fires to cook food, which some pilgrims do despite food being distributed to them. Announcements will be made through public address system in multiple languages.

Mr Firhad Hakim suggested that when movement of vessels is suspended, pilgrims should be kept confined at the mela ground. More than 142 NGOs small and big will work round-the-clock at the mela ground. More than 3,000 Solid Waste Management staff will be pressed into service to keep the area clean.
Trinamul Congress Rajya Sabha MP Derek OBrien on Wednesday criticised the government at the Centre over the suspension of 146 MPs from Parliaments Winter Session over their demand for a detailed discussion on 13 December security breach and alleged that they have turned Parliament into a deep, dark chamber.

It is worth mentioning that OBrien too was suspended, along with other party parliamentary colleagues. In his post on X, OBrien said: 2001 Parliament attack: In three working days, a full discussion in Parliament. Prime Minister stated in Rajya Sabha, Home Minister in Lok Sabha. 2023 breach: Government silent. 146 MPs were suspended for demanding discussion and statements from the Home Minister.

Parliament turned into a deep, dark chamber. At least 146 opposition MPs, from both the Houses, faced suspension from the recently-concluded Winter Session over their demand for a statement by Union home minister Amit Shah over the Parliament Security breach on 13 December. Two people had jumped from the visitors gallery of Parliament during the Zero Hours and also sprayed yellow coloured smoke all around.

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The security breach coincided with the 22nd anniversary of the 2001 Parliament terror attack by Pakistansponsored terrorists. Lalit Jha, allegedly the main conspirator in the Lok Sabha security breach, was a resident of Kolkata. He was a teacher by profession and used to run a tutorial home at Girish Park. Delhi Police also interrogated another suspect Nilaksha Aich from the city for his connection with Jha.
The cumulative achievement in coal production during Financial Year 2023-24 from April 2023 to 25 December 2023 has touched 664.37 million tonne, indicating a substantial 12.29 per cent growth compared to the corresponding period last year at 591.64 MT, latest statistics by the Ministry of Coal said on Thursday.

For the same period, the coal dispatch amounted to 692.84 MT, indicating a noteworthy 11.32 per cent growth compared to the corresponding period of previous year at 622.40 MT. This increase ensures a consistent and robust coal supply to meet the energy needs of the power sector.

The overall coal dispatch to power sector increased by an impressive 8.39 per cent, reaching 577.11 MT compared to 532.43MT during the corresponding period of the previous year, the data said.

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As of December 25, 2023, the overall coal stock position, including mines, thermal power plants (DCB), transit, etc. reached 91.05 MT, showing a commendable 21.57 per cent growth from 74.90 MT last year, the data said.

Additionally, Pithead Coal Stock at Coal India Limited (CIL) on December 25, 2023 stands at 47.29 MT, demonstrating a notable growth of 53.02 per cent compared to the coal stock of 30.88 MT last year.

The Ministry of Coal assured an ample coal supply to meet the growing energy demand in the country. Efficient coal supply to Thermal Power Plants (TPPs) has resulted in robust coal stock levels at various pitheads, highlighting the effectiveness of the coal supply chain in ensuring seamless distribution nationwide.

Higher coal stock position reflects the commitment of the ministry to maintaining an ample coal supply and underscores effective stock management strategies and operational efficiency and consistent coal supply to meet the energy needs of the power sector.

Moreover, the uninterrupted availability of Coal Rakes, crucial for coal transportation, ensures a smooth evacuation process, effectively addressing transportation bottlenecks and guaranteeing a seamless coal supply, the ministry said.

In a separate data release by the Ministry of Coal earlier, it was highlighted that the coal-based power generation witnessed an increase of 11.19 per cent during Apr-Nov 23, as compared to corresponding period of previous year attributing to an unprecedented rise in temperature, delayed monsoons in the Northern region of the country coupled with the resumption of full commercial activities post-Covid.

Notably, India ranks the worlds third-largest consumer of energy, with an annual electricity demand increase of about 4.7 per cent.

According to the data shared by the ministry, the domestic coal-based power generation up to November 2023 reached 779.1 billion units (BU), reflecting an increase of 8.38 per cent from the 718.83 Billion Units (BU) generated in the corresponding period of last year.
The Central Board of Direct Taxes (CBDT) has taken many citizen-centric initiatives throughout the year.

Board has furthered initiatives through reforms by focusing on taxpayer outreach, assistance through active helpdesks, and has embraced faceless processes, showcasing a commitment to transparency and efficiency. The revamped national website and other digital initiatives have also contributed to an overall improved taxpayer experience, Ministry of Finance highlighted.

In 2023, gross tax collections of Rs. 12.67 lakh crore mark a 17.7% YoY increase, with net collections reaching Rs. 10.64 lakh crore, reflecting a 23.4% growth. Notably, 58.34% of the budget estimates for the fiscal year have already been realized. Speedy processing and refunds are evident, with over Rs. 2.03 lakh crore refunded, and more than 3.43 crore Income Tax Returns (ITRs) processed within 7 days, it said.

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The introduction of initiatives like TIN 2.0, pre-filling of ITRs, and updated returns has streamlined processes, resulting in 44.76 lakh updated returns filed.

According to the data shared by the Ministry of Finance, 7.97 crore ITRS filed for all AYS till November 30, 2023. Highest filing of ITRS in one day was on 31st July, 2023 at 64.33 lakh ITRS filed.

Maximum ITRS filed in a month was in July, 2023 at 5.5 crore ITRS filed. ITR filing per second: 486 (At 4:35 pm on 31st July, 2023). ITR filing per minute: 8,622 (at 5:54 pm on 31st July, 2023), ITR filing per hour: 4,96,559 (between 5PM to 6PM on 31st July, 2023).

GST broke all records of previous collections and achieved the highest ever tax revenue collection for April 2023 at Rs 1.87 lakh crore. To streamline the filing process, sequential filing of GSTR-1 and GSTR-3B has been mandated, promoting timely returns and smooth availability of input tax credit.

Also, the Department of Expenditure which oversees the public financial management system in the Central Government and matters connected with State finances, has also shared the performance for the year 2023.

DoE approved grants-in-aid totalling Rs 1,79,140 crore to State Governments for the fiscal year 2023-24.

With over 104.02 crore beneficiaries registered under various schemes, Public Financial Management System (PFMS) has facilitated the efficient transfer of funds, with an emphasis on real-time tracking and accessibility. Payments in 1,016 schemes, including state schemes, are made through PFMS.

More than 113 payment systems in India are integrated with PFMS, the department told.

The ministry told that Rs 37,844.42 crore paid through 18.92 crore transactions under PM-KISAN Yojana during the FY 2023-24 till November 2023.

For PAHAL gas subsidy, having beneficiary over 30 crore, Rs 8,142.49 crore paid through 76.95 crore transactions during FY 2023-24 till November 2023.

With an average 17,200 hits per day, DBT payment tracker has successfully met the needs of beneficiaries since its deployment on August 23,2023. Total hits as on December 5 is 21,00,764.
The Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) on Thursday accused the BJP-led government at the Centre of denying permission to Delhi and Punjab to display their tableau at the Republic Day parade at the Kartavya Path on January 26 next.

Addressing a press conference at the party headquarters, AAP chief spokesperson Priyanka Kakkar said, Not including the tableau of Delhi and Punjab in the Republic Day parade shows the dirty politics of the BJP. Whereas BJP-ruled states like Assam, Uttar Pradesh, and Uttarakhand are consistently given the opportunity in the Republic Day parade, but like last time, this time too, Delhi and Punjab were sidelined.

Kakkar said if Prime Minister Narendra Modi had a heart as big as the people of Delhi, he would have given Delhi the chance to participate in the Republic Day parade.

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The Delhi government wanted to showcase Delhis globally renowned education and health model in the parade, but unfortunately, like last year, the Modi government didnt grant permission this time either, she said.

The AAP chief spokesperson said, The health and education models are a matter of pride for Delhi. The government and the people of Delhi prioritise education significantly. The thinktank of the Central Government, namely NITI Aayog, has stated that Delhis government schools are among the top 10 in the country because significant changes have been observed in the education system here. Former President of India, late Pranab Mukherjee, had also praised the government schools of Delhi in the same way. Similarly, when Americas former First Lady Melania Trump visited India, she also came to see Delhis government schools.

Higlighting the Health sector, Kakkar said, The same holds true for our health model, which receives accolades everywhere. However, currently, the BJP is continuously attacking Delhis health model. Many people come to Delhi from other states, mostly from Uttar Pradesh, and these people, upon returning to their state, praise Delhis health model. The BJP finds these facts hard to digest; hence, they consistently attack Delhis health model.

She further said, Delhi belongs to everyone. A large number of people come here from various states, including foreign countries, for education, treatment, and employment. Delhi embraces everyone. Thats why the Delhi government wanted to showcase the health and education models in the Republic Day parade and demonstrate how much change has been witnessed through these models in Delhi in recent years, but unfortunately, this was not allowed.
Delhi is finally on track to notify women-friendly amendments in the Medical Treatment of Pregnancy (MTP) Act, the Lieutenant Governors office said on Thursday.

These amendments are touted to ensure universal access to comprehensive abortion care and termination of certain pregnancies by a registered medical practitioner (RMP) for women.

Delhi LG VK Saxena has approved the proposal of the Department of Health and Family Welfare for issuance of notifications of the Statutory Forms under the MTP (Amendment) Act, 2021.

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It is over two years since Parliament amended the MTP Act and the Centres communication to all states and UTs to notify the same.

The amended Act also has a provision of a medical board to permit a termination beyond 24 weeks under circumstances determined by it.

The Union Health Ministry had communicated to the states and UTs in December 2021, directing them to notify updated Forms I, II & III in the official Gazette under MTP Regulations.

However, Saxena expressed displeasure over the delay in the presentation of the proposal for approval which was communicated to the state by the Central government way back in December 2021. He directed the Health Department to probe into the lapses that led to delay and assign responsibility.

He stressed the need for caution while processing of such important matters in future.

Two years ago in 2021, significant amendments were put in place to the MTP Act, reducing the requirement for opinions from two RMPs to one with up to 20 weeks of gestation.

The salient amendments made in Form-I (RMP Opinion Form) requires name, qualifications and address of only one RMP.

Significantly, the word Married Woman, in the earlier form, has been replaced by Woman and the word Husband has been replaced with partner, the LG office said in a statement.

In the Form II, which stipulates the regulations, three additional sub-heads regarding the duration of pregnancy have been added and reasons for termination of pregnancy have been bifurcated into A,B and C depending on weeks of gestation.

The Form III concerns admission register in which a phrase has been added for pregnancy beyond 24 weeks and names of Medical Board Members have to be mentioned.

The LG was informed that the proposal of the Department of Health and Family Welfare, GNCTD regarding the notification of the statutory forms has been endorsed by the health minister and approved by the chief minister.
As usual dense to very dense fog disrupted rail, road, and air transportation in Delhi-NCR on Thursday morning. According to the India Meteorological Department (IMD), the visibility in the area from 2 am to 11 am remained at 50 meters.

The Weather Department issued a dense to very dense fog alert for Delhi- NCR on Friday, while earlier the weatherman had also forecast similar fog conditions for several states of the northern region.

With the dense fog engulfing the entire region, trains and flights continued to be delayed with passengers kept waiting to reach their destinations ahead of the New Year celebrations.

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Meanwhile, residents of Delhi continued to battle it out with a double whammy, dense fog coupled with very poor air quality while commuting to their workplaces in the morning.

For those with no roof on their heads, heavy fog, cold and bad air they are continued to be a real nightmare with night shelters being the only solace in the city while others warm up sitting around bonfires.

Minimum and maximum temperatures in the city on Thursday were recorded at 8.4 and 21.4 degrees Celsius, the weatherman said.

The average Air Quality Index (AQI) in the city was measured at 358, the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) said.

According to the Indian Institute of Tropical Meteorology (IITM), the air quality is likely to remain in the Very Poor category from Friday to Sunday.

The air quality is likely to remain in Very Poor from 29.12.2023 to 31.12.2023. The outlook for subsequent 6 Days: The air quality is likely to remain in the Very Poor category. Weather conditions are not favourable for the effective dispersion of pollutants; emissions from firecrackers if burnt on 31.12.2023 will further deteriorate air quality. The outlook for subsequent 6 Days: The air quality is likely to remain in the Very Poor category.

Weather conditions are not favourable for effective dispersion of pollutants, emissions from firecrackers, if burnt on 31.12.2023, will further deteriorate air quality, IITMs air quality bulleting said.
Delhi Water Minister Atishi said here on Thursday that she directed the chief secretary to personally monitor establishment of an ammonia treatment plant at Warzirabad to avoid shortage of water in the national capital.

The minister was prompted to take up the issue with the chief secretary in the wake of Ammonia level in the Yamuna rising to 2.8 ppm affecting the Chandrawal and Wazirabad treatment plants due to which production of water reduced by up to 50 per cent.

The contamination of water has, on an average, had an impact of about 35- 40 per cent total water production.

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The crisis adversely impacted almost one-fourth of the national capital, especially in densely populated areas such as Sadar Bazar, Civil Lines, Old Delhi, Mukherjee Nagar, Burari, Patel Nagar, Rajinder Nagar, Karol Bagh, Majnu Ka Tilla, ISBT, Barafkhana, Bara Hindu Rao, Kamala Nagar, Roop Nagar to name a few, Atishis letter added.

In her letter, Atishi asked the top official to float a tender for the project by January 15. She directed him to submit a report citing reasons for the delay in the project and inform about the timeline for the completion of the same.

She expressed concern over the fact that the spike in the ammonia levels in Yamuna water is affecting the water supply in the city.

She further regretted that rising level of Ammonia in the river has now become an annual feature which is affecting lives the residents of the national capital.

Chief Minister Arvind Kwejriwal had held a meeting of the Delhi Jal Board officials in the month of March to address the issue and discussed the problem at length. In the meeting, it was decided that immediate solution to this crisis was treatment of Ammonia inside Wazirabad pond.

At the meeting, the CM had directed the DJB to set up an Ammonia treatment plant in Wazirabad, the work for which was to be finished within 6 months. However, despite a follow-up, the project remained a nonstarter, Atihsi lamented.

She called it a serious lapse on the part of the DJB.
Actor Ashutosh Kulkarni will ring in New Year at his parents place in Pune with his wife.

Ashutosh, who essays Krishan Bihari Vajpayee in the show Atal, said: New Year fills me with sheer excitement! The essence of celebration lies in the cherished company of loved ones and beloved family. This year, my wife and I have charted our journey to Pune, the abode of my dear parents. Our plans are nothing short of delightful; we will enjoy a luxurious dinner at a splendid restaurant on New Years eve.

I eagerly look forward to New Year. As the clock strikes 12, surrounded by laughter and love of my family, I anticipate a moment of pure joy and gratitude. We also visit a nearby temple at the dawn of the New Year, Ashutosh said.

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The actor also said that seeking blessings for the year ahead has become a heartwarming tradition, signifying hope, gratitude, and a sense of renewal.

In these moments, I cherish the union of family, the warmth of togetherness, and the spiritual reassurance gained from seeking blessings for the future. Heres to a New Year brimming with love, prosperity, and abundant blessings for all, he said.
At least 13 people were charred to death trapped inside a bus that caught fire after overturning, on being hit head-on by a speeding dumper in Guna district of Madhya Pradesh.

According to police and district administration officials, the collision took place near the Semri ghat under the Bajranghgarh police station limit at around 9 pm on Wednesday.

MP Chief Minister Dr Mohan Yadav expressed grief at the accident and ordered an inquiry.

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The Chief Minister also announced ex-gratia compensation of Rs four lakh to the kin of each deceased and Rs 50,000 to every injured person.

The CM cancelled all his programmes at Bhopal this morning and rushed to Guna to meet the injured and take stock of the situation.

The private bus ferrying around 30 passengers, was going from Guna to Aaron, about 40 km away while the dumper was coming from Aaron to Guna.

Police said the dumper was coming down the ghat at a high speed. It is suspected that the dumpers brakes and steering failed and its driver lost control of the vehicle. It rammed into the bus that was coming upwards on the ghat. The bus overturned and almost instantly caught fire.

Thirteen passengers inside the bus were burnt alive, while 15 sustained serious burn injuries before villagers and rescuers managed to somehow bring them out of the bus.

The flames of the bus could be doused in about two hours. The injured, many in critical condition, were rushed to the Guna district hospital.

According to Guna Tehsildar Gaurishankar Berwa, 13 passengers died inside the bus.
Iraq's Prime Minister Mohammed Shia' al-Sudani (R) and his visiting Spanish counterpart Pedro Sanchez attend a joint press conference in Baghdad, Iraq, Dec. 28, 2023. Al-Sudani said Thursday that his government is moving toward ending the presence of the U.S.-led international coalition in the country.

Al-Sudani made his remarks during a joint press conference with his visiting Spanish counterpart Pedro Sanchez, who paid an official visit to the country to discuss bilateral relations and some regional issues. (Media Office of the Iraqi Prime Minister/Handout via Xinhua)

BAGHDAD, Dec. 28 (Xinhua) -- Iraq's Prime Minister Mohammed Shia' al-Sudani said Thursday that his government is moving toward ending the presence of the U.S.-led international coalition in the country.

Al-Sudani made his remarks during a joint press conference with his visiting Spanish counterpart Pedro Sanchez, who paid an official visit to the country to discuss bilateral relations and some regional issues.

Al-Sudani told reporters that during his meeting with Sanchez, they discussed in detail the status of the international coalition, which Spain is part of.

"We appreciate the role of the coalition in supporting Iraq's efforts to confront the Islamic State militants," said Al-Sudani.

"The Iraqi government is in the process of rearranging the relationship with the international coalition in light of the presence of capable Iraqi forces," said the Iraqi prime minister, stressing that "the Iraqi government is moving toward ending the presence of the international coalition forces, which include security advisers who support the security forces in the areas of training, advice, and intelligence cooperation."

During their meeting, the two leaders agreed to begin joint efforts to conclude a strategic partnership agreement between the two countries, al-Sudani said, adding that they also discussed cooperation in the fields of security, culture, environment, and sustainable development.

Al-Sudani pointed out that the Spanish prime minister's visit came amid difficult circumstances taking place in the Middle East, with major attacks in Gaza and the occupied Palestinian territories. He appreciated Spain's role and "courageous stance in condemning these attacks."

For his part, Sanchez expressed his country's desire to develop relations with Iraq, especially in the fields of transportation, defense, education, and confronting climate change.

The Spanish prime minister also held a meeting with Iraqi President Abdul Latif Rashid, during which the two sides discussed ways to enhance bilateral relations and cooperation, as well as the need to stop the attacks and bombing on the Gaza Strip and other Palestinian cities, according to a statement issued by the Presidency office.

Spain is part of the U.S.-led international coalition tasked with training and advising the Iraqi security forces in their fight against the IS group. 
DMDK founder-leader and Tamil actor Vajayakanth passed away following a prolonged illness in Chennai on Thursday. He was 71.

According to party sources, he was admitted to a hospital a couple of months ago and was put on ventilator support. He breathed his last at the hospital.

After doctors declared him dead, the body was taken to his residence and later to the DMDK office.

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Prime Minister Narendra Modi condoled the demise of the actor-politician and said he was extremely saddened. He also called Vijaykanth a close friend and said he has left a deep void that will be hard to fill.

Extremely saddened by the passing away of Thiru Vijayakanth Ji. A legend of the Tamil film world, his charismatic performances captured the hearts of millions. As a political leader, he was deeply committed to public service, leaving a lasting impact on Tamil Nadus political landscape, Modi wrote in a post on X.

Modi said he fondly recalls the interactions he had with the actor over the years.

His passing leaves a void that will be hard to fill. He was a close friend and I fondly recall my interactions with him over the years. In this sad hour, my thoughts are with his family, fans and numerous followers. Om Shanti, the prime minister added.

Fondly called Captain, Vijayakanth was a renowned Tamil actor who featured in more than 250 movies before founding the Desiya Murpokku Dravida Kazhgam (DMDK) in 2005.
The Uttar Pradesh government on Thursday banned the sale of liquor within a radius of 84 kilometers of Ayodhya ahead of the Ram temple consecration ceremony.

The announcement was made by state Excise Minister Nitin Agarwal following a meeting with Champat Rai, general secretary, Shri Ram Janmabhoomi Teerth Kshetra.

The sale of liquor will be completely banned in 84 Kosi Parikrama area in Ayodhya. All the existing shops will be removed and shifted to another place, Agarwal told reporters here.

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He, however, clarified that the ban does not apply to the entire Ayodhya metropolitan area and will be applicable only to 84 Kosi Parikrama areas.

The decision comes two days before the visit of Prime Minister Narendra Modi to the holy city on December 30 to inaugurate the newly-built international airport and the Adyohya Dham railway station.

Meanwhile, the temple city has been turned into a fortress with the security personnel upping the safety quotient.

After the recent security breach incident in Parliament, instructions have been given to exercise special caution regarding the prime ministers visit, and a high alert has been issued.

Special commandos of NSG, ATS and STF have been deployed at the programme sites, while security has been spruced up to keep a close watch on the Saryu river too.

Every nook and corner of Ayodhya will be monitored during Modis nearly three-hour programme. However, there will be no restriction on the movement of outsiders in Ayodhya during this period. Instead of allowing heavy vehicles to enter Ayodhya border, they will be diverted to Purvanchal Expressway. Similarly, heavy vehicles going from Lucknow, Gonda and Kanpur towards Ayodhya will also be diverted to alternative routes, an official said.

Special DG (Law and Order) Prashant Kumar said strict security arrangements have been made for Modis viist.

A total of 3 DIGs, 17 SPs, 40 additional SPs, 82 deputy SPs, 90 inspectors, 325 sub inspectors, 33 women sub inspectors, 2,000 constables, 450 traffic policemen, 14 companies of PAC and six companies of the central paramilitary force have been deployed in Ayodhya, he said.
In a fresh attack at the ruling BJP, Congress leader Rahul Gandhi on Thursday asserted that the ideology of the saffron party is of rajao (kings) and ghulami (slavery).

Kickstarting the partys campaign for 2024 Lok Sabha elections at the Hain Taiyar Hum rally in Maharahtras Nagpur, Gandhi said, There is a fight between two ideologies going on in the country. People think this is a political fight for power. But, the foundation of this fight is ideology. There are many parties in the (BJP-led) NDA and (Opposition) INDIA alliance, but the fight is between two ideologies.

The rally was organised by the Congress party on the occasion of the partys 139th foundation day.

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Attacking the BJP, the Congress MP from Keralas Wayanad parliamentary constituency said, The ideology of the BJP is the ideology of rajao, they do not listen to anyone. In BJP, orders come from above and everyone has to obey.Whereas in Congress, even the voice which comes from the workers, we respect it. Our ideology says that the reins of the country should be in the hands of the people of the country

Claiming that a BJP MP, who was previously in Congress, met him recently, Gandhi said, He told me that ghulami (slavery) works in BJP. Whatever is said from above, has to be done without thinking.

You do not fear anyone. Together we are going to win elections in Maharashtra and the country, he said.

The Congress leader also vowed to conduct a nationwide caste census if it comes to power at the Centre.

Echoing similar sentiments, Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge said, If we dont stop BJP and RSS, the country will go towards destruction, democracy will end.
Differences have cropped up among Congress leaders in Kerala on the question of participation of its leaders in the consecration ceremony of the Ram temple in Ayodhya on January 22.

Senior Congress leader K Muraleedharan said the Kerala unit of the party had urged the All India Congress Committee (AICC) leadership not to participate in the ceremony. However, KPCC chief K Sudhakaran said he was unaware of the state unit conveying its position to the national leadership on the matter.

Speaking to media persons in Kannur on Thursday, Sudhakaran said the Kerala units opinion on the matter would align with the national leaderships decision and that the state unit would communicate its position if sought.

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He said it is the AICC that should take a final decision on the matter.

When his attention was drawn to the Samastha Kerala Jamiyyathul Ulamas critical piece in its mouthpiece Suprabhatham, Sudhakaran said he had nothing to comment on it except that it was the religious bodys opinion and that they had every right to express their thoughts on the matter.

When pointed out to the statement of K Muraleedharan that the state units position on the issue has been conveyed to AICC General Secretary K C Venugopal, Sudhakaran said Muraleedharan himself should be asked about the basis of his opinion.

Earlier in the day, K Muraleedharan had earlier said in Kozhikode that the Kerala unit of the party had already informed Venugopal that it was opposed to party leaders attending the event. He said the party was yet to take a stand at the national level and that there was still time to think about it.

He said the national leadership of the Congress would take an appropriate decision after discussing the matter within the party and among the INDIA bloc partners.

The invitation to the Ram Temple consecration ceremony has put the Congress in a quandary. If Congress leaders participate in the ceremony it might lead to Muslims moving away from the party, particularly in Kerala, and if they do not participate, it might be assumed in north India that the Congress is against the Hindu sentiments.

Former KPCC president VM Sudheeran said the party should not participate in the event as the temple is built by demolishing the Babri Masjid.

Meanwhile, Congress Working Committee (CWC) member Sashi Tharoor said in Pathanamthitta that the Congress leaders are to individually take a call on the matter since the party has not yet conveyed its common stance.

He said the construction of temples is not the job of an elected government. The Central government should prioritise its focus on its primary commitments to the public, including the creation of employment opportunities and enhancing the overall quality of life.

In an editorial captioned Will the Congress put its foot on the land where the mosque is demolished, the Samathas mouthpiece said the Congress is adopting a soft Hindutva position and if this position is not changed, the BJP itself will come to power in 2024.

Welcoming the decision of CPI-M leader Sitaram Yechuri and CPI leader D Raja, rejecting the invitation to attend the consecration function, the Suprabham daily asks the Congress to be careful not to fall on BJPs agenda to communalise the country.

The editorial warns that minorities and Dalits, who have reposed faith in the Congress, will opt for other political alternatives, if the party attends the Ram Temple consecration ceremony.
A crucial meeting of the Janata Dal (United) began in the national capital on Thursday amid rumours of party president Lalan Singhs resignation.

Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar arrived in the city earlier in the day for the two crucial meetings of his party.

The partys national executive and national council meetings come amid rumours of Singhs resignation.

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Speculations are rife that Singh could tender his resignation to make way for Kumar ahead of the 2024 Lok Sabha elections.

However, senior JD(U) leader K C Tyagi dismissed reports of Singhs resignation.

I reject all these rumours. The party has convened two-day meetings. There is a meeting of party office-bearers. There will be a national executive meeting at Vithal Bhai Patel House on Friday at 11 am, and in the second half, the national council meeting is scheduled. Nitish Kumar is reaching Delhi to participate in this meeting, news agency ANI quoted Tyagi as saying.

Asked if any changes within the party are on the cards, Tyagi said, All these things are internal matters of the party. They are not commented upon.

Singh himself had rubbished the reports of his resignation. Kumar has also maintained that these are usual meetings of the party office-bearers.
External Affairs Minister Dr S Jaishankar told Russian President Vladimir Putin during their meeting in Moscow that Prime Minister Narendra Modi looked forward to visiting Russia next year.

His statement came after Mr Putin expressed the hope that the Indian leader would be able to visit Moscow despite his busy political schedule, alluding to the Lok Sabha polls in India next year.

Dr Jaishankar called on Putin on Wednesday evening in the Kremlin and handed over a personal message and warm greetings to Prime Minister Modi .

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Prime Minister Modi looks forward to visiting Russia next year, and I am sure that we will find a date which is mutually convenient for the political calendar of both countries. So it is certainly something that he looks forward to, Dr Jaishankar said.

The Russian President said, We will be glad to see our dear friend, Prime Minister Modi paying a visit to RussiaPlease tell him that we expect him here. I know that India, next year will have a busy political schedule (general elections). We wish our friends success in that.

The Indian minister said India and Russia have made great progress in trade, which is more than a turnover of USD 50 billion while Mr Putin said despite the current turbulence in the world, relations with India and its people were making steady headway.

I would like you to highlight the progress we have made in trade, which is more than a turnover of $50 billion, Dr Jaishankar said, adding he believed that this was something whose potential was now only beginning to be visible. We must give it a more sustainable character, and we discussed how we should do that.

During the meeting, Mr Putin said despite all the turmoil happening worldwide, the relationship with our true friends in Asia-India has been progressing incrementally.

He said We know the position of Prime Minister Modi and have talked about this more than once. I am referring to his position, his attitude to complicated processes, including hot spots, and the situation in Ukraine. I have repeatedly informed him about the situation around this conflict. I know about his striving to resolve this problem through peaceful means.

Mr Putin said trade between the two countries was growing for the second year running and at a confident pace. This year, the growth rates were even higher than last year. We are working together in high-tech areas, and we are very pleased to note that despite the current turbulence in the world, relations with our traditional friends in Asia, with India and the Indian people are making steady headway.

He pointed out that PM Modi was willing to do his utmost to resolve the Russia-Ukraine issue by peaceful means.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi will inaugurate BAPS Hindu Mandir in Abu Dhabi on February 14 next year, BAPS Swaminarayan Sanstha said in a press statement.

Earlier on Wednesday, Swami Ishwarcharandas and Swami Brahmaviharidas, along with other board of directors of BAPS Swaminarayan Sanstha invited PM Modi for the inauguration.

The prime minister graciously accepted their invitation and expressed enthusiastic support for the historic temple.

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Swami Ishwarcharandas honoured the Prime Minister by adorning him with a garland and draping a saffron shawl over his shoulders, acknowledging his significant contributions to our nation and the world, the press release said.

The Prime Minister was specially commended for the remarkable renovation and development of pilgrimage sites across India, a feat unparalleled in recent centuries, the press statement added.

The BAPS delegation prayed for the Prime Ministers health and acknowledged his exceptional global achievements, notably strengthening relationships with the UAE and other Middle Eastern countries. They also discussed the pride and inspiration Modis leadership has instilled in Indians worldwide, the BAPS release read.

Recalling his personal and immortal memories of Pramukh Swami Maharaj and his glorious centenary celebrations, the Prime Minister expressed prayers for Mahant Swami Maharajs health.

PM also appreciated the efforts of key individuals, volunteers and supporters, involved in the BAPS Hindu Mandir project in Abu Dhabi.
The Punjab government will not back down from its position on the construction of the Satluj Yamuna Link (SYL) canal. The Punjab CM categorically said the state does not have any water to share with Haryana or land to build the canal after the original landowners were given their land back in 2016.

This is the third time the chief ministers of Punjab and Haryana met at the behest of the central government following a directive issued by the Supreme Court in this regard. Union Minister for Jal Shakti Gajendra Shekhawat has convened a meeting on Thursday night to find a way to resolve the long-standing issue. Such meetings have been convened twice before, once on January 4 this year and another on August 18, 2020. Shekhawat had served as a mediator between the CMOs of the two states but the negotiations ended in a stalemate. The next hearing in the case in the Supreme Court is scheduled for January 2024.

It is learnt that Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann spent the last two days in holding preliminary talks with Water Resources Department officials. The Chief Minister is expected to give alternative solutions at the meeting on Thursday. These include creating a new tribunal to re-evaluate the availability of Ravi-Beas waters with new terms and references, taking into account Punjabs severe groundwater and river water depletion issues and including Punjab as a beneficiary in the Sharda Yamuna Link canal project. The hearing in the case will be postponed until a decision is made regarding the Ravi-Beas tribunal.

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Sources say that the CM will also demand a review of the Yamuna Water Sharing Agreement of 1994 between Uttar Pradesh, Rajasthan, Delhi and Haryana, and ask for Punjabs inclusion in water sharing.

Punjab will also draw attention to the fact that despite not having any riparian rights on the Ravi and Beas rivers, Rajasthan and Haryana received a far larger portion of their waters in 1981 when the SYL canal was first proposed. He will also bring up the fact that the states water allotment was subsequently lowered to 13.25 million acre feet (MAF) from its original 17.17 MAF. Furthermore, Punjab wont be able to provide any more of its river resources due to the states drastically declining groundwater table.
President Vladimir Putin has praised Indias stance on the Russia-Ukraine conflict and invited Prime Minister Narendra Modi to visit Russia.

In a meeting with External Affairs Minister (EAM) Dr S Jaishankar at Kremlin, Putin said that he knows Modi wants peaceful resolution of the Ukraine issue and wished to share more information on that.

We know the stance of Prime Minister Modi and we mentioned that repeatedly on many occasions. Well, his attitude towards some complex developments, including the flashpoints likein Ukraine, he noted.

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Putin said he knows Modi wants the issue resolved peacefully and that he wishes to deliver into that deeper when the Indian PM visits Russia.

Many times, I advised him of how things have been going there and I know that he (PM Modi) is willing to do his utmost so that the issue is resolved by peaceful means. So, we probably will delve into that deeper now, and we will give additional information to you on that time, Putin added.

Putin said that the two leaders have an open field of work and that he will be glad to see dear friend Modi paying a visit to Russia and discuss current issues.

We will be very glad to see our dear friend his excellency Prime Minister Narendra Modi to paying a visit to Russia.. so we will be able to discuss the current issues and talk on the prospects of Russian and Indian relations. we have a lot an open field of work ahead of us,. The Russian President said.

Responding to Putins invitation, Jaishankar said, Certainly, he (PM Modi) looks forward to visiting Russia next year. And Im sure that we will find a date that is mutually convenient from the political calendars of both countries.

The EAM underscored the significant progress in India-Russia bilateral trade, surpassing USD 50 billion. He also emphasised the potential for further growth and the need to give the trade relationship a more sustainable character.

I would like to highlight the progress we have and trade, which is in excess of a turnover of USD 50 million, and we believe that this is something whose potential is now only beginning to be visible. It is important that we give it a more sustainable character, and we discussed how we should do that, said Jaishankar.
The Ernakulam Special POCSO court on Wednesday sentenced Sanu Mohan to life imprisonment and 28 years rigorous imprisonment for killing his 13-year-old daughter Vaiga and imposed a fine of Rs 1,70,000.

The court had earlier found Sanu Mohan guilty of murdering his 13-year-old daughter Vaiga in the sensational case that shocked the state in 2021.

Special POCSO court Judge K Soman ordered that Sanu serve the 28-year imprisonment first followed by the life sentence. He was also directed to pay a fine of Rs 1,70,000.

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Though Sanu pleaded for leniency in his sentence citing there was nobody to look after his 70-year-old mother, the court did not consider it. The prosecution had asked the court to consider the case as rarest of the rare and sentence Sanu to death.

Vaiga was found dead in Muttar river on March 23, 2021. As Vaiga had left the home with her father to meet a relative, police initially suspected that Mohan might have died by suicide along with her.

On March 21, Sanu Mohan left his wife at her house on the pretext of visiting his relative along with Vaiga. He instead went to his flat in Kangarappady in Kochi.

At the flat, he gave alcohol-laced drinks to Vaiga and smothered her by pressing a cloth on her face. He then also strangled her using his arms.

After this, Mohan took the unconscious child to the banks of Muttar river. He allegedly placed her body in a vertical position in the water. The child drowned in the river on March 21. Her body was found two days later.

As per his confession, Sanu Mohan had decided to die by suicide due to his debt and wanted to kill Vaiga first.
Israeli armed forces and tanks are seen in Israel's border with Gaza on Dec. 27, 2023. Gaza-based Health Ministry updated on Wednesday that prolonged Israeli strikes on Gaza have killed at least 21,110 Palestinians and injured more than 55,000 others since Oct. 7, when Gaza-ruling Hamas launched a massive attack into Israel that left 1,200 dead and more than 200 taken as hostages. (Photo by Gil Cohen Magen/Xinhua)

CAIRO, Dec. 27 (Xinhua) -- Egyptian President Abdel-Fattah al-Sisi held talks with visiting King Abdullah II of Jordan here on Wednesday on the Gaza conflict, during which they reiterated the call for an immediate ceasefire in the war-ravaged Palestinian enclave.

During the meeting, the two state leaders agreed that the international community needs to push for an immediate ceasefire and facilitate the entry of more aid in a speedier manner to "make a real difference" in Gaza, the Egyptian presidency said in a statement.

The two leaders affirmed their complete rejection of "all attempts to liquidate the Palestinian issue, displace the Palestinians from their lands or force their internal displacement," according to the statement.

They also warned against the risks of an expanding conflict that could destabilize regional security and stability.

Gaza-based Health Ministry updated earlier in the day that prolonged Israeli strikes on Gaza have killed at least 21,110 Palestinians and injured more than 55,000 others since Oct. 7, when Gaza-ruling Hamas launched a massive attack into Israel that left 1,200 dead and more than 200 taken as hostages.

Egypt and Jordan have sent humanitarian aid to the besieged enclave through border crossings, most of which was delivered via Egypt's Rafah crossing, a lifeline to Gaza since Oct. 21. 

Israeli armed forces and tanks are seen in Israel's border with Gaza on Dec. 27, 2023. Gaza-based Health Ministry updated on Wednesday that prolonged Israeli strikes on Gaza have killed at least 21,110 Palestinians and injured more than 55,000 others since Oct. 7, when Gaza-ruling Hamas launched a massive attack into Israel that left 1,200 dead and more than 200 taken as hostages. (Photo by Gil Cohen Magen/Xinhua)

Israeli armed forces and tanks are seen in Israel's border with Gaza on Dec. 27, 2023. Gaza-based Health Ministry updated on Wednesday that prolonged Israeli strikes on Gaza have killed at least 21,110 Palestinians and injured more than 55,000 others since Oct. 7, when Gaza-ruling Hamas launched a massive attack into Israel that left 1,200 dead and more than 200 taken as hostages. (Photo by Gil Cohen Magen/Xinhua)

Israeli armed forces and tanks are seen in Israel's border with Gaza on Dec. 27, 2023. Gaza-based Health Ministry updated on Wednesday that prolonged Israeli strikes on Gaza have killed at least 21,110 Palestinians and injured more than 55,000 others since Oct. 7, when Gaza-ruling Hamas launched a massive attack into Israel that left 1,200 dead and more than 200 taken as hostages. (Photo by Gil Cohen Magen/Xinhua)

Israeli armed forces and tanks are seen in Israel's border with Gaza on Dec. 27, 2023. Gaza-based Health Ministry updated on Wednesday that prolonged Israeli strikes on Gaza have killed at least 21,110 Palestinians and injured more than 55,000 others since Oct. 7, when Gaza-ruling Hamas launched a massive attack into Israel that left 1,200 dead and more than 200 taken as hostages. (Photo by Gil Cohen Magen/Xinhua)
As the year draws to a close, digital travel platform, Agoda, uses AI technology to unveil the ultimate list of global destinations for an unforgettable New Years Eve celebration. Keeping in mind both jet-setting, partygoer and the family-friendly reveller, this top 10 selection promises to deliver scenic views, electrifying parties, and an unmatched vibe to welcome the New Year.

From the iconic fireworks over Sydney Harbour to the legendary Times Square ball drop, this destination list offers ideas for cultural experiences, breathtaking displays, including revelling the night away in Rio de Janeiro or embracing traditions of Edinburghs Hogmanay.

Krishna Rathi, Country Director India, Sri Lanka, and Maldives at Agoda Exploring the boundaries of innovation and the latest technology is the heart of what we do at Agoda. So why not have a little fun with this end of year story?! As recommended by some of the leading AI software of the moment, this list is meant to ignite a sense of wonder among aspiring travellers and perhaps even inspire the more spontaneous to book a last-minute getaway on Agoda. Whether its a short getaway within Asia or a longer trip to the other side of the world, Agoda provides the best deals.

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10 Great New Years Eve destinations:

Singapore: Marvel at the dazzling fireworks display in Marina Bay and indulge in the vibrant street parties and carnivals.

Bali, Indonesia: Celebrate on the beach with festive fireworks and traditional Balinese performances.

Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam: Revel in the festive atmosphere with fireworks over the Saigon river and vibrant nightlife in District 1.

Tokyo, Japan: Embrace the Japanese tradition of watching the first sunrise of the year, with cultural celebrations and modern countdown parties.

Sydney, Australia: Experience the world-renowned fireworks display over the Sydney Harbour Bridge and Opera House, with family-friendly events and parties.

New York City, US: Join the masses in Times Square for the iconic ball drop, or choose from countless parties and concerts across the city.

Rio de Janeiro, Brazil: Immerse yourself in the vibrant energy of Copacabana Beach, with samba rhythms and spectacular fireworks show.

London, England: Watch the night sky light up with fireworks along the river Thames, with a variety of boat parties and events to choose from.

Edinburgh, Scotland: Take part in the historic Hogmanay celebrations, complete with processions, concerts, and the unique Loony Dook tradition (a fancy dress New Years Day swim in the chilly Firth of Forth)

Reykjavik, Iceland: Join the locals for community bonfires and a fireworks display set against a snowy landscape, with the chance to see the Northern Lights.
If ever there was an exemplar of the merit of an incremental approach towards achieving strategic heft as a nation, it is South Korea. Globally a middle power, the past three decades of an assiduous focus on Grand Strategy have led Seoul to a position where, despite the limitations of geography, its political leadership is speaking in terms of the country as a global pivotal state (GPS). During last years South Korean presidential election campaign, then candidate Yoon Suk Yeol outlined his views on foreign policy in an oft-quoted article he wrote for a prominent international journal.

South Korea, he iterated, should no longer be confined to the Korean Peninsula but rise to the challenge of being what I have described as a global pivotal state, one that advances freedom, peace, and prosperity through liberal democratic values and substantial cooperation.

Now president, Mr Yoons ambition for his country has significant policy implications for the international community. The vital themes which underpin the GPS concept, writes East Asia scholar Andrew Yeo, are: Deeper values; greater strategic relevance and increased global public goods. Having transitioned from a once war-torn, underdeveloped, authoritarian state to an economically developed, technologically advanced, democratic country, South Korea can indeed play the role of a GPS by helping shape international norms, enforce global rules, and bridge ties between developed and developing nations.

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The USA and like-minded allies in Asia and Europe have welcomed the Yoon governments broader diplomatic, economic, and strategic contributions extending beyond Asia. The challenge for Seoul is to convert GPS from an attractive slogan to a long-term strategic framework, but the way the country has gone about its business is a portent of likely success. The lessons for India are unmistakable, provided MEA officials are willing students. In 1994, South Korea surpassed the annual GDP of India, Australia, and the Netherlands.

That same year, President Kim Young-sam (1993-1997) promoted his policy of globalisation or segyehwa, which aimed at embracing a more internationalist foreign policy agenda that extended past the Northeast Asian region and looked beyond Seouls alliance with Washington. South Korea also successfully gained membership into the exclusive Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) in 1996. But the 1997-98 Asian Financial Crisis and the fiscal austerity measures adopted by South Korea posed serious challenges in expanding Seouls foreign policy outreach. Progressive leaders like Kim Dae-jung (1998-2003) and Roh Moo-hyun (2003-2008), however, continued to reinforce South Koreas identity as a middle power, primarily through their support for East Asian regionalism.

The establishment of the East Asian Vision Group and the East Asian Study Group in the early 2000s to strengthen regional cooperation were significant milestones. By the late 2000s, South Korea had fully embraced its middle power status and launched the Global Korea initiative.

In 2022, the Global Vision Committee ~ an advisory council for Presidents Yoons electoral campaign ~ introduced the GPS concept, describing it as a shift away from the previous governments focus on inter-Korea relations to a foreign policy strategy that embraces greater roles and responsibilities to resolving regional and global challenges and shaping the Indo-Pacific region and beyond.
As Myanmar plunges deeper into turmoil, the accusations of war crimes against the military junta paint a harrowing picture of the humanitarian crisis in the country. The recent offensive by rebel groups has not only intensified the conflict but has also raised alarming concerns about the juntas response, invoking accusations of indiscriminate attacks on civilians and the use of banned cluster munitions. Amnesty Internationals report sheds light on the gravity of the situation, alleging that Myanmars military has resorted to tactics that violate international law.

The use of cluster munitions, banned under international conventions, signifies a blatant disregard for civilians. The air strike in Shan state, cited as evidence by Amnesty, serves as a stark reminder of the devastating consequences faced by innocent residents caught in the crossfire. Civilians in Pauk Taw, Rakhine state, have reportedly endured looting, arbitrary arrests, inhumane treatment, and torture, according to interviews conducted by Amnesty. Such accounts underscore the urgent need for a thorough investigation. The juntas denial and insistence on framing military actions as legitimate operations against terrorists only fuel scepticism and demand an unbiased international inquiry. The plight of more than 300,000 people who have fled the fighting since late October adds another layer of urgency to the situation.

The United Nations reports over 2 million displaced since the coup in 2021, highlighting the scale of the crisis. This crisis not only demands immediate attention but also necessitates global intervention to address the root causes and find a sustainable solution. Chinas claim of mediating a ceasefire between the rebels and the military raises questions about the effectiveness of such efforts. While diplomatic initiatives are crucial, the continued campaign by the rebel Three Brotherhood Alliance despite the alleged ceasefire underscores the complexity of the situation. The alliances assertion, that the military routinely threatens civilians through arbitrary arrests, human shields and torture, adds a layer of distrust in the ceasefire narrative. Human Rights Watchs accusation against the Myanmar Army  of abducting and forcibly recruiting fleeing civilians in Shan state  further muddles the ethical landscape.

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The violation of the laws of war by an insurgent group deepens the challenges faced by civilians seeking refuge from the conflict. Myanmars descent into chaos is not just a national crisis. It is a global concern that demands a united response. The international community cannot turn a blind eye to the suffering of the people. Urgent diplomatic efforts, sanctions, and increased humanitarian aid must be mobilised to address the immediate needs of the displaced population and to exert pressure on the junta and rebel groups to engage in meaningful dialogue. The gravity of the situation calls for coordinated efforts to bring the perpetrators of war crimes to justice and to ensure the safety and well-being of civilians caught in the crossfire. The time for global intervention is now.
Six people, including two kids aged 9 and 10, were killed and three others hospitalized after a head-on crash along a highway in Texas, according to a news release from the Texas Department of Public Safety (DPS).

The dead, aged from 9 to 64 years old, were all riding in one of the two cars involved in the crash, the DPS said on Wednesday, adding that the three hospitalized sustained critical injuries.

The collision happened on Tuesday at around 5:30 p.m. local time along US Highway 67 in the Nemo area, about 70 miles southwest of Dallas, Xinhua news agency reported.

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Preliminary investigation showed that a Chevrolet Silverado truck was travelling south while a Honda Odyssey van carrying seven people was travelling north on the same road, where the posted speed limit is 70 mph, said a report from the Courier Journal, part of the USA Today network.

DPS investigators believe the truck entered the northbound lane in a no-passing zone and struck the van in a head-on collision. Only two people in the van were wearing their seatbelts.

The trucks driver and passenger, both critically injured, were both 17-year-old males from Glen Rose, Texas, according to DPS.

Its a devastating scene and very emotional for all involved, the Johnson County Sheriffs Office shared in a Facebook post.

Please say a prayer for the families of the deceased and injured, the office said.

The US Highway 67 was shut down in both directions for several hours while the authorities examined the devastating scene, according to the office.
The US State Department has announced this years final package of weapons and equipment to aid Ukraine, exhausting existing funding still at the Joe Biden administrations disposal.

The arms and equipment in the package are worth up to $250 million and are being provided under previously directed drawdowns for Ukraine, Secretary of State Antony Blinken said in a statement on Wednesday.

Capabilities provided in todays package include air defence munitions, other air defence system components, additional ammunition for high mobility artillery rocket systems, 155mm and 105mm artillery ammunition, anti-armour munitions, and over 15 million rounds of ammunition, Blinken was quoted as saying by Xinhua news agency.

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Assistance packages such as this just-announced one fall under the Presidential Drawdown Authority, which allows weapons to be pulled directly from the stocks of the Department of Defense so that they can be delivered to Ukraine in a swift manner.

The US has already used up funds from another form of assistance for Ukraine, the congressionally-appropriated Ukraine Security Assistance Initiative, which enables the Department of Defense to purchase weapons for Kiev by signing contracts with arms manufacturers.

In his statement, Blinken reiterated the urgent need for Congress to get their work done. It is imperative that Congress act swiftly, as soon as possible, to advance our national security interests by helping Ukraine defend itself and secure its future, he said.

Warning that the funding Congress previously approved for providing assistance to Ukraine would soon dry up, the Biden administration said last week that lacking lawmakers renewed commitment to further appropriation meeting the White Houses over 60-billion-dollar supplemental budget request for Ukraine, the administration would be able to announce but one additional package for Kiev before years end.

We are still planning one more aid package to Ukraine later this month, John Kirby, the National Security Councils Coordinator for Strategic Communications, told reporters on December 18.

However, when that ones done  we will have no more replenishment authority available to us, and were going to need Congress to act without delay, as we have been saying, Kirby said.

On Capitol Hill, Republicans are withholding their votes for new money for Ukraine, conditioning their approval on Democrats making a compromise to satisfy the GOPs demand for tighter control measures on the border to keep incoming migrants at bay.

Since the Russia-Ukraine conflict broke out in February 2022, the US has committed more than $44.2 billion in military aid to Ukraine, the Pentagon said in a fact sheet published on Wednesday.
Saint-Laurent, CA (H4T1V6)

Today

Cloudy with periods of light snow late. High 23F. Winds W at 10 to 15 mph. Chance of snow 80%. Snow accumulations less than one inch..

Tonight

Cloudy skies early, then partly cloudy after midnight. A few flurries or snow showers possible. Low 13F. Winds W at 5 to 10 mph.
Have an interesting bit of news youd like to see mentioned in the Along the Way column? Email it to Natasha Connolly at news@thesunchronicle.com.
Lu Haifeng, a traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) doctor, travelled 4,000 km from easternmost part of China to Kashgar, Xinjiang. His purpose? To create a healthier future in the westernmost region of the country. This is his story!




BEIRUT, Dec. 28 (Xinhua) -- Lebanese Prime Minister Najib Mikati met Thursday with British Foreign Secretary David Cameron and discussed the conflicts in Gaza and the tension along the Lebanon-Israel border.

Mikati warned of "a comprehensive war" in the region if Israel continues its attacks in southern Lebanon and called for international pressure to stop them, according to a statement released by the Lebanese Council of Ministers.

Mikati also underscored that the first step to halt the Gaza conflict is a ceasefire, followed by negotiations for a solution based on two states and securing the rights of the Palestinians.

For his part, Cameron said in a statement released on the social media platform X that the escalation "from Gaza to Lebanon, the Red Sea or across the region as a whole would raise the level of risks and insecurity in the world," praising Lebanon's efforts in "preventing such escalation."

The Lebanon-Israel border has seen increased tension since Oct. 8, when the Lebanese militant group Hezbollah fired dozens of rockets toward Israel in support of the Hamas attacks on Israel the previous day. Israel responded by firing heavy artillery toward southeastern Lebanon.

The clashes between Hezbollah and Israel have killed 183 people on the Lebanese side, including 128 Hezbollah members and dozens of civilians, Lebanese security sources said. 
Job Title: Project Assistant (2 Fresher Jobs)

Organisation: LWF World Service (LWF)

Duty Station: Kamwenge and Adjumani, Uganda

Reports to: Team Leader & Advocacy Officer

About US:

LWF World Service is the humanitarian and development arm of the Lutheran World Federation. We are a widely recognized, international, faith-based organization working in over 20 countries. We seek to bring people of all backgrounds together in the common quest for justice, peace, and reconciliation in an increasingly complex and fragmented world. Lutheran World Federation (LWF) Uganda is part of the LWF World Service and we are currently supporting Congolese and South-Sudanese refugees living in settlements in the districts of Kamwenge, Adjumani, Moyo, Kyangwali and Lamwo respectively.

Job Summary: (S)he will lead in the implementation of the Universal Periodic Review (UPR) project in Kamwenge and Adjumani Districts. They will be responsible for aligning the project with rights-based approaches at community level to ensure that communities are able to access their fundamental rights, and meet their needs, not through service delivery but by structural changes where duty-bearers (local and district) hold themselves accountable and ensure implementation.

The project Assistant (s) will ensure strong coordination with the Partner Agencies, District Local Government, NGOS, CBOs and Local Leaders within the settlements and host communities in Kamwenge and Adjumani Districts. In this role the Project Assistant will be responsible for supporting project implementation, ensuring quality and results.

Key Duties and Responsibilities:

Lead the overall implementation of the UPR project and other advocacy initiatives;

Lead in coordinating the implementation of the project with the other partner agencies, Local government and CSOs at the sub program level;

Ensure effective project financial resources management, efficient procurement and logistical services at the sub program level;

Support planning, monitoring and evaluation activities of the project, in articulation with the Team Leader, Sub Program Manager and M& E Officer;

Ensure all project work includes a strong gender and child protection analysis and works to promote children and womens rights, including gender equity;

Follow-up project activities on a daily basis, with project partners and donors, to guarantee smooth implementation of administrative and operational activities of the project;

Also be responsible for fundraising and proposal writing for advocacy initiatives and ensure timely reporting to donors;

Provide logistical support for workshops and other meetings as tasked by the project manager and Advocacy officer;

Ensure that project-related internal reporting requirements are met, and that reports are of a high quality and are submitted in time;

Maintain up-to-date files and records of project documentation;

Represent LWF in district level platforms, working groups and to donors, UN agencies, government officials, national civil society and NGOs.

Perform other duties reasonably assigned by the line supervisor.









Qualifications, Skills and Experience:

The ideal applicant must possess a Bachelors Degree of Laws or Human Rights with a specialty in Regional and International Human Rights Mechanisms;

(S)he must have at least two (2) years experience in human rights practice, CSO shadow reporting and access to justice programming;

Previous experience implementing humanitarian and development programming using the rights-based approaches; experience working with the Local Government, specifically coordinating and liaising with Justice Law and Order Sectors in the District;

Prior experience from working in complex contexts and with the vulnerable groups in the local settings;

Applicants must be proficient in Microsoft Office Suite, excellent computer skills in word processing, spreadsheets, use of the internet and email, and legal research.

Excellent documentation and reporting skills;

Able to ride Honda XL-125 Motorcycle and in possession of a valid riding license;

Strong planning and communication skills;

Proven ability to multi-task and work with short deadlines;

Flexibility in accomplishing tasks;

Ability to cope and work under pressure; Well-organized, self-motivated and able to work in a team;

Effective in written and verbal communication in English;

Attention to detail of project documents;

Demonstrated compassion for refugees, asylum seekers, displaced people;

Strategic and planning abilities.

Critical and analytical thinker

NB: LWF/WS is an equal opportunity employer, irrespective of gender, race or religious affiliation. LWF/WS is a signatory to the Code of Conduct for humanitarian agencies. Our recruitment and selection procedures reflect the organizations commitment to the prevention of abuse and exploitation of beneficiaries.

Only Shortlisted Applicants will be contacted!

How to Apply:

All candidates should apply online at the link below.

Click Here

Deadline: 7th January 2024

For more of the latest jobs, please visit https://www.theugandanjobline.com or find us on our facebook page https://www.facebook.com/UgandanJobline
Job Title: Physician (Part Time  24 Hour Work Week)

Organisation: United States US Embassy, US Mission in Uganda

Duty Station: Kampala, Uganda

Salary: UGX 219,900,268 /Per Year

Position Number: Kampala-2023-093

About US Embassy:

The United States Embassy in Kampala, Uganda has enjoyed diplomatic relations with Uganda for over 30 years. Ambassador Natalie E. Brown currently heads the U.S Mission to Uganda. The Mission is composed of several offices and organizations all working under the auspices of the Embassy and at the direction of the Ambassador.

Among the offices operating under the U.S Mission to Uganda are:

United States Agency for International Development (USAID)

Centers for Disease Control (CDC)

Peace Corps

Job Summary: The physician in this position is expected to provide primary urgent and emergency outpatient medical care services to all eligible American employees and their family members. Additionally the incumbent will provide emergency and occupational health services to all employees of the Mission. Services will be provided through direct patient evaluation, examination, and treatment. The LE Staff physician is responsible for determining when hospitalization/medical evacuation is required and arranging all appropriate aspects of the patients care. The LE Staff physician will participate in after-hours call responsibilities with other health unit team members. The job holder has significant impact on the entire embassy customer base in a variety of levels and fashions, including decisions on employees abilities to work, continued ability to be posted in their overseas assignment based on medical conditions that require ongoing management, and Medevac decisions and implications. The Front Office and Management Officer will look to this position to play a vital role in creating a healthier workplace, writing policies and providing advice on how to improve the health condition and awareness of the entire mission.









Qualifications, Skills and Experience:

NOTE: All applicants must address each selection criterion detailed below with specific and comprehensive information supporting each item.

The applicants for the United States US Embassy Physician job should hold a Bachelors Degree.

Medical Degree from an accredited Medical School and completion of appropriate post-graduate internship/residency/or fellowship is required.

A minimum of three (3) years of clinical experience post-graduate training in primary care (Family Medicine, Emergency Medicine, Pediatrics, or Internal Medicine) with at least 50% of the providers time involved with direct patient care during that time is required.

Applicant must be a skilled and experienced physician who recognizes and understands the problems of delivering healthcare to a large and diverse group of personnel and their family members and be able to adjust his/her response and actions to varying medical and social situations. Expert knowledge in technical medical terminologies.

Must possess and maintains a current valid and unrestricted license to practice medicine within the host country, country of citizenship, or the U.S.

Must be able to perform common office-based surgical procedures, primary care procedures, and have emergency response skills such as intubation of patients, IV insertion, ability to perform CPR, etc.

Position shall work with standard medical equipment and is expected to know how to operate basic laboratory equipment.

Must be proficient in use of computer including Microsoft Word, Excel, Internet functions including medical literature searches and use of common computer-based applications/programs.

Must be sensitive to needs and feelings of the patients and be approachable and personable in order to obtain and maintain the trust and confidence of employees and dependents.

Language: English level IV (Fluent) Written/Speaking/Reading is required.

How to Apply:

All those interested in working with the United States Embassy, US Mission in Kampala should send their applications online at the link below.

Click Here

Deadline: 19th January 2024

For more of the latest jobs, please visit https://www.theugandanjobline.com or find us on our facebook page https://www.facebook.com/UgandanJobline
CHENGDU, Dec. 28 (Xinhua) -- Xiao Qi Ji, a giant panda born in the United States and returned to China last month, met the public for the first time on Tuesday in southwest China's Sichuan Province.

Following more than a month of quarantine, examination and care from panda keepers, Xiao Qi Ji has progressively adapted to the living environment in Shenshuping giant panda base in Sichuan's Wolong National Nature Reserve.

Born on Aug. 21, 2020 in Washington, D.C, Xiao Qi Ji was returned to Sichuan on Nov. 9 from the Smithsonian's National Zoo with its parents Mei Xiang and Tian Tian.

Xiao Qi Ji has attracted a large number of tourists to the Shenshuping giant panda base.

"It is really cute and has smooth hair. I like pandas very much, because every time I see them, I feel very happy and the stress is relieved," said Xia Feng, a fan of pandas.

At present, Tian Tian and Mei Xiang have also been released from quarantine. To better care for the two elderly giant pandas, they are currently resting at the nursing home of the Dujiangyan giant panda base of the China Conservation and Research Center for Giant Panda, which is not open to the public.

Mei Xiang and Tian Tian were taken to the United States 23 years ago and produced four cubs there, among which Tai Shan, Bao Bao, and Bei Bei had returned to China before Xiao Qi Ji. 
Tesla is expected to set up a manufacturing unit in Gujarat and the conglomerate is likely to make the announcement regarding this in the upcoming Vibrant Gujarat Summit in January 2024.

According to a report in Ahmedabad Mirror, the state government has given the Elon Musk-led company three choicesSanand, Becharaji or Dholerato set up the plant.

Tesla is yet to make an official statement in this regard.

Meanwhile, news agency ANI quoted Gujarat minister Rushikesh Patel as saying that Musk has his eyes set on Gujarat. "Let us hope that he comes to Gujarat and sets up (projects) here just like Tata, Ford etc... The government and people will welcome this," he said.

According to media reports, the government's spokesperson Rushikesh Patel Patel had recently expressed confidence in Musk considering the state the right place for investment.
Tom Cruise has a new fan in "Ted Lasso" star Hannah Waddingham, who says the Hollywood superstar is one of the most "inspiring human beings" she met in her life.



The British actor recently worked with Cruise on the latest chapter of his "Mission: Impossible" series.

Appearing on the Christmas episode of UK channel ITV's James Martin's Saturday Morning, Waddingham said she spent five days with Cruise filming the action tentpole on the USS George HW Bush fighter carrier.

"I have to say, I have a real problem with anybody that goes at (Tom Cruise) now. Having met him and having spent five days intensely...

"He is without doubt one of the loveliest and encouraging, positive and inspiring human beings I have ever met. Isn't he gorgeous? I have no time for anyone saying anything about him," the 49-year-old actor said.

Waddingham joined the cast for the eighth installment, which was originally designed as the second part to Mission: Impossible Dead Reckoning Part One", in March this year. The details of her character have been kept under wraps.

Mission: Impossible 8 is scheduled to be released in US theatres on May 23, 2025.
As the Congress sounded the bugle for Lok Sabha polls with a mega rally in Nagpur, Maharashtra, on Thursday, caste census and minimum income guarantee emerged as the two most important talking points of the party for the elections.

At the Congress' 'Hain Taiyaar Hum' rally held at Nagpur's Azad Maidan and attended by party leaders and workers from across the country, former party chief Rahul Gandhi dispelled all doubts about whether in the aftermath of the defeats in the recent state elections, the party would do a rethink on the issue of caste census.

The Congress had promised a caste census in the assembly elections and it was hoping to capitalise on the promise since Other Backward Castes form a sizable chunk of the population in the Hindi heartland states that went to polls. However, the party's defeat in Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh, and Chhattisgarh had given rise to doubts about the efficacy of caste census as an electoral issue.

However, addressing the rally on Thursday, Gandhi declared that if the Congress came to power, it would carry out a caste census on an urgent basis. He reiterated his observation that there were very few people in the decision-making positions who came from the OBCs, the Scheduled Castes, or the tribal community despite these communities forming the bulk of the population.

Gandhi had first given the call of 'Jitni Abadi, Utna Haq' (proportionate reservation) in the assembly elections in Karnataka earlier this year, a clear indication that the social justice plank would be an important element of the Congress' campaign for the Lok Sabha polls. On the day the dates for the recently concluded state elections were announced, the Congress Working Committee passed a resolution in which it forcefully backed the demand for caste census. Gandhi had announced the CWC's decision at a press conference that day.

Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge said in his speech that the party was committed to implementing the NYAY scheme or the scheme for providing the poor a minimum income. In a recall of the party's poll promise made ahead of the Lok Sabha elections in 2019, Kharge said a minimum of Rs 70,000 would be given annually to the senior-most women of poor families.

The elephant in the room, that is the upcoming inauguration of the Ram Temple in Ayodhya, which has put the Congress in a tight spot, was obliquely referred to by both Kharge and Gandhi.

Kharge said, in what was an apparent reference to the BJP leaders playing up the temple issue, that Prime Minister Narendra Modi, instead of dealing with the issues of the people, is completely immersed in devotion to God.

Gandhi touched upon the topic of what is the Congress' ideology. He said it was summed up in his statement which was made during the Bharat Jodo Yatra, that the Congress is opening shops of love in the market of hatred.

The leaders also reiterated the Congress' commitment to the INDIA alliance of opposition parties, and exuded confidence about the grouping emerging victorious in the Lok Sabha elections.
Congress leader Rahul Gandhi promised that his party will undertake caste census if it comes to power at the Centre.

Addressing a rally in Maharashtra's Nagpur on the occasion of the Congress' 139th foundation day, on Thursday, Gandhi said unemployment in the country has reached its highest point in the last 40 years.

Speaking at the event, named 'Hain Tayyar Hum', where the Congress kickstarted its campaign for next year's Lok Sabha elections, the Congress leader said there is a battle of two ideologies in the country.

"People think the freedom struggle was only against Britishers; no, it was also against the kings and rulers. Kings had a partnership with the British. Congress fought against that partnership for the people of the country. Before independence, there were no rights for the people of India. This is RSS ideology, we changed this ideology," news agency ANI quoted him as saying.

Together, we are going to win elections in Maharashtra and the country, he said.

"Unlike the BJP, even a junior Congress worker can question and disagree with top party leaders," he said.

Party president Mallikarjun Kharge and several top party leaders from Maharashtra and other states took part in the event, while Sonia Gandhi and general secretary Priyanka Gandhi Vadra did not attend the rally.
The state police of Punjab and Gujarat are perusing the list of 300 Indians on board Legend Airways, the charter flight that was sequestered in France on suspicions of human trafficking.

Gurpreet Singh, Rachhpal Singh, Dhruv Arora, Joliben, Govindbhai, Amandeep Singh, Gurmeet Kaur are some of the names being scanned by the police among the list of 300 Indians who were onboard the flight.



The plane that took off from UAE on December 22 was originally destined for Nicaragua but landed at the Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj International Airport in Mumbai on December 26. The flight was grounded at the Vatry airport by the French authorities after they received a tip-off of an alleged human trafficking racket.



Almost 80 per cent of the passengers are from Punjab and Haryana and the second largest batch is from Gujarat.



The mysterious case may be handed over to the CBI if initial probe towards a transnational human trafficking syndicate. The CBI is the nodal agency for investigating human trafficking-related cases and of late, has been handling several cases of Punjab-based travel agents colluding with trans-national networks for luring Indians, resulting in many of them going missing from Punjab, including minors.



The problem is humongous, said government sources, pointing out that various agencies like the Ministry of External Affairs, Immigration and Emigration Departments as well as Interpol have been roped in at various stages without much headway.



But before the CBI steps in, the Indian agencies have to establish the motive of the flight after gathering information from their counterparts abroad. They will also have to examine the travel documents of the passengers, many of them valid ones, and investigate the purpose behind the flight of Indians to foreign soils.



"There is suspicion that it could be related to human trafficking but we need to investigate further to determine the exact reasons for their travel and the key persons who were involved in organising the flight," said a senior official. Legend Airlines has denied any knowledge of the purpose for which the chartered flight was hired.



The list of passengers includes 18 women and 11 minors  eight months to ten years- and women as old as 50 years to 14 years. There were three Nepali passengers on board as well- Yubraj Paudel, Basant Oli and Shishir making the total count 303. Out of these, 25 sought asylum from French authorities, two were separately produced before the French court by the police and placed on assisted witness status, leaving 276 passengers who were sent back to India.



Upon their landing, the Mumbai police swung into action alongside immigration authorities to verify the travel documents of the passengers. Teams of the Intelligence Bureau and Central Bureau of Investigation have quizzed the passengers in detail, sources said, before the travellers were sent to their homes.



At the onset, investigators said, it appears that the alleged human trafficking syndicate kingpins would have planned to take these passengers from Nicaragua to America and even Canada, as it is easier to get forged travel documents from Nicaragua. As more details stumble out, what would also not go unnoticed by the police forces, especially in Punjab, is whether any of these passengers were planning to cross over into Canada where the migration problem has been compounded by asylum seekers who enter from the porous US border prompting the local authorities to raise concern over the rising numbers.



The donkey route has been infamous in Punjab referring to illegal means for crossing a countrys borders with multiple stops in other countries.



However, the probe is in preliminary stages at the moment and it will be a long drawn-out process to corroborate the facts and initial claims about the exact purpose of the flight and the fate of the passengers who are back home.


Congress leader Priyanka Gandhi has been named by the Enforcement Directorate (ED) in its chargesheet for her alleged role in purchasing agricultural land in Haryana.

As per the charge sheet, Priyanka bought the land measuring 40 kanal (five acres) from a Delhi-based real estate agent HL Pahwa in 2006 and sold the same land to him in February 2010. However, she has not been named as an accused.



The chargesheet read that Priyanka purchased the land in Amipur village from Pahwa from whom Priyanka's husband Robert Vadra also purchased three pieces of land measuring 334 kanals (40.08 acres). This happened from 2005-2006 and Vadra later sold the same land to him in December 2010. The ED accuses Pahwa of receiving cash out of the books for the acquisition of land. "It was also noticed that Priyanka's husband Robert Vadra did not pay the entire sale consideration to Pahwa."



The ED had earlier named Vadra, son-in-law of former Congress president Sonia Gandhi, in a fresh chargesheet against C C or Cheruvathur Chakutty Thampi, a UAE-based NRI businessman, and UK national Sumit Chadha.



According to the ED, Pahwa is the same agent who sold land to Thampi. The case also involves fugitive arms dealer Sanjay Bhandari, who is under investigation by multiple agencies for money laundering, violation of foreign exchange and black money laws, and the Official Secrets Act. He fled India for the UK in 2016.



The agency alleged that Vadra "renovated and stayed" at a London property which is a "proceeds of crime" in a money laundering case against alleged middleman Sanjay Bhandari. The British government approved Bhandari's extradition to India in January this year acting on the legal request made by the ED and the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI).



The probe found, it said, that Thampi "is a close associate of Mr Robert Vadra". "Mr Robert Vadra not only renovated the aforesaid property at 12 Bryanston Square, London through Sumit Chadha but also stayed in the same. "Mr Robert Vadra as well as C C Thampi purchased a huge chunk of land at Faridabad (near Delhi) and had financial transactions with each other," the ED claimed.



On Congress leader Priyanka Gandhi Vadra's name in the ED chargesheet, Congress spokesperson Pawan Khera said it was a conspiracy. "Look at what they'll do ahead of the elections, it's just the beginning. They are not doing it for the first time, they do such conspiracies when elections approach," he alleged.


Kollywood superstar and Desiya Murpokku Dravida Kazhagam (DMDK) founder Vijayakanth passed away at a private hospital in Chennai on Thursday after prolonged illness. He was 71. Vijayakanth is succeeded by his wife Premalatha and his two sons.

Vijayakanth was hospitalised with pneumonia on Tuesday, according to a medical bulletin from MIOT Hospital in Chennai. The actor-politician had been unwell for more than a year and was treated abroad before the 2021 general elections. But his health deteriorated, and he has been undergoing treatment for the past few months. On December 14, Vijayakanth made his public appearance in a wheelchair, during the partys annual general meeting, only to hand over the baton to his wife Premalatha. She was elected as the party chief during the meeting.

A popular film star and political icon, Vijayakanths death marks the end of an era of Tamil actors proving to be successful in politics. In a state where cinema and politics are strange bedfellows, Vijayakanth's was a rocky road both in the film industry and in politics. Fondly called 'Captain' and Karuppu MGR', Vijayakanth launched DMDK in 2005 in Madurai as an alternative to both Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (AIADMK) and Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK), at a time when both J. Jayalalithaa and M. Karunanidhi were at the helm of affairs, respectively. The launch of DMDK in Madurai drew a huge crowd in 2005, making him look like the dark horse of Tamil Nadu politics then. Vijayakanths emergence in Tamil Nadu politics suggested that there was space for an alternative force other than the DMK and the AIADMK.

Born in Madurai as Narayanan Vijayaraj Alagarswami on August 25, 1952, Vijayakanth debuted in Kollywood with Inikkum Ilamai in 1979. With Doorathu Idi Muzhakkam in 1980 and Sattam Oru Iruttarai in 1981, he managed to make a mark in the Tamil movie industry. His rugged looks, Madurai slang, and the strong characters he played in these films were well-received by the audience and earned him a fan following in the early 80s. A string of super hit films, including Oomai Vizhigal, Pulan Visaranai, Chatriyan, Chinna Gounder, Honest Raj, Vanathai Pola made him a star in the industry, parallel to Rajinikanth and Kamal Haasan.

In 1991, his character as 'Captain Prabhakaran' in the eponymous movie earned him the moniker Captain. The 2002 movie Ramanaa, in which he spoke strongly against corruption, raised the expectations among his fans that he would take the political plunge. The actor was also the president of the actors' association 'Nadir Sangam'.

Vijayakanths political journey

Vijayakanths strong opposition to the DMK when a portion of a marriage hall owned by him was demolished in 2007 for road expansion and his decision to ally with the AIADMK in 2011 helped him climb the ladder of success in politics. This success, however, didn't last long as in 2012, he had a public spat with Jayalalithaa in the Tamil Nadu assembly. It was a fiery exchange between Jayalalithaa who was the CM then, and Vijayakanth who was the leader of opposition, as the latter claimed in the house that AIADMK was elected to power only because it aligned with his DMDK.

Jayalalithaa disagreed and said, AIADMK doesnt need the support of anyone to win an election in Tamil Nadu. She challenged Vijayakanth to win in the Sankarankoil byelection. However, after the verbal spat, Vijayakanths DMDK saw a split in the assembly. Eight MLAs from his party, including Vijayakanths friend actor-politician Arun Pandian and former minister K. Pandiarajan, rebelled against him and joined AIADMK.

Vijayakanths vote bank saw a steady fall in the next general election in 2014. In the 2019 elections, the BJP roped Vijayakanth into the NDA, and later in 2021, DMDK chose to contest alone. From winning a single seat in 2006, just a year after the launch of the party to securing 29 seats in 2011 elections and being in the opposition, his party slowly lost relevance. From 21 per cent in 2011, DMDKs vote share came down to 5.1 percent, and went down further to three per cent in the 2016 assembly polls when his party aligned with the Left parties, Thol Thirumavalavans VCK and Vaikos MDMK. As his health began failing, his wife Premalatha became the face of the party.

And now after Vijayakanth, though Premalatha has been elected as the general secretary of the party, DMDKs future hangs in balance with just over 2 per cent vote share.
The Ram Temple Trust in Ayodhya will hold a crucial meeting on Thursday to decide on the idol of Lord Ram, which will be installed inside the sanctum sanctorum of the temple during the consecration on January 22.

Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath is also in Ayodhya on Thursday to assess preparations ahead of Prime Minister Narendra Modi's visit to the temple town on December 30. Earlier in the day, Nripendra Misra, chairman of Ayodhya Ram Mandir Construction Committee, had arrived in the temple town to inspect the progress of the construction works.



The meetings will focus on the idol of Ram Lalla and the preparations for the consecration ceremony. The trust is also likely to hold another meeting to decide on which idol to be used.



Railway station



Workers clean the Ayodhya railway station ahead of its inauguration, in Ayodhya | PTI

Prime Minister Narendra Modi will visit the temple town on December 30 to inaugurate the redeveloped Ayodhya railway station and the airport. He will also address a rally.



The railway station, renamed Ayodhya Dham, has undergone significant reconstruction and boasts of facilities, including infant care, a sick room, a tourist information centre, a fire exit, and the country's largest concourse.



The station spans across 10,000 square meters and has three platforms. The work was overseen by Rail India Technical and Economics Service (RITES), an arm of the central government.



The elongated building, with three floors -- ground, mezzanine and first -- carries two 'shikhar', one on each corner of the structure that faces the railway tracks, while on its frontage it has two chhatri-style structures, one in each end.



"The building's frontage has a colonnade having a concrete core with a cladding of sandstone, and on its side ends are tall round pillars, again having a cladding of sandstone to lend a traditional look," he told PTI on the condition of anonymity.



"The top of the station has a structure having a design that resembles a royal 'mukut' while a bow had been depicted on a wall just beneath it. This is to signify Ayodhya's association with Lord Ram," the official added.



'Aarti' passes

The Shri Ram Janmabhoomi Teerth Kshetra has opened the booking for 'aarti' passes in both online and offline mode. There are three types of aarti that are performed during the entire day and devotees can choose any one from the list and make their bookings accordingly.



Only pass holders can witness aarti and at present, the number is limited to 36 persons for each aarti due to security reasons.


HANOI, Dec. 28 (Xinhua) -- The Vietnam Association of Seafood Exporters and Producers forecast that the country's exports of surimi (fish paste) and fishmeal could reach 1 billion U.S. dollars a year in the near future, Vietnam News reported Thursday.

It is estimated that every year Vietnam exports surimi worth 300 to 420 million U.S. dollars, including products from marine fish and tra fish.

This accounts for about 4 to 5 percent of the country's total seafood exports.

Vietnam's annual fishmeal exports have reached 200,000 to 280,000 tons, earning 200 million dollars.

According to the association, Vietnam exports surimi and fishmeal products to more than 40 countries and regions, with South Korea being the leading importer followed by Thailand, China and Japan.

The association said surimi and fishmeal have contributed to creating a circular economy in the seafood industry and created jobs in the Southeast Asian country. 
President Vladimir Putin on Wednesday invited Prime Minister Narendra Modi to visit Russia as the two sides gear up for annual summit next year.



The invitation for the highest institutional dialogue mechanism in the strategic partnership between the two countries was extended when External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar called on the Russian president at the Kremlin. The upcoming summit will be the 21st such meeting between the two countries with the previous meeting being held in New Delhi in December 2021.

"We will be glad to see our friend, Mr. Prime Minister Modi in Russia," Putin told Jaishankar.

Jaishankar was in Moscow on a five-day official visit. He had earlier held talks with his Russian counterpart Sergey Lavrov.

Putin said PM Modi is "willing to do his utmost" to resolve Russia-Ukraine crisis by "peaceful means".

"We know the stance of Prime Minister Modi and we mentioned that repeatedly on many occasions. Well, his attitude towards some complex developments including the flashpoints liek in Ukraine," Putin said.

"We are gratified to note that despite all the turmoil happening worldwide, the relationship with our true friend in Asia, India has been progressing incrementally," he added.

During a joint media appearance along with Lavrov after their talks, Jaishankar said the two leaders have been in frequent contact.

"Honoured to call on President Vladimir Putin this evening. Conveyed the warm greetings of PM @narendramodi and handed over a personal message. Apprised President Putin of my discussions with Ministers Manturov and Lavrov. Appreciated his guidance on the further developments of our ties," Jaishankar said in his post on X.

Putin said the trade turnover between the two countries are booming in the crude oil and high-tech sectors. "Our trade turnover is growing, for the second year in a row at the same time and at a steady pace. The growth rate this year is even higher than in the last year," he said.

New Delhi has significantly expanded the import of crude oil from Moscow despite pressure from the US and other Western countries amid the Ukraine war. India has not condemned Russia over Ukraine invasion but has urged Moscow and Kyiv to resolve the crisis through dialogue.

On Tuesday, Jaishankar and Russian Deputy Prime Minister Denis Manturov inked some "very important" deals on building new power-generating units of the Kudankulam nuclear power plant.
A Qatar Court on Thursday commuted the death sentence awarded to eight former Navy officers in October. The officers would reportedly serve substantial jail term.

A Qatar Court of Appeal reduced the sentence awarded to eight former Navy officers. Eight former Indian Navy personnel were sentenced to death by a court in Qatar on October 26. The accused men have been detained for a year and were facing charges for espionage.

The eight men, including officers who have commanded major Indian warships, were working for Al Dahra Global Technologies and Consultancy Services, a private firm that provided training and services to Qatar's armed forces.

Commander (retired) Purnendu Tiwari, who is among the detained Indians, served as Al Dahra's managing director and commanded several warships while serving with the navy. The rest of those convicted include Captain Navtej Singh Gill, Captain Saurabh Vasisht, Captain Birendra Kumar Verma, Commander Sugunakar Pakala, Commander Sanjeev Gupta, Commander Amit Nagpal and Sailor Rahesh.

According to reports, MEA has taken note of the verdict and awaiting full details of the judgment for further action.

"Our Ambassador to Qatar and other officials were present in the Court of Appeal today, along with the family members. We have stood by them since the beginning of the matter and we will continue to extend all consular and legal assistance. We will also continue to take up the matter with the Qatari authorities. Due to the confidential and sensitive nature of proceedings of this case, it would not be appropriate to make any further comment at this juncture," the MEA said in a statement.
Canada's Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP) are likely to arrest two men suspected of gunning down Hardeep Singh Nijjar in British Columbia in the coming weeks, said a local report.

The suspected assailants did not leave Canada after the assassination and have been under police radar, according to The Globe and Mail. The outlet cited sources, saying the police might soon reveal further details regarding the suspects and the alleged involvement of India after booking them.

Nijjar, 45, was shot multiple times while leaving a Sikh temple on June 18, 2023. The Canadian Security Intelligence Service had reportedly alerted Nijjar about potential threats before his killing.

Following the G20 meeting, Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau alleged that Indian government was involved in the killing of Nijjar, who was designated a terrorist by New Delhi.
The famous Parisian landmark, the Eiffel Tower closed its gates on Wednesday due to a strike by the staff on the 100th death anniversary of its creator, Gustave Eiffel. The staff went on a strike to highlight the concern of the lack of funds for the upkeep of the monument by Societe d'Exploitation de la Tour Eiffel (SETE), the company that operates and manages it.



A symbolic action on a symbolic date, said CGT, a powerful labour union told Reuters. There was a significant drop in visitors after the pandemic, the numbers dropped from 7 million a year to 5.9 million in 2022. The union states that SETE is heading for disaster because of the business model of how it is being operated. SETE estimated around 7.4 million tourists for the upcoming years, which has yet not been achieved. The statement also added that the tower would be closed for the Paris 2024 Olympic Games if the city does not revise the management.

Alexandre Gustave Eiffel was a French engineer. He founded the company that created the Eiffel Tower. The tenth Exposition Universelle was organized in Paris in 1889, a hundred years after the French Revolution; a competition was held, where the winner could design and build the centrepiece of the Exposition Universelle. Gustave Eiffels company won the competition. It was the tallest building in the world then and garnered a lot of attention.

Gustave Eiffel died on 27 December 1923. A sound and light concert was held on the first floor of the tower, as a tribute to Gustave. The French President, Emmanuel Macron, posted on social media platform X, 100 years since Gustave Eiffel left us. But his legacy to the world is very much alive!

The Eiffel Tower was supposed to be temporary-- the structure was to be disposed of by 1909 as it did not align with the French taste. But the city officials opted to keep it and the tower was later used as a radio telegraph station during World War I.



The 330-meter tower is the most famous landmark of Paris and provides a scenic view of the city. It is repainted every seven years.
Pakistan's military top brass on Thursday said that the banned Tehreek-i-Taliban terrorist group was getting the liberty of action and latest weapons from a neighbouring country.

Chief of Army Staff General Asim Munir presided over the two-day 261st Corps Commanders' Conference held at GHQ, Rawalpindi.

The commanders also noted that requisite and necessary support will also be extended to the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) for forthcoming general elections scheduled to be held on February 8.

According to a statement by the military, the forum was briefed on the "prevalent geo-strategic environment, challenges to national security and own strategy in response to evolving threats."

The sanctuaries and liberty of action available to the terrorists of proscribed TTP and other groups of that ilk in the neighbouring country and availability of latest weapons to the terrorists were noted as serious points of concern impacting security of Pakistan, the statement read, in an apparent reference to Taliban-ruled Afghanistan.

The meeting resolved that all terrorists, their facilitators and abettors, working on the behest of hostile forces to destabilise Pakistan will be dealt with the full might of the state.

The meeting took a holistic review of the ongoing actions being taken against smuggling, money laundering, power theft and hoarding of essential items amongst other illegal economic activities.

Pakistan Army will continue to provide all-out support to relevant government institutions to curb such crimes, read the statement.

The meeting reiterated the Pakistan Army's resolve to defend the sovereignty and territorial integrity of Pakistan against direct and indirect threats.

The forum reiterated its support for ongoing efforts to promote socioeconomic growth and encourage foreign investment under the umbrella of the Special Investment Facilitation Council (SIFC), a joint civil-military forum set up this year to attract investment.

The meeting reiterated that Pakistan would keep supporting its Kashmiri brethren with all political, moral and diplomatic support for the resolution of the Kashmir issue according to international law and relevant UNSC resolutions.

The forum also expressed full solidarity with the people of Palestine and condemned serious human rights violations and war crimes being perpetrated in Gaza while reiterating the Government's stance of demanding an immediate ceasefire in Gaza and peaceful resolution of the ongoing conflict.
Screenshot from the body camera of Connecticut State Trooper Christopher Church on Dec. 21, 2023. Church and other officers with state police were serving a warrant on Pawcatuck resident Vaughn Malloy when Malloy first fled, then fired shots at a police canine leading to a response from police. Connecticut Office of the Inspector General
Westerly, RI (02891)

Today

Morning clouds will give way to afternoon sunshine. High near 45F. Winds WSW at 10 to 15 mph..

Tonight

Partly cloudy skies. Low 32F. Winds W at 5 to 10 mph.
RABAT, Dec. 27 (Xinhua) -- The Moroccan government and Germany's KfW Development Bank on Wednesday reached deals on a financing package worth 257 million euros in total (about 285.4 million U.S. dollars) for Morocco's development projects.

The deals, comprising three loan agreements totaling 250 million euros, two of which are accompanied by two grants amounting to 7 million euros, were reached between Fouzi Lekjaa, the Moroccan minister delegate in charge of the budget, and Janne Rajpar, director of KfW's Morocco office, at a ceremony in Rabat.

The package would help expand a social protection program for Morocco's vulnerable population, promote its sustainable urban and interurban transportation, and increase the irrigation efficiency in its agriculture sector. 




The U.S. on Wednesday announced what officials say could be the final package of military aid to Ukraine unless Congress approves supplemental funding legislation that is stalled on Capitol Hill.

The weapons, worth up to $250 million, include an array of air munitions and other missiles, artillery, anti-armor systems, ammunition, demolition and medical equipment and parts. The aid, provided through the Presidential Drawdown Authority, will be pulled from Pentagon stockpiles.

In a statement, Marine Lt. Col. Garron Garn, a Pentagon spokesman said there is no more funding to replace the weapons taken from department stocks. And the Ukraine Security Assistance Initiative, which provides long-term funding for future weapons contracts, is also out of money.

As a result, Garn said Wednesday, Without the supplemental funding, there will be a shortfall in replenishing U.S. military stocks, affecting American military readiness.

President Joe Biden is urging Congress to pass a $110 billion aid package for Ukraine, Israel and other national security needs. It includes $61.4 billion for Ukraine, with about half to replenish Pentagon stocks. It also includes about $14 billion for Israel as it fights Hamas and $14 billion for U.S. border security. Other funds would go for security needs in the Asia-Pacific.

Due to an accounting error that overvalued some of the weapons sent to Ukraine over the past year or more, there is still about $4.2 billion in restored drawdown authority. But since the Pentagon has no money to replenish inventory sent to Kyiv, the department will have to rigorously assess any future aid and its implications on the U.S. militarys ability to protect America, Garn said.

This is the 54th tranche of military aid taken from department shelves and sent to Ukraine, and it is similar in size and contents to many of the other recent packages.

U.S. defense and government leaders have argued that the weapons are critical for Ukraine to maintain its defense and continue efforts to mount an offensive against Russian forces during the winter months.

In a Pentagon briefing last week, Air Force Maj. Gen. Pat Ryder noted the recent letter that the Defense Department comptroller sent to Congress warning that the U.S. will be using up the last of its replenishment funds by the end of the year.

Once those funds are obligated, we will have exhausted the funding available for us to provide security assistance to Ukraine, said Ryder, the Pentagon press secretary. We would, again, continue to urge the passage of the supplemental that weve submitted.  It is imperative that we have the funds needed to ensure that they get the most urgent battlefield capabilities that they require.

The latest aid package comes as the war in Ukraine drags on into its 22nd month. Russia fired almost 50 Shahed drones at targets in Ukraine and shelled a train station in the southern city of Kherson where more than 100 civilians were gathered to catch a train to Kyiv. And a day earlier, Ukrainian warplanes damaged a Russian ship moored in the Black Sea off Crimea as soldiers on both sides are struggling to make much progress along the front lines.

(AP)




The front entrance of Rep. Mike Lawlers district office building in Pearl River, NY, was found defaced on Thursday morning with messages attacking him for his unabashed pro-Israel stance as the IDF fights to eradicate Hamas from the Gaza Strip, the Monsey Scoop reported.

In a post on X responding, Lawler wrote that he will not back down in the face of anti-Israel and anti-Semitic hate.

I will not be intimidated and I will not waver from supporting our greatest ally as they fight to stop Hamas terror once and for all and rescue their people, Lawler wrote.

(YWN World Headquarters  NYC)




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According to a report by Al Jazeera, the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) of Iran issued a statement on Wednesday morning claiming that the October 7 massacre in southern Israel was in retaliation for the 2020 assassination of their commander Qassem Soleimani in a US airstrike.

Hamas, however, has denied any connection between the October 7 massacre and the assassination of Soleimani.

A Hamas spokesperson said, Hamas denies the validity of the remarks given by the spokesperson of the Irans Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, Brigadier General Ramadan Sharif, regarding the operation of the Flood of al-Aqsa and its motives. We have repeatedly confirmed the motives and reasons for the operation of the Flood of al-Aqsa, and foremost are the dangers that threaten al-Aqsa Mosque. We also confirm that all acts of Palestinian resistance come in response to the Zionist occupation and its ongoing aggression against our people and our holy sites.

The IRGC statement also mentioned the recent airstrike assassination of a senior IRGC advisor in Damascus, describing it as an act of terrorism, as cited by Haaretz. The advisor, identified as Sayyed Razi Mousavi, played a key role in coordinating the military alliance between Syria and Iran. The IRGC warned that Israel would face consequences for killing Mousavi, who was a brigadier-general in the Guards.

In a statement broadcasted on state TV, Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi vowed retaliation, saying, Undoubtedly, the usurper and savage Zionist regime will pay for this crime. This action is another sign of frustration, helplessness, and inability of the occupying Zionist regime.

The Iranian Foreign Ministry also issued a statement on Monday evening, asserting Tehrans right to respond at the appropriate time and place to the assassination of Mousavi. The ministry labeled the suspected assassination as sinful and cowardly and indicative of the terrorist nature of the Zionist regime.

In response to questions about the strike, IDF Chief of Staff Herzi Halevi said he doesnt comment on specific actions but emphasized the militarys commitment to defending Israel. I will not comment on various actions we take. The IDF is working together with other security organizations throughout the Middle East, within the borders of the state, around the borders of the state, Halevi said. We take whatever action necessary to make it very clear that we are very determined to defend the country, are willing to go far, he added.

Hezbollah mourned the death of Mousavi, whom they called one of the best brothers who worked to support the Islamic resistance in Lebanon for decades.

(YWN World Headquarters  NYC)




A heartbreaking childhood photograph has surfaced showing three young children who years later would tragically lose their lives in separate incidents related to the ongoing conflict in Gaza and southern Israel.

Major Shay Shamriz, Avidan Turgeman, and Oded Abergel, who all fell victim to the recent violence, were classmates in kindergarten, as depicted in the photo taken at the kindergarten of the Shafir Regional Council.

Avidan Turgeman, hailing from Masuot Yitzhak, appears on the left in the photograph. He was one of the victims of the massacre at the Nova music festival near Kibbutz Reim on October 7. Standing next to him in the image is Major Shay Shamriz from Merkaz Shapira, who served as a company commander in the Nachal Brigade of the Israel Defense Forces. Shamriz was killed in a battle with terrorists in northern Gaza. On the right side of the photo is Oded Abergel, a resident of Shafir, who, like Turgeman, was also killed in the attack at the Nova party.

(YWN World Headquarters  NYC)




The Shin Bet received intelligence in the summer from a human source in the Gaza Strip that Hamas had plans to attack Israel in the week after Yom Kippur, Channel 12 reported on Wednesday evening.

According to the report, the intelligence information was not marked as significant although the agent who provided it was considered very reliable. The Shin Bet operatives believed that if the plan actually began to be implemented they would receive further intelligence that would confirm it.

The information was reportedly not transferred to the agencys senior leadership, including Shin Bet head Ronen Bar. However, the report quoted several sources as saying that the heads of Shin Bet intend to take full responsibility for the catastrophic failure.

The vital intelligence tip was only noticed after October 7th when the agency tried to clarify how it overlooked the attack, which was planned by Hamas for at least two years.

The Shin Bet responded to the report by saying that at the moment, it is focused on the war but is prepared to carry out thorough investigationsand all available information will be examined. In any case, focusing on one specific intelligence report over another can not reflect the full intelligence picture at the time, the agency stated.

(YWN Israel Desk  Jerusalem)




A bombshell leak was revealed on Wednesday evening when Channel 12 journalist Amit Segal announced that the Supreme Court intends to invalidate the reasonableness law passed by the Knesset in July by a one-vote majority, the first time in the history of the State of Israel that a Basic Law would be invalidated.

According to the report, Supreme Court judges voiced sharp criticism against Supreme Court President Esther Hayut for pushing them to reach a verdict without allowing them adequate time to deliberate the issue in order to reach a decision before her retirement on January 12.

Eight judges, including Hayut, wrote a decision in favor of disqualifying the law versus seven judges who opposed it. The report about the decision, which would roil the country amid a major war in Gaza, has sparked outrage among the right, especially since without the opinions of Hayut and Judge Anat Baron, who are both retiring, the result would have been 7-6 against the laws invalidation.

The vast majority of legal scholars believe that the Supreme Court does not have the authority to invalidate a Basic Law and doing so risks sending Israel into a constitutional crisis. Even deliberating the invalidation of a Basic Law is unprecedented in Israeli history.

Hayut wrote: The Basic Law constitutes a significant deviation from the constitution in the making and therefore it must be accepted by broad consensus and not by a narrow coalitional majority.

Judge Yechiel Kasher criticized the wording of the reasonableness law, but said that the court does not have the authority to invalidate it. The work of legislating Basic Laws is under the authority of the Knesset and not of this court, he wrote.

Justice Minister Yariv Levin responded to the report by stating: While our soldiers are fighting side by side on the various fronts and the entire nation is grieving the loss of many lives, Am Yisrael must not be torn apart by disputes. The citizens of Israel expect the Supreme Court to refrain from publishing a ruling that is controversial even among its judges during a war.

Honenu attorney Nati Rom slammed Hayuts intention to issue the verdict during the war: The gift left by President Esther Hayut in the form of disqualifying a Basic Law undermines the democratic foundations of the State of Israel. To plan this coup with a majority of one judge in a time of war when soldiers are fighting and families are burying their dead shows why the judicial reform is so necessary.

I dont understand what went through Hayuts mind when she saw that everyone was restraining themselves and decided that it was time to light this match again and tear apart our battered and bruised nation.

Berale Crombie, the chairman of the pro-reform Tekumah organization, wrote: Good morning to the Supreme Court judges. How did you sleep last night after announcing that you are paving a path to civil war while our soldiers fight and fall together in battle?! Responsible adult anyone?!

Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich responded: Hundreds of thousands of soldiers and commanders are giving their lives for the common good now on all fronts, two million people are afraid of the knock on the door but there are those who insist on bringing us back to to October 6th.

Repealing a Basic Law for the first time in the history of the country by a narrow majority further deepens the division and controversy and the lack of understanding of the magnitude of the hour. Just as the Knesset is not currently advancing controversial laws, so is appropriate and expected of the other government institutions. It is a time for victory and unity.

(YWN Israel Desk  Jerusalem)




A report published by the French newspaper Le Figaro on Wednesday revealed that only three Hamas leaders, Mohammed Deif, Yahya Sinwar, and his brother Muhammad Sinwar, were aware of the exact details and date and time of the Hamas assault on Israel.

According to sources quoted by the report, preparations for the attack began in 2021, with Hamas leaders sending Nukhba terrorists to train in Lebanon.

In the months before the attack, Deif replaced the commanders of the Izz ad-Din al-Qassam Brigades with ones who were less known to Israeli security officials to make it more difficult for Israeli intelligence to uncover the plan. In the month and a half before the attack, Hamas leaders instructed the commanders to avoid contacting each other. Three months before the attack, Dief and Sinwar severed all contact with Hamas political leaders abroad and did not inform them about the pending attack.

Even senior Hamas leader in Lebanon Saleh al-Arouri was only informed about the attack a half hour before it began and was instructed to inform Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah. According to the report, Nasrallah was surprised by the attack and was even more surprised that Iran wasnt informed about it beforehand. Sinwar and Dief expected Hezbollah to join the war against Israel on October 7th in full force and were enraged when Nasrallah refused to go along with their plan, sending a scathing letter to Beirut.

Osama Hamdan, the Hamas representative in Lebanon, heard about the attack from the media. Iran also heard about the attack on the news, contradicting its claims that the attack was in retaliation for the assassination of Quds Force commander Qassem Soleimani.

Additionally, following the attack, Hamas political leader Ismail Haniyeh flew to Tehran and asked Irans Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei to fully join the war but was refused.

(YWN Israel Desk  Jerusalem)




Thousands gathered in Tehran on Thursday for the funeral of senior Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) commander Razi Mousavi, who was killed in recent Israeli airstrike in Syia. The funeral procession in Tehrans central Imam Hossein square was marked by chants of Death to Israel and Death to America, with many attendees waving yellow flags bearing the message I am your opponent in both Persian and Hebrew, a direct reference to Israel.

Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, Irans supreme leader, met with Mousavis family earlier on Thursday and led Islamic prayers over the slain generals body before it was transported to the central square for public mourning.

Mourners in Tehran also carried pictures of Mousavi alongside Qassem Soleimani, another high-ranking commander of the IRGCs foreign operations arm, who was killed in a 2020 U.S. drone strike in Baghdad. Iran is preparing to observe the fourth anniversary of Soleimanis death, who had led the IRGCs Quds Force for over a decade and was responsible for orchestrating numerous terror attacks abroad.

Syria, reacting to Mousavis death, denounced it as part of Israels aggressive policies, according to the official news agency SANA.

Hossein Salami, the head of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, lauded Razi Mousavi as one of the most experienced and effective IRGC commanders in the Axis of Resistance. This term refers to a coalition of Tehran-aligned terrorist groups in the Middle East. Following Mousavis assassination, IRGC spokesperson Ramezan Sharif issued a warning that their response would involve both direct actions and coordinated efforts with the Axis of Resistance.

Sharif also suggested that Israels assassination of Mousavi was likely due to its failures on October 7.

(YWN World Headquarters  NYC)
BEIRUT, Dec. 28 (Xinhua) -- The United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL) on Thursday called on Lebanese authorities to investigate an attack against one of its peacekeepers a day earlier in Lebanon's southern village of Taybeh.

UNIFIL said in a statement posted on social media platform X that one of its peacekeepers "was hurt after a patrol was attacked by a group of young men in Taybeh, south Lebanon."

It urged the Lebanese authorities to undertake a "full and swift investigation" and to bring "all perpetrators" to justice.

"Attacks on men and women serving the cause of peace are not only condemnable, but they are violations of UN Resolution 1701 and Lebanese law," it added.

UNIFIL said the peacekeepers remain on task despite the attack, stressing "the freedom of movement" of the peacekeepers is vital "to restore security and stability along the Blue Line."

UNIFIL peacekeepers were previously attacked by young men in other southern villages and towns, prompting the European Union ambassadors to urge Lebanese authorities "to ensure that UNIFIL personnel are safe and secure, and their freedom of movement is fully respected and unimpeded so that it can fully implement its mandate." 
UMB Bank n.a. increased its position in shares of Salesforce, Inc. (NYSE:CRM  Free Report) by 36.5% during the 3rd quarter, according to the company in its most recent Form 13F filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The institutional investor owned 88,975 shares of the CRM providers stock after purchasing an additional 23,815 shares during the period. UMB Bank n.a.s holdings in Salesforce were worth $18,042,000 at the end of the most recent quarter.

Other hedge funds and other institutional investors have also recently added to or reduced their stakes in the company. Union Savings Bank acquired a new position in Salesforce in the second quarter worth approximately $27,000. Farmers & Merchants Trust Co of Chambersburg PA grew its position in Salesforce by 374.1% in the second quarter. Farmers & Merchants Trust Co of Chambersburg PA now owns 128 shares of the CRM providers stock worth $27,000 after buying an additional 101 shares during the last quarter. Hanseatic Management Services Inc. acquired a new position in Salesforce in the second quarter worth approximately $40,000. SJS Investment Consulting Inc. grew its position in Salesforce by 354.8% in the second quarter. SJS Investment Consulting Inc. now owns 191 shares of the CRM providers stock worth $40,000 after buying an additional 149 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Quarry LP acquired a new position in Salesforce in the second quarter worth approximately $41,000. Institutional investors own 77.52% of the companys stock.

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Insiders Place Their Bets

In other Salesforce news, CEO Marc Benioff sold 15,000 shares of the companys stock in a transaction that occurred on Friday, September 29th. The stock was sold at an average price of $204.23, for a total transaction of $3,063,450.00. Following the completion of the sale, the chief executive officer now owns 15,386,166 shares of the companys stock, valued at $3,142,316,682.18. The sale was disclosed in a document filed with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which can be accessed through the SEC website. In other news, CFO Amy E. Weaver sold 942 shares of the stock in a transaction that occurred on Tuesday, December 26th. The stock was sold at an average price of $265.39, for a total value of $249,997.38. Following the completion of the sale, the chief financial officer now directly owns 37,979 shares of the companys stock, valued at $10,079,246.81. The transaction was disclosed in a document filed with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which can be accessed through this hyperlink. Also, CEO Marc Benioff sold 15,000 shares of the stock in a transaction that occurred on Friday, September 29th. The shares were sold at an average price of $204.23, for a total value of $3,063,450.00. Following the completion of the sale, the chief executive officer now directly owns 15,386,166 shares of the companys stock, valued at $3,142,316,682.18. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. Insiders sold 844,048 shares of company stock valued at $194,246,041 over the last 90 days. 3.70% of the stock is currently owned by company insiders.

Salesforce Stock Performance

Salesforce stock traded down $0.30 during trading hours on Wednesday, reaching $265.92. 707,678 shares of the company were exchanged, compared to its average volume of 6,479,602. The firm has a market cap of $257.41 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 101.22, a PEG ratio of 2.05 and a beta of 1.24. The company has a current ratio of 1.04, a quick ratio of 1.04 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.15. The stock has a 50-day moving average of $229.79 and a 200 day moving average of $219.48. Salesforce, Inc. has a 12 month low of $128.17 and a 12 month high of $268.36.

Salesforce (NYSE:CRM  Get Free Report) last announced its earnings results on Wednesday, November 29th. The CRM provider reported $2.11 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, topping analysts consensus estimates of $2.05 by $0.06. The firm had revenue of $8.72 billion during the quarter, compared to analysts expectations of $8.71 billion. Salesforce had a return on equity of 9.19% and a net margin of 7.63%. The companys revenue was up 11.3% on a year-over-year basis. During the same quarter in the prior year, the business earned $0.73 earnings per share. As a group, research analysts anticipate that Salesforce, Inc. will post 6.02 earnings per share for the current year.

Analyst Ratings Changes

CRM has been the topic of several recent research reports. Citigroup lifted their price target on shares of Salesforce from $229.00 to $247.00 and gave the stock a neutral rating in a research report on Friday, November 24th. KeyCorp decreased their price target on shares of Salesforce from $272.00 to $268.00 and set an overweight rating on the stock in a research report on Wednesday, November 22nd. Morgan Stanley upgraded shares of Salesforce from an equal weight rating to an overweight rating and lifted their price objective for the stock from $290.00 to $350.00 in a research report on Thursday, December 21st. Jefferies Financial Group increased their target price on Salesforce from $250.00 to $275.00 and gave the company a buy rating in a report on Thursday, August 31st. Finally, Mizuho lifted their price target on Salesforce from $255.00 to $280.00 and gave the company a buy rating in a report on Thursday, November 30th. One equities research analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, twelve have given a hold rating, twenty-six have given a buy rating and two have given a strong buy rating to the stock. Based on data from MarketBeat.com, the company has a consensus rating of Moderate Buy and a consensus target price of $259.61.

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Salesforce Profile

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Salesforce, Inc provides Customer Relationship Management (CRM) technology that brings companies and customers together worldwide. The company's service includes sales to store data, monitor leads and progress, forecast opportunities, gain insights through analytics and relationship intelligence, and deliver quotes, contracts, and invoices; and service that enables companies to deliver trusted and highly personalized customer service and support at scale.

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LS Investment Advisors LLC raised its position in AT&T Inc. (NYSE:T  Free Report) by 4.8% in the third quarter, according to its most recent Form 13F filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission. The fund owned 27,084 shares of the technology companys stock after acquiring an additional 1,229 shares during the quarter. LS Investment Advisors LLCs holdings in AT&T were worth $407,000 as of its most recent SEC filing.

Other institutional investors and hedge funds also recently added to or reduced their stakes in the company. Advisory Alpha LLC boosted its holdings in shares of AT&T by 12.7% in the 3rd quarter. Advisory Alpha LLC now owns 72,868 shares of the technology companys stock valued at $1,094,000 after buying an additional 8,236 shares in the last quarter. SS&H Financial Advisors Inc. acquired a new position in AT&T in the third quarter valued at $2,052,000. Capital Asset Advisory Services LLC boosted its stake in AT&T by 21.4% in the third quarter. Capital Asset Advisory Services LLC now owns 132,934 shares of the technology companys stock valued at $1,963,000 after acquiring an additional 23,407 shares in the last quarter. Alta Capital Management LLC increased its position in shares of AT&T by 1.3% during the third quarter. Alta Capital Management LLC now owns 191,871 shares of the technology companys stock worth $2,882,000 after purchasing an additional 2,547 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Proficio Capital Partners LLC boosted its position in shares of AT&T by 46.8% in the 3rd quarter. Proficio Capital Partners LLC now owns 28,537 shares of the technology companys stock valued at $429,000 after purchasing an additional 9,102 shares during the period. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 53.65% of the companys stock.

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Analysts Set New Price Targets

A number of equities research analysts have weighed in on T shares. Scotiabank upgraded AT&T from a sector perform rating to a sector outperform rating and set a $18.50 price objective for the company in a research note on Friday, October 20th. Citigroup upped their price target on shares of AT&T from $17.00 to $18.00 and gave the company a buy rating in a research report on Monday, October 23rd. Morgan Stanley lowered their price objective on shares of AT&T from $20.00 to $19.00 and set an equal weight rating on the stock in a research report on Monday, October 23rd. StockNews.com began coverage on shares of AT&T in a report on Thursday, October 5th. They issued a hold rating for the company. Finally, JPMorgan Chase & Co. lowered their price target on AT&T from $18.00 to $17.00 and set a neutral rating on the stock in a report on Thursday, October 12th. Seven 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 data from MarketBeat, the stock currently has a consensus rating of Moderate Buy and an average target price of $20.68.

AT&T Price Performance

Shares of T stock traded up $0.02 during midday trading on Wednesday, reaching $16.59. 9,376,444 shares of the company traded hands, compared to its average volume of 38,410,773. The firms 50 day simple moving average is $16.03 and its two-hundred day simple moving average is $15.27. The firm has a market cap of $118.62 billion, a PE ratio of -10.76, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 2.03 and a beta of 0.62. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.08, a current ratio of 0.69 and a quick ratio of 0.64. AT&T Inc. has a 1-year low of $13.43 and a 1-year high of $20.50.

AT&T (NYSE:T  Get Free Report) last issued its quarterly earnings data on Thursday, October 19th. The technology company reported $0.64 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, topping the consensus estimate of $0.62 by $0.02. AT&T had a positive return on equity of 16.26% and a negative net margin of 9.29%. The firm had revenue of $30.35 billion during the quarter, compared to analysts expectations of $30.25 billion. During the same period in the previous year, the firm posted $0.68 earnings per share. AT&Ts revenue was up 1.0% on a year-over-year basis. On average, equities research analysts expect that AT&T Inc. will post 2.43 EPS for the current fiscal year.

AT&T Announces Dividend

The firm also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Thursday, February 1st. Shareholders of record on Wednesday, January 10th will be issued a $0.2775 dividend. This represents a $1.11 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 6.69%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Tuesday, January 9th. AT&Ts dividend payout ratio (DPR) is presently -72.08%.

AT&T Company Profile

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AT&T Inc provides telecommunications and technology services worldwide. The company operates through two segments, Communications and Latin America. The Communications segment offers wireless voice and data communications services; and sells handsets, wireless data cards, wireless computing devices, and carrying cases and hands-free devices through its own company-owned stores, agents, and third-party retail stores.

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Syntegra Private Wealth Group LLC boosted its position in Mastercard Incorporated (NYSE:MA  Free Report) by 20.9% in the third quarter, according to its most recent disclosure with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The fund owned 1,972 shares of the credit services providers stock after buying an additional 341 shares during the quarter. Syntegra Private Wealth Group LLCs holdings in Mastercard were worth $781,000 as of its most recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC).

Other hedge funds have also recently made changes to their positions in the company. Bornite Capital Management LP purchased a new position in shares of Mastercard in the first quarter valued at $21,442,000. United Bank grew its holdings in Mastercard by 34.5% during the 1st quarter. United Bank now owns 6,007 shares of the credit services providers stock valued at $2,147,000 after buying an additional 1,541 shares in the last quarter. Mackenzie Financial Corp increased its position in shares of Mastercard by 30.1% during the first quarter. Mackenzie Financial Corp now owns 272,358 shares of the credit services providers stock valued at $97,335,000 after buying an additional 63,040 shares during the period. First Western Trust Bank purchased a new stake in shares of Mastercard in the first quarter worth about $1,168,000. Finally, Bridgewater Associates LP bought a new position in shares of Mastercard in the first quarter valued at approximately $12,926,000. 74.94% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors.

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Insider Buying and Selling

In other Mastercard news, major shareholder Foundation Mastercard sold 125,816 shares of the stock in a transaction on Wednesday, November 1st. The shares were sold at an average price of $377.45, for a total transaction of $47,489,249.20. Following the completion of the sale, the insider now owns 98,424,221 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $37,150,222,216.45. The sale was disclosed in a filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available at this link. In other Mastercard news, major shareholder Foundation Mastercard sold 125,816 shares of the companys stock in a transaction that occurred on Wednesday, November 1st. The stock was sold at an average price of $377.45, for a total transaction of $47,489,249.20. Following the completion of the transaction, the insider now owns 98,424,221 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $37,150,222,216.45. The transaction was disclosed in a filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available at the SEC website. Also, insider Timothy H. Murphy sold 7,419 shares of Mastercard stock in a transaction that occurred on Friday, September 29th. The stock was sold at an average price of $397.28, for a total value of $2,947,420.32. Following the completion of the sale, the insider now owns 39,007 shares in the company, valued at $15,496,700.96. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. Insiders have sold a total of 514,683 shares of company stock valued at $198,366,316 over the last three months. 0.13% of the stock is owned by company insiders.

Mastercard Trading Up 0.2 %

Shares of NYSE:MA traded up $0.76 on Wednesday, reaching $424.43. 169,931 shares of the company traded hands, compared to its average volume of 2,639,106. The stock has a market capitalization of $398.02 billion, a P/E ratio of 36.90, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 1.93 and a beta of 1.08. The businesss 50-day simple moving average is $401.97 and its 200 day simple moving average is $398.92. The company has a current ratio of 1.17, a quick ratio of 1.17 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 2.24. Mastercard Incorporated has a 52 week low of $340.21 and a 52 week high of $427.61.

Mastercard (NYSE:MA  Get Free Report) last issued its earnings results on Thursday, October 26th. The credit services provider reported $3.39 earnings per share for the quarter, beating the consensus estimate of $3.21 by $0.18. The company had revenue of $6.53 billion during the quarter, compared to analysts expectations of $6.53 billion. Mastercard had a return on equity of 188.83% and a net margin of 44.85%. Mastercards quarterly revenue was up 13.5% compared to the same quarter last year. During the same period in the prior year, the business posted $2.68 EPS. As a group, equities analysts anticipate that Mastercard Incorporated will post 12.16 EPS for the current fiscal year.

Mastercard announced that its Board of Directors has authorized a share repurchase plan on Tuesday, December 5th that authorizes the company to buyback $11.00 billion in outstanding shares. This buyback authorization authorizes the credit services provider to reacquire up to 2.9% of its shares through open market purchases. Shares buyback plans are often a sign that the companys management believes its stock is undervalued.

Mastercard Increases Dividend

The company also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Friday, February 9th. Stockholders of record on Tuesday, January 9th will be issued a $0.66 dividend. This is a boost from Mastercards previous quarterly dividend of $0.57. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Monday, January 8th. This represents a $2.64 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 0.62%. Mastercards dividend payout ratio (DPR) is currently 19.86%.

Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades

MA has been the topic of several recent analyst reports. Seaport Res Ptn reiterated a buy rating on shares of Mastercard in a research note on Thursday, October 12th. Jefferies Financial Group lifted their price objective on Mastercard from $425.00 to $480.00 and gave the company a buy rating in a research note on Tuesday, December 12th. Royal Bank of Canada decreased their target price on Mastercard from $441.00 to $432.00 and set an outperform rating on the stock in a research note on Friday, October 27th. KeyCorp dropped their price target on Mastercard from $440.00 to $430.00 and set an overweight rating for the company in a research report on Friday, October 27th. Finally, Tigress Financial upped their price objective on shares of Mastercard from $476.00 to $495.00 and gave the stock a strong-buy rating in a research report on Thursday, December 7th. Two investment analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating, eighteen have issued a buy rating and one has assigned a strong buy rating to the companys stock. According to MarketBeat, Mastercard presently has an average rating of Moderate Buy and an average price target of $451.81.

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About Mastercard

(Free Report)

Mastercard Incorporated, a technology company, provides transaction processing and other payment-related products and services in the United States and internationally. It facilitates the processing of payment transactions, including authorization, clearing, and settlement, as well as delivers other payment-related products and services.

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Oak Thistle LLC raised its position in shares of Bank of America Co. (NYSE:BAC) by 156.7% in the third quarter, according to its most recent Form 13F filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The firm owned 56,813 shares of the financial services providers stock after acquiring an additional 34,684 shares during the period. Oak Thistle LLCs holdings in Bank of America were worth $1,556,000 as of its most recent SEC filing.

A number of other hedge funds also recently bought and sold shares of BAC. FNY Investment Advisers LLC boosted its holdings in Bank of America by 75.9% during the second quarter. FNY Investment Advisers LLC now owns 920 shares of the financial services providers stock valued at $26,000 after acquiring an additional 397 shares during the period. Marquette Asset Management LLC boosted its holdings in Bank of America by 333.2% during the second quarter. Marquette Asset Management LLC now owns 953 shares of the financial services providers stock valued at $27,000 after acquiring an additional 733 shares during the period. Castleview Partners LLC bought a new stake in Bank of America during the first quarter valued at about $28,000. Global Trust Asset Management LLC boosted its holdings in Bank of America by 45.7% during the second quarter. Global Trust Asset Management LLC now owns 1,036 shares of the financial services providers stock valued at $30,000 after acquiring an additional 325 shares during the period. Finally, Strategic Investment Solutions Inc. IL bought a new stake in Bank of America during the first quarter valued at about $34,000. 68.06% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors.

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Bank of America Trading Down 0.1 %

BAC stock traded down $0.02 during midday trading on Wednesday, reaching $33.84. The companys stock had a trading volume of 8,433,244 shares, compared to its average volume of 48,397,773. Bank of America Co. has a 52 week low of $24.96 and a 52 week high of $37.00. The stock has a market cap of $267.80 billion, a PE ratio of 9.48, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 1.39 and a beta of 1.40. The company has a quick ratio of 0.82, a current ratio of 0.83 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.12. The businesss 50-day simple moving average is $29.53 and its 200-day simple moving average is $29.21.

Bank of America Dividend Announcement

Bank of America ( NYSE:BAC Get Free Report ) last announced its quarterly earnings data on Tuesday, October 17th. The financial services provider reported $0.90 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, beating analysts consensus estimates of $0.83 by $0.07. Bank of America had a net margin of 18.69% and a return on equity of 12.08%. The firm had revenue of $25.20 billion for the quarter, compared to analysts expectations of $25.13 billion. During the same period last year, the firm earned $0.81 earnings per share. The businesss revenue for the quarter was up 2.8% on a year-over-year basis. As a group, sell-side analysts expect that Bank of America Co. will post 3.43 EPS for the current year.

The firm also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Friday, December 29th. Shareholders of record on Friday, December 1st will be paid a $0.24 dividend. The ex-dividend date is Thursday, November 30th. This represents a $0.96 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 2.84%. Bank of Americas payout ratio is presently 26.89%.

Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades

A number of brokerages have recently commented on BAC. Odeon Capital Group raised shares of Bank of America from a hold rating to a buy rating and set a $37.94 price objective for the company in a research report on Thursday, December 14th. Piper Sandler cut their price objective on shares of Bank of America from $28.00 to $27.50 and set an underweight rating for the company in a research report on Friday, September 15th. Morgan Stanley cut their price objective on shares of Bank of America from $34.00 to $32.00 and set an equal weight rating for the company in a research report on Tuesday, October 3rd. The Goldman Sachs Group upped their price objective on shares of Bank of America from $30.00 to $33.00 and gave the company a buy rating in a research report on Friday, December 1st. Finally, BMO Capital Markets upped their price objective on shares of Bank of America from $39.00 to $40.00 and gave the company a market perform rating in a research report on Wednesday, October 18th. One equities research analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, seven have assigned a hold rating and ten have given a buy rating to the company. Based on data from MarketBeat, the company has an average rating of Moderate Buy and a consensus target price of $35.58.

Check Out Our Latest Research Report on Bank of America

Insider Buying and Selling at Bank of America

In other Bank of America news, major shareholder Of America Corp /De/ Bank sold 17,769 shares of the stock in a transaction on Monday, November 20th. The shares were sold at an average price of $9.94, for a total value of $176,623.86. The transaction was disclosed in a document filed with the SEC, which is available through the SEC website. Insiders own 0.27% of the companys stock.

Bank of America Company Profile

(Free Report)

Bank of America Corporation, through its subsidiaries, provides banking and financial products and services for individual consumers, small and middle-market businesses, institutional investors, large corporations, and governments worldwide. Its Consumer Banking segment offers traditional and money market savings accounts, certificates of deposit and IRAs, noninterest-and interest-bearing checking accounts, and investment accounts and products; and credit and debit cards, residential mortgages, and home equity loans, as well as direct and indirect loans, such as automotive, recreational vehicle, and consumer personal loans.

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Cahaba Wealth Management Inc. reduced its position in iShares Russell 1000 Growth ETF (NYSEARCA:IWF  Free Report) by 1.7% during the 3rd quarter, according to the company in its most recent disclosure with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The institutional investor owned 9,703 shares of the exchange traded funds stock after selling 164 shares during the period. iShares Russell 1000 Growth ETF comprises approximately 0.3% of Cahaba Wealth Management Inc.s holdings, making the stock its 28th largest position. Cahaba Wealth Management Inc.s holdings in iShares Russell 1000 Growth ETF were worth $2,581,000 at the end of the most recent reporting period.

Several other institutional investors have also made changes to their positions in the company. Ziegler Capital Management LLC lifted its stake in iShares Russell 1000 Growth ETF by 3.8% in the 3rd quarter. Ziegler Capital Management LLC now owns 1,032 shares of the exchange traded funds stock worth $274,000 after acquiring an additional 38 shares in the last quarter. Dechtman Wealth Management LLC boosted its holdings in shares of iShares Russell 1000 Growth ETF by 2.9% during the third quarter. Dechtman Wealth Management LLC now owns 1,389 shares of the exchange traded funds stock worth $370,000 after purchasing an additional 39 shares during the period. Jacobi Capital Management LLC grew its position in iShares Russell 1000 Growth ETF by 1.7% during the second quarter. Jacobi Capital Management LLC now owns 2,332 shares of the exchange traded funds stock valued at $642,000 after purchasing an additional 40 shares in the last quarter. American Money Management LLC increased its stake in iShares Russell 1000 Growth ETF by 2.8% in the 2nd quarter. American Money Management LLC now owns 1,521 shares of the exchange traded funds stock valued at $419,000 after buying an additional 41 shares during the period. Finally, Principle Wealth Partners LLC increased its stake in iShares Russell 1000 Growth ETF by 2.1% in the 2nd quarter. Principle Wealth Partners LLC now owns 2,070 shares of the exchange traded funds stock valued at $570,000 after buying an additional 42 shares during the period.

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iShares Russell 1000 Growth ETF Stock Up 0.1 %

Shares of NYSEARCA:IWF traded up $0.41 during trading on Wednesday, reaching $304.26. 610,087 shares of the company traded hands, compared to its average volume of 1,392,891. The firm has a fifty day simple moving average of $284.88 and a 200 day simple moving average of $278.32. iShares Russell 1000 Growth ETF has a 1-year low of $209.27 and a 1-year high of $304.74. The firm has a market cap of $77.62 billion, a P/E ratio of 26.14 and a beta of 1.08.

iShares Russell 1000 Growth ETF Profile

iShares Russell 1000 Growth ETF (the Fund), formerly iShares Russell 1000 Growth Index Fund, is an exchange-traded fund (ETF). The Fund seeks investment returns that correspond generally to the price and yield performance of the Russell 1000 Growth Index (the Index). The Index measures the performance of equity securities of Russell 1000 index issuers with relatively higher price-to-book ratios and higher forecasted growth.

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Welch Group LLC increased its position in shares of The TJX Companies, Inc. (NYSE:TJX  Free Report) by 0.7% during the third quarter, according to the company in its most recent Form 13F filing with the SEC. The fund owned 58,756 shares of the apparel and home fashions retailers stock after acquiring an additional 393 shares during the quarter. Welch Group LLCs holdings in TJX Companies were worth $5,222,000 as of its most recent filing with the SEC.

Several other hedge funds and other institutional investors have also recently bought and sold shares of the company. ZRC Wealth Management LLC purchased a new stake in shares of TJX Companies in the second quarter valued at $25,000. Glass Jacobson Investment Advisors llc acquired a new stake in TJX Companies in the 2nd quarter worth about $25,000. Steward Financial Group LLC purchased a new stake in TJX Companies in the 2nd quarter valued at about $26,000. ICA Group Wealth Management LLC purchased a new position in shares of TJX Companies during the 4th quarter worth about $27,000. Finally, Householder Group Estate & Retirement Specialist LLC purchased a new position in shares of TJX Companies during the 3rd quarter worth about $29,000. 89.28% of the stock is owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors.

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Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth

A number of equities research analysts recently issued reports on TJX shares. Wells Fargo & Company boosted their target price on shares of TJX Companies from $88.00 to $92.00 and gave the company an equal weight rating in a report on Monday, September 11th. UBS Group boosted their price objective on shares of TJX Companies from $90.00 to $91.00 and gave the company a neutral rating in a research note on Thursday, November 16th. Loop Capital increased their target price on TJX Companies from $100.00 to $105.00 and gave the stock a buy rating in a research report on Wednesday, September 6th. Telsey Advisory Group lifted their target price on TJX Companies from $100.00 to $105.00 and gave the company an outperform rating in a report on Thursday, November 16th. Finally, Evercore ISI assumed coverage on TJX Companies in a research note on Tuesday, November 7th. They set an outperform rating and a $105.00 price target for the company. Two research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and fourteen have given a buy rating to the stock. Based on data from MarketBeat, TJX Companies presently has a consensus rating of Moderate Buy and an average target price of $99.75.

Insider Buying and Selling at TJX Companies

In other TJX Companies news, CEO Ernie Herrman sold 17,000 shares of the companys stock in a transaction that occurred on Thursday, December 7th. The stock was sold at an average price of $89.06, for a total value of $1,514,020.00. Following the transaction, the chief executive officer now directly owns 576,105 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $51,307,911.30. The sale was disclosed in a filing with the SEC, which is accessible through the SEC website. 0.13% of the stock is owned by insiders.

TJX Companies Stock Down 0.1 %

NYSE:TJX traded down $0.10 during trading hours on Wednesday, hitting $92.69. The stock had a trading volume of 981,349 shares, compared to its average volume of 5,047,046. The company has a market cap of $105.64 billion, a PE ratio of 26.28, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 2.18 and a beta of 0.88. The business has a 50 day simple moving average of $89.77 and a two-hundred day simple moving average of $88.05. The TJX Companies, Inc. has a 1-year low of $72.92 and a 1-year high of $93.78. The company has a current ratio of 1.19, a quick ratio of 0.47 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.42.

TJX Companies (NYSE:TJX  Get Free Report) last announced its earnings results on Wednesday, November 15th. The apparel and home fashions retailer reported $1.03 earnings per share for the quarter, beating the consensus estimate of $0.99 by $0.04. TJX Companies had a net margin of 7.85% and a return on equity of 62.67%. The business had revenue of $13.27 billion during the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $13.09 billion. During the same period in the prior year, the firm earned $0.86 earnings per share. The businesss quarterly revenue was up 9.0% compared to the same quarter last year. Analysts predict that The TJX Companies, Inc. will post 3.75 EPS for the current year.

TJX Companies Announces Dividend

The firm also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Thursday, March 7th. Investors of record on Thursday, February 15th will be paid a $0.3325 dividend. This represents a $1.33 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 1.43%. The ex-dividend date is Wednesday, February 14th. TJX Companiess dividend payout ratio (DPR) is 37.68%.

TJX Companies Profile

(Free Report)

The TJX Companies, Inc, together with its subsidiaries, operates as an off-price apparel and home fashions retailer in the United States, Canada, Europe, and Australia. It operates through four segments: Marmaxx, HomeGoods, TJX Canada, and TJX International. The company sells family apparel, including footwear and accessories; home fashions, such as home basics, furniture, rugs, lighting products, giftware, soft home products, decorative accessories, tabletop, and cookware, as well as expanded pet, and gourmet food departments; jewelry and accessories; and other merchandise.

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StockNews.com began coverage on shares of Almaden Minerals (NYSE:AAU  Free Report) in a research note released on Sunday morning. The firm issued a sell rating on the stock.

Almaden Minerals Stock Performance

AAU stock opened at $0.15 on Friday. The company has a fifty day moving average price of $0.14 and a 200-day moving average price of $0.14. The company has a quick ratio of 22.82, a current ratio of 22.82 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.06. Almaden Minerals has a 52-week low of $0.11 and a 52-week high of $0.28.

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Institutional Investors Weigh In On Almaden Minerals

Several hedge funds and other institutional investors have recently modified their holdings of AAU. Renaissance Technologies LLC raised its stake in shares of Almaden Minerals by 38.1% in the first quarter. Renaissance Technologies LLC now owns 675,100 shares of the companys stock worth $128,000 after purchasing an additional 186,277 shares during the last quarter. Jane Street Group LLC purchased a new stake in Almaden Minerals in the 4th quarter valued at $28,000. Millennium Management LLC boosted its holdings in Almaden Minerals by 587.9% during the 4th quarter. Millennium Management LLC now owns 485,878 shares of the companys stock worth $119,000 after acquiring an additional 415,244 shares during the last quarter. Susquehanna International Group LLP boosted its holdings in Almaden Minerals by 564.4% during the 4th quarter. Susquehanna International Group LLP now owns 233,188 shares of the companys stock worth $57,000 after acquiring an additional 198,088 shares during the last quarter. Finally, HRT Financial LP bought a new stake in shares of Almaden Minerals in the 4th quarter worth $64,000.

About Almaden Minerals

Almaden Minerals Ltd., an exploration stage company, engages in the acquisition, exploration, evaluation, and development of mineral properties in Mexico. The company's principal asset includes a 100% interest in the Ixtaca gold-silver project located in Puebla State, Mexico. Almaden Minerals Ltd.

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National Bank of Canada (TSE:NA  Get Free Report) has been given an average rating of Hold by the eleven analysts that are currently covering the firm, Marketbeat reports. One research analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, seven have assigned a hold rating and three have assigned a buy rating to the company. The average 1 year target price among analysts that have updated their coverage on the stock in the last year is C$102.95.

NA has been the topic of a number of research reports. CSFB set a C$108.00 target price on National Bank of Canada and gave the stock an outperform rating in a research report on Tuesday, September 12th. Keefe, Bruyette & Woods lowered their target price on National Bank of Canada from C$101.00 to C$97.00 and set a market perform rating on the stock in a research report on Thursday, November 23rd. Royal Bank of Canada lowered their target price on National Bank of Canada from C$108.00 to C$105.00 and set a sector perform rating on the stock in a research report on Monday, September 25th. Desjardins upped their target price on National Bank of Canada from C$99.00 to C$105.00 and gave the stock a hold rating in a research report on Tuesday, December 19th. Finally, Scotiabank increased their price target on National Bank of Canada from C$95.00 to C$96.00 and gave the company a sector perform rating in a research report on Wednesday, December 20th.

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National Bank of Canada Stock Performance

National Bank of Canada stock opened at C$100.51 on Thursday. The stock has a market capitalization of C$34.00 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 10.71, a PEG ratio of 17.04 and a beta of 1.10. National Bank of Canada has a 52-week low of C$84.27 and a 52-week high of C$104.83. The stocks 50 day moving average price is C$91.45 and its two-hundred day moving average price is C$94.84.

National Bank of Canada (TSE:NA  Get Free Report) last issued its earnings results on Friday, December 1st. The financial services provider reported C$2.44 earnings per share for the quarter, topping analysts consensus estimates of C$2.29 by C$0.15. National Bank of Canada had a return on equity of 14.68% and a net margin of 34.15%. The company had revenue of C$2.59 billion for the quarter. On average, equities research analysts forecast that National Bank of Canada will post 9.6534749 EPS for the current year.

National Bank of Canada Increases Dividend

The firm also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Thursday, February 1st. Shareholders of record on Monday, December 25th will be paid a $1.06 dividend. This represents a $4.24 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 4.22%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Thursday, December 21st. This is an increase from National Bank of Canadas previous quarterly dividend of $1.02. National Bank of Canadas dividend payout ratio is 45.20%.

Insider Buying and Selling at National Bank of Canada

In other National Bank of Canada news, Director Yvon Charest acquired 376 shares of National Bank of Canada stock in a transaction on Monday, November 20th. The stock was purchased at an average price of C$90.45 per share, for a total transaction of C$34,009.20. Corporate insiders own 0.20% of the companys stock.

National Bank of Canada Company Profile

(Get Free Report

National Bank of Canada provides various financial products and services to retail, commercial, corporate, and institutional clients in Canada and internationally. It operates through four segments: Personal and Commercial, Wealth Management, Financial Markets, and U.S. Specialty Finance and International.

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USA Compression Partners LP (NYSE:USAC  Get Free Report) has received an average rating of Reduce from the four brokerages that are currently covering the stock, Marketbeat.com reports. Two equities research analysts have rated the stock with a sell recommendation and two have given a hold recommendation to the company. The average 12 month target price among brokers that have issued ratings on the stock in the last year is $22.00.

USAC has been the topic of a number of research reports. Stifel Nicolaus increased their price objective on USA Compression Partners from $22.00 to $24.00 and gave the company a hold rating in a report on Wednesday, November 1st. StockNews.com upgraded USA Compression Partners from a hold rating to a buy rating in a research report on Wednesday. Finally, Mizuho downgraded USA Compression Partners from a neutral rating to an underperform rating and set a $22.00 target price on the stock. in a research report on Friday, September 29th.

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Check Out Our Latest Stock Report on USA Compression Partners

Insider Buying and Selling

Hedge Funds Weigh In On USA Compression Partners

In related news, Director Veteran Equity Aggregator Eig sold 3,365 shares of USA Compression Partners stock in a transaction that occurred on Friday, November 17th. The stock was sold at an average price of $25.88, for a total transaction of $87,086.20. Following the transaction, the director now owns 2,432,109 shares in the company, valued at $62,942,980.92. The sale was disclosed in a document filed with the SEC, which is accessible through this link . In other USA Compression Partners news, Director Veteran Equity Aggregator Eig sold 3,365 shares of the firms stock in a transaction on Friday, November 17th. The stock was sold at an average price of $25.88, for a total transaction of $87,086.20. Following the completion of the sale, the director now owns 2,432,109 shares of the companys stock, valued at $62,942,980.92. The transaction was disclosed in a legal filing with the SEC, which is available through this hyperlink . Also, insider Christopher W. Porter sold 7,416 shares of the firms stock in a transaction on Thursday, November 9th. The stock was sold at an average price of $26.03, for a total value of $193,038.48. Following the sale, the insider now directly owns 28,572 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $743,729.16. The disclosure for this sale can be found here . Over the last 90 days, insiders have sold 1,276,252 shares of company stock worth $31,495,409.

Institutional investors and hedge funds have recently added to or reduced their stakes in the business. American Financial Group Inc. grew its holdings in shares of USA Compression Partners by 1.6% in the 2nd quarter. American Financial Group Inc. now owns 32,150 shares of the oil and gas companys stock worth $635,000 after acquiring an additional 500 shares during the period. CreativeOne Wealth LLC lifted its stake in USA Compression Partners by 2.4% in the 2nd quarter. CreativeOne Wealth LLC now owns 22,962 shares of the oil and gas companys stock valued at $453,000 after buying an additional 535 shares in the last quarter. Cetera Advisors LLC lifted its stake in USA Compression Partners by 2.4% in the 2nd quarter. Cetera Advisors LLC now owns 25,211 shares of the oil and gas companys stock valued at $498,000 after buying an additional 583 shares in the last quarter. LPL Financial LLC lifted its stake in USA Compression Partners by 6.1% in the 4th quarter. LPL Financial LLC now owns 13,971 shares of the oil and gas companys stock valued at $273,000 after buying an additional 798 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Belpointe Asset Management LLC lifted its stake in USA Compression Partners by 232.9% in the 1st quarter. Belpointe Asset Management LLC now owns 1,235 shares of the oil and gas companys stock valued at $26,000 after buying an additional 864 shares in the last quarter. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 23.51% of the companys stock.

USA Compression Partners Price Performance

Shares of NYSE:USAC opened at $23.88 on Thursday. The businesss 50-day moving average is $24.72 and its 200 day moving average is $22.53. USA Compression Partners has a 1 year low of $18.48 and a 1 year high of $26.61. The firm has a market capitalization of $2.35 billion, a P/E ratio of 159.20 and a beta of 1.36.

USA Compression Partners (NYSE:USAC  Get Free Report) last announced its quarterly earnings data on Tuesday, October 31st. The oil and gas company reported $0.09 earnings per share for the quarter, missing analysts consensus estimates of $0.11 by ($0.02). The firm had revenue of $217.09 million during the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $208.37 million. USA Compression Partners had a net margin of 7.86% and a negative return on equity of 32.50%. On average, analysts expect that USA Compression Partners will post 0.3 EPS for the current year.

USA Compression Partners Announces Dividend

The business also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Friday, November 3rd. Investors of record on Monday, October 23rd were given a dividend of $0.525 per share. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Friday, October 20th. This represents a $2.10 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 8.79%. USA Compression Partnerss payout ratio is 1,400.00%.

About USA Compression Partners

(Get Free Report

USA Compression Partners, LP provides compression services under term contracts with customers in the natural gas and crude oil industries in the United States. The company engineers, designs, operates, services, and repairs its compression units; and maintains related support inventory and equipment.

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McGlone Suttner Wealth Management Inc. lifted its holdings in BlackRock, Inc. (NYSE:BLK  Free Report) by 6.5% during the third quarter, HoldingsChannel reports. The firm owned 704 shares of the asset managers stock after purchasing an additional 43 shares during the period. McGlone Suttner Wealth Management Inc.s holdings in BlackRock were worth $457,000 as of its most recent filing with the SEC.

A number of other institutional investors have also made changes to their positions in BLK. Handelsbanken Fonder AB increased its stake in BlackRock by 8.8% during the third quarter. Handelsbanken Fonder AB now owns 37,866 shares of the asset managers stock valued at $24,480,000 after acquiring an additional 3,075 shares during the period. Blue Fin Capital Inc. grew its stake in shares of BlackRock by 0.7% in the 3rd quarter. Blue Fin Capital Inc. now owns 4,245 shares of the asset managers stock valued at $2,745,000 after purchasing an additional 31 shares during the period. Czech National Bank grew its stake in shares of BlackRock by 38.4% in the 3rd quarter. Czech National Bank now owns 24,530 shares of the asset managers stock valued at $15,858,000 after purchasing an additional 6,802 shares during the period. Opal Wealth Advisors LLC grew its stake in shares of BlackRock by 17.2% in the 3rd quarter. Opal Wealth Advisors LLC now owns 442 shares of the asset managers stock valued at $286,000 after purchasing an additional 65 shares during the period. Finally, WASHINGTON TRUST Co grew its stake in shares of BlackRock by 0.3% in the 3rd quarter. WASHINGTON TRUST Co now owns 27,518 shares of the asset managers stock valued at $17,790,000 after purchasing an additional 81 shares during the period. 77.01% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors.

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Insider Activity at BlackRock

In other BlackRock news, CEO Laurence Fink sold 15,385 shares of the stock in a transaction dated Monday, November 6th. The stock was sold at an average price of $652.03, for a total transaction of $10,031,481.55. Following the completion of the transaction, the chief executive officer now owns 435,260 shares in the company, valued at approximately $283,802,577.80. The transaction was disclosed in a filing with the SEC, which is available through the SEC website. 0.96% of the stock is owned by corporate insiders.

BlackRock Trading Up 0.2 %

Shares of BLK traded up $1.99 during trading hours on Thursday, reaching $815.24. The stock had a trading volume of 101,603 shares, compared to its average volume of 644,949. The company has a quick ratio of 3.72, a current ratio of 3.72 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.33. BlackRock, Inc. has a 52 week low of $596.18 and a 52 week high of $819.00. The firm has a 50-day moving average of $711.87 and a 200 day moving average of $696.69. The company has a market cap of $121.28 billion, a P/E ratio of 22.81, a P/E/G ratio of 2.32 and a beta of 1.33.

BlackRock (NYSE:BLK  Get Free Report) last released its quarterly earnings data on Friday, October 13th. The asset manager reported $10.91 EPS for the quarter, beating analysts consensus estimates of $8.34 by $2.57. BlackRock had a net margin of 30.66% and a return on equity of 14.65%. The business had revenue of $4.52 billion during the quarter, compared to analysts expectations of $4.52 billion. During the same quarter in the prior year, the company earned $9.55 EPS. The firms quarterly revenue was up 4.9% on a year-over-year basis. On average, sell-side analysts expect that BlackRock, Inc. will post 36.84 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.

BlackRock Announces Dividend

The company also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Friday, December 22nd. Investors of record on Thursday, December 7th were given a $5.00 dividend. This represents a $20.00 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 2.45%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Wednesday, December 6th. BlackRocks dividend payout ratio is currently 56.10%.

Analyst Ratings Changes

Several brokerages have recently commented on BLK. Jefferies Financial Group reduced their target price on BlackRock from $781.00 to $754.00 in a report on Tuesday, October 10th. Morgan Stanley boosted their target price on BlackRock from $836.00 to $897.00 and gave the stock an overweight rating in a report on Monday, October 16th. Wells Fargo & Company reduced their price objective on BlackRock from $820.00 to $720.00 and set an overweight rating on the stock in a report on Wednesday, October 4th. Bank of America reduced their price objective on BlackRock from $921.00 to $868.00 in a report on Wednesday, October 4th. Finally, StockNews.com started coverage on BlackRock in a report on Thursday, October 5th. They set a hold rating on the stock. Four analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and nine have issued a buy rating to the company. According to MarketBeat.com, the stock has an average rating of Moderate Buy and an average target price of $771.54.

Read Our Latest Analysis on BLK

About BlackRock

(Free Report)

BlackRock, Inc is a publicly owned investment manager. The firm primarily provides its services to institutional, intermediary, and individual investors including corporate, public, union, and industry pension plans, insurance companies, third-party mutual funds, endowments, public institutions, governments, foundations, charities, sovereign wealth funds, corporations, official institutions, and banks.

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UNITED NATIONS, Dec. 28 (Xinhua) -- UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres on Thursday announced the appointment of Andrew Paul Saberton from Britain as the new assistant secretary-general and deputy executive director (management) of the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA).

According to a press note from the UN chief's office, Saberton succeeds Ib Petersen of Denmark, who has been acknowledged by both the secretary-general and the executive director of UNFPA for his commendable service.

Saberton has been serving as the assistant secretary-general and deputy executive director (management) ad interim since November 2023. He has also been the UNFPA comptroller and director for the Division of Management Services since September 2016.

Bringing over 30 years of extensive experience in management, Saberton has played a pivotal role in overseeing UNFPA's global operations, according to the press note.

Before his tenure at UNFPA, he served as a senior finance officer at the UN Industrial Development Organization from 2001 to 2009. His professional career also includes significant experience in the private sector. 
Mill Capital Management LLC trimmed its position in The Goldman Sachs Group, Inc. (NYSE:GS  Free Report) by 28.2% in the 3rd quarter, according to its most recent 13F filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The institutional investor owned 2,550 shares of the investment management companys stock after selling 1,000 shares during the quarter. Mill Capital Management LLCs holdings in The Goldman Sachs Group were worth $825,000 at the end of the most recent quarter.

Several other institutional investors and hedge funds have also recently modified their holdings of GS. Asset Management One Co. Ltd. grew its position in shares of The Goldman Sachs Group by 1.6% during the third quarter. Asset Management One Co. Ltd. now owns 215,432 shares of the investment management companys stock worth $69,707,000 after purchasing an additional 3,353 shares in the last quarter. Czech National Bank raised its position in The Goldman Sachs Group by 46.4% during the third quarter. Czech National Bank now owns 57,619 shares of the investment management companys stock valued at $18,644,000 after purchasing an additional 18,263 shares during the period. Welch Group LLC raised its holdings in The Goldman Sachs Group by 3.5% during the 3rd quarter. Welch Group LLC now owns 13,711 shares of the investment management companys stock valued at $4,437,000 after buying an additional 468 shares during the period. Secure Asset Management LLC bought a new stake in shares of The Goldman Sachs Group in the 3rd quarter worth about $219,000. Finally, Hennessy Advisors Inc. lifted its stake in The Goldman Sachs Group by 40.0% in the third quarter. Hennessy Advisors Inc. now owns 3,500 shares of the investment management companys stock worth $1,132,000 after purchasing an additional 1,000 shares during the last quarter. 69.06% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors.

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Insider Activity

In other The Goldman Sachs Group news, major shareholder Goldman Sachs Group Inc sold 72,874 shares of the companys stock in a transaction on Wednesday, November 8th. The stock was sold at an average price of $0.71, for a total value of $51,740.54. Following the completion of the sale, the insider now directly owns 397,954 shares in the company, valued at approximately $282,547.34. The sale was disclosed in a document filed with the SEC, which can be accessed through this link. In other news, insider Ericka T. Leslie sold 1,376 shares of the firms stock in a transaction that occurred on Tuesday, November 21st. The shares were sold at an average price of $335.15, for a total transaction of $461,166.40. Following the completion of the sale, the insider now owns 10,471 shares in the company, valued at approximately $3,509,355.65. The sale was disclosed in a legal filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which can be accessed through this link. Also, major shareholder Goldman Sachs Group Inc sold 72,874 shares of The Goldman Sachs Group stock in a transaction that occurred on Wednesday, November 8th. The shares were sold at an average price of $0.71, for a total transaction of $51,740.54. Following the sale, the insider now directly owns 397,954 shares in the company, valued at approximately $282,547.34. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. Insiders sold 74,407 shares of company stock worth $515,039 over the last ninety days. Corporate insiders own 0.54% of the companys stock.

The Goldman Sachs Group Price Performance

GS stock traded up $2.05 during mid-day trading on Thursday, reaching $386.53. 180,606 shares of the companys stock were exchanged, compared to its average volume of 2,345,392. The stocks 50 day moving average is $338.65 and its 200 day moving average is $332.79. The Goldman Sachs Group, Inc. has a 12-month low of $289.36 and a 12-month high of $386.69. The company has a market cap of $126.05 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 18.61, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 2.29 and a beta of 1.44. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 2.11, a current ratio of 0.77 and a quick ratio of 0.77.

The Goldman Sachs Group (NYSE:GS  Get Free Report) last posted its quarterly earnings data on Tuesday, October 17th. The investment management company reported $5.47 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, topping the consensus estimate of $5.42 by $0.05. The Goldman Sachs Group had a return on equity of 7.37% and a net margin of 7.77%. The company had revenue of $11.82 billion for the quarter, compared to analysts expectations of $11.15 billion. During the same period in the previous year, the firm posted $8.25 EPS. The Goldman Sachs Groups revenue was down 1.3% compared to the same quarter last year. On average, research analysts expect that The Goldman Sachs Group, Inc. will post 22.44 EPS for the current year.

The Goldman Sachs Group Dividend Announcement

The firm also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Thursday, December 28th. Investors of record on Thursday, November 30th will be paid a dividend of $2.75 per share. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Wednesday, November 29th. This represents a $11.00 annualized dividend and a yield of 2.85%. The Goldman Sachs Groups dividend payout ratio is presently 53.24%.

Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth

Several analysts have recently weighed in on GS shares. Citigroup decreased their target price on The Goldman Sachs Group from $400.00 to $380.00 and set a neutral rating for the company in a research report on Thursday, September 21st. JMP Securities reaffirmed a market outperform rating and issued a $440.00 price objective on shares of The Goldman Sachs Group in a research report on Wednesday, October 18th. HSBC began coverage on shares of The Goldman Sachs Group in a report on Thursday, September 7th. They issued a buy rating and a $403.00 price target for the company. StockNews.com assumed coverage on The Goldman Sachs Group in a research note on Thursday, October 5th. They issued a hold rating for the company. Finally, Oppenheimer increased their price objective on shares of The Goldman Sachs Group from $447.00 to $468.00 and gave the stock an outperform rating in a research note on Thursday, November 16th. Seven equities research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and twelve have issued a 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 $393.99.

Check Out Our Latest Stock Analysis on The Goldman Sachs Group

The Goldman Sachs Group Profile

(Free Report)

The Goldman Sachs Group, Inc, a financial institution, provides a range of financial services for corporations, financial institutions, governments, and individuals worldwide. It operates through Global Banking & Markets, Asset & Wealth Management, and Platform Solutions segments. The Global Banking & Markets segment provides financial advisory services, including strategic advisory assignments related to mergers and acquisitions, divestitures, corporate defense activities, restructurings, and spin-offs; and relationship lending, and acquisition financing, as well as secured lending, through structured credit and asset-backed lending and involved in resale agreements.

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Riversedge Advisors LLC decreased its position in iShares National Muni Bond ETF (NYSEARCA:MUB  Free Report) by 6.7% during the 3rd quarter, according to the company in its most recent disclosure with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The fund owned 32,869 shares of the exchange traded funds stock after selling 2,356 shares during the period. iShares National Muni Bond ETF comprises approximately 1.0% of Riversedge Advisors LLCs portfolio, making the stock its 23rd biggest holding. Riversedge Advisors LLCs holdings in iShares National Muni Bond ETF were worth $3,370,000 at the end of the most recent reporting period.

Other institutional investors have also bought and sold shares of the company. Cambridge Investment Research Advisors Inc. lifted its position in shares of iShares National Muni Bond ETF by 3.9% during the second quarter. Cambridge Investment Research Advisors Inc. now owns 235,547 shares of the exchange traded funds stock worth $25,140,000 after acquiring an additional 8,769 shares in the last quarter. Old North State Trust LLC purchased a new stake in shares of iShares National Muni Bond ETF during the first quarter worth $43,000. Clearbridge Investments LLC lifted its position in shares of iShares National Muni Bond ETF by 2.8% during the first quarter. Clearbridge Investments LLC now owns 41,917 shares of the exchange traded funds stock worth $4,516,000 after acquiring an additional 1,123 shares in the last quarter. My Legacy Advisors LLC lifted its position in shares of iShares National Muni Bond ETF by 4.1% during the second quarter. My Legacy Advisors LLC now owns 33,138 shares of the exchange traded funds stock worth $3,546,000 after acquiring an additional 1,296 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Leavell Investment Management Inc. purchased a new stake in shares of iShares National Muni Bond ETF during the second quarter worth $285,000.

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iShares National Muni Bond ETF Trading Down 0.3 %

Shares of NYSEARCA:MUB traded down $0.34 during trading on Thursday, hitting $108.43. 1,498,809 shares of the company were exchanged, compared to its average volume of 3,551,082. iShares National Muni Bond ETF has a 52-week low of $100.78 and a 52-week high of $108.82. The stock has a 50 day moving average of $105.06 and a 200 day moving average of $105.16.

iShares National Muni Bond ETF Company Profile

iShares National AMT-Free Muni Bond ETF (the Fund), formerly iShares S&P National AMT-Free Municipal Bond Fund, is an exchange-traded fund (ETF). The Fund seeks investment results that correspond generally to the price and yield performance of the S&P National AMT-Free Municipal Bond Index (the Index).

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KIEV, Dec. 28 (Xinhua) -- Ukraine's rapprochement with the European Union (EU) and the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) will be among the top priorities for the Ukrainian parliament next year, the Interfax-Ukraine news agency reported Thursday, citing Parliament Speaker Ruslan Stefanchuk.

Before March, the parliament is due to work out the legislative framework to align Ukraine's laws with those of the EU, Stefanchuk said.

The legislative framework includes 35 sections, which will become a guideline for the parliament's future work towards EU integration, he noted.

Besides, the parliament will focus on the adoption of legislation aimed at bringing the Ukrainian army closer to NATO standards, Stefanchuk added.

Another important task for 2024 is the work on the laws related to mobilization processes and the rotation of military personnel participating in the Russia-Ukraine conflict, according to Stefanchuk.

On Dec. 14, EU leaders agreed to open membership talks with Ukraine. The Eastern European country needs to implement 2,739 legal acts on the path towards EU membership, according to Prime Minister Denys Shmyhal.

NATO recognized Ukraine as its Enhanced Opportunities Partner in 2020. In September 2023, NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg said that the alliance is not ready to accept Ukraine as a member while the conflict is in an active stage. 
CAIRO, Dec. 28 (Xinhua) -- Egypt has put forth a framework of proposed steps toward ending the bloodshed in the Gaza Strip to relevant parties, Egypt's State Information Service (SIS) said Thursday.

Diaa Rashwan, chairman of the SIS, said in a statement that the framework, which includes "three successive and linked stages, ending with a ceasefire," was drafted after Egypt listened to the views of "all parties concerned with it."

Egypt, upon receiving responses from the parties, would announce the proposal in detail, he said.

The Palestinian Islamic Jihad (PIJ) movement, a major Palestinian faction allied with Gaza-ruling Hamas and at war with Israel, sent a delegation to Cairo on Sunday to hold talks with Egyptian officials on the situation in Gaza, according to local media reports.

This came after leaders of Egypt and Israel's arch-foe Iran held a phone conversation on the Gaza crisis, and a talk between Hamas representatives and the Egyptian side last week over reaching another truce in Gaza and a hostage swap.

Israel has been waging a large-scale military campaign in the Palestinian enclave of the Gaza Strip since Oct. 7 in retaliation for a Hamas surprise attack that killed about 1,200 people in Israel.

Palestinian death toll from Israel's attacks on Gaza reached 21,320, with 55,603 injured, said the Gaza Health Ministry on Thursday.

Israel and Hamas reached a seven-day ceasefire brokered by Egypt, Qatar, and the United States from Nov. 24 to 30, after which Israel resumed its siege and bombardment of the Palestinian enclave. The truce deal also included a swap of Palestinian prisoners held by Israel for some Israeli hostages held by Hamas in Gaza. 
BEIJING, Dec. 28 (Xinhua) -- A recent video call between senior Chinese and U.S. military officers has achieved constructive progress, a spokesperson for China's Ministry of National Defense said on Thursday.

Liu Zhenli, a member of China's Central Military Commission (CMC) and chief of staff of the CMC Joint Staff Department, and Charles Brown, chairman of the U.S. Joint Chiefs of Staff, had a video call on Dec. 21, ministry spokesperson Wu Qian said during a press conference.

They had a candid and in-depth exchange of views on the implementation of the consensus reached between the two countries' heads of state in San Francisco and on issues of common concern, Wu noted.

China expects that the U.S. side will work with China to advance the healthy and steady development of relations between the two countries' militaries on the basis of equality and mutual respect, Wu said.

On exchange programs, Wu said that the national defense departments of the two countries are maintaining communication and will announce progress in due course. 
[December 27, 2023] Global Top Gift Card Trading Platform Tbay Unveils Exclusive "Quick Sell Mode" at VIP Christmas Event Tweet

NEW YORK, Dec. 27, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- The global leading online gift card trading platform, Tbay, hosted its first VIP gathering event on December 15th in Africa. Tbay chose Nigeria, a country with the largest economy scale in Africa, as its first destination, creating a unique Christmas celebration for the VIP users who have supported the platform for years. The event took place at Ox Restaurant & Lounge,Victoria island, Lagos, with a full house and all guests immersed in the festive atmosphere of Christmas. Tbay stated that this event was a special gift to each VIP user, appreciating them for their continuous support, making the platform become a palace for gift card transactions in Africa. Tbay's Unique Advantage: Safe and Fast "Quick Sell Mode" With roughly 700,000 registered users, over 150,000 monthly active users, and more than 400,000 monthly transaction volume, Tbay is a global digital trading platform committed to providing users with a secure, professional, and efficient service and trading experience. The security of gift card transactions is a pain point for the industry, and Tbay prioritizes safety, promoting the slogan "You are in safe hands" to establish a secure link between sellers and buyers. To ensure transaction safety, Tbay has implemented a series of innovative measures. Firstly, Tbay's gift card vendors must have over three years of work experience, a good credit record, and a clean criminal record. The companies must employ staff and meet Tbay's capital and annual income standards. Secondly, vendors must pay a transaction deposit for user compensation in case of transaction disputes, and sign an exclusive cooperation agreement with Tbay, otherwise will face punishment for violations. Finally, Tbay monitors vendors' workspace 360 to ensure every transaction can be traced bak through video.



Tbay is dedicated to providing users with a fast transaction experience, with most transactions completed within 90 seconds. Recently, Tbay launched the even faster transaction mode -"Quick Sell Mode" , aiming to reduce gift card transaction time by at least 20% in the future. A product investigation about Tbay was also conducted at the event, and guests enthusiastically participated, trying out Tbay's new features. Over 90% expressed that the "Quick Sell Mode" is unique, convenient, and efficient, allowing them to complete the entire transaction process more quickly and gain more profits in a short period. They were also impressed by Tbay's vendors, giving them high ratings. Users hope for more new and interesting online campaigns as well as user-friendly and practical features in the future.

Event Speech - Tbay Charity Journey Valerie Azaglo, one of Tbay's on-site guests, delivered the opening speech, sharing her experience of being invited by Tbay to be the charity leader in Ghana. She vividly described the collaboration with Tbay, especially the story of donating to eight schools. She expressed great honor in joining Tbay's charity project, giving her the opportunity to help over 1,000 students. Through donations and care, she has not only approached students' real life but also had a profound impact on the entire community. Valerie Azaglo emphasized her future plans with Tbay charity, including vivid interactions with children, organizing reading clubs and excursions, and introducing internet and e-learning to better prepare students for future competition. She stated that these plans would expand the impact of Tbay's charity project, focusing not only on material assistance but also on students' education and skill development. Finally, Valerie Azaglo mentioned that the first charity event was in April 2020, until now Tbay's "Donating 1,000 Schools" charity project has covered 7 African countries, benefiting over 10,000 students in more than 60 schools. She deeply cherishes the opportunity given by Tbay, allowing her to be a partner of improving the community in Ghana. Every guest at the event was touched by her enthusiasm and dedication, looking forward to witness more achievements made by Tbay's charity in the future. Tbay Facilitates African Business Development In addition to providing a secure and convenient transaction experience, Tbay has been working hard to offer more business opportunities for customers and partners. Tbay's gift card business uses internet technology as a medium, providing a wide bridge of communication in Africa and offering business opportunities for Africans in the global market. Through the online gift card trading platform, they can engage in international market transactions with gift card holders worldwide, earning additional income. Final Thoughts The Christmas event ended with singing, dancing, and joyous laughter. Tbay concluded by stating its commitment to being technology-driven, promoting African development through the internet and the digital economy, and connecting with global technological forces. Tbay aims to provide a convenient and efficient online gift card trading platform for Africans, creating broader markets and opportunities for entrepreneurs and merchants, meeting demands, and driving economic growth in Africa. Tbay's mission is to create more opportunities through internet and digital economy, continuing to promote African development, helping realize dreams, bringing new hope for Africa's future, Tbay emphasized that they would actively implement charity event, making contributions to African education. Tbay website: https://tbay.store/ View original content to download multimedia:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/global-top-gift-card-trading-platform-tbay-unveils-exclusive-quick-sell-mode-at-vip-christmas-event-302022715.html SOURCE Tbay

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[December 27, 2023] XTransfer Joins the 54th Annual Meeting of the World Economic Forum in Jan 2024 as a Unicorn Tweet

HONG KONG, Dec. 28, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- XTransfer, China's No.1 & World's Leading B2B Cross-Border Trade Payment Platform, is thrilled to announce that the Company will be attending "The 54th Annual Meeting of the World Economic Forum" in January 2024 in Davos, Switzerland as part of the Unicorn Community. Bill Deng, Founder and CEO of XTransfer, will be attending the meeting as the representative of the Company. The first visit of XTransfer to the Davos Meeting will be instrumental in shaping its future development. The 54th Annual Meeting of the World Economic Forum will provide a crucial space to focus on the fundamental principles driving trust, including transparency, consistency and accountability. This Annual Meeting will welcome over 100 governments, all major international organizations, 1000 Forum's Partners, as well as civil society leaders, experts, youth representatives, social entrepreneurs, and news outlets. As a Chinese enterprise, XTransfer recognizes the importance of amplifying the voices of Chinese businesses on the global stage. The absence of Chinese representation in recent times has underscored the need for diverse perspectives and insights from one of the world's largest economies. By joining the World Economic Forum's Unicorn Community, XTransfer is thrilled to have the privilege of participating in gatherings with global leaders, innovators, and visionaries, enabling the company to contribute to shaping the future of finance and cross-border trade. Bill Deng, Founder and CEO of XTransfer, said, "We are honored to become a membe of the World Economic Forum's Unicorn Community. This opportunity allows us to showcase the innovative spirit and capabilities of Chinese enterprises to drive positive change on a global scale. We are eager to engage in meaningful discussions, share our expertise, and collaborate with leaders from around the world to address the most pressing challenges facing our societies."



XTransfer aims to provide seamless and efficient cross-border trade payment services to global SMEs. Leveraging cutting-edge AI technology, XTransfer serves as a bridge connecting leading international banks like J.P. Morgan, Deutsche Bank and DBS Bank with over 400,000 SMEs, allowing SMEs to enjoy the same level of cross-border financial services as large multinational corporations. XTransfer's participation in the World Economic Forum aligns with its mission to drive innovation to enhance financial inclusion for Micro & SMEs worldwide. XTransfer also support Micro & SMEs with generative AI tools, fostering their competitiveness and growth, and reducing the potential inequality. About XTransfer

XTransfer, China's No.1 & World's Leading B2B Cross-Border Trade Payment Platform, is dedicated to providing SMEs with secure, compliant, fast, convenient and low-cost foreign trade payment & fund collection solutions, significantly reducing the cost of global expansion and enhancing global competitiveness. Founded in 2017, the company is headquartered in Shanghai and has branches in China's major foreign trade cities such as Hong Kong, Shenzhen and the United Kingdom, the United States, Canada, Japan, Australia, and Singapore. XTransfer has obtained local payment licenses in Hong Kong, the United Kingdom, the United States, Canada, and Australia. With more than 400,000 enterprise clients, XTransfer has become the industry No.1 in China.

By cooperating with well-known multinational banks and financial institutions, XTransfer has built a unified global multi-currency clearing network and built a data-based, automated, Internet-based and intelligent anti-money laundering risk control infrastructure centred on small and medium enterprises. XTransfer uses technology as a bridge to link large financial institutions and small and medium enterprises around the world, allowing small and medium enterprises to enjoy the same level of cross-border financial services as large multinational corporations. XTransfer completed its Series D financing in September 2021, and the company's current valuation exceeds USD$1.3 billion, making it a unicorn. The lead investor is China Merchants Venture, and other global leading strategic investors include eWTP Capital, Yunqi Capital, Gaorong Capital, 01VC, Telstra Ventures, MindWorks, Lavender Hill Capital Partners, and D1 Capital Partners LP. For more information: https://www.xtransfer.cn/ View original content to download multimedia:https://www.prnewswire.com/apac/news-releases/xtransfer-joins-the-54th-annual-meeting-of-the-world-economic-forum-in-jan-2024-as-a-unicorn-302022653.html SOURCE XTransfer

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[December 28, 2023] Jointly Creating a New Chapter in Innovative Digital Economy - Shanghai Technology Exchange and Hong Kong Digital Asset Exchange (HKbitEX) Sign a Memorandum of Strategic Cooperation Tweet

SHANGHAI, Dec. 28, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- On the occasion of the 20th anniversary of the establishment of the Shanghai-Hong Kong cooperation mechanism, the signing ceremony of the memorandum of strategic cooperation between the Shanghai Technology Exchange and the Hong Kong Digital Asset Exchange (HKbitEX) was grandly held in Shanghai. This signing ceremony marks an important step in the cooperation between Shanghai and Hong Kong in the field of the digital economy, jointly promoting the digital transformation and high-quality development of the Chinese economy. Over the past twenty years, Shanghai and Hong Kong have jointly sought innovation and deepened exchanges and cooperation. Against the backdrop of the vigorous development of the digital economy, Shanghai and Hong Kong, as important engines for the development of the Chinese economy, have strengthened future cooperation in the field of the digital economy. As Web3.0 serves as the value engine driving the development of the digital economy, the Hong Kong Digital Asset Exchange actively responds to the Hong Kong government's strategy of promoting the vigorous and sustainable development of Web3.0 in Hong Kong, grasping the trend of scientific and technological innovation and exploring cooperation with the Shanghai Technology Exchange. The Shanghai Technology Exchange, jointly established by the Ministry of Science and Technology and the Shanghai Municipal People's Government, is committed to building a credible digital new technology trading platform. The Hong Kong Digital Asset Exchange is dedicated to providing pofessional, secure, and compliant digital asset trading and custody services to global investors. Tykhe Capital Group, the parent company of HKbitEX, is committed to building a compliant ecosystem for Web3.0 in Hong Kong, with four business segments including digital asset trading, capital markets and wealth management, digital asset custody, and technological research and development.



The signing of this memorandum of strategic cooperation is an important achievement of the cooperation between Shanghai and Hong Kong in the field of digital economy. According to the memorandum, the Shanghai Technology Exchange will work with the Hong Kong Digital Asset Exchange to explore comprehensive financial solutions for innovative and entrepreneurial companies based on asset tokenization. This cooperation aims to address obstacles faced by innovative and startup companies in the financing process, including mismatched financing demands and funding supply, difficulties in valuation, and imperfect investment exit mechanisms. Both parties will jointly build an open, transparent, and efficient technology trading and financing platform to provide comprehensive services and support for innovative and entrepreneurial companies. This will promote the coordinated development of the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area and the Yangtze River Delta, and contribute to the high-quality development of the Chinese economy. In the future, the Shanghai Technology Exchange and the Hong Kong Digital Asset Exchange will jointly promote the development of financing services for tokenized scientific and technological innovation enterprises, promote financial cooperation and technological innovation between Shanghai and Hong Kong, and contribute to the high-quality development of the Chinese economy. At the same time, they will actively explore cooperation with other regions to promote the development of the global digital economy.

The signing of this memorandum of strategic cooperation is an important milestone in the cooperation between Shanghai and Hong Kong in the field of the digital economy, and it is also an important step in the transformation and development of the Chinese digital economy. We believe that with the joint efforts of all parties, the digital economy will play a greater role in the future, promoting the sustained development and prosperity of the Chinese economy. Media Contact: Terence Pu, [email protected].hk View original content to download multimedia:https://www.prnewswire.com/apac/news-releases/jointly-creating-a-new-chapter-in-innovative-digital-economy---shanghai-technology-exchange-and-hong-kong-digital-asset-exchange-hkbitex-sign-a-memorandum-of-strategic-cooperation-302023157.html SOURCE HKbitEX

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[December 28, 2023] Abans Holdings Marks Year of Excellence, Sets Sights on Robust Growth in NBFC, MF, and AIF in 2024 Tweet

Abans Holdings celebrates one year of successful BSE and NSE listing.

The company is now the investment manager for AIFs in GIFT City.

Abans to enter into the mutual fund business.

Abans Finance Pvt Limited is in the process of establishing a wholly-owned subsidiary in GIFT City. MUMBAI, India, Dec. 28, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Abans Holdings Limited (AHL | 543712 | INE00ZE01026) is celebrating one year since its successful listing on the BSE and NSE, and this illustrates the company's owners' enormous loyalty and faith in it. Abans Holdings has not only survived but thrived in the market over the last year, with an increased pace in a variety of company sectors. Abans Holdings offers an integrated system that incorporates lending, trading, and wealth management, which enables the company to quickly respond to market dynamics and capitalize on emerging possibilities. Abhishek Bansal, Founder & Chairman of Abans Group, honoured with achieving this milestone says: "It is a privilege for us to celebrate this accomplishment. For many years to come, Abans Holdings Limited's success story will be remembered. Over the pst year, we have demonstrated resiliency, flexibility, and strategic insight as it represents a major turning point."



The group purchased the SATCO expansion and Momentum Portfolio from SATCO Capital Markets Limited, to accelerate expansion even more. Since its launch, the portfolio has produced an impressive 21.6% CAGR. To further benefit its investors and stakeholders, Abans is always seeking out promising business opportunities. Abhsihek shares: "Among our most recent initiatives is the appointment of Abans Holdings Ltd. as the investment manager for AIFs in the GIFT City Gujarat IFSC Zone; this should boost the company's independent revenue. We are attempting to enter the mutual fund industry and are now obtaining the necessary authorizations."

Abans Finance Pvt Limited, which is a step-down subsidiary, is currently in the process of establishing a wholly-owned subsidiary in GIFT City. This new subsidiary will be engaged in lending activities, subject to regulatory approvals. The primary objective of this initiative is to enable the company to earn interest in dollar terms and provide access to the global market for its lending business. Abans Holdings practices growth hacking, which stresses innovation, technological integration, strategic relationships, flexibility, and hiring the right people. By employing innovative techniques and cutting-edge technology, Abans intends to promote rapid and consistent growth in the highly competitive financial services business by streamlining processes, forming strategic alliances, and being flexible to changing market conditions. About Abans Holdings Limited Abans Holdings Ltd. is a diversified financial services company that caters to whole gamut of financial businesses such as Institutional Broking, Asset Management, Financial Lending, Treasury operations and Remittance Services. AHL aspires to emerge and become a dominant player in the global asset management space. View original content:https://www.prnewswire.com/in/news-releases/abans-holdings-marks-year-of-excellence-sets-sights-on-robust-growth-in-nbfc-mf-and-aif-in-2024-302023173.html

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[December 28, 2023] Enpro Inc. to Acquire Advanced Micro Instruments, Inc. Tweet

Enpro Inc. (NYSE: NPO), an industrial technology company, today announced that it has entered into a definitive agreement to acquire Advanced Micro Instruments, Inc. ("AMI"), a leading provider of highly-engineered, application-specific analyzers and sensing technologies that monitor critical parameters to maintain infrastructure integrity, enable process efficiency, enhance safety, and facilitate the clean energy transition. Under the terms of the agreement, Enpro will acquire AMI for $210 million in cash, representing a valuation of approximately 13x normalized 2023 EBITDA. Based in Costa Mesa, California, AMI serves customers in the midstream natural gas, biogas, industrial processing, cryogenics, food processing, laboratory, wastewater and aerospace markets. The company offers a portfolio of oxygen, hydrogen sulfide and moisture analyzers and proprietary sensing capabilities that detect contaminants in a variety of processes, including natural gas and biogas streams, which enable operators to avoid flaring and, thereby, reduce CO 2 emissions. Upon closing, AMI will be included in the Sealing Technologies segment, adding to the segment's portfolio of products and solutions that safeguard critical environments. The acquisition is expected to be accretive to segment revenue growth and profitability, in addition to Enpro's adjusted diluted earnings per share. "Acquiring AMI, an industry leader, will build on our strategy to invest in products and technologies that safeguard critical environments in key secular growth markets," said Eric Vaillancourt, President and Chief Executive Officer. "AMI's innovative analyzer and sensor solutions will add to our existing portfolio of critical process technologies in the Sealing Technologies segment, and this acquisition will be an important step forward in expanding our capabilities into compositional analysis. We look forward to welcoming the talented AMI team to the Enpro family of companies and capitalizing on our combined capabilities." "We look forward to joining the Enpro family and this is an exciting next chapter for AMI," said Kevin Bates, Presidet and Chief Executive Officer of AMI. "AMI fits squarely into Enpro's portfolio of leading-edge solutions in a variety of growing end markets that have strong technological and applied engineering advantages. Enpro is the ideal partner for us to accelerate our future growth."



The transaction is expected to close in early 2024, subject to limited closing conditions, including regulatory approvals. About Enpro

Enpro is a leading industrial technology company focused on critical applications across many end-markets, including semiconductor, industrial process, commercial vehicle, sustainable power generation, aerospace, food and pharma, photonics and life sciences. Headquartered in Charlotte, North Carolina, Enpro is listed on the New York Stock Exchange under the symbol "NPO". For more information about Enpro, visit the company's website at https://www.enpro.com. About Advanced Micro Instruments, Inc. AMI is a majority-owned portfolio company of McNally Capital, LLC, a Chicago-based private equity firm. AMI is a leading provider of highly engineered, application-specific analyzers and sensing technologies. Based in Costa Mesa, California, AMI serves customers in the midstream natural gas, biogas, industrial processing, cryogenics, food processing, laboratory, wastewater, and aerospace markets. The company offers a portfolio of oxygen, hydrogen sulfide, and moisture analyzers and proprietary sensing capabilities that detect contaminants in a variety of processes, including natural gas and biogas streams, which enable operators to avoid flaring and, thereby, reduce CO 2 emissions. For more information, please visit https://www.amio2.com. Forward-Looking Statements Statements in this press release that express a belief, expectation or intention, as well as those that are not historical fact, are forward-looking statements under the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. They involve a number of risks and uncertainties that may cause actual events and results to differ materially from such forward-looking statements. These risks and uncertainties include, but are not limited to: the possibility that necessary regulatory approvals may not be obtained or that other conditions to closing may not be satisfied such that the acquisition of AMI will not close or that the closing may be delayed; the possibility of unexpected costs, liabilities or delays in connection with the transaction; risks that the acquisition of AMI disrupts current plans and operations of Enpro; the ability to recognize the anticipated benefits of the transaction; the outcome of any legal proceedings that may arise with respect to the transaction; and the occurrence of any event, change or other circumstances that could give rise to the termination of the agreement for the acquisition of AMI. Enpro's filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission, including its most recent Form 10-K and Form 10-Q, describe other risks and uncertainties. Enpro does not undertake to update any forward-looking statements made in this press release to reflect any change in management's expectations or any change in the assumptions or circumstances on which such statements are based. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20231228647846/en/

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[December 28, 2023] EIG to Acquire Ocyan for US$390 Million Tweet

EIG, a leading institutional investor in the global energy and infrastructure sectors, today announced that it has entered into definitive agreements with Novonor S.A. ("Novonor") and Brazilian Development Bank ("BNDES") to acquire Ocyan Participacoes S.A. ("Ocyan" or the "Company"), a Brazilian-based solutions provider to the offshore oil and gas industry, for a total amount of US$390 million, considering US$283 million for Novonor's 100% equity interest and the remaining amount for liquidation of its outstanding balance of non-voting securities related to the Company. The transaction's proceeds related to Novonor's equity interest will be directly paid to BNDESPAR, in accordance with the fiduciary agreement previously executed by the parties, in order to settle a portion of Novonor's debt. Ocyan has a 23-year track record delivering high-quality maintenance solutions to the offshore oil and gas sector, including the operation of subsea construction and decommissioning projects. As the only Brazilian operator in the Floating Production Storage and Offloading ("FPSO") industry, Ocyan currently operates four offshore units through a 50/50 joint venture with Altera Infrastructure, holding long-term contracts with Libra Consortium, Karoon Energy and 3R Petroleum. The Company, with more than 3,000 dedicated employees, recently established a New Energies division that is focused on the digitalization of the oil and gas industry and engineering, procurement, and construction ("EPC") contracts for renewable energy projects. EIG has invested more than US$2 billion in Brazil since 1998. The acquisition of Ocyan reflects EIG's long-term, comprehensive Brazilian strategy focused on infrastructure supporting high-quality deepwater crude oil production, responsible decommissioning activities and investments in renewables and low carbon projects. Following the completion of the transaction, Ocyan will benefit from EIG's deep technical expertise in FPSOs and potential synergies with Prumo Logistica, an EIG portfolio company, and its subsidiary, Port of Acu. "I have known and respected Ocyan for decades," said R. Blair Thomas, EIG's Chairman and Chief Executive Officer. "The company's resilience and the strength of its business have helped it overcome significant economic headwinds while maintaining a healthy balance sheet, positioning Ocyan for long-term growth. Brazil is home to over 25% of the global FPSO fleets, and we believe the future market dynamics for oil and gas infrastructure in Brazil are very favorable, underscoring our dual commitment to supporting growth and development in this important region while creating value for our investors. We are also excited to support Ocyan's ventures in the renewables space to help drive the energy transition forward." Flavio Valle, EIG's Manging Director and Head of Brazil, said, "FPSO is an attractive asset class for both equity and debt opportunities, and we are pleased to deepen our presence in the industry. We have admired Ocyan for many years and have been impressed by their ability to develop ambitious projects through challenging economic environments. With our global footprint and local capabilities, which are now enhanced by meaningful capital commitments from local clients, we believe that EIG is uniquely positioned to deliver on this complex transaction and to usher Ocyan into a new phase of growth."



Hector Nunez, Novonors Chief Executive Officer, said, "This is another important milestone for the Novonor Group in fulfilling its commitments to its stakeholders as it aims to reestablish the company's focus on diversified operations in the engineering sector, where it was established almost 80 years ago. We are very proud of Ocyan and its team, who are recognized for their operational and technical excellence, and are certain that their successful trajectory will continue." Roberto Prisco Paraiso Ramos, Ocyan's Chief Executive Officer, said, "Ocyan has built and operated more than US$4 billion of drilling rigs, pipelaying support vessels and FPSOs, alone or in joint ventures, always enjoying the very strong support of its shareholders and Novonor. This acquisition does not impact current contracts and operations with our clients and suppliers. This is another important chapter in our history and one that will undoubtedly create new opportunities for Ocyan."

The completion of the transaction is subject to certain customary closing conditions and is expected to occur in the first quarter of 2024. Lakeshore Partners ("Lakeshore") has acted as EIG's exclusive financial advisor, with Lakeshore's newly established affiliate, Lake Capital, providing asset management services. Mattos Filho and White & Case served as transaction legal advisors and Stocche Forbes as fund counsel. EY has acted as BNDES' exclusive financial advisor and Lacaz Martins as transaction legal advisor. VMB Juridica served as transaction legal advisor to Novonor. About EIG EIG is a leading institutional investor in the global energy and infrastructure sectors with $23.0 billion under management as of September 30, 2023. EIG specializes in private investments in energy and energy-related infrastructure on a global basis. During its 41-year history, EIG has committed over $45.9 billion to the energy sector through over 400 projects or companies in 42 countries on six continents. EIG's clients include many of the leading pension plans, insurance companies, endowments, foundations and sovereign wealth funds in the U.S., Asia and Europe. EIG is headquartered in Washington, D.C. with offices in Houston, London, Sydney, Rio de Janeiro, Hong Kong and Seoul. For additional information, please visit EIG's website at www.eigpartners.com. About Novonor Novonor is a global group of Brazilian origin. Its purpose is to contribute to building a sustainable future, serving society through the transformative capacity of its engineering and innovative solutions in key sectors such as petrochemicals, real estate, oil and gas, industrial, naval, mobility and port logistics. Throughout its almost 80-year history, it has made important contributions to the development of Brazil and the more than 30 countries in which it has operated. Its recognized capacity and quality of delivery and its commitment to working to the highest technical, productivity, governance and efficiency standards guide its operations. For additional information, please visit Novonor's website at www.novonor.com. About BNDES The Brazilian Development Bank ("BNDES") is the main financing agent for development in Brazil. Since its foundation, in 1952, the BNDES has played a fundamental role in stimulating the expansion of industry and infrastructure in the country. Over the course of the Bank's history, its operations have evolved in accordance with the Brazilian socio-economic challenges, and now they include support for exports, technological innovation, sustainable socio-environmental development, and the modernization of public administration. For additional information, please visit BNDES's website at www.bndes.gov.br. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20231228125752/en/

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[December 28, 2023] Industrial Bank Becomes First Chinese Bank to Maintain MSCI's Top ESG Rating for Five Consecutive Years Tweet

BEIJING, Dec. 28, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Industrial Bank (Shanghai:601166) ("the Bank") announced a significant upgrade, from A to AA, in the 2023 Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) rating by MSCI, a leading global index provider. The upgrade positions Industrial Bank at the highest ESG rating level within China's banking sector. Consequently, Industrial Bank has become the first publicly-listed bank in the country to secure the AA ESG rating from MSCI. The bank also holds the distinction of being the first among its peers to maintain the top ESG rating for five consecutive years. Environment (E): Green Finance Leadership

As one of the earliest commercial banks to pioneer green finance in China, Industrial Bank has effectively integrated the expansion of green financing solutions into its sustainable development agenda. The approach aligns with the Chinese government's initiatives for achieving carbon peak and neutrality. The efforts in fostering a green and low-carbon economic transformation have positioned the bank as a benchmark in the industry for supporting the nation's ambitious dual carbon objectives. As of the end of September 30, 2023, the green financing portfolio registered at 1.86 trillion yuan (approximately US$260.4 billion), marking an increase of 250.1 billion yuan (approximately US$35 billion) from the end of 2022. Outstanding green loans reached 772.4 billion yuan (approximately US$108.1 billion), up by 135.3 billion yuan (approximately US$18.9 billion) from the end of the previous fiscal year. Notably, the increase in geen loans accounted for more than 30% of newly added corporate lending. Furthermore, a significant portion of the green financing  1.04 trillion yuan (approximately US$145.6 billion), or 56% of the total green finance portfolio  is allocated to carbon reduction initiatives, a 7 percentage point increase from the end of last year.



Social (S): A Commitment to Innovation, SME Support, and Inclusive Growth

Industrial Bank has proactively directed financial resources towards technological innovation, advanced manufacturing, sustainability, and support for small to medium-sized enterprises (SMEs). The Bank is also innovating in digital financial services, extending the reach from urban to rural areas and broadening the client base to include micro and small enterprises (MSEs). As of the end of September 30, 2023, outstanding loans to MSEs neared 500 billion yuan (approximately US$70 billion). Concurrently, the loan portfolio dedicated to innovative technology companies exceeded 430 billion yuan (approximately US$60.2 billion), while the commitment to the agricultural sector was reflected in a loan balance surpassing 640 billion yuan (approximately US$89.6 billion). Complementing the financial initiatives, the bank has prioritized human resource development, establishing a science-based human resource management framework and intensifying staff development. The initiative is further reinforced by the publication of the 'Key Points of Human Resources Development' handbook, underscoring a commitment to fostering an inclusive workplace and a diverse workforce. In 2022, the bank successfully reduced employee turnover by 25% from the previous year.

Governance (G): Pioneering Sustainable Practices Industrial Bank continues to lead the sector in sustainable corporate governance, having integrated an ESG strategy into the long-term development plan. The integration is a key component of the five-year strategic outlook. Reinforcing this commitment is the establishment of a dedicated Strategy and ESG Committee at the board level. Operational and management processes, including credit policies and procedures, have been aligned with the ESG strategy, reflecting the commitment to sustainable and responsible business practices. The bank maintains a robust and comprehensive governance framework, consistently focusing on enhancing systems to mitigate integrity risks and fortify internal governance mechanisms. As part of these efforts, the Industry Bank has developed and disseminated the 'Key Points of the Anti-Bribery and Anti-Corruption System'. The initiative is fundamental to the goal of fostering a culture of financial integrity and ethical business conduct. View original content:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/industrial-bank-becomes-first-chinese-bank-to-maintain-mscis-top-esg-rating-for-five-consecutive-years-302023181.html SOURCE Industrial Bank

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[December 28, 2023] Capital Counseling Albany Receives Donation from National Bank of Coxsackie Tweet

The National Bank of Coxsackie ("NBC") presented the Capital Counseling Albany with a donation in support of their mission to support individuals with mental health needs. The funds were secured through the Federal Home Loan Bank of New York Small Business Recovery Grant Program. NBC is a member of the Federal Home Loan Bank of New York and applied for the funds made available through this special program. This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20231228662788/en/



Pictured here from left to right is Capital Counseling Executive Director Kandie Sawyer, Capital Counseling Vice President Board of Directors, John Agostino, Capital Counseling Clinical Director Winell Soures, and NBC Chief Executive Officer John Balli. (Photo: Business Wire)

Capital Counseling Albany supports individuals, couples, families, adolescents, and children with a board range of emotional and behavioral health issues. Through experienced and compassionate individual counseling, supportive group counseling, and mental health education, they help those who are struggling with mental and behavioral health issues to find answers. "We are so proud to be able to offer support to Capital Counseling Albany in their quest to provide support to those in need. Capital Counseling's story is inspirational, and their services improve the lives of many," John A. Balli, NBC Chief Executive Officer stated. "We, at Family and Children's Services, are extremely grateful to the National Bank of Coxsackie for recognizing the work we perform for our community," Kandie Sawyer said. "We strive to provide excellent service to our community members and have done so for over 200 years." Since 1852, The National Bank of Coxsackie has been the premier bank of choice for thousands of customers. With eight branch locations ranging from Coxsackie to Glenmont, including their new commercial loan production and administrative office in Latham, the bank serves the greater Capital Region. National Bank of Coxsackie is committed to supporting their communities they operate within. The bank is a wholly-owned subsidiary of NBC Bancorp, Inc. (OTCPK:NCXS). View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20231228662788/en/

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[December 28, 2023] CIRO Hearing Panel accepts settlement agreement with Mei-Hui Bobb Tweet

VANCOUVER, BC, Dec. 28, 2023 /CNW/ -A settlement hearing in the matter of Mei-Hui Bobb was held electronically by videoconference on December 12, 2023, in Vancouver, British Columbia before a three-member hearing panel of the Pacific District Hearing Committee of the Canadian Investment Regulatory Organization ("CIRO"). The hearing panel accepted the settlement agreement dated August 15, 2023 (the "Settlement Agreement"), between Staff of CIRO and Mei-Hui Bobb as a consequence of which the following sanctions were imposed on Mei-Hui Bobb: a suspension from conducting securities related business in any capacity while in the employ of or associated with any Dealer Member of CIRO registered as a mutual fund dealer for a period of two months commencing on the third business day after the acceptance of this Settlement Agreement, pursuant to Mutual Fund Dealer Rule 7.4.1.1(c);

a fine in the amount of $28,000 ; and

; and costs in the amount of $5,000 . In the Settlement Agreement, Mei-Hui Bobb admits to the following violations of the Mutual Fund Dealer Rules:1 (a) Between November 2020 and April 2021, the Respondent photocopied signature pages from account forms that had previously been signed by clients and re-used the signature pages to complete seven additional account forms in respect of five clients, contrary to Mutual Fund Dealer Rule 2.1.1 (formerly MFDA Rule 2.1.1); (b) Between May 2019 and March 2021, the Respondent altered and used to process transactions 18 account forms in respect of 15 clients by altering information on the account forms without having the client initial the alterations, contrary to Mutual Fund Dealer Rule 2.1.1 (formerly MFDA Rule 2.1.1); and (c) Between November 2020 and September 2021, the Respondent obtained, possessed and used to process transactions, 17 pre-signed account forms in respect of six clients, contrary to Mutual Fund Dealer Rule 2.1.1 (formerly MFDA Rule 2.1.1). A copy of the Settlement Agreement is available on the MFDA website at www.mfda.ca. During the period described in the Settlement Agreement, the Respondent carried on business in the Surrey, British Columbia area. All information about disciplinary proceedings relating to current and former member firms and individual registrants under the Investment Dealer and Partially Consolidated Rules (for investment dealers), the Mutual Fund Dealer Rules (for mutual fund dealers) and the Universal Market Integrity Rules (UMIR) is available on CIRO's website. Background information regarding the qualifications and disciplinary history, if any, of advisors currently employed by CIRO-regulated Investment firms is available free of charge through the AdvisorReport service. Information on how to make investment dealer, advisor or marketplace-related complaints is available by calling 1 877 442-4322. CIRO investigates possible misconduct by its member firms and individual registrants. It can bring disciplinary proceedings which may result in sanctions including fines, suspensions, permanent bars, expulsion from membership, or termination of rights and privileges for individuals and firms. CIRO is the national self-regulatory organization that oversees all investment dealers, mutual fund dealers and trading activity on Canada's debt and equity marketplaces. CIRO is carrying on the regulatory functions of the Investment Industry Regulatory Organization of Canada and the Mutual Fund Dealers Association of Canada, and is committed to the protection of investors, providing efficient and consistent regulation, and building Canadians' trust in financial regulation and the people managing their investments. For more information, visit www.ciro.ca. __________________







1 At the time of the conduct addressed in this proceeding, MFDA Rule 2.1.1 was in effect and is now incorporated into Mutual Fund Dealer Rule 2.1.1 referred to in this proceeding.

SOURCE Canadian Investment Regulatory Organization (CIRO)

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DAMASCUS, Dec. 28 (Xinhua) -- A fresh Israeli missile attack targeted the outskirts of the Syrian capital of Damascus on Thursday night, triggering a response from the Syrian air defense system, reported the Syrian state-owned TV.

The Syrian army said in a statement that the "Israeli enemy" carried out an aerial attack from the direction of the occupied Syrian Golan Heights, targeting some points in the southern region, without elaborating on the targeted sites.

It added that the Syrian air defense forces intercepted most of them, with losses limited to material damages.

Previous Israeli strikes in Syria had reportedly targeted military sites suspected of harboring Iranian-backed militias, arms convoys, and alleged weapons storage facilities, according to the opposition watchdog group the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights.

Notably, Israel has recently upped its attacks on Syrian targets in tandem with its military campaign in the Gaza Strip.

Syria has been engulfed in over 12-year war, with the government forces of President Bashar al-Assad, backed by Russia and Iran, fighting against various opposition groups.

Israel, on the other hand, has a long-standing policy of preventing Iran from establishing a military presence in Syria by repeatedly conducting airstrikes to destroy alleged Iranian weapons supplies.

The previous Israeli attack in Syria on Monday evening killed Seyyed Razi Mousavi, who was also one of the longest-serving advisors of Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) in Syria and a close associate of the late Iranian top commander Qassem Soleimani, who was assassinated by a U.S. drone attack in Iraq IN 2020. 
Generational Equity Advises Power Rental & Sales in its Sale to Pearlman Group

Generational Equity, a leading mergers and acquisitions advisor for privately held businesses, is pleased to announce the sale of its client Power Rental & Sales, LLC to Pearlman Group (a portfolio company of The Stephens Group of companies) The transaction closed December 14, 2023.

Headquartered in Nashville, Tennessee, Power Rental & Sales (PRS) is a premier distributor of decorative concrete supplies, concrete tools, and equipment that also offers rental of decorative concrete stamps and concrete related equipment. In operation since 2000, the Company has developed an extensive knowledge of decorative concrete and has continuously sought to offer their client base a robust product offering, covering all needs for the decorative and commercial concrete supply market.

The Company is a one-stop shop for contractors and homeowners who are looking to breathe life into their indoor or outdoor living spaces. PRS is proud of the fact that a significant percentage of their customers are repeat. Management believes this is a testament to the Company's professional work ethic and strong desire to fill the needs of their customer base by providing technical product knowledge and trouble-shooting assistance, while maintaining proper inventory levels to meet customer demand.

Pearlman Group, headquartered in Suwannee, Georgia, is a leading multi-channel developer and specialty distributor of supplies, tools, and equipment used in the fabrication, maintenance, cleaning, and restoration of surfaces for residential, commercial, and industrial end-markets.

The Stephens Group, located in Little Rock, Arkansas, is a private investment firm that partners with talented management teams to help build valuable businesses. Backed by the resources of the Witt Stephens and Elizabeth Campbell families, the firm combines the operational expertise of a private equity firm with the flexibility provided by long-term capital.

With nearly $2 billion of private equity assets under management, the firm has a long history of providing informed, sophisticated expertise and working with owners and managers to help them successfully achieve their strategic visions and build long-term value.

Since 2006, The Stephens Group has invested in over 50 companies, targeting investments in industries across the U.S., including industrial and commercial products and services, specialty distribution, technology infrastructure, and vertical software.

Generational Equity Executive Mnaging Director of M&A - Central Region, Michael Goss, and his team led by Sr. Managing Director, Julie Sandoval successfully closed the deal. Executive Managing Director, Bill Kushnir established the initial relationship with PRS.







"This was a great opportunity all the way around. Not only was this an ideal fit, but the level of professionalism of both sellers and buyers made for a smooth transaction," said Sandoval.

About Generational Equity

Generational Equity, Generational Capital Markets (member FINRA/SIPC), Generational Wealth Advisors, Generational Consulting Group, and DealForce are part of the Generational Group, which is headquartered in Dallas and is one of the leading M&A advisory firms in North America.

With more than 350 professionals located throughout 16 offices in North America, the companies help business owners release the wealth of their business by providing growth consulting, merger, acquisition, and wealth management services. The Generational suite of advisory services includes strategic growth consulting, exit planning education, business valuation, value enhancement strategies, M&A services, digital services, and wealth management.

The M&A Advisor named Generational Equity Investment Banking Firm of the Year three years in a row, Valuation Firm of the Year in 2020, and North American Investment Bank of the Year in 2022 as well as Consulting Firm of the Year. The Global M&A Network named Generational USA Investment Bank of the Year in 2023. For more information visit https://www.genequityco.com/ or the Generational Equity press room.

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20231228441276/en/
[December 28, 2023] Containing Luxury Secures Over $2 Million Bahamas Project Amid Successful StartEngine Campaign Tweet

Containing Luxury, a trailblazer in sustainable housing, is proud to announce a significant milestone in its journey. The Florida-based company has secured an order exceeding $2 million for a project in the Bahamas, further cementing its position as a leader in innovative, eco-friendly container homes. This achievement coincides with the successful launch of its Regulation Crowdfunding (Reg CF) offering on StartEngine, which has already garnered over $154,000 in just two weeks. This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20231227968549/en/ Since its launch in 2022, Containing Luxury has experienced rapid growth, with sales more than doubling in a short period. The company's container homes, known for their cost-effectiveness, resilience, and eco-friendly design, have resonated with a growing audience seeking sustainable living solutions. "Our journey on StartEngine has been a great start, and we're thrilled with the response from investors," says Blake Madgett, CEO of Containing Luxury. "Securing theBahamas project is a testament to our commitment and capability in delivering top-notch sustainable housing solutions. We're not just raising funds; we're expanding our reach and impact."



The Reg CF offering on StartEngine allows public investment in Containing Luxury, with over $154,000 raised in just two weeks. Backers can expect various rewards, including exclusive merchandise, based on their investment level. Detailed offering terms, including share price and minimum investment, are available on the StartEngine campaign page. The funds raised through StartEngine will bolster Containing Luxury's expansion and product development. The company is already in talks with entities aiming to address affordable housing challenges in their communities.

As a frontrunner in sustainable housing, Containing Luxury's container homes are a symbol of innovation and environmental stewardship. With a strong following of over 140,000 on YouTube, the company has established itself as an industry authority in shipping container homes. For more information on Containing Luxury and its StartEngine campaign, visit https://www.startengine.com/offering/containingluxury. Disclaimer: This Reg CF offering is made available through StartEngine Capital, LLC. This press release is for informational purposes only and is not an offer to sell or a solicitation of an offer to buy any securities. Investments involve risks, and potential investors should consult financial, legal, and tax professionals before investing. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20231227968549/en/

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Apropos for #TBT . . . Here's the latest screed from a longtime & somewhat local transit activsit.



Chastain press release: A New Year's Celebration? The 30-year Cold War between KC's Gov't. & Activist Clay Chastain could end and could result in moving the City forward (in 2024) if Mayor Lucas does the right thing.



There is an on-going Freedom of Speech crisis in Kansas City. But where has the media gone? Gone speechless everyone. Thus, a lone citizen must step forward and inform the public of its right to know along with the possibility for a better future.



For decades, KC's Gov't. has struck down the People's Freedom of Speech (blocked their petitions, undermined their petitions and overturned their petition election). These past violations (of the people's freedom to petition) have now compounded into another violation, Freedom of Speech against the Citizen who initiated those petitions. When a government denies freedom of speech to the people - it fears what the people want. When a government denies freedom of speech to a citizen - it fears what the citizen will say.



2-sides are now moving toward a great (legal) battlefield to see if freedom of speech "can long endure". The infamous incident that triggered this impending Gettysburg involved the City and Mayor Lucas stopping, arresting and (unsuccessfully) prosecuting Lucas' lone political opponent (Chastain) for trying to ask Lucas (during a City Hall hearing-Public Forum) why he refused to debate. Chastain has subsequently filed these charges against Lucas & the City:



#1. United States District Court @ Kansas City alleging 1st & 14th Amendment Constitutional violations.



#2. 16th Circuit Court @ Kansas City alleging malicious arrest & prosecution.



The City did, yet, another bad thing to me. It could prove costly before a jury. But I am far more interested in helping Kansas City than sticking it to City Hall.



Here is how Mayor Lucas can reverse course, end this Cold War & perhaps work with his nemesis for the benefit of Kansas City:



First, the City admits it made mistakes with the petitions and Clay Chastain. The City offers me a reasonable out of court settlement and I withdraw both lawsuits against the City.



Second (this part is up to Lucas himself), Lucas and I make up and he brings me on-board (consulting engineer) to work together with him on a 2024 ballot initiative ("Operation Revival") to not only bring back KC, but also enable KC to be a role model for the Nation.



KC Activist, Clay Chastain

#################



Developing . . .
Again, because holiday season crashes are especially heartbreaking . . .

PLEASE DRIVE CAREFULLY IN THIS LAST WEEK OF THE YEAR!!!

Here's the aftermath report on today's crash . . .



Investigation efforts found a Mack semi was stopped in the "#2" lane of northbound I-435 due to a mechanical issue, according to a spokesperson with KCPD. A Ford F150 was also traveling northbound in the same lane when it struck the rear end of the stopped semi.



The driver of the Ford was pronounced deceased at the scene of the crash, per KCPD. The driver of the semi did not suffer any injuries.



Three northbound lanes of traffic were closed while crews cleared the scene Wednesday afternoon, according to the Missouri Department of Transportation.



Read more via www.TonysKansasCity.com link . . .

Fatal multi-vehicle crash closes 3 northbound lanes of Interstate 435 at Eastwood Trafficway in KCMO A multi-vehicle crash on northbound Interstate 435 at Eastwood Trafficway in Kansas City, Missouri, has left one person dead Wednesday afternoon, according to KCPD.
To be fair . . .

Kansas City's Mayor ALSO seems to be blaming old school talk radio for KC's worst crisis in the history of this town.

Context . . .

Mayor Q has presided over the bloodiest years in Kansas City history and at the conclusion of the 2023 slaughter he's seemingly looking to shift blame to ANYBODY else.

Of course, the newspaper dutifully carries his message without any critical questions . . .



In our deadliest year yet, public safety is still our No. 1 challenge, along with the related issues of local control of and community confidence in the KCPD. But the state-appointed board of police commissioners is working less politically together for the common good now, the mayor says, in a way that at least makes progress more possible. And why is that?



Because, Lucas says, were further removed all the time from the post-George Floyd politics of 2020. Were further away from a time that sucked, and from the tendency to play the politics of the Trump era. That is, to see everything as are you with us or against us in a way that was always preposterous, since I dont know a single Kansas Citian who doesnt want fewer homicides. Im glad were moving away from the somewhat trite debates you might still hear on talk radio but that do nothing to actually help anyone. We hope thats right.

Read more via www.TonysKansasCity.com link . . .
In this collection we check ongoing danger confronting local streets, old school cases resurfacing and the continued conversation regarding KC's historic homicide count.



Check TKC news gathering . . .

Pedestrian hospitalized with life-threatening injuries after hit-and-run in Kansas City A pedestrian was hospitalized after being injured in a hit-and-run on Wednesday in Kansas City, Missouri, police said.

Kansas City matches its deadliest year: 'They don't know the damage it does to the families' Kansas City, Missouri, has met its record for deadliest year, with 182 homicides in 2023. The city's 51st victim, who was killed in April, ran a popular fish restaurant and taco truck, and was a champion pickleball player.

As Kansas City continues seeing record-breaking violence, families reflect on losing loved ones 2023 is on track to being the deadliest year in Kansas City, Missouri's, history with 179 homicides as of Wednesday.

Grandview police suspect alcohol contributed to deadly wrong-way crash The suspect in a deadly wrong-way crash on Sunday hasn't been released. However, Grandview police suspect that alcohol was a contributing factor.

Lenexa police arrest nearly 50 individuals during special operation to combat retail thefts Authorities focused on the area of W. 95th Street and Quivira.

Man suspected of stealing 3 vehicles, 7 other property crimes in custody Noah Meyer, 22, was charged with three counts of tampering with a moto vehicle, two counts of property damage and one count of resisting arrest last week.

Kansas City, Kansas, police ask for help in locating missing blind man last seen Dec. 13 Police in KCK are asking for the public's help in locating a man last seen on Dec. 13. Wilfred Powell, 67, was last seen at the Frank Williams Center in the 1200 block of N 7th Street.

Authorities identify body found in woods as that of missing Clay County teenager A body found in a wooded area of Mosby, Missouri has been identified as a missing 18-year-old from Clay County.

Lenexa police seize two firearms, accessories from two juvenile suspects Two firearms and a high-capacity magazine were recovered by a Lenexa police officer during a night shift.

Gypsy Rose Blanchard released from Missouri prison early in case of abusive mother's murder The Missouri woman persuaded her boyfriend to kill her mother, Dee Dee, after she had forced her daughter to pretend for years that she was suffering from leukemia and other serious illnesses.

Developing . . .
To brighten yet another Winter of our discontent and apropos for #TBT we celebrate Shirley MacLaine during her Hollywood heyday and play a bit of catch-up was we check pop culture, community news and top headlines.

Check TKC news gathering . . .

New KCI FAIL Open Secret

Kansas City International Airport wraps up first holiday travel season at new terminal KCI estimates that by the end of the year, a total of 11.4 million passengers will have passed through the new terminal since its opening on Feb. 28. That's up 17% compared to 2022.

Cowtown Clings To Past

KC seeks firms that could help preserve, display parts of old Buck O'Neil Bridge - Kansas City Business Journal Kansas City and a chosen design team next year could lead a Buck O'Neil Bridge Reuse Program tasked with salvaging and repurposing steel from the 67-year-old structure in public displays after the Missouri Department of Transportation demolishes it in the spring.

First Responder Hero Survives

Kansas City, Missouri, firefighter suffers non-life-threatening injuries in Wednesday night house fire A Kansas City, Missouri, firefighter suffered non-life-threatening while responding to a house fire Wednesday night in Kansas City, Missouri.

Freebie Legal Help Against Rent

A Kansas City program has prevented more than 1,000 evictions since June 2022 The city's Right to Counsel program provides free legal representation to tenants who end up in eviction court. Program leaders say it's working.

Kansas City Kindness Endures

KC Cares: NourishKC delivers on a big promise Courtesy photo You don't have to prove anything to get a hot meal at NourishKC. The organization, located at 750 Paseo Blvd., serves "anyone who walks through our doors." "We are a zero-barrier facility. No questions asked. People don't need to show I.D.

Old School Legend Out & About

Shirley MacLaine shows off colorful fashion sense at lunch in Malibu Shirley MacLaine, 89, showed off her colorful fashion sense in a cream coat and beige cardigan during another lunch outing in Malibu.

Uni-party Debates Old School Wars Rather Than Current Global Conflict

Biden hits Haley over Civil War response President Biden took a swipe at Republican presidential candidate Nikki Haley for failing to mention slavery while responding to a question about the cause of the Civil War. Reposting a video of Haley's response during a town hall in New Hampshire on Wednesday, Biden offered a response on X, the social media platform formerly called...

MAGA Social Outrage Redux

"Illegal": Trump explodes on Truth Social after Jack Smith corners him on Jan. 6 conspiracy theory Trump may be forced to give up key defense argument or be exposed to "perjury-fest bloodbath," legal expert says

Eastern Europe War Forever

With hopes of victory fading, Ukraines war against Russia could get even harder in 2024 At the start of 2023, hopes were high that a much-vaunted Ukrainian counteroffensive  expected to be launched in the spring  would change the dial in the war against Russia.

Holy Land Hot Mess Expands

Israel Gaza war: Israeli minister warns Hezbollah over border fighting Cross-border exchanges of fire have been escalating since Hamas's attacks on Israel on 7 October.

Republican Games 2024 Effectively

Boebert SWITCHES from Colorado's 3rd District to GOP stronghold 4th Lauren Boebert on Wednesday announced she was switching districts, and would not be contesting Colorado's 3rd District - which she won by only 546 votes in 2022.

Cowtown Party Time Exposed

Twelve Things To Do In KC This Weekend, December 28-31 Here are twelve things to do this New Year's Eve weekend in KC, December 28-31, including: the last weekend to experience many holiday shows and pop-ups and multiple New Year's Eve parties across KC.

Older & Likely Wearing Apron

Question of the Week: What will Travis Kelce's role look like in 2024? Kansas City's superstar tight end is facing a career crossroads. How should the team approach it?

Katie's Year End Forecast

Rain and snow moving out this morning, cold and cloudy Thursday A very light rain and snow mix moves out of the metro this morning. After that, it will be cloudy and cold with wind gusts up to 20 mph. There's a low chance of another round of wintery mix tonight.

Billboard #1 in 1993 Duran Duran - Come Undone is our #TBT song of the day and this is the OPEN THREAD for right now.
Kansas public schools are prepping one of the biggest changes to public education in years.



Here's another glimpse at the ongoing discussion . . .



HB 2553 mandates open enrollment starting next school year. It allows a students to transfer to or attend any district in the state.



The Kansas Board of Education and several school districts have expressed concerns. Some parents aren't on board with it either.



"Its a double-edged sword. There are parts of me that think its a wonderful idea; then, I don't know," said a parent in the Olathe School District.

Read more via www.TonysKansasCity.com link . . .
A committee of health ministry experts convened on Thursday to discuss the epidemiological situation in Greece, following a rash of Covid-19 cases and hospital admissions seen in the community in recent weeks, ANA reports.

The experts suggested the observance of protection measures, the use of anti-viral medication where necessary, and vaccination against Covid-19.

Regarding the use of face masks in healthcare facilities and whether this will be made mandatory, a member of the committee said that no such proposal or even recommendation will be made. They pointed out that there is an earlier recommendation to hospitals, which can bring back the use of masks depending on the epidemiological situation.

RELATED TOPICS: Greece, Greek tourism news, Tourism in Greece, Greek islands, Hotels in Greece, Travel to Greece, Greek destinations, Greek travel market, Greek tourism statistics, Greek tourism report

Photo Source: Wikimedia Commons License: CC-BY-SA Copyright: Anytime-V
A fourth suspect has now been arrested and charged in connection with the Dec. 6 stabbing of an off-duty police officer in Scarborough.

Police allege three men and a woman entered a store near McCowan Road and Progress Avenue, selected an item and tried to leave without paying. An off-duty Toronto police officer tried to stop them and was allegedly stabbed by one of the men.

All four suspects then loaded the item into a blue Toyota Sienna minivan and fled in the vehicle, according to police.

The officer was taken to hospital with serious injuries.

Police recently announced that three people were arrested in the case. A 47-year-old Keswick man, a 42-year-old Toronto woman and a 46-year-old Toronto man face charges, including robbery with a weapon and aggravated assault on a peace officer.

On Wednesday, Dec. 27, a fourth suspect was arrested. The 48-year-old Toronto man also faces charges including robbery with a weapon and aggravated assault on a peace officer.

Police are still asking anyone with information on the incident to call 43 Division at 416-808-4300 or Crime Stoppers anonymously at 416-222-TIPS (8477).
ULAN BATOR, Dec. 28 (Xinhua) -- Mongolia has set June 28 as the date for its next regular parliamentary elections, the parliament's press office said Thursday.

The resolution to set the election date was approved by the country's parliament, or the State Great Khural, the press office said in a statement.

In May, the unicameral parliament passed amendments to increase the number of legislators from 76 to 126 to the country's constitution.

Additionally, parliament members will be elected using a mixed electoral system, in which 78 members will be elected by majority representation and 48 by proportional representation. 
Fraud is a huge issue across Canada and the trend appears to be worsening as we look ahead to 2024.

Investment scams alone cost Canadians $161.4 million over the first six months of 2023, according to the Canadian Anti-Fraud Centre.

Scams on the rise

Its not just your typical email phishing scams. Today consumers need to watch out for fraudulent links in online ads, text messages and social media.

You may also receive direct phone calls from fraudulent cryptocurrency companies or service providers, with spoofed caller ID details offering the impression the call is coming from a legitimate agency.

Knowing that once you fall victim to scammers your money is likely gone for good, an ounce of prevention is your best defence.

Back in October, during Cybersecurity Awareness Month, we told you about the most prevalent attacks and how to avoid becoming the next victim.

In addition to investment scams, targeted phishing attacks, known as spear phishing, service scams (including fake ticket scams), romance scams and emergency scams are among the most prevalent schemes draining Canadians bank accounts.

Read more here.

QR code fraud

Also in October, the Canadian Anti-Fraud Centre issued a warning to consumers about fraudulent QR codes. While theyve become ubiquitous in our post-COVID world, QR codes can be used by scammers to redirect payments and defraud sellers posting goods for sale online. They can also be used to steal your personal information.

Read more about QR code fraud here.

Gift card fraud

While your holiday shopping might be done for the year, keep in mind that gift card fraud remains an issue to watch out for. This scam was first highlighted in the Guelph area in late 2022, but remains an issue for todays shoppers. Before you buy, find out how to tell if your gift card has been tampered with by reading this informative article.

12 days of scams

Finally, as we enjoy the holiday season, be aware that fraudsters dont take vacations. Scammers will attempt to steal your money 365 days a year.

With that in mind, the Canadian Anti-Fraud Centre has compiled a list of 12 holiday scams to watch out for.

Read more here.

Resources

If you think you or someone you know has been a victim of fraud, or youve been targeted, youre asked to contact your local police service and the Canadian Anti-Fraud Centre at 1-888-495-8501. You can also file a report online.

In addition to contacting your local police service, you can report financial and investment scams to the Canadian Securities Administrators or to your local securities regulator.

Competition Bureau Canada, in partnership with the Ontario Provincial Police, offers Canadians a comprehensive guide to fraud prevention with The Little Black Book of Scams available online.

As well as reporting financial scams to the Canadian Anti-Fraud Centre, you should alert your bank or financial institution about any suspicious correspondence you receive about your account.

If your credit card has been lost or stolen, credit bureaus can put a fraud alert on your account.

Contact Equifax at 1-800-465-7166 or TransUnion at 1-866-525-0262.
An elderly man is dead after he was hit by a car in North York Wednesday evening (Dec. 27).

The collision took place at Wynford Drive and Wynford Heights Crescent at 7:44 p.m.

"The pedestrian was crossing northbound on Wynford Heights when he was struck by a vehicle heading eastbound," Toronto police Insp. Errol Watson told reporters at the scene. "The pedestrian was transported to the hospital, where he succumbed to his injuries."

The driver remained on scene and was "very co-operative with the police," Watson said, noting the investigation is ongoing.

Police are asking witnesses and those who may have dash camera video footage of the collision to call the traffic services unit at 416-808-1900.
Are you looking for something fun, yet challenging to do on New Year's Day? Polar Bear Dips are planned throughout southern Ontario on Jan. 1, giving participants a chance to commit to their first New Year's resolution of 2024. Many events include a fundraising component, so you can amplify your accomplishment by helping your community.

Here's a list of Polar Bear Dips happening this year.

Oakville

Billed as Canadas largest charity dip, the 39th Courage Polar Bear Dip for World Vision begins at 2 p.m. at Coronation Park (1426 Lakeshore Rd. W.).

The event includes a costume contest at 1 p.m. On-site registration begins at 12:30 p.m. Funds raised this year will support World Vision's WASH water projects in Ethiopia and Zambia, including the construction of safe water points and partnerships with local utilities for piped water delivery to households.

The Courage Polar Bear Dip draws a crowd of hundreds, clad in bikinis and swimsuits, baby New Year costumes and other wacky getups.

Read more about the event at polarbeardip.ca.

Clarington

The Clarington Polar Bear Swim runs from 12:45 to 4 p.m. at Bond Head Beach in Newcastle (5 Boulton St.).

In this event, also known as the Dash of Insanity and the Plunge for Life, swimmers will endure the icy waters of Lake Ontario. The swim is organized by the family of Hollylynn Towie and raises funds to support autistic adults in Durham Region.

The registration fee is $30. Spectators are welcome to attend for free. Participants are invited to come early for registration and to enjoy food and music. More than $20,900 was raised by 185 supporters last year.

See more here.

Toronto

The 2024 Polar Bear Dip, presented by Access Storage, is held at Sunnyside Park, 1755 Lakeshore Blvd. W. On-site check-in begins at 10 a.m. with the dip at noon. Theres a registration fee of $30, with all funds supporting the Child & Youth Advocacy Centre.

The 2024 fundraising goal is $40,000 to help children and teens who have experienced abuse and violence and to keep them safe from harm. The event has raised more than $1 million for Toronto charities since 2005.

Registration closes Dec. 31 at 8 p.m.

Read more here.

Hamilton

The New Years Day Polar Bear Dip is an informal event held annually at 1 p.m. behind Hutchs on the Beach, 280 Van Wagners Beach Rd.

Start the New Year off right with a cold plunge into Lake Ontario and gain the satisfaction of knowing youve accomplished something difficult on the very first day of 2024. Be sure to bring a towel, a warm change of clothes and some water shoes.

Keep in mind that Hutchs on the Beach is not affiliated with this event and the restaurant is closed on New Years Day.

Barrie

Visit Barries Centennial Beach for the 5th annual New Years Polar Bear Dip, in support of the Barrie Food Bank, Simcoe Muskoka Regional Cancer Centre and the Heart and Stroke Foundation.

Participants are asked to make online donations to these organizations or bring non-perishable food donations for the Barrie Food Bank.

Swimmers will meet at Centennial Beach, beside the public washroom building at the centre of the park, before the dip into icy Kempenfelt Bay, which takes place at noon.

Washrooms are unavailable for changing before or after your dip, so be sure to have a plan to get warm and dry after the event.

Read more here.

Grand Valley

The Grand Valley Polar Bear Dip begins at 1 p.m. with registration at noon in Stuckey Park on Mill Street East.

Organized by the Grand Valley Lions Club, the event is open to anyone, with dippers as young as eight taking part last year.

Participants are asked to collect a minimum of $20 in pledges, with all proceeds directed to the Grand Valley Food Bank.

See more here.

Perth

The Perth Polar Bear Plunge is one of the best-known New Years events in Perth, Lanark and surrounding communities.

This years event supports Rural FASD (Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder), a network dedicated to helping individuals and families impacted by FASD.

The 30th anniversary of the Perth Polar Bear Plunge begins at 8 a.m. at Royal Canadian Legion Branch 244 (26 Beckwith St. E.)

Read more here.
Have you ever heard about the Rainbow Mountains in China? You might think you know what a mountain looks like, but the Rainbow Mountains will completely redefine that image. Located in the Zhangye Danxia Landform Geological Park, these mountains are a stunning display of nature's artistry.

It is fascinating how millions of years have shaped not just the landscape but also the very palette of these mountains.

How Did The Rainbow Mountains Form?

The Rainbow Mountains in China are a breathtaking sight, shaped over millions of years. Initially, these mountains were flat layers of sand and silt, mixed with iron and other minerals, which are crucial for their vibrant colors. About 55 million years ago, a massive shift occurred when the Indian Plate collided with the Eurasian Plate. This colossal event folded the once flat layers into the stunning peaks we see today.

According to Forbes, this dramatic change also lifted the mountains, revealing the colorful sandstones that were buried deep beneath the earth's surface. The diverse colors we marvel at are due to the weathering and erosion of these rocks. Groundwater moving through the sandstone left behind trace minerals, which cemented the sand grains together. This process gave the mountains their unique hues.

The dominant red color comes from iron oxide, similar to rust forming on metal. It's this natural process that gives the Rainbow Mountains their unforgettable appearance.

Read Also: This Abandoned Fishing Village In China Is An Eerie Example Of A World Without Humans

Best Times to Visit

Timing is everything when it comes to experiencing the Rainbow Mountains at their best. The colors reach their peak vibrancy after rainfall or as the sun sets. During these times, the hues become more saturated, creating an even more mesmerizing scene. If you plan your visit during these times, you are in for an unforgettable sight.

Also, Zhangye Travel shared that from June to September, you will find Zhangye's summer to be quite pleasant with its cool weather and plentiful water. This is the perfect time for you to experience the breathtaking sunrises and sunsets at Rainbow Mountains in China, as it's comfortably warm. However, if you plan to visit in winter, be prepared for a different scenario. The weather turns windy, cold, and dry, making it a challenging time for outdoor sightseeing at the Rainbow Mountain.

Short Tips for an Unforgettable Journey

To make the most of your visit, here are a few tips. First, wear comfortable shoes as there is a bit of walking involved. Also, do not forget your camera - you will want to capture every moment. Additionally, consider hiring a local guide. They can offer insights into the history and science behind these incredible formations.

The Rainbow Mountains are a must-see for anyone who appreciates the beauty of nature. Their vivid colors and impressive geological history offer a unique and awe-inspiring experience. When you stand amidst these colorful peaks, it is not hard to feel a deep connection with the planet and an appreciation for its natural wonders. So, why wait? Plan your visit to the Rainbow Mountains and witness the spectacular colors of nature's masterpiece.

Related Article: First-Time Traveler in Banff, Canada? Here's What You Can See and Do During Your Visit


Search News Archive : Fast Travel News Promotion Via Search, Social Media + Email Follow Us On : SURREY'S PREMIER EVENT MANAGEMENT COMPANY UNVEILS NEW SERVICES Industry: Events

Surrey's leading Event Management Company expands its services, offering innovative and personalized event solutions.



(TRAVPR.COM) UNITED KINGDOM - December 28th, 2023 - Surrey, UK - Surrey's renowned Event Management Company has proudly announced an expansion of its bespoke event planning and management services. With a deep commitment to transforming ordinary events into extraordinary experiences, this Surrey-based company has been the go-to choice for those seeking to create memorable occasions.



At the heart of Surrey's bustling event scene, this Event Management Company stands out for its meticulous attention to detail, creativity, and unparalleled customer service. Whether it's a lavish wedding, a corporate gathering, or a special birthday bash, their team of experienced professionals ensures every event is flawlessly executed.



"Our passion is crafting unique events that resonate with our clients' visions," says the company spokesperson. "We understand that each event is a reflection of our client's personality and aspirations, which is why we go above and beyond to deliver perfection."



Recent client testimonials highlight the company's ability to transform venues into enchanting settings. From elegant floral arrangements to innovative lighting designs, every element is thoughtfully curated to enhance the overall experience.



In addition to traditional event planning services, the company has introduced several new offerings, including virtual event management and eco-friendly event solutions. Recognizing the evolving nature of events in today's world, these services cater to a broader audience, ensuring everyone has access to top-tier event management, regardless of their location or environmental concerns.



"We're not just about creating events; we're about creating experiences that leave a lasting impact," the spokesperson adds. "Our commitment to sustainability and embracing new technologies like virtual event platforms demonstrates our dedication to staying ahead in the industry."



As part of their community engagement efforts, the company regularly collaborates with local vendors and suppliers, boosting the local economy and fostering a sense of community spirit.



For those interested in experiencing the magic of this Event Management Company Surrey, personal consultations can be arranged by contacting them at 07956 505 451. Their team is eager to discuss your event needs and brainstorm ideas to make your next event a resounding success.



In conclusion, Surrey's Event Management Company continues to set the standard for exceptional event planning and management. With a blend of traditional elegance and modern innovation, they are poised to bring any event vision to life. As they expand their services, their commitment to excellence and customer satisfaction remains unwavering, solidifying their position as leaders in the event management industry.



For more information, please visit https://www.e2eevents.co.uk/ or contact the team directly at 07956 505 451 to start planning your unforgettable event. ### Please contact the person or company listed above for information regarding the content of this press release. TravPR.com are not the issuers of this press release and are not responsible for the accuracy of the content. Share Release :



CONTACT INFORMATION Name: Event Management Company: E2E Events Phone: 7956505451 Email: solaranels1@reliable-mail.com Web: PRESS RELEASE TAGS
ISLAMABAD, Dec. 28 (Xinhua) -- Pakistani experts said on Thursday that countries around the globe, including Pakistan, need to form holistic and dynamic solutions to address the challenge of climate change.

The international community must work hand in hand to save future generations from the adverse impact of climate change, the experts and officials said during a seminar on climate change organized by the Sustainable Development Policy Institute (SDPI), an Islamabad-based think tank.

Speaking on the occasion, Muhammad Farooq, a senior official at the Ministry of Climate Change, said that Pakistan is one of the most climate-vulnerable countries in the world.

"Pakistan is losing 8 percent of its gross domestic product (GDP) due to climate-recurring catastrophes, including floods and heat waves, and it has crossed the tipping point of the climate crisis and entered into a new normal," the official said.

He said that the federal government, in coordination with provinces, has been taking steps to avert the negative impacts of climate change amid the rising magnitude of climate catastrophes in the country, highlighting that adaptation cells have been created at federal and provincial levels in this regard.

Mentioning the development of the baseline data based on modern techniques, Farooq said that the Multi-Hazard Vulnerability and Risk Assessment is being done for high-resolution climate data.

Amina Maharjan, an agricultural expert and senior specialist of livelihoods and migration at the International Center for Integrated Mountain Development, called for a futuristic approach to address shortcomings hampering climate-resilient development.

"There are methods to explore future pathways in terms of foresight, scenario development, development of efficient strategies and understanding foresight beyond predictions," she said.

On anticipatory approaches, it is required to have systems capable of working out disaster risk reduction, climate change anticipatory adaptation and foresight models, Shafqat Munir, deputy executive director at SDPI, said.

Munir said that the government should also focus on sensitizing communities and individuals about the climate change issue.

The experts agreed that the government and policymakers should come up with an inclusive approach to meet the exacerbating climate crisis. 
Two Ukrainian women were injured in a road accident in the Turkish province of Sakarya on Thursday, December 28.

Ukrainian Foreign Ministry spokesperson Oleh Nikolenko told this to Ukrinform.

"Two Ukrainian women were injured in a road accident in the Turkish province of Sakarya. There is no threat to their lives. The victims received the necessary medical assistance," Nikolenko said.

He added that Ukraine's Consulate General in Istanbul was providing consular assistance to the affected citizens and interacting with the provincial security department and the gendarmerie command to clarify all the circumstances of the accident.

At least ten people were killed and 59 others injured in the accident.
Ukraine has launched the Ukrainian Embassy in Accra, the capital of Ghana.

This was announced by the Minister of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine Dmytro Kuleba, Ukrinform reported, citing the press service of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

"Last year, President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelensky set the Ukrainian diplomatic service the task to open new embassies in Africa. I am pleased to announce that the first of them has already started working in Ghana. We will continue to open the next ones. This is part of our strategy of developing relations with African countries, the Ukrainian-African renaissance, and countering Russian influence in the world. Expanding our diplomatic presence will also open up new opportunities for the Ukrainian state, business and citizens," the minister said.

Read also: Ukraine invites Tunisia to join efforts in implementing Peace Formula

He informed that until the ambassador is appointed, the Ukrainian Embassy in Ghana will operate at the level of a charge d'affaires. The institution will carry out a full range of functions: develop political contacts, strengthen economic ties, and provide consular services for Ukrainians and Ghanaians.

According to Kuleba, Rwanda, Mozambique, and Botswana will be the next countries to raise the Ukrainian flag over new Ukrainian embassies.

In total, Ukraine plans to open ten new embassies in Africa.

Read also: Kuleba explains role of diplomats in ensuring joint arms production for Ukraine

As reported, Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba has selected 16 candidates for the positions of ambassadors of Ukraine, most of whom have already been submitted to President Volodymyr Zelensky for consideration.
At Vilnius Airport, a Lithuanian national sporting a logo of Russias notorious Wagner Group on his backpack was fined and barred from his flight.

This was reported by DELFI, Ukrinform saw.

The incident was first reported on social media before the spokesman for the Lithuanian Airports operator, Tadas Vasiliauskas, said that the individual in question and his luggage had been thoroughly examined and no items dangerous for air travel were found. However, airport security officials called up the police and border guards because of the Wagner Group symbol.

The spokesman for the Border Guard Service, Giedrius Misutis, said the Lithuanian national was set to fly to London but eventually was denied boarding the plane for displaying prohibited symbols.

"During the ID check, border guards took him to their office, drew up a report on an administrative offense under Article 524. (displaying Nazi, communist, and other prohibited symbols). After paperwork routine is completed, he will be released," Misutis noted.

As Ukrinform reported earlier, a participant in an anti-government demonstration was given a conditional sentence in the Czech Republic for wearing a Wagner Group patch.

Photo: www.delfi.lt
BEIJING, Dec. 28 (Xinhua) -- A Chinese foreign ministry spokesperson said Thursday that China welcomes and supports other countries and telecom companies in laying international undersea cables in waters under China's jurisdiction. China encourages such collaboration between Chinese companies and their foreign counterparts.

In response to a media query, spokesperson Mao Ning told a daily news briefing that undersea cables are critical infrastructure for global data flow and carry around 99 percent of the world's intercontinental communications traffic. They are the most important type of information carrier in international communications.

Over the years, China has enhanced international exchanges and cooperation in cyberspace and actively advanced undersea cables and other types of global information infrastructure, Mao noted.

China has implemented the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea in letter and in spirit, and issued the Sea Areas Administration Law, the Marine Environment Protection Law, the Provisions Governing the Laying of Submarine Cables and Pipelines, the Provisions Governing the Protection of Submarine Cables and Pipelines and other relevant laws and regulations, Mao said.

China will continue to work with the international community to strengthen bilateral, regional and international dialogue and cooperation, actively advance global information infrastructure including undersea cables, jointly protect the cables, and boost global digital connectivity, Mao said.

"We will jointly build a fairer and more equitable, secure, stable and vibrant cyberspace and a community with a shared future in cyberspace," she added. 
For prospective international undergraduates eyeing U.S. colleges, weaving a study abroad experience into their academic journey can be a transformative decision.

As these students weigh their options, the choice between direct enrollment and affiliate programs becomes a critical factor. Let's delve into four key considerations guiding international students through this decision-making process.

1. Structured vs. Unstructured Programs

The first decision revolves around program structure. Affiliate programs offer a structured approach, managing aspects like visa assistance, travel arrangements, and accommodations. In contrast, direct enrollment provides a more unstructured experience, allowing students to shape their adventure, find accommodations, and explore the local culture independently. The decision often aligns with the student's preference for independence or the desire for additional support.

Susan Popko, Associate Provost for International Programs at Santa Clara University, notes, "Students choose those programs which best fit their academic needs." The choice between structured and unstructured programs hinges on personal preferences and the level of independence a student seeks.

READ ALSO: International College Students' Comprehensive Guide To Socializing In The US

2. Language Fluency

Language fluency emerges as a crucial factor influencing the decision between direct enrollment and affiliate programs. Direct enrollment programs typically have stricter language requirements, requiring students to prove their proficiency through various means. On the other hand, affiliate programs, especially those catering to U.S. or international students, may conduct courses exclusively in English.

Amy Ruhter McMillan, Senior Associate Vice President of Global Marketing and Strategic Communications at IES Abroad, suggests that language considerations are less stringent today due to the availability of content courses in English. However, direct enrollment still offers more opportunities to immerse oneself in the host country's language, enhancing language skills while pursuing major-specific courses.

3. Cost and Timing

Understanding the financial implications is essential for international students. Affiliate programs often come with a higher price tag, encompassing services like continuous assessment, U.S.-style syllabi, and field trips. On average, study abroad programs globally cost around $14,295 per semester through affiliate programs, according to GoAbroad.com. In contrast, direct enrollment tends to be more cost-effective, with students paying fees directly to the host institution.

Kathleen Sideli, Former Associate Vice President for Overseas Study at Indiana University, emphasizes the availability of financial aid for international students, irrespective of their choice between affiliate or direct enrollment. Scholarship opportunities and financial aid can significantly alleviate the financial burden associated with studying abroad.

4. The Visa Process

Navigating the visa process is a critical step for international students planning to study abroad. Both direct enrollment and affiliate programs require a thorough understanding of visa requirements. Schools often conduct visa workshops to prepare students, as the process can be time-consuming and subject to frequent changes.

Susan Popko advises international students to commence the visa application process early, acknowledging that visa requirements can vary based on nationality and the chosen study abroad destination. Maintaining F-1 visa status is crucial for international students studying abroad, with the Department of Homeland Security stipulating potential consequences for extended stays outside the U.S.

The decision between direct enrollment and affiliate programs is a nuanced one, influenced by personal preferences, academic goals, and financial considerations. International students should engage with study abroad advisers, leverage available resources, and plan meticulously to ensure a seamless and enriching experience. As the global classroom beckons, making an informed decision will pave the way for a transformative and culturally immersive academic journey.

RELATED ARTICLE: New Reports Show Rapid Growth Of International Students In US
An injured man is transferred to a hospital near Nuseirat Refugee Camp, central Gaza Strip, on Dec. 28, 2023. The number of Palestinian deaths due to Israel's attacks on the Gaza Strip has risen to 21,320 with 55,603 injured, said the Gaza Health Ministry on Thursday. (Xinhua)

GAZA, Dec. 28 (Xinhua) -- The number of Palestinian deaths due to Israel's attacks on the Gaza Strip has risen to 21,320 with 55,603 injured, said the Gaza Health Ministry on Thursday.

The ministry's spokesman Ashraf al-Qedra said in a statement that at least 210 people have been killed in Gaza over the past 24 hours.

He noted that the Israeli army deliberately targeted 104 ambulances and 142 health institutions in the Strip, calling on international institutions to intervene to protect health institutions and restart the disabled hospitals.

Meanwhile, the Hamas media office in Gaza announced two journalists were killed on Thursday in Israeli raids, bringing the total number of journalists killed to 105 since Oct. 7. 

An injured girl is treated at a hospital near Nuseirat Refugee Camp, central Gaza Strip, on Dec. 28, 2023. The number of Palestinian deaths due to Israel's attacks on the Gaza Strip has risen to 21,320 with 55,603 injured, said the Gaza Health Ministry on Thursday. (Xinhua)

An injured girl is treated at a hospital near Nuseirat Refugee Camp, central Gaza Strip, on Dec. 28, 2023. The number of Palestinian deaths due to Israel's attacks on the Gaza Strip has risen to 21,320 with 55,603 injured, said the Gaza Health Ministry on Thursday. (Xinhua)

An injured man is transferred to a hospital near Nuseirat Refugee Camp, central Gaza Strip, on Dec. 28, 2023. The number of Palestinian deaths due to Israel's attacks on the Gaza Strip has risen to 21,320 with 55,603 injured, said the Gaza Health Ministry on Thursday. (Xinhua)

An injured girl is treated at a hospital near Nuseirat Refugee Camp, central Gaza Strip, on Dec. 28, 2023. The number of Palestinian deaths due to Israel's attacks on the Gaza Strip has risen to 21,320 with 55,603 injured, said the Gaza Health Ministry on Thursday. (Xinhua)
For international students eyeing the prospect of studying in the U.S., the dream is often tinged with financial concerns.

Beyond the usual expenses of tuition, fees, and living costs, additional hurdles such as visa application fees and international airfare loom large. However, there are avenues for mitigating these costs, and understanding the landscape of financial aid is key to unlocking opportunities for international students. Here's a comprehensive guide on navigating financial aid as an international student.

Types of Financial Aid Available

Unlike their domestic counterparts, international students do not qualify for federal or state aid in the U.S. Typically relying on personal and international financial resources, they seek financial support at the institutional level. While federal aid is off the table, institutions may offer grants and scholarships to eligible international students. However, experts note that funding for international students is often more limited.

READ ALSO: These Largest Universities Are Considered The Giants Of Higher Education

Merit Aid Opportunities

Institutions like Howard University provide merit-based aid through programs like the Howard University Freshman Scholarships. International students at Howard may not be eligible for need-based aid in their first year, but merit aid offers a valuable avenue for financial assistance. It is crucial for students to ensure accurate coding with their international office to avoid potential discrepancies.

Private Loans and Caution Against Debt

International students also have the option of taking out private loans, although financial aid experts caution against excessive debt. Mandee Heller Adler, a certified educational planner, suggests considering countries with lower tuition rates, such as the U.K., as a viable alternative to accumulating significant debt.

Application Process for Financial Aid

Prospective international students may be required to fill out the International Student Financial Aid Application (ISFAA) or the CSS Profile, especially for private colleges. Some universities may have their own specific forms. In rare cases, schools may request the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA), but this requires submitting the form on paper due to the lack of a Social Security number for online submission.

Challenges and Considerations

While financial aid offers a lifeline, international students face challenges due to limited funding allocated for them. Many institutions prioritize U.S. citizens, given the constraints of federal aid availability. Need-aware admissions processes may also impact acceptance decisions based on financial considerations.

Advice for International Students

Experts advocate considering colleges beyond the widely recognized names and exploring options that prioritize international diversity. Mandee Heller Adler recommends looking beyond comfort zones and considering colleges in less conventional locations, as these institutions often offer unique opportunities and financial aid packages.

Joanna May, Vice President for Enrollment at Smith College, advises against dismissing private colleges in favor of public ones solely for perceived cost advantages. Private colleges, she notes, may provide more affordable options with significant financial aid, even surpassing the affordability of in-state public universities.

While financial aid options for international students may have limitations, strategic choices and a willingness to explore diverse college options can open doors to more affordable education in the U.S. Navigating the complexities of financial aid is a crucial step in ensuring that the dream of studying in the U.S. remains an accessible and realistic goal for international students.

RELATED ARTICLE: 15 US Colleges That Offer Low Costs For International Students
In a concerted effort to shape the future of education, the Joint Research Centre (JRC) forecasts that at least 45% of individuals aged 25-34 in Europe will achieve graduation by 2030.

This ambitious target is part of the strategic framework for European collaboration in education and training, adopted in February 2021. However, as the JRC envisions a significant surge in higher education graduates, there are challenges and uncertainties that each member state must navigate on the journey to these educational milestones.

European Aspirations and Varied Trajectories

The 45% graduation target is not a uniform goal across all member states. Some countries, such as Greece, Ireland, Poland, and Sweden, have already achieved the benchmark of less than 9% early leavers from education and training. In contrast, Spain, Italy, and Hungary are grappling with higher levels of early school abandonment and face an uphill battle to meet the 2030 targets.

READ ALSO: UN Flags Opportunity To Transform French Educational Inequality Into Catalyst For Progress

Impact of COVID-19 and Geopolitical Events

Contrary to initial concerns, the COVID-19 pandemic did not exert significant short-term impacts on early leavers and tertiary education attainment. However, the JRC's report underlines that ongoing disruptions from the pandemic may have both positive and negative effects on educational outcomes in EU countries. Moreover, the geopolitical landscape, specifically Russia's invasion of Ukraine, introduces a new dimension of uncertainty.

The invasion has led to a surge in Ukrainian students seeking refuge in EU education systems, notably impacting nations like Poland and the Czech Republic. Fleeing the ravages of war, these students face unique challenges that elevate the risk of dropping out of education, potentially affecting the attainment of educational targets.

Forecasting Under the "No Policy Change" Hypothesis

The JRC's forecasts for early leavers and tertiary education attainment are based on a "no policy change" hypothesis. This assumption projects the trends of these indicators in the absence of any future alterations in the policy actions of member states. The report uses data up to 2019 from 18 EU countries, offering a comprehensive perspective on the educational landscape.

Beyond Graduation: Diverse Educational Objectives

While the 45% graduation target is a centerpiece, the EU has broader educational objectives for 2030. The union aims to limit the percentage of 15-year-olds classified as low-achievers in reading, mathematics, and science to less than 15%. Similarly, the goal is to ensure that less than 15% of eighth-graders fall into the category of low-achievers in computer and information literacy.

Furthermore, the EU aspires to achieve the participation of at least 96% of children aged three to the starting age of compulsory primary education in early childhood education and care. These objectives reflect a comprehensive vision for nurturing well-rounded and academically proficient individuals.

Challenges and Opportunities for Member States

The educational landscape in Europe is diverse, with member states facing distinct challenges and opportunities. Successful navigation toward the 2030 targets requires tailored strategies that address the unique circumstances of each country. As some nations celebrate achieving early leaver benchmarks, others must redouble efforts to create an inclusive and supportive educational environment.

As Europe charts its educational course for the next decade, collaboration, adaptability, and innovative policies will be critical. The 2030 targets serve as beacons guiding member states toward a shared vision of a highly educated and skilled populace. With the challenges of geopolitical events and ongoing global disruptions, the journey becomes more complex, emphasizing the need for a collective commitment to shaping the educational future of the continent.

RELATED ARTICLE: Exploring The Oldest Universities That Still Shape Education Today
The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) has filed a lawsuit against Grand Canyon University, its parent company, and its CEO, accusing them of deceiving prospective doctoral students regarding program costs, requirements, and the university's tax status. The legal action claims that Grand Canyon misrepresented itself as a nonprofit institution, violating federal rules against deceptive telemarketing practices.

Deceptive Practices and Nonprofit Status Dispute

The FTC's lawsuit alleges that Grand Canyon University, despite presenting itself as a nonprofit, has been operated for the profit of Grand Canyon Education, the for-profit company providing marketing services to the university. The legal dispute also extends to the university's tax status, with ongoing challenges over its conversion to nonprofit status. The IRS recognizes Grand Canyon as a nonprofit, but the Education Department's approval is pending.

READ ALSO: Harvard President Claudine Gay Faces Plagiarism Allegations, House Committee Demands Answers

Financial Ties and Leadership Structure

The lawsuit highlights financial ties between Grand Canyon University and Grand Canyon Education. The university reportedly pays 60% of its revenue to Grand Canyon Education, and Brian Mueller, the university's president, is also the CEO and a stockholder of the for-profit company. The FTC claims that Grand Canyon University is the primary revenue source for Grand Canyon Education.

Alleged Violations and Deceptive Telemarketing

The FTC accuses both entities of violating federal rules against deceptive telemarketing practices. The alleged violations include contacting individuals on the National Do Not Call Registry and reaching out to those who requested not to be contacted by the university. The lawsuit contends that Grand Canyon University and Grand Canyon Education provided understated cost estimates for completing the university's accelerated doctoral programs.

Ongoing Legal Battles and University Response

Grand Canyon University has been embroiled in legal battles, including a current $37.7 million fine related to the advertising of doctoral program costs. In October, the Education Department accused the university of misleading over 7,500 students about program costs, stating that their degree program would range from $40,000 to $49,000. The department argued that the figures did not account for the continuation courses required to complete the dissertation program, leading to a misleading representation.

Responding to the recent FTC lawsuit, Grand Canyon University released a statement characterizing the action as another instance of the Biden administration using federal agencies to target institutions ideologically opposed to them. The university asserted its lawful recognition as a nonprofit by the IRS, the State of Arizona, and the Higher Learning Commission.

Complexities Surrounding Educational Targets and Financial Disputes

This legal development adds another layer of complexity to Grand Canyon University's ongoing disputes, encompassing its tax status, program advertising, and now allegations of deceptive practices. As the legal battles unfold, questions regarding the university's leadership structure, financial arrangements, and compliance with federal regulations come to the forefront. The outcome of these legal proceedings could have implications not only for Grand Canyon but also for how educational institutions navigate financial relationships and communicate with prospective students.

In conclusion, the intersection of legal challenges, financial intricacies, and regulatory compliance places Grand Canyon University in a spotlight that extends beyond its campus. As the FTC pursues allegations of deceptive practices, the case raises broader discussions about transparency, accountability, and the responsibilities of educational institutions to accurately represent their offerings to students. The legal outcome will likely influence the landscape of higher education, emphasizing the need for institutions to uphold ethical standards in their interactions with students and the public.

RELATED ARTICLE: US Education Department Investigates Alleged Discrimination At George Mason University And UNC-Chapel Hill
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Washington, (UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 28th Dec, 2023) A Federal court handed Apple a victory on Wednesday by suspending a ban on the US sale of its latest watch models in a feud over patents with health company Masimo.

"We are thrilled to return the full Apple Watch lineup to customers in time for the new year," an Apple spokesperson said in an email to AFP.

"Apple Watch Series 9 and Apple Watch Ultra 2, including the blood oxygen feature, will become available for purchase again in the United States at Apple Stores starting today and from apple.com tomorrow by 12 pm (2000 GMT)," the email added.

The ban on certain Apple smartwatch models came into effect Tuesday, after US President Joe Biden's administration opted not to veto a ruling on the patent infringements.

But the federal court said the ban order would not take effect pending its consideration of whether to allow a pause on the ban throughout the full appeal process.

After a complaint by Masimo, the United States International Trade Commission (ITC) decided in October to ban Apple Watch models over a patented technology for detecting blood-oxygen levels.

Masimo contends it invented the technology and that Apple poached key employees to win access to the know-how.

Apple last week paused its US sales of Apple Watch Series 9 and Apple Watch Ultra 2 in compliance with the order.

But the iPhone-maker contends that the ITC finding was in error and should be reversed, and appealed the decision in the federal appeals court.

Masimo declined to comment on the development. Apple did not immediately reply to a query from AFP.
ISLAMABAD, (UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 28th Dec, 2023) Foreign Minister Jalil Abbas Jilani on Thursday said the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Pakistans missions abroad would continue to promote the countrys external relations and protect its interests at the global level.

The foreign minister expressed these views in a year-end interaction with the beat reporters at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

FM Jilani gave a roundup of the achievements, made by Pakistan in the domain of global foreign policy and highlighted the high-level visits of the leadership that led to the strengthening of ties with key States.

A Fateha was offered for the soul of former foreign secretary Riaz Khokhar who passed away in Islamabad on Wednesday.

Foreign Office spokesperson Mumtaz Zahra Baloch, media persons from newspapers and television, foreign correspondents, and officials of the ministry, attended the interaction.
ISLAMABAD, (UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 28th Dec, 2023) Pakistan and Iran on Thursday emphasized the importance of mutual cooperation in trade and economic sectors, especially in the scope of ECO organization, corridor from East to West, bilateral cooperation on the ports and

expansion of relations between two brotherly countries.

During a meeting between Caretaker Federal Minister for Information, Broadcasting and Parliamentary Affairs Murtaza Solangi and Iranian Ambassador to Pakistan Reza Amiri Moghadam, multiple important issues, including cooperation

in the fields of media, exchange of cultural delegations, bilateral trade relations, Iran Expo 2024, were discussed.

The minister and Ambassador expressed the willingness on the part of both countries to explore opportunities for promoting bilateral relations.

Minister for Information Murtaza Solangi said that Pakistan valued the brotherly relations with Iran as both were bound by deep religious, cultural and linguistic relations.

"Cooperation between the two countries in the fields of media is the need of the hour," Murtaza Solangi said adding

Pakistan was keen to promote cooperation with Iran in the fields of film and drama.

He said a memorandum of understanding has already been signed between the Associated Press of Pakistan and

the Islamic Republic news Agency (IRNA). Additionally, Pakistan Electronic Media Regulatory Authority (PEMRA) and Iran's Audio Visual Media Regulatory Authority (SATRA) and the Directorate of Electronic Media and Publications,

Pakistan Television and Iran's audiovisual and cinema sector, had been working on the MoUs to promote bilateral cooperation, he added.

They agreed to expedite the process of agreement between Pakistan Television Corporation and Islamic Republic of Iran Broadcasting.

The visit of Iran's cultural delegation to Pakistan was also discussed in the meeting.

The minister said that the visit of Iran's cultural delegation to Pakistan was welcome since these visits would promote cultural relations between the two countries.

The Cultural delegation of Iran would be visiting media houses, press clubs and other cultural institutions of Pakistan, he added.

The Ambassador of Iran informed the minister about the opening of Bureau Office of Islamic Republic of Iran Broadcasting in Islamabad.

The Bureau Office of the Islamic Republic of Iran Broadcasting will start its working in the third week of January next year, he added.

The establishment of the Bureau office of the Islamic Republic of Iran Broadcasting would further promote cooperation in the field of information between the two countries, Mortaza Solangi said.

He said several such agreements were under discussion to enhance cooperation between television, films, cinema, literary and linguistic institutions with Iran.

"These agreements will help to present our culture and traditions in true light", he added.

The Minister also informed the Iranian Ambassador about the steps regarding the upcoming elections in Pakistan.

The Primary mandate of the caretaker government, he added, was to assist in the electoral process.

Conducting fair, transparent and impartial elections was the priority of the government which was providing all possible facilities to the Election Commission of Pakistan in this regard.

The Iranian ambassador appreciated the caretaker government's resolve to hold fair, transparent and impartial elections in Pakistan.

Discussion regarding Iran Expo 2024 was also held in the meeting.

Iran Expo 2024 is an important opportunity to promote trade relations between the two countries as Pakistan was determined to work with Iran to promote mutual economic relations.

Iran Expo 2024 will provide a dynamic platform for businesses from both countries, the Iranian ambassador said.

APP/ mhn-nvd
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Beirut, (APP - UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 28th Dec, 2023) An Israeli strike in south Lebanon killed a Hezbollah fighter, the group said Wednesday, as state media reported two of his relatives were also killed in retaliation.

The border between Lebanon and Israel has seen escalating exchanges of fire, mainly between the Israeli army and Hamas ally Hezbollah, since the Israel-Hamas war began on October 7, raising fears of a broader conflagration.

"Enemy warplanes raided, before midnight (2200 GMT), a house... in the centre of the town of Bint Jbeil," around two kilometres (a little over a mile) from the border, killing a man, his brother and his wife, Lebanon's National news Agency (NNA) said.

The NNA identified the dead as Ali Bazzi, his brother Ibrahim and his wife Shourouk Hammoud, and said another family member was wounded.

Hezbollah later announced that Ali Bazzi was one of its fighters.

A relative told AFP that Ibrahim Bazzi was an Australian citizen who had flown in for a visit about a week earlier.

The Australian government said two Australian citizens had been killed in the airstrike, without identifying them by name.

Australia's attorney general, Mark Dreyfus, urged Australians to leave Lebanon while commercial flights were still operating.

At the funeral procession in Bint Jbeil on Wednesday, an AFP photographer saw three coffins draped in Hezbollah flags.
Monrovia, (APP - UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 28th Dec, 2023) More than 40 people were feared dead when a tanker truck exploded after crashing in central Liberia, the country's chief medical officer told local media on Wednesday.

The tanker carrying gasoline crashed and tipped into a ditch along a road in Totota, about 130 kilometres (80 miles) from the capital Monrovia.

Dr Francis Kateh told local broadcaster Super Bongese tv it was difficult to determine the number of victims because some had been reduced to ashes but he estimated that more than 40 people were killed in the incident.

"We have our team going from home to home to check those that are missing," he told AFP.

Police earlier put the death toll at 15 and said at least 30 people were injured as locals gathered at the scene.

"There were lots of people that got burned," said Prince B.

Mulbah, deputy inspector general for the Liberia National Police.

Another police officer, Malvin Sackor, said that after the crash, some locals had begun to take the leaking gas when the tanker exploded, killing some and wounding others.

He said that the police were still gathering the total number of injured and killed.

An eyewitness from Totota, Aaron Massaquoi, told AFP that "people climbed all on top of the truck taking the gas, while some of them had irons hitting the tanker for it to burst for them to get gas."

"People were all around the truck and the driver of the truck told them that the gas that was spilling they could take that," Massaquoi said.

"He told them not to climb on top of the tanker and that they should stop hitting the tanker.... but some people were even using screwdrivers to put holes on the tank."
RIYADH, (APP - UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 28th Dec, 2023) US Ambassador to the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia Michael Ratney has visited the Ministry of Interior's exhibition "Security Oasis" at King Abdulaziz Camel Festival, which is being held in Al-Sayahid, north of Riyadh region, until the end of December 2023.

Ambassador Ratney toured the pavalions, exploring the security sectors, acquainting himself with the efforts of the ministry in maintaining security.

He was also briefed on the ministry's key developmental projects, technology investments, and the implementation of artificial intelligence applications and digital solutions to uphold public safety.

The U.S. ambassador also learned about the individual, business, and government sectors through "Absher" platform, enhancing traffic safety. Moreover, he reviewed technologies and mechanisms in both the security and environmental systems, as well as the live shooting experiences in a specialized field, and gained insights into the handling of weapons.
AMMAN, Dec. 28 (Xinhua) -- The Jordan Chamber of Commerce and the Transport Ministry on Thursday agreed to form a joint committee to monitor shipping safety in the Red Sea and other developments in the key waterway.

Members of the committee include those from the Jordan Chamber of Commerce, Jordan Maritime Union, Logistics Union, and Clearance Companies Union, as well as the Freight Transport Union, the state-run Al Mamlaka TV reported.

The committee is formed to unify efforts and address technical issues to overcome any obstacles related to maritime shipping, it reported.

Speaking at a meeting of the Jordan Chamber of Commerce, Minister of Transport Wesam Al Tahtamouni said that supply chains to the port of Aqaba remain intact, but the challenge lies in the rising costs.

The Jordanian government is considering a series of measures to mitigate the impact of increasing shipping and insurance costs on consumers, he noted.

Tahtamouni said the rising costs are due to the recent attacks on commercial ships in the Bab el Mandeb area, a strait that connects the Red Sea to the Gulf of Aden, leading to route changes which result in longer journeys and higher shipping prices as many shipping companies have to avoid the Red Sea. 
Bac Ninh Master Plan for 2021 to 2030 Approved

Bac Ninh has become a hive of manufacturing in recent years and is still drawing huge investments from foreign firms. In this light, the Vietnam Briefing takes a look at what key decision-makers have planned for the future of the province.

Northern Vietnams Bac Ninh province has become a hub of manufacturing activity in recent years. In particular it has drawn in a number of big names in tech manufacturing. This includes Canon, Samsung, Microsoft, and Foxconn.

This has been due to a number of factors. Its proximity to the major population center is Hanoi for one, but also, after years of foreign-invested enterprises establishing themselves in the province, it has become well-equipped to accommodate the needs of manufacturing firms.

That said, as the province and indeed Vietnam on the whole, continues to develop and welcome more business, it will need to change and adapt to the needs of these new arrivals.

With this in mind, earlier this month the Prime Minister issued Decree 589/QD-TTg (herein referred to as Decree 589) approving a masterplan for Bac Ninh province from 2021 to 2030 with a vision to 2050. Here are the key details.

See also: The Performance of Vietnams Key Economic Zones in 2022

Goals and targets

Economic development

Decree 589 lays out a number of key goals and targets for the province to be achieved in the next decade or so. These include:

Reach an average GRDP growth rate of between 8 and 9 percent a year;

For industry and construction to account for 72.7 percent of GRDP;

For services to account for 21.7 percent of GRDP;

Digital economy accounts for about 35% of GRDP; and

Agriculture, forestry, and fisheries account for 1.6 percent of GRDP.

Its hoped that this will give the province a GRDP per capita (at current prices) of about VND 346.6 million (US$$14,275) per person and that this will be coupled with a labor productivity growth rate of about 8.3 to 9.5 percent each year.

Furthermore, key decision-makers are looking for exports to reach US$50 billion on imports of about US$42 billion.

The rate of trained workers is also expected to reach 90 percent with 55 percent of trained workers having completed formal training or education. Moreover, its hoped that 95 percent of workers will have information technology skills.

Social development

Bac Ninhs master plan also outlines a number of social targets for the province to accompany its economic aspirations. These include:

For 98 percent of schools to meet national standards;

For the average life expectancy to reach 76 years old;

For the healthcare system to have one doctor and 38 hospital beds per 10,00 head of population.

Its also envisioned that the poverty rate will be less than 1 percent and that by 2025 all households in the province will be living above the national poverty standard.

Infrastructure development

Along with social and economic development, the master plan also includes a handful of targets for infrastructure development. These include:

For all residents to have access to clean water through a central supply by 2025;

For all waste created in urban areas to be collected and processed in accordance with national standards; and

For all newly established industrial zones and urban areas to have centralized wastewater treatment; and

For 90 percent of businesses to meet environmental standards.

Economic sector development

Decree 589 also outlines development strategies for core sectors of Bac Ninhs economy.

Industry

Per the master plan, Bac Ninhs planners envision a high-tech future for the province. They are looking to green industry as well as electronics. They also want to see smart technology incorporated into the Bac Ninh industry of the future and envision the spillover effects not only benefiting Bac Ninh but the country on the whole.

Furthermore, there is a push to diversify Bac Ninhs manufacturing sector. Specifically, planners want to see semiconductors, pharmaceuticals, and renewable energy equipment manufactured in the province.



See also: Investing in Industrial Parks in Vietnam

Trade, services, and tourism

In trade, services, and tourism planners see Bac Ninh as becoming a center of commerce and consumption. They intend to realize this vision by promoting green and sustainable urban development which they also hope will attract high-quality workers.

As part of this part of the plan, they will also promote the expansion of e-commerce. This will go hand-in-hand with a focus on high-value service industries like information technology services, telecommunications, logistics, and finance.

They also want to see tourism as a key economic sector. This will involve promoting craft villages and developing ecotourism with an emphasis on promoting Bac Ninh province to domestic and international audiences, according to the plan.

Agriculture, forestry, and fisheries sector

Finally, key decision-makers in Bac Ninh want to see the agriculture sector transformed through new technology. This, it is hoped, will facilitate clean agriculture and circular agriculture, particularly in combination with the processing industry.

They also want to develop urban agriculture and see greater cooperation between the agriculture sector, industry, and trade, services, and tourism

Key takeaways for foreign firms

Decree 589 provides broad goals and targets for Vietnams Bac Ninh province. These address the needs of its residents and businesses, but also foreign firms. Specifically of note for foreign enterprises is the push toward high-tech manufacturing. This is common all over Vietnam, however, Bac Ninh, with a number of major tech firms already manufacturing in the province, is likely to be among the provinces leading the charge forward. Foreign firms, particularly those producing high-tech goods, considering manufacturing in Vietnam, should keep this in mind.

That said, there are a number of other factors firms should consider when looking for the right location in Vietnam. These are best discussed with boots-on-the-ground professionals like the experts at Dezan Shira and Associates  your partner for growth in Southeast Asia.
Copyright 2024 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed without permission.
KINSHASA, Dec. 27 (Xinhua) -- Heavy rains hit overnight Tuesday Bukavu, capital of South Kivu Province in the eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo, causing floods and landslides and killing at least 40 people, local authorities said Wednesday.

At least 20 people were found dead in Bukavu and 20 more were killed in the surrounding village of Burhinyi, according to the provincial governor's office. 
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The Philippines tries to win the information war against an increasingly aggressive China in the South China Sea.

Welcome to VOA Asia Weekly. I'm Chris Casquejo in Washington. That story is coming up, but first, making headlines:

A furnace explosion at a Chinese-owned nickel plant in Indonesia this Sunday killed at least 18 people and injured 46 others. Four Chinese and nine Indonesian workers died instantly when the furnace exploded while they were repairing it. Five others died later while hospitalized. This marks the third deadly incident this year at Chinese-owned nickel smelting plants in Indonesia.

On Wednesday, Japans nuclear power regulator lifted an operational ban at the worlds largest nuclear power plant complex. Tokyo Electric Power Company Holdings, the operator behind the Fukushima disaster in 2011, owns the plant on the north coast of Japan. But the company needs approval from local residents before the plant can re-open.

Around 200 college students in Indonesia rallied on Wednesday, demanding that the government remove Rohingya refugees. The protesters marched to a local community hall in Banda Aceh, where about 137 Rohingya are taking shelter. The demonstrators threw out clothes and household items belonging to the refugees, forcing authorities to relocate them to another shelter.

South Korean actor Lee Sun-kyun, known for his role in the Oscar-winning film Parasite, was found dead in a car Wednesday. The cause of death is presumed to be suicide, according to Seoul police. Lee had been under police investigation that he used illegal drugs, but claimed he was tricked into using them.

North Koreas leader, Kim Jong Un, held a meeting Wednedsay with top ruling party officials. During the opening speech, Kim defined 2023 as a year of great turn and great change, both in name and reality, following the launch of its first military spy satellite in November.

During the last year, China has intensified its harassment of much smaller Philippine vessels in disputed parts of the South China Sea. To level the playing field, the Philippines is turning to information warfare, as VOAs Bill Gallo reports from Manila.

A David vs. Goliath story, just off the Philippine coast.

Tiny Philippines boats are being rammed by much larger Chinese ships which now fire water cannons at Philippines vessels on a regular basis.

China has the clear military edge, as it pushes its claims in the disputed South China Sea.

But the Philippines has what they see as a big advantage: a better narrative, according to Commodore Jay Tarriela of the Philippine coast guard.

Its like overkill for a superpower like China.

Tarriela is part of a Philippine government task force that has started using information as a weapon against China.

Not only does the government release videos of Chinas behavior. It goes out looking for them in increasingly sophisticated ways.

Overhead, drones expose swarms of Chinese ships. Underwater cameras record Philippine coast guard divers cutting Chinese barriers.

And the coast guard now takes boatloads of Philippine journalists to witness China's harassment firsthand.

Bianca Dava is a Manila-based defense reporter. She says journalists did not have this kind of access under previous governments, which played down tensions at sea.

With reporters now being on the ground there in the West Philippine Sea personally, I think that increased the interest of the people in this kind of issue.

Chinese harassment is now a hot topic in local media.

The Philippines has also received more support from like-minded neighbors.

That is a big change from the past, when Manila sought closer ties with Beijing.

We want freedom of navigation. We want a free and open Indo-Pacific and a rules-based international order.

Those concepts are now more relatable, says Jonathan Malaya of the National Security Council.

These are complex issues that are not near the gut.

But bad PR alone may not be enough to deter China.

It has become more aggressive, swarming contested areas with larger numbers of ships, raising the question of what else can be done to level the playing field.

Bill Gallo, VOA News, Manila, the Philippines.

Visit voanews.com for the most up-to-date stories.

Im Chris Casquejo.

And now, we take you to Chinas Inner Mongolia autonomous region.

Local herdsmen dressed in colorful Mongolian robes performed the Subject Three dance thats swept across social media worldwide. Dancers showcase moves such as swinging their knees sideways coupled with a series of hand actions.

Thanks for watching VOA Asia Weekly.
Pakistan's caretaker prime minister, Anwar-ul-Haq Kakar, on Thursday announced a nationwide ban on New Year celebrations in solidarity with Palestinians as Israel continues its military campaign to crush Hamas in the Gaza Strip.

The whole Pakistani nation and the Muslim world are in a state of deep grief over the genocide of unarmed Palestinians, especially the massacre of children, in Gaza and the West Bank, Kakar said in his nationally televised announcement.

Given the extremely worrying situation in Palestine and to express solidarity with our Palestinian brothers and sisters, there will be a complete countrywide ban on organizing any kind of events in connection with the New Year celebration, the prime minister said.

Muslim countries worldwide, including Pakistan, have sharply criticized Israels relentless military campaign and intensified calls for an immediate cessation of hostilities to help address the ensuing humanitarian crisis.

The entire 2.3 million population in the Gaza Strip has suffered severe shortages of water, food, fuel and medicine, with only limited aid entering the territory.

Kakar said that Islamabad had already sent two consignments of relief aid to Gaza and a third would soon be dispatched.

Israeli military airstrikes and ground operations have left vast parts of Gaza in ruins and killed more than 21,000 Palestinians since October 7, according to the Hamas-run Gaza health ministry.

The offensive was unleashed after Hamas militants poured over the border with Israel and attacked southern Israeli communities, killing about 1,200 people, according to Israel. Hamas also seized around 240 hostages, of whom 129 remain captive in Gaza. The Israeli military says 167 of its troops have been killed.

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has vowed to keep up the military campaign until the elimination of Hamas, designated a terrorist organization by the United States and other countries, is achieved.

Pakistan does not have diplomatic ties with Israel and refuses to recognize it as a sovereign country until a viable and independent Palestinian state is established  a long-running policy of many Muslim-majority countries.

Pakistanis cannot visit the Jewish state because their passport states it is "valid for all countries of the world except Israel.
Africa worked in 2023 to become a focus of global power and draw the attention of influential nations seeking to build political and economic relations with the 54 countries on the continent.

In the past 12 months, African leaders visited European Union headquarters in Brussels, as well as India, Russia, the United States, Saudi Arabia and Turkey. They also met with Chinese President Xi Jinping in South Africa to discuss Chinas Belt and Road Initiative infrastructure program, climate change financing, business and trade deals, global peace and security.

Professor Chacha Nyaigotti-Chacha, chairman of the Kenyan Commission for University Education and an expert in diplomacy and international relations, said that Africa is an important player in global affairs and that other countries want to engage with the continent.

They want to create strategies on how they can continue assuring the African states that they are friends of the Africans and, consequently, expecting that African countries will be able to continue relating with them amicably, Nyaigotti-Chacha said. They expect a lot of economic gains and political goodwill."

With conflicts such Russia's invasion of Ukraine and the Israel-Hamas war, political experts say international gatherings provide a means for some countries to seek Africas support.

Paul Melly, a consulting fellow with the Africa Program at research organization Chatham House in London, said Africa can be an influential voice in venues where countries vote on political and security issues, including the United Nations.

"There is a simple numerical fact in Africa, he said. Depending on how you count them, you are looking at 50 votes at the U.N. That's quite an arguing power.

Some other continents have many countries in them, he said, but one of the things that stands out for Africa is it's a continent where there is ... a culture of collective action.

That's quite a lot of votes, and quite a lot of political leverage," Melly said.

The tone other nations take is important when connecting with African leaders, he said.

"You can have as many summits as you like, you can mobilize as many resources as you like, but ... if the tone is seen as not sufficiently respectful or [if they seem] unwilling to sit and listen to what African leaders have to say, you can sometimes find it doesn't work, Melly said.

Even as African nations reach out to the rest of the world, they will need to engage more among themselves to present a stronger image, Nyaigotti-Chacha said.

"They will remember the year 2023 as the year they have made so many interactions with other international and foreign countries, he said. "They will remember that and learn very fast to network within themselves in order ... to have one voice."
As the government of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu expands its ground offensive in Gaza, Iran's threats of retaliation over the airstrikes that killed a senior military officer and continued attacks from Tehran-backed groups in the region are increasing the likelihood of an all-out war in the Middle East. It is a risk U.S. President Joe Biden cannot afford as he heads into an election year in 2024.

Earlier this week, Tehran vowed retribution for what it called the assassination in Syria of Seyed Razi Mousavi, a senior adviser to Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps.

Mousavi was said to be involved in supplying arms to Hezbollah, the Iran-backed militia in Lebanon and Syria that has been intensifying its assault from Israel's northern border in solidarity to Palestinians in Gaza. Israel declined to confirm it was behind the airstrike that killed Mousavi.

The White House did not respond to VOA's queries on whether Israel informed Washington in advance of the airstrikes that killed Mousavi, or whether the administration believes the war can still be contained in Gaza.

The conflict spreads

Immediately after the Gaza war broke out, the United States moved military assets to the Middle East as a deterrence and telegraphed to Tehran and its proxies to stay out. Around the region, however, there are signs the conflict is spreading.

On Monday, Biden ordered "necessary and proportionate" strikes at Kataib Hezbollah, Iran-backed militias in Iraq, in response to a drone attack that injured soldiers in a U.S. military base in Irbil, northern Iraq.

Baghdad condemned the U.S. strikes as a "hostile act" and a violation of its sovereignty. But with about 3,500 U.S. troops in Iraq and Syria directly in the line of fire, analysts say Biden had little choice but to respond.

On Tuesday, Yemen's Iran-backed Houthi militia, also known as Ansar Allah, claimed responsibility for a missile attack on a container ship in the Red Sea. It's the latest in a string of attacks on global shipping in recent weeks that has prompted Washington to set up a multinational naval forces coalition to patrol the waterways.

Escalation is inescapable as Iran-backed groups compete to show their support for Hamas, said Michael Knights, a fellow at the Washington Institute who focuses on Iran-backed militias in Iraq and Syria.

"Some players within the Axis of Resistance, like the Houthis, are trying to show that they are more dedicated to the cause than the other Iraqi or Lebanese or Syrian factions," he told VOA, referring to groups in the region with varying levels of military and political proximity to Tehran.

"The Red Sea is the real concern because the Houthis are much harder to deter, particularly because nobody wants to disrupt the peace process of Saudi Arabia," he added.

Since 2022, Saudi Arabia and Houthi rebels in Yemen have been negotiating a permanent cease-fire to end their eight-year war.

'On the brink of war'

Since the Gaza conflict began, Israel has engaged in fierce cross-border clashes with Hezbollah in Lebanon.

"The situation is really on the brink of war," said Elisheva Machlis, senior lecturer of Middle East Studies at Bar-Ilan University.

Tens of thousands of Israelis have been evacuated from border towns in anticipation of an attack by Hezbollah. It's "an intolerable situation" that may be turning public opinion to favor of expanding the war north, Machlis told VOA.

Netanyahu's government has said that military action is not off the table to ensure that Israeli citizens can return to their homes.

Risk of IsraelIran war

"Israel's decision to assassinate a high-ranking member of the Iranian military in Damascus is a huge provocation," said Omar Rahman, fellow at the Middle East Council on Global Affairs.

"Iran has stayed out of direct involvement so far, but if its commanders are being targeted, it will have trouble continuing along a path of restraint," he told VOA.

Israel neither confirms nor denies involvement in Mousavi's death.

If Israel is behind the killing, it's unclear whether it is doing so as a warning to Tehran or to trigger an Iranian response that would give Israel the pretext to enlarge the war, said Trita Parsi, executive vice president of the Quincy Institute for Responsible Statecraft, a Washington research group that advocates restraint in American foreign policy.

Israeli Defense Minister Yoav Gallant acknowledged the country is "in a multifront war," under attack in "seven theaters," including Gaza, the West Bank, Lebanon, Syria, Iraq, Yemen and Iran.

Pressure on Israel

As President Biden gears up for the November 2024 election with polls showing most Americans disapproving of his handling of Gaza, he is keen to avoid a broader war. Privately, the Biden administration has been urging Israeli for restraint in Lebanon.

On Gaza, the U.S. has been making increasingly public and urgent appeals for Israel to transition to a more limited and surgical phase of the war. Israeli attacks, however, have been intensifying. Since Christmas Eve, its airstrikes have killed hundreds of Palestinians, many of them in refugee camps.

"We are expanding the fight in the coming days," said Netanyahu in comments released by his Likud party on Monday.

U.S. pressure on Israel continued Tuesday, as Secretary of State Antony Blinken and national security adviser Jake Sullivan met with Ron Dermer, the Israeli minister of strategic affairs, in Washington. Among Gaza-related topics, the meeting focused on "the transition to a different phase of the war to maximize focus on high-value Hamas targets," and "practical steps to improve the humanitarian situation and minimize harm to civilians," a White House official told VOA.

The meeting is the latest in a monthslong diplomatic engagement by Biden's top aides with stakeholders across the region, pushing for more aid for Gazans and hostage release deals even as it continues to provide Israel with military assistance and diplomatic support.

At the United Nations, U.S. Ambassador Linda Thomas-Greenfield worked with Arab states to reach language on a resolution on temporary pauses in fighting and humanitarian aid delivery mechanisms that Washington could abstain on to allow adoption by the Security Council.

Biden is "trying every solution possible except for the most obvious one: a cease-fire in Gaza," Parsi, of the Quincy Institute, told VOA. "A cease-fire would end the attacks on U.S. troops, end the attacks on ships in the Red Sea and most likely also calm down the Lebanese Israeli border."

The U.S. and Israel say a cease-fire at this point will allow Hamas to regroup.

Since October 9, Israeli airstrikes and a ground offensive have killed close to 21,000 people in Gaza, according to health authorities there. Hamas' October 7 surprise attacks in Israel killed 1,200 people. The violence is the bloodiest episode in the decades-long territorial conflict between Israelis and Palestinians.

Misha Komadovsky contributed to this report.
Central Africa has, for months, been plagued with acute fuel shortages that have stifled regional economic growth, disrupted local businesses, and contributed to rising food prices and social unrest. The shortages are partly blamed on increased demand coupled with disruptions in supply, and on illegal trade in conflict zones.

Officials in several central African states say vehicle owners, truck drivers and motorcyclists in major cities wait for several hours, sometimes days, to fill their tanks as pumps have been regularly running dry since fuel shortages started several months ago.

Cameroonian officials partly blame ongoing disruptions to stormy weather off the Atlantic coast, stranding cargo ships at the regional hub port of Lome, Togo.

The landlocked Central African Republic, which receives fuel supplies through Cameroon's Douala seaport, also reports disruptions. Aid agencies in the country, which has been hit by sectarian violence, say if nothing is done to stop the fuel crisis, delivery of needed humanitarian aid will be affected.

A severe fuel crisis is also stirring social unrest in Chad. Officials there report protests in the capital, N'djamena, and in towns including Bongor, Moundou, Faya-Largeau and Abeche, where the military this week said it dispersed protesters with tear gas.

Chad's military government said this week that its troops seized hundreds of containers of fuel illegally transported to the border with Sudan. Chad says contraband fuel trade increased on its border with Sudan since ferocious fighting broke out in Sudan's civil war in April.

Amina Ehemir Torna, director General of Chad's Downstream Sector Regularization Authority, which is responsible for the regulation, control and monitoring of standards of petroleum operations there, said merchants should immediately stop illegal exports to neighboring countries that are also facing severe fuel shortages. Torna said gasoline and diesel fuel are highly combustible and should not be stored in jerry cans and buckets at home with the hope of selling to illegal vendors at exorbitant rates should the ongoing fuel shortage persist.

Sudan's fighting shut down businesses and forced civilians and fuel merchants to flee the northeastern African state. Chadian officials say Sudanese civilians who brave the fighting, as well as troops of Sudans national army and a rival national paramilitary force, rush to Chad's porous 1,400-kilometer border for fuel regularly.

Salisu Yunissa, president of Chads Consumers Union in Adre, a town in Ouaddai province that is home to about 210,000 Sudanese refugees, said the shortage has plunged host communities and refugees into deeper poverty and is causing unprecedented increases in the prices of rice, onions, corn, millet and sorghum. He said a 30-kilogram bag of onions that sold at $40 had tripled in price to about $120 within the past two months.

Yunissa said the price hikes, environmental disasters, and armed conflicts make living very difficult for a majority of civilians who are not sure of a meal each day.

There is some hope the situation will change soon in the region. Chad, Cameroon and the CAR this month regulated fuel sales to 20 liters per motorist with the aim of stabilizing supply and demand. Chad says its shortage will improve when a refinery in N'Djamena that closed in April for maintenance reopens, although it did not say when that would happen.

Cameroon says besides the liberalization of petroleum products imports, it is importing what it calls enough quantities to meet the country's increasing demand for fuel.
Clashes have intensified between the powerful M23 rebels and the army in parts of the eastern Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) as Congolese await the results of the December 20th general elections.

In the aftermath of the elections, M23 rebels resumed attacks on the positions of self-defense resistance fighters and the Congolese army near the town of Sake in the eastern province of North Kivu.

Locals say the attacks have been happening in the hills around the village of Mushaki, which rebels seized recently, and the village of Karuba, both of them in an area called the Masisi territory.

Ombeni Balingene, a resident of Sake, criticized the conditions in which people like him have been spending the Christmas season.

"Since December 20, after the elections, clashes have started in the Mushaki mountains, from where people are fleeing and arriving in large numbers here in Sake," Balingene said. "We didn't have a very good Christmas, because we thought every second that the M23 rebels were going to enter the town, as there was the crackling of bullets and the explosion of bombs in large numbers."

In a statement read by Lieutenant-Colonel Guillaume Njike Kaiko, an army spokesman in North Kivu, the military threatened to take action against the rebels and the Rwandan army, which the DRC accuses of supporting the rebels.

Kaiko said the rebels attack positions held by the loyalist army and reservists every day, ignoring the cease-fire recommended by the international community. He claimed that Rwandan troops continue to enter Congolese territory, disrupting the cease-fire process.

Rwanda denies the accusation.

New displacements of civilians have been reported since last week as a result of these clashes, and Masisi territory human rights defender Tumusifu Bazungu called on the government to find solutions to the humanitarian situation facing the internally displaced, as aid workers are unable to respond normally to the needs of the displaced.

Masisi and another area, Rutshuru, were excluded from the electoral process because of the security situation in the eastern part of Congo. Like Mushaki, Rutshuru is in the hands of the M23 rebels.
KUALA LUMPUR, Dec. 28 (Xinhua) -- Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim on Thursday announced financial aid to those displaced by floods.

Following a visit to flood-hit Kelantan state, Anwar said 50 million ringgit (10.8 million U.S. dollars) in financial aid will be channeled directly to those affected, with more allocations being planned.

Heavy rain has hit several states in recent days, with 25,547 people being housed in 111 flood relief centers in five states as of 6 p.m. local time, according to the country's social welfare department.

The meteorological department has issued warnings of heavy rains due to the northeast monsoon, which typically lasts from October to March, with strong winds and rough seas expected in northern states and the east coast of the Southeast Asian country. 
Dozens more are killed in Gaza as Israel reckons with their own killed and wounded soldiers. We look at the tension on Israels border with Lebanon and the latest from Ukraine, where Russia is accused of using chemical weapons. Plus, a caravan of migrants is headed towards the United States.
France closes 2023 with a diminished presence in Africas restive Sahel region, after withdrawing troops from three once-staunch allied countries collectively fighting an Islamist insurgency, and seeing its influence increasingly replaced by other powers, including Russia.

The last French soldiers left Niger earlier this month, with Paris taking the unusual step of closing its embassy in Niamey as well. The troop withdrawal follows a pullout from Burkina Faso earlier this year and from Mali in 2022  following coups in all three countries condemned by France, the former colonial power  and amid rising anti-French sentiment.

A five-country alliance, the G-5 Sahel, that partnered with France to fight terrorism across a swathe of desolate territory south of the Sahara, has all but collapsed. The remaining members, Chad and Mauritania, suggest its dissolution is near.

And on Sunday, Nigerien authorities announced they were suspending all cooperation with the Paris-based International Organization of Francophone Nations, aimed to promote the French language.

Now, as other countries and entities soften stances toward coup leaders they once condemned, Paris appears increasingly isolated in bucking the trend  a stance some observers believe must change.

Its time that France shows certain pragmatism, the influential Le Monde newspaper wrote in a September editorial, as Paris remained locked in a standoff with coup leaders in Niger. Although the reality of our institutional ties with the African continent is multiform, its not healthy that French influence appears almost completely within a military dimension.

Bakery Sambe, director of the Dakar-based Timbuktu Institute-African Center for Peace, offered a similar take.

Frances retreat from Niger signals a new era, he said. It underscores a broader trend of needing to rethink security cooperation  and of cooperation overall.

Filling the void

Frances reduced influence in the Sahel contrasts sharply with a decade ago, when Paris launched its Barkhane counterinsurgency operation, aimed at working alongside the five most affected countries in pushing back jihadist threats. At its height, some 5,500 French troops were stationed in the region.

The cascade of coups, first in Mali, then in Burkina Faso last year and finally in Niger in July  all three countries at the heart of the Sahel insurgency  has sharply shrunk those numbers. Just 1,000 French troops now remain in Chad, where France currently bases its anti-jihadist operation in the region.

When coup generals toppled Nigerien President Mohamed Bazoum in July, France remained staunchly behind the democratically elected leader. It initially refused the generals request to repatriate French Ambassador Sylvain Itte or to withdraw French forces.

While other nations and institutions adopted a similar tough approach, their positions have since softened. The Economic Community of West African States, or ECOWAS, which once threatened a military intervention, has shelved its insistence that Bazoum be reinstated. It now calls for a short power transition and other conditions in return for lifting sanctions.

The United States, which dispatched a new ambassador to Niger in August, said this month it was willing to resume cooperation with Niger, if Niamey promised to swiftly restore civilian rule. In sharp contrast to its position on France, Nigers new government has not called for the departure of the roughly 1,000 U.S. troops stationed on its territory.

German Defense Minister Boris Pistorius, who visited Niger earlier in the month, said Berlin was interested in resuming projects with the ruling military. Germany has a small military contingency in Niger.

Germany is trying to fill a void left by France in the Sahel, said analyst Sambe, summing up a broader European concern. There needs to be a champion in the region.

A new generation of Africans also views the U.S. favorably, Sambe said; it does not have the baggage carried by France as a former colonial power, and, it has adopted a low-key presence in the region.

Africans want to diversify their partnerships with other countries, he said. Theres a new generation without the complexes of previous ones that demands respect.

A broader Sahel vision

A succession of French leaders has promised to reboot French ties to Africa. That includes President Emmanuel Macron, who earlier this year also promised a sharply reduced and revamped military presence on the continent, even as he seeks new ties beyond Frances former colonial empire.

But a November report by Frances National Assembly calls for bigger changes: from creating more Africa specialists within the foreign ministry and appointing ambassadors with roots in the African diaspora, to rehauling French development aid and adopting a more transparent and pragmatic Africa policy.

The deterioration of our ties to Africa is such that our relationship with the continent must be prioritized in order to renew it, the reports co-author, Bernard Fuchs, told Le Monde.

Meanwhile, the military governments in Mali and Burkina Faso have moved away from France and the West to strengthen ties with Russia and its Wagner paramilitary group. Early in December, Niger annulled two security deals with the European Union and held talks with Russian officials to strengthen security cooperation.

Despite Russias growing influence, insecurity in the Sahel has grown, analysts and officials say. Russia has also been accused of rights violations.

For his part, the Timbuktu Institutes Sambe said he does not believe the Sahels new generation is necessarily moving toward Russia but rather away from France.

To offer an attractive alternative, he believes Paris and other Western governments need to consider policies that emphasize development along with security and consider coastal West African nations that are increasingly at risk of jihadist attacks.

There has to be a vision of a broader Sahel, he said, that addresses the regions weaknesses and especially fights against disinformation.
Amid the ongoing conflict in Sudan, the highly anticipated face-to-face meeting between the top commanders of the warring Sudanese Armed Forces and the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces was postponed for "technical reasons," Djibouti's Ministry of Foreign Affairs announced on Wednesday.

Facilitated by the East African regional body, the Inter-Governmental Authority on Development, the meeting was scheduled to take place Thursday in Djibouti.

The meeting would have marked the first known direct encounter between military chief General Abdel-Fattah Burhan and General Mohammed Hamdan Dagalo, the commander of RSF, since Sudan's conflict erupted more than eight months ago.

In a letter addressed to IGADs member states Wednesday, Djibouti said the meeting scheduled for "28th December 2023 has been postponed to early January 2024 for technical reasons," promising that the exact dates would be "communicated in due time.

The war has devastated half of the northeast African country and resulting in the loss of more than 10,000 lives and the displacement of 7 million, according to United Nations estimates.

The RSFs recent military gains in various parts of Sudan, including Darfur and Jazeera state, have added complexity to the peace process.

Sudans Ministry of Foreign Affairs had released a statement earlier Wednesday citing a memorandum from Djibouti that indicated the RSF leader was "unable to reach Djibouti for the scheduled meeting ... due to technical reasons."

The ministry clarified that coordination would resume for the meeting in January.

Speaking to VOA via WhatsApp, RSF adviser Yousif Izzat earlier dismissed the ministrys claim as fake news and denied technical issues on the RSF side.

Izzat asserted the RSF commander agreed to meet, and today [Wednesday] he [would head] outside of Khartoum to the region.

Meanwhile, Dagalo highlighted his Wednesday visit to Uganda on the social media platform X, formerly known as Twitter.

Dagalo said he discussed developments in Sudan and the suffering of the Sudanese people, with Ugandan President Yoweri Museveni, presenting what he says is his vision for negotiations, ending the war, and rebuilding the Sudanese state.

On Monday, former Sudanese Prime Minister Abdalla Hamdok sent official letters to the warring generals requesting an urgent meeting for consultation on effective ways to halt the war.

Hamdok emphasized the conflicts devastating impact on Sudanese citizens, including loss of life, displacement, and infrastructure destruction, and highlighted the ongoing threat to the countrys stability.

Dagalo acknowledged receiving Hamdoks letter with a sense of urgency and responsibility, expressing eagerness to hold the meeting and welcomed all national initiatives aimed at fostering peace and reducing the hardships resulting from this war.

Sudan army chief Burhan has not publicly commented on Hamdoks call.

This story originated in VOAs English to Africa Service.
India and Russia Wednesday reaffirmed their strong friendship and discussed deepening trade and strategic ties during a visit to Moscow by Indian External Affairs Minister Subrahmanyam Jaishankar.

Jaishankar said at a meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin on Wednesday that the two countries have "made progress" in trade, which now exceeds $50 billion.

"We believe that this is something whose potential is now only beginning to be visible," he said.

India has emerged as one of Russias major economic partners as it has exponentially increased its imports of Russian crude oil, ignoring Western sanctions that were imposed in 2022 over the war in Ukraine.

New Delhi, which has taken a neutral stance on the Ukraine conflict, has maintained its ties with Moscow citing its decades-old friendship with its old ally.

Putin was quoted by Tass as saying at the meeting with Jaishankar that the trade between Russia and India is growing for the second year in a row, particularly due to crude oil and high technology areas.

Putin also invited Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi to visit Moscow.

"We will be able to discuss all current issues, talk about the outlook for the development of Russian-Indian relations," according to Tass.

India and Russia have held annual summits for over two decades but have not held one since the war in Ukraine erupted last year.

New Delhi has not given any official reason for not holding the meetings, but analysts see it as part of Indias attempt to walk a fine line as its ties grow with Western countries. Modi visited Washington in June for a meeting with U.S. President Joe Biden that was seen as giving new momentum to their partnership.

"India has avoided a summit meeting with Putin because it does not want to be seen as too close to Russia. At the same time it is important to show to Russia and the world that we have not abandoned them in any way," according to Manoj Joshi, distinguished fellow at the Observer Research Foundation in New Delhi. "The foreign minister's visit to Moscow emphasizes that we still have close ties but at the same time it avoids all the attention that a high-profile summit gets."

Putins meeting with Jaishankar is considered significant because he usually does not meet visiting foreign ministers. Analysts see it as an effort to underline that Russia is not isolated.

"It is a statement on Indias relative importance to Russia. India is a large country and is doing well economically. To show that you have good ties with New Delhi is important for Russia at this stage when they have their back to the wall," Joshi said.

Jaishankar, who is on a five-day visit to Moscow, also met with Russian Foreign Affairs Minister Sergey Lavrov on Wednesday.

At a joint news conference, Lavrov said they discussed "the prospects for military-technical cooperation, including the joint production of modern types of weapons."

Russia was Indias major arms supplier for decades, and New Delhi still imports about two-thirds of its military equipment from Moscow, although it has tried to diversify its purchases in recent years.

Analysts point out that India remains reliant on Russia in both the defense and energy sectors.

Calling Russia Indias "valued and time-tested partner," Jaishankar said ties between the two countries "are based on strategic convergence on geopolitical interests."

The two countries also signed agreements related to the construction of future power-generating units at the Kudankulam nuclear power plant that is being built in southern India with Russian assistance.

During the visit, Jaishankar called Indias relations with Russia "the only constant in global politics."

In a meeting with Indians living in Moscow on Tuesday, he said that "typically defense, nuclear and space are collaborations you only do with countries with whom you have a high degree of trust."
Iran's Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei led prayers on Thursday at the funeral of Sayyed Razi Mousavi, a senior Revolutionary Guards (IRGC) adviser killed in what Iran said was an Israeli air strike in Syria.

State television said Khamenei paid tribute "to this martyr's tireless struggle and called for his companionship with the guardians of God."

Mousavi was one of the most experienced and effective commanders of the resistance front, said Major General Hossein Salami, chief commander of the Revolutionary Guards Corps (IRGC).

"Our revenge for the martyrdom of Sayyed Razi will be nothing less than the removal of the Zionist regime," Salami said in a televised funeral speech, adding that he had defended the Muslim nation for almost 33 years.

"I am hopeful that soon, God permitting, the great and honorable Palestinian fighters will wipe out the geographical and political name of this evil and fake regime."

Mourners chanted "Death to America, Death to Israel."

Musavis body was flown from Syria to the holy Shi'ite city of Najaf in Iraq on Wednesday before being taken for burial in Tehran.

An Israeli military spokesperson declined specific comment about Mousavi's death on Monday, but said it took whatever action was necessary to defend the country.

Since the eruption of war between Israel and the Palestinian group Hamas on October 7, Iran-backed groups have mounted operations against Israel, while others, including militias in Iraq, have threatened U.S. interests.

For years, Israel has carried out attacks against what it describes as Iran-linked targets in Syria, where Tehran's influence has grown since it backed President Bashar al-Assad in the civil war that erupted in 2011.
Israel's military continued airstrikes and ground operations aimed at Hamas in northern, central and southern Gaza Thursday, as the military expressed regret after civilians were killed in a Sunday strike on a refugee camp.

Some of the heaviest fighting has been reported in the southern city of Khan Younis.

The U.N. humanitarian office has warned that intensified fighting in the Gaza Strip, frequent communications disruptions, blocked roads and a lack of fuel are posing significant challenges to humanitarian operations.

The Israeli military Thursday said it regrets the harm caused to uninvolved civilians in the Sunday airstrike that hit the Maghazi refugee camp. The health ministry in the Hamas-run territory said at least 70 people were killed.

A military statement said Israeli warplanes hit two targets adjacent to which Hamas operatives were located and an initial investigation showed that other buildings nearby were also hit, causing unintended harm to additional uninvolved civilians.

As Israel remains focused on its campaign to eliminate the militant group, designated a terrorist organization by the United States and others, French President Emmanuel Macron called Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, urging him to work toward a sustainable cease-fire with the help of regional and international partners.

On October 7, Hamas militants poured over the border with Israel and attacked southern Israeli communities, killing about 1,200 people, according to Israel. Hamas also seized around 240 hostages, of whom 129 remain in Gaza.

In response, Israel vowed to crush Hamas and launched an air, land and sea attack on Gaza. The Israeli offensive has left vast parts of Gaza in ruins and killed more than 21,000 Palestinians, according to the Hamas-run Gaza health ministry.

The Israeli military says 167 of its troops have been killed.



West Bank violence

In the West Bank, Israels military said its forces carried out a raid Thursday, targeting people alleged to have helped finance Hamas. An Israel Defense Forces statement said it arrested 21 people and confiscated tens of millions in Israeli currency in the West Bank operation.

Israeli forces also carried out an airstrike in Jenin and ground troops fired on Palestinians in response to what the military said were people firing at Israeli troops.

The West Bank raid was the latest in a long series of operations that Israel has carried out there, saying its forces are conducting counterterrorism activities.

The U.N. human rights office issued a report Thursday saying the human rights situation in the West Bank has deteriorated rapidly since the October 7 Hamas attack on Israel.

The Office of the U.N. High Commissioner for Human Rights said it verified 300 Palestinian deaths in the West Bank since October 7, with 291 Palestinians killed by Israeli forces, eight by Israeli settlers and one killed by either Israeli forces or settlers.

The report said most of the deaths took place during confrontations and clashes between Palestinians and Israeli troops, including at protests and as Israeli troops conducted operations in Palestinian towns.

"The use of military tactics means and weapons in law enforcement contexts, the use of unnecessary or disproportionate force, and the enforcement of broad, arbitrary and discriminatory movement restrictions that affect Palestinians are extremely troubling," Volker Turk, the U.N. high commissioner for human rights, said.

Turk called on Israel to take action to stop settler violence and investigate all incidents of violence by settlers and Israeli forces.

Some material for this report came from The Associated Press, Agence France-Presse and Reuters.
The founding editor of one of India's largest news websites is among the journalists to be targeted by the Pegasus spyware.

A joint investigation by the rights group Amnesty International and The Washington Post, published Thursday, found evidence that the invasive spyware is being used again to target media in India.

Made and marketed by Israeli company the NSO Group, the spyware can be used to access a phone's messages and emails, peruse photos, eavesdrop on calls, track locations and even film the owner with the camera.

Researchers for years have tracked how the software, which is usually sold to governments, has been found on devices belonging to journalists, activists and critics worldwide.

In the latest research, forensic investigations found evidence of the spyware on the iPhones of Siddharth Varadarajan of the news website The Wire, and Anand Mangnale of The Organized Crime and Corruption Reporting Project, or OCCRP.

Findings show both were targeted from the same Pegasus user.

"Increasingly, journalists in India face the threat of unlawful surveillance simply for doing their jobs, alongside other tools of repression, including imprisonment under draconian laws, smear campaigns, harassment, and intimidation," Donncha O Cearbhaill, who heads Amnesty International's Security Lab, said in a statement.

O Cearbhaill added that despite repeated instances of how Pegasus has been used in India, "There has been a shameful lack of accountability."

India's embassy in Washington did not immediately respond to VOA's request for comment.

The NSO group, in a statement emailed to VOA and attributed to a spokesperson, said that the group cannot comment on customers but that "all of them are vetted law enforcement and intelligence agencies that license our technologies for the sole purpose of fighting terror and major crime."

"The company's policies and contracts provide mechanisms to avoid targeting of journalists, lawyers and human rights defenders or political dissidents that are not involved in terror or serious crimes," the statement read, adding that in "all cases of credible allegations of potential product misuse, NSO conducts a preliminary review to determine whether there is sufficient information and technical basis to appropriately investigate the allegation, according to our compliance policies."

Amnesty reported that it first suspected renewed Pegasus activity during regular monitoring by its researchers in June.

It investigated further after Apple sent notifications to iPhone users in October warning they had been targeted by "state sponsored attackers." Around 20 politicians and journalists in India received the notifications.

Amnesty then carried out a forensic analysis for individuals who received the warnings.

Around that time, the OCCRP had been investigating an Indian tycoon, Gautam Adani, who is an ally of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and founder of the multinational conglomerate known as the Adani Group.

Mangnale told the French news agency AFP he was targeted "within hours" of sending questions to the Adani Group on behalf of the OCCRP.

A spokesperson for the Adani Group denied to The Washington Post that its owner was involved or had any knowledge of the hacking attempt.

In the case of Varadarajan, the journalist has been targeted previously, Amnesty said.

The latest attempt, in October, did not appear to be successful.

Varadarajan told the Post he believes the attempted hacking may be related to opposition to the detention of a prominent news publisher in New Delhi.

In a statement, Amnesty's O Cearbhaill highlighted the chilling effect spyware has on media freedom.

"Targeting journalists solely for doing their work amounts to an unlawful attack on their privacy and violates their right to freedom of expression," O Cearbhaill said.

In 2021, New Delhi was accused of using Pegasus to surveil journalists, opposition politicians and activists, with leaked documents showing the spyware had been used against more than 1,000 Indian phone numbers.

Prime Minister Modi's main rival, Rahul Gandhi, was among those targeted.

The government denied conducting "illegal surveillance" but refused to cooperate with a Supreme Court probe into the allegations, the findings of which have not been made public.

Following the October notifications sent by Apple, Indian authorities were reported to be investigating whether opposition politicians were targeted.

Ashwini Vaishnaw, the information and technology minister, said the government was "concerned" by the complaints.

The Washington Post reported that one day after Apple sent the notifications, government officials in India announced they would investigate the security of Apple devices.

India's media freedom record has declined in the past decade, falling 21 places to 161 out of 180 on the World Press Freedom Index, where 1 shows the best environment for journalism.

Some information for this report comes from Agence France-Presse.
The Kenyan government announced this month that it intends to go forward with a plan that it says will help address the problem of counterfeit phones, but digital rights activists say it poses a risk to privacy.

Earlier this month, Kenyan Minister of Information, Communication and Digital Economy Eliud Owalo said the government is set to push ahead with the Device Management System program, or DMS, Reuters reported this week.

The program gives the country's communications regulator access to the unique identification number of cellphones in Kenya to block services to counterfeit devices.

Owalo said the program is intended to stop the spread of fake and stolen devices in Kenya and enhance cybersecurity.

The East African country is a nerve center for fake goods on the continent, and smartphones account for more than half of all counterfeit products in the country, according to Kenya's Anti-Counterfeit Agency.

"The Communications Authority of Kenya has set out to develop an effective technological solution to control the threat through the deployment of a system to automatically detect and disable end-user equipment that does not meet set criteria," Owalo told a parliamentary committee this month.

The DMS was first announced in 2016, and after several years of court appeals, Kenya's Supreme Court in April this year gave the Communications Authority of Kenya permission to go ahead with the program.

Digital rights experts have for years expressed concerns about the DMS and its implications for surveillance and privacy violations, with some saying CAK is overstepping.

"It's a form of spyware," David Indeje, from the Kenyan technology think tank KICTANet, told Reuters.

"At the heart of it, there are serious privacy concerns. The government and other third parties such as telecoms operators will have access to users' phone data, including calls, messages and financial transactions," he said.

A CAK official told Reuters, "The aim of the DMS is to isolate and deny services to the illegal devices ... it does not access subscriber personal information and data."

It is unclear when the DMS will be introduced.

But when it is, Damaris Onyancha, who works at the Kenya Human Rights Commission, told Reuters, "We will be watching closely as the DMS is rolled out and remain on high alert for any violations to the rights of Kenyans."

Some information in this report came from Reuters.
Analysts see the reappointment of Lebanon's army commander, Joseph Aoun, as a stabilizing influence that is key to keeping Lebanon relatively peaceful at a time of border skirmishes with Israel. It is not clear, though, whether he can keep Lebanon out of a conflict with Israel and avoid a growing Hamas presence in the country.

Lebanon's Parliament voted to extend Joseph Aouns tenure as commander of Lebanons army by one year on December 15. Observers say the move averted a crisis in a key leadership role as the country still does not have a president and only caretaker government ministers because sectarian political factions have been unable to agree on a compromise presidential candidate since the term of former President Michel Aoun  no relation  ended last year.

Hostilities have raged on Lebanons border with Israel, led by the heavily armed and Iranian-backed Shiite Hezbollah militia, viewed as militarily more powerful than the Lebanese army. Hezbollah is well-trained, with an estimated arsenal of some 150,000 missiles.

Wednesday, intense rocket volleys between Hezbollah and Israel took place following the deaths of a Hezbollah member and two others in an alleged Israeli strike.

Benny Gantz, a member of Israels war Cabinet, issued a stark warning to Lebanon, telling reporters, If the world and the Lebanese government dont act in order to prevent the firing on Israels northern residents, and to distance Hezbollah from the border, the IDF will do it, referring to Israels military.

Lebanese analyst Dania Koleilat Khatib told VOA she sees Israel determining whether there will be an escalation with Lebanon. Khatib, president of the Research Center for Cooperation and Peace Building in Beirut, told VOA Aoun is in a difficult spot.

Will the army prevent a war? He cannot. But the international community trusts him and they trust he can control better than if there were no one," she said. "The army, so far, has been able to limit the Palestinian factions are on the border trying to target Israel. He has stopped them. They [the military] are trying to keep kind of a buffer.

Maha Yahya, the head of the Carnegie Middle East Center in Beirut, during an online seminar, referenced concerns about the possible arrival of Hamas members in Lebanon after the war and about Palestinian military activism in the country.

That will have significant impact within Lebanons political scene," she said. "Recently, we have seen a greater call for the recruitment of Palestinian youth on Lebanese territory. This has caused considerable concern amongst the broad spectrum of Lebanese.

Yahya said Lebanon still has fresh, painful memories of Palestinian military activism before Lebanons 1975-to-1990 civil war and Israels 1982 invasion of the country.

These are feeding into growing tensions on the ground, she said.
Renowned South African playwright, producer and composer Mbongeni Ngema, the creator of the Broadway hit "Sarafina!", has died in a car crash at the age of 68, his family said.

Ngema was killed in a head-on accident while returning from a funeral in a rural town in Eastern Cape province, the family said in a statement Wednesday. The celebrated playwright was a passenger in the vehicle.

He was best known for writing "Sarafina!", which premiered on Broadway in 1988. It was adapted into a musical drama starring Whoopi Goldberg in 1992 and became an international success that was nominated for Tony and Grammy awards.

"Sarafina!" told the story of a student and how she inspired her peers to fight against racial segregation in apartheid South Africa after her favorite teacher, played by Goldberg, was jailed for protesting against the system.

The story was based on the events of the 1976 Soweto uprising in South Africa, when thousands of students took part in protests against the apartheid government.

Apartheid was an institutionalized system that discriminated against non-whites and ensured South Africa was ruled by the minority white population from 1948 until the first all-race democratic elections in 1994.

Ngema's body of work also included the lauded theater production "Woza Albert," which premiered in 1981 and won more than 20 awards around the world. The political satire explored the second coming of Jesus Christ as a black man in South Africa during apartheid.

Tributes to Ngema poured in, including from South African President Cyril Ramaphosa.

"The many productions he created or to which he contributed inspired resilience and pride among us as fellow South Africans and took South Africa and our continent into the theaters, homes and consciousness of millions of people around the world," Ramaphosa said in a statement.

South Africa's ruling African National Congress party and one of its biggest rivals, the leftist Economic Freedom Fighters, both conveyed their condolences.

The ANC said in a statement: "He was a globally acclaimed playwright, composer and producer. We have lost a true legend, a doyen, and a genuine ambassador of theater."

The Economic Freedom Fighters party described him as "more than just an artist; he was a cultural icon and a beacon of hope during some of our darkest times."

Zizi Kodwa, South Africa's minister of sports, arts and culture, wrote on X, formerly Twitter, that Ngema's work "touched and moved audiences around the world and made an important contribution in telling the South African story."
CHATTOGRAM, Bangladesh, Dec. 28 (Xinhua) -- Bangladesh's premier Chattogram seaport registered a container volume of 3.1 million TEUs (twenty-foot equivalent units) in 2023, local English newspaper the Financial Express reported Thursday.

The figure was compared to those for container traffic handled at the main port in the South Asian country, at 2.9 million, 3.1 million, 2.8 million, 3.2 million and 3.1 million TEUs in 2018, 2019, 2020, 2021 and 2022, respectively.

Despite impacts from the Russia-Ukraine conflict and the COVID-19 pandemic, the port in Chattogram city, some 242 km southeast of capital Dhaka, has demonstrated remarkable resilience, maintaining its upward trajectory in container volume, according to Chattogram Port Authority (CPA) Chairman Rear Admiral Mohammad Sohail.

He told journalists on Wednesday that the port "is on its way to becoming a smart and modern international seaport, serving the global community."

"Its strategic location and expansion plans, encompassing the deep seaport at Matarbari, Bay Terminal, Patenga Container Terminal (PCT) and New-mooring Container Terminal, position it to be one of the world's largest seaports," he said.

The CPA chairman said the service quality and capacity of Chattogram seaport are steadily increasing, in line with international standards. "We are continuously enhancing our service quality, expanding operational areas and developing new sea routes," he noted.

As part of the efforts to strengthen Bangladesh's energy security, plans are underway to construct a gas and oil terminal as the fourth terminal at the port, Sohail added. 
Poland's government is getting close to ending a blockade by truckers of several border crossings with Ukraine, the prime minister said on Wednesday.

Polish drivers have been blocking several crossings with Ukraine since November 6, demanding the European Union reinstate a system whereby Ukrainian companies need permits to operate in the bloc and the same for European truckers to enter Ukraine.

Farmers suspended a protest at one border crossing on Sunday, but truckers have continued to block three others.

"We are close to the belief that our actions can bring results, both the talks in Kyiv and Brussels," Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk told a news conference. "I do not think that we will achieve the maximum that the truckers want, but it seems that what can be achieved will allow us to relieve emotions and relieve blockades on the border."

The permit system for Ukrainian drivers was lifted after the EU and Kyiv signed an agreement on June 29, 2022, four months after Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine.

Tusk said that the current regulations concerning permits would be in force until June and that it was unlikely that they could be changed before then. However, he said other solutions could be found at the "operational level."

He said that he would discuss the issue with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy during an upcoming visit to Kyiv.

"I will do everything possible to make the life and fate of Polish truckers easier," Tusk said.

Poland's deputy infrastructure minister said on Friday after a meeting in Kyiv that he hoped truckers' protests on the border with Ukraine could be resolved before the end of the year.
Sadegh Bagheri, an Iranian market stall owner in the Caspian Sea coastal city of Rasht in northern Gilan province, was captured on video dancing and singing a folk song with onlookers clapping, dancing and singing along. Bagheri published the video on his Instagram account with some 120,000 followers at the end of November.

By mid-December, Bagheris dance video went viral, and the Gilan police detained him along with other men who were present at his bazaar performance and who posted the video on Instagram. Police took control of the mens Instagram accounts and removed all content, replacing it with a message saying, "This page was blocked and dealt with by our agents due to the production of criminal content and based on criminal examples contained in the Computer Crimes Act.

Following the seizure of Bagheris account, local media in Rasht reported that he was arrested for debauchery, and the police came under heavy criticism. Hundreds of Iranian women and men started filming themselves mirroring Bagheris dance moves, singing the same folk song and posting videos on social media to protest his arrest.

Then the Gilan province police issued a denial of Bagheris prosecution.

In a statement released by its communications department, the provinces police command claimed: No person has been arrested in connection with the release of a video filmed at the Rasht bazaar.

That claim is false.

An abundance of evidence confirms the prosecution of Bagheri and others. That includes a response from Irans top official, press reports, interviews, and the Gilan province polices statement at the time of the arrests.

Before issuing the denial, the deputy police commander of Gilan province, Brigadier-General Hossein Hassanpour, told the media that 12 individuals had been arrested for taking part in Bagheris dance and the distribution of the video. Brigadier-General Hassanpour also said that the police took control of the social media accounts belonging to the arrested men and that four shops at the Rasht bazaar were shut down for participating in the dancing and singing. He said such behavior violated public morals and broke norms, as cited by London-based Iran International, a Persian language television network.

The New York Times, citing an anonymous source, reported that those detained, including Bagheri, were blindfolded, beaten and coerced into promising never to sing or dance again.

A top Iranian official also confirmed the arrest in a statement critical of the Gilan polices prosecution of Bagheri.

Tourism Minister Ezzatollah Zarghami said, "We have a problem in producing happiness. ... An old man is accused by us for having joy in his shop singing folk music, but if he showed the same joy on a religious occasion, he would have been encouraged."

On X, formerly Twitter, Iranian journalists joined the critique.

Iranian journalist and civil activist, Abb Abdi, said in his X post:

What is the justification for such discrimination in how the prosecutor general of Gilan dealt with that film, and the arrest of the old man for expressing his happiness, in a city? If you saw this in another country, how would you judge them? Don't think that the problem can be solved by silence, these questions will come to you.

The Gilan police also said in a statement that it requested that the judiciary "open some cyberspace pages related to the issue."

The Instagram account belonging to Sadegh Bagheri, who is nicknamed Booghy online, has been reinstated and now boasts more than 1 million followers. His posts, featuring remixing and dancing videos, continue to attract millions of views.

This is not the first time Iranian authorities have prosecuted people for dancing and singing and sharing the videos on social media.

This past January, a court in Tehran sentenced a couple in their 20s to 10 years in prison, convicting them of promoting corruption, prostitution and propaganda after the young people shared on social media a video of themselves dancing near the capital citys Azadi Tower.

Other dancers received jail times and lashes for the videos posted in 2014.

In 2022, the Iranian regime killed more than 500 people for taking part in nationwide street protests that erupted after the death of 22-year-old Mahsa Amini, an Iranian Kurd, in police custody. Amini was arrested by Irans morality police for allegedly violating the nations mandatory hijab law.
Pro-Iran Shiite parties won the majority of council seats in most of Iraq's provinces, according to the final results released on Thursday by the electoral commission.

The December 18 vote was the first held in a decade and took place amid widespread political apathy in the oil-rich country, which is recovering from years of conflict and plagued by corruption.

Polling took place in 15 of Iraq's 18 provinces, with the three provinces in the autonomous region of Kurdistan scheduled to hold a separate vote next year.

The provincial councils, set up after the 2003 U.S.-led invasion that toppled dictator Saddam Hussein, choose regional governors and manage budgets for health, transport and education.

In nine central and southern provinces, the big winners were either the parties of outgoing governors, or coalitions formed by the pro-Iran parties that dominate parliament.

The vote was seen as a key test for Prime Minister Mohammed Shia al-Sudani, who rose to power just more than a year ago, backed by pro-Tehran parties.

It came ahead of a general election due in 2025.

Turnout was 41% percent, according to the electoral commission.

Results showed that four alliances dominated the vote in Baghdad, Dhi Qar, Maysan, Basra, Babil and Wasit provinces.

They included the "Nabni" (We Build) alliance led by Hadi al-Ameri, a senior commander of the Hashed al-Shaabi, a network of former paramilitary units now integrated into the regular forces.

Former premier Nuri al-Maliki's State of Law Coalition, and the Patriotic forces of the State Coalition, led by Shiite cleric Ammar al-Hakim and ex-premier Haider al-Abadi, also did well.

In Baghdad, the State of Law and Nabni dominated, with each taking nine out of 52 seats, followed by the Taqadom party of Mohamed al-Halbussi, the influential Sunni Muslim former speaker of parliament.

Halbussi was victorious in the predominantly Sunni Anbar province in the west of the country.
Qatar's Court of Appeal reduced Thursday the death sentence handed in October to eight retired Indian navy officers on spy charges, the Indian foreign ministry said.

Ministry spokesman Arindam Bagchi said in a statement the detailed verdict has not been received yet. "We are in close touch with the legal team as well as family members to decide on the next steps," he said.

India's ambassador to Qatar and other officials were present in the Qatari court along with the family members and New Delhi will continue providing consular and legal assistance, Bagchi said. "We will also continue to take up the matter with the Qatari authorities," he said.

Qatari authorities provided New Delhi consular access to the eight Indian nationals during their trial.

Bagchi said no further comment was possible due to the confidential and sensitive nature of the case.

The eight were charged with spying while working at Al Dahra, a consulting company in the oil-rich Gulf state that advises the Qatari government on submarine acquisitions, according to Indian media reports.

The Qatari government's media office declined to comment on Thursday's ruling.

India's Prime Minister Narendra Modi met Qatar's Amir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al-Thani on the sidelines of the COP28 summit in Dubai in December. It was unclear whether the two leaders discussed the case.

Millions of Indians live and work in the Gulf, a large number of them as semi-skilled or unskilled workers. They constitute an important source of income for India and contribute to the success of Gulf economies.
Nicaraguan migrants sent relatives back home record remittances this year through November, data from the country's central bank showed on Wednesday, fueled by massive waves of migration leaving the Central American nation in recent years.

In a statement, the bank noted a record haul of about $4.24 billion in remittances for the 11-month period, 47% more than the amount sent home during the same period last year.

The money sent home by Nicaraguan migrants represent a key lifeline for the economy during the latest year of President Daniel Ortega's government, which has been marked by growing unemployment and poverty.

Propelled in large part by outflows of migrants seeking better economic prospects, primarily in the United States, as well as those who have fled since deadly anti-government protests broke out in 2018, Nicaragua has seen especially large displacements in recent years along with record remittances so far this year.

U.S.-bound Nicaraguan migration hit a record last year with 164,600 migrant encounters counted by the U.S. government, but during this year's fiscal year, which ended in September, migrant encounters dipped to about 139,000.

Last year, Nicaraguan migration to all countries surpassed 300,000, while overall 1.5 million Nicaraguans now live outside their home country, or about 22% of the country's population, according to U.N. data analyzed by Dialogo Interamericano researcher Manuel Orozco.

The 2023 remittances tallied by Nicaragua's central bank showed that nearly 60% came from the senders in the United States and almost 20% from neighboring Costa Rica.
Ukraine's government faces the prospect of delaying pensions and salaries for public servants if crucial Western financial aid is not approved soon, Deputy Prime Minister Yulia Svyrydenko told the Financial Times on Wednesday.

Kyiv has poured all its revenue into defense since Russia's February 2022 invasion, relying on foreign support to cover everything from pensions to social payments.

But key funding packages, including $55.54 billion from the European Union, have been blocked in Brussels and Washington.

"The support of partners is extremely critical," Svyrydenko told the newspaper. "We need it urgently."

She said 500,000 civil servants, 1.4 million teachers and 10 million pensioners could experience payment delays.

Svyrydenko told the Financial Times that she hoped the EU funding would be approved in February and delivered in March.
Several people were wounded in the Democratic Republic of Congo's capital on Wednesday as riot police forcibly dispersed a banned protest by the opposition who are calling for a re-run of last week's chaotic national elections.

The disputed vote threatens to further destabilize poverty-stricken Congo, which is already grappling with a security crisis in the east that has hampered development in the world's top producer of cobalt and other industrial minerals and metals.

Police surrounded the headquarters of Martin Fayulu, one of five of President Felix Tshisekedi's challengers who had called on their supporters to march in Kinshasa on Wednesday against the presidential and legislative poll, which they say was fraudulent and should be annulled. Tshisekedi's administration has dismissed the claims.

Tshisekedi "did not win the election, his victory is fraudulent," said one protester, who gave his name as Jean-Pierre.

Opposition vows to proceed

The opposition vowed to proceed even after the government banned the protest on Tuesday, saying it was intended to undermine the work of the national election commission (CENI) as it compiles results that for now give Tshisekedi a strong lead.

Police fired tear gas and threw rocks at people outside and inside the headquarters, said a Reuters witness, who said that the people were also throwing rocks.

Fayulu accused the security forces of heavy-handedness and said 11 people had been injured.

"You see how the police attacked us. Our program was simple: gather little by little and head to CENI headquarters," he told journalists.

A Reuters reporter saw members of Fayulu's team carrying wounded people from the scene and taking them to hospital.

Kinshasa police chief Blaise Kilimba Limba said two police officers had been injured by stones.

Attempts to gather elsewhere in the city were rapidly thwarted amid the heavy security presence. Some protesters tried to block roads with burning tires before police intervened.

Credibility concerns

In a sign of tension elsewhere, supporters of a local candidate  who appeared to be losing  briefly blocked roads and disrupted traffic with burning tires in the eastern city of Butembo before dispersing.

The unrest follows the December 20 vote, which was marred by delays delivering election kits, malfunctioning equipment, and disorganized voting lists. Violence also disrupted the poll in some places.

The protest organizers have heavily criticized CENI's decision to extend voting at polling stations that failed to open on election day, calling it unconstitutional and grounds for a full re-run.

Some independent observers have also said the extension undermines the credibility of the poll.

CENI has acknowledged there were delays but denied that the legitimacy of the election was compromised by extending some voting.

Its latest tally on Tuesday put Tshisekedi well ahead of his 18 challengers, with almost 79% of around 6.1 million votes counted so far.

Around 44 million were registered to vote, although the number of ballots cast remains unknown.
As Congo copes with its biggest outbreak of mpox, scientists warn discrimination against gay and bisexual men on the continent could make it worse.

In November, the World Health Organization reported that mpox, also known as monkeypox, was being spread via sex in Congo for the first time.

That is a significant departure from previous flare-ups, where the virus mainly sickened people in contact with diseased animals.

Mpox has been in parts of central and west Africa for decades, but it was not until 2022 that it was documented to spread via sex; most of the 91,00 people infected in approximately 100 countries that year were gay or bisexual men.

In Africa, unwillingness to report symptoms could drive the outbreak underground, said Dimie Ogoina, an infectious diseases specialist at the Niger Delta University in Nigeria.

"It could be that because homosexuality is prohibited by law in most parts of Africa, many people do not come forward if they think they have been infected with mpox," Ogoina said.

WHO officials said they identified the first sexually transmitted cases of the more severe type of mpox in Congo last spring, shortly after a resident of Belgium who "identified himself as a man who has sexual relations with other men" arrived in Kinshasa, the Congolese capital. The U.N. health agency said five other people who had sexual contact with the man later became infected with mpox.

"We have been underestimating the potential of sexual transmission of mpox in Africa for years," said Ogoina, who with his colleagues, first reported in 2019 that mpox might be spreading via sex.

Gaps in monitoring make it a challenge to estimate how many mpox cases are linked to sex, he said. Still, most cases of mpox in Nigeria involve people with no known contact with animals, he noted.

In Congo, there have been about 13,350 suspected cases of mpox, including 607 deaths through the end of November with only about 10% of cases confirmed by laboratories. But how many infections were spread through sex isn't clear. WHO said about 70% of cases are in children under 15.

During a recent trip to Congo to assess the outbreak, WHO officials found there was "no awareness" among health workers that mpox could be spread sexually, resulting in missed cases.

WHO said health authorities had confirmed sexual transmission of mpox "between male partners and simultaneously through heterosexual transmission" in different parts of the country.

Mpox typically causes symptoms including a fever, skin rash, lesions and muscle soreness for up to one month. It is spread via close contact and most people recover without needing medical treatment.

During the 2022 major international outbreak, mass vaccination programs were undertaken in some countries, including Canada, Britain and the U.S., and targeted those at highest risk  gay and bisexual men. But experts say that's not likely to work in Africa for several reasons, including the stigma against gay communities.

"I don't think we'll see the same clamoring for vaccines in Africa that we saw in the West last year," said Dr. Boghuma Titanji, an assistant professor of medicine in infectious diseases at Emory University School of Medicine in Atlanta.

She said that the gay and bisexual men most at risk of mpox might be fearful of coming forward in a broad immunization program. Countries should work on ways to give the shots  if available  in a way that wouldn't stigmatize them, she said.

Dr. Jean-Jacques Muyemba, general director of Congo's National Institute of Biomedical Research, said two provinces in Congo had reported clusters of mpox spread through sex, a concerning development.

There's no licensed vaccine in Congo, and it would be hard to get enough shots for any large-scale program, Muyemba said. The country is trying to get a Japanese mpox vaccine, but regulatory issues are complicating the situation, he said.

Globally, only one vaccine has been authorized against mpox, made by Denmark's Bavarian Nordic. Supplies are very limited and even if they were available, they would have to be approved by the African countries using them or by WHO. To date, the vaccine has only been available in Congo through research.

Without greater efforts to stop the outbreaks in Africa, Ogoina predicted that mpox would continue to infect new populations, warning that the disease could also spark outbreaks in other countries, similar to the global emergency WHO declared last year.
Ukraines military said Thursday that Russian forces attacked overnight using eight drones launched from Russian territory near the Sea of Azov.

The Ukrainian air force said on Telegram that its air defenses shot down seven of the drones over the Dnipropetrovsk, Kirovohrad and Zaporizhzhya regions.

Russias Defense Ministry said Thursday its forces thwarted an attack by two Ukrainian drones targeting Crimea.

Ukrainian officials also said Thursday a Panama-flagged cargo ship hit a Russian naval mine in the Black Sea.

The officials said the ship was heading to a Danube River port to collect grain.

The incident sparked a fire on the ship and injured two people.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy thanked the United States for a new $250 million aid package, saying Thursday the military assistance will cover Ukraines most pressing needs.

To defend freedom and security not only in Ukraine and Europe but also in the United States, we must continue to respond to ongoing Russian aggression in the most forceful and resolute manner possible, Zelenskyy posted on X, formerly known as Twitter.

The Biden administration announced Wednesday the final drawdown of weapons and military equipment for Ukraine from U.S. stockpiles under the existing presidential authorization, with future assistance for Kyiv up to Congress.

The package includes air defense munitions, additional ammunition for High-Mobility Artillery Rocket Systems, 155 mm and 105 mm artillery ammunition, and anti-armor munitions, Secretary of State Antony Blinken said in a statement.

"Our assistance has been critical to supporting our Ukrainian partners as they defend their country and their freedom against Russia's aggression," Blinken said, adding that the arms and equipment were being provided under previously directed drawdowns for Ukraine.

National Security Council spokesman John Kirby said last week that President Joe Biden was planning one more military aid package in December, but that assistance after that would require an agreement in Congress, where the prospects for a deal are uncertain.

"When that one's done ... we will have no more replenishment authority available to us, and we're going to need Congress to act without delay," Kirby said on December 18.

Blinken urged Congress to act swiftly on new aid for Ukraine, "to advance our national security interests by helping Ukraine defend itself and secure its future."

Zelenskyy was in Washington December 12 to speak with U.S. lawmakers about Ukraine's needs. Biden has proposed $61 billion in aid for Ukraine, along with additional military aid for Israel and Taiwan, but the legislation has been stalled by Republican demands that the administration address border security.

Senate leaders said after Zelenskyy's visit that negotiators were "making encouraging progress" but "challenging issues remain."

Some material for this report came from The Associated Press, Agence France-Presse and Reuters.
U.S. and Mexican officials met Wednesday in Mexico City to discuss how to slow the surge of migrants at the countries shared border, where there have been as many as 10,000 illegal crossings into the United States daily in December.

The two sides, led by U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken and Mexican President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador, met for about two hours.

A senior Biden administration official told reporters that Mexican leaders told the U.S. delegation about new measures Mexico is taking, including cracking down on smugglers who put migrants on trains or buses heading toward the border.

"We were really impressed by some of the new actions that Mexico is taking, and we have seen in recent days a pretty significant reduction in border crossings," the official said.

Lopez Obrador said on social media late Wednesday that "important agreements were reached" to benefit the two countries and their people. He did not detail any specific deals.

He said earlier Wednesday that Mexico is willing to help but that he wants to see progress in U.S. relations with two of the top sources of migrants, Cuba and Venezuela. He also stressed the need for more development aid for the region.

"We have always talked about addressing the causes [of migration]. The ideal thing is to help poor countries," Lopez Obrador said.

U.S. Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas described Wednesdays talks as "productive."

"The regional challenge of migration requires regional solutions, and we appreciate Mexicos commitment to continue its efforts alongside us and with others," Mayorkas said on the social media site X formerly known as Twitter.

The critical one-day meeting came as migration numbers have reached record levels. In 2023, more than half a million migrants, many fleeing crime, poverty and regional conflicts, have crossed the Darien Gap jungle into Central America. That is double the number who attempted the trek in 2022.

The surge of arrests at the southwest U.S. border, with 10,000 migrants trying to cross each day, has strained the U.S. Customs and Border Protection agency.

On December 18, the United States briefly closed a pair of rail crossings with Mexico, citing migrants use of freight trains to travel to areas near the border and the need to redirect CBP personnel to assist the U.S. Border Patrol with taking migrants into custody.

Mexican Foreign Relations Secretary Alicia Barcena said after the meeting that it was important for Mexico to get the United States to reopen border crossings.

"We spoke about the importance of the border, and about the economic relationship ... the importance of reopening the border crossings, that is a priority for us," Barcena said.

Before the meeting, Blinkens office said he would "discuss unprecedented irregular migration in the Western Hemisphere and identify ways Mexico and the United States will address border security challenges, including actions to enable the reopening of key ports of entry across our shared border."

The migration crisis has become a roadblock for U.S. President Joe Biden. Congressional Republicans have made changes to immigration law a condition for passing legislation that includes U.S. military support for Ukraine, as well as Israel and Taiwan.

Also Wednesday, about 6,000 migrants and asylum-seekers, including small children, continued their slow march north from southern Mexico in a caravan hoping to reach the U.S. border.

Mexican authorities also moved to clear a migrant encampment along the border in Matamoros, across the Rio Grande River from Brownsville, Texas.

Some information for this report came from The Associated Press, Agence France-Presse and Reuters.
This photo taken on Nov. 25, 2023 shows the construction site of U.S. base in Henoko coastal area in Nago, Okinawa, Japan. The Japanese government on Thursday gave the green light to a revised plan for a key U.S. base relocation within Okinawa prefecture, taking the unprecedented step of overriding the prefectural government's objection, local media reported. (Xinhua/Feng Wuyong)

TOKYO, Dec. 28 (Xinhua) -- The Japanese government on Thursday gave the green light to a revised plan for a key U.S. base relocation within Okinawa prefecture, taking the unprecedented step of overriding the prefectural government's objection, local media reported.

The Defense Ministry will start to work to reinforce soft ground at the relocation site for the U.S. Marine Corps' Futenma air base as early as Jan. 12, Kyodo News reported, citing a government source.

The approval of the design change marked the central government's first-ever proxy execution of a local government administrative task under the local autonomy law, the report said.

The proxy execution came after Okinawa Governor Denny Tamaki, who has been pushing to move the Futenma base out of the southernmost prefecture, refused to follow a recent court order for him to approve the design change.

The central government plans to relocate the Futenma base from a crowded residential district in Ginowan to the less populated Henoko coastal area in Nago, which is also in Okinawa.

"It is not just an issue for Okinawa prefecture," Tamaki told reporters following the central government's approval, noting that the execution by proxy is unacceptable as it robs the prefectural government's administrative authority and means they are trying to construct a new base by infringing on "our autonomy and independence".

In September, Tamaki told a United Nations Human Rights Council meeting in Geneva that the concentration of U.S. military bases in Okinawa threatens peace, noting that the Japanese government is forcibly filling in precious sea areas to build a new U.S. military base, regardless of the opinions of local residents.

The governor has also, on multiple occasions, expressed concerns over excessive levels of toxic per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances detected in the water around U.S. military bases in Japan.

The island of Okinawa hosts 70 percent of all the U.S. military bases in Japan while accounting for only 0.6 percent of the country's total land area. More than 70 percent of local residents opposed the U.S. military base construction on the Henoko landfill, according to the 2019 Okinawa prefecture voting results. 

This photo taken on Nov. 25, 2023 shows a placard protesting against the construction of U.S. base in Henoko coastal area near the U.S. Marine Corps' Camp Schwab in Okinawa, Japan. The Japanese government on Thursday gave the green light to a revised plan for a key U.S. base relocation within Okinawa prefecture, taking the unprecedented step of overriding the prefectural government's objection, local media reported. (Xinhua/Feng Wuyong)
U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken said Wednesday the United States will not rest until Paul Whelan, an American jailed in Russia, is back home safely.

The latest pledge from the government comes as Thursday marks five years since Russian authorities arrested Whelan.

The former U.S. Marine is serving a 16-year sentence on spying charges that he and the United States say are without merit.

"For far too long, Paul and his family have suffered the consequences of the Russian governments decision to wrongfully detain U.S. citizens," Blinken said in a statement Wednesday.

"Using people as political pawns is unacceptable," he said.

In an interview published by the BBC last week, Whelan said he felt "abandoned" by the United States.

The White House said last week it was working on a new proposal to Russia to free Whelan and Wall Street Journal reporter Evan Gershkovich, who is facing trial on spying charges.

Russia rejected a previous U.S. proposal to free the two Americans that the U.S. considers wrongfully detained.

Some information for this report came from The Associated Press, Agence France-Presse and Reuters.
President Nicolas Maduro ordered Venezuela's armed forces to conduct defensive exercises in the eastern Caribbean after the United Kingdom sent a warship toward Guyana's territorial waters. The two South American neighbors are locked in a dispute over a large border region.

In a nationally televised address on Thursday, Maduro said that 6,000 Venezuelan troops, including air and naval forces, will conduct joint operations off the nation's eastern coast near the border with Guyana.

Maduro described the impending arrival of British ship HMS Trent to Guyana's shores as a threat to his country. He argued the ship's deployment violates a recent agreement between the South American nations.

"We believe in diplomacy, in dialogue and in peace, but no one is going to threaten Venezuela," Maduro said, accompanied by a dozen military commanders. "This is an unacceptable threat to any sovereign country in Latin America."

Border disputed

Venezuela and Guyana are currently involved in a border dispute over the Essequibo, a sparsely populated region the size of Florida with vast oil deposits off its shores.

The region has been under Guyana's control for decades, but in December, Venezuela relaunched its historical claim to the Essequibo through a referendum in which it asked voters in the country whether the Essequibo should be turned into a Venezuelan state.

As tensions over the region escalated, the leaders of both countries met in the Caribbean island of St. Vincent and signed an agreement that said they would solve their dispute through nonviolent means.

During the talks, however, Guyana's President Irfaan Ali said his nation reserved its right to work with its partners to ensure the defense of his country.

On Thursday, Guyanese officials described the visit of HMS Trent as a planned activity aimed at improving the nation's defense capabilities and said the ship's visit will continue as scheduled.

"Nothing that we do or have done is threatening Venezuela," Guyana's Vice President Bharrat Jagdeo told reporters in Georgetown, the nation's capital.

HMS Trent is a patrol and rescue ship that was recently used to intercept drug traffickers off the West Coast of Africa. It can accommodate up to 30 sailors and a contingent of 18 marines, and is equipped with 30 mm cannons and a landing pad for helicopters and drones.

The ship had been sent to Barbados in early December to intercept drug traffickers, but its mission was changed on December 24, when it was sent to Guyana. Authorities did not specify when it was expected to arrive off Guyana's shores.

The United Kingdom's Defense Ministry said the ship would be conducting joint operations with Guyana's defense forces.

The nation of 800,000 people has a small military made up of 3,000 soldiers, 200 sailors and four small patrol boats known as Barracudas.

Venezuela says it was the victim of a land theft conspiracy in 1899, when Guyana was a British colony and arbitrators from Britain, Russia and the United States decided the boundary. The U.S. represented Venezuela in part because the Venezuelan government had broken off diplomatic relations with Britain.

Venezuelan officials contend Americans and Europeans colluded to cheat their country out of the land. They also argue that an agreement among Venezuela, Britain and the colony of British Guiana signed in 1966 to resolve the dispute effectively nullified the original arbitration.

Guyana maintains the initial accord is legal and binding and asked the United Nations' top court in 2018 to rule it as such, but a decision is years away. The century-old dispute was recently reignited with the discovery of oil in Guyana.
An influx of Chinese investors in Vietnamese supporting industries could cause domestic businesses to suffer from the competition, the president of the Vietnam Association for Supporting Industries warned.

Phan Dang Tuats statement came a week after Vietnam and China agreed to expand their trade cooperation during Chinese President Xi Jinping's mid-December visit, during which the two countries signed 36 cooperation documents. Vietnam and China pledged to strengthen their cooperation in economic zones, investment, trade and other areas, said a joint statement issued on December 13.

According to economic experts, the agreements will open opportunities for Vietnam to attract high-quality direct investment from China.

But Tuat said the wave of Chinese supporting-industry firms arriving in the Southeast Asian country is concerning.

Supporting industries supply raw materials and components to manufacturers.

Tuat voiced his concern at the Ministry of Industry and Trades year-end conference on December 20, questioning the rapid and large-scale entry of Chinese firms into the market, according VN Express International, a Vietnamese newspaper.

Chinese supporting industry companies are flocking to Vietnam, swiftly forming large-scale components and parts production chains to export to Europe and North America, Tuat said.

This is a huge concern for domestic supporting industry enterprises, Tuat said, according to VN Express International.

China-U.S. trade war

Since then-U.S. President Donald Trump launched a trade war with China in 2018, many Chinese products have been found to be disguised or labeled as Made in Vietnam to avoid U.S. tariffs on goods imported from China, according to reports by Reuters.

The trade war has also encouraged Chinese firms to move their production to other countries, including Vietnam, to bypass U.S. tariffs.

Meanwhile, Tuat told the ministrys conference that because of a lack of economies of scale, Vietnam's domestic firms are grappling with expensive capital and high manufacturing expenses, making it difficult to compete with Chinese firms, according to Vietnam-based Tuoi Tre.

Vietnamese companies in 2023 saw a 40% drop in revenue partly because of fewer orders from major markets, such as Europe, according to Tuat.

He also said that Vietnams unusually high lending rates have undermined the nation's supporting industry enterprises, which number about 1,500 companies. (Whereas Vietnamese firms are required to borrow from Vietnamese banks at rates of 10% to 12%, foreign investors can borrow abroad at significantly lower rates, according to reports by Tuoi Tre.)

Ha Hoang Hop, an associate senior fellow at Singapore-based ISEAS-Yusof Ishak Institute, told VOA: This should serve as a wake-up call for Vietnam to speed up its supporting industries in order to catch up with Chinese competitors who are way ahead.

There is reason for concern, Pham Chi Lan, former general secretary of Vietnam Chamber of Commerce and Industry, told VOA.

But we need to face that fact and learn from the lesson in the past where foreign investors chose Chinese suppliers instead of Vietnamese for their production in Vietnam, she said.

Semiconductors a potential boon

The U.S.-China trade war has led semiconductor investors to shift their focus to Vietnam, a potential boon for the Southeast Asian nation, according to Hop and Lan.

The U.S. has included Vietnam in its friendshoring network, and Vietnam should make the most out of this, said Hop, referring to the practice of focusing supply chain networks in countries regarded as U.S. political and economic allies.

Experts said Vietnam is well-positioned to draw U.S. investors seeking to de-risk supply chain investments in China.

The competition between the U.S. and China is getting intense when the U.S. is banning the export of some equipment and technology to China, and this is a great opportunity for Vietnam to be able to secure some deals, said Hop, referring to the U.S. export ban on chipmaking equipment and rare-earth technologies.

Lan, who was an adviser to the late Vietnamese Prime Ministers Vo Van Kiet and Phan Van Khai, agreed with Hop.

The U.S., Japan and European countries want Vietnam to be strong for their benefits instead of being weak and dependent on China, Lan said.

Following an historic U.S.-Vietnam business summit in September that bolstered ties between the countries, Vietnam then elevated Japan into its circle of comprehensive strategic partners, on par with China, in November. Washington and Tokyo sought to upgrade ties with Hanoi to offset Beijings expansion of power in the region and reduce its dependence on Chinese supply chains, according to experts who spoke with VOA.

Announcing its new partnership with Vietnam, the U.S. State Department described it as a way to explore opportunities to grow and diversify the global semiconductor ecosystem that will help create more resilient, secure and sustainable global semiconductor value chain.

Vietnam is poised to expand into chip-designing and possibly chip-making as trade tensions between the United States and China create opportunities for the country, according to Lan and Hop.
Israels military said its forces carried out a raid Thursday in the West Bank targeting people alleged to have helped finance the militant group Hamas, while its military campaign to eliminate Hamas in the Gaza Strip continued with airstrikes and ground operations in northern, central and southern Gaza.

An Israel Defense Forces statement said it arrested 21 people and confiscated tens of millions in Israeli currency in the West Bank operation.

Israeli forces also carried out an airstrike in Jenin and ground troops fired on Palestinians in response to what the military said were people firing at Israeli troops.

The West Bank raid was the latest in a long series of operations that Israel has carried out there, saying its forces are conducting counterterrorism activities.

The U.N. human rights office issued a report Thursday saying the human rights situation in the West Bank has "deteriorated rapidly" since the October 7 Hamas attack on Israel.

The Office of the U.N. High Commissioner for Human Rights said it verified 300 Palestinian deaths in the West Bank since October 7, with 291 Palestinians killed by Israeli forces, eight by Israeli settlers and one killed by either Israeli forces or settlers.

The report said most of the deaths took place during confrontations and clashes between Palestinians and Israeli troops, including at protests and as Israeli troops conducted operations in Palestinian towns.

"The use of military tactics means and weapons in law enforcement contexts, the use of unnecessary or disproportionate force, and the enforcement of broad, arbitrary and discriminatory movement restrictions that affect Palestinians are extremely troubling," U.N. High Commissioner for Human Rights Volker Turk said.

Turk called on Israel to take action to stop settler violence and investigate all incidents of violence by settlers and Israeli forces.

The U.N. humanitarian office warned that intensified fighting in the Gaza Strip, frequent communications disruptions, blocked roads and a lack of fuel are posing "significant challenges to humanitarian operations."

The World Health Organization also said its teams have undertaken "high-risk missions to deliver supplies, with partners, to hospitals in northern and southern Gaza.

"Today I repeat my call on the international community to take urgent steps to alleviate the grave peril facing the population of Gaza and jeopardizing the ability of humanitarian workers to help people with terrible injuries, acute hunger, and at severe risk of disease," said WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus.

As Israel remains focused on its campaign to eliminate Hamas, designated a terrorist organization by the U.S. and others, French President Emmanuel Macron called Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, urging him to work toward a sustainable cease-fire with the help of regional and international partners.

On October 7, Hamas militants poured over the border with Israel and attacked southern Israeli communities, killing about 1,200 people, according to Israel. Hamas also seized around 240 hostages, of whom 129 remain in Gaza.

In response, Israel vowed to crush Hamas and launched an air, land and sea attack on Gaza. The Israeli offensive has left vast parts of Gaza in ruins and killed more than 21,000 Palestinians, according to the Hamas-run Gaza health ministry.

The Israeli military says 167 of its troops have been killed.

Some material for this report came from The Associated Press, Agence France-Presse and Reuters.
Many Zimbabweans say the ripple effects of the drought will be felt in their pockets as the El Nino phenomenon is expected to hit the agricultural sector, which is one of the key levers of the southern African nations economy. Economic commentator Rejoice Ngwenya of the Common Market for Liberal Solutions says Zimbabweans will suffer next year as there is no solution in sight of fixing the economy.

There is an English saying that only a fool can do the same thing all over again and expert different results. Now this is what I see of the Zimbabwe economy in 2024. ED Mnanagwa government has been trouncing the same old path, the same old policies with the same old game, with the same old players over and over again. The government that lacks depth and creativity there is absolutely nothing which Zimbabweans can expect in 2024 because like I said there is nothing that shows that this government has an interest in creating anything new.

Freedom Alliance secretary general Nhlanhla Moses Ncube concurs, adding that President Emmerson Mnangagwas government lacks vision to transform the countrys economy, which according to the World Bank was the fastest growing economy in southern Africa since 2021.

I think 2024 will not be a better year than any other considering that the 2023 elections were contested for not being free, fair and credible and also looking at the flawed (national) budget which took us back to the Ian Smith colonial regime where there was a hut tax if you remember. And then we also have a cabinet that is composed of recycled dead wood, a cabinet of Zanu PF people that have been there some of them since 1980.

But Zanu PF activist Xavier Zvavare based in the United Kingdom says the Zimbabwe economy wont tank to the extent of erasing gains made in the past three years.

We are looking towards an interesting year for the ordinary people and ofcourse as Zanu PF we are optimistic that measures which the minister of finance intends to implement will help stabilize the economy and not only to stabilize but propel it to greater heights. We are aware of the concerns of most of our supporters and the general populace in Zimbabwe regarding the economy and ofcourse we are also praying because we are an agro-based economy that we have enough rains that our dams that we have constructed in the second republic as you are aware will have enough water so that we can have enough irrigation, enough farming activities to keep the economy going.

For Anglistone Sibanda, director of Afrique Technologies, business executives should plan properly in order to survive in 2024.

Whats important as an entrepernuer is to be able to identify opportunities in the midst of the challenges that we are facing, in the midst of adversity, which is what I would encourage fellow entrepernuers to do. Yes, the World Bank has predicted positive economic growth on Zimbabwe but the challenges are still there. We have challenges around liquidity, we have challenges around access to capital, challenges around the exchange rate. But whats important is to be able to forecast for the future.

In its recent Zimbabwe Economic Review Update, the World Bank predicted a slump in the economy in 2024 after noting that economic activity accelerated in the country in the last few years, despite global challenges. The mining sector is expected to experience a 7% growth next in 2023, down from 8% in 2022 due to rising costs and chronic electricity shortages.
COLOMBO, Dec. 28 (Xinhua) -- Sri Lanka is expected to give an extra dose of the measles, mumps, and rubella (MMR) vaccine to infants aged 6-8 months in nine of the country's 25 districts following the resurfacing of measles, a government official said here on Thursday.

Secretary to the Ministry of Health Palitha Mahipala told a press conference that moreover, children aged nine months to 15 years who have not received the MMR vaccine, can get vaccinated from Jan. 6 next year.

There have been over 700 cases of measles reported nationwide since May this year, mostly in the Colombo district, he said.

Cases have also been reported from the Gampaha, Kalutara, Galle, Matara, Kandy, Jaffna, Kurunegala, and Ampara districts.

The health ministry will establish 1,600 clinics across the South Asian country for people to access the vaccine, according to Mahipala.

In 2019, the World Health Organization (WHO) said that Sri Lanka had successfully eradicated the contagious disease thanks to a successful vaccination campaign.

Mahipala said that due to the COVID-19 pandemic, immunization coverage has dropped and this has allowed the resurgence of measles cases in the country. 
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YANGON, Dec. 28 (Xinhua) -- Myanmar authorities have seized 10.12 kilograms of heroin worth over 253 million kyats (about 120,476 U.S. dollars) in the central region of Mandalay, said the Central Committee for Drug Abuse Control (CCDAC) late Thursday.

Acting on a tip-off, anti-narcotic police searched a vehicle on Dec. 24 in Pyigyidagun township of Mandalay and confiscated the drug.

The investigation revealed that the drug was being trafficked from Shan state to Mandalay region, the committee said. 
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 Some of Australias best-loved writers revisit the places close to their hearts. See all 7 stories . You arrive late evening, the ground blanketed in snow. There is no sign of the city that lies in the distance behind fog and darkness, not even the faintest gleam of light suggests its spires and turrets, its cobbled streets and stone bridges. You stand for a long time, looking into the emptiness, much like K in The Castle, a book youve just read by the citys most celebrated son, Franz Kafka. And then you set forth, towards a place that exists as much in legend as it does on the banks of the Vltava River. I was a small child when I first came to Prague. The Czech capital was still behind the Iron Curtain, its gothic splendour untouched by the kind of raging progress that would later make fast food restaurants and trinket shops out of churches. Little could I have appreciated the paranoid malaise that gripped the city. Bram Presser in front of the Kafka statue in Prague. I was there with my parents and brother to visit Babicka, my great-grandmother, in her small flat in Zizkov. I didnt notice the men in dark suits waiting near the entrance to our hotel or leaning against the trees that lined Babickas street while we sat inside eating svickova and bread dumplings. We made the trip to Prague three times, and it was always the same. Mum only explained it to me after the Velvet Revolution had brought freedom to the country. By then, Babicka had died. Many years later I would reframe these visits through noirish thrillers like Innocence, or Murder on Steep Street by Heda Margolius Kovaly, in which the staff at a local cinema become embroiled in the murder of a secret policeman. I would come to appreciate the dignity of my cousins rising above the machinery of an oppressive state in Bohumil Hrabals Too Loud a Solitude, a miniature masterpiece about an ageing functionary who is forced to collect and compact unfavourable books until he, too, is discarded. And Utz by Bruce Chatwin, which shed new light on Babickas one visit to Australia in 1984 when, behind the joy, she, much like Kaspar Utz, was skittish and in a rush to get back lest the authorities confiscate her meagre possessions and punish her loved ones. Snow blankets the Charles Bridge in Prague. Credit: AP The Prague of my childhood became the Prague of my dreams. A haptic theatre of marionettes. I wandered its streets at night, remembering the Astronomical Clock and the fallen gravestones behind the Klausen Synagogue. I imagined a network of rooftop crawlspaces and cramped living quarters, fuelled by the likes of Hermann Ungars psychological thriller The Maimed, which charts the mental collapse of an inept, lowly bank clerk whose landlady demands increasingly perverse sexual services, and Karel Polaceks pre-war classic What Ownerships All About, where a policeman becomes the despotic slumlord to a cast of unfortunate souls.

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It was almost a decade before I would return, alone this time, eager to chase the phantoms that had inhabited my sleep. More than anything, I wanted to find the golem, the man of clay crafted by the 16th-century mystic, Rabbi Judah Loew, to protect Pragues Jews from the rising tide of violent anti-Semitism. Its remains were said to be stored in the attic of the Alte Neu synagogue, the very place my grandfather had worked as secretary to the chief rabbi of Prague after the war. There are many serious books about Loews fabled homunculus, but Ive always found Gustav Meyrinks decadent horror The Golem to be far more enticing. A very Czech Dr. Jekyll-like story, it oozes with creeping dread, its descriptions of the city claustrophobic and delightfully eerie. There was a half house, Meyrink writes, crooked with a receding forehead, and beside it one that stuck out like a tusk. The Old Town Square, lit up for its annual Christmas market. Credit: Milan Jaros/Bloomberg Any fantasy I had of being swept up in my own gothic adventure was soon dashed. Post-communist Prague was in the throes of unfettered commercialism, the kind only deprivation can breed. It cared nought for folk legends other than to make a quick buck from them. Franz Kafka had become an over-saturated commodity, his face on tea towels and coffee mugs. In time, a statue would be erected outside the Spanish Synagogue, and then a weird, undulating metallic head next to a sushi shop. Other than the architecture itself, which had transformed into the ill-fitting carapace of a giant insect, so little of Pragues many previous iterations seemed to remain. My search seemed futile. Perhaps, as Michael Chabon would later imagine in his Pulitzer Prize-winning novel The Amazing Adventures of Kavalier and Clay, the creatures remains were smuggled out of the city and taken to America. The only golem I would find was mass-produced and palm-sized, available for just 150 Czech crowns in every corner gift shop. My disappointment soon passed. It was impossible to resist Pragues new joie de vivre, something captured with great comic panache by Michal Viewegh in Bringing Up Girls in Bohemia. There, Beata, the daughter of one of Pragues nouveau riche barons, navigates a world of glitzy nightclubs, Mafioso hangouts, and an increasingly absurd succession of fashionable causes. In his vivid descriptions, I recognised the drunken Brits on stag weekends and gaudy neon lights advertising absinthe on every second corner. There was, of course, a dark underbelly to it all. Jachym Topols Angel Station, often considered the Czech answer to Trainspotting, provides a harrowing glimpse into the life and crimes of the drug-addicted wastrels unmoored by boundless opportunity. The citys Globe Bookstore and Cafe is always on the must-see list. The two books serve as eye-opening counterpoints, but it is Vieweghs that seems more representative of the wryly cynical Czech mindset Ive come to love. His was a natural evolution of the good humour that underscores many of the citys best books. Two that immediately spring to mind could not have a darker backdrop  the Nazi occupation  and yet they shine with defiant glee. Jiri Weils hilarious Mendelssohn Is on the Roof concerns a junior SS officer who is ordered to remove the statue of Jewish composer Felix Mendelssohn from the roof of the Prague concert hall. Unfamiliar with the physical particulars of musical legends, but confident in the racial theory he has so conscientiously been studying, he takes a punt and destroys the statue with the largest nose.

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Opinion FoodRestaurant news Everywhere I turned there was care, beauty and optimism, just like Bill himself Renowned Sydney chef Kylie Kwong pays tribute to the late Bill Granger, with whom she opened the lauded billy kwong restaurant in 2000. Kylie Kwong December 27, 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

Bill Granger and Kylie Kwong in 2000 at the opening of their joint venture, billy kwong in Surry Hills. Jennifer Soo It was 1998, and I had spent two years running the 400-seat restaurant called Wokpool for Neil Perry. I yearned to work in a small-scale, intimate-style eatery and business. After a month of rest and re-evaluation, I called Bill Granger out of the blue. I had never met Bill before, nor had I been to his eponymous cafes (at the time he had bills2 in Surry Hills, alongside his original bills in Darlinghurst), but I had certainly heard about them. Fortunately, the timing was right and there was a chefs position available, so I began working at the original bills. It was a steep learning curve for this 29-year-old Australian-Chinese chef who didnt know how to cook scrambled eggs or ricotta hotcakes, the signatures of his restaurants. The ricotta hotcakes at bills in Darlinghurst. Wolter Peeters

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Bill, I am so sorry, but I am Chinese, and, um, we just dont eat this type of food, we have congee for breakfast. Can you please teach me? I want to learn, I said to him at the time. Bill and I hit it off immediately. As well as our obsession with cooking and sharing fresh, beautiful, locally grown, simply cooked, flavoursome food, we had an instant creative connection. I was especially inspired by the beauty and idiosyncratic nature of bills in Darlinghurst; how Bill had made this tiny, jewel of a space so completely and utterly stunning. Everywhere I turned there was care, beauty and optimism, just like Bill himself.

Bill Granger serving at bills in Darlinghurst in 2002. Like everyone else, I was drawn to the open, natural, casual, sunny vibe of that generous, heartfelt space with its iconic, oversized, welcoming wooden table. Being inside bills simply made me feel good.



Bill was a former art student, and I could see and feel his artistic eye and character in every single aspect of his business. Bill had an extremely high emotional intelligence for someone so young. We were the same age  both just shy of 30  when we first met.

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I had never met anyone like Bill, there was connection on so many levels. We had countless deep and meaningful conversations about our rich and complex family lives; our unique relationships with our parents; our differing childhood experiences; our love of art and beauty; and our ideas about what hospitality truly means. Kylie Kwong and Bill Granger in the tiny billy kwong. I will cherish these memories. Bill made me feel good about my individuality and quirks. One of his greatest qualities was the way he celebrated people and accepted them for who they truly were. Everyone who knew Bill remembers how non-judgemental he was; he saw the sunlight in everyone and every situation. I had never met anyone like Bill, there was connection on so many levels. I felt like Bill understood my true nature. I went on to become Bills head chef for both bills Darlinghurst and bills2 Surry Hills.

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Then, in 2000, we joined forces and opened the original billy kwong  an amalgamation of his first name and my surname  in Crown Street, Surry Hills. Because Bill already had two small businesses under his belt, he was able to offer much guidance and support in the opening of billy kwong. Kylie and Bill in the kitchen at billy kwong. Sahlan Hayes Bills father and my mother helped us with the administration, and one of my brothers did the graphic design  it was a true family business. Bill made an indelible impression on me and my life as a restaurateur. Some 23 years later, in my current eatery Lucky Kwong, I can see bill-isms everywhere, in the small, intimate, aesthetically beautiful space, filled with handpicked precious objects and artworks. I want this space to light up our diners hearts and souls, just like Bill did for anyone fortunate enough to cross his path. My heart goes out to Bills extraordinary life partner Natalie and their three beautiful children. Amid this unfathomable loss, I know that Bills exceptional spirit will continue to shine brightly and deeply for years to come

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Australians in Lebanon should leave the country as soon as possible, warned acting Foreign Minister Mark Dreyfus, following confirmation that two citizens were killed in an Israeli airstrike.

Iran-backed militant group Hezbollah said one of two Australian brothers killed in the strike on Wednesday, Ali Bazzi, was one of its fighters, which Dreyfus said the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT) was still investigating.

The two men, Ali and Ibrahim Bazzi, as well as Ibrahims wife Shorouk, died in Israeli attacks on the southern Lebanese city of Bint Jbeil. However, family and friends of Ibrahim, who was known by loved ones as Bob, said they believed he had no connection to Hezbollah and wished he had never travelled there while the conflict was still unfolding.

From left to right: Hussein Saab, Kawthar Roumie, Ali Saab, Sam and Yousef. They are all close friends of Ibrahim Bob Bazzi, who was killed along with his wife and brother in an airstrike on the family home in the southern Lebanese town of Bint Jbei. Credit: Kate Geraghty

Speaking from Melbourne on Thursday, Dreyfus said he had received confirmation from the Israeli government the two men had died, and any Australians who fought with, associated with, or gave money to Hezbollah  a listed terror organisation  would be committing a crime.
Stacey Chater was out for dinner when her eldest son Brayden texted her from work Christmas drinks: Im getting a fever again. Im coming home.

Two hours later, Chater peered into her sons bedroom to find him convulsing on the floor, unresponsive and unable to speak. Soon she was in the car, trailing an ambulance on the way to Wollongong Hospital, where doctors pulled her into a room and told her that Brayden was brain-dead. He had just turned 23.

Stacey and Ralph Chater are facing a second Christmas without their son Brayden, who died at just 23 after contracting meningococcal B. Credit: Louise Kennerley

In the blur of the days following his death, doctors called Chater to tell her Brayden had died from meningococcal B.

I never knew there was a strain of meningococcal [disease] that my children werent vaccinated against  or that the vaccine existed, she said. I try really hard to be positive and remember good things and how lucky I was to have him for 23 years.
Homewares retailer Bed Bath N Table has won a misleading and deceptive conduct claim against a rival seller of bed linen and soft furnishings, after a Federal Court judge found consumers were likely to be confused by the similarities in branding.

Bed Bath N Table sued Global Retail Brands Australia, the company behind House kitchenware and hard homewares stores, for trademark infringement and misleading and deceptive conduct in 2021 after House launched the first of a series of soft homewares stores dubbed House Bed & Bath.

Hamptons style

Bed Bath N Table, founded in 1976, is the owner of a trio of registered trademarks relating to its name. Global Retail Brands Australia bought the House business in 2007, but the House name had been used by its predecessors since at least 1978.
KIEV, Dec. 27 (Xinhua) -- Ukraine has launched mass production of long-range kamikaze drones, the Ukrayinska Pravda media outlet reported Wednesday, citing Ukrainian Strategic Industries Minister Oleksandr Kamyshin.

"We are manufacturing dozens of these drones. Next year, the Ukrainian Armed Forces are set to receive more than a thousand such drones," Kamyshin told a press conference.

According to the official, the new drones have a flying range of more than 1,000 km.

This year, Ukraine has allocated 40 billion hryvnias (about 1.06 billion U.S. dollars) for drone production.

Last week, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said that his country plans to produce about 1 million drones next year. 
A teenage boy has died after being bitten by a shark at a remote beach on South Australias Yorke Peninsula.

Emergency services were called to Ethel Beach in Innes National Park following reports of a shark attack at 1.30pm on Thursday.

There, at the popular surf beach hemmed in by towering cliffs, they recovered the teenagers body.

Local surfer Luke Sykora spoke of his shock following the tragedy.
Detained children are attacking officers with make-shift blades, metal plates and planks of wood as frightening new details about WAs youth justice system emerge.

9 News Perth reported the Department of Justice had confirmed some children were being locked in their cells for 24 hours at a time, with more than 18 serious assaults against staff recorded in the past 18 months.

Most of the assaults happened in Unit 18, the notorious youth justice wing established within Casuarina Prison, a maximum security adult jail, in 2022 to house the highest risk detainees.

In February, a Unit 18 officer was hospitalised after being punched in the face by a detainee. During the same month other guards were headbutted in the face, bitten on the knee, and kicked in the head.
Applications from Indians overseas to study in Australia are being rejected at a rate more than 50 per cent higher than those from China, sparking accusations the government is sending mixed messages to Australias second-largest international student cohort after government ministers travelled to the subcontinent to promote tertiary education.

Home Affairs data shows just over 10 per cent of Indian nationals offshore applications to study at international colleges were accepted so far this financial year as authorities crack down on visa fraud in the sector. Just 58.9 per cent of Indian student visas for universities were approved.

The government wants to improve educational ties with India, but critics say a low number of visa approvals sends a mixed message. Credit: Edwina Pickles

Offshore applications from Nepalese students have also been targeted, with just 47 per cent approved for universities, and 9.1 per cent for the vocational education and training (VET) sector since July.

In comparison, offshore applications from Chinese students  Australias largest international student cohort  were approved 97.7 per cent of the time for universities this financial year, and 42.1 per cent of the time for the VET sector during the same period.
Dining on board Regent Seven Seas Grandeur. Although technically a 2023 ship  Grandeur was christened in Miami on December 23 by godmother Sarah Faberge of the famous jewellery family  2024 is the year to sail inaugural itineraries in the Caribbean, Canada and New England, or the Mediterranean. The 750-guest ship is Regents sixth and will have its signature opulence and multi-million-dollar artworks, among which is a custom Faberge egg. The ship has all-balcony suites, an expansive spa and wellness area and seven dining venues. It carries 746 guests and 532 crew to provide Regents much-admired personalised service. See rssc.com Japan cruises, Ponant Island chain off Okinawa, Japan. Credit: iStock French luxury expedition company Ponant has developed new itineraries in Japan from March 2024 on Le Jacques-Cartier and Le Soleal that include some destinations never previously visited by any cruise ship. Among them is a sailing of the Seto Inland Sea between Kagoshima and Kobe and a Kyushu islands itinerary between Kagoshima and Fukuoka in southern Japan. Some itineraries take in ports in neighbouring countries, such as Busan, Yeosu or Jeju in South Korea, or Ha Long in Vietnam. A new eight-day journey between Keelung in Taiwan and Kagoshima takes in Japans subtropical Yaeyama and Okinawa archipelagos. See ponant.com

Queen Anne, Cunard The Queen Anne under construction in Italy. Credit: Christopher Iver Cunards fourth and latest regal ship sets sail from Southampton in May 2024 on a series of itineraries in the Canary Islands, northern Europe and the Mediterranean, and by February 2025 will have reached Australia. The 2996-guest ship promises art deco touches and classic Cunard style from the Golden Age of trans-Atlantic sailing, combined with contemporary design from a team with experience in high-end restaurants and hotels. It will have Cunards largest spa at sea and 15 restaurant choices. Among four restaurants new to Cunard and unusual at sea are an Australian steakhouse and Indian restaurant. See cunard.com

Note that Cunard will no longer homeport the Queen Elizabeth in Australia from 2026 onwards and will only visit the Southern Hemisphere on world cruise segments. Long links to Australia, Viking Cruises Padar Island, Komodo National Park, Indonesia.

Viking has responded to the growing demand for longer cruise itineraries with several new offerings next year. Those who want the convenience of either starting or finishing in Australia have a choice of two, the first a 40-day itinerary from Los Angeles to Sydney departing January 6, 2024 that takes in Hawaii, French Polynesia and New Zealand. The second departing February 15 links Sydney with Singapore via the east coast and Indonesia. Viking also launches new ship Viking Vela in mid-2024, taking the number of its near-identical ocean ships into double digits. See vikingcruises.com.au Solis Restaurant, Seabourn Luxury company Seabourn has long had excellent and pleasingly informal dining, but isnt resting on its considerable laurels because next year the luxury brand is introducing new dining venue Solis, which will focus on light, modern Mediterranean cuisine. Among the dishes will be the likes of whole sea bass baked in sea salt and thyme crust; Florentine porterhouse steak; and spiced lamb shank with char-grilled eggplant, tahine and pomegranate. A chic atmosphere and feel-good background music are promised. Solis arrives on Seabourn Quest in January 2024 and will be expanded onto other ships in the months thereafter. See seabourn.com SS Victoria, Uniworld Those who hanker after luxury river cruising can sashay aboard a new addition to the Uniworld fleet from northern spring 2024. SS Victoria isnt brand new  it was acquired from Crystal Cruises  but has been overhauled to reflect Uniworlds distinctive sense of flamboyant style in lavish marble, leather and velvet. The 110-guest ship features a fine-dining restaurant, bistro, grill for light meals and cocktails, rooftop bar, gym and massage room. The ship launches with eight-day tulip-time cruises through the Netherlands and Belgium, followed by eight-day Amsterdam-to-Basel itineraries and 10-day sails along the Rhine and Moselle. See uniworld.com

Northern Italy under sail, Lindblad Small-ship expedition company Lindblad always does interesting things, and next year is offering the chance to cruise the Mediterranean the original and romantic way, with sails billowing. The journey between Nice and Naples on tall ship Sea Cloud II has three departures in May 2024 and is filled with maritime history in ports such as Genoa, where Christopher Columbus was born, and ship-building centre Camogli. The highlight destinations are no doubt the Ligurian and Amalfi coasts, but equally interesting is Tuscan island Elba where Napoleon was exiled, and Renaissance town Pisa. See au.expeditions.com Explora II, Explora Journeys The owners of MSC Cruises launched into the luxury market this year with Explora I, and second ship Explora II is scheduled for August 2024. The 922-guest ship promises a similar boutique-hotel feel and will feature a spa, casino, 12 lounges and bars, six restaurants and a culinary school. Interestingly, the usual cruise-ship main pool deck, which tends to become cluttered and crowded, has been abandoned, with the ship instead featuring three outdoor pools (one adults-only) and another indoors. Explora II will sail inaugural itineraries in the Mediterranean, Middle East, Indian Ocean and Africa. See explorajourneys.com Special guests, Aurora Expeditions

Australian expedition company Aurora has always had a special-guest program that features highly respected conservationists, adventurers, photographers and climate activists. In 2024 guest speakers include digital and broadcast presenter Saunders Carmichael-Brown on a 14-day Deep Weddell voyage in March, and Aurora founder Greg Mortimer on a 24-day Arctic Complete voyage in July. Adventurer and rewilding facilitator Gina Chick (winner of Alone Australia) and media personality Richard Morecroft, who has authored several books and television documentaries on wildlife, join guests on a 21-day Falklands, South Georgia & Antarctic Peninsula journey departing March 13, 2024. See auroraexpeditions.com.au MS Estrela, APT Portugals Douro River at Porto. APTs newest purpose-built ship begins sailing Portugals Douro River in 2024. Carrying 114 guests, it promises an intimate sailing experience, Iberian-inspired cuisine, and an expansive Sun Deck with putting green and outdoor bar from which to admire the passing scenery. The Douro is a short but spectacular river that winds between steep hillsides covered in almond and olives trees and the vineyards that produce port wine. Among the highlights are baroque pilgrimage town Lamego, the pastel-coloured city Porto perched on a rocky gorge and  reached on an excursion  the splendid medieval university town Salamanca in Spain. See aptouring.com.au West African Archipelago expedition, Hurtigruten

The cruise line normally associated with the Norwegian fjords has been branching out to the poles and other destinations in recent years, and in November 2024 comes up with a corker: a 14-day expedition cruise on MS Spitsbergen from Dakar in Senegal to the Cape Verde and Bissagos islands, sure to tempt those who think theyve cruised everywhere. The Bissagos in Guinea-Bissau, notable for their matriarchal tribal society, are also a UNESCO Biosphere that protects abundant bird species, rare saltwater hippos and manatees. The cruise also visits Banjul in Gambia. See hurtigruten.com Oceania Marina upgrade, Oceania Cruises The lovely Oceania Marina has just got even lovelier following a complete refurbishment, completed in November 2023, that has transformed both staterooms and public spaces. Among the new itineraries Marina will sail is a 10-day Baltic Sea Beauty cruise between London and Copenhagen departing July 16, 2024. It takes in fine port cities such as Gothenburg, Stockholm and Gdansk, as well as the historic fortified town of Visby on Swedens Gotland island and Ronne on Denmarks Bornholm island. See oceaniacruises.com Celebrity Ascent, Celebrity Cruises Celebrity Ascent will be the fourth of the companys popular and innovative Edge-class ships. Credit: Celebrity Cruises

Celebrity Cruises fourth Edge-class ship sails its maiden voyage from Florida on December 2, 2023, but deserves a listing here  after all, every sailing is new for 2024. The 3260-passenger premium ship foregoes the razzmatazz and party atmosphere of mega-vessels to focus on feel-good factors such as an expansive spa, luxury feel, four main dining restaurants, and great bars. Try out the new ship on itineraries in the Mediterranean such as a 12-night Italy, Spain and France cruise return from Barcelona that visits Cadiz, Gibraltar, Rome and the French and Italian Rivieras. See celebritycruises.com Kimberley cruises, Travelmarvel The remote and scenically splendid north-west corner of our continent is an increasingly popular destination for adventurous cruisers, and next year Travelmarvel will be offering Kimberley expedition cruises for the first time aboard chartered ship Heritage Adventurer. The cruises between Broome and Darwin in July and August 2024 take in the classic big-landscape sights of the Kimberley, including Horizontal Falls, King George Falls and Montgomery Reef, as well as Indigenous rock-art sites on Bigge Island and at Freshwater Cove. Heritage Adventuer carries 164 guests and features an observation lounge, wellness facilities and two restaurants. See travelmarvel.com.au Austral Islands cruise, Aranui Aranui 5 at Rapa in the Austral Islands.

Aranui Cruises offers one of the worlds last cargo-cruise experiences in which freight is delivered to Pacific islands by Aranui 5 while guests disembark in remote ports for shore excursions. Its core itineraries take it around the Society Islands, Tuamotu Archipelago and rugged Marquesas, but in March and November next year two itineraries take in southernmost French Polynesian group the Austral Islands. The ship visits all five of its islands, including Rapa, the little sister of Easter Island, and Raivavae, known as the Bora Bora of the south for its splendid landscapes and lagoon. See aranui.com Vancouver to Quebec City journey, Crystal Cruises Fans of Crystal Cruises were dismayed at its demise, but in September 2023 its two ships Crystal Serenity and Crystal Symphony were revived under new Abercrombie & Kent ownership and have undergone extensive refurbishment. That means all its itineraries in 2024 are new, but perhaps the top pick is a 42-night Vancouver to Quebec City sailing departing on August 13 that opens with an Alaska itinerary before sailing down the US and Central American coasts and through the Panama Canal. Then the ship treks northwards, eventually into Canadas St Lawrence Seaway. See crystalcruises.com Kir Royale launch, European Waterways Portugals Douro River at Porto.
Staring at the baggage carousel, my eyes search in vain for a white Samsonite with red tags. When the carousel comes to a complete stop, I have to accept what Ive feared for the past 15 minutes. Im in Honolulu, but my suitcase isnt.

Credit: Jamie Brown

Every day, more than 70,000 checked bags are delayed, damaged, misdirected or lost by airlines around the world. Today, its my turn. Im not sure whats about to happen, but I suspect its going to be inconvenient at best, a monumental pain at worst. Just what I dont need after a 10-hour overnight flight in economy class.

According to SITA, a leading provider of IT services and data to the aviation industry, global baggage mishandling rates in 2022 were the highest in a decade. More than 26 million pieces of luggage were lost, delayed or damaged; a whopping eight bags in every 1000.

Lately Ive noticed more of a sharp increase in missing luggage than I ever did in the prior eight years, says Luvena Lee, Flight Centre travel specialist.
Hamas is rooted in the ideology that Israeli control over what it regards as Palestinian land must be opposed by force, a tenet likely to endure, experts said. As long as that context is there, you will be dealing with some form of Hamas, said Tahani Mustafa, senior Palestine analyst at the International Crisis Group think tank. To assume that you can simply uproot an organisation like that is fantasy. The Israeli military said this week that it had killed about 8000 Hamas fighters out of a force estimated at 25,000 to 40,000. But it is unclear how the count is being made. About 500 have surrendered, according to the military, though Hamas has denied that all were from its ranks. The military has at times delivered positive progress reports on its objectives, describing as imminent full control over the areas in northern Gaza where it began its ground offensive in late October.

But Netanyahu acknowledged Sunday that the war is exacting a very heavy cost from us as the military announced that 15 soldiers had been killed in the previous 48 hours alone. Rockets are still being fired almost daily from southern Gaza into Israel, albeit far fewer than before. Michael Milshtein, a former senior intelligence officer for Israel, criticised statements by some Israeli leaders depicting Hamas as being at its breaking point, saying that might create false expectations about the length of the war. Theyve been saying this for a while, that Hamas is collapsing, Milshtein said. But its just not true. Every day, were facing tough battles. The Israeli military distributed flyers in Gaza recently offering cash for information leading to the arrest of four Hamas leaders. Hamas has lost its power. They couldnt fry an egg, said the flyer in Arabic, quoting a folk expression. The end of Hamas is near.

The military promised $US400,000 ($585,000) for Yahya Sinwar, Hamas leader in Gaza, and $US100,000 for Mohammed Deif, head of its military wing, the Qassam Brigades. The two are considered the architects of the October 7 attack. Although long among the most wanted men in Gaza, the elusive Deif has avoided assassination or capture. The only picture of him in public is a decades-old headshot. The bounties appeared to be another indication that Israel is struggling to remove the Hamas leadership. The groups top echelon are believed to be sheltering, along with most of its fighters and the remaining hostages, in deep tunnels. Although the Israeli army has said that it demolished at least 1500 shafts, experts consider the underground infrastructure largely intact.

The tunnels, built over 15 years, are believed to be so extensive, estimated at hundreds of miles long, that Israelis call them the Gaza Metro. Hamas is actually weathering this assault quite well, said Tareq Baconi, an author who wrote a book about the group. Its still showing that it has an offensive military capability. Loading Giora Eiland, a retired major general and former head of Israels National Security Council, said Hamas had demonstrated the ability to quickly replace commanders who are killed with others equally capable and equally devoted. From a professional point of view, I must give credit to their resilience, he said. I cannot see any signs of collapse of the military abilities of Hamas nor in their political strength to continue to lead Gaza.

Hamas is rooted in the Muslim Brotherhood, which was born in Egypt in 1928 as a religious social reform movement but has often been blamed for fomenting jihadi violence in recent decades. Israel once allowed the group to grow as an Islamic counterweight to the more mainstream and secular Palestine Liberation Organisation. In one of Israels notorious first efforts to dismantle Hamas, in 1992, it deported 415 of its leaders and allies, dumping them in a buffer zone along the Israel-Lebanon border. Over the months before their return, they built an alliance with Lebanons Hezbollah, the most powerful Iran-backed militia in the region. The United States and Israel condemn both Hezbollah and Hamas as terrorist organisations. A string of Israeli assassinations of Hamas political, military and religious leaders also failed to weaken the group. It won control of Gaza in free Palestinian elections in 2006, then evicted its more moderate rival, the Palestinian Authority, in a bloody conflict the next year. Israel fought three other wars in Gaza targeting Hamas between 2008 and the current crisis.

The operations of the Hamas military wing, the Qassam Brigades, remain opaque. The units were designed to continue functioning even if Israel destroyed parts. Loading Divided geographically, its five main brigades were in northern Gaza; Gaza City; central Gaza; and two southern cities, Khan Younis and Rafah. Most of the elite troops were in the two northern brigades, which constitute about 60 per cent of the force, said an Israeli military official who requested anonymity under military regulations. About half of them have been killed, wounded, arrested or fled south, the official claimed. For Israel, the aim is first to dismantle the government, then to disperse the fighters and eliminate the commanders and their primary subordinates, the Israeli official said.

But Azzam Tamimi, a Palestinian journalist and member of the Muslim Brotherhood who has written a book about Hamas, said the group was prepared for that. The top leadership can disappear at any time because they can be killed, they can be arrested, they can be deported, he said. So they developed this mechanism of the easy transfer of command. Loading The Qassam Brigades are divided into battalions, with even smaller units defending individual neighbourhoods. Other specialised battalions include an anti-tank unit, a tunnel-construction unit and an air wing whose drones and paragliders were an important element of the surprise attack on October 7, according to analysts and former military and intelligence officials. The Nukhba Brigade, consisting of about 1000 highly trained fighters, also appears to have played a central role on October 7.

Trying to eliminate Hamas entirely would require fighting from street to street and house to house, and Israel lacks both the time and personnel, said Elliot Chapman, a Middle East analyst with Janes, a defence analysis firm. As the United States found in attempting to squash al-Qaida or the Taliban, the organisations tend to spring back once the armed pressure is lifted. The Gaza fight has been compared with the campaign to wrest Mosul, Iraq, from the Islamic State group less than a decade ago, but there are significant differences. Notably, Hamas is organic to Gaza  it grew out of frustration with the mainstream factions abandoning the armed struggle against the Israeli occupation. Hamas refuses to recognise Israel, and according to its founding charter, is committed to its destruction. The scale of Israels war is likely to radicalise a new generation: More than 20,000 people in Gaza have been reported killed thus far, according to the Gaza health ministry. Some in Gaza curse Hamas, even taking to the airwaves or social media to do it, despite the organisations history of repressing opponents. Others, however, say that they still back the resistance, and Hamas has long attracted support by providing services like schools and clinics.

A recent poll by the Palestinian Centre for Policy and Survey Research found that most respondents endorsed the Hamas attack on Israel. Support for Hamas in Gaza since the war started has risen to 42 per cent, from 38 per cent, the poll reported. At best, Israel can probably contain Hamas, experts said. Loading But even if Israel somehow succeeds in dismantling the group in Gaza, there are still branches in the West Bank and abroad, in places like Lebanon and Turkey, that could revive it. The right way to think about it is to degrade the organisation to the point that it is no longer a sustainable threat, said Marc Polymeropoulos, a retired CIA officer who specialised in Middle East counterterrorism.
The Prime Minister of Georgia, Irakli Gharibashvili, held a farewell meeting with the Ambassador of Italy to Georgia, Enrico Valvo.According to the press service of the Prime Minister, during the meeting, attention was paid to the existing close cooperation and friendly relations between the two countries, demonstrated by the establishment of a high-level political dialogue format.The meeting highlighted Italy's support for Georgia's accession to European and Euro-Atlantic structures, emphasizing the historic decision to grant Georgia the status of a candidate country for EU membership. Ambassador Enrico Valvo reiterated Italy's strong support for the sovereignty and territorial integrity of Georgia to the Prime Minister.The Prime Minister thanked the Italian diplomat for his significant contribution to the development of cooperation between the two countries during his tenure as ambassador and extended best wishes for success in his future endeavors.The Mayor of Tbilisi, Kakha Kaladze responded to the 'ratification' of the 'agreement' on the transfer of the Bichvinta country houses to Russia by the 'Parliament' of de-facto Abkhazia, emphasizing that Georgia aims to achieve economic strengthening and development through its policies. He highlighted the importance of reclaiming occupied territories through 'intelligence and education'."We have issued several statements regarding this matter. I reiterate once again that all our friendly countries and the international community will be involved in addressing the mentioned issue. The occupation of a significant part of our country's territory is a major problem. Today, for us and the government of Georgia, the biggest challenge is the occupation of a certain part of our country's territory by Russia. Accordingly, with our policy, we aim to achieve the economic strengthening and development of the country while regaining the territories with intelligence and education," stated Kaladze.
PARIS, Dec. 27 (Xinhua) -- French President Emmanuel Macron expressed Wednesday his deep concern to Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu over the heavy civilian casualties and the intensifying humanitarian emergency in Gaza.

In a phone conversation, Macron reiterated Israel's obligation to protect civilians, the urgent need to deliver aid to the people of Gaza and the importance of working towards a lasting ceasefire by all regional and international partners, according to a statement issued by the presidential Elysee Palace.

To this end, France will be working with Jordan in the coming days to carry out humanitarian operations in Gaza, Macron said, urging Israel to take all necessary steps to stop violence committed by certain settlers against Palestinian civilians, and suspend any settlement project in the West Bank that threatens the two-state solution.

The death toll of Palestinians from Israel's attacks in the Gaza Strip has topped 21,000, according to the Gaza-based Ministry of Health. 
ATHENS, Dec. 28 (Xinhua) -- A Greek-owned cargo ship was damaged by a mine in the Black Sea, with three crew members slightly injured, Greek national broadcaster ERT reported on Thursday, citing Ukrainian sources.

Eighteen people were on board the Panama-flagged vessel when the incident happened on Wednesday and the injured included two Greek nationals -- the captain and deputy captain -- as well as an Egyptian cook, according to sources from Greece's ministry of maritime affairs and insular policy.

The cargo vessel was heading to a port in Ukraine to load grain, Greek national news agency AMNA reported citing ministry sources.

Tugboats were dispatched to guide the ship to the port, ERT added. 
The Kimball School Board is expected to continue discussing and gathering information on the four day school week into its next regular meeting.

According to Superintendent Trevor Anderson, the next years school calendar is typically approved in March  and decisions will be made.

Kimball Public Schools currently function on a 4.5 day a week calendar with a half-day of professional development scheduled on Wednesday afternoons for the entire year.

In recent weeks, surveys were sent out to students, staff and patrons to obtain information. A majority of the survey results were agreeable to the four day school week, but concerns centered on food service on days off, childcare options, and the schedule for days off. All these issues must be addressed and considered.

The survey that was sent out said that the school day would be extended by approximately 45 minutes in this hypothetical scenario. The hypothetical calendar totals were 147 students days, 160 teacher days and 1,111.8 hours with 4.2 days cushion days and 13 staff inservice days. The Nebraska Department of Education requires a 1,080 hour instructional program scheduled for high school students.

The board and administration want to make sure that the school week would work for the district.

Rural districts are more accepting of the four day week.

Regionally, Banner County and Pine Bluffs, Wyoming both have a four day school week, but they do it differently. Banner County offers an Option Enrollment Friday, and Pine Bluffs has a straight four day week. Other schools that have adopted a four day week in Nebraska are Weeping Water, Minatare, Hay Spings, Wynot and Conestoga.

In reference to concerns from the State of Nebraska Department of Education, the department responded to the Observer with this statement: The NDE only requires that schools meet a certain number of instructional hours for grade school and for high school. How the schools meet those hours is a local control decision, so superintendents with their locally elected school boards would decide schedules, including the use of four day weeks.

NDE officials said they do not have any opinion or advice for schools on the four day a week matter.
Gardai have arrested a man after cocaine worth more than 1 million was seized at Dublin Airport.

Revenue officers discovered 16kg of cocaine in the baggage of a passenger who had travelled from Washington on Thursday.

The arrested man has been charged and is due to appear in court.

Cocaine was the most seized drug in Ireland this year, with gardai recovering more 175 million worth of the drug in 2023.

The largest cocaine haul this year was made on the MV Matthew, the cargo shop intercepted off the Co Cork coast.

Gardai and customs also seized almost 35 million worth of cannabis herb and cannabis resin this year, while heroin with a street value of 8.5 million was also recovered.
As 2023 draws to a close, Ballina itself is at a crossroads. Behind it lies the turbulent few years weathering the storms of the Covid pandemic and its lingering economic impacts. The past couple of years have seen a revitalisation of the unquenchable community spirit I recall from the heady days of the 1990s. Ahead lies the promise of regeneration through an ambitious green vision to make Ballina Ireland's greenest town by 2025.

I re-engaged with Ballina in early 2023, the scars left by stagnation already vanishing across the town centre. For years, boarded-up shopfronts and 'To Let' signs abounded. An air of decay pervaded the streets. Like so many provincial Irish towns, Ballina seemed trapped by its remote location and lack of economic opportunity.

Yet, out of this decay, shoots of optimism were pushing through the cracks. Led by the Ballina Chamber of Commerce and Ballina Community Clean-Up group, an inclusive grassroots movement emerged during the pandemic focused on reinvigorating Ballina while reinventing it as a green, sustainable and vibrant place to live and do business.

As I walk through the town centre, this reimagining bears visible fruit. Repurposed and once-derelict buildings have been lifted from neglect, and the micro-enterprise hub promises to transform the town centre. The Market Square looks inviting as a pedestrian plaza lined with trees. Imaginative plans are afoot to incorporate a viewing chamber in the middle of the historic salmon weir, allowing visitors to watch wild salmon migrating upriver. Some might point to the visit of US President Joe Biden as a turning point in the town's fortunes, but this visit resulted from a renewed community pride and was not its genesis.

According to the Ballina Chamber of Commerce, when Covid struck, there were already around 20% commercial vacancy rates in the town centre. This increased during pandemic restrictions and reached its highest point in late 2021. The recovery since then has been painfully slow.

Without urgent intervention, there is a genuine risk these chronic issues become further embedded. Tackling such systemic decline requires targeted long-term policies led by Mayo County Council and backed by national agencies. Fine words in a Local Area Plan will not suffice alone.

And yet, despite these challenges, Ballina is more optimistic about its future than ever in the past decade. The breadth of community engagement to develop bottom-up solutions has been genuinely impressive. Such community engagement and its practical support will undoubtedly accelerate sustainable projects. But most of all, local groups' determined, entrepreneurial spirit gives real hope for revival.

The scale of Ballina's ambitions may outweigh its current capacities. But by leveraging the undauntable volunteer spirit, accessing national funding streams and harnessing local commitment, Ballina can become a trailblazer for rural sustainability over the rest of this decade.

Looking back over the year, it held challenges and pleasures. The visit of President Biden, the creation of the historical boards at Dunnes Stores, and the triumphant Messiah concert in St Muredach's Cathedral all added to a very personal and welcome re-engagement with my hometown.

And then there was the added pleasure of seeing the publication of a book of photographs by Ballina's most renowned photographer.

Henry Wills' photographic odyssey, In All Kinds of Weather, is a unique achievement in documenting the evolving social fabric of Ballina and its environs over four decades. Its launch was a fitting testament to Wills' stature in the community, attended by an impressive gathering including an ex-president, Taoiseach and EU Commissioner Their presence speaks volumes about Henry Wills' place in Ireland's cultural landscape and Mayo's affections.

With contents spanning over 350 pages, the book chronicles Mayo's subtle yet palpable transformation through Wills' evocative photography. The images transport us back to familiar streets and landmarks that jog our memories yet bear witness to changing demographics and the inevitable passage of time. Wills captures both the county's continuity and ruptures with the past.

His work reminds us of photography's unique power to crystallise history and collective memory. Unlike distracted everyday glances, Wills' lens freeze-frames moments that might usually slip by unnoticed or fade with time. When pored over retrospectively, his images reveal insightful details about fashion, commerce, and the rhythms of daily life. It is also testimony to Henry's charm that many subjects surrendered to the camera with broad smiles and an unaffected informality. It was an honour to pass through that lens and exciting to look forward to the next edition of the Western People and the discovery of the printed image.

There are many colour plates in the edition, but many are black and white, adequate for their use before colour graced the pages of the local press. And incidentally, Wills embraced black and white photography's capacity to strip away distracting colours and present Mayo life in simple monochrome compositions. These have an enduring, timeless eloquence unmatched by colour photography's literalness.

Absent of colour, we notice intricacies of brickwork, clothing, and interiors - brought forth by the contrast between highlight and shadow. Figures squinting against bright sunlight or silhouetted against overcast skies are striking graphical elements, their outlines enhanced against neutral backdrops. Our gloomy winter days feel more atmospheric in sombre grayscale, and dull evenings more serene and melancholy. Conversely, bright summer scenes feel vibrant not through gaudy colours but through brilliant whites and pitch-black counterpoint.

One of my favourites, using strong blacks and subtle shades of grey, is the young boy at a roadside camp.

While denied the luxury of colour, these earlier works depend on a black-and-white aesthetic that collapses time, making decades-old images feel contemporary and timeless. They become less dated artefacts, more universal commentaries on life in Ballina - another dimension of the work's resonance and appeal. One of my favourites, using strong blacks and subtle shades of grey, is the young boy at a roadside camp on page 158 (reprinted here).

While black and white photography lends many of Wills' images a signature graphic elegance, his use of colour photography provides an arresting contrast. These capture a Mayo in a saturated, hyper-real dimension - emphasising the county's visual richness and Wills' eclectic eye.

Colour also prominently features where thriving community, commerce, and pageantry are highlighted. The saturated red and green of a Mayo match pops with activity against the riot of a crowded stand. Parade scenes gain kinetic energy and dynamism through vibrant floats and costumes in hot pink, emerald green, and sunflower yellow against crowds in more earthen tones. Where black and white imagines texture, colour communicates the heady days of summer festivals and fields glorious with summer flowers.

These flourishes of colour photography provide contrast to monochromatic austerity. Some feel almost cinematic in dramatic effect, notably the girl group on page 228, which feels popped straight from a film reel.

Instinctively, Wills knew when to deploy colour to maximum effect, his eye perfected within the confines of the black-and-white discipline. The result is a carefully curated and delightful record, capable of reviving memories in the mind's eye through the chronicling of places and rituals in County Mayo over a remarkable 40-year career.

In All Kinds of Weather is Mayo and Ballina's portrait through time and a self-portrait of the time refracted through Wills' unique artistic temperament. His curation of disparate moments creates a chronological register and a psychography of our visual and social legacy in all its complexity - an astonishing achievement for any photographer.
Allentown, PA (18103)

Today

Partly sunny and pleasant; still a bit of a breeze, from the southwest 10-15mph with gusts to 20mph..

Tonight

Partly to mostly clear and seasonably cold.
HAMBURG, Pa. - In the spirit of holiday giving, Kelly Toyota made several much-needed donations to organizations around Berks County in the month of December.

Those to receive funds included New Journey Community Outreach, United Way of Berks County, Safe Berks, Berks Encore, Helping Harvest, Hillside SPCA, Tilden Township, Hamburg Emergency Medical Service and more.

Officials say over $90,000 was distributed to local community, charity and support groups.

We are very happy to be in Hamburg to better serve Berks, Schuylkill, and western Lehigh counties and glad to have the opportunity to contribute to the community, said Kelly Auto Group President Greg Kelly.

Kelly Toyota of Hamburg said it loves to share in the spirit of giving locally and is happy to spread cheer among the community it proudly serves.
READING, Pa.  Those who are without a home in Reading may soon have a place to live.

Reading City Council voted at a special meeting Wednesday night to adopt an ordinance to appropriate $400,000 from American Rescue Plan Act funding to establish and maintain temporary housing for those in need during the winter of 2023.

The ordinance was crafted in conjunction with Opportunity House and other social agencies to house and provide meals and other needed care to individuals and families who have no suitable place to live during the winter months.

Reading tables proposed funding for temporary housing The ordinance calls to appropriate $400,000 from ARPA funding to establish and maintain temporary housing for those in need during the winter of 2023.

Council was originally scheduled to vote on the ordinance on Dec. 18, but instead chose to table it because members said they were not provided with sufficient details from the community development department.

Modesto D. Fiume, president of Opportunity House, said current shelters are filled.

"I think what we're looking to do is really fill a temporary short-term void in addressing the needs among homeless families  specifically, homeless women with children living in this city," Fiume said. "We have a tough time accommodating the unbelievable need that's emerging over the past couple of years."

Fiume explained that the owner of 1500 Eckert Ave. has agreed to lease the building for use as a temporary shelter.

The property is the former convent which housed the nuns from the former Central Catholic High School at 1500 Hill Road.

The owner, Reading Hill LLC  an entity controlled by Heights Advisors, a Brooklyn development company  has agreed to lease the building for $10,000 a month and is asking for $50,000 toward renovations to the interior of the former convent.

The developer eventually plans to use the 25-room convent for an administrative office and parking lot for a proposal to convert the former high school into a 78-unit apartment complex.

Fiume said he does not believe the temporary shelter will require the full amount of the recommended $400,000, but explained he will need to staff the facility.

With salaries and operating expenses, Fiume estimated it will cost about $280,000.

"I think it's a wonderful short-term solution to address the housing needs of homeless families and living in a city," Fiume said.

Councilwoman Marcia Goodman-Hinnershitz said she had concerns about the residents of the Hessian Camp area surrounding the building understanding what will be occurring at the former convent.

Fiume said he would be happy to hold a community meeting for the neighbors to explain the need for the temporary shelter.

Jack Williams, the executive director of the Berks Coalition to End Homelessness, said there has been a 4% rise in homelessness across the country. Some of those families experienced homelessness for the first time last year, officials said.

"This all trickles down to affordable housing," Williams said. "Best practices are to repurposing buildings to give an immediate and emergency solution, while working on longer-term goals."

"It's not a long-term solution," Williams added. "But it's the right thing to do in Code Blue (conditions) instead of putting somebody on the street."

"Affordable housing will always be the No. 1 barrier," Fiume said. "Addressing those barriers, developing housing, have really just given them the opportunity to grow."

Goodman-Hinnershitz requested an amendment to the ordinance to clarify that funding decisions regarding the homeless would include a collaboration with the Berks Coalition to End Homelessness.

Council supported the amendment.

"The coalition plays a key role in being able to look at what the needs are, so I think it really helps the city to better plan for how it's using its ARPA money," Goodman-Hinnershitz said.

Officials said the next steps will begin early next week, as they will begin to bring supplies to the facility as well as connect with people to figure out their situation.

"This is going to raise the quality of life for a good number of families, probably even keep people from getting injured or dying in freezing cold weather," said William Heim, the city's managing director.
READING, Pa.  Reading City Council approved a formal resolution Wednesday night to hire Elias "Eli" Vazquez as the city's new chief of police.

Vazquez received the full support of council, which had the opportunity to interview him following the administration's recommendation.

Vazquez most recently held the role of assistant chief of police in Tampa, Florida, where he served in different ranks for 26 years.

Mayor Eddie Moran did not attend the special council meeting but wrote a statement which was read by Managing Director William Heim.

"All of us have identified an outstanding candidate to be our next police chief," Moran wrote. "Mr. Vazquez has a long and successful career in municipal policing and has been promoted through many ranks in a variety of assignments with the Tampa Police Department."

Those assignments included serving as a narcotics officer, narcotics supervisor, lieutenant, captain, major and then assistant chief, Heim said.

"[Vazquez] has demonstrated that he knows how to fight crime, engage the community, and he knows how to organize and run an urban police department," Moran's statement said.

Heim said Moran will formally introduce Vazquez to the community early next month, at which time he will be available for interviews with the media.

"He'll start in probably late January, early February, but that's a floating date yet  we haven't decided," Heim said.

The city looked at a number of resumes for police chief, identifying a smaller number of semi-finalists, Heim explained.

"And then we narrowed it down to just a couple individuals  one inside the department, one outside the department," he said.

Councilman Chris Daubert, whose term on council will expire on Sunday, said he was enthusiastically making his final vote as a great one for the city and its residents.

"It was a fabulous job (by the administration) for securing this candidate," Daubert said. "I think that the public is going to be well served by him."

Councilwoman Wanda Negron, who is also leaving council, said she was impressed by Vazquez and his concern for being part of the community.

The third councilmember leaving the body, Marcia Goodman-Hinnershitz, also gave high praise.

"This was the most impressive interview I've had for someone interviewing for the police chief, except for our former Police Chief William Heim, who is now managing director," Goodman-Hinnershitz said.

"But this gentleman brings such a broad range of expertise to our community and really has been through the whole gauntlet of different responsibilities within a police department," she said of Vazquez.

"It's just such a great feeling, as I'm leaving council, to be able to know that this is a candidate supported fully, and that we're going to be having a stronger movement towards working together with the community around public safety," Goodman-Hinnershitz said.

Other business

Along with the appointment, council introduced two ordinances which will be voted upon in January.

The first updates the salary range for the police chief to no less than $120,000 and no more than $175,000. The current salary range is $80,000 to $135,000.

The second ordinance will set the salary for Vazquez at $145,000.

Vasquez is bilingual, which Council President Donna Reed said is critical.

"Tampa may be larger than us, but we are the fourth largest city in the state, and we have the same kind of urban issues," Reed said.

"When the police chief is out there, everyone else can get some degree of comfort and an acquaintanceship," Reed said, "which is important that when he walks down the street, you will know who he is, and you can approach him."

Reed added that Vazquez attended a Reading Police Department town hall at Alvernia University's CollegeTowne in November.

Reading has been without a permanent chief of police since Richard Tornielli retired on July 31. Tornielli is now West Reading's police chief.
READING, Pa. - Reading police are urging caution after a four-year-old boy shot himself in the leg on Christmas Eve.

"No child of that age should have access to a gun," said Capt. Christian Rothermel of the Reading Police Department.

It happened at a home in the 200 block of Pear Street.

"Mom explains that she heard a gunshot come from the other room. Numerous other kids in the house testified to the fact that this child was playing with a handgun and it discharged into the lower leg area," Rothermel said.

The child is expected to be ok, police said.

Authorities say they're thankful the gunplay didn't have more serious consequences.

"It could've been a lot worse. That child could've shot another child or in close proximity more than one," said Rothermel.

Police say gun owners must be responsible for their weapons and make sure they're never left around loaded and accessible to those who shouldn't have them.

"If you're going to keep them in the house, then separate the magazines. Remove ammo from the weapons. Leave that in a separate part of the house that if you need to defend your home, you can access both the firearm and the magazine without the risk of children finding both and being able to put them together," explained Rothermel.

Police do have gun locks available for people who want one, and they are free. You can get them at City Hall.

The child's mother is not facing any charges.
BETHLEHEM, Pa. - IQE, a British maker of semiconductors, is completing its move out of South Bethlehem as it consolidates operations in North Carolina.

The company is leaving a four-acre site just off the Fahy Memorial Bridge. IQE has owned the land since 2007, according to Northampton County records. The land could have been used to add housing on the South Side, but Bethlehem City Council objected.

"IQE is continuing to make progress with the planned move from (Pennsylvania) to (North Carolina), and will be concluded soon," according to a company statement.

On Wednesday, the parking lot at IQE's 119 Technology Drive was mostly empty, and a large dumpster sat next to the building. For now, at least, the site within walking distance of ArtsQuest, Lehigh University, the Southside restaurant district and the Lehigh River remains unused.

Earlier this year, Serfass Development of North Whitehall Township proposed the demolition of IQE to make way for the construction of a six-story building with 240 apartments.

More housing is needed in Bethlehem, according to the administration of Mayor J. William Reynolds and some City Council members.

The administration recommended changing the zoning at the site from IR (Industrial Redevelopment) to CB (Central Business), which would have allowed for residential construction.

The IR zone was created to boost industry after Bethlehem Steel Corp. closed. Since Steel poured its "last cast" in 1995, South Bethlehem has changed and is now more suited to residential uses, according to a memo from Bethlehem's planning department.

The city's Planning Commission voted in favor of the zoning change, but City Council had the final say, and in June, voted down the change and blocked the plan for more housing.

Some council members said they wanted to see the building used for industry. The building's "clean rooms" (facilities where airborne particles are minimized) was touted by some, even though IQE said the building was no longer suitable and would not be a "turnkey" operation that is ready for a new tenant.

"It's not a good semiconductor facility," Alex Saruzi, general manager at IQE, said at council's meeting in June. "Everything is old in the building as well. It was not constructed for a high-power semiconductor plant. Someone coming in is going to have to spend a lot of money."

IQE's move to North Carolina reflected the limitations of the site, Saruzi said.

IQE bought the property in 2007 for $3.5 million, according to Northampton County property records. It is listed for sale on loopnet.com for $6.95 million.

The company is based in Cardiff in the United Kingdom and has manufacturing locations in the U.K., U.S. and Taiwan. Shares in the company are traded in London under the ticker symbol IQE.
U. PROVIDENCE TWP., Pa. - A Montgomery County man is facing charges for driving while high and causing a deadly crash, the district attorney says.

Khaliym Smith, 22, of Pottstown, was charged with two counts of homicide by vehicle, driving under the influence and more in the Feb. 12 crash at Route 422 and South Collegeville Road in Upper Providence Township, the DA said.

Smith was under the influence of marijuana while driving a Jeep on Route 422 when he lost control, authorities allege.

The Jeep, which was going 81 mph in a 55 mph zone, went off the road, through the grass near the off ramp, spun, rolled, slid on its roof and hit a concrete barrier, the DA says. The Jeep rolled again, throwing Smith and the passengers from the vehicle.

Two of the passengers -- Maya Garner, 22, and Givonah "Gigi" Mitchell, 23, both of Philadelphia -- died. Smith, his sister and another man were found conscious but in critical condition.

Investigators also found a loaded "ghost gun" with an extended magazine at the scene, as well as a backpack with marijuana.

The crash investigation found no evidence of Smith pressing the brakes leading up to or during the crash.

He turned himself in to police last week. He's out on $100,000 unsecured bail, with a condition of no driving, the DA says.
PHILLIPSBURG, N.J. - Seven people are out of their home Wednesday night, after fire ripped through a two-story building in Phillipsburg, New Jersey the night before.

Officials say everyone made it out safely, but the interior of the building was destroyed, and hundreds were without power on Tuesday -- some for hours, into early the next morning.

Crews were cleaning up Wednesday afternoon and into the early evening, after a fire tore through the entire two-story building at 342-44 South Main Street in Philipsburg Tuesday.

The fire chief says by the time emergency crews were even notified, after 6:30 p.m. Tuesday, the fire was well advanced.

"I walked around the corner of the building, and I noticed flames shooting out the side and the back," Ted Kobi, who lives in a neighboring building, said.

Ninety firefighters from all six Pburg stations responded to the general alarm call, officials say.

Crews were on scene for more than seven hours to make sure the fire was fully out before leaving. Officials say it took three and a half hours to bring the fire under control, and the fire started back up shortly after it was first put out.

"Paramedics in the park," Kobi said. "It was chaos."

"I could feel the heat from the fire, I could feel everything," another neighbor, Malachai, said.

The two-story single building holds a commercial space: COE Insurance on the first floor. The landlord says there are two apartments: one is a two-story space, and the other is just on the second floor.

An attached building at 338 South Main Street also sustained minor smoke damage, but the fire chief says crews were able to prevent more damage by constantly monitoring the situation.

Red Cross is now assisting the seven people who are without their homes. Officials say all those who were inside at the time of the fire, made it out safely.

"Nobody got hurt, thank God," Malachai said.

Officials say one firefighter suffered minor injuries.

Robyn Coe-Donaldson, one of the landlords, tells 69 News that she's very grateful for all the emergency crew members for those long hours put in, making sure the fire was out and stayed out.

Donaldson says the building did not allow pets.

Meanwhile, about 700 FirstEnergy Corp. customers around the area experienced a blackout. The company says power was initially cut to keep the scene safe for firefighters. Some lost power for just more than an hour, others for several hours. By 3 a.m. Wednesday, power was restored for everyone.

The fire is still under investigation. Donaldson tells 69 News her insurance company will be back up and running as soon as possible. The landlords are currently looking for a place to temporarily run their business. The company's phone number still works, and folks can check the company's Facebook page for the latest updates.
HARRISBURG, Pa. (AP)  Pennsylvania recorded a steep increase in the deaths of older adults following an abuse or neglect complaint the last few years, as COVID-19 ravaged the nation, complaints grew and agencies struggled to keep caseworkers on staff.

The staggering increase shown in state data  from 120 deaths reported in 2017 to almost 1,400 in 2022, a more than tenfold increase  may have had several contributing factors, and the state and county-level agencies that field and investigate complaints gave varying answers explaining why.

Mostly, Pennsylvanias Department of Aging and county-level agency officials speculated that it had to do with a growing population of people 65 and older, an increase in complaints and the devastating impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on older adults.

One county said errors in its data entry procedure  now corrected  led to undercounting in the initial years. Another pointed to cases staying open longer.

Some county agencies wouldn't answer questions about it at all.

The increase came as agencies in Pennsylvania and nationwide struggled to keep caseworkers on staff through the pandemic and manage caseloads.

The Department of Aging said it has no data to suggest that a lack of caseworkers contributed to the increase in deaths, and suggested that the data could be misleading since the deaths may have had nothing to do with the original abuse or neglect complaint.

The data does not make any correlation between the provision of protective services and how the older adult died, the agency said.

The department doesnt track causes of death, and individual county-level agencies arent required to provide that information to the state. When caseworkers enter data on a case, they are given a choice of reasons for why a case was closed, including death.

If anything changed in recent years, state efforts to train caseworkers likely improved how data on cases was recorded and entered, former department employees and county officials said.

Its not clear to what extent better data collection helps explain Pennsylvanias increase, but evidence suggests that other similar jurisdictions did not see a similarly steep increase.

Officials from the National Adult Protective Services Association said they had not heard discussion of such a steep increase in deaths among the state programs that investigate abuse and neglect complaints of adults.

Although states have different practices for investigating complaints and collecting data, two states with similar-sized populations  Illinois and Michigan  also reported significant increases in deaths.

But those increases  roughly triple during the pandemic  were nowhere near the proportion of Pennsylvanias.

The broader death rate of older adults did not increase nearly as steeply during the pandemic, going from about 4% of those 65 and older in 2018 to 4.5% in 2021, according to federal statistics.

All told, Pennsylvanias data shows caseworkers reported closing 120 neglect or abuse cases due to death in 2017.

That number rose steadily every year. It reached 784 in 2020, 1,284 in 2021 and then 1,389 in 2022  rising by more than 10 times in five years, or more than 1000%.

The number of complaints called into caseworkers rose over that period, too. But it rose by a much smaller proportion  by about half, or 55%, according to state data.

This year, the pace of cases closed due to death slowed a bit, but still remained well above 2020s pace. Through the first six months of 2023, the number of deaths was 528, on pace for 1,056 over the full year.

The department also doesn't disclose the details of case investigations or what shortcomings it finds when it inspects the performance of the 52 county-level area agencies for aging across Pennsylvania.

Some agencies are county-run while others are nonprofits, and field calls about elder abuse or neglect under state contracts. They employ caseworkers to investigate complaints and coordinate with doctors, service providers and if necessary, law enforcement.

Most calls involve someone who lives alone or with a family member or caregiver. Poverty is often a factor.

The department released the deaths data in response to a request filed by The Associated Press under Pennsylvanias open records law.

The AP submitted the request after reviewing internal emails  also released through an open records request  showing that state protective services staff had become alarmed at how Philadelphias agency had handled the cases of three people in 2021.

The department refused to disclose the fate of the three people  including when a state lawmaker asked about it following APs story on it.

In Pennsylvania, state data shows caseworkers took longer to close some cases as the pandemic wore on and often handled more cases than state regulations allow.

The shortage of caseworkers during the COVID-19 pandemic became so extreme that, in 2021, then-Gov. Tom Wolfs administration took the extraordinary step of marshaling state employees to handle investigations for Philadelphias agency.

The agency, the nonprofit Philadelphia Corporation for Aging, reported four cases closed due to death in 2017. By 2020, that number rose to 220. In 2021, it hit 472 before dropping to 295 in 2022.

Bob Burns, the director of Dauphin Countys Area Agency on Aging, said he wasnt surprised by the increase in deaths, considering the ravages of the COVID-19 pandemic.

The shortage of caseworkers leads to higher caseloads because it might take longer to close out a case, Burns said. But, he said, counties began using experienced caseworkers up front to quickly investigate complaints to determine right away if a person was in a dire situation.

Gov. Josh Shapiros secretary for the Department of Aging, Jason Kavulich, told lawmakers in a March hearing that many county-level agencies are struggling for a variety of reasons, from not having adequate staff to a high number of staff turnover to some serious training issues, that we need to get them up to an acceptable level of understanding.

Even before the pandemic, the performance of area agencies on aging had drawn criticism.

In 2018, the state's internal investigation agency, the Office of Inspector General, issued a report that criticized how the state and counties handle abuse and neglect reports. That report pointed to failures to properly investigate complaints under timelines required by state law and inadequate staffing of the Department of Aging office that monitors those agencies.

Follow Marc Levy at http://twitter.com/timelywriter.
DELANO, Calif. (AP)  That '70s Show" actor Danny Masterson has been sent to a California state prison to serve his sentence for two rape convictions.

Authorities said Wednesday that the 47-year-old Masterson has been admitted to North Kern State Prison, and they released his first prison mug shot. The photo shows him wearing orange prison attire, with long hair and a beard.

In June, Masterson was convicted of raping two women in his Los Angeles home in 2003. In September, a judge sentenced him to 30 years to life in prison. His wife, actor Bijou Phillips, filed for divorce in the weeks that followed after a marriage of nearly 12 years.

He had been held in Los Angeles County jail in the months since while post-sentencing hearings were held and issues resolved, including the turnover of all the guns Masterson owned, some of which had to be located.

It will be more than 25 years before Masterson will be eligible for parole.

Masterson's lawyers said they plan to appeal the conviction.
DEIR AL-BALAH, Gaza Strip (AP)  Thousands of Palestinian families fled Wednesday from the brunt of Israels expanding ground offensive into Gazas few remaining, overcrowded refuges, as the military launched heavy strikes across the center and south of the territory, killing dozens, Palestinian health officials said.

On foot or riding donkey carts loaded with belongings, a stream of people flowed into Deir al-Balah  a town that normally has a population of around 75,000. It has been overwhelmed by several hundred thousand people driven from northern Gaza as the region was pounded to rubble.

Because U.N. shelters are packed many times over capacity, the new arrivals set up tents on sidewalks for the cold winter night. Most crowded onto streets around the towns main hospital, Al-Aqsa Martyrs, hoping it would be safer from Israeli strikes.

Still, no place is safe in Gaza. Israeli offensives are crowding most of the population into Deir al-Balah and Rafah at the territorys southern edge as well as a tiny rural area by the southern coastline. Those areas continue to be hit by Israeli strikes that regularly crush homes full of people.

Israel has said its campaign in Gaza is likely to last for months, vowing to dismantle Hamas across the territory and prevent a repeat of its Oct. 7 attack into southern Israel. Benny Gantz, a member of the country's three-man War Cabinet, said the fighting will be expanded, according to need, to additional centers and additional fronts.

He and other Israeli officials also threatened greater military action against Lebanons Hezbollah, hiking fears of an all-out war on that front.

The two sides have exchanged fire almost daily across the border. Israeli Foreign Minister Eli Cohen warned Wednesday that all options are on the table if Hezbollah does not withdraw from the border area, as called for under a 2006 U.N. cease-fire.

Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah must understand that hes next, Cohen said.

DEATH, DISPLACEMENT AND STARVATION

Israel's offensive in Gaza has already been one of the most devastating military campaigns in recent history. More than 21,100 Palestinians, most of them women and children, have been killed, according to the Health Ministry in Hamas-ruled Gaza. The count doesnt differentiate between civilians and combatants.

Some 85% of Gazas population of 2.3 million people have fled their homes. U.N. officials say a quarter of Gazas population is starving under Israels siege, which allows in only a trickle of food, water, fuel and other supplies.

The latest people to be displaced fled from several built-up refugee camps in central Gaza targeted in the latest phase of Israel's ground assault. One of the camps, Bureij, came under heavy bombardment throughout the night as Israeli troops moved in.

It was a night of hell. We havent seen such bombing since the start of the war, said Rami Abu Mosab, speaking from Bureij, where he has sheltered since fleeing his home in northern Gaza.

The Israeli military issued evacuation orders for Bureij and neighboring areas Tuesday. The area was home to nearly 90,000 people before the war and now shelters more than 61,000 displaced people, mostly from the north, according to the U.N. Bureij camp, like others in Gaza, houses refugees from the 1948 war surrounding Israels creation and their descendants and now resembles other densely populated neighborhoods.

It was not known how many were evacuating. In Deir al-Balah over the past two days, empty lots have filled up with families in tents or sleeping on blankets on the ground.

This was the third move further south for Ibrahim al-Zatari, a daily laborer. First he, his wife and four children moved in with relatives in Gaza City after a strike flattened their home in northern Gaza. Later, they fled to Bureij to escape fighting in the city. On Wednesday morning, they made an hourslong journey on foot to Deir al-Balah, where  like many others  they wandered the streets looking for an empty spot to lie down.

There is no foothold here, he said. Where should we go?

With much of northern Gaza leveled, Palestinians fear a similar fate awaits other areas, including Khan Younis, where Israeli forces launched ground operations in early December. The Israeli military said Wednesday it deployed another brigade in the city, a sign of the tough fighting.

Israeli shelling Wednesday struck a residential building in Khan Younis next to Al-Amal Hospital, according to the Palestinian Red Crescent, which runs the facility.

Health Ministry spokesman Ashraf al-Qidra said at least 20 people were killed and dozens more wounded. Footage from the scene showed several torn bodies lying in the street as rescue workers loaded a man whose legs had been severed onto a stretcher.

Despite U.S. calls for Israel to shift to a more precise assault, the military so far appears to be following the same pattern used in earlier phases of the ground offensive in northern Gaza and Khan Younis. Before troops move in, heavy bombardment targets what Israel says is Hamas tunnels and military infrastructure. Fierce urban fighting follows as troops move block to block, backed by airstrikes and shelling that the military says aim to force out pockets of militants. The resulting devastation has been massive.

Israel has said Hamas must be destroyed after its its Oct. 7 attack in which militants broke through Israels formidable defenses and killed some 1,200 people  mostly civilians  and abducted around 240. An estimated 129 remain in captivity after dozens were freed.

Israel blames Hamas for the high civilian death toll in Gaza because the militants operate in residential areas. Late Wednesday, the army said it destroyed a network of tunnels that stretched for several kilometers in Gaza City and served as a command and control center. Part of it ran under a hospital and had an exit inside a neighboring school, it said.

The military says it has killed thousands of militants, without presenting evidence, and that 164 of its soldiers have been killed in the ground offensive.

WARNING OVER LEBANON

Cross-border exchanges of fire have escalated between Hezbollah and the Israeli military.

An Israeli strike on a family home in Lebanon overnight killed a Hezbollah fighter, his brother and his sister-in-law, local officials and state media said Wednesday. A day earlier, a Hezbollah strike wounded 11 people in northern Israel.

Since the Gaza war began, the near daily battles have forced tens of thousands of Israelis to evacuate their homes from nearby communities. At least nine soldiers and four civilians have been killed on the Israeli side, and around 150 people on the Lebanese side, mostly fighters from Hezbollah and other groups, but also 17 civilians.

Gantz warned that time for diplomatic pressure was running out.

"If the world and the Lebanese government will not act to stop the firing on the northern settlements and keep Hezbollah away from the border, the IDF will do so, he said, referring to the Israeli military.

In the occupied West Bank, Israeli forces killed at least six Palestinians during an overnight raid in the refugee neighborhood of Nur Shams, according to the Palestinian Health Ministry. More than 300 Palestinians have been killed in the West Bank since the start of the war, mostly in confrontations with Israeli forces during raids and protests.

Magdy and Keath reported from Cairo. Associated Press writer Najib Jobain contributed from Rafah, Gaza Strip.

Find more of APs coverage at https://apnews.com/hub/israel-hamas-war
WASHINGTON (AP)  The U.S. on Wednesday announced what officials say could be the final package of military aid to Ukraine unless Congress approves supplemental funding legislation that is stalled on Capitol Hill.

The weapons, worth up to $250 million, include an array of air munitions and other missiles, artillery, anti-armor systems, ammunition, demolition and medical equipment and parts. The aid, provided through the Presidential Drawdown Authority, will be pulled from Pentagon stockpiles.

In a statement, Marine Lt. Col. Garron Garn, a Pentagon spokesman said there is no more funding to replace the weapons taken from department stocks. And the Ukraine Security Assistance Initiative, which provides long-term funding for future weapons contracts, is also out of money.

As a result, Garn said Wednesday, Without the supplemental funding, there will be a shortfall in replenishing U.S. military stocks, affecting American military readiness.

President Joe Biden is urging Congress to pass a $110 billion aid package for Ukraine, Israel and other national security needs. It includes $61.4 billion for Ukraine, with about half to replenish Pentagon stocks. It also includes about $14 billion for Israel as it fights Hamas and $14 billion for U.S. border security. Other funds would go for security needs in the Asia-Pacific.

Due to an accounting error that overvalued some of the weapons sent to Ukraine over the past year or more, there is still about $4.2 billion in restored drawdown authority. But since the Pentagon has no money to replenish inventory sent to Kyiv, the department will have to rigorously assess any future aid and its implications on the U.S. military's ability to protect America, Garn said.

This is the 54th tranche of military aid taken from department shelves and sent to Ukraine, and it is similar in size and contents to many of the other recent packages.

U.S. defense and government leaders have argued that the weapons are critical for Ukraine to maintain its defense and continue efforts to mount an offensive against Russian forces during the winter months.

In a Pentagon briefing last week, Air Force Maj. Gen. Pat Ryder noted the recent letter that the Defense Department comptroller sent to Congress warning that the U.S. will be using up the last of its replenishment funds by the end of the year.

Once those funds are obligated, we will have exhausted the funding available for us to provide security assistance to Ukraine, said Ryder, the Pentagon press secretary. We would, again, continue to urge the passage of the supplemental that weve submitted. ... It is imperative that we have the funds needed to ensure that they get the most urgent battlefield capabilities that they require.

The latest aid package comes as the war in Ukraine drags on into its 22nd month. Russia fired almost 50 Shahed drones at targets in Ukraine and shelled a train station in the southern city of Kherson where more than 100 civilians were gathered to catch a train to Kyiv. And a day earlier, Ukrainian warplanes damaged a Russian ship moored in the Black Sea off Crimea as soldiers on both sides are struggling to make much progress along the front lines.
MEXICO CITY (AP)  Mexican officials moved to clear a migrant encampment on the banks of the Rio Grande river Wednesday as U.S. officials met with Mexico's president to press for measures to limit a surge of migrants reaching the U.S. southwestern border.

Mexico began clearing tents, both occupied and unoccupied, from the encampment in the border city of Matamoros, across from Brownsville, Texas, starting Tuesday. The effort, backed by bulldozers and workers with machetes, continued Wednesday as U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken talked with President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador in Mexico City.

Lopez Obrador has said he is willing to help, but he wants to see progress in U.S. relations with Cuba and Venezuela, two of the top sources of migrants, along with more development aid for the region.

But Mexico's top priority appeared to be getting the United States to reopen border crossings that were closed because of the migrant surge.

We spoke about the importance of the border, and about the economic relationship ... the importance of reopening the border crossings, that is a priority for us, Foreign Relations Secretary Alicia Barcena said following the meeting in Mexico City, which was also attended by U.S. Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas and homeland security adviser Liz Sherwood-Randall.

This month, as many as 10,000 migrants were arrested daily on the southwest U.S. border. The U.S. has struggled to process thousands of migrants at the border, and house them once they reach northern cities.

Mexican industries were stung last week when the U.S. briefly closed two vital Texas railway crossings, arguing that border patrol agents had to be reassigned to deal with the surge. Another non-rail border crossing remained closed in Lukeville, Arizona, and operations were partially suspended in San Diego and Nogales, Arizona.

The dismantling of the migrant encampment in Matamoros appeared to be a good-will gesture toward the United States. Migrants set up the encampment in late 2022. It once held as many as 1,500 migrants, but many tents were vacated in recent months as migrants waded across the river to reach the United States.

Segismundo Doguin, the head of the local office of Mexico's immigration agency, said, What we are doing is removing any tents that we see are empty.

But one Honduran migrant who would give only his first name, Jose, claimed some of the 200 remaining migrants had been practically forced to leave the camp late Tuesday.

They ran us out, he said, saying migrants were given short notice to move their tents and belongings out of the way and felt intimidated by the bulldozer moving through the tents. You had to run for your life to avoid an accident.

Mexico has assigned over 32,000 soldiers and National Guard troopers  about 11% of its total forces  to enforce immigration laws, and the National Guard now detains far more migrants than criminals.

But the shortcomings of Mexico's effort were on display Tuesday, when National Guard members made no attempt to stop a caravan of about 6,000 migrants, many from Central America and Venezuela, from walking through Mexicos main inland immigration inspection point in southern Chiapas state near the Guatemala border.

In the past, Mexico has let such caravans go through, trusting that they would tire themselves out walking along the highway.

By Wednesday, Lazara Padron Molina, 46, from Cuba was sick and exhausted. The caravan set out Dec. 24 from the city of Tapachula and had walked about 45 miles (75 kilometers) through the heat to Escuintla in southern Chiapas state.

The route is too long to continue walking. Why don't they just give us documents so that we could get a bus or a taxi? Padron Molina said. Look at my feet, she said, showing blisters. I can't go on anymore.

But wearing the migrants out  by obliging Venezuelans and others to hike through the jungle-clad Darien Gap between Colombia and Panama or corralling migrants off passenger buses in Mexico  no longer appears to work.

So many migrants have been hopping freight trains through Mexico that one of the country's two major railroad companies suspended trains in September because of safety concerns. Police raids to pull migrants off railway cars  the kind of action Mexico took a decade ago  might be one thing the American delegation would like to see.

A few blocks from Mexico City's main plaza, where Blinken met with Lopez Obrador at the National Palace, migrants stayed at an improvised shelter at a church, gathering strength before continuing north.

David Pena, his two daughters and his pregnant wife, Maryeris Zerpa, hoped to reach the United States before the child is born in about a month.

The goal is to cross over so the baby will be born there, Pena said. But with no asylum appointment, he had no idea how the family will enter.

The U.S. has shown that one country's problems on the border quickly become both countries' problems. The Texas railway closures put a chokehold on freight moving from Mexico to the U.S. as well as grain needed to feed Mexican livestock moving south.

Lopez Obrador confirmed last week that U.S. officials want Mexico to do more to block migrants at its southern border with Guatemala, or make it more difficult to move across Mexico by train or in trucks or buses.

But the president said that in exchange he wanted the United States to send more development aid to migrants home countries and to reduce or eliminate sanctions on Cuba and Venezuela.

We are going to help, as we always do, Lopez Obrador said. Mexico is helping reach agreements with other countries, in this case Venezuela. He said Mexico has proposed to President Joe Biden that a U.S.-Cuba bilateral dialogue be opened.

In May, Mexico agreed to take in migrants from countries such as Venezuela, Nicaragua and Cuba who are turned away by the U.S. for not following rules that provided new legal pathways to asylum and other forms of migration.

___

Associated Press writer Valerie Gonzalez contributed to this report

Follow APs coverage of Latin America and the Caribbean at https://apnews.com/hub/latin-america

Follow APs migration coverage at https://apnews.com/hub/migration.
WASHINGTON, Dec. 27 (Xinhua) -- The U.S. State Department on Wednesday announced this year's final package of weapons and equipment to aid Ukraine, exhausting existing funding still at the Biden administration's disposal.

The arms and equipment in the package are worth up to 250 million U.S. dollars and are being provided "under previously directed drawdowns for Ukraine," Secretary of State Antony Blinken said in a statement.

"Capabilities provided in today's package include air defense munitions, other air defense system components, additional ammunition for high mobility artillery rocket systems, 155mm and 105mm artillery ammunition, anti-armor munitions, and over 15 million rounds of ammunition," Blinken said.

Assistance packages such as this just-announced one fall under the Presidential Drawdown Authority, which allows weapons to be pulled directly from the stocks of the Department of Defense so that they can be delivered to Ukraine in a swift manner.

The United States has already used up funds from another form of assistance for Ukraine, the congressionally-appropriated Ukraine Security Assistance Initiative, which enables the Department of Defense to purchase weapons for Kiev by signing contracts with arms manufacturers.

In his statement, Blinken reiterated the urgent need for Congress to get their work done. "It is imperative that Congress act swiftly, as soon as possible, to advance our national security interests by helping Ukraine defend itself and secure its future," he said.

Warning that the funding Congress previously approved for providing assistance to Ukraine would soon dry up, the Biden administration said last week that lacking lawmakers' renewed commitment to further appropriation meeting the White House's over 60-billion-dollar supplemental budget request for Ukraine, the administration would be able to announce but one additional package for Kiev before year's end.

"We are still planning one more aid package to Ukraine later this month," John Kirby, the National Security Council's Coordinator for Strategic Communications, told reporters on Dec. 18.

"However, when that one's done ... we will have no more replenishment authority available to us, and we're going to need Congress to act without delay, as we have been saying," Kirby said.

On Capitol Hill, Republicans are withholding their votes for new money for Ukraine, conditioning their approval on Democrats making compromise to satisfy the GOP's demand for tighter control measures on the border to keep incoming migrants at bay.

Since the Russia-Ukraine conflict broke out in February 2022, the United States has committed more than 44.2 billion dollars in military aid to Ukraine, the Pentagon said in a fact sheet published Wednesday. 
WASHINGTON (AP)  The U.S. on Thursday imposed sanctions on a group of money exchange services from Yemen and Turkey alleged to help provide funding to Iranian-backed Houthi rebels who have been launching attacks on commercial shipping vessels in the southern Red Sea  including a drone and a missile that were shot down Thursday by the U.S. military.

Included in the sanctions are the head of a financial intermediary in Sanaa, Yemen, along with three exchange houses in Yemen and Turkey. U.S. Treasury alleges that the people and firms helped transfer millions of dollars to the Houthis at the direction of sanctioned Iranian financial facilitator Said al-Jamal.

The sanctions block access to U.S. property and bank accounts and prevent the targeted people and companies from doing business with Americans.

Thursday's action is the latest round of financial penalties meant to punish the Houthis.

Earlier this month, the U.S. announced sanctions against 13 people and firms alleged to be providing tens of millions of dollars from the sale and shipment of Iranian commodities to the Houthis in Yemen.

Brian E. Nelson, Treasury's undersecretary for terrorism and financial intelligence, said Thursday's action "underscores our resolve to restrict the illicit flow of funds to the Houthis, who continue to conduct dangerous attacks on international shipping and risk further destabilizing the region."

Nelsons said the U.S. and its allies will continue to target the key facilitation networks that enable the destabilizing activities of the Houthis and their backers in Iran.

The Houthis have sporadically targeted ships in the region in the past, but the attacks have increased since the start of the war between Israel and Hamas, spiking after an Oct. 17 explosion at a hospital in Gaza killed and injured many. Houthi leaders have insisted Israel is their target.

The U.S. militarys Central Command reported another attempt to attack commercial vessels Thursday. It said the USS Mason, a Navy destroyer, shot down one drone and one ballistic missile that were fired by the Houthis around 6 p.m. local time.

There was no damage to any of the 18 ships in the area or reported injuries, CentCom said, adding that it was the 22nd attempted attack by Houthis on international shipping since Oct. 19.

In December, the White House also announced that it was encouraging its allies to join the Combined Maritime Forces, a 39-member partnership that exists to counter malign action by non-state actors in international waters, as it looks to push back against the Houthis.

The attacks on commercial vessels in the Red Sea by Yemens Houthi rebels have scared off some of the worlds top shipping companies and oil giants, effectively rerouting global trade away from a crucial artery for consumer goods and energy supplies that is expected to trigger delays and rising prices.
OTTAWA, Dec. 27 (Xinhua) -- Canada is searching for a place to store its stockpile of spent nuclear fuel with two communities set to vote on whether to approve the waste site, CTV News reported Wednesday.

Two communities in the Wabigoon Lake Ojibway Nation-Ignace area in northwestern Ontario and the Saugeen Ojibway Nation-South Bruce area in southern Ontario will vote in late 2024 to decide if to host this potential 26 billion Canadian dollar (20 billion U.S. dollar) nuclear waste storage project, the report said.

They are the two remaining options out of more than a dozen other locations that have been screened out or withdrawn, CTV News reported.

For more than 50 years, nuclear power reactors in Ontario, Quebec and New Brunswick have been producing electricity and the country has amassed a stock of 3.2 million bundles of used fuel, the report said, citing data from the Nuclear Waste Management Organization (NWMO), which was created in 2002 to develop solutions for managing used nuclear fuel.

According to the NWMO, the spent fuel is sitting inside seven licensed facilities near nuclear power stations in Ontario, Quebec and New Brunswick, and in one laboratory in Manitoba.

"Today's method is safe, but temporary," the NWMO was quoted in the report. "It requires ongoing maintenance and management, which isn't sustainable over the very long period."

Developers are looking to store the spent fuel deep underground. The facility would sit more than 500 metres below the surface. Once it's buried, the NWMO plans to continuously monitor the used nuclear fuel. It is also developing a way to move the used fuel from the existing storage to the new site, CTV News reported.

Used nuclear fuel is most radioactive immediately after it's removed from a reactor. Most of that radioactivity decays after 10 years of cooling at a reactor site. While the hazard continues to diminish over time, for practical purposes, used nuclear fuel remains hazardous, essentially indefinitely. Excessive exposure to a certain kind of radiation can damage living tissue and lead to uncontrolled growth of cells such as cancer or other serious health effects, according to the NWMO. 
UMB Bank n.a. increased its stake in shares of Salesforce, Inc. (NYSE:CRM  Free Report) by 36.5% in the 3rd quarter, according to its most recent 13F filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The institutional investor owned 88,975 shares of the CRM providers stock after purchasing an additional 23,815 shares during the quarter. UMB Bank n.a.s holdings in Salesforce were worth $18,042,000 at the end of the most recent quarter.

Several other institutional investors and hedge funds have also made changes to their positions in CRM. Bank Julius Baer & Co. Ltd Zurich boosted its position in shares of Salesforce by 92,823.1% during the 2nd quarter. Bank Julius Baer & Co. Ltd Zurich now owns 238,763,957 shares of the CRM providers stock worth $50,441,274,000 after acquiring an additional 238,507,009 shares in the last quarter. Norges Bank purchased a new stake in Salesforce during the 4th quarter valued at approximately $1,420,381,000. Moneta Group Investment Advisors LLC raised its stake in Salesforce by 125,717.4% during the 4th quarter. Moneta Group Investment Advisors LLC now owns 10,260,412 shares of the CRM providers stock valued at $1,360,428,000 after acquiring an additional 10,252,257 shares during the last quarter. Capital International Investors raised its stake in Salesforce by 1,151.2% during the 2nd quarter. Capital International Investors now owns 7,117,212 shares of the CRM providers stock valued at $1,503,547,000 after acquiring an additional 6,548,396 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Capital World Investors raised its stake in Salesforce by 30.2% during the 2nd quarter. Capital World Investors now owns 19,242,436 shares of the CRM providers stock valued at $4,065,157,000 after acquiring an additional 4,458,227 shares during the last quarter. 77.52% of the stock is owned by institutional investors and hedge funds.

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Salesforce Trading Down 0.1 %

Shares of CRM traded down $0.30 during trading hours on Wednesday, hitting $265.92. The stock had a trading volume of 707,678 shares, compared to its average volume of 6,479,602. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.15, a quick ratio of 1.04 and a current ratio of 1.04. The firm has a market cap of $257.41 billion, a P/E ratio of 101.22, a P/E/G ratio of 2.05 and a beta of 1.24. The companys fifty day simple moving average is $229.79 and its 200 day simple moving average is $219.48. Salesforce, Inc. has a 12-month low of $128.17 and a 12-month high of $268.36.

Insider Buying and Selling

Salesforce ( NYSE:CRM Get Free Report ) last issued its earnings results on Wednesday, November 29th. The CRM provider reported $2.11 earnings per share for the quarter, topping the consensus estimate of $2.05 by $0.06. The business had revenue of $8.72 billion for the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $8.71 billion. Salesforce had a return on equity of 9.19% and a net margin of 7.63%. The businesss quarterly revenue was up 11.3% on a year-over-year basis. During the same period last year, the company posted $0.73 EPS. Equities research analysts forecast that Salesforce, Inc. will post 6.02 EPS for the current fiscal year.

In related news, CEO Marc Benioff sold 15,000 shares of the stock in a transaction on Friday, October 27th. The stock was sold at an average price of $196.64, for a total value of $2,949,600.00. Following the transaction, the chief executive officer now directly owns 15,086,166 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $2,966,543,682.24. The sale was disclosed in a filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available at this link. In other Salesforce news, CAO Sundeep G. Reddy sold 164 shares of the firms stock in a transaction dated Monday, October 23rd. The stock was sold at an average price of $200.97, for a total value of $32,959.08. Following the transaction, the chief accounting officer now directly owns 2,576 shares of the companys stock, valued at $517,698.72. The transaction was disclosed in a filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available at the SEC website. Also, CEO Marc Benioff sold 15,000 shares of the firms stock in a transaction dated Friday, October 27th. The shares were sold at an average price of $196.64, for a total value of $2,949,600.00. Following the completion of the transaction, the chief executive officer now directly owns 15,086,166 shares in the company, valued at $2,966,543,682.24. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. In the last ninety days, insiders have sold 844,048 shares of company stock valued at $194,246,041. 3.70% of the stock is currently owned by company insiders.

Analysts Set New Price Targets

Several research firms have commented on CRM. The Goldman Sachs Group downgraded Salesforce from a conviction-buy rating to a buy rating in a research note on Monday, October 2nd. Barclays increased their target price on Salesforce from $245.00 to $260.00 and gave the stock an overweight rating in a research note on Thursday, August 31st. JMP Securities increased their target price on Salesforce from $275.00 to $293.00 and gave the stock a market outperform rating in a research note on Thursday, November 30th. Piper Sandler increased their target price on Salesforce from $232.00 to $266.00 and gave the stock a neutral rating in a research note on Thursday, November 30th. Finally, Royal Bank of Canada increased their target price on Salesforce from $240.00 to $285.00 and gave the stock an outperform rating in a research note on Thursday, November 30th. One analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, twelve have issued a hold rating, twenty-six have issued a buy rating and two have assigned a strong buy rating to the stock. According to data from MarketBeat.com, Salesforce currently has a consensus rating of Moderate Buy and a consensus target price of $259.61.

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Salesforce Company Profile

(Free Report)

Salesforce, Inc provides Customer Relationship Management (CRM) technology that brings companies and customers together worldwide. The company's service includes sales to store data, monitor leads and progress, forecast opportunities, gain insights through analytics and relationship intelligence, and deliver quotes, contracts, and invoices; and service that enables companies to deliver trusted and highly personalized customer service and support at scale.

Further Reading

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UMB Bank n.a. reduced its holdings in shares of Thermo Fisher Scientific Inc. (NYSE:TMO  Free Report) by 19.5% during the 3rd quarter, according to its most recent 13F filing with the SEC. The fund owned 45,667 shares of the medical research companys stock after selling 11,092 shares during the period. UMB Bank n.a.s holdings in Thermo Fisher Scientific were worth $23,115,000 as of its most recent filing with the SEC.

Other hedge funds and other institutional investors also recently bought and sold shares of the company. Halpern Financial Inc. grew its position in Thermo Fisher Scientific by 307.7% during the 3rd quarter. Halpern Financial Inc. now owns 53 shares of the medical research companys stock worth $27,000 after purchasing an additional 40 shares during the last quarter. Coppell Advisory Solutions LLC purchased a new position in Thermo Fisher Scientific during the 2nd quarter worth $33,000. Live Oak Investment Partners purchased a new position in Thermo Fisher Scientific during the 4th quarter worth $36,000. Tyler Stone Wealth Management purchased a new stake in shares of Thermo Fisher Scientific in the second quarter valued at about $37,000. Finally, Indiana Trust & Investment Management CO purchased a new stake in shares of Thermo Fisher Scientific in the third quarter valued at about $38,000. 87.06% of the stock is owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors.

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Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth

TMO has been the topic of several analyst reports. StockNews.com raised shares of Thermo Fisher Scientific from a hold rating to a buy rating in a report on Thursday, October 26th. Morgan Stanley lowered their target price on shares of Thermo Fisher Scientific from $640.00 to $600.00 and set an overweight rating on the stock in a report on Tuesday, October 24th. HSBC began coverage on shares of Thermo Fisher Scientific in a report on Monday, December 18th. They issued a buy rating and a $610.00 target price on the stock. KeyCorp downgraded shares of Thermo Fisher Scientific from an overweight rating to a sector weight rating in a report on Thursday, October 26th. Finally, TheStreet raised shares of Thermo Fisher Scientific from a c+ rating to a b- rating in a report on Friday. Two analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and sixteen have given a buy rating to the stock. According to data from MarketBeat.com, the stock currently has a consensus rating of Moderate Buy and a consensus target price of $597.53.

Thermo Fisher Scientific Trading Up 0.2 %

Thermo Fisher Scientific stock traded up $1.07 during trading on Wednesday, reaching $530.77. The company had a trading volume of 155,530 shares, compared to its average volume of 1,584,080. Thermo Fisher Scientific Inc. has a 12-month low of $415.60 and a 12-month high of $609.85. The stocks 50 day moving average price is $479.96 and its two-hundred day moving average price is $510.06. The firm has a market capitalization of $205.07 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 34.71, a PEG ratio of 3.21 and a beta of 0.83. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.67, a quick ratio of 1.25 and a current ratio of 1.63.

Thermo Fisher Scientific (NYSE:TMO  Get Free Report) last released its earnings results on Wednesday, October 25th. The medical research company reported $5.69 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, beating analysts consensus estimates of $5.61 by $0.08. Thermo Fisher Scientific had a net margin of 13.68% and a return on equity of 18.88%. The firm had revenue of $10.57 billion during the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $10.60 billion. During the same period in the previous year, the firm earned $5.08 earnings per share. Thermo Fisher Scientifics revenue was down 1.0% compared to the same quarter last year. As a group, equities analysts expect that Thermo Fisher Scientific Inc. will post 21.52 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.

Thermo Fisher Scientific Dividend Announcement

The business also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Tuesday, January 16th. Investors of record on Friday, December 15th will be issued a $0.35 dividend. The ex-dividend date is Thursday, December 14th. This represents a $1.40 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 0.26%. Thermo Fisher Scientifics payout ratio is 9.17%.

Thermo Fisher Scientific declared that its Board of Directors has authorized a stock repurchase plan on Tuesday, November 14th that permits the company to repurchase $4.00 billion in shares. This repurchase authorization permits the medical research company to repurchase up to 2.2% of its stock through open market purchases. Stock repurchase plans are typically a sign that the companys management believes its shares are undervalued.

Insider Activity at Thermo Fisher Scientific

In other Thermo Fisher Scientific news, CEO Marc N. Casper sold 10,000 shares of the businesss stock in a transaction that occurred on Monday, November 6th. The shares were sold at an average price of $454.41, for a total transaction of $4,544,100.00. Following the completion of the sale, the chief executive officer now directly owns 131,175 shares in the company, valued at $59,607,231.75. The transaction was disclosed in a legal filing with the SEC, which is available through this link. 0.32% of the stock is owned by insiders.

Thermo Fisher Scientific Profile

(Free Report)

Thermo Fisher Scientific Inc provides life sciences solutions, analytical instruments, specialty diagnostics, and laboratory products and biopharma services in the United States and internationally. The company's Life Sciences Solutions segment offers reagents, instruments, and consumables for biological and medical research, discovery, and production of drugs and vaccines, as well as diagnosis of infections and diseases; and solutions include biosciences, genetic sciences, clinical next-generation sequencing, bio production to pharmaceutical, biotechnology, agricultural, clinical, healthcare, academic, and government markets.

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Becton, Dickinson and Company (NYSE:BDX  Get Free Report) and Retractable Technologies (NYSE:RVP  Get Free Report) are both medical companies, but which is the better business? We will compare the two companies based on the strength of their earnings, analyst recommendations, profitability, risk, valuation, institutional ownership and dividends.

Earnings and Valuation

This table compares Becton, Dickinson and Company and Retractable Technologies revenue, earnings per share and valuation.

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Gross Revenue Price/Sales Ratio Net Income Earnings Per Share Price/Earnings Ratio Becton, Dickinson and Company $19.37 billion 3.64 $1.48 billion $4.96 48.89 Retractable Technologies $94.82 million 0.34 $5.08 million ($0.37) -2.92

Becton, Dickinson and Company has higher revenue and earnings than Retractable Technologies. Retractable Technologies is trading at a lower price-to-earnings ratio than Becton, Dickinson and Company, indicating that it is currently the more affordable of the two stocks.

Institutional and Insider Ownership

Volatility & Risk

86.7% of Becton, Dickinson and Company shares are held by institutional investors. Comparatively, 10.6% of Retractable Technologies shares are held by institutional investors. 0.3% of Becton, Dickinson and Company shares are held by company insiders. Comparatively, 55.0% of Retractable Technologies shares are held 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.

Becton, Dickinson and Company has a beta of 0.49, indicating that its share price is 51% less volatile than the S&P 500. Comparatively, Retractable Technologies has a beta of 2.11, indicating that its share price is 111% more volatile than the S&P 500.

Analyst Recommendations

This is a summary of current recommendations and price targets for Becton, Dickinson and Company and Retractable Technologies, as provided by MarketBeat.

Sell Ratings Hold Ratings Buy Ratings Strong Buy Ratings Rating Score Becton, Dickinson and Company 0 1 6 0 2.86 Retractable Technologies 0 0 0 0 N/A

Becton, Dickinson and Company currently has a consensus price target of $279.57, indicating a potential upside of 15.29%. Given Becton, Dickinson and Companys higher probable upside, research analysts clearly believe Becton, Dickinson and Company is more favorable than Retractable Technologies.

Profitability

This table compares Becton, Dickinson and Company and Retractable Technologies net margins, return on equity and return on assets.

Net Margins Return on Equity Return on Assets Becton, Dickinson and Company 7.66% 13.91% 6.71% Retractable Technologies -26.86% -10.84% -5.95%

Summary

Becton, Dickinson and Company beats Retractable Technologies on 10 of the 12 factors compared between the two stocks.

About Becton, Dickinson and Company

(Get Free Report)

Becton, Dickinson and Company develops, manufactures, and sells medical supplies, devices, laboratory equipment, and diagnostic products for healthcare institutions, physicians, life science researchers, clinical laboratories, pharmaceutical industry, and the general public worldwide. The company operates in three segments: BD Medical, BD Life Sciences, and BD Interventional. The BD Medical segment provides peripheral intravenous (IV) and advanced peripheral catheters, central lines, acute dialysis catheters, vascular access technology, vascular care and preparation products, needle-free IV connectors and extensions sets, closed-system drug transfer devices, hazardous drug detections, hypodermic syringes and needles, anesthesia needles and trays, enteral syringes, and sharps disposal systems; IV medication safety and infusion therapy delivery systems, medication compounding workflow systems, automated medication dispensing and supply management systems, and medication inventory optimization and tracking systems; and prefillable drug delivery systems. The BD Life Sciences segment offers specimen and blood collection products; automated blood and tuberculosis culturing, molecular testing, microorganism identification and drug susceptibility, and liquid-based cytology systems, as well as rapid diagnostic assays, microbiology laboratory automation products, and plated media products; and fluorescence-activated cell sorters and analyzers, antibodies and kits, reagent systems, and solutions for single-cell gene expression analysis, as well as clinical oncology, immunological, and transplantation diagnostic/monitoring reagents and analyzers. The BD Interventional segment provides hernia and soft tissue repair, biological and bioresorbable grafts, biosurgery, and other surgical products; surgical infection prevention; peripheral intervention products; and urology and critical care products. The company was founded in 1897 and is headquartered in Franklin Lakes, New Jersey.

About Retractable Technologies

(Get Free Report)

Retractable Technologies, Inc. designs, develops, manufactures, and markets safety syringes and other safety medical products for the healthcare profession in the United States, rest of North and South America, and internationally. The company offers VanishPoint insulin syringes; tuberculin, insulin, and allergy antigen syringes; small diameter tube adapters; blood collection tube holders; allergy trays; IV safety catheters; Patient Safe syringes and Luer Caps; VanishPoint blood collection sets; EasyPoint needles; and VanishPoint autodisable syringes. It distributes its products through general line and specialty distributors, as well as through international distributors; and a direct marketing network. The company was incorporated in 1994 and is headquartered in Little Elm, Texas.

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Axos Financial, Inc. (NYSE:AX  Free Report)  DA Davidson decreased their Q2 2024 earnings estimates for shares of Axos Financial in a report issued on Tuesday, December 26th. DA Davidson analyst G. Tenner now forecasts that the company will earn $1.31 per share for the quarter, down from their prior estimate of $1.35. The consensus estimate for Axos Financials current full-year earnings is $5.70 per share.

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Other research analysts also recently issued reports about the stock. TheStreet raised shares of Axos Financial from a c+ rating to a b- rating in a research report on Monday, December 4th. Raymond James dropped their target price on shares of Axos Financial from $55.00 to $45.00 and set an outperform rating on the stock in a research report on Monday, October 30th. Finally, StockNews.com downgraded shares of Axos Financial from a hold rating to a sell rating in a research report on Wednesday. One analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, one has given a hold rating and three have assigned a buy rating to the companys stock. According to data from MarketBeat, Axos Financial currently has a consensus rating of Hold and an average target price of $53.75.

Axos Financial Trading Up 0.5 %

Shares of NYSE:AX opened at $56.76 on Thursday. Axos Financial has a 52 week low of $32.05 and a 52 week high of $57.12. The companys 50 day moving average is $42.59 and its two-hundred day moving average is $41.72. The company has a current ratio of 1.08, a quick ratio of 1.08 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.29. The company has a market cap of $3.28 billion, a PE ratio of 10.30 and a beta of 1.47.

Axos Financial (NYSE:AX  Get Free Report) last announced its quarterly earnings data on Thursday, October 26th. The company reported $1.41 EPS for the quarter, beating analysts consensus estimates of $1.35 by $0.06. Axos Financial had a net margin of 23.25% and a return on equity of 18.03%. The company had revenue of $245.66 million for the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $241.52 million.

Insiders Place Their Bets

In other Axos Financial news, Director Edward James Ratinoff sold 3,000 shares of the firms stock in a transaction on Tuesday, December 12th. The shares were sold at an average price of $48.86, for a total transaction of $146,580.00. Following the transaction, the director now directly owns 46,209 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $2,257,771.74. The sale was disclosed in a legal filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available at the SEC website. In other news, Director Edward James Ratinoff sold 3,000 shares of the firms stock in a transaction on Tuesday, December 12th. The shares were sold at an average price of $48.86, for a total value of $146,580.00. Following the completion of the sale, the director now owns 46,209 shares in the company, valued at approximately $2,257,771.74. The transaction was disclosed in a document filed with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which can be accessed through this hyperlink. Also, EVP Andrew J. Micheletti sold 5,000 shares of the firms stock in a transaction on Thursday, December 14th. The stock was sold at an average price of $53.96, for a total transaction of $269,800.00. Following the completion of the sale, the executive vice president now owns 508,083 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $27,416,158.68. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. 4.82% of the stock is currently owned by insiders.

Institutional Trading of Axos Financial

Several hedge funds have recently made changes to their positions in AX. Raymond James Financial Services Advisors Inc. lifted its stake in shares of Axos Financial by 24.8% in the 1st quarter. Raymond James Financial Services Advisors Inc. now owns 41,606 shares of the companys stock worth $1,930,000 after acquiring an additional 8,272 shares during the period. PNC Financial Services Group Inc. lifted its stake in shares of Axos Financial by 96.2% in the first quarter. PNC Financial Services Group Inc. now owns 6,745 shares of the companys stock valued at $312,000 after purchasing an additional 3,308 shares during the period. Natixis Advisors L.P. lifted its stake in shares of Axos Financial by 4.3% in the first quarter. Natixis Advisors L.P. now owns 11,233 shares of the companys stock valued at $521,000 after purchasing an additional 460 shares during the period. Bank of Montreal Can lifted its stake in shares of Axos Financial by 9.7% in the first quarter. Bank of Montreal Can now owns 15,758 shares of the companys stock valued at $736,000 after purchasing an additional 1,397 shares during the period. Finally, MetLife Investment Management LLC lifted its stake in shares of Axos Financial by 53.6% in the first quarter. MetLife Investment Management LLC now owns 29,958 shares of the companys stock valued at $1,390,000 after purchasing an additional 10,451 shares during the period. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 80.23% of the companys stock.

Axos Financial Company Profile

(Get Free Report)

Axos Financial, Inc, together with its subsidiaries, provides consumer and business banking products in the United States. It operates through two segments, Banking Business and Securities Business. The company offers deposits products, including consumer and business checking, demand, savings, time deposit, money market, zero balance, and insured cash sweep accounts.

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Ballast Advisors LLC lessened its holdings in iShares Core U.S. Aggregate Bond ETF (NYSEARCA:AGG  Free Report) by 0.2% during the 3rd quarter, according to its most recent filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission. The firm owned 154,468 shares of the companys stock after selling 243 shares during the period. iShares Core U.S. Aggregate Bond ETF comprises approximately 5.8% of Ballast Advisors LLCs holdings, making the stock its 6th biggest position. Ballast Advisors LLCs holdings in iShares Core U.S. Aggregate Bond ETF were worth $14,526,000 at the end of the most recent quarter.

Several other institutional investors have also recently made changes to their positions in AGG. Avalon Trust Co bought a new position in shares of iShares Core U.S. Aggregate Bond ETF in the 2nd quarter worth approximately $28,000. Parkside Financial Bank & Trust raised its stake in iShares Core U.S. Aggregate Bond ETF by 191.1% during the 2nd quarter. Parkside Financial Bank & Trust now owns 294 shares of the companys stock worth $29,000 after acquiring an additional 193 shares during the period. Steph & Co. raised its stake in iShares Core U.S. Aggregate Bond ETF by 80.4% during the 2nd quarter. Steph & Co. now owns 359 shares of the companys stock worth $35,000 after acquiring an additional 160 shares during the period. First Manhattan Co. raised its stake in iShares Core U.S. Aggregate Bond ETF by 697.9% during the 4th quarter. First Manhattan Co. now owns 375 shares of the companys stock worth $36,000 after acquiring an additional 328 shares during the period. Finally, VitalStone Financial LLC bought a new stake in iShares Core U.S. Aggregate Bond ETF during the 2nd quarter worth approximately $38,000. Institutional investors own 83.21% of the companys stock.

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iShares Core U.S. Aggregate Bond ETF Price Performance

NYSEARCA AGG traded down $0.12 on Thursday, reaching $99.54. 1,464,127 shares of the stock were exchanged, compared to its average volume of 7,908,774. iShares Core U.S. Aggregate Bond ETF has a one year low of $91.58 and a one year high of $101.15. The companys 50-day simple moving average is $95.62 and its two-hundred day simple moving average is $95.97.

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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Shares of USA Compression Partners LP (NYSE:USAC  Get Free Report) have been assigned an average recommendation of Reduce from the four analysts that are covering the company, MarketBeat.com reports. Two analysts have rated the stock with a sell rating and two have given a hold rating to the company. The average 12 month price objective among analysts that have issued a report on the stock in the last year is $22.00.

USAC has been the subject of a number of research analyst reports. Mizuho downgraded shares of USA Compression Partners from a neutral rating to an underperform rating and set a $22.00 target price for the company. in a research report on Friday, September 29th. StockNews.com upgraded shares of USA Compression Partners from a hold rating to a buy rating in a research report on Wednesday. Finally, Stifel Nicolaus increased their target price on shares of USA Compression Partners from $22.00 to $24.00 and gave the stock a hold rating in a research report on Wednesday, November 1st.

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USA Compression Partners Trading Up 0.6 %

USAC opened at $23.88 on Thursday. The businesss 50 day moving average is $24.72 and its 200-day moving average is $22.53. The stock has a market cap of $2.35 billion, a PE ratio of 159.20 and a beta of 1.36. USA Compression Partners has a twelve month low of $18.48 and a twelve month high of $26.61.

USA Compression Partners (NYSE:USAC  Get Free Report) last issued its quarterly earnings results on Tuesday, October 31st. The oil and gas company reported $0.09 EPS for the quarter, missing the consensus estimate of $0.11 by ($0.02). The firm had revenue of $217.09 million during the quarter, compared to analysts expectations of $208.37 million. USA Compression Partners had a net margin of 7.86% and a negative return on equity of 32.50%. As a group, analysts forecast that USA Compression Partners will post 0.3 EPS for the current year.

USA Compression Partners Announces Dividend

The business also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Friday, November 3rd. Shareholders of record on Monday, October 23rd were given a $0.525 dividend. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Friday, October 20th. This represents a $2.10 annualized dividend and a yield of 8.79%. USA Compression Partnerss dividend payout ratio is 1,400.00%.

Insiders Place Their Bets

In other news, Director Veteran Equity Aggregator Eig sold 3,365 shares of the firms stock in a transaction dated Friday, November 17th. The shares were sold at an average price of $25.88, for a total transaction of $87,086.20. Following the completion of the transaction, the director now directly owns 2,432,109 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $62,942,980.92. The transaction was disclosed in a legal filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available through this hyperlink. In other USA Compression Partners news, insider Eric D. Long sold 150,170 shares of the businesss stock in a transaction dated Thursday, November 2nd. The shares were sold at an average price of $25.70, for a total value of $3,859,369.00. Following the completion of the transaction, the insider now directly owns 386,455 shares of the companys stock, valued at $9,931,893.50. The sale was disclosed in a legal filing with the SEC, which is available at this hyperlink. Also, Director Veteran Equity Aggregator Eig sold 3,365 shares of the businesss stock in a transaction dated Friday, November 17th. The stock was sold at an average price of $25.88, for a total transaction of $87,086.20. Following the completion of the transaction, the director now directly owns 2,432,109 shares of the companys stock, valued at $62,942,980.92. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. Insiders have sold 1,276,252 shares of company stock worth $31,495,409 in the last ninety days.

Hedge Funds Weigh In On USA Compression Partners

A number of institutional investors have recently modified their holdings of USAC. Citigroup Inc. acquired a new stake in shares of USA Compression Partners during the 3rd quarter worth approximately $1,288,000. Seelaus Asset Management LLC grew its position in shares of USA Compression Partners by 19.5% during the 3rd quarter. Seelaus Asset Management LLC now owns 12,278 shares of the oil and gas companys stock worth $293,000 after buying an additional 2,000 shares during the period. JPMorgan Chase & Co. grew its position in shares of USA Compression Partners by 42.9% during the 3rd quarter. JPMorgan Chase & Co. now owns 1,385,189 shares of the oil and gas companys stock worth $33,051,000 after buying an additional 415,956 shares during the period. Hodges Capital Management Inc. acquired a new position in USA Compression Partners during the third quarter valued at approximately $599,000. Finally, Nomura Holdings Inc. acquired a new position in USA Compression Partners during the third quarter valued at approximately $644,000. 23.51% of the stock is owned by institutional investors.

About USA Compression Partners

(Get Free Report

USA Compression Partners, LP provides compression services under term contracts with customers in the natural gas and crude oil industries in the United States. The company engineers, designs, operates, services, and repairs its compression units; and maintains related support inventory and equipment.

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Cable One, Inc. (NYSE:CABO  Get Free Report) has received a consensus rating of Hold from the six ratings firms that are presently covering the company, MarketBeat Ratings reports. Two investment analysts have rated the stock with a sell rating, two have issued a hold rating and two have assigned a buy rating to the company. The average 12 month price target among analysts that have updated their coverage on the stock in the last year is $793.00.

A number of research analysts have commented on CABO shares. StockNews.com started coverage on shares of Cable One in a research note on Thursday, October 5th. They set a hold rating on the stock. BNP Paribas initiated coverage on shares of Cable One in a report on Monday, December 4th. They set an underperform rating and a $418.00 target price on the stock. Finally, KeyCorp dropped their target price on shares of Cable One from $1,175.00 to $1,110.00 and set an overweight rating on the stock in a report on Friday, November 3rd.

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Institutional Trading of Cable One

Cable One Trading Up 0.7 %

A number of large investors have recently modified their holdings of the company. Rothschild & Co Wealth Management UK Ltd increased its holdings in shares of Cable One by 1.7% in the 3rd quarter. Rothschild & Co Wealth Management UK Ltd now owns 279,010 shares of the companys stock worth $171,770,000 after acquiring an additional 4,689 shares during the period. Massachusetts Financial Services Co. MA increased its holdings in shares of Cable One by 4.6% in the 3rd quarter. Massachusetts Financial Services Co. MA now owns 240,869 shares of the companys stock worth $148,289,000 after acquiring an additional 10,521 shares during the period. Capital International Investors increased its holdings in shares of Cable One by 74.9% in the 1st quarter. Capital International Investors now owns 204,285 shares of the companys stock worth $300,489,000 after acquiring an additional 87,503 shares during the period. Neuberger Berman Group LLC increased its holdings in shares of Cable One by 18.2% in the 1st quarter. Neuberger Berman Group LLC now owns 184,947 shares of the companys stock worth $129,833,000 after acquiring an additional 28,412 shares during the period. Finally, Burgundy Asset Management Ltd. increased its holdings in shares of Cable One by 24.8% in the 3rd quarter. Burgundy Asset Management Ltd. now owns 155,097 shares of the companys stock worth $95,484,000 after acquiring an additional 30,831 shares during the period. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 98.60% of the companys stock.

NYSE CABO opened at $555.83 on Thursday. Cable One has a 12 month low of $506.18 and a 12 month high of $861.89. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 2.04, a current ratio of 1.81 and a quick ratio of 1.81. The company has a market capitalization of $3.12 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 44.79 and a beta of 0.87. The companys fifty day moving average price is $554.41 and its two-hundred day moving average price is $620.11.

Cable One (NYSE:CABO  Get Free Report) last posted its quarterly earnings data on Thursday, November 2nd. The company reported $10.78 EPS for the quarter, missing analysts consensus estimates of $13.40 by ($2.62). Cable One had a net margin of 4.43% and a return on equity of 13.24%. The company had revenue of $420.35 million for the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $424.49 million. As a group, research analysts predict that Cable One will post 43.56 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.

Cable One Dividend Announcement

The firm also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Friday, December 15th. Shareholders of record on Tuesday, November 28th were issued a dividend of $2.95 per share. The ex-dividend date was Monday, November 27th. This represents a $11.80 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 2.12%. Cable Ones dividend payout ratio (DPR) is 95.08%.

About Cable One

(Get Free Report

Cable One, Inc, together with its subsidiaries, provides data, video, and voice services in the United States. The company offers residential data services, a service to enhance Wi-Fi signal throughout the home. It also provides various residential video services from basic video service to digital services with access to hundreds of channels; and provides a cloud-based DVR feature that does not require the use of a set-top boxes.

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Jakarta: On December 27, 2023, a large group of Indonesian students stormed a convention center in the city of Banda Aceh, where hundreds of Rohingya refugees from Myanmar were housed, demanding their deportation, as shown in footage from an international media agency. A city police spokesperson in Banda Aceh did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

The video footage depicted numerous students, wearing green jackets, rushing into a large basement space where crowds of Rohingya men, women, and children were seated on the floor, visibly distressed. The Rohingya individuals were then led out, some carrying their belongings in plastic sacks, and transported to trucks while the protestors observed.

A total of 200 students protested in front of the provincial parliament in Banda Aceh, urging lawmakers to turn away the Rohingya refugees, claiming their presence would cause social and economic upheaval in the community. The protestors chanted, "Get away, Rohingyas," and criticized the government and the UN Refugee Agency for their handling of the refugee arrivals. Some protestors even burnt tires on the streets.

Teuku Wariza, one of the protest organizers, stated, "We urged the parliament speaker to immediately take action to remove the Rohingyas from Aceh." Upon reaching the refugee camp, the protestors discarded the clothes and belongings of the refugees, compelling the authorities to relocate them to another place.

The United Nations Refugee Agency (UNRA) expressed deep disturbance over the mob attack on a site sheltering vulnerable refugee families, the majority being children and women, and called for better protection. The mob forcefully broke the police cordon, placed 137 Rohingya refugees on trucks, and moved them to another location in Banda Aceh. The incident left refugees shocked and traumatized.

The United Nations Human Rights Agency reminded everyone that desperate refugees, including children and women seeking shelter in Indonesia, are victims of persecution and conflict, survivors of deadly sea journeys.

While Indonesia had previously tolerated refugees, the growing hostility of some Indonesians towards Rohingyas has pressured President Joko Widodo's government to take action. President Joko Widodo blamed the recent surge in arrivals on human trafficking and pledged to work with international organizations to offer temporary shelter.

Rohingya refugees have faced increasing hostility and rejection in Indonesia as locals grow frustrated with the number of boats arriving with the ethnic minority, who face severe persecution in Buddhist-dominated Myanmar. On November 17, 2023, 250 Rohingya refugees were deported back to Myanmar.

During an earlier protest rally on December 27, 2023, Wariza Anis Munandar, a 23-year-old student in Banda Aceh, called for the deportation of the Rohingyas, while another student, 20-year-old Della Masrida, said, "They came here uninvited, and they feel like this is their country."

Indonesia is not a signatory to the 1951 United Nations Convention on Refugees but has a history of accepting refugees when they arrive. For years, Rohingyas have left Myanmar, where they were considered foreign interlopers, denied citizenship, and subjected to verbal and physical abuse.

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Coerente Capital Management reduced its holdings in Illinois Tool Works Inc. (NYSE:ITW  Free Report) by 0.5% during the 3rd quarter, according to the company in its most recent disclosure with the SEC. The fund owned 99,659 shares of the industrial products companys stock after selling 533 shares during the quarter. Illinois Tool Works comprises 5.1% of Coerente Capital Managements portfolio, making the stock its 6th biggest holding. Coerente Capital Managements holdings in Illinois Tool Works were worth $22,952,000 at the end of the most recent quarter.

Several other hedge funds and other institutional investors also recently made changes to their positions in the business. Handelsbanken Fonder AB grew its position in Illinois Tool Works by 0.6% during the third quarter. Handelsbanken Fonder AB now owns 108,628 shares of the industrial products companys stock worth $25,018,000 after buying an additional 650 shares in the last quarter. Financial & Tax Architects LLC lifted its stake in Illinois Tool Works by 2.7% during the third quarter. Financial & Tax Architects LLC now owns 21,735 shares of the industrial products companys stock worth $5,006,000 after purchasing an additional 572 shares during the period. Ballast Advisors LLC bought a new position in Illinois Tool Works during the third quarter worth about $441,000. Czech National Bank lifted its stake in Illinois Tool Works by 46.9% during the third quarter. Czech National Bank now owns 48,094 shares of the industrial products companys stock worth $11,077,000 after purchasing an additional 15,355 shares during the period. Finally, Norris Perne & French LLP MI lifted its stake in Illinois Tool Works by 0.4% during the third quarter. Norris Perne & French LLP MI now owns 60,296 shares of the industrial products companys stock worth $13,887,000 after purchasing an additional 229 shares during the period. 79.56% of the stock is owned by institutional investors and hedge funds.

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Illinois Tool Works Trading Down 0.9 %

Shares of ITW stock traded down $2.28 on Thursday, hitting $261.39. The stock had a trading volume of 338,121 shares, compared to its average volume of 1,068,945. Illinois Tool Works Inc. has a twelve month low of $217.06 and a twelve month high of $265.00. The firm has a market cap of $78.65 billion, a P/E ratio of 25.57, a PEG ratio of 5.17 and a beta of 1.13. The company has a current ratio of 1.58, a quick ratio of 1.13 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 2.27. The company has a fifty day moving average price of $241.00 and a two-hundred day moving average price of $242.19.

Illinois Tool Works Dividend Announcement

Illinois Tool Works ( NYSE:ITW Get Free Report ) last posted its quarterly earnings data on Tuesday, October 24th. The industrial products company reported $2.55 EPS for the quarter, topping analysts consensus estimates of $2.46 by $0.09. Illinois Tool Works had a net margin of 19.55% and a return on equity of 95.68%. The company had revenue of $4.03 billion during the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $4.10 billion. During the same period in the prior year, the business posted $2.35 EPS. The companys quarterly revenue was up .5% on a year-over-year basis. As a group, analysts forecast that Illinois Tool Works Inc. will post 9.68 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.

The business also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Thursday, January 11th. Shareholders of record on Friday, December 29th will be given a dividend of $1.40 per share. The ex-dividend date is Thursday, December 28th. This represents a $5.60 annualized dividend and a yield of 2.14%. Illinois Tool Workss dividend payout ratio (DPR) is presently 54.32%.

Analyst Ratings Changes

ITW has been the subject of a number of analyst reports. Stifel Nicolaus raised their price target on shares of Illinois Tool Works from $236.00 to $238.00 and gave the stock a hold rating in a research note on Tuesday, December 19th. Citigroup raised their price target on shares of Illinois Tool Works from $244.00 to $256.00 and gave the stock a neutral rating in a research note on Monday, December 11th. Barclays cut their target price on shares of Illinois Tool Works from $213.00 to $198.00 in a research note on Thursday, September 7th. JPMorgan Chase & Co. cut their target price on shares of Illinois Tool Works from $265.00 to $255.00 and set an overweight rating for the company in a research note on Monday, October 16th. Finally, StockNews.com assumed coverage on shares of Illinois Tool Works in a research note on Thursday, October 5th. They issued a hold rating for the company. Three analysts have rated the stock with a sell rating, seven have given a hold rating and two have assigned a buy rating to the company. According to MarketBeat.com, Illinois Tool Works presently has an average rating of Hold and an average price target of $240.82.

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Illinois Tool Works Company Profile

(Free Report)

Illinois Tool Works Inc manufactures and sells industrial products and equipment worldwide. It operates through seven segments: Automotive OEM; Food Equipment; Test & Measurement and Electronics; Welding; Polymers & Fluids; Construction Products; and Specialty Products. The Automotive OEM segment offers plastic and metal components, fasteners, and assemblies for automobiles, light trucks, and other industrial uses.

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Equity Residential (NYSE:EQR  Get Free Report) announced a quarterly dividend on Thursday, December 14th, RTT News reports. Shareholders of record on Tuesday, January 2nd will be given a dividend of 0.6625 per share by the real estate investment trust on Friday, January 12th. This represents a $2.65 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 4.28%. The ex-dividend date is Friday, December 29th.

Equity Residential has increased its dividend payment by an average of 3.3% per year over the last three years and has raised its dividend every year for the last 2 years. Equity Residential has a payout ratio of 169.9% indicating that the company cannot currently cover its dividend with earnings alone and is relying on its balance sheet to cover its dividend payments. Equities research analysts expect Equity Residential to earn $3.88 per share next year, which means the company should continue to be able to cover its $2.65 annual dividend with an expected future payout ratio of 68.3%.

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Equity Residential Price Performance

EQR opened at $61.86 on Thursday. Equity Residential has a 52 week low of $52.57 and a 52 week high of $69.45. The firm has a market capitalization of $23.49 billion, a PE ratio of 34.37, a P/E/G ratio of 3.34 and a beta of 0.84. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.67, a quick ratio of 0.18 and a current ratio of 0.18. The company has a fifty day moving average price of $57.31 and a two-hundred day moving average price of $61.69.

Insiders Place Their Bets

Institutional Investors Weigh In On Equity Residential

In other news, Chairman David J. Neithercut sold 25,000 shares of the companys stock in a transaction dated Thursday, December 7th. The shares were sold at an average price of $58.18, for a total value of $1,454,500.00. Following the sale, the chairman now directly owns 3,392 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $197,346.56. The sale was disclosed in a legal filing with the SEC, which can be accessed through the SEC website . Insiders own 1.69% of the companys stock.

A number of institutional investors and hedge funds have recently modified their holdings of the company. Norges Bank bought a new stake in shares of Equity Residential in the 4th quarter valued at about $1,822,309,000. State Street Corp raised its holdings in shares of Equity Residential by 5.4% in the 1st quarter. State Street Corp now owns 24,983,779 shares of the real estate investment trusts stock valued at $1,515,182,000 after purchasing an additional 1,269,082 shares during the period. Macquarie Group Ltd. raised its holdings in Equity Residential by 7.7% in the 1st quarter. Macquarie Group Ltd. now owns 7,912,891 shares of the real estate investment trusts stock valued at $474,727,000 after acquiring an additional 566,203 shares during the period. Geode Capital Management LLC raised its holdings in Equity Residential by 2.3% in the 1st quarter. Geode Capital Management LLC now owns 7,839,640 shares of the real estate investment trusts stock valued at $469,403,000 after acquiring an additional 176,762 shares during the period. Finally, Morgan Stanley raised its holdings in Equity Residential by 19.1% in the 4th quarter. Morgan Stanley now owns 5,551,602 shares of the real estate investment trusts stock valued at $327,545,000 after acquiring an additional 891,918 shares during the period. 84.79% of the stock is owned by institutional investors.

Wall Street Analyst Weigh In

Several equities analysts have recently issued reports on the stock. Wells Fargo & Company raised shares of Equity Residential from an equal weight rating to an overweight rating and boosted their price target for the company from $62.00 to $69.00 in a report on Tuesday, September 5th. Mizuho lowered shares of Equity Residential from a buy rating to a neutral rating and decreased their price target for the company from $62.00 to $58.00 in a report on Monday, December 11th. Piper Sandler decreased their price target on shares of Equity Residential from $71.00 to $57.00 and set a neutral rating for the company in a report on Friday, November 10th. StockNews.com started coverage on shares of Equity Residential in a report on Thursday, October 5th. They issued a hold rating for the company. Finally, Evercore ISI reduced their target price on shares of Equity Residential from $70.00 to $66.00 in a research note on Monday, October 9th. One equities research analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, eleven have given a hold rating and three have assigned a buy rating to the company. According to MarketBeat.com, the company has an average rating of Hold and an average price target of $65.39.

View Our Latest Report on Equity Residential

Equity Residential Company Profile

(Get Free Report)

Equity Residential is committed to creating communities where people thrive. The Company, a member of the S&P 500, is focused on the acquisition, development and management of residential properties located in and around dynamic cities that attract affluent long-term renters. Equity Residential owns or has investments in 305 properties consisting of 80,683 apartment units, with an established presence in Boston, New York, Washington, DC, Seattle, San Francisco and Southern California, and an expanding presence in Denver, Atlanta, Dallas/Ft.

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StockNews.com cut shares of Flanigans Enterprises (NYSEAMERICAN:BDL  Free Report) from a buy rating to a hold rating in a report published on Sunday.

Flanigans Enterprises Stock Performance

Flanigans Enterprises stock opened at $25.50 on Friday. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.29, a current ratio of 1.73 and a quick ratio of 1.40. The company has a market capitalization of $47.43 million, a PE ratio of 8.79 and a beta of 0.63. Flanigans Enterprises has a 12 month low of $24.80 and a 12 month high of $34.59.

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Institutional Trading of Flanigans Enterprises

Institutional investors have recently modified their holdings of the stock. Dimensional Fund Advisors LP boosted its stake in shares of Flanigans Enterprises by 3.5% in the third quarter. Dimensional Fund Advisors LP now owns 60,984 shares of the companys stock worth $1,556,000 after acquiring an additional 2,039 shares during the last quarter. Vanguard Group Inc. boosted its stake in Flanigans Enterprises by 61.5% during the 1st quarter. Vanguard Group Inc. now owns 19,502 shares of the companys stock worth $677,000 after purchasing an additional 7,427 shares during the last quarter. EA Series Trust purchased a new stake in shares of Flanigans Enterprises during the second quarter worth $303,000. Royal Bank of Canada raised its position in shares of Flanigans Enterprises by 26.6% in the second quarter. Royal Bank of Canada now owns 6,212 shares of the companys stock valued at $190,000 after buying an additional 1,304 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Captrust Financial Advisors purchased a new position in shares of Flanigans Enterprises in the second quarter worth about $114,000. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 11.62% of the companys stock.

Flanigans Enterprises Company Profile

Flanigan's Enterprises, Inc, together with its subsidiaries, operates a chain of full-service restaurants and package liquor stores in South Florida. It operates in two segments, Package Stores and Restaurants. The company operates package liquor stores under the Big Daddy's Liquors name, which offer private label liquors, beer, and wines; and restaurants under the Flanigan's Seafood Bar and Grill service mark that provide alcoholic beverages and full food services.

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GDS Wealth Management cut its holdings in iShares MSCI EAFE Min Vol Factor ETF (BATS:EFAV  Free Report) by 8.1% during the third quarter, according to the company in its most recent Form 13F filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The institutional investor owned 6,348 shares of the companys stock after selling 557 shares during the period. GDS Wealth Managements holdings in iShares MSCI EAFE Min Vol Factor ETF were worth $414,000 as of its most recent SEC filing.

Other institutional investors and hedge funds have also recently added to or reduced their stakes in the company. Dravo Bay LLC increased its stake in shares of iShares MSCI EAFE Min Vol Factor ETF by 3.8% during the 1st quarter. Dravo Bay LLC now owns 4,004 shares of the companys stock worth $271,000 after purchasing an additional 145 shares in the last quarter. Investment Partners LTD. lifted its holdings in iShares MSCI EAFE Min Vol Factor ETF by 0.7% in the 2nd quarter. Investment Partners LTD. now owns 23,090 shares of the companys stock valued at $1,559,000 after purchasing an additional 151 shares in the last quarter. Sequoia Financial Advisors LLC lifted its holdings in iShares MSCI EAFE Min Vol Factor ETF by 4.5% in the 1st quarter. Sequoia Financial Advisors LLC now owns 3,740 shares of the companys stock valued at $270,000 after purchasing an additional 160 shares in the last quarter. Dohj LLC grew its holdings in shares of iShares MSCI EAFE Min Vol Factor ETF by 1.0% during the second quarter. Dohj LLC now owns 16,917 shares of the companys stock worth $1,142,000 after buying an additional 163 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Salem Investment Counselors Inc. raised its position in shares of iShares MSCI EAFE Min Vol Factor ETF by 2.9% in the first quarter. Salem Investment Counselors Inc. now owns 5,951 shares of the companys stock valued at $429,000 after buying an additional 165 shares during the last quarter.

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iShares MSCI EAFE Min Vol Factor ETF Stock Up 0.6 %

Shares of EFAV traded up $0.39 during mid-day trading on Thursday, hitting $69.08. The company had a trading volume of 327,859 shares. iShares MSCI EAFE Min Vol Factor ETF has a 1-year low of $64.68 and a 1-year high of $76.51. The businesss 50-day simple moving average is $66.61 and its 200-day simple moving average is $66.82. The stock has a market cap of $7.75 billion, a PE ratio of 16.01 and a beta of 0.60.

About iShares MSCI EAFE Min Vol Factor ETF

The iShares MSCI EAFE Min Vol Factor ETF (EFAV) is an exchange-traded fund that is based on the MSCI EAFE Minimum Volatility (USD) index. The fund tracks an index of developed-market equities, ex-US and Canada, selected and weighted to create a low volatility portfolio subject to constraints including sector exposure.

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Gemmer Asset Management LLC lessened its holdings in Schwab Fundamental U.S. Small Company Index ETF (NYSEARCA:FNDA  Free Report) by 0.2% in the 3rd quarter, HoldingsChannel.com reports. The institutional investor owned 374,395 shares of the exchange traded funds stock after selling 814 shares during the quarter. Schwab Fundamental U.S. Small Company Index ETF comprises approximately 2.5% of Gemmer Asset Management LLCs investment portfolio, making the stock its 12th largest holding. Gemmer Asset Management LLCs holdings in Schwab Fundamental U.S. Small Company Index ETF were worth $18,154,000 at the end of the most recent quarter.

Several other hedge funds and other institutional investors also recently added to or reduced their stakes in FNDA. Raymond James Financial Services Advisors Inc. lifted its position in shares of Schwab Fundamental U.S. Small Company Index ETF by 20.4% during the 1st quarter. Raymond James Financial Services Advisors Inc. now owns 14,737 shares of the exchange traded funds stock worth $788,000 after purchasing an additional 2,500 shares during the last quarter. Cambridge Investment Research Advisors Inc. lifted its position in shares of Schwab Fundamental U.S. Small Company Index ETF by 42.1% during the 1st quarter. Cambridge Investment Research Advisors Inc. now owns 6,748 shares of the exchange traded funds stock worth $361,000 after purchasing an additional 1,998 shares during the last quarter. Cetera Advisor Networks LLC lifted its position in shares of Schwab Fundamental U.S. Small Company Index ETF by 38.9% during the 1st quarter. Cetera Advisor Networks LLC now owns 5,946 shares of the exchange traded funds stock worth $318,000 after purchasing an additional 1,666 shares during the last quarter. Empirical Financial Services LLC d.b.a. Empirical Wealth Management lifted its position in shares of Schwab Fundamental U.S. Small Company Index ETF by 67.6% during the 1st quarter. Empirical Financial Services LLC d.b.a. Empirical Wealth Management now owns 14,113 shares of the exchange traded funds stock worth $754,000 after purchasing an additional 5,691 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Flow Traders U.S. LLC purchased a new stake in shares of Schwab Fundamental U.S. Small Company Index ETF during the 1st quarter worth $2,364,000.

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Schwab Fundamental U.S. Small Company Index ETF Trading Down 0.2 %

Schwab Fundamental U.S. Small Company Index ETF stock opened at $56.00 on Thursday. The stock has a market cap of $7.32 billion, a P/E ratio of 13.99 and a beta of 1.19. The company has a fifty day simple moving average of $49.97 and a 200-day simple moving average of $50.20. Schwab Fundamental U.S. Small Company Index ETF has a 12-month low of $44.85 and a 12-month high of $56.31.

About Schwab Fundamental U.S. Small Company Index ETF

The Schwab Fundamental U.S. Small Company Index ETF (FNDA) is an exchange-traded fund that is based on the Russell RAFI Small Company US index. The fund tracks a fundamentally selected and weighted Russell index of small firms based on adjusted sales, retained operation cash flow, and dividends plus buybacks.

Further Reading

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Handelsbanken Fonder AB increased its holdings in shares of Wells Fargo & Company (NYSE:WFC  Free Report) by 2.6% during the 3rd quarter, according to the company in its most recent 13F filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission. The firm owned 1,263,099 shares of the financial services providers stock after buying an additional 31,935 shares during the period. Handelsbanken Fonder ABs holdings in Wells Fargo & Company were worth $51,610,000 at the end of the most recent quarter.

Other large investors have also recently added to or reduced their stakes in the company. Studio Investment Management LLC purchased a new stake in Wells Fargo & Company during the 4th quarter worth approximately $28,000. Strategic Investment Solutions Inc. IL purchased a new stake in shares of Wells Fargo & Company in the 1st quarter valued at approximately $28,000. Financial Connections Group Inc. increased its position in shares of Wells Fargo & Company by 288.0% in the 2nd quarter. Financial Connections Group Inc. now owns 741 shares of the financial services providers stock valued at $31,000 after purchasing an additional 550 shares during the last quarter. Impact Partnership Wealth LLC purchased a new stake in shares of Wells Fargo & Company in the 3rd quarter valued at approximately $34,000. Finally, Central Bank & Trust Co. increased its position in shares of Wells Fargo & Company by 444.8% in the 3rd quarter. Central Bank & Trust Co. now owns 899 shares of the financial services providers stock valued at $37,000 after purchasing an additional 734 shares during the last quarter. 72.47% of the stock is owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors.

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Wells Fargo & Company Stock Performance

Shares of WFC stock traded up $0.19 during mid-day trading on Thursday, hitting $49.52. The stock had a trading volume of 3,668,926 shares, compared to its average volume of 19,233,492. Wells Fargo & Company has a fifty-two week low of $35.25 and a fifty-two week high of $50.77. The firm has a market cap of $179.84 billion, a PE ratio of 10.66, a PEG ratio of 0.96 and a beta of 1.18. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.17, a current ratio of 0.87 and a quick ratio of 0.87. The companys 50-day simple moving average is $43.81 and its 200-day simple moving average is $42.96.

Wells Fargo & Company Dividend Announcement

Wells Fargo & Company ( NYSE:WFC Get Free Report ) last released its earnings results on Friday, October 13th. The financial services provider reported $1.39 EPS for the quarter, topping the consensus estimate of $1.24 by $0.15. Wells Fargo & Company had a net margin of 17.06% and a return on equity of 11.18%. The company had revenue of $20.86 billion during the quarter, compared to analysts expectations of $20.09 billion. During the same quarter last year, the business earned $1.30 EPS. The businesss revenue was up 6.6% on a year-over-year basis. Sell-side analysts anticipate that Wells Fargo & Company will post 5.04 earnings per share for the current year.

The company also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Friday, December 1st. Stockholders of record on Friday, November 3rd were paid a $0.35 dividend. This represents a $1.40 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 2.83%. The ex-dividend date was Thursday, November 2nd. Wells Fargo & Companys dividend payout ratio (DPR) is presently 30.24%.

Analyst Ratings Changes

WFC has been the topic of a number of recent analyst reports. Morgan Stanley increased their price objective on shares of Wells Fargo & Company from $52.00 to $54.00 and gave the company an overweight rating in a research report on Monday, December 4th. Deutsche Bank Aktiengesellschaft reissued a buy rating and issued a $44.00 price objective on shares of Wells Fargo & Company in a research report on Friday, September 22nd. Piper Sandler upped their target price on shares of Wells Fargo & Company from $45.00 to $47.00 and gave the company a neutral rating in a report on Friday, December 8th. Odeon Capital Group upgraded shares of Wells Fargo & Company from a hold rating to a buy rating and set a $56.08 target price for the company in a report on Thursday, December 14th. Finally, HSBC started coverage on shares of Wells Fargo & Company in a report on Thursday, September 7th. They issued a hold rating and a $45.00 target price for the company. Eight investment analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating, nine have issued a buy rating and one has issued a strong buy rating to the company. Based on data from MarketBeat.com, the stock presently has a consensus rating of Moderate Buy and a consensus target price of $49.56.

Read Our Latest Stock Analysis on WFC

Insider Activity

In related news, Director Richard K. Davis purchased 3,500 shares of the businesss stock in a transaction dated Thursday, November 9th. The stock was acquired at an average price of $41.22 per share, for a total transaction of $144,270.00. Following the acquisition, the director now directly owns 4,244 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $174,937.68. The transaction was disclosed in a legal filing with the SEC, which can be accessed through the SEC website. Insiders own 0.07% of the companys stock.

Wells Fargo & Company Company Profile

(Free Report)

Wells Fargo & Company, a diversified financial services company, provides banking, investment, mortgage, and consumer and commercial finance products and services in the United States and internationally. It operates through four segments: Consumer Banking and Lending; Commercial Banking; Corporate and Investment Banking; and Wealth and Investment Management.

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HMS Capital Management LLC cut its holdings in shares of Clean Harbors, Inc. (NYSE:CLH  Free Report) by 3.6% during the third quarter, according to the company in its most recent Form 13F filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The fund owned 2,077 shares of the business services providers stock after selling 78 shares during the period. HMS Capital Management LLCs holdings in Clean Harbors were worth $348,000 at the end of the most recent reporting period.

Several other institutional investors and hedge funds have also recently bought and sold shares of the business. Hollencrest Capital Management acquired a new position in Clean Harbors in the second quarter valued at $28,000. Nelson Van Denburg & Campbell Wealth Management Group LLC raised its stake in Clean Harbors by 76.0% during the 4th quarter. Nelson Van Denburg & Campbell Wealth Management Group LLC now owns 264 shares of the business services providers stock valued at $30,000 after acquiring an additional 114 shares during the last quarter. Raleigh Capital Management Inc. lifted its position in Clean Harbors by 22.9% during the 2nd quarter. Raleigh Capital Management Inc. now owns 327 shares of the business services providers stock worth $54,000 after acquiring an additional 61 shares during the period. Indiana Trust & Investment Management CO purchased a new position in shares of Clean Harbors in the 3rd quarter valued at approximately $55,000. Finally, Spire Wealth Management increased its holdings in shares of Clean Harbors by 51.3% in the second quarter. Spire Wealth Management now owns 354 shares of the business services providers stock valued at $58,000 after purchasing an additional 120 shares during the period. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 90.99% of the companys stock.

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Insider Activity

In related news, CEO Eric W. Gerstenberg sold 8,000 shares of the stock in a transaction dated Wednesday, November 22nd. The stock was sold at an average price of $164.82, for a total transaction of $1,318,560.00. Following the transaction, the chief executive officer now directly owns 68,787 shares in the company, valued at $11,337,473.34. The transaction was disclosed in a document filed with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is accessible through this link. In other news, CEO Eric W. Gerstenberg sold 8,000 shares of the businesss stock in a transaction on Wednesday, November 22nd. The shares were sold at an average price of $164.82, for a total transaction of $1,318,560.00. Following the completion of the sale, the chief executive officer now directly owns 68,787 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $11,337,473.34. The sale was disclosed in a filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which can be accessed through this link. Also, insider Alan S. Mckim sold 17,453 shares of the stock in a transaction on Wednesday, December 20th. The stock was sold at an average price of $178.37, for a total value of $3,113,091.61. Following the completion of the transaction, the insider now directly owns 2,672,211 shares in the company, valued at $476,642,276.07. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. Insiders sold a total of 53,964 shares of company stock valued at $9,121,999 over the last quarter. Company insiders own 6.70% of the companys stock.

Clean Harbors Price Performance

NYSE CLH traded down $2.14 during mid-day trading on Thursday, hitting $175.74. The stock had a trading volume of 62,673 shares, compared to its average volume of 346,694. The company has a 50 day simple moving average of $164.33 and a 200 day simple moving average of $165.42. The company has a market cap of $9.61 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 26.44 and a beta of 1.35. Clean Harbors, Inc. has a 52-week low of $110.96 and a 52-week high of $179.49. The company has a quick ratio of 1.68, a current ratio of 2.00 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.05.

Clean Harbors (NYSE:CLH  Get Free Report) last posted its earnings results on Wednesday, November 1st. The business services provider reported $1.68 earnings per share for the quarter, missing the consensus estimate of $2.07 by ($0.39). The business had revenue of $1.37 billion for the quarter, compared to analysts expectations of $1.41 billion. Clean Harbors had a net margin of 6.77% and a return on equity of 17.55%. The businesss revenue was up .2% compared to the same quarter last year. During the same quarter last year, the business posted $2.43 earnings per share. Equities analysts forecast that Clean Harbors, Inc. will post 6.86 EPS for the current fiscal year.

Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth

CLH has been the subject of several recent research reports. Raymond James decreased their price target on Clean Harbors from $200.00 to $190.00 and set a strong-buy rating for the company in a report on Thursday, November 2nd. Stifel Nicolaus boosted their price target on shares of Clean Harbors from $180.00 to $206.00 and gave the stock a buy rating in a research note on Tuesday, December 19th. BMO Capital Markets reduced their price objective on shares of Clean Harbors from $186.00 to $176.00 and set an outperform rating for the company in a research report on Friday, November 3rd. Wolfe Research started coverage on Clean Harbors in a research report on Tuesday, October 17th. They set an outperform rating and a $184.00 target price on the stock. Finally, Wells Fargo & Company began coverage on Clean Harbors in a report on Friday, December 8th. They issued an overweight rating and a $190.00 price target for the company. One research analyst has rated the stock with a hold rating, eight have assigned a buy rating and one has given a strong buy rating to the companys stock. Based on data from MarketBeat, the stock currently has an average rating of Buy and a consensus price target of $186.30.

Check Out Our Latest Stock Analysis on Clean Harbors

Clean Harbors Company Profile

(Free Report)

Clean Harbors, Inc provides environmental and industrial services in the United States and internationally. The company operates through two segments: The Environmental Services and The Safety-Kleen Sustainability Solutions. The Environmental Services segment collects, transports, treats, and disposes hazardous and non-hazardous waste, such as resource recovery, physical treatment, fuel blending, incineration, landfill disposal, wastewater treatment, lab chemicals disposal, and explosives management services; and offers CleanPack services, including collection, identification, categorization, specialized packaging, transportation, and disposal of laboratory chemicals and household hazardous waste.

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Jmac Enterprises LLC boosted its holdings in iShares MSCI USA Min Vol Factor ETF (BATS:USMV  Free Report) by 6.5% during the third quarter, according to its most recent 13F filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission. The fund owned 67,311 shares of the companys stock after acquiring an additional 4,129 shares during the quarter. iShares MSCI USA Min Vol Factor ETF accounts for about 1.1% of Jmac Enterprises LLCs investment portfolio, making the stock its 20th largest position. Jmac Enterprises LLCs holdings in iShares MSCI USA Min Vol Factor ETF were worth $4,872,000 as of its most recent SEC filing.

Several other institutional investors and hedge funds have also recently modified their holdings of the business. Bank of Montreal Can increased its stake in iShares MSCI USA Min Vol Factor ETF by 7.8% in the first quarter. Bank of Montreal Can now owns 8,253 shares of the companys stock valued at $646,000 after acquiring an additional 594 shares during the last quarter. Blair William & Co. IL raised its holdings in shares of iShares MSCI USA Min Vol Factor ETF by 1.7% during the 1st quarter. Blair William & Co. IL now owns 95,612 shares of the companys stock valued at $7,417,000 after buying an additional 1,612 shares in the last quarter. AJ Wealth Strategies LLC lifted its position in iShares MSCI USA Min Vol Factor ETF by 4.4% in the 1st quarter. AJ Wealth Strategies LLC now owns 1,348,690 shares of the companys stock worth $104,618,000 after buying an additional 57,434 shares during the last quarter. Founders Financial Securities LLC boosted its stake in iShares MSCI USA Min Vol Factor ETF by 27.0% in the first quarter. Founders Financial Securities LLC now owns 88,779 shares of the companys stock worth $6,887,000 after buying an additional 18,853 shares in the last quarter. Finally, West Michigan Advisors LLC raised its stake in shares of 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 acquiring an additional 719 shares in the last quarter.

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iShares MSCI USA Min Vol Factor ETF Stock Up 0.2 %

Shares of iShares MSCI USA Min Vol Factor ETF stock traded up $0.14 during trading on Thursday, reaching $77.75. The companys stock had a trading volume of 2,825,904 shares. iShares MSCI USA Min Vol Factor ETF has a 52-week low of $47.44 and a 52-week high of $55.45. The firms 50-day moving average is $75.08 and its two-hundred day moving average is $74.44. The company has a market cap of $29.82 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 20.17 and a beta of 0.75.

About iShares MSCI USA Min Vol Factor ETF

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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Jmac Enterprises LLC boosted its stake in Bristol-Myers Squibb (NYSE:BMY  Free Report) by 11.4% during the 3rd quarter, according to the company in its most recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The firm owned 12,171 shares of the biopharmaceutical companys stock after buying an additional 1,245 shares during the period. Jmac Enterprises LLCs holdings in Bristol-Myers Squibb were worth $706,000 at the end of the most recent quarter.

A number of other large investors also recently bought and sold shares of the stock. Westshore Wealth LLC boosted its position in shares of Bristol-Myers Squibb by 4.3% during the 1st quarter. Westshore Wealth LLC now owns 3,658 shares of the biopharmaceutical companys stock worth $254,000 after purchasing an additional 151 shares during the period. Stolper Co boosted its position in shares of Bristol-Myers Squibb by 0.6% during the second quarter. Stolper Co now owns 26,050 shares of the biopharmaceutical companys stock worth $1,666,000 after buying an additional 160 shares during the period. Brown Shipley& Co Ltd grew its stake in shares of Bristol-Myers Squibb by 1.8% in the second quarter. Brown Shipley& Co Ltd now owns 9,161 shares of the biopharmaceutical companys stock valued at $38,000 after buying an additional 164 shares in the last quarter. Cherry Creek Investment Advisors Inc. boosted its holdings in Bristol-Myers Squibb by 0.6% during the 2nd quarter. Cherry Creek Investment Advisors Inc. now owns 28,274 shares of the biopharmaceutical companys stock valued at $1,808,000 after acquiring an additional 166 shares during the period. Finally, Folger Nolan Fleming Douglas Capital Management Inc. grew its position in Bristol-Myers Squibb by 1.0% in the 2nd quarter. Folger Nolan Fleming Douglas Capital Management Inc. now owns 17,472 shares of the biopharmaceutical companys stock valued at $1,117,000 after acquiring an additional 169 shares in the last quarter. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 74.98% of the companys stock.

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Insider Activity

In other news, Director Theodore R. Samuels II acquired 8,500 shares of the stock in a transaction that occurred on Monday, November 20th. The shares were purchased at an average cost of $49.81 per share, for a total transaction of $423,385.00. Following the transaction, the director now directly owns 35,500 shares in the company, valued at approximately $1,768,255. The acquisition was disclosed in a filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available at this hyperlink. In other Bristol-Myers Squibb news, CEO Christopher S. Boerner purchased 2,000 shares of Bristol-Myers Squibb stock in a transaction dated Tuesday, December 5th. The stock was acquired at an average cost of $49.78 per share, with a total value of $99,560.00. Following the acquisition, the chief executive officer now directly owns 82,672 shares of the companys stock, valued at $4,115,412.16. The purchase was disclosed in a filing with the SEC, which is available through the SEC website. Also, Director Theodore R. Samuels II acquired 8,500 shares of the companys stock in a transaction that occurred on Monday, November 20th. The shares were acquired at an average cost of $49.81 per share, for a total transaction of $423,385.00. Following the acquisition, the director now directly owns 35,500 shares of the companys stock, valued at $1,768,255. The disclosure for this purchase can be found here. Over the last 90 days, insiders have purchased 13,571 shares of company stock valued at $672,994. Company insiders own 0.09% of the companys stock.

Bristol-Myers Squibb Stock Performance

BMY traded up $0.09 during trading on Thursday, hitting $51.30. 4,649,952 shares of the stock were exchanged, compared to its average volume of 10,297,663. The company has a quick ratio of 1.07, a current ratio of 1.18 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.11. Bristol-Myers Squibb has a 1-year low of $48.25 and a 1-year high of $75.18. The stock has a fifty day moving average price of $51.35 and a two-hundred day moving average price of $57.81. The firm has a market capitalization of $104.38 billion, a P/E ratio of 13.00, a PEG ratio of 2.18 and a beta of 0.34.

Bristol-Myers Squibb (NYSE:BMY  Get Free Report) last announced its earnings results on Thursday, October 26th. The biopharmaceutical company reported $2.00 EPS for the quarter, beating analysts consensus estimates of $1.76 by $0.24. Bristol-Myers Squibb had a net margin of 18.44% and a return on equity of 51.59%. The business had revenue of $10.97 billion for the quarter, compared to analysts expectations of $10.96 billion. During the same period in the previous year, the company posted $1.99 EPS. The companys quarterly revenue was down 2.2% on a year-over-year basis. As a group, sell-side analysts predict that Bristol-Myers Squibb will post 7.53 earnings per share for the current year.

Bristol-Myers Squibb declared that its Board of Directors has authorized a stock repurchase program on Thursday, December 7th that authorizes the company to buyback $3.00 billion in outstanding shares. This buyback authorization authorizes the biopharmaceutical company to repurchase up to 2.9% of its stock through open market purchases. Stock buyback programs are usually a sign that the companys management believes its stock is undervalued.

Bristol-Myers Squibb Increases Dividend

The business also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Thursday, February 1st. Shareholders of record on Friday, January 5th will be paid a $0.60 dividend. This is an increase from Bristol-Myers Squibbs previous quarterly dividend of $0.57. This represents a $2.40 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 4.68%. The ex-dividend date is Thursday, January 4th. Bristol-Myers Squibbs dividend payout ratio (DPR) is 57.87%.

Analyst Ratings Changes

Several brokerages have recently issued reports on BMY. Barclays reduced their price target on shares of Bristol-Myers Squibb from $60.00 to $51.00 and set an equal weight rating on the stock in a research report on Friday, October 27th. TD Cowen reduced their price objective on Bristol-Myers Squibb from $80.00 to $66.00 and set a market perform rating on the stock in a research note on Friday, September 15th. HSBC raised Bristol-Myers Squibb from a reduce rating to a hold rating and lowered their target price for the stock from $55.00 to $53.00 in a research note on Friday, October 27th. Daiwa Capital Markets lowered Bristol-Myers Squibb from an outperform rating to a neutral rating and reduced their price target for the company from $68.00 to $54.00 in a research report on Thursday, November 2nd. Finally, Deutsche Bank Aktiengesellschaft started coverage on shares of Bristol-Myers Squibb in a research note on Thursday, November 9th. They set a hold rating and a $55.00 target price on the stock. One investment analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, thirteen have assigned a hold rating, four have given a buy rating and one has assigned a strong buy rating to the stock. According to MarketBeat.com, the company has a consensus rating of Hold and a consensus target price of $62.88.

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Bristol-Myers Squibb Profile

(Free Report)

Bristol-Myers Squibb Company discovers, develops, licenses, manufactures, markets, distributes, and sells biopharmaceutical products worldwide. It offers products for hematology, oncology, cardiovascular, immunology, fibrotic, and neuroscience diseases. The company's products include Eliquis, an oral inhibitor for reduction in risk of stroke/systemic embolism in NVAF, and for the treatment of DVT/PE; Opdivo for anti-cancer indications; Pomalyst/Imnovid indicated for patients with multiple myeloma; Orencia for adult patients with active RA and psoriatic arthritis; and Sprycel for the treatment of Philadelphia chromosome-positive chronic myeloid leukemia.

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L. Roy Papp & Associates LLP grew its holdings in shares of EOG Resources, Inc. (NYSE:EOG  Free Report) by 0.2% during the 3rd quarter, according to its most recent 13F filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The firm owned 142,328 shares of the energy exploration companys stock after purchasing an additional 335 shares during the period. EOG Resources makes up about 2.4% of L. Roy Papp & Associates LLPs holdings, making the stock its 12th biggest position. L. Roy Papp & Associates LLPs holdings in EOG Resources were worth $18,041,000 as of its most recent SEC filing.

Several other hedge funds have also modified their holdings of the business. Raymond James Financial Services Advisors Inc. increased its holdings in EOG Resources by 6.2% in the second quarter. Raymond James Financial Services Advisors Inc. now owns 186,635 shares of the energy exploration companys stock valued at $21,359,000 after buying an additional 10,969 shares in the last quarter. Prospera Financial Services Inc grew its holdings in shares of EOG Resources by 196.9% in the 2nd quarter. Prospera Financial Services Inc now owns 7,593 shares of the energy exploration companys stock worth $870,000 after acquiring an additional 5,036 shares during the period. Procyon Advisors LLC increased its stake in EOG Resources by 41.9% in the 2nd quarter. Procyon Advisors LLC now owns 4,659 shares of the energy exploration companys stock valued at $533,000 after purchasing an additional 1,376 shares in the last quarter. Capital International Inc. CA boosted its position in EOG Resources by 21.0% during the second quarter. Capital International Inc. CA now owns 122,241 shares of the energy exploration companys stock worth $13,989,000 after purchasing an additional 21,223 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Paradigm Financial Partners LLC grew its holdings in EOG Resources by 0.9% in the third quarter. Paradigm Financial Partners LLC now owns 30,004 shares of the energy exploration companys stock valued at $3,728,000 after purchasing an additional 271 shares during the last quarter. 89.21% of the stock is owned by institutional investors and hedge funds.

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Analysts Set New Price Targets

Several research firms have recently issued reports on EOG. Susquehanna cut their price target on EOG Resources from $165.00 to $164.00 and set a positive rating for the company in a research note on Wednesday, October 18th. Truist Financial upped their price target on shares of EOG Resources from $165.00 to $169.00 and gave the company a buy rating in a report on Monday, November 6th. Mizuho dropped their price objective on shares of EOG Resources from $158.00 to $150.00 and set a buy rating for the company in a research note on Wednesday, November 15th. Stifel Nicolaus upped their target price on EOG Resources from $161.00 to $165.00 and gave the company a buy rating in a research note on Thursday, November 30th. Finally, Citigroup downgraded EOG Resources from a buy rating to a neutral rating and dropped their price target for the stock from $144.00 to $135.00 in a research report on Monday, October 23rd. Nine investment analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating, eleven have assigned a buy rating and one has issued a strong buy rating to the companys stock. According to MarketBeat.com, the company has a consensus rating of Moderate Buy and a consensus price target of $145.52.

EOG Resources Stock Down 0.0 %

Shares of EOG opened at $124.27 on Thursday. EOG Resources, Inc. has a fifty-two week low of $98.52 and a fifty-two week high of $137.95. The companys fifty day moving average is $123.83 and its two-hundred day moving average is $124.32. The firm has a market cap of $72.47 billion, a PE ratio of 9.23, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 0.36 and a beta of 1.44. The company has a quick ratio of 2.10, a current ratio of 2.43 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.14.

EOG Resources (NYSE:EOG  Get Free Report) last issued its earnings results on Thursday, November 2nd. The energy exploration company reported $3.44 earnings per share for the quarter, topping the consensus estimate of $2.95 by $0.49. EOG Resources had a return on equity of 26.80% and a net margin of 32.11%. The business had revenue of $6.21 billion for the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $5.91 billion. Analysts forecast that EOG Resources, Inc. will post 12.09 earnings per share for the current year.

EOG Resources Increases Dividend

The company also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Wednesday, January 31st. Stockholders of record on Wednesday, January 17th will be paid a $0.91 dividend. This is a positive change from EOG Resourcess previous quarterly dividend of $0.83. This represents a $3.64 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 2.93%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Tuesday, January 16th. EOG Resourcess payout ratio is currently 24.52%.

About EOG Resources

(Free Report)

EOG Resources, Inc, together with its subsidiaries, explores for, develops, produces, and markets crude oil, and natural gas and natural gas liquids. Its principal producing areas are in New Mexico and Texas in the United States; and the Republic of Trinidad and Tobago. The company was formerly known as Enron Oil & Gas Company.

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Description

"ILLEANA DOUGLAS IN-PERSON

with THE SWIMMER

Thursday, December 28th at 7 PM

Film, Discussion, & Book Signing

$40 Public | $35 Members

Tickets include a copy of Connecticut in the Movies: From Dream House to Dark Suburbia.

Join Author/Actress Illeana Douglas with one of the movies featured in her new book Connecticut in the Movies: From Dream House to Dark Suburbia.

The acclaimed adaptation of John Cheevers book has become a cult favorite while providing a fascinating portrait of cultural and personal malaise in late 1960s suburbia. In The Swimmer, Burt Lancaster fearlessly incarnates a middle-aged man swimming home via a river of backyard swimming pools. As he encounters an array of couples, families, gatherings and acquaintances, it becomes evident that things are not quite what they seem. (1968, 94 mins)

Illeana Douglas has long been known for shining new light on forgotten films. Now the celebrated actress and film historian turns her focus to a heretofore unrecognized brand: the Connecticut movie Told from the passionate perspective of the author who grew up here, and filled with behind-the-scenes stories as well as her own personal snapshots of the places where these films were made, Illeana takes the reader on a cinematic road trip through Hollywood history and Connecticut geography, bringing the breezy, intimate, knowledgeable writing style acclaimed by reviewers of her first book, I Blame Dennis Hopper (2015). Illeana defines how the perception of on-screen Connecticut, originally created in Hollywood, has shifted more than that of any other New England state over the decade and offers some surprising conclusions about just what it means to be a "Connecticut movie." Films from Hollywood's Golden Age, such as Theodora Goes Wild, Bringing Up Baby, and Christmas in Connecticut, presented Connecticut as an antidote to the metropolis--a place where you could find your true self. The slogan "Come to Peaceful Connecticut" not only led to Mr. Blandings Builds His Dream House, but to an exodus of urban moviegoers seeking their dream houses. In post-war America, Gentleman's Agreement challenged Connecticut's well-cultivated image, as did the suburban malaise of The Man in the Grey Flannel Suit, and contemporary takes on dark suburbia like The Swimmer, The Ice Storm, and Revolutionary Road. From Sherlock Holmes to Mystic Pizza to Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull; from horror in The Stepford Wives to historical in Amistad; picturesque in Parrish, to perverse in The Secret Life of An American Wife, the Constitution State has been the background for surprisingly over 200 feature films, yet these cinematic contributions have long gone unrecognized; until now. Connecticut in the Movies is not only a keepsake for denizens of the state, but a valuable resource for film buffs everywhere."
Lesa Sroufe & Co bought a new position in shares of Bancolombia S.A. (NYSE:CIB  Free Report) during the 3rd quarter, according to its most recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The institutional investor bought 64,200 shares of the banks stock, valued at approximately $1,713,000. Bancolombia accounts for 1.8% of Lesa Sroufe & Cos holdings, making the stock its 24th biggest holding.

Several other hedge funds have also modified their holdings of the stock. Lindbrook Capital LLC boosted its holdings in Bancolombia by 852.4% in the 2nd quarter. Lindbrook Capital LLC now owns 1,781 shares of the banks stock worth $48,000 after acquiring an additional 1,594 shares during the period. Quadrant Capital Group LLC increased its position in Bancolombia by 100.9% in the second quarter. Quadrant Capital Group LLC now owns 1,870 shares of the banks stock worth $50,000 after buying an additional 939 shares during the period. US Bancorp DE increased its position in Bancolombia by 25.0% in the 2nd quarter. US Bancorp DE now owns 2,262 shares of the banks stock valued at $60,000 after acquiring an additional 453 shares during the period. Tower Research Capital LLC TRC grew its position in Bancolombia by 1,934.4% in the second quarter. Tower Research Capital LLC TRC now owns 3,072 shares of the banks stock worth $82,000 after buying an additional 2,921 shares during the last quarter. Finally, PNC Financial Services Group Inc. increased its position in shares of Bancolombia by 13.7% in the first quarter. PNC Financial Services Group Inc. now owns 2,719 shares of the banks stock worth $117,000 after acquiring an additional 327 shares in the last quarter.

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Bancolombia Price Performance

CIB opened at $30.69 on Thursday. The company has a quick ratio of 1.02, a current ratio of 1.02 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.41. Bancolombia S.A. has a fifty-two week low of $21.55 and a fifty-two week high of $31.07. The business has a 50-day moving average of $27.61 and a 200-day moving average of $27.43.

Bancolombia Increases Dividend

Bancolombia ( NYSE:CIB Get Free Report ) last issued its quarterly earnings data on Wednesday, November 8th. The bank reported $1.53 earnings per share for the quarter, beating the consensus estimate of $1.36 by $0.17. The firm had revenue of $1.67 billion for the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $1.57 billion. Bancolombia had a net margin of 14.35% and a return on equity of 18.16%. Equities research analysts anticipate that Bancolombia S.A. will post 5.78 EPS for the current year.

The business also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Friday, January 12th. Stockholders of record on Thursday, December 28th will be paid a dividend of $0.8835 per share. This represents a $3.53 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 11.52%. The ex-dividend date is Wednesday, December 27th. This is an increase from Bancolombias previous quarterly dividend of $0.30. Bancolombias dividend payout ratio is 51.01%.

Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth

CIB has been the subject of a number of recent analyst reports. Jefferies Financial Group assumed coverage on shares of Bancolombia in a research note on Monday, October 16th. They issued a hold rating and a $28.60 price objective for the company. The Goldman Sachs Group cut Bancolombia from a buy rating to a neutral rating and lowered their target price for the company from $35.00 to $31.00 in a research note on Wednesday, September 20th. Finally, Itau BBA Securities lowered shares of Bancolombia from an outperform rating to a market perform rating and set a $33.00 price target for the company. in a research report on Wednesday, August 30th. One analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating and four have given a hold rating to the stock. Based on data from MarketBeat, the company presently has an average rating of Hold and a consensus target price of $30.65.

View Our Latest Research Report on CIB

About Bancolombia

(Free Report)

Bancolombia SA provides banking products and services in Colombia, Panama, Puerto Rico, El Salvador, Bermuda, and Guatemala. The company operates through nine segments: Banking Colombia, Banking Panama, Banking El Salvador, Banking Guatemala, Trust, Investment Banking, Brokerage, International Banking, and All Other.

Further Reading

Want to see what other hedge funds are holding CIB? Visit HoldingsChannel.com to get the latest 13F filings and insider trades for Bancolombia S.A. (NYSE:CIB  Free Report).

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National Bank of Canada (TSE:NA  Get Free Report) has earned an average recommendation of Hold from the eleven analysts that are covering the company, MarketBeat reports. One research analyst has rated the stock with a sell recommendation, seven have assigned a hold recommendation and three have assigned a buy recommendation to the company. The average 1-year price objective among brokers that have covered the stock in the last year is C$102.95.

NA has been the subject of several recent research reports. Royal Bank of Canada dropped their price target on shares of National Bank of Canada from C$108.00 to C$105.00 and set a sector perform rating for the company in a research report on Monday, September 25th. Canaccord Genuity Group set a C$107.00 price target on shares of National Bank of Canada and gave the stock a hold rating in a research report on Monday, December 18th. Keefe, Bruyette & Woods dropped their price target on shares of National Bank of Canada from C$101.00 to C$97.00 and set a market perform rating for the company in a research report on Thursday, November 23rd. CIBC dropped their price objective on shares of National Bank of Canada from C$106.00 to C$102.00 and set an outperform rating for the company in a report on Wednesday, November 22nd. Finally, CSFB set a C$108.00 price objective on shares of National Bank of Canada and gave the stock an outperform rating in a report on Tuesday, September 12th.

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Check Out Our Latest Research Report on National Bank of Canada

National Bank of Canada Stock Performance

TSE NA opened at C$100.51 on Thursday. The firm has a 50-day simple moving average of C$91.45 and a 200 day simple moving average of C$94.84. National Bank of Canada has a twelve month low of C$84.27 and a twelve month high of C$104.83. The stock has a market cap of C$34.00 billion, a PE ratio of 10.71, a PEG ratio of 17.04 and a beta of 1.10.

National Bank of Canada (TSE:NA  Get Free Report) last posted its quarterly earnings results on Friday, December 1st. The financial services provider reported C$2.44 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, topping the consensus estimate of C$2.29 by C$0.15. National Bank of Canada had a net margin of 34.15% and a return on equity of 14.68%. The firm had revenue of C$2.59 billion during the quarter. Research analysts forecast that National Bank of Canada will post 9.6534749 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.

National Bank of Canada Increases Dividend

The firm also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Thursday, February 1st. Shareholders of record on Monday, December 25th will be paid a $1.06 dividend. The ex-dividend date is Thursday, December 21st. This is a boost from National Bank of Canadas previous quarterly dividend of $1.02. This represents a $4.24 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 4.22%. National Bank of Canadas dividend payout ratio (DPR) is presently 45.20%.

Insider Buying and Selling at National Bank of Canada

In other National Bank of Canada news, Director Yvon Charest acquired 376 shares of National Bank of Canada stock in a transaction on Monday, November 20th. The shares were purchased at an average cost of C$90.45 per share, with a total value of C$34,009.20. Insiders own 0.20% of the companys stock.

About National Bank of Canada

(Get Free Report

National Bank of Canada provides various financial products and services to retail, commercial, corporate, and institutional clients in Canada and internationally. It operates through four segments: Personal and Commercial, Wealth Management, Financial Markets, and U.S. Specialty Finance and International.

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North Growth Management Ltd. cut its position in Brinker International, Inc. (NYSE:EAT  Free Report) by 2.3% during the third quarter, according to its most recent 13F filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The fund owned 213,000 shares of the restaurant operators stock after selling 5,000 shares during the quarter. North Growth Management Ltd. owned approximately 0.48% of Brinker International worth $6,737,000 at the end of the most recent reporting period.

A number of other hedge funds and other institutional investors have also bought and sold shares of EAT. Alyeska Investment Group L.P. grew its stake in Brinker International by 2,694.9% in the 1st quarter. Alyeska Investment Group L.P. now owns 761,011 shares of the restaurant operators stock valued at $29,040,000 after buying an additional 733,782 shares during the last quarter. Junto Capital Management LP acquired a new position in Brinker International in the 2nd quarter valued at $24,426,000. Balyasny Asset Management L.P. grew its stake in Brinker International by 86.0% in the 1st quarter. Balyasny Asset Management L.P. now owns 1,389,928 shares of the restaurant operators stock valued at $52,817,000 after buying an additional 642,666 shares during the last quarter. Holocene Advisors LP grew its stake in Brinker International by 32.1% in the 2nd quarter. Holocene Advisors LP now owns 2,451,624 shares of the restaurant operators stock valued at $89,729,000 after buying an additional 595,818 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Point72 Asset Management L.P. acquired a new position in Brinker International in the 2nd quarter valued at $16,203,000.

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Insider Activity

In other news, COO Douglas N. Comings sold 14,951 shares of Brinker International stock in a transaction on Monday, December 11th. The stock was sold at an average price of $40.76, for a total value of $609,402.76. Following the completion of the sale, the chief operating officer now directly owns 37,604 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $1,532,739.04. The transaction was disclosed in a legal filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which can be accessed through this link. In other news, COO Douglas N. Comings sold 14,951 shares of the firms stock in a transaction on Monday, December 11th. The stock was sold at an average price of $40.76, for a total value of $609,402.76. Following the transaction, the chief operating officer now directly owns 37,604 shares in the company, valued at approximately $1,532,739.04. The transaction was disclosed in a filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which can be accessed through the SEC website. Also, CFO Joseph G. Taylor sold 11,000 shares of the firms stock in a transaction on Monday, December 11th. The stock was sold at an average price of $41.11, for a total value of $452,210.00. Following the completion of the transaction, the chief financial officer now owns 71,286 shares in the company, valued at $2,930,567.46. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. Insiders own 1.50% of the companys stock.

Brinker International Trading Down 0.6 %

Shares of EAT stock opened at $44.32 on Thursday. Brinker International, Inc. has a 1 year low of $28.23 and a 1 year high of $44.97. The firms 50 day moving average is $37.07 and its 200-day moving average is $35.48. The firm has a market capitalization of $1.96 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 14.42, a PEG ratio of 0.75 and a beta of 2.30.

Brinker International (NYSE:EAT  Get Free Report) last posted its quarterly earnings data on Wednesday, November 1st. The restaurant operator reported $0.28 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, topping the consensus estimate of $0.03 by $0.25. The firm had revenue of $1.01 billion for the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $1.01 billion. Brinker International had a negative return on equity of 84.94% and a net margin of 3.34%. The businesss revenue for the quarter was up 6.0% compared to the same quarter last year. During the same quarter in the prior year, the business earned ($0.57) EPS. On average, equities research analysts forecast that Brinker International, Inc. will post 3.57 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.

Analysts Set New Price Targets

A number of research firms recently issued reports on EAT. Royal Bank of Canada raised their target price on shares of Brinker International from $38.00 to $40.00 and gave the company a sector perform rating in a research note on Thursday, November 2nd. Raymond James raised their price target on shares of Brinker International from $42.00 to $45.00 and gave the stock a strong-buy rating in a research report on Wednesday, December 6th. Stifel Nicolaus upgraded shares of Brinker International from a hold rating to a buy rating and raised their price target for the stock from $38.00 to $45.00 in a research report on Friday, September 29th. StockNews.com downgraded shares of Brinker International from a buy rating to a hold rating in a report on Friday, December 8th. Finally, Morgan Stanley raised their price objective on shares of Brinker International from $33.00 to $36.00 and gave the stock an equal weight rating in a report on Thursday, November 2nd. Two analysts have rated the stock with a sell rating, nine have given a hold rating, three have assigned a buy rating and one has given a strong buy rating to the company. According to data from MarketBeat, the stock has a consensus rating of Hold and a consensus price target of $38.77.

Check Out Our Latest Analysis on EAT

About Brinker International

(Free Report)

Brinker International, Inc, together with its subsidiaries, engages in the ownership, development, operation, and franchising of casual dining restaurants in the United States and internationally. It operates and franchises Chili's Grill & Bar and Maggiano's Little Italy restaurant brands.

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Private Wealth Advisors LLC decreased its stake in shares of SPDR Gold Shares (NYSEARCA:GLD  Free Report) by 0.8% during the 3rd quarter, according to its most recent Form 13F filing with the SEC. The fund owned 104,566 shares of the exchange traded funds stock after selling 799 shares during the period. SPDR Gold Shares comprises about 7.6% of Private Wealth Advisors LLCs investment portfolio, making the stock its 2nd biggest holding. Private Wealth Advisors LLCs holdings in SPDR Gold Shares were worth $17,928,000 at the end of the most recent reporting period.

A number of other hedge funds have also bought and sold shares of the company. Intrepid Capital Management Inc. acquired a new stake in shares of SPDR Gold Shares in the 2nd quarter worth about $27,000. Northwest Capital Management Inc acquired a new stake in shares of SPDR Gold Shares in the second quarter valued at approximately $35,000. Old North State Trust LLC raised its holdings in shares of SPDR Gold Shares by 225.4% during the first quarter. Old North State Trust LLC now owns 550 shares of the exchange traded funds stock valued at $36,000 after buying an additional 381 shares during the last quarter. WFA of San Diego LLC bought a new stake in shares of SPDR Gold Shares during the second quarter valued at approximately $36,000. Finally, Worth Asset Management LLC acquired a new position in shares of SPDR Gold Shares during the first quarter worth approximately $36,000. 40.99% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors and hedge funds.

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SPDR Gold Shares Stock Up 0.1 %

GLD traded up $0.11 during trading hours on Thursday, hitting $192.70. The companys stock had a trading volume of 735,449 shares, compared to its average volume of 7,287,506. The company has a 50-day simple moving average of $185.44 and a 200 day simple moving average of $180.71. SPDR Gold Shares has a fifty-two week low of $168.19 and a fifty-two week high of $193.18.

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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Avidbank Holdings, Inc. (OTCMKTS:AVBH  Free Report)  Equities researchers at DA Davidson lowered their FY2023 EPS estimates for Avidbank in a report issued on Tuesday, December 26th. DA Davidson analyst G. Tenner now forecasts that the company will earn $2.81 per share for the year, down from their prior estimate of $2.83. The consensus estimate for Avidbanks current full-year earnings is $2.83 per share.

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Avidbank Trading Up 1.8 %

Avidbank stock opened at $21.99 on Thursday. The company has a market capitalization of $171.08 million, a P/E ratio of 6.49 and a beta of 0.71. The firms fifty day simple moving average is $21.06 and its 200-day simple moving average is $20.23. Avidbank has a 1-year low of $10.70 and a 1-year high of $22.80.

About Avidbank

Avidbank ( OTCMKTS:AVBH Get Free Report ) last announced its quarterly earnings data on Tuesday, October 24th. The company reported $0.72 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, hitting the consensus estimate of $0.72. The firm had revenue of $18.55 million for the quarter, compared to analysts expectations of $19.61 million.

(Get Free Report)

Avidbank Holdings, Inc operates as a bank holding company for Avidbank that provides financial products and services to businesses and individuals in the Santa Clara, San Mateo, and San Francisco counties. The company offers business and personal deposit products, such as checking, money market, and savings accounts; and certificates of deposit.

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Stewart & Patten Co. LLC boosted its holdings in NextEra Energy, Inc. (NYSE:NEE  Free Report) by 4.6% in the 3rd quarter, according to the company in its most recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The firm owned 214,547 shares of the utilities providers stock after purchasing an additional 9,519 shares during the quarter. NextEra Energy comprises approximately 2.1% of Stewart & Patten Co. LLCs investment portfolio, making the stock its 24th largest holding. Stewart & Patten Co. LLCs holdings in NextEra Energy were worth $12,291,000 at the end of the most recent quarter.

Several other hedge funds have also bought and sold shares of NEE. Country Trust Bank grew its position in NextEra Energy by 975.6% in the 3rd quarter. Country Trust Bank now owns 441 shares of the utilities providers stock valued at $25,000 after purchasing an additional 400 shares during the period. Alaska Permanent Fund Corp purchased a new position in NextEra Energy during the 2nd quarter worth $26,000. Coppell Advisory Solutions LLC purchased a new position in NextEra Energy during the 2nd quarter worth $32,000. Tower View Wealth Management LLC purchased a new position in NextEra Energy during the 2nd quarter worth $35,000. Finally, Mizuho Securities Co. Ltd. boosted its holdings in NextEra Energy by 444.4% during the 2nd quarter. Mizuho Securities Co. Ltd. now owns 490 shares of the utilities providers stock worth $36,000 after acquiring an additional 400 shares during the last quarter. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 76.48% of the companys stock.

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NextEra Energy Stock Up 0.6 %

Shares of NYSE NEE opened at $60.59 on Thursday. NextEra Energy, Inc. has a 12 month low of $47.15 and a 12 month high of $86.47. The company has a current ratio of 0.50, a quick ratio of 0.43 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.05. The firm has a market capitalization of $124.31 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 16.03, a PEG ratio of 2.36 and a beta of 0.51. The business has a 50-day moving average of $58.14 and a 200-day moving average of $64.36.

NextEra Energy Announces Dividend

NextEra Energy ( NYSE:NEE Get Free Report ) last issued its quarterly earnings data on Tuesday, October 24th. The utilities provider reported $0.94 EPS for the quarter, topping the consensus estimate of $0.86 by $0.08. NextEra Energy had a return on equity of 12.15% and a net margin of 27.82%. The company had revenue of $7.17 billion during the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $7.07 billion. During the same quarter in the previous year, the firm earned $0.85 earnings per share. NextEra Energys revenue was up 6.7% on a year-over-year basis. Sell-side analysts expect that NextEra Energy, Inc. will post 3.12 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.

The firm also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Friday, December 15th. Stockholders of record on Friday, November 24th were issued a dividend of $0.4675 per share. This represents a $1.87 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 3.09%. The ex-dividend date was Wednesday, November 22nd. NextEra Energys payout ratio is 49.47%.

Wall Street Analyst Weigh In

A number of equities analysts have issued reports on NEE shares. Guggenheim lifted their price objective on shares of NextEra Energy from $65.00 to $70.00 and gave the stock a buy rating in a report on Wednesday, December 6th. Citigroup started coverage on shares of NextEra Energy in a report on Friday, December 8th. They set a buy rating and a $69.00 price objective on the stock. The Goldman Sachs Group cut their price objective on shares of NextEra Energy from $83.00 to $72.00 and set a buy rating on the stock in a report on Monday, October 2nd. JPMorgan Chase & Co. lifted their price objective on shares of NextEra Energy from $65.00 to $67.00 and gave the stock an overweight rating in a report on Wednesday, November 29th. Finally, Scotiabank cut their price target on shares of NextEra Energy from $105.00 to $96.00 in a report on Thursday, September 28th. Two investment analysts have rated the stock with a sell rating, two have given a hold rating and twelve have issued a buy rating to the stock. According to data from MarketBeat, the stock presently has an average rating of Moderate Buy and a consensus price target of $73.14.

Get Our Latest Research Report on NEE

Insiders Place Their Bets

In other news, major shareholder Nextera Energy Inc bought 3,097,524 shares of the businesss stock in a transaction on Friday, October 6th. The stock was acquired at an average price of $24.21 per share, with a total value of $74,991,056.04. Following the completion of the purchase, the insider now directly owns 4,097,524 shares in the company, valued at $99,201,056.04. The transaction was disclosed in a document filed with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is accessible through this link. In related news, Director Nicole S. Arnaboldi acquired 8,500 shares of the companys stock in a transaction dated Friday, December 8th. The stock was purchased at an average price of $59.59 per share, with a total value of $506,515.00. Following the completion of the purchase, the director now owns 11,523 shares in the company, valued at approximately $686,655.57. The acquisition was disclosed in a filing with the SEC, which can be accessed through this link. Also, major shareholder Nextera Energy Inc acquired 3,097,524 shares of the companys stock in a transaction dated Friday, October 6th. The shares were bought at an average cost of $24.21 per share, with a total value of $74,991,056.04. Following the purchase, the insider now owns 4,097,524 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $99,201,056.04. The disclosure for this purchase can be found here. 0.38% of the stock is owned by insiders.

NextEra Energy Profile

(Free Report)

NextEra Energy, Inc, through its subsidiaries, generates, transmits, distributes, and sells electric power to retail and wholesale customers in North America. The company generates electricity through wind, solar, nuclear, coal, and natural gas facilities. It also develops, constructs, and operates long-term contracted assets that consists of clean energy solutions, such as renewable generation facilities, battery storage projects, and electric transmission facilities; sells energy commodities; and owns, develops, constructs, manages and operates electric generation facilities in wholesale energy markets.

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StockNews.com began coverage on shares of Credit Suisse Group (NYSE:CS  Free Report) in a report released on Sunday. The firm issued a hold rating on the financial services providers stock.

Separately, Royal Bank of Canada reaffirmed an outperform rating and issued a $8.00 price objective on shares of Credit Suisse Group in a research note on Tuesday, November 28th. Two investment analysts have rated the stock with a sell rating, four have issued a hold rating and one has issued a buy rating to the companys stock. According to data from MarketBeat, Credit Suisse Group has an average rating of Hold and a consensus target price of $5.45.

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Read Our Latest Research Report on Credit Suisse Group

Credit Suisse Group Price Performance

Institutional Trading of Credit Suisse Group

NYSE CS opened at $0.89 on Friday. Credit Suisse Group has a 52 week low of $0.82 and a 52 week high of $6.36. The company has a quick ratio of 1.53, a current ratio of 1.53 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 2.79. The company has a market capitalization of $2.77 billion, a P/E ratio of 1.37 and a beta of 1.27. The stocks 50-day moving average price is $0.89 and its 200-day moving average price is $0.89.

A number of hedge funds and other institutional investors have recently added to or reduced their stakes in the company. Renaissance Technologies LLC increased its stake in Credit Suisse Group by 324.9% in the first quarter. Renaissance Technologies LLC now owns 51,972,488 shares of the financial services providers stock worth $46,245,000 after purchasing an additional 39,739,500 shares during the period. Two Sigma Investments LP increased its stake in Credit Suisse Group by 39.7% in the 1st quarter. Two Sigma Investments LP now owns 13,413,630 shares of the financial services providers stock worth $11,935,000 after buying an additional 3,810,643 shares during the period. Two Sigma Advisers LP lifted its holdings in Credit Suisse Group by 60.8% during the 1st quarter. Two Sigma Advisers LP now owns 8,527,900 shares of the financial services providers stock valued at $7,588,000 after buying an additional 3,225,000 shares in the last quarter. Dimensional Fund Advisors LP boosted its position in Credit Suisse Group by 3.9% in the 1st quarter. Dimensional Fund Advisors LP now owns 5,131,757 shares of the financial services providers stock valued at $40,284,000 after buying an additional 192,576 shares during the period. Finally, Goldman Sachs Group Inc. grew its stake in Credit Suisse Group by 47.8% in the 2nd quarter. Goldman Sachs Group Inc. now owns 3,848,242 shares of the financial services providers stock worth $21,820,000 after acquiring an additional 1,244,676 shares in the last quarter. 11.20% of the stock is owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors.

About Credit Suisse Group

(Get Free Report)

Credit Suisse Group AG is a holding company, which engages in the provision of financial services. It operates through the following four divisions: Wealth Management, Investment Bank, Swiss Bank and Asset Management and four geographic regions: Switzerland, Europe, the Middle East and Africa (EMEA), Asia Pacific, and Americas.

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Shares of Taylor Wimpey plc (OTCMKTS:TWODF  Get Free Report) have been assigned a consensus rating of Hold from the six analysts that are currently covering the company, Marketbeat reports. Six equities research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating.

Separately, Royal Bank of Canada assumed coverage on Taylor Wimpey in a research report on Monday, September 25th. They issued a sector perform rating for the company.

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Taylor Wimpey Price Performance

About Taylor Wimpey

Shares of OTCMKTS TWODF opened at $1.77 on Thursday. Taylor Wimpey has a 1-year low of $1.20 and a 1-year high of $1.77. The business has a 50-day moving average of $1.51 and a 200-day moving average of $1.51.

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Taylor Wimpey plc operates a residential developer in the United Kingdom and Spain. It builds and delivers various homes and communities. Taylor Wimpey plc was incorporated in 1935 and is based in High Wycombe, the United Kingdom.

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WASHINGTON TRUST Co decreased its position in shares of Vanguard FTSE Developed Markets ETF (NYSEARCA:VEA  Free Report) by 59.3% in the 3rd quarter, according to its most recent 13F filing with the SEC. The firm owned 2,419 shares of the companys stock after selling 3,524 shares during the quarter. WASHINGTON TRUST Cos holdings in Vanguard FTSE Developed Markets ETF were worth $106,000 at the end of the most recent quarter.

Several other institutional investors and hedge funds also recently made changes to their positions in the company. Oliver Lagore Vanvalin Investment Group purchased a new position in shares of Vanguard FTSE Developed Markets ETF in the first quarter valued at $25,000. Pacific Center for Financial Services purchased a new position in Vanguard FTSE Developed Markets ETF during the first quarter valued at approximately $25,000. VitalStone Financial LLC bought a new stake in Vanguard FTSE Developed Markets ETF during the 2nd quarter worth approximately $28,000. Sunbelt Securities Inc. purchased a new stake in Vanguard FTSE Developed Markets ETF in the 1st quarter worth approximately $29,000. Finally, Hoese & Co LLP bought a new position in Vanguard FTSE Developed Markets ETF in the 2nd quarter valued at $32,000.

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Vanguard FTSE Developed Markets ETF Stock Performance

Vanguard FTSE Developed Markets ETF stock opened at $47.99 on Thursday. The stock has a market cap of $118.06 billion, a P/E ratio of 11.40 and a beta of 0.89. Vanguard FTSE Developed Markets ETF has a fifty-two week low of $41.48 and a fifty-two week high of $48.03. The firms fifty day moving average price is $45.09 and its 200-day moving average price is $45.36.

About Vanguard FTSE Developed Markets ETF

The Vanguard Developed Markets Index Fund (VEA) is an exchange-traded fund that mostly invests in total market equity. The fund tracks a market-cap weighted index of large-, mid- and small-cap stocks from developed markets outside the US. VEA was launched on Jul 20, 2007 and is managed by Vanguard.

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Want to see what other hedge funds are holding VEA? Visit HoldingsChannel.com to get the latest 13F filings and insider trades for Vanguard FTSE Developed Markets ETF (NYSEARCA:VEA  Free Report).

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The semiconductor sector received a lot of attention in 2023, mainly because Nvidia stock surged 237% on the back of demand for its data center chips for artificial intelligence (AI) workloads.

But Nvidia's success masked substantial weakness in other areas of the semiconductor industry. Economic headwinds like high inflation and rising interest rates forced consumers to spend less money in segments like personal computing and gaming, which sent demand for traditional chips plummeting.

Micron Technology (NASDAQ: MU) was a poster child for that weakness earlier this year, but its recent financial results for the fiscal 2024 first quarter (ended Nov. 30) suggest a comeback is underway. Here's why it's time to buy the stock.

Image source: Getty Images.

Artificial intelligence will spark a new growth phase for Micron

Micron is a leading producer of memory (DRAM) and storage (NAND) chips. That hardware isn't quite as exciting as the glamorous GPUs produced by Nvidia that have become the beating heart of the data center, but they are equally important, especially under the demand of AI workloads.

Micron's new high-bandwidth memory chip (HBM3E) has been designed specifically for generative AI applications, with 10% more output and 30% less power consumption than competing hardware. HBM3E was selected by Nvidia to power its new flagship H200 data center chip, which is expected to extend the company's advantage over its competitors in the GPU space.

Micron is now gearing up for a monumental shift toward AI at the edge. While most of the AI action is happening in the data center right now, it's about to move to every new computer, device, and car in the world. Micron says AI-enabled industrial computers, for example, require three to five times more memory than standard computers. That calls for more advanced chips that sell at a higher price, and that's great news for Micron.

Leading CPU and GPU maker Advanced Micro Devices is already bringing AI chips to over 50 notebook computer designs in partnership with tech giants like Microsoft. Each of those devices will require increased DRAM and NAND capacity compared to traditional models, which spells profits for suppliers like Micron.

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Micron's financial recovery is underway

Micron's consumer segments struggled lately due to slowing sales of computers, devices, and gaming products. That led to an oversupply of chips and a huge inventory glut, which sent prices plunging. The company's revenue for fiscal 2023 (ended Aug. 31) sank by a whopping 50% year over year.

While those segments remain soft, they are improving, and Micron expects them to return to growth in calendar year 2024.

But the first quarter of fiscal 2024 was all about the data center. Micron's compute and networking segment generated $1.7 billion in revenue, and while that figure was flat year over year, it was up 45% compared to just three months ago. It was led by an increase in AI-related shipments, as well as normalized inventory conditions, which could drive prices higher in the coming quarters.

With relatively modest results in Micron's two other segments, compute and networking helped drive the company's total revenue to $4.7 billion, a 16% year-over-year jump. It was a welcome beginning to the new fiscal year following the dismal fiscal 2023.

Why Micron stock is a buy now

Micron still has some work to do to bring its bottom line back to profitability. The company lost $1.2 billion in Q1, which translated into negative earnings per share of $1.12. It marked a continuation of the company's trend of losses from fiscal 2023.

But better times are coming, according to management. The high end of Micron's guidance for the upcoming fiscal 2024 second quarter points to a possible $0.07 in earnings per share (profit). The company also expects to bring in $5.3 billion in revenue, which would mark an accelerated growth rate of almost 30% year over year.

Micron stock trades at a price-to-sales (P/S) ratio of 6.1, which is the most expensive level in at least a decade. But there are two reasons that shouldn't deter investors from buying shares:

AI is driving valuations higher across the semiconductor industry. Advanced Micro Devices trades at a P/S ratio of 10.4, and Nvidia has a P/S ratio of 27.4. Both are also near their highs of the last decade. The P/S ratio is calculated based on trailing revenue, and we know Micron's sales collapsed in fiscal 2023. Looking ahead, Wall Street expects the company's revenue to increase 30% to $20.3 billion in fiscal 2024, which would reduce its P/S ratio to 4.7 on a forward basis.

Plus, analysts think Micron's revenue growth could accelerate again to 41% in fiscal 2025. Micron believes it's at the start of a multiyear growth phase driven by generative AI, and now could be investors' chance to buy the stock ahead of a continued upswing in its business.

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1 Super Semiconductor Stock to Buy Hand Over Fist in 2024 (and Beyond) was originally published by The Motley Fool
Zhang Yuhang promotes local kites via livestreams in Wangjiazhuangzi Village in Fangzi District of Weifang, east China's Shandong Province, Dec. 19, 2023. [Xinhua/Wang Zhi]

JINAN, Dec. 27 (Xinhua)  Despite the bitter cold outside, the workshop of a kite factory in the city of Weifang in east China's Shandong Province is bustling, with workers at full throttle to fulfill orders.

"Our clients are distributed across more than 10 provinces. We have sold 2 million kites this year, with our sales revenue increasing to over 6 million yuan (about 845,487 U.S. dollars), up 10 percent compared to the same period last year," said Wang Licai, manager of the Sanli kite factory.

Currently, more than 30 workers are involved in making colorful kites at this factory, with designs including butterflies, swallows and centipedes, while these workers also package the products.

The kite culture and thriving kite industry in Weifang have a long and rich history. The city has over 600 kite enterprises, with more than 80,000 employees and an annual output value of over 2 billion yuan.

Wangjiazhuangzi Village, where the Sanli company is located, stands out as the leading village in Weifang's kite industry, due to its excellent craftsmanship and diverse designs.

"Our village features over 200 kite enterprises. More than 2,300 villagers, about half of the entire population, are engaged in the industry," said Wang Zhenhua, a village official.

"Making kites is our specialty. I've been working in the factory for 20 years, and on average, I can produce 300 kites per day, earning a monthly salary of 4,000 yuan," said 52-year-old villager Wang Fengling.

Apart from passing on traditional manufacturing skills, enterprises in the village have also injected new vitality into kites.

"We have integrated modern technologies such as sound and light into the traditional bamboo-framed kites, as well as produced 3D kites, making the kite industry in Wangjiazhuangzi Village more dynamic," said Wang Tieyuan, a secretary of the local kite industry association.

In recent years, the village has seen enterprises using environmentally friendly materials to make kites and upgrading production lines, while also improving efficiency.

In addition, kite enterprises have jumped on the e-commerce bandwagon. "About 80 percent of kite factories in the village have established online shops. Sales revenue from e-commerce livestreaming in 2023 has reached nearly 100 million yuan," Wang Zhenhua said.

The thriving kite industry has also attracted young people back to their hometown, a further boost for rural revitalization in this region.

Zhang Yuhang returned the village in 2022 and is now engaged in kite e-commerce.

"I have sold local kites to customers across the world through livestreaming. Witnessing the kites from my hometown flying high and far, I feel quite fulfilled," said Zhang.

Thus far, kites from Wangjiazhuangzi Village have been exported to more than 50 countries and regions, including Europe, the United States, and Southeast Asian countries. The annual sales volume of kites in the village has reached nearly 100 million, with an annual output value exceeding 500 million yuan.

This year, the per capita annual income of villagers is around 35,000 yuan.

Workers make kites at the workshop of a kite factory in Wangjiazhuangzi Village in Fangzi District of Weifang, east China's Shandong Province, Dec. 19, 2023. [Xinhua/Wang Zhi]

Workers pack kites at the Sanli kite factory in Wangjiazhuangzi Village in Fangzi District of Weifang, east China's Shandong Province, Dec. 19, 2023. [Xinhua/Wang Zhi]

(Source: Xinhua)
Weather Alert

...Very active weather and dangerous cold forecast for the next week... A very strong storm system will move through the region Friday. Very strong winds are expected and a wind advisory has been issued for the entire region for 40-50 mph wind gusts. Stronger winds are possible. Widespread rain may lead to localized flooding in areas where thunderstorms form with up to 2 inches of rain possible in those areas. Severe thunderstorms are not currently expected but there is a small potential over the southern Pennyrile region of Kentucky Friday morning. A change to sleet and snow is forecast at the end of the day but accumulations are still not anticipated. If temperatures do not rise above freezing Saturday it is expected to mark the first of 5 to 6 days where temperatures will not rise above freezing. Lows Saturday through Tuesday night are forecast to fall into or near the single digits. Below zero wind chills are likely most of Monday and Tuesday. This extended cold snap will be dangerous to those without adequate shelter and will likely challenge plumbing and other cold-sensitive infrastructure. Accumulating snow remains possible Monday but forecast amounts have trended a little lower, and will remain subject to change for the next few days as more data becomes available.

...WIND ADVISORY REMAINS IN EFFECT FROM 6 AM CST /7 AM EST/ FRIDAY TO MIDNIGHT CST /1 AM EST/ FRIDAY NIGHT... * WHAT...Southwest winds 20 to 30 mph with gusts up to 50 mph expected. * WHERE...Portions of southern Illinois, southwest Indiana, western Kentucky and southeast Missouri. * WHEN...From 6 AM CST /7 AM EST/ Friday to midnight CST /1 AM EST/ Friday night. * IMPACTS...Gusty winds will blow around unsecured objects. Wet ground may result in some trees being uprooted, and tree limbs will be blown down. A few power outages are likely. High profile vehicles will have difficulty. * ADDITIONAL DETAILS...A corridor of stronger winds, with gusts up to 60 mph is possible over the Pennyrile region of west Kentucky ahead of the front, and across the entire quad-state behind the front. If that begins to appear likely a high wind warning will be issued. PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS... Use extra caution when driving, especially if operating a high profile vehicle. Secure outdoor objects. &&
slobo / Getty Images

Who doesnt love to buy something shiny and new, whether its furniture, an appliance, or a fancy article of clothing? Theres certainly nothing wrong with enjoying a shopping score, but if youre looking to save money, there are certain items that just dont make financial sense to buy brand new.

How To Survive on $500 a Month: A Frugal Living Guide

More: Pocket an Extra $400 a Month With This Simple Hack

Several items lose value almost as soon as youve bought them, while others depreciate steadily over time. People often get rid of items that are new or in good condition. Either way, buying something used is a frugal move that often extends the life of the item and puts money back into your pocket. For the items in this gallery, the secondhand alternative is cheaper but still offers quality.

Shutterstock.com

Jewelry

Jewelry still shines as brightly whether its new or used (after a little polish). However, when you buy a used piece, you may pay as much as 20% to 40% less than its original price, according to Longs Jewelers. Most jewelers will refurbish and polish up your piece so that no one will ever know its not brand new.

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yavdat / Getty Images/iStockphoto

Kids Toys

Kids love new toys, but theres no reason you have to purchase them all brand new. Kids outgrow toys as fast as they outgrow clothes, and the cost of new toys adds up quickly.

Look at the prices of some popular kids toys according to Today.com:

Owleez big-eyed dolls run almost $40 each;

Assorted Star Wars Legos are also near $40 a pop;

the Paw Patrol Ultimate Rescue Fire Truck is nearly $50.

Buying gently used items off sites like Craigslist and eBay can save you lots of cash.

Im a Shopping Expert: 9 Items Id Never Put in My Grocery Cart

Roman50 / Shutterstock.com

Musical Instruments

Music is a magnificent art and anyone who wants to learn should have the proper instrument for their goal. However, instruments do not come cheaply. The better the quality, the higher the price. At just the average range, musical instruments can cost anywhere from several hundred to many thousands of dollars.

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Buying second hand will save you lots of money. You can even check out secondhand stores and websites, like Music Go Round and Guitar Center.

Bulgac / Getty Images

Office Furniture

You want to be comfortable in your office, but at what expense? A good desk, chair, filing cabinet and bookshelves can run you between several hundred to thousands of dollars. And thats not including things like a computer, printer, decorations and office supplies. Yet people and businesses regularly get rid of office furniture. Buying second-hand can save you money while still bringing you quality furnishings.

BMW

Cars

Cars depreciate in value as soon as you drive them off the lot, by as much as 20%, according to Business Insider. Over time, your vehicle continues to lose even more value. Shopping for a used car is a better chance at saving money on a new ride. The Kelley Blue Book website allows you to assess the value of any used car to see if youre getting a good deal.

Related: These 10 Cars Could Drain Your Savings Through Constant Repairs

Shutterstock.com

Fitness Equipment

Getting in shape at home can be a big priority for some. But fitness equipment can be expensive. A new treadmill can cost up to $4,000, according to Consumer Reports. A new set of adjustable dumbbells can run upwards of $100. These and many other fitness items can have you go broke before you get fit. Instead, check out secondhand stores and websites to find these often barely used items at a fraction of their cost.

10 Best Cheap Gym Memberships: Break a Sweat but Not Your Budget

DragonImages / Getty Images/iStockphoto

Computers and Laptops

Since technology changes so fast, you might think you have to always buy your computers and laptops brand new to keep up. However, manufacturers like Apple and Dell sell refurbished computers that are like new and can save you several hundred dollars or more.

Leonevondizic / Twenty20.com

Bicycles

A brand-new bicycle can cost you anywhere from the low hundreds to many thousands of dollars, depending on style and brand. Yet, with a fresh coat of spray paint and a tune-up, an older bicycle can be made new at a much lower price point  in fact, get into a Buy Nothing group online and you might just snag one for free.

Especially for kids bikes, they outgrow them so fast that its worth investing in a used bike to save money. But you can even buy adult bikes online at sites like eBay, Craigslist and Gumtree. Spend the money you save on a brand-new helmet, which youll need to be safe.

Shutterstock.com

Kitchen Appliances

A kitchen is often home to numerous appliances, from instant pots and food processors to bread makers and coffee pots, all of which can cost more than you want to spend  especially if youre buying more than one. Before you invest in something new, consider finding a used option, particularly if its an appliance thats new to you and youre not sure how often youll use it.

littlehenrabi / Getty Images/iStockphoto

Recreational Vehicles

Recreational vehicles (RVs) have become very popular again now that the pandemic has made flying less safe. If youre thinking of getting one, dont start with the pricey new ones (they can start at $90,000)  instead, look for used deals. According to the website RVers Online, when you take into account depreciation, financing, maintenance and other costs, you can save as much as half the price of a regular RV by buying used.

Rachel Cruze: 10 Used Cars Under $10K That Are Worth Buying

pixelfit / Getty Images

Clothes for Special Occasions

That fancy dress for your sisters wedding. The suit for your sons music recital. The Christmas sweater for the office holiday party. These kinds of clothes for special occasions can cost a mint, only to never be worn again. You may be able to score great deals on secondhand clothes, online or at secondhand store locations.

More From GOBankingRates

This article originally appeared on GOBankingRates.com: 11 Things Frugal People Never Buy New
In this article, we will be looking at the 17 countries with the best universities in Asia. If you want to skip our detailed analysis of the global textile market, you can go directly to 5 Countries With Best Universities In Asia.

Asia At A Glance

Asia is a dynamic region with rapidly evolving economic and political situations. It is home to a diverse set of cultures, languages, and economies. According to an article by McKinsey, several economies in the region have emerged as key players in prominent domains including technological platforms and resource and energy systems.

During the last thirty years, Asia has managed to position itself as the world's largest economic and trading region. In 2021, Asia accounted for 42% of the global GDP. During the same year, Asia made up 53% of global goods trade and 59% of trade growth. The region is well-positioned for trade and has eighty of the largest trade routes in the world. The strong presence of the region in trade and manufacturing is expected to fuel its growth in the coming years.

Technology platforms in the region are expected to contribute to the overall growth of the region. Asia accounts for 40%, of revenue and R&D, of the world's top technology companies in four distinct technology-related industries. The four domains that have the strongest presence of Asian companies are consumer electronics, industrial electronics, electric vehicles, and semiconductors. These four enterprises rely on a strong manufacturing industry presence fulfilled by countries including China, India, and Taiwan.

The region also produced the largest number of STEM graduates. STEM graduates generally gain a relatively skill-centric education. 76% of the STEM graduates belonged to the region, between 2016 and 2018. The recent trend of online education has led many students in Asia to turn towards EdTech solutions to gain professional and applicable skills. According to a report by Grand View Research, the global EdTech market was valued at $142.37 billion in 2023. The market is expected to grow at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 13.6% from 2023 to 2030 and attain a value of $348.41 billion by 2030.

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The Asia Pacific region is expected to be the fastest-growing region during the forecast period. The region is at the cusp of rapid economic development. As more people gain access to affordable broadband connectivity, the EdTech industry is expected to boom. As the overall economy grows, Asia is estimated to experience rapid development and strong standing in major industries.

Leading Companies in Asia

Some of the top companies leading the Asian economy include Sony Group Corporation (NYSE:SONY), Tencent Holdings Limited (OTC:TCEHY), and PDD Holdings Inc. (NASDAQ:PDD). Let's discuss these companies in detail below.

Sony Group Corporation (NYSE:SONY) is one of the most valuable Asian companies heading into 2024. The multinational Japanese conglomerate has its headquarters in Tokyo, Japan. On November 29, Sony Group Corporation (NYSE:SONY) announced the launch of the IMX992 short-wavelength infrared (SWIR) image sensor. The image sensor has been specially designed for industrial equipment. The sensor by Sony Group Corporation (NYSE:SONY) is capable of high-definition imaging across a broad spectrum and has been developed to improve industrial productivity as the high-definition imaging will prevent defective products from getting overlooked.

Tencent Holdings Limited (OTC:TCEHY) is one of the most prominent companies in Asia. On November 16, Tencent Holdings Limited (OTC:TCEHY) announced its partnership with Visa Inc (NYSE:V). The partnership would enable the Weixin users to receive inbound remittances. The remittances will be received directly in the digital wallets of the users. The partnership will benefit almost one billion users in China.

PDD Holdings Inc. (NASDAQ:PDD) is another notable Asian company. The company specializes in agriculture products. On November 28, PDD Holdings Inc. (NASDAQ:PDD) reported earnings for the fiscal third quarter of 2023. The company reported an EPS of $1.63, beating estimates by $0.47. The company's revenue for the quarter grew by 96.01% and amounted to $9.65 billion, ahead of market consensus by $2.23 billion. As of December 28, PDD Holdings Inc. (NASDAQ:PDD) has surged nearly 105.74% over the past six months. Here are some comments from the company's earnings call:

"In Q3, we continue to invest decisively in areas such as agri-tech, supply chain technology, and our core R&D capabilities. Our investment in R&D reached RMB2.8 billion, setting a new high. Technology innovation is the core driving force behind our pursuit of high quality development. And we will continue to step up investment in this area. At the same time, we are proactively taking on more social responsibilities. In August, the Xinjiang [Ph] area was hit by severe weather. We immediately went into action and donated RMB30 billion to the China Charity Federation to support affected region."

Asia is home to some of the best universities in the world. The region has a rich history and cultural tradition intertwined with education. We have made a list of the 17 countries with the best universities in Asia.

30 Countries With Best Universities In Asia

30 Countries With Best Universities In Asia

Our Methodology

In compiling our list of the 17 countries with the best universities in Asia, we have turned to the QS World University Rankings for 2024. This globally recognized ranking system evaluates and ranks the top 1500 universities worldwide. Our methodology involved determining the quantity of top-ranked universities in each Asian nation. A higher count of well-ranked universities serves as an indicator of a country's premier educational institutions. The list is presented in ascending order of the number of highly ranked universities.

By the way, Insider Monkey is an investing website that tracks the movements of corporate insiders and hedge funds. By using a consensus approach, we identify the best stock picks of more than 900 hedge funds investing in US stocks. The top 10 consensus stock picks of hedge funds outperformed the S&P 500 Index by more than 140 percentage points over the last 10 years (see the details here). Whether you are a beginner investor or a professional one looking for the best stocks to buy, you can benefit from the wisdom of hedge funds and corporate insiders.

17 Countries With Best Universities In Asia

17. Hong Kong SAR

Number of Top-Ranked Universities: 7

Hong Kong's higher education system is well-regarded and offers a diverse range of programs. Top universities in Hong Kong SAR include the University of Hong Kong and the Hong Kong University of Science and Technology.

16. Lebanon

Number of Top-Ranked Universities: 8

Lebanon is one of the countries with the best universities in Asia. Universities in Lebanon include the American University of Beirut, Lebanese American University, and Universite Saint-Joseph.

15. Jordan

Number of Top-Ranked Universities: 9

Jordan has some of the oldest universities in the world. Top universities in Jordan include the University of Jordan, Jordan University of Science and Technology, and Yarmouk University.

14. United Arab Emirates

Number of Top-Ranked Universities: 11

The United Arab Emirates has some of the best universities in Asia. High-ranked universities in the United Arab Emirates include the United Arab Emirates University, Khalifa University, and the American University of Sharjah.

13. Thailand

Number of Top-Ranked Universities: 13

Thailand has a relatively high number of universities in Asia. Leading universities in Thailand include Chulalongkorn University, Mahidol University, and Thammasat University.

12. Pakistan

Number of Top-Ranked Universities: 14

Pakistan has a relatively large number of high-ranked universities in Asia. The National University of Science and Technology is one of the universities renowned for its engineering programs.

11. Bangladesh

Number of Top-Ranked Universities: 15

Bangladesh has some of the best universities in Asia. The top universities in Bangladesh include the University of Dhaka and Bangladesh University of Engineering and Technology.

10. Saudi Arabia

Number of Top-Ranked Universities: 16

The education landscape in Saudi is changing rapidly. The country has a high number of top-ranked universities. The leading universities in Saudi Arabia include King Abdulaziz University and King Abdullah University of Science & Technology.

9. Kazakhstan

Number of Top-Ranked Universities: 21

Kazakhstan's higher education sector is characterized by its international collaborations and exchanges. The best universities in Kazakhstan include Al-Farabi Kazakh National University and Nazarbayev University.

8. Indonesia

Number of Top-Ranked Universities: 26

Indonesia is home to some of the best universities in Asia. The leading universities in Indonesia include the University of Indonesia, Gadjah Mada University, and Bandung Institute of Technology.

7. Taiwan

Number of Top-Ranked Universities: 27

Taiwan has a strong higher education standing. The foremost universities in Taiwan include the National Taiwan University (NTU), China Medical University, and Asia University.

6. Russia

Number of Top-Ranked Universities: 28

Russia's higher education system has a long history of academic research. The top universities in Russia include Lomonosov Moscow State University, Moscow Institute of Physics and Technology, and National Research Nuclear University MEPhI.

Click to continue reading and see the 5 Countries With Best Universities In Asia.

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Disclosure: None. 17 Countries With Best Universities In Asia is originally published on Insider Monkey.
December 20, 2023, will go down in history, said European Union Parliament President Roberta Metsola after representatives of the EU member states and the European Parliament finally agreed on a reform of the Common European Asylum System (CEAS) a few days before Christmas. She was very proud that we have found and implemented solutions with the Pact on Migration and Asylum.

Italy's far-right Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni, right, welcomes European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen as she arrives for an international conference on migration in Rome, Sunday, 23 July 2023 [AP Photo/Gregorio Borgia]

The day will indeed go down in history as the day on which the EU and its national governments openly adopted the anti-refugee programme of the far right. The implementation of the solutions approved by the EU means the abolition of the right to asylum, the extension of Fortress Europe, mass deportations and the detention even of women and children in deportation facilities similar to concentration camps.

Immediately after Metsola announced the deal, the far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD) rejoiced on X/Twitter:

Parliament and the Council of Europe have now agreed on more decisive action against illegal migrants. Controls, registration of all non-EU citizens without passports without exception and asylum centres directly at the external borders to deport immigrants from safe countries as quickly as possible. The AfD has been calling for all of this for a long time.

The planned measures are barbaric and recall the darkest times in European history. With the deal, the dystopian vision of a Europe of detention centres  will become reality, writes the refugee organisation Pro Asyl. Eve Geddie, director of Amnesty Internationals Office for European Institutions, warns:

This agreement will set back European asylum law for decades. The likely result is an increase in suffering at every stage of the journey of a person seeking asylum in the EU.

Among other things, the deal provides for refugees to be detained directly at the EUs external borders in the future. The press release issued by the European Council and the European Parliament on December 21 states that the so-called Asylum Procedures Regulation (APR) will introduce a mandatory border procedure aimed at quickly assessing at the EUs external borders whether applications for asylum are unfounded or inadmissible.

Persons subject to these asylum border procedures are not authorised to enter the member states territory. Instead, they must remain at the disposal of the authorities at the screening location, and may be placed in detention.

What this means in concrete terms is clear. Refugees will be locked up in detention centres surrounded by barbed wire, as is already the case at Europes external borders, where they can expect to be deported at any time.

In the press release, the EU calls on its member states to create adequate capacity, in terms of reception and human resourcesspecifically, 30,000 detention slotsto allow them at any given moment to carry out the border procedure and to enforce return decisions for an identified number of applications.

Practically all refugees who survive their deadly voyage across the Mediterranean are affected by the measures. The border procedure will be applied when a refugee makes an application at an external border crossing point following apprehension in connection with an illegal border crossing and following disembarkation after a search and rescue operation at sea, according to the EU press release.

The application of these border procedures is mandatory for three groups of people seeking protection:

People from countries of origin with a recognition rate below 20 percent,

Peopleincluding unaccompanied minorsconsidered to be a threat to national security or public order,

People seeking protection who are accused of having misled the authorities with false information or by withholding information.

Pro Asyl describes the fact that there are no exceptions even for children and their families as particularly dramatic. This ultimately means the detention of minors for months on end, which is incompatible with the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child.

In the eyes of the EU, refugees are not people with rights who are in need of protection, but potential enemies who must be monitored, deported and eradicated.

Another pillar of the pact is the screening regulation, boasts the EU. Its aim is to strengthen checks on people at the external borders. It also ensures that the right proceduresuch as repatriation to the country of origin is initiated. The checks include identification and health and security checks, as well as fingerprinting and registration in the Eurodac database.

In addition, the new law includes rules that apply when migrants are instrumentalised for political purposes, i.e., foreign state actors using migratory flows to try to destabilise the EU and its member states. In this case, member states will be allowed to detain all asylum seekers at their borders.

This is Orwellian Newspeak, which turns reality on its head. In fact, it is the EU that is instrumentalising refugees in several ways and with murderous consequences. Following their destruction of entire countries with their neocolonial wars in Africa and the Middle East, the leading European NATO powers and the US have decided to let refugees die in order to deter others and keep them away from Fortress Europe. According to official figures, over 28,000 people have drowned in the Mediterranean since 2014 alone. This year has been the deadliest since 2020, with more than 2,500 deaths.

Now, the same European governments that cynically justified past wars as humanitarian interventions are organising an even bigger bloodbath. They are escalating the NATO war offensive against Russia in Ukraine, which has already cost hundreds of thousands of lives. And in the Middle East they openly support Israels genocide of the Palestinians and are preparing a wider war against Iran and its allies, which will turn the entire region into an inferno.

The terror against refugees and the escalation of war are directly linked. The more aggressively the ruling classes pursue their imperialist war aims and push ahead with the associated social austerity, the more they rely on dictatorship and fascism to suppress the growing social and political opposition at home. With their incessant agitation, the politicians and the media seek to make refugees and immigrants the scapegoats for the deep social crisis, while strengthening the extreme right.

The attacks on refugees are only the spearhead of a comprehensive attack on the democratic rights of the entire working class. In recent weeks, efforts have been made throughout Europe to suppress the mass protests against the genocide in Gaza. In Germany, in particular, this process is well advanced: Bans on demonstrations, attacks on critical artists, brutal police operations against students at universities and raids on left-wing groups are now part of the daily routine.

The reactionary offensive is being driven by the nominally left and liberal parties, in particular.

In Germany, the Social Democrats (SPD) and Greens in the government are organising the pro-war, authoritarian offensive and celebrating the tightening of asylum laws. We are thus limiting irregular migration and relieving the burden on countries that are particularly hard hitincluding Germany, wrote Chancellor Olaf Scholz (SPD) on X/Twitter. The agreement was a very important decision, he said.

Green Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock also welcomed the agreement, issuing a statement that described the deal as urgently needed and long overdue.

In France, President Emmanuel Macron has effectively formed a coalition with Marine Le Pens far-right Rassemblement National to push one of the EUs toughest immigration laws through parliament. The measures adopted are racist through and through. The law blocks immigrants access to social benefits for five years, and even young people born and raised in France will no longer automatically receive French citizenship at the age of 18.

The European pseudo-left is paving the way for this policy. For example, the Common European Asylum System (CEAS) reform was drafted under the leadership of the Spanish PSOE/Sumar coalition, which currently holds the European Council presidency and continues to be supported by the pseudo-left Podemos.

In many respects, Madrid, Berlin and Brussels used the pseudo-left Syriza government in Greece as a model. Syriza massively tightened immigration policy between 2015 and 2019 in alliance with the far-right Independent Greeks (Anel), and introduced measures similar to those now being implemented by the EU. These included cramming refugees into concentration camp-like hotspots, such as Moria, illegal push-backs, and the use of the military against migrants in the Aegean Sea.

The European asylum deal, which is to be finally adopted before the European elections, held from June 69, 2024, threatens millions, but it also creates clarity. The fact that all sections of the ruling class support a policy of terror against refugees shows that workers and young people are confronted not simply with one or another government, but with the entire ruling class and its social system.

European capitalism cannot be reformed. It must be abolished by a revolutionary movement of the European working class and replaced by the United Socialist States of Europe.

The Sozialistische Gleichheitspartei (Socialist Equality Party) and its sister organisations across Europe will use the European election campaign to arm the growing protests and strikes by European workers with an international socialist programme, and build the Fourth International across the continent and globally as the new political leadership. Only in this way can democratic rights be defended, war and genocide stopped and capitalist barbarism ended.
Over the weekend thousands of protesters turned out across Australia, opposing the genocide being inflicted on Gaza by the Israeli regime, backed by all the imperialist powers.

A section of the protest outside the Victorian State Library in Melbourne

In Sydney around 5,000 participated and more than 10,000 in Melbourne. There was also a sit-in in Brisbanes post office square. That was notable, given the events were held in the midst of the holiday season, just days before Christmas.

This marked the eleventh consecutive weekend of protest in the country since the onslaught began. Attendees continued to denounce the Albanese Labor government for its support of the genocide, demanding an immediate and permanent ceasefire, and an end to the occupation.

Below are interviews with attendees at the Sydney and Melbourne rallies.

****

In Sydney, Adam, a high-school teacher, said, Unfortunately, the Albanese government, while voting for the humanitarian ceasefire in the United Nations, continues to support Israels occupation of Gaza.

They do this by allowing companies like Zim Shipping to operate. They allow exports into the terror state, for continuing the bombardment of the Palestinian people in Gaza.

The only country so far blocking Zim Shipping is Malaysia. I hope that will set a precedent for its neighbour, Indonesia, and other countries in the Asia-Pacific region to follow.

I dont see a Labor or Liberal government stopping that because theyve got a financial interest in exports continuing. The power is in the people. The protests against Zim have somewhat slowed down the movement of ships, and with more action it becomes more difficult for them.

Adam agreed that industrial action by workers, including at the ports, was needed to shut down Zims operations, but sometimes unions block these strikes because its not in their best interest. The Maritime Union is not the only one.

He was shocked by Health Services Union (HSU) boss Gerard Hayes public denunciation of health workers after their polite request to bring union flags to the mass rallies. They dont really back the health workers. How many doctors and paramedics and health staff have died in Gaza? But the Health Services Union doesnt seem to back the workers of the health care industry. Thats concerning.

A first-generation migrant from Pakistan who wanted to remain anonymous said, The 8-year-old kid who was killed in the West Bank two days ago looks just like my son, who is 7. To me they look the same. What if it was my kid?

I have been trying to process these rallies. Sloganeering, chanting, then they walk they have been going on for three months. These were my first protests ever. What has it led up to? I dont think that Albanese, who I voted for, has any heart.

An Israeli minister said that they should nuke the Palestinians, and nothing happens. If we said it of the Israelis, we would be called antisemites. I was hoping to introduce my kids to the Jews for Palestine here today. I want to teach them that this conflict is not about Judaism or Islam.

When the Saudis were bombing Yemen, I was against the Saudis. I dont care about the Kaaba, the Mecca, they were doing the wrong thing. You must not be biased on any discrimination, religion, caste, colour, creed, sexual orientation, language, anything! Wherever there is an oppressor and an oppressed, there is a problem. Whether they look like me or talk like me or not, I dont care. I ask: who is the oppressor?

In Melbourne, Mandy, an IT worker, said, Im disgusted in the Labor Party. I used to respect [foreign minister] Penny Wong, but I have to say, I dont know how she sleeps at night. I just dont. Shes in a position to effect real change, and what we get is its complicated. Its not complicated, its a genocide. Do they think we are not educated enough to see that?

Mandy (left) and Teena

Mandys friend Teena, originally from Iran, added, This is the least I can do, after seeing everything. When I see the kids in Gaza, it reminds me of my niece and nephew.

Mandy continued, Politicians only respond about whether theyre going to be voted in or out. A ground movement can effect change in that regard. If everyone unites, thats how you get a revolution, thats how weve effected change as humans. It hasnt been grand gestures from politicians, its been grassroots people saying, this is not right and were not going to stand for it. So, theres power, we have that power.

Yoey, who is studying youth work, said, Im here because what is happening in Palestine is unacceptable and the Israeli Defence Forces need to be held accountable for the genocide that it is enacting. The Australian government needs to do more to stand up for the people of Palestine.

The US government has a vested interest in having an ally in the Middle East because of the oil reserves, and the Australian government will just agree to whatever the US tells them to do. In situations like this there is really no excuse to not stand up and to say whats happening is not OK. We cant be preferencing the economy and oil over peoples lives.

She added, Anyone that is involved in sending weapons to Israel is complicit in the genocide that is occurring in Gaza.

Julian, a secondary school teacher, explained that he attended the rally after a colleague encouraged him to come. He said: Since October 7, Ive done a lot of reading to understand what the Israeli regimes point of view is. Ive found that it doesnt really matter what the starting point is, theres no way that anyones reasoning can justify the amount of violence that has taken place in Gaza. Im very happy to put my face and my name and my thoughts to the movement.

Julian

Julian opposed any conflation of the Israeli government with the Jewish people, Again, doing research, I found that Netanyahu and his political party are very happy to make compromises with people who are even more extreme than them.

His whole government sees that they need violence to continue to exist, which to me sounds like a lot of the hallmarks of how fascists or extreme right-wing people look at the world. They need some sort of scapegoat, they dont have a purpose in and of themselves if theres no one to fight. The Jewish people are culturally and religiously very diverse, and there is a clear difference between that and the Israeli government.

He spoke briefly on the Victorian Labor governments intimidation campaign against teachers and school workers who speak out against the Israeli genocide. There is the general sense of censorship that teachers are facing. It creates anxiety and fear, and Ive seen at my school how it takes a mental toll on those people who are trying to do the right thing. The new education minister [Ben Carroll, also deputy premier], I believe it is his first major portfolio, he is looking for prestige, to show and prove himself, however he is not taking the time to consider what actually is the right side.

Magady, who works with homeless young people, said, This is a very ironic date, its Christmas Eve, where we are celebrating a holiday that focuses on a baby, whilst many babies, many children, many pregnant women right now, in the place where this story occurred, are being killed, are being hurt.

The work I do is often with refugees, so I get stories from people from Ethiopia, people from South Sudan. Ive done work in Uganda. Around the world there are slaughters that dont even get reported on in the western media.

There is a ridiculous double standard of the people who matter and the people that dont. Everybody should be able to go to sleep in a safe bed with a full stomach, knowing they are not going to be bombed, or murdered, or raped, or in any way harmed while they sleep. But this is not what is happening for the people in Palestine right now and this breaks my heart, and thats why I am here today.

Magady expressed her agreement with developing an international anti-capitalist movement, The system is so full of harm at so many levels. I battle the system daily with my work. I long for what you said, about there being an uprising amongst the people who feel powerless towards power, to say that everyone is worthwhile, everyone is valuable, and we want peace and wellbeing and a roof over our heads and safety from war and safety from harm and abuse, because every human being matters and is valuable and worthwhile. And there is so much power therepeople who are loading boats, loading weapons onto boats set for Palestine can refuse to do that. We need hope right now, thank you for everything you are doing, that is amazing.
On December 19, the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) of Michigan issued a strongly worded public letter to the University of Michigan denouncing its suppression of a student vote on a resolution condemning the Gaza war as genocide and calling on the administration to divest from Israel.

The ACLU letter, addressed to U-M President Santa Ono and General Counsel Timothy Lynch, bore the heading Re: Suppression of Student Speech and FOIA Request for Public Records.

The reference to a FOIA request concerns the ACLUs official filing of a request under the Freedom of Information Act for public records of the university related to internal discussions on its decision to disallow the student government referendum on the Gaza war and other attempts to stifle opposition among university students, staff and faculty to the ongoing mass murder of defenseless Palestinians.

University of Michigan students rallied on Friday, December 1, to denounce the administrations cancellation of a student referendum vote on Israel's genocidal war in Gaza and to divest from the war profiteers.

The letter, whose signatories include Legal Director Dan Korobkin and Executive Director Loren Khogali, begins by expressing our concern with what appears to be a pattern of actions by the University of Michigan that demonstrates an increasing willingness to censor, suppress, and harshly punish student advocacy relating to the ongoing crisis in Palestine and Israel.

The letter goes on to characterize the universitys actions as McCarthyite, stating:

And our concern is deepened by the fact that the Universitys actions take place in the context of what many have described as a rising nationwide McCarthyite wave of retaliation against speech related to Palestine and Israel.

The ACLU letter was clearly prompted, in particular, by the universitys announcement on November 30, in the midst of a three-day online student referendum that began on November 28, that it would not allow the vote to be completed and would not reveal the results of the ballot.

This was an extraordinary and transparently authoritarian intervention into a referendum on two competing resolutions, one urging the university to acknowledge that the US/Israel war on Gaza is a case of genocide and the other supporting Israel. At the end of October, the universitys Central Student Government (CSG) had placed the resolutions on the ballot for a vote simultaneous with student elections held at the end of November.

Student turnout for the referendum was unprecedented, with over 10,000 ballots cast before the university disallowed the vote. The International Youth and Students for Social Equality (IYSSE) at U-M campaigned on campus for a yes vote on the resolution condemning the genocide of Palestinians, which was backed by a coalition of 60 student organizations and was clearly headed for victory.

As its pretext for suppressing the referendum, the university seized on a provocation staged by Zionist opponents of the anti-war resolution, who posted an online statement falsely accusing two pro-Palestinian students of stealing students emails when they used the general email list to post a message urging students to vote for the anti-genocide resolution. The Zionists posted photos of the students, libeled then as antisemites and demanded that they be expelled. In fact, as university staff soon made clear, the students doxxed by the Zionists had received official authorization to post the anti-war email.

Nevertheless, rather than defending the doxxed students and taking action against their accusers, U-M General Counsel Lynch announced on the afternoon of November 30, while voting was ongoing, that the anti-war students supposed violation of email protocols had fatally tainted the vote on the resolutions, forcing the university to disallow the referendum and conceal the vote results.

The Central Student Government strongly objected to the suppression of the vote, and the following day, 500 students marched in a driving rainstorm to denounce the universitys egregious violation of free speech and political expression and demand that the votes be counted in full and the results made public.

Four days later, President Ono posted an open letter admitting that the email sent by the pro-Palestinian students had been sanctioned by university staff and did not violate the rules, thus eviscerating the justification used to suppress the vote on the resolutions. Nevertheless, he proceeded in his letter to defend the suppression of the referendum and declare that the university would neither reveal the vote results nor permit a future vote on similar resolutions. He justified this dictatorial action on the grounds that the resolutions on Gaza were divisive and controversial.

In fact, the university shut down the vote because it knew the anti-genocide resolution was headed for victory, and the corporate billionaires, intelligence and military officials and Democratic Party figures, from President Biden down to Michigan Governor Whitmer, who control the university determined that such an outcome would be a serious blow to US imperialist interests in the Middle East and beyondone that would, moreover, encourage even bigger anti-war protests at U-M, across and US and around the world.

The ACLU letter also cites other examples of the universitys heavy-handed efforts to suppress student opposition to the US/Israel genocide in Gaza, including:

Bans imposed by the universitys Medical and Law schools on community-wide emails,

The removal by university staff of anti-war and pro-Palestinian signs from the office windows of graduate students and faculty members,

The mobilization of over 50 police cars from more than 10 local police departments to harass students protesting in front of the office of President Ono and remove a group of students who staged a peaceful sit-in. The letter notes that over forty student protestors were issued notices that they were barred from entering the Ruthven administrative building for one year, thereby banning them from attending public meetings of the U-M Board of Regents.

Summing up, the ACLU writes:

Taken together, we fear that the Universitys actions in recent weeks are sending an alarming message about the state of free speech on campus: if students continue to engage in speech that the University disagrees with or deems counterproductive, the University seems poised to censor or suppress that speech and respond to protests with disproportionate and unnecessarily confrontational responses.

The ACLU associates these actions by U-M with a McCarthyite wave of retaliation against pro-Palestine speech. It continues:

People have lost their jobs, have been doxxed or added to blacklists, and have even been physically harmed for supporting Palestinian rights or criticizing Israel. Advocacy groups have made unfounded calls for universities to investigate pro-Palestine student groups for supporting terrorism. Elected officials have even called for the Department of Justice to investigate student supporters of Palestine and have introduced a bill that would expel Palestinians from the United States.

The ACLU closes its letter with nine recommendations. These include a revote on the two resolutions authorized by the CSG in October, a reversal of limitations on community-wide student listservs, and the lifting of any prohibition on faculty, staff or students posting signs on office windows. It also calls for exemptions for student protesters banned from entering and attending meetings in the Ruthven building.

The U-Ms only public response to the ACLU letter thus far has been an email sent by university spokesperson Rick Fitzgerald, who claims the University of Michigan has the highest regard for free speech, and our long-standing policy affirms that position. This obviously insincere, pro-forma statement only underscores the administrations contempt for free speech and democratic rights.
At a high-level summit Wednesday, the Biden administration requested that the government of Mexican President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador (AMLO) escalate repressive measures to stop migrants and refugees from reaching the US-Mexico border.

Secretary of State Antony Blinken and Foreign Secretary Alicia Barcena meet outside of Mexico's Presidential Palace, December 27 [Photo: @SRE_mx]

At the meeting, which took place in Mexico City and was convoked by AMLO, Secretary of State Antony Blinken, Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas and National Security advisor Liz Sherwood-Randall reportedly asked the Mexican government to place more checkpoints along the main routes and railways, to forcibly move migrants to southern Mexico and offer more visas to stay in Mexico.

The Mexican president said he was eager to assist Washington and had already agreed in a call with Biden to strengthen containment measures in the southern part of the country. Details will emerge in the coming days of what was agreed to on Wednesday.

AMLO, his Foreign Secretary Alicia Barcena and other officials embraced and joked with Blinken, who has spent weeks leading US efforts to secure economic and political support for the fascistic Israeli regime of Benjamin Netanyahu in its massacre and starving to death of Palestinians in Gaza.

In fact, the summit was an offshoot of talks to secure Congressional approval of a $110 billion package that offers Republicans a greater crackdown on migrants in exchange for the bulk of the money going to escalate the war against Russia in Ukraine and the US-Israeli genocide in Gaza.

Similarly to how the Biden administration insists that it has no red lines for Netanyahu, it is not committed to any set of principles regarding its own treatment of migrants and refugees. The only real and major obstacle to employing open, mass violence as a solution to unrelenting migration is the American working class. AMLOs hypocritical lamentations reflect similar fears about the Mexican working class.

The Biden administration also reportedly plans to raise the credible fear standard for asylum seekers to even be able to present their case to a judge and to allow the shutting down of the border to all asylum claims and fast-tracking removals once an arbitrary level of crossings is reached. Such policies would further worsen the numbers and plight of those stuck in Mexico.

As the summit was taking place, nearly 10,000 migrants of over 20 nationalities from all over the world were marching behind a large banner emblazoned with the words Exodus of Poverty.

They are among the hundreds of thousands stuck for months in southern Mexico, unable to get travel visas to take buses or other means of transportation or a formal work permit to pay for the journey. Meanwhile, the administration is demanding ways to make it even harder for them to move north.

On Wednesday, marchers carried out a protest, kneeling and praying in front of the migration offices of Huixtla, Chiapas, when the National Guard soldiers temporarily blocked their path.

One migrant then gave a speech: The doors have been closed to us. This movement is a peaceful movement, and we are not going to fall into provocation. We are poor and that is why we do not have the documents because the documents are given to those who have money, corruption is the mother of the National Institute of Migration.

After walking about 45 miles since Sunday morning, the caravan was arriving at Escuintla, Chiapas, in southern Mexico, with reports already of dehydration and sores.

The Exodus of Poverty caravan demonstrates that the so-called legal pathways set up by the Biden administration, including forcing migrants to apply from third countries and meet economic requirements, were merely a cover for illegally dismantling the right to asylum.

Meanwhile, the Mexican authorities could process asylum and work permits by sending migrants to offices in other regions but they are deliberately saturating the offices in Chiapas, forcing migrants to remain in the south without food, shelter, money or access to healthcare.

Horror stories about migrants, which are the deliberate consequences of these policies, often dominate news coverage in Mexico. On Saturday, a day before Christmas Eve, two young men drowned in mud thick with garbage in the Rio Grande as they attempted to cross from Matamoros to Brownsville, Texas. The incident was recorded on video, and their relatives can be heard crying and yelling in horror from the shore.

Such official cruelty has not stopped record numbers of migrants from reaching the Rio Grande, however. Apprehensions by the US Border Patrol averaged 10,000 migrants per day during the first week of December. This year is expected to see 2.5 million migrants processed by the Border Patrolthe third consecutive yearly record.

Shortly before meeting Blinken, Lopez Obrador recited his usual sanctimonious concerns about the poor countries in the region.

We have to avoid putting people at risk, because these are very dangerous journeys, he added, as tens of thousands of heavily armed soldiers he has ordered to contain migrants have a record of shooting at, robbing and extorting migrants, as well as connections to gangs and cartels.

The dangers faced by migrants cannot be overstated. Biden and AMLO are emboldeningand the Democratic Party, Morena and their pseudo-left apologists bear the chief political responsibility the fascists in the US who are preparing an even more brutal onslaught.

Leading Republican candidate Donald Trump, who led the January 6 fascist insurrection to establish a dictatorship, is vowing to carry out an unprecedented assault since day one to deport millions of migrants yearly.

Having threatened to act like a dictator during his first day in office and used Hitlerian rhetoric claiming migrants are poisoning the blood of our country, Trump has reportedly drawn up plans to deploy hundreds of thousands of troops to the US-Mexico border, ostensibly to build massive detention camps, according to Rolling Stone.

A source told the magazine I have heard anywhere between 100,000 to 300,000 from President Trump, Stephen Miller, and others.

The agenda of imperialist war is intertwined by countless threads with attacks on refugees and migrants and the struggles of the working class. The onslaught against the democratic rights of migrants and the associated buildup of the repressive state apparatus serve as preparations to crack down on mass working class opposition to the genocide, war and the attacks on social spending, jobs and living standards used to pay for them.

Billions of dollars more are being discussed for the repressive US border and deportation apparatus, while the Biden administration and Republican and Democratic governors have invoked border security to deploy thousands of troops along the border. Both parties are already running roughshod over the Posse Comitatus Act that prohibits active-duty troops from carrying out law enforcement activities domestically.

For his part, AMLO is demanding funds within Mexico and from his patrons in Washington for his own military build-up, with migrant containment operations used to maintain a permanent presence of troops across Mexicos borders and in the interior. The Mexican president betrayed his longtime promise of sending the military to the barracks by instead enshrining its domestic deployment in the constitution.

Millions of people are being swept up by the whirlwind of the objective breakdown of capitalism and its nation-state system. The marching feet in Chiapas and across the Rio Grande are rattling the chains from over a century of imperialist oppression. This is the same struggle of all workers within the United States and across the Americas against capitalist reaction, exploitation, war and fascism.
Another 210 Palestinians were killed and 360 injured by Israeli forces in Gaza in the 24 hours to Thursday 3pm, according to the Gazan health ministry. More than 21,300 people have now been reported killed in the assault, and over 55,600 injured, with roughly 7,000 more missing, likely buried under rubble.

The United Nations reports that 85 percent of the population of the enclave has been displaced, and 40 percent face famine. UN shelters are at over four times capacity.

Smoke rises following an Israeli bombardment in the Gaza Strip, as seen from southern Israel, December 26, 2023 [AP Photo/Leo Correa]

While the genocide in Gaza continues, Israel and its allies are looking to expand the scope of the war. Defense Minister Yoav Gallant declared earlier this week, We are in a multi-front war. We are being attacked from seven frontsGaza, Lebanon, Syria, Judea and Samaria [the West Bank], Iraq, Yemen and Iran.

He added Thursday, This is the end of the era of limited conflicts, continuing, We operated for years under the assumption that limited conflicts could be managed, but that is a phenomenon that is disappearing. Today, there is a noticeable phenomenon of the convergence of the arenas.

When Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu makes comments along the lines of Mondays, We are not stopping. The war will continue until the end, until we finish it, no less, it is the wider Middle East more than the already ruined Gaza Strip he is referring to.

The West Bank is one focal point of an already expanded conflict, with Israel tightening its military dictatorship over the occupied Palestinian territories. On Wednesday night, Israel carried out its most intense raids of the war to date in the region, sending large numbers of troops and vehicles into ten cities, killing at least one person and injuring 15 others, while at least two dozen were detained, and seizing $2.5 million from money exchanges.

Over 500 Palestinians have been killed in the West Bank by the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) or settlers since October 7, and over 4,700 arrestedamong them journalists and politicians.

Middle East Journalist Mouin Rabbani told Al Jazeera, They are out to deliberately provoke the Palestinians to seek to create as much conflict as possible, adding that this was part of a plan to permanently consolidate Israeli control of the West Bank.

The UN released a 22-page flash report Thursday on The human rights situation in the occupied West Bank including East Jerusalem up to November 20.

The paper lists: Increase in the use of unnecessary or disproportionate force by Israeli security forces (ISF), resulting in unlawful killings; Mass arbitrary arrests, detentions and reported torture and other ill-treatment by ISF, raising concerns of collective punishment; Exponential increased in attacks by armed settlers leading to displacement of Palestinian herding communities; and Ongoing discriminatory movement restrictions affecting daily life and choking the local economy.

A line from the summary reads, Palestinians live in constant terror of the discriminatory use of State force and settler violence against them and, while the situation is already dire, all indications are that it may further deteriorate.

Confirming the threat of a wider war, to the north a full-scale conflict with Hezbollah in Lebanon is on a hair trigger. Israels forces are in a state of very high readiness and escalating strikes on Lebanons southern territory, in a trade of fire with Hezbollah forces.

More than 150 people have been killed on the Lebanese side of the border since October 7, including over a dozen civilians, three of them journalists. Three more, one a Hezbollah member, were killed Tuesday by an Israeli airstrike on Bint Jbeil. Nine soldiers and four civilians have been killed in Israel by return fire.

Al Jazeera journalist Ali Hashem, reporting from Bint Jbeil, explained, Israeli warplanes are currently targeting towns that are even very far from the border. The fact is that this area is now becoming a complete warzone, its becoming very dangerous, very risky, to go around, with the fact that youre always anticipating an Israeli drone.

Israeli Foreign Minister Eli Cohen used a visit to the Lebanese border to threaten Hezbollah leader Sayyed Hassan Nasrallah, who Cohen said must understand that hes next. If he doesnt want to be next in line he should immediately implement the U.N. Security Councils resolution (1701) and keep Hezbollah away from the north of Litani.

We will work to exhaust the political option, and if it does not work, all options are on the table in order to ensure the security of the State of Israel.

Netanyahus spokesperson Eylon Levy added the same day, We are now at a fork in the road. Either Hezbollah backs off from the Israeli border, in line with U.N. Resolution 1701, or we will push it away ourselves.

War cabinet triumvirate member Benny Gantz was most explicit, saying Wednesday, The situation in the northern border necessitates change. The time for a diplomatic solution is running out. If the world and the government of Lebanon dont act to stop the fire toward northern communities and to push Hezbollah away from the border, the IDF will do that.

The ultimate target is Iran, in service to the broader imperialist war aims of Israels US patron. Referring to the seven theatres in which the IDF is waging its war, Gallant declared, Iran is the driving force in the convergence of the arenas. It transfers resources, ideology, knowledge and training to its proxies.

Israel drastically escalated this confrontation on Monday by assassinating Irans Brigadier-General Seyed Razi Mousavi, a senior commander of the countrys Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, in Syria. Omar Rahman, fellow at the Middle East Council of Global Affairs, told Voice of America, Israels decision to assassinate a high-ranking member of the Iranian military in Damascus is a huge provocation.

Iran has stayed out of direct involvement so far, but if its commanders are being targeted, it will have trouble continuing along a path of restraint.

Senior Iranian officials, including President Ebrahim Raisi, have pledged to retaliate. It is only one week until the fourth anniversary of Americas assassination of General Qassem Suleimani, considered second only to Supreme Leader Ayatollah Khamenei, which Iran has repeatedly threatened to avenge.

Any retaliation would serve as a pretext for Israel, whose government is seeking a war it otherwise could not seriously contemplate because it has been assured in advance of US support.

Washington has deployed two aircraft carrier strike groups to the Eastern Mediterranean, adding to the thousands of soldiers it already has stationed across the Middle East. Since October 7, US forces have carried out multiple strikes in Syria and Iraq against Iran-aligned militias, most recently Kataib Hezbollah, following a drone attack on Americas Erbil Air Base. US Central Command commented that the strike destroyed the targeted facilities and likely killed a number of Kataib Hezbollah militants.

The government in Baghdad condemned the hostile act and violation of its sovereignty.

US and allied forces are also heavily engaged in the Red Sea, where Iran-aligned Houthi rebels have launched attacks on shipping in retaliation for the genocide in Gaza. Washington is attempting to form a coalition navy to police the waters and considering strikes on Houthi bases in Yemen, with Iran placed squarely in the crosshairs.

We know that Iran was deeply involved in planning the operations against commercial vessels in the Red Sea, US National Security Council spokeswoman Adrienne Watson said last Friday.
In a one-sentence unsigned order, the Michigan state Supreme Court let stand a ruling of a lower court that the state government lacked the authority to remove ex-president Donald Trumps name from the 2024 Republican primary ballot.

A liberal legal group challenged Trumps ballot status because he engaged in an insurrection on January 6, 2021, and was thus in violation of the 14th Amendment to the US Constitution, passed after the Civil War to bar former Confederate leaders from returning to power in postwar elections.

The state Supreme Court wrote that it was not persuaded that the questions presented should be reviewed by this Court.

At each of the three stages in the legal challenge in Michigan, judges have declined to rule on the substance of the issue raised by Trumps opponents, that he is ineligible to return to the presidency under Section 3 of the 14th Amendment, the so-called insurrection clause, instead citing various procedural grounds.

A Court of Claims judge initially ruled that Michigan Secretary of State Jocelyn Benson did not have the legal authority to do what the plaintiffs sought as a remedy, the exclusion of Trump from the primary ballot, because it was a federal, not a state issue. State courts were likewise without jurisdiction on the matter, he claimed.

The Court of Appeals upheld the lower court decision and now the state Supreme Court has declined to overturn that action. None of these actions bar a later challenge to Trumps name appearing on the general election ballot, which is expected to be filed if and when he wins the Republican presidential nomination.

Similar challenges have been filed against Trump in at least a dozen other states. In Minnesota, the state Supreme Court dismissed a suit against Trump on procedural grounds last month, because it was directed against him appearing on the Republican primary ballot. The court found that while the primary election was administered by the state, it was an essentially private contest controlled by the Republican Party, which had decided to list Trump as a candidate. Again, this leaves open the possibility of a subsequent challenge to Trumps name appearing on the general election ballot.

Former President Donald Trump speaks during a commit to caucus rally, Tuesday, Dec. 19, 2023, in Waterloo, Iowa. [AP Photo/Charlie Neibergall]

Earlier this month, the Colorado state Supreme Court became the first judicial body to decide on the substance of the challenge to Trumps ballot status, finding that Trump had engaged in insurrection on January 6, and that he was therefore barred from returning to the White House. Under Colorado election law, the secretary of state cannot place any candidate on the ballot, for a primary or general election, who is ineligible for the office.

The 14th Amendment prohibits someone from holding any office  under the United States if they engaged in insurrection after taking an oath as an officer of the United States to support the Constitution.

Trumps supporters have variously argued that what happened on January 6 was not an insurrection, that if it was, he was not engaged in it, or that the president is not an office under the United States, or that the presidential oath has a different form than that described in the Amendment.

No court has yet supported any of these pro-Trump arguments, which combine legal pettifogging with outright lying. Most rulings so far have followed the pattern of Michigan and Minnesota, using procedural issues to evade a decision.

Attorneys for the Trump campaign pressed ahead with a similar argument in Maine, where they filed a motion Wednesday asking the secretary of state to recuse herself from a decision on his ballot status because she is an elected Democrat.

In the Michigan case, one out of the seven supreme court justices dissented from the decision to uphold the lower court action, saying that it would be important for the court to address the substance of the issue given its enormous legal and political significance.

But she added that differences in state election laws might account for different actions in Colorado, Minnesota and Michigan, and that further legal action should be expected before the general election. Her statement was effectively an acknowledgement that the US Supreme Court, with its 6-3 Republican majority, including three justices appointed by Trump, would step in and rule on the overriding question of Trumps eligibility.

Trump sought to portray the Michigan decision as a sweeping victory for his campaign, writing on Truth Social, The Michigan Supreme Court has strongly and rightfully denied the Desperate Democrat attempt to take the leading Candidate in the 2024 Presidential Election, me, off the ballot in the Great State of Michigan.

Typically, the fascistic ex-president exaggerates the substance and character of the decision, which is only the third of what are likely to be dozens of court rulings for and against him as the 2024 election campaign unfolds. To say nothing of the myriad criminal cases he faces on issues ranging from his role in the January 6 attempted coup to a civil corruption case in New York related to the Trump Organization, his business operation.

The danger of Trumps return to power as an authoritarian dictator-president cannot be fought through lawsuits in the state and federal courts, still less through the right-wing presidential campaign of the Democratic incumbent Joe Biden, the enabler of genocide in Gaza and war against Russia in Ukraine.

A genuine struggle to defend democratic rights and oppose the turn by the US ruling class to war and dictatorship can only be carried out through the independent intervention of the working class, in industrial and political struggle against the capitalist system as a whole and for socialism.
On December 22-23, 12 Turkish soldiers in northern Iraq were killed by Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK) guerillas amid the Turkish Armed Forces (TSK) military operations targeting Kurdish forces.

Turkey has military bases and guardhouses in Iraq, which the Baghdad government has declared illegal. The raid came amid air strikes and assassinations by Turkish forces and the National Intelligence Organisation (MIT) targeting the PKK and its Syrian ally, People's Protection Units (YPG) militias in northern Iraq and Syria. Hundreds of Kurdish political prisoners in Turkey have been on hunger strike since November 27 demanding improved conditions.

Turkish and U.S. soldiers conduct the joint patrol outside Manbij, November 1, 2018 [Photo: Combined Joint Task Force - Operation Inherent Resolve/Spc. Arnada Jones]

Amid Israel's genocide in Gaza and US preparations for war in the Middle East targeting Iran, rising tensions point to the danger of another war in Syria and Iraq. The Turkish forces intensified air strikes after the raid. The US-backed Autonomous Administration of Northern and Eastern Syria said civilian settlements and infrastructure were targeted.

Turkey's seven warplanes and 33 drones launched air strikes in the area on December 23, killing 8 people, leaving more than 2,000 residents without electricity and targeting hospitals. Thousands of people protested Turkeys attacks at a funeral in Qamishli.

While Ankara denied targeting civilians, the Turkish Defence Ministry announced that it had destroyed a total of 71 targets consisting of caves, bunkers, shelters, oil facilities and warehouses, and neutralized 2,201 PKK-YPG members during the year, 81 of them in the last week.

The bloody war between the Turkish state and the Kurdish nationalist forces led by the PKK, now going on for almost 40 years, has been intertwined with the imperialist wars the US has waged in the Middle East over three decades.

Recep Tayyip Erdogans government was a key supporter of the CIA-orchestrated regime-change war attempting to overthrow Syrian President Bashar al-Assad in 2011, which killed more than 500,000 people. Erdogan's NATO-backed peace process with the PKK collapsed in 2015 when Washington turned the YPG into its main proxy force in Syria.

Ankara was terrified by the prospect of a US-backed Kurdish state emerging in Syria, fearing it could trigger a similar outcome in Turkey. The Turkish government has gone on the offensive against the PKK in Turkey and northern Iraq and the YPG in northern Syria.

Turkey has so far launched three major ground invasions in Kurdish-majority areas of northern Syria controlled by the YPG-led Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF). As a result, Ankara now controls an area of 8,835 square kilometres covering more than 1,000 settlements, including cities and towns such as Afrin, al-Bab, Azaz, Jarabulus, Jinderes, Rajo, Tal Abyad and Ras al-Ayn. The Syrian government has repeatedly demanded that Ankara end its illegal occupation in the country.

Turkey aims to prevent Kurdish nationalists from dominating its entire southern border with Syria and to prevent the emergence of a Kurdish state. Ankara has established an occupation regime in these areas, which has displaced hundreds of thousands of Kurds during the military invasions. The Erdogan government has previously announced that it will continue ground operations until it has established a 30-kilometre-deep safe zone along the entire Syrian border.

At a UN General Assembly in 2019, Erdogan announced his plan to resettle three million Syrian refugees, mostly Arabs, who had fled NATOs regime-change war. He explained his plan, which amounted to an ethnic cleansing targeting Kurds, as follows:

Another important issue is the elimination of the PKK/YPG organization in the east of the Euphrates... Our efforts to create a safe zone are ongoing... Our intention is to create a peace corridor and settle 2 million Syrians here. Once this safe zone is declared, we can settle 1.5-2 million Syrian migrants here... If we can move the depth of this zone to the Deir-u-Zor to Raqqa line, we can increase the number of Syrians returning from other parts of Europe to 3 million.

The October attack on the Turkish National Police headquarters in Ankara, claimed by the PKK, was seen by the Erdogan government as an opportunity to advance these plans. The Ankara attack was followed by intensified air strikes against Kurdish militias in Iraq and Syria.

Ankara considered turning its escalating military operations into a large-scale ground operation in Syria. However, such an operation was not given a green light by Iran and Russia, which back the Syrian government, and the United States, which supports the YPG. On October 5, the Pentagon announced that a Turkish armed unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) had been shot down by US aircraft in Syria.

The Turkish ruling class feared that the US-backed Israeli genocidal war in Gaza could be extended to target Iran and threaten its own interests, so the Erdogan government was forced to call for restraint and temporarily remove from its agenda a full-scale ground operation targeting Kurdish forces that would have increased tensions with Washington.

As the World Socialist Web Site recently stated, The Turkish bourgeoisie fears that a victory in a Middle East war of Washington and Tel Aviv, both of whom back Kurdish-nationalist militias on Turkeys borders in Iraq and Syria, could lead to the formation of a Kurdish state.

In a statement following the deaths of 12 Turkish soldiers in Iraq on December 23, Erdogan targeted the US, saying, To eradicate terrorism at its source; we will continue to implement this strategy with determination until the last terrorist is eliminated. Turkey will not allow a terrorist entity in northern Iraq or Syria at any cost. We will never retreat from our fight against the hired gangs of killers who work as subcontractors for the imperialists.

Erdogan has repeatedly declared that he sees the US and other imperialist allies as complicit in Israel's genocide in Gaza. Yet the Erdogan government maintains Turkey's critical trade with Israel and refuses to impose any sanctions.

The falsity of Erdogans anti-imperialism is epitomized by the Turkish ruling class's close ties to imperialist powers and decades-long defence of its foreign policy interests through NATO. This hypocrisy is manifested in the support of both the government and the bourgeois opposition, including the Kurdish nationalists, for NATO's expansion against Russia, with which it is de facto at war. Despite rhetoric criticism and tensions, the Turkish parliament unanimously approved Finland's accession into NATO in last March.

On Tuesday, three days after Erdogan's accusations of 'subcontracting to the imperialists' and in the midst of Israel's NATO-backed genocide in Gaza, the Foreign Affairs Committee of the Turkish Parliament sent a proposal for Sweden's NATO membership to a vote in parliament.

Erdogan's Justice and Development Party (AKP), its fascist ally the Nationalist Movement Party (MHP) and the main opposition, the Kemalist Republican People's Party (CHP), whose candidate the pseudo-left parties supported in the presidential elections in May, voted yes to the proposal. The Kurdish nationalist Peoples Party for Equality and Democracy (DEM) showed once again that it is not opposed to NATO enlargement by not participating in the vote, as it did in the vote on Finland.

The Turkish and Kurdish bourgeoisie are unable to bring a peaceful and democratic solution to the Kurdish question, which is intertwined with the imperialist war in the Middle East, in which they have been complicit for decades. The democratic aspirations of the oppressed Kurdish people, like those of the Palestinians, cannot be met by the imperialist powers and their reactionary regional proxies, who are primarily responsible for the carnage in the Middle East.

The only way forward is for the workers of the Middle East to unite with their class brothers and sisters in Europe, the US and around the world against imperialism and its regional proxies on the basis of an international socialist programme and to build the Socialist Federation of the Middle East.
We are publishing here the tribute to Helen Halyard written by David Walsh and Joanne Laurier. Walsh is the arts editor of the World Socialist Web Site and Laurier is a major and regular contributor to the arts section of the website. Helen, a leading member of the American and international Trotskyist movement for more than 50 years, died suddenly on November 28 at the age of 73.

Last Sundays memorial meeting was very powerful. We knew Helen for 50 years. All that time, in one way or another, directly or indirectly, she was central to our lives. It is challenging to grasp her loss and challenging to express it adequately in words.

David Walsh and Helen Halyard speak at the SEP's Emergency Conference on the Social Crisis and War, April 18, 2010, in Ann Arbor Michigan.

Helen was one of the most remarkable people we have ever known, or will ever know. She was one of the greatest products to emerge out of the ranks of the American working class.

She was an indispensable part of this movements fabric and substance. She worked with people, talked with them, was curious about and interested in them, tried to figure them out politically and personally, tried to assist them to develop. She wanted to help people understand the party, history, their own role, their potential. She was very serious about serious things, and laughed at other things, including herself sometimes.

That kind of depth and understanding, and sympathy, doesnt come along every day. We will speak frankly: Younger people should learn from and emulate Helens example in many ways. First of all, her study of and concern with the partys perspective and history. But, as well, Marxist politics is not simply about the right ideas or orientation, its also an attitude toward other human beings, their capacities, their failings.

Traveling and petitioning with Helen in Alabama in 1988 was a particularly unforgettable experience. We petitioned from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. six days a week, sometimes six and a half, for seven weeks. We spoke to tens of thousands of black and white workers. In this work, Helen was calm and determined, indefatigable. We succeeded in getting Ed Winn on the presidential ballot. These are episodes that become embedded in you, part of you.

Helen was an irreconcilable revolutionist dedicated to training a new generation of youth as Trotskyists. She was also warm, and the most solid comrade and friend.

We would like to cite some of Helens written comments, or comments on which she collaborated.

It is fitting that we include Helens observations in 2007 on the death 10 years before of Jean Brust, another remarkable figure in the history of this movement. Helen might have been writing about herself when she remarked that I will never forget the fierce determination that [Jean] brought to all of her political work. She seemed to enjoy reserves of energy that just welled up from the principled convictions that constituted the core of her existence.

Furthermore, Jean encouraged me to read the classics of Marx and Trotsky and to study the role of socialists in the early struggles of the American working class. What became even clearer to me in speaking with this comrade was the thoroughly reactionary character of black nationalism. In Marxs Capital he makes the point that the white workers can never be free as long as the black workers are in chains. This can be said in another way. There can be no liberation of the black workers and youth without a combined struggle of the entire working class.

Helen with Joanne Laurier around 1998.

Helen returned to these themes innumerable times in her political life. Once learned, they were inseparable from her.

Hatred of racism and backwardness, promoted by the ruling classes, was an essential part of her being. In 2004, writing about the US Justice Departments opening of an investigation into the horrible death of Emmett Till in 1955, Helen wrote that the methods of racist violence and cover-up remain as American as cherry pie. Only the form has changed. In the 1950s the Southern power structure portrayed blacks as subhuman. Today American imperialism, in its drive to colonize Iraq, depicts the Arab masses in the same vein, and uses methods against the prisoners at Abu Ghraib that the Ku Klux Klan would recognize.

Helen spoke and wrote scathingly about the privileged African-American layer that developed from the 1970s onward and its indifference to the poverty of the mass of the black and white working class. She and Fred wrote a comment in 2012 about The New Jim Crow, by Michelle Alexander. They noted that those presiding over the appalling conditions of inner-city youth and workers include many thousands of black elected officials, mayors of major cities and state and local officials. In fact, the criminalization of the poor that has led to the vast expansion of the prison population is only one side of the equation. The past 40 years have seen a historically unprecedented stratification of the African American population alongside the immense growth of social inequality in America as a whole.

Finally, in her lecture on Ebonics from 1997, Helen argued that the great unmentionable in American politics is that we live in a society that is becoming more and more polarized socially. Everything in this country is described in racial and ethnic terms, rather than from the standpoint of class.

As socialists we reject these false views and call on black, white, Hispanic and immigrant workers to unite in the struggle for social equality

We see human progress as bound up with the fight to unify workers internationally for the purpose of reorganizing society on the basis of human need, not profit. As socialists, we have a firm belief in the ability of mankind to overcome backwardness and oppression.

Throughout history, the greatest minds have held the perspective that mankind could overcome the conditions of poverty and hunger and fight for a just and humane society. As Marxists, it is to this goal that we subscribe.

David Walsh

Joanne Laurier
The repression against supporters of the Palestinian people and opponents of Israels genocide in Gaza has reached a new level in Germany. Citing an Instagram post expressing solidarity with Palestine and criticising Hamas, and leaflets with the same content, the Berlin police took action against left-wing and immigrant organisations last week, targeting the womens organisation Zora, which is close to the Maoist group Young Struggle.

The Sozialistische Gleichheitspartei (Socialist Equality Party, SGP) condemns this attack on democratic rights in the strongest possible terms and calls for protest against it.

[Photo: Gruppe Zora Deutschland]

On December 20, around 170 police officers carried out raids on a total of eight properties in Berlin. As part of two investigations into the use of symbols of unconstitutional and terrorist organisations, officers from the State Office of Criminal Investigations State Security Department, with the support of two task forces, searched six private homes, Cafe Karanfil in Berlin-Neukolln and the Interburo in Berlin-Wedding.

A press release from the Berlin police stated: The six suspects, five of whom (four women and one man aged between 18 and 23) are suspected of belonging to the Zora group, are suspected of having carried out propaganda for the Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine (PFLP), which is classified as a terrorist organisation.

In the post dated October 12, the young womens organisation expressed solidarity with all revolutionary Palestinian liberation fighters and the Palestinian people. The call to strengthen the progressive forces, such as the PFLP, which are also part of the Palestinian resistance was said to be decisive for the accusation of spreading propaganda.

The armed police officers, who were masked in balaclavas, confiscated internet-enabled communication devices and data carriers as well as leaflets from the young women. This was despite the fact that there was no dispute at all that Zora had written the leaflets and the Instagram post and what their content was. The raids therefore served no purpose whatsoever in terms of securing evidence, but solely to intimidate and silence critical voices.

The home of a 67-year-old man who is not part of the Zora group was also searched. He was accused of posting the PFLP symbol with the caption The martyr leader Hassan Mahmoud Saleh Al-Mahmoud on Facebook. According to the police, they seized pyrotechnics in the double-digit kilogramme range from him and confiscated a loaded signal gun and ammunition.

At Cafe Karanfil, which is popular with Kurdish immigrants in particular and where events organised by the Zora group had taken place in the past, the police first demanded entry, according to the owner, but then simply broke open the lock and ransacked the establishment. Nothing was found, and although the operator had given the officers the codes for laptops to search for evidence, these and the cash register system were confiscated by the officers anyway, according to a report by Neues Deutchland. Here, too, it is clear that the sole purpose of the action was to intimidate dissenters.

According to the police, their operation was authorised by an investigating judge. However, it is not legally comprehensible how such a decision came about. The deployment was officially justified by the alleged use of symbols of unconstitutional and terrorist organisations, Section 86a of the German Criminal Code.

It is true that the PFLP is on an official EU terror list. However, the mere statement that it is progressive and should be strengthened does not constitute the dissemination of its distinctive signs. The term distinctive sign is usually understood to mean visible or audible symbols or slogans that the organisations use or have used to further their political goals. Not even the police themselves claim in their official statement that Zora used PFLP symbols or slogans.

Despite the lack of a legal basis and the obvious excess of the operation, its justification was uncritically adopted by almost all the German media. Raid due to support for Palestinian terrorist group was the title of a Deutsche Presse-Agentur report carried by numerous German media outlets, while the right-wing Springer press even falsely referred to a Hamas connection (Welt) or slandered Zora as terrorist (Bild).

The media and police action against the womens group is part of a comprehensive attack on basic democratic rights. Any criticism of the Israeli genocide in Gaza and any expressions of solidarity with the oppressed Palestinians are brutally suppressed. Demonstrations are banned or placed under comprehensive speech bans. Those who make rooms available for critical events have their contracts and funding cancelled, such as the Berlin cultural centre Oyoun. Critical pupils are harassed at schools and events censored at universities.

With the current raids, these attacks have reached a new peak. Those in power are well aware that their policies of genocide, war and social devastation are deeply resented by the vast majority of working people. This is the reason why they are becoming increasingly ruthless and resorting to dictatorial methods.

But it also shows that they can be stopped if this large majority is mobilised and united internationally with a socialist programme directed not only against war but against its root cause, capitalism. Basic democratic rights can only be defended by such a movement of the international working class.
A bulldozer unloads the bodies of Palestinians killed by Israel in a mass grave in Rafah, Gaza Strip, Tuesday, Dec. 26, 2023. [AP Photo/Fatima Shbair]

On Wednesday, Gazas Government Media Office reported that the number of Gazans killed has hit 28,110, including 21,110 bodies identified at hospitals and approximately 7,000 additional people missing, most buried under the rubble.

In a separate report, the Euro-Med Human Rights Monitor reported, The majority of those killed in the Israeli air and artillery attacks on the Gaza Strip were civilians, including 11,422 children, and 5,822 women.

The organization asserted, Israel has deliberately targeted civilian infrastructure in order to cause as many casualties, material losses, and destruction as possible  as a form of retaliation and collective punishment.

The organization concluded, This is against international humanitarian law and the 1949 Geneva Convention, and amounts to war crimes according to the Rome Statute, which governs the International Criminal Court. It added, Israel has flagrantly broken the terms of international humanitarian law, which forbids property damage as a preventive means and property destruction as a means of deterrence, even for military purposes.

In its own report, the Gaza Government Media Office asserted that 310 medical personnel and 97 journalists have been killed. It reported that 65,000 residential units have been completely destroyed, with another 290,000 damaged. The government media office reported that Israel has targeted more than 23 hospitals, 53 health centres, 140 health facilities, and 102 ambulances.

In a separate report, Gazas education ministry said that over 4,037 students and 209 educational staff have been killed since the start of Israels attack on Gaza. It added that more than 7,259 students and 619 teachers were injured since October 7.

On Wednesday, more than 30 people were killed after Israel bombed a building near the al-Amal Hospital. In its daily report on the genocide, the United Nations asserted, On 27 December, heavy Israeli bombardment from air, land, and sea, continued across most of the Gaza Strip. In the north, Gaza City and Jabalya were most affected; in the Middle Area, hostilities continued in the four refugee campsAl Bureij, An Nuseirat, Deir Al Balah and Al Maghazi. Simultaneously, Israeli forces struck multiple targets in the southern cities of Khan Yunis and Rafah.

As the death toll soars, Israeli politicians are openly advocating the ethnic cleansing of Gaza through the forcible displacement of the entire Palestinian population.

On Wednesday, Avigdor Liberman, a member of Israels parliament who previously served as defense minister, became the latest Israeli politician to openly advocate the ethnic cleansing of Gaza through the displacement of the population into the Sinai Desert. Liberman called on the Israeli military to tear down the fences between Gaza and Egypt. He continued, As soon as there is no obstacle there, I estimate one-and-a-half million Gazans will leave for Sinai and we will not disturb anyone.

This echoed a statement in parliament Monday by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu , who declared, Regarding voluntary immigration  we are working on it. This is the direction we are going in.

Earlier this month, Liberman published an op-ed in the Times of Israel entitled Innocents in Gaza? Dont be naive, in which he called for collective punishment against the entire civilian population of Gaza.

As the ferocity of the genocide increases, Israel is making preparations to massively expand the war throughout the Middle East.

Earlier this week, Defense Minister Yoav Gallant claimed that Israel is at war with multiple countries. We are in a multi-front war. We are being attacked from seven frontsGaza, Lebanon, Syria, Judea and Samaria (the West Bank), Iraq, Yemen and Iran, he said. We have already responded and acted on six of those fronts, in a clear threat to Iran.

On Wednesday, Israeli war cabinet member Benny Gantz threatened Lebanon at a press conference, declaring, The situation on Israels northern border demands change. The stopwatch for a diplomatic solution is running out. If the world and Lebanese government dont act in order to prevent the firing on Israels northern residents, and to distance Hezbollah from the border, the [Israeli military] will do it. He concluded, the war will continue and expand.

The United States, which is funding and arming the genocide, is coordinating its own military escalation in the Middle East with that of Israel. On Christmas Day, the US military carried out attacks on three locations in Iraq, targeting what it called Iranian proxy forces.

In a letter to Congress on Wednesday, US President Joe Biden wrote, On the night of December 25, 2023, at my direction, United States forces conducted discrete strikes against three facilities in Iraq used by Iran-affiliated groups for training, logistics support, and other purposes The strikes were intended to degrade and disrupt the ongoing series of attacks against the United States and our partners, and to deter Iran and Iran-backed militia groups from conducting or supporting further attacks on United States personnel and facilities.

Biden threatened, The United States stands ready to take further action, as necessary and appropriate, to address further threats or attacks.

With every passing day, it is becoming clear that the Israeli-US genocide and ethnic cleansing of the population of Gaza is a critical component of a major new military offensive being carried out by the imperialist powers in the Middle East. With the new year just days away, the imperialist powers are seeking to make 2024 another year of endless war and military barbarism.
AFP: Chinas Embassy in Myanmar today reminded all Chinese nationals in Laukkaing to evacuate soon. Can you share more information with us, including the possible further mediation by the Chinese side?



Mao Ning: The current security situation in the Kokang self-administered zone in Myanmar is severe and complex. We would like to remind Chinese nationals not to travel to northern Myanmar and call on Chinese nationals already in the area, especially those in Laukkaing Township, to move to safety or return to China as soon as possible and take safety precautions.

China believes that maintaining the momentum of ceasefire and peace talks serves the interest of relevant parties in Myanmar and helps ensure peace and tranquility at the China-Myanmar border area. China hopes that relevant parties in Myanmar will exercise maximum restraint, actively ease the situation on the ground, together realize the soft landing of the situation in northern Myanmar and take concrete actions to protect the safety and security of Chinese projects and personnel in Myanmar.

Shenzhen TV: The UK-based Financial Times reported earlier that China is imposing a lengthy approval process and strict requirements to impede projects that lay and maintain undersea cables through the South China Sea. This has forced cable companies to reroute and bypass the South China Sea. Nikkei also reported that owing to the lengthy approval by Chinas competent authorities, the progress of some cable projects through the South China Sea has been slowed down. Whats your comments?

Mao Ning: Undersea cables are critical infrastructure for global data flow and carry around 99 percent of the worlds intercontinental communications traffic. They are the most important type of information carrier in international communications. Over the years, China has enhanced international exchanges and cooperation in cyberspace and actively advanced the construction of undersea cables and other types of global information infrastructure. China has implemented the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea in letter and in spirit, and issued the Sea Areas Administration Law, the Marine Environment Protection Law, the Provisions Governing the Laying of Submarine Cables and Pipelines, the Provisions Governing the Protection of Submarine Cables and Pipelines and other relevant laws and regulations, which identify countries rights and obligations in laying cables in waters under Chinas jurisdiction in accordance with the law. They provide sound legal safeguards to international undersea cables that travel through waters under Chinas jurisdiction.

China welcomes and supports other countries and telecommunication companies in laying international undersea cables in waters under Chinas jurisdiction. We encourage such collaboration between Chinese companies and their foreign counterparts. China will continue to work with the international community to strengthen bilateral, regional and international dialogue and cooperation, actively advance the building of global information infrastructure including undersea cables, jointly protect the cables, and boost global digital connectivity. We will jointly build a fairer and more equitable, secure, stable and vibrant cyberspace and a community with a shared future in cyberspace.
In this article, we will be looking at the 17 countries with the best universities in Europe. If you want to skip our detailed analysis of the global textile market, you can go directly to 5 Countries With Best Universities In Europe.

Employment Trends in Europe: An Overview

The European job market is changing swiftly. According to a report by McKinsey, the labor market across Europe is very diverse and varies with location. Almost 48 cities in Europe, including Amsterdam, London, and Paris, are at the epicenter of the labor market of the region. Since 2007, these cities have accounted for 35% of the total job growth in the region. These cities have also contributed 42% to the GDP growth and 40% to the population growth, during the same time. Almost 83% of the STEM graduates also come from these cities.

The digital transformation of industries is expected to impact the job market in the region. Automation is a central feature of the digital revolution. However, it poses a threat to certain jobs in Europe. It has been estimated that 53 million jobs could be potentially displaced because of automation across various industries in Europe. The threat to jobs is especially prevalent for workers who lack a tertiary-level education. About 21 million workers, who do not have a higher education, may have to change their occupations by 2030 in light of the changing environment.

As the incorporation of technology is expected to impact some jobs in the region negatively, it will also create jobs in other industries. The region is experiencing a surge in demand for workers in engineering and science fields. The demand for technology-related workers is also increasing with the penetration of the latest technologies in the industries. 50% of the job growth in Europe has been forecasted to be concentrated in the 48 cities from 2023 to 2030.

Leading European Companies

Shell PLC (NYSE:SHEL) is one of the most prominent companies in Europe. Shell PLC (NYSE:SHEL) is a multinational oil and gas company with its headquarters in London. On December 28, Reuters reported that Shell PLC (NYSE:SHEL) had signed a 5-year deal with Qatar for the supply of 18 million barrels of oil per year, by Qatar.

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On November 2, Shell PLC (NYSE:SHEL) reported earnings for the fiscal third quarter of 2023. The company reported an EPS of $1.86 and generated a revenue of $76.35 billion, outperforming market consensus by $11.29 billion. As of December 28, the stock has gained over 18% on a year-to-date basis.

SAP SE (NYSE:SAP) is a notable European company. It develops software to assist businesses in their operations. On December 14, SAP SE (NYSE:SAP) announced its collaboration with PayPal Holdings Inc (NASDAQ:PYPL). SAP SE (NYSE:SAP) has created a digital payments plug-in. The plug-in has been built on the SAP Business Technology Platform. The plug-in will be available on the PayPal Braintree platform and customers will be able to manage their payments with ease using the new plug-in.

Anheuser-Busch InBev SA/NV (NYSE:BUD) is one of the most valuable European countries heading into 2024. On October 31, Anheuser-Busch InBev SA/NV (NYSE:BUD) reported earnings for the fiscal third quarter of 2023. The company reported an EPS of $0.86, beating estimates by $0.05. The company's revenue for the quarter grew by 3.2% and amounted to $15.57 billion. As of December 28, Anheuser-Busch InBev SA/NV (NYSE:BUD) has surged nearly 16.05% over the past six months. Here are some comments from the company's earnings call:

"We delivered broad-based growth this quarter with both top and bottom line increases in four of our five operating regions and with revenue growth of more than 80% of our markets. Our scale and diverse geographic footprint with leading positions in the largest profit and growth pools has us well-placed to deliver superior long-term value creation. Now, I will take a few minutes to walk you through the operational highlights for the quarter from our key regions, starting with North America. In the U.S., the beer industry remained resilient, delivering revenue growth of 3.3% this quarter and with beer gaining share of value of total alcohol in the off-premise. Our revenues declined by 13.5% and STR volumes by 16.6%, primarily due to volume decline of Bud Light and impacted by shipment phasing ahead of our October price increase last year. With respect to Bud Light brand performance, we have actively engaged with over 260,000 consumers since April, and the common points of feedback remain consistent. One, consumers continue to want the Bud Light brand to concentrate on the platforms that all consumers love, and we are doing just that through investing in partnerships with the NFL, Folds of Honor, news platforms, college football and our recently announced return to partnering with the UFC. Two, they want Bud Light to focus on beer. The Bud Light is to summer is to Sunday campaigns are all about bringing people together over a beer for the moments that matter. Notably, a recent survey found that over 40% of lapsed Bud Light drinkers said that they are now more open to come back to drinking Bud Light."

A degree can launch you into a career of your choice. We have made a list of countries with the best universities in Europe.

17 Countries With Best Universities In Europe (Ready For Review)

17 Countries With Best Universities In Europe (Ready For Review)

Our Methodology

To make our list of the countries with the best universities in Europe we have used the QS World University Rankings 2024. The QS World University Rankings 2024 ranks the top 1500 universities across the world. We calculated the number of top-ranked universities in each European country. A greater number of high-ranked universities implies that the country has the best universities. The list has been arranged in ascending order of the number of high-ranked universities in these countries.

By the way, Insider Monkey is an investing website that tracks the movements of corporate insiders and hedge funds. By using a consensus approach, we identify the best stock picks of more than 900 hedge funds investing in US stocks. The top 10 consensus stock picks of hedge funds outperformed the S&P 500 Index by more than 140 percentage points over the last 10 years (see the details here). Whether you are a beginner investor or a professional one looking for the best stocks to buy, you can benefit from the wisdom of hedge funds and corporate insiders.

17 Countries With Best Universities In Europe

17. Ireland

Number of Top-Ranked Universities: 8

Universities in Ireland are renowned for their academic excellence and research contributions. The top universities in Ireland are Trinity College Dublin, University College Dublin, and University College Cork. The universities offer a diverse set of degree programs. The university prepares students for successful careers in their respective fields.

16. Austria

Number of Top-Ranked Universities: 8

The leading universities in Austria are the University of Vienna, the Vienna University of Technology, and the University of Innsbruck. The presence of well-ranked universities in the country contributes to the higher education landscape of the country. The universities prepare students for successful careers in their respective fields.

15. Sweden

Number of Top-Ranked Universities: 8

Sweden is one of the countries with the best universities in Europe. Karolinska Institutet, Lund University, and Uppsala University are some of the high-ranked universities located in the country. The country attracts a large number of international students every year.

14. Finland

Number of Top-Ranked Universities: 9

Finland has a prominent tradition of academic research. The top universities in Finland are the University of Helsinki, Aalto University, University of Turku, Tampere University, and University of Oulu. It is one of the happiest countries in the world.

13. Belgium

Number of Top-Ranked Universities: 9

Belgium is home to some of the best universities in Europe. KU Leuven, Ghent University, and Universite Catholique de Louvain are some of the highest-ranked universities present in the country. The universities in Belgium impart comprehensive theoretical knowledge along with applicable skills in its students.

12. Hungary

Number of Top-Ranked Universities: 11

Hungary has some of the highest-ranked universities in the world. The top universities in Hungary are Eotvos Lorand University, Semmelweis University, University of Szeged, and Budapest University of Technology and Economics. The education system in Hungary has a strong tradition of research.

11. Switzerland

Number of Top-Ranked Universities: 11

Switzerland is a country with the best universities in Europe. ETH Zurich, University of Zurich, Ecole Polytechnique Federale de Lausanne, University of Bern, and University of Basel are some of the leading universities in the country. The country has some of the best degree programs for science and technology being offered through its universities.

10. Romania

Number of Top-Ranked Universities: 13

Romania has some of the best universities in Europe. The universities add to the higher education landscape of the country. The top universities in Romania include the University of Bucharest, Alexandru Ioan Cuza University, Babes-Bolyai University, and Transylvania University of Brasov.

9. Netherlands

Number of Top-Ranked Universities: 13

The Netherlands has a relatively high number of well-ranked universities in the region. The University of Amsterdam, Delft University of Technology, Wageningen University & Research, Leiden University, and the University of Groningen are some of the prominent universities in the country.

8. Czech Republic

Number of Top-Ranked Universities: 16

The Czech Republic is one of the countries with the best universities in Europe. The leading universities in the Czech Republic are Charles University, Masaryk University, and Czech Technical University in Prague. The Czech Republic attracts a considerable number of international students as well.

7. Poland

Number of Top-Ranked Universities: 22

Poland has a strong academic tradition. The high-ranked universities add to the higher education landscape of the country. The leading universities in Poland include the University of Warsaw, Jagiellonian University, Warsaw University of Technology, and AGH University of Science & Technology.

6. Spain

Number of Top-Ranked Universities: 35

Spain is one of the countries with the best universities in Europe. University of Barcelona, Autonomous University of Barcelona, Pompeu Fabra University, University of Valencia, and University of Navarra are some of the most noteworthy universities in the country.

Click to continue reading and see the 5 Countries With Best Universities In Europe.

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Disclosure: None. 17 Countries With Best Universities In Europe is originally published on Insider Monkey.
A gunman killed 14 people on December 21 at the Faculty of Philosophy at Charles University in Prague and injured 25 others, some seriously. According to police, the perpetrator then took his own life.

Faculty of Arts, Charles University, the scene of the shooting [Photo by Chabe01 / wikimedia / CC BY-SA 4.0

The victims of the rampage have since been identified. They include students and employees of the university. Among those killed were the head of the Institute of Musicology at Charles University, Lenka Hlavkova, and a translator and expert on Finnish literature, Jan Dlask. An employee who studied sign language at the university is also among the victims, according to a newspaper report.

A day of national mourning was held for the dead the day before Christmas. Flags flew at half mast on public buildings and at noon the government called for a minutes silence. Church bells rang throughout the country, and much of the Advent events in the capital were canceled.

Students and employees at Charles University in particular are still in shock. Founded in 1348, the university is one of the oldest in Europe. Well-known personalities such as Franz Kafka and Rainer Maria Rilke studied there. In 1911, Albert Einstein received a professorship at the institution.

While numerous questions remain unanswered, there is no doubt that this is the worst mass shooting in many years in the Czech Republic. In recent days, the police have made several statements about the known course of events as well as the perpetrator himself.

The 24-year-old history student David Kozak apparently opened fire indiscriminately on those present in the main building of the Faculty of Philosophy on Jan-Palach-Platz on Thursday afternoon. According to the police, he then shot himself, but the autopsy has yet to confirm this.

Around 3 p.m., initial reports of gunfire emerged, and a rapid response task force was on the scene within twelve minutes. The perpetrator fired shots in the building, but could also be seen on a balcony under the roof, from where he shot at passers-by on the street with a rifle with a scope and injured some.

University students and staff posted on social media that they had barricaded themselves in lecture halls and offices. Some climbed out of the window to escape the gunman. Some eyewitnesses also reported hearing an explosion. The perpetrators body was found at the end of a balcony where he had been surrounded by security forces.

It is suspected Kozak had murdered his father before the attack at Charles University. On Thursday afternoon, the police found his body in the small town of Hostoun west of Prague. Kozak left a booby trap in his parents house, but it was not triggered.

Earlier, the police had been alerted by Kozaks mother that she had received the news from a friend that her son was on his way to Prague and was planning to take his own life. A manhunt was then initiated and a university building on Celetna Street, where he was to attend a lecture that day, was evacuated and searched. During the search, reports of gunshots in the main building were received.

Prague Police Director Petr Matejcek confirmed that there is also likely to be a connection to another murder. A 32-year-old man and his two-month-old baby were found shot dead in a wooded area on the outskirts of Prague six days prior to the university shooting. There are clear indications that Kozak was also the perpetrator here, according to Matejcek. However, the final investigations are still pending.

Little is known about Kozak. He had no criminal record, but was apparently a gun enthusiast. He had a gun license and, according to media reports, legally possessed twelve firearms, including several pistols, a shotgun, a semi-automatic rifle and four silencers. According to a police report, he also brought a suitcase with ammunition into the university building.

Investigators said the perpetrator may have been inspired by mass shootings in other countries. According to reports in local media, he wrote on Telegram that he hated the world and wanted to cause as much pain as possible. However, there are also considerable doubts about the authenticity of the post.

From the findings to date, the students motives cannot be definitively determined. His apparent serious psychological problems also explain this brutal outbreak of violence only superficially. Deeds such as this, which are becoming increasingly common internationally, are based on deeper social causes that are systematically ignored by the political establishment and the media.

Across Europe, there have been horrific mass shootings with dozens of deaths in recent years. The Czech Republic is also experiencing outbreaks of violence with increasing frequency. In February 2015, a 63-year-old man in Uhersky Brod in the southeast of the country shot eight people in a restaurant before taking his own life. In 2019, a gunman shot and killed six people in a hospital in Ostrava. In August 2020, a man in Bohumin killed eleven people, including several family members, by arson.

This is accompanied by an enormous brutalisation of society. While the government and the head of state publicly deplored the victims of the rampage, they fully back NATOs war against Russia in Ukraine and the massacre of the Palestinian population in the Gaza Strip.

Former NATO General and current President Petr Pavel has long called for tougher action against Russia, regardless of the possible consequences.

The contempt for human life is even more evident in the governments attitude to the genocide in Gaza. When the UN General Assembly voted in favour of a humanitarian ceasefire in Gaza earlier this month, the Czech Republic was one of the few countries to vote against it, along with Israel and the US. Prime Minister Petr Fiala of the right-wing Citizens Democrats even explicitly spoke out against humanitarian pauses and has been reiterating his unconditional support for the Israeli government for weeks.

Shortly before Christmas, the Czech militarys new defense concept was presented, which is based on the already decided increase in the military budget to at least two percent of GDP.

Military representatives have made it clear that this will not be enough for the goals set. By 2030, 60 percent of the defense budget should be spent on the purchase of new weapons systems of the most modern design. This is to be completed by 2035 and the army is to be increased to 30,000 soldiers and 10,000 reservists.
In this article, we will take a look at the 20 best states for construction jobs in the US. If you want to skip our discussion on the construction industry, you can go directly to the 5 Best States for Construction Jobs in the US.

The construction sector serves as a significant indicator of economic activity, providing valuable insights into the overall health of an economy. Despite encountering challenges such as rising material costs and supply chain disruptions, the residential construction sector is experiencing a positive turn in 2023. According to Global Data, the size of the US construction market was $2.1 trillion in 2022. The report predicts a steady average annual growth rate of at least 4% for the next four years. The primary sectors within the US construction market include residential, commercial, industrial, institutional, infrastructure, energy, and utilities construction.

Homebuilder companies stocks are rising as investors anticipate Fed rate cuts. Earlier this month, the Federal Reserve indicated plans for three rate cuts in 2024. Furthermore, last week, mortgage rates dropped below 7% for the first time since August, which renewed momentum in the housing market. Popular builder stocks like Lennar Corp. (NYSE:LEN) and DR Horton (NYSE:DHI) have shown over 60% growth in 2023, while PulteGroup (NYSE:PHM) has risen by over 120%. You can check out the 13 Most Profitable Real Estate Stocks here. The positive shift in market sentiment is credited to the increasing demand for new homes, driven by buyer preferences and mortgage rate reductions that make new homes more appealing compared to used homes. This growth in demand is further supported by employment data. Unemployment in the construction sector, which reached its peak at 16.6% in March 2020, decreased to 4.8% in November 2023 after reaching 6.9% in January 2023.

Here's what Baron Funds said about Lennar Corp. (NYSE:LEN) in its Q2 2023 investor letter:

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Our investments in homebuilder companies  Toll Brothers, Inc., Lennar Corporation (NYSE:LEN), and D.R. Horton, Inc.  performed well in the first six months of 2023. The share price of Toll Brothers increased nearly 60% and the shares prices of Lennar and D.R. Horton each gained more than 35%. Year-to-date, each company has witnessed a meaningful uptick in demand to buy homes: Home buyers continue to come off the sidelines and buy homes despite 30-year mortgage rates remaining in the 6.5% to 7.0% range. Several factors are contributing to the recent strength, including pent-up demand to buy homes and fears that mortgage rates could move higher.  The sticker shock of rapidly rising mortgage rates appears to have cooled down. Homebuilders have made homes more affordable to prospective home purchasers by offering mortgage rate buydowns to the mid-5% mortgage rate range while maintaining strong profitability margins.  A dearth of inventory in the existing home market and an overall housing supply shortage is driving home buyers to stretch their wallet due to fears that they could miss the opportunity to buy a home. We remain optimistic about the long-term potential for the Funds investments in Toll Brothers, Lennar, and D.R. Horton for several reasons (Click here to read the full text)

According to the US Bureau of Labor Statistics, Wyoming, North Dakota, and Montana are identified as the best states for construction jobs on the basis of location quotient. The location quotient is a metric employed by the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) to assess the level of concentration of a specific industry within a particular state in comparison to the entire nation. The industry's overall outlook is optimistic, and the construction sector is predicted to experience significant growth throughout 2024. With this context in mind, lets see which state has the most construction work 2023.

20 Best States for Construction Jobs in the US

Aerial view of a construction site for a single family detached home.

Our Methodology

To identify the 20 best states for construction jobs in the US, we referred to the US Bureau of Labor Statistics for the latest state-specific data on location quotient and average annual salary. Location quotients are ratios that provide insights into an area's employment distribution by industry. A location quotient higher than 1 signifies that an industry holds a larger share of local area employment compared to the national average. The 20 best states for construction jobs in the US have been ranked in ascending order of their location quotients.

By the way, Insider Monkey is an investing website that tracks the movements of corporate insiders and hedge funds. By using a consensus approach, we identify the best stock picks of more than 900 hedge funds investing in US stocks. The top 10 consensus stock picks of hedge funds outperformed the S&P 500 Index by more than 140 percentage points over the last 10 years (see the details here). Whether you are a beginner investor or a professional looking for the best stocks to buy, you can benefit from the wisdom of hedge funds and corporate insiders.

20. Texas

Location Quotient: 1.14

Average Salary: $49,760

Texas ranks 3rd in the US in terms of population growth rate as of 2023. The average annual salary for construction workers in the state stands at $49,790. Texas emerged as one of the leading states in the construction industry, adding over 21,000 jobs in 2023.

19. Nebraska

Location Quotient: 1.16

Average Salary: $51,250

In 2023, the total construction value in Nebraska's economy amounted to $3.91 billion, with a corresponding Gross State Product (GSP) of $126 billion. The average annual salary for a construction worker in Nebraska stands at $51,250.

18. Arizona

Location Quotient: 1.16

Average Salary: $52,470

In 2023, the total construction value in Arizona reached $13.94 billion, while GSP stood at $136.2 billion. Despite the challenges in construction growth, Arizona maintained a 5-year average annual employment growth rate of 2%. Real estate and rental and leasing are amongst the top employment segments for the state.

17. Vermont

Location Quotient: 1.17

Average Salary: $52,062

The total construction value in Vermont amounted to $893.91 million in 2023, experiencing an annual growth of 1.3%. The GSP for the same year reached $30.2 billion. However, Vermont faced a challenge in employment growth, with a 5-year average annual rate of -1%.

16. Oklahoma

Location Quotient: 1.19

Average Salary: $49,820

The GSP of Oklahoma for 2023 was $195.2 billion, while the value of total construction was $4.4 billion. This was a decrease of 6.4% on an annual basis, while the five-year annualized decline was 4.5%.

15. Hawaii

Location Quotient: 1.19

Average Salary: $77,850

The contribution of total construction to Hawaii amounted to $2.64 billion. The five-year annualized growth for construction experienced a decline, contracting by 7.5%. Despite these challenges, Hawaii's GSP remained at $76.5 billion.

14. Washington

Location Quotient: 1.22

Average Salary: $73,140

With a GSP of $577.2 billion, the value of the construction sector in the state was $21.28 billion in 2023. The five-year annual growth rate for the construction sector in the state was 3.7%. Meanwhile, the average annual employment growth rate for the state was 1%.

13. Colorado

Location Quotient: 1.24

Average Salary: $57,430

The contribution of the construction sector to Colorados economy was $17.41 billion, while the total GSP was $371.3 billion in 2023. This was an increase of 0.9% year on year. Over the past five years, the average annual employment growth rate in the state was 1.4%.

12. Maine

Location Quotient: 1.26

Average Salary: $52,350

Maine is at the twelfth position on our list of the 20 best states for construction jobs in the US. The average annual salary for a construction worker in the state is $52,350. Maine's GSP in 2023 was recorded at $65.5 billion.

11. South Dakota

Location Quotient: 1.33

Average Salary: $47,170

In 2023, South Dakota's GSP amounted to $50.5 billion. The construction sector contributed $1.43 billion to the GSP, experiencing a negative growth rate of -3.1% for the year. Over the past five years, South Dakota had an average annual employment growth of 1.0%.

10. Nevada

Location Quotient: 1.34

Average Salary: $61,570

Nevada is among the top 10 best states for construction jobs in the US. The value of total construction in Nevada was $9.08 billion during 2023, with an annualized 5-year growth rate of 0.4%. The GSP for the same period was $170.1 billion.

9. Louisiana

Location Quotient: 1.43

Average Salary: $50,350

Louisianas GSP was recorded at $219.1 billion for 2023. The construction sector contributed $7.08 billion to the GSP. The state experienced a five-year average annual employment growth of -0.4%.

8. West Virginia

Location Quotient: 1.47

Average Salary: $52,740

The GSP of West Virginia for 2023 was recorded at $71.7 billion, with an annualized 5-year growth rate of 0.1%. The contribution of the construction sector to the GSP was $2.28 billion. The state experienced a five-year average annual employment growth of -0.4%. The major employment sectors in West Virginia include mining, healthcare and social assistance, and manufacturing.

7. Idaho

Location Quotient: 1.48

Average Salary: $49,620

Idaho is amongst the fastest-growing US states in terms of population. Idahos gross state product for 2023 was $85.7 billion, with an annualized 5-year growth rate of 15.3%. The contribution of the construction sector to the GSP was $3.71 billion in 2023. The five-year growth rate for the construction sector in the state is 4.1%.

6. Utah

Location Quotient: 1.52

Average Salary: $52,380

Utah is the fastest-growing US state in terms of GSP and the second in terms of population growth. Its GSP for 2023 was $185.2 billion, with an annualized 5-year growth rate of 3.7%. The contribution of the construction sector to the GSP was $11.83 billion during 2023. Over the five-year period, the construction sector achieved a growth rate of 5.9%.

Lennar Corp. (NYSE:LEN), DR Horton (NYSE:DHI), and PulteGroup (NYSE:PHM) are some of the popular builder stocks contributing to the growth of the construction industry.

Click to continue reading and see the 5 Best States for Construction Jobs in the US.

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Disclosure: None. 20 Best States for Construction Jobs in the US is originally published on Insider Monkey.
In this article, we will be looking at the 25 best online business degree programs heading into 2024. If you want to skip our detailed analysis, you can go directly to the 5 Best Online Business Degree Programs Heading Into 2024.

Investment Banking: Career Spotlight For Business Students

A degree in business equips its students with the necessary skills for entering the investment banking industry. Investment banks act as intermediaries between companies and investors. A bachelor's degree is required for entry-level jobs in the industry. However, a master's degree in business improves the chances of career progression. According to the US Bureau of Statistics (BLS), the employment rate of securities, commodities, and financial services sales agents is expected to grow 7%, compared to other occupations, from 2022 to 2032. Investment bankers are a part of this category as well. The employment rate implies that 40,100 jobs will be added every year during the forecasted period.

According to a report by Allied Market Research, the global investment banking market was valued at $78.9 billion in 2022. The market is expected to grow at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 10.8% from 2022 til 2032 and attain a value of $213.6 billion by 2032. In 2022, North America was the most dominant region in the investment banking industry. However, the Asia Pacific region is expected to be the fastest-growing region during the forecast period.

Notable Players in Investment Banking

JPMorgan Chase & Co (NYSE:JPM) is one of the most prominent names in the investment banking industry. On November 8, JPMorgan Chase & Co (NYSE:JPM) announced the allocation of $70 million in a diverse set of commitments aiming to create economic opportunities in France. The commitment includes the creation of Spark France in partnership with Bpifrance. Spark France will provide capital to gender-diverse private investment firms. The remaining $20 million by JPMorgan Chase & Co (NYSE:JPM) will be allocated to the creation of opportunities for the underserved community in the country.

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Goldman Sachs Group Inc (NYSE:GS) is another notable player in the investment banking industry. On November 29, Goldman Sachs Group Inc (NYSE:GS) announced the successful completion of the allocation of $25 million to the Climate Innovation and Development Fund. The fund was allocated in partnership between Goldman Sachs Group Inc (NYSE:GS) and Bloomberg Philanthropies and was managed by the Asian Development Bank. The fund aims to attain sustainable low-carbon economic development in South and Southeast Asia and has collected about $500 million in private-sector and government investments.

Deutsche Bank AG (ETR:DBK) is a renowned company in the investment banking industry. On December 20, Deutsche Bank AG (ETR:DBK) announced that it had doubled the local investment for its business in Indonesia. The additional capital will facilitate the growth of the company's operations in the country. Deutsche Bank AG (ETR:DBK) has increased its capital thrice this year in the Asia Pacific region. The previous investments were made in Vietnam and South Korea.

Bank of America Corporation (NYSE:BAC) is a significant name in the investment banking industry. On October 17, Bank of America Corporation (NYSE:BAC) reported earnings for the fiscal third quarter of 2023. The company reported an EPS of $0.90, beating estimates by $0.08. The company's revenue for the quarter grew by 2.71% and amounted to $25.17 billion, ahead of market consensus by $93.31 million. As of December 28, Bank of America Corporation (NYSE:BAC) has surged nearly 20.84% over the past six months. Here are some comments from the company's earnings call:

"Our third quarter here at Bank of America was another strong quarter as we delivered $7.8 billion in net income. That is a 10% growth over the year-ago third quarter. And for the first nine months of the year, we have earned $23.4 billion, an increase of 15% over 2022. We grew clients and accounts organically and at a strong pace across all our businesses. Our operating leverage was about flat. We improved our common equity Tier 1 ratio by nearly 30 basis points in the quarter to a level of 11.9% against a current minimum of 9.5%. We saw an increase in our deposits and we maintained our strong pricing discipline. We continue to maintain $859 billion in global liquidity sources.We also deliver a good return for you, our shareholders, with a return on tangible common equity of over 15% and a 1% return on assets. Just a quick note of what we see in the economy. Our team of economists predicts a soft landing with a trough in the middle of next year. We see that in our customer data, our 37 million checking customers, we see their spending slowing down. You can see that on Slide 34. The third quarter was up about 4% over last years third quarter. Earlier this year, that would have been more of a 10% increase year-over-year. And for the entire year of 2022, it increased 10% [round numbers over 21] (ph). This 4% level is consistent with the spending we saw in the pre-pandemic period from 2016 to 2019. That is consistent with a low-inflation, lower-growth economy."

Getting a degree from a reputable institution prepares the students for a successful career in the field. We have made a list of the best online business degree programs heading into 2024.

25 Best Online Business Degree Programs Heading Into 2024

25 Best Online Business Degree Programs Heading Into 2024

Our Methodology

To make our list of the best online business degree programs heading into 2024, we have used a consensus methodology. We consulted four sources, including Intelligent.com, MyDegreeGuide, Best Colleges, and Degree Choices. The consensus methodology involved identifying names that were consistently mentioned in a minimum of two out of the four sources. We calculated the average rank of each course based on its rank in each of our sources. The resultant list has been organized in descending order of the computed average ranks.

By the way, Insider Monkey is an investing website that tracks the movements of corporate insiders and hedge funds. By using a consensus approach, we identify the best stock picks of more than 900 hedge funds investing in US stocks. The top 10 consensus stock picks of hedge funds outperformed the S&P 500 Index by more than 140 percentage points over the last 10 years (see the details here). Whether you are a beginner investor or a professional one looking for the best stocks to buy, you can benefit from the wisdom of hedge funds and corporate insiders.

25 Best Online Business Degree Programs Heading Into 2024

25. Temple University

Number of Mention: 2

Average Ranking Across Sources: 23

Temple University offers an online Bachelor of Business Administration. The online degree program enables students to pursue their education at their own pace. The program is accredited.

24. Mayville State University

Number of Mention: 2

Average Ranking Across Sources: 22

Mayville State University offers an online Bachelor of Applied Science degree in Business Administration. The online degree program is accredited and relatively affordable.

23. University of Illinois

Number of Mention: 2

Average Ranking Across Sources: 21

The University of Illinois Chicago offers an online Bachelor of Business Administration degree completion program. 61 credits are required for the completion of the degree program. The degree is accredited by AACSB International.

22. University of Missouri

Number of Mention: 2

Average Ranking Across Sources: 16

The University of Missouri offers an online Bachelor of Science in Business Administration. The program is accredited by the Higher Learning Commission. 120 credits are required for the completion of the degree.

21. Pace University

Number of Mention: 2

Average Ranking Across Sources: 15.5

Pace University offers some of the best online business degree programs heading into 2024. Pace University offers an online Bachelor of Business Administration. The degree program is well-suited for students looking to manage education along with other commitments.

20. Franklin University

Number of Mention: 2

Average Ranking Across Sources: 15

Franklin University offers an online Bachelor of Science in Business Administration. The program is accredited by the International Accreditation Council for Business Education. The program is comprehensive and imparts practical skills to its students.

19. California State University

Number of Mention: 2

Average Ranking Across Sources: 15

California State University has one of the best online business degree programs heading into 2024. The university offers an online Bachelor of Science in Business Administration. The university is accredited by the Western Association of Schools and Colleges.

18. Miami Dade College

Number of Mention: 2

Average Ranking Across Sources: 14.5

Miami Dade College offers a wide variety of online business degree programs. The university offers an online Bachelor of Science in Business Administration. The degree program prepares students for successful careers in the future.

17. Oklahoma State University

Number of Mention: 2

Average Ranking Across Sources: 14

Oklahoma State University offers an online business degree program. The program is offered through Spears School of Business. The degree program is available for all students across the globe.

16. Liberty University

Number of Mention: 2

Average Ranking Across Sources: 14

Liberty University offers an online Bachelor of Science in Business Administration. The degree program is accredited by the Accreditation Council for Business Schools and Programs. It is one of the best online business degree programs heading into 2024.

15. Mercer University

Number of Mention: 2

Average Ranking Across Sources: 14

Mercer University offers an online Bachelor of Business Administration program. The degree program is accredited by the Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business.

14. University of Wisconsin

Number of Mention: 2

Average Ranking Across Sources: 14

The University of Wisconsin-Madison offers an online Bachelor of Business Administration. 120 credits are required for the completion of the degree. The university's online business degrees are offered through UW-Madison Online.

13. University of Arizona

Number of Mention: 2

Average Ranking Across Sources: 13.5

The University of Arizona offers 20 different accredited online business degree programs. The number of credits required varies based on the degree program. The degree program is accredited by the International Accreditation Council for Business Education.

12. Colorado State University

Number of Mention: 2

Average Ranking Across Sources: 13.5

Colorado State University offers some of the best online business degree programs heading into 2024. The university offers an online MBA degree program. The business degree program is accredited by AACSB.

11. Indian River State College

Number of Mention: 2

Average Ranking Across Sources: 13

Indian River State College offers an online Bachelor of Science in Business Administration program. 120 credits are required for the completion of the degree program. The college is accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges.

10. University of Florida

Number of Mention: 2

Average Ranking Across Sources: 12.5

The University of Florida offers both a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration and a Bachelor of Arts in Business Administration. 120 credits are required for the completion of the degree program. University of Florida is accredited by the Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business.

9. Oregon State University

Number of Mention: 2

Average Ranking Across Sources: 10.5

Oregon State University has some of the best online business degree programs heading into 2024. Oregon State University offers several online business degree programs including a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration. Oregon State University is accredited by the Northwest Commission on Colleges and Universities.

8. University of Minnesota

Number of Mention: 2

Average Ranking Across Sources: 9.5

University of Minnesota offers an Online Master of Business Administration. 52 credits are required for the completion of the degree program. The degree program is accredited by the Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business.

7. Arizona State University

Number of Mention: 2

Average Ranking Across Sources: 6.5

Arizona State University offers several online business degree programs including a Bachelor of Arts in Business. 120 credits are required for the completion of the degree program. It requires 120 credit hours.

6. Capella University

Number of Mention: 2

Average Ranking Across Sources: 4

Capella University offers several online business degree programs, including an online Bachelor of Science in Business Administration. It requires 180 quarter credits for graduation. It is one of the best online business degree programs heading into 2024.

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Bacon lovers in Bucks County and southern New Jersey can score a deal at Wendy's on Saturday, Dec. 30, to celebrate National Bacon Day.

Here's how you can take advantage of Wendy's 1-cent jr. bacon cheeseburger promotion.

How to get Wendy's junior bacon cheeseburger for one penny

There's a few stipulations for getting your burger for next to nothing  you need to order online or in the mobile app and also have enough Wendy's points to qualify.

Get Wendy's 1-cent burger in Delaware: 1-cent Jr. Bacon Cheeseburger's available at Wendy's this week. How to get one in Delaware

Luckily, this is a pretty easy task. Download the Wendy's app or navigate to the company website, create a rewards account, and click the "Reward Store."

Review the current offers in the reward portal, select the one-cent deal and add it to your order. As long as you have a rewards account and at least 200 Wendy's rewards points, the deal will be added to your cart.

The promotion runs through Tuesday, Jan. 2.

Wendy's 1-cent junior bacon cheeseburger promotions runs through Jan. 2.

Where to get Wendy's junior bacon cheeseburger in Bucks County

Now that you know about Wendy's scrumptious promotion, the next thing to do is nail down locations where you can pick up your grub.

According to Wendy's location finder tool on its website, there are 21 Wendy's locations in the greater Bucks County region, including restaurants at 3020 Veterans Highway in Bristol Township; 400 N. Main Street in Doylestown; 1260 Bethlehem Pike in Hatfield; off Route 113 in Souderton; 620 Easton Road in Warrington; and 813 East County Line Road in Warminster.

Wendy's also has a location finder tool in its mobile app.

Getting Wendy's 1-cent junior bacon cheeseburger in southern New Jersey

Bacon fans in southern New Jersey can get in on the 1-cent junior bacon cheeseburger as well, as there are more than a dozen Wendy's restaurant near Burlington and Camden.

Just a few participating Wendy's are located at:

2008 Route 206 South, Bordentown;

2103 Mount Holly Road, Burlington;

4361 Route 130 South, Burlington;

5011 Route 130 South, Delran;

74 Centurion Road, Mount Laurel;

1140 Route 73, Mount. Laurel;

7321 North Crescent Blvd., Pennsauken.

Second Chik-Fil-A coming to Middletown: Here's when the second Chick-fil-A in Middletown plans to open

More about National Bacon Day

According to a recent report, Americans consume roughly 18 pounds of bacon per year, so a national day in its honor isn't so strange.

The National Day Calendar suggests other ways to celebrate National Bacon Day by eating a variety of bacon while watching Kevin Bacon movies or any movie with bacon in the title.

The other suggesting swing from the logical to the whimsical, and include trying a new recipe by testing the best ways to cook bacon; giving bacon as a gif; and writing bacon-themed songs.

This article originally appeared on Bucks County Courier Times: Get a Wendy's jr bacon cheeseburger for 1 cent on National Bacon Day
The move comes a little over a year after Boebert narrowly won a second term in office

Kevin Dietsch/Getty Images Lauren Boebert

Colorado Rep. Lauren Boebert is switching Congressional districts in the 2024 race, announcing on Wednesday she will run in the state's 4th Congressional District.

The switch comes as Republicans look to keep their narrow House majority in 2024 and as 37-year-old Boebert was expected to face a tough reelection bid for her current district, Colorados 3rd. The 4th district is more solidly Republican.

In an announcement video shared to social media , the Republican said of the change, Its the right move for me personally, and its the right decision for those who support our conservative movement. Colorados 4th District is hungry for an unapologetic defender of freedom with a proven track record of standing strong for conservative principles.

I wanted to let you, my constituents and supporters, hear directly from me about my plans for the 2024 election cycle and the importance of maintaining a conservative voice for Colorado in Congress as well as keeping our Republican House majority.



I cannot put into words how pic.twitter.com/YY5PHS1EJs  Lauren Boebert (@laurenboebert) December 28, 2023

Related: Lauren Boebert Escorted Out of 'Beetlejuice' Musical After Allegedly Vaping, Recording on Her Phone

The move comes a little over a year after Boebert narrowly won a second term in office, after her Democratic challenger put up an unexpectedly tough fight to unseat the controversial Republican after just one term.

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The lawmaker's term has been checkered with controversy that Boebert herself has courted often by sparring with her colleagues.

Last year, she called a Republican primary challenger a "groomer," a term for a person who sexually abuses children. She has also feuded with Minnesota Rep. Ilhan Omar, about whom she has made racist comments, calling her a member of "the jihad squad" and accusing her of "praising terrorists."

A fervent gun advocate who vowed in a political ad to carry a weapon to work in Congress, Boebert reportedly got into a standoff with Capitol Police when she refused to allow officers to search her bag after setting off metal detectors just days after the insurrection.



And in September, she made headlines after allegedly causing such a "disturbance" during a performance of the Beetlejuice musical in Denver that she was escorted out of the venue, according to an incident report shared with The Denver Post.



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The family of six is having fun in the sun this Christmas

Rhea Wahlberg/Instagram Mark Wahlberg and family

Mark Wahlberg and Rhea Durham shared laughs with their kids on Christmas.

Wahlberg, 52, spent the holiday with his family, enjoying a family trip to Barbados with his wife and their four kids  Grace, 13, Ella, 20, Brendan, 15, and Michael, 17, and Ella, 20.

As they headed out on their vacation, Durham shared the family's annual Christmas card.

"Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays  Wishing EVERYONE peace in their hearts  Love, The Wahlberg family  @markwahlberg," she wrote.

Since then, she's shared some more scenes of the family enjoying the holiday abroad. " So far ," she captioned a set of tropical shots that show the family having fun in the sun.



Never miss a story  sign up for PEOPLE's free daily newsletter to stay up-to-date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer, from juicy celebrity news to compelling human interest stories.

Related: Mark Wahlberg Reveals He Joined Daughter Ella at a Frat Party During College Visit: 'It Was Nuts'

Earlier this month, Wahlberg shared a relatable parenting moment at the Las Vegas premiere of his movie The Family Plan.

I've got a teenager who won't stop playing the video games. I've got a daughter who thinks she knows everything and [me and wife Rhea Durham] are complete idiots in many, many ways, he told PEOPLE.

Instagram/Rhea Wahlberg Mark Wahlberg and family

While chatting exclusively with PEOPLE ahead of F45's Wahlberg Week in October, the actor opened up about his family's recent move to Nevada.

"Everybody's adapted nicely. The kids are all out at school, and everybody's happy," Wahlberg said of his family.

As for their plans for the upcoming holiday season, the actor said, "Well, I'm constantly busy and traveling, so I'm looking forward to getting home and spending some time with the family."



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Pro-Palestine protests at Los Angeles and New York airports disrupted travel today on one of the busiest days of the year, leading to a combined total of more than 50 people arrested between both locations.

In Los Angeles, authorities declared an unlawful assembly Wednesday morning when a group of protesters blocked traffic outside the entrance of the Los Angeles Airport. Traffic was backed up to Century Boulevard.

More from Deadline

Police arrived at LAX around 9:30 AM when the protesters tried to block the road with objects. An estimated 35 protesters were arrested. Some protesters were cited and released for rioting, while others were arrested for assault on a peace officer, officials said.

No flights were disrupted by the protest, although several passengers abandoned their ride to walk to their terminals.

New Yorks JFK was subjected to a similar protest Wednesday morning.

Port Authority Police officers arrested 26 demonstrators who blocked traffic on the Van Wyck Expressway near the Terminal 4 exit around 11 a.m.

The protesters were arrested for disorderly conduct and impeding vehicular traffic.

Travelers to JFK also abandoned rides and walked with their luggage to terminals.

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Jason Murph, 42, and his daughter Michelle, 6, were reported missing last week

Jason Murph/ Facebook Jason Murph and his daughter Michelle Murph

A South Carolina man and his daughter died of hypothermia last week after their truck crashed on the way to visit his mother, according to reports.

The bodies of Jason Murph, 42, and Michelle Murph, 6, were discovered on Dec. 18 in Calhoun County, according to WIS-TV, CBS affiliate WLTX and The Independent. According to WIS, deputies first discovered the truck in which the two were riding, and then the bodies about an hour later on Lavender Lane.

Jason's estranged wife told the Richland County Sheriff's Department in a police incident report shared with PEOPLE that Murph called her on Dec. 16, saying he "slid off the road" and wrecked his truck as he and his daughter were on their way to see his mother.

According to the report, the wife told authorities that she could hear the child yelling in the background before the phone died. She had texted Jason to call 911, but there had been no response. The father and daughter's whereabouts were unknown after that.

Related: Teen Driver in Crash That Killed 5 Children Didn't Have License, Say Officials: 'A Horrific Accident'

The autopsy results were inconclusive, but the determination of hypothermia was based on weather elements, per the reports. There were no suspicious injuries, and foul play is not suspected.

"It wasn't below freezing by no means, but because of the wind and the rain, they become extremely cold, and I think it became an urgency for them to try to find help and try to find shelter," Calhoun County Coroner Donnie Porth told WLTX.

He told the station that the truck got stuck in the mud following the collision and that Jason probably made several attempts to move the truck, which in turn sparked a grass fire. That may have prompted Murph and Michelle to get out of the vehicle.

Related: Man Rescued After 6 Days Trapped Inside Car When Good Samaritans Spot Wreckage Under Overpass

Porth added that the father and daughter probably tried to reach the interstate for help but ended up stuck in a wet area approximately 100 yards from their vehicle. "I feel like they were walking together, and unfortunately, he being heavier than she is, he sank into the mud, and the more you struggle, the deeper you go."

PEOPLE reached out to the Calhoun County Coroners Office for additional information.



Quentin Murph, Jason Murph's cousin, said he is unsure how Jason and Michelle ended up where they were because it was not part of their route. Were sorry we werent there to maybe help you during the time you needed us the most, Quentin said, per WIS-TV. I just want to say we love you and well always keep you in our fondest memories.

Related: 11-Year-Old Texas Boy Dies of Suspected Hypothermia After Home Loses Power During Snowstorm

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The funeral for Murph and Michelle will be held Saturday in Orangeburg, South Carolina, according to an obituary from Simmons Funeral Home.



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In this article, we will be looking at the 25 cheapest online business degree programs heading into 2024. If you want to skip our detailed analysis, you can go directly to the 5 Cheapest Online Business Degree Programs Heading Into 2024.

Human Resources: Career Spotlight

Joining the human resources industry is a popular career choice among students with a business degree. The two prominent roles within the industry are human resource specialists and human resource managers. Human resource specialists deal with screening, recruiting, and training new talent whereas human resource managers are focused on planning and execution of administrative functions related to human resources. According to the US Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), the employment of human resource specialists is expected to grow 6% faster, compared to other occupations, from 2022 to 2032. 78,700 openings are estimated to be added every year during the forecast period.

Whereas, the employment of human resource managers is projected to grow 5% faster, compared to all other occupations, during the same period. 15,500 jobs are expected to be created every year during the forecast period. Employment laws are becoming more becoming more complex. As businesses expand, the need for specialized individuals that will ensure compliance also increases. Human resource management impacts the performance of individuals in the organization as well. The complex regulatory structures and growing enterprise size are expected to fuel the employment growth in human resource roles.

According to a report by Grand View Research, the global human resource management market was valued at $24.25 billion in 2023. The market is expected to grow at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 12.7% from 2024 to 2030 and reach $56.15 billion by 2030. Digital transformation and automation are optimizing human resource operations. Companies are using predictive analytics to plan human resource-related activities. The incorporation of the latest technologies is expected to fuel the growth of the market during the forecast period.

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In 2022, North America dominated the human resource management market. The region accounted for 34.0% of the global revenue share. The region has a concentration of human resource management solutions providers which contributed to the large revenue share. The Asia Pacific region is expected to grow at the fastest CAGR during the forecast period. Automation initiatives in human resource management are predicted to contribute greatly to market growth.

Noteworthy Companies

Accenture Plc (NYSE:ACN) is a notable company in the human resource management industry. The company offers many services including HR operations services and employee experience consulting services. On December 19, Accenture Plc (NYSE:ACN) announced that it had expanded its strategic partnership with McDonalds Corporation (NYSE:MCD). The partnership will help McDonalds Corporation (NYSE:MCD) enhance the digital capabilities of its employees. The learning and development programs by Accenture Plc (NYSE:ACN) will help inculcate the latest skills needed in the digital era including edge computing skills.

Automatic Data Processing Inc (NASDAQ:ADP) is a prominent name in the human resource management industry. The company provides many HRM-related services including cloud-based human capital management (HCM) solutions. On December 12, Automatic Data Processing Inc (NASDAQ:ADP) announced the launch of ADP Retirement Trust Services, LLC (RTS). RTS is a fully insured limited liability company that will provide trustee plan services to enterprises of all sizes. As the parent company, Automatic Data Processing Inc (NASDAQ:ADP) is providing RTS with comprehensive support and access to innovative technology.

Ceridian HCM Holding Inc (NYSE:CDAY) is a noteworthy company in the human resource management industry. The company provides many human resources-related services including developing human capital management software. On November 1, Ceridian HCM Holding Inc (NYSE:CDAY) reported earnings for the fiscal third quarter of 2023. The company reported an EPS of $0.37, beating estimates by $0.08. The company's revenue for the quarter grew by 19.61% and amounted to $377.5 million, ahead of market consensus by $8.09 million. As of December 28, Ceridian HCM Holding Inc (NYSE:CDAY) has surged nearly 3.88% over the past six months. Here are some comments from the company's earnings call:

"Adjusted cloud recurring gross margins of 78.3% expanded by approximately 350 basis points year-over-year. Adjusted EBITDA was $107.2 million or 28.4% of revenue and expanded 827 basis points year-over-year. This margin expansion reflects revenue upside, a greater share of recurring revenue in the business and continued scale across the Dayforce platform. And as I mentioned earlier based on our Q3 performance and increased visibility, we are raising and narrowing the range of our growth and profitability outlook for 2023. This reflects the full flow-through of the beach in Q3 and an incremental raise into Q4 and the full year. Noemie will dig into the guidance details shortly. Other highlights of the quarter included another record break in INSIGHTS, where we had a record number of attendees, including customers, prospects and partners."

A degree in business offers promising prospects in the human resource management industry. We have made a list of the cheapest online business degree programs heading into 2024.

25 Cheapest Online Business Degree Programs Heading Into 2024

25 Cheapest Online Business Degree Programs Heading Into 2024

Our Methodology

To make our list of the cheapest online business degree programs heading into 2024, we initially used a consensus methodology. We consulted four sources, including Intelligent.com, MyDegreeGuide, Best Colleges, and Degree Choices. The consensus methodology involved identifying names that were consistently mentioned in at least two of the four sources. We extracted almost forty different titles from the sources. We individually looked up the estimated cost per credit for these degree programs to identify the cheapest ones. The list has been arranged in descending order of cost per credit.

By the way, Insider Monkey is an investing website that tracks the movements of corporate insiders and hedge funds. By using a consensus approach, we identify the best stock picks of more than 900 hedge funds investing in US stocks. The top 10 consensus stock picks of hedge funds outperformed the S&P 500 Index by more than 140 percentage points over the last 10 years (see the details here). Whether you are a beginner investor or a professional one looking for the best stocks to buy, you can benefit from the wisdom of hedge funds and corporate insiders.

25 Cheapest Online Business Degree Programs Heading Into 2024

25. The University of Texas Permian Basin

Estimated Cost Per Credit: $362

The University of Texas Permian Basin offers an online Bachelor of Business Administration. The degree program is accredited by the Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business. 42 credits are required for the completion of the degree program.

24. Lewis-Clark State College

Estimated Cost Per Credit: $358

Lewis-Clark State College offers several online business degree programs, including a Bachelor of Business Administration. The degree program is accredited by the International Accreditation Council for Business Education. The programs are designed to help students develop analytical skills.

23. Indiana University East

Estimated Cost Per Credit: $352

The Indiana University East offers an online Bachelor of Science in Business Administration program. It is one of the cheapest online business degree program programs heading into 2024. 120 credits are required for the completion of the degree.

22. Missouri State University

Estimated Cost Per Credit: $348

Missouri State University offers an online Bachelor of Science in General Business. The program is accredited by the Higher Learning Commission and the Association of Advance Collegiate Schools of Business. The program prepares students for successful careers in the field.

21. The University of Arkansas

Estimated Cost Per Credit: $339

The University of Arkansas offers an online Bachelor of Science in Business Administration. The program requires a minimum of 120 credit hours to complete. The program is accredited by the Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business.

20. Mayville State University

Estimated Cost Per Credit: $336

Mayville State University offers online business degree programs, including a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration. The degree program is one of the cheapest online business degree programs heading into 2024. The program is flexible and facilitates students to learn at their own pace.

19. University of Missouri

Estimated Cost Per Credit: $335

The University of Missouri offers several online business degree programs through Missouri Online and the Trulaske College of Business. These programs include a Master of Science in Business and a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration. The Trulaske College of Business is accredited by AACSB International.

18. Missouri Southern State University

Estimated Cost Per Credit: $330

Missouri Southern State University offers an online Bachelor of Science in General Business. The program is accredited by the Higher Learning Commission. 120 credits are required for the completion of the degree program.

17. Eastern Oregon University

Estimated Cost Per Credit: $323

Eastern Oregon University offers an online Bachelor of Applied Science in Business. The degree program is accredited by the International Accreditation Council for Business Education. The program prepares students for successful careers in the field.

16. Western New Mexico University

Estimated Cost Per Credit: $329

Western New Mexico University offers one of the cheapest online business degree programs heading into 2024. Western New Mexico University offers an online Master of Business Administration. The program is designed to develop analytical skills.

15. Dickinson State University

Estimated Cost Per Credit: $319

Dickinson State University offers various online business degree programs through its School of Business and Entrepreneurship. The degree program offers a flexible schedule suited for students managing other personal and professional commitments.

14. Faulkner University

Estimated Cost Per Credit: $315

Faulkner University offers an online Bachelor of Science Degree in Business program. 60 upper-level semester hours are required for the completion of the degree program. The university is accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission.

13. Ohio University

Estimated Cost Per Credit: $312

Ohio University offers an online Bachelor of Science in Business program. The program requires 120 credits for completion. The university is regionally accredited by the Higher Learning Commission.

12. Peru State College

Estimated Cost Per Credit: $310

Peru State College offers an online Bachelor of Science Degree in Business Administration in Management. 120 credits are required for the completion of the degree program. The university is accredited by the Higher Learning Commission.

11. CUNY School of Professional Studies

Estimated Cost Per Credit: $305

The CUNY School of Professional Studies offers an online Bachelor of Science Degree in Business. The degree program requires 120 credits for completion. The university is accredited by the Middle States Commission on Higher Education.

10. City Vision University

Estimated Cost Per Credit: $266

City Vision University offers an online Associate's Degree in Business Administration. The program requires a total of 60 credits. City Vision University is nationally accredited by the Distance Education Accrediting Commission.

9. Central Methodist University

Estimated Cost Per Credit: $260

Central Methodist University offers various business degree programs, including a Master of Business Administration (MBA) and a Bachelor of Science in Business. It has some of the cheapest online business degree programs heading into 2024. 30 credits are required for the Master's and 120 credits for the Bachelor's degree.

8. Central Christian College of Kansas

Estimated Cost Per Credit: $255

Central Christian College of Kansas offers various online business degree programs, including nine bachelor's programs and one master's program in business administration. The number of credits required varies based on the program. Central Christian College of Kansas is accredited by the Higher Learning Commission.

7. Fort Hays State University

Estimated Cost Per Credit: $242

Fort Hays State University offers an online Master of Business Administration. 24 credits are required for the degree program. The university is accredited by the Higher Learning Commission of the North Central Association of Colleges and Schools.

6. University of the Cumberlands

Estimated Cost Per Credit: $220

The University of the Cumberlands offers various online business degree programs, including a Master of Business Administration. The degree program required 37 credit hours for completion. The university's business programs are accredited by the International Accreditation Council for Business Education.

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Disclosure: None. 25 Cheapest Online Business Degree Programs Heading Into 2024 is originally published on Insider Monkey.
Tom Cruises career has been filled with incredible success with box-office hits like Top Gun and The Mummy, but he also has a rather controversial side due to his long-standing relationship with the Church of Scientology. But one Hollywood actress refuses to listen to any bad stories about her Mission: Impossible  Dead Reckoning co-star because she just had the best time working with the 61-year-old actor.

Hannah Waddingham, best known for her Emmy-Award winning turn as Rebecca Welton on Ted Lasso, appeared on the ITV series James Martins Saturday Morning on Christmas Day, where she defended the movie star. The dynamic acting duo spent five intense days working together on the USS George HW Bush United States Navy supercarrier. She gushed, He is, without doubt, one of the loveliest and encouraging, positive and inspiring human beings I have ever met. Isnt he gorgeous? I have no time for anyone saying anything about him.

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Hannah Waddingham in Hannah Waddingham: Home for Christmas

In 2020, Cruise caught some heat for his three-minute-long rant to the crew of Mission: Impossible 7 after they broke the strict on-set COVID-19 rules. Theyre back there in Hollywood making movies right now because of us. We are creating thousands of jobs, you motherfers, he yelled in the clip in audio obtained by The Sun. I dont ever want to see it again! Ever! If I see you do it again, youre fing gone.

While the angry behavior caught many fans off-guard, Cruise also got support from actors in Hollywood for keeping the movie safely shooting during a very difficult time. The Jerry Maguire star has a usually solid reputation for being kind, generous, and friendly on the set. However, its his belief in Scientology that draws quite a bit of criticism since there are allegations that it is a cult.

Waddingham may not want to hear about that side of Cruise because she had a great experience with him on Mission Impossible. There are plenty of former Scientologists, including Leah Remini, who has a civil suit against the church for trying to utterly destroy her life after she left the religion. While Cruise is not a part of that legal action, he is considered the second in command at Scientology under David Miscavige. Its a complicated part of Cruises personal life and it conflicts with his public image that Waddingham is willing to defend.

Before you go, click here to see celebrities who have left the Church of Scientology.

Celebrities Who Left the Church of Scientology / Laura Prepon

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These are some of the best things to do in Sedona, whether it's your first or fifth time visiting the Arizona desert town.

Bill Clark/CQ-Roll Call, Inc via Getty Images

Sedona, Arizona, is home to nearly 10,000 people, and a spiritual haven for many more. The red rock buttes here are said to house mysterious cosmic forces that are conducive to healing and self-exploration. For that reason, Sedona has long been regarded as a sacred place  one that is rich in natural beauty.

Brett Briseno, director of sales and marketing for Enchantment Resort and Mii Amo, a Sedona hotel and spa, respectively, told Travel + Leisure by email, There's something special here. Whether its the energy of the land, the genuine hospitality of its people, the cultures that coexist in harmony, or the world-class businesses, there's no denying this place feels different than anywhere else. I would use the word majestic, but others might simply say theres a positivity and peacefulness here that's rare in the world.

That sense of peace and spirituality has made the Arizona community a spa destination. (The Enchantment Resorts Mii Amo spa is a T+L reader favorite.) Briseno noted, Sedona is one of the few locations where you return home feeling better and more energized. The destination is also surrounded by red rock formations, steep canyons, and pine forests with hiking and biking trails.

Without further ado, heres what Sedona locals recommend a first-time visitor should add to their itinerary.

Hike Cathedral Rock Trail.

mdesigner125/Getty Images

According to Chrys Theriault, an expert bell captain at Ambiente, A Landscape Hotel (one of the most anticipated resort openings in the U.S. in 2023), Sedona is known as a day hiking capital, with some 200 trails and 400 miles of well-marked red rock [paths] that offer any hiker the skill level and views they are seeking.

A good place to start is on Cathedral Rock Trail, a moderately challenging, 1.2-mile round-trip trek. Its a great introduction to Sedona hiking and boasts stunning views of Cathedral Rock, a natural sandstone butte that's one of the areas most-photographed attractions.

Visit Chapel of the Holy Cross.

DOUGBERRY/Getty Images

The Chapel of the Holy Cross draws pilgrims and tourists who come to worship in this one-of-a-kind building that was built on top of a natural rock formation in the Coconino National Forest.

Theriault calls the chapel a personal favorite, while Christian Davies, the general manager of Mii Amo, said, The Chapel of the Holy Cross is a must-see. The stunning building seamlessly flows with the surrounding area, rising out of the red rocks just like a prominent peak, offering stunning views of the iconic red rock formations that Sedona is famous for.

Eat Mexican and Southwestern food at Elote Cafe.

With a menu thats inspired by the markets of Mexico, Elote Cafe is based on chef Jeff Smedstads 20-plus years of travel across Mexico and the southwestern U.S. Dont miss their namesake elote, fire-roasted corn served with spicy mayo, lime, and cotija cheese.

Swim in Oak Creek at Slide Rock State Park.

Kiyoshi Tanno/Getty Images

At the bottom of Oak Creek Canyon lies a swimming hole that has continually been recognized for its spectacular hidden locale. It's situated below an apple orchard and surrounded by Sedonas iconic red rocks. Theres even an 80-foot-long slide that has been worn into the sandstone and is covered in algae, making for a slippery ride.

When you think of Arizona, you don't think of water, said Theriault, adding that a visit to the canyon is a perfect trip any time of year.

Shop at Tlaquepaque Arts & Shopping Village.

AutumnSkyPhotography/Getty Images

Called the art and soul of Sedona, this outdoor shopping village is fashioned after a traditional Mexican village, with stucco walls, cobble pathways, and decorative arches. The Tlaquepaque Arts & Shopping Village has some of the citys best galleries, restaurants, and shops. And if youre wondering, the word Tlaquepaque is part of the ancient language of the Aztecs, meaning the "best of everything."

Davies calls the market one of the most distinctive shopping experiences in the Southwest, noting that it has been a favorite Sedona landmark for many years.

Hike Airport Loop Trail.

Kent Nishimura / Los Angeles Times via Getty Images

The Airport Loop Trail, which curves around Sedona Airport, is a great spot to watch the sun rise and set. If an airport-adjacent hiking path sounds anything but pleasant, then you havent been to Sedona Airport, which is set 500 feet above the city on a flat mesa.

Visit Amitabha Stupa and Peace Park.

AutumnSkyPhotography/Getty Images

The 14 acres that make up the Amitabha Stupa and Peace Park were deemed holy by Natives long ago and continue to be seen as a spiritual oasis.

Sedona is the spiritual mecca of the Southwest, explained Theriault. Historically known for its ceremonies, birthing spaces, and peace treaties, it now has a New Age vibe with holistic healing rituals, modern churches, and psychics. Davies added, Amitabha Stupa is a spiritual destination for people of all faiths, where local residents, visitors, and groups come for prayer, meditation, and an experience of peace in a sacred place.

Bike the Aerie to Cockscomb Trail.

Together, the Aerie and Cockscomb trails create a 6.1-mile loop that's suitable for both beginner and intermediate mountain bikers. This trail is great because it offers fun descents on rolling hills and beautiful scenery, plus it can be accessed from many locations.

Sedona is renowned for being one of the top mountain biking destinations in the United States, said Davies, adding that Enchantment Resort and Mii Amo guests can also take advantage of the Trail House, which offers guided bike rides and rentals.



Book a hot-air balloon ride.

Bill Clark/CQ-Roll Call, Inc via Getty Images

Both Davies and Theriault recommend that first-time visitors to Sedona book a hot-air balloon ride. Sedona is known for the unique beauty of its red rocks and high desert foliage. A helicopter tour or balloon ride will allow any traveler a one-time, take-it-all-in view of Sedona. You'll even see the highest peak in the state, Mt. Humphrey's, as a bonus, said Theriault.

Two reliable tour operators are Red Rock Balloon Adventures and Northern Light Balloon Expeditions.

Visit Red Rock State Park.

lucky-photographer/Getty Images

If you want to see a high concentration of Sedona's famous red rocks and canyons, head to Red Rock State Park, located southwest of the city. The nature preserve has tons of treks that loop around red rock formations, including Eagle's Nest and Apache Fire trails.

Hike Devil's Bridge Trail.

Westend61/Getty Images

This nearly four-mile round-trip hike leads to Devils Bridge, the largest natural sandstone arch in the area. The route can be busy, and parking is limited on weekends, so your best bet is to hop on one of the free shuttles to the Dry Creek Vista trailhead. The highlight of the hike is reaching the bridge and walking out along the top of the arch.

Book a Jeep tour or rent an off-road vehicle.

RAUL RODRIGUEZ/Getty Images

If hiking and biking aren't your style, but you still want to explore the landscape, Theriault recommends booking a Jeep trip with one of Sedonas many tour operators.

If youre feeling up to it, you can also rent your own Jeep or ATV and cruise one of Sedonas many scenic roads. According to Theriault, Oak Creek Canyon, Red Rock Loop Road, and Scenic Byway SR 179 are perfect for a day trip.

Shop at Exposures International Gallery of Fine Art.

Courtesy of Exposures International Gallery of Fine Art

The art scene is one of the many reasons people travel from all over the world to visit Sedona. One of the citys best art galleries, Exposures International Gallery of Fine Art, is a great place to start your tour of the destination's art offerings. Exposures represents the work of almost 100 living artists and includes both classical and modern paintings, sculptures, and jewelry.

Try to spot a UFO.

In addition to the occasional energy vortex, Sedona has thousands of reported UFO sightings a year, according to Theriault, who recommends first-time visitors join a UFO tour with military-grade night vision, or take advantage of the designated Dark Sky Community by looking toward the stars at night.

Dine on the water at Cress on Oak Creek.

Courtesy of LaAuberge de Sedona

If Sedonas nature has you wooed, book a meal at Cress on Oak Creek in LAuberge de Sedona (one of T+L readers' favorite resorts in Arizona). The restaurants outdoor patio is situated right on Oak Creek in a green-laden space.



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Ashley Graham made history as an SI Swimsuit rookie in 2016 when she became the first plus-sized model to ever land the cover of the annual issue. She was photographed in Turks and Caicos for the occasion. She returned to the fold the following two years, when her work with the brand took her to both Fiji and Nevis.

While she appeared in several Swimsuits for All campaigns prior to her work with SI Swimsuit, editor in chief MJ Day noted that Graham had been on her radar for some time.

... I actually met with Ashley the summer before that ad came out and already loved her, Day stated. Its one of my most memorable castings. Shes so beautiful and yet she was one of the most impassioned and articulate people who has ever come through my doors. We were just so excited to be in each others presence.

While Graham has been modeling since the age of 12, the 36-year-old is also a proud mom of three, wife and body positivity activist. Shes also a published author and has hosted her own podcast, Pretty Big Deal.

Shes a champion for all women, Day added of Graham. Theres no denying that Ashley Graham brings something different to the table. Its exciting to meet someone who can totally handle this moment, take it, and amplify it, all because of who she is and how she celebrates herself.

Below are just a few of our favorite photos from Grahams feature in Nevis, in which she rocked the color of the current season way before its time.

Josie Clough/Sports Illustrated

Josie Clough/Sports Illustrated

Josie Clough/Sports Illustrated

Josie Clough/Sports Illustrated

Josie Clough/Sports Illustrated

Josie Clough/Sports Illustrated

Make sure to follow SI Swimsuit on YouTube!
After a tumultuous final few years of Queen Elizabeths reign, King Charles came to the throne at a time when steadying the ship was never more important. And as he ends his first full year as monarch he can look back on a 12 months that has mercifully lacked the drama of many of those that went before. Yet, from the highs of the coronation to the lows of the monarchys waning popularity in the polls, the year has still been full of ups and downs. We take a look at some of the key events of the royal familys 2023.

Publication of Spare

Scott Olson - Getty Images

No one was expecting 2023 start well for the working royals with Prince Harrys damning memoir Spare scheduled for release on January 10. Yet despite Harry (as journalist Tom Bradby put it) taking a flame-thrower to his bridges with the royals, the book ended up being an astonishing reminder of how quickly even the most dramatic news cycle can move on. The Prince and his truly bombshell revelations dominated the agenda during the middle of January. But by the time the Princess of Wales launched her Shaping Us campaign at the end of the month, the front pages were ready for a new focus.

The Kings First State Visit

RONNY HARTMANN - Getty Images

If Spares portrait of the King had made the world think more negatively of him, there was zero evidence of this by the time he carried out his first overseas State Visit to Germany in March. Charles made history by being the first British monarch to address the German parliament and was rewarded with a standing ovation and significant praise in German media. Positive headlines in the UK followed, such as Why Germans are going wild for King Charles and Why the Germans think King Charles is wunderbar!

Coronation

WPA Pool - Getty Images

The sure-footed performance of this first State Visit put the King in a strong position in the run-up to his May coronation. Despite initial speculation it would be scaled back, in the end the British Government pressed ahead with full pomp and pageantry. The worlds media descended on London and every detail of the 1,000-year-old ceremonythe likes of which has not survived anywhere else in Europewas dissected with fascination. As King Charles and the once-unthinkable figure of Queen Camilla waved to cheering crowds from the Buckingham Palace balcony, the event was largely hailed a success.

Polls and Protests

Mark Kerrison - Getty Images

Unlike in 1953 when Queen Elizabeth was crowned, there were signs that cracks have formed in the monarchys relationships with the public. Polls this year have show that young people are now more likely to want an elected head of state and that the monarchys popularity fell to an all-time low. Protestors chanting Not My King made themselves heard during the coronation and even more so at the Kings first State Opening of Parliament in November. And reporting such as the Guardian newspapers ongoing investigation into the Cost of the Crown and the royal familys links to slavery have become increasingly prominent.

Tradition and Change

Chris Jackson - Getty Images

In a sign he believes that continuity is one of the monarchys greatest strengths, King Charles has been at great pains to emphasize tradition since the start of his reign. He has followed his late mothers model more closely than many expected and done or said little to rock the boat. His September State Visit to France was very much in this vein and reinforced his credentials as a reliable diplomat.

However, during his trip to Kenya in November the King also demonstrated an understanding that a new approach is needed when it comes to royal visits to former British colonies. While stopping short of an apologysomething that would have to be decided by the Governmentthe King did not shy away from putting the wrongs of the past at the forefront of his Kenya trip. He used a key speech in Nairobi to say there was no excuse for abhorrent and unjustifiable acts of violence committed against Kenyans as they waged, as you said at the United Nations, a painful struggle for independence and sovereignty. Charles received criticism for the lack of apology but, unlike William and Kates tour of the Caribbean, the trip will was far from a disaster.

The Next Generation

Courtesy Royal Hashemite Court

The fact that the King and Queens overseas visits were centre-stage this year serves as a reminder that monarchy is designed to shore up those at the top. William carried out a brief solo trip to Poland in March to visit troops near the Ukraine border, and another short trip to New York in September ahead of the Earthshot Prize awards in November. He and Kate also represented the King at Crown Prince Husseins wedding to Rajwa Al Saif in Jordan in June. But for most of 2023, William and Kate have largely focussed their energies on engagements closer to home.

Kate launched Shaping Us at the start of the year and William announced his own ambitious initiative to end homelessness in June. Homewards saw the Prince travel to six locations in England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland to bring together experts and spearhead ways to prevent homelessness. Both projects demonstrate how the couple wants to workby providing long-term commitment to specific areas and by leaning heavily on their convening power and ability to raise awareness.

Publication of Endgame

HENRY NICHOLLS - Getty Images

The royal year was heading for a relatively quiet end until the publication of Endgame reignited controversy. The fact that the Dutch edition of the book was pulled from the shelves for naming in error royals who allegedly discussed Archies skin color elevated the drama around the book which already dealt several blows to the working royals. Yet, much in the same way as the year started with Spare, the furor ebbed away and the monarchy stayed standing.

Family and Duty

Chris Jackson - Getty Images

The final engagements of 2023 proved to be a festive family affair. Kate was joined by the extended royal family and the Middletons for her annual Westminster Abbey service and she even brought Prince George, Princess Charlotte and Prince Louis to help out with a baby bank in the run-up to the festive season. You can see how rewarding this kind of work is, knowing that youre helping others, she said to her eldest son in an insight into the philosophies she is instilling in the future King.

This philosophy of duty first is one that King Charles has been keen to emphasize throughout the year. During his Christmas broadcast, where he reflected on the past 12 months, the coronation was mentioned but only briefly and largely in the context of the volunteers who were invited into Westminster Abbey. Instead, the King focused on the official engagements and charity visits undertaken by the royals and ended the year emphasizing the themes of faith, service and duty.

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It was a cause for celebration when this giant pack of guinea pigs got treated with a huge Christmas dinner of veggies. This huge group of guinea pigs wouldnt stop whistling out of excitement. This was truly such a wonderful treat!

The guinea pigs were all surrounding the vegetables and started munching away instantly. They arent wasting any time on making a dent into the vegetables and greens. They definitely wanted to dive right into all of the leafy goodness.

Guinea pigs are herbivores and love the chance to sink their teeth into some fresh vegetables. This sanctuary is home to around 70 guinea pigs and their owner loves them all.

Related: Guinea Pig Who Always Wants to Be with Mom Has Stolen Our Hearts

They clearly have a loving owner because who else would create such a delicious vegetable spread for them? Their dad has their work cut out for him having to cut all of those veggies. But clearly, he loves doing it so he knows his piggies are happy and healthy.

Fun Facts About Guinea Pigs

Guinea Pigs are active for about 20 hours per day. They definitely are active little critters and dont sit still for long periods of time. While they are very active, they are not considered to be climbers. They are not very agile!

Guinea pigs are such foragers that they require constant access to good quality hay. They can spend all day munching to get their vitamin C.

In the wild, guinea pigs typically live with a group of around five to ten different pigs. Keeping them in small groups as pets ensures they are happy and healthy. Staying social is very important for guinea pigs and they completely thrive in groups.

Guinea pigs have excellent spatial awareness and due to the shape of their head can even see behind them. To help your pet guinea pig feel safe and comfortable, you should always provide a little house or tunnel for them to hide out in.

Guinea pigs make a variety of different noises11 to be exact. From squealing to their classic wheek wheek noise, each of the noises means something different. One noise could mean upset or scared, while another means theyre content.

Guinea pigs are very intelligent, so if you let them get bored its a recipe for disaster. Guinea pigs need all sorts of mental stimulation from toys that they can forage or hide in. Wicker or straw objects, houses and tunnels can be very good picks for guinea pigs.

Looking for more PetHelpful updates? Follow us on YouTube for more entertaining videos. Or, share your own adorable pet by submitting a video, and sign up for our newsletter for the latest pet updates and tips.
What do a Turkish cafe and sprawling Texas-born gas station have in common?

They're both planning big debuts in Northern Colorado in 2024, and they're far from alone.

At least 18 eateries and establishments are looking to make their mark on the area's food scene in the new year, bringing everything from Texas barbecue and Beaver Nuggets to Turkish baklava and Colombian empanadas to the area.

Here's what to expect on the food and drink scene in 2024

Avery Eatery will be the new kid on the block in Old Town  though it's not entirely clear when. AFH and Friends, Inc.  operating under the trade name Avery Eatery  was granted a liquor license at 100 N. College Ave., formerly home to ND streetBar, on Nov. 15. Dan Smalheiser and Brent Jackson, owners of Mountain Avenue restaurant little, represented Avery Eatery at the Liquor Licensing Authority meeting, where they shared few details about the forthcoming eatery. The restaurant will offer counter service, but its cuisine and opening timeline remain unknown.

Arboretum Coffee is on a mission in 2024. The nonprofit coffee shop plans to open at 221 W. Prospect Road under the Prospect Station Apartments on Jan. 22, bringing its coffee and, more importantly, an apprenticeship program for Fort Collins' refugee and immigrant youth to the area. The nonprofit coffee shop plans to offer a 12-month program for refugees and immigrants ages 18 to 24. Participants will learn barista and customer service skills through on-the-job training and receive one-on-one mentoring and classes in financial literacy and career preparation, according to Arboretum Coffee Executive Director Hannah Norris. Norris, who previously worked as a caseworker at the Matthews House in Fort Collins, said she wanted to start Arboretum Coffee after seeing an influx in refugees and immigrants coming to Fort Collins in recent years. "A lot of refugees and immigrants have to start in unsafe and undignified working environments when they get to the U.S. in order to pay the bills," Norris said. To combat this and build community for these groups, Arboretum Coffee hopes to open with two cohorts of five participants in early and mid-2024. To learn more or volunteer for Arboretum Coffee, visit arboretumcoffee.org.

Construction on Colorado's first Buc-ee's travel center continues along I-25 near Johnston, Colo., on Friday, Oct. 13, 2023. The new Colorado location is planned to be 74,000 square feet, with 116 fueling stations.

Buc-ee's, the new mega travel center under construction in Johnstown, is scheduled to open this spring. The Johnstown location of the Texas phenomenon will include 116 fueling stations along with all its other fan favorites: homemade fudge, Texas barbecue, kolaches, Beaver Nuggets, jerky, fresh pastries and "the world's cleanest bathrooms, freshest food and friendliest beaver."

Cafe Mexicali is extending its reach into Windsor. The Fort Collins-born regional Mexican restaurant chain announced plans for a Windsor restaurant in July. While the eatery does not have a set opening date yet, it is expected to open in 2024 in Windsor's East Pointe Business Park.

The Cakery is on the move. The Wellington cupcake shop, which started as a cupcake truck in May 2017 and went brick-and-mortar with a shop in downtown Wellington a few months later, closed Dec. 23 with plans to reopen in Fort Collins in mid-January. After six years in Wellington, The Cakery's building at 3706 Cleveland Ave. went on the market earlier this year, prompting owner Jackie Isvanca to look at potential new homes for her shop. She ultimately settled on 2842 Council Tree Ave., Unit 141, which was previously home to Poeme Macarons. "It's a little bit hard," Isvanca said of closing up shop in Wellington. "It's sad to leave our small town community, but we are excited. The bakery is a passion of ours, and I think we owe it to ourselves to see where it can go."

Fort Collins restaurant news: Blind Pig Pub to close after 10 years on Linden Street

Chicken Salad Chick made its Northern Colorado debut in 2023 with more openings on the way. After signing a development deal for five Northern Colorado locations in 2022, Greeley residents and franchisees David and Jessica Zumbrun opened a Chicken Salad Chick in Greeley in April. While there is no update on a Fort Collins location yet, the Zumbruns plan to open a Johnstown location this coming spring, Jessica told the Coloradoan in December.

DGT is on the move. The alleyway taco shop, which has been a fixture under Alley Cat Coffeehouse since 2013, plans to shuffle its operations around the corner to 120 W. Laurel St. The new space, formerly occupied by RamaMama, will give the taco shop more indoor and outdoor seating and room for a full bar, where it plans to serve up signature margaritas and cocktails, according to DGT founder and co-owner Mike Falco. DGT closed its alley taco shop Dec. 20 with plans to reopen on Laurel Street around Feb. 1.

El Pollo Loco has set its sights on Larimer, Boulder, Broomfield and Weld counties, with plans to open restaurants there by the end of 2024. The chain, which made the announcement in May, has not yet provided specific locations of its forthcoming locations.

Brandon Pierce, left, interacts with Judah Pierce before taking a bite of his meal during the opening of Colorado's new In-N-Out location in Loveland, Colo., on Friday, Nov. 10, 2023.

In-N-Out Burger may have just opened its long-awaited drive-thru in Loveland, but it's not finished with Northern Colorado quite yet. The burger chain filed a conceptual plan with Timnath's planning department in late May, with plans for a parcel at the northeast corner of Interstate 25 Frontage Road along Weitzel Street in the Ladera subdivision. According to planning documents, In-N-Out hopes to develop a 3,860-square-foot building with drive-thru and 1,440 square feet of outdoor patio seating to accommodate 134 customers.

Japango is looking to breathe new life into a vacant building in the heart of Old Town. The sushi restaurant  a nearly 25-year fixture on Boulder's Pearl Street  has taken over 125 S. College Ave. and filed a building permit for improvements to the space, which was formerly home to Main Line and the Rove and Element nightclub and restaurant.

JINYA Ramen Bar is heading for the Foothills mall. The Los Angeles-based ramen chain signed a lease at Foothills and is eyeing an opening in the first quarter of 2024, according to a Foothills spokesperson.

Krispy Kreme is still in the works in south Fort Collins. In February, WKS Restaurant Group  the franchisee behind Fort Collins' forthcoming Krispy Kreme and 42 other shops nationwide  told the Coloradoan it planned to break ground in March or April of 2023 and have the new shop open by the end of that year. While the former Fazoli's building appeared unchanged as of December, WKS Restaurant Group is "working hard to bring Krispy Kreme to Fort Collins in the near future," the company's director of marketing, Brian Spongberg, told the Coloradoan in a November email. Spongberg did not have an estimated opening date for the doughnut shop.

Luna's Tacos & Tequila opened in downtown Greeley in 2018. It is set to expand with a new location in Windsor in spring 2024.

Luna's Tacos and Tequila signed a lease for 1246 Automation Drive in Windsor late in the year, with plans to open a second location there in early spring, according to Luna's owners Sam Corliss and Brian Seifried. The new restaurant will join Luna's flagship location in downtown Greeley. The move will mark a new chapter for the Automation Drive space, which was previously home to Windsor taphouse Howlers & Growlers before its September closure.

Original Pancake House is on the move. The breakfast spot, 2909 E. Harmony Road, is set to move down the road, taking over the former Village Inn building at 1402 E. Harmony Road in 2024.

Turkish Cafe Co. is slated to open out of Enchante A European Salon, 2631 S. College Ave., in early 2024, bringing Turkish coffee, dishes and European treats to the Midtown business.

A slice of Fort Collins food news: Fort Collins pie food truck Sunny Sky Pies opens brick-and-mortar shop

Verboten Brewing is poised to take over a former Fort Collins brewery  expanding its reach from Loveland into Fort Collins. The Loveland brewery confirmed plans to purchase Black Bottle Brewery's building, 1611 S. College Ave., in October, with plans to turn it into the brewery's second location. Black Bottle Brewery shuttered Dec. 2 after 11 years in Fort Collins. While the building's sale had not been finalized as of Dec. 11, Verboten hopes to open the new location this spring, Verboten co-owner Angie Grenz told the Coloradoan.

Yellow Crunch is bringing crunchy Colombian empanadas to Fort Collins in 2024. The little eatery, which is slated to take over the space formerly occupied by Chick'n Cone in Old Town's The Exchange, will dish up Colombian finger foods, including empanadas and tamales, courtesy of chef and owner Viviana Henao.

Ziggi's Coffee is eyeing its fourth location in Fort Collins. The new drive-thru-only shop will be located at Timberline Road and International Boulevard.

Coloradoan reporter Pat Ferrier contributed to this report.

This article originally appeared on Fort Collins Coloradoan: What to expect on Fort Collins' food and drink scene in 2024
A consortium of Bangladeshi labor rights organizations has threatened to rally the countrys garment workers in an indefinite strike come Jan. 1 if demands such as the release of arrested protestors and a higher minimum wage are not met, stoking fears of further mayhem during an already politically turbulent time.

Four workers were martyred in the recent RMG workers unrest, but there is still no investigation, Aam Fayez Hossain, chief coordinator at the Sammilita Sramik Parishad, told the Business Post on Sunday. Besides, cases have been filed against hundreds of workers, and they are on the run to avoid arrest. The workers have rights to justice, and we are fighting to resolve these issues.

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The new minimum wage of 12,500 Bangladeshi taka ($114), which went into effect at the start of December, falling far short of the 23,000 taka ($210) workers were asking for, is insufficient to lead a decent life, Hossain said, adding that he believed that workers will respond to our program. To date, 19 workers rights groups and federations have expressed solidarity for the plan, he added.

With polls opening in little over a week, Bangladesh is a tinderbox of high emotions. For months, the nations main opposition party has been clamoring for the dissolution of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasinas government, to be replaced by a so-called caretaker cabinet that can ensure free and fair elections. The anti-government demonstrations that have broken out on the streets of Gazipur and Dhaka have been confusingly intertwined with the minimum wage protests that erupted almost concurrently, making it difficult to ascertain, at first blush, the affiliations of perpetrators of vandalism or assault. Further pandemonium leading to factory closures or stalled production in the new year could result in even harder questions being asked of the worlds second-largest garment exporter after China.

Md Nasir Uddin, vice president of the Bangladesh Garment Manufacturers and Exporters Association (BGMEA), the countrys influential trade group, agreed, telling the Business Post that the sector will not be able to absorb any further unrest or any violence. At the same time, Uddin said he didnt think workers would support calls for a strike, and that if protests occur, our workers will protect us because they know the sectors ongoing situation.

We tackled violence just a month ago, and the new wage structure has been implemented from this month despite a lower volume of work orders, he said. We also want justice for workers, but it should come legally. The government will ensure this. We are already in a panic mood. We do not want any further untoward situation in the apparel industry.

This could include a softer stance against demonstrating workers, thousands of whom risk joining the 115 or so already behind bars, according to the Worker Rights Consortium. Facing pressure from U.S. lawmakers and the American Apparel & Footwear Association, among others, both the BGMEA and its knitwear counterpart, the Bangladesh Knitwear Manufacturers and Exporters Association, or BKMEA, have told its members to drop their complaints against protestors not involved in serious crimes.

We have asked the owners to withdraw the cases against agitating workers who did not commit vandalism, Fazlee Shamim Ehsan, vice president at the BKMEA, told the Business Post. And if possible, the owners should pay the full November salary to innocent workers despite announcement[s] about salary cut[s].

In a recent letter to brands and retailers, Faruque Hassan, president of the BGMEA, struck a hopeful posture for 2024, noting that with U.S. holiday spending projected to hit record levels, this positive vibe brings the hope of a better and prosperous year ahead.

As he has done previously, Hassan exhorted buyers to help suppliers fulfill the new minimum wage by maintaining long-term sourcing relationships and increasing their purchasing prices.

We are also in support of better living of the workers in principlein fact, many of our factories provide a great number of non-wage and non-legally binding benefits to the workersand we feel happy when our workers are happy, but we need a price that enables us to sustain a wage level, he said.
Vintage barware is a treat in and of itself, but its even better when said piece is steeped in royal history.

Take, for instance, the exquisite silver punch set that has just popped up for sale at M.S. Rau.

Dating back to the 19th century, the one-of-a-kind service was commissioned by Czar Alexander III and made by the House of Sazikov. Established in 1793 by merchant Pavel Sazikov, the jewelry firm quickly garnered attention for its high-quality silverware and became a supplier to the Imperial Court in 1837. It remains the oldest such firm in Russia, according to M.S. Rau.

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Alexander III gave this particular piece to Captain Joseph Wiggins in recognition of his pioneering expeditions along the Yenisei River. The British skipper was instrumental in establishing the Kara Sea route. He also transported rails for the Trans-Siberian railway up the Yenisei in 1893. It was this particular feat that earned him a lavish gift from a certain Russian emperor.

A close-up of the ornate punch bowl and cup.

Forged from silver, the ornate punch set is hallmarked 1874 to 1875 and inscribed with old Slavic drinking proverbs. Sayings such as The heart burns at the thought of wine and Good fellowship is better than wealth run across the cups and ladles. Other engravings pay tribute to Wiggins and his voyages.

To Captain Wiggins from the Imperial Russian Naval Ministry, an inscription on the edge of the tray reads. In memory of the voyage in 1893 to the mouth of the river Enisei, jointly with the ships of the Imperial fleet, Lieutenants Ovtsyn, Malygin and Skuratov.

The plate from the punch set.

The center of the tray features another laudatory message from the Royal Geographic Society in England. It states that the set was presented to Wiggins by the Czar of Russia in 1894, after which the captain left it to the Royal Geographical Society in September 1905. The barware then made it into the private collection of Victor Niederhoffer before it landed at M.S. Rau in New Orleans.

A cup from the punch set.

As you might expect, such barware does not come cheap. The silver rarity will set you back a cool $498,000. Hey, at least you dont have to journey up the Yenisei to get it.

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The logistics industry has had no shortage of drama unfolding over the past year, including a freight recession, various strikes and near-strikes, a major trucking bankruptcy, a drought at the Panama Canal, and most recently, concerns at another major global trade gateway, the Suez Canal.

Freight rates maintained their descent

The start of 2023 continued where 2022 left off, as freight rates kept falling from their peak in the fall of 2021. The collapsing prices have been a byproduct of the current freight recession, characterized by weak demand for goods and an overcapacity of vessels and vehicles to haul cargo.

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Ocean spot rates measured by Drewrys World Container Index (WCI) dipped from $9,408.81 per 40-foot container on Jan. 6, 2022 to $2,135.16 on Jan. 5, 2023a 77.3 percent collapse in the span of one year. While this years declines havent been as steep, they have still put plenty of pressure on carriers and freight brokers alike. In the time since, spot rates are down another 22.2 percent to $1,661 per container as of Thursday.

Dry van line-haul rates for trucking also saw rates fall 9.3 percent to $1.65 per mile, down from $1.82 per mile as of Monday, according to DAT Freight & Analytics.

The freight rate declines created a buyers market for brands and retailers entering a new contract and seeking to lock in a more favorable long-term deal. But for carriers and brokers, lower prices meant less revenue, bringing financial distress to businesses without significant capital on hand.

It is a time to be a lot more hyper-aware on where the spot rate market is, and the trade lanes that companies leverage for their supply chain, Brian Bourke, global chief commercial officer at Seko Logistics, told Sourcing Journal in June.

Yellow goes under, Convoy shuts down

Perhaps the biggest shock of the year within logistics was the sudden bankruptcy of less-than-truckload (LTL) company Yellow Corp. in August.

In the month after the trucking firm sued the Teamsters for $137.3 million on allegations that the union prevented it from restructuring amid dwindling cash resources, clients including Walmart and The Home Depot diverted freight from the company. The customer exodus forced Yellow to shut down in late July, before filing for Chapter 11 a week later.

The company is still in the process of liquidating its assets, selling off 130 terminals in an auction for a combined $1.88 billion, with XPO getting 28 terminals for $870 million and Estes Express Lines scooping up 24 locations for $248.7 million.

Yellow is still seeking buyers for its remaining 46 owned and 147 leased terminals, and has yet to set an auction date for its rolling stock of trucks and trailers.

Yellow wasnt the only casualty within the trucking sector, with digital freight brokerage Convoy ceasing operations in October. The company, which was valued at $3.8 billion in early 2022, served as a marketplace to match shippers with trucking carriers.

The conditions of the freight recession, which included the downturn in freight rates and trucking demand, along with a pullback in investor funding, did Convoy in as sales slumped. The companys tech was sold to digital freight forwarder Flexport, which itself dealt with many of the same problems Convoy had to endure, like plummeting revenues.

UPS, West Coast port workers score new contracts

Labor negotiations for new contracts were a common theme throughout 2023, most notably as the United Auto Workers (UAW) went on strike for six weeks in the U.S. Luckily, similar negotiations didnt end up causing much disruption in the apparel supply chain.

Just as 2022 ended with an averted strike in the U.S. rail industry, the #hotunionsummer ended up avoiding multiple potential work stoppages as unionized UPS workers and West Coast port dockworkers in the U.S. both won landmark new contracts.

The latter deal is likely to set the tone for how East Coast port dockworkers expect to approach their ongoing labor negotiations in 2024. The former deal could potentially inspire more organizing efforts at Amazon, according to Kate Bronfenbrenner, director of labor education research at Cornell Universitys School of Industrial and Labor Relations.

Amazon workers can look to this contract and see many things that they could only get with a union, Bronfenbrenner told Sourcing Journal in August. Protections for part-timers. Health and safety protections with the air conditioning in the trucks. Getting rid of two-tier wage scales. Those kinds of victories only happen with the power of a large union in a very strategic campaign.

Thats not to say labor negotiations and strikes were avoided entirely in 2023. The most disruption came out of Canada, where port dockworkers walked off the job for 14 days at British Columbia ports, disrupting approximately $9.9 billion in trade. Another weeklong strike occurred in eastern Canada in October, which cost businesses approximately $25 million per day.

And this month, roughly 1,100 Teamsters-represented DHL workers at the companys air hub in Northern Kentucky went on strike for 12 days.

Nowhere to run from layoffs

Layoffs hit logistics hard, with the Yellow bankruptcy resulting in the loss of 30,000 jobs. But the job cuts persisted across all areas of logistics, regardless of size and function.

Amazon, UPS, FedEx, DHL and Maersk are among the major logistics companies that saw reductions in headcount throughout 2023.

The layoffs at Maersk, which is cutting 10,000 staff across 2023, are the perhaps the biggest indicator of the state of logistics worldwide. The container shipping giant said global container volume performance for the full year would decline in the range of 2 percent to 0.5 percentanother illustration of the lack of demand that has led to less revenue across the board.

Railroad operator Union Pacific, trucking company U.S. Xpress, contract logistics provider GXO, freight brokerage logistics services company C.H. Robinson and another brokerage, the UPS-owned Coyote Logistics have all shed staff amid the subdued freight market.

Job cuts have been highly prevalent in the freight tech sector which was dominated by players like Flexport and Convoyboth of which saw multiple rounds of layoffs in 2023 prior to the latter shutting down.

Software providers including warehouse-as-a-service company Flexe and supply chain visibility platforms like Project44, Freightos and FourKites all saw significant headcount reductions, while another logistics tech firm, Slync, is shutting down amid an ongoing lawsuit with its former CEO.

Calamity at the canals

Two major chokepoints in global trade have experienced significant disruption in 2023. The Panama Canal has endured a months-long drought that led the gateway to implement restrictions on daily transit reservations, while the Suez Canal is currently seeing less traffic in the wake of Houthi attacks as ocean freight giants reroute their ships away from the Red Sea.

Only 22 daily transits are currently allowed through the Panama Canal, down from around 34 to 36 in normal conditions. To give some respite to shippers, the Panama Canal Authority (PCA) will start allowing 24 vessels per day in January. Bookings are highly coveted, with one company shelling out $4 million to reserve a slot ahead of time.

In a major sigh of relief for the apparel supply chain, the congestion hasnt made a major impact on container shipping since these vessels have the first crack at booking priority.

The emphasis on bookings appears to have alleviated part of the congestion. As of Thursday, 72 ships are in queue for transit at the Panama Canal, with 44 having booked ahead of time and 28 without a reservation. In comparison, on Aug. 29, 135 vessels awaited passage. At the time, 47 of those ships were booked, while 69 had not made a reservation.

The Suez Canal concerns closed out 2023s topsy-turvy year, as all the major container shipping companies elected to halt movement into the Red Sea. Ocean freight giants like Maersk, MSC, Hapag-Lloyd and CMA CGM instead opted to direct their vessels around Africas Cape of Good Hope.

Such a diversion adds at least 10 days to a ships journey and tacks on more than 15 percent to shipping costs, according to Chris Rogers, head of supply chain research, global intelligence and analytics, S&P Global Market Intelligence.

Consumer goods will face the largest impact, though current disruptions are occurring during the off-peak shipping season, Rogers said. In the short-term, ports will need to deal with a dearth of imports followed by a surge as the global fleet bunches up as a result of the pauses and onward sailing.
One can debate the pros and cons of popular cuts of meat such as sirloin or tri-tip until the cows come home, especially when they come home in the form of steak. Each of these cuts is unique in its flavor, texture, and favored preparation methods. In fact, even within the sirloin category, a range of cuts differ in their qualities and characteristics. Naturally, this means that preference plays a significant role in comparing sirloin and tri-tip steaks. To develop a preference, however, you first need to understand each steak's pros and cons.

On the one hand, sirloin and tri-tip have a lot in common. They're both from the sirloin primal cut (with the exception of sirloin tip steaks, which come from the round). This means they're both from the same section of the cow, between the ribs and the hind legs.

On the other hand, each of these two varieties of steak may be preferential in different scenarios and often cost different amounts. The world of butchers and barbecues has as much jargon as it does preferences. This can make comparing tri-tip and sirloin difficult, and finding which is truly better ultimately comes down to the experience you want to have. As a grill-obsessed South African, I'm determined to perfect the art of the steak. Paired with meticulous research, I've set out to pit these two oft-compared steaks against each other to discover the pros and cons of each.

Read more: 13 Underrated Cuts Of Meat You Should Be Grilling

What Is Sirloin Steak?

butcher beef diagram - izzuanroslan/Shutterstock

Rather than referring to a specific cut of meat, there are actually several that use the name sirloin. Most originate from the sirloin primal cut; however, there are others cut from the sirloin tip section of the primal cut known as the round that uses the sirloin name as well. These include steaks referred to as sirloin tip steaks.

Common steaks from the top sirloin butt subprimal cut include top sirloin steaks and cuts such as the coulotte steak, which can also be called the top sirloin cap steak. Often, a steak simply referred to as a sirloin steak is a top sirloin cut. From the bottom sirloin butt comes the petite sirloin steak and the bavette or sirloin flap. In fact, this is the same section from which tri-tip steaks originate. These steak cuts are created by separating the muscles that weave through the sirloin and round primal cuts into sections. Doing so allows the qualities of each muscle to inform the best cooking process.

For the purpose of comparing to tri-tip, it's useful to divide the family of steaks with sirloin in the name into two main groups: the top sirloin steaks and the sirloin tip from the round primal. The sirloin primal cut can be found toward the rear of the cow, high up, and behind the animal's ribs. The round primal originates from a cow's rump at the top of its back legs.

What Is Tri-Tip Steak?

tri-tip steak on board - Atsushi Hirao/Shutterstock

Tri-tip steak is a popular cut following a muscle group, including muscles from the thigh, originating from the bottom sirloin butt subprimal cut. Once this 1  to 2  pound cut is removed, the tri-tip is a long piece of beef with a characteristically triangular shape, hence the tri in tri-tip.

This is a popular choice for grilling or roasting, especially in California and elsewhere on the West Coast of the U.S., where it can also be sold under the name of Santa Maria steak or California cut. Santa Maria Valley describes that the cut was popularized in the 1950s, largely thanks to a market owner named Bob Shutz. As the story goes, Shutz redeemed the neglected cut, which had previously been relegated to being ground or chopped up for stews. He did this by giving tri-tip the Santa Maria style BBQ treatment, meaning a healthy dose of garlic salt, black pepper, and salt dry rub and grilling it over smoking red oak coals.

Since then, tri-tip steak has been at the center of California barbecue and steak lovers have been enjoying it all around the country -- and beyond. If your butcher doesn't recognize either of these names, you can also try Newport steak or triangle tip.

Cost Of Sirloin Vs. Tri-Tip Steak

woman buying beef - BearFotos/Shutterstock

The cost of sirloin steaks depends on the specific cut you're after. The most common cuts you'll usually compare to tri-tip in the butcher's shop include top sirloin, sirloin tip, and coulotte steak (sometimes just called sirloin steak or top sirloin cap steak). In general, sirloin steak and top sirloin steak cuts tend to be more economical than tri-tip due to the latter's superior tenderness and the richness of its flavor. Sirloin tip tends to be more cost-effective than top sirloin steaks, likely due to its being leaner with less marbling throughout the beef and without the cap of fat.

There are, of course, many factors that may influence the cost of the steaks you buy. Generally speaking, the more tender and flavorsome a steak is, the higher its price tag. The less-used muscles on the cow tend to be less tough, meaning that those areas are prime locations for a more desirable and, therefore, more costly product. Because tri-tip comes from the same primal cut as other sirloin steaks (with the exception of sirloin tip from the round), those elements that affect price are not as drastic, and the difference can be as little as a dollar or two per pound.

How marbled the particular meat is, the type of cattle, and whether it's grass-fed all influence the price differences of almost all steaks. For example, the most expensive steak at Costco was densely marbled wagyu beef from Japan.

Taste Of Sirloin Steak Vs. Tri-Tip

cooked tri-tip with sauce - Atsushi Hirao/Shutterstock

Although tri-tip and top sirloin steaks both come from the sirloin primal cut, there are some differences in the intrinsic flavor of each of these. Sirloin steaks tend to be milder in the flavor associated with beef, while this flavor in tri-tip is more pronounced. Tri-tip can be more marbled with fat than top sirloin, which also adds flavor to the beef.

Sirloin steaks tend to feature less marbling throughout the meat, meaning they can taste leaner. What some sirloin steaks do have, however, are external layers of fat that can influence the flavor if that's your preference. For example, coulotte steaks have a characteristic strip of fat from the cap of the sirloin subprimal. This means that for those who enjoy the isolated flavor of beef fat, leaving this cap on the steak as you cook can impart an extra fatty flavor.

The round subprimal's sirloin tip steak is also leaner than tri-tip and offers less marbling. As with the other sirloin cuts, this means a less robust beef-like flavor but one that welcomes marinating.

Composition Of Sirloin Vs. Tri-Tip Steaks

cross-section sirloin - Aleaimage/Getty Images

Sirloin steaks can be bought bone-in, (although not always) which can even allow you to hold onto the beef's juices and enhance the flavor when grilling. Tri-tip typically doesn't contain any bone.

Tri-tip and sirloin both contain fat (marbled or encapsulating the meat), but which one actually contains less fat, and where is the fat? Well, tri-tip can be categorized as containing very little external fat with a high degree of marbling. Sirloin, however, features a medium degree of marbling but with fat only on the edges of the cut. In fact, we think top sirloin is the absolute best cut of steak if you prefer leaner meat.

An aspect of tri-tip's composition that can influence its preparation is the changing angle of muscle fibers throughout the cut. This means the grains change direction across the width of the tri-tip, which can influence how to carve the beef to ensure you cut across the grain for a juicier, more tender experience.

Finally, tri-tip can contain silverskin if your butcher hasn't already removed it for you. This is best to trim off before cooking, as leaving it on can make your tri-tip unnecessarily chewy.

Texture Of Sirloin Vs. Tri-Tip Steak

hand touching tri-tip steak - Wirestock/Getty Images

Beef texture has a direct influence on the enjoyability of a steak. When discussing the texture of beef, it's useful to look at how tough or chewy a piece of meat is once cooked. For many steak lovers, the more tender and soft their steak, the more pleasurable it is to eat. Texture is often determined by a few key factors, including how hard the individual muscles work and how marbled the meat is with fat. The term marbling relates to the visible distribution of intramuscular fat among the meat and between its fibers. This is highly influential to beef's texture, as a more marbled cut results in steaks that are juicier. The extra marbling in tri-tip even tends to give it a more buttery texture.

Because cuts such as top sirloin or sirloin tip contain less fat distributed throughout the meat itself, they tend to be chewier than tri-tip. Between top sirloin and sirloin tip, the former tends to be the more tender of the two as it's a leaner, less worked muscle.

Best Cooking Methods For Sirloin

grilling sirloin steak - Lauripatterson/Getty Images

Because top sirloin and sirloin tip don't contain as much marbled fat, they can be overly tough or chewy if prepared without consideration. That's not to say that cooking sirloin beautifully is difficult at all. In fact, there are several easy tips you can follow to cook an unbelievably juicy sirloin steak. It's recommended to marinate your sirloin steak, as the acid in the marinade helps to break down tougher muscle fibers and enhance the flavor while offsetting potential toughness.

Popular ways to cook your sirloin steak include grilling, pan frying or searing, and roasting or reverse-searing. When grilling, it's wise to establish a coal or gas grill set-up with one zone significantly hotter than the other. Use the hotter side to put a healthy sear on the steak's exterior and the cooler side to let it continue cooking for a few minutes to your desired doneness.

When panfrying, you can use butter and fat rendered in the pan to baste the meat by spooning it over the steak to keep it moist and soft. Adding some herbs and garlic to your butter while you do this can massively elevate your skillet dinner. No matter which way you cook your sirloin steak, it's essential that you let it rest before cutting or serving it. This allows most of the juices to remain in the meat, keeping it moist until ready to serve.

Best Cooking Methods For Tri-Tip Steak

bbq grill tri-tip - Lando Aviles/Shutterstock

Unlike sirloin steaks, which are typically portioned into smaller steaks, tri-tip requires a slightly different approach. The typical way to prepare tri-tip is to cook it whole before carving it to serve. Tri-tip lends itself to similar cooking methods to sirloin, including grilling and oven-cooking, but its larger size also makes it suitable for other modes of cooking, such as smoking or slow-cooking.

While tri-tip has more intramuscular fat than sirloin, it's not so marbled that you shouldn't make efforts to keep your tri-tip steak from drying out. When cooking tri-tip, you can go for the low and slow option, fast over high heat, or a combination of the two. To prepare tri-tip in the way that Santa Maria steak was popularized, sear it at a high heat over coals (preferably oak fire) before cooking it slowly at a lower temperature until done, either over lower temperature coals or in a smoker or oven. Use a meat thermometer to measure doneness. For a medium-rare steak, you can take your tri-tip out between 130 F and 135 F.

As with sirloin, resting helps to allow the meat to keep its juices. Ensure you rest your steak for under five minutes to keep it moist. Secondly, Ensure you cut your tri-tip against (parallel to) the grain, which can mean changing directions across its fanning muscle fibers.

When To Choose Each Cut

slices of tri-tip steak - Atsushi Hirao/Shutterstock

Knowing the best times to select either tri-tip or one of the sirloin steaks can depend on how you intend to cook, serve, or enjoy your meats. Both cuts feature less intramuscular fat than beef from other areas, such as the rib eye steak, which holds a high degree of marbling. The leanness of tri-tip and sirloin make them both reasonable options for those reducing their fat intake. If you don't mind more marbled fat in your steak, then tri-tip may be a good option for you. If you want leaner meat, sirloin can be a good choice, provided that you trim the excess fat from the edges.

Another important consideration is the serving occasion. Tri-tip is a large piece of beef that usually gets carved into sections or slices at the time of serving. This makes it excellent for larger gatherings or for meals in which steak is a smaller component. For example, tri-tip steak tacos are a great way to feed the family. Sirloin usually shines as the star of the show, and even a simple harissa sirloin steak with carrot-couscous salad can be an impressive meal for one or many more.

Consider what cooking methods are available to you. If you've got a nice big smoker, then it would be a shame not to throw a tri-tip in there. If you only have smaller stovetop pans, you can still make sirloin shine in your home.

Common Misconceptions About These Cuts

chef slicing beef steak - Anton Chernov/Shutterstock

One of the common myths about steak that some hold about tri-tip and sirloin alike is that their leanness means they're doomed to be tough or chewy. This myth, however, is easily dissolved when you try a steak from either cut that has been given sufficient love in the form of proper marinating, cooking, resting, and carving. Likewise, roast cuts such as tri-tip are often thought to not live up to the quality of a good steak, but with the correct preparation, their richness of flavor makes them truly special.

Another misconception is that tri-tip and sirloin steaks are completely different. While they do have their differences, they come from the same sirloin primal cut and are in some ways more similar than they are different. Their level of fat content is similar to that of super fatty cuts such as T-bone steaks. Similarly, while they may not be quite as soft as tenderloin, their texture is more closely matched than with cuts such as flank steak when you rank cuts of steak by tenderness. While sirloin tip is indeed from a different primal cut, it still has more in common (in terms of leanness and tenderness) with tri-tip than with flank or T-bone steaks.

Which Is Better, Sirloin Or Tri-Tip?

family barbeque with steak - Skynesher/Getty Images

So, is one of these steaks intrinsically better? No. Does that mean that one can't be better? Also, no. What might make either sirloin or tri-tip the better cut of meat depends on the situation, your preferences, and your objectives. This may not be a wholly satisfying answer, but it is a freeing one. What this means is that you have options. In fact, you have more options than if one were the only steak worth consideration.

Understanding the pros and cons of each of these steaks can help you decide when one is a better choice for you than the other. Think about how you enjoy cooking your steak or what methods are available to you. Consider who you're cooking for and how many mouths you have to feed.

Ultimately, it's up to you to take what you've learned about the pros and cons of tri-tip and sirloin and put each steak to the test. You may even be surprised by which you enjoy more after the last bite is done.

Read the original article on Tasting Table.
In this article, we will be looking at the 25 states with the lowest average IQ and well being scores. If you want to skip our detailed analysis of the education market in the US, you can go directly to 5 States with the Lowest Average IQ and Well Being Scores.

In one of our previous articles about the smartest states with the highest average IQ, we briefly discussed the correlation between intelligence and education, both of which are associated with brainpower and cognitive functioning. Education can positively influence intelligence, as it helps individuals enhance their intellectual capacity.

Education and Well-being in America

The US is one of the most advanced countries in education. Nevertheless, certain states in America continue to face persistent challenges with illiteracy. According to a report by the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD), larger proportions of adults in the US have poor literacy and numeracy skills than in other countries. The report also points out that literacy skills can have a significant impact not only on employment outcomes but also on personal and social well-being. In the US, the odds of being in poor health are four times greater for adults with low literacy skills than for those with the highest proficiency levels.

As reported by the Barbara Bush Foundation for Family Literacy in 2021, more than half of American adults read below a sixth-grade level. The report also mentions that low literacy can lead to a reduction in income, health, and quality of life for individuals.

In the US, there is a pressing need to improve literacy skills and provide access to resources and support. Addressing the challenge of low literacy presents a significant opportunity for the education market. According to a report by Custom Market Insights, the US education market was estimated to have reached a value of $1.4 trillion in 2021. Moving forward, the market is expected to grow at a compound annual growth rate of 4.2% from 2022 to 2030 and reach a value of around $3.1 trillion by the end of the forecasted period.

Story continues

The key factors driving growth in the US education market include rapid urbanization, technological advancements, and rising demand for online learning. Moreover, the evolving job market in the US increasingly demands a workforce equipped with specialized skills and knowledge. The rising demand for higher education and specialized training programs is contributing to the expansion of the US education market.

Prominent Names in the Educational Services Market

Some of the biggest companies in the US educational services market that are working to improve the current educational landscape include Stride, Inc. (NYSE:LRN), 2U, Inc. (NASDAQ:TWOU), and Laureate Education, Inc. (NASDAQ:LAUR).

Headquartered in Miami, Florida, Laureate Education, Inc. (NASDAQ:LAUR) is an educational services company that operates higher education institutions globally. The company offers campus-based and online education programs. Laureate Education, Inc. (NASDAQ:LAUR) is also one of the best education stocks to buy. On November 2, Laureate Education, Inc. (NASDAQ:LAUR) reported strong earnings for the fiscal third quarter of 2023, reflecting strong demand for educational services. The company reported an EPS of $0.23 and beat estimates by $0.04. The companys revenue for the quarter grew by 20.1% year-over-year and amounted to $361.5 million, ahead of market consensus by $1.5 million.

Stride, Inc. (NYSE:LRN), formerly K12 Inc., is an education company that offers online and blended education programs as well as career learning programs. On November 27, Stride, Inc. (NYSE:LRN) announced that the University of the Virgin Islands  Center for Excellence in Leadership and Learning (UVI CELL) has teamed up with MedCerts to deliver a range of healthcare training programs and exam preparation opportunities for students, aiming to enhance their professional development and career prospects in the healthcare sector. MedCerts is a subsidiary of Stride, Inc. (NYSE: LRN) which is known for its innovation in online career training and eLearning solutions. The programs and exam preparation MedCerts will offer through the partnership with UVI CELL will equip the students with the necessary skills and knowledge to succeed in various medical careers, including Cardio-Phlebotomy Technicians, EKG Technicians, Electronic Health and Medical Records Specialists, Health Unit Coordinators, Medication Care Coordinators, and Patient Care Technicians.

2U, Inc. (NASDAQ:TWOU) is an American edtech company that collaborates with educational institutions to offer and support online degree and non-degree programs. 2U, Inc. (NASDAQ:TWOU) is also the parent company of edX, a leading global online learning platform. On November 10, 2U, Inc. (NASDAQ:TWOU) reported that it has signed agreements with 6 different universities to introduce 50 new online degree programs. These new degree programs will be offered by 4 new 2U partners and 2 existing 2U partners. The new 2U partners include Albany College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences (ACPHS), Hawai'i Pacific University (HPU), Maryville University, and King's College London, while the existing partners are Emerson College and the University of Cape Town (UCT). Under the companys flex degree partnership model, 2U, Inc. (NASDAQ:TWOU) plans to launch at least 80 new degree programs in 2024.

President of Partnerships at 2U, Inc. (NASDAQ:TWOU), Andrew Hermalyn, said:

This sharp increase highlights the appetite for continued digital innovation among universities and is a testament to the transformative power of public-private higher education partnerships. With our partners, well continue to provide greater and more equitable pathways to the worlds best higher education.

Now that we have discussed whats going on in Americas education sector, lets take a look at the 25 states with the lowest average IQ and well-being scores.

25 States with the Lowest Average IQ and Well Being Scores

25 States with the Lowest Average IQ and Well Being Scores

Methodology

In this article, we have listed 25 states with the lowest average IQ and well being scores. To rank the US states with the lowest average IQ and well being scores, we consulted the Updated IQ and Well-Being Scores for the 50 U.S. States report by Bryan J. Pesta. This report is available at the National Institutes of Healths website and it provides us with IQ scores and well-being scores for all of the 50 US states. We calculated the Insider Monkey Score for all 50 US states by adding up their IQ and well-being scores and then calculating the mean. We then narrowed down our selection to rank the 25 states with the lowest average IQ and well-being scores based on their Insider Monkey Score, which is the average score calculated using each states IQ and well-being scores. The 25 states with the lowest average IQ and well being scores are listed below in descending order.

By the way, Insider Monkey is an investing website that tracks the movements of corporate insiders and hedge funds. By using a consensus approach, we identify the best stock picks of more than 900 hedge funds investing in US stocks. The top 10 consensus stock picks of hedge funds outperformed the S&P 500 Index by more than 140 percentage points over the last 10 years (see the details here). Whether you are a beginner investor or a professional one looking for the best stocks to buy, you can benefit from the wisdom of hedge funds and corporate insiders.

25 States with the Lowest Average IQ and Well Being Scores

25. Pennsylvania

IQ Score: 100.2

Well-Being Score: 102

Insider Monkey Score: 101.1

Pennsylvania, a state in the Mid-Atlantic region, is known for its diverse geography. It is the 33rd-largest in terms of size but the fifth-most populated state in the US. With an IQ score of 100.2 and a well-being score of 102, Pennsylvania ranks among the 25 states with the lowest average IQ and well-being scores.

24. Montana

IQ Score: 101.1

Well-Being Score: 101

Insider Monkey Score: 101.05

Montana is a Western state that is known for its diverse terrain ranging from the Great Plains to the Rocky Mountains. It is one of the largest and least populated states in the US. Montana has an IQ score of 101.1 and a well-being score of 101.

23. South Dakota

IQ Score: 100.7

Well-Being Score: 98

Insider Monkey Score: 99.35

South Dakota is a state in the North Central region that ranks among some of the least populated and least densely populated states in the US. It is best known for The Black Hills and Mount Rushmore. South Dakota has an IQ score of 100.7 and a well-being score of 98.

22. Delaware

IQ Score: 98.7

Well-Being Score: 100

Insider Monkey Score: 99.35

Delaware, in the Mid-Atlantic region of the US, is the 2nd smallest and 6th least populated state. With an IQ score of 98.7 and a well-being score of 100, Delaware ranks 22nd on our list of the 25 states with the lowest average IQ and well-being scores.

21. Kansas

IQ Score: 100.5

Well-Being Score: 97

Insider Monkey Score: 98.75

Kansas is a landlocked state in the Midwestern US that is known for its vast prairies, rolling hills, and natural beauty. The US state of Kansas has an IQ score of 100.5 and a well-being score of 97.

20. Indiana

IQ Score: 100.6

Well-Being Score: 94

Insider Monkey Score: 97.3

Indiana, a state in the Midwestern region of the US, is known for its vast farmlands. It is also famous for its steel production and manufacturing industry and steel production. With an IQ score of 100.6 and a well-being score of 94, the US state of Indiana ranks among the 20 states with the lowest average IQ and well-being scores.

19. Michigan

IQ Score: 99.6

Well-Being Score: 94

Insider Monkey Score: 96.8

Michigan, a state in the Great Lakes region of the upper Midwestern US, is the 10th most populated and 11th largest state. Thanks to its long freshwater coastline, Michigan is best known for fishing. Forestry is also a major industry in the state. Michigan has an IQ score of 99.6 and a well-being score of 94.

18. North Carolina

IQ Score: 99.5

Well-Being Score: 93

Insider Monkey Score: 96.25

North Carolina is a state in the Southeastern US. Despite being the 28th largest state by area, it ranks among the 10 most populated states in the US. North Carolina has an IQ score of 99.5 and a well-being score of 93.

17. Ohio

IQ Score: 100

Well-Being Score: 92

Insider Monkey Score: 96

Ohio in the Midwest ranks among the most populated states in the US. Home to a thriving manufacturing sector, Ohio is one of the biggest automobile-producing states in America. With an IQ score of 100 and a well-being score of 92, Ohio ranks 17th on our list of 25 states with the lowest average IQ and well-being scores.

16. Georgia

IQ Score: 98.1

Well-Being Score: 93

Insider Monkey Score: 95.55

Georgia, a state in the Southeastern region of the US, is the 8th most populated state and the 24th largest state by size. The states capital city, Atlanta, is a major hub for finance, technology, manufacturing, and transportation. Georgia has an IQ score of 98.1 and a well-being score of 93.

15. Florida

IQ Score: 98.8

Well-Being Score: 92

Insider Monkey Score: 95.4

Florida is a state in the Southeastern US that is famous for its beach resorts, amusement parks, and warm and sunny climate. It is the 3rd most populated state in America. With an IQ score of 98.8 and a well-being score of 92, Florida ranks among the 15 states with the lowest average IQ and well-being scores.

14. Texas

IQ Score: 97.4

Well-Being Score: 93

Insider Monkey Score: 95.2

Texas, in the South Central region of the US, is the second most populated state. It is also the second largest state by size in the US. Texas is known for its oil industry as well as diverse landscapes. Texas has an IQ score of 97.4 and a well-being score of 93.

13. Arizona

IQ Score: 98.3

Well-Being Score: 91

Insider Monkey Score: 94.65

Arizona is a state in the Southwestern US that is best known for the Grand Canyon. It is the sixth largest state by size in the US. According to a recently reported study, the US state of Arizona has an IQ score of 98.3 and a well-being score of 91.

12. Missouri

IQ Score: 99.5

Well-Being Score: 89

Insider Monkey Score: 94.25

Missouri is a state in the Midwestern region of the US, and it shares a border with 8 different states. With an IQ score of 99.5 and a well-being score of 89, the US state of Missouri ranks 12th on our list of 25 states with the lowest average IQ and well-being scores.

11. Nevada

IQ Score: 96.6

Well-Being Score: 91

Insider Monkey Score: 93.8

Nevada, in the Western region of the United States, is the seventh largest state by area. While being one of the driest states, Nevada is known for its large casinos, gambling, and vibrant nightlife. Nevada has an IQ score of 96.6 and a well-being score of 91.

10. Kentucky

IQ Score: 98.8

Well-Being Score: 83

Insider Monkey Score: 90.9

Kentucky is a state in the Southeastern region of the US that ranks 10th on our list of states with the lowest average IQ and well-being scores. It has an IQ score of 98.8 and a well-being score of 83. Kentucky is known for coal mining, horse racing, and its famous bourbon distilleries.

9. South Carolina

IQ Score: 97.8

Well-Being Score: 83

Insider Monkey Score: 90.4

South Carolina is a state in the coastal Southeastern region of the US that is known for its shoreline of subtropical beaches and sea islands. According to a recently reported study, the US state of South Carolina has an IQ score of 97.8 and a well-being score of 83.

8. Oklahoma

IQ Score: 98.2

Well-Being Score: 79

Insider Monkey Score: 88.6

Oklahoma is a state in the South Central region of the US where the residents are known as Oklahomans and Oklahoma City is the capital and largest city. The state is a major producer of natural gas, oil, and agricultural products. Oklahoma has an IQ score of 98.2 and a well-being score of 79, and it ranks 8th on our list of states with the lowest average IQ and well-being scores.

7. New Mexico

IQ Score: 95

Well-Being Score: 80

Insider Monkey Score: 87.5

New Mexico, in the Southwest US, is one of the Mountain States of the southern Rocky Mountains. While being the fifth largest state, it ranks among the least densely populated states in the US. New Mexicos economic landscape is heavily influenced by oil and gas production and federal government spending. The state of New Mexico has an IQ score of 95 and a well-being score of 87.5. New Mexico has the lowest IQ score out of all the 50 US states.

6. Alabama

IQ Score: 96.4

Well-Being Score: 76

Insider Monkey Score: 86.2

Alabama is a state in the Southeastern region of the US that is known for its southern warmth and hospitality. It is also known for its agriculture industry. However, with a low IQ score of 96.4 and an unimpressive well-being score of 76, Alabama ranks high among the states with the lowest average IQ and well-being scores.

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It is hard to believe that 2023 is already coming to a close. Now is a good time to reflect on 2023 and make a resolution to focus on exploring our world by foot in 2024.

I am not sure what it is about walking on the beach that speaks to my soul. On these strolls I am taken in by the sights and the sounds of waves crashing on the shore. Or, watching the shore birds and pelicans that bring us back into nature. There is nothing that compares to watching the sun rise or set while on the beach. Sunrises bring a feeling of renewal and new beginnings, and the sunsets bring reflection and a gentle end to the day.

As previously mentioned, walking is where I discovered meaning in life and found out what is important. In my younger days, it never occurred to me that walking would have such a major impact on my life. I always thought that running was the only way to discover new places.

I am a lucky guy! In 2023, we have been fortunate to travel to many places where we were able to explore while trekking to many cool places. Walking has been in our neighborhood, around our city, throughout the U..S, and other locations throughout the world. There is something special about being outside.

While this year did not include a long pilgrimage, just by chance, we found ourselves walking on many beaches. I would love to share some tips and stories about these walks along the shore.

Croatia

The sunset view from the shore in Split, Croatia.

It was a thrill to enjoy the beauty while strolling along the promenade on the Adriatic Sea in Split, Croatia. Here you look out at the many islands along the coast. Croatia is an incredibly beautiful place with super friendly people. It's hard to believe this was the site of wars in the early 1990s.

St. Thomas and St. Johns in the U.S. Virgin Islands

I have a Caribbean soul, I can barely control. The beaches are beautiful in St. Thomas and St. John. These places provide a perfect opportunity to stroll along the Caribbean Sea. Their shorelines are great for walking but are somewhat short in distance. They do provide spectacular views of the ocean and adjoining islands.

Mexico Beach on the Gulf of Mexico

Walking on the beach in Mexico Beach, Florida, 2023.

I love this beach! It is fairly flat, and you can walk for miles going towards Port St Joe. This community is making a good recovery from a direct hit from Hurricane Michael. The beaches are still pristine.

St George Island on the Gulf of Mexico

If you want beautiful white sand beaches, this is the place. To walk on the beach, you sometimes have to find flat walking surfaces at low tide. The slope has started to flatten out after the last few hurricanes. A little under 2 hours from Tallahassee, this is a great place to check out the ocean at sunrise.

Morning view from that "some island somewhere" off the coast of Florida

Nearby is another island off Florida on the Gulf of Mexico. I am not supposed to mention the name, but here you are one with the coast. It is a great place for solitude and stress relief.

Puerto Rico

The beaches in Rincon are great but not the white sand variety. It is still cool to walk in new locations in the islands. Rincon is where our granddaughters learned to surf. Unfortunately, this is where my back started causing problems and it limited my activities.

Costa Rica on the Pacific Ocean

We are headed out to Jaco, Costa Rica, to spend the holidays. We cant wait to check out walking on the beach in this Central American country. My activities are still limited while recovering from back surgery, but we will find a way to explore by foot and love each day.

Jacksonville Beach

Jacksonville Beach on the Atlantic Ocean is long and flat and this is a nearby favorite of ours. On this beach, you can walk for miles along the Atlantic Ocean. We have found the beaches in St. Augustine, Amelia Island, and Ponte Vedra provide a similar experience. They are just as cool for checking out the ocean and shoreline while walking.

Update on Move Tallahassee

Unfortunately I am sidelined after back surgery but hope to be back on track for the new year. During 2023 our walks were limited in the summer due to the oppressive heat. This year we joined Walk with a Doc for one of our treks.

We plan to be partnering with other organizations in 2024. In the upcoming year, we will still walk on numerous greenways and parks throughout our region. It's hard to believe nearly 2,400 people have signed up for email notifications for upcoming walks. We typically have 30-70 people join us for each trek. You can sign up for email notifications at meetup.com and join Move.Tallahassee. There is no charge to join us.

Plans for 2024

We hope to return to England and walk across the country along Hadrians Wall. This is an approximately 75-mile trek. In 2018 I was sidelined with abdominal spasms while attempting the nearby Coast-to-Coast trail. This is a great reason to return to finish a trek across England.

Morgan at sunset on the Florida Keys.

I turned 70 this year. Yikes! How did this happen? My wife, Morgan, and I still work full-time but we plan to take more time to explore our world by foot in the upcoming year. We want to go to as many places as possible while we are still able to keep on keeping on.

So I urge you to grab a friend, family member, or your four-legged friend, or go solo. Get outside and check out all the cool places on this incredible planet we call Earth; These places may be as close as your own neighborhood.

This year make a resolution to continue to explore your world by foot in 2024. Seize the day!

Love is all you need. Are you in?

Gregg Patterson

Contact Gregg Patterson at greggbpatterson@gmail.com.

This article originally appeared on Tallahassee Democrat: Walking into 2024: Nourish the soul with a hike along the shore
Since Florida began making thousands of dollars available to single-family homeowners for storm-hardening improvements, condominium owners have wondered why they were left out.

That could change on July 1 if a bill introduced to the Florida House of Representatives on Wednesday is enacted during the upcoming legislative session that begins on Jan. 9.

The proposed My Safe Florida Condominium Pilot Program would make inspections and grants available to condo associations and unit owners for improvements similar to those funded under the existing My Safe Florida Home Program:

Wind-resistant windows and exterior doors, including garage doors

Reinforcing roof-to-wall connections

Improving the strength of roof-deck attachments

Secondary water barrier for roofs

Typically, the three roof-related improvements require replacement of the entire roof covering and underlying materials as needed.

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Broward County Rep. Christine Hunschofsky is co-sponsoring the bill with Miami-Dade Rep. Vicki Lopez.

In an interview, Hunschofsky said the bill is similar to a proposal she made during last Novembers special legislative session to expand the My Safe Florida Home program to include condos.

In November, the Legislature authorized $176 million on top of $225 million previously committed to the program. In his budget proposal, Gov. Ron DeSantis announced plans to seek $107 million for the program on a recurring basis, beginning in 2024.

Hunschofsky said her amendment was shot down in November, but legislative leaders urged her to file a separate bill during the 2024 session.

At a Town Hall meeting in July attended by Lopez and Sen. Jennifer Bradley, condo unit owners complained about sharply rising costs and being excluded from the My Safe Florida Home program, Hunschofsky said.

Theyre being squeezed in so many different directions, she said. I dont see why they shouldnt be able to take advantage.

Condo owners, she said, are also homeowners who have been impacted by increased property insurance costs and the structural reserve requirement that went into effect after (the) Surfside (condo building collapse).

The bill does not include an amount of funding for the pilot program or maximum grants for unit owners or condo associations. It states that dollar amounts would be set in the states General Appropriations Act.

Hunschofsky said she hopes allowable grant amounts will match what she proposed in the amendment: $2,500 per unit if sought for a project that benefits an entire association or $500,000. Improvements for individual condominium units would be eligible for $5,000 each.

Unlike the My Safe Florida Home program, individual unit owners would not be able to apply for grants on their own. Participation would require a favorable vote by association governing boards or eligible unit owners. Unanimous approval would also be required of all unit owners within the structure or building that is the subject of the mitigation grant, the bill states.

The program would be operated by the Department of Financial Services, which oversees the My Safe Florida Home program.

The department would contract with licensed inspection teams to determine what measures would be needed to improve condo buildings ability to withstand damage from windstorms.

Once those improvements are identified, the association would select a contractor. After the project is completed, a final inspection would take place and the state would reimburse associations $2 for every $1 spent, up to the maximum allowable grant.

Devin Geletta, spokesman for the Department of Financial Services, said the proposed legislation is under review by the department.

The My Safe Florida Home program exists to help Floridians harden their homes against storms and reduce insurance premiums, and the Department looks forward to continuing to work with the legislature this session towards that goal, Galetta said in an email.

Travis Moore, lobbyist for the Community Associations Institute, a trade group, said the organization supports expansion of the program and expects it to be introduced in other upcoming bills as well.

CAI believes that homeowners should get the benefit of this good state program whether the home they are hardening is in a single-family detached home or a unit in a multi-family common ownership building, Moore said via email.

Ron Hurtibise covers business and consumer issues for the South Florida Sun Sentinel. He can be reached by phone at 954-356-4071, on Twitter @ronhurtibise or by email at rhurtibise@sunsentinel.com.
Special counsel Jack Smith urged a judge on Wednesday to bar former President Donald Trump from launching political attacks and making "irrelevant" claims in his federal election subversion case in Washington, D.C., including blaming others for the Jan. 6 attack.

Through public statements, filings, and argument in hearings before the Court, the defense has attempted to inject into this case partisan political attacks and irrelevant and prejudicial issues that have no place in a jury trial, senior assistant special counsel Molly Gaston wrote in the filing.

Smith's team argues that Trump has hinted at a plan to undermine the credibility of the investigation by promoting entirely unfounded claims, including pushing the false notion about the government's non-existent coordination with the Biden administration as well as propagating other unsubstantiated allegations recycled from the selective and vindictive prosecution motion that he based on anonymous sources in newspaper articles."

The special counsels team also requested that the ex-president be barred from using "terminology such as the 'Injustice Department,' 'Biden Indictment' or similar phrases" in front of the jury as it could taint their verdict.

Given Trumps outlandish and inflammatory rhetoric in denigrating the trial and defaming the prosecution, Smith wants to bar Trump and his lawyers and his witnesses from making these kinds of outrageous remarks during the trial, Bennett Gershman, a former New York prosecutor and law professor at Pace University, told Salon.

In jury trials, the presiding judge is responsible for overseeing the proceedings to ensure they are done in accordance with the rules of evidence and procedure, Gershman explained. It is imperative for the judge to confirm that the presented evidence is relevant in substantiating the legal issues at hand.

Evidence that lacks relevance, is argumentative, distracting and misleading must be excluded so that jurors keep their eye on the ball, and dont get influenced by speculation, prejudicial remarks, or theories that have no basis in fact, he explained.

Smith warned in the filing that the former president "appears poised to blame undercover agents, government informants, or confidential human sources" for the Jan. 6 attack. He pointed to a report Trump shared on Truth Social, where a Metropolitan Police Department officer seems to suggest to colleagues that he should "go undercover as Antifa" within the rioting crowd.

Smith accused Trump of engaging in a baseless public disinformation campaign to discredit the indictment, saying that the former president intends to introduce evidence of foreign influence in the 2020 presidential election to show that he was personally tricked by foreign disinformation or make claims about the January 6 riot resulting from efforts by foreign actors to influence public opinion. His efforts should be excluded to prevent any influence on the fairness of the impending criminal trial, he argued.

It has been clear for some time that Trump wants to make this into a political trial by injecting what would otherwise be irrelevant information, Laurie Levenson, a law professor at Loyola Marymount University, told Salon.

Much of Trump's recent rhetoric has focused on blaming others, making claims like this is a political witch trial, Levenson continued. Those are not issues for the jury, it is up to the judge to decide whether there has been selective or vindictive prosecution.

The court has broad discretion to exclude evidence that is unduly prejudicial and not particularly probative to the issues that the jury needs to decide, Levenson explained, adding that this was a smart motion for the special counsel to file.

The Trump team is playing by the old adage: the best defense is a good offense, but allowing Trump to inject all of the political issues into this case is likely to steer it off course, Levenson said. Certainly, evidence that goes to Trump's state of mind would be relevant, but that will probably be fairly limited and would probably have to come primarily from him.

While U.S. District Judge Tanya Chutkan, who is overseeing the case, may prevent direct attacks on the special counsel or Department of Justice and their motivation for bringing charges, Chutkan will likely allow Trump to blame others for the Capitol riots, former federal prosecutor Neama Rahmani told Salon.

That goes to a defense in the case, and its generally reversible error for the court to deny a defendant a factual defense, Rahmani said.

Want a daily wrap-up of all the news and commentary Salon has to offer? Subscribe to our morning newsletter, Crash Course.

The special counsel will have to face the fact that the standard for "relevant" evidence is generally fairly low so Smith needs to focus on how blaming others for Jan. 6 does not mean that Trump is not responsible for his conduct, Levenson explained.

It will be a balancing test for the court to discern what probative value Trump's evidence has and whether it is outweighed by the fact that it is likely to mislead and confuse the jury, she said.

As of now, the trial is scheduled for March 4, marking the first in a series of four criminal cases against Trump as he campaigns to return to the White House. But, the trial date could be delayed as the ex-president pushes efforts to prolong his trial until after the election, relying on his presidential immunity and double jeopardy defenses.

The lengthier the delay, and the closer the trial to the election the greater the possibility that a court might find the convergence too great a burden on our democratic electoral process, Gershman said.

Levenson added that although the D.C. Circuit is expediting the appeal, its decision is not likely to be the end of the line. If the issue heads to the Supreme Court, realistically this case probably won't go to trial until this summer, at the earliest.

Rahmani also noted that none of this may matter if Chutkan doesnt lift the stay or pause in the case while the appeals on presidential immunity and double jeopardy are pending. If those appeals last through November and Trump wins the presidential election, he cant be prosecuted.
The world is moving toward renewable energy sources and away from fossil fuels. Just recently at an international climate summit known as COP28, 115 nations, including the United States, pledged to double energy efficiency and triple renewable energy capacity by 2030. This ramp up toward renewable energy joins a wave as more than 12 states have committed to 100% clean energy standards over the next decade or so.

Environment Florida Research & Policy Center recently released its updated Renewables on the Rise dashboard with a state-by-state breakdown of how the key technologies that will allow us to become increasingly reliant on renewable energy are growing. The Sunshine State is a leader in two key renewable energy technologies: solar and electric vehicles.

Today, 5% of the energy that we consume as a state comes from solar, wind or geothermal power, representing a major leap from where even a decade ago, but only scratching the surface of Floridas renewable energy potential. Florida has the potential to make big strides toward clean energy over the next few years.

Tallahassee's airport solar farm.

Not surprisingly, solar is a bright spot. In 2022 we were third in the nation in solar generation, producing enough energy to power more than 1.3 million homes for a year. Thats 48 times more power than we produced from solar just 10 years ago. We continued that strong trend in the first half of 2023 with Florida topping all states in solar installations, according to the Solar Energy Industries Association.

Utilities continue to be the largest investor in solar energy and Florida utilities are full steam ahead when it comes to solar generation and battery storage capacity. If youve taken a road trip across the state recently, chances are youve passed by one of the many solar farms. These large arrays channel hundreds of megawatts into battery storage that can be used as back-up power at times when the grid may need it the most. State policy that favors residents and business, not just utility companies, would help build communities with cleaner energy outputs and more energy resiliency than we currently have.

Electric vehicles and charging ports are also areas where our state is in the top three in the nation. Florida drivers wont be surprised by this: Electric vehicles are a common sight on our roads and last year we bought more EVs than any other state except California.

More than 67,000 EVs were purchased here, and more than 8,000 charging ports were installed around the state to power them. There are close to 300,000 EVs registered in Florida with a recent increase in commercial vehicles as automakers release more light, medium and heavy-duty electric models.

Utility companies are already installing DC Fast Chargers aimed at providing power to larger electric fleets. These fast chargers can add 60-80 miles to an EV in just 20 minutes. The Orlando Utilities Commission installed 21 DC Fast Chargers at a hub on Robinson Street downtown, as the city prepares for large-scale fleet electrification by 2030.

Florida has a long way to go to catch states such as Iowa, South Dakota and Kansas, which generate 70% or more of their power through wind, solar and geothermal energy sources.

Here are four steps Florida can take to keep renewables on the rise:

Set an ambitious goal for generating an increasing amount of the states electricity needs from clean, renewable energy goals. Environment Florida supports House Bill 193, filed by state Rep. Anna Eskamani (District 42), which would set a 100% renewable energy goal by 2050.

Continue to ensure Floridians who install rooftop solar receive fair payment for their excess electricity from the utilities, and adopt policies to encourage more Florida homes and businesses to install batteries alongside their solar panels to save their electricity for use when the sun goes down.

Build larger arrays of solar along state highways, like Georgia has already done, or over parking lots and big warehouses.

Invest in more charging infrastructure to meet growing consumer demand for electric vehicles.

Mia McCormick

Mia McCormick is an advocate for Environment Florida. This opinion piece was distributed by The Invading Sea website (www.theinvadingsea.com), which posts news and commentary on climate change and other environmental issues affecting Florida.

JOIN THE CONVERSATION

Send letters to the editor (up to 200 words) or Your Turn columns (about 500 words) to letters@tallahassee.com. Please include your address for verification purposes only, and if you send a Your Turn, also include a photo and 1-2 line bio of yourself. You can also submit anonymous Zing!s at Tallahassee.com/Zing. Submissions are published on a space-available basis. All submissions may be edited for content, clarity and length, and may also be published by any part of the USA TODAY NETWORK.

This article originally appeared on Tallahassee Democrat: Florida is a leader in use of solar, electric vehicle purchases. Whats next?
LAS VEGAS (KLAS)  Republican Gov. Joe Lombardos chief of staff will step down in early 2024 after helping to guide the transition over the past year, according to an announcement Wednesday from the Governors Office in Carson City.

Ben Kieckhefer served for 11 years in the Nevada Senate before he was appointed to the Nevada Gaming Commission. He left that role a year ago to become Lombardos chief of staff.

Ryan Cherry will take over as the new chief of staff on Jan. 17. He previously served as chief of staff to Lt. Gov. Mark Hutchison and rural director for U.S. Sen. Dean Heller. He has worked as a political consultant for the past six years.

Im incredibly thankful for all the work Ben put in to making this first year a success, Lombardo said. Ben accomplished everything I asked of him as I transitioned into the office of Governor, and his leadership during the 2023 Legislative Session was critical in our many successes. My office and state government are in great shape heading into the next phase of the administration, and Im grateful for all of Bens efforts to make that happen.

Cherry has spent the past six years as a consultant, working extensively throughout Nevada and other western states on natural resources, mining, and energy issues, according to the Governors Office.

Ryans experience inside and outside of government makes him an ideal fit as my next Chief of Staff, Lombardo said. He has worked with the Legislature, understands the structure of state government, and he will be able to work on the diverse policy subjects that will cross his desk. Im grateful for Ryans willingness to take on this new role.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KLAS.
ASHEVILLE - In July, the Asheville Regional Airport announced that a record 244,504 travelled through the Western North Carolina air-based gateway  smashing a previous record of 226,839 passengers.

Yet, the airport recorded another important milestone in 2023: the number of nonstop flights to and from the region.

After announcing the addition of three new nonstop flight options in 2023, the Asheville Regional Airport has now established 34 different nonstop flights servicing 27 locations across the U.S.

Travelers wait for their flights at the gate as passengers disembark from a plane at the Asheville Regional Airport in this Citizen Times file photo.

If you are looking for warmer weather, two of the recently added locations may be for you.

The nonstop locations added by Allegiant Airlines this year were Phoenix and Orlando. Service to Phoenix started earlier this year, and service to Orlando begins in May 2024.

However, those looking for a ski trip or a visit to the Rocky Mountains can now find another nonstop option  this time serving customers year-round.

A year-round nonstop option to Denver launched in September through United Airlines, providing passengers with an additional airline to take them to the Mile High City, providing a second option for nonstop flight travel to the Rocky Mountains.

People walk through Terminal 4 at Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport in Phoenix on Dec. 21, 2023.

Fly to the 'Valley of the Sun'

One of the major new additions in 2023 was the Allegiant Air nonstop flight between Asheville and Phoenix  the capital of Arizona and area often referred to as the Valley of the Sun.

The new line had been announced in February, with flights beginning in early summer 2023.

We expect this route to be popular with travelers in each destination as vacationers will enjoy Allegiants brand of ultra-convenient, low cost, nonstop travel, Allegiant spokesperson Drew Wells said in a May news release.

One-way nonstop flights on the service start around $59 for some dates in the new year, according to the Allegiant Airline website.

A view of the downtown Denver skyline Thursday, July 27, 2023.

Year-round travel to the 'Mile High City'

In September, the Asheville Regional Airport added a new year-round nonstop flight to Denver through United Airlines.

"Nonstop to Denver on United is an incredible addition to the route map at AVL," said Asheville Regional Airport President Lew Beliweis in a May news release on the line. "Denver is a significant hub for United, and daily service will not only provide great access to and from Denver and Colorado but will also provide easy connections to and from western locations."

Denver was already accessible through a nonstop line, but was limited by seasonality.

Allegiant Air offers nonstop seasonal flight options to Denver. The Allegiant line was established in 2018 and continues to service the area from spring to fall.

Hassan Alnasser walks through the Asheville Airport July 14, 2023, to check in to his flight back to Phoenix after vacationing in Gatlinburg and Pigeon Forge with family visiting from Saudi Arabia.

May 2024 will bring 'magic in the air'

Yet another option is headed to the Asheville Regional Airport in the new year, bringing some 'magic' closer to the region.

In November, Allegiant Airlines announced the official addition of a direct flight to Orlando from Asheville, bringing Walt Disney World's Magic Kingdom and Universal Orlando that much closer to the mountains of North Carolina.

"We are thrilled to offer Allegiant travelers new destination options taking off this Spring. The announcement of new service is a celebration of the success we've had in these markets," Wells said in a November news release.

Flights will be offered starting May 2024, with one-way rates beginning at $49, according to the Allegiant website.

Travelers wait in line to check bags with Allegiant Air at the Asheville Airport July 14, 2023.

What are all of the nonstop options from Asheville?

With the Orlando line coming in late May 2024, where the Asheville Regional Airport will service a total of 27 locations through nonstop flights by mid 2024.

Some nonstop flight options for the Asheville Regional Airport are seasonal, while others run year-round. Here are the options offered by each airline and when you might be able to book a flight.

Allegiant Airlines

Austin, Texas: year-round.

Baltimore: spring to fall

Boston: spring to fall.

Chicago: spring to fall.

Denve: spring to fall.

Destin, Florida: summer.

Fort Lauderdale, Florida: year-round.

Houston: year-round.

Key West, Florida: year-round.

Las Vegas: year-round.

Minneapolis: year-round.

Orlando, Florida (starts May 2024): year-round.

Sanford, Florida: year-round.

Punta Gorda, Florida: year-round.

Sarasota, Florida: year-round.

St.Pete/Clearwater, Florida: year-round

West Palm Beach, Florida: year-round.

American Airlines

Chicago: summer.

Charlotte: year-round.

Dallas/Fort Worth: year-round.

Miami: summer.

New York: year-round.

Philadelphia: varies.

Washington, D.C.: year-round.

Delta Air Lines

Atlanta: year-round.

New York: year-round.

Minneapolis: year-round.

JetBlue Airways

Boston: summer to early fall.

Sun Country Airlines

Minneapolis: spring to fall.

United Airlines

Chicago: year-round.

Denver: year-round.

Newark, New Jersey: year-round.

More: Answer Man: More planes flying into the Asheville Airport? Are they flying lower?

More: Asheville Airport announces new Allegiant Air nonstop service to 'magic' destination

More: Traveling for the holidays? Asheville Airport parking increases by 600 shuttle spots

Will Hofmann is the Growth and Development Reporter for the Asheville Citizen Times, part of the USA Today Network. Got a tip? Email him at WHofmann@citizentimes.com.

This article originally appeared on Asheville Citizen Times: Asheville airport flights: Orlando, Denver, Phoenix nonstops added
Declaring the visit of a British warship to Guyana an intolerable threat, Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro on Thursday launched an impromptu military exercise in waters close to its neighbor aiming to show sea and air power amid a border dispute between the two countries.

While providing few details about the extent and duration of the exercise, the Venezuelan military said that its initial phase included the participation of about a dozen war vessels, including gunboats and supply ships, and twice as many planes, including fighter jets, in the Gulf of Paria, west of Trinidad, and in front of the Orinoco Delta, west of Guyana.

The announcement made on national television follows reports that the HMS Trent was to visit Guyana this week to participate in joint exercises with Caribbean nations. The patrol vessel is normally based on Gibraltar and is mainly used to combat piracy and drug trafficking.

The Trents visit was reported less than two weeks after Venezuela and Guyana had pledged to cool down the growing animosity between the two countries, which had resurfaced after the Caracas socialist regime held a referendum earlier this month asking Venezuelans for special powers to take by force about three quarters of the territory currently occupied by its neighbor.

Maduro said on national television, while surrounded by military officers, that he saw the visit of the British warship as a threat.

Venezuela cannot sit idly by in the face of a threat, we are responding in a proportional measure, he said. I ordered the activation of a joint action of the entire Bolivarian National Armed Forces (FANB) on the eastern Caribbean of Venezuela, on the Atlantic coast, a joint action of a defensive nature in response to the provocation and threat of the United Kingdom against the peace and the sovereignty of our country.

A State Department official told McClatchy that the U.S. government was aware of the news of military exercises in Venezuela and said that the administration continues to call for a peaceful resolution to the dispute.

We welcomed the December 14 agreement between Guyanas President Dr. Mohamed Irfaan Ali and Nicolas Maduro in St. Vincent and the Grenadines to not threaten or use force against one another in any circumstances and to refrain from escalating any conflict or disagreement, the official said.

We continue to call for a peaceful resolution of the dispute and to respect the 1899 arbitral award that determined the land boundary between Venezuela and Guyana until the parties reach a new agreement or a competent legal body decides otherwise, he added.

The British embassy in Washington did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

Ali, on his X account, said that neither Venezuela nor any other state has anything to fear from the scheduled military exercises being conducted in Guyanas territory.

We harbor no ambitions or intentions to covet what does not belong to us. We are fully committed to peaceful relations with our neighbors and all countries in our Region. Guyana remains fully steadfast in promoting and advancing peace whilst pursuing national development, he said. Guyana has long been engaged in partnerships with regional and international states aimed at enhancing internal security. These partnerships pose a threat to no one and are in no way intended to be aggressive or constitute an offensive act against any State.

A Ministry of Defence spokesperson earlier this week had told the BBC: HMS Trent will visit regional ally and Commonwealth partner Guyana later this month as part of a series of engagements in the region during her Atlantic Patrol Task deployment.

The Trent was to have made a stop in Bridgetown, Barbados, after leaving its homeport at Gibraltar earlier this month and was scheduled to head towards Guyana this week and anchor off Georgetown to participate in a series of training exercises with the countrys navy and other allies, the BBC reported. It was not clear where the Trent was at the time of Maduros announcement.

Armed with a 30mm cannon, two mini-guns and several machine guns, the 297-feet long HMS Trent is mostly used to combat piracy and anti-smuggling operations. It normally carries a helicopter and a detachment of Royal Marines.

Seeking to lower tensions, the leaders of Guyana and Venezuela met two weeks ago in St. Vincent and the Grenadines and pledged not to use force to resolve the dispute over which nation is the rightful owner of an oil- and mineral-rich region bordering the two countries, roughly the size of Florida.

The border dispute, which has been going on since the beginning of the 19th century, gained intensity following a referendum held on Dec. 3, in which the Caracas socialist regime asked Venezuelans to green-light the use of force to annex three-quarters of Guyana.

The Maduro government said that 95% of Venezuelans voted in favor of the forced annexation, but independent observers questioned the results saying that the empty polling stations seen during the vote did not support claims that more than 10 million people participated.

Miami Herald reporter Jacqueline Charles contributed with this story.
A correctional officer was shot to death in the parking lot of a Mississippi prison, and a fellow jailer is accused of pulling the trigger, officials say.

The tragic and fatal altercation happened around 1 p.m. Tuesday, Dec. 26, outside the East Mississippi Correctional Facility in Meridian, according to Management & Training Corporation, which runs the prison.

Officials said the deadly shooting was sparked by a dispute.

The East Mississippi Correctional Facility is a private prison in Meridian.

Officers immediately responded after hearing a gunshot and placed the suspect in restraints, an MTC spokesperson told McClatchy News in a statement. Local law enforcement and emergency personnel arrived soon after.

The guard who was shot died at the scene. Authorities havent released the officers name.

Lauderdale County deputies arrested the guard accused of firing the fatal shot, according to MTC. Authorities said theyre investigating what led to the deadly dispute.

Our hearts go out to the victims family, officials said. MTC is committed to supporting them through this very difficult time.

Meridian is about 90 miles east of downtown Jackson.
In this article, we will be looking at the 30 countries with best universities in the world. If you want to skip our detailed analysis, you can go directly to the 5 Countries With Best Universities In The World.

EdTech Industry: An Overview

The pandemic accelerated digital transformation across various industries. The impact of the lockdown, was especially evident in the education industry as all institutions shut down. The reliance of students on digital technologies to gain education increased drastically during that time. The technology that helps in education and learning is called EdTech or Education Technology. The use of EdTech solutions is constantly increasing. According to a report by Grand View Research, the global EdTech market was valued at $142.37 billion in 2023. The market is expected to grow at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 13.6% from 2024 to 2030 and reach $348.41 billion by 2030.

One of the prominent trends in the EdTech industry is the use of digital books. Digital books are cost-effective and can be retrieved at any time from anywhere in the world. They are easier to generate and are environmentally friendly. Digital content is especially suited for people with hearing disabilities. The students can listen to online books and benefit from the digital educational content with ease. EdTech companies are also incorporating the latest technologies including generative AI to provide a more personalized learning experience to their students. AI chatbots integrated into the EdTech platform answer the queries of students and help them learn new concepts with ease.

In 2022, North America was the most dominant region in the EdTech market. The region accounted for 36% of the global revenue share. The EdTech sector in the region received generous investments from venture capitalists and private equity investors. The investments contributed to the large revenue share of the region. The Asia Pacific region is expected to grow the highest CAGR during the forecast period. Increasing access to affordable broadband connectivity will be the main contributing factor to the growth of the region.

Story continues

Leading EdTech Companies

Udemy, Inc. (NASDAQ:UDMY) is a noteworthy company in the EdTech industry. The company offers a wide variety of self-paced courses which enables students worldwide to attain credible degrees and certificates. On October 4, Udemy, Inc. (NASDAQ:UDMY) announced a partnership with Docker. The collaborative application development platform of Docker enables developers to collaborate and create applications. The partnership will bring access to 350 skills training courses by Udemy, Inc. (NASDAQ:UDMY) for almost 20 million developers on Docker.

2U, Inc. (NASDAQ:TWOU) is another prominent name in the EdTech industry. 2U, Inc. (NASDAQ:TWOU) partners with educational institutions facilitating them to conduct their degrees online. On November 13, the company announced more than a dozen companies, from diverse sets of industries including tech and healthcare, as partners. The new partners have joined an existing network of more than 250 institutions and enterprises committed to affordable access to education. The partnerships are expected to strengthen the position of 2U, Inc. (NASDAQ:TWOU) in the digital education space.

TAL Education Group (NYSE:TAL) is one of the biggest EdTech companies in the world. On October 26, TAL Education Group (NYSE:TAL) reported earnings for the fiscal second quarter of 2024. The company reported an EPS of $0.1, beating estimates by $0.02. The company's revenue for the quarter grew by 40.08% and amounted to $411.93 million, ahead of market consensus by $14.35 million. As of December 28, TAL Education Group (NYSE:TAL) has surged nearly 97.49% over the past six months. Here are some comments from the company's earnings call:

"In addition to our core business, our innovative endeavors have made progress in this fiscal quarter. We have rolled out the beta version of MathGPT and we intend to continuously improve the models efficiency guided by the feedback we receive from selected users to whom we provided test invitations of this experimental version. In terms of our financial performance, we reported net revenues of US$411.9 million and RMB2.9659 billion for the quarter, representing an increase of 40.1% and 49.5% year-over-year in US dollar and RMB terms respectively. With respect to profitability our non-GAAP income from operations and non-GAAP net income attributable to TAL for the quarter of US$52.7 million and US$58.8 million respectively."

The ease that online education provides is attracting a large number of learners. However, the majority of the students prefer traditional education from universities. We have made a list of the countries with the best universities in the world.

30 Countries With Best Universities In The World

30 Countries With Best Universities In The World

Our Methodology

To make our list of the countries with the best universities in the world we have used the QS World University Rankings 2024. The QS World University Rankings 2024 ranks the top 1500 universities across the world. We calculated the number of top-ranked universities in each country. A greater number of high-ranked universities was used to identify countries with the best universities. The list has been arranged in ascending order of the number of high-ranked universities in these countries.

By the way, Insider Monkey is an investing website that tracks the movements of corporate insiders and hedge funds. By using a consensus approach, we identify the best stock picks of more than 900 hedge funds investing in US stocks. The top 10 consensus stock picks of hedge funds outperformed the S&P 500 Index by more than 140 percentage points over the last 10 years (see the details here). Whether you are a beginner investor or a professional one looking for the best stocks to buy, you can benefit from the wisdom of hedge funds and corporate insiders.

30 Countries With Best Universities In The World

30. Netherlands

Number of Top-Ranked Universities: 13

The Netherlands has several prestigious universities. Some of the top names include the University of Amsterdam and the University of Groningen. The universities in the Netherlands attract a high number of international students every year.

19. Pakistan

Number of Top-Ranked Universities: 14

Pakistan has a relatively high number of high-ranked universities. National University of Sciences and Technology (NUST) and Quaid-i-Azam University are some of the best universities in the country.

28. Bangladesh

Number of Top-Ranked Universities: 15

The top universities in Bangladesh include the University of Dhaka and Bangladesh University of Engineering and Technology. The universities in Bangladesh are known for their academic excellence and contribute significantly to the higher education landscape in the country.

27. Egypt

Number of Top-Ranked Universities: 15

Egypt has some of the best universities in the world. Some of the leading universities in Egypt include Cairo University and Mansoura University. The institutions in Egypt are known for their academic excellence.

26. Czech Republic

Number of Top-Ranked Universities: 16

The top universities in the Czech Republic include Charles University and Masaryk University. These institutions are known for their academic excellence. and contribute to the higher education landscape of the country.

25. Saudi Arabia

Number of Top-Ranked Universities: 16

Saudi Arabia is home to several prominent universities including King Saud University. The university is renowned for its diverse academic programs and research initiatives.

24. Kazakhstan

Number of Top-Ranked Universities: 21

Kazakhstan boasts several reputable universities that contribute significantly to the country's academic and research landscape. One of the top institutions is Al-Farabi Kazakh National University. The university offers a diverse range of academic programs.

23. Poland

Number of Top-Ranked Universities: 22

Poland is home to several prestigious universities known for their academic excellence and research contributions. The University of Warsaw is one of the best universities in the world. It offers a wide range of programs in humanities, sciences, and social sciences.

22. Turkey

Number of Top-Ranked Universities: 25

Turkey is a country with one of the best universities in the world. Bogazici University is one of the top-ranked universities according to QS ranking. It is renowned for its rigorous academic standards.

21. Colombia

Number of Top-Ranked Universities: 25

Colombia boasts several reputable universities that contribute significantly to the country's academic and research advancement. The University of the Andes is one of the highest-ranked universities in the world. The universities in Colombia offer a wide range of diverse academic programs.

20. Chile

Number of Top-Ranked Universities: 25

Chile is one of the countries with the best universities in the world. The Pontifical Catholic University of Chile is one of the best universities in the world. The universities in Chile are known for their academic excellence and research output.

19. Argentina

Number of Top-Ranked Universities: 25

The leading universities in Argentina include the University of Buenos Aires and National Technological University. The universities in the country are significant to the higher education landscape of the country.

18. Indonesia

Number of Top-Ranked Universities: 26

Indonesia is one of the countries with the best universities in the world. The top universities in Indonesia include the University of Indonesia. The university is known for its comprehensive academic programs and research initiatives.

17. Taiwan

Number of Top-Ranked Universities: 27

Taiwan has some of the best universities in the world. National Taiwan University is one of the most notable names in higher education. The university is recognized for its academic excellence, strong research output, and international reputation.

16. Malaysia

Number of Top-Ranked Universities: 28

Malaysia is home to some of the most reputable higher education institutions in the world. The leading universities in Malaysia include Universiti Malaya and Universiti Teknologi Malaysia.

15. Canada

Number of Top-Ranked Universities: 31

The universities in Canada are renowned for their academic excellence, diverse programs, and significant contributions to global research. The University of Toronto and the University of British Columbia are some of the best universities in the world.

14. Mexico

Number of Top-Ranked Universities: 32

Mexico has a large number of highly-ranked universities. The National Autonomous University of Mexico is one of the best universities. The university is recognized for its academic excellence and cultural impact, and stands out as one of the leading universities in Mexico.

13. Spain

Number of Top-Ranked Universities: 35

Spain is one of the countries with the best universities in the world. The University of Barcelona and the Autonomous University of Madrid are among the best universities in Spain. The universities have diverse program offerings.

12. Brazil

Number of Top-Ranked Universities: 35

The University of Sao Paulo and the State University of Campinas are among the top universities in Brazil. The universities in Brazil are distinguished for their academic excellence and significant contributions to research and innovation.

11. France

Number of Top-Ranked Universities: 35

Sorbonne University and Ecole Normale Superieure are among the leading universities in France. The universities in France are renowned for their historical significance, academic excellence, and research contributions.

10. Australia

Number of Top-Ranked Universities: 38

Australia is one of the countries with the best universities in the world. The country attracts a large number of international students every year. The top universities in Australia include the University of Melbourne, the Australian National University, and the University of Sydney.

9. Italy

Number of Top-Ranked Universities: 42

Italy has some of the highest-ranked universities in the world. Top universities in Italy include the University of Bologna, Sapienza University of Rome, and Politecnico di Milano.

8. South Korea

Number of Top-Ranked Universities: 43

South Korea has a large number of high-ranked universities. Leading universities in South Korea include Seoul National University, Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology, and Pohang University of Science and Technology.

7. India

Number of Top-Ranked Universities: 45

India has some of the best universities in the world. The best universities in India include the Indian Institutes of Technology, the Indian Institutes of Management, and the University of Delhi.

6. Russia

Number of Top-Ranked Universities: 48

Education institutions in Russia are renowned for their academic discipline and research. Top universities in Russia include Lomonosov Moscow State University, Saint Petersburg State University, and Novosibirsk State University.

Click to continue reading and see the 5 Countries With Best Universities In The World.

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Disclosure: None. 30 Countries With Best Universities In The World is originally published on Insider Monkey.
An Indiana woman is fighting to keep her son in the United States after she says she received a letter saying he had to leave the country or he could be deported.

Rebekah Hubley adopted her son Jonas in 2010 from Haiti when he was 4 years old.

He has a smile that can light up any room and a contagious laugh that can make a bad day feel better, Hubley told McClatchy News in a message.

Jonas is blind, autistic, nonverbal and also has cerebral palsy, Hubley said in a Facebook post.

There is no where for him to go. He will die, Hubley said.

Jonas Hubley was adopted from Haiti in 2010 when he was 4 years old.

The Facebook post is a letter to President Joe Biden, written by Hubley on behalf of Jonas.

Mr. President, I will be turning 18 next month. I will be a severely disabled adult, living in the US, without any access to state or federal funding because I do not have a social security number. I need this Christmas miracle; I need a voice! the Dec. 8 post said.

Hubley told WPTA she was sent a letter saying Jonas has until Jan. 2 to leave the country, otherwise, U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services may issue you a Notice to Appear and commence removal proceedings against you with the immigration court. This may result in you being removed from the United States and found ineligible for a future visa or other U.S. immigration benefits.

The letter comes after Hubley was required to submit paperwork to immigration officials, which she says she did.

Immigration is set up to make you fail. Our immigration is not set up for you to become a citizen. Im convinced. Im thoroughly convinced, Hubley told WFFT.

McClatchy News reached out to the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services and was told it cannot comment on individual immigration cases. However, it did provide a statement.

USCIS adjudicates each request for immigration benefits fairly, humanely, and efficiently on a case-by-case basis to determine if they meet all standards and eligibility criteria required under applicable laws, regulations, and policies, and the agency remains committed to promoting policies and procedures that break down barriers in the immigration system, increasing access to eligible immigration benefits, and upholding Americas promise as a nation of welcome and possibility with fairness, integrity, and respect for all we serve, officials said in the statement.

McClatchy News reached out to U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement on Dec. 26 but did not immediately hear back.

Hubley said she submitted signed and notarized general demographics documentation, but an application to register permanent residence or adjust status was denied.

The evidence of record shows that, when you filed your application, you were present in the United States contrary to law. You are not authorized to remain in the United States, the letter sent to Hubley on behalf of Jonas read, according to her Facebook post.

The letter goes on to say that the decision may not be appealed, Hubley said.

Where is their moral compass? Is there anything more that they could have done to dehumanize him more than what they have already done? Threatening him with deportation is an unconscionable and dehumanizing act, Hubley said.

Jonas Hubley is 17 years old. He is a happy teenager who loves to play outside and loves music, his mom said.

Jonas is a typical happy teenager, Hubley said. He likes playing outside and on his trampoline. He also likes taking walks, and Hubley said his favorite thing is food.

He loves music (all kinds) and there is music playing in his room 24/7, she said.

Hubley said if Jonas were to be sent back to Haiti, there would be no one to care for him. She said she wont give up.

I will not accept this injustice and I will fight to the very end to keep my son with our family, she said.

Hubley said their attorney submitted paperwork a week ago, and several elected officials have petitioned for an expedited review.

This is not fair, Hubley told WPTA. This should be illegal. You are telling me my son is illegal. How is this legal to deport a completely dependent child to a country that you have deemed unsafe?

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MONTPELIER, Ind.  The Michigan Public Service Commission has approved the Indiana Michigan Power plan to build its largest solar farm to date in Blackford County.

Indiana Michigan Power's Deer Creek solar power station is a 2.5 MW facility in Marion.

I&M, owned by American Electric Power, plans to own and operate the Lake Trout solar plant near Montpelier, which will be capable of powering up to 73,500 homes and will be connected to the power grid that serves both Michigan and Indiana. Once completed, it will be largest utility-owned solar farm not just for I&M but for the entire AEP system.

Tracy Warner, communications manager with I&M, said that the solar plant plan has met with all the needed approval from Indiana regulators.

EDF Renewables, the company building Lake Trout for I&M, list the project as still being in the stage of working with Blackford County officials in the developing stages of the project with construction yet to start.

Plans now call for the solar farm to be completed by the end of 2026, Warner said.

More: Commission approves plans for Blackford County solar power plant

"Lake Trout is a key element of I&Ms commitment to add more clean-energy resources and are part of I&Ms and AEPs commitment to achieve net zero carbon dioxide emissions by 2045," a press release announcing Michigan's approval of the planned plant said.

I&M will own 100% of the equity interests in Lake Trout Solar, which should produce 318 mega watt direct current or 245 mega watt alternating current following completion of construction.

According to the company statement, I&M and EDF have already been working closely with Blackford County officials to accommodate the plant,"The Michigan commission previously approved plans for three additional northern Indiana solarpower plants, including Mayapple in Pulaski County and the Elkhart County Plant," the press release said. "Those plants have also been approved by the Indiana Utility Regulatory Commission."

More: Blackford County one of four sites for new I&M solar generating plants

Altogether, I&Ms clean-energy generation now includes five solar power plants with wind power from four Hoosier plants; six hydro-electric plants; and the Cook Nuclear Plant in Bridgman, Mich.

The company's coal-fueled plant in Rockport will be retired in 2028. I&M said that, as of the end of 2022, more than 80% of energy I&M generated was carbon-emission free.

David Penticuff is a reporter with The Star Press. He can be contacted at dpenticuff@gannett.com.

This article originally appeared on Muncie Star Press: Montpelier solar farm to be online by 2026, largest by I&M Power, AEP
As public officials statewide sort out how to proceed after Ohio voters' approved a referendum in November allowing recreational marijuana use, several Summit County municipalities are putting temporary brakes on businesses wishing to sell marijuana-related products.

The state, under rules approved Dec. 7, allows municipalities to prohibit or limit the number of marijuana businesses. In addition, the state legislature is considering changes and updates to the law set forth by Issue 2.

In Akron, the idea of seeking a moratorium has not arisen so far in City Council meetings, and a city spokeswoman said she was not aware of any efforts to establish one.

Hudson officials, however, have approved a 12-month moratorium on accepting applications for marijuana-related businesses within the city's borders. Tallmadge City Council is currently considering a similar resolution that will last six months.

In Norton, City Council passed a moratorium on establishments that would sell marijuana, and Barberton City Council followed with its own on Dec. 18.

In both cities, the temporary bans would give councils time to consider more permanent action tailored to city needs.

Barberton law director Lisa Miller said the moratoriums are a way for cities to gain some breathing space as they await the Legislature's full response to Issue 2.

"The rules are not here, yet," Miller said in a phone interview. "We dont know what the rules are."

A moratorium gives a municipality time to consider zoning issues and  in this case  weigh the benefits and drawbacks of marijuana sales establishments.

Macedonia Mayor Nick Molnar said City Council will consider a moratorium proposal at its Jan. 11 meeting.

"I have not heard anything from the business community," he said, adding that a resident spoke against the use of marijuana in general at a recent meeting.

Jeremy McIntire, the president of Stow City Council, said no legislation had surfaced there.

"Issue 2 was passed as a statute and not a constitutional amendment  and therefore could be changed by the state senate, state house, or the governor," McIntire said. "Before we act, we as representatives should see what  if any  changes the state government may make."

In New Franklin, Mayor Paul Adamson said a moratorium hasn't been on the city's radar. Not yet, at least.

"We haven't had much of a discussion about it at this point," he said Monday. "We're monitoring what other cities are doing (but) I'm not certain that we need to do something preemptively."

Like other cities, New Franklin is waiting to see what the state legislature does.

"I'm sure we'll be talking about it the first quarter of next year," he said.

In Green, medical marijuana dispensaries were outlawed throughout the city in 2017.

Northfield, too, bars marijuana-related businesses, said Bradric Bryan, the village's law director. However, Council is considering changing this to allow dispensaries.

Carrie Snyder, a spokesperson for Cuyahoga Falls, said nothing has been planned for this time in terms of a moratorium.

In October, many residents came to Council meeting to out to speak out against a medical marijuana dispensary on State Road owned by FRX Health. Some residents have even pushed for a complete ban of future dispensaries coming to the city.

The nine Summit County townships have some authority to address land-use issues, said Al Schrader, an attorney with the law firm of Roderick Linton Belfance. Schrader was also a Springfield Township trustee for 28 years.

"(Townships) ought to respect what the voters decided to do," Schrader said Thursday. "My suggestion to my clients is: Don't do anything. Let's see what the legislature comes up with."

Issue 2 raises concerns in other areas of law beyond who can sell marijuana, Schrader said. Drug testing, in some cases, can detect usage up to 90 days prior to the test.

Recreational use will require employers, and municipalities as employers, to confront whether occasional usage is acceptable. A job in heavy machinery, for instance, may have different requirements than an office position.

"I think all the elected officials are trying in good faith to wrestle with this," Schrader said.

Ohioans can't purchase recreational marijuana just yet

On Nov. 7, a majority of Ohio voters approved Issue 2 to legalize the possession and use of marijuana by individuals aged 21 and over This includes the sale of marijuana by state-licensed dispensaries. A Division of Cannabis Control was created within the Ohio Department of Commerce to handle issues related to this change.

This doesn't mean that eligible adults can swing by a marijuana dispensary and purchase marijuana-related products for recreational use just yet. According to the Ohio Department of Commerce, the state legislature is considering updates to the law, which can impact the timeline for the rulemaking and licensing processes, and dispensary sales.

As of now, non-medical cannabis is not available to purchase in licensed dispensaries, and the general public can't visit dispensaries unless the individual is a registered patient or caregiver in the Ohio Medical Marijuana Control Program, according to the Ohio Department of Commerce. Sales of marijuana prior to adult-use licenses being issued may be subject to criminal penalties.

Also, the ballot language stated that people can't use non-medical cannabis in public areas: this would be considered a minor misdemeanor, according to the Ohio Department of Commerce. Ohios law prohibiting smoking or vaping in public indoor spaces will also apply to marijuana, and individuals can't operate a vehicle, motor vehicle, streetcar, trackless trolley, bike, watercraft, or aircraft while under the influence of cannabis.

This article originally appeared on Akron Beacon Journal: Some Summit County cities declare moratorium on recreational marijuana
The most advanced Apple Watch models will be back on sale this week following a federal appeals court temporarily blocked a sweeping import ban on the devices amid a dispute with the Biden administration.

The Apple Watch Series 9 and Apple Watch Ultra 2 are available at U.S. stores Wednesday and can be purchased online starting Thursday at 3 p.m. ET, according to the tech company. The device's controversial blood oxygen feature is still included.

We are thrilled to return the full Apple Watch lineup to customers in time for the new year," Apple said in a statement Wednesday.

The return follows the Biden administration announcement Tuesday it would uphold the U.S. International Trade Commission order banning the sale of the two smart watches.

Want an Apple Watch Series 9 or Ultra 2? Alternatives to buy after today

"Apples teams have worked tirelessly over many years to develop technology that empowers users with industry-leading health, wellness and safety features and we are pleased the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit has stayed the exclusion order while it considers our request to stay the order pending our full appeal," Apple's statement added.

What to know: The New York Times is suing OpenAI over copyright breaches

Why did Apple Watch get banned?

The Apple Watch Series 9 and Apple Watch Ultra 2 were banned after California health tech companies, Masimo and Cercacor Laboratories, accused Apple of infringing on its patent for a blood-oxygen tracking technology. Masimo's 2021 complaint led to the Oct. 26 ITC order.

"The decision to exclude certain foreign-made models of the Apple Watch demonstrates that even the world's most powerful company must abide by the law, Masimo previously said in an emailed statement.

Apple filed two lawsuits against Masimo last year accusing the compant of infringing patents with its own smartwatch.

Why did Biden administration uphold ban?

Ambassador Katherine Tai declined to reverse the ITC decision on Tuesday after finding that Apple infringed Masimo's and Cercacor's patents "after careful consultations", according to a release by the Office of the United States Trade Representative.

Apple filed an emergency request to the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit to halt the ban, Reuters reported.

What is the blood oxygen feature?

The Apple Watches' Blood Oxygen app, only available in certain regions, allows users to measure oxygen levels of their blood on-demand directly from your wrist, according to the company.

"Measurements taken with the Blood Oxygen app are not intended for medical use and are only designed for general fitness and wellness purposes," Apple said on their support website.

Contributing: Kinsey Crowley & Bailey Schulz

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Ban lifted, as Apple Watch Series 9 and Ultra 2 go back on sale in US
Kristen Elisabeth Rhodes appears in Yakima County Superior Court Tuesday, Dec. 26, 2023. She is charged with controlled-substance homicide in the 2022 death of a Gleed-area woman.
Jasper Kenzo Sundeen's reporting for the Yakima Herald-Republic is possible with support from Report for America and community members through the Yakima Valley Community Fund. For information on republishing, email news@yakimaherald.com.
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When you imagine your dream retirement, your mind may conjure up images of one of the most enchanting places around: Hawaii. How wonderful would it be to spend your days kicking back at the beach, soaking in the sun, gallivanting in the waves and not having a care in the world?

Except there is one major care when it comes to Hawaii  the cost!

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Hawaii is the most expensive place to live in the U.S. The cost of living in Honolulu, for example, is 84% higher than the national average, according to PayScale. Much of the reason behind why Hawaii is so expensive lies in the fact that, as a remote island state, it relies heavily on imports  which are pricey. So, if your heart is set on Hawaiian vibes but your retirement savings cant stretch far enough to cover the incredibly high cost of living there, it may be in your best interest to consider another tropical location.

Lets look at six tropical locations that are quite similar to Hawaii, but are far more affordable for retirees.

Bali, Indonesia

The other day as my wife and I were enjoying a $2.25 beer, and finishing a club sandwich that cost us less than $4.00, I said to my wife, This is SO much like Hawaii, but a fraction of the cost,' said Norman Bour, owner of Travel Younger.

The place Bour and his wife were enjoying is the small island of Nusa Lembongan, which is about a 2-minute ferry ride from the mainland of Bali in Indonesia. In Bali, the average cost of living for a single person is around $522 without rent, and around $1,892 for a family of four, according to Expatriate Group. Rent in Bali can be anywhere from $300 to $1,145 a month.

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Puerto Rico

If youre seeking an affordable tropical oasis for your retirement, consider Puerto Rico, which offers a tropical setting that closely mirrors Hawaii.

Story continues

According to Numbeo, the monthly costs for a single person in Puerto Rico is $1,053.7, without rent. For a family of four, approximate monthly costs are $3,674.6, also without rent. And rent is considerably lower here  45.6% lower than the national average in the U.S, while the cost of living as a whole is 14.0% lower.

Also appealing is the fact that Puerto Rico boasts attractive tax incentives for retirees, including lower local taxes, a 0% tax rate on capital gains and federal income tax exemptions for eligible residents.

Pensacola, Florida

I would say that Pensacola, [Florida] is most like Hawaii if you are wanting to stick to the U.S, said Brittany Betts, marketing manager at StaySense. You get the island feel, ocean and beach bars like Hawaii, but the cost of living is substantially cheaper.

The cost of living in Pensacola is 5% lower than the national average, according to RentCafe. This city may be deemed especially attractive to retirees because healthcare services, including doctor check-ups and dentistry, cost 10% less here compared to the U.S. average [7].

The Florida Keys

Ritesh Raj, COO and CPO of CuddlyNest and a self-described globetrotter who has visited over 120 countries, finds that the Florida Keys has a similar vibe to Hawaii, but at a much more affordable price.

With its stunning beaches, vibrant marine life and laid-back lifestyle, its a fantastic choice for retirees, Raj said. The Keys offer a variety of outdoor activities, from fishing and boating to snorkeling and diving, much like Hawaii. Plus, the cost of living is significantly lower, making it a great alternative for those on a budget.

In the Florida Keys  specifically Key West  the average cost of a one-bedroom apartment rental is $2,500 per month and the average cost of utilities is $239.40 per month, according to Zumper. This is by no means a cheap location, but its certainly cheaper than Hawaii.

Puerto Vallarta, Mexico

Puerto Vallarta is another city that boasts the tropical charms and beachside perks reminiscent of Hawaii, but without the heavy financial burdens. This is another spot Raj recommends.

Here, monthly costs for a single person are an estimated $698, without rent, according to Numbeo. A family of four has estimated monthly costs of $2,481, also without rent. Rent isnt too steep in Puerto Vallarta either. For example, its 64% lower than in Seattle, according to Numbeo.

Penang, Malaysia

This island state offers not only stunning beaches and scenic beauty but also a compelling blend of Asian cultures, said Raj. Penang, with its affordable living costs, ensures retirees can enjoy a relaxed lifestyle, rich with cultural experiences, tropical climates and diverse culinary adventures  all while being light on the pocket.

The cost of living here certainly is light on the pocket. A single persons monthly costs without rent are $509, according to Numbeo, while monthly costs for a family of four are $1,822.90. Rent is downright cheap, too  86.6% lower than in Seattle, for instance.

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This article originally appeared on GOBankingRates.com: 6 Affordable Tropical Retirement Locations  And How Much They Cost Compared to Hawaii
BESSEMER  Members of the Gogebic County Board of Commissioners voted unanimously last week to fund the county 4-H coordinator as a full-time position for eight months, from April 1 to Nov. 30 in 2024, at a salary of $40,000.

Until now, 4-H Coordinator Ashley Dennis has been employed on a part-time basis.

Chairman James Lorenson said the funds can be drawn from the county budgets allotment of $40,000 for youth activities.

Paul Putnam, District 1 director for the Michigan State University Extension, lobbied for the change at the Dec. 20 meeting while presenting an annual report on the 4-H program.

Were talking about young people in our community, said Commissioner Joseph Bonovetz, who made the motion and emphasized that the amount of money at stake is just a small percentage of the countys overall budget.

Bonovetz added that 4-H members show what its like to serve their community.

According to the Institute for Applied Research in Youth Development, which has conducted research on 4-H members, they are four times more likely to contribute to their community, twice as likely to be civically active, and twice as likely to make healthier choices.

Under questioning from Commissioner Daniel Siirila, Putnam said that 194 unduplicated, registered youth were in the program in 2022. In that year, there were 21 clubs and 12 volunteers.

It has been a challenge to get volunteers to commit to go through the entire process and training, wrote Putnam in a Dec. 14 letter to Lorenson.

Volunteerism doesnt exist like it used to, said Bonovetz, by way of acknowledging the need for properly paid 4-H staff.

The local Extension Offices annual report showed 28 4-H programs hosted in the county, with 545 attendees. In addition, there were 122 MSU Extension programs either in the county, online or statewide, with 820 persons from this county attending those sessions.

Putnam said that a new painting club is being established and that the former Cloverbud program for young children is being reestablished.

Other 4-H clubs in the county include  but are not limited to  the interests of livestock, babysitting, horses and cooking. Putnam said that other topics such as sewing, shooting and entrepreneurship are being explored.

Programs targeted to specific grades also occur in local schools, with one recent science session focusing on how to make snow.

The 4-H program also offers Family Fun Nights, Summer 4-H Day Camp and Exploration Days.

Programs for parents have included topics such as What Children Need to Know to Start School, Teaching Kids Mindful Eating, ABCs of Early Literacy and Together We Can.

I appreciate the boards support as always, said Putnam to commissioners.

Erin Ross, who is the supervising and staff development educator in the Bessemer Extension Office, will present to commissioners in 2024 additional information regarding ongoing 4-H initiatives.
Megan Hughes/The Globe Henna Richards, right, serves nachos from the Uraguay booth as Logan Schilling, left, prepares quesadillas at the El Salvador booth at Hurley K-12's Festival de Navidad on Dec. 20.

HURLEY - The Hurley K-12 School students celebrated Festival de Navidad on Wednesday, Dec. 20, the last day of school before the holiday break. Students from the school's Spanish classes worked to put on a fun event for the student body.

"Our Spanish 1 and 2 students put it on every year," said teacher Kirsten "Kirkie" Pecotte. "They pick a Spanish speaking country, and base either a craft, a food or an activity off of it."

The students this year were set up around the elementary gymnasium as students of all ages went through to try food cooked by their fellow students, play games and win prizes.

Pecotte said that people paid using tickets the school referred to as "pesos" for the event, which they could buy at the entrance and exchange at different tables for the activities.

"The kids love it, it is a blast every year," said Pecotte.

The money raised goes back into the Spanish classes' account, and can go toward a potential trip or other activity, depending on their interests.

"We are going to talk about it after the new year and see what the kids might be interested in. We try to base it off of languages and culture," said Pecotte.

This year almost 60 students set up in the gym for the event.

"They have been working on it for the last month, making posters and deciding what they wanted to do," said Pecotte.

The project encourages the students to research into the country they made posters for, and practice their language skills, she said.
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(Bloomberg) -- President Javier Milei will face his first general strike after just more than a month in office as Argentinas top unions call for a nationwide protest against his plans to deregulate the countrys economy, change its voting system and reduce social safety nets.

Most Read from Bloomberg

Workers will stop across the country on Jan. 24 to protest Mileis measures, according to an announcement on Thursday from the CGT, one of Argentinas oldest and most powerful union groups. They plan to take to the streets around congress in Buenos Aires to fight an illegal decree to deregulate the economy signed by the president last week, union leader Hector Daer said in a speech.

The strike will be the biggest test yet to Mileis plans to reduce the hand of the state in Argentinas crisis-prone economy. It is also the fastest called by CGT after the inauguration of a new president in the past 40 years, according to local media. The government on Wednesday sent to congress a wide-ranging bill with hundreds of proposals spanning from the elimination of Argentinas primary elections to the privatization of 41 state-owned companies.

Read More: Milei Blitzes Argentinas Congress With Far-Ranging Reform Bill

The bill, several hundred pages long, gives Milei additional powers to decide on economic policy throughout his term.

With less than a month in office, the new government is already facing a series of street protests after announcing the end of price controls, sharp spending cuts and a more than 50% devaluation of the Argentine peso.

The general strike by unions connected to the Peronist movement now in the opposition would also test the hard-line approach of Security Minister Patricia Bullrich, who recently announced a series of measures to limit protests and street blockades carried out without a permit.

Story continues

Read More: Milei Moves to Limit Anti-Austerity Protests in Argentina

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Povestea merelor cu har de la Bogdanesti

Un copil care a trecut zilele acestea pe la Masa Bucuriei a Programului Pranzul Stefanian aplicat de Protopopiatul Onesti chiar la sediul sau pentru a oferi, zilnic, gratuit, hrana calda tuturor celor care au nevoie de ea  aflam de la Asociatia Patmos a Protopopiatului  s-a intalnit, in curtea institutiei [citeste mai departe]
Satmareanca disperata dupa ce s-a trezit girant la un imprumut despre care nu stia nimic

La data de 10 ianuarie, politistii din cadrul Serviciului de Investigare a Criminalitatii Economice Satu Mare au fost sesizati despre faptul ca o femeie ar fi fost prejudiciata de o persoana, prin incheierea unui [citeste mai departe]
New Delhi: Kimirica Hunter, an Indore-based startup is the luxury hotel toiletries manufacturer which has a wide range of hospitality clients around the globe. Thus, if you take frequent business trips, youve probably used Kimiricas products. But what is the story behind this startup? How did this startup launched by two brothers, Rohit Jain (34-year-old) and Mohit Jain (31-year-old) in 2013, from working out in a 100 sq ft room turn into Indias largest manufacturer of luxury hotel toiletries and guest room amenities?

The Birth Of The Never-Thought-Before Idea

Before his entrepreneurial career, Mohit in his dissertation wrote about launching a contemporary herbal skincare brand in India. With Rajats background in pharmacy and the familys Ayurvedic business, this made the brothers confident that they could manufacture herbal skincare products on their own.

The Brainstorming Was All Worth It!

During brainstorming sessions, they used to stay at a hotel and the miniature amenity bottles they used, actually stuck in their minds. Thus, was born the idea of this startup. The brothers started examining the market. While conducting their research, they observed that more than 75% of hotel amenity products for hotel brands were imported.

There Is No Success Without Struggles

Further, hotels and resorts were unique, with different themes and special ambiances, the brothers found. But they observed that monotonous and conventional brand offerings were made for all hotels.

After they launched in 2013, they were struggling to bring any good in their tiny, single-room workspace. They were also facing a cash crunch and were denied a 10 lakh loan by a leading bank. The brothers had to mortgaged their house and old office, and started taking several loans from the banks.

Started With A Bang!

After a lot of persistence from the entrepreneurs, the Mariott Group in India finally gave them a break. The multinational diversified hospitality company signed Kimirica as its supplier for toiletries and ancillary products in India.

Current Situation?

Kimirica was the first manufacturer in India to make 100-percent vegan and paraben-free hotel cosmetics that attracted hotels a lot. In just five years, Kimirica has crossed several major milestones and incorporated modern operational strategies. Kimirica Hunter is now worth 300 crore and records a turnover of around 90 crore. It also serves a large number of international hotel chains such as Mariott, Starwood, Hilton, Jumeirah, Hyatt, Sofitel, Pullman, and an array of independent luxury hotels.

In 2017, Kimirica also signed a joint venture with Canadian hospitality product manufacturer Hunter Amenities, from where originated their complete name Kimirica Hunter. Recently, the business also launched its retail store, Kimirica Shop which is a luxury personal care store for its B2C customers who like Kimirica products
The national share of tech jobs spread out to more regional tech hubs between 2020 and 2022. Austin saw the highest rate of growth in the two-year period.

For decades, areas such as Silicon Valley and San Francisco have reigned as the place to be if you want to work in tech.

But in recent years, tech jobs increasingly have dispersed to smaller hubs, including Austin, according to a report from the Brookings Institution, which looked at where tech jobs were concentrating in 2020 and 2022.

Mark Muro, a senior fellow with Brookings and co-author of the report, said Austin is a "signature example" of the rise of noncoastal tech hubs, which have experienced high rates of tech job growth as traditional coastal tech leaders saw more sluggish employment trends.

There were actually significant layoffs in the Bay Area, thousands of people, so that reduced the job share and may have been a push factor for more people to set out to places like Austin, he said.

Muro said that while Austin was already catching up to other tech strongholds before the pandemic, Central Texas saw a 40% growth in tech jobs in the two-year period, higher than any other metro area in the same period.

In 2022, the Austin metro area had about 82,560 tech jobs, or about 2.1% of all tech jobs nationally, up from 58,829 jobs in 2020, according to the report.

Austin still has fewer tech jobs overall than traditional strongholds such as the San Francisco-Oakland-Berkeley region, which saw 10.5% growth in jobs in the same two-year period. But Central Texas tech growth came as San Francisco saw its share of total national tech jobs drop from 6.2% in 2020 to 5.9% in 2022.

The Silicon Valley region of San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara shed about a thousand jobs in the same period and saw its overall share of national tech jobs drop to 4.5% in 2022.

Roger Kay, a tech industry analyst with Endpoint Technology Associates, said that while the Silicon Valley and San Francisco will remain an important piece of the pie, other regions will increasingly be counterbalances.

"It used to be the Silicon Valley plus San Francisco was the mecca, and there was no other way around it," Kay said. "I feel like that image is broken."

Story continues

At the same time, Kay said, Austin seems to be able to do well in "any weather."

The national share of tech jobs spread out to more regional tech hubs between 2020 and 2022. Austin saw the highest rate of growth in the two-year period.

Texas saw strong overall growth

Muro said Texas has seen strong growth overall, with Dallas following close behind Austin to round out the two fastest-growing regions.

The Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington region saw a 26.6% increase in tech jobs in the two-year period, rising to 142,951 in 2022, or 3.6% of all tech jobs nationally, according to the report.

The Houston-The Woodlands-Sugar Land region saw 20.7% growth in the same period, rising to 46,244 tech jobs in 2022, about 1.2% of all national tech jobs.

"There have been big tech firms and units exiting the Bay Area and moving to Austin, and people like Elon Musk touting it, positioning his move as a rejection of California," Muro said. "And Texas has always been a very popular place for greater livability and, for a while, cheaper housing."

Kay also said pricing probably helped drive relocations, as companies reevaluated maintaining headquarters in high-priced cities.

"The shift has a lot to do with how expensive each region is," Kay said. "Austin has been in a sweet spot for a while. It's rising in price but still not as much as the coasts."

The national share of tech jobs spread out to more regional tech hubs between 2020 and 2022. Austin saw the highest rate of growth in the two-year period.

Fast growth can lead to challenges

Tech distribution won't come without growing pains. Muro said maintaining quality of life will be important for tech hubs after the rapid growth in Austin and other regions.

Tech growth seems tied up with this often-rapid growth, and its often entangled with housing and infrastructure problems, Muro said. One of the major ways that tech places lose their way is seeing the erosion of their quality of life and quality of place.

Nationally, the tech industry has faced layoffs and cost-cutting in recent years. While it's been unclear just how much Austin workers have seen an impact from the widespread national cuts, industry experts have maintained that Central Texas has felt effects.

Recently, those effects have included massive cuts at cloud computing company VMware, which axed more than 500 workers last month, and staffing firm Cognizant, which cut hundreds of employees in October in its third round of layoffs this year, according to notices filed with the Texas Workforce Commission.

Still, earlier this year, tech industry leaders were optimistic that Austin's tech boom is far from over despite less money flowing and other industry troubles. The experts predicted Austin's diversified tech scene will help it navigate remaining economic uncertainty.

This article originally appeared on Austin American-Statesman: Austin area saw boost in tech jobs as industry spread out, report says
New Delhi: The story of Benu Gopal Bangur, the man at the helm of the multimillion-dollar business empire Shree cement, imparts to us the most important learning that having a vision is essential for financial success. And in order for that to happen, we need to take advantage of every opportunity that presents it.

The incredibly diligent businessman Benu Gopal Bangur built a billion-worth business empire with tenacity and strategic business acumen. Despite inheriting his family's business, this gentleman businessman did not have an easy business journey. He put in endless hours of work and led Shree Cement to become the most successful cement company in India, ranking third overall. Under his leadership, the company's worth increased from millions to billions. The business now sells products under brands like Shree Ultra Jung Rodhak, Bangur Cement, and Rockstrong thanks to his leadership. Bangur is currently one of the richest people in India, with a whopping net worth of USD 7.9 billion, according to Forbes.



Early years

Born into a prosperous Marwari family, Benu Gopal Bangur was exposed to business dynamics at a young age. Bangur became one of the first graduates in Kolkata after receiving a B. Com (Hons.) from Calcutta University. In 1991, he and his brother inherited the Bangur Empire, a family business established by his grandfather. Bangur acquired the cement division in the split and centered his cement empire on it.



Success of Shree Cement

Benu Gopal Bangur inherited the family-based 1979-founded Shree Cement. Shree Cement experienced significant growth and became the cement manufacturer with the fastest rate of expansion under Bangur's guidance. The company, led by him, started producing products under the brands Rockstrong, Bangur Cement, and Shree Ultra Jung Rodhak. The company saw many highs and lows, but Bangur never gave up. Bangur overcame many obstacles in the business world, including financial setbacks, to grow Shree Cement from a million-dollar company to a billion-dollar company. Shree Cement rose to prominence in the cement industry thanks to its reputation for affordability. Today, with a startling net worth of Rs. 7.9 billion, Bangur has become one of the wealthiest people in India, according to Forbes.

Bangur is the driving force behind the acquisition of Union Cement Company in Ras Al Khaimah in 2018 and Jaiprakash in 2014. In October 2022, his grandson Prashant assumed the position of vice chairman, and his son Hari Mohan succeeded him as chairman.

Benu Gopal Bangur's success story serves as a reminder to us all about the need for complete dedication in all that we do. One day, good fortune will surely favor us!
New Delhi: Former ICICI Bank Managing Director and CEO Chanda Kochhar is yet again at the centre of a legal storm with a new case being registered against her in the national capital, accusing Kochhar and ten others of cheating a tomato paste company, leading to a staggering loss of Rs 27 crores.

The case, dating back to 2009, recently came to the limelight after the Patiala House Court on December 9 ordered the Delhi Police to initiate an investigation. Subsequently, the Economic Offence Wing of the Delhi Police registered an FIR on December 20, citing allegations of cheating and criminal conspiracy.

Those named in the FIR include Chanda Kochhar, Sandeep Bakshi (CEO & MD ICICI Bank), Vijay Zagade (ex-manager ICICI Bank), unnamed officials of ICICI Bank's Global Trade Services unit in Mumbai, Atul Kumar Goel (MD & CEO Punjab National Bank), K.K. Bordia (ex-GM Oriental Bank of Commerce), Akhila Sinha (AGM PNB & the then Branch Head of OBC), Manoj Saxena (AGM PNB & the then Branch Head of OBC), and K.K. Bhatia (ex-Chief Manager at OBC).

According to the FIR, lodged by Shammi Ahluwalia, Director of P & R Overseas Pvt Limited (Tomato Magic), the accused allegedly conspired to present a 'Letter of Credit' (LoC) from a Foreign Bank as a genuine document. The LoC, crucial for an export order of tomato paste, was purportedly issued by the Royal Bank of Scotland (RBS) but was later revealed to be from a local Russian bank named RBS Alliance, known for its dubious reputation.

The FIR stated: "ICICI Bank fraudulently authenticated the LoC as issued by Royal Bank of Scotland, knowing fully well that the LoC (L/C) was from a local Russian Bank: RBS Alliance. The said LoC was amended thrice, but on all these occasions, ICICI repeatedly committed folly."

"ICICI Bank which in this case is the Advising Bank and its officers were to enquire whether the L/C being offered was authentic and issued by a bonafide banking entity. As will be stated later, the L/C was a complete fraud and forged but was verified to be authentic and legal by ICICI Bank in league and in conspiracy with the L/C issuing bank," the FIR read.

The FIR stated that the complainant company received the L/C purportedly issued by Royal Bank of Scotland, a well-known A class International Bank of repute.

"It was categorically stated in the said Credit that the same is subject to terms and conditions as contained in Uniform Customs and Practise for Documentary Credits the L/C was received through ICICI Bank, Mumbai, being the Advising Bank, hired by the actual L/C issuing Bank, RBS Alliance, Moscow, which did not enjoy good reputation in honouring its documentary credits," the FIR read.

The complainant company, Tomato Magic, a pan-India supplier of tomato paste, had received an export order from a Russian buyer for 1000 metric tonnes of Chinese tomato paste.

The order, initially valued at $10 lakh, increased to $18.48 lakh (approximately Rs 8.68 crore) for an additional supply of Iranian-origin tomato paste.

To mitigate payment risks, the order was contingent on a 100 percent irrevocable LoC issued by an 'A' class bank, with ICICI Bank acting as the advising bank.

The subsequent wrongful authentication of the LoC by ICICI Bank allegedly led to a series of events resulting in a loss of Rs 27.66 crores for Tomato Magic, the complainant said.

The FIR further noted that in May 2011, ICICI Bank, in response to the complainant's concerns, provided "frivolous" and "untrue" answers, attempting to evade responsibility.

Surprisingly, Oriental Bank of Commerce (now Punjab National Bank) did not challenge ICICI Bank's stance, leading to a consent to the correctness of the information.

The complainant alleged that the company had been cheated at the hands of the all accused, who hatched a criminal conspiracy with prior meeting of mind having a common intention to commit fraud, criminal breach of trust and cheating to the tune of $1000,000 in the forged and fraud Letter of Credit allegedly issued by RBS Alliance and not by Royal Bank of Scotland and thereafter used the said forged and fabricated documents as genuine one.

"The erring Accused No1 ICICI Bank violated RBI Guidelines to protect a Fraudster Bank. Based on two items that the Complainant handpicked up from the internet points to the fact that RBS Alliance, the L/C issuing bank, was a fraudster. Pertinent to mention that, ICICI bank, being the Advising Bank in India, had a collaborative relationship with RBS Alliance to swindle Indian businesses," the FIR said.

"Also, because the Accused No.1 had first received the L/C through SWIFT from RBS Alliance and then was to the Complainant Company, clearly confirms the alliance between the two (knowing fully well the Issuer of the L/C is RBS Alliance)... The complainant never directly received the L/C from the buyer in Russia and the entire set of L/C & its 3 amendments were routed through Accused No.1 ICICI bank, the Advising Bank. Therefore, an investigation into the arrangement ICICI Bank had with RBS Alliance, a fraudster, is a must to find out the modus operandi, which is not possible without setting the criminal law in motion by registering an FIR," it added.

On December 12, the Supreme Court adjourned till January 3, 2024, the hearing on the Central Bureau of Investigation's petition challenging the interim bail granted by the Bombay High Court to Kochhar in the alleged Videocon loan fraud case.
New Delhi: The Reserve Bank of India has given its go ahead for the reverse merger of IDFC Ltd with its banking subsidiary IDFC First Bank.

"This is in connection with our letter dated July 03, 2023 informing about the decision taken by the Board of Directors of IDFC FHCL, IDFC and IDFC FIRST Bank approving the proposed Scheme under Sections 230 to 232 of the Companies Act, 2013, the Companies (Compromises, Arrangements and Amalgamations) Rules, 2016 and other rules and regulations framed thereunder, subject to receipt of various statutory and regulatory approvals. In this regard, we would like to inform you that IDFC Limited and IDFC FHCL have received letters dated December 26, 2023 from RBI whereby RBI has conveyed its 'No Objection' to the composite scheme of amaleamation, subject to compliance with the terms specified therein," IDFC Ltd said in a regulatory filing.

The Scheme remains subject to other statutory and regulatory approvals inter alia including from the National Company Law Tribunal and the respective shareholders and creditors of the companies involved in the Scheme, under applicable laws, added IDFC Ltd.

IDFC Limited had on Novembers 13, 2023 received observation letter with no adverse observations from BSE Limited and observation letter with no objection from the National Stock Exchange of India Limited.

IDFC Board had Proposed Composite Scheme Of Amalgamation For The Amalgamation Of: (I) IDFC Financial Holding Company Limited ('IDFC FHCL') Into And With IDFC Limited ('IDFC'), And (Ii) IDFC Limited Into And With IDFC FIRST Bank Limited ("IDFC FIRST Bank").

Under the proposed reverse merger scheme, an IDFC shareholder will get 155 shares for every 100 shares she/he holds in the bank. Both stocks have a face value of Rs 10 each.
Chhattisgarh Board Exams 2024: The Chhattisgarh Board of Secondary Education (CGBSE) has released the datesheet for board exams for classes 10 and 12. The official schedule can be downloaded from the board's website  cgbse.nic.in. According to the released calendar, Class 10 exams will commence on March 2 with the Hindi exam and conclude on March 21, 2024. For Class 12, the exams are scheduled from March 1, 2024, to March 23, 2024.

Examinations will take place from 9:15 am to 12:15 pm. Students are advised to be at their designated desks by 9 am, as answer sheets will be distributed by 9:05 am, and question papers will be distributed by 9:10 am.

In 2023, the high school (Class 10) examinations took place from March 2 to March 24, while the higher secondary (Class 12) exams occurred from March 1 to March 31. Open school students' higher secondary exams were conducted between March 26 and May 2, and the high school exams were held from April 1 to May 2.

Chhattisgarh Board Exams 2024: Steps to download here

Visit the official website cgbse.nic.in.

Look for the recent announcements section on the homepage.

Click on the link specifically for the 12th time table 2024 for CG board.

The PDF of the Chhattisgarh 12th time table 2024 will appear on your screen.

Save the CG board 12th time table 2024 PDF to your device for future reference and safekeeping.

Meanwhile, the Chhattisgarh Board of Secondary Education (CGBSE) has stated that the practical tests and project work will be completed between January 10, 2024, and January 31, 2024. The dates for the CGBSE board exams 2024 will be announced soon on the board's official website.
CUET PG 2024: The National Testing Agency (NTA) initiated the application process for the Common University Entrance Test Postgraduate (CUET PG 2024) on December 26. Significant changes have been implemented in the CUET PG 2024 exam. The application form, originally hosted on cuet.nta.nic.in, can now be accessed on a new website  pgcuet.samarth.ac.in. Additionally, the application fee has been revised for all candidate categories. Aspiring applicants aiming for admission to PG courses in central universities and other CUET PG participating universities must carefully review the modifications introduced this year before completing the application process.

The official website for CUET PG is now pgcuet.samarth.ac.in, where comprehensive information, including the information brochure, syllabus, FAQs, and details on eligibility, subjects, participating universities, and colleges, has been uploaded.

CUET PG 2024: Exam fee hiked

The NTA has raised the registration fees for all categories by Rs 200 compared to the previous year. General category candidates are now required to pay Rs 1,200, while OBC-NCL/Gen-EWS candidates must pay Rs 1,000. In contrast to the Rs 500 fee for additional test papers last year, this year, candidates will be charged Rs 600 for each extra test paper they choose to take. International applicants applying for up to two tests will now pay Rs 6,000, with an additional charge of Rs 2,000 for extra papers. The previous fees were Rs 5,000 and Rs 1,500, respectively.

CUET PG 2024: Official website

The official website for CUET PG is now pgcuet.samarth.ac.in. The information booklet, curriculum, frequently asked questions, and other facts on eligibility, number of subjects, participating institutions and colleges have been released to the CUET PG official website.

CUET PG 2024: Exam cities reduced in India

The number of exam city centres for the CUET PG 2024 examination in India has been lowered from 337 in 2023 to 300. There are 324 exam centre cities in all, including those outside of India. Candidates will be allowed to choose two cities based on their permanent address or current address.

CUET PG 2024: Steps to register here

Visit the official website at pgcuet.samarth.ac.in. Complete the registration process on the website. Sign in and proceed to fill out the CUET PG application form. Upload all necessary documents in the specified format and make the application fee payment. Double-check all details before submitting the form. Download the confirmation page for future reference. Print a copy of the CUET PG 2024 application form for your records.

Students seeking admission to Central Universities (CUs) or other participating organisations (including State Universities, Deemed and Private Universities) across the country will be able to apply through CUET (PG).

CUET PG 2024: Exam duration

The CUET PG exam duration has been decreased from 120 minutes to 105 minutes. In 2024, the CUET PG test will be administered in three shifts. The first shift will run from 9 a.m. to 10:45 a.m., and the second and third shifts will run from 12:45 p.m. to 2:30 p.m. and 4:30 p.m. to 6:15 p.m., respectively.

CUET PG 2024: Total number of questions

Candidates who take the CUET PG 2024 test must complete 75 multiple choice questions (MCQs). Until last year, the total number of CUET PG questions was 100.
A tragic incident occurred in Madhya Pradesh's Guna district on Wednesday night, as a bus collided with a truck, resulting in at least 12 reported deaths and over a dozen individuals sustaining burn injuries. The private bus, en route from Guna to Aron with approximately 30 passengers, caught fire after the collision on the National Highway.

Local residents aided the injured, and an SDRF team promptly arrived at the scene to transport them to the hospital. Further details about the incident, including the identities of the deceased and injured, are yet to be confirmed.

Chief Minister Mohan Yadav has been briefed on the situation, expressing profound condolences and ordering a thorough investigation into the tragic event.
New Delhi: All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS) Delhi on Wednesday released directives for individuals suspected or confirmed with Covid-19, to be observed at hospitals in response to the abrupt increase in Coronavirus cases across the nation.

Amid the surging coronavirus cases, the director of AIIMS Delhi convened a meeting with department heads of the hospital to discuss contingency measures for Covid-19 on Wednesday. The meeting focused on formulating policies for Covid-19 testing, identifying specific areas for positive patients, and outlining procedures for their hospitalization.

As per the policy on Covid-19 testing, directed by the management, testing will be done for patients with SARI (severe acute respiratory infection) like symptoms that include according to the WHO, acute respiratory infection, persistent fever or fever of >= 38 C with cough and onset within last 10 days. The office memorandum was issued after the meeting.

It further asked all the departments at the institution to make provisions in their respective designated wards to manage in-patients who have tested positive for COVID-19.

"12 beds in the C6 ward will be earmarked for hospitalization of seriously ill Covid-19 patients," the memorandum said.

It also said that a screening OPD in the Emergency Department will screen patients for Covid-like symptoms and triage them same based on the medical requirements.

"Rooms no 1 to 12 in the new private ward are to be earmarked for hospitalization of Covid-19 positive EHS beneficiaries," it added.

"Engineering works in the New Blocks, Masjid Moth Campus--The ESD is required to install UVGA filters and HEPA filters in all the new blocks situated in the Masjid Moth Campus at the earliest," it said further.

Notably, the national capital has reported the first case of JN.1 variant infection. "Delhi has reported the first case of JN.1, a Sub-Variant of Omicron. Out of the 3 samples sent for Genome Sequencing, one is JN.1 and the other two are Omicron," Bharadwaj told ANI.

Meanwhile, a total of 109 JN.1 Covid variant cases have been reported in the country as of December 26, Health Ministry sources said on Wednesday. The World Health Organization (WHO) recently classified JN.1 as a variant of interest, distinct from its parent lineage BA.2.86. However, the global health body emphasised that the overall risk posed by JN.1 remains low based on current evidence.
NEW DELHI: In a strategic move to set the stage for the crucial 2024 Lok Sabha Polls, Congress leader Rahul Gandhi is gearing up to embark on the Bharat Nyay Yatra, commencing on January 14 next year. Building on the success of the Bharat Jodo Yatra, which significantly boosted Gandhi's popularity, the upcoming march aims to address political, economic, and social injustices across the nation.

Reviving Congress Fortunes: The Success Story Of Bharat Jodo Yatra

Rahul Gandhi's previous Bharat Jodo Yatra, spanning 3,570 km from Kanyakumari to Kashmir, witnessed a surge in popularity for the Congress leader. This success translated into electoral victories for the party, notably in Himachal Pradesh and Karnataka. While the previous Bharat Jodo Yatra focused on economic inequalities, political centralization, and social polarization, its successor, Bharat Nyay Yatra, extends its scope to ensure justice in all spheres.

Comprehensive Route: From Manipur To Mumbai

The Bharat Nyay Yatra is set to cover a vast expanse, crisscrossing 90 Parliamentary constituencies across 14 states and 85 districts. Stretching approximately 6,200 km, the march is scheduled to conclude on March 20, with Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge flagging it off from Imphal. The journey will traverse states like Manipur, Nagaland, Assam, Meghalaya, West Bengal, Bihar, Jharkhand, Orissa, Chhattisgarh, Uttar Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan, Gujarat and Maharashtra.

Congress Adopts A New Approach

The decision to launch the Bharat Nyay Yatra, coinciding with the Ram Temple inauguration and preceding the 2024 Lok Sabha polls, marks a significant shift in Congress' political strategy. This rebranded version, replacing Bharat Jodo Yatra, signifies a calculated effort to rekindle the party's narrative, reconnect with the masses, and redefine Rahul Gandhi's political persona.

Countering BJP's Narrative: Timing And Strategic Maneuvers

The yatra's initiation on January 14, symbolically aligned with the Ram Temple inauguration on January 22, reflects Congress's intent to counteract the BJP's religious narrative. Unlike its predecessor, Bharat Nyay Yatra will incorporate buses alongside foot marches, expanding its reach and engaging with diverse populations. The strategic rebranding underscores a commitment to social, economic, and political justice, resonating with the theme of 'nyay' (justice).

Congress's Bid For Rejuvenation

With recent electoral setbacks haunting the Congress, Bharat Nyay Yatra emerges as a crucial mechanism to revive the party's organizational structure and uplift the spirits of its cadre. The extensive media coverage anticipated during the yatra positions the Congress to redefine the political discourse leading up to the 2024 elections.

Reclaiming Lost Political Ground

Beyond a mere political journey, Bharat Nyay Yatra embodies Congress's concerted effort to reclaim lost ground, redefine Rahul Gandhi's political image, and craft a narrative centered on social justice and grassroots engagement. As the political landscape intensifies in the run-up to the 2024 General Election, the effectiveness of this revamped yatra in reshaping political perceptions remains to be seen.
The political temperature in Bihar has been rising with the reports of an internal feud in Nitish Kumar's Janata Dal (United). It's a well-known fact in the political circle that Nitish Kumar deals with an iron hand to anyone who goes against him or his party. The new to the list is JD(U)'s national president Lalan Singh, as per various reports. Below are the 10 key developments we know so far:

1. According to reports, about a dozen JDU MLAs recently held a meeting without the knowledge of Nitish Kumar. The Bihar CM was irked when came to know about the meeting. It was said that the meeting was held on behalf of Lalan Singh.

2. The JDU is holding its national executive meeting in Delhi today where decisions related to the political future of Lalan Singh may be decided. While the agenda of the meeting has not been announced, Kumar is likely to take several key decisions today, said reports.

3. Speculations have started floating in the political circles that Nitish Kumar is angry with JDU President Lalan Singh. Some are citing Lalan Singh's closeness to the Lalu family as the reason behind Nitish's displeasure while others are saying that the reason behind this is JDU's failure to put forward a strong stand in the INDIA alliance.

4. Noteworthy to mention that in the fourth meeting of the INDIA bloc, Mamata Banerjee and Arvind Kejriwal put forward Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge's name for the PM post and convenor of the opposition alliance. This reportedly upset Kumar who was said to be harbouring a national ambition.

5. It's being said that if Lalan Singh had been successful in presenting JDU's point strongly on the platform of INDIA Alliance, then Nitish Kumar would have either been declared the PM face or would have been seen as the convenor. But none of that happened. Even Lalu Yadav did not endorse Nitish Kumar's name in the meeting.

6. It's also being reported that Lalan Singh has proposed to resign from the post of JDU's national president after Nitish Kumar's anger. However, the JDU has not issued any official statement in this regard. Talking to reporters today, Lalan Singh said that Nitish Kumar is the leader of the JDU and the party is united and will remain united. He also refuted the reports of his resignation.

7. On the other hand, the BJP has gone all gun blazing against the JDU and Nitish Kumar. BJP MP Giriraj Singh said that Nitish Kumar is a guest (as a CM) for only a few days now. "Lalu ji has created a Chakravyuh and Nitish is trapped in it...Now Lalu ji will not let Nitish remain the Chief Minister and soon Kumar will become a former Chief Minister....It is certain that RJD will make its leader the Chief Minister but Nitish does not want to make Tejashwi the Chief Minister," claimed Giriraj Singh.

8. Earlier, Giriraj Singh had claimed that soon JDU will merge into Lalu Yadav's RJD. Reacting to this, Tejashwi Yadav said that Singh makes such a statement to remain in the news.

9. While it has become clear that INDIA bloc leaders are not eager to accept Nitish Kumar's name for big posts, the Bihar CM has also appears to have realised this despite Kumar saying time and again that he is not vying for any post. It may be recalled that CM Kumar personally met opposition leaders ahead of the INDIA bloc formation and tried to bring all opposition leaders on one platform.

10. The JDU and RJD are said to have finalized their seat sharing for the Lok Sabha polls. While the two parties will contest on 17 seats each, Congress has been given four seats and the Left parties two seats. The JDU may take its Lok Sabha poll strategy during the two-day national executive meeting as well.
New Delhi: The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) welcomed the verdict of the Court of Appeal of Qatar on Thursday, which commuted the death penalty of eight former Indian naval officers to prison terms. The eight Indians were arrested last year in the Dahra Global case, a complex legal dispute involving allegations of espionage and sabotage on a submarine programme.

The MEA said that the detailed judgement of the Court of Appeal is yet to be released and that it is in close touch with the legal team and the family members of the accused to decide on the next steps. Our Ambassador to Qatar and other officials were present in the Court of Appeal today, along with the family members. We have stood by them since the beginning of the matter and we will continue to extend all consular and legal assistance. We will also continue to take up the matter with the Qatari authorities, the MEA said in a statement.

Deshhit :   8         ,           



                



         -       pic.twitter.com/eOYEGQrGce  Zee News (@ZeeNews) December 28, 2023

The MEA added that due to the confidential and sensitive nature of the case proceedings, it would not be appropriate to make any further comment at this juncture.

The Dahra Global case has been going on for several years and has drawn international attention. The eight Indian nationals, who were working for a Qatari company, were sentenced to death by the Court of First Instance of Qatar on charges that have not yet been made public officially. The retired naval personnel have maintained their innocence and appealed against the verdict.

Earlier this month, MEA spokesperson Arindam Bagchi informed that two hearings have taken place in the case. There have been two hearings. We filed an appeal, with the families, and the detainees had a final appeal. Two hearings have since been held. One was on November 30th and the other was on November 23rd. I think the next hearing is coming up soon, Bagchi said.

The MEA spokesperson also highlighted the recent meeting that took place between Prime Minister Narendra Modi and the Emir of Qatar, Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al-Thani, on the sidelines of the COP28 summit in Dubai. He said that they had a good conversation on the overall bilateral relationship and the well-being of the Indian community living in Qatar.
Neals Yard Remedies was founded in 1981 and has 40 shops across the UK - David Willis/Alamy Stock Photo

Neals Yard Remedies has slashed its range of products in a bid to drive down costs, as losses widen at the embattled beauty retailer.

The skincare and cosmetics specialist said it had made a substantial reduction to its product line-up, as bosses pursue a turnaround plan.

Soaring costs and falling retail sales led to losses at Neals Yard rising to 6m in the last financial year, up from 939,000 in 2021.

Details of the challenges facing the Dorset-based company were revealed in newly filed accounts, which said that a material uncertainty exists that may cast doubt on the companys ability to continue as a going concern.

The company said it was reliant on shareholder support over the next financial year, with investors injecting 1.3m into the business earlier this summer.

At the time its accounts were signed off, the company was also in negotiations over refinancing a revolving credit facility that was due to expire in November.

Neals Yard did not respond when asked whether it had successfully done so.

Sales at Neals Yard Remedies have fallen in the wake of the pandemic, dropping 7.8pc to 41.6m over the year to September 2022.

The companys co-owner Barnabas Kindersley said this was due to a reduction in footfall and slow return to the high street post Covid, as well as the impact of store closures, soaring costs and high rental prices.

Since the end of 2022, the company has kicked off a turnaround project, shaking up its leadership and cutting down its product range.

Mr Kindersley said: Despite maintaining strong top-line sales, challenges like escalating cost of goods and heightened rents necessitated a reassessment of our strategic trajectory.

The companys products are a staple of middle-class bathrooms and can be significantly more expensive than those sold by bigger brands.

A 50g tub of its Frankincense nourishing cream, for instance, costs as much as 33 on its website, while a 100ml bottle of its Purifying Palmarosa moisturiser costs up to 28.

Story continues

As well as removing products, the company has also pulled back on promotional offers by around 60pc and closed unprofitable shops.

Early indicators show positive outcomes from each of these actions, said Mr Kindersley.

Neals Yard Remedies was founded in 1981 by Romy Fraser, an entrepreneur who gave up a career in teaching to open a shop on the small alley in central London from which the company draws its name.

She originally styled the business as an alternative pharmacy offering homeopathy products and toiletries.

It has since grown into a global beauty retailer and manufacturer, selling its products in Europe, North America and Asia, as well as Britain. It owns around 40 shops in the UK.

Known for its ethical and organic credentials, its products are manufactured at a self-styled eco-factory in Dorset.

In 2005, Ms Fraser sold the company to the Kindersley family, whose patriarch, Peter Kindersley, co-founded the publishing company Dorling Kindersley.

A longstanding environmentalist, the 82-year-olds business empire includes an organic farm in Berkshire, complete with an eco-centre where events such as weddings, talks and conferences are hosted.

Neals Yard Remedies is now run by his son, Barnabas, and daughter-in-law, Anabel.

Neals Yard Remedies was contacted for comment.

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New Delhi: In Bihar, the RJD-JDU alliance has concluded its seat-sharing arrangement, with both parties set to contest on 17 seats each. The electoral formula for this collaboration has been established, as decided by Lalu Prasad Yadav and Bihar CM Nitish Kumar.

According to reliable sources, Lalu Prasad Yadav and Nitish Kumar have mutually agreed to allocate four seats to the Congress party. This decision was communicated to the leadership of the Congress party by Lalu Prasad Yadav and Nitish Kumar.

In light of the seat-sharing negotiations, it has been determined that the Left party will be content with only two seats in the upcoming elections. This development marks the culmination of discussions and decisions within the RJD-JDU alliance regarding the distribution of seats for the electoral contest in Bihar.
NEW DELHI: In a major political development, sources on Thursday said that Congress general secretary Priyanka Gandhi Vadra has been named in a chargesheet filed by the Enforcement Directorate (ED) in connection with a land scam in Haryana.

ED Probe Points To Priyanka's Role In Haryana Land Deal

The ED chargesheet highlights Priyanka Gandhi Vadra's alleged role in the acquisition of agricultural land measuring 40 kanal (five acres) in Haryana's Faridabad. The transaction involved purchasing the land from Delhi-based real estate agent HL Pahwa in 2006 and subsequently selling it back to him in February 2010. Notably, Pahwa is the same agent through whom Priyanka's husband, Robert Vadra, had acquired three pieces of land measuring 334 kanals (40.08 acres) in Amipur village in 2005-2006, later selling the same land to him in December 2010.

Links With NRI Businessman CC Thampi

What is of significance is Pahwa's connection to NRI businessman CC Thampi, who also acquired land from the same agent. Thampi is part of the larger ED probe involving fugitive arms dealer Sanjay Bhandari, facing scrutiny for money laundering, violation of foreign exchange laws, black money charges, and breaches of the Official Secrets Act.

First Mention Of Priyanka Gandhi In Official Document

This marks the first time Priyanka Gandhi Vadra's name appears in an official document submitted by the ED to the court, while Robert Vadra has been previously named in earlier chargesheets related to the ongoing PMLA case against CC Thampi. Notably, both Priyanka Gandhi and Robert Vadra have not been named as accused, but the land transactions are presented by the ED to establish a link between Thampi and Vadra.

Allegations Of A 'Long & Thick' Relationship

The Enforcement Directorate reportedly alleges serious financial irregularities involving Priyanka Gandhi Vadra and her husband. The chargesheet suggests a "long and thick" relationship between Robert Vadra and CC Thampi, extending beyond personal to common business interests. The ED's investigation, outlined in the chargesheet, aims to unravel the intricate financial connections between the involved parties.

Awaiting Priyanka Gandhi Vadra's Response

With the ED chargesheet coming to light, attention turns to Priyanka Gandhi Vadra's likely response to the allegations. The document, comprehensive in nature, is expected to trigger political discussions and elicit reactions from various quarters.

Complexities Of The Haryana Land Scam Case

The inclusion of Priyanka Gandhi Vadra in the ED chargesheet introduces a new layer of complexity to the Haryana land scam case, which has been under ED investigation. The chargesheet is anticipated to offer detailed insights into the alleged irregularities in the land transactions, further shaping the ongoing legal proceedings.
New Delhi: In the past 24 hours, India has reported 692 new cases of COVID-19, contributing to a total active caseload of 4,097, according to the latest data from the Union Health Ministry. Official data reveals a grim update in the nation's fight against the pandemic, with six new deaths reported in the last 24 hours. Maharashtra accounted for two deaths, while Delhi, Karnataka, Kerala, and West Bengal each reported one death.

Overall Covid-19 Figures

The cumulative count of COVID-19 cases in India has now reached 4,50,10,944, marking a rise of 702 cases in the last 24 hours. The total death toll due to the virus stands at 5,33,346, reflecting the increase of six deaths during the same period.

First Case Of JN.1 Sub-Variant In Delhi

Delhi, on Wednesday, reported its first case of the COVID-19 sub-variant JN.1. According to Delhi Health Minister Saurabh Bharadwaj, out of three samples sent for genome sequencing, one was identified as JN.1, while the other two were confirmed as Omicron.

JN.1 Sub-Variant Origin, Spread

JN.1, a sub-variant of Omicron, is a descendant of the Omicron subvariant BA.2.86 or Pirola. The first case of the JN.1 variant was initially reported in Kerala. Health Ministry sources confirm a total of 109 cases of the JN.1 sub-variant in India as of Wednesday. However, the World Health Organisation asserts that the overall risk posed by JN.1 remains low based on current evidence.

AIIMS Issues Guidelines Amidst Rising Cases

In response to the surge in COVID-19 cases, the All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS) in Delhi has issued comprehensive guidelines. The director of AIIMS held a meeting with department heads to discuss contingency measures. The meeting covered policies on COVID-19 testing, designated areas for positive patients, and protocols for hospitalization.

This update comes as India grapples with the evolving situation of the pandemic, emphasizing the need for continued vigilance and adherence to health protocols.
New Delhi: Desiya Murpokku Dravida Kazhagam (DMDK) founder-leader and actor Vijayakanth, succumbed to Covid-19 in Chennai at the age of 71 on Thursday, following a positive test result.Vijayakanth was hospitalized and placed on ventilator assistance due to respiratory difficulties he experienced.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi expressed his grief over the demise of Vijayakanth who was Widely known as 'Captain'. Taking to microblogging site X (formerly Twitter), PM wrote, "Extremely saddened by the passing away of Thiru Vijayakanth Ji. A legend of the Tamil film world, his charismatic performances captured the hearts of millions. As a political leader, he was deeply committed to public service, leaving a lasting impact on Tamil Nadus political landscape. His passing leaves a void that will be hard to fill."

Extremely saddened by the passing away of Thiru Vijayakanth Ji. A legend of the Tamil film world, his charismatic performances captured the hearts of millions. As a political leader, he was deeply committed to public service, leaving a lasting impact on Tamil Nadus political pic.twitter.com/di0ZUfUVWo December 28, 2023

Vijayakanth's life is marked by a successful career in the Tamil film industry. He featured in 154 movies before venturing into politics. While holding a position at Nadigar Sangam (officially known as the South Indian Artistes' Association (SIAA)), Vijayakanth brought revolutionary changes to the South film industry.

He founded Desiya Murpokku Dravida Kazgam in 2005. In 2006, DMDK contested in all assembly seats and bagged a lowly 10 per cent of the total vote share. However, none of the party's candidates, apart from the founder-leader came out on the winning side.

In 2011, DMDK fought the elections in alliance with the AIADMK and contested 41 constituencies, winning 26. The Captain's party scripted history, winning more seats than the DMK in 2011 and emerged as the principal Opposition Party that year.

Vijayakanth served as the leader of the Opposition in the Tamil Nadu Assembly from 2011-2016. Later, owing to differences of opinion, the DMDK broke ties with the AIADMK, resulting in bulk resignations of DMDK MLAs.

The party, therefore, lost its status of being the main Opposition party. He served as a Member of the Legislative Assembly twice, representing the Virudhachalam and Rishivandiyam constituencies.

The DMDK contested the 2014 parliament elections in alliance with the NDA but faced a huge defeat and its vote percentage saw a significant drop. In the 2016, 2019 and 2021 elections, the DMDK didn't perform well as Vijayakanth battled health complications.
NEW DELHI: With Lok Sabha elections around the corner, Union Home Minister and the BJP's poll in-charge for Telangana, Amit Shah, will chair an organisational meeting in Shamshabad to chalk out the strategies for the 2024 Lok Sabha elections. The Union Minister will be on a day-long visit to Telangana on Thursday during which he will meet the Bhartiya Janata party core members in Shamshabad and later meet the 'Mandal' presidents of BJP from across Telangana at the Slokha convention.

Shah will also grant prayers at the Bhagyalaxmi Temple in Hyderabad. Notably, the saffron party won four of 17 seats from Telangana in the 2019 Lok Sabha elections. In a significant move earlier, Shah was made the BJP's in-charge for Odisha, Telangana and West Bengal -- states where the party has been a laggard electorally -- for the Lok Sabha elections next year.

In the recent state assembly elections to Telangana, the BJP doubled its vote share, bagging 8 assembly seats as compared to the 2018 Assembly elections in which the party won just one seat and hogged a mere 7 per cent of the total vote share. Earlier, On Tuesday, Home Minister Amit Shah, along with BJP national president JP Nadda, held organisational meetings with the members of the party's core committee for West Bengal.

The Union Home Minister set his party charges in the state a target of winning 35 of the 42 parliamentary seats in West Bengal. "Today, along with National President Shri @JPNadda Ji held a meeting of the@BJP4Bengal core group in Kolkata and discussed the strategies for the upcoming election. The people of Bengal trust PM Modi Ji and are all set to bless the BJP in the 2024 Lok Sabha elections with 35 seats," Shah posted on X.

The Lok Sabha elections are likely to be scheduled between April and May 2024, to elect 543 members of the Lok Sabha.
Nripendra Misra, chairman of the Ram Mandir Construction Committee, today shared crucial details related to the Ayodhya temple. Talking to Zee News reporter Vishal Pandey, Misra said that the construction of the temple will fulfil the beliefs of crores of devotees. He said that people had lost hope for the construction of the Ram Temple but now their dreams and faith are being fulfilled.

"When I see 2020 to the present, problems kept cropping in the construction and solutions also kept evolving for each problem. It's a matter of experience and cannot be described. I cannot take credit for this but want to say that somewhere, there was a divine power which wanted to ensure the construction of the temple," he said.

Misra said that the construction-related challenges were linked to design and architecture as the soil was not stable being of sandy quality. He also said that since pile foundation was not possible on the sandy soil, the whole 12-15 metres of sandy soil was replaced with engineered soil and 47 such layers were put to the height of 15 metres from the bottom to ensure a stable ground for construction of the temple. Misra said that the structure has been prepared in such a way that it can absorb earthquakes 50 times stronger than those occurred in the region including Nepal so far.

He said that the door and the throne in the 'Garbha Griha' or 'Sanctum sanctorum' would be made up of gold. "On the day of Ram Navmi, the sunlight from the temple summit will travel in such a way that it will land on the forehead of the Lord Ram's idol at noon. This is being made possible with the help of an astronomy institute based in Pune and the Central Building Research Institute. They have planned it keeping in mind the movement of the sun for the next 20 years," said Misra.

The temple is being constructed keeping in mind the temple architecture from across India and it will have Gopuram and percota. He said that 87 murals of bronze will be used to showcase the messages of 'Maryada Purushottam Ram'.

"The temple will also depict the Panchayatan system prevalent during the Ram Rajya and it will have symbolic Sita Rasoi in the form of the Annapurna mata temple. Prasad for Lord Ram will be prepared at Annapurna Mata temple (Sita Rasoi)," said Misra.

He said that the marble that is being used for making Ram idols was certified for its strength. One idol is made of white marble two others from grey marble or Krishna Shila. The idols are being made by three sculptors - Ganesh Bhatt, Arun Yogiraj and Satyanarayan Pandey. "The temple committee will decide which idol will be placed in the Garbha Griha," he said.
New Delhi: During a meeting with President Vladimir Putin, External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar highlighted the substantial advancement in bilateral trade between India and Russia, exceeding USD 50 billion. Jaishankar underscored the potential for continued growth and stressed the importance of fostering a more sustainable character in the trade relationship.

"I would like to highlight the progress we have and trade, which is in excess of a turnover of USD 50 million, and we believe that this is something whose potential is now only beginning to be visible. It is important that we give it a more sustainable character, and we discussed how we should do that," said Jaishankar.

Covering pivotal areas of collaboration, the External Affairs Minister (EAM) delved into discussions on the nuclear sector, emphasizing the signing of vital agreements linked to the Kudankulam project. He disclosed the completion of a significant accord pertaining to nuclear fuel supply, signaling progress in India-Russia cooperation within the nuclear domain.

Honoured to call on President Vladimir Putin this evening. Conveyed the warm greetings of PM @narendramodi and handed over a personal message.



Apprised President Putin of my discussions with Ministers Manturov and Lavrov. Appreciated his guidance on the further developments of pic.twitter.com/iuC944fYHq  Dr. S. Jaishankar (@DrSJaishankar) December 27, 2023

"The second aspect pertains to the nuclear side and we signed agreements yesterday that would take the Kudakulam project forward. And also, we have finalised a very significant agreement on nuclear fuel supply," he added.

During the meeting, Jaishankar conveyed Prime Minister Narendra Modi's personal greetings to President Putin. He mentioned that PM Modi had sent a letter expressing thoughts on the state of cooperation and recent progress.

"Please allow me to convey the personal greetings of Prime Minister Modi and he has also, through me, sent a letter to you, a letter expressing his thoughts about, the state of our cooperation and the progress that we have made in recent days. And I will have the honour to give you the letter," said Jaishankar.

"Certainly, he (PM Modi) looks forward to visiting Russia next year. And I'm sure that we will find a date that is mutually convenient from the political calendars of both countries," the EAM said, responding to President Putin's invitation to PM Modi.

Jaishankar took the opportunity to update President Putin on the progress made over the last two days, including discussions with Deputy Prime Minister Denis Manturov and Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov.

A wide ranging and useful meeting with FM Sergey Lavrov of Russia.



As strategic partners, discussed the international situation and contemporary issues. Exchanged views on Indo-Pacific, the Ukraine conflict, the Gaza situation , Afghanistan and Central Asia, BRICS, SCO, G20 and pic.twitter.com/Uk9VTbZm5y  Dr. S. Jaishankar (@DrSJaishankar) December 27, 2023

"I would also, extensively, like to take the opportunity to share with you aspects of the progress that we have made and in the last 2 days, I had a chance to discuss it with Deputy Prime Minister Denis Manturov and today with Lavrov," the EAM said.

Following his meeting with the Russian President, Jaishankar took to his social media handle on X and said that he appreciated Putin's guidance on the further developments of India-Russia ties.

"Honoured to call on President Vladimir Putin this evening. Conveyed the warm greetings of PM Narendra Modi and handed over a personal message. Apprised President Putin of my discussions with Ministers Manturov and Lavrov. Appreciated his guidance on the further developments of our ties," the EAM posted on X.

The EAM is on a Russia visit from December 25 to 29 as a part of the ongoing high-level exchanges between the two sides.
West Bengal: The Mamata Banerjee-led government has made former Kolkata police commissioner IPS officer Rajiv Kumar the new DGP of the state. He was chosen for this post after the retirement of Manoj Malviya. Rajiv Kumar, a native of Chandauli district in eastern Uttar Pradesh, has had a long association with controversies. Currently, he is counted among the favourite officers of CM Mamata Banerjee. Before that, he was a favourite officer of former CM Buddhadeb Bhattacharya. Rajiv Kumars career has been linked with both praise and criticism.

When the CBI had started its action during the investigation of the Saradha scam, Mamata Banerjee had sat on a dharna over his role. Whereas before that, the Trinamool Congress (TMC) had accused the chief of the Special Task Force (STF) of Kolkata Police, Rajiv Kumar, of tapping the phone of then railway minister Mamata Banerjee while being in the opposition in West Bengal in 2009. Later, a decade later, i.e. in 2019, Mamata Banerjee had opposed the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) probe against Kumar in the Saradha chit fund case.

Who Is IPS Rajiv Kumar?

57-year-old Rajiv Kumar is currently the principal secretary in the information and technology department. He is considered close to Mamata Banerjee. He is famous for his investigation and electronic surveillance skills. The IPS officer of the 1989 batch, Kumar has an engineering degree from IIT-Roorkee. He has worked on important posts like commissioner, joint commissioner (STF) and director general (CID) of Kolkata Police. Under his leadership, the STF of Kolkata Police was widely discussed for its campaigns against the Maoists.

Relation With Controversies

He played an important role in arresting Chhatradhar Mahato, an important person of the Lalgarh movement. Kumar, a native of Uttar Pradesh, had to face the allegations of TMCs then national general secretary Mukul Roy while working as the STF chief in 2009. Roy had accused him of tapping the phone of then railway minister Mamata Banerjee at the behest of the Left Front government. In 2011, when the TMC led by Mamata Banerjee came to power by defeating the Left Front, an attempt was made to transfer Kumar to a less important post, but senior police officers intervened to stop this step.

In 2012, when the Bidhannagar Police Commissionerate was established, Kumar became its first commissioner. In 2013, when the Saradha chit fund scam came to light and the TMC government was under heavy pressure, Kumar arrested Sudipta Sen and Debjani Mukherjee, the chairman and partner of the Saradha group, from Kashmir. Kumar led the Special Investigation Team (SIT) and due to his proximity to the ruling government, he received both praise and criticism.
MUMBAI: In a remarkable display of devotion transcending religious boundaries, Shabnam Sheikh, a Muslim woman from Mumbai, who embarked on a pilgrimage to Ayodhya to seek blessings at the revered Ram Temple, has arrived in the Barwani district of Madhya Pradesh. Shabnam Sheikh's undying devotion to Ram Lalla and her pilgrimage to Ayodhya not only challenges societal norms but also reflects the universal appeal of Lord Rama.

A Journey Of Faith And Pride

Shabnam, accompanied by her companions Raman Raj Sharma and Vineet Pandey, commenced her 1425-kilometer trek from Mumbai to Ayodhya on December 21. Undeterred by the physical challenges of the pilgrimage, Shabnam and her companions began their journey greeting everyone on their way with the divine chant of "Jai Shri Ram."

Shabnam while expressing pride in being a Muslim woman on this journey questioned societal norms that limit such pilgrimages to men. She emphasized that devotion to Lord Rama does not necessitate adhering to a specific religion but merely being a good human being.

A Spiritual Quest

Shabnam has now reached Sendhwa in the Barwani district of Madhya Pradesh, covering a daily distance of 25-30 kilometers with her companions. Driven by unwavering devotion, she remains uncertain about the date of her arrival in Ayodhya, citing the divine saying, "Ho Ihi Soi Jo Ram Rachi Rakha. (That which is ordained by Lord Rama will come to pass)."

Shabnam's journey has sparked discussions on social media, with her messages resonating beyond religious boundaries. She aims to convey two essential messages through her pilgrimage  first, that Lord Rama belongs to everyone, transcending caste and creed; and second, that women are equally capable of undertaking such journeys.

Breaking Stereotypes

Despite facing some hateful comments on social media, Shabnam has received overwhelming support for her journey. She carries the saffron flag, symbolizing her devotion, and has experienced heartening moments where Muslim communities along the route not only salute her but also join in chanting "Jai Shri Ram."

Shabnam dispels the misconception that certain tasks are reserved only for men, asserting that women, too, can embark on such spiritual quests. As she continues her journey, she remains optimistic, hoping to reach Ayodhya on or before the Ram temple consecration ceremony slated for January 22 next year.

Shabnam's Ayodhya pilgrimage is a testament to the transformative power of faith, breaking down barriers and inspiring others to challenge societal norms in pursuit of spiritual fulfilment.
New Delhi: In the wake of intense speculations about a potential leadership change within the Janata Dal (United), its national president Rajeev Ranjan, also popularly known as Lalan Singh, has categorically dismissed reports suggesting his resignation ahead of the national executive meeting scheduled for Friday.

'Nitish Supreme Leader'

Lalan Singh also clarified, "The National Executive is a regular meeting of the JDU. There are meetings of the national executive often. Nitish Kumar is our supreme leader, and the JDU is one and will always remain one."

#WATCH | On rumours about his resignation as JD(U) president, Rajiv Ranjan (Lalan) Singh says, "Nitish Kumar is the leader of our party. Janata Dal (United) is united and it will remain the same..." pic.twitter.com/fRqK43WieG  ANI (@ANI) December 28, 2023

JDU National Executive Meeting

Despite swirling rumours, the Janata Dal (United) is set to conduct its national executive meeting and national council meeting in Delhi on Friday. Lalan Singh, the Party President, convened the meetings amidst speculation that he might step down, paving the way for Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar to reassume control of the party.

Responding to the reports, JDU leader KC Tyagi also dismissed all rumours, stating, "I reject all rumours." He outlined the schedule of the two-day meetings, with Nitish Kumar's active participation.

Eye On 2024 Lok Sabha Polls

When questioned about possible party changes in light of the upcoming 2024 Lok Sabha elections, Tyagi asserted, "All these things are internal matters of the party, they are neither commented on nor statements are made publicly."

Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar, before departing for the capital, termed the Friday meeting as a regular tradition, occurring once a year. He asserted, "This is a normal meeting; it takes place once a year. There's nothing special in it."

Tejashwi Yadav Steps In

Bihar Deputy Chief Minister and RJD leader Tejashwi Yadav brushed aside the rumours surrounding Lalan Singh's resignation, emphasizing that such national executive meetings are routine for every political party.

Nitish Kumar's Tenure To Be Over Soon

As the BJP claimed an impending transfer of power in Bihar, Union Minister Giriraj Singh predicted Nitish Kumar's tenure is short-lived. Union Minister and BJP leader Giriraj Singh said, "Nitish Kumar ji will remain the Chief Minister of Bihar for just a few days. Lalu Yadav has created a 'chakravyu' for this. The first step of this 'chakravyu' was making Awadh Bihar the speaker of the Bihar Assembly. Nitish Kumar will become former (CM) very soon... It is fixed that Nitish Kumar will not remain the CM anymore. In the next few days, Bihar is going to get a CM from RJD..." However, the ruling coalition vehemently denied any such change in leadership.

JDU's Posturing In INDIA Alliance

The national executive meeting follows closely on the heels of the critical INDIA alliance meeting in Delhi. Amidst discussions with the Congress on alliance combinations, many JDU leaders advocate for Nitish Kumar to lead the INDIA bloc. In a recent development, JDU MLA Gopal Mandal expressed scepticism about Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge as a prospective PM candidate, asserting that common people recognize Nitish Kumar.

Notably, posters featuring Bihar CM Nitish Kumar with the slogan 'Pradesh Ne Pehchana, Ab Desh Bhi Pehchanega' (The state of Bihar recognized him, now the nation will) adorn the national executive meeting venue, reinforcing his standing within the party and the state.
AD Ports Group has completed a comprehensive environmental and social impact assessment (ESIA) for the development and operation of a state-of-the-art multi-purpose terminal at Safaga Port.

AD Ports had signed a 30-year concession agreement with the Red Sea Port Authority (RSPA) for the development of the port.

The terminal is designed to handle 6 million metric tonnes of bulk cargo, 450,000 TEUs of containers, and more than 50,000 roll-on/roll-off units. AD Ports Group will focus on developing the upper infrastructure, including buildings, facilities, and superstructures. The terminal is strategically positioned as the primary gateway for regional development, enhancing trade efficiency and connectivity.

Diverse scientific methodologies

The ESIA was conducted using diverse scientific methodologies, complying with Egypt's national regulations and International Requirements, including Egypt's Law No 4 of 1994 for environmental protection, the IFC Performance Standards, and the World Bank Groups EHS Guidelines.

Highlighted within the assessments findings were the significant benefits of the project, including economic growth through stimulating local economies, job creation, and boosting regional economic activity. Leveraging AD Ports Groups experience in developing advanced port infrastructure, the terminal is well-positioned to improve accessibility and connectivity, while adopting environment-friendly practices that will reduce pollution and conserve natural resources.

The ESIA further highlights the impacts on community development, noting the anticipated improvement in community infrastructure, education, healthcare, and social services.

Mitigation measures

Comprehensive plans have been established, which include mitigation measures to address potential negative impacts during construction and operational phases, including dust emissions, noise levels, waste management, and occupational health and safety. This environmental management plan further outlines procedures for environmental management, self-monitoring, and social management, ensuring sustainable and responsible practices.

In parallel with the ESIA, the design of the multi-purpose terminal is aiming for net-zero certifications for two of its buildings, while incorporating various sustainable design features in the buildings and infrastructure. These features include carefully selected low-carbon materials, as well as energy and water efficient systems.

Saif Al Mazrouei, Chief Executive Officer, Ports Cluster, AD Ports Group, said: As a Group, we are committed to sustainable and responsible port development, particularly in the communities in which we operate, so that we can actively contribute, positively, to the local economy and environment. However, we understand that our commitment extends beyond infrastructure and, together with the Red Sea Port Authority, we hope to create meaningful change that drives sustainable economic growth.--TradeArabia News Service
I chuckled when I heard Chinese smartphone and device maker Xiaomi (XIACF) was targeting luxury automakers like Porsche when it unveiled its SU7 EV sedan at an event in Beijing.

Then I took a look at it  and read the specs. Xiaomi may have tech gadget roots, but the company, and its billionaire founder, are dead serious.

The SU7 is almost a clone of Porsches Taycan EV and Panamera sedan (well see if Porsche eventually has anything official to say on this). From a design standpoint the front lights remind me of McLarens 720S supercar, but the rest looks all German sports sedan.

Underneath the skin, Xiaomi founder and CEO Lei Jun said the EV will use battery cells made from Chinas CATL, known for its LFP battery technology, as well as from Chinese EV maker BYD. The SU7 will target a range of 800 km (around 500 miles), powered by its HyperEngine electric motors, which are more powerful than Teslas motors, Lei said.

In the high spec, dual motor trim, that powertrain will give the SU7 a sub-3 second 0-100kph (62mph) timenearly as fast as Teslas Model S Plaid.

Visitors film around Xiaomi's first electric vehicle, the SU7, displayed at an event in Beijing, China, Dec. 28, 2023. (Florence Lo/REUTERS) (REUTERS / Reuters)

The Tesla comparisons dont end there. Lei said Xiaomi will use hypercasting techniques similar to Teslas gigacasting, where giant hydraulic presses make larger chassis pieces, enabling faster and simpler production.

Xiaomis billionaire founder declined to give a starting price or availability date, though he did say it would be a relatively expensive luxury offering.

Our goal is to build a vehicle that matches up to Porsche and Tesla [models], a dream car for the new era of the automobile industry, Lei said at the launch event. He went on to say that his goal is for Xiaomi to be a top five global carmaker in the next 15 to 20 years.

The Xiaomi SU7 (Xiaomi) (Xiaomi)

In the interim, Xiaomi will use Chinese state-owned automaker Beijing Automotive (BAIC) to manufacture the SU7, in addition to a second forthcoming EV. Xiaomi has said in the past it will invest $1.4 billion into its EV effort, which also includes software development for autonomous driving and its HyperOS infotainment system, which is powered by Android.

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Though audacious, Lei Jun is not someone to be taken lightly. He started Xiaomi and grew the company from a cheap mobile phone maker to one that makes innovative and user-centered devices that now boasts passionate users known as Mi Fans.

Going after Tesla: Xiaomi founder and CEO Lei Jun speaks at an event on the company's first electric vehicle SU7, in Beijing, China, Dec. 28, 2023. (Florence Lo/REUTERS) (REUTERS / Reuters)

Xiaomi is also not the first mobile device maker to enter the EV space. Chinas Huawei is targeting 600,000 unit sales of its Aito EV by 2024, and even Japans Sony will make its Afeela EV with partner Honda by mid-decade.

The luxury EV space is hypercompetitive in China  it includes the likes of the Porsche Taycan (and sister car Audi e-tron GT), Tesla Model S, and NIOs just-announced ET9. The question is whether Lei Juns tech-savvy Mi Fans will step up to buy SU7 EVs in the likely 400,000+ yuan ($60,000+) range that are not made by prestige automakers like Porsche.

Pras Subramanian is a reporter for Yahoo Finance. You can follow him on Twitter and on Instagram.

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New Delhi: A local court on Thursday issued a production warrant for AAP leader and Rajya Sabha member Sanjay Singh, who is currently in jail, in a defamation case related to his comments on Prime Minister Narendra Modis educational degree. The additional chief metropolitan magistrate SJ Panchal ordered the production warrant after Singhs lawyer said he had no instruction from his client, who is lodged in Delhis Tihar jail in connection with a money laundering case involving an alleged excise scam in Delhi.

Singh was arrested on October 5 and has been in judicial custody since then. The court directed the police to bring Singh from Tihar jail and present him before the court at 11 am on January 11, when the next hearing of the case will take place. Singh and Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal are accused of making sarcastic and derogatory remarks against Gujarat University (GU) over PM Modis degree.

The court started examining witnesses on Thursday, but Kejriwals lawyer sought exemption from appearance, which the court granted. Singhs lawyer told the court that he had not received any instructions from Singh as he was behind bars, but GUs lawyer Amit Nair objected to this and said it was a ploy by the AAP leader to delay the proceedings.

He requested the court to issue a production warrant for Singh, which the court agreed to and issued the warrant. The court had earlier summoned the two AAP leaders after finding that there was a prima facie case of defamation under section 500 of the Indian Penal Code (IPC) against them.

GU registrar Piyush Patel had filed the defamation case against Kejriwal and Singh for their statements after the Gujarat HC quashed the Chief Information Commissioners order on PM Modis degree.

The complainant alleged that the AAP leaders had defamed the university by targeting it over Modis degree in their press conferences and on their Twitter, now X, accounts. He claimed that the AAP leaders statements had damaged the reputation of the university, which had earned its name among the public.
Ayodhya: Prime Minister Narendra Modi will address attendees at the grand consecration event of the Ram Temple in Ayodhya from the front of the 'Singh Dwar', the main entrance to the temple, sources said on Thursday. PM Modi will throw the gates of the grand temple open for visitors at the consecration event on January 22, next year.

According to sources, lakhs of devotees are likely to pour into the temple town for the January 22 consecration. Meanwhile, Shri Ram Janmabhoomi Teerth Kshetra, the trust entrusted with the construction and management of the grand Ram Temple in Ayodhya, is scheduled to hold a meeting today.

According to sources, the discussions will centre on the idol of Lord Ram, which will be installed inside the sanctum sanctorum of the grand temple at the grand opening or consecration of the shrine on January 22.

Preparations for the consecration ceremony of the temple on January 22 will also be discussed in detail during the meeting, the sources added. There will be another meeting of the trust to select the idol of Ram Lalla.

Earlier in the day, Uttar Pradesh Deputy Chief Minister Keshav Prasad Maurya participated in the cleanliness campaign drive in the temple city ahead of the grand event.

While speaking to reporters, he said, "With the resolve, Swachh Rahe Shri Ram Ka Dham' (Lord Ram's place should be cleaned) the cleanliness campaign is going on in Ayodhya and today we have launched the cleanliness campaign. Everyone together will keep Ayodhya clean."

Earlier, on Wednesday, trust secretary Champat Rai said that a 51-inch tall idol of Lord Ram reflecting a five-year-old Ram Lalla -- would be selected among three designs.

"The one which has the best divineness and has a child-like look about it will be selected," he said.

Rai, describing the map of Shri Ram Janmabhoomi temple, said a total of 21-22 lakh cubic feet of stone has been used in the construction of the entire structure. "Such a big stone structure has never been built in North or South India even in the last 100-200 years," he said.

"A foundation of 56-layered artificial rock, created by engineers, has been laid below the structure. Second, a plinth comprising 17000 granite blocks from Karnataka and Telangana has been laid across 21 feet above the ground. Around five lakh cubic feet of pink-coloured sandstone sourced from Bharatpur, Rajasthan have been used to construct the temple structure. The sanctum sanctorum of the temple is made up of pure white Makrana marble, which is ready," he told reporters.

Meanwhile, Prime Minister Narendra Modi is scheduled to arrive at the temple city on Saturday to inaugurate the Ayodhya airport and the railway station, which is being revamped especially on the temple model.
NEW DELHI: In a poignant address to the security forces, Defence Minister Rajnath Singh invoked the spirit of former Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee, emphasizing the need to not only defend the nation but also to win the hearts of its citizens. The message was delivered during Singh's visit to the Armys Rajouri-based 25 Division headquarters, against the backdrop of a recent terror attack on an Army convoy that claimed the lives of four soldiers.

Rajnath's Call For A Holistic Duty

Addressing the troops, Singh acknowledged their crucial role in defending the country and urged them to carry an additional responsibility  that of winning the hearts of their fellow countrymen. He stressed the importance of ''avoiding mistakes'' that may harm citizens and encouraged a deeper connection between the armed forces and the people. Singh expressed confidence in the troops' ability to play a pivotal role in building trust within communities.

Acknowledging Challenges And Grief

Singh's visit followed the tragic incident where locals were allegedly mistreated by security forces after the attack, leading to the loss of three lives. Expressing grief over the death of the soldiers and condemning any harm befalling citizens, Singh called for increased vigilance to prevent such incidents. He assured the troops of the government's unwavering support and emphasized the irreplaceable loss incurred through the martyrdom of a soldier.

Building Bridges With Communities

Encouraging troops to engage with the local populace, Singh advocated regular visits to inquire about their well-being. He reiterated that, while the primary goal is to eliminate terrorism, winning the hearts of the people is equally significant. Singh underscored the broader mission of fostering a strong bond between the armed forces and the citizens they protect.

Atal Bihari Vajpayee's Enduring Vision

Drawing parallels to Atal Bihari Vajpayee's approach, Singh echoed the former Prime Minister's belief that the ultimate solution to the Kashmir issue lies in winning the hearts and minds of the Kashmiri people. Vajpayee prioritized the humane treatment of citizens and emphasized the importance of Insaaniyat, Jamhuriat, and Kashmiriyat in addressing the complex situation in the region.

In reflecting on Vajpayee's legacy, Singh highlighted the enduring importance of a compassionate and people-centric approach, acknowledging that a military solution alone cannot resolve the intricate challenges posed by the Jammu and Kashmir issue.
New Delhi: Addressing sensitive societal issues requires immense courage. Action originates from a deep-seated desire for change. While many harbor the aspiration to transform society, only a few possess the audacity to pursue it. Dr. Sunitha Krishnan exemplifies such rare courage. As a social activist and co-founder of Prajwala, an NGO dedicated to rescuing victims of sex trafficking, her inspiring success story unfolds.

EARLY LIFE

Born on May 23, 1969, in Bangalore, India, Sunitha Krishnan emerged from a Palakkad Malayali family. Despite being born with a physical disabilityher legs turned backwardshe underwent extensive treatment. At the tender age of eight, she began teaching mentally challenged children, extending her altruism. By twelve, while attending Kendriya Vidyalaya Waltair in Visakhapatnam, she initiated classes for slum children and engaged in a neo-literacy campaign for Dalits. Tragically, her path took a dark turn when, at this time, she fell victim to a gang rape by eight men opposed to her actions. This traumatic incident became a pivotal force shaping her current endeavors.

CAREER

Subsequently, Sunitha relocated to Hyderabad to join the Peoples Initiative Network (PIN), founded by Brother Varghese Theckanath, aiming to uplift slum dwellers. In 1996, as part of PIN, she actively participated in the housing rights campaign, thwarting the "beautification project" near the Musi River. Collaborating with Theckanath, she trained at-risk youth, providing them with employment opportunities.

Rise of PRAJWALA

In the same year, a red-light area in Hyderabad faced eviction, rendering many sex workers homeless. Concerned for their well-being, Sunitha Krishnan established a school at the vacated site, now known as PRAJWALA. The organization operates with five core objectives: Prevention, Protection, Rescue, Rehabilitation, and Reintegration. Sunitha's vision to save the "second generation" from trafficking birthed a program spanning 17 transition centers, making Prajwala the world's largest anti-trafficking shelter. The #ShameTheRapist campaign, led by Sunitha in 2015, gained significant traction. Beyond shelter, Prajwala imparts training in skills such as welding, painting, carpentry, and housekeeping to victims.

ADVOCACY

Sunitha Krishnan's efforts led to the Government of Andhra Pradesh adopting her recommendations in 2003 for the rescue and rehabilitation of sexual violence victims. She later became a member of Andhra Pradesh States Commission in 2013. Serving as an advisor for the Government of Kerala's Nirbhaya policy, she resigned due to insufficient support but was subsequently reappointed with increased authority.

OTHER WORKS

In addition to her activism, Sunitha authored documents on human trafficking, notably receiving acclaim for "The Shattered Innocence." Recognizing the power of film, she produced the award-winning documentary "Anamika" in 2005. Collaborating with Suntouch Productions, she launched the feature film "Ente" in Malayalam and "Naa Bangaru Thalli" in Telugu, both addressing sex trafficking and earning international acclaim with eight awards.
West Bengal: The state education department has refused to follow the fresh guideline from the University Grants Commission (UGC) that discontinued MPhil as a degree. The state education minister Bratya Basu announced this on Thursday, less than a day after the UGC issued a notification warning that MPhil degree courses offered by universities are no longer recognised.

The state education department will not be accepting this new directive imposed by the UGC. The state will follow its own independent education policy. We first need to have a clear idea on the matter. The central bodies cannot impose anything on the state. We will follow our own guidelines as suggested by our experts, Basu said.

The MPhil issue has created another area of tension in the West Bengal education sector, which is already mired in a prolonged tussle between the state education department and the governors house over the appointments and removal of interim vice-chancellors in different state universities.

The UGC had earlier directed all higher educational institutions not to offer MPhil programmes and some universities were continuing with it. The fresh notification from the UGC came as a result of this.

However, legal experts feel that the state education department will not have much legal options in the long run except accepting the UGCs recommendations on this matter. They said that since education is a subject in the concurrent list, the state government cannot take any decision that goes against the central act in the matter.

They said that if any state act or amendment in the act has a conflict with a central act in a matter related to any concurrent list subject, the clause of the central act will prevail in the matter.
New Delhi: XG, the sensational 7-member Hip Hop/R&B-inspired girl group from Japan, will make a return appearance only in the upcoming 390th episode of 'THE FIRST TAKE'. Having made their debut just last week, XG has quickly gained global attention.

In 2023, they took part in numerous overseas festivals, including 'Head In The Clouds New York' (May), 'Head In The Clouds Los Angeles' (August), 'KCON LA 2023' (August), 'FORMULA1 SINGAPORE AIRLINES SINGAPORE GRAND PRIX 2023' (September), 'SXSW Sydney' (November), and 'HYPEROUND K-FEST ABU DHABI' (November). On November 26th, they held their first solo live performance in front of an audience, with 'XG 'NEW DNA' SHOWCASE in Japan,' at the Pia Arena MM (Yokohama), receiving over 200,000 ticket applications.

Their first appearance on 'THE FIRST TAKE' last week, on the 15th (Friday), featured their 3rd Single 'SHOOTING STAR', creating significant buzz.

For their second appearance today, they will showcase their latest single released on December 8th, "WINTER WITHOUT YOU." This Winter R&B track beautifully expresses the nostalgic and poignant feelings associated with thinking about loved ones who are far away during Christmas, incorporating warm sensibility and sweet harmony. Unlike their usual edgy XG style, this song allows viewers to enjoy the ensemble of the seven members' personalities and beautiful harmonies. This special one-take recording on "THE FIRST TAKE" marks the first performance of this work in Japanese media.
New Delhi: As we step into the new year, smartphone enthusiasts have much to look forward to, with major brands gearing up for a series of exciting launches in January 2024. Notable players such as OnePlus, Samsung, and Xiaomi are set to unveil their latest offerings.

Xiaomi Redmi Note 13 Series

Kicking off the year, Xiaomi is launching the Redmi Note 13 series in India on January 4, 2024. The models boast AMOLED displays with a 120Hz refresh rate, driven by a blend of Qualcomm and MediaTek Dimensity 5G chipsets with up to 12GB RAM. (Also Read: How Much Monthly Interest Will You Earn For Rs 1 Lakh FD Across Different Tenors? Check Calculator)

While featuring Android 13-based MIUI 14, the highlight is the staggering 200MP primary rear camera on the Redmi Note 13 Pro+. The Pro+ model may also impress with a 5000mAh battery supporting 120W charging. (Also Read: Ratan Tata's 86th Birthday: Check Out 5 Interesting Facts About Industrialist)

Vivo X100 Series

Simultaneously, Vivo is set to launch its X100 series on the same day. The X100 and X100 Pro flaunt a 6.78-inch curved AMOLED display with a 1.5K resolution and a smooth 120Hz refresh rate.

Powered by MediaTek's Dimensity 9300 chipset, these phones offer configurations of up to 16GB RAM and 1TB storage. Notably, the X100 Pro stands out with an additional camera and supports both wired 100W and wireless 50W charging.

Samsung Galaxy S24

Samsung is poised to make a splash with the Galaxy S24 series, expected to launch in South Korea next month. The lineup includes the vanilla, plus, and Ultra variants, featuring the latest Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 chipset and a powerful quad-camera setup, including a 200MP main camera.

With a substantial 5,000mAh battery and 45W fast charging, the Galaxy S24 Ultra aims to be a strong contender in the market.

OnePlus 12

OnePlus is set to unveil the OnePlus 12 on January 23, 2024, for a global audience. Priced around Rs 60,000 for the base model, it features a 6.82-inch 2K Super Fluid AMOLED display with an LTPO panel.

Powered by the latest Qualcomm chipset, it offers up to 16GB RAM and 512GB storage. The imaging prowess includes a triple rear camera setup with a 50MP primary sensor, 64MP telephoto lens, and a 48MP ultra-wide-angle sensor.
In this article, well list the Best Divorce Lawyers in Each of 30 Biggest Cities in the US, based on our research. Well also discuss key trends and developments in the divorce industry. To skip the detailed analysis and have an overview of the best divorce lawyers in the top 10 US cities, read Best Divorce Lawyers in Each of 10 Biggest Cities in the US.

The divorce industry is witnessing some major shifts today. In the 1970s, the introduction of no-fault divorce laws in various states led to a surge in divorces in the United States. However, the US divorce rate has hit a 50-year low in recent years. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), 2.3 in every 1000 marriages ended in divorce in 2020  the lowest since 2000. In 2021, the total number of divorces and annulments in the US reached 689,308, a significant decline from 944,000 divorces in 2000. This is mainly attributed to the declining overall rate of people getting married in the country.

However, despite this gradual decline in divorce rates, its still a dilemma of the 21st century where various factors lead to calling it quits. According to the National Library of Medicine, lack of commitment is the top reason for divorce, followed by extramarital affairs, too many conflicts, getting married too young, financial problems, and more.

Its also interesting to see that certain professions have a higher divorce rate than others. A report by FlowingData shows that gaming managers and bartenders have a high divorce rate of 52.9% and 52.7% respectively. Flight attendants, gaming service workers, and rolling machine setters also have high divorce rates of above 50%.

But there are other professions with lower divorce rates, including actuaries, scientists, clergy, software developers, and more. Actuaries, for example, have the lowest divorce rates of 17%.

Though divorce rates are generally declining and certain professions show lower rates, the industry is still a big business in the USA. Estimates suggest that the US divorce industry generates around $28 billion annually, with the average cost of getting divorced in the country falling between $10,000 to $20,000.

Story continues

This high revenue shows the significant financial and emotional toll that divorce can take on individuals. It also highlights the growth of the industry where certain emerging trends are making it easier for people to navigate the divorce process.

For instance, now many online platforms like LegalZoom.com Inc (NASDAQ:LZ), Tyler Technologies Inc (NYSE:TYL), and Thomson Reuters Corp (NYSE:TRI) offer legal services and software tools to make the divorce process more accessible and less costly.

Thomson Reuters Corp (NYSE:TRI), for example, offers a range of products and solutions to assist legal professionals. Its legal subsidiary, FindLaw, is a leading online platform that offers comprehensive legal information and a directory of attorneys.

In 2023, Thomson Reuters Corp (NYSE:TRI) acquired Casetext, a cloud-based legal research platform that develops AI-driven tools for legal professionals. Thomson Reuters Corp (NYSE:TRI) also announced to invest $100 million each year for the development of generative AI experiences and enhance its existing AI-based products to offer more enhanced experiences to its users.

LegalZoom.com Inc (NASDAQ:LZ) is another prominent online platform that allows customers to fill out a questionnaire for legal processes, including divorces, and receive precise instructions for filing. In September 2023, LegalZoom.com Inc (NASDAQ:LZ) launched Doc Assist  a tool that uses generative AI to help summarize legal documents, which can be effective for efficiently processing divorce documents.

Tyler Technologies Inc (NYSE:TYL) is another major player in the legal tech space that provides software solutions to public sector entities and court systems. Tyler Technologies Inc (NYSE:TYL) offers products like court management systems and dispute resolution software for courts and justice needs.

Which State has the Highest Divorce Rate?

According to the CDC, Nevada has the highest divorce rate; 4.2 divorces per 1000 marriages happen in the state. The state's more relaxed approach to both marriage and divorce is considered the top reason behind this high rate.

Unlike Nevada, the divorce rate in some states is significantly low. According to the CDC, Massachusetts tops the list, with just 1 divorce per 1000 marriages. Illinois and Texas follow, with 1.3 and 1.4 divorces per 1000 marriages respectively.

Such regional differences can influence the demand for legal services for divorce. In states with higher divorce rates, there's likely more work for divorce lawyers, and they might need different skills than in states where fewer people are getting divorced.

With that said, let's move to the list of the best divorce lawyers in the 30 biggest cities in America.

Best Divorce Lawyers in Each of 30 Biggest Cities in the US

Goodluz/Shutterstock.com

Methodology

For the article "Best Divorce Lawyers in Each of 30 Biggest Cities in the US," we first picked out the 30 largest U.S. cities by population.

Then, for each city, we searched for divorce lawyers using terms like "Divorce lawyers in [City Name]" and assessed them based on their Google ratings and reviews. For each city, we picked lawyers and law firms with the highest Google ratings and the highest number of Google reviews.

By the way, Insider Monkey is an investing website that tracks the movements of corporate insiders and hedge funds. By using a similar consensus approach, we identify the best stock picks of more than 900 hedge funds investing in US stocks. The top 10 consensus stock picks of hedge funds outperformed the S&P 500 Index by more than 140 percentage points over the last 10 years (see the details here). Whether you are a beginner investor or a professional looking for the best stocks to buy, you can benefit from the wisdom of hedge funds and corporate insiders.

So if youre wondering who is the best attorney for divorce in the USA, here is our list of the Best Divorce Lawyers in Each of 30 Biggest Cities in the US.

Here is the list of best divorce lawyers/law-firms in the 30 most populous cities in the US.

Best Divorce Lawyers/Law-Firms in Each of the 30 Biggest Cities in the US

30. Karp & Lancu, S.C. - Milwaukee, Wisconsin

Average Google rating: 4.9

Current Google reviews: 271

The firm has presented more than 10,000 divorce cases and is trusted by clients for industry expertise, professionalism, and experience.

29. Divorce With A Plan- Baltimore, Maryland

Average Google rating: 4.5

Current Google reviews: 101

This family law firm in Baltimore helps you develop a sound divorce plan to best protect your interest during a divorce.

28. ADAM (American Divorce Association For Men) - Detroit, Michigan

Average Google rating: 4.6

Current Google reviews: 325

In business since 1988, ADAM is a dedicated divorce law firm for men. The legal firm is located in Southfield, Michigan and serves surrounding areas, including Detroit.

27. Davis & Greene PC - Memphis, Tennessee

Average Google rating: 4.8

Current Google reviews: 167

Davis & Greene own TNDivorce.com, a law firm in business since 2011. They offer unconsented divorce services and legal consulting for family matters.

26. Vegas Divorce Pros - Las Vegas, Nevada

Average Google rating: 4.7

Current Google reviews: 239

Vegas Divorce Pros are known for their friendly customer support and efficient services. The firm also claims to offer affordable divorce packages.

25. Goldberg Jones - Portland, Oregon

Average Google rating: 4.5

Current Google reviews: 295

Goldberg Jones is a dedicated divorce law firm for men that offers services in divorce, child custody, and other family matters.

24. Pease & Associates Law Firm, PLLC - El Paso, Texas

Average Google rating: 4.7

Current Google reviews: 192

Pease & Associates is a family law firm that assists in divorce cases, personal injury matters, and criminal law.

23. Turco Legal, P.C. - Boston, Massachusetts

Average Google rating: 4.9

Current Google reviews: 84

This legal firm has offices in Boston, Andover, Newton, and Newburyport. They help you with divorce, legal custody, child support, alimony, and other matters in divorce cases.

22. The Law Offices of Lawrence Goodwin - Oklahoma City, Oklahoma

Average Google rating: 4.3

Current Google reviews: 95

Located in Shartel, Oklahoma, Lawrence Goodwin is an award-winning legal group that helps you with family law advice and matters.

21. Dannenbaum Law Firm, PLLC - Washington DC

Average Google rating: 4.8

Current Google reviews: 186

Dannenbaum Law Firm is a family law attorney with more than 10 years of experience. They handle matters related to family law, uncontested divorce, and mediation.

20. Michael K. Walker, Attorney at Law - Nashville, Tennessee

Average Google rating: 4.8

Current Google reviews: 117

This law firm offers services in divorce law, criminal defense, and traffic violations in Nashville. Its verified with MANTA and has an established presence on Avvo.

19. Modern Family Law - Denver, Colorado

Average Google rating: 4.5

Current Google reviews: 351

Modern Family Law is a group of attorneys that offer services in all aspects of family law, including divorces, child custody, child support, and more.

18. Goldberg Jones - Seattle, Washington

Average Google rating: 4.3

Current Google reviews: 202

Other than its presence in Portland, Goldberg Jones also offers its services in Seattle and San Diego.

17. Amin Law - San Francisco, California

Average Google rating: 4.9

Current Google reviews: 89

Amin Law is one of the best divorce law firms near San Francisco, CA. Clients trust the lawyers for their honest, sympathetic, and professional services.

16. The Law Office of Melissa Winkler-York, LLC - Indianapolis, Indiana

Average Google rating: 4.5

Current Google reviews: 420

This law firm offers family law services, including divorce, child support, custody, adoption, and visitation. Other than divorce, the firm also handles criminal defense and personal injury matters.

15. Arnold & Smith PLLC - Charlotte, North Carolina

Average Google rating: 4.8

Current Google reviews: 285

Founded in 2007, Arnold & Smith is one of the top divorce law firms in North Carolina. It has three offices, located in Charlotte, Monroe, and Mooreseville. The firm has award-winning legal professionals who help individuals with family law matters.

14. Barr, Jones and Associates LLP - Columbus, Ohio

Average Google rating: 4.8

Current Google reviews: 118

Established in 2004, this divorce attorney handles all kinds of family law cases, including divorce, custody, visitation, and more.

13. Schreier & Housewirth Family Law - Fort Worth, Texas

Average Google rating: 4.6

Current Google reviews: 137

The group of attorneys is trusted by its customers for its friendly services, industry knowledge, and attentiveness.

12. The Lasky Law Firm - Jacksonville, Florida

Average Google rating: 4.5

Current Google reviews: 177

The Lasky Law Firm has more than 55 years of industry experience, making it one of the best divorce law firms in Florida. The firm handles family law cases like divorces, child custody, paternity, prenuptial agreements, and more.

11. MAT RUEDA LAW FIRM - Austin, Texas

Average Google rating: 4.9

Current Google reviews: 236

With more than 19 years of experience, MAT RUEDA is one of the top family law firms in Austin. They have handled more than 1200 divorce cases and 2500 plus family cases.

Click to continue reading and see the Best Divorce Lawyers in Each of 10 Biggest Cities in the US.

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Disclosure. None. Best Divorce Lawyers in Each of 30 Biggest Cities in the US is originally published on Insider Monkey.
(Bloomberg) -- This spring, Nir Bar Dea finally got the role hed been working toward for years, becoming sole chief executive officer of the worlds biggest hedge fund.

Most Read from Bloomberg

In his new job, he was looking to reshape the giant Bridgewater Associates. His goals: Keep clients and revamp the quirky culture of the company founded almost five decades before by Ray Dalio, who demanded radical transparency from his co-workers as a means to reach his idea of corporate nirvana  meaningful work and meaningful relationships.

Yet the tight-knit, insular nature of the firm, where many employees join right out of college, and often turn to each other for companionship well beyond the confines of the office, was about to cause trouble for the new boss.

Within weeks of Bar Deas promotion, a previous romantic relationship with a colleague burst back into view. Paul Ross  an executive pushed out in Bar Deas first major corporate overhaul  accused the company of favoritism, age and sex discrimination, after Bar Deas former girlfriend Erin Miles and her ex-fiance Sean Macrae replaced him in the shuffle.

The accusations spurred a board-level investigation in April. The review, conducted by law firm Clarick Gueron Reisbaum, found there was no merit to Rosss claims, according to people familiar with the process.

The relationship between Bar Dea and Miles was not kept secret from management or fellow employees and no one disputes certain facts. The two first got involved around 2016, when Bar Dea had been at Bridgewater for about a year and Miles had been there for seven. The relationship ended a few years ago, according to people at the firm.

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Yet the recent incident, based on interviews with more than a dozen people familiar with the firm, all of whom requested anonymity because of the sensitive nature of the episode, offers a rare window into the distinctive culture that evolved under its iconoclastic founder. It also highlights the difficulties Bridgewater, historically led almost exclusively by men, faces in navigating workplace relationships as the company promotes more women into its top ranks.

While Ross brought a formal internal complaint, other employees have privately expressed concern to colleagues about the optics of the management changes, according to people familiar with the conversations.

Bridgewater Co-Chairs Margo Cook and Mike McGavick said in a statement that a former employee asserted that one of our best people, a woman with over 14 years of experience and outperformance at the company, was promoted for reasons other than her extensive qualifications, even though he had previously praised her. To advance his own self-interest, he perpetuates deeply harmful dynamics that have been used against the most capable people, and women specifically, since the beginning of time.

Ross didnt return calls seeking comment.

Close Ties

Because many employees at Bridgewater are in their 20s and 30s and work long hours in the Connecticut suburbs far outside New York City, romantic relationships are common, people who have worked there said.

The close ties were also fueled by Dalios unusual management style. He oversaw Bridgewater using the Principles  hundreds of rules he created to run his life and his business. Those directives encouraged a culture of open disagreement. Employees spent hours grading each other, and most meetings were recorded for later study.

By all accounts, the work environment at Bridgewater isnt for everyone, with some recruits leaving the firm after a short time. But others embrace it, and say the direct manner in which they interact with their colleagues helps create the kind of meaningful relationships that Dalio espoused.

And the togetherness extends beyond work. There are almost 100 clubs where employees can do everything from play softball to rescue pets. Co-Chief Investment Officer Bob Prince helped establish Grace Community Church in New Canaan, which some Bridgewater employees attend.

Those who do stay often serve long tenures, driven by cultural fit, healthy compensation and non-compete clauses that become more stringent as executives enter the top ranks.

While Bridgewater does not bar co-workers from dating, company rules say that such relationships are prohibited when the individuals are in a direct reporting line, or when one individual has meaningful influence or control over the employment of the other person, thus creating an actual or perceived conflict of interest.

Across the corporate landscape, stricter standards on personal behavior have thrown consensual relationships involving top executives into the spotlight. Companies including BP Plc, Cboe Global Markets Inc., McDonalds Corp. and BlackRock Inc. have seen exits in their top ranks in recent years over personal relationships and inadequate disclosures about them. Bridgewaters situation shows that even when relationships are disclosed, they can lead to thorny dynamics and complaints of favoritism.

During the four or so years of their relationship, Bar Dea and Miles both climbed quickly through the ranks.

By 2019, he was co-head of the investment engine  Bridgewater-speak for research, trading and portfolio construction  one of the top jobs at the firm reporting to Greg Jensen, co-CIO. Miles, 36, had risen to co-head of equities research.

She had been named a partner by 2021 and would later join the investment committee. Bar Dea had jumped to deputy CEO. He became co-CEO in 2022, just seven years after joining.

Because of their prior relationship, Bar Dea isnt involved in any decisions around Miles pay or promotions, according to people familiar with the firms internal practices.

Previously, Miles had been engaged to Macrae, 37, who joined the firm in 2008. Macrae, whos also a partner, had been co-head of research analytics and led Bridgewaters currency investment and China research. Macrae is now married to another Bridgewater employee, who until recently had been Bar Deas chief of staff.

In March, Bar Dea and other members of the leadership team undertook a major restructuring that involved firing about 100 people, or roughly 8% of the staff. As part of the reshuffle, the firm aimed to fill management positions in its investment business with employees who had risen through that unit, the people said.

Ross, a 43-year-old who worked at Bridgewater for two decades and met his wife there, was replaced by Miles and Macrae as co-heads of the investment engine, the same role Bar Dea previously held.

Must-Win Battle

The elevation of Bar Dea, 42, marked the end of a 12-year transition away from Dalio, an era of CEO churn and mostly poor performance that caused some investors to bolt.

The March shakeup marked the biggest change since Dalio relinquished control of Bridgewater in September 2022, transferring his voting rights to the board and stepping down as one of three co-CIOs. That allowed the next generation, led by Bar Dea and Jensen, to take control  in what Bar Dea called in a Bloomberg interview last year a must-win battle.

His fight now revolves around improving performance. The firms flagship Pure Alpha II fund has annualized about 3.5% since the start of 2012. Hedge fund assets fell to $97 billion as of June, according to Pensions & Investments, down from about $126 billion a year earlier. The firm has said it will cap the amount of money it manages in its hedge funds, without specifying what that limit will be. The firm also has strategies beyond its hedge funds and in all managed about $124 billion as of the end of last year, according to a regulatory filing.

This year, the main fund has climbed 7.5% through October, though its equities group has struggled.

Bridgewater also faces closer scrutiny after the publication last month of Rob Copelands The Fund, a book that describes a dysfunctional organization under Dalio and his obsession with the Principles.

Bar Deas rise at the firm is barely mentioned in the book, but he does appear in one episode in 2018 involving a different intra-Bridgewater romance. In it, he grilled a female employee about a sexual relationship she was having with a colleague that Bridgewater executives claimed wasnt properly disclosed  a line of questioning that a person familiar with the incident confirmed to Bloomberg.

In Copelands account, which the firm denied, Bar Dea demanded she tell him the dates that shed had sex with her co-worker.

She refused.

Most Read from Bloomberg Businessweek

2023 Bloomberg L.P.
Assessing the Sustainability and Growth of Cardinal Health's Dividend

Cardinal Health Inc (NYSE:CAH) recently announced a dividend of $0.50 per share, payable on 2024-01-15, with the ex-dividend date set for 2023-12-29. As investors look forward to this upcoming payment, the spotlight also shines on the company's dividend history, yield, and growth rates. Using the data from GuruFocus, let's look into Cardinal Health Inc's dividend performance and assess its sustainability.

What Does Cardinal Health Inc Do?

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Cardinal Health is one of three leading pharmaceutical wholesalers in the U.S., engaged in sourcing and distributing branded, generic, and specialty pharmaceutical products. The company serves a diverse array of healthcare providers, including pharmacies, hospitals, and healthcare facilities across North America, Europe, and Asia. Cardinal Health Inc is a key player in the healthcare supply chain, ensuring the delivery of vital medications and medical products.

Cardinal Health Inc's Dividend Analysis

A Glimpse at Cardinal Health Inc's Dividend History

Cardinal Health Inc has demonstrated a strong commitment to returning value to shareholders through dividends, maintaining a consistent dividend payment record since 1985. The company distributes dividends quarterly and has achieved the prestigious status of a dividend aristocrat by increasing its dividend annually since 1988. This track record reflects the company's financial stability and dedication to its shareholders.

Below is a chart showing annual Dividends Per Share for tracking historical trends.

Breaking Down Cardinal Health Inc's Dividend Yield and Growth

Cardinal Health Inc boasts a trailing dividend yield of 1.98% and a forward dividend yield of 1.99%, indicating expectations for increasing dividend payments over the next 12 months. Over the past three years, the company's annual dividend growth rate was 1.00%, which increases to 1.20% over a five-year period. Looking at the past decade, the annual dividends per share growth rate stands at 5.80%, showcasing Cardinal Health Inc's commitment to growing shareholder value over time.

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Based on Cardinal Health Inc's dividend yield and five-year growth rate, the 5-year yield on cost of Cardinal Health Inc stock is approximately 2.10%.

Cardinal Health Inc's Dividend Analysis

The Sustainability Question: Payout Ratio and Profitability

The dividend payout ratio is a critical metric for assessing dividend sustainability. Cardinal Health Inc's dividend payout ratio as of September 30, 2023, is 3.27, which may raise concerns about the sustainability of the company's dividend. However, the company's profitability rank of 7 out of 10 suggests good profitability prospects, with net profit reported in 8 out of the past 10 years.

Growth Metrics: The Future Outlook

Cardinal Health Inc's growth rank of 7 out of 10 indicates a strong growth trajectory compared to competitors. The company has demonstrated robust revenue growth, with a 14.50% annual increase on average, outperforming approximately 76.74% of global competitors. Cardinal Health Inc's 3-year EPS growth rate of 2.00% and a 5-year EBITDA growth rate of 1.80% further reinforce its potential for sustained growth and dividends.

Investor Takeaways

In conclusion, while Cardinal Health Inc's dividend payout ratio may present some concerns, the company's strong dividend history, consistent growth in dividends per share, and solid profitability and growth metrics suggest a favorable outlook for future dividend sustainability. Investors should consider these factors along with the company's strategic position in the healthcare industry when evaluating the stock for dividend investment.

For those seeking high-dividend yield opportunities, GuruFocus Premium users can leverage the High Dividend Yield Screener to find promising stocks that align with their investment strategies.

This article, generated by GuruFocus, is designed to provide general insights and is not tailored financial advice. Our commentary is rooted in historical data and analyst projections, utilizing an impartial methodology, and is not intended to serve as specific investment guidance. It does not formulate a recommendation to purchase or divest any stock and does not consider individual investment objectives or financial circumstances. Our objective is to deliver long-term, fundamental data-driven analysis. Be aware that our analysis might not incorporate the most recent, price-sensitive company announcements or qualitative information. GuruFocus holds no position in the stocks mentioned herein.

This article first appeared on GuruFocus.


By Yelin Mo and Casey Hall

BEIJING (Reuters) -Chinese smartphone maker Xiaomi took the wraps off its first electric vehicle on Thursday and promptly announced it was aiming to become one of the world's top five automakers.

The sedan, dubbed the SU7 with the SU short for Speed Ultra, is a highly anticipated model that Chief Executive Lei Jun touted as having "super electric motor" technology capable of delivering acceleration speeds faster than Tesla cars and Porsche's EVs.

But the car - likely to go on sale in several months - is making its debut at a time when China's auto market - the world's largest - is wrestling with a capacity glut and slowing demand that have stoked a bruising price war.

That didn't stop Xiaomi Chief Executive Lei Jun from outlining big ambitions.

"By working hard over the next 15 to 20 years, we will become one of the world's top 5 automakers, striving to lift China's overall automobile industry," he said at the unveiling.

Those plans include building "a dream car comparable to Porsche and Tesla," he added.

Event on Xiaomi's electric vehicle in Beijing

The SU7 is also expected to appeal to customers due to its shared operating system with Xiaomi's popular phones and other electronic devices. Its drivers will have seamless access to the company's existing portfolio of mobile apps.

"Xiaomi is a well-established consumer electronics brand with hundreds of millions of 'Mi Fans', or members of its smart device ecosystem," said Bill Russo, CEO of Shanghai-based advisory firm Automobility.

"As such, they have a significant opportunity to break through as the automobile becomes a smart device."

The SU7 will come in two versions - one with a driving range of up to 668 km (415 miles) on a single charge and another with a range of up to 800 km. By comparison, Tesla's Model S has a range of up to 650 km.

Pricing has yet to be announced. Lei said the cost would "indeed be a bit high, but one that will have everyone will think is justified."

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Event on Xiaomi's electric vehicle in Beijing

Amid one of the coldest Decembers for China on record, the SU7 was also being positioned to appeal to consumers worried about winter. Lei said it had fast-charging capabilities in low temperatures and is equipped with advanced tech allowing it to recognize obstacles under challenging conditions such as falling snow.

The autonomous driving capabilities of Xiaomi cars would be at the forefront of the industry, he also said.

Lei's ambitions failed to boost Xiaomi's share price however with the company's Hong Kong-listed stock giving up earlier gains to finish 0.3% lower.

China's fifth-largest smartphone maker has been seeking to diversify beyond its core business to EVs amid stagnating demand for smartphones - a plan it first flagged in 2021. Other Chinese tech companies that have partnered with automakers to develop EVs include telecoms giant Huawei and search engine firm Baidu.

Xiaomi has pledged to invest $10 billion in autos over a decade and is one of the few new players in China's EV market to gain approval from authorities who have been reluctant to add to the supply glut.

Its cars will be produced by a unit of state-owned automaker BAIC Group in a Beijing factory with an annual capacity of 200,000 vehicles.

In an extremely crowded Chinese EV market, its biggest competition will likely come from BYD which commands a one-third share while Tesla has 9%, according to third-quarter figures from Zheshang Securities.

(Reporting by Casey Hall and Yelin Mo; Additional reporting by Zhang Yan; Editing by Edwina Gibbs)
Dividend stocks have always been an investor favorite, as they provide stable income and diversification benefits. These stocks also tend to hedge investors' portfolios during a market downturn or periods of uncertainty as they provide periodic payouts.

While the recent rally of stocks has sparked investor enthusiasm, certain analysts predict the current positive market trend to be a "bull trap," as UBS Managing Partner Michael Riesner said the "current breakouts is the setup for a classic bull trap instead of believing in the start of a larger breakout campaign."

Amid rising geopolitical tensions and worrying economic headwinds, investing in stable dividend-paying stocks can be fruitful. Several notable large-cap companies recently hiked their dividends, reflecting their sound fundamentals and promising growth potential. Take a closer look.

Enbridge

Canada-based Enbridge Inc. (NYSE:ENB) is the largest natural gas utility company by volume in North America, as well as one of the major suppliers of crude oil. The company, which is the third largest in North America in terms of customer count, transports approximately 30% of the crude oil produced on the continent.

Enbridge pays $2.63 (CA$3.55) in dividends annually, yielding 7.43% on the current price. The stellar dividend yield on Enbridge is slated to rise further as the company hiked its annual dividends by 3% to $2.76 (CA$3.66) beginning March 1, 2024. This translates to an over 7.7% yield on the current stock price. This marks the 29th consecutive annual dividend hike announced by Enbridge, consolidating its position as a Dividend Aristocrat.

The company has strong financials to maintain its dividend payouts, as it predicts its cash flow will grow in the near term as well.

"We remain committed to annual dividend growth consistent with our medium-term distributable cash flow outlook and keeping our dividend payout ratio within 60 to 70% of DCF [discounted cash flow]," Enbridge President and CEO Greg Ebel said in a press release.

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General Motors

General Motors Co. (NYSE:GM), one of the top three car manufacturers in the U.S., announced a dividend hike and managerial revamp late last month to restructure its operations in the face of growing competition.

On Nov. 29, GM announced a 33% rise in dividend payouts beginning in January. The company currently pays $0.36 in dividends annually, yielding 1.01% on its current price. Effective next year, General Motors' annual dividend payout will stand at $0.48, yielding over 1.3%.

Apart from this, General Motors unveiled a $10 billion accelerated share repurchase program starting next year to boost the return of capital to shareholders. The company plans to reduce its capital spending and delay new products and investments to strengthen its balance sheet and finance shareholder returns.

The markets have been optimistic about GM since the strategy was unveiled, as the stock has risen by 29% over the past month.

CVS Health

CVS Health Corp. (NYSE:CVS), one of the largest health solutions companies in the U.S., announced a 10% hike in its dividend payouts on Dec. 5. CVS currently pays $2.66 in dividends annually, yielding 3.4% on the current price.

"By broadening our portfolio of integrated products and services, we expect to create a path to sustainable, profitable growth," CVS Health interim Chief Financial Officer Tom Cowhey said. "Our powerful cash generation capabilities will support our strategic goals, prudent capital deployment, and attractive return profile while also providing opportunities for meaningful long-term outperformance."

The company foresees a substantial cash availability of $40 billion to $50 billion for deployment from 2024 to 2026, with an estimated annual average free cash flow of $7 billion. The intended allocation includes 35% for capital expenditures, 25% for dividends and the remaining 40% earmarked for flexible deployment such as share repurchases.

Shares of CVS have risen by over 13% over the past month and over 5.5% over the past five days. This momentum is expected to continue, as TD Cowen has an Outperform rating on CVS stock with a price target of $99, indicating a nearly 26% potential upside. Cantor Fitzgerald has an Overweight on the stock with a price target of $87, reflecting an over 10% potential upside.

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This article These Companies Just Hiked Their Dividends  Should You Buy? originally appeared on Benzinga.com

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You might call it a "Pfizzle."

In late 2021, Pfizer (NYSE: PFE) stock was at an all-time high. The company had pulled off a near miracle with its rapid development of a COVID-19 vaccine.

It followed that success with the launch of an effective oral COVID pill. Both became megablockbusters, with the vaccine (Comirnaty) generating global sales of $37.8 billion and the antiviral therapy (Paxlovid) raking in an additional $18.9 billion in 2022.

It's a much different story today. Pfizer has lost more than half of its market cap since hitting that record high. Sales of Comirnaty and Paxlovid are tanking.

Many investors seem to have thrown in the towel on the once high-flying pharma stock. But could Pfizer be a no-brainer stock to buy right now, even if its COVID sales continue to plunge?

How low can Pfizer's COVID revenue go?

There's perhaps no sadder picture for Pfizer (other than its stock chart) than the sales trajectory for Comirnaty and Paxlovid. It wasn't long ago that the two products generated combined sales of more than $56.7 billion. Pfizer expects its total COVID sales to be only around $12.5 billion in 2023.

Data source: Pfizer. Chart by author.

But the picture seems likely to get even worse in 2024. Pfizer projects combined sales of Comirnaty and Paxlovid will be only around $8 billion. The good news for the company is that's still a sizable amount of money. The bad news is that it's a far cry from the ginormous sales made in 2022.

Just how low can Pfizer's COVID sales go? It wouldn't be shocking for the sales of Comirnaty and Paxlovid to slip below $8 billion after 2024. However, I don't think that Pfizer's COVID sales will evaporate altogether.

COVID isn't going away. CEO Albert Bourla stated in the company's third-quarter conference call that he thinks there will be "stable COVID revenues going forward." If he's right, Pfizer should be able to count on billions of dollars annually from its COVID franchise for years to come.

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Pfizer's worst-case scenario valuation

Let's assume, though, that Pfizer won't be able to rely on any COVID revenue at all beyond 2024. How would this worst-case scenario impact the stock's valuation?

It's hard to use earnings-based valuation metrics in our analysis because Pfizer doesn't release profitability data at a product level. However, we can easily use sales-based valuation metrics.

Pfizer's shares currently trade at a trailing-12-month price-to-sales (P/S) ratio of 2.37. Based on the company's guidance for 2024, the stock's forward P/S multiple is roughly 2.67 (using the midpoint of the guidance range).

If we backed out all of Pfizer's projected COVID sales, its revenue would be in the ballpark of $52 billion next year. That would give the stock a forward P/S ratio of around 3.08, excluding COVID altogether. Even if Pfizer doesn't generate one penny in COVID sales in 2024, its stock appears to be dirt cheap, compared to other big biopharma stocks.

Data source: Yahoo! Finance. Chart by author.

Eli Lilly and Novo Nordisk are outliers on the above chart for a good reason: The robust sales growth for the companies' weight loss drugs should continue for years to come. But even if we exclude Lilly and Novo, Pfizer looks considerably cheaper than its other peers.

Is Pfizer a no-brainer stock to buy right now?

There's no question that Pfizer's COVID products won't be its crown jewels going forward. However, the company expects to launch a combo COVID-flu vaccine in 2025 that could revive the franchise somewhat.

More importantly, Pfizer has plenty of other growth drivers. Its respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) vaccine Abrysvo is off to a great start. Sales for migraine drugs Nurtec and Vydura continue to soar.

Pfizer expects to add $20 billion in new revenue by 2030 from new drugs and new indications for existing drugs. It hopes to supplement that amount with another $25 billion in revenue by 2030 from business development deals. Notably, these numbers don't include any sales from Pfizer's experimental oral weight loss drug danuglipron, which flopped in a late-stage study.

Still, growth investors will probably find other stocks more attractive than Pfizer. Even factoring out the drag from its COVID products, the company won't generate jaw-dropping growth.

On the other hand, I think that Pfizer is a no-brainer stock to buy right now for two types of investors. Income investors should love the company's dividend yield of over 5.9%. Value investors should salivate at Pfizer's bargain-basement price.

Pfizer stock has admittedly "Pfizzled" quite a bit lately, but it could be a "Pfabulous" pick for some investors.

Should you invest $1,000 in Pfizer right now?

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Keith Speights has positions in AbbVie and Pfizer. The Motley Fool has positions in and recommends Merck and Pfizer. The Motley Fool recommends Amgen, AstraZeneca Plc, Johnson & Johnson, and Novo Nordisk. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy.

Could Pfizer Be a No-Brainer Stock to Buy Right Now, Even If Its COVID Sales Continue to Plunge? was originally published by The Motley Fool
PAWTUCKET  The idea was like some kind of fantasy plucked from the pages of a book: a map store being given away for almost nothing to the person capable of winning over the owner.

It was as wild, tempting and aspirational as Charlie and The Chocolate Factory. It was a terrible, terrible idea. It was the kind of fantasy you have but dont act on. It was something Andrew Middleton told himself he wouldnt act on as he read The Providence Journal article saying Andrew Nosal was giving away The Map Center.

And so, after telling himself that no, he would not uproot his life in Oakland, California, to move across the country to sell maps, he started to compose his email to Nosal.

Andrew Middleton, new owner of The Map Center, in Pawtucket, was selected by the former owner, who had offered to give his business to the right person.

How can you not write an email if theres that kind of an offer in place? Middleton asked. I wrote down all the different reasons that this terrible idea seemed like a good idea.

And Middleton half hoped that is where this story would end, where you take the brave step telling yourself that you are the kind of person who would jump  without ever having to leap.

And then, three days later, (Nosal) sends me an email saying  I want you to run it, Middleton said. I had a long conversation with him, I was actually walking through the streets of San Fransico in the rain, which has a very romantic quality to it, and I asked him all these questions.

Then, Middletown flew out to Rhode Island and met the other finalists to take over the store, of which he was the only one who made maps, as a GIS (Geographic Information System) analyst and cartographer. And then, when he emerged as the heir apparent to the business, he had to decide if he was the type of person who leaps.

I had two good options. I liked where I lived, but also doing something crazy would be kind of cool. If both of those are equally good options, do the one that is the better story, Middleton said. This is the better story.

A quick history of The Map Center

The Map Center, 545 Pawtucket Ave., has been a Rhode Island fixture since the 1950s. It was first owned by a husband-and-wife team, then very briefly when they retired by a man who quickly found himself in over his head, and then by Nosal, who took over in 1981 at age 27 when he realized corporate America wasnt for him.

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Andrew Nosal, the former owner of The Map Center in Pawtucket, looks through a street atlas.

Nosal saw The Map Center through changes in venue, a fire in 2009, the rise of GPS, internet sales and personal health issues. He still comes in for lunch several days a week and is mentoring Middleton during the transition.

His mentee has an irrational drive in the right direction, he said on the podcast Very Expensive Maps.

What Middleton has planned for The Map Center

Middleton went to college at the University of New Hampshire for environmental sciences, which allowed him to combine his interests in nature, policy and sciences. There, he took one GIS class that turned out to be his most marketable skill upon graduation.

It turned him into the GIS guy, he said. Hes had jobs at places like Apple Maps and continues to work making maps for an emergency-management firm.

I had a complicated relationship with it for a while, but you know, over time, I kind of leaned into it and I think the more I play around with it, and the art and philosophy of mapping, I was drawn in, he said. It was sort of a casual interest turned reluctant career turned passion.

Middleton can really talk about maps. Pulling the drawers open at The Map Center is a delight of his, finding historical maps, scientific maps and quirky maps mixed in with the old road maps. Hes found a copy of the map that once hung on his bedroom wall, a vintage one of camping spots in The White Mountains he wants to frame, one printed on parachute silk to help soldiers navigate war, and one from 1946 India whose history fascinates him.

Middleton's 1943 Army Air Corps map, printed on parachute silk, of Papua New Guinea, off the north coast of Australia.

These are all a part of what The Map Center sells, but hes also hoping to bring in a new generation of maps. Maps that go beyond the road maps that GPS has largely replaced (though road maps are available) or the historical maps (also available) but reflect the maps that he and his friends like.

If it tells a story, if it has an interesting perspective, if its informative and tells us something new that you can look at for a little while, then that's something that I want to have in the store, he said.

Hes started stocking maps and map books like that, and also has a list of maps that tell Rhode Island stories hes hoping to make or commission someone to make.

He also has ideas about The Map Center as an educational place, having young students come in and learn how to look at the maps with a critical eye and having adults come in to learn how to make their own maps.

He heard a talk by the director of the Tomaquag Museum that incorporated historical maps, for example, and left thinking about what it would be like if the maps were drawn by Indigenous people instead of relying on 18th-century hand-drawn maps made by people who murdered people.

Mapping it out: A portion of Warwick is cut off from the rest of the city by East Greenwich. Why?

I want this to be a valuable place that people will feel like is a valuable part of the community and is worth supporting, he said.

Which, he admits, a lot of days feels a little overwhelming. There are so many ideas on his list to get to. And he has no illusion that running a specialty map store in the days where everyone already has access to more than an atlas worth of maps on their phone will be easy. But, he says, if we want there to be quirky, weird places, someone has to keep them alive.

I have to constantly remind myself like it is enough to do one good thing a day, he said. And, there are a couple of days where Ive done more than one.

This article originally appeared on The Providence Journal: The Map Center in Pawtucket now run by California man after giveaway
Dividend stocks can be fantastic investments. That's abundantly clear from looking at their long-term returns. According to a study by Ned Davis Research and Hartford Funds, dividend-paying stocks in the S&P 500 have outperformed the index over the last 50 years. They've delivered a 9.2% average annual total return compared to a 7.7% average annual total return for an equal-weighted S&P 500 index.

Giant automaker Ford Motor Company (NYSE: F) is offering an above-average distribution right now -- at the current share price, it yields 4.8%, compared to an average of 1.5% for the S&P 500. Here's a look at whether that big-time payout makes Ford stock a top choice for investors seeking income and market-beating total return potential.

A sputtering payout

While dividend-paying stocks can be market-beating investments, there's a huge caveat. Dividend growth is the key to their outperformance:

Dividend Policy Average Annualized Total Returns Dividend growers and initiators 10.2% Dividend payers 9.2% No change in dividend policy 6.6% Dividend non-payers 4% Dividend cutters and eliminators (0.6%) Equal-weighted S&P 500 index 7.7%

Data source: Ned Davis Research and Hartford Funds. NOTE: Data from 1973-2022.

As that table shows, the best performances over the long haul have come from companies that grow their dividends. Meanwhile, companies that hold their payouts steady -- classified as "no change" -- somewhat underperformed the market, while those that cut or eliminated their payouts delivered negative returns on average.

Unfortunately, Ford has a rather lousy dividend track record. The company has eliminated its payout twice over the past two decades (from 2006 to 2012, and for a nearly two-year period following the outbreak of the pandemic). Given that sputtering track record, it's likely not a surprise to learn that Ford has followed an underperforming path.

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F Total Return Level Chart

F Total Return Level data by YCharts.

Can Ford shift its payout into a higher gear?

The potentially good news is that, as with any investment, Ford's past performance does not necessarily foreshadow its future results. So, while Ford has underperformed in the past, that doesn't mean history will repeat itself for either its payout or stock price.

Management has kept Ford's dividend on a growth trajectory since it reinstated the payout in late 2021. At the time, it reset its quarterly dividend to $0.10 per share (down from its pre-pandemic level of $0.14). It has since increased its quarterly payment twice (to $0.14 per share in mid-2022, and to $0.15 per share at the start of 2023). Ford also paid a special dividend of $0.65 per share early last year.

That payout could continue rising in the future. The automaker is investing heavily to drive future growth through its Ford+ strategy. The company is investing in developing electric vehicles (EVs) and software-enabled services like autonomous driving capabilities.

Ford is currently operating its EV business (Ford Model e) as a start-up. It's investing heavily in the business to build out its capabilities and capacity. However, like most start-ups, it's losing a lot of money. The segment reported a $1.3 billion loss before interest and taxes in the third quarter, and is on track to lose $4.5 billion in 2023. On the plus side, the unit is delivering accelerated revenue growth (sales were up 26% in the third quarter compared to 7% for the unit that houses its traditional gas-powered vehicles, Ford Blue). Meanwhile, management believes that Ford Model e will turn the corner to profitability by late 2026.

On the other hand, while the automaker has growth drivers in Ford Model e and its software-enabled services platform, profits from its legacy businesses could be under pressure due to higher labor costs. In November, the company signed a new long-term labor agreement with the United Auto Workers union following a series of strikes. The labor dispute impacted its earnings and cash flow in 2023. The company now forecasts that its adjusted free cash flow for the year will be between $5 billion and $5.5 billion, down from its initial outlook of between $6.5 billion and $7 billion.

Meanwhile, Ford anticipates the new labor deal will cost it an extra $8.8 billion through 2028. The company will work toward offsetting those costs through higher productivity and lower expenses. However, there's no guarantee it will be able to.

Too risky for a core income position

Over the years, Ford hasn't been a consistent dividend payer, let alone a grower. While the company is investing heavily to reaccelerate its revenue and earnings growth engines, it faces a challenging road ahead. Because of that, while its 4.8%-yielding payout looks enticing, it's not the best option for those seeking a steadily rising income stream and the potential of earning market-beating returns.

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SEATTLE, Dec. 28, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- From the Maui wildfires to devastating earthquakes in Syria and Turkey, along with cyclones in Mozambique and Myanmar, Christian humanitarian organization World Vision has been at the forefront of extensive humanitarian response efforts worldwide, supporting communities in crisis.

In Baidoa, Somalia, a camp shelters women and children displaced by persistent drought and hunger. World Vision and its partners have provided vital aid, including monthly food vouchers and cash, to alleviate food insecurity. (2023 World Vision)

In 2023, World Vision responded to 78 disasters and humanitarian crises in 59 countries around the world, supporting over 35.8 million people in need. In the United States alone, we supported more than 93,700 people during 15 emergencies.

"World Vision's dedication to safeguarding the most vulnerable, especially children, during these challenging times is unwavering," says Mark Smith, World Vision's vice president of humanitarian and emergency affairs. "Disasters know no boundaries, but our mission is resolute: to provide vital assistance when and where it's needed most."

With pre-positioned relief supplies in warehouses across the U.S. and staff in nearly 100 countries, World Vision is able to respond to disasters around the world within 24 to 72 hours. In addition to delivering life-saving emergency aid, our staff offers long-term support for communities to recover and rebuild.

Below are examples of significant disasters and ongoing global crises that World Vision responded to in 2023, listed alphabetically:

Afghanistan humanitarian crisis: Already reeling from severe humanitarian crises, Afghanistan faced destructive earthquakes on October 7, 2023, that affected 1.6 million people. Hundreds of thousands of Afghans who fled the country to Pakistan when the de facto government transitioned into power in 2021 are now living in fear of deportation, while many have returned.

Cholera outbreaks: A resurgence of cholera threatens approximately 1 billion people, with 28 countries experiencing outbreaks in 2023. The crisis has been driven by escalating armed conflicts, extreme weather events, poverty and inadequate access to clean water and sanitation.

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Cyclones: Devastating consecutive cyclones including Judy, Kevin, Freddy and Mocha wreaked havoc across several regions, affecting millions of people in Vanuatu, East Africa, Mozambique, Malawi, Myanmar and Bangladesh.

Global hunger crisis: According to the World Food Programme (WFP), the number of people facing "crisis" or higher levels of food insecurity surged from 193 million across 53 countries in 2021 to 258 million across 58 countries in 2022. In 2023, the hunger crisis heightened, as the war in Ukraine drove up the costs of food, fuel and fertilizer.

Middle East crisis: Thousands of lives have been lost, tens of thousands have been injured and an estimated 1.5 million people are displaced. Families have lost everything due to the violence, and children with no safe havens are struggling to access essentials, including food, clean water, healthcare and education. The risk of the conflict spreading to the West Bank, Lebanon, Syria and other Middle East countries also remains a concern.

Northern Ethiopia crisis: Children and families in the Tigray, Amhara and Afar regions face dire conditions, including high rates of malnutrition and food insecurity. The ongoing humanitarian needs are compounded by persistent drought, armed conflict, violence and disease outbreaks.

Sudan crisis: Even before violence escalated in April 2023, many people struggled daily to get enough food. Now, the conflict has intensified the situation, putting over 6 million people on the brink of famine, according to the WFP. To escape the danger, more than a million Sudanese people have sought refuge in neighboring countries while over 5 million are internally displaced.

Venezuela migration crisis: Political unrest, economic decline and critical shortages of necessities like food and medicine have marked Venezuela's decade-long struggle. As of November 2023, more than 7.7 million people have sought improved living conditions abroad, straining social services in countries like Brazil, Colombia, Ecuador and Peru.

War in Ukraine: The ongoing conflict led to significant upheaval for families and has displaced 6.3 million people abroad. Children continue to encounter immense physical and emotional challenges, including a disruption of education for more than 5 million.

Wildfires in Maui: The deadliest U.S. wildfire in over a century devastated the Hawaiian island of Maui in August 2023, leveling the historic town of Lahaina and tragically claiming at least 97 lives, as reported by Maui County officials on September 15, 2023.

About World Vision

World Vision is a Christian humanitarian organization dedicated to working with children, families and their communities worldwide to reach their full potential by tackling the causes of poverty and injustice. World Vision serves all people, regardless of religion, race, ethnicity or gender. For more information, please visit worldvision.org or follow on X, formerly known as Twitter, @WorldVisionUSA.

(PRNewsfoto/World Vision U.S.)

Cision

View original content to download multimedia:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/at-year-end-world-vision-reviews-worst-humanitarian-disasters-of-2023-302023024.html

SOURCE World Vision U.S.
Saudi-based National Gypsum Company has signed an agreement with China's LVJOE Machinery Manufacturing Group for the development and modernisation of its production line at Riyadh factory.

As per the SAR30 million ($8 million) agreement, the LVJOE Machinery Manufacturing will complete the upgradion work within nine months, said National Gypsum Company in its filing to the Saudi bourse Tadawul.

On completion, the plant will boast the latest technical advancements and a production capacity of 15 million sq m gypsum per annum, it added.-TradeArabia News Service
Key Insights

Using the 2 Stage Free Cash Flow to Equity, Hubline Berhad fair value estimate is RM0.044

Current share price of RM0.04 suggests Hubline Berhad is potentially trading close to its fair value

Industry average discount to fair value of 33% suggests Hubline Berhad's peers are currently trading at a higher discount

Today we will run through one way of estimating the intrinsic value of Hubline Berhad (KLSE:HUBLINE) by taking the expected future cash flows and discounting them to their present value. One way to achieve this is by employing the Discounted Cash Flow (DCF) model. Believe it or not, it's not too difficult to follow, as you'll see from our example!

We generally believe that a company's value is the present value of all of the cash it will generate in the future. However, a DCF is just one valuation metric among many, and it is not without flaws. If you still have some burning questions about this type of valuation, take a look at the Simply Wall St analysis model.

Check out our latest analysis for Hubline Berhad

Crunching The Numbers

We use what is known as a 2-stage model, which simply means we have two different periods of growth rates for the company's cash flows. Generally the first stage is higher growth, and the second stage is a lower growth phase. In the first stage we need to estimate the cash flows to the business over the next ten years. Seeing as no analyst estimates of free cash flow are available to us, we have extrapolate the previous free cash flow (FCF) from the company's last reported value. We assume companies with shrinking free cash flow will slow their rate of shrinkage, and that companies with growing free cash flow will see their growth rate slow, over this period. We do this to reflect that growth tends to slow more in the early years than it does in later years.

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) forecast

2024 2025 2026 2027 2028 2029 2030 2031 2032 2033 Levered FCF (MYR, Millions) RM13.7m RM14.4m RM15.0m RM15.6m RM16.2m RM16.9m RM17.5m RM18.1m RM18.8m RM19.5m Growth Rate Estimate Source Est @ 5.12% Est @ 4.65% Est @ 4.32% Est @ 4.09% Est @ 3.93% Est @ 3.81% Est @ 3.73% Est @ 3.68% Est @ 3.64% Est @ 3.61% Present Value (MYR, Millions) Discounted @ 11% RM12.4 RM11.6 RM10.9 RM10.2 RM9.6 RM8.9 RM8.4 RM7.8 RM7.3 RM6.8

("Est" = FCF growth rate estimated by Simply Wall St)

Present Value of 10-year Cash Flow (PVCF) = RM94m

We now need to calculate the Terminal Value, which accounts for all the future cash flows after this ten year period. The Gordon Growth formula is used to calculate Terminal Value at a future annual growth rate equal to the 5-year average of the 10-year government bond yield of 3.6%. We discount the terminal cash flows to today's value at a cost of equity of 11%.

Terminal Value (TV)= FCF 2033  (1 + g)  (r  g) = RM19m (1 + 3.6%)  (11% 3.6%) = RM266m

Present Value of Terminal Value (PVTV)= TV / (1 + r)10= RM266m ( 1 + 11%)10= RM93m

The total value is the sum of cash flows for the next ten years plus the discounted terminal value, which results in the Total Equity Value, which in this case is RM187m. In the final step we divide the equity value by the number of shares outstanding. Compared to the current share price of RM0.04, the company appears about fair value at a 8.1% 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.

KLSE:HUBLINE Discounted Cash Flow December 27th 2023

Important Assumptions

We would point out that the most important inputs to a discounted cash flow are the discount rate and of course the actual cash flows. If you don't agree with these result, have a go at the calculation yourself and play with the assumptions. The DCF also does not consider the possible cyclicality of an industry, or a company's future capital requirements, so it does not give a full picture of a company's potential performance. Given that we are looking at Hubline Berhad as potential shareholders, the cost of equity is used as the discount rate, rather than the cost of capital (or weighted average cost of capital, WACC) which accounts for debt. In this calculation we've used 11%, which is based on a levered beta of 1.110. 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 Hubline Berhad

Strength

Debt is not viewed as a risk.

Weakness

Earnings declined over the past year.

Opportunity

Current share price is below our estimate of fair value.

Lack of analyst coverage makes it difficult to determine HUBLINE's earnings prospects.

Threat

No apparent threats visible for HUBLINE.

Looking Ahead:

Whilst important, the DCF calculation is only one of many factors that you need to assess for a company. The DCF model is not a perfect stock valuation tool. Instead the best use for a DCF model is to test certain assumptions and theories to see if they would lead to the company being undervalued or overvalued. If a company grows at a different rate, or if its cost of equity or risk free rate changes sharply, the output can look very different. For Hubline Berhad, we've compiled three essential factors you should look at:

Risks: To that end, you should be aware of the 3 warning signs we've spotted with Hubline Berhad . Other High Quality Alternatives: Do you like a good all-rounder? Explore our interactive list of high quality stocks to get an idea of what else is out there you may be missing! Other Top Analyst Picks: Interested to see what the analysts are thinking? Take a look at our interactive list of analysts' top stock picks to find out what they feel might have an attractive future outlook!

PS. Simply Wall St updates its DCF calculation for every Malaysian stock every day, so if you want to find the intrinsic value of any other stock just search here.

Have feedback on this article? Concerned about the content? Get in touch with us directly. Alternatively, email editorial-team (at) simplywallst.com.



This article by Simply Wall St is general in nature. We provide commentary based on historical data and analyst forecasts only using an unbiased methodology and our articles are not intended to be financial advice. It does not constitute a recommendation to buy or sell any stock, and does not take account of your objectives, or your financial situation. We aim to bring you long-term focused analysis driven by fundamental data. Note that our analysis may not factor in the latest price-sensitive company announcements or qualitative material. Simply Wall St has no position in any stocks mentioned.
FALL RIVER  The city saw a stunning boom in the planning and production of market-rate housing in 2023, with plenty of new housing stock coming online in the coming year.

And with all the development is coming millions of dollars of investment to Fall River.

From new construction to the rehabilitation of former mills, churches and schools, Fall River could see more than 2,000 new units of housing to meet a growing demand  not to mention the sales and renovations of existing multi-family homes.

Developers, some creating housing in the city for the first time, cited a few reasons why they're attracted to Fall River, like the South Coast Rail MBTA commuter train service to Boston, which is now scheduled to begin next summer, and the development of the city's waterfront, including the massive Route 79 reconstruction project, which will open about 19 acres of developable land along the Taunton River.

Here is a look back at some of the housing projects The Herald News reported on in 2023.

Fall River real estate boom: Over 2,000 market-rate apartments are in the pipeline

King Philip Mill before construction started to build 100 units of market rate housing.

New life into old mills

Looking back more than 10 years ago, developers have purchased and repurposed old mills, like the mixed-income Curtain Lofts on Quequechan Street, the site of the former Wampanoag Mill that opened in 2011, and the converted FR Knitting Mill on Alden Street.

And the trend isnt slowing down. Developers are revitalizing some of Fall River's most notorious nuisance properties, like the former King Philip Mill on Kilburn Street, where progress to convert the massive structure into 100 housing units is apparent with the replacement of the structure's windows.

Earlier this year, a Boston-based company with a track record of redeveloping old mill buildings, including the construction of market-rate housing projects in the city, purchased a portion of King Philip Mill along the banks of Cook Pond for $1.5 million.

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Most recently, the Zoning Board of Appeals gave the Goldman Group of Boston the green light to develop two old mills, the former Shelburne Shirt Co. at 135 Alden St. and one of the former mill complexes once owned and operated by Duro Textiles at 110 Chace St. off Bay Street.

The year in transportation: From traffic tie-ups to late trains, 2023 was a bumpy road for drivers. Take a look ahead.

The Duro plant at 110 Chace St. in Fall River Thursday Nov. 9, 2023.

The projects, called Flint Mills and Wyoming Mills respectively, were granted the ability to create up to 805 new market-rate apartment.

The Herald News recently toured the future Wyoming Mills with East Providence, Rhode Island, architect David Sisson, walking through the empty labyrinth of four connected buildings.

Our plan is really, its historical a historical preservation project and we are creating about 200 apartments. You can see there are beautiful historic brick buildings. And on the other side, there are some not very attractive concrete block and metal sheds, said Sisson during the tour.

110 Chace St. Wyoming Mills Fall River Sept 25, 2023.

He said the developer's goal is to tear down the smaller, single-story buildings to open the historic structures.

One of the newer structures will be maintained for commercial space and a club house and gymnasium, said Sisson.

And Charlton Mills on Howe Street, behind Mitchell Heights apartments will develop that old mill into 40 units of market-rate housing.

Changes coming: A former Fall River church and two mills will be converted into market-rate apartments

The Flint Mill Building No. 1 on Alden Street

Former schools, churches and other historical buildings

Mayor Paul Coogan, who recently toured the former Notre Dame de Lourdes School which Milton-based Hajjar Management is converting into a 48-unit market-rate apartment building, said he went away impressed with the project.

The $7.4 million project, called The Lofts of Lafayette, is scheduled for completion this summer.

And Roll the Dice LLC recently received ZBA approval to convert the former Sacred Heart Church on Linden Street, built in 1883 and shut down by the Fall River Diocese in 2014, into 46 market-rate units.

Redevelopment is underway at the former Lincoln Elementary School on Pine Street by Somerset developer Kenneth Mollicone, a project to create 24 units of housing. The building has sat empty for 14 years and withstood a failed redevelopment attempt by former owner David Hebert.

Monte Ferris Sr., owner of the Venus de Milo banquet hall in Swansea, also got the OK from the ZBA to convert the historically known First National Bank building at 80-84 N. Main St. into 22 units.

Academica on South Main Street in Fall River.

New owners of the former Academica building at 627 S. Main St., which operated as a private club for various organizations since 1890, have plans to redevelop the property into 11 apartments, with two units designated as affordable housing and space for a private club, according to city records.

Completed in 2022, local developer Alan Macomber converted the former Bradford Durfee College of Technology at 64 Durfee St. into 55 market-rate and affordable housing units called the Creative Class building, with a preference toward artists.

Real estate developer Tony Cordeiro in front of one of two completed downtown market rate housing projects last summer.

New construction and high-end apartments in the heart of downtown

The former Mackenzie and Winslow building at 577 Davol St. was torn down by developer Vitaly Fedosik to make way for a new mixed-use, 70-unit structure.

Local developer and businessman Bob Karam and Swansea-based BayCoast Bank partnered to redevelop the site of the former Davol Street Cafe at 697 Davol St. with a $12 million investment to build a six-story mixed-use building with 49 apartments and a bank branch on the lower floor.

Developer and city businessman Tony Cordeiro continues to create market-rate housing downtown, all within a four-block area from Third to Seventh Street and Bedford and Pleasant streets.

Cordeiro, who along with his partners, redeveloped the riverfront complex Commonwealth Landing, created 22 units of market-rate housing on Pleasant Street now known as the Benjamin and Nathan building and 18 more units at Trolley Square on Third Street.

He recently finished a complete overhaul of the former International Ladies Garment Workers' Union building on Third Street into 15 units of market-rate housing.

And in the pipeline, Cordeiro has expressed plans to construct two new apartment buildings. Site work has already begun at 60 Hartwell St., at the former National Grid Thomas Edison Light Station, to construct a six-story mixed-use building with 50 market-rate units and commercial space. At 295 Bedford St., across from the Salvation Army, he has another mixed-use construction that will include 72 market rate units.

And speaking of new market-rate housing, on the other side of the city in the North End, plans are in the works for the Four Winds Apartments to construct 200 more market-rate units.

This article originally appeared on The Herald News: Fall River saw real estate, housing boom in 2023 thanks to MBTA rail
Rob Younk didn't necessarily have any ulterior motives when he started taking his daughter to different job sites when she was a toddler.

Rob and Tiffany Younk on a piece of heavy construction equipment in Sault Ste. Marie at the construction site of Lake Superior State University.

Tiffany Younk though, dressed in a miniature welding jacket made by her mom and embroidered with her name, loved traveling to different projects with her dad, an ironworker, and wanted to grow up one day and do exactly what he did.

She even got a mini Playmate lunchbox to take to kindergarten, a smaller replica of the exact lunchbox her dad took to work every day.

A miniature version of the lunchbox Tiffany saw her father, Rob, take to work each day. Her father got her a mini Playmate lunchbox to take to kindergarten, so she would have one just like his.

As Tiffany grew up, though, she considered and pursued other careers. After following a winding path for a few years, she ultimately ended up right back in the career she thought she wanted as a little kid: ironworking.

About a quarter century after she first went to a job site, Tiffany, 29, now works alongside her dad for up to 12 hours a day on an iconic, massive project: the restoration of Michigan Central Station, once a symbol of ruin, that will soon be home to an event space, shops and a hotel when it opens in mid-2024.

Rob, 65, and Tiffany are two of the more than 3,000 workers who have been involved in the renovation of the station, all of whom have worked for a total of 1.7 million hours thus far on renovating the station and the public spaces being built around it.

Rob Younk, 65, of Harrisville, with his daughter, Tiffany Younk, 29, of Livonia, at the Carriage House at Michigan Central Station in Detroit on Dec. 14, 2023. Tiffany works alongside her dad on the iconic and massive Michigan Central Station project.

The work they've done on the building for the last three years is meaningful in several ways, as it's likely the final project Rob and Tiffany will work on together as Rob plans to retire in February.

"It's my turn to turn over what I know," Rob said in an interview with the Detroit Free Press in December.

Journey back to a childhood dream

Rob Younk grew up on a farm in Harrisville, a city in northern Michigan on Lake Huron. One of seven children, Rob worked on the farm, taking a night class in farm equipment repair at a community college while he was in high school  his first experience in welding.

When he was 24, his dad died and Rob traveled the country and drove a truck for a few years, settling outside Seattle, where Tiffany was later born.

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Soon after, they moved back to Harrisville and Rob started taking Tiffany to work sites because his schedule wouldn't offer him the chance to see her much otherwise, never once thinking she'd want to be an ironworker.

The welding jacket a young Tiffany Younk wore, which was made by her mom and embroidered with her name, for when she traveled to different projects with her dad.

When Tiffany graduated high school from Alcona Community Schools, she went to Northern Michigan University in Marquette and pursued graphic design, and after realizing that wasn't for her, nursing. She felt, though, that the pay wouldn't be great, and decided to revisit the career she had once wanted as a child.

"I was like, 'Well, I liked doing it when I was little,' " Tiffany said." 'Ive always kind of wanted to do it. So Im going to try it and if I dont like it, I can do something else.' "

When she was 24, she transferred to Alpena Community College, graduating with honors with an associate's degree in general science. She also took classes in welding, at the request of her father, who took a similar course more than 40 years ago.

Tiffany Younk following her graduation in May 2020 from Alpena Community College where she graduated with a certificate in welding fabrication.

While Rob said it's not unusual for him to see father and son ironworkers out in the field, it's rare for daughters to follow in their fathers' footsteps in this industry.

Overall, there are few women ironworkers. Fewer than 5% of ironworkers in the U.S. are women, according to recent estimates from the job search website Zippia.

It's a fact that's not lost on her father, having seen firsthand the reluctance of former colleagues to working with female ironworkers.

Dad's lasting legacy

Rob knew Tiffany could do whatever she put her mind to, and after she graduated, he took her under his wing, asking his union to sponsor her so that she could start working immediately before going through an apprenticeship program. He had been contemplating retirement but put those plans aside so he could work with his daughter.

They worked a small job together but when Rob got the call in December 2020 that there was a job for him at Michigan Central Station, he made sure Tiffany came along with him, knowing this was his chance to pass along his knowledge to her, both the knowledge gained from on-the-job learning and to not allow anyone to belittle her or put her aside, Rob said.

An exterior view of the Michigan Central Station in Detroit on Dec. 14, 2023.

Michigan Central Station is iconic, Rob said, and it's unique for an ironworker because it's not something that's constantly worked on, like bridges, for example.

The station, which opened in 1913, sat empty for more than 30 years until Ford Motor Co. bought it in 2018. The renovation of the station is one component of Ford's four-building, 30-acre campus in Corktown to create an "inclusive, vibrant and walkable innovation district."

Rob and Tiffany most recently worked on the carriage house at Michigan Central Station, on the west side of the building.

"The craftsmanship that went into the carriage house, especially, and the pride they all put into it. ... There are only two crews that ever worked on it," Rob said. "The people that put it up and us that remodeled it and saved it."

He said the state of the building was way worse than anyone could have imagined, and deadlines for completion of the work kept getting missed because of how complicated the work was. Nothing could be damaged, for example, and components might need to be replaced that he couldn't even see until the work started.

More on Michigan Central Station: Detroit train station rehab said to be bigger deal for city than Lions, Ford Field

More on Michigan Central: Bill Ford says rehabbed Book Depository was an afterthought

But Rob is happy to do it.

An exterior view of the Michigan Central Station in Detroit on Dec. 14, 2023.

He said this kind of work is like art, and, at the same time he's meticulously building and restoring trusses, he's also passing along all his knowledge to his daughter.

As the renovation of the carriage house wraps up, Rob's retirement date is fast approaching. He plans to take some time for himself, travel more, including attending Tiffany's wedding in Colorado in August, and then go back to work. Probably.

"You don't run as hard as I have for 60 years and then stop," he said. "Thats when you die."

Rob and Tiffany Younk both have bricks on the Ironworker Hall of Fame in Mackinaw City.

Rob and Tiffany Younk won't miss the freezing cold days on the job together, when everyone "gets cross with each other but nobody really says anything," as Rob describes it, but they both said they will miss seeing each other every day.

"Having a daughter work with you, its a blessing," he said.

Contact Adrienne Roberts: amroberts@freepress.com.

This article originally appeared on Detroit Free Press: Father-daughter ironworkers help to transform Michigan Central Station
The recommended way to park your vehicle might not work in every situation.

Its something that Valerie Congdon knows firsthand.

The Waterford resident spoke to the Free Press following a story that published on Nov. 29 with advice from a traffic safety expert. He suggested that backing into a spot is a safer bet than pulling forward into a parking spot. Reader feedback was split on the issue.

Valerie Congdon, of Waterford, shows the citation she received in Ferndale for backing into a parking spot while visiting a restaurant along Woodward Avenue on Wednesday, December 27, 2023. "I'll be more cognizant of the signs, especially here," said Congdon, who frequently backs into parking spaces.

Congdon, who prefers backing in, got an unwelcome surprise after meeting her niece for a birthday lunch at a favorite spot in Ferndale last month: a $50 ticket.

She had backed her Ford Edge into a parking spot at a city lot on the morning of Nov. 15 before heading to The Fly Trap on Woodward, north of Nine Mile Road (the huevos rancheros were excellent, she noted), and a ticket was waiting for her when she came back about an hour later.

Congdons not disputing the ticket, which she said she paid that day, and shes not claiming she wasnt aware of the rule.

Its posted on the sign, she said. I just always back in. I back in in my driveway. Thats just what I do, so I can pull out going forward. I have parked in Ferndale. We have met at that restaurant in the past, and I dont remember it being an issue.  I didnt give it any thought.

Congdon, 64, suspected that her parking choice might have inconvenienced the person who had to get out of a vehicle to take a photo of her license plate, which was included on the ticket. It noted a high-res image available online.

The violation? Prohibited parking, with notes indicating posted no backing into space.

That $50 ticket would have cost $70 if Congdon had waited until after Jan. 19 to pay.

The Free Press reached out to Ferndale officials for an explanation on why backing in isnt OK there and connected with office assistant Kyndall Talley, who explained that an officer might want to check someones plates on a computer and backing in can make that challenging. She noted that the rule is posted on signs and the parking app.

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A sign posted in a parking lot in Ferndale tells drivers not to back into spaces behind businesses along Woodward Avenue on Wednesday, December 27, 2023.

As for Congdon, the situation does mean a change of behavior, but only at city lots in Ferndale. She has continued to back in elsewhere as she has done for what she guessed has been 25 years.

What makes backing in a better choice?

Gary Bubar, traffic safety specialist with AAA Michigan, told the Free Press in November that the reason backing in might be safer is because a driver can minimize blind spots that way, possibly reducing the likelihood of a fender bender.

When you're backing out of a spot, there are multiple blind spots that can limit your vision and make it more difficult to see any drivers that might be waiting for your spot or coming down past you, Bubar said at the time.

Contact Eric D. Lawrence: elawrence@freepress.com. Become a subscriber.

This article originally appeared on Detroit Free Press: Ferndale parking rule leads to violation for Waterford woman
NextEra Energy (NYSE: NEE) has an enviable dividend record, with a massive commitment to rewarding investors well via a growing disbursement. That's perhaps not all that shocking given that it is a utility, a type of company known for paying reliable dividends.

But there's more to the story when you start to look at the growth rate of the dividend, which could make this stock a great pick for investors who not only care about dividends, but dividend growth as well. Here's a quick look at why NextEra Energy is a no-brainer for dividend growth investors.

1. The dividend streak

It would be silly to talk about a dividend growth stock without a discussion of the payout right up front. NextEra Energy has increased its dividend annually for 29 consecutive years. That's impressive and includes hikes through the Great Recession and the pandemic, among many other difficult social and economic times.

But the growth angle is apparent when you see that, over the past decade, the payout has a compound annual growth rate in excess of 10% -- incredibly fast for a utility.

NEE Dividend Per Share (Annual) Chart

The chart above shows exactly how exceptional that dividend growth really is by comparing it to some of its largest peers. None of them come close to matching the rate achieved by NextEra Energy.

2. The dividend yield

The takeaway from the above chart is that NextEra has an impressive dividend history. But there's a trade-off: The dividend yield tends to be below that of its peers. If you are looking to maximize the income your portfolio generates today to pay for living expenses, you probably won't want to own it.

NEE Dividend Yield Chart

However, if you are looking to turn on that income stream in the future, the story could be very different. NextEra Energy's yield is lower today, for sure. But over a decade or more of rapid dividend growth, it could end up generating a larger income stream, especially if you reinvest dividends along the way. That's the power of a rapid dividend growth rate, assuming dividend growth is what you are after.

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There's a bit of a wrinkle here, however, since the current dividend yield of around 3.1% is toward the high end of NextEra Energy's range over the past decade. Sure, that's lower than the company's peers, but the historically high yield suggests it is the best time to buy this growth-oriented utility stock in a very long time.

NEE Dividend Yield Chart

3. NextEra is a two-in-one business

With a market cap of $120 billion, NextEra is one of the largest utilities in the United States. But it isn't your typical utility.

The foundation of NextEra Energy is its Florida Power & Light business, which is a typical regulated utility (it has a monopoly in the areas it serves, but must get rates and investment plans approved by the government). This division has benefited from people moving to the Sunshine State for years, and that is likely to continue, so the business fundamentals are strong.

But on top of that business, NextEra has built one of the world's largest contracted clean-energy businesses, which is the real growth engine for the company. The mix between the two is roughly 70% regulated business, 30% clean-energy operations. And, notably, that breakdown is built on an investment-grade balance sheet. So it is operating from a strong financial position.

Capacity Today Development Projects 2023-2026 NextEra Energy resources 34 gigawatts 32.7 to 41.8 gigawatts

Data source: NextEra Energy.

The utility operation is likely to produce slow and steady growth over time, which is fairly typical for a regulated utility. But the clean energy business has massive growth plans.

As the table above shows, the clean energy business, known as NextEra Energy Resources, currently has 34 gigawatts of capacity today. But it hopes to more than double that by 2026.

And a huge percentage of the growth it expects is already in the backlog (21 gigawatts worth) because the company already has contracts to build it. Even if NextEra Energy doesn't get to the high end of its target, it already has a substantial amount of growth, more or less, baked in.

NextEra Energy is a great diversification tool

If you are a dividend investor looking for high yields, it would be understandable if you passed on NextEra Energy. But if you are focused on dividend growth, this utility stock is one that should be high up on your buy list.

It is odd for a utility to offer such high dividend growth rates, which means it could be a good way to add diversification to a portfolio that might be concentrated in a small number of industries known more for dividend growth.

Don't underestimate the value of that, though. Given its impressive dividend bona fides, NextEra Energy is still worth considering even if diversification isn't important to you.

Should you invest $1,000 in NextEra Energy right now?

Before you buy stock in NextEra Energy, consider this:

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Reuben Gregg Brewer has positions in Southern Company. The Motley Fool has positions in and recommends NextEra Energy. The Motley Fool recommends Duke Energy. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy.

Here's Why NextEra Energy Is a No-Brainer Dividend Growth Stock was originally published by The Motley Fool
Juan and Sonia Sanchez plan to open a new restaurant in mid-January in Howard. The restaurant, Hot Sake, will offer a mix of Asian and Mexican cuisines.

HOWARD  A new sushi-bar will open next month and offer Asian dishes with a Latin American twist.

Hot Sake is taking over the former Timsan's Japanese Steak House spot, at 1773 Cardinal Lane in Howard. Its owner, Juan Sanchez, who is Mexican, said he decided to go with an Asian/Japanese menu and a mix of Hispanic cuisine because of his background.

"Between me and my brothers, who work with me, we have over 50 years experience in Japanese food," Sanchez said.

He is from Veracruz, Mexico, and moved first to California where he worked a couple of years in the restaurant business  specifically sushi  before coming to Green Bay in 2006.

"I started like everyone else washing dishes and worked my way up," Sanchez said.

Once in Green Bay, he continued to work as a sushi chef and acquired all the knowledge needed to start his own restaurant.

"I have about 23 years of experience working in this industry," he said. "But banks wouldn't lend me any money."

As doors remained closed, Sanchez decided to go on his own

Five years ago, Sanchez tried for the first time to get a loan and open a Mexican restaurant. But with no credit or business ownership history, he was denied.

"We tried and tried, and got to the conclusion that no bank would lend me," he said.

Instead, he set his own goal and for five years his family saved money to do it all by himself.

"It's complicated," Sanchez said. "Because you never know how much you are going to end up spending."

But he managed to find a space that didn't need to much renovation and, with his five brothers and several more employees, he will soon be able to open this restaurant.

He said for now he is not open to add a business partner, but would consider some sort of financial support.

"It's been difficult but I hope this does well," he said. "In the future, I would like to help anyone that wishes to succeed like I did."

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A sushi bar with a Hispanic twist

The sushi bar restaurant has a capacity for 130 people and will have a modern and traditional decoration  mainly Japanese and Asian. But the menu, aside from the sushi, will have creative Hispanic dishes like ceviche, a seafood dish where diced cubes of raw fish, or shrimp are marinated in lemon or lime juice. There will be also steaks, chicken, tacos or salmon, and every recipe will have the Sanchez's signature.

"We will have a comfortable environment, clean, and (a) great presentation," Sanchez said.

He said the furniture is custom-made to have enough space between tables and allow waiters move around without bothering the clients. The restaurant will employ about 15 workers between the kitchen, restaurant and bar.

"The bar will also serve cocktails and the original hot sake," he said.

Construction is nearly finished, and Sanchez says they will decorate, clean the establishment and be ready to open the second week of January.

"I hope to serve the community well, give them a great service and make them happy," Sanchez said.

The restaurant will start operating from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. and then reopen from 4 p.m. to 9:30 p.m., Monday to Thursday and Sunday. It will stay open late, until 10 p.m., on Friday and Saturday. These dates and times may change in the future, he added, so customers should follow the business on Facebook for updates.

For more information, find the restaurant on Facebook or email info@hotsakesushibar.com.

Ariel Perez is a business reporter for the Green Bay Press-Gazette. You can reach him at APerez1@gannett.com or view his Twitter profile at @Ariel_Perez85.

This article originally appeared on Green Bay Press-Gazette: Hot Sake, a new restaurant, blends Japanese and Hispanic cuisine
When it comes to the pharmaceutical industry, weight-loss medications are all the rage right now. While Ozempic maker Novo Nordisk dominates medications designed to treat obesity and diabetes, two other companies are looking to get their slice of the pie -- but only one is succeeding.

Let's break down some alternatives to Novo Nordisk, and assess why one competitor looks like a great buy in 2024 while the other appears too risky.

The stock to buy hand over fist: Eli Lilly

Eli Lilly (NYSE: LLY) manufactures a diabetes treatment called Mounjaro. Chances are you've seen the commercials for the drug or may even know people who are prescribed it. Although Mounjaro has only been commercially available since mid-2022, demand for this medication is off the charts. Mounjaro generated $3 billion in revenue through the first nine months of 2023, making it Eli Lilly's second-largest top-line contributor.

And just last month, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved Mounjaro's sister product, Zepbound. While Mounjaro is used to treat diabetes, Zepbound's focal area is obesity. This is a major development for Eli Lilly as the company faces a fierce contest with Novo Nordisk.

By some estimates, the market for weight-loss medications could reach $200 billion by 2030. Although it's probably too early to know whether these forecasts are accurate, the main takeaway is that the demand for products like Ozempic, Wegovy, Rybelsus, or Mounjaro don't seem to be going away. Now, with the approval of Zepbound, Eli Lilly is well-positioned to acquire additional market share in the growing diabetes and obesity markets.

The thing investors should keep in mind is that Eli Lilly's stock has rocketed 56% in 2023 thanks to its all-around successful portfolio. As of now, Eli Lilly stock trades at a forward price-to-earnings (P/E) multiple of 87 -- roughly quadruple that of the S&P 500. It's clear that the capital markets are placing a premium on Eli Lilly and are bullish on the company's growth prospects.

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But when thinking about the long term, investors should consider that Eli Lilly has yet to really benefit from Zepbound. Right now, the company's sales related to weight-loss medications stem from Mounjaro and Jardiance. The approval of Zepbound for obesity adds an entirely new layer of opportunity for Eli Lilly and should not go overlooked. Although the stock isn't exactly cheap, I would caution investors about trying to time the perfect opportunity to open a position.

I see Eli Lilly as much more than a developer of weight-loss medications given the depth of the company's portfolio in addition to weight-loss products. The drugmaker also has treatments for cancer and autoimmune diseases, with both of these areas contributing billions in revenue. The company's cancer drug Verzenio grew 62% through the first nine months of 2023, but an expanded indication approval from the FDA could imply that its long-term prospects could be far more robust.

To me, Eli Lilly represents a compelling opportunity in the pharmaceutical industry in general. With its long-term returns in excess of 1,000%, patient investors have been handsomely rewarded by owning this stock, and I don't see that changing.

Image source: Getty Images.

The stock to avoid like the plague: Pfizer

Another pharmaceutical company that's looking to participate in the race among weight-loss treatments is Pfizer (NYSE: PFE).

While the company's vaccine played a monumental role combating COVID-19, its pursuit of the diabetes and obesity markets isn't looking too good. Although Pfizer still has some opportunities in its weight-loss pipeline, I wouldn't hold my breath. The company is far behind Novo Nordisk and Eli Lilly, and even if it makes some inroads eventually, I think it'll be too little, too late.

PFE Chart

Don't get me wrong. Pfizer has a large portfolio of medications, and its waning aspirations toward the weight-loss market isn't catastrophic. However, investors should keep in mind that its treatments for COVID-19 are not necessarily a catalyst anymore.

And as Pfizer enters the closing stages of its Seagen acquisition, I surmise that a significant amount of transaction costs will take a toll on the company's earnings growth. The markets are clearly accounting for the company's dwindling prospects given that shares of Pfizer stock are trading near their lowest point in a decade.

PFE Free Cash Flow (Quarterly) Chart

Moreover, with free cash flow generation both unpredictable and much lower than historical levels, Pfizer may face liquidity constraints as it integrates Seagen next year. While this is purely speculation, the company may be forced to seek further cost-saving efforts, which could come in the form of slashing its dividend.

I think there are simply too many risks associated with an investment in Pfizer right now, and I don't view its current price action as an opportunity to buy the dip. Unless Pfizer can prove that it's on a more respectable path for revenue and profit growth, I'd leave the stock alone and seek better opportunities.

Should you invest $1,000 in Eli Lilly right now?

Before you buy stock in Eli Lilly, consider this:

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*Stock Advisor returns as of December 18, 2023

Adam Spatacco has positions in Eli Lilly and Novo Nordisk. The Motley Fool has positions in and recommends Pfizer. The Motley Fool recommends Novo Nordisk. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy.

Interested in the Weight-Loss Market? Here's 1 Stock to Buy Hand Over Fist in 2024, and 1 to Avoid Like the Plague. was originally published by The Motley Fool
One simple way to benefit from the stock market is to buy an index fund. But if you pick the right individual stocks, you could make more than that. For example, HSBC Holdings plc (LON:HSBA) shareholders have seen the share price rise 65% over three years, well in excess of the market return (2.2%, not including dividends). On the other hand, the returns haven't been quite so good recently, with shareholders up just 31% , including dividends .

Let's take a look at the underlying fundamentals over the longer term, and see if they've been consistent with shareholders returns.

See our latest analysis for HSBC Holdings

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).

HSBC Holdings became profitable within the last three years. That would generally be considered a positive, so we'd expect the share price to be up.

The image below shows how EPS has tracked over time (if you click on the image you can see greater detail).

LSE:HSBA Earnings Per Share Growth December 28th 2023

It's good to see that there was some significant insider buying in the last three months. That's a positive. That said, we think earnings and revenue growth trends are even more important factors to consider. Before buying or selling a stock, we always recommend a close examination of historic growth trends, available here..

What About Dividends?

As well as measuring the share price return, investors should also consider the total shareholder return (TSR). The TSR incorporates the value of any spin-offs or discounted capital raisings, along with any dividends, based on the assumption that the dividends are reinvested. It's fair to say that the TSR gives a more complete picture for stocks that pay a dividend. We note that for HSBC Holdings the TSR over the last 3 years was 91%, which is better than the share price return mentioned above. The dividends paid by the company have thusly boosted the total shareholder return.

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A Different Perspective

We're pleased to report that HSBC Holdings shareholders have received a total shareholder return of 31% over one year. And that does include the dividend. That gain is better than the annual TSR over five years, which is 4%. Therefore it seems like sentiment around the company has been positive lately. Given the share price momentum remains strong, it might be worth taking a closer look at the stock, lest you miss an opportunity. 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. Consider for instance, the ever-present spectre of investment risk. We've identified 2 warning signs with HSBC Holdings (at least 1 which is significant) , and understanding them should be part of your investment process.

There are plenty of other companies that have insiders buying up shares. You probably do not want to miss this free list of growing companies that insiders are buying.

Please note, the market returns quoted in this article reflect the market weighted average returns of stocks that currently trade on 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.
Key Insights

Using the 2 Stage Free Cash Flow to Equity, Vulcan Steel fair value estimate is AU$10.16

Vulcan Steel is estimated to be 24% undervalued based on current share price of AU$7.71

The NZ$8.36 analyst price target for VSL is 18% less than our estimate of fair value

Today we'll do a simple run through of a valuation method used to estimate the attractiveness of Vulcan Steel Limited (ASX:VSL) as an investment opportunity by estimating the company's future cash flows and discounting them to their present value. One way to achieve this is by employing the Discounted Cash Flow (DCF) model. Before you think you won't be able to understand it, just read on! It's actually much less complex than you'd imagine.

Remember though, that there are many ways to estimate a company's value, and a DCF is just one method. 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 Vulcan Steel

The Model

We're using the 2-stage growth model, which simply means we take in account two stages of company's growth. In the initial period the company may have a higher growth rate and the second stage is usually assumed to have a stable growth rate. 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.

A DCF is all about the idea that a dollar in the future is less valuable than a dollar today, 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) estimate

2024 2025 2026 2027 2028 2029 2030 2031 2032 2033 Levered FCF (NZ$, Millions) NZ$87.9m NZ$77.9m NZ$118.3m NZ$115.8m NZ$114.9m NZ$114.9m NZ$115.7m NZ$116.9m NZ$118.6m NZ$120.4m Growth Rate Estimate Source Analyst x1 Analyst x1 Analyst x1 Est @ -2.07% Est @ -0.83% Est @ 0.04% Est @ 0.66% Est @ 1.08% Est @ 1.38% Est @ 1.59% Present Value (NZ$, Millions) Discounted @ 9.0% NZ$80.6 NZ$65.6 NZ$91.4 NZ$82.1 NZ$74.7 NZ$68.6 NZ$63.3 NZ$58.7 NZ$54.6 NZ$50.9

("Est" = FCF growth rate estimated by Simply Wall St)

Present Value of 10-year Cash Flow (PVCF) = NZ$691m

We now need to calculate the Terminal Value, which accounts for all the future cash flows after this ten year period. For a number of reasons a very conservative growth rate is used that cannot exceed that of a country's GDP growth. In this case we have used the 5-year average of the 10-year government bond yield (2.1%) to estimate future growth. In the same way as with the 10-year 'growth' period, we discount future cash flows to today's value, using a cost of equity of 9.0%.

Terminal Value (TV)= FCF 2033  (1 + g)  (r  g) = NZ$120m (1 + 2.1%)  (9.0% 2.1%) = NZ$1.8b

Present Value of Terminal Value (PVTV)= TV / (1 + r)10= NZ$1.8b ( 1 + 9.0%)10= NZ$752m

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$1.4b. The last step is to then divide the equity value by the number of shares outstanding. Relative to the current share price of AU$7.7, the company appears a touch undervalued at a 24% 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.

ASX:VSL Discounted Cash Flow December 28th 2023

Important Assumptions

The calculation above is very dependent on two assumptions. The first is the discount rate and the other is the cash flows. You don't have to agree with these inputs, I recommend redoing the calculations yourself and playing with them. 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 Vulcan Steel as potential shareholders, the cost of equity is used as the discount rate, rather than the cost of capital (or weighted average cost of capital, WACC) which accounts for debt. In this calculation we've used 9.0%, which is based on a levered beta of 1.382. 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 Vulcan Steel

Strength

Debt is well covered by earnings and cashflows.

Dividends are covered by earnings and cash flows.

Weakness

Earnings declined over the past year.

Dividend is low compared to the top 25% of dividend payers in the Metals and Mining market.

Opportunity

Annual earnings are forecast to grow faster than the Australian market.

Good value based on P/E ratio and estimated fair value.

Threat

Annual revenue is forecast to grow slower than the Australian market.

Moving On:

Whilst important, the DCF calculation ideally won't be the sole piece of analysis you scrutinize for a company. DCF models are not the be-all and end-all of investment valuation. Instead the best use for a DCF model is to test certain assumptions and theories to see if they would lead to the company being undervalued or overvalued. For example, changes in the company's cost of equity or the risk free rate can significantly impact the valuation. Why is the intrinsic value higher than the current share price? For Vulcan Steel, we've put together three relevant factors you should explore:

Risks: For example, we've discovered 3 warning signs for Vulcan Steel that you should be aware of before investing here. Future Earnings: How does VSL's growth rate compare to its peers and the wider market? Dig deeper into the analyst consensus number for the upcoming years by interacting with our free analyst growth expectation chart. Other Solid Businesses: Low debt, high returns on equity and good past performance are fundamental to a strong business. Why not explore our interactive list of stocks with solid business fundamentals to see if there are other companies you may not have considered!

PS. Simply Wall St updates its DCF calculation for every Australian stock every day, so if you want to find the intrinsic value of any other stock just search here.

Have feedback on this article? Concerned about the content? Get in touch with us directly. Alternatively, email editorial-team (at) simplywallst.com.



This article by Simply Wall St is general in nature. We provide commentary based on historical data and analyst forecasts only using an unbiased methodology and our articles are not intended to be financial advice. It does not constitute a recommendation to buy or sell any stock, and does not take account of your objectives, or your financial situation. We aim to bring you long-term focused analysis driven by fundamental data. Note that our analysis may not factor in the latest price-sensitive company announcements or qualitative material. Simply Wall St has no position in any stocks mentioned.
(Bloomberg) -- Argentine President Javier Milei is seeking to extinguish decades of government intervention in the nations oil industry by unshackling crude exports and leaving local fuel prices at the whim of market forces.

Most Read from Bloomberg

Milei included such measures in sweeping legislation he sent to congress on Wednesday, the latest move since the libertarian president took office on Dec. 10 with a mission to deregulate Argentinas tightly controlled economy. While his bill has far-reaching consequences for a slew of industries, it features a chapter specifically addressing oil.

Read More: Milei Blitzes Argentinas Congress With Far-Ranging Reform Bill

The free-market provisions in his bill seek to replace rules from the 1960s that prioritize ensuring affordable fuel supplies at home. Those rules, which give refiners the right to first refusal on export cargoes and let the government meddle in crude and gasoline pricing, have in recent years held back the vast shale patch known as Vaca Muerta  Spanish for dead cow.

Under Mileis proposal, sales abroad will be free and the executive branch wont be able to intervene in, or fix, prices in the domestic market.

Energy prices will couple with international values, Juan Jose Carbajales, an energy consultant who once served as oil and gas undersecretary, wrote in a report. The most radical change is eliminating the requirement to satisfy the needs of the local market  its an historic rupture with a century of Argentine tradition.

It would also be a boon for drillers including YPF SA  the state-run oil company that Milei wants to privatize  whose shale investments have been curtailed by cheap prices at pump, as well as Vaca Muertas other major crude producers, Chevron Corp., Shell Plc and local outfit Vista Energy.

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Read More: Exxon Mulls an Exit From Its Dead Cow Shale Fields in Argentina

Mileis bill will likely face stiff opposition in congress, where his party is a minority, since it rips at the fabric of status-quo Argentine policymaking.

While the legislation is being debated, Milei will move to liberalize oil markets on a more informal basis, according to two people familiar with the matter. The government will stop brokering talks between oil producers and refiners, allowing them to set crude and gasoline prices as they wish, said the people, who werent authorized to publicly disclose private deliberations.

A Milei spokesman couldnt be reached for comment.

Shale oil in Argentina traded at $58 a barrel in the third quarter, when Brent traded at $86, according to YPF.

Argentine gasoline prices have already skyrocketed since Milei won the election last month. But with gas stations selling a liter at less than 83 cents on the US dollar this week, they remain among the cheapest in the world, according to GlobalPetrolPrices.com.

Most Read from Bloomberg Businessweek

2023 Bloomberg L.P.
Aroya Cruises, the new Arabian cruise line operated by Cruise Saudi, has unveiled the first cruise ship in its fleet that will set sail from Jeddah, Saudi Arabia in 2024.

The 335-metre-long ship is currently undergoing an extensive refurbishment to tailor the ship to the highest standard in line with the taste of Arabian passengers.

With 19 decks and 1,682 elegant cabins, this grand ship will redefine Arabian holidays, a statement said. With exceptional on-board service, an eclectic culinary offering, and activities, guests aboard Aroya Cruises are promised a unique Arabian hospitality experience that reflects the values of Saudi culture.

Lars Clasen, CEO of Cruise Saudi, a public investment fund owned company, said: We are delighted to sail into the new year with the unveiling of our first Aroya Cruises ship. This marks an exciting milestone for Cruise Saudi in creating a world-class cruise industry in Saudi, whilst offering a new way to holiday in the Kingdom for locals. We look forward to welcoming the first passengers on-board.  TradeArabia News Service
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Dublin, Dec. 28, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- The "Kenya Construction Market Size, Trend Analysis by Sector, Competitive Landscape and Forecast to 2027" report has been added to ResearchAndMarkets.com's offering.



Kenya's construction industry is forecast to grow by 4.5% in real terms in 2023, driven by improvements in infrastructure and energy development, along with projects to be implemented under the 2023-24 Fiscal year (FY) Budget.

In June 2023, the government announced its 2023-24 Budget, which amounts to KES3.7 trillion ($28.7 billion). This includes the allocation of KES244.9 billion ($1.9 billion) for road infrastructure, KES141.2 billion ($1.1 billion) for healthcare, KES62.3 billion ($482.7 million) for energy, KES42.6 billion ($330.1 million) for railway infrastructure, KES35.3 billion ($275.6 million) for housing construction and redevelopment, KES26.9 billion ($208.4 million) for the manufacturing sector and KES15.1 billion ($117 million) for infrastructure and digital economy development. Infrastructure investments will also play a significant role in driving the growth of Kenya's construction industry. The Central Bank of Kenya released a KES50 billion ($389.4 million) infrastructure bond in October 2023, which will be utilized to fund projects outlined in the 2023-24 Budget.



Over the remainder of the forecast period, the construction industry is expected to grow at an average annual growth rate of 5.9% between 2024 and 2027, supported by investment in tourism and transport infrastructure development, as well as improvements in energy, housing, and industrial facilities. In early November 2023, Kenya's Tourism Board announced the five-year strategic 2023-28 tourism plan. Under this, the government is aiming to attract 5.5 million internationals tourists' arrival by 2028, which will boost leisure and hospitality development. In August 2023, The Ministry of Lands launched a tender for the construction of 25,000 government personnel houses and 7,000 residential houses.



The report provides detailed market analysis, information and insights into the Kenya's construction industry, including -

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Kenya's construction industry's growth prospects by market, project type and construction activity

Critical insight into the impact of industry trends and issues, as well as an analysis of key risks and opportunities in Kenya's construction industry

Analysis of the mega-project pipeline, focusing on development stages and participants, in addition to listings of major projects in the pipeline.

This report provides a comprehensive analysis of the construction industry in Kenya. It provides -

Historical (2018-2022) and forecast (2023-2027) valuations of the construction industry in Kenya, featuring details of key growth drivers.

Segmentation by sector (commercial, industrial, infrastructure, energy and utilities, institutional and residential) and by sub-sector

Analysis of the mega-project pipeline, including breakdowns by development stage across all sectors, and projected spending on projects in the existing pipeline.

Listings of major projects, in addition to details of leading contractors and consultants

Key Report Benefits

Identify and evaluate market opportunities using the publisher's standardized valuation and forecasting methodologies.

Assess market growth potential at a micro-level with over 600 time-series data forecasts.

Understand the latest industry and market trends.

Formulate and validate strategy using the publisher's critical and actionable insight.

Assess business risks, including cost, regulatory and competitive pressures.

Evaluate competitive risk and success factors.

Key Topics Covered:

Executive Summary

Construction Industry: At-a-Glance

Latest news and developments

Project analytics

Construction Market Data

Risk Profile

For more information about this report visit https://www.researchandmarkets.com/r/1dmbu5

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




(Bloomberg) -- Kenya abandoned a plan to buy back a portion of a $2 billion eurobond, sidestepping a potential default on the terms of the debt, which mature in June.

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The East African nation paid $68.7 million in interest on the bond, which underscores Kenyas steadfast dedication to meeting external obligations, Cabinet Secretary Njuguna Ndungu said in an emailed statement Thursday. The government will pay the principal on maturity, according to the statement, which didnt mention anything about its pledge to repurchase $300 million of the notes.

President William Rutos government backed away from the plan to repurchase early  meant to allay investor concerns about its ability to pay  as some money managers and credit assessors raised concern that the move could be seen as a technical default.

Read More: Moodys Default Warning on Kenya Buyback Plan Hits Its Eurobonds

The final interest payment on this eurobond is scheduled for the last week of June 2024, alongside the repayment of the principal amount of $2 billion, Ndungu said.

Ruto initially announced the plan to buy back as much as half of the debt, but government officials reduced the target to $500 million, and then $300 million, which some investors say sends mixed signals.

The inconsistency in the messaging is concerning, said Thato Mosadi, a fixed-income strategist at Jefferies. However, we remain confident about the future trajectory of multilateral inflows that will help Kenya settle its outstanding principal on the 2024 eurobond.

The yield on the notes due June 2024 was 13.36% by 19:07 p.m. in Nairobi, the lowest since Nov. 22. Yields have dropped for three consecutive days, the longest streak since Nov. 21.

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Investors have been concerned about Kenyas ability to make the bullet payment given the nations debt burden amid rising energy and food import bills. The country had $6.7 billion of foreign-exchange reserves as of Dec. 21.

Kenya expected a loan from pan-African lender Trade and Development Bank mid-December that it intended to spend on the repurchase, central bank Governor Kamau Thugge told reporters earlier this month. Other than that facility, the National Treasury was also counting on some inflows from the International Monetary Fund in January.

Developing nations are struggling to refinance their eurobonds due to being locked out of markets by high interest rates. Ethiopia chose not to pay interest earlier this month, putting a spotlight on about eight African economies whose debt the IMF classifies as unsustainable and in need of restructuring.

(Updates with bond pricing in seventh paragraph)

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Laurentian Bank of Canada (TSE:LB) is about to trade ex-dividend in the next four days. The ex-dividend date is one business day before the record date, which is the cut-off date for shareholders to be present on the company's books to be eligible for a dividend payment. The ex-dividend date is important because any transaction on a stock needs to have been settled before the record date in order to be eligible for a dividend. This means that investors who purchase Laurentian Bank of Canada's shares on or after the 2nd of January will not receive the dividend, which will be paid on the 1st of February.

The company's next dividend payment will be CA$0.47 per share, on the back of last year when the company paid a total of CA$1.88 to shareholders. Last year's total dividend payments show that Laurentian Bank of Canada has a trailing yield of 6.9% on the current share price of CA$27.36. Dividends are an important source of income to many shareholders, but the health of the business is crucial to maintaining those dividends. We need to see whether the dividend is covered by earnings and if it's growing.

See our latest analysis for Laurentian Bank of Canada

Dividends are typically paid out of company income, so if a company pays out more than it earned, its dividend is usually at a higher risk of being cut. That's why it's good to see Laurentian Bank of Canada paying out a modest 48% of its earnings.

When a company paid out less in dividends than it earned in profit, this generally suggests its dividend is affordable. The lower the % of its profit that it pays out, the greater the margin of safety for the dividend if the business enters a downturn.

Click here to see the company's payout ratio, plus analyst estimates of its future dividends.

TSX:LB Historic Dividend December 28th 2023

Have Earnings And Dividends Been Growing?

Businesses with shrinking earnings are tricky from a dividend perspective. Investors love dividends, so if earnings fall and the dividend is reduced, expect a stock to be sold off heavily at the same time. With that in mind, we're discomforted by Laurentian Bank of Canada's 5.3% per annum decline in earnings in the past five years. Ultimately, when earnings per share decline, the size of the pie from which dividends can be paid, shrinks.

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Many investors will assess a company's dividend performance by evaluating how much the dividend payments have changed over time. Laurentian Bank of Canada's dividend payments are effectively flat on where they were 10 years ago. If a company's dividend stays flat while earnings are in decline, this is typically a sign that it is paying out a larger percentage of its earnings. This can become unsustainable if earnings fall far enough.

Final Takeaway

Should investors buy Laurentian Bank of Canada for the upcoming dividend? Laurentian Bank of Canada's earnings per share are down over the past five years, although it has the cushion of a low payout ratio, which would suggest a cut to the dividend is relatively unlikely. We think there are likely better opportunities out there.

If you want to look further into Laurentian Bank of Canada, it's worth knowing the risks this business faces. For example, we've found 1 warning sign for Laurentian Bank of Canada that we recommend you consider before investing in the business.

If you're in the market for strong dividend payers, we recommend checking our selection of top dividend stocks.

Have feedback on this article? Concerned about the content? Get in touch with us directly. Alternatively, email editorial-team (at) simplywallst.com.



This article by Simply Wall St is general in nature. We provide commentary based on historical data and analyst forecasts only using an unbiased methodology and our articles are not intended to be financial advice. It does not constitute a recommendation to buy or sell any stock, and does not take account of your objectives, or your financial situation. We aim to bring you long-term focused analysis driven by fundamental data. Note that our analysis may not factor in the latest price-sensitive company announcements or qualitative material. Simply Wall St has no position in any stocks mentioned.
FILE PHOTO: The world's first methanol-fueled container vessel Laura Maersk, owned by shipping company Maersk, is seen in Copenhagen

By Louise Rasmussen

COPENHAGEN (Reuters) - Denmark's Maersk will sail almost all container vessels travelling between Asia and Europe through the Suez Canal from now on while diverting only a handful around Africa, a Reuters breakdown of the group's schedule showed on Thursday.

Major shipping companies, including container giants Maersk and Hapag-Lloyd, stopped using Red Sea routes and the Suez Canal earlier this month after Yemen's Houthi militant group began targeting vessels, disrupting global trade.

Instead, they rerouted ships around Africa via the Cape of Good Hope to avoid attacks, charging customers extra fees and adding days or weeks to the time it takes to transport goods from Asia to Europe and to the east coast of North America.

But Maersk on Dec. 24 said it was preparing a return to the Red Sea, citing the deployment of a U.S.-led military operation to protect vessels, and on Wednesday released schedules showing ships were headed for Suez in the coming weeks.

A detailed breakdown showed that while Maersk had diverted 26 of its own ships around the Cape of Good Hope in the last 10 days or so, only five more were scheduled to start the same journey.

By contrast, more than 50 Maersk vessels are set to go via Suez in coming weeks, the company's schedule showed.

But Maersk said alliance partner Mediterranean Shipping Company (MSC) continued to divert all MSC vessels via the Cape of Good Hope for the time being, regardless of date or point of departure and the direction they were sailing in.

MSC did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

Hapag Lloyd on Wednesday said it still considered the situation too dangerous to pass through the Suez Canal, adding that it planned to review the situation on Friday,

The Suez Canal is used by roughly one-third of global container ship cargo, and re-directing ships around the southern tip of Africa is expected to cost up to $1 million extra in fuel for every round trip between Asia and Northern Europe.

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Among a handful of other third-party vessels in Maersk's alliance that were set to sail in the coming weeks, two would be diverted around Africa while the rest would travel via Suez, the schedule showed.

All schedules remain subject to change based on specific contingency plans that may be formed over the coming days, Maersk has said.

The company did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

(Reporting by Louise Rasmussen, editing by Terje Solsvik and Christina Fincher)
(Bloomberg) -- Argentine President Javier Milei sent a wide-ranging omnibus reform package to congress Wednesday, expanding his shock therapy approach beyond economic policy into myriad aspects of government.

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Spanning hundreds of pages, Mileis state reform package should face pushback in congress where his party holds a minority and even the biggest coalition wouldnt give him the necessary votes. Measures range from eliminating Argentinas primary elections and charging university tuition to privatizing 41 state-owned companies and strengthening Mileis economic policy powers throughout his term.

READ MORE: Argentina May Sell Bond to Pay $16 Billion YPF Lawsuit Award (2)

Critics wasted no time lambasting the legislation. Former Economy Minister Martin Guzman, who was behind Argentinas $44 billion agreement with the International Monetary Fund that passed congress in 2022, criticized Milei for attempting to unwind that measure, among others.

The purpose of that law is that never again could a government in office brutally increase external debt with private creditors or the IMF, Guzman wrote on X, the platform formerly known as Twitter. Mileis law would make it possible again, he said.

The omnibus reform bill comes days after Milei published a sprawling decree that goes into effect unless congress acts to overturn it by early January. More broadly, the omnibus legislation shows the far-reaching overhaul Milei seeks after announcing shock economic policies, such as sharp spending cuts, lifting import controls and devaluing the peso by more than 50%.

Story continues

READ MORE: Argentinas Milei Lifts Imports Controls in Free Trade Push

Milei is already meeting resistance to his rapid-fire approach. Opposition lawmakers from the Peronist party seek to throw a wrench into Mileis plans, while powerful labor unions rallied outside the Supreme Court Wednesday to protest Mileis decree. Wednesdays marches followed protests last week.

Milei counters that he must act fast to keep the countrys economic crisis from getting any worse.

Labor unions and Peronists cant accept that they lost? They cant accept that people chose something else? Milei said in a TV interview Tuesday night. Evidently, theyre not conscious about the seriousness of the situation.

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Recognising the Creme de la creme of ASEAN entrepreneurs

KUALA LUMPUR, Malaysia, Dec. 28, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Yayasan Usahawan Malaysia (YUM) proudly announces the forthcoming 11th SEBA Awards 2024, poised to transcend borders and embrace a regional perspective. The gala event will continue its tradition of recognizing exceptional achievements, this time extending its reach to the creme de la creme of entrepreneurs and enterprises from countries like Thailand, Brunei, and Indonesia.

SEBA Awards 2023 Central Grand edition celebrated 41 Entrepreneurs & Enterprises across Malaysia graced by Minister of Entrepreneur & Cooperatives Development of Malaysia, YB Datuk Ewon Benedick and Founder of SEBA, Nitesh Malani

It was announced earlier on the 30th November 2023, where the SEBA Awards Central Grand edition saw the Minister of Entrepreneur & Cooperatives Development of Malaysia, YB Datuk Ewon Benedick and Ybrs Khairy Jamaluddin as our guests of honor celebrating a total of 41 Entrepreneurs & Enterprises across Malaysia, including Unity Icon of the Year, Datuk DJ Dave, Celebrity Entrepreneur - Nor Zila Aminuddin or also known as Ella and Co-founders of Zus Coffee, Ian Chua and Venon Tian as the Entrepreneur of The Year 2023.

Nitesh Malani, Chairman of Yayasan Usahawan Malaysia and Founder of SEBA, expressed his enthusiasm, stating, "As we look ahead to SEBA 2024, we are excited to take our celebration of entrepreneurship beyond national boundaries and in the most unconventional yet exciting way. The evolving landscape of business knows no borders, and SEBA is ready to honour and acknowledge outstanding contributions from entrepreneurs across the region."

The theme for SEBA 2024, "Beyond Boundaries | Celebrating Regional Entrepreneurship," underscores the initiative's commitment to fostering collaboration and recognition beyond national confines. Entrepreneurs and enterprises from Thailand, Brunei, and Indonesia are invited to showcase their achievements and contribute to the vibrant tapestry of regional entrepreneurship in 3 strategically selected locations - Langkawi for Northern 2024, Kota Kinabalu for Borneo 2024, and Central Grand edition in Kuala Lumpur.

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SEBA Awards 2024 invites entrepreneurs, businesses, and partners from across the region to be part of this transformative celebration. As the initiative ventures beyond national boundaries, SEBA anticipates a wealth of diverse stories, achievements, and collaborations that will shape the future of entrepreneurship in the region. Nominations have opened, and can be contacted via www.seba.asia or through its latest AI powered assistant, Suzy, who can be contacted through whatsapp .

About SME and Entrepreneur Business Award (SEBA)

SEBA is Asia's premier recognition platform organised by Yayasan Usahawan Malaysia and curated by Xhale Asia (M) Sdn Bhd., showcasing Malaysia's most notable companies and entrepreneurs. Past winners include luminaries from the industry, such as Dato' Sri Siti Nurhaliza (Entrepreneur of The Year 2021), Tan Sri Lee Kim Yew (Lifetime Achievement Award 2018), Datuk Ramli Ibrahim (Performing Art Entrepreneur of the Year 2018), and Eric Cheng & Teoh Jiun Ee (Technopreneur of the Year 2020).

About Yayasan Usahawan Malaysia (MyPreneurship)

Yayasan Usahawan Malaysia, or the Entrepreneurship Foundation Malaysia, is a non-government organisation that strives on the frontier of gathering, creating, and developing sustainable companies with strong entrepreneurship traits. The organisation builds credibility by serving as a platform that supports the development of companies across all businesses. It offers programmers tailored with their best interest to ensure that they can achieve their goals while sustaining core values.

For media inquiries, please contact:

Fatiha Roslan

M: 017 781 0079

E: media@seba.asia | support@seba.asia

W: www.seba.asia

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SOURCE Entrepreneurship Foundation Malaysia
Gov. Mike DeWine on Thursday signed off on legislation that could result in higher natural gas bills for consumers.

Gov. Mike DeWine on Thursday signed off on legislation that could result in higher natural gas bills for consumers to finance project that may never be built.

Proponents say House Bill 201 will drive economic growth in Ohio and bring more jobs; critics contend the legislation takes away money from consumers who are already stretched.

The bill makes changes to state law that allow natural gas companies to charge customers for more infrastructure upgrades, extensions and planning costs, including proposed projects that might never be built.

The charges will be limited to $1.50 per month for customers, but utilities could collect those fees for years to come, according to the legislation. Currently, the state's four largest gas companies charge less than that cap, according to Ohio's Legislative Budget Office.

State economic development leaders say the legislation will help Ohio develop the ready-made sites needed to lure business to Ohio,

But the charges added to consumer bills under the legislation lack traditional consumer protections in Ohio law, according to the Ohio Consumers' Counsel.

The office warned that projects can remain on consumer bills for years after they are completed.

We are disappointed. We will be working with the (Public Utilities Commission of Ohio), gas utilities and others to ensure that funds collected from utility consumers for economic development under House Bill 201 are wisely spent," said J.P. Blackwood, a Consumers' Counsel spokesman.

As initially drafted, the legislation was designed to prevent Ohio from following California's lead and mandating emission standards. Last year, California adopted rules that would require new cars, pickups and SUVs to be electric or hydrogen-powered by 2035, the Associated Press reported.

mawilliams@dispatch.com

@BizMarkWilliams

This article originally appeared on The Columbus Dispatch: Gov. Mike DeWine signs bill that could increases natural gas costs
While it may not be enough for some shareholders, we think it is good to see the Secure Trust Bank PLC (LON:STB) share price up 11% in a single 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 41%, 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 Secure Trust Bank

In his essay The Superinvestors of Graham-and-Doddsville Warren Buffett described how share prices do not always rationally reflect the value of a business. 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.

Looking back five years, both Secure Trust Bank's share price and EPS declined; the latter at a rate of 3.5% per year. Readers should note that the share price has fallen faster than the EPS, at a rate of 10% per year, over the period. This implies that the market is more cautious about the business these days. The low P/E ratio of 6.72 further reflects this reticence.

The graphic below depicts how EPS has changed over time (unveil the exact values by clicking on the image).

LSE:STB Earnings Per Share Growth December 28th 2023

We consider it positive that insiders have made significant purchases in the last year. Even so, future earnings will be far more important to whether current shareholders make money. Before buying or selling a stock, we always recommend a close examination of historic growth trends, available here..

What About Dividends?

When looking at investment returns, it is important to consider the difference between total shareholder return (TSR) and share price return. The TSR is a return calculation that accounts for the value of cash dividends (assuming that any dividend received was reinvested) and the calculated value of any discounted capital raisings and spin-offs. It's fair to say that the TSR gives a more complete picture for stocks that pay a dividend. In the case of Secure Trust Bank, it has a TSR of -26% for the last 5 years. That exceeds its share price return that we previously mentioned. This is largely a result of its dividend payments!

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A Different Perspective

We're pleased to report that Secure Trust Bank shareholders have received a total shareholder return of 13% over one year. And that does include the dividend. There's no doubt those recent returns are much better than the TSR loss of 5% per year over five years. We generally put more weight on the long term performance over the short term, but the recent improvement could hint at a (positive) inflection point within the 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. Consider for instance, the ever-present spectre of investment risk. We've identified 1 warning sign with Secure Trust Bank , and understanding them should be part of your investment process.

Secure Trust Bank is not the only stock insiders are buying. So take a peek at this free list of growing companies with insider buying.

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.
DUBLIN, Dec. 28, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- The "Per Diem Nurse Staffing Market - Global Industry Analysis, Size, Share, Growth, Trends, and Forecast 2031 - By Product, Technology, Grade, Application, End-user, Region" report has been added to ResearchAndMarkets.com's offering.

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The global Per Diem Nurse Staffing market is experiencing significant growth, with sales of US$ 8.1 billion in 2022. This surge in the market is driven by several factors, including the flexibility and attractive remuneration that Per Diem nurse staffing offers, as well as the rising demand for temporary nursing solutions in healthcare facilities worldwide.



Factors Propelling Per Diem Nurse Staffing Demand:

Flexibility and Competitive Pay : Per Diem nurse staffing appeals to nurses seeking flexibility and relatively high compensation. The unpredictable nature of nurse absences, vacation schedules, and varying patient acuity frequently necessitates immediate temporary staffing in hospitals, clinics, and outpatient departments. Per Diem assignments enable nurses to gain diverse experience in different healthcare settings while enjoying competitive compensation rates.

Variety of Opportunities : Per Diem nursing assignments are favored by those who seek varied work experiences and explore potential job opportunities. Nurses working on a flexible schedule enjoy substantial pay, with salaries dependent on factors such as the hospital's reputation, geographic location, and nurse specialty. In the United States, for instance, the average annual salary for per diem registered nurses is US$ 85,800, providing attractive earning potential.

Work-Life Balance : Per Diem nursing offers a work-life balance that many nurses find appealing. Unlike full-time positions, per diem nurses are not obligated to work nights, weekends, or holidays, allowing them to prioritize personal commitments and maintain control over their daily work schedules.

Addressing Nurse Burnout: The Per Diem nursing model helps alleviate nurse burnout, which has become a significant concern, especially in the wake of the pandemic. Long working hours, increased responsibilities, and staff shortages have contributed to nurse fatigue and mental health challenges. Per Diem nurses have the autonomy to manage their work schedules to prevent burnout

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Asia-Pacific Emerging as a Key Market

The Asia-Pacific region is expected to witness the highest CAGR in the Per Diem Nurse Staffing market during the forecast period. Increasing investments by major players in countries like China and India, coupled with strategic partnerships and mergers and acquisitions, are driving market growth. The region is experiencing a surge in government and non-government hospitals, acute care centers, and long-term care facilities, contributing to the expanding market.

U.S. Dominates the Per Diem Nurse Staffing Market

In the United States, Per Diem nursing is widely accepted due to its appeal to nurses who prefer working in their chosen hospitals. Per Diem nurses have the freedom to create customized work schedules and are not obliged to work weekends or holidays, resulting in higher pay compared to regular staff nurses.

Competitive Analysis:



Key players in the global Per Diem Nurse Staffing market include GHR Healthcare, AMN Healthcare, Nurse Staffing LLC, Interim HealthCare, and Maxim Healthcare Group. These industry leaders are investing in product launches, partnerships, mergers and acquisitions, and expansion initiatives to gain a competitive edge in this dynamic market.



Market Segments Covered in Per Diem Nurse Staffing Market Analysis

By Product Type

Permanent

Contract Basis

By Region

North America

Europe

Asia Pacific

Middle East and Africa

Latin America

A selection of companies mentioned in this report includes

Cross Country Healthcare, Inc.

Health trust Workforce Solutions

Maxim Healthcare Group

Supplemental Healthcare

Accountable Healthcare Staffing

AMN Healthcare

Nurse Staffing LLC

GHR Healthcare

Interim HealthCare, Inc.

CareerStaff Unlimited

For more information about this report visit https://www.researchandmarkets.com/r/t3u7b5

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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SOURCE Research and Markets
SAO PAULO, Dec. 28, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- QMC Telecom International Holdings, LLC (" QMC "), a scaled, fast-growing wireless infrastructure platform in Latin America, announced today the successful issuance of debentures in Brazil totaling R$1.25 billion (more than US$250 million) by QMC Telecom do Brasil Cessao de Infraestrutura S.A. (" QMC Brazil "), its Brazilian subsidiary. The offering marks QMC Brazil's third successful debenture issuance since 2020.

QMC Telecom International is a multinational independent owner, developer, and operator of wireless infrastructure. (PRNewsfoto/QMC Telecom International)

QMC Brazil used around R$800 million of the proceeds from this offering to prepay its prior issuance, and will use the additional R$450 million, under a 2-year delayed draw facility, for continued investment in wireless infrastructure in Brazil.

"Increasing our existing debt facility by over 50% in a very challenging global financial debt market speaks to the scale and strength of the growth platform we have deliberately built over the last 10 plus years, and the consistency, proven financial and execution discipline of the company and its management team. This additional funding will allow us to continue accelerating our organic-led growth, take on even larger carrier network expansion projects, and reinforce our established position in the Brazilian market as the indispensable partner in 5G network densification," said Rafael Somoza, QMC's CEO and Co-Founder.

Ricardo Zubieta, QMC's CFO, celebrated the announcement by saying: "The continued support of our bank syndicate underscores their confidence in QMC's low-risk business model, the quality and strength of our carrier and venue landlord contracts and relationships, and in our unique growth opportunity and differentiated strategy to provide our customers with best-in-class indoor DAS and Street Level Solutions."

BNP Paribas acted as the lead coordinator in the offering. Bradesco BBI, Itau BBA, and MUFG participated as co-coordinators. Machado Meyer served as QMC's legal counsel. Cescon Barrieu served as lenders' legal counsel. "This transaction shows the increasing relevance of Brazilian capital markets in financing projects, adapting itself to the needs of corporates that seek funding", says Fabio Jacob, Head of Global Credit Markets in BNP Paribas Brazil.

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**About QMC Telecom International**

Founded in San Juan, Puerto Rico, in 2011, QMC is an independent multinational owner and operator of mobile wireless infrastructure. The company develops, owns, acquires, and manages rooftops, macro sites, indoor DAS, and Street Level Solutions in Brazil, Colombia, Mexico, Peru, and Chile. Internationally renowned investors back QMC in partnership with management, including Accel Partners, Housatonic Partners, Quadrant Capital Advisors, and TTCER Partners.

**About BNP Paribas**

BNP Paribas is the European Union's leading bank and key player in international banking. It operates in 65 countries and has nearly 185,000 employees, including over 145,000 in Europe. The Group has key positions in its three main fields of activity: Commercial, Personal Banking & Services for the Group's commercial & personal banking and several specialized businesses, including BNP Paribas Personal Finance and Arval; Investment & Protection Services for savings, investment and protection solutions; and Corporate & Institutional Banking, focused on corporate and institutional clients. Based on its diversified solid and integrated model, the Group helps all its clients (individuals, community associations, entrepreneurs, SMEs, corporates, and institutional clients) to realize their projects through solutions spanning financing, investment, savings and protection insurance. BNP Paribas has four domestic markets in Europe: Belgium, France, Italy and Luxembourg. The Group is rolling out its integrated commercial & personal banking model across several Mediterranean countries, Turkey, and Eastern Europe. As a key player in international banking, the Group has leading platforms and business lines in Europe, a strong presence in the Americas, and a solid and fast-growing business in Asia-Pacific. BNP Paribas has implemented a Corporate Social Responsibility approach in all its activities, enabling it to contribute to the construction of a sustainable future while ensuring the Group's performance and stability.

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By Lisa Baertlein

LOS ANGELES (Reuters) -Toymaker Basic Fun's team that oversees ocean shipments of Tonka trucks and Care Bears for Walmart and other retailers is racing to reroute cargo away from the Suez Canal following militant attacks on vessels in the Red Sea.

Suppliers for the likes of IKEA, Home Depot, Amazon and retailers around the world are doing the same as businesses grapple with the biggest shipping upheaval since the COVID-19 pandemic threw global supply chains into disarray, sources in the logistics industry said.

Florida-based Basic Fun usually ships all Europe-bound toys from its China factories via the Suez Canal, the quickest way to move goods between those geographies, CEO Jay Foreman said in a telephone interview from his Hong Kong office.

That trade route is used by roughly one-third of global container ship cargo, and re-directing ships around the southern tip of Africa is expected to cost up to $1 million extra in fuel for every round trip between Asia and Northern Europe.

Yemeni Houthis' drone and missile attacks in the Red Sea to show their support for Palestinian Islamist group Hamas fighting Israel in Gaza have upended shipping plans.

Basic Fun is now working through the holidays to send toys from China to ports in the UK and Rotterdam via the the longer route.

It is also diverting some goods bound for ports on the U.S. East Coast from the Suez Canal to the drought-choked Panama Canal, while switching others to the West Coast via the direct route across the Pacific Ocean.

"It's just going to take longer and it's going to cost more," said Foreman, who added that rates for some China-UK freight have more than doubled to around $4,400 per container since the Israel-Hamas conflict began in October.

The Suez Canal situation remains fast changing, and shippers Maersk and CMA CGM are moving to resume voyages with military escorts through the Red Sea.

The biggest impact likely will come over the next six weeks, said Michael Aldwell, executive vice president of sea logistics for Switzerland's Kuehne + Nagel

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"You can't flick a switch" and reorganize global shipping, said Aldwell, who expects the diversions to cause a shortage of vessel space, strand empty containers needed for China exports in wrong places and send short-term transport price indexes sharply higher.

According to estimates from freight platform Xeneta, it costs $2,320 to ship a 40-foot equivalent unit (FEU) container from the Far East to the Mediterranean "post escalation" versus $1,865 per FEU in early December. It costs $1,625 to ship an FEU from China to the United Kingdom "post escalation" versus $1,425 per FEU in early December.

These rates do not include "extra ordinary" risk surcharges and "Emergency Recovery Cost" that can be between $400 and $2,000 per FEU, Peter Sand, chief analyst at Xeneta, said.

SCRAMBLE FOR SPACE

As of Wednesday, nearly 20% of the global container fleet - or 364 hulking container vessels capable of carrying just over 2.5 million full-sized containers - had been set on a new course due to the Red Sea attacks, according to Kuehne + Nagel data.

Mitsui O.S.K. Lines and Nippon Yusen, Japan's largest shipping companies, said their vessels with links to Israel were avoiding the Red Sea area and both companies were monitoring the situation carefully for next steps.

Vessel owners already have begun rationing the less expensive, contract-rate space they reserve for customers, said Anders Schulze, head of the ocean business at digital freight forwarder Flexport.

For example, he said, a customer who delivers five containers a month versus the 10 promised in their contract may only get five containers at contract rates. The remainder would be subject to expensive spot market rates.

This has set off a scramble to reserve space ahead of the early February deadline to get goods out of China before factories there close for the extended Lunar New Year celebrations, logistics experts said.

"Every single booking (out of China) now needs to be reconfirmed. The dates could change, the routing may change," said Alan Baer, CEO of OL USA, which handles freight shipments for clients. OL has contracts with ship owners and is part of the rush to secure spots on ships.

Small shippers are most at risk of being elbowed out.

Marco Castelli, who has an import/export business in Shanghai, has been trying to rebook three containers of Chinese-made machinery components bound for Italy after the shipments were cancelled due to the crisis.

"Transfer my situation to a large corporation and you get what's going on," he said.

Foreman at Basic Fun, which plans to have about 40 containers on the water before the Lunar New Year, said the company's contracts with customers don't include a way to recover the extra expense. "The price is fixed. (Most suppliers) are going to have to eat those costs."

(Reporting by Lisa Baertlein in Los Angeles. Additional reporting by Richa Naidu in London and Daniel Leussink in Tokyo; Editing by Sayantani Ghosh, Lincoln Feast, Alexandra Hudson)
North Sea

For five decades, the UKs surrounding seas have provided it with the oil to power the countrys transport system and the gas to heat its homes.

In the process, Britains oil and gas industry has boosted the economy and poured 400bn of taxes into Treasury coffers, while also generating 120,000 high-paid jobs. However, the sector now stands on a cliff edge and redundancies loom large.

By 2030, experts predict at least 33,000 jobs in the North Sea, and perhaps as many as 60,000, will be gone.

The natural decline of North Sea stocks is playing a crucial role, as around 180 of the UKs 284 oil and gas fields are due to close down by 2030.

Yet, politics is also key.

The Governments windfall tax, Labours pledge to halt new drilling, and protests by climate activists mean that oil and gas investors are turning away from the UK.

For environmental groups, it marks a major victory as they strive to replace jobs in oil and gas with new roles in renewables  especially offshore wind.

Sadly things are not that simple, says Professor Paul de Leeuw, director of Robert Gordon Universitys Energy Transition Institute.

He has spent much of the autumn researching the risks building up in the energy sector, and briefing leading politicians from the main UK parties and the Scottish government.

His conclusion is that the oil and gas industry or, more particularly, the thousands of skilled workers it has created, will be essential to creating the renewable energy systems of the future  and the UK is at risk of losing far too many of them.

Over 90pc of the UKs oil and gas workforce possess skills that can be transferred to the offshore renewables sector, he says. Retaining the offshore oil and gas supply chain, its workforce and associated skills over the next five years will be crucial.

But there is currently a limited capacity for the UK offshore renewables sector to accommodate the quantity of skilled oil and gas workers impacted by the predicted decline in the hydrocarbon sector until later this decade.

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What Prof de Leeuw is saying is that allowing bad politics to accelerate, the offshore oil and gas sectors natural decline will also undermine net zero  wiping out swathes of a workforce best placed to build the energy systems of the future.

The casualties are already mounting. Earlier this year, Harbour Energy, the UKs largest oil and gas producer, said it was abandoning new oil and gas projects in Britain and announced 350 job cuts.

Linda Cook, Harbours chief executive, blamed the UKs windfall tax, plus Labours pledge to remove investment allowances and block future drilling in the North Sea.

Last month, Apache  another major UK offshore operator with more than 630 staff  announced plans to cut 90 more jobs. It said it was suspending all platform drilling in the North Sea due to the challenging UK fiscal regime and unstable investment climate.

Contractors are also affected. Offshore Helicopters, which flies workers offshore from Aberdeen, Shetland and Denmark, has announced job cuts linked to fewer workers.

Such losses are already hitting the UKs energy communities hard. Aberdeen, which in the 1990s was at the heart of the UKs booming offshore industry, has lost hundreds of jobs.

Martin Jones, partner at UHY Hacker Young, the accountancy group, said Aberdeen was experiencing the lowest increase in disposable household income in the UK with just a 15.8pc rise over the last decade. By comparison, the national average was 40pc.

He says: Aberdeens slow growth in household income growth is entwined with the areas ties to the troubled UK oil and gas industry, which has been hit hard by declining North Sea oil and gas production.

House prices are also falling. The University of Aberdeen Business Schools latest quarterly housing market report shows Aberdeen house prices tumbled by 4.4pc over the last 12 months.

The report said: Downsizing by some major oil companies in the North Sea, together with rising concern regarding emissions, have all affected confidence.

Some fear these declines are just the trickle before a flood that could affect many more towns along the UKs east coast, which boasts high numbers of energy workers.

Prof de Leeuw says that in a worst-case scenario, job losses in the North Sea could hit 60,000 by 2030, while a managed transition will see the oil and gas workforce decline from 120,000 to 87,000.

Why, though, is the UKs oil and gas production in decline at all? Part of the answer is that its biggest and best oil and gas fields have all been exploited.

Even the biggest reserves, such as the mighty Brent oil field, northeast of Shetland, have been drained. Brent, like many others, is currently being decommissioned, with the platforms cut away and the subsea oil and gas wells filled with cement.

Over the next decade, decommissioning could become a far bigger industry than oil and gas. A spokesman for the North Sea Transition Authority (NSTA) said UK oil production was set to show a compound decline of 6pc a year over the coming decade.

UK oil production peaked in 1999 and declined rapidly through to 2014, with only a handful of large undeveloped discoveries under active consideration for development, decline is expected to continue, albeit at a slower rate, through to 2050, says a spokesman.

For gas, the predicted decline is nearly twice as fast. There are few new developments under consideration and limited exploration prospects so rapid decline is now expected through to 2050, the NSTA spokesman adds.

For politicians, the biggest battles have been fought over licensing. Claire Coutinho, the Energy Secretary, plans to approve dozens of new exploration and production licences in the coming months.

By contrast, Ed Miliband, her Labour shadow, has pledged to block all new licensing if his party wins power.

But such squabbles, and the political uncertainty they generate, are certain to drive investors away  and may hardly be worth having. The NSTAs own projections show that UK annual gas production will decline from 34 billion cubic metres (bcm) in 2022 to just 13 billion by 2030 and less than 5 billion by 2040.

New licences might add around 4bcm to those annual totals, which is useful but will be nowhere near enough to offset the decline.

What such new work might do, however, is generate enough new investment to protect jobs in the oil and gas sector while renewables reach full strength.

Katy Heidenreich, a director at Offshore Energies, the trade body for the offshore sector, says that preserving British jobs in the energy sector is the main challenge.

The retention of the offshore oil and gas supply chain, its workforce and associated skills will be essential, she said in a recent report. People working in oil, gas and offshore wind are at the heart of the energy system and will be vital to the success of the transition as it gathers momentum later this decade.

Currently, the UK has about 150,000 workers in the offshore energy industry, as offshore wind employs around 30,000 people in addition to the 120,000 in oil and gas.

That balance is about to flip with up to 100,000 new jobs likely to be created in the low-carbon sector by 2030  making it an ideal home for the thousands of workers that face redundancy in the oil and gas sector.

Managed properly, says Prof de Leeuw, a new workforce model will emerge, with jobs concentrated around energy clusters that could see hydrogen production, carbon capture and wind turbine construction in close proximity.

A successful transition will see the UK offshore energy workforce actually increase by 50pc to 225,000 people by 2030, he says. Failure to realise its full potential will see the workforce decline by around 15pc to 130,000 over the same period.

There is a huge prize up for grabs, said Prof de Leeuw. We want to equip decision-makers  whether in government, industry or in individual businesses  with new insight to convert those opportunities into reality.

But will it happen? The UKs energy history is littered with failed promises, ranging from Tony Blairs pledge to create a new generation of nuclear power stations to David Camerons Green Deal which was meant to insulate millions of homes  and managed almost none.

Stephen Kerr, Conservative member of the Scottish parliament for central Scotland, whose constituency includes Grangemouth, the refinery that will soon close, says the UKs oil and gas sector should be protected until green promises come true.

Those green jobs arent there yet in the numbers needed, he says. And the jobs that are there are certainly not in the same income bracket as those which are disappearing from the oil and gas sector. So, we need to cut the fantasy and deal with the reality.

Political leaders who talk about tens of thousands of new green jobs in the future are leading astray a public who have little idea how far in the future they mean.

Broaden your horizons with award-winning British journalism. Try The Telegraph free for 1 month, then enjoy 1 year for just $9 with our US-exclusive offer.
Russian President Putin and Deputy Prime Minister Alexander Novak. Reuters

Russia has diverted most of its oil exports from Europe to India and China, a top official said.

The EU was the largest buyer of Russian crude oil and oil products, accounting for nearly half of the exports.

The bloc has banned the import of Russian crude oil and products over the war in Ukraine.

Russia has overcome Western sanctions against its oil exports by diverting all the shipments east, a top Russian official said on Wednesday.

The European Union was the single largest buyer of Russian crude oil and oil products before the invasion of Ukraine, accounting for nearly half of such exports, according to a Reuters compilation of data.

However, the trade bloc started banning Russian crude oil and oil product imports from December 5 last year, aiming to target Moscow's war chest and divert resources from its invasion of Ukraine.

This year, Europe's share of Russian oil and petroleum exports tanked to just 4% to 5%, Alexander Novak, Russia's deputy prime minister, said in an interview with Rossiya-24 television, as translated by TASS state news agency.

But Russia has managed to get around the sanctions by trading with other major markets such as India and China, Novak said.

In particular, India has become a major new export destination for Russian oil.

"There were virtually no exports to India before. Over the past two years, the total share of exports to India increased to about 40%," Novak said.

By comparison, China's share of Russian oil and oil products accounted for up to 50% of such exports last year, he added.

Novak said many other countries, including those in Latin America and Africa, are interested in buying Russian energy.

Russia expects its oil and gas revenues to reach 9 trillion rubles, or roughly $100 billion this year  down from 11.6 trillion rubles in 2022. Benchmark oil futures have fallen about 7% so far this year.

The Russian official also hit back at Western sanctions, calling them "illegal," per the state-run media service TASS.

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Novak said Russia's experience in navigating sanctions in the last years proves that it can overcome such trade restrictions.

Russia's diversion of its energy trade is contributing to its war chest as its invasion of Ukraine enters its 22nd month.

Russia's economy has appeared to be resilient so far with the country reporting 5.5% GDP growth in the third quarter of this year. However, its official economic statistics are nearly impossible to verify and reports suggest that much of the country's growth is due to massive military and government spending .

Read the original article on Business Insider
(Bloomberg) -- The company that owns the iconic Selfridges department store on Londons Oxford Street is asking its parent Central Group for more cash due to the insolvency of its other owner Signa.

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Cambridge Properties Holding Limited is in discussions with the Thai group for future financing to meet upcoming debt payments, according to accounts filed this week. The co-owner Signa Prime Selection AG applied for insolvency Thursday.

Discussions are not yet finalized, and significant uncertainty therefore exists in relation to the financial support that the group will require, the filing said.

The potential cash crunch at Selfridges is just one element of the fallout from the rapid collapse of the Signa empire. A loose alliance of property holdings, Signa holds stakes in a diverse range of assets including prime German retail projects and the Chrysler Building in the US. Some of its units filed for insolvency more than a month ago.

It also shows how some business partners may act on Signas troubles to help keep co-investments afloat, or even take them over.

Central Group bought Selfridges with Rene Benkos Signa in 2022, and together they co-own the property as well as the operating business. Interest payments on the property companys 2.2 billion ($2.8 billion) of debt have soared since then, leaving it dependent on support from its owners.

This does not change anything for Selfridges. Selfridges trades independently from its shareholders, said a spokesperson for the department store. We are delighted to have the ongoing and unwavering support of Central Group.

Central Group didnt immediately respond to a request for comment.

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The Thai company stepped in to help with interest payments that came due in November, providing a shareholder loan note of 27.3 million, according to Wednesdays filing. That loan can be converted to equity when it comes due in May 2024.

Central Group has already converted a similar shareholder loan to the operating side of the business to equity, allowing it to take a majority stake last month.

Cambridge Properties Holdings debt load includes two external bank loans held by subsidiaries, both of which are floating-rate and mature next year. It also has a 400 million mezzanine loan facility provided by a company linked to Central Group, though the accounts dont say how much of that has been drawn.

In the filing, the company said that the financial distress of the Signa group may cast significant doubt on Signa Primes ability to provide support and honor the guarantee it provided in relation to a loan from Bangkok Bank.

All three pillar organizations in the Signa conglomerate, Prime, Holding and Development have applied for insolvency and a self-managed restructuring in Austria.

Accounts Restated

Auditors from KPMG said the accounts gave a fair and true view of the companys business and had been prepared in line with regulation. They noted, as part of a mandatory screening for potential fraud, that risks emerged from the valuation of investment properties, a lease incentive payment in response to a related-party transaction and the acquisition of the property group.

Cambridge Properties Holding booked a revaluation gain of 282 million by the end of 2022, months after completing the purchase of Selfridges from the Weston Family, according to a footnote to the financial accounts. Central Group and Signa paid close to 4 billion for Selfridges, Bloomberg reported in 2021.

The Selfridges spokesperson declined to comment on the auditors report.

The department store chain, founded in 1908 by Wisconsin-born Harry Gordon Selfridge, is best-known for the giant Oxford Street outlet which for decades was synonymous with high-end London retail. Three other stores in Manchester and Birmingham also carry the Selfridges name.

(Updates with auditor report, funding details from 10th paragraph.)

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2023 Bloomberg L.P.
Key Insights

The projected fair value for Sheng Siong Group is S$3.21 based on 2 Stage Free Cash Flow to Equity

Current share price of S$1.61 suggests Sheng Siong Group is potentially 50% undervalued

Analyst price target for OV8 is S$1.85 which is 42% below our fair value estimate

Does the December share price for Sheng Siong Group Ltd (SGX:OV8) reflect what it's really worth? Today, we will estimate the stock's intrinsic value by taking the expected future cash flows and discounting them to today's value. One way to achieve this is by employing the Discounted Cash Flow (DCF) model. It may sound complicated, but actually it is quite simple!

Remember though, that there are many ways to estimate a company's value, and a DCF is just one method. If you still have some burning questions about this type of valuation, take a look at the Simply Wall St analysis model.

See our latest analysis for Sheng Siong Group

The Model

We are going to use a two-stage DCF model, which, as the name states, takes into account two stages of growth. The first stage is generally a higher growth period which levels off heading towards the terminal value, captured in the second 'steady growth' period. To begin with, we have to get estimates of the next ten years of cash flows. Where possible we use analyst estimates, but when these aren't available we extrapolate the previous free cash flow (FCF) from the last estimate or reported value. We assume companies with shrinking free cash flow will slow their rate of shrinkage, and that companies with growing free cash flow will see their growth rate slow, over this period. We do this to reflect that growth tends to slow more in the early years than it does in later years.

Generally we assume that a dollar today is more valuable than a dollar in the future, so we need to discount the sum of these future cash flows to arrive at a present value estimate:

10-year free cash flow (FCF) estimate

2024 2025 2026 2027 2028 2029 2030 2031 2032 2033 Levered FCF (SGD, Millions) S$186.7m S$193.1m S$198.5m S$203.5m S$208.4m S$213.1m S$217.8m S$222.5m S$227.2m S$231.9m Growth Rate Estimate Source Analyst x1 Analyst x1 Est @ 2.78% Est @ 2.55% Est @ 2.39% Est @ 2.28% Est @ 2.20% Est @ 2.15% Est @ 2.11% Est @ 2.08% Present Value (SGD, Millions) Discounted @ 6.0% S$176 S$172 S$167 S$161 S$156 S$150 S$145 S$139 S$134 S$129

("Est" = FCF growth rate estimated by Simply Wall St)

Present Value of 10-year Cash Flow (PVCF) = S$1.5b

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After calculating the present value of future cash flows in the initial 10-year period, we need to calculate the Terminal Value, which accounts for all future cash flows beyond the first stage. For a number of reasons a very conservative growth rate is used that cannot exceed that of a country's GDP growth. In this case we have used the 5-year average of the 10-year government bond yield (2.0%) to estimate future growth. In the same way as with the 10-year 'growth' period, we discount future cash flows to today's value, using a cost of equity of 6.0%.

Terminal Value (TV)= FCF 2033  (1 + g)  (r  g) = S$232m (1 + 2.0%)  (6.0% 2.0%) = S$5.9b

Present Value of Terminal Value (PVTV)= TV / (1 + r)10= S$5.9b ( 1 + 6.0%)10= S$3.3b

The total value is the sum of cash flows for the next ten years plus the discounted terminal value, which results in the Total Equity Value, which in this case is S$4.8b. To get the intrinsic value per share, we divide this by the total number of shares outstanding. Relative to the current share price of S$1.6, the company appears quite good value at a 50% discount to where the stock price trades currently. Remember though, that this is just an approximate valuation, and like any complex formula - garbage in, garbage out.

SGX:OV8 Discounted Cash Flow December 28th 2023

Important Assumptions

The calculation above is very dependent on two assumptions. The first is the discount rate and the other is the cash flows. You don't have to agree with these inputs, I recommend redoing the calculations yourself and playing with them. 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 Sheng Siong 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 6.0%, 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 Sheng Siong Group

Strength

Currently debt free.

Dividends are covered by earnings and cash flows.

Weakness

Earnings growth over the past year underperformed the Consumer Retailing industry.

Dividend is low compared to the top 25% of dividend payers in the Consumer Retailing market.

Opportunity

Annual revenue is forecast to grow faster than the Singaporean market.

Trading below our estimate of fair value by more than 20%.

Threat

Annual earnings are forecast to grow slower than the Singaporean market.

Looking Ahead:

Although the valuation of a company is important, it shouldn't be the only metric you look at when researching a company. It's not possible to obtain a foolproof valuation with a DCF model. Preferably you'd apply different cases and assumptions and see how they would impact the company's valuation. For instance, if the terminal value growth rate is adjusted slightly, it can dramatically alter the overall result. What is the reason for the share price sitting below the intrinsic value? For Sheng Siong Group, there are three further factors you should further research:

Risks: Be aware that Sheng Siong Group is showing 1 warning sign in our investment analysis , you should know about... Future Earnings: How does OV8's growth rate compare to its peers and the wider market? Dig deeper into the analyst consensus number for the upcoming years by interacting with our free analyst growth expectation chart. Other Solid Businesses: Low debt, high returns on equity and good past performance are fundamental to a strong business. Why not explore our interactive list of stocks with solid business fundamentals to see if there are other companies you may not have considered!

PS. The Simply Wall St app conducts a discounted cash flow valuation for every stock on the SGX every day. If you want to find the calculation for other stocks just search here.

Have feedback on this article? Concerned about the content? Get in touch with us directly. Alternatively, email editorial-team (at) simplywallst.com.



This article by Simply Wall St is general in nature. We provide commentary based on historical data and analyst forecasts only using an unbiased methodology and our articles are not intended to be financial advice. It does not constitute a recommendation to buy or sell any stock, and does not take account of your objectives, or your financial situation. We aim to bring you long-term focused analysis driven by fundamental data. Note that our analysis may not factor in the latest price-sensitive company announcements or qualitative material. Simply Wall St has no position in any stocks mentioned.
sshepard / iStock.com

Few leadership positions in the U.S. government come with as many challenges as Commissioner of the Social Security Administration, the massive retirement benefits agency that has run into massive headaches in recent years. Martin OMalley, who took over as commissioner last week, is no doubt aware of the task at hand. He will lead a program that has been rocked by a laundry list of crises, including staff shortages, funding problems that will soon get worse, customer service issues and an overpayment scandal.

See: 10 Things Boomers Should Consider Selling in Retirement

Learn: 3 Ways To Recession-Proof Your Retirement

As commissioner, OMalley will be responsible for administering the Social Security retirement, disability and survivors insurance programs that pay more than $1.4 trillion a year in benefits to about 66 million beneficiaries, according to a Dec. 20 press release. Hell also lead the Supplemental Security Income (SSI) program that provides cash assistance to roughly 7.5 million people with limited income and resources. The SSA has a workforce of 61,000 employees and 1,500 facilities across the country and around the world.

Retirement Savings: I Lost $400K in a Roth IRA

Thats a lot of responsibility  something OMalley himself readily acknowledges.

Social Security is the most far-reaching and important act of social and economic justice that the people of the United States have ever enacted, he said in a statement. For tens of millions of Americans across our country, Social Security is the difference between living with dignity or living in poverty.

OMalley takes the helm from former SSA Acting Commissioner Kilolo Kijakazi, who has faced blowback from Social Security recipients and lawmakers for the agencys various stumbles. Social Security advocates welcome OMalleys appointment because it marks a major change for the SSA.

Nancy Altman, president of Social Security Works, noted in a recent column for The Hill that OMalleys confirmation as commissioner marks the first time in more than 25 years that the U.S. Senate has confirmed a Social Security commissioner nominated by a Democratic president. Commissioners nominated by Democratic presidents have headed the SSA in only eight of the past 40 years.

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The hope is that OMalley, former governor of Maryland, will bolster a program that faces a major funding shortfall in about a decade, along with plenty of other problems. Here are four ways OMalley can help right the ship in 2024.

More Funding

Over the last 13 years, Congress has trimmed the SSAs budget by 17% even as the number of Social Security beneficiaries increased by 22%, according to Altman. The programs Old Age and Survivors Insurance (OASI) Trust Fund is expected to run out of money around 2033, which means Social Security will have to be funded solely through payroll taxes  and those currently cover only 77% of benefits. One positive impact OMalley can have is to successfully advocate for more funding.

Better Customer Service

One result of the SSAs lack of funding is that its staffing has fallen to the lowest level in a quarter-century. Beneficiaries face long wait times when they call the Social Security customer service number and visit field offices. Many offices have closed their doors. And as Altman noted, people with disabilities often must wait a year or more for an eligibility hearing to receive benefits. Meanwhile, morale among employees is at an all-time low. One of the most positive impacts OMalley can make is to hire more people and provide better training and resources to improve customer service.

Improved Data

In a separate column for The Hill, economist and retired federal employee David Weaver noted that OMalley has become something of a data guru in the years since leaving elective office. This could prove to be a very useful skill while leading an agency that Weaver said is filled with junk data when it comes to making disability decisions.

Solving this problem will create a virtuous cycle, generating more support from Congress, agency staff, and the public, Weaver wrote.

Fixing the Overpayment Crisis

Improved data and customer service could help the SSA avoid the kinds of issues that caused it to distribute tens of billions of dollars in overpayments to beneficiaries that the agency is now scrambling to collect. As of Oct. 1, 2023, the SSA had an uncollected balance of $23 billion in overpayments. Some recipients are being asked to repay thousands of dollars they were overpaid through no fault of their own. Implementing systems that can help avoid these mistakes would have a huge positive impact.

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This article originally appeared on GOBankingRates.com: Social Security: 4 Positive Changes That Could Come With Latest Hierarchy Changes in 2024
Family members of victims react outside the Supreme Court of Korea in Seoul, South Korea, Thursday, Dec. 28, 2023. South Koreas top court on Thursday ordered a third Japanese company to compensate some of its former wartime Korean employees for forced labor, the second such ruling in a week. (Yun Dong-jin/Yonhap via AP) (ASSOCIATED PRESS)

SEOUL, South Korea (AP)  South Koreas top court on Thursday ordered a third Japanese company to compensate some of its former wartime Korean employees for forced labor, the second such ruling in a week.

The South Korean verdict drew quick rebukes from Japan, but observers say its unlikely the ruling will cause any major negative impacts on bilateral relations, as both governments are serious about improving their cooperation in the face of shared challenges like North Korea's nuclear program and China's assertiveness.

The Supreme Court ruled that shipbuilder Hitachi Zosen Corp. and heavy equipment manufacturer Mitsubishi Heavy Industries must give between 50 million won (about $39,000) and 150 million won (about $116,000) in compensation to each of the 17 Korean plaintiffs  one of whom is a surviving ex-worker and the rest bereaved relatives.

Mitsubishi and another Japanese company, Nippon Steel, were previously given a similar compensation order by the South Korean court, but it was the first such ruling for Hitachi.

Among the plaintiffs are the surviving victim who suffered a serious burn and the bereaved family of a worker who died during an earthquake in Japan in 1944, when they worked for Mitsubishis aircraft-making factory in Nagoya. Others include the relatives of late Mitsubishi workers who were injured during the U.S. atomic bombing of Hiroshima and another wartime event, according to a court press release.

A ruling in favor of Korean plaintiffs was widely expected because the Supreme Court in two separate rulings in 2018 ordered Mitsubishi and Nippon Steel to compensate some of their former Korean employees, saying they were forced to provide their labors to the companies when the Korean Peninsula was colonized by Japan from 1910-45.

On Dec. 21, the top court again ordered Mitsubishi and Nippon Steel to provide compensation to other Koreans for similar colonial-era forced labor.

Japans Foreign Ministry responded by summoning a senior South Korean diplomat in Japan to lodge a formal protest. In the meeting, Hiroyuki Namazu, director-general for the Japanese Foreign Ministrys Asian and Oceanian Affairs Bureau, called the latest South Korean ruling extremely regrettable and absolutely unacceptable," according to the Japanese ministry.

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Namazu maintained Japan's long-held position that all compensation issues between the two countries were settled when they normalized ties in 1965.

The South Korean rulings in 2018 and this month argued that the treaty cant prevent individuals from seeking compensation for forced labor because Japanese companies use of such laborers were acts of illegality against humanity that were linked to Tokyos illegal colonial occupation and its war of aggression.

The 2018 rulings plunged bilateral ties to one of their lowest ebbs in decades. Japan imposed export restrictions on key items, while South Korea threatened to terminate a military intelligence-sharing pact with Japan. But their ties began improving significantly in 2023 after South Korea's government, now led by conservative President Yoon Suk Yeol, established a domestic fund to compensate forced labor victims without demanding Japanese contributions.

Eleven of the 15 former forced laborers or their bereaved families involved in the 2018 rulings had accepted compensation under Seouls third-party reimbursement plan, but the remaining four refuse to accept it. Lim Soosuk, spokesperson of South Koreas Foreign Ministry, said the government would seek to provide compensation to the Korean plaintiffs related to Thursdays ruling through the third-party reimbursement system as well.

___

Associated Press writer Mari Yamaguchi in Tokyo contributed to this report.
Walking into the Industrious coworking space on Dartmouth Street in Boston, guests find themselves in a common area complete with a cafe and front desk. The sound of hushed chatter and keyboard clicking fills the room.

Visiting one of Industrious other locations  seven in the Boston area and over 160 in over 65 cities  would be a remarkably similar experience. Each identical space is set up in the same way.

Founded in 2012, Industrious has grown into the third-largest coworking space provider in the world. The concept, developed in the early 2000s, is modeled on providing workspace and community for freelance and independent workers and people who travel frequently.

But as companies adapt to the post-pandemic world of hybrid work, companies are fine-tuning their approaches.

Chief Operating Officer Liz Simon attributes Industrious success to its business model, where the company partners with landlords to jointly create and run the space, splitting the costs and revenue.

The company uses a partnership model with landlords, "which makes our business a lot more of a sustainable one as compared to WeWork which obviously is having its own challenges at the moment, she said.

Work areas accented with skylights are features at Cape Space, an 8,600-square-foot coworking office on Independence Drive in Hyannis, in October.

WeWorks business model

That is in sharp contrast to WeWork, once a highly publicized player in coworking and valued at nearly $50 billion, filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection in November. It has drastically scaled back its footprint as it works through its legal issues.

Unlike Industrious, WeWork grew extremely rapidly and signed fixed lease agreements with landlords on large office spaces, leaving the company with high fixed liabilities that use up a large portion of its revenue, according to Simon.

WeWorks model was unsustainable from the start, Simon said, but the pandemic exacerbated the companys economic issues even more.

They were taking on very, very large spaces, which didn't stay occupied during the pandemic, she said. The thing about fixed leases is that you're on the hook to pay rent no matter what, no matter what occupies your spaces.

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Still, Eric Benvenuti, WeWorks Boston portfolio director, said he views the bankruptcy as a tool that the company can leverage when making its future business decisions.

It gives us clarity into operating a successful, strong business moving forward, he said. I know in Boston, there's a great opportunity to be successful.

On Cape Cod: Office community without office politics. How coworking helps Cape Cod's remote workers

Post-pandemic target audience and consumer benefits

WeWork offers different types of memberships: a private office, a full-floor office and an individual desk in a shared office space. Similarly, Industrious has plans for teams, individuals and hybrid workers.

Workbar, a coworking company with 11 locations in greater Boston, focuses mainly on providing multiple open coworking spaces in each location available to all members. Workbar Content Manager Madison Powers said most members in the downtown location are companies, while the Quincy office houses mainly individuals.

Right now is such a transitional period in the industry as more companies are requiring people to go back to work in the office full time, she said. So the trends are evolving.

While Workbars target audience has not changed since COVID-19, Powers said interest has increased, especially with mid-sized businesses that moved out of their office during the pandemic and want to work in-person together again.

As the workplace landscape changes, Powers said Workbar has emphasized the benefits of coworking as part of the emerging hybrid model.

I think more than traditional office space we're competing with home now, she said.

Powers said coworking spaces can offer companies financial benefits.

These bigger companies can lease office space here and it's significantly less expensive than traditional office space and the benefits and the amenities are so far greater, she said.

Simon said she has seen an increase in larger companies using coworking spaces since the pandemic hit.

Most larger enterprises are building some use of flexible office and other workplace solutions, she said. Either because they have a more distributed workforce now than they once did [or] because they have more flexible policies with respect to when and how their employees need to be in the office.

Headquartered in Barcelona, TravelPerk is a large startup company with 1,200 employees globally that provides business travel services from its hubs in Europe and the United States and uses coworking spaces for its employees in Boston, Chicago and Miami.

Stuart Blake, vice president of North America at TravelPerk, said the company chose to use coworking spaces because of the flexibility and shorter-term commitments.

Markets have been a little wobbly and people are very anxious about what the future might hold, Blake said. Knowing that (startup businesses are) signing a one-year lease versus signing a 10-year lease provides more confidence for those business owners.

Bostons office real estate

Benvenuti said he thinks WeWork can provide a solution for companies that want to downsize.

We've been able to be that stopgap for a lot of people, he said. Rather than spending money on 25,000 square feet all the time that you're not using, spend money on 5,000 square feet that you are consistently using with the ability to buy additional conference rooms (and) space networking areas.

Benvenuti said WeWork has been adjusting its business strategy post-pandemic to attract customers back to their offices.

How can we minimize the cost of real estate that you need to maximize the output you get from your people? he said. Ideally, you can start working at WeWork and nail those space requirements so you're maximizing your dollar spend on real estate.

With many people still working from home, companies do not need as much real estate as they once did, leaving Boston with an excess of available office space.

W. Keith Munsell, head of the real estate concentration in Boston Universitys Questrom School of Business, said he attributes the surplus of office space to the demise of WeWork, the pandemic and the partial back to work culture.

Greater Boston and its inner suburbs have a vacancy rate of over 20%, more than double the 9% range in late 2018, according to Munsell.

That could be a drag on growth, Munsell said, because he expects lenders to be hesitant to finance or refinance buildings where coworking space has a large footprint.

Expansion into suburbs predicted

Simon said commutes have become the No. 1 driver for why workers are reluctant to return to the office, and she expects more coworking spaces to pop up in mixed-use neighborhoods as opposed to business districts.

Bringing office more closely to where people live I think is definitely a trend that we're gonna see more of, she said.

Benvenuti said he expects coworking spaces to expand more into the suburbs.

Workbar has its largest presence in suburban locations outside Bostons metropolitan area, Powers said, where many Boston employees live. Workbar just expanded its Needham location.

It's an affluent community where most of the people work for companies that would otherwise require them to commute to Boston, Powers said of the Needham location. Our suburban locations are the busiest.

Constance Hadley, founder of the Institute for Life at Work, said coworking spaces are being used as a planned intervention to revitalize certain cities and towns.

Creating a coworking space can attract people to want to move there, she said. If you build it, they will come.

Hadley, who has researched the psychology of work and employee well-being, said most people she interviewed were attracted to coworking spaces that felt local and embodied the flavor of the neighborhood.

What people want is their local coffee shop, they don't want a Starbucks, Hadley said. Looking forward, I think the coworking sites that will do best are those that can have that local feel.

Thanks to our subscribers, who help make this coverage possible. If you are not a subscriber, please consider supporting quality local journalism with a Cape Cod Times subscription. Here are our subscription plans.

This article originally appeared on Cape Cod Times: Coworking spaces may revitalize cities, towns by drawing new residents
Multiple insiders secured a larger position in Top Shelf International Holdings Ltd (ASX:TSI) shares over the last 12 months. This is reassuring as this suggests that insiders have increased optimism about the company's prospects.

While insider transactions are not the most important thing when it comes to long-term investing, we would consider it foolish to ignore insider transactions altogether.

View our latest analysis for Top Shelf International Holdings

Top Shelf International Holdings Insider Transactions Over The Last Year

Over the last year, we can see that the biggest insider purchase was by Non-Executive Director Adem Karafili for AU$1.5m worth of shares, at about AU$0.25 per share. That means that an insider was happy to buy shares at above the current price of AU$0.19. Their view may have changed since then, but at least it shows they felt optimistic at the time. We always take careful note of the price insiders pay when purchasing shares. As a general rule, we feel more positive about a stock if insiders have bought shares at above current prices, because that suggests they viewed the stock as good value, even at a higher price. Notably Adem Karafili was also the biggest seller.

In the last twelve months insiders purchased 5.98m shares for AU$1.6m. But they sold 2.64m shares for AU$810k. Overall, Top Shelf International Holdings insiders were net buyers during the last year. You can see a visual depiction of insider transactions (by companies and individuals) over the last 12 months, below. If you click on the chart, you can see all the individual transactions, including the share price, individual, and the date!

ASX:TSI Insider Trading Volume December 28th 2023

Top Shelf International Holdings is not the only stock insiders are buying. So take a peek at this free list of growing companies with insider buying.

Top Shelf International Holdings Insiders Are Selling The Stock

The last quarter saw substantial insider selling of Top Shelf International Holdings shares. Specifically, Non-Executive Director Adem Karafili ditched AU$390k worth of shares in that time, and we didn't record any purchases whatsoever. Overall this makes us a bit cautious, but it's not the be all and end all.

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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. Insiders own 6.1% of Top Shelf International Holdings shares, worth about AU$2.4m, according to our data. We do note, however, it is possible insiders have an indirect interest through a private company or other corporate structure. We do generally prefer see higher levels of insider ownership.

So What Does This Data Suggest About Top Shelf International Holdings Insiders?

An insider sold Top Shelf International Holdings shares recently, but they didn't buy any. On the other hand, the insider transactions over the last year are encouraging. Still, insiders don't own a great deal of the stock. So we can't be sure that insiders are optimistic. 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 instance, we've identified 6 warning signs for Top Shelf International Holdings (3 make us uncomfortable) 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 of direct interests only, but not derivative transactions or indirect interests.

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.
Convenience store chain Wawa is heading to the Peach State.

Local officials confirmed to the Savannah Morning News, a part of the USA Today Network, that plans for a location in Pooler are under review.

What Now Atlanta also reports that there are plans for locations across the costal region of the state.

The Pennsylvania-based convenience store in 2022 announced plans to break into Georgia and reps have shared plans for the first wave of stores to open in 2024.

The northeastern chain is known for its hoagies and specialty drinks and has said it could open up to 20 stores in the state.

Where is Wawa opening in Georgia?

274 S 1st St, Jesup, GA 31545

4330 New Jesup Hwy, Brunswick, GA 31520

Pine Barren Rd & Pooler Pkwy, Pooler, GA 31322

Elma G Miles Pkwy & Veterans Pkwy, Hinesville, GA 31313

1401 Tallahassee Hwy, Bainbridge, GA 39819

As Wawa expands so does Buc-ee's

Wawa is not the only convienence store chain with a cult following that is breaking out of it's historic territory.

Convenience store rival Buc-ee's has also been on the expansion track

Buc-ee's has taken a slow and steady approach to expanding, however the first locations north and west of Texas are on the horizon.

The company lists five target openings for locations that are on the way on its contact page:

Johnstown, Colorado 2024

Hillsboro, Texas 2024

Smiths Grove, Kentucky 2024

Boerne, Texas 2025

Amarillo, Texas 2025

There have also been announcements for stores in development by local officials.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Wawa locations coming to Georgia: See expansion plans, timeline
On Dec. 14, Costco Wholesale (NASDAQ: COST) announced its biggest special dividend ever: $15 in cash to each shareholder on record as of Dec. 28. The announcement led to a surge of interest from investors who want to take advantage of the windfall and the possibility of more to come. But what will Costco's long-term performance look like? Let's discuss whether the retailer has what it takes to continue rewarding investors.

Costco is trouncing the market

With its shares up by a solid 48% year to date in 2023, Costco's narrative is about more than just the special dividend. Since its founding in 1983, the company has pioneered a unique membership-based retail business model. It keeps costs low by buying items in bulk, streamlining selection, and simplifying store layouts to pass on savings to consumers, who pay an annual fee to access its stores. So far, the strategy is working well.

In the fiscal first quarter, total revenue grew by 6.2% year over year to $57.8 billion. And that's pretty impressive for such an already-massive business. While the membership fees represent a tiny fraction of sales, they boost loyalty and encourage shoppers to get their money's worth by spending as much as possible each month -- giving Costco the high sales volume it needs to make its low-cost strategy work.

What will the future hold?

Over the coming years, Costco has proven a safe bet because of its stickiness and large addressable market. Once consumers become members, they tend to stick around (management reports a global renewal rate of 90.5%). And the company's growth strategy involves opening new locations in the United States and fast-growing international markets like China, where it plans to open its sixth location in 2024.

Image source: Getty Images.

But while Costco has all the ingredients for healthy top-line growth, the bottom line might be even more exciting for long-term investors -- especially after the company's recent $15 special dividend announcement. This dividend is the fifth payout management has authorized in just over a decade, and the company has what it takes to continue returning value to its shareholders.

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First-quarter net income jumped 16% year over year to $1.59 billion, and Costco's profits have been on a steady uptrend for the last 10 years. On top of that, it has a whopping $17 billion in cash and equivalents on its balance sheet. With the most recent special dividend only costing $6.7 billion, Costco can easily afford it, and possibly more in the future.

COST Net Income (TTM) Chart

COST Net Income (TTM) data by YCharts

What about the valuation?

With a forward price-to-earnings (P/E) ratio of 43, Costco stock is significantly more expensive than the S&P 500 average of 26. And this is a high price tag for a mature company with a slow-and-steady approach to growth. That said, you get what you pay for in the market. Costco's deep economic moat, consistent profit growth, and massive pile of cash make it especially appealing to investors who prioritize safety and longevity. Shares could continue beating the market over the next five years.

Should you invest $1,000 in Costco Wholesale right now?

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Where Will Costco Stock Be in 5 Years? was originally published by The Motley Fool
Halifax, Nova Scotia--(Newsfile Corp. - December 28, 2023) - Zephyr Minerals Ltd. (TSXV: ZFR) ("Zephyr" or the "Company") announced today trenching results on MC and MC-2 gold properties in Zimbabwe. An excavator trenching program was completed on both properties in late November. The object of the trenching was to provide insight into the continuity of the mineralized zones prior to commencing a proposed diamond drilling program, as well as to explore potential new parallel zones, which if discovered would assist in determining total depths for the proposed drill holes. Unfortunately results demonstrated the gold mineralization at MC to be discontinuous, generally occurring as short high grade gold lenses and generally less than one meter in thickness. Previous exploration work had demonstrated that wallrock had gold grades as good as and in some cases, better than the gold mineralized quartz hosted in shear zones. Additional exploration and sampling has demonstrated the wallrock gold mineralization is not consistent. It was anticipated that wallrock mineralization would expand the thickness of the indicated gold zones, however this has proven not to be the case. The search for additional parallel gold zones in highly sheared greenstones encountered only minor gold in quartz and sulphide mineralization, with no new zones of potential economic interest being discovered. Based on these results it has been determined that the potential for a large high grade gold deposit similar to those in the Red Lake camp in Ontario, Canada, is remote on the MC property, and as such no diamond drilling will be conducted. Zephyr will likely relinquish the option on the MC property at the end of the option term unless the current small scale miner uncovers new gold zones of potential interest to Zephyr's attention during his currently active mining and prospecting activities.

On the MC-2 property, the gold mineralized quartz veining in the shear zones have better continuity and stronger gold mineralization than at the MC property. The Main Reef is presently limited to a maximum length of 70 meters as defined by trenching. Widths at the Main Zone are 1 to 1.5 meters with gold grades up to 13.3 g/t and silver grades up to 176 g/t. The recent trenching program has discovered a new gold bearing quartz vein grading 5.7 g/t gold over 0.10 meters. This new discovery is located 200 meters south east the Main Reef. This maybe a faulted extension of the Main Reef but additional surface exploration will need to be done to confirm this. The Company has determined that additional exploration work needs to be done before embarking on a diamond drill program. This work will include additional trenching of the new discovery as well as additional exploration along trend of the Main Reef to see if there is a continuation based on a pinch and swell model. Additional exploration work is proposed to start after the rainy season's end in April or May, 2024.

Story continues

Reviewing the Magnetic and Induced Polarization (IP) survey at its Nyanga North property suggests that the main shear zone hosts minimal sulphides. The Company was exploring for a strong conductor since the gossan hosting eluvial mining 400 meters west of the Company property boundary suggests that the gold in that area is associated with sulphides. Soil sample results across the Main Shear has returned analyses up to 0.64 g/t gold in the coarse fraction (up to 1,000 microns) of the soils and up to 140 ppb gold in the fraction finer than 125 microns. After review of the data it was decided that the shear zone is a low priority target and as such the Company has decided to let the two Special Block claims expiry as they come due for renewal. Zephyr still has an Exclusive Prospecting Order (EPO) application over this area and as such this area is not open for staking by others. If Zephyr is successful in receiving an EPO over this area the Nyanga North property would be included in the EPO.

Loren Komperdo, President and CEO stated, "Exploration results at the MC property have been disappointing but exploration potential is still demonstrated at MC-2. It is noteworthy that exploration costs are very reasonable in Zimbabwe and as such the costs for exploration on both MC and MC-2 have been low. Mineral exploration is a high-risk business and exploration projects that exhibit exceptionally positive potential don't always deliver on expected results in follow up programs. A key aspect of a successful mineral exploration company is the ability to quickly, and for minimal amount of capital outlay, decide if a project warrants additional exploration including diamond drilling or not. This allows maximum project review for minimum expenditure; ensuring maximum chance of potential success in discovering a large, economically viable deposit and maximum value for our shareholders."

Zephyr continues to evaluate additional projects currently being mined by small scale miners for potential acquisition or joint venture as we await the approval of our two EPO applications. These two EPO's combined cover a total of approximately 1,240 square kilometers, and are host to multiple areas with favourable discovery potential for large gold deposits.

Qualified Person

Mr. Samual Chimombe, an independent consultant to the Company, and a qualified person as the term is defined under National Instrument 43-101, has reviewed and approved the scientific and technical information in this news release. Mr. Chimombe has visited the property.

About Zephyr Minerals Ltd.

Zephyr Minerals Ltd. is conducting ongoing evaluations of gold properties for potential acquisition and/or joint venture throughout Zimbabwe. The Company is concentrating on projects with obvious gold potential as demonstrated through active, shallow, small scale mining operations or previous exploration work and favorable geology. In addition, the property should be of sufficient areal extent to host a target potential of at least one million ounces of gold. To this extent, the Company has signed multiple property joint venture agreements and has applied for two Exclusive Prospecting Orders covering 124,000 hectares. The Company is also actively reviewing lithium opportunities generated through in house research and property submittals by third parties. Zimbabwe boasts favorable foreign ownership rules for mineral properties as well as prospective, underexplored Archean greenstone belts.

In Colorado Zephyr has been focused on mine permitting activities at its 100% owned Dawson gold property, which is presently in hiatus pending the collection and submission of additional water well data and satisfying certain other environmental related questions. The additional required water wells are still in the planning stage and will be drilled once available funds are in hand. Upon collection of the additional data the Company plans to reapply for a mining permit at Dawson.

For further information please contact:

Loren Komperdo, President & CEO

or

Will Felderhof, Executive Chairman

T: 902 706-0222

info@zephyrminerals.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. The forward-looking statements contained in this document are based on certain key expectations and assumptions made by the Company. The forward-looking statements contained in this document are made as of the date hereof and the Company undertakes no obligation 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.

NOT FOR DISTRIBUTION TO U.S. NEWSWIRE SERVICES OR FOR DISSEMINATION IN THE UNITED STATES.

To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/192645
Pierce Brosnan, the Irish actor who starred in four James Bond films, has been cited for allegedly skirting travel regulations in Yellowstone National Park.

The 70-year-old Brosnan was charged on Dec. 26 in U.S. District Court for the District of Wyoming with traveling off a trail in one of the parks thermal areas and not adhering to the parks closure and limited use notices.

The more than 2 million-acre park contains thousands of hydrothermal features, including geysers, hot springs and fumaroles. Park officials constantly warn visitors to keep to the boardwalks that snake around these areas, as some of the hot springs can reach temperatures of nearly 200 degrees while steam vents can be as a hot as 245 degrees. More than 20 people have died by falling into Yellowstone National Parks hydrothermal features. The organic soil around thermal features can also be fragile and take decades to be restored.

The federal government is tasked with law enforcement in Yellowstone National Park, specifically through U.S. District Court and National Park Service Law Enforcement Rangers.

Brosnan, who lives in Beverly Hills, California, was in Montana earlier this year to star in a Western being filmed at the Yellowstone Film Ranch in Paradise Valley, the Livingston Enterprise reported. He is scheduled to make his initial appearance in court Jan. 23.
Content advisory: This article discusses sensitive topics, including suicide. Reader discretion is advised.

No one told Kristine Cecava that one day her job would lead her to cleaning up the scene of a suicide. Yet when the time came, she knew what needed to be done to help support the deceaseds family.

Cecava, a former district judge and county attorney in Cheyenne County, was called to the home of a friends son who had committed suicide. In sparsely populated areas, part of a county attorneys duties entails serving as a county coroner. However, after the body had been removed, the job of cleaning the scene remained.

Its a situation most people cant imagine being left with and its often beyond what most people prepare for. But when the unimaginable occurs, what happens?

This was beyond what normal people can do, Cecava said. These people were left with all of this grief in their house and it took a lot to get the surfaces that had been hit and soaked in.

When the suicide occurred, Cecava said her friends son was sitting on the edge of a waterbed.

It happened to be done like most of the suicides that I saw, which is a gun to the head, Cecava, who is now retired, said.

The mortuary personnel helped clean up most of the visible surfaces and removed the body. While there were no pools of blood left, there were obvious stains. Knowing the parents would return soon, Cecava and a deputy county attorney decided to set up fans to clear the air and wash the bed sheets.

After trying to clean the sheets and while tucking them back in, Cecava said they found more remnants underneath the waterbed.

Thats when we decided we were way over our head, Cecava said.

After they did what they could, Cecava called a cleaning service from out of state, as there werent any local cleaning companies.

Adam Frerichs is accustomed to seeing the worst scenes. Frerichs is a sergeant with the Grand Island Police Department on the night shift. Prior to that, he worked as a detective for over two decades with the Investigations Division.

While he hasnt helped clean up after a suicide like Cecava has, hes been to many crime scenes, including suicides and homicides of people of all ages.

They truly do vary from one situation to the next, Frerichs said. Almost always youre going to be dealing with some degree of odor control or mitigating the foul stench.

As law enforcement officials, Frerichs said they dont advocate or advertise for private businesses, whether thats legal assistance, tow companies, funeral homes or clean-up companies. For death scene clean-ups, Frerichs said they have provided resource cards to help a family find local providers for the specific services.

For gunshot wounds, Frerichs said it typically requires cleaning and sanitization of the entire room.

If there is a blood splatter type of scene from a high-velocity gunshot wound, there could be ceilings and multiple walls and surfaces and floors that are going to need to be cleaned and sanitized and likely painted over, Frerichs said.

The cleaning process can also depend on how long the body has been at the scene and the decomposition stages it passes. Typically, Frerichs said bodies are found within 24 hours. Depending on the situation, bodies can be removed in another 24 hours with more delays for homicides versus natural deaths.

Oftentimes, its going to come down to a biological-type situation of the amount of bacteria and such that are going to be present, Frerichs said.

During the decomposition process, Frerichs said fluids from a body on a bed will leak through the mattress and box spring, as well as through the floors and subfloors.

As I was clearing the house, I ultimately got dripped on, and we didnt want to believe that drip from the ceiling in the basement was what it was, but unfortunately, thats exactly what it was, Frerichs said.

In those instances, a thorough cleaning would require removing the flooring and disinfecting some of the bracing under the floor rather than just covering the mess up. Failure to do so can cast off a putrefied smell from fluids that have soaked through supportive beams in the floor.

Derek Myers, co-owner of Bio-One in Nebraska, often sees people on one of the worst days of their lives. Bio-One is a professional crime scene and biohazard decontamination cleaning service company with nearly 140 locations across the majority of the United States. Nebraskas Bio-One is located in Omaha but serves the entire state.

Generally speaking, we enter someones home when theres something very sensitive that needs to be taken care of with discretion and compassion, Myers said.

In addition to Myers and his wife, Bio-One now has one full-time operation manager, two full-time technicians and two part-time technicians. The full-time employees are always on call and expected to pick up the phone whenever a call comes.

Each new employee undergoes about 90 days of probationary training with both internal and external training. The three months allow the employees to get a chance to see what the work is like on-scene so they can make the decision if the job is right.

Theres an emotional component too that they need to get, Myers said. You never know what youre going to, how youre going to react when handling the type of situations that we handle.

Half of the jobs that Bio-One tackles are schedulable jobs for biohazard cleanups, odor removals, hoarding removal and mold remediation. Biohazardous jobs require some specialized training.

The other half of their jobs are the emergency services where, often, someone has died. These include undiscovered and decomposing deaths, suicides, blood spills and crime scenes. Before Myers and his team enter the scene, the coroner or medical examiner has often removed the bodily remains with the police.

Unfortunately, theres still a lot of cleaning left to be done before the family can really come back into the home and either possibly sell the home and move on in that fashion or possibly reinhabit the home, Myers said.

Before getting into this job, Myers was a safety officer in the Air Force. During his service, he unfortunately saw a lot of soldiers die by suicide. Myers began to think about the difficult situations for families and questioned who they would call for the next steps.

As a business graduate from the University of Nebraska-Lincoln, Myers and his wife knew they wanted to run their own business. While working a few other jobs, the thoughts from his time in the military continued to stick in the back of his mind.

Its a really needed service. Its very niche, but its something that when you need it, you need it handled correctly, Myers said. You need it handled the way that it should be, handled with compassion and the sensitivity that needs to be done.

Top Journal Star photos for December 2023
The Vietnam War didn't end suddenly. But the end began 50 years ago, in 1973, with the withdrawal of American combat troops, then it stretched to April 30, 1975, with the chaotic scenes of panicked embassy rooftop evacuations and helicopters being shoved overboard from U.S. Navy ships.

Many of those who came home in 1973 were in their teens when they either volunteered or were drafted into a messy, brutal and protracted conflict with no clear path to victory.

Many who survived returned as hardened veterans who would spend the rest of their lives fighting  and trying to make peace  with the traumatic physical and emotional wounds of a war that killed more than four million Vietnamese and 58,000 Americans. It was a war whose huge tectonic impact had nothing to do with military victory and effectively redefined patriotism. Because of the Vietnam War, Congress replaced the draft with an all-volunteer force, and lowered the voting age from 21 to 18.

The Gazette interviewed four Vietnam veterans  Cecil Fell, Tom Dowell, David Goda and Edward Florez  about their lives then and now, as well as what it was like to return to civilian life in a nation that, by and large, did not welcome them home as heroes.
Leaving a water bottle uncapped or touching your hair without immediately washing your hands may seem inconsequential, but such actions in a restaurant kitchen constitute violations that result in a ding during an unannounced public health inspection.

Too many small or large breaches of the food safety code add up to an unfavorable report and a swifter return of the public health inspector.

While a surprise visit of a county health official seems like an anxiety-ridden intrusion for some restaurant owners and managers, in recent years the system has become less disciplinary-minded and more instruction-focused, said Sammi Jo Lawson, retail food program manager for the El Paso County Public Health.

We work really hard to build partnerships and provide education, so that the business owner knows were there first and foremost to help them  although it may not seem that way, she said. Theyre not always excited to see us.

Some say they dont mind. Because who doesnt want to avoid the chance of spreading a food-borne illness, said Steve Kanatzar, a pilot who 22 years ago opened The Airplane Restaurant in Colorado Springs. The aviation-themed eatery near the airport is built inside an old Boeing KC-97, an Air Force tanker aircraft.

It used to be that some restaurants would hate it (an inspection), but we want to serve safe food, too, Kanatzar said. "It's not an adversarial or contentious relationship like it used to be."

That an inspector will arrive at the door unexpectedly and spend two to four hours of acting like a fly on the wall watching, checking and making notes is necessary to achieve the goal of recording an operational snapshot in time, Kanatzar said.

Thats why they dont notify you  because anybody can do a dog-and-pony show, he said. They want to look at our practices. Theyll observe cooking and food being served to make sure no bad habits have been formed.

More times than not, if an inspector spots a deficiency, theyll red flag it but then help staff correct the problem on site, Kanatzar said.

If the health inspector sees something that requires a change in process, well work with the owners; there are different ways to go about it, Lawson said.

A few weeks short of the end of 2023, reports show the most commonly marked violation in El Paso County is "Food contact surfaces; cleaned and sanitized, she said.

Higher violations tend to be in establishments that dont have managerial control  if they dont have basic food safety knowledge, Lawson said. When we encounter issues, its typically a knowledge gap. Its not that theyre purposely trying to do something.

A major change could be coming to the industry, as the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment is set to vote Jan. 17 on whether to adopt a new federal drug and food administration food code. The state currently follows the 2013 federal food code.

One of the major changes in the updated version is that a certified food protection manager must be on duty at a restaurant during all hours of operation. The Colorado Restaurant Association is calling for enactment of that requirement to be delayed for a year, to give restaurants time to get people trained and in place, said Kanatzar, past chairman of the board of the association.

The class is more in-depth than usual, he said, and the Pikes Peak Restaurant Association in conjunction with food purveyors offer the class for local restaurants. The new code also updates how restaurants are to handle food allergies.

An emphasis on teaching rather than reprimanding was solidified during the coronavirus pandemic, when the governor ordered restaurants to close for in-person dining and switch to takeout service.

County public health employees became the experts on interpreting the new ways of doing things and conveying that to businesses that fall under their scrutiny, which include restaurants, grocery stores, convenience stores, mobile food trucks, coffee shops, bakeries, school cafeterias, health care facilities, residential senior centers and special-event vendors.

The situation was confusing and chaotic as the governors public health orders were in flux throughout the pandemic, Lawson said.

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It forced us to shift priorities in 2020, 2021 and into 2022, she said. My team assisted owners and operators through navigating the ever-changing rules, based on where they fell as a business sector.

For example, grocery stores and convenience stores had no capacity restrictions, but restaurants and event spaces did. That necessitated 15 to 20 environmental health specialists assisting businesses in determining their capacity, and creating outdoor dining, drive-thru and food delivery and pickup models, where none existed before.

Were used to interpreting rules and regulations, which is why were put into interpreting rules the governor set, Lawson said referring to how employees had to pivot. We really wanted to remove any barriers that businesses might have had, and we still had to complete our typical day-to-day routine.

In addition to conducting routine inspections, environmental health specialists are called in anytime a restaurant is sold or a different owner takes over. They were busy during the pandemic.

In 2021, 233 food-related facilities underwent a change of ownership, another 208 last year and 247 this year, with several weeks of 2023 yet uncounted.

We definitely saw a lot of turnover in restaurants  more than normal  and from a licensing standpoint its the highest, Lawson said. The impacts to the industry were significant.

Despite some restaurant closures, the number of full-service eateries has steadily grown over the past five years, increasing from 1,516 in 2019 to 1,683 this year, also the most the county has ever had.

Total retail food licenses, which include grocery and convenience stores and other businesses with public food consumption, grew from 2,691 in 2019 to 3,072 this year, another record high.

Public health also established a COVID call line for the public. The majority of calls were not related to retail food issues but complaints about what the governors orders said and what was required of restaurants and other businesses.

Between March 2020 and March 2022, the hotline fielded 1,996 general questions and 2,141 complaints, according to statistics from El Paso County Public Health. Of those, 766 were specific to retail food establishments, Lawson said.

In normal times, the department handles 30 complaints a month or 360 a year pertaining to the retail food arena, officials said.

The higher the risk, the more often a restaurant will be inspected, Lawson said, whether that's every other year, every year or two to three times a year. The frequency is dictated by whether a restaurant passes or fails an inspection, if theres a change in process and whether they serve high-risk food, such as sushi. A convenience store that sells commercially made food and is not assembling anything is very low risk and subject to inspection every other year, for example.

Preventing the likelihood of people getting sick from food-borne germs involve following good hygiene practices, such as proper use of gloves, maintaining proper cooking and holding temperatures, buying from approved sources, eliminating contamination of equipment and correctly cleaning and sanitizing.

Inspectors examine 56 points pertaining to the restaurant's risk of food-borne illnesses to its use of good industry practices.

"A lot of it is common sense: washing hands your thoroughly after going to the bathroom or smoking, or touching your face or hair, and not coming to work if you're sick," Kanatzar said.

Post-pandemic, the public health processes are back to normal, Lawson said, and a new software program allows for daily, live updating of inspections.

Shutting down a restaurant for violations is rare but happens, she said.

Anytime we have to do a closure we are working diligently with that owner; we dont leave without outlining specific corrections or conditions for reopening, so they know what has to be done, Lawson said.
Teryus Thomas, who died in a Christmas Eve shooting at the The Citadel Mall, was remembered Thursday by his mom as a "happy goofy kid" who loved basketball and football.

Thomas' mom, Chere Lewis said her youngest son was the captain of the football team at Mitchell High School before he graduated. He would have been 19 on New Year's Day.

"My son was a good, happy kid," Lewis said, noting her son wanted to be a businessman and he was working in Pueblo and Denver.

He was Christmas shopping at the mall when the shooting happened, she said, and died in front of his favorite shop, Player's Closet.

Thomas, a former employee at L7 Fragrances at the mall, should have been safe while shopping and there should be cameras that should provide insight into what happened, she said. She believes her son was trying to break up a fight.

"They are not protecting the people that go there," Lewis said. "...You would think they would take better precautions."

She said the mall should be taking security more seriously given other recent shootings.

"He didnt deserve to be killed the way he was," she said. "...With a baby on the way."

The police said in a formal statement that the shooting began as a fight between two groups of people that escalated into gunfire shortly before the mall was set to close at 5 p.m.

Two other men who were critically injured in the shooting are now in stable condition. One of the men was a security guard at the mall who was attempting to break up the fight, said Colorado Springs Police spokesman Ira Cronin.

A woman who was transported to a local hospital Sunday night with minor injuries from the attack was treated and released, the Gazette reported Tuesday.

Cronin said the investigation indicates the shooting was an isolated incident, the two groups were known to each other and there is no ongoing threat to the community.

Thomas was found dead of an apparent gunshot wound and his death is being investigated as a homicide, police said.

This is the 35th homicide in Colorado Springs this year. At this time in 2022, there were 54 homicides, police said.

The department has not announced any arrests related to the shooting as of Thursday afternoon.

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Police are still actively investigating the incident. Anyone who has information about or is a witness to the shooting is asked to call the Colorado Springs Police Department at 719-444-7000. Callers who wish to remain anonymous can call the Crime Stoppers Tip Line at 719-634-7867 or 1-800-222-8477.

To financially support Thomas' family and funeral can visit gofundme.com/f/teryus-rajova-thomas.

The Christmas Eve shooting is the latest act of violence at the southeast Colorado Springs mall that opened in early 1972.

The Citadel has a history of escalating gun crimes and violence that dates back to at least early 2016, when three people were injured in a drive-by shooting.

Four people have died in shootings on mall property, including in one officer-involved shooting, since a parking lot fight ended in a double murder on March 25, 2022.

The Men of Influence, an anti-violence community group in Colorado Springs, will hold a rally at the mall on Saturday at 1 p.m. to condemn the recent deadly shooting and to promote peace through community collaboration.

Event organizers aim to unite Colorado Springs residents with city and state leaders at the event to "stand against violence" and "(foster) an environment of peace, empathy and understanding," a Thursday morning news release from the group states.

The organization was founded in 2020 to bring together current and former gang members, as well as other Colorado Springs residents, to open lines of communication and prevent violence locally.

"Our goal is to have support and solidarity for folks working inside the mall, vendors doing business inside the mall, and also to have a place our kids and families can go and feel safe," said Shaun Walls, a founding member of the Men of Influence and vice president of the nonprofit activist group Chinook Center. "The mall is a center for a lot of us. We have memories there and a lot of us grew up at The Citadel. We hate to see the things going on recently."

Walls said he isn't sure exactly what changes need to be made to foster and promote safety at the mall, but residents must have a voice as the city seeks solutions.

"Nothing can happen for our community without the community being represented or present there," Walls said.

Colorado Springs Councilwoman Nancy Henjum, who represents the city's fifth district where The Citadel is located, said she plans to attend Saturday's rally and is having conversations with neighbors, the mall's manager and a shopkeeper, Colorado Springs Police Chief Adrian Vasquez, and Men of Influence representatives about the recent violence.

"People are very concerned, understandably. I'm looking forward to the rally, very much focusing on accountability for ourselves, for our kids, for our neighbors, for our friends and for our public spaces, and really working to reclaim peace in those areas," Henjum said.

The rally is currently planned to take place inside the mall's food court.
One person is in custody and facing possible arson charges after an early morning fire Wednesday destroyed a car wash adjacent to a gas station in northeast Colorado Springs.

The unoccupied structure at 2790 N. Powers Blvd. was fully engulfed when officers with the Colorado Springs Police Department arrived on scene at 1:45 a.m. Firefighters with the Colorado Springs Fire Department quickly extinguished the blaze, and no injuries were reported, but the building sustained major damage and is likely a total loss, said the fire departments public information officer, Ashley Franco.

The departments arson team conducted an investigation, then worked with police to identify a suspect, Adam Snyder, who was located and arrested without incident, according to police.

Several hours before the car wash fire, crews responded to a blaze at a different Colorado Springs gas station  an abandoned downtown property across from Acacia Park, at Platte and Nevada avenues. The fire was under control and mostly extinguished by 11:30 p.m. No injuries were reported.

Investigations into the origin and cause of both fires are ongoing, Franco said Wednesday, adding that "there is no indication right now that they're related."
One thousand, one-hundred and sixty.

Thats how many people died of opioid overdoses in Colorado in 2022  a nearly 54% uptick from the 620 deaths in 2019, according to the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment.

As part of the efforts to combat the crisis, Colorado Attorney General Phil Weisers office recently awarded $4 million to eight local organizations. The money from the Opioid Abatement Innovation Challenge grants will be used in various abatement programs that seek to reduce the amount of opioid abuse in the state.

Colorado is on track to receive more than $740 million in opioid settlement funds from distributors and drug manufacturers to date  all going toward local abatement efforts.

Sixty-six applications were received during the summer window, totaling $44 million in funding requests, according to a press release from Weisers office.

The applications were then judged on demonstrated need, program innovation, community collaboration, evaluation methods and sustainability, emphasizing evidence-based practices to combat the opioid crisis, according to the release.

The eight organizations awarded the money are:

Boys and Girls Club in Colorado received $480,000 for its prevention programming of young people at 11 geographically diverse clubs. The funds will help the clubs provide social experiences to children and teens, addressing risk and protective factors.

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The Colorado Department of Public Health and Environments office of HIV/STI/Viral Hepatitis received $430,000 for the Harm Reduction Accelerator Fund to fund two new rural programs and a related summit to promote evidence-based practices.

Colorado Health Network: Western Colorado Health Network received $400,000 in funds toward integrating behavioral health programs and care coordination services into a rural syringe access program existing in rural Colorado. These efforts will help lead people to treatment, naloxone and behavioral health counseling, among other resources.

Denver Health and Hospital Authority: The Colorado Opioid Model to Advance Treatment project received $790,000 in funding. The project looks to help Colorado counties and organizations work together for treatment and care coordination through a hub-and-spoke model.

The Larimer County Sheriffs Office received for $600,000 for the the Stone Soup Community Reintegration Initiative, attacking opioid abuse at the systematic level, according to the release.

Through practices backed by data and research and honoring input from those with lived experience, the initiative targets policies, community support, organizational culture, intergenerational trauma, and individual needs related to the systems that lead to criminal behavior that cannot be adequately addressed through traditional efforts of individual organizations and programs, according to the release.

The Rocky Mountain Crisis Partners received $400,000 for the Opioid Follow-up Program. The program works to increase engagement in healthcare services for individuals who have co-occurring mental health concerns and opioid use disorder.

The Serenity Recovery Connection and partners Homeward Pikes Peak and Hazelbrook Community Center received $500,000 toward their recovery support services. These services include sober living, outpatient programs and a housing model that transitions active drug users to sober living.

Tepeyac Community Health Center received $400,000 for its substance use services, including providing naloxone, treating opioid addiction through medications and screening for opioid use disorder.

These grants focus on encouraging innovative ideas to address pressing needs in affected communities, and recipients underwent rigorous evaluations to ensure they met this objective, Weiser said in the release. This investment goes beyond prevention and treatment; its a commitment to hope, recovery and the well-being of all Coloradans.
Chinese navy's 15-year quest for peace in Gulf of Aden, waters off Somalia

Xinhua) 08:10, December 28, 2023

BEIJING, Dec. 27 (Xinhua) -- Travelling over 100,000 nautical miles during a 235-day voyage, Ma Liang, captain of the Chinese navy frigate Jingzhou, arrived in China earlier this month after successfully completing his latest escort mission in the Gulf of Aden and the waters off Somalia.

Ma is a member of the 44th fleet dispatched by the Chinese People's Liberation Army (PLA) Navy to carry out escort operations in the two areas. During the mission, the fleet escorted a total of 33 Chinese and foreign ships to ensure their safety on the sea.

Ma recalled that the first time he participated in one of these missions in 2009, the Gulf of Aden still faced a regular threat of pirates. Today, according to the navy officer, fewer and fewer pirates can be found in the busy gulf.

Since December 2008, China has been dispatching naval ships to carry out vessel protection operations in the Gulf of Aden and the waters off Somalia.

Over the past 15 years, 45 consecutive fleets, 150 vessels and 35,000 personnel of the PLA Navy have joined the efforts, escorting more than 7,200 Chinese and foreign vessels, including 12 World Food Program ships.

To ward off pirates, the PLA Navy has adjusted and expanded its escort zones persistently, improved its escort tactics, and carried out diversified drills and exchanges with navies of other countries.

In the Spring of 2011, the frigate Xuzhou of the 7th escort mission fleet successfully escorted the vessels tasked with evacuating Chinese nationals out of Libya. It was the first time that a Chinese warship participated in a civilian evacuation amid a humanitarian crisis.

After civil war broke out in Yemen in the spring of 2015, the 19th escort mission fleet sailed to the country, evacuating a total of 683 Chinese nationals and 279 foreign citizens from 15 different countries.

During the evacuation of Chinese personnel in Sudan in 2023, the 43rd escort mission fleet's destroyer Nanning and supply ship Weishanhu ensured that more than 1,000 Chinese and foreign people leave the country successfully.

The PLA Navy's endeavors have won widespread recognition, with many merchant vessels from other countries applying for Chinese navy escorts and protection.

In September this year, the 45th escort mission fleet set sail from China and embarked on its journey to continue the PLA Navy's unrelenting quest for peace in the Gulf of Aden and the waters off Somalia.

(Web editor: Zhang Kaiwei, Zhong Wenxing)
A Fountain police officer who suffered serious injuries in a fall while trying to apprehend a suspect has died, according to a news release from the Police Department.

Julian Becerra on Saturday succumbed to injuries suffered when he fell from a bridge as he and other officers were in pursuit of several carjacking suspects on Feb. 2. He was 35.

"We appreciate the publics outpouring of support over the past week for Officer Becerra, his family and the Fountain Police Department," Police Department spokeswoman Lisa Schneider said in the release.

On Feb. 2, law enforcement ended a lengthy car chase by disabling a suspect vehicle and forcing it to stop near a bridge on South Academy Boulevard, just east of Hartford Street, officials said. The driver left the car and ran. Becerra also exited his vehicle, and during the incident, fell over the bridge and landed 40 feet below, according to an FPD statement.

Becerra, who had served with FPD for 4 years, was airlifted to a nearby hospital, where he was listed in critical condition.

On Friday, the Fountain Police Department announced that Becerra had been placed on life support and was surrounded by his family and friends.

A procession to take Becerra from Penrose Hospital to the El Paso Coroner's Office was planned for late Saturday night.

Fountain Mayor Sharon Thompson on Sunday released a statement lauding Becerra's commitment to service and thanking the public for its support.

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The City of Fountain is heartbroken over the loss of Officer Julian Becerra," Thompson said in the statement. "His family and friends are in our hearts and prayers during this difficult time. We are so thankful for the outpouring of concern and support we have received from so many over these last difficult days, and I do ask everyone to continue to stand by the Becerra family and respect their privacy and wishes during this very difficult time.

"Fountain will forever be grateful for the selfless service and bravery of Officer Julian Becerra, and we are so proud and thankful for all our police officers and first responders who keep our community safe every day.

Expect traffic delays due to procession to escort Officer Becerra from Penrose Hospital at 2222 N. Nevada Ave. traveling southbound Cascade Ave. to the EPC Coroners Office on the CJC campus. Although the exact start time is fluid, delay is anticipated approx. 10:30 - 11:30pm. https://t.co/iOF9Eolz4U  EPCSheriff (@EPCSheriff) February 12, 2023

Becerras GoFundMe page has raised more than $52,000 in the past week and remains open for donations. According to the GoFundMe page, Becerra was an Air Force veteran with a wife and two kids.

Donations can also be made to the Becerra family by following this link: csppa.org/fallen-officer-relief-fund/. When completing the online donation form, please check the Designated box and enter Julian Becerra in the Designated Officer Name field.
By Jonathan Landay

WASHINGTON (Reuters) -In its latest response to attacks on shipping by the Houthis, the U.S. on Thursday sanctioned an individual and three currency exchange houses it accused of facilitating the flow of Iranian financial assistance to the Yemeni movement.

Two of the exchange houses are based in Yemen and one is in Turkey, the U.S. Treasury Department said in a statement announcing the new measures.

"Today's action underscores our resolve to restrict the illicit flow of funds to the Houthis, who continue to conduct dangerous attacks on international shipping and risk further destabilizing the region," Under Secretary of the Treasury for Terrorism and Financial Intelligence Brian Nelson said in the statement.

The sanctions freeze any U.S. assets belonging to the targeted entities and generally prohibit Americans from doing business with them.

The Houthis have seized or attacked with drones and missiles a dozen ships in the Red Sea and Gulf of Aden since Nov. 19. They aim to raise the international costs of Israel's offensive in Gaza, which was triggered by the Oct. 7 onslaught into Israel by the enclave's ruling Hamas militants.

U.S., British and French warships have shot down drones and missiles launched by the Houthis, who control huge swaths of Yemen captured during years of civil war. The Iran-aligned movement says it will continue the attacks in response to the Israeli assault on Gaza.

The U.S. is leading a new naval task force to protect commercial shipping and has accused Iran of supplying weapons, financing, targeting and other assistance to the Houthis. Iran denies the allegation.

The sanctions announced by the Treasury on Thursday were the latest aimed at throttling the flow of alleged Iranian financing to the Houthis.

The Treasury said the measures targeted a network through which an Iran-based financier, Said al-Jamal, who has been under U.S. sanctions since at least June 2021, provides Iranian funds to the Houthis.

Those hit included Al Aman Kargo Ithalat Ve Nakliyat Limited Sirketi, which the Treasury described as a "waypoint" for funding provided to the Houthis by Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps.

Also targeted were Sanaa-based Nabco Money Exchange and Remittance Co, a recipient of funds sent by the Turkish entity, and its top official, Nabil Ali Ahmed al-Hadha, also president of the Currency Exchangers Association, the Treasury said.

Houthi-run Al Rawda Exchange and Money Transfers Co also was targeted for converting into Yemeni rials funds sent through Hadha's accounts in Turkey, it said.

A Nabco employee hung up the phone when called by Reuters for comment, and subsequent attempts to contact the company were unsuccessful.

Al Rawda did not immediately respond to an email requesting comment. Al Aman could not immediately be reached for comment.

(Reporting by Jonathan Landay; Editing by David Gregorio)
Several Democratic mayors in cities struggling with an influx of immigrants from the southern border warned that their areas are reaching full capacity in their latest plea to the federal government for assistance.

Mayors Brandon Johnson of Chicago, Eric Adams of New York, and Mike Johnston of Denver held a virtual news conference Wednesday night asking for increased coordination with Texas as the state continues to send busloads of immigrants to Democratic-led cities.

TWELVE DAYS OF WEX-MAS: HOW SERIOUS IS BIDEN ABOUT FIXING THE BORDER IN 2024?

The mayors blasted Gov. Greg Abbott (R-TX), who began busing immigrants to Chicago, Denver, New York, Philadelphia, Washington, and other areas in April 2022.

"We cannot allow buses with people needing our help to arrive without warning at any hour of day and night," Adams said during the conference, via the Associated Press. "This not only prevents us from providing assistance in an orderly way, it puts those who have already suffered in so much in danger."

As more asylum-seekers continue to arrive by bus in the Chicago suburbs, Johnson warned that the mayors are running out of housing options and resources.

"All of our cities have reached a point where we are either close to capacity or nearly out of room," Johnson said.

Over 26,000 immigrants have arrived in the Windy City since August 2022. Chicago continues to accept buses of immigrants but has imposed heavy restrictions on when and where arrivals can take place.

Buses must drop off during approved weekday hours, and city officials designated a specific migrant drop-off zone in Chicago's West Loop, with arrivals limited to two per hour. The city is suing bus companies and approved penalties on Dec. 13 to impound buses and fine owners $3,000 if they do not follow Chicago's rules limiting the time and frequency of arrivals.

Since Chicago began installing these penalties, city officials have said bus drivers are beginning to head into the suburbs and drop immigrants at unauthorized places to work around the restrictions. Most recently, buses dropped off at a Naperville Metra transit station and sent immigrants into Chicago via train.

"The lack of care that has been on display for the last year and a half has created an incredible amount of chaos," Johnson said.

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Adams said New York plans to place similar restrictions on buses unloading immigrants into the city. He announced an executive order on Wednesday requesting that buses only arrive between 8:30 a.m. and noon on weekdays at a single drop-off site. If not, the bus companies face fines or impounding, as well as lawsuits.

Over 161,000 immigrants have arrived in New York and sought aid since spring 2022, including 4,000 just last week, Adams and other officials said earlier this week.

Denver, which has received over 35,000 immigrants over the last year, also has weekday drop-offs limited to specified hours. The mayors pointed to the hundreds of millions of dollars being spent on immigrant housing, transportation, medical care, and other forms of assistance.

CLICK HERE TO READ MORE FROM THE WASHINGTON EXAMINER

"It will crush city budgets around the country," Johnston warned.

Abbott's administration has previously warned that it will continue taking "historic action" by busing immigrants to Democratic-controlled cities until President Joe Biden's administration secures the southern border.

Original Location: Democratic mayors of cities facing immigration influxes say they are almost at full capacity

Washington Examiner Videos
The Defense Department unveiled four new specialized offices on Thursday that will prosecute major crimes committed by active servicemembers, shifting away from commanders who previously oversaw the cases.

The four new special trial offices are divided into the Navy, Army, Air Force, and Marine Corps and are staffed with independent lawyers. The offices will handle the prosecution of 13 major crimes, including murder, domestic violence, manslaughter, kidnapping, stalking, sexual assault, and child pornography.

TWELVE DAYS OF WEX-MAS: NEW ROUND OF NUCLEAR PROLIFERATION LOOMS OVER UNSTABLE WORLD ORDER

Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin said the new offices are a "landmark change" for the military justice system. Prior to the new policies, many crimes fell under the purview of military commanders, which has been heavily criticized by military justice advocates.

"It is the most important reform to our military justice system since the creation of the Uniform Code of Military Justice in 1950," Austin said in a statement. "This reform aims to help strengthen accountability and increase all of our service members' trust in the fairness and integrity of the military justice system."

The biggest impact the change will likely have is the handling of sexual assault cases, which is a serious problem within the United States military. Previously, a commander was able to decide whether to pursue a case. The move comes after Congress passed a requirement in 2022 for the Pentagon to establish independent prosecutions in its annual defense bill.

"We are also taking major steps in the areas of prevention, climate and culture, and victim care and support," a defense official told reporters last week. "These reforms are one piece, a major piece, but one piece in a broader effort that also includes preventing these crimes and ensuring we provide exceptional care and support to victims."

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CLICK HERE TO READ MORE FROM THE WASHINGTON EXAMINER

The Pentagon is also creating a 2,000-person workforce that will include workers at every U.S. military base around the world and focus on problems such as sexual assault. Because the U.S. has forces all over the world, the independent special trial offices will include lawyers that represent different regions of the globe where troops are stationed.

The special offices will report directly to each service branch's secretary. The Army, Navy, and Marine Corps will also have at least one special trial office located in Virginia.

Original Location: Independent military lawyers now in charge of prosecuting servicemembers' major crimes

Washington Examiner Videos
A federal judge in Georgia upheld the state's newly approved congressional maps in a win for House Republicans, dealing a blow to Democrats who sought an opportunity to flip a seat in the Peach State next year.

U.S. District Judge Steve Jones approved the redrawn maps on Thursday, ruling the Republican-drawn boundaries sufficiently complied with the court's previous order to include a second black-majority district in the state. The decision likely guarantees Republicans will preserve control over nine of the 14 House districts in the state as well as their majorities in the state legislature.

HOUSE PREPARES FOR EARLY 2024 SHAKE-UP WITH SLEW OF SPECIAL ELECTIONS

State lawmakers were required to redraw congressional boundaries after Jones ruled in October that the state's current map violated the Voting Rights Act, ordering the state to create a second black-majority district in the state. Georgia Republicans submitted their newest proposal in early December that added a majority-black district just west of Atlanta but in doing so dismantled a nearby district comprised mostly of minority voters.

As a result, that district, currently held by Rep. Lucy McBath (D-GA), has been shifted further into GOP territory.

Democrats and voting rights groups challenged the maps shortly after they were signed by Gov. Brian Kemp (R), arguing the redrawn lines dilute the power of minority voters. In their court challenge, the groups accused Republicans of shifting voters from outside of the "explicitly defined vote dilution area" into the new black-majority district while ignoring 50,000 black voters from the outlined "vote dilution area."

CLICK HERE TO READ MORE FROM THE WASHINGTON EXAMINER

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However, the court rejected that argument noting it did not confine Republicans to specific districts and that it only instructed that the black-majority district be drawn in west-Metro Atlanta, a condition that was met in their proposal.

The approval of the new maps sets the stage for the boundaries to be implemented ahead of the 2024 elections, giving Republicans an advantage as they seek to hold on to their slim majority in the House.

Original Location: Judge upholds redrawn Georgia congressional map in win for Republicans

Washington Examiner Videos
Rep. Rashida Tlaib (D-MI) slammed congressional lawmakers who support Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, whom she called a war criminal.

Tlaib, a vocal critic of Netanyahu and Israel amid the country's conflict with the terrorist group Hamas, shared a report on social media that claimed Netanyahu has endorsed removing all Palestinians from Gaza. The Michigan lawmaker called the Israeli prime minister a "genocidal maniac" while denouncing lawmakers who have voiced their support for him.

DESANTIS CAMPAIGN ON THE BRINK AS IOWA CAUCUSES NEAR

"Genocidal maniac," Tlaib wrote in an Instagram story. "Every member of Congress who sits down with this murderer is supporting a war criminal. We will never ever forget."

An Instagram story from Rep. Rashida Tlaib's (D-MI) account. Rashida Tlaib's Instagram

The Michigan congresswoman has criticized Israel and Netanyahu since the Hamas attacks on Oct. 7, while also criticizing President Joe Biden for his support for Israel. Ahead of his 2024 campaign for a second term in the White House, Tlaib said there are a "number of issues" she has with the president, withholding her support for his reelection.

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The House of Representatives censured Tlaib last month for "promoting false narratives" about the Oct. 7 attack against Israel, with 22 Democrats joining almost all of the Republican lawmakers in censuring her. She and Rep. Ayanna Pressley (D-MA) received pushback online after attempting to commemorate Hanukkah earlier this month.

CLICK HERE TO READ MORE FROM THE WASHINGTON EXAMINER

Amid Israel's war with Hamas, Biden said on Dec. 12 that the United States would continue to support the Jewish state in its efforts to remove the terrorist group from Gaza. However, he warned Netanyahu about waning public support for Israel's bombing campaigns and suggested that the prime minister needed to change due to Israel's public image around the world.

"[Netanyahu]'s got a tough decision to make," Biden said. "This is the most conservative government in Israel's history."

Original Location: Rashida Tlaib claims members of Congress backing Netanyahu are 'supporting a war criminal'

Washington Examiner Videos
The Colorado Supreme Court's ruling to disqualify former President Donald Trump from the ballot drew sharply polarized reactions in the state on Tuesday, with Trump's allies blasting the decision as "flawed" and "undemocratic," while his foes mostly applauded the court for finding that Trump is ineligible under the Constitution.
Events

Thursday, Dec. 28

Open house hosted by the Brownsville Women's Study Club, noon to 3 p.m. Thursday, Dec. 28, through Saturday, Dec. 30, Moyer House, 204 N. Main St., Brownsville.

Politics 'A Place to Sleep' podcast: Catch all the episodes here Our podcast, A Place to Sleep, explores how Oregon cities are responding to a new law that is meant to provide homeless individuals a place to rest.

Teal Cooperative Art Gallery, 10 a.m. to 6 p.m., 328 SW Second St., Corvallis. Last day for this season. The gallery is a place to shop for handcrafted, unique, made-in-Oregon gifts. Each November, a team of artists transforms an empty storefront into a world of color, light and beauty, open for business. A portion of the gallery's sales will be donated to the Bessie Coleman Elementary School. Information: www.tealartistcoop.com.

Sunday, Dec. 31

Santas on Vacation Ride, 11 a.m., 1 p.m., 3 p.m., Santiam Excursion Trains, 750 S. Third St., Lebanon. Tickets: adults, $27 and up; military, free to $13; seniors, $20 and up; children, $22 and up; toddlers, free to $3. Tickets: https://santiamexcursions.com.

Noon Year's Eve 2023, 11 a.m. to 12:15 p.m., Marys River Grange Hall, 24707 Grange Hall Road, Philomath. Free, family-friendly fun. Countdown item drop, art supply walk, STEAM activities, hot cocoa and coffee bar, cotton candy and popcorn. Food sales and raffle entries benefit Maxtivity.

New Years Eve Hoof N Holler, 7:30 p.m., Linn County Expo Center, 3700 Knox Butte Road E., Albany. The biggest New Years Eve Event of its kind, featuring rodeo, special effects, pyrotechnics, concert sound and lighting. Heated arena and free parking. Bull- and bronc-riding champions from around the country will put it all on the line to determine whos No. 1. The Rough Stock Event features the top cowboys in the business and world-renowned bucking bulls and broncs. All-around champions and circuit finalists will compete. Riders compete for over $25,000 in cash and prizes, including a trophy saddle and a handmade trophy buckle. The rodeo is followed by a dance and New Years Eve Celebration with a balloon drop and prizes to ring in the new year. All ages are welcome. If you exit the event, you will not be allowed reentry. Tickets: $52 at https://bit.ly/41wx3A8; $56 at the door (limited seats); no childrens discount.

Maxtivity's Mardi Gras New Year's Eve Party, 8 p.m. to 12:15 a.m., Marys River Grange Hall, 24707 Grange Hall Road, Philomath. Live blues and zydeco by the Monkey See Monkey Duo and the New Iberians. Midnight countdown. Hors d'oeuvres, desserts, mocktails, masks, photo booth. Wine served by Cardwell Hill Cellars. Live auction, costume contest. No stiletto heels or loose glitter. Carpool if possible. Tickets: $99 each or $150 for a pair; tables: $500 each; visit https://givebutter.com/c/MaxtivityNYE2023.

New Year's Eve Celebration on a Train, 8 p.m., Santiam Excursion Trains, 750 S. Third St., Lebanon. Age 21 or over only. Tickets: https://santiamexcursions.com.

Monday, Jan. 1

First Day Hike, 9 a.m., Thompson's Mills State Heritage Park; meet in parking lot, 32655 Boston Mill Drive, Shedd. The Oregon Parks and Recreation Department is partnering with Americas State Parks for free guided First Day Hikes in state parks on New Years Day. Come explore Thompson's Mills and get a sneak peek of the planned nature trail. The 1-mile walk-and-talk will focus on the mill property and new trail. As participants walk along the Calapooia River, they may see river otters, kingfishers, hawks, eagles and a variety of other creatures. Learn about the rich history of land use at the mill. A tour of the mill building will be offered after the hike. Visitors who choose not to hike can join staff at the wheelchair-accessible area to use the spotting scope and bird watch. The trail is a natural surface that may be uneven or muddy in areas. Friendly dogs are welcome on 6-foot leashes. Participants should dress in layers, wear sturdy shoes appropriate for ice and snow, and bring water and snacks, as well as a camera or binoculars for wildlife viewing. Those who have questions about access or want to request any reasonable accommodations needed for their participation can call Park Ranger Rye Guessford at 503-798-3674. Requests must be submitted at least three days prior to Jan. 1. The $5 day-use parking fee is waived that day for all state parks that require a parking permit and are open. Share photos of First Day Hikes via social media by using the hashtag #ORfirstdayhikes. First Day Hikes is a national initiative to welcome the coming year in the outdoors, promote exercise and encourage connecting with nature.

First Day Hikes, 10 a.m. and noon, Silver Falls State Park, 20024 Silver Falls Highway SE, Sublimity. The Oregon Parks and Recreation Department is partnering with Americas State Parks for free guided First Day Hikes in state parks on New Years Day. Meet at 10 a.m. or noon at the North Canyon trailhead near Milepost 28 on Highway 214. The parking lot is three miles north of the South Falls day-use area. GPS directions may not be accurate for this location. When you arrive, look for "First Day Hike" signs leading you to the meeting point. Join in exploring the new North Rim Trail that opened last summer. The hike is one and a half miles round trip through the forest. Participants will stop at the spectacular North Falls Viewpoint before the return trip. The trail surface is compacted gravel; the trail is 6 feet wide and has a slope of 5% or less. Most mobility devices can navigate this trail. Leashed dogs are welcome. Participants should dress in layers with rain gear and gloves, wear shoes appropriate for the activity, and bring water and snacks, as well as a camera or binoculars for wildlife viewing. If you have questions about access or want to request any reasonable accommodations needed for your participation, call Park Ranger Matt Palmquist at 503-689-5122. Requests must be submitted at least three days prior to Jan. 1. The $5 day-use parking fee is waived that day for all state parks that require a parking permit and are open. Share photos of First Day Hikes via social media by using the hashtag #ORfirstdayhikes. First Day Hikes is a national initiative to welcome the coming year in the outdoors, promote exercise and encourage connecting with nature.

Polar Brrr Swim, 1 to 4 p.m., Osborn Aquatic Center, 1940 NW Highland Drive, Corvallis. Start the New Year by riding down the great white waterslide and taking the plunge into the cold outdoor pool. Warm up in the indoor pools and enjoy a treat on the OAC on the way out. All ages welcome. Regular admission rates apply.

Ongoing

Pastega Christmas Light Display, 5 to 9 p.m. daily through Sunday, Dec. 31, Benton County Fairgrounds, 110 SW 53rd St., Corvallis. Admission is free; donations of nonperishable foods are encouraged.

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Its the time of year to visit the Willamette National Forest and find the perfect Christmas tree and ornament for your celebrations. Christmas tree permits are available online at Recreation.gov, in person from local vendors or from one of the Willamette offices (in the mid-Willamette Valley, visit the Sweet Home Ranger District, 4431 Highway 20, phone 541-367-5168). Permits allow the holder to cut one tree in designated areas; each household can purchase up to five permits. Permits are $5 each; online purchases have an additional $2.50 service fee. For downloadable maps of tree-cutting areas and a list of local vendors selling tree permits, visit https://bit.ly/WNFtree. Fourth-grade students can receive a free tree permit by getting their Every Kid Outdoors pass and entering the voucher or pass number when prompted on Recreation.gov or by visiting a Forest office. While hunting for a Christmas tree, be sure to search for ornaments. The Willamette Valley Visitors Association's sixth annual ornament hunt has begun and will run through Dec. 31. In partnership with Cascade Volunteers, 200 locally crafted wooden ornaments have been hidden along non-wilderness trails on the Willamettes Detroit, Sweet Home, McKenzie River and Middle Fork ranger districts. The hunt encourages local communities and travelers to connect with public lands and increase outdoor recreation activities. The tradition was born when the Willamette National Forest provided the Capitol Christmas Tree that went to Washington, D.C. For more information on the ornament hunt contest and a list of participating trails, visit https://willamettevalley.org/ornament. Be mindful of safety and your surroundings when searching for trees or ornaments. Cutting trees in some areas of the forest is prohibited. Tree hunters should remain outside closed areas and check maps prior to heading out. Forest roads are not maintained for winter driving. Be sure to bring traction devices, a shovel, extra food, drinking water, winter clothing, blankets, a flashlight and a first aid kit. Let someone know where you are going, get an early start and leave the woods before dark.

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Give the gift of the outdoors and save this season with the Oregon State Parks 12-month parking permit sale during the month of December. The permit hangtag once again features whimsical designs by Portland artist El Tran. Holiday shoppers can buy the annual parking permits for only $25, a $5 savings, running through Dec. 31. The permit is good for 12 months, starting in the month of purchase. You can purchase permits at https://bit.ly/3T7lJIv. Permits are also sold at some state park friends' group stores and select local businesses throughout the state. For a complete list of vendors, visit stateparks.oregon.gov. Parking costs $5 a day at 25 Oregon state parks unless you have a 12- or 24-month parking permit or a same-day camping receipt. The 24-month pass is $50 and is also available at store.oregonstateparks.org. The permits are transferable from vehicle to vehicle.

Giving Opportunities

Holiday pet supply drive, Linn County Animal Rescue, 39389 Plagman Drive, Lebanon. This is a sanctuary/rescue for neglected, abandoned and abused horses, and hospice dogs. In existence for 15 years, the rescue is 100% run by volunteers. The rescue provides Healing Hearts with Horses events for the developmentally disabled/handicapped and individuals with post-traumatic stress disorder. For more information, to consider volunteering at the rescue and to participate in fundraisers (Bottle Drop and Points for Profit), visit www.lcarhorse.org or call 541-258-3422. If horses and dogs speak to your heart, consider donating gift certificates; cash; cleaning supplies; senior horse grain; or small blankets, beds or pee pads for dogs. Donations can be sent to PO Box 2669, Lebanon, OR 97355.
Underneath the Globe Gazette's masthead used to read, "The newspaper that makes all North lowans neighbors."

Since I began covering education, politics and other North Iowa events for the Globe Gazette in April of this year, I have been thrilled to be a part of its mission to provide award-winning local journalism here in North Iowa, where we're all neighbors.

Here are my picks of the top five stories I covered in 2023:

Dick's Country Inn

The story behind this? Dick Formanek had a story to tell, so he called me up and we told it. I met Formanek at his elevator in Hayfield on an overcast day in May. At age 88, he was retired from his family farm but still operating the elevator, which he'd purchased in 1971.

During a forty-five minute interview in the elevator's office, Dick shared his proud and storied background as a descendent of the area's early Czech settlers, the ups and downs of his career as a family farmer and restaurateur, and his pride in bequeathing his land and operations to the next generation.

I'm proud that this article has been nominated as a finalist for the Iowa Newspaper Association's "Better Newspaper" award for Best Personality Feature Story in a multi-day publication.

Living history

Battle of Chickamauga reenacted in Mason City's East Park It was one of the highest reenactor turnouts in the past seven years.

It's all the rage nowadays to be a Civil War history buff, and I can remember being hooked on the history of the conflict while attending the Civil War reenactment in Mason City's East Park in my youth.

Aside from the sounds of roaring gunfire, the portrayal of President Lincoln was what my young and impressionable mind most remembers about the event.

The 2023 reenactment, depicting 1863's Battle of Chickamauga in northern Georgia, was organized by the Confederate regiment of the Mason City Civil War Council and featured more than 75 hobbyists and history buffs from several states.

Never missing an opportunity for role-playing, I attended the event in period attire; braving the September heat in my woolen trousers, overcoat and bowler hat, playing a Matthew Brady-esque role as I document the events while anachronistically lugging around my modern camera equipment.

Kaleidoscopes To You

If any random household shelf or trinket box in America contains a kaleidoscope, chances are it was a gift.

When I passed the roadside kaleidoscope business in Manly, I took it upon myself to investigate. What I found was a master kaleidoscope craftsman's sprawling domain.

Karl Schilling's Kaleidoscopes To You has an online catalog of more than 700 pieces; from plastic toy kaleidoscopes to hand-crafted fine art kaleidoscopes, teleidoscopes (which refract images and light in front of the lens, as opposed to within the instrument) and hand-made marbles, jewelry and glassware. It also fills corporate orders for kaleidoscopes sold at gift shops or as promotional giveaways, and custom orders with laser and wood engraving.

Schilling says he's been blessed. He considers himself "just lucky to make a career of selling and making kaleidoscopes, bringing joy to people worldwide, but only in America can I make a living selling things people do not need, but want."

We Belong

Mason City Pride Festival: "We Belong" Mason City holds fifth annual LGBTQ pride event in Central Park and downtown district.

Pride Month is typically celebrated in June, but locals who have organized Mason City's Pride for the last five years have held the event in July, to learn from bigger and more established pride events such as those in Des Moines and Minneapolis-St. Paul.

In throwing the most well-attended rendition of the LGBTQIA+ celebration yet, it's safe to say that, despite some vocal pushback and disruptions from would-be detractors, the celebration of Pride in Mason City is here to stay.

As anti-LGBTQ hate crimes and harassment continue to rise, one of the event's organizers, the Rev. Le Anne Clausen de Montes, said LGBTQ youths deserve a place where they can learn "they have the support they need; the educational, health care and the mental health support ... (and know) that there is a community that welcomes them and wants to keep them safe and let them be who they are."

Three Dog Night returns to the Surf

Three Dog Night returns to the Surf Legendary rock band Three Dog Night will take the stage at 8 p.m. Saturday for a sold-out sh

I got the pleasure of interviewing Danny Hutton, founding front man and the "last original Dog" of the legendary rock outfit Three Dog Night, ahead of their Aug. 26 show at the historic Surf Ballroom.

Three Dog Night claims some of the most astonishing statistics in popular music. In the years 1969 through 1974, no other group achieved more top 10 hits, moved more records, or sold more concert tickets.

In a 40 minute phone interview, the 80-year-old rocker Hutton, available on the Globe Gazette's website, shared details about his life and legacy, why his latest tour is "never-ending" and how the spirit of a band and its songs transcends any barrier.

Hutton and the band, returning to the Surf for the first time since 2011, delivered a rollicking show filled with their hits Mama Told Me (Not To Come), Joy to the World, Black and White, Shambala, and One; all of which have firmly imprinted themselves within the zeitgeist of American pop music and culture, receiving airplay in major motion pictures and television along with becoming enduring staples of classic rock radio.
Khwarizmi wrote:

JeffTargetTestPrep wrote: Khwarizmi wrote: JeffTargetTestPrep gmatophobia



When facing this problem in the practice exam, I thought "n" could be any positive integer, not necessarily n > 3. However, that must be mistaken given how you two solve it algebraically. What threw me off is the fact that they attribute their own definition to "n*" which made me think the same was being done to "n!" instead of thinking it was a 'normal' factorial.



Do you guys perhaps have some tips about how I can avoid making such a mistake henceforth? I.e. how do I know whether they actually mean factorial or if they are attributing their own definition to a given term? When facing this problem in the practice exam, I thought "n" could be any positive integer, not necessarily n > 3. However, that must be mistaken given how you two solve it algebraically. What threw me off is the fact that they attribute their own definition to "n*" which made me think the same was being done to "n!" instead of thinking it was a 'normal' factorial.Do you guys perhaps have some tips about how I can avoid making such a mistake henceforth? I.e. how do I know whether they actually mean factorial or if they are attributing their own definition to a given term?



I'm not sure I understand your question. Can you rephrase it?

Also, we need not use values of n that are greater than.

The question only tells us that n is a positive integer. So, it can be 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, etc I'm not sure I understand your question. Can you rephrase it?Also, we need not use values of n that are greater than.The question only tells us that n is a positive integer. So, it can be 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, etc

For each positive integer n, let \(n^* = (2)(4)(6)...(2n)\) and \(n! = (1)(2)(3)...(n)\). Which of the following is equivalent to \(n^*n!\)?



A. (n - 1)!

B. n!

C. (n + 1)!

D. 2^n

E. 2^(n + 1)





In as simple terms as possible, I do not understand what "n" represents in this problem. To the best of my knowledge, it is supposed to represent the number of terms in the numerator or denominator respectively. I.e. since there are at least three terms [(2)(4)(6) in the numerator or (1)(2)(3) in the denominator] prior to the term containing n, then n  4. That is why I thought n must be a positive integer greater than 3.



Solving the fraction algebraically gives 16 but if n is 1 in the given answer choice (D), then the answer would be 2. That's what confuses me. For each positive integer n, let \(n^* = (2)(4)(6)...(2n)\) and \(n! = (1)(2)(3)...(n)\). Which of the following is equivalent to \(n^*n!\)?A. (n - 1)!B. n!C. (n + 1)!D. 2^nE. 2^(n + 1)In as simple terms as possible, I do not understand what "n" represents in this problem. To the best of my knowledge, it is supposed to represent the number of terms in the numerator or denominator respectively. I.e. since there are at least three terms [(2)(4)(6) in the numerator or (1)(2)(3) in the denominator] prior to the term containing n, then n  4. That is why I thought n must be a positive integer greater than 3.Solving the fraction algebraically gives 16 but if n is 1 in the given answer choice (D), then the answer would be 2. That's what confuses me.

each

If \(n=1\), then \(n^* = 2^n*n!=2\);

If \(n=2\), then \(n^* = 2^n*n!=8\);

If \(n=3\), then \(n^* = 2^n*n!=48\);

and so on.

The question defines a function, denoted by *, forpositive integer n as \(n^* = (2)(4)(6)...(2n) = 2^n * n!\). For example:So, if \(n = 1\), then \(n^*  n! = 2:1 = 2\). Note that in the case of n = 1, both options C and D yield 2. However, the question seeks the option that is ALWAYS equivalent to \(n^*  n!\), not just for specific values.For the plug-in method, it might happen, as in the above case, that for some specific number(s), more than one option may appear to be the "correct" answer. In such cases, select some other numbers and recheck these "correct" options only. For instance, if you check for \(n = 2\), then \(n^*  n! = 8:2 = 4\), and among options C and D, only option D is correct, making it the right answer.Hope this helps._________________
"Poor Things" (R)

At the Myrna Loy

Grade: A-

Poor Things may shock modest souls and literal thinkers.

But Poor Things may mesmerize cinephiles and cutting edge feminists: Please, Yorgos, could we please have some more?

The bipolar reviews range from movie of the year to youll hate yourself in the morning.

Im among those applauding.

I cant say I have unraveled all the allegories that director Yorgos Lanthimos has woven into this mind-bending tale. But the confusion is delicious.

So whats it all about, Alfie?

Try this: an explicit feminist spin on Frankenstein that takes place in 19th-century Victorian London.

The extra helpings of sex are compliments of Bella Baxter, a beautiful woman who was created by our mad scientist. The surgeon put a childs brain inside an attractive womans body  by removing her still-living unborn child from the dead mothers womb, and nurturing her back to life.

I told you Poor Things was a little, well, different.

Different, yes, but somehow not creepy. Aside from superfluous sex, the flow is distinctly cerebral, philosophical.

Thanks to a phenomenal performance by Emma Stone, we watch Bella evolve from child to adolescent to full-throttled femme fatale, and, finally, to Philosopher Queen. (Yes, Platos blushing).

Because Bella is brilliant, her mind rapidly catches up to -- and then overtakes -- her body.

At first she throws tantrums. Hormonal seventh-grade attitude follows. Bella comes of age by sampling and then emphatically rejecting patriarchy.

Yes, Poor Things really is "Barbie" for grownups.

The men who fall for Barbie, I mean Bella, are predictably creepy.

Gents metaphorically offer her handcuffs: No thank you. Request to submit respectfully declined.

This Victorian free spirit exchanges gratis trysts for brothel work. Why not get paid?

Born in mid-life, Bella is also naive, innocent  continuously surprised by the big bad world. Shes shockingly blunt, bringing blushes to prim and proper princesses.

Carnal appetites quenched, Bella begins to crave knowledge, devouring philosophy.

At last, her multi-dimensional mind assumes control of her hormones: Bella contained, unchained.

Stones performance will battle Lily Gladstone (Flower Moon) for Best Actress. Im betting the stodgy traditionalists in the Academy will modestly bypass Stones kinky work and delegate her to first runner-up.

Technically, Poor Things is gorgeous. The ladies of London are adorned in ostentatiously frilly things, making their bra-burnings even more shocking.

Transparently, Poor Things chronicles the awakening of a modern woman.

But deeper layers slide into Bob Dylans I Contain Multitudes.

Everyone Bella meets seeks to limit her, to label her, to possess her.

Instead, the socialistic existential Bella imagines Lennons dream: no possessions, no greed or hunger, the brotherhood of man.

Too much for one script? Yes, obviously.

But this high-risk high-reward experiment joyously allows a lady in a corset to pop those buttons and devour life on her own terms.

Bella may be a monster to the patriarchs, but shes an inspiration to her Victorian sisters.
Editors note: Lots of big stories hit the Helena area in 2023, some of which put the eyes of the world on the Queen City.

A trial in which a group of young people challenged the state  and won  over climate change had global reverberations. Photos of a transgender lawmaker holding up a microphone on the floor of the state House of Representatives in act of defiance as members of the LGBTQ community protested remain vivid.

And reports of a Chinese spy balloon crossing over the Treasure State had many Montanans looking skyward while muttering What the heck?

When you take a step back and think about all the things that happened in and around Helena, 2023 was a pretty big year.

Here, the first in a series to run over the next several days, is one of those stories:

In August, 55 employees of Intermountain, a much-beloved longtime Helena landmark that helps children with behavioral problems, sent a letter saying they had no confidence in the board or its interim executive director.

The letter, in which the signatures were removed, states Intermountain has lost 75 employees since Feb. 1, and 50 of those have been since June. The Intermountain employees say they are seeing damage to their reputation, loss of business partnerships and loss of integrity to the effective clinical model under the current leadership.

The organization stated it is going through a period of transition and was focused on increasing access and quality care for children, families and adults.

For the next several months this placed Intermountain in an uncomfortable spotlight.

Intermountain serves hundreds of clients each day through its services, including outpatient therapy, residential treatment, speech therapy, occupational therapy, psychiatric medication management, case management and school-based services. Intermountain has been a part of the Helena community since 1909 when it was founded as the Montana Deaconess School.

Intermountain announced Sept. 1 it was closing its residential program, saying it would not have enough staff to cover shifts at its two residential cottages. The decision impacted 16 children ranging from ages 4-14 with behavioral health issues who live in the cottages and 55 staff members.

The board described the closure as temporary and, on Sept. 11, directed staff to come up with a strategic plan with an approximate date to reopen.

Parents of some of the residents intervened with lawyers and an agreement was reached with Intermountain on Sept. 22 to continue the program through Nov. 30.

Intermountain has since said it will continue the Intermountain Residential program with one cottage. There are now eight children in the open cottage at the residential facility, she said.

Intermountain held its 36th annual Festival of Trees fundraiser in late November and early December.
A group of students from Montana State University Billings recently launched a project to help the transition for formerly incarcerated people into the workforce.

Named "Work Wise," the online tool helps people find and apply for jobs, market themselves and their experience, negotiate a fair employment agreement and know their rights while on the job.

There was a need for it, and I feel as though it will benefit many individuals in the future, said Amanda Rouse, a senior who worked on the project and hopes to become a labor and employment lawyer.

The project was undertaken by seven students in MSU Billings Womens and Gender Studies program for their fall 2023 capstone course. Emily Arendt, the chair of the history department, served as their faculty adviser, encouraging the team to recognize the way that prison impacts entire communities well beyond a given inmate's release date.

Not only have our students conducted research and practiced essential academic skills throughout this process, Arendt said. But they ultimately produced a resource that has a tangible impact on our community.

As of Dec. 26, there are 2,845 people currently incarcerated in prison facilities overseen by the Montana Department of Corrections, according to the agencys website. Another 1,721 are in alternative facilities such as pre-release or treatment centers, and over 9,800 are under community supervision such as probation or parole.

The DOC defines recidivism as the rate at which a person returns to prison for any reason within three years. In 2019, the latest point for which three-year data is available, 36.8% of people released from Montana prisons were reincarcerated within that time. Data for the following year suggests a similar trend  30% of people released in 2020 had returned to prison two years later.

Experts say people who secure stable, full-time employment after being released from prison are less likely to commit another crime in the future. However, unemployment among the formerly incarcerated is significantly higher than among the general population. Federal data shows that an estimated 60% of people who served time in prison are still unemployed a year after release, far more than the 3.7% without work nationally.

Many employers in Montana require applicants to share their criminal history, which can make it harder to get hired. People who were incarcerated also tend to have lower rates of education or professional readiness. Its not uncommon for them to lack consistent access to email, reliable housing or a robust credit history soon after their release, all of which can make finding a job more difficult.

The Work Wise team collaborated with pre-release centers in Billings to ensure that the resource would help people leaving prison overcome such barriers. Alpha House and Passages are residential facilities for men and women, respectively, that focus on job placement, treatment for mental health or substance use challenges and general transition back into society after serving time, according to their websites.

Tools available on Work Wise include templates for building a budget and a resume; information on how to obtain important documents; a questionnaire to help job seekers think about their own strengths; ideas for how to handle history of criminal conviction; direct access to guaranteed rights as an employee; and much more.
At public universities across the state, staff and faculty unions have faced a contentious year of negotiations and, in some cases, strikes.

Pay has been a major issue on several campuses and the unions are now looking to Springfield for potential reforms to the states higher education funding.

At Southern Illinois University Edwardsville, negotiations are ongoing between campus leadership and the union that represents clerical workers.

Amy Bodenstab, who works as an office manager in the Department of Teaching and Learning, also picks up weekend shifts at a local domestic violence shelter and contract work in data analytics to make ends meet.

She is on the bargaining team of AFSCME Local 2887, which has been without a contract since June 2022. She said the low pay and perceived lack of respect has resulted in high turnover rates, hampering university staffs ability to do their jobs. She said its especially troubling because of the complexity of the positions her union represents, which can involve financial management, purchasing, scheduling and more.

If youre staff, youre treated as less than, Bodenstab told Capitol News Illinois.

Nicole Franklin, a spokesperson for the university, declined to comment specifically on the ongoing negotiations but said the university continues to bargain in good faith with the union.

But Bodenstabs experience is echoed on other campuses around Illinois.

In mid-November, dozens of building services, clerical and culinary staff at Eastern Illinois University held an informational picket as negotiations continued between the local union and administrators at the Charleston campus.

The No. 1 issue is pay, said Kim Pope, an office manager and the head of the local union.

Negotiations between the building services workers at Northern Illinois University are also ongoing. The head of the union there, Patrick Sheridan, also said pay is the focus of negotiations.

Research published this fall by the Illinois Economic Policy Institute, a think tank with strong ties to organized labor, found that pay for staff at state universities is 21% less than the rate paid to employees at state agencies who are performing the same or similar work.

When controlling for hours worked, occupation and several demographic factors, the research found the average staff pay at state universities is 14% less than at state agencies.

Robert Bruno, a University of Illinois professor in the School of Labor and Employment Relations and lead author of that report, said these trends made him consider the impact on staff morale.

You worry about turnover, about positions not being filled, about if people dont feel regarded or respected, Bruno said.

He also noted these trends could be explained by an ongoing trend in higher education.

It starts to look like a more for-profit model, he said. Part of that is a lack of support at the state level.

That research and recent university staff negotiations have led union organizations to begin planning a bigger request to the state in next years budget talks  an ask that could prove challenging as early estimates from Gov. J.B. Pritzkers budgeting office project a revenue shortfall for the upcoming fiscal year.

Well be pushing for an appropriation that can be earmarked for wages, Anders Lindall, a spokesperson for the statewide AFSCME organization, said.

He specifically pointed to Brunos research as part of the reasoning for this push.

Were going to be talking to legislators about these systemic pay gaps, he said.

AFSCME is one of the most powerful lobbying organizations in Illinois. In the 2022 election cycle, AFSCME, through its state council and national organization, spent $2.6 million on campaign contributions and expenditures around the state. That includes over $300,000 each in contributions to House Speaker Emanuel Chris Welch, D-Hillside, and Senate President Don Harmon, D-Oak Park.

In addition to staff negotiations, the past 12 months have seen a wave of strikes led by faculty unions. In January, faculty at the University of Illinois Chicago struck for five days.

In April, faculty at Chicago State University, Governors State University and Eastern Illinois University all went on overlapping strikes, lasting between five and 13 days. Northeastern Illinois University authorized a strike, although the faculty union there never formally struck.

In private higher ed, Columbia College Chicago faculty also went on an unusually long strike which lasted all of November and ended in mid-December.

Dan Montgomery, head of the Illinois Federation of Teachers, said after the Columbia strike ended that he had never seen anything like it in any other year.

Were a strong labor state. I think those trends youre seeing play out in Illinois are playing out around the country, Montgomery told Capitol News Illinois. Were just better organized.

Montgomery said he is cautiously optimistic that a new funding model being developed by the Commission on Equitable Public University Funding could help alleviate some of the problems that led to the strikes.

The commission, which was created by the General Assembly in 2021, is tasked with developing a new model for funding higher education. The legislature charged the commission with remediating inequities in the higher education system that have led to disparities in access for underrepresented students such as Black and Hispanic students and those who come from low-income families.

The commissions work is ongoing but was delayed by this summers U.S. Supreme Court decision about affirmative action and race in higher education. While the commissions work is likely not going to impact next year's budget, it could create a drastic shift in the long term.

The model being developed will be similar to the funding formula used for K-12 schools in Illinois, which was rolled out in 2017. The K-12 model calls for an added $350 million in funding each year and sets a funding adequacy target for each district. It then directs greater portions of the new funding to the schools furthest from their adequacy target.

While the commission has not finalized a formula, some draft meeting materials presented at the boards November meeting suggest it would require as much as an overall $14,000 per-student increase in state appropriations to fully fund higher education. With 130,000 undergraduates and 56,000 graduate students enrolled at state universities this year, these numbers suggest the needed funding increase could reach into the billions.

Lawmakers allocated about $4.5 billion from the states general revenue fund to higher education in the current fiscal year.

Any recommendations from the commission, however, would need to be approved by the General Assembly, leaving room for doubt when it comes to fully implementing  and funding  the commissions recommendations.

The problem is always the problem: finding the funds to do it, Montgomery said.

The state revenue landscape could further compound the challenge. The Governors Office of Management and Budget is projecting an $891 million deficit for the upcoming fiscal year 2025, although that number drops to $721 million when accounting for the statutory contribution to the states rainy day savings fund.

I think it's a signal that everybody, we need to be careful in Illinois, we have to balance our budget  Pritzker told Capitol News Illinois when asked about the projection earlier this month. And so, if that requires us to reduce the increases that may occur in certain programs, maybe that will be necessary.

Saving for your kids' college education? Everything you need to know about 529 plans Saving for your kids' college education? Everything you need to know about 529 plans
The state organization in charge of Virginias opioid settlement money has begun its task in earnest.

In 2021, lawmakers created the Opioid Abatement Authority, a state agency to oversee the distribution of more than $500 million that the state expects to receive from companies like Walgreens, CVS, Purdue Pharma, and others involved in making or distributing opioid pills.

The authority, which has garnered acclaim for its work, has to date granted around $34 million in a multi-pronged strategy to combat opioid addiction, including funding clinics, Narcan, mobile outreach units, and medical treatment programs for the incarcerated, plus advertising campaigns to educate the public.

The breakdown of how the authority is dispersing the funds comes from its own records and also from interviews with agencies and departments throughout the state.

Virginia didnt ask to be at the epicenter of the opioid crisis, but we were, said State Senator Todd Pillion, R-Washington County and chairman of the authoritys Board of Directors. Now we are committed to be a national leader in bringing the crisis to an end.

Around $23 million has gone directly to Virginia cities and counties. In the Richmond area, a mobile outreach project in Chesterfield won $1.6 million in funding from the agency. A group that embeds recovered addicts with first responders, Project Recover, won $214,000 to expand into Hanover County.

And a project in Henrico County was funded to the tune of $700,000. The initiative, an outpatient program for mothers, is expected to serve 30 women and their children in Henrico, Charles City and New Kent Counties.

You think about those kids. Its a preventative measure for the next generation, said Leslie Stephen, director of Henricos Division of Substance Abuse & Prevention Services in a county press release. What we want is to have people come into services and start or continue their recovery journey.

Another approximate $11 million was awarded to state agencies. Those include universities, the Department of Education, the Office of the Attorney General, the Department of Health, and the Department of Corrections.

The Attorney Generals office told the authority it will purchase advertising spots to educate Virginians about the dangers of opioids. The ads will run through March of 2024.

The Department of Corrections is using $1.2 million to begin rolling out medication for addicts in its prisons. The program, known as medication-assisted treatment, involves administering a monthly shot that helps manage opioid addiction. The program will treat 30 incarcerated individuals in its first year, according to the agencys application to the Authority.

Around $650,000 of that will go towards purchasing the injectable drug, Sublocade, from a Chesterfield-based pharmaceutical company, Indivior. Each injection costs $1,800, the application shows.

Indivior is also a defendant in the national opioid settlement. In its 2022 financial statement, the company said it set aside around $240 million to prepare for further legal settlements on claims it inappropriately marketed one of its products, Suboxone, which contains an opioid known as buprenorphine.

On Dec. 4, the authority approved another $470,00 to 10 Virginia cities and counties. Most of those funds will go towards planning grants, the agency said.

Tony McDowell, who has directed the allocations of funds, has said transparency around the money is critical. McDowell implemented a gold standard for applicants seeking funds. The optional standard adds transparency requirements that werent required by the national opioid settlement. It offers a 25% grant bonus for applicants who comply.

McDowell has been adamant in promoting the highest and strictest level of requirements to funds distributed by the authority.

The practice of instituting stringent guidelines has earned it praise. In October, the authority won an award from the Johns Hopkins School of Public Health. The award selection committee said it was particularly impressed with the Gold Standard incentive.

The City of Richmond is slated to receive around $5.2 million by the year 2039. Much of that money arrived this year. The city will receive $223,000 every year from the authority for the next 15 years, according to data from the Office of the Attorney General.

Richmonds Behavioral Health Authority, the citys community service board, is pitching the city on funding a women and childrens recovery house. The agencys director, Jim May, hopes City Council will bite on the idea, but says nothing is certain.

Were trying to influence a process that we dont control, said Jim May.

May believes a capital project like a recovery home makes sense for short-term funds like those vested with the Authority.

Wed like to see some projects taken on that will last beyond the life of the funds, said May, who added that his organization cant do intakes fast enough to handle the high need seen in the City of Richmond, which remains Virginias overdose capital.

The Richmond Behavioral Health Authority is competing for a slice of the pie, however, with other organizations who need to pitch the city, and then the Authority, for money. Independent groups cant apply directly for the funds.

Competitors include Richmonds many certified peer recovery houses. Peer recovery houses are organizations where addicts in recovery shepherd addicts in active addiction. The model is based on the principles of 12-step, made famous by Alcoholics Anonymous.

The Authority does not oversee all of the money that Virginia is expected to receive. It only controls 55% of those funds, with the remainder going directly to localities and the state.

For money outside the authoritys control, the amount a locality receives is determined by a formula developed by University of Virginia Professor Christopher Ruhm. The formula measures harm per capita related to the opioid epidemic. The number is high in Richmond City and rural areas in Southwest Virginia.

Across all those recipients, the final total expected to arrive in Virginia remains in flux. The states share, previously estimated at over $1 billion, has shrunk since one of the drug distributors, Mallinckrodt, declared a second bankruptcy, allowing it to renegotiate how much it owed victims of the opioid epidemic.

The move cut $1 billion from the nationwide settlement fund.
Virginia fared better than Tennessee in the 2023 Americas Health Rankings, but data show both states have much to improve upon.

Virginia ranked 19th overall in U.S. health rankings while Tennessee placed 44th, according to the United Health Foundations Americas Health Rankings 2023 Annual Report released earlier this month.

The annual rankings, released in partnership with the American Public Health Association, examine 87 measures of health from 28 distinct data sources to present a comprehensive overview of the health and well-being of the nation, according to the executive summary.

The report ranks the five healthiest states as New Hampshire, Massachusetts, Vermont, Connecticut and Minnesota. The least healthiest states, according to the report, are Alabama, Oklahoma, Arkansas, Mississippi and Louisiana.

Virginia ranked first in the U.S. for physical environment, including air and water quality measures, climate and health, housing and transit  although individual rankings ranged from first to 38th, according to the state summary. As a state, Virginia ranked 16 in social and economic factors, 22nd in clinical care, 26th in behaviors and 25th in health outcomes.

The report identifies Virginias strengths as a low economic hardship index score, low household food insecurity and low levels of air pollution. Its challenges are defined as a high prevalence of multiple chronic conditions, low per capita public health funding and a high prevalence of high-risk HIV behaviors.

Additionally, the number of Virginia adults diagnosed with depression rose from 17.2% to 21.8% of adults between 2020 and 2022, according to the report.

Tennessee ranked 41st in social and economic factors, 19th in physical environment, 41st in clinical care, 46th in behaviors and 47th in health outcomes.

It notes Tennessees primary strengths are a low prevalence of excessive drinking, low income inequality and a low percentage of households experiencing severe housing problems. Its challenges are a high prevalence of frequent mental distress, high prevalence of multiple chronic conditions and a high prevalence of cigarette smoking.

Tennessee reported a 79% rise in the number of drug deaths, rising from from 30.6 to 54.7 deaths per 100,000 population between 2019 and 2021, according to the report.

About 18.5% of adult Tennesseans smoke, which ranks 48th nationally. The U.S. average is 14%. Virginia ranks 16th nationally in that category with 12.1% of its population using tobacco.

The report reveals that in 2022, the rates of eight chronic conditions all reached their highest levels since Americas Health Rankings began tracking them. Those include arthritis, asthma, cancer, cardiovascular diseases, chronic kidney disease, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, depression and diabetes. In 2022 more than 29 million adults reported having three or more chronic conditions.

Notably, between 2021 and 2022, depression prevalence surged to 21.7% [nationally], affecting nearly 54.2 million adults. Diabetes prevalence also increased to 11.5%, impacting nearly 31.9 million adults, while asthma prevalence rose to 10.4%, affecting nearly 26 million adults, according to the report. Additionally, 8.3% of adults reported ever having been diagnosed with cancer (excluding non-melanoma skin cancer), with nearly 21.4 million affected in 2022.

Virginia ranked 33rd nationally for residents with multiple chronic conditions  12%  and 30th for obesity, with 35% of residents classified as obese.

Tennessee was lower, ranking 48th, for residents with multiple chronic conditions  nearly 17%  and 46th for obesity, with nearly 39% of its residents classified as obese.

Nationally, one in three people are obese, an increase from 11% in 1990 when the rankings began.

The report also measures economic hardship by county and its impacts on health and wellness. Once again, Buchanan, Dickenson, Lee, Russell and Wise counties ranked in the lowest percentile in Virginia, along with Johnson County, Tennessee.
A high-speed chase Saturday left a Morganton man with charges just two days before Christmas.

Justin Carnell Scott, 48, was charged with felony flee to elude arrest, reckless driving to endanger, speeding, driving during revocation, expired registration, failure to maintain lane control and an inspection violation after a brief chase on Saturday, according to a news release from the Morganton Department of Public Safety.

The charges came after a public safety officer saw a vehicle driving on North Green Street with an expired license plate early Saturday morning, according to the release.

The officer tried to stop the vehicle but the vehicle fled, the release said.

The vehicle continued onto N.C. 181 from North Green Street, eventually trying to turn left onto Stephens Road. The vehicle veered off the road and hit a telephone pole, the release said.

Scott was identified as the driver of the vehicle and taken into custody, the release said.

He has previous convictions of first-degree burglary, indecent liberties with a child, assault inflicting serious bodily injury, assault on a female, child abuse, communicating threats, larceny, attempted speeding to elude arrest, assault on a public official and common law robbery, according to records from the North Carolina Department of Public Safety.

His bond was set at $10,000 secured, the release said. Hes due in court Jan. 5.
Minister and civil-rights activist Bishop William Barber II was removed from a North Carolina movie theater after a dispute over accessible seating, according to police and news outlets.

Barber, who has a disability, says he was barred from using a specialized chair he took to the AMC Firetower 12 in Greenville, WNCT reported.

Greenville police were called around 3:20 p.m. Tuesday, Dec. 26, on a report of someone trespassing, police said in a news release. The caller said a customer was arguing with staff and they wanted him escorted from the theater.

The moviegoer, later identified as Barber, was there to see The Color Purple film with his 90-year-old mother, WITN reported. Due to his physical disability, the bishop said he cannot sit in traditional theater seats and brought a special chair to use in the theaters accessible seating section.

However, the theaters staff wouldnt let him, he said.

I have serious Ankylosing, a form of arthritis that affects joints in the spine, knees and hips, Barber told WNCT. I walk with two canes. I have bad hips and I cant sit low.

So whether Im on Broadway, the White House, the State House, United States Congress, they always let me bring this chair,  he told the station, adding its never been a problem.

AMC issues apology

AMC has since apologized to the reverend and said it will review its policies.

AMCs Chairman and CEO Adam Aron has already telephoned him, and plans to meet with him in person in Greenville, NC, next week to discuss both this situation and the good works Bishop Barber is engaged in throughout the years, a spokesperson told McClatchy News in a statement.

AMC welcomes guests with disabilities, the spokesperson continued. We encourage guests who require special seating to speak with a manager in advance to see what can best be accommodated at the theater to ensure a safe and enjoyable experience for the guest and those around them.

The Americans with Disabilities Act requires movie theaters to have designated aisle seats with folding or retractable armrests and companion seats. At least five wheelchair spaces are also required in theaters with 151 to 300 seats, according to the law.

Former state Supreme Court justice and gubernatorial candidate Michael Morgan said he was stunned and appalled by the theaters callous response.

As legally problematic as it is for the theater to refuse reasonable accommodation to a patron admitted to its grounds, it is amplified by the unnecessary indignity which Reverend Barber and his 90-year-old mother had to endure, Morgan, who is running in the states Democratic primary, wrote on X, formerly Twitter.

Barber had ministered at Greenleaf Christian Church in Goldsboro for 30 years before retiring earlier this year and served as president of the North Carolina NAACP from 2006 to 2017, WITN reported.

Greenville is about 80 miles southeast of downtown Raleigh.
The project is key to Russias ambitious goal of increasing its share of the global liquefied natural gas (LNG) market from 8% to one-fifth by 2030-2035. The sanctions imposed by Washington last month are part of a wider set of measures taken by Western countries in response to Russias military intervention in Ukraine in February 2022.

Whats more, these are the first steps that have scared even China away from Moscow: CNOOC and CNPC also pulled out of the project citing sanctions.

Maria Zakharova, spokeswoman for the Russian Foreign Ministry, stated in her weekly briefing that such measures are considered unacceptable, especially regarding large international projects such as Arctic LNG 2, which significantly affect the energy security of several states. Zaharova accused Washington of asserting its own interests at the expense of global energy security and called the actions destructive, Reuters reported.

Zaharova emphasized that, despite the sanctions, the cooperation between Russia and China, which is interested in the LNG project, continues to strengthen, especially in the energy sector.

But not in this investment: the Arctic LNG 2 project is a joint venture in which Russias Novatek has a 60% stake, foreign shareholders including Chinas CNOOC, China National Petroleum Corp, Frances TotalEnergies and Japans Mitsui and Co and had a 10% share. Foreign shareholders are reported to have suspended their participation due to the sanctions, affecting financing and offtake agreements.

According to industry sources, due to the sanctions, Novatek also declared force majeure for the projects LNG deliveries.

Cover image: Marija Zaharova, Director of the Information and Press Department of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Russian Federation, official representative of the Russian Ministry of Foreign Affairs, speaks at the Economic and Humanitarian Forum of the Second Summit in 2023 in St. Petersburg. Photo credit: Maksim Konstantinov/SOPA Images/LightRocket via Getty Images.
The chief of staff of the Israeli army, Herzl Halevi, made a statement from the Gaza border, who said that the war between Israel and the terrorist organization Hamas could last for months, Euractiv reported.

There are no magic solutions, no quick ways to eliminate a terrorist organization, only a determined and persistent fight. We will also capture the leadership of Hamas, whether it takes a week or several months

 said the chief of staff, who also revealed that the terrorist organization was struck in more than a hundred places on Tuesday.

Despite the fact that the fighting has been going on for quite some time, it is currently not clear when exactly the war might end, indeed

according to some Israeli politicians, the conflict could escalate even further.

Israeli Defense Minister Yoav Gallant told Israeli representatives on Tuesday that Israel is already fighting a multi-front war and that Israel is being attacked in a total of seven locations: in addition to Gaza, from Lebanon, Syria, Judea and Samaria (West Bank  ed.), but according to him, in the conflict Iraq, Yemen and Iran also participate.

The war broke out after the terrorist organization Hamas carried out an unprecedented terrorist attack against Israel on October 7, during which 1,200 people, mostly civilians, were executed and another 240 people were taken to Gaza as prisoners. In response, Israel entered the Gaza Strip, where, according to the Palestinian Ministry of Health, nearly 21,000 people have lost their lives so far, while the enclaves 2.3 million inhabitants have had to leave their homes several times.

Despite the fact that more and more Western countries are demanding a cease-fire from Israel, Israel continues its air and ground operations in the Gaza Strip, as they are determined to destroy Hamas, the de facto ruler of the Gaza Strip.

Israel is also criticized for having Jewish settlers  often with the help of the Israeli army  they occupy additional settlements in the West Bank. In doing so, they violate the two-state solution laid down in the 1993 Oslo Convention. The situation in the West Bank more in this previous article we walked around.

(Cover photo: An Israeli tank maneuvers near the Israel-Gaza border in southern Israel on December 27, 2023. Photo: Amir Cohen / Reuters)
Microsoft made the separate Copilot application available for Android devices without much ado, so Hungarian users, among others, can get the AI-based copilot through the Google Play store. The software developer from Redmond did not talk much during the holidays, as the Copilot app has been available for download for almost a week  the papers pointed out. Apparently, the iOS version still has to wait, for now iPhone users can access the chat assistant via a browser or the Bing application.

The capabilities of the Microsoft Copilot app are similar to ChatGPT chatbot, in addition to dialogues, it also has an image generation function with the integration of DALL-E 3, and it helps users in writing e-mails and documents. Of course, the list of uses is long, in addition to creating simpler graphic works, it is also a useful tool in content production and summarizing longer texts.

The big advantage of the app is that you can use OpenAIs latest GPT-4 model for free, which you have to pay for in the case of ChatGPT. Previously, you could use the generative chatter within the Bing app under the name Bing Chat, but this dedicated app no longer includes the other additional functions of Bing, such as the weather report or the selected news, in essence, Microsoft has explained a circle beyond the chatbot.

Lease negotiation and performance evaluation His company selects it, but just like bacon sugar, it is typically in season now. We discussed a current topic in the 22nd kraftie broadcast.

Lease negotiation and performance evaluation

His company selects it, but just like bacon sugar, it is typically in season now. We discussed a current topic in the 22nd kraftie broadcast.

A month before the applications release, Microsoft abandoned the Bing Chat brand name and renamed the service to Copilot, at the same time making the chatbot available under the dedicated domain copilot.microsoft.com, which provides a special chat interface via the Microsoft Edge or Chrome browser.

With the renaming, Bing Chat officially came under the Copilot brand, the first member of which was the coding assistant appearing on GitHub in 2021. In March of this year, the Redmond company announced the Dynamics 365 Copilot, Copilot in Windows, Microsoft Security Copilot and Microsoft 365 Copilot products, and Bing Chat simply turns into Microsoft Copilot, so you have to keep in mind the many Copilot services.

According to the Redmond-based companys post, the goal is not to unite users, but to unify new-generation AI-based products, which will eventually result in a Copilot product that will be available to everyone for all kinds of tasks. For the time being, it is difficult to imagine what this will mean in practice, because for the time being each co-pilot performs different tasks in different environments.
The Polish Minister of Culture and Heritage Protection, Bartlomiej Sienkiewicz, has announced that he will initiate liquidation proceedings against the public service media. In connection with the decision of the President of Poland to suspend the funding of the public media, I have decided to initiate liquidation proceedings against the limited liability companies of Polish Television, Polish Radio and the PAP news agency, read Sienkiewiczs Twitter post on Wednesday.

According to the minister, putting the public media companies under liquidation procedure will enable their necessary restructuring and prevent the dismissal of employees, which would take place due to the lack of funds. The procedure can be suspended at any time, he added.

Citing a parliamentary decision and the law on commercial companies, Sienkewicz last week fired the CEOs of Polish public media and appointed new ones in their place, as well as setting up new supervisory boards.

The Prime Minister of the new Polish government, Donald Tusk, said last week that the new Polish budget does not yet include operating support for the public media, because the state press in its current state does not deserve to be financed from the taxpayers pockets.

President Andrzej Duda and the Law and Justice (PiS) party, which is allied with Viktor Orban, described the method of person exchanges as violating the law. The National Media Council, which oversees Polish public media and was established in 2016, with a majority of members nominated by PiS, on Tuesday elected its own CEO to lead public television.

Marcin Mastalerek, head of state Andrzej Dudas chief of staff, judged that: Sienkiewiczs move proves the complete helplessness of the governing forces, after they did not find any legal method to replace the management of the companies that operate the public media.

In mid-December, the Polish Constitutional Court issued a preliminary injunction, according to which the competent minister must refrain from liquidating the companies that operate the public media. The measure was issued by the board in response to a petition by representatives of the opposition Law and Justice (PiS) party regarding the public media. The judicial panel set the agenda for discussing this on January 16.

Prime Minister Donald Tusk announced at his press conference on Wednesday afternoon: due to the veto of the head of state, his government is preparing another draft of the supplementary budget law on the media, and a new media law is also being prepared. Public media will be paid for from budget reserves, not from government bonds, as originally planned.

The replaced CEO of the PAP, Wojciech Surmacz, has not yet signed his resignation. Former Minister of Culture Piotr Glinski announced on Tuesday evening that Surmacz sent a letter to five hundred foreign journalists, in which he describes that the current government is illegally trying to take over the PAP news agency, terrorizing the free media and journalists in Poland.

Marek Blonski, the new CEO appointed by Sienkiewicz, in a statement issued on Tuesday night, however, accused PiS representatives of terrorizing journalists, who are on rotating duty at the PAP headquarters in the name of inspections carried out within the scope of their powers.

Due to the previous distorted and openly biased coverage of the Polish public media during the election campaign, according to the report of the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe, the ruling party had such a strong tailwind that undermined the democratic separation of state and party. And after the election, which was presented and interpreted in detail on the Telex, Marcin Wolski, one of the most important presenters of TVP, burst out because they made more crude propaganda than in the 70s [a kommunizmus alatt].
The Cabarrus Black Boys Chapter Daughters of the American Revolution was honored to bring Wreaths Across America to Cabarrus County for the first time last year. Again this year we coordinated Wreaths Across America at Oakwood Cemetery. It was a heartwarming day as over 250 in the community joined us and we remembered and honored over 1,600 war casualties and veterans. With the communities support and help we were able to remember and honor them all with a wreath.

Saturday, Dec. 16, across the country, at more than 4,225 locations like Oakwood Cemetery, millions of Americans gathered safely as one nation to remember and honor over 3 million war casualties and veterans. We are all proud to be Americans that live in a free society made up of many people, from many walks of life. The freedoms we enjoy today have not come without a price. Lying in Oakwood Cemetery and throughout this nation are men and women who gave their lives so that we can live in freedom and without fear. We remembered those who gave their lives to keep us free and we shall never forget them.

There are many men and women serving today in all branches of the military, at home and in places far away, that most of us have never heard of. We honored them and their families for the sacrifices they make each day to keep our country safe. We honor them for their unselfish service in the continual struggle to preserve our freedoms, our safety and our countrys heritage.

The chapter was honored to also place wreaths to remember and honor the Revolutionary War patriots memorialized on the Phifer monument in Oakwood Cemetery.

The chapter would like to thank the following organizations who helped with the planning, resources and supplies for Wreaths Across America at Oakwood Cemetery: American Legion Posts 51, 115 & 433, Vietnam Veterans of America Chapter 909, American Legion Riders Chapter 51, Cabarrus County Veterans Honor Guard, American Legion Auxiliary Unit 115 and Marine Corps League Detachment 1175. We also thank the city of Concord for all of their support and assistance. Additionally we would like to thank all of the veterans organizations, businesses and individuals who sponsored wreaths and/or donated supplies to help make this possible.

We would also like to thank our guests from the Concord City Council, Cabarrus County Board of Commissioners, Concord Police Department, Cabarrus County Sheriffs Department, Cabarrus County School Board and Cabarrus County Chamber of Commerce for coming.

At the Dec. 16 event, we showed a united front of gratitude and respect across the United States of America as we remembered and honored those who served and their families, and taught the next generation the value of freedom.

We plan to once again coordinate Wreaths Across America at Oakwood Cemetery to be held in December of 2024. We hope the community will once again join us to remember and honor Cabarrus County war casualties and veterans. Please consider sponsoring a wreath for a veteran to be placed in December 2024. All wreaths sponsored through a sponsorship group from now through Jan. 16 will be matched by Wreaths Across America. Wreaths Across America does not match wreaths sponsored through the cemetery page. Please visit www.wreathsacrossamerica/nc0329 to sponsor wreaths or email Kathy Dean, location coordinator at wreathsacrossamericaoakwood@gmail.com with any questions. All Wreaths Across America Day events are, nonpolitical/nonreligious events, open to all people.

Wreaths Across America at Oakwood Cemetery is proudly being coordinated by Cabarrus Black Boys Chapter Daughters of the American Revolution.
GUEST OPINION: The performance of websites in the ever-evolving digital space is of utmost importance for user satisfaction and business growth. An often neglected yet pivotal part of this is the domain name system (DNS) lookup process. The speed and efficiency of DNS lookup, typically ranging from 20 to 120 milliseconds , can be the deciding factor between a seamless user experience and frustrating delays for website visitors.

This blog post dives deep into the significance of DNS lookup and how APIs provide transformative solutions. By expediting the resolution process, these APIs unlock reduced latency, enhanced reliability, and other advantages necessary for raising website performance to new heights.

Understanding DNS Lookup

DNS, the backbone of the internet, serves as an electronic address book by translating domain names to machine-readable IP addresses. Initiating with a user's entry of a URL, the DNS lookup process unfolds. The browser actively engages a DNS resolver tasked with pinpointing the precise IP address linked to the provided domain.

DNS lookup plays an invaluable role in connecting user devices with web servers that deliver content efficiently. Without an effective DNS lookup service, browsing experiences could be severely diminished, underscoring its crucial role in improving website performance.

Challenges in Traditional DNS Lookup

Traditional DNS lookup can present challenges that impact website performance. Factors, including user location, ISP DNS resolver efficiency, and authoritative DNS server response times can all influence how long DNS resolution takes to complete. Prolonged resolution times increase page load durations and negatively affect user experiences. Therefore, understanding and addressing such challenges are paramount when optimizing website speed and responsiveness.

DNS Lookup APIs

To address the challenges posed by traditional DNS lookup methods, many organizations are turning to a reliable DNS lookup API. Such an API can offer a more efficient and reliable way to resolve DNS queries, contributing to faster website performance. Let's delve into the key advantages of integrating DNS Lookup APIs into your website infrastructure.

Image source: Pexels

Reduced Latency and Faster Response Times

Minimizing latency and optimizing response times are key advantages of DNS lookup APIs. These APIs strategically utilize a global network of servers distributed across diverse geographical locations. By directing DNS queries to the nearest server, the distributed infrastructure significantly diminishes latency, expediting the retrieval of IP addresses.

Consequentially, this leads to an evident improvement in user experience characterized by faster response times. This improvement plays a vital role in elevating overall website performance and providing seamless interactions for global audiences.

Reliability and Availability

Ensuring reliable and available DNS resolution service is a critical component of modern business. Traditional solutions rely on single DNS resolvers, which could become points of failure, while DNS lookup APIs provide robust solutions with built-in redundancy and failover mechanisms.

DNS lookup APIs offer an advanced feature that enables seamless switching from one server to another in case one becomes inaccessible, guaranteeing uninterrupted service and significantly increasing overall reliability. Their resilience provides greater protection from service disruptions while reinforcing website dependability despite any unexpected challenges in server infrastructure.

Advanced Analytics and Monitoring

In addition to their core functionalities, numerous DNS lookup APIs offer robust analytics and monitoring tools. These features enable website administrators to efficiently explore comprehensive DNS performance metrics, providing proactive insights into potential issues and optimization opportunities that could impact website speed and reliability.

Armed with such insights, administrators can make data-driven decisions intended to enhance overall website speed and reliability. Not only is this advanced analytics capability essential in troubleshooting but it is also essential in fine-tuning website performance parameters to deliver seamless and responsive user experiences. Their implementation shows a proactive commitment to maintaining and optimizing DNS performance for continued excellence in website operations.

Security Enhancements

DNS lookup APIs have become indispensable tools in protecting websites against security risks such as DNS spoofing and cache poisoning, employing secure DNS protocols that bolster resilience and provide for an inherently secure online environment. Their focus on security not only safeguards website owners against cyber threats but also enhances the user experience overall.

Implementation of secure DNS protocols through APIs demonstrates our dedication to strengthening website cybersecurity, instilling confidence among owners and users in light of evolving online security challenges.

Scalability for Growing Traffic

As websites scale and experience increased traffic, the demand for DNS resolution also grows. DNS lookup APIs are designed to manage high volumes of queries efficiently, ensuring that the DNS infrastructure scales seamlessly with website growth and maintains optimal performance during traffic spikes.

Final Thoughts

Optimizing website performance in an environment where user expectations for fast and seamless experiences continue to increase is no small matter. DNS lookup, an essential component of page loading processes, can have a tremendous effect on user experiences.

By adopting DNS lookup APIs website owners can address traditional DNS resolution methods' shortcomings while unlocking benefits such as reduced latency, enhanced reliability, advanced analytics, security improvement, and scalability, essential features in today's digital sphere. As technology develops further, cutting-edge tools like these APIs become essential in providing users with the optimal online experiences they expect and deserve.
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The most unintentionally hilarious outburst of journalistic objectivity in our times is the assumption that the Biden Department of Justice is nonpartisan. After Democrat prosecutors, federal and local, have filed 91 felony indictments against Donald Trump, none of these legal issues can be characterized as partisan politics.

On Christmas Eve, ABC Justice Department correspondent Pierre Thomas was handed the hosting duties of "This Week with George Stephanopoulos," and he acted just like a Stephanopoulos. The guest was U.S. Deputy Attorney General Lisa Monaco, and he suggested charges of partisanship are "toxic."

"I want to talk about the toxic environment here in Washington," said Thomas. "You have Republicans who will say that the Justice Department is full of political operatives who are working to help President Biden, hurt President Trump, and they'll even say that the FBI should be defunded. What's your reaction to that kind of language, and what do you say on behalf of DOJ?"

This is the softest of softballs. She replied, "Those claims bear no resemblance to the Justice Department that I know." Monaco said not only do DOJ officials work without any regard to "who's in the White House," but charges of partisanship "contributes to the toxicity you're speaking about."

Thomas asked if that includes political threats. So Republican arguments are akin to violence. Then he added, "I know you don't want to talk about any particular candidate. But when people are using words like 'poison the blood' and calling DOJ officials thugs, is that helpful?"

So he's blurring together the lingo they call Hitlerian with anyone saying DOJ officials are partisans out to get Trump.

To wrap it up, Thomas asked Monaco to deny the obvious: "Can you assure the American public that special counsels Jack Smith and David Weiss, Robert Hur are operating without regard to anything but the facts and the law?" Monaco said yes, even as Jack Smith insists Trump must go on trial before the election.

To underline it, he concluded: "Just for the record, so the public can hear it from a top official at DOJ, has President Biden ever raised the classified documents investigation, the probe of Hunter Biden with you or the A.G., tried to influence you? Has he ever done that in regard to President Trump?"

"No," replied Monaco. "And the attorney general's been exceptionally clear on this point." Never mind that Merrick Garland could read The New York Times report: "Mr. Biden confided to his inner circle that he believed former President Donald J. Trump was a threat to democracy and should be prosecuted," but didn't say it directly, just indirectly, in public.

ABC did not have one single question phrased in an even mildly challenging way about their anti-Trump animus. They were only asked for fact-defying assurances as the screen said, "Deputy AG Defends Integrity, Independence of Justice Dept."

Thomas then turned to Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.), and asked about parts of Monaco's interview, but never inquired about the Biden scandals.

After that, Thomas interviewed Obama-appointed U.S. Attorney Preet Bharara (who was dismissed by Trump), and former Trump DOJ spokeswoman Sarah Isgur. They discussed Trump's indictments, but Thomas never raised the Biden probes.

Then came ABC's pundit panel for more talk of Trump outrages, and Trump being a "maniac," but Thomas and the pundits never said a thing about the Biden scandals.

This entire program was a Christmas gift to the Bidens. Karine Jean-Pierre couldn't go any softer than Thomas did with Monaco. ABC and the news networks are precisely as nonpartisan as the Biden administration.

(COMMENT, BELOW)
Other than a soundbite from Kamala Harris in the 2020 Democratic primary debate, Joe Biden has largely been allowed to skate on his own extreme record of racism.

A Senator from the largely southern state of Delaware, Biden built his political career around two issues: His opposition to school busing to achieve integration and his support for mandatory minimum sentences for largely nonviolent drug offenses.

Now that Trump has a solid foothold among black voters  22% in the latest poll conducted by John Jordan and me  its time to hammer Biden on his terrible civil rights record.

 Biden said he asked to serve on the Judiciary Committee so that he could oppose school busing. He said, What advocates of busing say is that in order for your child with curly back hair, brown eyes and dark skin to be able to learn anything, he needs to sit next to my blond-haired, blue-eyed son. Who the hell do we think we are, he continued, that the only way a black man or woman can learn is if they rub shoulders with my white child?

 In 1979, Biden was one of 54 Senators to vote to allow racially segregated private schools  so called white flight academies  to keep their tax-exempt status.

 In 1977, Biden said that forced busing to desegregate schools would cause his children to grow up in a racial jungle.' He said, Unless we do something about this, my children are going to grow in a racial jungle with tensions having built to a point where the will explode.

 Biden said black youth were predators. and who need to be [taken] out of society. Trump, of course, signed the First Step Act to free these kids from prison.

 Biden said a lot of black illiteracy is because their parents cant read or write themselves.

 In 2007 Biden praised Obama as the first mainstream African American who is articulate and bright and clean.

 In 2006, Biden said, You cannot go into a 7-eleven or a Dunkin Donuts unless you have a slight Indian accent.

 In 2010 he warmly eulogized Sen. Robert Byrd, a former Exalted Cyclops in the Klu Klux Klan, saying he was one of my mentors and that the Senate is a lesser place for his going.



 In 1988, The Philadelphia Inquirer reported in September 1988 that Mr. Biden, while campaigning in Alabama that year, talked of his sympathy for the South, bragged of an award he had received from George Wallace in 1973 and said we (Delawareans) were on the Souths side in the Civil War.'

 Biden voted to restore American citizenship posthumously to Robert E. Lee and Jefferson Davis.

Now that Trump has acquired a strong foothold among black voters, he should go on the offensive on the issue.

(COMMENT, BELOW)

Dick Morris, who served as adviser to former Sen. Trent Lott (R-Miss.) and former President Clinton, is the author of 16 books, including his latest, Screwed and Here Come the Black Helicopters.


100 years ago,

Dec. 28, 1923

TOLEDO  Sam Barnard of Union township was taken to the state penal farm at Vandalia on Monday by Sheriff Ryan, to serve a sentence of sixty days for violation of the Illinois prohibition law. Barnard was found guilty of liquor violations at the November term of the county court and sentenced by Judge Bussard. His wife and Mr. and Mrs. Samuel Strockbine were found guilty of similar charges at the same time and all were fined...CHARLESTON  A deal in which about $80,000 will be the consideration and which will call for the transfer of the Bails business block and flat apartments, east side of Seventh and Van Buren streets, and the home place of J.H. Bails, in exchange for a large stock of merchandise, has been under consideration for some days. Should the trade be consummated, Mr. Bails will move the merchandise stock from a county north of here to Charleston, where he will open a large store in his Seventh street business rooms on the west side of Seventh street, about a block south of Van Buren street.

50 years ago, 1973

MATTOON  An early morning fire today destroyed Mattoon Milling Co. located at 1809 Lafayette. Damage was estimated in excess of $100,000 today by Kenneth Carlyle of Country Club Road, co-owner of the mill. The other co-owner is Edmund Behrend of Paradise Township. The fire was reported to the Mattoon Fire Department at approximately 12:04 a.m. by three different persons. Firemen from all three Mattoon stations were at the scene until about 4 a.m. Mattoon Fire Chief Roy Sparks said a fire truck is still at the site to prevent the fire from breaking out again. Sparks said the cause of the blaze has yet to be determined. According to Sparks, firemen at Station No. 2, located on Lake Land Blvd. near the mill learned of the fire from a man "who pounded on the door to tell them." Sparks said the smoke was so thick that "the men in station No. 2 could hardly find their way out of the station." He said when the firemen arrived at the scene, the fire had burned its way through the roof of the mill and that a lack of fire hydrants near the site of the fire also made it difficult for the department to fight the blaze. Carlyle told the JG that someone set a fire at the milling company several weeks ago. The fire only did slight damage. Carlyle said he had some insurance on the business. "Losing all of our milling equipment, that was the big thing," he added...MATTOON  Mattoon patrolman Archie D. Armer caught three robbery suspects Thursday only minutes after Wilb Walker's Supermarket was held up. Arrested were Kenneth Jones, 43, Lerna; Ronnie Rose, 27, of Route 4, Charleston; and an unidentified 17-year-old high school student who resides in Mattoon. Armer halted a station wagon carrying the three suspects at 6:53 p.m. in the 1700 block of Richmond. After receiving the call, Armer left the station in his squad car. Police received information concerning the license number and type of vehicle carrying the suspects.

25 years ago, 1998

RANTOUL  Across the county road from Betty Panzer's house is a chain link fence with a sign reading "Environmental Area of Concern." Behind the fence are four landfills that were once used at the former Chanute Air Force Base. The landfills are no longer being used, but Panzer and her neighbors are concerned that contaminants discovered there earlier this year have leaked into their well water. The Air Force maintains that the wells need more testing before there can be any conclusions about whether they really are contaminated, let alone where the contaminants came from. The four landfills sit at the southeast corner of the property, where the base gave way to cornfields, farmhouses and scattered mobile homes. The oldest landfill was opened in 1930; the most recent was used in 1974. Records at the Illinois EPA indicate they were filled with household and office trash, paper, wood, shop waste, construction rubble, ashes, aircraft parts and pesticide containers.

Close An empty pitcher and shot sized cups sit on an altar during an ayahuasca ceremony hosted by Hummingbird Church in Hildale, Utah, on Friday, Oct. 14, 2022. Ayahuasca is a psychoactive brew that contains an Amazon shrub with the active ingredient, DMT, and a vine containing monoamine oxidase inhibitors that prevents the drug from breaking down in the body causing visions lasting several hours. (AP Photo/Jessie Wardarski) Participants lay face down on the grass during an integration circle at an ayahuasca retreat in Hildale, Utah, on Saturday, Oct. 15, 2022. Following each of the three ayahuasca ceremonies, Hummingbird Church asks their participants to partake in integration, or a group reflection and discussion, to help interpret messages they received from the ayahuasca. (AP Photo/Jessie Wardarski) The Rev. Siv Limstrand lights candles at the church's cabin in Bolterdalen, Norway, Monday, Jan. 9, 2023. The cabin is used for retreats and church groups. (AP Photo/Daniel Cole) Svalbard Kirke member Lars-Olav Tunheim descends from Plataberget mountain during a hike in Longyearbyen, Norway, Wednesday, Jan. 11, 2023. As climate change impacts the Svalbard archipelago faster and deeper than the rest of the world, its pastor is helping the community of miners and environmentalists grapple with transformation in this unforgiving, awe-inspiring wilderness. (AP Photo/Daniel Cole) Joshimath town is seen along side snow capped mountains, in India's Himalayan mountain state of Uttarakhand, Jan. 21, 2023. For months, residents in Joshimath, a holy town burrowed high up in India's Himalayan mountains, have seen their homes slowly sink. They pleaded for help, but it never arrived. In January however, their town made national headlines. Big, deep cracks had emerged in over 860 homes, making them unlivable. (AP Photo/Rajesh Kumar Singh) Munni Devi, front, wipes her tears as she and Shanta Devi leave their house, in Joshimath, in India's Himalayan mountain state of Uttarakhand, Jan. 19, 2023. Big, deep cracks had emerged in over 860 homes in Joshimath, where they snaked through floors, ceilings and walls, making them unlivable. Roads were split with crevices and multi-storied hotels slumped to one side. Authorities declared it a disaster zone and came in on bulldozers, razing down whole parts of a town that had become lopsided. (AP Photo/Rajesh Kumar Singh) Loyola University basketball player, Tom Welch, shakes hands with Sister Jean Dolores Schmidt, the team's official chaplain, before attending practice on Monday, Jan. 23, 2023, in Chicago. The beloved Catholic nun captured the world's imagination and became something of a folk hero while supporting the Ramblers at the NCAA Final Four in 2018. At the age of 103, Sister Jean is using her platform to publish her first book, "Wake Up with Purpose: What I've Learned in My First Hundred Years." In the memoir she tells her story and offers life lessons and spiritual guidance. (AP Photo/Jessie Wardarski) Pope Francis, second from left, looks at traditional dancers performing at the Martyrs' Stadium In Kinshasa, Democratic Republic of Congo, Thursday, Feb. 2, 2023. Francis is in Congo and South Sudan for a six-day trip, hoping to bring comfort and encouragement to two countries that have been riven by poverty, conflicts and what he calls a "colonialist mentality" that has exploited Africa for centuries. (AP Photo/Gregorio Borgia) Morning service concludes in the annex of the Cathedral Notre Dame du Congo in Kinshasa, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Sunday Jan. 29, 2023. The cathedral is being prepared for Pope Francis' visit to Congo and South Sudan for a six-day trip starting Jan, 31, hoping to bring comfort and encouragement to two countries that have been riven by poverty, conflicts and what he calls a "colonialist mentality" that has exploited Africa for centuries. (AP Photo/Jerome Delay) Navy Chaplain Lt. Cmdr. Ben Garrett counsels a sailor in his quarters on the USS Bataan on Monday, March 20, 2023 at Norfolk Naval Station in Norfolk, Va. One of the chaplains' roles aboard the ship is help sailors deal with stress Navy life brings. (AP Photo/John C. Clark) A shoe that belonged to a child victim of the former Nazi German death camp Auschwitz-Birkenau is scanned at the conservation laboratory on the grounds of the camp in Oswiecim, Poland, Wednesday, May 10, 2023. Most of the victims were Jews killed in dictator Adolf Hitler's attempt to exterminate the Jews of Europe. (AP Photo/Michal Dyjuk) A sandstorm rolls into Dimona, Israel, as the Hebrew Israelite community marks New World Passover, an annual celebration of their 1967 exodus from the United States, Thursday, June 1, 2023. Now, dozens of their members are facing the threat of deportation. The community do not consider themselves Jewish, but they claim an ancestral connection to the Holy Land. (AP Photo/Maya Alleruzzo) Firewalkers dance across a bed of burning coals in a ritual in honor of St. Constantine in the village of Lagkadas, Greece on Monday, May 22, 2023. Firewalking is the most spectacular and public of these annual rituals that also include dancing with icons, prayer, and shared meals by associations of devotees of the Christian Orthodox saint called "anastenaria" that have held similar celebrations for centuries. (AP Photo/Giovanna Dell'Orto) A worker asks to a tour guide person to stop taking photos to tourists due to the start of the praying time at Byzantine-era Hagia Sophia mosque in Istanbul, Turkey, Wednesday, June 28, 2023. With tourism reaching or surpassing pre-pandemic levels across Southern Europe this summer, iconic sacred sites struggle to find ways to accommodate both the faithful who come to pray and millions of increasingly secular visitors attracted by art and architecture. (AP Photo/Francisco Seco) Worshippers attend a Mass in the Sagrada Familia basilica in Barcelona, Spain, Sunday, July 9, 2023. With tourism reaching or surpassing pre-pandemic levels across Southern Europe this summer, iconic sacred sites struggle to find ways to accommodate both the faithful who come to pray and millions of increasingly secular visitors attracted by art and architecture. (AP Photo/Emilio Morenatti) Paramacharya Sadasivanatha Palaniswami stands at the base of a Rudraksha tree, which produces a bright blue fruit at the Kauai Hindu Monastery on July 10, 2023, in Kapaa, Hawaii. The monks who reside at the temple monastery practice Shaivism, one of the major Hindu traditions, which worships Shiva as the supreme being. (AP Photo/Jessie Wardarski) Paramacharya Sadasivanatha Palaniswami climbs the rocks along the Wailua river, which is sacred to many Native Hawaiians, at Kauai's Hindu Monastery on July 13, 2023, in Kapaa, Hawaii. The monastery was founded by guru Satguru Sivaya Subramuniyaswami in 1970. (AP Photo/Jessie Wardarski) The memorial of the Rev. Maxim Andre of the Congregation of the Sacred Hearts, on the peninsula of Kalaupapa, Hawaii, on Tuesday, July 18, 2023. (AP Photo/Jessie Wardarski) A Star of David hands from a fence outside the dormant landmark Tree of Life synagogue in Pittsburgh's Squirrel Hill neighborhood on Thursday, July 13, 2023, the day a federal jury announced they had found Robert Bowers, who in 2018 killed 11 people at the Tree of Life synagogue, eligible for the death penalty. The next stage of the trial with present further evidence and testimony on whether he should be sentenced to death or life in prison. It stands as the deadliest attack on Jewish people in U.S. history. (AP Photo/Gene J. Puskar/File) Members of the Hebrew Israelite community rally outside of the District Court in Beersheba, Israel, ahead of a hearing on the deportation orders for dozens from their community, Wednesday, July 19, 2023. Over the decades, the community has made inroads into Israeli society, and most of them have citizenship or residency rights. But 130 members remain undocumented, and Israeli authorities have ordered them to leave. The orders have left dozens of people, some of whom have lived most of their lives in Israel, in an uncertain legal limbo.(AP Photo/Maya Alleruzzo) A girl watches the sunset over the scenic Kadisha Valley, a holy landmark for Lebanon's Maronite Christians, in the northeast mountain town of Bcharre, Lebanon, Friday, July 21, 2023. For Lebanon's Christians, the cedars are sacred, these tough evergreen trees that survive the mountain's harsh snowy winters. They point out with pride that Lebanon's cedars are mentioned 103 times in the Bible. (AP Photo/Hassan Ammar) Lebanese Maronite Christian Patriarch Beshara al-Rai, second left, leads the sermon to commemorate the Feast of the Transfiguration in the Cedars of God forest, in the northeast mountain town of Bcharre, Lebanon, Saturday, Aug. 5, 2023. For Lebanon's Christians, the cedars are sacred, these tough evergreen trees that survive the mountain's harsh snowy winters. They point out with pride that Lebanon's cedars are mentioned 103 times in the Bible. (AP Photo/Hassan Ammar) Maya Johnson, 7, of New York, is playfully swung into the lake by her friends during Camp Be'chol Lashon, a sleepaway camp for Jewish children of color, Friday, July 28, 2023, in Petaluma, Calif., at Walker Creek Ranch. (AP Photo/Jacquelyn Martin) Dean Wiberg, right, volunteers at the evangelical Crossroads Chapel tent, which distributes thousands of free Bibles during the Minnesota State Fair in Falcon Heights, Minn., on Thursday, Aug. 24, 2023. For many faith communities, the fair has long been an opportunity to reach a diverse crowd that can top two million. (AP Photo/Giovanna Dell'Orto) A horse rider holds a Mongolian flag during a traditional performance at a cultural event organized for the media and entourage following Pope Francis' visit to Mongolia, at the Mongolia Cultural Park, some 40 kilometers out of Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia, Friday, Sept. 1, 2023. (AP Photo/Andrew Medichini) Pairs of oxen pull a boat-shaped float with an iconic century-old sacred image of Virgin Mary breastfeeding infant Jesus standing on the bow, during the Our Lady of Remedies procession in the small town of Lamego, in the Douro River Valley, Portugal, Friday, Sept. 8, 2023. One of Portugal's largest and oldest religious festivals, the two-week celebrations that culminate with the procession, draw thousands. (AP Photo/Armando Franca) 2023 in religion: Images capture global expressions of faith, spiritualism In the searing heat of Mecca, throngs of Muslims from around the world converged for the annual Hajj pilgrimage. In the round-the-clock darkness of the polar night, a Lutheran pastor in the Norwegian Arctic archipelago of Svalbard persevered in her ministry to one of the worlds most remote towns. Associated Press photographers were on the scene  there and in scores of other locales ranging from the flood-stricken mountains of northern India to the sacred volcano Mauna Kea in Hawaii. Their mission: Finding myriad ways to convey how faith and spiritualism, in their many forms, manifested themselves around the world in 2023. An empty pitcher and shot sized cups sit on an altar during an ayahuasca ceremony hosted by Hummingbird Church in Hildale, Utah, on Friday, Oct. 14, 2022. Ayahuasca is a psychoactive brew that contains an Amazon shrub with the active ingredient, DMT, and a vine containing monoamine oxidase inhibitors that prevents the drug from breaking down in the body causing visions lasting several hours. (AP Photo/Jessie Wardarski) Participants lay face down on the grass during an integration circle at an ayahuasca retreat in Hildale, Utah, on Saturday, Oct. 15, 2022. Following each of the three ayahuasca ceremonies, Hummingbird Church asks their participants to partake in integration, or a group reflection and discussion, to help interpret messages they received from the ayahuasca. (AP Photo/Jessie Wardarski) The Rev. Siv Limstrand lights candles at the church's cabin in Bolterdalen, Norway, Monday, Jan. 9, 2023. The cabin is used for retreats and church groups. (AP Photo/Daniel Cole) Svalbard Kirke member Lars-Olav Tunheim descends from Plataberget mountain during a hike in Longyearbyen, Norway, Wednesday, Jan. 11, 2023. As climate change impacts the Svalbard archipelago faster and deeper than the rest of the world, its pastor is helping the community of miners and environmentalists grapple with transformation in this unforgiving, awe-inspiring wilderness. (AP Photo/Daniel Cole) Joshimath town is seen along side snow capped mountains, in India's Himalayan mountain state of Uttarakhand, Jan. 21, 2023. For months, residents in Joshimath, a holy town burrowed high up in India's Himalayan mountains, have seen their homes slowly sink. They pleaded for help, but it never arrived. In January however, their town made national headlines. Big, deep cracks had emerged in over 860 homes, making them unlivable. (AP Photo/Rajesh Kumar Singh) Munni Devi, front, wipes her tears as she and Shanta Devi leave their house, in Joshimath, in India's Himalayan mountain state of Uttarakhand, Jan. 19, 2023. Big, deep cracks had emerged in over 860 homes in Joshimath, where they snaked through floors, ceilings and walls, making them unlivable. Roads were split with crevices and multi-storied hotels slumped to one side. Authorities declared it a disaster zone and came in on bulldozers, razing down whole parts of a town that had become lopsided. (AP Photo/Rajesh Kumar Singh) Loyola University basketball player, Tom Welch, shakes hands with Sister Jean Dolores Schmidt, the team's official chaplain, before attending practice on Monday, Jan. 23, 2023, in Chicago. The beloved Catholic nun captured the world's imagination and became something of a folk hero while supporting the Ramblers at the NCAA Final Four in 2018. At the age of 103, Sister Jean is using her platform to publish her first book, "Wake Up with Purpose: What I've Learned in My First Hundred Years." In the memoir she tells her story and offers life lessons and spiritual guidance. (AP Photo/Jessie Wardarski) Pope Francis, second from left, looks at traditional dancers performing at the Martyrs' Stadium In Kinshasa, Democratic Republic of Congo, Thursday, Feb. 2, 2023. Francis is in Congo and South Sudan for a six-day trip, hoping to bring comfort and encouragement to two countries that have been riven by poverty, conflicts and what he calls a "colonialist mentality" that has exploited Africa for centuries. (AP Photo/Gregorio Borgia) Morning service concludes in the annex of the Cathedral Notre Dame du Congo in Kinshasa, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Sunday Jan. 29, 2023. The cathedral is being prepared for Pope Francis' visit to Congo and South Sudan for a six-day trip starting Jan, 31, hoping to bring comfort and encouragement to two countries that have been riven by poverty, conflicts and what he calls a "colonialist mentality" that has exploited Africa for centuries. (AP Photo/Jerome Delay) Navy Chaplain Lt. Cmdr. Ben Garrett counsels a sailor in his quarters on the USS Bataan on Monday, March 20, 2023 at Norfolk Naval Station in Norfolk, Va. One of the chaplains' roles aboard the ship is help sailors deal with stress Navy life brings. (AP Photo/John C. Clark) A shoe that belonged to a child victim of the former Nazi German death camp Auschwitz-Birkenau is scanned at the conservation laboratory on the grounds of the camp in Oswiecim, Poland, Wednesday, May 10, 2023. Most of the victims were Jews killed in dictator Adolf Hitler's attempt to exterminate the Jews of Europe. (AP Photo/Michal Dyjuk) A sandstorm rolls into Dimona, Israel, as the Hebrew Israelite community marks New World Passover, an annual celebration of their 1967 exodus from the United States, Thursday, June 1, 2023. Now, dozens of their members are facing the threat of deportation. The community do not consider themselves Jewish, but they claim an ancestral connection to the Holy Land. (AP Photo/Maya Alleruzzo) Firewalkers dance across a bed of burning coals in a ritual in honor of St. Constantine in the village of Lagkadas, Greece on Monday, May 22, 2023. Firewalking is the most spectacular and public of these annual rituals that also include dancing with icons, prayer, and shared meals by associations of devotees of the Christian Orthodox saint called "anastenaria" that have held similar celebrations for centuries. (AP Photo/Giovanna Dell'Orto) A worker asks to a tour guide person to stop taking photos to tourists due to the start of the praying time at Byzantine-era Hagia Sophia mosque in Istanbul, Turkey, Wednesday, June 28, 2023. With tourism reaching or surpassing pre-pandemic levels across Southern Europe this summer, iconic sacred sites struggle to find ways to accommodate both the faithful who come to pray and millions of increasingly secular visitors attracted by art and architecture. (AP Photo/Francisco Seco) Worshippers attend a Mass in the Sagrada Familia basilica in Barcelona, Spain, Sunday, July 9, 2023. With tourism reaching or surpassing pre-pandemic levels across Southern Europe this summer, iconic sacred sites struggle to find ways to accommodate both the faithful who come to pray and millions of increasingly secular visitors attracted by art and architecture. (AP Photo/Emilio Morenatti) Paramacharya Sadasivanatha Palaniswami stands at the base of a Rudraksha tree, which produces a bright blue fruit at the Kauai Hindu Monastery on July 10, 2023, in Kapaa, Hawaii. The monks who reside at the temple monastery practice Shaivism, one of the major Hindu traditions, which worships Shiva as the supreme being. (AP Photo/Jessie Wardarski) Paramacharya Sadasivanatha Palaniswami climbs the rocks along the Wailua river, which is sacred to many Native Hawaiians, at Kauai's Hindu Monastery on July 13, 2023, in Kapaa, Hawaii. The monastery was founded by guru Satguru Sivaya Subramuniyaswami in 1970. (AP Photo/Jessie Wardarski) The memorial of the Rev. Maxim Andre of the Congregation of the Sacred Hearts, on the peninsula of Kalaupapa, Hawaii, on Tuesday, July 18, 2023. (AP Photo/Jessie Wardarski) A Star of David hands from a fence outside the dormant landmark Tree of Life synagogue in Pittsburgh's Squirrel Hill neighborhood on Thursday, July 13, 2023, the day a federal jury announced they had found Robert Bowers, who in 2018 killed 11 people at the Tree of Life synagogue, eligible for the death penalty. The next stage of the trial with present further evidence and testimony on whether he should be sentenced to death or life in prison. It stands as the deadliest attack on Jewish people in U.S. history. (AP Photo/Gene J. Puskar/File) Members of the Hebrew Israelite community rally outside of the District Court in Beersheba, Israel, ahead of a hearing on the deportation orders for dozens from their community, Wednesday, July 19, 2023. Over the decades, the community has made inroads into Israeli society, and most of them have citizenship or residency rights. But 130 members remain undocumented, and Israeli authorities have ordered them to leave. The orders have left dozens of people, some of whom have lived most of their lives in Israel, in an uncertain legal limbo.(AP Photo/Maya Alleruzzo) A girl watches the sunset over the scenic Kadisha Valley, a holy landmark for Lebanon's Maronite Christians, in the northeast mountain town of Bcharre, Lebanon, Friday, July 21, 2023. For Lebanon's Christians, the cedars are sacred, these tough evergreen trees that survive the mountain's harsh snowy winters. They point out with pride that Lebanon's cedars are mentioned 103 times in the Bible. (AP Photo/Hassan Ammar) Lebanese Maronite Christian Patriarch Beshara al-Rai, second left, leads the sermon to commemorate the Feast of the Transfiguration in the Cedars of God forest, in the northeast mountain town of Bcharre, Lebanon, Saturday, Aug. 5, 2023. For Lebanon's Christians, the cedars are sacred, these tough evergreen trees that survive the mountain's harsh snowy winters. They point out with pride that Lebanon's cedars are mentioned 103 times in the Bible. (AP Photo/Hassan Ammar) Maya Johnson, 7, of New York, is playfully swung into the lake by her friends during Camp Be'chol Lashon, a sleepaway camp for Jewish children of color, Friday, July 28, 2023, in Petaluma, Calif., at Walker Creek Ranch. (AP Photo/Jacquelyn Martin) Dean Wiberg, right, volunteers at the evangelical Crossroads Chapel tent, which distributes thousands of free Bibles during the Minnesota State Fair in Falcon Heights, Minn., on Thursday, Aug. 24, 2023. For many faith communities, the fair has long been an opportunity to reach a diverse crowd that can top two million. (AP Photo/Giovanna Dell'Orto) A horse rider holds a Mongolian flag during a traditional performance at a cultural event organized for the media and entourage following Pope Francis' visit to Mongolia, at the Mongolia Cultural Park, some 40 kilometers out of Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia, Friday, Sept. 1, 2023. (AP Photo/Andrew Medichini) Pairs of oxen pull a boat-shaped float with an iconic century-old sacred image of Virgin Mary breastfeeding infant Jesus standing on the bow, during the Our Lady of Remedies procession in the small town of Lamego, in the Douro River Valley, Portugal, Friday, Sept. 8, 2023. One of Portugal's largest and oldest religious festivals, the two-week celebrations that culminate with the procession, draw thousands. (AP Photo/Armando Franca)
First Day Hikes, those treks in nature meant to start the year off right, will be at state parks across the state on Jan. 1.

Three state parks in the region  Hanging Rock, Pilot Mountain and Stone Mountain  will be among the parks involved in what has become a growing tradition in North Carolina and around the country.

Pilot Mountain will have a First Day Bingo, a self-guided hike that invites hikers to fill out a bingo card based on what they find on the trail. Cards can be picked up at the visitors center.

Hanging Rock will have three hikes  one on the Hanging Rock trail, another on the Moores Wall loop and another for kids ages 3-12 (and their families) around the lake.

Stone Mountain will have a guided hike on a portion of the Stone Mountain loop trail that will total about 3.5 miles.

In all, there will be 50 staff-led hikes to showcase the state, according to the N.C. Division of Parks and Recreation.

This year, the state park system is offering some unique events including a 50-year anniversary party at Goose Creek State Park in Beaufort County that will feature a hike, food, music and historical demonstrations.

At Mayo River State Park in Rockingham County, park staff will celebrate the grand opening of the Fox Trail at the Mayo Mountain Access.

Crowders Mountain State Park has teamed with Kings Mountain State Park in South Carolina to lead a First Day Hike traversing three parks in two states along the Ridgeline Trail.

A few parks are unable to offer guided hikes for 2024 but will still be open for visitors to hike on their own.

First Day Hikes started in Massachusetts in 1992 and slowly spread throughout the country.

I am thrilled to see the continued growth and success of the First Day Hikes program, said Lewis Ledford, executive director of the National Association of State Park Directors and a former head of North Carolinas park system. This initiative has become a cherished tradition, providing individuals and families with the opportunity to embrace the outdoors, and kick off the year with a commitment to health and well-being.

On Jan. 1, 2019, a record 3,859 people joined 57 guided hikes throughout the park system.

People participating in First Day Hikes are encouraged to dress for the terrain and weather and bring their own water and snacks. Most of the hikes are geared toward beginning hikers.
A second organization is asking the Wilkes County Board of Commissioners to repeal a Christian heritage proclamation, saying it violates the First Amendment.

Kalli Joslin, a constitutional litigation fellow with the Americans United for Separation of Church and State, sent a letter dated Dec. 22 to Wilkes County officials after the Washington, D.C.-based organization received a complaint about the Wilkes County commissioners approving the proclamation at their Dec. 19 meeting.

The Wilkes County Board of Commissioners exists to serve all the citizens of Wilkes County, regardless of their faith or belief, Joslins letter says. Using an official proclamation to promote Christianity sends the clear message that the Board of Commissioners favors those who follow its preferred religion and that nonbelievers will be treated differently.

The Wilkes County Board of Commissioners proclaim and recognize our Christian Heritage and urge all citizens to proclaim Christianitys important influence in the foundation and life in our county, state and nation, according to the proclamation.

The Wilkes County commissioners unanimously approved the 445-word proclamation recently as a testament to our Christian Heritage during the upcoming holiday season and all year long in Wilkes County, N.C., the proclamation says.

Joslins letter says that the proclamation is also a plain violation of the Establishment Clause of the First Amendment to the U.S. Constitution.

The First Amendments establishment clause prohibits a government from passing measures to establish an official religion or preferring one religion over another.

Please rescind this proclamation and refrain from issuing any future religious proclamations, Joslin wrote.

The Freedom from Religion Foundation of Madison, Wis. also is urging the Wilkes County commissioners to repeal the Christian heritage proclamation, which the foundation says is a case of a government inappropriately advancing a Christian agenda.

Americans United sent its letter about the proclamation to Tony Triplett of North Wilkesboro, the Wilkes County attorney, Brooke Felts, the assistant Wilkes County attorney, and the five Wilkes County commissioners.

Triplett and Felts couldnt be reached Wednesday for comment. Stoney Greene, the chairman of the Wilkes County Board of Commissioners, and Commissioners Casey Joe Johnson, Bill Sexton, Keith Elmore and Greg Minton didnt return a Journal reporters emails and phone calls seeking comment.

Elmore said last week that Triplett and Felts were reviewing the foundation statement and would respond to it.

In the letter, Joslin pointed to 13 rulings by the U.S. Supreme Court and other federal courts that upheld the constitutional doctrine of the separation of church and state.

Contrary to these decisions and the historical understandings on which they are based, the (Wilkes County) Board of Commissioners here used its governmental authority to promote one religion above all others, Joslin wrote.

Numerous federal courts, consistent with the views of the Founders that underlay the Establishment Clause, have struck down as unconstitutional these kinds of official governmental preferences for and advocacy of one faith, Joslin wrote.

The proclamation quotes the preamble of the N.C. Constitution, including its reference to Almighty God, the Sovereign Ruler of Nations 

Christian Heritage provides our citizens with an opportunity to acknowledge blessings to contemplate and offer solutions to the numerous challenges society faces, and to be rededicated to our nations spiritual ancestry, the proclamation says.

Joslin asked Wilkes County officials to respond to the letter within 30 days.

We are hopeful that our letter will be sufficient to resolve this issue, Alex Luchenitser, Americans Uniteds associate vice president and interim legal director, said in a statement. If it isnt, we will assess the situation and explore all options for further action.

At the Dec. 19 commissioners meeting, two Wilkes residents said they supported the proclamation and two Wilkes residents said they were opposed to the proclamation.

The Rev. David Dyer, the pastor of Fairplains Baptist Church of North Wilkesboro, said that the proclamation recognizes the biblical and Christian heritage we have as Wilkes County and American citizens.
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.

'Les Miserables' coming to Lied Center in January

Actor Matt Crowle, one of the lead actors in the musical "Les Miserables" said hes still amazed each time the production moves from city to city.

In an interview with the Journal Star ahead of the musicals January run of performances at the Lied Center for Performing Arts, Crowle said It feels like a magic trick really every time we get to a new city where, one night, we close in Spokane, and less than 48 hours later, I'm walking onto the stage in Lincoln.

The U.S. "Les Mis" touring company will be opening at the Lied Center on Jan. 9 and will perform eight times in six days.

Two Lincoln men challenging gun charges after Supreme Court rulings

Two Lincoln men  one in state court and one in federal court  appear to be among the first in Nebraska to mount legal challenges to their gun charges, arguing their conduct is protected by the Second Amendment following recent decisions by the U.S. Supreme Court.

A stream of others could follow, although they are sure to face an uphill battle. Michael Doxon and Clifton Davis Jr. have challenged their cases based on two Supreme Court decisions.

One struck down a New York law requiring people applying for a concealed carry license to show why they need to carry a firearm, and another decision struck down the District of Columbias Firearms Control Regulation Act, which for 30 years had banned the carrying of handguns and other dangerous weapons

South Lincoln Lazlo's 'working on plan to reopen' after fire

Lincoln Fire and Rescue responded to a fire at Lazlo's Brewery and Grill in south Lincoln on Tuesday night.

Officials said the fire started in the kitchen at the restaurant near 56th Street and Old Cheney Road at about 8:45 p.m. and spread through a hood system to the roof.

The estimated 20 people who were inside the restaurant at the time of the fire were evacuated and there were no injuries reported.

The restaurant said in a Facebook post that management was "assessing the damage and working on a plan to reopen," though it was unclear as of Wednesday how long repairs might take.

Thats it for Thursday, Dec. 28th. Stay in the know with Lincolns longest-standing news source at JournalStar.com and well see you back here tomorrow.
A Lincoln man was charged Thursday with defrauding the Nebraska Department of Health and Human Services of more than $25,000 in public benefits, according to court records.

Sampson Npimnee, 57, is accused of receiving Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program benefits since 2018 while withholding information about self-employment, investigators with DHHS said in the affidavit for Npimnee's arrest.

Npimnee was granted $25,867 in SNAP benefits  formerly known as food stamps. He is being charged with fraud to obtain assistance and theft by deception of more than $5,000; both counts are felonies.

In January 2019, the NDHHS Special Investigations Unit received a complaint that Npimnee failed to report working for a trucking company and owning a small grocery store, according to the affidavit.

Between 2017 and 2022, there were 11 SNAP applications, and none of them reported self-employment. Investigators said four applications were denied, and the other seven were approved.

Investigators attempted to meet with Npimnee to discuss his bank accounts and businesses. Officials say Npimnee told them he was not making money from his grocery store. He agreed to meet with investigators after a monthlong trip to Africa but never did.

Npimnee was arrested on Wednesday and is being held at the Lancaster County jail.

The Journal Star's most memorable photos of 2023
Two Lincoln men  one in state court and one in federal court  appear to be among the first in Nebraska to mount legal challenges to their gun charges, arguing their conduct is protected by the Second Amendment following recent decisions by the U.S. Supreme Court.

A stream of others could follow. Though, they are sure to face an uphill battle.

The issue cropped up in Michael Doxon's and Clifton Davis Jr.'s cases.

The Lancaster County Attorney's Office charged Doxon this spring with three felonies, including being a convicted felon in possession of a dangerous weapon and unlawfully possessing a firearm.

And this summer, a grand jury in the U.S. District Court of Nebraska indicted Davis for making false statements to acquire firearms (for not indicating he was an unlawful user of marijuana) and being a drug user in possession of a firearm and ammunition.

Doxon's case involves his arrest just after 1 a.m. April 28. In court records, Lancaster County Sheriff's Investigator Jeremy Schwarz said he had gotten information that Doxon was selling drugs out of his home on Judson Street and had firearms and swords there.

Schwarz said after watching his house and observing what they believed was a drug deal, they got a warrant to search and found four firearms: a single- and a double-barrel shotgun and two German-manufactured pistols. They also found 25 military knives and swords, meth, marijuana and THC wax.

By Nebraska law, he said, Doxon can't legally possess any of the weapons because he's a convicted felon four times over.

Once Doxon's case got to district court, his attorney, Bob Creager, filed what's called a motion to quash, challenging the constitutionality of the statute Doxon was accused of violating.

In a brief, Creager argued that Nebraska's law prohibiting certain people  among them convicted felons  from possessing knives and firearms "facially violates the Second Amendment" as interpreted by a 2022 decision called New York State Rifle & Pistol Association v. Bruen and a 2008 decision called District of Columbia v. Heller.

The former struck down a New York law requiring people applying for a concealed carry license to show why they need to carry a firearm. In the 6-3 decision, the Supreme Court said the ability to carry a pistol in public was a constitutional right guaranteed by the Second Amendment.

The latter, a 5-4 decision, struck down the District of Columbias Firearms Control Regulation Act, which for 30 years had banned the carrying of handguns and other dangerous weapons. The majority decision said the Second Amendment guarantees the right to possess firearms and use them for self-defense.

The rulings, particularly last year's, cast doubt on gun-control laws and led to a flurry of filings around the country and here in Nebraska.

At a hearing in a Lincoln courtroom in August, Creager argued that Doxon had possessed the knife and firearms found during the search for self-defense or other lawful reasons.

The core question then was whether the legal analysis under the decisions applied only to the rights of law-abiding citizens to possess weapons or to everyone.

Creager said that question is a "developing one."

"Simply stated, Bruen held that the test did away with the conventional presumption in favor of any law and replaced it with a presumption of that any facial limitation on the possession was a violation of the Second Amendment," the defense attorney argued.

Creager said the test now is whether a facial restriction  like a ban on convicted felons possessing firearms and knives  was consistent with the Second Amendment when it was adopted and ratified.

"In seeking that answer, the government now bears the burden of showing that there were ... similar prohibitions recognized in the law, at that time," he said.

On the other side, Deputy Lancaster County Attorney Morgan Smith said prior to the Bruen decision federal circuit courts have considered constitutional challenges to laws like this one and have unanimously upheld the statutes.

"Further, the Supreme Court took special care to note in Heller that 'nothing in our opinion should be taken to cast doubt on longstanding prohibitions on the possession of firearms by felons,' he wrote.

Smith said, in fact, they are "presumptively lawful," according to a concurring opinion.

He said the Second Amendments plain text would not cover a felon in possession of a firearm, and other courts that have gotten to that step in the analysis have agreed.

Smith said Doxon's challenge must fail.

In a recent decision, the judge agreed.

Lancaster County District Judge Kevin McManaman said the plaintiffs in the Bruen case and Heller case before that all had been ordinary, law-abiding adult citizens.

"The court concludes that (Nebraska law) does not violate the Second Amendment because the U.S. Supreme Court has said  several times  that its Second Amendment caselaw does not cast doubt on felon bans. There is no need to apply Bruen's historical-tradition test. The Supreme Court has already said that felon-in-possession laws are OK, and that is enough," the judge wrote.

This month, U.S. Magistrate Judge Cheryl Zwart recommended a similar finding in Davis' federal case, where he's accused of lying on ATF forms to get guns at Bigshots Indoor Range and Thunder Alley Indoor Shooting Range earlier this year when he failed to indicate he was an "unlawful user" and later acknowledged he occasionally smoked marijuana.

Assistant Public Defender Korey Reiman filed a motion to dismiss the indictment, saying Davis possession of the firearm and the ammunition is "presumptively protected" and the law prohibiting unlawful users or addicts from possessing guns is unconstitutionally vague.

"Because the government cannot demonstrate that prohibiting such conduct is consistent with the nations historical tradition of firearm regulation, the indictment must be dismissed," he said.

Reiman said the court should be concerned that how the federal statute at issue is written "affords the government and law enforcement the power to arbitrarily prosecute gun owners and possessors."

In her report and recommendation earlier this month, Zwart said: "While the landscape of Second Amendment jurisprudence in the Eighth Circuit may shift post-Bruen, as to the facial constitutionality of (the federal law at issue), the Eighth Circuit must take the lead. Until the Eighth Circuit says otherwise, this court must follow Seay," she wrote, referring to prior case law.

Davis' attorney still can object to the findings until early next month.

Top Journal Star photos for December 2023
A disruption to 911 services across Southeast Nebraska in early September began when a third-party contractor installing a natural gas line at Windstreams data center near Centennial Mall cut a city of Lincoln irrigation line.

The damage to the sprinkler apparently was not reported when it occurred sometime around Aug. 28, Brad Hedrick, Windstreams regional president of operations for Nebraska, told the Public Service Commission on Thursday.

But the incident set off a chain of events that eventually led to 911 working either sporadically or not at all for several hours between Sept. 2 and 3, as 18 of 20 public safety answering points were affected, Hedrick told commissioners the incident.

That outage, as well as a shorter disruption to 911 services for Windstream customers that occurred Nov. 28, were part of an investigation and public hearing initiated by the commission this fall.

According to Hedrick, the September incident began after water found its way into the concrete vault housing Windstreams electrical systems at 1440 M St. and onto a copper busbar, causing a short.

Thats what caused the fire and the explosion that damaged both a Lincoln Electric Systems transformer as well as Windstreams power equipment, Hedrick told commissioners during the three-hour hearing.

No one was injured in either the fire or the small explosion, which happened at about 11:13 p.m. on Sept. 1, and while Lincoln Fire and Rescue were responding, a backup generator kicked in to keep telecommunication services running without interruption.

The generator continued to provide enough electricity to keep three switches housed in the facility operating for about 13 hours until a loose thermocouple wire erroneously signaled the generator was overheating and triggered an automatic shutdown at about 12:23 p.m. on Sept. 2, Hedrick said.

According to Hedricks testimony, the generator was last inspected in 2018, but the loose thermocouple wouldnt have been discovered during routine maintenance activities. The generator, which has operated for about 700 of its 10,000-hour life, has since been fixed, he said.

As Windstream sought to bring a portable generator capable of generating a megawatt of electricity to Lincoln in the meantime  the closest generator the company located was in Des Moines, Iowa  batteries continued to power the switches until they began to reach critically low levels.

Hedrick said top officials within Windstream, including the senior vice president of operations and vice president for network engineering, made the decision to shut down one of the three switches in an effort to preserve electricity to the other two at about 6 p.m. on Sept. 2.

Shutting down one of the switches also helped avoid an equipment crash, which Hedrick said could have resulted in a catastrophic" failure that would have extended the duration of the outage.

I cant fault their decision-making process, he said.

Before taking the switch offline, Hedrick added, Windstream gave advance notice to the local public safety access points, the Public Service Commission, and Gov. Jim Pillens office that a disruption to 911 services was possible, adding it was unsure of how extensive the outage might be.

The switch shutdown was completed by about 10 p.m. that evening, Hedrick said. Power was restored to the building at about 1:40 a.m. the next morning, Sept. 3, with communication services starting to come online about an hour later.

The service interruption affecting 911, local and long-distance calling lasted about 4 hours total, Hedrick said, and affected more than 13,000 customers, mostly those who had transitioned to a new switch without a redundancy in place as the state seeks to update its 911 systems.

A second outage Nov. 28 originated from instability in Windstreams core network  what Hedrick described as a momentary blip  which created a ripple effect across its system.

Two switches at the Lincoln facility required a restart after the instability reached them, but a software bug prevented them from doing so automatically, he added, resulting in 911 calls and other traffic coming through the switch to fail.

The November disruption lasted 1 hour and 10 minutes, according to Windstreams report.

An alarm on the system designed to notify the company of the outage also did not trigger, which led to information about the outage being unavailable until the problem was resolved several weeks later.

Hedrick told the commission Windstream has taken several steps to rectify both issues.

The Arkansas-based company has identified two portable generators in Lincoln capable of serving its needs should its on-site generator fail, he said.

Windstream is also planning to replace infrastructure that would allow a portable generator to hook into its electrical system with greater ease.

Hedrick also said Windstream is completing work to create a redundancy for public safety access points that did not have one previously during a transfer to the new system in order to avoid future outages.

To address the second disruption, Hedrick said the alarming system has been restored, and that Windstream was exploring options to replace the equipment with the bug that prevented the automatic restart from taking place.

While members of the commission were sympathetic to the series of events leading to the disruption of 911 service in September, they also said the decision to locate two switches inside a single facility created the environment for that outage to occur.

Its starting to come together for me clearer and clearer, Commissioner Dan Watermeier of Syracuse said. If those (switches) had been separated, it might have taken care of quite a bit of the redundancy issue there.

Hedrick said he agreed with Watermeiers point that geographic diversity would be better in choosing where it located equipment meant to provide redundancies in its 911 system, but also signaled that "hindsight is 20/20."

Commissioner Kevin Stocker of Scottsbluff asked if there were plans to locate equipment above places where water could leak onto it, while Commissioner Eric Kamler of Geneva asked if Windstream could say with any degree of confidence whether the issue had been solved.

Hedrick said the work to waterproof the vault where the electric control system is housed has been completed, and said Windstream believed there was a decreased probability of a recurrence with the steps it had taken.

The commission took no action Thursday. Watermeier said the commission would accept written comments from the public through Jan. 12.
NORWAY  Tom Jansen was in his kitchen getting ready to make chop suey when sharp pains in his chest told him something was wrong.

Within a few minutes, 67-year-old Jansen was whisked away in an ambulance to a hospital in Milwaukee.

It was the afternoon of Nov. 13, and the Norway Fire Department was about to record its first life-saving ambulance run, less than two months after beginning service.

The department started Oct. 1 as successor to the private Wind Lake Volunteer Fire Company, which ceased operations after 75 years of fire and ambulance calls in the area.

Jansen, who survived his heart attack, was so grateful that he returned to the firehouse at 7857 S. Loomis Road a week later to thank the Norway Fire Department.

They were great, Jansen said. I wouldnt be here right now if they didnt do what they did.

Fire Chief James Mollet recounted the emotional episode later in a memo to the Norway Town Board, announcing that he would award commendations to all crew members involved.

Mollet said it is highly unusual for a patient to survive the sort of medical emergency that Jansen experienced  much less walk into a firehouse days later in full recovery.

The fire chief said he was proud of his crews handling of the situation.

They acted selflessly and expediently, he wrote the Town Board. Im honored to serve as your fire chief and lead a highly respected department with outstanding men and women.

The crew members in the ambulance were Lt. Jeremy Konrath, firefighter/EMT Brett Seifert and paramedic Jules Gorak  all former Wind Lake volunteers who made the transition to the new town fire department.

EMT Emilie Davitz, EMT Caleb Wagner and cadets Courtney Wolfert, Alex Seifert, Charlie Jones and Logen Gordon are also being commended for their roles.

Mollet, a fire department veteran from the Milwaukee area, joined the new department Oct. 1 when town officials took over the defunct Wind Lake company. The Nov. 13 call for Jansens heart attack was the first major life-saving incident to occur under the new department, Mollett said.

Jansen, a retiree who lives alone, staggered to his neighbors house when he became ill that afternoon.

Neighbor Jim Wirtala said he immediately recognized Jansen was in bad shape and needed help. Wirtala said he dialed 9-1-1 and was impressed with the Norway Fire crew who showed up a few minutes later.

They did a wonderful job, he said. Theyve got the equipment and the knowledge. We definitely need that.

After quickly loading Jansen into the ambulance, Conrad, Seifert and Gorak headed to Aurora St. Lukes Medical Center in Milwaukee. Along the way, the crew gave Jansen two nitroglycerin capsules to combat the effects of the heart attack.

Jansen recalls the ambulance team acting calmly and efficiently, which he said helped him to remain calm.

They were very cool, he said. That was important.

After arriving at the hospital, Jansens heart stopped beating. But hospital staff revived him and moved him into surgery where doctors cleared two clogged arteries in his heart.

Mollet said the patients chances for survival would have been minimal without the fast-acting care and treatment he received en route to the hospital.

Jansen was back on his feet a day or two later, and he returned home to Norway on Nov. 18. He wasted no time in heading for the firehouse to deliver a box of donuts as a show of gratitude.

They saved my life, he said. I was very, very lucky to have those folks.

Photos: Alaska firefighters rescue moose trapped in home
Local leaders reacted to the news of the death of longtime U.S. Sen. Herb Kohl, remembering his extensive career in politics.

State Sen. Bob Wirch, D-Somers, recalled when Kohl came to Kenosha during an especially difficult race. Kohl endorsed him during a press conference, giving him a check for $500.

There was a crowd standing around him and he said, Any of you Bucks fans? and Herb reached into his pocket and pulled out a bunch of tickets and started handing them off to the crowd, Wirch said.

Kohl also helped assure funding for the Civil War Museum, which is now a popular attraction on the citys harbor front.

Herb did good things for me and good things for Kenosha, and he will be missed, Wirch said.

State Rep. Tip McGuire, D-Kenosha, noted the extent of Kohls influence, including the Kohls stores, the Milwaukee Bucks and his time in the U.S. Senate.

Herb Kohls work and love for his home state impacted every Wisconsinite in small ways and big ones throughout his incredible life, McGuire said. We were all extremely fortunate to have Herb Kohl as nobodys Senator but ours.

State Rep. Tod Ohnstad, D-Kenosha, gave his condolences to the family, saying he was saddened to hear about Kohls passing.

I had the good pleasure of meeting him when he was running for senate, Ohnstad said, noting his personable connection with blue-collar workers. It wasnt unusual to find him at local coffee shops, he was an everyman.

State Rep. Amanda Nedweski, R-Pleasant Prairie, highlighted Kohls steadfast commitment to serving the people, regardless of party in a statement, giving her condolences to his family.

His drive and success was fueled by humble beginnings in an entrepreneurial family who strongly supported education as a key to success. His public service was his gift back to the state. We have these things in common, Nedweski said.

She called for more bipartisanship to follow Kohls example.

County Executive Samantha Kerkman said she had only met Kohl briefly, but was well aware of the legacy he left behind, both as owner of the Bucks and as a elected official representing Wisconsin.

Even though our politics didnt match up, he represented the State of Wisconsin well in his career, Kerkman said. As someone in politics for many years, he was one of the people who paved the way.
It was a year of triumph and achievement, tragedy and downfall in the communities of Western Racine County. Here is a look at some of the biggest news stories of 2023 throughout the area surrounding the City of Racine.

BURLINGTON

Friary sold: A religious organization in June announced that it had purchased the historic St. Francis Friary and would convert the property into a retreat for faith-based gathering and celebrating.

The Institute of Christ the King Sovereign Priest bought the 100-acre compound at 2457 Browns Lake Drive from Bear Real Estate, which had dropped plans for residential development on the site.

The $3.5 million sale  $1 million more than Bear had paid  was followed by detailed plans from the Institute of Christ the King for transforming the former friary into the Sacred Heart Retreat Center.

Train tragedy: A Burlington High School student was killed May 21 when he rode his bicycle into the path of a Canadian National Railway freight train on Adams Street.

Investigators ruled the death of Jack Meyers, 16, as an accident, saying the teen went around safety gates in an effort to beat the train by crossing the tracks.

The tragedy prompted some bystanders to call for improved safety at railroad crossings, including one neighbor who said schools should teach children about the topic.

Liquor license reform: Thirsting for more liquor licenses, Burlington city officials pushed for a change in state law giving municipalities more flexibility in selling extra licenses to one another.

With support from the Tavern League of Wisconsin, both houses of the state Legislature passed the measure allowing license deals between any two cities located in the same county.

Gov. Tony Evers later signed the bill into law, clearing the way for Burlington to pursue a deal with any Racine County municipality willing to sell a surplus license.

Nestle retools: The Nestle plant in Burlington completed an upgrade that created new jobs and represented a new lease on life for the nearly 60-year-old manufacturing facility.

After selling its confectionary line in 2018, Nestle invested $70 million to retool the plant at 637 S. Pine St. for production of the companys popular refrigerated cookie dough products.

Another $50 million in factory improvements was announced in July, and soon the plant was advertising to fill an estimated 150 new jobs being added to the operation.

WATERFORD

Budget controversies: Village budget cuts to the library and the fire department stirred public outrage and created an ongoing issue for Waterford village leaders.

A reduction of $100,000 in village support caused the library to reduce its operating hours, including closing on Saturdays. The fire department similarly struggled with funding cuts that became widely known when the department said it would opt out of marching in the Fourth of July parade.

Village officials defended their budget decisions, but public backlash continued for months, as the village administrator applied for a job elsewhere and as officials worked on a spending plan for 2024.

Milkshake meltdown: After a successful opening and expansion in 2022, the Kravings gourmet milkshake shop in Downtown Waterford suffered a sharp decline and failure.

The shop at 202 E. Main St. closed its doors in August following a series of personal and business problems for Jordan Karweik, who had launched the concept with colorful and zany milkshakes that consumers loved.

Despite mounting allegations of unpaid taxes and broken contracts, Karweik has vowed to return with a new business venture.

Leadership changes: The Town of Waterford lost a high-profile political leader in July when Tom Hincz passed away at age 74.

Hincz had been the town chairman for more than 10 years, and had also represented the area on the Racine County Board. He was the chief architect of an unsuccessful bid to incorporate the town as the new Village of Tichigan.

Hincz stepped aside as town chairman shortly before his death, and was succeeded by Teri Jendusa Nicolai. After his passing, Greg Horeth was appointed to fill his vacancy on the County Board.

New music fest: For one weekend in August, Waterford was a live music mecca. And organizers hope it is just the start of something big.

Eight taverns and other venues joined to launch Waterford Jam Fest, a three-day event that featured 30 musical artists. The event raised about $40,000 to benefit the Waterford Public Library.

Organizers hope to make Waterford Jam Fest a yearly event that puts the community on the map with live music fans in the Midwest.

UNION GROVE

Making a splash: Despite early skepticism and fears about hidden costs, village officials in September approved plans for a splash pad outdoor summer attraction.

Racine County had offered $500,000 to jumpstart the project, if the Village of Union Grove would agree to fund operations and maintenance. Cost concerns faded after contractor Commercial Recreation Specialists laid out a plan that village officials found affordable and acceptable.

The attraction at Leider Park, 925 15th Ave., could be ready to help people keep cool as soon as summer 2024.

Drainage battle: The Village of Union Grove sparked a legal battle of statewide interest when it challenged a $1 million assessment to fund drainage improvements in the Root River.

The Racine County Board of Drainage Commissioners asked Union Grove to share in a $3.2 million project on a river where Union Grove discharges wastewater. Because the maintenance work would take place outside the village, Union Grove refused and filed a lawsuit in August challenging the drainage boards authority.

The two sides are due in Racine County Circuit Court on Jan. 19 in a battle that state and local officials believe could affect how drainage projects are funded elsewhere in Wisconsin.

College growth: Shepherds College spent the summer of 2023 exploring possibilities for expansion to take a winning formula across the country.

The private school in Union Grove has enjoyed 15 years of success as a post-secondary institution preparing adults with developmental disabilities for office, restaurant and horticulture careers. Officials visited Dallas and Atlanta this summer to lay the groundwork for expansion campuses.

No announcement has been made whether Shepherd College will take the next step by establishing its first new programs outside Wisconsin.

ROCHESTER

Village leader dies: Rochester Village President Ed Chart was remembered as a dedicated and energetic public servant following his death Dec. 4 at the age of 66.

Chart had served 14 years in local government, including eight years as village president. He also was representing Rochester and surrounding areas on the Racine County Board at the time of his death.

His passing came just five months after the death of Tom Hincz, a former Waterford town chairman who represented the Waterford area on the County Board.

NORWAY

Fire company fades: The Wind Lake Volunteer Fire Company ceased operations Oct. 1 after serving the Town of Norway with fire protection services for more than 75 years.

The volunteer operation, like other small fire departments, struggled to recruit members and to maintain a strong financial base. After dwindling to just 30 members, the company approached the Town of Norway about taking over.

After months of planning, the town launched its own fire department as a town government entity, and the Wind Lake volunteer organization faded into the history books.

Union Grove High School class of 2023 celebrates graduation Union Grove High School class of 2023 graduation Union Grove High School Union Grove High School Union Grove High School Union Grove High School Union Grove High School Union Grove High School Union Grove High School Union Grove High School Union Grove High School Union Grove High School Union Grove High School Union Grove High School Union Grove High School Union Grove High School Union Grove High School Union Grove High School 2023 grad ceremony photo Union Grove High School Union Grove High School Union Grove High School
"Rome will be conquered in the near future, Allah willing"

Great. It's time for another call for "peace" that will be achieved by giving up all our weapons.

Pope Francis on Monday blasted the weapons industry and its "instruments of death" that fuel wars as he made a Christmas Day appeal for peace in the world and in particular between Israel and the Palestinians

"It should be talked about and written about, so as to bring to light the interests and the profits that move the puppet strings of war," he said. "And how can we even speak of peace, when arms production, sales and trade are on the rise?"

If he's going to give up weapons, maybe start with telling the Swiss Guard to give up its "instruments of death"?

"For their protection and guard functions, the guards are equipped with Glock 19 and 26 automatic pistols, SIG 550 assault rifle (Stgw 90 ) and SIG 552 assault rifle (Commando), both in 5.56 mm x 45 caliber, OC-Spray and destabilizing devices (Taser X2). modernization of the already aging Stgw 90 (which was donated by the Swiss Army at the time), currently B&T APC 556 assault rifles and B&T APC 9 submachine guns are used."

Beyond these, the only reason Vatican City isn't overrun by guys with machine guns mounted on pickup trucks howling, "Allahu Akbar" is because there still is an Italian military, under the Lateran Treaty, such as it is, armed with some of those "instruments of death". .....
1. Yes. More than 70% of the downtown buildings are occupied; the area is thriving now.

2. Yes. With the new E-Center , a brewery and the county annex moving in, its on the rise.

3. No. There may be a lot of new businesses, but foot traffic is still slow on most days.

4. No. Its improving, but the issues of crime and homelessness are still major obstacles.

5. Unsure. The area seems to be rebounding, but its hard to say if the trend will continue.

Vote

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A 17-year-old Sparta girl faces criminal charges in adult court alleging she started a fire inside a Sparta department store Tuesday.

Emma Renee Smith faces felony counts of arson, first-degree recklessly endangering safety and criminal damage to property and a misdemeanor count of disorderly conduct.

According to the complaint, the fire started around 10:45 a.m. in Walmarts fabric and craft aisle. Video surveillance reportedly shows Smith in the area when the fire started. The footage shows Smith taking different routes around the fire to see what happened before walking toward the exit. When she got outside, she stood alone with her hand over her face and appeared uncertain about where to go. Eventually, Smith walked to a blue SUV and drove away just as firefighters and police arrived.

The complaint says surveillance photographs were shown to a school resource officer at Sparta High School, who identified the suspect as Smith.

Police contacted Smith at her Sparta address later in the day. The complaint says Smiths mother answered the door and summoned Smith, who was visibly nervous and shaking as she came down the steps.

Smith acknowledged her presence at Walmart but originally denied starting the fire. She told police she heard someone yell fire and stopped to take video before telling people to get away from the area. She showed police two short video clips of the fire. She told police she felt bad about shooting video instead of leaving immediately.

Upon further questioning, Smith reportedly admitted to starting the fire. She told police she lit a green artificial leaf that was on a shelf about waist high. She said she panicked and fled without telling anyone after she saw how quickly the fire burned the leaf and reached the ceiling. She commented several times about how fast the fire spread.

Smith told police she drove from Walmart to a nearby convenience store, went inside a restroom and cried. She said she made a second stop at a retail shop where she is employed before returning home. She then made a short trip to a grocery store, returned home and remained there until police arrived.

When asked why she started the fire, she reportedly replied that she wasnt thinking straight and couldnt help herself. She told police that she has issues with impulse control.

Smith apologized to police numerous times and said she would pay for the damage. The complaint says Walmart estimates the damage at $7.6 million. An electronic billboard says the store is closed until further notice and that no traffic is allowed in the store parking lot.

Smith is free after her mother posted a $5,000 cash bond. Conditions include GPS bond monitoring, no possession of anything that can start a fire and house arrest except for work, treatment and attending school. She has an initial court appearance set for Jan. 29.
The year 2023 will go down in history as the year the COVID-19 federal health emergency was lifted.

The Tribune will count down its top 10 local stories of the year through Jan. 2, 2024.

7. Violence strikes downtown

There were two major incidents of violence in downtown La Crosse in 2023.

Deandre S. Grant, 31, Rochester, Minnesota, faces 29 felony charges stemming from shots fired June 17 into a gathering in front of a restaurant on 3rd Street South. Eight people were injured, including seven from gunshots and one from shattered glass. A criminal complaint says Grant fired the shots from a moving vehicle and ditched a 9 mm Ruger on the roof of a nearby business. He was arrested six hours after the shooting without incident. He is being held in the La Crosse County Jail on a $1 million cash bond.

Bryant Q. Smith, 50, La Crosse, is accused in the Dec. 5 fatal stabbing of 43-year-old Timothy TJ Salis. Police found Salis dead at his 421 6th Street South apartment unit in La Crosse. Smith told police that Salis was drunk at the time of the confrontation and that he acted in self-defense. Prosecutors contend the nature and number of stab wounds undermine Smiths self-defense claim.

Smith is being held in the La Crosse County Jail on a $500,000 cash bond.

6. Iconic La Crosse businesses change hands

Schmidtys Bar & Restaurant will change hands at the end of the year after the same family operated it for 68 years in La Crosse. Owner Bob Schmidt inherited the business from his parents in 1995 and hoped to keep it in the family, but his children didnt have a desire to take over, he said.

Tim Hesse, who owns Diggers Sting, Whos on Third and Eagles Nest, has purchased the business and is expected to keep the Schmidtys name.

Fayzes Restaurant and Bakery experienced a similar transition, but instead of closing for good in October, the bakery portion of the business was acquired by Peoples Food Co-op. Several of the bakerys workers were hired by the co-op, and the sourdough starter that had been stored during the hiatus was put back in service.

City Brewery and Pabst Brewing Co. announced that Old Style beer would again be brewed in La Crosse for the first time in 24 years. The Midwestern favorite was historically brewed using a method called krausening. After the brand was acquired by Pabst in 1999 the brewing method changed, production moved out of La Crosse and the beer lost popularity among locals. While the original recipe is not returning, brand managers hope that the beers return will boost enthusiasm for the product.

5. Youth subjected to violence

Two young children in La Crosse County died from blunt-force trauma in 2023, and their deaths led to first-degree intentional homicide charges against their alleged assailants.

Josie Dikeman, 31, La Crosse, is accused in the death of 6-year-old Alexavier Pedrin. The youngster was found death Feb. 11 at Dikemans Town of Medary residence. She was arrested May 22 and is being held in the La Crosse County Jail on a $250,000 cash bond. Alexaviers relatives have appeared in court with Justice for Alexavier t-shirts. They contend that La Crosse County Child Protective Services was aware of potential danger to the child and should have taken steps to remove Alexavier from Dikemans residence.

Dikemans attorney, Chris Zacher, contends the case against Dikeman is circumstantial and the state has no direct evidence linking her to the childs death.

Kamitri Riles, 16, La Crosse, is accused in the death of his 4-year-old niece, who died June 14 at Winneshiek Road in La Crosse. He was initially charged in adult court before La Crosse County Circuit Court judge Ramona Gonzalez transferred the case to juvenile court in August. The name of the victim has not been released.
Michigans Supreme Court kept former President Donald Trump on the states primary election ballot Wednesday.

The court said it will not hear an appeal of a lower courts ruling from groups seeking to keep Trump from appearing on the ballot.

It said in an order that the application by parties to appeal a Dec. 14 Michigan appeals court judgment was considered, but denied "because we are not persuaded that the questions presented should be reviewed by this court."

The ruling contrasts with a Dec. 19 decision by a divided Colorado Supreme Court that found Trump ineligible to be president because of his role in the Jan. 6, 2021, attack on the U.S. Capitol. That ruling was the first time in history that Section 3 of the 14th Amendment was successfully used to disqualify a presidential candidate.

The Michigan and Colorado cases are among dozens hoping to keep Trump's name off state ballots. They all point to the so-called insurrection clause that prevents anyone from holding office who "engaged in insurrection or rebellion" against the Constitution.

The Colorado case was the only one so far to succeed.

The Colorado Republican Party on Wednesday appealed that state's supreme court decision, the potential first step to a showdown at the nation's highest court over the meaning of a 155-year-old constitutional provision that bans from office those who engaged in insurrection.

The first impact of the appeal is to extend the stay of the 4-3 ruling from Colorado's highest court, which put its decision on pause until Jan. 4, the day before the state's primary ballots are due at the printer, or until an appeal to the U.S. Supreme Court is finished. Trump himself previously said he still plans to appeal the ruling to the nation's highest court as well.

The U.S. Supreme Court has never ruled on Section 3 of the 14th Amendment, which was added after the Civil War to prevent former Confederates from returning to government.

The plaintiffs in Michigan can technically try again to disqualify Trump under Section 3 of the 14th Amendment in the general election, though it's likely there will be a U.S. Supreme Court ruling on the issue by then.

The state's high court on Wednesday upheld an appeals court ruling that the Republican Party could place anyone it wants on the primary ballot, but the court was silent on whether Section 3 of the 14th Amendment would disqualify Trump in November if he becomes the GOP nominee.

"We are disappointed by the Michigan Supreme Court's decision," said Ron Fein, legal director of Free Speech for People, the liberal group that filed the suit to disqualify Trump in the state. "The ruling conflicts with longstanding US Supreme Court precedent that makes clear that when political parties use the election machinery of the state to select, via the primary process, their candidates for the general election, they must comply with all constitutional requirements in that process."

Trump hailed the order, calling the effort to keep him off the ballot in multiple states a "pathetic gambit."

Only one of the court's seven justices dissented. Justice Elizabeth M. Welch, a Democrat, wrote that she would have kept Trump on the primary ballot but the court should rule on the merits of the Section 3 challenge. The court has a 4-3 Democratic majority.

Trump pressured two election officials in Michigan's Wayne County not to certify 2020 vote totals, according to a recording of a post-election phone call disclosed in a Dec. 22 report by The Detroit News. The former president's 2024 campaign has neither confirmed nor denied the recording's legitimacy.

Attorneys for Free Speech for People, a liberal nonprofit group also involved in efforts to keep Trump's name off the primary ballot in Minnesota and Oregon, had asked Michigan's Supreme Court to render its decision by Christmas Day.

The group argued that time was "of the essence" due to "the pressing need to finalize and print the ballots for the presidential primary election."

This month, Michigan's high court refused to immediately hear an appeal, saying the case should remain before the appeals court.

Free Speech for People sued to force Michigan Secretary of State Jocelyn Benson to bar Trump from Michigan's ballot. A Michigan Court of Claims judge rejected that group's arguments, saying in November that it was the proper role of Congress to decide the question.

Looking ahead to the next 14th Amendment decision, Trump's lawyers on Wednesday asked Maine's Democratic Secretary of State to disqualify herself from deciding whether the former president can be on that state's primary ballot. Shenna Bellows held a public hearing this month on requests to bar Trump from the Maine ballot, and her ruling is expected this week.

Trump's attorneys asked Bellows to step aside, pointing to tweets that she posted after the Jan. 6, 2021, attack on the U.S. Capitol calling it an "insurrection" and bemoaning that Trump wasn't convicted by the U.S. Senate after being impeached by the House of Representatives.

States where the most Jan. 6 rioters were arrested States where the most Jan. 6 rioters were arrested #49. Mississippi #48. Nebraska #47. Hawaii #46. Rhode Island #45. Vermont #44. New Mexico #43. South Dakota #42. Alaska #41. Louisiana #40. Nevada #39. New Hampshire #38. Connecticut #37. Arkansas #36. Maine #35. Montana #34. Delaware #33. Oregon #32. Idaho #31. Oklahoma #30. Iowa #29. Kansas #28. West Virginia #27. Wisconsin #26. Minnesota #25. Utah #24. Arizona #23. Massachusetts #22. Maryland #21. South Carolina #20. Alabama #19. Indiana #18. Colorado #17. Kentucky #16. North Carolina #15. Georgia #14. Michigan #13. Washington #12. Missouri #11. New Jersey #10. Tennessee #9. Washington, D.C. #8. Illinois #7. Virginia #6. Ohio #5. California #4. New York #3. Pennsylvania #2. Texas #1. Florida
University of Wisconsin-La Crosse Chancellor Joe Gow, who was denied a pay raise five years ago over inviting a former porn actress to speak on campus, has been fired for himself engaging in explicit sexual acts with his wife on popular porn websites.

Gow, the longest-tenured chancellor in the Universities of Wisconsin system, was already planning to retire at the end of the school year. But in a three-hour, closed-door meeting Wednesday, the Board of Regents unanimously decided to terminate his chancellorship and place him on administrative leave.

Its unclear whether Gow violated any specific UW system policies. Current policies allow the system president and the Regents to fire a chancellor at any time, when such action is deemed to be in the best interests of the chancellors institution and of the UW System.

According to an Amazon author profile listed under a pseudonym, both Gow and his wife, former UW-La Crosse professor and chief of staff Carmen Wilson, are pictured and describe themselves as a married woman and man who serve in executive positions at two well-known organizations in the U.S. They frequently participate in civic and charitable events and appear in their local media.

Descriptions of the books listed on the Amazon author profile describe the couple as sex-positive and wanting to prevent the sexual lulls of past marriages, as well as stating the two have collaborated with workers in the porn industry to create their own upscale pornographic videos.

The profile goes on to say the couple has videos on accounts on popular porn websites, including PornHub and OnlyFans. An account on X, formerly known as Twitter, openly identifies them as Joe and Carmen as the two invite porn actors onto their personal show to cook with them while clothed and later engage in sexual acts reserved for the subscriber-based porn sites. The pair also posts their cooking show and conversations with the actors  including Hartley in one installment  on their YouTube account, Sexy Healthy Cooking.

Upon my recommendation, the UW Board of Regents today terminated Dr. Joe Gow from his position as chancellor of UW-La Crosse effective immediately, UW system President Jay Rothman said in a statement after the meeting. In recent days, we learned of specific conduct by Dr. Gow that has subjected the university to significant reputational harm. His actions were abhorrent.

Rothman said he planned to file a complaint with Betsy Morgan, named interim chancellor at UW-La Crosse within minutes of the Regents decision, to review Gows status as a tenured faculty member. An outside law firm will also investigate Gows conduct.

Board of Regents President Karen Walsh said in a statement that Gow had shown reckless disregard for his responsibilities as the leader of UW-La Crosse.

The outrage over his behavior is evidenced by the unanimous vote by the UW Board of Regents to terminate him as chancellor, Walsh said. We are alarmed, and disgusted, by his actions, which were wholly and undeniably inconsistent with his role as chancellor.

Gow said Wednesday night he was not invited to the closed-session meeting and has concerns about his rights to due process. He also highlighted what he said was the hypocrisy of the UW system preaching the importance of free speech at board meetings just weeks before firing him.

I want to stress that the most important thing is that my wife and I are grateful that we live in a country where we have a First Amendment freedom to create and publish books and videos that explore consensual adult sexuality, Gow said. Im very concerned that heres an issue of free speech, and were seeing the Board of Regents not supporting the concept.

In December 2018, Gow was denied a pay raise, which 10 other chancellors received, after inviting a porn star to the UW-La Crosse campus as part of an inaugural free speech week event. Then-UW system President Ray Cross said Gow had exercised poor judgment in inviting former porn actress and activist Nina Hartley to speak at the event.

Gow was one of two chancellors denied a raise that year, along with then-UW-Whitewater Chancellor Beverly Kopper, whose husband had been banned from campus that summer and stripped of an honorary, unpaid position after an investigation concluded he had sexually harassed female employees.

Gow became UW-La Crosses 10th chancellor in February 2007 and is the second-longest serving chancellor in the schools history. The Regents have already started a search for Gows successor.
Minocqua Brewing Co. owner Kirk Bangstad has launched an effort to bar Donald Trump from the 2024 ballot in Wisconsin for the former presidents involvement in the events leading up to the Jan. 6, 2021, insurrection at the nations Capitol.

However, the Wisconsin Elections Commission indicated hours after the complaint was delivered that it had been disposed of without consideration because it was filed directly against members of the bipartisan agency.

Bangstad, a former Democratic U.S. House and Wisconsin Assembly candidate who has his own political super PAC, on Thursday filed a complaint with the commission arguing that Trump should be disqualified from serving as president under the so-called insurrection clause of the U.S. Constitution, which bars anyone who engaged in insurrection or rebellion against the United States from holding office.

The effort is among dozens across the country hoping to keep Trumps name off state ballots next year.

I wanted it to at least be in the history books that somebody, some person in Wisconsin, had the courage to try to get Trump off of our ballot, Bangstad said of the effort.

Bangstad said his initial plan was to bypass the bipartisan elections commission, which consists of three Democratic and three Republican appointees, and file a lawsuit in circuit court. But he was persuaded to first file a formal complaint with the agency after receiving input from officials involved in similar lawsuits in other states.

At the end of the day, they said, Go by the letter of the law. Let them reject you first and then file in circuit court next, Bangstad told the State Journal.

The 14th Amendment clearly states that if you are engaged in insurrection you cant run for federal office, he added.

Ultimately, the commission dismissed the complaint.

It is the position of the Commission that a complaint against the Commission, against Commissioners in their official capacities, or against Commission staff, warrants an ethical recusal by the body, commission attorney Angela Sharpe wrote in response to Bangstads complaint. The Commissions position reflects the need to avoid conflicts associated with an adjudicative body deciding a matter brought against itself, similar to the provisions of law and ethics precluding a judge from presiding over a case filed against herself, or someone with personal or professional ties to her.

Bangstad said earlier in the day he plans to proceed with a lawsuit on the matter.

On the ballot

The commission does not decide which candidates are placed on presidential ballots. Rather, the task is carried out by a presidential preference selection committee composed of several state and national officials.

According to state statute, the committee shall place the names of all candidates whose candidacy is generally advocated or recognized in the national news media throughout the United States on the ballot, and may, in addition, place the names of other candidates on the ballot.

Bangstads complaint states there are only four constitutional requirements that an individual must meet in order to serve as president. The person must be a natural born citizen, have lived in the U.S. for at least 14 years, over the age of 35 and have never engaged in an insurrection after having previously taken an oath of office.

Donald J. Trump fails to meet those requirements and may not serve as President of the United States of America, the complaint continues.

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Last summer, a federal judge rejected a lawsuit funded by Bangstads Minocqua Brewing Co. Super PAC seeking to block U.S. Sen. Ron Johnson, R-Oshkosh, and U.S. Reps. Tom Tiffany, R-Minocqua, and Scott Fitzgerald, R-Juneau, from being on the ballot that year for supporting efforts to subvert the 2020 election.

Tiffany and Fitzgerald were among 121 House Republicans who voted to object to counting Joe Bidens presidential electors from Arizona on Jan. 6, 2021. Tiffany and Fitzgerald also were among 138 Republicans who voted to object to Bidens Pennsylvania electors.

Johnson tried to pass documents signed by 10 Wisconsin Republicans alleging that Trump had won the 2020 election to former Vice President Mike Pence as Pence prepared to certify the election. The vice presidents office declined to accept the document from Johnson.

In that ruling, U.S. District Judge Lynn Adelman said the plaintiffs claim, if it exists at all, was procedurally improper and would best be resolved by the Wisconsin Elections Commission.

Other challenges

Bangstad said the complaint and expected lawsuit largely mirror a similar legal challenge filed in Colorado. On Dec. 19, the Colorado Supreme Court issued a split decision finding Trump ineligible to be included in that states presidential primary. That ruling was the first time in history that Section 3 of the 14th Amendment was used to disqualify a presidential candidate.

The Colorado case is likely to be appealed to the U.S. Supreme Court, which has never ruled on the rarely used Civil War-era provision.

We hope this complaint keeps going and we will keep on fighting it, but if the U.S. Supreme Court negates what Colorado did, then our complaint will be negated as well, Bangstad said.

Another potential scenario is that the U.S. Supreme Court leaves the matter to the states. If that occurs, the matter could potentially be decided by the Wisconsin Supreme Court, which shifted to a 4-3 liberal majority in August.

The Michigan Supreme Court on Wednesday said it will not hear an appeal of a lower courts ruling from groups seeking to keep Trump from appearing on the ballot, noting that we are not persuaded that the questions presented should be reviewed by this court.

The plaintiffs in Michigan can technically try again to disqualify Trump in the general election, though its likely there will be a U.S. Supreme Court ruling on the issue by then.

Bangstads super PAC earlier this year filed a lawsuit directly with the state Supreme Court seeking to end Wisconsins decades-old private school voucher program, but the court declined to hear the case. Bangstad has said he plans to file a lawsuit in a lower court on the matter.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

A look at the 19 people charged in the Georgia indictment connected to Trump's election scheme Key people in the Georgia election fraud case Donald Trump Rudy Giuliani John Eastman Mark Meadows Sidney Powell Kenneth Chesebro Prosecutors have said Chesebro, an attorney, worked with Republicans in numerous swing states Trump lost, including Georgia, in the weeks after the November 2020 election at the direction of Trumps campaign. Chesebro worked on the coordination and execution of a plan to have 16 Georgia Republicans sign a certificate declaring falsely that Trump won and declaring themselves the states duly elected and qualified electors. Jeffrey Clark Jenna Ellis Ray Smith A Georgia-based lawyer, Smith was involved in multiple lawsuits challenging the results of the 2020 election in Georgia. He also gathered witnesses to provide testimony before Georgia legislative subcommittee hearings held in December 2020 on alleged issues with the states election. Robert Cheeley A Georgia lawyer, Cheeley presented video clips to legislators of election workers at the State Farm Arena in Atlanta and alleged the workers were counting votes twice or sometimes three times. He spoke to the lawmakers after Giuliani. Michael Roman A former White House aide who served as the director of Trumps election day operations, Roman was involved in efforts to put forth a set of fake electors after the 2020 election. David Shafer Shawn Still He was one of 16 Georgia Republicans who signed a certificate falsely stating that Trump had won the state and declaring themselves the states duly elected and qualified electors. Still was the finance chairman for the state GOP in 2020 and served as a Georgia delegate to the Republican National Convention that year. He was elected to the Georgia state Senate in November 2022 and represents a district in Atlantas suburbs. Stephen Cliffgard Lee Prosecutors say Cliffgard Lee, a pastor, worked with others to try to pressure Georgia election worker Ruby Freeman and her daughter after Trump and his allies falsely accused them of pulling fraudulent ballots from a suitcase during the vote count. Lee allegedly knocked on Freemans door, frightening her and causing her to call 911 three times, prosecutors said in a court filing last year. Harrison William Prescott Floyd Also known as Willie Lewis Floyd III, he served as director of Black Voices for Trump, and is accused of recruiting Lee to arrange a meeting with Freeman and Chicago-based publicist Trevian Kutti. Trevian C. Kutti Prosecutors allege Kutti, a publicist, claimed to have high-level law enforcement connections. They say Freeman met with Kutti at a police precinct, where she brought Floyd into the conversation on a speakerphone. Prosecutors say Kutti presented herself as someone who could help Freeman but then pressured her to falsely confess to election fraud. Cathy Latham Scott Graham Hall An Atlanta-area bail bondsman, Hall was allegedly involved in commandeering voting information that was the property of Dominion Voting Systems from Coffee County, a small south Georgia jurisdiction. Also charged in the scheme were Powell, Latham and former county elections supervisor Misty Hampton. Misty Hampton She was the elections director in Coffee County. Hampton was present in the county elections office on Jan. 7, 2021, when a computer forensics team copied software and data from the countys election equipment. She also allowed two other men who had been active in efforts to question the 2020 election results to access the elections office later that month and to spend hours inside with the equipment. Read the Trump indictment in Georgia Your browser does not support the iframe HTML tag. Try viewing this in a modern browser like Chrome, Safari, Firefox or Internet Explorer 9 or later.
Now that Wisconsins Republican-drawn legislative district boundaries have been ruled unconstitutional, parties have no time to waste crafting new legislative districts heading into high-stakes elections in 2024.

The August legislative primary is more than seven months away, but the Wisconsin Supreme Courts landmark ruling Friday gave the parties in the case just two weeks to submit remedial new maps.

Whats more, the Wisconsin Elections Commission will need plenty of time to incorporate the new maps into the statewide voter database to ensure everyone who goes to the polls or requests to vote absentee receives the proper ballot.

Its a pretty intensive process because we have to get it right, elections commissioner Ann Jacobs said.

The majority decision  penned by liberal Justice Jill Karofsky, who was joined by liberals Rebecca Dallet, Ann Walsh Bradley and Janet Protasiewicz  urged the Legislature to draw new maps but said the court will proceed toward adopting remedial maps in case the legislative process stalls or Democratic Gov. Tony Evers vetoes any redistricting proposal.

The majority opinion calls for new districts to be equally populated; be bounded by county, precinct, ward or town lines; include only contiguous territory; be as compact as possible; and comply with federal law. It also calls for preserving communities of interest, keeping municipalities whole and ensuring the new maps not favor one party over another.

With conservatives likely to appeal the case to the U.S. Supreme Court after the states high court selects new maps, its not at all clear what Wisconsins legislative boundaries will end up looking like come November.

But a scheduling order attached to the courts Friday decision lays out the framework of what to expect.

Process unfolds

The first step will be the submission and selection of new legislative boundaries.

The opinion handed down Friday called on parties to propose new remedial maps and provide supporting briefs by Jan. 12, with response briefs due by Jan. 22.

Two court-hired redistricting consultants, University of California, Irvine political science professor Bernard Grofman and Carnegie Mellon University postdoctoral fellow Jonathan Cervas, will then evaluate the maps by Feb. 1.

If none of the maps are determined to comply with the courts original opinion, the consultants will be able to submit their own boundaries.

From there, parties will have one week  until Feb. 8  to respond to the experts report.

Jacobs said new maps will need to be finalized by about mid-March in order to have ballots ready for the August legislative primary. Candidates will also need to check which district the new maps place them in, and the area theyll be running to represent, as the first day to circulate nomination papers for the November election is April 15. Nomination papers are due by June 1, and the partisan primary is scheduled for Aug. 13.

Exactness only

Once the Wisconsin Elections Commission has the final maps, officials can begin the process of incorporating the new boundaries into the statewide voter database WisVote.

Jacobs said boundary data is used to ensure each voter is placed in the proper district so they receive an accurate ballot when voting in person or absentee. The information is also used by clerks to make sure voters are casting ballots only in their specific ward.

Once they draw the lines, the job of elections commission is to make sure every single one of those addresses is in the right new district and we have to assign them the right representative, Jacobs said.

Its a really complicated process and the stakes are really high, the commissions nonpartisan administrator, Meagan Wolfe, told the Wisconsin State Journal in September. You cant make a mistake (and send) somebody the wrong ballot.

We can take the data, but thats not enough, Wolfe said at the time. We need enough time to accurately implement it and work with all the locals to make sure that every single voter is put in the right spot.

Election advantages due to district mapping
MATAMOROS, Mexico  A ragged migrant tent camp next to the Rio Grande is a long way from Mexicos National Palace, where a U.S. delegation met this week with Mexicos president seeking more action to curb the surge of migrants reaching the U.S. border.

But as Mexican officials in Matamoros worked at the camp with bulldozers to clear out what they claimed were abandoned tents, it was a likely sign of things to come.

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The United States has given clear signs  temporarily closing key border rail crossings into Texas  that it wants Mexico to do more to stop migrants hopping freight cars, buses and trucks to the border.

Mexico, desperate to get crossings reopened to its manufactured goods, is starting to give signs it will crack down a bit.

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That was on display in Matamoros as U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken held talks with President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador in Mexico City.

Migrants set up the encampment across from Brownsville, Texas in late 2022. It once held as many as 1,500 migrants, but many tents were vacated in recent months as people waded across the river to reach the United States.

What we are doing is removing any tents that we see are empty, said Segismundo Doguin, the head of the local office of Mexicos immigration agency.

But one Honduran who would give only his first name, Jose, claimed that some of the 200 remaining migrants had been practically forced to leave the camp when the clearance operation began late Tuesday.

They ran us out, he said, saying they were given short notice to move their tents and belongings and felt intimidated by the bulldozers You had to run for your life to avoid an accident.

Some migrants moved into a fenced-in area of the encampment where immigration officers said they could relocate, but fear remained.

About 70 migrants flung themselves into the river Tuesday night and crossed into the U.S. They were trapped for hours along the riverbank beneath the layers of concertina wire set up on order of the Texas governor.

Few options exist for the migrants asked to leave the encampment, said Glady Canas, founder of a Matamoros-based nongovernmental group, Ayudandoles a Triunfar, or Helping Them Win.

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The truth is that the shelters are saturated, Canas said.

She was working at the encampment Wednesday afternoon, encouraging migrants to avoid crossing illegally into the U.S., especially after several drowned in the last few days attempting to swim the river.

This month, as many as 10,000 migrants were arrested daily on the southwest U.S. border. The U.S. has struggled to process them at the border and house them once they reach northern cities.

Mexican industries were stung last week when the U.S. briefly closed two vital Texas railway crossings, arguing that border patrol agents had to be reassigned to deal with the surge. A non-rail crossing remained closed at Lukeville, Arizona, and border operations were partially suspended at San Diego and Nogales, Arizona.

Speaking on Thursday, Lopez Obrador said the meeting with U.S. officials focused on reopening border crossings.

We have to careful not to close the crossings, we reached that agreement, the rail crossings are being reopened and the border bridges are returning to normal, he said of the meeting with Blinken, U.S. Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas and homeland security adviser Liz Sherwood-Randall.

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Mexico already has over 32,000 soldiers and National Guard troopers  about 11% of its total forces  assigned to enforcing immigration laws.

But shortcomings were on display this week when National Guard members made no attempt to stop about 6,000 migrants, many from Central America and Venezuela, from walking through Mexicos main inland immigration inspection point in southern Chiapas state near the Guatemala border.

In the past, Mexico has let such migrant caravans go through, trusting they would tire themselves out walking along the highway.

Lopez Obrador said Thursday the caravan had been reduced to about 1,600 migrants.

But wearing the migrants out  by obliging Venezuelans and others to hike through the jungle of the Darien Gap between Colombia and Panama or corralling migrants off passenger buses in Mexico  no longer appears to work.

So many people have been hopping freight trains through Mexico that one of the countrys two major railroads suspended trains in September because of safety concerns.

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The Texas railway closures put a chokehold on freight moving from Mexico to the U.S. as well as grain needed to feed Mexican livestock moving south.

Lopez Obrador says he is willing to help but wants the United States to send more development aid to migrants home countries, reduce or eliminate sanctions on Cuba and Venezuela, and start a U.S.-Cuba dialogue.
Bahara Rustam is 13 years old. She took her last class at Bibi Razia School in Kabul, Afghanistan, on December 11 knowing it was the end of her education. Under Afghan law, she is unlikely to ever step foot in a classroom again.

In September 2021, the countrys ruling Taliban announced that females would be barred from education after sixth grade, or about age 13. The government said it was acting in line with Islamic religious law.

The United States and NATO troops had withdrawn from Afghanistan a month earlier, after 20 years of war.

In December 2022, the restrictive measure was expanded to include university education.

The international community has continued to condemn the Taliban for the actions. Countries have warned the Taliban that it its actions will bar it from gaining international recognition as a lawful government.

Last week, United Nations special diplomat for Afghanistan Roza Otunbayeva appeared before the UN Security Council. She said she worried that a generation of Afghan girls is falling behind with each day that passes.

An Afghan Education Ministry said last week that girls of all ages are permitted to study in religious schools called madrassas. They have traditionally been boys-only.

The UN is trying to confirm the ministrys statement. But Otunbayeva said it was unclear if that education system included wider study of non-religious subjects.

For now, Bahara is holding onto her education and looks over school books at home. Graduating (from sixth grade) means we are going to seventh grade, she said. But all of our classmates cried and we were very disappointed, she added.

There was no graduation ceremony for the girls at Bibi Razia School.

In another part of Kabul, 13-year old Setayesh Sahibzada wonders what the future holds for her. She is sad she cannot go to school anymore to follow her dreams.

I cant stand on my own two feet, she said. I wanted to be a teacher. But now I cant study, I cant go to school.

Researcher Muhammad Saleem Paigir warned that banning women and girls from education would be disastrous for Afghanistan. We understand that illiterate people can never be free and prosperous, he said.

The Taliban have banned women from many public spaces and most jobs, all but keeping women inside their homes.

Im Gregory Stachel.

Mohammad Habib Rahmani reported this story for The Associated Press. Gregory Stachel adapted it for VOA Learning English.

________________________________________________

Words in This Story

graduate  v. to earn a degree or diploma from a school, college, or university

disappointed  adj. feeling sad, unhappy, or displeased because something was not as good as expected or because something you hoped for or expected did not happen

illiterate  adj. not knowing how to read or write

prosperous  adj. having success usually by making a lot of money
The Endangered Species Act had widespread support when President Richard Nixon signed it into law late in 1973. In the 50 years since, the effects of the legislation have been both successful and complex.

Most Americans celebrated the law that helped save animals such as the bald eagle and bison. But when the law stood in the way of economic progress, many questioned whether it was too strong.

The act took effect around the same time as other laws designed to protect natural resources such as water, air and the wilderness. In the 1960s and 1970s, no other country in the world had put such wide protections into place.

Concerns came later when the law prevented projects such as a hydroelectric dam in Tennessee from moving forward. The concern? A small river fish no one had ever heard of.

That fish is called the snail darter. Plans to protect the fish held up progress on the Tellico Dam for more than two years. Biologists eventually decided to catch the small fish and move it to other rivers.

The fish population grew over time and the snail darters were removed from the endangered species list in 1984. About one year ago, the fish had fully recovered.

Jim Williams was the first so-called fish guy in the Office of Endangered Species. When his group listed the fish, he recalled, the decision made a lot of people upset.

He said his director told him not to list the fish. But Williams said he planned to follow the law and make decisions based on facts, not on possible public reaction.

The snail darter decision showed the U.S. government that the law was going to be difficult to manage. Some said the government should not try to save all species. Others said all animals and plants should be safe from extinction. The debate continues today.

Many more disputes over the protection of species came up over the next 45 years. In each case, employees at the Endangered Species Office made decisions that upset some people but ultimately saved the animals.

Gray wolves

In northern Minnesota in the 1980s, the gray wolf population had recovered from only around a few hundred to about 1,000. The Endangered Species Act had helped save the gray wolf.

With the population growing, people wanted permission to hunt the animals. The Fish and Wildlife Service sought to cooperate with the state of Minnesota and open the gray wolf to hunting.

The move required a regulation showing that a hunting season would help the wolves and was the only way to control their population.

Ron Nowak was a wolf expert in the Endangered Species Office at the time. The Fish and Wildlife Service told Nowak to write the regulation. And I said, It would be illegal, Nowak said.

The Fish and Wildlife Service found someone else to write the regulation. Conservation groups took legal action and called Nowak as a witness. He traveled to Minnesota to tell the government that wolves should not be open to hunting.

California condor

LaVerne Smith started working in the Endangered Species Office in 1978. Soon after came a major decision involving the California condor, the largest bird native to North America. By 1982, only 23 California condors were left. Biologists were looking at whether the species could be saved.

The office made a plan to move the remaining birds into a safe and closed area and breed them.

The plan worked. Today, there are more than 400 California condors. They can even be seen flying over the Grand Canyon.

Smith said, the day I saw one sail over the Grand Canyon, I was like, Oh my God! That was all worth it.

Later in her career, Smith led the effort to list the polar bear as endangered. It marked the first time an animal was listed as endangered because of climate change.

Freshwater mussels

Marc Imlay began working at the Endangered Species Office in 1971, two years before the current Endangered Species Act was passed.

Imlay is an expert on mollusks  small animals including snails, mussels and slugs. He had concerns that hydroelectric dams were putting freshwater mussels in danger in states such as Missouri and Tennessee.

At one point, Imlay decided to make a phone call to a conservation group in Missouri to tell them that a planned dam would put the mussels in danger.

The call worked. He got locals to pay attention to the organism and the dam was stopped. In time, his work prevented a number of dams from being built.

While some could argue that Imlay slowed economic progress, he said in other cases he found a way to help development move forward.

Time and time again, he said, you can work with a developer to save high-quality land.

Im Dan Friedell.

Dan Friedell adapted this story for Learning English based on a report by the Associated Press.

_________________________________________________

Words in This Story

speciesn. a group of animals or plants that are similar and can produce young animals or plants

manage v. to oversee or run

regulation n. a law or rule

conservation adj. dealing with the protection of nature

breed v. to put two animals together with the goal of mating them and creating young

We want to hear from you. Are there similar protections for plants and animals now where you live?
Auburn Gresham neighborhood resident Carolyn Vazquez calls on a child as she teaches kids about things they can do help fight climate change, during a presentation at Lawndale Christian Community Learning Center on Dec. 22, 2023. (Chris Sweda/Chicago Tribune)

Ten years ago, Beth Beyers youngest child walked out to Lake Michigan on a mild winter day and cried.

The Lincoln Park resident thought her son would be excited about spending time outdoors, but the seventh grader was distraught thinking about what the unseasonably warm weather meant for the world and its climate.

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I was like, Wow, youre taking this in a way that I had no idea, Beyer remembers saying.

Since, Beyers advocacy and nonprofit work has allowed her to keep her ear to the ground and share what she learns from other environmentalists with her two sons to ease their eco-conscious minds. She is the executive director of The Technology Alliance, which makes new technologies available to local underserved communities, and also works with the Chicago Wilderness Alliance.

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We need to figure out how we channel this anxiety, she said. How do we create hope?

Beyer recounted this during a Climate Cafe, one of a few gatherings that Chicago psychotherapist and clinical social worker Libby Bachhuber has helped organize for those struggling with the emotional burdens of climate change: from anxiety to grief, from guilt to shame.

Many mental health professionals agree the most effective way to deal with the difficult feelings brought up by the enormity of the climate crisis might just be to slow down, pay attention to those feelings  as uncomfortable as they may be  and talk through them with other people.

Unless we can process our internal responses to climate change, we are not going to be able to respond appropriately to it, Bachhuber said.

After joining the regional team for the Climate Psychology Alliance North America, Bachhuber trained last year on how to hold small group sessions. She is planning three cafes in the next three months.

She organized the recent Climate Cafe at the Peggy Notebaert Nature Museum alongside Haven Denson, coordinator for the museums Chicago Conservation Corps program, which trains community leaders in grassroots organizing and climate action. Denson said many young people like her Gen Z peers are mentally checked out when it comes to climate issues.

[ Learning from past and looking to future, Peggy Notebaert Nature Museum opens new Sustainability Center ]

Everybody that I talk to is mostly ready to give up. All we hear is doom and gloom, Denson said. We may as well just give up, its already too late.

And the numbers back this up. A study published in the medical journal The Lancet in 2021 found that almost half of Americans surveyed between the ages of 16 and 25 were very worried or extremely worried about climate change and thought humanity was doomed because of it.

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That is why I think this is so important, having these spaces where we can not only talk about solutions, but also just talk about (how) we are in this together, were not isolated, its OK to feel this way, Denson said. To acknowledge these feelings and emotions, to actually process them so that we can then move on and find those solutions.

Ecological anxiety and grief

Some may dismiss eco-anxiety, or fear of environmental catastrophe associated with climate change, as one more term in a long list of therapy speak  buzzwords related to psychotherapy and mental health that are often used excessively and incorrectly.

But just in the last decade, the number of Americans alarmed by climate change has doubled to more than one-third of the population, according to the Yale Program on Climate Change Communication.

People tend to come in and they are worrying a lot, said Marilee Feldman, founder and clinical director of the Life Counseling Institute in Willowbrook and Park Ridge. She is also the Illinois regional coordinator for the Climate Psychology Alliance North America, which trains psychotherapists to address climate issues and concerns.

Feldman said clients often ask themselves: Where should I live? What is the future? What will it be like for my children?

Another feeling particular to the climate crisis is ecological grief; a great sadness about the loss of nature and species, about a lack of safety and about unfulfilled potential. These and other overwhelming feelings can be exacerbated by a sense of isolation, according to Feldman. So, that just adds fuel to the fire, she said.

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A growing number of climate-aware psychotherapists are hoping to help their patients move past denial and into climate resilience. By accepting reality, people can sort through complex feelings and grow able to tolerate them. Anxiety, grief and despair, anger and rage can all be transformed  by talking with other activists, joining a support group, meeting a climate-aware therapist  into productive action.

I think theres hope here, in terms of really becoming more adaptive, dealing with all those thoughts, feelings, body sensations, Feldman said, to where you take that anxiety, you take that grief and all of that upset, these emotions that are very powerful, and you channel (them) into  your love for this world and making things better and figuring out whats important to you.

Guilt and shame

According to The Lancet study, about 42% of young people surveyed in the United States felt guilt and over 44% felt shame in relation to climate change. An associate professor of environmental ethics in the Divinity School at the University of Chicago, Sarah Fredericks said deep shame can cause people to hide or retreat and become paralyzed, unable to act.

Guilt and shame in the context of climate change first piqued the ethicists curiosity when she lived in Texas a decade or so ago. She owned an old home that she wanted to renovate in an ecologically conscious manner, so she began perusing blogs and websites about eco-friendly design.

But Fredericks also found many people online who were plagued by guilt, in response to doing something wrong, and shame, or having negative feelings about ones whole self. For instance, someone felt bad about driving a minivan around town, someone else was embarrassed to admit they used air conditioning regularly, and yet another person would always forget to bring reusable bags to the grocery store.

It was interesting to me, because people kept using this language that I would think of as very religiously coded language, Fredericks said. They would say things like Im an eco-sinner, or Im a bad person. They were judging themselves. And I thought, as a religious studies scholar: Is that whats going on here? Are these people affiliated with particular religious traditions? Are they not? Wheres this language coming from?

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At the time, however, there was basically no existing academic literature documenting this phenomenon; her peers and colleagues told Fredericks it made no sense for people to feel that way as individuals since climate change is a systemic problem.

But the more she read and studied discussion boards, websites and books to learn what people were doing about these feelings, Fredericks realized there seemed to be something affirming and validating when people helped others put their guilt and shame into perspective; mistakes were recognized as such and not as an indictment on a persons morality.

As individuals we exist in communities, and wouldnt be able to exist without our communities, Fredericks said. But a lot of the environmental guilt and shame relate to our community.  There are structures in our community  financial, infrastructural, physical, social  that shape who we are. So we need community responses. And we need community support, the kind of cheerleading or moral support that friends and community and families can offer us.

Sitting with differences

Participants at the recent Climate Cafe at the nature museum were asked to bring a natural object that illustrates their connection to climate issues.

Carolyn Vazquez brought her 10-year-old daughter, Bella.

Well, shes natural! she remembers saying with a chuckle. Shes my object because shes the future.  What am I leaving her?

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For Vazquez, looking out for the environment is a personal and professional endeavor. The Auburn Gresham resident is a community activist and the CEO of hemp manufacturing company Think ReHemption which advocates for sustainable, organic and climate-smart agricultural practices.

After the conclusion of their Climate Cafe and still sitting in a circle, Vazquez and Beyer organically and almost inevitably waded into a conversation about race. Both women, similar in age but with distinct backgrounds, share a passion for the environment and hope to get their communities involved in these issues.

Vazquez pointed out that most of her neighbors in Auburn Gresham have basic needs like access to food and concerns like gun violence, matters so urgent they can divert attention from environmental problems.

There are young, African American youth and parents, families who are concerned about it, but you dont see them, Vazquez said. You dont hear about them. Nor do they feel empowered enough to get a bunch of people who really dont want to hear that language, who are worried about different stuff.

And because suburban and North Side communities dont see as much violence, she said, their residents might have more time, energy and resources to direct toward climate advocacy. The playing ground will never be equal, Vazquez added.

Beth Beyer on the lakefront near Diversey Harbor on Dec. 22, 2023. (Trent Sprague/Chicago Tribune)

But Beyer herself feels challenged by the fact many people in her Lincoln Park neighborhood dont feel connected to one another. Some of us dont even know whats going on, she said. Theres no forum for it.

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I think these are tough conversations sometimes, and people come from different places. So (with) this small group, she gestured to the Climate Cafe participants and facilitators, I think were going real far.  It just helps to get insight.

Bachhuber sat to the side, quietly listening. She finally spoke after a lull in conversation.

Its challenging, all over in different spaces but including in environmental spaces, to sit with the reality of these differences, how deep they run, and how psychologically they affect us, she said. Theres a universality to (climate change), but theres also a specificity to it, of how different communities are affected. (This conversation) is kind of cool because to me, this is some of the work that needs to happen.  I dont think this solves with us just being separate and not figuring out how to sit with the discomfort of differences.

[ National climate report identifies lack of equity and flooding risks, issues that hit close to home in Illinois ]

Rebecca Weston, co-president of the Climate Psychology Alliance North America, noted that some people may think or suggest climate anxiety is an experience limited to white, middle-class people who are concerned about losing summer homes or getting insurance on their coastal properties. But thats not true, she argued.

The people who are most worried about climate change are people of color, predominantly women of color, she said. The people who are most active around these issues are people of color. The people who are most advocating for policy change are people of color. So to suggest that climate anxiety is just a feeling of the wealthy elite is not correct.

As an activist, Vazquez said she often finds herself mentally tired and drained from trying and failing to get people in her neighborhood, which has historically suffered from disinvestment, to pay attention to environmental issues.

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I feel like these moments help you connect in a safe space where you feel like you can really talk to people, she said.

A poster board used by Auburn Gresham neighborhood resident Carolyn Vazquez at an event on Dec. 22, 2023, for kids about things they can do to help fight climate change. (Chris Sweda/Chicago Tribune)

From individualism to community

When Ren Dean, the owner of Skunk Cabbage Books, was drawing up a business plan for the Avondale bookstore, one of their main goals was to create a place where folks could talk about their collective futures in the context of climate change. So Dean began a book club for nature-focused writing.

I personally was really feeling like I needed a space, a physical space, to talk to other people and figure out how to find each other and how to support each other, Dean told the Tribune. How do we engage with this in a way that isnt so paralyzing, that feels like theres something we can do and (theres) ways we can support each other?

Afternoon Briefing Weekdays Chicago Tribune editors' top story picks, delivered to your inbox each afternoon. By submitting your email to receive this newsletter, you agree to our Subscriber Terms & Conditions and Privacy Policy >

Dean said the group had been reading a lot of good writing about grappling with the immensity of climate anxiety and how community could offer a starting place to begin processing these difficult feelings. But they were also itching to find a space to talk about their mental and emotional experiences instead of just reading about them.

Theres reading that and recognizing that thats the answer, Dean said, and then theres the next step of: How do I do that? It felt really big and hard for me, personally.

Which is why Dean jumped at an opportunity a few months ago, when Bachhuber reached out with the idea of holding a Climate Cafe at the bookstore. It was a really kind of perfect thing for us to host, Dean said.

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We have a very individualistic culture that puts people in a really difficult position as they start to process climate change and learn about it in isolation, Bachhuber explained. And our culture of individualism is part of the problem, its part of what got us into this situation in the first place.

Talking through their shared feelings and emotions on climate change can help folks untangle themselves from individualistic approaches to the climate crisis, which can oftentimes feel futile and discouraging.

We were raised that way, Vazquez said. How do we say, Hey, theres enough pie for all of us, to solve this problem?

adperez@chicagotribune.com
China says it is banning a United States research company and two analysts who have reported extensively on claims of human rights abuses committed against Uyghurs and other Muslim minority groups native to the countrys far northwestern region of Xinjiang.

Foreign Ministry spokesperson Mao Ning was quoted as announcing yesterday [Macau time] that Los Angeles-based research and data analytics firm Kharon, its director of investigations, Edmund Xu, and Nicole Morgret, a human rights analyst affiliated with the Center for Advanced Defense Studies, would be barred from traveling to China. Also, any assets or property they have in China will be frozen and organizations and individuals in China are prohibited from making transactions or otherwise cooperating with them.

In a statement on the Ministry of Foreign Affairs website, Mao said the sanctions against the company, Xu and Morgret were retaliation for a yearly U.S. government report on human rights in Xinjiang. Uyghurs and other natives of the region share religious, linguistic and cultural links with the scattered peoples of Central Asia and several groups have long resented the authorities heavy-handed control and attempts to assimilate them with the majority Han ethnic group.

In a paper published in June 2022, Morgret wrote, The Chinese government is undertaking a concerted drive to industrialize the Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous Region (XUAR), which has led an increasing number of corporations to establish manufacturing operations there. This centrally-controlled industrial policy is a key tool in the governments efforts to forcibly assimilate Uyghurs and other Turkic peoples through the institution of a coerced labor regime.

Such reports draw from a wide range of sources, including independent media, non-governmental organizations and groups that may receive commercial and governmental grants or other outside funding.

China has long denied such allegations, saying the large-scale network of prison-like facilities through which passed hundreds of thousands of Muslim citizens were intended only to rid them of violent, extremist tendencies and teach them job skills.

China says the camps are all now closed, but many of their former inmates have reportedly been given lengthy prison sentences elsewhere. Access to the region by journalists, diplomats and others is tightly controlled, as is movement outside the region by Uyghurs, Kazaks and other Muslim minorities.

By issuing the report, the United States once again spread false stories on Xinjiang and illegally sanctioned Chinese officials and companies citing so-called human rights issues, Mao was quoted as saying.

If the United States refuses to change course, China will not flinch and will respond in kind, Mao was quoted as telling reporters at an earlier news briefing. MDT/AP
Armed undercover sky marshals will be placed on some British passenger planes in the United States, the British Government has announced.

Home Secretary David Blunkett and Transport Secretary Alistair Darling said the move was a responsible and prudent step in response to the heightened state of alert in the US and would be deployed where appropriate.

Last week America raised the national alert to code orange, the second-highest level, after reports that a French airliner would be hijacked and used as a missile against a US city.

The plan, which is part of a general tightening of airport and airline security in the wake of the September 11 attacks, is opposed by the British Airline Pilots Association (Balpa).

Balpa general secretary Jim McAuslan said: We do not want guns on planes. It is dangerous to have guns on planes and there are other things you can do, like investing in security measures on the ground.

He said the union would be advising its members not to fly if they were not comfortable with arrangements.

British Airways and Virgin Atlantic have declined to comment.

The announcement follows a number of security scares involving airports in recent days.

Last Wednesday six Air France flights between Paris and Los Angeles were cancelled amid fears of a terrorist attack.

Todays announcement follows a similar move by the Australian Government two days ago. It said it would place sky marshals on Qantas flights to Singapore.

The Israeli airline El-Al, famous for its strict security, has been using armed marshals for more than 30 years. The German airline Lufthansa also has them on some of its flights.

In a separate warning yesterday, the British Government said it believed terrorists could be in the final stages of planning an attack in Saudi Arabia.

British nationals have already been warned against all but essential travel to the kingdom following attacks in Riyadh in May and November this year.

Courtesy BBC News

In context

The following day the Bush administration ordered all foreign airlines to deploy armed sky marshals on flights to the US deemed by Washington to be a risk, or face having their flights banned from US air space.

Some EU countries  in particular Italy, Portugal, Denmark, Sweden and Finland  strongly opposed the use of sky marshals, preferring to cancel flights that the US felt were a threat and to concentrate on tightening security at ground level.

After talks in Brussels with EU officials in January 2004, the US softened its stance insisting there was no blanket policy to stop airlines without marshals entering America.

In December 2005 a US sky marshal shot dead a man who claimed to have a bomb on board an American Airlines plane. It was the first time since 9/11 that a passenger had been shot by an air marshal.
Chief Executive Ho Iat Seng highlighted the significance of the plan to boost the development of the Guangdong-Macao in-depth cooperation zone in Hengqin and its role in contributing to the long-term prosperity and stability of Macau, as well as its integration into overall national development.

The plan, unveiled last week by Chinas National Development and Reform Commission, along with a plan for the Qianhai Shenzhen-Hong Kong Modern Service Industry Cooperation Zone in Shenzhen, will serve as catalysts for the industrial diversification and long-term development of Macau.

The Macay SAR government will leverage opportunities arising from the development of Hengqin and Qianhai that align with Macaus economic diversification plan. Leveraging Macaus strategic location, the intention is to further promote the coordinated development of Macau and the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area.

The Hengqin plan sets specific development goals for the Hengqin in-depth cooperation zone to develop new industries and open up new systems in the zone. In doing so, Ho outlined, it will expand opportunities to develop Macau businesses and enhance the work and life prospects of Macau residents.

He pledged that the government would invest in efforts to achieve goals set for the first stage by 2024, inject new momentum into the sustainable socioeconomic development of Macau, and promote the successful practices of One Country, Two Systems with Macau characteristics. MDT/Xinhua
A three-year action plan was released earlier this week by Chinas economic planning body aimed at fostering a world-leading business environment within the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area. Sources within the National Development and Reform Commission said the move is aimed at deepening cooperation within the area and enhancing market integration and international competitiveness in the Greater Bay Area. After three years of hard work, the Greater Bay Area is expected to be at the global forefront for business competitiveness, according to the plan.

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Israeli forces on Tuesday expanded their ground offensive into urban refugee camps in central Gaza after bombarding the crowded Palestinian communities and ordering residents to evacuate. Gazas main telecom provider announced another complete interruption of services in the besieged territory.

The militarys announcement of the new battle zone threatens further destruction in a war that Israel says will last for many months as it vows to crush the ruling Hamas militant group after its Oct. 7 attack. Israeli forces have been engaged in heavy urban fighting in northern Gaza and the southern city of Khan Younis, driving Palestinians into ever-smaller areas in search of refuge.

The U.S. said Israels minister for strategic affairs, Ron Dermer, was meeting with Secretary of State Antony Blinken and national security adviser Jake Sullivan to discuss topics including transitioning to a different phase of the war to maximize focus on high-value Hamas targets, improving the humanitarian situation, and planning for governance and security in Gaza after the war.

Despite U.S. calls for Israel to curb civilian casualties and international pressure for a cease-fire, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said the military was deepening the fighting.

We say to the Hamas terrorists: We see you and we will get to you, Netanyahu said.

Israels offensive is one of the most devastating military campaigns in recent history. More than 20,900 Palestinians, two-thirds women and children, have been killed, according to the Health Ministry in Gaza, whose count doesnt differentiate between civilians and combatants. The agency said 240 people were killed over the past 24 hours.

The U.N. human rights office said the continued bombardment of middle Gaza had claimed more than 100 Palestinian lives since Christmas Eve. The office noted that Israel had ordered some residents to move there.

Israel said it would no longer grant automatic visas to U.N. employees and accused the world body of being complicit partners in Hamas tactics. Government spokesman Eylon Levy said Israel would consider visa requests case by case. That could further limit aid efforts in Gaza.

Residents of central Gaza described shelling and airstrikes shaking the Nuseirat, Maghazi and Bureij camps. The built-up towns hold Palestinians driven from their homes in what is now Israel during the 1948 war, along with their descendants.

The bombing was very intense, Radwan Abu Sheitta said by phone from Bureij.

The Israeli military ordered residents to evacuate a belt of territory the width of central Gaza, urging them to move to nearby Deir al-Balah. The U.N. humanitarian office said the area ordered evacuated was home to nearly 90,000 people before the war and now shelters more than 61,000 displaced people, mostly from the north.

The military later said it was operating in Bureij and asserted that it had located a Hamas training camp.

The telecom outage announced by Paltel follows similar outages through much of the war. NetBlocks, a group that tracks internet outages, confirmed that network connectivity in Gaza was disrupted again and likely to leave most residents offline.

Senior Hamas official Osama Hamdan said several countries had sent proposals to resolve the conflict following news of an Egyptian proposal that would include a transitional Palestinian government in Gaza and the occupied West Bank. He did not offer details of the proposals.

REGIONAL SPILLOVER

Defense Minister Yoav Gallant said Israel faces a multi-arena war on seven fronts  Gaza and the West Bank, Lebanon, Syria, Iraq, Yemen and Iran. We have responded and acted already on six of these, he told the Knessets Foreign Affairs and Defense Committee.

Iranian-backed militia groups around the region have stepped up attacks in support of Hamas.

Iranian-backed militias in Iraq carried out a drone strike on a U.S. base in Irbil on Monday, wounding three American service members, according to U.S. officials. In response, U.S. warplanes hit three locations in Iraq connected to a main militia, Kataib Hezbollah.

Almost daily, Hezbollah and Israel exchange missiles, airstrikes and shelling across the Israeli-Lebanese border. On Tuesday, Israels military said Hezbollah struck a Greek Orthodox church in northern Israel with a missile, wounding two Israeli Christians, and fired again on arriving soldiers, wounding nine.

Hezbollah is risking the stability of the region for the sake of Hamas, said Israels military spokesman, Rear Adm. Daniel Hagari.

In the Red Sea, attacks by Houthi rebels in Yemen against commercial ships have disrupted trade and prompted a U.S.-led multinational naval operation to protect shipping routes. The Israeli military said a fighter jet on Tuesday shot down a hostile aerial target above the Red Sea that the military asserted was on its way to Israeli territory.

The USS Laboon, a Navy destroyer, and American fighter jets shot down 12 drones, three anti-ship ballistic missiles and two land-attack cruise missiles in the southern Red Sea that were fired by the Yemen-based Houthis over a 10-hour period Tuesday, according to the Pentagon. U.S. Central Command said there was no damage to ships in the area or reported injuries. NAJIB JOBAIN, WAFAA SHURAFA & SAMY MAGDY, RAFAH, MDT/AP
North Korean leader Kim Jong Un praised what he called achievements and victories that strengthened national power and boosted the countrys prestige this year, as he opened a key political meeting to set new policy goals for 2024, state media reported yesterday.

Experts said that during this weeks year-end plenary meeting of the ruling Workers Party, North Korea would likely hype its progress in arms development because the country lacks economic achievements amid persistent international sanctions and pandemic-related economic hardships.

In his opening-day speech at the meeting that began Tuesday, Kim defined 2023 as a year of great turn and great change both in name and reality, in which (North Korea) left a great trace in the glorious course of development in the efforts to improve the national power and enhance the prestige of the country, according to the official Korean Central News Agency.

KCNA said North Korea achieved a rapid advancement in its defense capabilities this year in the wake of the launch of its first military spy satellite in November and the introduction of other sophisticated weapons.

KCNA said North Korea also reported a rare good harvest this year as the country finished building new irrigation systems ahead of schedule and met major agricultural state objectives. It said that modern streets, new houses and other buildings were built in Pyongyang and elsewhere across the country.

According to a recent assessment by South Koreas state-run Rural Development Administration, North Koreas grain production this year was estimated at 4.8 million tons, a 6.9% increase from last years 4.5 million tons, thanks to favorable weather conditions. But the 4.8 million tons are still short by about 0.7 million tons of sufficient annual levels, as experts say North Korea needs about 5.5 million tons of grain to feed its 25 million people each year.

The Workers Party meeting, expected to last several days, will review state projects from this year and establish new objectives for next year. In recent years, North Korea has published the results of its meeting, including Kims closing speech, in state media on Jan. 1, allowing him to skip his New Years Day address.

The meeting comes after North Korea launched its most advanced intercontinental ballistic missile, the solid-fueled Hwasong-18, which is designed to strike the mainland U.S., into the sea last week. North Korea said the Hwasong-18 launch, the third of its kind this year, was meant to warn the U.S. and South Korea over their confrontational moves against North Korea.

On Nov. 21, North Korea put its first military spy satellite into orbit, though outside experts question whether it can send militarily useful high-resolution imagery.

The launches of the Hwasong-18 missile and the spy satellite were part of an ongoing run of weapons tests by North Korea since last year. Kim has maintained he was forced to expand his nuclear arsenal to cope with increasing hostilities from the U.S. and its allies toward the North, but foreign experts say he eventually hopes to use an enlarged arsenal to win greater outside concessions when diplomacy resumes.

Last week, South Korean Defense Minister Shin Wonsik told lawmakers that North Korea appeared to be speeding up its weapons testing activities to highlight its achievements in defense sectors because it lacked major progress in the economy and public livelihoods.

In recent years, North Koreas fragile economy was severely battered by pandemic-related curbs, U.S.-led sanctions and the Norths own mismanagement. But monitoring groups say there are no signs of a humanitarian crisis or social chaos that could threaten Kims absolute rule at home.

In August, South Koreas National Intelligence Service told lawmakers that North Koreas economy shrank each year from 2020 to 2022 and that its gross domestic product last year was 12% less than in 2016. HYUNG-JIN KIM, SEOUL, MDT/AP
The local government has formally requested the acquisition of a land plot from Zhuhai to accommodate the east line of the Light Rapid Transit (LRT) system. In a proposal recently submitted to the Standing Committee of the National Peoples Congress, the SAR is seeking a 3,700-square-metre plot of land southeast of the Border Gate to construct the east lines railway infrastructure. The east line will comprise six stations, connecting the Border Gate to Taipa.

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* The rich and the poor

 Macau positioned as fifth wealthiest region despite 30% slump in purchasing power in 2023: Global report

* Tourism | Christmas holiday arrivals exceed pre-pandemic levels

* UM Research | Economy to surge up to 21% in 2024

* DSAL says there is an increase in training opportunities for women to account for rising demand and provide greater opportunities in the workforce

* CE pledges efforts to achieve initial 2024 goals in Hengqin plan

* Beijing approves 105 online games after draft curbs trigger massive losses

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Thursday, December 28, 2023  edition no. 4395
The Public Security Police Force (PSP) has solved two hit-and-run cases involving motorcyclists, according to the polices social media page.

The investigations for both cases were triggered by reports lodged by the complainants.

The first complaint was brought by a taxi driver, whose taxi was reportedly hit on the right side by a passing motorcycle while it was stopping at a traffic light on Avenida de Sacadura Cabral.

When the traffic light turned green, the motorcyclist drove away and disappeared.

The police reviewed surveillance camera footage and identified a male suspect, who admitted to overtaking a taxi at the relevant location. However, he reported that he had not felt any impact due to the heavy traffic and noise in the area.

The second case concerned a motorcyclist who had reportedly hit the back of a car on Avenida Leste do Hipodromo. The complainant told the police that the motorcyclist drove away.

Upon interrogation, the motorcyclist admitted to hitting the car but claimed neither personal injury nor damage to the motorcycle. The hit vehicle also reportedly departed the scene.

Both motorcyclists were charged with the crime of evasion of responsibilities.

The police reminded the public that any traffic accidents must be reported to the police.

In another case, the PSP caught a driver driving under the influence of alcohol. During routine traffic inspections, officers observed a heavy motorcycle being ridden on the sidewalk. The police administered a breath test that yielded a reading of 2.14 g/L blood alcohol reading, surpassing the permitted legal limit.

The motorcyclist, a local resident in their thirties, admitted to consuming alcoholic beverages during a dinner in Zhuhai the same day. If convicted, the motorcyclist will face a maximum punishment of one year in prison and a three year driving suspension.

The Judiciary Police (PJ) announced yesterday that an illegal immigration syndicate had been dismantled in a joint operation with the mainland police. In Macau, five suspects, all mainland residents, were arrested. Among them, three are believed to be part of the syndicate, while two were service buyers.

Around 1 p.m. on Tuesday, PJ inspectors observed a person lingering suspiciously near the Inner Harbour before a ship berthed near Pier 21. Another person disembarked from the ship to chat with that person, and were both intercepted by the PJ.

The PJ searched the ship jointly alongside customs officers, where they arrested another three suspects and impounded the ship.

It was revealed that the a member of the syndicate was stationed on land to coordinate and lead the operations, while each service user was charged RMB55,000.

Subsequent investigation revealed that the two service users were banned from entering Macau for three years in 2022 due to convictions for making false declarations and document forgery. They revealed to the police that they sought to enter Macau for casino gambling and illegal currency exchange activities.

The mainland police arrested three suspects, all mainland men.
Is a nose job in Turkey worth it?

Turkey is one of the most popular destinations for rhinoplasty patients. Affordably priced procedures combined with the expertise of successful physicians make rhinoplasty in Turkey more alluring. Going abroad for nasal surgery might still be intimidating for people, despite the fact that undergoing a rhinoplasty in Turkey has grown more and more appealing.

How much does a nose job cost in Turkey?

In Turkey, the price of a nose job, or rhinoplasty Turkey, can differ significantly based on a number of variables, such as the reputation and experience of the surgeon, the clinic's location, the amenities offered, and the particulars of the operation.

In Turkey, rhinoplasty procedures usually cost between $2,000 and $7,000 USD. Prices, however, are subject to fluctuate, and it's important to remember that the range may change based on the previously listed criteria.

Is Turkey good for nose jobs?

Turkey has established itself as a well-liked location for aesthetic procedures, such as nose jobs, or rhinoplasty. For a variety of reasons, many people select Turkey for their rhinoplasty; nonetheless, it's important to carefully weigh the benefits and any potential drawbacks:

Benefits:

Cost: Compared to many Western countries, Turkey is frequently more affordable for cosmetic operations. Given the high caliber and reputation of many Turkish clinics and doctors, the lower price does not always translate into lower quality.

Skilled Surgeons: Turkey boasts skilled plastic surgeons with a focus on rhinoplasty. A few Turkish doctors are well-known worldwide for their proficiency in reconstructive and cosmetic nose surgery.

Contemporary Facilities: A large number of Turkish clinics are outfitted with cutting-edge medical equipment and contemporary facilities that satisfy global requirements for patient safety and care.

Tourism: Turkey is a well-liked travel destination, and a lot of medical tourists combine their visits to historical and picturesque sites with their procedures.

Problems:

Research is Crucial: Although Turkey has many respectable hospitals and doctors, it's important to do your homework and select a board-certified and experienced surgeon. Seek out surgeons who are board-certified and have good patient feedback.

Make sure there is adequate communication between you and the medical team. Although the staff at some clinics may speak English well, it's still important to be clear about your expectations and comprehend the specifics of the treatment.

Follow-Up Care: Take into account if follow-up care is offered. Make sure there is a clear plan for post-operative care and any difficulties if you are going from overseas.

Verify that the clinic and surgeon follow all applicable laws and accreditation requirements. Seek out clinics that have earned accreditation from respectable associations.

In conclusion, Turkey offers high-quality rhinoplasty operations at a lower cost, making it a viable choice. But it's imperative to conduct in-depth study, pick a reliable facility and surgeon, and make sure there is open communication at every stage of the procedure. If you choose to go through with a nose job in Turkey, speak with board-certified doctors and think about getting referrals from reliable people.

Is Turkey a safe place to get a nose job?

Cosmetic operations performed by qualified surgeons are believed to be safe in Turkey. Since a significant amount of their travel is related to medical tourism, they have established a globally recognized healthcare system that offers patients top-notch care.

What country is best for nose job?

The most well-regarded nations in the world for rhinoplasty include Turkey, Mexico, Colombia, Dominican Republic, Costa Rica, Croatia, Thailand, India, South Korea, and Spain. These nations are renowned for producing exceptionally knowledgeable and proficient plastic surgeons with a focus on rhinoplasty procedures.

Top 10 Best Rhinoplasty (Nose Job) Doctors In Turkey

1 - Dr. Salih Onur Basat

Salih Onur Basat conducted research while working in the field of public health. During this time, Dr. Basats work was published and presented in numerous prestigious national and international publications.

Whatsapp : +90 539 554 97 97

Instagram : dr.salihonurbasat

2 - Dr. Serkan Dinar

In 1975, in the western Turkish city of Izmir, Dr. Serkan Dinar was born. He is a well-known aesthetic plastic surgeon with his headquarters in Istanbul. He treats patients from all over the world with a variety of aesthetic procedures.

After completing his medical studies at Dokuzeylul University School of Medicine, Dr. Dinar graduated in 2005 with an M.D. at Kocaeli University. He pursued his further study in plastic and reconstructive surgery. Following his graduation, he worked at prestigious medical facilities in Turkey, such as Elazg Military Hospital, Cevre Hastanesi, Fors Clinic, Siirt Devlet Hastanesi, and Tree Top Hospital. At present, he operates his own clinic in Sisli, Istanbul, called Serkan Dinar Aesthetic Clinic Istanbul, now Retouch Body Clinic.

3 - Dr. Muhammet Dilber

One of the most popular cosmetic procedures is rhinoplasties. Cosmetic rhinoplasty (Greek: "rhinos" = nose) focuses on the nose's outward form and/or size.

4 - Dr. Mehmet Emre Dinc

After earning his medical degree from Ankara University Faculty of Medicine in 2000, Assoc. Dr. Mehmet Emre Dinc finished his specialty study in head and neck surgery and otorhinolaryngology at Ankara study and Research Hospital in 2005.

5 - Dr. Cem Payasli

Dr. Cem Payasli is known for a personal aesthetic perspective, over ten years of experience, dexterous hands, and meticulous work ethic.

6 - Dr. Ayberk Akcay

Dr. Akcay, who only does plastic surgery, is committed to enhancing your inherent beauty by using cutting-edge surgical methods that put symmetry and harmony first.

7 - Dr. Seckin Ulusoy

Assoc. Prof. Dr. Seckin Ulusoy is a rhinoplasty surgeon who can provide you with the nose of your dreams. He specializes in primary, revision, and ethnic procedures.

8 - Dr. Gurkan Kayabasoglu

Gurkan Kayabasoglu was born on September 25, 1979 in Sakarya. He studied at Hacettepe Faculty of Medicine between 1997-2003. He completed most of his specialist training at Vakif Gureba Training and Research Hospital and in the USA. In November 2009, he took the first written stage of the first European ENT Board exam organized by the European Ear, Nose and Throat Specialist examination commission in Viyada and became the third European ENT specialist with the highest score.

9 - Dr. Suleyman Tas

Over the past 15 years, Dr. Suleyman Tas has performed over 10,000 effective rhinoplasty procedures.

10 - Dr. Guncel Ozturk

Dr. Guncel Ozturk can be described as a human sculptor through plastic surgery art. He says, Throughout my life, I have prioritized two things: art and aesthetics.

This content is provided for informational purposes only by the advertiser and is not a substitute for professional medical advice ortreatment. Please consult your healthcare provider for medical advice.

This provided content was produced by Lee Enterprises. The news and editorial departments had no role in its creation or display.
Viral dance challenge "Kemusan" brings joy, pride, debate to Chinese youngsters

Xinhua) 08:29, December 28, 2023

NANNING, Dec. 27 (Xinhua) -- People spring into a freestyle street dance to the pulsating rhythm of an upbeat Chinese song, swinging their knees and ankles sideways while performing dazzling hand moves, including rapid wrist-twisting actions.

This so-called "Kemusan" dance, translated as "Subject Three" dance, has become the latest internet hit in China. Social media platforms have been overwhelmed with user-generated video clips of men and women, professional and amateur dancers, Chinese and foreigners, performing the "Subject Three" dance moves in diverse circumstances.

The captivating dance, along with its fun and spontaneous moves, has brought tremendous joy to young Chinese viewers. If that is not enough, the new dance is also popular among foreigners. However, like any other internet hit, "Kemusan" was not without controversy.

WHAT IS THE "KEMUSAN" DANCE

The infectious "Kemusan" music echoed in a street dance training studio in Nanning, the capital city of south China's Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region. Guo Siyuan, the dance studio teacher, told Xinhua that some students requested a training session dedicated to the "Kemusan" dance.

This screenshot captured from a video shows people learning "Kemusan" dance at a street dance training studio in Nanning, south China's Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region, Dec. 20, 2023. (Xinhua/Huang Kaiying)

"'Kemusan' is quite popular," Guo said. "However, it is not easy to dance it well as many of its moves originate from breakdance."

The "Kemusan" dance routine was widely believed to originate from a dance created and performed by a wedding guest from Guangxi more than two years ago.

As to why it was named "Kemusan," a shortened name that originally referred to the third-subject test or the road test required to obtain a driver's license in China. Story has it that an excited test-taker once danced it to celebrate his triumph after passing the road test. When curious bystanders inquired about the name of the dance, he responded with an off-the-cuff answer, "Subject Three."

Another explanation pays tribute to Guangxi, a provincial-level region with a large multi-ethnic population from where the dance originated. It is understood that everyone born in Guangxi is subject to three tests in their lives: singing folk songs, eating rice noodles, and dancing.

This screenshot captured from a video shows people performing "Kemusan" dance with traditional musical instruments of the Zhuang ethnic group in Nanning, south China's Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region, in December 2023. (Xinhua)

HOW AND WHY HAS IT GONE VIRAL

The dance has gained popularity in bars before making its way to Douyin, a popular short-video platform, with its enticing hashtag "Kemusan." It subsequently became an instant hit among young people both online and offline, fueling a wave of dance challenges, which was joined by celebrities and business owners eyeing the fan base and commercial prospects behind this dance craze.

In November, video clips showing employees of Haidilao, a hot-pot chain, repeatedly dancing "Kemusan" to entertain customers made it to the internet's hottest-trending topics.

"Kemusan" has even gained overseas fans, with videos of the dance routine being widely viewed on YouTube and Twitter. The performance of "Kemusan" by foreign professional dancers as an encore has sparked a new social media frenzy among young Chinese internet users.

The 2023 WDSF GrandSlam Final Latin winners from Germany, Khrystyna Moshenska and Marius-Andrei Balan, performed "Kemusan" following their competition in the final held in Shanghai. After a Swan Lake performance in China's Liaoning Province, dancers from a Russian Ballet troupe took a curtain call and sprung into the "Kemusan" dance.

"I saw many video clips showing professionals dancing 'Kemusan,' including international dancing stars," said Zhang Jiajia, a Nanning local who is learning the dance routine. "By dancing it myself, I feel like being drawn closer to them."

Students from Guangxi Arts University perform "Kemusan" dance during a campus activity in Nanning, south China's Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region, Dec. 20, 2023. (Xinhua)

Dancing is an expression of personality and intense emotions that young people identify with, and because of the viral nature of social media, "Kemusan" quickly overwhelmed the youth community, said Zhang Tieyun, associate professor at the School of Journalism and New Media, Xi'an Jiaotong University.

Zhang also mentioned a paradigm shift in which people gravitate toward unique and pleasant day-to-day expressions.

The viral trend of "Kemusan," according to Zhang, represents a preference for personal and emotive expressions over regularity and high-sounding narratives, as well as an emphasis on personality.

Some people, however, think the dance routine is "tacky." Proponents, on the other hand, argue that "Kemusan," even though not elegant or sophisticated, let alone classy, was created and widely watched and performed by ordinary people, making it viral and even gaining international recognition. This discussion has only fostered the trend going viral.

"I was delighted to see that 'Kemusan' is going global, and people from other countries liked our culture, music and dances," said Chen Ying, a local from Guangzhou, south China's Guangdong Province, adding that the younger generation in China is becoming increasingly confident and outgoing, and "Kemusan" may just herald a future where a popular Chinese culture is increasingly seen on the world stage.

(Web editor: Zhang Kaiwei, Zhong Wenxing)
Family and friends mourn during the funeral of Eden Zachariya, who was abducted from the Tribe of Nova music festival on Oct. 7, in Kibbutz Palmachim, Israel, on Dec. 15, 2023, after the Israeli army recovered her body during an operation in Gaza. (OREN ZIV/Getty-AFP)

The Israel-Hamas war and the long-standing tensions in the region are a remarkably complicated matter, historically, politically, intellectually and emotionally. The visceral realities and sensitivities involved can be hard for outsiders to navigate.

Since the Oct. 7 attacks, our op-ed contributors have spoken with passion and intellectual rigor about the war and related issues.

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Here, in excerpts, is a look back at some of the best of them.

As things stand, hatred of the Jewish people is one of the few things the radical right and the radical left can agree on. If Adolf Hitler thought Jews were the epitome of communism, Karl Marx, who was of Jewish ancestry, thought they were the epitome of capitalism. Following the barbarism and ferocity of Hamas invasion of Israel on Oct. 7, 34 student organizations at Harvard University signed a letter holding Israel entirely responsible for the violence. Alternatively, the leader of a far-right group praised Hamas with the words, Come on, guys, its time to dance! Get those Jews!

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Antisemitism is of course a complex phenomenon. The simple answer for what lies behind it is that Jews are a religious and cultural minority who insist on maintaining their own identity. Given the possibility of converting to Christianity or Islam, they chose to remain Jewish. Given the possibility of assimilating into a modern, secular culture, they chose to retain their ancient customs. To some, their stubbornness is profoundly insulting: How dare they not believe what I believe, eat what I eat or celebrate what I do? They must think they are better than I am, and therefore I hate them.

The sad truth is that when hatred becomes part of a persons worldview, it tends to dominate everything else.

I feel guilty. Guilty for my privilege. I live in a place where I can let my kids go and play in the yard because, if we hear a siren, we have 90 seconds to get to a shelter (90 seconds and not 60 or 30 or 15). Just far enough away from Gaza that rockets are less likely to land here and underground tunnels cant easily reach here. Just far enough from the sea. Just far enough from the Lebanese and Syrian borders.

Im devastated. Crushed that this is how it had to go down. The terrorists won, and the rest of us lost. Everyone in this loud, hot, cramped corner of the globe is losing. Likewise, everyone on the outside who is at all connected to this place. Everyone in the world who dreams of an independent Palestine alongside an independent Israel is losing. Sanity and patience and tolerance are losing. Only the haters are winning. They will come out of this feeling vindicated and self-righteous. The rest of us will be left with our fear, burying our dead and licking our wounds.

Legal experts from the Center for Constitutional Rights have described what is happening in Gaza right now as an unfolding genocide against the Palestinian people amid U.S. complicity. In a matter of three weeks, Israeli airstrikes fully or partially destroyed 38,200 to 44,500 buildings in the Gaza Strip, including a quarter in northern Gaza. More than 1 million people were suddenly made homeless, thousands have been killed and thousands more have been brutally injured.

On Oct. 27, Israel cut off all internet and cellphone communications from Gaza. For 34 hours, as the airstrikes intensified all over the north and south, Gaza was completely offline. We had no contact or reassurances from family until early in the morning on Oct. 29. Watching our family in these circumstances is a state of emergency.

Palestinian Americans with family in Gaza are all experiencing a present and repetitive traumatic stress disorder. We desperately post and protest, pleading to anyone who will listen, Our families are there! Our nieces and nephews are scared, hungry, thirsty and above all confused why this is happening to them. Our sisters and brothers write the names of their children on each of their limbs in case their faces become unidentifiable, or bodies dismembered from the weapons that might be dropped on them at any moment.

Children chant and wave flags at a rally in front of Bridgeview businesses in support of a worldwide call for a strike in solidarity with Gaza on Dec. 11, 2023. (Eileen T. Meslar/Chicago Tribune)

Since the Oct. 7 attacks, there has been a 400% increase in antisemitic incidents, year over year, from 2022. (And 2022 was already the worst year of recent record.) These are scary times.

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On this commemoration of Kristallnacht, I am reminded that it was not just Adolf Hitlers forces that perpetrated the violence but also ordinary citizens. There are few, if any, historic reports of non-Jewish German citizens who tried to prevent or mitigate the rampaging night of broken glass. Jews were left to fend for themselves.

I am glad to say that such is not entirely the case here in Chicago. Communally, many of those who have been allies of the Jewish community have remained supportive; personally, most of my Christian clergy colleagues call and check in with me on a regular basis. My Muslim partners on the Illinois Commission on Discrimination and Hate Crimes likewise have shared concerns about the rise in hate both our communities are experiencing.

It really matters when those who arent Jewish stand up for and defend those of us who are. To be under attack is bad enough; to have to defend yourself with few or no vocal allies is not only dispiriting but also impossible.

Right now, we are facing a highly sensitive moment in which one horrific war in Gaza could spread into a regional conflict with direct or indirect U.S. support or involvement. We need clear debate, the ability to dissent without being criminalized and the consistent condemnation of accusations of terrorist sympathies against critics, especially Muslim Americans. These false attacks on the very dissent and debate we so desperately need are a clear echo of what we heard all too often during the global war on terror. We know the cost of silence, and the price is far too high.

Chicago Tribune Opinion Weekdays Read the latest editorials and commentary curated by the Tribune Opinion team. By submitting your email to receive this newsletter, you agree to our Subscriber Terms & Conditions and Privacy Policy >

The immediate focus must be saving lives. Using Islamophobic and racist tropes, even accidentally, in ways that silence debate, on a public stage, prevents that from happening  both in Gaza and here in the United States. When events are fast-moving, many officials often make mistakes. However, the number of times these mistakes have happened and continue to occur by the Biden administration while the threats of violence and censorship of communities continue to increase is unacceptable and creates the appearance of not caring enough to hold themselves to a higher standard.

Most colleges and universities do not include antisemitism in their diversity training. Only 18.1% of college students in the (Anti-Defamation League) survey stated that they had any anti-antisemitism training. One reason is that Titles VI and IX prohibit violations of civil rights in higher education, but these federal laws did not include religious categories when they were enacted. That changed in 2004 when the U.S. Department of Education raised concerns about religious discrimination. Only in the past six months has the federal government explicitly instructed colleges and universities to address antisemitism. In May, the Department of Education released an antisemitism awareness campaign. In November, the White House announced an initiative to address the sudden rise in antisemitism in higher education as well.

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Some existing (diversity, equity and inclusion) trainings across the country have been called out for their explicit anti-Jewish positions. One mandated DEI training at my university began by talking about an Israeli Jewish genocide of Palestinian people, a statement rooted in memes and not fact. When complaints were filed with the university, the investigation found that no reasonable person would find such language problematic. As one colleague has written, our university may not have our back.

Protesters and counterprotesters demonstrate at a Students for Justice in Palestine event at Columbia University in New York on Oct. 12, 2023. (Bing Guan/The New York Times)

Today, new extremists on both sides are determined to drive nails into any possible peaceful resolution to the conflict and the dream of a two-state solution. President Joe Biden must not let that happen. Too much is at stake. The impact of the brutal war raging in the destitute Gaza Strip echoes way beyond the Middle East and could radicalize a new generation of terrorists. ...

(President Joe) Biden needs to start working forcefully now to outline that vision and build support for it among Israelis and Palestinians, as well as allies in the region and around the globe. Both sides must see a horizon with hope, security and justice, or they will face endless violence, war and death. There is no military solution to this conflict. Only a two-state endgame offers a viable, long-term political solution that could one day work  even if, after all this trauma, it takes years to happen.

The president should lay out the strategy in a prime-time Oval Office address and call on moderate Arab states, the European Union and the (United Nations) for support.

Submit a letter, of no more than 400 words, to the editor here or email letters@chicagotribune.com.
The Dane County Sheriffs Office is teaming with the nonprofit group Keeping K-9s in Kevlar in a fundraising effort to provide bullet-resistant vests for K9 Jury and K9 Kato.

Budget constraints mean law enforcement departments often turn to nonprofits for K9 equipment, and the sheriffs office said it is looking for community heroes in the Kevlar effort for its two K9s.

The bullet-resistant vest, priced at $5,570, will provide K9 Jury and K9 Kato protection against stabbings, shrapnel and handgun bullets.

Keeping K-9s in Kevlar raises money via PayPal, with all funds minus PayPals fees going to the dogs.

After the vest campaign is finished, a link from sister nonprofit 30x30 fundraising will be shared on Keeping K-9s in Kevlars Facebook page. The link enables supporters to fund additional items for the Dane County Sheriffs Offices K9 unit after the two vests are funded.

Anyone wishing to donate via check can mail it to: Keeping K-9s in Kevlar, 3901 Airport Way, Bellingham, WA 98226.

Keeping K-9s in Kevlar was founded in 2015 and is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit under the Whatcom County Sheriffs Office Support Foundation. Donations are tax-deductible.

See the Wisconsin State Journal photo staff's favorites of 2023
Madison officials on Wednesday spoke out against hate speech after two vandalism incidents within a half-mile of each other in the city in the past several days.

On Saturday afternoon, police were dispatched to the 100 block of State Street on reports of an Israeli flag made to look bloody being displayed. Early Tuesday morning, at least one person broke into Dubai Mediterranean Restaurant in the 400 block of State Street, causing substantial damage to the building, including anti-Islamic graffiti.

No arrests have been made in either incident.

Our community must not give in to hate, ignorance or intimidation, Mayor Satya Rhodes-Conway said in a statement. No matter our background, we must all come together to support each other, especially in moments of crisis.

The statement, signed by Rhodes-Conway, acting City Council president Yannette Figueroa-Cole and Police Chief Shon Barnes, cited a string of troubling Islamophobic and antisemitic incidents over the past months.

Earlier this month, members of a local Jewish group and the Anti-Defamation League noted an uptick in antisemitic incidents in southern Wisconsin, including neo-Nazi demonstrations in Madison and Watertown, and racist outbursts during the public comment portion of a city of Madison Zoom meeting.

While the City is strongly committed to protecting the right to engage in protected political speech, there can be no tolerance for crossing the line into criminal conduct that harms members of our community, the statement said.

Hate is not welcome here, and the City will put all of our resources towards investigating this and any incident that crosses that line.

Photos: Scenes from the Israel-Hamas war
NEW YORK  A New York City man has been charged with hate crimes following the Christmas Day stabbing of two teenage tourists from Paraguay at a restaurant inside Grand Central Terminal, authorities said.

Esteban Esono-Asue, 36, also known as Steven Hutcherson, made derogatory comments about white people shortly before the unprovoked attack on the 14- and 16-year-old girls Monday morning, according to a criminal complaint.

He was being held without bail Wednesday after pleading not guilty Tuesday to attempted murder and assault as hate crimes, and child endangerment.

According to the complaint, Esono-Asue initially was asked to leave the Tartinery dining area by an employee, who said Esono-Asue responded by saying: I'll leave, I don't want the white man to get at you, or something similar.

A second employee said he made another anti-white comment after he approached her and asked for a table to place an order.

I don't want to sit with Black people. I want to sit with the crackers, he told the second employee, according to the complaint.

Shortly after he was seated and given water, Esono-Asue walked over to a table of individuals, who appeared to be white, pulled a knife from his pocket and stabbed one of the girls in the back, the second employee told authorities.

As the family scrambled to get away, the man stabbed the younger girl in the thigh, Metropolitan Transportation Authority officials said. Both girls were taken to a hospital with injuries that were not believed to be life-threatening.

Officers quickly arrested Esono-Asue without further incident, an MTA spokesperson said.

The Paraguayan consulate general's office in New York said the office was assisting the family. They were visiting New York City from Paraguay and have requested privacy, consulate Luis Dominguez said Wednesday.

At his arraignment, Esono-Asue was ordered held without bail pending his next court appearance, scheduled for Friday. A Legal Aid Society attorney representing him declined to comment.
Transgender youth in Idaho can continue to legally seek gender-affirming care  for now  after a federal judge on Tuesday blocked a controversial law from taking effect until the lawsuit is settled.

House Bill 71 was signed into law by Idaho Gov. Brad Little in April, and it was scheduled to take effect Jan. 1.

Before Tuesdays decision, the law would have punished Idaho doctors who prescribe puberty blockers, hormones and other treatments to transgender youth with up to 10 years in prison.

But, the families of two transgender teens receiving gender-affirming care, who sued the state of Idaho, have secured a court order preventing enforcement of the law.

In Poe v. Labrador, the families allege House Bill 71 violates the 14th Amendments guarantee of equal protection under the law. On Tuesday, Federal Judge B. Lynn Winmill granted the families request for a preliminary injunction  thus blocking the law from going into effect until the lawsuit is settled.

The lawsuit names Attorney General Raul Labrador, Ada County Prosecutor Jan Bennetts and members of the Idaho Code Commission. Winmill dismissed the members of the code commission from the lawsuit Tuesday.

Labrador said in an emailed statement that he would immediately appeal the decision.

In his decision, Winmill said the plaintiffs claims have a strong likelihood of prevailing in court, and that House Bill 71 likely violates the 14th Amendment.

Time and again, these cases illustrate that the 14th Amendments primary role is to protect disfavored minorities and preserve our fundamental rights from legislative overreach, Winmill said in the decision. That was true for newly freed slaves following the Civil War. It was true in the 20th century for women, people of color, inter-racial couples, and individuals seeking access to contraception. And it is no less true for transgender children and their parents in the 21st century.

Winmill addressed critics in the decision who might say his decision to block the law is anti-democratic. But his role in the judiciary is exactly how a constitutional democracy works, he said.

The authors of the 14th Amendment fully understood and intended that the amendment would prevent state legislatures from passing laws that denied equal protection of the laws or invaded the fundamental rights of the people, he said.

The lawsuit was filed by the American Civil Liberties Union; the ACLU of Idaho; Wrest Collective; Paul, Weiss, Rifkind, Wharton & Garrison LLP; Groombridge, Wu, Baughman & Stone LLP; and the two Idaho families.

This victory is significant for Idaho transgender youth and their parents, and will have an immediate positive impact on their daily lives, said Leo Morales, executive director of the ACLU of Idaho, in an emailed statement. This judicial decision is a much-needed ray of hope for trans people amid a years-long onslaught against their rights to access health care and ability to navigate the world around them. Everyone should be free to live and thrive in their authentic identity, which means transgender people should not be shut out of accessing medically sound health care.
We sometimes hear Idahos County Clerks spoken of dismissively as mere clerks  low-level functionaries just there to carry out the orders of county commissioners. Those dismissive individuals might be surprised to learn that elected Clerks are the heart and soul of most counties in the Gem State. Idaho law says they serve as clerk of the courts in their county, as well as ex officio auditor, recorder and county commission clerk.

When I started practicing law in Jerome in 1973, it did not take long to learn how much influence the Clerk had over county business. The Clerk, Virginia Ricketts, was the institutional memory for the commission board, helping it to avoid legal pitfalls while guiding it to efficiently perform important county functions. In addition, she oversaw the maintenance of county records, recording of property documents, auditing of county records and operating the courts in the county.

Virginias staff was invaluable in providing copies of public documents that a young lawyer could use as a guide in drafting papers for clients  something law schools did not teach. Other Magic Valley Clerks were similarly helpful, both to lawyers and the general public. And, so it is today in Idahos 44 counties.

Another important responsibility of the elected Clerks is to oversee elections in the county. When I took office as Attorney General in 1983, I learned that Idahos elected Clerks were doing an outstanding job of administering elections. They still do so to this very day  running elections efficiently and honestly. Indeed, the Clerk who ran the largest county voting operation, Phil McGrane, was recognized for the excellent job he did by being elected as Idaho Secretary of State in 2022. He had the support of hundreds of county officials who were familiar with the high quality of his work.

During the Secretary of State campaign, one of Phils opponents in the GOP primary, Dorothy Moon, made a raft of unfounded claims regarding the integrity of Idaho elections. In 2021, she had given credibility to claims of fraud peddled by an out-of-state pillow merchant. Those claims were quickly debunked by grownups. Moons claims of election fraud in Idaho fell flat, except with her committed base of election deniers. When she was unable to show any instances of election irregularities, she made the preposterous claim that Canadians were trooping over the border to vote in Idaho.

Moons election denial and false fraud claims helped her to lose the primary race for Secretary of State, although she came frighteningly close (43.07% to 41.41%) because of a three-way race. Extremist Republicans rewarded Moon by making her head of the State GOP. Who said losers never prosper?

Moons incredible misconduct has cast an undeserved shadow over Idahos competent, largely non-political County Clerks. Most Idahoans can see through her unfounded claims of fraud, but some of the mud from an accomplished mudslinger always sticks.

Now the GOP boss is slinging mud at the Open Primaries Initiative, which will open up Idahos elections to allow all voters to participate. The initiative is a direct threat to the stranglehold that Moon and her acolytes have gained over access to legislative positions in Idaho. Extremists can win primaries against reasonable, traditional Republican candidates with as little as 8.8% of the registered voters in a legislative district. The party bosses know the initiative will destroy their monopoly of power.

Among other false claims, Moon contends that election officials, our County Clerks, will not be capable of running efficient, fraud-free elections under the ranked-choice system. She knowingly slanders the ability of these dedicated public servants. In the words of Chris Rich, who served 13 years as Chief Deputy to the Ada County Clerk and then 8 more years as elected Clerk, Idaho election officials will be able to honestly and accurately tabulate the election results under the initiative. Given the appropriate tools, the Clerks can manage most any election. We are every bit as capable as the election officials in Alaska and Maine, both of which have ranked-choice voting.

Idahos elected Clerks are completely capable of performing this work, just like every other task they are called upon to perform. Ignorant slurs will not stand in the way. Give them your respect.
ACEN Corp. is pursuing an aggressive renewable energy expansion program by subscribing to additional shares worth a combined P12.6 billion in its wholly-owned subsidiary project companies that are developing solar and wind projects.

ACEN issued separate disclosures on Thursday on the subscription of the company to additional shares in wholly-owned subsidiaries Sinocalan Solar Power Corp. (SSPC), Santa Cruz Solar Energy Inc., Gigasol 1, Inc., SolarAce2, Giga Ace 8, Inc. and Giga Ace 6, Inc.

The Ayala Groups energy platform said it signed a subscription contract with its wholly-owned subsidiary SSPC for the additional subscription to 70,800,387 redeemable preferred A shares (RPS A) for P708 million. This was equivalent to 24.8 percent of the total outstanding shares of SSPC at P10 apiece.

SSPC said it would use the subscription for the development of the proposed 60-megawatt solar power plant in San Manuel, Pangasinan.

ACEN said it also signed a subscription contract with wholly-owned subsidiary Santa Cruz Solar for an additional 13,058,894 common A shares and 117,530,048 RPS A shares for P1.3 billion.

Santa Cruz Solar said it would use the subscription to fund continuing works for the construction of the San Marcelino Solar Energy Power Plant Project (Phases 1 and 2) in San Marcelino, Zambales.

ACEN also announced it signed a subscription contract with wholly-owned subsidiary SolarAce2 to subscribe to 2,500,000 RPS for P250 million.

It said the subscription price would be used by SolarAce2 for development activities relating to renewable energy projects.

ACEN further signed a subscription contract with its wholly-owned subsidiary Giga Ace 8 Inc. for an additional subscription to 7,198,575 common A shares, 64,800,388 (RPS A) and 16,800,101 redeemable preferred C shares for P2.399 billion.

The subscription will be used by Giga Ace 8 to fund the proposed 300=MW Palauig Solar 2 project.

ACEN said it also signed a subscription contract with its wholly owned subsidiary Giga Ace 6 Inc. for the additional subscription to 799,479,168 common A shares and 7,162,304 RPS A for P7.961 billion.

The subscription price will be used by the Giga Ace 6 for the proposed development of a 335 MW onshore wind power project to be located in the provinces of Laguna and Quezon.

ACEN has about 4,500 MW of attributable capacity and aims to reach 20,000 MW by 2030.
The Department of Foreign Affairs has already dispatched a team to Yemen to assist in the ongoing negotiations for the release of 17 Filipino seafarers held hostage by Houthi militants.

Our contacts have assured us that for sure that they will be released, but its just a matter of how long, DFA Undersecretary for Migrant Workers Affairs Eduardo de Vega said.

We can promise that theyre okay because theyve been able to contact their families, he added.

The Filipino seafarers were on board the Bahamas-flagged carrier Galaxy Leader when it was captured by Houthi militants in the Red Sea on Nov. 19.

The Houthi, an Islamist group based in Yemen, took the Israeli-owned ship in support of Hamas in its war against Israel in Gaza.

The Houthis are adamant [right] now that [it is] not about money. They just want the Israeli operations against Gaza to end, De Vega said.

President Marcos ordered the formation of the delegation to negotiate with the captors of the Filipino seafarers earlier this month as he canceled his trip to attend to the situation of the hostages.

Some things need immediate attention. One of those is our fellow Filipinos who are being held hostage, the President said.

The International Bargaining Forum had declared the southern area of the Red Sea and the Bab El-Mandeb Strait as high risk areas following the Houthis missile attacks on another container ship bound for Saudi Arabia and an attempted drone attack on Israel.

The Department of Migrant Workers earlier reminded Filipino seafarers that they may reject jobs that would require passage through the high-risk areas.

The idea is that we dont want our seafarers to be forced to take that route and instead they should be given other routes like that. I think what our seafarers will say is that they will agree because with higher pay but life is more important, De Vega said.
Foreign Affairs Secretary Enrique Manalo had a phone conversation with US Secretary of State Antony Blinken on issues of mutual concern, including the ongoing tension in the South China Sea, the US State Department said Thursday.

Manalos call with Blinken came after he said he had a frank and candid call with Chinas Foreign Minister Wang Yi, on the territorial dispute between Manila and Beijing.

During their call, Blinken assured Manalo of the United States ironclad commitment to fulfill its obligations to the Philippines under the Mutual Defense Treaty.

Secretary Blinken and Secretary Manalo also exchanged ideas on how to reinforce US-Philippines cooperation in the coming year, building on President Marcos official working visit to Washington, D.C., this past May, the US State Department added.

The Department of Foreign Affairs has yet to provide details on Manalos call with Blinken.

The Philippine Coast Guard (PCG), meanwhile, slammed Chinese claims of a hidden agenda on the part of Manilas allies in the West Philippine Sea (WPS) dispute.

While it is true that there is no such thing as free lunch, unlike China, our allies do not take away our lunch especially if it is rightfully ours, said PCG spokesperson for the WPS Commodore Jay Tarriela in a post on his X page.

Tarrielas post was a reaction to an editorial article of the Chinese government-supported publication Global Times, which said the Philippines should remain vigilant against the enthusiasm displayed by the US and other countries.

There is no such thing as a free lunch, and behind the US enthusiasm lies a hidden agenda, the paper said.

The PCG official also said that the Philippines will keep its vigilance against the bullies and will continue to welcome countries that support its interests.

Tarriela also called out the Chinese for blaming the actions of the Philippines as well as the US for the rising tensions in the South China Sea.

Chinas actions, he said, are the main source of the conflict in the contested region.

Until now, the [Peoples Republic of China] has not come to terms with the fact that their fabricated narratives and baseless claims about the alleged aggressive actions of the Philippines are not that convincing, Tarriela said.

Instead, they weaken their own argument that the US is the primary instigator of the rising tensions in the South China Sea, he added.

Recently, Chinese state media Peoples Daily also published a commentary accusing the Philippines of infringing on Chinas territory, spreading false information, and colluding with other countries to cause trouble.

On Thursday, China said it is committed to resolving its maritime dispute with the Philippines through dialogue and consultation, but warned that it will not turn a blind eye to repeated provocations and harassment by Manila.

The Philippine government earlier this month condemned China for its coast guard and maritime militia repeatedly firing water cannons at Manilas resupply boats, causing serious engine damage to one, and deliberately ramming another.

In a press conference in Beijing, Wu Qian, a ministry spokesperson, called the accusations purely false hype, saying the Philippine side insisted on sending vessels to intrude into waters near a disputed shoal and proactively rammed a Chinese Coast Guard vessel.

Wu said the China Coast Guard took necessary enforcement measures that were justified and legitimate.

Relations soured between Manila and Beijing over recent incidents in the South China Sea, including charges that China rammed a ship this month carrying Philippine military chief General Romeo Brawner Jr.

The Philippines includes areas of the South China Sea that fall within its exclusive economic zone and continental shelf as part of the West Philippine Sea.
THE Hamas-run Gaza Strips health ministry has said war with Israel has killed more than 21,000, as Israel kept pounding the besieged territory with air strikes and shelling.

The World Health Organization (WHO) said Gazans were in grave peril after more than 11 weeks of fightingtriggered by Hamass deadly Oct 7 attacks on Israelwhich left most hospitals in the Palestinian territory out of action and led to acute hunger.

Explosions lit up the sky over the southern Gaza city of Khan Yunis  a focus of heavy urban combat since the Israeli army said it had largely gained control over Gazas north.

The Gaza health ministry said a strike hit a house near Al-Amal hospital in Khan Yunis, killing 22 people. Heavy firefights also raged again around Gaza City in the north.

Gazas spiraling humanitarian crisis has amplified calls for an end to the hostilities.

WHO chief Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus called on the international community to take urgent steps to alleviate the grave peril facing the population of Gaza and jeopardizing the ability of humanitarian workers to help the many in need.

In a statement, the WHO said hungry people again stopped our convoys in the hope of finding food.

WHOs ability to supply medicines, medical supplies, and fuel to hospitals is being increasingly constrained by the hunger and desperation of people en route to, and within, hospitals we reach.

Israel has repeatedly vowed to keep up the campaign to destroy Hamas, an Islamist group blacklisted as a terrorist organization by the United States and the European Union.

The conflict erupted when Hamas gunmen attacked southern Israel, resulting in the deaths of about 1,140 people, mostly civilians, according to an AFP tally based on Israeli figures.

Palestinian militants also took around 250 hostages, 129 of whom remain in captivity, Israel says.

Israel retaliated with a relentless bombardment and a siege of Gaza, launching a ground invasion on Oct 27.

At least 21,110 people have been killed, according to the latest toll issued by Gazas health ministry. It said 8,800 of them were children and 6,300 women.

Israels army blames armed groups for the high civilian death toll, charging that fighters hide in schools, hospitals and other civilian infrastructure, or in tunnels below them.

The army said 164 soldiers have been killed inside Gaza.

The war has raised fears of a broader regional conflagration, with deadly exchanges between Israel and Lebanons powerful Hezbollah movement, and Iranian calls for revenge after a strike blamed on Israel killed a senior general.

Gazas 2.4 million people have suffered severe shortages of water, food, fuel and medicines, with only limited aid entering the territory.

An estimated 1.9 million Gazans have been displaced, the UN says.

AFPTV footage showed Palestinians who had been sheltering in a UN-run school in central Gazas Nuseirat refugee camp fleeing south, seeking safety from the bombardment.

Displaced Gazans dont know where to go, said one who declined to be named. First, were displaced to Nuseirat, then to Rafah.

Even schools are no longer safe.

A solution must be reached Implement a ceasefire instead of bringing in aid, he added.

Palestinian president Mahmud Abbas charged in a television interview that the war goes beyond a catastrophe and a genocide.

Netanyahus plan is to get rid of the Palestinians and the Palestinian Authority, said Abbas, who is based in the occupied West Bank.

The UN Security Council called in a resolution last week for the safe and unhindered delivery of humanitarian assistance at scale.

The resolution, which did not call for an immediate end to the fighting, effectively leaves Israel with operational oversight of aid deliveries.

In the far-southern city of Rafah, hundreds turned up at the Abdul Salam Yassin water company with baskets, handcarts and even a wheelchair stacked with empty bottles to get clean water.

This was my fathers cart, said Rafah resident Amir al-Zahhar. He was martyred during the war. He used it to transport and sell fish, and now we are using it to transport fresh water.

Elsewhere in Rafah, people split logs and stacked kindling as the lack of fuel forced them to burn wood for cooking and to keep warm.

Internet and telephone services that were cut on Tuesday were gradually being restored in central and southern areas of Gaza, the Palestinian telecommunications company Paltel said.

Violence has also flared across the West Bank, with more than 310 Palestinians killed by Israeli troops or settlers since Oct 7, the health ministry there said.

An Israeli operation in a refugee camp in the northern West Bank killed six people Wednesday, it said. The army said it had struck the Nur Shams camp from the air.

The war has reverberated across the Middle East, drawing in armed groups backed by Israels arch foe Iran in Lebanon, Iraq, Syria and Yemen.

An Israeli air strike on a Lebanon border town killed a Hezbollah fighter, the group said Wednesday, with state media reporting two of his relatives were also killed.

Hezbollah later said it launched a barrage of rockets towards northern Israel. AFPTV footage showed damage to houses and roads in the Israeli border town of Kiryat Shmona, where no casualties were reported.

Iran meanwhile prepared for the funeral of general Razi Moussavi  a senior commander in the Quds Force, the foreign operations arm of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps  killed Monday in an Israeli air strike in Syria.

Tehran has vowed to avenge his death, with Guards spokesman Ramezan Sharif warning of direct action against Israel.

Yemens Huthi rebels have repeatedly fired at passing cargo ships in the Red Sea in attacks in solidarity with Hamas.

As a US-led naval coalition is deployed to secure the vital maritime route, French shipping giant CMA-CGM has resumed some transit through the Red Sea days after Danish group Maersk announced a similar return. AFP
How many times have you heard or read the words, President Joe Biden is soft on the border or Donald Trumps border policies are inhumane? I have read article after article and listened to newscast after newscast where blame for our immigration crisis has been placed on Republicans by Democrats and on Democrats by Republicans.

My observations over a month reveal that more than 90% of opinions and letters regarding immigration focus on blaming a particular party for the immigration crisis. I believe the blame game serves only to prolong the fight against critical bipartisan efforts.

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I firmly believe both parties must be willing to put aside their differences and develop strong bipartisan legislation that will be fully endorsed and consistently enforced by both parties. This kind of effort would give our country the direction we need to begin resolving our immigrant issues.

We must consider what is happening in Central America that is causing this mass migration. However, we can gain a level of reasonable control of the situation. I understand there is a bipartisan committee currently working on developing legislation in this regard. We should be writing to encourage the members efforts.

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What is my point? When we write opinions that place blame on a particular party, we are simply making ourselves feel better about our own biases against another party. I remind you that the last four presidents  George W. Bush, Barack Obama, Trump and Biden  failed at resolving the border problem. Someone will inevitably say, however, that one did better than the other. Its lipstick on a pig. The border dilemma is still with us.

We, in general, are to blame! Voters must send a clear message to Congress that we want a sustained bipartisan effort that will report progress on a regular basis. Congress should also know and understand that those in power who choose to block or smear this effort will be in jeopardy of losing their seats. Nothing else at this point has worked.

I guarantee that bipartisan legislation supported and endorsed by the voters will serve our needs more effectively than biased opinions or letters.

 George Comer, Crown Point

Texas governors point

Clearly, Texas Gov. Greg Abbott is pushing the envelope to the limit by forwarding busloads of immigrants to Chicago, the city he has targeted to make a political point since we call it the nations welcoming city. Chicago has earned that reputation by absorbing thousands of immigrants over the years, mostly destitute Europeans, many from the Balkans and Eastern Europe, as well as Irish galore as a result of the famine many years ago, and displaced people after World Wars I and II.

But some here may wonder: How many is enough? If Mayor Brandon Johnson has a Plan B up his sleeve, so far, it is a secret. Many mayors in his shoes would be tempted to play Abbotts game by sending many of the migrants to Republican-run cities, in a tit-for-tat countermove. It may yet come to that. Hello, Milwaukee? Madison? Racine? Beloit? Detroit? Indianapolis?

Many parts of the country complain of not enough workers, but Abbott is not sending them there because he wants to make a political point instead. Logic is the least of it, unless the goal is to try to embarrass Democratic bastions that may or may not be equipped to absorb a big and protracted influx of outlanders.

Likely, the immigrants will find their way to locations in need of workers, and tensions shall subside as both cultures adjust to each other, a familiar pattern repeating the absorption of waves of Czechs, Poles, Bohemians and others over the years, many of whom were uprooted by war.

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These days, the only hostility in the mix seem to come from Republican politicians who too easily forget that many of their own ancestors arrived here as refugees or people otherwise scuffling to make a place for themselves in the world. And America became the better for it.

If anyone hereabout is burning effigies of Abbott, it has yet to be reported, though he has earned our antipathy, if not scorn. Maybe President Joe Biden should call Abbotts bluff, and Washington should activate an absorption plan spread far and wide, since the USA always was and shall continue to be the destination of choice for the worlds refugees.

Accepting them has made us only stronger.

 Ted Z. Manuel, Chicago

Migrant situation in Texas

Almost every day, there is a new article regarding the plight of the asylum-seekers in Chicago. The governor of Texas continues to be criticized for managing the influx of migrants by sending them to other cities to decompress the surge in his state.

As the Tribune provides the number of migrants who have arrived in Chicago over the past year, it fails to mention the volume of migrants who cross the border in Texas daily. What percentage of the migrants are living in Chicago compared with the number in Texas?

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This is a national issue, and a balanced picture of the crisis should be presented.

 Cathy Rennau, Oak Park

Why local news matters

Regarding Candidate faces scrutiny over reversed conviction (Dec. 22): I read with interest the front-page article by reporters A.D. Quig and Sam Charles. This article is a fine example of the investigative reporting done by Tribune reporters. It not only provides important information the public needs from a historic standpoint, but it also is so relevant today.

This is the very reason we need to support local news. Local news builds strong, informed communities. I am a Chicago resident. This is the reason I subscribe to the Tribune.

 Kathryn Williams, Chicago

Cops staying in their cars

Retired Chicago police Officer Michael C. Flynns letter (Putting cops in harms way), in response to a letter from a police officer from another state (Fixed posts, Dec. 16) concerning police officers not getting out of their cars to interact with the people they serve, was very sad indeed.

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Chicago Tribune Opinion Weekdays Read the latest editorials and commentary curated by the Tribune Opinion team. By submitting your email to receive this newsletter, you agree to our Subscriber Terms & Conditions and Privacy Policy >

When the police are afraid to interact with the people on the streets and they stay in their cars, they serve and protect no one but themselves. Hopefully, that is not the mentality of our police officers. If so, then we are all unsafe on the streets of Chicago.

 Andrew Kachiroubas, Chicago

They would lose their jobs

In answer to Scott Lauders questions in his letter A hypothetical situation (Dec. 23): Middle-aged white men dont keep their jobs for making the same comments Harvard University President Claudine Gay and Illinois NAACP President Teresa Haley made.

 Bruce R. Hovanec, Chicago

Join the conversation in our Letters to the Editor Facebook group.

Submit a letter, of no more than 400 words, to the editor here or email letters@chicagotribune.com.
TODAYS WORD is serendipity. Example: Exploring the antique store turned into pure serendipity when he stumbled upon a hidden compartment in an old desk that contained a stack of rare coins.

TUESDAYS WORD was transmogrify, meaning to change in appearance or form, especially strangely or grotesquely; transform. Example: The caterpillar underwent a remarkable transformation as it transmogrified into a vibrant butterfly, spreading it colorful wings for the first time.

Rainbow House

The Christmas Cheer Committee donated much-needed diapers, clothes and toys to the Rainbow House on Cleveland Avenue in Martinsville, just in time for Christmas.

The Rainbow House provides a safe place for women and their children to stay when faced with domestic violence, sexual assault, stalking, or homelessness situation.

The facility, provided by the Citizens Against Family Violence, also provided safety planning, advocacy, documentation of assault, assistance with protective orders and counseling.

If you would like to help financially, go to the Southside Survivor Response Center website at ssrcenter.org and click the Donate Now! button about midway down the page.

Sisters

Local historian Desmond Kendrick tells the Stroller that sisters Matilda Hughes Dillard and Sallie Hughes Martin were the daughters of Mary Dalton and Archelaus Hughes.

Matilda (1795-1858), married Col. John Dillard and lived at Font Hill plantation in Henry County. Sallie (1792-1883), married Col. Joseph Martin and lived at Greenwood plantation in Henry County. Both of the husbands served in the War of 1812.

Martinsville is named after Joseph Martin.

Rooneyisms

Andy Rooney, known for his weekly broadcast that was part of the 60 Minutes news program, often shared what he had learned:

Ive learned that just one person saying to me, Youve made my day! makes my day.

Ive learned that having a child fall asleep in you arms is one of the most peaceful feelings in the world.

Ive learned that being kind is more important than being right.

Chuckle

One evening during a bad thunderstorm a mother was tucking her small boy into bed.

She was about to turn off the light when he asked with a tremor in his voice, Mommy, will you sleep with me tonight?

The mother smiled and gave him a reassuring hug. I cant dear, she said. I have to sleep in Daddys room.

A long silence was broken by a shaken little voice saying, The big sissy.

Quote of the day

Gratitude makes sense of our past, brings peace for today, and creates a vision for tomorrow.  Melody Beattie

TUESDAYS TRIVIA ANSWER: A span is equal to nine inches. The distance is measured by a human hand, from the tip of the thumb to the tip of the little finger. In ancient times, a span was considered to be half a cubit.

TODAYS TRIVIA QUESTION: What has two poles as a result of Amperian currents?
Editors note: Calendar items must be submitted at least six days before an event. Items are only guaranteed to publish once prior to the event. To guarantee placement in the paper on a particular day, organizations can purchase an ad by calling 315-720-9694. Email all items to news@mcdowellnews.com.

SATURDAY, DEC. 30 Historic Christmas

The Museum of Haywood County History opens its doors to celebrate A Christmas of Old on Saturday, Dec. 30, from noon to 5 p.m. The museum is located in the historic Shook-Smathers House, built in 1795, at 178 Morgan St. in Clyde, and is managed by The Haywood County Historical and Genealogical Society. The house is decorated for the holidays and docents will be present to give tours and provide interpretation for the exhibits. Childrens activities and refreshments are also included. The event is free, but donations are gratefully accepted.

SUNDAY, DEC. 31

The Marion Rotary Clubs New Years Eve celebration will kick off on Sunday, Dec. 31, at 9 p.m. in downtown Marion. Starting at 9 p.m., visitors can enjoy live music from PQ DJ Services, a Family Fun Zone and carriage rides through downtown Marion. Visitors can also sign up between a free New Years Eve Scavenger Hunt and a costume contest. At the stroke of midnight, the gold nugget drop will ring out 2023 and ring in 2024.

MONDAY, JAN. 1

On Monday all seven Convenience centers and Transfer Station will be closed in observance of New Years Day. On Tuesday, Jan. 2, all seven convenience centers will be open from 6:30 a.m. to 6:30 p.m. and the Transfer Station will be open from 7 a.m. to 4 p.m.

WEDNESDAY, JAN. 3

The McDowell County Board of Elections will meet on Wednesday at 8:30 a.m. for the purpose of approving the 2024 primary election ballot. The Board of Elections office is located at 2458 N.C. 226 South in Marion.
EDITORS NOTE: Church news will print weekly in Thursdays edition. Please email announcements at least one week in advance to news@mcdowellnews.com with church announcement in the subject line or call 828-432-8939 and leave a message with the event details and a contact number.

ONGOING EVENTS

First United Methodist Church, across from Marion Elementary School, invites everyone looking for a church family to Sunday school at 9:45 a.m. and worship at 11 a.m. The United Methodist Men continue to sell their peanuts for $5 a jar. Peanuts are available in regular, light salt, no salt and Cajun. To order, call the church office at 652-7010. FUMC also administers an Emergency Fund on the first and third Wednesdays of every month from 10-11:30 a.m. This fund assists with electricity and heating needs, water bills and rent. Clients must meet certain requirements, and funds are paid directly to providers. Clients should come to the upper parking lot and enter the door near the church van.

Redeemed Freewill Baptist Church, of 5079 U.S. 221 South, hosts a youth program called The Sprouts from 7-8 p.m. every Wednesday until further notice. A meal and a Bible lesson will be provided. Parents are encouraged to bring their children to learn about the love of Jesus.

St. Matthews Lutheran Church, of 241 W. Court St., Marion, invites the community to watch the global film phenomenon The Chosen. Experience the Bible as vividly real each Wednesday at 7 p.m. until further notice. There will be refreshments and door prizes.

Chapel Hill Baptist Church, on U.S. 221 South, Marion, will have an all-you-can-eat breakfast on the second Saturday of each month from 7:30-10 a.m. for a donation.

His Place Worship Center, 1423 U.S. 70 West in Marion, will host combined in-person and online meetings at 10 a.m. on the second Saturday of each month. Additional information about the Hickory Lighthouse, including links to the Zoom and Facebook Live meetings, are available at Hickory Aglows website and Facebook page: www.aglownet.org/hickorync and www.facebook.com/hickory.aglow. Interested persons may sign up on the website to receive a monthly email newsletter. Readers may receive related Facebook notifications by liking the Facebook page.

The Sharing Food Pantry Ministry of Cross United Methodist Church needs donations of coats, sweaters and blankets for families in the community who may be in need. Donations can be dropped off at 85 W. Cross St., just past Blue Ridge Terrace Apartments in Marion. For more information, call 828-460-9257 or 828-559-4047 and leave a message.

East Marion Baptist Church, of 660 Baldwin Ave., Marion, will host The Landing, a 12-step program for teens, every Wednesday from 6-7:30 p.m. For more information, email thelanding@embc.church.

North Cove Church of God will have a breakfast sale on every third Saturday of the month.

Living Waters Tabernacle of Old Fort is offering a worship service twice a month for college-aged adults called Encounter. The service will be the first and third Thursday of each month from 6:30-7:30 p.m. At each meeting, a new topic will be discussed with a guest speaker; live music will be played; and refreshments will be served. For more information, check out Living Waters Tabernacle of Old Fort on Facebook or email jakanjamison96@gmail.com. The church is at 344 Moffitt Hill Church Road in Old Fort.

Cross Mill United Methodist Church has a sharing food pantry for the community. The tiny food pantry is outside the church fellowship building, and is accessible 24 hours a day, seven days a week. The nonperishable food items are available for anyone in need. If you would like to donate items to this ministry, you may drop them off at the pantry box or call 460-9257 or 442-8098.

Greenlee Baptist Church, 5967 U.S. 70 West in Old Fort, offers Kids on a Mission each Sunday from 6-8 p.m. Newborns to seniors in high school are invited to join. The church also has a deaf ministry available. Interpreters will be provided for the worship services every Sunday at 10:55 a.m. For information, call the church office at 668-6075 between 10 a.m. and 1 p.m.

Cross Ties Cowboy Church meets every first Thursday at 2365 Bethlehem Road in Old Fort at 7 p.m. in the barn. For more information, call 828-925-2095.

Landmark Independent Baptist Church will host a meeting on alcohol and addiction awareness by Gene Sigmon the third Friday of each month at 6:30 p.m. The church is at 225 Huskins Branch Road in Marion. For more information, contact Sigmon at soundmind16@yahoo.com.

Peppers Creek Baptist Church will have a singing on the fourth Saturday of each month at 7 p.m. from January through October.

McDowell Childrens Ministry, a ministry for children of the community interested in participating in a life-changing program, meets twice monthly. For more information, call Daniel at 659-0095 during the day or at 738-0733 in the evenings.

Cross Mill Pentecostal Holiness Church has a soaking prayer and intercession meeting every Friday at 8 p.m. For information, call the Rev. Doug Beane-Hall at 442-6216.

Vision Baptist Church, at 1841 Fairview Road, Marion, is offering Extreme Teens (Club 411) on Wednesdays at 7 p.m. and Sundays at 10 a.m. Victorious Couples meet on Sundays at 10 a.m. Additional childrens and adult programs are also available.

First Presbyterian Church of Marion invites everyone to come out on Sundays at 11 a.m. for worship service. All are welcome.

Apostolic Restoration Ministries is a new church to the area. If anyone is interested in attending, call Tim Eller at 828-443-2050.
The story of the Lost Colony is North Carolinas founding myth.

Except for one thing, it may be the best founding myth of any U.S. state or any country in the world.

It goes like this: A group of about 100 people who lived in England sailed across the ocean, and settled on an island in what is now North Carolina. A child was born, thus the first child of English parents born in America. The baby girl was named Virginia Dare.

Then the myth collapses. The colonists disappeared and could not be found.

Ever.

Without a conclusion, our story, our founding story, is incomplete.

Over the years scholars, adventurers and some ordinary people, over a period of more than 400 years, have tried, without success, to discover and explain what happened to the colonists.

As a promotional for a new book, Excavating the Lost Colony Mystery, published by the First Colony Foundation and the University of North Carolina Press, explains, The fate of Sir Walter Raleighs 1587 Lost Colony on Roanoke Island has been one of the most enduring mysteries in the history of European settlement in North America. For generations, writers, scholars, and others have speculated about the disappearance of more than one hundred colonists, whose only obvious clue left behind was the word CROATOAN carved on the palisade of the settlement.

Since its organization in 2004, the First Colony Foundation has promoted and coordinated research and communication about ongoing efforts to learn more about the fate of the colonists.

One of the important contributions of the book is a better understanding of John White, whose illustrations of life among the indigenous peoples in the colony and his beautiful maps are recognized as treasures today. Thankfully, the new book contains illustrations of his best work.

White first came to America in 1585 as the illustrator for the findings of a group of scientists and information seekers. On his second trip he earned the position of governor, having recruited most of the new colonists. He was sent back to England in 1587 for supplies, leaving behind his daughter and new granddaughter on Roanoke Island to make their way with the other colonists.

When White finally returned to the island in 1590, all the colonists were gone, leaving only the Croatoan carving as a clue.

The new book describes how in 2012, thanks in large part to the suggestion of board member Brent Lane, a patch on one of John Whites maps was found to cover a symbol for a fort about 50 miles from Roanoke Island near the intersection of the Roanoke River and Albemarle Sound.

This location in Bertie County became known as Site X, and the foundation sponsored extensive archeological research to learn if the colonists might have relocated there. That research will continue, but one authority, foundation board member and president of the Jamestown Rediscovery Foundation, James Horn, speculates that the settlers moved west from Roanoke Island toward Site X.

At Site X, Horn writes, Whites settlers likely remained there for a few years patiently waiting for his return, but as time passed and it became less and less likely that he would come back, they settled down and intermarried with neighboring Indians along the Chowan.

Horn speculates, By the early 17th century most had spent the greater part of their adult lives with the Indian peoples. Then, perhaps about the same time as the first Jamestown expedition arrived in the James River in the spring of 1607, a catastrophe may have overwhelmed them.

Jamestown leaders were told that a large Powhatan war party had killed most of the settlers and their Indian kin.

Horns informed speculation gives our founding myth an ending, even if it is not the ending we were hoping for. The ongoing work of the foundation will continue to develop other possible answers.

In the meantime, Excavating the Lost Colony Mystery is a book that should be in the library of everyone who celebrates our founding myth.
A group of professionals from the Simao Mendes National Hospital (HNSM), Guinea-Bissaus main medical unit, began a general strike Wednesday to demand the payment of around six months salaries, a source from the union told media.

According to a source from the HNSM Basic Union, the strike is to take place Wednesday, Thursday and Friday, involving doctors, nurses, midwives and hospital care staff.

At issue is the governments unfulfilled promise that a total of six months salary arrears would be paid by Tuesday 26th.

A source in the management of Simao Mendes said that the strike began yesterday, although with little impact, as it was the first day.

This strike is happening at the worst time, noted the same source, who pointed to cases of accidents and illnesses related to the excessive consumption of alcoholic beverages during this festive season.

The source explained that the strike hasnt been felt yet at Simao Mendes because many technicians were unaware that the strike would actually take place from today.

When shifts change in the evening, many technicians wont show up for work, the source predicted, citing past experiences.

The strike was called by the Basic Union, which includes around 200 HNSM workers, including technicians and hospital care staff, most of whom are contracted.

A source in the Simao Mendes management said that the 700 or so professionals working at the hospital are currently waiting to receive around six months worth of allowances.

The Simao Mendes management is hopeful that, at the Council of Ministers this Thursday, the government will find a solution and the strike will be lifted, he said.
As of January 1st, the 2.5% tax for individuals will apply to all foreign currency transfers abroad, except those for health and education expenses.

The Special Contribution on Foreign Exchange Operations (CEOC), applicable to transfers in foreign currency outside Angola, with a rate of 2.5% for individuals and 10% for legal persons, will come into force on January 1, 2024.

The information is contained in a note from the Angolan General Tax Administration (AGT), signed by its president, Jose Leiria, this Wednesday, and which specifies how it will be applied.

This tax will be levied on all transfers in foreign currency abroad made by natural or legal persons with their domicile or registered office in Angola, within the scope of contracts for the provision of services, technical assistance, consultancy and management, capital transactions and unilateral transfers.

In the communication, the Angolan tax authority reports on a meeting held with the Angolan Association of Banks, which is partly responsible for compliance with this new rule, and recalls that the law that approved the General State Budget (OGE) for 2024 provides for the introduction of the CEOC into the Angolan legal system.
This article has been reviewed according to Science X's editorial process and policies . Editors have highlighted the following attributes while ensuring the content's credibility:

Credit: Unsplash/CC0 Public Domain

Erinn Maury knew Remicade wasn't the right drug for Patti Schulte, a rheumatoid arthritis patient the physician saw at her Millersville, Maryland, practice. Schulte's swollen, painful joints hadn't responded to Enbrel or Humira, two drugs in the same class.

But the insurer insisted, so Schulte went on Remicade. It didn't work either.

What's more, Schulte suffered a severe allergic reaction to the infusion therapy, requiring a heavy dose of prednisone, a steroid with grave side effects if used at high doses for too long.

After 18 months, her insurer finally approved Maury's drug of choice, Orencia. By then, Schulte's vertebrae, weakened by prednisone, had started cracking. She was only 60.

Schulte's story of pain, drug-hopping, and insurance meddling is all too common among patients with rheumatoid arthritis, who often cycle agonizingly through half a dozen drugs in search of one that provides a measure of relief. It's also a story of how doctors are steered by pharmacy benefit managersthe middlemen of the drug marketas well as by insurers.

Once people with inflammatory conditions such as rheumatoid arthritis reach a certain stage, the first prescription offered is typically Humira, the best-selling drug in history, and part of a class known as tumor necrosis factor inhibitors, or TNFis, which fail to significantly help about half of the patients who take it.

"We practice rheumatology without any help," said Vibeke Strand, a rheumatologist and adjunct clinical professor at Stanford. She bemoaned the lack of tools available to choose the right drug while bristling at corporate intervention in the decision. "We are told by the insurer what to prescribe to the patient. After they fail methotrexate, it's a TNF inhibitor, almost always Humira. And that's not OK."

If there's a shred of hope in this story, it's that a blood test, PrismRA, may herald an era of improved care for patients with rheumatoid arthritis and other autoimmune conditions. But first, it must be embraced by insurers.

PrismRA employs a predictive model that combines clinical factors, blood tests, and 19 gene patterns to identify the roughly 60% of patients who are very unlikely to respond to a TNFi drug.

Over the past 25 years, drug companies have introduced five new classes of autoimmune drugs. TNFis were the first to market, starting in the late 1990s.

Some 1.3 million Americans have rheumatoid arthritis, a disease in which a person's immune system attacks their joints, causing crippling pain and, if improperly treated, disfigurement. The newer drugs, mostly so-called biologics, are also used by some of the 25 million or more Americans with other autoimmune diseases, such as lupus, Crohn's disease, and psoriasis. Typically costing tens of thousands of dollars annually, the drugs are prescribed after a patient fails to respond to older, cheaper drugs like methotrexate.

Until recently, rheumatologists have had few ways to predict which of the new drugs would work best on which patients. Often, "it's a coin flip whether I prescribe drug A or B," said Jeffrey Curtis, a rheumatology professor at the University of Alabama-Birmingham.

Yet about 90% of the patients who are given one of these advanced drugs start on a TNFi, although there's often no reason to think a TNFi will work better than another type.

Under these puzzling circumstances, it's often the insurer rather than the doctor who chooses the patient's drug. Insurers lean toward TNFis such as adalimumab, commonly sold as brand-name Humira, in part because they get large rebates from manufacturers for using them. Although the size of such payments is a trade secret, AbbVie is said to be offering rebates to insurers of up to 60% of Humira's price. That has enabled it to control 98.5% of the U.S. adalimumab market, even though it has eight biosimilar competitors.

PrismRA's developer, Scipher Medicine, has provided more than 26,000 test results, rarely covered by insurance. But on Oct. 15, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid began reimbursing for the test, and its use is expected to rise. At least two other companies are developing drug-matching tests for rheumatoid arthritis patients.

Although critics say PrismRA is not always useful, it is likely to be the first in a series of diagnostics anticipated over the next decade that could reduce the time that autoimmune disease patients suffer on the wrong drug.

Academics, small biotechs, and large pharmaceutical companies are investing in methods to distinguish the biological pathways involved in these diseases, and the best way to treat each one. This approach, called precision medicine, has existed for years in cancer medicine, in which it's routine to test the genetics of patients' tumors to determine the appropriate drug treatment.

"You wouldn't give Herceptin to a breast cancer patient without knowing whether her tumor was HER2-positive," said Costantino Pitzalis, a rheumatology professor at the William Harvey Research Institute in London. He was speaking before a well-attended session at an American College of Rheumatology conference in San Diego in November. "Why do we not use biopsies or seek molecular markers in rheumatoid arthritis?"

It's not only patients and doctors who have a stake in which drugs work best for a given person.

When Remicade failed and Schulte waited for the insurer to approve Orencia, she insisted on keeping her job as an accountant. But as her prednisone-related spinal problems worsened, Schulte was forced to retire, go on Medicaid, and seek disability, something she had always sworn to avoid.

Now taxpayers, rather than the insurer, are covering Schulte's medical bills, Maury noted.

Precision medicine hasn't seemed like a priority for large makers of autoimmune drugs, which presumably have some knowledge of which patients are most likely to benefit from their drugs, since they have tested and sold millions of doses over the years. By offering rebate incentives to insurers, companies like AbbVie, which makes Humira, can guarantee theirs are the drugs of choice with insurers.

"If you were AbbVie," Curtis said, "why would you ever want to publish data showing who's not going to do well on your drug, if, in the absence of the test, everyone will start with your drug first?"

What testing could do

Medicare and commercial insurers haven't yet set a price for PrismRA, but it could save insurers thousands of dollars a year for each patient it helps, according to Krishna Patel, Scipher's associate director of medical affairs.

"If the test cost $750, I still only need it once, and it costs less than a month of whatever drug is not going to work very well for you," said Curtis, a co-author of some studies of the test. "The economics of a biomarker that's anything but worthless is pretty favorable because our biologics and targeted drugs are so expensive."

Patients are enthusiastic about the test because so many have had to take TNFis that didn't work. Many insurers require patients to try a second TNFi, and sometimes a third.

Jen Weaver, a patient advocate and mother of three, got little benefit from hydroxychloroquine, sulfasalazine, methotrexate, and Orencia, a non-TNFi biologic therapy, before finding some relief in another, Actemra. But she was taken off that drug when her white blood cells plunged, and the next three drugs she triedall TNFiscaused allergic reactions, culminating with an outbreak of pus-filled sores. Another drug, Otezla, eventually seemed to help heal the sores, and she's been stable on it since in combination with methotrexate, Weaver said.

"What is needed is to substantially shorten this trial-and-error period for patients," said Shilpa Venkatachalam, herself a patient and the director of research operations at the Global Healthy Living Foundation. "There's a lot of anxiety and frustration, weeks in pain wondering whether a drug is going to work for you and what to do if it doesn't."

A survey by her group found that 91% of patients worried their medications would stop working. And there is evidence that the longer it takes to resolve arthritis symptoms, the less chance they will ever stop.

How insurers will respond to the availability of tests isn't clear, partly because the arrival of new biosimilar drugsessentially generic versionsare making TNFis cheaper for insurance plans. While Humira still dominates, AbbVie has increased rebates to insurers, in effect lowering its cost. Lower prices make the PrismRA test less appealing to insurers, since widespread use of the test could cut TNFi prescriptions by up to a third.

However, rheumatologist John Boone in Louisville, Kentucky, found to his surprise that insurers mostly accepted alternative prescriptions for 41 patients whom the test showed unlikely to respond to TNFis as part of a clinical trial. Boone receives consulting fees from Scipher.

Although the test didn't guarantee good outcomes, he said, the few patients given TNFis despite the test results almost all did poorly on that regimen.

Scientists from AbbVie, which makes several rheumatology drugs in addition to Humira, presented a study at the San Diego conference examining biomarkers that might show which patients would respond to Rinvoq, a new immune-suppressing drug in a class known as the JAK inhibitors. When asked about its use of precision medicine, AbbVie declined to comment.

Over two decades, Humira has been a blockbuster drug for AbbVie. The company sold more than $3.5 billion worth of Humira in the third quarter of 2023, 36% less than a year ago. Sales of Rinvoq, which AbbVie is marketing as a treatment for patients failed by Humira and its class, jumped 60% to $1.1 billion.

2023 KFF Health News. Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.
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Blue Ridge Beef, a maker of raw pet foods, has announced it is recalling some of its products for kittens and puppies because of possible contamination with salmonella and listeria.

After being notified earlier this month by the North Carolina Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services that health officials found salmonella and Listeria monocytogenes in certain products, the North Carolina company recalled specific lots of its Kitten Grind, Kitten Mix and Puppy Mix pet foods, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration said in a news release.

The recalled products, which were sold mostly in the states of Connecticut, Massachusetts, Maryland, North Carolina, New York, Pennsylvania and Virginia, were distributed between Nov. 14 and Dec. 20, the FDA said. So far, no illnesses related to the recalled products have been reported, the FDA said.

The potentially contaminated products have use by dates of N24 1114 to N24 1224. Those dates, as well as lot numbers, are located on the silver tabs at the end of the products, which come in tubes.

Salmonella and listeria infections can strike both pets and people, and humans can become infected while handling contaminated pet products. Thoroughly washing your hands and cleaning surfaces that come in contact with the products is advised, the FDA said.

Symptoms of salmonella and listeria infection for humans can include nausea, vomiting, fever and diarrhea, according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

More severe cases of salmonella infection may result in arthritis, arterial infections, inflammation of the ear, muscle pain, eye irritation and urinary tract symptoms, the FDA said. More severe cases of listeria infection may include headache, stiff neck, confusion, loss of balance and convulsions. For the very young, the elderly, and the immune-compromised, listeriosis can be fatal, the FDA noted.

Consumers with any of these symptoms after coming into contact with the product should contact their health care provider, the agency said.

Pets with these infections may have a decreased appetite, fever and abdominal pain. In more severe cases, they may be lethargic and have diarrhea or bloody diarrhea, fever and vomiting. If your pet has consumed the recalled products and has these symptoms, contact your vet promptly, the FDA said.

Consumers who bought the products can contact Blue Ridge Beef at blueridgebeefnc@yahoo.com for a full refund.

Meanwhile, the affected pet foods should be thrown away and consumers should thoroughly wash pet food bowls, cups and storage containers that may have come in contact with the product.

More information: Visit the foodsafety.gov for more on the bacteria and viruses that can cause food poisoning.

Provided by U.S. Food and Drug Administration

Copyright  2023 HealthDay. All rights reserved.
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Duration of cryostorage (years) by year at the time of thaw (2012  2021). Credit: Reproductive BioMedicine Online (2023). DOI: 10.1016/j.rbmo.2023.103728

New research from Monash University and Monash IVF has reported for the first time on outcomes following egg freezing in Australia, including patient return rates and the fate of unused eggs.

In recent years there has been a dramatic increase in egg freezing worldwide. While egg freezing has been available for well over a decade, little is known about the fate of frozen eggs and the decisions people make about what to do with surplus eggs.

The study, "Storage trends, usage and disposition outcomes following egg freezing," investigated the use of frozen eggs as well as the outcome of surplus eggs over a 10-year period. De-identified data on the outcomes of eggs frozen at Monash IVF clinics in Victoria, Australia from 20122021 were collected. The work is published in the journal Reproductive BioMedicine Online.

The study's lead researcher, Dr. Molly Johnston from the Monash Bioethics Center, said the research provides valuable information and insights not just for people considering egg freezing but also for the fertility industry, health care providers and policymakers about the future management and use of surplus eggs.

"The number of frozen eggs in storage continues to greatly outpace those that are used in treatment or relinquished from storageeither to be discarded or donated. This has implications for fertility clinics who will need new strategies to avoid an unsustainable build-up of stored frozen eggs," Dr. Johnston said.

Professor Luk Rombauts, the Medical Director at Monash IVF and President of the fertility Society of Australia and New Zealand, said the research also raised important questions for people considering freezing their eggs.

"Patients opt for egg freezing for a variety of reasons, and we've seen a steady increase particularly as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic. However, many haven't fully considered the fate of any unused eggs. As the prevalence of egg freezing grows, it's crucial to ensure patients are supported to make decisions about their surplus eggs that align with their preferences, values and circumstances," Professor Rombauts said.

The research also provides new evidence that, contrary to early hypotheses that frozen eggs could be a solution to donor egg shortages, surplus eggs are rarely donated either to research or for the purpose of reproduction.

Over the 10 year period, 3,082 cycles resulted in egg freezing with 2,800 eggs discarded, donated or exported to another clinic. In total, 645 egg thaw cycles were performed, which translated to less than 13% of patients with eggs in storage returning each year.

Of those who removed their eggs from storage, only 15% elected to donate surplus eggs to others for reproductive purposes. There were no surplus eggs donated to research across the study period, due to a legislative requirement for an active research project, of which none were affiliated with the clinics included in the study. Clinics in Australia do not store eggs prospectively for future research.

Dr. Johnston said not permitting egg donation for future research could be a wasted opportunity for further advancement of fertility techniques.

"Restricting the donation of eggs for research has implications for both those who are facing the decision of what to do with surplus eggs, who would have preferred to donate, and for the advancement of research. Therefore, the prospect of permitting donation and storage for future research should be explored to augment the pool of available eggs for both current and future research."

With the number of eggs in storage accumulating rapidly, but very few patients relinquishing their stored eggs, new strategies for the management of frozen eggs may be required to deal with the increasing demands on facilities.

Professor Rombauts hopes with the right information and support more women will decide to donate their eggs to others or to research projects such as mitoHOPE.

More information: Molly Johnston et al, Storage trends, usage and disposition outcomes following egg freezing, Reproductive BioMedicine Online (2023). DOI: 10.1016/j.rbmo.2023.103728 Journal information: Reproductive Biomedicine Online
The Israel-Gaza war is distressing, and children and teens may be wondering why this violence is occurring and what else will happen in the future. Like adults, they are better able to cope with upsetting news and images when they understand more about the situation.

Here are some suggestions to help parents and caregivers support children in a constructive and helpful way.

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Start by asking children what they already know. Children have likely heard about the war and its possible regional and global impact. This information may come from TV, social media, school, friends or from overheard comments among adults. However, much of their information may not be accurate.

As children tell you what they know about the situation, listen for misunderstandings or frightening rumors. Acknowledge confusion. You might explain that even adults do not know all that is going on  news reports can change quickly or provide conflicting viewpoints.

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Adults have many concerns about this crisis. They worry about the safety and well-being of soldiers and civilians. They fear that the violence may get worse or spread. They also have broader concerns about how the war may make other countries more unstable, and the impact it may have in our own country.

Children may have some of these same concerns, but they can have very different ones as well. This is why it is so important that we ask children directly about their worries. We cant provide effective reassurance until we know their specific fears.

Once children share their concerns with you, provide honest explanations. Correct misunderstandings or misinformation, but dont ignore or minimize their fears. Help children identify ways to cope with anxiety, sadness and fears rather than pretend that they dont or shouldnt exist.

Keep in mind that kids will understand and react differently according to their developmental age and personal experiences. The older children are, the more discussion they will likely need to answer questions and address concerns. Begin by providing the basic information in simple and direct terms. Then ask if they have any questions. Take cues from your child to decide how much information to share.

Point out that people in the United States and elsewhere are working to help families directly impacted by the war and to keep all of us safe. Children often look for reassurance that theyre safe after such graphic reminders of violence and conflict.

Avoid exposure to graphic images and limit the amount of exposure to media coverage and discussion in social media. Too much exposure can be overwhelming for anyone and make it difficult to understand what is happening and process related feelings.

Graphic media coverage can trigger feelings of grief for children who have experienced the death of a friend or family member, even if unrelated to violence. Consider this an opportunity to take some time away from media. Turn off the television, computers and phones and come together as a family and community for support.

For children with family or friends directly affected, of course, this war will feel very personal. They will identify more closely with the stress and losses experienced. Children in families who feel strong ties due to shared religious affiliations may also feel connected.

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Those children without direct connections may also be at increased risk of troubling reactions. For example, children who live in communities with high rates of violence may become more concerned about their own physical safety. Those who are part of communities in the United States that have experienced racial or ethnic discrimination may feel more distress and anger when hearing about acts of aggression and bias.

Children who have experienced poverty or food insecurity may feel anxious hearing stories of families with limited food or money for basic necessities. Stories from the war may be triggering for children who have themselves survived wars or other trauma, or whose families have experienced refugee status. Children who have had challenges with anxiety or depression before the war are also likely to benefit from additional support at this time.

Children and teens are likely to ask a number of common questions in times of crisis and upheaval. Choose answers that provide honest information and helpful reassurance. Some examples:

Could I have done anything to prevent this?

Adults may be wondering if our country could have done more to prevent this war from happening. While it seems obvious to us that there is nothing children could have done to prevent the war, kids may feel helpless and wish they could have changed what has happened. Let children know that this is a common reaction  we all wish that there is something we could have done.

Reassure children that our country is doing all it can to respond effectively and keep us safe. Suggest steps that can help those affected (write letters, say prayers, raise funds, for example). Encourage children to work to promote safety, tolerance and acceptance in our own communities.

Is this going to change my life?

Children and teens are often very concerned about themselves. When there is a crisis, they may become even more concerned about what affects them personally. They may act immaturely. Sometimes adults see this as being selfish or uncaring.

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Expect children to think more about themselves for the time being. Once they feel reassured that they are being listened to and their needs will be met, they are more likely to be able to start to think about the needs of others.

Can I help?

Once children start to feel safe and understand what is going on, many will want to help. Though there may be little that they can do to help the immediate victims of violence in the Middle East or elsewhere, there are positive things they can do.

They can start by taking care of themselves  telling you when they are upset or worried, being honest and open. They can also offer help to other members of their community  their friends and classmates, their teacher and other adults. They can think about how they, along with other members of their community, might be able to do something helpful for the victims and survivors of the war. Examples could include working with charitable organizations as a family or school project.

Often what children and teens need most is to have someone they trust listen to their questions, accept their feelings and be there for them. Dont worry about knowing the perfect thing to say  there is no answer that will make everything okay. Listen to their thoughts and concerns. Answer their questions with simple, direct and honest responses. Provide appropriate reassurance and support.

It helps children to realize that it is okay to show you when they are upset. Otherwise, they may try to hide their feelings. They will then be left to deal with them alone. Share your own feelings and try to model positive ways you cope with them.

When a major world crisis like this occurs, it helps to bring the topic up with children even if they are quite young. At first, they may tell you that they dont want to or need to discuss it. It is generally not a good idea to force them to talk with you; keep the door open for them to come back and discuss it later. Let them know you are available when they are ready to talk and let them choose the time.

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When a war results in this much death, destruction and disruption, it is natural to be upset. However, if children continue to be very upset for several days or have persistent nightmares, seem unable to cope with their fears, or are having trouble in school, at home or with their friends, it is a good idea to speak with someone outside the family for advice. The war may have triggered other distressing experiences, worries or concerns.

You may want to speak with your pediatrician, a teacher or school counselor, mental health professional or member of the clergy for advice. Please remember that you dont need to wait until you think they need counseling. Take advantage of counseling and support whenever you think it will be helpful.

For more information, go to HealthyChildren.org.

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David Schonfeld, MD, FAAP, is an executive committee member of the American Academy of Pediatrics Council on Children and Disasters and a member of the Section on Developmental and Behavioral Pediatrics. He also serves as director of the National Center for School Crisis and Bereavement at Childrens Hospital Los Angeles, and professor of Clinical Pediatrics, Keck School of Medicine of USC.
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Credit: CC0 Public Domain

In September 2022, Elyse Greenblatt of Queens, New York, returned home from a trip to Rwanda with a rather unwelcome-back gift: persistent congestion.

She felt a pain in her sinuses and sought a quick resolution.

COVID-19 couldn't be ruled out, so rather than risk passing on an unknown infection to others in a waiting room, the New Yorker booked a telehealth visit through her usual health system, Mount Sinaia perennial on best-hospitals lists.

That proved an expensive decision. She remembers the visit as taking barely any time. The doctor decided it was likely a sinus infection, not COVID, and prescribed her fluticasone, a nasal spray that relieves congestion, and an antibiotic, Keflex. (The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention says antibiotics "are not needed for many sinus infections, but your doctor can decide if you need" one.)

Then the bill came.

The Patient: Elyse Greenblatt, now 38, had insurance coverage through Empire BlueCross BlueShield, a New York-based insurer.

Medical Services: A telehealth urgent care visit through Mount Sinai's personal record app. Greenblatt was connected with an urgent care doctor through the luck of the draw. She was diagnosed with sinusitis, prescribed an antibiotic and Flonase, and told to come back if there was no improvement.

All this meant a big bill. The insurer said the telehealth visit was deemed an out-of-network servicea charge Greenblatt said the digital service didn't do a great job of warning her about. It came as a surprise. "In my mind, if all my doctors are 'in-insurance,' why would they pair me with someone who was 'out-of-insurance'?" she asked. And the hospital system tried its best to make contesting the charge difficult, she said.

Service Provider: The doctor was affiliated with Mount Sinai's health system, though where the bill came from was unclear: Was it from one of the system's hospitals or another unit?

Total Bill: $660 for what was billed as a 45- to 59-minute visit. The insurer paid nothing, ruling it out of network.

What Gives: The bill was puzzling on multiple levels. Most notably: How could this be an out-of-network service? Generally, urgent care visits delivered via video are a competitive part of the health care economy, and they're not typically terribly expensive.

Mount Sinai's telehealth booking process is at pains to assure bookers they're getting a low price. After receiving the bill, Greenblatt went back to the app to recreate her stepsand she took a screenshot of one particular part of the app: the details. She got an estimated wait time of 10 minutes, for a cost of $60. "Cost may be less based on insurance," the app said; this information, Mount Sinai spokesperson Lucia Lee said, is "for the patient's benefit," and the "cost may differ depending on the patient's insurance."

A $60 fee would be in line with, if not a bit cheaper than, many other telehealth services. Doctor on Demand, for example, offers visits from a clinician for $79 for a 15-minute visit, assuming the customer's insurance doesn't cover it. Amazon's new clinic service, offering telehealth care for a wide range of conditions, advertises that charges start at $30 for a sinus infection.

The Health Care Cost Institute, an organization that analyzes health care claims data, told KFF Health News its data shows an urgent care telehealth visit runs, on average, $120 in total costsbut only $14 in out-of-pocket charges.

So how did this visit end up costing astronomically so much more than the average? After all, one of the selling points of telemedicine is not only convenience but cost savings.

First, there was the length of the visit. The doctor's bill described it as moderately lengthy. But Greenblatt recalled the visit as simple and straightforward; she described her symptoms and got an antibiotic prescriptionnot a moderately complex visit requiring the better part of an hour to resolve.

The choice of description is a somewhat wonky part of health care billing that plays a big part in how expensive care can get. The more complex the case, and the longer it takes to diagnose and treat, the more providers can charge patients and insurers.

Greenblatt's doctor billed her at a moderate level of carecurious, given her memory of the visit as quick, almost perfunctory. "I think it was five minutes," she recalled. "I said it was a sinus infection; she told me I was right. 'Take some meds, you'll be fine.'"

Ishani Ganguli, a doctor at Brigham and Women's Hospital in Boston who studies telehealth, said she didn't know the exact circumstances of care but was "a bit surprised that it was not billed at a lower level" if it was indeed a quick visit.

That leaves the out-of-network aspect of the bill, allowing the insurer to pay nothing for the care. (Stephanie DuBois, a spokesperson for Empire BlueCross BlueShield, Greenblatt's insurer, said the payer covers virtual visits through two services, or through in-network doctors. The Mount Sinai doctor fit neither criteria.) Still, why did Mount Sinai, Greenblatt's usual health care system, assign her an out-of-network doctor?

"If one gets their care from the Mount Sinai system and the care is within network, I don't think it is reasonable for the patients to expect or understand that one of the Mount Sinai clinicians is suddenly going to be out of network," said Ateev Mehrotra, a hospitalist and telehealth researcher at Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center.

It struck the doctors specializing in telehealth research whom KFF Health News consulted as an unusual situation, especially since the doctor who provided the care was employed by the prestigious health system.

The doctor in question may have been in network for no insurers whatsoever: A review of the doctor's Mount Sinai profile pagearchived in November 2022does not list any accepted insurance. (That's in contrast to other doctors in the system.)

Lee, Mount Sinai's spokesperson, said the doctor did take at least some insurance. When asked about the doctor's webpage not showing any accepted plans, she responded the site "instructs patients to contact her office for the most up-to-date information."

Attempting to solve this billing puzzle turned into a major league headache for Greenblatt. Deepening the mystery: After calling Mount Sinai's billing department, she was told the case had been routed to disputes and marked as "urgent."

But the doctor's office would seemingly not respond. "In most other professions, you can't just ignore a message for a year," she observed.

The bill would disappear on her patient portal, then come back again. Another call revealed a new twist: She was told by a staffer that she'd signed a form consenting to the out-of-network charge. But "when I asked to get a copy of the form I signed, she asked if she could fax it," Greenblatt said. Greenblatt said no. The billing department then asked whether they could put the form in her patient portal, for which Greenblatt gave permission. No form materialized.

When KFF Health News asked Mount Sinai about the case in mid-October of this year, Lee, the system's spokesperson, forwarded a copy of the three-page formwhich Greenblatt didn't remember signing. Lee said the forms are presented as part of the flow of the check-in process and "intended to be obvious to the patient as required by law." Lee said on average, a patient signs two to four forms before checking into the visit.

But, according to the time stamp on the forms, Greenblatt's visit concluded before she signed. Lee said it is "not standard" to sign forms after the visit has concluded, and said that once informed, patients "may contact the office and reschedule with an 'in-network provider.'"

"If it was provided after the service was rendered, that is an exception and situational," she concluded.

The business with the formstheir timing and their obviousnessis potentially a vital distinction. In December 2020, Congress enacted the No Surprises Act, designed to crack down on so-called surprise medical bills that arise when patients think their care is covered by insurance but actually isn't. Allie Shalom, a lawyer with Foley & Lardner, said the law requires notice to be given to patients, and consent obtained in advance.

But the legislation provides an exception. It applies only to hospitals, hospital outpatient facilities, critical access hospitals, and ambulatory surgery centers. Greenblatt's medical bill variously presents her visit as "Office/Outpatient" or "Episodic Telehealth," making it hard to "tell the exact entity that provided the services," Shalom said.

That, in turn, makes its status under the No Surprises Act unclear. The rules apply when an out-of-network provider charges a patient for care received at an in-network facility. But Shalom couldn't be sure what entity charged Greenblatt, and, therefore, whether that entity was in network.

As for Mount Sinai, Lee said asking for consent post-visit does not comply with the No Surprises Act, though she said the system needed more time to research whether Greenblatt was billed by the hospital or another entity.

The Resolution: Greenblatt's bill is unpaid and unresolved.

The Takeaway: Unfortunately, patients need to be on guard to protect their wallets.

If you want to be a smart shopper, consider timing the length of your visit. The "Bill of the Month" team regularly receives submissions from patients who were billed for a visit significantly longer than what took place. You shouldn't, for example, be charged for time sitting in a virtual waiting room.

Most important, even when you seek care at an in-network hospital, whose doctors are typically in network, always ask if a particular physician you've not seen before is in your network. Many practices and hospitals offer providers in both categories (even if that logically feels unfair to patients). Providers are supposed to inform you that the care being rendered is out of network. But that "informed consent" is often buried in a pile of consent forms that you auto-sign, in rapid fire. And the language is often a blanket statement, such as "I understand that some of my care may be provided by caregivers not in my insurance network" or "I agree to pay for services not covered by my insurance."

To a patient trying to quickly book care, that may not feel like "informed consent" at all.

"It's problematic to expect patients to read the fine print, especially when they feel unwell," Ganguli said.



Bill of the Month is a crowdsourced investigation by KFF Health News and NPR that dissects and explains medical bills. Do you have an interesting medical bill you want to share with us? Tell us about it!

2023 KFF Health News. Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.
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Vials of single doses of the Jynneos vaccine for monkeypox are seen from a cooler at a vaccinations site on Aug. 29, 2022, in the Brooklyn borough of New York. As Congo copes with its biggest outbreak of mpox, scientists warn discrimination against gay and bisexual men on the continent could make it worse. Credit: AP Photo/Jeenah Moon, File

As Congo copes with its biggest outbreak of mpox, scientists warn discrimination against gay and bisexual men on the continent could make it worse.

In November, the World Health Organization reported that mpox, also known as monkeypox, was being spread via sex in Congo for the first time. That is a significant departure from previous flare-ups, where the virus mainly sickened people in contact with diseased animals.

Mpox has been in parts of central and west Africa for decades, but it was not until 2022 that it was documented to spread via sex; most of the 91,00 people infected in approximately 100 countries that year were gay or bisexual men.

In Africa, unwillingness to report symptoms could drive the outbreak underground, said Dimie Ogoina, an infectious diseases specialist at the Niger Delta University in Nigeria.

"It could be that because homosexuality is prohibited by law in most parts of Africa, many people do not come forward if they think they have been infected with mpox," Ogoina said.

WHO officials said they identified the first sexually transmitted cases of the more severe type of mpox in Congo last spring, shortly after a resident of Belgium who "identified himself as a man who has sexual relations with other men" arrived in Kinshasa, the Congolese capital. The U.N. health agency said five other people who had sexual contact with the man later became infected with mpox.

"We have been underestimating the potential of sexual transmission of mpox in Africa for years," said Ogoina, who with his colleagues, first reported in 2019 that mpox might be spreading via sex.

Gaps in monitoring make it a challenge to estimate how many mpox cases are linked to sex, he said. Still, most cases of mpox in Nigeria involve people with no known contact with animals, he noted.

In Congo, there have been about 13,350 suspected cases of mpox, including 607 deaths through the end of November with only about 10% of cases confirmed by laboratories. But how many infections were spread through sex isn't clear. WHO said about 70% of cases are in children under 15.

During a recent trip to Congo to assess the outbreak, WHO officials found there was "no awareness" among health workers that mpox could be spread sexually, resulting in missed cases.

WHO said health authorities had confirmed sexual transmission of mpox "between male partners and simultaneously through heterosexual transmission" in different parts of the country.

Mpox typically causes symptoms including a fever, skin rash, lesions and muscle soreness for up to one month. It is spread via close contact and most people recover without needing medical treatment.

This 1997 image provided by the CDC during an investigation into an outbreak of monkeypox, which took place in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), formerly Zaire, depicts the dorsal surfaces of the hands of a monkeypox case patient, who was displaying the appearance of the characteristic rash during its recuperative stage. As Congo copes with its biggest outbreak of mpox, scientists warn discrimination against gay and bisexual men on the continent could make it worse. Credit: CDC via AP, File

During the 2022 major international outbreak, mass vaccination programs were undertaken in some countries, including Canada, Britain and the U.S., and targeted those at highest riskgay and bisexual men. But experts say that's not likely to work in Africa for several reasons, including the stigma against gay communities.

"I don't think we'll see the same clamoring for vaccines in Africa that we saw in the West last year," said Dr. Boghuma Titanji, an assistant professor of medicine in infectious diseases at Emory University School of Medicine in Atlanta.

She said that the gay and bisexual men most at risk of mpox might be fearful of coming forward in a broad immunization program. Countries should work on ways to give the shots if availablein a way that wouldn't stigmatize them, she said.

Dr. Jean-Jacques Muyemba, general director of Congo's National Institute of Biomedical Research, said two provinces in Congo had reported clusters of mpox spread through sex, a concerning development.

There's no licensed vaccine in Congo, and it would be hard to get enough shots for any large-scale program, Muyemba said. The country is trying to get a Japanese mpox vaccine, but regulatory issues are complicating the situation, he said.

Globally, only one vaccine has been authorized against mpox, made by Denmark's Bavarian Nordic. Supplies are very limited and even if they were available, they would have to be approved by the African countries using them or by WHO. To date, the vaccine has only been available in Congo through research.

Oyewale Tomori, a Nigerian virus expert who sits on several WHO advisory boards, said African governments probably have too many competing priorities to ask the U.N. health agency or donors for help securing vaccines.

"In Africa, mpox is most likely considered a low-priority nuisance," Tomori said.

He said stronger monitoring, laboratory networks and better availability of diagnostic supplies would be more helpful to the continent than vaccines.

Without greater efforts to stop the outbreaks in Africa, Ogoina predicted that mpox would continue to infect new populations, warning that the disease could also spark outbreaks in other countries, similar to the global emergency WHO declared last year.

"When the HIV pandemic started, it was among gay and bisexual men in the global north, and Africa thought it was not our problem," he said. "Before we knew it, it came to Africa, but we still thought heterosexual populations would be protected."

Women of reproductive age now account for more than 60% of new HIV infections in Africa.

"I worry the same thing will now happen with mpox," he said. "Unless we address these outbreaks in Africa, this virus will keep coming back."

 2023 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed without permission.
Commitbiz is a leader in the field of corporate structuring and offers comprehensive services for company incorporations. Our tailored solutions are designed to support your business growth & ensure long-term success

by the Great Recession while consistently registering an impressive growth rate of 30 percent, setting the stage for remarkable accomplishments in the years to come. By 2014, the company rebranded itself as Commitbiz Management Consultants, signaling a broader vision and global outlook. With the opening of its first international branch in 2015, Commitbiz expanded its horizons beyond the UAE, and in 2016, it proudly celebrated crossing the 1000-client mark. The journey continued with the establishment of the seventh Middle East location in 2017 and membership in Business Network Worldwide. By 2018, Commitbiz had a formidable team of 50, marking its ascent to a league of distinguished consulting firms. Fast forward to the present, Commitbiz stands tall with 150 nationalities served, a global recognition event attended by over 150 attendees, a team exceeding 10,000 members, and an impressive clientele spanning 150 nationalities a testament to 16 years of experience, growth, and unwavering commitment.Commitbiz Management Consultants was founded with the aspiration to be a trusted partner and advisor to businesses venturing into Dubais competitive market. The firms mission centers on delivering unparalleled expertise and steadfast support to empower clients in achieving their goals and unlocking their full potential. Commitbiz boasts comprehensive capabilities in company formation, banking, entity structuring, succession planning, and tax strategy. The companys adept teams thoroughly analyze every clients current operations and UAE-specific aspirations, crafting tailored solutions. Operating for 16 years in the dynamic UAE market, Commitbizs adaptability and ability to stay ahead of changes have fueled its growth. With partnerships spanning more than 30 Free Zones and strong government relationships, the organization excels in handling client incorporations. Expanding its footprint to Qatar, Oman, and Saudi Arabia, Commitbiz goes beyond incorporation, ensuring clients operate in full compliance with UAE laws and offering services encompassing financials and corporate taxes.We have emerged as the chosen partner in several innovative and path-breaking initiatives undertaken by various businessmen worldwide. We help leaders make distinctive, lasting, and substantial improvements to the performance of their organizations. We tackle their most complex issues and serious challenges. Our scale, scope, and knowledge allow us to address problems no one else can. At heart, we are a network of people passionate about taking on immense challenges that matter to leading organizations and, often, to the world, shares Manu Thomas V, General Manager.Commitbiz offers a comprehensive spectrum of services designed to support businesses across various facets of their operations. The flagship services encompass company formation, extending beyond mere permissions to provide ongoing business support services. This includes valuable assistance with visas, immigration, setting up bank accounts, and securing office spaces. Additionally, Commitbiz excels in accounting and book keeping services, offering expert tax consultations to optimize tax planning while ensuring strict compliance with the latest regulations. The team of seasoned professionals possesses in-depth knowledge of diverse industries and local regulations, enabling the firm to tailor solutions that precisely align with each clients unique needs and goals.Commitbiz remains dedicated to staying abreast of evolving legal and regulatory changes across different jurisdictions to keep clients informed and compliant within the UAEs dynamic business landscape. Internal quality control measures further guarantee the delivery of services that consistently meet the highest standards. This client-centric approach prioritizes open communication, ensuring clients receive regular updates and prompt resolution of concerns, ultimately defining the quality and effectiveness of their services.Our USP lies in our approach, which is distinct from merely selling company formation packages. We engage in comprehensive consultations, guiding clients through every stage of setting up their business. These consultations entail in-depth discussions, often involving internal team members versed in compliance and tax perspectives, to thoroughly understand clients requirements. This ensures that clients gain a comprehensive understanding of UAE regulations and specific business activities in Dubai before proceeding. Moreover, we offer insights into different jurisdictions and legal entity options, helping clients navigate the often-confusing landscape of business incorporation in the UAE, adds Manu.The teams wealth of information and expertise extends to handling structured layers of incorporation, such as branches, subsidiaries, and other setups, with a track record of successfully assisting clients in establishing diverse company structures worldwide and in Dubai. This holistic approach sets Commitbiz apart as a trusted partner dedicated to ensuring clients success throughout their business journey and is what has allowed the company to establish a distinctive benchmark in the industry.
During Montanas Fish and Wildlife Commission meeting in Helena last week, a subtle yet profound shift occurred, signaling a troubling trend in Montana wildlife management.

This shift wasnt a change in policy or a new regulation; it was a shift in decision-making, from a steadfast reliance on science to an expedient embrace of special interests. This move was evident by the unanimous vote of the seven-member commission to eliminate science-based quota ranges on permit allocations in coveted deer and elk hunting districts.

This development isnt merely procedural but part of a troubling shift in how we manage wildlife  a pivot from scientific rigor to political whimsy.

For the professional biologists at FWP, their job has always been clear: use science to understand the status of our wild animals and provide this information to inform regulations. This science-based practice kept special interests and personal biases in check through biological objectivity.

The commission operates under a different paradigm. Composed of governor-appointed citizens, their volunteer role demands difficult value-based decisions on an overwhelming number of issues, often on the fly. But theyre not required to stick to scientific integrity.

Here, the core of the issue lies. Wildlife management, inherently political in nature, should be heavily informed and mostly constrained by scientific insights about reality. The previous quota ranges on hunting permits were based on professional opinions about how many animals could be harvested without harming populations, coupled with other on-the-ground considerations like land ownership, distributions, and more. Importantly, the ranges allowed biologists to adjust quotas before the actual permit draw to better reflect conditions on the ground, such as severe winter weather causing unexpected wildlife mortality.

Now, despite overwhelming written opposition to this change and no proponents or real justification provided, these ranges are gone, meaning the commission can change the number of hunting permits on the fly, up or down, to whatever they want, with minimal biologist input and public involvement. And since the commission can adjust permits during meetings, where public comment is limited to two minutes per person, and only open to those who are there or register the day prior, this could potentially allow last-minute proposals to bypass proper vetting.

This move opens the door to cater to special interests. As seen during last weeks meeting, those seeking personal profit from the publics wildlife can amass their members quickly to fill multiple two-minute slots and drown out other voices.

Historically, managing Montana's rich fish and wildlife was about arriving at policies bounded by scientific facts. Achieving this wasnt always easy, but it protected against narrow interests getting the upper hand: democracy at its finest. With its thorough methods and unbiased analysis, science has always provided a strong base for making policies rooted in reality rather than political ideology, economic opportunity, or bureaucratic expediency.

And with excellent results.

Under the North American Model of Wildlife Conservation, which includes the foundational tenet that the best science available is used for informed decision-making, we have seen the prolific recovery of our wildlife. But with this abundance comes profiteering and the potential to abandon the lessons of the past. To throw the science out now insults those whose expertise we should continue to rely upon.

We must recommit ourselves to a conservation ethos that values science, not as something to ignore but as the main beacon we base regulations on. The biologists at FWP have the training and expertise to discharge this duty with care and excellence. Lets let them do their job.
Advancements in technology are rapidly changing the world we live in, the careers we pursue and undoubtedly affecting nearly every aspect of our lives.

Traditional big iron companies like John Deere and GM have become technology companies. Electric vehicles, medical devices, military innovation, energy production and storage are a small sampling of how technology is inextricably woven into our lives. This is the new frontier, with businesses and our nation investing massive sums in advancing technology to reclaim global leadership, improve national competitiveness and secure our supply chains.

There is a direct link to the role of critical materials and minerals and improvements in our lives (see list here: bit.ly/23cmm). Unlocking our economic potential and protecting our freedoms hinges on our ability to domestically produce more of the metals and materials that are necessary, including copper, platinum, palladium, zinc, and rare earth elements (REEs) like neodymium and praseodymium.

These natural resources  the majority of which are abundant in Montana  are vital to technological advancements and our transition to cleaner energy production and delivery. A full-scale, global transition will require massive leaps in improved technology production. It is impossible without a corresponding investment and extraction of minerals including copper and rare earth minerals.

For example, a wind turbine has 4 tons of copper in every turbine. Additionally, on the security front, guided missile systems, submarine sonar and F35 fighter jets require shockingly large quantities of REEs. In fact, the F35 fighter jet requires more than 920 pounds of REEs alone.

The global race to secure these minerals and develop the processes to extract and refine them is on. And the United States is woefully behind and terribly exposed. With 85 percent of processing and 92 percent of magnet production, China dominates the supply chains that transform ore into sensors and powerful magnets, necessary in renewable energy production.

According to the Copper Development Association Inc., China, Russia, Iran and North Korea now account for approximately half of all non-U.S. global refined copper production. Limited smelter capacity in North America requires sending raw materials into the market and barging refined products back across the oceans  not good for stabilizing our supply chain or the environment. Its a fact: We simply do things cleaner in America, and Montana has some of the most stringent environmental standards for mining anywhere on Earth.

Sandfires Black Butte Copper near White Sulphur Springs is permitted and is now weaving through the legal juggernaut. Montana Resources in Butte continues to be a significant supplier of copper and molybdenum and has the potential to provide REEs from the Berkeley Pit. The Sheep Creek exploration is examining rare earth elements in the Bitterroot and Sibyane-Stillwater is a leader in the production and processing of palladium and platinum.

The U.S. federal government is also recognizing the importance of Montanas natural resources to our national competitiveness and securing our critical minerals supply chain. Many of the technological advancements needed rely upon smart photonic sensors, where we are global leaders. The U.S. Economic Development Agency validated this with Montanas recent designation as a regional technology hub under the CHIPs and Science Act.

The indisputable facts are that the supply and demand for critical minerals such as copper and rare earth elements make the Treasure State vital for our countrys energy transition, economic future and national security. Montanas past and current copper resources are well known. Our rare earth elements are less known but worth exploring. Montana is positioned to meet this challenge. As Montanans, we should be supportive of our successes and open-minded to the opportunities.
Authorities are investigating a Christmas Day swatting call at Republican Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greenes residence in Rome, Georgia.

Greene took to social media Monday morning, posting on X, I was just swatted. This is like the 8th time. On Christmas with my family here.

On Monday, 911 dispatch informed officers that a call came through the suicide prevention hotline from a man possibly calling from Rome, New York, claiming hed shot his girlfriend at Greenes Georgia address, Rome, Georgia, police information specialist Kelly Madden told CNN on the phone. The caller also had threatened to kill himself.

Rome Police informed Greenes security team of the phone call while officers were en route to the home, according to Madden, and were told nothing was amiss at the home. Madden said officers were turned around before arriving at the house.

My local police are the GREATEST and shouldnt have to deal with this, Greene added in her post. I appreciate them so much and my family and I are in joyous spirits celebrating the birth of our savior Jesus Christ!

Swatting is a prank call made to authorities with the express purpose of luring them to a location  usually a home  where they are led to believe a horrific crime has been committed or is in progress. This results in a forceful response from local police or SWAT teams, who have no way of knowing the call is a hoax.

Republican Rep. Brandon Williams of New York said in a post on X he was also swatted on Christmas Day.

Our home was swatted this afternoon, the congressman said. Thanks to the Deputies and Troopers who contacted me before arriving. They left with homemade cookies and spiced nuts! Merry Christmas everyone!

Cayuga County Sheriff Brian Schenck confirmed law enforcement responded to a swatting incident at the congressmans house Monday. He added that just after 2 p.m., authorities from the sheriffs office and the New York State Police responded to a report of a reported confessed shooting incident at Williams home.

This report was quickly confirmed to be false, Schenk said, adding that his office is investigating.

In a statement to CNN on Tuesday, United States Capitol Police said it assists local and federal law enforcement agencies in responding to swatting incidents against members of Congress but would not provide additional details about the recent events, citing the ongoing investigations and the desire to minimize the risk of copy-cats.

In August 2022, CNN reported that police had responded to repeated swatting incidents at Greenes home. And last month, a Georgia man was charged with threatening to kill Greene, her family and her staff.

This isnt the first time that we have received a call of this nature, Madden said Monday. We do have a good relationship with her security detail, and it was determined that there was, in fact, no emergency.

Greene is the US representative for Georgias 14th Congressional District which includes Rome. The conservative firebrand has at times come under criticism from the left for her controversial and divisive comments. She has also faced backlash from those on her partys right flank, when she was removed from the ultra-conservative House Freedom Caucus earlier this year for criticizing her fellow caucus members and remaining loyal to Republican leadership.

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The 10 Senate seats most likely to flip in 2024 1. West Virginia 2. Montana 3. Ohio 4. Pennsylvania 5. Arizona 6. Nevada 7. Wisconsin 8. Michigan 9. Texas 10. Florida Analysis: Pennsylvania moves up list of contested Senate seats in 2024
Daihatsu, the Japanese automaker owned by Toyota, has halted domestic production after admitting it forged the results of safety tests for its vehicles for more than 30 years, CNN reported.

The brand, best known for manufacturing small passenger cars, has stopped output at all four of its Japanese factories as of Tuesday, including one at its headquarters in Osaka, a spokesperson told CNN.

The shutdown will last through at least the end of January, affecting roughly 9,000 employees who work in domestic production, according to the representative.

The move comes as Daihatsu grapples with a deepening safety scandal that Toyota says has shaken the very foundations of the company.

Last week, Daihatsu announced an independent third-party committee had found evidence of tampering with safety tests on as many as 64 vehicle models, including those sold under the Toyota brand.

As a result, Daihatsu said it would temporarily suspend all domestic and international vehicle shipments and consult with authorities on how to move forward.

The scandal is another blow to the automaker, which had admitted in April to violating standards on crash tests on more than 88,000 cars, mostly sold under the Toyota brand in countries such as Malaysia and Thailand.
Saudi Arabia issues $12 billion in bonds

Maersk: Red Sea shipping disruption will hit global economy

Ex-Deputy FM Vahe Gevorgyan replaces Sergey Manassarian as Armenia Ambassador to China

Dollar falls, euro rises in Armenia

Everything said by Azerbaijan president should be taken seriously, Armenia ruling force legislator states

Armenia ruling power MP on signing peace treaty with Azerbaijan without mediators: Very tempting proposal

Armenia will no longer be at war in any period of time, ruling force lawmaker says

Nikol Pashinyan to new PM of France: I will be happy to host you in Armenia on official visit

Iran envoy: What would be violation of Armenias territorial integrity is not acceptable to us

Czech Rep. supplies first batch of mobile diesel generator sets to Armenia nuclear plant

Turkey, Romania, Bulgaria sign memorandum on clearing floating mines in Black Sea

Deputy defense minister on Armenia soldiers non-combat deaths: Such incidents have occurred, still exist today

Ombudsperson on non-combat deaths in Armenia army: State should have proper prevention structures

Armenia Security Council head to attend 4th meeting on Ukraine peace formula

Ecuador security forces arrest 329 people, kill 5 criminals, says head of army Joint Command

Armenia government to help those forcibly displaced from Karabakh to get training, jobs

Moving Yeraskh village steel plant project to Ararat city costs Armenia government 3.5 billion drams

Davit Khudatyan is appointed governor of Armenias Armavir Province

Cigarette smuggling prevented at Georgia borders with Turkey, Armenia, Russia

Newspaper: Ruling force MP speaks on EU's termination of European Peace Facility for Armenia

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Deputy PM Grigoryan chairs meeting of commission coordinating measures to ensure Armenia-EU CEPA implementation

Greece FM statement after Armenia visit: Important to help our ally country on all international platforms

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Central Bank governor: I can't say banks in Armenia make super profits

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Central Bank official: Banking services very accessible for Armenia citizens, businesses

Dollar down, euro up in Armenia

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Gerapetritis to Pashinyan: Greece government ready to support Armenia in all possible directions

FM: Greece clearly supports preservation of Christian sites in Karabakh

George Gerapetritis: Armenia's prosperity is possible only with Europe

Ararat Mirzoyan: Armenia should be able to make use of Azerbaijan railway

Greece official on South Caucasus situation: We rule out use of force, aggression

Sargis Khandanyan: Not aware of any arrangements for Armenia-Azerbaijan meeting in January

Armenia lawmaker: Peace treaty can be signed when Azerbaijan accepts our principles

About $70M allocated to programs for persons forcibly displaced from Karabakh to Armenia, minister says

Armenia FM on relations with EU: There is long way to go

Armenia ruling force MP: Azerbaijan statements about bilateral negotiations are just statements

TASS: Germany offers Armenia financial assistance for anti-Russian steps, source says

Gunmen take TV journalists hostage live on air in Ecuador, police manage to free them

ARARATBANK attracts USD 5 million from EFSE to support MSMEs in Armenia

Researchers discover ancient temple ruins thanks to Emperor Constantine's letter to group of Romans

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Armenia, Greece FMs' private conversation kicks off

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Newspaper: Attacks on judges gaining new momentum in Armenia

US Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin treated for prostate cancer

China recreational area breaks world record as largest temporary ice, snow theme park

Copernicus: World dangerously close to global warming limit

Greece FM arrives in Armenia on official visit

Armenia army officer found dead with gunshot wound

Crime gang leader escapes from Ecuador prison, state of emergency declared in country

Indonesia police rescue 226 dogs sent to slaughter

Lemkin Institute condemns recent attack on Armenian Quarter in East Jerusalem

Armenia economy minister, businessmen discuss major investment programs planned for 2024

Dollar, euro gain value in Armenia

Greece FM to arrive in Armenia Wednesday on official visit

MFA: In 2023 Armenia was elected to all international organizations where it nominated its candidacy

Azerbaijan ambassador to France confirms arrest of Frenchman Martin Ryan, suspected of espionage

Armenia records 2% inflation in 2023

US Senior Advisor for Caucasus Negotiations visiting Yerevan, discusses efforts to bring peace, stability to region

World of Buzz: Son didn't know for 20 years that his father was actually a millionaire

Yerevan to host European Bank for Reconstruction and Development Annual Meeting, Business Forum in May

Russia media report details about Armenian mans murder in Noginsk city

ARARAT Museum Celebrates 100th Anniversary of Sergei Parajanov with "Uninterrupted Flight" Exhibition

Ruben Rubinyan, Louis Bono discuss Armenia-Azerbaijan peace process

Criminal investigation launched, Armenia serviceman detained in case into killing of fellow soldier at combat position

Sergei Parajanov statue unveiled in Yerevan

Protest being stage outside Armenia education ministry

Bloomberg: Researchers find out waters nanoplastics content dangerous for humans

MFA: Matter of Armenia driver's licenses recognition in Russia is on bilateral discussions agenda

Armenia soldier found dead, with gunshot wound, in combat position

Bitcoin exceeds $47,000 for first time since March 2022

China researchers develop electronic skin

PM: Armenia foreign policys highest goal is to ensure country's sovereignty, independence, territorial integrity

Newspaper: Yerevan mayor unaware that Karabakh has been de-Armenianized?

US embassy in Baku: Louis Bono holds regular talks to support Armenia-Azerbaijan peace process

Armenia economy minister to go on business trip to India

Armenia Security Council chief: We have no expectations from CSTO any longer

Armenia Security Council head: Contractual obligations with Russia regarding weapons not fulfilled

Armen Grigoryan. There is agreement that Armenia-Azerbaijan border delimitation commissions will meet in late January

Ararat Mirzoyan and Louis Bono discussed regional security issues

Tourism Committee chair: 50% of tourists arriving in Armenia are from Russia

Quake hits Turkey

One of French spies arrested in Azerbaijan identified

Armenia unemployment rate dropped sharply over last 3 years, economy minister says

Economy minister: US is for first time on list of Armenia's largest trade partners

Pope Francis expresses concern about Armenia-Azerbaijan disagreements

Kanaani: Iran has clear positions regarding situation in South Caucasus

Armenian National Committee member: Heavy equipment removed from Jerusalem Armenian Quarter Cows Garden

Zangezur is crucial route for north-south and east-west directions, Thomas de Waal says

Stratfor: Armenia will probably accept Azerbaijan's demands

de Waal strongly doubts EU, NATO will invest in Armenia army

Armenia Security Council chief meets with OSCE Minsk Group US co-chair

Thomas de Waal: Karabakh de-Armenianization is price of Armenian politicians maximalism, wrong actions as well

de Waal: Armenia-Azerbaijan peace agreement not only about its signing, also about its implementation

Yerevan population natural growth at 7.9% in 2023
Armenia ruling force MP: Without guarantors, peace treaty with Azerbaijan is meaningless document

Saudi Arabia issues $12 billion in bonds

Maersk: Red Sea shipping disruption will hit global economy

Ex-Deputy FM Vahe Gevorgyan replaces Sergey Manassarian as Armenia Ambassador to China

Dollar falls, euro rises in Armenia

Everything said by Azerbaijan president should be taken seriously, Armenia ruling force legislator states

Armenia ruling power MP on signing peace treaty with Azerbaijan without mediators: Very tempting proposal

Armenia will no longer be at war in any period of time, ruling force lawmaker says

Nikol Pashinyan to new PM of France: I will be happy to host you in Armenia on official visit

Iran envoy: What would be violation of Armenias territorial integrity is not acceptable to us

Czech Rep. supplies first batch of mobile diesel generator sets to Armenia nuclear plant

Turkey, Romania, Bulgaria sign memorandum on clearing floating mines in Black Sea

Deputy defense minister on Armenia soldiers non-combat deaths: Such incidents have occurred, still exist today

Ombudsperson on non-combat deaths in Armenia army: State should have proper prevention structures

Armenia Security Council head to attend 4th meeting on Ukraine peace formula

Ecuador security forces arrest 329 people, kill 5 criminals, says head of army Joint Command

Armenia government to help those forcibly displaced from Karabakh to get training, jobs

Moving Yeraskh village steel plant project to Ararat city costs Armenia government 3.5 billion drams

Davit Khudatyan is appointed governor of Armenias Armavir Province

Cigarette smuggling prevented at Georgia borders with Turkey, Armenia, Russia

Newspaper: Ruling force MP speaks on EU's termination of European Peace Facility for Armenia

Open-air exhibition on Karabakh being held in Paris (PHOTOS)

Why most people cradle babies in left arm?

Deputy PM Grigoryan chairs meeting of commission coordinating measures to ensure Armenia-EU CEPA implementation

Greece FM statement after Armenia visit: Important to help our ally country on all international platforms

Armenia ruling force legislator: Army is the sector where the more closed and secret, the better

Central Bank governor: I can't say banks in Armenia make super profits

Armenia Security Council chief, Greece FM discuss regional, extra-regional security

Central Bank official: Banking services very accessible for Armenia citizens, businesses

Dollar down, euro up in Armenia

Suren Papikyan, Rory Domm discuss Armenia-EU cooperation prospects (PHOTOS)

Gerapetritis to Pashinyan: Greece government ready to support Armenia in all possible directions

FM: Greece clearly supports preservation of Christian sites in Karabakh

George Gerapetritis: Armenia's prosperity is possible only with Europe

Ararat Mirzoyan: Armenia should be able to make use of Azerbaijan railway

Greece official on South Caucasus situation: We rule out use of force, aggression

Sargis Khandanyan: Not aware of any arrangements for Armenia-Azerbaijan meeting in January

Armenia lawmaker: Peace treaty can be signed when Azerbaijan accepts our principles

About $70M allocated to programs for persons forcibly displaced from Karabakh to Armenia, minister says

Armenia FM on relations with EU: There is long way to go

Armenia ruling force MP: Azerbaijan statements about bilateral negotiations are just statements

TASS: Germany offers Armenia financial assistance for anti-Russian steps, source says

Gunmen take TV journalists hostage live on air in Ecuador, police manage to free them

ARARATBANK attracts USD 5 million from EFSE to support MSMEs in Armenia

Researchers discover ancient temple ruins thanks to Emperor Constantine's letter to group of Romans

Armenia ex-ruling party: Court once again proved it is submissive tool of current authorities

Armenia, Greece FMs' private conversation kicks off

Volkswagen to equip Golf, Tiguan with artificial intelligence

MFA: Armenia established diplomatic relations with 3 more countries in 2023 (VIDEO)

Newspaper: Attacks on judges gaining new momentum in Armenia

US Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin treated for prostate cancer

China recreational area breaks world record as largest temporary ice, snow theme park

Copernicus: World dangerously close to global warming limit

Greece FM arrives in Armenia on official visit

Armenia army officer found dead with gunshot wound

Crime gang leader escapes from Ecuador prison, state of emergency declared in country

Indonesia police rescue 226 dogs sent to slaughter

Lemkin Institute condemns recent attack on Armenian Quarter in East Jerusalem

Armenia economy minister, businessmen discuss major investment programs planned for 2024

Dollar, euro gain value in Armenia

Greece FM to arrive in Armenia Wednesday on official visit

MFA: In 2023 Armenia was elected to all international organizations where it nominated its candidacy

Azerbaijan ambassador to France confirms arrest of Frenchman Martin Ryan, suspected of espionage

Armenia records 2% inflation in 2023

US Senior Advisor for Caucasus Negotiations visiting Yerevan, discusses efforts to bring peace, stability to region

World of Buzz: Son didn't know for 20 years that his father was actually a millionaire

Yerevan to host European Bank for Reconstruction and Development Annual Meeting, Business Forum in May

Russia media report details about Armenian mans murder in Noginsk city

ARARAT Museum Celebrates 100th Anniversary of Sergei Parajanov with "Uninterrupted Flight" Exhibition

Ruben Rubinyan, Louis Bono discuss Armenia-Azerbaijan peace process

Criminal investigation launched, Armenia serviceman detained in case into killing of fellow soldier at combat position

Sergei Parajanov statue unveiled in Yerevan

Protest being stage outside Armenia education ministry

Bloomberg: Researchers find out waters nanoplastics content dangerous for humans

MFA: Matter of Armenia driver's licenses recognition in Russia is on bilateral discussions agenda

Armenia soldier found dead, with gunshot wound, in combat position

Bitcoin exceeds $47,000 for first time since March 2022

China researchers develop electronic skin

PM: Armenia foreign policys highest goal is to ensure country's sovereignty, independence, territorial integrity

Newspaper: Yerevan mayor unaware that Karabakh has been de-Armenianized?

US embassy in Baku: Louis Bono holds regular talks to support Armenia-Azerbaijan peace process

Armenia economy minister to go on business trip to India

Armenia Security Council chief: We have no expectations from CSTO any longer

Armenia Security Council head: Contractual obligations with Russia regarding weapons not fulfilled

Armen Grigoryan. There is agreement that Armenia-Azerbaijan border delimitation commissions will meet in late January

Ararat Mirzoyan and Louis Bono discussed regional security issues

Tourism Committee chair: 50% of tourists arriving in Armenia are from Russia

Quake hits Turkey

One of French spies arrested in Azerbaijan identified

Armenia unemployment rate dropped sharply over last 3 years, economy minister says

Economy minister: US is for first time on list of Armenia's largest trade partners

Pope Francis expresses concern about Armenia-Azerbaijan disagreements

Kanaani: Iran has clear positions regarding situation in South Caucasus

Armenian National Committee member: Heavy equipment removed from Jerusalem Armenian Quarter Cows Garden

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Juan, a 7-year-old migrant from San Juan del Rio, Mexico, purses a cart outside a shelter near the 2300 block of South Halsted Street where 5-year-old Jean Carlos Martinez Rivero died Sunday evening after a medical emergency on Dec. 18, 2023. (Armando L. Sanchez/Chicago Tribune)

Amid a recent uptick in asylum-seekers from the southern border arriving in Chicago, New York and Denver, the mayors of the three cities Wednesday renewed their collective call for the federal government to step up resources as the cities near a breaking point in coping with the crisis.

In a first-time joint appearance, Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson, New York City Mayor Eric Adams and Denver Mayor Mike Johnston repeated a set of requests all three have been making for months. They asked the U.S. government to boost funding to cities and states receiving newcomers and to expedite their permits. They said border states needed to increase communication with receiving cities and called for a coordinated entry system among destination municipalities and states.

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The repeated requests from the mayors, directed in part at President Joe Biden, a fellow Democrat, have so far been met with minimal success. But the mayors re-upped their request as 2023 was coming to a close and the number of migrants arriving in the three cities has increased in recent weeks, so much so that Johnson said Chicago is once again near capacity.

We have to approach it as a team, not divided, Johnson said.

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We have reached a critical point in this mission that, absent real significant intervention immediately, our local economies are not designed and built to respond to this kind of crisis, Chicagos mayor added. We are literally building the system as we go along.

New York City Mayor Eric Adams, top left, Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson, bottom left, and Denver Mayor Mike Johnston, top right, take part in a virtual media briefing to discuss a coalition of cities coming together to push for solutions to deal with the asylum-seeker crisis. (New York Mayor's office)

Johnston, the Denver mayor, said their requests were a commonsense path to reduce the strain on cities as migrants continue to arrive.

If all three of those fail  if there is no federal support, theres no coordinated entry, theres no work authorization  I think cities would have to look at dramatically reducing the amount of services we offer, he said.

[ Migrants flown to Chicago from Texas on chartered flight, officials say ]

The three mayors also took aim at Republican Texas Gov. Greg Abbott, who has helped spearhead the recent increase in asylum-seekers headed north without coordinating with officials in the cities, the mayors said. Abbott just last week had more than 120 migrants flown to Chicago from Texas on a chartered flight after buses carrying migrants to Chicago were being penalized.

Describing Abbott as a reckless, rogue elected official, Johnson said the Texas governor was using the migrants as political tools. Johnson said the lack of care that has been on display during the last year and a half has caused an incredible amount of chaos.

This is the United States of America, for crying out loud, he said. We have experienced tremendous challenges in the course of our history. This is not something that should break our country, especially if we stand and work together. Unfortunately you have individuals that their only currency is chaos.

Johnson echoed Adams statement that his city was at a breaking point absent more federal assistance to respond the migrants who have arrived in need of food, shelter, health care and work permits since August 2022. The three mayors also are seeking a declaration of emergency from the federal government in response to the waves of new arrivals, and they called on Abbott to stop what Johnson called quite frankly, unsafe behavior.

Following more than a month of shrinking figures of newly arriving migrants, Chicago saw an increase in recent weeks as the holidays approached. Adams and Johnston said their cities have also seen a spike in migrant arrivals.

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Migrants walk outside a shelter near the 2300 block of South Halsted Street on Dec. 19, 2023. (Armando L. Sanchez//Chicago Tribune)

Johnson pointed out that more than 30,000 Ukrainian refugees are living in Chicago. The number of new arrivals from the southern border has yet to reach that height, but the difference was (Ukrainian refugees) had federal resources attached to each of those individuals for them to integrate into our local economy.

He said he and his counterparts in New York and Denver were asking for what has already occurred for this population of asylum-seekers, many but not all of whom are from Venezuela.

Chicago has received more than 26,585 migrants to date, according to a bulletin from the citys Office of Emergency Management and Communication.

On Wednesday, Chicago officials said they expecting at least 10 buses to arrive. They said they knew of three buses that had arrived in elsewhere in the Chicago area Tuesday.

[ Asylum-seekers cleared from once-crowded Chicago police station as city begins to enact new policies ]

City officials have scrambled to stand up a network of makeshift shelters for new arrivals, many of whom spent time sleeping in the citys police stations while they waited to be placed in more permanent shelters. Johnson has had his own difficulties trying to house migrants in a large tent encampment before winter arrived, as Gov. J.B. Pritzker stopped plans for the first such camp amid environmental concerns.

As of Wednesday, nearly 300 migrants were awaiting placement in police stations, OHare or Midway airports, city officials said.

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Advocates and the migrants themselves also have sounded alarm bells about conditions in city shelters, which intensified after a 5-year-old boy died in a shelter in the Pilsen neighborhood on the Lower West Side.

Members of Salem Baptist Church of Chicago and Progressive Baptist Church hand out comfort items and serve food to migrants currently housed at Richard J. Daley College in West Lawn as part of an outreach event on Dec. 20, 2023. (Eileen T. Meslar/Chicago Tribune)

As Chicago has attempted to cope with the new influx, confusion has also reigned within Illinois boundaries as buses have dropped off migrants coming from Texas outside Chicagos city limits.

Chicago began cracking down on bus companies that arent following rules the city implemented in mid-November seeking to stop chaotic bus arrivals. The rules required drop-offs to occur on weekdays between 8 a.m. and 5:30 p.m., limited bus arrivals to two per hour, and designated 800 S. Desplaines St. in the West Loop as the location to unload passengers.

[ Migrants twice dropped off at a Naperville Metra station before moving on to Chicago, city officials say ]

In the last week, two buses dropped off asylum-seekers at Napervilles downtown Metra station. A city spokesperson said the new arrivals then took a Metra train to downtown Chicago. Officials in Kane County on Wednesday afternoon said in a statement that bus passengers who arrived in Aurora and Elburn were being sent via Metra to Chicago.

Johnson last month also announced that families staying in city shelters would be able to remain there for only 60 days.

Praising Johnsons bus rules, Adams announced he was signing an executive order for New York City that mirrored many of Chicagos rules. The New York order requires buses transporting migrants to announce their arrival 32 hours before dropping off migrants, and it also establishes new requirements for where and when buses can drop off migrants.

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To be clear, this is not about stopping people from coming, but about ensuring the safety of migrants, Adams said.

ckubzansky@chicagotribune.com
We are so close to a peace agreement with Armenia, said Farid Shafiyev, Chairman of the Center of Analysis of International Relations (AIR Center) of Azerbaijan, during a press conference on the activities of AIR Center for 2023, APA reports.

The Azerbaijani political scientist noted, however, that it is very difficult to tell the exact date for the signing of this peace agreement.

But the main controversial issues have been reduced to zero. [Border] demarcation and delimitation is a long process. I consider that this will not be included in the document. For example, we [i.e. Azerbaijan] havent resolved this with Georgia for many years. The peace agreement is agreeing on basic principles. At present, Armenia should be interested in the peace agreement more; this will bring stability to the region, Shafiyev said.
Azerbaijan has transferred to the Armenian side five main principles which were the basis for the draft peace agreement prepared by Baku. This was stated by Elchin Amirbayov, the special ambassador to the Azerbaijani president, in an interview with The Guardian daily of the UK.

Last week, the latest draft proposals of the text of the peace agreement was transferred to the Armenian side, and Azerbaijan is now waiting for Armenias response, Amirbayov said, adding that they outlined five main principles which were the basis for the draft peace agreement prepared by Azerbaijan.

Amirbayov noted that now it is necessary to deal with the peace agreement. He said that Azerbaijan and Armenia can resolve the issue of determining their shared border at a later phase, taking into account the complicated and time-consuming nature of that process.

Moreover, he called on Armenia to fully grasp all the advantages of peace with Azerbaijan, and give up the harmful illusions and machinations aimed at disrupting the peace process.

"What is important to understand is that at this crucial stage in negotiations, where apparently were not that much far away from the final agreement, Yerevan's sincere commitment is necessary to achieve concrete results, said the Azerbaijani official.
The fifth meeting of the Investment Committee of Armenia was held Thursday under the chairmanship of Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan, informs the PMs office.

First, the final reports on technical and economic studies of the drafts of public investment programs approved during the second and third meetings of the Investment Committee were presented. The committee members approved the drafts based on final reports.

Next, the committee members were presented with new projects on the improvement of Armenias road transport. As a result of the discussion, questions on the solutions to the problems presented in these projects and the proposed mechanisms were raised.

Subsequently, the premier instructed to consolidate some projects and gave concrete instructions to the officials in charge in order to increase the efficiency of investment capital programs of Armenia.
The peace treaty with Armenia should be separated from the border delimitation issue. Azerbaijani foreign minister Jeyhun Bayramov stated this in a press briefing, as he reported on the results of the activities of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Azerbaijan in 2023, reports APA.

"During all the meetings between Azerbaijan and Armenia, the issue of returning eight villages [to Azerbaijan] is raised. We consider that this is related to [border] delimitation and as its known, the delimitation process is technical issue. The general principles are reflected in the peace treaty," Bayramov said.

The Azerbaijani FM noted that even the delimitation process between countries without a serious territorial conflict can take a long time.

Armenian Foreign Minister Ararat Mirzoyan, however, on Wednesday had stressed that the peace treaty should note the border delimitation process, which will make this process predictable.

Translated from diplomatic language, what Bayramov said means that Azerbaijan demands that all further territorial claims against Armenia be recognized as legal.

As reported earlier, the parliament of Azerbaijan had adopted a document on territorial claims against Armenia.
The negotiations between Azerbaijan and Armenia must not become hostage of a third party, Azerbaijan's minister of foreign Affairs Jeyhun Bayramov said at a press conference on the results of the activities of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Azerbaijan in 2023, reports APA.

Bayramov emphasized that the Ministers of Foreign Affairs of Azerbaijan and Armenia and delegations may meet at the state border of the two countries.

"Azerbaijan made such proposal," he added.

Also, the Azerbaijani FM reminded that the border delimitation commissions of Armenia and Azerbaijan had already met twice at the border.
Work continues Thursday on interior demolition at the former Will County Courthouse in downtown Joliet, after an attempt to halt the process failed when a quorum of the county board did not attend a special meeting. (Michelle Mullins/Daily Southtown)

The Will County Board plans a special meeting Tuesday to again attempt a vote on halting demolition of the vacant county courthouse for 90 days, after a meeting Thursday was canceled due to a lack of quorum.

Some county members want to stop demolition of the building, 14 W. Jefferson St., Joliet, in an attempt to preserve the Brutalist-style building. Interior demolition has been ongoing for more than a week after the county received all necessary permits and state approval to proceed, and exterior demolition is expected to begin in January.

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Thursdays special board meeting was canceled after too few members showed up. Some board members in attendance expressed frustration fellow board members who were in the county building did not attend and other board members who promised to be there didnt show up.

Mica Freeman, a Democrat from Plainfield, said she attended the special board meeting to ensure her constituents were represented but left because her being there would have created a quorum.

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The courthouse is being demolished as I speak, she said. When I realized my presence made quorum and the group wanting to stall the demolition would then have their meeting, I left. My decision to leave protects taxpayers, ensuring that the county does not irresponsibly accrue fines and fees from Joliet for having a nuisance property.

The meeting was attended by board Chair Judy Ogalla, a Republican from Monee, leaders of the Democratic and Republican caucuses, members of the boards ad hoc courthouse committee and others, but did not reach the 12 members required to take action.

The board will try again to vote on issuing a stay of further demolition at 10:45 a.m. Tuesday at the County Office Building, 302 N. Chicago St., Joliet.

Board member Janet Diaz, a Democrat from Joliet, said she hopes Tuesdays meeting will have a quorum because board members are already in attendance for other meetings, including Public Works and Transportation, Capital Improvements and Finance committee meetings.

Some members want to stop the demolition so they can review the demolition contract and permits.

Board member Dan Butler, a Republican from Frankfort, said he is concerned whether the board received all information to review. He wants to ensure the contract addresses how allowances and change orders are handled and whether the county will be on the hook financially if unforeseen circumstances with demolition occur. He said he is concerned the demolition will exceed the $1.5 million price tag and wants to know more about the contingency plan if more loads of concrete need to be hauled away.

Work continues Thursday on interior demolition at the former Will County Courthouse in downtown Joliet, though damage to part of the facade is visible. (Michelle Mullins/Daily Southtown)

Butler said he plans to keep up the fight to save the building, ensure transparency and save the county money.

Deep down, Im not satisfied, Butler said. The irony is that the architecture of Brutalism symbolized simplicity and functionality. Imagine a government that was simple and functional.

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Board member Sherry Williams, a Democrat from Crest Hill, said the ad hoc courthouse committee wants more information about the condition of the former courthouse. In 2010, an assessment stated the courthouse needed a new air conditioning system and a new roof, but in 2019 an assessment said the building was not worth renovating, Williams said.

She said board members are interested in what happened to the courthouse during that time frame.

Diaz said several board members toured the building earlier this year and found it in good shape.

We toured the building with gym shoes on and no hard hats, Diaz said, adding she could have likely worn flip-flops.

County Executive Jennifer Bertino-Tarrant said in a statement the courthouse is no longer structurally sound. She said the meeting was financially irresponsible and a public safety risk.

The decision to demolish the courthouse was voted on by the county board and the demolition has started, Bertino-Tarrant said. At this stage of the process, I will not put the county in a position to be sued and leave a public safety hazard in downtown Joliet. Frankly, it is quite frustrating to be having this meeting, especially since the building is no longer structurally sound.

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Mike Theodore, a spokesman for the executives office, said they have responded to every request from board members regarding bid documents, which are publicly available and posted on Will Countys website. The contract has been sent to the ad hoc courthouse committee for review by its members and fully vetted by the states attorneys office, he said.

Nothing has been withheld and our office does not know what else we can provide at this time to alleviate concerns, Theodore said.

The county has not conducted a large-scale facilities needs assessment since 2010, he said.

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 >

Board members in favor of saving the building say they believe that most of the work has been interior and the building can still be salvaged. But time is of the essence.

But Theodore said interior demolition has been completed to a point where the building is no longer structurally sound, and that work is expected to be completed by the end of January.

The contractor believes the courthouse will be fully demolished by mid-March with site restoration occurring in April, he said.

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The former courthouse, built in 1969, has been vacant since November 2020 when the newly built Will County Judicial Center opened a block away. It was named to the National Register of Historic Places in May.

The county board has allocated $2.5 million in its fiscal year 2023 budget for demolition, which was approved by a county board vote in 2019.

In October, a $1.5 million contract was awarded to American Demolition Corporation of Carol Stream.

Michelle Mullins is a freelance reporter.
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08:53

Assam Chief Minister's Office has announced that a tripartite memorandum of settlement between the ULFA (pro-talks faction) and the central and state governments will be signed in New Delhi on Friday.





'A Memorandum of Settlement will be signed between the Government of India, Government of Assam and representatives of the United Liberation Front of Assam (ULFA) in presence of the Union Home Minister and Minister of Cooperation, Sh Amit Shah tomorrow at 5 pm in New Delhi,' the CMO posted on 'X' on Thursday.





Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma, who is scheduled to be present during the signing, also retweeted the post.





A 16-member delegation of the ULFA pro-talks faction, led by chairman Arabinda Rajkhowa, reached New Delhi on Wednesday to hold discussions with Shah before the signing of the accord.





The outfit's general secretary, Anup Chetia, has been camping in New Delhi since Monday and held talks with the peace interlocutor AK Mishra on Tuesday.





The Centre had sent a draft of the proposed agreement to the pro-talks faction in April, while another round of discussions were held with the faction in New Delhi in August.





In October, Chetia had said they had sent their suggestions regarding the draft proposals to the Centre.





The ULFA was formed in 1979 at the historic Rang Ghar, an Ahom era amphitheater, in Sivasagar and was banned in 1990 when it started an armed conflict against the state.





The outfit split into two factions in 2011 when the pro-talks faction led by Rajkhowa decided to return to the state from abroad and participate in peace talks while the other group ULFA (Independent), led by its commander Paresh Barua was opposed to negotiations unless the 'sovereignty' clause was included.





The pro-talks faction had submitted a 12-point charter of demands for the discussions. These demands cover constitutional and political arrangements, protection of the identity and material resources of the local indigenous population of Assam, financial and economic arrangements, a status report on missing ULFA leaders and cadres, amnesty, reintegration and rehabilitation of ULFA members and affected people, among others.





The demands also encompassed the right to engage in specific relationships with foreign countries for promotion of mutual trade, commerce and cultural relationship, restoration, protection, preservation and spread of indigenous culture of Assam.





The chief minister on assuming office in 2021 had sent out an olive branch to the ULFA(I) for talks with the latter announcing a ceasefire of operations but recently it carried out three blasts in Tinsukia, Sivasagar and Jorhat which they claimed was in response to the 'arrogant' attitude of Director General of Police G P Singh.





Opposition parties and civil society in Assam are skeptical about the relevance of the proposed accord with the ULFA pro-talks faction.





They said as long as the ULFA(Independent) does not participate in discussions, it will not bring peace to the state. -- PTI


The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) on Thursday issued an order imposing a monetary penalty of Rs 2 lakh on Gujarat-based Sardargunj Mercantile Co-operative Bank Limited in Patan, for non-compliance with the directions issued by the central bank on 'Placement of Deposits with Other Banks by Primary (Urban) Co-operative Banks (UCBs)'. The central bank said that the penalty has been imposed in the exercise of powers conferred on RBI under section 47A(1)(c) read with sections 46(4)(i) and 56 of the Banking Regulation Act, 1949. "This action is based on a deficiency in regulatory compliance and is not intended to pronounce upon the validity of any transaction or agreement entered into by the bank with its customers," RBI said. RBI also said that the statutory inspection of the bank conducted by it with reference to its financial position as of March 31, 2022, and examination of the Inspection Report, Risk Assessment Report and all correspondence related revealed that the bank had breached the prudential inter-bank counterparty exposure limit. RBI further mentioned that consequently, a notice was issued to the bank advising it to show cause as to why a penalty should not be imposed on it for failure to comply with the said directions. "After considering the bank's reply to the notice, additional submissions made by it and oral submissions made during the personal hearing, RBI came to the conclusion that the charge of non-compliance with the aforesaid RBI directions was substantiated and warranted imposition of monetary penalty on the bank," RBI said. (ANI)
Filmfare Awards, one of the most glamorous and oldest film awards in the Hindi film industry, is all set to be back with its 69th edition. The new edition will take place in Gandhinagar, Gujarat on January 28, 2024. In July 2023, the Gujarat Tourism Corporation Limited (TCGL) signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Worldwide Media Pvt Ltd (A Times Group Company) to organise the 69th Filmfare Awards. The MoU signing ceremony was attended by Gujarat Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel and Managing Director of Times Group Vineet Jain. Actor Tiger Shroff represented the Hindi film industry at the ceremony, wherein he shared his special connection with Gujarat. "I have a special relation with Gujarat as my grandfather was Gujarati. And speaking of Filmfare, I have had a beautiful relationship with this award show. I attended the Filmfare Awards for the first time in 1990. That year my father (Jackie Shroff) won the Best Actor Award at Filmfare and I have been attending the award show since then. I also got opportunities to perform at several editions," Tiger said. "This is going to be an amazing experience. Thank you to the CM of Gujarat for opening his arms up to the film industry, to Filmfare," he added. Filmfare Awards was first introduced in 1954. Reportedly, Black (2005) has won the maximum number of Filmfare awards in a single year. It won 11 Awards under the Best Film, Best Director, Best Actor, Best Actress, Critics Award Best Movie, Best Actor (Critics' Choice), Best Actress (Critics' Choice), Best Supporting Actress, Best Editing, Best Cinematography and Best Background Score categories. (ANI)
American actor Billie Lourd paid an emotional tribute to her mother and American actor Carrie Fisher seven years after her death, Deadline reported. The 'Scream Queens' actor took to X and shared a throwback picture with her mother, where young Billie can be seen playing on the beach. She wrote, "It has been 7 years since my mom died, but who's counting?? Me, I guess?) Every anniversary brings a different iteration of my grief." https://twitter.com/praisethelourd/status/1740071571723841779 She added, "Some infuse me with rage, some make me cry all day long, some make me feel dissociated and empty, some make me feel nothing, some make me feel guilty for feeling nothing, and some make me feel all of those things all at once." She continued, "This year, when I woke up, I felt grateful--or griefful, if you will. Grief has infused my life with a sense of appreciation I had never had before. It makes me soak up every moment of joy as if it were my last." "I laughed at myself, then cried more because I was laughing. I felt my mom's presence like the warmth of the sun on your skin on a hot summer day," she added. "The kind of warmth where you unknowingly close your eyes and take a slow breath through your nose and grin." She concluded, "I miss her every day but the cliche is also true--she is with me every day; she infuses my joyful moments with even more joy. As I tell my son, she lives in the stars, and she damn sure makes my life sparkle. Sending my love to all my griefers out there. And I'm hoping everyone can feel a little sparkle of grief among all the feelings grief inevitably brings." As per Deadline, Fisher passed away on December 27, 2016, at the age of 60, following a medical issue aboard a trip from London to Los Angeles. (ANI)
His mortal remains are to be taken from the Koyambedu office to Island ground, Anna Salai for public homage. From 6 am to 1 pm tomorrow, Vijayakanth's mortal remains will be kept there.

Later by 1 pm again mortal remains will be taken to the Koyambedu office and the last rites will be held in the Koyambedu DMDK office by 4.45 pm.

MDMK general secretary Vaiko and actor Sathyaraj paid tribute to DMDK chief Captain Vijayakanth.

Earlier, in November, Vijayakanth was admitted to MIOT Hospital in Chennai as his health deteriorated.

Suffering from coughing and throat pain, he was under the observation of doctors for 14 days.Widely known as 'Captain', Vijayakanth's life is marked by a successful career in the Tamil film industry.

He was featured in 154 movies before venturing into politics. While holding a position at Nadigar Sangam (officially known as the South Indian Artists' Association (SIAA)), Vijayakanth brought revolutionary changes to the South Indian film industry.

He also served as a member of the Legislative Assembly twice, representing the Virudhachalam and Rishivandiyam constituencies.

Meanwhile, Jr NTR will be seen in the Pan-India film 'Devara' which also stars Saif Ali Khan and Janhvi Kapoor in the lead roles.

He will also be seen in 'War 2' alongside Hrithik Roshan and Kiara Advani. 'War 2' is all set to hit theatres on the occasion of Independence Day 2025. (ANI)
Apart from this, six ICU beds and a ward with 30 beds have also been reserved for Covid patients in the new building of Lady Hardinge Hospital.

Additionally, 12 beds have been reserved for paediatric patients in Kalawati Saran Children's Hospital, which comes under Lady Hardinge Medical College.

Recently, the Director of the hospital also held a meeting with all the stakeholders and information was taken regarding all the arrangements related to COVID-19.

Earlier on December 23, a mock drill was also organised in the hospital.

Given the increasing cases, the hospital has made it mandatory for all healthcare workers to wear masks.

Meanwhile, Delhi Health Minister Saurabh Bharadwaj said that there is no need to panic as new covid variant only causes mild sickness.

"JN.1 is a sub-variant of Omicron and is a mild infection. This is the one spreading in south India. There is no need to panic. It causes mild sickness," Bharadwaj told ANI on Wednesday.

Meanwhile, a total of 109 JN.1 COVID variant cases have been reported in the country as of December 26, Health Ministry sources said on Wednesday.

The All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS) of Delhi has issued guidelines regarding suspected or positive cases following the sudden surge in the coronavirus cases in the country.

AIIMS Delhi director held a meeting with all heads of departments of the hospital on COVID-19 contingency measures on Wednesday. In the meeting, policy on COVID-19 testing, the areas to be designated for positive patients and their hospitalisation was discussed.

The World Health Organization (WHO) recently classified JN.1 as a variant of interest, distinct from its parent lineage BA.2.86. However, the global health body emphasised that the overall risk posed by JN.1 remains low based on current evidence. (ANI)
Union Minister Meenakshi Lekhi said that only 11 crore bank accounts were opened since independence when the Congress was in power the majority of times whereas 52 crore bank accounts were opened within just four months of the Modi government in 2014. "During whose time no work was done on subjects like social justice. The biggest injustice that has happened to the people of the country is that till 2014, when majority of time Congress party was in power, only 11 crore people had bank accounts in the country with a population of 120 crore. In such a situation, when Narendra Modi became PM, 52 crore bank accounts were opened within just 4 months. We provide tools, whereas they (Congress) provide toolkits." she said. Lekhi said this while after participating in the Viksit Bharat Sankalp Yatra in New Delhi on Wednesday. "In today's digital India, people have access to mobile banking but during their (Congress) time, only they had personalized phone banking services," she emphasized. Meanwhile, Prime Minister Narendra Modi interacted with the beneficiaries of the Viksit Bharat Sankalp Yatra via video conferencing on Wednesday. Thousands of beneficiaries of Viksit Bharat Sankalp Yatra from across the country joined the event. The programme was also graced by Union Ministers, MPs, MLAs and local-level representatives. Addressing the gathering on the occasion, PM Modi said that the campaign, launched to attain saturation of flagship schemes of the Centre, has reached lakhs of villages. "Viksit Bharat Yatra is reaching in far-off places and connecting people. I want to thank the people of the country, especially women for making this program a huge success. Viksit Bharat Yatra started around 50 days ago, but it has already reached lakhs of villages," he said. The Prime Minister said that after the Viksit Bharat Yatra was started, 4.5 lakh new applications have been received for the Ujjwala Gas connection. "Over one crore Aayushmaan cards have been distributed to the people of the country. Health check-ups of around 1.25 crore people have been done," he added. (ANI)
Delhi University''s Ramanujan College has issued an order making a certificate-cum-refresher course on Bhagavad Gita mandatory for its teaching and non-teaching staff. This has left a section of teachers miffed, who said this could lead to the propagation of "sectarian beliefs". The 20-day course is scheduled to run till January 9, both online and offline, from 4.30 pm to 6.30 pm. In an email to the teaching staff, college principal SP Aggarwal wrote: "This course is in line with the setting up of the Indian Knowledge System Centre at the college. In view of this, it is our responsibility to first sensitise ourselves through such programmes." It further said that the college will hold such programmes not only for Bhagavad Gita but also for the Vedas, which are part of the Indian Knowledge System. Meanwhile, Teachers'' outfit Democratic Teachers'' Front (DTF) has demanded the withdrawal of the mandatory registration. In a statement, the DTF said Ramanujan principal SP Agarwal has "abused the powers vested in him to dictate" to all teachers and non-teaching staff to compulsorily register for and attend a refresher certificate course on Bhagavad Gita. "Illegally coercing teachers and non-teaching staff to remain engaged till 6.30 pm beyond official duties and the added burden of conducting the ongoing semester examinations of students is unacceptable," it added. (ANI)
Having fun and blowing a bubblegum bubble while doing a cell phone selfie pose with the kinara at the selfie station is Callan Espinal, 8, a third-grader at the Kwanzaa Celebration at the Robert Crown Community Center in the Logan Family Gym on Dec. 26, 2023. (Karie Angell Luc/Chicago Tribune)

Evanstons annual Kwanzaa Celebration on Dec. 26 was an evening event this year and included a three hour indoor program at the Robert Crown Community Center in the Logan Family Gym.

There were family oriented activities, a drum circle, artisan and food vendors, dancing and storytelling among amenities.

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The City of Evanston and Fleetwood-Jourdain Theatre hosted the annual first day of Kwanzaa celebration. Kwanzaa began on Dec. 26 and ends on Jan. 1, New Years Day.

The event started outside of the entrance to the Robert Crown Community Center. Evanston 2nd Ward Council Member Krissie Harris, and Artistic Director of the Fleetwood-Jourdain Theatre Tim Rhoze presided over the lighting of the first candle of Kwanzaa.

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The first candle of the Kwanzaa, the center black candle, was illuminated on the kinara (candelabra) representing unity as Umoja.

The first light of the kinara is illuminated at the Kwanzaa Celebration at the Robert Crown Community Center on Dec. 26, 2023. (Karie Angell Luc/Chicago Tribune)

Were talking about unity, right, were talking about not putting a BAND-AID on all the pain and suffering and the things that happen in the world, Rhoze said, but there has to be a day, a time when we can come together, hold hands, hug one another and simply say, I enjoy you, I love you, you are my neighbor.

The citys oversized kinara was placed this year in front of the Robert Crown Community Centers lighted public art sculpture.

Harris addressed the audience outdoors in front of the kinara, indicating, We light a candle each day, and thats what Evanston represents, unity, and we need to take that spirit, that mindset into the New Year, 2024.

From left to right, Evanston 2nd ward council member Krissie Harris, and Tim Rhoze of Evanston, artistic director of the Fleetwood-Jourdain Theatre, salute the moment at the outdoor kinara at the Robert Crown Community Center in Evanston on Dec. 26, 2023. (Karie Angell Luc/Chicago Tribune)

Its been a rough year for everybody, Harris said. And if we think outside of our self and think about the community, that we can lean on one another when times get hard. And thats what I know Evanston to be.

Kwanzaas seven days and principles are unity, self-determination, collective work and responsibility, cooperative economics, purpose, creativity and faith.

The candles color includes black to represent the people, red for their struggle and green for the future. Kwanzaa was launched by founder Dr. Maulana Karenga in 1966.

It is so important to celebrate Kwanzaa so that our children will know where it all started, said attendee Gerri Sizemore of Evanston. It is very important to teach our children and this is a very good teaching moment. I am really inspired by the intergenerational participation in this event.

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Center, Gerri Sizemore of Evanston is seated in the audience at the Kwanzaa Celebration at the Robert Crown Community Center in the Logan Family Gym on Dec. 26, 2023. (Karie Angell Luc/Chicago Tribune)

The itinerary included a performance of A Poetic Kwanzaa featuring JustUsArts and storyteller Oba William King. Clarence and Wendy Weaver of C&W Market and Ice Cream Parlor of Evanston were honored for their contributions to the Evanston community. The event concluded with the traditional first day of Kwanzaa ceremony.

The Evanston Public Library had a community table, providing free books, totes and other items.

Its about community, absolutely, so we try to always be at community events, said Laura Antolin, youth engagement librarian at the Evanston Public Library. Were here because of all the people who live here.

Left, Laura Antolin, youth engagement librarian at the Evanston Public Library, distributes a free tote bag at the Kwanzaa Celebration at the Robert Crown Community Center in the Logan Family Gym on Dec. 26, 2023. (Karie Angell Luc/Chicago Tribune)

Libraries arent just books, said Mariana Bojorquez, the librarys Latino engagement librarian. We create programming thats relevant for all sorts of age groups.

Tony Toneji Garrett of Evanston directed the drum circle where adults and children took part. The energy of the drum circle lasted a good half-hour or so.

Tony Garrett of Evanston directs the drum circle at the Kwanzaa Celebration at the Robert Crown Community Center in the Logan Family Gym on Dec. 26, 2023. (Karie Angell Luc/Chicago Tribune)

Kids make it happen, Garrett said of youth participants. Their energy is so primal, its pure.

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Kenya Johnson of Evanston attended with children Kennedi, 7, a second-grader and Byron, 8, a third-grader.

This was the first year the Johnsons celebrated Kwanzaa, Kenya Johnson said, and came to the event at the invitation of another family.

Its been a beautiful experience for us, Kenya Johnson said. So for them (Kennedi and Byron) to see that, and to be able to participate, means a lot to us.

Rich Espinal of Evanston brought children Leonel, 10, a fifth-grader, Marcielo, 6, a first-grader, and Callan, 8, a third-grader. Crafts and a selfie station were popular destinations for the Espinal family.

The childrens father attended with family for, just a sense of community.

Rich Espinal of Evanston poses with two of the Espinal children, from left, Leonel Espinal, 10, a fifth-grader and Callan Espinal, 8, a third-grader at the Kwanzaa Celebration at the Robert Crown Community Center in the Logan Family Gym on Dec. 26, 2023. (Karie Angell Luc/Chicago Tribune)

Its part of our heritage, were here to celebrate, Rich Espinal added. This event brings everybody together.

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Angela Merritt of Evanston watched daughter Ava Gianna Waite, 4, perform in the drum circle.

Im very impressed, this is very nice, Merritt said of Evanstons Kwanzaa celebration.

To event organizers, I want to say thank you, Merritt said. Its great to bring community together, culture, but also showing representation, thats very important.

With a big smile while participating in the drum circle is Ava Gianna Waite, 4, of Evanston. In green sweater is accompanying adult Sanera White of Evanston at the Kwanzaa Celebration at the Robert Crown Community Center in the Logan Family Gym on Dec. 26, 2023. (Karie Angell Luc/Chicago Tribune)

Karie Angell Luc is a freelance reporter with Pioneer Press.
Paramilitary forces have been deployed outside the Israeli Embassy in Delhi, two days after the police received a call about a 'blast' being heard near the area. Visuals from the area showed heavy deployment of paramilitary forces, with restricted movement around the premises on Thursday morning. Earlier, Delhi Police on Tuesday received a call that a 'blast' was heard near the Israeli Embassy in the Chanakyapuri diplomatic enclave, but officials said that nothing as such was found at the spot of the incident. The call was received by the Delhi Fire Services at around 6 pm. Later on Wednesday, the National Investigation Agency (NIA) was roped in to investigate the incident. Meanwhile, Delhi police have zeroed in on two 'suspects' after examining the CCTV footage of the area. Officials have however not confirmed the duo's involvement in the same. According to sources, two persons roaming near the Israel embassy on Tuesday evening have emerged as suspects in the alleged 'blast' incident. "Two persons are seen roaming in the area in CCTV footage. Their role in the 'blast' call incident is not yet clear. We are trying to ascertain their identity and what were they doing in the area at the time of the call. Things will become clear only after their questioning," they said. Now the police are examining CCTVs of nearby areas to find out as to how the two suspects reached there and which route they took. They are also trying to ascertain the identity of the two suspects. Delhi police found a letter addressed to the Israeli ambassador near the Israel Embassy on Tuesday evening in connection with the 'blast' call. "A letter has been written in English to the Israeli Embassy in which threatening words are used. The group whose name is written on the letter is Sir Allah Resistance," said sources. (ANI)
According to the police, the anonymous sender threatened to blow up Jaipur and other airports.

After receiving the threat email, terminal manager Anurag Gupta filed a complaint at Jaipur Airport police station.

The airport authority informed the CISF (Central Industrial Security Force) and other security officials, following which a search operation was launched at the airport.

A bomb disposal squad was also present at the airport at the time of filing this report.

However, till the last reports, there was no official communication on any explosive device being found by security officials.

However, screening and security were beefed up nonetheless at the airport.

Further details are awaited.

Earlier, in November this year, The Mumbai International Airport received a 'threat' email, with the sender threatening to blow up Terminal 2.

The sender also demanded USD 1 million in Bitcoin within 48 hours, failing which he threatened to blow up the terminal.

However, the call was later found to be a hoax. (ANI)
The Special Cell of Delhi Police on Thursday moved an application in Patiala House Court seeking permission to conduct a polygraph test of all the accused arrested in Parliament Security Breach Case. The Additional Sessions Judge Dr Hardeeep Kaur adjourned the matter for January 2, 2024 noted that the legal aide counsel (Court appointed lawyer) represented some of the accused is not present. All the six arrested accused were also brought to the court during the hearing of plea. Last week the Court had extended the custodial remand of all.six accused till January 5, 2024. Public Prosecutor Akhand Pratap Singh appeared for Delhi Police had earlier submitted that indepth investigation required to unearth larger conspiracy behind this well planned attack. Police also sought custodial remand to find actual motive behind the attack and accused association with any other enemy country as aell as terror organizations. The security breach happened on the anniversary of the 2001 Parliament terror attack. Two people--Sagar Sharma and Manoranjan D--jumped into the Lok Sabha chamber from the public gallery during Zero Hour, released yellow gas from canisters and shouted anti-establishment slogans before being overpowered by the MPs. Outside it, in another incident, two protestors -- Neelam (42) and Amol (25) -- protested outside the Parliament with similar gas canisters. Later Police had arrested two more accused Lalit Jha and Mahesh Kumawat in the case after finding their crucial role in the conspiracy. The Delhi Police has recently also informed the Patiala House Court that the Parliament Security breach Conspiracy was going since more than last years and freshly arrested accused Mahesh attended all the meeting held in different cities in this regards. Police further claimed that accused wanted to create anarchy in the country so that they can compel the government to meet their unjust and illegal demands. The case involves a security breach that occurred on December 13, when two youths jumped into the Lok Sabha chamber during Zero Hour, setting off smoke cans and raising slogans. The probe earlier revealed further that two pairs of shoes were made on a special order in Lucknow, as the accused learned that the shoes of visitors to the new Parliament were not checked and they could hide their smoke cans under their footwear. (ANI)
Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Thursday mourned the deaths of 13 people who were caught in a bus fire in Madhya Pradesh's Guna district. Shah took to 'X', formerly Twitter, to share his feelings, saying, "May God give strength to the families of those who lost their lives in this tragedy." A passenger bus collided with a dumper truck and caught fire on Guna-Aron road in Guna district on Wednesday night, killing at least 13 and injuring 17 others, according to the police. The injured are undergoing treatment in the Guna district hospital. "The incident of a bus catching fire in Guna, Madhya Pradesh, is heartbreaking. May God give strength to the families of those who lost their lives in this tragedy. I wish a speedy recovery for those injured in the incident," the Home Minister posted on 'X'. Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Mohan Yadav ordered the suspension of the RTO (Regional Transport Officer) for not conducting a check on vehicles and the CMO (Chief Municipal Officer) for delayed response in sending the fire brigade team to the accident spot. Meanwhile, a Member of Parliament (MP) from Guna Lok Sabha constituency, KP Yadav, said that the chief minister took the matter seriously and announced an ex-gratia of Rs 4 lakh each to the family of the deceased. "It is a tragic incident and the Chief Minister has taken the matter seriously. He has announced financial assistance of Rs 4 lakh each to the family of the deceased and Rs 50,000 each to the injured. Action has also been taken against those who have been negligent, following which the RTO and CMO have been suspended," KP Yadav said. Earlier, CM Yadav ordered a probe into the matter, following which a four-member investigation committee was formed, which will submit its report in three days. (ANI)
Para-Military forces will completely switch to 'Sandes App' for all official communication and sharing of documents from the first week of January. A senior official, who is aware of the development informed that all paramilitary forces have been suggested to switch to 'Sandes App' for all kinds of official communication and sharing of documents. "For quick and fast communication, WhatsApp was very popular among security forces for internal communication, but in the present scenario where the safety of data is paramount and document sharing on messaging apps is a regular affair. To overcome security issues, it has been decided to switch to the 'Sandes app' that has been designed and developed in India," said the officer. In an internal communication, personnel have been suggested to download the new messaging app and get familiar with its features in a week as all communication will be switched to this new app from WhatsApp and other such messaging apps. Another officer said that in the trial run, several glitches have been rectified, and the updated version of the App is ready to use. "We have suggested CISF, CRPF, SSB, and ITBP to switch to the new app for all kinds of official communication and sharing of documents. The app doesn't share data with third parties, and data safety is one of its key features," the officer said. The mobile application, developed by the National Informatics Centre (NIC), was launched in March 2021. It has since received significant updates, making the platform secure. The app is available on Android, and iOS and also has a desktop version. It has been downloaded on more than ten lakh devices. 'Sandes' application is an open source-based indigenous instant messaging platform developed by NIC, Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology, Government of India to facilitate instant messaging communication in Government organisations. It is hosted exclusively at Government infrastructure. It supports end-to-end encrypted messaging encrypted backup and encrypted OTP service. Its privacy and data policy is governed by the rules and regulations of the Government of India. Sandes can be integrated with other Government communications systems for sending encrypted messages without any cost. Currently, Sandes is integrated with NIC email, DigiLocker and e-office. At present, full features of the Sandes app are available only to government-verified users. Employees of Government organisations need to contact the Nodal officer of their Ministry/ Department for verification. (ANI)
Punjab Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) President Sunil Jakhar on Thursday hit out at state Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann amid the "tableau" row, stating that the tableau of Punjab was rejected because of the photographs of Arvind Kejriwal and Bhagwant Mann inside it and that Republic Day is not a platform for "self-endorsement." Earlier on Wednesday, the Punjab CM attacked the BJP-led centre after the latter rejected the tableau of the state for the coming Republic Day. After the Centre rejected Punjab's tableau, Bhagwant Mann said, "Today, the value of the martyrdom of Punjabis by the BJP government at the Centre has been presented to 3 crore Punjabis through the media. This time again the tableau of Punjab was not included in the 26th January parade...we sent 3 subjects... 1. History of Martyrs of Punjabis 2. History of Mai Bhago Ji 3. Priceless heritage of Punjab." "The decision of the Centre shows how much poison it has in its heart for the people of Punjab," he added. Meanwhile, Jakhar said, "...The reason for the tableau being rejected is the photographs of Arvind Kejriwal and Bhagwant Mann inside the tableau. They wanted to install their portraits or statues on the tableau, which was rejected by the ceremonial unit of the central government, which looks after all procedures." "Republic Day parade is not a platform for self-endorsement or advertisement," he added. On Wednesday, BJP leader Majinder Singh Sirsa also took potshots at CM Bhagwant Mann claiming that this has been Arvind Kejriwal's "modus operandi" for the past nine years. This has been Arvind Kejriwal's modus operandi for the last nine years. They send in projects and plans that are likely to be rejected and then cry foul play. And he is making Bhagwant Mann do the same thing in Punjab." "Even last year, the tableau sent in by the Punjab government was refurbished, which is why it was rejected. The same story was repeated this year... When the final list of tableaus for 20 states was released, Bhagwant Mann immediately called a press conference and started crying foul play," he added. The centre has rejected the tableaus of Punjab, Delhi and Himachal Pradesh for the upcoming Republic Day. (ANI)
Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath on Thursday said that creating a new cadre of veterinarians is important for those professionals who play an important role in the medical care of wild animals. Chairing the 16th meeting of the Uttar Pradesh State Wildlife Board, the Chief Minister issued guidelines towards the conservation of animals and birds. "Every year a large number of Siberian birds arrive in the state at a specific time. Ensuring their safety is a common responsibility of all of us. Any form of cruelty or inhumanity towards these birds or other animals is unacceptable. Strict actions will be taken against individuals involved in any such incidents," the CM said. On creating a new cadre of veterinarians, Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath said, "Recognizing the critical role these professionals play, the creation of a cadre ensures timely promotions and additional benefits." The CM also said that in view of the problem of increasing silt and floods in the rivers, dredging should be continued. "This will reduce deforestation in villages and will also protect forests and wildlife. Income will also increase," he said. "There should be helicopter services and four-lane road connectivity to ensure seamless transportation at eco-tourism places like Dudhwa National Park, Katarniaghat Wildlife Sanctuary and Chuka of Pilibhit Tiger Reserve," he further added. CM Yogi further said that special emphasis should be placed on fostering a tourism-friendly environment by training and employing local individuals as guides at these key tourist locations. "Additionally, efforts should be made to establish quality accommodation arrangements for tourists," he said. He also underlined that efforts being made to develop and conserve the Ganga's clean and continuous flow have resulted in an unprecedented increase in the number of dolphins. "Similar initiatives should be undertaken to safeguard and enhance the well-being of dolphins and other species in rivers such as Ghaghra, Chambal, Saryu, Gerua, etc. Local villagers should be educated and encouraged to become 'dolphin friends,' and cooperation from the Government of India can be sought in this endeavour," Chief Minister said. (ANI)
Hitting out at Congress leader Rahul Gandhi's Bharat Nyay Yatra, Union Minister Kiren Rijiju on Thursday said that the Wayanad MP's yatra perpetuates a divisive agenda and his visits to various states foster division among the people. He also said that his yatra was not bothersome because the people of India stand firmly behind Narendra Modi and BJP. "We are not bothered about whatever yatra Rahul Gandhi carries out because the people of India stand firmly behind Prime Minister Narendra Modi and BJP," Rijiju told ANI. "Rahul Gandhi has a habit of going to different states and using the language of division. He keeps this divisive agenda alive. We are the opposite of that. Under PM Modi, we want a united India with the motto of 'Ek Bharat Shrestha Bharat'," Rijiju added. Earlier on Wednesday, Union Minister Ramdas Athawale took a hit at Rahul Gandhi's Bharat Nyay Yatra and said, "Rahul Gandhi did the Bharat Jodo Yatra but his goal was not to "unite" the country but to "pull it apart." Union Minister Giriraj Singh also took a jibe at Gandhi's Yatra and asserted that the grand old party lost all elections after the Bharat Jodo Yatra, adding that it will be interesting to see what they will lose after the Bharat Nyay Yatra. The Congress Party announced on Wednesday that the Bharat Nyay Yatra will commence on January 14 in Imphal Manipur is expected to conclude on March 20 in Mumbai, Maharashtra. After the announcement of the Congress' Bharat Nyay Yatra, party General Secretary KC Venugopal said on Wednesday that the objective of the Yatra is 'Sabke liye Nyay' (Justice for everyone). The Congress also announced the Yatra will cover 14 states and 85 districts. When asked about the objective of the yatra, KC Venugopal said that Bharat Nyay Yatra, the name itself reflecting the objective of the yatra, 'Sabke liye nyay chahiye'. (ANI)
A group of migrants exit a bus after traveling from Texas in the West Loop neighborhood Tuesday Dec. 5, 2023 in Chicago. (Armando L. Sanchez/Chicago Tribune)

Asylum-seeking migrants have been arriving in Chicago and the collar counties throughout the year. Advocates say the families have come in search of something they lacked in their home countries: safety and stability.

Amid a recent uptick in arrivals, many villages and cities outside of Cook County have started to see their Metra station as a destination for the buses coming from the southern border.

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The steady stream of new arrivals locally and throughout the metro region made immigration and migrants one of the Lake County New-Suns top stories of 2023.

For the migrant families who come to Lake County, nonprofit organizations have been the main resource for the new arrivals for information about public benefits, immigration and legal assistance, mental and medical health resources and more.

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But the service organizations are struggling to keep up with the demand as more new families arrive. The nonprofits  along with mayors across the nation  are asking for more federal funding to continue supporting the steady stream for newcomers.

Many make their way to Lake County communities after being routed through Chicago check points because they have family or friends to live with, said Dulce Ortiz, executive director of Mano a Mano Family Resource Center in Round Lake Park.

This year, Mano a Mano served over 600 migrant families, many women and children from Central and South America and Ukraine. The organization helps people access public benefits for Medicaid, food assistance, housing applications, provides rental and legal assistance and connects people with other community resources.

They really just want to work and they want to be able to provide and, they just dont want to be a burden to the government, Dulce said. We kept hearing that over and over.

To manage the new arrivals, Lake County officials coordinate with municipalities, townships and local partners. The county has distributed state funding to some service organizations.

[ Lake County organizations getting aid to help with surge of migrants; They deserve to be treated with respect and dignity ]

In November, the county dispersed $1 million from the state to Mano a Mano, HACES and the North Suburban Legal Aid Clinic. The three organizations helped nearly 2,000 asylum-seekers over the past year, said Brenda OConnell, the countys community development administrator, last month.

With the $500,000 in funding, Mano a Mano will provide housing assistance grants to about 55 migrant families for six months. Ortiz said this has been one of the biggest roadblocks in families becoming self-sufficient.

Esteban Carbajal, supervising attorney for the immigration practice at the North Suburban Legal Aid Clinic said its been a struggle to meet the demand.

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The recent arrivals sometimes come in surges, Carbajal said. Despite the myriad of challenges that were facing with that situation, the clinic has remained steadfast in its commitment to providing low income and at risk individuals, families with access to free legal services.

[ Lake County officials, agencies scrambling to accommodate increasing numbers of migrants; First it was four, then ... suddenly it was 20 at once ]

With some of the grant funds from the county, the suburban legal clinic was able to hire new staff in their immigration practice to meet the growing demand. In the near future, the clinic hopes to hire a Spanish speaking legal assistant to add to the number of employees who speak Spanish.

Ortiz said Mano a Mano also hopes to hire an additional legal assistant with the state funding.

To meet the growing demand for services, North Suburban Legal Aid provided off-site informational sessions in the community at libraries and schools. Carbajal said these clinics include know your rights information and what types of immigration forms are available.

There can be challenges during the visa application process. Carbajal said the law can be too restrictive and limits who qualifies for relief.

Some individuals are fleeing very traumatic situations, but unfortunately their personal circumstances just dont fit the requirements for any type of relief, Carbajal said. Not being able to help them can be very difficult.

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Carbajal said the clinic has filed a few asylum applications for Venezuelan and Central American arrivals, but the application may take several years to be adjudicated. The clinic has seen success in obtaining asylum status for earlier arrivals from Afghanistan and temporary protected status for Ukrainians.

[ Mayor Brandon Johnson joins New York and Denver mayors in call for federal help with migrants ]

To help more people, Ortiz believes the federal government needs to provide more fiscal support to the municipalities and organizations who are on the front lines with migrant families.

Municipalities, the state, theyre doing everything to the best of their abilities, but more funding is needed to be able to make sure that these families are properly taken care of, Ortiz said. There just needs to be a wider effort in providing the resources to cities that are receiving new arrivals.

At this point in time were not going to see any slowdown or any stuffing of these buses coming to the city, Ortiz said.

chilles@chicagotribune.com
Home Minister Amit Shah chaired a meeting with the Mandal Presidents of the BJP from across Telangana on Thursday evening during his long-day visit to the southern state ahead of the 2024 Lok Sabha polls. Sharing pictures of the meeting on his official Twitter handle, X Shah, who is the BJP's poll in-charge for Telangana, said that the booth and mandals are our pillars of strength that carry our party and government to the doorstep of every citizen. https://x.com/AmitShah/status/1740368779564200356?s=20 "Chaired a meeting with the Mandal Presidents of @BJP4Telangana.The booth and mandals are our pillars of strength that carry our party and government to the doorstep of every citizen. The Mandal Presidents of Telangana pledged in the meeting to infuse more strength to the party at the grassroots," posted Shah. Earlier in the day, Shah arrived at the Shamasabad airport in Hyderabad, where he was received by Union Minister G Kishan Reddy. Notably, the saffron party won four of the 17 seats in Telangana in the 2019 Lok Sabha elections. In a significant move earlier, Shah was made the BJP's in-charge for Odisha, Telangana and West Bengal -- states where the party has been a laggard electorally -- for the Lok Sabha elections next year. In the recent state assembly elections in Telangana, the BJP doubled its vote share, bagging 8 assembly seats as compared to the 2018 Assembly elections in which the party won just one seat and hogged a mere 7 per cent of the total vote share. Earlier, on Tuesday, Amit Shah, along with BJP national president JP Nadda, held organisational meetings with the members of the party's core committee for West Bengal. The Union Home Minister set his party charges in the state a target of winning 35 of the 42 parliamentary seats in West Bengal. "Today, along with National President Shri @JPNadda Ji held a meeting of the@BJP4Bengal core group in Kolkata and discussed the strategies for the upcoming election. The people of Bengal trust PM Modi Ji and are all set to bless the BJP in the 2024 Lok Sabha elections with 35 seats," Shah posted on X. The Lok Sabha elections are likely to be scheduled between April and May 2024, to elect 543 members of the Lok Sabha. (ANI)
Tripura Chief Minister Dr Manik Saha paid his last respects to veteran politician and seven-time MLA Surajit Datta at the Secretariat in Agartala on Thursday. Saha also recalled his last meeting with the veteran leader and said Datta had said to him, "Don't worry, I will not die." Datta, a former minister and seven-time MLA, had been grappling with various health issues, particularly kidney complications. He had been undergoing dialysis for the past few years. Datta, BJP MLA from Ramnagar Assembly Constituency, faced a critical downturn in his health two days ago. He was initially admitted to a hospital in Agartala, where Dr Saha met him to inquire about his health condition. However, he was later referred to AMRI Kolkata on Wednesday afternoon, and at 11:00 pm, he succumbed to his ailments. On Thursday, his mortal remains were brought to the Secretariat, where Dr. Saha paid his floral tribute. Later, Dr Saha said, "Surajit Datta was a leader of the people. We always called him Sunu Da. He was a seven-time legislator from Ramanagar. The entire Tripura is aware of how he used to help people, which was his nature. I have never seen such a leader in Tripura before. He also served as a minister. He was also an MLA for the BJP two times." "When he was admitted to ILS Hospital, I went there and met him. For a long time, he was suffering from chronic kidney disease (CKD). But when I met him, he said, 'Don't worry, I will not die.' Then for better treatment, we sent him to Kolkata, but ultimately, he was no more. A shadow of deep grief descends over the state. Nobody will fulfill this gap. I have a good relationship with his family as well. His demise is an irreparable loss in the state's political arena. May the departed soul find eternal peace! My deepest sympathy to the bereaved family," he added. As a mark of respect for him, the state government has announced a one-day state mourning on Thursday. (ANI)
Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina has promised to maintain cooperation and friendly relations with India if she is re-elected in the parliamentay polls next month. The reaffirmation came as she unveiled the manifesto of the ruling Awami League party on Wednesday for the upcoming general elections scheduled for January 7. Hasina underlined that if her party secures victory, Bangladesh will persist in its development collaboration with all nations, highlighting the commitment to fostering positive diplomatic ties and cooperation. Specifically mentioning India-Bangladesh ties, the manifesto states, "The long-standing problem of demarcation of land boundaries and exchange of enclaves with India has been resolved. This achievement has encouraged continued multilateral cooperation and friendly relations with India." Highlighting the foreign policy priorities of her party, Hasina's manifesto also stated that "cooperation with neighbouring countries will continue in various areas, including cross-border communication, transit, energy partnership, and equitable water sharing". "Bangladesh is firmly determined to prevent the presence of militants, international terrorists, and separatist groups on its territory," the manifesto said, adding, "The Awami League government will play an important role in forming the South Asia Task Force to combat terrorism and militancy to root it out from the entire region." According to the manifesto, cooperation with India will continue in the areas of bilateral trade and security. New areas of cooperation with India, Bhutan and Nepal will include energy cooperation and joint river water management. The Awami League's election manifesto also outlines an ambitious agenda to transform Bangladesh into a smart country by 2041, focusing on 11 key areas, Daily Star, a Bangladeshi English-language daily newspaper, reported. Hasina, presenting the manifesto ahead of the January 7 national election, highlighted the highest priority of creating job opportunities. The manifesto reflects the party's commitment to comprehensive development, with a strategic focus on economic growth and employment generation as integral components of Bangladesh's vision for the future. The Awami League's 98-page manifesto places significant emphasis on key areas, including the control of essential commodity prices, the establishment of a technologically advanced and smart Bangladesh, increased investment in agriculture, the expansion of industries, and the empowerment of the financial sector, including banks. The Supreme Court, on December 27, has provided clearance for the Election Commission (EC) to proceed with the 12th parliamentary election scheduled for January 7, Daily Star reported.(ANI)
The Michigan Supreme Court has dismissed a bid to exclude ex-President Donald Trump from the 2024 primary ballot based on the US Constitution's "insurrectionist ban," CNN reported. The decision contrasts with the recent ruling from the Colorado Supreme Court, which kicked Trump off its primary ballot because of his role in the January 6 Capitol riot. That decision has been paused pending an appeal. With these duelling decisions, the expected appeals to the US Supreme Court become even more critical, especially as the nation races toward the start of the 2024 primaries, the CNN reported. Unlike in Colorado, Michigan courts rejected the case on procedural grounds without delving into the questions of insurrection and Trump's involvement in it. Michigan law was compared to Colorado's election code, and the Michigan Supreme Court's order did not release a vote count. According to CNN, one of the Michigan justices on Wednesday wrote why Michigan is different from Colorado. The anti-Trump challengers "have identified no analogous provision in the Michigan Election Law that requires someone seeking the office of President of the United States to attest to their legal qualification to hold the office," Justice Elizabeth Welch wrote, comparing Michigan law to Colorado's election code, CNN reported. The lower-court rulings in Michigan kept the door open to future 14th Amendment challenges if Trump wins the Republican nomination. On Truth Social, Trump criticised attempts to keep him off the ballot, warning of a "rigged and stolen" 2024 election. Legal challenges continue in Michigan, with Ron Fein of Free Speech For People calling the decision "disappointing" but emphasising its non-binding nature outside Michigan. Another attorney for the challengers, Mark Brewer, said they would continue the efforts in Michigan. "The Court's decision is disappointing but we will continue, at a later stage, to seek to uphold this critical constitutional provision designed to protect our republic," Brewer said in the statement. The 14th Amendment challenge against Trump was filed by Free Speech For People in September, seeking to apply the "insurrectionist ban." The vague wording of the amendment has only been applied twice since 1919, and the Michigan lawsuit was part of a broader legal strategy pursued by the group. (ANI)
Amid the ongoing protests by Baloch activists against 'enforced disappearances' and alleged extrajudicial killings by the Pakistani forces, Zaheer Baloch, a PhD student has been released by Islamabad police after a five-day disappearance, reported The Balochistan Post on Thursday. Even though he was arrested at a protest against the Islamabad police's refusal to allow participants in the "Long March Against Baloch Genocide" to enter Islamabad, the authorities first denied knowing where he was. However, the authorities revealed in the Islamabad High Court a few days later that he was being kept in Adiala jail. On social media, the Baloch Yakjehti Committee hailed his release, noting that 34 other students are still missing. Dr Mahrang Baloch, a political leader who is organising the continuing protest for the safe release of Baloch missing persons and the end of enforced disappearances and extrajudicial killings in Balochistan, spoke to the protest gathering in Islamabad alongside Zaheer Baloch. "In the past several days, we heard from the Islamabad police that Zaheer Baloch was not in their custody. However, he was detained illegally for five days without being presented in front of a court or allowed the right to a lawyer," she said, according to The Balochistan Post. "We launched this movement against enforced disappearances and extrajudicial killings in Balochistan. Some elements are spreading a false narrative that we don't want to negotiate with the authorities. That is untrue. We are ready for negotiation, but we will not be defrauded this time," she added. She further stated that the movement is for the people of Balochistan and that more people are participating daily. To quell the march, the police and related authorities have resorted to violence and deception, including snatching their loudspeakers in the middle of the night. Recalling his time in jail, the missing PhD student, Zaheer Baloch described the inhumane conditions there. He said, "Over 45 people were crammed into one small room. We could not stand, sit, or lie down, let alone sleep. We were dehumanized and an FIR was registered against us as they saw fit, without informing us or any of our friends. We were not allowed to contact our lawyers or our families," reported The Balochistan Post. Zaheer alleged that the investigative officer attempted to assault him. He stated that he was escorted to the session court and appealed to the police to allow him to receive legal representation, but he was denied. Notably, Zaheer Baloch was missing following the protests. These students were arrested when they gathered to protest the federal government's and Islamabad Police's refusal to allow participants in the "Long March Against Baloch Genocide" to enter Islamabad. The Islamabad police used tear gas, batons and water cannons to suppress the peaceful protests, resulting in the arrest of hundreds of protesters. Notably, the harsh crackdown in Islamabad has been widely condemned by national and international activists and human rights organisations. Over the last week, protests erupted in Turbat, Quetta, Khuzdar, Dalbandin, Gwadar, and other cities. Furthermore, the Baloch Yakjehti Committee organised large anti-government protests in Karachi, Lahore, and Bahawalpur. Meanwhile, Mahrang Baloch, one of the march organisers, demanded the release of all the protesters "or otherwise we will be forced to take hard steps. Our demand is to release all detainees and this is our clear last warning." The Baloch protest march was started in Turbat on December 6 after the alleged extrajudicial killing of a Baloch youth by Counter Terrorism Department (CTD) personnel and reached the federal capital last week. However, following their protest, they were met with brutal force and over 200 protestors were taken into custody by the Islamabad police. Later, to raise their voice against the crackdown, the march led by the Baloch Yakjehti Committee converted into a sit-in outside the Islamabad National Press Club. (ANI)
The Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf (PTI) filed four petitions with the Islamabad High Court (IHC), seeking a level playing field, permission to hold public rallies and political gatherings, and the facilitation of ongoing meetings between party leaders and imprisoned former Prime Minister Imran Khan in the run-up to the February 8 general elections, according to Dawn. PTI had been denied permission to host workers' conventions, public meetings, or demonstrations in Islamabad, as per the petition. "The PTI is being denied a level playing field in different parts of the country to hold conventions, public meetings, rallies and other political activities, which are essentially a requirement for the fulfilment of the political rights guaranteed under different articles of the Constitution," one of the petitions said, according to Dawn. The four petitions were, notably filed by PTI on Wednesday. In a separate lawsuit, Imran Khan has asked the court to intervene in order to allow him to meet with party members Asad Qaiser and Junaid Akbar Khan, senators Aurangzeb Khan and Dost Mohammad Khan, and Ishtiaq Meherban, among others, to strategize ahead of the elections. The petition seeks that the court direct the superintendent of Adiala Jail to preserve Mr Khan's privacy during talks with his legal team. Meanwhile, the Special Court (Official Secrets Act) gave Khan permission to open two bank accounts using biometric verification, reported Dawn. The superintendent of Adiala Jail was ordered by Judge Abual Hasnat Zulqarnain to enable bank personnel to speak with Imran Khan. Khan's lawyer informed the court that the former prime minister has to activate inactive bank accounts and register new ones in order to run for office in Mianwali and Lahore. Earlier, Mian Naseer of PML-N objected to Imran Khan's nomination papers, saying the former PM's seconder and proposer do not belong to NA-122, which is a legal requirement. There have also been objections filed against the candidatures of PPP's Bilawal Bhutto Zardari and PML-N Chief Organiser Maryam Nawaz. (ANI)
The Myanmar government repatriated this week four more Indian nationals who were victims of job offers from transitional crime syndicates in Myanmar, the Indian embassy in Myanmar said on Thursday. All of them have left Yangon city of Myanmar for Kolkata and will reach their respective native places. https://x.com/IndiainMyanmar/status/1740325731719356806?s=20 In a social media post on X, the Indian embassy in Myanmar said, "@IndiainMyanmar repatriated four more Indian nationals this week who were victim of job offers of transnational crime syndicates in Myanmar. They left Yangon for Kolkata in order to proceed further for their respective native places in India." The embassy also shared that over 400 Indian nationals have been rescued so far and asked Indian citizens to exercise caution and not get trapped in such fake job offers. It posted further, "We appreciate the assistance provided by the Myanmar authorities and other contacts. So far, more than 400 Indian nationals have been rescued. We reiterate advisories for Indian citizens to exercise caution and not fall prey to job offers from unverified employers." (ANI)
A Rawalpindi Court sent Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaaf (PTI) Vice Chairman Shah Mehmood Qureshi to a 14-day judicial remand on Thursday in a fresh case related to May 9 riots, Dawn reported. The court rejected the plea of Punjab Police which was seeking the custody of the former Pakistan minister. The development comes a day after Qureshi was allegedly manhandled and re-arrested outside Adiala Jail in connection with an attack on the General Headquarters (GHQ) in Rawalpindi on May 9 -- when widespread protests erupted across the country after ex-premier Imran Khan's arrest. Media reports said the PTI leader was also implicated in a dozen similar cases. Earlier on Wednesday, Qureshi was released from Adiala Jail after the Supreme Court approved his post-arrest bail in the cypher case. However, the PTI leader, who tried to talk to the Punjab police on multiple occasions, was pushed and whisked away from the prison. The PTI leader was initially moved to the Cantt police station by the police, who maltreated him, according to Dawn. Qureshi was presented before the court of Additional District and Sessions Judge Syed Jahangir Ali on Thursday. PTI shared a video on social media and condemned the police action of keeping Qureshi handcuffed. "Shah Mehmood Qureshi has been in politics for 40 years, as the foreign minister has represented Pakistan twice around the world, has also been a parliamentary leader and is the vice chairman of Pakistan's largest political party. Bringing Shah Sahib to court with handcuffs is a very shameful act - even this time may pass, but history and the people of Pakistan will never forget the faces involved in these heinous actions," PTI posted on X (formerly Twitter). "Shah Mehmood Qureshi left the courtroom after being judicial and made a sign of victory, the slogans of the lawyers were "Who will save Pakistan, Imran Khan, Imran Khan, Agli Wari Phir Niazi," it added in a subsequent post. The PTI leader alleged that police officials had "kicked and ridiculed" him, claiming that he wasn't taken to a doctor despite chest pains, Dawn reported. "A team came to me saying that they wanted to record a statement on the May 9 violence. These people want to nominate me in cases related to May 9," he said. "I was in Karachi on May 9...my wife was undergoing surgery (that day)." The PTI vice chairman also alleged that he was kept in a cold cell last night and wasn't allowed to sleep. "I was tortured mentally and physically," he claimed. (ANI)
The Baloch Yakjehti Committee (BYC), which is organising the Baloch protest march in Islamabad, accused the police of sabotaging their seminar preparations by switching off their sound system, Dawn reported. The development comes days after hundreds of participants in the long march were detained by the Islamabad Police, which the police said had subsequently been released in batches earlier this week. However, the BYC alleges several protesters were still in custody. In one of the videos shared by BYC, Mahrang Baloch, a Baloch protestor demanding an end to enforced disappearances and extrajudicial killings of Baloch people, was seen requesting a policeman to leave and not disrupt their protest, according to Dawn. Rights activist Sammi Deen Baloch posted a video of the speakers being lifted and taken away as the crowd looked on. The march, which started in Turbat on December 6 after the alleged 'extrajudicial killing' of a Baloch youth by Counter Terrorism Department (CTD) officials, had reached the federal capital on December 20. The Islamabad Police had subsequently used "brutal force" to disperse and detain the demonstrators, with over 200 taken into custody from different areas of the federal capital, Dawn reported. The action was strongly condemned by human rights organisations, politicians, the Islamabad High Court (IHC), President Arif Alvi and caretaker Prime Minister Anwaarul Haq Kakar. Later on December 24, the Islamabad Police said the bail of all detained Baloch protesters had been approved and they were being released. However, on Wednesday, the Islamabad High Court, while hearing a petition filed by Baloch protesters against unlawful detention, was informed that 34 protesters were still in the custody of the police. Islamabad HC Justice Miangul Hassan Aurangzeb had pointed out that the "police were not treating them like other groups," including those who staged public gatherings in the Red Zone, Dawn reported. He asked the police not to harass the protesters and allow them to stage their peaceful protest. The SSP operations subsequently informed the court that they could be released after the identification parade was completed. The court directed the police to complete the process and sought a report by December 29. But the Islamabad Police is yet to issue a statement addressing the claims made by the Baloch protesters regarding purported disruptions caused by the local police in the organisation of their seminar, Dawn reported. (ANI)
The privatisation plan of Pakistan International Airlines (PIA) has faced setbacks for the upcoming year as the privatisation commission couldn't resolve issues related to loan repayments and legal matters, ARY News reported on Thursday. It reported citing sources that the interim federal minister for privatisation, Fawad Hussain Fawad failed to implement to transfer of PIA to the private sector by January 2024. PIA has borrowed more than Pakistan rupee (PKR) 270 billion from the commercial banks on government guarantee. The Ministry of Finance will decide to meet the financial requirements of the PIA for the next three months. Sources suggest that PIA cannot afford to pay more than PKR 8 billion in interest on the PKR 260 billion loan. The commercial banks involved in lending to PIA include the National Bank and Bank of Punjab, along with eight other commercial banks. The decision to reschedule government loans until the privatization of PIA could not be finalized. The Ministry of Finance will establish a committee to decide on the financial requirements of PIA. Sources told ARY News that the PIA's financial affairs will be handed over to the Privatisation Commission as the latter would take measures to reduce its losses. Sources further claimed that the commission will link the national carrier's financial affairs with the latest system. By improving PIA's financial affairs, the commission will improve its balance sheet - which will help in the carrier's privatisation. Earlier, The Express Tribune reported that the employees of airlines Pakistan International Airlines (PIA) have been affected due to the ongoing financial upheaval faced by the airlines which has left its 7,000 employees without salaries in November. The airline's CBA union president, Hidayatullah Khan, addressed the issue and alleged intentional salary delays by the PIA management. Earlier in October, the financially-crippled airline was forced to cancel numerous domestic and international flights due to limited fuel supply from Pakistan State Oil (PSO), inconveniencing thousands of passengers, reported The Express Tribune. The national flag carrier PIA has been criticised for inefficiency and has faced dwindling funds amidst the government's battle with a balance of payments crisis arising from immense debt repayments. According to recent reports, the PIA's liabilities are Pakistani Rupee (PKR) 743 billion (approximately USD 2.5 billion), surpassing its total assets by five times. Moreover, on October 14, PIA sought an additional loan of over PKR 7 billion from banks due to concerns about potential disruptions, partially or completely, as reported by The Express Tribune. Later, PIA in a letter to the Aviation Division, requested an immediate loan of over Rs 7 billion from banks, with the Pakistan government guaranteeing an option for the airline to secure a loan of Rs 7.5 billion, The Express Tribune reported. (ANI)
A new program will allow Naperville residents to dispose of medical needles or sharps, such as these used for insulin injections, at the Household Hazardous Waste Facility on Fort Hill Drive.

City launches free program for medical needle disposal

The city of Naperville is starting a new program through which residents can dispose of their medical needles.

A grant from the Illinois Environmental Protection Agency will fund the Residential Sharps Disposal Program. Its designed to supplement the citys prescription drug drop box, which gives residents a way to dispose of unused medicine.

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To dispose of medical needles, residents can pick up a free container from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. Mondays through Thursdays between Jan. 2 and June 30 at the Naperville Fire Department Administration Center, 1380 Aurora Ave.

The quart-sized containers hold the most common needle size, officials said in a news release. Sealed containers can be dropped off from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. weekends at the Household Hazardous Waste Facility, 156 Fort Hill Drive.

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Workers can only accept properly secured containers. No appointment is needed but the program is limited to Naperville residents only.

New daily parking fees starts Jan. 1 at Naperville Metra lots

Commuters parking at the Naperville and Route 59 train stations will be charged a daily fee parking starting Monday, Jan. 1.

Quarterly parking permits will no longer be accepted, city officials said in a news release. Commuters can buy parking by the day, week or month, officials said.

Daily parking is $3. If paid by the week, the $14.25 cost offers a 5% discount, and paying a monthly fee of $54 discounts the cost by 10%.

Commuters will use their license plate numbers as identification and can buy parking at the lots pay stations or through the PayByPhone mobile app. A transaction fee is charged for a PayByPhone app purchase, officials said.

There also will be designated parking spaces for seniors 65 and older and expectant mothers staring Monday  24 available at the Naperville station and 20 at the Route 59 station. The daily parking fee still applies.

Park district partners with DuPage on stormwater projects

The Naperville Park District is working with DuPage County Stormwater Management Department on three local projects.

They are pond shoreline restoration at Brighton Ridge Park, 775 Torrington Drive, creek shoreline restoration at Stanford Meadows, 1991 Stanford Drive, and river shoreline restoration along the west branch of the DuPage River at the Riverwalk, 912 Honorary Sindt Court.

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Invasive and declining plants and trees that are allowing soil to erode into the waters will be removed because they do not hold the shoreline in place, park district officials said in a news release.

The areas will then be improved through shoreline stabilization methods that include planting native vegetation with deep roots to prevent future erosion the release said.

Brighton Ridge Park and Stanford Meadows work will be completed next year. The west branch of the DuPage River project will begin after permits are received.

The three projects will help manage stormwater, improve water quality in the DuPage River and enhance the shoreline, officials said.
The Russian envoy to the US, Anatoly Antonov criticised the recent arms package by Washington to Ukraine, stating that it reflects an intention to fight Russia "to the last Ukrainian," Russia Today reported on Thursday. Antonov called the latest round of military aid a "bloody New Year's gift to Kyiv" in remarks published on social media. The Americans "are pushing the puppet regime to the abyss, dooming thousands of ordinary Ukrainians to certain death," he warned. On the other hand, the official emphasized Russia's recent success in acquiring the town of Maryinka in the Donetsk People's Republic, a strategic Ukrainian stronghold. According to Antonov, the US tends to ignore such developments and instead focuses on highlighting "Ukrainian fetish victories." Antonov called the latest round of military aid a "bloody New Year's gift to Kyiv" in remarks published on social media. The Americans "are pushing the puppet regime to the abyss, dooming thousands of ordinary Ukrainians to certain death," he warned. On the other hand, the official emphasized Russia's recent success in acquiring the town of Maryinka in the Donetsk People's Republic, a strategic Ukrainian stronghold. According to Antonov, the US tends to ignore such developments and instead focuses on highlighting "Ukrainian fetish victories." The diplomat predicted that any arms provided by NATO nations to Ukraine would be "burned and destroyed" without altering the situation on the ground. The diplomat's remarks came in response to the $250 million worth of military assistance, including air defence munitions, rockets, artillery shells, and small-arms rounds, approved on Wednesday by the administration of US President Joe Biden. The White House could not appropriate more funding for Ukraine after Republican opposition in Congress blocked its request. The lawmakers have demanded major concessions on immigration reform and southern border security as a precondition for their approval of spending additional billions of taxpayers' dollars on Ukraine support. US officials have indicated that this latest package would be the last under the current spending allowance. US President Joe Biden has accused those lawmakers opposed to more Ukraine spending of jeopardizing national security by tying it to domestic policy issues. He suggested that Russian President Vladimir Putin might attack a NATO member after dealing with Ukraine. Putin dismissed this remark as "absolute nonsense," saying that Biden was using exacerbated rhetoric to cover up his administration's foreign policy failures. Moscow maintains that preventing NATO expansion into Ukraine is a key objective in the conflict. Earlier today, the US State Department announced a military aid package worth USD 250 million, the final such package that the United States will provide to Ukraine until Congress approves the Joe Biden administration's funding requests, CNN reported. "This package provides up to USD 250 million of arms and equipment under previously directed drawdowns for Ukraine," Secretary of State Antony Blinken said in a statement. "Capabilities provided in today's package include air defence munitions, other air defence system components, additional ammunition for high mobility artillery rocket systems, 155mm and 105mm artillery ammunition, anti-armour munitions, and over 15 million rounds of ammunition," the statement added. The Biden administration, last week, revealed its intention to unveil one additional Ukraine security package before the end of the year. However, it emphasised that it would be the final package that the United States could extend to Ukraine without obtaining explicit approval from lawmakers. "Once these funds are obligated, the Department will have exhausted the funding available to us for security assistance to Ukraine," said Defence Department comptroller Mike McCord in a letter to Congress. This package marks the limit of the US' ability to provide weapons to Ukraine without additional funding from Congress. (ANI)
As we bid adieu to the year 2023, India's diplomatic outreach became a centre stage for the world. The largest democracy in the world showed how its strength and strategic autonomy still stand out despite international pressure, global turmoil, and gradual shifts. The changing geopolitical landscape, characterised by realignments and recalibrations among major powers, demands nimble, flexible, and open-ended diplomacy from India and the watchers of geopolitics reiterated India's foreign policy that yielded results through its action. Let's look at the year going by and the major significant events that showcased India's growing prowess. January: The year 2023 began with a taste, tradition and which has over time become part of the fabric of the event. January had a chief guest for India's Republic Day. India, which has long embraced the concept of "Atithi Devo Bhava," had a West Asian leader as its chief guest, Egyptian President Abdel Fateh El Sisi. This was the first time that an Egyptian President was the Chief Guest for the year 2023, though he was the fifth West Asian leader to pay a visit as Republic Day's chief guest. Reciprocating the long ties between the two countries, PM Modi too visited Egypt in June this year to cement the relationship further. February: From being the first responder to being an independent-minded polity, India's action speaks louder than its words. And New Delhi has proven this through Operation Dost. February began with a tragedy. A massive earthquake struck southern Turkey and parts of Syria, causing immense loss of life and damage to property in the region. India was quick to launch 'Operation Dost' for assistance to the quake-hit countries. The operation was christened 'Dost', which means 'Friend' in Hindi. A picture of a Turkish woman tightly hugging an Indian female military officer also went viral during the operation, and India's support in such a time of grief only testifies its humanitarian preference over politics. March: Seen as a grand test for Indian diplomacy, foreign ministers from the world's biggest economies gathered in March this year in New Delhi for the G20, or the Group of 20 for Foreign Ministers Meeting. Amid the festering divisions over the Russia-Ukraine war, India had a big responsibility on its shoulders. The US Secretary of State, Antony Blinken and Russian Foreign Minister, Sergey Lavrov met with each other and roughly spoke for some minutes, which was seen as the 'first such' engagement since the Russia-Ukraine conflict began. The event was started by PM Modi, who appealed to "rise above the differences.". April: As India's diaspora continues to grow, so will the challenges India faces in protecting its diverse and geographically dispersed population. One such challenge that came in April was to get Indians out of war-torn Sudan. India has a long history of successful evacuations of its citizens. On April 24, India launched Operation Kaveri to evacuate its citizens. A team of officials, including the Ministry of External Affairs, the Indian Air Force, and the Indian embassy in Sudan, were appointed by India to ensure the proper process of evacuation. During the evacuation, Indians were transferred from Sudan to the capital city of Khartoum, from where they were then flown back to India. May: Apart from shouldering the G20, India also had a responsibility to host its toughest neighbours. Foreign Ministers of Pakistan, China, and India were under one roof during the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) in the month of May in Goa. External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar also held a meeting with his then-Chinese counterpart Qin Gang, where the discussions focused on resolving outstanding issues and ensuring peace and tranquillity at the Line of Actual Control (LAC). Also, Pakistan's Foreign Minister Bilawal Bhutto Zardari was the first foreign minister to visit India after a gap of nearly 12 years. In 2011, then Pakistan Foreign Minister Hina Rabbani Khar visited India. On his arrival, External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar greeted Bhutto with the traditional 'Namastey' like the other ministers. The highlight of the meeting also remained EAM's presser in Goa, where he said ..."wake up and smell the coffee. 370 is history." He was answering a question on the abrogation of Article 370 in Jammu and Kashmir. On the issue of bilateral talks with Pakistan, Jaishankar ruled out the option until Pakistan addressed India's concerns about cross-border terrorism. He said, "Victims of terrorism do not sit together with perpetrators of terrorism to discuss terrorism." Also marking India's consecutive invitations to the prestigious events, PM Modi attended the G7 summit in Hiroshima, Japan. Subsequently, PM Modi travelled to Sydney and Papua New Guinea to bolster the relationship and take ties to greater heights. It was also during this time that the Indian Prime Minister met with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy in Hiroshima, the first time since the Russia-Ukraine conflict began in 2022. Another camaraderie in action was that of PM Modi and his Australian counterpart Anthony Albanese, which grabbed the headlines of all the major newspapers, television and digital media. Australian PM Anthony Albanese addressed Prime Minister Narendra Modi as 'the boss' during the mega Sydney event. "The last time I saw someone on this stage was Bruce Springsteen and he did not get the welcome that Prime Minister Modi has got. Prime Minister Modi is the boss," PM Albanese said, triggering a huge applause from the crowd at the jampacked Qudos Bank Arena. Addressing vandalism and growing Khalistani actions, PM Modi and Albanese discussed a range of topics that do not derail the relationship. PM Modi red-flagged the vandalism of Hindu temples in that country and said his counterpart, Anthony Albanese, had vowed 'strict action' against those guilty. June: The month of June in the Indian calendar showed India's growing prowess and its influence on the global stage. On June 22, this year, Washington rolled out the red carpet for Prime Minister Modi. He was invited by President Joe Biden for a state visit and dinner, the highest of diplomatic receptions typically reserved for only the closest of allies. The visit highlighted the country's dual identity as a spiritual democracy and an economic power. From emerging technologies, space, energy and defence, the bilateral relationship saw a momentum like never before. The two leaders greeted each other warmly on the South Lawn in a welcome featuring marching bands and honour guards. Despite the rainy weather, members of the Indian diaspora braved the rain to catch a glimpse of PM Modi. PM Modi during his US visit also appeared on Capitol Hill to address a joint meeting of Congress before a state dinner at the White House. He received a standing ovation as he entered the chamber to chants of "Modi, Modi". July: Sri Lanka, which is an important partner for India in its 'Neighbourhood First Policy', undoubtedly counts on New Delhi due to its unwavering support extended during the island's worst economic crisis. In July of this year, India hosted Sri Lankan President Ranil Wickremesinghe. His visit was to reinforce the longstanding friendship between the two countries and explore avenues for enhanced connectivity and mutually beneficial cooperation across sectors. During Sri Lanka's dramatic economic crash last year, India extended emergency financial support of about USD 4 billion. The island nation also acknowledged India's role in helping Colombo secure a nearly USD 3 billion package from the International Monetary Fund. On the other hand, India has also discussed its security concerns' with Sri Lanka due to Chinese vessels docking in Sri Lanka. This month also saw the reflection of the growing strategic ties between New Delhi and Paris, where Prime Minister Modi was the guest of honour at France's traditional Bastille Day parade. August: India made history, on August 23rd, India's Moon mission Chandrayaan-3 successfully landed on the South Pole of the Moon. The only country to do so. India's mission was applauded from around the world and became the focus of discussions across the globe. Notably, Prime Minister Modi was in South Africa for the BRICS summit. Addressing from there, the Prime Minister said that the success of Chandrayaan-3's soft landing on the South Pole of the Moon was not limited to one country but the success of mankind. September: As recently mentioned by the Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov during a joint statement with his Indian counterpart in Moscow, 'A triumph for Indian diplomacy, a triumph for multilateral diplomacy'. India pulled off a successful G20 summit (its first ever). With its mega gathering and tangible outcomes, New Delhi shouldered its responsibility beyond its mark. The inclusion of the African Union was greeted with a sense of awe and admiration from all. At such a tumultuous time in the world, where conflicts and disagreements often take centre stage, India stood out as a champion of democracy through its actions. The month of September also had a diplomatic crisis. India and Canada engaged in a diplomatic row over the unsubstantiated public allegations that Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau made against India in the murder of a Khalistani terrorist in Canada. India has called these claims absurd and asked for evidence that Trudeau has so far failed to provide. October: One of the worst and most tragic events of 2023 was on October 7. Hamas terrorists entered Israel, broke through Israel's border defences, and took several of them as hostages, including women and children. In response, Israel launched a military campaign to eradicate Hamas. The war is still ongoing, with no sight of a halt. It is the deadliest attack on Israel since its founding. Israel Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said in a televised statement that the country is "at war," and he calls up thousands of military reservists. India was among the first countries to react to the ongoing development. On October 7, hours after the attack, Prime Minister Narendra Modi posted a statement on X expressing his deep shock at the "terrorist attacks" and saying, "We stand in solidarity with Israel at this difficult hour." Since then, PM Modi has spoken to various leaders and discussed the ongoing situation. November: Despite global political developments, India doesn't miss events that matter to the world. Topics that shape the narrative and affect our daily lives. COP28 or the Conference of Parties, was one such mega event held in Dubai this year that showcased the efforts by various countries to limit global warming and held discussions to prepare for future climate change. The 28th Conference of Parties (COP28) was held in Dubai, United Arab Emirates (UAE), from November 30 to December 12. India's engagements at COP-28, led by PM Modi, showcased a comprehensive and proactive approach to tackling climate change. During his UAE visit, PM Modi proposed to host COP33 in India in 2028. December: In December, Jaishankar hailed the "very strong" and "very steady" relationship between India and Russia. He said in Moscow that 'India-Russia relations are the only constant in global politics', New Delhi and Moscow are "valued and steady partners." EAM landed in Moscow in December, emphasising that in the fields of defence, space and nuclear energy, countries only cooperate with those with whom they have a "high degree" of trust. He also met with Russian President Vladimir Putin, who extended an invitation to the Indian Prime Minister to visit Moscow. In his remarks, the Russian President said, "We are very pleased to note that despite the current turbulences in the world, relations with our traditional friends in Asia, with India and the Indian people are making steady headway." Notably, the ties between India and Russia remained strong despite Russia being isolated by the West, that was disrupted in the wake of the February 2022 Ukraine war. (ANI)
The two visited wounded Israeli soldiers and Border Police officers at the rehabilitation ward of Hadassah-Mt Scopus Hospital in Jerusalem.

Netanyahu and Mast were also updated on the soldiers' medical status and the rehabilitation process at the hospital, which has received many wounded during the fighting.

Rep. Mast, a US Army veteran, spoke about how he coped with losing both of his legs in the war in Afghanistan.

Mast also once volunteered at an IDF base and has even worn an IDF uniform in his Washington office. (ANI/TPS)
After a Qatar court commuted the death sentences of eight ex-Indian Navy personnel, foreign affairs expert Sushant Sareen has called it the victory of Indian diplomacy. He noted that Qatar knows well that the death penalty for eight Indian ex-Navy officials will affect the ties between India and Qatar. He said the Indian government did the right thing by respecting the judiciary of Qatar and using diplomacy. In an interview with ANI, Sushant Sareen said, "I think I will call it the victory of diplomacy as the Government of India used its power of politics and diplomacy for this case and held backdoor talks with the Qatari government. They did not reveal the talks in front of the media. PM Modi, External Affairs Minister and our embassy was involved in the process." "Qatar knows this very well that the death penalty to eight ex-Indian Navy personnel will affect the relations of India and Qatar. They (Qatar) will also not want this. Diplomacy was also used and Indian government did right thing by respecting the judiciary of Qatar. Usually, people adhere to diplomacy and do not follow judiciary. However, Indian government operated on both tracks." He said that Indian government will now try to bring these eight ex-Navy personnel back to India. Describing the future steps that can be taken by the Indian government, Sareen said, "I believe we have won only half the war. So far, the pertaining danger has been avoided. However, they still continue to remain in prison. I think we will try to bring them back to India at an earliest. We will use the judiciary of Qatar and our ties with Qatar. I think there are two options for it. "One is that if an Indian gets sentence in Qatari court, he or she can serve the prison term in India and if this happens, they will come to India. They will come under Indian judiciary's jurisdictions and case will move forward and they may get relief. Second option, is that the royal family of Qatar can pardon them and they can return to India. The next step will be to ensure how this happens," he added. The Qatari Court on Thursday commuted the death penalty sentence of eight ex-Indian naval officers it had arrested last year in the Dahra Global case, the Ministry of External Affairs said in a press statement. The sentence has now been reduced to jail terms. Describing the judgement, the Ministry of External Affairs said, "We have noted the verdict today of the Court of Appeal of Qatar in the Dahra Global case, in which the sentences have been reduced." The MEA also said that the detailed judgement in the case is awaited, and the government is in close touch with the legal team in Qatar. MEA added, "The detailed judgement is awaited. We are in close touch with the legal team as well as the family members to decide on the next steps. Our Ambassador to Qatar and other officials were present in the Court of Appeal today, along with the family members. We have stood by them since the beginning of the matter and we will continue to extend all consular and legal assistance. We will also continue to take up the matter with the Qatari authorities." The eight Indian nationals have been imprisoned in Qatar since October 2022 and were accused of allegedly spying on a submarine programme. The retired naval personnel were sentenced to death by a Qatar court on charges that have not yet been made public officially. Earlier, Prime Minister Narendra Modi met Qatar's Emir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al-Thani on the sidelines of the COP28 summit in Dubai and discussed bilateral partnership and the "well-being of the Indian community" living in Qatar. (ANI)
Authorities took action against Russian celebrities who attended an "almost naked" themed party in Moscow, organised by blogger Anastasia Ivleeva, CNN reported. The event, held at the Mutabor club on December 20-21, faced strong opposition from Orthodox Church officials, pro-war activists, and pro-Kremlin lawmakers, especially considering the ongoing conflict in Ukraine. Rapper Vacio, who attended the party wearing only a sock to cover his genitals, has been sentenced to 15 days in jail and fined 200,000 rubles (approximately USD 2,200) after a Moscow court ruled the event was aimed at "propagating non-traditional sexual relationships." Vasilyev was found guilty of offences including "petty hooliganism." "Nikolay Vasilyev (better known as rapper Vacio) participated in a party at the 'Mutabor' nightclub, disrupted public order, used vulgar language, and disseminated publications in Telegram channels aimed at promoting non-traditional sexual relationships in mass media on the internet," the court ruling said, according to CNN. The Kremlin's expansion of anti-LGBTQ laws in recent years, coupled with a conservative shift following the Ukraine invasion, has heightened societal tensions. Last month, Russia's Supreme Court labelled the "international LGBTQ movement" as an extremist organisation. Facing public outcry, rapper Vacio issued a public apology. Initially, the organiser, Ivleeva, stated that the attire choices of the partygoers were individual decisions, asserting that the event served as an opportunity to exhibit photos taken during her role as the chief editor of the Russian edition of Playboy. However, in a 21-minute video released later, she tearfully apologized, seeking forgiveness or condemnation. A lawsuit seeking 1 billion rubles (USD 11 million) for moral damages was filed against Ivleeva for organising the party. Pop star Anna Asti, another attendee, had her New Year's event in Moscow cancelled. Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov refrained from commenting on the controversy, urging discretion. "Regarding this party, I ask for your mercy: let's stay the only ones in the country not discussing this topic," he said. Pro-war activist Ekaterina Mizulina thanked Russian police for their response, sharing messages from citizens expressing outrage at hosting such events during a military conflict. Critics, including Vitaly Borodin of the Federal Project for Security and Anti-Corruption, condemned the party as "sodomy, obscurantism, and LGBT propaganda." Borodin called on the Minister of Internal Affairs to send police to the Mutabor nightclub, emphasising the perceived insensitivity during a time when Russian youth are involved in military operations in Ukraine, CNN reported. (ANI)
Astronauts in space suits construct a short tower on the brown/red surface of mars. supply boxes lay about. a rover is parked in the distance.

It isn't yet clear when humans will finally begin spending multiple years (perhaps even decades) in space while constructing space stations, Mars habitats, offworld rovers, and probably a slew of other stunning things I can barely fathom from my cozy Earth couch. What is clear, however, is that our current trajectory suggests such a time will certainly arrive.

Every day, scientists are working hard to make sure we reach the point when our species becomes interplanetary  the era during which we will literally "be" the aliens while exploring the Red Planet or floating alongside Jovian gravity . There's lots to consider. Engineers will need to develop next-generation rockets that can propel astronauts across massive distances in a reasonable time frame. Mission planners will need to learn where on a planet or moon's surface an extraterrestrial society could thrive. Ethicists will need to consider how laws and moral codes would work beyond Earth . Policymakers will need to worry about funding these efforts. Physicists will need to consider how to insert capsules into the orbits of other worlds  orbits they're still just getting hang of.

But arguably, I'd say the greatest onus will fall on medical experts.

Related: 'Why Am I Taller?' explores what happens to the human body in space

Doctors, researchers, surgeons, physical therapists and even psychiatrists will need to figure out what'll happen to the bodies of those brave future humans headed to the embrace of space . Astronauts are Earthlings after all; they're built to live on Earth. In microgravity, in hypergravity, on atmosphere-less worlds and on fast-moving vessels, their bodies will weaken. Their homeostasis will be interrupted. In isolation, their minds will be tested. And they should be prepared for that.

So, without further ado, here are some 2023 progress reports on the burgeoning field of space medicine.

1. Hibernation might be an option for long-duration space travelers

A hibernating Arctic squirrel handled by researchers.

For some time now , scientists have toyed with the idea of having astronauts tap into the sort of "hibernation" practices we see animals take part in during the winter. Think, bears.

I mean, it'd take six to nine months for current technology to bring humans to Mars , for instance, which means anyone headed to the Red Planet would need to bring six to nine months of supplies to stay afloat during the journey. And that's just one way. This would cost quite a bit of money, yes, but moreover, living in microgravity for so long would be pretty taxing on the human body. Such an environment leads to substantial bone and muscle loss; astronauts on the International Space Station (ISS) have regimented exercises to combat those effects for even their short-duration trips. Who's to say what a very long excursion, of years or decades, would do to the human body.

So, like bears hibernate to conserve energy and pass time when resources are limited due to snowy weather, scientists think there's a way to have astronauts hibernate on the way to Mars. If animals can simply bounce back to their daily routines after months of hibernation, perhaps humans will be able to, too. Hibernation is different than just being in a coma; bedridden patients don't wake up as springy as post-hibernation bears do.

Toward that end, in January, NASA announced that it's looking into the hibernation methods of arctic squirrels.

"This research could be used to help future missions, from the extreme of medically induced hibernation for long-term space missions, protecting astronauts from cabin fever, ionizing radiation, and much more," NASA said in a statement. "It could also prove effective in preventing muscle and bone loss in zero gravity."

Read more: NASA astronauts could hibernate on deep space missions thanks to arctic squirrels

2. The human brain relies on gravity more than you might think

At the risk of sounding lame, astronauts' most important tools in space will undoubtedly be their thinking caps. Umm okay, sorry. But really, the human brain is a delicate, vital organ that kind of depends on gravity to function properly.

Such are the results of a study that came out in June. Scientists had looked into how brains are impacted by spaceflight. The team, in short, found that cavities in the brain known as "ventricles" can enlarge by a whopping 25% depending on how long the organ is exposed to microgravity. Without enough gravity, the brain starts to shift upward in the skull, creating pressure on the ventricles and forcing them to expand.

"The biggest jump comes when you go from two weeks to six months in space," Rachael Seidler, a space health researcher at the University of Florida in Gainesville and the study's senior author, said in a statement.

The brain's ventricles are filled with what's known as cerebrospinal fluid, a substance that fills the entire brain in general and keeps the organ " buoyant and cushioned ," as the Mayo Clinic puts it. Though the team still isn't sure what this expansion might mean for long-term space missions, the scientists did find that it'd probably take at least three years for the ventricles to return to normal. But "waiting this long may not be a necessity," Seidler said. It appears that more work needs to be done on this front, but it's a start.

Read more: Long space missions take a toll on astronaut brains, study finds

3. 22 kind souls might be the recipe for a Mars society

an illustration of a human colony on Mars

Among the most interesting studies to come out this year concerning the path toward an offworld human presence was one that presented awfully specific conclusions.

To create a functional Mars settlement, scientists found, you'd probably need at least 22 people. And of these 22 people, it's probably best to have as many as possible who possess the "agreeable" personality trait. "The stress caused by accidents, as well as from interacting with other settlers, takes a toll, and agreeable personality types were assessed to be the most enduring for the long term, whereas neurotics showed least adaptation capacity," the team wrote in their study.

Of course, personality "types" are cookie-cutter categories that must be taken with a very large grain of salt. It's more likely that everyone has a bit of every trait to some degree. Thus, these results may be better considered the spine of a book, rather than the pages inside. Still, it's intriguing food for thought that I bet will spur some important discussions, and at the end of the day, it feels very human that we must consider social relationships in our blueprints for space habitation. It also makes me think about how NASA is literally testing how different people's psychologies handle the isolation and tribulations of living on a simulated Mars environment in preparation for the real thing. And, as I've mentioned in many an article before, this just really makes me think about the novel "Red Mars."

Read more: We could start a settlement on Mars with just 22 people, scientists say

4. T cells have a hard time with space-based microbial battles

Artist's illustration of two Artemis astronauts at work on the lunar surface.

More often than not (including in this very article) discussions surrounding microgravity-induced body changes involve bone loss and muscle loss. It's because those are some of the most noticeable effects we see happening to astronauts stationed on the International Space Station. But other body systems undergo alterations as well, as we saw with the aforementioned neurological system.

In August, scientists announced some updates on how yet another system fares in space: the immune system.

They exposed eight healthy subjects to simulated microgravity conditions on Earth for a period of three weeks, performing blood analyses before the experiment, on day seven, on day 14, on day 21, and a week after the experiment. T cells, which are a type of white blood cell crucial in fighting off tumor cells and infections, began to resemble so-called "naive T cells" during the experiment. These are the kind that have not yet encountered any intruders, meaning they'd take longer to be activated and thus are less effective at fighting those infections, study co-leader Carlos Gallardo Dodd explained in a statement.

On the bright side, around the 21-day mark, some original T cell behavior began to return. But then, after the experiment, the naive expression seemed to return. This seems like a lead.

Read more: Astronauts' immune systems could be disturbed by microgravity, scientists find

5. These scientists are trying to 3D-print hearts on the ISS

Levitating particles controlled by a magnetic and acoustic field clump together to form human heart model.

Another body system scientists will need to worry about when sending humans into space's void is the cardiovascular system. Yup, the human heart. That fist-sized muscle pumping in your chest right now, keeping you alive on the comfort of Earth.

A program dubbed Pulse is on the case, as it intends to send extremely anatomically accurate, fully formed artificial hearts to the International Space Station in the near future and test how they react to the environment. Scientists have previously sent cardiac tissue samples to the ISS, and astronauts on the station test their own hearts locked within their bodies periodically, but if this works, it'd mark the first time a totally lab-grown "human" heart made its way to the orbiting space laboratory. Stellar.

Read more: 3D-printed hearts on ISS could help astronauts travel to deep space

6. Okay, but is the ISS even safe for humans? Will other space labs be?

An illustration shows the ISS orbiting Earth as a studt reveals that chemical contamination on the space station could be greater than in homes on Earth

When astronauts eventually head to the great unknown for super-duper long periods of time, they won't just be living in the extreme environment of space. They'll be living in the extreme environment of some sort of capsule that's rocketed into the extreme environment of space. Take the International Space Station, for instance. As we need to keep our homes well-ventilated and free of harmful gases, so too must humans living in offworld laboratories or shelters.

Well, in August, scientists found that the ISS may have chemical contaminant concentrations that exceed what you'd find in a standard home in the U.S. or Europe. To be clear, though, they were technically in line with the average figures in homes across Earth as a whole. Some of these contaminants, however, can harm humans. This finding actually bolsters a few adjacent studies concerning spaceborne lab cleanliness, such as this one about hitchhiking microbes that can make astronauts sick, and this one about fungi on the ISS.

Read more: The chemical contamination of the International Space Station is out of this world (and not in a good way)

7. Space babies! Well, space mouse babies for now

Mouse pups derived from sperm that was freeze-dried and stored on the International Space Station for nine months.

If humans start a space settlement orbiting the moon someday, it's inevitable that we're going to see some space lovers, space marriages, and eventually, space babies! But does a healthy human baby and a healthy birth of a human baby rely on gravity? Or on the unique nature of Earth in some way?

That's what scientists are trying to figure out  and, on the bright side, one team announced in October that it managed to grow mouse embryos onboard the ISS for the first time ever. This was a promising find, revealing that mammals can likely be born and thrive in space. Of course, however, this is a classic "just say it's in mice" situation. Human testing impending?

Read more: Can humans reproduce in space? Mouse breakthrough on ISS a promising sign

8. An experimental drug to treat bone loss shows promise in mice

A syringe is seen with a tiny bit of yellowish liquid inside.

In another ode to our scientific partners in crime (mice), scientists managed to run some pretty positive-looking experiments on a new drug that could help the whole microgravity bone loss conundrum.

The drug, known as "BP-NELL-PEG," basically harnesses a modified version of a well-known protein found in the human body." Again, however, the promise of this bone-formation-promoting drug has only been demonstrated in mice so far.

"If human studies bear this out, BP-NELL-PEG could be a promising tool to combat bone loss and musculoskeletal deterioration, especially when conventional resistance training is not feasible due to injuries or other incapacitating factors," Dr. Kang Ting, a professor at the Forsyth Institute in Massachusetts and co-author of the study, said in a statement.

Dr. Ting, interestingly, first discovered the bone-forming effects of the unmodified protein the drug is based on, known as "NELL-1," over 20 years ago.

Read more: New drug shows potential to aid astronauts during future missions to moon and Mars

9. An astronaut lamp for the humans who can't wake with the sun

The back of a man with a white shirt sitting at a desk. Lights in the room change colors.

Imagine a life in which you experienced 16 sunrises and 16 sunsets every single day. Imagine trying to catch some sleep as that happens. I am surely speaking for people besides myself when I say I can barely string together seven hours of rest between a singular sunrise and sunset each day.

Well, this unhinged fantasy is a reality for everyone on the ISS. Plus, they sleep floating. Strapped to the wall. And in fact, those 16 sunrises and sunsets aren't even above them like ours are. The sky is below them.

Which is precisely why scientists have fashioned a special lamp that regulates light patterns to help astronauts get some shut-eye. If something goes wrong with the station, we definitely don't want insomnia to be the reason why the space crew can't fix it.

Read more: Sleeping on the ISS isn't easy. This lamp for astronauts could help

10. Why female crews may have an easier time on Mars

a female astronaut on the surface of Mars

It is a wonder this study came out before the "Barbie" movie was released. Scientists announced in April that their study results support a decades-old idea that all-female crews would have an easier time navigating long-duration space missions.

"On average, women tend to be smaller than men, and so this metabolic advantage may be greater in women, as suggested by our calculations," Jonathan Scott, a researcher at the French Institute for Space Medicine and Physiology and the study's lead author, told Space.com. "This is why we concluded that there may be specific metabolic or life support resource operational advantages to all-female crews during future human space exploration missions."

Such crews would also cost less money, the team said, though the researchers emphasized that this is all very theoretical and that, at the very least, the results should help mission planners train future astronauts regardless of sex.

"We don't want to set up this binary competition," Dr. Saralyn Mark, health innovation director at Star Harbor, a spaceflight training facility in Colorado, told Space.com. "In today's world, we have the technology; we have the capabilities to democratize space to ensure that there is space for all."

Read more: Should future Mars missions have all-female crews?

11. Blood

NASA Expedition 59 astronaut Anne McClain of NASA floats in the cuploa of the International Space Station in 2019, while holding gear for the Marrow experiment.

Now that I'm writing this, August seems to have been a major moment for space medicine announcements. In addition to that T-cell update and ISS contamination insight, August's studies included one about how scientists learned that astronauts who headed to space for long periods of time had lower amounts of fat in their bone marrow after returning to Earth.

Those decreased amounts seemed to last for at least a month. It's unsurprising that the hypothesis here has to do with, yes, the bone loss thing.

"We think the body is using this fat to help replace red blood cells and rebuild bone that has been lost during space travel," study senior author Guy Trudel, a rehabilitation physician and researcher at The Ottawa Hospital and professor at the University of Ottawa, said in a statement.

So, with a little deduction, this also means astronauts spending lots of time in space have fewer red blood cells than they would if they were on Earth. Having a low red blood cell count, aka being anemic, can be harmful, because these cells are like messengers carrying oxygen throughout the human body.

"Thankfully, anemia isn't a problem in space when your body is weightless, but when landing on Earth and potentially on other planets or moons with gravity, anemia would affect energy, endurance and strength and could threaten mission objectives," Trudel said. "If we can find out exactly whats controlling this anemia, we might be able to improve prevention and treatment."

Read more: Fatty tissue helps replenish bone and red blood cells in space

12. This stunning 2024 mission will absolutely kick off next year's list

uncrewed SpaceX Crew Dragon spacecraft is the first Commercial Crew vehicle to visit the International Space Station. Here it is pictured with its nose cone open revealing its docking mechanism while approaching the station's Harmony module.

To round this list off, I thought I'd highlight a very space-medicine-esque mission planned for the coming year: Ax-3.

Ax-3, the third private crewed mission organized by Houston company Axiom Space , is set to launch in January of 2024, bringing a wonderful collection of microgravity health experiments to the ISS. The crewmembers will spend 14 days docked to the orbiting laboratory while carrying out studies such as one that concerns an artificial intelligence system that can detect over 70 types of disease through coughing and speaking sounds. The hope is this device can help scientists monitor astronaut health remotely.

Another study will look at how amyloid beta (A) proteins, which are proteins that disrupt the folding and unfolding processes of other proteins and are related to diseases like Alzheimer's, react in microgravity environments. There will also be bone density loss studies, red blood cell studies, and even cognitive studies such as stress tests. And that's just the tip of the iceberg, really.

It's also worth mentioning that these pioneering experiments  and in fact every single space medicine study in this entire list  won't only have implications for humanity's future space adventures. They have the potential to revolutionize medicine back home as well. Microgravity offers a unique opportunity to study how the human body works in a totally different environment  possibly revealing aspects of cancer cells or neurodegenerative mechanisms that we can't quite make out in terrestrial conditions.

2023 was definitely a satisfying year for the ever-burgeoning field of space medicine. With Ax-3 in store for 2024, I hope next year's list is even better.

Read more: Axiom Space's 3rd private mission will conduct pioneering microgravity experiments on ISS
For 27 years, Chicago native Kathleen Carlson has baked a shortbread cookie recipe that Sandra Petrille of Naperville submitted to the Chicago Tribune's annual Holiday Cookie Contest in 1996. (HANDOUT)

For 27 years, Kathleen Carlson and Sandra Petrille have shared an unspoken bond.

Their paths never actually crossed, not really. But each impressed the other, whether they knew it or not.

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All thanks to 4 cups of all-purpose flour, 1 cup of packed light brown sugar and 1 pound of butter, unsalted and softened.

For 27 years, Chicago native Kathleen Carlson has baked a shortbread cookie recipe that Sandra Petrille, of Naperville, submitted to the Chicago Tribune's annual Holiday Cookie Contest in 1996. (HANDOUT)

Over the past two and half decades, Carlson has  without fail  baked the same brown-sugar shortbread cookies for the holidays. Theyre simple, done in a few hours. Just heat the oven, mix the dough, divide onto baking sheets, decorate as desired.

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Straight out of Petrilles family cookbook.

Carlsons run-in with the recipe, though, was a matter of chance.

It was December 1996. Carlson, a Chicago native, was 27 at the time, living on the citys South Side, working in the office of then-Chicago Mayor Richard M. Daley and going through a difficult breakup. Single and in need of some comfort, she did the natural thing and found solace in sweets.

She knew just where to go: her local paper.

Carlson grew up reading the Chicago Tribune. And she knew that, for some time, the Tribune had devoted one December spread every year to its Holiday Cookie Contest, a still-annual tradition in which the best Chicago-area bakers holiday recipes are shared with readers.

Jackpot.

Carlson flipped through the 96 results. First place went to a chocolate shot cookie recipe but Carlson wanted a change of pace, which she found in the brown-sugar shortbread offering from second-place winner Sandra Petrille, of Naperville.

I cut it out, Carlson recalled, and baked a batch with her brother. Then she tucked the clipping away, only to pull it out a year later. And again, the year after that. And again.

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And again.

From apartment to apartment, city to city, marriage and kids, Carlson pulled out Petrilles shortbread recipe every December. The clipping yellowed, wrinkled and ripped. At the top of the page, a small picture of Petrille faded.

Through all the stages of my life  I always had this, she said.

Kathleen Carlson, second from right, pictured with her family. (Naperville Sun)

By 2021, Carlson had spent almost a quarter century making Petrilles cookies. She and her family were well-rooted in Brooklyn, New York, and her two kids teenagers by then. After so many years, she started to wonder, where was Sandra now?

Call it a renewed appreciation for connection coming out of the COVID pandemic, but Carlson wanted to speak to her cookie inspiration and say thank you.

I was just looking at Sandras picture on the recipe, and I thought to myself, I should find her online somehow and just write her a little card saying what a great recipe it was and how Ive kept it all these years and how it has just how much joy it has brought my family and I.

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She took to Google and found Petrille still living in Naperville. She mailed out a letter, not expecting a response.

And for more than a year, there was no return letter. Until January 2023.

In her mailbox, she received a note addressed to Kathleen Carlson & Family. It was signed by Dennis Petrille, Sandras husband.

Our family cannot fully express our gratitude for your heartfelt Christmas card of December 2021, it read. He would have responded sooner, he said, but had lost Carlsons address and had to track her down.

That you took the time to mail Sandy a card was a beautiful gesture, he went on. It meant so much to our family that we framed it and it now hangs in our living room.

Carlsons note struck such a chord that it made an appearance at her funeral, Dennis wrote.

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Sandra Petrille died in her sleep Aug. 6, 2022, two days before her 81st birthday, and 25 days shy of her 59th wedding anniversary to Dennis.

Sandra didnt get a chance to respond to Carlson, but Dennis assured her in his note that your card took a prominent place in (Sandras) memorial service, reminding us of one of her many talents and effect on other people.

He told her the card offered a poignant tribute to Sandy, who was a wonderfully loving person herself. She would have enjoyed knowing his wife, he said.

Reached by phone Wednesday, Dennis, now 83, said Sandra was nothing short of a gourmet cook.

We have a recipe book thats probably 3 inches thick, he said. One page is devoted to her famed shortbread cookies, a recipe she got from her mother.

Carlson cried at Dennis response, she said.

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To hear that she had just passed away and that this letter had meant so much to her and her family  it was emotional, she said.

Dennis and Carlson have remained pen pals since. This holiday season, they exchanged Christmas cards. Carslon says she hopes they stay in contact.

I feel like theres beauty in writing a letter to somebody, she said. Just keeping them in your correspondence in that meaningful, actual paper or card way is a bright (light).

All thanks to 4 cups of all-purpose flour. 1 cup of packed light brown sugar.

And one pound of butter, unsalted and softened.

tkenny@chicagotribune.com
STURGEON BAY - The mysterious disappearance of a commercial fishing boat in Lake Michigan, and the 18-month-long search that followed, is the topic of the next program in the Maritime Speaker Series offered by the Door County Maritime Museum.

Seen in this undated photo is the Linda E., a commercial fishing vessel that disappeared off Port Washington in Lake Michigan with three fishermen aboard Dec. 11, 1998. The Door County Maritime Museum's Maritime Speaker Series delves into its sinking and the 18-month-long search that followed in its next program Jan. 4.

Brennan Christianson, the museum's collections coordinator, will present "The Search for the Linda E." Jan. 4 at the museum's Sturgeon Bay location. The public can attend the program in person at the museum or see it online via Zoom.

The Linda E. was a nearly 40-foot-long vessel designed to haul and set gill nets for commercial fishing, described as a typical Great Lakes commercial fishing boat by the Wisconsin Shipwrecks website. It was used only in winters by owner/captain Leif Weborg because it had a reinforced hull suitable to withstand icy conditions, a report on the wreck from the U.S. Coast Guard said.

Built in 1937, she was still active from her home port of Port Washington on Dec. 11, 1998. That day was calm and sunny with no visibility issues on Lake Michigan, as the three experienced commercial anglers aboard the Linda E., two of them Door County natives, traveled 6 miles from shore to catch chubs  but never returned. No distress call was sent from the boat, which was equipped with radio and cellphones, and searchers found no trace of a wreck  no debris, bodies, not even an oil slick.

It was the beginning of the search for the Linda E. that took a year and a half, one the U.S. Coast Guard at the time called the largest air-water search ever on Lake Michigan, with findings whose repercussions resonate to this day.

Christianson earned his bachelor's degree from the University of Wisconsin-Green Bay with a major in history and minors in humanities and German. He attended graduate school at UW-Milwaukee, earning a master's in public history and a certificate in museum studies.

DCMM hosts experts and interesting characters from around the country to give programs on maritime topics, from history to current issues affecting the Great Lakes and the economy that relies on them, for the Maritime Speaker Series. The programs are held the first Thursday of each month from October through May.

Future scheduled programs are on "Native Canoes in Wisconsin," presented by archaeologists Sissel Schroeder and Tamara Thomsen on Feb. 1; "Freshwater Fisheries" by Dr. Karen Murchie of Chicago's Shedd Aquarium, March 7; and "Bridging the Gap: The History of the Sturgeon Bay Railroad Bridge" by Daniel Liedtke of the National Railroad Museum in Ashwaubenon, April 4. The subject of the May 2 program is to be determined.

Brennan Christianson presents "The Search for the Linda E." at 7 p.m. Jan. 4 on the second floor of the Door County Maritime Museum, 120 N. Madison Ave., Sturgeon Bay. There is no cost to attend or view it on Zoom; the museum suggests bringing a nonperishable food item for donation if attending in person or donating to a local food pantry if watching online. For more information and a link to register for the online presentation, visit dcmm.org/seaperch/maritime-speaker-series.

Contact Christopher Clough at 920-562-8900 or cclough@doorcountyadvocate.com.

MORE: Death's Door stories depicting 'true tales of tragedy, mystery and bravery' told in graphic novel

FOR MORE DOOR COUNTY NEWS: Check out our website

This article originally appeared on Green Bay Press-Gazette: DCMM speaker program looks at 18-month search for Great Lakes shipwreck
A shooting on Christmas Eve in North Carolina turned deadly when a man who was shot died a few days later, police said.

Officers found a 19-year-old shot multiple times in the back by a gas pump in Asheville, according to a Dec. 26 news release from the police department. The Dec. 24 shooting happened at about 9:20 p.m. on the 400 block of Depot Street, police said. Thats near the River Arts District on the west side of town.

The man was taken to the hospital in critical condition and died on Dec. 27, police said.

While at the scene, investigators found 16 shell casings, police said.

A witness told WLOS that she was aware of other instances of gun violence in the area, but the shooting at the gas station was especially sad because it was Christmas Eve.

You could actually hear people screaming and just cries just coming out, you know, before all the sirens started coming in and everything, the woman told WLOS.

Anyone with further information on the shooting can contact Asheville Police Department at 828-252-1110.

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Two Lompoc men were arrested after allegedly robbing an Arroyo Grande hardware store and pepper-spraying an employee on Wednesday.

According to an Arroyo Grande Police Department news release, officers were dispatched to Miners Ace Hardware in the 100 block of Station Way around 8:57 a.m. for a report of a male shoplifting.

The man left the store with unpaid items and was stopped by store employees near a vehicle occupied by another man, the Police Department said.

According to the release, a struggle ensued and the second man stepped out of the drivers seat and pepper sprayed an employee.

Both then fled in the vehicle with the unpaid merchandise, police said.

At noon, the two men and the vehicle were located at a Lompoc hotel by the Lompoc Police Department, according to the release. A brief foot pursuit took place, and both men were apprehended.

Merchandise from another theft was also located and turned over to the San Luis Obispo Police Department, according to the release.

Officers from the Arroyo Grande Police Department took custody of the pair and booked them into the San Luis Obispo County Jail on suspicion of charges of robbery, according to the release.

They were identified as David Michael Samulski, 27, and Alberto Montesdeoca, 30, both of Lompoc.

As of Wednesday evening, Samulski was still in custody with bail set at $30,000, according to the San Luis Obispo County Sheriffs Offices Whos in Custody page.

Montesdeoca no longer appeared to be in custody.
Mourners carry the coffins of a Hezbollah fighter and other two civilians who killed by an Israeli airstrike that hit their house Tuesday night, in Bint Jbeil, South Lebanon, Wednesday, Dec. 27, 2023. One Hezbollah fighter and two civilians, a newlywed couple, were killed in an overnight Israeli strike on a family-owned residential building in the town of Bint Jbeil, local residents and state media said Wednesday.(AP Photo/Mohammed Zaatari)

CANBERRA, Australia (AP)  Two Australian citizens including an alleged Hezbollah fighter were killed by an Israeli airstrike in Lebanon, Australias acting foreign minister said on Thursday.

Ibrahim Bazzi and his brother Ali Bazzi were killed in the airstrike on Tuesday in the town of Bint Jbel in southern Lebanon, Acting Foreign Minister Mark Dreyfus said.

Ibrahim Bazzi had arrived in Lebanon recently from Sydney to accompany his Lebanese wife Shorouq Hammoud to Australia, news media reported. Hammoud, who had recently received an Australian visa, was also killed in the attack.

Their three coffins were draped in the flag of Hezbollah, an ally of the Palestinian Islamist faction Hamas, which is at war with Israel.

Dreyfus said Australia was investigating Hezbollahs claim that Ali Bazzi was one of its fighters.

Hezbollah is a listed terrorist organization under Australian law. Its an offense for any Australian to cooperate with, to support, let alone to fight with a listed terrorist organization like Hezbollah, Dreyfus told reporters.

Dreyfus said his government had communicated with Israel about the airstrike but declined to disclose what was said.

In the context of the current conflict, Australia has consistently called for civilian lives to be protected and we have consistently raised our concerns about the risk of this conflict spreading, Dreyfus said.

Dreyfus repeated a government warning for Australians not to travel to Lebanon. Australians already in the country should leave while commercial air services are still available.

The Australian embassy in Beirut was ready to provide consular assistance to the Bazzi family if required, he said.
SUFFOLK, Va. (WAVY)  Six people were injured in three separate crashes in different parts of Suffolk Wednesday.

Two people suffered serious injuries following a two-vehicle crash Wednesday afternoon on Godwin Boulevard in Suffolk, Suffolk Fire & Rescue said.

The crash happened at an intersection in the 2900 block of Godwin Boulevard near a Burger King and a car wash.

(Photo  Suffolk Fire & Rescue)

(Photo  Suffolk Fire & Rescue)

(Photo  Suffolk Fire & Rescue)

Two people were taken to an area hospital with serious injuries. Sentara Obici Hospital is about a half-mile away from the crash scene.

Photos from the scene show a Toyota Tacoma pickup truck that appeared to crash into a light pole at the intersection, while another vehicle also sustained damage, mostly to the front end of the vehicle as its front end went into a ditch in front of the Burger King. The same photos showed debris scattered in a crosswalk at the intersection.

Suffolk Police and Suffolk Fire & Rescue responded to the crash.

Godwin Boulevard is a heavily traveled corridor in Suffolk, with nearly 22,000 vehicles traveling on it daily from Kings Fork Road to the U.S. Route 58 Bypass, according to 2022 data from the Virginia Department of Transportation.

Another crash took place Wednesday evening around 5:40 p.m. on U.S. Route 58 where Holland Road enters 58, while yet another crash took place in the area of North Main Street and East Constance Street downtown.

In the crash on Route 58, photos show a single vehicle off the left-hand side of the road with significant damage to the rear of the vehicle.

In the crash on North Main Street, which took place just before 9 p.m., two vehicles sustained damage, primarily to the passenger sides of each. A gray vehicle faces the visitors center while the blue vehicle was facing toward the center of the intersection.

Four people from the two evening crashes were taken to an area hospital with minor to moderate injuries, Suffolk Fire & Rescue said. It is unclear whether the four injuries were from one of the evening crashes or from both of them.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WAVY.com.
Incoming Hobart mayor Josh Huddlestun is joined by family on stage as he is sworn into his position by outgoing mayor Brian Snedecor during a ceremony at Hobart High School on Wednesday, December 27, 2023. (Kyle Telechan for the Post-Tribune) (Kyle Telechan/Post-Tribune)

Hobart Mayor-elect Josh Huddlestun doesnt expect to spend much of his term in his city hall office.

Ill be out in the city and the community. I want to make sure the community continues down the right path, he said after his mentor, four-term Mayor Brian Snedecor, swore him in at a ceremony in the Hobart High School auditorium Wednesday.

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Huddlestun, council members Mark Kopil, Mark Kara, Michael Rodriguez, Lisa Winstead, William Perryman, Matthew Claussen and Dan Waldrop; new city judge Joseph Nugent and Clerk-Treasurer Deborah Longer all took oaths of office before a crowd of about 150 people.

Hobart 4th district councilwoman Lisa Winstead is joined by family on stage as she is sworn into her position by outgoing mayor Brian Snedecor during a ceremony at Hobart High School on Wednesday, December 27, 2023. (Kyle Telechan for the Post-Tribune) (Kyle Telechan/Post-Tribune)

At age 33, Huddlestun may be Hobarts youngest mayor although data wasnt immediately available. His wife, Brittany and kids Cali, Harper, and Colt and other family members surrounded him as he took the oath from Snedecor.

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Its a comfort leaving and knowing that Josh is going to be mayor, said Snedecor, who said Huddlestun would be aided by veteran council members Claussen and Waldrop.

Hobart will be led by all Democrats in each elected office.

Hobart 1st district councilman Mark Kopil opens a present from incoming mayor Josh Huddlestun, a vest, after a swearing-in ceremony at Hobart High School on Wednesday, December 27, 2023. (Kyle Telechan for the Post-Tribune) (Kyle Telechan/Post-Tribune)

Its a good opportunity for the city to grow in a positive way, said Snedecor.

Huddlestun, a two-term councilman and 2008 Hobart High graduate, is excited about the coming year as he ticked off several road projects set to begin soon. The Northern Indiana Public Service Co. was already out Wednesday realigning power lines along Indiana 130 in preparation for a state roundabout project at Indiana 51, near the bike trail.

Theres also a roundabout planned on 61st Avenue and Marcella Boulevard and a bridge project on Wisconsin Street on the horizon.

Incoming Hobart Mayor Josh Huddlestun puts his arm around outgoing Mayor Brian Snedecor's shoulder during a swearing-in ceremony at Hobart High School on Wednesday, December 27, 2023. (Kyle Telechan for the Post-Tribune) (Kyle Telechan/Post-Tribune)

This is an absolute honor and privilege, and growing up here, its pretty remarkable, Huddlestun told the crowd. I love the city of Hobart and Im truly humbled to be able to serve.

He presented gray vests, a Huddlestun trademark, to incoming elected officials saying your best days are vest days.

Winstead, D-4th, said it felt good to take the oath as the councils lone woman. We have a really great team. Well sit down and discuss our goals.

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Hobart 3rd district councilman Michael Rodriguez, on left, kisses his wife Crystal after being sworn in during a ceremony at Hobart High School on Wednesday, December 27, 2023. (Kyle Telechan for the Post-Tribune) (Kyle Telechan/Post-Tribune)

She said shes attending a three-day session next month in Indianapolis for new council members statewide.

Winstead succeeds Dave Vinzant, who stepped away from the council. Hes in the caucus race to complete the term of incoming Gary Mayor Eddie Meltons District 3 state Senate seat.

I have big shoes to fill, she said.

Incoming Hobart mayor Josh Huddlestun speaks after being sworn in during a ceremony at Hobart High School on Wednesday, December 27, 2023. (Kyle Telechan for the Post-Tribune) (Kyle Telechan/Post-Tribune)

Rodriguez, also a newcomer to the council, said hes excited to begin his term.

I want to keep the city family friendly for my kids and a good place to grow up.

Carole Carlson is a freelance reporter for the Post-Tribune.
My most-repeated phrase of 2023 was: Thats the dumbest thing Ive ever heard in my life.

I said it so often it began to lose meaning, all thanks to Republicans admirably relentless attempts to out-stupid each other.

Before replaying a greatest hits list of GOP weirdness and dunderhead-osity (I had to make a word up just to describe it), let me first note that all this ridiculousness  all of it, I tell you  is either inspired by or in service to an evil clown named Donald Trump.

Republicans spent 2023 making sure Donald Trump defines them

Thats the things that makes the sweep of this years Republican ludicrousness almost unbelievable. Potentially intelligent human beings, and others, are behaving like line workers at the nut factory to please or parrot a guy who has done nothing but help the party lose elections, a man facing 91 state and federal felony charges who, as of this writing, is fighting off legitimate criticisms that he keeps saying things that sound like they were cribbed from Adolf Hitlers Mein Kampf.

Rep. Marjorie Taylor-Greene, R-Ga., arrives as Republicans meet to decide who to nominate to be the new House speaker, on Capitol Hill in Washington, late Tuesday, Oct. 24, 2023.

Its like an entire political party has said, Hey, that guy is running buck naked toward the edge of a steep cliff while setting stuff on fire and shouting crude insults, lets all do the same thing!

But I digress.

For Republicans, 2023 started and ended with something dumb

Lets start with the beginning and end of 2023. First, in January, Republicans spent four days and 15 rounds of voting trying to choose a new speaker of the House. Rep. Kevin McCarthy of California endured hours upon hours of nobody really like you that much, Kevin before finally wearing his colleagues down and getting the job he always wanted, confidently saying, I hope one thing is clear after this week: I never give up.

Speaker of the House Kevin McCarthy, R-Calif., walking from chambers after being voted out as Speaker of the House on Tuesday, October 3, 2023, on Capitol Hill in Washington.

That lasted all the way to October, when House Republicans, led in part by Florida Rep. Matt Gaetz, a forehead who believed he could become a real boy, expelled McCarthy, sending their own caucus into chaos.

It took three weeks for Republicans to choose another speaker, and by Dec. 20, I Never Give Up McCarthy gave up and submitted his resignation from Congress.

What about crime?: Crime in America is down, rudely interfering with GOP narrative that it's out of control

Its like the circle of life from The Lion King if that movie was unwatchable and completely useless.

From Bud Light protest to Vivek Ramaswamy

Moving a bit faster now, and in no particular order:

Republican lawmakers and pundits devoted an unimaginable amount of time being big-mad at Bud Light because the company sent one beer can to a transgender influencer.

Anheuser-Busch InBev has reported a drop in U.S. revenue in the second quarter as Bud Light sales plunged amid conservative backlash over a campaign with transgender influencer Dylan Mulvaney.

They also briefly got furious at President Joe Biden for petting a dog, and for a while got all sorts of riled up about the president coming to take everyones gas stoves, which was not a thing that was ever going to happen.

Near-billionaire Vivek Ramaswamy joined the GOP presidential primary race, causing countless Americans to realize how annoying and preposterous Vivek Ramaswamy is, highlighted by his suggestion that GOP debate moderators should be Tucker Carlson, Joe Rogan and Elon Musk.

A national divorce? Election lies? This is how Republicans spent their time.

Speaking of Tucker Carlson, he got booted from Fox News and then tried to make a go of things on X, formally known as Twitter before right-wing nutball Elon Musk ruined the whole thing. Now nobody remembers who Tucker Carlson is, which may well be the best development of 2023.

Biden is still better than Trump: Democrats need to pull themselves together and remember

Georgia Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene somehow gained power in the Republican Party, despite being a "Saturday Night Live" skit come to life. At one point she tweeted: We need a national divorce. We need to separate by red states and blue states and shrink the federal government. Everyone I talk to says this. From the sick and disgusting woke culture issues shoved down our throats to the Democrats traitorous America Last policies, we are done.

Prior to dispatching Carlson, Fox News reached a $787 million settlement with Dominion Voting Systems over the multitudinous lies the network spewed about the 2020 election in an effort to help Trump look not insane.

A bit of theater fondling and some anti-LGBTQ rhetoric

On the morality front, Rep. Lauren Boebert got booted from a Denver theater for fiercely fondling a fellow she was with during a performance of the play Beetlejuice.

VPC BOEBERT ESCORTED OUT OF THEATER

Meanwhile, a few weeks before Louisiana Rep. Mike Johnson was elected to replace McCarthy as House speaker, he was interviewed by evangelical leader Jim Garlow and said that because so many high school students identify as "something other than straight," America is so dark and depraved it almost seems irredeemable."

So he seems pretty nice and normal and everything.

Ron DeSantis continued to be cringe, and Kari Lake continued to lose

When it came to 2023 elections, Republicans continued to lose them, including a vote in Ohio that enshrined abortion rights in the states constitution. And in Arizona, Kari Lake, who lost the 2022 gubernatorial race to Democrat Katie Hobbs, continued to lose that same race over and over again as every ridiculous appeal she filed failed miserably.

Lastly, aside from Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis repeatedly embarrassing himself by attempting to smile like a regular dude, the Republican Partys No. 1 theater-of-the-absurd performance of 2023 has been House Oversight Chairman James Comers impeachment inquiry into President Biden for doing  something.

House Oversight and Accountability Committee Chairman James Comer, R-Ky., joined at right by House Ways and Means Committee Chairman Jason Smith, R-Mo., speaks at the Capitol in Washington, Tuesday, Dec. 5, 2023.

Every attempt to provide the American people with even a shred of evidence that Biden benefited from his then-drug-addicted sons foreign business dealings or that the president did anything wrong at all has fallen flatter than a Swedish pancake.

Comer and Co. keep stepping on rakes, getting bonked in the face by the rake handle then shouting, MORE RAKES, PLEASE!

Sure, Democrats do some dumb things. But is it really a contest?

Look, Democrats do plenty of ridiculous things. New York Rep. Jamaal Bowman pulled a fire alarm in a congressional office building before a House vote on a spending bill and pleaded guilty to a misdemeanor. New Jersey Sen. Bob Menendez is charged with secretly aiding Egypt and is tied up in a scandal that involves freakin bars of gold, yet the party hasnt removed him. Biden has continued to get older, which seems like a poor decision.

But in the thats the dumbest thing Ive ever head in my life department, Republicans are running away with things.

And remember, I didnt even mention former Republican Rep. George Santos. The mercy rule had to kick in at some point.

Follow USA TODAY columnist Rex Huppke on X, formerly Twitter, @RexHuppke and Facebook facebook.com/RexIsAJerk

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.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: For GOP, 2023 started how it ended: By making sure Trump defined them
Permanent changes of station are expected to return to normal in 2024 after a funding snafu in July 2023 disrupted the busy summer moving season and delayed international moves for months.

The problem emerged from unusual circumstances and shouldnt become an annual headache, Lt. Gen. Caroline Miller, the Air Forces uniformed personnel boss, told Air Force Times in September.

She said the Air Force faced a deficit in its military personnel budget at the beginning of 2023, partly because the service had allowed too many high-ranking troops  who cost more in pay and benefits  to stay in uniform.

Officials tried to move money around to avoid widespread problems, Miller said, but failed to get congressional approval in time. Slowing PCSes and delaying some bonuses allowed the Air Force to continue sending paychecks instead, she said.

The Air Force paused its global shuffle for about two weeks in July while the funding issue was resolved, then told airmen who were slated to move by the end of September that they would get those orders at least 30 days before their scheduled departure date. Service members typically receive orders 60-120 days ahead of moving day.

Domestic moves have continued as usual. But airmen who were scheduled to return to the U.S. from long overseas postings were told to wait. Troops who planned to be stateside between October and December 2023 will now come back by the end of March 2024.

Airmen for whom the delay creates a major problem can ask their commander to make an exception.
(BCN)  Three people from Vacaville were arrested in connection to a San Francisco robbery case earlier this month, the San Francisco Police Department said Wednesday.

At approximately 1:34 p.m. on Dec. 11, a robbery with a gun was reported in the area of 18th and Kansas streets. Police dispatch sent out a description of the vehicle associated with the suspects in this case and an officer spotted one matching the description traveling eastbound on Interstate 80.

A record check of its license plate showed that it had allegedly been stolen in a carjacking in another jurisdiction. A sergeant attempted to pursue the fleeing vehicle, but lost sight of it, police said.

When a car matching the description was again seen by officers in the Tenderloin near Eddy and Polk streets around 5:21 p.m., officers said they attempted to stop the vehicle, but it again fled.

The pursuit ended with the suspects vehicle causing a collision in the 500 block of Franklin Street. The suspects allegedly tried to flee on foot but were all detained.

Ex-rock musician primary person of interest in possible homicide of girlfriend

Theodore Gore, 29, was arrested for two outstanding warrants in San Francisco and Milpitas.

Other charges Gore was booked for included possession of a stolen vehicle, possession of a stolen firearm, two counts of hit and run, possession of burglary tools and reckless evasion amongst others.

Following his arrest, Gore was transported to a local hospital for treatment of non-life-threatening injuries sustained during the arrest.

Aaron Richardson, 42, was booked into jail with multiple suspected crimes, including conspiracy and possession of a firearm, as well as two outstanding arrest warrants.

Marisa Melton, 32, was arrested on four outstanding warrants in Alameda, Solano, and San Mateo counties and booked on suspicion of multiple offenses.

A firearm, stolen merchandise, narcotics, and burglary tools were all allegedly recovered from the vehicle, according to a press release from SFPD.

Copyright  2023 Bay City News, Inc.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KRON4.
TAMPA, Fla. (WFLA)  Five members of a drug-trafficking operation were arrested and three more have an active arrest warrant after a five-month undercover operation, the Bradenton Police Department announced Thursday.

In August, detectives say they learned that documented gang member and convicted felon Pedro Garcia was distributing drugs in Manatee County through multiple co-conspirators. The departments Narcotics Unit partnered with Homeland Security Investigations, the Central Florida High-Intensity Drug Trafficking Area-Gulf Coast Task Force, and the Manatee County Sheriffs Office for the investigation.

2 boys among 4 dead in crash on I-75 South near Selmon Expressway

During the investigation, undercover agents were able to buy drugs from Garcia and wiretap his phone.

On Dec. 4, police stopped a vehicle seen leaving Garcias home. During the stop, investigators say they seized 924.4 grams of methamphetamine.

Then, while executing search warrants at Garcias home and a home he frequented on Dec. 21 and 22, investigators say 72.4 grams of fentanyl, two rifles, and two handguns were seized.

Garcia, 41, faces three counts of trafficking in fentanyl, conspiracy to traffic fentanyl, conspiracy to sell Methamphetamine within 1000 feet of public housing, four counts of possession of a firearm by a gang-related convicted felon, and possession of ammunition by a gang-related convicted felon.

Police say Garcia was on probation for possession of a firearm and was out on bond for two murder charges in Manatee County at the time of his arrest.

The following co-conspirators were also arrested:

Rocky Jimenez, 42: Two counts of trafficking in Fentanyl, possession of Fentanyl, and conspiracy to sell Methamphetamine within 1000 feet of public housing.

Ernestina Gutierrez, 56: Conspiracy to distribute a controlled substance.

Cynthia Gutierrez-Mendez, 26: Conspiracy to deliver cocaine within 1000 feet of a school and conspiracy to distribute a controlled substance within 1000 feet of a church.

Gerardo Casiano, 23: Conspiracy to distribute a controlled substance within 1000 feet

of a church.

Warrants have also been issued for the following suspects:

Pablo Adrian Estrada, 32: Conspiracy to traffic Fentanyl and trafficking in Methamphetamine.

Francisco Flores III, 38: Conspiracy to traffic Fentanyl.

Laquinton Trevon Hart, 30: Conspiracy to possess Fentanyl with intent to sell within

1000 feet of a church.

Anyone with information is being asked to call Crime Stoppers at 866-634-8477.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WFLA.
President Richard M. Nixon enshrined the Endangered Species Act into the nations history 50 years ago on Thursday.

Beleaguered by the Watergate scandal, Nixon signed the act unceremoniously, issuing a short statement from the western White House in San Clemente, California.

Nothing is more priceless and more worthy of preservation than the rich array of animal life with which our country has been blessed, his short statement read, in part.

The Act would enrich the lives of countless future generations, he predicted. America will be more beautiful in the years ahead, thanks to the measure that I have the pleasure of signing into law today.

The legislation provided a road map for protecting vanishing species and their habitats. Its 50-year journey has seen speed bumps, detours and a few failures, but though its future remains uncertain, many experts say it remains one of the nations crowning achievements.

The Act reflects our democracy, said Zygmunt Plater, an environmental law professor at Boston College, whose advocacy has seen the fate of the tiny snail darter fish come full circle over more than 40 years.

On its golden anniversary, many Americans routinely experience joyful encounters with one of the plants or animals considered the Act's success stories. They may see sunlight gleaming off the brilliant white head of one of the more than 300,000 bald eagles now found across the nation or watch one of the protected whales breaching from the ocean waves.

American bald eagles are considered one of the biggest success stories of the Endangered Species Act, signed into law on Dec. 28, 1973.

Wildflowers in California, Kirtlands warblers, peregrine falcons and the Monito gecko on an island in Puerto Rico are among more than five dozen species that have recovered.

Endangered species controversy: Feds want to hunt one kind of owl to save another kind of owl. Here's why.

The bipartisan adoption and signing of the Act 50 years ago was "a moment that stands out in the national environmental consciousness," said Tim Preso, a managing attorney of the biodiversity defense program at Earthjustice. "It would be great to see more of those."

Even as these successes are celebrated, many other plants and animals remain on the brink of extinction or are sliding in the opposite direction, often because of habitat loss and fragmentation.

The acts record of accomplishment from these strong rules remains contested, said Cary Coglianese, a professor of law and political science at the University of Pennsylvania Carey Law School. Many species remain listed as endangered or threatened.

The Florida panther, for example, struggles to gain ground and avoid deadly collisions with speeding cars. The lesser prairie chicken narrowly escaped this year when President Joe Biden vetoed a bill that would have stripped the bird of its endangered species protection.

The perils of the changing climate add urgency to calls for increased funding and more protection. In North Carolina, for example, the rising sea steadily creeps over a refuge thats home to the sole remaining wild red wolf population. Off New England, warming waters forced changes in the foraging habits of the endangered North Atlantic right whale, putting the massive marine mammals in harm's way more often.

Remembering when the Endangered Species Act was adopted

The Act was one of several landmark measures passed during the Nixon years, including the National Environmental Policy Act and the creation of the Environmental Protection Agency. His administration came amid an environmental awakening of the country that had begun years earlier.

President Richard M. Nixon signed the Endangered Species Act with no fanfare on Dec. 28, 1973. Nixon is seen here at Camp David, Maryland in 1971, in a photo taken by White House photographer Oliver Atkins.

This truly was an environmental revolution that had been building up to this point, said Clay Henderson, author and retired environmental attorney. Several events contributed, including the publication of Rachel Carsons "Silent Spring," which riveted the nations attention on the perils of pesticides. Momentum grew during the administrations of John F. Kennedy and Lyndon B. Johnson.

Then on Dec. 24, 1968, astronaut William Anders captured the iconic picture of Earth, rising over the desolate moon, Henderson said. It just really captured the imagination of people and there was this moment in time where people thought 'we need to do something'.

On Dec. 24, 1968, as the Apollo 8 spacecraft was rotating, astronaut Bill Anders took this iconic photo of Earth rising over the moon's horizon. Some consider the image a pivotal moment in people's understanding of the planet.

Eight days after Nixon was inaugurated in January 1969, a major oil spill occurred in his home state of California. Weeks after the inauguration, millions turned out across the country to participate in the first Earth Day celebration.

Three years later, the Act passed 355-4 in the House of Representatives and unanimously in the Senate. Among those senators was Biden.

Part of the beauty of the act was the citizen enforcement provisions that allowed citizens to go to court to force the federal government to enforce the law, taking a page from the civil rights movement, Plater said.

The Act "finally recognized that all forms of life have evolved over time, and some only ask to be given room to continue to live and grow by man, said the late Nathaniel Reed, one of a small group of men convened by the administration to help get Nixons environmental measures approved.

We are Earths stewards and the ESA, difficult as it is, recognizes the right to life of plants, mammals, insects, birds, and whales, Reed said in a 2015 interview.

How many species have been listed as endangered or threatened?

 More than 2,300 are listed as threatened or endangered.

 The list includes 1,252 species endangered in the United States and 417 threatened species.

 It also lists 698 foreign species as threatened or endangered.

 The endangered list includes 766 plant species and 486 animal species.

Successes of the Endangered Species Act

The law has been incredibly effective, said Susan Holmes, executive director of the Endangered Species Coalition. "It has been the global gold standard for protecting wildlife and conservation.

It has remained consistently popular in polls and surveys, with support consistently above 85%, said Holmes and Preso.

That support "speaks to something really fundamental in our relationship with our world and the irrevocable nature of extinction," Preso said.

It "has been extremely successful at preventing extinction and bringing a lot of these species back from the edge, Preso said. "Either they're back from the brink or their populations are more secure."

In addition to saving several species, the act has been a means of protecting a great amount of habitat," said Henderson, author of "Forces of Nature: A History of Florida Land Conservation."

Plater's work in helping to protect the tiny darter, a brown-banded fish about 3 inches long, saw it listed in 1975. A case he represented to stop a Tennessee Valley Authority dam to protect the fish was the first endangered species case to reach the U.S. Supreme Court. Then in 2019, Plater and Jim Williams, a former U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service biologist, petitioned the service to delist the fish in a move to stop it from being delisted without protections.

The snail darter is a lesson in the need for habitat protection and the complexities that occur with species protection, Plater said. The fish have recovered because they were transplanted into other ponds to ensure their recovery, but that work hasn't been "an unmitigated success."

How many species have been removed from the endangered or threatened species list?

At least 117.

 64 recovered to the point that they no longer qualified.

 32 were declared extinct, including the dusky seaside sparrow and the Bachman's warbler.

 21 were removed for other reasons that meant they no longer met the definition.

Which presidential administration listed the most species?

President Bill Clinton leads for the most species listed and the greatest number of species listed per year on average.

Despite his administration leading the charge, Nixon is at the bottom of the list, with only seven species added after the act was signed. He resigned just seven and a half months after signing the Act.

Total species listed by administration:

President Bill Clinton delivers his inaugural speech on Jan. 20, 1997. More than 500 species were added to the endangered and threatened species list during the Clinton administration.

 Bill Clinton: 501

 Barack Obama: 334

 Ronald Reagan: 256

 George H. W. Bush: 229

 Jimmy Carter: 116

 George W. Bush: 52

 Gerald Ford: 46

 Joe Biden: 42

 Donald Trump: 22

By political party, when Democrats have been in the White House, an average of 43 species were added to the list each year. When Republicans were in the White House, the average fell to 33 species a year.

Two populations of chinook salmon are listed as endangered and seven are listed as threatened under U.S. Endangered Species Act.

Which types of animals are most endangered or threatened?

Fish. At least 169 fish species found in the United States are listed as endangered or threatened.

These are the other animal groups represented, in descending order:

 Mammals: 95

 Insects: 93

 Birds: 91

 Clams: 89

 Snails: 52

 Reptiles: 46

 Amphibians: 43

 Crustaceans: 32

 Arachnids: 11

 Corals: 7

What's next for endangered species protection?

One in 5 plant and animal species in the nation remain at risk of extinction, Holmes said. Loss of habitat and climate change are absolutely some of the most important threats that we have.

We are at what I would say is a pivotal moment with the threats of climate change, she said. We have to act faster than ever in order to ensure that these species are going to thrive.

Wood storks have benefited from endangered species protection.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Endangered Species Act turns 50: Landmark law reaches key anniversary
Russia is believed to have lost about 300,000 soldiers during the war in Ukraine.

Some Ukrainian strikes have been particularly deadly for Russian soldiers, killing dozens at once.

Russia and Ukraine are both secretive about death tolls and their estimates usually widely differ.

The 22 months of war in Ukraine have been brutal and costly for both sides, particularly for invading Russian forces.

Russians typically outnumber Ukrainians on the battlefield by a ratio of almost three to one, The New York Times reported, but Ukraine has used weapons such as the US-supplied High Mobility Artillery Rocket System, or HIMARS, and Western cruise missiles to inflict high casualties on Russian troops.

Russia has never confirmed the numbers of its losses, but Western estimates suggest approximately 315,000 Russian troops have been killed or wounded in Ukraine. Ukrainian casualties are believed to be around 200,000.

Reports say Russia has been hemorrhaging men and weapons in its most significant attack against Ukraine in recent months: Its attempt to capture Avdiivka, a strategic town in eastern Ukraine and a gateway to Russia-occupied Ukraine.

Despite high Russian losses, the country's population is about three times the size of Ukraine's  a large pool from which Russia could keep replenishing its ranks.

These are believed to be some of the deadliest single moments for Russia in the conflict so far.

A strike on Kherson 14 miles behind the front line

Ukrainian soldiers fire at Russian positions from a US-supplied M777 howitzer in the Kherson oblast, Ukraine, in January. AP Photo/Libkos

Ukrainian forces likely took out more than 70 Russian soldiers in a strike on the village of Hladkivka in the Kherson oblast on November 10, the UK Ministry of Defence said.

The attack, which targeted a convoy of trucks, likely took place 14 miles behind the front lines, highlighting Ukraine's long-range precision-strike capabilities.

Russia's warship Novocherkassk  part of its Black Sea Fleet  was hit in a Ukrainian attack

The Russian landing ship Novocherkassk, seen here in 2015, was damaged in a Ukrainian airstrike, Russian officials confirmed. Reuters

On December 26, 2023, images of a massive explosion went viral on social media of the Russian navy's stricken landing ship Novocherkassk.

A Telegram channel, the independent Russian media outlet Astra, reported there were 77 sailors aboard the Novocherkassk at the time of the Ukrainian strike on a dock in Feodosia in annexed Crimea, and 33 were reported missing and 19 injured.

Reporters and open-source intelligence channels posted photos showing the burning wreckage of the docked ship, supporting Ukraine's claim that long-range missiles  probably the highly-rated British Storm Shadow cruise missiles  attacked the ship.

Some reports said the vessel may have been loaded with Iranian-made Shahed attack drones when it was hit.

Russians killed while training on Dzharylhach island

Footage uploaded by Ukraine of a HIMARS strike on a sandbar. Screenshot/National Resistance Center

Ukraine released a video that claimed to show Russian soldiers being struck by HIMARS as they trained at Dzharylhach island, a 26-mile-long sandbank in the Black Sea that's part of the Russian-occupied Kherson oblast.

Ukraine said that the attack caused 200 casualties. The number could not be independently verified.

The drone footage from August 2023 shows soldiers appearing to stretch and exercise on the Ukrainian island's sandy shores before being hit from above.

Strike during a commanders speech in Kreminna

A M142 HIMARS launches a rocket in the direction of Bakhmut on May 18 in Donetsk oblast, Ukraine. Photo by Serhii Mykhalchuk/Global Images Ukraine via Getty Images

Ukraine's HIMARS reportedly struck a large gathering of Russian soldiers in the city of Kreminna as they stood for two hours to watch a commander's speech in July 2023.

Some reports put the number of dead as high as 100 and total casualties as high as 200. The numbers could not be independently verified.

An unnamed Ukrainian official told the Kyiv Post that it was a "funny situation" because the Russian soldiers had made themselves sitting ducks.

The claim, which a Russian milbogger initially reported, led to Russian nationalists calling for military leaders to be punished.

New Years strike on Makiivka

The aftermath of the strike in Makiivka on January 3. REUTERS/Alexander Ermochenko

While Russian officials have largely not acknowledged losses, Russia's defense ministry made a rare announcement confirming the deaths of 89 troops in a strike in Makiivka, a small city in Ukraine's Donetsk oblast.

Ukrainian officials claimed that the casualties were much higher, with around 400 soldiers killed and 300 injured. The figures could not be independently verified.

Ukraine said it used HIMARS for the attack, and the Russian ministry said Ukraine fired six rockets, four of which struck their troops, the ISW reported.

The attack sparked widespread criticism of Russian military leadership, ISW reported. A senior Russian military official, Sergei Sevryukov, blamed the high number of casualties on soldiers' use of cell phones without providing evidence, The Guardian reported.

A Russian battalions failed crossing of the Siverskyi Donets River

A bridge across the Siverskyi Donets River lies broken, blown up by Ukrainian forces in spring 2022 to slow a Russian advance, on April 23. Scott Peterson/Getty Images

Ukrainian forces decimated a Russian battalion as it tried to cross the Siverskyi Donets River in northeastern Ukraine in May 2022.

Ukrainian artillery destroyed several Russian pontoon bridges, and estimates put the toll of dead or wounded Russians at around 485, according to the Institute for the Study of War, or ISW, based on analyses of publicly available imagery.

They estimated that over 80 pieces of equipment could have been destroyed.

Media reports said that Ukraine used M777 howitzers to strike the battalion.

Russian milbloggers responded to the incident with shock and began commenting on the incompetence of the Russian military, the ISW reported.

The sinking of the missile cruiser Moskva

The Russian missile cruiser Moskva in the Mediterranean Sea off the coast of Syria in 2015. MAX DELANY/AFP via Getty Images

Just two months into Russia's unprovoked invasion, Ukraine scored an early success by sinking the Russian warship Moskva, the flagship of the Russian Navy's Black Sea Fleet.

On April 14, 2022, Ukrainian officials said their forces had struck the ship with at least one Neptune missile, which the Pentagon confirmed.

Ukraine claimed that almost all 500 sailors on board had perished, while Russia said that nearly all had evacuated before the ship sank.

Later, Russia admitted under pressure that one sailor had died and that 27 were missing, but said the rest had been evacuated.

But several family members of Moskva sailors told the Russian newspaper Novaya Gazeta that at least 40 on board had died.

The true death toll is still unknown.

Read the original article on Business Insider
PANAMA CITY BEACH  A local woman is dead after a head-on vehicle crash in Georgia on Christmas.

According to a news release from the Cherokee County Sheriff's Office, 71-year-old Vickie Walker of Panama City Beach died following a vehicle crash on Cumming Highway near State 369. Cherokee County is north of Atlanta.

The incident occurred at about 1:45 p.m. on Christmas.

The release said Walker, who was driving a Lexus, was struck head-on by a Toyota Tacoma that crossed over the center line of Cumming Highway. The truck was driven by 17-year-old Peyton Clay of Cedartown.

Walker suffered serious injuries and was later pronounced dead at a hospital, while Clay suffered minor injuries.

Local crash: PCB woman, 79, killed in local traffic crash, FHP investigating

"The Cherokee Sheriff's Office Traffic Enforcement Unit is investigating the accident," the release said. "The cause of the accident is currently unknown."

More information on the incident will be released as it becomes available.

This article originally appeared on The News Herald: Christmas Day crash in north Georgia kills Panama City Beach woman
A burglary suspect was sent running for his life when a 76-year-old Florida homeowner heard his wifes screams and began shooting, according to investigators.

The intruder was wounded but survived to be arrested in the street by deputies, the Pinellas County Sheriffs Office reported in a news release.

The homeowner was not hurt, but his wife suffered non-life threatening injuries in the attack, officials said.

It happened around 3 a.m. Wednesday, Dec. 27, in North Redington Beach, a coastal community just west of St. Petersburg, the sheriffs office says.

The burglary happened around 3 a.m. Wednesday, Dec. 27, on Bath Club Boulevard North in North Redington Beach, the sheriffs office says.

Deputies were summoned to the residential neighborhood by reports of a man standing in the road and yelling.

While deputies were responding to the initial call, a second 911 call was received at 3:23 a.m. at 208 Bath Club Boulevard North, reporting a residential burglary, the sheriffs office said.

Upon arrival, deputies located (a man) in the roadway on Bath Club Boulevard with a single gunshot wound.

The wounded 51-year-old man also proved to be their burglary suspect, officials said.

He is accused of gaining entry in a home by smashing out a front window with a rock, detectives say.

Once inside the residence, (he) encountered (a 74-year-old woman) and began to struggle with her physically, the sheriffs office said.

(Her husband) heard her scream his name in distress and saw her struggling with (a man). Fearing for his and his wifes safety, (he) retrieved his firearm and shot (the man) once in the right shoulder.

The suspect fled the home, then tried to break into another residence on the street, officials said.

After the failed second burglary attempt, (he) fled down the street, where he was stopped by responding deputies, officials said.

The suspect was taken to a hospital for treatment of non-life-threatening injuries.

He is charged with burglary with battery and attempted residential burglary, the sheriffs office said.

Deputy kills man trying to burn possessed 9-year-old boy in fire, Florida cops say

After dogs owners died, neighbor bagged the pet and put it in trash, Florida cops say

Man shot girlfriend and her daughter as they fled condo during fight, Florida cops say
Sino-US student exchanges vital for ties

08:36, December 28, 2023 By May Zhou ( China Daily

Student exchanges between China and the United States go a long way in fostering bilateral relations and play a vital role, participants at an online discussion said.

At the event organized by the US Heartland China Association and the International Student Conferences, students and international education experts reviewed the history of US-China student exchanges and affirmed their positive impact.

One of the speakers was Wang Junlong, a Chinese student of international relations at the University of Southern California.

Wang underwent a four-month internship at the US Heartland China Association in the summer and helped run the forums for college students and pen pal projects for K-12 students in the US and China.

The pen pal program allows Chinese and US students to communicate online. "This offers them more flexibility to interact with each other. They write to each other on a weekly basis," Wang said. The students talk about their educational and cultural experiences, and share details of their daily life.

Wang said the idea was to reach out to the average students instead of focusing on just those who wanted to study abroad.

"We received overwhelmingly positive feedback from the teachers, students and parents," Wang said.

The Third Space program for college students gets Chinese and US students to engage in discussion to debunk stereotypes and build relationships. The exchanges are personal, such as sharing their most memorable childhood experiences and important cultural traditions that they practice.

Another program tries to get international students to become involved in local communities to foster civilian diplomacy.

Wang himself is a good example of civilian diplomacy. In 2021, he and some other USC students founded the Bridge Cultural Exchange Academy, the first student-run public diplomacy organization at the university. The organization's mission is to foster student diplomacy through accessible and affordable cultural exchange summits and programs.

The organization has so far hosted three online cultural exchange summits, engaging 200 students from 15 countries. It has established partnerships with 12 nonprofit organizations in the US and China.

The International Student Conferences launched the China-America Student Conference in 2020, a two-week program that brings Chinese and US students together to conduct research on a particular theme connected to US-China ties. Students from both countries can learn and understand each other's perspectives through the platform.

Vincent Lay, an executive member of the China-America Student Conference 2024 and a graduate student of industrial design at Arizona State University, said two weeks of being together allows intensive interaction among the participants.

Bahia Simons-Lane, executive director of the International Student Conferences, said such programs "go very far to change the way people think about others".

Yang Qianye, third secretary of education at the Chinese embassy in the US, said that student exchanges have been affected in recent years by political tensions between the two countries, and this could lead to damage in the long run.

"We cannot afford to have a generation growing up in isolation or having much mistrust and misunderstanding toward each other," she said.

Yang also pointed out that President Xi Jinping and US President Joe Biden had agreed to expand exchanges, including in the field of education, during a meeting in San Francisco last month.

"It is our historical responsibility to push forward a frontier of human knowledge and usher in a new era of prosperity. So in this endeavor, China and US educational exchanges will continue to play a vital role," she said.

At the event, she introduced the American Short-Term Study in China Initiative that the embassy offers.

"We hope we can help invite more American students to study in China," she said.

(Web editor: Tian Yi, Zhong Wenxing)
Police took a Portage Township man into custody Wednesday after he got into an altercation with Porter County court security officers over answering questions about where he was going in a county owned building with a cellphone, which isnt allowed in all of the building.

Mark Lagneau, 52, is charged with misdemeanor counts of disorderly conduct and resisting law enforcement, according to a report.

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Deputies with the Porter County Sheriffs Office were called shortly before 11 a.m. on Dec. 27 to 157 S. Franklin St., which houses child support, the prosecutors office, 911 dispatch and other county offices.

A court security officer told responding officers that Lagneau walked into the building and through security with his cellphone. The security officer asked Lagneau what his business was in the building and Lagneau told the officer it was none of his business.

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The security officer told Lagneau he couldnt have his cellphone in certain parts of the building and thats why he was asking what his business was. The security officer, according to the report, said Lagneau began getting agitated and told him it was a public building and he could do whatever he wanted.

A second security officer arrived and asked Lagneau the same questions and Lagneau said he didnt have to answer them. One of the security officers told Lagneau he needed to leave or they would arrest him, at which time he began yelling louder and causing a bigger scene.

Lagneau, still yelling, walked back through security and swung his arms toward a computer, knocking over court security property on a desk. The two security officers then went hands on to escort Lagneau out of the building, at which time he began fighting and resisting.

Officers were able to handcuff Lagneau and he calmed down before being transported to Porter County Jail.

Lagneau told arresting officers he told court security why he was in the building but they continued to question him, and that he didnt have to answer their questions due to his rights. Lagneau said he left when he was asked to but may have been yelling at them because he was upset.
New York City Mayor Eric Adams on Wednesday announced new restrictions on charter buses from Texas bringing migrants to the "sanctuary" city in an effort to curb the numbers of migrants that have hit the city since last year.

Adams announced an executive order requiring charter buses transporting migrants to provide 32 hours' notice in advance of their arrival in New York City. The order also requires buses to arrive between 8:30 a.m. and 12 p.m. between Monday and Friday. Such buses are also required to drop off at one particular spot.

If buses do not comply, it would result in a class B misdemeanor, with penalties including three months' imprisonment and up to a $500 fine for individuals and $2,000 for corporations. Buses could also be impounded by the NYPD.

TEXAS MIGRANT FLIGHT HEADING TO NEW YORK CITY DIVERTED TO PHILADELPHIA

New York City Mayor Eric Adams speaks at a town hall with a group of religious leaders behind him.

"To be clear, this is not stopping people from coming, but about ensuring the safety of migrants and making sure they can arrive in a coordinated and orderly way," he said.

New York City has seen more than 160,000 migrants arrive in the last year which, while just a fraction of the millions that have hit the border in that period, has left the city overwhelmed and out of resources.

READ ON THE FOX NEWS APP

Texas Gov. Greg Abbott began bussing migrants to New York City and other sanctuary jurisdictions last year. Abbotts office has said it has sent around 27,000 migrants to New York City since then and has done so to relieve pressure on besieged border communities.

In a separate statement, Adams made it clear that his order was targeting buses sent by Abbott.

TEXAS BEGINS FLYING MIGRANTS TO SANCTUARY CITIES WITH FIRST FLIGHT TO CHICAGO

Texas Gov. Greg Abbott looks on during a news conference in Austin, Texas, on March 15.

"New York City has begun to see another surge of migrants arriving, and we expect this to intensify over the coming days as a result of Texas Governor Abbotts cruel and inhumane politics," he said. "Just last week, 14 chartered buses with migrants arrived overnight from Texas, the highest recorded number in a single night, in addition to the hundreds of migrants who arrived that very same day via other modes of transportation."

TEXAS IMMIGRATION LAW PUSHBACK MARKS LATEST TENSION BETWEEN BIDEN ADMINISTRATION AND BORDER STATES OVER CRISIS

Gov. Abbotts office, which recently began flying migrants to Chicago and New York City in addition to the buses, accused the Democratic mayor of hypocrisy  and pledged to continue the transportation of migrants.

"The hypocrisy of Mayor Adams is astounding. Mayor Adams had touted New York City's self-declared sanctuary city status, then sent his own buses of migrants out to small towns in New York. Texas has only transported about 32,000 migrants to New York City, while President Biden has been flying planeloads of migrants all around the country and oftentimes in the cover of night," spokesperson Renae Eze said.

"With millions of residents, New York is only dealing with a fraction of what our small border communities deal with on a day-to-day basis," she said. "Until President Biden steps up and does his job to secure the border, Texas will continue busing migrants to sanctuary cities to help our local partners respond to this Biden-made crisis."

Meanwhile, the border itself continues to see record numbers. Fox News reported this week that during the four-day Christmas weekend, there were more than 35,000 migrant encounters, and since Dec. 1, there have been over 250,000 migrant encounters at the southern border  meaning December could break the monthly record for encounters set in September (269,735).

Fox News' Tamara Gitt and Griff Jenkins contributed to this report.





Original article source: Adams slaps restrictions on migrant buses coming to NYC from Texas as numbers rise
Airbus wants to bring its fleet of Beluga "Super Transporter" aircraft to the US cargo market.

The mammoth freighter was designed to carry oversized items  mostly parts for Airbus planes.

The jets are now contract freighters for cargo subsidiary Airbus Beluga Transport.

In 1994, Airbus built a mammoth aircraft called the Beluga "Super Transporter" to support the assembly of its line of commercial airplanes.

The beluga-shaped aircraft carried parts for the manufacturer's family of A320, A330, and A350 planes on behalf of its in-house subsidiary known as Airbus Transport International.

Aside from its main duties with ATI, the BelugaST also operated a handful of one-off cargo shipments for various companies.

This history prompted the founding of Airbus Beluga Transport, or AiBT, in 2022 as a new home for the BelugaST fleet as the planemaker replaced the original jet with the next-generation BelugaXL.

The startup has since received its own independent air operating certificate from French authorities and now has its eyes set on the US, aviation data website ch-aviation reported in mid-December.

Airbus did not immediately respond to Business Insider's request for comment.

Take a look at the old-generation BelugaST plane and how Airbus is planning to put its five-strong fleet's outsized cargo-carrying capabilities to use.

Airbus Beluga Transport officially received its air operating certificate in November.

Airbus' third BelugaST. Airbus

This allows Airbus to use the BelugaST for commercial cargo flights, meaning it no longer has to use ATI flight and ground crews for the operation  the reality before AiBT became an independent operator.

Flying under ATI, the BelugaST's flew six missions in its first year, per Airbus.

Planespotters data shows ATI has so far transferred three BelugaST aircraft to AiBT.

The BelugaST can use sustainable aviation fuel. Airbus

According data from to Planespotters, two out of the five planes are in service with AiBT, and a third is parked for maintenance.

Meanwhile, ATI has one BelugaST alongside its fleet of six BelugaXLs. The fifth BelugaST has been stored since 2021, per Planespotters.

Airbus has also secured an AOC from the Federal Aviation Administration to allow flights in the US.

Loading a BelugaST. Airbus

The certificate allows Airbus to operate the BelugaSTs between cities in the US and Europe, Aviacionline reported.

The jet had prior experience in this sector, having already completed a few contracts carrying large machinery during its days with ATI.

Loading a helicopter into a BelugaST. Airbus

According to Airbus, the first Beluga transport mission was in December 2021, when it carried a helicopter to Kobe, Japan. The helicopter did not have to be disassembled for transport.

AiBT, as a subsidiary company still using ATI resources, was officially established in June 2022.

According to Airbus, its cargo option is favorable for the BelugaST's fuel efficiency and versatility.

Loading the BelugaST in December 2021 for its mission to Kobe, Japan. Airbus

"We fly your outsized cargo in the shortest time possible while limiting risks of delays and damage and in a cost-efficient way," the planemaker touts on its website.

The company noted its experience flying oversized freight and the various sectors it can cover, like aerospace, gas, and military.

The plane may also fill the gap left behind after Russia destroyed the mammoth Antonov An-225 Mriya.

The damaged Antonov An-225 Mriya on April 2, 2022, months after Russia invaded Ukraine. Vadim Ghirda/AP Photos

The Ukrainian-made An-225 used to be the world's largest cargo plane.

Its sister aircraft, the An-124, could pick up the slack, but the jets are mostly owned by Russian carrier Volga-Dnepr, and the nation's airspace closures have limited its use, according to Aviacionline.

Equipped with two General Electric engines, the BelugaST can fly 2,500 nautical miles with up to 100,000 pounds of cargo.

A BelugaST loading an A380 tailcone in 2004. -/AFP via Getty Images

Initially, the aircraft would carry wings, tails, and fuselage parts to its various narrowbody and widebody assembly lines in Toulouse, France, and Hamburg, Germany.

The jet stretches 147 feet wingtip to wingtip, stands 56 feet high, and boasts a 24-foot diameter fuselage.

Airbus BelugaST. Airbus

The aircraft is based on the A300-600, which was Airbus' first production plane and the first twin-engine, dual-aisle airliner. The BelugaST is also referred to as the A300-600ST.

Its world-leading interior cross-section allows the BelugaST to carry outsized freight like full helicopters, satellites, and tanks.

The BelugaST nose loading on display at the 1998 Farnborough Airshow in England. aviation-images.com via Getty Images

"The Beluga's wider cross-section will open up new markets and new logistical possibilities  which would not be feasible with other current airborne transport means," Phillippe Sabo, head of transport at Airbus, said in January 2022 after the helicopter delivery to Japan.

The plane's giant payload is also helpful for quickly replacing engines on grounded aircraft.

Airbus BelugaST freight loading. Airbus

Sabo explained the BelugaST would negate the need to disassemble, re-assemble, and re-test the engine  the latter two tasks Sabo said take "around two days" to complete.

Since its transition to contract flying, Airbus has developed more efficient machinery for loading and unloading the BelugaST.

A BelugaST delivering an Airbus satellite to a customer in Florida in October 2022, marking its first trip to the US since 2009. Herve Gousse-Master Films/Airbus

Airbus describes the aircraft's loading, unloading, and delivery design "to be fast, safe, flexible, and reliable."

To improve its turn-around time, the first enhancement is an automated on-board cargo loader.

Airbus BelugaST OBCL test. Airbus

The OBCL, which can be stored inside the BelugaST and hold up to 20 tons of payload, is favorable "where a loading/unloading platform is not available at the origin or destination airport," according to Airbus.

Complementing the OBCL is the BelugaST's redesigned outbound platform that can handle "the heaviest and longest cargo."

Airbus BelugaST outound platform. H. Gousse/Airbus

Airbus said the transportable machine will be "strategically pre-positioned" at airports across the globe and be "easily transportable prior to a mission at short notice."

Meanwhile, a multi-purpose platform has been deployed to lift cargo five feet above the ground to load directly into the BelugaST's nose.

Airbus BelugaST MMP. H. Gousse/Airbus

Nose-loading is a unique capability exclusive to large aircraft like the BelugaST, the Boeing 747, the Antonov An-124, and the C-17 Globemaster.

Read the original article on Business Insider
ATMORE, Ala.  Alabama is poised to use nitrogen gas in a planned execution next month, the first state to attempt such a method, setting the stage for legal challenges as officials across the U.S. examine alternatives amid a shortage of lethal injection drugs.

But while Alabama is intent on using nitrogen hypoxia, in which a person breathes only nitrogen and dies from a lack of oxygen, some details of the protocol remain cloaked in mystery to the public.

Even the inmate who is set to die, Kenneth Eugene Smith, told NBC News this month that he is not privy to an unredacted state protocol describing how the procedure will work. His legal and medical representatives were permitted this month to tour the execution chamber and inspect a mask for breathing the nitrogen, but without Smith.

As goes Kenny, so goes the rest of my brothers, Smith said of the 163 other death row inmates in the state during a phone interview from the William C. Holman Correctional Facility in Atmore.

Adding to the novelty of his case, Smith, 58, is a rare example of a person surviving a failed execution attempt: A previous plan to put him to death by lethal injection in November 2022 was called off when prison staff was unable to find a suitable vein. This, in addition to mounting scrutiny over the use of the lethal injection in other inmates, set off a pause in executions in Alabama.

Its not a one size fits all, Smith said.

Smith was convicted for his role in the 1988 murder-for-hire slaying of a preachers wife, Elizabeth Sennett, in Alabamas Colbert County. Her family said they are putting their faith in officials to complete the execution  scheduled for Jan. 25  following decades of legal-related delays, but stopped short of saying they trust the state to carry out Smiths sentence after the failed attempt last year.

I mean, you cant really test it on nobody, but I just hope they get it right this time, Elizabeth Sennetts son, Michael Sennett, said.

Lethal injection remains the primary method of executions in Alabama, but the state, which approved the use of nitrogen in 2018, wants to employ it in Smiths case. When Smiths execution failed last year, the state agreed they would not try to execute him again via lethal injection.

With so many lingering questions and the states dubious track record, death penalty experts and critics say the decision to try an untested method doesnt instill public confidence.

Oklahoma and Mississippi have also approved the use of nitrogen hypoxia, but neither have tried it.

Its a slapdash thing, Deborah Denno, a professor at Fordham Law School who studies the death penalty, said, adding that the states are so desperate to keep executing people that they come up with a method and say, this is foolproof, and then provide so few details.

What the state protocol says  and doesnt say

The public got a first glimpse of how an execution by nitrogen hypoxia could work when a protocol produced by the Alabama Department of Corrections was included in a court filing in August.

The inmate will be placed on a gurney in the execution chamber and given a pulse oximeter, which measures oxygen levels in the blood, the document says. A mask  described by officials in an affidavit as used for industrial purposes  will be tested to ensure breathing air is being supplied before it is strapped onto the inmates face.

A spiritual adviser will be permitted to enter the chamber and interact with the inmate as part of a previously approved plan. (The spiritual adviser will remain in the chamber until the execution is complete.)

Then, curtains to the chamber will be drawn so the execution can be viewed by witnesses. The inmate will be allowed to make a final statement, and if no stay of execution is granted, the mask will be inspected a final time and the warden will activate the nitrogen hypoxia system, according to the document.

Nitrogen gas would be administered into the mask for either 15 minutes or five minutes following a flatline indication on the EKG, whichever is longer, the document says.

But the outline of the procedure also includes heavily redacted passages related to how the oxygen-monitoring equipment is calibrated, how the nitrogen hypoxia system is operated, including various safety requirements, and the shutdown of the system.

Other details, including who is supplying the nitrogen gas and the mask, how the gas is generally being stored and what safety training the prison staff has undergone, remains unclear.

All the parts we would need to know most about are redacted, said Denno, the Fordham professor. Where are they getting the gas? Thats very important. Even if you dont want to mention the manufacturer, you want to know, as we do with our lethal injection drugs: Is the gas coming from a legitimate source? Is it being delivered to the Department of Corrections or is it being made somewhere?

The Alabama attorney general's office did not immediately respond to a request for comment regarding further details about the nitrogen gas method. A source familiar with Attorney General Steve Marshall's thinking said he is "determined" to see Smith's execution through, telling NBC News that he has been pushing for the development of the nitrogen protocol during his time in office, describing it as a "non-negotiable" before his term ends in January 2027.

"This new method may prove to be more efficient for the government's use and has the tangential benefit of being painless," said the source, referring to challenges with lethal injection. "Mrs. Sennett's death, of course, was not."

In a prior statement, Marshall said that it is necessary for the execution of Smith to move forward.

"Though the wait has been far too long, I am grateful that our talented capital litigators have nearly gotten this case to the finish line," Marshall said.

How does nitrogen hypoxia kill?

Nitrogen is a naturally occurring odorless and colorless gas; it is abundant  found in the earths atmosphere and the soil  and it can be used to rapidly freeze food in its liquid form.

But if not mixed with an appropriate amount of oxygen, breathing it in can lead to adverse physiological effects, such as abnormal fatigue, impaired respiration, vomiting and even death.

Joel Zivot, a practicing physician in anesthesiology and intensive care medicine at Emory University in Atlanta, said he would like to know how Alabama prison officials plan to deliver pure nitrogen without allowing oxygen to mix with it.

If nitrogen is mixed with any amount of oxygen, any amount of air, then it will take longer for the nitrogen to cause death, or it may never cause death, said Zivot, adding that if the process is prolonged, youre talking about basically death by slow asphyxiation, which the body will interpret as profoundly uncomfortable and frightening.

There is no room for error, he said.

An unintended nitrogen leak can also have disastrous consequences, Zivot warned.

The thing about lethal injection is that once the catheter is in and the medication is being injected, there really should be no risk to anybody, any observer or anybody in the room because the chemicals dont leave the body of the prisoner and touch anyone else, he said. But of course, gas will go wherever it wants to go, wherever there are places for it to go.

A U.S. Chemical Safety Board report that reviewed dozens of cases of nitrogen asphyxiation between 1992 and 2002 found 80 deaths, with the majority of incidents occurring in manufacturing and industrial settings. The board said causes of death included a failure to detect the lack of enough oxygen in a confined space and a mistaken use of nitrogen gas instead of breathing air.

In 2021, six workers died of nitrogen asphyxiation from a liquid nitrogen leak at a chicken processing plant in Georgia.

At a hearing this month, Smiths legal team argued before a federal judge that the use of nitrogen hypoxia would violate the constitutional ban on cruel and unusual punishment. An anesthesiologist testifying on behalf of Smith said he could vomit with a risk that he chokes, experience the sensation of feeling suffocated or potentially be left in a vegetative state.

State prosecutors called those possibilities speculative and said they believe it's possible for nitrogen to be used humanely.

The American Veterinary Medical Association has affirmed nitrogen hypoxia for euthanizing only certain animals, such as chickens and turkeys, and recommends giving larger animals a sedative. Understanding how human bodies react to nitrogen hypoxia is limited because it is not something medical professionals can legitimately study as it relates to executions; its unclear if Alabamas protocol recommends the use of a sedative.

The American Medical Association cannot ask physicians to violate professional ethics by imparting medical knowledge that can aid or contribute to the ability of others to carry out methods of capital punishment, a spokesperson said.

Could the execution be delayed?

U.S. District Judge R. Austin Huffaker Jr. did not indicate when he may rule on Smiths case, but in a court order last week suggested that Alabama make at least one compromise by allowing his last rites be given before the mask is secured.

Smiths spiritual adviser, the Rev. Jeff Hood, filed a lawsuit this month claiming the state is violating his religious liberties by requiring him to be no closer than 3 feet to Smith in the execution chamber.

Hood, an opponent of the death penalty, said Alabama has since agreed to allow him to be with Smith before his mask is affixed and that he can touch Smith during the execution. He still has questions about his safety.

If a nitrogen leak were to happen in the execution chamber, who will be there? Hood asked during a news conference after filing his complaint. What is the emergency procedure if I collapse?

The Alabama Department of Corrections declined to comment on pending litigation.

Smith was 22 when pastor Charles Sennett hired him and two others for $1,000 each to kill his wife so he could collect on her life insurance, prosecutors said. Elizabeth Sennett, 45, was stabbed and beaten to death in her home.

If I could turn back the hand of time Id absolutely do it, Smith said this month. Theres been many lives lost already from this case, and this is going to make more victims.

Sennetts family disagrees.

It doesnt matter to me how he goes out, so long as he goes, Michael Sennett said.

Smith said he hopes that any delay in his execution will be long enough for the state Legislature to pass a bill that would benefit him. A judge sentenced Smith to death in 1996, despite a jury voting 11-1 that he receive life in prison.

A bill that would require a unanimous jury to impose the death penalty, and would apply retroactively to cases such as Smiths, did not advance this year but is expected to be reintroduced when the next session begins in February.

Smith has unanswered questions about the nitrogen hypoxia protocol, but said he only spirals into depression and anxiety when he thinks about the failed execution last year and what awaits him in the coming month.

The fact that theyve got me lined up to be the first with gas is really terrifying, he said. Yeah, its surreal to be in this position.

Abigail Brooks reported from Atmore and Erik Ortiz from New York.

This article was originally published on NBCNews.com
A host of Russian celebrities who turned up scantily clad at an almost naked themed party in Moscow are facing fierce backlash at a time when the country is at war in Ukraine and the authorities are pushing an increasingly conservative agenda.

The party, hosted by blogger Anastasia Ivleeva on December 20-21 at the Mutabor club in the capital, drew criticism from Orthodox Church officials and pro-war activists, as well as pro-Kremlin lawmakers.

One of the attendees, rapper Vacio (Nikolay Vasilyev), who showed up wearing a sock to cover his genitals, has been sentenced to 15 days in jail and fined 200,000 rubles (roughly $2,200) after a Moscow court ruled the event was aimed at propagating non-traditional sexual relationships.

Vasilyev was found guilty of offenses including petty hooliganism.

Nikolay Vasilyev (better known as rapper Vacio) participated in a party at the Mutabor nightclub, disrupted public order, used vulgar language, and disseminated publications in Telegram channels aimed at promoting non-traditional sexual relationships in mass media on the internet, the court ruling said.

In recent years, the Kremlin has expanded a raft of anti-LGBTQ laws, a conservative shift that has intensified following the invasion of Ukraine. Last month, Russias Supreme Court declared the international LGBTQ movement an extremist organization.

The backlash against the party in Moscow comes as Russian President Vladimir Putin is increasingly focused on traditional values as opposed to what he has portrayed as the decadence and immorality of the West as he seeks reelection in March 2024.

Apologies issued amid angry reaction

Vasilyev is among those who attended the party to issue a public apology.

Organizer Ivleeva initially said the partygoers dress choices were their own, and claimed the event was a chance to showcase photos made during her tenure as the chief editor of the Russian edition of Playboy.

On Wednesday, Ivleeva released a new video lasting over 21 minutes where she tearfully apologized, seeking forgiveness and a second chance, or public condemnation.

A lawsuit seeking compensation of 1 billion rubles ($11 million) for moral damages was filed on Tuesday against Ivleeva for organizing the party, state news agency RIA Novosti reported.

One of the other attendees, pop star Anna Asti, had a New Years event at another club in Moscow cancelled, the venue said on its website.

Dear friends, due to reasons beyond our control, the performance of Anna Asti has been rescheduled to a new date, which we will announce soon, the message said.

Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov declined to comment on Wednesday, stating: Regarding this party, I ask for your mercy: lets stay the only ones in the country not discussing this topic.

An outspoken pro-war activist and Head of the Safe Internet League, Ekaterina Mizulina, thanked Russian police on Wednesday for their response, and shared Telegram screenshots of messages allegedly from concerned and outraged citizens.

How do I explain to my nephew, who, while participating in a special operation, lost both legs and became disabled, what he fought for, and why he ended up disabled, for Ivleevas underwear? one of the messages read, referring to the official Russian euphemism for its invasion of Ukraine.

To host such events at a time when our young people are perishing in the military operations and many children are losing their fathers is cynical, said Mizulina in her own post. Our fighters on the front lines are certainly not fighting for this.

Meanwhile, Vitaly Borodin, head of the Federal Project for Security and Anti-Corruption, expressed outrage, calling the event sodomy, obscurantism, and LGBT propaganda, urging the Minister of Internal Affairs to send police to the Mutabor nightclub.

For more CNN news and newsletters create an account at CNN.com
The AMC movie theater chain has apologized to North Carolina civil rights leader Rev. William Barber II after he was not allowed to use his own chair at a screening of The Color Purple.

Barber, the former chair of the North Carolina NAACP, suffers from ankylosing spondylitis, a type of arthritis that requires him to use a cane and prevents him from sitting in low-bottomed seats.

Barber, who attended the Tuesday screening in Greenville with his 90-year-old mother, was told he could not place his own chair in the section of the theater reserved for disabled customers. Theater management called the Greenville Police, who said that Barber left voluntarily after they arrived and spoke with him.

He told local station WNCT that there was no signage indicating the chair would not be allowed, and that he has brought his own chair to numerous other venues without incident.

[W]hether Im on Broadway, the White House, the State House, United States Congress, they always let me bring this chair. Never been a problem. In fact, other movie theaters, never been a problem, he said.

We sincerely apologize to Bishop Barber for how he was treated, and for the frustration and inconvenience brought to him, his family, and his guests, Ryan Noonan, AMC vice president of corporate communications, said in a statement to WNCT. AMCs Chairman and CEO Adam Aron has already telephoned him, and plans to meet with him in person in Greenville, NC, next week to discuss both this situation and the good works Bishop Barber is engaged in throughout the years.

Noonan added that the company is reviewing its disability accommodations policies with individual theater staffs to prevent similar incidents going forward.

Barber told Religion News Services that the incident was unbecoming of a modern, developed nation, particularly one with laws including the Americans with Disabilities Act.

This is not the ancient world, where people who are sick are pushed to the side and told, You cant participate, he said. With our laws, you have to make the accommodation.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill.
A North Carolina movie theater is apologizing after removing Bishop William J. Barber II, a prominent social justice activist, from its venue on Tuesday.

Barber and his 90-year-old mother went to the AMC Fire Tower 12 theater in Greenville, North Carolina to see The Color Purple, ABC 11 reported.

Barber, who previously served as chair of the North Carolina NAACP, uses two canes to walk. He also struggles to sit in certain chairs because he has a type of arthritis that causes inflammation in his joints and spine.

As he usually does when he goes to public events, Barber took his own chair to the theater. The chair looks like a bar stool with back support. When he went to see The Color Purple on Tuesday, Barber set up his chair in the designated area for people who have disabilities. However, the North Carolina man said an employee told him that he could not set up his chair in the theater.

Police arrived after they were told that a customer was arguing with employees, and they wished to have them removed from the business. Barber then agreed to leave the theater voluntarily, according to police.

The social justice advocate didnt face any charges, but he expressed his disappointment in a statement.

This is about how people with disabilities regardless of race, color, creed or sexual orientation should be treated fairly, he said, according to ABC 11. With all the issues and real battles going on in the world, for managers of a theater to decide they cant accommodate you and would rather remove you from a theater is absurd, which is why I prayed for them.

AMC then responded with an apology letter.

We sincerely apologize to Bishop Barber for how he was treated, and for the frustration and inconvenience brought to him, his family, and his guests, the letter began.

According to the statement, AMC Chairman and CEO Adam Aron already spoke with Barber on the phone. Aron also plans to meet with Barber to talk more about the situation.

We have a number of accommodations in place at our theaters at all times, and our theater teams work hard to accommodate guests who have needs that fall outside of the normal course of business, AMCs statement continued. We encourage guests who require special seating to speak with a manager in advance to see what can best be accommodated at the theater to ensure a safe and enjoyable experience for the guest and those around them.
President Biden has not mentioned life expectancy in his remarks, according to a review of public statements. (Demetrius Freeman/The Washington Post)

President Biden has not mentioned life expectancy in his remarks, according to a review of public statements. (Demetrius Freeman/The Washington Post)

The commissioner of the Food and Drug Administration had an urgent message last winter for his colleagues, brandishing data that life expectancy in the United States had fallen again - the biggest two-year decline in a century.

Robert Califf's warning, summarized by three people with knowledge of the conversations, boiled down to this:

Subscribe to The Post Most newsletter for the most important and interesting stories from The Washington Post.

Americans' life expectancy is going the wrong way. We're the top health officials in the country. If we don't fix this, who will?

A year after Califf's dire warnings, Americans' life expectancy decline remains a pressing public health problem - but not a political priority.

President Biden has not mentioned it in his remarks, according to a review of public statements; his Republican challengers have scarcely invoked it, either. In a survey of all 100 sitting senators, fewer than half acknowledged it was a public health problem. While recent federal data suggests that life expectancy ticked up in 2022, a partial rebound from the ravages of the coronavirus pandemic, no national strategy exists to reverse a years-long slide that has left the United States trailing peers, such as Canada and Germany, and rivals, such as China.

"I wish that life expectancy or health span were a fundamental political issue in the 2024 presidential campaign," said Dave A. Chokshi, a physician and public health professor who formerly served as health commissioner of New York. "We're not living the healthiest lives that we possibly could."

The Washington Post spoke with more than 100 public health experts, lawmakers and senior health officials, including 29 across the past three presidential administrations, who described the challenges of attempting to turn around the nation's declining life expectancy. Those challenges include siloed operations that make it hard for public and private-sector officials to coordinate their efforts, a health-care payment system that does not reward preventive care and White House turnover that can interrupt national strategies.

Many suggested the nation needed an effort that would transcend political administrations and inspire decades of commitment, with some comparing the goal of improving life expectancy to the United States' original moonshot.

"We're no longer an America that talks about building a national highway system or sending a man to the moon, and yet it's that kind of reach and ambition that we need to have to tackle the declining longevity problem," said Sen. Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.).

Experts, officials and lawmakers acknowledged that a political pledge to reverse the nation's life expectancy slide could quickly backfire, given the need to focus on long-term goals that might not be reflected in short-term progress reports. A politician attempting to improve life expectancy could be out of office by the time improvements were detected.

"Politicians, in general, haven't wanted to engage on this because it feels kind of squishy and the solutions don't seem clear," said Ashish Jha, the dean of Brown University's public health school who this year stepped down as the White House's coordinator of the national covid response.

In an interview, Califf confirmed he'd urged colleagues in "so many" meetings to take action on America's eroding life expectancy.

The trend is "quite alarming," the FDA commissioner said, sitting in his office in White Oak, Md., where he oversees the nearly $7 billion agency that regulates drugs, food and other common products used by Americans. "All of the leaders within the [Department of Health and Human Services] I've talked with about this."

White House officials said the president and his team were focused on combating the "drivers" of life expectancy declines, pointing to efforts to reduce drug overdoses, create an office to prevent gun violence and other initiatives. A senior health official in the Biden administration said pledging to improve life expectancy itself "would have to be viewed as something for a legacy."

"Maybe a second-term priority for Biden," said the official, who spoke on the condition of anonymity to speak frankly about internal White House operations.

No single reason explains why America's life expectancy has declined, with chronic disease, poor nutrition, insufficient access to care and political decisions all linked to premature deaths. There also is no single strategy to turn it around - and no agreement on how to do it. Some public health leaders and policymakers have called for sweeping reforms to how the health-care system operates, while others home in on discrete factors such as lethal drug overdoses, which have spiked in recent years and received considerable attention but are not solely responsible for the decline in life expectancy.

The paralysis over how to address the nation's declining life expectancy extends to Congress, where a handful of lawmakers - mostly Democrats - have repeatedly portrayed the slide as a crisis, but most other lawmakers have said little or nothing.

"We don't talk about life expectancy, because it just makes it clear what kind of failed system we currently have," said Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.), who has repeatedly warned about the rise in premature deaths, including organizing a July 2021 Senate hearing on the issue. Just 11 of the panel's 18 senators attended, several only briefly; just five asked questions.

"I talk to other senators about life expectancy data and watch their eyes glaze over," Warren said.

The Post submitted questions about life expectancy to all 100 sitting senators, sending emails, placing calls and making visits to their offices. Forty-eight senators - including 35 Democrats, 11 Republicans and two Independents - said they agreed that declining life expectancy was a problem. Many of those lawmakers pointed to their own legislation intended to combat opioid misuse and address conditions such as cancer and other factors linked to causes of premature death. All told, the 48 senators cited more than 130 separate bills focused on health-care issues.

Despite the flurry of legislation, the nation's progress on life expectancy has stalled, with the United States increasingly falling behind other nations well before the pandemic. No senator has crafted a bill specifically intended to improve life expectancy or create goals for health leaders to reach.

Lawmakers have also worked at cross purposes, with Republicans fighting Democrats' efforts to enact legislation linked to gains in life expectancy, including efforts to expand access to health coverage and curb access to guns. Sen. John Neely Kennedy (R-La.), whose state had the third-worst life expectancy in 2020, about 73 years, recently suggested that life expectancy would even go up for young Americans.

"I mean, the life expectancy of the average American right now is about 77 years old. For people who are in their 20s, their life expectancy will probably be 85 to 90," Kennedy said on "Fox News Sunday" in March. His office did not respond to requests for comment.

Other Republican senators or their staff suggested they did not have a view on the issue because the senator did not sit on a relevant committee.

Sen. Jerry Moran (R-Kan.) has "no jurisdiction over this issue," his office wrote in response to questions about whether Moran had views on declining life expectancy. Moran, who sits on the Senate panel that determines funding for health agencies, has cast votes on numerous health-care matters, including repeatedly voting to repeal the Affordable Care Act.

In the absence of national solutions, some officials pointed to local efforts such as a new initiative in New York, which has repeatedly pioneered public health improvements later copied across the country. City leaders in November pledged to raise New Yorkers' life expectancy to a record 83 years, saying a coordinated approach could prevent premature deaths. Ashwin Vasan, the city's health commissioner, testified in front of the city council, urging members to pass a law requiring the city's health commissioner - including his successors - to work toward shared public health goals.

"This is a test for government. And I really am hopeful that New York City can pass that test," Vasan said after his testimony, standing outside New York's city hall.

- - -

'Further and further behind'

Life expectancy in the United States was once a source of national pride - a reflection of civic improvements, medical advances and other investments that set the nation apart from other countries.

"The future of human longevity, especially for Americans, seems bright indeed," then-Sen. Larry Craig (R-Idaho) proclaimed at a 2003 congressional hearing, where expert witnesses listed scientific and technological breakthroughs that they expected would soon push U.S. life expectancy past 80 years.

But even the most optimistic expert at the panel warned that America's prospects could dim. James Vaupel, director of the Max Planck Institute for Demographic Research, urged federal officials to immediately prioritize a "real mystery": the emerging international gap in life expectancy.

"The United States is doing so well on so many fronts, but it's falling further and further behind on this critically important [measure], life itself," Vaupel warned the Senate panel, imploring officials to "really start worrying about this."

It would take about a decade before Vaupel's warning was heeded. Policymakers instead were focused on a more urgent political priority related to life expectancy: the growing cost of having so many older Americans seeking services through programs such as Medicare and Social Security.

So when the Obama administration and congressional Democrats hammered out legislation that would become the Affordable Care Act - the sweeping 2010 law that expanded health coverage to millions of Americans and made other changes to the health system - there was little fear life expectancy would decline.

Bob Kocher, a venture capitalist who worked in the Obama White House as a health-care and economic aide, said one reason the crafters of the Affordable Care Act were so intent on "bending the curve" on health spending "was our belief that life expectancy was going to keep going up for the foreseeable future."

By 2013, public health experts had begun issuing more prominent warnings about life expectancy, pointing to the rising number of opioid overdoses, suicides and other preventable deaths. Senior officials across the Obama, Trump and Biden administrations said they were aware of those concerns but that their focus was on improving discrete factors linked to life expectancy, not on the overall number.

"Every meeting at the VA was about 'life expectancy,' but I can't tell you we put charts on the wall of 'what's the life expectancy of a veteran,'" said Robert A. McDonald, secretary of veterans affairs under President Barack Obama.

The nation's current top health official, Health and Human Services Secretary Xavier Becerra, told The Post he's acutely aware of the life expectancy decline, calling it the "byproduct of some very serious problems" such as gun violence and drug overdoses. But he downplayed the need for a national strategy, saying there was no reason to declare a public health emergency as he has done with the coronavirus and opioid deaths, adding his agency lacked the power to reverse the trend.

"We are so disjointed as a health system in the country," Becerra said, suggesting that the responsibility to address life expectancy fell on "many of us," including state health directors.

While Biden hasn't directly addressed declining life expectancy, some of his rivals have invoked it on the campaign trail.

"We used to think that life expectancy was just going to keep going up, and that's just not been the case," Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis (R) said in a CNBC interview in August, linking the decline to the pandemic, drug overdoses and other causes that began years ago. The DeSantis campaign did not respond to a request for comment about how the Florida governor would reverse the trend if elected president.

"If we had regulatory agencies that were actually interested in looking at data, we would be trying to figure out why the all-cause mortality [for Americans] has increased," Robert F. Kennedy Jr., running as an independent in the 2024 campaign, said in an interview with The Post this summer. "These aren't covid deaths."

Political commentator Matthew Yglesias has repeatedly urged politicians to focus on life expectancy, saying that America's decline reveals systemic problems that leave the country at risk. "Tackling America's weirdly short life expectancy should be a priority," Yglesias wrote in one 2022 post.

Although Yglesias has fans within the Biden administration who have sought his counsel after he has written about traffic safety and crime, his appeals on life expectancy haven't led to similar invitations.

"I think it winds up being a harder topic for politicians to get their heads around," he said, noting the array of factors that span agencies and administrations.

Califf said he's keenly aware of his agency's limits when confronting life expectancy.

FDA is one of the nation's most powerful regulatory bodies - its staff often tout that they oversee about 20 cents of every dollar spent by U.S. consumers - and Califf is pursuing initiatives, such as banning menthol cigarettes and improving access to generic drugs, that fall in his agency's purview. But FDA can't control how hospitals and doctors get paid. It can't craft legislation, such as curbing access to firearms.

"The highest cause of death in children is guns. That's a fact," Califf said. "That's not something FDA can do something about."

- - -

'It's a hard sell'

In Congress, a handful of members have insisted that lawmakers must focus on life expectancy, saying it's a core responsibility.

"Sometimes, we may, in the midst of our work, lose sight of the big picture . . . to create a nation in which the people in the United States can live long, healthy, happy and productive life," Sanders said at the 2021 Senate hearing he convened on lagging life expectancy.

There is a notable partisan split in how members of Congress view life expectancy and whether they say urgent action is needed. Just 11 of the Senate's 49 Republicans told The Post they believed that declining life expectancy was a public health problem.

The lawmakers who portray the recent decline as a crisis are often Democrats from states with the highest life expectancy - such as Massachusetts (79 years in 2020, according to federal data) and Vermont (78.8 years). Meanwhile, GOP lawmakers representing some of the states with the lowest life expectancy - Mississippi (71.9 years), West Virginia (72.8 years) and Kentucky (73.5 years) - declined to comment or did not respond to repeated questions about whether the issue represents a public health problem.

"It's a hard sell with senators who live in some of the lowest longevity states. And it breaks my heart," Warren said.

A further complication: Senators concerned about declining life expectancy offer radically different prescriptions for fixing it.

Alabama Sen. Tommy Tuberville - one of the few Republicans whose office said he was "deeply concerned about this trend" - linked America's decline to drug overdoses, suicides and alcoholism.

"The facts show clearly that this is being driven largely by an increase in deaths of despair, with fentanyl overdoses being the leading cause of death for Americans 18 to 45," Tuberville spokesman Steven Stafford said in a statement, pointing to legislation to improve mental health funding and secure the Southern border.

In comparison, Sanders has repeatedly called for sweeping reforms, insisting in an interview that "a failed health-care system is tied into a corrupt political system dominated by enormously powerful corporate interests."

Even Democrats in neighboring states offered significantly different diagnoses. In the eyes of Rhode Island Sen. Sheldon Whitehouse (D), the No. 1 cause of America's life expectancy problem is clear: broken payment incentives for doctors and hospitals.

But Sen. Chris Murphy (D-Conn.) traced the life expectancy decline to loneliness.

"Americans are just much less physically and spiritually healthy than they have been in a long time," said Murphy, who has proposed a bill to create a White House office of social connection.

Ten senators singled out the burden of chronic disease, echoing The Post's own review, which found that among people younger than 65, chronic illness erases more than twice as many years of life as all the overdoses, homicides, suicides and car accidents combined.

- - -

New York's state of mind

In New York, officials are trying to put a framework around those often abstract challenges. Vasan urged the City Council in November to support HealthyNYC, his agency's initiative backed by Mayor Eric Adams (D) that seeks to avert about 7,300 premature deaths by 2030.

"We want New Yorkers to experience more birthdays, weddings and graduations, more holidays and holy days, more life lived," Vasan told the lawmakers, citing targets for reducing chronic diseases, cancers and other drivers of premature death. Council members are considering legislation to ensure that future leaders stick to the commitments - a suddenly urgent need with Adams embroiled in a fundraising scandal.

"We wanted this to be something that outlives us, that actually helps people," said Lynn Schulman, chair of the City Council's health committee.

Vasan and Schulman said HealthyNYC can be a template for other cities - the latest effort in New York's long history of trying to tackle life expectancy. Under former mayor Mike Bloomberg, the city raised cigarette taxes, banned smoking in workplaces and attempted to limit sale of large sugary drinks. When Bloomberg left office in 2013, New Yorkers' projected life expectancy was 81.1 years - more than two years longer than the national average - compared with 77.9 years when he took office in 2001.

"If you want to live longer, you could move to New York - or just vote for me," Bloomberg said in a speech to Democratic voters during his short-lived 2020 presidential campaign. (Public health experts have cautioned that it may take decades to fully understand the link between Bloomberg's initiatives and longer life expectancy.)

But Bloomberg's efforts provoked backlash from food-makers, industry groups and some elected officials. Even as New York took steps a decade ago to limit salt and soda consumption, GOP lawmakers in other states crafted legislation to prevent their own local leaders from taking similar steps.

The Bloomberg legacy "is not a torch anyone has really wanted to carry," said Yglesias, warning that the former mayor's public heath agenda would be politically difficult to replicate elsewhere. "Conservatives really don't like it. . . . I think it's fallen out of style on the left as well."

Sanders, who has spent years pushing for sweeping changes to America's health system and economy, said Washington's work to boost life expectancy could begin with a simple framing device.

"The administration, the Congress should have upon their wall, a chart which says . . . 'What's our life expectancy now [and] how do we get up to the rest of the world?'" Sanders said. He pointed to Norway's life expectancy of more than 83 years. "That should be our goal."

- - -

Dan Keating contributed to this report.

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Shuke and Beita, two iconic mice heroes created by China's "King of Fairy Tales," Zheng Yuanjie, are appearing in their first film, "Shuke and Beita: Pentagon-shaped Flying Saucer," released in theaters on Dec. 30.

Writer Zheng Yuanjie, his granddaughter Zheng Zai, who contributes her voice to the film, and Zheng Yaqi, the film's director, speak with the audience at the premiere of "Shuke and Beita: Pentagon-shaped Flying Saucer," in Beijing, Dec. 23, 2023. [Photo courtesy of Today Pictures]

Zheng Yaqi is the film's director and also the son of writer Zheng. He still remembers helping his father add the page numbers to the manuscript of "The Adventures of Shuke and Beita" when he was very young. He was curious and asked his father what he was writing. Zheng Yuanjie then shared the story with him.

"I felt at that time, this is an amazing story," Zheng Yaqi told China.org.cn. "But my father's works have always had a great charm. As someone put it, children will laugh and adults will cry over his stories. The same is true for 'The Adventures of Shuke and Beita.' I directed five seasons of the animated series, and during the making of the series and the film, I constantly went back to read the original book. Every time I read it, I find inspiration and something different."

But Zheng Yuanjie has not always been in favor of his stories being adapted. In the 1990s, he publicly stated that he didn't want anyone to adapt, change, or, in his own words, "dismember" his works. Interestingly, this came after a successful 13-episode animated series adaptation in 1989 produced by Shanghai Animation Film Studio, which has become a much-cherished classic. In fact, decades later when Zheng Yuanjie first learned that his son was interested in creating a new TV series based on the characters, he was upset.

"My father has no interest in comic books or cartoons, but he let me see these things from all over the world since I was a child. Sometimes I felt that his works were as good as, or even better than what I saw. So, why don't we adapt them?" Zheng Yaqi recalled. However, when looking for a suitable director for the first "Shuke and Beita" series, and after discussions with some foreign animators, Zheng Yaqi decided to take on the task himself.

Zheng Yaqi, 40, is a self-taught director who also runs the company that oversees his father's extensive catalog consisting of more than 700 stories. Before establishing the company in 2012 to promote his father's book sales and develop various commercial ventures such as film, TV, stage plays, digital publications, audio books and merchandise, his upbringing was rather unconventional. When Zheng Yaqi completed primary school, his father made the decision to homeschool him instead of sending him to middle school or university, even writing a 200,000-word textbook for him.

"I'm very adept at teaching myself," the director said. "My father has always believed that a good education is one that allows a child to find joy in the learning process. I find immense happiness in learning things and acquiring skills on my own, and I have an insatiable desire to explore the unknown realms of the world."

Another advantage of directing the film himself, he said with a smile, is the money it saves the company. The results have been incredibly rewarding, with the TV series reboot receiving a high score of 8.4/10 on popular review site Douban, as well as numerous awards and 4.5 billion online views. This gave confidence to both Zheng Yaqi and Zheng Yuanjie.

A poster for "Shuke and Beita: Pentagon-shaped Flying Saucer." [Image courtesy of Maoyan Entertainment]

"Eventually, I felt that I can now accept the adaptations. These films and TV series will directly impact children and it is good for my work to have a wider influence and reach," 68-year-old Zheng Yuanjie said. He added that he wrote the story of Shuke the mouse in 1982, followed by Beita in early 1983. "The duo meet each other in a story I wrote on Dec. 30, 1983. It's been 40 years since then, so the film's release date this year coincides with their 40th anniversary. I have watched the film, and I'm really happy with it."

The novel "The Adventures of Shuke and Beita," which consists of 366 chapters, is the longest work by Zheng Yuanjie. The new film focuses on the part of the original story when Shuke and Beita are piloting a new high-tech vehicle on a mission across space and time: a pentagon-shaped flying saucer. This idea originated from Zheng Yaqi's suggestion to his father decades ago when he became tired of seeing the two mice driving their usual toy plane and tank. Since Zheng didn't want to write something that had already been done in sci-fi stories, his son proposed other shapes, which eventually led to the pentagon. "Making this film, we had this history back then," Zheng Yaqi said.

The director expressed his hope that parents would take their children to the movie theater to watch the film. He reminisced about the wonderful times he had as a child watching movies with his own father. Now, he hopes that parents and children "can experience the joy of watching a film based on a Chinese domestic franchise that has influenced generations. That would create a truly special and joyful family bonding experience."

Contented to let his son develop his vast back catalog, Zheng Yuanjie has turned his attention elsewhere. This May, his 92-year-old father was diagnosed with intestinal cancer, since which the prolific writer has been immersed in studying colostomy and developing related equipment and technology, particularly for lower-income families. "I'm obsessed with it. I am preparing to apply for patents and trademarks, and all the proceeds I earn from my patents in the future will be donated," he said. "Additionally, I will write to educate more people on how to prevent intestinal cancer. This is what I will dedicate the rest of my life to."
In our short-attention-span world, we seem to only be able to comprehend one war at a time. But our moment has thrown up conflicts across the globe: Israel versus Hamas, Russians versus Ukrainians, or Chinese democrats versus the Communist Party. But these disparate battles are in fact part of one whole  a struggle to dominate the future.

The new wider war includes attempts by great powers, notably China, to secure natural resources by securing alliances with authoritarian regimes around the world. In exchange, China provides goods, including military items, to authoritarian regimes in Latin America, the Middle East, and Africa.

This de-facto alliance, a modern version of the World War Two pact of steel, is truly global in scope. It extends from Ukraine to the shutting off of the Red Sea by Yemens Houthis, and even Venezuelan plans to conquer much of oil-rich Guyana. Rather than Francis Fukuyamas end of history, we are seeing Samuel Huntingtons bleak vision in his 2011 book, The Clash of Civilizations and the Remaking of World Order.

The wider war pits on one side the revanchist powers  China, Russia, Islamist, Latin American and African countries  who feel they have been wronged by the West and liberal capitalism. On the other side are the West and non-European allies like Japan, South Korea and perhaps most importantly Modi-led India.

The Wests leaders, as in the 1930s, seem more interested in diplomatic maneuvering than confronting a real and present danger. They view the appeasement of Iran as pragmatic, but the creation of a trade deal with Great Britain as marginal. Its not far from the mark to describe US Secretary of State Anthony Blinken, as Tablet recently did, as Neville Chamberlain with an iPad.

The historical parallels are troubling. One has to doubt the Wests resolve not only in the Ukrainian and Israel-Hamas hot wars, but also in future conflicts: watch the US Navy respond to the Houthi attempts to shut down Red Sea shipping with meager half-measures. I shudder to think how pusillanimous the likely response to a potential future Chinese invasion of Taiwan, or further Russian steps to recover other parts of its lost empire, may be.

Winning the wider war depends on three things  a strong industrial base, military preparedness, and internal morale. Right now, the West seems determined to weaken its manufacturing industries, for example through electric vehicle mandates which will help Beijing. The Middle Kingdom retains an almost monopoly position on the EV battery supply chain  80 per cent of the worlds raw material refining, 77 per cent of the worlds cell capacity and 60 per cent of the worlds component manufacturing. They produce more than four times the batteries as the United States, and control critical raw materials required for manufacture. China is also cultivating emerging vassal states in Africa and Central Asia as well as Latin America to meet their resource demand.

China is well on its way towards becoming the leading global superpower by 2050, regardless of internal challenges like youth unemployment and a distended demographic pyramid. Since the 1960s, the US and the EU have seen their share of value-added manufacturing drop from 65 per cent to barely half that today. Climate policies are a gift that keeps giving as Westerners struggle with unreliable renewables, while China goes on a coal-plant building spree and emits more greenhouse gases than all developed countries put together.

Western defenses are an even greater concern. The humiliating retreat of the US from Afghanistan emboldened both China and Russia. Europes militaries are pathetic and becoming even more so. The UK, with Europes strongest military, has only 150 tanks while Germany has enough ammunition for two days of battle. Even the US is having trouble keeping its allies supplied. A recent study by Cynthia Cook of the Centre for Strategic and International Studies found that even before the Hamas attack, the need to supply Ukraine with weapons triggered concerns as to whether there are sufficient residual inventories for training and to execute war plans.

Many US military goods are now produced in China. This dependence could worsen if China chooses to invade Taiwan, a country many American industries count on for key components. One Taiwanese company, TSMC, supplies Apple, Intel, Qualcomm, AMD and Nvidia, among other Big Tech corporations. It also produces the semiconductors used in F-35 fighter jets.

The Western worlds material issues provide enough of a challenge. But our spiritual degradation may prove fatal. Many young people in Europe and America have been primed, sometimes from grade school, to follow the essentially anti-Western oppressor and colonialist narrative. A recent report from the Future of Democracy at the University of Cambridge, found support for democracy in the West falling most among 1834-year-olds.

The democratic world is sleepwalking towards disaster yet again. Just as we need them most, its nigh-on impossible to find anyone in the West who resembles Churchill, Roosevelt, Truman or even Nixon or Reagan. The EU bureaucracy certainly is no substitute for De Gaulle. The West cannot win, or even stay relevant, in the clash of civilisations if it does not believe in itself, and continues to neglect the physical means to protect its interests.

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CORRECTS NAME TO JUDIH NOT JUDITH - This undated photo provided by Weinstein-Haggai family shows Judih Weinstein and her husband, Gad Haggai. Judih Weinstein, who was thought to be held hostage in Gaza, was pronounced dead on Thursday, Dec. 28, 2023, days after authorities determined her husband had also been killed in Hamas Oct. 7 attack. (Weinstein-Haggai family via AP)

TEL AVIV, Israel (AP)  An Israeli kibbutz hard-hit by Hamas' assault on southern Israel announced on Thursday the death of Judih Weinstein  an American-Canadian-Israeli woman who had previously been thought to be held hostage in Gaza.

The news came six days after Weinstein's husband, Gad Haggai, was also declared dead.

Weinstein, 70, and Haggai, 73, were taking an early morning walk near their home in Kibbutz Nir Oz on the morning of Oct. 7 when Hamas militants burst across the border into Israel, killing about 1,200 people and kidnapping 240 others.

In the early hours of the morning, Weinstein was able to call emergency services and let them know that both she and her husband had been shot and send a message to her family.

Weinstein and her husband had been thought to be among the hostages still held in captivity in Gaza. But six days ago, the kibbutz announced that Haggai was killed Oct. 7 and his body was taken to Gaza.

On Thursday, the kibbutz said it had learned that Weinstein was also killed on Oct. 7 and her body is also in Gaza.

It was not immediately clear how Israeli authorities determined their deaths.

The couple are survived by two sons and two daughters and seven grandchildren, the kibbutz said.

U.S. President Joe Biden said he was devastated to learn of Weinstein's death, especially after hearing about the couple during a meeting with their daughter.

The families "have been living through hell for weeks. No family should have to endure such an ordeal, he said in a statement.

Weinstein was born in New York and was an active member of Kibbutz Nir Oz, a small community near the Gaza border where she taught English to children with special needs. The kibbutz said she also taught meditation techniques to children and teenagers who suffered from anxiety as a result of rocket fire from Gaza. Haggai was a retired chef and jazz musician.

Judy dedicated her life to serving others, spending years teaching English and using her passions for poetry, puppeteering, and mindfulness to empower children of all backgrounds, her family said in a statement.

In a YouTube video made during a brief round of fighting between Israel and the Islamic Jihad militant group last May, Weinstein read a series of poems and expressed hope for better days ahead.

I truly hope that the next time Im recording some Haiku it wont be under duress, under rocket fire, under conditions where people are at war, she said. May we all be granted the right to our basic rights of home, food, shelter and peaceful days. Heres hoping.

Al Haggai, one of the couple's sons, told Israel's Channel 13 that the family had originally hoped their mother's multiple citizenships would allow her to be released during the week-long cease-fire in late November, when 105 hostages were let go. Almost all were women and children.

He said that when his mother's name was not on any of the daily lists, he started to suspect that something happened to her.

According to Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahus office, at least 23 of the approximately 129 hostages believed to be held in Gaza have either died or been killed in captivity.

Nir Oz was one of the hardest-hit Israeli communities on Oct. 7, with roughly one quarter of its residents killed or kidnapped.

The families of missing hostages have drawn widespread support and sympathy in Israel as they press the government to reach a new cease-fire deal to bring home their loved ones.

Netanyahu met Thursday in Tel Aviv with some of the families, where he told them there were behind-the-scenes efforts to bring the hostages home, according to a statement from his office.

I cant elaborate on the details, we are working to return everyone, he said.

Weinsteins friend Adele Raemer, a fellow English teacher from nearby Kibbutz Nirim, remembered her friend as an empathetic and funny person, who found creative ways of connecting with children with special needs, including through puppetry.

Weinstein had just finished an intensive year-long course with Tel Aviv Universitys Educational Technology Center, to develop an app called ClassRelax to help teachers bring aspects of meditation and mindfulness into the classroom, Raemer said.

She added that Weinstein and Haggai regularly walked together in the fields around the kibbutz.

They walked every morning, that was what was going to keep them healthy. Unfortunately that was what got them killed in the end, she said.
Detained American Paul Whelan said he is extremely concerned he could be left behind in Russia again as the Biden administration tries to make a deal with Moscow for the release of U.S. prisoners.

Whelan, who has been held in Russia since 2018, told WTOP over the Christmas holidays that Moscow is adamant on one-for-one exchanges in a potential prisoner swap, which he fears will result in the release of Wall Street Journal reporter Evan Gershkovich while leaving himself in Russia.

At this point, the five-year mark, Im extremely concerned about being left behind a third time, Whelan said. Im concerned that the Biden administration will work out a deal for Evan to be returned home, leaving me here a third time.

Whelan, a former Marine who was a security guard when he was arrested, said Russia has a false narrative that Im a brigadier general and a secret agent sent here on a secret mission, which is complicating his release.

They want an assassin for me. Its ridiculous that weve gotten to this point in hostage situations, he said.

The Hill has reached out to the White House National Security Council for comment.

Whelan, who has been sentenced to 16 years on espionage charges that he and the U.S. have denied, was left out of two prison swap deals between Washington and Moscow under the Biden administration.

In April 2022, the U.S. brought home Marine veteran Trevor Reed, who was detained in Russia in 2019, for a Russian convicted on drug charges. And later that year, WNBA star Brittney Griner was traded for convicted arms dealer Viktor Bout.

Whelan said last week he felt abandoned by the Biden administration, accusing the U.S. of a serious betrayal for leaving him behind.

Dave Whelan, the brother of Paul Whelan, acknowledged that every wrongful detention case happens on its own track and within its own circumstances, but said his family faced the demoralizing possibility that Paul could remain in Russia again.

There is no accounting for what concession the Russian government wants to extort from the U.S. government for Pauls freedom, Dave wrote in an email. The complication is, of course, that both Paul and Mr. Gershkovich have been charged with the same crime, which is different from what happened with Trevor Reed and Brittney Griner. While each case is handled separately, we may find that overlap having an impact in the future. Its hard to know.

Russian President Vladimir Putin said this month that Russia is working to find a solution for a prisoner swap for both Whelan and Gershkovich, who was detained over the spring of this year.

But the comments came a couple of weeks after the State Department said Moscow rejected a significant proposal to secure the release of both Whelan and Gershkovich.

Whelan, who was assaulted this year by another inmate in a prison camp, told WTOP that the release of Gershkovich without him could significantly limit the ability to get him home.

The longer they are allowed to go on, he said of prisoner swap discussions, the more complicated and harder it is for them to be resolved.

Updated Dec. 28 5:00 p.m. ET.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill.
Judith Weinstein Haggai and her husband, Gadi, were both killed in the Hamas raid along southern Israel on Oct. 7. Photo by Hostages and Missing Families Forum/Facebook

Dec. 28 (UPI) -- A 70-year-old Israeli-American woman thought to be held hostage by Hamas actually was killed during the Oct. 7 attack, according to the kibbutz from where she was taken.

Judith Weinstein Haggai, an Israeli with American and Canadian citizenship, and her husband, Gadi, came under fire in the attack on Nir Oz near the Gaza border on Oct. 7. Both were believed to be taken hostage by Hamas, but a spokesperson from the kibbutz confirmed Thursday she was killed by Hamas gunmen during the attack.

The development came a week after Gadi Haggai also was confirmed killed in the initial attack. Both bodies still are believed to be held by Hamas in Gaza.

The couple's daughter, Iris, told CBS News in late November that she saw video evidence of her father being killed, but at the time she had no updates about her mother.

According to the advocacy group the Hostages and Missing Persons Families Forum, "Judy was a teacher all her life, taught English and volunteered with the elderly and children who taught yoga and meditation."

The forum also said the couple managed to inform their friends they were injured from gunfire, and that was their last contact.

The Times of Israel said Weinstein and her husband were a longtime members of Nir Oz. She was a mother of four and a grandmother of seven.

In a statement released Thursday, President Joe Biden said he was devastated to learn of Weinstein's death, and the "tragic development cuts deep" in light of the recent news that her husband also was killed in the attack.

"No family should have to endure such an ordeal. And I reaffirm the pledge we have made to all the families of those still held hostage: We will not stop working to bring them home," Biden said.

Israel has said about 240 people were kidnapped by Hamas on Oct. 7, and 129 hostages remain in Gaza -- not all of them alive. Some 1,200 people in Israel were killed in the initial strike.

The Palestinian Ministry of Health has reported the death toll in Gaza has risen to at least 21,110 since Oct. 7.
Homeowners, police, local officials and realtors have all been rocked by squatter cases this year as brazen individuals across the nation continue illegally taking over other peoples home.

"I called the police. I called the DA. I called the chief of police. The assistant chief of police. The Justice Department and the courts, like if I could get a number, I called it," homeowner Jessica Davis told Fox News Digital earlier this year of her efforts to evict a woman from her Dallas-area home.

Davis is one of dozens of homeowners Fox News Digital covered this year who have personally dealt with squatters who refuse to move out of a home despite not paying rent. In Davis case, she discovered the woman who moved into her Texas house was a convicted fraudster who had previously been behind bars in Colorado for ripping off other landlords in 2018.

Following months of squatting, the woman ultimately left the home - albeit filled with trash and stinking of urine, the homeowner said.

ALLEGED 'SERIAL SQUATTER' FLEES HOME BUT LEAVES BEHIND TRASH, PUTRID STENCH: OWNER

Squatters typically move into a property that is sitting empty and often forge lease agreements, or they legally move into a home but stop paying rent and refuse to leave. Experts have repeatedly weighed in that the issue has become more common as inflation leaves many Americans with smaller pocketbooks and crime continues ticking up in some major cities.

READ ON THE FOX NEWS APP

With squatting incidents come dangerous situations often for police officers and homeowners trying to remove squatters from a property. In Washington state earlier this year, police officials estimated there was a roughly 39% increase in attacks against police officers in the state who were delivering eviction notices.

REPEAT SQUATTER WITH 'WITCH'S CAULDRON' CITES RELIGION IN PROPERTY STANDOFF, ATTACKS COP

In one violent case this year, a repeat squatter in North Carolina allegedly punched a police officer in the face when they evicted her from a property in July. The woman had previously been convicted of squatting in 2015 before allegedly taking over another North Carolina home she refused to leave. The alleged squatter claimed her religion allowed her to remain on the property and was accused by neighbors of "yelling at people to get off her indigenous property," and burning a "big witchs cauldron" in the backyard.

Ninti El-Bey was evicted from this Charlotte, North Carolina, home in 2015.

She was arrested and charged with first degree trespassing, resisting a public officer and assault on a government official.

'ONLYFANS' SQUATTER ALLEGEDLY INSTALLS STRIPPER POLE, TRASHES $900K HOME

In a Seattle squatter case just last month, police removed a couple from a $900,000 home after they allegedly forged a lease agreement. Once they were out, the landlord discovered they had installed a stripper pole, ostensibly for one of the squatters "OnlyFans influencer" career.

"Yes, its been a stressful situation," landlord Leka Devatha said of the "real estate nightmare." "And I just feel emotionally relieved. Not just that we got the squatters out, but we are making the neighborhood safe again."

Leka Devatha is a landlord who alleges two squatters took over her property and installed a stripper pole.

REAL ESTATE AGENT SCREAMS IN HORROR WHEN STRANGE MAN APPEARS DURING HOME TOUR: 'REALLY TERRIFYING'

In Montana, a real estate agent was left terrified while giving a home tour to prospective tenants and abruptly came face-to-face with a squatter creeping around the house. Footage of the scene captured her screaming out in fear as she turned a corner and spotted the man.

"It was really terrifying to know someone was there the entire time I was in that house, and they didn't try to leave or announce their presence, and they were just hiding," the real estate agent Alyssa Webb told a local outlet of the ordeal in April.

The suspect soon fled the scene, reports show.

Billings real estate agent Alyssa Webb captured video of the moment she came across an intruder during a home showing.

FLORIDA POLICE DISMANTLE SQUATTERS' BOOBY-TRAPPED 'METH ISLAND'

In Florida, squatters took over an area located near the Dunlawton Bridge in Port Orange, dubbed by social media commenters as "Meth Island." Squatters built makeshift wooden structures, including an elaborate four-story treehouse, and other huts made out of what appear to be old lumber and tree branches.

They also installed a trampoline and appeared to be in the middle of constructing a pool on the island, footage of the scene published by authorities showed. To deter visitors, the squatters even allegedly outfitted the island with booby traps.

Authorities began dismantling the squatters island paradise in June.

SQUATTERS ARRESTED AT ATLANTA HOME WHERE NEIGHBORS SAID THEY RAN AN 'ILLEGAL STRIP CLUB'

In another shocking squatter case, four men were arrested in Atlanta in October by a SWAT team for allegedly illegally taking over a property and turning it into a strip club.

Locals described the four men as the "neighbors from hell" who operated a strip club on the weekends, raced cars on the street near the home and even had live horses in the backyard on occasion.

The men were hit with multiple charges, including theft by receiving stolen property.

Clockwise from top left, Kelvin Hall, Jeremy Wheat, DeAnthony Maddox and Tarahsjay Forde allegedly illegally took over a property and turned it into a strip club.

Squatting crimes frequently turn into lengthy and expensive legal battles for homeowners and are often considered a civil matter that relies on the courts for eviction.

To fight against the crime, experts have warned homeowners to make their properties as least enticing as possible with "no trespassing" signs, adding security measures such as cameras, motion lights, and even befriending law enforcement, so they are aware a property is empty, Fox News Digital previously reported.





Original article source: Americans from coast to coast terrorized by bizarre squatting incidents in 2023
MYKOLAIV, Ukraine (AP)  They recognized the TV repairman.

The residents of Oleshky in Russian-occupied southern Ukraine could not identify many of those they buried after a catastrophic dam collapse in June sent water coursing through their homes and shattered their lives. The bodies were too bloated and discolored, volunteer rescuers and health workers said. They described seeing faces that resembled rubber masks, frozen in that last frenzied gasp for air. But to those secretly keeping count of the drowned, Yurii Bilyi was no stranger.

The cheerful 56-year-old was a town fixture. He had serviced many homes and spent his days working from a shop just across the street from the churchyard where he was buried, in a hurriedly dug mass grave, The Associated Press has learned.

Anastasiia Bila, his daughter, remembers his last words clearly over the unstable phone connection. Nastya, he affectionately called her, hoping to soothe her anxieties as flood waters rose quickly, inundating 600 square kilometers (230 square miles), submerging entire towns and villages along the banks of the Dnipro River, the majority in Russian-occupied areas. Ive seen worse under occupation.

Over six months since the catastrophic explosion that destroyed the Kakhovka Dam in the southern Kherson region, an AP investigation has found Russian occupation authorities vastly and deliberately undercounted the dead in one of the most devastating chapters of the 22-month war. Russian authorities took control of the issuance of death certificates, immediately removing bodies not claimed by family, and preventing local health workers and volunteers from dealing with the dead, threatening them when they defied orders.

The scale of this tragedy, not just Russia, but even Ukraine doesnt realize, said Svitlana, a nurse who initially oversaw the process of collecting death certificates and later escaped to Ukrainian-controlled territory. Its a huge tragedy."

Russia, which didn't respond to questions for this article, has said 59 people drowned in the territory it controls, roughly 408 square kilometers (160 square miles) of flooded areas. But in the Russian-occupied town of Oleshky alone, which Ukrainian military officials estimate had a population of 16,000 at the time of the flooding, the number is at least in the hundreds. An exact figure for the dead  in Oleshky, the occupied area's most populous town before the war, and beyond  may never be known, even if Ukrainian forces retake the territory and are able to investigate on the ground.

The AP spoke to three health workers who kept records of the dead in Oleshky, one volunteer who buried bodies and said she was later threatened by Russian police, and two Ukrainian informants passing intelligence from the area to the Ukrainian security service. According to their accounts, mass graves were dug, and unidentified bodies were taken away and never seen again.

Nearly a dozen interviews were conducted with other residents, rescue volunteers and recent escapees from the area. The AP also gained access to a closed Telegram chat group of 3,000 Oleshky residents who posted about bodies lying on the streets, bodies collected by police and the many missing.

Most spoke to the AP on condition of anonymity or, like Svitlana, on condition only their first names be used, fearing reprisal from Russia on family members still in occupied territory.

Together, these accounts reveal a calculated attempt by Russian authorities to cover up the true cost of the dam collapse, which the AP has found was likely caused by Moscow. Residents of Oleshky fear their enduring traumas risk being forgotten as the war grinds on, and their beloved once idyllic home is gradually depopulated.

A TOWN ABANDONED

The dam burst in the early hours of June 6, causing extensive flooding along the lower Dnipro River, submerging entire communities across the Ukraine-controlled right and Russian-occupied left banks in a matter of hours.

At first, the Russian-appointed administration in Kherson told residents not to be alarmed. In a post on its official Telegram channel, it stressed the situation is not critical. So most went about their normal day  walking dogs, going to work, staying at home. Choices that would later prove fatal.

By the afternoon the water levels were rising quickly, inundating two-story homes as the powerful current swept everything away. The elderly struggled to climb up to roofs, people clung to their chimneys waiting to be saved by local rescue crews, most of them civilians who owned boats.

For the first three days of the floods occupation authorities were nowhere to be found, locals said, having apparently fled, despite initially reassuring residents. Conspicuously absent were police and prosecutors, both Russian-appointed officials authorized to deal with the deceased.

Bodies were piling up and decaying in the summer heat, their stench wafted in the air. Wailing relatives approached the towns medical workers, not knowing where to take the dead.

A lot of people drowned, said Svitlana, the head nurse at the Oleshky District Multidisciplinary Hospital, the citys main primary health center, which later transformed into a shelter for people forced out of their homes. The putrefaction of flesh caused many corpses to inflate. People were floating around the city like balloons.

They needed to be buried. We took the responsibility, the nurse said.

They had the authority to issue death certificates both under Ukrainian law and Russian rule. The health center functioned as a main hospital for Oleshky residents after Russia occupied the town in March 2022, soon after Russia invaded Ukraine. Health workers continued to receive salaries from Ukraine, deposited electronically into their bank accounts, a crucial link tying them to their homeland as the occupations draconian laws began to transform everything else before their eyes.

Russian rubles replaced Ukrainian hryvnias in the market. Some residents accepted Russian passports to make life under occupation easier. Keeping record of the Ukrainian dead, largely caused by shelling before the floods, became a last vestige of Ukrainian control.

For health workers in the hospital, it was a matter of national necessity. After occupation authorities forbade the issuance of death certificates in the Ukrainian language on Jan. 1, health workers continued to do so in secret to ensure the Ukrainian medical database was up to date in Kyiv, the capital. Residents were given two certificates, one to satisfy their new occupiers, and the other to keep moored to their homeland. Health workers told residents to hide the latter.

The same procedure was followed immediately after the dam collapse.

In total, around 15 death certificates were electronically sent during the first week after the flood to Svitlana Serdiukova, the health facilitys medical director in exile, who was keeping track of the registry remotely in government-controlled Ukraine. Svitlana, the nurse in Oleshky, was in direct contact with her during this time.

The cause of death for all 15 was asphyxia by drowning.

RUSSIA CERTIFIES THE DEAD

Everything came to a halt on June 12.

The Russian state emergency rescue service workers were back in Oleshky by the afternoon of June 9, and three days later, they began reasserting control.

They brought large trucks and road-clearing equipment and offered to evacuate people first to Radensk, in Kherson region, and from there relocate them to Chelyabinsk and Tula in Russia. The residents refused to be taken that far, asking only to be taken to a dry patch in Oleshky.

They were refused. Many stayed put.

Russian authorities had strict orders for the hospital: Doctors were now forbidden from issuing death certificates for flood victims. They were still permitted to issue certificates for other causes of death, however. The new rule was issued verbally, said Svitlana and Yelena, a fellow nurse at the hospital.

From that moment on, they said, flood victims would have to be referred for autopsies in facilities elsewhere in Kherson region, in Kalanchak, Skadovsk, and Henichesk, where doctors approved by occupation authorities would be in charge of issuing the certificates after conducting forensic examinations. Relatives could not bury their family members without the crucial document.

Svitlana said she pressed the police for an official order proving the old policy in place since March had changed. They didnt have it, and responded to her queries with threats, she said.

They said: You will suffer the consequences for doing this. I said, Alright, I am ready, and the doctor, too.

The order deprived doctors of responsibility for flood victims. It also took away their ability to keep records of the dead for Kyiv.

Serdiukovas record-keeping could go no further. The last Ukrainian death certificate she received was on June 14.

The police came to the hospital daily to make copies of death certificates issued by doctors, to ensure the rules were being obeyed. You need to understand under what circumstances we worked there  under the FSB, police, prosecutors, Svitlana said, using the acronym for the Russian security service that is the main successor agency of the Soviet-era KGB.

The hospital referred just under 50 bodies to the new autopsy centers, but this doesnt reflect the total dead. Residents were given specific numbers to call police who dispatched workers to collect discovered bodies, circumventing the hospital altogether. Family members were charged 10,000 rubles (equivalent to about $108) as a service fee, a hefty sum for many under occupation. Those who couldnt afford that begged doctors to write a different cause of death, such as heart attack, so they could be buried quickly, both nurses said.

Bodies without relatives to claim them were never seen again.

The rescue service also patrolled Oleshkys streets to collect the dead.

On June 15, the hospital began giving vaccines against hepatitis A, dysentery and typhoid amid rising concerns of water-borne diseases. A worker from the towns municipal Pobut service, responsible for cleaning streets, arrived visibly inebriated, Svitlana said.

Svitlana told him to return when he was sober. But the man, in his early 40s, replied, he could not but drink after what he had seen. He had been ordered to dig out the dead from under their collapsed homes, he said, and bury them in mass graves.

He recognized some.

The TV guy has drowned, the ginger, Yura, he told her, referring to his hair color, according to Svitlanas account.

She knew him, too.

A FATHER BURIED

Anastasiia Bila, Yuriis daughter, was in Lviv in western Ukraine, where she had fled before the invasion, when she spoke to her father for the last time. It was on June 6, at around 3 p.m.

He had refused to evacuate their family home. He had two German shepherds he could not abandon.

The connection was intermittent. She urged him to go to the second floor of the house if the water levels continued to rise. She tried to call again a half-hour later, but there was no reception.

She made a plea on the private Telegram chat: Bilyi Yurii Anatoliyovych, does not get in touch for a second day," she wrote, adding his last known location, his homes address: Dniprovska, 85. Please help me find my father, maybe someone saw or knows his whereabouts, any information.

On Sunday, five days later, Bilas uncle was able to check on his brother by hiring a boat with his wife and son. They found Bilyis lifeless body. He told Anastasiia she could stop looking for her father.

The body was buried in a mass grave in the yard of the Orthodox Pokrovska Church in the center of Oleshky. It was not possible to bury him and others anywhere else, as most places were still flooded, Bila said.

Bilyis shop has been on the same street.

The grave was doused with chlorine, Bilas uncle, who witnessed the burial, recounted to her, she said. The priest prayed over the dead.

Pobut workers, made up of local Ukrainians and acting on orders of occupation authorities, were responsible for collecting and burying the dead, according to health workers. They dug on a daily basis between June 10-20. The bodies were buried without coffins, not even bags to cover them.

As the unit was acting on orders of occupation authorities, the decision to bury people in mass graves likely came from those authorities, health workers said.

The first bodies were buried in the city center (church), as 90% of the city was underwater, said Bila. Those bodies were not processed by a hospital, no autopsy or time of death, they were buried right away, she said.

Serdiukova later confirmed Bilyi was not in Ukraine's registry. Officially he is considered a missing person.

The exact number of bodies in the grave where Bilyi was buried is not known. Bila said her uncle did not tell her a precise number. He is living under occupation and did not respond to questions from the AP.

But the hospital workers the AP interviewed estimate the number to be between 10 to 20. For a time, they tried to document who was buried where. They asked relatives to fill out forms detailing where bodies were found, how they were clothed, and later, which plot of which grave they were buried in.

The bodies were collected and buried in a mass grave to ensure they dont start decomposing on city streets. After de-occupation there will be an exhumation. Thats when well be able to investigate everything, said Serdiukova.

With the return of the Russian state emergency service, the process became more orderly. They arrived with trucks to carry bodies and a special rescue team.

The fate of unidentified bodies, those without relatives to claim them, carted away by the Russian rescue service is also not known. Yelena, the nurse, approached a truck driver and asked him what would happen to them.

He told her casually that the bodies with no relatives were buried in a mass grave, she said. Without caskets, in black bags.

While several people interviewed referred to more mass graves than the one where Bilas father was buried, the AP was unable to determine the precise number of such graves or how many people were buried in them.

Bila considers herself lucky. At least her father is buried in the town he loved and refused to leave, even under the threat of death.

Like many, shes waiting for Ukraine to liberate the town. Then, she said, Ill be able to re-bury him in a proper cemetery.

THE THREAT

The volunteer was not afraid of dead bodies. When the floods inundated her neighborhood in Oleshky, the sight of the floating dead did not stir her like it did the others. She had witnessed her best friends death when she was a teenager.

Its the living that frighten me, she said.

On June 7, she, her husband and three neighbors went about evacuating trapped residents inside homes. By June 9, she witnessed dead bodies for the first time. They were bloated and partially decomposed. They were floating. I often couldnt recognize a person, she said.

Some were trapped under the sticky mud and had to be dug out. Those she knew, around 20, she took to the hospital with the hopes that relatives could claim the bodies. The rest were taken to another church in the city, blessed by a priest and buried in the towns cemetery. She said she collected more than 100 dead.

The health workers estimate 200 to 300 people drowned in Oleshky. Im even afraid to say it out loud, said Yelena.

Many were older, unable to physically leave their homes or climb up to the roof, according to the accounts of rescue volunteers, residents who reported relatives dead, and health workers.

I buried them with my own hands, the volunteer said. There was no money to hire diggers, she said, but people volunteered to do it for free. The graves were dug shallow, 1 meter (3 feet) deep. Any more and they would flood. The volunteer said she used bedsheets to cover them. When those ran out, she said, she found plastic film.

Pits were dug for each person, but sometimes for up to three, the volunteer said.

But this work was put to a stop when the Russian rescue service returned. Occupation authorities prohibited volunteers from collecting or burying the dead, telling them this was a job for the police only.

Russian emergency service trucks arrived. Workers in white bodysuits put the dead in black bags, witnesses said. One driver told the volunteer they were destined for autopsies in Henichesk, an occupied port city about three hours away.

Some days later, several police officers came to the volunteers home. She said they told her that an informant had told them she had been involved in burying people without death certificates. They interrogated her about why she had transported bodies, and how many she had recovered. She explained there was no other option, the bodies were smelling.

They reprimanded her, telling her she did not have the right to collect bodies and eventually forced her to sign a document promising she would stop collecting the dead because she didnt have the right qualifications, she said.

They told me that if I continue doing so theyll cage me, Thats when I stopped, the volunteer said. I was scared for myself and my family.

The police visited her home almost every day after that, she said.

They had video journalists coming here to show how Russia helps here. They wanted to conceal the consequences of the dam explosion, so that people dont talk about how many people suffered and how many needed help. They wanted to hide it, she said. Thats why they prohibited us.

WORLDS APART

The evidence is still hidden in Oleshky: documents detailing the dead, plots where they are buried, photos, the death certificates collected in secret.

I hid all these papers behind closed doors so that no one knew, Svitlana said. With time everything is forgotten, some people might leave, their life will change, but with those papers  no one will forget. It was important to save them.

She is waiting for Ukraine to liberate the territory so the truth can come to light. She cleared her phone and left documents behind to keep them out of the hands of Russians who routinely stop Ukrainians leaving occupied areas and conduct thorough security checks.

Residents, speaking to the AP after they returned to Ukraine-controlled territory, said most of the town is no longer habitable. Many remain missing since the floods, while battles inch closer. Ukrainian forces are reportedly advancing near the Krynky area, which lies 40 kilometers (24 miles) from Oleshky. There was a pause during the flooding from shelling, which resumed with ferocity, residents say.

Both Russia and Ukraine have traded blame for bringing down the dam, but analysts agree that Russia had motive. The dams collapse occurred right as Ukraine launched what would develop into a disappointing counteroffensive. The flooding altered the geography of the Dnipro River, complicating plans set out by Ukrainian military leaders.

Now, two-thirds of Oleshky is gone, entire districts and homes are destroyed, according to the accounts of half a dozen residents who left.

There are two Ukraines, said Svitlana. One is at war, in tragedy, many people are left homeless. And the other is living life well and flourishes.

In Oleshky, divisions between the townspeople have deepened, sometimes within members of a single family. The volunteers sister moved to Russia. Bilas uncle and his family are estranged from hers because he harbors pro-Russian views, she said.

Svitlana said colleagues still in Oleshky told her that her office was ransacked after she left in August. But she is confident the documents are still hidden.

Its a durable book, she said.

___

Novikov reported from Kyiv, Ukraine.
Semafor Signals

Insights from Washington Post, The Diplomat, and CNBC

NEWS

Several prominent Indian journalists whose reporting was critical of the government and its allies were recently targeted with Pegasus spyware that could hack into their iPhones, an Amnesty International analysis found.

Shortly after Apple notified the users in October that they may have been victims of a state-sponsored attack, government officials under Prime Minister Narendra Modi called Apples representatives and demanded they soften the political blowback from the warnings, The Washington Post reported.

Its the latest example of the Modi government exerting political pressure on foreign businesses whose actions run counter to the interests of New Delhi.

SIGNALS

Semafor Signals: Global insights on today's biggest stories.

Apples India dilemma

Sources: Bloomberg, Wall Street Journal, CNBC

Allegations that the government or its allies targeted critics on Apple devices puts the tech giant in an uncomfortable position in a country where it is actively expanding. Bloomberg declared Apples big bet on India was one of the winners of 2023 in the country, as manufacturers Foxconn and Tata Group plan to scale up local production. Apple reportedly hopes to make a quarter of all iPhones in India, a signal that Apples years-long geopolitical pivot  is really underway as it reduces its dependence on China, a CNBC tech correspondent said.

Governments routine crackdown of criticism

Sources: The Diplomat, Time, Washington Post

While the Modi government has never confirmed or denied using spyware, its attempts to silence criticism have become a routine affair, an Indian journalist wrote in The Diplomat earlier this year. The government raided the BBCs offices in India on tax evasion allegations after the broadcaster published a documentary critical of Modi. And under pressure from Modis party, Facebook failed to properly moderate propaganda and hate speech that benefited the party, the Post reported in September.

Pegasus hacks spark global finger-pointing

Sources: Al Jazeera, Washington Post

The Pegasus spyware in the India attacks has been used by several governments around the world to spy on journalists and activists, and can remotely infect someones iPhone without the user taking any action, investigations have found. The Israeli company that makes Pegasus, NSO Group, has claimed that it only sells to governments that agree to use the software to fight crime and terrorism. Hacks have led to cross-border finger-pointing, including when a prominent Russian journalist was targeted while in Germany and a handful of nations emerged as possible suspects. Apparently, because this stupid technology exists, and because there is not much willingness on an international level to regulate it, we cant, a German member of the European parliament said.
The Apple Watch Series 9 and Ultra 2 wearables are back on sale via the manufacturer. We knew this was coming yesterday, after a federal appeals court in Washington D.C. granted a temporary pause on an import and sales ban. The ban could be reinstated on January 10, when the International Trade Commission (ITC) decides on whether to grant Apple a longer pause.

It could also come back on January 13, which is when the same agency makes a decision regarding Apples redesign of both smartwatches. All told, the ban lasted little more than a day and really only impacted consumers purchasing directly from Apple, as the devices were readily available from third-party retailers.

Apple told Engadget its pleased the US Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit has stayed the exclusion order while it considers our request to stay the order pending our full appeal. At the heart of the issue is a lawsuit issued by medical technology company Masimo, which alleges that the blood oxygen sensors used in newer Apple Watch devices violate two patents. The company also accused Apple of stealing trade secrets and poaching employees.

The ITC agreed with Masimo, which led to Apple scrambling to offer a software fix. However, it was ruled that this was a hardware issue relating to the actual sensor, leading Apple back to the drawing board. Its expected to reveal a redesigned blood oxygen sensor by January 13. The budget-friendly Apple Watch SE was never part of this discussion, as it doesnt have a blood oxygen sensor.

Apple has long held that the ban would cause irreparable harm to the company. To that end, the Watch side of Apples business generates around $17 billion a year, according to Bloomberg. Well keep you updated as this case moves forward. In the meantime, snap up the well-reviewed Apple Watch Series 9 while you still can.

This article contains affilate links; if you click such a link and make a purchase, we may earn a commission.
A city's name can often indicate its status in a nation's history.

Nanjing means "southern capital city" in Chinese. Only Beijing, meaning "northern capital city" can claim such a descriptive identity.

The city, now capital of East China's Jiangsu province, was once widely considered to have an urban history of 2,500 years, but new archaeological research rewrites that. This has found that it was founded more than 3,100 years ago when an ancient city, named "Changgan", was recently excavated.

Dating to the Shang and Zhou dynasties (c.16th century-256 BC), archaeologists found that the "city's walls were flanked by trenches", which is an important indicator of a fortification system used by ancient cities, says Chen Dahai, head of the archaeological excavation team, and an associate professor at the Nanjing Archaeological Research Institute.

Chen made the comments during a seminar last week discussing the latest findings in Nanjing.

In the history of the ancient fortification system, trenches emerged before walls. They surrounded the living area to prevent floods and deter enemies, according to Chen. He says at least four encompassing trenches built in different periods during the Shang and Zhou dynasties were detected.

Aside from portions of the city's walls and trenches, archaeologists discovered a fascinating history of a city with water wells built in the late Shang Dynasty, kilns for brick firing and a pit for pig sacrifices. Covering about 12,000 square meters, the area of Xijie, or west street, has seen more than 500 heritage sites unearthed and more than 10,000 cultural relics, such as pottery vessels, jade discs, ceramics and copper tools.

"The site provides important clues to decode Nanjing's past and how it developed," Chen says.

Often hailed as the "ancient capital of six dynasties", Nanjing has served as the center of dynasties and kingdoms throughout its rich history. The city was the seat of imperial power of six dynasties ruling the southern China from the 3rd to 6th century. It was also the national capital of a united China from 1368 to 1420 during the Ming Dynasty (1368-1644).

Historians used to estimate that Nanjing was founded in 472 BC, when Gou Jian, the king of the Yue vassal state, built city walls at the southwest corner of the present Zhonghua Gate in Nanjing.

"Although no obvious heritage structure was unearthed, such as a gatehouse and turrets, we discovered clear evidence and clues indicating the reason for the city's construction and its development over thousands of years," Chen says, adding that the city's original site may have been destroyed.

He says building on higher terrain, Changgan ancient city was located at the mouth of the ancient Qinhuai River, which was easy to defend and hard to attack, making it a significant military location.

The latest archaeological findings may reshape the city's history, with its emergence tracing back to more than 3,100 years ago. Wang Wei, director of the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences' Archaeology Department, highlights the discovery as a remarkable archaeological finding in tracing the Nanjing's origins.

As archaeologists dug, different soil layers were revealed, which documented the chronology of the city's change and evolution from the Western Zhou Dynasty (c.11th century-771 BC), to the Ming and Qing (1644-1911) dynasties, according to Chen.

Among the unearthed pottery, some have patterns or characteristics found in the Erligang culture in the Shang Dynasty (c.16th century-11th century BC), the 3,300-year-old Yinxu Ruins and the Maqiao culture in Taihu Lake region, He Yun'ao, a professor of history at Nanjing University, told the seminar.

"Due to its geographic location, Nanjing has played an important role in the development of the Chinese civilization. Starting from the ancient city of Changgan, it has become a place for the inheritance and continuation of the Chinese civilization and a hub for the convergence and dissemination of the northern and southern cultures for more than 3,000 years," He says.

The excavation began in 2017 after the Nanjing government launched predevelopment work for urban planning in the city's southern area, which is located in the Changganli Ancient City relics site. This is one of Nanjing's key protection zones for subterranean heritage. In 2020, archaeologists conducted a proactive archaeological survey of the site.

Wang suggested developing the Changgan ancient city site into a relics park and a museum to let the public be better involved in sharing the archaeological discoveries and the latest excavation process.
The latest Apple Watch models are back on sale in the United States after a federal appeals court granted the tech giants request to temporarily pause an import ban on some of its smartwatches.

The Apple Watch Series 9 and Ultra 2, which were pulled shortly before Christmas in preparation for the ban, became available for purchase once again in stores Wednesday and online Thursday afternoon.

We are thrilled to return the full Apple Watch lineup to customers in time for the new year, Apple said in a statement.

The U.S. Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit agreed to pause enforcement of the import ban from the International Trade Commission (ITC) on Wednesday while it considers granting Apple a longer-term stay pending appeal.

Apple appealed the ITCs decision and asked for an immediate interim stay on Tuesday, shortly after the ban went into effect.

Apple fights ban on Apple Watch imports: Heres what happens next

Apples teams have worked tirelessly over many years to develop technology that empowers users with industry-leading health, wellness and safety features and we are pleased the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit has stayed the exclusion order while it considers our request to stay the order pending our full appeal, Apple added.

The ban stems from a years-long patent dispute with medical technology company Masimo, which accused Apple of poaching employees and stealing trade secrets related to its light-based technology for measuring blood-oxygen levels.

Masimo sued Apple in federal court in 2020 and at the ITC in 2021. While its federal case ended in a mistrial in May, an ITC judge sided with the medical device maker in January in a decision that was ultimately upheld by the full commission in October.

The Biden administration, which had 60 days from the October decision to weigh in, said Tuesday that it would not intervene, allowing the ban to take effect.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill.
A review of crime data published on Wednesday found that Apache County was safest of Arizona's 15 counties, while Pima County was ranked as the least safe in the state.

The Suzuki Law Office reviewed the number and the type of crimes committed in each Arizona county from 2018-2022. They compiled a list ranking the counties by crime rate per 100,000 residents.

Apache County had a crime rate of 96 per 100,000 residents, according to the review. It was followed by Greenlee County, with a rate of 113 crimes per 100,000 people and Graham County, with 290 crimes per 100,000 residents. All three of them are smaller, rural counties with populations less than 100,000 people.

At the other end of the spectrum, some of the counties listed as the least safe were also among the most populous in the state. Pima County, the second most populous in the state and home to Tucson, ranked at the bottom of the list with 828 crimes per 100,000 people.

Maricopa County also ranked near the bottom, with a crime rate of 787 per 100,000 residents, placing it in the twelfth spot among the 15 counties.

The study reviewed data reported to multiple law enforcement agencies in each county. The Apache County Sheriff's Office and the Pima County Sheriff's Office, the two main agencies in the most and least safe counties on the list, did not respond to request for comment as of midday Wednesday.

The Arizona Department of Public Safety also collects and publishes crime data reported by each law enforcement agency within the state, but it is not aggregated by county. It is available online at its Arizona Crime Statistics web portal.

Arizona DPS data for 2023 was incomplete. But other crime details were accessible and can be searched by individual law enforcement agencies, by year dating back to 2017 and by different types of crime.

Here are how Arizona's 15 counties rank from lowest to highest crime rates per 100,000 residents:

Apache (96)

Greenlee (113)

Graham (290)

Pinal (369)

Santa Cruz (371)

Navajo (389)

Cochise (432)

Yavapai (457)

Yuma (504)

Mohave (656)

La Paz (710)

Maricopa (787)

Gila (796)

Coconino (820)

Pima (828)

Have any news tips or story ideas about immigration in the Southwest? Reach the reporter at rafael.carranza@arizonarepublic.com, or follow him on X (formerly Twitter): @RafaelCarranza.

This article originally appeared on Arizona Republic: Which Arizona county has the highest crime rate?
A few lucky Arkansans saw a few snowflakes on Wednesday. Folks in Harrison and Mountain Home were treated to periodic festive flurries. It looks like locations in central Arkansas will have a better shot at seeing several snowflakes this Friday!

The cool temperatures and periodic flurries are caused by a stalled, large, upper-level low-pressure system. Its bringing down some colder air from Canada, and causing just enough instability for light snow/rain showers.

Forecast models are showing a few light rain/snow showers in Arkansas Thursday afternoon, but it doesnt look like much.

Friday morning is when I think we will have the best shot at a few flakes. This is because the showers will be moving into Arkansas at the perfect time. Friday morning when the temperatures will be cold enough to support snow is when forecast models are showing a few showers moving into Arkansas!

HRRR forecast for Friday.

GRAF forecast for Friday.

Right now, it looks like folks in northeast Arkansas will have the best chance for snow and maybe even a light accumulation on grassy surfaces. The chances are much lower, but I wouldnt be surprised if we see a few wet snowflakes as far south as Little Rock on Friday morning.

Again, temperatures will be too warm to support any accumulation on roadways, so there wont be any impacts!

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KARK.
Police stop vehicles in July during a checkpoint where numerous motor vehicle violations were discovered. Another is planned for Sunday on New Year's Eve.

Athens-Clarke police are preparing for a vehicle checkpoint for Sunday, New Years Eve, and the early hours of New Years Day.

As a new year begins, we hope drivers will resolve to slow down, focus on driving, and not drive while impaired, police Sgt. Vincent Schill said in a news release.

Police conducted a similar checkpoint on July 21, but that one was conducted in conjunction with the Governors Office of Highway Safety Piedmont Area Traffic Enforcement Network and included 29 officers from several agencies participating.

That checkpoint was planned for four hours, but was cut to only 35 minutes due to heavy rain.

However, those officers working the checkpoint at the Athens Perimeter at Oconee Street intersection stopped 158 vehicles and issued numerous vehicle citations ranging from child-restraint violations, drunk driving and felony possession of a firearm.

Schill said Wednesday that police may work with one other agency in the upcoming checkpoint, but the time extent of the checkpoint will be longer than four hours.

Though police declined to say where the checkpoint will be stationed, checkpoints are normally arranged on heavily traveled corridors.

During the checkpoint, police will be also checking for seatbelt use and properly installed car seats for children.

Police said that after the checkpoint, they will compile and release data on the results.

This article originally appeared on Athens Banner-Herald: Athens-Clarke police prepare for New Year's Eve checkpoint
Two Russian soldiers were killed after an attack by an unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) in the Belgorod Oblast. The drone exploded in the Terezivka village in the Shebekino urban district on Dec. 27, Russian Telegram channel Astra reported.

Read also: Russian Volunteer Corps claims new raid on Russian territory

Vyacheslav Gladkov, Governor of Russias Belgorod Oblast, claimed that while a kamikaze drone kamikaze indeed fell on Terezivka and detonated, there were no casualties.

Read also: Russians claim to have shot down four drones over Belgorod and Kursk oblasts

ASTRA/Telegram

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Read the original article on The New Voice of Ukraine
In early December, director James Wan and actor Jason Momoa arrived in China on a promotional tour of "Aquaman and the Lost Kingdom." The pair enjoyed the sights at the Forbidden City and Great Wall in Beijing, explored the Bund in Shanghai, tasted delicious food in Chengdu and Guangzhou, and attended meet-and-greets packed with screaming fans.

Director James Wan and actor Jason Momoa on the set of "Aquaman and the Lost Kingdom." [Photo courtesy of Warner Bros. Pictures]

"I've put on so much weight since I got here," Momoa said laughing before the interviews began. "I love Chinese food."

Both men said they were excited to return to China and meet the fans having previously visited for the first movie in 2018, which grossed a staggering 2 billion yuan ($281.42 million) in China alone, marking a phenomenal success for a foreign film. During the intervening years, several significant events unfolded, including the COVID-19 pandemic, the merger of WarnerMedia with Discovery, Inc. to create Warner Bros. Discovery, the establishment of DC Studios led by James Gunn and Peter Safran, multiple reshoots for "Aquaman and the Lost Kingdom," and legal battles between Amber Heard and Johnny Depp. Even Gillian Zhao, president of Warner Bros. Discovery China, who oversaw the phenomenal success of the first film, left the company in November.

But Wan still managed to present this wondrous sequel, turning it into a "buddy comedy," further exploring the grandeur and spectacle of the undersea world, addressing Aquaman's new identity as king and father, and delving into themes of environmental protection and humanity.

"One of the things that Jason and I like about this film is that it deals with kind of darker, more adult themes compared to the first film," Wan said. "The monsters, in a lot of ways, are a metaphor, right? It's a metaphor for if we go too far, if we do things without respecting the planet enough, we're going to unleash these monsters."

But he added, "And I just see that as a great excuse for me to have fun with them."

A composite image shows Aquaman's identities as king of Atlantis, father and brother. [Photo courtesy of Warner Bros. Pictures]

The "fun" part is indeed a rare treat in a James Wan film, as the director is primarily known for his mastery in the horror genre. Notably, there are several amusing moments between Aquaman and his brother Orm, portrayed by Patrick Wilson. One such instance involves Aquaman's trickery coaxing Orm into eating a cockroach.

Momoa was thrilled by how well the first movie played out and how many people loved it. "Little kids come up to you, like, 'You're Aquaman!'" he said. The actor recalled writing something and bringing it to Wan, expressing his strong desire to portray those aspects. "I really would love for the world to see these... so we made another beautiful movie. We built this world where no one's ever seen anything like that, no one's ever seen a superhero character like that."

"If you enjoy the first movie, this is pretty much a continuation of the first film, and I would say you can watch the two films back to back, and they play like one film," Wan said. "You get to see what he's like five years later, now that he's the king of Atlantis. He's married, he's a husband, but he's also a dad as well. Part of the fun is seeing how he juggles the responsibility of being a king and a dad. On top of all that, he has to stop a great evil from happening, and that's where the action-adventure fun comes into play."

In "Aquaman and the Lost Kingdom," Black Manta, still fueled by the need to avenge his father's death, is determined to defeat Aquaman, wielding the formidable power of the mythic Black Trident. To counter this threat, Aquaman seeks an alliance with his imprisoned brother Orm, the former king of Atlantis. Together, they must overcome their differences to protect the kingdom, Aquaman's family and the world from irreversible destruction. Jason Momoa, along with Patrick Wilson, Amber Heard, Yahya Abdul-Mateen II and Nicole Kidman, returns in the sequel  the highest-grossing DC movie of all time. The film opened in China on Dec. 20, and had taken 224 million yuan in the country by the following Sunday.

The underwater world from the movie "Aquaman." [Photo courtesy of Warner Bros. Pictures]

In this film, Atlantis is even bigger, brighter, more colorful and more vibrant than ever. However, Arthur and Orm are on a quest that will take them to an entirely new place: the Lost Kingdom. The landscape of Antarctica is inspiring and familiar, but it's also a place most of us have not visited, allowing Wan to explore a heightened version of it. He said he was excited to create this kingdom, a completely new visual element in this film, along with other new worlds. And it wouldn't be one of his films without some of his signature creations, so there are new, dark creatures for audiences to enjoy.

In terms of the visuals of the world and effects, Wan felt they had a lot to live up to from the first film and wanted to continue the visual excitement while also showing people new things. For the sequel's "underwater" scenes, the visual effects team adopted a whole new approach. Using Eyeline Studio  a brand-new, groundbreaking technology  Wan and his team were able to liberate both the cast and the camera, creating a 360-degree aquatic world. For the super-sized sequel, the filmmakers were committed to a more expansive and immersive experience, delivering something entirely new and exciting  their mantra being to provide new environments above and below the water, while anchoring them to the realms in the iconic first film. Atlantis is much more detailed and built-out, and many of these never-seen-before worlds are revealed, from the deserter prison and underwater den, to the jungle and volcanic island.

Director James Wan and actor Jason Momoa answer questions during an interview in Beijing in early December 2023. [Photo courtesy of Warner Bros. Pictures]

As the protagonist's journey continues, he has to shoulder different roles. "It's more about it like doing his responsibility, like his dad says to him, 'Sometimes, being a superhero is just about waking up each morning and doing the work that you may not want to do.' And that I think kind of carries a big message of the film is like sometimes you have to do the hardest stuff, right? Even if you don't want to do it," Wan said.

"For Arthur Curry, it really is about him not enjoying being a king, but it's the right thing to do. And ultimately by the end of the movie, he realizes that he has what it takes to be a king," Wan added. "That for me is the theme that we played into in a big way."
By Ruma Paul and Kanjyik Ghosh

DHAKA (Reuters) -Bangladesh garment factories have fired hundreds of workers since protests in October demanding higher wages, three labour unions representing half a million workers told Reuters this week, while many others are on the run fearing arrest.

Clashes during the protests, which ran alongside wider anti-government demonstrations by the opposition ahead of the Jan. 7 general election, killed four workers and injured dozens of others, with the police filing cases against hundreds of unidentified people for vandalism.

The government agreed in November to raise minimum wages by more than 56% to 12,500 taka ($114) a month, which many workers have still called too low. Bangladesh has become the world's second-biggest garment exporter after China partly thanks to low wages.

The three unions - Bangladesh Garments and Industrial Workers Federation, National Garment Workers Federation and Bangladesh Garments Workers Unity Council - estimated that 1,000 to 5,000 workers had either been fired in the last two months or had gone into hiding.

But Faruque Hassan, president of the Bangladesh Garment Manufacturers and Exporters Association, said he was not aware of any retrenchments, adding that the industry body would act if "any such incidents are brought to our notice".

Bangladesh's Ministry of Labour did not respond to a request for comment. Momanul Islam, a senior police official in Ashila, a garment hub, said police had not arrested any garment workers for joining the protests.

Bangladesh's more than 4,000 garment factories rely on some 4 million workers to supply major Western brands.

In October, brands including Abercrombie & Fitch, Adidas, GAP, Levi Strauss, Puma and PVH and Under Armour urged the government to ensure there was no retaliation against workers seeking fair wages.

Delowar Hossin, a garment worker with Ducati Apparels, said he was fired earlier this month without any explanation or payment of severance dues.

"I was just blocked from entering the factory," said Hossin, who now works part-time as a mason.

Ducati's managing director, Khayer Mia, said some 15 to 20 workers had vandalised the factory during the protests but said that no workers had been sacked. He said Ducati paid full salaries to all workers, even though the protests had shut the factory for 10 days.

"I love my workers and factory like my family," he said.

($1 = 109.5000 taka)

(Reporting by Ruma Paul and Kanjyik Ghosh; Editing by Krishna N. Das and Raju Gopalakrishnan and Miral Fahmy)
As Bangladesh launched a sweeping crackdown on opposition parties ahead of general elections, members of the ruling Awami League shared a fabricated newspaper article that sought to portray its rival party as pro-Pakistan -- a political taboo in a country that gained independence from Pakistan in a bloody 1971 war. The altered article was purportedly published by Pakistan's Dawn newspaper on September 5, 1978. However, archives show that issue featured no such report. Dawn's news editor also said the report's layout did not match the newspaper's style at the time.

Former general secretary of the Awami League's Student League Siddique Nazmul Alam posted a screenshot of the fabricated article on Facebook on September 1.

It appears to show the cover of Pakistan's Dawn newspaper, dated September 5, 1978, featuring a photo of Ziaur Rahman.

Rahman was president of Bangladesh from 1977 to 1981 and founded the Bangladesh National Party (BNP) -- now the country's main opposition force.

"Return to the Pak era," the headline reads.

Bangladesh -- formerly East Pakistan -- gained independence from Pakistan in 1971 after a war marked by horrific abuses that Bangladesh says killed as many as three million people and displaced many more.

In his Facebook post, Alam wrote: "On 1st September 1978, Murderer Ziaur Rahman established BNP. The ideology was to take Bangladesh in parallel with fraternal state Pakistan. Dawn Newspaper, Pakistan. 5 September 1978 Tuesday."

Bangladesh's current Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, who heads the Awami League, has long accused Rahman of orchestrating the murder of her father -- the country's founding leader who was killed in a military coup in 1975, nearly four years after he led Bangladesh to independence.

Screenshot of the fabricated article posted on Facebook, taken on December 28, 2023

The fabricated news report was shared by various Awami League supporters, including on Facebook pages and at an October rally, where an image of the article was brandished by Shamim Osman, member of parliament for the Narayanganj district (archived link).

The BNP has called for a boycott of January's general elections in which the 76-year-old Hasina is all but assured of winning a fifth term, saying no election will be free and fair with her in power (archived link).

Police responded to mass protests in October by arresting thousands of opposition officials and activists over charges of violence, after at least 11 people were killed and hundreds of vehicles torched, according to official data.

Phantom report

Archives of Dawn that the newspaper provided to AFP show the front cover on September 5, 1978 did not show the "Return to the Pak era" article shared on social media.

There is no trace of such a headline or article in any of the newspaper's 24-page issue from that day.

The front page of the Dawn of Sept 5, 1978

Dawn's news editor Hassan Belal Zaidi said the article shared on Facebook was fabricated.

"Neither the headline nor the typeface/font seems to align with the Dawn's style from that era," he told AFP on October 25.

Meanwhile, a Pakistani flag appears to have been digitally inserted to the picture of Rahman in the fabricated article.

A version of the photo in reports by Channel i online and Roar media and in a biography of Rahman show a striped background without Pakistan's crescent flag (archived here and here).

The 2016 book 'President Zia of Bangladesh : A Political Biography' by a Bangladeshi journalist Mahfuz Ullah features the photo with caption: "Zia announcing the formation of the Bangladesh Jatiyatabadi Dal (Bangladesh Nationalist Party- BNP) on Sept 1, 1978. Mashiur Rahman Jadu Miah is on his right."

On September 1, Rahman held a press conference to announce the BNP's formation, according to a copy of Bangladesh's Daily Ittefaq from September 2, 1978 seen by AFP.
Updated: 12:05 p.m. Thursday

A march coordinated by the Hillcrest Residents Association  an organization that has played a key role in pushing back on Inner Harbor desalination plans  will be held beginning at 4 p.m. Thursday.

Desalination opponents and supporters of the association will gather at the corner of Nueces Bay Boulevard and West Broadway Street, with participants ending the march at Brooks AME Worship Center, 2101 Port Ave., where a 5 p.m. press conference was planned.

Original story:

A coalition of environmental groups have responded to news of the city of Corpus Christis new draft permit for a proposed desalination plant.

It came by chant: Our bay is not for sale.

Gathering along the shores of the Corpus Christi Bay last week, Coastal Action Network leaders condemned the latest advancement for the project, which proposes to construct a desalination plant in the citys Inner Harbor.

We are not defeated, we are defiant, said Isabel Araiza, For the Greater Good cofounder. We are dedicated and we are determined to fight for our community and our way of life.

A coalition of environmental group gathered Wednesday along the Corpus Christi Bay to condemn the city of Corpus Christi's plans for a desalination plant on the Inner Harbor.

Concerns voiced by Hillcrest neighborhood

The Inner Harbor location pursued for a desalination plant has been criticized by some who have said there is risk of environmental impacts, and also carries a threat to the nearby historically Black Hillcrest neighborhood.

The city is at a crossroads, said Armon Alex, cofounder of the Gulf of Mexico Youth Climate Summit  and the city councils choices will undoubtedly shape the environmental landscape for years to come.

The proximity to Hillcrest not only raises concerns of environmental degradation, but also highlights the inherent injustices faced by marginalized communities in the name of progress for industry, he said.

The Hillcrest Residents Association, among other groups, filed a federal complaint against the city last year alleging violations of the Civil Rights Act of 1968, based on the proposed location for desalination operations.

Proponents say project necessary due to drought threat

The pursuit of desalination is necessary to combat the regions vulnerability to drought, proponents have said, referencing the current drought and what may become Stage 2 drought in the near future.

Corpus Christi Water staff, in response to the news conference, wrote in a message to the Caller-Times that the Inner Harbor location was chosen ahead of 21 other project sites because of its immediate proximity to the residents and larger community of Corpus Christi, and would provide the entire community with safe, reliable drinking water.

The plant will incorporate state of the art technology with aesthetically-pleasing buildings that will enhance the neighborhood, staff wrote in the message to the Caller-Times, adding that neighborhood residents would be engaged on the facilitys design.

Critics claim most water will go to heavy industry, not residents

The environmental coalition on Wednesday also criticized how the water may be consumed  contending that its sole purpose is to support existing heavy industry and to be used as an asset to draw additional heavy industry into the area.

Better options for city action include investing in clean industries, as well as putting the money proposed for a desalination plant instead toward repairing aging water infrastructure, the coalition stated in a news release.

Water saved by investing in modern infrastructure will provide for water needs well into the 21st century, the groups wrote.

Army Corps of Engineers permit still pending

Desalination operations require two permits: a discharge permit and a water rights permit. And in the case of the Inner Harbor, it also requires a permit approved by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers.

A decision on the USACE permit is pending.

The state agency that oversees environmental permitting  the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality  approved a water rights permit for the proposed Inner Harbor location in October 2022.

The draft discharge permit was issued last week.

In the written response Thursday, representatives with Corpus Christi Water wrote that the staff had engaged experts to ensure environmental responsibility and negligible impact on aquatic bio-habitat.

Modeling took into account a number of reports by local researchers, such as Texas A&M University-Corpus Christis Harte Research Institute, as well as state environmental, wildlife and water agencies, city officials wrote in the message to the Caller-Times.

Draft permit likely available at public hearing

The draft permit is up for review and will likely also go to a public hearing held by the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality in the future, although details  should there be a meeting  havent been announced.

Coalition members urged residents to go to the meeting, once it is announced  numbers can mean being more likely to be heard, environmental advocates said.

If ultimately approved, the plant could potentially generate as much as 30 million gallons of water per day.

More: Corpus Christi presses ahead amid HUD civil rights probe into Northside desalination plans

More: Desalination efforts continue to move forward. Here's the latest permit issued

This article originally appeared on Corpus Christi Caller Times: Environmental groups respond to Corpus Christi's desalination permit
A beloved dog was found tied up after his owners death  then came an emotional reunion and adoption in Florida.

Photos posted online show Ares the dog being playful as he reconnected with a close friend of his original owner.

His next owner had tragically passed away, and they never knew what had happened to Ares, Alachua County Animal Resources wrote Dec. 22 on Facebook.

The friend of the first owner raced to the shelter, confirming that the dog was Ares. After the two came face to face once again, the friend decided to finalize his adoption and make this reunion a permanent one, the shelter wrote.

Social media users couldnt get enough of the heartwarming post, which garnered more than 2,000 reactions and over 200 comments within about a week. Some said the story left them crying tears of joy.

Ares knew so much love before, and we are so happy he will never be without it again, the shelter wrote.

Ares, believed to be about 7 years old, got a second chance after he was found tied up at a dog park. Alachua County Animal Resources said it made a post about Ares, which led the friend to recognize him.

The shelter described Ares as a dog who will melt into your lap after hes done being playful. While the dog has the same name as the Greek god of war, the shelter instead called him the god of.... CUDDLES.

I suppose I can be valiant at times while I am surveying the land and on watch for squirrels, but 99.9% of the time Im just waddling around, happy as a clam, the shelter wrote Dec. 20 on Facebook.

Alachua County Animal Resources is based in Gainesville, home to the University of Florida and roughly 110 miles northwest of Orlando.

The shelter didnt say what happened to the first owner or immediately share additional information with McClatchy News on Dec. 28.

Dog has first day of forever with family after nearly 300 days in Florida shelter

Dog survived crash that killed his owner. Then came an emotional reunion in Florida
The judge with the black robe and the old-fashioned crew cut from his days in the Marines cleared his throat in the silent courtroom two days after Christmas. Bailiffs with guns guarded the doors.

The York County Family Court judge, David Guyton started to talk, but a word from the audience made it clear this wasnt an ordinary day in court, with detention hearings, anxious tears and clanging jail doors echoing through the courthouse.

The word was Dada from a 2-year-old boy named Billy.

2-year-old Billy Farmer and mother Kendal Farmer clap as John Farmer holds the toddler Wednesday at York County Family Court, where the couple legally adopted him. Tracy Kimball/tkimball@heraldonline.com

John Farmer, the father, rocked Billy back and forth to get him to shush.

But on this day, Judge Guyton just smiled with his own adoptive daughter near him in the courtroom and said, I sure will allow that.

Because Billy was in court to get adopted, and Judge Guyton was fine with the young boy talking as much as he liked.

He sure knows who his daddy is, Guyton quipped.

Adoption: A legal process in South Carolina

York County Family Court Judge David Guyton talks to John and Kendal Farmer during an adoption hearing Wednesday where the couple adopted a 2-year-old boy. Tracy Kimball/tkimball@heraldonline.com

Adoptions are legal proceedings in South Carolina. There are dozens every year in York County. On the last day of court every year in Rock Hill, Guyton holds an Adoption Day of cases to close the year.

On Wednesday, seven children were united with legal parents and families in the Rock Hill courthouse.

The Farmers, John and Kendal, said before court the legal process to adopt took close to two years. They came to Rock Hill Wednesday from Laurens County to get the adoption done in court this year.

This child was sent to us. We were going to do whatever it took, Kendal Farmer said before court.

John Farmer said Billy got a tool set, and a toy tractor, and other toys that boys love for Christmas just two days earlier.

But Christmas for John Farmer and his wife was the present in their arms.

This is the best Christmas present we could have gotten, Kendal Farmer said.

The Farmers case, like others, required background checks, investigations, and documents inches thick. There are case workers, lawyers and a judge.

Another essential requirement: love.

Love takes the witness stand

Kendal Farmer, left, holds 2-year-old Billy Farmer while John Farmer listens to the judge Wednesday at York County Family Court, where the couple legally adopted the toddler. Tracy Kimball/tkimball@heraldonline.com

James Fletcher Thompson of Spartanburg, lawyer for the Farmers, knows adoptions so well he wrote a book on adoption case law in South Carolina. Thompson and his law partner, Dale Dove of Rock Hill, specialize in adoptions.

It was a court case after all. So, he called his first witness.

Kendal Farmer, Thompson said.

She smiled and tried not to cry tears of joy as she looked at her son rocking in her husbands arms.

Kendal Farmer told the court how she and her husband John had four daughters of their own in Laurens County. Theres the 21-year-old twins, Audri and Abi, as well as Marlee, 16, and Mia, 12.

The four daughters sat in the front row and shined brighter than the court lights as they readied to have a baby brother.

Kendal Farmer told Judge Guyton how she and her husband John had been foster parents to more than 40 children in the past decade. Billy came to them as a foster child at just 5 weeks old.

He was from the first day part of the family, Kendal Farmer said.

Thompson, the lawyer, told Kendal Farmer adoption meant she and her husband get parental rights, but also all parental responsibilities and requirements.

Dad takes the stand

John Farmer then was called to testify.

He testified how they had taken Billy into their home more than two years earlier on a dark night after being called for a foster child who needed placement.

Thompson saved the most important question for last: Do you love him?

The room was silent.

John Farmer said quietly but with the force of an avalanche, With all my heart.

The judge rules

Judge Guyton asked a for a report from the court-appointed guardian ad litem  someone dedicated to the childs best interests who is impartial and investigates the case.

The Farmers are a magnificent family, said guardian ad litem Hollie Bennett. They are the real deal. I recommend adoption.

Guyton said a S.C. Department of Social Services action allowed Billy to be legally adopted. All legal hurdles were done.

It is in his best interests to be adopted here today, Guyton said of Billy.

All that remained was finalizing Billys new legal name.

From this day forward, Billys name is William John Farmer, Guyton told the court.

The courtroom filled with family and friends clapped. Kendal and John Farmer held their newly adopted son.

The family poured up from the gallery toward the judges bench. William John Farmer had his picture made with all his new sisters, grandparents and others who came to see this big Farmer family get just a little bit bigger.

There was room for all.
Handmade tamales at an Arden Arcade taqueria. Salmon bombs at a Japanese restaurant on the outskirts of midtown. Locally-grown mushrooms atop sourdough pizza in Placer County.

These were the best restaurant meals I, The Sacramento Bees food and beverage reporter, enjoyed around the region in December.

All reviews were first published in my free weekly food and drink newsletter, which hits inboxes at noon each Wednesday. Visit https://bit.ly/bee_food_drink_newsletter to sign up.

Los Nopales Carniceria & Taqueria

Los Nopales Carniceria & Taqueria serves pozole rojo with toothsome hominy and giant chunks of fatty pork.

Los Nopales Carniceria & Taquerias name is only half true: theres no meat market attached to the hole-in-the-wall Mexican restaurant, and you wont find much in the way of nopales (cacti) either.

Michoacan natives Flora Cortez and Arturo Martines-Alvarez opened Los Nopales in 2016 between a liquor store and a hair salon on Fulton Avenue in Arden Arcade. Its a place for handmade tamales ($2.50-$2.89) and velvety refried beans served on paper plates, as well as ice cream sundaes and fruit cups.

Few if any other Sacramento-area restaurants make camarones a la Huichol ($17.89), a seafood dish native to the coastal Mexican state of Nayarit. The red marinades chile-lime flavor washed over the medley of shrimp, blackened onions and peppers, all served over white rice.

A veritable vat of bright red pozole ($15) stood out for its tangy flavor as much as its toothsome hominy and giant chunks of fatty pork. Red was also the color of the pambazo ($5.89 for one, or $9.99 for two), a small sandwich filled with chorizo and (mostly) potatoes on bread that had been dipped and fried in a guajillo chile sauce.

Address: 3106 Fulton Ave., Sacramento.

Hours: 10 a.m.-11 p.m., seven days a week.

Phone number: (916) 489-3592.

Website: www.instagram.com/los_nopales_carniceria/

Drinks: Beer, sodas and aguas frescas.

Vegetarian options: Tamales, chiles rellenos, quesadillas and chilaquiles.

Noise level: Loud.

Koi Japanese Bistro

Koi Japanese Bistros miso-and-mushroom risotto with pan-seared scallops is both creamy and savory.

One cant accuse Koi Japanese Bistro of misleading customers. The first steps into Nikki Nguyens, Alain Ngs and David and Jenny Macawiles restaurant put customers on a small bridge overlooking a koi pond, before walking into a high-ceiling space decorated with cherry blossom trees and seasonal holiday decor.

Opened in February 2022 in the Newton Booth neighborhood on the fringes of Sacramentos city center, Koi balances Japanese familiarities such as teriyaki, ramen and (especially) sushi with more inventive small plates.

Take the miso-and-mushroom risotto with pan-seared scallops ($13), a creamy, savory concoction that benefits greatly from a squeeze of the accompanying lemon. Or plump grilled oysters with uni and crab compound butter (MP, available in multiples of three), a rich cheers to start off your meal.

There are two ramen choices: tonkotsu or shoyu (both $13). I went for the former and appreciated its salty, tangy broth and tender pork chashu, but especially the juicy lollipop chicken drumstick (an extra $2.50, or included in the shoyu ramen).

Kois deepest menu section is its sushi rolls, and the sesame seed-speckled futomaki ($19) made for a pleasant mix of unagi, tuna and salmon with pickled and roasted vegetables. But the salmon bombs ($16) were my favorite sushi-adjacent dish: four spoonfuls of seasoned imitation crab, sweet potato and green onions, wrapped in salmon, torched and drizzled with garlic aioli and soy sauce before being served with a peppery slaw.

Address: 1920 29th St., Suite A, Sacramento.

Hours: 5-9 p.m. Monday, 11 a.m.-2 p.m. and 5-9 p.m. Tuesday-Thursday, 11 a.m.-2 p.m. and 5-10 p.m. Friday, 5-10 p.m. Saturday, closed Sunday.

Phone number: (916) 619-8569.

Website: https://koijapanesebistro.godaddysites.com/

Drinks: Sake, beer, wine, soju, hard cider, tea, soda and juice.

Vegetarian options: Three veggie rolls, and small plates such as pan-fried mushrooms, agedashi tofu and glazed sweet potatoes (all $9).

Noise level: Medium-low.

Pizzeria Luba

Pizzeria Lubas Coronado pizza features chorizo, Hatch chile jack cheese, pickled peppers, roasted garlic cream sauce and an aji verde drizzle.

Corey and Carmen Belangers dinner-only sourdough pizzeria has been open for a mere two years but already feels entrenched atop downtown Auburn.

Named for Coreys great-grandmother, Pizzeria Luba decorates naturally leavened, 12-inch pies with ingredients from nearby Placer County farms. Calzones are a Wednesday night specialty, sausage is made in-house and string lights illuminate the wood-floored dining room under a corrugated roof.

The Foggy Dew mushroom pizza ($21) is the clearest example of that farmer-chef relationship. While flavorful oyster mushrooms are the default and crimini might sneak in there as well, the pizza features whatever Foggy Dew Fungi in Newcastle has recently cultivated, along with decadent truffle oil, Fontina cheese, caramelized onions and roasted garlic cream sauce.

Pizzeria Lubas Coronado pizza ($22) is more piquant, and prettier. A creamy, artistic aji verde drizzle covers chorizo, Hatch chile jack cheese, pickled peppers and roasted garlic cream sauce as the chewy crust reaches up to its crunchy cornicione end.

The butter lettuce salad ($13) was the more interesting of Pizzeria Lubas two salad options, a mix of its pleasant namesake green and more assertive arugula along with pungent Point Reyes Farmstead Cheese Co. blue cheese, Fuji apple slices, candied pecans and a house vinaigrette.

Address: 780 Lincoln Way, Auburn.

Hours: 4-9 p.m. Tuesday-Saturday, closed Sunday and Monday.

Phone number: (530) 537-2200.

Website: https://pizzerialuba.com/

Drinks: 13 beers on tap, many of them produced locally, along with wine and sodas.

Vegetarian options: Several  consider the Foggy Dew or the Bella (spinach, bell peppers, red onions and Castelvetrano olives) pizzas, and opt for vegan cheeze or gluten-free crust if youre so inclined.

Noise level: Loud.

Twin Lotus Thai

Art meets food at Twin Lotus Thai, Joe and Kai Gilmans restaurant in the College/Glen neighborhoods College Greens shopping center. Joe is a music professor at American River College and adjunct professor of jazz studies at Sacramento State, while his wife Kai grew up in southern Thailand before immigrating to the U.S.

A piano sits at Twin Lotus west end, and local bands play two or three shows to accompany curries and noodle dishes on Friday-Sunday evenings. Recorded past shows play on the restaurants TV during lunch service, while poets take the mic on the fourth Tuesday of every month.

Kai ran a boutique in Phuket until the infamous 2004 tsunami, and she pays homage to her former city with the Phuket salad ($9.75). Chunks of avocado, mango, apples and canned pineapple sat over shredded carrots and green papaya, tied together by a savory tamarind/fish sauce dressing.

The spicy basil ($15) hit a high note with its squeaky sauteed green bells and bell peppers, poached egg and choice of protein (I went for ground chicken) over mild garlic rice. Dont be fooled by the name; while Thai basil is a primary ingredient, the dishs oyster-soy sauce had merely an easygoing level of sweet heat.

An earthy panang curry ($14.25), meanwhile, made for a warming cold-weather dish with ample burn. Fried tofu cubes tucked nicely into their jackets alongside zucchini, carrots and green beans.

Address: 8345 Folsom Blvd., Suite 119, Sacramento.

Hours: 11 a.m.-3 p.m. and 5-8:30 p.m. Tuesday-Friday, 12-3 p.m. and 5-8:30 p.m. Saturday and Sunday.

Phone number: (707) 564-3277.

Website: https://www.twinlotusthai.com/

Drinks: Beer, wine, boba and housemade sodas served in fun pineapple-shaped glasses.

Vegetarian options: Several.

Noise level: Loud during performances, and medium at other times.

Sacramento Eats: Recipes from the Capital Regions Favorite Restaurants and Bars

Order your cookbook here to get recipes from 60 of the Sacramento regions top restaurants and bars, plus photos and descriptions of what makes each business so exceptional.
When Puerto Rico became a colony of the US in 1898, much of its population was living in poverty.

The US government and Puerto Rico's appointed government instituted an economic development strategy for the island called "Operation Bootstrap."

To address concerns of "surplus population," the governments encouraged residents to move out of Puerto Rico, while also pushing sterilization and birth control.

In 1898, the United States government acquired Puerto Rico through the Treaty of Paris, which ended the Spanish-American War. This was only one year after Spain had granted the island the power to self-govern. But after Spain lost the war, they ceded control of Puerto Rico.

At the time, Puerto Rico's population was just under 1 million. Most were living in poverty. It wasn't uncommon for families to spend the majority of their income on food. Many people worked for only cents per day harvesting sugarcane. Others owned farms or worked inland on coffee and tobacco fields.

"Imagine that about 90% of your income is spent on food, and you're still malnourished. There's no money for clothes. Shoes were basically non-existent among the peasantry. And that was before the Great Depression," Dr. Harry Franqui-Rivera, a Latin American History Professor with a focus on Puerto Rico at Bloomfield College told Business Insider.

Laborers cutting sugarcane in Vega Baja, Puerto Rico, circa 1950. Herbert Lanks/Pix/Michael Ochs Archives/Getty Images

In tandem with the appointed Puerto Rican government, the US government drew up a plan to develop the island. In 1947, US Congress passed the Industrial Incentives Act, which became a part of "Operation Bootstrap," the name given to a number of projects that aimed to industrialize Puerto Rico's agrarian economy.

US corporations were lured to the island through tax exemptions and a cheap labor pool, which pushed agricultural workers into urban areas where newly formed factories were. However, that also led to fewer jobs and higher unemployment, creating what was described as a "surplus population" on the island.

To address this issue, the government came up with a two-pronged approach. In the short term, they would encourage Puerto Ricans to migrate to the mainland and surrounding islands in the Caribbean. In the long term, they would encourage sterilization and birth control, which bolstered the burgeoning eugenics movement in the US.

Sterilization was the only form of contraception accessible to many Puerto Rican women

Beginning in the 1910s through the 1920s, the economy in Puerto Rico was industrialized by pushing rural workers to urban areas where there were new factories. Some families were able to get the newly-formed factory jobs, while others weren't so lucky. Following the landfall of Hurricane San Felipe and the Great Depression, by the 1940s the unemployment rate on the island was around 37%. Many residents were forced into poverty.

In 1937, contraception and sterilization was made legal in Puerto Rico. When signing the bill, Acting Governor Rafael Menendez Ramos made a statement in support of the legalization of sterilization, citing the problem of "surplus population," writing that "the inevitable consequence is increasing unemployment, growing poverty and mounting misery."

Puerto Rican women register to vote on the territorial constitution, San Juan, Puerto Rico, November 1950. International/United States Information Agency/PhotoQuest/Getty Images

Some women chose to undergo sterilization because it was the only option for contraception available to them. Others were coerced into doing so by their doctors.

"In Puerto Rico, it was a class-based society," Franqui-Rivera said. "So imagine a doctor in Puerto Rico in the 1930s telling a woman from the peasantry that she should have or recommend that she get sterilized. There is no way for them to say no."

Sterilization or "La Operacion" as it was called, was one of the only options for birth control women had available to them in the early 20th century. Birth control trials began on the island in the 1950s  well after contraception and sterilization became legal.

One survey from the 1982 Puerto Rico Fertility and Family Planning Assessment found that, of the women interviewed who were sterilized between 1954-1982, 21% said they felt some regret and 11% felt definite regret for having been sterilized.

Sterilization and birth control efforts were effective in reducing fertility rates on the island. In 1950, the average Puerto Rican woman had given birth to an average of 5.2 children by the age of 50. By 1977, that average had dropped to 2.7 births per woman.

A group of Puerto Rican women, trained in household work by the Puerto Rican government, arrive at Newark Airport to work in homes in New York, 1953. AP

Some Puerto Rican nationalists feared the US had plans of a physical and cultural genocide

Puerto Rico's birth control movement had strong opponents and supporters. On one side were the Catholic Church and Puerto Rican nationalists, who opposed sterilization. The Catholic Church took their position on birth control based on religious grounds. The nationalists feared that the US as a colonial power had plans of physical and cultural genocide of Puerto Rico.

On the other side of the sterilization debate was the US federal government, the Puerto Rican government, public health officials, and private elite, who held the belief that the underdevelopment of the island was due to poverty and in order to develop the island, the population had to shrink.

Even within the ranks of those who supported sterilization or birth control, there were progressive and conservative factions. Progressive factions supported some amount of birth control and sterilization for those living in poverty, but they didn't agree with the genetic inferiority argument that many conservative eugenicists believed. Progressive groups wanted to institute birth control, but they also wanted to strengthen education, combat crime, and develop welfare benefits for poorer families, Dr. Laura Briggs, Professor at the University of Massachusetts Amherst, wrote in "Reproducing Empire."

Dr. Iris Lopez, a sociology professor and director of Latin American Studies at City College of New York and author of the book "Matters of Choice: Puerto Rican Women's Struggle for Reproductive Freedom," said most people who were a part of the birth control movement held a progressive ideology.

"The sterilization in Puerto Rico had to do more with the whole overpopulation ideology versus the general view of eugenics that people are targeted, genetically inferior, or unfit to reproduce," Lopez said. "It was largely driven by the Puerto Rican government and the Puerto Rican people themselves wanting to help 'our people,' the poor people on the island."

Women lined up at police headquarters during a roundup of suspected nationalists after an aborted revolt in San Juan, Puerto Rico, 1950. AP Photo/Earl Shugars

Many women did not know the sterilization procedure would be permanent

The process of sterilization involves a woman's fallopian tubes being tied or cut through a procedure called tubal ligation. While today it may be possible for women to undergo surgical reversal to try to become pregnant, the reversal process was not pioneered until the 1970s. For most Puerto Rican women, sterilization was permanent.

Because of the colloquial language physicians used telling women they needed to get their "tubes tied," some women were under the misconception that the procedure would be reversible.

As Lopez writes in her book, while sterilization in many cases was not forced onto Puerto Rican women, many women felt they did not have an alternative because of government policy and the social conditions they were subjected to. Some factories may have also encouraged their employees to be sterilized to reduce turnover.

While projected rates of sterilization on the island between 1930 and 1970 vary somewhere between 30-40%, Lopez said there were higher rates of sterilization amongst married women. A 1982 survey found that 42% of married women interviewed said they had been sterilized.

The sterilization law and eugenics board were repealed in Puerto Rico in 1960, but high rates of sterilization continued on the island until the late 1980s, according to a Family Planning Perspectives study released in 1992 .

Today, the effects of the economic development plan that led to the birth control movement reverberate on the island. Puerto Rico's population is aging rapidly, and people have continued to move away from the island in recent years in the wake of Hurricane Maria and as the economic situation worsens. The average number of births per woman was 0.9 in 2021.

"The Puerto Rican age, on average, is a huge problem," Franqui-Rivera said. "Even when the labor market was so good, incredibly good, it was a tough labor market."

Read the original article on Business Insider
The Biden administration on Thursday warned Texas that it will sue the state if it implements a strict immigration law known as SB4 that would empower state and local law enforcement officials to arrest, jail and prosecute migrants suspected of entering the U.S. unlawfully.

The Justice Department said it would file a lawsuit against SB4 if Texas did not assure federal officials by Jan. 3 that the state would refrain from enforcing the law as planned in March, according to a letter sent to Gov. Greg Abbott on Dec. 28 and obtained by CBS News. In addition to creating illegal entry crimes at the state level, the law would allow Texas judges to issue de facto deportation orders.

In its letter, the Justice Department said SB4 would effectively criminalize actions that are already illegal at the federal level, undermine relations with Mexico and prevent officials from enforcing federal immigration laws, including those designed to grant refuge to migrants fleeing persecution.

"Because SB 4 is unconstitutional and will disrupt the federal government's operations, we request that Texas forbear in its enforcement," Principal Deputy Assistant Attorney General Brian Boynton said in his letter to Abbott.

If Texas does not heed the Biden administration's demand, "the United States intends to file suit to enjoin the enforcement of SB 4," Boynton warned.

In a social media post on Thursday, Abbott, who signed SB4 earlier this month after the measure was passed by the Texas legislature, said the Biden administration's legal threat showed "hostility to the rule of law in America."

The Biden administration, he added, "not only refuses to enforce current U.S. immigration laws, they now want to stop Texas from enforcing laws against illegal immigration."

Renae Eze, a spokeswoman for Abbott, said Texas is prepared to defend SB4 before the Supreme Court.

SB4 is already being challenged in federal court by the American Civil Liberties Union, which has also argued the law is unconstitutional.

What would SB4 allow Texas to do?

SB4 is the latest attempt by Texas to challenge President Biden on immigration. Under Abbott, Texas has transported tens of thousands of migrants to New York City, Chicago and other Democratic-led cities, tasked National Guard units to fortify the Rio Grande with razor wire and assigned state troopers to arrest some migrants on trespassing charges.

A floating barrier is deployed in the middle of the Rio Grande, which forms the US-Mexico border, at Eagle Pass, Texas, on December 23, 2023. / Credit: CHANDAN KHANNA/AFP via Getty Images

The measure would be the strictest state immigration law in modern U.S. history, making unauthorized immigration a state crime, ranging from a misdemeanor to a felony.

Entering Texas illegally from Mexico would be treated as a misdemeanor crime, punishable by up to 180 days in jail and a fine of up to $2,000. Illegal reentry into Texas would be a felony offense, punishable with up to 2, 10 or 20 years in jail, depending on whether the migrant in question had been previously deported or convicted of certain crimes.

SB4 would also allow Texas magistrates to order migrants suspected of violating the illegal entry or reentry laws to return to Mexico as an alternative to continuing their prosecution. Those found to violate those orders could be charged with a second-degree felony.

The Mexican government has already said it would not accept returns of migrants from Texas state officials, denouncing SB4 as an "anti-immigrant" law.

Abbott and other supporters of SB4 have argued the law will deter illegal border crossings. He and other Republican leaders have faulted the Biden administration for the unprecedented levels of migrant crossings recorded over the past three years.

But critics of the law have said it will lead to racial profiling of people who look like migrants. They've also argued SB4 could backfire from a public safety perspective, overwhelming state and local jails and diverting law enforcement officials away from efforts to arrest serious criminals.

Read the full letter below:

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Nikki Haley's Civil War comments spark reactions from GOP candidates
Migrants head for the US border in Escuintla, Mexico - JOSE TORRES/REUTERS

New Yorks Democrat mayor Eric Adams accused the Biden administration of failing to manage the migrant crisis as he placed new restrictions on asylum seekers being bussed into his city.

The intervention comes as another massive migrant caravan of people is marching towards the US-Mexico border while emergency talks take place between the White House and the Mexican president.

Migrants crossing the Mexican border into overwhelmed southern US states have been routinely bussed to northern and often Democrat cities in recent months.

Mr Adams introduced a ban on buses arriving unannounced as he joined the Democrat mayors of Chicago and Denver in demanding the Biden administration intervene.

We cannot continue to do the federal governments job, Mr Adams said at a joint press conference.

The federal government said to New York City: Were not going to do our job  you do our job. You take care of 4,000 people a week, Eric, you and your team, he added.

Migrant arrivals in New York City are a daily occurrence - Andrea Renault/ZUMA Press Wire/Shutterstock

Last week, 14 busloads of migrants arrived in New York on a single night, with nowhere to go.

Mr Adams said US cities had reached a tipping point while the US government stood by instead of helping ease the flow of undocumented people left on the streets.

Attempts to set up meetings with the administration had been fruitless, he said.

It baffles me. I have to keep hammering away at this and Im really pleased that were now getting a chorus of other cities that are joining us.

That coalition is going to continue to grow because these cities deserve better, he continued.

Cities should not be handling national problems.

In an attempt to control the flow, Mr Adams said he would impose tough restrictions on the bus companies and threatened to jail operators who did not comply.

They will now have to give 32 hours notice of their arrival and drop-off times will be limited.

Police have been given powers to seize buses from operators who defy Mr Adams executive order.

We cannot allow buses with people needing our help to arrive without warning at any hour of day and night, Mr Adams said.

According to New York officials, more than 161,000 migrants have arrived in the city in the past 18 months.

The New York measures echo those already introduced by Chicago.

New York City mayor Eric Adams said US cities had reached a tipping point - Michael Brochstein/SOPA Images/Shutterstock

Texas sidestepped the curbs by instructing operators to drop migrants off on the outskirts of the city, creating chaos, according to Chicagos mayor Brandon Johnson.

The city, which has received more than 26,000 migrants, was at breaking point he added.

Our local economies are not designed and built to respond to this kind of crisis. We are literally building the system as we go along, Mr Johnson said.

Denver mayor Mike Johnston said the city had received more than 35,000 migrants and was accommodating 4,000.

The White House defended its handling of the crisis, saying it had helped 10,000 migrants apply for work permits.

The surge at the US border has reached record highs after Mr Biden loosened restrictions imposed by former president Donald Trump.

A caravan of an estimated 6,000 migrants walking through Central America to the US is likely to exacerbate tension at the crossing. The caravans, often promoted by migration rights organisations, were a feature of Mr Trumps initial border controls.

The latest caravan started marching last week as the White House arranged unexpected talks with the Mexican government during the Christmas holidays.

Antony Blinken, the secretary of state, Alejandro Mayorkas, the homeland security secretary, and Liz Sherwood-Randall, Mr Bidens homeland security adviser, held what was described as productive talks, with Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador, the Mexican president.

Mexico crackdown on smugglers

No official policies were announced but according to the White House, Mexico has agreed to crack down on the smugglers.

On Wednesday, migrants and asylum seekers, many carrying small children, walked along the highway near the southern Mexican city of Villa Comaltitlan. Some held a banner which said Exodus from poverty.

Rosa, from El Salvador, said she hoped the officials would ease the suffering of migrants.

We are looking for something better for our children and our families, she said as she walked. I hope this touches their hearts.

Migrants and asylum seekers travel through Mexico to the US to escape violence, economic distress and negative impacts of climate change, according to the United Nations.

The number crossing the perilous Darien Gap straddling Colombia and Central America has topped half a million in 2023, double 2022s record.

Luis Garcia Villagran, a migrant rights activist, criticised the meeting, saying the officials main concerns were domestic electoral issues, and that more enforcement efforts aimed at stopping migrants from reaching the US border would only hurt the poorest of the poor.

They want women and children to be bargaining chips, he said, speaking alongside the caravan on Tuesday.

We are not bargaining chips for any politicians.

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President Biden took a swipe at Republican presidential candidate Nikki Haley for failing to mention slavery while responding to a question about the cause of the Civil War.

Reposting a video of Haleys response during a Wednesday town hall in New Hampshire, Biden offered a response on X, formerly known as Twitter: It was about slavery.

The video captured the exchange between Haley, a former South Carolina governor and United Nations ambassador, and a New Hampshire voter who asked the White House hopeful about the cause of the Civil War.

Well, dont come with an easy question, right, Haley said during Wednesdays town hall in Berlin, N.H. I mean, I think the cause of the Civil War was basically how government was going to run, the freedoms and what people could and couldnt do.

Haley said it always comes down to the role of government, telling the crowd, We need to have capitalism, we need to have economic freedom. 

We need to make sure that we do all things so that individuals have the liberties so that they can have freedom of speech, freedom of religion, freedom to do or be anything they want to be without government getting in the way, she added.

The Granite State voter then pressed Haley on her answer, saying it was astonishing that she did not mention slavery in a discussion about the Civil War.

What do you want me to say about slavery? she asked.

You answered my question. Thank you, the voter said.

Democratic National Committee chair Jaime Harrison also slammed Haleys response, calling it a slap in the face to Black voters.

This isnt hard: condemning slavery is the baseline for anyone who wants to be President of the United States, but Nikki Haley and the rest of the MAGA GOP are choking on their words trying to rewrite history, Harrison said in a statement.

Haley has seen an uptick in support in New Hampshire in recent weeks, though former President Trump continues to hold his lead in the early voting state, along with national polls. The Hill/Decision Desk HQ polling index shows Trump with a 17 percentage point lead over Haley in New Hampshire.

As for the national polls, Haley and Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis are neck and neck for second place behind Trump. As of Thursday, Trump leads the national polls with 63.1 percent of the support, followed by Haley with 10.8 percent and DeSantis close behind with 10.6 percent, according to the polling index.

South Carolina was the first state to secede from the Union in 1860. In the states proclamation, the governments reasoning for seceding names slavery and points to the increasing hostility of non-slaveholding states to the institution of slavery.

Haley was pressed on the wars origin during a 2010 interview, where she described the war as between two disparate sides that were fighting for tradition and change, The Associated Press reported.

She said then that the Confederate flag was not something that is racist, the news wire added.

Five years after that interview, Haley urged South Carolina lawmakers to remove the Confederate flag from the Capitol after nine Black churchgoers were killed in a mass shooting in Charleston.

The Hill reached out to Haleys campaign team for comment.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill.
You are here: Business

People visit the booth of Syngenta Group at the exhibition area on green agriculture chain during the China International Supply Chain Expo (CISCE) in Beijing, capital of China, Nov. 30, 2023. [Photo/Xinhua]

Preparations for the second China International Supply Chain Expo (CISCE) are progressing smoothly, Zhang Xin, spokesperson of the China Council for the Promotion of International Trade, said on Wednesday.



The second CISCE will be held from Nov. 26 to 30, 2024 and over one hundred domestic and international enterprises have expressed their intention to participate, Zhang added.

The first CISCE concluded in Beijing on Dec. 2 this year, with its exhibition booths categorized into various sections including smart vehicles, green agriculture, clean energy, digital technology and healthy lifestyles.

Efforts will be made to add exhibition booths showcasing supply chains in other industries at the second CISCE, creating more opportunities for enterprises, Zhang said.
Heading into the heat of the 2024 election season, Joe Biden is weighing major changes to US immigration policy that would toughen border enforcement and address an issue that has emerged as one of the presidents biggest political vulnerabilities ahead of a likely rematch against his anti-immigration rival Donald Trump.

But it is also a risk for Biden, who entered the White House in 2021 promising to restore humanity and American values to our immigration system after Trumps four-year crackdown on immigration.

Shortly after being sworn in, Biden set to work unwinding his Republican predecessors immigration policies and, at the same time, sent Congress a sprawling legislative proposal that included pathways to citizenship for millions of immigrants living in the US.

Related: How Trumps anti-immigrant rhetoric is taking over the Republican party

That aspirational legislation landed with a resounding thud on Capitol Hill, where Democratic leaders had little appetite for a political scrap over the perennially thorny issue of immigration reform. But the politics of immigration have shifted sharply to the right since then, leaving Democrats  and the president  in a political bind as they negotiate with Republicans over border measures they once denounced.

Exceptionally high levels of migration at the southern border with Mexico  and withering Republican attacks on the presidents response  have vaulted immigration to the fore. On Wednesday, the US secretary of state, Antony Blinken, met with Mexicos president, Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador, for talks aimed at limiting migrants reaching the US south-western border.

A bipartisan group of Senate lawmakers have been engaged in talks with the White House over a border deal that would unlock aid to Ukraine and Israel.

We all know theres a problem at the border  the president does, Democrats do, Chuck Schumer, the Senate majority leader, said before sending senators home for their holiday recess. Our goal is to get something done as soon as we get back.

But for many Democratic officials, immigration activists and progressive leaders, the dramatic changes Biden is considering to asylum law and border enforcement are nearly indistinguishable from the policies of his predecessor. They argue that the US has a humanitarian responsibility to provide refuge to the millions of migrants fleeing violence, poverty and natural disasters.

A return to Trump-era policies is not the fix. In fact it will make the problem worse, the California senator Alex Padilla, a Democrat, said in a speech on the steps of the Capitol earlier this month, in which he urged the president to oppose Republicans border security proposals. Mass detention, gutting our asylum system, Title 42 on steroids. It is unconscionable.

Yet for many Americans, especially Republicans, the upswing in undocumented migrants arriving at the southern border is an urgent concern.

Nearly half of US adults said tightening security at the US-Mexico border should be a high priority for the federal government, according to an AP-NORC poll. Meanwhile, surveys consistently show deep, cross-party dissatisfaction with Bidens handling of immigration and border security.

In a December Wall Street Journal poll, 13% of voters ranked immigration and the US-Mexico border as their top issue, second only to concerns about the economy. It found voters disapproved of Bidens handling of the border by a more than two-to-one margin. And asked who voters believed would better handle the issue, 54% said Trump compared with 24% who said Biden  by far the widest spread between the two candidates of all the issues tested.

It marks a reversal from the Trump years, when voters tended to give Democrats the edge on immigration and largely rejected Republican efforts to stoke fear over migration.

Democrats have long struggled to articulate a cohesive, proactive immigration agenda. Their divisions over how to fix the nations tattered immigration system faded during the Trump years, as the party united against his immigrant-bashing rhetoric and hardline policies. In 2020, Biden campaigned on a promise to reverse Trumps approach.

But as record numbers of undocumented immigrants arrive at the border, and seek shelter in cities hundreds of miles away, Biden is under pressure from Republican critics and Democratic allies to address a problem that both parties now agree has reached crisis levels.

It is a very dangerous moment politically that this White House is operating in, said Vanessa Cardenas, executive director of Americas Voice, a pro-immigration group.

Cardenas said the answer was not to cave to Republican demands but to double down on the administrations unprecedented efforts to expand legal immigration pathways and work permits.

She acknowledged the limitations of what Biden can achieve through executive action, but urged the president to be bold or risk further alienating core Democratic constituencies, such as young people and progressives.

This administration needs to show that theyre willing to [do] something meaningful for immigrant communities, she said. Unless they do that, its going to be really hard for people who care about immigration and immigrant rights to vote for them.

But the president appears willing to gamble that a deal with Republicans on border security will do more politically to help than hurt. Those who agree say supporters of immigrant rights are unlikely to back Trump, whose policies they abhor, and will likely be motivated to turn out by other issue such as abortion and democracy.

As far as the Democrats are concerned, this is a big liability, said Ruy Teixeira, a senior fellow at the American Enterprise Institute and co-author of, Where Have All the Democrats Gone? They would be wise to start trying to undo some of the damage here.

In focus groups, Teixeira says voters, including Latinos, express deep anxieties about migration and view the border as out of control. He said Biden needed to stop worrying about the blowback from immigrant rights groups and progressives and start boasting about the actions his administration is taking to stem the flow of migrants, such as building a section of Trumps wall.

To simply do it and then shamefacedly allude to it every once in a while and say your hands are tied, its the worst of both worlds, he said. He gets attacked by the left of his party and voters have no idea what he did.

Earlier this year, a number of Republican governors began bussing and flying thousands of migrants from their states, especially Texas, to Democratic-led cities such as New York, Washington and Chicago, a tactic condemned by immigrant rights groups as inhumane and nakedly political. But it also highlighted the strain facing US cities, where Democratic officials say an influx of migrants has overwhelmed shelters, schools and hospitals.

In recent months, several Democratic mayors and governors have called on the White House to step up its federal response to what the Illinois governor, JB Pritzker, called a national humanitarian crisis.

After a three-month rise that approached all-time highs, arrests for illegal crossings along the southern border fell 14% in October before ticking up again in November, according to US Customs and Border Protection data.

Despite concerns about the border, a July Gallup poll found that two-thirds of Americans still consider immigration a good thing for the country. And Democrats note that Republicans are demanding new restrictions on legal immigration as economists say the US needs more workers to address labor shortages.

We need workers. We need a workforce. Weve got to be competitive in the future, Congresswoman Veronica Escobar, a Texas Democrat, said recently. Immigrants make us better.

***

For much of his presidency, Biden described the wave of migration to the US as a hemispheric challenge, with rising violence, economic crises and political upheaval pushing millions of migrants to Americas borders. In response, the Biden administration has pursued a combination of new legal pathways for immigrants to enter the country with more restrictions for those who cross the border illegally.

Aspects of the approach have earned praise from immigrant rights groups. But some have also accused the administration of policy whiplash.

This year, the Biden administration extended temporary legal status to nearly 500,000 Venezuelans who arrived in the US before 31 July, fleeing the economic and humanitarian crisis in their home country. Weeks later, the US announced it was resuming deportation flights to Venezuela. The move, which sparked fierce backlash from immigrant rights groups, came after border agents arrested more Venezuelans than Mexicans for the first time.

The Biden administration also recently announced that it had no choice but to build up to 20 miles of barriers along the border with Mexico, breaking a campaign pledge not to build another foot of Trumps border wall. The administration, which waived more than 20 federal laws and regulations to allow for the construction of barriers in Texass Rio Grande Valley, said it had no choice in the matter because the funds had already been authorized by Congress during Trumps presidency.

On the campaign trail, Biden is focusing on his rival. The president recently condemned Trumps demonizing rhetoric, including nativist comments that undocumented immigrants were poisoning the blood of our country and a vow to be a dictator on day one to close the southern border with Mexico. His campaign has also seized on reports that Trump is planning an even harsher immigration crackdown if elected to a second term with plans that include mass deportations and detention camps.

Meanwhile, the White House says Trumps immigration policies are to blame for creating some of the backlog that is overwhelming immigration courts. Officials also argue that Congressional Republicans have stood in the way of requests to fund more border patrol agents, social workers, judges and court officials.

But those arguments have so far failed to resonate with voters who believe the president has done little to address the problem. If the border talks between the Senate and the White House are successful, the White House hopes it will enable Biden to show progress on an issue thats dogged his presidency.

Some Democrats are skeptical. They accuse Republicans of negotiating in bad faith, saying they are only interested in weaponizing the issue, not addressing it. Cardenas said Republicans wont stop attacking Biden on immigration, even if he meets their border enforcement demands.

The goalposts always get moved, she said. And then youre stuck with policies that dont even address the problem in the first place.
FRESNO, Calif. (KSEE/KGPE)  A pair of statues from a popular attraction inside Fresnos Roeding Park have been stolen, according to the Fresno Police Department.

Officers say the statues of a wolf and a pig were taken from Fresnos Playland on Dec. 19; Fresno Police put out an alert that they were taken over a week later on Wednesday, Dec. 27, asking for help locating the stolen figures.

Why time is running out for Playland in Fresno

According to police, an unknown suspect broke into the park on Dec. 19 and took two of the four statues depicting the story of The Three Little Pigs. The four statues are of three pigs and one wolf. Officers say the wolf and one of the pigs have been taken.

Big Bad Wolf, Little Pig statues stolen from Fresno's Playland

Anyone with information about the stolen statues is asked to contact the Fresno Police Departments Detective Nolen with the Southwest Investigations Unit at (559) 621-6129

or emailing Rebekah.Nolen@fresno.gov.

Investigators say the statues can be identified by the unique Disney logos at the base.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to YourCentralValley.com.
Bill Granger, who has died of cancer aged 54, was a self-taught Australian chef credited with changing the worlds breakfasting habits.

He made his name in the 1990s as the proprietor of a cafe called bills (sic) in the Sydney suburb of Darlinghurst, and went on to build an empire of restaurants around the world. From 2009 he lived in London, and established branches of Granger & Co in Notting Hill, Chelsea, Kings Cross, Clerkenwell and Marylebone.

It was his breakfasts that made Grangers reputation initially, although there was nothing calculated about his focus on the neglected art of the morning meal. He simply happened to be a morning person  By the afternoon Im ready to crash. This was because he tackled everything he attempted with enormous gusto: Ive basically got two speeds  78 rpm or 16. I dont really do 33 and a third.

His innovation was to replace the stodgy fry-up with food that was light and nutritious, but full of flavour. His creamy scrambled eggs made restaurant critics fall at his feet  The New York Times christened him the egg master of Sydney  while his coconut bread, ricotta pancakes and sweetcorn fritters also became an indispensable start to the day for his patrons.

Granger, centre, right, with Royal Pastry Chef Kathryn Boyden, centre left, and other royal chefs at Buckingham Palace as they make pavlova before a reception in advance of the Royal Visit to Australia - Lewis Whyld/Pool Photo via AP

Granger was best-known for popularising smashed avocado on toast, which became something of a shibboleth in Britain, designated by some older commentators as the favoured foodstuff of faddy millennials whose difficulties in getting on to the housing ladder could be attributed to their addiction to such expensive fripperies.

It was certainly true that Grangers influence helped to make brunch the favourite meal of the Instagram generation and kept innumerable artisan cafes in business.

He became a dominant figure in world cuisine with a series of cookery books that sold in their millions; as early as 2002 he was able to tell a Daily Telegraph interviewer with baffled pride that he was outselling Tom Clancy.

Part of Grangers appeal was that his food was unfussy: Like me, [my] recipes are not at all cheffy. Lets face it, nobodys going to enjoy a dish more, or have a better time, if youve spent three hours shaving a carrot.

He attributed the success of his restaurants to offering his patrons a warm welcome (my pet hate is those signs saying please wait to be seated ) and a homely atmosphere. I do home cooking. We [Australians] dont do formality well. When we try to do formal fashion, its a dog. When we do beachwear, surfwear, jeans, its fantastic.

Nevertheless, there was nothing casual in his approach to creating a relaxed ambience: We were one of the first cafes to employ restaurant standards in produce, look and attitude, and people responded immediately.

Granger was influenced by the cookery writer Nigel Slater

To some extent Grangers conquest of the culinary world could be attributed to his media-friendly presence. His boyish enthusiasm and lack of pretension came over well on television, and when the Telegraphs Casilda Grigg reviewed his book Simply Bill in 2005, she noted that fans of Australias best-looking chef  are rewarded with plenty of eye candy: Bill looking like a Ralph Lauren ad as he shops for groceries with his kids and rustles up chocolate-chip cookies in his sparkling white kitchen.

Granger inevitably earned the sobriquet the Australian Jamie Oliver, which he took in good humour: I think were both into the idea of good, uncomplicated food.

This was the simple secret to his success, he insisted: I dont want to put 25 complex things on a plate just because I can  People say to me, Oh, how clever, youve really picked up on the trend back to simple food. But Ive always done it and Ive never seen it as a fad; most people like straightforward food, done well, in a clean restaurant. And its surprising how few people do those simple things well.

William Granger was born in Melbourne on August 29 1969. His father was one of a long line of butchers. His mother, he recalled, came of age in the 1970s, when the domestic arts were being rejected by liberated women. So, from the age of eight or nine, I ended up doing most of the cooking.

His mother was also an alcoholic, and, to the surprise of many who only knew him in his sunny later years, Bill suffered from depression as a teenager and missed several years of schooling. After his parents separated he decided to reinvent himself and moved to Sydney to study fine art.

He supported himself by working as a waiter in a French-Mediterranean cafe, and eventually persuaded the owner to rent it to him for a couple of evenings every week.

Influenced by Elizabeth David and Nigel Slater  he was the first to really bring home the idea of a personal love of food, and passion in its preparation and serving  Granger spent an exhausting six months cooking food at home and bringing it to the cafe, as it had no stove. I didnt make enough money to pay myself, but it did teach me to keep things simple.

Granger at his favourite place in Sydney, Wylie's Baths in Coogee, 2006 - JACKY GHOSSEIN/Fairfax Media via Getty

In 1993, aged 22, he launched his own cafe, bills. (At the time he favoured the lower-case b and lack of apostrophe because I was young and it was trendy  It drives people bananas.) He rented the building in Darlinghurst from a man who had failed to make a success of a brothel-cum-diner, and the cafes early years coincided with the gentrification of the suburb.

It drew a diverse crowd, attracted not just by the food but by the light, airy aesthetic of the space: Granger always brought his trained artists eye to the look of his restaurants.

His success prompted Granger to open bills 2, a fully licensed restaurant, in nearby Surry Hills in 1996; a third bills followed, in Woollahra. He began to appear regularly on Australian television, and celebrities such as Cate Blanchett and Leonardo DiCaprio graced his eateries.

After spending some months travelling in Asia, he opened restaurants in Japan and South Korea. In 2009 he decided to move to London with his wife and children, with no contacts, no job to come to and just five suitcases. It was a bit of a midlife crisis.

Although he found the British lacking some of the spontaneity and easy-going nature of his fellow Australians, he observed that living in Australia, its like theres a party in the northern hemisphere that youre not invited to. Once you live in London you get real Fomo living anywhere else.

In 2011 he established his first British restaurant, Granger & Co, in Westbourne Grove, Notting Hill: Its casual, you can stay all day. Its not a dining experience, its a place to eat. He also had his own BBC television series, Bills Kitchen: Notting Hill, and became a weekly food columnist for The Independent on Sunday.

Bill Granger is survived by his wife Natalie Elliott, a television producer, and their three daughters.

Bill Granger, born August 29 1969, died December 25 2023

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Black Love: Blac Chyna And Derrick Milano Say Their Intentional Relationship Allows Them To Be With Our Best Friend | Photo: Robin L Marshall via Getty Images

While some celebrities are spinning the block into the arms of former lovers, Angela White (formerly known as Blac Chyna) is embracing a brand new relationship. Fans have been elated to witness Whites transformation fueled by self-love and growth.

Her recent blog headlines have focused on her sobriety journey, spiritual evolution and educational achievements, and now shes added a new relationship to the mix. The mother of two shocked everyone when she popped out with her new boyfriend, music producer Derrick Milano. The two met in 2019 through mutual friends but kept it professional due to White being in a relationship at the time.

Their romance didnt begin until 2023 when White took a chance and sent a private message to Milano. She suggested the two get in the studio together, although White didnt plan on making any music. She recalled the moment the Savage producer asked her if she was ready to record: I was like no, she said, laughing.

Milano mentioned that was when he realized how perfect the 35-year-old entrepreneur was and was shocked when she asked him about his music projects.

I said, Oh, shoot, you want to play some stuff. And we started playing her music, and she was giving her input, and then she was playing me beats that I really liked, he told Blavity. At that point, I was just like, wow, like she actually like cares about me as a person, its not just a music thing.'

The two continued reliving the day, agreeing that they spoke for hours and realized their relationship would be more than a studio visit.

When Angela and I first met, it was love at first sight, Milano said.

He added that he always saw past Whites Blac Chyna persona.

I dont really look at her like that. I heard the name [Blac Chyna] back in the day, but I never knew her as that. So meeting her was like meeting a new friend and a new person, he said. We connected, and were both very similar when it comes to our energy with people, so for us to be around each other as much as we are, love each other, and appreciate each others presence and presence means a lot.

Their first date was to a local festival, and they havent spent a day apart since.

The two agreed that keeping their faith at the forefront of their relationship and being transparent about their intentions has had a positive effect.

Im dating for marriage. Im clear about that, Milano said.

White echoed her sweethearts sentiment while attributing her recent growth aiding her ability to accept true love.

He makes it so easy to be vulnerable. We talk about everything; we even write letters to each other. Our communication is very important, she said.

The couple is working on building a brand together, but theyre staying hush-hush about the details to avoid any assumptions of their union being a PR stunt.

In unison, the couple said, We get to be with our best friend. Its amazing.
Florida Republican Representative Byron Donalds has slammed GOP presidential candidate Nikki Haley after she flip-flopped on the cause of the US Civil War.

1. Psst Nikki... the answer is slavery PERIOD, Mr Donalds tweeted on Thursday. 2. This really doesnt matter because Trump is going to be the nominee. Trump 2024!

The former South Carolina governor and UN Ambassador avoided mentioning slavery when she was asked by a voter in New Berlin, New Hampshire, on Wednesday night what caused the Civil War.

I think the cause of the Civil War was basically how government was going to run, the freedoms, and what people could and couldnt do. What do you think the cause of the Civil War was? she said.

The man, who subsequently told reporters his name was Patrick, replied he wasnt the one running for president.

I mean, I think it always comes down to the role of government, Ms Haley said. We need to have capitalism, we need to have economic freedom. We need to make sure that we do all things so that individuals have the liberties so that they can have freedom of speech, freedom of religion, freedom to do or be anything they want to be without government getting in the way.

In the year 2023, its astonishing to me that you can answer that question without mentioning the word slavery, the voter said.

What do you want me to say about slavery? Next question, Ms Haley said.

She later backtracked on her comments on Thursday morning during an appearance on The Pulse of NH radio programme.

Of course, the Civil War was about slavery, thats the easy part. I know it was about slavery. I am from the South, she said.

But more than that, whats the lesson in all this? That freedom matters, she added. And individual rights and liberties matter for all people. Thats the blessing of America. That was a stain on America when we had slavery. But what we want is never relive it. Never let anyone take those freedoms away again.

She went on to claim on the programme that the Democrats are sending plants to her events, according to the NH Journal.

Why are they hitting me? See this for what it is ... They want to run against Trump. In town halls, I answer every question, and they are planting questions there, she claimed.

It was definitely a Democrat plant ... He didnt give reporters his name, she added of the questioner.

Mr Donalds has confirmed that hes considering a run for governor in 2026 at the end of current Sunshine State governor and 2024 candidate Ron DeSantiss second term.

The 45-year-old, who has already endorsed former President Donald Trump in the 2024 race, was one of nine Republicans who ran for speaker earlier this year following the ouster of former Speaker Kevin McCarthy but he received meagre support in votes behind closed doors among House Republicans.

Mr Donalds has previously called out Mr DeSantis for his administrations policies on the teaching of Black history. He tweeted on 26 July: The new African-American standards in [Florida] are good, robust, and accurate. That being said, the attempt to feature the personal benefits of slavery is wrong and needs to be adjusted. That obviously wasnt the goal and I have faith that [the Florida Department of Education] will correct this.

Mr Donalds also received some votes for speaker in January after he was nominated by Texas Rep Chip Roy amidst an attempt from hardliners in the House GOP to stop Mr McCarthys tenure before it had even begun, leading to Mr McCarthy needing 15 attempts to finally grasp the gavel.

Mr DeSantis also criticised Ms Haley on Thursday, saying, Nikki Haley has had some problems with some basic American history  Not that difficult to identify and acknowledge the role slavery played in the Civil War.

Nikki Haley has had some problems with some basic American history  Not that difficult to identify and acknowledge the role slavery played in the Civil War.



 Gov. Ron DeSantis (R-FL) criticizes Nikki Haley for word salad when asked at a town hall what caused the Civil War pic.twitter.com/L6g0BsIWT3  The Recount (@therecount) December 28, 2023
Democratic Congresswoman Barbara Lee is working with several Congressional Black Caucus members to speak up for Black tech employees who are being disproportionately laid off. In a letter to Julie Su, the acting secretary of the U.S. Department of Labor, Lee and her colleagues said theyre concerned about the high rate of Black employees losing their jobs in the tech industry.

We write to express our concerns with recent reports highlighting the impacts of widespread layoffs within the tech industry and its disproportionate impacts on the African American community and women, the advocates wrote, according to The Grio. Tech companies who previously agreed to address bias and discrimination and create greater opportunities in the workforce are now quietly defunding diversity pledges.

In 2015, the Congressional Black Caucus Diversity Task Force launched the CBC Tech 2020 Initiative, aiming to increase diversity in the tech industry.

Technology has revolutionized our lives and continues to be a driving force in our economy. African Americans must be included in every aspect of this technological revolution  not just as end users or as a market share, Lee said in a statement at the time.

The California Congresswoman now continues to demand for the tech industry to be held accountable.

Weve been fighting for justice and for economic parity and security as part of the mission of the CBC, Lee told The Grio. And so when we established Tech 2020, it was about equity and inclusion.

According to the letter from the CBC, over 240,000 tech workers have been laid off since the start of 2023. Thats a 50% increase from the previous year. A majority of the employees that have been let go in 2023 are women and minorities, Lee said.

Now with all the Supreme Court decisions and with all of the backsliding, especially by Republicans, its very important that we be very assertive in our fight for equity and justice within the private sector and public sector, Lee said to The Grio.

The CBC is still waiting for a response from the Department of Labor.

The letter was sent to the secretary of labor, and its the federal governments job to conduct oversight and to answer these questions, Lee said.

She continued, I would hope that the tech companies would welcome this so that they can get their act together and make sure that they dont disproportionately lay off African-Americans, which is occurring right now.
Blackpool Tower 'fire' just orange netting in wind, say police

Emergency services were scrambled to a fire that had apparently broken out at the top of Blackpool Tower on Thursday  only to discover it was orange netting blowing in the wind.

Witnesses reported seeing flames at the top of the landmark at around 2pm, sparking a large emergency response.

Lancashire Fire and Rescue Service deployed six fire engines, drones, and a rope rescue team to the scene. A National Police Air Service helicopter with a thermal imaging unit, and police officers, were also deployed.

As the drama unfolded, visitors on the promenade expressed confusion as to why the fire service had arrived because no smoke could be seen coming from the Tower.

At the same time, a man was arrested at the base of the building by officers from Lancashire Constabulary for breach of the peace, adding to the chaos.

Witnesses reported seeing flames coming from the top of the landmark at about 2pm - Karl Houghton/Bav Media

Pictures and video on social media, however, gave the appearance of flames on the 158-metre structure.

The building was evacuated as a precaution and a specialist team of firefighters made their way up to the Tower, which is currently undergoing restoration work.

At 4.28pm, a police spokesman confirmed that the 129-year-old structure was not on fire, saying: We are at the scene in support of Lancashire Fire and Rescue Service, Blackpool council and Merlin Entertainments.

The top of the Tower is currently closed for renovation and difficult to access. Our helicopter has flown over the tower and there is no fire. We can confirm what can be seen is orange netting.

The Tower building was evacuated as a precaution, while the incident caused traffic problems - Aaron Parfitt/Splash News

A spokesman for the fire service said it had been called to the scene by concerned members of the public who due to a combination of factors believed the landmark was on fire.

They added: The area where the fire was suspected is generally inaccessible, therefore access to this area is difficult. A specialist team from Lancashire Fire and Rescue Service gained access and confirmed that there was no fire.

This incident was supported by the National Police Air Service, who used thermal imaging which provided further assurance.

A spokesman for Merlin Entertainments, which runs the Tower, said that it had implemented its well-rehearsed emergency procedures, adding: What looked like a fire from a distance was in fact lights on a reflective netting surface at the top of the Tower.

A spokesman for Merlin Entertainments, which runs the Tower, said: What looked like a fire from a distance was in fact lights on a reflective netting surface - Aaron Parfitt/Splash News

The incident caused traffic problems on the promenade, with heavy jams on nearby roads.

Built between 1891 and 1894, Blackpool Tower is now a Grade I listed building. It was first opened to the public in May 1894, and at the time was the tallest man-made structure in the British Empire.

The top of the Tower did catch fire in 1897, when the platform was seen in flames from up to 50 miles away.

In 2018, several people became trapped at the top and had to be rescued.

05:08 PM GMT

Suspected fire actually 'lights on reflective netting surface at top of tower'

After it was revealed that the suspected blaze was orange netting, a spokesperson for Blackpool Tower said: We can confirm that the Fire Brigade are on site at the Blackpool Tower and have established that there is no fire.

They added: Our well-rehearsed emergency procedures were implemented, and we can confirm that what looked like a fire from a distance was in fact lights on a reflective netting surface at the top of the tower.

04:46 PM GMT

'There was no fire'

Lancashire Fire and Rescue Service said in a post on X: Lancashire Fire and Rescue Service were called to Promenade, Blackpool today by concerned members of the public, due to a combination of factors that led them to believe it was a fire.

The area where the fire was suspected is generally inaccessible, therefore access to this area is difficult.

A specialist team from Lancashire Fire and Rescue Service gained access and confirmed that there was no fire.

This incident was supported by the National Police Air Service, who used thermal imaging which provided further assurance.

04:27 PM GMT

Blackpool Tower Construction History

The cost to build the tower was just under 300,000, roughly 30m in todays world.

It is made up of more than five million bricks, 2,493 tons of steel and 93 tons of cast iron.

From the very top of the tower, on a clear day, visitors can see across to the Lake District, the Isle of Man and North Wales.

The Tower is well known to viewers of Strictly Come Dancing, with the Tower Ballroom hosting the annual Blackpool special.

11th July 1953: Construction workers balance precariously over the streets of Blackpool over 500 feet below, as they work on the famous Tower. - Ronald Startup/Picture Post/Hulton Archive/Getty Images

04:13 PM GMT

Pictured: Crowds and firefighters at Blackpool Tower amid blaze

blackpool

Aaron Parfitt / SplashNews.com

Aaron Parfitt / SplashNews.com

03:52 PM GMT

History of Blackpool Tower

Built between 1891 and 1894, the tower is 158m (519ft) high and is a Grade I listed building, writes Will Bolton.



Inspired by a trip to Paris in 1889, former Blackpool mayor Sir John Bickerstaffe had the idea of building a Lancashire version of the Eiffel Tower.

The Blackpool Tower was first opened to the public in May 1984 and at the time it was the tallest man made structure in the British Empire.

When it first opened, tourists paid sixpence for admission, sixpence more for a ride in the lifts to the top, and a further sixpence for the circus.

blackpool tower

The top of the Tower caught fire in 1897, and the platform was seen on fire from up to 50 miles (80 km).

In 1940, during the Second World War, the crows nest at the top was removed to allow the structure to be used as a Royal Air Force radar station known as RAF Tower.

In 1977, the top of the tower was painted silver as part of Queen Elizabeths Silver Jubilee celebrations.

03:48 PM GMT

Specialist climbing team arrive at the scene

A specialist climbing team from Lancasghire Fire and Rescue Service have arrived at the scene.

The incident is causing traffic problems on the Promenade with heavy jams on roads surrounding the Tower and one onlooker describing it as chaos.

They told Lancashire Live that firer engines had arrived at the scene in a matter of minutes.

Its been absolute chaos down here - people dont expect something like this to happen to such a famous building, they said.

We heard everyone inside had been evacuated. I hope nobody was hurt.



03:40 PM GMT

Watch: Blackpool Tower on fire

03:40 PM GMT

Pictured: Blaze at Blackpool Tower

The tourist attraction Blackpool Tower has gone up in flames at a platform near the very top - Aaron Parfitt / SplashNews.com

03:32 PM GMT

Six fire engines in attendance

There are six fire, a drone team and a rope rescue team currently at the scene.

In a statement, Lancashire Fire and Rescue Service said: We have six fire engines, the drone team and the rope rescue team currently in attendance at a fire on Promenade, Blackpool. Please stay away from the area.

The drone team are in operation so please do not fly drones in the area as you may obstruct emergency operations.

Broaden your horizons with award-winning British journalism. Try The Telegraph free for 1 month, then enjoy 1 year for just $9 with our US-exclusive offer.
Germany expects the European Union to finalize a deal on a major aid package for Ukraine even without Hungary's support, Bloomberg reported on Dec. 28, citing German Foreign Ministry spokesman Christian Wagner.

Hungary vetoed a EU funding package for Ukraine worth $55 billion at the European Council summit in mid-December. Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban has long opposed support for Ukraine and maintained ties with Russia.

Speaking at a press conference on Dec. 28, Wagner reportedly said that Germany will provide Ukraine with military aid worth 8 billion euros ($8.85 billion) in the upcoming year.

Germany will also "campaign vigorously" for a deal on the $55 billion EU support package for Ukraine in the first few months of 2024, according to Wagner.

Wagner said that he does not "want to speculate now on how such support could be organized," as this "requires further consultation in Brussels."

EU leaders were expected to reach a consensus on future financial assistance for Ukraine by the end of 2023, but Hungary refused to back the four-year funding package.

European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen said on Dec. 15 that the bloc hopes to achieve unanimity, but "potential alternatives" are also being discussed before the next EU Council meeting.

The bloc is reportedly considering a "plan B," which would entail a debt-based package worth up to 20 billion euros to fund Ukraine and sidestep Hungary's veto.

In an interview with the Kyiv Independent, Ukrainian Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba said that the EU should approve financial aid for Ukraine within the next month.

"It's all in the hands of the European Union itself, but the timeline that we were given is by the end of January," Kuleba said.

Read also: Ukraines Foreign Minister Kuleba: Europe doesnt know how to fight wars

Weve been working hard to bring you independent, locally-sourced news from Ukraine. Consider supporting the Kyiv Independent.
A body found in a ditch by a county road remains unknown as New York investigators search for clues on the mysterious death.

After receiving a report of a man partially underwater in a drainage ditch, police went to the scene along County Route 1, according to a Dec. 26 Town of Warwick Police Department news release. When officers arrived, they found the mans body partially submerged, according to police.

The Orange County Medical Examiners Office conducted an autopsy on the man Dec. 27 to determine a cause of death, police said. There were no signs of trauma  such as from being hit by a car  on the body, and police said they do not suspect anything suspicious about the death.

The man is believed to be in his mid-30s and a possible worker in the area, police said.

Police believe the man was last seen Dec. 16, according to the release.

Police said officers are working to establish a timeline of events that led to the mans death, as well as determining his identity. Police Chief John Rader told McClatchy News there was no further information on the man or his cause of death as of noon on Dec. 28.

Anyone who may have information can contact the police department at 845-986-5000.

Warwick is about 55 miles northwest of New York City.

Missing father found killed and buried by son in backyard garden, Alabama police say

Dad tracks down and shoots man accused of attacking daughter, Illinois police say

Fishermen find man trapped for days in mangled truck under a bridge, Indiana police say
Illinois State Police have located the body of a missing St. Louis woman, who authorities say was killed by her former boyfriend.

St. Louis County Police announced the discovery and identification of Marquisha Williams, 29, on Thursday. The mother of four was reported missing last week.

The release did not specify where Williams body was located.

Police and volunteer groups searched areas along Interstate 55 in Madison County in recent days, including an area east of Edwardsville near the intersection of Illinois 143 and in Staunton.

Numerous searches for Ms. Williams have been conducted over the last several days, said a release from St. Louis County Police. We appreciate the family and friends of Ms. Williams, our local media outlets for their continued attention...

Williams was reported missing on Dec. 20 after dropping off her children for daycare then failing to show up for work, her family told KSDK-TV. She last been seen in her 2020 Jeep Compass near Cook and Spring avenues in North St. Louis, according to St. Louis County Police.

Trenton Ivy, 31, a former boyfriend and father of Williams four children, confessed to killing Williams and disposing of her body, according to police. He was driving Williams Jeep when he was arrested in Racine, Wisconsin, police said.

Ivy is charged with first-degree murder and is being held without bond, according to the St. Louis County Police Department.

A release said investigators found blood and other biological material inside the vehicle in addition to some of Williams personal items.

During a post Miranda interview with detectives of the Racine police department, (Ivy) admitted to killing Williams in St. Louis, according to the release from St. Louis County Police. The defendant further admitted to having a physical altercation with Williams, which resulted in her death. He then admitted to disposing of her body in an unknown location.

St. Louis County Police said the following agencies assisted in the investigation: Illinois State Police, St. Louis County Prosecuting Attorneys Office, Montgomery County Sheriffs Office in Illinois, Sangamon County Sheriffs Office, City of Staunton Police Department, Macoupin County Sheriffs Office, and the Racine Police Department in Wisconsin.
You are here: Business

Tax personnel introduce tax preferential policies to a financial worker at battery manufacturer SCUD in Fuzhou, southeast China's Fujian Province, Feb. 7, 2023. [Photo/Xinhua]

China's newly implemented tax refunds, as well as its cuts and deferrals of taxes and fees, exceeded 1.81 trillion yuan (about 255 billion U.S. dollars) in the first 11 months of the year, official data showed on Wednesday.

More support was given to small businesses during the period, with 61.8 percent of tax and fee support going to micro, small and medium-sized enterprises, according to the State Taxation Administration.

Approximately 73.8 percent of the support went to private businesses, the administration said.

Manufacturing and related wholesale and retail industries benefited most among all sectors, receiving 41.9 percent of all support, the administration noted.
A man holds a picture of hostages Gad and Judith Weinstein Haggai -- both of whom have been confirmed killed -- during a New York rally on October 26, 2023 (Bryan R. Smith)

A US-Israeli woman seized in the October 7 Hamas attack was killed on the same day and her body remains in the Gaza Strip, her kibbutz community said on Thursday.

Judith Weinstein Haggai, 70, had been thought to be the oldest woman among the hostages still held in Gaza by the Palestinian militant group.

Her kibbutz of Nir Oz said that Haggai was "murdered in the massacre", and that her body remains in the war-torn Palestinian territory.

Thursday's announcement by the community follows confirmation on December 23 that her husband, Gad Haggai, was also killed on October 7.

"The bodies of both are still in the custody of Hamas," the community said, without elaborating.

The couple were among some 250 people taken hostage from Israeli border communities and military posts.

More than 100 of those abducted have since been freed, many exchanged for Palestinian prisoners.

Israel says 129 captives are still missing in Gaza, including 23 believed to have been killed.

Three hostages were mistakenly shot dead by soldiers in the Gaza Strip, according to the Israeli army.

"There are no words to describe the pain of losing our parents and grandparents to the massacre that took place on our kibbutz," the family of Haggai said in a statement.

"We pray that their bodies... will be soon returned to us, and that their murders are a reminder for leaders everywhere to bring the hostages home now before it is too late."

In Washington, President Joe Biden said he and first lady Jill Biden were "devastated" by the news.

The slain couple's family has been "living through hell for weeks," he said, pledging that the United States will "not stop working to bring" remaining hostages home.

Canadian Foreign Minister Melanie Joly said on X, formerly Twitter: "Canada mourns her loss with her family and loved ones." Weinstein grew up in Toronto and also held Canadian citizenship.

Ahl Haggai, the couple's son, has said that in a final phone call on October 7, his mother had told a paramedic that she and her husband had both been wounded.

"The only evidence we have... is a video of my dad on the back of a truck, laying down injured," he told AFP earlier this month.

"She's nowhere to be found," he said, with only his mother's glasses recovered from the kibbutz.

Israelis have held frequent rallies to highlight the plight of the remaining hostages and put pressure on the authorities to secure their release, with hundreds marching to parliament on Thursday.

"Bring them home!" they chanted outside the assembly in Jerusalem, an AFP journalist reported.

"All I can hope is that as many people (as possible) will remain alive," Nikki Littman, 55, who took part in the rally, told AFP.

"I don't trust the government. I don't trust Hamas. I fear Hamas. I fear our existence here," said Littman, who teaches Japanese at a university.

The October 7 Hamas attack resulted in the deaths of around 1,140 people in Israel, most of them civilians, according to an AFP tally based on the latest official Israeli figures.

Israel's relentless offensive on Gaza has since killed 21,320 people, mostly civilians, according to the latest toll from the health ministry in the Hamas-run territory.

bur-rsc-mby-jd/fz/sms/acb/amc/
These 27 sets of numbers are guaranteed a win in the UK's National Lottery, mathematicians said.

They calculated that those tickets, costing about $69, covered all bases for a minimum win.

But it's still overwhelmingly likely to cost more than it gets you in winnings, they added.

Mathematicians in the UK said in a paper published in July that they had figured out how many tickets you would have to buy to guarantee winning in the country's National Lottery  27.

Unfortunately, that doesn't mean you're guaranteed to win enough to cover the cost of the tickets, the mathematicians said.

The UK's National Lottery's main game, the Lotto, is held twice weekly, with six numbers from one to 59 randomly drawn. In December, the lottery organizers announced that its latest jackpot was set to hit a record, tax-exempt $28.9 million. The chances of winning it are about 1 in 45 million.

Two mathematicians, David Stewart and David Cushing, at the University of Manchester can't snag you a jackpot  but in the July paper, they said they at least worked out the minimum number of tickets needed to be assured of any win, even if it's just a free play.

They devised a list of 27 specific tickets that, in mathematical terms, covered all the bases to yield some sort of win. They've published those (below), though according to the New Scientist, they've since found further sets of numbers that also meet the criteria.

A grid showing the 27 combinations of six numbers needed to guarantee a win in the UK's National Lottery main game. David Stewart and David Cushing/University of Manchester

With each ticket costing 2, or about $2.50, that's 54 in outlay.

In any given Lotto game, getting two of the numbers right wins the player a free ticket, while getting three of them wins about $38. All six, and you've won a share of the jackpot.

To find the combinations, researchers used a mathematical system called finite geometry, which involves plotting the numbers one to 59 in pairs or triplets on a series of geometric shapes.

Each number set is then connected with lines, generating a series of six numbers  equaling one ticket. It takes 27 of those to cover all 59 numbers and guarantee at least one pair will match, they said.

The math part. David Cushing and David Stewart/University of Manchester

Another mathematician, Peter Rowlett, at the UK's Sheffield Hallam University, has said that in 99% of cases, people using these numbers still won't get their money back.

And, of course, the more people who play the above sets of numbers, the more people have to share any jackpot that may result.

In one rare instance, a member of Stewart and Cushing's research group managed to win $2,243 with the 27 numbers, they told the New Scientist.

"He's incredibly lucky with it," Cushing said  though the colleague still hasn't bought them lunch to say thanks, he added.

The pair themselves aren't exactly cashing in. When they tested the 27 tickets in July, they matched two balls on three tickets. That won them three free tickets  which promptly came out to nothing.

Despite their number crunching, the mathematicians say they're not interested in using the combinations themselves anymore.

"I came to the conclusion that whenever we were involved, they didn't make any money, and then they made money when we decided not to put them on," Cushing told the New Scientist. "That's not very mathematical, but it seemed to be what was happening."

Read the original article on Business Insider
Content warning: this story contains details of an alleged rape.

BUFFALO, N.Y. (WIVB)  A Buffalo man was arrested Tuesday after he allegedly forced himself on a female victim earlier this month on Hertel Avenue, the Buffalo Police Department Announced.

Police said Rickey Roberts, 28, allegedly approached the victim, who was not known to him, around 1 a.m. Dec. 9 on the 1900 block of Hertel. It is alleged Roberts told the victim he had a gun and then forced himself on her.

The victim was eventually able to run away and get help, which prompted an investigation. She was taken to Kenmore Mercy Hospital by ambulance for her injuries, where she was treated and released.

Roberts was charged with first-degree rape and first-degree criminal sexual act.

Latest Local News

Adam Gorski is a Buffalo native who joined the News 4 team in 2022. You can find more of his work here.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to News 4 Buffalo.
On Dec 28, the Bulgarian government has once again renewed its program of state benefits for Ukrainain refugees until the end of April 2024, reports The Sofia Globe.

Those hosting Ukrainian refugees will continue to receive about 8 dollars per person per day. In addition, the Bulgarian government instructed the ministers of labor and social policy and education to develop proposals for the integration of Ukrainians into the country's society within the next two months.

Read also: Germany extends protection to Ukrainian refugees through March 2025

The state support scheme for refugees from Ukraine, introduced in 2022, included the provision of financial support for places of residence of refugees. Despite the reduction in the scale of support by President Rumen Radev, it was repeatedly extended.

Read also: Japan launches program granting refugee-like rights to war-displaced foreigners

According to the country's government, 1,410,258 Ukrainians have entered Bulgaria since the beginning of Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine.

In total, 82,473 Ukrainians remain in Bulgaria, 16,804 of whom are accommodated under the humanitarian accommodation program.

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
(Reuters) -A Panama-flagged bulk carrier that was heading to the River Danube port to load grain hit a Russian mine in the Black Sea, injuring two crew members, Ukrainian officials said on Thursday.

The incident that took place on Wednesday was the latest instance of a civilian vessel hitting an explosive in the Black Sea. Kyiv has said increased Russian attacks on shipping and port infrastructure are to blame.

Russia's defence ministry did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

A shipping source speaking on condition of anonymity told Reuters the Greek-operated VYSSOS was the vessel that had been hit. The vessel's Athens-based manager, which was listed in databases as Nava Shipping, could not be immediately located for comment.

"A Panama-flagged civilian vessel was blown up on an enemy sea mine in the Black Sea ... The vessel lost its course and control, and a fire broke out on the upper deck," Ukraine's southern military command said on Telegram.

A captain and a sailor, an Egyptian citizen, were injured, and the latter was taken to hospital in the city of Izmail, the head of the Odesa regional prosecutor's office told a briefing.

He said the incident happened early on Wednesday at a river mouth. The vessel stopped updating its position, according to the ship tracking and maritime analytics provider MarineTraffic.

It was heading to Izmail, the British maritime security company Ambrey told Reuters. The mine hit its stern, and detonation caused equipment and machinery failure.

There were 18 crew members onboard, 13 Egyptians, three Ukrainians, and two Turkish citizens.

Ukraine says Moscow has increased attacks on Ukraine's port infrastructure since mid-July, when it quit a U.N.-brokered deal that allowed safe passage of Ukrainian grain shipments via the Black Sea.

Kyiv since has established an alternative route, which hugs the western shores of the Black Sea. It said Russian forces have been repeatedly dropping explosive devices in its vicinity.

(Reporting by Yuliia Dysa and Jonathan Saul, Editing by William Maclean, Angus MacSwan, Christina Fincher and Barbara Lewis)
This aerial photo taken on Sept. 10, 2023 shows a view of Zhangjiang area of the China (Shanghai) Pilot Free Trade Zone in east China's Shanghai. [Photo/Xinhua]

The Standing Committee of the 14th National People's Congress (NPC), China's top legislature, reviewed an interim assessment report on the implementation of the 14th Five-Year Plan (2021-2025) during its seventh session on Wednesday. The report highlights positive progress over the past two years and more, with major indicators generally meeting expectations.



The plan outlines 20 key targets spanning economic development, innovation, people's well-being, ecology and security. Overall, progress toward these goals is in line with projections, with 16 indicators meeting or surpassing expectations. Notably, four indicators, including urbanization and basic old-age insurance coverage, were achieved early.

Five indicators, such as R&D spending, the digital economy's share of GDP and forest coverage, have progressed ahead of schedule.

Seven indicators, covering GDP growth, overall labor productivity and per capita disposable income, have generally met expectations.

Despite these advancements, the report notes challenges due to significant shifts in both domestic and international development, including core technology bottlenecks, lack of a complete long-term mechanism to boost the consumption of residents, and environmental concerns.

The report outlines important measures to advance the plan, including overcoming challenges in target achievement, expanding domestic demand, addressing core technology hurdles, advancing new industrialization, deepening market reforms and institutional opening-up, and boosting coordinated regional development and integrated urban-rural development. Meanwhile, recommendations extend to ecological conservation, public service improvement, and strengthening economic and financial security.
Cal Fire is looking for a man accused of lighting a fire and committing multiple acts of vandalism on Sacramento States campus earlier this month.

Cody Alexander Haney, 33, is accused of vandalizing the campus on Dec. 10 and igniting at least one fire, according to a news release issued Thursday by the state fire agency. The fire burned state property, leading Cal Fire to take over the investigation, according to the release.

Sacramento State police and Cal Fire investigators did not release details about what specific acts of vandalism Haney is suspected of causing but said Sacramento Fire Department personnel were dispatched to a fire at about 6:50 p.m. Dec. 10 on the campus.

University students reported hearing a fire and broken windows on Dec. 10 while working in the library at night and spotted a shed in flames near Hornet Stadium, according to The Sacramento Bees previous reporting. The campus police department in a message to students earlier this month released surveillance photos of the suspect and sought public help identifying him.

The Sacramento County District Attorneys Office issued an arrest warrant for Haney on a charge of arson. His bail is set at $50,000, according to the Cal Fire news release.

Anyone who spots Haney is asked to contact Cal Fires arson and bomb unit at 213-302-5855 or arsonbomb@fire.ca.gov. Residents can also call 1-800-AA-CRIME or use the P3 app to submit anonymous tips for cash.
Robbers followed a Southern California couple home for miles and ripped valuable heirloom jewels out of the woman's hands in a terrifying attack partly caught on tape, officials said Wednesday.

Dr. Vijay Wali and his wife, Dr. Jyotika Wali, had just pulled into their driveway in Fullerton on Friday night when two men attacked, one pouncing on each of them, the family said.

The couple had just visited a jewelry store 16 miles away in Cerritos to have various family jewels polished.

As Jyotika was about to go into the house and Vijay was unloading the trunk, a man ran right at him, he said.

"So I started screaming, 'Jyotika, Jyotika, Jyotika, lock the door, lock the door, lock the door,'" Vijay Wali said in an interview Tuesday night.

The man punched Vijay Wali in the head and threw him on the ground, he said. When his wife returned to help, another attacker went right at her, the couple said.

The couples daughter, Dr. Priyanka Wali, was in the house. She said the first attacker yelled "take it from her, take it from her" at the second assailant in Spanish.

Jyotika Wali said: "I was immediately attacked by another man, and my purse was taken, and I saw my husband had been assaulted, and I screamed for help. My daughter was inside the house and called 911. But it was already over before you could understand" what had happened.

The men got away in two cars, a gray or silver Nissan Altima and a black Honda Odyssey, driven by two other men, Priyanka Wali said. The face of at least one attacker was clearly captured by security cameras at the house, while one of the two drivers was caught on camera at the jewelry store, the family said.

Fullerton Police Sgt. Ryan ONeil said detectives are working on a "home invasion robbery," but he declined to elaborate.

"At this time, it is still an active and ongoing investigation," he said. "To protect the integrity of the investigation, we will not be releasing any information at this time."

The robbers' journey to follow the Walis was even more frightening, because the couple didn't go straight home from the jewelry store.

They "took some streets from the freeway, which we normally don't take," by making a quick stop at Jyotika Wali's office and checking out some nearby Christmas lights before they got home, her husband said.

The family said they have seen video of the attackers keeping an eye on the couple at the Cerritos jewelry store and at Jyotika Wali's office.

"They were highly organized and highly skilled at what they're doing," Priyanka Wali said. "This definitely didn't seem like their first time."

Among the items stolen was a dehjoor, a hexagonal jewel worn off the ear of a Kashmiri Hindu bride.

"And so it has deep, deep symbolic significance in our culture, and there were generations of jewelry stolen," said Priyanka Wali, who is engaged to be married and had expected to receive some of the jewels in ceremonies.

The family were traumatized by the attack, but both victims still went to work over the weekend. Jyotika Wali is a primary care physician who worked Saturday, while her husband is an emergency room doctor who did a shift on Christmas Eve.

"I'm scared to come back home," Jyotika said, adding that she now jumps in fear at the sounds of firecrackers she thinks might be gunshots.

She added: "This is no way to live. I mean, it looks like there is no law. It's very scary."

Priyanka Wali, also a practicing physician, said she's not sure whether her family will ever be able to shake the fear brought on by Friday night's attack.

"Emotional trauma and physical trauma are one and the same thing," she said. "So yes, we may be able to walk and talk and have all of our limbs and vital organs functioning, but emotionally the damage has been absolutely devastating."

This article was originally published on NBCNews.com
A convicted murderer who was known as the Killer Poet passed away Wednesday night at Tewksbury Hospital, less than two years after the Massachusetts Parole Board signed off on his release from prison.

Norman Porter, who was found responsible for the 1960 murder of 21-year-old store clerk John Pigott during a robbery in Saugus, as well as the murder of Middlesex County jail master David Robinson during a violent escape the following year, is dead at the age of 83.

Porter was under Parole supervision at the time of his death, a spokesperson with the Massachusetts Executive Office of Public Safety and Security said.

BREAKING: "Killer Poet" Norman Porter DEAD. Porter was granted med parole last year, died last night at Tewksbury Hospital, sources say. Porter convicted 2 murders in 1960's, escaped prison, lived fugitive life in Chicago. Caught 2005 https://t.co/xz7h8ANO1O @boston25 #TrueCrime  Bob Ward Boston 25 (@Bward3) December 28, 2023

Porter never returned from a furlough in 1985. On the run for 20 years, he was known as the other Whitey Bulger. He was ultimately caught in 2005 in Chicago, where he was living as a poet and activist under the name JJ Jameson.

Porter unsuccessfully filed for parole three times before the Board ultimately granted his release on July 5, 2022.

Its hard to be joyful about any of this, said Dave Robinson, grandson of David Robinson. Dave attended several of Porters parole hearings and believes Porter should have died behind bars.

Were able to lay some things to rest so there is really a sense of relief. Whether justice has been done or not, I really dont feel like justice has been served, Robinson said. Some of the familys suffering may be absolved at this point.

Pigotts cousin Dottie Johnson also said she feels a sense of relief.

God is passing judgement on him. Hes either going to spend eternity in Heaven or in Hell and Im not the final judge, Johnson said.

BREAKING: MA Parole Board is GRANTING parole to Killer Poet Norman Porter. He was convicted in 1960 Saugus mx and death of Middlesex Jail Master David Robinson during violent 1961 jailbreak. Porter was a fugitive for 20 yrs, called The Other Whitey Bulger @boston25 #TrueCrime pic.twitter.com/M9WZs1PZAv  Bob Ward Boston 25 (@Bward3) July 5, 2022

During a parole hearing in March 2022, Porter said, I deeply regret my behavior, my actions. To the families of John Pigott, of Saugus, and David Robinson, of Cambridge, I deeply regret my behavior.

The board agreed, writing that Porter is rehabilitated and merits parole at this time.

He was served 42 years, 25 of which he served before escaping. He was on the run for 20 years before being returned to custody. The Board notes that Mr. Porter suffers from numerous severe medical conditions, a Record of Decision stated. The Board notes he has maintained a significant support network through most of his incarceration. Despite his history of escapes, a former Deputy Commissioner of the Department of Correction testified in support of his release.

Porter was ultimately released with an approved home plan that called for him to stay put between 10 p.m. and 6 a.m. He was also fitted with an electronic monitoring device.

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Living up north, Vinny Passero worked as a graphic artist. But there was something about boats.

He grew up on Lake Superior and later lived in Boston, where morning cannon fire from the USS Constitution was his alarm clock. All of which ultimately led to life in St. Petersburg.

Today, home is aboard his sailboat by the Pier, where he lives with his 18-year-old son. Work is ferrying tourists and locals for Cruisin Tikis around the waters of St. Pete, Clearwater and along Tampas busy Riverwalk.

The tiki he captains is BYOB, room for six passengers, with an ice-filled cooler, cups and corkscrews on hand for 90 minutes of partying, picture-taking, history and a little schtick.

I know a lot of captains great on tugboats or large vessels, but if they have to interact, they would hate that, said Passero, 47. But if you really like meeting people from all over the world, being a tiki boat captain is the best.

A conversation with Passero about navigating Tampa Bay waters, edited for length and clarity.

From graphic artist to boat captain? Thats a jump.

Ive always loved boats. It never really occurred to me that people did that for a living.

We lived near the Boston Harbor. I was like: I could do that.

I needed 720 days of sea time for my license. Youre working as a deckhand. Its not like you can pay your rent on that, so you do it part time. It was about six years.

I drove passenger ferries and water taxis. Im a 100-ton master, so I can drive vessels up to 100 tons, like the dinner cruise boats.

How did you land here?

In 2015, I realized I was tired of the snow and the cold. We found Tampa Bay. We really kind of fell in love with this area. There didnt seem to be a reason to leave.

Did you always want to be a tiki boat captain?

Kind of a funny story: I was driving the Ice Cream Fun Boat in Clearwater Beach. Wed take people out, give them ice cream, try to find dolphins, look at celebrity homes. (It was) five or six slips down from the tiki boats.

I thought those guys were pulling my leg when they talked about tips  I mean, some days $300, $400. I was thinking about applying, but nobody would ever give up those jobs.

For a little while, I worked for (Tampa) Pirate Water Taxi and got to know the (Hillsborough) river. The owners of the tiki boat said, Hey, were going to be putting a boat in Tampa. Do you want to run it?

It was so popular they got a second boat.

Does the job require a certain personality?

If we have six trips in a day, its like youre going to six parties with six different groups of friends. You have to enjoy meeting people.

Theres certain questions they always ask: Have you ever had anyone fall off? I have not.

The second: Do you ever get jerks? Funny enough, Ive never had an unpleasant person on a tiki boat. Other boats I have.

You get people that get very drunk from time to time, but they just love you more  Seriously, I love you.

What are the popular beverages people bring?

Seltzer drinks  the Bud Light Seltzer, the White Claws. We have a lot of people celebrating anniversaries or birthdays, so a lot of champagne.

A keg of beer?

Never had a keg. In Tampa for a while, people were bringing hot buttered rum drinks. Weve had quite a few people bringing blenders out to make margaritas. Lots of food  pub subs, charcuterie plates, a lot of pizza.

Do all your passengers drink?

No. Thats what I thought when I first started. We have lots of people who dont drink at all, they bring sodas. Its about seeing the downtown from the river and maybe learning some history.

How different does downtown look from the water?

Well get people born and raised in Tampa whove never been on a boat on the river and its shocking (to them), especially at night. When the citys lit up, the bridges, youd think you were in Chicago.

I have to ask: Whats the bathroom situation?

One of the great things about picking up at Water Works (Park), the public restrooms are there. (And also along the Riverwalk route, plus a hotel where guests can buy a drink and use the restroom.) Well just pull over.

Tell me about the tiki boat.

Theyre built on 55-gallon plastic barrels. It makes us sit high on the water so we can go in really shallow areas. Just a little 30-horsepower outboard.

What do you talk about with passengers?

Theres lots of really cool things in every part of the river. Im shocked more people from Tampa dont know it. (An example:) Over near Water Works theres a memorial with a flag. They found a shipwreck there.

Are you a jokester, as well?

A lot of times people are nervous at first. Ill say, These things are pretty safe. Its been like a week since we lost someone.

I like to get pictures of the passengers driving the boat. Ill take their phone and take pictures of them.

Do you see marine life?

We do. You really have to be looking for it, though. Dolphins, manatees.  Theres been a couple of times up near Water Works we see alligators because of the freshwater stream. A lot of fish. Every now and then, a nurse shark.

The river gets pretty busy with boat traffic. Does that get hairy?

(The professional captains) all are listening to the radio. We all know what to do. Its the pleasure crafts, when the weathers nice, people who dont know what theyre supposed to do.

Tell me about some good trips.

Recently in St. Pete, a woman mentioned she wanted to see a manatee. Right toward the end, out of the corner of my eye I spotted what I thought was a manatee snout. It was a mother with a calf. It was interested in us, so it came right up to the boat where she was sitting.

In Clearwater, we had a wedding. These people met on the tiki boat. They were with other people at the time. Somehow they got each others numbers. Last year, they rented all four boats and brought a wedding officiant out. They got married standing right there in the water.

In Tampa, Ive had two or three proposals.

Did they all say yes?

Yes.
In this photo provided by Ukraine's Border Guard Service, a Panama-flagged civilian cargo vessel is seen in Odesa region Thursday, Dec. 28, 2023. The vessel hit a Russian mine resulting in two injured sailors, said Ukraine's Southern Defense Forces on Thursday. The vessel was supposed to arrive to one of Danube ports to load the grain. (Ukraine's Border Guard Service via AP Photo)

KYIV, Ukraine (AP)  A civilian cargo ship struck a Russian mine in the Black Sea near Ukraines Danube ports Thursday, injuring two sailors, officials and analysts said, in an incident that underscored the dangers faced by those exporting Ukrainian grain during the war.

The Panama-flagged vessel struck the floating mine during stormy weather as it went to pick up grain, according to Ukraines Southern Defense Forces, adding that churning seas often increase the risk from mines.

As the fighting grinds on through the winter and likely into a third year after Russias February 2022 invasion, and with little recent change along the front line, Ukraine is aiming to strengthen its financial resources for what could be a protracted war.

After Russia pulled out of a U.N.-brokered export agreement last summer, Ukraine launched a new Black Sea shipping corridor to get grain, metals and other cargo to world markets. That has given a boost to Ukraines agriculture-dependent economy.

The mine incident occurred about 130 kilometers (80 miles) southwest of Chornomorsk, which is near Odesa on Ukraines southern coast, the Ambrey maritime risk analysis company said. The ship with 18 crew was on its way to Izmail, another port in the area.

The mine detonated at the ship's stern, causing equipment and machinery failure and resulting in the vessel losing power, Ambrey said. The captain reportedly maneuvered into shallow water to prevent the ship from sinking.

Ukraines much-anticipated counteroffensive last summer largely failed to shift the front line despite billions of dollars in weaponry sent by its Western allies. That has given confidence to the Kremlins forces, especially as further Western aid is in question.

One think tank argues that the front line is not currently a stable stalemate." The Institute for the Study of War in Washington said in an assessment late Wednesday that the current balance can be tipped in either direction by decisions made in the West or in Russia, and limited Russian gains could become significant especially if the West cuts off military aid to Ukraine.

Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov suggested that the U.S. and European Union countries plan to continue sending help to Kyiv.

Neither Washington nor Brussels refrain from assisting the Kyiv regime (Ukrainian government) because they realize it would be doomed without such assistance, Lavrov said in an interview with state news agency Tass that was released on Thursday. They remain committed to containing Russia at the expense of Ukrainians and their lives.

___

Jim Heintz in Tallinn, Estonia contributed.

___

Follow APs coverage of the war in Ukraine at https://apnews.com/hub/russia-ukraine
"What was the cause of the United States Civil War?"

A voter posed the question to Republican presidential primary candidate and former South Carolina Gov. Nikki Haley at a town hall in Berlin, New Hampshire Wednesday evening.

"I mean, I think the cause of the Civil War was basically how government was gonna run, the freedoms and what people could and couldn't do," she answered before turning the question back around on the voter.

By the end of the encounter, the voter wondered aloud why Haley didn't mention slavery in her responses.

Republican presidential candidate former U.N. Ambassador Nikki Haley speaks during a campaign event at the Lawrence Community Center in Anamosa, Iowa, on Thursday, Dec. 21, 2023.

"What do you want me to say about slavery?" she responded.

The incident drew criticism from both Democrats and other Republican presidential candidates. Haley said in a Thursday interview she knows the Civil War was about slavery, calling it "the easy part." Haley also alleged the voter who posed the question was a 'plant' by Democrats.

USA TODAY posed the same question to Dr. Amy Murrell Taylor, a history professor at the University of Kentucky and a specialist in the 19th century history of the South. Here is what she had to say:

More: Nikki Haley alleged she was set up by Democratic 'plant' after being asked what caused the Civil War

What caused the civil war?

"It's very simple, and it really does boil down to one word," Taylor said. "The cause of the Civil War was slavery."

She said that when trying to understand "why" the North and South went to battle, slavery is the core issue. The issues of state and federal power that led to Southern states seceding answer "how" the Civil War started, Taylor said.

In the mid-19th century, there was growing opposition to allowing slavery in new western territories from Northern states, where manufacturing was booming at the time.

Shortly after anti-slavery candidate Abraham Lincoln won the presidential election in 1860, South Carolina seceded from the U.S. followed by 10 more states by June of the following year.

"South Carolina and other Southern states invoked their state's right to secede in order to protect slavery, but they would not have done that...without slavery being the core trigger issue.

Historical documents explicitly name 'slavery' as core issue

Taylor said that historical documentation and news coverage of political debates at the time show how central it was to the conflict.

"[A]n increasing hostility on the part of the non-slaveholding States to the institution of slavery, has led to a disregard of their obligations, and the laws of the General Government have ceased to effect the objects of the Constitution," the South Carolina Declaration of Secession states, according to the National Constitution Center.

"Our position is thoroughly identified with the institution of slavery  the greatest material interest of the worldand a blow at slavery is a blow at commerce and civilization," states an excerpt from the Declaration of the Immediate Causes which Induce and Justify the Secession of the State of Mississippi from the Federal Union also posted on the National Constitution Center.

Government, freedoms and 'what people could and couldn't do'

Instead of saying "slavery" explicitly, Haley said the cause of the Civil War was "basically how government was gonna run, the freedoms and what people could and couldn't do."

Taylor admits that "freedom" was relevant, but only in terms of the fight for freeing enslaved people.

As reported by the Associated Press, it wasn't the first time Haley glazed over slavery in the history of the South, and Taylor said Haley isn't alone in avoiding it.

"There are a lot of people out there who would have answered that question the same way and have done so for for generations," Taylor said. "So this is a really bigger problem than Nikki Haley."

She said many who fought for the South deliberately sought to downplay the role of slavery, starting almost immediately after the war ended. The United Daughters of the Confederacy published textbook guidelines to expunge the subject of slavery, she said.

"Former Confederates, they really, they may have lost the war but, as people say, they won the memory of it," Taylor said.

'What do you want me to say about slavery?'

Taylor said her students are always surprised to see the archives name slavery so prominently after growing up in a culture that obscures the history.

"This history is not that long ago if you really stop and think about it," Taylor said. "And so for some families, white Southern families, it's a very uncomfortable thing to think that their ancestors sought to protect and defend slavery."

Taylor said Haley's response, "What do you want me to say about slavery?" reflects a larger impulse to avoid the uncomfortable and leave the past in the past.

"But the problem is, the country never fully grappled with slavery and its aftermath and tried to move on without doing so," Taylor said. "That has meant that we continue to struggle with questions of racial equality and rights and justice today."

Contributing: Sudiksha Kochi, Jacob Livesay, USA TODAY; Brian Lyman, Montgomery Advertiser

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: What caused the civil war? Simple: Slavery, professor says
The final day of Kwanzaa, which coincides with the first day of the New Year, is a day of giving.

For the fourth year, the Sacramento community advocacy group Safe Black Space will honor the tradition with its annual Kwanzaa Kutoa. The event  held 2-5 p.m. on Jan. 1, at Unity of Sacramento, 9249 Folsom Blvd.  is a celebration of family, food and culture in the spirit of Ubuntu.

Its a celebration  a feast, drumming, dancing. We invite the community at large, said Sacramento psychologist and professor Kristee Haggins, president and a founding member of Safe Black Space.

Translated, Ubuntu means I am because we are. The word symbolizes the unity that underpins the seven days of Kwanzaa and is the driving force behind Safe Black Space.

Haggins sums up her organizations work and impact: We are each others medicine. We can help each other. This is the spirit in which we work.

Haggins, and fellow founding members Sacramento pastor and theologian Joy Johnson and Rev. Kevin Kitrell Ross, started Safe Black Space in 2018 as a place for Black residents to process pain, grief and anger following the deadly shooting of Stephon Clark by police and growing racial tension.

Systemic racism, growing anti-Black sentiment and ongoing police violence against Black men and women only accelerated the need. Safe Black Space led monthly community healing circles to provide opportunities for Black people to talk through racial stress, anxiety and trauma.

The roots of how we were born  we emerged after Stephon Clark. With my role as an African-centered psychologist, I took it upon myself to establish healing circles, Haggins said. Safe Black Space brought together faith leaders, health professionals, others to talk about healing Black people, she said. We were wanting to do what we could. We were first responders. We set out to heal the community.

Aissata Morton, a Safe Black Space volunteer, came to the work naturally as a retired nurse and has taken on a variety of roles in the group. She has been instrumental in each of the last three Kutoa events and in the creation of the groups healing circles.

I wanted to be part of the healing community, (but) I got more back than I was giving. It was so rewarding to me. I thought I was going to be helping, Morton said. When we made this space, I didnt recognize that need. Being in that circle, I recognized I was as much in need as everyone else.

Supporting Sacramento families in need

A colleague was the brainchild behind Safe Black Spaces annual Kutoa celebrations, with its themes of uniting family and community, Haggins said.

Safe Black Space selects seven Sacramento-area Black families or individuals in need to support during the holidays. Nominees exemplify the spirit of Ubuntu or the Nguzo Saba, the seven principles of Kwanzaa: unity, self determination, collective work, cooperative economics, honoring African and African-American history and culture, creativity and faith. Families and individuals are nominated from across the community.

What we decided to do  and continue to do for Black folks in the Sacramento region  is select one person or family who reflects one of the principles of Kwanzaa, Haggins said. We gift the honoree with gift cards, food baskets. We ask how many people are in the household; ask about their needs and wants.

Among recent honorees were families in crisis and a neighborhood stalwart who had received long-due recognition for their work in the community.

Haggins told of one family navigating homelessness after losing their home to a fire. Another honoree was a single mother who escaped with her toddler from an abusive relationship.

She said the Kutoa gave her a sense of community, of feeling safe, of having a vision of whats possible, Haggins said.

Another was as Black community leader, an advocate. We honored that, Haggins continued. And he nominated someone else, so we see the ripple effect. We want to make this a real intentional effort.

The event is one among a broad slate of gatherings across the Sacramento region to celebrate Kwanzaa, which is celebrated through Jan. 1.

People of the African American community love who we are  it invites us to look at African values and see the full story of who we are, Haggins said.
CHAMBERSBURG, Pa. (WHTM)  New Years Eve is less than a week away so Chambersburg is reminding residents that the practice of igniting most types of fireworks anywhere in the borough is not allowed due to the new local law.

Pennsylvania passed Act 74 of 2022 which allowed local municipalities to adopt laws that could be more strict than the states own.

According to the release, stores in Chambersburg Borough can sell Class C/Consumer-grade fireworks; including firecrackers, Roman candles, bottle rockets, and similar fireworks that contain a maximum of 50 milligrams of explosive material.

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The law doesnt impact sale and purchase but use of the fireworks is now prohibited in the Borough,

Anyone purchasing, possessing, or using consumer fireworks fireworks outside the Borough must be over 18 years old.

The release states that display fireworks, containing more than two grains or 130 milligrams of explosive materials, and professional-grade aerial shells containing more than 60 grams of explosive materials are only allowed to be used by professionals with permits.

Anyone who is caught using consumer or display fireworks can face a $500 fine in addition to any other penalty.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to ABC27.
EL PASO, Texas (KTSM)  Charlie Clark Nissan El Paso and Charlie Clark INFINITI will present a check to the El Pasoans Fighting Hunger at 1 p.m. Thursday, Dec. 28 at the showroom of the dealership located at 6451 S. Desert Blvd in West El Paso.

The donation is part of the Fighting Hunger event, which took place in November at the dealerships, in an effort to raise funds for El Pasoans Fighting Hunger.

For the campaign, 35 meals were donated for each test drive and an additional 100 meals were added for each vehicle sold, according to a press release sent by the dealership.

It is always our goal to give back to our communities. For this cause, we really liked partnering with El Pasoans Fighting Hunger because we know of the reach they have as well as the resources available to them, which will then allow them to help many families in need, said Josue Zepeda, general manager for Charlie Clark Nissan El Paso.

To donate 35 meals, customers simply had to take a test drive of any vehicle in inventory, no purchase necessary.

We didnt want to make this donation purchase based. We wanted to encourage people to come a test drive a car. Thats all. But if they bought, then the donation would be a bit steeper, said Teresa Montes, general manager for Charlie Clark INFINITI of El Paso.

We are always very grateful for the support from the El Paso Community and businesses like Charlie Clark Nissan and INFINITI, said Kathy Cox, chief development officer. We cant do, what we do, without partnerships like these.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KTSM 9 News.
The Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee has released the revised Regulations on CPC Disciplinary Action and urged in a circular that all localities and departments should faithfully implement the regulations.

According to the circular, the revisions were made by the CPC Central Committee as part of the effort to tackle specific challenges that a large party like it faces and improve the systems for exercising full and rigorous self-governance.

The revised regulations further tighten political discipline and rules and provide solid disciplinary safeguards to build China into a stronger country and rejuvenate the Chinese nation on all fronts by pursuing Chinese modernization, according to the circular.

The circular also urged Party committees and leading Party members groups at all levels to fulfill the political responsibility of full and rigorous Party self-governance, ensure sound implementation of the regulations, and incorporate these as required courses for Party members and official training.
The Chesterfield Police Department is searching for a perpetrator after a Chesterfield Township family's precious pup was shot and killed Saturday morning, just two days before Christmas.

Like normal, Jesse Young let their 2-year-old husky-pit bull mix, Stella, out into their backyard about 11:30 a.m., but when he went to let the dog back in about 20 minutes later, he found her bleeding to death on their back porch after a bullet had pierced through both of her lungs.

He immediately called his wife, Chelsea, who was out doing some last-minute Christmas shopping and was devastated by his news.

"My husband called me and said that 'Stellas home, somebody has shot her and she is dying on our back porch,' " Chelsea Young said to WXYZ-TV (Channel 7). I never want anybody to feel what I felt in that moment.

The family now fears for their well-being in a neighborhood that  only a week ago  they used to consider safe and quiet.

More: MSP: Garden City officer fatally shoots man who opened fire after car crash

Near 24 Mile Road and Walnut Drive and adjacent to Great Oaks Elementary School, the Youngs' backyard has no fence to separate their property from their neighbors. According to the family, Stella was known to wander into neighbors' backyards, but her calm demeanor was always met with delight.

After the shooting, Chesterfield Police Department confirmed that Stella was shot by a handgun, but the Young family is still unsure where their beloved dog was shot or by whom.

Chesterfield Township Director of Public Safety Brian Bassett told WXYZ that the shooting was an isolated incident and has not happened in other parts of the town; nonetheless, firearm usage is not allowed in the area, especially in such close proximity to a school.

Chesterfield police is asking that anyone with information about the incident to please contact Detective Kate Walsh at 586-949-3657.

This article originally appeared on Detroit Free Press: Chesterfield police looking for suspect in local family's dog shooting
Amid a recent uptick in asylum-seekers from the southern border arriving in Chicago, New York and Denver, the mayors of the three cities Wednesday renewed their collective call for the federal government to step up resources as the cities near a breaking point in coping with the crisis.

In a first-time joint appearance, Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson, New York City Mayor Eric Adams and Denver Mayor Mike Johnston repeated a set of requests all three have been making for months. They asked the U.S. government to boost funding to cities and states receiving newcomers and to expedite their permits. They said border states needed to increase communication with receiving cities and called for a coordinated entry system among destination municipalities and states.

The repeated requests from the mayors, directed in part at President Joe Biden, a fellow Democrat, have so far been met with minimal success. But the mayors re-upped their request as 2023 was coming to a close and the number of migrants arriving in the three cities has increased in recent weeks, so much so that Johnson said Chicago is once again near capacity.

We have to approach it as a team, not divided, Johnson said.

We have reached a critical point in this mission that, absent real significant intervention immediately, our local economies are not designed and built to respond to this kind of crisis, Chicagos mayor added. We are literally building the system as we go along.

Johnston, the Denver mayor, said their requests were a commonsense path to reduce the strain on cities as migrants continue to arrive.

If all three of those fail  if there is no federal support, theres no coordinated entry, theres no work authorization  I think cities would have to look at dramatically reducing the amount of services we offer, he said.

The three mayors also took aim at Republican Texas Gov. Greg Abbott, who has helped spearhead the recent increase in asylum-seekers headed north without coordinating with officials in the cities, the mayors said. Abbott just last week had more than 120 migrants flown to Chicago from Texas on a chartered flight after buses carrying migrants to Chicago were being penalized.

Describing Abbott as a reckless, rogue elected official, Johnson said the Texas governor was using the migrants as political tools. Johnson said the lack of care that has been on display during the last year and a half has caused an incredible amount of chaos.

This is the United States of America, for crying out loud, he said. We have experienced tremendous challenges in the course of our history. This is not something that should break our country, especially if we stand and work together. Unfortunately you have individuals that their only currency is chaos.

Johnson echoed Adams statement that his city was at a breaking point absent more federal assistance to respond the migrants who have arrived in need of food, shelter, health care and work permits since August 2022. The three mayors also are seeking a declaration of emergency from the federal government in response to the waves of new arrivals, and they called on Abbott to stop what Johnson called quite frankly, unsafe behavior.

Following more than a month of shrinking figures of newly arriving migrants, Chicago saw an increase in recent weeks as the holidays approached. Adams and Johnston said their cities have also seen a spike in migrant arrivals.

Johnson pointed out that more than 30,000 Ukrainian refugees are living in Chicago. The number of new arrivals from the southern border has yet to reach that height, but the difference was (Ukrainian refugees) had federal resources attached to each of those individuals for them to integrate into our local economy.

He said he and his counterparts in New York and Denver were asking for what has already occurred for this population of asylum-seekers, many but not all of whom are from Venezuela.

Chicago has received more than 26,585 migrants to date, according to a bulletin from the citys Office of Emergency Management and Communication.

On Wednesday, Chicago officials said they expecting at least 10 buses to arrive. They said they knew of three buses that had arrived in elsewhere in the Chicago area Tuesday.

City officials have scrambled to stand up a network of makeshift shelters for new arrivals, many of whom spent time sleeping in the citys police stations while they waited to be placed in more permanent shelters. Johnson has had his own difficulties trying to house migrants in a large tent encampment before winter arrived, as Gov. J.B. Pritzker stopped plans for the first such camp amid environmental concerns.

As of Wednesday, nearly 300 migrants were awaiting placement in police stations, OHare or Midway airports, city officials said.

Advocates and the migrants themselves also have sounded alarm bells about conditions in city shelters, which intensified after a 5-year-old boy died in a shelter in the Pilsen neighborhood on the Lower West Side.

As Chicago has attempted to cope with the new influx, confusion has also reigned within Illinois boundaries as buses have dropped off migrants coming from Texas outside Chicagos city limits.

Chicago began cracking down on bus companies that arent following rules the city implemented in mid-November seeking to stop chaotic bus arrivals. The rules required drop-offs to occur on weekdays between 8 a.m. and 5:30 p.m., limited bus arrivals to two per hour, and designated 800 S. Desplaines St. in the West Loop as the location to unload passengers.

In the last week, two buses dropped off asylum-seekers at Napervilles downtown Metra station. A city spokesperson said the new arrivals then took a Metra train to downtown Chicago. Officials in Kane County on Wednesday afternoon said in a statement that bus passengers who arrived in Aurora and Elburn were being sent via Metra to Chicago.

Johnson last month also announced that families staying in city shelters would be able to remain there for only 60 days.

Praising Johnsons bus rules, Adams announced he was signing an executive order for New York City that mirrored many of Chicagos rules. The New York order requires buses transporting migrants to announce their arrival 32 hours before dropping off migrants, and it also establishes new requirements for where and when buses can drop off migrants.

To be clear, this is not about stopping people from coming, but about ensuring the safety of migrants, Adams said.

____
FILE -In this photo released by Xinhua News Agency, a J-15 Chinese fighter jet prepares to take off from the Shandong aircraft carrier during the combat readiness patrol and military exercises around the Taiwan Island by the Eastern Theater Command of the Chinese People's Liberation Army (PLA) on Sunday, April 9, 2023. Weeks before Taiwan holds elections for its president and legislature, China has renewed its threat to use military force to annex the self-governing island democracy it claims as its own territory. (An Ni/Xinhua via AP, File)

TAIPEI, Taiwan (AP)  Weeks before Taiwan holds elections for its president and legislature, China renewed its threat to use military force to annex the self-governing island democracy it claims as its own territory.

Defense Ministry spokesperson Col. Wu Qian on told reporters Thursday at a monthly briefing that Chinas armed forces would as always take all necessary measures to firmly safeguard our national sovereignty and territorial integrity.

Taiwans 23 million people overwhelmingly favor maintaining the islands de-facto independent status, leaving the Jan. 13 polls to be decided largely by concerns over housing prices, health care, employment and education. China has continued sending warships and fighter jets near Taiwan as an intimidation tactic, even as Taiwans military said it's raising alert levels before the vote.

The ruling party's candidate, William Lai, holds a lead in most surveys, while the main opposition Nationalist Party's candidate, Hou You-yi, has sought to appeal to voters who fear a military conflict with China that could draw in the United States and lead to massive disruptions in the global economy.

Hou's campaign literature, distributed Thursday in Taipei, affirmed his opposition to Taiwan independence and concurrence with Beijing's view of Taiwan as a part of China.

Long a melting pot of Asian and European cultures, Taiwan was a Japanese colony for 50 years until 1945, when it was handed over to Chiang Kai-shek's Chinese Nationalist government. The Nationalists, also known as the Kuomintang, then relocated to the island in 1949 after the Communist Party under Mao Zedong emerged victorious from a brutal conflict on the Chinese mainland in which millions were killed.

During Thursday's news conference, Wu repeated accusations that the U.S. was prompting Taiwan into deliberately raising tensions with China. Beijing has provided no evidence, but the claim meshes with China's posing itself as an unofficial ally of Russia in opposing the long-predominant Western liberal order, in favor of authoritarian rule.

Any attempt to use Taiwan to contain China is doomed to failure.  Seeking independence by military force is a dead end, Wu said.

Taiwan has answered Chinese military expansions with boosts to its navy, air and ground forces, all backed by the possibility of swift intervention by U.S. and allied forces spread across the Asia-Pacific.

China maintains the world's largest standing military with more than 2 million enlisted, along with the largest navy and the second-highest annual defense budget, after the U.S.

Yet, the post of defense minister has been vacant since the former occupant, Li Shangfu, dropped from view in August and was officially dismissed in October with no word on the cause or his current circumstances. The mysterious dismissal of Li, along with that of ex-Foreign Minister Qin Gang, have raised questions about support within the regime for Communist Party leader and head of state Xi Jinping, who has effectively made himself leader for life and has sought to eliminate all political opponents.

Even as the defense minister position remains vacant, Xi appointed two newly promoted full generals to key military commands Monday. Wang Wenquan will act as political commissar of the Southern Theater Command that oversees China's operations in the highly contested South China Sea. Hu Zhongming will take over as navy commander as China works to establish itself as a global maritime power to protect its trade interests, consolidate its hold over the South China Sea and East China Sea islands, and expand its global interests in order to diminish U.S. power.
By Laurie Chen

BEIJING (Reuters) -China on Thursday said it will not turn a blind eye to repeated "provocations and harassment" by the Philippines, amid heightened tensions over a spate of run-ins in the South China Sea.

Manila earlier this month accused the Chinese coastguard and maritime militia of repeatedly firing water cannons at its resupply boats, causing "serious engine damage" to one, and "deliberately" ramming another.

Calling the accusations "purely false hype," Wu Qian, a defence ministry spokesperson, said the Philippine side insisted on sending vessels to "intrude into" waters near a disputed shoal and "proactively rammed" a Chinese Coast Guard vessel.

At a news conference, Wu said the China Coast Guard took necessary enforcement measures which were justified and legitimate.

"China is always committed to resolving differences through dialogue and consultation and making joint efforts to maintain maritime stability, but we will not turn a blind eye to the Philippine's repeated provocations and harassment," Wu said.

A Philippine military spokesperson said earlier this week the country was not provoking conflict in the South China Sea, after Chinese state media accused Manila of relying on U.S. support to continually antagonize China.

Relations soured between the two neighbours over the South China Sea under Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos Jr, with Manila pivoting back to the United States, which supports the Southeast Asian nation in its maritime disputes with China.

"We urge the U.S. to immediately stop meddling in the South China Sea issue, stop emboldening and supporting Philippine infringement and provocation, and safeguard regional security with concrete actions," Wu said at the news conference.

(Reporting by Laurie Chen, Ella Cao and Ryan Woo; Editing by Muralikumar Anantharaman and Christina Fincher)
(Fixes garble in paragraph 5)

BEIJING (Reuters) - China's embassy in Myanmar urged its nationals on Thursday to leave the Laukkai area in Kokang region in northern Myanmar as soon as possible, citing growing security risks.

Myanmar's military has been battling coordinated rebel attacks in the north in its biggest battlefield challenge since the 2021 coup, worrying neighbouring China.

"The current security situation in Myanmar's Kokang Self-Administered Zone is serious and complex," China foreign ministry spokesperson Mao Ning said at a regular press conference on Thursday.

"We hope the relevant Myanmar parties maintain the highest level of restraint, take the initiative to de-escalate the situation on the ground, jointly push for a soft landing of the situation in northern Myanmar," Mao said.

She also urged local authorities to guarantee the safety of Chinese personnel.

Earlier this month, China mediated peace talks between Myanmar's ruling military and rebel groups, and the parties agreed on a temporary ceasefire and to maintain dialogue.

The insurgent alliance, however, reaffirmed its commitment to defeat what it called Myanmar's "dictatorship", and made no mention of peace talks or a ceasefire.

(This story has been refiled to fix garble in paragraph 5)

(Reporting by Baptista Eduardo and Albee Zhang; Editing by Andrew Heavens)
BEIJING (Reuters) - China's defence ministry on Thursday urged the Asia-Pacific to be on high alert as the United States steps up forward military deployment in the region, after reports of a U.S. plan to revive a Pacific airfield that launched atomic bombings of Japan.

The Chinese military is paying close attention to moves by the United States, and will firmly safeguard China's maritime rights, security and sovereignty in the region, Wu Qian, a spokesperson at the defence ministry, told a regular news conference.

Earlier in December, a U.S. air force general told Japan's Nikkei newspaper that the U.S. military will make "significant progress" towards reclaiming the Tinian North airfield from overgrown jungle vegetation in the coming months, as part of a plan to disperse aircraft across the Indo-Pacific region as China's missile threat grows.

The airfield, abandoned after World War II, lies on Tinian island, part of the Northern Mariana Islands, a U.S. territory, and about 200 kilometres (124 miles) north of Guam.

(Reporting by Laurie Chen and Ryan Woo. Editing by Jane Merriman)
By Laurie Chen

BEIJING (Reuters) - China's defence ministry lashed out at the United States on Thursday, a week after their top military officials resumed high-level talks, criticising its continued meddling in the Asia Pacific region and saying it maintained a "Cold War" mindset.

Both sides had pledged at the talks to work towards restoration of contacts to avert miscalculation and misunderstanding, with the U.S. calling for "more work" to ensure military communications stayed open and reliable.

But a Chinese defence ministry spokesperson took a more hawkish tone at the year's last regular press conference.

"The United States continues to strengthen its Asia-Pacific deployments, this is full of a Cold War mindset," the spokesperson, Wu Qian, said on Thursday.

"Its goal is for its own selfish gains and to maintain its hegemony. Its nature is to stoke confrontation."

U.S. officials had hoped last week's talks, when top U.S. General Charles Brown and his Chinese counterpart, General Liu Zhenli, held a videoconference in the first such event in more than a year, could bring a broader restoration in military ties.

Those talks followed a pact in San Francisco last month between the leaders of both countries to resume such ties, which Beijing had snapped after a visit to self-ruled Taiwan in 2022 by Nancy Pelosi, then speaker of the House of Representatives.

The video call yielded "positive and constructive outcomes", Wu said.

But Beijing expected Washington to "take concrete actions on the basis of equality and respect to promote the sound and steady development of China-US military-to-military relationship", he added, with specifics to be announced later.

MANIPULATING TAIWAN

On Taiwan, set to hold a key presidential election on Jan 13, Wu accused its government of deliberately "hyping up" a military threat from China for electoral gain.

He warned the U.S. against interfering in Taiwan affairs, including selling arms to the island democracy.

"We firmly oppose any country having official and military contact with Taiwan in any form. The U.S. is manipulating the Taiwan question in various forms, which is a very dangerous gamble," Wu said.

"We urge the U.S. to stop arming Taiwan under any excuses or by any means," he added.

Taiwan's defence ministry said this week it was not seeing any signs of large-scale Chinese military activity before the elections but was keeping close watch on China.

Wu also blamed the United States for rising tension in the South China Sea, following recent skirmishes between China and the Philippines around the Spratly islands.

The U.S. has backed Manila in its maritime disputes with China amid a broader strengthening of ties under Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.

"The U.S., out of its selfish calculations, has been conniving at, and emboldening the Philippines, attempting to coerce and threaten China," Wu said.

This week a Philippine military spokesperson rebutted China's accusation that his country was provoking conflict in the region.

On the domestic front, Wu declined to comment on the removal this week of three executives at leading aerospace defence firms from China's top political advisory body.

"I refer you to the competent national authorities," he said, when asked about the reason behind the removals.

The executives are from China Aerospace Science and Technology Corporation (CASC), China's main space program contractor and builder of missile systems; Norinco, a major Chinese defence contractor, and China's largest missile maker, the China Aerospace Science and Industry Corporation (CASIC).

An anti-corruption purge in the top ranks of the People's Liberation Army has implicated former defence minister Li Shangfu, who faces investigation for corrupt military procurement, Reuters has previously reported.

The People's Liberation Army Rocket Force has also been in focus recently after its two most senior leaders were suddenly replaced at the end of July with commanders from outside the force.

(Writing by James Pomfret; Editing by Clarence Fernandez)
The Hong Kong Garrison of the Chinese People's Liberation Army (PLA) on Wednesday mobilized some of its army, naval and air forces to conduct a joint patrol, focusing on training the troops' combat capability of rapid planning, emergency response, special situation handling, and joint operations.

The joint patrol involved high-mobility infantry, ships, helicopters and other units of the armed forces, which was carried out under real combat conditions.

The training included setting up command posts, naval and air patrols, interception and verification, army and air patrols, and battlefield rescue, which has effectively improved the troops' capability of planning, command and joint operations.

During the joint patrol, the participating troops strictly complied with the laws and regulations of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) on road, waterway and aviation management, and notified in advance the relevant departments of the HKSAR government.
LAS VEGAS (KLAS)  Starting in 2024, it could be against Clark County rules for people including panhandlers and performers to stop traffic on pedestrian bridges.

Clark County commissioners are set to vote and approve an ordinance on Jan. 2 by creating pedestrian flow zones, which would make it unlawful for any person to stop, stand, or engage in an activity that causes another person to stop or stand within the flow zones.

The ordinance defines pedestrian flow zones as pedestrian bridges up to 20 feet surrounding a touchdown structure within the resort corridor. Touchdown structures are defined in the ordinance as elevators, escalators, and stairways on the public right of way associated with pedestrian bridges.

A retiree who uses the stage name The Creole Lady sang along to Whitney Houstons I Have Nothing, on the Flamingo Bridge on Wednesday. A pastime shes done since 2020 and is in disbelief it could be her swan song.

Clark County Commissioners are set to vote and approve an ordinance creating pedestrian flow zones on Tuesday. The regulation would prohibit people from hindering traffic on pedestrian bridges and areas near escalators and elevators. (KLAS/Lauren Negrete)

I take this money and feed those who are less fortunate so this would put a strain on me trying to feed those who are less fortunate, she explained. Id hope they would consider those people that this is their livelihood and how they make their living.

The ordinance states the issue comes down to safety, more injuries, and crime from people stopping or blocking others.

Clark County Commissioners point to UNLV professor William Sousas study which showed a 23% increase in disorderly calls for service from 2018 to 2022 on Las Vegas Boulevard. Calls for disorderly unhoused individuals on bridges increased by over 1700% during the same period.

8 News Now spoke to Becca Loske who was visiting Las Vegas from Vancouver and said she couldnt imagine missing out on the sights of the Strip.

Maybe you can meet somewhere in the middle of it, she questioned. That you can stop and take a look and not be harassed, but if you are camping out and spending over 15 minutes here then maybe you should be moving along.

The ordinance does not specify how long is too long to stop.

Artistic performances and photography regularly take place on overpasses, Jacob Smith, a staff attorney with the ACLU of Nevada said. He added that those are First Amendment activities and to criminalize them for playing to violin, holding signs, or taking a selfie violates the constitution and completely ignores these overpasses are public property that belong to everyone.

The ordinance states people who hold up traffic could face jail time, a fine of more than a thousand dollars, or both.

Clark County staff shared that the ordinance would go into effect two weeks after it is passed. The earliest it could go into effect is January 17th.

Metro police would not comment on enforcement until after Tuesdays meeting.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KLAS.
CLARKSTOWN - A single-family home illegally converted to house dozens of immigrants has been shut down and put up for sale for $575,000, town officials and real estate websites say.

Clarkstown officials cracked down on the Monsey landlord with legal action that will force him to remove interior construction that created rooms and unsafe living conditions. Officials said children were among those living in a garage, attic, and an unfinished basement.

Supreme Court Justice Thomas Zugibe ordered the owner, Sholamei Koppel, to convert the house at 295 New Hempstead Road back to a single-family status.

295 New Hempstead Road in New City, photographed Sept. 18, 2023.

Koppel already has been fined $23,000 for violations found at a house he owns at 8 Funston Ave., in Spring Valley.

Fines: Monsey landlord who housed migrants in illegal housing faces thousands of dollars in fines

Koppel is scheduled for a Clarkstown Justice Court appearance on Jan. 2, a proceeding separate from the Supreme Court case. The town will ask for $15,000 to $20,000 in fines if Koppel pleads guilty to multiple violations, according to Deputy Town Attorney Kevin Conway, who is prosecuting the code violations.

Koppel already has removed the overcrowded conditions by forcing out up to 34 people who were paying rent. Conway said.

"This was a successful conclusion because they removed the main concern of the over occupancy," Conway said. "Now we're dealing with ensuring a return to a single-family house."

Clarkstown Deputy Town Attorney Kevin Conway

Conway said the town would ask for substantial fines because "it would appear they were making a lot of money" on the boarding house.

"An appropriate fine would help discourage those violations in the future," Conway said.

Koppel and his attorney have declined comment, even after court sessions before Zugibe, who approved Clarkstown's request to prohibit the illegal housing and convert the house back to a single-family residence.

Koppel's attorney Chris Riley of White Plains, stated in court papers and to Zugibe's questions that Koppel is not contesting the violations. He told the judge that Koppel claimed he had been unaware of the overcrowding and added bedrooms at the house.

Conway said the Building Department will re-inspect the house to ascertain the progress, if any, toward taking down the walls.

Inspectors find multiple violations

Inspectors found eight bedrooms and 16 beds, including three people sharing one of the beds. In addition to overcrowding, violations found include blocked egresses, electrical hazards, illegal conversions, and missing smoke and carbon monoxide detectors.

Fire hazards, code issues: What we know about Clarkstown 'flophouse' ordered shut by judge

Supervisor George Hoehmann said the town inspectors and attorneys acted aggressively to shut down illegal housing violating zoning. The town worked to shut down an illegal dormitory school on South Mountain Road by going to the Supreme Court and is before Zugibe on five properties overseen by a management company that also worked for Koppel.

Clarkstown Supervisor George Hoehmann offers comments on steps being taken to crack down on illegal flophouses in Clarkstown during a press conference at Clarkstown Town Hall in New City on Thursday, October 19, 2023.

Hoehmann said 295 New Hempstead Road was used as a "flop house," a way station for the people on their way to another residence.

Officials claimed that migrants settling in houses involved the religious community supporting landlords and New York City Mayor Eric Adams, whose administration denied any connection. The Adams administration first tried moving migrants into hotels in Rockland and other suburban counties, only to be blocked by Rockland and other counties in court.

Ramapo: illegal schools, and businesses are allowed to continue operating. Here's how

Clarkstown has cases before Zugibe involving five of 17 properties overseen by the same management company that worked for Koppel at the house on New Hempstead Road.

"We have multiple houses we're looking at," Hoehmann said, adding the town has hired two code enforcers and is looking to employ a sixth, including a Spanish speaker.

He said blocking the boarding house cut into the financial feasibility of the owner.

"The house is up for sale so obviously they saw how we handled this and decided they wanted to move on," Hoehmann said. "Hopefully, a good family will come and buy it and become part of the community and not abuse the community."

Koppel, 29, also owns two properties in Spring Valley, according to village assessment rolls: 194-196 Main St., a two-family residence, is listed to Shloima Koppel with a market value of $290,215; and 8 Funston Ave., a single-family residence, is listed to Shloma, spelled a different way, Koppel, with a market value of $285,240.

Koppel bought the one-acre property at 95 New Hempstead Road, New City, was purchased on Nov. 11, 2022, for $470,000, according to Rockland County Clerk's Office records.

The 1,552-square-foot house is on the market for $575,000 and is described as having four bedrooms, two bathrooms, family and living rooms, a patio, and a single-car garage.

Steve Lieberman covers government, breaking news, courts, police, and investigations. Reach him at slieberm@lohud.com Twitter: @lohudlegal

Read more articles and bio. Our local coverage is only possible with support from our readers.

This article originally appeared on Rockland/Westchester Journal News: Clarkstown house facing thousands in fines up for sale for $575,000
Ten years ago, Beth Beyers youngest child walked out to Lake Michigan on a mild winter day and cried.

The Lincoln Park resident thought her son would be excited about spending time outdoors, but the seventh grader was distraught thinking about what the unseasonably warm weather meant for the world and its climate.

I was like, Wow, youre taking this in a way that I had no idea, Beyer remembers saying.

Since, Beyers advocacy and nonprofit work has allowed her to keep her ear to the ground and share what she learns from other environmentalists with her two sons to ease their eco-conscious minds. She is the executive director of The Technology Alliance, which makes new technologies available to local underserved communities, and also works with the Chicago Wilderness Alliance.

We need to figure out how we channel this anxiety, she said. How do we create hope?

Beyer recounted this during a Climate Cafe, one of a few gatherings that Chicago psychotherapist and clinical social worker Libby Bachhuber has helped organize for those struggling with the emotional burdens of climate change: from anxiety to grief, from guilt to shame.

Many mental health professionals agree the most effective way to deal with the difficult feelings brought up by the enormity of the climate crisis might just be to slow down, pay attention to those feelings  as uncomfortable as they may be  and talk through them with other people.

Unless we can process our internal responses to climate change, we are not going to be able to respond appropriately to it, Bachhuber said.

After joining the regional team for the Climate Psychology Alliance North America, Bachhuber trained last year on how to hold small group sessions. She is planning three cafes in the next three months.

She organized the recent Climate Cafe at the Peggy Notebaert Nature Museum alongside Haven Denson, coordinator for the museums Chicago Conservation Corps program, which trains community leaders in grassroots organizing and climate action. Denson said many young people like her Gen Z peers are mentally checked out when it comes to climate issues.

Everybody that I talk to is mostly ready to give up. All we hear is doom and gloom, Denson said. We may as well just give up, its already too late.

And the numbers back this up. A study published in the medical journal The Lancet in 2021 found that almost half of Americans surveyed between the ages of 16 and 25 were very worried or extremely worried about climate change and thought humanity was doomed because of it.

That is why I think this is so important, having these spaces where we can not only talk about solutions, but also just talk about (how) we are in this together, were not isolated, its OK to feel this way, Denson said. To acknowledge these feelings and emotions, to actually process them so that we can then move on and find those solutions.

Ecological anxiety and grief

Some may dismiss eco-anxiety, or fear of environmental catastrophe associated with climate change, as one more term in a long list of therapy speak  buzzwords related to psychotherapy and mental health that are often used excessively and incorrectly.

But just in the last decade, the number of Americans alarmed by climate change has doubled to more than one-third of the population, according to the Yale Program on Climate Change Communication.

People tend to come in and they are worrying a lot, said Marilee Feldman, founder and clinical director of the Life Counseling Institute in Willowbrook and Park Ridge. She is also the Illinois regional coordinator for the Climate Psychology Alliance North America, which trains psychotherapists to address climate issues and concerns.

Feldman said clients often ask themselves: Where should I live? What is the future? What will it be like for my children?

Another feeling particular to the climate crisis is ecological grief; a great sadness about the loss of nature and species, about a lack of safety and about unfulfilled potential. These and other overwhelming feelings can be exacerbated by a sense of isolation, according to Feldman. So, that just adds fuel to the fire, she said.

A growing number of climate-aware psychotherapists are hoping to help their patients move past denial and into climate resilience. By accepting reality, people can sort through complex feelings and grow able to tolerate them. Anxiety, grief and despair, anger and rage can all be transformed  by talking with other activists, joining a support group, meeting a climate-aware therapist  into productive action.

I think theres hope here, in terms of really becoming more adaptive, dealing with all those thoughts, feelings, body sensations, Feldman said, to where you take that anxiety, you take that grief and all of that upset, these emotions that are very powerful, and you channel (them) into  your love for this world and making things better and figuring out whats important to you.

Guilt and shame

According to The Lancet study, about 42% of young people surveyed in the United States felt guilt and over 44% felt shame in relation to climate change. An associate professor of environmental ethics in the Divinity School at the University of Chicago, Sarah Fredericks said deep shame can cause people to hide or retreat and become paralyzed, unable to act.

Guilt and shame in the context of climate change first piqued the ethicists curiosity when she lived in Texas a decade or so ago. She owned an old home that she wanted to renovate in an ecologically conscious manner, so she began perusing blogs and websites about eco-friendly design.

But Fredericks also found many people online who were plagued by guilt, in response to doing something wrong, and shame, or having negative feelings about ones whole self. For instance, someone felt bad about driving a minivan around town, someone else was embarrassed to admit they used air conditioning regularly, and yet another person would always forget to bring reusable bags to the grocery store.

It was interesting to me, because people kept using this language that I would think of as very religiously coded language, Fredericks said. They would say things like Im an eco-sinner, or Im a bad person. They were judging themselves. And I thought, as a religious studies scholar: Is that whats going on here? Are these people affiliated with particular religious traditions? Are they not? Wheres this language coming from?

At the time, however, there was basically no existing academic literature documenting this phenomenon; her peers and colleagues told Fredericks it made no sense for people to feel that way as individuals since climate change is a systemic problem.

But the more she read and studied discussion boards, websites and books to learn what people were doing about these feelings, Fredericks realized there seemed to be something affirming and validating when people helped others put their guilt and shame into perspective; mistakes were recognized as such and not as an indictment on a persons morality.

As individuals we exist in communities, and wouldnt be able to exist without our communities, Fredericks said. But a lot of the environmental guilt and shame relate to our community.  There are structures in our community  financial, infrastructural, physical, social  that shape who we are. So we need community responses. And we need community support, the kind of cheerleading or moral support that friends and community and families can offer us.

Sitting with differences

Participants at the recent Climate Cafe at the nature museum were asked to bring a natural object that illustrates their connection to climate issues.

Carolyn Vazquez brought her 10-year-old daughter, Bella.

Well, shes natural! she remembers saying with a chuckle. Shes my object because shes the future.  What am I leaving her?

For Vazquez, looking out for the environment is a personal and professional endeavor. The Auburn Gresham resident is a community activist and the CEO of hemp manufacturing company Think ReHemption which advocates for sustainable, organic and climate-smart agricultural practices.

After the conclusion of their Climate Cafe and still sitting in a circle, Vazquez and Beyer organically and almost inevitably waded into a conversation about race. Both women, similar in age but with distinct backgrounds, share a passion for the environment and hope to get their communities involved in these issues.

Vazquez pointed out that most of her neighbors in Auburn Gresham have basic needs like access to food and concerns like gun violence, matters so urgent they can divert attention from environmental problems.

There are young, African American youth and parents, families who are concerned about it, but you dont see them, Vazquez said. You dont hear about them. Nor do they feel empowered enough to get a bunch of people who really dont want to hear that language, who are worried about different stuff.

And because suburban and North Side communities dont see as much violence, she said, their residents might have more time, energy and resources to direct toward climate advocacy. The playing ground will never be equal, Vazquez added.

But Beyer herself feels challenged by the fact many people in her Lincoln Park neighborhood dont feel connected to one another. Some of us dont even know whats going on, she said. Theres no forum for it.

I think these are tough conversations sometimes, and people come from different places. So (with) this small group, she gestured to the Climate Cafe participants and facilitators, I think were going real far.  It just helps to get insight.

Bachhuber sat to the side, quietly listening. She finally spoke after a lull in conversation.

Its challenging, all over in different spaces but including in environmental spaces, to sit with the reality of these differences, how deep they run, and how psychologically they affect us, she said. Theres a universality to (climate change), but theres also a specificity to it, of how different communities are affected. (This conversation) is kind of cool because to me, this is some of the work that needs to happen.  I dont think this solves with us just being separate and not figuring out how to sit with the discomfort of differences.

Rebecca Weston, co-president of the Climate Psychology Alliance North America, noted that some people may think or suggest climate anxiety is an experience limited to white, middle-class people who are concerned about losing summer homes or getting insurance on their coastal properties. But thats not true, she argued.

The people who are most worried about climate change are people of color, predominantly women of color, she said. The people who are most active around these issues are people of color. The people who are most advocating for policy change are people of color. So to suggest that climate anxiety is just a feeling of the wealthy elite is not correct.

As an activist, Vazquez said she often finds herself mentally tired and drained from trying and failing to get people in her neighborhood, which has historically suffered from disinvestment, to pay attention to environmental issues.

I feel like these moments help you connect in a safe space where you feel like you can really talk to people, she said.

From individualism to community

When Ren Dean, the owner of Skunk Cabbage Books, was drawing up a business plan for the Avondale bookstore, one of their main goals was to create a place where folks could talk about their collective futures in the context of climate change. So Dean began a book club for nature-focused writing.

I personally was really feeling like I needed a space, a physical space, to talk to other people and figure out how to find each other and how to support each other, Dean told the Tribune. How do we engage with this in a way that isnt so paralyzing, that feels like theres something we can do and (theres) ways we can support each other?

Dean said the group had been reading a lot of good writing about grappling with the immensity of climate anxiety and how community could offer a starting place to begin processing these difficult feelings. But they were also itching to find a space to talk about their mental and emotional experiences instead of just reading about them.

Theres reading that and recognizing that thats the answer, Dean said, and then theres the next step of: How do I do that? It felt really big and hard for me, personally.

Which is why Dean jumped at an opportunity a few months ago, when Bachhuber reached out with the idea of holding a Climate Cafe at the bookstore. It was a really kind of perfect thing for us to host, Dean said.

We have a very individualistic culture that puts people in a really difficult position as they start to process climate change and learn about it in isolation, Bachhuber explained. And our culture of individualism is part of the problem, its part of what got us into this situation in the first place.

Talking through their shared feelings and emotions on climate change can help folks untangle themselves from individualistic approaches to the climate crisis, which can oftentimes feel futile and discouraging.

We were raised that way, Vazquez said. How do we say, Hey, theres enough pie for all of us, to solve this problem?

adperez@chicagotribune.com
SAN DIEGO  Making plans for News Years Day? If so, double check to see if where youre headed is open during the holiday.

Whats closed?

All public county offices, family resource centers, library branches and animal shelters will be closed on Monday, Jan. 1. Additionally, all county public health clinics will be closed.

Drivers warning: CHP to implement Maximum Enforcement Period for new year

The following community and recreations centers are also planning to close their doors for the day:

Fallbrook Community Center

Lakeside Community Center

Spring Valley Community Center

Spring Valley Gymnasium

4S Ranch Recreation Office only (all parks will be open)

Community Teen Centers

Valley Center Community Hall and Adams Park Poo

Those offices will resume normal business hours the following day on Tuesday, Jan. 2.

25 Southern California restaurants added to Michelin Guide in 2023

Whats open?

Planning a park picnic or pondering the idea of pitching a tent at a county campsite? Youre in luck. County parks, campgrounds, and neighborhood day-use parks remain open 365 days a year.

Camping reservations can be made online via the countys camping reservations website. Keep in mind, the Department of Parks and Recreations reservation phone line will not be staffed during the holiday.

Happy New Year, San Diego.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to FOX 5 San Diego.
A search for a bodyboarder believed to be difficulty in the sea at Fraserburgh was a false alarm, HM Coastguard says.

Police Scotland and the RNLI were also called to the Aberdeenshire port, with an oil and gas industry helicopter deployed to aid rescue teams.

HM Coastguard said it had co-ordinated a search which was ended at 21:15.

A spokesperson said: "HM Coastguard is satisfied that there is no information to say anybody is missing and nobody has been reported missing either."

It comes after large areas of Scotland were battered by high winds, rain and snow after Storm Gerrit hit on Wednesday.
PORTLAND, Ore. (KOIN)  A new lawsuit accuses a Coffee Creek Correctional Facility corrections officer of sexually assaulting a former inmate while she was seeking medical care at a hospital, according to court documents.

The complaint, filed Dec. 15, claims that the plaintiff was working in the correctional facilitys kitchen when she sliced off a portion of her thumb in a meat slicer that was missing a safety guard in Dec. 2021, and was taken to Meridian Park Hospital by Corrections Officer Shawn Guerrero, as first reported by Willamette Week.

The lawsuit alleges, while plaintiff was alone in the hospital room with defendant Guerrero, he dropped his pants and required plaintiff to perform oral sex on him.

Oregon laws targeting drugs, retail theft go into effect January 2024

At the time, the corrections facility had a Rule of Three, which meant an inmate and a correctional officer could not be alone together, court documents note. Despite the rule, Guerrero took the plaintiff to the hospital alone, the suit claims.

KOIN 6 News reached out to Guerrero multiple times for comment but has not heard back.

The lawsuit alleges Guerrero violated the Eighth Amendment against cruel and unusual punishment by using his position of authority to require plaintiff to perform a sex act while waiting for medical treatment at the hospital.

In a statement to KOIN 6 News, the Oregon Department of Corrections said they have received the complaint from the plaintiff but cannot comment at this time.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KOIN.com.
Concerns were raised by government watchdog groups for a plan to dispose of Cold War nuclear waste at the Waste Isolation Pilot Plant repository in southeast New Mexico, as the federal government could soon generate more new waste through weapons development that would also need disposal.

In a recent 10-year renewal of the Department of Energys permit with the New Mexico Environment Department for WIPPs operations, the NMED added a mandate to prioritize legacy waste held for decades at DOE sites and ensure there was adequate space in the underground for its disposal.

At a Dec. 13 public meeting held in Carlsbad and virtually, required by the new permit enacted Nov. 3, DOE and WIPP officials sought input on officially defining legacy waste and how it would be disposed of at WIPP.

More: More than 400 shipments of nuclear waste came to Carlsbad-area repository in 2023

Joni Arends with New Mexico-based Concerned Citizens for Nuclear Safety argued the DOE had held inadequate public meetings with the generator sites, and needed to work quicker to determine how much legacy waste was needing disposal around the U.S.

Youve got to do more to get people involved in this very important issue so that we have a complete inventory by the due date in November 2024, she said.

The permit specified that a legacy waste disposal plan must be developed and submitted to NMED a year after the permit takes effect, and reserved Panel 12 for the disposal of this waste.

More: Final testing underway at $486M air system for nuclear waste site near Carlsbad

That panel was one of two new panels approved for mining in the permit, intended to replace space lost to contamination in a 2014 incident.

More: A nuclear reactor in Carlsbad? City officials call for project at federal waste repository

Rick Chavez at Los Alamos Technical Associates, a DOE-hired contractor managing WIPPs permitting policies, said much of the planning for waste disposal depended on the generation and availability of waste from the generator sites as they prepare materials for disposal.

He said DOE officials would consult with individual sites on their inventory of legacy waste, how it is defined at each site and if any risks exist with moving the waste to WIPP.

The WIPP generator sites, theyre our customers. We depend on them to ship waste, Chavez said. Its important to us to obtain their input in developing our plan. Generator sites may have different definitions of legacy waste.

More: Oil & gas industry joins fight against nuclear waste site proposed in southeast New Mexico

Edward Holbrook, with the Department of Ecologys nuclear waste program at Washington State University said legacy waste is not officially defined at the DOEs Hanford Site in Washington.

He proposed meetings at the local level as the project moves forward to better determine what the term meant to specific sites, and how much of the waste was present.

I dont have those answers right now, Holbrook said.

More: Feds tout progress in cleaning up nuclear waste at Los Alamos using Carlsbad-area site

Former-NMED scientist Steve Zappe said during the meeting the legacy waste requirement was added to the permit amid concerns that newer streams of waste, such as from increased plutonium pit production at Los Alamos and other facilities, could take up space originally intended for older waste.

Newly-generated waste which might be easier to dispose of could displace legacy waste which is maybe difficult to characterize or retrieve, he said.

Tom Clements, executive director at Savannah River Site Watch, a government watchdog group focused on the DOE facility in South Carolina, worried an ongoing project to down-blend or dilute surplus weapons-grade plutonium at the facility could result in excess waste needing disposal.

More: New Mexico oilfield lawmakers ready to defend oil, gas from 'tightening noose' of regulation

This new stream would likely not be considered legacy waste, and Clements argued the DOE would need to find a process to balance such emerging needs, including planned pit production at Savannah River.

This is not legacy material, Clements said. The pit-TRU is not included. I wonder how the plutonium down-blended material is going to be categorized. To me it is not legacy waste.

Chavez agreed that the wastes Clements mentioned were not legacy waste.

More: Air shaft at nuke repository near Carlsbad hits final depth amid recent safety incidents

That could be a problem, said Don Hancock with the Southwest Research and Information Center in Albuquerque.

Hancock pointed to a 2020 study from the National Academies of Science finding there may not be enough space at WIPP for the waste the DOE plans to produce in the coming years.

He also invoked another clause in the permit that the DOE must report to the State of New Mexico annually on progress in finding a new location for nuclear waste disposal once WIPP meets its legal capacity.

Obviously, if theres more waste than will fit into WIPP, there needs to be some other place to put it, Hancock said. WIPP was designed for legacy waste, not for surplus plutonium, not for new plutonium pit production. We think that was WIPPs purpose. DOE unfortunately is trying to expand that mission and there is significant pushback on that.

Adrian Hedden can be reached at 575-628-5516, achedden@currentargus.com or @AdrianHedden on X, formerly known as Twitter.

This article originally appeared on Carlsbad Current-Argus: Cold War nuclear waste disposed of New Mexico amid space concerns
Illegally harvested timber is getting a new lease on life, turned into hives to house beleaguered bees in Colombia (Juan BARRETO)

In northeast Colombia, police guard warehouses stacked high with confiscated timber with a noble new destiny: transformation into homes for bees beleaguered by pesticides and climate change.

The illegally harvested wood is used in the Santander department's "Timber Returns Home" initiative, building hives since 2021 to house the little pollinators so critical to human survival.

So far, the project has seen about 200 cubic meters (7,060 cubic feet) of wood transformed into 1,000 bee hives, with another 10,000 planned for the next phase, according to the Santander environmental authority.

Previously, confiscated timber was turned into sawdust, donated to municipalities for projects... and sometimes just left to rot.

Now it is being repurposed to help address the "extremely serious problem" of possible bee extinction, said biologist German Perilla, director of the Honey Bee Impact Foundation.

About three quarters of crops producing fruits or seeds for human consumption depend on pollination, but the UN has warned that 40 percent of invertebrate pollinators -- particularly bees and butterflies -- risk global extinction.

"The main threat is that we will run out of trees and there will be no flowers, because without flowers there are no bees, without bees there are no humans, and we will run out of food," said beekeeper Maria Acevedo, one of the beneficiaries of the project.

In 2023 alone, she told AFP, she lost more than half of her hives. She blames pesticides used in nearby production of crops such as coffee.

- Multiple threats -

According to official data, some 3,000 hives, each able to house around 50,000 bees, die off in Colombia each year. Laboratory tests found traces of the insecticide fipronil in most of the dead insects.

Colombia has issued a ban on fipronil -- already banned in Europe and restricted in the United States and China -- starting February 2024.

According to the UN's Food and Agriculture Organization, higher temperatures, droughts, floods and other extreme events caused by climate change reduces nectar-bearing flowers that bees feed on, and studies have also linked bee infertility to heat stress.

The Santander environmental authority seizes some 1,000 cubic meters of illegally felled timber in anti-trafficking operations in Santander every year.

The country lost 123,517 hectares (305,200 acres) of trees in 2022, mainly in the Amazon -- the world's largest rainforest.

Nearly half of all timber traded in Colombia is of illegal origin, according to the environment ministry.

str/lv/mel/mlr/bfm
(Bloomberg) -- The Colorado Republican Party asked the US Supreme Court to overturn a ruling that would bar Donald Trump from the states 2024 presidential ballot over his attempt to overturn the result of the last election, setting up a landmark showdown to determine his eligibility to return to office.

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In a petition filed late Wednesday, the party asked the justices to review a Dec. 19 Colorado Supreme Court decision finding that Trump was ineligible for the presidency under a provision of the US Constitutions 14th Amendment barring from federal office those whove engaged in insurrection.

Trump, whose wide-ranging efforts to remain in the White House culminated in the Jan. 6 Capitol riot, is expected to file a similar petition in the coming days.

The Colorado Supreme Court was the first to rule that Trumps conduct fell under the 14th Amendment. But the Colorado GOP said in its petition that state courts dont have jurisdiction to decide if Trump engaged in insurrection and that the unprecedented decision could lead to chaos at the polls nationwide.

For the first time in American history, a former president has been disqualified from the ballot, a political party has been denied the opportunity to put forward the presidential candidate of its choice, and the voters have been denied the ability to choose their chief executive through the electoral process, the party said, adding that the ruling violates voters First Amendment rights.

Read More: Trump Eligibility Fight Takes Center Stage Before Key Primaries

The US Supreme Court will be in the forefront of the high-stakes national drama in the coming months over Trump, who nominated three of its nine justices. In addition to the Colorado case, the high court may ultimately have to resolve aspects of four pending criminal cases against the former president. The court on Dec. 22 declined to immediately consider whether he is immune from charges stemming from his effort to overturn his defeat at the polls.

Under the Supreme Courts normal practices, it could be months before the justices say whether they will hear the appeal in the Colorado case, but the state partys petition said it will seek an expedited review to avoid an irreparable effect on the electoral process.

The Colorado voters who challenged Trumps eligibility  four Republicans and two independents  on Thursday filed their own motion seeking expedited Supreme Court review. They noted that Colorado and 15 other states and territories hold their primaries on Super Tuesday, March 5.

This motion seeks to expedite the Courts consideration of this petition and any petition filed by Trump, and any subsequent review on the merits, so that the important question of Trumps eligibility can be resolved by this Court before most primary voters cast their ballots, they said in the filing.

Trump has faced dozens of lawsuits across the country claiming hes ineligible for another term. Most of those have been denied on procedural grounds. On Wednesday, the Michigan Supreme Court left Trump on the state Republican primary ballot, declining to accept an appeal of an earlier decision finding the amendment didnt cover primary as opposed to presidential elections.

The Colorado Republican Party, represented by the American Center for Law and Justice, said the US Supreme Court must decide if the president falls within the list of officials subject to the disqualification provision under the 14th Amendment and whether states can carry out such removal without congressional authorization.

This will not only distort the 2024 presidential election but will also mire courts henceforth in political controversies over nebulous accusations of insurrection, the party said in its petition.

The Colorado Republicans claim the presidency is not a federal office covered by the 14th Amendment and that its enforcement, in any case, requires separate legislation from Washington.

The state supreme court, in its 4-3 decision, reached the opposite conclusion on both of those issues, and also found Trump engaged in overt, voluntary and direct participation in an insurrection that culminated with the Capitol riot.

The majority pointed to Trumps claims for weeks leading up to the Capitol riot that the election was rigged, despite a lack of evidence in dozens of court cases challenging the result. They also pointed to Trumps fiery Jan. 6 speech to a crowd that included armed people as well as his demands  even after rioters stormed the Capitol  that Vice President Mike Pence refuse to certify the results.

President Trump fully intended to  and did  aid or further the insurrectionists common unlawful purpose of preventing the peaceful transfer of power in this country, the Colorado court said. The seven-justice court is composed entirely of Democratic appointees.

The Colorado Supreme Court put its ruling on hold, and it wont take effect until the US Supreme Court resolves the matter one way or another. Trumps name remains on the states presidential primary ballot for now.

Citizens for Responsibility and Ethics, the advocacy group representing voters who filed the lawsuit, didnt immediately respond to a messages seeking comment on the petition.

The case is Colorado Republican State Central Committee v. Anderson, 23-696.

(Updates with plaintiffs filing motion to expedite Supreme Court review.)

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WASHINGTON  The Colorado Republican Party said it had asked the U.S. Supreme Court on Wednesday to hear an appeal of the bombshell decision from the Colorado Supreme Court ordering former President Donald Trumps removal from the states primary ballot. The state court ruled that he was ineligible to hold office because he had engaged in insurrection.

The justices are likely to agree to hear the case, given the importance of the question it presents and the need for a nationwide answer to it.

The filing of the petition seeking review of the state courts ruling also had a practical impact, extending a stay entered by the Colorado court while the justices consider the matter. That means Trump will remain on the primary ballot for now.

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Trump is expected to file his own petition in the coming days. A lawyer for the former president declined to comment, and his campaign did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

The partys petition said the U.S. Supreme Courts intervention was urgent.

Unless the Colorado Supreme Courts decision is overturned, any voter will have the power to sue to disqualify any political candidate, in Colorado or in any other jurisdiction that follows its lead, the petition said. This will not only distort the 2024 presidential election but will also mire courts henceforth in political controversies over nebulous accusations of insurrection.

The petition added that the catastrophic effects of the Colorado Supreme Courts decision are already foreshadowed in pending and recently decided cases involving attempts to deny President Trump access to the 2024 ballot.

The case concerns Section 3 of the 14th Amendment, adopted after the Civil War. It bars those who had taken an oath to support the Constitution from holding office if they then shall have engaged in insurrection or rebellion against the same, or given aid or comfort to the enemies thereof.

Congress can remove the prohibition, the provision says, but only by a two-thirds vote in each chamber.

By a 4-3 vote, the Colorado Supreme Court ruled in December that the provision applied to Trump, making him ineligible for another term.

We do not reach these conclusions lightly, the majority wrote. We are mindful of the magnitude and weight of the questions now before us. We are likewise mindful of our solemn duty to apply the law, without fear or favor, and without being swayed by public reaction to the decisions that the law mandates we reach.

The partys petition made three main points: that Section 3 does not apply to the presidency, that only Congress can enforce it and that the state courts decision violated the partys First Amendment rights.

The Republican Party has been irreparably harmed by the decision below, the petition said. The state has interfered in the primary election by unreasonably restricting the partys ability to select its candidates.

The petition added that the state courts ruling was based on a subjective claim of insurrection the state lacks any constitutional authority to make.

In a statement, two of the partys lawyers  Jay Sekulow and Jordan Sekulow  urged the justices to move quickly. There is an avalanche of similar cases being filed around the country, they said, so the Supreme Courts definitive and prompt review in this matter is essential.

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Colorado Republicans have appealed to the US Supreme Court after the state's top court ruled that Donald Trump was ineligible to run for president.

The appeal means he will remain for now on the ballot for the Colorado primary.

Last week, the ex-president was disqualified from running in the state for his alleged role in the 6 January 2021 attack on the US Capitol.

Mr Trump is the Republican frontrunner and is expected to be the party's candidate for the 2024 US election.

In its appeal, the Colorado Republican Party's legal team accused the state Supreme Court of "fundamentally changing the course of American democracy," according to the BBC's US partner CBS News.

They added that the decision would "distort" the 2024 presidential election and would "mire courts henceforth in political controversies over nebulous accusations of insurrection".

Colorado is the only US state to strike Mr Trump from the ballot under a US constitutional clause called the 14th Amendment prohibiting anyone engaging in "insurrection or rebellion" from holding public office.

This was the first time this provision has ever been used since it was introduced after the American Civil War.

Voting 4-3, the state's top court found last week that the former president had incited an insurrection when the Capitol was stormed by his supporters. Mr Trump has repeatedly denied responsibility for the riot.

The ruling directed the Colorado secretary of state to exclude Mr Trump from the state's Republican primary on 5 March. But it does not stop Mr Trump running in other states.

Similar lawsuits to remove the Republican frontrunner from the ballot in Minnesota, New Hampshire and Michigan have failed.

It is unclear when the US Supreme Court will consider the case and make a decision. What it decides will probably apply nationwide.

Mr Trump's team are also expected to appeal against the Colorado ruling.

The primary elections are the state-by-state search by each party for a presidential nominee.

Donald Trump's campaign to win the Republican nomination will be complicated by a series of criminal trials in 2024 as he runs again for the White House.

He denies all the charges and says the justice system has been weaponised to stop him becoming president.
Colorado Secretary of State Jena Griswold (D) urged the U.S. Supreme Court to make a speedy decision on a state Supreme Court ruling striking former President Trump from the ballot in the state,

In a Thursday statement, Griswold urged the U.S. Supreme Court to uphold the lower-court ruling, issued earlier in December, noting that Trump will remain on the ballot unless the high court upholds the decision by Jan. 5.

The state Supreme Court determined Trump was ineligible due to his attempts to overturn the 2020 election, particularly the events of Jan. 6, 2021, under Section 3 of the 14th Amendment.

That provision bars people who have taken an oath of office to serve a federal or state position from being president, vice president or a member of Congress if they engaged in insurrection or rebellion against the U.S.

The Colorado Republican Party has since appealed the decision, which Griswold said requires Trump to remain on the ballot unless the U.S. Supreme Court affirms the ruling in time for certification on Jan. 5.

Trump, who is also a defendant in the case along with the state GOP, has also vowed to appeal the ruling.

Donald Trump engaged in insurrection and was disqualified under the Constitution from the Colorado Ballot. The Colorado Supreme Court got it right, Griswold said in a statement. This decision is now being appealed. I urge the U.S. Supreme Court to act quickly given the upcoming presidential primary election.

The watchdog organization Citizens for Responsibility and Ethics in Washington (CREW), which brought the initial lawsuit on behalf of six Republican and independent Colorado voters, also urged an expedited decision Thursday.

The Colorado Republican Partys appeal of our clients case will address an issue of exceptional national importance  whether, as the Colorado Supreme Court found, a former president, and current candidate for office, who has engaged in insurrection against the Constitution is disqualified from holding office again, Sean Grimsley of Olson Grimsley Kawanabe Hinchcliff & Murray LLC, said in a statement.

In its appeal Wednesday, the Colorado GOP wrote that if the ruling is not overturned, any voter will have the power to sue to disqualify any political candidate, in Colorado or in any other jurisdiction that follows its lead.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill.
Editor's note: Your subscription directly supports the work of Sady Swanson and her colleagues in the Coloradoan newsroom. This holiday season, share a bonus subscription with family or friend, or purchase a new digital subscription for as little as $1 for the first six months of full access to Coloradoan.com, the Coloradoan mobile app and the daily e-edition print replica.

Im Sady Swanson, and I started at the Coloradoan 6 years ago, shortly after graduating from Colorado State University.

Ive spent most of my time covering public safety and criminal justice stories, but Ive also covered education and spent some time this year covering city government.

Covering crime and public safety means Im often speaking with people about some of the worst days of their lives, from losing a loved one to a drug overdose or car crash, to experiencing a lifelong trauma.

I am constantly in awe of the courage shown by those in our community who have experienced these tragedies, and I am honored to help tell their stories. I am proud to tell these stories, and each one sticks with me long after its published. I believe telling these stories brings our community closer together.

I wanted to share the 10 stories I wrote this year that I found most impactful.

More than 20 years after he says the abuse started, Scott Verti filed a lawsuit against the former Fort Collins priest he said abused him more than 100 times over 10 years. It was previous news coverage of Timothy Evans release from prison that made Scott realize he was ready to publicly talk about what he experienced, and it was moving to hear him tell his story for the first time.

2022 saw a high number of shootings involving law enforcement, with most involving the Larimer County Sheriffs Office. This story looked at what might be driving this increase and how it impacts the department and community. There have been far fewer police shootings this year.

Outreach Fort Collins' Wes Wicklund, left, and Lisa Dunworth, a behavioral health clinician at Summitstone, visit a couple in downtown Fort Collins on March 29, 2023. A large part of the nonprofit's mission involves walking streets, paths and trails to meet and engage people experiencing homelessness.

Calls come in daily for Fort Collins police to respond to issues involving those experiencing homelessness, even though many of those instances may not involve a crime. In those cases, there isnt much police can do, and this article looks at the community partnerships growing in town to more appropriately address these issues.

Patricia Telleens only son, Jason, was killed when he was hit by a bus while working at the Transfort facility in Fort Collins in January. She has spent all year fighting for justice for Jason. Patricia opened her home to me to tell me about Jason and how losing him has affected her, and to share her determination to get justice for her son.

Ive been covering the case against Christopher Parker since I joined the Coloradoan. These shootings rocked Northern Colorado back in 2015, and I was proud to follow through our coverage to Parkers sentencing this year. While this sentencing resolved one of the fatal shootings from 2015, the killing of well-known Windsor resident John Jacoby that same year remains unsolved.

One of the most contentious issues facing Fort Collins this year was the proposed revision of the city's land use code. I jumped into covering this as city council was preparing for another attempt at updating the code. This story dove into specific parts of the code that received the most public pushback and what changes, if any, city staff made in response.

Pastor Steve Ramer stands for a portrait at the Mennonite Fellowship in downtown Fort Collins on Aug. 31, 2023. The church is one of four sites designated as chronic nuiscance properties since the city changed its public nuisance ordinance at the end of last year.

This article looks at the effectiveness of the citys broadened chronic nuisance ordinance, and how its working to address behaviors now included under the ordinance. I talked with Pastor Steve Ramer at the Fort Collins Mennonite Church about how being labeled a chronic nuisance property impacted the congregation's work, and talked with some folks benefitting from the churchs work about how these nuisance behaviors negatively impact them. Its a complex issue that I worked to unpack with this story.

Fentanyl has been a growing problem statewide, and a new law that went into effect last year gives law enforcement and prosecutors another tool to combat the fentanyl crisis: a new criminal charge, fentanyl distribution resulting in death. The sentencing in this case is the first sentencing for this new charge in Colorado. This case and the information shared by both sides at sentencing highlight the complexities in handling drug distribution and overdose cases.

Fewer traffic citations does not mean safer streets. I talked with the Fort Collins police chief about why he believes officers are issuing fewer citations, and it gives folks a glimpse into what policing is like in this day and age, including a heavier reliance on technology and decreasing officer morale.

Harris Elias, a Fort Collins resident who was wrongfully arrested for a DUI, poses for a portrait near the site of his arrest at the corner of Laurel Street and College Avenue Wednesday, Oct. 18, 2023, in Fort Collins, Colo. His case was later dismissed after blood test results showed no alcohol or drugs detected.

Ive spoken with far too many families who have lost loved ones because another person made a poor choice to drive impaired. Impaired driving is clearly serious, but several people who have filed lawsuits saying theyve been falsely accused of DUI have also talked about losing out on jobs or promotions, missing time with dying friends or family due to bond requirements, and a general loss of trust for law enforcement and authority many said they had before. This article doesnt just talk about that, but how law enforcement and attorneys investigate and prosecute DUI cases, and why these cases can be complex.

To read more from me, visit coloradoan.com/staff/4406436002/sady-swanson.

This article originally appeared on Fort Collins Coloradoan: Coloradoan public safety reporter Sady Swanson's top stories of 2023
Olga Molina Palacios, with her 6-year-old son Moises Armando Palacios, pays her respects at the May funeral of her sister, former L.A. County Supervisor Gloria Molina, at Resurrection Catholic Church in Boyle Heights. (Irfan Khan / Los Angeles Times)

Maria Fernandez Miranda is the epitome of a matriarch. Seven of her 11 surviving children live on the same street as she does in Anaheim. Nearly all of her dozens of grandchildren are college-educated, and many are now beginning to buy their own homes. Her house is an eternal fiesta, with enough giant fruit trees and random visitors to populate a Gabriel Garcia Marquez novel.

This extraordinary 87-year-old woman is my Tia Maria, the oldest sister of my late mother, Maria de la Luz Arellano Miranda. Tough but tender, with a wry sense of humor and some of the best cooking Ive ever tasted, my aunt was a second mother to my mami. When my grandparents had to travel to Mexico City from their mountain hamlet in Zacatecas, she took care of her younger sister; when Mami was dying of ovarian cancer, my Tia Maria and her daughters tended to her. She has served as an exemplar of womanhood for my sisters and a beloved aunt for my brother and me.

Our family home is a street over, so the Fernandez clan has been a part of our lives since we were kids. Thats why at least one of us always attends the Christmas Eve party at our Tia Marias. Whod want to miss it? It starts with a rosary in front of a Nativity scene accompanied by Mexican Catholic hymns and ends with bolo (bags of peanuts and candies), tamales, hot cinnamon tea and tequila. These get-togethers are a chance for great food and company  yet Im usually the one who makes an excuse not to go.

Read more: Dianne Feinstein, the first woman to represent California in the Senate, dies at 90

Not this year. I was there in my Tia Marias living room, mumbling through Hail Marys and the Litany of Loreto in Spanish, making sure to appreciate every minute.

My Tia Maria is still in good enough health that she waved off my offer of a ride back from her daughters house a couple days before Christmas Eve, even though the walk was easily over a mile.

But Im going to spend the coming year caring more about the matriarchs in my life. 2023 reminded me that they dont live forever, as much as we delude ourselves into thinking they will. In Southern California and beyond, we lost too many pioneering women who changed us for the better  and we didn't always have the chance to say a proper goodbye.

The most prominent deaths were U.S. Senator Dianne Feinstein and former U.S. Supreme Court Justice Sandra Day OConnor, both in their 90s. Because of the longevity of their careers, too many people will remember them mostly in their twilights, which is a shame. Younger women cant even imagine the sexism that came with trying to be a professional in the 1960s and 1970s  and thats a good thing. Women like Feinstein and O'Connor bore the bruises of boors on their way to the top so that future generations wouldn't suffer as much.

Sen. Dianne Feinstein, D-Calif., leaves a classified briefing on China, at the Capitol in Washington in 2023. When she passed away in September, Feinstein was the longest-serving U.S. senator in California history. (J. Scott Applewhite / Associated Press)

I was just a toddler when OConnor became the first woman on the Supreme Court and a teen when Feinstein became Californias first female U.S. senator. But I remember the reverence that my female teachers and professors had for the two, despite not agreeing politically with them all the time. Sadly, by the end of Feinstein's life, a growing chorus of Democrats wished for her resignation as age caught up to her.

Yet longevity is why Feinstein and OConnor became legends. In a society that tries to relegate older women to biddy status the moment they turn 50, they persisted. More importantly, they outlasted the men who long mocked their abilities and who will be remembered as fools while Feinstein and O'Connor rightfully go down as icons.

The same status awaits Gloria Molina, the Chicana lawmaker who blazed political paths in a career that took her from Sacramento to City Hall to the Board of Supervisors. After term limits forced her out of the latter position in 2014, she embarked on a public calendar that would exhaust a clubgoer. Thats why her passing this summer at age 71, just months after announcing she was dying from terminal cancer, shocked so many.

Read more: Gloria Molina, Chicana who blazed paths across L.A. politics, dies

I interviewed Molina at her Mount Washington home a few months before her death. Even stricken with a terminal disease, her matriarch vibes radiated. She sat in a chair, dressed up in her finest while offering unfiltered opinions on friends and foes, especially the "boys" who ran the Eastside machine that she defied and beat again and again. For the rest of us, she had plainspoken advice. She wanted everyone to follow her example as a public official who was never corrupt and always helped the less fortunate  but she also offered special encouragement to Latinas, whom she felt had a heavier load to carry than men.

They have to build their self-confidence  dont let the guys control your self-confidence, number one, Molina told me. And second of all, do what you want to do. It'll be challenging, and you'll not always win. I'm an example of that. But at least challenge [the patriarchy], because that's going to hopefully embolden other Chicanas along the line.

Look at the errors, she concluded. Look at the mistakes that are being made and be better, more effective at it.

Cindy Montanez, then-mayor of the city of San Fernando running for State Assembly, campaigning door to door in the city of Pacoima in 2002. She died this fall at just 49 from cancer. (Beatrice De Gea / Los Angeles Times)

A woman who followed the Molina way was San Fernando City Councilmember and former Assemblymember Cindy Montanez, who died in the fall of cancer. At 49, she might seem a bit young to be considered a matriarch, especially since she left no biological children. But she was the philosophical mother to dozens of do-gooders in L.A. politics and environmental justice circles. Hundreds of thousands of people across the Southland are beneficiaries of her tree-planting mission as CEO of the nonprofit TreePeople.

Her way-too-early death was particularly gut-wrenching. Unlike Molina, Feinstein and O'Connor, Montanez was barely hitting the height of her career. But knowing your death is imminent brings a certain wisdom, which Montanez displayed when we talked at her family home in August. She urged people to continue fighting climate change, environmental racism and other issues that defined her career. She also wanted folks to understand that things dont always happen the way we hope  and thats OK.

I wish I did more, she admitted at one point in our hour-long chat. But God has a plan. And sometimes, we dont understand it, but it happens. But in heaven, well understand what the plan is.

Read more: Column: Goodbye, Grandma Arellano, and gracias for your 100 years of love

If Im talking about incredible women who left us in 2023, I have to mention my paternal grandmother, Angelita Arellano Perez. She died at age 100 from complications from a stroke, on the very day that LA Plaza de Cultura y Artes held a public celebration of Molinas life. Grandma might not have made headlines like those other women, outside of my columns about her, but that made her no less of a chingona to the people who loved her. We Arellanos were lucky to have Grandma impart life lessons right up to the very end, and my cousins were smart enough to videotape and record her so that Grandmas counsel will comfort us for years to come.

2024 will bring more untimely deaths, more matriarchs taken away from us. Thankfully, I still have a few in my life. I still have my Tia Maria. This December, she didnt help to make tamales or lead the rosary as in years past, but that was OK. Her voice was loud and clear during prayers, and she roamed from table to table afterward to make sure we were all properly fed.

When I tried to sneak away, like I always do, without saying proper goodbyes, my Tia Maria caught me and smiled.

Ven mas en seguida, she said. Come by more often.

We all owe that to our matriarchs.

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This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times.
20 killed in Israeli strike on building in southern Gaza

Xinhua) 08:50, December 28, 2023

Smoke rises following an Israeli airstrike in the southern Gaza Strip city of Khan Younis, on Dec. 27, 2023. During the past 24 hours, 195 people were killed while 325 were injured and transported to hospitals due to Israeli attacks, said the Gaza Health Ministry. (Photo by Yasser Qudih/Xinhua)

GAZA, Dec. 27 (Xinhua) -- An Israeli bombardment near a hospital in southern Gaza killed at least 20 people and wounded dozens more on Wednesday, the Gaza Health Ministry said.

The ministry spokesman Ashraf al-Qedra said in a statement that the death toll could rise as rescuers searched for survivors under the rubble of a residential building near Al Amal Hospital in Khan Younis, a densely-populated city in southern Gaza.

Local sources told Xinhua that there were many displaced Palestinians inside the building when the attack happened, while rescuers at the site said most of the victims were retrieved in "dismembered parts."

Prior to the attack, the casualties from the Israeli attacks in the Gaza Strip rose to 21,110 deaths and 55,243 injuries, according to the Health Ministry.

During the past 24 hours, 195 people were killed while 325 were injured and transported to hospitals due to Israeli attacks, said the ministry.

The ministry's spokesman warned against the deliberate targeting by the Israeli army of the vicinity surrounding the Nasser Medical Complex in Khan Younis, southern Gaza, urging international institutions to take effective and immediate steps to ensure the protection of the complex, its staff, the wounded, and the thousands of displaced people within it.

Smoke rises following an Israeli airstrike in the southern Gaza Strip city of Khan Younis, on Dec. 27, 2023. During the past 24 hours, 195 people were killed while 325 were injured and transported to hospitals due to Israeli attacks, said the Gaza Health Ministry. (Photo by Yasser Qudih/Xinhua)

Smoke rises following an Israeli airstrike in the southern Gaza Strip city of Khan Younis, on Dec. 27, 2023. During the past 24 hours, 195 people were killed while 325 were injured and transported to hospitals due to Israeli attacks, said the Gaza Health Ministry. (Photo by Yasser Qudih/Xinhua)

Smoke rises following an Israeli airstrike in the southern Gaza Strip city of Khan Younis, on Dec. 27, 2023. During the past 24 hours, 195 people were killed while 325 were injured and transported to hospitals due to Israeli attacks, said the Gaza Health Ministry. (Photo by Yasser Qudih/Xinhua)

Smoke rises following an Israeli airstrike in the southern Gaza Strip city of Khan Younis, on Dec. 27, 2023. During the past 24 hours, 195 people were killed while 325 were injured and transported to hospitals due to Israeli attacks, said the Gaza Health Ministry. (Photo by Yasser Qudih/Xinhua)

Smoke rises following an Israeli airstrike in the southern Gaza Strip city of Khan Younis, on Dec. 27, 2023. During the past 24 hours, 195 people were killed while 325 were injured and transported to hospitals due to Israeli attacks, said the Gaza Health Ministry. (Photo by Yasser Qudih/Xinhua)

Smoke rises following an Israeli airstrike in the southern Gaza Strip city of Khan Younis, on Dec. 27, 2023. During the past 24 hours, 195 people were killed while 325 were injured and transported to hospitals due to Israeli attacks, said the Gaza Health Ministry. (Photo by Yasser Qudih/Xinhua)

A temporary shelter is seen at Nuseirat Refugee Camp, central Gaza Strip, on Dec. 26, 2023. During the past 24 hours, 195 people were killed while 325 were injured and transported to hospitals in the Gaza Strip due to Israeli attacks, said the Gaza Health Ministry. (Xinhua)

People cook food at Nuseirat Refugee Camp, central Gaza Strip, on Dec. 26, 2023. During the past 24 hours, 195 people were killed while 325 were injured and transported to hospitals in the Gaza Strip due to Israeli attacks, said the Gaza Health Ministry. (Xinhua)

People flee from their homes at Nuseirat Refugee Camp, central Gaza Strip, on Dec. 26, 2023. During the past 24 hours, 195 people were killed while 325 were injured and transported to hospitals in the Gaza Strip due to Israeli attacks, said the Gaza Health Ministry. (Xinhua)

An injured man is treated at a temporary hospital in Nuseirat Refugee Camp, central Gaza Strip, on Dec. 26, 2023. During the past 24 hours, 195 people were killed while 325 were injured and transported to hospitals in the Gaza Strip due to Israeli attacks, said the Gaza Health Ministry. (Xinhua)

People cook food at Nuseirat Refugee Camp, central Gaza Strip, on Dec. 26, 2023. During the past 24 hours, 195 people were killed while 325 were injured and transported to hospitals in the Gaza Strip due to Israeli attacks, said the Gaza Health Ministry. (Xinhua)

People make bread at Nuseirat Refugee Camp, central Gaza Strip, on Dec. 26, 2023. During the past 24 hours, 195 people were killed while 325 were injured and transported to hospitals in the Gaza Strip due to Israeli attacks, said the Gaza Health Ministry. (Xinhua)

(Web editor: Zhang Kaiwei, Zhong Wenxing)
Tourists view lanterns at Laomendong scenic area in Nanjing, east China's Jiangsu province, Jan. 22, 2023. [Photo/Xinhua]

The United Nations recently announced its decision to add the Spring Festival to its list of floating holidays for staff. These holidays are those which employees can take off in addition to the nine official holidays when the U.N. ceases business.



Chinese officials celebrated the move as evidence of Chinese culture's increasing recognition around the world. Ambassador Dai Bing, China's deputy permanent representative to the U.N., said the official recognition of the Spring Festival as a U.N. holiday fully showcases the influential power of Chinese civilization, which will promote exchanges and mutual learning among diverse world cultures and actively embody the U.N.'s values of diverse and inclusive cultural ideals.

From a practical standpoint, it means that anyone working for or at the U.N. can take Lunar New Year off, which will make it easier for them to travel to meet family and observe the holiday. The Spring Festival extends from Feb. 10-20 this year. The most important dates, which are national public holidays in China, are New Year's Eve, New Year's Day, and the second day of the first lunisolar month. Each year, the dates of the Spring Festival on the Gregorian calendar vary, as they are fixed to the Chinese lunar calendar.

As of 2022, the U.N. had over 125,000 employees, not including those employed by the coalitions of each member state. The U.N. recognizes nine official holidays, which are holidays for all staff: New Year's Day, Good Friday, Eid al-Fitr, Memorial Day, Eid al-Adha, Independence Day, American Labor Day (celebrated in early September rather than May 1), Thanksgiving Day and Christmas Day.

They can be generally categorized into Christian holidays (Good Friday and Christmas), Muslim holidays (Eid al-Fitr and Eid al-Adha), and American holidays (Memorial Day, Independence Day and Labor Day) in addition to the international New Year's Day of the Gregorian calendar. The reason so many American holidays are U.N. holidays is that the organization's headquarters are based in New York City.

There are 193 member nations in the U.N., many of which observe a variety of festivals that are not official U.N. holidays, which is why staff there also have a number of days off and the option to take off one of eight floating holidays: Yom Kippur, Vesak Day, Diwali, Gurpurab, Orthodox Christmas, Orthodox Good Friday, Nowruz, and, now, the Spring Festival.

The Spring Festival is one of the biggest festivals in the world. In China alone, over 1.4 billion people observe the holiday. Additionally, there are over a dozen countries that have a population of 1 million or more people of Chinese ancestry. The lunisolar calendar is also used in some other Asian countries, including Vietnam and South Korea, and they celebrate the new year with their own traditions. Foreigners who visit or study in China might also celebrate the Spring Festival by making dumplings or visiting a Chinese restaurant.

I have celebrated the Spring Festival in Beijing, Shanghai, Nanjing and the countryside of Hebei province, as well as the United States. Celebrating in each place has its own charm. In a small town of Hebei, neighbors would walk to the home of the friend I was staying with and bring baijiu rice liquor and food to share. In Beijing and Shanghai, the streets were peaceful and quiet for the only time all year, as many people traveled to visit family members. In Nanjing, there was a large lantern festival arranged on the city wall.

Hopefully this recognition by the U.N. will help those who wish to celebrate the Spring Festival have a more enjoyable experience this February.

Mitchell Blatt is a columnist with China.org.cn. For more information please visit:

http://www.china.org.cn/opinion/MitchellBlatt.htm

Opinion articles reflect the views of their authors, not necessarily those of China.org.cn.
Republican presidential candidate Nikki Haley, campaigning last month in Meredith, N.H., has drawn a wave of bipartisan scorn for her cowardly revisionist history of slavery. (Charles Krupa / Associated Press)

Despite the buzz and the endorsements and the right-wing donors funneling of millions of dollars into her campaign, Republican candidate Nikki Haley was never going to be president of the United States.

Now, she's really never going to be president of the United States  and about the only thing that's surprising about this turn of nonevents is the reason why.

Race and racism, as it turns out, are important issues, even for Republicans. Well, sort of. But first, let's back up.

By now, you've probably heard about the extraordinarily simple question that Haley, the former governor of South Carolina, couldn't bring herself to answer during a town hall campaign event in New Hampshire on Wednesday night.

What," a man stood up to ask, "was the cause of the United States Civil War?

Read more: Nikki Haley, asked what caused the Civil War, leaves out slavery. It's not the first time

Haley, who broke barriers as the first Indian American woman in the nation to serve as a governor and the first in a White House Cabinet-level role as U.N. ambassador, seemed genuinely flummoxed. Well, dont come with an easy question, she told the man, whom by Thursday she was desperately trashing as a Democratic "plant."

She continued: I think the cause of the Civil War was basically how government was going to run  the freedoms and what people could and couldnt do.

I think it always comes down to the role of government and what the rights of the people are, Haley added. And we  I will always stand by the fact that I think government was intended to secure the rights and freedoms of the people. It was never meant to be all things to all people. Government doesnt need to tell you how to live your life. They dont need to tell you what you can and cant do. They dont need to be a part of your life.

To this nonanswer that echoed the excuses of segregationists, the man, who declined to give his name to reporters, told Haley, "In the year 2023, its astonishing to me that you answer that question without mentioning the word 'slavery.'

Sorry, but that's not astonishing. Haley is not and never has been a moderate, despite the growing number of independents and moderate Republicans who have been telling pollsters they believe she is. Her history on issues of race is, at best, mixed.

As Jaime Harrison, chairman of the Democratic National Committee, said in a statement, "This is what Black South Carolinians have come to expect from Nikki Haley, and now the rest of the country is getting to see her for who she is.

The is the woman who, when she was running for governor in 2010, met with the leaders of Confederate heritage groups and told them that the Civil War was a fight between tradition and change, and that she supported having a Confederate history month.

Read more: Column: Newsom and DeSantis hogged the spotlight, but didn't move the needle. Harris and Haley could

This is also the woman who, during her campaign for reelection as governor in 2014, rejected calls to remove the Confederate flag from the grounds of the South Carolina State House. This was after it came out that she had offered to leverage her identity as a child of immigrants to somehow convince the NAACP that the Confederate flag "is not something that is racist."

Of course, these days, Haley loves to lean into her decision to back the removal the flag in 2015, after a white supremacist killed nine Black people at Charleston's Emanuel AME Church. She did so again at yet another town hall event in New Hampshire on Thursday.

By the grace of God, we did the right thing and slavery is no more, Haley said, according to the Washington Post. I say that as a Southerner. I say that as a Southern governor who removed the Confederate flag off the State House grounds.

"Yes, we know the Civil War was about slavery," she added.

Not that Haley is convincing anyone, let alone Democrats. As Harrison said, I am disgusted, but Im not surprised."

But what is surprising is the way even Republicans have piled on Haley.

Alongside social media posts from President Biden  It was about slavery  and California's Democrat Rep. Ro Khanna  Haleys refusal to talk honestly about slavery or race in America is a sad betrayal of her own story  there are posts from rival GOP presidential candidates and even random Republicans.

The answer is slavery, Rep. Byron Donalds, the Black Republican from Florida who always seems to emerge to defend Blackness at the most useless times, posted on X. PERIOD.

Vivek Ramaswamy, who also is running for the Republican nomination, but won't be president either, quipped that he thought Haley had mistaken the man who asked her about the Civil War "for a Super PAC donor."

Meanwhile, Republican candidate Ron DeSantis called what Haley said an incomprehensible word salad and said that she had some problems with some basic American history, because it's "not that difficult to identify and acknowledge the role slavery played in the Civil War.

Of course, most of this is just performative pandering  especially from DeSantis.

Read more: Column: 2023 was the year of comeuppance for billionaires, culture warriors, crypto and corporate managements

After all, he's the one who, as governor of Florida, has banned books and classes on Black history and defended a school curriculum that teaches how slaves developed skills which, in some instances, could be applied for their personal benefit. And now, in a new level of shamelessness, the super PAC that backs DeSantis is trolling Haley with T-shirts emblazoned with: What do you want me to say about slavery?

But buried in this hypocritical Republican drivel  surprisingly and astonishingly  seems to be a recognition that the culture wars of the last few years, while so effective with voters on the far right, have taken their toll on the American public as a whole. We're tired and we're fed up, especially in liberal California.

Being historically accurate about race and racism doesnt really matter to Republicans. But they seem to understand that theyll never get elected to national office in large numbers again without at least pretending that it does.

Haley was never a serious alternative to the tiresome, white supremacist, autocratic ravings of former President Trump. And she just showed us why in the lamest way possible, drawing a rare bit of bipartisan scorn.

Whether this is progress or not, I'm not quite sure. But in the spirit of the holidays, I'll take whatever hope I can get.

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This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times.
A Confederate monument was taken down in Jacksonville, Fla., Wednesday following an order from the citys mayor, as public officials around the U.S. continue to grapple with what to do with statutes commemorating the Confederacy.

Jacksonville Mayor Donna Deegan (D) ordered the removal of two statues from Springfield Park. Both were part of the Tribute to the Women of the Southern Confederacy monument, according to The New York Times.

Symbols matter. They tell the world what we stand for and what we aspire to be. By removing the confederate monument from Springfield Park, we signal a belief in our shared humanity. That we are all created equal. The same flesh and bones. The same blood running through our veins. The same heart and soul, Deegan said in a Wednesday statement.

This is not in any way an attempt to erase history but to show that weve learned from it. That when we know better, we do better by and for each other. My prayer today is for our beautiful city to continue embracing unity and bending the arc of history towards justice, she continued. Lets keep lifting as we climb.

Deegan said the monument, which was put up in 1915, was part of an effort to intimidate Black people and promote discriminatory Jim Crow laws.

The statues were commissioned by Floridas division of United Confederate Veterans, an organization headquartered in New Orleans that promoted the lost cause myth that the Civil War was a fight for states rights. A year before the monument was erected, nearly 8,000 former soldiers gathered in Jacksonville for an annual reunion held by the group.

On Wednesday morning, a construction crew used a crane to remove a statue of a woman wearing robes and bearing a Confederate flag from the roof of the gazebo where the monument was located, as well as a statue of a woman reading to two kids from the gazebos pedestal.

Discourse around the statues future began in 2020, after George Floyds murder by Minneapolis police and the ensuing protests against racial injustice and police brutality sparked renewed scrutiny of Confederate memorials across the country.

That summer, Jacksonville removed a statue of a Confederate soldier from the citys Hemming Park ahead of a planned demonstration, and then-Mayor Lenny Curry (R) pledged that the other Confederate memorials in the city would also be taken down.

The Confederate monument is gone. And the others in this city will be removed as well, Curry said. We hear your voices. We have heard your voices.

Hundreds of other memorials to the Confederacy have since been removed or renamed nationwide.

The removal of the statues on Wednesday drew criticism from conservatives. Florida state Rep. Dean Black (R) characterized the move as a stunning abuse of power and a cowardly act by Deegan in a post on X, formerly known as Twitter, and called on the city council to seek immediate accountability.

This action, undertaken in the middle of the night, during the holidays, without consultation of city leaders or a vote by the council, is another in a long line of woke Democrats obsession with Cancel Culture and tearing down history, Black wrote in a post on Wednesday.

Choosing to erase our history is not brave  it is a cowardly act done by a lawless Mayor who hides under the cover of night! he continued We call on the City Council to seek immediate accountability  the people of Jacksonville expect no less.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill.
A common refrain among anti-transgender activists and politicians, including in California, is that many trans and gender-diverse people experience regret after obtaining gender-affirming surgery.

Last spring, self-described de-transitioner Chloe Cole came to Sacramento and told rally-goers at the Capitol that there are too many bodies and minds falling apart in the aftermath of transition.

Cole and others with similar viewpoints have been welcomed by some conservative politicians in California and across the country as evidence that young people should be prohibited from receiving gender-affirming medical care.

However, that argument is not supported by the science, according to a new article published Wednesday in the Journal of the American Medical Association by three researchers from Johns Hopkins University.

The researchers conducted a retrospective look at all available evidence and found that the regret rate for gender-affirming surgery is less than 1%.

This rate of surgical regret among (transgender and gender diverse) patients appears to be substantially lower than rates of surgical regret following similar procedures among the broader population, including cisgender individuals, the report summary said, in part.

In fact, one systematic review found that the average prevalence of surgical regret was 14.4% among all research studies analyzed, which the authors suggested was relatively low, the summary continued.

The report concluded that the low regret among transgender surgery recipients may be linked to why they obtained the surgery to begin with.

That reduction in regret also may due to careful implementation of existing evidence-based, multidisciplinary guidelines and standards of care for those who are (transgender or gender diverse), such as requiring a well-documented history of gender dysphoria, according to a statement from Johns Hopkins.

The research from Johns Hopkins aligns with the medical establishment view of gender-affirming care. The American Academy of Pediatrics, the American Medical Association and the American Psychological Association all support that treatment, as does the World Professional Association of Transgender Health.
WASHINGTON  There are hundreds of House and Senate lawmakers up for reelection in 2024. But just a handful of seats will determine control of Congress and give Americans the opportunity to send a message about which party they want at the wheel.

While all eyes will be on the presidential race next year, congressional elections will also determine whether the next president can pass their agenda, or whether Washington will face further gridlock.

In the House, Republicans are seeking to defend and expand their razor-thin majority. Meanwhile, Democrats are eying crucial battleground districts held by the GOP that President Joe Biden won in the 2020 election.

Senate Democrats are hoping to hold on to their majority as they face significant headwinds among vulnerable incumbents in solidly red states.

Here are the races to keep an eye on heading into 2024.

The Biden 17

When it comes to control of the House, much of the focus will be on the 17 Republicans representing districts Biden won in the 2020 presidential election.

House Republicans are trying to defend their majority as they continue their impeachment inquiry into Biden, among other investigations and conservative priorities. But as Democrats seek to recapture the lower chamber, these 17 races will be central in determining who wins the House.

Rep. David Schweikert, R-Ariz.

Rep. Juan Ciscomani, R-Ariz.

Rep. John Duarte, R-Calif.

Rep. David Valadao, R-Calif.

Rep. Mike Garcia, R-Calif.

Rep. Young Kim, R-Calif.

Rep. Michelle Steel, R-Calif.

Rep. Don Bacon, R-Neb.

Rep. Tom Kean Jr., R-N.J.

Rep. Nick LaLota, R-N.Y.

Rep. Anthony DEsposito, R-N.Y.

Rep. Mike Lawler, R-N.Y.

Rep. Marc Molinaro, R-N.Y.

Rep. Brandon Williams, R-N.Y.

Rep. Lori Chavez-DeRemer, R-Ore.

Rep. Brian Fitzpatrick, R-Pa.

Rep. Jen Kiggans, R-Va.

Not all of these lawmakers will necessarily lose their seats, and Republicans also have their own share of pick up opportunities heading into 2024. In Michigan, Democratic Reps. Elissa Slotkin and Dan Kildee are leaving their competitive districts, opening up their seats for Republicans taking. Slotkin is running for the Senate, while Kildee is retiring.

Rep. Mike Lawler, R-N.Y., departs from a meeting with House Republicans at the U.S. Capitol Building on October 19, 2023 in Washington, DC.

Montana's Senate race offers GOP opportunity

Republicans have high hopes of reclaiming the Senate as Democrats play defense in two critical states former President Donald Trump won in the 2020 election: Montana and Ohio.

Sen. Jon Tester, D-Mont., is running for a fourth term and has already won three tough elections in deep-red Montana. Testers chances of victory rely largely on whether ultraconservative Rep. Matt Rosendale, R-Mont., steps into the GOP primary.

Republicans in Washington are coalescing behind Tim Sheehy, an aerospace company CEO and a retired Navy SEAL, to take on Tester next year. But Rosendale, who already ran against Tester and lost in 2018, has repeatedly teased jumping into the race again.

A competitive primary between Sheehy and Rosendale threatens to consume valuable GOP campaign resources and weaken the ultimate Republican nominee, potentially paving a way for Tester to win a fourth term.

Sen. Jon Tester, D-Mont, arriving to the hearing where Gary Gensler, Chair, U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission would testify before the COMMITTEE ON BANKING, HOUSING, AND URBAN AFFAIRS hearing on Oversight of the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission.

Will Sherrod Brown defend his seat in Ohio?

Sen. Sherrod Brown, D-Ohio, like Tester, is also running for a fourth term. In recent presidential elections, Ohio has slowly trended right, fostering a favorable environment for Republicans.

GOP lawmakers are hoping to carry forward their momentum in the state from the 2022 midterm elections. During that race, now-Sen. J.D. Vance, R-Ohio, beat back Democratic hopes of flipping the seat, which was previously held by a Republican.

Going into 2024, the GOP has a chance to unseat Brown. Unlike Montana, Washington Republicans have largely avoided wading into the Republican primary, which is contested by three candidates: businessman Bernie Moreno, state Sen. Matt Dolan and Ohio Secretary of State Frank LaRose.

Moreno has earned the endorsement of Trump and Vance. Vance in 2022 secured the GOP nomination in part because of the former presidents backing.

But Brown has brushed off the tough race, saying in an interview with the USA TODAY Network Ohio Bureau "This campaign's no different from any other."

"Campaigns are about whose side you're on. The reason I win is that voters in Ohio know that I'm on their side," he said.

Sen. Sherrod Brown, D-Ohio, works in Washington on Sept. 12, 2023. Sen. Brown, who has represented Ohio since 2007, is running for reelection in 2024.

Will Arizona see a historic race?

Arizona, a notorious purple swing state, could see an unprecedented three-way race in 2024. Incumbent Sen. Kyrsten Sinema, I-Ariz., has not revealed whether she plans to run for reelection. Sinema left the Democratic Party in 2022 and has frequently drawn criticism from Democrats for bucking them on contentious issues.

Rep. Ruben Gallego, D-Ariz., is the only prominent candidate running for the Democratic nomination. On the Republican side, conservative firebrand Kari Lake, the GOPs 2022 failed gubernatorial candidate, is running against Mark Lamb, a pro-Trump sheriff.

Sinema has pitched her still-undeclared campaign to prospective donors as built on overwhelmingly winning independent voters and siphoning more support from Republicans than Democrats, the Arizona Republic, part of the USA TODAY Network, reported.

A memo to potential supporters included a pie chart suggesting she could claim 60% to 70% of Arizonas independent voters. Her campaign sees her taking 10% to 20% of Democratic voters and 25% to 35% of Republicans.

Sen. Kyrsten Sinema, I-Ariz., speaks alongside Sen. Chris Murphy, D-Conn., with reporters in the U.S. Capitol Building on December 20, 2023 in Washington, DC.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Races to watch in Arizona, Ohio and other swing states ahead of 2024
Jurors continued deliberating Thursday in the trial of a former Los Angeles police officer suspected of fatally shooting a developmentally disabled man and critically wounding the victims parents in the Corona Costco.

Salvador Alejandro Sanchez, 33, of Corona is charged with voluntary manslaughter and two counts of assault with a semiautomatic firearm. He additionally faces sentence-enhancing allegations of using a firearm and causing great bodily injury.

The charges stem from a shooting that occurred on the evening of June 14, 2019, inside the Costco at 480 N. McKinley St., where 32-year-old Kenneth French was killed and his parents, Russell and Paola French of Corona, were wounded.

This undated photo provided by Louana D'Cunha shows Kenneth French. French, fatally shot in a Southern California Costco store, was mentally ill and off his medication when he pushed or slapped an off-duty police officer who opened fire and killed the man and critically wounded the man's parents, the lawyer for the man's family said Tuesday, June 18, 2019.

Sanchez, who was an off-duty Los Angeles Police Department officer at the time of the shooting, is free on a $155,000 bond.

The French family was shopping at the store when they stopped at a food sample table, where the defendant was also standing holding his son, and for unknown reasons Kenneth French punched the defendant in the back of the head and stepped back from him, prosecutors said during opening statements.

Within seconds, the defendant pulled out a gun and shot Kenneth four times in the back, killing him, Deputy Attorney General Michael Murphy said. The defendant also shot Kenneths mother and Kenneths father as they were trying to protect their son from being shot.

But in his closing argument Wednesday morning at the Larson Justice Center in Indio, Sanchezs attorney, Michael Schwartz, told jurors that Sanchez was unexpectedly punched in the back of the head so hard that he felt as though he was shot, and acted in self defense.

Schwartz said Sanchez only had a few seconds to react to the danger because the most vulnerable person in the area was his 20-month-old son. Sanchez was injured, feared the possibility of his son also being injured, and if he had taken time to confirm whether or not Kenneth French had a gun and he did end up having one, he would have been dead by the time he found out.

The attorney said Sanchez had no intention of shooting the victim dead, just until he was down and knew the threat was over, adding that his client still had three bullets that werent fired.

Murphy rebutted the argument by telling jurors that it was undisputed Kenneth French punched the defendant and that he shouldnt have done that, but the defendant also drew his gun and shot 10 rounds.

He added that no injury or bruises ever appeared on the defendant and that his fear of hypothetical scenarios like the threat to his son was not sufficient to justify the deadly shooting because no reasonable person would have done what he did.

More: Costco shooting: Cop's lawyer says client was attacked, victims' lawyer wants officer locked up

When someone chooses to carry a gun, they also choose to carry the power of life and death, which requires great responsibility because they have an obligation to make a reasonable assessment before aiming a gun and shooting it at a human being, Murphy said Tuesday at the beginning of his closing argument.

A reasonable person in Sanchezs position, after being struck in the back of the head, would have said something like What the heck? and felt the back of their head to see if there was an injury, Murphy said.

This did not need to happen for self protection or to defend his son and it shouldnt have happened, Murphy said. The defendant needed only to take a few moments to check himself to see if he had a gunshot wound and realize that he did not.

This undated photo provided by Louana D'Cunha shows Paola and Russell French. Their son, Kenneth, who was fatally shot in a Southern California Costco store, was mentally ill and off his medication when he pushed or slapped an off-duty police officer who opened fire and killed the man and critically wounded the man's parents, the lawyer for the man's family said Tuesday, June 18, 2019.

During opening statements, Murphy said that Sanchez chose to take a gun, loaded with 13 bullets, into the store. He added that the victims parents pleaded with the defendant to not shoot their son because he was sick, but Sanchez ignored their pleas, aimed his gun at them and pulled the trigger. Paula French was shot first, once in the stomach, her husband was hit once on his side and their son was shot four times in the back, Murphy said.

Kenneth French was taken out of the store in a body bag and his parents were taken for emergency treatment while the defendant was seen in an officers body-worn camera video being escorted out without assistance, Murphy added.

The Riverside County District Attorneys Office in September 2019 took the matter to a 19-member county grand jury, and the panel declined to indict Sanchez, culminating in the California Department of Justice ultimately filing charges.

In the summer of 2020, the Los Angeles Police Commission determined that the Costco shooting was an unjustifiable use of force, and Sanchez was fired.

The French family filed a lawsuit against the department, the city of Los Angeles and Sanchez at the end of 2019, alleging negligence and civil rights violations. A Los Angeles jury in November 2021 ruled in favor of the plaintiffs, awarding them $17 million.

This article originally appeared on Palm Springs Desert Sun: Costco shooting trial: Jury deliberating case against ex-LAPD officer
A couple has gone viral for accusing American Airlines staff of keeping them from their dogs after their flight was delayed.

The married couple from Florida, identified by the DailyMail as 42-year-old Dustin Miller and 40-year-old Anthony Thorne, were recently filmed during a public outburst at Charlotte Douglas Airport. In the since-deleted video, which was initially shared on TikTok, Miller could be seen yelling: American Airlines f***ed us over!

The clip began with Miller angrily speaking to American Airlines staff as his husband, holding a Louis Vuitton bag, urged Miller to remember your girls - later revealed to be their pet dogs, Shelby and Dolly.

You dont care about the girls, you dont care about the girls, Thorne reiterated, seemingly trying to calm down Miller. However, the Fort Lauderdale-based accountant announced to fellow passengers at the gate: Hello, everybody! American Airlines f***ed us over!

His husband then repeated the names of their pet dogs, saying: Shelby and Dolly. Shelby and Dolly. Shelby and Dolly, remember them. Im just trying to get home to the girls.

Towards the end of the video, Miller could be seen yelling expletives at a woman sitting in a wheelchair, who was also waiting to board the flight to Fort Lauderdale. The woman appeared to tell the couple to go away, to which Miller replied: F*** off, bitch.

American Airlines flight AA321 from Charlotte, North Carolina, to Fort Lauderdale, Florida, was delayed and ultimately cancelled on 27 December, according to FlightAware. A subsequent flight took off from Charlotte later that day at 11.08pm ET, landing in Fort Lauderdale the following morning at 1.03am ET.

Flight AA321 from CLT to FLL was first delayed and ultimately cancelled last night so they did not make it home to the girls, one person wrote on X, formerly known as Twitter, where the deleted TikTok was reposted.

Flight AA321 from CLT to FLL was first delayed and ultimately cancelled last night so they did not make it home to the girls https://t.co/wp7HfCBKue  gar (@gke11z) December 27, 2023

Miller works as an accountant at Sykes & Company, according to his LinkedIn. He has been married to Thorne for nine years and they reside in Wilton Manors, Florida. Thorne works as an executive senior associate at healthcare consulting firm Rudish Health in Fort Lauderdale, his LinkedIn states. The couple recently celebrated their nine-year wedding anniversary, the DailyMail reported.

Its possible the names Shelby and Dolly are in reference to the 1989 movie Steel Magnolias, in which one of the characters, played by Julia Roberts, is named Shelby and Dolly Parton plays the part of Truvy Jones.

The Independent has contacted American Airlines for comment.
Residents, who have sued the state to get more answers about why Lincoln County was chosen as the spot for the new men's state penitentiary and why there was little transparency around the decision, now have their first court date.

The group called NOPE, Neighbors Opposed to Prison Expansion, is set to appear in court for the first time as part of the lawsuit at 3:30 p.m. Jan. 22 at the Lincoln County Courthouse in Canton. NOPE members also appeared at the courthouse for the county commission meeting Tuesday morning, where the comissioners voted 3-1 majority to support the prison lawsuit filed by the organization.

According to the vote, the state is required to use the planning and zoning process of the county as the state plan for the new men's prison, contrary to the initial understanding which said that the NOPE or the county could never overrule the state.

NOPE President Kyah Broders and Vice President Madeline Voegeli announced the court date at the second public forum on the issue held by the organization Dec. 21 at the Meadow Barn at Country Orchards in Harrisburg.

More: Sioux Falls' school board continues to dodge questions about the cap on boys' sports

Here is what we know about NOPEs efforts to stop the prison's development and the controversial lawsuit so far:

Where will the prison be located?

The new mens prison, a 300-acre state-owned field on the corner of 278th Street and 478th Avenue, was announced on Oct. 6, 2023, with no communication or notification given to residents, according to Voegelis statements.

Resident posing questions to audience and county officials at NOPE's second public forum Dec. 21, 2023, in Harrisburg, South Dakota.

Since then, there has been zero communication with the governors office despite the dozens of personal and hundreds of formal efforts to reach out, Voegeli said.

Officials with the DOC and the governor's office deny commenting on the issue citing the pending litigation as the reason, according to Voegeli.

More: Legal groups have filed an amicus brief in Sioux Falls Title IX lawsuit. What that means:

The concept of a new prison isn't new.

The prisons overhaul has been known for more than two years, including shutting down the current Sioux Falls site and shifting incarcerated men to a new location within 20 miles of the city, ensuring Department of Corrections access to the workforce.

However, there was no communication with area officials and constituents of their backyard being the prisons new site, even though lawmakers voted in February this year to start the process of finding and purchasing land to construct the new prison. Area lawmakers and county commissioners were part of conversations with the department on potential locations but were told about the final selection only the week of.

County officials and NOPE board of members on a panel at NOPE's second public forum Dec. 21, 2023, in Harrisburg, South Dakota.

More: Name released in fatal Lincoln County crash early Sunday morning

Where does the lawsuit fit in?

Lincoln County residents and homeowners retaliated against the decision by filing a lawsuit against the DOC and the state on Nov. 3, which the DOC has since asked the Lincoln County judge to dismiss.

The DOCs argument is the states immunity in this lawsuit based on sovereign status, as stated in previous Argus Leader reporting. The states argument is that NOPE and Lincoln County do not have the power to supersede the DOC, or ultimately, the Legislatures authority.

The creature cannot exceed the authority of its creator, said Assistant Attorney General Grant Flynn in the filed dismissal of the Plaintiffs complaint.

Flynn is representing the Department of Corrections, the State of South Dakota and DOC Secretary Kellie Wasko in the case.

More: Where in Sioux Falls can I dispose my tree when Christmas is over?

State officials hide behind lawsuit

Since the filing of the lawsuit, the DOC and Wasko shut down all communication related to the issue, including even answering simple questions about the prison, by saying the lawsuit is too broad in nature for them to be able to talk about pending litigation.

NOPE members said, according to a one paragraph note sent to them, the lawsuit was the reason for Waskos and Gov. Kristi Noems absence at the first and second forums held by the NOPE.

Place settings for Department of Corrections Secretary Kellie Wasko and Governor Kristi Noem at NOPE's second public forum Dec. 21, 2023, in Harrisburg, South Dakota.

In a letter from the DOC, state defendants said, On advice of counsel and in the best interest of the state considering pending litigation against it, the State Defendants cannot discuss or be interrogated about these matters with adverse parties, especially when it is offered that no legal representation would be present, which confirmed Noems and Waskos absence to NOPE members.

More: Gov. Kristi Noem won't attend second forum scrutinizing new men's prison site in Lincoln County

What's the larger issue?

With respect to the start of this issue and its development, including the DOCs and governors offices lack of response and willingness to respond to NOPE members and the overall public, Voegeli states the larger issue is government transparency now and moving forward.

The foundation of NOPEs ideology is to ensure the voices of the public is heard by state and county officials when decisions are made that affect them directly.

Public support and donations table at NOPE's second public forum Dec. 21, 2023, in Harrisburg, South Dakota.

Were bringing awareness to the fact that paying attention to what your government is doing and seeking out people running for office (who) continue to be transparent with their constituents is so important, Voegeli said when talking about the powerful platform the forums provide to residents.

Correction: A previous verison of this story misstated who Assistant Attorney General Grant Flynn was representing in the lawsuit. The story has been updated to reflect this change.

This article originally appeared on Sioux Falls Argus Leader: Court date set in fight against new South Dakota state penitentiary
A court in New Caledonia on Thursday ordered the authorities to stop hunting sharks, saying multiple culls were a "disproportionate" response to any danger to swimmers.

The French Pacific territory has been scrambling to protect its busy beaches from sharks after two attacks earlier this year, one of them causing the death of an Australian tourist.

For a while it banned sea bathing outright, and recently installed a controversial net to keep sharks out.

Since the start of the year, the capital Noumea has also declared open season on sharks, running several campaigns of "preventative" shark hunting in the hope of making beaches safe again.

A total of 127 sharks have been killed this year -- 83 tiger sharks and 44 bulldog sharks -- according to the ocean-protection NGO Longitude 181.

Another NGO, "Ensemble pour la Planete" (United for the Planet) filed a legal challenge to the policy with the territory's administrative court which handles cases involving the government.

The court ruled that the systematic culling campaigns by the city of Noumea were "disproportionate" to the threat, especially as there had been no scientific study of the shark populations targeted, nor of "the impact on the environment".

It also ruled that the southern province of New Caledonia had been wrong to allow Noumea city hall to kill sharks in maritime reserves "where fishing is banned by definition".

"Limited" and "proportionate" exceptions were possible, but the shark culling programme was neither, the court ruled.

"It's a lovely Christmas present for the planet," Didier Derand, president of an NGO calling "for a healthy environment" (Vagues), told AFP.

According to a study conducted by La Reunion university, there were no shark attacks in Noumea before 2010, but 13 since, out of a New Caledonian total of 32.

Nobody is sure what prompted the sharks to arrive in unusually high numbers in the bays around the capital Noumea, which lies about 1,200 kilometres (750 miles) east of Australia.

cm-adr-dav/jh/rox
PENNSAUKEN - A township man was fatally strangled after taking LSD with his alleged killer, a court record alleges.

Bradley Niesen, 31, was found dead by police who went to the 4600 block of High Street in Pennsauken around 11:30 p.m. Saturday.

Another township man, Tyler Roderick, has been charged in connection with the death.

A witness told detectives that she and Niesen, her boyfriend, did LSD with Roderick before the Dec. 23 incident, a probable cause statement says.

Voorhees man charged Ugly Sweater Party turns violent at The Chicken or The Egg in Marlton

"While under the influence, the victim began acting out and screaming," it notes in recounting the woman's account.

"When this happened, Tyler Roderick choked the victim to unconsciousness, and the victim did not awaken from this," it continues.

Charge alleges 'extreme indifference to human life'

Roderick acknowledged his actions in comments to detectives, the statement said.

An obituary described Niesen as "a kind, caring, sensitive young man who always saw the best in everyone."

It said he worked as an IT change manager and was also a musician with interests in writing, drone videos and paintings.

Niesen lived in Philadelphia, according to the obituary.

A criminal complaint filed with the case says aggravated manslaughter  a lesser charge than murder  requires someone to "recklessly" cause a death "under circumstances manifesting extreme indifference to human life."

The charge against Roderick is only an allegation. He has not been convicted in the case.

Jim Walsh is a senior reporter for the Courier-Post, Burlington County Times and The Daily Journal. Email: Jwalsh@cpsj.com.

This article originally appeared on Cherry Hill Courier-Post: Tyler Roderick charged with the death of Bradley Niesen
Dispatch Opinion Editor Amelia Robinson's cousin Tanisha Robinson with her son, Darryl Smith III, at Amelia Robinson's 2011 wedding in Columbus. Smith was shot and killed April 19, 2021. He was 17.

Amelia Robinson in the Columbus Dispatch's opinion and community engagement editor.

Update: Tanisha Robinson, Amelia Robinson's cousin, died on Jan. 2, just days after this column published.

The memory of my cousin's ridiculous laugh danced in my head just before I woke up a few days before Christmas.

It was so joyous that I laid there for a long moment hoping I would hear it in real life after I opened my eyes.

But like that, it was gone.

I believe in miracles, but for my cousin Tanisha, reality is tragically what the reality is. Her body is alive in a nursing home in Cleveland, but doctors say there is only a fraction of a fraction of a chance that anyone will ever hear the 46-year-old laugh, talk or sing again.

Medical science will chalk her state  brain death  up to heart attacks and respiratory issues brought on perhaps by a preexisting condition.

That's only part of it.

Those who love Tanisha know her heart was smashed to pieces when her eldest son  my 17-year-old godson Darryl Smith III  was fatally shot multiple times April 19, 2021 with a gun that should not be on any American street.

I have no doubt Darryl suffered before he died outside of his mother's house that night in Cleveland.

I know Tanisha's pain was next level as the days, weeks, months and years passed with no answers, no arrests and the inability to watch her kid grow into a man.

Grief poured out of my cousin every time I spoke to her following Darryl's death. You could see the sorrow in her eyes and the way she moved.

Tanisha wasn't dead back then, but she was not fully alive either.

Murdered children are not disposable statistics

I am not a mother  a diseased uterus filled with 70 fibroid tumors prevented that despite my best efforts.

As a human being  woman, wife, daughter, sister, aunt, godmother, neighbor and friend  I know that when a child of any race of any age is killed in such a way, he or she is not the only one who suffers.

Studies have shown that the death of a child is followed by more intense grief than the death of a spouse or a parent. I have seen how hard the death of a murdered child hits mothers.

It was there in the moms who welcomed me into their homes during my days as a crime reporter.

They talked to me after I assured them I would do all I could to make sure their gunned-down child would not be betrayed as just another disposable statistic  no matter the perfectly imperfect circumstances of his or her death or life.

I know this from the Mothers of Murdered Columbus Children moms who recently shared their stories with Dispatch readers in letters to and about their children.

Ohio lawmakers should speak to a mother of a murdered child if they do not believe me.

They will find tears that never fully dry. Those tears and that long cover a canvas of hurt.

They can't talk to Tanisha, but I am sure Nichole Rhodes will speak with them.

"Sometimes I feel like the world is moving and Im standing still," Nichole wrote in her guest column. "I cry every day. Im so hurt."

Nichole's daughters 17-year-old Kha'Terra "BeBe" Griffin and 30-year-old Shamira Rhodes were both shot at Queen of Hearts Pub on East Livingston Avenue on Sept. 25, 2022. Shamira Rhodes died at the scene. Her little sister died in the hospital only weeks later.

Ohio can do something to stop the bleeding

Ra'Shawyn Carter Jr., 15, pictured here in July 2021, died after being shot at Easton Town Center on August 27, 2023.

The August day Tanisha took a turn for the worse, an Ohio lawmaker with the power to do something to reduce the number of dangerous guns that end up on our streets trolled me on social media.

The lawmaker, Ohio State Rep. Brian Stewart, R- Ashville, was ticked that I wrote an opinion piece about the shooting death of 15-year-old Ra'Shawyn Anthony Carter Jr. at Easton Town Center and the ease of which youth get guns in this city and state.

It was a who do you think you are to criticize me type post.

He was ticked that I called out the GOP-led Ohio General Assembly's unending pro-gun violence acts and anti-gun reform roadblocks city have to jump. These actions have made it more likely that guns will fall in the wrong hands.

Easton shooting: Why it is easy for a 13-year-old to get a gun in Columbus| Robinson https://t.co/RlDaEysHJm  Columbus Dispatch (@DispatchAlerts) August 29, 2023

Police say a 13-year-old pulled the trigger of the gun that killed Ra'Shawyn, a soothing presence for his mother four younger siblings before his life was cut too short.

The lawmaker should have been ticked Ra'Shawyn was shot dead and that yet another Ohio mother was without a son.

I am never surprised when I am trolled on the internet, but I was disappointed that a "pro-life" lawmaker would be so mad that I called out a national sickness taking the lives of children.

Gun violence has surpassed car accidents as the leading cause of death for children and teens in the nation, according to the Centers for Disease Control.

Black boys like my godson Darryl, between the ages of 16 and 17, are 18 times more likely than white boys the same ages to be killed mostly by gun violence, according to a JAMA Pediatrics study.

Casting light on gun violence is not a way to get sympathy  though humans should feel empathy for the suffering of others.

Casting light on gun violence is about telling the truth and calling for solutions that will stop the bleeding.

It is not an attempt to make legislators angry  although I think that's an emotion they should feel.

Lawmakers should be angry that children in this state are being gunned down like animals and do something about it. At the very least, they should get out of the way of those trying.

Cites must do more to reduce gun violence and solve homicides. That's an even more daunting task when state lawmakers systematically block every effort to regulate guns that are turning streets red with blood.

It is clear from poll after poll that Ohioans from all political affiliations want reforms like mandatory background checks for gun buyers, training before obtaining concealed weapons permits and safe storage of guns mandates.

I wish the lawmaker who trolled me was in the room with me when I drove up to Cleveland the August day my cousin's condition took its worst turn.

Perhaps the hope I carry in my heart would have toyed with him like it did me as I looked in her eyes praying to see the spark that made her uniquely Tanisha. I sadly saw nothing.

I wish he would have experienced the joy that walked into every room she entered back before Darryl was murdered.

I wish he could see the love she had with her children.

It is no doubt the same as the love he had for his own children.

Tanisha's laughter was with me before I woke up the other morning. That's not enough.

Hopefully one day those who can do something to stop such tragedies from replaying will open their eyes and do something to save others. I do believe in miracles.

Amelia Robinson in the Columbus Dispatch's opinion and community engagement editor.

This article originally appeared on The Columbus Dispatch: Guns are the leading cause of death for kids. Ohio must help stop it
 Flash

A health worker collects a swab from a man at a COVID-19 test station in Berlin, capital of Germany, on March 24, 2022. [Photo/Xinhua]

Thousands of doctors' offices across Germany will remain closed in the week between Christmas and New Year due to a planned strike while respiratory diseases in the country are increasing.

"Wherever you look, almost every doctor's practice is currently massively overloaded," Dirk Heinrich, federal chairman of the Virchowbund association, said when the strike was announced a week ago. The Virchowbund represents the interests of all registered and outpatient doctors in the country.

Germany saw a wave of respiratory diseases in December, with the number of patients getting flu and the respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) in particular on the rise. According to data from the Robert Koch Institute (RKI) for infectious diseases, one in ten people in the country had been sick before Christmas.

The number of COVID-19 infections in Germany has also increased, with the seniors being the most affected group. Of almost nine million recent viral infections, one in three was caused by a sub-variant of SARS-CoV-2, the RKI figures showed.

"It is incomprehensible that there are calls to close practices at a time when many people are ill," Eugen Brysch, chairman of the German Foundation for Patient Rights, criticized, stressing that the doctors' strike "particularly affects the old and vulnerable people."

However, the Virchowbund argued that the "systematic underfunding" was exacerbating the shortage of specialists in medical practices.

According to a recent study by PwC (Germany), the shortage of skilled healthcare professionals in the country could grow to 1.8 million by 2035. Many are looking to switch their jobs, while only one in three doctors expect themselves to remain in the profession until retirement.

"The demands of the medical profession are well known, they don't need to be presented again," Minister for Health Karl Lauterbach told public broadcaster RBB, pointing out that a reform has already been worked on.
The Coweta County Sheriffs Office is working to identify and track down a woman accused of taking two packages from a home seen on the porch.

In surveillance footage of the woman, deputies showed the female porch pirate ran down a driveway, barefoot, around 7 p.m. on Dec. 21.

[DOWNLOAD: Free WSB-TV News app for alerts as news breaks]

Footage shows her taking the packages, then running back to a vehicle waiting nearby before leaving in an unknown direction.

Sheriffs deputies referred to their search for information as a Porch Pirate BOLO in an online post.

Anyone with information about the incident or individual is asked to call Inv. K. Claycomb at 770-253-1502x8256.

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IN OTHER NEWS:
Florida has long been home to an unnatural assortment of creatures from faraway lands and habitats, and these tourists turned permanent residents have wreaked havoc on the natural ecosystem.

You can thank the Burmese pythons slithering around the Everglades for the lack of marsh rabbits, and the Asian swamp eels are to blame for cratering populations of native crayfish and flagfish.

But whats next?

Thats the subject of new research from the University of Florida, where scientists tried to predict which species could be the next contender for the Sunshine States most annoying new invasive.

Scientists analyzed nearly 500 potential candidates before narrowing the field to 40 species that could pose the biggest threat.

Of those, four stood out. The UF team said the four species to watch out for next are alewife, zebra mussels, crab-eating macaques and red swamp crayfish.

Scientists at the University of Florida identified these four species as the most likely to be Floridas next problematic invasives.

While the three marine species may not look impressive compared to the fanged beasts that draw the most headlines for their ecosystem-ruining behavior, they each could pose a real threat to Floridas food web.

The report doesnt suggest where these species might be likely to pop up next, but it does include predictions for how they might sneak into Florida, including hitchhiking on cargo containers or illegal releases from irresponsible pet owners.

The study mainly relies on a numerical model that scores and ranks the creatures based on their history of invading other places, how often Florida is exposed to places where theyre already invasive and if Florida is the right habitat for this species. Researchers also ran their findings past a panel of 28 experts in academia, wildlife management nonprofits and government agencies.

READ MORE: Asian swamp eels spread in the Everglades. Potentially the worst species weve had yet

Alewife

The alewife, a tiny herring fish, is already causing problems with the trout population in the Great Lakes area. Alewives eat trout larvae, reducing the population, but when adult trout consume too many of them, the bigger fish get a vitamin deficiency that hurts their reproductive abilities.

They were originally introduced to freshwater lakes as prey for game fish, according to the USDAs Invasive.org, and havent yet been spotted in Florida.

Alewife (Alosa pseudoharengus) in Maryland.

Zebra Mussels

Zebra mussels are already considered one of the worlds worst invaders. Originally from the Black, Aral and Caspian seas in Eurasia, the shellfish have since made homes all around Europe, Great Britain, North America, Russia and Scandinavia.

Scientists figure they spread through ballast water from large ships, which first brought them to the Great Lakes region in the 1980s, according to the USGS.

Zebra mussels negatively impact ecosystems in many ways. They filter out algae that native species need for food and they attach to--and incapacitate--native mussels. Power plants must also spend millions of dollars removing zebra mussels from clogged water intakes, the USGS website reads.

They havent been found in the wild in Florida yet, but a Gainesville pet shop was cited in 2021 after inspectors found one in a moss ball for sale in the shop.

READ MORE: Florida pays python hunters to clear the Everglades. Ten years later, is it working?

Crab-eating Macaques

The one that wasnt even on my radar was the macaque, lead author Diah Lieurance, who started the project while working at University of Florida and is now an assistant professor of invasive species biology and management at Penn State, said in a statement.

But theyre already in the state in captivity, and as their name says, theyre good at eating crabs. This means they would have an impact on our native biodiversity.

The crab-eating macaque was the only species on the list that ranked as a danger both to the ecosystem and to human health, because the monkeys can carry diseases that affect humans. A close relative, the rhesus macaque, is already established in Silver Springs, Florida and carries a deadly strain of herpes.

Long-tailed Macaque (Macaca fascicularis). Lake Gardens, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.

Red Swamp Crayfish

The red swamp crayfish, a hand-sized crustacean the color of a fire engine, is already a problem in Florida. According to the USGS, they tend to out-eat and out-compete native crayfish, as well as devour the eggs of other vulnerable species.

Its introduction may cause dramatic changes in native plant and animal communities, a report from the Fish and Wildlife Service said.

Floridians that spot one of these critters, or any other nonnative animals, can report sightings at the FWCs Invasive Species Hotline at 888-Ive-Got1 (483-4681) to report nonnative animals.

We ask the public to call the Hotline to report high-priority species, which include all nonnative snakes, monitor lizards, and tegus, the agency said.

Correction: An earlier version of the story incorrectly referred to red swamp crayfish as red shrimp crayfish.
CRESTLINE  Local residents will have an opportunity to learn more about what high-speed passenger rail service would mean for the community during a town hall meeting this month.

"The goal of the event is to just bring awareness on the local level of the impact that Amtrak could have on our economy in Crestline, Crawford County and just this region as a whole," said Miranda Jones, executive director of the Galion-Crestline Area Chamber of Commerce, which is cosponsoring the event. "The governor of Ohio has until late March to sign on the federal infrastructure bill, saying that Ohio wants to be considered for those funds."

The Amtrak in Crestline town hall meeting, offered in cooperation with the Village of Crestline, will be 2 to 6 p.m. Feb. 15 at The Hub at Village Square, 311 N. Seltzer St., Crestline. Parking for the event will be available behind The Hub.

In 2021, Amtrak published a map of potential new routes nationwide, including one connecting Cleveland, Columbus, Dayton and Cincinnati  with a stop in Crestline. With the infrastructure bill's deadline nearing, Jones said her office is pushing to make sure the proposal becomes a reality.

"You have to, because this really would be a game-changer, for not just Crestline, but the entire Galion, Crawford County community," she said. "Think about the people that would be using that, whether it's for leisure or a daily work route. They're going to be driving through our towns. When they need gas, they're going to be stopping at our gas stations. They want a cup of coffee, their train is late, they need someplace to stay  they're going to be frequenting our establishments, and we need that."

Amtrak official will speak at 3 p.m. Feb. 15

The town hall will begin at 2 p.m. with a networking session. Local elected officials who attend will have an opportunity to meet in small groups with people in their communities, so "they can really hear what people locally have to say" about the proposal, she said.

The featured speaker at the event will be Derrick James, Amtrak's Chicago-based director for government affairs, Jones said. At 3 p.m., he'll present information about the project, answer questions and "debunk some myths," she said. He will discuss "what changes would be made to the lines, what we can look forward to, what kind of economic impact it will have in our region."

For example, a traffic study of U.S. 23, which runs north-south to the west of Crawford County, found that it is functioning at more than 300% capacity, she said. "So if we had a different way for some of our people to get to Columbus or go to Cleveland and reduce some of that traffic on our roads, that would help as well."

From 4 to 6 p.m., the event will be a chamber after-hours event, where people will have an opportunity to ask James and local officials questions, one-on-one, Jones said. Light appetizers will be served and a cash bar will be open. The later hours also will allow people who couldn't leave their jobs earlier in the day to attend and have questions answered.

Also during the event, people attending will have a chance to sign letters encouraging Ohio Gov. Mike DeWine to take action of the federal infrastructure bill ahead of the March deadline, Jones said. The letters will be delivered to DeWine the next day.

DeWine needs to "let the federal government know that Ohio does want to be considered for this passenger rail Amtrak funds, which then would give the state some funds to do the feasibility study," she said. For example, it would be necessary to make sure existing rail lines that now carry freight traffic would be able to maintain high-speed rail service.

Where would Amtrak passenger trains stop?

It has not yet been determined where the passenger trains would stop in Crestline, Jones said. Many people have said they'd like to see a train station on North Seltzer Street near the municipal building, but it might have to be a little further north, closer to Main Street, to avoid disrupting other rail traffic heading east-west.

"I've learned so much about railroad logistics in doing all of this," she said, laughing.

Jones said she hasn't heard a dollar figure for how much the rail service could bring into the community. "That's part of why we're bringing Derrick to the community; it's something that he does every day, so he probably can speak to those numbers a little better than I can," she said.

In 2021, Amtrak published a map of potential new routes nationwide, including one connecting Cleveland, Columbus, Dayton and Cincinnati  with a stop in Crestline.

Anyone in the community is welcome to attend the free event, Jones said. People can come and go as their schedule permits.

For details, contact Jones via email at mjones@galion-crestlinechamber.org or call the chamber at 419-468-7737.

ggoble@gannett.com

419-559-7263

This article originally appeared on Bucyrus Telegraph-Forum: Amtrak official will speak about passenger rail proposal in Crestline
Despite three separate land routes to Crimea, Ukrainian Armed Forces' (UAF) liberation of Crimea will also involve the seas, said Izet Gdanov, the deputy commander of one of the separate assault battalions on Dec. 26.

Read also: Two drones shot down over Crimea, Russian DM claims after multiple explosions heard in Sevastopol

There are three land routes to Crimea  Kalanchak, Chongar, Chaplynka, Gdanov told Crimea.Realities. On the one hand, this is relatively convenient for the occupiers to set up their defenses, as the area is not very wide. On the other, they face certain difficulties with [supplying] Crimea because logistically Crimea is very challenging for the occupiers.

The approach to Crimea will not only be via the land corridor, but from the seas as well, said Gdanov. The Black and Azov Seas will be used [for Crimeas liberation]. That is, the defense forces will enter Crimea simultaneously.

Read also: Ukraine has unwavering commitment to liberating Crimea  Danilov

The peninsula's terrain complicates military maneuvers in Crimea. The occupiers are also heavily mining the area, and each minefield is unique, Gdanov added.

They approach this with enthusiasm..., he said. They bury themselves deep and pour everything with concrete, so it's impossible to even identify them with thermal imagery.

The occupation of Ukrainian territory started with Crimea and will end with Crimea, said Gdanov. His battalion is currently being formed in southern Ukraine, focusing specifically on the Crimean direction.

Russian occupiers are panicking and digging trenches along virtually the entire coastline of the Crimean Peninsula, as proven in satellite images, Tamila Tasheva, Zelenskyys Representative in Crimea told Radio NV.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has said that Russia's war against Ukraine must end with the liberation of Crimea, just as it began with its occupation.

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
Its a headline that reads like a lyric from Hank Williams Jr.s A Country Boy Can Survive. Only, instead of the Mississippi River a-goin dry (a real concern, too), Europes Rhine River is too high.

As a result, shipping on the crucial waterway is being delayed, according to Reuters. Its a 180-degree turn, as the river has experienced low water levels due to unusually dry summers in recent years, per the story.

Whats causing the water to rise?

The Guardian reported the water levels to be critically high in mid-December due to rainfall and snowmelt.

While climate experts cant link every severe weatherrelated event to the planets overheating, NPR reports that scientists see more correlations.

Its a reminder that the risk of extreme events is growing, and theyre affecting every corner of the world, National Oceanographic and Atmospheric Administration chief scientist Sarah Kapnick told NPR as part of a broader story on the climate.

Why is the Rhines water level important?

More than 300 million tons of goods are moved on the Rhines waters from Switzerland to the North Sea every year, according to the International Commission to Protect the Rhine.

The high water levels stop ships that cant pass safely under bridges. The conditions compound shipping woes from the summer, when the droughts made water levels too low for navigation, per the Guardian.

Whats being done to help?

The shipping industry is beginning to invest in cleaner ways to power vessels, including revamped sail technology. By embracing electric propulsion in ships, planes, and cars, industry leaders and the rest of us can all contribute to less planet-warming air pollution.

Its also important to understand how changing weather patterns impact your neck of the woods. You dont have to live along the Rhine River to experience unprecedented circumstances.

Shifting tornado alleys and wildfire risks are among the factors of growing importance to insurers in the United States. Axios released a group of maps this fall that show areas of the country that could see property insurance rate hikes due to wind, fire, and flood risks.

A little research ahead of your next move could result in substantial savings.

Insurers are changing how they factor climate and extreme weather risks into the premiums they charge for coverage, while some are suspending coverage altogether, Axios writer Brianna Crane wrote in the story.

Join our free newsletter for cool news and actionable info that makes it easy to help yourself while helping the planet.
In July, Billie Bakhshi and her family drove dawn to dusk for five days from Nevada to her new home in Connecticut, anticipating her sons wedding and a new life.

She had signed the lease on her Clemens Place apartment at 9 Sherman St., in Hartfords West End, sight unseen, paid the security deposit after being told how beautiful her three-bedroom, fourth-floor apartment would be. The building is just blocks from the Mark Twain House.

The apartment turned out to be a nightmare, she said. The city had to get involved and an order to make repairs was issued, records show.

Bakhshi, her husband and two adult children, both of whom have autism, moved in in July. We arrived on a Sunday and they met us at the door and walked us up to the fourth floor. And thats when we saw everything that was wrong.

Based on what she had been told, Bakhshi said she had no reason to believe the $1,850-a-month apartment would be in such bad shape, with black liquid dripping under the sink, a leaking roof and sinking floors.

Her oldest son and his fiancee had moved into another of Clemens Places 42 historic apartment buildings before she had gotten there.

Hes got a lovely fiancee, and theyre involved with New England valley theater, and he relocated here to be here with her, Bakhshi said. He moved into Clemens Place right across from the leasing office. And this is pre-pandemic. It was nice, it was clean. It was park-like on the outside. There was a lovely farmers market right there, just to the side of them, every week.

Theyve since moved out because her sons fiancee tore her ACL and needed a first-floor apartment, she said.

So they moved to West Hartford, but we figured with all these rent scams and everything, its best to go with a place that we know is OK. They promised us an air-conditioned unit. They promised us hardwood floors and happily took our security deposit and took our application money. And we figured OK, this is going to be great. Its going to go fine.

She said the leasing agent didnt provide photos because there needed to be some repairs. She was told the previous tenant had abandoned the apartment and they need to do some fixing, she said. They promised us  I have it in writing  that it would be 100% ready.

It was far from ready, she said.

Ive had a maintenance supervisor come up and say, Oh yeah, yeah, well get to it, well get to it. Never came back, Bakhshi said. And there have been countless phone calls and emails and they just ignore them.

Finally, she called the citys housing code enforcement office and an inspector gave Clemens Place written notice and 30 days to make repairs.

Listed in the notice of violation are a sinking floor in the living room and a sinking ceiling in the kitchen, a need for a new garbage disposal, a need for repairs and painting of the ceilings in the bathroom and master bedroom, a need to level the bathtub, grouting needed around the bathtub and repairs needed to the doors in the bedrooms, among other things.

A few days before the notice was set to expire, I got back in touch with them, Bakhshi said. I said they havent come out. They havent even called me. Nothing. I was like, what do we do at this point? He says let me call. So call we did.

The code inspector returned for the reinspection. And of course the stuff largely isnt done, Bakhshi said.

So now that hes given them three extra days, now theyve come back and said, well, well do it after the holidays. The leak in the ceiling is finally done; they fixed the roof. The kitchen sink is no longer leaking foul fluid that made the entire apartment stink. But its gotten to the point where its like, you shouldnt have to fight this hard to live someplace decent.

Clemens Place (Mark Twain is a pseudonym for Samuel Clemens) is composed of 42 apartment buildings and 640 units off Farmington Avenue, which last sold in 2020 for $60.5 million, according to the Hartford Business Journal. Many are on the National Register of Historic Places.

The owner, Clemens Place CT Limited Partnership, based in New City, N.Y., could not be reached for comment.

Im not clear whether the owner of this place even knows that this is how his managers are doing, Bakhshi said. Its a weird situation where either  the corporation knows and they dont care or theyre unaware that the property management is doing their tenants like this.

A person answering the phone at the Clemens Place management office said, We cant discuss any tenant information with anyone besides the tenant.

Besides the problems with the apartment, Bakhshi said she doesnt feel particularly comfortable in her West End neighborhood.

Since we moved in, someone has broken into our minivan, she said. Someone broke into our mailbox and stole all the mail and we had an attempted break-in through my sons room, which is on the fire escape, and, mind you, they promised we had a balcony. They didnt tell us it was a fire escape with access from the street.

There is also a large issue of unhoused people in the neighborhood with one person who tends to sleep in the lobby of Bakhshis building, she said. Also, a body was found in the parking lot recently, which they kind of neglected to tell us, of course, she said.

So far, management has repaired some of the most egregious problems, Bakhshi said.

They have tweaked the roof so that its no longer leaking, she said. They patched the  places where the plaster fell and that was in multiple rooms. They replaced the garbage disposal, which eliminated a leak under the sink. And theyve done some small tweaks on the doors.

The front door is not fixed yet, she said. If you had a screwdriver or you had anything that was thin that you could slide into it, you can open the door. You dont need a key, she said.

All of this is a quarter mile from one of Hartfords major tourist attractions, the Mark Twain House and Museum.

We actually went to take the tour a couple weeks ago of the house, Bakhshi said. And you look at what the neighborhood used to be like and you see what youre dealing with now, and its just like, wow. I wasnt under any illusion it was like Gilmore Girls because I moved my son in, but this, compared to what I saw four years ago  night and day. I would not have moved here if I had known this is what were moving into.

Ed Stannard can be reached at estannard@courant.com.
 Flash

Smoke rises following an Israeli airstrike in the southern Gaza Strip city of Khan Younis, on Dec. 27, 2023. [Photo/Xinhua]

An Israeli bombardment near a hospital in southern Gaza killed at least 20 people and wounded dozens more on Wednesday, the Gaza Health Ministry said.

The ministry spokesman Ashraf al-Qedra said in a statement that the death toll could rise as rescuers searched for survivors under the rubble of a residential building near Al Amal Hospital in Khan Younis, a densely-populated city in southern Gaza.

Local sources told Xinhua that there were many displaced Palestinians inside the building when the attack happened, while rescuers at the site said most of the victims were retrieved in "dismembered parts."

Prior to the attack, the casualties from the Israeli attacks in the Gaza Strip rose to 21,110 deaths and 55,243 injuries, according to the Health Ministry.

During the past 24 hours, 195 people were killed while 325 were injured and transported to hospitals due to Israeli attacks, said the ministry.

The ministry's spokesman warned against the deliberate targeting by the Israeli army of the vicinity surrounding the Nasser Medical Complex in Khan Younis, southern Gaza, urging international institutions to take effective and immediate steps to ensure the protection of the complex, its staff, the wounded, and the thousands of displaced people within it.
Dartmouth ferry with expand its capacity again in February

Dartmouth Lower Ferry has been reduced to one float and is due to return to a two-float service from Monday 5 February.

South Hams District Council said it was due to the higher ferrys own maintenance period "needing to be juggled with the essential maintenance of the lower ferrys Tom Casey float".

A trial to double the winter crossing service across the River Dart between Dartmouth and Kingswear had been set in response to community demand.

The council said both higher and lower ferries work together to ensure there is enough capacity to support communities crossing the River Dart at all times.

The reduction in service also means the lower ferry can fully support Maritime Coastguard safety inspections, the council said.

Councillor Victor Abbott, South Hams District Councils executive member for community services, operations and leisure, said: "This essential maintenance will mean we can continue to offer a smooth-running service in the new year, as well as support with the demand when the higher ferry enters its own maintenance period."

Councillors Jonathan Hawkins, Ben Cooper and Ged Yardy, local Dartmouth District Ward councillors, said in a joint comment: "We are very lucky to have such a hard-working team that always make sure that our ferry service runs efficiently and professionally in all weathers, and we thank them for their dedication and support."

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WASHINGTON - The Metropolitan Police Department continues to investigate a woman that was found dead after the report of a suspicious package in Northeast.

Police arrived in the 1500 block of 45th Street, for the report of a suspicious package and a woman down on Sunday, November 5 around 9:54 p.m.

When news breaks, stream FOX 5 DC anytime. Get the FOX Local app on your smart TV.

The deceased has been identified as 24-year-old Nicole Ann Young, of no known address. Upon arrival, officers located the body of a woman.

The body was transported to the Office of the Chief Medical Examiner to identify the decedent and determine the circumstances surrounding the death. The cause and manner of death remains under investigation.
The video began circulating in early October. The shaky, seconds-long clip shows a dead and apparently frozen dog being haphazardly tossed into a dumpster that is about to be lifted into a garbage truck. When the dog hits the rim of the dumpster, it bounces stiffly backward, frozen solid.

Columbia Animal Services has confirmed the video was taken at its shelter off Shop Road.

The video has been posted to numerous social media accounts, including to an Instagram account with the banner, stop animal cruelty at Columbia Animal Services.

The shelters leadership asserts that while it may be distressing, the video shows an industry standard practice  grim as it is. Animal shelters across the state euthanize thousands of animals each year, and many of those animals bodies are disposed of in landfills.

But Columbia is ahead of the curve when it comes to disposing of animal remains, city leaders say.

Standard procedure?

The viral video of the frozen dog was filmed at the Columbia shelter, but it is likely at least a year old or older, Columbia Animal Services Superintendent Victoria Riles said.

Many shelters across the U.S. send the remains of euthanized animals to their local landfill, including many shelters in South Carolina. Columbia is unique because it typically does not do that. Instead, the shelter has its own large incinerator, and animal remains are usually burned away rather than thrown away.

Were actually ahead of the game with having this incineration unit, and were very proud to have it, Riles said.

The Columbia Animal Services incinerator, which is used to cremate animals after they are euthanized.

Riles said the viral video was likely taken at some point last year when the shelters long-running incinerator broke down and it had to revert to sending animal remains to the landfill. The shelter has since replaced the incinerator and has returned to disposing of remains via incineration.

Those who spoke to the State agreed, however, that incinerators are not common at animal shelters, and disposal of remains via garbage truck and landfill is more standard.

Lexington County Animal Services does not have an incinerator, for example, so animal remains are disposed of in trash bags and then picked up by a waste management company and taken to the countys landfill, explained Holly Hallman with the Lexington County shelter.

Hallman also agreed that while the visual is unpleasant, disposing animal remains in a dumpster before they can be taken to a landfill is a standard practice. Hallman has worked at the Lexington County shelter for 17 years and said the shelter has always handled animal remains by sending them to the landfill.

Columbia spent roughly $50,000 to replace the incinerator at the shelter last year. Its a cost the Lexington County shelter hasnt chosen to prioritize, Hallman added.

The funds that are saved from not cremating are put into the animals that are living, Hallman added, as another reason why the Lexington shelter has never prioritized the equipment. The shelter will, however, refer people to a private business that will cremate peoples pets for them if they are willing to pay.

Signs on the door to the exam room where animals are euthanized at the Columbia Animal Services shelter.

In Columbia, the euthanization process looks like this:

An animal will be brought into a small, mostly bare exam room with a metal table at the wall. It will be injected with xylazine and ketamine  a sedative and anesthetic. Then it will be injected with a Fatal-Plus cocktail including Sodium Pentobarbital.

In most cases, the animal will die within 15 minutes.

The shelters incinerator can hold eight to 10 animals bodies at a time and runs extremely hot  up to 1,500 degrees.

A euthanized animal may be placed directly into the incinerator, but the remains may also be placed in a nearby walk-in cooler if the incinerator is already in use.

On some days, we dont burn it at all, Riles said.

The City of Columbia Animal Services building on Thursday, November 16, 2023.

Euthanasia trends

Columbia Animal Services is striving to become a no-kill shelter, a status that requires a euthanasia rate of 10% or less. For the last few years, Columbias rate has hovered around 20%.

In a perfect world, no healthy or treatable animal will ever be euthanized for space, said Jen Coody, executive director of the local nonprofit Animal Mission. We hope that one day we can see the Midlands be in that place, but right now every day is a space struggle, for every municipal shelter.

The Columbia shelter has taken in around 5,000 animals a year for the past several years, and the euthanasia rate has steadily declined.

While the shelter is not at no-kill status, it is as close as its ever been to reaching it. In the 2022-23 fiscal year the shelters euthanasia rate was 21% (Of 5,000 animals taken into the shelter, just over 1,000 were euthanized.) In 2015, the euthanasia rate was at more than 50%. Prior to 2007, the shelter was regularly euthanizing more than 80% of the animals taken into the shelter  killing more than 10,000 animals a year.

We really do have this new era of operations around us.  We dont want to just impound your pets, Riles said.

Earlier this year, local TV news station WIS reported that nearly half of the dogs euthanized at the shelter between Jan. 1, 2022, and Feb. 2, 2023, were killed within five days of entering the facility. The shelter is legally required to hold stray animals for five days to ensure potential owners can claim the animal, unless the animal is a danger to others, is in pain or near death.

The TV station also reported that healthy dogs were being euthanized as well.

Shelter and city leadership have aggressively denied any claims of wrongdoing made in the article.

We were disappointed in the lack of accuracy in this report and offer the following information to correct the record, read a city press release issued June 16 in response to the WIS article.

Riles said a lack of clear record-keeping was one factor that led to the confusion with the WIS article, but she again asserted that the shelter is not breaking any laws.

The Humane Society of South Carolina has received complaints about the Columbia shelter, and an investigation into the facility is ongoing, an agent with the organization confirmed. The Humane Society did not specify what the complaints entailed or any other details about the investigation.

Riles said the shelter has made considerable strides to rekindle community trust, including by publishing detailed intake and euthanasia data on social media each month. The shelter has also created the Facebook page COC Animal Services Rescue Needs, where it shares when animals are likely to be euthanized because of space issues.

In November, the shelter took in 430 animals and euthanized 84 of them  thats about a 20% euthanasia rate.

The month prior, the shelter took in 467 animals and euthanized 77, 20 of which were owner-requested. The shelter offers free euthanasia for animals at the end of their lives because private euthanasia can be expensive. People also surrender animals to the shelter and sometimes request that the animals be euthanized. Riles said those requests are only accepted if the animal meets the conditions for euthanasia, such as being at the end of life.

Columbia still lags behind other shelters in its goal to reach no-kill status. Nineteen counties in South Carolina were given no-kill status in 2022 by the nonprofit Best Friends Animal Society. Eight counties were considered nearly no-kill communities, including Lexington County.

Richland County remained squarely in the not no-kill category, but the Columbia shelter, which also takes in animals found in Richland County, also took in more animals than most other shelters across the state, according to the Best Friends data. Intake from the county makes up more than 60% of the animals at Columbias animal shelter, on average.

Only Greenville and Charleston vastly outpaced Richland Countys intake figures, recording roughly twice as many animal intakes. But both communities were still closer to the no-kill goal. Greenville was considered nearly no-kill and Charleston earned no-kill status last year, according to the data.

Youre often not comparing apples to apples, said Columbia assistant city manager Clint Shealy. A more rural community might let non-aggressive strays wander, for example. We dont have that option in the city. (Euthanasia rates) may vary from county to county and jurisdiction to jurisdiction.

Riles stressed that the shelter has a number of volunteer programs to try to increase adoption, and the shelter is always seeking foster parents to take care of dogs and cats while they wait to find permanent homes.

Coody, of the nonprofit Animal Mission, said one factor that is out of the shelters hands is the availability of veterinarians to perform spay and neuter surgeries.

The Animal Missions main goal as a friend of the shelter is to promote spay/neuter and to help make the procedures more affordable. The Animal Mission gives away vouchers for between $30 and $75, depending on the animal and gender, to help reduce the costs of those procedures. But Coody said another contributing problem is a lack of veterinarians to perform the surgeries.

We can put all the vouchers in the world into the hands of pet owners, but the availability of those appointments is whats causing most of the backup in the system right now, Coody said.

The earliest available spay or neuter appointment for a dog in Columbia was 30 days out when Coody spoke with The State.

Coody and Riles both said that spaying and neutering pets is one of the top ways to reduce the population of stray animals.

Columbia Mayor Daniel Rickenmann has strongly refuted any claims of wrongdoing against the animal shelter. The claims have led to Riles and others with the city government receiving threatening emails and phone calls, which Rickenmann said could lead the city to legal action.

If it continues, we will prosecute those folks, Rickenmann told The State. If people threaten our employees, we will prosecute it.

Rickenmann added that the city is hoping to invest in a new shelter facility in a more visible area to increase fostering and adoption numbers.

At the end of the day, do you wish you could keep every animal alive? Absolutely. But its just not feasible, Rickenmann said.
An Oklahoma Highway Patrol vehicle is seen blocking a roadway in Midwest City in April 2023.

As if motorists didnt have enough reasons to drive carefully during the typically busy holiday season, a new report should give Oklahoma drivers extra caution.

Using data from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration and the U.S. Census Bureau, a report found that in 2021, Oklahoma had 5.26 fatalities per 1 million residents from Christmas to New Years Day, ranking it No. 4 in the nation behind Arkansas, Alabama and South Carolina.

The report said that between 2001 and 2021, there were 318 fatalities in Oklahoma during the holiday season from Christmas to New Years Day.

More than 100 million Americans are expected to drive more than 50 miles this holiday season.

The 5 most dangerous roads during the holidays

Within Oklahoma, the following roads were found to be the most dangerous between Christmas and New Years Day from 2001 to 2021:

US-177 in Pottawatomie County: 5 fatalities

US-60 in Osage County: 4 fatalities

South Broadway St in Logan County: 4 fatalities

SR-9 in Cleveland County: 4 fatalities

US-75 in Tulsa County: 4 fatalities

At the national level, drunk driving was found to be the No. 1 cause of , followed by speeding.

This article originally appeared on Oklahoman: Where are the deadliest roads in Oklahoma?
Relentless Russian assaults on the Tavria front have made December the most difficult month of the year, said Tavria Defense Forces spokesperson Oleksandr Shtupun during a press briefing on Dec. 28.

"In my assessment, the most formidable month is the last one," Shtupun said on a nationally televised broadcast.

Read also: Commander-in-Chief Zaluzhniy describes the defense of Avdiivka and what the calculus is on holding it

Ukrainian Defense Forces are grappling with unprecedented challenges as the Russian adversary continues its incessant attacks, mainly focusing on Mariinka, where Avdiivka is bearing substantial losses but steadfastly moving forward.

Read also: Russian troops alter approach in grueling Avdiivka fighting as losses mount, says local governor

"Their objective seems to be securing control over the territories by year-end or within a specific timeframe, he said. Judging by the frequency of attacks and the intense pressure on our units, this last month of the year stands out as the most challenging.

Russian forces escalated their offensive on Avdiivka, launching massive strikes on the city in early October. As of December 8, the Russian army had deployed more than 40,000 troops to Avdiivka, with daily losses ranging from 300 to 400 personnel, Shtupun reported.

Ukrainian forces are still present in the northern part of Mariinka but have partially withdrawn beyond the outskirts of the settlement, Ukraines Commander-in-Chief Valerii Zaluzhnyi said on Dec. 26.

Russian Defense Minister Sergey Shoigu claimed on Dec. 25 that Russia had taken control of Mariinka.

Shtupun, however, said that the battles for Mariinka persist, though the city has been almost completely destroyed.

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Read the original article on The New Voice of Ukraine
December has been the most arduous month of the year for Ukraine's Defence Forces on the Tavriia front.

Source: Oleksandr Shtupun, spokesman for the Joint Press Centre of the Ukrainian Defence Forces on the Tavriia front, during the national joint 24/7 newscast

Quote: "The most challenging month, I believe, is the last one [of the year]. That's because the enemy is constantly storming [the towns of] Marinka and Avdiivka. They (the Russians) are suffering heavy losses, but they keep pushing forward. They are trying to capture them either by the end of the year or by some other deadline. But I believe that in terms of the frequency of attacks or the pressure on our formations, the last month of this year has been the toughest."

Details: Shtupun confirmed that Ukrainian troops are still present in the north of Marinka, with the Russian occupying forces continuing to target the Ukrainian troops with artillery. At the same time, the Russian soldiers are already attempting to exert more pressure on the village of Novomykhailivka.

Background:

Russian propagandists announced that Russia's Defence Minister Sergei Shoigu had reported the capture of Marinka to Russian President Vladimir Putin.

Oleksandr Shtupun has refuted the Russian propaganda claim that Russian forces have captured the city of Marinka in Donetsk Oblast. The officer said Ukrainian formations were present within the administrative boundaries of Marinka. "The city has been razed to the ground. But its wrong to say that Marinka has been completely captured."

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For the American observer, one of the disconcerting features of European democracy is its occasional bouts of frank and unyielding illiberalism. The United States has Section 3 of the 14th Amendment and never uses it; Germany has streitbare Demokratiemilitant democracyand does.*

European countriesparticularly Germany and the nations that were most entangled in Nazismroutinely do things that we simply do not do in the United States: They ban political parties, both neo-Nazi and far-left alike, as well as books, symbols, and other political paraphernalia. Austria, the Netherlands, Spain, the Czech Republic, Greece, Ukraine, even Canada have banned political parties and associations. Moldova has just banned the Putinist Sor Party. The United States attempted to ban (and, hypothetically did ban) the Communist Party USA in 1954, a move that was supported by (how times have changed!) the Yale Law Journal and opposed by J. Edgar Hoover, who preferred that communism not be driven underground but remain out in the open, where it could be more easily surveilled. Even today, you can face jail time in many European democracies for selling a prohibited book or for putting a prohibited slogan on a poster.

Germany has recently taken steps toward banning Alternative fur Deutschland, a right-wing populist party that recently won its first big mayoral election. But the populist right is nonetheless having a moment in Europe: Geert Wilders, the Dutch rightist who shares with Donald Trump both an implausible coiffure and a desire to prohibit Muslim immigration, enjoyed a big win in November, when his Freedom Party (Partij voor de Vrijheid) won more seats in parliament than any of its competitors.

European governments not only ban political parties but also political books, songs, tattoo designs, associations, and events. To Americans steeped in the First Amendment tradition and raised on The Crucible and Fahrenheit 451, this can be shocking and uncomfortable. At the same time, European observers may be perplexed as Americans flounder impotently for a legal means of preventing the possible reelection of Donald Trump, who attempted to stage a coup detat when he lost reelection in 2020.

That Donald Trump not only could be but already is prohibited from seeking reelection seems to me reasonably straightforward: Section 3 of the 14th Amendment prohibits those engaging in insurrection from standing for election. That there was an insurrection in January 2021 is at this point a matter of legal record, as there are prisoners currently incarcerated after being convicted on charges of seditious conspiracy, defined in statute as an attempt to conspire to overthrow, put down, or to destroy by force the Government of the United States, or to levy war against them, or to oppose by force the authority thereof, or by force to prevent, hinder, or delay the execution of any law of the United States, or by force to seize, take, or possess any property of the United States contrary to the authority thereof. This is the very definition of insurrection.

That Donald Trump was involved in this effort is beyond arguing, as is the fact that he continues to give aid and comfort to the insurrectionists, violent criminals he describes as political prisoners and hostages. Congress could by legislative action set aside Trumps 14th Amendment disability, but Congress has, so far, chosen not to do so.

(I am all for scrupulous i-dotting and t-crossing in these matters, but the notion that the president of the United States is somehow not an officer of the United States is contemptible nonsense.)

Ironically, it is the Trumpist element that, in all other things, calls for a more European mode of politics and governance and a less Anglo-liberal one. Writing in some obscure political magazine Ive never heard of, Adrian Vermeulethe house intellectual of the every-day-is-Flight-93-and-everybody-who-disagrees-with-me-is-Stalin setheaped scorn on the supposedly narrow and formal proceduralism of the traditional conservative approach to the law and the Constitution, arguing that originalism has now outlived its utility. Rather than a libertarian mode of limited central government, Vermeule demands a state invested with ample power to cope with large-scale crises. (Never mind the question-begging there, for the moment.) Vermeule, who brings less depth to the argument than one might have expected from a Harvard Law School professor, argues that procedure and limits on government power simply must give way when the common good demands it, which not only raises the obvious question of who is empowered to define that common good but also ignores the fact that the originalism that he and others of his ilk insist has outlived its utility is arguably the single most important bulwark of the common good in our public life, the rule of law and the economic and political stability enabled by it being the most fundamental of all public goods.

Germanys streitbare Demokratie holds that liberal democracies are not obliged to indulge political parties or movements that would exploit liberal and democratic norms to destroy liberalism and democracy themselves. In a way that is similar tobut in important aspects different fromour Bill of Rights, streitbare Demokratie puts certain things beyond the reach of democratic plebiscite.

In the United States, it does not matter whether 51 percent, 60 percent, or 100 percent of voters in an election say the New York Times should be censored or that the United Methodist Church should be made the national state religionthese things are settled under the Constitution, and nothing short of amending the Constitution will unsettle them. Under streitbare Demokratie, it doesnt matter whether a majority of Germans want to elect neo-Nazisthe matter is beyond the reach of majorities, especially the temporary and contingent majorities that dominate any given political season. But just as there is a great deal of Anglo-American liberalism in Continental practice, there are streaks of streitbare Demokratie in American practice, Section 3 of the 14th Amendment being one of them.

Section 3 was enacted after the Civil War in order to prevent those who had made war on the U.S. government from being allowed to take control of it. Donald Trumps attempted coup detat was not the Civil War, but it was not simply the violence and vandalism at the Capitol on January 6, either. The Trump coup constituted a broader project, the most important parts of which happened far from the Capitol riot, around conference tables and in telephone calls. Like any halfway serious coup, it wasnt only an attempt to use violence to disrupt government and thereby effectively seize the levers of power; it also incorporated a legal theoryphony, implausible, and risible, of coursedeployed to legitimize the violence.

Trump has never stopped seeking to legitimize his attempted coup detat and, after a five-minute paroxysm of conscience, Republicans have not ceased to aid and abet his attempts to legitimize his illegitimate actions. Sen. Mitch McConnell achieved many fine and admirable things as majority leader, but his failure to press for the conviction of Trump after his second impeachment and to secure Trumps disqualification from office is a failure that is at least as heavy as the combined weight of the Kentucky Republicans many good deeds combined. After Trump himself, McConnell probably bears more personal responsibility for our current predicament than any other single political figure, as contemptible as Mike Pence, Ted Cruz, Lindsey Graham, the bottom-feeders of Fox News and talk radio, et al. have shown themselves to be in the days since January 6, 2021.

And, so, here we are.

On balance, I prefer U.S.-style liberalism to European streitbare Demokratie. At the same time, the European Union is not an authoritarian hellhole, and the many deficiencies of the European model have to be understood in light of the deficiencies of the American modelwhich is to say, in light of the fact that the leading candidate for president of the United States is, at this moment, the one man among all 332 million Americans singly most unfit for the office. Donald Trump attempted to negate the lawful election of 2020 and has, in the course of his short career, transformed the Republican Party from a traditional American conservative partyadmittedly a daft and dysfunctional oneinto an active, positive threat to the American constitutional order.

Americans have the technical legal means to exclude Donald Trump from public life, but they lack the political and spiritual resources to act through those means. One need not believe that Donald Trump is the moral or political equivalent of Adolf Hitler to appreciate the aptness of German experience here, even if one is not necessarily inclined to draw the same policy conclusions Germans drew from that experience.

Correction, December 28, 2023: Due to an editing error, streitbare Demokratie was originally mistranslated as defensive democracy.

Read more at The Dispatch

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Oklahoma County's continued evaluation of land at 1901 E Grand Blvd. in Oklahoma City as a potential location for a new jail prompted a unified response Wednesday from key Del City elected leaders and city officials.

Del City Mayor Floyd Eason, Ward 1 Councilman Michael Dean, Ward 2 Councilwoman/Vice Mayor Pam Fitch and Ward 3 Councilwoman Claudia Browne all told County Commissioner Brian Maughan and deputy commissioners representing Myles Davidson and Carrie Blumert at Wednesday's meeting they would prefer another location be selected.

Del City Police Chief Loyd A. Berger and J.D. Hock, the community's city manager, also addressed the board at Wednesday's meeting.

Although he did not speak, Del City's Ward 4 Councilman Scott Tatum attended, as well, Hock said.

What concerns about the jail location have Del City leaders listed?

Through a letter he hand delivered to the commission, Hock outlined numerous concerns Del City has with locating the new jail on Grand Boulevard, including:

A likelihood a significant number of Del City's 21,822 residents might choose to move at least 10 miles away from the new facility. "A decrease in population would have a devastating impact on our small city," he wrote.

The potential that sales tax-generating businesses inside of Del City might relocate, as well, cutting into revenues the city uses to fund its operations.

Additional burdens on its police, fire and emergency medical service providers through mutual assistance agreements it has with Oklahoma City, pushing costs to provide those services higher for city residents. "Del City does not have the resources needed to respond to the extensive call volume that would be generated from this facility," Hock wrote.

A further deterioration of Bryant Avenue, the city-limits boundary Del City shares with Oklahoma City between NE 10 and SE 44. The two communities share responsibilities to maintain the road. Its current condition, which Hock asserts Oklahoma City neglects, only would worsen with added vehicle and pedestrian traffic a jail would bring to the area. A jail there also might require Del City to spend funds it could use for other purposes to build new sidewalks and pedestrian crossings on its side of Bryant Avenue to support the facility. "We have tried in the past to get help from Oklahoma City to help maintain that road, but just have not gotten any," Mayor Eason told the commission.

Negative impacts to community and economic development. Hock wrote Del City has spent more than $200,000 during the past two years to create a new 20-year comprehensive plan to guide future development, including one potential project that could bring new homes to vacant land between Sunnylane Road and Bryant Avenue on SE 29. "These homes would be the first new additions to housing stock in Del City since 2001. The social and economic impact of these new homes is vital to the future of our small city," Hock wrote.

"Placing the jail within (or in the proximity of) Del City's border would serve as a major deterrent from businesses locating or otherwise remaining within our city due to fear of insecurity, transient activity or lower traffic counts from citizens and patrons from surrounding areas," Hock summarized. "Such a negative impact would cripple Del City's growth and development, which could lead to lower sales tax revenue, major financial hardships and tarnish the city's image."

Police Chief Bergen also presented a letter to the commission that expressed his concern a jail at 1901 Grand Blvd. might violate state statutes requiring registered sex offenders to maintain minimum distances away from schools and parks, something Councilwoman Browne highlighted when she spoke to the commission.

More: Oklahoma County cuts NE OKC site from consideration as potential jail location

"Individuals that are released from this facility would be within a short walking distance to restricted sites," Berger wrote, concerns echoed by both Councilman Dean and Councilwoman Browne.

"I do understand a new jail is definitely needed, and like Chief Berger has said, I do not envy you in this position you are in," Browne said. "I do understand other locations are going to be near a school, but we've got five of them in our small area."

Del City's fire chief and economic development director also attended the meeting, as did Gina Standridge, a member of the Midwest City-Del City Public Schools board of education.

County Commissioner Brian Maughan

Commissioner thanks Del City, explains why site remains on list

Brian Maughan, chairman of Oklahoma County's Board of County Commissioners, told the Del City delegation the county is well aware of its concerns.

But Maughan also said the site, which is being offered for sale to Oklahoma County for about $5.42 million by Willowbrook Investments LLC and Garrett & Co. Resources LLC, remains on Oklahoma County's list because it has been told by Oklahoma City officials its city council would be willing to consider a zoning change on that land that would be required for a new jail.

Other locations still on the county's list include:

About 60 acres located at 17501 NE 150, resubmitted for sale by David Hennessey for about $1 million. Up to 192 acres of land located between S Newcastle Road and SW 54, offered for sale by the Oklahoma City Airport Trust (though, Oklahoma City's Airport Trust on Dec. 21 rejected an offer from Oklahoma County to buy a portion of that land for $2.5 million). Up to 80 acres of land located near Interstates 40 and 44 in unincorporated Oklahoma County. Sixty three acres of land located at SE 29 west of the Kickapoo Turnpike, resubmitted for sale by Tsalagi Development LLC for about $7.53 million.

About 10 other locations Oklahoma City has suggested Oklahoma County consider are still being researched to obtain contact information for property owners to see if they have any interests in selling their properties, Maughan said.

"This (the Grand Boulevard site) is one of those locations that Oklahoma City has said it will be willing to zone" for use as a jail, he said. "It is difficult when you are wanting it to be in Oklahoma City, but there are only so many sites" that potentially could be used, he also said.

To find the right place, Oklahoma County needs both a willing seller and a location that Oklahoma City will appropriately zone, and he suggested Del City officials reach out to their larger neighbor with their concerns.

"I am not trying to pit us against them (Oklahoma City), but I am just being transparent about what they have shared with us," he told them.

This article originally appeared on Oklahoman: Del City officials ask Oklahoma County to keep city off jail site list
 Flash

Chinese police authorities have offered public rewards for information leading to the arrest of 10 suspects in major drug crimes who are believed to be hiding in northern Myanmar.

The move is meant to curb the infiltration of drugs into the country, and resolutely uproot overseas drug risks that have brought about long-term harm and threat to social stability in China, the Ministry of Public Security said in a statement on Thursday.

The arrest warrants were issued by six city, prefecture or county-level police authorities, respectively.

The police have also urged the fugitives to gain a clear understanding of the situation and voluntarily turn themselves in with a view to receiving lenient penalties.

Members of the public have been encouraged to report relevant clues, and the police have promised cash rewards for those who offer helpful information leading to the arrests.

China has launched campaigns and has been working with other countries in hunting down overseas drug-trafficking fugitives who have smuggled large amount of drugs into China, capturing more than 300 suspects at large so far, according to the ministry.
An arrest was made Wednesday in connection to a Connecticut homicide that left a Delaware man dead a few days before Christmas, according to police.

The victim, 37-year-old Jose Virola, was killed Dec. 22 in Waterbury, Connecticut, after an altercation, according to the Waterbury Police Department.

The victim's death was first investigated as "untimely," but classified as a homicide investigation shortly after, according to police.

On Dec. 27, five days after the incident, police charged 33-year-old Sean Lawrence with murder, first-degree assault and first-degree conspiracy to commit assault, according to police.

According to investigators, police believe that Virola was involved in an earlier disturbance with a woman, which led to a physical altercation between him and Lawrence, whom the woman knew.

Virola sustained a stab wound during the incident and was found dead at the scene, police said.

Lawrence was held on a $3 million bond pending a court arraignment scheduled for Thursday.

Police said that this is an active investigation with more arrests expected.

Those with information are asked to contact the Waterbury Police Department Detective Bureau at (203) 574-6941, or through Crime Stoppers, an anonymous tip line, at (203) 755-1234.

CRIME IN DELAWARE: Dover police arrest suspect in random, 'ambush-style' shootings of 4 victims, 1 who died

This article originally appeared on Delaware News Journal: Delaware man killed in Connecticut; Waterbury police make arrest
Rep. Haley Stevens (D-Mich.) re-upped calls for the release of American Paul Whelan from Russian custody on Thursday, five years after he was apprehended.

Five years is five years too long, Paul Whelan should be home right now, she said on X, formerly Twitter. No American should be held for half a decade after a false arrest and sham trial. Im calling on Vladimir Putin to release Paul now.

Whelan, who lived in Stevenss district before being detained, was arrested in 2018 on espionage charges. The Russian government alleged Whelan traded information with a Russian intelligence officer, which Whelan and the U.S. government denied.

American officials claim Whelan was framed and is being held illegally as a political prisoner.

He was sentenced to 16 years in prison in 2020. Efforts at a prisoner swap between the U.S. and Russia have not progressed, and Whelan told WTOP this week that he feels abandoned in Russia.

At this point, the five-year mark, Im extremely concerned about being left behind a third time, Whelan said, referring to previous U.S.-Russia prisoner swaps. Im concerned that the Biden administration will work out a deal for [The Wall Street Journal reporter] Evan [Gershkovich] to be returned home, leaving me here a third time.

The two nations have so far not been able to come to an agreement for his release.

I know the U.S. have all sorts of proposals, but its not what the Russians want, he told the BBC last week. So they go back and forth, like throwing spaghetti against the wall to see what sticks.

The problem is, its my life thats draining away while they do this. Its been five years! he added.

Previous prisoner swaps included one for WNBA star Brittney Griner last year and former marine Trevor Reed earlier in 2022. Negotiations are also underway for the release of Gershkovich, who was arrested this year while working for the Journal.

A State Department spokesperson said earlier this month that Russia rejected a significant proposal to free both Whelan and Gershkovich, but they added the department will continue to do everything we can to try and bring both of them home.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill.
As it stands now, President Joe Biden is the only candidate who will show up on the ballot in North Carolinas 2024 Democratic Party primary election, guaranteeing his victory in the March 5 race.

Thats being contested by other Democratic presidential candidates and may change should the state board of elections take action and vote to add more candidates in early January.

On Dec. 19, the board approved the list of candidates whose names will appear on the ballot for the presidential primary in North Carolina, where voters in each party elect their preferred candidate.

Approved candidates were submitted by the parties, with Democrats solely listing Biden as an option and Republicans listing former President Donald Trump, Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis, former South Carolina Gov. Nikki Haley and others. The Libertarian Party also listed a slew of candidates. Whoever wins the state primaries get the states share of delegates, who then vote in the partys national convention to nominate them to continue into the general election.

Challenges to the decision

Two Democratic candidates, Minnesota congressman Dean Phillips and Marianne Williamson, a self-described spiritual thought leader and author, who also ran for president in 2020, are challenging the state Democratic Partys decision.

Williamsons press secretary, Sydney Goldstein, said that Williamson will fight the NC Democratic Partys misplaced attempt to protect Biden from a primary.

The NC Democratic Partys action was an effort to silence North Carolina voters voice and choice in this upcoming election, wrote Goldstein, adding that they hoped the states board of election would protect state voters from this attempt at circumventing democracy.

Goldstein pointed out that state law allows the board of elections to include a presidential primary candidate that has been generally advocated and recognized in the news media throughout the United States or in North Carolina, unless the candidate opts out.

The board will be meeting on Jan. 2 to consider adding additional candidates who were not submitted by the political parties, according to its website.

Meanwhile, Phillips started a petition asking the state party to reconsider its decision, also pointing to the media recognition clause.

Asked about the choice to only include Biden and the candidate challenges, Tommy Mattocks, a Democratic Party spokesman, said in an email that, In order to get on the ballot, you need to have donors in the state, and be actively campaigning in the state. Neither of them have been here this cycle. This is the standard that we have used in all previous cycles.

In his petition, Phillips says the partys nomination rules and laws for the primary do not identify any in-person campaigning or fundraising requirements in North Carolina.

He also said in the petition that since entering the Democratic presidential primary race in late October, he had averaged higher in nationwide head-to-head polls among primary candidates than most of the 15 primary candidates approved in 2020 by the states Democratic Party.

Also in 2020, the states Republican Party opted to only send Trumps name. This was challenged by various Republican primary contenders, with the board of election voting to add two more candidates to the GOP list.

Other possible presidential candidates

Next year, voters may also see on their ballot a presidential candidate from the No Labels Party, a new centrist political party backed by former Republican Gov. Pat McCrory.

The party will not be having a primary, as newly recognized parties in the state cannot hold a primary in the first general election following their certification but must hold a convention.

McCrory, in a No Labels news conference in mid-December, said that the party was working on a process for the selection of a presidential ticket.

He said that the majority of Americans do not want a repeat of the current leaders in the Democratic and Republican party in the presidential primary campaigns. And we firmly believe as a team, that America deserves a better choice.

The states Green Party, which was certified last year following an initial denial, could also still nominate a presidential candidate.
A fifth Georgia lawmaker has had police at her front door because of a fake 911 call the day after Christmas.

State Senator Kim Jackson (D-Stone Mountain) received a swatting call made against her DeKalb County home on Dec. 26, Channel 2 Action News has learned.

Swatting occurs when someone calls authorities to someone elses house based on a fake emergency.

[DOWNLOAD: Free WSB-TV News app for alerts as news breaks]

Illegal false 911 calls on Christmas Day and the day after sent police to the homes of at least five lawmakers, including Jackson, a Democrat, and four Republicans.

State Senator Jackson released a statement to Channel 2 Action News on Thursday confirming the incident.

I can confirm that our home was swatted on Dec. 26th. Dekalb County Chief of Police [Mirtha] Ramos and her team of investigators are working diligently to find the person who made the call. Im grateful for the responsiveness of both Chief Ramos and Sheriff Melody Maddox to this situation. I am especially thankful for Sgt. Miller who was the first officer that I encountered. He listened, was respectful, and immediately took action to reassure my family of our safety. My wife, son (age 2), and I have resumed celebrating our first holidays together as a new family." State Senator Kim Jackson

TRENDING STORIES:

U.S. Representative Marjorie Taylor Greene and state Senators John Albers (R-Roswell), Clint Dixon (R-Buford) and Kay Kirkpatrick (R-Marietta) were also targeted by these calls.

Congresswoman Greene said on social media that this was the eighth time her home in Rome has been swatted.

Channel 2s Michael Doudna spoke with state Senator Albers who said he was away visiting family, but his son was home when the police arrived.

This is a serious crime and these people who are doing this need to be arrested. They need to understand the consequences of their actions, State Senator Albers said.

Police have not confirmed if the 911 calls to all of the lawmakers are related to one another.

Investigators have not commented on any potential suspects.

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IN RELATED NEWS:
Democrats in Pennsylvania  President Biden's birthplace  are flipping to the Republican Party in droves, according to the swing state's recent voter registration data.

Pennsylvania holds crucial importance for Biden's reelection bid. He notably hailed Philadelphia campaign donors as the "backbone" of his presidential campaign earlier this year.

As of Dec. 18, 35,589 Democrats reregistered as Republicans in the state so far this year; in contrast, 15,622 Republicans switched to the Democratic Party, data from the state department shows.

The state trend was first reported Tuesday by Newsweek.

RAMASWAMY VOWS TO WITHDRAW FROM COLORADO PRIMARY BALLOT UNLESS TRUMP IS ON IT, CALLS ON GOP OPPONENTS TO JOIN

President Biden arrives for a memorial service for former first lady Rosalynn Carter at Glenn Memorial United Methodist Church at Emory University on Nov. 28, 2023, in Atlanta.

Biden's ties to his home state deepen with wife Jill's roots in Montgomery County and granddaughter Maisy's recent graduation from the University of Pennsylvania.

READ ON THE FOX NEWS APP

On Wednesday, the White House announced that Biden would make his first visit to Philadelphia on Jan. 6.

President Biden walks toward Marine One before leaving the White House on Dec. 8, 2023.

Nathan Benefield, senior vice president of the Commonwealth Foundation  a Pennsylvania-based public policy think tank  said that while Pennsylvania is a swing state, "by all the polling, Joe Biden is unpopular here," and much of it is attributed to the president's "Bidenomics."

"Voters are saying they're not happy with Bidenomics and the economy, and I think that's reflected in the registration and some of the voting patterns," Benefield told Fox News Digital in an interview Wednesday.

"Whether Trump and Biden are at the top of the ticket or not, I do think it's going to be pretty much one of the closest states next year," he said.

Benefield suggested that a shift is occurring among blue-collar Democrats in the state, particularly those in the western region who have historically favored Republicans in presidential elections. This change seems to be permeating to lower-level elections, and it's now becoming evident in their party registration.

TRUMP'S REPUBLICAN WHITE HOUSE RIVALS RALLY AROUND FORMER PRESIDENT IN BALLOT BATTLE

State voter registration data also indicates a significant trend for both parties, revealing that a substantial number of voters are disassociating themselves from party affiliation. Specifically, 20,908 Democrats and 18,927 Republicans chose to leave their respective party memberships.

In 2020, Biden defeated Trump by 1.2 percentage points to reclaim the state for the Democrats that Trump had flipped in 2016.

Pennsylvania will have 19 electoral votes up for grabs in 2024  down one from 2020  and the latest surveys indicate that Biden is either even with Trump or trailing slightly.

In 2020, Trump lost to Biden in Pennsylvania by just under 80,000 votes.

VOTING EXTENDED IN CONGOLESE ELECTION AMID POLLING DELAYS

Former President Trump speaks at the New York Young Republican Club gala at Cipriani Wall Street on Dec. 9, 2023, in New York City.

Fox News' Paul Steinhauser contributed to this report.





Original article source: Democrats in Biden's home state are leaving for the Republican Party in droves, voter data shows
The house where four University of Idaho students were stabbed to death last November was in the process of being demolished on Thursday morning. Shortly after the murders of Madison Mogen, Kaylee Goncalves, Xana Kernodle, and Ethan Chapin, the homes owners donated it to the university. The school decided to demolish the house, with university President Scott Green issuing a statement earlier this month, saying, It is the grim of the heinous act that took place there. While we appreciate the emotional connection some family members of the victims may have to this house, it is time for its removal and to allow the collective healing of our community to continue. According to CBS2, the defense and prosecution teams involved in the trial of Bryan Kohberger, 28whos been charged with four counts of first degree murderwere allowed to collect last-minute photos and footage. However, CBS News reported that some family members of the UI victims opposed the demolition, with relatives of Kaylee Goncalves arguing that the house has emotional value and is evidence in the case.

The King Road house is coming down. pic.twitter.com/TuUB8JQ970  Alexandra Duggan (Alex) (@dugganreports) December 28, 2023

Read it at CBS2

Read more at The Daily Beast.
Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis is enlisting new help in Iowa as he scrambles to ward off mounting interest in the rival presidential candidacy of former South Carolina Gov. Nikki Haley: One of her former constituents.

South Carolina state Sen. Josh Kimbrell, a deeply conservative lawmaker who has pushed a legislative agenda in his state similar to contentious laws championed by DeSantis in Florida, will join the Republican governor for stops in Iowa on Thursday and Friday, where he intends to share a perspective from the Palmetto State on its former leader, he told CNN.

I know Governor Haley, and I have no personal ill will against her, but I cant point to any significant conservative accomplishment in her tenure as governor and I have found it difficult to nail down where she stands on positions, Kimbrell said in a phone interview Wednesday. I know what she actually did versus what she said she did.

Kimbrells arrival in a state about 1,000 miles from his own further underscores the urgency from DeSantis campaign to slow Haleys encroachment with the January 15 Iowa caucuses less than three weeks away, while he still contends with former President Donald Trumps enduring support in the Hawkeye State.

Amid the flurry of campaign activity, a closing pitch for DeSantis is also taking shape. In recent interviews and campaign appearances, he has likened himself to a change agent  a framing that suggests not only moving on from President Joe Biden, but also from the perceived shortcomings of the Trump era and the so-called establishment Republicans in Washington he claims are pulling for Haley.

In a video his campaign recently released, clips of DeSantis on the campaign trail play over audio from his CNN town hall where he calls for a series of populist measures, including term limits for members of Congress and spreading federal agencies across the country. A source with knowledge of the campaign said DeSantis will continue to articulate that message in the final weeks before the Iowa caucuses.

I want real, serious structural change, DeSantis says in the video.

Iowa caucusgoers will ultimately decide whether these efforts are the last gasps of a campaign running out of Hail Marys or the final moments before a resurgence that DeSantis most committed supporters and advisers still believe is in the range of outcomes.

But that the Florida governor is in this position at all is indicative of a candidate who failed in 2023 to rise to the lofty expectations set by his commanding 2022 reelection victory and has instead limped to the starting line of a Republican primary he once hoped to be leading by now.

A year ago, DeSantis spent the days after Christmas putting the finishing touches on a second inaugural address intended to reintroduce him to Republicans eager to turn the page on Trump. His political allies, meanwhile, plotted a conservative agenda for the state legislative session that could double as a platform for a presidential campaign. His administration announced an investigation into a holiday drag show performance  a continuation of the cultural battles that would provide fodder for his White House bid.

Now, heading into the final days before New Years, DeSantis is confronting a Republican electorate stubbornly loyal to the former president. His past policy victories havent inspired the anticipated groundswell of conservative enthusiasm. And taking on woke no longer appears to be a top priority of voters far more focused on international strife, immigration and the economy.

Nor is Trump his only obstacle. After spending months trying to narrow the gap with the former president in Iowa, DeSantis enters the final stretch increasingly focused on the rising threat from Haley as well, forcing the Florida Republican into a two-front battle that has complicated his efforts to turn the Hawkeye State into a springboard toward the nomination.

The pivot toward Haley has come at some cost. In lieu of attacking Trump on television, a super PAC supporting DeSantis White House bid, Fight Right, is instead pounding the airwaves with ads targeting Haleys record as governor. A source with understanding of the super PACs strategy said there are currently no plans to run ads against Trump but added that could change.

Haleys campaign dismissed the arrival of Kimbrell  who was elected to the state Senate in 2020, after she had left office in Columbia  and touted her signing of legislation to enact voter ID laws and crack down on illegal immigration. Kimbrell as a lawmaker has pushed legislation to restrict transgender children from accessing gender affirming care, ban most abortions after six weeks and to prohibit state pension investments based on environment, social, governance considerations  mirroring laws DeSantis has passed in Florida.

Heres a quick refresher: Nikki is a conservative outsider who took on the establishment to put votes on the record, said her campaign spokeswoman Nachama Soloveichik, before adding. Its sad to see Ron DeSantis stooping to such desperate, lame attacks, but nothing will save his dying campaign.

Kimbrell and Haley have previous history from when she was governor and he hosted a Christian talk radio show. In 2014, Kimbrell was arrested on a charge of criminal sexual conduct in a case involving his son. The charge, which he said at the time came during a bitter custody battle with his ex-wife, was later dropped for insufficient evidence.

The episode was widely covered by local media and Haley distanced herself from the embattled radio host after previously counting him among her supporters, Kimbrell acknowledged on Wednesday. Asked about his past with Haley, Kimbrell said, I dont hold a grudge on something from 10 years ago.

Im more concerned about her inconsistencies in policies, he said.

Surveys of South Carolina Republicans suggest Kimbrells opinion is far from universal in Haleys home state. While Trump remains ahead of the field there, too, she has consistently polled ahead of DeSantis in South Carolina and 71% of Republicans in the state hold a favorable view of her, according to a November poll from Winthrop University.

Kimbrell is the latest DeSantis ally to join him on the campaign trail amid his December push in the early nominating states. DeSantis and his surrogates, such as US Rep. Chip Roy of Texas and Oklahoma Gov. Kevin Stitt, blanketed Iowa before Christmas and will again starting Thursday. In addition to Kimbrell, DeSantis will be joined in Iowa by the states Republican Gov. Kim Reynolds, whos endorsed him, for an event Friday in Clayton County. US Rep. Thomas Massie of Kentucky, who appeared with DeSantis in Iowa earlier this month, posted on social media that he will visit New Hampshire with DeSantis this weekend.

Additional bodies can help spread the candidates message, but arent as easily controlled by the campaign. That became apparent recently when Massie shared a view of DeSantis chances in Iowa that appeared to contradict the confidence his campaign has publicly projected, telling a McClatchy reporter, I dont think they expect to win Iowa  and certainly not New Hampshire.

But you can shake things out without winning. Youve just got to over-perform and show people that their assumptions were wrong, Massie said.

A super PAC supporting Haley, SFA Inc., immediately seized on Massies remarks as trying to move the goalposts.

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Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis (R) went after fellow GOP candidate Nikki Haley on Thursday over her remarks failing to acknowledge slavery as the cause of the Civil War.

The Florida governor told reporters in Iowa that Haleys explanation for the Civil War was incomprehensible word salad and called her not a candidate thats ready for prime time.

Haleys comments came at a Wednesday event in New Hampshire, where she responded to a voter asking her thoughts on the cause of the Civil War. She answered that the war was about the freedoms of what people could and couldnt do.

When specifically confronted by the voter about slavery, she responded, What do you want me to say about slavery?

DeSantis framed the episode as an example of how Haley isnt ready to be president.

The minute that she faces any type of scrutiny, she tends to cave. And I think that thats what you saw yesterday, he said. Its not that difficult to identify and acknowledge the role slavery played in the Civil War.

Youre going to get asked a lot of tough questions. Thats just the nature of this business, he continued. And I think that she shows time and time again that when the lights get hot, that she wilts under pressure, and that was a good example last night.

Haleys home state of South Carolina, the first state to secede from the U.S. in 1860, specified slavery as the reason for its rebellion in the first paragraph of its declaration of secession.

The comments have brought fire both from Democrats and fellow Republicans. President Biden called out the comments in a Wednesday post on X, the platform formerly known as Twitter, simply responding, It was about slavery.

Haley clarified her remarks early Thursday in a CNN appearance, noting that of course the Civil War was about slavery.

The controversy has the potential to dampen Haleys rise in New Hampshire, where she became the first candidate to approach former President Trumps wide polling lead. The Granite State primary is Jan. 23.

DeSantis has also been in hot water over slavery remarks this year. In July, he supported new Florida education guidelines that claimed that slaves partially benefited from their enslavement.

That policy drew scrutiny from Black leaders nationally, including Vice President Harris, who described the Florida effort as ridiculous and revisionist history.

DeSantis and Haley remain neck and neck for second place in GOP primary polls as the first vote of the primary season nears.

Haley has about 11 percent support in national polls to DeSantiss 10 percent support, according to an average of polls maintained by The Hill and Decision Desk HQ. But both candidates are far behind former President Trump, who stands at 63 percent support in polls.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill.
ANKENY, Iowa  Republican presidential candidate Ron DeSantis slammed opponent Nikki Haley for giving "a really incomprehensible word salad" answer when she was asked in New Hampshire what caused the Civil War.

During a Wednesday town hall in Berlin, New Hampshire, a voter asked Haley, What was the cause of the United States Civil War?

Well, dont come with an easy question or anything," Haley responded. "I mean, I think the cause of the Civil War was basically how the government was going to run. The freedoms and what people could and couldnt do.

Haley never mentioned slavery in her answer, drawing backlash from her Republican and Democratic rivals. On Thursday, Haley said "of course the Civil War was about slavery," and she suggested the question came from a Democratic plant in the audience.

DeSantis was quick to criticize Haley at an Ankeny campaign stop Thursday morning. He told reporters she is "not a candidate that's ready for prime time."

"The minute that she faces any kind of scrutiny, she tends to cave," DeSantis said. "I think that that's what you saw yesterday. Not that difficult to identify and acknowledge the role slavery played in the Civil War, and yet that seemed to be something that was really difficult."

DeSantis claimed the abolition of slavery was a "partisan achievement."

"The Republican Party was founded to put a stop to the growth of slavery in this country. And the abolition of slavery was  and to this day, remains  the party's top achievement," he said.

But DeSantis faced his own gauntlet of questions about slavery and the legacy of the Civil War.

A reporter asked about a curriculum standard approved in Florida that "includes how slaves developed skills which, in some instances, could be applied for their personal benefit." The language earned Florida and DeSantis scorn, including from U.S. Sen. Tim Scott, who at the time was a presidential candidate before later dropping out.

DeSantis cut off the reporter's question about the standard: "That's a fake narrative," he said. "We've now had a whole semester that's happened. Have you seen examples of (teachers) saying what the media was saying this summer? No."

DeSantis said the standard was "bastardized" intentionally to "create a narrative."

"Florida's standards were written largely by African-Americans, and they were accurate, and any of those narratives are false," he said.

Another reporter asked DeSantis to comment on Jacksonville, Florida, Mayor Donna Deegan's removal of a Confederate monument.

"I'm opposed to taking down statues," DeSantis said. "The idea that we're going to just erase history is wrong."

USA Today contributed reporting.

Katie Akin is a politics reporter for the Register. Reach her at kakin@registermedia.com. Follow her on Twitter at @katie_akin.

This article originally appeared on Des Moines Register: Ron DeSantis slams Nikki Haley for omitting slavery as Civil War cause
In November, Republican presidential candidate Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis netted what seemed to be a key evangelical endorsement in the run-up to the Iowa caucuses -- now just less than three weeks away.

Bob Vander Plaats, president of the FAMiLY Leader organization and a major evangelical figure in the Hawkeye State, endorsed the governor in an interview on Fox News, calling DeSantis a "bold and courageous leader."

Whether or not Vander Plaats' endorsement makes a significant difference for DeSantis, it ties into a constant theme on the campaign trail: DeSantis, former President Donald Trump, and other candidates have been trying to court evangelical voters throughout their campaigns.

PHOTO: President and CEO of The Family Leader, Bob Vander Plaats speaks at a Never Back Down campaign event at The Thunderdome in Newton, Iowa, Dec. 2, 2023. (Vincent Alban/Reuters)

Employing religious rhetoric on the campaign trail is not a new phenomenon.

What's novel about how Christianity is being discussed this election cycle, some political scientists told ABC News, is how candidates talk about policy and "culture war" ideas to appeal to Christian and evangelical voters -- a critical voting bloc in Iowa and elsewhere in the country.

Specifically, some candidates focus on pushing back against what the candidates say is a growing anti-Christian sentiment and hostility toward religion and religious views.

Some political observers and religious freedom advocates expressed concern that the candidates' religious language, such as how they will be fighters and warriors for Christians, can also appeal to those who espouse Christian nationalism, which favors Christianity over other religions, conflates being Christian with being American and is often linked to diverse attitudes on race.

Such language is exclusionary and has potential policy implications for governance, they say.

But some conservatives dismiss these concerns -- with the DeSantis campaign calling them "partisan nonsense."

Courting evangelical voters

Voters have heard Christian and evangelical messages across airwaves and during campaign events this election cycle.

"I'm in a group that for years have been praying that God would raise up good godly statesmen, as opposed to politicians ... and we're seeing the answers to those prayers, and many, most of these people, I'm glad to hear what they believe," Candy Twedt, an evangelical voter from Iowa, told ABC News at the 2023 FAMiLY Leadership Summit in Des Moines, Iowa, in June.

DeSantis told attendees at the Pray Vote Stand Summit in September, "I'm sometimes asked about the role that faith plays in my leadership as governor ... I don't know how you could be a leader without having faith in God."

PHOTO: Republican presidential candidate, Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis, shakes hands with a guest during a campaign stop at a diner, Oct. 24, 2023, in Londonderry, N.H. (Charles Krupa/AP)

MORE: What role Speaker Mike Johnson's religious views play in his politics

The governor also framed his Christian bona fides in a practical way: "As your president, I'm going to get to work on restoring full religious freedom in this country. First step is to ensure that we nominate and place constitutionalist judges on the courts of appeal and on the U.S. Supreme Court. My nominees will reflect the jurisprudence of justices like Clarence Thomas and Samuel Alito Jr.," he said. DeSantis did not name any specific rulings from Thomas and Alito. Both have been praised by religious conservatives.

"No president has ever fought for Christians as hard as I have, and I will keep on fighting for Christians as hard as I can for four more years in the White House," Trump said during a speech at the same summit.

In a rally in Waterloo, Iowa, in December, Trump alleged that the U.S. government was targeting Christians, citing a Republican-chaired House Judiciary Committee interim staff report that claimed the FBI mishandled domestic extremism investigations into Catholics, and said he would put a stop to it: "When I'm back in the White House, never again will your government be used to target Christians and other religious believers. Upon taking office, I will create a new federal task force on fighting anti-Christian bias to be led by a fully reformed Department of Justice that's fair and equitable ... They are going after Christians in America."

MORE: Trump, who mocks Biden's age and gaffes, deals with blunders of his own

The former president has repeatedly framed himself as a defender of Christians. In September, at a summit run by the Concerned Women for America conservative Christian action group, Trump used stark language. "This election will decide whether America will be ruled by Marxist, fascist, and communist tyrants who want to smash our Judeo-Christian heritage, or whether America will be saved by God-fearing, freedom-loving patriots just like you," he said.

PHOTO: Former President and Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump addresses the Pray Vote Stand Summit, organized by the Family Research Council in Washington, Sept. 15, 2023. (Jonathan Ernst/Reuters,FILE)

During other election cycles, candidates also spoke to evangelical themes and campaigned for their vote. In 2008, both then-Democratic candidate Barack Obama and then-Republican candidate John McCain courted evangelical voters, and Obama's campaign made direct efforts to reach out to faith leaders.

In 2004, President George W. Bush campaigned for reelection on "moral issues" and evangelical vernacular, just a few years after religion became more prominent in politics after the events of Sept. 11, 2001.

While not erasing or minimizing presidential candidates' genuine religious beliefs, some experts pointed to how the use of evangelical ideas while campaigning has shifted in more recent years.

"With what we've seen with the Trump administration, and since then, it really has reshaped how the right talks about faith ... pushing for some of those cultural war issues that they believe the evangelical voting bloc was interested in," Andrew Whitehead, associate professor of sociology at Indiana University-Purdue University Indianapolis, told ABC News.

PHOTO: Republican presidential candidate Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis speaks during a campaign event at The Vault on Oct. 05, 2023 in Tampa, Fla. (Joe Raedle/Getty Images)

"I think we've seen more explicit and then implicit ways of invoking religion, and specifically Christianity, within these conversations ... They are choosing to invoke some God talk, which is a little implicit," Allyson Shortle, associate professor of political science at the University of Oklahoma, told ABC News.

But separately from evangelical voters as a group or individuals, Shortle said that how candidates present issues may also be appealing to those who express Christian nationalist ideas.

Candidates are then speaking in a way "that only other religious Christians or Christian nationalists will pick up on the language of mobilization there to protect society for Christianity," Shortle said, adding that some policy proposals and issues candidates campaign on can also implicitly support Christian nationalist messages.

"The candidates are hard at work to demonstrate their allegiance to white Christian nationalists," Rachel Laser, CEO of the Americans United for Separation of Church and State advocacy group, argued in an interview with ABC News.

Christian nationalism is an ideology that experts define as a movement and viewpoint that sees America as a Christian nation -- as opposed to a nation for people of all religions -- and that to be a true American is to be Christian.

Both advocates and critics of Christian nationalism have pointed to how it could be utilized in policy and government contexts, such as to inform legislation about abortion access, given how abortion is a key issue for the religious right.

Response from evangelicals

With evangelical voters in Iowa, DeSantis still lags behind Trump. A December Des Moines Register, NBC News and Mediacom poll of Iowan voters, for instance, found that 51% of white evangelicals who are likely Republican caucus voters in the Hawkeye State support Trump, while only 26% support DeSantis.

MORE: Ramaswamy says he's not 'pastor in chief' as some GOP voters question his religion

Could Bob Vander Plaats' endorsement make a difference for DeSantis, at least in Iowa, among evangelicals?

In past years, Vander Plaats' nod has proven critical in Iowa, although not as influential elsewhere. He supported candidates who went on to win the caucus in past elections, including Mike Huckabee in 2008, Rick Santorum in 2012 and Ted Cruz in 2016. All three, though, did not go on to win the Republican nomination for president.

The poll released in December from the Des Moines Register, Mediacom and NBC News also showed more than half of likely Iowa Republican caucusgoers feeling that his endorsement would not matter.

MORE: Trump is stepping up his advertising in Iowa, where governor has backed DeSantis

PHOTO: In this April 12, 2015, file photo, a cross is illuminated on the exterior of the New Hope Church in Adel, Iowa. (Justin Sullivan/Getty Images, FILE)

Why has Trump courted evangelical voters so effectively nationally?

Trump has "gone out of his way" to work on issues that matter to evangelicals, "and he says he will advocate for them," and then delivered on promises such as appointing an anti-abortion access justice to the Supreme Court, Khyati Joshi, a professor of education at Farleigh Dickinson University and an expert on religion and race, told ABC News.

"So many Americans really are one-issue voters ... And this was their issue. And this is what he said he would do [in his previous campaign], in a way that was so plainspoken ... The others weren't saying it that way," Joshi said.

The success of Republican candidates with evangelical voters contrasts to an extent with the Democratic side of the race for 2024. President Joe Biden is Catholic and speaks often about his faith, but Biden and the Democratic Party have historically not attracted as many evangelical voters. Exit polling for the 2020 elections found that only 24% of white evangelical or born-again Christian voters chose Biden, while 76% chose Trump.

PHOTO: President Joe Biden waves as he attends church at St Edmond Catholic Church, Oct. 21, 2023, in Rehoboth Beach, Del. (Kent Nishimura/AFP via Getty Images)

MORE: North Dakota Gov. Doug Burgum drops out of 2024 presidential race

Eric McDaniel, co-director of the Politics of Race and Ethnicity Lab at the University of Texas at Austin, told ABC News this is due to historical trends, how Republicans have aligned themselves with Christian voters, and how Democrats have struggled with messaging on religion in a way that seems sincere to evangelicals.

Republicans have often painted Democrats as anti-religion, but additionally, "I think there is an inability on the part of Democrats to effectively talk about religion in a way that is sincere ... They need a 'come to Jesus moment,' like, 'OK, how are we actually going to talk about this?'" McDaniel said.

Some warn about Christian nationalism

Advocates and experts say the same language that candidates use to speak to evangelicals also echoes Christian nationalist ideas, which are not specific to any one denomination of Christianity.

This is separate from examining specific groups of voters; ideas shared by Christian nationalism are not specific to any one denomination of Christianity. The Pew Research Center found in 2022 that people across various Christian groups believe the U.S. "should be a Christian nation today."

Trump's and DeSantis' rhetoric has sparked these concerns in the past, as well. The Orlando Sentinel reported on the Florida governor's references when campaigning in 2022 to "put on the full armor of God," which is a quote from the New Testament's Epistle to the Ephesians.

DeSantis' office told the Sentinel in 2022 that "the governor is a Christian and there is absolutely no issue with him sharing his values or utilizing them in his decision-making as a leader." DeSantis has continued to invoke the line while campaigning in 2023.

"The focus of the left and the media on the idea of 'Christian Nationalism' is complete partisan nonsense. Ron DeSantis is a Christian, defends Christian values, and his faith certainly guides him in his leadership," Bryan Griffin, press secretary for DeSantis' campaign, told ABC News in a statement.

"The United States of America is a country founded on Judeo-Christian values. These values instructing our leaders and government isn't 'exclusionary' ... but they are central to America and its founding principles. Our society and country are far better off because of these values and with leaders at the helm who hold them, like Ron DeSantis," the statement read.

The Trump campaign did not respond to a request for comment from ABC News on the experts' claims about his rhetoric sometimes echoing Christian nationalist ideas.

The issues at play with Christian nationalism are not just about religion, experts told ABC News. Joshi and Laser both emphasized that race cannot be divorced from any discussion of Christian nationalism and that the term "white Christian nationalism" may be more accurate.

That ideology is "saying America is for white and Christian people, and the rest of you go away, or just join the group," Joshi told ABC News, adding that non-white candidates can also invoke white Christian nationalism.

PHOTO: Holy Bible in a church. (STOCK PHOTO/Getty Images)

On the campaign trail, how candidates discuss Christian and evangelical ideas matters, Laser argued.

"Candidates need to be careful to communicate that they will be governing from the standpoint of American law and values, and not their personal religious views," Laser said.

Editors Note: This has been updated for clarity.

ABC News' Hannah Demissie, Libby Cathey, Will McDuffie, Abby Cruz, Gabriella Abdul-Hakim, Kendall Ross, Beatrice Peterson and Isabella Murray contributed to this report.

DeSantis, Trump court Iowa's evangelical voters, promising Christian-focused policy originally appeared on abcnews.go.com
Jacinta Nampijinpa Price was confident and composed when she appeared at Australias National Press Club to explain why she, a rising political star who is an Indigenous Australian, opposed a referendum to expand Indigenous rights.

I think we need to move away from separatism, she told the audience. That is what has caused this condition, the racism of low expectations, that treats Indigenous Australians differently as opposed to maintaining standards for all Australians.

When a journalist asked whether she believed colonization continued to have a negative impact on Australias Indigenous people, Price said no and listed the pluses of running water and readily available food.

The audience included her Warlpiri mother; her father, a white Australian of Anglo-Celtic heritage; and her husband, a Scottish- born musician.

Read more: An Australian referendum to create an Indigenous advocacy committee to Parliament has failed

Another journalist persisted: Didnt she believe that Australias Indigenous people suffered from inter-generational trauma?

Well, I guess that would mean that those of us whose ancestors [were] dispossessed of their country and brought here as convicts in chains are also suffering from inter-generational trauma, she said, referring to her fathers heritage and Australias history of penal colonies. So, I should be doubly suffering from inter-generational trauma.

Her deadpan delivery at the September gathering sparked guffaws from the audience. Indigenous officials and representatives, on the other hand, called her rejection a betrayal. Noel Pearson, an Aboriginal lawyer and land rights activist and a prominent supporter of the referendum, says Price was caught up in a redneck celebrity vortex.

Australians were about to vote on changing the constitution to recognize Aboriginal people and establish an Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Voice, an advisory body that would provide nonbinding advice to Parliament. Political analysts said Prices conviction that its passage would divide the country along racial lines and be a step backward for Indigenous Australians contributed to the referendums defeat earlier in the fall.

Her impact was to simply remind a large group of Australians who were not engaged with the referendum campaign that not all Aboriginal people agreed with the proposed amendment, said Kosmos Samaras, a director of RedBridge, a political consulting firm. The yes camp failed to connect to outer suburban and regional or rural Australians.

Prices performance has prompted suggestions that one day she could be prime minister.

A woman votes Oct. 14, 2023, in Australia's first referendum in a generation aimed at tackling Indigenous disadvantage by enshrining in the constitution a new advocacy committee. The referendum failed. (Rick Rycroft / Associated Press)

Australians feel that Jacinta is speaking to them at their level, not in political speak, said Michele Levine, chief executive of the market research firm Roy Morgan. She speaks the truth plainly and logically and stands for the middle ground. Despite being from a major political party, many Australians see her as an anti-establishment, refreshingly honest figure who says what they are feeling.

::

Today Australia prides itself as a progressive, multicultural society , but the image is at odds with the poor treatment of its Indigenous population, often described as the worlds oldest continuous culture.

European settlement, starting in 1788, had a devastating affect on the Indigenous people of Australia, leading to a legacy of disproportionately high rates of poverty, incarceration, suicide and low life expectancy. Abuse and mistreatment were commonplace; children were forcibly removed from their families as a policy.

The countrys White Australia policy to limit non-British migration to Australia was enshrined in law in 1901 and only finally abolished in 1973.

Read more: In surprising move, Facebook blocks news access in Australia

Indigenous Australians now number about 900,000  3.8% of Australias population  but they received the right to vote only in 1962. Unlike other British dominions, including Canada and New Zealand, Australia never forged a treaty with its original inhabitants. Attempts to improve infant mortality, life expectancy and employment have sagged despite government funding. Those failures were, in part, to have been addressed by the advisory board.

In 2022, when Prime Minister Anthony Albanese unveiled the referendum, polls suggested two-thirds would vote in favor. But Albanese, a member of the Labor Party, didnt attempt to secure the support of the main opposition conservative party, the Liberals.

Peter Dutton, leader of the Liberals, said the party backed the constitutional recognition of Indigenous Australians but not the Voice. In April, Dutton named Price, a senator for less than a year, as the Liberal spokesperson for Indigenous affairs. In the next six months, she pressed home her message of all Australians belonging, whether weve been here for 60,000 years or six months.

When the counting was over on Oct. 15, more than 60% of Australians had voted no.

Weeks later, Prices campaign comments continue to reverberate, prompting Indigenous journalist Stan Grant to say: I give thanks for running water. Thats the measure of history, we have running water now. Thank you, colonization.

Jon Altman, emeritus professor of economics and anthropology at the Australian National University said that, at times, Price says things to provoke and overcorrect.

Read more: Their stolen land in Orange County was given back. Now theyre ready to heal

There have been some benefits of colonization, and many, many costs, and any serious cost-benefit analysis would show that the negatives outweigh the positives for many, he said. But like other conservative First Nations identifying people who can also emphasise their mixed ethnicity, she is just looking to break the doom-and-gloom-narrative and emphasize that there is plenty of Indigenous success like herself.

::

Price, who describes herself as a Warlpiri/Celtic Australian woman, has been playing to an audience for years. At 26, she starred in one of the first television shows designed for Indigenous children, Yambas Playtime. The show was so popular it was adapted into a roadshow to press home health messages to children in the Northern Territory, where about 30% of the residents are Indigenous.

In 2015, she followed her mother, Bess Price, a teacher and former government minister for the Northern Territory government, into politics, becoming a councillor for the Alice Springs Town Council and, later, a deputy mayor. She won a Senate seat representing the Northern Territory in 2022.

Like her mother, she has been outspoken about the need to combat domestic and sexual violence in Indigenous communities. The Northern Territory has the highest rates of domestic violence in the country, and Indigenous women are 13 times more likely to die at the hands of a violent partner than non-Indigenous Australians.

My vision, my hope, my goal, is that we can effect change that will see women, children and other victims in these communities become as safe as any of those living in Sydney, Melbourne or any other Australian city, Price said in her maiden speech to Parliament.

She likes to trace her political legacy to Australias first Indigenous lawmaker, Neville Bonner , a member of the Liberal Party who became a senator in 1971. In the 70s, as the movement to give Aboriginal Australians land rights gained momentum, Bonner was ridiculed and derided as an Uncle Tom by some activists.

But Price says his philosophy of working within the system paved the way for the 11 lawmakers of Indigenous descent who are currently members of Parliament, which consists of 151 members of the House of Representatives and 76 senators.

Read more: Indigenous people hope removal of dams will heal Klamath River ecosystem

The next countrywide election is scheduled for 2025. A Dec. 12 poll showed Price in second place among the most trusted politicians in Australia, behind Foreign Minister Penny Wong and in place of Albanese. And her emphasis on avoiding low expectations continues.

During her appearance at the press club, Price said, "If we keep telling Aboriginal people that they are victims, we are effectively removing their agency, and giving them the expectation [that] somebody else is responsible for their lives," the 42-year-old lawmaker told the audience. "That is the worst possible thing you can do to any human being, ... tell them they're a victim without agency.

Petrakis is a special correspondent.

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This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times.
Students head to class on the second day of the semester at San Jacinto College's North Campus in Houston in this 2014 file photo. Credit: Michael Stravato for The Texas Tribune

DENTON  When Texas college students return to their campuses after the winter break, theyll discover the lights are still off in their campuses diversity offices.

Thats because a new law that outlaws such work at the states higher education institutions goes into effect, Jan. 1.

Another 29 laws also will go into effect in the new year that aim to change the economy, tax codes and the criminal justice system.

Many of the new laws seek to streamline tax codes and update property appraisal processes, while others touch on more unique issues like e-cigarette usage in minors and commemorative state license plates. Here are some of the laws:

Dissolving diversity, equity and inclusion efforts at public universities: Senate Bill 17 requires public universities to end so-called diversity, equity and inclusion work. Universities will also be unable to offer training on diversity and inclusion for its faculty and staff, or require diversity statements in hiring processes. Universities must also confirm to the Legislature between legislative sessions that they are in full compliance.

[As Texas bans diversity and equity offices at public colleges, Rice Universitys inclusion efforts march on]

While the law is set to go into effect Jan. 1, many of Texas public universities have already begun ramping down their DEI practices and programs after the governors chief of staff sent a memo in February calling DEI hiring initiatives illegal. Since the laws passing in May, general counsels for the universities have released varying levels of guidance throughout the fall semester on how to continue to support a diverse student body while staying within the boundaries of the law.

In addition to the dissolution of DEI offices, universities have also shut down university-led student support programs as concern mounts as to whether they also violate the law, but some colleges are looking for workarounds. The University of North Texas president Neal Smatresk announced in an email to students Dec. 1 that a new Center for Belonging and Engagement would be established to continue to promote inclusivity as the schools multicultural center and pride alliance close.

The laws restrictions do not apply to class instruction, materials needed for federal grant applications or student organizations on campuses, but multiple university officials have said the law has made hiring new faculty more difficult.

Streamlining tax exemptions for elderly and inheritances: Several new laws loosen requirements on reappraisals for spouses and children who inherit property and switch certain appraisal processes. Senate Bill 1381 allows certain tax exemptions on homes to carry over to a persons spouse after they die if they are 65 years or older, and House Bill 4077 removes the need for seniors to apply for homestead exemptions, instead making it the responsibility of the local appraisal district. House Bill 2354 will make it so if a landowner leaves property to their spouse, the land will not be considered as having transferred ownership for tax purposes.

Diverting minors charged with Class C misdemeanors: House Bill 3186 creates an alternative to fines for minors charged with class C misdemeanors, such as petty theft or possession of alcohol, instead allowing them to be enrolled in diversion plans designed to support them. The law outlines several options for programs, ranging from community service to mandatory mental health treatment, and requires justices and municipal courts to adopt their own plan outlines. It also allows courts to hire a youth diversion coordinator to help track program participants. A child is only eligible for the programs once every 365 days, and is ineligible if the state attorney objects or the child has already unsuccessfully participated in a diversion program. A child can only be diverted from criminal prosecution with written consent from their parents.

Expanding exemptions for charitable organizations: Several laws going into effect will provide tax relief for charitable organizations, especially those that are investing in new low-income housing. House Bill 1058 gives tax credits to those that have investments in low-income housing, and House Bill 4645 allows organizations to receive tax exemptions on construction of low-income housing, even if they are leasing the land the construction takes place on. House Bill 456 also exempts charitable organizations from taxes on certain interests of minerals on properties they own.

Creating new standard for Homeowner Association fees: House Bill 614 requires homeowner association boards to adopt standardized enforcement policies that detail how they enforce fines  including how much the fines are. It requires a list of potential violations that HOAs must have displayed on their website.

Restricting advertising e-cigarettes to minors: House Bill 4758 makes it a class B misdemeanor to sell e-cigarette products that use images of food, celebrities or cartoon characters on their packaging, in an effort to slow vaping use among minors. More than two million K-12 students use e-cigarette products nationwide, according to the Food and Drug Administration.

Helping doctors understand patient insurance plans: House Bill 4500 will require insurance providers to create internet portals health care providers can access to determine what kinds of insurance plans their patients have in order to streamline the insurance process. The secure portal would tell physicians whether the provider is covered by the patients insurance and the patients copay, deductible and coinsurance where applicable.

Disclosure: University of North Texas has been a financial supporter 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.
LANSING  A divided Michigan redistricting commission sank into dysfunction Thursday, unable to make a decision on whether to appeal a recent court ruling that struck down as unconstitutional 13 of the metro Detroit legislative maps it drew.

One commissioner cried "sabotage" after three others did not return after a closed session that lasted more than two hours. Those absences, along with recent resignations, left the 13-member commission without a quorum and unable to pass a motion. The meeting was held virtually, over Zoom.

All three of the commissioners who were present at the start of Thursday's meeting but did not return after the closed session, held to decide whether to appeal the court ruling, had voiced opposition to appealing the ruling during the public session. They were Republican commissioners Rhonda Lange and Erin Wagner and Independent commissioner Rebecca Szetela.

Time is short to complete district maps

Lange and Wagner both said they were called away by emergencies, while Szetala, an attorney, said she had pressing legal work to take care of, commission Executive Director Edward Woods III said.

Some other commissioners weren't buying all of those stories.

"They pretty much sabotaged this meeting, on purpose," said Independent commissioner Richard Weiss.

Another independent commissioner, Anthony Eid, called the absences "a delay tactic, at a minimum."

Time is tight to finalize maps before the 2024 election, and any decision on an appeal, which would go to the U.S. Supreme Court, would need to be made quickly. The commission is next scheduled to meet on Jan. 11.

On Dec. 21, a three-judge federal court panel struck down a significant portion of the commission's map-drawing work.

The Michigan Independent Citizens Redistricting Commission meets to vote on new congressional and legislative districts for the next decade in Lansing on Dec. 28, 2021.

In response to a lawsuit brought by Detroit voters, the court ruled that 13 state legislative maps running through the majority-Black city are unconstitutional because race predominated in Michigan's first-ever citizen-led mapping process. The judge said the maps were drawn in violation of the Equal Protection Clause of the U.S. Constitution, which prohibits drawing district lines on the basis of race. Under the ruling, the maps must be redrawn and no more elections can be held under the current lines.

At the urging of attorney David Fink, commissioners voted 8-3 to go into closed session to hear legal advice about how to proceed. A closed session requires a two-thirds vote, so the eight "yes" votes were the minimum number needed.

Before moving to closed session, several commissioners expressed their opinions on whether to file an appeal. That was against the advice of Fink, who said anything said could potentially be used as an admission in the legal fight.

'An insult to the Black voters in Detroit'

Accepting legal advice during an open session would restrict what the commission's lawyers would be able to say, and holding a legal discussion in public would be like the commission playing poker with only its cards dealt face up, while its legal opponents keep theirs hidden, Fink said.

Commissioner Steven Lett, a semiretired attorney who sits as an independent, said during the public session that the commission should file an appeal and also request a stay of the recent ruling, which would leave the current maps in place until the legal case is resolved.

Lange said she is "adamantly opposed" to an appeal. "I think the court got the ruling right," Lange said.

Szetela, who testified during a recent federal trial in Kalamazoo that the commission's map-drawing was "100% about race," said she is also opposed to appealing and questioned what the grounds for an appeal would be. The panel made "pretty robust factual findings," which an appellate court would be reluctant to overturn, she said. Szetela expressed concern about the cost of continued litigation, saying the commission has already spent over $5 million on legal fees, much of it related to the current case.

Appealing the ruling "is kind of an insult to the Black voters in Detroit," Szetela said. "I'd rather just see us redraw maps and be done with the litigation."

Republican Commissioner Erin Wagner said she agreed an appeal would be "a big disservice to the people of Detroit."

Dustin Witjes, a Democrat who resigned from the commission Dec. 20, used the public comment section of the meeting to urge his former colleagues to "appeal and appeal hard."

Bruce Adelson, the voting rights attorney who provided advice to the commission during the mapping process, gave notice Wednesday that he is resigning effective Friday, Woods said.

It's not clear what role the commission will have in drawing new maps.

Sherry Gay-Dagnogo, a former state lawmaker who is a spokeswoman for the Detroit plaintiffs, said at a Wednesday news conference the court should appoint an expert attorney known as a "special master" to assist with drawing the new lines.

"We can't depend on the commission," she said at the news conference in Detroit, a video of which she posted on Facebook.

The Michigan Independent Citizens Redistricting Commission, created as a result of a 2018 vote to amend the state constitution, is composed of four Democrats, four Republicans, and five commissioners who are not affiliated with either party. Its numbers are down currently, due to a spate of resignations.

Contact Paul Egan: 517-372-8660 or pegan@freepress.com. Follow him on X, formerly known as Twitter, @paulegan4.

This article originally appeared on Detroit Free Press: Redistricting commission unable to act after three members leave early
EL PASO, Texas (KTSM)  A 10-year-old and a 40-year-old were taken to a local hospital with unknown injuries after they were bitten by two dogs resulting in an officer-involved shooting Wednesday, Dec. 27 in El Pasos Lower Valley, according to the El Paso Police.

Police say that at 6:59 p.m. officers responded to the 8500 block of Danube on an animal bite call.

When officers arrived, they learned two dogs had bitten two people. An officer then discharged his weapon at the two dogs while at the scene, according to police.

Police say a 10-year-old and a 40-year-old were taken to a local hospital; however, the severity of injuries is unknown.

Additionally, a KTSM crew member saw Animal Services at the scene.

The Internal Affairs and the Crime Scene Unit are investigating the shooting, according to police.

KTSM is working to gather more information and update this developing story.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KTSM 9 News.
The Department of Justice (DOJ) warned Texas Gov. Greg Abbott (R) it will sue Texas if he enforces a new state law that allows for the prosecution and deportation of migrants entering the U.S. from Mexico, according to a letter obtained by The Hill.

Abbott signed the legislation earlier this month, citing the increased number of migrant encounters at the U.S. southern border.

The law, set to take effect March 5, allows any Texas law enforcement officer to arrest those suspected of illegal entry into the country. Once arrested, migrants must either agree to a judges order to leave the U.S. or face misdemeanor charges of illegal entry.

In a letter addressed to Abbott and obtained by The Hill, Principal Deputy Assistant Attorney General Brian M. Boynton said the Lone Star States new law is unconstitutional and disrupts the federal governments immigration enforcement operations.

The letter referenced a 2012 Supreme Court case  Arizona v. United States  in which the nations highest court ruled that federal immigration laws often trump state law even if there isnt direct conflict.

If Abbott does not inform the DOJ that the state will give up enforcement of the new law by Jan. 3, the United States will pursue all appropriate legal remedies to ensure that Texas does not interfere with the functions of the federal government.

While the federal government is tasked with regulating immigration and controlling international borders, Abbott and other state leaders have argued the Biden administration is not doing enough to address the influx of migrants at the border.

Abbott on Thursday clapped back at the letter on social media.

The Biden Admin. not only refuses to enforce current U.S. immigration laws, they now want to stop Texas from enforcing laws against illegal immigration, the governor wrote on X, formerly Twitter. Ive never seen such hostility to the rule of law in America. Biden is destroying America. Texas is trying to save it.

The new law marks an escalation of Abbotts efforts to lessen the effects of migration into his state. His other tactics have included sending buses and flights of migrants to so-called sanctuary cities, along with authorizing additional border wall construction.

This story was updated at 5:08 p.m.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill.
Police say Armando Benavidess troubled relationship with his ex-wife reached a boiling point just a few days before Christmas when after getting into a fight, he shot her in the leg. Shes okay and expected to recover, police said.

But what police say Benavides did next differs a bit from most violent domestic disputes: He walked a few blocks through his residential West Kendall neighborhood, lifted the lid of a green garbage bin in front of a home, climbed inside and shut the cover.

Then he shot and killed himself.

He steps right into the bin and pulls the lid and then commits suicide, said Miami-Dade Police Spokesman Andre Martin. Its an odd one to be sure.

Police know that, because they watched Benavides climb into the bin and never get out, on surveillance video from a nearby home, according to a Miami-Dade Medical Examiners Office report. The report also said that no one looked inside the garbage bin between the time Benavides got into it and when his body was discovered.

Also found next to Benavides in the bin: the 9 mm gun police say he used to shoot his ex-wife, then himself.

When exactly Benavides killed himself is not known. But police believe he was inside the bin for at least 14 hours before his body was discovered by a solid waste truck driver who dumped the bins belongings into his truck. Martin said the driver, watching a camera attached to the arm that lifts the garbage, believed he saw some type of holiday decorations that needed to be separated.

When he walked behind the truck to take a look inside, he found much more than ornaments and garlands.

He saw the body, said Martin.

History of depression

In the week since Benavides allegedly killed himself, information had been hard to come by. But Wednesday afternoon the Miami-Dade Medical Examiner released a report that shed some light on the Kendall mans antics.

Born in Cuba and living in the Miami area for about three decades, Benavides was an insurance broker. He also, according to an investigator in the Medical Examiners Office, had a history of depression and had been involuntarily committed to hospitals for being mentally unstable at least twice. His ex-wife said he had attempted suicide before and threatened it often.

Benavides, according to the medical examiner, has been known to have outbursts while possessing a firearm.

Also by Wednesday, police had not released any requested paperwork. And attempts to reach the driver of the garbage truck or anyone with Miami-Dade Solid Waste or its union spokesman, went unanswered.

Police say Benavides  who would have turned 55 on Christmas Day  lived in a West Kendall home with a wife he had divorced years earlier and two sons, 17 and 23. The home was about a mile from where his body was found at Southwest 84th Street and 161st Place. A person who answered the door at the home Thursday said no one wanted to talk.

Investigators believe Benavides shot his ex-wife, who hasnt been named, after arguing with her some time during the evening of Dec. 19. Then, just past midnight after walking through the neighborhood, he climbed into the bin and shut the lid. From his home, he had to cross over Kendall Drive, head four blocks south, go another four blocks west, before finding the bin.

Miami-Dade Police are reviewing surveillance video taken from nearby homes to try and fill in some blanks. The truck driver discovered the body the next afternoon at 2:22 p.m. Dec. 20.

By then, police had been searching for Benavides for about 12 hours. He was wanted for the attempted murder of his ex-wife.

Martin said police found the gun Benavides used on himself inside the bin and that it matched forensically with the weapon used in the shooting of his wife.

Neighbors near where the body had been found were shocked. The trash bin belongs to an elderly couple, said Manju Matta, who has lived in the neighborhood for more than 30 years.

Its too close to home, Matta said, standing in her doorway. Its scared me. It happened right in my neighborhood.

Miami Herald Staff Writer Devoun Cetoute contributed to this report.

The Florida Department of Health offers a suicide prevention and crisis lifeline. Call or text 988 or reach out through chat by visiting 988lifeline.org/chat. Veterans can call 988 and press 1.
Dominican designer and artist Andy Martinez has taken the fashion industry to new heights by creating the Cowboy Air Force 1s, a design merging cowboy boots and Nike sneakers similar to the footwear late Louis Vuitton creative director Virgil Abloh released in 2021.

According to mitu, Ablohs Western-inspired LV Trainer Sneaker Boot gained much attraction as the fashion industry prepared for the highly anticipated shoe line. However, Martinezs shoes were debuting around the same time, and he told his social media followers about it.

[Abloh], dropped that boot around the same exact time that I came up with the idea to put out mine. So people were kind of talking about it, he said in a statement provided by mitu. I posted [my shoes] as an homage and a little nod to him, since his boot was coming out and was floating around the internet, so I captioned it, Virgil Abloh Espanol.

View this post on Instagram A post shared by Andy Martinez / &e (@0831am)

The New York native branded the Cowboy Air Force 1s as &e Boot, with the & symbolizing the and in Andy, per mitu. Martinez also hand-makes each design himself at his New York City studio.

Martinez developed an interest in cowboy boots and initially designed them for himself. However, he started brainstorming and found a way to show off the top part of the boot, which usually goes underneath jeans or other types of clothing.

You put your jeans over the boots half the time. So I was like, What would be the best way for me to celebrate the top part of this boot?' he explained.

During the early stages of his design, Martinez recalled being ridiculed in public while wearing the Cowboy Air Force 1 boots.

In the beginning, people were just like, no please dont blah, blah and is this even real?' he said, recalling the times he received mixed reactions to his creation.

Ive had eggs thrown at me from buildings, when people saw me walk by in my boots in the very beginning, he said. Once, [I was inside a store] and a gang of dudes ran in and [started yelling, pointing and laughing]. I was scared for my life.

Martinez did not allow others opinions to stop him from creating his shoe line. He officially announced the Cowboy Air Force 1s unintentionally around the same time as Ablohs Louis Vuitton cowboy boot, according to mitu.

His Virgil Abloh Espanol post quickly gained recognition online as fashion experts and celebrities praised him for shedding light on cowboy-inspired footwear.

All these sneaker pages and all these [cutlure] pages were posting about them, and there was like a spotlight, he said. It was like something that you would pay a PR person for, but I figured out a way to likehack the internet.

While the Cowboy Air Force 1s are his most popular style, Martinez has other designs, including Air Force 1s with the top part of the Converse Chuck Taylor and his recent design with the Air Force 1 attached to the top of an Ugg boot.

As a Dominican born and raised in New York Citys Washington Heights, Martinez said he would have created his unique shoe design whether he lived there or in his native Dominican Republic.

I feel like I would have gotten this idea of whether or not I lived [in New York]. I would have been the same person whether my parents never made the jump to New York and lived in the Dominican Republic, he shared. It would obviously be a little differentor a lot different because of my surroundings but, I feel like I was always the same kid from the jump.
Nicolas Maduro, the leader of Venezuela warned the UK not to get involved in his countrys territorial dispute with Guyana - LEONARDO FERNANDEZ VILORIA/Reuters

Nicolas Maduro, the president of Venezuela, warned Britain dont mess with his country as he deployed thousands of troops in response to a Royal Navy ship sent to the region.

Mr Maduro called Britain a decadent, rotten, ex-empire as he ordered troops into defensive manoeuvres ahead of HMS Trent arriving to support neighbouring Guyana in a territorial row.

Britain said on Sunday that it would divert the patrol vessel to the former British colony, amid the South American countrys simmering dispute over the oil-rich Essequibo region.

A Guyana foreign ministry source, speaking on condition of anonymity, told AFP that the ship was due to arrive on Friday and would be in its territory for less than a week for open sea defence exercises. The ship will not dock in Georgetown.

Mr Maduro said he was launching a joint action of a defensive nature in response to the provocation and threat of the United Kingdom against peace and the sovereignty of our country.

The television broadcast accompanying Mr Maduros announcement showed fighter jets taking part in the Venezuelan exercise, as well as ships and ocean patrol vessels.

The Venezuelan government earlier asked Guyana, in a statement, to take immediate action for the withdrawal of the HMS Trent, and to refrain from involving military powers in the territorial controversy.

Britain has diverted HMS Trent to Guyana - Alex Ceolin/Royal Navy

Mr Maduro claims that Essequibo  which makes up about two-thirds of Guyanas territory  is Venezuelan land. The decades-old dispute has flared since massive oil deposits were found in its waters.

Escalating tensions have raised fears of a potential conflict in the region over the remote area of 160,000 sqkm (62,000 sqm).

Mr Maduro and Irfaan Ali, the president of Guyana, agreed at a meeting earlier this month not to resort to force to settle the dispute.

We believe in diplomacy, in dialogue, in peace, Mr Maduro said.

But no one should threaten Venezuela, no one should mess with Venezuela. We are men of peace, we are a people of peace, but we are warriors and this threat is unacceptable for any sovereign country, he said.

The threat of the decadent, rotten, ex-empire of the United Kingdom is unacceptable.

A UK government spokesman condemned Venezuelas actions

Venezuelas actions against Guyana are unjustified and should cease. The border between both countries was settled in 1899 through international arbitration and we continue to support the territorial integrity of Guyana  an important regional ally and Commonwealth partner.

HMS Trent is currently deployed in the Caribbean and will visit Guyana from tomorrow (29 December) as part of a series of routine engagements in the region.

We are working with partners in the region prevent escalation and continue to monitor the situation closely.

Nicolas Maduro has deployed thousands of troops to the coast - MIRAFLORES PALACE/Reuters

David Rutley, a foreign minister in the UK Government, visited Guyana earlier this month and reiterated sovereign borders must be respected and that London would work internationally to ensure the territorial integrity of Guyana is upheld.

Mr Maduros government held a controversial referendum on Dec 3 in which 95 per cent of voters, according to officials in the hard-Left regime, supported declaring Venezuela the rightful owner of Essequibo.

He has since started legal manoeuvres to create a Venezuelan province in Essequibo and ordered the state oil company to issue licences for extracting crude in the region.

Guyanas Mr Ali has branded the moves a grave threat to international peace and security.

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Donald Trump has claimed the director of Home Alone 2 begged me to make a cameo appearance after Chris Columbus said the former US president bullied his way into the movie.

Trump, 77, also said his cameo helped make the movie a success and that Columbus, 65, was chasing a quick fix of Trump publicity with his recent comments.

Released in 1992, Home Alone 2: Lost in New York tells the story of eight-year-old boy Kevin McCallister (Macaulay Culkin) after he accidentally boards a flight to New York instead of Miami, where his family are spending the Christmas holidays.

After landing in New York, Kevin makes his way to the five-star Plaza Hotel. There, Culkins character bumps into Trump, who owned the Plaza at the time, and asks him for directions to the lobby.

(YouTube)

Down the hall, and to the left, Trump replies.

Explaining how the scene came to be, Columbus said the production team approached the Plaza Hotel for filming permission, which was granted on the condition that Trump was given a small role in the movie.

Trump has now shared his own version of events leading up to the scene being filmed, in a post on his social media platform, Truth Social, writing that Columbus, and others, were begging me to make a cameo appearance in Home Alone 2.

He wrote: They rented the Plaza Hotel in New York, which I owned at the time.

I was very busy, and didnt want to do it. They were very nice, but above all, persistent. I agreed, and the rest is history!

(realDonaldTrump/Truth Social)

He continued: That little cameo took off like a rocket, and the movie was a big success, and still is, especially around Christmas time. People call me whenever it is aired.

Now, however, 30 years later, Columbus (what was his real name?) put out a statement that I bullied myself into the movie.

Nothing could be further from the truth.

He questioned why Columbus put me in, and kept me in the film for over 30 years if they felt bullied, or didnt want me.

Because I was, and still am, great for the movie, thats why! Trump declared. Just another Hollywood guy from the past looking for a quick fix of Trump publicity for himself!

The Independent has contacted Columbuss representatives for comment.

Columbus previously admitted he was surprised by the audiences reaction to seeing Trump in the movie, describing it as the oddest thing.

He told Business Insider: When we screened it for the first time the oddest thing happened: People cheered when Trump showed up on-screen. So I said to my editor, Leave him in the movie. Its a moment for the audience.
By Ange Kasongo

KINSHASA (Reuters) -The government of the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) on Thursday refused opposition calls for a re-run of disputed elections, as the main observer mission reported "numerous irregularities" that could undermine some results.

Provisional results issued so far from the Dec. 20 general election show President Felix Tshisekedi with a commanding lead, but his opponents have demanded they be annulled, citing widespread issues with the roll-out and tabulation of the vote.

The dispute threatens to further destabilise Congo, which is already grappling with a security crisis in eastern areas. Congo is the world's top producer of cobalt and other industrial minerals and metals.

In a new report on the presidential and legislative elections based on feedback from thousands of observers, the independent joint vote-monitoring mission of Congo's powerful Catholic Church and its Protestant Church said it had received 5,402 reports of incidents at polling stations, over 60% of which interrupted voting.

The CENCO-ECC mission "documented numerous irregularities likely to affect the integrity of the results," it said.

In particular, it questioned the legality of the CENI election commission's decision to extend some voting beyond Dec. 20 and reported that voting was not wrapped up fully until Dec. 27.

The team of Moise Katumbi, one of Tshisekedi's main challengers, has ruled out using legal channels to contest results, asserting that state institutions were committed to tipping the vote in the president's favour. The CENI denies this.

He and other opposition heavyweights have called for a re-run, but government spokesperson Patrick Muyaya said on Thursday the opposition should wait until full results are published and challenge them in the courts if necessary.

He said the government was committed to a fair and transparent election process and dismissed Katumbi's threat to hold further protests across the country, after police forcibly broke up a banned election march on Wednesday.

"The contesting of results does not take place in the streets. And we as a government will take steps to ensure that public order is maintained," Muyaya said.

VOTE-COUNT OPACITY

The CENI is due to release further provisional presidential results ahead of a Dec. 31 deadline. The latest showed Tshisekedi well-ahead of his 18 challengers, with just over 76% of around 12.5 million votes counted so far.

The CENI has not yet said how many of Congo's 44 million registered voters participated. It has so far processed the results of 46,422 polling stations out of 75,969, according to its latest tally.

In addition to the election day issues, the opposition and independent observers say the CENI is failing to follow correct procedure for the tabulation and publishing of results.

The CENI did not immediately reply to a request for comment.

Symocel, a local civil society observer mission, wrote a letter to the CENI on Dec. 26 to flag reports from several provinces of CENI agents mishandling sensitive election materials and conducting election operations outside official centres.

"The rate of this phenomenon ... is so high and could irreversibly distort the results of the elections that your institution is gradually announcing," it said.

Symocel's coordinator Luc Lutala confirmed the letter's authenticity on Wednesday and told Reuters "there are as many problems with the election's roll-out as with the counting of the vote".

In its report, the CENCO-ECC mission urged the CENI only to publish results based on correctly consolidated tallies from local centres.

(Writing by Anait Miridzhanian and Alessandra PrenticeEditing by Frances Kerry, Alexandra Hudson and Rosalba O'Brien)
Dr. Katharine Roxanne Grawe, known to her online followers and patients as "Dr. Roxy," had her license to practice medicine permanently revoked by the State Medical Board of Ohio in July.

In the five months since Dr. Katharine Roxanne Grawe was stripped of her medical license, more has come out about the plastic surgeon who became internet famous for live-streaming operations.

Following Grawe's downfall, The Dispatch delved deeper into her backstory and career with its podcast "Roxy: Rise and Fall of the TikTok Doc." The podcast, which debuted Dec. 11, chronicled Grawe's early days as a resident through her peak as a TikTok star and her eventual undoing.

In the process, the podcast unearthed several details about Grawe's education, her early days as a plastic surgeon and the patients she operated on.

Here are five things we learned from the podcast's original episodes and our follow-up episode.

How did 'Dr. Roxy' come to the Columbus area?

Grawe's arrival in central Ohio was decades in the making.

She was born in San Diego, California, in 1978 and eventually left the West Coast to attend college and medical school in Texas. Grawe earned a bachelor's degree from Southern Methodist University and then graduated from the University of Texas Medical Branch in Galveston, Texas, according to medical board records and her LinkedIn profile.

She came to Ohio through her medical residency at Ohio State University.

After Grawe completed her residency in 2010, she stayed in the Columbus area. She opened Roxy Plastic Surgery in 2012, according to records from the State Medical Board of Ohio.

What did 'Dr. Roxy' do before opening her practice?

Grawe worked for Mount Carmel Health before striking out on her own. Her LinkedIn profile says she served as the health system's medical director of breast services.

Some of Grawe's patients who spoke to The Dispatch said they underwent their operations at Mount Carmel St. Ann's. Mount Carmel rescinded her hospital privileges once her license was suspended in November 2022.

During her medical residency, Grawe worked under Susan Vasko, a local plastic surgeon in private practice. Vasko told The Dispatch she was shocked when news broke about Grawe.

"It's just a sad situation because she was a very talented surgeon, a good person, and an intelligent surgeon," Vasko said about her time working with Grawe more than a decade ago.

Was 'Dr. Roxy' accused of botched surgeries before she was TikTok famous?

The short answer is yes.

Mary Jenkins, a former patient who underwent breast reconstruction by Grawe in 2012, filed a malpractice lawsuit against the surgeon in April 2014. Jenkins eventually won her lawsuit and was awarded $358,000 in damages.

But Jenkins isn't the only person to accuse Grawe of botching a procedure.

Beth Benadum, another patient who spoke to The Dispatch, said she suffered from multiple infections following a double breast reconstruction by the surgeon in 2014. Benadum said she had to undergo 10 operations in 21 months to correct what she said were Grawe's mistakes.

There is also a support group on Facebook with more than 2,500 members, some of whom claim they suffered severe complications from surgeries by Grawe.

Did social media cause the plastic surgeon's downfall?

In a roundabout way, social media may have contributed to the doctor being stripped of her medical license.

The medical board built its case against Grawe by using the outcomes of three of her patients.

A woman described in medical board records as "Patient 1" underwent liposuction, a Brazilian butt lift and a Renuvion J-plasma (skin-tightening) procedure, portions of which were broadcast on social media in 2022. Grawe performed liposuction while looking at the camera and speaking to it, according to medical board records.

Read More: Dr. Roxy: The Dispatch's coverage of the rise and fall of the TikTok doc

The patient was eventually diagnosed with free air in her abdomen, a perforated small bowel and a necrotizing soft tissue infection.

Two other patients cited by the medical board also suffered from complications.

Patient 2 suffered from six punctures and multiple tears in her bowel and had to have surgery to remove part of her small bowel after undergoing liposuction, a Brazilian butt lift, a hernia repair and a Renuvion J-plasma procedure in 2020. Patient 3 suffered from nausea and infection and needed to have her breast implants removed after undergoing a breast augmentation in 2021.

When did the medical board get its first complaint against 'Dr. Roxy?'

It's unclear when the medical board received its first complaint against the plastic surgeon.

The lawsuit that Jenkins filed in 2014 would have been reported to the medical board via the National Practitioner Databank. Malpractice lawsuits "may or may not trigger the opening of a complaint," said board spokeswoman Jerica Stewart.

The earliest complaint The Dispatch was able to confirm was one made May 26, 2017, according to records obtained through a public records request.

The complaint was filed by an unknown former patient who underwent facial injections with Botox and Juvederm. In a caution letter to Grawe dated Oct. 9, 2018, the secretary of the medical board claimed that Grawe published photos of the patient on social media without the patient's written consent.

In a letter responding to the medical board, Grawe denied the complaint and said the patient gave her verbal consent to film and post footage of her procedure on social media.

mfilby@dispatch.com

@MaxFilby

This article originally appeared on The Columbus Dispatch: Dr Roxy: What we learned from the podcast on the TikTok doctor
RANDOLPH  A postal worker was assaulted and robbed and a driver was carjacked in separate incidents in Randolph on Wednesday, police said.

State Police said two people are in custody in connection with the armed carjacking, WCVB reported.

After Randolph police pursued the carjacked vehicle, a state trooper found it on Brush Hill Road in Milford, State Police said.

Police are searching for a third person suspected of participating in the carjacking.

There was a heavy police presence near an entrance to Fuller Village, an independent senior living community in Milton not far from the intersection of Brush Hill Road and Blue Hill Avenue/Route 138, WCVB reported.

Randolph police said they received a 911 call at about 12:30 p.m. Wednesday from the postal worker, who said they were robbed at the Rosemont Square Apartment Complex.

Randolph police said the postal worker was physically assaulted by two masked men who were dressed in all black. The mail carrier suffered injuries to his ribs and side as a result of the attack, WCVB reported.

Police also said an Arrow key, a master key for Postal Service mailboxes in a particular area, was stolen from the mail carrier by the assailants.

There has been an increase robberies targeting letter carriers nationwide. Criminals take their Arrow keys to steal mail. The keys allow mail carriers access to multiple collection boxes.

The Postal Service plans to replace up to 49,000 Arrow locks with electronic locks.

This article originally appeared on The Patriot Ledger: Driver carjacked, postal worker robbed in Randolph
A Hinckley man was killed when his vehicle crashed under foggy conditions Wednesday night.

Todd A. Rebick, 61, was driving a 2004 Chevrolet Tahoe on Bellus Road in Hinckley Township about 8:57 p.m. when he lost control of the vehicle, reported troopers from the Medina post of the Ohio Highway Patrol.

The Tahoe drove off the right side of the road and overturned, ejecting Rebick. He was pronounced dead at the scene.

The driver was not wearing a safety belt, authorities said. Drugs or alcohol did not appear to be a factor in the crash.

Bellus Road was closed for about two hours after the crash. Hinckley police, firefighters and paramedics and the Medina County Coroners Office assisted state troopers at the scene.

This article originally appeared on Akron Beacon Journal: Todd Rebick killed in Hinckley car crash Wednesday night
Driver who was trapped for days in a mangled vehicle before his rescue has his leg amputated

A driver who was stuck for days in a mangled car in Indiana before a man and his father-in-law found him had to have his leg amputated Wednesday.

Matt Reums leg was amputated from the midshin down, and he is in intensive care, a spokesperson for the Boilermakers Local 374 union, of which Reum, 27, is a member, said in a statement.

His condition was upgraded to "serious" on Thursday, a spokesperson for Beacon Health System said. He had been listed in critical condition Wednesday.

Beacon Health System said in a Wednesday statement that Reum thanked people for their support, including the good Samaritan's who found him, and his caregivers.

"Matt knows he has a story to tell, and when he is ready, he plans to share details of that experience," it said. Reum asked for time to process, rest and heal, as well as privacy for himself and his family.

No matter how tough things get, there is a light at the end of the tunnel, sometimes in the least expected way, Reum said, according to the statement.

The man and his father-in-law who found Reum inside the wreckage of his car were scouting fishing holes, authorities in Indiana said Tuesday. They discovered Reum, who they initially thought to be dead, in a shallow creek beneath an Interstate 94 bridge in the city of Portage.

Reum, unclear how long he had been trapped there, had multiple visible injuries, including a broken hand, Mario Garcia and son-in-law Nivardo De La Torre said.

Mario Garcia and his son-in-law Nivardo De La Torre. (NBC Chicago)

He was rushed by helicopter to a hospital, where the injuries were assessed as life-threatening, said Sgt. Glen Fifield, a regional spokesperson for the Indiana State Police.

Fifield estimated at a news conference Tuesday that Reum could have been at the site for nearly a week because the area is out of view of the interstate. He added that no accident reports in the area had been filed in recent days.

It's unclear how Reum ended up there or how he survived. Fifield said it's also not clear whether he was able to access food or water.

The mild Indiana weather this week also could have contributed to Reum's survival. While temperatures this time last year reached freezing, the highs of 58 degrees and lows in the 40s are warmer than normal, Fifield said.

Quite frankly, he said, its a miracle hes alive.

It took rescuers from the Portage and Burns Harbor fire departments hours to free Reum from the car because of the intensity of the wreckage and the difficult location, Fifield said Tuesday.

Members of Portage Fire Dept. help rescue a driver who was stuck in his mangled car in a creek off of I-94 for days. (TODAY)

Authorities think Reum was driving westbound on I-94 near mile marker 19 when the vehicle went off the roadway for unknown reasons.

His vehicle missed that guardrail, so hes driving on the grass shoulder before he goes airborne, Fifield said. His vehicle goes down into the creek, where he rolls several times. It rolled underneath the bridge.

This article was originally published on NBCNews.com
The Netherlands must become better prepared for a future war with Russia, for example by encouraging voluntary military service, outgoing Dutch Army Commander Martin Wijnen said in an interview with Dutch newspaper De Telegraaf on Dec. 28.

German Defense Minister Boris Pistorius similarly told Die Welt am Sonntag in a Dec. 16 interview that Europe "may face dangers at the end of this decade," and needs to be "more involved in guaranteeing security on our continent."

Dutch society "should not think that safety is guaranteed" because their country is over 1,000 kilometers from Russia, Wijnen said. "Russia is getting stronger."

Wijnen argued that while the government has allocated billions for spending on defense equipment, more personnel are needed due to the growing threat of war.

"The Netherlands must seriously fear a war and our society must prepare for this," Wijnen said, pointing to the examples of Sweden, Finland, and the Baltic states as well-prepared countries.

Military service has not been compulsory in the Netherlands since 1997, but the Defense Ministry recently introduced a voluntary "Service Year" for young people.

"It is not conscription, we prefer to call it the right to serve," Wijnen said. The 600 people who have taken part in the new initiative are "extremely enthusiastic" but further expansion is limited by a lack of training staff and space in military barracks.

Wijnen believes that Dutch society has become too used to the idea that there will always be peace. "The Netherlands must learn again that all members of society must be ready when things go wrong."

Wijnen has led the Dutch Army since 2019 and is standing down from his role on Jan. 1, 2024.

Read also: Dutch minister: If you dont stop Russia now, theyll go further. Its not just Ukraine

Weve been working hard to bring you independent, locally-sourced news from Ukraine. Consider supporting the Kyiv Independent.
Eagle Lake Mayor Cory Coler has submitted his resignation, effective Friday, from the City Commission because of a new state law requiring local officials to reveal far more detailed financial information than before. Two other city commissioners -- Suzy Wilson and Scott Clark -- also submitted their resignations, though Suzy Wilson has since rescinded hers.

Less than a week before New Years Day, it appeared that Eagle Lake would enter 2024 without enough city commissioners to take any official actions.

Three commissioners submitted letters of resignation the week of Dec. 11, signaling that they would depart before the years end. All three cited a state law taking effect Jan. 1 that compels local elected officials to disclose more detailed financial information than previously required.

Had the three commissioners  Mayor Cory Coler, Vice Mayor Suzy Wilson and Commissioner Scott Clark  all gone through with their resignations, the five-member board would have been left without a quorum, the minimum number needed to perform more than ceremonial functions.

In the end, concerns about leaving the city in such a predicament caused Wilson to rescind her resignation Wednesday night. As of Thursday, it appeared that Coler and Clark would go through with their departures.

Coler listed Friday as the effective date of his resignation, while Wilson and Clark listed Saturday. In their letters to the city, all three reserved the right to revoke their plans before the effective dates.

What happens now? Will DeSantis replace dozens of local officials who resigned ahead of a new disclosure law?

The three commissioners used almost identical language in explaining their decisions to resign.

I feel the new financial disclosure requirement for the City Commission to file a Full and Public Disclosure of Financial Interests (Form 6) is too intrusive for someone who is paid approximately $1,800/year, Clark wrote.

To be precise, Eagle Lake commissioners receive annual pay of $1,807.20.

Coler wrote that he might rescind his resignation in the event the Legislature changes or repeals this requirement.

The Florida Legislature opens its annual session on Jan. 9, and there is no mechanism for lawmakers to repeal or revise the law before then. The new requirement to complete Form 6 has prompted a wave of resignations among elected officials throughout Florida, the USA TODAY Florida Network reported.

Eagle Lake Vice Mayor Suzy Wilson, 67, has been a periodic presence on the Eagle Lake City Commission for nearly four decades. She first gained election in 1984 for a two-year term and then served again from 2002 to 2007. She returned to the commission in 2009 and has remained ever since.

That includes at least two in Polk County, in addition to those in Eagle Lake. Longtime Fort Meade City Commissioner Bob Elliott announced his resignation last week, though he had lost his re-election bid and was already due to leave next month. Polk City Vice Mayor Wayne Harper has also resigned.

'Really wanted to resign'

Wilson, 67, has been a periodic presence on the Eagle Lake City Commission for nearly four decades. She first gained election in 1984 for a two-year term and then served again from 2002 to 2007. She returned to the commission in 2009 and has remained ever since.

Wilson said Thursday morning that she only rescinded her resignation because she did not want to see Eagle Lake left with only two city commissioners, rendering the board unable to take any substantive actions.

That was a lot of it, Wilson said. Ive lived in the city most of my life. I couldn't leave them in a lurch. I just couldn't do it. I really, really wanted to resign. But you know what, when you love a place like the people here in Eagle Lake love this city, you can't leave it in a mess. You just can't do it.

The Florida Legislature enacted a law in this years session mandating that elected officials in cities and towns complete Form 6, the same financial disclosure that legislators must submit. Legislators supporting the law have said that the disclosures will ensure that commissioners do not have conflicts of financial interest.

Commissioners must itemize all individual assets and liabilities of more than $1,000 and must report household goods and personal effects collectively.

Officials must identify not only their primary income but also secondary sources of income worth more than $1,000. They must disclose clients and customers contributing more than 10% of a business gross income if the official owns more than 5% of a business that produces more than $1,000.

The form previously submitted by local officials was less detailed, requiring disclosure of assets and liabilities of more than $10,000 and not including lists of household goods and personal effects. The threshold for secondary income was $5,000.

Some officials who have resigned say they are barred by nondisclosure agreements from identifying customers and clients, the USA TODAY Florida Network reported.

Wilson, who owns a car dealership, said she consulted with her accountant before deciding to revoke her resignation. She said she wanted to be sure the accountant could help her complete the form before the deadline of July 1.

In ethics complaint, Polk commissioner accuses former chair of illegally pressuring others

Wilson said she spoke to a prominent Eagle Lake business owner to ask about joining the commission. He was enthusiastic before learning of the Form 6 requirements.

He said, Ain't no way, Wilson said. Nobody is willing to fill out the form, and I don't blame them. People is not willing to step up on account of it. Weve got a mess. And I just imagine all cities are the same way. It's going to be hard to get people to run.

Mayor: Form is 'invasive'

Coler, 43, has been on the City Commission since 2012, gaining re-election five times since then. He works for the product management division of a company that provides hardware and software for the automotive industry.

Coler said he first learned about the new requirement in late summer and knew that the Florida League of Cities, an association of the states municipalities, opposed the law. He said he didnt realize how invasive the new form would be until he participated in a Florida League of Cities webinar about three weeks ago.

City officials already faced an annual audit by an independent accountant to check for possible conflicts of interest, Coler said.

Weve got pretty good controls that are in place, Coler said. So in looking at the expectation, my personal challenge is that I don't think that what's in my daughter's bank account  because I have access to it  should be available for public disclosure. Or things that are in my retirement account, or liabilities that are shared liabilities for me and my wife should be available for public disclosure.

Coler said such public reporting could make him and other officials vulnerable to possible cybercrime. He also said he would probably need to hire an accountant to help complete the financial disclosure, incurring a cost that would likely negate the pay he receives as a city commissioner.

Cory was absolutely the best mayor and spokesperson this city has had in a very, very long time, and now we lost him, Wilson said.

Coler said that Auburndale Mayor Dorothea Taylor Bogert testified before a legislative committee during the past session, warning that the new requirement would be bad for small cities. He agreed with that assessment.

I think it's going to be really harmful, especially in smaller communities, where this is an ancillary thing for most commissioners, he said. I think it's going to have a detrimental effect.  Im not shocked that there are a lot of other commissioners who are taking the same action.

Clark joined the City Commission by appointment in January 2019 and has since won two elections. He did not respond to a voicemail left Wednesday.

Will law deter candidates?

The Florida League of Cities opposed SB 774, the bill that created the new disclosure requirements for local officials, Communications Director Kelli Gemmer said. The group warned that the bill imposed requirements with no consideration of annual budget size or spending authority and said it would deter qualified people from seeking office, particularly in smaller municipalities offering little or no salary.

The league also complained that the new law changed disclosure rules for city officials in mid-term, suggesting current officials should be able to complete their terms under the existing disclosure rules.

All six of Polk Countys legislators voted in favor of the new law, titled Ethics Requirements for Public Officials, which passed overwhelmingly in both the House and Senate.

Had the three Eagle Lake commissioners all resigned, the city would have had to wait for Gov. Ron DeSantis to appoint members to fill the vacancies. With Wilsons change of mind, the three remaining commissioners will have 60 days to appoint replacements, City Clerk Dawn Wright said.

Colers term ends in April, and Clarks term runs through April 2025. The city charter allows the commission to appoint a replacement member until the next regular election, Wright said. That means that a special election would have to be held in April for Clarks seat.

Florida Sen. Colleen Burton, R-Lakeland, said she did not hear many objections from local officials when the bill emerged in the last session. She said she does not expect the Legislature to repeal or significantly change the law.

Local officials bear a great responsibility when it comes to the spending of taxpayer dollars, Burton said. And so with great responsibility, sometimes we're asked to reveal a little bit more about ourselves than some people are comfortable doing.

Burton noted that state legislators were already required to disclose the same financial information that local officials must now report.

Rep. Melony Bell, R-Fort Meade, made the same point. She said she has faced a mandate to share such financial details since her time on the Polk County Commission. But Bell expressed sympathy for officials in small cities, such as Fort Meade, who face the new requirement.

Bell said she would have preferred an exemption for local officials elected before the Legislature passed the law.

I felt like it needs to be looked at again, she said. The people that have already been serving should just be grandfathered in.

Gary White can be reached at gary.white@theledger.com or 863-802-7518. Follow on X @garywhite13.

This article originally appeared on The Ledger: Eagle Lake barely avoids losing majority of commission to resignations
MEMPHIS, Tenn. (WREG)  An earthquake in northeast Arkansas shook parts of the Mid-South Wednesday.

The U.S. Geological Survey says the earthquake was a magnitude 3.8. Earlier estimates placed the tremor at 3.6.

It was centered near the community of Etowah in Mississippi County, Arkansas.

Etowah is located about 40 miles northwest of Memphis, but the shaking was felt over a wide area. The earthquake wasnt large enough to do any damage or cause any injuries.

We spoke with Shianna Wallace from Drummonds, Tennessee, which is about 26 miles away from Etowah. She said she was sitting on her reclining chair when she began to feel movement.

Wallace said she looked outside and the wind wasnt blowing so she immediately knew something was going on. She called her neighbors right away and they said they felt it too.

These busy airports could be hit with bad weather this weekend, National Weather Service says

This isnt the first earthquake she has felt, but she said this one felt different.

It was just like movement. Maybe like a wave and youre on a raft and it was a wave. It was just kind of weird. My pictures didnt shake like they have in the past, but it was just like my heart started pounding because its just so crazy, she said.

According to the Geological Society, there have been hundreds of earthquakes in our region this year, but most of them were too small to feel. Wednesdays earthquake was one of only three that was above a magnitude 3.

Wallace worries they will continue to get worse.

I live on this hill, and Im like, if it shakes too much, my house is going to fall down the hill. It concerns me. Were right here at the river bottom, just a few minutes away from the water, she said.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WREG.com.
It was no surprise that the U.S. Supreme Court turned down Special Counsel Jack Smiths very unusual request to hear an appeal of a trial judges decision that Donald Trump does not enjoy presidential immunity for criminal acts committed during his term of office even before an appeals court ruled on the matter.

Smith asked that the Big Nine skip their normal practice and immediately take up D.C. Federal Judge Tanya Chutkans Dec. 1 order denying Trump protection from prosecution. While Trump wants Chutkans stinging decree overturned (she wrote that the defendants four-year service as commander in chief did not bestow on him the divine right of kings to evade the criminal accountability that governs his fellow citizens) and the case will certainly end up before the Supremes, Trump is in no hurry, while Smith is nervously watching the calendar.

The March 4 start of Trumps federal criminal trial for trying to steal the 2020 election is now in doubt while the appeals court accepts briefs in advance of their Jan. 9 oral argument before a three-judge panel.

Trumps lawyers wrote in their papers filed over the weekend that presidents enjoy immunity for their official acts while in office and that continues after they leave office. Theres some logic to that, as we wouldnt want former presidents brought up on charges by their successors for their time in the Oval Office.

But what Trumps lawyers fail to explain, and what we assume the appeals panel  and, soon enough  the Supreme Court justices, will rule is that Trump is being prosecuted for non-official acts.

Nowhere in the statute books of the United States Code or 234 years of precedent under the present Constitution does stealing an election fall under official acts.

Trump also argues that since he was impeached for the same actions (the Jan. 6 attack on the Capitol) by the House and acquitted by the Senate, a criminal trial now would be double jeopardy.

But it was exactly the opposite logic that some senators used to vote against conviction, that as a private citizen post-Jan. 20, he could face justice.

And Jack Smith is seeking justice.

We generally agree that a sitting president cant be indicted. Say a president commits a crime while in office, like shooting dead a White House tourist with a Secret Service agents weapon. The recourse would be to quickly impeach and remove that president and then have the ex-president be indicted and tried for the murder.

Trump had immunity from just about everything while he was in office, but once he left office, either through impeachment and removal or the end of his four-year term, hes just a regular Donald, as liable to prosecution as anyone else who committed a felony.

The appeals judges will also have to dispense with Trumps claim that he was engaged in his official duties, like signing or vetoing legislation or submitting nominations or issuing executive orders or otherwise carrying out the legal obligations and responsibilities of the highest office in the land.

Calling up Georgias secretary of state to have him find 11,780 more votes and pressuring Michigan election officials to not certify results and summoning a mob are not in any way official acts. Those are crimes, for which Trump must pay.

___
Its said you should judge someone by the company they keep. Donald Trump doesnt seem to keep many people in his close circle of confidants  one consequence of constantly, publicly and unabashedly tossing putative allies under a bus  nor does he reserve much praise for people other than himself. He appears to believe that the vast majority of other people, if they have any integrity at all, are suckers and losers, a sentiment many of his supporters dont appear to realize he would surely extend to them.

That makes it particularly notable when the former president does decide to pump someone up, especially off the cuff. At a New Hampshire campaign rally he managed to shout out not one, but four of what he seems to view as his contemporaries  despotic and nationalistic leaders who have weaponized their countries political systems to push their own power.

Trump had kind words for Viktor Orban, the highly respected prime minister of Hungary who this month derailed a $52 billion EU aid package to Ukraine defending itself from Russias invasion. Trump praised the very imperialist who launched that disastrous war, Vladimir Putin, favorably quoting the despots assertion that the criminal cases into Trumps coup attempt, mishandling of classified documents and other misconduct were politically motivated  a bit like defending your financial prowess by citing the endorsement of Bernie Madoff.

Trump talked up Chinese President Xi Jinping, who flatly warned President Joe Biden that he intended to take Taiwan by force and is moving forward with the trial of Hong Kong pro-democracy activist Jimmy Lai, who was held in solitary confinement for three years. And Trump touted North Koreas Kim Jong Un, who was very nice, I will tell you, and just launched a new missile test as part of his goal of developing weapons capable of striking the United States.

Theres no need to really parse this for deeper meaning or read between the lines, no great mystery here as to why Trump seems most comfortable in this type of company. What these leaders have is what he wants, not surreptitiously but openly, with Trump and his advisers laying in detail how theyll purge the military leadership, install loyalists at all federal agencies, persecute political and social opponents and dissolve democratic guardrails.

Where once he was somewhat coy about these desires, hes increasingly blunt, having finally embraced calling himself a would-be dictator and taking phrases straight out of fascist rhetoric. Most extreme might be his new applause line about immigrants poisoning the blood of the United States, a favorite notion of Hitlers (as a general rule, its not a good sign when a candidate feels the need to deny hes cribbing from Mein Kampf).

The tendency to hand-wave all this away is absurd since Trump already tried to overthrow the government once. Hes not kidding, hes not exaggerating, hes not trolling or merely being incendiary as an electoral tactic. Trump wants to end more than two centuries of the peaceful transfer of power in the United States and import the autocratic methods of Xi, Putin, Kim and Orban, those leaders he seems to so admire. He must be held to account, and he must never get near the White House again.

___
A K-12 advocacy organization credited with a groundbreaking legal victory that ordered the state to provide funding for some of New Jersey's poorest urban school districts is supporting a lawsuit claiming that the state's public schools are unofficially segregated.

The Newark-based Education Law Center joined the lawsuit in November as co-counsel representing plaintiffs Latino Action Network, the NAACP and several others. The lawsuit, initially filed in 2018, challenges New Jersey's existing system of assigning students to neighborhood schools based on ZIP codes and residential addresses.

The suit argues that the decades-old tradition has exacerbated segregation by race, ethnicity and poverty in New Jersey's nearly 600 school districts.

The center also has a pending motion filed in December asking the state courts to grant its Executive Director Robert Kim, an attorney licensed to practice law in California, permission to assist attorneys for the plaintiffs and participate in case proceedings.

The court is expected to respond by Jan 5.

Story continues below photo gallery.

The center filed a petition Dec. 1, referring to its 50 years conducting "impact litigation" and "representing children in high-poverty school districts" in the groundbreaking Abbott v. Burke case, Kim said in his letter to the courts asking to join Latino Action Network in its case against the state.

New Jersey 'complicit' in school segregation, suit argues

"The State has been complicit in the creation and persistence of school segregationbecause it has adopted and implemented laws, policies, and practices that require, with very limited exceptions, students to attend public schools in the municipalities where they live," the plaintiffs said in their complaint against the Education Department, state Board of education and acting education commissioner.

The plaintiffs include the Latino Action Network, the NAACP, the Latino Coalition of New Jersey, the Urban League of Essex County and the United Methodist Church of New Jersey, along with several minor children and their guardians.

More: NJ and opponents will try mediation before suit alleging school segregation goes to trial

More: Paterson's schools are decaying  and are hurting kids and staff. How can they be helped?

"This municipally-based system of school districts interacts with longstanding State practices that have fostered and enabled residential segregation to institutionalize school segregation," the plaintiffs argue.

Judge says NJ failed to address school segregation

State Superior Court Judge Robert Lougy in Mercer County ruled in October that the Education Department had indeed failed to address segregation in schools, but his judgment did not disband the current system of assigning children to schools or deem the current system illegal.

He ordered parties on both sides to try to arrive at a solution through a confidential mediation process in December. A progress report was required to be submitted Dec. 16.

Lawrence Lustberg, attorney for Latino Action Network, did not reply to a request for comment on the mediation.

Correction: An earlier version of this story incorrectly described the involvement of the Education Law Center in a lawsuit that claims the state's public schools are unofficially segregated. The Education Law Center joined the lawsuit in November as co-counsel. It is now seeking permission for its executive director to assist attorneys for the plaintiffs and participate in case proceedings. The story and headlines have been updated to reflect the correct information.

This article originally appeared on NorthJersey.com: Education Law Center joins NJ school segregation lawsuit
Many would argue that Florida schools were at the center of the state's "culture wars" this past year, with book banning, vouchers, critical race theory and more. Here's a look back at some of 2023's most-read education stories statewide as well as highlights from Volusia and Flagler counties.

DeSantis puts education at the top of agenda

Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis took ambitious strides to continue overhauling education policy statewide in 2023.

To kickstart the year, the Florida Department of Education fueled a contentious debate on how to teach race and American history in classrooms, noting its disapproval of Advanced Placement African American Studies in the Florida Course Code Directory and Instructional Personnel Assignments.

Come March, DeSantis signed one of the nations largest private school voucher expansions. This move followed several conservative states: Iowa, Utah, Arkansas, Arizona and West Virginia. Some parents approved, but teachers unions and other organizations showed concern that this expansion could further deprive public schools of already limited funding.

That same month, the DeSantis administration spearheaded a movement to expand what opponents dubbed the governor's Dont Say Gay bill. The law, which already prohibited K-3 classrooms from learning about sexual orientation and gender identity, broadened its reach in April to include all public school students, K-12. Teachers in violation risk losing their credentials.

According to a recent PEN America report, more than 40% of the 3,362 book-banning instances nationwide in the 2022-23 school year occurred in a Florida school district. DeSantis, however, signed a law making book banning in Florida even easier. As of July, if a school district finds material that depicts or describes sexual conduct, then it shall discontinue use of the material for any grade level or age group for which such use is inappropriate or unsuitable.

In August, the Department of Education banned Advanced Placement Psychology. Florida superintendents were instructed that the course cannot be taught unless it excludes topics relating to sexual orientation and gender identity. The College Board, which oversees the AP program, said the course cannot be labeled as AP or Advanced Placement if required content is modified to censor topics prohibited by state law.

Heres what happened in Volusia, Flagler counties in 2023:

DeSantis planned to target 14 school board members, including two in Volusia, during the 2024 election

Volusia County School Board member Anita Burnette, Friday, Jan. 20, 2023.

In February, Fox News reported that DeSantis, Florida House Speaker Paul Renner, Florida GOP Chairman Christian Ziegler, and co-founders of Moms for Liberty  Tina Descovich and Tiffany Justice  met to discuss school board members who, according to the governor, do not protect parental rights and/or shield students from woke ideologies.

Volusia County School Board member Carl Persis, Friday, Jan. 20, 2023.

The list, which contained 14 names, included two from the Volusia County School Board: Anita Burnette and Carl Persis.At the time, Volusia County Moms for Liberty Chair Jenifer Kelly told The News-Journal that the organization has no issue with Burnette.

Burns Sci-Tech principal resigns after sending $100K to scammer posing as Elon Musk

Former principal of Volusia Countys Burns Science and Technology Charter School Janet McGee resigned after school officials accused her of writing a $100,000 check in school funding to an online scammer posing as Elon Musk.

McGee said she was trying to get whom she thought was Musk to invest millions in the school in exchange for a smaller investment. Bent Appy, the school's business manager, was able to cancel the check before it was cashed.

In April, the school board decided to perform a 12-month audit of the former principals account.

Flagler school board ousts Superintendent Cathy Mittelstadt

In April, the Flagler School Board opposed renewing Superintendent Cathy Mittelstadts contract, which ended June 30.

School board members Sally Hunt, Will Furry and Christy Chong voted against the renewal, while then-Board Chair Cheryl Massaro and Vice Chair Colleen Conklin approved it.

According to his evaluation of Mittlestadts performance, Furry opposed the renewal because he had concerns regarding the districts academic performance and felt Mittlestadt visited schools infrequently.

Hunt and Chong echoed many of Furry's reasons in their evaluations.

In June, LaShakia Moore  then assistant superintendent for academic services  began serving as Flagler Schools interim superintendent until she was officially appointed to the position in September.

Flagler Youth Orchestra director resigns amid feud with school board members

At a June board meeting, Furry questioned why a non-school employee and her husband had direct access to a district bank account as well as why the Flagler Youth Orchestra's account had never been audited. The board recognized this as an oversight and authorized a four-year transactional audit of the account.

Former Flagler Youth Orchestra director Cheryl Tristam and her husband, Pierre, had been signers on the account since it started 18 years ago.

In July, Cheryl Tristam announced her resignation in a letter posted on FlaglerLive.com, which is run by her husband. She cited the reprehensible and inexcusable conduct of some board members in the note and her resignation left the Flagler School Board and nearly 350 participating students scrambling to find a replacement.

Later that month, the board received a legal opinion from Mark K. Logan, an attorney with Tallahassee-based law firm Sniffen and Spellman, regarding the Flagler Youth Orchestras financial structure, noting his comfort with its operation.

In September, the board approved personal service contracts and the budget for the orchestra for the current school year. Victor Rivera was named the new director.

The board also approved the orchestras audit in September which indicated that between July 1, 2019, and June 30, 2022, the strings program made 23 Amazon purchases totaling $758. About $4 benefitted FlaglerLive, through AmazonSmile, a feature that allows customers to donate a fraction of the purchase price of an item to benefit a nonprofit of their choice. The former director chose FlaglerLive.

Investigation: Ex-Bunnell Elementary principal, teacher discriminated against students based on color

In September, an investigation determined that a principal and teacher at Bunnell Elementary discriminated against students on the basis of race.

Jeff Isaac Jr. and Kenadee Robinson are fourth-graders at Bunnell Elementary. They were pulled into an assembly that targeted Black students for low standardized test scores, even though they said they performed well on the tests.

On Aug. 18, all Black fourth- and fifth-graders were called to the cafeteria for an assembly to discuss low standardized test scores. It didnt matter whether the students passed or failed. They were selected to attend the meeting based on race.

Donelle Evensen, the former principal, admitted to knowing about the assemblies, and Anthony Hines, the teacher who led them, admitted to telling children that unsuccessful students have a higher chance of going to jail or being shot or killed.Following community outrage, Evensen resigned from her position Sept. 6 and Hines resigned Sept. 7. The two were previously placed on paid administrative leave pending the investigations outcome.

Cari McGee was named Bunnell Elementary's new principal at Flagler Schools' Dec. 19 board meeting

The Flagler County School Board appointed Bunnell Elementarys Assistant Principal Cari McGee to the principal position at its Dec. 19 meeting.

This article originally appeared on The Daytona Beach News-Journal: Schools in Volusia, Flagler and statewide saw numerous changes in 2023
Elections are right around the corner, with the state and general election occurring for Delawareans in 2024.

During an election year, it is important to keep track of dates, whether that be voter registration deadlines, voting days and more.

Here are a few dates to keep on the calendar this upcoming election year.

2024 election dates in Delaware

April 2: Presidential primary election

May 14: School board elections

Sept. 10: State primary election

Nov. 5: Election Day

Register to vote in Delaware: When is the deadline to register to vote in Delaware? Your guide to 2024 elections

Delaware 2024 presidential primary election dates

Those who win the primary will be able to have their name on the ballot in November during the general election. The election calendar for 2024 can be viewed here.

Feb. 2: Deadline to change political party affiliation before the presidential primary election

March 9: Deadline to register to vote before the presidential primary election

March 18: Deadline for uniformed service members and citizens living outside of the U.S. to register to vote before the presidential primary election

March 20: Early voting period for the presidential primary election begins. Voting locations can be found at: elections.delaware.gov.

March 30: Early voting period for the presidential primary election ends

April 2: Presidential primary election; deadline for voters to return absentee ballots

Polls will be open from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m. for the presidential primary election.

April 5: Department of Elections certifies the results of the April 2 presidential primary election in the county office of each respective county

Delaware 2024 school board election dates

May 14: School board elections; deadline for voters to return their absentee ballots to the Department of Elections office holding the election

Polls will be open from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m. for the school board elections.

May 16 (tentative, but no later than May 29): School board election results certified by each of the Department of Elections county offices holding elections

Delaware 2024 primary election dates

May 24: Deadline to change political party affiliation before the 2024 state primary election

Aug. 17: Deadline to register to vote before the 2024 state primary election

Aug. 26: Deadline for uniformed service members and citizens living outside of the U.S. to register to vote for the 2024 state primary election

Aug. 28: Early voting period begins for the 2024 state primary election

Sept. 8: Early voting period ends for the 2024 state primary election

Sept. 10: State primary election; deadline for voters to return absentee ballots to the Department of Elections county office for the residing voter

Polls will be open from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m. for the state primary election.

Sept. 13: Department of Elections certifies the results of the 2024 state primary election

Delaware 2024 general election dates

Oct. 12: Deadline for unregistered residents to register to vote in the general election

Oct. 21: Deadline for unregistered uniform service members and citizens outside of the U.S. to register to vote in the general election

Oct. 25: Early voting period begins for the 2024 general election

Nov. 3: Early voting period ends for the 2024 general election

Nov. 5: Election Day begins; deadline for voters to return absentee ballots filled out to the voter's county Elections Office

Polls will be open from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m. on Election Day.

Nov. 7: Board of Canvass meets to certify each county's results in the 2024 general election

Other dates for the 2024 election year can be found at elections.delaware.gov/calendar/2024ElectionCalendar.pdf

This article originally appeared on Delaware News Journal: Delaware elections 2024: Key dates for voter registration, polling
View a previous report on Ohioans being purged from voter rolls in the video player above.

COLUMBUS, Ohio (WCMH)  A petition for a constitutional amendment to enact a wide array of election reforms has been rejected by the Ohio Attorney General.

A statewide coalition seeking to place what it calls the Safe and Fair Elections amendment on voters ballots must now go back to the drawing board, Attorney General Dave Yost announced Thursday. In rejecting the petition summary  the certification of which is the first step in a lengthy process to the ballot  Yost said he found multiple omissions and misstatements, in the summary and found the name of the amendment unfair and untruthful.

The proposed amendment, backed by groups including the Ohio Organizing Collaborative and the Ohio NAACP, would constitutionally enshrine multiple election policies, including:

Automatic voter registration upon applying for or renewing a drivers license or state ID

Same-day voter registration and same-day registration updating

Elimination of voter roll purges

The proposed amendment also would allow local boards of elections to expand early voting operations, including through implementing additional early in-person hours and adding more early voting centers and ballot drop boxes than the one per county currently allowed.

Abortion in Ohio: How the landscape changed in 2023, and where its headed in 2024

Yost pointed to multiple provisions he described as potentially misleading to voters, including references to specified processes for verifying voter identity. Yost argued the petition summary is written in a way that suggests the process for identity verification is the same at all stages, but the amendment itself outlines different policies for Election Day voting, absentee ballots and voter registration.

The title, an amendment for Secure and Fair Elections, is also misleading, Yost wrote in his rejection letter. He said it does not fairly summarize the content of the amendment, which is a compilation of specific election regulations.

While the petitioners may believe that these proposed regulations may ultimately result in secure and fair elections, the title is completely untethered to the actual substance of the proposed amendment, Yost said.

Transgender athlete, drag queen bans: These Ohio bills targeted LGBTQ+ rights in 2023

He also highlighted several examples where he determined the summary omitted keywords that are included in the amendment, including in references to a voters right to be immediately notified should they submit a deficient absentee ballot or application.

Shortly after the coalition submitted the petition summary on Dec. 19, Secretary of State Frank LaRose issued a statement sharply criticizing the proposal as a direct assault on the security of Ohio elections.

I predicted months ago that radical interests are preparing to jam their extreme agendas into our state constitution because they cant get them passed by the peoples representatives in the Statehouse, LaRose said. That effort is well underway. This is a political Trojan horse designed to make elections easier to steal, and theyre dishonestly doing it under the name of security and fairness.

Should the coalition submit another petition summary that Yost accepts, it will be forwarded to the Ohio Ballot Board for review, of which LaRose is the chair.

Read the petition summary and proposed amendment, as well as Yosts rejection letter, below.

Petition-Submission-Secure-And-Fair-ElectionsDownload

Secure-and-Fair-Elections-Declination-Ltr-12-28-2023Download

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to NBC4 WCMH-TV.
Two Colorado paramedics are being held liable for the death of Elijah McClain, the 23-year-old Black man who died after he was deemed suspicious and confronted by police in 2019.

The jury came down with its ruling on Dec. 22, concluding that EMTs Peter Cichuniec and Jeremy Cooper are guilty of criminally negligent homicide. The two paramedics faced criminal prosecution for the fatal incident along with three officers. While the jury acquitted Cooper on the assault charges, they also found Cichuniec guilty of second-degree assault, The Guardian reported.

The fatal encounter happened on Aug. 24, 2019, after police received a call about a suspicious person who was wearing a ski mask. Bodycam footage showed the officers stopping McClain and confronting him aggressively as he was walking home. Police told the young man that he was being suspicious. The officers then held McClain down while he was repeatedly saying, I cant breathe. Paramedics later arrived at the scene and injected the 23-year-old with a high dose of ketamine.

Prosecutors said Cichuniec and Cooper saw the officers pushing McClain to the ground, but they failed to check on him.

Well just leave him there until the ambulance gets here and well just put him down on the gurney, Cooper said to police, according to the indictment documents.

Paramedics didnt check on McClain for over two minutes after they arrived on the scene, the indictment adds. When they eventually checked on McClain, paramedics concluded that he was dealing with excited delirium, a term that suggests that people who take certain drugs have superhuman strength. California has banned medics from using the term because it has often been used to justify police brutality.

According to the indictment, Cichuniec ordered ketamine for McClain. Cooper then injected the 23-year-old with 500mg of ketamine as he was being restrained by officers. Cooper estimated the amount of ketamine needed after assuming that McClain weighed around 200 pounds. However, McClain weighed around 143 pounds. As a result, the amount of ketamine Cooper administered was about 50mg over the recommended dose for McClains size.

The Colorado man became unconscious again after receiving the drug and never recovered. The coroners office later concluded that McClain died from complications of ketamine administration following forcible restraint.

One of the officers involved in McClains death was found guilty in October while the other two were acquitted. Police officer Randy Roedema was found guilty of criminally negligent homicide and third-degree assault, as Blavity reported. Officer Nathan Woodyard, who first stopped the 23-year-old and placed him in a neck hold, was acquitted. Former Aurora officer Jason Rosenblatt was also acquitted.
A controversial ban on XL Bully dogs is set to come into force in England and Wales on Sunday, following a September announcement by the UK government amid a rise in fatal attacks involving the breed in the country.

The breed was added in September to the list of dogs banned in England and Wales under the Dangerous Dogs Act 1991.

According to the UK governments website, starting December 31 it will be against the law to sell, abandon or let stray, give away and breed from an XL Bully dog, as well as to have an XL Bully in public without a lead and muzzle.

Under the new law, owners will have until February 1 to register them, as it will be a criminal offense to own a dog of that breed in England and Wales without a certificate of exemption.

The ruling does not apply to Scotland and Northern Ireland, with local media in the two constituent countries reporting an increase of rescues of the breed from England and Wales as a result.

According to guidelines published by the UK Government this month, the XL Bully breed type is a variant of the wider American Bully breed type, which was developed through the crossing of various bull breeds, including the American Pit Bull Terrier.

The XL Bully breed type is typically larger (both in terms of height and body shape) and more muscular than other Bully breed variant types such as the Micro, Pocket, Standard and Classic, the UK governments guidance read.

A XL bully dog called Riz, during a protest against the Government's decision to add XL bully dogs to the list of prohibited breeds under the Dangerous Dogs Act following a spate of recent attacks. Picture date: Saturday September 30, 2023. - Jacob King/PA/Alamy/Sipa

British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak pledged to bring in a ban after a man died after being savaged by two XL Bully dogs in September. In a TV interview, Sunak called the breed a danger to communities, adding, it is right that we take urgent action to stop these attacks to protect the public.

Many owners and animal welfare advocates have defended the breed, stressing the importance of good training, while critics say they have been specifically bred to be highly aggressive and even responsible ownership is not enough to prevent from attacks on occasions.

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Dmytro Kuleba said 'the production of weapons is not the most popular area of business' - EU Council / Pool/Anadolu via Getty Images

Europe doesnt know how to fight wars, Ukraines foreign minister said in a swipe at the continents failure to ramp up weapons production.

The production of weapons is not the most popular area of business, Dmytro Kuleba told the Kyiv Independent.

Unfortunately, our friends spent too much time deliberating on how and when to ramp up their production of weapons and ammunition.

His warning came as the United States exhausted its remaining available military aid for Ukraine with a final $250 million (195 million) funding package.

It is the last tranche of aid Washington can send to support the countrys defence against Russia without further approval from Congress.

Mr Kulebas comments mark Kyivs strongest criticism yet of Europes inability to open new production lines to meet the challenges of supplying Ukraine as the second anniversary of the invasion approaches.

Weapons deliveries have started to dwindle in recent months as stockpiles among Kyivs Western backers begin to dry up.

Ukraine and Nato have repeatedly warned that the production of ammunition and arms needs to be significantly ramped up to match Russias military-industrial complex, which has been on a war footing since Vladimir Putin ordered the invasion in February 2022.

The European Union failed in its bid to increase manufacturing of 155mm artillery shells in a bid to deliver one million rounds to Ukraine by March and Hungary vetoed a proposed $55 billion aid package from the bloc earlier this month.

Europe clearly has an advantage

Ukrainian commanders have said that faltering Western arms supplies have forced them to scale back some offensive operations.

Im more concerned with the pace of development of defence industries than with the arrival of new types of weapons, Mr Kuleba said.

The defence industry in Russia is government-owned. Under the conditions of authoritarian rule and government control of industry, its easier to grow military production. Even while enjoying the status of the most sanctioned country in the world, its still easier to put your industry in the wartime realm and increase production, he added.

Europe clearly has an advantage in its technology. The problem and challenge they face is scaling up that technologys production. I regret to say it, but this will not be enough if the situation doesnt change. And Russia will be ahead of us.

Ukraine has held discussions about attempting to forge more joint defence production projects between its domestic industry and those in the West.

A senior Ukrainian source told The Telegraph: We definitely try to attract foreign companies in the defence sector to produce in Ukraine.

Britains BAE Systems has agreed to create a factory in Ukraine to produce 105mm light artillery guns.

Americas General Dynamics is also understood to be working on plans to open a facility in the west of the war-torn country to produce mainly 155mm artillery shells.

And the EU is set to enhance cooperation between European and Ukrainian defence firms as part of a long-term security pact, The Telegraph reported earlier this month.

The solution is to create a certain level of alignment of all defence industries of the EU, the United States, and like-minded countries. For them to work as one whole system, Mr Kuleba said.

But he warned that attempts were blighted by countries concerned over their intellectual property rights and national security issues.

We are having an honest conversation with them, the foreign minister added.

Ukraine is at stake in this debate today or in this capacity-building effort today. But what is at stake tomorrow? Its their security  the security of European countries. Because if anyone believes Putin will not dare to attack a Nato country if he wins in Ukraine, that person is either naive or is pursuing Russian interests in this discourse.

In its final aid package of the year, the US will supply Kyiv with air defence and artillery ammunition, rockets for the Himars launchers, anti-armour weapons and over 15 million rounds of ammunition.

Congress has approved more than $110 billion (86.4 billion) in aid for Ukraine since the Russian invasion but has not signed off on any new funds since Republicans took control of the House of Representatives from the Democrats in January.

President Joe Biden has requested another $61 billion for Kyiv, but Republicans have until now refused to approve the funding over demands for tighter border security along the US-Mexico frontier.

Politicians are expected to take up the issue again in early January.

Volodymyr Zelensky, the Ukrainian president, said military aid is critical to countering terror and aggression from Russia as he thanked the US for its latest funding tranche.

To defend freedom and security not only in Ukraine and Europe but also in the United States, we must continue to respond to ongoing Russian aggression in the most forceful and resolute manner possible, he added.

Request for Russian asset analysis

Washington has reportedly proposed the G7 investigate how $300 billion (235.6 billion) in Russian assets frozen by the West can be seized and sent to Ukraine.

Our assistance has been critical to supporting our Ukrainian partners as they defend their country and their freedom against Russias aggression, Antony Blinken, the US secretary of state said.

It is imperative that Congress act swiftly, as soon as possible, to advance our national security interests by helping Ukraine defend itself and secure its future.

The US is said to have suggested to allies that options for carrying out the seizures be prepared ahead of a potential G7 meeting near the second anniversary of the Russian invasion in late February.

Dmitry Peskov, the Kremlin spokesman, warned last week that Russia would never leave in peace any country that seized its assets and would retaliate by seizing Western assets.

Broaden your horizons with award-winning British journalism. Try The Telegraph free for 1 month, then enjoy 1 year for just $9 with our US-exclusive offer.
An attack on the Baltic states is one of the most likely options after the pausein the Russian-Ukrainian war.

On December 18, after signing a plan to deploy a Bundeswehr brigade in Lithuania to confront Russia permanently, German Defense Minister Boris Pistorius declared it "a historic day and moment. So, how do we assess the pace of Europe's preparations for a possible war with Russia and the strengthening of the "eastern flank."

In Germany, this has been written about in classified materials since 2017, but it was voiced at the level of the Minister of Defense only now. It has only come up because of a very closed and frank conversation between Washington and Berlin over the past three months.

Many people have noticed that as soon as there are brakes in Washington on assistance to Ukraine or pauses in the supply of equipment, weapons, and ammunition, German compensators immediately kick in. Moreover, it may surprise many that today, the leadership in rhetoric in support of Ukraine has shifted from London to Berlin. This is not a discovery; it is a logical, approved policy within the framework of the top political leadership of Germany, the Bundestag, and especially the military and political leadership of the state. Many people are surprised that Pistorius, as a well-known figure in German politics, has moved from reasonably loyal views and assessments of Russia to serious radical statements, let alone actions.

Putin's statements suggest that we should think about it

We all remember that when Pistorius was appointed, many people, including myself, argued why he would not be allowed to take such a pro-Ukrainian position. But, as one of the classics of Ukrainian politics said, one's seat determines one's views.

Germany is now not only at the forefront of supporting Ukraine but is also successfully, albeit belatedly, fulfilling its obligations regarding the so-called eastern wall. What was announced, the deployment of the brigade in Lithuania and statements concerning other things, is the implementation of NATO's Bucharest decisions, which were later confirmed (two years ago) in Budapest. Today, the fulfillment of these commitments is about two-thirds behind schedule. This applies to the number of troops deployed, equipment, and armored forces, not to mention the provision of necessary ammunition and their coordination. It's one thing to deploy all these units and sub-units, and quite another to work out coordinated actions between them in case of aggression.

These factors were very seriously summarized in an analytical work (fundamental, in my opinion) by the RAND Corporation, which deals with fracture. The phrase that has become very popular now was said by President Joseph Biden: "The world is at a turning point." The previous world order is dead; we need to think about a new world order, and so on. This is a summary of this RAND Corporation analytical paper.

Read also: Putins plan for the rest of the war

From the perspective of development prospects, they are considering an option quite likely after the pause in the Russian-Ukrainian war: an attack on the Baltic states. It is no coincidence that everyone woke up like this, as if by surprise. This Atlantic paper by the RAND Corporation is three months old and has been under discussion. Moreover, it was used as the basis for training exercises at the National Defense University in Washington, D.C., including those involving artificial intelligence.

What happened in Lithuania on December 18 is only a small component of the work that will be done in the coming months. Indeed, after these states have been quite seriously involved and continue to do so in helping Ukraine, there is a relatively weak spot in the defense of the NATO system. In fact, the countries of the North Atlantic Alliance are demonstrating that the fifth point is not just a line on paper. It is dire, and no one within NATO will question this position. As for the decisions that Putin can make, many people were surprised by this. During a more than four-hour meeting with journalists and citizens, he said, among other things, that we will not continue aggressive actions. Later, in separate interviews, he emphasized this several times. But the principle here is simple. If Putin says something, it means that the truth will be exactly the opposite. That is why these statements, among other things, prompt us to think about it. The armies, including national armies, especially those of the two or three founders of the European system who are members of NATO (France, Germany, and the United Kingdom), need to be seriously strengthened.

The aforementioned RAND Corporation paper has a line from an analytical note by the French Army Chief of Staff, which states that, with the intensity of the fighting in Ukraine, the entire French army will last for three days. In other words, this work analyzes the armies of all the key European countries in great detail and indicates which fragments need to be strengthened.

The decisions made within NATO are now sufficient. Moreover, even national governments have decided to increase their armies and provide for them. Unfortunately, the funding for these programs and their implementation is about the same as the million shells that Ukraine was supposed to receive from the European Union in 2023. This is a problem. These deceitful words of the Moscow Fuhrer just emphasize that the Kremlin is very well informed about this. After all, the security systems of European countries are saturated with many Russian informants.

A striking example is the very recent prosecution of a Bundeswehr officer. This shows that European countries, especially at the level of national armies, have huge problems. If they can still hope that they have the support of the United States within NATO, then the issue of the eastern rampart, the east flank  that is, the reaction to Russia's likely first attacking aggressive actions  needs to be secured. Until all the mechanisms come into play, it is necessary to fight.

Read also: Putin and OPEC struggle to prop up oil prices

Therefore, a number of analytical reports, including a recent letter from 70 German scholars and politicians to the German government, state that the principle of modern warfare, especially Russian warfare, is to seize foreign territories and then hold them. There is no potential to drive the invaders out of the occupied territories in the current situation. This issue is being worked out very carefully in many international and national institutions that deal with the issue of war. This tactical tool  occupation of territory and strengthening of positions  has become a foundation stone today. No one knows how, in the current conditions, to drive such an enemy out of the occupied territories while maintaining the potential of the present army and in compliance with the framework of international law of war.

That is why Europe and NATO are facing several challenging and complex tasks. From the point of view of comparing the current situation, how long does Europe need to somehow bring its systems to the point of countering Russian aggression, not taking into account the military potential of the United States, to deter the first strike? It will take 3-5 years, depending on the set upper parameters. The key point is that the defense industries of most of these countries are not set up to provide the army with such a vast amount of weapons, equipment, and ammunition, which the Russian-Ukrainian war shows are needed.

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Read the original article on The New Voice of Ukraine
Passengers await information at Euston station, in London, as trains are cancelled on Thursday - Vuk Valcic/ Avalon

New Years Eve revellers are being encouraged to travel as early as Friday to avoid missing festivities as rail chaos continues across the country.

Operators were urged to come clean over which services were likely to be cancelled this weekend after a second day of major disruption.

Journeys across the country were disrupted again on Thursday in the aftermath of Storm Gerrit as rail lines were closed because of flooding and fallen trees.

Engineering works and driver shortages also caused delays, with rail firms warning that there was a high risk of weekend cancellations because of a lack of train staff.

Andy Street, the Conservative mayor of the West Midlands, said passengers needed clarity on self-inflicted cancellations such as crew shortages and which trains would run this weekend.

He said: Come clean now  thats what people need. I would prefer to know well in advance what is happening so it can be communicated to passengers and they can make their plans. The worst possible thing is a last-minute change, particularly late trains being cancelled.

Mr Street acknowledged that it was going to be tricky for operators, with many services relying on voluntary working, but added: My insistence is that we know early what is happening.

Passengers planning to travel on Northern Rail, which calls at more than 20 per cent of stations in the UK, have been told that tickets booked for Sunday are valid from Friday as the operator warned them to expect disruption on New Years Eve.

The firm said services may finish early, not run at all or terminate at different stations because of engineering works.

Tricia Williams, the chief operating officer, said: Unfortunately, customers travelling over the new year period should expect disruption. This is due to limited train crew availability in some areas and planned engineering works. We strongly advise customers to check before you travel on those days.

Meanwhile, CrossCountry, which operates throughout the UK from Aberdeen to Penzance, said tickets for Sunday could be used on Saturday or New Years Day instead, as long as they had been bought on or before Thursday, when most disruption started.

The operator said trains would be extremely busy and services may be subject to last-minute cancellations.

Chiltern Railways, which operates services from London Marylebone to stops including Oxford, Warwick and Birmingham, also warned of problems, saying: Due to a shortage of train crew, there is a high risk of short-notice cancellations and disruption on the day across all routes.

The operator said trains after midnight were not expected to be affected by staff shortages, and that customers would know of any issues on the day of travel.

Rail firms are fighting an increasing backlog of passengers after crew shortages exacerbated delays caused by Storm Gerrit. The Met Office said it would review its weather alert system on Thursday after complaints that it had not given sufficient warning of the severe impacts the storm would bring.

There was fresh disruption as a fallen tree between Rugby and Lichfield caused delays to the West Coast Main Line, which starts at London Euston, while floods on the East Coast Main Line forced LNER to close the route between Edinburgh and Aberdeen.

Greg Smith, the MP for Buckingham who sits on the transport select committee, said that train companies needed to find a way to deal with winter weather.

We have bad weather every year, and frankly the train companies need to find a way of coping with it, he said. You dont find this sort of nonsense in other countries, and crews need to stop refusing generous overtime and get on with it.

He added that it was utterly preposterous that operators had been forced to encourage people to travel early and it was beyond thinking about for hospitality if people had to cancel their New Years Eve plans.

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For Tom Wray, editor/publisher of the Springfield-based LGBTQ news publication Illinois Eagle, he'd never really felt unsafe in the Capitol City  until this year.

The "eureka" moment came as he covered the Illinois Freedom Caucus' press conference involving a 16-year-old who said that she had been kicked off the Springfield YMCA's swim team because she saw someone who claimed to be a biological man in the women's restroom, then put up signs that had phrases like "Biological Women Only" in protest.

Wray watched the crowd at Rotary Park being whipped into a frenzy and wondered if he might become a target that day, not just in words, but in actions.

Tom Wray sits on the stage at Clique, a bar in Springfield. Wray is editor/publisher of the Illinois Eagle, a publication covering LGBTQ issues.

"That was the first time I had felt physically afraid covering a story," Wray said. "The attitudes that I saw there were blatantly transphobic (and) hateful. That was a brand-new experience for me and the fact that it happened in 2023 in Springfield, which is not a super-liberal city, but it still happened here in my home, scared me more than most things have recently."

Wray's experience is an all-too-common reminder of the universality of discrimination, particularly against LGBTQ people like him. Even in Illinois, long-regarded as a "safe haven" for the LGBTQ community, there are times, like the press conference, when people like Wray can feel unsafe.

Those incidents are becoming more common and many can turn into a hate crime. According to data collected by the U.S. Department of Justice, 21.7% of all hate crimes reported in Illinois in 2022, the latest available, were based on someone's sexual orientation. The 75 incidents were significantly up from the prior two years, where only 11 were reported in 2020 and 2021.

Finding a home

Wray grew up in Indiana, right along the border of Illinois in the small town of Princeton. His career began in the Hoosier state, but he moved to Chicago in 1997 because as a gay man, he considered Illinois safer.

"Being gay in Indiana sucked," Wray said.

Wray's experience is his own, but it repeats a common refrain about the progressive nature of Illinois. Home to a Democratic trifecta, holding the governor's office and majorities in the state House and Senate, Illinois has broad discrimination protections regarding sexual orientation. Indiana, however, banned gender-affirming health care for minors in April and banned transgender youth from participating in sporting events. Both of those bills were blocked by federal courts.

Similar legislation has passed in two other border states  Missouri and Iowa. All three have Republican trifectas in state government.

However, not every place within a supposed safe haven is so safe. Brian Sylvester, director of the Springfield-based Coalition of Rainbow Alliances (CORAL), says that metropolitan areas in places like Indiana and Missouri are most likely safer than rural areas and the same goes for Illinois.

"There's certain areas that are still possibly not going to be safe," Sylvester said. "Even in the states like Indiana and Missouri and Kentucky, when you go to the metropolitan areas, everyone's a lot more open (and) non-judgmental. They're probably safer in the major cities. It's the same here in Illinois. You go to Chicago and you're probably a lot safer being a member of the LGBTQ community.

"You go to some place like Lincoln, you may not be. I'm not picking on Lincoln (but) it seems like the more rural you get, the more likely there's going to be some unease."

Yes, things are better...

Wray said legal protections for LGBTQ people were almost nonexistent in 1997 when he first moved to Illinois. Chicago did have an anti-discrimination ordinance on the books, which was one of the reasons why he moved there.

Eventually, legal cases such as Lawrence v. Summers in 2003 and Obergefell v. Hodges in 2015, which allowed gays to have sex in private and marry without state interference, provided basic rights for gay people. Both were relatively recent decisions  within the last 20 years  and are well-protected in Illinois.

Sylvester, a gay man who lives in Springfield, said that when CORAL began its yearly "The Ritz" fundraiser a decade ago, it mainly attracted 60-80 people from the LGBTQ community. Now, things are a bit different. Hundreds show up for this event each year, with a record crowd of 400 people attending this year's fundraiser at the Crowne Plaza.

No longer is the fundraiser just an event for LGBTQ people. Sylvester said that about half the people who attended the event weren't LGBTQ, but rather, supportive allies. It's a sign that more people are comfortable showing their support for their friends in the LGBTQ community, something much different than how things were a decade before.

"We're obviously seeing that a lot of support is being given to the LGBTQ community through these types of events," Sylvester said. "We're seeing a lot of heterosexual allies coming forward and saying, 'I support your freedom to live how you identify.'"

That support proves vital whenever someone says or does something that could be considered discriminatory towards LGBTQ people. Sylvester said that 20-30 years ago, that may not have been the case.

"Even people who ordinarily wouldn't say something are stepping forward and saying, 'No, you can't do that,'" Sylvester said. "This latest deal with the YMCA, the trans community and the Freedom Caucus, we had several parents who had kids going to the YMCA who reached out to us and said, 'I don't want my kids raised believing that this is okay. What can I do to prove to them that we don't do this, we show support for everyone?'"

... but not all the time

Sylvester runs into many people still flabbergasted that discrimination of this kind still exists, and he's seen instances where old prejudices still run deep, even in Springfield.

During a recent rally in support of transgender people at the steps of the Illinois State Capitol, Sylvester said that a woman stuck her head out her car's window and shouted, 'You all can die!' at the demonstrators.

"This was in the middle of a speech being given," Sylvester said. "It still exists  that hatred, misunderstanding, miseducation is still out there. There's going to be individuals that don't want to understand or wish to be educated."

Brian Sylvester, director of the Coalition of Rainbow Alliances, at his home in Springfield.

That, he said, is just a fact of life  not everyone is going to open their minds to new ideas or people who are just a little bit different from them. He said that social media does make it worse in a way, with people hiding behind the anonymity of the internet to spout homophobic, transphobic, racist, and discriminatory language.

"It's easy to go on social media and say things without a face," Sylvester said. "You can create a Facebook page, Twitter, or Instagram and never post a picture of your face and be a falsely identified person. It's like bots are out there spewing things as well. That could be nobody, but it's sharing the hatred and misunderstanding, egging people on and believing some of the things that they say."

Wray also pointed out that a lot of this rhetoric is going out into the open now, with the Freedom Caucus rally/press conference being a key example.

In his role with the Eagle, Wray is tracking statewide the open discrimination of LGBTQ people, particularly the "T" portion of that moniker. The rhetoric in the rally at Rotary Park wasn't just limited to that one patch of grass  Wray wrote about parents in Chatham who threatened to pull their children out of the Ball-Chatham district after they saw a meme in a Facebook group about biological boys using the girl's restroom.

Places like LeRoy and Morton in the Bloomington-Normal and Peoria areas, respectively, are also having to deal with transphobic and homophobic behavior, all out in the open. Physical attacks are rare, according to Wray, but the rhetoric isn't something that can just be washed away.

"It's not something that we can completely ignore," Wray said. "Transgender people have been very much targeted, even here in Springfield. Last year, the Phoenix Center (the LGBTQ community center) was the target of far-right groups for graffiti."

This newly open rhetoric has caused Wray to rethink having a Pride flag on his front door. The distinctive design of rainbow colors has been a hallmark of LGBTQ identity and allyship.

"Almost every other day, I'm now wondering, 'Should I take that down to be a little bit safer?'" Wray said. "I've kept it up so far because there are other people in the neighborhood with Pride flags, including houses with kids, and if I take mine down, they become a target."

Comfortable, but slightly thorny

Even with the expansion of rights for the LGBTQ community and the growing acceptance of their existence, Wray said that he doesn't just want gay rights to be concentrated in the progressive, big-city islands where they are most popular. He pointed out that none of the legislators who participated in that Freedom Caucus event in July were from Springfield, but he considered it an attempt by ultra-conservative groups to put a foothold in places that are friendlier to the LGBTQ community.

"It is a start to try and fight their way into the larger cities," Wray said. "I don't think we're in danger of losing Chicago, but it does feel like it's trying to turn Chicago into this island."

Not to say that Wray doesn't like living in Springfield. He does, but he says that he feels like he's at the very edge of where it can be safe to be a gay man in Illinois.

"Every once in a while, it feels like I'm at the end of a very long supply line and I'm at the edge of where it's safe," Wray said.

Sylvester also feels safe living in Springfield but pointed out that he was someone who had not personally had the kinds of horror stories that many gay men have with less accepting people.

"I've never personally felt terribly discriminated against because of my orientation," Sylvester said. "I don't know why that is. I know others have terrible stories to tell, I've just never personally experienced them myself.

"I can't imagine what it feels like, but I do feel for the trans community because I've seen it and that's where I think to myself, 'I can't even comprehend what it must feel like to feel so misunderstood and so hated, even though I'm not known by those individuals who are spewing it at me.'"

This article originally appeared on State Journal-Register: Illinois considered an LGBTQ 'safe haven' reports rise in hate crimes
The young man is seen running with the crowd of Trump supporters toward the U.S. Capitol early in the afternoon of Jan. 6, 2021. He wears a thigh-length dark blue coat, his face almost fully covered with a mask. The bill of an off-white baseball cap pokes out of the hood of his gray sweatshirt.

At 2:35 p.m. and 20 seconds, a security camera inside the Capitol captures the man as he steps across the threshold of the west door of the upper west terrace, holding up his phone, apparently capturing the moment himself. Immediately behind him is the far-right internet personality Baked Alaska.

For a few seconds, his distinctive pink Adidas Continental 80 sneakers are visible.

The security footage is among videos released during the trial of another Jan. 6 participant, a member of the Proud Boys prosecuted for seditious conspiracy. In it, and in other photos from the day, his face remains partly concealed behind the mask.

But all signs point to Oliver Krvaric, a young Republican star and scion of a powerful GOP family from San Diego. Krvaric is most notable for his job at the time of the riot.

A USA TODAY review of arrests concluded Krvaric would be the first full-time employee of the Trump administration identified entering the Capitol in the insurrection. On Jan. 6, 2021, Krvaric was working for the Office of Personnel Management on a short-lived Trump executive order that sought to rid federal agencies of certain diversity and inclusion training.

By then, the 22-year-old had built a public persona as an up-and-coming student GOP leader. Even earlier than that, his name had been used to create an identity on a site for white supremacists.

Asked whether he was at the Jan. 6 riot, Krvaric initially told USA TODAY he was not. Pressed about the photos that online researchers say show him that day, Krvaric acknowledged he attended former President Donald Trumps speech, but said he didnt go inside the Capitol. Asked about images that appear to show him inside the Capitol, he then said he didnt remember whether he went inside. Sent copies and links to the footage, he stopped responding.

As for the online persona, an email address in Krvarics first and middle names was used in 2016 to create a profile on a neo-Nazi website. That user praised Adolf Hitler, backed deportation of non-white people and expressed disgust of the LGBTQ+ population.

Kvaric said he did not recall the posts. He did not deny making them, and said he did not particularly recognize the email address behind them.

I dont know if thats long in the past, or  I wouldnt recognize anything, Krvaric said about the posts, which appeared on the now-defunct white supremacist forum Iron March. I just dont have a recollection.

Oliver Krvaric, as president of his university's College Republicans, penned a letter to President Trump asking him to cancel all temporary worker visas for foreign nationals. The publicity led to interviews including with then-Fox host Tucker Carlson.

Krvaric led the College Republicans while at San Diego State University. In a 2020 opinion column in the San Diego Union Tribune, he penned a portentous message:The temporary upheaval that consumed the Republican Party up through the early months of the new administration is nothing like whats coming should President Trump lose re-election in November.

The following January brought the insurrection. Since then, more than 1,000 people have been charged for crimes ranging from simply entering the building to seditious conspiracy. But as the third anniversary approaches, hundreds of other participants who may be identifiable in photos and videos remain free.

Online sleuths used high-tech facial recognition software to try matching photos of Krvaric to photos from Jan. 6. That technology pointed toward the man in the blue coat.

But other evidence also places Krvaric on the streets of the capital that day.

Krvaric was working in D.C. at the time, and acknowledges being at Trumps rally on Jan 6. Others close to him had also heard he was involved in the insurrection, including two former colleagues who told USA TODAY they heard Krvarics younger brother bragging about Krvaric storming the Capitol. One of the former colleagues reviewed the photos from the day for USA TODAY and identified the man in the mask as Krvaric.

The man in the blue coat was also photographed waving a flag connected to a far-right group Krvaric has been photographed with in the past.

And then there are the distinctive shoes. A year and a half before the Jan. 6 insurrection, Krvaric appeared in photographs from a San Diego Republican Party event. On his feet in those photos: Adidas Continental 80s. Color: pink.

At the insurrection

A spokesman for the Office of Personnel Management, which serves as a sort of human resources department for federal agencies, confirmed that Oliver Krvaric was employed by the department as a confidential assistant from November 2020 to January 2021.

Krvaric also lists his work for the Trump administration on his LinkedIn page. He now works for a security firm, and his LinkedIn page says hes looking for political work.

In his interview with USA TODAY, where he acknowledged being in Washington on Jan. 6, he initially said he was at work that day, not at the Capitol.

Only after being asked about the photographs of the man in the blue coat in the crowd, holding a Trump flag and a blue America First flag connected to the far-right extremist Groyper movement, did Krvaric acknowledge he was on the streets of the capital that day. He said he attended Trumps now-infamous speech at the Ellipse, where the former President called on protestors to march to where the votes from the 2020 election were being certified.

I was not in the Capitol. I did not go into any offices, I didnt wander the halls, he said. I was not in the premises.

Then asked if that meant he truly never crossed the threshold of the building, he said, What do you mean by the threshold?

Told of the surveillance video from inside the Capitol, Krvaric said: I dont know about that, Id have to see it. USA TODAY sent him a text message with a link to that footage in early December. He has not responded.

Security footage from the U.S. Capitol on Jan. 6 shows a man in a blue coat and hooded sweatshirt entering the building at the same time as a high-profile livestreamer.

In the footage, the man in the blue coat walks down a corridor toward a second door, looks inside and nods his head enthusiastically, before retracing his steps. As he heads toward an exterior door, a camera catches him in full frame: ball cap, blue coat and pink Adidas shoes.

Its unknown whether he went elsewhere in the Capitol. Mere presence inside the building has been enough for a charge in other cases. Among the 1,000-plus people charged for events that day, one of the most common charges is entering or remaining in a restricted building or grounds.

Capitol security footage from Jan. 6. This angle shows the man in the blue coat, who is also wearing pink shoes, turn around and walk back down the corridor.

Anthime Gionet, the far-right extremist influencer known as Baked Alaska, who livestreamed video online as he walked into the Capitol at the same time, was charged with knowingly entering and remaining on restricted grounds, violent entry and disorderly conduct. In January he was sentenced to two months in prison and ordered to pay $2,500. Other rioters who committed vandalism and violence have been sentenced to harsher sentences.

The idea that Krvaric participated in the Jan. 6 Capitol raid has circulated in political circles in his hometown.

Two former colleagues of Oliver Krvaric told USA TODAY Krvarics younger brother, Victor, bragged to them that Oliver had entered the Capitol on Jan. 6. Two other former colleagues said they heard this rumor from people Victor told. All four sources asked not to be identified because they still work in local politics.

Victor Krvaric declined comment for this story.

One of Oliver Krvarics former colleagues said she was concerned enough to alert the FBI in late 2021. Shes the one who was shown the footage of the man in the blue coat and commented that it showed Krvarics very distinctive face  which is long, with close-set eyes.

Oh yes thats him, she wrote in a message.

The FBI, asked whether it had received a tip or was investigating Krvaric, declined to comment.

The man in the security footage is not apparently included on current FBI wanted lists. However, as USA TODAY reported earlier this year, even among those whose faces have been published on FBI lists, many have yet to be charged. A USA TODAY report in March identified two such people; the FBI arrested them in August and November  nearly three years after the insurrection.

House speaker Mike Johnson has promised to release tens of thousands of hours of security footage from the Capitol in the coming months.

Research about Krvaric was first provided to USA TODAY by a member of the Sedition Hunters, a group of volunteer sleuths who have used facial recognition and other research to identify hundreds of people who stormed the Capitol on Jan. 6.

Kevin Bowyer, a computer science professor and expert on facial recognition, said because the man in the blue coats full face isnt seen in footage and photographs, any facial recognition match is a starting point for further research.

USA TODAY reviewed the surveillance videos, photos from outside the Capitol, social media photos identifying Krvaric, and the leaked online data and public records that linked him to the email address for the profile that made the white-supremacist online posts.

Working for the federal government

The list of people already charged or convicted for activity inside the Capitol that day includes numerous active-duty military members, and at least one political appointee, but does not so far appear to include regular federal employees.

The details of Krvarics work as a federal employee arent clear. The spokesman wouldnt discuss his work at the federal agency beyond confirming dates of employment. Krvavics LinkedIn page says he was hired by the OPM for immediate assistance with enforcement and implementation of Executive Order 13950.

That order, signed by Trump on Sept. 22, 2020, purports to promote unity in the Federal workforce, and to combat offensive and anti-American race and sex stereotyping and scapegoating.

At the time, a national debate was raging over the teaching of so-called Critical Race Theory in schools, colleges and places of work, and this order was widely seen as Trumps contribution to the pushback. President Joe Biden revoked the order the day he was inaugurated.

For Krvaric, the brief stint working in Washington perhaps couldnt have been a better fit with his own worldview. It also aligned with a profile that had been created, years earlier, on the notorious neo-Nazi forum Iron March.

Posts on a neo-Nazi forum

On Sept. 12, 2016, a new user posted on Iron March. The newcomer used the handle NeoSvensk. Svensk means Swedish in the Swedish language. Tony Krvaric, Olivers father, emigrated to the United States from Sweden.

Three years after the post appeared, Iron March was hacked and the sites data was posted online for all to see. The data reveals that the NeoSvensk account was created by someone using an email address that begins OllyIvan. Ivan is Oliver Krvarics middle name. The IP address connected to the account was geo-located in San Diego.

The username NeoSvensk was also used to create an account on the instant messaging app Kik. That accounts profile picture is a stylized photograph resembling Krvaric.

In Iron March posts obtained by USA TODAY, NeoSvensk  applying to join the forum and meet like-minded white supremacists  bragged of his Swedish ancestry. He talked openly of his admiration for Hitler and fascism and his disdain for multiculturalism, and used a derisive term for gay men, whom he described as utterly revolting.

Other details from those accounts all show alignment between Oliver Krvaric and the person writing as NeoSvensk: The poster said he was 18  Krvarics age in September 2016; that he was attending university and living in California  Krvaric lived in San Diego at the time and graduated from high school that spring; and that he has a grandmother in Malmo, Sweden  where Krvarics father grew up.

I understand working from within the current system is frowned upon but its the only way I know, the NeoSvensk account wrote.

Five years later, Oliver Krvaric was working inside the federal government.

Asked about the posts on Iron March, Krvaric said he didnt recall making them. But when he was asked directly if he recognized the OllyIvan email address used to create the online accounts, Krvaric said, Not particularly.

At San Diego State University, where he was the president of the College Republicans, Krvaric was instrumental in pushing the group to become more conservative.

In order to mobilize and win the trust of their voters, Republican candidates must increasingly demonstrate their commitment to MAGA, he wrote in a July 2020 opinion column in the San Diego Union Tribune.

The same year, Krvarics SDSU College Republicans penned a letter to President Trump asking him to cancel all temporary worker visas for foreign nationals. The controversial letter earned Krvaric an interview on Tucker Carlson Tonight and on a local news station.

When Carlson asked Krvaric what he thought about the H1-B visa program, which allows foreign nationals to work in the United States, Krvaric responded:

Personally, I think its unconscionable  American patriots, going back to the 1990s and even further on, have repeatedly sounded the alarm on the guest worker abuse thats displacing American workers.

On Iron March, NeoSvensk had discussed immigration in other terms, expressing a particular admiration for the British fascist Oswald Mosley.

[T]he accomplishments of white Europeans and their frequency vastly and significantly outweighs anything ever produced or built by those of any other race or continent, a typical post reads. I have no qualms with forcibly deporting and repatriating all non-whites from Sweden, adds another post.

In interviews with USA TODAY, Krvaric stressed his conservative values and doubled down on his support for former president Trump. He disputed the categorization of his politics as extremist.

The left will consider any conservative platform not entirely focused on lukewarm fiscal policy to be extreme, he wrote by email. They would prefer the GOP to be a defanged party.

A family history

Tony Krvaric, patriarch of the Krvaric family, has been well-known in political circles in California for decades. While he no longer heads the local GOP, the elder Krvaric retains political power behind-the-scenes, said Larry Remer, a political consultant based in San Diego.

Hes still a player in Republican politics, Remer said. Hes one of the local wise men of the Republican party.

In 2020, an old animated video surfaced of the then-chairman of the San Diego Republican Party. The video, produced decades earlier, features photographs of Hitler doing a Nazi salute and swastikas, interspersed with photos of a young Tony Krvaric wearing dark sunglasses. It also depicts one man with a swastika drawn on his neck.

The elder Krvaric did not respond to phone calls and text messages from USA TODAY requesting an interview, but he condemned the video in an August 2020 interview with the San Diego Union Tribune, and said it was created as part of a smear campaign against him.

"Of course it's in bad taste and it's offensive," he told the newspaper. "All those things go without saying."

Last year, Victor Krvaric, Olivers younger brother who was a Marine reservist and now works for the family investment business, was investigated by the Marine Corps for alleged ties to white supremacist groups including the extremist Texas-based group Patriot Front.

Krvaric was separated from the Corps in May 2022, a Corps spokesman told USA TODAY.

According to copies of Patriot Fronts online chats, which were leaked online by the journalism collective Unicorn Riot, Victor Krvaric allegedly told a recruiter for the group that he was introduced to right-wing literature by his older brother.

On one topic, however, Oliver and Victor's father, Tony Krvaric, has made a public comment: On Jan. 7, 2021, he retweeted a tweet from USA TODAY calling for help identifying people who broke into the Capitol the day before. He added a caption:

Im 100% on board with prosecuting everyone who broke the law yesterday.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Ex-GOP student leader Oliver Krvaric on role at the Capitol Jan. 6
Paul Whelan, a former Marine, has now spent half a decade detained under false charges in Russia, where he has been confined in a penal colony under difficult conditions, U.S. officials said.

December 28 marks five years since Russian authorities wrongfully detained U.S. citizen Paul Whelan, Secretary of State Antony Blinken said in a statement.

Whelan, 52, was arrested in Moscow in 2018 and accused of committing espionage by Russian officials, a charge the U.S. government and Whelans family have vehemently denied.

Its a hard way to live your life, David Whelan, Pauls twin brother, told McClatchy News. The longer this goes on obviously the more corrosive its going to become

Its unbelievable to me that Ive been here five years, that weve had two governments that havent been able to get me out of here, Paul Whelan told CNN in the lead-up to his half-decade anniversary of detainment.

Who is Paul Whelan?

Born to British parents in Canada, Whelan grew up in Ann Arbor, Michigan, according to a website set up by his family dedicated towards securing his freedom.

After working for multiple police departments in the Great Lake State and as an IT consultant, Whelan enlisted with the U.S. Marine Reserves. He was deployed to Iraq in 2004, serving on duty for two tours, his family said.

Whelan was discharged from the Marines in 2008 after he was convicted of attempting to steal $10,410, CNN reported in 2019, citing military court documents.

In 2017, he was hired as a global security director by Borg Warner, an automotive parts supplier, where he traveled the globe, visiting various plants.

Paul has always enjoyed travel, and often augments work trips with a few vacation days to visit certain sites or explore neighboring countries, his family said.

He traveled to Moscow on December 22, 2018, to attend a friends wedding. Eight days later, after not showing up at the wedding, he disappeared, his family said.

Days later, his family learned he had been detained by the FSB, Russias security service, on a charge of espionage. Russian officials have not disclosed any evidence that Whelan was acting as a spy, his family said.

Before he was arrested, Whelan was handed a flash drive that held Russian state secrets, though he was unaware of the contents, his attorney, Vladimir Zherebenkov, told Russian news outlets in 2019, according to an Associated Press story published in the Detroit Free Press.

No one really knows whats on that USB stick, and the Russian government never had to be upfront or say what was on it, David Whelan said.

During a secret trial in June 2020, he was sentenced to 16 years in prison, AP reported.

Efforts to secure his release

Over the ensuing years, efforts to secure Whelans release have failed, while other detained Americans have been freed.

Former President Donald Trump said he turned down a deal to free Whelan in an exchange, which he said would have included the release of a Russian labeled a Merchant of Death.

President Joe Bidens Administration has said it is committed to freeing Whelan, whose imprisonment is unacceptable, Blinken said in 2022.

Two prisoner exchange deals were negotiated between Russian and U.S. officials in 2022, neither of which included Whelan.

In April 2022, Trevor Reed, also a Marine veteran, was swapped for Konstantin Yaroshenko, a Russian drug trafficker imprisoned in the United States, according to the Associated Press.

WNBA player Brittney Griner was exchanged for Viktor Bout, a Russian arms dealer, in December 2022, per the outlet.

The Biden Administration, though, has said it has not forgotten Whelan and remains committed to ensuring he is freed.

Not a day goes by without intensive U.S. Government efforts to bring Paul home, Blinken said. We will not rest until he is safely back with his family where he belongs.

Over the past year, Whelan has been assaulted by other prisoners and has faced harassment from members of Russia state media, Blinken said.

I think he really now cant be certain from a physical security standpoint that hes going to be left alone, David Whelan said.

Whelans family, which has lobbied the government to secure Whelans release, is not optimistic about the chances of seeing him freed in the near future.

I havent seen anything that gives me hope that were any closer to getting Paul freed, David Whelan said. The U.S. government is really at a point where they dont seem to have any concessions within their own control that the Kremlin wants and its not clear why.

It is hard to have to listen to Paul begging for his life... David Whelan said in a statement.

Another American citizen, Wall Street Journal reporter Evan Gershkovich, also remains wrongfully held behind bars in Russia, according to U.S. officials.

Will gas prices spike in US as cargo ships are attacked in Mideast? Experts weigh in

As Ukraine president visits Washington, where does American public stand on more aid?

Trump barred from Colorado ballot by court  but do voters agree? What new poll shows
(KRON)  A Capitola woman is still missing more than three weeks after her disappearance, the Capitola Police Department reported Wednesday. Her boyfriend has been identified as the primary person of interest, and police say he is not cooperating with the case.

Alice Alyx Kamakaokalani Herrmann, 61, was last seen in Santa Cruz on Dec. 3. Police believe she may have been the victim of a homicide.

Alice Alyx Kamakaokalani Herrmann lives in Capitola.

Based on evidence located during the investigation, law enforcement has reason to believe Alive may be the victim of a homicide, Capitola police said.

Herrmanns car was found parked in front of Theobald Theo Lengyels El Cerrito house. Lengyel, 54, who was Hermanns boyfriend, played saxophone in the rock band Mr. Bungle. He also goes by the name Mylo Stone.

Herrmanns red 2007 Toyota Highlander SUV was found parked in front of her boyfriends home. (ECPD photo)

Hermann was officially reported missing by her relatives on Dec. 12 because she missed a flight to Hawaii.

Lengyel drove from El Cerrito to Portland, OR after Hermann disappeared, the El Cerrito Police Department said. The Capitola Police Department said it has taken lead on the investigation and is collaborating with ECPD and Portland police.

Herrmann is a Pacific Islander who stands 5-foot-4, weighs 135 pounds, has hazel eyes, and brown hair. Lengyel is a white man who stands 5-foot-10, 170 pounds and has brown eyes and hair.

The boyfriend drives this blue 1989 Ford pickup truck with the license plate UNCLDRT. (ECPD photo)

Lengyel drives a blue 1989 Ford pickup truck with the license plate UNCLDRT. His car and Hermanns red Toyota Highlander are both in police custody.

Anyone with information about Hermann or Lengyel is asked to email zcurrier@ci.capitola.ca.us.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KRON4.
Two days before the January 6 insurrection, the Trump campaigns plan to use fake electors to block President-elect Joe Biden from taking office faced a potentially crippling hiccup: The fake elector certificates from two critical battleground states were stuck in the mail.

So, Trump campaign operatives scrambled to fly copies of the phony certificates from Michigan and Wisconsin to the nations capital, relying on a haphazard chain of couriers, as well as help from two Republicans in Congress, to try to get the documents to then-Vice President Mike Pence while he presided over the Electoral College certification.

The operatives even considered chartering a jet to ensure the files reached Washington, DC, in time for the January 6, 2021, proceeding, according to emails and recordings obtained by CNN.

The new details provide a behind-the-scenes glimpse of the chaotic last-minute effort to keep Donald Trump in office. The fake electors scheme features prominently in special counsel Jack Smiths criminal indictment against the former president, and some of the officials who were involved have spoken to Smiths investigators.

The emails and recordings also indicate that a top Trump campaign lawyer was part of 11th-hour discussions about delivering the fake elector certificates to Pence, potentially undercutting his testimony to the House select committee that investigated January 6 that he had passed off responsibility and didnt want to put the former vice president in a difficult spot.

These details largely come from pro-Trump attorney Kenneth Chesebro, who was an architect of the fake electors plot and is now a key cooperator in several state probes into the scheme. Chesebro pleaded guilty in October to a felony conspiracy charge in Georgia in connection with the electors plan, and has met with prosecutors in Michigan, Nevada and Wisconsin, who are investigating the sham GOP electors in their own states.

Kenneth Chesebro speaks to Fulton County Superior Court Judge Scott McAfee during a hearing where Chesebro accepted a plea deal from the Fulton County District Atorney at the Fulton County Courthouse October 20 in Atlanta. - Alyssa Pointer/Getty Images

Chesebro is an unindicted co-conspirator in the federal election interference indictment against Trump.

CNN has obtained audio of Chesebros recent interview with Michigan investigators, and exclusively reported earlier this month that he also told them about a December 2020 Oval Office meeting where he briefed Trump about the fake electors plan and how it ties into January 6.

An attorney for Chesebro declined to comment. A spokesman for the special counsels office did not reply to a request for comment for this story.

A high-level decision

Emails obtained by CNN corroborate what Chesebro told Michigan prosecutors: He communicated with the top Trump campaign lawyer, Matt Morgan, and another campaign official, Mike Roman, to ferry the documents to Washington on January 5.

From there, Sen. Ron Johnson of Wisconsin and a Pennsylvania congressman assisted in the effort to get the documents into Pences hands.

This is a high-level decision to get the Michigan and Wisconsin votes there, Chesebro told Michigan prosecutors. And they had to enlist, you know, a US senator to try to expedite it, to get it to Pence in time.

Chesebro also discussed the episode with Wisconsin investigators last week when he sat for an interview with the attorney generals office as part of a separate state probe into the fake electors plot, a source familiar with the matter told CNN.

Wisconsin prosecutors asked about the episode extensively, the source said, noting Chesebro discussed how a Wisconsin GOP staffer flew the certificate from Milwaukee to Washington and then handed it off to Chesebro.

The firsthand account from Chesebros perspective helps fill in the narrative behind the effort to hand-deliver elector slates to Pence, which is vaguely referenced in Smiths federal indictment.

Trump pleaded not guilty to the charges, which include conspiring with Chesebro and others to obstruct the January 6 certification proceeding. Before Chesebros guilty plea in Georgia, his attorneys reached out to Smiths team. As of this week, he has not heard back from federal prosecutors, a source familiar with the matter told CNN.

Federal investigators have spoken with several individuals involved in the scramble with the phony elector certificates, according to a source familiar with the matter. This includes interviews with Trump staffers who were tapped to fly the papers to DC, and some fake electors who knew of the planning.

A spokesperson for the Trump campaign did not reply to a request for comment.

Asked about the episode, a spokesperson for Johnson pointed to his previous comments, where he said, my involvement in that attempt to deliver spanned the course of a couple seconds, and that, in the end, those electors were not delivered.

Day-by-day coordination

According to the recordings of Chesebros sit-down with Michigan prosecutors, he explained how a legal memo he wrote for Wisconsin transformed into a nationwide operation, where Trump lawyers were day-by-day coordinating the efforts of more than a dozen people with the GOP and with the Trump campaign.

On January 4, 2021, Morgan sent an email to Chesebro and Roman asking for confirmation that all of the Trump elector slates had been received by Congress, according to the documents obtained by CNN.

Matt Morgan participates in a news conference at the Republican National Committee headquarters in Washington, DC, in November 2020. - Michael Reynolds/EPA-EFE/Shutterstock

Roman responded that the Michigan certificate had been mailed on December 15 but was still in transit at a US Postal Service facility in DC. Wisconsins certificate also had apparently not arrived.

Chesebro told prosecutors that Morgan was freaked out when the campaign realized the phony certificates from Michigan were still in the mail.

That same day, Morgan weighed in over email asking Chesebro and Roman to rethink how they would deliver the certificates to Pence.

As I thought about this more, a courier will not be able to access the Capitol to deliver a sealed package, Morgan wrote on January 4, according to emails obtained by CNN You will probably need to enlist the help of a legislator who can deliver to the appropriate place(s). I strongly recommend you guys discuss a revised delivery plan with Rudy (Giuliani) to make sure this gets done the way he wants.

Can we charter a flight?

Roman was concerned the Wisconsin documents wouldnt reach Washington in time.

Can we charter a flight? The only available commercial from MKE (Milwaukee Mitchell International Airport) to DCA (Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport) arrives at 2130 tomorrow night, Roman wrote to Chesebro on January 4 at 11:24 p.m.

The job of physically flying the elector documents to Washington fell to two people: A Trump campaign staffer and a Wisconsin GOP official, according to the emails and what Chesebro told prosecutors.

The Wisconsin GOP official who had that states elector documents landed after 10 a.m. on January 5 at Baltimore-Washington International Airport, according to the emails.

Trump campaign aide Michael Brown flew with the Michigan certificates to Washington National Airport with a scheduled arrival around 1 p.m., according to emails obtained by CNN. A source familiar with the matter told CNN that Brown flew to DC from Atlanta, because the Trump staffers who had custody of the Michigan ballots were in Georgia for the Senate runoffs.

The campaign booked and paid for Browns flight on Southwest Airlines, the source said. Federal campaign finance records indicate that a pro-Trump super PAC paid the airline on the day of Browns flight for travel related to election recount efforts.

Trump Hotel meetup

The emails show that Brown and the Wisconsin GOP official were instructed to meet Chesebro at the Trump International Hotel in downtown Washington to hand off the fake elector certificates. Chesebro said in an email that hed keep the ballots in his hotel room safe until it was time to pass them along.

Barricades outside the Trump International Hotel in Washington, DC, on January 17, 2021. - Pete Kiehart/Bloomberg/Getty Images

Wisconsin Republican Party officials were annoyed at the request to courier the fake elector certificates to Washington. Freaking trump idiots want someone to fly original elector papers to the senate President, a Wisconsin GOP official wrote to then-state party chairman Andrew Hitt on January 4, according to the January 6 committee report.

Hitt  who has provided information to federal investigators about the efforts to get the fake elector certificates to Washington, according to a source familiar with the matter  told the January 6 committee that the couriering ended up being overkill, because the original documents that the state party had mailed to Washington actually made it in time.

Getting the certificates inside the Capitol

The documents still had to be hand-delivered to Pences Senate office in the Capitol.

The electors plot  as envisioned by Chesebro and other Trump allies  was that Pence could reject Bidens legitimate electors and recognize Trumps alternate electors on January 6, while lawmakers tallied the electoral votes from each state. Per federal law, the certificates need to be physically presented on the floor of Congress during the joint session, while lawmakers tally the electoral votes.

Chesebro told investigators that Roman connected him with an aide for a Pennsylvania GOP lawmaker that he believed was Rep. Scott Perry to turn over the documents. Chesebro wasnt certain which congressman the staffer worked for  and the January 6 report says a staffer for a different Pennsylvania Republican, Rep. Mike Kelly, helped shuttle the documents that day.

I had the Wisconsin stuff. [Trump campaign aide] Mike Brown had the Michigan stuff. We walked to the Longworth Office Building, and the guy with Perry, or whatever his name is, and some other fellow, that were like staff members of the House, took them and said, Were going to walk them over to the Senate and give it to a Senate staffer, Chesebro told Michigan prosecutors, according to the audio obtained by CNN.

I dont know why logistically we didnt take it directly to Johnson. But thats how we did it, he added.

Kelly and Perrys offices did not respond to CNNs requests for comment.

Brown did not comment for this story. CNN previously reported that he testified in June to Smiths grand jury in the Trump election subversion probe.

CNN previously reported that Roman sat for a proffer interview with Smiths team before Trump was indicted. He was also indicted in the sweeping Georgia election racketeering case, in connection with the fake electors scheme, and has pleaded not guilty.

Romans attorney did not respond to multiple requests for comment.

The details from Chesebro put a finer point on how members of Congress, including a sitting US senator, were involved in making sure the electoral certificates for Trump ended up in Pences hands.

The January 6 committee first revealed last year Johnsons involvement in trying unsuccessfully to deliver the fake elector certificates to Pence, who announced on the morning of the joint session that it would be unconstitutional to do what Trump wanted and unilaterally overturn the election results.

The committee revealed text messages during their hearings last year that Johnson aide Sean Riley sent to Pence aide Chris Hodgson, saying that Johnson needs to hand something to VPOTUS please advise.

What is it? Hodgson asked.

Alternate slates of electors for MI and WI because archivist didnt receive them, Riley responded.

Do not give that to him, Hodgson said.

F**k these guys

In his Michigan interview, Chesebro also dished on some of the internal disagreements among the Trump lawyers, campaign officials and other allies, who clashed over the purpose of the electors plan and how far to take things on January 6.

Chesebro has maintained  then, and now  that the plan was a lawful move to preserve Trumps legal rights.

Even before the Trump electors met in their state capitals on December 14, 2020, to cast their fake ballots and sign the certificates, Chesebro heard about concerns from some of the electors about possible legal jeopardy, according to emails and text messages reported by the Detroit News and obtained by CNN.

Chesebro added hedging language for the faux certificates from Pennsylvania and New Mexico in response to those concerns. He proposed to Roman and Morgan that they add the contingency caveats to the paperwork for all seven states in the plan. But Roman rejected the idea, according to the emails.

F**k these guys, Roman texted Chesebro on December 12, 2020.

Trump campaign staff member Michael Roman in his booking photo at the Fulton County Jail on August 25 in Atlanta. - Fulton County Sheriff's Office

By this time, the Trump campaign had essentially cleaved in two. Top officials who had managed day-to-day activity for Trump up to the election, including in court, say they ceded responsibility to Rudy Giuliani and others, such as Chesebro, according to congressional testimony transcripts. Roman effectively switched teams to work under Giulianis structure, according to the testimony from Morgan and others.

A spokesperson for Giuliani did not reply to a request for comment.

It really went south on me

Chesebro told Michigan investigators that his own emails show that Morgan remained deeply involved, including in the final hours before January 6, to ensure that the certificates reached DC.

I dont have a really warm feeling toward, at least, the top Trump lawyers that did this, hid from me what they were doing and then lied to Congress about me. So, its been really difficult, Chesebro said.

In his congressional testimony, Morgan said he knew of the elector plan but wanted to distance himself from the effort, delegating the work to others, including those under Giuliani.

Morgan told the January 6 committee last year that he initially believed the electors were only meant to be used as a contingency. The electors, he believed, should meet in their state capitals and cast their electoral votes but not necessarily submit the certificates to Congress unless we prevailed in court.

Morgan told the committee that the plan changed in December, saying it morphed from a cast-and-hold operation and had shifted to cast-and-send. And thats when Morgan told the committee that he backed out, testifying that he directed an aide to email Mr. Chesebro politely to say, this is your task. You are responsible for the Electoral College issues moving forward.

This was my way of taking that responsibility to zero, Morgan told the committee, later adding that he moved on after that email was sent.

Morgan explained that he was concerned that the new plan to try to count the fake electors on January 6 would make the Vice Presidents life harder, and I didnt want to be a part of that.

Mr. Morgan stands by his congressional testimony, his defense attorneys told CNN in response to his emails and Chesebros statements to investigators.

Ultimately, on the eve of the joint session of Congress, Morgan helped get the ballots in place, according to the emails and according to Chesebro, who blamed his legal troubles squarely on the Trump campaigns legal team.

I could have avoided all this, Chesebro vented to Michigan prosecutors. Its been a real lesson in not working with people that you dont know and are not sure you can trust, because it really went south on me.

CNNs Avery Lotz, Annie Klingenberg, Fredreka Schouten contributed to this report.

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The three Ukrainian soldiers whose execution was filmed and has recently appeared online were soldiers of the 82nd Air Assault Brigade of the Armed Forces of Ukraine.

Source: 82nd Air Assault Brigade on Telegram

Quote: "This footage is yet another proof of a war crime committed by the military of the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation.

Unidentified persons from the Russian Armed Forces or other military formations of the aggressor state, acting intentionally, in violation of the laws and customs of war, being on the line of contact in one of the districts of Zaporizhzhia Oblast, in violation of Article 3 of the Geneva Convention relative to the Treatment of Prisoners of War adopted on 12 August 1949, as well as other norms of international humanitarian law, deliberately killed people protected [under the article] during armed conflict.

Namely, three servicemen of the 82nd Air Assault Brigade of the Air Assault Forces of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, who were killed as a result of being captured (hors de combat) after receiving injuries and contusions of varying severity."

Details: The paratroopers note that this criminal offence has been registered in the Unified Register of Pre-trial Investigations, and the case file will be submitted to the International Criminal Court.

The dead soldiers were evacuated from the battlefield.

Background:

The Ukrainian Prosecutor's Office has launched an investigation into the execution of Ukrainian prisoners of war by Russian soldiers near Zaporizhzhia.

Investigators say Russian Armed Forces servicemen captured three Ukrainian defenders in December 2023 during a combat engagement with Ukraines Defence Forces near the village of Robotyne in Zaporizhzhia Oblast. An hour later, the Russians shot them dead in violation of Article 3 of the Geneva Convention relative to the Treatment of Prisoners of War.

A video of this has spread on the internet.

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Some Kentucky jails are among the first in the country to get new contact-free technology that can measure a patients heart and respiratory rates using a sensor mounted in the wall or ceiling, allowing jail officials to better monitor whether inmates are having health issues.

The system uses radar technology to monitor patients vital signs by responding to the tiny vibrations in their bodies created by the movement of their heart and lungs.

The developers say the goal is to help detention centers detect and respond to inmate overdoses or other medical emergencies, saving lives. Often, people being booked into detention centers come in intoxicated or are detoxing, putting them at risk for a medical emergency, said Dr. Scott Wilson.

They may not want to openly come forward and say, Oh, I just used methamphetamine, Wilson said. They may have swallowed a handful of pills before being arrested in an attempt to get rid of the drugs.

He said said the radar sensors are revolutionary when it comes to monitoring people who may not be extremely complaint with monitoring devices.

In 2019, the most recent year for which data was available, 24 people died while being held in local jails in Kentucky and 1,200 died in local jails nationwide, according to the Department of Justice. Nearly 60% had been incarcerated 30 days or fewer.

Nationally, most of the deaths in local jails, 46.1%, were as a result of illness; 26.9% were as a result of suicide; and 15.3% were from drug or alcohol intoxication, which was an increase over the 4.1% who died from intoxication in 2000, according to the DOJ.

It is a solution that gives reassurance to the custodian of that person that you otherwise would not have, Wilson said.

The ultra-wideband radar technology was created by a Toronto-based company, Xandar Kardian, and is being marketed to jails by Kentucky-based company Reassurance Solutions.

The technology has been deployed in more than 20 correctional facilities, most of which are in Kentucky, and a number of others are in the process of getting it installed, Wilson, of Reassurance Solutions, said in an interview earlier this year.

Wilson said he and his business partner in Reassurance Solutions decided to partner with Xandar Kardian after we saw how groundbreaking this was in all aspects of health care.

Sam Yang, CEO of Xandar Kardian, said the system isnt designed to replace jail staff.

Instead, he said, our sensors are designed to focus staff on those who need attention.

No facility in the United States has a one to one staff to inmate ratio, Wilson said.

He said the intervals between checks are the scary time period when something could happen.

Simpson County Jailer Eric Vaughn said his jail had the sensors installed in its medical cells and holding cells for new intakes about six or seven months ago.

Its like an extra set of eyes, he said.

Vaughn also serves as vice president of the Kentucky Jailers Association, and he said that within a week, he was getting calls from other jailers, asking how they liked the system. Since then, he said, they spread like wildfire across the state of Kentucky.

Vaughn said the jails protocol is to put new inmates in a single holding cell for one to six hours when they first come in.

If it alarms, theres definitely something going on, he said.

McCracken County Chief Deputy Jailer Stephen Carter said the detention center where he works had 16 sensors installed in its isolation and observation cells last spring as just another layer of security.

People who are being held in those cells are either detoxing or theyre on medical watch or theyre on suicide watch, he said.

He said each of those cells has a camera running at all times, and staff must do regular checks as well.

The sensors are an extra layer of safety and security for the inmates, Carter said.

Vaughn agreed, saying the jail still must conduct cell checks every 10 to 15 minutes.

Theyre definitely not a replacement for the deputies, he said.

Sometimes people are brought into the jail having taken drugs before their arrival. Vaughn said sometimes people even ingest drugs they have in their possession, hoping to avoid another criminal charge.

They were fine one minute, but then that drug kicks in, he said.

Its a very crucial time as people detox, Carter said, and your vitals can go off the charts pretty quick.

A lot of people that they bring in the back door dont disclose what theyve used, said Fulton County Jailer Steven Williams.

Vaughn said the sensor is just one more tool in our toolbox.

Its a preventative for the unknown, he said. Its a good thing.

How it works

An ultra-wideband radar sensor mounted to the wall or ceiling in each cell sends data about the inmates vital signs to a computer monitor or screen in a control room monitored by jail staff. The data on the screen is highlighted in green when all is well. It changes to yellow or red if the persons resting heart rate or respiratory rate goes outside a set range, alerting staff to check on them.

Reassurance Solutions says the system is compliant with HIPAA regulations.

Williams said inmates privacy is protected since the screen does not display a name, only the cell number.

Each sensor can be set to alert based on what is typical for individual inmates.

Yang said changes in vital signs can help clinicians more quickly detect oncoming illnesses such as COVID-19, pneumonia or a urinary tract infection.

Yang said other applications for the technology include health care settings like hospitals and nursing homes.

He said the same team has been working on the system for almost 10 years based on research conducted 12 years ago.

After receiving FDA clearance two years ago, Yang said the company rolled out the system first among hospitals during the COVID-19 pandemic, when medical facilities were looking for ways to keep nurses from having to go into patient rooms as frequently.

This year, it began reaching out to corrections facilities and nursing homes.

Next year, Yang said, the company has plans to begin marketing it for home use.

He said the company believes theres a large market for the system among people with chronic conditions who could benefit from continuous monitoring.

Next year, were going to be ramping up and growing fast, he said.

So far, Yang said, more than 5,000 sensors have been deployed in the U.S. and about 8,000 worldwide.

Its so exciting to be able to help people. We save peoples lives, he said.

Yang admitted the products biggest limitation is that it can only be used in cells with one person in them, so it doesnt work in areas with multiple inmates.

Vaughn said hes looking forward to a future generation of the product that could monitor multiple people at once.

In August, Williams said he had 26 sensors installed in the Fulton County detention center, which has 525 beds, at a cost of about $80,000.

Since then, weve had several alerts, he said.

Williams said sometimes those alerts are false alarms, and sometimes somebody just didnt take blood pressure medicine.

But overall, he said the system is working well, though he said theres still kinks and bugs to be worked out.

Wilson said the sensors cost $4,000 to $5,000 each, plus installation costs and monitoring, as well as an annual maintenance fee.

All three jailers interviewed for this report said they used their jails commissary funds to pay for the sensors, though Wilson said some facilities might seek grants or rely on public funding to install them.

Its not cheap, Williams said.

Yang said the infrastructure needed to install sensors in buildings with concrete walls adds to the cost.

Carter said in an interview that jails can spend commissary funds on anything thats beneficial to the inmate, and this meets that criterion.

This is an expensive device, but the ability to save a life is priceless, Wilson said.

He said jail staff help protect the community but also are responsible for making sure inmates are cared for.

Theyre people, Yang said. They should be able to have the same health care.
Four current senators and three former senators who opposed gun reform legislation following the 2012 mass shooting at Sandy Hook Elementary School told The Washington Post they now believe they made a mistake. "My activity was passive, not active, in searching for a solution, and that I regret," former Sen. Heidi Heitkamp, D-N.D., told the outlet. Heitkamp had joined three other Democrats and 41 Republicans in blocking a 2013 background check bill Sandy Hook families had asked her to support.

Sens. Michael Bennet, D-Colo.; Martin Heinrich, D-N.M.; Angus King, I-Maine; and Mark R. Warner, D-Va. also expressed regret for their role in a 2013 assault weapon ban's failure. Former Sens. Mark Begich, D-Alaska, and Mark Udall, D-Colo., echoed those sentiments, lamenting how they did not support gun control measures at the time. Many of the senators told the Post that they had felt pressured by NRA supporters and the NRA itself. "I dont remember when I reached the point in which I, like, threw out the NRA card and didnt renew my membership," Heinrich told the outlet. "But my point being, I didnt feel at the time like this was my issue [in 2013].

"And I think, after you experienced a decade of mass shootings, its everyones issue. And so thats the kind of journey that Ive been on," Heinrich continued. Francine Wheeler, the mother of one of the victims, told the Post Heitkamp would not look at her when they met in 2013, describing the then-senator as "defensive, unkind, and not interested in helping or listening to the stories of our loved ones." Though she said she did not recall meeting with Wheeler, Heitkamp told the outlet she was "extraordinarily sorry" for leaving families with the impression she didn't care about their children or their grief.
FILE PHOTO: 13th national congress of the ruling communist party of Vietnam in Hanoi

HANOI (Reuters) - Communist Party-ruled Vietnam has upgraded ties with the world's top powers, including former foes, China and the United States, as part of its "bamboo diplomacy", which it has pro-actively pursued since 2021 to navigate rising global tensions.

After a string of deals this year and last, the Southeast Asian country's top partners include the United States, China, India, South Korea and Russia, which for decades has supplied most of Vietnam's military equipment.

Below are details of Vietnam's increasingly dynamic foreign policy approach and its most important diplomatic agreements over the last 12 months.

WHAT IS 'BAMBOO DIPLOMACY'?

A regional manufacturing powerhouse, Vietnam is an increasingly strategic player in global supply chains.

To bolster this position, the country's most powerful figure, Communist Party General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong, used in 2021 the imagery of "strong roots, stout trunk, and flexible branches" of the bamboo plant to describe Vietnam's foreign policy approach of having "more friends, fewer foes".

CHINA

Vietnam and China earlier this month agreed to build a community with a "shared future" during a visit to Hanoi by Chinese President Xi Jinping, his first to an Asian country this year.

The two nations signed 36 cooperation documents in areas such as transport infrastructure, trade, security and digital economy, and published a joint declaration with wide-ranging commitments.

China is Vietnam's largest trading partner and a vital source of imports for its manufacturing sector, but the two communist countries have been for years embroiled in disputes in the South China Sea - the latest in May. Tensions have subsided somewhat more recently as Beijing's attention has focused on another claimant in the waterway, the Philippines.

UNITED STATES

Vietnam and the United States elevated in September their relationship to a Comprehensive Strategic Partnership, the highest level in Vietnam's ranking, and announced closer cooperation on semiconductors and critical minerals during a visit to Hanoi by U.S. president Joe Biden.

The United States, which is the top importer of Vietnam's goods, pushed for the upgrade as part of its strategy to secure uninterrupted access to global supply chains and to contain China in the South China Sea.

JAPAN

Vietnam and Japan in November upgraded their relations to Vietnam's top tier during a visit by Vietnamese president Vo Van Thuong to Tokyo, agreeing to boost security and economic cooperation.

Japanese multinationals, including Canon, Honda, Panasonic and Bridgestone, are among the largest foreign investors in Vietnam.

SOUTH KOREA

Vietnam and South Korea elevated their ties to a Comprehensive Strategic Partnership in December 2022 during a visit to Seoul by then Vietnamese president Nguyen Xuan Phuc, focusing on trade, investment, defence and security.

South Korea is the largest source of foreign investment in Vietnam, with Samsung Electronics being the largest single foreign investor in the country where it assembles half its smartphones.

In June the two countries signed 17 additional agreements, including on security and critical minerals during a visit to Vietnam by South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol.

VATICAN CITY

Vietnam and the Vatican agreed in July to have the first post-war resident papal representative in Hanoi during a visit to meet Pope Francis by Vietnamese President Vo Van Thuong. The representative was appointed in December.

Home to nearly 7 million Catholics, Vietnam broke relations with the Vatican after the Communists took over the reunited country at the end of the Vietnam War in 1975. Talks to appoint a papal representative had started in 2009.

TRADING HUB

Vietnam is part of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) economic union and has free trade deals with the European Union, Britain, Chile and South Korea. In July it added Israel to its list of free-trade partners.

It is also a member of wider trade pacts, including the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership (CPTPP), which includes Canada, Australia and Mexico, and the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP) which includes China and Japan.

WHO'S NEXT?

In 2024, Vietnam is expected to upgrade ties with Australia to a Comprehensive Strategic Partnership.

A visit to the country next year by French President Emmanuel Macron is also being considered, as the former colonial power seeks to boost ties on security and infrastructure development.

(Reporting by Khanh Vu and Francesco Guarascio; Editing by Kanupriya Kapoor)
MARION COUNTY, Fla. - The family and friends of 17-year-old Sofia Lugo held a vigil Wednesday evening, hours after deputies arrested her boyfriend, who is accused of killing her.

For 17 days, detectives with the Marion County Sheriff's Office have wanted to speak with 21-year-old Saul Garcia Macias.

According to an arrest report, his mother and her boyfriend told deputies they woke up to banging on their bedroom door shortly before 1 a.m. on Dec. 10. It was Garcia Macias telling them "masked men" had come into the house and killed his girlfriend. When the couple checked on Lugo, they say Garcia Macias ran from the scene.

Photo: Marion County Sheriff's Office

On Wednesday, more than two weeks after Lugo's shooting death, the sheriff's office received a phone call from Garcia Macias, who claimed he had been lost in the woods all this time. He agreed to meet with detectives and denied killing Lugo. They subsequently arrested him and charged him with second degree murder.

At Wednesday evening's vigil, Lugo's aunt told reporters she doesn't believe Garcia Macias' claim of innocence.

"There's many tests that the police can do to determine if he fired the weapon or if he didn't fire, so if he didn't have nothing to do with it, then he shouldn't have ran. We said if he ran it's because of something, you know, guilt," Andrea Lugo-Aguirre said.

Garcia Macias had run-ins with law enforcement before Lugo's murder.

In November 2016, the sheriff's office said he was suspected of being involved in a string of car burglaries at just 13 years old. A year later, he led deputies on a chase following a car break-in. And in 2021, he was suspected of driving a car in which a passenger was firing shots at deputies and ended up getting away.

Sofia Lugo was found shot to death at her boyfriend's home in Dunnellon (Source: Margarita Aguirre)

Investigators have asked that Garcia Macias be held on no bond as he is in the country illegally and has been known to leave the country when in trouble, according to deputies.
The father of a US citizen who fled the UK following a car crash that left a nurse with two broken ankles has set up a fundraiser after the FBI contacted him to discuss extradition.

Issac Calderon was charged with dangerous driving following the collision in July, which resulted in 56-year-old Elizabeth Donowho being unable to walk for six weeks.

Mr Calderon was due to appear at Kidderminster magistrates court on Dec 1 in connection with the incident on the A4103 near Shucknall in Herefordshire.

However, the 22-year-old, described as a flight risk by detectives, failed to turn up and West Mercia Police later said he had boarded a commercial flight back to Houston, Texas, on Nov 25.

A fundraiser has since been set up on the crowdfunding site GoFundMe by the suspects father, Manuel Calderon, in which the family are asking for $15,000 (11,750) to help with legal fees.

Mr Calderons father said the suspect was able to return to the United States because the company that contracted him purchased him a ticket.

Manuel Calderon said his son, whom he called Isac, had been offered a contract job in the UK due to his security clearance with the Texas National Guard.

Associated with secret service

West Mercia Police previously told Ms Donowho that Mr Calderon had been carrying out work associated with the secret service and working on matters that might come under the Official Secrets Act.

Ms Donowho, from Malvern, Worcestershire, suffered multiple fractures in the crash  including both ankles, her sternum and right hand.

Ms Donowho said she was told in the aftermath of the crash that because the driver was from the US he was a flight risk and they were working much more quickly than usual to get him to court.

Police told her the extradition process had begun and it is understood that there are no issues surrounding diplomatic immunity.

Mr Calderons father said his son still has problems with concussion and a fractured humerus following the collision.

In his plea for donations on the crowdfunding page, he said: My son was released from the contract job shortly after and could no longer support himself in the UK.

He reported this to the court but they were not concerned with his financial problems.

My son was able to return home because the company that contracted him purchased him a ticket.

He continued: Missing his court date the situation has spiralled from a car accident to my son being a government asset and being removed from the UK under diplomatic immunity, neither of which are true.

Due to this, his case is being compared to other cases where Americans have been saved by diplomatic immunity which my son is not privy to.

Similarities to case of Anne Sacoolas

It has been claimed the case bears similarities to that of Anne Sacoolas, who was able to leave the UK as a result of her diplomatic immunity after killing teenage motorcyclist Harry Dunn in August 2019 while driving on the wrong side of the road.

Sacoolas pleaded guilty last year, via videolink at the Old Bailey, to causing death by careless driving.

Mr Dunns mother, Charlotte Charles, previously said she was outraged that another US national had been able to leave the country before facing the courts.

Mr Calderons father said: My concern for my son was for his wellbeing since at that time he had no funds and still needed his injuries to be looked at.

He added his son has been given medical insurance for his fractured humerus and concussion but it will not kick in until next month.

Addressing the reasons for setting up the crowdfunding page, he said: We have been contacted by the FBI, they are talking about extraditing him.

We do not have funds for hiring international legal counsel. We are a single-income family and not a family of means.

We have spoken with an attorney. Although his price is reasonable, we do not have the funds or know of someone who would give or lend us that amount of money.

Mr Calderon has been described by the US embassy as a private citizen, and police said he had been in the UK on a work visa.

Radd Seiger, Ms Donowhos spokesman, said: We have noted this GoFundMe page and have nothing to say other than to appeal to Mr Calderon junior, who simply should not have left the UK in the first place, to now do the right thing and return without any further delay.

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It's hard to look fashionable in a Christmas jumper covered in mince pie crumbs and spatters of mulled wine, so we're not here to make anybody feel bad this festive season.

But come spring, many of us will be spending way too much money on the hottest looks, in an inevitably fruitless attempt to look as good as the models on our Instagram feed.

Here are eight of the biggest fashion trends set to dominate 2024.

short presentational grey line

1. Polka dots

L-R: Designs by Saint Laurent, Balmain, Carolina Herrera and Undercover

We counted every single polka dot at every fashion show this year, and can tell you that the total came to 12,487,396. The runways, in other words, were packed full of them.

The pattern is often popular in summer, but really the prints are a timeless and versatile trend which you're likely to see a lot of throughout the next year.

"Polka dots can be relied upon for elegance and impact," said the Telegraph. "Spots are playful; they don't take themselves too seriously. Even the name, polka, suggests joie de vivre.

"This time around, we are making them our own. They're big and bold, they're imperceptibly small, they're punchy, they're muted... This is a print for everybody: it's genderless, classless, ageless and timeless. It's time to join the dots."

2. Cherry red

L-R: Burberry, Puppets and Puppets, Gucci and Chanel

With the exception of the annoying stone you have to spit out at the end, we love everything about cherries - and this season they provided the runways with a distinctive, vibrant and confident colour.

Some fashion houses put forward designs which were cherry red from head to toe, while others kept it limited to a skirt or jacket and combined it with other colours to make an ensemble.

"Fashion's obsession with bright red has been impossible to ignore in recent seasons, seen on the runway but also the red carpet," said Vogue's Alex Kessler.

"Spring/summer 2024 [collections] brought a noticeable shift towards deeper and more opulent versions of the shade."

3. Metallics

L-R: Designs by Alexander McQueen, Rabanne, Coperni and Tom Ford

Several designers took inspiration from the pipes under their kitchen sink for this next trend - a variety of outfits and dresses with a metallic sheen.

One of our favourite Met Gala themes of the last decade was 2016's Man vs. Machine, which saw A-list guests dress in silver, futuristic colours with robot-inspired accessories.

This trend is reminiscent of those outfits and dominated during Paris fashion week, with Net-A-Porter noting: "Swathes of shimmering metallics glistened across the SS24 runways."

But if you're opting for gold, careful not to overload. "Metallic gold can have a gladiator look," pointed out StyleCaster. "If you want to tone it down, pair metallic gold with alternate materials like denim or leather."

4. Knitwear

L-R: Designs by Sacai, Loewe, Bottega Veneta and Erdem

Let's get down to the knitty gritty: In the UK, the weather is so appalling that frankly a nice cardigan or jumper never goes out of fashion.

According to Who What Wear, the SS24 collections acknowledged that "knitwear is a year-round staple, but one that should be no less fabulous than the rest of the items you wear".

"Erdem's embroidered cardigans were some of the most beautiful pieces we saw," they added.

Elsewhere, W magazine suggested: "Cardigans and fair isle knits were the most prominent knitwear trend this season."

5. Snowflake patterns

L-R: Designs by Stella McCartney, Elie Saab, Valentino and Zimmermann

We admit these beautiful and intricate designs are a bit more sophisticated than the snowflakes we made in school with some paper and a pair of scissors.

"Designers got crafty this season," noted Drapers, "and the Paris runways were aflutter with super-size lace and broderie anglaise designs for SS24".

(Don't worry, we've already Googled it, broderie anglaise refers to patterns with small round or oval holes cut out of the fabric, providing the snowflake look.)

Several of the outfits on display during fashion weeks saw the snowflake design put front and centre, while others displayed them through an outer layer of sheer.

6. Bows and ribbons

L-R: Designs by Giambattista Valli, Kimhekim, Sixdo and Aknvas

If you're reading this in a room surrounded by discarded giftwrap, make sure you scoop up those bows and ribbons before they reach the rubbish bin.

Giant bows showed up in the collections of several major designers during the various fashion weeks, so we could be seeing them adorn a variety of dresses next year.

"Oversized and opulent bows, spotted at shows like Sixdo and Aknvas, added a touch of whimsy to looks that were otherwise simple or unadorned," according to InStyle.

But not all fashion houses went for large and conspicuous designs - others opted for much smaller bows and ribbons to decorate, accessorise or tie together outfits.

"The dainty accessory creates a soft, romantic look no matter how it's worn, acting as garment detailing for a slew of different silhouettes," suggested Nylon.

7. Short shorts

L-R: Designs by Chloe, Tom Ford, Versace and Gucci

If you already feel overloaded by the number of tabloid headlines which use the phrase "leggy display", then you may want to skip this one.

This summer will likely see an explosion in popularity for short shorts in a variety of colours, styles and fabrics.

"Those leg days at the gym are about to pay off," said Net-A-Porter, "because if the recent runways told us anything, it's that seriously short shorts are set to be the ultimate power-dressing move come summer '24."

8. Upcycled, pre-loved or sustainable materials

L-R: Designs by Stella McCartney, Who Decides War, Eckhaus Latta and Andersson Bell

Arguably the most important fashion trend we could all adopt in the coming year is green. But not the colour.

Sustainability has long been a concern in relation to the highly-polluting fashion industry. A huge number of consumers buy something cheap, wear it a few times, and then chuck it out.

Tiny steps are being taken to address the industry's carbon footprint, such as the increasing popularity of websites which specialise in "pre-loved fashion", but many feel a great deal more needs to be done.

So we applaud the designers who are putting sustainability in the spotlight - either by changing their working practices, or by incorporating used materials into their designs.

Examples highlighted by British Vogue include Stella McCartney's use of Kelsun, a seaweed-based fibre that is said to have a significantly lower carbon footprint than conventional fibres.

Eckhaus Latta, meanwhile, showed a series of trousers that were 3D woven from yarn, cutting out the fabric-making process and reducing the amount of excess stock by making the manufacturing process more agile.

"Waste materials and deadstock are given a second life as new garments," said Fashion United. "Materials destined for landfill are rescued and reworked. Pieced, patched, and layered together with imperfections and signs of wear and tear celebrated rather than hidden."

As consumers' awareness of their carbon footprint increases, perhaps the items many will choose to wear the most in the coming year are the clothes already in their wardrobe.
The fate of a $200-million heart and stroke center in downtown Naples will be determined by a fraction of the current Naples City Council.

A first reading is scheduled for Jan. 18.

By then, council could be down by two members because of sudden, unexpected resignations, over new state-mandated financial disclosure requirements.

Another councilman has already recused himself from the vote, due to a conflict of interest.

That could leave the critical decision up to the remaining four on the seven-member board, including the mayor.

Ultimately, the project requires a rezoning, along with conditional use and site plan approvals from city council. A majority vote is required of a quorum on each petition.

The required quorum for a hearing is four council members.

The Planning Advisory Board voted in favor of the proposed five-story NCH Heart, Vascular, and Stroke Institute on Dec. 13, with conditions. The meeting ran for nearly 10 hours and the decision didn't come easy, or unanimously, despite a recommendation of approval by city staff.

Days later, Vice Mayor Mike McCabe announced his resignation from city council, in an emotional speech, effective Dec. 31, to avoid filling out what's known as a Form 6. As of Jan. 1, local elected officials will have to fill out the form to disclose their finances in much greater detail, the same as the governor, state legislators, county commissioners and a host of other elected officials, including judges and tax collectors.

"The changes that it makes is not what I signed up for," McCabe said about the new rules.

He's been in office since 2020 and he anticipated seeking reelection next year, until state lawmakers changed the rules.

"I am mad as hell and I am not going to take it anymore," McCabe said during the Dec. 18 council meeting about the state Legislature's actions of late. "I will not accept this government intrusion."

City of Naples Councilman Mike McCabe speaks during a City Council meeting on May 13, 2021.

More: Naples Vice Mayor Mike McCabe set to resign over new Florida financial disclosure rules

Councilwoman Beth Petrunoff, who took office in 2022, is leaning toward resigning for the same reason. She expects to make a decision by Dec. 30.

She said she's still "exploring the remote possibility of being able to stay by finding an option that legally meets the disclosure requirements and one that my family is comfortable with."

When McCabe announced his decision to step down, she said it "felt like a bomb."

In case you missed it: Beth Petrunoff threatens to resign from Naples City Council. Here's why

Meanwhile, Councilman Ray Christman plans to recuse himself from voting on, or even participating in the discussions about the three-related petitions, after the city's independent Commission on Ethics and Governmental Integrity determined he had a conflict of interest because he lives so close to the NCH Baker Hospital, where the new building is planned.

He lives off Sixth Street North, and his home is one of only a few that sits directly across the street from and faces the site for the new building, and its new parking garage. The ethics commission found he had a conflict because the project could impact the value of his property.

The commission determined the project could increase Christman's property value "since it may be desirous for medical professionals to live near the hospital campus," or possibly hurt it by causing more traffic and noise, by looming larger over his property  and by spurring future expansions with larger impacts on the neighborhood.

Based on the commission's advisory opinion, Christman said it was "the right thing to do" to abstain from voting on any of the petitions. When the matters come up, he told his fellow council members he planned to make a brief statement, then "excuse himself from the dais and the room," and not participate in "any way."

Naples City Councilman Ray Christman speaks during a council meeting on May 25, 2021.

Mayor Teresa Heitmann also sought an opinion from the ethics commission on whether she might have any conflicts in voting on the hospital expansion, as her husband has been granted hospital privileges to perform medical services for his patients at NCH for more than 30 years and provides "on call" medical services to the hospital two days a month.

In her case, the commission found no conflicts, determining her husband would neither benefit, nor lose anything based on her decisions on the hospital's petitions, one way or the other.

Councilman Terry Hutchison, a franchisee who owns multiple 7-Elevens in Naples, suggested he might need to seek an opinion from the ethics commission at the last council meeting, as his stores could see more business from the hospital expansion during and after construction. As of Thursday, he hadn't done so.

The new healthcare building, spanning 189,000 square feet, would exceed the city's height limit of 42 feet, with a maximum height of 87 feet, which has been one of its biggest hurdles. Last October, city council added a community hospital as a permitted use in a public services zoning district on NCHs behalf as a potential work around.

NCH says the new heart center would save lives and provide better care for patients in one setting, offering the latest in heart and stroke care so patients dont have to travel out of town, and attracting top-notch heart specialists to Naples.

More: Planning board votes to support new NCH heart and stroke center in downtown Naples

Rendering of R.M. Schulze Family Cardiovascular and Stroke Critical Care Center

Councilman Paul Perry, who considered resigning over the new financial disclosure requirements, said one reason he didn't is because he knew important decisions, including the hospital expansion, in particular, were on the horizon, and he felt an obligation to see them through.

"I dont like the required disclosures, especially since this changed in the middle of my term, but I think it's even more important that I stay until the end of my term," he said.

His four-year term ends in a few months, and he'd already decided not to seek reelection before Form 6 became a mandate for the job.

"It was for personal reasons," he said. "My wife and I were wanting to get some traveling in."

Besides the hospital expansion, Perry said he wanted to stick around to be part of the council's decision on a new city attorney.

"I don't want council to be down to four members," he said. "I think I need to stay. To make sure these decisions can be made."

City councilman Paul Perry

If Petrunoff does indeed resign, Perry said he might consider running to serve out the rest of her term, expiring in 2026.

"I haven't come to a complete conclusion on that," he said. "But it's a possibility."

At 72, he said he just can't see himself serving out another four-year term, but two years might not be so bad, with his wife keeping busy for another few years before rolling off as the board chair for an insurance company.

"We're both failing at retirement," he quipped.

After facing many delays, NCH is still pushing and hoping for a swift vote, despite the shake-up on council, eager to move forward with the long-anticipated hospital expansion.

The city of Naples will hold a general election on Tuesday, March 19 (the same day as the Florida presidential preference primary). Along with the mayoral seat, three council seats will be on the ballot, and possibly a fourth if Petrunoff resigns her post.

Mayor Teresa Heitmann, who is running for reelection, is facing two opponents: current councilman Ted Blankenship, and former councilman Gary Price.

Five others are vying for three council seats: Berne Barton, Garey Cooper, William Kramer, Linda Penniman and Tony Perez-Benitoa. All of them are political newcomers in Naples, except Penniman, who has been elected to council twice. In 2019, she resigned from council, citing health concerns for her husband, during her second term.

There's still time for others to enter the mayoral and council races. The qualifying period starts Jan. 8 and ends Jan. 19.

Naples Daily News reporters Kendall Little and Liz Freeman contributed to this story.

This article originally appeared on Naples Daily News: NCH's hospital expansion to be determined by Naples council
The roughly 75 years between the end of the Civil War and the beginning of World War II was a period of drastic evolution in how we think about and solve crimes. From the Civil War bounty jumpers John, Frank, Sim, and William Reno, brothers who realized the best way to rob a train was to wait until the locomotive was moving, to H.H. Holmes, Americas first known serial killer, new classes of criminals were rising, including spies and mobsters. To fight the changing tides, law enforcement created new methods of investigation, including the photo lineup, and in the United States an entirely new government department was created to deal with wanted suspects ability to cross state lines with speed and ease.

The social and cultural situation in this period also makes its crimes interesting. The story of the illustrious George Leslie comes right in the middle of the Gilded Age. Later known as The Gentleman Bank Robber, Leslie knew the key to robbing from the rich was to blend in. Because, especially in the late 1800s, the rich wanted to believe that they couldnt be fooled. So if you could become one of the upper class, you could get away with anything.

Ulysses Press

Before he became known as the king of all bank robbers, the patron saint of burglars was a man born into a respectable family. His father was a brewer in Toledo, Ohio. And while little is known of George Leslies early life, its safe to say that he grew up wanting little, ready to marry well and live out his days with a top hat in hand.

Leslies villain origin story, if you want to call him a villain, truly begins after the Civil War ends. Leslie was engaged to a high-society woman named Sarah Lawrence; hed also graduated with honors after studying architecture. He should have been on his way toward living a fashionable life among the mid-tier elite. But an old ghost haunted him. Unlike millions of other men throughout the country, Leslie had escaped service in the Civil War through a rich persons loophole.

Leslie biographer J. North Conway spoke with Slate podcast producer Mike Vuolo in 2016 about Leslie. Conway described how Leslies fathers decision to pay $300 to keep Leslie from being drafted to fight in the Civil War made him a pariah in Ohio and beyond when the fighting finally ceased.

So, at the end of the war, men like Leslie who had paid to get out of military service found themselves the object of scorn and ridicule, and Leslie himself was ostracized by many prominent Cincinnati families and friends and former associates, Conway said.

Heres the thing about what Leslieor rather his fatherdid: It wasnt illegal. While not fighting in a war simply because youre able to buy your way out certainly isnt a good thing, you really cant blame the Leslies for not wanting George to die as hundreds of thousands did. The problem isnt that Leslie and his father took advantage of an opportunity to avoid the war. The problem is that there was a system in place to allow this to begin with. Even in our most tumultuous and desperate time, the powers that be looked around and said, If youre rich enough, your life can be spared.

This was an attitude toward wealth that Leslie would carry with him. While he was punished for buying his way out of servicehis fiancee Sarah eventually left him (likely after some meddling from her own father) and married one of the first men to receive the Medal of Honorthe idea that wealth could get you anything persisted.

Shunned in Ohio, Leslie did what many people had done before and have done sincehe moved to New York to start over. His parents had died by the end of the 1860s, so he sold all his ties to the state and hopped a train for the Big Apple.

Practically every burglar and bank robber of note in the United States made New York his principal headquarters during the twenty years which followed the Civil War, but the only one to whom the police were willing to award the palm of genius was George Leonidas Leslie, also known as George Howard and Western George. So went the New Yorkers 1927 feature on Leslie. But why? Why go from the easy life of a gentleman to the precarious life of a criminal? According to biographer Conway, in his book King of Heists: The Sensational Bank Robbery of 1878 That Shocked America, the reason was actually quite juvenile.

All the respectable things of the worldposition, education, and wealthdidnt mean a thing to him anymore. They had all come easily to him and had ultimately gotten him nowhere. What he wanted now was what hed never had in his lifemystery and adventure.

This was a case of poor little rich boy wants to join the circus. But you cant just become a criminal overnight. At least, not a successful one.

In an effort to find his greener pastures, Leslie worked to transform himself into a high-society dandy. Having sold his fathers brewery and offloaded his architecture firm, he was in possession of some money and able to start acquiring the trappings of wealth. But many of the things one needs to fit into the best of society are taught, not bought, and Leslie already knew them. His manners were impeccable, his style excellent. He knew how to blend into any social situation. But Leslie was itching to do something more than sip Champagne with the elites. As luck would have it, this was when he met the Queen of Fences.

Known as Mother Mandelbaum, Fredericka Mandelbaum was, at the time of her death at 65, reported to have employed dozens of thieves. There is not a thief of note in the land to whom her name is not as familiar as his own, the Boston Globe wrote upon her death. Mandelbaum acted as a go-between in the criminal underworld. If you stole something, that was all well and good, but you needed to be able to sell it to get your cash, and its not like you could just go to the pawn shop and say Sir, would you like to buy this obviously stolen item that police are looking for? Thats where a fence came in. A fence had far-reaching connections to help you offload your filched property. For a fee, of course.

Mandelbaum came to America from Germany in 1859 with her husband. The pair started a dry-goods business and bought several buildings, eventually using the buildings primarily for their dishonest gains. Youd go in the front door and see an unassuming haberdashery, but the back room was loaded with ill-gotten goods, waiting for illegal sale.

When Mr. Mandelbaum died, Fredericka was undeterred, and flourished. In 1894, she owned several tenements beyond the houses in which her business was conducted, and it is estimated that she was worth fully $1,000,000, according to the San Francisco Examiner, the equivalent of more than $34 million dollars today. The New York Sun estimated that Mandelbaum handled between $5,000,000 and $10,000,000 worth of stolen property over the course of her life. And because she had a legitimate business, Mandelbaum was able to stand out among fences because she always had cash on hand to purchase the stolen goods before turning around and selling them herself. Though some of the finest things, Mandelbaum kept for herself, in rooms (as the Sun described them) elegantly furnished by her clients with furniture and draperies from some of New Yorks finest mansions.

Having the distinction of employing thieves and having New York police officers on her side, due to bribery or blackmail, Mandelbaum was occasionally arrested but mostly lived openly, until 1884 when a tough-on-crime district attorney managed to get enough evidence to charge her with grand larceny and receiving stolen goods. Mandelbaum fled to Canada before trial and lived there until she died in February of 1894.

But before she died, Mother Mandelbaum had all the pleasures money could buy, according to the Boston Globe, and she kept her employees safe with lawyers in her employ who fought their battles for them in the courts of justice, and whenever any of her proteges were in trouble no money was spared, and no trick left untried that could help them. Mother Mandelbaum also loved to throw lavish parties: A warm, generous hostess, she held frequent dances and dinners attended by celebrated criminals as well as friendly politicians and cops. It was at one such party that Mandelbaum and Leslie finally met.

Leslie had been making his way in the city. He wore the finest suits money could buy. Since coming to New York, he had purchased several frock coats, vests, and trousers from Brooks Brothers, where everyone who was anyone bought their apparel, wrote William Bryk in a look back at Leslies life for the New York Sun in 2004. Not for nothing, Leslie was also tall, dark, and handsometraits that allowed him to easily ingratiate himself into any company he desired. Leslie had become a regular at the restaurant Delmonicos, a favorite among the elite, known for its famous Delmonico steak. It was there that he met famed architect John Roeblingbuilder of the Cincinnati Suspension Bridge in Leslies hometown and, at the time, chief engineer of the Brooklyn Bridge. It was also where he met a man that would truly change his life, Jubilee Jim Fisk.

Fisk, a Wall Street speculator, was fabulously wealthy. Owner of the Erie Railway Company, Fall River steamship line, and other companies, he made corporate looting and corruption a fine art. You see, at this time, there were the street-level criminalsyour prostitutes, your pickpockets, your sneak thieves. But there was also a massive run on those in high society who made hoards of money through corrupt and exploitative means. This is, after all, around the time, historian Matthew Josephson later explained, the term robber baron was coined.

As game recognizes game, Fisk happened to be an attendee of Mother Mandelbaums parties, and he invited Leslie along for a night of fun. The rest is history. Mandelbaum was looking to diversify her own criminal portfolio, including bank robberies. But the old wayblowing up vaultstended to cost more on the front end than was gained, after her operatives blew up most of whatever was in the vault. Leslie was looking for a criminal enterprise that fit his skill set. Both had found their own ways to live in the balance between high society and the criminal slums. The pair took a liking to one another and turned out to have a very mutually beneficial relationship. Together, the Leavenworth Times wrote in 1894, they made more money than she made in any other five years during her career.

Having acquired a reliable fence and ingratiated himself in the upper crust of society. Leslie was ready to start on his true purpose in coming to New Yorkcrime.

In all, Leslie would be an active criminal from 1869 until his death in 1884. During that time, its estimated that he played a role in 80 percent of all bank robberies in the United States. Throughout this time, Leslie used his background in architecture to study the blueprints of various banks, uncovering their weak points and using sophisticated toolssome of his own inventionto break into the vaults in a way that didnt destroy what was inside.

Leslie showed Mandelbaum his skills in June of 1869 with the Ocean National Bank robbery in New York City. In order to pull off the robbery, Leslie wanted to use a device that hed spent a lot of time perfecting. He called it the Little Jokera small metal wheel with a wire that fit perfectly inside the combination dial of a bank safe. When the safe was then opened, the dial would make notches in the wheel effectively showing the combination of the safe. But there was an obvious catchyou had to get to the vault twice. Once to place the device, and once to remove it.

Leslie became a member of the bank in order to get an idea of the layout and the employees. Mandelbaum secured Leslie a crewincluding people like Jimmy Hope and Shag Draper, whom Leslie would work with again many times in the future. Leslies plan was precise, and he even got Mandelbaum to invest in the same safe the bank used so the crew could rehearse multiple times. They rented the empty office space in the basement below the bank. Jonny Irving, who was working as a janitor at the bank, planted the Little Joker. Finally, according to Conway in his interview with Slate, the crew broke into the bank on a Saturday (in order to have as much time to complete the job as possible) by drilling through the floor of the bank (or the ceiling of the basement) and ransacking the place. When they were done, the New York Herald reported, they left a mess of tools and goods they couldnt carry away.

Scattered promiscuously about the floor were United States bonds and currency, gold coin, pieces of  iron, small wedges, railroad bonds, copper coin, augers, chisels, jackscrews, lanterns, fuses, flasks of powder, cigar stumps, ropes, saws, gold certificates and other articles too numerous to mention.

At the end of the day, despite leaving behind hundreds of thousands of dollars in clearinghouse currencycertificates promising payments, sort of like checksand other certificates, as well as a bag of gold coin, the group made off with around $800,000. As biographer Conway explained on the podcast: Not a shots been fired, not a single person is injured, not a stick of dynamite is used. All thanks to Leslies ingenuity.

Leslies methodology of using skill instead of force in bank robberies was becoming a trendone that scared banks and people who put their money in these supposedly safe institutions. This robbery, the New York Times wrote of the Ocean National Bank heist, and other equally bold and ingenious ones of a late date, have rendered depositors exceedingly nervous as to the description of the vaults, the make of the safes and locks, and the character of the companies with whom they intrust [sic] their funds. It was a pattern that Leslie would continue with his gang of misfits and Mother Mandelbaums frequent investment.

Probably one-third of their loot was taken from financial institutions in the metropolis, the New Yorker wrote of Leslie and his associates in 1927, their largest hauls being the theft of $786,879 from the Ocean National Bank in 1869, and $2,747,000 in cash and securities from the Manhattan Savings Institution  in 1878.

The gang didnt just work in New York. They traveled from state to stateanywhere there was a bank that Leslie deemed penetrable. From the Wellsboro Bank of Philadelphia to the Saratoga County Bank of Waterford in New York, Leslies gang would travel anywhere on the East Coast for a score.

On Jan. 27, 1876, seven thieves pulled off what would become known as one of the greatest bank robberies in history. Though Leslie would be involved in multiple robberies that bore the moniker of greatest, there was no denying that Leslie, along with six other members of his gangShag Draper, Red Leary, Billy Connor, James Burns, Thomas Dunlap, and William Scottpulled off a remarkable feat that would penetrate the minds of citizens and send rumors up and down the streets for years.

Northampton, Massachusetts, was a small city over 150 miles from New York City. According to George Washington Walling in his 1887 memoir of his time on the force, Recollections of a New York Chief of Police, the bank was chosen based on which bank had vaults and safes that were easy to open. In this case, the bank was one where it only took one key bank employee to open the vault. Because very few banks will let you inspect the areas where they keep their money, Leslie and his men needed some help. Someone who was an expert in locks and safes and who had access to them. Enter William D. Edson.

Edson was a traveling agent for Herring & Co., a safe manufacturer, and a man of loose morals looking for easy money. In exchange for a nice share of the takings, Edson pointed the group to Northampton National Bank. With this much learned, the rest of the task was not difficult to thieves of such broad experiences, Walling wrote. Northampton was a small town, and boldness, the burglars thought, would most successfully accomplish their designs.

While the band was made up of successful safecrackers and bank robbers, their actual methodology was fairly mundane. In the night, the men put on masks and went to the home of the cashier of the bank, Mr. Whittlesey. They caused chaos in the home, waking up Whittlesey, his wife and kids, and their staff, tying everyone up and leaving them behind as they walked Whittlesey to the bank. Once at the bank, they threatened Whittlesey with death until he opened the vaults. Having collected everything they saw, the men then calmly walked Whittlesey back to his home and tied him up with the rest of his family.

In all, Leslie and his crew got away with $1.5 million in money and negotiable securities. The negotiable securities were mostly useless to the thieves, but they still walked away with a hefty sum. Edson was soon arrested, and quickly flipped and named names because he thought he didnt get as much as he deserved from the robbery. Scott and Dunlap were arrested in Philadelphia on their way to another bank robbery and eventually sentenced to 20 years in prison. In 1877, Draper was arrested, and soon after, Connors was caught as well. The rest of the gang trickled in and out of jail, but Leslie was never arrested, or even formally implicated, for the robbery, likely because he had the incredible benefit of his co-conspirators not turning on him and his high position in society keeping him immune from suspicion.

As Leslies skill and star as a burglar rose, he started to rethink his career. Like many lawyers, chefs, doctors, and other professionals before him, Leslie decided to start teaching the skills that had brought him nationwide renown.

For a stiff fee or a percentage of the gains, with a guarantee, he planned bank and store burglaries all over the United States, wrote Herbert Asbury for the San Francisco Examiner. While teaching crime may not initially sound as lucrative as actually committing the crimesor even something that a lot of people would be able to pay forLeslie is reported to have made $20,000 just to travel to the Pacific Coast to examine the plans for a potential bank robbery. He was such an expert mechanic and so able a negotiator, that his fame spread wherever first-class criminals associated, Walling later wrote. A telegram might summon him to Boston, Philadelphia, New York, or any other large city, simply to look over the scheme for a burglary which might be carried out by others. It was a win-win for the career criminalhe got to keep using his skills, but with far less risk.

Leslie wasnt the only one who roped in pupils to learn his craft. Mandelbaum allegedly ran a school for boys and girls to learn how to become successful pickpockets and sneak thieves, with advanced courses in burglary and safecracking and postgraduate work in blackmail and con games, wrote Bryk for the New York Sun. Where Leslies move into teaching could act as a way for him to make money with less risk and effort, Mandelbaums courses had the added benefit of adding to her roster of thieves who could bring her stolen goods to fence.

But Leslies life still wasnt without risk, and the greatest risk eventually came not from the crimes he committed, but from the women he took to bed.

Leslie had one more greatest heist in his storied career before he met a violent end. On Sunday, Oct. 27, 1878, the Manhattan Bank Building was robbed by a group of men in a similar fashion to the Northampton Bank robbery. The group barged into the second-floor apartment above the bank to head off the bank janitor, Louis Werckle, from hearing anything and notifying the police. The men tied up Werckle and his family, but this time, instead of demanding Werckle open the safe, the men left the terrified family with a guard and went alone to the empty bank and opened the vaults. The men left with $12,764 in cash, $241,000 in coupon bonds, and $2,506,700 in registered bonds.

The robbery had been in the works for three years and orchestrated by Leslie. According to Walling, In thieves slang it was a pudding; the bank was wealthy, and always kept a large amount of cash and negotiable security on hand; the vault, although apparently impregnable, was easy to enter, and enough police protection from subordinates in the department was assured to render surprise in the commission of the burglary difficult. Leslie, as well as planning the robbery, was in charge of figuring out a way into the actual vault. Instead of using traditional wedges, mallets and jimmies, Walling wrote, Leslie went for a more clever and quiet approach. Leslie got a vault of the same style as the one in the bank to use as practice. After examining the vault, he realized that the combination could be thrown out of gear, and the tumblers of the combination lock could be forced into the right order by drilling a hole under the indicator, and working the tumblers around with a fine piece of steel inserted in the hole.

There were several setbacks over the planning periodat one point Leslie managed to actually get into the bank for a test run to see if this method would work on the real vault. It did for a part of it, and he thought success would be his, but although Leslie covered up the hole, he forgot to reset the tumblers, meaning the bank employees could have been tipped off that something was wrong with the safe. Luck was on his side, however, when the bank officers who discovered him decided to ignore the issue and simply let it go. But luck ran out when, during a second attempt at the bank, they realized the dummy lock they had been working with was slightly different from the one at the bank. With their attempts at artistry foiled, the gang decided to use the old-fashioned way of bank robbing, and thus violence and force were used both on the bank janitor and on the vault itself.

Four of Leslies gang went into the bank: Jimmy Hope, William Kelly, Abe Coakley, and Pete Emerson, with outside help from John Nugent, a police officer. They had also planted a watchman in the bank, Patrick Shevlin. The case stumped police for months until, in May of 1879, they started to get word of officer Nugent bragging about being involved with the robbery. Shevlin also confessed when confronted, and the rest soon fell as well, except for Leslie. While Walling notes Leslies early involvement in the robbery, Leslie wasnt arrested or really on police radar after the fact. Likely, Leslie was along just for the stealth robbery purposes, and once they decided to tear the vault apart, his involvement wasnt necessary anymore.

By 1884, Leslie was 40 years old, living in Brooklyn, and married to a woman named Mary Henrietta, nee Coath, the daughter of a landlady Leslie once stayed with. Theyd married when Mary was 15, and she thought Leslie was an Internal Revenue detective. But this was far from the truth and, within a few years, Mary knew her husbands true nature. But despite Marys willingness to go along with her husbands criminal life, little did she know that he was betraying her as well.

Unwilling to maintain a semblance of honor among thieves where women were concerned, Leslie was rumored to have taken up with the wives and sisters of several men in his group, including Shag Drapers wife. In his memoirs, Walling wrote: These liaisons completely changed his mode of life. His proverbial sagacity and prudence deserted him.

A mans body, well-dressed from head to toe, was found on June 4, 1878, three miles outside of Yonkers at the foot of Tramps Rock. His body was already partly decomposed, having been shot twice. Police would later learn that the body had been taken to that spot five days earlier and that the man was likely nude at the time he was shot and then dressed, given that no blood was on his clothing. They also learned that the body belonged to George Leslie, King of the Bank Robbers.

In the wake of Leslies death, the Boston Globe reported that Mrs. Mandelbaum was heartbroken. When Mrs. Mandelbaum learned that her old favorite was dead, she displayed what was for her an unusual degree of emotion, and exclaimed respectfully, Poor Shorge; he was such a very nais man.  While the murder of George Leslie was never solved, the longstanding theory was that he was murdered by his associates. According to New York Chief of Police Walling:

The police fortified their theory by saying there had been a quarrel over the division of spoils, that Draper was jealous of Leslie, that [Johnny] Irving was opposed to him on account of his intimacy with Babe, and that Leslie had become leaky in regard to professional secrets.

While Leslie lived high and free, his death was violent, and in the end he received not a rich mans funeral, but was buried in a $10 plot that was little better than that given to the citys paupers.

Leslie was, in many ways, not only a product of his time but an inevitability. In the Golden Age he inhabited, Leslie made it clear that if you can blend in with the rich, you can rob them blind, in part because everyone was corrupt. Criminals like Leslie and Mother Mandelbaum were able to buy protection and more in those days. When corruption runs wild and those at the top are able to benefit most from it, people will get hurt.

Excerpt adapted from Between Two Wars: A True Crime Collection, by Cheyna Roth. Text courtesy of Ulysses Press.
Elizabeth Donowho said she felt let down by the situation

A US citizen who left the UK after being charged with dangerous driving has been contacted by law enforcement in his own country, his father has said.

Issac Calderon, 22, is accused of being responsible for a car crash which left a healthcare worker temporarily unable to walk.

He was due to appear at Kidderminster Magistrates' Court on 1 December, but left the UK on a commercial flight to Texas about a week before.

Mr Calderon's father has now pleaded for donations, claiming the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) had contacted the family about "extraditing" his son.

Elizabeth Donowho, a 56-year-old mental health nurse from Worcestershire, was hurt on the A4103 near Shucknall, Herefordshire, on 31 July.

She previously said she felt "really let down" after Mr Calderon left the country.

The case sparked the anger of Charlotte Charles, whose son Harry Dunn was killed in a crash involving a US citizen who claimed diplomatic immunity.

Suspect contacted by FBI

Mr Calderon's father Manuel has set up a crowdfunding page asking the public for $15,000 (11,760) to support his son with legal fees.

He said his child had been offered a contract job in the UK due to his security clearance with the Texas National Guard and had been able to return home because his employer had bought the ticket.

But the contract ended shortly afterwards, leaving him unable to support himself, Mr Calderon's father added.

The mental health nurse was hurt on the A4103 near Shucknall

West Mercia Police previously told Ms Donowho the 22-year-old had been carrying out employment "associated with the secret service" and working on matters "that might come under the Official Secrets Act".

But Mr Calderon was not a government asset and had not been removed from the UK under diplomatic immunity, his father insisted.

"We have been contacted by the FBI, they are talking about extraditing him," the crowdfunding page read.

"We do not have funds for hiring international legal counsel. We are a single-income family and not a family of means."

Mr Calderon has been described by the US embassy as a "private citizen", with police saying he had been in the UK on a work visa.

Radd Seiger, Ms Donowho's spokesperson, urged Mr Calderon to do the right thing and return to the UK without any further delay.

Follow BBC West Midlands on Facebook, X, and Instagram, Send your story ideas to newsonline.westmidlands@bbc.co.uk
FILE - State Sen. Bo Hatchett, R-Cornelia, speaks regarding redistricting bill HB 1EX during the special legislative session at the Capitol in Atlanta on Tuesday, Dec. 5, 2023. A federal judge map approved the redrawn maps on Thursday, Dec. 28. (Arvin Temkar/Atlanta Journal-Constitution via AP,File)

ATLANTA (AP)  A federal judge on Thursday accepted new Georgia congressional and legislative voting districts that protect Republican partisan advantages, saying the creation of new majority-Black voting districts solved the illegal minority vote dilution that led him to order maps to be redrawn.

U.S. District Judge Steve Jones, in three separate but similarly worded orders, rejected claims that the new maps don't do enough to help Black voters. Jones said he can't interfere with legislative choices, even if Republicans moved to protect their power. The maps were redrawn in a recent special legislative session after Jones in October ruled that maps drawn in 2021 illegally harmed Black voters.

The maps added Black-majority districts that Jones ordered, including one in Congress, two in the state Senate and five in the state House. But in some Democratic-held districts without Black majorities, Republicans redrew the maps to favor themselves. One of those is Democratic U.S. Rep. Lucy McBaths 7th Congressional District in suburban Atlanta.

McBath said she would seek reelection in 2024 in the new 6th Congressional District in Fulton, Cobb, Douglas and Fayette counties if the current congressional map is not overturned on appeal. It would be the second election in a row that she has had to run in a new district. The first, in 2022, was after the district she originally won was redrawn to favor Republicans.

McBath said in a statement that she wouldnt allow an extremist few Republicans to decide when my work in Congress is finished.

The redrawing of the districts this year was among numerous redistricting actions that took place across the South after the U.S. Supreme Court upheld the 1964 Voting Rights Act in June, clearing the way for Black voters to win changes from courts. But while a case in Alabama will almost certainly result in another Democrat joining its congressional delegation, the Georgia case has played out differently.

Thats because Section 2 of the Voting Rights Act protects minority voters, but doesnt stop Republicans from tinkering with Democratic-held districts with white majorities or where no ethnic group is in the majority. So, Georgia Republicans redrew maps while giving up few seats to Democrats.

The judge's approval of Georgia's redrawn maps sets the stage for their use in 2024 elections. Their implementation is likely to reproduce the current 9-5 Republican majority among Georgia's 14 congressional seats and a 33-23 GOP margin in the Senate. Democrats are likely to gain one or two seats in a state House that now has a 102-78 Republican margin.

Plaintiffs and allied Democrats denounced the ruling, but none immediately said they would appeal. Time for an appeal is short because the 2024 elections are near.

The Republican maps are an ongoing Voting Rights Act violation. Period, state Senate Minority Leader Gloria Butler, a Stone Mountain Democrat, said in a written statement.

American Civil Liberties Union lawyer Ari Savitsky, who represents challengers to state legislative maps, said the new maps dont provide a complete fix for the injuries to Black voters that we proved in court.

"Federal law requires an end to vote dilution everywhere and a real change for injured voters, not reshuffling the same deck, Savitsky said.

Republicans said the ruling proves they could comply with the order to draw more majority-Black districts while preserving their power. In a written statement, House Speaker Jon Burns, a Newington Republican, called the ruling a validation of what we put forward."

The voters and civic groups who sued to overturn the 2021 maps claimed the new ones didn't fix problems in districts Jones had labeled as illegal. But Jones said lawmakers weren't confined to reworking only those districts, and that plaintiffs' objections weren't enough for him to reject the maps. If he had, he could have adopted maps offered by the plaintiffs or drawn his own.

Jones echoed the states claim that approving redrawn maps was not a beauty contest.

To put it more starkly, plaintiffs contend that their illustrative plans are better remedies than the states remedial plans," he wrote. "Because this court cannot intrude upon the domain of the General Assembly, however, it declines plaintiffs invitation to compare the 2023 remedial plans with plans preferred by plaintiffs and crown the illustrative plans the winners.

Arguments on the congressional map focused on whether it was legal for lawmakers to dissolve McBath's district in Gwinnett and Fulton counties  while at the same time drawing a new Black-majority 6th District west of downtown Atlanta. The plaintiffs argue that the state, by dissolving the current 7th District, is newly violating the guarantee of opportunities for minority voters spelled out in Section 2 of the federal Voting Rights Act. The 7th District is majority nonwhite, but not majority Black, with substantial shares of Hispanic and Asian voters as well.

Jones said he didn't have the evidence needed to act on a Voting Rights Act claim: that Black, Hispanic and Asian voters in the 7th District act as a coalition to elect their choices. He told the plaintiffs they'd have to file a new lawsuit to pursue claims that wiping out McBath's current district illegally harms minority voters.